“Have you really read all those books in your room?” Alaska laughing – “Oh God no. I’ve maybe read a third of ’em. but I’m going to read them all. I call it my Life’s Library. Every summer since I was little, I’ve gone to garage sales and bought all the books that looked interesting. So I always have something to read.”
John Green, “Looking for Alaska”
Head to the Cabaret
One way to beat the heat is to head into a cool theater. We don’t know how cool the Aquinas College of Performing Arts Center will be with the red-hot performance of “Cabaret” being presented by Circle Theatre, but it is worth a try. The timeless classic has been reimagined to tell the story of 1930s Germany through minority voices as it follows the story of American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with cabaret performer Sally Bowles. All of it is set against the backdrop of 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. with a 3 p.m. Sunday, July 25. Tickets for shows are available at circletheatre.org or call 616-456-6656.
Take a Pass
Now through Oct. 31, area residents can get the free digital pass, Craft Pass GR, to visit about 25 different local breweries and distilleries. The pass includes specials for each of those locations and when a patron checks in they have the opportunity to win prizes. The main purpose behind the Craft Pass GR, according to Experience Grand Rapids, is to celebrate the wide range of quality adult beverages offered by the Grand Rapids-based breweries, cideries, distilleries, and meaderies.
The Uninvited Guest
Heading outside for the weekend? Then make sure to grab some mosquito repellant that contains 10 to 35 percent DEET. Why? Because those pesky uninvited guests, mosquitos are on the rise this summer according to the Centers for Disease Control. Mosquitos are known carriers of the West Nile Disease and Eastern Equine Encephalitis or Triple E. While for most people, illness is related to West Nile is rare, according to the Kent County Health Department, it is still advisable to take precautions such as where a mosquito repellant, going in at dusk when mosquitos are activity, and changing water in such items as pools and bird baths.
Fun Fact: Michigan’s Leland Blue
Sounds like a reference to the color of Lake Superior’s water but it is actually the name of a stone, which really isn’t a stone. Leland Blue is slag. Northern Michigan was known for its iron ores and through the process of separating the metal from the ore, the slag (a waste product) was usually put into the Great Lakes. The result is some pretty stones. The most famous place to search for Leland Blue is in Leland, Michigan (which is off of Lake Michigan not Lake Superior), but it can also be found along other Northern Michigan beaches. There are different slag colors depending on the Great Lake and area the mining operation was located. For example, slag from Lake Superior can look green, purple or black.
