Lake Superior Day by Chuck Olsen.
Greetings from the North Shore, where Lake Superior Day passed us by without a lot of hoopla. But not to worry, every day is Lake Superior Day on the North Shore, where we can enjoy the Big Lake in all its moods, whether on the beach, perched on a rock on a trail high above its waters, or having a meal in one of many Cook County restaurants which offer views of this incredible resource.
Meanwhile, the next two weeks will be very busy in the county as the summer season continues.
First up on Thursday is Art Night at Joy and Company. This week, participants will be invited to try out a new series of watercolors crafted by the Stone Ground Paint Company. The company uses Canadian wild honey as a mixing component in their paints. Rae Klesser will demonstrate their use.
Try out the new Stone Ground watercolors at Art Night.
There are an incredible number of colors to choose from, too. Art Night is held from 3:30-5 pm at the shop. It is open to all and free, with a suggested $5 donation.
Also on Thursday, the Grand Marais Farmer’s Market will be held in the parking lot of the Community Center from 4:30-6 pm.
The Grand Marais Farmer’s Market is from 4:30-6 pm in the parking lot of the Community Center.
Look for lots of fresh produce, including zucchini and early tomatoes, lettuce and beets, to name a few, baked goods, fresh flowers, maple syrup and more.
The market supports and encourages a sustainable local food system and is operated as a partnership between the Northwoods Food Project (a 501c3 non-profit organization), the Cook County Community Center, and Cook County U of MN Extension. SNAP is accepted.
Channel your creativity at the Surfside Ballroom in Tofte on Thursday night during Paint & Sip as you follow guided instructions to paint your own North Shore masterpiece.
Joe Gendeck will be the instructor for Surfside’s Paint and Sip on Thursday.
All supplies, including acrylic paints and a complimentary flight of wine tastings (with more available for purchase), are provided.
The event will be held from 5-7 pm. Cost is $40. No experience necessary. Open to all.
Also on Thursday night, Historic Cook County will hold Trivia Night at Up Yonder from 6-8 pm.
The Cook County Historical Society Trivia at Up Yonder is from 6-8 pm. Open to all. Free.
Look for lots of great questions in this bar-type Trivia, including tests of your Cook County history. Free.
The Grand Marais Summer Theater Festival has started, with performances at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts Thursday through Sunday. Two plays are featured this year, “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight” by Peter Colley, and “Curtain Up!” by Peter Quilter.
The Grand Marais Summer Theater Festival is on.
Curtains Up, a comedy, will also be performed during the festival.
Peter Colley’s roller-coaster play “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight” contains the kind of stomach-dropping twists that will make you hoot with laughter even as you clutch your theater companion’s sleeve. And ” Curtain Up!” by Peter Quilter is hilarious.
For more info, performance times and tickets, click here.
If you’re going to be in Duluth, the North Shore Scenic Railroad is carrying passengers this summer.
The North Shore Scenic Railroad is featuring a BBQ train this summer.
The trains are housed at the Duluth Depot and there are a variety of excursions offered through the fall. The BBQ Train serves Famous Dave’s BBQ through Aug. 2. For more information, click here.
On Friday, the Stars of the North Music Festival will be held at Up Yonder July 26-27.
Stars of the North Music Festival is at Up Yonder July 26-27.
The Grand Marais Music Collaborative (GMMC) will once again be hosting the Stars of the North music festival, Friday, July 26th from 3 – 10 pm and Saturday, July 27, from noon – 10 pm.
This annual fundraising concert supports the GMMC’s Youth Music Program, providing free music lessons for youth, from established local musicians. The two day festival will feature many cornerstone local musicians as well as special guests. This year’s festival will be held at the outside music venue at Up Yonder on 61, 1615 W. Hwy 61 in Grand Marais. See Live Music schedule below for bands and times.
On Saturday, the Cook County Market opens the day in the parking lot of The Hub.
The Cook County Market opens at 10 am Saturday.
The market features a wide variety of local artists and artisans. Look for pottery, paintings, jewelry, rock art, local Lake Superior stones, as well as leatherwork, glass, hand-dyed scarves and clothing, and more. The market is open from 10 am to 2 pm.
Textile artists from India will be in residence at North House Folk School on Saturday, July 27, and give demos from 10 am to 2 pm.
Textile artists from India coming to North House.
North House writes:
“For a folk school located more than two hours from an international airport, North House is graced with a surprising amount of international visitors. As a northern crossroads of all things traditional craft, we’ve welcomed craft artisans from Norway, Sweden, Russia, Japan, the UK, Nunavut, and beyond. But on July 27, we’ll be looking further south, as we welcome a delegation of four internationally acclaimed traditional craft artisans from India. The group is on a tour of Minnesota, following their participation at the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, NM, hosted by the Textile Center and Studio Ruyee of Minneapolis.”
To find out more, click here. The demos are free and open to the public.
Also on Saturday, the Grand Marais Garden Club will hold its annual flower show at the Community Center from 1-5 pm.
The Grand Marais Garden Club will present the 90th Anniversary Garden Party at the Community Center on Saturday.
Look for beautiful flower arrangements commemorating its 90th anniversary, with refreshments and a plant exchange. Open to all.
Ojibwe elder Billy Blackwell will speak at the Seagull Lake Community Center about the history of the Anishinaabe families that lived on Gunflint Lake, Saganaga Lake, and other locations in the area on Saturday.
Billy Blackwell will speak at the Seagull Lake Community Center on Saturday at 2 pm.
The presentation will be at the Seagull Lake Community Center, from 2 – 3 pm. Family-friendly, free and open to the public.
Also on Saturday, on-going events include the Children’s Story Hour at Drury Lane Books at 11 am, and the Harbor Walking Tour, which leaves from the Historic Cook County Museum at 1 pm. The Chippewa City Church is open for tours Friday through Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. Free.
On Sunday, Mark Zimmer, aka The Barefoot Paddler, will give a presentation at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center at 2 pm.
The Barefoot Paddler Mark Zimmer will give a presentation at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center on Sunday.
Zimmer has spent over a decade every summer exploring the BWCAW and continues to strengthen his connection with nature each year.
He will share his experience of completing and tracking every BWCA portage barefoot, relying on the land and lakes for food. He will also share camping, cooking, and fishing tips as they pertain to his extensive solo camping adventures. Open to the public. Free. Visit his website at thebarefootpaddler.com for more information .
Also on Sunday, Zulu Link will play at Skyport Lodge for the Music by the Lake Series.
Music by the Lake, the summer music series at Skyport Lodge is at 4 pm 0n Sunday.
The music starts at 4 pm. Food is also available. Open to all.
On Wednesday, Joy and Company will hold a poster-making session for the public in the parking lot at ISD 166 for posters to use in the Fisherman’s Picnic Parade next Sunday.
Make posters for the Fisherman’s Picnic Parade on Wednesday.
Everything to make a great non-partisan poster will be supplied. The event is free and is from 3-5 pm.
Next week is Fisherman’s Picnic with all kinds of events, competitions, craft fairs and more scheduled from Thursday, Aug. 1 though Sunday, Aug. 4.
Pete Kavanaugh selling raffle tickets at Fisherman’s Picnic. File photo.
For the complete event schedule, click here. And stay tuned.
Exhibits:
Of Place and Time, an exhibit of paintings by Paula Gustafson and Linda Ricklefs Baudry opened at the Johnson Heritage Post last Friday.
Sunset on the Harbor, oil, by Paula Gustafson.
Summer, pastels, by Linda Ricklefs Baudry.
This in-depth exhibit of paintings by artists working in different mediums, oil and pastels, is a great art experience.Both artists love painting landscapes, and Gustafson has also included a selection of abstract work. The exhibit continues through Aug. 14. The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday and from 1-4 pm Sunday. Free.
Embodying the North Shore, the summer exhibition of the Grand Marais Art Colony at Studio 21, continues through Aug. 31.
Seagull Lake, 1933, watercolor, by Howard Sivertson.
The exhibit features works by several well-known North Shore artists including: Betsy Bowen, Jim Brandenburg, Dave Gilsvik, Keith Havens, Gene Martz, Lee and Dan Ross, Elaine Sivertson, Howard Sivertson, Liz Sivertson and Jan Sivertson.
Studio 21 is open from 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Saturday. Free.
The Art Colony is also exhibiting works in its Gallery Store. This month, photographer Mary Stafford is exhibiting a series of photographs entitled “Grace in the Garden.”
Tulip No. 1 by Mary Stafford is one of the photos at the Gallery Store.
The exhibit continues through the end of the month.
The Duluth Art Institute is hanging a new exhibit in its gallery space in the US Bank Building. Opening is set for Aug. 16.
The Duluth Art Institute‘s downtown galleries closed through Aug 15.
Upcoming:
Learn Hand-Drawn Map Making with Bryan Hansel at the Lake Superior Trading Post Aug. 9-10.
The drop-in class is at Lake Superior Trading Post Aug. 9-10.
Discover the art of hand-drawn cartography in this unique course that blends creativity with personal connection to place. Learn techniques to transform your experiences and emotions into expressive maps that tell your story of the landscape.
Whether you’re charting a favorite hiking trail, a cherished camping spot, or your own backyard, you’ll develop skills to create personalized, artistic maps that go beyond mere geography. Through guided exercises and expert instruction, you’ll explore how to represent your unique perspective on paper, resulting in a meaningful cartographic creation that captures your relationship with the land. The event is held from 10 am to 2 pm each day.
Artists At Work:
Beadwork by Jessica Gokey.
Quilt, detail, by Mary Matthews.
Jonathan Walberg will be at the Minnesota Pottery Festival in Hutchinson on Saturday.
Bits of a book on Grand Marais by Marty Harris.
Bead painting by Jo Wood. She is one of the artists in the Fall Studio Tour.
Printmaking at Betsy Bowen Studio. Photo by Bryan Hansel.
High Falls, Pigeon River 2023, oil, by Tim Vahle.
Working Out Some Thoughts, oil, Neil Sherman.
Transfigure No. 27, post construction by Greg Mueller.
Naked Raku by Maggie Anderson.
Online Music:
Live Music:
Thursday, July 25:
- Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 6-9 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6:30-8:30 pm
Friday, July 26:
- Stars of the North Music Festival, Up Yonder, 3-10 pm
- 3 pm – Pat Eliasen
- 4 pm – Roxanne Berglund
- 5 pm – Briand Morrison
- 5:30 pm – Steven Klick
- 6 pm – Zahir Roman Orest
- 7:15 pm – The Evening Stars
- MYsterious WAYs, Birch Terrace Supper Club, 5-8 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- Kenna Rose, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 7-10 pm
Saturday, July 27:
- Pat Eliasen, Cook County Saturday Market (Senior Center Parking Lot), 10 am
- Stars of the North Music Festival, Up Yonder, Noon-10 pm
- Noon – Kenna Rose
- 1:15 pm – Lynden Blomberg
- 2:15 pm – Bump Blomberg
- 3:30 pm – Portage
- 4:45 pm – Fred Anderson Trio
- 6 pm – Moonshot
- 7:15 pm – Hesper Grit & The Embers
- 7:45 pm – Emma Tweten
- 8:15 pm – Zulu Link
- 9:15 pm – Dre aka The Jamaican
- Kenna Rose, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 2-4 pm
- Adam Moe, Bluefin Bay behind Bluefin Grille campfire on the beach, 6-9 pm
- Pat Eliasen, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
Sunday, July 28
- Medicine River, Gunflint Tavern Raven’s Nest, 3-6 pm
- Paul Lawrence, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 5-7 pm
- Zulu Link, Raven Rock Grill at Skyport Lodge, 6-8 pm
- Joe Paulik, Gunflint Tavern Raven’s Nest, 6-9 pm
Tuesday, July 30:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 5-7 pm
- Joe Paulik, Bluefin Bay behind Bluefin Grille campfire on the beach, 6-9 pm
- Open Stage, Up Yonder, 6-9 pm
Wednesday, July 31:
- Joe Paulik, Gunflint Tavern Raven’s Nest, 6-9 pm
Thursday, August 1:
- Tommy Wotruba, Raven Rock Grill at Skyport Lodge, 6-8 pm
- Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 6-9 pm
Friday, August 2:
- Kevin Buck, Birch Terrace Supper Club, 5-8 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- D.J. Birthday Gurl, Up Yonder, 8-11:59 pm
Saturday, August 3:
- TBA, Cook County Saturday Market (Senior Center Parking Lot), 10 am
- Kenna Rose and Joe Paulik, Birch Terrace Supper Club, 4-8 pm
- D.J. Birthday Gurl, Up Yonder, 4-11 pm
- Bump Blomberg, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- Southpaws, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 7-9 pm
- D.J. Unity, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 7-9 pm
Sunday, August 4
- Bug Lite, Gunflint Tavern Raven’s Nest, 2-6 pm
- Medicine River, Gunflint Tavern, 3-6 pm
- Teague Alexy, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 5-7 pm
Photographs:
Here’s a selection of photographs we found this week:
Wildlife:
Yesterday, at 8:31 am. Photo by Katie Slanga.
White-spotted Pond Fly by Paul Sundberg.
Red-belted Bumblebee by Paul Sundberg.
Brown-belted Bumblebee by Paul Sundberg.
Lunch by David Johnson.
Loon and youngster by Dennis Chick.
Unidentified bird by an unidentified photographer. Fascinating bird, nonetheless. Know what it is?
Monarch by Paul Sundberg.
Look at me! Photo by Dennis Chick.
Lady Bug nymphs. Photo by Sierra Parsons.
A Catscape:
Hi. Photographer unknown.
Potpourri:
Our red rusty garden by Mary Beams.
The guardian of the woodpile by Sandra Updyke.
Wintergreen blooming. Devil Track Wildflower Sanctuary by Anne Hegg.
The blooming of the peony by Jana Kokemiller-Berka.
Pyrola blooming near the big Red Pine, Devil Track Wildflower Sanctuary.
A slime mold morning. Shot at 5X magnification ratio by Bryan Hansel.
Cloudscapes, Waterscapes, Moonscapes and Waterscapes:
A Superior Machine by Christian Dalbec.
The Eye of Sauron showed up for this photo of sunrise on the confluence of the Wisconsin River and the Mississippi River in NE Iowa. Photo by Bryan Hansel.
An experiment from last week by Hayes Scriven.
Canadian wildfire smoke brightened up the full buck moon last night by David Johnson.
High falls in the summer by Hayes Scriven.
A light above by Christian Dalbec.
Northern Lights swirling over Grand Marais by David Johnson.
Outside Time by Ilena Berg.
The Milky Way by Bryan Hansel.
A Selfie at the Pond. Photo by Kristofer Bowman.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Here’s hoping that we hear from you this week. I put a lot of effort and thought into crafting an interesting experience for you every week. Your support shows me that it is worth it. To make a contribution, click on the icon below. And thank you!
Thank you to Jeremy Lopez, Live Music schedule, tech advice; Yvonne Mills, proofreading; and Kari Carter, photo captions, for their support putting out this week’s issue. And a big Thank You to Visit Cook County for its outstanding Events Calendar.