Blossomtime 2007

April 29—May 5
Southwest Michigan’s premiere festival heralds spring during the first week of May as it has for the last 101 years.
Although the festival was interrupted several times prior to 1952, it has occurred every year since then. The following schedule is just part of a full
week of events in Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, and surrounding communities.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SUNDAY, April 29; 2:00P.M.
Blessing of the Blossoms
Location TBA

SUNDAY, April 29;
3:30 P.M.
Vintage Baseball with
the House of David
Eastman Field

APRIL 30 - MAY 2
Blossomtime’s Good Will Tour
Southwest Michigan

TUESDAY, May 1;
6:30 P.M.
Keys to the Cities / Mayors’ Banquet
Pebblewood Country Club, Bridgman

WEDNESDAY,May2;
7:30 P.M.
Blossomtime Fashion Show
LMC Mendel Center

THURSDAY,May3;
5:00 P.M.
Blossomtime Youth Parade
Dickinson Stadium, St. Joseph

SATURDAY,May5;
10:30 A.M.
5K Run/Walk for the Buds
Downtown St. Joseph / Benton Harbor

SATURDAY,May5; NOON
Grand Floral Parade
Downtown St. Joseph & Benton Harbor. A complete list of events and activities can be found on the festival’s website
blossomtimefestival.org

Benton Harbor:
An Arts Renaissance

TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN BENTON HARBOR, and there is excitement and commitment in the voices of the movers and shakers in the community. Benton Harbor is a community on the cusp of a renaissance. In the old days, Benton Harbor was the seat of commerce for Southwest Michigan. Much of that remains; the Whirlpool Corporation has its home in the community. When the company purchased Maytag, they moved significant portions of those operations to the community and with that move came a commitment to remain. Also remaining is the world’s largest ‘cash-to-grower’ wholesale produce market with over 1,000 farm families registered to use the market. More than 100 commodities are sold wholesale to food retailers year round. There is always something in season at the Benton Harbor Fruit Market. Yet, the downtown district languished for 30 years or more, in part because of a downturn in the economy of the community; in part because most of the retail businesses moved to the mall or to St. Joseph. The good news is that the downtown is reinventing itself as an arts district, with galleries, restaurants, a brew-pub, a world-renowned glass blower, the most important public-art sculptor of the 21st century, loft living spaces and more activity than the downtown has seen in years. A Cool Cities grant from the State of Michigan is helping to enhance the district with new signs, new building facades, and an apartment for an artist in residence. Additionally, a huge beachfront community and golf course is in the works at the north edge of town that will change the landscape of the community forever. Decisions being made for the old Farmer and Merchants Bank building are typical of the fervor that is growing in downtown Benton Harbor. Richard Vance, an entrepreneur and gallery owner, has joined with Tom and Sherry Miller, Larry and Sharon Motts, Greg Rizzo, and another silent partner to purchase the building and convert it into a multi-use building with a focus on the arts. Chief among their plans is an original works theatre that will be able to be rented as theatre space. Other plans are for a bookstore, restaurant, jazz club, coffee bar, and offi ce space.

Julie Katz, a New York documentary filmmaker is arriving in Benton Harbor within the next month to film the progress being made in the community. The filmmaker, who grew up in the Benton Harbor area, is including her home area as one of several in her film about urban renaissance. Here are some places to find when you visit Benton Harbor:

• Galleria del Corizone: Richard Vance’s
gallery includes many of the artists who have
discovered Benton Harbor.
• Tabor Hill Wine Tasting Room: This well-known winery was visionary in its decision to move a tasting room to downtown Benton Harbor.
• Water Street Glassworks: Jerry Catania trained with the famous glass blower, Dale Chihuly. The school trains glassblowers from
all over the region and has the only furnace available to students from the area’s colleges and universities. They also run classes for the
Benton Harbor Public Schools.
• Vesuvius Gallery: Next door to the
glassworks. Sells the works of the Catanias as
well as other artists.
• The Livery: A microbrewery and restaurant
with nightly entertainment
• Richard Hunt Studio Center: The Studio
Center displays the work of famed sculptor
Richard Hunt and photographer Jesus Lopez.
• The Iron Gate: Home fashions and garden ornaments, many from Mexico
• The Ideal Place: A fi ne dining restaurant
• Charlie’s Piggin’ and Grinnin’:
Barbeque restaurant

An excellent time to have a Benton Harbor experience is during one of the monthly Art Hops which occur on the 4th Friday of the
month. Headquarters for the Art Hops is the Tabor Hill Wine Tasting Room on Main St. All the galleries, restaurants and retail stores mentioned in this article are within a two block area of Main St. and Territorial Road in downtown Benton Harbor. If you think you know Benton Harbor, think again. It is the essence of the“hidden treasures” of Southwest Michigan. If you have never
ventured into the community, delve in. It is evolving, intriguing, and exciting.

Further information can be found at
www.michigansgreatsw.com
Cornerstone Alliance
269-925-6100.

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