this week’s
top ten Forest + Festival = Fun
For more than 80 years, folks in Manistee County have been celebrating the Manistee National Forest Festival. This year, the fun begins June 30 and runs through July 4 at Douglas Park at First Street Beach in Manistee. What’s on the docket for year 86? The Anderson Midway Carnival, an “Enchanted Forest” exhibit at Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, a sand drag competition for RC cars and trucks, a mobile zoo, the Manistee Firecracker 5K (Saturday), a sidewalk chalk art competition, a magic show, and more. All the while, live music, art markets, and a library book sale will be happening in and around town. Fireworks on Fourth of July (scheduled for 10:30pm. over Lake Michigan) put a bright punctuation mark at the end of the event. Prices vary for the activities above, with many free options ranging up to $35/ person for the canvas painting party at the Purple Paintbrush studio. Get all the details at manisteeforestfestival.com.
In Gratitude “In Gratitude,” a free community concert, will be held at 7:30pm on June 30 to thank the many donors and supporters of Beyond Tomorrow: The Campaign for Your City Opera House that has been held over the last four years. Since 2018, more than 95 percent of the Opera House’s $3-million campaign has been raised to improve the 130-year-old space. The concert will feature Seth Bernard, Miriam Picó and Ryan Younce, and A.S. Lutes. Free admission, but ticket required. cityoperahouse.org. (Photo by Tom Kachadurian)
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In 1948, former Royal Air Force serviceman Gilbert Joseph has just docked in England from Jamaica, packed in with 500 other immigrants. He rents a ramshackle room from Queenie Bligh, a blue-collar local, where he and his wife, Hortense, struggle to make sense of their new surroundings where race is at the fore. The surprise arrival of Queenie’s husband, Bernard—also back from the war—rounds out the interconnected cast of Andrea Levy’s historical tour de force, Small Island. Told through each character’s own (figurative) island, this award-winning novel masterfully renders the underpinning racial bias—and the resultant struggle for selfdiscovery—that surround the world of postcolonial Britain. Originally published in 2004, this 448-page whopper of a read is available in paperback and perfect for a spot in your beach bag. (Bonus: On a rainy day, you can catch up on the BBC One miniseries adaptation starring Naomie Harris, Ruth Wilson, Benedict Cumberbatch, and David Oyelowo.)
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tastemaker Nauti Inn Barstro’s Lake Trout
Summer staycation vibes come to life downtown Cheboygan’s Nauti Inn Barstro. Opened in 2017, this bar-meets-bistro’s maritime twist, complete with alfresco seating and woodplank accents, brings a day spent dockside ashore—minus all that extra sand. Known for its variety of shareable tapas and limited mains (swapping bites is highly encouraged), Nauti Inn’s “floating” menu changes often to feature fresh recipes and in-season dishes. The Lake Trout, however, is a mainstay. A menu highlight since the eatery opened, this flavor-centric fish selection is mindfully-sourced from Big Stone Bay Fishery in Mackinaw City and panseared to crispy-golden perfection. Topped with summer slaw of fennel bulb and citrus segment (grapefruit and orange), the freshwater signature dish is served atop a smear of house-made chive oil and finished with a drizzle of Japanese Yuzu. Available for $14, the starter-sized plate is best enjoyed in Nauti Inn’s spacious on-site garden—just don’t forget your sunglasses! Find Nauti Inn Barstro at 330 N. Main Street in Cheboygan. (231) 668-8250. nautiinn.com
4 • june 27, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly
Hey, Read It! small island
