 Ok, it’s been cold. I mean really, really cold. Even if you've been able to get out to go to your job or other responsibilities the last thing you wanted to do once home is go back out there, right? And if you work at home or are retired or whatever circumstances that keep you anchored there most days it’s just been too cold to even consider getting out of sweats and/or pajamas. Well, there is relief in sight with temps soaring into the 30’s by Friday so kick that hibernation mindset aside and get to the Dogwood for what should be an outstanding diversion to the recent wrath of winter. Great music in the club-like setting of the Black Box where you can enjoy a beer or glass of wine and pretend we’re on the cusp of Spring. Here’s the skinny: West Michigan's own, Ruth and Max Bloomquist will perform at the Dogwood Center Black Box on Friday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. Ruth and Max celebrate 45 years of performing their style of Acoustic Americana, with roots in Folk, Bluegrass, and traditional Country music. Ruth’s songwriting and rich alto voice combined with their blend of harmony, guitar and upright bass draw the listener straight to the heart of every song. Ruth and Max immerse themselves in folk, bluegrass, country, singer songwriters, and other acoustic music to create a sound and style all their own. Ruth's signature song, "Michigan Girl", has garnered over 400,000 YouTube views. This concert is generously sponsored by the Board of Directors of the Dogwood Center for Performing Arts. Join us for a great night in the Dogwood Black Box! Tickets are $15.00 and are available through the Dogwood Center Box Office, NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, on-line at www.dogwoodcenter.com. Beer and wine will be available at a cash bar. For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont.
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 Stage Door's latest gets a casting call
There is nothing quite like being involved in community theater. Whether taking to the stage or working with sets, props, sound lighting etc. it is not only a great way to interact with friends and neighbors and to meet new people but also an opportunity to try something outside of your usual boundaries. And it just so happens one of those community theater opportunities will be opening up at the Stage Door Players theater in White Cloud. They will be holding auditions this week Wednesday Jan. 22 and Thursday Jan. 23 at 6:30pm for Nana’s Naughty Knickers. Director Summer Groenke will be looking for 5 men and 3 women for the cast as well as hoping to draw those who might be interested in working backstage. The theater is located at 1147 Wilcox in downtown White Cloud. It’s a new year right? So stretch yourself a little and give community theater a go.  One of the coolest things the folks at the Dogwood provide for free each year is a remote broadcast of The January Series. The Series, a collection of dynamic speakers on a number of topics is about to arrive in our parts and they could not come at a better time. Well, it could be warmer of course, but despite the cold this annual opportunity to challenge yourself with new ideas and listen to the viewpoints of others can be refreshing. Given the months we endured of mind numbing political detritus a peek at a new perspective or two can perhaps provide a nudge toward some personal growth. If nothing else a lot of us can use a little practice at listening to others without feeling the need to mount a defense. This remarkable series can be educational, inspirational, entertaining or all three at once. If you’ve been attending these for years it’s likely you are already planning on dropping in for a few.. If you're new to the Series? Please pick out one or two and give it a try. Here’s what’s coming this week. Monday Jan. 20 12:30-1:30pm What more appropriate speaker on MLK Day than Jonathan Eig who wrote “King: A Life” which won the ‘24 Pulitzer for Biography? Beyond his exploration of the man and his mission Eig will speak to how Dr. King’s demands for justice remain relevant today. Tuesday Jan. 21 12:30-1:30pm Film producer Todd Komarnicki may not be familiar to you but his movies are. Elf, Sully and more recently Bonhoeffer the true story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer come to mind and if you don't know the pastor-turned-assassin story, look it up. Mr. Komarnicki will be sharing stories of his films and the themes running through them. Wednesday Jan 22 12:30-1:30pm How about a little guidance on how to overcome differences of opinion? John Inazu wrote “Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect.” Here’s a chance to learn how to disagree better. Particularly if the other side is not only wrong but in our eyes nearly evil. Not you, you say? If you go to this one and don’t recognize part of yourself in it, you are either a highly evolved individual or (more likely) fooling yourself. Thursday Jan. 23 12:30-1:30pm Heather Templeton-Dill will speak to how philanthropic vision brought to fruition in the last century continues to impact communities, institutions and individuals. We are privileged to have a great example of this in the Fremont Area Community Foundation. If you are unfamiliar with the seemingly magical machinations of philanthropy, drop in and learn. Friday Jan. 24 12:30-1:30pm Kristjan Prikk will help listeners explore the challenges Europe faces when it comes to global security particularly in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Think you know all about this from watching the news? Attend this one and see if you might have missed an issue or two. That’s it for the week. If you wish, let us know your reaction to any of the series you might attend and we will post them in our pulse section. And here’s the skinny on the Dogwood The Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts 4734 S. Campus Ct Fremont, MI 49412 (231) 924-8885 www.dogwoodcenter.com  Luke Winslow King will perform at the Dogwood Center Black Box on Friday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. This musician has spent his career as a guitarist, singer, producer, and songwriter, crafting a rich, soulful tapestry that blends delta blues, roots, rock, and folk. His music is a journey through the heart of America, characterized by masterful guitar work, captivating lyrics, and a voice that resonates with authenticity. After spending over 15 years in New Orleans, Winslow-King has taken his refined craft to stages across the globe, captivating audiences with dynamic performances and forming deep, personal connections with listeners. He has shared the stage with Jack White, Taj Mahal, Rosanne Cash, and many others. His original song "Everlasting Arms" was performed by Dr. John in the Playing for Change ‘Songs Around the World’ series on YouTube. His music has been featured on Anderson Cooper Live (CNN), NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), and Deadliest Catch (Discovery). Flash-A-Magic, Winslow-King's eighth full-length album, recorded in Tuscany, Italy, and Memphis, TN, is a testament to his growth and artistry. Released in September 2024, the album features an impressive lineup of collaborators. Join us for a great night in the Dogwood Black Box! Tickets are $17.50 and are available through the Dogwood Center Box Office, NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, on-line at www.dogwoodcenter.com or just click here! Beer and wine will be available at a cash bar. For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont.  “There's no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box in your lap."-Kevin James Wow, folks in our slice of bipeninsular paradise are definitely serious about their pizza. In a totally non-scientific poll, hopefully not rife with voter fraud, we took two venues from each of 4 areas and ran a bit of a competition asking our readers to make the choice between the pairs. We did not include all of the pizza places in our area and we definitely heard from a few folks about it. With apologies to Hit The Road Joe, where Saturday nights are pie night, Croton Trading Post, Brew Works, The Pig Slice, the Bitely Bar and Pine Cone this was merely a friendly mano a mano contest pitting a pair of pizza purveyors in chosen regions. The venues not part of the contest definitely have a bevy of fans given some of our mail from their disgruntled patrons as to their absence. As a matter of fact, the photo in the survey is of HTRJ’s oven from a story we did in 2020 on their plans to open up the take out window as a response to Covid, (remember Covid?). https://www.nearnorthnow.com/features-and-fun/are-you-ready-for-some-pizza But on to the survey… In White Cloud Schindy’s finished first and proved to be a huge favorite of our readers. Comments included: Thin crusted so many options of pizzas!! My personal favorite is the T-bird. They all have such fun names and this one is a barbecue bacon chicken ranch pizza! Great atmosphere, super friendly owners and pizza is to die for. It’s the best in the West! Real, fresh ingredients and the atmosphere is tops. Actual thought was put into every aspect of this business. Schindy's pizza is baked to perfection! The crust isn't too thick or thin; it's just right! While enjoying a "Dumpster Diver" pizza (my personal fav), you get to enjoy a cozy, friendly atmosphere. Wonderful people and even better pizza. Not just the usual pizza toppings, love all the creative pies! They are generous on toppings and I love that the toppings are chunky. They have a huge selection of pizzas. The best part is the atmosphere. They have a really good lemon drop martini too!;) Maike’s received their share of votes with these comments: Nice people, good pizza Great Service Close to home and good food Pizza peeps in the northern part of the county mostly voted for Woody’s: If you haven’t had a Woody’s pizza you don’t know what you’re missing Wood smoked! Great crust! Lots of toppings! Firebrick oven!!!❤️ Woodfired... need I say more Though Big Foot drew substantial interest as well: Best ingredients, great crust Lots of toppings and cheese Great crust Great flavor, loaded on toppings In Newaygo the Brewery finished on top with these remarks: Not only great pizza, but great beer Great the day after Fresh, unique, and reliable! Fun unique pizza choices besides the usual build your own. Good size, quality ingredients! Can pair it with good beer. Better taste, size, and price. Galaxy also had a large share of fans who said: Galaxy pizza has always been a favorite but nobody’s gluten free comes close to as good as theirs! They offer butter cheese crust which is like crack to me Great pizza at a good value. They also have a great rewards program that gets you free pizzas Crust, sauce and straight up flavor. Absolutely the best!! Amazing sauce perfect amount of toppings Then there was Fremont. Of all the races this was the most interesting. Why? Because after 232 votes cast and 2 recounts, Season’s and Spanky’s finished in a dead heat with 116 votes apiece. There is certain to be an outcry for some sort of a sudden death overtime but the ‘kissing your sister’ result means there is room for both in the hearts of pie lovers in Fremont. And here’s some of what people had to say: Season's Just love the Sicilian style! Great Cauliflower Crust Pizza They are just a tiny pizza shop, but service and pizza are great! Love the crust and the toppings are fresh. No greasy layer on top Best crust, sauce, and cheese. Their other toppings are always fresh and delicious too…but the first three are mandatory for a great pie! The flavor is so unlike all the other places. Love the sauce and the freshness of the veggies Best pickle pizza! The staff especially Nicole, the food is awesome but she has the best attitude and is always positive Spanky’s It's Delish. I don’t know what it is but their plain pepperoni is the best one in the county! It's Spanky's. Enough said! Pre-baked versions are the best! The breadsticks are amazing, the crust is wonderful and always generous with the toppings. Breadsticks (many, many times) Good ingredients and right to the point. Outshined by their breadsticks though. Our favorite survey comment came from a vote for Season’s. In the section asking why they voted for Season’s, the ballot said “Because I’m the owner.” Well done, Ken Terveer. While we are certain you weren’t the only owner to cast a ballot, at least you were honest about it. Thanks to all of our readers who contributed to the survey. We’ll be back soon with a Best Burger matchup. If you have a fave burg in the area we are open to suggestions for the competition. Send them to [email protected] and we’ll try to include your candidate.  Where's the best food in our area It is after all a New Year, and being it’s the first week we want to know what our readers reach for when it comes to local eats. Today is the first in a series where we find out what our readers relish (pun intended) when it comes to knocking down their favorite foods,starting with pizza, of course. We divided the emporiums into 4 parts of the county with two selections to choose from in each. IMPORTANT: Please don’t just tell us your choice. Tell us why it’s your fave. You have until Tuesday when we will begin tabulating the results. Later we’ll poll for the Best Burger Best Breakfast Best Burrito Best Bar Food Best Seafood Best Steak |
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