Discover St. Joseph

There are two great public locations in St Joseph devoted to the arts, the Krasl Art Center (which I've mentioned numerous times on this blog) and the Box Factory for the Arts . We've been to the Box Factory several times now and I'm at a loss to explain why I haven't written about it before. But, evidently I haven't. The Box Factory is currently hosting an exhibit that has me all excited. It's called, SHOOT!, and it's an all-photography exhibit... a first for the Box Factory. The Box Factory is dedicated to featuring local artists from Berrien County and Michiana and this exhibit features photographers from Berrien County and Michiana. And the best part of it, in my opinion, is that it's an "open" show. In this case "open" means it's not a juried show, your art work doesn't have to be judged as "good enough" to be a part of the show. It's open to all levels of photographers from those using cell-phone came...

It's as if the lake is poised and waiting for the sunbathers, sailboaters, and swimmers. Memorial Day weekend is the traditional beginning of the summer season and the time when everyone's thoughts turn to the beach. We have one of the best, here in St Joseph. It was bare of beach goers this morning but then it is just Friday and many are still at work waiting for the weekend to begin. The weather forecast is for a very hot weekend (temps near or above 90 all three days) but the lake water is still quite cold (upper 50s). Whether you are a beach lover or not, there is plenty happening in St Joseph this weekend. The Senior PGA Championship is being held at Harbor Shores this weekend. The community has been abuzz about this event for months now. Yesterday was the first of the four days of the tournament. The picture above was taken this morning showing the leader board after yesterday's rounds. The golfers were at it again today with much more pleasant weather (very...

Last evening D and I had the pleasure of dining at St Joseph's newest restaurant, RyeBelles. It opened last week and this is the first opportunity we had to check it out. RyeBelles is located at 518 Broad Street, on the 2nd level just above Bloomies and Cabanas. You enter here and can take the stairs or the elevator to the second floor. RyeBelles is on the right and the Cassava Restaurant is on the left. As soon we entered the restaurant we were greeted by the hostess and seated immediately. The first thing we noticed about RyeBelles was that it's a "bring your date" restaurant not a "bring your kids" spot. The place is tastefully decorated in a subtle, dark, intimate way. With its black ceiling, dark wood walls, and dim lighting (we arrived just at 5pm as they were dimming the lights), it sets the mood for a relaxed dining experience. And in the middle of the room, making a statement by taking up most of the room, is the bar. We were seate...

St Joseph has a butcher , a baker , and as of April 2011 they have a Candlestick Maker too. We have none other than owner and operator, Judi Benninghoff to thank for that. The Candlestick Maker shop is located at 408 State Street in downtown St Joseph, across the street from St Joseph Today . There is street parking available in front of the store or you can park in a free parking lot just a few doors south of the store. The first thing you'll notice when you enter the shop is a wonderful scent. That comes from the wide array of fragrances available for sale. There are many scented oils and scented candles... and holders and diffusers to display them. In addition to the scented items, The Candlestick Maker features a great selection of nautical decor items at very reasonable prices. What better place to grab a souvenir while you're visiting a Lake Michigan harbor town? It goes without saying that the shop also has "a little bit of this and a little bit of tha...

I'm sad to think that I've attended the last of St Joseph's Venetian Festivals. The festival organizers have decided to call it quits after a survey of St Joseph residents and shop owners indicated they were not in favor of the city continuing financial support of the event. I wish I understood what this was about. All the comments I've read (in local newspapers and online) were rather vague about what the problems were. I guess it doesn't matter now. What's done is done. It seems a real shame that the issues/differences couldn't be worked out. For me, the Venetian Festival marked the middle of summer. With it came the longest days, the hottest weather... the very best that summer in Southwest Michigan had to offer. It was the climax of summer in St Joseph. I will miss the festival. I have fond memories and lots of great pictures and for that I'm grateful.

Each year, the Krasl Art Center hosts the Concours on the Bluff as one of it's fundraisers. The event is held in mid August and it draws quite a crowd. Any and all car enthusiasts will enjoy this event. There are automobiles on display from every decade. It cost $5/person or $10/family to get in to the Concours event which is held at Lake Bluff Park across the street from the Krasl. There are all sorts of cars on display. Whatever your interest, there are bound to be vehicles to suit you. It's fun to compare the cars from one decade to another. From the beginning... ... to this current 2011 model Chevy Volt. This show had it all! From the elegant... ... to the more casual ride. There were some pretty unusual vehicles... ...for every taste and budget. And there were lots of old favorites, like this one. My dad had one just like this except in white. Boy did seeing this bring back memories! And then there was this baby... I wish I had memories of this Cam...

Day Four Today's breakfast was at the lake, but not at the beach. I'll treat you to a different view of beautiful Lake Michigan this time. This is the view from Lookout Park along Red Arrow Highway. I really should do a panorama view from this park one of these days. But until then, here's another view. The fish must have been biting in the area because you can see several groups of fishing boats clustered on the lake. And you can see the lighthouses from here too even though this area is about 3 miles from downtown. St Joseph is without a doubt the most patriot town I've ever seen. Most of the houses in town fly the American flag for the holiday. Lake Bluff Park is lined with flags, as are the cemeteries around town. And one of the many activities in town on the Fourth of July Parade featuring the area children. The parade started at 10:30am and went down State Street. Some rode bikes... Pulled wagons... Walked dogs... Were pulled in wagons... Or walked w...