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/ATTRACT.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/ATTRACT.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/ATTRACT.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

[return to top of page]

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/ATTRACT.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

[return to top of page]

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/ATTRACT.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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