So much to do, see, be proud of - Right. Now.

They get it.

Muskegon! There's so much going on this weekend! Downtown, along the shoreline, on the water ... First things first: That picture up there. That's of a destination wedding. In Skee-Town...

Take that in a minute. 

Sunk in yet? Some New Yorkers wanted a beach wedding ... They gathered their guests from all over the East Coast, some states out West (Colorado, Nebraska, etc.), and some in the Midwest (Ohio, Illinois, Indiana...) ... and headed to Muskegon.

Yep, Muskegon. Not Mexico, not the Caribbean, not Florida or California ... Muskegon.

Not long before this matrimonial celebration, hundreds of your neighbors gathered downtown for the Muskegon LipDub, part of a Michigan LipDub that Rob Bliss, creator of the famous Grand Rapids LipDub, is putting together...

But back to the wedding. They couldn't have picked a better day, background, or location, really. As you can see, kiteboarders in all their bright-colored glory continually painted the background, and sailboats, catamarans, and even a big ship of myriad hues swept by at various points ... 

You just never know what you're going to find at the channel ... or the beach...

Speaking of that big ship, its name is BBC Lousiana and it was on its way out of Muskegon after delivering some huge wind turbine blades headed for Ithaca ... and it was really something. Drew people out to harbor walls and out of their cars, to get as close as possible and to marvel at the sheer size and beauty of it. The wind blades themselves were also quite the sight, and lured many Skee-Towners down to Heritage Landing while the Louisiana was docked there:

Those huge water slides? Yeah, they're parts of wind turbine blades.

So, the big ship's gone, and what now? How about an awesome movie aboard another large ship? That's right, the LST's got a really good film for its final "Movies on Deck" showing of the summer: Batman. As always, it's free, but donations are appreciated - and bring chairs, snacks, and drinks. The movie starts after the time of day often used to refer to the west side of Michigan: Sunset.

Last night's preview of sunset time.

If you can't make it out to Batman, there's an equally novel and exciting screening event tomorrow night: Movies on the Beach Muskegon will show How to Train Your Dragon. Also free, with donations appreciated. Also at dusk, with the chance to bring chairs, drinks, and snacks. Also the final offering of the MOTBM 2012 series. And with the chance to catch something like this beforehand:

Yes, this is where you live.

If you're more jazzed for something like, well, jazz, the inaugural Lakeshore Jazz Festival will start at 5 p.m. at Heritage Landing. The fest will feature a handful of performers, and ticket prices range from $16.50 to $34.50.

During the day, Roosevelt Park Day will start off with a 5K run and a pancake breakfast (though you probably will need to pick just one of the above) at 8 a.m. A parade will commence at 10 a.m., and at 11 a.m., a "food row", an entertainment tent, and a game area for kids will open. Downtown, Club Envy will hold a Summer Street Party and local business will host "Back to School Days - Friday and Saturday Sales," which will include bargains on much more than back-to-school items...

Back at the beach, the Catamaran Racing Association of Michigan is holding its annual Muskegon Regatta through Sunday. Along with all the colorful kites and sails, the kaleidoscopic catamarans make for a very picturesque scene...

A constantly changing, colorful painting...

Also, Lake Michigan has warmed up again, and is good to go for swimming. Who knows if that'll happen again when the weather turns, so might as well make use of it...

See ya around, sooner than later...

--Imaginer

Awe-inspiring work of nature And Man (and Woman)

It's always a treat to see a large ship come through the channel. And, of course, watching the sunset over the water is always sweet. Combine the two and it's extra magical. Sunday, people from all across the state and the country watched the sunset over the beach and the channel, and observed the "Integrity," a LaFarge ship, come in ... Not only are these always beautiful sights, they inspire feelings of togetherness and connectedness, as we ooh and ahh over the magnificent work of both nature and people.

Where was everybody from? Well, I stood along the channel with people from Ontario, North Carolina, Illinois, Florida, and other parts of Michigan ... Earlier in the day, in one sweep of the beach, I spotted license plates from Vermont, Colorado, South Carolina, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Georgia, Minnesota, and Virginia. And, of course, the Michigan plates probably included some out-of-towners...

Seems people are discovering our little corner of the world. And it's about time, wouldn't you say? Makes me smile every time I think about it...

Here are some shots from last night's awe-inspiring display. Enjoy. See ya out there with our neighbors from near and far...

--Imaginer

Jammin' on the boat, the beach, and with the Moose...

Makes ya wanna grab a boat, no?

Well, Muskegon, it may feel like fall already, but the abundance of fests going on this weekend prove summer is still going Strong in the Port City...

Lake Effect Boat Time 2012, a celebration of maritime activities, starts today off with a "Community Paddle" event at 10 a.m. Bring your boat, unload at 9:30 a.m. and depart at 10 ... 

Throughout the day, LEBT will host several boat-themed activities, including a Historic Ship Tour Package. Later on, at 7-10 p.m., LEBT's signature activity, the "Sunset Boat Jam," will bring live, Jimmy Buffet-style music to the LST 393 for a rockin' time in the cove by the Mart Dock. The LST deck opens at 6 p.m. for the free celebration. Bring your own beverage, chairs, and food to the LST - or bring your own boat to the cove...

"We want to get a bunch of boaters down in that cove. It's not just a musical jam, but a way to show Muskegon residents and boaters that this is their community," organizer Roger Zuidema said.

Lake Effect  Boat Time will continue on Sunday with events such as a Boat Bash Meetup at 1 p.m.

If spending time on the beach is more what floats your boat, the Muskegon Multicultural Beach Festival will include music, dancing, a beach walk, and a sand-sculpting contest, among many other events ... The festival, which will include vendors and exhibitors, is free, with some events costing a small fee. If you participate in the MMBF, you'll be part of something much bigger than a day at the beach. Check this out: "MMBF is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that celebrates the land, lakes, rich diversity and culture that exist in Muskegon, while promoting the ideals of Healthy Lifestyles, Sustainability, Economic Development, Diversity, and Lifelong Learning. Our hope is to Educate, Empower and Entertain." Wow, now that's a mission statement...

Add some culture to this natural beauty: Perfection.

The Muskegon Multicultural Beach Festival also will extend into Sunday, with activities such as a "Gospel Explosion."

So, what else could possibly be going on, you ask? How about Moose Fest, an all-day country music bash at Heritage Landing? With artists like Rodney Atkins, Randy Houser, and Jessie James? It's happening, and you can hear it - with a slight catch: If you don't have tickets, you can't get into the concert venue, but you CAN bring a boat as part of LEBT's Raft-Up, or you can hear some tunes from the bike path that goes right by...

There's always the sky over Heritage Landing, too...

All of these events came out of the imagination, dedication, and hard work of community members. They're all unique to Muskegon, and they've all got distinctive characteristics ... Check 'em out. You never know where you'll find some inspiration...

See ya out jammin'.

--Imaginer