Fountain + Park Party + Landing Ship + Goonies =

Hint...

You've got it! Love Muskegon Day. (For Non-Port City Readers: Love (Your City) Day.) A Love day inside of a Love week: How can you not feel the Love? (The love above is at the Monet Garden - of Muskegon. It's a pretty good replica, as I'm sure my French readers will agree. Bonjour, les francais! :) More about the Monet Garden another day...) Today is full of events, listed below, for you to share the love…

If you're still not feeling it, or if you are and you’d like create an even deeper tie to your community, there are some pictures below to help you start, and I have a suggestion. Actually, it’s a request - from me, Imaginer, to you, my fellow traveler, wherever you are: I would like you to spend five minutes thinking about one thing that you’d like to experience in your city. Just one thing that would make it better, make you proud, make you excited about Muskegon/Your Town again. Maybe you’d like to see another Summer Celebration-type event. Perhaps some more businesses downtown. Or maybe you just want a gathering place in your neighborhood...

Whatever it is, it’s possible … in time. Here’s the wonderful thing about Muskegon (and many other places): It’s on the upswing. There’s room (literally and figuratively) for development and dreams and ideas to come to life. So it’s not perfect now – far from it, actually. Well, I can tell you this, Muskegon: You don’t want a perfect place. You really, really don’t. I have lived in a perfect place, the kind where all of the houses are just right and the businesses similar and the tree- and flower-lined streets beautiful and perfectly spaced. Yes, it’s refreshing at first, but then it gets old. And there’s no space for creating something new, something different…

We’ve got that here, Muskegon. This is a place full of natural beauty, and the city and its surroundings are endearing, too. Do they need work? Yes. But that’s better than the alternative … A stagnant place. An unoriginal place. An unimaginative place. Love Muskegon. Love its quirks. Love its imperfection. Love its possibilities … They really are endless. What do you want to see?

While you’re thinking about that, there’s plenty for you to do, free, throughout the day and night, including the following events:

A highly energetic celebration of the work of the Women’s Division and the turning on of the Alcoa Children’s Fountain at noon at Celebration Square in front of the downtown Post Office. The Community Foundation for Muskegon County promises treats and plenty of splashing…

A “Love Your Community” interactive workshop from 2:30-5 p.m. with Peter Kageyama, the co-founder and producer of the Creative Cities Summit. Need some help imagining the possibilities for Muskegon? Check out this 2 ½-hour free workshop.

A Love Muskegon Celebration at Parties in the Park, from 5-9 p.m. in Hackley Park downtown. Peter Kageyama will be here, too, sharing thoughts about Love Muskegon week. Four Finger Five will play the tunes while you hear about loving Muskegon and take in the park’s new landscaping.

The Goonies! (exclamation point added by me) at 10 p.m. on the LST at the Mart Dock downtown. This Movies on Deck season’s first film is the family classic from the ’80s … and it holds up. It’s also a lot of fun to watch outside in a community setting. I did this last year in a “Movies in the Park” event, and there were families, young and old couples, groups of friends of all ages – all having a great time. Movies on Deck is free, but donations are needed to keep the program going. Bring your own chairs or blanket.

Okay, Muskegon and everyone else, as you can see, there’s plenty to love. Thanks for reading. See ya out and about…

--Imaginer

Stop and Love Muskegon...

...And smell the roses ... It's worth it, even if there're some thorns in your side.

You can't make this stuff up…

Gone snurfin'...

So, Muskegon, one of my favorite things about you is your surprising claims to fame. I especially love the kind that people just can’t fathom at first. Here’s one: Try telling someone from Colorado or Norway or Tahoe that the snowboard was invented in a beach town in Michigan. It’s a good way to kill the credibility of anything you say from then on … especially when you add in that the original snowboard was called the Snurfer…

“Who invented it?!” they’ll ask. And if you think answering with “Sherm Poppen” will buy you anything but belly laughs, well, you probably should visit a mountainous state or country. Some of ’em know we ski on garbage dumps, some of ’em don’t. Many of ’em know Michigan is pretty perfectly horizontal when it comes to thinking of mountains or even hills...

Which is why I love that Sherm Poppen invented the Snurfer, the world’s first snowboard, in Muskegon, Michigan, so his daughters could surf the snow-covered dunes in the backyard (the idea of dunes in Michigan often is not easily comprehended, either – kinda like actual beaches on a lake). I adore the fact that the city held National Snurfing Competitions for years. And it just makes it better that the boards were manufactured by the famous bowling company, Brunswick. It’s like a whole sport invented for trivia night.

I’m glad you’re proud of the Snurfer, Muskegon, and I hope you get a big turnout for the Snurfer Sculpture Dedication at 5 p.m. Thursday at the corner of Fourth & Western. It’s a pretty awesome work of art, and, again, makes you wonder what else is being produced here …

I’m sure it’ll be a scrumptious time at the Sushi Snurfertini Social at the Holiday Inn following the ceremony … On the other hand, some prefer to celebrate the warmer months and will spend some time at the Meet the Artists Reception for the “Summer in the Gallery” exhibit at 5-7 p.m. at the Bettye Clark Cannon Gallery in the Hilt Building. The exhibit features paintings, photography, and mixed media works of art.

Just a couple reasons to go downtown, Muskegon – both free (except the Snurfertini Social). Why not check it out? There’s more to see down there every day…

See ya in the center…

--Imaginer

You bet this started in Michigan...

Snurfin' safari...

 Love, and Work, and Play Muskegon...

Free love - and sand.

“Work, love and play are the great balance wheels of man’s being” –Orison Swett Marden

Love inspires us to work hard and to play, enjoying our surroundings. Following work, “Love Muskegon” and I had some fun today visiting several of our favorite sites around the area. It was a great adventure, and “Love Muskegon” even found some friends, as you can see above … and below. Hopefully, views of our adventure open, or re-open, your eyes to the many lovely elements of the Port City, inspire you to have some fun, and make you excited to join in the work of moving Skee-Town forward …

Speaking of working and enjoying life, there’s a Happy Hour for Young Professionals (“young” being what you make it here) at 5-6:30 p.m. at Revel downtown, 900 3^rd Street, Suite 200. What a fun way to meet others putting their talents to work for the community, and share your thoughts – and love! – for Muskegon. If you can’t make it to Revel, there are several other places around town to grab a drink or a bite and get to know your neighbors … Or you can just create your own adventure.

See ya out spreadin’ the love…

--Imaginer

P.S. There are several more events going on Thursday and Friday, some as part of Love Muskegon Week and some separate. Check back here each day for a list, as well as more pictures and thoughts…

Checkin' out the lagoon...

Peekaboo!

Gettin' some exercise...

Going up...

And coming down...

Weeeee!

Don' forget me!

No need to phone home...

Feelin' the burn...

Stuck on third...

Sliding into home...

A disc-golf merry-go-round...

A new friend...

Camouflage...

Psst!

Much-deserved rest.

From Sea to Shining Sea…

Planting the flag...

“If every single American could spend a few days a year contemplating the natural beauty which surrounds us and begs for our attention, half the frustrations and anxieties of our population would disappear overnight.” –Lyndon Baines Johnson

Today, my dear readers, I bring you snapshots of my inspiring hours at the breathtaking Muskegon State Park: A treasure-trove bounded by Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake. A sanctuary of rolling hills and dunes; rambling woods; secluded to wide-open beaches; and views of the hometown lake in its entirety and an expansive swath of the big lake. A land with trails snaking through its various habitats and leading to all kinds of natural surprises … A gift from Muskegon to us. How could you not love it?

See ya in the wild…

--Imaginer

This way to the love...

Muskegon Lake beach.

Love growing in the grass.

Amazing views from the dune ridge...

Like this one...

And this one...

The path to relaxation...

Photo bomb!

Journey into the woods...

Nature's decorating...

Walking tree...

Hi, I'm back!

Who needs the sun?

Look up!

And to the side...

And down ... Why, hello there!

Happy Moonrise Day … and Love Muskegon Week…

The Water Filtration Plant seen in a majestic light...

"The road of life can only reveal itself as it is traveled; each turn in the road reveals a surprise. Man's future is hidden." --Author Unknown

So, Muskegon, tonight’s sunset was only so-so, compared to the shockingly beautiful norm here. But the moonrise? That was phenomenal. It gave that feeling of inspiration that only the most extraordinary sunsets supply … I was so focused on the sun going down in front of me, I almost missed the moon going up behind me…

Which got me thinking, Muskegon: How often do we look for one thing, one prescribed dream, one definition of beauty or fun or perfection – and miss out on something else, something better? How much do we compare ourselves, our lives, our city to those we think are better, and get down on our world?

I think we do it a lot, Muskegon. Which is why it’s so refreshing when we get that wake-up call that what we have is worth celebrating, that it’s okay to want that, and that it can even be better than what we’re supposed to want…

Muskegon is a great place to love; it’s an area ripe for growth; it’s a place that draws people’s interest. Case in point: There are people from around the world checking it out here, each day, via this fledgling blog. From Russia to Malaysia to Saudi Arabia, they’re stopping by to see what Skee-Town is all about … Surely there’s something for everyone to love here…

The group Love Muskegon knows this. It’s putting on a Love Muskegon Week (for Muskegon, not for itself ;). There will be several events, starting Wednesday … For now, the group asks that you take part in a community project: Snap a picture of something you love about Muskegon with the Love Muskegon logo and post it to the Love Muskegon Facebook page. You can also do it without the logo, if you don't see one or don't have a chance to print one out. The point is, capture a scene you love about the area and share it :)

I love this idea … It’s a great way to open your eyes to the beauty around you – and share it with your community. It’s high time we get some momentum going here on the many positives of our beloved city and area … For readers elsewhere, I recommend you do this in your town, too. I have been doing it on my own here and in the place I lived previously, ever since I got my Droid two years ago … It gets you focused on the positive things around you and, often, you notice things you never would otherwise…

So, what do you love about your city? (It’s a fun thought, isn’t it?) Looking forward to seeing your pics…

See you and your camera…

--Imaginer

 Cars and lights and inspiration...

Add some colorful hot rods and you've got a beautiful, vibrant scene...

So, Muskegon, I had to be out of town today (Saturday), but I’ve been discussing events and ideas for improving our beautiful area with community members online. (If you’d like to join the discussion, check out Imagining Muskegon on Facebook). Here are a couple big events going on Sunday:

Hot Rod Power Tour, noon to 6:30 p.m. downtown: Already, Saturday morning, several impressive cars were tooling around the downtown area, and signs and setups blanketed the downtown for this exciting event. And the thing is, you know it’s going to be good, as tour organizers decided they had to come back for the second year in a row.  

Michigan’s 1st Annual West Coast Lighthouse Festival, highlighting the White River Light Station, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington North Breakwater Light, and Big Sable Point Lighthouse, put on by the Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association. Each of these lighthouses, and the paths to them, are truly breathtaking in their own ways. And the closest one, the White River Light Station in Whitehall, will host free outdoor entertainment: a magic show at noon and a 6 p.m. concert by the band The Turnips featuring folk, roots, and rock. If you make it up to Ludington, you can check out the Historic Homes Tour.

The rest of this week is Love Muskegon Week, and I’ll list the activities here tomorrow. In the meantime, check out one or both of these events, both online and in the real world. You never know where you might find some inspiration.

See ya around.

--Imaginer

 On the ever-changing Muskegon...

A perfect storm...

"Such is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of change: the change itself is nothing; when we have made it, the next wish is to change again. The world is not yet exhausted; let me see something tomorrow which I never saw be." --Samuel Johnson

So, Muskegon, I did make it to the beach today – several times. I first went down to Pere Marquette this morning, and it was – well, to be honest – uninspiring. Gray water ran into gray sky and everything was awash in gray … Nothing wrong with gray; it just wasn’t doing it for me. Made it easier to put in a full day of work…

Early this evening, the world outside where I live was still gray, but I decided to go back to the beach on the way to the store and check it out … And, ahhh, it was back to its stunning otherworldliness. After the store, different (and inspiring) still. A couple hours later … Same different thing. Sunset? Most amazing one yet. There was a reflection of the sun over the sun! The real sun then dipped below the clouds, leaving just its bright shadow … 

On the way back, I noticed the sky was the most breathtaking it’d been, so I had to pull into a random parking lot and get another picture…

I think, Muskegon, what this surprisingly gorgeous day was trying to tell me, and us, is to never stop looking for the change, the beauty that will inspire us … Also, that Skee-Town is darned purty. Check it out below.

See ya at the beach sometime.

--Imaginer

A cloud ship...

That's not the sun!

Perfectly swirled pastels...

Moonset.

It just gets better and better...