Inside Winter Delights

There’s something to be said for getting outside in the snow – but there’s also a lot to be said for sitting inside cozy, warm, and dry – with a mug of hot cocoa (or maybe knitting needles!) in your hands. Here are a handful of ideas on how to get out and see people this winter – with minimal chills!

Book Clubs Galore

The Leelanau Township Library in Northport has a book group that meets the 4^th Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. They skip December, so jump in come Jan. 28 – when the book pick is “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride. The library has copies of the book available.

Leland Township Library has an LT Book Group that meets the 3rd Thursday of every month, with two sessions (10 a.m. & 2 p.m.) so you can pick your time. Books are provided; it’s deliberately “no-pressure”—come when you can. “Milkman” by Anna Burns is the Jan. 15^th pick.

Suttons Bay Bingham District Library has a BOOKENDs Book Discussion Group that meets at 2 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday of each month (no meeting in December).

Leelanau Books in Leland hosts its own Book Group on the 2nd Friday of each month at 10:30 a.m., September–June.

The Folded Leaf, a new bookstore and community hangout in Cedar, has a variety of book clubs including their “Pages and Pours” meet-up the last Wednesday of the month. Visit their calendar online for a full list of upcoming book clubs.

Knitting & Fiber Groups / Classes

Leelanau Fiber is a yarn and fiber arts shop in downtown Suttons Bay with a “small shop, big heart” vibe and a variety of classes in knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving and felting, taught by local fiber artists.

Wool & Honey in Cedar is dubbed “the sweetest yarn shop in the Midwest,” with open stitch sessions, yarn clubs, and community gatherings (and a lot of knitters hanging out on weekends). Their space hosts open stitch groups, wellness nights and other community knitting events, which can be perfect winter social time. (They also sell kits - pictured!)

Inish Knits in Cedar is also a local yarn store in Leelanau that knits together a community of knitters and fiber folks. Indulge your eyes in their wall of colorful skeins.

The Glen Arbor Arts Center offers 100+ programs a year, including painting, pottery, embroidery, mixed media and photography. An upcoming series called “Sparking Creativity” runs for 4 Tuesdays in January.

The Old Art Building in Leland hosts art & craft classes, art exhibits and community events. One upcoming workshop is hand-painted candles, another is a Hygge Night: The Art of Cozy Living.

The Green Door Folk School in Cedar offers hands-on traditional craft workshops—things like woodworking, homestead crafts, and other folk skills—meant to connect people to the land and to each other. January classes include everything from Unconventional Printmaking (pictured) to Cross-Country Skiing (sorry that might give you a chill!).