February & March 2015

February 2015

1	Coffee with the Birds, Hemlock Crossing-Nature Education Center, 8115 West Olive Road, West Olive. 10am-11:30m. Enjoy coffee and a pastry at the Nature Center while watching the birds at the Center feeders with fellow birders. Bring your favorite mug. Call 616-786-4847 for details.
1	Steelheader Ice Fishing Tournament, School Section Lake near Glendale, Waverly Township. 7am-Noon. Awards and lunch at Maria’s Lonestar Bar. Call 269-637-6720 for details.
2	Groundhog Puppet Show, Gillette Visitor Center, 6585 Lake Harbor Road, Muskegon. 1pm. Celebrate Groundhog Day with an entertaining puppet show that shows why everyone is so worried about Gary Groundhog. Suitable for young children. Afterwards, audience members can make their own groundhog. Call 231-798-3573 for more information.
1	16th Annual Super Bowl Spectacular Sportscard & Collectible Show, Holland Civic Center, 150 W. Eighth Street, Holland. 9am-3pm. Free admission.
1	22nd Annual Ice Breaker Festival, downtown South Haven. Starts Jan 30th. Ice carving competition, curling and skating lessons, Knights of Columbus Fish Fry, Heat the Street S’more roasting, chili cook-off, wagon rides, sidewalk sale, kids’ arts and crafts, Texas Hold’Em, Mardi Gras Dinner, pancake breakfast and more. Call 269-637-5171 for info.
1-14	‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, Holland Civic Theater, 50 W.9th Street, Holland. A Trivial Comedy for Serious People by Oscar Wilde. 7:30pm. Call 616-396-2021 for ticket info.
1-28	‘Belinda the Ballerina and Friends: The Illustrations of Amy Young’, Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W. Webster Avenue, Muskegon. The exhibition features original artwork she created for the popular children’s book Belinda the Ballerina and other books that Amy Young has written and illustrated. Runs through April 26. 231-720-2570.
1	Michigan Winter Triathlon, Muskegon State Park, 460 Scenic Drive, Muskegon. 10am-11am. Compete in speedskating, luge and cross-country skiing. Designed for beginners, but serious competitors are welcome. Great family fun. Prizes awarded. Call 877-879-5843 or visit the website to register.
2	Ski Sarett, Sarett Nature Center, 2300 Benton Center Road, Benton Harbor. 2pm. Ski Sarett’s lesser known trails with a naturalist. Free for members. Non-members: $5. Ski rental available for $7.
5	Night for the Museums Dinner, Amicarelli Vineyard, 259 Broadway Street, South Haven. Proceeds from this monthly dinner help support local museums and cultural groups. 5-9pm. Call 269-637-5252 for details.
6-7	Ed Subler Fishing Derby, Lakeside Eagles, 2355 W. Sherman Blvd, Muskegon. Sponsored by the Michigan Anglers Association’s Fishing Derby. Fishing begins at midnight, with a 3pm final weigh-in at the Lakeside Eagles. Prizes awarded.
6	Winter Birding Field Trip, Hemlock Crossing-Nature Education Center, 8115 West Olive Road, West Olive. Free, but registration is required. Participants will receive meeting location in advance. Call 616-786-4847.
6	Rotary Winter Walk & Fun Run – 5K and 1 Mile, Washington Avenue and Third, Grand Haven. Run or walk along downtown Grand Haven’s new snowmelt sidewalks. 6-7:30pm. Participants receive a free headlamp and shirt.
6-8	11th Annual Magical Ice Carving Festival, downtown St. Joseph. Professional Ice carving and team competition, Friday night Opening Ceremony, ice skating, wine tasting, magic shows for the kids.
7	Muskegon Lake Polar Bear Plunge, Fricano’s Muskegon Lake, 1050 W. Western Avenue, Muskegon. Participants who raise $75 for the Special Olympics will plunge into the freezing lake. The Plunge begins at 2pm. Prizes and free t-shirts.. Those who do not want to plunge can instead collect money to attend the after-party at Fricano’s.
7	Saturday Snowshoe Hike, Gillette Visitor Center, 6585 Lake Harbor Road, Muskegon. 10:30am. Every Saturday in winter, Hoffmaster State Park hosts snowshoe outings for the entire family. Children 7 and up may participate in the hike if accompanied by an adult. Snowshoes may be reserved for $5 in advance. Call 231-798-3573 to pre-register. Meet at the Visitor Center.
7-8	Winter Fest followed by Bev’s Second Season Ball, New Buffalo. Visit downtown New Buffalo from noon-5pm for ice-skating, free sleigh rides, ice sculpting. Saturday night ball held at the Four Winds Resort Silver Creek Event Center starting at 6:30pm. Call 888-660-6222 for ticket information.
8	Better Come Early! - Sundays @ 3 Concert Series, First Reformed Church of Holland, 630 State Street, Holland. Jennifer Walvoord - violin and Andrew Le - piano. 616-392-8085. 3pm. Free admission.
8	Hempy Keyboard Series with John Blacklow, Saugatuck Center of the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. 2pm. Pianist John Blacklow plays Bach and Chopin. Tickets: $10 - free for students under 18. Call 269-857-2399.
8	26th Annual Choco-mania 2014, First Congregational Church, 651 Phoenix Street, South Haven. Get ready for Valentines Day by filling up a plate of fudge, candies, cupcakes and more. 9am-3pm. $5 donation. 269-767-2900 for details.
9	Winter Birding, Sarett Nature Center, 2300 Benton Center Road, Benton Harbor. 10am. Bring a sack lunch and get ready to travel with us for bird watching. Maybe Muskegon, or even Allegan State Park to catch sight of eagles. Dress for the weather. Call 269-927-4832 to register. $15.00 per person, $10.00 for members.
15	Michigan Fossils, Sarett Nature Center, 2300 Benton Center Road, Benton Harbor. 3pm. Naturalist Emily Heenan presents a program about Michigan Fossils and a Sarett trip she led to Alpena, MI, a hotbed of Michigan fossils. Learn about how fossils are formed and where to look for common Michigan fossils. Bring fossils to share and identify.
17	Annual Mardi Gras Parade, Center Street in downtown Douglas. Line-up: 6:45pm at Beery Field - Parade starts at 7pm. After party with prizes at Alley's Diner.
18-22	70th Annual Grand Rapids Boat Show, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. Michigan’s longest running boat show. Pontoons, deck boats, the latest power boats, ski boats, canoes, kayaks, runabouts and more. Adults: $10, Children 6-14: $4, Children: 5 & Under: Free. 616-742-6500
19-28	‘The Art of the Brick' , Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W. Webster Avenue, Muskegon. Large scale sculptures created out of iconic LEGO® bricks by New York based artist Nathan Sawaya. Runs through May 3. 231-720-2570.
21	Annual Snow Jam Festival, Spring Lake Central Park, Spring Lake. Live music, ice skating, sledding, hockey, dart tournament, food and beverages, and more. 4-9pm.
21	Saturday Snowshoe Hike, Gillette Visitor Center, 6585 Lake Harbor Road, Muskegon. 10:30am. Every Saturday in winter, Hoffmaster State Park hosts snowshoe outings for the entire family. Children 7 and up may participate in the hike if accompanied by an adult. Snowshoes may be reserved for $5 in advance. Call 231-798-3573 to pre-register. Meet at the Visitor Center.
21	Girls Afternoon Out, Fenn Valley Winery, 6130 122nd Avenue, Fennville. Join Chef Christine Ferris as she demonstrates ‘Healthy Appetizers’. 11am-2pm. $35 per person, includes lunch, wine, tax and tip. Reservations required. 269-561-2396.
22	Hempy Keyboard Series with Christopher Janwong McKiggan, Saugatuck Center of the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. 2pm. Pianist Christopher Janwong McKiggan plays contemporary classic music. Tickets: $10 - free for students under 18. Call 269-857-2399.
28	Saturday Snowshoe Hike, Gillette Visitor Center, 6585 Lake Harbor Road, Muskegon. 10:30am. Every Saturday in winter, Hoffmaster State Park hosts snowshoe outings for the entire family. Children 7 and up may participate in the hike if accompanied by an adult. Snowshoes may be reserved for $5 in advance. Call 231-798-3573 to pre-register. Meet at the Visitor Center.
28	Building for Wildlife, Sarett Nature Center, 2300 Benton Center Road, Benton Harbor. 1-3:30pm. Get ready for nesting season by building a birdhouse for either a wren, chickadee or bluebird family. Call 269-927-4832 to register. $20.00 per house.
28	Owl Prowl, Sarett Nature Center, 2300 Benton Center Road, Benton Harbor. 7pm. Enjoy a short program on owls inside before heading outside for owl calling. Screech, great horned and barred owls are all possible. Wear warm clothes and bring a small flashlight. Call 269-927-4832 to register.

March 2015

1	Castalia Returns - Sundays @ 3 Concert Series, First Reformed Church of Holland, 630 State Street, Holland. Melissa Chung Hamlen - violin, Leslie Van Becker - viola, Alicia Eppinga - cello, and Mary Scanlan - piano. 616-392-8085. 3pm. Free admission.
5	Night for the Museums Dinner, Taste, 402 Phoenix Street, South Haven. Proceeds from this monthly dinner help support local museums and cultural groups. 5-9pm. Call 269-637-5252 for details.
6-8	Girlfriends Weekend, downtown Holland. A weekend for you and your best girlfriends. Shopping, makeovers, dining. Advance registration required. Visit www.girlfriendsweekends.org to register and view a complete schedule of events, or call 616-796-1210.
8	Hempy Keyboard Series with Deborah Moriarty, Saugatuck Center of the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. 2pm. Deborah Moriarty, professor of piano at the Michigan State University College of Music, plays Mozart, Wang and Debussy. Tickets: $10 - free for students under 18. Call 269-857-2399.
10	Annual Dutch Costume Resale, Holland Civic Center, 150 W. Eighth Street, Holland. 5-8pm. New and used Dutch costumes for both adults and children. This popular annual event is organized by the Holland Newcomers Club. Call 616-298-8427.
13	West Michigan Symphony, ‘Beethoven and Blue Jeans’, Frauenthal Theater, 425 W. Western Avenue, Muskegon.7:30pm. Beethoven's Prometheus Overture, cellist Nicolas Altstaedt performs Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto, and Beethoven's Symphony no. 4.
13-22	Coastline Children’s Film Festival, Various venues in Berrien County. Alongside the screening of features, shorts and documentaries, festival participants have the opportunity to learn about the history of the medium, as well as the craft of filmmaking, through hands-on workshops and filmmaker presentations. Call Leslie Sullivan at 269-757-1491 for details.
14-15	Maple Sugar Time, Historic VanRaalte Farm, 1076 16th Street, Holland. Sat: 11am-4pm; Sun: Noon-4pm. Get ready to help tap a maple tree and gather the sap. Demonstrations of how Native Americans made sugar. Ice cream topped with the farm’s maple syrup will be served in the barn. $1 per person entry fee. No registration required.
14	St. Patrick’s Day Parade, downtown Holland. Noon. Parade begins at the Civic Center and marches up 8th Street to College Avenue.
14	3rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, Saugatuck Brewing Company, 2948 Blue Star Highway, Douglas. Full Irish buffet at 8:30am. $12.50 tickets must be purchased in advance. 269-857-7222.
14	13th Annual St. Patrick’s Day (Erin Go Bark! Pets and their People) Pet Parade & Festival, downtown Saugatuck. Line-up at 1:30pm at the Culver Street Parking Lot next to the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. 2pm parade along Butler Street. The Annual Pub Party follows at Coral Gables at 220 Water Street; silent auction, Irish food, live music. 269-857-1701.
14	Coffee with the Birds, Hemlock Crossing-Nature Education Center, 8115 West Olive Road, West Olive. 10am-11:30m. Enjoy coffee and a pastry at the Nature Center while watching the birds at the Center feeders with fellow birders. Bring your favorite mug. Call 616-786-4847
21	Winemaker’s Ethnic Dinner, Fenn Valley Winery, 6130 122nd Avenue, Fennville. The winery pairs a Fenn Valley wine with each course. A cellar tour starts things off, followed by a sparkling wine with cheese. Reservations are required. 269-561-2396.
21	Art of Beer Festival, Mendel Center, Lake Michigan College, 2755 East Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor. Sample craft beers brought by brewers from across the country. Live music, food. 5-9pm. Tickets are $35 in advance, or $40 at the door. Must be 21 years of age to attend. Designated driver tickets are $20. Each festival ticket buys tastes of twelve beers and a Festival beer pint glass.
21-22	Maple Sugar Time, Historic VanRaalte Farm, 1076 16th Street, Holland. Sat: 11am-4pm; Sun: Noon-4pm. Get ready to help tap a maple tree and gather the sap. Demonstrations of how Native Americans made sugar. Ice cream topped with the farm’s maple syrup will be served in the barn. $1 per person entry fee. No registration required.
22	Perugino String Quartet - Sundays @ 3 Concert Series, First Reformed Church of Holland, 630 State Street, Holland. Eric Tanner and Christopher Martin - violins, Barbara Corbato - viola, Stacey Tanner - cello. 616-392-8085. 3pm. Free admission.
28	Maplepalooza, Historic VanRaalte Farm, 1076 16th Street, Holland. Sat: 11am-3pm. A celebration of everything maple and the coming of spring. Two bands playing Irish and bluegrass music all day. Maple beer, maple barbeque, maple syrup, maple sugar candies, maple baked goods and maple crafts for kids. Ice cream topped with the farm’s maple syrup will be served in the barn. Free admission.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Lake Effect Living photographs are the work and property of Sharon Pisacreta.