This strange, snowless winter brings us grey skies and dreary days, but the lack of ice and sludge allows us more opportunity to leave our homes and do things! Get out of the house and explore our fantastic communities: this week offers many activities for us to enjoy, outdoors in the fresh, chilly air, and indoors too.
On Wednesday, January 18th, the Benton Harbor Public Library will be hosting a Dr. Martin Luther King Storytime at 11:30 a.m, and an Open Mic Event at 5 p.m. In honor of Dr. King, the public library invites any and everyone to share a poem, essay, song, or short story, to “Speak On Your Dreams”. Share with fellow attendees, and offer support to each others’ dreams! The public library is at 213 E. Wall Street in the Arts District, and the event will be held in the Upper Meeting Room.
Everyone loves a good pop quiz! Thursday evening, January 19th, Join Silver Harbor Brewing Company in St. Joseph for their Taylor Swift Edition Trivia Night, at 7 p.m in The Garden. Put on your old cardigan, and prepare to dominate the subject you know all too well. Doors open at 6 p.m! Their full food & drink menu will be available throughout the evening.
If you’re more of a 90’s sitcom lover, head over to Watermark Brewing Company in Stevensville for their Thursday night fun: Seinfeld Trivia! Hosted in their solarium, doors open at 6 p.m and trivia will begin at 7. The First Place team will receive an autographed Soup Nazi photo and a $100 gift card, Second place wins a $50 gift card, and a $25 gift card will be presented to Third place. Delicious beverages will be available for purchase, if these pretzels are making you thirsty.
The Buchanan District Library presents their Adult Craft Class: “Handmade Journals”, on Thursday 1/19 at 11 a.m, and Friday 1/20 at 5:30 p.m. Jen will demonstrate how to make handmade paper out of recycled books, and then turn it into a simple bound journal. This week also kicks off Teen Scene Wednesdays, offered from January 18th through February 22nd, where teens are welcome to come play games, hang out, and do crafts from 2:30 p.m – 3:30 p.m (on Wednesdays). Learn more at buchananlibrary.org.
Saturday January 21st welcomes the January Maker’s Pop Up event at Urban Garage Market in St. Joseph, where local home bakery Bake Effect, and Lakuna Links permanent jewelry will be featured. Pop into the carefully curated boutique from Noon to 3 p.m, to shop vendors Emily and Taylor, while enjoying vintage goods and antiques during regular business hours. Urban Garage Market is located at 807 Lester Avenue, and is open seven days a week.
Get outside and enjoy this fresh air at Fernwood Botanical Gardens, as they present their Edible Evergreens class from 1 p.m to 2 p.m on Saturday. Learn about the nutritional value of this common foliage, and sample cookies and beverages made with the fresh flavor of the forest. Take home a recipe with the needles you harvest, and share this new-found knowledge with others. This class is $20 per nonmember, and registration is required by 1/20. Reserve your spot at fernwoodbotanical.org.
There are so many wonderful things to do in Michigan’s Great Southwest, and these are just a few! Sarett Nature Center is offering Family Storytime & Evening Hike on Saturday at 6:30 p.m for $3 per person, and on Sunday the 22nd, the Acorn Theatre in Three Oaks hosts their dance showcase at 3 p.m ($10 ticket price), featuring the Sawyer Dance Academy. What’s happening in your hometown? Let us know!
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
