Michigan & Interlochen

 

Miles Takes Interlochen

 

 

           We’ve enjoyed watching grandson Miles dancin’ & singin’ since he started tap dancing at, what, 5 years old? That has broadened into a variety of musicals (e.g., Annie, Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man) at the 92^nd Street Y in NYC, a major cultural center where his mother Anthea was on staff for a while. He had some summer fun for a few years near us at Siena College Dance Camp (while brother William was at their Soccer Camp), as I was recently reminded by a Facebook “memory” video of him tap dancing 7 years ago. Miles’ path to Broadway has continued at Talent Unlimited, a high school in Manhattan specializing in the performing arts, where he’s headed into his junior year. Now another rung on the ladder this summer: Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan.

Since 1928 Interlochen has “offered an immersive arts experience . . . nestled between two pristine lakes and surrounded by quiet pines.” 3000+ students grades 3-12 participate in summer camp programming and education in 7 disciplines: creative writing, dance, film & new media, interdisciplinary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. [Parenthetically, there’s also Interlochen Arts Academy, where “young artists find the high school they may only have imagined possible.” After Miles was accepted for the summer we reminded him that Anthea had gone there for the summer following her junior year in high school and wound up staying to finish high school. Miles response: “Yeah, but do you know how much it costs!” They have been trying to recruit him – tenors are in high demand. Should we start a GoFundMe for Miles?]

This is turning into a family gathering. My brother Doug & sister-in-law Ann live in Midland MI and have a 2^nd house in Charlevoix about an hour from Interlochen. We’ll fly into nearby Saginaw to connect with them. Anthea and her dad Brian are driving out from NYC; they will join us and Doug & Ann in Charlevoix as our base for the week. Anthea’s mom Pamela is also driving from Canada in her camper van with dog & cat. [Other grandson William is staying in Queens with granddog Arlo. Dad Matt is finishing a stint in Classical Tahoe Festival.]

We’ve been having rather oppressive heat & humidity, tho not the 100+ temps across the country from Phoenix to Minneapolis. Plus lotsa’ rain; seems like if it’s not raining it’s time to mow the lawn. On Sunday dry & cooler weather comes in, dropping 10-15º from the Northeast to Great Lakes. Fingers crossed that will continue. Meanwhile we accomplish a few things before the trip: finish streaming 2 enjoyable seasons of The Morning Show with Jennifer Aniston & Reese Witherspoon, just as they’re hit by COVID (remember those days?); I cut the grass; Marjorie makes bread & butter pickles.

 

Wed., August 2: “Happy Birthday!”

We wake up to a bright just about full moon. Short drive to the airport's E-Lot & shuttle, everything "On Time." Very busy, especially considering it's only 4:30am, but thank-you "TSA Pre," we walk past a very long security line stretching back to the parking garage. A young woman comes up without the pass, "But my flight leaves in 20 minutes!" – the reply: "Well, you're going to miss it." Past one of the new Chick-Fil-As in town that have sparked a chicken sandwich war. Also by pretty art & history installations, and a colorful pre-sunrise. 

On-time departure. Marjorie's in-flight magazine has interesting drawings & messages from a prior passenger. Sunny in Chicago, a bit of a hike to our connecting gate but time to spare. Flight not full so Marjorie moves to a window seat for the 35 minute flight, over L Michigan and then tidy manicured farms as we descend to MBS Airport (for the tri-city area of Midland, Bay City, Saginaw below an arm of L Huron), Doug waiting outside. To Midland, greeted by sister-in-law Ann, their daughter Katie, and dogs Mija & Cindy.

A quick lunch, pulled pork and some Texas treats- Sweet Soulshine pickles & bourbon BBQ sauce- courtesy of their son Greg in Houston. Doug & Ann are then off to a PM workshop on balance, something we can all use. Doug's pertinent joke: "Old accountants never die, they just lose their balance." Marjorie heads out to some of the many resale shops here, seeking frames for her miniature art. I enjoy being surrounded by Ann's beautiful & fanciful creations, and a brief nap.

We take everyone out to Lucky's Steakhouse for Doug's BD dinner. A busy place, and noisy - we're next to what we learn is a Little League team from Iowa here for a tournament game. Lots of tasty leftovers for tomorrow. Back home, a BD carrot cake by Katie.

 Thursday, August 3: “Forest and Flowers”

Up early for a stroll thru the neighborhood, low sun (we're at the western edge of the time zone), pretty trees & flowers. After my pre-colonoscopy phone interview we go to Lannie's for brunch. A nice spot, relocated after flooding in 2020. Yum: raisin bread French toast, biscuits with gravy (this seems a regional thing), and other good stuff.

Then I get a turn driving the big hybrid Highlander, to City Forest Park for a nice hike thru beautiful trees, undergrowth, flowers. Meanwhile, Marjorie solves today's Wordle in only 2 steps! 

We can't go to the Arts Center - only open Friday-Sunday. I head to Dow Gardens. Beautiful as usual, tho a rather warm PM. What's new? Rows of colorful scarecrows near the Children's Garden. Most of the day spent chatting. Dinner of mostly leftovers from last night. Marjorie goes thru Ann's leftover art stuff to find beads and other things she can use. We try to figure out how to schedule things, especially meals, over the weekend. 

 Friday, August 4: “Northwoods”

Another sunny am to head north. Forecast for tomorrow: "times of clouds and sun." Really going out on a limb! I take in the view from the back porch, lush with trees & ferns underneath. In the news: campaigning in NH Florida's DiSantis talks about "slitting throats" of federal workers; how clueless - several federal agencies increased security last year and put workers on alert after a rash of threats against workers. Heavy rain in northern NY.

We head out in a 2-car caravan north, following Doug & Ann with GPS backup. Whoo-Hoo! Speed limit 75! Signs for “Puff Cannabis Company” and other “recreational cannabis” outlets; an interesting juxtaposition: surrounded by Trump MAGA territory. Very flat woodsy countryside, seems like the Adirondacks without the mountains. Past a military camp at Grayling. “Stuff UR Stuff” storage space.  Shirley’s In the Woods Café outside Kalkaska for brunch, a Northwoods smorgasbord: Northwoods Soda Root Beer, beef pasties with gravy, cinnamon swirl pancakes, cranberry bread French toast (but, sadly, no loaves). Thru town, seems like Wisconsin, just needs a Big Ass Bass . . . and there it is, well, a Big Ass Trout sculpture! Into fruit country, apple & cherry orchards, vineyards. Tipperary Lane dirt road to Doug & Ann’s northern getaway just south of Charlevoix, a distant view of the lake from their deck.

A short drive to King Orchard U-Pick & Market. It’s past cherry season, but we get a small cherry pie & loaf of “pie bread.” 

Dinner on the porch at Torch Lake Inn, flatbread all around. We overlook a truck with Arizona plates “GRUMBLE.” A couple of men with full white beards; from Midland’s Santa School? 

Marjorie & I head into Charlevoix, find parking with time on the meter right by the marina! A beautiful evening to stroll around the marina & waterfront park, spectacular hanging flower baskets along the main street. Heading out of town there’s a Culver’s. Marjorie shows remarkable restraint, no turtle sundae tonight. A beautiful sunset view from the deck. Traverse City Cherry Fudge ice cream to finish off a lovely day,

 

Saturday, August 5: “Art and Music”

            A cool AM, mix of sun & clouds. In the news: the “Barbie” movie passes $1 billion ticket sales in 3 weeks. Light breakfast of tasty pie bread toast. 

Marjorie & I explore 2 nearby galleries. WOW! For both. We encounter Ray Bier, owner of Menagerie in an old church, in the parking lot. With a smile he says “I’ll open just for you” and shows us around the eclectic & whimsical animal sculptures of his mentor, Todd Warner, who passed away in 2022 – “Humor was his fate.” 

On to Bier Art Gallery & Pottery Studio, in a turn-of-the-century red schoolhouse. “Diverse and unique” creations of 60+ artists in an “inviting” interior. 

Not done yet. The Public Library is another WOW! In a school building designed in 1927, purchased vacant in 2004 and opened 2006 after interior design work to strip down and rebuild, only a few original items remaining (e.g., Batchelder tiles, created by & named for a leader in the American Arts and Crafts Movement, in the main corridor). A handout gives the history of each room; e.g., the main reading room was the gym, the new book area a stage. 

Past a stone “LEGO” family along the road. A stop at Culver’s for, well, let’s call it lunch, small turtle sundae (M) & chocolate shake (R).

            A comfy day, mid-70s, nice sun as we head south back thru orchard country, via Elk Rapids & Traverse City some 50 miles to Interlochen. Big fields of sunflowers, all facing the sun, sailboats and a parasailer in Grand Traverse Bay. 

We wander around the large Interlochen Center for the Arts campus, tucked between Green & Duck Lakes. Tall trees, flowers, young people in light blue shirts. Open-air auditoriums, an orchestra warming up, colorful flags representing students from 40 countries, pretty lakeshore. Certainly more upscale than the Massaweepie Boy Scout Camp I went to in the Adirondacks. 

A chat with a friendly volunteer leads to a very informative tour in a riding cart, just the 2 of us with a staff person. Dormitories & sleeping cabins, practice cabins, costume shop with some 15,000 costumes, buildings for the Academy (high school) now used by summer staff (600 staff for 3000+ campers over the summer). 

Campers doing sidewalk chalk painting. At the end our friendly guide gives us tokens for ice cream for being such good passengers; we give them to Miles, who gives one to a girl who just had her 15^th birthday.

            We join Miles for a cafeteria dinner (free!). Anthea & Brian arrive just as we’re waiting in line, but they skip dinner to head to Doug & Ann’s. A beautiful evening, sun glistening off the lake. We have tickets for the evening show of the musical “Ragtime” in Cordon Auditorium fronted by a sculpture of grizzly & black bear together, representing peace & harmony. The musical, based on a novel by E. L. Doctorow, intertwines 3 groups, upper-class white suburbanites, African Americans, and Eastern European immigrants, and incorporates such historical figures as J. P. Morgan, Henry Ford, Harry Houdini, and Booker T. Washington. The story is quite dark, with surprises at the end. Miles sings & dances up a storm in the Ensemble, his “star turn” a scene set at a baseball game (“What a Game”) – he has a short speaking part, very animated gesturing, and even choreographed spitting. It’s another WOW! Such incredible talent, hard to believe they are high school students. A short walk to the car thru an administrative building lined with student art. Back to Charlevoix, slowed by heavy traffic around Elk Rapids; due to Harbor Days, we learn later. Anthea & Brian found the house OK, in a surprise joined by Pamela camped in the driveway, all asleep by the time we return.

Sunday, August 6: “Driving and Music Reprise”

            Pretty AM sun, a good view of Lake Michigan, the driveway now full of vehicles. I join Doug for a supply run to nearby Eastport Market, passing 3 deer along the highway. Now a 3-vehicle caravan to return to Interlochen. First a stop for brunch at Ames Street Café in Elk Rapids, a nice spot to eat outside. Doug takes the wheel today, giving me photo ops along the pretty drive: a repeat of sunflower fields, sculptures of a spotted rhino & mastodon, Greek Orthodox church with gleaming copper roof. Doug points out when we cross the 45^th-parallel, ½-way between the Equator & North Pole. 

Back on the Interlochen campus, more views of student art, Chapel & pond with heron sculpture & little goldfish, impressive Music Center, Corson Auditorium with interesting interior. 

I find the Alumni Path of Inspiration, with bricks donated by such alums as Josh Groban & Norah Jones; nothing yet from Anthea. We all have tickets for the “Ragtime” matinee. Waiting to enter we meet a man from Pittsford who owns property on Bonnie Brae in Brighton where Doug & I grew up. Marjorie & I enjoy the show even more the 2^nd time. One of the leads has to rush to catch a plane; hope he makes it. We all connect with Miles afterward, amid hugs & tears with other campers.

           

Pamela starts her journey home. Anthea & Brian stay to help Miles pack up; they’ll all be back to Charlevoix tonight. The rest of us head back, stopping at bright pink Don’s Drive-In for dinner in the midst of a resort stretch along Grand Traverse Bay; Doug has a cherry milk shake! Another pretty evening, comfy mid-70s again today, pretty sunset back home. Anthea, Brian, & Miles stay for a last concert, returning to Charlevoix late & hungry. Miles comes in to another round of applause.

 

Monday, August 7: “Back Home”

            I go out for a walk down Sheepshead Lane as the sun is coming up. Pretty sky, weeds & cattails along the road, a couple of deer check me out from a distance. I make a run to Eastport Market to get supplies for Marjorie to make breakfast for all, and gas up the Highlander. 

Another lovely day, mix of sun & clouds, mid-70s. In the news: DiSantis, speaking of Trump and the 2020 election, says “of course he lost.” Pence has asserted Trump asked him to “overturn the election.” But will anything make a difference? Locally, right-wing Proud Boys gather in Saratoga. And the US women are eliminated from the World Cup in a shootout with Sweden. Driving back, we pass a big water tower at Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, fields of corn & sugar beets.

            After a brief packing stop in Midland and hug goodbye to Katie, back to MBS Airport, very quiet as predicted, tho our flight is almost full. We depart on time for the 43-minute “wheels up to wheels down” flight. A bit early to O-Hare, but the board says “delayed” due to “air traffic control.” As the delay stretches on a bit we decide to use United Lounge passes from our credit card to be more comfortable, with food & wine. We eventually depart & arrive in Albany a little over an hour late at 10:45pm. It’s raining! First rain we’ve seen the whole trip. Next morning Marjorie heads into the den to relax with coffee & newspaper … but the chair is soaking wet! A roof leak! Welcome home.

 A lovely, relaxing visit. Best weather of the summer. Impressive music & art. And such a nice family gathering. Thanks to Doug & Ann for their hospitality, and good to see Katie. We haven’t seen Brian & Pamela in quite a while, and it’s been many years since Doug & Ann have seen them or Miles. We should do this more often!