September 12, 2018
With school back in session and as the climate cools into the beginnings of fall, we take a big sigh and enjoy the peace of Downtown Petoskey. The pace slows to a meander or saunter, parking seems more available, and locals begin to gather once more at the local pubs.
If you’ve ever wanted a time when logistics of a road trip became less logistical, now’s the time. There are rooms available and shops having sales. There are open reservations at restaurants and more room to squeeze down an isle at the bookstore. The Farmer’s Market on Howard Street every Friday morning provides the harvest of the late summer and early autumn, and you can enjoy your bounty gazing at Lake Michigan as the sun angles change, and you can watch the fleecy clouds float high above casting artful shadows on azure waters below.
Yes, September is the best month to visit according to many, but that doesn’t mean we’ve gone to sleep after rolling up the sidewalks. The Petoskey District Library has a long list of events, as does Crooked Tree Arts Center and don’t forget the weddings! Downtown Petoskey has become wedding central in the North. If you’d like to plan a rehearsal or ceremony, this time of year is perfect. The planners can get you on the 2019 calendar or beyond to assure you the plans take hold and that there is plenty of time to make changes as they arise.
If you’re a lover of books, McLean & Eakin schedules authors making their way through town on national or regional tours, so you may meet the writers and get up close and personal in the intimate settings provided.
Two new venues in town to explore include the Grain Train Market Café at 316 E. Mitchell Street. As an extension of the Grain Train Organic Co-op down the street, the Market provides “fresh fare featuring delicious, responsibly-sourced ingredients.” And the other is “The Back Lot” behind Tap 30 and Pour. A newly minted mix of beer garden and food trucks highlights a complete re-do of the street scene on Michigan, one block south of Mitchell Street. You’ll find plenty of seats, plenty of food, and combined open air and covered environs.
And last but not least, the parks are green and shade trees full so you can lollygag on a quiet afternoon before heading to the Perry Hotel and enjoy a glass of wine on their fabled porch.
Whatever you may choose to enjoy, September is an optimal month for pleasant visits without the hubbub of the summer season. Take a deep breath and enjoy Downtown Petoskey as it glows into the fall.
