Grand rising, West Michigan. This is Lakeshore Current, where, just like the charter fishing boats, we navigate the waters of information to bring you the best catch on the lakeshore 🎣 

In today’s Lakeshore Current:

• Swimming Across Erie 🏊‍♂️ 

• Restaurants Best For Wine 🍷 

• World’s Largest Jump House 🎪 

— Courtland Stansberry

THE DIGEST

Michigan Restaurants Named World Best For Wine

52 restaurants in Michigan have been recognized by Wine Spectator for having some of the best wine selections in the world. Nearly 4,000 dining destinations worldwide made the list in the special Restaurant Awards issue. Wine Spectator Editor and Publisher, Marvin R. Shanken, commended the restaurants for their dedication to wine and exemplary wine lists. The Restaurant Awards program, which launched in 1981, assigns awards on three levels: The Award of Excellence, The Best of Award of Excellence, and The Grand Award, with 2,150, 1,531, and 96 winners in each category respectively. The full list of Michigan restaurants can be found in Wine Spectator's listing here. The restaurants that were recognized along the lakeshore are Butch’s Dry Dock in Holland, Coast 236 Restaurant and Bar in Saugatuck, Lake Bluff Grille in Muskegon, and Two Tonys Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar in Spring Lake.

Swimming Across Lake Erie

Holland-based ophthalmologist Bryan Huffman is renowned for his remarkable swimming accomplishments, including crossing the English Channel, completing the 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan, and most recently conquering a 26.7-mile journey across Lake Erie. Huffman is now contemplating swimming across the Catalina Channel after successfully finishing the Lake Erie swim in an impressive 16 hours and 22 minutes on June 28. Despite a setback during a previous attempt at crossing Lake Michigan in 2023, due to a mechanical failure on his support boat, Huffman and his team meticulously planned and waited for ideal weather conditions before embarking on the Lake Erie challenge from Dunkirk, NY to Port Colbourne, Ontario, Canada. Inspired by a tragic event he witnessed during his freshman year at the University of Michigan, Huffman is passionate about raising awareness and funds for swim lessons at the Holland Aquatic Center, with a goal of reaching $50,000 in donations for 2024 after raising $44,605 in 2023. For more information or to contribute, please visit hollandaquatic.org/bryans-big-swims.

Ottawa County Slims Down High-Speed Plans

A reduced state grant has led to a scaling back of plans to bring high-speed broadband internet to up to 10,000 Ottawa County households. Instead of installing 400 miles of fiber optic cable, only approximately 250 miles will be laid. The state grant was expected to be $14 million but was awarded at $8.83 million, resulting in Ottawa County contributing $4 million instead of the planned $7.75 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The number of households potentially served by the fiber will be reduced from 10,000 to 6,000. There is hope that the saved ARPA dollars, $3.75 million, can be used in the future to further expand high-speed internet in the county.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Free Music Returns At Historic Holland Mansion Along The Lakeshore

The Felt Mansion Estate concert series is back for the summer. The historic mansion sits on 15 acres along the Lake Michigan shoreline and was completed in 1928 as a summer home for inventor Dorr Felt. The mansion has 25 rooms and visitors can take self-guided tours. The concerts feature four local musicians from different genres and admission is free. The first band to perform on the 11th is Zion Lion out of Kalamazoo. Food and drink service is available, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. and music starting at 7 p.m. Outside food is allowed but outside drinks are not. No pets except registered service dogs are permitted. Cancellations due to inclement weather will be announced by 5 p.m. via email and the mansion’s website.

World’s Largest Jump House Returns To MI

In one month The Big Bounce America, the Guinness-certified world record holder of The World’s Largest Bounce House, is returning to Frankenmuth River Place Shops in Michigan from Aug. 8-10. This gigantic bounce house stands 32 feet tall and covers over 16,000 square feet, featuring slides, ball pits, climbing towers, basketball hoops, and oversized characters for photos. A new addition for 2024 is the MEGA Air Space Slide, a five-lane mega slide for thrilling races or repeated zipping. There will be a total of ten inflatables for bouncing and sliding. All-Access Tickets for three hours of fun are available online for $34.95 until July 9, increasing to $39.95 thereafter. Food trucks will be on site. More info on it here.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN

Muskegon

Tuesday - Muskegon Farmers Market 8am-2pm

McGraft Park Summer Concert Series 7pm

Lake Bluff Grille - Wine School 6-8pm

Valkyrie - Trivia Night 7pm

Wednesday - Muskegon Flea Market 8am-2pm

Unruly Brewing - Trivia Night 7pm

USS LST 393 Veterans Museum - Yoga on the Ship 7pm

Grand Haven

Tuesday - Downtown - First Block Kids Night: Bluey Party 6-8pm

Bolt Park - Sounds of Summer 7pm

Grand Armory Brewing Vinyl Night 6:30pm

Wednesday - Grand Haven Farmers Market 8am-1pm

Music On The Grand 7pm

Whiskey and War Stories at American Dunes 7pm

Holland

Tuesday - Park Theatre Open Mic doors open at 7:30pm

Midtown Center - Food Truck Tuesday + Live Music 5pm

Kollen Park & Heinz Waterfront - American Legion Concert 7:30pm

Zeeland - Soundz of Summer Concert Series 6:30pm

Wednesday - Farmers Market 8am-2pm

Market Kids Activities 9:30-11:30am

Big Lake Brewing - Live Music at the Lake 6pm

Macatawa Bay Yacht Club Wednesday night sailboat races 6:30pm

SPONSORED BY SIMULATOR CONSULTANTS

Looking to improve your golf game or hosting an event this summer?

Based in Grand Haven, Michigan, Simulator Consultants is a locally owned and operated, customer-focused company that provides high-quality golf simulator installations and mobile event rentals. Our installations cover commercial and residential settings, simulator equipment sales, custom designing, and consulting services to accommodate virtually all spaces. Additionally, Simulator Consultants offers mobile golf simulator rentals for a wide range of events, including parties, weddings, corporate events, marketing events, trade shows, expos, and other gatherings both big and small. We take great pride in the personalized experience our team provides to each and every customer.

WEATHER

Tuesday

77 🌡️ 66 | 🌦️  | 40% | 💨 W 8 mph (7 knots)

Wednesday

71 🌡️ 61 | 🌧️  | 98% | 💨 N 9 mph (8 knots)

LIVE MUSIC

Tuesday

The Deck I Rusty & The Razorblades I 6pm

McGraft Park I Legal Rehab I 7pm

Heritage Landing I West Michigan Concert Winds I 7pm

Bolt Park I HYRYDR I 7pm

Kollen Park I American Legion Concert I 7:30pm

Wednesday

The Deck I The Cheap Dates I 6pm

The Block I Tim Froncek I 7:30pm

Lucy’s I Live Jazz I 7pm

Music On The Grand I Carl Webb Band I 7pm

Big Lake Brewing I Jeff Armstrong I 6pm

SPORTS

Tuesday - Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Guardians 6:40pm

Wednesday - Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Guardians 6:40pm

Past results

Tigers lost 0-1 To The Guardians

Thanks!

Thanks for reading Lakeshore Current today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who drinks Kim Crawford.

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