Each Thursday from tomorrow through the end of August, the city of East Lansing shows an outdoor movie in Valley Court Park.  This weekly event is always free AND features an hour long music act before the film showing!  A concert and a movie?  Yes please! And it’s super close to your MSU student apartment.

Check out the line up for the rest of the summer below, or click here for more information!

July 29:  Superman (PG)  9:30 p.m.  Jack Kohler (musical guest) 
August 5:  Elf (PG)  9:00 p.m.  Sam Corbin (musical guest)
August 12:  The Notebook (PG-13)  9:00 p.m.  Against School Violence (musical guest)
August 19:  Twilight (PG-13)  9:00 p.m.  Jen Sygit (musical guest) 
August 26:  Napoleon Dynamite (PG-13)  9:00 p.m.  Tom & Mary (musical guest)

See ya there!

-Ryan Shaul

Are you looking to get out of your East Lansing Apartment?  One of my favorite things to do is go to local festivals and fairs.  They offer a lot of entertainment options, and they can be enjoyed without spending a lot of money!  Perfect for all of us who are living on an MSU college budget.  So go ahead, grab some friends get out of your MSU student apartment and head on down to the county fair or local festival for a great time.  Below you’ll find many awesome events to choose from!  Click on the links for more info:

Ionia Free Fair—Ionia:  7/22-7/31

Coast Guard Festival—Grand Haven:  7/30-8/8

Ingham County Fair—Mason:  8/2-8/7

Jackson County Fair—Jackson:  8/8-8/14

Kent County Youth Fair—Lowell:  8/9-8/14

Allegan County Fair—Allegan:  9/10-9/18

Have Fun!

–Mucki

The park isn’t the biggest one I’ve ever been to, but it has plenty of things for an afternoon with your little sib.  The park includes, “a 190-foot tube water slide, 140-foot body water slide, splash park, drop slide, diving board, youth frog slide and a number of interactive, water-play structures as well as a wet/dry sand play area, large sunbathing deck, zero-depth pool entry and concession area.”

So, next time you have your younger sibling in your MSU apartment, check it out!  Nothing like making some memories!

-Ryan Shaul

If you are not familiar, Common Ground is a concert series that takes place in downtown Lansing every summer.  The festival is located along the banks of the Grand River in Adado Riverfront Park (which is basically on the campus of Lansing Community College).  There are two stages set up in the park that have acts performing at the same time.  There are also food vendors and outdoor activities to participate in. 

Tickets are $32.00 per night of the concert.  You can also purchase a week long pass for $99.00.  The schedule of acts is below.  It is a really cool event because a lot of the performers are national acts.  I am going to check out Ludacris and Three 6 Mafia on July 17. 

July 12: Buckcherry, Jackyl, Drowning Pool

July 13: Adam Lambert, Orianthi, Allison Iraheta

July 14: Sammy Hagar, Trevor Hall

July 15: Bret Michaels, Cinderella

July 16: Alice Cooper, TESLA

July 17: Lucacris, Three 6 Mafia, WardSkillz w/ BIG PERM, Yung Rich and .KOM

July 18: The Machine performs Pink Floyd with Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Greg Rolie

With a sweet line up like that, spending a night away from your East Lansing Apartment will be well worth it.

Go to www.commongroundfest.com for more information! 

-Shaun Holness

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The East Lansing Farmer’s Market will open for its second season on Sunday, July 11 at Valley Court Park. In celebration of the opening day, the first 50 customers will receive $2 coupons.

The market’s second season will run July 11-Oct. 31 on Sundays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Valley Court Park (located directly behind Crunchy’s on Grand River Avenue). Market days will feature a diverse selection of fresh, farm-grown Michigan produce and products in a friendly and inviting open-air atmosphere. Specialty items customers can look forward to at this year’s market include everything from quality artisan breads to flourless cookies, cheesecake, fresh produce, fresh fish, flowers, gourmet dessert sauces, lamb meat, specialty cheeses and much more.

This year’s seasonal vendors (will attend each 2010 market day) include: Alice’s Kitchen, Bizzy Lizzy Bakery, Corrion Farms & Greenhouse, East Lansing Food Co-op, Edmondson Orchards, El Azteco, Fortune House Restaurant, Hannewald Lamb Farm Market, Nibble, Owosso Organics, Pregitzer Farm Market, Stone Circle Bakehouse, The Country Mill, The Fresh Lake Whitefish Company, Titus Farms, Wildflower Eco-Farm and Tirrell Centennial Farm. This year’s daily vendors (will attend on an intermittent, rotating basis) include: Green Barn Llama Farm, Wilczewski Greenhouses, Aubrey’s Blueberries, Applegarth Honey, Kenzoil and Jennings Bros. Stone Ground Grains.

Mmmmmm.  Now that is something I’d leave my MSU apartment for!

-Ryan Shaul

The 4^th of July weekend is almost here!  That means fireworks, friends, food, and fun!  Here’s a list of where you can find local fireworks near your East Lansing Apartment.  Have a safe holiday weekend.

Delta Township Annual Fireworks Celebration
Saturday July 03, 2010 at dusk
Rain Date: Monday July 05, 2010 at dusk
Sharp Park, north of Lansing Mall
Admission: Free

Lansing Lugnuts vs Lake County Captains Baseball Game
Sunday July 04, 2010 at dusk
Cooley Stadium
505 E. Michigan Ave.
Admission: Regular admission price

Lansing 4th of July Fireworks
Sunday July 04, 2010 10:00PM
Adado Riverfront Park – Shiawassee and Grand
Admission: Free

Meridian 4th of July Celebration
Sunday July 04, 2010 10:15PM
Central Park South
Admission: Free

Mason Fourth of July Celebration
Sunday July 04, 2010 at dusk
Ingham County Fairgrounds
Admission: Free

 –Mucki

So I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve been finding myself a little short on cash.  However, I don’t want that to affect my social life!  I went in search of fun activities you can do with a date, friends, or by yourself without spending a fortune.  So go ahead, get out of your Michigan State University apartment and have a good time!

1. Organize a board game night with friends.  Make yummy snacks and enjoy a night of fun for less!
2. Grab your significant other, or best friend and hit the park with a picnic basket.  Food tastes better when eaten outdoors!
3. Check out the Common Ground Festival at Adado Riverfront Park .  There you’ll find plenty of free music, food, and fun!
4. The 4^th of July is approaching.  Why not grab your sweetie or a group of people and head out to see a fantastic fireworks display in Lansing. 
5. Be a kid again.  Take a trip to the Potter Park Zoo and spend the day enjoying all your favorite animals.
6. Baseball fan?  Take in a Lansing Lugnuts game.  They have great specials on Thursdays!

Have Fun!

–Mucki

2010 Summer Schedule:

June 18-20  Summer Solstice Jazz Festival 
June 25  May Erlewine & Seth Bernard 
June 26  Michigan Song Writers’ Showcase
July 9  Pete & the Parrot Heads 
July 10  Sea Cruisers
July 16  Kathleen Bolthouse Band 
July 17  Time 2 Play
July 23  Stringtown Trio with Drew Howard
July 24  Jen Sygit & Sam Corbin
July 30  Greg Nagy 
July 31 Gifts or Creatures with Doug Mains
Aug. 6  Hot Club of Lansing 
Aug. 7  Norberto Aguado
Aug. 13-15  Great Lakes Folk Festival

See ya there!

-Ryan Shaul

The Summer Solstice Jazz Festival is a three-day, multi-venue festival located in East Lansing, Mich. The event, features free performances staged under a big tent in downtown East Lansing, and culminates with a special ticketed performance ($20) at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts. The festival is brought to the area by a partnership between the City of East Lansing, Wharton Center for Performing Arts and the MSU College of Music.

 2010 Lineup Features Somi and Joe Lovano
The talent-packed 2010 festival lineup includes a headliner that was described as “Superb!” in Vogue Magazine and “Utterly Captivating” by Billboard.com. Somi is a New York-based charismatic singer/songwriter who brings her African cultural legacy to life with her musical craft. A rising star on the international jazz scene with three album releases under her belt, Somi’s free-to-the-community performance will take place on Saturday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. under the big tent is not to be missed. 
 
In addition to the two-day festival, international jazz legend Joe Lovano will bring the exciting jazz-infused weekend to a close on Sunday, June 20 with a special, highly anticipated indoor stage performance at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are $20.

 ::Article from http://www.eljazzfest.com/ ::

-Ryan Shaul

Getting bored in your East Lansing Apartment?  Get out and discover local events! This month East Lansing is host to The East Lansing Art Festival. On Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23 hundreds of artists from around Michigan will be showcasing their best work. Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Blown Glass, Wood, Metal, Photography and more fill the booths that line the downtown streets.  In addition, there will be food booths for your enjoyment featuring cuisine from around the world including:

Altu’s Ethiopian Cuisine
Bake N’ Cakes
BD’s Mongolian Barbeque
East Lansing Meridian Lions Club
Grand Grillin’
Gumbo & Jazz
Lou & Harry’s Greek Grill
Maria’s Tacos
Melting Moments
Mumbai – Fine Indian Dining
Nuts Galore
Woody’s Oasis

If that wasn’t enough you can also enjoy the musical stylings of the East Lansing High School Jazz band, or Celtic Mayhem as well as many others. There is sure to be something for everyone at this event. So come out and support our local artists! For more information visit East Lansing Art Festival.

–Mucki