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Sushi Night at CitySen Lounge, Thursday nights
Before the weather turns cold and the roads become undrivable (yes, winter is coming again), head out to experience some lakeshore color, food and activities.
Apples come in many forms: big Red Delicious, small and tart, but there's nothing that beats apple cider and doughnuts. The best place to go is Crane's Orchard (6054 124th Ave., Fennville). West Michigan grows some great apples and Crane's is one place that has bragging rights, as they've been around since 1917, growing several varieties of apples on 200 acres of orchard. You can go out with a basket and pick until your heart's content for 65 cents a pound.
Not so much into the juicy fruit? Just wait till the sun goes down. After dark, they have a 3D special effects barn and the haunted corn maze. Creeps and ghouls will pop out of nowhere to give you a seasonal fright. The fun starts Oct. 2 and runs every weekend until the end of the month beginning at dark and ending at 10 p.m. If you're not into running around in the dark, head out there earlier and finding your way through the corn maze. It's open daily and $7 for adults, $5 for kids under 10 and free for those under 5 years of age.
Not sure where to grab a light dinner on a Thursday evening? Check out CitySen Lounge's Sushi Night, every Thursday from 7-10 p.m., located in Holland's only LEED certified Hotel, City Flats Hotel (7th ave, Holland). The menu is full of hand-rolled sushi dishes including fish dishes and vegetarian options. Live music every week adds a bit of ambiance while Chef Rash rotates around the bar and hand-rolls sushi with fresh ingredients right in front of you. Pair that with a glass of wine or a saké beer and expect a worldly evening out at one of Holland's hottest bistros. Prices range from $2-7 and no reservations are required.
About It! series, Oct. 15 with GR Ballet
Lectures get a bad rap for being boring. The Saugatuck Center of Arts is putting fun and informational back together with their "About it!" series with talks about art, design and culture. On Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. Michigan's only professional Ballet Company-The Grand Rapids Ballet Company-is scheduled to appear in the series. This special appearance will feature a behind-the scenes look at dance, a conversation with internationally-acclaimed artistic director and choreographer Gordon Peirce Schmidt (see an exclusive interview with Schmidt in the dance section), as well as a sneak peak at the upcoming season for the GR Ballet and a demonstration of some dance moves.
"Dance is going to be the next hot craze," says SAC Executive Director, Kristen Armstrong, "we're excited for the Ballet to come and share."
Admission to the talk is free and donations are accepted. Tickets for the Ballet's upcoming season (September through May) will also be available to purchase at the lecture.
With fashion changing as fast as fall is approaching, downtown Grand Haven is turning the second block of Washington Ave. into a fall fashion runway. On Oct. 3 at 1:30 p.m., various shops from downtown Grand Haven will feature fashions and styles for all ages and people will strut their stuff down the street. Shops include Dock Side Clothing (41 Washington Ave # 170), Down to Earth (105 Washington Ave), That Hat (41 Washington Ave # 135), and many more. For $10 you'll also be able to enjoy live music and food from local restaurants, as they will have a spread of samples for you to taste. If you don't have $10, no worries. Just bring a gently used instrument to donate, as this event is partnered with the Spread the Music Foundation, and your fee will be waived.
