Summer Clouds by Travis Novitsky.
Greetings from the North Shore. It’s been beautiful and cool here this week, at least by Lake Superior. That’s not quite the story we hear from over the hill. The mosquitoes are celebrating the end of winter, so be prepared. On the other hand, the trees are almost leafed out, and for a while, the beautiful scent of the Balm of Gilead brings happiness and joy. And dragonflies are back. Soon, lilacs!
This weekend is busy with events and fun things to do.
First up is the International Brick Collectors Association’s Brick Swap, which will hold a two-day event at the Grand Marais Recreation Park, June 11-12.
This is the second time the association has met in Grand Marais, drawing enthusiasts from all over the country to swap, socialize, and enjoy the fellowship of brick collecting.
The Brick Swap will be held at the Rec Park on Thursday and Friday.
The public is invited to see the bricks and talk to the attendees on Friday morning. Following the swap, there will be a benefit auction for the International Brick Collectors Association at the Pavilion. Free and open to all.
Also, this weekend, puppet-making for the Summer Solstice Pageant continues at the Cook County Community Center. The pageant is sponsored by the Good Harbor Hill Players.
Summer Solstice Pageant puppet-making workshops continue this weekend.
The workshops will be held from 3-8 pm on Thursday and Friday, and from 10 am to 1 pm and 3-8 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The Summer Solstice Pageant is at North House Folk School on June 20. Show time is 8 pm.
For more info, click here. Questions? Email info@goodharborhillplayers.org
Also on Thursday, Joy and Company will hold a session of the Art Counter Project at the shop from 3-4:30 pm. This week’s project is making paper fans and wheels.
Make paper fans at Joy and Company this week.
This is a free event, but a $5 freewill donation is appreciated.
On Thursday night, WTIP Community Radio will air a special tribute to Melinda Spinler on the Northern Gardening show at 7 pm.
Melinda Spinler with her produce at the Grand Marais Farmer’s Market, which she helped found. A special tribute to her will be aired on WTIP at 7 pm Thursday.
Melinda was a local farmer and maple syrup producer who operated Maple Hill Farm and Sugarbush with her husband Mark in Grand Marais. She passed away unexpectedly in May. Her legacy and impact on the local community in Cook County will be honored on this month’s show. Listen in to hear clips of Melinda being interviewed on the show over the years, and special stories honoring her passion for local agriculture. Click here to listen in on Thursday at 7 pm.
On Friday, Joy and Company will host a fused glass class on making rainbow spinners taught by Jeri Person.
Make your own fused glass spinner at Joy and Company on Friday.
The class is $20. Shipping is available. Open to all skill levels. It will be held from 1-4 pm.
Also on Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will host Creature Connections: The Reptile Experience, starting at 1 pm.
Learn all about reptiles at the library on Friday.
Join Sarah’s Serpentarium for an unforgettable, one-hour journey into the fascinating world of reptiles. This high-energy, family-friendly program features live animal ambassadors—including snakes, lizards, turtles, and more. Fun facts and engaging storytelling are paired with hands-on learning moments that will spark curiosity in every age group.
Participants discover what makes reptiles unique, how they survive in the wild, and why these misunderstood creatures are essential to their ecosystems. With a strong focus on education, conservation, and connection, this program transforms curiosity into confidence.
Free and open to all.
And on Friday night, the library will screen the film, “The Dance is Not Over.”
This film follows renowned Twin Cities artist Patrick Scully as he reflects on a 50-year career in dance, choreography, and performance. Filmed over six years, the documentary offers an intimate look at Scully’s creative process, from early influences in contact improvisation to founding Patrick’s Cabaret and shaping Minnesota’s contemporary arts scene.
Here’s the trailer:
The film is free and starts at 5:30 pm.
Sam Zimmerman will be at Tettegouche State Park on Friday for the official unveiling of the banners, Grandfather Teachings, featuring art that he created during his year-long residency at the park.
Grandfather Teachings by Sam Zimmerman will be unveiled on Friday at Tettegouche State Park from 2-4 pm.
One of the banners will be set up near the Visitor Center, and the other six will be hanging throughout the park.
The banners will be installed around the park for a week following this event, so if you can’t make it for the Friday event, the banners will still be here. The unveiling will be from 2-4 pm.
Saturday is busy.
First up is the Cook County Market, which is held in the parking lot of The Hub from 10 am to 2 pm.
Look for all kinds of work from local artists, including pottery, paintings, cards, Lake Superior rocks, fused glass, and more.
The Cook County Market is held from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday.
The market also features live music every week. This week, Briand Morrison will play.
The market is free and open to all.
Saturday is Pride Day in Grand Marais, and a wide variety of events are planned throughout the day. Workshops, performances, music, and dancing are just a few things on the menu.
Pride Day is on Saturday.
Here is the schedule of events:
Saturday, June 13:
- 9 – 10 am: Yoga with Consciously Carly – Harbor Park
9:30 – 11:30 am: Arts & Crafts, Social Hour – The Hub
10:30 -11:30 am: Brian Malloy Writing Session – The Hub
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Community Networking for Justice Advocates – The Hub
1:30 – 2:30 pm: Drag Story Performance by Viva La Pepa (family-friendly event) Harbor Park
3 – 4:30 pm: Community Dancing, Singing, & Music Making – Harbor Park*
4:30 -5:30 pm: Pride Rally and March – Harbor Park
5:30 -7 pm: Free Dinner by Double D’s Catering & Angry Trout Cafe – Harbor Park
8 pm: DJ Dance Party – Up Yonder (all underage attendees must leave Up Yonder by 10 pm)
Sunday, June 14:
- 10 am: First Congregational Church Service – Harbor Park
All events are family-friendly and free.
Also on Saturday, Kevin Kager, the Muffin Man, will host Children’s Story Hour outside of Drury Lane Books.
Kevin Kager, the Muffin Man, reads to children at 11 am at Drury Lane Books.
On Monday, Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center will hold the Monday Porch Talks at 1 pm at the museum.
Monday Porch Talks are held at Chik-Wauk.
The topics vary each week. Open to all. Free.
The Figure Drawing Sessions hosted by local artists Tim Vahle and Neil Sherman will continue next Monday night in the Log Cabin Building at the Cook County Community Center. They will be held from 5:30-8 pm.
Portrait Study by Tim Vahle. He and Neil Sherman are hosting figure drawing classes this summer.
This is a great opportunity to hone your observational skills, practice capturing the human form, work alongside other artists, or simply try your hand at drawing the human form in a casual, focused environment.
This is not a class, but an open studio format featuring various timed poses ranging from quick 2-minute gesture sketches to longer 40-minute studies.
The cost per session is $20, payable in cash onsite.
Exhibits:
This is the last weekend to see Logan Hudson’s solo exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.
Widgeon, oil, by Logan Hudson, is one of the paintings on view at the exhibit.
The exhibit closes on Sunday, June 14.
The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday and from 1-4 pm Sunday. Free.
Play, the summer exhibition at the Grand Marais Art Colony, continues in Studio 21. The exhibit features work by Jose Dominguez, Carolyn Swiszcz, Aaron Dysart, and Judith Youman.
Flowers On The Table, acrylic on wood by Jose Dominguez, is one of the pieces in the show.
The exhibit continues through the summer season.
Also on view at Studio 21 is an exhibit of work by the ceramic artists working in the clay studio at the Art Colony.
A Gang of Green, Aleka Tomlinson, Jim Sannerud, Catherine Hansen, Lucy Carlson, and Brett Monahan, are exhibiting at Studio 21.
The facility also has a great selection of work by local and regional artists in a variety of media in the shop. Studio 21 is open from 10 am to 5 pm Thursday through Saturday.
An exhibit of paintings by Jean Kirwan is currently on view at Tettegouche State Park.
The Underappreciated, paintings by Jean Kirwan, is currently on view at Tettegouche State Park.
Kirwan is the Artist of the Month at the park.
In Duluth, the 2026 Member Show at the Duluth Art Institute continues.
“We Are Still Here,” acrylic, by Sue Rauschenfels, is one of the pieces in the 2026 Member Show.
The show continues through July 10.
Upcoming:
The Grand Marais Farmer’s Market opens for the season on Thursday, June 18, in the parking lot of the Community Center.
The Grand Marais Farmer’s Market opens for the season on Thursday, June 18, at 4:30 pm.
This is a fun market, and it will feature lots of early spring vegetables, including greens, as well as baked goods, fresh eggs, plants, maple syrup, and artisan breads from local producers. It runs from 4:30-6 pm. The public is invited.
The Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Show will be held at North House Folk School June 19-20.
This heart-of-the-summer event features wooden boat displays, classes, demonstrations, a live auction, a dance, and a community favorite, the Summer Solstice Puppet Pageant put on by the Good Harbor Hill Players.
The Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Pageant is next weekend.
The weekend celebrates the best of summer on Lake Superior. Plan for a joy-filled weekend that weaves together craft, community, and the beauty of long days by the big lake. Discover, dance, sail, create, and welcome the brightest season at this festival. To find out more, click here. And stay tuned.
Also, that weekend, the Summer Musical Theater Camp will perform at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on June 20-21.
The Theater Summer Camp will perform June 20-21 at the ACA.
In all, 41 eager actors have gathered to create “Olympus, The Greek Rock Musical.” Performances at the ACA are at 1 pm each day. Stay tuned.
Artists at Work:
Tranquility, color linocut by Hazel McNab.
My Brother and I, monoprint, by Linda Ricklefs Baudry.
The Four Hills of Life, installed at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. Childhood, Youthhood, Adulthood, Elderhood by Robert Desjarlait.
The Road, mixed media by Kim Dayton.
Work in progress by Aaron Kloss.
My mood blooms like flowers, hand-built stoneware, by Melanie Ferguson.
Maine beach stones, crocheted madder-dyed linen, by Sarah York.
Lilac plantings at Lake Superior Magazine’s new space at the Holiday Center. Photo by Sue Rauschenfels.
Eucalyptus flower, French knot embroidery, by Annemieke Mein.
Little Island, McGregor Bay. oil, Group of Seven artist Arthur Lismer, 1929.
Wood/salt-fired stoneware by Steve Kearns.
Tops, wood and milk paint, by Cooper Ternes.
Fresh eggs mug in process by Karin Kraemer.
A special place, drawing, by Adam Swanson.
Moonlight, mixed media by Diana Hatchitt.
A plein air session at Carlton Peak by Adam Swanson.
Fantasizing about what these characters might be doing if this shelf in our kitchen were animated. Yes, that’s a flan by Staci Drouillard.
Online Findings:
A Layne Kennedy Video
Online Music:
Live Music:
Thursday, June 11:
- Adam Moe, Cascade Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
Friday, June 12:
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille & Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, 7-9 pm
- Jim Elverhoy & Eric Frost, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
- Jambronies, Up Yonder, 8-11 pm
Saturday, June 13:
- Briand Morrison, Cook County Market at the Hub, 10-2 pm
- Sela Runn, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- John Gruber, Moguls Grille & Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, 7-9 pm
- South Paws, Up Yonder, 8-11 pm
- Pride DJ Dance Party, Up Yonder, 8-11:59 pm
Sunday, June 14
- Bump Blomberg, Raven’s Nest at the Gun Flint Tavern, 3-6 pm
-
Billy Johnson, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille & Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, 5-7 pm
Monday, June 15:
- Timmy Haus, Voyageur Brewing Company, 5-7 pm
- Shane Martin, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Tuesday, June 16:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
- Open Stage hosted by Pete K, Up Yonder, 6-8 pm
- Emma Tweeten, Raven’s Nest at the Gun Flint Tavern, 6-9 pm
- Community Singing, Log Cabin at the Grand Marais Community Center, 7 pm
- Joe Paulik, Raven’s Nest at the Gun Flint Tavern, 6-9 pm
- Jim Miller, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Thursday, June 18:
- Music Bingo with singer Kari Golden, Raven Rock Grill at Skyport Lodge, 6-7 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
- John Gruber, Cascade Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
Friday, June 19:
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille & Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, 7-9 pm
- Emma Tweten, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
- Zulu Link, Up Yonder, 8-11 pm
Saturday, June 20:
- Emma Tweeten then Andy Kieth, Cook County Market at the Hub, 10-2 pm
- Bump Blomberg, Moguls Grille & Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, 7-9 pm
Sunday, June 21:
- Jim Elverhoy and John Cron, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille & Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, 5-7 pm
Photographs:
Here’s a selection of photos we found this week:
Wildlife:
Kirby, the white-tail buck that visits Tom Peissig reglarly for a dried corn snack.
Leggy critters, aren’t they? by Thomas Spence.
Time to cool off by David Johnson.
Luna moth by Nathan Slettedahl.
Like a painting by Alec Johnson.
Hey, you got any mice? Asking for a friend by Paul Ostrum.
Sing on, little buddy by Alec Johnson.
If you were to ask me how bad the bugs were right now, I’d show this, by Katie Slanga.
A Veery on a wet deck by Carl Anderson.
This might be my new profile picture by Chris Artist.
A tranquil lunch by Paul Sundberg.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Michael Furtman.
Green Anole by Paul Sundberg.
Four Moose Day 2 by Paul Sundberg.
A damp morning 2 by Sam Cook.
Wild turkeys showing off by Alec Johnson.
Sanderling flyby this morning by John Cannell.
An Osprey captures a sunfish, by Bill Marchel.
A Carolina Wren feeds a delicacy to its babies by Paul Sundberg.
Potpourri:
Spring Mushrooms by Sam Cook.
On a beach in Bayfield by Bryan Hansel.
In the process of taking this photo, a stranger arrived by Bryan Hansel.
A spring ephemeral by Teagan Weiss.
A whole forest of ostrich ferns at Fort William, Ont., by Becky Heller.
A damp morning 1 by Sam Cook.
A rough day ahead by Gus Schauer.
Juneberry blossoms by Gunflint Pines Resort.
Bluebells by Roxann Berglund.
Marsh marigolds by Mike Monson.
Ostrich ferns take advantage by Becky Rayman.
Landscapes, Skyscapes, Waterscapes & Cloudscapes:
Along the Superior Hiking Trail 1 by John Steitz.
Superior Hiking Trail 2 by John Steitz.
High Falls at Grand Portage. Photographer unknown.
Sunrise and Fog by Ken Harmon.
Marsh Lily Pads by Ryan Tischer.
Along the Superior Hiking Trail by Andy Keith.
Harmony in the Swamp by Thomas Spence.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
PS: As you probably guessed, putting this blog together every week takes many hours. Please support this effort by contributing. It makes all the difference. Thank you!
And here’s a big shout-out to Jeremy Lopez (Live Music Schedule, tech advice) and Yvonne Mills (proofreading) for their continued support. Thank you! Thanks also to Visit Cook County for its outstanding Events Calendar.
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