Sherwood Forest News December 2010

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 TripAdvisor.com about a month ago: we received a Certificate of Excellence for 2010 for consistently achieving guest reviews of 4.5 out of 5. Thank you to all who took the time to sing our praises!

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 http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html.

Holiday Shopping Special
We've teamed up with some select stores in Saugatuck and 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 in the area. For more info, give us a call at 800-838-1246 or visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html.

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners (Whole-House Booking)
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. Offered 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 weekends. 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 4. 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
Join the folks at Everyday People Café for their Food and Libation Sensation on December 15 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 4 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. 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 located at 2661 64th St. in Fennville. Call 269-857-4429 for more info.

Theater
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol will be presented December 10-12 and 17-19 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.

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.

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: December 5, An Dro (Celtic); December 12, Nobody's Darlin' (bluegrass, classic country); December 19, Luke Winslow-King (New Orleans style); December 26, Schrock Bros. Holiday Party (folk, country, blues). For more info, visit http://www.saltoftheearthfennville.com or call 269-561-7258.

Still Mo' Music
Visit the Saugatuck Brewing Company for music: December 4, Jen Sygit and Sam Corbin (soothing acoustic); December 12, The Last Call Band (rock); December 18, Organissimo (funk, blues, Latin, groove); December 23, Jimmy Dillon and the Howlers (rock). For more info, visit http://saugatuckbrewing.com or call 269-857-7222.

Holland Symphony Orchestra & Chorale
On December 11 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 616-796-6780 or visit http://www.hollandsymphony.org.

Movie
On December 16 at 7 p.m. at the SCA, don't miss the movie The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story. As contract songwriters for Disney, Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman compose many of the studio's best-loved hits, including It's a Small World After All and songs from Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, and many more. This poignant 2009 documentary (conceived, produced, and directed by two of the songwriters' sons) shows that while their prolific professional collaborations resulted in a multitude of awards, a longstanding rift strikes a sour note in the brothers' personal relationship. An extraordinary documentary about the jaw-dropping story behind the songs we've been singing for a lifetime. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Movies
At The Saugatuck Brewing Company, Douglas resident and film concept developer John Hardy will continue with the film series: December 7, Dial M for Murder with Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings; December 14, Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour; December 21, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with Robert Redford and Paul Newman; and December 28, North by Northwest with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com/schedule.htm.

Exhibitions
MOVE! Whirligigs, Mechanical Toys, and Pop-Up Books will be on display through December 27 at the SCA. This is a playful look at the fascinating, whirring, moving world of these delightful creations made by "outsider" artists. On loan from several private collections and just in time for the holidays, a reminder of our ongoing fascination with this artful world of children's toys and collectibles. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Exhibitions
Through December, The Holland Museum is exhibiting Forever Young--A Retrospective of Bob Dylan Photographs by Douglas R. Gilbert. Holland Museum's Focus Gallery plays host to a series of 1964 images that former LOOK Magazine photographer (and Holland-area resident) Douglas Gilbert captured during his time spent with a young Bob Dylan. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Books
Virginia's book of the month is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Though it deals with a dark period in history, this first novel is an essentially sunny work. London, 1946: writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of Guernsey during the German occupation, and about a society as extraordinary as its name. Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends, and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. Born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island, boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever. Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785).

Honorable Mentions
Dec 31, New Years Eve and Fireworks at midnight
Jan 4, Movie, Meet Me in St. Louis, Saugatuck Brewing Co
Jan 11, Movie, On Golden Pond, Saugatuck Brewing Co
Jan 13, Movie, Great Expectations, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
Jan 18, Movie, The Philadelphia Story, Saugatuck Brewing Co
Jan 25, Movie, Days of Wine and Roses, Saugatuck Brewing Co
Jan 27, Great Performance Series, Claremont Trio, Hope College
Jan 27, Movie, Oliver Twist, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
Feb 10, Movie, Nicholas Nickleby, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
Feb 10, Visiting Writers, Elizabeth Bradfield and Sean Hill, Hope College
Feb 12-15, Winterfest Weekend
Feb 25-26, Great Performance Series, Circo Aereo, Hope College
March 28-29, Visiting Writers, Ben Percy, Hope College
March 31, Great Performance Series, Rose Ensemble, Hope College
April 14, Visiting Writers, Diana Joseph and Kevin McFadden, Hope College

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:

Another favorite from my Grandmother Frieda (yes she brought this recipe with her from the old country), the rumor is that when her parents arrived in Chicago (circa 1900) all they could find was sweet potatoes. This recipe has been passed down through 4 generations, Grandma Frieda, thanks for being one of the best mentors I ever had (and a great cook too). You will always be one of the original Sirens of Sherwood. Thanks for the love.

Grandma Frieda's Sweet Potato Latkes

Ingredients:

2 lg. cooked sweet potatoes, mashed
3 eggs, beaten
2 carrots, grated and lightly steamed
1 lg. zucchini, grated
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup olive oil

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients except oil.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over low heat for 2 minutes.
3. Drop 2- tablespoons of the sweet potato mixture into hot oil. Use spatula to flatten pancakes slightly.
4. Cook each pancake for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Test for doneness.
5. Serve immediately or keep warm in oven.

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 2010

Good 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? We're 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 ranges 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 (Whole-House Booking)
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:

Michigan Harvest Wine Dinner
Join the folks at Everyday People Café for their wine dinner on November 9 at 6:30 p.m., featuring five courses paired up with wines from the d'Arenberg winery in Australia. For more info, visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4242.

Saugatuck/Douglas Holiday Previews
Let the shops of Saugatuck and 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 20 until 9 p.m. For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/.

Comedy
Join the folks at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts on November 13 at 8 p.m. for Cocktails with Larry Miller: Little League, Adultery, and Other Bad Ideas. Miller shares his comic perspective about marriage, children and drinking . . . and how each one leads to the other two. Miller has appeared in over 50 films, including Pretty Woman, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and The Princess Diaries. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

More Comedy
Don't miss Take 2: Twisted Tinsel with Wade Rouse on November 26 at 8 p.m. at the SCA. Enjoy a little song, a little dance, and laugh-till-you-cry stories from national best-selling author Rouse. It's the perfect pairing of excerpts from Rouse's upcoming work, IT'S ALL RELATIVE: Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays, and 50 Boxes of Wine, plus song and dance numbers spoofing the hap-hap-happiest time of the year. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Chamber
Next in the line up for the Hope College Great Performance Series is The Turtle Island Quartet on November 12 at Dimnent Chapel in Holland at 7:30 p.m. Turtle Island fuses the classical quartet esthetic with contemporary American musical styles, and by devising a performance practice that honors both, the state of the art has inevitably been redefined. For more info, visit http://www.hope.edu/arts or call 616-395-7890.

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: November 7, Claudia Schmidt and Rachael Davis (folk/jazz/poetry/stories); November 14, Old Sledge, (traditional Appalachian music); November 21, Red Sea Pedestrians, (folk); December 5 An Dro (Celtic); and December 19, Luke Winslow-King (New Orleans Crescent City flavored music). For more info, visit 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, 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.

Children's Film
Fest The Seventh Annual Saugatuck Children's Film Festival is being held at the SCA on November 20 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 Get Low from November 1-6, a movie spun out of equal parts folk tale, fable, and real-life legend about the mysterious, 1930s Tennessee hermit who famously threw his own rollicking funeral party...while he was still alive. From November 8-10 is Vision, which is the life story of the multi-talented German nun Hildegard von Bingen. The film portrays an original woman--best known as a composer and religious visionary--whose grand claims often run counter to the patriarchal world around her. Screenings are 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. On November 4, Notorious with Cary Grant and Claude Rains. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Movie/Lecture Series
On November 18 at 7 p.m. at the SCA, the program begins with the documentary produced and directed by Matt Tyrnauer, Valentino: the Last Emperor. The film is an intimate fly-on-the-wall exploration of the singular world of one of Italy's most famous men and provides a first-time glimpse into Valentino's world of bygone glamour. Filmed over the course of 2 years, the crew shot more than 250 hours of footage with exclusive, unprecedented access to Valentino and his longtime partner, Giancarlo Giammetti. The resulting nonfiction film is a portrait of an extraordinary partnership--the longest running in fashion--and is a story about a master confronting the final act of his celebrated career. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Exhibitions
MOVE! Whirligigs, Mechanical Toys, and Pop-Up Books will be on display from November 5-December 27 at the SCA. This is a playful look at the fascinating, whirring, moving world of these delightful creations made by "outsider" artists. On loan from several private collections and just in time for the holidays, a reminder of our ongoing fascination with this artful world of children's toys and collectibles. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Exhibitions
Through December, The Holland Museum is exhibiting Forever Young--A Retrospective of Bob Dylan Photographs by Douglas R. Gilbert. Holland Museum's Focus Gallery plays host to a series of 1964 images that former LOOK Magazine photographer (and Holland-area resident) Douglas Gilbert captured during his time spent with a young Bob Dylan. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Visiting Writers
Next in the line up for the Visiting Writers Series on November 11 is fiction and nonfiction writer David Shields. His new book, Reality Hunger: A Manifesto, came out earlier this year to great acclaim. His previous book, The Thing About Life Is That One Day You'll Be Dead, was a New York Times bestseller. He is the author of eight other books, including Black Planet: Facing Race During an NBA Season. He will be reading from selected works. For more info, call 269-395-7620 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/.

Book of the Month
Julie and Jacquelyn's book of the month is The Room by Emma Donoghue. Room earns a place of honor that distinguishes itself with a gripping subject that never sinks into gloom, but always floats on a current, which is Donoghue's signature creativity. At the start of Donoghue's powerful new novel, narrator Jack and his mother, who was kidnapped 7 years earlier when she was a 19-year-old college student, celebrate his fifth birthday. They live in a tiny, 11-foot-square soundproofed cell in a converted shed in the kidnapper's yard. Talented, versatile Donoghue relates a searing tale of survival and recovery, in the voice of a 5-year-old boy--wrenching, as befits the grim subject matter, but also tender, touching, and at times unexpectedly funny. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck, (269-857-3785).

Honorable Mentions

Nov 26, Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa's Visit
Dec 2, Movie-Tale of two Cities, Douglas Library
Dec 3, Lakeshore Community Chorus, Saugatuck Center for the Arts
Dec 4, Winter Green Market, Saugatuck Center for the Arts
Dec 4, Saugatuck Christmas Parade-2.pm
Dec 4, Nouveau Fest, Fenn Valley Winery, Fennville
Dec 10-12, Charles Dickens Christmas Carol-Women's Club
Dec 16, Movie-Christmas Carol, Douglas Library
Dec 16, Movie, The Boys; The Sherman Brothers Story, SCA
Dec 17-19, Charles Dickens Christmas Carol-Women's Club
Dec 31, New Years Eve and Fireworks at midnight

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.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

It was a dark and stormy night and the wind was howling outside the small clapboard-sided cottage high on the cliff overlooking Sherwood Forest B&B. Gwendolyn was baking her traditional Pumpkin Cranberry Bread that she always brought down to the big house for the first night of the Festival of the Dead. It was her favorite, and she knew those below would love it. Alas, this time, Gwendolyn never showed, and she was never seen again. The windows in her small cottage are said to glow on the eve of the festival, and though unexplainable, a loaf of freshly baked bread appears in our kitchen the next morn.

Ghost Gwendolyn's Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups flour
¼ tp. ground cloves
½ tp. ground ginger
1 tp. cinnamon
2 tp. baking powder
½ tp. salt
2 eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ¾ cups pumpkin puree (15-oz. can)
½ cup vegetable oil
1-cup fresh or dried cranberries

Instructions:

Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl and stir to blend. Combine eggs through oil in a bowl and beat on low speed until smooth. Add the flour mixture, and then stir in cranberries. Pour into 1 large and 1 small loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour (large loaf) and 35 minutes (small loaf)-or until knife inserted comes out clean. May be frozen. Serves 10-15.

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 2010

Good 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 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 5 people, is pet friendly, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. For more info, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

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.

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

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners (Whole-House Booking)
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 weekends. 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 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 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 $283-$523. To book this package, call us at 800-838-1246. For more golf specials, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html

Hands-On Group Cooking Classes
From Northern Italian to Southeast Asian to Traditional Mexican, we have teamed up with Chef Jim LaPerriere to offer some fun and instructive cooking classes. LaPerriere worked for 6 years as sous chef at Biba's before leaving to study at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and graduated number one in his class. He worked with chef Mark Miller at Red Sage in Washington, D.C., studying Southwestern Cuisine; he was sous chef at Mustards Grill in Napa Valley; and he was owner and executive chef at Enotria Cafe and Wine Bar in North Sacramento (earning and maintaining a four-star review). The interactive cooking class experience includes an evening of professional instruction designed around your groups' culinary interests, including ingredients, menu, recipes, beverages, and of course, a really good time. Available for 2 to 10 people, November through April (2-night minimum stay required), the cost of this package ranges from $650 to $2150. For more info or to book this package, please call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246 or you can e-mail us at sf@sherwoodforestbandb.com

Bed & Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a weekend 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; over 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 22-oz. 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 (an extra $20). Cost runs from $512 to $695. For more info, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

U-Pick
CCranes Orchards, just one of West Michigan's U-Pick Apple Orchards, 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 2. 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 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 provided 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 2-3 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 7 professional artists. For more info, visit http://bluecoastartists.com.

More Art
Come join more than 20 tri-community galleries for the 32nd annual Saugatuck/Douglas Gallery Stroll on October 9-10 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.

23rd Annual Goose Festival
You haven't lived until you've attended the Goose Festival--no really! On October 8-10, 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.

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 10.

Farmers' Market
The Green Market is at the SCA from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every Friday until October 8. 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 by the bridge. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Music
The Wailin Jennys Back for the first time since their debut in 2007, the Wailin Jennys return to the main stage at the SCA on October 9 at 8 p.m. This award-winning trio from Canada dishes up their unique blend of pop-folk featuring three-part harmonies and instrumentals. Their new release, Live at Mauch Chunk Opera House, captures the magic of their live performances with show-stopping harmonies and dynamic instrumental solos from all three Jennys and their sideman Jeremy Penner. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Folk
On October 12, iconic performer Joan Baez will be at the SCA for a 1-night only show. This intimate concert features Baez in an evening of conversation, longtime favorite melodies, and songs from her latest release, "Day After Tomorrow," which features songs by Steve Earle, Elvis Costello, and T-Bone Burnett. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Music
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music: October 3, Anne Hills (folk singer/songwriter); October 8, Red Tail Ring (Appalachian old-time/folk); October 15, Mary Sue Wilkinson & Roger Brown (country/folk); October 17, Drew Nelson/Josh Rose (singer songwriter); October 24, Dinner Theater: Chicago actress Julie Ganey presents her 1-woman show 'The Half-Life of Magic"; November 7, Claudia Schmidt and Rachael Davis (folk/jazz/poetry/stories); November 21, Red Sea Pedestrians, (folk); and December 5 An Dro (Celtic). For more info, visit 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, 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.

Hot 8 Brass band
Next in the line up for the Hope College Great Performance Series is The Hot 8 Brass Band on October 8 at the Dimnent Chapel in Holland. They have epitomized New Orleans street music for over a decade. The members of the Hot 8 Brass Band were born and raised in New Orleans and many began playing together in high school. For more info, visit http://www.hope.edu/arts or call 616-395-7890.

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.

Film
Film Studies at the Red Barn
Local resident and film concept developer John Hardy will introduce each film and lead a brief discussion afterward during the Red Barn Film Studies. October 5: Man of a Thousand Faces-1957, James Cagney, Dorothy Malone; October 12: The Body Snatcher-1945, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi; October 19: The Wolf Man-1941, Lon Chaney Jr. and Claude Rains; and October 26: House of Dracula-1945, Lon Chaney Jr. and John Carradine. 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 Film Series will continue on through October 11-13 and 15-16 at 7:30 p.m. with the film Mid August Lunch. The charismatic Gianni Di Gregorio stars in his directorial debut, an utterly charming tale of good food, feisty ladies, and unlikely friendships during a very Roman holiday. Broke and armed with only a glass of wine and a wry sense of humor, middle-aged Gianni resides with his 93-year-old mother in their ancient apartment. The condo debts are mounting, but if Gianni looks after the building manager's mother during the Pranzo di Ferragosto (Italy's biggest summer holiday and the Feast of the Assumption), all will be forgiven. Then the manager also shows up with an auntie, and then a doctor friend appears with his mother in tow... Can Gianni keep four such lively mamas well fed and happy in these cramped quarters? 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 October 8, Gaslight (1944) with Charles Boyer and Joseph Cotten; October 21, Spellbound (1945) with Gregory Peck; and November 4, Notorious with Cary Grant and Claude Rains. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Still Mo' Film
Real to Reel Cinema Series On October 28 at 7 p.m., the SCA will be showing The Art of the Steal. In 1922, Dr. Albert C. Barnes formed a remarkable educational institution around his priceless collection of art, located just 5 miles outside of Philadelphia. Now, more than 50 years after Barnes' death, a powerful group of moneyed interests have gone to court for control of the art, and intend to bring it to a new museum in Philadelphia. Standing in their way is a group of Barnes' former students and his will, which contains strict instructions stating the Foundation should always be an educational institution, and that the paintings may never be removed. Will they succeed, or will a man's will be broken? For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Halloween
Halloween festivities will be going on in downtown Saugatuck on October 30 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 December 2010, The Holland Museum is exhibiting Forever Young--A Retrospective of Bob Dylan Photographs by Douglas R. Gilbert. Holland Museum's Focus Gallery plays host to a series of 1964 images that former LOOK Magazine photographer (and Holland-area resident) Douglas Gilbert captured during his time spent with a young Bob Dylan. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum is featuring A Place Called Ox-Bow: 100 Years of Connecting Art, Nature, and People. Saugatuck's Ox-Bow is a site of many human and natural wonders: culture, nature, landscape, and waterscape, all unfolding from the Lake Michigan shoreline to the Kalamazoo River and the old Village of Saugatuck. This exhibit is about how for a century the Ox-Bow School has been a bridge between nature and art for thousands of people, comprising an important chapter in the history of the lakeshore and its dunes. 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 information, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

About It
Who Cares? with dancers from Grand Rapids Ballet on October 14 at 7 p.m. at the SCA. Meet the Grand Rapids Ballet's new Interim Artistic Director, Patricia Barker, and be dazzled by a preview of their fall performance featuring Balanchine choreography and Gerschwin music. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Visiting Writers
On October 14 at 7 p.m., fiction writer Cristina Garcia, who is the author of five novels: Dreaming in Cuban, The Agüero Sisters, Monkey Hunting, A Handbook to Luck, and The Lady Matador's Hotel, will be reading from selected works. Garcia is one of the most important Cuban-American voices in U.S. literature today. 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
Sue's book of the month is The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse. "We slipped into this country like thieves, onto the land that once was ours." With these words, spoken by an illegal Mexican day laborer, The Madonnas of Echo Park takes us into the unseen world of Los Angeles, following the men and women who cook the meals, clean the homes, and struggle to lose their ethnic identity in the pursuit of the American dream. Skyhorse writes with great compassion and wit (and a touch of magic) about the lives of people who are often treated as if they are invisible. The stories that make up this novel weave together to create a complex and vivid portrait of a Los Angeles we seldom see in literature or film. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785).

Honorable Mentions
Sept30-Oct 1, Great Performance Series-Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre
October 2, Octoberfest, downtown Dougla
s Oct 2-3, Annual Blue Coast Artist Fall Tour
Oct 7, Movie-Gaslight, Douglas Library
Oct 8, Great Performance Series-Hot 8 Brass Band
Oct 8-10, Fennville Goose Festival, Fennville
Oct 9, Music, The Wailing Jennys-SCA
Oct 9-10, Ninth Annual Road Rally-Allegan Countryside
Oct 9-10, 33rd Annual Gallery Stroll Weekend
Oct 10, Chili Cook-off, Saugatuck
Oct 12, West Michigan Drum Circle
Oct 14, Visiting Writers Series, Cristina Garcia
Oct 16, Fall Funfest Day
Oct 21, Movie, Spellbound-Douglas Library
Oct 26 Star of Saugatuck last cruise of the season
Oct 28, Movie, Art of the Steal, SCA
Oct 30, Halloween Harvest Festival
Nov 1-6, Movie, Get low, Knickerbocker
Nov 4, Movie-Notorious, Douglas Library
Nov 5, Whirligigs, Mechanical Toys and Pop Up Books, SCA
Nov 8-10, Movie, Vision, Knickenbocker
Nov 18, Movie-David Copperfield, Douglas Library
Nov 18, Movie, Valentino, SCA
Nov 18, About it - Fashioning a Princess: Valentino and Diana
Nov 20, Saugatuck Douglas Holiday Preview
Nov 26, Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa's Visit
Dec 2, Movie-Tale of two Cities, Douglas Library
Dec 4, Saugatuck Christmas Parade-2.pm
Dec 10-12, Charles Dickens Christmas Carol-Women's Club
Dec 16, Movie-Christmas Carol, Douglas Library
Dec 16, Movie, The Boys; The Sherman Brothers Story, SCA
Dec 17-19, Charles Dickens Christmas Carol-Women's Club
Dec 31, New Years Eve and Fireworks at midnight

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:

From the County of Cromarty came this Scottish lass, who delighted us with her Savory Pot Roast. She appeared on our doorstep claiming we had met in a previous life sometime in the 1700s, that we used to have a small dinner group that met once a week and shared meals with the clan. She requisitioned our kitchen with the understanding that it was her turn, while she asserted that we left for the new world without a forwarding address and it took her a couple of centuries to find us. Well, I for one sure am glad she tracked us down, this pot roast is delicious!

Scottish Jeans Savory Pot Roast

Ingredients:

1 (3 lb.) blade pot roast
oil for frying
sea salt
1/4 cup wine vinegar
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup catsup
2T. soy sauce
2T. Worcestershire
1 tsp. dried crushed rosemary
1/2 tsp. garlic powder (use the real thing and more of it)
1/2 tsp. dry mustard

Instructions: In skillet (dutch oven) brown meat in a small amount of oil. Sprinkle meat with a little salt. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over meat. Cover tightly, simmer 2 hours or until tender. Remove meat to heated platter. Skim excess fat from sauce. Spoon sauce over meat.

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 2010

Good 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, you provide your 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 weekends. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html

Bed, Breakfast, and Arnold Palmer 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

Bed & Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a weekend 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; over 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 3-4 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 (an extra $20). Cost runs from $512 to $695. For more info, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

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:

Saugatuck-Douglas Victory Party
On September 11, businesses, restaurants, and bars will be offering in-store "THANK YOU" specials, drawings, and discounts to everyone wearing "I voted for Saugatuck" buttons. Cool event T-Shirts, buttons and a printed flyer containing all drawings and special offerings will be available throughout the town at volunteer-manned tables. For more info go to http://www.saugatuck.com/partyevents.htm

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
The Green Market is at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every Friday until October 8. 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 by the bridge. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Douglas Social
On September 9, 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.

Music
Pop/Jazz Smooth as a dry martini and equally intoxicating, smoky-voiced Chantal Chamberland returns to the Saugatuck Center for the Arts on September 4 for her only U.S. appearance of 2010. Chamberland (accompanied by her full band) will dish up sultry renditions of pop and jazz. 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.

Chorus
The Lakeshore Community Chorus will make its concert debut at the SCA on September 12 at 3 p.m. Chorus members hail from Saugatuck, Douglas, and five neighboring lakeshore communities and represent a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and interests. A special feature of the concert is that the chorus will be joined by music students from the Saugatuck Public Schools who will perform solos and in small ensembles as well as joining the chorus to sing "Seasons of Love" from the musical "Rent." For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Soul
On September 25, The Red Barn Theater presents Soulz of Rhythm with guest Cici Gramer will bring you a healthy mix of soul, R&B, funk, swing, and rock 'n roll to Michigan's music scene. The Soulz' songs include many classic R&B/Soul hits, but also 50's, 60's and 70's, Rock 'n Roll, Funk, and Swing. They love the horn lines in many of these songs, but when the song is purely Rock & Roll, the horn players will sing background vocals and add a little rhythm of their own. Doors open at 7 pm, with wine and appetizers available, show time at 8 pm. The Red Barn is located a quarter mile east of Exit 41 on I-196/US31 at 3657 63rd St at Blue Star Highway. For more info or tic's you can visit their website at http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com/schedule.htm or call (269) 857-5300

Rock
On September 18, Jimmy Dillon and the Werewolves will take the stage at the SCA for an evening of infectious rock and roll. The Werewolves are a 7-piece band of veteran musicians including Grammy winner Peter "Madcat" Ruth on harmonica and vocals, Mark Schrock on guitar, mandolin, fiddle and vocals, bassist Mark Moore, Jeff Moehle on drums and vocals, and The Lyon Street Horns led by Grand Rapids sax man John Gist. San Francisco-based Dillon, characterized by his searing brand of slide guitar, soulful vocals, and original songs, has played with rock and blues icons including Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh, and Bob Dylan. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Folk/Rock
On October 9, Imagine if the crazy scientists from Jurassic Park put Gillian Welch, Emmy Lou Harris, and the Dixie Chicks in a blender, and then formed a musical trio from the resulting puddle of DNA. What you'd hear is the stunning songwriting, sweet harmonies, and sultry sound of Canada's The Wailin' Jennys. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Folk
On October 12, iconic performer Joan Baez will be at the SCA for a 1-night only show. This intimate concert features Baez in an evening of conversation, longtime favorite melodies, and songs from her latest release, "Day After Tomorrow," which features songs by Steve Earle, Elvis Costello, and T-Bone Burnett. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Music in the Park--Saugatuck
By the river next to the band shell in Saugatuck, you can listen to some free music: September 1, Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys (honky tonk). For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/.

Music
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music: September 3, Hein, Hughes & Allison (folk/blues); September 5, Joe Foster (folk); September 10, Maxwell Smart (blues); September 17, Roger Brown & Luke Gitchell (country/folk); September 24, Who Hit John (bluegrass); October 1, Hawks & Owls (old time); October 3, Anne Hills (folk/singer/songwriter); October 8, Red Tail Ring (Appalachian oldtime/folk); October 15, Mary Sue Wilkinson & Roger Brown (country/folk); October 17, Drew Nelson/Josh Rose (singer songwriter); October 29, David Molinari & Lauran Bittinger (folk fusion). For more info, visit www.saltoftheearthfennville.com or call 269-561-7258.

Film
Film Studies at the Red Barn Local resident and film concept developer John Hardy will introduce each film and lead a brief discussion afterward during the Red Barn Film Studies. September 7: Fiddler On The Roof-1971, Dinner and a Movie, Israeli actor Topol, Norma Crane; September 14: High Noon-1952, Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges; September 21: Gypsy-1962, Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood; and September 28: Moby Dick-1956, Gregory Peck; All screenings are at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Mo' Film
Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library in Douglas: September 9, For Whom the Bell Tolls with Gary Cooper; September 23, Saratoga Trunk with Gary Cooper; October 7, Gaslight with Charles Boyer and Joseph Cotton; October 21, Spellbound with Gregory Peck; and November 4, Notorious with Cary Grant and Claude Rains. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Still Mo' Film
Real to Reel Cinema Series On September 30 at 7 p.m., the SCA will be showing Every Little Step. This film follows the plight of real-life dancers as they struggle through auditions for the Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line." It also investigates the history of the show and the creative minds behind the original and current incarnations. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Dance
Opening the season for the Hope College Great Performance Series is the Deeply Rooted Dance Theater on September 30-October 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Theatre, downtown Holland. Since 1999, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater offers work from an African-American tradition of dance and music that is an inspiring and innovative expression of contemporary life. For more info, visit http://www.hope.edu/arts or call 616-395-7890.

Theater
On September 10-12, The Red Barn Cabaret Series will present The Amber Beads, which portrays a grieving mother and her journey to forgive her son for having died before he could fulfill his promise to her. The play is alternately humorous and touching--real life with an ethnic twist. Starring in the production are Freida Kahn as Vasso, Vicki Kavanaugh as Kiki, Ernie Evangelista as Costa, and Erik Keener as Petro. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/schedule.htm.

Art
The Blue Coast Artists 20th Annual Fall Tour of Studios will be held October 2-3 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
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum is featuring A Place Called Ox-Bow: 100 Years of Connecting Art, Nature, and People. Saugatuck's Ox-Bow is a site of many human and natural wonders: culture, nature, landscape, and waterscape, all unfolding from the Lake Michigan shoreline to the Kalamazoo River and the old Village of Saugatuck. This exhibit is about how for a century the Ox-Bow School has been a bridge between nature and art for thousands of people, comprising an important chapter in the history of the lakeshore and its dunes. 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 information, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

Visiting Writers
On September 21 at 7 p.m., the fifth annual Tom Andrews Memorial reading will take place with Wayne Miller at the Knickerbocker Theatre, downtown Holland. Miller is the author of two collections of poems, The Book of Props (Milkweed, 2009) and Only the Senses Sleep (New Issues, 2006), which received the William Rockhill Nelson Award. He is also translator of Moikom Zeqo's I Don't Believe in Ghosts. 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
Sept 6, Used Book Sale- Douglas Public Library
Sept 6, 12th Annual Labor Day Bridge Walk
Sept 10-12, Rock the Felt Mansion-Rock Concert with the Rock Band The Guess Who
Sept 11, Douglas Dutchers Ball Game, 2 pm, Douglas
Sept 11, Street Party-Coolest Small Town In America
Sept 11, Mount Baldhead Challenge
Sept 14, West Michigan Drum Circle, Felt Mansion, 6:30-8:00 PM
Sept 17, Music-Nobody's Darlin-Red Barn
Sept 18, Music-Jimmy Dillon and the Werewolves, SCA
Sept 18, Saugatuck-Douglas Heritage Festival
Sept 18, Clothesline Artshow-Saugatuck
Sept 21, Visiting Writers Series, Wayne Miller
Sept 21, Film Studies at the Redbarn, Gypsy
Sept 23, Movie-Saratoga Trunk, Douglas Library
Sept 26, Allegan Antique Market
Sept 28, Film Studies at the Redbarn, Moby Dick
Sept30-Oct 1, Great Performance Series-Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre
October 2, Octoberfest, downtown Douglas
Oct 2-3, Annual Blue Coast Artist Fall Tour
Oct 7, Movie-Gaslight, Douglas Library
Oct 8, Great Performance Series-Hot 8 Brass Band
Oct 8-10, Fennville Goose Festival, Fennville
Oct 9, Music, The Wailing Jennys-SCA
Oct 9-10, Ninth Annual Road Rally-Allegan Countryside
Oct 9-10, 33rd Annual Gallery Stroll Weekend
Oct 10, Chili Cook-off, Saugatuck
Oct 12, West Michigan Drum Circle
Oct 14, Visiting Writers Series, Cristina Garcia
Oct 16, Fall Funfest Day
Oct 21, Movie, Spellbound-Douglas Library
Oct 26 Star of Saugatuck last cruise of the season
Oct 28, Movie, Art of the Steal, SCA
Oct 30, Halloween Harvest Festival
Nov 4, Movie-Notorious, Douglas Library
Nov 5, Whirligigs, Mechanical Toys and Pop Up Books, SCA
Nov 18, Movie-David Copperfield, Douglas Library
Nov 18, Movie, Valentino, SCA
Nov 18, About it Lecture Series-Who Cares, SCA
Nov 20, Saugatuck Douglas Holiday Preview
Nov 26, Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa's Visit
Dec 2, Movie-Tale of two Cities, Douglas Library
Dec 4, Saugatuck Christmas Parade-2.pm
Dec 10-12, Charles Dickens Christmas Carol-Women's Club
Dec 16, Movie-Christmas Carol, Douglas Library
Dec 16, Movie, The Boys; The Sherman Brothers Story, SCA
Dec 17-19, Charles Dickens Christmas Carol-Women's Club
Dec 31, New Years Eve and Fireworks at midnight

Books
NO book this month, but a heartfelt thank you to our friend Michele Lonergan, who for years has contributed her recommendations to this newsletter. She owned and operated Treehouse Books in Holland for the last 7 years, a small independent bookstore, and with great sadness she closed her doors last week. In her own words, "The bookstore has been a gathering place for all ages, where people came to discuss books, meet authors, and share their love of the written word." When we meet a friend for coffee or at a party, we talk about what we are reading, and we connect in ways that are not like any other, whether it is meaningful and insightful, or just humorous. Many thanks to Michele, your store will be missed, but may the next path you take be an adventure that shines the light wherever you tread (and read). In closing, we ask that you support your independently-owned bookstore, the place where the owners can get to know you and can recommend some great reads to you, your family, and your friends. Our local indie is the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785). They have a fine selection of books, and they can also order anything your heart desires. Also, to find an indie bookstore in your neighborhood, check out the link provided and enter your zip code at http://www.indiebound.org/indie-store-finder.

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:

Siren Cyn hails us from the northern reaches of Somewhereoutthereistan. She told us that her peaceful country is actually a large commune and everyone contributes to the betterment of the whole. She shared with us some freezer jam she made from the grapes of the wine. She makes this from fresh concord grapes grown in her backyard, but of course you can buy them at your local farmers market as they are just coming into season.

Siren Cyn's Freezer Jam

Ingredients:

2 cups (about 1.5 to 2 lbs.) of fully ripe Concord Grapes
2/3 cups and 2 tbsp. water, separated
4 cups sugar,
1 packet fruit pectin
3 pieces of cheesecloth
5 one-cup ball jars

Instructions:

Stem and wash the grapes thoroughly, then crush grapes with a potato masher and place in a large saucepan; add 2/3 cup water. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on low heat 15 min., stirring occasionally. Place 3 layers of damp cheesecloth in a large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Gently Press. Measure 2 cups juice into large bowl. Stir in sugar. Let sit 10 min., stirring occasionally. Put in remaining 2 tbsp water and the pectin in small bowl and mix. Add to juice mixture; stir until sugar is dissolved and not granular (it's ok for some sugar crystals to remain).

Fill your containers to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers and directly cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Jelly is now ready to use. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or freeze extra containers up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator before using.

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 2010

Good News from the Forest!

Mucho thanks to all our amigos who voted for us in Shoreline Magazine's Best of the Region-because of you we received the number 2 spot in the B&B category! We humbly appreciate the kudos.

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 saying, let's take a dip mon ami! 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. 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 has 1 week left for the summer: August 14-20 and it goes for $1250. It 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 yes, it's pet friendly. For more info, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

B&B and Charter Fishing
Looking for the ultimate experience in Saugatuck fishing charters? Sherwood Forest B&B is partnering with Best Chance Charters, Saugatuck, Michigan's premiere fishing experts. 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 & Breakfast, Dinner, and Off-Broadway Theater
Looking for some awesome off-Broadway theater? Sherwood Forest has this for you to enjoy: 1 or 2 nights at Sherwood Forest B&B and 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 is: The Marvelous Wonderettes (August 6-22) and The Nuclear Family (August 25-29). Package prices range from $249 to $569. To book this, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Bed & Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a weekend getaway involving brewing your own batch of beer? Sherwood Forest is offering a unique 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 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.

Bed and Breakfast and Arnold Palmer 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 info, 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
Starting July 1 and continuing every other week on Thursday nights through September 9, 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 8, and on Mondays from 3-7 p.m. from July 6 to August 30. 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. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Sidewalk Sale
The Annual Saugatuck/Douglas Sidewalk Sale will be held August 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Saugatuck and Douglas. This is a great event where merchants unload their summer goods to make way for fall fashions and giftware. There will be bargains galore and will happen rain or shine.

Food
The Annual Taste of Douglas will be held on August 19 at Beery Field in downtown Douglas from noon-7 p.m. and the Annual Taste of Saugatuck will be held on August 22 on Water Street in downtown Saugatuck from noon-7 p.m. Enjoyable foods from area restaurants will be featured, a gastronomical event that is sure to please everybody. For more info, call 269-857-1438 or 269-857-1701.

Music in the Park--Saugatuck
Music in the Park--Saugatuck By the river next to the band shell in Saugatuck, you can listen to some free music this summer. August 4-Creolization (Zydeco/Cajun); August 11-Bryan Michael Fischer Band (rock/R&B); August 18-Los Bandits (Tex/Mex); August 25-The Niche Classic (top 40); and September 1-Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys (honky tonk) For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/.

Music in the Park--Fennville
Free music every other Tuesday: August 3, Detour (bluegrass). The concerts will be held at Memorial/Paradise Park on north Maple Street in downtown Fennville. For more info, visit http://www.greaterfennville.com.

Contemporary Acoustic Songwriter
On August 2, award-winning singer-songwriter Meg Hutchinson showcases her talent at the SCA's Summer in the Studio series at 8 p.m. With a poet's ease, Hutchinson makes the personal universal, allowing people's stories to come alive through her unique vocals and haunting melodies. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

American Jazz
On August 9 at 8 p.m., West Michigan favorites Edye Evans-Hyde and Mark Kahny share American songbook and jazz classics during this swinging Summer in the Studio concert at the SCA. From Gershwin to Cole Porter, Sammy Cahn to Lerner and Lowe, Evans-Hyde and Kahny bring their cool stylings during this intimate performance. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Folk Americana
On August 16 at 8 p.m., Drew Nelson shares his soulful strumming and deeply honest lyrics as part of the SCA's Summer in the Studio series. Nelson's lyrics bristle with sincerity, spirituality, and a keen insight about real life and real people. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Lyrically Potent Pop
On Monday August 23 at 8 p.m., internationally acclaimed pop/folk act The Guggenheim Grotto shares tracks from their newest album (released June 15), "The Universe is Laughing," in the SCA's intimate performance studio. The band has captivated audiences in both the US and the UK with its mix of poetic, often literature-inspired lyrics set to timeless, soaring pop melodies. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Pop/Jazz
Smooth as a dry martini and equally intoxicating, smoky-voiced Chantal Chamberland returns to the Saugatuck Center for the Arts over Labor Day Weekend for her only U.S. appearance of 2010. Chamberland (accompanied by her full band) dishes up sultry renditions of pop and jazz hits ranging from the Bee Gee's "How Deep is your Love" to the Rodgers and Hart classic "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered". 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: August 5-6, Kernis, Barber, and Bernstein; August 12-13, Martinu, Dvorak, and Dohnanyi. 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, 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.

Movies
Film Studies at the Red Barn
Local resident and film concept developer John Hardy will introduce each film and lead a brief discussion afterward during the Red Barn Film Studies. August 3: Dr. Zhivago-1965, Dinner and a Movie Night at The Red Barn Theater, Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Alec Guinness, Rod Steiger; August 10: Rock Around the Clock-1956; August 17: Cabaret-1972, Michael York, Liza Minnelli; August 24: Sunset Boulevard-1950, William Holden, Gloria Swanson; August 31: The Lady Vanishes-1938, Margaret Lockwood, Dame Mae Whitty, Michael Redgrave; September 7: Fiddler On The Roof-1971, Dinner and a Movie, Israeli actor Topol, Norma Crane; September 14: High Noon-1952, Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges; September 21: Gypsy-1962, Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood; September 28: Moby Dick-1956, Gregory Peck; All screenings are at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Film
It's Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library in Douglas. On August 16, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Spencer Tracy and Lana Turner; September 9, For Whom the Bell Tolls with Gary Cooper; September 23, Saratoga Trunk with Gary Cooper; October 7, Gaslight with Charles Boyer and Joseph Cotton; October 21, Spellbound with Gregory Peck; and November 4, Notorious with Cary Grant and Claude Rains. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

More Theater
The Red Barn Cabaret Series presents English dramatist Peter Schafer at the Red Barn in Saugatuck on August 13-15. Schafer will present the play Amadeus, which is loosely based on the lives of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. Next in the line up on August 20 is Darla Wortley and Philip Pletcher in Patsy (Cline) Meets Ethel (Merman) A fun and fantastic tribute to these two incomparable women of song. Then on August 21 is when the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company visits the historic Red Barn Theater and presents Henry V by William Shakespeare. On September 3-4, the Cabaret will finish its season with a 1960s Tribute and Sing Along hosted by The Grand Award Winner Darla Wortley and Philip Pletcher. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

More Theater
Hope Summer Repertory Theatre will present. I Do! I Do! from June 25-August 10 at the Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland. Then The Last Night of Ballyhoo will run from August 2-13 at the Knickerbocker. A Year With Frog and Toad will run from August 2-13 at the Knickerbocker. 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 August 28, 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. For more info, call 269-857-2023 or visit http://www.thevillagepuppeteers.com.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum has unveiled its 2010 exhibit: A Place Called Ox-Bow: 100 Years of Connecting Art, Nature, and People. Saugatuck's Ox-Bow is a site of many human and natural wonders: culture, nature, landscape, and waterscape, all unfolding from the Lake Michigan shoreline to the Kalamazoo River and the old Village of Saugatuck. This exhibit is about how for a century the Ox-Bow School has been a bridge between nature and art for thousands of people, comprising an important chapter in the history of the lakeshore and its dunes. 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 information, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

Exhibitions
A Passion For Painting: Rediscovering a Century of Art in Saugatuck is in the Bertha Krueger Reid Exhibition Hall in the SCA through October 4.This exhibition showcases works by painters both known and unknown who fell in love with the communities of Saugatuck and Douglas and made them (the dunes, water, forest, buildings, and boats) their studio. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Antiques
T he 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
Aug 14, Douglas Dutchers Ball Game, 2 pm, Douglas
Sept 1, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Sept 4, Music-Chantal Chamberland, SCA
Sept 6, Used Book Sale- Douglas Public Library
Sept 7, Film Studies at the Redbarn, Fiddler on the Roof
Sept 9, Film, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Douglas Library
Sept 10-12, Rock the Felt Mansion-Rock Concert with the Rock Band The Guess Who
Sept 10, Douglas Social
Sept 11, Douglas Dutchers Ball Game, 2 pm, Douglas
Sept 11, Street Party-Coolest Small Town In America
Sept 11, Mount Baldhead Challenge
Sept 14, Film Studies at the Redbarn, High Noon
Sept 14, West Michigan Drum Circle
Sept 17, Music-Nobody's Darlin-Red Barn
Sept 18, Music-Jimmy Dillon and the Werewolves, SCA
Sept 18, Saugatuck-Douglas Heritage Festival
Sept 18, Clothesline Artshow-Saugatuck
Sept 21, Visiting Writers Series, Wayne Miller
Sept 21, Film Studies at the Redbarn, Gypsy
Sept 23, Movie-Saratoga Trunk, Douglas Library
Sept 26, Allegan Antique Market
Sept 28, Film Studies at the Redbarn, Moby Dick
Sept30-Oct 1, Great Performance Series-Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre
October 2, Octoberfest, downtown Douglas
Oct 2-3, Annual Blue Coast Artist Fall Tour
Oct 7, Movie-Gaslight, Douglas Library
Oct 8, Great Performance Series-Hot 8 Brass Band
Oct 8-10, Fennville Goose Festival, Fennville
Oct 9, Music, The Wailing Jennys-SCA
Oct 9-10, Ninth Annual Road Rally-Allegan Countryside
Oct 9-10, 33rd Annual gallery Stroll Weekend
Oct 10, Chili Cook-off, Saugatuck
Oct 12, West Michigan Drum Circle
Oct 14, Visiting Writers Series, Cristina Garcia
Oct 16, Fall Funfest Day
Oct 21, Movie, Spellbound-Douglas Library
Oct 26 Star of Saugatuck last cruise of the season
Oct 30, Halloween

Books
Virginia's Book of the Month is When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris. I read the entire book yesterday afternoon and I could not stop laughing. His descriptions, dialogue, and demented details are uniquely Sedaris. Older, wiser, smarter and meaner, Sedaris defies the odds once again by delivering an intelligent take on the banalities of an absurd life. He has a deft touch, moving between sarcasm and sadness or, in this collection, between redneck babysitters and quitting smoking. This book did not disappoint 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:

The Original Siren of Sherwood came up with another of her tasty summer salads, thank you mon ami, we are blessed to have one such as you among us.

Sue's Zucchini/Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

One-third cup olive oil
Juice from 1 lemon
One-half teaspoon kosher salt
One-half teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 pounds zucchini, shaved in ribbons
1-pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 ounce fresh Parmesan, shaved in ribbons

Instructions:

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl, mix well, and then add rest of ingredients. Place in fridge for 3-4 hours, and then stir well. Serves 8-10.

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 2010

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 saying, let's take a dip mon ami! 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 almost booked up for the summer, but here's what we have left: August 14-20 and 21-27. It goes for $1250/week. 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. It goes back to nightly rental after Labor Day. 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:

Bed & Breakfast, Dinner, and Off-Broadway Theater
Sherwood Forest has this to offer: 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, and 2 tickets to the Mason Street Warehouse, where you'll experience professional off-Broadway theater. The line up for this season is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (June 25-July 18), Dixie's Tupperware Party (July 21-August 1), The Marvelous Wonderettes (August 6-22), and The Nuclear Family (August 25-29). Package prices range from $249 to $569. To book this, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Bed & Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a 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 and Charter Boat Fishing
Looking for the ultimate experience in Saugatuck fishing charters? Sherwood Forest B&B is offering an extraordinary package that includes some great fishing with Best Chance Charters, Saugatuck'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 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 and Arnold Palmer 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.

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 after that. 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
Starting July 1 and continuing every other week on Thursday nights through September 9, 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 8 and on Mondays from 3-7 p.m. from July 6 to August 30. 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/GreenMarket.html.

Music in the Park--Saugatuck
By the river next to the band shell in Saugatuck, you can listen to some free music this summer. July 7-Blue Coyote Band (country); July 14-The Last Call Band (roots/rock); July 21-Function (funk/soul); July 28-Keith Scott Blues Band (Chicago blues); August 4-Creolization (Zydeco/Cajun); August 11-Bryan Michael Fischer Band (rock/R&B); August 18-Los Bandits (Tex/Mex); August 25-The Niche Classic (top 40); and September 1-Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys (honky tonk) For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/.

Music in the Park--Fennville
Free music every other Tuesday: July 6, Root Doctor (blues); July 22, Red Sea Pedestrians (world music); and August 3, Detour (bluegrass). 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
The Cooper Hay Van Lente Group will be performing on July 12 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.

Celtic
Krista Detor will be performing on July 16 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. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Jazz
Veteran jazz singer Libby York brings her cool style to the SCA in the studio series on July 26. Known for her subtle, understated yet expressive approach, York's vocals have inspired comparisons to such noteworthy jazz stylists as Anita O'Day, Chris Connor, June Christy, and Julie London. Chicago pianist Jeremy Kahn will join York. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Contemporary Ballads
Award-winning singer-songwriter Meg Hutchinson showcases her talent at the SCA's 2010 Summer in the Studio series on August 2. With a poet's ease, Hutchinson makes the personal universal, allowing people's stories to come alive through her unique vocals and haunting melodies. 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 8-9, Khachaturian, Saint-Saens and Rachmaninoff; July 15-16, Milhaud and Poulenc; July 22-24, Beethoven and Brahms; July 29-30, Liszt, Wolf, Respighi, and Tchaikovsky; August 5-6, Kernis, Barber, and Bernstein; August 12-13, Martinu, Dvorak, and Dohnanyi. 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. (Mondays 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. Plus don't forget about open mike night on Mondays. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Music at the Lucky Stone Pub
Join the folks at Saugatuck Brewing Company's Lucky Stone pub for some music and locally crafted beer: July 1, Jen Sygit and Sam Corbin (folk/acoustic); July 3, Last Call Band (cover/rockabilly); July 8, Dean Millu (jazz); July 10, Vincent Hayes Project (jazz/funk); July 15, Dave Hardin (country/Nashville), July 17, Fred Knapp's Groove Merchant (jazz); July 22, Vincent Hayes (jazz); July 24, The Waxies (Irish): July 29, Todd Warnock Band (local favorite-rock); July 31, Last Call Band (cover/rockabilly). All performances are from 7-11 p.m. For more info, visit http://saugatuckbrewing.com.

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 2, 16, 30 and August 13, from 7:30-10 p.m. For more info, visit http://www.ox-bow.org or call 800-318-3019.

Movies
Film Studies at the Red Barn
Local resident and film concept developer John Hardy will introduce each film and lead a brief discussion afterward during the Red Barn Film Studies. July 6: Giant-1956- Dinner and a Movie Night at The Red Barn Theater--Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean; July 13: To Be Or Not To Be-1942, Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Carole Lombard; July 20: Kiss Me Kate-1953, Ann Miller, Bob Fosse, Carol Haney; July 27: To Kill a Mockingbird-1962, Gregory Peck, Brock Peters, John Megna, Phillip Alford, Mary Badham, Robert Duvall; August 3: Dr. Zhivago-1965, Dinner and a Movie Night at The Red Barn Theater, Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Alec Guinness, Rod Steiger; August 10: Rock Around the Clock-1956; August 17: Cabaret-1972,Michael York, Liza Minnelli; August 24: Sunset Boulevard-1950 William Holden, Gloria Swanson; August 31: The Lady Vanishes-1938, Margaret Lockwood, Dame Mae Whitty, Michael Redgrave; September 7: Fiddler On The Roof-1971,Dinner and a Movie Night at The Red Barn Theater, Israeli actor Topol, Norma Crane; September 14: High Noon-1952 Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges; September 21: Gypsy-1962,Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood; September 28: Moby Dick -1956,Gregory Peck; All screenings are at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Theater
The Red Barn Players present Neil Simon's comedy/mystery Rumors on July 2-3. Several affluent couples gather in the posh suburban residence of a couple for a dinner party celebrating their host's 10th anniversary. When they arrive, they discover there are no servants, the hostess is missing, and the host - the deputy mayor of New York City - has shot himself through the earlobe. Comic complications arise when, given everyone's upper class status, they decide they need to do everything possible to conceal the evening's events from the local police and the media. The Jewish Theater of Grand Rapids returns to the Red Barn Theater on July 16 and 18 with the musical Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! Seven angels plays host to a musical revue based on Allan Sherman's endearing collection of song parodies. For more info, call 269-857- 5300 or visit their website at http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

More Theater
Hope Summer Repertory Theatre will present Into The Woods from June 18-July 31 at the DeWitt Theatre in Holland. Then it's I Do! I Do! from June 25-August 10 at the Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland. Then The Last Night of Ballyhoo will run from August 2-13 at the Knickerbocker. A Year With Frog and Toad will run from August 2-13 at the Knickerbocker. For more info, call 616-395-7890 or visit http://www.hope.edu/hsrt/.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum has unveiled its 2010 exhibit: A Place Called Ox-Bow: 100 Years of Connecting Art, Nature, and People. Saugatuck's Ox-Bow is a site of many human and natural wonders: culture, nature, landscape, and waterscape, all unfolding from the Lake Michigan shoreline to the Kalamazoo River and the old Village of Saugatuck. This exhibit is about how for a century the Ox-Bow School has been a bridge between nature and art for thousands of people, comprising an important chapter in the history of the lakeshore and its dunes. 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 information, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

Exhibition
Re(fr)action: Experiencing the Art of Glass will be on display until August 9 at the SCA. From the collection of the Muskegon Museum of Art, experience these spectacular modern works of glass. In a dazzling array of colors, shapes, and sizes, this collection nudges boundaries and conceptions about glass artistry. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://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 1, free movie, Moonstruck, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library.
July 3, Waterfront Invitational Fine Arts fair, Saugatuck
July 4, Parade 2 pm and fireworks at sunset
July 6, Movie, Giant, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 5:30
July 7, Music in the Park
July 8-9, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 10, Ox-Bow, Summer Benefit
July 13, Movie, To Be or Not to Be, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
July 14, Music in the Park
July 15, Douglas Social
July 15-16, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 17, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
July 20, Movie, Kiss me Kate, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7pm
July 21, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
July 21, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, Dixies Tupperware Party
July 22-23, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 24, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
July 25, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 27, Movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
July 29, Douglas Social
July 31, Venetian Festival, Lighted Boat parade and Fireworks at Dusk
July 31, Village Square Art and Fine Arts Fair, Saugatuck
July 31, Blues in the Vineyard, Fenn Valley Winery
Aug 2, Music, Meg Hutchinson, SCA, Saugatuck
Aug 3, Movie, Dr. Zhivago, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 5:30 pm
Aug 4, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 5-6, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
Aug 6, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, The Marvelous Wonderettes
Aug 9, Music ,Edye Evans-Hyde and Mark Kahny, SCA, Saugatuck
Aug 10, Movie, Rock around the Clock, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
Aug 11, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 12, Douglas Social
Aug 12-13, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
Aug 13-Oct 4, Rediscovering a Century of Art in Saugatuck, SCA Saugatuck
Aug 16, Drew Nelson, SCA, Saugatick
Aug 17, Movie, Cabaret, Red Barn, Saugatuck 7 pm
Aug 18, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 19, Douglas & Saugatuck Sidewalk Sale's
Aug 19, Taste of Douglas
Aug 22, Taste of Saugatuck
Aug 23, Music, The Guggenheim Grotto, SCA, Saugatuck
Aug 24, Movie, Sunset Boulevard, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
Aug 25, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 26, Douglas Social
Aug 26, free movie, June 17, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library
Aug 29, Allegan Antique Market
Aug 31, Movie, The Lady Vanishes, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm

Books
Last month, more than 5,000 librarians from around the country gathered in Portland, Oregon, for the Public Library Association Convention.

At the convention, internationally known literature expert and librarian Nancy Pearl convened a group of renowned editors to give us their best summer reading recommendations. We've listed the authors alphabetically (we only have room through the letter C):

Bender, Aimee; The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
(A girl tastes her mother's emotions through cake)

Blake, Sarah; The Postmistress
(What havoc can ensue if a postmistress keeps a letter instead of delivering it?)

Brown, Harriet; Brave Girl Eating: A Family's Struggle with Anorexia
(A mother struggles to save her daughter from anorexia)

Bronsky, Alina; Broken Glass Park
(A young Russian immigrant in Berlin)

Caldwell, Gail; Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship
(Friendship formed over a dog walk sustains two women through life and death of one of them)

Cameron, W. Bruce; A Dog's Purpose
(What happens when a dog has unfinished business and can't get to heaven?

Castillo, Linda; Pray for Silence: A Thriller
(In Ohio, Amish country Police Chief Kate Burkholder comes face to face with pure evil)

Coonts, Deborah; Wanna Get Lucky?
(Set in Las Vegas with a protagonist named Lucky)

Cousteau, Jean-Michael and Daniel Paisner; My Father, the Captain: My Life With Jacques Cousteau
(Just what it sounds like - a tribute to a father and his life's work by his son)

Cronin, Justin; The Passage
(An apocalyptic novel)

The rest of the list can be found at http://heightslibrary.org/wordpress/director/?p=267

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, our beekeeper from the Greek Isles, has returned to us this spring. Her mama, the Greek muse Terpsichore, once again schlepped her daughter and dropped her off at our door, asked for those magnificent shopping coupons we give our guests, and went to do some shopping in Douglas and Saugatuck. M brought some fresh Mahi Mahi and proceeded to BBQ us a delicious, ambrosial, and enticing dish. During her prep work (her hostile takeover of our kitchen), she pulled out a small packet of spices to rub on the fish. She said it was super secret and her mother the muse would be furious if she shared it, so she did. M made us the most delicious lunch, of which the rub for the Mahi Mahi follows:

Ingredients:

2 lbs mahi-mahi or pacific halibut cut into 4 portions
4 teaspoons chili powder
2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed limejuice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1-teaspoon ground cumin
1-teaspoon onion powder
1-teaspoon garlic powder
1-teaspoon salt
one-half teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and rub generously on fish filets. Grill to perfection. Enjoy as fish tacos....

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 June 2010

News from the Forest

Memorial Day has come and gone, and for us that heralds the beginning of our summer season. It's been an awesome May with warm temperatures, and yes, you can swim in Lake Michigan. Our hip and groovy pool is heated and ready for a dip-our friendly secret agent pool painter (Mr. Art) touched up the mural and it's beautiful. 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.

We had a bit of fun this week, the local NPR station out of Grand Rapids…WGVU interviewed us on Shelly Irwin's Morning Show. One of her venues called"View From the Dunes". We were interviewed by Jon Helmrich about the B & B, talked about current events we catalogue in our monthly newsletter, recipes and well about how fun and relaxing it is to own and operate a bed and breakfast. We had a great conversation…Thanks Jon and Shelly!

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
Our Cottage is getting booked up for the summer, but here's what we have left: June 9-11 ($165 a night, 3-night minimum), and August 14-20 & 21-27. 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--what 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.htm.

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
Sherwood Forest has this to offer: 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, and 2 tickets to the Mason Street Warehouse, where you'll experience professional off-Broadway theater. The line up for this season is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (June 25-July 18), Dixie's Tupperware Party (July 21-August 1), The Marvelous Wonderettes (August 6-22), and The Nuclear Family (August 25-29). Package prices range from $249 to $569. To book this, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246.

Bed & Breakfast and Charter Boat 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 and Arnold Palmer 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.

Waterfront Film Festival
From June 10-13, 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 is on June 10 and 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.

More Movies
It's Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck Douglas District Library in Douglas. On June 3: It Should Happen To You with Jack Lemmon and Judy Holiday; June 17: The Apartment with Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLean; and July 1: Moonstruck with Cher and Nicolas Cage. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Still More Movies
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. June 1: Lawrence of Arabia-1962 Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn; June 8: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels-1988 Steve Martin, Michael Caine, Glenne Headly; June 15: Casino Royale-David Niven, Ursula Andress, Woody Allen, Peter Sellers and Orson Welles; June 22: Auntie Mame-1958 Rosalind Russell, Peggy Cass, Coral Browne and Pippa Scott; June 29: Rebel Without a Cause-1955 James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo; July 6: Giant-1956- Dinner and a Movie Night at The Red Barn Theater--Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean; July 13: To Be Or Not To Be-1942 Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Carole Lombard; July 20: Kiss Me Kate-1953 Ann Miller, Bob Fosse, Carol Haney; July 27: To Kill a Mockingbird-1962 Gregory Peck, Brock Peters, John Megna, Phillip Alford, Mary Badham, Robert Duvall; August 3: Dr. Zhivago-1965 Dinner and a Movie Night at The Red Barn Theater, Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Alec Guinness, Rod Steiger; August 10: Rock Around the Clock-1956; August 17: Cabaret-1972,Michael York, Liza Minnelli; August 24: Sunset Boulevard-1950 William Holden, Gloria Swanson; August 31: The Lady Vanishes-1938, Margaret Lockwood, Dame Mae Whitty, Michael Redgrave; September 7: Fiddler On The Roof-1971,Dinner and a Movie Night at The Red Barn Theater, Israeli actor Topol, Norma Crane; September 14: High Noon-1952 Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges; September 21: Gypsy-1962,Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood; September 28: Moby Dick -1956,Gregory Peck; All screenings are at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Farmers' Market
The Green Market is at the SCA from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every Friday starting June 11 until October 8. There will also be the Monday Market (July 5-August 30) 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 26 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. Then on July 17, enjoy Blues in the Vineyard-bring a picnic basket and your lawn chair and park it for a day of live blues, starts at 2:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-2396 or visit http://www.fennvalley.com.

More Theater
Hope Summer Repertory Theatre will present Into The Woods from June 18-July 31 at the DeWitt Theatre in Holland. Stephen Sondheim draws from the classic tales of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Ridinghood, and Rapunzel, weaving their stories together in this intricate grown-up version. Then its I Do! I Do! from June 25-August 10 at the Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland, which follows a young couple from the bliss and uncertainty of the wedding night, through parenthood, mid-life crisis, and growing old together in the early 20th Century. Then The Last Night of Ballyhoo will run from August 2-13 at the Knickerbocker. This comedy is set in Atlanta on the day of the Gone with the Wind premiere in the pre-WWII era. A Year With Frog and Toad will run from August 2-13 at the Knickerbocker. These two well-loved characters from Arnold Lobel's books will take you on a musical journey through the joy and sharing of the simple pleasures of friendship. For more info, call 616-395-7890 or visit http://www.hope.edu/hsrt/.

Theatre
The Red Barn Players present Neil Simon's comedy/mystery Rumors on June 17-20 and July 2-3. Several affluent couples gather in the posh suburban residence of a couple for a dinner party celebrating their host's 10th anniversary. When they arrive, they discover there are no servants, the hostess is missing, and the host - the deputy mayor of New York City - has shot himself through the earlobe. Comic complications arise when, given everyone's upper class status, they decide they need to do everything possible to conceal the evening's events from the local police and the media. Then for one night only on June 25 at 8 p.m. the fantastic Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company visits the historic Red Barn Theater and presents The Tempest by William Shakespeare. The Jewish Theater of Grand Rapids returns to the Red Barn Theater on July 16 and 18 with the musical Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! Seven angels plays host to a musical revue based on Allan Sherman's endearing collection of song parodies. For more info, call 269-857- 5300 or visit their website at http://redbarnsaugatuck.com/.

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, Diego, 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
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music: June 4- Dave Boutette (singer/songwriter/fun guy); June 11- Karisa Wilson (indie folk rock & blues); June 18- Hawks & Owls (old time folk/fiddle tunes); and June 25 Dean Wiers-Windemuller & Open Land (singer/songwriter). For more info, call 269-561-7258 or visit http://www.saltoftheearthfennville.com/.

Music in the Park--Saugatuck
By the river next to the band shell in Saugatuck, you can listen to some free music this summer. June 23 -Sam & Andy (folk/rock); June 30-Don Middlebrook & Living Soul (rock); July 7-Blue Coyote Band (country); July 14-The Last Call Band (roots/rock); July 21-Function (funk/soul); July 28-Keith Scott Blues Band (Chicago blues); August 4-Creolization (Zydeco/Cajun); August 11-Bryan Michael Fischer Band (rock/R&B); August 18-Los Bandits (Tex/Mex); August 25-The Niche Classic (top 40); and September 1-Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys (honky tonk) For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/.

Music in the Park--Fennville
Free music every other Tuesday: June 8, Jive at Five (swing/jazz); June 22, Rachael Davis Band (Americana/folk); July 6, Root Doctor (blues) ; July 22, Red Sea Pedestrians (world music); and August 3, Detour (bluegrass). The concerts will be held at Memorial/Paradise Park on north Maple Street in downtown Fennville. For more info, visit http://www.greaterfennville.com.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum has unveiled its 2010 exhibit: A Place Called Ox-Bow: 100 Years of Connecting Art, Nature, and People. Saugatuck's "Ox-Bow" is a site of many human and natural wonders: culture, nature, landscape, and waterscape, all unfolding from the Lake Michigan shoreline to the Kalamazoo River and the old Village of Saugatuck. This exhibit is about how for a century the Ox-Bow School has been a bridge between nature and art for thousands of people, comprising an important chapter in the history of the lakeshore and its dunes. 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 information, call 269-857-7901 or visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/.

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market runs the last Sunday of the month from 8:30 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
June 19, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
June 19, Summer Solstice, SCA Benefit Saugatuck
June 19, Saugatuck Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
July 1, Douglas Social
July 1, free movie, Moonstruck, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library.
July 3, Waterfront Invitational Fine Arts fair, Saugatuck
July 4, Parade 2 pm and fireworks at sunset
July 6, Movie, Giant, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 5:30
July 7, Music in the Park
July 8-9, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 10, Ox-Bow, Summer Benefit
July 13, Movie, To Be or Not to Be, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
July 14, Music in the Park
July 15, Douglas Social
July 15-16, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 17, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
July 20, Movie, Kiss me Kate, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7pm
July 21, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
July 21, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, Dixies Tupperware Party
July 22-23, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 24, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
July 25, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 27, Movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
July 29, Douglas Social
July 31, Venetian Festival, Lighted Boat parade and Fireworks at Dusk
July 31, Village Square Art and Fine Arts Fair, Saugatuck
July 31, Blues in the Vineyard, Fenn Valley Winery
Aug 3, Movie, Dr. Zhivago, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 5:30 pm
Aug 4, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 5-6, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
Aug 6, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, The Marvelous Wonderettes
Aug 10, Movie, Rock around the Clock, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
Aug 11, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 12, Douglas Social
Aug 12-13, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
Aug 17, Movie, Cabaret, Red Barn, Saugatuck 7 pm
Aug 18, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 19, Douglas & Saugatuck Sidewalk Sale's
Aug 19, Taste of Douglas
Aug 22, Taste of Saugatuck
Aug 24, Movie, Sunset Boulevard, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
Aug 25, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 26, Douglas Social
Aug 26, free movie, June 17, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library
Aug 29, Allegan Antique Market
Aug 31, Movie, The Lady Vanishes, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm

Books
Sue's book of the month is The Lakeshore Limited by Sue Miller. Four multilayered characters--Leslie, Billy, Rafe, and Sam --come to life in the pages of this devastating and elegant novel set in 2007. They intersect in the repercussions of the memory of Gus, who died on September 11, 2001, when the plane on which he was a passenger slammed into the World Trade Center. Miller wades into the realm of post-9/11 grieving complications. A central theme is the question: "How does one properly grieve the loss of someone with whom the relationship was falling apart when death intervened? What are the rules that govern such a situation?" In a broader context, Miller seems to be asking the questions: "What does it mean for the four main characters in this novel--and all of humanity, by extension--to play by the rules or to choose to break the rules? What are the consequences of those choices to obey or to flaunt or to make up new rules?" 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:

From the Siren's who should be doing stand up comedy, hmmmm, maybe they are doing comedy but at the friendship level, they revel in spreading happiness and good humor in their wake. The twins leave a smile upon your face and maybe a smirk too. We had the pleasure of sampling this delicious dish one day as we walked past their humble adobe as they were harvesting the spring Cilantro crop, thanks for the friendship and the side dish.

Teresa's and Nita's Cilantro-Ginger Rice

Ingredients:

1-cup white or brown rice
2 1-inch long pieces fresh ginger, peeled and cut into quarter-inch rounds
1 teaspoon peeled, minced fresh ginger
1-cup low-salt chicken broth
two-thirds cup water
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 green onion, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon Asian sesame oil
1 teaspoon (or more to taste) unseasoned rice vinegar

Instructions:

Combine rice and ginger rounds in large saucepan; add broth and water. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer about 20 minutes, until liquid is absorbed.

Combine rest of ingredients in mini food processor or blender and process until almost smooth. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Transfer rice to bowl and remove ginger rounds. Mix in cilantro oil.

Serves 4.

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 2010

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 Memorial Day, 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: June 5-11, and August 14-20 & 21-27. 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 uLooking 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 a great package together for you to enjoy this summer: you'll get 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 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (June 25-July 18), Dixie's Tpperware Party (July 21-August 1), The Marvelous Wonderettes (August 6-22) and The Nuclear Family (August 25-29). 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, 1 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 $246-$615). 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
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 1-8, 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 8, 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/Saugatuck Spring Preview
On May 1 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.

Jennifer Holliday
In a special fundraiser for Judge William Baillargeon, Grammy Award-winner Jennifer Holliday will be at the SCA on May 8. Holliday was a member of the original Dreamgirls Broadway cast, and has recorded five Billboard chart-making CDs. Space is limited as this is a special fundraising event (includes a cocktail reception and the performance). For more info, call 269-857-3436 or support@alleganjudge.com or you can visit http://www.alleganjudge.com/.

Theater
The Mason Street Warehouse has announced its 2010 season, which will open June 25 with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a hilarious tale of conniving deception between two con artists. On July 21, the theater will present Dixie's Tupperware Party, the fast talking Tupperware lady who packed up her catalogues, left her kids in an Alabama trailer, and took off-Broadway by storm. Opening August 6 is The Marvelous Wonderettes, a captivating tale of four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts and voices to match. Then starting on August 25 is The Nuclear Family, three actors and a pianist make up a fully staged musical (complete with songs, lyrics, and dancing) with a little help from the audience. The Mason Street Warehouse is at 400 Culver St. in Saugatuck. For more info, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org.

Music
Join Michael Holmes on May 15 at 8 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 Holmes as variety show host Judy Garland and her many guest stars, all played by Holmes. For more info, visit http://www.thejudyshow.com.

Legends of Motown featuring Horizon
On May 29, prepare to groove to Motown's greatest hits with this riveting, high-energy group from the Motor City itself. Horizon brings the best of Motown to life with their tight three-part harmonies and super-charged choreography. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Mr. B and Bob Seeley: Blues and Boogie Piano Celebration
On May 30 at the SCA, here's what you'll boogie to: one piano and two outstanding performers, loads of boogie and blues, which equals one big time party. This is one-of-a-kind blues and boogie-woogie piano extravaganza featuring two remarkable keyboard artists. 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, located in the Saugatuck Brewing Company, so you can have a few pints, too. May 1, The Last Call Band; May 7, Funktion-Jive at Five; May 7, Jen Sygit and Sam Corbin; May 15, The Northern Skies; May 22, Scotty Spears; and May 29, Vincent Hayes Project. 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, Diego, 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.

Music
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music: May 1, Ranger Mark & friends (old time banjo); May 7, Graham Parsons (singer/songwriter); May 9, The Seth Bernard Band; May 14, Sister Wilene (ancient country music); May 21, Nobody's Darlin' (all chick string band); May 23, Curtis Eller (yodelin' banjo man); and May 28, Jo Ann Serrapere, (folk/blues). For more info, call 269-561-7258 or visit http://www.saltoftheearthfennville.com/.

Movies
On May 6, the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society will be showing The More the Merrier with Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, and Charles Coburn; and on May 20, I Know Where I'm Going with Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesay. The films will be shown at the Douglas Public Library at 7 p.m. For more info, visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/calendar.htm.

More Movies
From June 10-13, 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 is on June 10 and 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.

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: May 4, Gentleman Prefer Blonds with Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe, Charles Coburn; May 11, Murder by Death with Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco; May 18, Little Women with Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado; May 25, High Society with Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra. All screenings are at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Real to Reel Cinema Series
On May 6 at 7 p.m., the SCA will be showing Chris & Don-A Love Story, the true-life story of the three-decade relationship between British writer Christopher Isherwood (whose Berlin Stories was the basis for Cabaret) and American portrait painter Don Bachardy, 30 years his junior. From Isherwood's Kit-Kat-Club years in Weimar-era Germany (the inspiration for his most famous work) to the couple's first meeting on the beaches of 1950s Malibu, their against-all-odds saga is brought to dazzling life by a treasure trove of multimedia. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum will unveil its 2010 exhibit: A Place Called Ox-Bow: 100 Years of Connecting Art, Nature, and People. Saugatuck's "Ox-Bow" is a site of many human and natural wonders: marvelous culture, nature, landscape, and waterscape, all unfolding from the Lake Michigan shoreline to the Kalamazoo River and the old Village of Saugatuck. This exhibit is about how for a century the Ox-Bow School has been a bridge between nature and art for thousands of people, comprising an important chapter in the history of the lakeshore and its dunes. This exhibit will open to the public on May 28 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/

Reading and Book Signing with Photographer David Lubbers
On May 26 at 7 p.m., join photographer David Lubbers for a preview of his newest book, "Within Two Miles." Lubbers shares the inspiration for this book, which features rich photographs of the natural treasures of Saugatuck and Douglas. "Within Two Miles" documents his artist's eye view of our communities and celebrates the area in which we live and work. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or http://www.sc4a.org.

About It! Lecture Series
From the Wreck of the Hennepin to a Journey on the Maumee, maritime archaeologist Valerie van Heest shares the story of Great Lakes' freighters. She takes us underwater to explore the shipwreck Hennepin, the world's first self-unloading vessel, which her team found in deep water off South Haven. 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 8:30 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 7-8, Floral Day Market, SCA, Saugatuck
May 8, Queen Mum's Parade, Douglas 1 pm
May 15, Garden Club Plant Sale, SCA, Saugatuck, 9-2 pm
May 16, Field Trip-Saugatuck Natural harbor Area, Oval Beach, Saugatuck 1 pm
May 22, Mason Street Warehouse Benefit
May 31, Memorial Day Parade, Douglas
May 30, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
June 1, Movie, Lawrence of Arabia, Red Barn, Saugatuck 5:30
June 3, Free Movie, It should Happen to You, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
June 3, Free Movie, The Apartment, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m.
June 8, Movie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Red barn Saugatuck,
June 10-13, Waterfront Film Festival, Saugatuck
June 15, Movie, Casino Royale, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
June 17, free movie, The Apartment, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library.
June 19, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
June 19, Summer Solstice, SCA Benefit Saugatuck
June 19, Saugatuck Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
June 22, Movie, Auntie Mame, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
June 23 Music in the Park, Saugatuck
June 26, Fenn Valley Winery Festival, Fennville
June 26, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
June 27, Allegan Antique Market
June 29, Movie, Rebel without a Cause, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
June 30, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
July 1, Douglas Social
July 1, free movie, Moonstruck, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library.
July 3, Waterfront Invitational Fine Arts fair, Saugatuck
July 4, Parade 2 pm and fireworks at sunset
July 6, Movie, Giant, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 5:30
July 7, Music in the Park
July 8-9, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 10, Ox-Bow, Summer Benefit
July 13, Movie, To Be or Not to Be, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
July 14, Music in the Park July 15, Douglas Social
July 15-16, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 17, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
July 20, Movie, Kiss me Kate, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7pm
July 21, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
July 21, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, Dixies Tupperware Party
July 22-23, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 24, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
July 25, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 27, Movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
July 29, Douglas Social
July 31, Venetian Festival, Lighted Boat parade and Fireworks at Dusk
July 31, Village Square Art and Fine Arts Fair, Saugatuck
July 31, Blues in the Vineyard, Fenn Valley Winery
Aug 3, Movie, Dr. Zhivago, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 5:30 pm
Aug 4, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 5-6, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
Aug 6, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, The Marvelous Wonderettes
Aug 10, Movie, Rock around the Clock, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
Aug 11, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 12, Douglas Social
Aug 12-13, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
Aug 17, Movie, Cabaret, Red Barn, Saugatuck 7 pm
Aug 18, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 19, Douglas & Saugatuck Sidewalk Sale's
Aug 19, Taste of Douglas
Aug 22, Taste of Saugatuck
Aug 24, Movie, Sunset Boulevard, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm
Aug 25, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 26, Douglas Social
Aug 26, free movie, June 17, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library
Aug 29, Allegan Antique Market
Aug 31, Movie, The Lady Vanishes, Red Barn, Saugatuck, 7 pm

Books
Mary's book of the month is At Least Someone in the City would hear me Scream by Wade Rouse. Finally fed up with the frenzy of city life, Wade Rouse decided to make either the bravest decision of his life or the worst mistake since a botched Ogilvy home perm: uproot his life and try, as Thoreau did some 160 years earlier, to survive...living a plain, simple life in radically reduced conditions. At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream is what happens when a self-obsessed gay man with a penchant for bronzer and he-capri's leaves the lattes behind and wanders into the wild to dwell in a knotty-pine cottage and live up to the tenets set forth in Walden. Battling bloodthirsty critters, enduring nosy neighbors with night-vision goggles, and inhaling the distinct whiff of boredom no firewood-scented Henri Bendel candle can hide, Rouse's spirit, sanity, relationships, and Kenneth Cole pointy-toe boots are sorely tested. But he ultimately discovers something in the woods outside Saugatuck, Michigan, that he always dreamed of but never thought he'd find--happiness and a home.. 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:

Another amazing recipe from Tranquility Carol. The wispy seductress Siren of Sherwood who lures nearby lovers of gastronomical pleasures with her enchanting music and voice. She who sings the songs of the deep woods and liberates the soul with subtle touches and tastes, she had us over for dinner the other night (in our own kitchen-how does that work?) and delectably and softly brought us to a wonderful escape of culinary perfection.

Tranquility Carol's Stuffed Chicken with Spinach and Walnut's

Ingredients:

One-half cup finely chopped onion
One-half cup finely chopped celery
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 and one half teaspoon olive oil
10 ounces fresh spinach-chopped
One quarter cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
4 boneless chicken breast halves (about 6-7 ounces each)
One-quarter teaspoon pepper
One-quarter teaspoon salt
One-quarter cup ground walnuts
1 egg white

Instructions:

In a small skillet, saute the onion, celery and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in spinach and cheese; remove from the heat. Cut a lengthwise slit through the thickest part of each chicken breast; fill with spinach mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place egg white and walnuts in separate shallow bowls. Dip one side of chicken in egg white, (you can also brush it on) then in walnuts.

Place in an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.

Yield: 4 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 April 2010

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.

Sherwood Forest Cottage
Our Cottage is getting booked up for the summer, but here's what we have left: June 5-11, July 17-23, August 14-20, and August 21-27. 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 info, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html.

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 gift or just want to splurge on yourself, all you need to do is book a night or two with us, then go exploring at some of the most unique 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.

April Relax and Rejuvenate Massage
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-$310-second night available at regular room rate). 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 22-oz. 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 $566 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 1-8, 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 8, 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.

Art
Come see first hand how the Blue Coast Artists create their work. All studios will be open May 1-2 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.

Wine Dinner
On April 24, The Fenn Valley Winery, a local vineyard, will host a culinary excursion to a foreign land. This year Christine Ferris will host a culinary excursion to Africa 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.

Nagata Shachu Japanese Drumming Ensemble
On April 24 at 8 p.m., experience the Nagata Shachu Japanese Drumming Ensemble. Kiyoshi Nagata thrilled the audience 2 years ago at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts with his troupe's thundering, athletic drumming and beautiful costumes and dance. Now he is back with new music and choreography. With their vast array of Japanese taiko, gongs, bells, wooden clappers, shakers and bamboo flutes, the Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble will take you on a musical journey beyond all borders. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Jennifer Holliday
In a special fundraiser for Judge William Baillargeon, Grammy Award-winner Jennifer Holliday will bring her dynamic talent to the SCA on May 8. Holliday was a member of the original Dreamgirls Broadway cast, and has recorded five Billboard chart-making CDs. During her 2-decade career, she has recorded with such artists as Barbara Streisand, Foreigner, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson and on the soundtracks for The Five Heartbeats, In The Mood, and The Rising Place. Space is limited as this is a special fundraising event (includes a cocktail reception and the performance). For more info, call 269-857-3436 or support@alleganjudge.com or you can visit http://www.alleganjudge.com/.

Music
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music at 7 p.m.: April 11, The Cornfed Girls (heart-warming acoustic); April 18, Hoots and Hellmouth (folk, country, gospel); April 25, The Brothers Kalamzov, (jazz, bluegrass, celtic, samba); May 9, The Seth Bernard Band (poetic songwriter); and music every Friday night, no cover, 8:30-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-561-7258 or visit http://www.saltoftheearthfennville.com/.

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. There's also 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: April 6, Some Like It Hot with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe; April 13, The Lady Eve with Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda (these 2 shows are at the Saugatuck Brewing Company); April 20 (Grand Reopening for films at the Red Barn) There's No Business Like Show Business with Marilyn Monroe; April 27, From Here to Eternity with Debra Kerr and Burt Lancaster. All screenings are at 6:30 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Movies
On April 8 at 7 p.m., the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society will be showing Woman of the Year with Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. Rival reporters Sam and Tess fall in love and get married, only to find their relationship strained when Sam comes to resent Tess' hectic life style. Then on April 22, also at 7 p.m., Miracle of Morgan's Creek with Eddie Bracken and Betty Hutton. After an all-night send-off party for the troops, a small-town girl wakes up to find herself married and pregnant, but with no memory of her husband's identity. The films will be shown at the Douglas Public Library. For more info, visit http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/calendar.htm.

Film series
The Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland will present An Education on April 13-17 at 7:30 p.m. This movie is set in the early '60s and is about 16-year-old Jenny Mellor, who lives with her parents in the London suburb of Twickenham. On her father's wishes, everything that Jenny does is in the sole pursuit of being accepted into Oxford, as he wants her to have a better life than he. Jenny's life changes after she meets David Goldman, a man over twice her age. David goes out of his way to show Jenny and her family that his interest in her is not improper and that he wants solely to expose her to cultural activities, which she enjoys. Jenny quickly gets accustomed to the life to which David and his constant companions, Danny and Helen, have shown her, and Jenny and David's relationship does move into becoming a romantic one. However, Jenny slowly learns more about David, and by association Danny and Helen, and specifically how they make their money. Jenny has to decide if what she learns about them and leading such a life is worth forgoing her plans of higher education at Oxford. For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/knick/.

Real to Reel
Cinema Series On April 16 at 7 p.m., the SCA will be showing Waterlife, a timely documentary about the state of the Great Lakes. The film follows the remarkable flow of the lakes' water from the Nipigon River to the Atlantic Ocean. Using both documentary actuality and computer imaging, Waterlife begins at the primeval forests of Superior's north coast, stops at the baroque fountains of Chicago on Lake Michigan, continues to the rain-swept streets of Detroit and beyond, all the while examining how the greatest body of fresh water on Earth transforms the societies it passes through and is transformed by them. Following the film, a panel of experts involved with water sustainability will be on hand for discussion. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Theater
On April 16-18 and 23-25, The Red Barn Theatre in Saugatuck will present Always…Patsy Cline, which is based on the true story of Cline's friendship with a Houston housewife, Louise Seger, whom Cline met at a performance in 1961. Their pen-pal relationship is the basis for much of the show. Jay Hernly directs the musical, and it stars celebrated entertainer Delilah DeWylde as Patsy Cline and Red Barn veteran Jackie Carpenter as Patsy's friend. For more info, visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com/schedule.htm or call 269-857-5300.

More Theater
The Holland Civic Theatre will present The Butler Did It on April 15-30. This comedy parodies every English mystery play ever written, but with a decidedly American flair. Miss Maple, a dowager with a reputation for "clever" weekend parties, invites a group of detective writers to eerie Ravenswood Manor on Turkey Island where they are to impersonate their fictional characters. The hostess has arranged all sorts of amusing incidents, and then a real murder takes place, and Miss Maple is outraged. She offers an immense reward to the detective who can bring the killer to justice. For more info, visit http://bit.ly/b40nZV or call 616-396-2021.

Exhibition
Artfully Adorned: the Japanese Kimono will be up at the SCA through April 26. Discover how the exquisite patterns and lush colors of kimonos are created in this exhibition of Japan's national dress. From painting and stenciling to embroidery and brocade, see close-up these remarkable works of fashion that are also works of art. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Museum Exhibition
Through May 16, the Holland Museum will present Bevrijding-Liberation: Images from the Dutch Resistance. The Museum's new Focus Gallery debuts, showcasing intimate exhibits of artwork, paper archives, and multimedia, starting with this emotionally charged collection. This series of linoleum cuts commemorates the end of WWII and tells the story of the Dutch Resistance from the perspective of countryside-dwellers. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

About It! Lecture Series.
On April 22 at 7 p.m., Professor Peggy Goetz (Calvin College) will present a look at iconic Japanese films that not only defined the nation's cinematic history but also influenced generations of filmmakers around the globe. The focus will be on three major filmmakers, Mizoguchi, Yasujiro Ozu, and Akira Kurosawa, and she'll also explore the modern phenomenon of anime (Japanese animation). For more, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

The Antiques Road Show of Japan
On April 13 at 7 p.m., head to the SCA for the Saugatuck Antiques Roadshow of Japan with host David Pepper, owner of Okame Japanese Antiques in Windsor, Ont., Canada. There will be an overview of the major themes in Japanese art, and then individual's Japanese antiques and collectibles will be evaluated. Items must be registered in advance for appraisal. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Visiting Writers
Next in the Hope College Visiting Writers series line up on April 12 is fiction writer George Saunders, the author of three collections of short stories: Pastoralia, CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, and In Persuasion Nation. Saunders's bitingly clever and compassionate essays are a Mark Twain-style shot in the arm for Americans, an antidote to the dumbing-down virus plaguing our country. Saunders's work appears regularly in The New Yorker, GQ, and Harpers Magazine, and has appeared in several notable anthologies. He 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/.

Poetry
On April 12 at 7 p.m. at the SCA, join Jeremy Robinson, assistant professor of Japanese at Grand Valley State University, as he presents From the Palace to the Farm: Japanese Poetry for the Masses. He will detail how the centuries old shared writing form, Renga, gave birth to the popular Haiku form. What was initially an elite form of writing was gradually taken over by a more common culture and ultimately won a much broader audience. Learn about the "super heroes" of early Haiku and experience some of Japan's greatest examples of this simple but sublime literary form. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

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.

Town Crier Run
The Town Crier Run will be on April 10 with a 5-K and 10-K RUN-WALK around historic Saugatuck plus a kids' fun run. For more info, call 269-857-1626.

Honorable Mentions
April 16, Sake Tasting Workshop, limited attendance, SCA, Saugatuck 7 pm
April 17 Composing Japanese Poetry, SCA, Saugatuck, 7 pm
April 24, The Ritual of Kimono Dressing, SCA, Saugatuck, 10 am
April 24, Field Trip at the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area, Oval Beach, Saugatuck, 1 pm
May 1, Easter Parade, Douglas
May 1, Saugatuck Douglas Spring Preview
May 1, Blue Coast Artists opening weekend
May 1-8. Tulip Time Festival, Holland
May 6, Free Movie, The More the Merrier, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
May 8, Queen Mum's Parade, Douglas 1 pm
May 16, Field Trip-Saugatuck Natural harbor Area, Oval Beach, Saugatuck 1 pm
May 20, Free Movie, I know Where I'm Going, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
May 22, Mason Street Warehouse Benefit
May 31, Memorial Day Parade, Douglas
May 30, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
June 3, Free Movie, It should Happen to You, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
June 3, Free Movie, The Apartment, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m.
June 10-13, Waterfront Film Festival, Saugatuck
June 17, free movie, The Apartment, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library.
June 19, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
June 19, Summer Solstice, SCA Benefit Saugatuck
June 19, Saugatuck Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
June 23 Music in the Park, Saugatuck
June 26, Fenn Valley Winery Festival, Fennville
June 26, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
June 27, Allegan Antique Market
June 30, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
July 1, Douglas Social
July 1, free movie, Moonstruck, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library.
July 3, Waterfront Invitational Fine Arts fair, Saugatuck
July 4, Parade 2 pm and fireworks at sunset
July 7, Music in the Park
July 8-9, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 10, Ox-Bow, Summer Benefit
July 14, Music in the Park
July 15, Douglas Social
July 15-16, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 17, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
July 21, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
July 21, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, Dixies Tupperware Party
July 22-23, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
July 24, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
July 25, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
July 29, Douglas Social
July 31, Venetian Festival, Lighted Boat parade and Fireworks at Dusk
July 31, Village Square Art and Fine Arts Fair, Saugatuck
July 31, Blues in the Vineyard, Fenn Valley Winery
Aug 4, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 5-6, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
Aug 6, Opening Weekend, Mason Street Warehouse, The Marvelous Wonderettes
Aug 11, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 12, Douglas Social
Aug 12-13, Chamber Music, Saugatuck
Aug 18, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 19, Douglas & Saugatuck Sidewalk Sale's
Aug 19, Taste of Douglas
Aug 22, Taste of Saugatuck
Aug 25, Music in the Park, Saugatuck
Aug 26, Douglas Social
Aug 26, free movie, June 17, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 7 pm at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library
Aug 29, Allegan Antique Market

Books
Sue's book of the month is Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. McCann chooses to describe one day in the life of New York City, the day in 1974 that the aerialist walked between the not-quite-finished Twin Towers. The chasm between rich and poor, the joy of connection, and the inevitability of our mortality are told through the lives of six different New Yorkers, including that incredible man dancing on that thin wire who epitomizes joy and triumph, there is Corrigan, a radical young Irish monk who struggles with his own demons as he lives among the prostitutes in the middle of the burning Bronx. There is a group of mothers who gather in a Park Avenue apartment to mourn their sons who died in Vietnam, only to discover just how much divides them even in grief. A young artist finds herself at the scene of a hit-and-run that sends her own life careening sideways. Tillie, a 38-year-old grandmother, turns tricks alongside her teenage daughter, determined not only to take care of her family but also to prove her own worth. Elegantly weaving together these and other seemingly disparate lives, McCann's powerful allegory comes alive in the unforgettable voices of the city's people, unexpectedly drawn together by hope, beauty, and the artistic crime of the century. 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, a beekeeper from the Greek Isles, has returned to us this spring. The Greek muse Terpsichore, who is her mother, dropped her off at our door and went to do some shopping in Douglas while M played us some beautiful music on the lyre. After her brief concert, M made us the most delicious lunch, of which the recipe follows:

Melissa's Whole Wheat Pasta with Chick Peas and Spinach

Ingredients

8 oz. whole-wheat corkscrew pasta - cooked to package directions. Be generous with the salt, it adds a lot of extra flavor. Retain about 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.

2 TBL olive oil
1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
One-half medium red onion, chopped
1 can chickpeas, drained
12 - 16 oz. bag fresh spinach
One-half cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preparation

Sauté garlic and red onion in olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until just starting to brown. Add chickpeas, toss to coat and cook another 5 - 7 minutes. Add the spinach and about a half-cup of the reserved pasta water, toss to coat and cook until spinach has wilted. The pasta water should start to make a light sauce. Add drained pasta and a few more tablespoons of the reserved pasta water to the veggie pan, tossing to coat. Keep adding pasta water until the sauce has achieved the desired consistency. Remove to a serving platter and top with the freshly grated cheese and ground pepper to taste.

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 2010

News from the Forest

Some recent news: we had a small write-up in the New York Times mentioning our Bed, Breakfast, and Brewery Package (for more info, see below), and we actually got a booking out of it! We also had one of our recipes (Mr. Wizard's Maple Nutty Bars) picked up by cooking.com-give 'em a try, they're yummy.

March is here and Mother Nature could throw in some more snowy days for those who enjoy cross-country skiing or sledding, or it's always nice to curl up by the fireplace with a good book. We've got lots of 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 specials, antiquing, star gazing, or even a sunset or two.

March Gourmet Dining Package
Spend 2 nights at Sherwood Forest B&B and dine at the Everyday People Café in Douglas and you'll experience the best of both worlds: great lodging and gastronomic delights. Here's what you'll receive: 2 nights at Sherwood Forest and your choice of an appetizer, 2 entrees, and dessert at Everyday People Cafe. Good through March 31, 2010. Cost of this package range from $285 to $455 .

Bed and Breakfast and Brewery
Looking for a weekend 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 and the ingredients, the professional brewing equipment, and the expertise to take you through the brewing process. You'll brew at least 11 gallons of beer (sixty 22-oz. 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 2weeks 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). The cost of this package runs from $512 to $695, depending on the time of year and the room.

Melt Your Stress Away Package
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. 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.

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. 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 (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 13 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. with the proceeds benefiting the Saugatuck/Douglas Historical Society .

Wine
The Fenn Valley Winery, a local vineyard, will host a pre-release barrel tasting on March 13-14 and 20-21. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the new wines and taste them before they are bottled. Reservations are required. 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. featuring Honig Vineyard and Winery. Culinary and wine elucidations guaranteed to please your senses. For more info, visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Music
The Sky Hempy Keyboard Performance Series will feature: Aebersold and Neiweem on classical piano with a duet showcasing 4-handed works for the piano on March 7; Giuseppe Lupis on contemporary piano on March 14; May Phang playing the classics along with Latin jazz and original compositions on March 21; Winston Choi playing works by living composers on March 28. Performances are at 2 p.m. at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Jazz
Next in the line up for the Hope College Great Performance Series on March 10 is Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition, one of the most innovative young musicians and composers in jazz today. This stark, dynamic trio of alto sax, guitar, and tabla fuses the raga-sitar aspirations of late-period Coltrane and the vocal flight of Karmatic hymns. 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.

The Cowboy Junkies
Attention Indie hipsters, the Cowboy Junkies kick off their latest US tour right here in Saugatuck at the SCA on March 18 at 8 p.m. This is their only show in Michigan. From Sweet Jane, to Misguided Angel, to A Common Disaster and their newest tunes, the Cowboy Junkies will light up the SCA. For more info or tickets, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Mo' Music
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music on March 5, Sam Corbin with Drew Howard (Singer-Songwriter); March12, Annie and Rod Capps (Folk); March 19, Sandhill Session (Irish); March 26, Ruth and Max Bloomquist (Bluegrass); and April 2, The Schrock Bros. (Americana). For more info, call 269-561-7258 or visit http://www.saltoftheearthfennville.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) and Wednesdays through March. 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 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
On Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, don't miss: March 11, The Thirty-Nine Steps (1935), a classic spy vs. spy drama set in Scotland and England at the beginning of WWII; and March 25, Ball of Fire, while eight bookish professors assemble a dictionary of slang, a stripper on the run from her gangster boyfriend takes refuge in their dormitory. For more info, visit http://www.sdlibrary.org/movie-night.html.

Movies
At The Saugatuck Brewing Company, Douglas resident and film concept developer John Hardy will continue with the film series: March 2, The Informer with Victor McLaglen and Heather Angel; March 9, Sullivan's Travels with John McCrea and Veronica Lake; March 16, The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara: March 23, Laurel and Hardy in Bonnie Scotland; and March 30, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre with Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt, and Walter Huston. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com/schedule.htm.

Film Institute of South Haven
The Film Institute of South Haven will present the movie Outsourced on March 14 at 3 p.m. It is a timely modern day comedy that follows a Seattle based call center manager who is fired and then dispatched to India as a consultant to train his own replacement. For more info, call 269-637-1041 or visit http://www.southhavenarts.org/fish.

Real to Reel Cinema Series
On March 25 at 7 p.m. the SCA will be showing The September Issue about Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue for 20 years, and one of the most powerful and polarizing figures in fashion. Larger than life and more complex than fiction, Wintour embodies a fascinating contradiction of passion and perfectionism as she reigns over a dizzying array of designers, models, photographers, and editors. Director R.J. Cutler delivers a rare insider account of the 9 months leading up to the printing of the highly anticipated September issue of the magazine. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Film series
The Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland will present Amreeka, which chronicles the adventures of Muna, a single mother who leaves the West Bank with Fadi, her teenage son, with dreams of an exciting future in the promised land of small town Illinois. In America, as her son navigates high school hallways the way he used to move through military checkpoints, the indomitable Muna scrambles together a new life cooking up falafel burgers as well as hamburgers at the local White Castle. Told with heartfelt humor by writer-director Cherien Dabis in her feature film debut, Amreeka is a universal journey into the lives of a family of immigrants and first-generation teenagers. Screenings are at 7:30 p.m. on March 29-April 3. For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/knick/

Hope College Visiting Writers
Next in the line is poetry writer Terrance Hayes on March 9. His latest poetry collection, Wind in a Box, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the best 100 books of 2006. He 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 11 at 7 p.m. Dave Dempsey will give the talk: Great Lakes in Crisis? at the SCA. Lake Michigan, and the Great Lakes are facing an array of challenges that have long-term consequences. Dempsey, who is Communications Director for Conservation Minnesota and has helped shape conservation and Great Lakes policy for 25 years, talks about three of these "hot topics", along with excerpts from his new book, Waters of Michigan. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Exhibition
Artfully Adorned: the Japanese Kimono will be up at the SCA through April 26. Discover how the exquisite patterns and lush colors of kimonos are created in this exhibition of Japan's national dress. From painting and stenciling to embroidery and brocade, see close-up these remarkable works of fashion that are also works of art. 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 museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers, formed the core of this astonishing collection. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/

Honorable Mentions
April 6, Great Performance Series, Kronos Quartet, Holland
April 8, Free Movie Woman of the Year, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
April 10, Town Crier Race, Saugatuck
April 12, Visiting Writers Series, George Saunders, fiction, Knickerbocker
April 13, Antiques Road Show-Japan , SCA Saugatuck 7:00 pm
April 13-17, Movie, An Education, Knickenbocker, Holland
April 16-18 and April 23-25, Always . . . Patsy Cline, Red Barn Playhouse
April 22, , Free Movie Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
April 24, Nagata Shachu Japanese Drumming Ensemble, SC4A, Saugatuck
April 25, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
May 1, Easter Parade, Douglas
May 1, Saugatuck Douglas Spring Preview
May 1, Blue Coast Artists opening weekend
May 1-8. Tulip Time Festival, Holland
May 6, Free Movie, The More the Merrier, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
May 20, Free Movie, I know Where I'm Going, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
May 31, Memorial Day Parade, Douglas
May 30, Allegan Antique Market, Allegan
June 3, Free Movie, It should Happen to You, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
June 3, Free Movie, The Apartment, Historical Society, Douglas, 7 p.m
June 10-13, Waterfront Film Festival, Saugatuck
June 19, Douglas, Dutchers Vintage Baseball Game, 2 p.m. Douglas
June 19, Saugatuck Arts and Crafts Fair, Saugatuck
June 26, Fenn Valley Winery Festival, Fennville

Books
Melissa and Michele's book of the month is The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. In his second novel, the seething heroine, Lisbeth Salander, once again finds herself paired with journalist Mikael Blomkvist on the trail of a sinister criminal enterprise. Only this time, Lisbeth must return to the darkness of her own past (more specifically, an event coldly known as "All the Evil") if she is to stay one step ahead--and alive. The Girl Who Played with Fire is a break-out-in-a-cold-sweat thriller that crackles with stunning twists and dismisses any talk of a sophomore slump. Fans of Larsson's prior work will find even more to love here, and readers who do not find their hearts racing within the first five pages may want to confirm they still have a pulse. Expect healthy doses of murder, betrayal, and deceit. An amazing sequel to an amazing first book. 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:

Ms. Hand has a small restaurant and kitchen located in the wonderful exotic city of Hoi An (Vietnam), we meet her as we were walking down the street and her husband came and dragged us into her establishment, which was actually a very long table with benches on either side. She quickly sat down beside us and sang our accolades of being beautiful people, we will love her cooking, her mother does so why shouldn't we, she stated. We told her to surprise us with some of her best Pho Ga, theh right before our eyes (as her kitchen was literally right there) she then proceeded to conjure up a delicious Vietnamese soup, the smells were intoxicating, her artistry was natural and her smile was bright. Thank you for sharing this wonderful dish Ms. Hanh, you are now officially a Siren of Sherwood.

Ms. Hanh's Chicken and Bean Noodle Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 medium garlic clove-thinly sliced
2 shallots, thinly sliced
5 cups low sodium chicken stock
one-third pound boneless, skinless chicken breast-cut into small pieces
1 cup dried bean thread noodles, separate and soak in warm water for about 35 minutes, drain, then cut into 4 inch lengths
2 tablespoons of one of the following wood ear mushrooms, cloud ear mushrooms, silver ear or shiitake mushrooms
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup baby bok choy
3 green onions, sliced thinly diagonally
fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish

Preparation

Heat oil in a small pot over a small to medium flame until hot, add the garlic and shallots, stir until the aroma makes you smile. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add the noodles, mushrooms and cook until the chicken turns white (about 5-7 minutes). Add the rest of ingredients and cook until the veggies are wilted (about another 2 minutes). Garnish and serve

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 January 2010

News from the Forest

Happy Valentine's Day to all! We've just returned from Indochina, to be specific, Vietnam and Cambodia, where we hiked through rice paddies and had lunch with a local Hmong family in Sapa. We played human dodge ball in Hanoi as we tried to avoid being hit by motor scooters as we crossed the traffic-packed streets. While kayaking through the floating fishing villages in Halong Bay, we were yelled at by monkeys on the shoreline, and bicycling past 400-year-old buildings in Hoi An was an adventure because of the absence of traffic laws. While on the back of motorbikes, we rode by flower plantations and wound through the verdant hills of Dalat. On the island of Phu Quoc, we relaxed, snorkeled, and soaked up some sun, and then took a speed boat from Chou Doc to Phomn Phen, then on to Siem Reap, where we had the chance to personally discover the wonders of the lost city of Angkor Wat.

Right now, as we are re-entering the universe of Sherwood Forest, the landscape looks a little different, with a couple of feet of snow! We hope you can make it for a visit soon to enjoy this winter wonderland--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.

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
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.

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.

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

Winterfest Gallery Stroll
The Saugatuck/Douglas art galleries have gotten together for a winter gallery stroll event over the weekend of February 13-14. 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.

Movies
Another great flick is playing at the Saugatuck-Douglas Library on February 11 at 7 p.m.: Midnight, with Claudette Colbertand and Don Ameche.

Film Studies at the Red Barn (Saugatuck Brewing Company)
At The Saugatuck Brewing Company, Douglas resident and film concept developer John Hardy will continue with the film series: February 16, Harvey, starring James Stewart and a 6-foot-tall invisible rabbit; February 23, Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce; March 2, The Informer with Victor McLaglen and Heather Angel. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com/schedule.htm.

Film Series
The Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland will present Coco before Chanel, the story of Gabrielle Coco Chanel, who began her life as headstrong orphan, and through an extraordinary journey became the legendary couturier who embodied the modern woman and became a timeless symbol of success, freedom, and style. Screenings at 7:30 p.m. on February 8-13. For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/knick/

Real to Reel Cinema Series
On February 18 at 7 p.m. the Saugatuck Center for the Arts will be showing Standing in the Shadows of Motown. In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. gathered the best musicians from Detroit's thriving jazz and blues scene to begin cutting songs for his new record company. Over a 14-year period, they were the heartbeat on every hit from Motown's Detroit era. This unheralded group of musicians, who call themselves the Funk Brothers, have reunited 41 years after they played their first note on a Motown record and three decades since they were all together, reunited back in Detroit to play their music and tell their unforgettable story. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Cooking Demonstration and Tasting
Experience the culinary artistry of Patricia Christopher during this mouth-watering tour of hand-made chocolate confections on February 13 at the SCA. Trained at the French Pastry School in Chicago, she creates recipes that combine cocoa, fresh butter, and creams with exotic varieties of imported spices, fresh herbs, fruit purees, coffees, teas, and fine liqueurs. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Blues
On February 27 at 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck Brewing Company, the Vincent Hayes Project will be performing, led by guitarist/vocalist Vincent Hayes. The Vincent Hayes Project is a high-energy, experimental blues band on the rise. What makes this group unique is its raw power coupled with subtle dynamics and versatility. For more info, call 269-857-7222 or visit http://saugatuckbrewing.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) 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.

Mo' Music
Visit Salt of the Earth in Fennville for music on February 13, Rick & Krys (love songs); February 19, Red Tail Ring (Appalachian Old Time/Folk); February 20, Tessa Perez (Folk/Jazz); February 21, Madcat, Kane, & Maxwell St. (Acoustic Blues); February 26, Drew Nelson (Singer-Songwriter); February 27, Bob Allison and Dale Hein (Folk-Blues); March 5, Sam Corbin with Drew Howard (Singer-Songwriter); and March 6, Andrew Schrock and Friends. For more info, call 269-561-7258 or visit http://www.saltoftheearthfennville.com/

Exhibitions
Micro/Macro: Fresh Views of Saugatuck/Douglas through March 1 at the SCA. View anew the environmental treasures of the Saugatuck/Douglas communities through these remarkable works from local photographers John M. Fleming and Bill Werme. Micro/Macro features Werme's aerial views of the Saugatuck/Douglas landscape juxtaposed with John Fleming's lush close-ups from the same spaces. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Exhibitions
Through March, 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 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 museum's founder, Willard C. Wichers, formed the core of this collection. For more info, call 888-200-9123 or visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/.

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 open-studio session for all levels of artists. Classes will be held at the SCA on Thursday mornings through March 25 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 pm. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Book of the Month
Micheles Book of the Month is Perfume Dreams, a brilliant first collection of the work of frequent NPR contributor, journalist, and Pacific News Service Editor Andrew Lam. He uses his work over the last two decades to explore his life as an American and to return to his Vietnamese heritage. His struggle and that of a million other Vietnamese expatriates is much the same as many others who belong to two countries. His insights point out the unique situation of today and what it is like to go home. Andrew Lam writes with such great passion and sensitivity that one becomes totally absorbed in his essays that are in his award winning book Perfume Dreams. Truly a gifted effort that delivers a literary image of what it feels like to be a Vietnamese-American immigrant. 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
February12-16, Winterfest Weekend, Saugatuck & Douglas
February 25, Movie- Design for Living, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
March 7, Sky Hempy Piano Performance Series, Aebersold and Neiweem
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 14, Sky Hempy Piano Performance Series, Giuseppe Lupis
March 18, Cowboy Junkies, Saugatuck Center for the Arts
March 14, Sky Hempy Piano Performance Series, May Phang
March 14, Film, Outsourced, South Haven Center for the Arts, SH
March 25, Real to Reel Cinema Series: The September Issue, SC4A Saugatuck
March 25, Movie-Ball of Fire, Saugatuck-Douglas Library
March 28, Sky Hempy Piano Performance Series, Winston Choi
March 29-Apr 3, Movie, Amreeka, Knickerbocker, Holland
April 6, Great Performance Series, Kronos Quartet, Holland
April 12, Visiting Writers Series, George Saunders, fiction, Knickerbocker
April 13-17, Movie, An Education, Knickenbocker, Holland
April 16-18 and April 23-25, Always . . . Patsy Cline, Red Barn Playhouse
April 24, Nagata Shachu Japanese Drumming Ensemble, SC4A, Saugatuck

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

Chris is an absolutely ethereal siren chef extraordinaire who lives in a secret garden that is home to Elves who provide her with mystical grains for her breads, dwarfs who pick delectable mushrooms for sautéing, fairies who harvest only the freshest berries for baking. One fine day she graced us with this wonderful recipe that has is so delectable and delicious we just had to say feel free to stop by any time.

Chris's Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Enchiladas
With roasted Poblano peppers

Ingredients

1 small butternut squash-split, seeded scraped out and roasted at 350 degrees until soft (about 45 minutes)
4 Tb olive oil
4 poblano peppers- roasted over an open fire until lightly charred then peeled and seeded
1 onion- cut lengthwise into thin strips
1 jalapeno - seeded and minced
2 cloves of garlic
½ pound of Evergreen Lane's fresh chevre-crumbled
10 freshly made whole wheat tortillas
Sometimes I add shredded roasted chicken if I have some leftover)

2 of the roasted poblanos from above
1 pint of heavy cream (this is not a low fat dish)
2 cloves of garlic-minced
4 oz cream cheese

Preparation

1. In a large mixing bowl, scrape the cooked butternut squash, until you have about 5 cups of cooked squash. Once the charred poblanos have cooled, skin and seed them then cut them into long thin strips. Add 2 of them to the squash and set the other two aside for the sauce.
2. In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the onion and shake in the pan for a few minutes before adding the garlic and minced jalapeno, then continue to shake the pan with the jalapeno and garlic for another minute or two. Add this to the bowl with the squash and Poblano. Gently stir the ingredients together.
3. Add the crumbled goat cheese gingerly and just barely fold the ingredients together. I like to taste melted chunks of goat cheese in the enchiladas. I bet mushrooms would be a good addition to this!
4. Put about one half cup of filling into each tortilla and roll loosely. Place the filled tortillas in a 9" x 13" baking pan. Leave a fingers width between each enchilada.
5. To make the sauce, pour the heavy cream into a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Add the poblanos (dice the strips first) and the garlic then simmer for a few minutes. Turn off the heat and add the cream cheese in little spoonfuls. Just let it sit in the hot sauce for a few minutes until it melts - then whisk it in.
6. Pour the sauce over the enchiladas and bake them for about 30 minutes at 375 degrees - or until heated thru and the edges get a little crisp.
7. Serve immediately with a side of black beans ( I garnish the whole plate with freshly chopped cilantro then zest a lime with a microplane over the plate!

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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