Traverse City Real Estate Blog

#72 Things to Do In Northern Michigan - Traverse City - Grand Traverse Region

The Dennos Museum Center

These days it's pretty rare to stumble upon seal skin stencil prints or ancient tools used by the Inuit, but do not fret, in Traverse City you can. The Dennos Museum Center, on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College, brings culture, from the past - present and future, to Traverse City residents and visitors. The museum offers audiences a chance to view exhibitions focused on visual arts, sciences and performing arts.

Visual Food for Thought

The Museum opened in 1991 and features three exhibit galleries, a sculpture court, a hands-on Discovery gallery, an Inuit art gallery and the Milliken Auditorium. The Inuit Gallery presents a variety of artifacts including stencils, lithographs, tapestries, sculptures and tools from the Baffin Island area of Nunavut, Canada. The Discovery gallery reveals several interactive exhibits such as an Anti-Gravity Mirror and Hubble Space Telescope Theater. The powerful collection of outdoor sculptures can be found at the Dennos Museum and in several other areas around NMC's Campus.

Other Collections

Visit the museum and gaze upon The Underground Railroad: Vermont and the Fugitive Slave which includes 16 block prints intended to provoke discussions about this painful time in history. Visitors call also see the Varanasi Exhibit (photographs by Larry Snider), ConTEXTure (the chemistry created between a sculptor and a poet) and Kim Kauffman's Camera-less Photo Collage. The Dennos Museum Center is open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday. Special events at the museum include WCMU Community Cinema (free screenings of independent films), Ballet, Etc (Ballet students showcase their talents) and the international Affairs Forum (featuring notable speakers). For more information on tickets costs and upcoming exhibits, visit the museum's website @ http://www.dennosmuseum.org/index.html.

Keep in mind that right now is the perfect time to purchase a vacation or permanent home in Traverse City, MI. Contact Tom Ramsey, Grand Traverse realtor, for any home buying or selling questions that you may have.

#73 Things to Do In Northern Michigan - Traverse City - Grand Traverse Region

Farmers Markets

In summer, produce rules. Who can fight the craving for bowls of rich black cherries or taut skinned tomatoes fresh off the vine? Not many, which is why Traverse City residents love their farmers markets, almost, as much as their beaches and bays. Drive down any country road and pass a myriad of stands offering homegrown spinach, corn, apples and even pies. Abundance is the word that comes to mind when you see tables heaped with strawberries and fresh flowers. Therefore, any trip to Traverse City must include a sampling of the regions exquisite, locally grown, foods.

Vegetables are the food of the earth; fruit seems more the food of the heavens.  ~Sepal Felicivant

Choosing to visit a farmers market is easy, figuring out which market to visit is a bit more challenging. Traverse City offers an array of markets that sell everything from cucumbers to crafts. View the list below to see some Grand Traverse specific markets and their specialties:

Farmers Market at the Village at Grand Traverse Common

Location: in the Mercato at the Grand Traverse Commons

What: Local farmers offer fresh apples, greens and other crops. Also find delicious jams, artisan cheeses, fresh milk and cream, eggs and free-range meats.

When: Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

Interlochen Farmers Market

Location: at Earth and Hearth, South of Interlochen Corners on MI-137

What: Local produce and locally produced crafts.

When: Sundays 9 am - 2 pm

Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market

Location: Downtown Traverse City, parking lot along Grandview Parkway

What: Fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, soaps, meats and coffee.

When: Saturdays from 8 am to Noon.

The Market at Railroad Place

Location: Traverse City Railway Station, corner of 8^th and Woodmere.

What: Local produce, baked goods and products by local artists and craftsmen.

When: Saturdays 8 am - 2 pm.

Regardless of your final selection, visits to Traverse City are made more memorable when local cuisine is involved. For more information on farmers markets in and around Traverse City, visit: http://upnorthfoodies.com/farmersmarkets/.