Sherwood Forest News December 2009

News from the Forest

Enjoy the holiday season with us at Sherwood Forest! The area offers awesome shopping at some of the most unique stores in the Midwest, or you can enjoy a carriage ride, listen to the carolers, make snow angels, cross-country ski, or just curl up with a good book in front of one of our fireplaces. So join us soon for some R&R and holiday spirit.

We'd also like to mention that we had some fun press from the New York Times a couple of weeks back when they interviewed us on our Bed, Breakfast, and Brewery package. The NYT's angle on this was "mancations." It seems that some guys (and some women, too) like to create, make, and drink beer (imagine that). So if you're a beer aficionado, come stay a couple of nights at Sherwood Forest and we can set you up with a beer making session. For more info, go to http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html.

Holiday Shopping Special
We've teamed up with some select stores in Saugatuck/Douglas to bring you fantastic discounts, deals, and freebies, from hip and cool clothing to kitchen appliances, wines from far away places, spices from the Orient, body butters, antiques, and artwork. If you're looking for that great holiday gift or just want to splurge on yourself this season, all you need to do is book a night or two and then go exploring at some of the most distinctive shops the area has to offer. For more info, give us a call at 800-838-1246 or visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html.

Gift Certificates
Give the most amazing gift on the planet. Imagine receiving a gift certificate from Sherwood Forest B&B! After the recipient jumps up and down and hugs that special someone, he or she will rush to the phone to book a room at Sherwood Forest (just gotta have that fireplace/Jacuzzi suite). Call 800-838-1246 or visit our gift certificate page at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html.

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Now's the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. From November through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 nights or more and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your life. Here are the details: dinner is $50 per person, guests provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required. You pick the date November through April and we'll pick the chef. Black out dates are New Year's Eve and Valentine's weekend. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the "real world"), a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
Looking for a quiet, relaxing place to stay? Our Cottage is perfect for that tranquil getaway or for spending time with friends or family. It sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach, and it's pet friendly. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

Massages
Have a massage in the privacy of your room by a certified massage therapist in a style that's just right for you. It's 1 hour of pure relaxation...December special: $60/hour massage, so schedule some pampering soon.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Fenn Valley Winery
Come and taste the first wine from this fall's vintage at the annual Nouveau Fest on December 5. There will be the featured nouveau wines, hors d'oeuvres, cellar tasting/tours, and plenty of space to visit with friends and relatives over a glass of nouveau. For more info, visit http://www.fennvalley.com or call 269-561-2396.

Wine Dinner
Wine Dinner Join the folks at Everyday People Café for their wine dinner, Food and Libation Sensation-Cocoa, on December 16 at 6:30 p.m. The 5-course dinner will be paired up with some fantastic wines. For more info, visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com, or if you wish to book a room with us and enjoy the wine dinner, give us a call at 800-838-1246 and we'll make the arrangements.

Winter Greenmarket
On December 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., deck your halls with fresh, artful greenery and other holiday decorations during the 4th annual Winter Greenmarket at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Local farmers and artisans offer fresh holiday greenery from strands of garland and Christmas trees to hand-decorated swags and wreaths. Holland Chorale's "Dickens Quartet" will be caroling from noon-2 p.m., and there will also be a book signing (The Saugatuck Dunes: Artists Respond to a Freshwater Landscape) to raise money to save the dunes from development. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Christmas Trees
What better way is there to help usher in the holiday season than to cut your own Christmas tree? Our friends at Baragar Pines Farm will help you choose just the right tree for the holidays, from Frasier Furs to Scotch Pines, wreaths, and potted Blue Spruces, too. They're at 2661 64th St. in Fennville. Open Saturdays and Sundays only. For more info, call 269-857-4429.

Theater
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol will be presented December 11-13 and 18-20 at the Women's Club in downtown Saugatuck. This classic Christmas tale, featuring Ebenezer Scrooge, various ghosts, and an assortment of lovable Londoners, is brought to life by community performers. For performance times or to purchase tickets, call 269-857-1701.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Friday and Saturday in December from 6:30-10 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info, visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday thru Monday in December. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalists Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Edye Evans-Hyde
On December 12, Swing into the Holidays with Edye Evans-Hyde at the SCA. Get in the holiday groove as this award-winning group dishes up new arrangements of holiday favorites, plus golden jazz standards sung by one of the region's premier voices. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Jimmy Dillon & The Werewolves
This is one present you'll want to open before Christmas! Jimmy Dillon & The Werewolves will be performing on December 23 at 8 p.m. at the Saugatuck Brewing Company's Bier Hall (10$). Guitar slinger Jimmy Dillon offers a holiday party of infectious rock and roll. For more info, visit http://saugatuckbrewing.com/ or call 267-857-7222.

Mo Music
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music on Dec 4, Christmas Tunes with Mark & Jasen Schrock; Dec 11, Joshua Davis (folk-rock); and Dec 18, Michael Beauchamp and the Barn Roughs (folk-bluegrass-blues). For more info, visit http://www.saltoftheearthfennville.com/ or call 269-561-7258.

Symphony Orchestra
On December 12 at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Dimnent Chapel in Holland, enjoy a holiday concert with the Holland Chorale singing A Symphony of Carols with music ranging from popular carols to Puccini's Gloria. For more info, call 616-494-0256 or visit http://www.hollandsymphony.org.

Film Studies at the Red Barn
At The Red Barn Playhouse, Douglas resident and film concept developer John Hardy will continue with the film series: on December 8, Abbott & Costello in Hollywood-1945, comedy with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello; December 15, White Christmas-1954, comedy with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney; December 22, Christmas Story-2007, a family drama; and December 29, Bridge on the River Kwai-1957 drama/adventure with William Holden and Alec Guinness. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Exhibitions
As Is by Laurel Farrin will be on display through December 28 at the SCA. Farrin's Mondrian series of trompe l'oeil works shows why the genre--which translates to "trick the eye" in English--has fascinated viewers for centuries. Trompe l'oeil pieces create optical illusions via extremely realistic two-dimensional images that appear to be three-dimensional. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Exhibitions
Through March 2010, The Holland Museum is exhibiting Indigenous Art of Indonesia and Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than 60 other exotic pieces of art and artifacts--weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks--give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Books
Keith's book of the month is The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Enzo is a warm and gentle philosopher of the human (and canine) condition. It's a book with a canine sense of humor, and the story is told from the perspective of the dog Enzo. Enzo learned from a TV program that Mongolians believe when worthy dogs die, their souls return in human incarnations. Enzo believes this will happen to him, so he studies his human family intensely in order to be ready. This is one of those rare tales that one can't stop reading but will miss when it comes to an end. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Honorable Mentions
December 3, Movie-Remember the Night, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
December 5, Wintergreen Market, SCA
December 5, Christmas Parade, Saugatuck
December 12, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, SCA, Saugatuck
December 17, Movie-The Shop around the Corner, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
December 31, New Years Eve, fireworks
January 14, Movie-Easy Living, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
January 28, Movie-Ninotchka, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
February 6, Great Performance Series, Cashore Marionettes, Holland
February 4, Visiting Writers Series Melissa Delbridge, Memoir, Knickerbocker
February 11, Movie-Midnight, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
February12-16, Winterfest Weekend, Saugatuck & Douglas
February 16, Mardi Gras Parade, Douglas 7 p.m.
February 25, Movie- Design for Living, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
March 9, Visiting Writers Series, Terrance Hayes, Poetry, Knickerbocker
March 10, Great Performance Series, Mahanthappa's Indo-Coalition, Holland
March 11, Movie- Thirty Nine Steps, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
March 13, St. Patrick's Day Festival, Saugatuck
March 25, Movie-Ball of Fire, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
April 6, Great Performance Series, Kronos Quartet, Holland
April 12, Visiting Writers Series, George Saunders, fiction, Knickerbocker

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

My Grandmother Frieda brought this recipe with her from the old country (the cooking smells in the Shtetl must of been exotic) somewhere around Kiev, Russia. It was most likely her mother's or her grandmother's recipe as she was 2 years old when she passed through Ellis Island. Back when we first opened in the early 90's Frieda came up and visited us, shooed us out of the kitchen and baked us this wonderful batch of Channuka bread. She is unequivocally one of the original Sirens of Sherwood. I miss her humor, good nature and think of her often. Thanks for the love Grandma Frieda.

Grandma Frieda's Mandel Bread

Ingredients

3 quarters cup sugar
3 quarters cup canola oil
3 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking flour
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup raisins
2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
1 teaspoon almond extract

Assemblage

1. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, oil and eggs-mix well
2. In another bowl, mix the flour and baking powder, stir in the egg mixture along with the nuts, raisins, peel and alomond extract (the dough will be sticky)
3. Form the dough into two logs 12 x 3 inches thick on a well greased baking sheet
4. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes 5. Remove from the oven and cut into 1 inch slices, arrange slices on a baking sheet 6. Return to oven and bake for 10 to 13 minutes or more, remove to wire racks and to cool down.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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Sherwood Forest News November 2009

News from the Forest

November is here with its crisp weather and shorter days. There are still some leaves on the trees, but leaf peeping time will soon be over as Mother Nature lays down her multicolored carpet. It's a serene time of year to take a walk and enjoy the change of season. There's hot apple cider, millions of stars, and a refreshing chill in the air. So join us for some pre-holiday rest and relaxation-the perfect time to finally get to that book you've been meaning to read all summer. Also, for those thinking ahead to the holidays, don't forget about Sherwood Forest B&B gift certificates--quick, easy, and always appreciated!

Package of the Month
Bed and Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a getaway involving brewing your own batch of beer? Sherwood Forest is offering a unique package that includes a 2-night stay plus access to Saugatuck Brewing Company's brew-on-site facilities. SBC will provide the recipes, from light to dark, more than 70 different recipes are available. They'll also provide the ingredients and professional brewing equipment as well as the expertise to take you through the brewing process. You'll brew at least 11 gallons of beer (sixty 22oz. bottles). If 11 gallons of beer is more than you need, bring a friend or two and split the batch. It takes 3 to 4 hours to brew your batch and you return in two weeks to bottle and sample your beer, which takes about 2 hours, or you can have them bottle it and pick it up (an extra $20). You can even design your own labels using Microsoft Word (for an extra $27). The cost of Bed and Breakfast and Brewery runs from $512 to $695 depending on the time of year and the room. For more info, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Gift Certificates
Give the most amazing gift on the planet. Imagine receiving a gift certificate from Sherwood Forest B&B! After the recipient jumps up and down and hugs that special someone, he or she will rush to the phone to book a room at Sherwood Forest (just gotta have that fireplace/Jacuzzi suite). Call 800-838-1246 or visit our gift certificate page at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html.

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Now's the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. From November through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 nights or more and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your life. Here are the details: dinner is $55 per person, guests provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required. You pick the date November through April and we'll pick the chef. Black out dates are New Year's Eve and Valentine's weekend. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the "real world"), a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
Looking for a quiet, relaxing place to stay? Our Cottage is perfect for that tranquil getaway or for spending time with friends or family. We do still have openings in November and December, which is also a wonderful time to kick back and enjoy the area. It sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach, and it's pet friendly. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Wine Dinner
Join the folks at Everyday People Café for their wine dinner on November 18 at 6:30 p.m. This dinner will feature Michigan Autumn Harvest, with five courses paired up with some fantastic wines. For more info, visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com, or if you wish to book a room with us and have a fabulous dinner, give us a call at 800-838-1246 and we can make the arrangements.

Saugatuck and Douglas Holiday Previews
Let the shops of Douglas entertain you this holiday season. The town will be decorated in colorful lights, and there will be music and refreshments to enjoy while shopping for that unique gift on November 21 until 9 p.m. For more info, visit http://saugatuckdouglas.com/.

Music
On November 7 at 8 p.m. Grammy-nominated singer and guitarist Tab Benoit will be performing at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. He and his band will have you stomping your feet and dancing to their blend of Cajun rock and blues. For more info, visit www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Next in the line up for the Hope College Great Performance Series is Nathaniel Dett Chorale on November 20 at Dimnent Chapel in Holland at 7:30 p.m. Chorale is a Canadian professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues. For more info, visit http://www.hope.edu/arts or call 616-395-7890.

Acoustic
The Red Barn Cabaret Series presents Gregg Sanborn in The Music of John Denver--A Tribute at the Red Barn in Saugatuck on November 14 at 7 p.m. A warm and touching tribute to one of America's best loved artists with all of his favorite songs. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Friday and Saturday in November from 6:30-9:30 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info, visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Mo' Music
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music on November 6, Claudia Schmidt (singer/songwriter); November 7, Jim Cooper (jazz vibes); November 8, Mia Dyson- House Concert (blues/ roots); November 13, David Molinari & Lauran Bittinge (folk fusion); November 20, Rene y Guillermo of Los Bandits de Michigan (Tejano/ originals/ covers); November 22, Drew Nelson with Drew Howard- House Concert (original singer songwriter); and on November 27, Cavepeople (singer/songwriter). For more info, visit http://www.saltoftheearthfennville.com/ or call 269-561-7258.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday and Sunday through November. There's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Film Studies at the Red Barn
Local cinema enthusiast and professor Bill Muzzillo will introduce each film and lead a brief discussion afterward during the Red Barn Film Studies. Screenings are: Twelve Angry Men, starring Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb, on November 3; and Boys Town, starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, on November 10; The Grapes of Wrath, starring Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell, on November 17; National Velvet, starring Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor, on November 24; The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn, on December 1; Abbott and Costello in Hollywood on December 8; White Christmas, starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney, on December 15; Christmas Story, on December 22; and The Bridge over the River Kwai, starring William Holden and Alec Guiness, on December 29. All screenings are at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Children's Film Fest
The Seventh Annual Saugatuck Children's Film Festival is being held at the SCA on November 22 and will feature independently produced films for children and young adults that are both entertaining and educational, dealing with such subjects as environmental preservation, cultural diversity, and history. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org/cff_index.html.

Movies
Film Series
The Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland will present The Lemon Tree from November 16-20, which is about Salma, a Palestinian widow, who has to stand up to her new neighbor, the Israeli Defense Minister, when he moves into his new house opposite her lemon grove, on the green line border between Israel and the West Bank. Screening is at 7:30 p.m. For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/knick/.

Film
It's Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library in Douglas. Friendly Persuasion (1956) with Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire on November 5. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Comedy
On November 28 at 8 p.m. take a Thanksgiving comedy break with the Bawdy Bard. Done with the relatives and the leftovers? Head to the SAC for Thanksgiving weekend entertainment as Chicago's world famous Improv Olympic serves up improvised ''pop Shakespeare'' during this Saugatuck engagement. This modern tribute to the Bard mixes heaping tablespoons of Monty Python-esque slapstick and wordplay with Shakespearean language and tone. The outcome is indisputably great improv fueled by smart plot development, stage chemistry, and recognizable characters. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Exhibitions
As Is by Laurel Farrin will be on display from November 6-December 28 at the SCA. Laurel Farrin's Mondrian series of trompe l'oeil works shows why the genre--which translates to "trick the eye" in English--has fascinated viewers for centuries. Trompe l'oeil pieces create optical illusions via extremely realistic two-dimensional images that appear to be three-dimensional. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Exhibitions
Through March 2010, The Holland Museum is exhibiting Indigenous Art of Indonesia and Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than 60 other exotic pieces of art and artifacts--weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks--give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Book Reading/Signing
Join host Alison Swan and the remarkable group of area poets and novelists who created the celebrated Michigan book, Fresh Water: Women Writing on the Great Lakes, for an evening of inspiring writing and conversation on November 4 at 7 p.m. at the SCA. Reading from their newest works, the women will share their art, vision, and tales from the paths leading from Fresh Water to their current projects. Then join the group for a reception and signing of new books and Fresh Water. A portion from each book sold at the event will go to the SCA to support programming. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Visiting Writers
Next in the line up for the Visiting Writers Series on November 12 is fiction writer Susan Choi. Her first novel, The Foreign Student, won the Asian-American Literary Award for fiction, and her second novel, American Woman, was a finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize. With David Remnick she co-edited the anthology Wonderful Town: New York Stories from The New Yorker, and her non-fiction has appeared in publications including Vogue, Tin House, Allure, O, and The New York. She will be reading from selected works. For more info, call 269-395-7620 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/.

Book of the Month
Keith's book of the month is The Sorrow of War, a short novel by Bao Ninh published in the early '90s that remains one of the most outstanding pieces of writing from a north Vietnamese perspective on the war in Vietnam. A classic in its writing style, the essence of the novel is about the act of writing as much as it's about the war. Ninh has created a masterpiece that should be considered amongst the greatest war novels. Epic in every way, the novel tells the story of a teenager who enters the Vietnam War, which claimed 58,000 U.S. combats' lives and 6 million Vietnamese. It is this devastation that Ninh writes about so fluidly. The Sorrow of War is without a doubt a timeless story. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Lecture-Discussion
The Wreck of the Rockaway: the Archeology of a Great Lakes Schooner will be presented by Kenneth Pott on November 19 at 7 p.m. at the SCA. On November 19, 1891, the Rockaway was swept into a fierce autumn storm while carrying a load of lumber from Ludington to Benton Harbor, Michigan. The ship's captain, first mate and crew of four were dramatically rescued just before the ship sank to the bottom, 2.5 miles northwest of South Haven, Michigan. For more than 100 years the ship was lost in the depths of Lake Michigan, until in 1983 the wreck was accidentally discovered by perch fishermen. Kenneth Pott led an underwater archaeological crew from the Michigan Maritime Museum that spent six seasons documenting the ship and its artifacts (many of which were recovered and conserved) in detail. During this About It presentation - given on the 118th anniversary of the Rockaway's sinking -Pott will talk about the dramatic discovery of this Great Lakes scow schooner and the secrets its wreck has revealed. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Honorable Mentions
November 22, Herrick Sunday Concert Series, Notes from South Carolina
November 27, Sparkle Holiday Lighting Ceremony
November 29, Herrick Sunday Concert Series, Notes from Iowa
December 1, Film Studies at the Red Barn, African Queen
December 3, Movie-Remember the Night, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
December 5, Wintergreen Market, SCA
December 5, Christmas Parade, Saugatuck
December 5, Nouveau Fest, Fenn Valley Winery, Fennville
December 8, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Abbott & Costello in Hollywood
December 12, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, SCA, Saugatuck
December 11-13 Dickens Christmas Carol, Saugatuck
December 15, Film Studies at the Red Barn, White Christmas
December 17, Movie-The Shop around the Corner, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
December 18-20, Dickens Christmas Carol, Saugatuck
December 22, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Christmas Story
December 29, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Bridge on the River Kwai
December 31, New Years Eve, fireworks

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages-doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

Rudy, the fairychild of Sherwood Forest, loves to come over and raid the veggie drawer, throwing everything she can get her hands on into a frying pan and pot. There is a wee bit of supervision since she's only 10 years old, but she is well on her way to becoming a chef par excellante, here is a small bit of her goodness.

Rudy's Roasted Vegetable Stock

Ingredients

1 whole garlic head, with pointed end cut off to expose cloves
1 large onion, sliced
4 large carrots, sliced
3 sticks celery, sliced
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
3 medium turnips, peeled and cut into wedges
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 leeks, sliced
1 (8-oz.) Portobello mushroom, cut in half
½ cup dry white wine
10 cups water
½ cup fresh parsley
½ cup fresh rosemary
1 bay leaf
pinch salt

Place garlic through turnips in a large pan and sprinkle with oil; toss well, then bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Add leeks and mushrooms, then bake an additional 35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon vegetables into a large soup pot. Pour wine into the vegetable pan and scrape up any browned bits. Add wine mixture, water, and remaining ingredients to pot and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Strain through a fine sieve over a bowl and discard solids. Store in refrigerator 1 week or freeze up to 6 months.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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Sherwood Forest News October 2009

News from the Forest

Fall is upon us, and the leaves are just starting their journey into the palette of many colors. What a wonderful time of year to go apple picking, take a hike along the lakeshore or in the wooded dunes of the Saugatuck State Park, or plan a color-tour drive (you might even want to share a Sherwood Forest picnic basket).

Sherwood Forest Picnic Baskets
Venture forth from Sherwood Forest with your own basket of goodies. The picnic includes a fine selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and baguettes, along with fresh fruit and sweets to make your afternoon rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Now's the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. From November through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 nights or more and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your life. Here are the details: dinner is $50 per person, guests provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required. You pick the date November through April and we'll pick the chef. Bring your appetite and whatever you need to wet your whistle, sit down, and dinner is served. Black out dates are New Year's Eve and Valentine's weekend. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the "real world") a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
The Cottage is the perfect place for that quiet getaway or for spending time with friends or family. We do have openings in the next few months, a wonderful time to kick back and enjoy the area. It sleeps up to 4 people, is pet friendly, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Sherwood Forest Golf
Fall is also a great time of year to play the links, and even better, the rates go down! We've come up with some incredible stay-and-play golf packages for you to choose from: spend 1 night midweek at the Sherwood Forest B&B, and we'll arrange for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Course, a sweeping, eighteen-stanza epic, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe. Here's what you get with a 1-night stay (additional nights available at regular room price): a room at Sherwood Forest B&B and 18 holes of golf for two (with a cart) with a guaranteed tee time at The Ravines. Cost ranges from $283-$523. To book this package, call us at 800-838-1246. For more golf specials, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html.

U-Pick
Cranes Orchards, just one of West Michigan's U-Pick Apple Orchards (they might have some peaches left), is less than 7 miles from our front door. They have 14 different varieties, such as Gala, Macintosh, Honey Crisp, Cortland, Golden Supreme, Jonagold, Empire, Jonathans, Ida Reds, Golden Delicious, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Fuji, and Braeburn. For more info, call 269-561-8651 or visit http://www.craneorchards.com And there's also Earl's U-Pick Farm--through October 15, you can pick red or gold raspberries. For more info, call 269-227-2074 or visit http://www.earlsberries.com.

Oktoberfest
Downtown Douglas will be the site for this year's Oktoberfest on October 3. While it's not Munich, Germany, it does have a festive atmosphere to help you celebrate the traditional season's first batch of new brew. There will be a parade in Downtown Douglas at noon, followed by a rifle ceremony, tapping of the keg with Alphorn Performance, and the opening of the Bier Tent at 1 p.m. Music will be provided by the Ein Prosit 35-piece Traditional German Band from 1-4 p.m. and the Strudel Meisters German band will start at 5 p.m. Adult Keg Toss and Stein Holding competition will be at 6 p.m., and finally the best dressed Herr and Fraulein competition will be at 6:30 p.m. Beer will be from the Saugatuck Brewing Co. For more info, visit http://www.douglasmichigan.com/oktoberfest/.

Art
The Blue Coast Artists 20th Annual Fall Tour of Studios will be held October 3-4 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Travel the Blue Star Highway between South Haven and Saugatuck to discover some of Southwest Michigan's finest artwork, from stoneware and Raku pottery, sculpture and fine jewelry, to wood marquetry, blown glass, and painting. Visit the unique rural studios, galleries, and showrooms of these 9 professional artists. For more information, visit http://bluecoastartists.com.

More Art
Come join more than 20 tri-community galleries for the 32nd annual Saugatuck/Douglas Gallery Stroll on October 10-11 from noon-5 p.m. You'll be able to cruise through some of the Midwest's finest art, sip wine, nibble hors d'oeuvres, and discern brushstrokes, pottery glazes, and photography techniques. You'll also have the chance to meet and greet some red-hot emerging artists. For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/ART/Index.html.

Porkapalooza
Don't miss this gastronomic event on October 3 from noon to 10 p.m. at the Red Horse Ranch in Fennville. It's an all day farm party connecting you to the harvest. Seven chefs from area restaurants were hand-selected to compete in this invitational. Each restaurant is showcasing at least one primary pork dish, as well as two regionally influenced side dishes, providing sourcing information that demonstrates the technique and provenance of their food. Beer will be available from New Holland Brewing Company and wines from Fenn Valley. There will also be live music. For more info, visit http://pork.newhollandbrew.com/.

22nd Annual Goose Festival
You haven't lived until you've attended the Goose Festival--no really! On October 9-11, the weekend-long festival in downtown Fennville will entertain you to your heart's delight. The parade starts at 1 p.m. on October 10, and you'll be awed by this year's reining beauty queen, Miss Honker. There will be music by Evolucion Nortena playing some great regional Mexican music; The Note Blenders, a harmonica band; and Delilah and The Lost Boys, a local favorite. There will also be a craft show and a carnival with amusement rides. For more info, visit http://www.fennvillegoosefestival.com/highlights.htm.

Chili Cook Off
Enjoy some chili from your favorite area restaurants and music from many of your favorite local performers in Saugatuck's Wicks Park from 1-5 p.m. on October 11. For more info, call 616-886-0749.

Jim Peterik's Lifeforce
On October 10, Jim Peterik's Lifeforce will entertain you. This high-energy rock-jazz ensemble soars into Saugatuck during Gallery Stroll Weekend. Grammy-winning songwriter and instrumentalist Peterik brings his soulful creativity to this sensual, physical music. If you like the layered, upbeat sounds of Spyro Gyra, Pat Matheny, or Acoustic Alchemy, don't miss this special opportunity to experience Lifeforce, with vocalist Lisa McClowry, in the SCA's intimate theater. As the founding member of both Survivor and The Ides Of March, Peterik was responsible for eighteen Top 10 hits, three of which are, Vehicle, The Search Is Over, and the Grammy-winning Eye Of the Tiger. For more info, visit www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Choir
Join the 50th season opener of the Holland Chorale: America Sings. The Holland Chorale will welcome two guest choirs, the West Ottawa Vocalaires and the West Ottawa Women's Chorus, under the direction of Pam Pierson, to share in this celebration of distinctly American music on October 10 at the West Ottawa Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. For more info, call 616-494-0256 or visit http://www.hollandchorale.org/.

Dutch Chamber Music
Next in the line up for the Hope College Great Performance Series is The Storioni Trio. They have established themselves as one of the leading Dutch chamber music ensembles, with concerts in Carnegie Hall and Concertgebouw Amsterdam's Wigmore Hall. The will be performing classics by Brahms, Beethoven, and Dvorak. The performance will take place on October 14 at Dimnent Chapel in Holland at 7:30 p.m. For more info, visit http://www.hope.edu/arts or call 616-395-7890.

Mo' Music
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music on October 2, Luke Winslow King (singer/songwriter); October 9, Mark & Eddie (acoustic variety); October 16, Sandhill Sessions (Irish); October 18, Brian Cutean (wordless guitar); and on October 23, Dublin Station (mod + trad + orig + celtic + folk). For more info, visit http://www.saltoftheearthfennville.com/ or call 269-561-7258.

Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Thursday through Sunday in October from 6:30-9:30 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo, Libby York Jazz Vocals, Willy Chacon and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Jazz
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday and Sunday through November. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Movies
On October 6 at The Red Barn Playhouse, Bill Muzzillo will host the film On the Waterfront, starring Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, and Lee J. Cobb. On October 13: The Egg and I, starring Claudette Colbert, Fred McMurray, and Marjorie Main. On October 20: Frankenstein & Bride of Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff & Elsa Lancaster. On October 27: Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte, starring Bette Davis and Olivia deHaviland. For more info, visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/schedule.htm or call 269-857-5300.

Film Series
The Knickerbocker Film Series will continue on through October 3 at 7:30 p.m. with the French film Seraphine. The film is the true story of Séraphine Louis, aka Séraphine de Senlis, a simple and profoundly devout housekeeper who in 1905 at age 41, self-taught and with the instigation of her guardian angel, began painting brilliantly colorful canvases. Ultimately she was discovered and she became one of the Sacred Heart Painters with acclaimed shows in Paris and eventually at New York's MOMA. And on October 19 - 24, The Class will be shown, which follows the year in the life of a French schoolteacher (François Begaudeau) working at a high school in a tough neighborhood of Paris. Cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom. As amusing and inspiring as the teenage students can be, their difficult behavior can still jeopardize any teacher's enthusiasm for the low-paying job. For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/knick/.

Film
It's Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library in Douglas. On Oct 8, Mrs. Miniver (1942) with Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon; and Oct 22, The Heiress (1949) with Olivia de Havilland and Montgomery Clift. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Cooking Classes
Ignite your passion for cooking - and tasting bold new foods - with Chef Jim LaPerriere culinary workshops. He leads a 6-week series (you can take them individually), including: October 1 - The New Basics: from slicing and dicing to sautéing & grilling; October 7 - Spice Infusion: hot new ways to use fresh and dried chiles, spices, and herbs; October 14 - Taste of Italy: a pasta primer from noodles to gnocchi; October 21 - The Global Ladle: soups, stews and braises; October 28 - the art and craft of baking and pastry. There is a midweek cooking class package that includes a one-night stay (at Sherwood Forest) and the class. Give us a call at 800-838-1246 and your taste palettes will love you for it.

Halloween
Halloween festivities will be going on in downtown Saugatuck on October 31 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., including country music, entertainment, storytelling, arts and crafts, and a kids' parade. That evening you do not want to miss the Douglas Halloween Celebration and Adult Parade at 10 p.m. It's definitely a fashion statement, whether you wish to partake (pull out that I Love Lucy costume), or if you're there for some interesting viewing (you'll laugh till you cry). For more info, call the Saugatuck-Douglas CVB at 269-857-1701.

Haunted Corn Maize
Have a good scare at Crane's Orchards Haunted Corn Maize, a kaleidoscope of twists and turns and heart-stopping boos (weather permitting), Thursday-Saturday, 7-10 p.m. in October. For more info, call 269-561-8651 or go to www.craneorchards.com.

Exhibitions
Through March 2010, The Holland Museum is exhibiting Indigenous Art of Indonesia and Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than 60 other exotic pieces of art and artifacts--weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks--give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum has unveiled its 2009 exhibit: Summertime: A Century of Leisure on the Lake Michigan Shore. Also visitors will be able to view the new permanent interactive "Super Map" exhibit that allows a visitor to learn about the history of sites throughout the Saugatuck-Douglas area. This exhibit is open daily, noon to 4 p.m., until Labor Day, and on the weekends only in the fall. Admission is free. For more info, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

Sit!
The Stories Chairs Tell through October 5 at the SCA. Just imagine the conversation Thomas Chippendale, Charles Limbert, Marcel Breuer, and Charles Eames could have had if they had found themselves in the same room. The Sit! exhibition brings the work of these and other design legends together to examine the nuances of the Modernist truism that Form Follows Function. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Saugatuck Farmer's Market
Sad to see you go: the last Farmers Market of the season is almost upon us. Experience great-tasting produce, dairy products, and baked goods--a feast for the eyes and the palette from Michigan's fields, dairy barns, and kitchens. Under the red arches at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts on Culver Street in Downtown Saugatuck on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October 9. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Visiting Writers
On October 12 at 7 p.m., Poet Aracelis Girmay, who won the 2009 GLCA New Writers Award for Teeth, a collection of poetry that reflects her Eritrean, Puerto Rican, and African-American traditions, will read from various selections. Fiction writer Don Waters, who also won the 2009 GLCA New Writers Award for his collection of stories, Desert Gothic, will also read from selected works. The readings will take place at the Knickerbocker Theatre, 86 E. 8th St., downtown Holland. For more info, call 616-395-7620 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/.

Books
Alex's book of the month is The Beast God Forgot to Invent by Jim Harrison. Harrison is an amazing wordsmith, and his stories are very engaging, in a hedonistic, manly kind of way. The Beast God Forgot to Invent is a compilation of three novellas, each about different men at interesting points in their lives. In the title story the narrator, a fifty-something antique book collector and real estate agent, feels chagrined living in the north Michigan wilderness where he lives a paradoxical life of ruggedness tempered by his dependence on consumerism, creature comforts, and gadgetry. Who is charged with the task of describing the last days of his brain-damaged, womanizing friend, Joe, to the coroner. The novella's comedy and deep, soulful pain comes from the sexually-frustrated, over intellectual narrator idealizing Joe into something akin to a hyper sexualized Pan. It's an enjoyable read, interspersed with profound truth. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Honorable Mentions
October 4, Red Barn Cabaret Series, Edith Piaf- Celebration of a Legend w/ Martha Cudlipp
Ocotber 10, Third Annual Road Rally. 866-254-4633
October 11, Red Barn Cabaret Series, Who Booked this Gig: My Lifetime in Show Business w/Brian Damson
November 3, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Twelve Angry Men
November 5, Film, Friendly Persuasion, Douglas Library
November 7, Tab Benoit, SCA, Saugatuck
November 10, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Boy's Town
November 11, Chili Cook Off, Saugatuck
November 12, Visiting Writers Series, Fiction, Susan Choi
November 13, Film Studies at the Red Barn, The Egg and I
November 15, Grand Rapids Ballet Company, SCA, Saugatuck
November 16-20,Knickerbocker Film Series, Lemon Tree, Holland
November 17, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Grapes of Wrath
November 19, The Wreck of the Rockaway, SCA, Saugatuck
November 20, Great Performance Series, Dett Chorale, Holland
November 21, Childrens Film Festival, SCA, Saugatuck
November 21 7th Annual Childrens Film Festival
November 21, Douglas and Saugtuck Holiday Preview
November 24, Film Studies at the Red Barn, National Velvet
November 24, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Hush Hush Sweet Charlette
November 28 Comedy..To be Announced, SCA, Saugatuck
December 1, Film Studies at the Red Barn, African Queen
December 5, Christmas Parade, Saugatuck
December 5, Nouveau Fest, Fenn Valley Winery, Fennville
December 8, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Abbott & Costello in Hollywood
December 12, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, SCA, Saugatuck
December 11-13 Dickens Christmas Carol, Saugatuck
December 15, Film Studies at the Red Barn, White Christmas
December 18-20, Dickens Christmas Carol, Saugatuck
December 22, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Christmas Story
December 29, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Bridge on the River Kwai
December 31, New Years Eve

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages-doesn't get much better than that. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents, except for a small area around Henrietta's grave, where we set up our annual midnight picnic in honor of Siren Ghoul Henrietta. Now SGH is not your typical ghoul, she is a wonderful member of a nocturnal subterranean race, who does not have a diet of human corpses, she is pretty much a vegetarian , so she says. She hangs out with us once or twice a year, when she's bored, and last year, she surprised us with this delicious concoction in a caldron over an open fire. So we lovingly decided to share it with you. Bon Appetite!

Siren Ghoul Henrietta's Gravesite Midnight Halloween Soup

Ingredients

1 pound organic ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
6 cups water
1 teaspoon organic chicken soup base
1 cup diced red or purple potato
1 bay leaf
1/8 teaspoon basil
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
1/2 teaspoon thyme
6 cups tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-cup warm water
2 cups broken vermicelli

In a caldron, combine organic ground turkey, chopped onion, and chopped celery. Cook until the vegetables are soft; drain. Stir in water, organic chicken base, diced red or purple potatoes, bay leaf, basil, chopped parsley, thyme, diced tomatoes, and flour dissolved in warm water. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add vermicelli and simmer until cooked, about 10 minutes. Makes 16 servings.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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Sherwood Forest News September 2009

News from the Forest

The summer is coming to an end, and although the autumnal equinox is still a few weeks away, things have quieted down here on the lakeshore. The squirrels have started gathering their food supply for the fall, the young turkeys are wandering through the woods, and soon the hummingbirds will start their long trek south. The nights are cool; the days are peaceful; the early apples and pears are ready for picking. It's a great time of year to join us for some relaxation and beautiful fall colors.

Sherwood Forest Picnic Baskets
Venture forth from Sherwood Forest with your own basket of goodies. The picnic includes a fine selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and baguettes, along with fresh fruit and sweets to make your afternoon rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the "real world") a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Now's the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. From November through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 nights or more and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your life. Here are the details: dinner is $50 per person, guests must provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required. You pick the date November through April and we'll pick the chef. Bring your appetite and whatever you need to wet your whistle, sit down, and dinner is served. Black out dates are New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day weekend. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html.

Sherwood Forest and Golf
Sherwood Forest Golf Now that the golf courses are a wee bit less crowded, it's a great time to enjoy some golf. We've come up with some incredible stay-and-play golf packages for you to choose from. Spend a night or two at Sherwood Forest B&B and we'll arrange for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Course, a sweeping, 18-stanza epic, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe. Cost ranges from $251 to $625. For more info, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
Looking for a quiet, relaxing place to stay now that the summer is over? Our cottage has 2 bedrooms, full kitchen, washer/dryer, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach, and it's pet friendly. For more info, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

U-Pick
Cranes Orchards, just one of West Michigan's U-Pick Apple Orchards (they might have some peaches left), is less than 7 miles from our front door. They have 14 different varieties, such as Gala, Macintosh, Honey Crisp, Cortland, Golden Supreme, Jonagold, Empire, Jonathans, Ida Reds, Golden Delicious, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Fuji, and Braeburn. For more info, call 269-561-8651 or visit http://www.craneorchards.com And there's also Earl's U-Pick Farm--through October 15, you can pick red or gold raspberries. For more info, call 269-227-2074 or visit http://www.earlsberries.com.

Airplane Rides
Looking for a cool experience this fall? What a great way to enjoy the blanket of colors Mother Nature is about to show us. How about a joy ride in a nifty Cessna 172 with a qualified, certified flight instructor? You'll be able to fly over the Lake Michigan shoreline along Saugatuck/Douglas and see from the air what makes this area so magical. Rides are $25 per person for a half hour, or $120/hour for up to three people. Advanced reservations are required. If interested, give us a call at the B&B, 800-838-1246.

Balloon Rides
Another way to enjoy falls blaze of color, feel and experience the soundless flight on the wisp of a breeze in a hot air balloon. Windmill Balloons specializes in champagne flights that last about 1.5 hours. You'll take off about 2 hours before sunset to capture the awesome view and colors as the sun lazily sets over the horizon. Advanced reservations are required and cost is $225 per person. If interested, give us a call at the B&B, 800-838-1246.

Farmers' Market
Farmers' Market The Green Market at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts is still going strong from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every Friday through October 9. Local farmers and growers bring fresh produce, flowers, and perennials, plus homemade jams, jellies and baked goods. Experience great-tasting produce, dairy products, and baked goods--a feast for the eyes and the palette from Michigan's fields, dairy barns, and kitchens. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Douglas Social
September 10, the last Douglas Social of the season, will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. in downtown Douglas. This is a real hometown happening that includes fun festivities for the whole family, including beer and brats, music, and lively conversation.

Porkapalooza
Don't miss this gastronomic event on October 2 from noon to 10 p.m. at the Red Horse Ranch in Fennville. It's an all day farm party connecting you to the harvest. Seven chefs from area restaurants were hand-selected to compete in the PORKAPALOOZA Invitational. Each restaurant is showcasing at least one primary pork dish, as well as two regionally influenced side dishes, providing sourcing information that demonstrates the technique and provenance of their food. Beer will be available from New Holland Brewing Company and wines from Fenn Valley. There will also be live music. For more info, visit http://pork.newhollandbrew.com/

Music
Music, Comedy, and Theater The Weird Sisters will perform at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts on September 19. Chosen as one of the top five comedy acts in Chicago, audiences have consistently been delighted by the comedic antics and musical mastery of the Weird Sisters. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (with Wally Michaels on piano, Jeff Beavan on bass, and Jack Wilkin on the drums). Enjoy Christy G, Entourage Mike Raleigh, and Keith Scott, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Thursday through Sunday till Labor Day from 6:30-10 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Curtis-Michaels Jazz Duo on Fridays, and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar on Sat./Sun. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Film Studies
At The Red Barn Playhouse, Douglas resident and film concept developer John Hardy will host a film series: September 1, The Road to Morocco with Crosby, Hope, and Lamour. September 8: Citizen Kane-1941 with Orson Welles, Joseph Cotton, and Agnes Moorehead. September 15: Mr. Roberts-1955 with Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, and James Cagney. September 22: Casablanca-1942 with Loren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. September 29: Duck Soup-1933 with The Marx Brothers. For more info, visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/services.htm or call 269-857-5300.

Film
It's Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library in Douglas. On Sept 10, Jezebel (1938) with Bette Davis and Henry Fonda; and Sept 24, The Letter (1940) with Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Film Series
Knickerbocker Film Series Opens with Easy Virtue, August 31-September 3, & Sept. 5 at 7:30pm. John Whittaker, a young Englishman, falls madly in love with Larita, a glamorous American woman, and they marry impetuously. However, when the couple returns to the family home, his mother is unhappy with the union and works to undermine it. Larita quickly realizes Mrs. Whittaker's game and sees that she must fight back if she wants to keep John. A battle of wits ensues and sparks soon fly. Then on Sept. 28-Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m. The French film Seraphine will show. The film is the true story of Séraphine Louis, aka Séraphine de Senlis, a simple and profoundly devout housekeeper who in 1905 at age 41, self-taught and with the instigation of her guardian angel, began painting brilliantly colorful canvases. Ultimately she was discovered and she became one of the Sacred Heart Painters with acclaimed shows in Paris and eventually at New York's MOMA. Director Martin Provost builds his story around the relationship between the avant-garde art dealer and the visionary cleaning lady, forging a testament to the mysteries of creativity and the resilience of one woman's spirit.For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/knick/.

Dance
Opening the season for the Hope College Great Performance Series is the Luna Negra Dance Theater on September 24-25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Theatre, downtown Holland. Since 1999, the Company has served as a springboard for Latino contemporary choreographers to give expression to their stories and bring new life to the cultures of their communities. For more info, visit http://www.hope.edu/arts or call 616-395-7890.

Theater
On September 20, The Red Barn Cabaret Series presents: Songs the Way I Sing Them with Diane Wortly, from pop to Broadway to opera. On September 26, A Tribute to John Denver with Gregg Sandborn. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/schedule.htm.

Art
Te Blue Coast Artists 20th Annual Fall Tour of Studios will be held October 3-4 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Travel the Blue Star Highway between South Haven and Saugatuck to discover some of Southwest Michigan's finest artwork, from stoneware and Raku pottery, sculpture and fine jewelry, to wood marquetry, blown glass, and painting. Visit the unique rural studios, galleries, and showrooms of these 9 professional artists. For more info, visit http://bluecoastartists.com.

Exhibitions
Through March 2010, The Holland Museum is exhibiting Indigenous Art of Indonesia and Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than 60 other exotic pieces of art and artifacts--weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks--give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum has unveiled its 2009 exhibit: Summertime: A Century of Leisure on the Lake Michigan Shore. Also visitors will be able to view the new permanent interactive "Super Map" exhibit that allows a visitor to learn about the history of sites throughout the Saugatuck-Douglas area. This exhibit is open daily, noon to 4 p.m., until Labor Day, and on the weekends only in the fall. Admission is free. For more info, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

Sit!
The Stories Chairs Tell through October 5 at the SCA. Just imagine the conversation Thomas Chippendale, Charles Limbert, Marcel Breuer, and Charles Eames could have had if they had found themselves in the same room. The Sit! exhibition brings the work of these and other design legends together to examine the nuances of the Modernist truism that Form Follows Function. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Lecture-Discussion
A Night with Nelson, presented by John Berry on September 17 at 7 p.m. at the SCA. George Nelson is considered the designer of Modern Design. His range of works, writings and design direction at Herman Miller provided leadership for what today is called Mid-Century Modern. John Berry, who knew Mr. Nelson, gives a presentation highlighting the designer's remarkable range of accomplishments, including his own voice recalling those experiences. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Visiting Writers
On September 17 at 7 p.m., the fourth annual Tom Andrews Memorial reading will take place with Gregory Orr at the Knickerbocker Theatre, downtown Holland. Orr is the author of several books, including nine collections of poetry and a highly acclaimed collection of essays, Poetry as Survival. He will be reading from selected works. For more info, call 616-395-7620 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/.

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market will be held the last Sunday in September from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The 400 exhibitors will be there rain or shine--200 indoor and 200 under canopies (the market is always the last Sunday of the month, April through September). For more info, call 269-735-3333. And don't forget to visit our friends down at the Blue Star Antique Pavilion on Blue Star Highway in Douglas.

Honorable Mentions
September 22, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
October 3, Octoberfest, downtown Douglas
October 4, Red Barn Cabaret Series, Edith Piaf- Celebration of a Legend w/ Martha Cudlipp
October 6, Film Studies at the Red Barn, On the Waterfront
October 8, Film, Mrs. Miniver, Douglas Library
October 9, Green market, SCA Saugatuck
October 9-11, Fennville Goose Festival, Fennville
October 10, Jim Peterik's Lifeforce, SCA, Saugatuck
Ocotber 10, Third Annual Road Rally. 866-254-4633
October 11, Red Barn Cabaret Series, Who Booked this Gig: My Lifetime in Show Business w/Brian Damson
October 10-11, Annual Gallery Stroll, Saugatuck-Douglas
October 11, Annual Chili Cook off
October 12, Visiting Writers Series, Fiction, Don Waters
October 12, Visiting Writers Series, Poetry, Aracelis Girmay
October 13, Film Studies at the Red Barn, The Egg and I
October 14, Great Performance Series, Storioni Trio, Holland
October 15, Grand Rapids Ballet Company, SCA, Saugatuck
October 19-24, Knickerbocker Film Series, The Class, Holland
October 20, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Frankenstein & Bride of Frankenstein
October 22, Film, The Heiress, Douglas Library
October 27, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte
October 22, Film, The Heiress, Douglas Library
October 31, Halloween celebration and parade, downtown Douglas
November 3, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Twelve Angry Men
November 5, Film, Friendly Persuasion, Douglas Library
November 7, Tab Benoit, SCA, Saugatuck
November 10, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Boy's Town
November 11, Chili Cook Off, Saugatuck
November 12, Visiting Writers Series, Fiction, Susan Choi
November 13, Film Studies at the Red Barn, The Egg and I
November 15, Grand Rapids Ballet Company, SCA, Saugatuck
November 16-20,Knickerbocker Film Series, Lemon Tree, Holland
November 17, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Grapes of Wrath
November 19, The Wreck of the Rockaway, SCA, Saugatuck
November 20, Great Performance Series, Dett Chorale, Holland
November 21, Childrens Film Festival, SCA, Saugatuck
November 21 7th Annual Childrens Film Festival
November 21, Douglas and Saugtuck Holiday Preview
November 24, Film Studies at the Red Barn, National Velvet
November 24, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Hush Hush Sweet Charlette
November 28 Comedy..To be Announced, SCA, Saugatuck
December 1, Film Studies at the Red Barn, African Queen
December 5, Christmas Parade, Saugatuck
December 5, Nouveau Fest, Fenn Valley Winery, Fennville
December 8, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Abbott & Costello in Hollywood
December 12, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, SCA, Saugatuck
December 11-13 Dickens Christmas Carol, Saugatuck
December 15, Film Studies at the Red Barn, White Christmas
December 18-20, Dickens Christmas Carol, Saugatuck
December 22, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Christmas Story
December 29, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Bridge on the River Kwai
December 31, New Years Eve

Books
Keith & Sue's book of the month is A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain, a thrillingly alive, somewhat out of control, mad, swirling bacchanalia of a book. Bourdain's around-the-world party (with stops in Cambodia, Vietnam, Russia, and Japan, among other places) of eating, drinking and surely participating in lots of activities that didn't make it into the book, is rapturously gluttonous, unrepentantly hedonistic. No one writes about food like this: food as love, as passion, as life. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

You just never know when Uncle William (of Atlas Mountain fame) will stop by, he's become an occasional apparition around here. We have no idea why he and his camel Mr. Thirsty were dress up in tuxedos but we surmise it had to do with the 400th Annual Two Humps Desert Oasis Conference. Mr. Thirsty was sitting on a lounge chair next to the pool and Uncle William was on the porch smoking his hooka. He told me of a dish he enjoyed while sitting around a fire spinning tales in southern Spain with some old friends, telling each other camel jokes, (Mr. Thirsty was not amused).

He said this isn't exactly a recipe. It lies somewhere between our modern need for measurement and a folkloric suggestion on how to cook dried beans. Pots of beans like these have simmered over fires, on stoves, and in ovens for generations; seasoned with whatever was available locally and flavored with a love of sharing. They're comfort food at its best. For that reason, try to use real products such as chicken broth that actually tastes like chicken broth and honest-to-god ham, not a ham product, what in hades is ham product anyway!?!

Uncle Williams Folkloric Bean

Ingredients

1 lb. of dried beans, half black and half red for color.
A medium-sized sweet onion-kind of baseball-sized.
3 cloves of fresh garlic.
Two seeded serrano chiles.
A good sized smoked ham hock, ham bone or a chunk of ham butt.
A 32 oz. box of organic free-range chicken broth.
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Place the dried beans in a large pot or bowl. Cover well with cold. Let sit overnight. Drain the beans and pick through by hand, looking for the occasional stone that sometimes lurks within.
Place beans in a heavy bottomed dutch oven or slow cooker.
Medium chop up a medium-sized sweet onion.
Mince or press garlic.
Add to beans and onion and stir.
Mince the fresh seeded serrano chile, add to mixture, stir.
Add the smoked ham hock, ham bone or the chunk of ham butt to pot.
Add the organic free-range chicken broth.
Add extra water to cover [ about an inch above the beans].
Bring to a boil, lower heat to a very gentle simmer, cook uncovered for at least a few hours, stirring occasionally. If using a slow cooker, cook on low heat for about 4 hours.
When beans have softened and "gravy" has formed, check for seasoning and add salt and pepper as desired.
Serve over corn bread or seasoned rice. Use warm tortillas to scoop or sop.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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Sherwood Forest News August 2009

News from the Forest

The warm summer weather is still upon us, and Lake Michigan water temps are in the 70s--purrrfect for taking a dip. It's a great time of the year for enjoying lazy days at the pool or beach, strolling along Lake Shore Drive for a sunset, or sharing a picnic basket in the shade. There's lots to do, or nothing if you so choose. So give us a call for that much-needed end-of-the-summer getaway!

Sherwood Forest Picnic Baskets
Venture forth from Sherwood Forest with your own basket of goodies. The picnic includes a fine selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and baguettes, along with fresh fruit and sweets to make your afternoon rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the "real world") a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage
Our cottage is booked up for the summer, but if you're looking for a relaxing getaway after Labor Day, give us a jingle. It sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach, and yes it's pet friendly. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

Bed and Breakfast and Charter Fishing
Looking for the ultimate experience in Saugatuck fishing charters? Sherwood Forest B&B is offering an extraordinary package that includes some awesome lodging plus some great fishing with Best Chance Charters, Saugatuck, Michigan's premiere fishing experts. For years, the Saugatuck port has provided some of the best salmon, trout, perch, and walleye fishing within the Great Lakes region. Whether you're a novice who wants special attention or an experienced angler who is looking for more of a hands-on trip, their professional staff is prepared to help make your Saugatuck fishing charter experience a highlight of your visit. Here are the details: you'll get 1 or 2 nights at Sherwood Forest B&B plus a fishing trip on Lake Michigan and some awesome bragging rights when you return home. The cost runs from $608 to $985, depending on the time of year and the room. For more info or to book this package, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Bed and Breakfast, Dinner, and Off-Broadway Theater
Looking for a great getaway including fantastic lodging, dinner for two, and two tickets to some awesome off-Broadway theater? Sherwood Forest has this for you to enjoy this summer: you'll get 1 to 2 nights at Sherwood Forest B&B, dinner for two at either Chequers in Saugatuck, a British-style pub offering English favorites, or Restaurant Toulouse, a French-American restaurant with warm French provincial ambiance. Then you'll be off to the Mason Street Warehouse, where you'll experience professional off-Broadway live theater. The line up: Pump Boys and Dinettes (July 24-August 9), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (August 14-30). Package prices range from $249 to $569. To book this package, please call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Bed and Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a weekend getaway involving brewing your own batch of beer? Sherwood Forest is offering a unique weekend package that includes a two-night stay plus access to Saugatuck Brewing Company's brew-on-site facilities. SBC will provide the recipes, from light to dark; over 70 different recipes are available. Summer Wheat to Red Ales to rich Porters. They'll also provide the ingredients and professional brewing equipment as well as the expertise to take you through the brewing process. You'll brew at least 11 gallons of beer (sixty 22oz. bottles). If 11 gallons of beer is more than you need, bring a friend or two and split the batch. It takes 3-4 hours to brew your batch and you return in two weeks to bottle and sample your beer, which takes about 2 hours or you can have them bottle it and pick it up (an extra $20). You can even design your own labels using Microsoft Word (for an extra $27). The cost of Bed and Breakfast and Brewery runs from $512 to $695 depending on the time of year and the room. For more info or to book this package, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest and Golf
We've toured the courses, replaced our divots, and tallied up the scores, and come up with some incredible stay-and-play golf packages for you to choose from. Spend a night or two at Sherwood Forest B&B and we'll arrange for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Course, a sweeping, 18-stanza epic, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe. Cost of these packages ranges from $241 TO $540. For more information, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

U-Pick
There's a couple of great Michigan U-Pick's about 8 miles or less from our front door; Earl's U-Pick Farm is one of them. Through August, you can pick raspberries, such as Laurens and Chester's. Then at Krupka's Blueberry Plantation, now is the time to pick and/or buy delicious blueberries. For more info, contact Earl's at 269-227-2074 or Krupka's at 269-857-4278.

Airplane Rides
Looking for a cool experience? How about a joy ride in a nifty Cessna 172 with a qualified, certified flight instructor? You'll be able to fly over the Lake Michigan shoreline along Saugatuck/Douglas and see from the air what makes this area so magical. Rides are $25 per person for a half hour, or $120/hour for up to three people. Advanced reservations are required. If interested, give us a call at the B&B, 800-838-1246.

Balloon Rides
Enjoy the soundless flight on the wisp of a breeze in a hot air balloon. Windmill Balloons specializes in champagne flights that last about 1.5 hours. You'll take off about 2 hours before sunset to capture the awesome view and colors as the sun lazily sets over the horizon. Advanced reservations are required and cost is $225 per person. If interested, give us a call at the B&B, 800-838-1246.

Douglas Socials
Every other week on Thursday nights through September 10, the Douglas Socials will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. in downtown Douglas. This is a real hometown happening that includes fun festivities for the whole family, including beer and brats, music, and lively conversation.

Farmers' Market
The Green Market is at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every Friday until October, and on Mondays from 3-7 p.m. from July 7 to August 25. Local farmers and growers bring fresh produce, flowers, and perennials, plus homemade jams, jellies, and baked goods. Plus don't forget to visit our friends at the Summertime Market (they carry some great local fruits, vegetables, meats, and the amazing Seedy Salt bread) in Douglas right before the bridge.

Sidewalk Sale
The Annual Saugatuck Douglas Sidewalk Sale will be held August 20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Saugatuck and Douglas. This is a great event while merchants unload their summer goods to make way for fall fashions and giftware. There will be bargains galore and will happen rain or shine. Sponsored by downtown Saugatuck and Douglas merchants.

Food
The Annual Taste of Douglas will be held on August 20 at Beery Field in downtown Douglas from noon-7 p.m. It's a small Taste of Chicago street festival, featuring enjoyable foods from area restaurants, a gastronomical event that is sure to please everybody. Sponsored by the Village of Douglas and area restaurants. For more info, call 269-857-1438.

More Food
The Annual Taste of Saugatuck will be held on August 30 on Water Street in downtown Saugatuck from noon-7 p.m. It's a mini Taste of Chicago street festival, featuring fine foods from area restaurants, a gastronomical event that is sure to please everyone. Sponsored by the Saugatuck-Douglas CVB and area restaurants. For more info, call 269-857-1701.

Music
Music ? There's free music in the park in Saugatuck every Wednesday by the river next to the band shell in Saugatuck: August 5, Soul System; August 12, Creolization; August 19, Funktion; August 26, Los Bandits; September 2, Delilah Dewylde & the Lost Boys. For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/.

Music in the Park--Fennville
There's free music every other Tuesday in Fennville: August 4, Funktion. The concerts will be held at Memorial/Paradise Park on north Maple Street in downtown Fennville. For more info, visit http://www.greaterfennville.com.

Steel Guitar/America
Natalia Zukerman is back for her third performance on August 3 at 8 p.m. at the SCA. The daughter of internationally famed violinist/conductor Pinchas Zukerman and flutist/writer Eugenia Zukerman, Natalia grew up in Manhattan immersed in classical music. Performing live-and experiencing what she calls the life of a wandering gypsy. If you're a fan of Madeleine Peyroux, Bonnie Raitt or even Amy Winehouse, you will find something to connect with. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Americana
Peter Mulvey will be performing on August 10 at 8 p.m. at the SCA. A favorite in the "Summer in the Studio" series, Mulvey is an internationally sought after singer/songwriter with tunes that will have you shaking your head in wonder at their beauty. While his lyrics often get the spotlight, Mulvey's notable guitar playing ranges from tender acoustic picking to blues and jazz. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Celtic
Krista Detor will be performing on August 24 at 8 p.m. at the SCA. Like a poet and a playwright, she makes songs out of crystalline moments. Her talent and the content of her songs are what set her apart. The intimacy of the songs make you feel as if Detor sings only for you. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Country/Blues
Maia Sharp will perform on August 17 at 8 p.m. at the SCA. Four years ago, Maia achieved a life-long ambition, when Bonnie Raitt invited her to open and perform with her on the road. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Country/Rock
The Coal Men will perform on August 31 at 8 p.m. at the SCA. What the Coal Men will tell you is that they just have a great time making utterly listenable music with terrific lyrics. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit t http://www.sc4a.org.

Chamber
The performance line-up for the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck is as follows: August 6-7, Paris, Je T´aime, with an Allegro for String Quartet with Flute, Clarinet, and Harp by Ravel, then Tarantelle, Op. 6 for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano by Camille Saint-Saëns, then a Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp by Debussy and finally a Piano Quintet in F Minor by César Franck. On August 13-14, All That Jazz with a Violin Sonata in G Major by Ravel. Three Etudes by George Gershwin/Earl Wild. Four on the Floor by Larsen. Selections from Porgy and Bess. An American in Paris by Gershwin/Heifetz. And in closing Café Music by Schoenfield. All performances are at 8 p.m. at the Saugatuck Women's Club. For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckmusic.org.

Jazz Festival
The Saugatuck-Douglas Jazz Festival will be held July 31-August 1 and will feature a diverse lineup of One For All, Johnny O'Neal, Shahida Nurullah, Marion Hayden, Flat River Big Band, Barbara Ware with Cliff Monear Trio, Musique Noire, Ron English, Benny Poole, Cooper, Hay, Van Lente Group, Dwight Adams Quintet, What Not Inn Trio, Marcus Miller Quintet, Duncan McMillan, Cruz Brothers, Gary Tu Trio, and Sean Dobbins at Coghlin Park, Saugatuck Brewing Company, Saugatuck United Methodist Church, and Saugatuck Christian Reformed Church. For more info, call 313-965-0505 or visit http://www.s-djazz.com.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (with Wally Michaels on piano, Jeff Beavan on bass, and Jack Wilkin on the drums). Enjoy Christy G, Entourage Mike Raleigh, and Keith Scott, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Thursday through Sunday till Labor Day from 6:30-10 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Curtis-Michaels Jazz Duo on Fridays, and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar on Sat./Sun. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Art
Ox-Bow Open Studios
Ox-bow is a 98-year-old artist residency for experienced and aspiring artists. Each summer over 500 artists make their way to the 115 acres located among the dunes and forests of West Michigan to delve into their artistic process. Join them on August 14 from 7:30-10 p.m. for demonstrations, performances, and live auctions. For more info, go to http://www.ox-bow.org or call 800-318-3019.

Film Studies
At The Red Barn Playhouse, Douglas resident and film concept developer John Hardy will host a film series: August 4, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein with Lon Cheney and Bela Lugosi; August 11, Funny Girl with Barbara Streisand and Omar Sharif; August 18, Blockheads with Laurel and Hardy; August 25, The Pajama Game with Doris Day; September 1, The Road to Morocco with Crosby, Hope and Lamour. For more info, visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/services.htm or call 269-857-5300.

Film
It's Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library in Douglas. On Aug 13, After the Thin Man with James Stewart; Aug 27, Double Wedding with John Beal. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Theater
The Mason Street Warehouse has announced its 2009 season, and next in the line up starting on July 24 is Pump Boys and Dinettes, an evening of country-western songs performed on high octane with guitars, bass, piano, and some kitchen utensils. Opening August 14 is The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee, a hilarious tale of young overachievers in the throes of puberty overseen by grown ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. The Mason Street Warehouse is at 400 Culver St. in Saugatuck. For more info, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org.

More Theater
The Red Barn Cabaret Series presents Kristen Hartnagel at the Red Barn in Saugatuck on August 30 at 7 p.m. Hartnagel will present Grandma, Mama and Me, as she weaves 3 lives together to tell a tale of jaded love and hope eternal. Experience the joy of the journey, while finding the truth of who you are through the lives of these 3 amazing women and their bond. With Phil Pletcher on piano. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/.

Still More Theater
Hope Summer Repertory Theatre continues with Suds: The Rocking 60's Soap Opera Musical on August 5, 8, 10, 13. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare on August 1, 3, 7, 11, 14; Little Women on August 4, 6, 12, 15. For more info, call 616-395-7890 or visit http://www.hope.edu/hsrt/.

Puppet Slam Saturdays
At The Saugatuck Woman's Club, every Saturday through September 5, puppet plays will be performed at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Art of Puppetry is alive and well and living in Saugatuck. The Village Puppeteers presents for the second season. For more info, call 269-857-2023 or visit http://www.thevillagepuppeteers.com.

Exhibitions
Through March 2010, The Holland Museum will present Indigenous Art of Indonesia & Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than 60 other exotic pieces of art and artifacts--weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks--give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum has unveiled its 2009 exhibit: Summertime: A Century of Leisure on the Lake Michigan Shore. Also visitors will be able to view the new permanent interactive "Super Map" exhibit that allows a visitor to learn about the history of sites throughout the Saugatuck-Douglas area. This exhibit is open daily, noon to 4 p.m., until Labor Day, and on the weekends only in the fall. Admission is free. For more info, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

Exhibitions
Sit! The Stories Chairs Tell from August 14 through October 5 at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Just imagine the conversation Thomas Chippendale, Charles Limbert, Marcel Breuer, and Charles Eames could have had if they had found themselves in the same room. The "Sit!" exhibition brings the work of these and other design legends together to examine the nuances of the Modernist truism that Form Follows Function. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Ships and Shipwrecks
Join local author and shipwreck hunters Valerie Van Heest and Neel Zoss as they team up to present a multi-faceted event that will take you back in time. They will be presenting the following. McDougall's Great Lakes Whalebacks; Icebound Found, The ordeal of the SS Michigan; Deckhands for a day, Journey on a great lakes freighter. The presentation will take place on August 8 at the Red Barn Playhouse in Saugatuck at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/schedule.htm.

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market will be held the last Sunday in August from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The 400 exhibitors will be there rain or shine--200 indoor and 200 under canopies (the market is always the last Sunday of the month, April through September). For more info, call 269-735-3333. And don't forget to visit our friends down at the Blue Star Antique Pavilion on Blue Star Highway in Douglas.

Honorable Mentions
August 1, Blues in the Vineyard, Fenn Valley Winery
August 4, Tuesday Talks at the OSH, Ox-Bow: Summer Fun-the Inside Story
August 11, Tuesday Talks at the OSH, A Photographic Study of Dunes, Lake and River
August 15, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
August 18, Tuesday Talks at the OSH, Lake Michigan Commercial & Sport Fishing
August 22, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
August 18, Tuesday Talks at the OSH, Oval Beach in the 1950s & 1960s
August 30, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
August 30, Taste of Saugatuck, Saugatuck
September 1, Film Studies at the Redbarn, The Road To Morocco
September 10, Douglas Social
September 13, Red Barn Cabaret Series, How Lucky Can You Get with Rob Karel
September 19-20, Saugatuck-Douglas Heritage Festival
September 20, Red Barn Cabaret Series, Songs the Way I Sing Them w/Darla Wortley
September 22, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
September 20, Red Barn Cabaret Series, A tribute to John Denver w/Gregg Sanborn
September 27, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
October 3, Octoberfest, downtown Douglas
October 4, Red Barn Cabaret Series, Edith Piaf- Celebration of a Legend w/ Martha Cudlipp
October 9-11, Fennville Goose Festival, Fennville
October 11, Red Barn Cabaret Series, Who Booked this Gig: My Lifetime in Show Business w/Brian Damson
October 10-11, Annual Gallery Stroll, Saugatuck-Douglas
October 11, Annual Chili Cook off
October 31, Halloween celebration and parade, downtown Douglas

Books
Sir Kaplan's book of the month is A Collection of Essays by George Orwell. It is a masterpiece. First published in 1936, this book comprises 8 of the highest voltage pages of English prose you'll ever read. In Shooting an Elephant, Orwell illumines the shoddy recesses of his own character, illustrates the morally corrupting nature of imperialism, and indicts you, the reader, in the creature's death, a process so vividly reported it's likely to show up in your nightmares ever after. In The Art of Donald McGill with vaguely obscene illustrated postcards beloved of the working classes, uses the lens of the popular culture to examine the battle lines and the rules of engagement in the war of the sexes, circa 1941. In Politics and the English Language, prose working-out of Orwell's perceptions about the slippery relationship of word and thought that becomes a key premise of 1984. In Looking Back on the Spanish War is as clear-eyed a veteran's memoir of the nature of war as you're likely to find. In this best-selling compilation of essays, written in the clear-eyed, uncompromising language for which he is famous. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

Keith, the Guru of Sherwood Forest, has recently discovered that he is allergic to gluten (his initial reaction was: YIKES, there is so much pasta left to be eaten--he did mention beer in there somewhere, too). After barricading himself in the kitchen when all of the Sirens of Sherwood were out at the Red Dock for the day and after much rattle, clatter, and crashes (there is a reason we don't allow Keith in the kitchen), he came up with (much to the surprise of the Sirens) a delightful recipe everyone is sure to enjoy.

Keith the Guru's Gluten-free Zucchini, Rice, & Feta Egg Bake

Ingredients

10 eggs, beaten
1 and one half Cups milk
One half-teaspoon salt
One half-teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 small onion
2 cups brown rice (cooked according to instructions)
3 ounces traditional feta, diced

Preparation:

Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Sautee onions 8 minutes or until soft, then add zucchini and cook 2 more minutes (set aside and let cool). Add rice and zucchini/onion to egg mixture-stir. Pour mix into 2 greased round 10-inch ceramic pie dishes, sprinkle feta on top, then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until lightly brown. Remove from oven; let cool 5 minutes, and then slice. Serves 10-12.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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Sherwood Forest News July 2009

News from the Forest

The summer is upon us, and there's a whole lot happening around here! The golf courses are in tip-top shape, the off-Broadway theater has a fantastic line up, and Lake Michigan is warm enough to take a dip. We've got some awesome lounge chairs by the pool and our 1970s-era Schwinn Suburban bicycles are ready for your riding pleasure. Ahh, it's a great time of year, so get out your calendar and schedule some free time soon.

Sherwood Forest Picnic Baskets
Venture forth from Sherwood Forest with your own basket of goodies this summer. The picnic includes a fine selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and baguettes, along with fresh fruit and sweets to make your afternoon rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit, you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the real world) a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage
Our cottage is booked up for the summer, but if your looking for a relaxing getaway after Labor Day, give us a jingle. It sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach, and yes it's pet friendly. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

U-Pick
There are some great Michigan U-Pick's about 8 miles or less from our front door; Earl's U-Pick Farm is one of them. Through August, you can pick raspberries, such as Laurens and Chester's. Then at Krupka's Blueberry Plantation, beginning in early July, blueberries will be in season, with the Dukes, and then the delicious Jerseys will be ready right after that. For more info, contact Earl's at 269-227-2074 or Krupka's at 269-857-4278.

Sherwood Forest and Golf
We've toured the courses, replaced our divots, tallied up the scores, and we've come up with some incredible stay-and-play golf packages for you to choose from. Spend a night or two at Sherwood Forest B&B and we'll arrange for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Course, a sweeping, 18-stanza epic, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe. Cost of these packages ranges from $241 to $540. For more information, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html.

Airplane Rides
Looking for a cool experience? How about a joy ride in a nifty Cessna 172 with a qualified, certified flight instructor? You'll be able to fly over the Lake Michigan shoreline along Saugatuck/Douglas and see from the air what makes this area so magical. Rides are $25 per person for a half hour, or $120/hour for up to three people. Advanced reservations are required. If interested, give us a call at the B&B, 800-838-1246.

Balloon Rides
Enjoy the soundless flight on the wisp of a breeze in a hot air balloon. Windmill Balloons specializes in champagne flights that last about 1.5 hours. You'll take off about 2 hours before sunset to capture the awesome view and colors as the sun lazily sets over the horizon. Advanced reservations are required and cost is $225 per person. If interested, give us a call at the B&B, 800-838-1246.

Douglas Socials
Starting July 16 and continuing every other week on Thursday nights through September 10, the Douglas Socials will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. in downtown Douglas. This is a real hometown happening that includes fun festivities for the whole family, including beer and brats, music, and lively conversation.

Farmers' Market
The Green Market is at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every Friday until October 9 and on Mondays from 3-7 p.m. from July 6 to August 31. Local farmers and growers bring fresh produce, flowers, and perennials, plus homemade jams, jellies, and baked goods. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Music
There's free music in the park in Saugatuck every Wednesday by the river next to the band shell in Saugatuck. July 1, Don Middlebrook and Living Soul; July 8, the Cheap Ones; July 15, Michael Holmes & Mark Kahny; July 22, Zion Lion; July 29, Keith Scott Blues Band; August 5, Soul System; August 12, Creolization; Aug 19, Funktion; Aug 26, Los Bandits; Sept 2, Delilah Dewylde & the Lost Boys. For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/.

Music in the Park--Fennville
There's free music every other Tuesday in Fennville: July 7, Los Bandits de Michigan; July 21, Truth in Jazz; August 4, Funktion. The concerts will be held at Memorial/Paradise Park on north Maple Street in downtown Fennville. For more info, visit http://www.greaterfennville.com.

Jazz
Cooper Hay Van Lente Group will be performing on July 13 at 8 p.m. at the SCA with some seriously cool jazz. The group is influenced by swing, fusion, latin, and world music. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Folk
Ralston Bowles is a truly gifted lyisist who can also raise the roof on a bluesy tune or keep it smooth and smokey on a lonely balad. He's the Cheshire Cat of the folksters, slyly romping in an unpredictable wonderland. The performance is on July 20 at 8 p.m. at the SCA. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Folk
Typhanie Monique/Neal Alger Duo are two of Chicago's brightest talents, moving from swing to R&B/hip-hop groove to Latin rhythmic feels and back. The performance is on July 27 at 8 p.m. at the SCA. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Steel Guitar
Natalia Zuckerman w/ special guest Adrienne is back for her third appearance at the SCA. Zuckerman will turn your head with her serious guitar chops and break your heart with her dead-on lyrics. The performance is on August 3 at 8 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Chamber
The performance line up for the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck is as follows: July 9-10, with Mendelssohn, Brahams and Bartok; July 16-17, with Faure, Glazunov, Finzi and Suk, also selected poems by Jack Ridl; July 23-24, with Gershwin, Bloch and Schubert; July 30-31, with Haydn, Curtis-Smith and Shostakovich. All performances are at 8 p.m. at the Saugatuck Woman's Club. For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckmusic.org.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday and Sunday, (Monday with Wally Michaels on piano, Jeff Beavan on bass, and Jack Wilkin on the drums). Enjoy Michael Holmes, Christy G, Entourage Mike Raleigh, and Keith Scott, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Thursday through Sunday till Labor Day from 6:30-10 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Curtis-Michaels Jazz Duo on Fridays, and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info, visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Art
Ox-Bow Open Studios Ox-bow is a 98-year-old artist residency for experienced and aspiring artists. Each summer, more than 500 artists make their way to the 115 acres located among the dunes and forests of West Michigan to delve into their artistic process. Join them on Friday nights for demonstrations, performances, and live auctions on July 3, 17, 31 and August 14, from 7:30-10 p.m. For more info, go to http://www.ox-bow.org or call 800-318-3019.

Film Studies
On Tuesdays in July at The Red Barn Playhouse, Douglas resident and film concept developer John Hardy will host a film series: July 7, The Long, Long Trailer, with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz; July 14, Oklahoma, with Shirley Jones & Gordon McCrea; July 22, The Cocoanuts with The Marx Brothers; and July 28, Brigadoon with Gene Kelley and Cyd Charisse. For more info, visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/services.htm or call 269-857-5300.

Movies
It's Thursdays at 7 p.m. with William Powell and Myrna Loy at the Saugatuck Douglas District Library in Douglas. On July 2, The Great Ziegfield; July 16, Libeled Lady; July 30, After the Thin Man; August 13, Double Wedding. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Theater
Judy's Swinging Summer Show starring Michael Holmes will be on July 17-18 at the Red Barn Playhouse. This all-star one-woman show features Judy Garland and her musical guest stars Carol Channing, Billie Holiday, Patsy Cline, and more. For more info, visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/services.htm or call 269-857-5300.

More Theater
The Mason Street Warehouse has announced its 2009 season, which will open June 26 with the Broadway hit The Full Monty about a group of unemployed steel workers who come up with the ultimate money making gimmick (can't tell you what they're not wearing). On July 24, the theater will present Pump Boys and Dinettes, an evening of country-western songs performed on high octane with guitars, bass, piano, and some kitchen utensils. Opening August 14 is The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee, a hilarious tale of young overachievers in the throes of puberty overseen by grown ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. The Mason Street Warehouse is at 400 Culver St. in Saugatuck. For more info, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org.

Still More Theater
Hope Summer Repertory Theatre opens on June 19 with the comedy Room Service, a hilarious hit on Broadway in 1937 and then a Marx Brothers movie. Suds opens on June 26, about an attendant at the Wash-O-Rama, in this bubbling '60s musical. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare…abridged in which three buffoons take an enormous slapstick to the backside of the venerable Bard on July 10; Little Women--The Musical, join the remarkable March sisters in this dazzling new Broadway musical on July 17. For more info, call 616-395-7890 or visit http://www.hope.edu/hsrt/.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum has unveiled its 2009 exhibit: Summertime: A Century of Leisure on the Lake Michigan Shore. Also visitors will be able to view the new permanent interactive "Super Map" exhibit that allows a visitor to learn about the history of sites throughout the Saugatuck-Douglas area. This exhibit is open daily, noon to 4 p.m., until Labor Day, and on the weekends only in the fall. Admission is free. For more info, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

Exhibitions
Through March 2010, The Holland Museum will present Indigenous Art of Indonesia & Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than 60 other exotic pieces of art and artifacts--weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks--give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Exhibition
The Saugatuck Dunes will be on display until July 28 at the SCA, an engaging invitational exhibition curated in partnership with the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance. Select artists from the region display works of art representing their artistic point of view of the Saugatuck dune coastline. Paintings, sculpture and photography are included in this vibrant exhibition celebrating our community's natural treasures. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit www.sc4a.org.

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market will be held the last Sunday in July from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The 400 exhibitors will be there rain or shine--200 indoor and 200 under canopies (the market is always the last Sunday of the month, April through September). For more info, call 269-735-3333. And don't forget to visit our friends down at the Blue Star Antique Pavilion on Blue Star Highway in Douglas.

Honorable Mentions
July 4, Waterfront Invitation Fine Art Fair, Saugatuck
July 9-10, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 11, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
July 16, Douglas Social
July 16-17, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 17, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
July 19, Bluegrass Festival, Felt mansion, Laketown Township
July 23-24, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 24-August 9, MSW Pump Boys and Dinettes, Saugatuck
July 25, Village Square Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
July 26, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 30, Douglas Social
July 30-31, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 31, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
July 31-August 1, Saugatuck-Douglas Jazz Festival
August 4, Film Studies at the Redbarn, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein
August 6-7, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
August 8, Ships and Shipwrecks of West Michigan, Red Barn Theatre
August 10, Peter Mulvey, Blues-Jazz, SCA, Saugatuck
August 11, Film Studies at the Redbarn, Funny Girl
August 13, Douglas Social Krista Detor,
August 13-14, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
August 14, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
August 15, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
August 17, Maia Sharp, Country, SCA, Saugatuck
August 18, Film Studies at the Redbarn, The Blockheads
August 20, Sidewalk Sales, Saugatuck and Douglas
August 22, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
August 24, Krista Detor, Bluesy-Rootsy, SCA, Saugatuck
August 25, Film Studies at the Redbarn, The Pajama Game
August 27, Douglas Social
August 30, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
August 30, Taste of Saugatuck, Saugatuck
August 31, The Coal Men, Alternative-Country, SCA, Saugatuck
September 1, Film Studies at the Redbarn, The Road To Morocco
September 10, Douglas Social
September 22, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas

Books
We decided to do a list of summer books, so we called our friends at NPR and they referred us to Librarian Nancy Pearl Picks Summer's Best Books: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart; The Photographer: Into War-Torn Afghanistan with Doctors Without Borders by Emmanuel Guibert and Didier Lefevre; The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles; The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway; Narrow Dog to Indian River by Terry Darlington; What Happened to Anna K. by Irina Reyn; A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark; and The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. You can purchase or order thses books at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

This is a luscious summer soup brought to you by one lovely Amiga I met in a cantina while prospecting for silver in the lost mountains of Sherwood Forest. If you go north of Sherwood, there is a small mountain range that always seem to elude the most serious prospector. A small band of caballeros settled there in the mid 1800s, escaping the religious fever that was enslaving their people. A descendant of one of the original settlers informed me (while she kept pouring the tequila) that she was privy to a very special avocado soup recipe that would make a man out of me and never want to leave her, after all that tequila, of course I believed her. When I awoke the next morning, the cantina was empty, as was my wallet, but the recipe was pinned to my shirt.

The Lovely Amiga's Cool Avocado Soup

Ingredients

4 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
Juice from 1 lemon
3 cups low-fat plain yogurt
3 cups low-salt chicken broth
5 large basil leaves, chopped
¼ tp. ground black pepper
¼ tp. salt

Preparation:

Set aside half of one of the avocados and place in a small bowl-sprinkle w/ 1 Tb. of the lemon juice, cover, and set aside. Coarsely chop the remaining avocados and place in a large bowl-add the remaining lemon juice and toss. Add the rest of ingredients and stir well, then process in blender or food processor until fairly smooth (a bit of texture should remain). Place in a bowl and cover, then chill 2 hours. Before serving, dice the remaining avocado half and divide among the soup bowls; garnish with extra basil if desired. Serves 6 to 8.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

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Sherwood Forest News June 2009

News from the Forest

Memorial Day has come and gone, and for us that heralds the beginning of our summer season. It's been cooler than usual here, so the spring flowers are still going strong, and the Lake Michigan temps remain chilly (luckily our hip and groovy pool is heated and ready for a dip--the mural looks awesome). The days are getting longer as we head toward the summer solstice, so we hope you'll be able to make it for a visit soon to enjoy this delightful time of year.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (pet friendly)
Our Cottage is getting booked up for the summer, but here's what we have left: June 7-10 & 15-19, and August 22-28. It goes for $1250 for the week and sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, washer/dryer, pool privileges, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. And of course, there is still nightly availability for this spring and fall, and yes it's pet friendly. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

Sherwood Forest Picnic Baskets
Venture forth from Sherwood Forest with your own basket of goodies this summer. The picnic includes a fine selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and baguettes, along with fresh fruit and sweets to make your afternoon rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit, you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the real world), a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. The cost for this R&R is $165 with one massage; $235 with two massages (does not include room rate). To view more specials on our website, go to http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html.

Shopping Specials
We've teamed up with 10 retail stores to offer you some great discounts and promotions in Saugatuck/Douglas, including clothing, food/drink, and art. It's a great way to explore some of the distinctive shops this area has to offer. For more info, call 800-838-1246.

Gift Certificates
Give the most amazing gift on the planet. Imagine receiving a gift certificate from Sherwood Forest B&B! After the recipient jumps up and down and hugs that special someone, he or she will rush to the phone to book a room at Sherwood Forest (just gotta have that fireplace/Jacuzzi suite). Call 800-838-1246, or visit our gift certificate page at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Bed & Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a weekend getaway involving brewing your own batch of beer? Sherwood Forest is offering a unique weekend package that includes a 2-night stay plus access to Saugatuck Brewing Company's brew-on-site facilities. SBC will provide the recipes, from light to dark, with more than 70 different recipes available. They'll also provide the ingredients and professional brewing equipment as well as the expertise to take you through the brewing process. You'll brew at least 11 gallons of beer (sixty 22oz. bottles). If 11 gallons of beer is more than you need, bring a friend or two and split the batch. It takes 3-4 hours to brew your batch and you return in 2 weeks to bottle and sample your beer, which takes about 2 hours, or you can have them bottle it and pick it up later (an extra $20). The cost runs from $512 to $695 depending on the time of year and the room. For more info, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Bed & Breakfast, Dinner, and Off-Broadway Theater
Looking for a great getaway including fantastic lodging, dinner for two, and two tickets to some awesome off-Broadway theater? Sherwood Forest has put together a package for you to enjoy this summer: you'll get 2 nights at Sherwood Forest B&B, dinner for two at either Chequer's in Saugatuck, a British-style pub offering English favorites, or Restaurant Toulouse, a French-American restaurant with warm French provincial ambiance. Then you'll be off to the Mason Street Warehouse, where you'll experience professional off-Broadway live theater. The line up for this season is The Full Monty (June 26-July 19), Pump Boys and Dinettes (July 24-August 9), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (August 14-30). Package prices range from $249 to $569. To book this package, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest and Arnold Palmer
Spend a couple of nights at Sherwood Forest, and we'll arrange for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer signature championship golf course, a sweeping, 18-stanza epic, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe. Here's what you get: a 2-night stay at Sherwood Forest, 18 holes of golf for two (with a cart) with a guaranteed tee time at The Ravines, and some great dinner recommendations so you don't have to do the hit and miss thing (cost ranges from $404-$645). To book this package, call us at 800-838-1246. We have lots of different packages, so for more info and prices, check out http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html.

Movies
From June 11-14, head to Saugatuck for the coolest event of the year: the Waterfront Film Festival. With close to 60 films (ranging from shorts, documentaries, comedies, and dramas), seminars, and panel discussions with experienced film industry veterans, it promises to be a great event. The annual free flick on June 11 starts with a street party at 7 p.m. on Water Street, followed at dusk with an outdoor screening of a film. For more info, call 269-857-8351 or visit http://www.waterfrontfilm.org.

More Movies
It's Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. with William Powell and Myrna Loy at the Saugatuck Douglas District Library in Douglas. On June 4, it's Manhattan Melodrama. It's about a friendship between two orphans that endures even though they grow up on opposite sides of the law and fall in love with the same woman; Then on June 18, The Thin Man, a comedy-mystery featuring Nick and Nora Charles: a former detective and his rich, playful wife. Who solve murder cases mostly for the fun of it; On July 2, The Great Ziegfield that follows the ups and downs of Florenz Ziegfeld, famed producer of extravagant stage revues; On July 16, Libeled Lady, Warren Haggerty is the chief editor of the New York Evening Star. Who keeps on delaying his marriage with Gladys because of problems his newspapers must face, like a 5 million libel suit by Connie Allenbury a crazy socialite; On July 30, After the Thin Man, Selma asks Nick to find her missing husband. He had been seeing a bit on the side, and blackmailing a local criminal. David Graham claims he paid the missing husband to get rid of a former girlfriend. Will Nick locate him? The goal is to catch Connie alone with a married man; On August 13, Double Wedding, Two sisters of differing temperaments, the younger's milquetoast fiancé, and a free spirited artist in an auto trailer have romantic complications in this screwball comedy. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Farmers' Market
The Green Market is at the SCA from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every Friday starting June 12 until October 9. There will also be the Monday Market (July 6-August 31) from 3-7 p.m. where local farmers and growers will bring fresh produce, flowers, and perennials, plus homemade jams, jellies and baked goods to the SCA. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org/GreenMarket.html.

Wineries
Head out to Fenn Valley Winery on June 27 for their Wine Fest from 1-5 p.m. where once again they'll kick off the beginning of summer as they open their cellars for wine tasting, ethnic foods, and live music. Call 269-857-2396 or visit http://www.fennvalley.com.

Theater
The Mason Street Warehouse has announced its 2009 season, which will open June 26 with the Broadway hit The Full Monty about a group of unemployed steel workers who come up with the ultimate money making gimmick (can't tell you what their not wearing). On July 24, the theater will present Pump Boys and Dinettes, an evening of country-western songs performed on high octane with guitars, bass, piano, and some kitchen utensils. Opening August 14 is The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee, a hilarious tale of young overachievers in the throes of puberty overseen by grown ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. The Mason Street Warehouse is at 400 Culver St. in Saugatuck. For more info, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org.

More Theater
Hope Summer Repertory Theatre opens on June 19 with the comedy Room Service, a hilarious hit on Broadway in 1937 and then a Marx Brothers movie. Suds opens on June 26, about an attendant at the Wash-O-Rama, in this bubbling ‘60s musical. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare…abridged in which three buffoons take an enormous slapstick to the backside of the venerable Bard on July 10; Little Women--The Musical, join the remarkable March sisters in this dazzling new Broadway musical on July 17. For more info, call 616-395-7890 or visit http://www.hope.edu/hsrt/

Music
Join Michael Holmes on June 5-6 at 8:00 p.m. at the Red Barn Playhouse. What do you get when you mix a nationally acclaimed female impersonator with a bevy of famous icons? The Judy Show, which stars Saugatuck resident Michael Holmes as variety show host Judy Garland and her many guest stars all played by Holmes. This all new show is Michael's first performance of The Judy Show in the area after his sold out winter in Palm Springs, CA! Impersonated guests include Judy, Bette Davis, Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey in a night of raucous comedy and terrific music!. For more info, visit http://www.thejudyshow.com.

Marcia Ball at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts
On June 6 at 8 p.m. listen to Grammy-nominated singer/pianist Marcia Ball, who knows how to raise roofs and tear down walls with her infectious, intelligent, and deeply emotional brand of southern boogie, rollicking roadhouse blues, and heartfelt ballads. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Jazz
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday and Sunday in June. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Friday and Saturday in June from 6:30-10 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Music in the Park--Saugatuck
By the river next to the band shell in Saugatuck, you can listen to some free music this summer. On June 24, Andy & Sam; July 1, Don Middlebrook & Living Soul. For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/

Music in the Park--Fennville
Free music every other Tuesday: June 9, Sister Wilene (honky tonk country music); June 23, Who Hit John (bluegrass and old time music) ; July 7, Los Bandits de Michigan (west Michigan's premiere Tejano band); July 21, Truth in Jazz (17 piece big band jazz); August 4, Funktion, (funk, soul, and R & B). The concerts will be held at Memorial/Paradise Park on north Maple Street in downtown Fennville. For more info, visit http://www.greaterfennville.com.

Art
Volmod Gallery Experience some of the hippest pottery on the planet--you've got to check it out. Pieces include bowls, plates, vases of all shapes and sizes, sinks, tables, lamps, and other lighting units. Stop in and check out the new space across from Wally's on Hoffman in Saugatuck. For more info, visit http://www.volmod.com or call 616-566-2335.

The Nines Gallery
The Nines Gallery is currently featuring new 3-dimensional wall sculptures by Northern Michigan artist Larry Fox. New well-priced prints by Jennifer Gardiner are arriving for the beginning of June. Lovely small landscapes and series of still life paintings by Carol Redmond are currently on the walls. And an incredible new painting by Tom Depree has just arrived. The Nines Gallery and Framing Studio is inside 17 W. 10th St., Holland. For more info, call 616-392-3239 or visit http://www.theninesgallery.com.

Water Street Gallery
Currently at the Water Street Gallery is Summer in the City: Paintings of Urban Life. Mark Andrew Bailey has cityscapes and urban interiors that are often dramatically illuminated. Terrence Gasco captures the urban surroundings, and not to be missed is Maryjo Lemanski, whose recent works are focused around the urban view. Water Street Gallery is now in downtown Douglas. For more info, call 269-857-8485 or visit http://www.waterstreetgallery.com.

Button-Petter Gallery
The Button-Constance Petter Gallery will exhibit sculptor William Allen and artist Max Matteson. Allen's sculpture illuminates an inward journey that gives birth to a subterranean imagery and taps into the universal. Local artist Matteson does a wonderful job of imagery oil landscapes. The gallery is at 161 Blue Star Highway in Douglas. Call 269-857-7861 or visit http://www.constancepettergallery.com.

Indian Summer
This summer enjoy the works of Johnny Fox, of Pottawatomie heritage, who is exhibiting paintings that represent the local area. They also offer an awesome selection of Southwestern jewelry personally handcrafted in the Midwest. Indian Summer is at 800 Lake St., Saugatuck. For more info, call 269-857-4570.

James Brandess Studio & Gallery
Fresh Saugatuck spring landscapes and florals from along the Fishtown Trail will be exhibited in the studio. The many green hues of the trees and plants represent springtime in Saugatuck. Join Brandess as he celebrates his 15-year anniversary on June 20 from noon to 5:00 p.m. Bring the whole family to wish him well, and as always, Marley the studio dog will be available to greet folks. The gallery is at 238 Butler St., downtown Saugatuck. Call 269-857-1937 or visit http://www.jamesbrandess.com.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum has unveiled its 2009 exhibit: Summertime: A Century of Leisure on the Lake Michigan Shore. Also visitors will be able to view the new permanent interactive “Super Map� exhibit that allows a visitor to learn about the history of sites throughout the Saugatuck-Douglas area. This exhibit is open daily, noon to 4 p.m., until Labor Day, and on the weekends only in the fall. Admission is free. For more info, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/

Exhibitions
Through March 2010, The Holland Museum will present Indigenous Art of Indonesia & Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than 60 other exotic pieces of art and artifacts--weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks--give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/

Lecture Series at the SCA
Sylvia Randolph's Saugatuck World will be presented by Dr. James Schmiechen on June 10 at 7 p.m. Painting in Saugatuck for 80 years, Randolph's works are a veritable local history project, reflecting the influences of notable Ox-Bow instructors, shifts in pop culture, and the area's changing landscape. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market runs the last Sunday of the month from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The 400 exhibitors will be there rain or shine--200 indoor and 200 under canopies (the market is always the last Sunday of the month, through September). For more info, call 269-735-3333. And don't forget about the newest antique hot spot in the area, the Blue Star Antique Pavilion at 2948 Blue Star Highway in Douglas.

Honorable Mentions
May 25, Memorial Day Parade, Douglas
May 31, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
June 11-14, Waterfront Film Festival, Saugatuck
June 13, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
June, 19, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
June 20, Saugatuck Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
June 20, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
June 20, Caribbean Carnival, Saugatuck
June 26-July 19, MSW The Full Monty, Saugatuck
June 27, Fenn Valley Wine fest, Fennville
June 28, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 3, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
July 4, Waterfront Invitation Fine Art Fair, Saugatuck
July 9-10, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 11, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
July 16, Douglas Social
July 16-17, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 17, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
July 19, Bluegrass Festival, Felt mansion, Laketown Township
July 23-24, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 24-August 9, MSW Pump Boys and Dinettes, Saugatuck
July 25, Village Square Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
July 26, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 30, Douglas Social
July 30-31, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 31, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
July 31-August 1, Saugatuck-Douglas Jazz Festival
August 6-7, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
August 13, Douglas Social
August 13-14, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
August 14, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
August 15, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
August 20, Sidewalk Sales, Saugatuck and Douglas
August 22, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas
August 27, Douglas Social
August 30, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
August 30, Taste of Saugatuck, Saugatuck
September 10, Douglas Social
September 22, Douglas Dutchers baseball game, Downtown Douglas

Books
Michele's book of the month is A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg. Wizenberg's style of writing is so comforting and welcoming, like sitting at a kitchen table with an old friend you haven't talked to in years, and catching up with each other's lives. Wizenberg's favorite recipes are interspersed with personal reflection. Memories of her father begin with his cherished formula for potato salad and an attempt to recreate his French toast, but also include a variation on scrambled eggs that spurred a comforting moment as he was dying of cancer. Instead of going back to graduate school after his death, she went to Paris, a city that held vivid memories of a childhood trip with her father, of early morning walks on the cobbled streets of the Latin Quarter and the taste of her first pain au chocolat. She was supposed to be doing research for her dissertation, but more often, she found herself peering through the windows of chocolate shops, trekking across town to try a new patisserie, or tasting cheeses at outdoor markets, until one evening when she sat in the Luxembourg Gardens reading cookbooks until it was too dark to see, she realized that her heart was not in her studies but in the kitchen. It's a memoir with a practical purpose and a cookbook with a life beyond the kitchen. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

Don't even ask what Uncle William and his camel Mr. Thirsty were doing in the middle of Cadibona Pass/Apennines Mountains in the wilds of northern Italy, he says he was visiting with the beautiful Italian Duchess Silvana of Tuscany whom he met and fell in love with years ago and said it was a wonderful opportunity to pick the some wild asparagus with her-what was Mr. Thirsty doing all the while-mountain cameling ? The Duchess gave him one of her grandmother's favorite recipes, which in turn he blessed us with; we'll call these Silvana of Tuscany's Ti penso sempre Asparagus .

Silvana of Tuscany's Ti penso sempre Asparagus

Ingredients

1 pound of tender medium sized asparagus
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 and a half Tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 freshly grated lemon rind
Sea salt (ground) and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

1. Rinse the asparagus thoroughly, break off any tough, white bottoms and discard. Cut into 1.5-inch sections, slicing the asparagus at a slight diagonal.
2. Fill a medium sized saucepan half way with water, bring to a boil, add the asparagus and reduce heat slightly to a simmer. Parboil the asparagus for exactly 2 minutes. Drain the hot water. While the asparagus are still hot, toss them in a bowl with the olive oil, Parmesan, and lemon rind. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or room temperature

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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Sherwood Forest News May 2009

News from the Forest

Spring is upon us, and Mother Nature is stretching her arms wide to show us her new wardrobe. The leaf buds are popping, and the trees are reaching for those sun-filled days. The daffodils are singing a chorus of welcome to the newly arrived tulips, the forsythias are displaying their brilliance, and the trillium and Jack in the Pulpit are letting us know how special our little slice of the planet is. Our cool pool will be open by May 22, and the bikes are all tuned up for that awesome ride along Lake Shore Drive or into town. So we hope you can make it for a visit soon!

Sherwood Forest Cottage (pet friendly)
Our Cottage is getting booked up for the summer, but here's what we have left: May 30-June 5, June 6-12 & 13-19, and August 15-21 & 22-28. It goes for $1250 for the week and sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, washer/dryer, pool privileges, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. And of course, there is still nightly availability for this spring and fall, and yes it's pet friendly. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

Bed and Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a weekend getaway involving brewing your own batch of beer? Sherwood Forest is offering a unique weekend package that includes a 2-night stay plus access to Saugatuck Brewing Company's brew-on-site facilities. SBC will provide the recipes, from light to dark, with more than 70 different recipes available. They'll also provide the ingredients and professional brewing equipment as well as the expertise to take you through the brewing process. You'll brew at least 11 gallons of beer (sixty 22oz. bottles). If 11 gallons of beer is more than you need, bring a friend or two and split the batch. It takes 3-4 hours to brew your batch and you return in 2 weeks to bottle and sample your beer, which takes about 2 hours, or you can have them bottle it and pick it up later (an extra $20). The cost runs from $512 to $695 depending on the time of year and the room. For more info, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Bed and Breakfast, Dinner, and Off-Broadway Theater
Looking for a great getaway including fantastic lodging, dinner for two, and two tickets to some awesome off-Broadway theater? Sherwood Forest has put a great package together for you to enjoy this summer: you'll get 1 to 2 nights at Sherwood Forest B&B, dinner for two at either Chequers in Saugatuck, a British-style pub offering English favorites, or Restaurant Toulouse, a French-American restaurant with warm French provincial ambiance. Then you'll be off to the Mason Street Warehouse, where you'll experience professional off-Broadway live theater. The line up for this season is The Full Monty (June 26-July 19), Pump Boys and Dinettes (July 24-August 9), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (August 14-30). Package prices range from $249 to $569. To book this package, please call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Shopping Specials
We've teamed up with 10 retail stores to offer you some great discounts and promotions in Saugatuck/Douglas, including clothing, food/drink, and art. It's a great way to explore some of the distinctive shops this area has to offer. For more info, call 800-838-1246.

Gift Certificates
Give the most amazing gift on the planet. Imagine receiving a gift certificate from Sherwood Forest B&B! After the recipient jumps up and down and hugs that special someone, he or she will rush to the phone to book a room at Sherwood Forest (just gotta have that fireplace/Jacuzzi suite). Call 800-838-1246, or visit our gift certificate page at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html.

Massages
Have a massage in the privacy of your room by a certified masseuse in a style that's just right for you, one hour of pure relaxation...$70. For more info, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Sherwood Forest and Golf
Spend a couple of nights at Sherwood Forest, and we'll arrange for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Course, a sweeping, 18-stanza epic, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe. Here's what you get: a 2-night stay at Sherwood Forest, 18 holes of golf for two (with a cart) with a guaranteed tee time at The Ravines, and some great dinner recommendations so you don't have to do the hit and miss thing (cost ranges from $404-$645). To book this package, call us at 800-838-1246. We have lots of different packages, so for more info and prices, check out http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html.

Tulip Time Festival
Tulip Time Festival Can you believe it? The third largest festival in the United States is just 15 miles north of Saugatuck/Douglas. The Tulip Time Festival dates back to 1929, and today you can still experience some of the same traditional shows that started more than 75 years ago. From May 2-9, there will be Klompen dancers who perform Dutch folk dances, and of course you can tour Windmill Island (Queen Beatrice did) with an original working windmill. The grand finale of the festival will be the Muziekparade at 2 p.m. on May 9, with nearly 50 bands, giant helium-filled balloons, and so many floats you'll lose count. For more info, call 800-822-2770 or visit http://www.tuliptime.com.

Douglas Spring Preview
On May 2 from 5-9 p.m., preview some of the most exciting new items offered by the downtown shops of Douglas, from furniture and original paintings by area artists to accessories for the home. Douglas is being referred to as the Design Center of West Michigan, with many interior decorators, designers, and architects. You'll also be able to enjoy snacks and beverages while strolling through the shops. Visit http://www.douglasmichigan.com.

Theater
The Mason Street Warehouse has announced its 2009 season, which will open June 26 with the Broadway hit The Full Monty about a group of unemployed steel workers who come up with the ultimate money making gimmick (can't tell you what their not wearing). On July 24, the theater will present Pump Boys and Dinettes, an evening of country-western songs performed on high octane with guitars, bass, piano, and some kitchen utensils. Opening August 14 is The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee, a hilarious tale of young overachievers in the throes of puberty overseen by grown ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. The Mason Street Warehouse is at 400 Culver St. in Saugatuck. For more info, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org.

Art
Come see first hand how the Blue Coast Artists create their work. All studios will be open May 2-3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Travel the scenic Blue Star Highway between Saugatuck and South Haven to discover some of Southwest Michigan's finest artwork, including pottery, sculpture, jewelry, weaving, blown glass, and paintings. For more info, visit http://bluecoastartists.com.

Water Street Gallery
The Water Street Gallery opens their 2009 season with Coming Attractions, works of seven new artists from around the country. The artists were selected for their innovation of their medium, from acrylics to oil paintings to sculpture. Water Street Gallery is on Center St., downtown Douglas. For more info, call 269-857-8485 or visit http://www.waterstreetgallery.com.'

Petter Gallery
The Constance Petter Gallery will exhibit watercolors by Maxine MacLeod, oils by Michael Maitner, Eddie Mitchell, and Sheila Bohanon. The gallery is on 161 Blue Star Highway in Douglas. Call 269-857-7861 or visit http://www.constancepettergallery.com.

Volmod Gallery
Meet the hippest potter with some of the hippest pottery on the planet--you've got to check it out. Pieces include bowls, vases of all shapes and sizes, sinks, tables, lamps, and other lighting units. Stop in and check out the new space at 20 Center Street, Douglas. For more info, visit http://www.volmod.com.

The Nines Gallery
The Nines Gallery is excited to be showing a variety of their talented artists this month. To name a few: abstract paintings by Nicole Brink & Amy Reckley, primitive paintings by Tommy Depree, and a few sweet little paintings by Michael Pfleghaar. For more info, visit http://www.theninesgallery.com or call 616-392-4370.

So Much Music
Jennie DeVoe Band
On May 2 at 8 p.m., listen to the Jennie DeVoe Band as she returns to the Saugatuck Center for the Arts for another high energy, funky pop-rock performance. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Hot Club of Detroit (with swing dancers)
On May 24, the SCA presents the Hot Club of Detroit with some groovy Swing Dancers. Experience the sexy, infectious robust rhythms introducing bop and post-bop elements to gypsy jazz with this five-time Detroit Music Award-winning group. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Marcia Ball
On June 6 at the SCA, listen to Grammy-nominated singer/pianist Marcia Ball, who knows how to raise roofs and tear down walls with her infectious, intelligent, and deeply emotional brand of southern boogie, rollicking roadhouse blues, and heartfelt ballads. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Music
Looking for some great music and microbrew, head over to the Lucky Stone, conveniently located in the Saugatuck Brewing Company so you can have a few pints too. May 16: The Right Now & Why Not Astronaut; May 23: Last Call Band; May 24: Natives of the New Dawn; and May 30: Jim Cooper Jazz. For more info visit http://www.theluckystonepub.com or call 269-857-7222.

Jazz
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday and Sunday in May. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Friday and Saturday in May from 6:30-10 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Comedy
On May 23, the SCA presents The Wonder Bread Years. This all-ages comedy show is a fresh slice of hilarious baby-boomer Americana that offers genuinely funny observations about our collective youth: sugar-coated cereals, lawn darts, Jiffy Pop popcorn, and those long distance trips in the way back of the Country Squire station wagon. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Movies
On May 9 at 7 p.m. the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society will be showing The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer with Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple, and Rudy Valee. Grant finds himself squiring a love-sick teenager, Susan, in order to avoid a tougher sentence. He finds himself doing things that really don't suit his age. Then on May 21 at 7 p.m. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House will be shown with Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, and Melvyn Douglas. The Blanding's are looking for their dream house. They end up buying a 170-year-old house for five times more than it is worth. The trouble starts when the house shows its age and has to be torn down. The films will be shown at the Douglas Public Library. For more info, visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/calendar.htm.

From June 11-14, head to Saugatuck for the coolest event of the year: the Waterfront Film Festival. With close to 60 films (ranging from shorts, documentaries, comedies, and dramas), seminars, and panel discussions with experienced film industry veterans, it promises to be a great event. The annual free flick on June 7 starts with a street party at 7 p.m. on Water Street, followed at dusk with an outdoor screening of a soon-to-be-named film. For more info, call 269-857-8351 or visit http://www.waterfrontfilm.org.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum will unveil its 2009 exhibit: Summertime: A Century of Leisure on the Lake Michigan Shore. Also visitors will be able to view the new permanent interactive "Super Map" exhibit that allows a visitor to learn about the history of sites throughout the Saugatuck-Douglas area. This exhibit will open to the public on May 23 and will be open daily, noon to 4 p.m., until Labor Day, and on the weekends only in the fall. Admission is free. For more information, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

Sylvia Randolph: An Art-Filled Life will be on display May 1-June 22 at the SCA. Celebrate the life of artist Sylvia Randolph through selected works from her eight-decade career. The pieces illustrate her remarkable story and the profound influence of the community she called home. A lifelong artist, Randolph graduated from the University of Illinois in 1927, studied painting at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Ox-bow in Saugatuck. Saugatuck's rich landscape--the dunes, the forests and the town itself--were ongoing themes throughout her career. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Through March 2010, The Holland Museum will present Indigenous Art of Indonesia & Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than 60 other exotic pieces of art and artifacts--weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks--give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

About It! Lecture Series
The Michigan Connection: Lights, Camera, Action! Michigan is wooing the film industry with incentives, creating the most lucrative film production tax program and infrastructure development in the United States and the world. On May 14 at 7 p.m., join the SCA for a conversation about making movies in Michigan, how the film industry is impacting the state's economy, and which Hollywood stars may be spotted in the region this summer. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market runs the last Sunday of the month from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The 400 exhibitors will be there rain or shine--200 indoor and 200 under canopies (the market is always the last Sunday of the month, through September). For more info, call 269-735-3333. And don't forget about the newest antique hot spot in the area, the Blue Star Antique Pavilion at 2948 Blue Star Highway in Douglas.

Honorable Mentions
May 25, Memorial Day Parade, Douglas
May 31, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
June 11-14, Waterfront Film Festival, Saugatuck
June, 19, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
June 20, Saugatuck Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
June 26-July 19, MSW The Full Monty, Saugatuck
June 27, Fenn Valley Wine fest, Fennville
June 28, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 3, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
July 4, Waterfront Invitation Fine Art Fair, Saugatuck
July 9-10, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 16-17, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 17, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
July 23-24, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 24-August 9, MSW Pump Boys and Dinettes, Saugatuck
July 25, Village Square Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
July 26, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 30-31, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 31, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
July 31-August 1, Saugatuck-Douglas Jazz Festival
August 6-7, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
August 13-14, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
August 14, Oxbow Friday night open studios, Saugatuck
August 20, Sidewalk Sales, Saugatuck and Douglas
August 30, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan

Books
Keith's book of the month is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I will quote Randy: "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." This is an amazing book by one of the most positive people I have ever encountered. At Carnegie-Mellon some professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy? When Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie-Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave-"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"-wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). In this book, Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration, and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit, you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the real world), a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. The cost for this R&R is $165 with one massage; $235 with two massages (does not include room rate). To view more specials on our website you can go to http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html.

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

We woke up last weekend to Uncle William and his camel parked next to our BMW in the driveway. I have no idea how he and his camel Mr. Thirsty ventured all the way from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, but old hippies have a way of appearing. He told us of his recent foray with a Berber tribe where he learned to play a rabab--a one-stringed fiddle--and made salt 'n' peppah breadsticks from a ageless French woman who swears she was married to a Marinid Sultan and this was his favorite snack (hmmmmm-wasn't that dynasty back in the mid 1200s?). Que sera, sera, Uncle William, may you and your camel never go thirsty.

Uncle Williams Salt 'n' Peppah Breadsticks

Ingredients

One-quarter cup organic dark rye flour
One-quarter cup unbleached all-purpose flour
One-half tsp. baking powder
One-quarter tsp. baking soda
One-half tsp. sugar
1 tsp. lemon pepper…or… one half-tsp. smoked black pepper
one-quarter cup buttermilk (shake well before measuring)
2 tsp. butter, melted, cooled
1 large egg white, lightly beaten until frothy
semi-coarse salt (Uncle William prefers Murray River Australian or New Zealand)

Preparation:

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place racks in upper and lower thirds position. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, blend flours, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and pepper with a fork. Using the fork, stir in the buttermilk and butter (dough will be a little sticky). Lightly flour work surface, turn out dough, knead and fold dough about 6 times with the palm of your hand (don't overwork).

Roll dough into a 12-inch log, cut into 16 equal pieces. With your hands, lightly roll each piece into a 12-inch rope. Twist 2 ropes into a braid or cut ropes in half and braid halves together (long ones are nice with dinner, short ones better for a cocktail snack.) Place on parchment lined baking sheet, brush with egg white, and sprinkle lightly with semi-coarse salt of choice.

Bake 10 minutes in lower position, bake 10 minutes more in upper position, and remove from oven and place bread sticks on cooling rack. Yields 8 long sticks or 16 small sticks.

If not using right away, keep in a zip lock bag, bread sticks should be eaten within a day or two, nice if warmed slightly before serving.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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Sherwood Forest News April 2009

News from the Forest

Mother Nature is welcoming in spring with warmer weather and longer, sunnier days-yeah! We've seen wild turkeys strutting through the back woods and deer drinking from the creek, along with the return of the robins. It's beautiful to witness, and it's a great time of year to stretch your legs, either at the beach or the Saugatuck Dunes State Park. So we hope you can plan a visit soon, and we'll help you shake off those winter blues.

Shopping Specials: Outfitters for Active People Coupon
Landshark's, an awesome outfitters/outdoors clothing store, is offering 15% off any one item in their store. What's cool about Landshark's is their relationship with companies like Patagonia, Chaco, Green Label Organics, Tsonga, and many others who are dedicated to the preservation of the planet. Many of the lines they carry feature recycled products, organic cotton, and are members of 1% For the Planet--an organization dedicated to allocating 1% of gross sales toward environmental issues .

Del Sol
Receive $5 off any purchase of $25 or more from Del Sol, the store that sells the clothes that put color-change fun into everything they make, from color-changing board shorts to color-change sunglasses. Color change nail polish is a popular favorite, and color changing shirts that come in colors and cuts for the whole family.

Wine Sellers of Saugtuck
Receive $5 off any purchase of $25 or more from Wine Sellers of Saugatuck, with more than 200 wines from around the world. Check out their unique gifts, extensive wine rack selection, and wine accessories. They have toppers, chillers, corkscrews, wine bags, wine journals, stoppers, and more.

The Butler Pantry
Receive $5 off any purchase of $25 or more at the Butler Pantry. This is a destination for people looking to explore and fine-tune their passions for food. They carry a wide variety of specialty food items, fine wines, cookware, and other kitchen accessories

Sherwood Forest Cottage
Our Cottage is getting booked up for the summer, here's what we have left: May 30-June 5, June 6-12, 13-19 & 20-26, July 18-24, August 15-21 & 22-28. It goes for $1250 for the week and sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, washer/dryer, pool privileges, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. And of course, there is still nightly availability for this spring and fall and yes it's pet friendly. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

April Relax and Rejuvenate Massage Special
Enjoy a soothing massage in the comfort of your own room in a style suited just for you (cost of 1 night stay and 2 massages ranges from $235-$300). We also offer romantic wine and cheese baskets and delicious chocolate lovers packages. Give us a call for more info (800-838-1246).

Private Golf Lessons
Now that spring is here it's time to dust off those golf clubs and hit the links. We've teamed up with the Ravines Golf Club, an Arnold Palmer signature championship golf course with some awesome PGA professionals who offer golf lessons for one or two persons. You'll get a 1-night stay at Sherwood Forest and a 30- to 45-minute golf lesson with a guaranteed lesson time at the Ravines Golf Club. We have lots of different packages, so for more info and prices, check out http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html

Bed and Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a weekend getaway involving brewing your own batch of beer? Sherwood Forest is offering a unique weekend package that includes a 2-night stay plus access to Saugatuck Brewing Company's brew-on-site facilities. SBC will provide the recipes, from light to dark, with more than 70 different recipes available. They'll also provide the ingredients and professional brewing equipment as well as the expertise to take you through the brewing process. You'll brew at least 11 gallons of beer (sixty 22oz. bottles). If 11 gallons of beer is more than you need, bring a friend or two and split the batch. It takes 3-4 hours to brew your batch and you return in 2 weeks to bottle and sample your beer, which takes about 2 hours or you can have them bottle it and pick it up later (an extra $20). You can even design your own labels using Microsoft Word (for an extra $27). The cost of Bed and Breakfast and Brewery runs from $512 to $695 depending on the time of year and the room. For more info, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Gift Certificates
Give the most amazing gift on the planet. Imagine receiving a gift certificate from Sherwood Forest B&B! After the recipient jumps up and down and hugs that special someone, he or she will rush to the phone to book a room at Sherwood Forest (just gotta have that fireplace/Jacuzzi suite). Call 800-838-1246, or visit our gift certificate page at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Tulip Time Festival
Can you believe it? The third largest festival in the United States is just 15 miles north of Saugatuck/Douglas. The Tulip Time Festival dates back to 1929, and today you can still experience some of the same traditional shows that started more than 75 years ago. From May 2-9, there will be Klompen dancers who perform Dutch folk dances, and of course you can tour Windmill Island (Queen Beatrice did) with an original working windmill. The grand finale of the festival will be the Muziekparade at 2 p.m. on May 9, with nearly 50 bands, giant helium-filled balloons, and so many floats you'll lose count. You can learn more by calling 800-822-2770 or visit http://www.tuliptime.com.

Wine Dinner
On April 25, The Fenn Valley Winery, a local vineyard, will host a culinary excursion to a foreign land. This year Christine Ferris will feature French cuisine that will be paired up with some awesome wines from Fenn Valley. Reservations are required. For more info, call 269-561-2396 or visit http://www.fennvalley.com.

Ballet Folklorico
On April 18 experience the heady rush of tapping heals, dazzling costumes, and pounding rhythms of the internationally acclaimed Quetzalli. Founded in 1985, the group has crisscrossed the globe exciting audiences of all ages. Their visual fiesta of culture and folklore features many regional dances of old Mexico, in particular, their home state of Veracruz. The music, performed live on authentic stringed instruments, punctuates the meticulous movement, colorful clothing, and perfect pulse established by the dancers. The concert is at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Funky Pop-Rock
On May 2, The Jennie DeVoe Band returns to the SCA at 8 p.m. for another high energy, funky pop-rock performance. Her voice--a delicious mix of scratchy blues and sweet low notes (think Bonnie Raitt fused with Tina Turner)--brings her unique blend of music to life. DeVoe sprinkles in rockin' original tunes, hilarious personal stories, and a few well-chosen covers to create a live performance like no other. For more info or tickets, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday, Sunday, and Mondays with Wally Michaels on piano, Jeff Beavan on bass, and Jack Wilkin on the drums. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher, Christy G, and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Friday from 6:30-10 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Film Studies
at the Red Barn Local Douglas resident and film concept developer John Hardy will introduce each film and lead a brief discussion afterward during the Red Barn Film Studies. Screenings are: Bulldog Drummond's Bride. In this installment of an extended series of films about Col. "Bulldog" Drummond, a London bank robbery once again postpones the nuptials of Bulldog and his longtime girlfriend, Phyllis. Then on April 21 is The Big Sleep. In this classic film noir drama, tough-as-nails private eye Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) takes on a blackmail case and soon falls for Lauren Bacall, the feisty daughter of a wealthy general. The plot thickens when the murder victims pile up. All screenings are at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Film Series
The Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland will present I've Loved You So Long at 7:30 p.m. on April 13-18. Kristen Scott Thomas stars in this film in which her character, Juliette, has been estranged from her family for 15 years in prison. She is reunited with her sister after violent circumstances tore them apart. Confronted with the unexpected goodness of her younger sister Léa, who makes Juliette a part of her family, very slowly breaks up the ice and bitterness and she carefully opens up. For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/knick/.

More Movies
On April 9 at 7 p.m. the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society will be showing Mr. Lucky with Cary Grant, Laraine Day, and Charles Bickford. Grant plays gambler Joe Adams who takes on the identity of a dead gangster in order to avoid the draft. Then on April 26, also at 7 p.m., Arsenic and Old Lace will be shown with Cary Grant, Raymond Massey, and Priscilla Lane. Mortimer Bruster is a newspaperman and author known for his diatribes against marriage. We watch him being married at city hall in the opening scene. Now all that is required is a quick trip home to tell Mortimer's two maiden aunts. While trying to break the news, he finds out his aunts' hobby: killing lonely old men and burying them in the cellar. The films will be shown at the Douglas Public Library. For more info, visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/calendar.htm

Theater
From April 17-19 and 24-26 at 8 p.m. don't miss The Odd Couple--Female Version. This hilarious story is about two friends trying to share an apartment, but their ideas of housekeeping and lifestyles are as different as night and day. This updated Neil Simon comedy will be performed by the Red Barn Players at the historic Red Barn Theater. For more info, visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/.

More Theatre
Let the Holland Civic Theatre entertain you with Love, Sex and the I.R.S. A wild farce with twists of fate, sight gags, mistaken identities and hilarious comic lines. Jon and Leslie are out of work musicians who room together in New York City. To save money, Jon has been filing tax returns listing the pair as married. The day of reckoning comes when the I.R.S. informs the "couple" they're going to be investigated. Dates are April 16-18, 23-26, with shows at 8 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. For more info, call 616-396-2021 or visit their website at http://www.hollandcivictheatre.org

Missing Theatre Props
Help the folks from Mason Street Warehouse find their Missing Props on April 18! Search for them among all the real life antiques at the Blue Star Antique Pavilion, 2948 Blue Star Highway, Douglas. You will work up a thirst and appetite during the investigation, so appetizers and drinks will be available for your enjoyment. In addition, prizes will be awarded to the most advanced super sleuths. For more info, call 269-857-4898 or visit their website at http://www.masonstwarehouse.org.

Exhibition
La Loteria--An Exploration of Mexico Paintings by Teresa Villegas will be up at the SCA through April 27. This engaging 54-piece installation explores some of the ubiquitous images of Mexico by using the format of Loteria, a popular Mexican game of chance similar to Bingo. The artwork draws on Mexican traditions, historical figures, gastronomy, and popular culture, translating them into images familiar and recognizable to those who have experienced this distinctive culture. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit www.sc4a.org.

Museum Exhibition
Through March 2010, The Holland Museum will present Indigenous Art of Indonesia & Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than 60 other exotic pieces of art and artifacts--weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks--give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

About It! Lecture Series
The Michigan Connection: on April 16 at 7 p.m. the Art and Legacy of Diego Rivera by Rebecca Hart will be at the SCA. Hart is the Associate Curator at the Detroit Institute of Arts, home to Rivera's remarkable Detroit industry mural. When installed at the DIA in 1933, the mural created enormous buzz throughout the art world and among Detroit residents. The colorful 27-panel mural depicts Rivera's reverence for technological advancement alongside his deeply rooted faith in ancient Mexican cultural and religious values. Hart will discuss Rivera's place in the modern art world and the impact he continues to have on both Hispanic and non-Hispanic artists. For more, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Visiting Writers
Next in the Hope College Visiting Writers series line up on April 15 is Soft-Word Poetry writer Minton Sparks with guitarist John Jackson. Sparks blends music, storytelling, and poetry to the delight of audiences nationwide. She will be accompanied by virtuoso guitarist John Jackson, who recently finished a stint on Broadway with the Twyla Tharp musical production of Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin'. She will be reading from selected works at the Knickerbocker Theatre, downtown Holland, at 7 p.m. For more info, call 616-395-7000 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/.

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market will start up the last Sunday in April from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The 400 exhibitors will be there rain or shine--200 indoor and 200 under canopies (the market is always the last Sunday of the month, April through September). For more info, call 269-735-3333. And don't forget about the antique hot spot in the area, the Blue Star Antique Pavilion at 2948 Blue Star Highway in Douglas.

Easter
Douglas Easter Parade 2009- Join the locals during the 14th Annual Easter Parade in downtown Douglas on April 12 at 1:00 p.m. with an opening ceremonial homemade Easter bonnet judging/award ceremony followed by a parade and candy hunt. For more information you can call 269-857-5411.

Town Crier Run
The Town Crier Run will be on April 11 with a 5-K and 10-K RUN-WALK around historic Saugatuck plus a kids' fun run. For more info, call 269-857-1116.

Honorable Mentions

April 25, Winemaker's Dinner, Fenn Valley Winery
April 26, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
May 2, Spring Preview, Saugatuck and Douglas
May 2, Saugatuck Douglas Spring Preview
May 2, Blue Coast Artists opening weekend
May 2, Jenny Devoe, soulful hippie-funk rock, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck
May 2-9, Tulip Time Festival, Holland
May 7, Free Movie The Bachelor & the Bobby-Soxer, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
May 14, About it Lecture Series, Michigan Connection, 7 pm Saugatuck
May 21, Free Movie Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
May 23, Wonderbread Years, Comedy, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck
May 24, Hot Club of Detroit, gypsy jazz, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck
May 25, Memorial Day Parade, Douglas
May 31, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
June 11-14, Waterfront Film Festival, Saugatuck
June 20, Saugatuck Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
June 26-July 19, MSW The Full Monty, Saugatuck
June 27, Fenn Valley Wine fest, Fennville
June 28, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 4, Waterfront Invitation Fine Art Fair, Saugatuck
July 9-10, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 16-17, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 23-24, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 24-August 9, MSW Pump Boys and Dinettes, Saugatuck
July 25, Village Square Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
July 26, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 30-31, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
July 31-August 1, Saugatuck-Douglas Jazz Festiva
August 6-7, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
August 13-14, Chamber Music, Saugatuck Women's Club
August 20, Sidewalk Sales, Saugatuck and Douglas
August 30, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan

Books
Sue's book of the month is The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. This novel is like a 20th century American Midwestern Hamlet with dogs. That kind of lead might leave you cold. But be assured: you don't have to love dogs or dote on Shakespeare to adore this fine novel. Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life on his family's farm in remote northern Wisconsin where they raise and train an extraordinary breed of dog. But when tragedy strikes, Edgar is forced to flee into the vast neighboring wilderness, accompanied by only three yearling pups. Struggling for survival, Edgar comes of age in the wild, and must face the choice of leaving forever or revealing the terrible truth behind what has happened. A riveting family saga as well as a brilliant exploration of the limits of language, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is destined to become a modern classic, and you will certainly have a rewarding reading experience. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

Melissa is a bee keeper from the Greek Isles, rumor has it she is descended from the Greek Muse Terpsichore, we are almost sure about this because of the beautiful music she plays on the lyre and the birds that seem to come from miles around and sing beautiful notes which resonate ones soul in such a captivating manner.

Melissa's Black Eyed Pea and Cilantro Salad

Ingredients

One-half teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
one-third cup rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1-teaspoon ground cumin
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained
one-half large sweet onion, chopped
one-half cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 can (15 oz.) black eyed peas, rinsed & drained
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

Preparation:

Combine salt and garlic in a medium bowl; mash with a fork until a paste forms. Add vinegar, oil, and cumin, stirring with a whisk. Add tomato and next 4 ingredients (through pepper) and toss well. Serve with tortilla chips or as a side salad (serves 4-6).

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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Sherwood Forest News March 2009

News from the Forest

News flash! Sherwood Forest's website has undergone a major transformation in design, and while we still have a few kinks to work out, we hope you like it. Please feel free to take a cruise and let us know what you think. March is here and Mother Nature could throw in some more snowy days for those who enjoy cross-country skiing or sledding, or there's always sitting around a fire curled up with a good book. We've got lots of wonderful things for you to enjoy in our neck of the woods, so give us a call and we can hook you up with some great dining, massages, shopping, hiking, antiquing, star gazing, or even a sunset or two.

March Wine Special
Enjoy a bottle of wine on us! We've teamed up with Chequers in Saugatuck, a British-style pub offering English favorites, such as their famous Fish and Chips and Shepherd's Pie, and Restaurant Toulouse, a French-American restaurant with warm French provincial ambiance. Here's our gift to you: stay 1 night Sunday through Thursday or 2 nights on a weekend and you'll receive a complimentary bottle of wine at either restaurant (house bottle--not to exceed the price of the combined entrées). Offer good March 2009.

March Relax and Rejuvenate Massage Special
Take advantage of our March special: you can each enjoy a soothing massage in the comfort of your own room in a style suited just for you (cost of 1-night stay and 2 massages ranges from $225-$295). Offer good Sunday-Thursday March 2009. Give us a call for more info (800-838-1246).

Shopping Special: Outfitters for Active People Coupon
Landshark's, an awesome outfitters/outdoors clothing store is offering a great discount to our guests. Get 15% of any one item in their store. What's cool about Landshark's is their relationship with companies like Patagonia, Chaco, Green Label Organics, Tsonga, and many others who are dedicated to the preservation of the planet. Many of the lines they carry feature recycled products, organic cotton, and are members of 1% For the Planet--an organization dedicated to allocating 1% of gross sales toward environmental issues. We support locally owned family business and hope you will too.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
Looking for a quiet, relaxing place to stay? Our Cottage is perfect for that tranquil getaway or for spending time with friends or family. It sleeps up to 4 people, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach, and it's pet friendly. We rent it on a weekly basis in the summer, so give us a call and we can let you know what we have available. For more info, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

Bed and Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a weekend getaway involving brewing your own batch of beer? Sherwood Forest is offering a unique weekend package that includes a two-night stay plus access to Saugatuck Brewing Company's brew-on-site facilities. SBC will provide the recipes, from light to dark, over 70 different recipes are available. Summer Wheat to Red Ales to rich Porters. They'll also provide the ingredients and professional brewing equipment as well as the expertise to take you through the brewing process. You'll brew at least 11 gallons of beer (sixty 22oz. bottles). If 11 gallons of beer is more than you need, bring a friend or two and split the batch. It takes 3-4 hours to brew your batch and you return in two weeks to bottle and sample your beer, which takes about 2 hours or you can have them bottle it and pick it up (an extra $20). You can even design your own labels using Microsoft Word (for an extra $27). The cost of Bed and Breakfast and Brewery runs from $512 to $695 depending on the time of year and the room. For more information or to book this package call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Gift Certificates
Give the most amazing gift on the planet. Imagine receiving a gift certificate from Sherwood Forest B&B! After the recipient jumps up and down and hugs that special someone, he or she will rush to the phone to book a room at Sherwood Forest (just gotta have that fireplace/Jacuzzi suite). Call 800-838-1246, or visit our gift certificate page at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html.

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Now's the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. Now through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 days or more, and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer, including Chris Ferris, gourmet cheffette who can cook a Spanish paella like you've never tasted before; Tony & Dona Amato, the creative chefs behind one of Saugatuck's favorite lunch spots, The Red Dock Café; Keaton Stearns, chef extraordinaire of The Piper Restaurant; and Matt Balmer, head chef of one our favorite restaurants, The Everyday People Cafe. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your lives. Here are the details: dinner is $45 per person, guests must provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required (deposit is nonrefundable if cancellation is made within 30 days of the date). You pick the date (November through April) and we'll pick the chef. Bring your appetite and whatever you need to wet your whistle, sit down, and dinner is served. To book a gourmet dinner, call us at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

St. Patrick's Day
There's a whole lot of green happening on March 14 in Saugatuck and Douglas. Did he really chase all the snakes out of Ireland and teach the Trinity using a shamrock? You'll have to debate this one for yourself over a green pint or two. Here's the line up for all you leprechaun lovers: area restaurants will be serving up corned beef and cabbage, Irish Stew, and fabulous desserts such as Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake, and don't miss the St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Saugatuck at 2 p.m. There will also be an Irish Pub Party at Coral Gables in Saugatuck from 6-9 p.m. and proceeds will benefit the Saugatuck/Douglas Historical Society.

Wine
The Fenn Valley Winery, a local vineyard, will host a pre-release barrel tasting on March 14-15 and 21-22. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the new wines and taste them before they are bottled. Reservations are required, no charge. For more info, call 269-561-2396 or visit http://www.fennvalley.com.

Wine Dinner
Join the folks at Everyday People Café for their wine dinner on March 24 at 6:30 p.m. It's South of the Equator from Argentina featuring 6 courses paired up with wines from the lands way down south. Culinary and vine elucidations guaranteed to please your senses. For more info, visit ttp://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Music
On March 1 at 2 p.m. the Sky Hempy Keyboard Performance Series will feature Helen Marlais on classical piano with special guest Dr. Arthur Campbell on clarinet at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. They have given collaborative recitals throughout the U.S., Canada, China, and across Europe. Marlais has performed with members of the Chicago, Grand Rapids, and the Beijing National Symphony Orchestras. On March 8 at 2 p.m. the series will feature Kazimierz Brzozowski on classical piano. Brzozowski has garnered international acclaim for his captivating performances, in particular the music of Chopin. On March 15 at 2 p.m. the series will feature Alina Morr with Latin jazz and original compositions. Morr is the pianist for the Grammy-nominated Detroit jazz group, Straight Ahead. On March 22 at 2 p.m. the series will feature Charles Aschbrenner who will perform Robert Schumann's Carnival, a series of works with intriguing musical and literary connections. On March 29 at 2 p.m. the series will feature Andrew Le Poulenc who will perform music by Debussy interspersed with poetry by Verlaine and Baudelaire. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Classical Crossover
The last performance for the Hope College Great Performance Series is on March 31. The Grammy-nominated Quartet San Francisco will perform. As crossover specialists, they excel in multiple styles--from jazz to tango, pop to funk, blues to bluegrass, gypsy swing to big band and beyond. The performance is at the Dimnent Chapel at 7:30 p.m. For more info, visit http://www.hope.edu/arts or call 616-395-7890.

Blues/Americana On March 21, listen to Madcat and Kane with Shimmon and Schrock. Grammy award winner Peter Madcat Ruth teams up with guitarist Shari Kane, multi-instrumentalist Mark Schrock, and percussionist Mike Shimmon for an energetic performance that blurs the lines between delta and Chicago blues, jump blues, folk blues, and jazz. Performance Magazine calls Ruth a harmonica virtuoso who is rapidly approaching legend status. Considered one of the country's most versatile blues guitarists, Kane can take an audience from her raw interpretations of Delta Blues to an up-town Chicago groove with style and ease. The concert is at the SCA at 8 p.m. For more info or tickets, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday, Sunday, and Mondays (with Wally Michaels on piano, Jeff Beavan on bass, and Jack Wilkin on the drums). Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Friday and Saturday in March from 6:30-10:00 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Movies
Film Studies at the Red Barn On March 10 at 6:30 p.m. Charlie Chan in Honolulu will be shown at the Red Barn. Super sleuth Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is on the case after a murder takes place on a Hawaiian freighter docked in Honolulu. Next in the line up on March 24 is The Thin Man Goes Home. High-toned sleuths Nick (William Powell) and Nora (Myrna Loy) head to Nick's leisurely hometown of Sycamore Springs for a vacation, only to find themselves enmeshed in a string of homicide cases and intercontinental intrigue. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Film Institute of South Haven
The Film Institute of South Haven will present the movie Camp Forgotten on Sunday, March 8 at 3 p.m.. During the depression era the Civil Conservation Corps was created by President Roosevelt. Teenage boys worked in camps restoring America's damaged natural resources. Overtime the CCC changed the face of America and is recognized as FDR's most successful public works program explores the role of the CCC in Michigan. For more info, call 269-637-1041 or visit http://www.southhavenarts.org/fish.

More Movies
On March 12 at 7 p.m. the Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society will be showing The Philadelphia Story with Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart. It's about a haughty divorced socialite, Tracy Lord, who is preparing for her second marriage. Enter Dexter Haven, her first husband, and Macaulay Connor, a tabloid reporter with a distrust of the wealthy. Then on March 26 also at 7 p.m. Talk of the Town with Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, and Ronald Colman will be shown. Leopold Dilg (Grant) is wanted for murder and arson, and persuades the prettiest girl in town, Nora, to hide him in a house that she has rented to a law school dean (Michael) for the summer. Michael becomes Dilg's defense lawyer, and they both try to win Nora's heart. The films will be shown at the Douglas Public Library. For more info, visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/calendar.htm.

Theater
On March 28 at 8 p.m. the SCA will present Broadway, Our Way! featuring Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael. One of cabaret's most in-demand duos, they offer a unique blend of whimsy, nostalgia, and unquestionable talent that translates into pure entertainment. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Hope College Visiting Writers
Next in the line up on March 11 is fiction writer Francine Prose. Renowned author Prose has written over 20 books, including National Book Award finalist Blue Angel and the New York Times Bestseller, Reading Like a Writer. Prose's newest novel, Goldengrove, follows 13-year-old Nico through one haunted summer after the drowning death of her sister has plunged her into grief. She will be reading from selected works at the Knickerbocker Theatre, downtown Holland, at 7 p.m. For more info, call 616-395-7000 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/

About It! Lecture Series
On March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Ladies of the Lighthouses by Diana Stampfler will be at the SCA. Stampfler has researched and promoted Michigan's lighthouses for more than 10 years, sharing stories about the beacons and their keepers, and is considered an expert by many in the industry. She will talk about the women's role in lighthouse keeping and share photos and stories from more than a dozen of these women who have tended the light in Michigan. For more, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Exhibition
La Loteria - An Exploration of Mexico Paintings by Teresa Villegas will be up at the SCA through April 27. This engaging 54-piece installation explores some of the ubiquitous images of Mexico by using the format of Loteria, a popular Mexican game of chance similar to Bingo. The artwork draws on Mexican traditions, historical figures, gastronomy, and popular culture, translating them into images familiar and recognizable to those who have experienced this distinctive culture. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Museum Exhibition
Through March, The Holland Museum will present Indigenous Art of Indonesia & Melanesia. Walk through the stone-carved temple guardians at the entrance to the Wichers Gallery and you encounter two 65-foot long Balinese temple paintings on cloth, depicting Hindu legends, which are the centerpiece of this exotic exhibit. Ider-ider paintings, as these traditional artworks are called, are extremely rare. More than sixty other exotic pieces of art and artifacts - weapons, puppets, batik, tribal masks - give a glimpse of the diverse cultures within the island archipelagos of Indonesia and Melanesia. The core of this astonishing collection was formed by the museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/

Honorable Mentions

April 7, Film Studies at the Red Barn, Bulldog Drummond's Bride,
April 9, Free Movie, Mr. Lucky, SD Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m.
April 11, Town Crier Run- 5Kand 10K, Saugatuck
April 13-18, I've Loved You So Long, Knickerbocker Theatre Films Series
April 16-18,23-26, Love, Sex and the I.R.S., Holland Civic Theatre, Holland
April 16, Visiting Writers Series, Minton Sparks, Poetry, Knickerbocker, 7 pm
April 16, About it Lecture Series, Michigan Connection, The Art and Legacy of Diego Rierva. SCA 7 p.m.
April 18, Ballet Folklorico, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck 8 pm
April 21, Film Studies at the Red Barn, The Big Sleep
April 23, Free Movie, Arsenic and Old Lace, SD Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
April 25, Winemaker's Dinner, Fenn Valley Winery
April 26, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
May 2, Saugatuck Douglas Spring Preview
May 2, Blue Coast Artists opening weekend
May 2, Jenny Devoe, soulful hippie-funk rock, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck
May 7, Free Movie The Bachelor & the Bobby-Soxer, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
May 14, About it Lecture Series, Michigan Connection, 7 pm Saugatuck
May 21, Free Movie Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
May 23, Wonderbread Years, Comedy, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck
May 24, Hot Club of Detroit, gypsy jazz, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck
May 25, Memorial Day Parade, Douglas
May 31, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
June 11-14, Waterfront Film Festival, Saugatuck
June 20, Saugatuck Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck

Books
Sue's book of the month is The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Things have never been easy for Oscar, who is maybe the last true romantic left on the planet. A sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd, a fierce lover of women, though his major problem lies in them loving him back, and he is a writer of Science Fiction who dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien. Diaz immerses us in the tumultuous life of Oscar and the history of the family at large and the curse that has haunted Oscar's family for generations. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is a wonderful and moving book about not fitting in, and finally having something to live for. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

Cookies from a goddess, this is another amazing recipe from Tranquility Carol, the wispy siren who sings the songs of the deep woods. She captivates us with tastes that liberate our souls with subtle touches and scintillations.

Tranquility Carol's Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies (healthier than most!)

Ingredients

One cup whole wheat flour
One-quarter cup all-purpose flour
Three-quarter cup regular oats
One teaspoon baking soda
One-half teaspoon salt
One and one-half cups packed brown sugar
One-quarter cup butter, softened
One-quarter cup reduced-fat sour cream
One teaspoon vanilla extract
One large egg white
Three-quarter cup sweetened dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
One-half cup pecans, coarsely chopped
One-half cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, oats, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Place sugar, butter, and sour cream in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until smooth. Add vanilla and egg whites; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, stirring until blended. Fold in cranberries, pecans, and chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls 2 inches apart onto 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until edges of cookies are browned. Cool on pan 5 minutes. Remove cookies from pan; cool on wire racks.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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Sherwood Forest News February 2009

News from the Forest

Happy Valentine's Day to all! We've just returned from the sunny southern reaches of the Caribbean in the Dutch Netherland Antilles (Curacao), 70 miles off the coast of Venezuela. We swam with some dolphins, rode the backs of seas turtles, and saw multitudes of fish that covered the spectrum of colors. Not to mention just getting some fantastic beach time. There wasn't much to do except take long walks, a few naps, eat fresh seafood, and get some much-needed R & R. So on our return to Sherwood Forest, the landscape looked a little different with 3 feet of snow! It's a great time to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa, or sled or cross-country ski. And don't forget, it's also a great time to take advantage of sales at some of the most unique shops in the Midwest.

Valentin's Offer
Valentine's Offer Stay one night (or more!) in any of our beautiful rooms Sunday through Thursday in February and receive a beautiful red rose and a bottle of Michigan champagne for you and your loved one to enjoy.

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners Now's the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. From now through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 nights or more and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your life. Here are the details: dinner is $50 per person, guests provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required. You pick the date November through April and we'll pick the chef. Bring your appetite and whatever you need to wet your whistle, sit down, and dinner is served. Black out dates are New Year's Eve and Valentine's weekend. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the real world), a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
Looking for a quiet, relaxing place to stay? Our Cottage is perfect for that tranquil getaway or for spending time with friends or family. It sleeps up to 4 people, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach, and it's pet friendly. For more info, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

Gift Certificates
Give the most amazing gift on the planet. Imagine receiving a gift certificate from Sherwood Forest B&B! After the recipient jumps up and down and hugs that special someone, he or she will rush to the phone to book a room at Sherwood Forest (just gotta have that fireplace/Jacuzzi suite). Call 800-838-1246, or visit our gift certificate page at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Art Gallery Stroll
The Saugatuck/Douglas art galleries have gotten together for a winter gallery stroll event over the weekend of February 14-15. Meander to the different galleries, sample hors d'oeuvres, and sip libations while viewing some of the finest artwork anywhere. From contemporary to traditional, metal sculpture to wood working, there is something for everyone.

Wine Dinner
Join the folks at Everyday People Café for their wine dinner on February 20 at 6:30 p.m. It's the Chef's Favorites Wine Dinner, with 5 courses paired up with some fantastic wines from down under and culinary and vine elucidations guaranteed to please your senses. For more info, visit ttp://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Fat Tuesday
On February 24, enjoy the Mardi Gras Parade at 7 p.m. This New Orleans-style parade will meander through downtown Douglas and end at local restaurants and bars for prizes and dancing. For more info, call 269-857-1438.

Film Series
The Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland will present Pray the Devil Back to Hell. This is the gripping account of a group of brave and visionary women who demanded peace for Liberia, a nation torn to shreds by a decade-old civil war. Combining contemporary interviews, archival images, and scenes of present-day Liberia, the film recounts the experiences and memories of the women who stood up to their country's tyrannical leader and brutal warlords, in order to bring peace to their tormented country. Screenings are at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 2-4 & 6-7. For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/knick/.

The Film Institute of South Haven will present the movie Once on February 8. A Dublin-based busker and vacuum cleaner repairman enters into an interesting relationship with a piano-playing florist who can't afford a piano of her own. Together they discover each other's talents. As their musical sensibilities quickly converge, they soon are determined to record an album together. The film's theme song, Failing Slowly, won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Song of the Year. For more info, call 269-637-1041 or visit http://www.southhavenarts.org/fish.

Cooking Demonstration and Tasting
Experience culinary artistry during these demonstration classes with Chef Jim LaPerriere, featuring symphonies of flavor, colorful dishes, and unique presentations, along with Q&A and tasting at the SCA. Class type: A Romantic Do-Ahead Menu for Two on February 4 and Valentine's Sweets on February 11. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or http://www.sc4a.org.

Theater
Next in the line up for the Great Performance Series on February 13 is The Illiad, Homer's epic story of Achilles and the Trojan War. Told in the context of the Normandy invasion of World War II, the performance is an action-packed, intense evening of drama. On February 14, the wide range of the company will be seen the next night when they turn to Comedy of Errors, one of Shakespeare's most vibrant and sparkling comedies. The performances are at 7:30 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Theatre, downtown Holland. For more info, call 616-395-7890 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/gps/20082009.html.

Jazz
On February 22 at 2 p.m. head to the Saugatuck Center for the Arts for the Sky Hempy Keyboard Performance Series featuring Steve Talaga, who has been performing professionally for more than 25 years. Chosen as the West Michigan Jazz Society's 2008 Jazz Musician of the Year, he is co-leader of Mind's Eye, a jazz quartet with four compact discs to its credit. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Folk/Americana
On February 28 at 8 p.m. at the SCA, Grand Rapids-based artist Drew Nelson will perform his simple, direct expressions via mere melody and a handful of guitar chords. His songs make a mark in his home state of Michigan. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday, Sunday, and Mondays (with Wally Michaels on piano, Jeff Beavan on bass, and Jack Wilkin on the drums) and Wednesdays through February. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Friday and Saturday in February from 6:30-10:00 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Hope College Visiting Writers
Next in the line up on February 16 is poetry writer Lynne Thompson, who won the 2008 GLCA New Writers Award for Beg No Pardon, a collection of poetry that reflects on the journey of life from childhood through adulthood. Her poems seduce and confront and refuse to be anonymous--or they revel in the transgressions anonymity affords. She will be reading from selected works at the Knickerbocker Theatre, downtown Holland, at 7 p.m. For more info, call 616-395-7000 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/.

Museum Exhibition
Through February, The Holland Museum will present The Paintings of William Kubiak, an exhibit of accurate representations of Michigan's native peoples. A Grand Rapids artist and historian, Kubiak took it upon himself to both research and visually represent Michigan's original inhabitants. He wanted to know what a Miami looked like, how a Pottawatomie dressed, how a Huron fixed his hair. Thirty-six of these paintings are being exhibited, all of which focus on Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Exhibitions
Yesterday on the West Michigan Pike with Photographs by Vincent J. Musi will be on display through March 2 at the SCA. Internationally acclaimed photographer Musi spent 2 weeks during the summer of 2008 photographing people and places along US Route 31, often referred to as Michigan's Route 66. The 40 striking color prints included in this exhibit capture the timeless beauty and traditions of a unique slice of Americana. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org..

Art Classes
Art Classes Open figure studio provides an independent study forum for the maintenance and development of artistic skills and allows for uninhibited experimentation essential for creative development in all media. Draw, paint, or sculpt in clay the nude and costumed figure in this 2 1/2 hour open studio session for all levels of artists. Participants should bring their own supplies. The model's pose lengths can be arranged according to the classes' preference. This is not an instructed course. Classes will be held at the SCA on Thursday mornings in February from 10:00 - 12:30 pm. For more info, visit www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399 .

Book of the Month
Bill's book of the month is Waking Giant: America in the Age of Jackson by David S. Reynolds. Reynolds provides a broad survey of the United States of America between 1815 and 1848, commonly referred to as the Age of Jackson. After reaffirming its independence from England in the War of 1812, the United States emerged as a world power brimming with a cast of first-generation American politicians, soldiers, scientists, writers, and artists. Jackson helped found the modern Democratic Party while the Whigs grew weaker due to divisions over the slavery issue. The Republicans emerged in the 1850s as a party of abolition and free soil. This book offers a fine addition to the literature on pre-Civil War American history. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Honorable Mentions

February 5-7,12-15,18-21, The Spitfire Grill, Holland Civic Theatre, Holland
February 13-14, Holland Chorale, Love Notes V, Park Theatre, Holland
March 8, Film Institute of South Haven, Camp Forgotten
March 7-8, Wine Maker's pre-release dinner, Fenn Valley Winery
March 14-15, Pre-Tasting from the barrel, Fenn Valley Winery
March 11, Visiting Writers Series, Francine Prose, Fiction, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m.
March 14, ST. Patrick's Day Festival, Saugatuck
March 21-22, Pre-Tasting from the barrel, Fenn Valley Winery
March 31, Great Performance Series, Quartet San Francisco, Holland, 7:30 p.m.
April 13-18, I've Loved You So Long, Knickerbocker Theatre Films Series
April 16-18,23-26, Love, Sex and the I.R.S., Holland Civic Theatre, Holland
April 16, Visiting Writers Series, Minton Sparks, Spoken Word Poetry, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m.
April 25, Winemaker's Dinner, Fenn Valley Winery

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

This simple recipe comes to us from an immortal who was traveling around the globe for the bazillionth time. He said he was a sailor originally from Phoenicia, and we were like hmmmmm. He told tales no one could of made up, they were of great maritime adventures on the Erythraean Sea, of Atlantis before it disappeared in to the mists. Of doors and hallways through the slipstreams of time. He did give us a simple dish, which is said to heal and prolong.

Osiris' Baked Acorn Squash

Ingredients

1 acorn squash
1-tablespoon butter
Cinnamon
Sugar
Ginger
Nutmeg

Cut 1 acorn squash in half. Scoop out seeds. Put 1 teaspoon of butter in the center of each half, then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, ginger, and nutmeg. Place both squash halves in a pan with 1/4 inch water and bake at 350°F for one hour. Serves 2.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

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