Community Concert Planned for Thursday Night in Glen Arbor to Raise Funds for Storm Clean-Up Efforts

A Note to Glen Arbor Area Neighbors

Our community has gone through as difficult a time as any of us can imagine after Sunday’s storm that blew through the region. Rather than dwell on that it seemed to us that we needed to join together in some sort of community-wide pick-me-up.

By chance, BLACKTHORN, a wonderful band that plays Celtic music, was scheduled to play at the top of Bay Mountain Thursday night, August 6 at The Homestead. When we were without power, we thought we’d do a ticketed acoustic concert and invite emergency providers to be our guests. When we learned power was restored, we said: “Let’s do more.”

Let’s extend special invitations to the emergency providers and others who have taken the lead on safety and restoration to our community. Let’s include the sheriff’s department, fire departments, EMS providers, and the NPS rangers and the crews from Consumers Energy, the road commission and MDOT. Let’s invite everyone in the community so we can collectively recognize and thank those who have done such wonderful jobs.

Let’s not sell tickets. Rather let’s ask (and, without shame, ask again and again) for a free-will offering and donate 100% of proceeds to help families who are unable to replace or rebuild what was damaged by the storm.

Please join us on Thursday, August 6th as we celebrate all about our community that has been and will again be wonderful. Transportation will start at 6:00pm and the concert will run from 7-9:00pm.

Thank you.

The Homestead

P.S. We know we will not have enough parking or seating. We would, therefore, appreciate your making an extra effort to car pool with friends and neighbors and your bringing a blanket.

If you would like to volunteer to take donations and find needy families call our Group Sales Team at 231-334.5300.

FOR MEDIA INTERVIEWS PLEASE CONTACT BOB KURAS: rkuras@thehomesteadresort.com | 231-620-8200

The Homestead Recognized by Frommer's as Pure Michigan's Top Wedding Destination

The Homestead was recently named as the #1 spot in Pure Michigan for a wedding, according to the internationally-recognized travel media outlet Frommer’s. The ranking, “Where to Get Married: The Best Weddings in All 50 States,” highlighted just one venue in each state.

“We've put together our dream list of wedding locales,” says writers Margaret Daly and Pauline Frommer. “Some are gorgeous, some are offbeat and some simply feel like the right spot for an unforgettable union.”

America's "Freshwater Resort," The Homestead in Glen Arbor is an all-American, destination-wedding venue on the shores of Lake Michigan. Before it was a resort, The Homestead was a camp for wholesome outdoor experiences founded by a young St. Louis couple convinced that they had found the most beautiful beach of the Great Lakes. Because of its stewardship programs, a wedding at The Homestead can still be a wholesome experience—supporting this resort means supporting environmental and community programs of the region.

Others on the list include Napa Valley, The Grand Canyon, Aspen, Maui and the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina.

Frommer's, a travel guidebook series founded by Arthur Frommer in 1957, has expanded to include more than 350 guidebooks across 14 series. Other media, including the website Frommers.com, reaffirms Frommer's as the most trusted name in travel today.

About The Homestead
The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the area voted by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers a luxurious spa and salon throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. “Like” The Homestead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi and follow on Twitter at @TheHomesteadMi.

The Homestead Welcomes Rick Rhynard – Senior Manager of Property Management

Rich Rhynard has been hired as The Homestead’s Senior Manager of Property Management, a result of the reorganization of the resort’s management structure designed to place ever-increasing emphasis on service quality and guest satisfaction. Rick previously served as a Senior Manager at the resort, from 2008 to 2011.

“I am really looking forward to this new role at The Homestead. It feels great to be ‘back home’ again here,” says Rick. “The challenge and excitement of learning a new part of the property, working with a great team, and getting to serve and know our owners and guest here are just several of the reasons that brought me back. I hope to continually improve the enjoyment of our owners and guest as they enjoy their time here at The Homestead.”

As Senior Manager of Property Management, Rick will be responsible for grounds, utilities, snowmaking/lifts and mechanics. We also provide some property management services to some of the associations on property and really hope under his direction that we can expand that segment of our business.

“We are very fortunate to have Rick return to The Homestead and oversee our Property Management operation,” says Adriene Kokowicz, Vice President of Resort Operations. “His experience is valuable as we continue to grow this segment of our business with an objective of providing top quality service and facilities to our guests and owners.”

After leaving The Homestead in 2011, Rick went on to serve as a Sales Manager at The Hilton Downtown in Fort Wayne, IN and also worked in pharmaceutical and medical sales. He has been a Board Member and Secretary for The Inn Association, is a member of the Fort Wayne Rotary Club and Ritz Carlton Customer Service Training. Rick earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Huntington University in Indiana.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an area voted by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. “Like” The Homestead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi and follow on Twitter at @TheHomesteadMI.

The Homestead Announces Administrative Reorganization; James Kuras Named VP

The Homestead is pleased to announce the appointment of James Kuras to the position of Vice President with responsibility for food and beverage, outdoor recreation, and health and wellness offerings. Kuras, who has been working at the resort since he was fourteen, holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame, where he is currently pursuing an executive MBA.

His promotion is a part of a reorganization of the resort’s management structure that is designed to place ever-increasing emphasis on service quality and guest satisfaction. “As any parent would be my wife and I are pleased to see our son advance. His youthful energy and relentless focus on service will nicely complement the decades of experience our other officers have” said the President of the resort, Bob Kuras.

“James has proven himself in nearly fifteen years of work in different parts of our business,” said Jamie Jewell, Vice President of Sales, “everyone here is delighted that he will carry forward the values that have driven our business – family and nature – long into the future.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an area voted by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. “Like” The Homestead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi and follow on Twitter at @TheHomesteadMI.

Gardening From Monticello to Leelanau County - The Homestead Welcomes Acclaimed Author & Historic Landscape Authority Peter J. Hatch

Celebrated professional gardener, author and historic landscape authority Peter J. Hatch will visit Leelanau County, October 1-3, for a series of public lectures and programs.

Hatch served as Director of Gardens and Grounds at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello for 35 years and has published four books on Monticello’s botanic legacy including A Rich Spot of Earth: Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello. He lectures extensively on Jefferson and the history of garden plants, and currently consults on public garden projects and private estate landscapes.

Sponsored by The Homestead in Glen Arbor, Hatch’s visit includes lectures, a walking tour, cooking demonstration with Chef John Piombo, and a special guided tour of Kilcherman’s Christmas Cove apple farm in Northport.

The three-day event kicks off on Wednesday, October 1 at 7pm with an introductory lecture, reception, and book signing. “Thomas Jefferson, Gardener” will provide an introduction to the themes that defined Jefferson’s horticulture, the process by which the gardens at Monticello were restored, and the character of the fruits, flowers and vegetable grown by him. Admission is $25 and includes refreshments; a book signing will follow.

On Thursday, October 2, from 9am–1pm, Hatch will explore the legacy of Jefferson’s gardening in a morning lecture that includes lunch. “Monticello’s Revolutionary Garden: an Ellis Island of Fruits and Vegetables” will highlight the 1,000-foot-long garden laboratory that inspired a new American cuisine and provided an enduring legacy for the farm to table movement today. A book signing will follow. The $35 admission includes lunch and an opportunity to walk along the Crystal River with Hatch, concluding at 2:15pm. The morning lecture is $20 for advance registration ($25 the day of).

The afternoon will continue with a cooking demonstration with The Homestead’s Chef John Piombo, featuring apple recipes that celebrate the fall season, accompanied with cider tasting. The demonstration will include recipes featured in the 2014 Manitou Magazine. Advance registration is required, with a fee of $50 per person.

The program concludes Friday morning with a trip with Hatch to Kilcherman’s Christmas Cove Farm in Northport. This special opportunity features an apple tasting and presentation by owner John Kilcherman who has made it his life’s work to cultivate antique varieties of apple trees that date to the early 1600s, from England, Europe and Colonial America. The morning begins at 8:30am at The Homestead with a continental breakfast. Transportation to the farm is provided, returning at 12:30pm. Advance registration is $25 per person ($30 on the day of the event).

Peter Hatch’s visit is supported by the Glen Lake Garden Club. Advance registration for each of the events are strongly encouraged and required for the cooking demonstration. Lodging packages including all lectures and events, accommodations and some meals starting at $116 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.

For more information, to book a lodging package or to purchase tickets for individual lectures and events, call 231.334.5100 or click here for more information.

Recent planting of 1,000 native trees part of Manitou Passage Golf Club's “wild renewal” initiative on the Leelanau Peninsula

As a designated wilderness area, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is hardly lacking when it comes to deep forest scenery. So what’s behind the recent planting of 1,000 semi-mature trees at the Manitou Passage Golf Club—the only 18-hole course located within a long iron or two of the Most Beautiful Place in America?

“You could say not all trees are created equal,” says Jamie Jewell, Marketing & Public Relations for Manitou Passage Golf Club. According to Jewell, invasive plant species had basically taken over the course purchased by a group of Leelanau County investors and reopened as Manitou Passage Golf Club in 2009. “Trying to return a native edge to the landscape has been the club’s mission ever since.”

Big Trees, Big Goal
The semi-mature trees — purchased from Komrska Tree Farm, in Interlochen— represent a diverse cross-section of northern hardwoods: cedar, maple, Norway spruce, birch, white pine and more. Ranging in size anywhere from 11- to 16-feet (depending on the species), the new trees will provide immediate shade, nesting habitat and cover for songbirds and wildlife as well as adding to the scenic enjoyment of clubhouse guests and golfers playing the exclusive Arnold Palmer course.

Komrska Tree Farm also provided a four-man labor team and the heavy machinery necessary for the planting, which owner Ben Komrska says will take about two weeks.

“This is a big job that requires a lot of specialized equipment. The smallest tree we’ve planted weights 400 pounds; the largest weighs in upwards of 2,500 pounds.”

Natural By Design
The coastal views, sprawling forests and farmland of the Sleeping Bear Dunes make it the scenic jewel of Leelanau County. But balancing modern development and creating a more enjoyable experience for golfers all while trying to preserve the integrity of the surrounding landscape is a job that requires a tremendous amount of foresight and planning.

The scope of the current project taking place along the fairway of the 18th hole required the expertise of Jerry Pearson of the California-based Peridian International, a landscape architecture and design firm. A Midwest native who has worked on various projects for The Homestead for over 30 years, Pearson understands that guests of the club come not only come for the challenging level of play at MPGC but also for the beautifully wild experience that makes this region one of the most scenic places in America.

“Protecting the relationship of the course to the natural environment was the first priority,” says Pearson. “But we managed to go beyond that by using native trees that have wonderful bark and leaf textures along with contrasting color—especially in the fall.”

Once the tree planting along the 18th hole is complete, Manitou Passage Golf Club is already eyeing plans for the next phase of its wild renewal plans, says Jamie Jewell.

“Our next goal is to improve the landscape surrounding holes 4 and 5 over the coming months and years,” she says. “We are hopeful that those areas can be further restored to a more natural landscape over the coming months. The club invites anyone interested in seeing the photos and progress updates of this and other projects to check MPGC’s Facebook page.”

Michigan-Born/Nashville-Resident Kyle Jennings to Perform July 17 at The Homestead in Glen Arbor

American singer/songwriter Kyle Jennings arrived on the music scene in 2004 when his album “Shine” was released with Dark Horse Records in Nashville. Out of the box, Jennings’ music made an aggressive first impression likely due to cross-genre rock influences of his early youth, such as Journey, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. A gritty mix of Americana, Rock, Country, and Blues marble Jennings’ musical style.

Raised in the rich Midwestern culture of Michigan's hard-wooded backcountry trails and the hard-working blue collar family, Jennings was the youngest of 3 kids from Comstock (between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek). Kyle comes to Northern Michigan after a recent appearance at the CMA Acoustic Music Festival in Nashville. Kyle is currently at work on his 3rd studio album set for release in the fall of 2014.

Tickets for Music on the Mountain are $15 in advance; $20 at the event. Special ticket packages also available: $39 for your choice of 3 or $55 for all 5 Music on the Mountain concerts. For tickets, click here.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an area voted by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. “Like” The Homestead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi and follow on Twitter at @TheHomesteadMI.

The Homestead Offers Statement Following Threatening Phone Call to Michigan Senator Stabenow

In the wake of a threatening phone call made recently to the Traverse City offices of Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, a discussion has emerged around the federal H-2B visa program, which allows employers to hire foreign guest workers for seasonal positions when the employers are unable to fill those jobs with local workers.

According to upnorthlive.com, the Leelanau County Sherriff’s office quoted the caller, a 61-year-old woman in Kasson Township, as demanding that Stabenow “‘stop illegals from coming into the country and taking away jobs from local workers.’” The woman went on to threaten that such “illegals” (referring specifically to the H-2B guest workers at The Homestead, a resort in Glen Arbor) would “be shot on sight” if Senator Stabenow failed to satisfy the caller’s demands. The same caller later admitted to the Sherriff’s office that she had placed an anonymous phone call to Adriene Kokowicz, a Vice President of The Homestead, in which she claimed to be a college student and requested information on the resort’s H-2B employees as part of a school research project.

As many comments on upnorthlive.com’s Facebook page and other social media outlets have observed, the guest workers employed at The Homestead and elsewhere through H-2B visa programs are not “illegals”: they have legal work visas and, thus, neither their presence in the U.S. nor their employment here is illegal. The purpose of H-2B visas is to enable foreign recipients to live and work in the U.S. legally, for a period of time, in specific positions that employers are otherwise unable to fill. Contrary to a common misunderstanding, H-2B workers do not work for lower pay or escape payroll taxes and other deductions: the H-2B program requires that employers pay all legally-required taxes and that participating workers be paid at or above the prevailing rate for comparable positions in the area. Kokowicz said The Homestead’s guest workers in the housekeeping department made between $12.13 and $14.14 per hour. The U.S. Department of Labor wage requirement for these positions is $10.21 per hour. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. State Senators recently voted to raise the Michigan minimum wage from $7.40 to $9.20 per hour. Thus, the wages that are being paid are far above all minimums.

Jamie Jewell, another Vice President at The Homestead, analyzed the actual cost to the resort for participating in the H-2B program. “There’s a perception that employers are trying to save money by hiring foreign workers… but people don’t realize that employers pay legal fees, governmental fees and one way travel expenses in addition to wages. We paid $15,893 in legal fees, another $10,200 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and another $28,000 for travel expenses.” She continued, “We’ve all been upset not only by calls and threats, but also by some of the ill-informed online comments about immigration… Just this year, we used outdoor, print, display and digital ads to let workers know that we had many positions available. Unfortunately, there were not enough local workers to fill the available jobs.”

The Homestead’s President, Bob Kuras, reacted to the news from Stabenow’s office by saying that he is “shocked and profoundly disheartened to know that any member of our community would treat our Jamaican guests or any other worker with anything less than the dignity and respect they deserve.”

The matter is now in the hands of the Leelanau County Prosecutor’s office, and may ultimately involve federal authorities. In the meantime, members of The Homestead community are pulling together to support their Jamaican guest workers, many of whom have come back year-after-year and have become much-loved team members and friends.

For more information on the H-2B visa program, visit http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2b-non-agricultural-workers/h-2b-temporary-non-agricultural-workers and http://www.dol.gov/whd/immigration/h2b.htm.

The Homestead Recognizes Merranda Hutchens & Logan Sanders as 2012 “Associates of the Year”

The Homestead – America’s Freshwater Resort – has announced two (2) winners of its esteemed 2012 “Associate of the Year” Award – including Logan Sanders, Reservation Manager and Merranda Hutchens – Laundry Manager.

Logan has worked at The Homestead since June, 2011. Born and raised in Midland, he graduated from Ferris State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management (majoring in Resort Management and minoring in Recreation & Leisure Management). In his spare time, Logan enjoys fishing, snowboarding, golfing, hiking and camping.

Merranda has worked at The Homestead since December, 2010. A native of New Lothrop (near Flint), she fell in love with the Leelanau area and moved to Maple City three years ago. The mother of three children (boys ages 5 and 13 and a girl, aged 12), she spends her free time hiking local trails and hitting the beaches with her kids.

In addition to the acclaim that the title “Associate of the Year” holds, Logan and Merranda each received a trip to any vacation destination of their choice within the United States, including airline tickets for two and $500 in spending money.

“We’ve been awarding the associate of the year for almost 20 years and this is the first time there has been an actual tie and has been awarded to two associates,” says Jamie Jewell, Vice President Sales & Marketing. ”All of us are proud of the outstanding work, commitment and dedication shown by these to associates. They are great examples for us all.”

With approximately 200 summer and 75 winter employees, The Homestead is one of the region’s largest single employers. The team is lead by members of a core group of associates who all believe that a job done right starts with taking a Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence. It’s called PRIDE.

From managers and trainers to year-round employees who do everything from taking reservations to working in outdoor maintenance, there are only 40 members of PRIDE. This special group is eligible for unique employment benefits at The Homestead – one of them being the distinction of “Associate of the Year.”

Other nominees for “Associate of the Year” in 2012 included:

• Diane Kemp, Manager Resort Realty
• Shane Wyatt, Utilities Manager
• Sallie Krepps, Spa & Salon Manager
• Kyle Gulley, Banquet Manager

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an area voted by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. “Like” The Homestead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi and follow on Twitter at @TheHomesteadMI.

The Homestead Unveils Newly Remodeled Snowsports School

What do you get when you combine gently rolling terrain, perfectly groomed slopes, and a friendly team of ski instructors with a couple lifetimes worth of experience? The answer: One of the greatest places in northern Michigan to learn how to ski and snowboard.

While thousands have mastered the “snowplow” and cut their first stem-christie turn gliding down one of Bay Mountain’s 15 beautiful runs, many thousands more have spent idle hours waiting in the wings for The Homestead’s master staff of instructors to work their magic.

That waiting promises to be a little easier at The Homestead this season, thanks to the newly remodeled Snowsports School, located in The Village, at the base of Bay Mountain.

“Signing up for ski and snowboard lessons on the spot can be hectic and uncomfortable if the space isn’t laid out just right,” says Jamie Jewell, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Our goal was to create an inviting, convenient, and classy place for people to learn about and purchase our lesson programs. With windows facing the slopes, comfortable seating, and complimentary coffee and treats, it’s also a great place for parents to take a break and hang while their children tackle the slopes.”

Guests are invited to stop in and check out the newly remodeled Snowsports School even if they don’t need a lesson. Have a coffee and take a break from the chill. With cold temperatures, fresh snow falling almost daily, and new ski packages and family-friendly offers like the “kids 17 years old and under ski FREE” deal,” the 2013 ski season is shaping up to be a great one for visitors to The Homestead.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an area voted by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting and banquet centers, and luxurious spa and salon throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. “Like” The Homestead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi and follow on Twitter at @TheHomesteadMI.

The Homestead to Host THRIVE Women’s Retreat

If you’re like us, your vacations are usually balancing acts in an attempt to accommodate different work schedules, diverse interests, and everyone’s needs. At The Homestead, we strive to provide something for everyone. But we also recognize that sometimes what you need is a little time just for you. Time to relax with a friend you haven’t seen for years, or to make new friends. Time to allow your body, mind, and spirit to be nurtured. That’s why we’ve partnered with licensed therapists Mia Moyad and Megan Gunnell to organize a weekend for women like you, for women like us.

Join us Thursday, January 24 through Sunday, January 27 for a women’s weekend of solitude, discovery, and replenishment. Experience the ambience of live harp music while engaging in group activities. Delight in cooking classes with healthful intent. Awaken the body through outdoor recreation. Luxuriate in rejuvenating spa treatments and unwind with yoga.

You’ll be welcomed to a community of women committed to experiencing THRIVE: Transform for enrichment; Harmonize with environments; Replenish for joy; Integrate mindfulness; Visualize for growth; Empower for strength.

Package prices begin at $217 per person, per night based on double occupancy or $195 per person, per night based on triple occupancy. No matter which option you choose, you price includes a stunning suite at Stony Brook Lodge, two dinners, two lunches, three breakfasts, and the many activities scheduled during the retreat. They do not include: spa treatments, or outdoor activities such as skiing, gratuity or tax and tariff on the room. An advance deposit of $350 per person is required at the time of reservation. Cancellation prior to 7 days is subject to fee of $50. Cancellation within 7 days forfeits deposit.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an area voted by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. “Like” The Homestead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi and follow on Twitter at @TheHomesteadMI.

The Homestead Plans 4-Day Oktoberfest Celebration (October 4-7)

In 1810, the Crown Prince Ludwig was married to Princess Therese of Bavaria. The party they held was so popular that they decided to repeat it every year. In celebration of this honored Oktoberfest tradition, The Homestead is planning a weekend gathering, October 4-7.

A series of events designed to pay tribute both to German traditions and Northern Michigan’s own local harvest will provide an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the bounty of the autumn harvest, along with good company, good food and good beer.

The weekend’s activities include:

Thursday, October 4 (6-8pm) – Nonna’s Beer Tasting: guests will sample a variety of the best local and international beers, all carefully chosen and presented by The Homestead.

Friday, October 5 – Nonna’s Beer Dinner: featuring the microbrews from the award-winning Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, carefully matched to a variety of dishes by Executive Chef John Piombo. (Cost: $65 per person, plus gratuity and tax).

Saturday, October 6 – Charcuterie Demonstration: Chef Piombo – who trained in Germany as well as Italy, France, and the United States – will share information (and samples) about charcuterie (the craft of smoking, salting and curing meats). (Cost: $50 per person, plus gratuity and tax).

Sunday, October 7 – Car Show & Cookout: guests will round out the weekend with some traditional fare such as Weisswurst and soft pretzels, while admiring a variety of vintage cars on the lawn of The Inn. The car show and cook-out from 11am to 4pm. Show participants may register the day of the event for $10 per vehicle which includes lunch.

Weekend lodging packages available including lodging, breakfast buffet each morning, beer dinner and charcuterie demonstration.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an area voted by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. “Like” The Homestead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi and follow on Twitter at @TheHomesteadMI.

Michigan's Homestead Resort Offers the Friendliest Family Pricing

The Homestead announced today that it is taking strong steps to encourage families to ski and ride – kids 17 and under will ski and ride free.

There are only three restrictions and there’s no fine print. The restrictions are:

• The family must be registered guests at The Homestead.
• At least one parent must have purchased a same day, all day lift ticket.
• Proof of relationship must be presented.

This offer is available every day of the season, including holidays, as there are no blackout dates. Call 231.334.5100 for reservations.

Jamie Jewell, a Vice President of the resort stated: “Industry research showed that younger people are not pursuing outdoor winter recreation opportunities that lead to healthy, lifetime skills. This goal of this offering was to make those outdoor opportunities accessible to families with the next generation of skiers and riders." Those first time visitors who pursue this opportunity will discover a place that’s luxurious yet relaxed, nearby yet far away. They’ll also discover the beauty of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the place the viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America chose as “America’s Most Beautiful Place.”

Repeat visitors will be welcomed back with a gift commemorating ABC’s recognition. While here, they will see and enjoy new facilities and services made possible with $1.5 million in improvements that were made to the property this year.

www.TheHomesteadResort.com

Wings of Wonder Screech Owl Release at The Homestead (Thursday, August 4)

The Homestead and Wings of Wonder invite you to a raptor release on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at the resort’s Camp Tam-A-Rack outdoor amphitheatre. Wings of Wonder will have 2 young eastern screech owls ready for release to a natural habitat.

Rebecca Lessard, Executive Director of Wings of Wonder, will present a program called “The Wonders of Raptors” from 7-8pm which is free and open to the community. The owl release will happen right after the program.

Participants who purchase a $20 tickets will be placed into a drawing for an opportunity to hold the owl and do the actual release as a fund-raiser for the raptor program. Contest entrants must be 18 years old to enter, with no limit of the number of tickets an individual can purchase. Two winners will be able to name the owl and do the actual release.

Bring your camera!

The Homestead is presenting three programs with Wings of Wonder this summer as a part of their special events for the season along with mountaintop concerts and cooking classes with Chef John Piombo. For more information on events at The Homestead, visit http://www.thehomesteadresort.com/special-events.php.

The Homestead is northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located at the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – a unit of the National Park Service. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offer guests pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross-country skiing in the winter and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and luxurious spa throughout all four seasons.

For more information on The Homestead, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100.

For more information on Wings of Wonder, visit www.wingsofwonder.org.

Wings of Wonder Program Offered Free to Guests at The Homestead Resort

Guests and club members at The Homestead will be treated to a series of free nature-based programs this summer with “The Wonders of Raptors” – by Rebecca Lessard of Wings of Wonder. The programs will be offered in the Camp Tamarack amphitheatre.

Lessard will present a one-hour program that includes a basic introduction to Michigan raptors, an opportunity to meet some of our ambassador raptors up close and view a display of raptor artifacts 9wings, feathers, talons and pellets). Usually, 3-4 raptors attend each presentation and guests are encourages to bring their cameras to the program.

Programs will be offered:

• Wednesday, July 20 (7-8pm)
• Thursday, August 4 (7-8pm)
• Thursday, August 11(3-5pm)

The final program will incorporate an activity where guests can build a nest box for three of Michigan’s smallest raptors: the eastern screech owl, the northern saw whet owl and the little American kestrel. The next boxes will later be mounted on a trail system on The Homestead’s property. Guests and visitors will be able to walk the trail throughout the year looking for these nest boxes and any current raptor residents.

Wings of Wonder is a non-profit raptor sanctuary located in nearby Empire, although it is not open to the public. Active since 1990, the organization’s primary mission is education. Wings of Wonder presents almost 150 educational programs annually throughout Michigan, reaching almost 10,000 people each year. Presentations are designed to foster appreciation, understanding, honor and respect for raptors and the important role these birds play in healthy ecosystems.

Wings of Wonder is also a raptor rehabilitation and release facility. Sick, injured and/or orphaned raptors are admitted for treatment, rehabilitation, and eventual release back to the wild. All raptors are seen and evaluated by a team of participating veterinarians. The primary goal with rehabilitation is to release healthy and strong raptors back into the wild.

Lessard has been a wildlife rehabilitator and educator since 1990. She currently holds rehabilitation permits from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service and is also permitted to possess non-releasable raptors for use in educational programs. In 2009, she received the “Person of the Year” award from Boy Scout Pack 87 of Traverse City; in 2007, she received the Northern Michigan "Environmentalist of the Year" award in Education; and in 2001 was presented the President’s Award by the Michigan Audubon Society for her continuing work with raptors.

For more information on the Wings of Wonder, and Rebecca Lessard, visit www.wingsofwonder.org.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – a unit of the National Park Service. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100.

The Homestead Introduces Sounds of Sleeping Bear Outdoor Mountain-Top Concert Series

Without question, the most scenic locale for an outdoor summer concert is the top of Bay Mountain at The Homestead – a resort in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 2011 Sounds of Sleeping Bear Series features three nights of unique entertainment set against the backdrop of Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Bay and the Manitou Islands to the west and Glen Lake to the east. A special July 28 concert with the Blackthorn Celtic Quartet will also be held in conjunction with the Glen Arbor Art Association’s, Manitou Music festival.

Enjoy a chair lift (or golf cart) ride to the top of the mountain for these spectacular shows:

Friday, July 8 - String Cheese
String Cheese is the electrifying combination of fiddler, Diana Lodio, and cellist, Alison Lynn. With their feel-good melodies, and foot-stomping, rock-influenced rhythms, these girls have put a fresh, enticing spin on Celtic and Americana music. Though rooted in tradition, the two perform on state-of-the-art electric instruments, and offer listeners the unique opportunity to experience two of the world's best-known instruments and oldest genres through a young, progressive lens. The girls put on a fun, polished and family-friendly show that leaves audiences smiling almost as much as the two performers. String Cheese' captivating sounds and ability to connect to all audiences has made it one of Michigan's most promising instrumental acts. www.stringcheesemusic.com

Thursday, July 21 - Will Ready
R&B/Soul singer, Will Ready, has performed in North America, Europe, Japan and The Caribbean and has opened for Chaka Khan, The Temptations, The Whispers and Al Jarreau. He attributes his silky, seductive style to his love for "old school" R&B, Soul, Jazz and hit makers like Smokey Robinson, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Baby Face and Keith Sweat. Will describes his new music as "romantic music with a groove-its food for the soul." Will's live performances invariably turn into dance parties. His infectious energy, joy and deep groove laid down by his excellent band, RMG, make it all but impossible to stay in your seat. When Will Ready plays a club date, his audience quickly becomes part of the act. Ready lives in Atlanta, Georgia in the winter and Traverse City, Michigan in the summer. Ready's new music video, "Seduction" was filmed in the restored village sloop on beautiful Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan. www.willready.com

Sunday, August 14 - Who Hit John?
Performing, jamming, and busking since 2006, Who Hit John? has tenaciously evolved from their beginnings as an old-time string band playing on the street corner for tips. Incorporating Gypsy Jazz, Swing and European flavors into an already eclectic collage of barnstorming old-time originals and traditionals, they blend old-world music with a vibrant breath of excellent and soul. Expect fanciful fiddle and trumpet melodies over a thick core of acoustic rhythm. www.whohitjohn.com

All shows are from 7-9pm, with the chair lift and golf cart rides starting at 6pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available for purchase. In the event of rain, the concerts will be held in Mountain Flowers Lodge.

THEN...

On Thursday, July 28, enjoy the sounds of the Blackthorn Celtic Quartet as part of the Manitou Music Festival on top of Bay Mountain. Based in Detroit, Blackthorn plays throughout the Great Lakes region since 1984. Blackthorn welcomes you to the rich tapestry of Celtic music. Each member of the band plays multiple instruments, which complement the lead vocals of Belfast native Richard McMullen, the band's tight blend of four-part harmony.

The Manitou Music Festival presents exciting and diverse concerts featuring national and regional performers of classical, jazz and fold music in idyllic outdoor and family-friendly locations. Founded in 1991 by members of the Glen Arbor Art Association, the Manitou Music Festival takes place in the pastoral splendor of Leelanau County.

Children are not free for this Glen Arbor Art Association benefit event. Tickets are $15 (Glen Arbor Art Association members receive $2 discount). For information on Manitou Music Festival and to reserve tickets, visit www.glenarborart.org.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – a unit of the National Park Service. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100.

The Homestead Announces Salon Naming Contest

After years of robust growth in its award-winning wedding business, The Homestead will open its first full-service salon this season in The Village, serving men, women and children, but with a special focus on the needs of brides and bridal parties. In keeping with the resort’s tradition of involving its seasonal and local neighbors in new developments, The Homestead is inviting the community to help in naming the new facility.

The salon will offer cuts, color, and nail services, and will specialize in styling services for the many wedding parties and their guests that visit the resort each summer. In addition to refined and traditional wedding hairstyles like the French twist, The Homestead’s team is also working on an array of more casual, modern options to accommodate brides who prefer a rustic or bohemian look, including several styles that will feature an array of seasonal wildflowers from the top of Bay Mountain woven into the hair. Custom floral styles will also be available to complement the bride’s bouquet.

The Homestead is accepting entries for the salon naming contest from now through June 21, 2011, with semi-finalists being selected from each of three different entry periods of two weeks each. Entrants may submit as many ideas as they like by entering online at www.thehomesteadresort.com/name-the-salon-contest or in person at The Homestead.

The winners will be selected in three rounds of judging by a panel from The Homestead, with each round of judging followed by open voting by the public to select semi-finalists. Voting will close on June 28, 2011, and winners will be announced on July 3, 2011, at a reception hosted by The Homestead for all of the semi-finalists in the last round.

Seven different prize packages will be awarded to over one hundred winners, with an approximate retail value of over $15,069 in total prizes being awarded. The Grand Prize winner will receive a deluxe package for eight people, including lunch for the entire group at Cavanaugh’s Deli, dinner at Nonna’s, eight one-month memberships to New Leaf Health & Fitness Center, and a day of beauty at the new salon including three treatments for each guest.

For a complete description of prizes, entry requirements, and relevant dates, please refer to the official contest rules at www.thehomesteadresort.com/name-the-salon-contest/rules.

For more information on weddings and salon services at The Homestead, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5000.

Spring is in the Air at The Homestead – America’s Freshwater Resort in Glen Arbor

"Spring Sip & Savor" Wine Trail Event: April 30-May 1, 2011
Join us for the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association's annual Spring Sip & Savor wine trail event. As our vineyards wake to the sun & warmth of May, we kick off the season with a brunch-themed wine and food pairing at each of the 18 wineries on the wine trail. For added fun, event participants are encouraged to keep their pajamas on when they set out in the morning and try to win one of the prizes that many of the wineries will be offering. In addition to the pajama contest, this year we will be welcoming 'fancy hats' as part of the judging. On Saturday your wine tour begins at any Leelanau Peninsula Vintner’s Association winery of your choice. At your first stop you will receive a souvenir glass that you may use at any winery. You decide which wineries to visit between 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday and 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday.

Package includes lodging two nights in one of our four hotels and couple's ticket to the Sip & Savor tour. Priced from $72 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Hotels include Fiddler's Pond, Little Belle, Stony Brook Lodge, or The Inn.

Great Lakes Spring Eco-Photo Tour: May 6-8, 2011
A favorite Great Lakes Photo Tour for dazzling spring wildflowers! Participants are treated to one of the most naturally beautiful areas in Michigan. The splendor of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the quaintness of the Leelanau Peninsula offer outstanding scenic views of sweeping sand dunes, vast Lake Michigan shorelines and Wyeth-like farm scenes full of blooming cherry orchards, all fresh for the season. From flowing landscapes to artistic close-ups, this tour offers exceptional photographic subject matter and unparalleled guide service to digital ‘snap shooters’ and advanced amateurs alike. All participants will benefit and improve their photography skills by learning from the professional photography team of Mark S. Carlson and Bob Grzesiak.

Complete tour package includes: tuition, two nights' lodging in a Fiddler's Pond guest room. For more information or reservations, please call the Great Lakes Photo Tours at 517.230.1655 or visit Mark Carlson Tours.

"Spring in Bloom" Wine Tasting Weekend: May 13-15, 2011
A best seller...this event includes two nights' lodging, continental breakfast each morning, a tasting tour of three Leelanau County wineries on Saturday with transportation and to-go lunch provided. That evening, you'll enjoy an exquisite five-course winemaker dinner prepared by Chef John Piombo, featuring local wines.

Offered in Fiddler's Pond, Little Belle and The Inn from only $126 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Space is limited. Call 231.334.5100 for reservations.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community, located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – a unit of the National Park Service. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100.

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi.

The Homestead Announces 2011 Winter Sweepstakes

Well, folks, it only happens once in a great while, but it’s that time again… time for Skistakes at The Homestead!

The holidays may be over, but the excitement is just getting started at America’s Freshwater Resort, where this weekend kicks off a whole winter of droolworthy prize giveaways like getaway weekends for two, romantic Italian dinners, and luxuriously long days of pampering at Spa Amira.

“Summer is the most common time of the year for hotels or resorts to run a sweepstakes contest,” says Jamie Jewell, Senior Manager at The Homestead. Instead, says Jewell, “We decided to spice up the winter season with an exciting contest filled with prizes that winners will enjoy in all four seasons. And another thing that makes this sweepstakes so fun is that winners are selected every weekend during January and February.”

Over $5,000 in prizes will be awarded with over the eight-week period, including:

• Day of skiing including lift ticket and ski equipment (four prizes)
• Dinner with Executive Chef John Piombo at Nonna’s (four prizes)
• Day of treatments at Spa Amira (three prizes)
•Eighteen holes of golf and lunch at Manitou Passage Golf Club, winner of Golfweek’s 2010 Best New Golf Course Award (three prizes)
• Couple’s Duet Massage at Spa Amira (two prizes)
• Lift-and-Lodging Weekend that includes dinner at Nonna’s (two prizes)
• Wine Tour Weekend that includes dinner at Nonna’s (one prize)
• Beach Getaway for three days that includes dinner at Café Manitou on Lake Michigan (one Grand Prize)

Anyone can enter the contest by registering online or in locations throughout the resort, like shops, restaurants, the Reception Center and the Ski Ticket Office. And whether you’re visiting The Homestead this winter or not, be sure to enter as many times as you like to maximize your chances of becoming a winner!

Drawings will be held each Sunday during the eight-week event from January 9, 2011 to February 27, 2011, and the lucky winners will be contacted via email and announced at www.thehomesteadresort.com.

Be sure to place your entry today for a chance to visit this incomparable destination: Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community, The Homestead is nestled in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a part of the National Park Service. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; plus shops, restaurants, meeting centers, wedding facilities, and the breathtaking Spa Amira.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100.

Celebrate Spring in Bloom with The Homestead's Wine Tour Weekend (May 14-16)

There’s no better way to welcome spring to Northern Michigan than with a tour of the award-winning wineries of Leelanau Peninsula. The Homestead Resort’s annual “Spring in Bloom Wine Tour Weekend,” May 14-16, this year will visit three wineries on the east coast of the peninsula: Chateau de Leelanau, L. Mawby Vineyards and Shady Lane Cellars.

The package includes two nights’ lodging (in Fiddler’s Pond, Little Belle or The Inn), continental breakfast each morning, and a tasting tour of the three Leelanau Peninsula wineries on Saturday – with transportation and to-go lunch. On Saturday evening, guests will enjoy an exquisite five-course winemaker dinner – featuring local wines – prepared by The Homestead’s Executive Chef, John Piombo. Packages start at $238 per couple, per night.

The Leelanau Peninsula, flanked by Lake Michigan to the west and Grand Traverse Bay to the east, is an ideal grape-growing region – one of four federally recognized American Viticultural Areas in Michigan. The waters of Lake Michigan help with the warming and cooling of the land – a “lake effect” that pairs well with the area’s placement along the 45th Parallel to create a “cool climate” region like no other. Throw in the rolling hills, sprawling vineyards and orchards and quaint charm, and you have the premier scenic destination.

The wineries, all located in Suttons Bay, include:

• Chateau de Leelanau – Experience the fresh allure of Leelanau Peninsula estate wine, handcrafted for your enjoyment – where a love for the vines, a desire to let the grapes speak for themselves and a passion for expressing over a dozen styles of wines, makes this the perfect place to experience award-winning vintages of cold-climate varietals. (www.chateaudeleelanau.com)

• L. Mawby – The first vines were planted here in the spring of 1973. The emphasis is on sparkling wines, both methode champenoise and cuve close. The current annual production is about 8,000 cases, and the winemaking style remains pure – small lots, made with minimal handling. (www.lmawby.com)

• Shady Lane Cellars – Located on a historic 150-acre farm between Traverse City and Suttons Bay on the Leelanau Peninsula and strategically situated to benefit from the meso climate created by Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay, this is a prime vineyard site. (www.shadylanecellars.com)

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community, located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – a unit of the National Park Service. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi.