The North Shore Dragon Boat Festival is this weekend. It starts on Friday night with the Parade of Teams at 7 p.m. followed by Opening Ceremonies in Harbor Park.

The heart of the summer season starts this weekend with the 7th annual North Shore Dragon Boat Festival as hundreds of people from all over the Midwest (and beyond)  flock to Grand Marais to participate in and watch the races. The event starts with practice paddles on Thursday and Friday. At 7 p.m. Friday, teams converge on the Senior Center parking lot with their colorful T-shirts and banners and, occasionally, water-filled balloons, for the Parade of  Teams down Wisconsin Street to Harbor Park.

Then there will be drumming and lots of dragons to watch as well as the Opening Ceremonies followed by a dance with music by The Splinters.

Saturday morning, participants can have a Dragon Breakfast at the Crooked Spoon Cafe from 7-10 a.m., a fundraiser for Great Expectations School. The entire event is a fundraiser for three non-profits in town: WTIP Community Radio, the North Shore Health Care Foundation and North House Folk School.

There will be lots of exciting races to watch on Saturday, too, and youth and intergenerational races at noon. Food and craft vendors will be on the streets, too. In short, a true celebration of Grand Marais in summertime.

Scroll forward one day, to tomorrow, July 29, to really begin your weekend. A new play opens at the Grand Marais Playhouse on Thursday night at 7 p.m. It’s Cole Porter’s musical “You Never Know” and it should be a great show.

And there’s a wonderful art exhibit that’s opening in the lobby of the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in conjunction with the play.

Alice Powell's "Afternoon on the South Shore" is one of the paintings in the Sun-Kissed Paintings show which opens on Thursday in the lobby of the ACA.

Called Sun-Kissed Paintings, it features the works of Alice Powell, Carolyn Sevareid, Jan Attridge and Emily Ulhorn and a poster by Emma Bradley — veteran and accomplished artists all. Four of them are over 70 and Sevareid is just one year shy of that magic number, and these women are truly talented painters. They’ll have large canvases in oils and acrylics as well as a great selection of affordable prints and cards.

The opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday with a reception continuing after the play. Helen Muth, Bev Denyes, Jane Burley and Gerry Grant will be hosts at the reception and Billy D. will play. The reception continues after the show, with music, refreshments and a chance to meet the cast. This show is a must-see.

The Sun-Kissed Paintings exhibit continues in the ACA lobby throughout the run of the musical. Performances of “You Never Know” are at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday this weekend and the weekend of Fisherman’s Picnic. For tickets, click here.

Lots of people will be town this weekend, so there are lots of choices of things to do.

5 teapots by J.D. Jorgenson

The Grand Marais Art Colony, for example, is hosting “Fire & Clay: A Free Pottery Demo and Exhibit” by Minnesota potter J.D. Jorgenson from 5-7 p.m. Friday. Jorgenson, who throws on a Japanese treadle wheel with local clays he prepares himself and then fires in a wood-fired kiln, will talk about the process of making his pots as well as demonstrate how they’re thrown. An exhibit of his work as well as a slide show are planned. And it’s free! To see Jorgenson’s work and read about him, click here.

There are all kinds of classes scheduled at the Art Colony this summer, too. Click here for all the great info and inspiring images.

The Farm & Craft Market in the Senior Center Parking lot is open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., too, with lots of artisans was fresh produce grown in Cook County.

On Sunday, a new exhibit in the Fireplace Room at the Cross River Heritage Center in Schroeder opens with paintings by Bruce Palmer and beautiful functional pottery by Ann Ward.

And the exhibit of paintings by Jan Hartley Wise and Penny Perry at the Johnson Heritage Post has been getting good reviews. The Heritage Post is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Pete Kavanaugh at the Gunflint Tavern on Thursday, Tres Amigos at the Tavern on Friday & Saturday. Jim Hall is there on Sunday. Michael Monroe has a Log Cabin concert on Saturday night, too. Rod N Real play Birch Terrace on Saturday as well.

On Sunday, the North Shore Community Band plays at the Eight Broadway Stage at 1 p.m.,, Rod N Real at Devil Track Resort (5-8), Bill Doucette is at Birch Terrace this weekend, too.

Next weekend is Fisherman’s Picnic. Click here for the schedule. Details next week.

Meanwhile. have a great weekend and enjoy the dragon boat racing!

Bryan Hansel took this great shot, "Canoe and Sunset," on Esther Lake.

Ah, a canoe at sunset! What an iconic image for the North Shore. Bryan Hansel hit the nail on the head with this one.

On the other hand, this beautiful image doesn’t  quite document what will be happening on the shores of Gunflint Lake tonight, (Wednesday), around 6 p.m. There, it’ll be packed with people and crazy, wonderful, noisy, joyful and totally fun as the Gunflint Canoe Races get underway. There are 22 different races that will be launched from the beach and docks in front of Gunflint Lodge. Everything from gunnel pumping to long-distance paddling, kids races and games, intergenerational competitions and more;. sloppy Joe’s, ice cream, a cream puff eating contest, a silent auction, lots of raffles, including a raffle for a 17-foot Wenonah Spirit II Royalex Canoe and much more. The event is a fundraiser for the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department and everybody is invited.

Moose can be seen on the Gunflint Trail.

It starts at 4 p.m., food served at 4:30 p.m., races at 6 p.m. So consider a trip up the Trail this afternoon. Bring a pail, go a little early and pick some blueberries. They’re ripe and beautiful this year.

And, you could visit the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, which just opened recently. It’s a beautiful site with great trails and impressive displays about the history of the Gunflint Trail. Click here to read more about it. Chik-Wauk also has a Facebook page with info about programs, comments from visitors and more.

Wisconsin painter Jan Hartley Wise will be one of the artists featured in a new exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.

On Friday night, a new show opens at the Johnson Heritage Post, featuring the work of Jan Hartley Wise and Penny Perry. Wise is an accomplished artist and creates art focusing on the spiritual: art connected to Lake Superior and the interior personal landscape. Besides painting and collage, she also leads workshops on guided imagery, creative visualization, and journaling. Click here to see her Web site. The opening reception for this exhibit is from 5-7 p.m. this Friday.

This poster for the exhibit, "Sun Kissed Paintings" is by Emma Bradley.

Next week, Sun Kissed Paintings, a wonderful exhibit of paintings by Alice Powell, Jan Attridge, Carolyn Sevareid and Emily Ulhorn will open in the lobby of the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in conjunction with the opening of the  Grand Marais Playhouse’s production of “Cole Porter’s You Never Know.” The event is from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 29. Stay tuned for details.

There’s lots of good music this weekend, too, starting tonight at Birch Terrace where Pete Kavanaugh will play from 8-11 p.m.

On Thursday,Saint Anyway performs at the Gunflint Tavern.  The acoustic duo, Tony Petersen and Jamie Kallestad, have  roots in folk, bluegrass and rock n’ roll and are part of the creative music scene in Duluth. Their first release last year, “Paper Town,” won critical acclaim. They were on WDSE’s The Playlist this spring. To see the video, click here.

On Friday, listen to The Roadhouse on WTIP Community Radio from 5-7  p.m. because Chastity Brown, an acoustic, folk and soul musician who is very popular here in the county, will be interviewed on the show. She’ll also play a few songs. She’ll be performing at the Gunflint Tavern on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 9 p.m. To listen to her music and learn more about her, click here.

Also on Friday, Trail’s End Band will play at Trail Center from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Critter Du Jour plays on the Eight Broadway Stage from noon to 2 p.m. and Joe Paulik plays on the Birch Terrace Deck from 1:30-5:30 p.m.

Max Bichel plays for diners at the Pie Place on Saturday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and then joins The Bicycle Army at the Devil Track Resort from 5-8 p.m. Sunday.

Michael Monroe will hold a Log Cabin Concert at his home and studio on Saturday night. To find out more, click here.

On Sunday, Don Bauer plays on the Birch Terrace Deck from 1:30-5:30 p.m. and Bicycle Army plays at Devil Track Lodge, 5-8 p.m.

The Cavern Beat, a Beatles tribute band, plays at the ACA on Sunday.

For Beatles fans, The Cavern Beat, a tribute band, will perform for the Grand Marais Playhouse’s 40th Anniversary Birthday Bash on Sunday nighSt. Hear their music here. The birthday party includes a barbecue at 6 p.m. in the backstage parking lot, weather permitting, and a concert and dance at 7 p.m. The public is invited to celebrate this great birthday party for the Playhouse. Bring your friends and listen to the “Beatles.”

Ellie Schoenfeld

In other art news, Duluth poets Ellie Schoenfeld and Debra Gordon Cooper will read from their work and discuss reading and writing at a Salon at Drury Lane Books on Saturday, July 24, at 5 p.m.

Here’s Schoenfeld’s poem, “Patriotism,” published in her latest book, “The Dark Honey: New & Used Poems,” which won the Northeast Minnesota Book Award this year for poetry.

Click here for the link where Garrison Keeler reads this poem.

Patriotism

My country is this dirt
that gathers under my fingernails
when I am in the garden.
The quiet bacteria and fungi,
all the little insects and bugs
are my compatriots. They are
idealistic, always working together
for the common good.
I kneel on the earth
and pledge my allegiance
to all the dirt of the world,
to all of that soil which grows
flowers and food
for the just and unjust alike.
The soil does not care
what we think about or who we love.
It knows our true substance,
of what we are really made.
I stand my ground on this ground,
this ground which will
ultimately
recruit us all
to its side.

Debra Gordon Cooper

Deborah Gordon Cooper collaborates with her husband, Joel Cooper, who is a fine arts screen printer. Here is their site, which includes links to her poetry and the books they have produced together.

Then on Sunday at Drury Lane Books, Critter du Jour plays for the Full Moon “Reading”  from 7:30 to 9 p.m. by the fire. Everyone is invited.

James Moors plays at the GunFlint Tavern Sunday evening. Music starts at 8 p.m. Here are a few videos to give a you a taste of his music. Click here to view.

Let’s end with a joyful photo taken at the end of a kids’ painting class taught by David Hahn at the Grand Marais Art Colony. Obviously his students had a great time. Click here to find out more about all the classes, for kids and adults, that will be held at the Art Colony this summer.

David Hahn with proud students. Great landscapes!

Have a wonderful weekend.

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Cook County flower gardens show off their blooms this weekend.

This is the weekend to catch your breath and enjoy the bounty of Cook County’s flower gardens. There are two this weekend: The Grand Marais Garden Club’s annual flower show at the Cook County Community Center from noon-5 p.m. Friday and the West End Garden Club’s  flower show at the Schroeder Town Hall from 1- 5 p.m. Saturday.

The theme for the Grand Marais show is ” A Tisket, A Tasket, a Little Flower Basket.” The show also includes a Silver Tea and a great selection of treats. The West End Garden Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with a special display of old photographs from the early 40s. The theme is “Broadway in Bloom.” Refreshments will be served there, too.

Both of these shows are must-sees if you love to look at beautiful flowers and flower arrangements. They are always spectacular and an instant pick-me-up. Local flower gardeners are invited to participate with their own arrangements, which can be brought to the exhibit space from 9 -11 a.m. the morning of the either show. For more info, call (Grand Marais) 387-9586 or (West End) 663-7452.

"April on Stoney Point," by John Peyton

Last weekend was pretty spectacular in Grand Marais. The 20th annual Grand Marais Art Festival brought in lots of people to enjoy the art, live music and more that was happening during the art show. The booth featuring the works of John Peyton, a Duluth wilderness painter and writer who died several years ago , received Best of Show. Peyton’s daughter and son-in-law founded “Hawk Ridge Art” to bring his work to the public. The booth featured his original paintings as well as prints. Peyton’s paintings are currently on exhibit at the Lake Avenue Café at the DeWitt-Seitz Building in Duluth. The Art Dock, also at that location, is featuring his work through July 18. The Betsy Bowen Studio has some of his paintings as well. To see more of Peyton’s work, click here.

There are some interesting continuing exhibits in the county this weekend. The Johnson Heritage Post is featuring the watercolors of Wisconsin artist Marie Sweeney through July 18. Then Jan Hartley Wise and Penny Perry will open their exhibit in the gallery July 23.

The Summer Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen's Studio includes paintings, jewelry, fiber art, cards, pottery and more.

The Betsy Bowen Studio is exhibiting the work of more than 40 local and regional artists in the Summer Underground Art Show this year. The studio is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sivertson Gallery has a new work by Liz Sivertson as well as an exensive collection of jewelry and other collectibles.

Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen is featuring the sculptural work of Tom Christiansen and a number of local and regional artists.

The Cross River Heritage Center will hold a celebration for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Art exhibit on Sunday, July 18. Refreshments will be served. The public is invited.

Local, regional and Canadian artists are featured at Eight Broadway Gallery in Grand Marais and local artisans as well as antique collectors are showing at The Garage. Fiber art by Artisans of the Tombolo is on display in the white tent at the Grand Marais Gateway Lodge at the top of  the hill on Highway 61 over the weekend, too.

Dean Einwalter is one of the craftsmen at the Cook County Farm & Craft Market.

Also, the Cook County Farm & Craft Market is open from 9-1 p.m. on Saturday in the Senior Center parking lot. Flowers, tomatoes and peppers, lettuce and more is available, as are baked goods and a variety of arts and crafts work.

Five poets who have been participating in a poetry workshop at Drury Lane Books led by poet Sharon Chmielarz will read their work at 7 p.m. on Friday night at the bookstore. This is the culmination of a week long writing workshop. The public is invited.

Music this weekend begins Wednesday night at Lutsen Resort where the UnNamed Stream will play for a beach barbecue as part of the 125th anniversary celebration of the lodge. It is from 5-8 p.m. and open to the public.

On Thursday, Jim Hall and Jef Cierniak play the Gunflint Tavern from 8-11p.m. Friday, Trails’s End Band will be at Trail Center.

Tres Amigos plays at the Tavern from 9-midnight on Friday and Saturday nights and Pete Kavanaugh plays on the Birch Terrace Deck from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Devil’s Lake Resort will feature Tres Amigos on Sunday from 5-8 p.m., and the Gunflint Tavern will bring in singer/songwriter Joe Paulik to play starting at 6:30 p.m.

And then ext Wednesday, July 21, there is bound to be lots of excitement on the beach at Gunflint Lodge during the annual Gunflint Canoe Races. It starts at 4 p.m. with food served from 4:30 p.m. to closing and the races (22 in all) starting at 6 p.m. This is always a wonderful, crazy event with backward canoe races, gunnel races, intergenerational races, a cream-puff eating contest, kids’ games raffles (including a Wenonah canoe) and a silent auction. The event is a fundraiser for the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department and everyone is invited.

In case you didn’t see it, here is Timmy Haus on WTIP radio recently. Listen here.

And here’s a song by Sami singer/songwriter Mari Bonine Persen, who has transformed music in her country.

Listen here.

Have a great weekend!

Travis Novitsky took this great photo of the fireworks at Grand Portage on the 4th of July. His work can be viewed at www.travisnovitsky.com.

Fourth of July celebrations were great this year. Even the brief shower on Sunday was welcomed by some — participants in the Tofte Trek. They had been running and/or walking in pretty hot weather and the soft rain was a welcome cool-down, according to reports.

The other events went really well last weekend, too — The Hovland Arts Festival and the Grand Opening of the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center on the Gunflint Trail.

And so, on to the third big weekend of the summer — The Grand Marais Art Festival.

Painting by Fern Belling.

The Grand Marais Art Colony, which organizes the event, has really been busy this year making sure that everyone who has scheduled an event is part of the festival.

The schedule is almost daunting, there’s so much to do and see. But for sure there will be plenty of art, live music, fiber art demonstrations, an art book sale, storytelling, face-painting and even a sword-fight.  To see the complete schedule, click here.

Raven Bowl by Sharon Moen.

Jewelry by Candyce Fitzloff-Westfield.

First up, of course, is the art. The Art Colony is hosting a 20th Anniversary Potluck Reception for the artists and the community on Friday night from 5-7 p.m. In all, 60 artists from all over the region, as well as those who live in Cook County, have registered for booths this year, and on Saturday and Sunday, they’ll display their work in white tents lining the streets downtown. The festival runs from 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Also on Friday night, the Summer Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio opens at 7 p.m. with a reception and refreshments. This is also a fun event, with more than 40 local artists represented.

On Saturday, Birchbark Books and Gifts is holding a benefit for Empty Bowls, a fundraiser for the Food Shelf organized by the Art Colony every fall. Called “A Bowlful of Thanks,” a silent auction of artwork and vacation packages will be held during the day, a dessert reception starts at 6 p.m.  ($5) and then Betsy Bowen will give a talk, “How I learned To Be A Writer By Learning To Draw” from 7-7:45  p.m. ($10 donation). The silent auction ends at 8 p.m.

Also on Saturday, the Pie Social starts at 9 a.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post and Library Friends will hold a used Art Book Sale in the Anna Johnson Room at the Johnson Heritage Post from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Outside, the Northwoods Fiber Guild will be giving demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.

The Cook County Farm & Craft Market will be set up in the Senior Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Artisans of the Tombolo will be at the Grand Marais Gateway Lodge at the top of the hill from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Pie Place will have an outside art exhibit, too, on both days, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There’s plenty of live music and entertainment outdoors during the Art Festival, too. Here’s that schedule:

Saturday:

Sword-fight scene from “Treasure Island,” 10:30 a.m. in Harbor Park. “Treasure Island” is showing at the Grand Marais Playhouse through Sunday.

Michael Monroe, Harbor Park, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Critters du Jour, Eight Broadway Stage, noon-2 p.m.

The Sivertones, Birch Terrace deck, 1:30-5 p.m.

Rose Arrowsmith-Decoux, storytelling, Harbor Park, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.

Paul Pederson, Eight Broadway Stage, 2-4 p.m.

Briand Morrison, Harbor Park, 3-5 p.m.

Poet Erin Hart reads at Drury Lane Books, 5 p.m.

Max Bichel, The Pie Place, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m. Click for more info.

Monroe Crossing is at the ACA Saturday.

Monroe Crossing, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m. For tickets, click here. Adults, $10, students $5. To hear their music, click here.

Pete Kavanaugh Group, Gunflint Tavern, 9-midnight.

Sunday:

The Sivertones, Birch Terrace deck, 1:30-5 p.m.

Pete Kavanaugh Group, Devil Track Resort, 5-8 p.m.

Timmy Haus, Gunflint Tavern, 8-11 p.m.

There are also two food events: The Cook County Historical Society’s annual Fish Plank Dinner in Harbor Park, 5:30-7 p.m. on Saturday. Call 287-2883 for reservations, and Chef Judi Barsness’ “Cooking with the Seasons – Summer Foods & Wines” at Chez Jude, Sunday, 5-8 p.m.

That’s a lot to remember. Here’s the link for the schedule again. Also, if you pick up a copy of the July issue of North Shore Highway 61, you’ll find a schedule and lots more details. The publication is free.

Knot-tying demonstration workshop at North House.

And, North House Folk School will be open to the public this weekend (and every weekend during the summer) for a variety of demonstrations. Check out wood-fired bread baking at 2 p.m. Friday, a campus tour at 2 p.m. Saturday and a nautical rope tying demonstration at 2 p.m. Sunday. All are free.

If you really want to get away from it all for awhile, take a ride on the schooner Hjordis through North House (387-9762) and/or fly over everything in a float plane with Sky Dan and his crew. If the wind is right, they take off from the harbor. Check it out here.

In other art news, Poet Sharon Chmielrz will conduct a summer poetry writing workshop at Drury Lane Books July 12 through July 16 with a poetry reading with workshop participants at 7 p.m. July 16.

The UnNamed Stream will play for a barbecue on the beach at Lutsen Resort on Wednesday, July 14 from 5-8 p.m. as part of the resort’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

Carol deSain’s biography of Betsy Powell, Betsy and Saganaga: 1937-2004, is now available on-line. The book has been posted to a Web site which prints on demand. There are new color images in the book as well. To see what she has done and/or to order a copy, click here.

Next weekend is all about flowers. The Grand Marais Garden Club has its flower show at the Cook County Community Center on Friday and the West End Garden Club has theirs at the Schroeder Town Hall on Saturday. Stay tuned for details.

Here’s another music video to end this post. It’s a little edgier than usual, but it has had more than 4 million views. Click here to see.

Have a good weekend!

Look over the lake at dusk for fireworks up and down the North Shore on Sunday, July 4th.

Ah, July — when the summer festival season seriously gets underway. This weekend launches the celebrations with “Fun in Functional Art” an art show at Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen July 2 & 3, and the Hovland Arts Festival at the Hovland Town Hall July 3 & 4.

Sculptor Tom Christiansen's "Life of the Party" lamp.

The exhibit at Last Chance Gallery begins with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday night with fun food and continues on Saturday with demonstrations and displays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featured artists include Beth Blank, fiber; Tom Christiansen, sculpture; Anna Hess, painting; Judie Johnson, basketry and Joan Farnam, ceramics. Take a look at examples of their work here. Gallery co-owner Marcia Hyatt writes on the gallery’s Web page: “During this show we will feature playful functional art. Why just have a mug when you can have one with a voice or a bowl with an attitude, playful placemats or a glass with class?”

The Hovland Arts Festival, an event which is growing every year, will be on Saturday and Sunday. Featured artists this year include Sandy Updike, photography; Julie Kean, basketry; Todd Voss, oil painting; Terry Lewis, jewelry; Marcie MacIntire, Anishinaabe beadwork; Denise Axtell, jewelry; David Hahn, watercolors; Lou Pignolet, woodturned bowls; Bill Updyke, woodworking; Cameron Norman,

The Hovland Arts Festival is from 10 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. (Click on image to make larger.)

author and jewelry maker; Susan Zimmerman, birdhouses; Blue Moon Studio, glass; David Holmes, author, Michelle Hoy, spinning; Nancy Kemp, glasswork; Ken Kjarum, wood worker; Kirsten Smith, furniture; Runningen Furs, and Gail Anderson, rock lamps; Todd Hawkinson, jewelry.

The Arts Festival also features lots of live music throughout the event and food is available through Chicago Bay Marketplace. Musicians include Un-Named Stream, Michael Monroe, Critter du Jour, Aaron and his Neighbors on Saturday and  the Flute Reed River Band, Bump Blomberg, Pete Kavanaugh and Briand Morrison on Sunday. To view the music schedule, click here .

To listen to Aaron and his Neighbors, click here.

The Arts Festival also has a great Facebook page. To view, click here.

In Grand Marais, the Fourth of July Parade is at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 4, with fireworks at dusk, around 9:45 p.m.

The kids races at the Tofte Trek start at 9 p.m. at the Birch Grove Community Center.

Tofte is also celebrating the 4th this weekend with all kinds of events. First up is the 31st annual Tofe Trek, a walk-run that brings in lots of competitiors. There’s been plenty of rain in the last few weeks, so the trails will be satisfyingly muddy. The kids races start at 9 a.m. The Wilderness 10K Walk/Run and 1 Mile Race start at 9:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, at the Town Hall in Tofte, everyone is getting set up for the July 4th Festival, which is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids games, food and craft vendors are featured here as well as  the best 4th of July Parade in the county (It starts at 1 p.m.). Bump Blomberg and Friends play from noon to 4 p.m. Fireworks are at dusk.

And there’e a really big event on the Gunflint Trail: The Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center’s  Grand Opening July 4.

Chik-Wauk Lodge before restoration.Gunflint Trail Historical Society has spent more than five years on the project, restoring historic Chik-Wauk Lodge and developing the museum with collections, photographs, and donations from past and present residents of the Gunflint Trail as well as developing nature trails around the old lodge. It is a gem, no doubt about that.

The Gunflint Trail Historical Society spent more than five years developing the project, from restoring the historic Chik-Wauk Lodge, to developing the museum and nature trails. The museum itself includes a variety of cultural and natural history interactive exhibits as well as a gift shop. Outside, five hiking trails offer visitors panoramic views as well as insight into the ecology and history of the Gunflint Trail.

There are five nature trails at Chik-Wauk.

Gates open at 11 a.m. on Sunday and opening ceremonies are at 1 p.m. Jim Sanders, Superior National Forest supervisor, will be the keynote speaker. Parking for all the expected guests will be a challenge, and arrangements have been made for shuttles and other ways to handle traffic. To find out more, click here. Everyone is invited to this historic celebration.

And the Cross River Heritage Center in Schroeder mounts a new exhibit that opens on Thursday, July 1, featuring the watercolors of David Hahn and Joan Beard’s bead jewelry. The exhibit contginues through July.

Also in Schroeder this weekend, the first Shroeder Farm & Craft Market opens. It will be on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon near the Schroeder Baking Company.

Dean Einwalter is one of the vendors at the Cook County Farm & Craft Market.

The Cook County Farm & Craft Market at the Cook County Senior Center will be open on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend  from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

And not to forget: “Treasure Island,” a wonderful production of the Grand Marais Playhouse will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Music is pretty great this weekend, too. Besides all the musicians performing at the Hovland Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, the line-up includes:

Thursday: Pete Kavanaugh, GunFlint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Friday: Trail’s End Band, Trail Center, 8:30 p.m.; Two Many Banjos, GunFlint Tavern, 9 p.m.

Saturday: Joe Paulik, Eight Broadway Stage, noon – 2 p.m., Pete Kavanaugh, Birch Terrace Deck, 1-5 p.m., Michael Monroe, Eight Broadway Stage, 2:20-4:30 p.m., Unnamed Stream, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen, 6:30 p.m., Trail’s End Band, Windigo Lodge, 8 p.m.;  Tres Amigos, GunFlint Tavern, 9 p.m.

Michael Monroe will also present a Log Cabin Concert on Saturday night at 7 p.m. For more info, click here.

Sunday: Cook County’s Most Wanted, Devil Track Resort, 5-8 p.m., Tres Amigos, Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.

In other art news, Sivertson Gallery is featuring a new ceramic artist. Dick Morse worked with Warren McKenziee, a legend in Minnesota pottery. Morse works in stoneware witha variety of  traditional glazes, including temoku. He’s from Stillwater. The gallery also has just received a new collection of shibori scarves, a Japanese dying and texturing technique for silk.

Eugene Glader's "Downtown Grand Marais."

Eugene Glader’s self-published book, “Downtown Grand Marais: A Brief History of the Early Hotels, the Harbor and Wisconsin Street” is out and available in local shops. It’s a pretty extraordinary book, filled with historic photographs and stories about the development of downtown Grand Marais. It’s really fun to page through this book and find all out this information about Grand Marais. Glader spent years doing research at the Cook County News-Herald and the Cook County Historical Society. He also talked to a lot of people, and many of their stories are told in the book. It’s definitely worth a read. As Mayor Sue Hakes put it: “After reading this book, I now look at the heart of Grand Marais through new eyes.”

The First Monday Acoustic Jam will be held at the Chicago Bay Marketplace in Hovland from 6-9 p.m. on Monday, July 5. All musicians and music lovers are invited. Bring your instruments, your voice and  swap songs around the circle. Take a lead or just chord along. Audience members are appreciated.

A little furthur down the road (but not much), the 20th annual Grand Marais Art Festival is next weekend  July 9-11. It Should be a good one this year. There are all kinds of events planned all over town. Click here for details. More next week, too.

Also that weekend, author Erin Hart will read from her latest novel, “False Mermaid” at Drury Lane Books July 10 at 5 p.m. at a Salon. She will discuss reading and writing, too.

Monroe Crossing will be at ACA July 10.

And the band Monroe Crossing is coming to Grand Marais! They’ll perform at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on July 10th.

Check out their Web site here.

And, listen to a song or two, here.

Have a great 4th!

Layne Kennedy donated a poster of photos from his book, "47º North" to Scott Pollock at the Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival last weekend. The poster is available at Sivertson Gallery. (If you click on a photo in the poster, it gets larger.)

The Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Pageant was a great success this year — lots of people, lots of fun, lots of laughter. Bob Pranis took a lot of photos of the pageant which you can look at on his Web site by clicking here. Below are a few from his series. There are lots more to look at on his site.

There's only one Lake Superior.

The story this year was entitled “Everything Under the Sun,” and was a clever take-off on the census and counting everything in our world.

Mike Schelmeske plays Uncle Sam and the Census at the Summer Solstice Pageant..

Border Patrol vignettes.

One Queen of the Siskowets, two Sun Kings (one a junior), one Lake Superior and one Buddy.

The Solstice pageant was put on by the Good Harbor Hill Players and a CD of the presentation will be available later this summer. The Players have a new Web site these days. Check it out here to find out more.

A sword-fighting scene from "Treasure Island."

This week, Treasure Island will be remounted by the Grand Marais Playhouse at the Arrowhead Center of the Arts for a two-week run this week. The first performance is Thursday, June 24. Show times are at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 27 and July 4.

This is a wonderful production with totally amazing sword-fighting scenes as well as excellent acting. If you haven’t seen it yet, put it on your list of “must” things to do.

Also on Thursday, an international wood engravers group, which is holding its annual meeting at the Grand Marais Art Colony this week, will give a free presentation on the history of wood engraving and the processes to produce them. The presentation is from 5-6 p.m. Thursday. The public is invited.

Also this weekend:

• Fabulous ’50s and ’60s Weekend at Grand Portage Lodge & Casin0, 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday night. Bands included the Hot Rod Sensationals, the Thunder Bay Legends and The Shirelles featuring Beverly Lee. There will also be an antique car display, and Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar–B–Que will be serving Friday and Saturday.

• Woodland Faculty Concert at Surfside on Lake Superior in Tofte, 7 p.m. Friday. The Woodland Chamber Music Workshop Gala Concert is set for Sunday evening at Surfside, too. Check out Woodland’s Web site here.

• Cook County Farm & Craft Market in the Senior Center Parking Lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Steve Dahl will read at the Full Moon Reading Saturday.

• Author Steve Dahl, who wrote Knife Island, discusses his book and life as a Lake Superior fisherman at the Full Moon Reading at Drury Lane Books on Saturday, June 26, at 5 p.m.  Free.

There’s lots of live music this weekend, too.

Bicycle Army with guest Max Bichel plays the GunFlint Tavern on Friday and Saturday nights. Bichel also plays for diners at The Pie Place on Saturday from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Cook County’s Most Wanted (Rod N Real) play the deck at Birch Terrace on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is the annual Oyster Shuck at the Terrace. The band then plays at Devil Track Resort on Sunday from 5-8 p.m.

The Portage Band plays the GunFlint Tavern on Sunday starting at 8 p.m., too, so there’s lots of opportunities to listen to a great variety of music this weekend.

In other art news, Last Chance Studio and Gallery has a new Web site. Check it out here. The gallery, which is in Lutsen, is planning a special event July 2-3 entitled “Fun in Functional Art.” Featured artists include Beth Blank, Tom Christiansen, Joan Farnam,  Anna Hess, and Judy Johnson.

The Hovland Arts Festival is July 3-4.

And to give you another heads-up about next weekend, the Hovland Arts Festival will be July 3-4. This should be a fun event, with lots of live music planned. Check out their Web site here. They’ve got a great Facebook page. Check it out here.

If you’re going to Duluth in the next month or so, you

A Huichol yarn painting on exhibit at the Tweed.

might want to stop by the Tweed Museum of Art at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. They just opened a rather fascinating exhibit of Huichol Yarn Paintings that can be seen here.

And Tim Young has an exhibit of his paintings at Chez Jude this summer. He sent along a photo from the dining room. He has a variety of paintings, including his popular abstracts as well as pine tree paintings.

And not to forget all the exhibits in the county.

Marie Sweeney's watercolor exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post opens at 5 p.m. Friday.

Watercolorist Marie Sweeney opens at show at the Johnson Heritage Post this Friday from 5-7 p.m. and the Cross River Heritage Center has an exhibit of paintings of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

So take your pick this weekend. There are lots of great choices of things to do and see!

And, for those of you who are coming up to spend the weekend here, the Grand Marais Tourism Bureau has developed a map of a wonderful scenic route to take from the Twin Cities which avoids most of the construction. Here’s the link.

Let’s end with some music. A Van Morrison …

The Sun King will dance again at the Solstice Pageant at the Wooden Boat Show on Saturday at North House Folk School. The pageant starts at 8 p.m.

This weekend is the start of the festival season on the

Olya Wright gets fitted with her tick costume by her mom, Jeanne Wright, and pageant producer, Jim Ouray.

North Shore  and one of the best leads it off — North House Folk School’s Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival.

There are workshops and presentations, a speaker series, a film, storytelling, the boats-to-tool auction, sailing on the Hjordis, a Friday night barbecue and dance, a silent auction, chowder and, of course, the Summer Solstice Pageant.

Produced by the Good Harbor Hill Players with music by GAMEPALAJ, the pageant is always a highlight of the weekend. It starts at  8 p.m. on Saturday night. This year’s title? “Everything Under the Sun.”

The Playlist on WDSE PBS-8 aired a short piece about making puppets for this year’s pageant.. Channel 8’s videographer, Steve Ash, visited Grand Marais last week  to shoot footage for the segment. Click here to view.

Erik Simula builds and travels in birchbark canoes.

Speakers at the Wooden Boat Show this year include birchbark canoe builder Erik Simula, photographer Layne Kennedy, authors Paul Danicic and Tim Cochrane, maritime ropemaker Dick Enstad, and North Shore photographer Nathanael Kuenzli.

The featured guest this year is Bob O’Hara, a Minnesota canoeist  and author who has created a legacy through 52 consecutive years of paddling the Boundary WatersCanoe Area. He is also is an expert on paddling in the far north.  He gives the keynote presentation on Sunday as well as a presentation at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, the film, “This Is Canoeing” by Wales filmmaker Justine Curjenben with music by Hovland’s Rick Skoog and co-writer Dave Warhane of Nashville will be screened at 5 p.m.

And not to forget the Boats-to-Tools Auction starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, the Lake Superior Chowder Experience at noon with chowders crafted by local restuarants (Tickets are $10) and the Wooden Boat Parade on the harbor at 2 p.m. Sunday.  To read about all the events and find out more, check out the North House Web site here.

There’s lots more happening  this weekend, too.

Liz Sivertson's "Symbiosis."

Sivertson Gallery celebrates its 30th anniversary with a Solstice Celebration and party on Saturday night from 5-7 p.m.   It should be a fun time. Liz Sivertson has just completed an new series of paintings for the gallery. They’re full of energy, like always, and definitely worth a look. Also this weekend, a brand new Howard Sivertson oil painting will be on exhibit as will Kari Vick’s beautiful solar plate etchings.

Also for art lovers, the exhibit of paintings of Royal Canadian Mounted Police by Arnold Friberg continues

Printmakers from Uganda have a show at Betsy Bowen's Studio Gallery.

at the Cross River Heritage Center in Schroeder as does an exhibit of Scandinavian wood carvings and photographs at the Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais. Both are fun shows.

And there’s a great show of Ugandan printmakers at Betsy Bowen’s Studio that should not be missed.

"Buzzing: Apple Blossoms on Berglund's Farm" by Holly Johnson Beaster is one of the paintings on exhibit at the Art Colony.

The Grand Marais Art Colony has a new exhibit of paintings and prints, too, in the multi-purpose room in the new addition. The Art Colony is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week.

There’s an interesting class going on there this weekend, too, and visitors can watch some of it from the balcony. Lake Superior College instructor Dorian Beaulieau is teaching a class on raku firing and kiln building on Saturday and Sunday.

Bill Meyers works on a piece with his wood engraving tools. He will be one of the presenters at a public event at the Art Colony next Thursday, June 24.

A little farther ahead, the Art Colony will host the annual convention of the Wood Engravers Network, a world-wide organization, next week with a public presentation set from  5-6 p.m. Thursday, June 24. Seventeen wood engravers from all over the world, including Rome, will be in residence during the week, working together. Wood engraver Bill Myers will be one of the presenters. The public event includes a discussion of the history of wood engraving, an exhibit of historical examples of the work as well as demonstrations of the process.  The public event next Thursday is free.

The read more about wood engravers and what they do, click here.

Music this weekend includes the newly re-organized band, the Un-named Stream, at the Gunflint Tavern on Thursday night from 8-11 p.m. Band members include Eric Frost, Jessa Wallendal, Barbara Jean Johnson, Bump Blomberg and Bill Hansen.

On Saturday, Tres Amigos play at the 8 Broadway Stage from noon to 2 p.m. And the Farm & Craft Market in the Senior Center runs from 9 a.m.  to 1 p.m. The Master Gardeners, who had to reschedule their plant sale because of the rain last week, will be at the market on Saturday, too.

And there will be a Lefse demonstration at the Cook County Historical Society Museum at 1 p.m. followed by a talk with Frank Hansen on Jean Raiken & Sawbill Lodge, starting at 3 p.m. The public is invited.

Tres Amigos also plays the Tavern on Friday and Saturday nights and Don Bauer will play on Sunday from 6:30-9 p.m.

Birch Terrace will feature live music on the deck on Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

And, if you’re a fan of Celtic Thunder, you might be able to get tickets to their concert at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on Monday. Here’s a clip.

For a little high energy to end this post, check out this video of Japanese tap dancers vs. the shamisen (a traditional Japanese instrument.)

Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to check out the Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival!

A new band has organized in Cook County. Unnamed Stream plays a blend of old-time to contemporary alt-country songs and covers a variety of artists as well as plays original tunes. Band members include (front left) Eric Frost (guitar & vocals); Jessa Wallendal (fiddle); Barbara Jean Johnson (banjo. viola, fiddle & vocals) and Bill Hansen (dobro). Not pictured: Bump Blomberg (bass & vocals). They're playing at the the Gunflint Tavern on Thursday night, June 17 and the Hovland Art Festival at the Hovland Town Hall from 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. Saturday, July 3. They'll play Papa Charlie's in Lutsen at 6:30 p.m. that evening as well.

There are lots of things happening in the arts and music scene in Grand Marais this week.

First up is Stephan Hoglund, who will be one of the featured artists on The Playlist, WDSE’s weekly show about arts in the Arrowhead region. Karen Sunderman, who hosts the program, focused on Hoglund’s fashion  photography, although he is also a landscape photographer and makes award-winning jewelry with local stones. Here’s a sneak preview of some scenes from the show. (click here). The show airs at 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 10 on WDSE-PBS 8. It is rebroadcast at midnight on Friday, June 11. Here’s a link to The Playlist Web site where you can watch earlier shows.

This weekend boosts some interesting events.

The Classic Car Show is at Artist's Point this Saturday.

The annual Grand Marais Classic Car Show is Saturday where vintage cars from all over the region, including Thunder Bay. Ontario and the Twin Cities, converge on Artist’s Point for one of the North Shore’s favorite family events.  There’s a Classic Car Parade through Grand Marais beginning at 2 p.m., too.  To read about some of the people who are planning to bring their cars to the show, click here.

The Pines

Another fun event is a concert by  The Pines at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Saturday night. Native Iowans David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey are based in the Twin Cities and have produced two critically acclaimed CDs: “Sparrows in the Bell”and “Tremolo,” both released on Red House Records. The duo play a blend of Indie rock, folk and blues. To listen to their music, click here. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and Bingham and Thorne will open the show. It should be a good concert. Tickets are $15 adults and $10 students and are sold at the door. The Pines are brought to us by the North Shore Music Association.

Also on Saturday, Cook County Master Gardeners will hold their annual Plant Sale at the Cook County Farm & Craft Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Here’s a great chance to get perennials, herbs and annuals grown by Cook County’s finest.

And Michael Monroe will play at the 8 Broadway Stage behind the 8 Broadway Gallery on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.

Patricia Hampl

And finally, for  writers and book lovers, contemporary American author and memoirist Patricia Hampl will featured at a Salon at Drury Lane Books on Saturday at 5 p.m. reading from and discussing her latest book, “The Florist’s Daughter,” a memoir of her years in St. Paul.

There’s other good music this weekend, too.

On Thursday night, you can catch Pete Kavanaugh at the GunFlint Tavern. Music starts at 8 p.m. Then Tim Haus and Jef Cierniak play on Friday and Saturday nights at the Tavern. Music starts at 9 p.m.

Singer/songwriter Nancy Casteele will be at Antler’s Lounge at the Grand Portage Casino on Saturday night from 9 to 10:30 p.m. The concert is free. To hear her sing, click here.

Also on Saturday night, Max Bichel plays for diner at the Pine Place from 6:30-9 p.m.

On Sunday, the Sivertones play at the Tavern starting at 6:30 p.m. and Tres Amigos plays for the dinner crowd at Devil Track Resort. To find out their complete summer schedule, click here.

And here’s a heads-up: the Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival is at North House Folk School next weekend, June 18-20. For the complete schedule of events, click here.

The cover for Layne Kennedy's next book: Paddle North.

In other art news, photographer Layne Kennedy has finally decided on the photos which will be on the cover of his next book: “Paddle North: Canoeing the Boundary Waters/Quetico Wilderness.”

He writes: “It is a wonderful overview of the BWCA/Quetico wilderness with chapters on topics like canoe history, forest fires, winter, rock and portages. Greg Breinings’ words are descriptive and alive. He makes you want to toss the canoe on the car and head North. From my side, it is my hope the photographs will offer you new insights and familiar moments while cruising the visual poetry of this amazing wilderness.” The book will be sent to the printer in mid-June and be availabe late October, early November.”

Here's a snapshot from the Acoustic Jam at Chicago Bay Marketplace earlier this week. Pictured (front row) Russ Viton and Jim Spry. Back row, from left: Ryan Bottger, Tom Hoy, Art Bjorngjeld, Sue Maijala

You might have missed it, but add it to your calendar on the first Monday of every month — the Acoustic Jam at Chicago Bay Marketplace in Hovland. Musicians from all over the area gather for a singer/songwriter circle and the public is invited. The next one is July 5.

Also on the horizon, Celtic Thunder will be at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium at 8 p.m. Monday, June 21. For tickets, click here. ZZTop is coming this week, but the concert sold out. According to a fan in Thunder Bay, the tickets sold out in record time— four hours after the box office opened.

Oh, and the Grand Marais Playhouse’s spectacular production of “Treasure Island” will hit the stage again starting Thursday, June 24 through the July 4th weekend. If you missed it the first time, put it on your calendar. It’s a show not to be missed. It might be fun to see it again, too. For tickets, click here.

Boreal Access has launched a new site for local videos. It’s pretty neat. Take a look at it here. There are locally made videos as well as videos of local people made by others posted on the site. Here’s a link to a cute one when the kids at Birch Grove Community School unveiled their mosaics to the community recently.

There’s also a video of the Pincushion Warblers playing on WTIP radio.

Nancy Daley was featured on The Playlist last week and a link to that video about her making paper is linked to the Boreal video site, too.  Look at it here. She will be teaching a class in papermaking at the Grand Marais Art Colony June 19-20.

Hint: It might be fun to bookmark the Boreal Video Labs to see what turns up everyday. It’s at www.video.boreal.org. There’s also a live link at the Boreal Access home page.

The Art Colony continues its summer program with lots of other classes.They include a beginning plein air painting class  with Neil Sherman, (June 11-14); a children’s art class with Sandi Pillsbury Gredzens,  (June 15-17), Wood-fired Raku with Dorian Beaulieu (June 19-20). To read more, click here.

Here’s an interesting new grant opportunity. The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council has announced it is taking applications for a new Community Arts Learning program. It will provide up to $5,000 to artists and/or arts organizations for creating activities with clearly articulated learning objectives.  Targeted audiences will have interactive contact with artists, as well as a public performance or presentation.The projects may take place in public schools, community education sites, parks and recreation properties, or other community venues. The grant deadline is June 25. For more info, call (800) 569-8134, or email at info@aracouncil.org.

Have a great weekend. Gardens should be thriving with this recent rain! Let’s end with some music from Michael Monroe.

Owl woodcut by Betsy Bowen.

Author and biologist Bernd Heinrich will be the featured speaker at the Boreal Birding Festival this year.

If  life is art and art is life, then this weekend is the time to celebrate our feathered friends —there are birding events everywhere.

First up is the Boreal Birding and Northern Landscapes Festival at North House Folk School June 3-6. This event has a number of courses and birding walks (registration is required),  but there are also free public programs in the evenings.

The Gunflint Ranger Station in Grand Marais kicks off the weekend on Thursday night at 7 p.m. with a presentation by Gerard Niemi on fall migration patterns on the North Shore.

At 7 p.m. on Friday night, Sivertson Gallery will host

Dave Gilsvik's "Autumn Beach."

“The Canadian Seven and Me — Finding One’s Place in the Northwoods,” a presentation by landscape artist Dave Gilsvik. The Group of Seven, Canadian landscape painters with a distinctive style still revered today, influenced Gilsvik’s work. It should be an interesting presentation.

On Saturday from 4-6 p.m. there will be an open house at Betsy Bowen’s Studio called “Betsy’s Birds.” Bowen has wonderful woodcuts of all kinds of birds, and they are available as single prints, as cards, calendars books and more.

Then, at 7 p.m. on Saturday night, the piece de resistance — acclaimed raven author and biologist Bern Heinrich will give a presentation at North House Folk School entitled “Ravens: Adventures with the Wolf Birds.” Heinrich is a world-class expert on ravens and has incredible stories to tell about these fascinating birds. Come early to get a good seat. He is also teaching a course entitled “Nesting Season,” which starts on Saturday and runs through Monday.

The birding festival’s public presentations conclude at 2 p.m. Sunday with Bonnie Simple, who will talk about the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas project.

The Birding Festival also features a great range of field-based classes about birds, including trips along the North Shore and the Gunflint Trail to see what’s there. An owl walk is also scheduled. To register and find out more, click here.

Other birding events scheduled for this weekend include “A Bird in the Hand” and “Birding for the Entire Family” at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center on Saturday morning. Call 800-523-2733 to register. Also, “Raptors of the North Shore: A Live Bird Show” will be held at the AmericInn in Silver Bay from 1:30-4 p.m. Saturday. Call 800-523-2733 for more information.

Norval Morrisseau: "In Honor to Our Grandchildren."

And, in Thunder Bay, a new exhibit at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery opens on June 4 entitled “Aloft –Ravens and Other Flyers from the Permanent Collection. Also starting June 4 at the Thunder Bay gallery is “Copper Thunderbird,” a retrospective of the work of Norval Morrisseau and  “Drawings by Frank Big Bear,” an exhibit organized by the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth.

To round out the outd00rs part of this week’s blog, Sugarloaf Cove is hosting an “Outdoor Photo Workshop” at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Landscape photographer Chris Sandberg (www.cksandbergphoto.com) will lead a workshop designed to help outdoor photographers improve their artistry and technical skills. Cost is $5 per person. To register, call 218-525-0001.

And last, but not least, the Lake Head Region Conservation Authority in Thunder Bay, Ontario, is holding a Garden Party and Plant Sale on Saturday. For more info, visit www.lakeheadca.com.

An exhibit of paintings of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is at the Cross River Heritage Center.

There are some very fun art shows to see this weekend, too. The Cross River Heritage Center will hold an opening reception for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police paintings by Arnold Friberg at 6:30 p.m. this Friday. The paintings are on loan and were installed by the Tweed Museum of Art at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Artists Kathleen Gray-Anderson and Ron Krueger who also have work on exhibit at the Heritage Center will also be there.

Kah Nee Tah Gallery has a selection of watercolors by Marie Sweeney from Shell Lake, Wis. She will be featured in a show at the Johnson Heritage Post later this summer. Bruce Palmer brought in a new collection of smaller original landscapes to the gallery. Palmer is from St Paul and has a summer studio in Schroeder.

Scandinavian-style woodcarvings at the Johnson Heritage Post show.

And, not be missed, the latest show at the Johnson Heritage Post. Called “Scandinavian Art,” the exhibit features photographs of Norway by Twin Cities photographer Sara Rottunda and wood carvings by Linda Blaine Ottis and Gayle Harvey. The exhibit has attracted a lot of interest. The Heritage Post is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Last weekend was pretty busy in Cook County, too, with openings and birthday celebrations, raku firings and more.

Howard Sivertson and Dave Steckelberg enjoy a laugh at the gallery on Friday night.

One highlight was Howard Sivertson’s 80th birthday, which was celebrated at Sivertson Gallery on Friday night. He wore fancy sequined red suspenders and a silver sequined tie. The staff all wore red suspenders, too — a nice touch. Koscielak, Gruber and Bauer played. A good time was had by all.

Stephan Hoglund held a grand opening for his new photo gallery,Boreal Light Imagery, too. Bicycle Army played there.

One of the participants at the raku firing checks the temperature of the wood-fired kiln.

On Saturday, the Grand Marais Art Colony held an open house and offered the public a chance to decorate handmade cards and/or glaze a raku pot and have it fired. The event was great success.

This weekend, there is plenty of good music on tap as well.

On Friday night, Max Bichel, Pete Kavanaugh & Chris Gillis are on-stage at the GunFlint Tavern for the first time ever! Should be a great time.

Then on Saturday night,  Cook County’s Most Wanted (AKA Rod N Real) play the Tavern. Here’s a video of them playing in Lutsen. Click here. The music starts at 9 p.m. each night.

On Sunday, Cook County’s Most Wanted play at the Devil’s Track Resort from 4-7 p.m. and the Pincushion Warblers play the Tavern starting at 6:30 p.m.

Here’s a link to the summer lineup at Devil’s Track. Click here.

Monday, June 7, is Acoustic Jam night at the Chicago Bay Marketplace in Hovland. The jams are held at 6 p.m. on the first Monday of each month. Bring your instruments, your voice and swap songs around the circle. Take a lead or just chord along. Call  Sue at 475-2609 or Lisa at 475-2253. Another perk. Delicious homemade pizza, soup &  sandwiches, wine and beer served. Audience members are welcome.

Also this weekend, Split Rock Lighthouse is celebrating its centennial with special events from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. The public is invited.

In Grand Marais at 2 p.m., the Cook County Historical Society is hosting Frank Hansen who will talk about Jean Raikken, a pioneer resort owner on the Sawbill Trail. She owned Sawbill Lodge and, as Hansen puts it, discovered the condominium concept without even knowing it.

Also this weekend, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council will present the 12th Annual Arts and Cultural Heritage Arrowhead Arts Awards at the Encore Performing Arts Center and Gallery, 2035 Highway 33 S., in Cloquet. The awards ceremony is at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s recipient of the George Morrison Artist Award is young adult author Mary Casanova of Ranier for her outstanding contributions to children’s literature. This year’s recipient of the Maddie Simons Advocate Award is Cheryl Kramer-Milder of Cloquet in recognition of her contributions to the arts and community theater in Cloquet and Carlton County. The public is invited.

There are some fun upcoming classes at the Grand Marais Art Colony this month, too. Dorian Beaulieu of Lake Superior College is teaching a wood-fired raku class June 19-20. The class includes instruction on how to build your own kiln as well as raku firings.

Hazel Belvo

And here’s a scoop for local artists. Painter Hazel Belvo is teaching another section of her Mentored I class this summer at the Grand Marais Art Colony from July 12-16. It’s a masters-level mentorship and means that local artists will be able to take advantage of this great opportunity to connect with their creative center. Call the Art Colony at 287-2737 for more details.

Other classes include Beginning Plein Air with  Neil Sherman, June 11-4 and  Stained Glass Treasure Boxes with Tony Rau, June 12-13. Click here to see the Web site.

And a note for your July calendar. The Hovland Art Festival, featuring local artists and musicians, will be July 3-4 this year at the Hovland Town Hall.

And last, but not least, here’s something for Bob Dylan fans. Click here to listen.  It looks like it’s a Russian YouTube-like site. It’s called Ru Tube.  No video, though. Interesting, nevertheless.

Have a great weekend!

"Refuge in the Susies" by Howard Sivertson.

Memorial Day weekend looks like it’s shaping up to be very busy with lots of balmy weather to make it easy to get around and experience everything. Galleries and shops are open throughout the weekend with special events, and live music is featured at many venues.

Here are some highlights of Memorial Day weekend activities:

Bob Carter kicks it off on Thursday at a Full Moon Reading by the fire at Drury Lane Books. The event is free and starts at 5 p.m.

On Friday, Sivertson Gallery will celebrate Howard Sivertson’s 80th Birthday in a special celebration from 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 28. Koscielak, Gruber & Bauer will play at the reception with a guest appearance by Natasha Budinski. Refreshments will be served.

Also on Friday night, the Johnson Heritage Post opens a new exhibit. Scandinavian Art

Gayle Harvey's carved wooden figures.

with photographs by Sara Rottunda and wood carvings by Linda Blaine Ottis and Gayle Harvey. This should be a fun show, too. The reception is from 5-7 p.m.

Arnold Friberg's "Maintain the Right"

And, not to be missed, the Cross River Heritage Center’s exhibit of Royal Mounted Canadian Police Illustrations by Arnold Friberg opens on Friday night with a gala reception planned for June 4. The paintings on exhibit are on loan from the Tweed Museum of Art. The Heritage Center will also feature photographs by Kathy Gray Anderson.

Also on Friday night, Stephan Hoglund will hold a grand opening for his new photo gallery, Boreal Light Images starting at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, there are lots of things to do.

Bryan Hansel will lead a photography walk starting at 6 a.m. at the Coast Guard Station.

Great Expectations School will hold a Pancake Breakfast and Plant Sale starting at 8 a.m. The Farm & Craft Market (in the Senior Center parking lot) opens at 9 a.m. and runs through 1 p.m. It is also open on Sunday. The market features lots of arts and crafts as well as tomato plants, herbs and perennials.

Ann Russ will lead a guided nature tour starting at Harbor Center at 9:30 a.m. The North Shore Community Band plays on the 8 Broadway Stage next to Harbor Center from noon to 1 p.m. And singer/songwriter Michael Monroe will play in Harbor Park from 1-3 p.m.

Luna-Sea jewelry maker Val McFarlane will discuss her work at the Lake Superior Trading Post from 1-3 p.m., too.

This beautiful glass bowl by Lea de Wit is at Last Chance Gallery.

Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen will hold an Open House from 1-3 p.m. with music by Chris Gillis.  On Sunday, artists Tom Christiansen, Anna Hess and Nancy Daley will give artist demonstrations from 1-5 p.m.

At 5 p.m., Drury Lane Books will host a Poetry Salon with Margot Fortunato Galt and Suzanna Swanson.

Music Saturday night includes Max Bichel at the Pie Place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Tres Amigos at the GunFlint Tavern starting at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday is the big day for Art on the Shore, with galleries, studios and shops with featured works and events.

Firing up a raku kiln at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

The Grand Marais Art  Colony will hold a “Jump-Start Summer” event from noon to 3 p.m. featuring a raku firing (for $5 participants can purchase a handmade pot, glaze it and watch it being fired in a wood-fired raku kiln). The Art Colony is also holding a “card-making” event: paint, decorate and/or stamp handmade cards. $5 per participant.

WDSE, PBS 8 Karen Sunderman and Steve Ash were in Grand Marais earlier this week to take videos for “The Playlist,” an arts program  that airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. They interviewed Amy Demmer, director of the Art Colony, about some of the events taking place over the weekend. It will be aired this week as an ArtOmercial. Check it out!

At the harbor, Rick Fortunato, member of the U.S. Border Patrol Pipe and Drums Corps, will play the bagpipes in Harbor park starting at noon.

Betsy Bowen will hold an open house and reception for an exhibit of prints from Ugandan printmakers from 3-5 p.m. with music by Jef Cierniak and Chris Gillis.

Music on Sunday night includes live music at The Landing, Devil Track Resort from 5-8 p.m. Chris Gillis and Friends will be at the Tavern starting at 6:30 p.m. Here’s a short video taken of Gillis and Bichel playing at Sivertson Gallery last year.

For a complete schedule of Memorial Day events, click  here.

In other art news, Grand Portage photographer Travis Novitsky,  who works at the Grand Portage State Park, is quoted in a new book about Minnesota entitled “Prairie, Lake, Forest.” He said it is not a guide book. Instead, it documents  the experiences that people have in Minnesota State Parks.

Cook County’s Most Wanted (aka Rod N Real) has almost finished tracking for its first CD. Al Oikari is working with them on the CD. He is also working with the Pincushion Warblers who are recording their first CD.

Carah Thomas, who plays for Cook County’s Most Wanted, is among the musicians who will be performing with Gillis at the Tavern on Sunday.

Tom Soucek of Litchfield has new work at Kah Nee Tah Gallery in Lutsen, including landscapes and wildlife and Sue Rowe of Stillwater has cards, magnets and handcolored prints of her favorite bears at the gallery, too.

There’s one space left in Play With Clay, a class taught by Ann Ward and Joan Farnam at the Grand Marais Art Colony. The class starts June 1.

Other classes of interest include: Japanese Karatsu Kick Wheel with JD Jorgenson • June 5 – 6; Solarplate Intaglio: The Basics & Beyond with Matt Kania • June 5 – 6; Beginning Plein Air Painting with Neil Sherman • June 11 – 14; Stained Glass Treasure Boxes with Tony Rau • June 12 – 13; Paper from Plants with Nancy Daley • June 19 – 20; Wood-Fired Raku with Dorian Beaulieu, June 19 – 20; Glass Beads with Gretchen Lisdahl • June 26 – 27; Nature’s Shapes & Colors in Watercolor • June 28 – July 2. For class information, click here.

Check out the latest Art Colony news on its blog. Click here.

Have a great weekend!