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EVENT LISTING
EVENT LISTING
by Cherie Spaulding
 Arriving Tuesday afternoon in downtown Traverse City, the shops and restaurants were already buzzing with business. The streets were alive with a playful spirit, filled with children and families enjoying Tuesday night's festivities, participants of the 5th Annual Traverse City Film Festival. Oscar-winner and Festival creator, Michael Moore, infused the listeners with his passion and commitment for the event and the people who make it happen, year after year. A thick crowd gathered to celebrate the beginning of this year's festival and to see Traverse City's own Rich Brauer receive the 2009 Michigan Filmmaker's Award.
 The evening evoked an ambiance as potent as votive candles warming a dinner party and transformed a charming little affair – a night at the theater – into a night of magic. Bold red letters hung on the marquee; a stage was set in lights; the streets were busy with shuttering cameras and ticket clad tourists. Separated by only a city block, a stunning foreign film, Troubled Water, explored themes of forgiveness and redemption. The film was screened for two theaters filled perfectly full. Concluding the shows, a question and answer session occurred with the film's director who had traveled from Norway to present and speak.
 Shop keepers and locals were embracing the opportunity to participate in Tuesday's Festival events, which drew attendance from far and wide. The Festival films this season span a wide range of topics, but those passionate about supporting local communities, independent films and the visual arts, were naturally drawn to the scene. Northern Michigan residents hungry for "big city" culture to satiate quaint "little city" life, praised the event. Many young people stationed in the area found an oasis for their creative inclinations. Others simply love film and devour the opportunity to participate in the screenings of documentaries, obscure films, classic, political, and comedic films–just some of the genres represented throughout the week. Along with panel events, lectures, and free family films, the calender of any attendee could be completely filled!
Driving home I noticed Will Smith's head–the size of a truck–looming against the backdrop of night sky, as adventurous viewers reclined at the Open Space to entertain aliens for a night by the Bay. Though I could not see the audience, I imagined children and parents snuggled up beneath the stars, feeling a warm breeze off the lake, their hearts filled with laughter. Who could resist a night so fine?
Explore many more photos, videos, blog posts and tweets from the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival and also check out Absolute Michigan: On Location at the Traverse City Film Festival.
Green Cuisine, Food For Thought's annual event, is a celebration of their philosophy and practices. Green Cuisine is held annually the third Wednesday in July, and is an effort to bring more awareness to the benefit of local food and sustainable business practices. Visitors will be able to sample some of the best products of local food and beverage artisans, tour Food For Thought’s organic farm and green buildings as well as socialize, learn and have fun in a beautiful setting.
The 2009 Green Cuisine is free and will be held this Wednesday, July 15, 2009 from 5pm – 8 pm at the Food For Thought farm, 10704 Oviatt Rd. Honor, MI 49640. Register online here. Children are welcome! For more information, please call 231-326-5444 or visit the Food for Thought web site.
Food/Beverage Vendors include:
La Becasse
Oryana
Grocers Daughter Chocolate
Higher Grounds Trading Co.
Chateau Chantal
Black Star Farms
Cherry Republic
Ciccone Vineyard and Winery
Shady Lane Vineyards
Trattoria Stella
Short's Brewery
Light of Day Organics
L. Mawby Vineyard
Shetler Dairy
Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery
Honor Family Market
Good Neighbor Organic Winery and Vineyard
Stone House Bread
Naturally Nutty Nut Butters
Cook's House
Bel Lago Vineyard
Right Brain Brewery
GREEN LIFESTYLE/AWARENESS:
Green Island
Fernand Footwear
Little Artshram
Wings of Wonder
Hende Design
Neashasha
Salon de Capelli
Salon Verve
Living Light Massage
Deep Wood Press
SUPPORTERS:
Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association/Absolute Michigan
Music: Seth and Daisy May
Design: Chelsea Bay Wills
Horse Taxi: Black Horse Farm
Parking: Moonshadow Farm (Robb Bollenberg & Jeanne Strathman)
MAJOR SPONSORS:
American Rentals
Cherry Capital Foods
Interlochen Public Radio
EVENT LISTING
Weekend Round-Up
By Colin Merry
Frankfort
Medallion Hunt
When: July 1st through the 4th. Clues revealed at 9am
Where: Clues revealed at Chamber of Commerce, Walentas and State Savings Bank
What: Treasure seekers must decipher clues in order to find the location of the Frankfort Medallion, worth $150 to whoever finds it.
Carnival
When: July 2nd through the 5th.
Thursday at 5 pm
Friday at 12 pm
Saturday at 10 am
Sunday 12-6 pm
Where: Frankfort Jr./Sr. High School
What: Schmidt Amusements Carnival, with midway games, rides and food vendors.
July 4th festivities
When: July 4th all throughout the day
Where: Throughout Frankfort
What: A full day of activities are scheduled for the 4th of July celebration in the port town of Frankfort on Lake Michigan. Festivities kick off with St. Anne’s pancake breakfast at 7:30 am, followed by a bicycle decorating contest at Graceland Fruit at 9:30. The annual 4th of July parade is at 10:00 am, with floats representing local businesses traveling down Forest and Main Street. Also starting at 10 am, Art in the Park, with arts and crafts vendors congregating in Mineral Springs Park until 4pm. The Lion’s Club Chicken Barbecue will also take place in Mineral Springs Park, starting at 12 pm. On the beach, a sand sculpture contest will be held between 12pm and 3pm. Participants are asked to sign up at the chamber office or at the entrance to the beach. Fireworks will be held at dusk at the Frankfort Beach. This year, one lucky raffle winner will be able to push the button to start the show. Visit http://www.frankfort-elberta.com/ for a full schedule and information.
Frankfort Farmers Market
When: July 4th from 8 am to 1 pm
Where: Open Space Park
What: Locally produced greens, meats and other food products will be available to purchase in a traditional farmers market setting. Come taste the difference small farming operations and hand-crafting can make.
Beulah
 Celebration 2009
When: July 4th, all throughout the day
Where: Throughout Beulah
What: On Crystal Lake, Beulah will be holding a myriad of 4th of July activities. The 5k Firecracker Run starts at 8 am in Beulah Park, followed by the family walk and fun run at 8:30 am. For those who feel less like running and more like breakfast, the Hungry Tummy in the downtown area will be having a pancake breakfast buffet from 8am t o 11am. Kids games start in Beulah Park at 10:30am until noon, with face painting at 11am to 3pm. Scheduled children’s games begin at 2:30 pm with the “greased pole climb”, followed by a coin hunt on the beach at 3:30pm and a rubber duck race at 4:30pm. The annual Independence Day parade will be held in downtown Beulah at 1:30 pm. Snacks and picnic foods will be available in the park from 12 pm to whenever people stop eating. The fireworks show, which will be fired from a moving barge along the east shore of Crystal Lake, will be ignited around 10:30 pm.
Lake Ann
16th annual Lake Ann Homecoming
When: July 4th, with activities throughout the day
Where: Lake Ann
What: Lake Ann is hosting its own celebration on the 4th to honor the villages’ history.
The homecoming starts at 9 p.m. with an opening ceremony introducing the village’s officials and senior citizens. After the ceremony, things get kicked off with a vintage tractor and classic car parade through downtown Lake Ann at 11:00 a.m. Also, throughout the day, activities will be taking place such as an auction, a crafts and flea market, live music and children’s games. A barbecue lunch will be served at the Almira Township Hall from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., featuring BBQ pork, baked beans and other picnic favorites. Snack foods will also be available at vendors.
Manistee
National Forest Festival
When: July 1st-5th
Where: Manistee
What: Manistee’s popular National Forest Festival also takes place on the 4th of July weekend, bringing with it a host of events to keep visitors busy. The festival starts on the 1st of July, with a woodworking workshop and the official opening of the festival market place and food vendors starting at 10 a.m. Historical trolley tours start at 11 a.m. and the T.J. Schmidt & Company Carnival will be ready to go at 2 p.m. The festival market, food vendors and the carnival will continue every day during the festival. A variety of festivities continue over the next few days, with Texas hold em’ tournaments, art exhibits, bed races, live music, guided tours, animal exhibits, auctions, kids events and much, much more. The Scottville Clown Band will make several appearances, once during the parade at 10 am on the 4th and once on the 5th at 4pm at the beach. Fireworks will be held on the 3rd instead of the 4th.
There are many events spanning this multi-day festival, so visit the official website at http://www.manisteechamber.com/commitees/festival.htm for a full schedule and locations.
 
Betsiebay.net's own Laura Herd is traveling to the Rothbury Music Festival July 2-5 with 10 team members with all-access, VIP backstage passes. With support from Rothbury, our team will survey Rothbury staff, environmental leaders, volunteers, attendees and artists to gather input and feedback for the purpose of creating an annual Rothbury-afterglow event in Northern Michigan beginning in 2010. This afterglow event will feature intimate concerts with Rothbury artists highlighting youth involvement, Rothbury Think Tank discussions, leadership retreats, festival debriefings/soapboxing and sustainable initiatives that extend and build on the Rothbury brand in the NW Michigan region.
Because of our unique festival access this year, we will be bringing those of you at home – or those who want to follow along at Rothbury – blogs, photos and videos of all the behind-the-scenes going-ons at the festival. Visit our blogs to check out our daily Rothbury coverage.
Absolute Michigan on location at Rothbury
Porterhouse Productions Rothbury Coverage
If you are attending the festival you should upload some of your best festival pictures to our Rothbury 2009 flickr group.
The Porterhouse Productions Rothbury Team is as follows:
Sam Porter – Owner, Porterhouse Productions
Charlie Peterson – Production Manager, Porterhouse Productions
Beth Milligan – Community Outreach/PR Manager, Porterhouse Productions
Tarah Cole – Intern Extraordinaire, Porterhouse Productions
Adam Waugh – Team Support, Porterhouse Productions
April Herteg – Team Support, Porterhouse Productions
Mike Moran – Singer-Songwriter, Mike Moran Music
The Absolute Michigan Rothbury Team is as follows:
Andy McFarlane – Publisher, Absolute Michigan
Laura Herd – Promotions Director, Afterglow Visionary Analyst, Absolute Michigan
Richard Taber – Photographer, Absolute Michigan
Ryan Thompson – Founder, Greener Milwaukee and Blogger, Absolute Michigan
The artist lineup this year is terrific, and there are some great leadership and think tank discussions taking place. Be sure to check back daily for the latest news, updates and interviews from the festival. You can also view and share photos at our Rothbury Flickr page.
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