First Snows by Teresa Chmelik.
Greetings from the North Shore where what we have eagerly awaited has finally arrived. Snow! It’s always so fun to wake up to a winter wonderland. Here are a few of the photos we found:
And so it begins, by Maryl Skinner.
Enjoying the peace of new fallen snow and river rapids in the Superior National Forest by Ken Harmon.
It’s official, by Therese Misgen.
A young boy stopped by to help shovel, have a snowball fight, and build the first snowman of the year. Life is Good! by Larry Dean.
Bon Iver by Staci Drouillard.
We could stop right here and say Happy Thanksgiving! but lots is happening in Grand Marais this week as well.
First, Thanksgiving Day.
The First Congregational Church will celebrate the 50th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner in the Fellowship Hall starting at 1 pm Thanksgiving Day. Doors open at noon.
The 50th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at the First Congregational Church on Nov. 28. It starts at 1 pm and is free.
This is always a fun – and tasty – community dinner that has become a tradition for families and community members over the years.
The event was first held in 1974 as a way for individuals without nearby families to enjoy fellowship and good food during the holiday. But since then, for many local residents, the dinner has become an important part of their annual holiday celebrations. The meal is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
This year’s menu will include roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, peachy sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
The meal will be served, family-style, at 1 pm. The doors open at noon. The public is invited.
There are other opportunities to enjoy a turkey Thanksgiving in the county as well.
Cascade Restaurant will hold a Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet with two seatings: at 1 pm and 3 pm. The cost is $32 for adults, $10 for children under 12. Reservations are required. Call 218-387-1112, ext. 102, to reserve your spot.
Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at the Cascade Restaurant with two seatings- 1 pm and 3 pm.
Justine’s at Gunflint Lodge will serve a full-course Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet from noon to 7 pm. The menu includes everything from smoked turkey, and ham, to traditional fare like stuffing, vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, salad, and more, as well as a great selection of desserts. The cost is $75 for adults, and $60 for children under 12.
A Thanksgiving Buffet will be held at Justine’s at the Gunflint Lodge from noon to 7 pm on Thanksgiving Day.
Other restaurants serving a Thanksgiving Buffet include Bluefin Grille, Grand Portage Lodge and Casino, and Moguls Grille. To find out more about Holiday Dining, click here.
Holiday Fairs continue this weekend.
The North Shore Artists League Holiday Art Sale will be held at Surfside from 10 am – 3 pm on Friday.
On Friday, Nov. 29 from 10 am to 3 pm, the North Shore Artists League will be hosting a Holiday Art Sale at Surfside on Lake Superior in Tofte.
Look for painting, pottery, fiber art, and more. The public is invited.
Also on Friday, the North Shore Winery will hold a Holiday Market from 12:30-5 pm.
The North Shore Winery will hold a Holiday Market.
Look for holiday decorations, art gifts, wreaths, garlands, maple syrup, wine gift baskets, and warm winter beverages. Open to all.
Holiday Art Underground will open at 11 am on Friday at Betsy Bowen Studio Gallery in Grand Marais.
The Holiday Art Underground sale will be held at Betsy Bowen Studio from Nov 29 through Dec 30.
Look for fresh art from a great selection of local and regional artists as well as prints, paintings, calendars, and cards by Bowen. Painters, potters, fiber artists, glass artists wooden ware, and more are featured at this show. It continues through Dec. 20.
The studio is open from 11 am to 5 pm Thursdays through Saturdays.
On Friday evening, the annual Oh Ole Night Parade and Fireworks will be held in downtown Grand Marais starting at 5:30 pm.
The Oh Ole Night Christmas Parade will be held on Friday, Nov. 29 in downtown Grand Marais starting at 5:30 pm.
The parade starts from the Senior Center parking lot on South Broadway and will make two loops along Broadway, up Wisconsin Street, turning at 1st Ave, and back around to Broadway. On the second loop, the parade ends up at Harbor Park for the Tree Lighting ceremony followed by Fireworks.
To participate in the parade, just line up in the Senior Center parking lot on Broadway by 5 pm: walkers, jugglers, winter bikes, four-legged furry animals, decorated vehicles, and trailers are all welcomed and encouraged.
Following the fireworks, Murray the Moose will be available for photos with attendees at the holiday tree.
At 6 p.m., tune in to WTIP Community Radio’s special one-hour program, Oh Ole Night: The Radio Special.
On Saturday, the Hovland Arts Festival Winter Sale will be held at the Hovland Town Hall from 10 am to 4 pm.
The Hovland Art Festival will be held on Saturday, Nov. 30 at the Hovland Town Hall.
Look for photographs, fiber art, glasswork, paintings, jewelry, pottery, holiday decorations, wreaths, and more. This is an iconic and popular North Shore holiday event. Open to all.
In Duluth, Northern Nights: A Siivis Artist Collaboration, opens at Siivis Gallery on Saturday.
Northern Nights, an exhibit of work by 30 local and regional artists opens at Siivis in Duluth on Nov 30. The image “Drifters” is by Shawna Gilmore.
This exhibit focuses on the magic of winter nights along the North Shore. In it, 30 local and regional artists explore the beauty, mystery, and allure of the Northern night, when darkness deepens and the cold air grows sharp. From the vast, starlit skies to the subtle glow of moonlight over snow, each piece reflects on what makes winter nights so captivating.
How do we embrace the quiet solitude and majesty of these cold evenings? What draws us to the stillness and shadows? Join us to see how this collaboration of artists interprets the night’s hidden wonders, embraces its chill, its mystery, and the unique magic found along the North Shore after sunset. The exhibit features a collection of original paintings, ceramics and jewelry, and continues through Jan. 30.
Exhibits:
This is the last weekend to see the community art show, Love Your Neighbor, at the Johnson Heritage Post.
Following Marcia, oil, Rene Zweifel Block, is one of the artworks in the Love Your Neighbor exhibit at the Heritage Post. Photo by Lois Clay.
This is a fascinating, eclectic, multi-media show organized by the Spirit of the Wilderness Church, which invited artists of every age to submit works to the exhibit. Paintings, fiber art, glass, wood, photographs, and pottery, as well as written works are featured here. The exhibit closes on Sunday, Dec. 1.
The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday and from 1-4 pm Sunday. Free and open to all.
In Duluth, Lizzard’s Gallery has opened its annual Small Works Show, featuring work by 46 local artists.
Lizzard’s Gallery in Duluth will hold an art show with an opening on Nov. 30.
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay is exhibiting Steel, Grease, Gasoline, the debut solo exhibition with paintings by Colin Davis.
Colin Davis is exhibiting work at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery through Jan 5.
In a series of oil paintings, Davis invites viewers to explore the complexities of rural life, the nuances of Northern masculinity, and the allure of the fantastic. Wielding brand imagery and influences from Heavy Metal Magazine and Dungeons and Dragons, Davis’ paintings evoke childhood memories and narratives and ask the viewer to reflect on the modern role of men. The exhibit continues through Jan. 5.
Upcoming:
Next weekend, Dec. 6-7, Grand Marais will hold several special events and holiday fairs to mark the holiday season. Organized and coordinated by Visit Cook County, the Holiday Harbor Village will feature everything from the Fiber Guild’s Holiday Sale to a frozen fish toss, rock skipping, a goat meet-and-greet, writing letters to Santa as well as special deals and events at local shops.
Here is what the frozen fish toss looked like last year:
The Holiday Harbor Village in Grand Marais is Dec. 6-7. Click here to see a schedule of events.
Here are the posters for the holiday fairs next weekend Dec. 6-7:
The Northwoods Fiber Guild Open House and Holiday Sale is on Dec. 7. from 9 am-2 pm at Studio 21.
The Pots for Presents Sale is in Founders Hall at the Art Colony on Dec. 7
A Winter Market will be at The Hub from 10 am to 4 pm on Dec. 7, featuring local artists and artisans.
Kudos:
Staci Lola Drouillard’s book, A Family Tree, will be gifted to every kindergartener in the Burnsville School District. The book was also chosen for the annual “Family Trees” holiday exhibit at the Cambridge Museum in Massachusetts.
Staci Lola Drouillard’s book, A Family Tree, will be gifted to every kindergartener in the Burnsville School District.
The book is available at Drury Lane Books.
Artists at Work:
Today’s coffee and crayon by Neil Sherman.
Could be a self-portrait by Ron Benson.
Giant Trojan Totoro Turkey Dropping Egg Bombs, ink, pencil on paper by Marty Harris.
“To Be Continued”, acrylic, by Adam Swanson, is one of his paintings done in India during his residency there.
Slow Burn, mixed media, by Sue Rauschenfels.
Alternate Days, a vegetable market in India by Adam Swanson.
Junkyard treasures with sculptor Geg Mueller.
Dashing Through the Snow, acrylic, by Aaron Kloss.
Online Findings:
A young Emperor Penguin jumps off a 50-foot cliff for its first swim in Atka Bay, Antarctica, by Bertie Gregory, one of the National Geographic Wildlife Photography winners. To see more photos, click here.
Here’s an incredible story about how Humpback Whales protect young seals from Killer Whales. Click here to listen.
And last, but not least, conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan’s piece, Comedian, a banana duct-taped to a wall, recently sold for $6.2 million US at an art auction at Sotheby’s in New York. The first edition of the artwork debuted in 2019 at the Miami Beach Art Fair, drawing a mix of opinions as to whether it was a joke or cheeky commentary on questionable standards among art collectors.
One thing is for sure, the piece seems to have caught everybody’s attention and/or outrage, which might mean it really is art. 
I created this today! Any bids? By Joyce Shupe, an artist in Topeka.
Today’s banana bread from yesterday’s banana. Photo by Joyce Shupe.
Note: In a later interview, the curator at Sotheby’s said the new owner of Cattelan’s piece said he planned to eat the banana.
Online Music:
Live Music:
Friday, Nov 29:
- Southpaws, Up Yonder, 8-11:59 pm
Tuesday, Dec 3:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
- Open Stage hosted by Pete K, Up Yonder, 6-8 pm
- Community Sing, North House Folk School, 6:30-8 pm
Wednesday, Dec 4:
- Community Sing, First Congregational Church, 6 pm
Thursday, Dec 5:
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
- North Shore Swing Band, Up Yonder, 7-9 pm
Friday, Dec 6:
- Black River Revue, Up Yonder, 8-11:30 pm
Saturday, Dec 7:
- Maiden Dixie, Up Yonder, 8-11:59 pm
Photographs:
Here’s a selection of photographs we found this week:
Wildlife:
Wild Turkey near Hwy 61 in Lutsen.
Town Deer in the morning light by Roxanne Distad.
A nice pose from one of the five Timberwolves I saw on the prowl by Thomas Spence.
Blue Jay by Chris Artist.
A Canadian kitty cat in the Superior National Forest by Jason Mandich.
This Grouse must have known a storm was coming. The day before it was eating the last green lilac leaves by David Johnson.
Winter appears to have arrived by Thomas Spence.
Some Not-So-Wilds:
Photo courtesy of Jo Ann Krause.
A community fixture. India continues to amaze and inspire by Adam Swanson.
Humans:
A Costa Rica giant. Photo courtesy of Andy Keith.
Surfing at Kadunce by Sandra Updyke.
Surfing at Kadunce II by Sandra Updyke.
Potpourri:
Red cabbage from my garden by Jana Kokemiller-Berka.
Frybread time by Mike Forcia.
‘Tis the season by Siffy Torkildson.
Landscapes, Skyscapes, Winterscapes, and Pastscapes:
Storm of November 18, 1959. I believe that is the Dyrseth fish house on the right side of the photo where the Angry Trout is today. Photo from the Cook County Historical Society collection. Submission by Dan Halverson.
Flash from the past May 2013 in Grand Marais by Tom Fiero.
When the wind finally laid down at sunset, these clouds just popped by David Johnson.
Lights by Christian Dalbec.
Lake Superior Storm by Paul Sundberg.
Season of the Dark by M Baxley.
A Blockbuster Sunset Nov. 22 by Chuck Olsen.
The Gales of November by Nathan Klok.
Lenticular clouds over Grand Marais at sunset by Chuck Olsen.
Northern Lights over Gunflint. Taken by Ryan Tischer.
Late Fall on the North Shore by Ken Harmon.
From the Empty Project by Bryan Hansel.
Northern Lights in Norway by Hayes Scriven.
First of Winter by Chuck Olsen.
A dramatic change of scenery on the Temperance River by Thomas Spence.
Boats take advantage of an offshore gale on Lake Superior by Jim Boyd.
Thanksgiving Thoughts, Wishes:
Forever grateful by Kristofer Bowman.
There is Light at the End of the Day, needlefelt, by Bonnie Gay Hedstrom. This piece is currently on view at the Johnson Heritage Post—photograph by Lois Clay.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
And thank you for your generous support this year. It has made such a difference and I am so grateful. Plus, it’s kept me going, trying to find the most beautiful, the most interesting, the most out-of-the-box things I can find to share with you.
Meanwhile, if you want to join my supporters, please click the button below. And Thank you.
A special thank you goes out to Jeremy Lopez (Live Music schedule, tech advice, music suggestions), Yvonne Mills (proofreading), and Kari Carter (caption corrections.) And a big thank you to Visit Cook County for its awesome Events Calendar.
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