The Suggestion Box (May13-15)

The Suggestion Box - Weekend Highlights for May 13-15

What's going on this coming weekend? Click the "read more" button below to see premier events going on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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Friday
Hear the roar?

Yes, it’s time for the 44th Annual Blessing of the Bikes Festival in Baldwin our friendly neighbor to the north. From its humble beginnings this festival has turned into one of the largest of its kind (east of Sturgis, perhaps) and draws an entire humanity of folks. I have never been to this event but drove through one Friday evening years ago and bore witness to a 10 mile stretch of M-37 from U.S. 10 through town and far to the south that had been completely transformed. There were portable mini-malls with a slew of vendors hawking goods lined along the roadway, front and back yards as well as a few fields converted into camping areas, an array of intriguing portable eateries doing a booming business, and a town filled with leather-clad enthusiasts.
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Our towns will be buzzing with bikers all weekend as they cruise northward, however for the best view of the virtual battalion of bikery, with hordes of Harleys, a host of Hondas, a smattering  of Suzuki’s and perhaps a modicum of Moto Guzzi’s, hang about the downtown area of Newaygo Friday evening. The streets will be lined with every conceivable form of motorized two-wheeled (and sometimes three-wheeled) transportation one could possibly imagine. From scraped up cycles that seem fortunate to have made it out of winter storage to beaming beauties decked out like an open-air limo the blessing-seekers will be traveling through town and more often than not stopping of at one of our local establishments as they wind their way north.
Grant’s Old Iron Bar & Grill is a favored biker bistro, many will give Ridge Cider a stop, Jimmy’s Roadhouse will have a parking lot full of cycles and Newaygo Brewery, The Riverstop Saloon and Sportsman’s will all be fully staffed as a busy Friday night awaits. The Saloon will be hosting the cover band RePOP! and Old Iron will have a D.J./Karaoke set-up for those who might be inclined to linger a bit after their meal.

However if you just want to witness a rather incredibly creative collection of cruise-worthy combustion?

Take an evening stroll through town.

You might find yourself, for just the slightest of moments, pondering the possibilities of personally pursuing a little two wheeled travel.

Even if your only prior experience came on an 80cc Suzuki nearly a half-century ago.

​Saturday
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Wow. Lot’s going on today, starting with Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial’s Health and Safety Day, a free community event being held at Tamarac in Fremont from 11am-2pm. This is a family-friendly happening with a boatload of activities designed to deliver the message of safety and good health in a fun and entertaining manner. 

There will be a bounce house on site, access to health screenings, and giveaways that include bicycles, helmets, and gift baskets.

A Prescription Drop Box will be on hand so you can get those outdated and/or unwanted meds out of your cabinet and out of harm’s way.

Car seat checks are available, a distracted driving simulator will be on hand, a fire truck and ambulance will be stationed for viewing and if the weather is right you can get an up close look at the Aero-Med helicopter as well.
This is one of those events ideal for a little family outing with a chance to have some fun, learn a little something and maybe even take home a free gift.

For more info check out the ad on our Home Page. 

Sarah Potenza at the Dogwood.

The arrival of Ms. Potenza on Saturday evening at 7:30 is just the latest in an ongoing string of high level entertainment emanating from the absolute jewel of the Near North known as the Dogwood. A former contestant on ‘The Voice’ Sarah will be rocking the Black Box with her hard driving vocals as she returns to the scene of her successful Dogwood debut last summer. This is a concert you won’t want to miss. Check out Marianne’s interview with her in our fun and features page and the Dogwood ad for ticket information. 

Camp Newaygo’s Zips & Sips is being billed as “The first and best warm weather, outdoor block party of the season”. From 5-9pm for a mere five buck admission you get to listen to Flexadecibel a very cool band out of Muskegon that will get your groove on with their funk-soul-rock and roll sound while competing in some camper games such as nine square, ladder golf, and corn hole.
For an additional cost one can experience the wonder and excitement of the Zip Line a huge draw since opening last year. Having been one of the first to test drive the zip after its opening I can highly recommend it to anyone who wants a bit of a thrill and a gorgeous ride.

And from practical experience I’ve found that if you kind of scream at first they’re pretty polite about not mentioning it.
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Newaygo Brewery will be there drawing some glasses of their signature beer options and be sure to arrive hungry because on site and open for business will be Two Hot Tamales truly a personal favorite and always a welcome sight at such gatherings.

Sunday
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Well, the Blessing itself is Sunday and it will be held at the airport just south of the city. Gates will open at 9am and the Blessing itself is at 1:15pm. It’s supposed to be a pretty cool thing to experience and be a part of however being without a motorcycle since I shoved aside the 80cc Suzuki immediately after taking possession of my first car the likelihood of personal participation is rather faint. Perhaps one of our readers will come through with an up-close and personal description and even a few photos.

The suggested donation is $5 per blessed bike and the proceeds from the event go to Baldwin's St. Ann Senior Nutrition Program. It is the same St. Ann’s  who provide the blessings just as they have since it began with a quartet of bikes and 8 riders on the steps of the church in 1973. ​