Downtown Holland Join Us All Holiday Season Long!
You’re invited to stroll the beautifully decorated and heated streets in Downtown Holland this holiday season while shopping and dining at over 100 locally-owned stores and restaurants! And don’t miss these special family-friendly events happening all holiday season long. Happy Holidays!
Shop ‘Til You Drop
Friday, November 11 7pm - 10pm
Get an early start on your holiday shopping in Downtown Holland and save big on all of your gifts during this once-a-year late night shopping event!
Holiday Open House
Saturday, November 19 5pm - 8pm
Let the holiday fun begin with strolling carolers, Santa and his favorite elf, a reindeer petting corral, roasted chestnuts, and in-store holiday promotions!
Holiday Kerstmarkt
Fridays & Saturdays | Nov. 19 - Dec. 10
Hours vary.
Shop for hand-crafted gifts, holiday decor, and homemade baked goods from local artisans housed in booths at this European-inspired outdoor market.
Small Business Saturday
Saturday, November 26
All Day Long!
Enjoy special discounts, promotions, giveaways, and more at participating shops and restaurants as our way of thanking you for shopping small this season!
Parade of Lights
Tuesday, November 29
6:30 pm
This popular holiday light parade features bands, floats, vehicles, and more all lit up with thousands of twinkling lights. Be sure to look out for Santa too!
Sinterklaas Eve
Friday, December 2 6pm - 8pm
Children are invited to celebrate Sinterklaas, the Dutch St. Nicholas, by joining in a traditional short procession before meeting Sinterklaas himself!
Magic at the Mill
Fridays & Saturdays | December 2 - 17 5pm - 7 pm & 7pm - 9pm
For the first time ever, families can experience a one-of-a-kind holiday light show spectacular at historic Windmill Island Gardens. (Tickets required.)
Shopping Jam
Saturday, December 17 8am - 10am
Last minute shoppers, this event is just for you! The earlier you shop, the more you save during this early morning shopping event in Downtown Holland.
Publisher Jason Hosko
Editorial
Gemini Media Editor: Lisa Enos
Managing Editor: Ann Smith
Contributors: Elizabeth Granger, Jeremy Gonsior
Design
Creative Director: Lindsay Richards
Art Director: Mark Dryer
Photography:
Carmel Brown, DeVries Photography
Bethany Kruger
Sales
Account Executives:
Nick Irwin , Maddy Gill
Senior Sales & Marketing Content Creator: Cortney Woody
Office Assistants:
Kerry Gerwatowski, Elissa Stong
Production
Production Director: Jenine Knox
Advertising Coordinator:
Haylee Mozug
IT
IT Director: Jeremy Leland
Web
Digital Director: Nick Britsky
Digital Development Specialist: Jim Bowser
Administration
Director Of Business Operations:
Kathie Gorecki
Publishing and Sales Coordinator:
Kristin Mingo
Assistant Office Manager: Natasha Bajju
Senior Accounting Associate: Andrew Kotzian
Accounting Associate: Samantha Dick
Accounting Associate: Austin Schmelzle
CEO: Stefan
President: John Balardo
Words worth repeating
Poet Edith Sitwell once declared that she loathed Christmas — but she penned a book about the pleasures to be found in winter. You have to love that positive spirit. “Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand,” Stillwell wrote.
We hope you’ll encounter all of those as this year nears its close. I’m reminding myself that it’s also a time to offer them to others. Community events like the holiday tree lightings, parades and other outdoor gatherings featured, starting on page 10, are opportunities to reach beyond our immediate circles and draw others in — even if just for the brief time we gather outdoors and kill time waiting for an event to begin. It will be appreciated. It’s an inclination worth cultivating.
Our home has no fireplace, so we lean into other kinds of winter warmth. Good food – check. (And not just casseroles at home — we’ll enjoy the restaurants featured on pages 32 and 40 and others, too. If they have fireplaces, all the better.) We’ve also resolved to kick the Netflix habit and venture out more for live entertainment, even when a cold wind blows. This issue’s sampling of events on local college campuses (page 16) may inspire you to do the same.
What calls to you at this time of year? Enjoying how friends dress up their homes and how elegant, historic houses are decked out for the holidays (page 60)? Decorating your own (pages 26 and 44)?
Launching a new, perhaps more engaging, way to stay fit (page 66)? “Giving back” (page 64)? Finding gifts for those you love? Sprinkled through this issue are features about lakeshore shops that may be new to you. Supporting local family businesses has broad impact. Visiting Huisman Flowers in Grand Haven in September, for instance, I met four people, but Rick Huisman mentioned that his shops there and in Holland employ 27. Patronizing locally-owned lakeshore shops — not just on Small Business Saturday, but all year long —supports our neighbors and their families.
From everyone at Urban St., our very best wishes for a happy, healthy, warm and friendly winter.
Ann Smith Managing EditorOn Our Radar
Movie matinees on the house.
As chilly weather sets in, does an afternoon movie sound good? Muskegon’s Frauenthal Center at 425 W. Western Avenue welcomes residents of any town to its monthly Sunday afternoon Free Family Movie Day. No advance arrangements are needed. Doors open at 2:15 p.m.; films begin at 3. Nov. 20,“Dune” (2021)
Dec. 18, “White Christmas” (1954) frauenthal.org
Local shopping with a twist.
Might holiday shopping be on your December agenda? Hands off that mouse! — Amazon will do just fine without you. Support local family businesses and have some fun as you go. For instance . . .
Go green in Saugatuck.
For plant-based skincare products and lakeshore-made home goods and jewelry with a relaxed, modern vibe, make your way to Marie’s Green Apothecary, which opened at 347 Water Street in Saugatuck in May. Ashley Scholten’s shop also carries CBD oil and clothes and linens made from organic materials. facebook.com/mariesgreenapothecary/
Get off the beaten path in Zeeland.
Does the word “vintage” make your heart beat faster? Infinity Rustic Designs & Antiques opened in September at Zeeland’s Borculo crossroads, at 6441 96th Avenue. In their storefront and nearby outbuilding, Linda Castaneda and Rodger Urtado’s offerings include antique furniture and rustic home decor. facebook.com/IRDAntiques/
Browse for cookies in Muskegon.
In early November, prepurchase your official Cookie Crawl tin online (200 will be available, and they sell out fast). On December 10, pick it up at the Muskegon Farmers Market between 10 a.m. and noon, proceed to downtown shops and as you work your way through your holiday shopping list add a dessert to your tin at each participating store and office. (Last year, there were 30.) The date sales will go live was not yet set at press time; for that info, call the Muskegon City Clerk’s office, 231-724-6705
Shop in your pajamas in Holland.
PJs are invited, but street attire is acceptable too for Holland’s December 17 downtown Shopping Jam
The lure is early morning savings: dozens of participating shops will offer 30% off at least one item from 8 to 9 a.m., and 25% off at least one from 9 to 10 a.m. (Their other discounts vary.) Breakfast joints will be open, too. holland.org/shopping-jam
Light the night
Lakeshore communities host twinkling holiday events
Even those of us who hate the cold have a warm spot in our hearts for sparkly lights. When elegant white strands or exuberant loops of color appear downtown and in our neighborhoods, they beat back dark nights.
Thanksgiving kicks off a week of merriment in the West Michigan lakeshore region, with some twinkling events following later in December — from tree lightings that have been a tradition for years to events of more recent vintage. A new bright light on our stretch of the lakeshore will be the debut of Magic at the Mill, a ticketed event at Holland’s Windmill Island Gardens, a centerpiece of the city’s spring Tulip Time festival. Sustaining that theme, a thousand LED tulips were “planted” in October in a grassy field, and they’ll put on a synchronized light and music show. Capping the holiday season: free fireworks at the Grand Haven waterfront just past midnight as 2023 begins.
So break out your most festive scarf and winter cap and head outdoors to enjoy brightly lit community celebrations from late November through the New Year — in your own town and neighboring ones. Here’s the lowdown on nine opportunities.
November 25
Spring Lake kicks off its Sparkle Festival at 2 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving and keeps the lights on until January 3, 2023. Will 120,000 multi-colored lights do the trick? Why, yes. Strung in trees and in strikingly modern blocks of color, they dress up Savidge Street downtown. After oohing and aahing, you can head for a food
court or enjoy a drink at Santa’s Workshop. Santa will visit with children at times posted on the event Facebook page. facebook.com/springlakesparkle/
November 25
How many towns light a holiday star 800 feet up a forested sand dune? We suspect Saugatuck has this market sewed up. At ground level, across the Kalamazoo River, the good people of Saugatuck light a tree at the same time. Folks will gather at the riverfront Wicks Park Gazebo on Water Street starting at 5 p.m. to share countdown fun till 6 p.m. Nearby, Santa and his reindeer will be available for photos and chats starting at 3 p.m.
saugatuck.com
November 26
A city park at the heart of a historic district is a picturesque spot to gather and celebrate. Festivities start at 4 p.m. in Muskegon’s Hackley Park, which will be decked out for the season, and at dusk (around 5:30) the traditional Christmas Tree Lighting will take place. Hot chocolate, food vendors — and once the tree is lit, photo ops with Santa and his reindeer.
November 28
To borrow a phrase from Friends, this is the one with the tubas. A brief tuba concert is first on the schedule for Zeeland’s holiday season launch; they’ll play at 5:30 p.m. near City Hall. Zeeland lights its tree next, at 6:15 at the Splash Pad at the corner of Elm and East Main St. and then launches the annual Magical Christmas Parade at 6:30 that piles on more lights. zeelandfestivals.com
November 29
Holland’s downtown Parade of Lights is a holiday tradition, right down to Santa bringing up the rear. Antique cars
and marching bands join vehicles and floats lit up like . . . well, like Christmas trees. Might you still have some July 4 glow necklaces in the trunk? — fish them out, put them on and you’ll fit right in. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of 8th Street and Columbia Avenue and proceeds west on 8th to the Holland Civic Center and the holiday Kerstmarkt.
downtownholland.com
December 2 and 5 more evenings through December 17
New this year at Holland’s Windmill Island Gardens: Magic at the Mill, a ticketed holiday lights event. The city park’s windmill, village and grounds will be decorated with lights. A synchronized light and music show featuring a thousand LED tulips will loop all evening. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. and repeats on December 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17. Sinterklaas, the Dutch Santa, will not visit Windmill Island on Dec. 2 (he’ll be busy downtown at the Sinterklaas Eve celebration) but will be on hand for two hours on each of the other dates. Online sale of timed tickets has begun. holland.org
East of Windmill Island Gardens, Holland’s municipal electric plant off 8th Street will be lit up, too, starting November 22. Walk the trail around Holland Energy Park to experience the festive display up close starting at twilight daily. Visitor parking is located off Fairbanks Avenue.
December 3
Grand Haven’s Jingle Bell Parade sets off at 6 p.m. from Franklin Avenue with many floats festooned with lights. People start arriving around 4 p.m. to stake out a good spot on a sidewalk. Among the parade participants are Santa and Mrs. Claus, who’ll be in a horse-drawn sleigh. When the parade reaches Central Park, spectators gather for a tree-lighting there and the Salvation Army serves hot chocolate — all
in keeping with downtown Grand Haven’s “classic Christmas” vibe.
December 9
Less glitz, more glow: Hemlock Crossing County Park in West Olive will host a free, family-friendly Holiday Luminary Event from 5 to 7 p.m., with decorated trees and other lights at the park’s Nature Center and some other park features. Expect treats and a nature-focused activity for kids; last year, volunteers helped young guests make pinecone birdfeeders. More than 200 people enjoyed an outdoor holiday luminary walk through the meadow trails in 2021. miottawa.org/parks/
December 31
New Year’s Eve fireworks in Grand Haven: For the final bright lights of 2022, what could beat that? Whether you celebrated the waning hours of the year in the city’s downtown social district or cozy at home, join the crowd on Washington Avenue near the riverfront for a midnight ball drop followed by free fireworks to mark the opening minutes of 2023.
Turning Pointe presents
The Promise
Gather ideas as you stroll through our forest of beautifully decorated theme trees! Choose from thousands of ornaments for your home or for gifts for those special people in your life.
~ Over 50 Trees on Display ~
4 feet to 12 feet tall! If you are in the market for a new Christmas tree this year, we have dozens from which to choose in all shapes, sizes and styles. Our high-quality pre-lit trees are from GKI/Bethlehem Lights (our 25th seasonthese trees are made to last!) They are beautiful, with folding branches and lights already attached, and the quality of these trees will enhance your home for many Christmases to come! And we service what we sell! Beautiful trees, thousands of ornaments, lights, wreaths...and so much more!
LIVE AND IN PERSON
Live theatre, music, dance, and spoken word are major perks of living near a college town! This fall, enjoy performances at Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus and at Hope College in Holland.
Oct. 28–30 & Nov. 4–6
“A Minister’s Wife”
In this production by the Grand Valley Opera Theatre, a young poet finds himself caught up in a love triangle when he falls for the wife of an admired clergyman. The chamber musical is actor Austin Pendleton’s adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s play “Candida,” with distinctly modern music by Joshua Schmidt and lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen.
GVSU • Haas Center for Performing Arts Black Box Theatre 10610 S. Campus Dr., Allendale
Nov. 7
South Chicago Dance Theatre: Energy | Power | Grace
Bringing its diverse repertoire to the lakeshore, this multicultural dance company will fuse classical and contemporary dance styles in its performance of recently commissioned works from nationally acclaimed choreographers.
GVSU • Haas Center for the Performing Arts
Louis Armstrong Theatre
10610 S. Campus Dr., Allendale
7 p.m. | Free gvsu.edu/gvarts/
Nov. 11–14 & 17–19
“Silent Sky”
Lauren Gunderson’s play dramatizes the true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, whose career and life played out against a landscape of fierce sisterly love, early feminism and universe-revealing science.
Hope College • DeWitt Cultural Center Main Theatre
141 E. 12th St., Holland
For times and tickets: hopecollege.csstix.com| 616-395-7890
November 14
“Circe” author Madeline Miller
The author of this year’s Big Read Lakeshore book for adults, whose novels and stories retell Greek myths, speaks on the Hope College campus.
Hope College • Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts Concert Hall
221 Columbia Ave., Holland 7 p.m. | Free bigreadlakeshore.com/events/
Nov 18-20 & Dec. 1-4
“Gloria”
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ dramatic comedy focused on the lives of working Americans debuted off Broadway in 2015 and was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Ticket sales begin Nov. 4.
GVSU • Haas Center for the Performing Arts Black Box Theatre
10610 S. Campus Dr., Allendale
For times and tickets: gvsu.edu/mtd/theatre-season-41.htm
December 3 &
4
Christmas Vespers
More than 200 vocalists and instrumentalists present Christmas carols and anthems in Hope College’s historic chapel. Ticket sales begin November 7 and go quickly.
Hope College • Dimnent Memorial Chapel
277 College Ave., Holland
For times and tickets: hopecollege.csstix.com | 616-395-7890
Fab Finds holland & zeeland
Ornamentally inclined?
These shops specialize in holiday decor
By Ann SmithAt this time of year, people get jazzed about holiday decorating. No surprise there! It’s a little harder to wrap one’s mind around the fact that folks in flip flops were shopping along the lakeshore for ornaments all summer long.
“Some people just love Christmas. There’s the spirit of hope that it brings — the excitement of what’s to come,” says Leslie Howard, the manager of Tuck’s, a yearround shop in Saugatuck that sees a steady stream of customers delighted to shop in July for December decorations. “A lot of times people might pop in just to have that
one moment of a hope for the future.”
Some enthusiasts give an ornament each year to members of their families. Others have large collections and are always looking. “They’re adding to the six trees that they have with different themes,” says Howard (who puts up 15, including a peacock tree). “I shop anywhere I can — if there’s a Christmas store open, you better believe I’m going to pop in.”
Two shops in Holland stand shoulder to shoulder with Tuck’s as destinations for those in search of something new to make their home even brighter for the holidays. Here’s a bit about all three.
Van Wieren Hardware
How big a deal in Holland is Van Wieren Hardware’s yearly display of decorated Christmas trees?
“People started calling about it right after Labor Day,” reports owner Deb Van Wieren Axce.
Her staff is assembling 50 Bethlehem pre-lit artificial trees in various heights this year, and will decorate about a dozen of them. They’ll probably finish by mid-November. Each tree has a theme — like kids’ sports, hunting and fishing, hobbies, and camping. Around them are baskets and bins of those ornaments and lots more, many at low prices popular with, as Axce puts it, “grandparents who come in to buy an ornament for each one of their eight grandchildren.” And then there are strings of lights in colors you didn’t know they came in, and garlands, and faux birds and floral picks to tuck into wreaths. And more.
Van Wieren’s started small with trees around 1970. “It just kept expanding,” says Axce. And at her house? “We used to decorate a lot, but now — no. I have enough here.”
645 Douglas Ave., Holland vwhardware.com
Holland Clock Company
Brightly painted nutcrackers at the front of Holland Clock Company signal Christmas for folks with northern European heritage (or a fondness for “The Nutcracker” ballet). Step into the shop in downtown Holland and it’s immediately clear they’re just the tip of the iceberg. There are Christmas pyramids — multilevel tabletop structures with candle-powered revolving floors — in various sizes, of various scenes, and all (like most things in the shop) hand-carved in Germany. Arrayed along one wall are 3-D scenes carved from panels of pale wood: forest nooks, nativity scenes, sledders and cottages and ridges of pines accented by lights that illuminate windows and trees. Colorful wooden ornaments and ceramic ones in Dutch style hang on racks.
Proprietor Dan Winebrenner doesn’t do much advertising. Having a front window does the trick. “People walk by, see something, and they have to have it,” he says. The store also carries German beer steins and, not surprisingly, clocks, including cuckoo clocks with weights that look like pine cones. Maybe those say Christmas to you and yours, too. Cheers.
39 E. 8th St., Holland hollandclockcompany.com
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 g
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Tuck’s of Saugatuck
Try to envision six thousand holiday ornaments. Got that? — you’re looking at Tuck’s in downtown Saugatuck, which sparkles like nobody’s business. Does someone on your holiday shopping list collect ornaments from a famous firm like Kurt S. Adler or Old World Christmas? Would your tree shine brighter this year if you added Birkenstocks, or a (liquid) glass of wine, or nachos, or Bernie Sanders in his mittens? Can do, can do, can do, can do, can do. Collectors make a beeline for the shop all year. “Heartfully Yours, Christopher Radko — we are one of four stores in the entire country that is carrying the entire line,” says store manager Leslie Howard, “so that’s a real honor.” Some drop-in customers invest in high-end items, too, while others peruse voluminous racks of traditional and quirky ornaments with less heady price tags. In early fall, vintage ornaments from the 1960s and ’70s were in stock, just acquired by the owner on one of his excursions. “Every day there seems to be something new,” Howard says.
Bear Lake Tavern
North Muskegon landmark keeps its comfortable vibe
By Elizabeth GrangerThe look says “now” — outside, sleek and modern; indoors, up-to-date seats and tables, blackboard messaging, impeccable waitstaff.
But the vibe is so inviting, so comfortable, so retro. Close your eyes and you might think you’ve stepped back in time to a
friendly neighborhood gathering spot.
That’s the secret to Bear Lake Tavern in North Muskegon.
It’s not new. Not by a long shot. Its history dates back to 1929, with a lengthy list of owners since then. And quite a bit of remodeling. But proof of its longevity? Look at the cigarette burns on the bar. They’ve been there forever. Bar manager David Byrd says he just wishes he could attribute those burns to Ernest Hemingway or Fred Astaire or Arthur Miller. Ah, if only.
New owners are locals Ryan and Emily Leestma. Their plan? Byrd says it’s to keep things pretty much the same because it’s a neighborhood icon.
Kriss Johnson of North Muskegon likes that plan. She and her sisters waitressed at the eatery when they were teens – they lived in the neighborhood. Johnson moved away,
then moved back. Now her from-away husband thinks Bear Lake Tavern is tops, too.
Byrd says the most popular item on the menu is its Great Lakes perch, available since the restaurant’s birth. Also popular: steak frites (sirloin or filet mignon), walleye, and the tavern burger with bacon and ham, a long-long-time favorite. The lake channel view from the deck or dining room is also deservedly popular.
For appetizers, how about boneless wings or fried green tomatoes? And Grandma’s popcorn – freshly popped corn, Parmesan cheese, crispy bacon, parsley.
Basically, Byrd says, it’s Midwestern lake fare. “Regulars know they can get a good meal and a good rate,” he says. “If you’re a return customer, service may have a bit more of a personal touch. We usually remember your preferences.”
Byrd says it’s common to meet people who have a history with the eatery. “Every week or so I have someone come in who will say, ‘I used to tend bar here,’ he says. “In 1963 or 1975 or 1984.”
Johnson is among them. “I used to come in as a little girl and ask for bread in the kitchen so I could feed the ducks,” she says. And now? “The perch is the same,” she says. “The neighborhood is the same. When we come in, we see people we know – every time we come in. It’s definitely a family place. It’s definitely a neighborhood place.”
She adds, “When somebody new comes in and sits at the bar, one of the regulars will typically begin a conversation. ‘Oh, you’re new?’ we’ll say. ‘Well, you have to try this and this and this.’ Eventually we turn into tour guides, saying you have to go here and there in Muskegon.”
“I love it here.”
Bear Lake Tavern
360 N. Ruddiman Dr., Muskegon
231-766-7932
bltmuskegon.com
You gotta try this!
There are nachos, and then there are
Righteous Nachos
By Mark DryerRighteous Cuisine makes a plate of nachos that is so good, I call it “destination food.” Because when the craving hits, I drive all the way from Holland to Grand Haven just to taste them. Homemade corn tortilla chips, smoked chicken, queso sauce, pit beans, pico de gallo, ancho BBQ sauce, avocado mayo, chipotle crema, melted cheese and cilantro all come together for an amazing flavor combination. There’s even a blowtorch involved in the preparation.
So the next time you’re in the mood for some Tex-Mex, head to Righteous Cuisine. Their entire menu is equally delicious, but be sure to start with the nachos!
Virgin Paloma
Serves 20 (in a 10 oz. rocks glasses, filled halfway with ice)
1 ½ cups lime juice
(such as Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime)
5 cups 100% white grapefruit juice
1 ½ cups agave nectar
8 cups club soda
2 limes, for serving
In a gallon jug (using a funnel), pour in lime juice, white grapefruit juice and agave nectar. Place cover on a jug and swirl until agave nectar dissolves. Right before serving, gently add club soda, cover the jug, swirl again and pour into a serving pitcher or punch bowl. Garnish with sliced limes and serve ice on the side.
Holly Brunch
Cocktail or Mocktail
Serves 20 (in a 10 oz. rocks glass filled halfway with ice)
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups water
5 large rosemary sprigs
6 cups 100% cranberry juice
3 cups pulp-free orange juice
4 cups club soda
Two 750-milliliter bottles vodka (optional)
1. Make a simple syrup: Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.
2. Add rosemary (no need to de-stem it; just throw it in there) to simple syrup and simmer for 5 more minutes.
3. Remove from heat. Discard rosemary from syrup (strain any green bits out if needed) and cool.
4. Combine 3 cups syrup and juices in the jug. Place cover on the jug and swirl it around to combine.
5. There will be just enough room left in the jug for club soda, so right before serving, add the club soda and transfer the amount desired to a pitcher or punch bowl.
6. Garnish with an extra rosemary sprig if you have one.
7. Best served with ice (on the side) in a rocks glass.
8. Add vodka if desired, 1⁄4 cup per 3/4 cup punch.
MARINATED CHEESE
Ingredients
½ cup Fustini’s Tuscan Herb olive oil
¼ cup Fustini’s Citrus Oregano Balsamic
1 Tablespoon minced green onion
½ teaspoon sugar
8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese
8 ounces cheddar cheese
8 ounces mozzarella cheese
4-ounce jar pimentos (drained) crackers
Directions
Whisk Tuscan olive oil, vinegar, onion and sugar. Slice cheese width-wise and then in half. Arrange cheese in shallow baking dish, alternating cheeses. Pour marinade over cheese, cover and chill up to 8 hours. Drain marinade, arrange cheese on platter in rows, top with pimentos. Serve with crackers.
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Fried chicken joint
The Southerner makes Saugatuck a destination for fried chicken, classic cocktails
By Jeremy GonsiorTen minutes before opening time, customers were lined up by the small restaurant just up the river from downtown Saugatuck.
The rest of town was quiet — a handful of cars, a few people window shopping. The summer destination was clearly in transition to the offseason. But outside The Southerner on this cool September evening, the buzz in
the parking lot was different.
Soon the staff opened their doors, and people of all ages entered one party at a time — some heading to the quaint bar to the left, while others were ushered to cozy dining areas with views of the Kalamazoo River.
Matchbox Twenty played in the background at just the right level. Our server arrived promptly and flashed a warm smile. I looked around, took it all in, and felt like I’d arrived at a wonderful dinner party.
That’s just the way Matthew Millar, The Southerner’s owner and chef, wants his guests to feel.
“We never want to take ourselves too seriously here,” he said. “We’re pretty laid back, casual. We want it to be a little loud, a bustling party.”
Known best as a fried chicken joint that leans local and artisanal, The Southerner recently completed its seventh summer season and has slowly developed a reputation for serving Saugatuck residents well.
“We have always wanted to be a part of the community, not just a summer joint,” Millar said. “We stay open year-round so we are here for the locals. Staff can work year-round and make a living.”
The Southerner’s roots trace back to the 1950s when many Appalachian families migrated north to Michigan seeking work in the auto industry. Millar’s family relocated from Tennessee to Detroit, where he was born. He slowly made his way across the state to the Grand Rapids area.
In the kitchens of various fine dining establishments, his cooking never lost his family’s Southern influence. Eventually, the two-time James Beard Award finalist decided to open a more relaxed place with a nod to his heritage. In 2015, Millar and business partners started The Southerner.
Like any restaurant, it was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With staffing levels now closer to normal, though, they are back to serving dinner seven days a week and may phase in weekend lunch service during the offseason.
While the menu has a delightful mix of regional comfort food — shrimp and grits, braised collards, catfish poor boys — one item stands out in Millar’s mind.
“We are a fried chicken restaurant,” he said. “It drove the concept from the beginning.”
It’s deservedly popular, but not the only star. On my visits this fall the Blue Crab Calas appetizer — Carolina gold rice fritters served with creole remoulade — and Little Gem Salad with fried chicken tenders, Point Reyes blue cheese and a refreshing watercress dressing composed a meal worth going out for. A generous portion of mac and cheese was comfort food at its finest.
Over the years, The Southerner has
added dishes influenced by the Lowcountry region, New Orleans, and even Texas, Millar said. But he still refers to the restaurant as “a love letter to Appalachia.”
Both the physical bar area and The Southerner’s bourbon list and cocktail menu were recently updated. Millar said the bourbon selection is one of the best in Michigan and the cocktails are fun, new twists on traditional drinks. Sampling cocktails — a smoky Whiskey Collins, Maple Old Fashioned, and the Corpse Reviver No. 2, a refreshing drink that packs a punch and is one of the bartender’s favorites — a friend and I lingered for nearly two hours talking with the bartender and fellow customers.
Millar hopes The Southerner will become a classic in its own right, an established restaurant in the area like Phil’s Bar & Grille. “We want to grow old here,” he said.
The Southerner
880 Holland St., Saugatuck
269-857-3555
thesouthernermi.com
Berries & bubbles One more way to
use blueberries
Factor #1: the family blueberry farm north of Holland. Factor #2: a visit 10 years ago to an older brother who was brewing beer. Joe Groenhof wasn’t 21 yet then, so his brother advised him to try his hand at soda. Voila: an alcohol-free craft brewery was born, with blueberry soda in its product line. After five years of tinkering Groenhof began brewing in 2018 and moved sales online in 2021.
In a description worthy of a wine magazine, he describes Kittywampus Blueberry Bliss as “a robust sweet, tart, blueberry flavor with a slightly earthy aroma and fruity finish.” Grape, cherry and cream soda are also produced at Groenhof’s facility on Holland’s north side.
Locavores, listen up: he sells his soda online for pick-up or shipping, and it’s available at stores in Holland, Saugatuck, Douglas and Fennville. (See list at right.) Coffee shops and restaurants are serving it, too, and kegs are on tap at Arktos Meadery in Grand Rapids.
Let’s get down to brass tacks, though . . . Kittywampus? Whether you take it to refer to Merriam-Webster’s first meaning (an imaginary fierce animal) or definition 2 (off kilter), it’s one wacky name for a beverage product line. But it’s fun to say, Groenhof attests, and
paired with goofy label art it injects a tone of fun and adventure into the project.
Kittywampus sodas are served at Virtue Cider and Crane’s Pie Pantry in Fennville, the Farmhouse Deli in Saugatuck, Simpatico Coffee, Bowerman’s on 8th, and the 205 Coffee Bar in Holland. You can find them on the shelves at three Holland party stores — Repete’s on Riley, King’s Cove on 17th and South Side Party Store on Washington — and at Dunes View Kwik Shop in Saugatuck.
kittywampussoda.com
Flowers For the holidays
Fresh options for using blooms in festive decor
By Ann Smith // Photos by Ann Smith and Mark DryerFlowers liven up a home just as much in winter as they do in spring and summer. Sure, they may play second fiddle for a few weeks to a Christmas tree — but even then, floral arrangements’ color and texture infuse a room with warmth and energy.
“They’re fresh and full of life when it’s so cold outside,” says Emma Bennett, a floral designer at Picket Fence Floral & Design in Holland.
If what pops into your head when you read “flowers for the holidays” is a potted poinsettia — done. If pine is plenty for you, enjoy it. They’re lovely.
For those inclined to shake things up a bit, though, there’s a world of other options.
“Nowadays, anything goes. People are doing what makes them happy,” says June Harsevoort, manager of Glenda’s Lakewood Flowers in Holland.
Evergreens? Not necessarily. Annette Clover of Huisman Flowers in Grand Haven made driftwood her holiday decorating theme this year. “Since we live on the lakeshore and we have that lake feel, that’s what I incorporate,” she says.
Red and green? It’s not for everyone. Craig Montanye of Pat’s European Fresh Flower
Market in Holland routinely uses yellow flowers on his Christmas table, to complement forest green dinnerware. His colleague Tammi TerAvest might work a hint of persimmon or dusty blue into her green and white color scheme, but never red.
Centerpieces are the most requested arrangements at this time of year. (See page 48.) Florists are happy, though, to help customers envision other ways to decorate for the holidays with flowers and greens — whether an arrangement will be created in the shop, or go home with customers as stems and bunches.
Here are some ideas and tips from lakeshore floral designers.
Go big at the entryway
While low arrangements are best on a dining table, in a foyer “a tall arrangement brings the ‘oh, wow!’ factor” as visitors step indoors, Bennett says. She suggests starting with holiday greens and a few roses and filling out the arrangement with less expensive long stems like daisies, carnations or alstroemeria. “They keep the price down but are still very festive,” she says.
Outside, “going big” can be as simple as swapping new material into large porch pots and coco-fiber-lined hanging baskets already in place. For a winter hanging basket, Huisman Flowers designer Vickie Gill likes greens that drape, ribbons that cascade, and three big pine cones. “It’s different. People notice it,” she says.
Embrace what you already have
Flowers arranged in a container from home can be more personal – and providing your own makes your flower dollars go farther. Customers do so all the time. Pat’s in Holland has a client who asks the designers every year to make a Thanksgiving arrangement in the same ceramic turkey.
A vase, a bowl that matches dinnerware, a teapot or a pitcher all work. Harsevoort, who once fashioned a centerpiece in a champagne bucket, suggests that you search your closets —
and if you come up dry, buy one container that would work in any season, such as a neutral-colored ceramic container that can conceal floral foam.
Regard greens as co-stars
Florists talk as much about greens as they do about blooms. “I love pine greens,” says Gill, who points out that evergreens used at Thanksgiving can last till late December. To add texture to classic Christmas foliage, Montanye suggests tucking in distinctive greens like monstera leaves, dusty miller and eucalyptus.
Create a tablescape
If you can place food on a counter or buffet, consider making your dining room table your canvas. “A tablescape can help generate conversation, especially with people who don’t all know each other,” reports Harsevoort, who calls herself “a tablescape junkie.”
Her recipe: top a neutral tablecloth with a runner or draped fabric. At the center, place an arrangement of greens and flowers (avoiding strongly scented flowers like Oriental lilies and some roses, which might clash with the aromas of food). Along the table’s length, play with other elements such as pumpkins, leaves or pinecones; ornaments (“most people
have more than they know what to do with,” she notes); wax or LED candles; and perhaps some bowl fillers or table confetti from a craft store. Leave six inches between dinner plates and the tablescape.
Bennett shares that carnations and evergreens are so resilient that simply laid on a table or secured to a wreath, they’ll last several days — and then, if cut and put in water, they’ll recover.
Use objects, greens to create vignettes
On a smaller scale, objects can anchor tabletop arrangements in other rooms, with a few greens and flowers worked in. Gill used to decorate Christmas trees in every room, but since she downsized there are fewer trees and more vignettes. She might create one with a tall wooden Santa, pine boughs and cones, and some ornaments.
Place flowers on a tree or wreath
“Dried hydrangeas are easy to stick into the tree,” says Tammi Van Huis, the co-owner of Pat’s. Other dried blooms work, too, as she and her colleagues will soon make clear. All year they hung unsold roses up to dry. Soon, at the shop, they’ll arrange them like a garland around a tree.
Center of attention
Flowers on a holiday table can inspire a festive mood in a way that even the fanciest holiday china alone cannot. And a centerpiece doesn’t need to break the bank — here are examples designed by four lakeshore floral shops, all priced at $75 or less.
Resale Trail
Grand Haven & spring lake
Fab Finds saugatuck &
URBAN ST. READS
For various ages and various tastes, some literary suggestions from someone with a front seat on what readers enjoy: Mike O’Brien, whose Book Cellar in Grand Haven carries new and used volumes. You can buy these titles there or at other locally-owned lakeshore book shops to give as gifts or enjoy yourself.
For young children . . . The Polar Express (1985)
Many memories have been made with this classic picture book, which won the Caldecott Medal in 1986 and continues to be a family favorite. Open the covers of this beloved Christmas classic and hop aboard the Polar Express. Travel through dark forests, over the highest mountains, and cross a barren ice desert to a huge city that will spark the believer in all of us.
For adults with a heart for social commentary . . .
There There (2018)
This instant classic for Thanksgiving time is at once poignant, unflinching and truly unforgettable. Travel with a group of characters in a mix of essays and fiction that explore the plight of urban Native Americans and the history and significance of Native American traditions going back to the so-incorrectlyrelated “first Thanksgiving.” Be prepared to be fundamentally changed for the better this holiday season.
For Stephen King fans . . .
Fairy Tale (2022)
Returning to a story of a young boy and his dog in peril, King pits this truly good pair against the ultimate evil. At 10, Charlie loses his mother to a hitand-run and his father to the bottom of the bottle. At 17, he finds Radar, a faithful companion for his adventures through a portal into an alternate universe. This stellar story is everything fans have been waiting for.
For readers of fierce, visceral fiction . . . The Passenger (2022)
Stella Maris (2022)
After a 16-year hiatus, Pulitzer Prize winning author Cormac McCarthy returns with not one, but two powerful books.
“The Passenger,” brand new this October, is a heart-stopping study of morality, science and human consciousness — a mystery that starts with a frigid dive into Mississippi’s coastal waters to investigate a downed jet and drags readers across the Deep South looking for answers. “Stella Maris” is part 2; it will be released in early December.
The Book Cellar
8 N. 7th St., Grand Haven facebook.com/usedbooksgh
HISTORY meets HOLIDAY SPIRIT
at the lakeshore’s HISTORIC HOMES
Visiting historic houses in late fall can feel like wandering onto a movie set. If we had a bevy of decorators on staff, maybe our homes could match the elegant décor and gracious ambiance of the lakeshore’s house museums and mansions turned event venues — but for now, carving out time to tour those homes when they are decorated for the holidays is a whole lot more achievable. For guided tours of Laketown’s Felt Mansion, book ahead online. At the others, buy tickets on arrival.
Starting December 11 . . .
and on 13 other dates through January 1
Holiday Tours of the Felt Mansion
It’s remarkable how this 12,000-square-foot, 25-room mansion nestled in the Laketown dunes between Holland and Saugatuck brings out one’s inner Fred or Ginger. By the time you reach the third-floor ballroom, you may feel elegant enough to attempt a twirl.
Built as a “summer place” in the 1920s, the Felt Estate is now a popular wedding venue. It’s open for self-guided tours at various times of year, but December may be best: visitors get to enjoy it dressed up for the holidays. More than two dozen Christmas trees represent various historical periods of the mansion’s history.
Are you intrigued by architecture and restoration? — consider buying a ticket online for one of the five guided tours (see dates below) led by the Felt Estate director, a restoration specialist. Prefer to explore on your own? — drop in during self-guided tour hours, and budget about an hour (plus more if you’d like to view a 27-minute video about the Felt family.)
The day before these tours begin, the Felt Estate will host its annual Winterfest, a free family fun day with Santa, sleigh rides and other kid-friendly features.
The Felt Estate
6597 138th Ave., Holland
Winterfest: December 10, 2-4 p.m.
Guided tours: December 11, 17, 18, and 24, and January 1
Self-guided tours: 1–4 p.m. on December 12–14, 19–21, and 26–28
For prices and guided tour tickets and times (which vary): feltmansion.org/eventcalendar
Cappon House
228 W. 9th St., Holland
December 10, 1–4 p.m.
Admission: Adults $7
Seniors $5
Students $3
Free for children 6 and under https://hollandmuseum.org/ event/victorian-christmas/ ?event_date=2022-12-10
December 10, 1–4 p.m.
Victorian Christmas at the Cappon House
Isaac Cappon, a Dutch immigrant who became Holland’s first mayor, was one of the wealthiest people in town when he built his Italianate home near Lake Macatawa in the mid-1870s. On December 10, visitors can tour the opulent home decorated for the holidays and learn about Yuletide celebrations of the late 1800s — and holiday traditions of later eras.
The Cappon house was a full one in its early years: Isaac and Catarina Cappon had 11 children. After Catarina’s death, Cappon and his second wife, Jacoba, had five more. The house was gifted to the City of Holland in the 1970s. The Holland Museum has partially restored the interior to its appearance circa 1900.
The Holland Chorale’s Dickens Singers will perform carols. In the Visitor Center located in the carriage barn, hot chocolate will be served and visitors can enjoy a Victorian-themed craft activity.
Starting November 26 . . . and on 6 other dates through December 28
Holiday Tours of the Hackley and Hume Houses
When business partners built mansions side by side in Muskegon in the 1800s, could they have imagined that some 130 years later, folks from up and down the lakeshore would traipse through them to take in each home’s 6,000-square-foot grandeur? Probably not. But the lumber barons would undoubtedly be pleased that these many years later, visitors are still captivated by the Queen Anne style homes’ stained glass windows, ornamented woodwork, restored stenciling and other distinctive features.
In November and December there’s an added zing: rather than decking the (many!) halls in a particular period style, the Lakeshore Museum Center (of which the historic site is a part) invites Muskegon’s community groups to select a room and decorate it for the holidays as they choose. Through every doorway there’s a new surprise.
Visitors can proceed at their own pace through the Hackley House (the one with the onion dome) and the adjacent Hume House (the one with the turret) for as quick or leisurely a visit as they would like. Museum staff and volunteers will be on hand for Q & A.
Hackley & Hume Historic Site
484 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon
Nov. 26 & 27, and
Dec. 3, 10, 17, 27, 28 • 3–7 p.m.
On Nov. 26 (only), visitors can decorate ornaments and postcards and pose in an authentic carriage.
Admission: Adults $12
Seniors (65+) $10
Kids (3-12) $5
lakeshoremuseum.org/event/ holiday-tours-2022/all/
Giving Back with Michigan Fosters
Foster care is a puzzle with a lot of pieces: children, their families, their foster families, and the professionals who work with them. For all of them, it’s stressful. A nonprofit staffed mostly by volunteers offers support services that include “Journey Home,” a neutral, welcoming space for Ottawa County families to visit with their kids who are in foster care. Michigan Fosters’ leaders dream of replicating the program in counties across Michigan.
Q: What needs does Michigan Fosters address?
A: Foster care is messy. Everyone involved experiences secondary trauma – social workers, supervisors, counselors, attorneys, but especially foster parents and their families. Yet the system is set up in a way that sometimes compounds that hurt. No network of support exists for the professionals and families that wrap around these kids.
Q: How does Michigan Fosters respond?
A: Our mission is to forge a community of support. We respond to foster families quickly, providing them with supplies and support they require when taking on a new foster placement (or when disaster strikes, as it often does).
In our first year, we provided a welcoming and neutral space for 168 hours of parenting time, along with numerous meal and craft kits for families in care to create together. We delivered freezer meals, date night boxes and Christmas Magic packages to support and sustain foster families, and in cooperation with Hope Pkgs and Kids Belong we dropped off bundles of household supplies, backpacks, clothing and bicycles to foster families receiving new placements. Through collaboration with local businesses and organizations, we are on track this year to more than double our reach throughout Ottawa County. We work to ensure that everyone impacted by the foster system is aware of and has access to the organizations that are here to support them. By helping to hold up and cheer on foster families, we see less placement disruption and greater foster family retention – both of which ultimately benefit children in care.
Q: Tell us more about “Journey Home.”
A: Journey Home is a physical house at the corner of 8th and Hope in Holland. It used to be the Holland Heights Church parsonage; the church donated it to Michigan Fosters. Before it existed, foster children and their parents met for family visits at agency offices or similar public places. Now, families spend time together in a cozy home without the distractions that accompany other settings. They can snuggle on
a couch, read a book, make a birthday cake — even celebrate a holiday. This house provides a path toward home again, one that becomes more tangible each time they visit.
Q: How can volunteers support
There are lots of ways to support the foster community without ever taking in a foster child. One of the simplest is through monetary donations to help sustain and grow our programs. Another is to give your time or
talent. You could host a Mitten Meal workshop with friends to create multiple freezer meals together in one quick evening. You could become a member of our Tidy Team and help keep Journey Home clean for the families who visit. You could deliver meals or bundles of supplies to foster families in need, or help tackle big and small projects on one of our volunteer days at Journey Home — especially if you’re handy. Older houses always have their projects!
Little improvements make a big difference.
Paint the home office. Replace the light fixture. Add the fun backsplash.
All on a budget.
Reach new heights
Indoor climbing at Scrapyard Climbing Collective
Madi and Chris Mossel’s enthusiasm for rock climbing is infectious. So are their reasons.
“You set a personal goal — compete against yourself,” Chris says.
“The feeling of completing a route, especially one you’ve been puzzling out for a long time — it’s like a runner’s high,” says Madi.
Media coverage of indoor climbing walls (including in Urban St., we must confess) can create the impression that it’s just for kids. Nope. Scrapyard Climbing Collective in Holland, which the 30-something Mossels visit three times a week, has customers in their 60s and 70s.
“So many people think, ‘I could never do that,’” Scrapyard’s manager Leah Wielenga says. “But so many different body types, so many ages of people, get really into it. Routes can really get under their skin. You puzzle how to work a route. How am I positioning my body? How is my body moving on the wall?”
By “route,” Wielenga’s speaking of multiple ways to make one’s way from
the floor to the top of a wall. Routes are mapped by color coded climbing holds that signal the difficulty of each path up (or under, in the case of overhangs) Scrapyard’s 3600 square feet of climbing surfaces.
Why indoor climbing? Why now?
For outdoor enthusiasts, shifting exercise inside for the winter can be a downer. (A few weeks into frosty weather, is your romance with the StairMaster wearing thin?) Maintaining strength by climbing adds a creative challenge and skills built over a winter can transfer back outside come spring for natural climbs in Grand Ledge near Lansing and other spots.
“You learn and strengthen by doing it. You don’t have to be a major athlete,” Wielenga says. She and other staff assist new climbers. “We want to be a safe space for people to get comfortable with it,” she adds.
Scrapyard Climbing Collective
76 S. River Ave., Holland 616-294-3931
scrapyardclimbing.com
CALENDAREVENTS
NOVEMBER
Nov. Wednesdays & Saturdays
Holland: Holland Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Eighth Street Marketplace. — hollandfarmersmarket.com
Nov. 1-6
Muskegon: Bruce McCombs | City Journeys, Muskegon Museum of Art. West Michigan artist Bruce McCombs documents the soaring geometries, transparent glass and reflected colors of cityscapes in his highly rendered watercolor paintings, including some at a scale seldom seen in the medium. Inspired by photographs taken during his travels, these works reveal McCombs’ eye for expressive possibilities found in everyday moments. This exhibition’s final day is November 6. — muskegonartmuseum.org
Nov. 1-30
Muskegon: Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art. A competitive show of work by Michigan artists featuring media including painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and installation. — muskegonartmuseum.org
Nov. 1-January 8, 2023
Muskegon: Jonathan Thunder | Maamawi, Muskegon Museum of Art. Paintings and animated films that speak to popular culture, modern society, and the artist’s Ojibwe heritage. Thunder explores contrasts and fractures in our society and offers his own unique, often surreal take on “the good side and less than pristine side of the human journey.” — muskegonartmuseum.org
Nov. 1-March 19, 2023
Muskegon: The Rise of the Print | Rembrandt & Company, Muskegon Museum of Art. From the museum’s significant collection of woodcuts and engravings from 14th- to 17th-century Europe, on display are prints of both religious and popular subject matter by Lucas Cranach, Albrecht Dürer, Hans Holbein, Lucas Van Leyden, Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, Martin Schongauer, Michael Wohlgemuth, and others. The exhibition displays a visual record of the growing complexity in skill and concept in Renaissance printmaking.— muskegonartmuseum.org
General admission to the Muskegon Museum of Art is free every Thursday and on the second Saturday of every month.
Nov. 4 and 18
Saugatuck: Winter’s Eve Market, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 4:30-8:30 p.m. Enjoy snacks and artisan craft cocktails while strolling under lights where cool tunes will play as top-notch local artisans will sell housewares, décor, hand-crafted wearables, and treats for pets and their owners. On Nov. 18, two hour-long wreath-making classes are offered on Nov. 18 only; preregistration is recommended. — sc4a.org
Nov. 11
Holland: Shop ’Til You Drop, downtown Holland, 7-10 p.m. Nearly 40 downtown shops will stay open late, offering discounts that get steeper as the night progresses. Specific savings will vary by store. — holland.org
Nov. 12
Holland: Craft Sale, Harderwyk Ministries, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Known for its homemade pigs in blankets, this annual holiday craft fair will have 70 or more crafters, artisans and vendors, plus door prizes and a second-hand market. Proceeds will benefit Harderwyk Missions. — facebook.com/HarderwykMinistries
Nov. 12
Muskegon: Super Saturday, Muskegon Museum of Art, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. See the exhibitions and pick up supplies for a related STE(A)M activity to do at home following your visit. Free general admission all day. muskegonartmuseum.org
CONTINUED ON PAGE 68 g
CALENDAREVENTS OF
Nov. 16
Saugatuck: Beer School: Saisons, Guardian Brewing Company, 7-8 p.m. Want to know more about the world of saisons? $15 course includes six 4-ounce samples. The significance and traits of six different styles from around the world will be discussed while tasting. — guardianbrewingco.com
Nov. 18-Dec. 4
Muskegon: “Inspecting Carol,” Frauenthal Center, 7:30 p.m. This madcap comedy is a behind-the-scenes look at all that goes wrong in a community theatre company’s attempt to mount its annual production of “A Christmas Carol.” Complicating the effort are prima donna performers, cast love affairs and a surprise visit by an inspector from the funding arts foundation. — muskegoncivictheatre.org
Nov. 19 - Dec. 10
Holland: Holiday Kerstmarkt, Fridays and Saturdays, hours vary. Shop for hand-crafted gifts, holiday decor and homemade baked goods from local artisans housed in booths at this European-inspired outdoor market. — downtownholland.com
Nov. 19
Grand Haven: Holiday Artisan Market, Central Park Place (formerly known as the Community Center), 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Gifts, food, and other items from Michigan artisans and vendors.
Nov. 19
Holland: Holiday Open House, downtown Holland, 5-8 p.m. Stroll decorated streets filled with holiday carolers and shop at stores, boutiques and galleries offering refreshments, discounts, giveaways and free gift wrapping. Santa will visit with his favorite elf, and there will be a reindeer petting corral. — holland.org
Nov. 19
Holland: Christmas Cookies and Country Charm, First United Methodist Church, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 10,000 homemade cookies, hundreds of pigs-in-the-blanket, handicrafts and a country store of jams, jellies and breads. All funds raised support local, state and national programs, especially those for women and children. — fumcholland.org
Nov. 19-20
Holland: Holland Holiday Shoppe, Holland Civic Center, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The annual Holiday Shoppe is back. 100 of the most amazing local makers.$3 entry, kids are free. There will be a food drive of canned goods for Community Action House. A portion of the door fee will also be donated. — merchantsandmakers.com
Nov. 20
Muskegon: Free Family Movie Day, Frauenthal Center, 3 p.m. This month’s movie is “Dune,” the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. — frauenthal.org
Nov. 22
Grand Haven: Lakeshore Big Band, Central Park Place (formerly known as the Community Center), 7:30-9:30 p.m. In this final event of the venue’s 2022 jazz series, the Spring Lake-based 17-piece band performs tunes from the early days of jazz through the present day for dancing or listening. $5 cover charge; food and drinks will be available for purchase. — lakeshorebigband.com
Nov. 24
Zeeland: Turkey Trot 8K, 8 a.m. The Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot 8K (4.97 miles) will start downtown in front of Frank’s Restaurant and loop through neighborhoods east and west of Zeeland’s business district. Proceeds benefit The Dollar Difference, a nonprofit that supports people involved in adoption, foster care and family preservation. — zeelandturkeytrot.com
Nov. 25
Saugatuck: Community Tree Lighting, Wicks Park, 6 p.m. Santa and his reindeer will be available for photos and chats beginning at 3. Festivities at the Wicks Park gazebo begin at 5 p.m. to count down to the 6 p.m. lighting of the tree in Wicks Park and the star on Mt. Baldhead. — saugatuck.com
Nov. 25-Jan. 3
Spring Lake: Spring Lake Sparkle, downtown. Meet Santa, purchase food and drinks, and take in a winter wonderland of more than 120,000 multicolored holiday lights. — facebook.com/springlakesparkle/
Nov. 25-27 and Dec. 1-3 and 8-10
Holland: Babes in Toyland, The Holland Community Theatre. This classic operetta weaves together characters and themes from the Mother Goose nursery rhymes, creating a spectacular, Christmas-themed musical extravaganza. — thehollandcommunitytheatre.org
Nov. 26
Across the lakeshore: Small Business Saturday. “Shop small” to support local entrepreneurs and the lakeshore economy! Some participating retailers will offer promotions and more all day long.
Nov. 28
Zeeland: Magical Christmas Parade, downtown Zeeland. This community kick-off of the Christmas season begins at 5:30 p.m. with a tuba concert outside City Hall. Tree-lighting at 6:15. The parade begins at 6:30 and features Santa riding through town in the treetops. —zeelandfestivals.com
Nov. 29
Holland: Parade of Lights, 6:30 p.m. This popular holiday light parade features bands, floats, vehicles and more all lit up with thousands of twinkling lights. Be sure to look out for Santa too! — downtownholland.com
Nov. 30-Dec. 2
Zeeland: Feel the Zeel. Santa, carriage rides and much more. — feelthezeel.com
CALENDAREVENTS OF
DECEMBER
Dec. 1-31
Muskegon: Art exhibitions, Muskegon Museum of Art: Jonathan Thunder | Maamawi, and The Rise of the Print | Rembrandt & Company. For details, see November 1 listings above. The MMA is free on Thursdays and the second Saturday of each month. — muskegonartmuseum.org
Dec. 2-3, 9-10 and 16-17
Holland: Magic at the Mill, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. and 7p.m.-9 p.m. (separate sessions), Windmill Island Gardens. A oneof-a-kind holiday light-and-music show – and the grounds, windmill and recreated Dutch village will be lit for the holidays. Online sale of timed tickets is in process. — downtownholland.com
Dec. 2
Holland: Sinterklaas Eve Celebration, Civic Center, 6 p.m. Children can pick up free lanterns before 6 p.m. at the Civic Center to light their way as they follow Sinterklaas (the Dutch Santa) through the Eighth Street Marketplace, learn about the tradition of Sinterklaas, pose for photos and get a special surprise from his helpers. Kerstmarkt booths will be open. — holland.org
Dec. 3, 10, 17
Holland: Holland Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Eighth Street Marketplace. — hollandfarmersmarket.com
Dec. 3
Grand Haven: Christmas Arts & Craft Show, Central Park Place (formerly known as the Community Center), 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Makers offer a variety of hand-crafted items including wood carvings, jewelry, ornaments, metal art, floral pieces. $ 1 at the door.
Dec. 3
Grand Haven: Jingle Bell Parade, downtown, 6 p.m. Music, costumes, lighted floats and a whole lot of good cheer. Santa and Mrs. Claus join in. Lighting of the community Christmas tree and caroling in Central Park follow the parade. — grandhavenchamber.org
Dec. 3
Holland: Christmas Market, The Shops at Westshore, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. A holiday-themed pop-up shop featuring local crafters, artisans and vendors. Twenty percent of proceeds will go to a nonprofit in Uganda, the Gift of a Girl Foundation, which helps girls gain education and life skills. Pet friendly; public restrooms. — holland.org
Dec. 3
Saugatuck: Outdoor Holiday Market, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. High-end crafts, home decor, wearables, jewelry, paper goods, artisan baked goods, greens and more. Enjoy specialty holiday beverages from the SCA bar and food from local vendors, and sing along to your favorite holiday numbers played by live band on the outdoor stage. — sc4a.org
Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17
Holland: The Promise is Jesus, Knickerbocker Theatre. With classical and contemporary ballet, Turning Pointe School of Dance weaves together the Christmas story, Christmas music and powerful Scripture.
— tickets.hope.edu
Dec. 9
Holland: Holiday Arts and Craft Show, Civic Center, 4-8 p.m. Presented by Out of the Barn LLC. $3 at the door; under 16, free. More than 100 Michigan artists and makers will share their wares for the holiday season. Photo ops with princesses and Santa, plus a full service bar and concession stand.
— facebook.com/outofthebarnstudio
Dec. 11
Holland: Ace Frehley concert, 7:30 p.m., Civic Center. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of KISS. Bull y Los Búfalos will open the show. Online ticket sales are in progress. — hollandciviccenter.com
Dec. 11
Spring Lake: Very Merry Market, Trillium Events, 11 a.m.5 p.m. Fifty-five makers offering items for the holidays, plus music by Plain Jane Glory and food by Trillium Events. Nonperishable food will be collected for two local pantries. $3 at the door; kids free. — merchantsandmakers.com
Dec. 14
Saugatuck: Beer School | Barrel Aged Beer, Guardian Brewing Company, 7-8 p.m. Explore the history of barrelaged beer. $20 course includes six 4-ounce tasters of beer styles that will be discussed. — guardianbrewingco.com
Dec. 17
Holland: Shopping Jam, downtown Holland , 8-10 a.m. Come early to shop in downtown Holland during the Shopping Jam and enjoy early morning discounts, promotions, and giveaways at participating businesses. — downtownholland.com
Dec. 17
Muskegon: “The Nutcracker,” Frauenthal Center, 3 p.m. Join Clara and her magical friends as the West Michigan Youth Ballet presents a family holiday experience to remember. $12-$23. — frauenthal.org
Dec. 18
Muskegon: Free Family Movie Day, Frauenthal Center, 3 p.m. This month’s movie is “White Christmas,” a classic musical about WWII vets-turned-entertainers who help a retired general with his strapped New England inn by putting on a big show army buddies and a singing sister act. — frauenthal.org
Dec. 31
Grand Haven: New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks, downtown Grand Haven, starting at 11 p.m. Celebrate the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 by watching the ball drop. Gather along Washington Avenue and 1st Street before the stroke of midnight – all ages welcome. Free fireworks follow. — visitgrandhaven.com
Itty bitty Bar
would like to thank all these wonderful businesses and individuals who donated to Breastfest to benefit City On A Hill. This health clinic is a volunteer community that provides hope, healing and strength to the uninsured and less fortunate of Ottawa and Allegan County.
As the holidays are upon us remember to patronize these businesses as they give back to our local community:
3 Fires Golf Course
Alliance
BB-Que
Beechwood Grill
Big Lake Brewing
Bowdie’s Chop House
Burzurk Brewing Company
Butch’s Dry Dock
Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant & Winery
Crazy Horse Steakhouse
Crossfit Lake Effect
DC Battery Hub
deBoer’s Bakkerij
Down the Hatch Party Store
Everyday People Café – Matt Balmer
Family Fare
Grand Armory Brewing
Guardian Brewing Company
Holland Family Dentistry
Hampton Inn
Hope College Women’s Basketball
Hopland Brewstillery
Hops at 84 East
Jackie’s Place Restaurant
Jet’s Pizza
Landsharks
Lolo’s Bar & Grill
Major Brands
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Noto’s at the Bil Mar
Oak Grove Resort & Campground
Off The Grid
Old Pike Cottages in Saugatuck
Our Brewing Company
Pat’s European Fresh Flower Market
Penny Royal
Phil’s Bar and Grille
Plush Hair Salon
Poppy Peach
Port Sheldon Party Store
Pumpernickels
Remax of Grand Rapids
S. Kamphuis Blueberries
Salon Cheveux
Salt & Pepper Savory Grill and Pub
Saugatuck Dune Rides
Star of Saugatuck
Tan Vision
The 205 Coffee Bar
The BARge
The CBD Store
The Curragh
The Seasoned Home
The Ship-N-Shore Hotel
The Tap Room
Tropical Smoothie Café
Vintage
Wally’s Bar & Grill
Yacht Basin Marina
Brad & Betsy Rhein
David & Laurie Callari
Zero Latency Recreation
Check out the Itty Bitty Facebook page as we update our donor list for where to patronize this holiday season and beyond. Thank you!