Joshua Davis Trio returns to the Dogwood Center on December 15! A tried and true Michigan musician and local favorite, Joshua Davis released his new album, The Way Back Home, in September. Produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, The Way Back Home is Davis’ latest full-length studio album and first since his 2015 appearances as a Top 3 finalist on NBC’s “The Voice” - Season 8. The 11 original Americana songs featured on The Way Back Home reflect an honest, hardworking family man scribing scenes of the cycle of life through dark, broken, hopeful, and triumphant times.
An upbringing that occupied the urban landscapes of Detroit while spending summers in the wilderness on the southern tip of Lake Superior in Marquette, MI brings into view the backdrop of Davis’ latest works. The Way Back Home follows a series of singular recordings by the prolific songwriter who has shared the stage with a “Who’s Who” of American folk music icons such as Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Greg Brown, and Abigail Washburn. Recorded in East Lansing by legendary engineer Glenn Brown, The Way Back Home highlights Davis’ longtime collaboration with Jack White’s bassist Dominic John Davis, pianist Mike Lynch, and drummer Mike Shimmin. Already a heavily touring/recording artist with his previous band Steppin’ In It and as a solo act, getting a call from “The Voice” was completely out of the blue for Davis. Unfamiliar with the show, he initially rejected the inquiry but the producers were persistent. After being convinced by his wife and allowed to skip the auditions, Davis signed up for an incredible six months in the national TV spotlight. He went on to sing high profile duets with Sheryl Crow (Live Finale: “Give It To Me”) and Adam Levine (Live Finale: “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shows”), and he helped break the mold of original material being showcased on “The Voice.” Davis was the first artist to sing an original on the show, which spawned the later segment, “This Week of Original Songs.” Davis entered the recording sessions for The Way Back Home with a well-oiled machine of a voice primed for the collaboration with Steve Berlin. His rough-n-tumble grit mixes with an undeniable Midwesterner’s charm for a soaring vocal performance on The Way Back Home. With his voice taking center stage, Davis’ signature lyricism and deft acoustic guitar work is backed by a trio of Michigan’s finest musicians. Tickets are $22.50 with reserved seating. This Main Stage performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Story and photos by Charles Chandler
The SWK series aimed at offering up local gifting opportunities has always welcomed contributions from the eclectic assembly of correspondents whose work N3 has been privileged to post. Today we hear from our avid angler,Texas transplant,mayoral maven, and collegial compeer Charles Chandler. When I walked into the MB Woodworks home of fine woodworking, leather and original art located at 77 State Road in downtown Newaygo I was warmly greeted by big bearded Mike Borkowski co-owner and artist. He was sitting behind the counter holding a sleeping child in his arms looking just like Papa Berenstain Bear. As I glanced around the shop it was like at first sight, big windows up front, high vaulted ceiling, kinda like a big ole airplane, or dinner. The shopping space is long with floors laid in that beautiful old fashion narrow hard maple that takes your eyes from the front door all the way through this cozy inviting shop. Roxanne Middleton the other very talented co-owner was with some customers but soon joined Mike to give me the cook’s tour. Dear Christmas shoppers you must visit this shop, they have the most wonderful stuff, O my goodness do they ever have incredible stuff. They have a huge inventory and endless variety of original pieces that are handmade by about a dozen local artist and craftsman. Items of every imaginable shape, size, color, texture and material including dramatic photographs and paintings by award winning artist, whimsical craft pieces, castings, and bronzes, all thoughtfully displayed to invite the touch or question. My Mom was the family quilter so I was especially taken with Patti Guzniczak’s colorful and detailed quilted pieces. If you are looking for that one of a kind original then Mike’s striking wood creations are for you. These are not your rustic cabin items but finely crafted works of art the kind that you would see in Woodworking and Architectural magazines. Some are abstract in that the design of the pieces focuses on and follows the natural character and beauty of the wood. His tables were my favorite, beautiful, unique, functional and affordable. Their prices will work for any wallet so you can happily choose a $3.00 stocking stuffer or a $3,000 piece that folks will gather around and talk about long after the holiday season is over. Mike and Roxanne both mentioned that if you can’t find that special item in their store they will custom make it for you. When I mentioned I was a fisherman Roxanne proudly showed me some such examples of her fine customer leatherwork. They were elegant old fashioned leather and wool leader and streamer (flies) wallets. She had produced some for the Orvis outfitters up the road on the Pere Marquette River. This well known character gives them to his clients that he takes on fishing trips to Phyllis and Jim Johnsons Blue Bonefish lodge in Belize and to their Katmai Trophy Lodge near King Salmon Alaska. I do hope someone in my life reads this article and takes the hint. Folks, this shop is where you buy gifts for your favorite family members, dear friends or others that you are very serious about getting serious about. The holiday gifts and items that you choose in MB Woodworks and Company are those that will become family treasures, collectables and antiques. My suggestion is to have coffee, hot chocolate or lunch in one of the local restaurants and then spend some quality shopping time with Mike and Roxanne. Be sure to ask plenty of questions because every item has a story. By N3 Stuff Staff As busy as the past weekend might have been with a collection of area Christmas classics the coming week will see a smattering of seasonal stuff taking place, the basketball season kicking into full gear with the boys teams joining the girls in hardcourt competition, entertainment options, and to top it off a parade! St Bart’s in Newaygo will be the first host for the three Advent Soup’s On gatherings this Tuesday December 5th beginning at noon and ending at 1pm. Tis the season so soaking up some spirituality with your soup serving seems a suitable suggestion. The Grant Area District Library will be hosting their 13th annual Christmas Tea and Tales. Thursday, December 7th from 3 to 5 p.m. The Reader’s Theater style program will be held in the Community Room of the Library on Come and enjoy an old fashioned Christmas Tea with friends while listening to a variety of Christmas stories and music from 4 different presenters. There will be an assortment of teas on offer in addition to afternoon tea delights ranging from sweet to savory.The Friends of the Library sponsor this well-loved annual event every year. Please take time out, before the holidays get too busy, to relax and enjoy some holiday cheer, chat with friends, listen to Christmas tales and eat some delectable treats.The library will be decked out for Christmas to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Grant Area District Library is located at 122 Elder St. in Grant. This program is free and open to the public. For more information on this or other programs and services at the GADL consult our website at www.grantlibrary.net or phone 231-834-5713 during open hours. The Dogwood will be rolling out a pair of performances this week as the highly acclaimed Windham Hill comes to town. The trio of accomplished acoustic artists will take to the Main Stage Thursday at 7:30pm. I recently picked up on a youtube of pianist Liz Story doing Greensleeves (What Child Is This?) and it was captivating. This will be a concert folks will be talking about long after WH has packed their instruments and hit the road. And should you find at this point, even with all the holiday revelry occurring around us, that your inner Scrooge is still erupting take heart. The next night a festive family feast of fun hits the Dogwood as Roger Day brings his Christmas Show to the Main Stage at 7:30pm Friday. Dogwood Note: Joshua Davis is returning Friday, December 15th. More later but grab your tickets while you can. Snow White was a sellout his for Stage Door Players in White Cloud this past weekend so get a hold of some tickets for their final shows Friday and Saturday and check out some of the young talent that abounds in our area. Downtown White Cloud. Box office opens at 6pm, seating begins at 6:30pm, Showtime 7pm. Fremont is kicking off their weekend stroll with the highly regarded Illumination Parade beginning at 6pm Friday. Fremont is serious about parades and puts on the best to be found in the area. This one's a beaut and culminates with a sea of activity in the downtown area. Lots of options, plenty of fun and a gaggle of good times out there folks so kick it up and partake in a little seasonal revelry. “Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!”- Francis Church Grand Rapids Public Museum Announces New Virtual Reality and Touchscreen Experience
Grand Rapids-The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that a new virtual reality experience will be opening on Saturday, December 16 featuring Finny, the Museum’s iconic 1905 finback whale skeleton that hangs above the first floor Galleria. At the Meet Finny kiosk, visitors will come face to face with Finny in the Finny Virtual Reality experience. An HTC Vive headset and hand controls will be available to put on and spend a few minutes interacting with Finny in a whale’s natural environment. Visitors will see Finny swimming around as you stand on the ocean floor, and learn about whale anatomy through the layers of its body. As visitors look through the headset, small targets will be seen on the whale, that allow users to click and learn more about fin whales. Learn about Finny’s blubber layer, internal organs and skeleton! Additionally, visitors can interact with two video touchscreens to learn more about Finny and fin whales in general. Museum visitors can explore the history of Finny, how this artifact came to the Museum and see images of Finny throughout history, as well as interact with scientific findings about fin whales, including what they eat, how big they are and more! “Using technology to enhance our experiences here at the Museum is one of our priorities,” said Dale Robertson, President & CEO of the GRPM. “Creating a virtual reality experience and interactive exhibit for one of our most iconic artifacts allows visitors to learn more about it from a scientific and historical perspective, while adding a new dimension to visitor trips to the Museum.” Meet Finny was created through local partnership with Externa CGI and Freshwater Digital. Finny Virtual Reality is sponsored by Externa CGI. “The team at Externa CGI and I were thrilled to play a part in bringing Virtual Reality (VR) to the Grand Rapids Public Museum,” said Brian Knapp, Creative Director at Externa CGI. “We all love the Museum and what it brings to our community and we are honored to be involved.” "It has been a privilege to partner with the Grand Rapids Public Museum on the Finny project. This display has been an iconic piece of Grand Rapids culture for years and we hope the new digital experience will further enhance the exhibit and inspire the public as much as it inspired our team that worked on the project," said Matt Downey, President of Freshwater Digital. Meet Finny and Finny VR Experience will be included with general admission to the Museum. For more information, visit grpm.org/MeetFinny. About Finny The finback whale skeleton was acquired by the GRPM in 1905 from the estate of Dr. Jacob W. Velie of St. Joseph, Michigan. Velie acquired it on a trip to Florida’s Gulf Coast, where the whale had washed ashore. Measuring about 75 feet in length, the fin or finback whale was a mature adult weighing between 80 and 90 tons. Shaped for speed and endurance, this large baleen mammal is native to the deeper waters of the world’s oceans. The semi-flat v-shaped head, tapering flippers, and broad powerful flukes aided in propelling it through the water so swiftly that few predators could overtake it. The large mouths incorporate many rows of baleen plates, a horn-like substance fringed with tiny bristles. This specimen has been restored to reflect how whales appear underwater. Join us for the Roger Day: Family Holiday Concert at the Dogwood Center on December 8 at 7:30 p.m.! Nothing brings in yuletide cheer better than merry melodies filled with joy, fun and laughter! Award-winning children’s musician Roger Day has devoted his life to making sure that future generations sing loud, jump high, and–most importantly–dream big. In this brand new Family Holiday Concert, Roger will combine his signature wit, whimsy, and wordplay that will put a smile on the face of kids from one to ninety-two. The concert will feature original songs like Ukulele Christmas, I Think it’s Santa Claus, and his rock ’n’ roll version of Must Be Santa/Reindeer Rap Medley along with classic sing-a-longs like Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, this show will put even the most stubborn Scrooge in the holiday spirit! Tickets are $15.00 Adults, and $5.00 for children 18 and under. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Dogwood Box Office hours are Tuesday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and two hours prior to an event. For more information please contact Dogwood Box Office at 231.924.8885. Tickets may also be purchased at the NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont. Hours are Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. For more information please contact NCCA-Artsplace at 231.924.4022. By N3 Holiday Specialists
Are you kidding? No one with any level of familiarity regarding the environs we fortunate folk reside in need any suggestions about this weekend. Thanks to the efforts of the River Country Chamber of Commerce, area businesses and organizations, and the ever valued troop of volunteers it is a Christmas lover’s paradise in these parts for the next few days and with a full moon smack dab in the middle of it there looks to be mirth,merriment, and a smidge of magic in the air. What follows is a handful of holiday happennings for some first-rate family friendly fun. Friday night is The Christmas Walk in downtown Newaygo, an annual event like no other. The evening seems to evolve into a wondrous series of happenings with folks buzzing about to check out displays, ice sculpting, chestnut roasting, caroling, Santa sitting, wagon riding and the splendid collection of shops that line the downtown area. The organizers and local businesses hit it out of the park with this one because not only does the community turns out in droves a substantial number of out of towners looking to tweak their Christmas spirit make the yearly trek to Newaygo. Starts at 6pm ends about 9pm. If you’re looking to capture a sea of smiles, here’s a golden opportunity. Saturday the action moves 10 miles north as Christmas in White Cloud featuring Candy Cane Lane rolls out a feast of of family fun from 1-5pm. We received this from N3 contributor and White Cloud enthusiast Tracy Maike-Kehr “Be sure to stroll through White Cloud and visit our area businesses spending the day making memories with your friends and family. This year there are many new locations, events and activities. A printable list of events and a map to mark and make sure you have visited all the places you desire is available at RiverCountyChamber.com and will be available at many locations you visit. We would like to thank our many sponsors who helped to make this family tradition possible. A list of our sponsors is found on our website.” She also kindly included Santa’s schedule. 11:00 am - 3:00 pm White Cloud St Joe's Catholic Church 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Family Health Care 1:00 pm - 5:00pm Santa House located in Rudert's parking lot 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Newaygo County Prevention of Child Abuse 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Patt's Pet Parlor (selfie with Santa and pet) We all thank Santa of course for making himself available despite what must be a rather demanding schedule. There are a lot of great opportunities for runners in our parts, but few match the fun and festive atmosphere associated with the St Nick Kick taking place Saturday morning 10am at Newaygo High School. From humble beginnings this holiday inspired run has evolved into one of the ‘can’t miss’ runs in the region. The event draws a lot of regulars and the giveaways are always terrific. Runners often wait until the day to register and tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day for the 5k 10k and 1 mile walk so if you’re not going to lace them up come out and cheer on the participants with proceeds going, (fittingly I might add) to the Cross Country programs at NHS.See the ad on our home page. From 11am-3pm is the Bellwether Open House a chance to pick up some gifts for your furry friends while supporting the exceptional work being done by the Bellwether folks. This was the much favored organization of my late friend Shotgun who despite his years living in the lap of canine luxury and settling into his role as faithful and near constant companion (truly the Tonto of dogdom) never forgot his quadruped colleagues still searching for a lifetime home. The pet boutique has holiday treats and supplies to purchase for your fur baby so no one is forgotten on Santa’s list and pet pictures will be taken by the talented folks from Treasured Images. Lots of stuff to do and see here so check out BH located west of Fremont on 48th St. The Newaygo County Community Choir takes to the Main Stage of the Dogwood Center at 3pm Sunday for their Christmas Concert under the direction of Joseph Jennings. The seasonal soundfest features time honored music a surprise or two and perhaps a little audience participation. More fun will be unfolding as we meander through December so hang on to your holiday hat. It’s going to be a fun ride. “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ”-Norman Vincent Peale |
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