Today
Wax ’em up skiers and snowboarders, because Marquette Mountain opens today!
Better late than never, and in these times, never is always a possibility.
Though the pandemic tends to put a drag on everything, it’s the weather that’s been holding things up this year. Upper Midwest ski hills like to be open by Thanksgiving, expect to be open by mid-December, and pray to be open for the Christmas – New Year holiday week… that is if they hope to finish the white season in the black.
The natural stuff hasn’t been much more than a tease, but below-freezing temperatures, particularly at night, have allowed the snow making machinery to do its job.
Not all runs are open yet, and lodge services are limited, but most skiers will probably be happy just to know the season is underway. Of course with social distancing in vogue, après ski may have to wait a while.
But absent any unforeseen restrictions, it’s all downhill from here. (Sorry.)
Check the Marquette Mountain website to review their COVID-19 protocols and how to secure lift tickets.
Tonight
Leave it to the Digs brothers to come up with a timely fundraiser… Holiday Hoopla for the Hospitality Industry.
According to Co-Digneit Pat, they wanted to do something for the servers and tenders who’ve been severely affected by the industry’s slowdowns and shutdowns.
Tonight from 5 to 10 at Digs City Beach (the outdoor area behind Digs) they’ll be handing out more than $3,000 worth of grocery gift cards, plus some holiday hams & turkeys, generously donated for the cause. Hospitality guests just need to show proof of industry employment (or pandemic unemployment) to get in on the goodies.
Says Digneit, “With limited or no indoor dining, it’s hard for frontline employees to get hours. So with support from a bunch of other area businesses we’re happy to be able to do something like this.”
There’s little question that restaurants and bars have taken the brunt of the COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state on small businesses. When your only option for dining out is pickup in the parking lot, employers don’t need nearly as many employees.
And there’s more to it than just rent money. It seems that service industry folks are people people.
“Aside from the obvious negative financial impacts, our staff has been mostly affected because they’re social people, which is why they’re so well liked by our guests,” says Sonia Stucko of Stucko’s and Breakers. Now that you mention it, regulars on the drink and dine circuit probably look at their servers more as first-name friends than anything else.
And though we notice it more in those eateries we typically frequent, hotel workers are victims of the downturn as well.
“This has been a challenging year for hoteliers with the ever-changing landscape of travel,” says Susan Estler of Travel Marquette. Less occupancy means fewer beds to be made.
While we wait for the arrival of the vaccine, Holiday Hoopla for the Hospitality Industry might be just what the doctor ordered for some neighbors sorely in need.
Everyone’s welcome to come down and enjoy the festivities. Donations to the cause will be gladly accepted. Maybe we’ll see you there!
Also Tonight
Don’t want to leave the house but don’t want Saturday night to pass by without an effort?
Well, just for you, the Ore Dock Brewing Company presents local favorite Jeff Daniels… Online & Unplugged! It’s tonight at 8pm, live… in your living room.
Daniels, an Emmy award-winning actor, director, and singer/songwriter will present an intimate concert experience full of original songs, personal stories that only he can tell, and probably plenty of laughs.
It’s also a fundraiser for the Vista Theater.
According to the Ore Dock’s Kris Wierenga, Daniels’ management company reached out to see if the local brewpub would be interested in hosting a virtual concert.
Uh, yeah! And here’s where some serendipity came in to play.
Says Wierenga, “While this was all in the works, we heard about the Vista’s roof collapse. We reached out to Rusty Bowers and it turns out that their stage was set for “Escanaba in da Moonlight” right when Covid shut us all down.”
“Escanaba in da Moonlight” is the entertainer’s feature film depicting the pitfalls and pratfalls of life at a U.P. deer camp. Daniels, who grew up in the Lower Peninsula, got his U.P. chops through marriage. As it turns out, he looks pretty good in flannel.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the movie, or Jeff’s music, or Jeff’s Hollywood career, or anything else Daniels-related, during an audience Q&A following the show.
Tickets, $15, are available at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/jeffdanielsoredockdec19/register
The Lash Lounge
Baraga Street continues to evolve… for the better. The most recent addition is The Lash Lounge, now occupying the space formerly held by the Queen City Running Company, which has moved across the street.
The Lash Lounge, owned and operated by Stacy Burress, has been around since 2017, but until now… cleverly hidden somewhere on Wright Street.
A shutdown during the pandemic offered the perfect time to make the move. After some remodeling to accommodate their needs, they opened downtown in September.
Did I mention that The Lash Lounge is not a bar? Nope. Stacy and her professional associate Katie Shirk specialize in the art of the body. (My words, not theirs.)
They offer all lash and waxing services… specializing in brows, full body waxing, and spray tan.
Burress is happy with the change of address. “I think the new location is perfect. Downtown, easy access and great parking! We’ve been getting increasingly busy since the move and are looking to add more staff.”
In an industry that always seems to be on the cutting edge, Burress sees The Lash Lounge as a local leader. “We plan on staying current with all the trends in this industry and adding more services in the future.”
Stacy and Katie have all the training and certifications necessary to fulfill their own professional goals. According to Burress, “Making women feel beautiful is our passion!”
And as everyone knows, you can only look as good as you feel. (Yeah. My words again.)