So other than that, how was the rest of the show?

Damn good, thank you very much.

Green Day made news on Wednesday night, Sept. 4, when the punk trio abruptly halted its concert at Detroit’s Comerica Park, rushing off the stage during just the fifth song, “Longview.” The crowd of just under 41,000 initially continued singing the lyrics but fell quiet — with some chants for Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff. A “Show Pause. Please standby for details” message eventually appeared on the video screen.”

Detroit police confirmed that an unauthorized drone had entered the baseball stadium’s airspace, with security calling the band offstage. The man flying it was apprehended and Green Day returned after a 10-minute break, with frontman Billie Joe Armstrong asked fans, “How you doing? We’re gonna pick up where we left off.” He also urged them to put their cell phones away, saying, “Pull ’em out later. Let’s be here right now.”

After finishing “Longview” and tearing through “Welcome to Paradise,” Armstrong added, “Ain’t no mother… that’s gonna stop us, I’ll tell you that.” And later in the show Green Day posted a social media message apologizing for the delay, explaining that, “Stadium security had us clear the stage while they dealt with a potential safety issue. DPD quickly resolved the situation, and we were able to continue. Thanks for understanding.

Green Day did not stop for the rest of the night, delivering a characteristically epic — and excellent — two-and-a-half-hour performance that commemorated anniversaries of the group’s two biggest albums, 1994’s “Dookie” and 2004’s “American Idiot”, by playing both in their entirety. Green Day filled out the rest of the concert with a selection of other favorites, including five from its latest album, “Saviors,” and a rendition of “Brain Stew” that Armstrong teased into with guitar licks from Black Sabbaths’ “Iron Man” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets.”

“Tonight is not about a political party,” Armstrong declared during a ferocious “Letterbomb” from “American Idiot,” a topical takedown of the George W. Bush era that remains wholly relevant 20 years later. “It’s not even a party. This is a celebration!”

But there was certainly a party spirit throughout a night that, via opening performances from Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid that affirmed the continuing potency of alternative rock from the 90s. (The Linda Lindas, which came on first, are more contemporary but cut from the same cloth.) Whether it was “Ruby Soho” or “Today” and “Tonight, Tonight” (or the Pumpkins’ cover of U2’s “Zoo Station”), there was nothing at all dated about the performances by musicians well past their mosh days but still fierce of spirit.

That’s been Green Day’s stock in trade forever, from early 90s club appearances to a 2021 show also at Comerica. Wednesday’s concert was filled with the irreverent attitude and boisterous spirit that’s still dear to Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, drummer Tre Cool — all in their early 50s now — and their three adjunct players. The 37-song set was marked by a Boy Scout jamboree’s worth of fire and pyrotechnics, occasional confetti showers and colorful visuals, and it was preceded by the usual hijinks — crowd singalongs to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop,” the latter led by a crew member dressed in a bunny outfit.

The show did have an interesting kind of restraint, however. There was plenty of energy — the group had the stadium grandstands shaking at several points — but less of the pure schtick Green Day also trades on. The focus was more squarely on the music, the band seemingly more interested in delivering the dynamically sophisticated songs with tight and explosive power — even quieter tracks such as “Are We the Waiting” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” “American Idiot” was particularly strong, with songs strung together in seamless fashion.

Green Day opened with the new, and on-point, “The American Dream is Killing Me” and was quickly into “Dookie,” pulling out deep cuts such as “Having a Blast,” “Pulling Teeth,” “Sassfras Roots,” “In the End” and “All By Myself,” which Cool sang in a bathrobe. The “American Idiot” recitation similarly brought out less-heard material, including “She’s a Rebel,” “Extraordinary Girl,” “Homecoming” and “Whatsername,” with Armstrong substituting “Michigan” in the title line of “Give Me Novocaine.”

Armstrong also brought a young woman on stage to sing part of “Know Your Enemy” with the band, and he used “American Idiot’s” “Holiday,” which he introduced as “an anti-war song,” as a rally call for fans to vote in November. (The Linda Lindas, however, were the only one of the four bands to reference Donald Trump specifically — and, of course, pejoratively).

Green Day finished per usual, with Armstrong alone on stage, singing its 1997 hit “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” as a lullaby-style send-off. He could rest assured that fans did indeed have the time of their lives, and it’s to Green Day’s credit that the rest of the show eclipsed the drama that happened early on.

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Avril Lavigne was just 17 when she released her first album, “Let Go,” and 18 when she had her first hit, “Complicated.” But she was already invested in a music career long game.

“I have looked forward to having a greatest hits tour since I was first starting out,” says the Ontario-born Lavigne, now 39, who’s in the midst of exactly that kind of trek this year following the release of a new “Greatest Hits” album in June. “I love and am so proud of all the music I have put out over the past 22 years, but there is something super special about having a setlist that is all hits and knowing that these songs really resonated with people not only when the songs were first released, but consistently over the years.”

Lavigne has a lot to show for those years — six more albums and Top 10 hits such as “I’m With You,” “My Happy Ending” and “Girlfriend,” record sales of more than 40 million worldwide, 10 Canadian Juno Awards and an Order of Canada Honor. Divorces and a debilitating 2015 case of Lyme disease have left her unbowed, and Lavigne promises there’s more to come soon.

“I can’t spill too much right now,” she says, “but once I finish this tour I am going to get back in the studio and really map out what I want the next year of music to look like. I know people are waiting for new songs and I am excited to share them, but I really want to make sure it is all perfect first.”

In the meantime, she’s happy to celebrate what she’s done to this point.

“I still feel like a teenager,” Lavigne notes, “and every night when I get up onstage, I am reminded of what an amazing life I have been able to live. I’m just so glad I started as young as I was — ’cause I still feel young.”

Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan and Girlfriends perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Township. Tickets are sold out.

Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

• Pontiac’s Flagstar Strand Theatre kicks off its fall season at 8 p.m. with the Del McCoury Band and its decades of bluegrass. 12 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac. 248-309-6445 or flagstarstrand.com.

• The Beatles live via 1964 The Tribute, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the group’s first appearance in Detroit, at 8 p.m. at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.

• Columbus, Ohio’s Starset journeys into Wolverine country to bring its Immersion: The Final Chapter tour to the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com.

• Jake Hoot, winner of Season 17 of “The Voice,” performs at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.

• The KPOP Breakout Tour features Trendz, Craxy, Ichillin’ and U-Chae at 7 p.m. in the Pike Room in the Crofoot complex, 1 S. Saginaw St. 248-858-9333 or thecrofoot.com.

• Nashville’s VEAUX stops at the Lager House for an 8:30 p.m. show with the Foxies and Daydream and Bega. 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.

• British goth rock troupe the Mark Violets, Rosegarden Funeral Party and Siamese gather at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.

• Kind Beast tops a bill that also includes the High Strung, Touch the Clouds and Cherry Drop at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.

• The Latin-flavored sextet Tumbao Bravo plays through Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.

• Kimmie Horne sings jazz at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.

• Chicago singer Tony Romiti performs at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.

• Hillbilly Knife Fight and Tiffadelic offer a promising start to the weekend at 7 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.

• Sirsy tops a four-act bill at 7:30 p.m. at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.

• The soulful Shemekia Copeland sings at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.

• Virtual: Blue Canvas Orchestra streams live at 8 p.m. Tickets via veeps.com.

• Virtual: The jam band Goose plays at 8 p.m. from Saratoga Springs. New York, and again on Saturday, Sept. 7, for subscribers to nugs.net.

• Virtual: The Disco Biscuits perform at 8 p.m. from Dillon, Colorado, for subscribers to nugs.net.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7

• Detroit punk rock favorites the Suicide Machines will rock at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Hey-Smith, Kill Lincoln and Bad Operation also perform. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.

• Kaleo comes from Iceland to play blues-rock at the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com.

• Detroit techno legend Kevin Saunderson celebrates his 60th birthday with an All-White Party at Spot Lite Detroit, 2905 Beaufait St. Doors at 9 p.m. spotlitedetroit.com or paxahau.com.

• The Motown Museum gets deep with the annual Detroit Bass Day from noon to 4 p.m. on its Rocket Plaza 2648 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. Bassists of all ages are invited to jam on 10 Motown classics by the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Rick James, the Four Tops, the Commodores, Teena Marie and Jr. Walker & the Allstars. The event also includes food trucks and vendors. motownmuseum.org for more information.

• Singer-songwriter Chris Tapper appears at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.

• Arizona DJ Markus Schulz heats things up at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.

• Syrian singer Omar Souleyman plays a matinee at 1 p.m. at El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.

• Trumpeter Allen Dennard and his Organ Trio blows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.

• MC Jahshua Smith performs a “Homecoming” date at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. FROSTisRAD, Krissy Booth and Kwaj are also on the bill. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.

• The Toby Keith tribute band Ride celebrates the late country icon at 8 p.m. at The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.

• The Ark hosts the Ann Arbor Django Reinhardt Festival, featuring Djangophonique, Christo’s Novelty combo and Erik McIntyre at 8 p.m. 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.

• Virtual: The Weeknd streams his show from Sao Paulo, Brazil, at 8 p.m. via his official YouTube channel, with a live chat to follow.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8

• Warm up for the Detroit Lions’ home opener with an early evening set by the a capella vocal group Naturally 7 at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 5 p.m. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.

• Grosse Pointe-raised guitarist John 5, now a member of Motley Crue, comes home to play with the Kiss tribute band Strutter and Turning Jane at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.

• Americana up-and-comer Sierra Ferrell brings her vocals, fiddle and more to the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.

• KK’s Priest, led by former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing, will be live — but before midnight — at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 6:45 p.m. district142live.com. For an interview with Downing, visit theoaklandpress.com.

• Mike Tramp leads the latest version of his band White Lion into the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.

• Sweden’s Dead By April is joined by Of Virtue at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.

• The Duane Parham Society plays at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.

• Bccording, Zion Polanski, GVN and Swan stack up at 7 p.m. at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.

• The Henhouse Prowlers close the weekend with some bluegrass at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.

Anna Jones, the best-selling London cookbook author behind “One: Pot, Pan, Planet, A Modern Way to Eat,” has a new cookbook coming out in mid-September — “Easy Wins” (Fourth Estate, $35).

Among the temptations in its pages are focaccia sandwiches filled with tomatoes, peaches and tahini and this simple recipe for roasted potatoes with brown butter, topped with a tangy, bright lime tartar sauce. It’s straightforward but elegant, especially when topped with fennel or dill fronds.

Brown Butter Potatoes with Lime Tartar Sauce

Serves 4 to 6

INGREDIENTS

1 kg (2.2 pounds) small floury or new potatoes, scrubbed clean

100 g (1/2 cup) salted butter (or 100 ml olive oil)

6 tablespoons capers, plus 2 tablespoons caper brine

1 large free-range egg yolk

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

150 ml (2/3 cup) olive oil

100 g (about 1/2 cup) sour cream

Zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lime

1 small bunch dill or fennel fronds, to serve

DIRECTIONS

Parboil the potatoes: Bring a large pan of salted water to boil, add the potatoes, then bring back to a boil and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes, until they are just cooked. Drain and leave the potatoes to steam dry in a colander.

Brown the butter: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Put the potato pan back on the stove and add the salted butter. Cook over medium heat until it turns nutty brown and smells toasty. If you are vegan, use a good olive oil in place of the butter and skip the browning stage. It will still be delicious, and you could add a toasty note with some smoked salt.

Roast the potatoes: Take the butter pan off the heat, put the potatoes in a roasting tray and pour over the brown butter. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss everything in the tray. Roast for 25 minutes.

Take the potatoes out of the oven and use a potato masher to crush the potatoes into the base of the pan, making a flat surface for crisping up. Scatter 4 tablespoons of the capers and bake for another 25 minutes until golden and crisp.

Make the lime tartar sauce: Meanwhile, make your tartar sauce. Put egg yolk and Dijon mustard in a bowl and mix well. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Loosen with caper brine and sour cream. Finely chop 2 tablespoons capers and add to the sauce along with the lime zest and juice. Serve the crispy brown butter potatoes with the tartare sauce and with dill or fennel fronds torn over.

— Anna Jones, “Easy Wins” (Fourth Estate, $35, out Sept. 17) 

Barron Trump has finally revealed his college choice — New York University — by turning up at the downtown Manhattan campus Wednesday morning for his first day of classes.

The 18-year-old son of Donald and Melania Trump sported a white polo shirt, Adidas sneakers and black Swiss Gear backpack, casually slung over his shoulder, as he was seen heading into the dean’s office building, followed by Secret Service agents, the New York Post reported. The Secret Service agents are there to guard him as his father, the former president, is running to return to the White House.

The sighting of Trump’s 6-foot-7-inch son ends months of speculation about his college choice, according to the Daily Beast, which first reported that NYU was his top choice. Barron is enrolled at NYU’s Stern Undergraduate College.

NYU is No. 35 overall on the U.S. News & World Report ranking of best colleges and No. 5 for its business programs. By choosing NYU, Barron is breaking with Trump family tradition. His father has boasted of his Ivy League education at University of Pennsylvania, which is ranked No. 6 by U.S. News and World Report. His older half-siblings, Don Jr., Ivanka and Tiffany, also graduated from Penn, while Eric Trump graduated from Georgetown University.

But NYU has the advantage of being Barron’s hometown university. NYU is kind of down the road — Fifth Avenue — from where Barron spent his childhood, raised by his mother in his father’s gilded penthouse in Trump Tower. It wasn’t clear, though, Wednesday, whether Barron will live on campus or will live with his mother at Trump Tower.

The fact that Melania Trump was seen arriving at Trump Tower last week fueled speculation that Barron would attend college in New York City. One way that Trump World sources have explained her absence from her husband’s campaign has been by saying that she sees herself as a “hands-on” mother, whose first priority is her son, Page Six previously reported. Some people have taken the “hands-on” mother description to mean that she would reside close to wherever he is attending college.

Donald Trump recently told the Daily Mail that while the family had considered other colleges, but Barron ultimately liked NYU the best.

“It’s a very high quality place. He liked it. He liked the school,” Trump told the Daily Mail. “I went to Wharton, and that was certainly one that we were considering. We didn’t do that … We went for Stern.”

“He’s a very high aptitude child, but he’s no longer a child. He’s just passed into something beyond child-dom.”

Nardine Saad | (TNS) Los Angeles Times

Adele says she’s making good on a promise to take a break from music after she completes her residency in Las Vegas.

The “Hello” and “Rolling in the Deep” singer confirmed during her Saturday show in Germany — her last in a 10-show run abroad — that she plans to “rest” when she wraps her three-year gig in Sin City this November.

“I’m not the most comfortable performer, I know that, but I am very f— good at it. And I have really enjoyed performing for nearly three years now, which is the longest I’ve ever done and probably the longest I will ever do,” the 15-time Grammy Award winner said onstage in Munich, according to fan footage posted on TikTok.

Adele has 10 shows left in her “Weekends With Adele” residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The shows will span five weekends this fall after she had to postpone them in February due to illness.

“After that, I will not see you for an incredibly long time and I will hold you dear in my heart for that whole length of my break,” she said, adding that she will “fantasize” about her time onstage. “It has been amazing. I just need a rest.”

“I have spent the last seven years building a new life for myself and I want to live it now,” the 36-year-old said through tears. “I want to live my life that I’ve been building and I will miss you terribly.”

On Tuesday, Adele took Instagram to reflect on her “bespoke” gig in Munich, which launched Aug. 2.

“Wow! Wow! Wow! Munich you were incredible! What a phenomenal experience. I am truly touched by the genuine outpouring of love and good will I felt from every single person who came to every single show,” she wrote, captioning a highlight reel from the shows. She also thanked the fans who attended and her team for making it happen.

“There truly is no feeling like standing in front of people you’ve never met, belting out a bunch of songs that changed your life that in ways somehow changed theirs too. It’s truly remarkable and an extraordinary story to be able to tell. I’ve been sobbing watching this beautiful video! Danke Munchen!,” she wrote.

In July, the superstar told German broadcaster ZDF that her “tank is quite empty” and that she doesn’t have plans for new music “at all.”

“I want a big break after all this and I think I want to do other creative things just for a little while,” the hitmaker said. “You know, I don’t even sing at home at all. How strange is that?”

Likewise, before her Las Vegas residency began, the Oscar winning “Skyfall” singer said she planned to take a break from music and perhaps pursue a degree in English literature or an acting career. However, during a January show, she said she might be open to touring again after completing a follow-up to her award-winning 2021 album “30.” But, as she told a fan in the audience, she wasn’t in any rush to do either of those things yet.

Instead of touring to promote “30,” she took up residence at the Colosseum. She was initially set to launch her residency in January 2022, but unexpectedly shut it down a day before it was meant to open. She blamed the COVID-19 pandemic and issues with the supply chain at the time, then explained later that the postponement was because her “artistic needs” were not being met. She said the show had “no soul in it” and that it “lacked intimacy” inside the 4,000-person theater.

The “Easy on Me” singer ultimately launched “Weekends With Adele” in November 2022 and extended the run twice.

Earlier this month, the British balladeer confirmed during another Munich show that she and sports agent Rich Paul were engaged after repeatedly referring to Paul as her fiance — and sometimes her “husband” — for months. (The two went public with their romance in 2021.) The singer, who shares 11-year-old son Angelo with ex-husband Simon Konecki, has also been vocal about wanting to expand their blended family.

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Ryan Seacrest may be breathing new life into “Wheel of Fortune,” but he’s promising longtime fans that things will pretty much stay the same.

After successful stints commandeering “American Idol,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” and “Live with Kelly & Ryan,” the radio and TV personality will officially take over the mantle of the long-running game show when it returns for its 42nd season on Sept. 9.

Not trying to shake things up, he plans on following the same successful formula he’s used in the past: “Don’t make any changes, don’t touch it,” Seacrest said in a GMA interview on Tuesday.

“This show works,” he added. “All I need to do is keep it moving. All we need to do is have fun every night. And I think if that’s what happens, this show continues for a long time.”

In June 2023, the 49-year-old was announced as Pat Sajak’s replacement — weeks after the 77-year-old host revealed “the time has come” for him to resign from the position he’d held for more than four decades.

Seacrest shared Tuesday that Sajak and his longtime co-host Vanna White told him that “the best part is you’re gonna meet three new people every night, and they walk away with cash.”

However, White said the new season will add another update alongside the new host. The revamped set will include a new board where the legendary letter-turner said she won’t “even have to touch the letter anymore.”

For his final spin at the wheel, Sajak will return to the airwaves for “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” on Oct. 7.

To have an event included in the Vitality calendar, email the name of the event, the time, date, address, cost (if applicable) and contact information to jgray@medianewsgroup.com.

September

Sept. 12: Oktoberfest: Live Music, Authentic German Food, Beer, Wine and Refreshments, 4-7 p.m. $10 Admission, $15 Optional Dinner. Event sponsored by Lake Michigan Credit Union.  Admission tickets include live music sponsored by Chief Financial Credit Union, games and a homemade pretzel sponsored by Cedarbrook Senior Living. Dinner options include Bratwurst or Chicken Schnitzel with a side dish and sauerkraut. Cash bar and other refreshments available sponsored by Rochester Mills Beer Company. Open to the public. Register by calling 248-659-1029. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, visit OPCcenter.org.

Sept. 12: Green Thumb: How to Put Your Garden to Sleep and Collect Seeds? At the Roseville Public Library, 29777 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Adults, Registration required. For the sixth date of the season, Lori Smith, Advanced Macomb County Master Gardener, will give you advice and tips to prepare your garden to sleep before winter. For more information, call 586-445-5407 or email rsvlibraryservice@roseville-mi.gov.

Sept. 12: Oakland County Presents Prescription Drug Disposal on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. Join us to learn how to dispose of medications safely and properly. Register in advance for this free event. Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Sept. 13: Financial Friday: Social Security (or Social Security Benefits) at 10:30 a.m., $2. Understand how your benefits work, what to consider when planning for income and latest legislative changes. Presented by Xenia Woltmann, AWMA. Open to the public. Register by calling 248-659-1029. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, visit OPCcenter.org.

Deadline to Register is Sept. 14: Dec. 2-6 (5 days/4 nights): Motorcoach Trip to Christmas with the Du Ponts. Join us aboard a spacious, video and restroom equipped motorcoach as we set off for this beautiful destination. This incredible price includes 4 nights lodging. Kick off your Holiday Season by joining us on this trip to The Chateau Country of the Delaware Valley where we will have the opportunity to go on guided tours of three DuPont Family Mansions beautifully decorated inside and outside for the holidays. We plan to visit The Nemours Mansion and Gardens, Winterthur Museum and Gardens and Eleutherin Mills at the Hagley Museum. Trip includes visits to Philadelphia’s  Christmas Village and to Longwood Gardens & Conservatory. Christmas Village, modeled after Germany’s traditional Christkindlmarkts, features 80 vendors selling traditional and international holiday items, arts and crafts, as well as European food, sweets and drinks. Longwood is transformed into a Holiday Wonderland both inside and outside during the holidays, featuring thousands of poinsettias, magnificently decorated trees, colorful dancing fountains, strolling carolers, and a half-million twinkling lights. Bus departs from L’Anse Creuse John Armstrong Performing Arts Center, back parking lot, 24600 Pankow Blvd, Clinton Twp. at 8 a.m. Cost is $895 for double occupancy. Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or by calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330

Sept. 15-21 (7 days/6 nights): Motorcoach Trip to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. Join us aboard a spacious, video and restroom equipped motorcoach as we set off for this beautiful destination.  This incredible price includes 6 nights lodging (4 consecutive nights in the quaint Cape Cod area), 10 meals, an escorted visit to Martha’s Vineyard, and a visit to the JFK Museum. In addition, you’ll enjoy TWO guided tours of the historic seaside towns of Hyannis and Sandwich as well as the “Outer Cape”, including Provincetown and Chatham. We will also stop for some exciting gaming at Turning Stone Casino on our way home. Bus departs from L’Anse Creuse John Armstrong Performing Arts Center, back parking lot, 24600 Pankow Blvd, Clinton Twp at 8 a.m. Cost is $1,065 for double occupancy. Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or by calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330.

Sept. 16: Afternoon Movie at the Blair Memorial Library, sponsored by the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, on Monday, Sept., 16 at 1 p.m. Join us to watch, “Stand & Deliver” in observance of National Hispanic Heritage month. Registration for this event is  recommended. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Sept. 16: Music Lessons For Adults: All classes are held at Kawaii Music Studio located at 12745 23 Mile, Shelby Twp. Fall Session begins the week of Sept. 16. Adult Beginner Guitar on Saturday, 11:15 a.m. – noon or Tuesday, 7:15–8 p.m., Cost $160 (8 Classes). Adult Beginner Piano on Monday 7:15–8 p.m. or Wed 1–1:45 p.m., Cost $160 (8 Classes)/ Play Piano for Fun – Active Retiree on Mon 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Cost $99 (8 Classes). Ukelele for Fun – on Wednesday 7:30–8 pm, Cost $160 (8 Classes). Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or by calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330.

Sept. 16: Free Lunch & Learn sponsored by Medicare Planning Solutions of Michigan. Learn about your Medicare options on Monday, Sept. 16 at 11:30 a.m. Register in  advance. Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Sept. 17: Alzheimer’s/Dementia Caregivers Group, 1:30-3 p.m. Support group for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Respite care is available. OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. Call 248-659-1036 or visit OPCcenter.org for additional information.

Sept. 18: Rewired Not Retired: “A Casual Conversation About Aging” with author Garry Cole at 1:30 p.m., $5. This new release book on Amazon, provides an optimistic outlook on getting older.  The conversation will include: Healthy and Happy Aging, Blue Zones, The Fountain of Youth, Are we old?  By the end of the day you will have learned, laughed, cried, and maybe found a new friend.  Garry is not a doctor, scientist, psychiatrist, nutritionist, or gerontologist.  He’s a guy on the aging journey, just like you. This event is sponsored by Blevins Insurance Advisors and is open to the public. Register by calling 248-659-1029. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, visit OPCcenter.org.

Sept. 18: Learn Spanish at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. Donations welcome. Starts Sept. 18. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Sept. 18: Trip to Morley’s Candy and lunch at Aspen restaurant on Wednesday, Sept. 18. More details to come. Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Sept. 19: Mystery Book Club: “A Curious Beginning” At the Roseville Public Library, 29777 Gratiot Ave, Roseville , Thursday, Sept. at 6:30 p.m. Adults, No registration required. This month, we will discuss A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn. You are welcome to join us even if you have not finished the book. For more information, call 586-445-5407 or email rsvlibraryservice@roseville-mi.gov.

Sept. 19: Wheel of Fortune. Join us on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. with friends after lunch for a fun time playing this classic game! Registration begins Aug. 1 for this popular game. Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson.For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Sept. 20: Grief Support Group: Leslie Steffes-Bodnar, Facilitator, 10-11 a.m. The death of a loved one affects your head, heart and spirit. A Grief Support Group is an opportunity to gain an understanding about grief and receive support and healing with other caring individuals who have experienced a loss. Many people report a feeling of relief in knowing they are not alone as they share their experience with others. Walk-ins are welcome. Questions: 248-608-0249. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, visit OPCcenter.org.

Sept. 21: The St. Clair Shores Yardeners annual Plant Exchange Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m. The plant exchange will be held in the parking lot of the St. Clair Shores Library located at the corner of 11 Mile and Jefferson. Load up your vehicles with your extra plants and divisions. Bag, tag and drag your offerings to trade or give away to other gardeners. No money is involved, come with your plants and enjoy our “tailgate garden party”. Please label all of your plants. For more information, email scsyardeners@gmail.com

Sept. 24: Fancy Fall Foliage Wreaths at the Roseville Public Library, 29777 Gratiot Ave, Roseville. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. Adults, Registration required. Harvest up your creativity to create your own fall wreath. Add your own splash of pumpkin spice with acorns and pinecones on top of grapevine wreaths. For more information, call 586-445-5407 or email rsvlibraryservice@roseville-mi.gov.

Sept. 25: Bingo at 12:30 p.m., $10. Join us for Bingo in the Dining Room. Ticket price includes 8-10 games with up to 4 BINGO cards per player and pizza! Sponsored by the Village at Orchard Grove. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, call 248-659-1029 or visit OPCcenter.org.

Sept. 25: Parkinson’s Care Partner Group, Wednesday, Sept. 25. This group provides an opportunity for those who are caring for their loved one to come together for support, sharing and time to talk with others who are also living with Parkinson’s. Call facilitator Kathy Walton 248-568-3549. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, call 248-659-1029 or visit OPCcenter.org.

Sept. 26: 50+ Senior Expo, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Free – Open to the Public. OPC’s annual 50+ Expo draws area service providers and experts to share their knowledge, experience, and services available to the 50+ population. While the focus of the event is on addressing the needs of those 50 and older, it’s also a valuable resource for caregivers and residents of all ages facing health issues or needing information and assistance. Food Trucks, Giveaways and Flu Shots will be available. Register by calling 248-659-1029. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, visit OPCcenter.org.

Sept. 26: Bingo at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Sept. 26: Casino Trip MGM on Thursday, Sept. 26. Depart at 10am, cost is $12. Registration for this trip begins on Aug. 1. Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. For more information, call 248-583-6700.

Sept. 27 & 28: The Single Way, a group for Christian singles, is sponsoring a dinner and games night on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. Cost is $5.00 and includes a full dinner, snacks, and beverages. If coming, a reservation is required by Friday, Sept. 27. To register and for the location of the event, call 586-774-2119.

Sept. 27: Memory Café at OPC, 1-2:30 p.m. A social gathering for people affected by memory challenges and their care partners.  Some activities include art, music and games with light refreshments provided. Sponsored by Waltonwood Main. RSVP to Theresa Gill 248-659-1036 or tgill@OPCcenter.org. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, call 248-659-1029 or visit OPCcenter.org.

Sept. 27: Visually Impaired Group, 10-11:30 a.m. Support group providing information, socialization, support and speakers to those with low vision. Register by calling 248-608-0246. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, visit OPCcenter.org.

Sept. 27: Casino Trip MGM on Friday, Sept. 27. Depart at 10 a.m., cost is $12. Registration for this trip begins on Aug. 1. Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. For more information, call 248-583-6700.

Sept. 30-Oct. 18: Clawson Senior Center Quiche Sale at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. All proceeds support programming at the center. Order in person, by phone, 248.589.0334, or online at https://recreation.cityofclawson.com/ . The quiche sale starts on Sept. 30. The last day to order is Oct. 18. Pick up orders on Oct. 23. Monday, Sept. 30 – Friday, Oct. 18. Price $10. Pickup Orders at the Hunter Community Center on Oct. 23.after 1 p.m. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

October

Oct. 1: The Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit.  Visit this historic site on the Detroit River to learn about our region’s multi-layered past and visit military buildings that operated from the Civil War to the Vietnam War. Until it was decommissioned in 1971, Fort Wayne served as a garrison post for the US Army. We will enjoy lunch after the tour in Mexican Village. Bus departs from Walmart, 45400 Marketplace, Clinton Twp at 10:15 am, Cost is $80. Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or by calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330.

Oct. 3: Lunch & Learn at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. Thursday, Oct. 3 at 11:30 a.m. Join us for lunch and learn with Dr. Fleischman/Athletico Physical Therapy. Advanced registration required. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 5: Caregiver event features great speakers, lunch, giveaways. AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services is hosting an event for family caregivers who are caring for an older loved one, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Television personality Christy McDonald, who will speak about her experience caring for her late husband and wisdom she’s gathered from other caregivers over the years. Jim Mangi, a longtime caregiver for his wife and spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association, will talk about communicating with someone who has dementia. Attorney Jason Tower will speak about legal documents caregivers should have. The day will be rounded out by lunch, exhibitors, raffles and giveaways. A $10 entrance fee will support the agency’s Holiday Meals on Wheels program. To register, go to YouAreACaregiver.org. If cost is a barrier, we can provide a fee waiver. Contact us at communications@ageways.org.

Oct. 9: Sheriff Bouchard Talk at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m., he will discuss Drones, Technology in Law Enforcement and Senior Scams. Sign up for this FREE event. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 9: Birthday Lunch at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Join us on October 9th at noon. If your birthday is in October, lunch is on us. Dine in only. Register ahead. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 10: Music at the DIA on Thursday, October 10th, depart at 11:30 a.m. at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. Cost $5. Enjoy music and art at the DIA. Registration required by Sept. 26. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 12: Join us for a fun-filled musical at The Fisher Theatre to see “Some like it hot.” We will enjoy lunch before the show at The Pink House Tea Room, an historic waterside eatery. Bus departs from Walmart, 45400 Marketplace, Clinton Twp at 10:30 a.m., Cost is $140. Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or by calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330.

Oct. 14: “Becoming A Beekeeper”presentation by Karen Burke. Karen will share what is involved, in time and cost, for successful beekeeping. She will also give us tips on what education and muscle is needed for rewarding honey production. She is the proprietor of honeyhollowapiaries.com and has been a supporter of our annual Garden Tour. You may have purchased some honey and honey related products from her. Sponsored by the St. Clair Shores Yardeners. The presentation will be held in St. Clair Shores Library on Monday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. (no registration is required). For more information, email scsyardeners@gmail.com

Oct. 15, 22, 29: Alliance Thrive Over 55 Lunch & Learn Series at 10:30 a.m. at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. Topics include prescriptions, body changes, stress management, mental health, and other relevant issues. Register for one or all three events. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 17: FREE Fitness Drumming Class at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. on Thursday, October 17th at 1pm sponsored by Oak Street Health. Sign up required. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 21: Afternoon Movie at the Blair Memorial Library, sponsored by the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, on Monday, Oct., 21 at 1 p.m. Join us to watch a select movie. Movie to be announced soon. Registration for this event is recommended. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 23: Lunch & Learn at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson, Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 11:30 a.m. Join us for lunch and learn with Mission Point Rehabilitation Center. Advanced registration required. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 24: Wheel of Fortune! at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson, Thursday, Oct. 24  at 1 p.m. with friends for a fun time playing this classic game. Registration in advance. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 24-25: Casino Trip Motor City, sponsored by the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, on Thursday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 25. Depart at 10am, cost is $12. Registration required. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 28 – Nov. 15: Clawson Senior Center Sweet Bread Sale, at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. All proceeds support programming at the center. Order in person, by phone, 248.589.0334, or online at https://recreation.cityofclawson.com/. The sweet bread sale starts on Oct. 28. The last day to order is Nov. 15. Pick up orders on Nov. 26. Monday, Oct. 28. – Friday, Nov. 15. Price $7. Pickup Orders at the Hunter Community Center on Nov. 26. after 1 p.m. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 28 & 30: Online Music Lessons For Adults: Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People on Monday, Oct. 28, from  6:30 – 9 p.m., Cost $70. Instant Guitar for Hopelessly Busy People on Wednes, Oct. 30, from 6:30 – 9 p.m., Cost $70. Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or by calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330.

Oct. 31: Halloween Luncheon at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson on Thursday, Oct. 31st at noon. Cost is $4. Join us to celebrate  Halloween with lunch and some spooky fun! Dress up if you like to. Registration opens Sept. 1. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

Oct. 31: Halloween Bingo at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson on Thursday October 31st at 1 p.m. Join us for a ghostly special fun time. Come early for lunch and stay to play. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

November

Nov. 2: Saturday, November 2nd, Let’s go to The Fisher Theatre together to see the musical “MJ” (Michael Jackson). We will enjoy dinner after the show at Tony V’s which includes all you can eat pizza and salads. Bus departs from Walmart, 45400 Marketplace, Clinton Twp at 11:15 a.m., Cost is $120. Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or by calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330.

Monthly events

Somerset Mall Walking and Shopping: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Depart at 9:45 a.m. from the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court to enjoy a scenic and safe way to support your physical &  mental well-being and shop while you are there! Cost $3. Contact dispatch at 248-583-6700 to sign up.

• Yoga for Seniors: At the Fraser Senior Activities Center, 34935 Hidden Pine Dr., Fraser. Friday mornings 10:30am-11:30 a.m. (6-week sessions). Wednesday mornings 11:30-12:30 p.m. ((6-week sessions). $26 for members per session, $32 for non-members per session. To register, call 586-296-8483.

• Pickleball Drop in with friends of all ages for a friendly game of pickleball at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson. on Mondays, from 1-3 p.m. Cost is $2. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Quilting Group meets every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clawson Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, Clawson.  For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Water Fitness Classes: Mondays & Wednesday, from 11:10 a.m. – noon (times subject to change based on staffing) at L’Anse Creuse North high school located at 23700 Twenty One Mile Rd, Macomb. Cost $5 drop in or punch cards available for $50 – payment accepted poolside or online and bring your receipt. Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or by calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330.

• Quilting Group: Meets every Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 5/6. at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. Let’s meet up to discuss the latest topics and ask questions in a friendly environment. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Pick Your Play: Thursdays at 12:45 p.m. at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. Play Kings in the Corner, Hand & Foot, Farkle, whatever you like. Bring a friend and have some fun. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Did you want to learn to play piano, guitar or ukulele? What about voice lessons? We offer beginner classes for youth and adults. Visit our website to see all of the  music lessons we offer.  Lessons take place at Kawai studios and rental instruments are available for rent.  Kawai studio is located at 12745 23 Mile Rd, Shelby Twp, MI  48315.  Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or by calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330

• Current Events Club: meets the 1st Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. Let’s meet up to discuss the latest topics and ask questions in a friendly environment. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Fitness 20/20/20: Monday and Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Fitness 20/20/20 held at Frederick V Pankow Center – Room 505, 24076 F V Pankow Blvd, Clinton Twp. Cost is $96 Register online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330.

• Chair Exercise: On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. Level I at 10:30 a.m.: Seated warm-up, light weights, bands and balance work. Level II at 11:15 a.m.: Low-impact moves. No fee, donations welcome. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Socrates Club: Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. Meetup to discuss current events in a relaxed, informal setting. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Zumba Gold at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court at 1:30 p.m. on Mondays with Ivy. Cost is $5 per drop-in class. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Solo-Seniors Group: meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court Meet and mingle with other seniors in this fun social group. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Indoor Walking on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:15 a.m.at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. Meet with friends to walk in the gym. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Mondays and Wednesdays: 9:15-10 a.m.(tentatively starting this Fall/Winter), Water Walking or Lap Swim held at L’Anse Creuse High School North, 23700 21 Mile Rd, Macomb. Walk in $5 a visit or purchase a punch card. Punch cards can be purchased at the pool, online at Lc-ps.ce.eleyo.com or calling L’Anse Creuse Community Education at 586-783-6330.

• Older Persons’ Commission Membership: Mondays – Thursdays, from 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Friday, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. OPC membership is available at no charge to all residents 50+ of Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township. Registration forms are available at OPC or online at opcseniorcenter.org. You must register in person and proof of residency is required. The OPC is located at 650 Letica Drive, Rochester. For more information, call 248-656-1403.

• Pinochle: on Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:45 p.m. at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. Cost is $1. Price includes prize money for the top three scores. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Chair Yoga: at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays & Thursdays with Melissa or Stephanie at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. Come get a great stretch in this class! No fee, but donations are welcome. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Tai Chi: Wednesdays at 10 a.m. with Cheryl at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. Cost is $5 per drop-in class. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Euchre: on Tuesdays at 12:45 .pm. Cost is $1, which includes prize money, at the Clawson Recreation and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court. For more information, call 248-589-0334 or visit cityofclawson.com

• Confident Communicators Club: Meets monthly for people who seek improving public speaking skills and leadership confidence. This supportive Toastmasters group meets online the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 8-9:30 a.m. Many of our members have gain skills needed to become a better salesperson, grow their business, get promoted, and engage students. Register for any of our meetings to get the Zoom Link -https://confident-communicators-club-meeting.eventbrite.com. Contact our VP Membership to get more information vpm-1196053@toastmastersclubs.org

• Breakfast Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries: Breakfast (3rd Tuesday of each) at 10:30 a.m., Pancake Factory, 13693 23 Mile Rd, NE corner of 23 Mile & Schoenherr, Shelby Twp. Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries. Contact Ellen 586-781-5781.

• Bowling held at Collier Bowl: 879 S Lapeer Rd. (M24), Oxford every Tuesday. Arrive at noon for lane assignments. Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries. Cost is $7.50 for three games, (shoes extra at $2.50). Lunch afterwards optional. Call Joe at 248-693-2454 or Nadine at 248-475-9036.

• New Baltimore Civic Club: Euchre every Thursday at 36551 Main St. (corner of Blackwell) in New Baltimore. Sign in at 6:30 p.m., play at 7 p.m. $10 plus a quarter for each euchre.

• Breakfast every Wednesday: Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries. Join us at 10 a.m. at Cavis Pioneer Restaurant, 5606 Lapeer Rd., Kimball. Call Rita, 810-334-6287 for more information.

• Senior Card Playing: Come and join a fun group of card players who play a wide range of card games. Everyone brings a snack to share while playing. Free. Mondays from 1-4 p.m. at 35248 Cricklewood Blvd. (Cricklewood Recreation Building). Call 586-725-0291.

• Dancing every Tuesday: at Polish Century Club, 33204 Maple Lane, Sterling Heights. Doors open at 6 p.m. Music from 7-10:30 p.m. Cost is $8 per person with a cash bar. A table is reserved for Widowed Friends. Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries Contact Kate at 586-344-3886.

• New Baltimore Senior Club: Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This welcoming group of seniors has all sorts of fun. We play bingo, hold luncheons, go on trips, and play cards. Monthly dues, $2. Location 35248 Cricklewood Blvd. (Cricklewood Recreation Building). Call 586-725-0291.

• Zumba Gold: from 10:30-11:30 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday at the Washington Center, 57880 Van Dyke, Washington Twp. Cost depends on how many punches are purchased. 4 punches $23 resident, $29 NR; 11 punches $60 resident, $66 NR. For more information, call 586-752-6543.

• Cards/Games/Friendship: Ss. John and Paul, (1st Thursday or every month), 1:30-4 p.m. at, 7777 28 Mile Rd. Bring a snack to share and your own beverage. Ss. John and Paul supports the Agape Center, a resource center for the most vulnerable members of society and would appreciate it if you could bring a canned good (vegetable, meat, fruit) when you come to play. (Dinner afterward at Romeo Family Restaurant, 66020 Van Dyke Rd., between 30 & 31 Mile is optional.) Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries. Call Ellen, 586-781-5781.

• Men Only Breakfast: Lukich Family Restaurant (1st  & 3rd Thursday), 3900 Rochester Rd., Troy, at 9.m. The Widowed Men’s Group invites you to meet with other widowed men for breakfast at either of the Men’s Fellowship locations whichever is more convenient for you. Many topics & ideas help you become involved in the activities of Widowed Friends. Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries  Contact Ray at 248-585-5402.

• Eastside Movies: (1st Tuesday of each month) at Chesterfield Crossing Digital Cinema 16 (known for free soda & popcorn refills also offers discount matinee pricing) 50675 Gratiot Ave., Chesterfield Twp. Early dinner afterwards TBD. Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries. For more information, contact Marion at 586-703-1427

• Metamora – Dinner Club: (3rd Wednesday of the month) at 5 p.m. Join us at The White Horse Inn, 1 E High St., Metamora. Reserved seating. Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries. Please RSVP to Sharry 248-840-0063. No walk- ins. Please call if you must cancel your reserved seating.

• Breakfast at Avenue Family Restaurant: 31253 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, at 9:30 a.m. (2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month). Sponsored by Widowed Friends Ministries.

A bit of summer pruning goes a long way to keeping your raspberries healthy and productive. So, get out the mosquito netting, long sleeves and pruners and get busy.

The summer harvest is produced on 2-year-old canes called floricanes. Remove those that bore fruit to ground level once your harvest is complete. These canes will not produce more fruit and their presence can increase the risk of insect and disease problems. This is also a good time to remove damaged, insect-infested or discolored canes.

Summer is also a good time to thin the remaining canes on summer-only bearing raspberries. Remove weak or damaged canes, leaving three or four of the sturdiest canes per foot of row or six or eight stems per hill when growing in the hill system. Thinning increases airflow and light penetration, resulting in healthier plants and a better harvest next season. Wait until next spring to reduce the height of the remaining canes. At that time, you can determine winter dieback, and damage, and prune accordingly.

Everbearing raspberries are often called fall raspberries and form fruit on first-year canes called primocanes. You can manage these types of raspberries for a single fall harvest only. Wait until the plants are dormant then cut the whole planting back to ground level. There will be a larger and earlier harvest when pruning everbearing raspberries this way. Although this pruning technique eliminates the summer crop, it is much easier, less time-consuming, and eliminates animal and winter damage in just one cut.

The other option is to prune everbearing raspberries for a fall and summer harvest. The new growth produces the fall crop. These canes are left to produce berries the following summer. Prune these 2-year-old canes after the summer harvest as you would on a summer-only bearing raspberry.

Maximize your summer and fall harvest by planting a summer and a fall-bearing raspberry patch. You’ll enjoy summer raspberries from one planting plus a larger, earlier harvest from the fall-bearing raspberries when pruning all those canes to ground level each year during the dormant season.

Don’t let a lack of space keep you from growing delicious raspberries high in fiber and vitamin C.

Plant, train and use raspberries as a hedge in your landscape. Or grow the new compact and thornless Raspberry Shortcake in a container or any sunny small space in your garden. You may not be freezing a large harvest from a single pot of raspberries, but you will enjoy fresh-from-the-garden raspberries even in your small space.

Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books, including “Small Space Gardening” and “Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition.” Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is MelindaMyers.com.

The compact car segment continues to be a shrinking one, so it’s curious to watch the remaining competitors and see how they are adapting to remain competitive.

One brand that has remained steady in the segment is Mazda, which has offered its compact Mazda3 option for more than 20 years.

This fun little ride comes in both sedan and hatchback versions for 2024.

I tested the 2024 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Hatchback with all-wheel drive, and it is one of the most enjoyable options in the segment in terms of pure drive quality. It also offers a surprisingly upscale interior design that will make you question whether it’s competing with non-luxury compacts, or with more upscale luxury models.

One thing’s for sure: You won’t confuse the Mazda3 with a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, as it looks and drives like nothing else on the road.

Read on for a full report on how the 2024 Mazda3 holds up in the compact car segment.

LOOKS

The 2024 Mazda3 features an attractive exterior with the trademark Mazda-style front end — with its hood lip curling over a large, bold grille. Sharp lighting designs also accentuate the front of the 3.

Whether you choose the hatch or sedan, the 3 is without question as sharp-looking or more attractive than its compact rivals.

My test vehicle featured a Snowflake White Pearl exterior paint color, 18-inch black alloy wheels (16-inchers come standard), LED headlights and taillights, power sliding-glass moonroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated power side mirrors with turn lamps and memory positioning, and a wiper de-icer. The adaptive headlights swivel as you turn the steering wheel, allowing for better illumination in the curves.

Moving inside the 3, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how premium it looks and feels, and will wonder at times if you’ve gotten into a vehicle from a luxury brand.

Compared to the more pedestrian designs of typical compact cars, the 3 is in its own class. The red leather seating in my test vehicle looked great and felt very comfortable. The 3 has heated front seats and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and other helpful features included 60/40 rear seating that folds down to improve cargo space.

One downside of the Mazda3 is that its cargo capacity does have major limitations. Though in the grand scheme of things, it should be understood that driving a compact car will always limit how much you can carry around.

The 2024 Mazda3 hatchback features just over 20 cubic feet of cargo space with rear seats up, and just over 47 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

In terms of people sitting in the vehicle, the back seat is tight and shouldn’t be reserved for large humans. Let the little ones or shorter adults take that space when possible.

The design of the Mazda 3 hatchback can limit visibility in the rear a bit, but not too harshly.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

A pair of engines is offered on the 2024 Mazda3.

My test vehicle featured the stronger of the two options, a 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that delivers up to 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque.

The base engine is a non-turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder option with just 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet, a steep drop from the turbo.

Both versions are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and some trim levels include paddle shifters.

All-wheel drive is an option, with FWD coming standard. You can also opt for a Mazda3 with a six-speed manual transmission (which must be paired with FWD).

The Mazda3 features G-Vectoring Control technology, which allows for better steering response by reducing torque in turns to put extra weight on the front tires. It also offers dynamic stability control and a traction control system.

The 0-to-60 numbers on the 2024 Mazda3 with the turbo engine are respectable, coming in around 6 seconds. It’s not the most powerful vehicle in the world, but can definitely get moving quickly when you need to gain ground quickly.

The overall feel of driving the Mazda is one of bold, yet smooth, power and acceleration. It handles impressively and the small size makes it quite nimble and agile on twisty roads.

The 3 proved to be tons of fun even without massive power numbers. Mazda has clearly designed the 3 for people who love driving. And you’ll want to get the turbo engine to truly experience what the 3 can do, as the base engine won’t knock your socks off. And even with the strong performance, the sound of the engine isn’t overly loud or annoying.

While most compact cars are not going to offer a thrilling ride unless you go the luxury route, the Mazda3 bucks that trend and blows away a variety of mostly ho–hum competitors.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The infotainment setup on the 2024 Mazda3 has either an 8.8-inch or 10.25-inch center screen and is controlled by a dial in the center console. The dial works fine, but overall it’s not the best system out there in terms of user-friendliness and efficiency. Voice commands did work quite well if you want to avoid the dial.

If you are wondering about a touchscreen option, it does exist, but oddly enough only when you connect your phone wirelessly via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

A six-speaker sound system is standard, though you can upgrade to a more snazzy 12-speaker Bose system. The Mazda3 features a wireless phone charger, integrated navigation system with traffic sign recognition, satellite radio (trial period included, but it’s worth renewing), and multiple USB inputs. Phone calls and music can be streamed to the vehicle by connecting your phone via Bluetooth.

For a smaller vehicle like the Mazda3, you get an impressive array of safety features included as standard, and they don’t get in your way or act oversensitive.

I found the 360-degree multi-view cameras to be extremely helpful for parking situations, and other features on the 3 included: High beam control, driver attention alert, lane departure warning system, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, airbags throughout the vehicle, tire pressure monitoring system, and automatic emergency braking.

The radar cruise control worked effectively and slowed down the 3 when vehicles would enter into my lane, and the front and rear sensors were effective at detecting other vehicles.

Other safety features include:
— Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert (warns if a vehicle is in your blind spot)
— Head-up display (keeps driver’s eyes on the road by displaying important information on the windshield)
— Lane centering system (steers the vehicle back into lane)
— Rear automatic braking

— Drowsy driver monitor (warns of driver fatigue)

MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers on the 2024 Mazda3 I tested with the turbo engine come in at 23 city/31 highway/26 combined. In my time driving the vehicle, I averaged just over 23 miles per gallon.

Depending on configuration, your numbers can jump as high as 27 city/37 highway/31 combined.

These aren’t the best fuel economy numbers you’ll find for this size of vehicle, but are still respectable considering the drive quality delivered by Mazda.

PRICE

I tested a maxed-out, top trim version of the Mazda3, and my test vehicle was priced just over $38K. Choosing the base model will get your price to a very affordable $25K.

In addition to the base, trim levels include Select Sport, Preferred, Carbon Edition, Premium, Carbon Turbo and Turbo Premium Plus. You’ll need to choose one of the higher trim options if you want to upgrade to the turbocharged engine.

This pricing is a bit more than some of the rivals, but you’re getting a much better ride and vehicle design in the Mazda3 than the more inexpensive alternatives. And on the high end of the price range with the turbo engine, it’s competing more with performance sedans such as the Volkswagen GTI.

And if we’re being honest, the Mazda3 is the most luxury-feeling of all non-luxury car brands, so cross-shopping vs. compact luxury rides will make you realize you’re really getting quite a steal even at the highest trim level.

Warranties on the 2024 Mazda3 are decent, but not the best you’ll find in the segment. They include a 60 month/60,000 mile powertrain warranty and 36 month/36,000 mile new vehicle warranty.

BOTTOM LINE

Among the few remaining non-luxury compact cars, the 2024 Mazda3 remains arguably the most fun to drive and best designed of the lot — especially its high-end interior. You’re not getting the extreme sportiness of more pricey luxury sedans, but it’s far more enjoyable than any other affordable non-luxury compact you’ll drive.

Its small size limits its audience, but those who are comfortable with a smaller ride and choose the Mazda3 will enjoy their time behind the wheel each day.

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Matt Myftiu’s past reviews can all be seen online at autotechreviews.com. Follow AutoTechReviews on Instagram at @Autotechreviews.

FYI:

Vehicle: 2024 Mazda3
Price as tested: $38,265 (starts around $25K)

Best feature: Mazda drive quality, upscale interior

Rating: 4 out of five stars

Who will want this vehicle?: Small car buyers looking for a classy and fun-to-drive ride

The Avon Players in Rochester Hills will kick off its new season in 19th-century London with the classic “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

The show runs Sept. 6-21 at the group’s theater at 1185 Washington Road.

John Deierlein is serving as the director, costume designer and lighting designer. He’s been with Avon Players for decades and is thrilled for the opportunity to direct “Sweeney Todd.”

“I have a background in choral singing, so I’m always drawn to large productions and ‘Sweeney Todd’ is one of those,” he said. “It’s a very large-scale musical with a brilliant score that’s fun to sing to but also very challenging.”

“Sweeney Todd” was written by playwright Hugh Wheeler with music by composer Stephen Sondheim.

“Sondheim is one of the most prolific musical theater composers of all time, and it’s simply classic American musical theater,” Deierlein says. “It’s also had many revivals. What attracted me to it was that I was recently in New York City and saw the Broadway revival with Josh Groban. I was lucky enough to see it after I knew I would be directing the show, so it was very inspiring.”

“Seeing it on Broadway gave me a lot of ideas,” he added. “It was fun to see what the professionals do and see how we could make it look just as cool with our production.”

Deierlein says something that makes Avon Players so special is that everybody involved is a volunteer.

“Everyone here does it because they have a passion for it,” he said. “In Oakland County, we have so many incredibly talented people in the area and many of them have the talent to do this professionally, but because of their life choices, they’re here local.”

Deierlein said Avon Players enhances the community by bringing high-caliber productions to locals.

“I think we bring a high level of theatre at a reasonable price,” he said. “Plus, I think a lot of folks in this area don’t want to have to drive to Detroit and spend $100 or $200 to see a touring production out of New York. It’s nice to have an evening out that’s fairly local. Avon also gives so many opportunities to kids and adults in the area to express themselves and show their talents.”

“Sweeney Todd” is billed as a dark comedy and horror musical for adults.

“It’s an exciting, fun piece, but it’s different,” Deierlein says. “It’s not tap dancing, which is very typical of other musicals. It’s different and exciting and thrilling, and I think the audience will love the music. It’s incredible.”

“Also,” he added, “coming up on the fall season approaching and Halloween, it has that kind of flavor.”

For ticket and show information, visit avonplayers.org.

Under bright sunshine the annual Arts, Beats & Eats festival continued Saturday afternoon.

The annual event will run on the streets of downtown Royal Oak through Monday. Sunday’s headliners on the Jim Beam National Stage are the Gin Blossoms and Chevelle. Monday, the Pop 2000 Tour will be followed by Keith Sweat.

The festival opens each day at 11 a.m. with tickets sold at entry gates along Main, Washington and Lafayette. Online ticket sales are no longer available. Sunday’s forecast calls for sunshine at a high temperature of 78 degrees while Monday will be sunny and 72.

For more information, go to artsbeatseats.com/.

Alice Cooper comes home to Detroit frequently, sometimes more than once in a given year.

Suzi Quatro, not so much.

That made the two Detroit rock icons’ pair of collaborations this week, in their home town, notable occasions — particular on stage Friday night, Aug. 30, at the Pine Knob Music Theatre.

The bass-playing Quatro, who now resides in England, made a surprise appearance with Cooper and his band for “School’s Out,” the finale of its theatrical Freaks On Parade tour show with Rob Zombie, Ministry and Filter. “You cannot say Detroit…You cannot say Detroit rock without Suzi Quatro,” Cooper told the near-sellout crowd as bubbles and confetti swirled around the stage. Nita Strauss, one of his guitarists, marked the occasion by offering Quatro a “we are not worthy bow” in her honor.

It was the Grosse Pointe-raised Quatro’s first on-stage performance in the metro area since a Dick Wagner Remember the Child benefit during 2017 at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel. “I feel like I’m home — the air I breathe, everything,” Quatro said before Friday’s show, after her old stomping grounds earlier in the day. “You never lose your roots. I’m happy to be here, and I’m happy to do this for Alice. He told me I was doing this song tonight; I said, ‘OK.'”

Cooper and Quatro became friendly during the early 70s, when the Detroit-born shock rocker and his band moved back to the area from Los Angeles. Quatro said she and her bands at the time, the Pleasure Seekers and Cradle, even rehearsed in the barn on the farm Cooper and company were leasing in Pontiac. “Mostly talking to Suzi was about the old days,” Cooper — who was also joined on stage by his wife Sheryl and daughter Calico, regulars in his show — said after the performance, “because those really were the golden days of Detroit.” Quatro opened for Cooper during his mid-70s “Welcome to My Nightmare” tour and they’ve shared stages other times since, including at a festival in Europe during the summer.

The cameo came the day after Quatro and Cooper were at Rust Belt Studios in Royal Oak to record a cover of the MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams,” which is slated for the former’s next album. “That was great,” Quatro said of the Thursday, Aug. 29 session. She credited her son and producer Richard Tuckey with suggesting both the song and the Cooper duet. “We were able to capture our personalities. We were able to capture the spirit of Detroit. We were able to capture our youth and the energy, and we played off each other and it was really quite magical.”

Being at Rust Belt again was something of an odd experience for Cooper, meanwhile. He recorded much of his 2020 EP “Breadcrumbs” and his 2021 album “Detroit Stories” there; both included a version of the MC5’s “Sister Anne” featuring the group’s guitarist Wayne Kramer, who appeared on 11 of the project’s songs. Cooper said those sessions were the last time he saw Kramer in person before his death on Feb. 2 this year.

“It’s a very nice tribute,” Quatro said. “They’re all gone now, so now is the time to do that song again.”

“Kick Out the Jams” is the first song Quatro has recorded for the album, which she’ll continue working on in the coming months with a hoped-for 2025 release. Cooper, meanwhile, is eyeballing a “surprise album” he’d like to release later this year and is planning to be working in 2025 with the Hollywood Vampires, his band with Johnny Deep, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Cooper’s guitarist Tommy Henriksen.

By Julia Carmel
Special to The Washington Post

Jeff West was looking for a change of pace. After decades of running clubs and restaurants in West Hollywood, he left California in search of peace and quiet. He had been to Laguna Beach and Palm Springs, but a new gay-friendly destination was calling to him — twin vacation towns on Lake Michigan with a population of less than 2,500 people.

“I arrived in the winter, and I was so amazed by it,” said West, 67, who grew up in Texas and spent his life in Southern California. “Seeing snow was just so beautiful. I remember feeling my shoulders relax.”

In the summers, West celebrates with friends on the lake. During winter, he’s part of a gay bowling team called the Gutter Queens. Since relocating in 2021, he’s become a real estate agent, spending his days selling other people on the joys of life here.

Saugatuck and its neighboring town, Douglas, form a rainbow bubble within Michigan’s Bible Belt. The area is off the beaten path compared to the coastal hangs that typically attract huge gay crowds, yet its reputation rivals spots like Provincetown and Fire Island.

Drive through the lush, wooded roads in the warmer months and you’ll find a summer camp atmosphere. Hammocks hang outside a popular coffee shop. Kids spill floats purchased from the Douglas Root Beer Barrel out of their parents’ car windows.

Pride flags fly from many businesses and homes, a stark difference from the conservative towns in Western Michigan. At the Dunes Resort, the pool is packed with Speedo-clad gay men all summer long, and disco balls light up the confetti-filled dance floor every weekend.

“This is a small community where we get to enjoy the finer things in life and be comfortable and free,” West said. “It’s paradise for somebody like me to be able to come to a place and just feel so welcome.”

‘Fire Island of the Midwest’

There’s evidence of queer tourists and residents flocking here since the late 19th century, thanks to a long and colorful cast of eclectic artists, eccentric couples and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

According to the Chicago Tribune, it really hit its stride in the 1960s as “a loosey-goosey mecca for pleasure-seekers, gay or straight.” During that era, the town was seen as a party destination for motorcyclists, college kids and queer people from near and far.

Gay travel guides like Bob Damron’s Address Book began ramping up around the same time, dubbing Saugatuck “The Fire Island of the Midwest.” Though a state law prohibited bars from hosting groups of gay people, a local jazz venue called The Blue Tempo became known for serving gay patrons.

Eric Gollannek, executive director of the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center, said the second edition of Bob Damron’s Address Book references The Blue Tempo as a mixed crowd bar and also mentions “an interesting beach” nearby — a strip of sand that stretched from the north side of Saugatuck’s popular Oval Beach to the mouth of the Kalamazoo River.

“They collected $5 to use their beach for the day,” said John Rossi, facilities manager for Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency, a program that’s affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. “You could sunbathe nude, as long as you were not visible to the public.”

Rossi visited Denison’s Beach, owned by a local Marine businessman named Frank Denison, for the first time in the 1970s. “It was mostly gay, but there was a mix, I could tell,” Rossi said. “Sometimes there were lesbians that frequented it, and occasionally you might see a straight couple.”

Rossi, 68, grew up about 40 miles away in Grand Rapids. He said word-of-mouth recommendations initially brought him to the area.

“There was this network — people told you, you knew what was safe and what wasn’t,” Rossi said. “I mean, there were three bars in Grand Rapids. There were two bars in Lansing you could go to. There were a lot of bars in Detroit we used to go to.”

One of the people who began frequenting The Blue Tempo was Carl Jennings, who was living near Grand Rapids with his wife and children. Though he was closeted at the time, he would spend his weekends tending bar in Saugatuck.

“Back then, you had to live and lead two lives. You had to be a straight person or at least appear to be that way,” Jennings told Michigan Public Radio in 2016. “And then, if you’re fortunate enough to find something like Saugatuck, it just felt warming and accepting.”

Eartha Kitt and ‘tea dances’

The Blue Tempo burned down in 1976, and the loss of that de facto gay space was felt immediately. By the early 1980s, Jennings had come out to his family and found his life partner, Larry Gammons. The couple decided to go into business together.

“We thought, ‘You know what, we should open a gay resort,’” said Gammons, who is now 77.

They originally set their sights on a hotel in Saugatuck, but the Saugatuck town council didn’t want to issue a liquor license to a gay business. After they were turned down for a third time, they found a shuttered roadside motel in Douglas and quickly made an offer on the property. At the first Douglas council meeting, they were able to secure their liquor license.

The Douglas Dunes finally opened in 1981, becoming one of the largest LGBTQ+ resorts in the country.

“May 1 was our grand opening, and we laughed about the fact that the city didn’t know what hit ’em because cars were lined up and down the highway,” Gammons said. “All these people. They just showed up.”

“As you well know, all you’ve got to do is tell a gay person and they spread the news. It spreads like crazy,” he added. “And everybody was so excited about a new big place opening up.”

Gammons and Jennings wanted the resort to be as safe as possible, so they hired their own security to make sure that homophobes wouldn’t get inside to harass patrons. They also made it clear to local police that they’d expect help with external issues. Over the years, the Dunes was targeted by gay bashers, received a bomb threat and even got a threatening call from the Ku Klux Klan.

Nonetheless, the resort was popular and quickly earned a reputation for throwing huge parties with fantastic entertainment.

“The music was so much better at The Dunes than in Grand Rapids,” Rossi said. “I used to talk to the DJs and I’d just tip them a couple bucks, and I’d say, ‘What was that you just played?’”

They booked performers such as Eartha Kitt, Linda Clifford and The Weather Girls (though the latter had to cancel at the last minute) and hosted tea dances every Sunday.

“We turned down Madonna,” Gammons said. “Her brother lived in the Detroit area, and he was gay, and Carl was DJing. She was just a punk rocker, and she went up to (Carl) when he took a little break and said, ‘I’m better than that girl. You know, you ought to put me onstage.’”

“We turned her down, and it was about six, eight months after that, she went to New York and got discovered,” he added.

The parties raged on for decades, with Gammons telling The Chicago Tribune in 1995 that gay tourism was bringing “an estimated $6 million annually to the area.” Gammons and Jennings sold The Douglas Dunes in 1998 to Danny Esterline, Greg Trzybinski and Mike Jones, who renamed it The Dunes Resort.

Though there is a widely cited statistic about Saugatuck-Douglas being home to more than 140 gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses, Jones said in an email that number was “made up” for press releases and websites to “promote the area as gay-friendly.”

Jones, 58, still remembers visiting the Dunes — which he calls a “little Midwestern gay Mecca” — for the first time in 1990.

“It really stood out as like, ‘this isn’t normal.’ Even in Chicago in the late 90s, guys weren’t holding hands walking downtown,” he said. “And you’re really right in the middle of God’s Christian reform, Southwest Michigan. So it’s almost like there’s a bubble over us. You have to remember that the whole world isn’t like this.”

Though Jones had visited many of the popular gay hot spots and swore he’d never live in a small town, he felt differently at the Dunes.

“I’ve been to P-town, and we’ve been to Fire Island, and we’ve been to Key West, and Rehoboth, but they’re just a different attitude,” Jones said. “And I never thought when I was in Fire Island or P-town or Rehoboth, ‘This place is great. I want to live here.’”

Nude bathers in the 1890s

With a bit of close reading, the queer history in Saugatuck and Douglas dates back more than 120 years. Gollannek, the director of the local history center, said there are examples of same-sex relationships from the late 1800s through the 1920s.

Some gay tourism can be attributed to the rise of steamboat travel, which made it easier for visitors to make their way over from Chicago. But the most obvious influence on the area’s emerging queerness was a woman named Elizabeth Bandle.

“She and her family had land in Saugatuck on a farm,” said Shanley Poole, 27, engagement liaison and storyteller for Ox-Bow. “She invited a few students and professors up to do plein-air painting because the lighting there was just gorgeous, and it kind of became a tradition year after year.”

Among the people who visited Bandle Farm in the early 1900s were Frederick Fursman and Walter Marshall Clute, artists from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago who went on to found Ox-Bow in 1910. Since artists and city-dwellers were typically more accepting of queer people at the time, it created an environment that fostered gay tourism.

“In 1910, we have these groups of artists and free-thinking individuals — bohemian folk — coming to a secluded area,” Gollannek said. “Avant-garde artists coming here, painting plein-air, working with nude models, and this becomes a place where there’s some openness.”

The Saugatuck-Douglas History Center has records of LGBTQ+ people living in the area starting in 1917, with interior designer Florence “Dannie” Ely Hunn purchasing a cottage near Saugatuck-Douglas with Mabel “Jims” Warren, her partner of more than 50 years.

Many locals can also recall LGBTQ+ people and couples who they met during their first trips to Saugatuck.

“We have had members within GLBTQ community that go back to probably the ’30s, ’40s, like Mary Kay Bettles,’” Rossi said. “She met her lover at a place over by where the chain ferry is now. It used to be a gas station and an ice cream shop.”

Bettles and her partner, Jean Palmer, were not the kind of couple that flew under the radar.

“Jean would wear ball gowns and fur coats and sit on her really rustic cabin porch during the summertime, and Mary Kay Bettles was like, wearing jean shirts and trousers and loved her dogs,” Poole said. “And (Bettles) would wear a Sheriff’s Badge and kind of dubbed herself the Sheriff of Ox-Bow and would chase people off campus if they didn’t have a reason to be there.”

Some visitors and residents were closeted in their hometowns, but felt safe to live with their partners and express affection in Saugatuck-Douglas. Burr Tillstrom, the Chicago-based puppeteer, kept his private life quiet, but purchased a barn in Saugatuck during the 1960s, which allowed him to loosen up as he spent his summers teaching at Ox-Bow.

Rossi, who’s now 68, also grew up during an era that lacked the language and freedoms that many LGBTQ+ people have today.

“Among artists, there was more of a tolerance for ‘less traditional lifestyles,’ as they would call it,” he said. “The definition of gay didn’t really come until maybe the ’50s or ’60s.”

“Saugatuck was sort of used to the fact that there was an eclectic crowd that came here. They painted, they partied, they spent money,” Rossi said. “And you know, when people spend money, and money’s to be made, money does not have sexual orientation.”

These days, Saugatuck-Douglas is a bit different.

It’s more expensive than it once was, with many hotels charging upward of $500 per night, and the frisky nude beach became a thing of the past when the Land Conservancy of West Michigan purchased Denison’s old land around 2009.

“Now the city owns it,” Gammons said, “so no nudity, no hanky-panky, no liquor, no nothing.”

Chris Hewitt | The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

Summer is the season for blockbuster movies, but autumn is when the publishing world unleashes one title after another from some of the biggest, and biggest selling, authors.

We’ll see new books from “The Overstory” writer Richard Powers and “Leave the World Behind” novelist Rumaan Alam, for instance. Here are five others we can’t wait to dive into, all due in September:

Creation Lake, Rachel Kushner

Booker Prize and National Book Award finalist Kushner’s latest is about a woman who is lying to everyone about everything. Sadie (not her real name, of course) is a secret agent, sent to France to infiltrate a group of anarchists. She has a lover, whom she’s surveilling, and friends, whom she’s using, and everything works well until she becomes fascinated by a man who may be even more duplicitous than she is.

Sept. 3, Simon & Schuster, $29.99.

Devils Kill Devils, Johnny Compton

Guardian angels are supposed to be a good thing, but Sarita isn’t so sure when, on her wedding night, her angel, Angelo, who has repeatedly saved her from disaster, kills her husband. Compton’s followup to last year’s “The Spite House” is said to be a super-violent tale of horror that casts vampires in a whole new light.

Sept. 10, Macmillan, $28.99.

Final Cut, Charles Burns

This graphic novel (very graphic — it’s definitely not for kids) is a tale of romantic obsession that’s also about identity and nostalgia. Brian and Jimmy, who used to make goofy science-fiction short films when they were in middle school, reunite as adults to create a more ambitious feature film. Inspired by their beloved “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” it drives them and their collaborators, including muse and lead actor Laura, into a remote forest where things take a dark turn.

Sept. 24, Pantheon, $34.

The Siege, Ben Macintyre

The prolific British writer’s nonfiction accounts of spycraft — including “Agent Zigzag,” “Colditz” and “Operation Mincemeat” — generally take him to World War II and the heroes who worked in the shadows to bring it to a close. But the events of “The Siege” happened in 1980, during America’s Iran Hostage Crisis. It’s a minute-by-minute account of the six days after armed gunmen stormed the Iranian embassy in London, taking 26 hostages.

Sept. 10, Crown, $32.

The Small and the Mighty, Sharon McMahon

Duluth-based social media influencer, podcaster and “America’s government teacher” McMahon— whose popularity has zoomed as the country has become more divided and confusing — unveils 12 witty portraits of average Americans who made enormous contributions but didn’t get into the history books, like the guy who was at Alexander Hamilton’s deathbed and who wrote the preamble to the Constitution.

Sept. 24, Thesis, $32.

©2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Deborah Vankin | Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES — She was 63.

I was 33.

We shared cocktails at a rooftop bar overlooking Sunset Boulevard during golden hour. And the connection was palpable.

No, this isn’t the start to an “L.A. Affairs” romance column. But it is about a love affair of sorts. My best girlfriend of the last two decades is 30 years older than me.

I met Loraine in 2001. I was newly married and working as an associate arts editor at L.A. Weekly, where I was writing book reviews and covering the arts. A friend introduced us at a literary salon one evening. It was a brief business exchange. We were sitting on the floor of the now-shuttered French-Vietnamese restaurant Le Colonial, cross-legged on silk pillows awaiting the start of the readings. Loraine leaned over and gave me her card, mentioning she had just published a debut novel.

“It’s about marriage, adultery and regular church attendance,” she whispered, clearly pleased with her pithy elevator pitch. I stuffed the card in my purse.

A few weeks later Loraine convinced me to meet her for apple martinis at a rooftop restaurant on Sunset Boulevard. I had been hesitant to spend a free evening with a relative stranger who was a generation-plus older than I and with whom I assumed I had little in common. My friends at the time were all raucous creative types in their 20s and early 30s. Clichés raced through my head: Would she be stuffy or old-fashioned? Would we have anything to talk about? I’d have to watch my manners.

“I’ll be home within the hour,” I told my husband, determined to keep the meeting quick and cordial, a professional nicety.

But our conversation stretched on and on. I learned Loraine had grown up in a small town just north of New Orleans, one of the only Jewish families there at the time. She’d studied art in Paris during college — and she regaled me with stories of ill-fated romances she’d had there — before breaking into Hollywood as a TV writer in the 1970s. She penned what many consider the single most iconic TV show in pop culture history in 1980, the “Who Shot J.R.?” episode of “Dallas.”

“Then I made a pivotal mistake in my career,” she told me.

“What?!” I was rapt.

“I turned 50. That was it. Hollywood stopped calling,” she said, shrugging matter-of-factly. “So I turned to writing novels instead.”

“The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc” would go on to become a national bestseller.

It was one of those mysterious, pivotal nights. Seemingly benign at the time, it proved to be life-changing in hindsight. Loraine’s resilience and joie de vivre was inspiring. I didn’t for a minute notice the age gap — and haven’t to this day.

Sure, Loraine has curly, silver hair and oversized glasses and, at 86, now walks a tad more gingerly than she used to. But I don’t see an older woman when I look at her; I see the essence of a person, timeless and ageless, housed in a corporeal shell (one that’s in pretty darn good shape, I should add). I see a teenage girl, still ever-curious about the world around her. I see a 20-something women, still evolving through new creative pursuits, most recently poetry writing. I see an accomplished power player in midlife at the peak of a highly successful TV writing career, self-satisfied and oozing with agency. I see a woman, late in life, struggling to unearth new pathways toward creative and intellectual relevance — and succeeding.

Suffice to say: My editor ended up passing on the book review, but Loraine got me instead.

As our friendship blossomed I learned that Loraine was all kinds of fabulous. She was part New York intellectual, part West Coast hippie, part Hollywood elite. Her closet was stuffed with expensive designer clothes, which she often passed over for unassuming yogawear. She drank Prosecco and swam naked in her cobalt-tiled pool. She once convinced me to spend the entire afternoon lying on our backs, in the dirt, beneath an old and glorious oak tree in Franklin Canyon Park, the sun glimmering through the leaves.

She knew so much about art, an interest we bonded over and which would become a throughline of our friendship. When I began covering art for The Times, she became one of my go-to plus-ones for museum and gallery openings. We’ve taken that interest abroad too, touring art studios in Cuba, visiting museums in Vienna and, most recently, journeying to Japan’s art island, Naoshima.

I suppose this is where I relay how the three-decade age gap has provided illuminating pearls of wisdom during divorce, career changes and aging woes. But honestly? That’s not been the case. Loraine is there for me in an emergency, but she isn’t the motherly, advice-dispensing type.

Rather, Loraine teaches by example. She’s living proof that fabulousness is about attitude, not age. And that vitality has less to do with hip mobility than it does a sustaining lust for life and unrelenting curiosity about the world. I wonder: Had I not met Loraine, would I be aging, now, with as much ease and universality? Would I be more susceptible to the rigid and relentless stereotypes with which society brands women of a certain age? Loraine is, above all else, a writer. And the narrative she’s crafted for herself — a feminist art scholar turned advertising copywriter and single mother turned happily remarried TV writer turned novelist turned poet — bucks society’s expectations. I hope to continue writing it.

“Oh, it’s so nice you have a surrogate mother in L.A.,” my own mother would often say of Loraine when she visited from the East Coast. Loraine is older than my mom and the fact that I had a “kind of aunt-like person” living nearby brought her comfort.

Loraine would bite her lip whenever my mom said that; but afterward, we’d marvel at the mischaracterization of our friendship. Our conversations are devoid of motherly energy; instead they range from our romantic lives to clothes to books and contemporary art. Our recent Japan trip included several nights at a yurt camp by the sea (which we abandoned due to mold).

Last July Fourth we climbed atop an Echo Park hillside, took edibles and watched the fireworks melting across the sky.

“Really, where do you think we go when we die?” I asked in a haze.

“Beats me,” she said, chuckling. “Pass the nuts, will you?”

Then we burst out laughing.

The beginning of the 2020 pandemic was the first time I ever felt our age gap. Our experiences sheltering in place were very different. I was batch-cooking soup and binge-watching FX’s “Better Things,” relishing what felt like a rare solitude. Loraine became low-level depressed and, as the months of the pandemic turned to years, tinged with bitterness. It was a rare mood for the typically happy-go-lucky Loraine.

“It’s like being robbed of the last years you have left,” she’d say on the phone. “I’m withering here at home.”

Recently, Loraine’s taken to repeating herself, as is the case with almost anyone her age.

“So what are you up to this weekend?” she’ll ask me on the phone, minutes after I answered the question already.

I just politely repeat myself, resigned to a sort of linguistic meditation, learning to enjoy the same conversation threads over and over again.

When we broached the issue recently, she told me, sighing: “I suffer from CRS.”

I braced myself for what that meant.

“Can’t Remember Shit,” she said, laughing — one of her long, loose chuckles that trails off with a cheery whine, as if she were a flapper wielding a cigarette holder in the air, head tossed back in the wind. “It is what it is.”

I’ve found myself using that phrase a lot lately: It is what it is. Loraine may not overtly mentor me in life, but her open embrace of whatever life offers reminds me to be present, to live in the moment.

Thinking about our friendship, I see a supercut of us: the time Loraine and I danced on a cafe rooftop in Cuba to live music; when we sailed through the air on trampolines on my 45th birthday with ’80s music playing over the loudspeaker; the New Year’s Eve we posed for selfies in wigs at a friend’s house; Loraine chasing a flying cockroach around our Miami hotel room as I squealed from atop the bed; her pure, unabashed joy when we rounded a corner in a Naoshima museum recently and she found a Cy Twombly work on display.

We were, in all those moments, 16 and 35 and 86. We meet somewhere in the middle, in the universal mind meld that is true friendship. And I’m grateful for every year of it.

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — On a bench near the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market in July, Peggy Cheng recalled the time a television writer pitched her a wacky sitcom centered around the unlikely scenario of a young woman who had befriended her elderly neighbors.

Cheng, who was working in TV development at the time, wasn’t impressed.

“She thought it was so unique and I was like, ‘Hmm,’ ” said the 40-year-old Brentwood resident, laughing.

After all, the writer could have been describing Cheng’s life. Her best friend, Karen Letzkian, lives in the unit above hers and is 24 years her senior. They even had a meet-cute: A leaky toilet brought them together. But their difference in age has not stopped the two from being active participants in each other’s lives. Cheng spent months helping Letzkian plan her wedding. Letzkian picked Cheng up from the hospital after surgery. And they’re both always up for a last-minute trip to the local Ralph’s.

“I share everything with her,” Cheng said. “She’s one of the few friends who knows every facet of my life.”

Letzkian, a retired IT consultant, says the feeling is mutual. “Life is more fun when we’re together. I think that sums it up.”

As it turns out, age-gap friendships like Cheng and Letzkian’s may be more common than many of us think. A 2019 AARP survey found that nearly four in 10 adults have a close friend who is at least 15 years older or younger than they are. Even more are interested in cultivating these types of friendships. Nearly eight in 10 adults want to spend more time with people outside their age groups, according to a report from the Washington, D.C.-based organization Generations United.

Although research on the benefits of intergenerational friendships is nascent, several studies suggest that older adults who regularly interact with younger people experience less anxiety, depression and reduced cognitive decline than their more age-siloed peers. For younger folks, having friends outside their generation may help reduce both internal and external ageism, and address feelings of isolation and loneliness.

“From both sides there are individual level benefits that have the potential to improve health and well-being,” said Lauren Dunning, director of future of aging at the Milken Institute.

But ask those who are in age-gap friendships what they like about it, and chances are they’ll simply tell you they are in it for the enjoyment and pleasure of spending time with someone who “gets” them.

“There’s this exchange of ideas and knowledge, and this recognition that having fun is just as much a part of later life as it is for younger life,” said Catherine Elliott O’Dare, a professor in social policy at Trinity College in Dublin who studies the benefits of intergenerational friendships.

We spoke to six intergenerational friend groups in L.A. about how they met, what they do together and the benefits of their age difference.

Justin Beverly, 26, student. Jose Bautista, 73, retail worker. Nicholas Baraban, 33, retail worker

How did you meet?

Bautista: “We all used to work at the Hobby Lobby and these guys used to have beers after work. One day I invited myself along, but on one condition — we have to play [music].”

Favorite activities:

Playing music, going to the batting cage, open mic nights, barbecues.

What makes the friendship special?

Baraban: “I had a best friend who passed away — a bandmate. Jose helped me start playing with other people again. He was the first person I opened up to about playing out again.”

Bautista: “We’ve become best friends. I can rely on these guys for anything and I know they’ll come through. And me too. They can count on me for anything.”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Beverly: “Getting everyone’s perspective and point of view. People have more stories to tell from different times. It gives an interesting dynamic.”

Bautista: “I don’t feel an age difference with them. I don’t know how a 73-year-old is supposed to act.”

Baraban: “I don’t feel an age difference so much.”

Jeannine Bell, 69, retired high school teacher. Antoine Cason, 38, former NFL quarterback for the San Diego Chargers, recent college football referee

How did you meet?

Bell: “My son Josh was a waterboy for the football team at Los Alamitos High. Antoine walked past us before school one morning and says, ‘Hey J-Dub. How are you doing?’ I said, ‘Who was that?’ and he said, ‘That’s the nicest guy on the football team.”

Cason: “Then I took your photography class senior year and after I went to college I’d come back and see everyone and it just grew from there.”

Favorite activities:

Football activities, going to dinner, and spending time with mutual friends and each other’s families.

What makes the friendship special?

Bell: “He inspires me every time I see him. He lifts up people around him, his personality obviously, but also he cares about people. He gives back.”

Cason: “Every time I’m around her I feel the genuine love and care. She really cares. Sometimes you don’t feel that way around people. And my family loves her too.”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Bell: “I want to stay relevant for every day of my life. He helps me do that. And it’s not just the age difference. He is a different color than I am, a different culture. I love understanding that better. I can’t say I understand it totally but hopefully it makes me communicate better with everyone as a result of that.”

Cason: “For me — especially where I’ve been, what I’ve done — I feel safe with her. I like to stay as private as I can because everything I’ve done has been in the public. And I just feel safe. That’s very important.”

Flora Grewe, 4 ½, student. Mary Ota, 105, retired medical office worker

How did you meet?

Ota: “Flora and her family lived at the end of the street where I used to go for a walk. I would sit on my walker and rest before turning around and she would come and bring me flowers. Then she started coming over and we just became friends. Now we get together a lot.”

Favorite activities:

Doing puzzles, getting matching manicures, giving presents.

What makes the friendship special?

Ota: “She is a sweet little girl, always smiling and just adorable. At first she was quite shy, but what was adorable is she would write notes and bring them to me. She would always smile when she brought me things, and even if they were just weeds, I would put them in water.”

Grewe: “I don’t even know! I just like her!”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Ota: “A friend like Flora keeps things lively. Young people are so full of life. And connecting with young people makes you recall when you were young and your children were young.”

Grewe: “She let me have two cupcakes at her birthday party. She’s nice.”

patricia smith 73, retired faculty support at UCLA, yoga teacher. Adam Fowler, 43, consultant

How did you meet?

Fowler: “I took a position in Global Economics and Management at UCLA while I was applying to PhD programs. The first day the person I was replacing warned me about the woman down the hall. I hadn’t been in Los Angeles terribly long and I was like, ‘Oh, God, I hope this isn’t a nightmare.’ But we just hit it off.”

smith: “He endeared me to him with the ‘Yes, ma’am.’ It reminded me of the way I was brought up. And his Southern accent was the cutest thing in the world.”

Favorite activities:

Picnics at the Hollywood Bowl, movie nights at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, talking on the phone, fixing up smith’s apartment.

What makes the friendship special?

Fowler: “She made it comfortable to grow as a human. I was from the boonies of Arkansas, trying to figure out who I was in terms of coming out as gay, pursuing a PhD from a family where I was already the first generation of college students, and this was a person who was so secure in who she was and kind and generous.”

smith: “He was always so freaking smart, but he was smart without being arrogant. That was one of the more endearing qualities I recognized in him right away.”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

smith: “He helps me to stay young. He turns me onto stuff. When I don’t know what’s going on, I just call him and he sets me straight. He helps me to pay attention — not to mention that he does [stuff] for me. That’s priceless.”

Fowler: “It’s such a source of context and wisdom. Whenever you get spun up on something small in your own life, patricia can either help you laugh about it or put it in some broader context. And just everything she’s done, moving here from Chicago, things she’s been through, all of that is so very interesting. I’d say it’s the resilience for me.”

Marlo Wamsganz, 54, designer. Norma Hench, 83, retired teacher

How did you meet?

Wamsganz: “We were both living in Vermont and I was dating her partner Glenn’s son. The first time we met we were already walking around her gardens. Then I moved on from that relationship and Glenn passed away. We lost touch, not because we didn’t love each other, but because life goes on. “

Hench: “It took me a full year to get my act together after Glenn died and move to L.A. where my son lives. I flew from Vermont to JFK and, lo and behold, there’s Marlo!”

Wamsganz: “We were both relocating to L.A. and when we got on the plane I believe we were in the same row. I thought, ‘This is wild.’ “

Favorite activities:

Visiting botanic gardens, trying new foods, hiking in Malibu, visiting museums and swapping books.

What makes the friendship special?

Wamsganz: “Norma loves to learn new things, she’s up for anything, she’ll taste anything, and she also likes to dig deep into things. I love how positive she is and she speaks her mind. She’s very fair and believes in rights for all people. And she’s a great conversationalist.”

Hench: “I want to tell a story: We were crossing Ventura Boulevard — this big multi lane street, and right in the middle of the crosswalk there was a praying mantis. And without missing a beat, didn’t Marlo reach down and pick up this praying mantis and carry it with her across to the other side of the street and put it on the lawn? Now, doesn’t that speak volumes?”

Best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Hench: “I never think about an age difference. I’m not even aware of that. Maybe I’m in denial.”

Wamsganz: “I don’t either. Although I do ask her some things. Like, how long do hot flashes go on?”

Peggy Cheng, 40, entrepreneur. Karen Lektzian, 64, retired IT consultant

How did you meet?

Cheng: “Her master toilet flooded my unit, and it was easier to go through my unit to fix it. I was working really long hours at that time, so I was just like, ‘Yup! OK! Bye!’ She was like, ‘Can I get you any gift cards or a dinner?’ and I was just like, ‘No! I don’t really expect to interact with you.’ “

Lektzian: “The remediation took three weeks, and over the course of those three weeks we had quite a few interactions, so we got to know each other a little bit. I invited her to dinner and with the proximity we started to run into each other more often and it was so easy to just say, ‘Want to pop up for a drink? Or, do you want to cook dinner tonight?’ “

Favorite activities?

Traveling, cooking, eating out, running errands.

What makes the friendship special?

Lektzian: “We just have so much fun together. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. And we have so many common interests. It’s just so natural. Life is more fun with her.”

Cheng: “I like that I can share everything with her. She’s one of the few friends who knows every facet of my life. I can go to her for advice and if it’s serious she will just switch into that mode and then immediately we will have the giggles.”

What is the best part of being in an age-gap friendship?

Lektzian: “I don’t really notice when I’m with my friends my own age versus Peggy.”

Cheng: “I don’t feel it either. She’s equally energetic and way more fit than I am!”

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©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Michele Brosius

Whether your summer is still going strong or your kids are gearing up for the first day of school, chances are you’re trying to hold on to those summer vibes while you can. Well, you’re in luck because National Eat Outside Day falls on Saturday, Aug. 31, making it the perfect day to join others for a celebration and find that ideal outdoor spot to enjoy. Here are 11 fun and unique ways to celebrate and embrace the great outdoors.

Enjoy an early bird breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and what better way to start your day than by heading outside with all of your breakfast favorites for a morning meal in the great outdoors? You can make it as simple or as complex as you wish; either with an easy continental-style breakfast with muffins, bagels and coffee or warmed breakfast burritos prepared the night before.

Affordable backyard fun

If your family prefers to sleep in a bit, an outdoor picnic lunch or charcuterie spread are perfect al fresco dining options. And you don’t even have to make everything yourself; have some subs delivered, add chips and soda, and spend the afternoon in the backyard eating, playing yard games and enjoying the late summer weather.

Book a special dining event

If you want to go all out for National Eat Outside Day, consider booking a personal dining experience at your home. Local chefs can be hired to prepare hibachi, clambake or other personal dining experiences; you simply supply the seating and guest list and sit back and enjoy a full professional dining experience customized to your preferences.

Potluck party time

A more affordable option is to invite your friends and family over, ask them to bring a meal for the potluck and a board game or two and enjoy a budget-friendly get-together with your besties. You could even center the potluck around a particular theme or game, like Clue or an escape room-themed mystery dinner.

Go on a food truck crawl

Finding a food truck festival these days is quite easy. Gather a group of friends and head out to one to sample a variety of foods. These events are often held in public parks with ample space to spread out and enjoy a meal, making it an ideal way to celebrate National Eat Outside Day.

Plan a dark-sky picnic

If you’re fortunate enough to live in a dark-sky area – think the Grand Canyon or the Great Smoky Mountains – consider planning an evening dark-sky picnic. Without the glare of nearby light pollution, stargazing takes on a whole meaning. For details on dark-sky locations nearby, visit the Dark-Sky website. It’s the ideal resource to start planning your evening stargazing picnic right away.

Host a cozy campfire

Nothing says summertime like s’mores and hot dogs over an open campfire. A backyard campfire is quintessential outdoor living and the perfect way to celebrate National Eat Outside Day. Make it a potluck and invite friends and family to bring items to cook over the fire, and you’ve got a budget-friendly party with food everyone can enjoy.

Neighborhood block party

Plan a back-to-school neighborhood block party for the parents and kids, complete with potluck items, games, prizes, and maybe even a bounce house and face painting for the kids. This is a great way to get outside and meet your neighbors, especially if you’re new to the area or your kids are starting at a new school. A neighborhood block party is the perfect icebreaker at a time when families mostly keep to themselves.

Backyard pizza party

With an outdoor pizza oven or your everyday grill, you can transform your backyard into the best pizza party spot in town. Let your guests create custom pizzas with their choice of toppings and enjoy a steaming hot slice outdoors with sodas or adult beverages to keep the party going.

Enjoy a Lowcountry boil

This southern staple blends boiled corn, shrimp, potatoes and sausage in a big pot with your favorite classic seasonings, like Old Bay or Zatarain’s for the ultimate in Lowcountry cuisine. Also known as Frogmore stew in the Beaufort, South Carolina, area, the Lowcountry boil is typically served outdoors; simply boil and spread the feast out on newspaper at the picnic table so everyone can dig in family style.

Dinner and an outdoor movie

All you need to pull off a dinner and a movie outdoors is your favorite streaming service, a laptop, a projector and a movie screen and you’re good to go. Add your favorite family-friendly meal, don’t forget the popcorn and candy and you’ve got a National Eat Outside Day activity to remember for years.

Just enjoy the day

National Eat Outside Day is the perfect excuse to break from the norm and enjoy a meal out in the fresh air. Whether you plan a backyard barbeque, your favorite movie screening or prefer to indulge a bit with a personal chef, you’re sure to make this special day a yearly tradition for your family.

Michele Brosius is the creator of Midlife Healthy Living where she expertly combines her love for cooking with budget-conscious nutrition strategies. Through her blog, she encourages women to embrace a healthier lifestyle with simple recipes and wellness tips.

You’re just a reader, standing in front of a bookshelf, asking it to tell you what to read.

Luckily, it has answers — or at least we do. The last days of summer are the perfect time to check out a romantic comedy, whether on a still-warm (for now) beach or at a coffee house where you might just experience your own meet cute. 

SEE ALSO: Sign up for our free Book Pages newsletter about bestsellers, authors and more

We compiled a list of novels that are either out now or coming soon — but we needed a little help, so we turned (once again) to Leah Koch, the co-founder and co-owner of The Ripped Bodice, the romance bookstore in Culver City (and Brooklyn). Read on to discover a list of our, and Leah’s, picks for light-hearted rom-coms to get lost in this summer (or, if you prefer, in the wintry holidays).

We hope they’ll complete you.

“The Bump,” Sidney Karger

Love goes on the road in this rom-com from “Best Men” author Karger. In his latest, TC commercial director Wyatt and his partner, actor-turned-journalist Biz, decide to drive a ‘92 Volkswagen from Brooklyn to California to pick up their baby, who is being delivered via a surrogate. Things get … well, bumpy.

“Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream,” Tehlor Kay Mejia

“A heartwarming Queer romance set in a tight-knit small-town community, where long-time friends navigate the transition from friends to lovers, all while on a quest to save their bar,” says Koch of one of her summer favorites.

“The Design of Us,” Sajni Patel

Bhanu is sunny. Sunny, despite his name, is not. The two tech co-workers have opposite temperaments, and do not get along at all — but they’re forced to pretend to be lovers thanks to Bhanu’s impulsive lie when the two encounter each other in Hawaii. This is an enemies-to-lovers story with a tropical twist.

“Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous,” Mae Marvel

Leah Koch describes this novel as a Queer love story about childhood friends, one of whom is now a famous actress. She says of the author, “Marvel’s great writing brings to life the irresistible chemistry between characters, making it a must-read rom-com for the season.”

“The Friend Zone Experiment,” Zen Cho

Renee Goh seems to have it all — her own women’s clothing company in London and a pop-star boyfriend. After she gets dumped, her father offers her the chance to run the family business in Singapore, but there’s a complication — she reconnects with her college boyfriend, Ket Siong, throwing her future into doubt. 

“Hot Summer,” Elle Everhart

“Wanderlust” author Everhart’s latest follows Cas, who finds herself a contestant on a British reality dating show. She wants to win the series in order to gain a promotion at work, but her plans go awry when she falls for Ada, a contestant who pines for a real relationship.

“Just Some Stupid Love Story,” Katelyn Doyle

The latest from L.A. writer Doyle (who writes historical romances under the name Scarlett Peckham) is a meta-rom-com: It tells the story of Molly, a rom-com screenwriter who thinks love is actually a sham, but might have to change her mind after she reconnects with her high-school boyfriend. 

“Lavash at First Sight,” Taleen Voskuni

The second novel by San Francisco author Voskuni follows Ellie and Vanya, two Armenian American women from rival Bay Area families who can’t help but be drawn to each other. Expect some mouth-watering food content in this one.

“Let the Games Begin,” Rufaro Faith Mazarura

The games might be over, but you don’t need to let go of your Olympics fever just yet. Mazarura’s debut follows two strangers who (literally) run into each other at the summer games: Olivia, an ambitious intern, and Zeke, a star runner for Great Britain’s team. Talk about carrying torches.

“The Lost Story,” Meg Shaffer

“A fairy tale for grown-ups!” raves Koch. “Inspired by C.S. Lewis’s ‘The Chronicles of Narnia,’ best friends Jeremy and Rafe, once lost in a magical realm, must confront their mysterious past to help vet tech Emilie find her missing sister, with Schaffer’s masterful storytelling weaving together enchantment and adventure.

“Miranda in Retrograde,” Lauren Layne

The latest from “Made in Manhattan” author Layne focuses on the title character, a young physics professor who, after losing out on a promotion, decides to spend a year following her horoscope. She ends up meeting two intriguing men — but which one do the stars think she’s fated for?

“Name Your Price,” Holly James

In the latest from Southern California author James, a public fight between actor Chuck and Hollywood scion Olivia leads to the couple’s breakup — and lands them on a reality show where they’ll have to live with each other for a month for the chance to get a million dollars each. Of course, there’s a twist: they’re not allowed to touch each other, and the house only has one bed. 

“The Royals Upstairs,” Karina Halle (out Sept. 10)

Prolific author Halle, who lives in L.A. and Canada, returns with a rom-com about James, who takes a job as a protection officer for a Norwegian prince, only to find that the nanny for the royal children is his ex-girlfriend. Sparks fly, even in frigid Scandinavia.

“Sunshine and Spice,” Aurora Palit (out Sept. 10)

Palit’s debut novel follows brand consultant Naomi, who agrees to fake-date Dev, whose mother is desperate for him to get married as soon as humanly possible. It doesn’t take long for the faux couple to realize they have actual feelings for each other.

“The Truth According to Ember,” Danica Nava

The debut novel from Southern California-based author Nava follows a Chickasaw woman who pretends to be White in order to score an accounting job. She meets and falls for a fellow Native coworker, Danuwoa, but their employer forbids intra-office dating — which sets the pair up nicely for a blackmailing colleague. 

By Julie Myhre-Nunes | NerdWallet

I had never driven an electric car before, so, naturally, I made sure my first drive covered 500 miles across two states in one day.

Although public opinion on electric cars is still mixed, facts suggest these cars are not a passing fad. Electric vehicle sales in the U.S. topped 1 million for the first time in 2023, quadrupling the figure three years prior. And although demand has slowed, a recent study by industry group Cox Automotive found that more than half of shoppers previously identified as skeptics are poised to enter the EV market in the second half of the decade.

While my first experience with an EV was unusual — I rented one to drive from San Jose, California, to a work event in Las Vegas — it included many situations a prospective buyer would want to consider. If you’re new to EVs or just curious about what a road trip in one is like, here are the lessons I learned.

Maximum range isn’t the actual range

The 2023 Chevy Bolt EV 1LT that I drove has a combined miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) of 120 and a maximum range of 259 miles, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. These totals didn’t translate to real life.

That’s because an electric vehicle’s maximum range doesn’t take into account the use of anything in the car, including air conditioning/heater, the infotainment system, charging your phone or the terrain you’ll drive through. It’s just a measurement of what the 100% charged battery is capable of.

It turns out, though, that an electric battery functions best when it is between 20% and 80% full, because going over that exposes the battery to high voltages that can accelerate degradation over time. (Think of your phone battery and how the battery dies faster as the phone ages.) So if you’re keeping the car’s battery between 20% and 80% most of the time, your battery should last longer.

When I picked up the car, the battery was at 80%, which gave me a minimum of 151 miles. I had mapped out my trip based on where I could find public charging stations, and I knew the first leg of my trip would cover about 150 miles while driving through a mountain pass. Before heading out, I decided to top up the charge to a minimum of 163 miles — but, happily, I got to the first stop with 60 miles left, mostly due to regenerative braking that takes the energy usually wasted with braking and puts it back into the battery.

Charging isn’t always available

I charged the vehicle four times on my trip, using three of the four largest public charging companies: Electrify America, ChargePoint and EVgo. Because all three charging companies function differently, this meant that each time I was figuring out how payments and plugging in worked. It felt like I was 16 again and learning how to fuel up my car for the first time.

Depending on your area, you might have a plethora of charging options or not many at all, and it’s not always predictable. Consider two California cities of comparable size: Fresno with a population of 542,107 and Sacramento with a population of 524,943. When it comes to charging stations with Level 2 and direct-current (DC) fast chargers (the two fastest charging options), Sacramento has more than double the number of chargers in Fresno — 359 and 174, respectively, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. And there’s even more of a divide in different areas across the country.

Keep in mind, too, that not all of those chargers work for every car. Tesla has the largest network of charging stations by far, but while the company is opening up that network to other manufacturers and charge-point operators, that process is very much in-progress. What’s more, at any given station some of the chargers may be out of order (two of the four stations I visited had chargers that weren’t working), and if you get to a station and it’s full, you may have a wait ahead of you.

Charging may take a long time

Enter a drive from San Jose to Vegas in your favorite mapping software and it’ll say it takes about eight hours. My drive required 11 and a half.

Travel time in an EV depends on the vehicle you’re driving and what kind of public chargers you use. DC fast chargers can fill a battery electric vehicle to 80% in as little as 20 minutes or as long as an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. When I stopped at the ChargePoint in Coalinga, California, I had a minimum of 60 miles left in the battery. I used a DC fast charger for 1 hour, 9 minutes to gain an additional 103 miles.

But most plug-in hybrids and many electric cars are not yet equipped for that type of fast charging, and so realistically it may take longer. I didn’t do any Level 2 charging on my trip, but that technology can charge a battery electric vehicle to 80% in four to 10 hours and a plug-in hybrid in one to two hours.

In total I charged for 3 hours and 6 minutes over my 529-mile drive. For comparison’s sake, I drove a gas-powered car back from Vegas and had to gas up only once for eight minutes.

Charging anxiety is real

Awful. That’s how it feels to be on a long drive in an EV wondering if you’ll make it to the next charging station.

I experienced this twice on my trip — when I reached Mojave, California, with a minimum of 20 miles left, and then pulling into Las Vegas, with a minimum of 32 miles left. Both times I was genuinely concerned that I wouldn’t make it to my next stop. I turned off the air conditioning, stopped listening to my audiobook, unplugged my cell phone and tried to remain positive.

I started to plan out my options for what to do if the car died. I looked up charging stations near me using my phone, but had no luck. Worst case, I was ready to use my AAA membership, although I don’t know what they could do other than tow the vehicle to a charger. Of course, this was first timer’s nerves, but in survey after survey, anxiety over charging and range is among the biggest blockers to widespread EV adoption, with one noting that some 40% of current EV owners still report having a little.

A smartphone is essential for EV drivers

When you’re driving a gas car, there are plenty of opportunities to stop. In fact, you’ll see road signs along the highway to let you know when you can stop. This isn’t something you can rely on in an electric car. Instead, you’ll have to rely on your phone or previously mapped out charging stations. Despite mapping my stops ahead of time, I ended up looking for stops when I started getting charging anxiety.

Additionally, paying for charging may require your cell phone. Gas stations generally have two payment options: at the pump or with an attendant. None of the charging stations I visited had an attendant working, and ChargePoint didn’t let me tap or pay at the plug. Instead, I had to pay using its app, which isn’t ideal if your phone is dead or you can’t get the app to work.

Would I buy an EV after this trip?

Yes, but there are some caveats. I’m fortunate enough to be a two-car household, and if we were to get an electric car, it would replace one of the gas vehicles. I suspect electric cars are great for short trips, like a daily commute, but I’m not ready for one on a longer journey. And if I did buy an electric car, I don’t think I would rely on public charging. I would install a Level 2 charger in my home, which costs extra for the charger and the electrician but gives peace of mind that I could quickly top up every night.

Julie Myhre-Nunes is an editor at NerdWallet. Email: jmyhrenunes@nerdwallet.com.

The article What I Learned From My First EV Road Trip originally appeared on NerdWallet.