West Shore Art League
Fine Arts & Crafts Fair
July 5 & 6
Now in its 41st year, this fair offers a carefully juried show of artists and artisans from around the U.S. and Canada. And, there's entertainment and activities for kids both days.

Not only is the fair a feast for lovers of art and hand-made work, it's a boon for artistically-minded students in our area. The fair's booth fees help fund the Art League's summer art exploration for 150 students in Mason County. The fair opens at 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at Ludington City Park. Call Sue 845-5922.

Sudan: The Cost of Silence
Sponsored by:
The Ludington Area Arts Council

Ryan Spencer Reed's moving photographs of war-torn Sudan are on display at the Todd and Brad Reed Gallery from July 10 to August 10. Ryan will be signing books containing the photographs at a special event on July 25 at 5:30. "Long Story Short" has a video interview with Ryan. 114 W. Ludington Ave., 843-0777.

Knitting Classes at Nautical Yarn all month with Annie Modesitt, internationally known knitter, teacher and designer. Call 845-9868 for details and to register.

July 3 The new skate park opens down at Stearns Park. The opening ceremony is at 4:00 and all are invited. (Note, the opening is rescheduled from July 2 because of the weather forecast (severe thunderstorm).

July 5 Outdoor Antiques Market - 10:00 am Cole's Antiques Villa. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Fine Arts & Crafts Fair at Ludington City Park. 845-7414 (Sally).

July 5, 12, 19 & 26 50% off sale at The Mermaid's Perch, 11 am-6pm. 416 S. James St. 843-6893 (Terry).



July 7 Backstage Games & Hobbies celebrates its one-year anniversary and now offers PC repairs. Congratulations to Nate Peterson, the young entrepreneur behind this business. 119 S. James St., 690-6867.

July 9 Open Mic Night at the Blu Moon Coffeehouse. Call to sign up and book your slot. 843-2001.

July 12-13 Library Used Book Sale
Starts at 10:00 both days in front of the Ludington Branch of the Library. 845-6694 (Sue).

July 17-20 Gander Mtn. Offshore Classic Lots of boats, loads of fish, lots to see down at the waterfront.

July 18 Scratch & Dent Sale at the Carrom Store 9-3. 218 E. Dowland St., 800-223-6047.


Ludington resident turns 110 this month! West Shore Bank was born on July 26, 1898. Stop in at their main office at 201 W. Loomis St., (or any of their other six offices) to celebrate and register for some fabulous prizes throughout the month of July. 845-3500.

And, don't miss the new outdoor plaza at North James (just north of the Clock Tower). There's seating and umbrellas and flowers and great food available close by from the Plaza Cafe and Bones & Butts.

Bring the kids and pets down for a pre-4th parade. If you want to be in the parade, show up on July 3 between 6 and 6:30 pm at the corner of Loomis and Ferry Streets. Everyone who participates will receive goodies donated by local businesses and will be eligible to win a prize in one of five categories: Patriot, Original; Creative Use of Pet, Hero, and Group. Organized by the Ludington Jaycees. 843-9197 (Mary)

The Ludington Branch of the Mason County Library has a slew of activities for kids all summer. This month, they have Monday Morning Science, craft, magic, and juggling workshops, and a visit from the Mobile Planetarium. Some programs require registration. Check out their website, stop by for a brochure, or call Sue at 845-8465 for more information.

The library is located at 217 E. Ludington Ave., next to the Post Office.

Sandcastles Childrens' Museum
Back for its second summer of fun and exploration, the museum's exhibits this year are built around a "Michigan's Woodlands" theme. Every week, they have special events and activities, which are listed on their website.

The museum is located at 108 S. James St., four blocks south of Ludgington Ave. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10-5 and Wednesdays until 7:30.

AGS - Affordable Gift Services
Garth Lemere wants to keep it local, so he decided to open up his store to stock items he couldn't find here in Ludington. So, if you're looking NASCAR merchandise or body jewelry, for example, you can save yourself an expensive trip to Muskegon or Grand Rapids and just buy it right here. And, if there's something you're looking for that he doesn't stock, Garth will consider getting it for you. Need a DJ or Karaoke for your next event or party? Garth can also handle this! 319 S. James St., 480-4472.

Look out for a new place for coffee, music and picnic baskets full of goodies on Ludington Avenue. Kathy Kvalvaag and her son, Lars have ambitious plans for the former home of the Tree of Life Quilt Shop. Lars will be operating Damascus Rd., what he calls an "acoustic barista," with live music and international coffees roasted right at the cafe. Kathy, who also owns and operates The Ludington House Bed & Breakfast, will run the picnic basket side of the business, offering international-themed sandwiches (Grandma Josephine's Italiano Delicosa and Vandringmans Reuben Ridiculous) to pack a picnic for the beach or the new North James Plaza area. They plan to be open year round and have the sounds of music late into the evening. They hope to open later this month. 119 W. Ludington Ave.

Don't throw away household batteries; they contain acids and heavy metals that contaminate groundwater. Instead, drop them off at collection bins at the library downtown (as well as the Scottville branch, West Shore Community College, and Briggs Hardware).

AFFEW (A Few Friend for the Environment of the World) has received a grant to arrange for household batteries to be recycled into rebar steels and raw materials for industrial products. Find out more about the program and what batteries are accepted at AFFEW's website.

What better place to celebrate the 4th of July than right here in Ludington!

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July 3
Ludington Area Jaycees' Kids & Pets Parade (see "Just for Kids" below)

July 4
Ludington Area Jaycees' Freedom Festival Get there early, claim your spot, and settle in to watch the annual Freedom Festival Parade brought to you by the Ludington Area Jaycees. The parade starts at 2:00 p.m. on Ludington Avenue at the corner of Madison and continues west on the avenue ending at Lakeshore Drive.

This year's theme is "Tie A Yellow Ribbon: A Tribute to Our Troops." In addition to veterans and other uniformed personnel, you'll see lots of animals and pirates and marching bands and everything in between. Call Lexi at 480-4679 for more information.

Fireworks Display - at dusk at Stearns Park Beach. The Ludington Area Jaycees also put on the big fireworks display. In case of rain, the fireworks will be on July 5.

On July 12, the Ludington Mural Society hosts their annual home tour from 1-5. Tickets are $10 and are available in advance at the Bookmark, Corner Cafe, and Kirby Company. You can also buy tickets the day of the event at the Clock Tower (corner of Ludington Avenue and N. James St.).

On July 20, the Mason County Garden Club invites you to their garden walk, "A Bouquet of Gardens" from 1-5. You can buy tickets in advance ($7) at The Giving Tree on Ludington Ave., Orchard Market, or Thistlecreek Gardens in Scottville. Refreshments and tickets will also be available at the Cartier Mansion the day of the event. 845-6070 (Judy).

On July 26, the Harbor Terrace Condominium Association is inviting visitors to a condo walk to benefit the new Ludington Area Center for the Arts. Proceeds will go toward purchasing a piano for the Center. You can buy tickets ($10 in advance, $15 at the door) at Lighthouse Realty, the Bookmark, or at Friday Night Live (downtown July 18 or 25). The condos are located at Danaher Street and Rath Avenue.

July 18 & 25 - 6:30-9:30

For these two Fridays in July (and two more in August), Ludington Avenue becomes a festival of family fun with food, live music on three stages, activities and crafts for kids, and lots more. So what are you waiting for? Come join in!

July 18
Scheduled music includes: Daniel Nugent, City of, Break a Stiletto, and Evan Allen. Also, look for Carrom games, Gordon the Magician, Dave's Dogs, and key lime pie from the Parrothead Club.

July 25
Scheduled music includes: Gabriel James, Brena, Evan Allen, City of, Carol Ann Lower, and Erik Pietsch. Other attractions include a pig roast, a canoe display, dancers, and a martial arts demonstration.

Each Friday Night Live will also feature kids' activities from the gang at Sandcastles Children's Museum; environmental education activities from AFFEW (A Few Friends of the Earth and the World); and food and information from local service organizations.

Honorary Chair, Laura Bush has added Ludington to the list of only 500 communities in the U.S. that are members of the "Preserve America" initiative.

This program recognizes and designates communities, including neighborhoods in large cities, that protect and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs.

Besides recognition by the White House, the Preserve America designation gives Ludington access to additional grant, public relations, and marketing opportunities.

And, the rest of the story
of downtown Ludington
and beyond...

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My Town - Joe explains the in's and out's of a good hot dog and why Bones & Butts is among his favorite places to get one.

Love, Marie - The chopstix diet and other moments of joy: learning to love the life you've got instead of the one you wish you had.

Long-Story-Short - An interview with Ryan Spencer Reed about his photographs of the Sudan.

August 1
Friday Night Live

August 1-3
Annual Sidewalk Sales

August 3
Wine & Roses: An Afternoon Delight
Wine Tasting and Artwork by Michigan Women Cartier Mansion, 843-0101 (Sue Ann)

August 7
Movies in the Park: Barnyard
Dusk at Ludington City Park Plus pony rides for the kids.

August 8
Friday Night Live

August 9 & 10
Gold Coast Arts & Crafts Fair
Ludington City Park

August 14
Movies in the Park: Bee Movie
Dusk at Ludington City Park Plus Badgerette ride for the kids.

August 21
Movies in the Park: Ratatouille
Plus contest for the best decorated apron.

August 25
West Shore Art League's Ludington Gallery Tour 7 pm. 392-4709 (Amanda)

August 28
Movies in the Park: Pirates of the Caribbean: At the World's End
The Parrot Heads will be there with their Pirate Ship.