Door County Living - Early Summer 2026

Bold Looks

for laid-back living

rugs - lighting - accessories

interior design - wall art accent furniture & more

guest editor

Sally Collins

editor

Myles Dannhausen Jr.

copy editor

Sam Watson

creative director

Katie Hohmann

design associate

Renee Puccini

sales director

Jess Farley Nielsen

sales managers

Stephen Grutzmacher, Claudia Rudzinski

courier

The Paper Boy, LLC

distribution experts

Todd Jahnke, Kevin Lawell, Dan Farrell, Greg

Davidson

office manager

Ben Pothast

public notices & digital content coordinator

Kait Shanks

chief technology officer

Nate Bell

contributors

Remy Carmichael, Sally Collins, Eleanor Corbin, Myles Dannhausen Jr., Anders Erickson, Katie Hohmann, Azusa Inaba, Cassidy Johnson, Ellie Johnson, Betsey Lecy, Charlotte Lukes, Larry Mohr, Jess Farley

Nielsen, Kevin O’Donnell, Sam Watson

publisher

David Eliot

owners

David Eliot and Myles Dannhausen Jr.

Door County Living, Inc. 8142 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202

920.839.2120

info@doorcountyliving.com doorcountypulse.com

Volume 24 Issue 1

35,000 copies (17,500 mailed)

Door County Living, celebrating the culture and lifestyle of the Door peninsula, is published five times annually by Peninsula Publishing & Distribution, Inc., 8142 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202.

To order a subscription, please mail a check for $25 to Door County Living, 8142 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202. If you would like to advertise, please visit doorcountymarketing.com.

© 2026 Peninsula Publishing & Distribution, Inc.

All rights reserved. Door County Living is a Peninsula Publishing & Distribution, Inc. company. Locally owned. Locally minded.

Photographer REMY CARMICHAEL is a high school student from Baileys Harbor with a background in ballet.

SALLY COLLINS contributes regularly to Door County Living. She’s the author of two children’s books and an awardwinning novel, Muddled Cherries

ELEANOR CORBIN is a reporter at the Peninsula Pulse. She bakes up a storm and jams to riot grrrl tunes at her home in Sturgeon Bay.

Writer and editor MYLES DANNHAUSEN JR. has been searching out stories for Door County Living since 2005. He lives outside Sister Bay with his wife and three children.

ANDERS ERICKSON is a Gibraltar High School graduate who has honed his cocktail knowledge behind the bar in Chicago for more than 20 years. He lives in Baileys Harbor with his wife, Azusa Inaba.

JESS FARLEY NIELSEN lives in Jacksonport with her son, and dogs Berndette and Elwood Blues. Feeding friends and family feeds her soul.

KATIE HOHMANN is the creative director of the Peninsula Pulse and Door County Living, and when she isn’t sitting at her desk, she’s standing at it. Her time outside the office is spent painting, paddleboarding and laughing in good company.

BUTORS

CASSIDY JOHNSON is a senior at UW–Oshkosh and was the Arts & Entertainment Intern for the Peninsula Pulse in 2025.

ELLIE JOHNSON is a graphic designer for the Peninsula Pulse. When she’s not designing, she can be found in the pool, out on a run or spending time with friends.

BETSY LECY is a journalism student at Northwestern University. A Gibraltar High School graduate and marathon finisher, she calls Fish Creek home.

Since the passing of her husband, Roy, in 2016, CHARLOTTE LUKES writes to fulfill his mission to help educate and inspire readers to learn, care for and protect our native species and the natural world.

After retiring from a 36-year career in technology, LARRY MOHR is back behind the lens for the Peninsula Pulse and Door County Living. You can often find him on the trail with his wife and black lab.

KEVIN O’DONNELL is an award-winning author and professional photographer, a YouTube creator and story-teller who lives in Clay Banks.

SAM WATSON is an editorial assistant for the Peninsula Pulse. The UW-Madison grad lives in Baileys Harbor with her spouse and three cats – Desmond, Penny and Kermit.

Running Down the Rabbit Holes

Igave myself an easy assignment: a photo and caption. Much of playing editor is delegating, taking on a few manageable pieces, then adhering to your deadlines and word counts, just as you expect from your contributors.

Most importantly, the art of playing editor is ensuring the issue is full of fascinating people and stories. I love a good story, and there’s no shortage of those in Door County. Maybe that was the problem.

My idea for the photo and caption started simple: find a fascinating bit of Door County trivia to highlight. I decided a photo of German prisoners of war (POWs) working in the cherry orchards in the summer of 1945 might be interesting. I’d write a short caption, encouraging readers to explore that chapter of local history themselves. Done.

My brain is abuzz with the stories they’ve shared, the stories they’ve uncovered, the stories left to be discovered. To satiate my own curiosity, I spend hours learning about that season. I go down one rabbit hole after another. I blow past my own self-imposed deadline and word count, and what started as a single photo turned into a full story.

It’s easy to do, as each of the stories we share in Door County Living is just a small part of a larger picture. It’s a privilege to meet the individuals who tell us their stories, who teach us something about this peninsula, who pique our curiosity.

This was a safe topic for me. As a reader, I’m more apt to reach for contemporary fiction than anything related to history, so I wasn’t worried I’d surpass the 15 minutes I allotted for my visit to the Door County Museum and Archives to choose said photo.

An hour later, I’m exiting with an armful of scanned books, magazines and newspaper articles. I’ve asked the staff to email me a handful of images. I’ve reached out to the playwrights of Victory Farm to learn more about their research.

After you page through this issue, I hope you’ll dive down rabbit holes of your own, whether on a Door County Trolley tour with Bryon Shea or at a Peninsula Players production overseen by Linda Fortunato. I hope you’ll pop in the Blue Ox and take in their eclectic collection of antiques, visit the Jackson Harbor Soup Company for a meal, enjoy the classic tunes of The Cherry Tones, explore the heath patches of The Ridges Sanctuary or the colorful B&Bs of Sturgeon Bay’s historic downtown. I hope you’re inspired to learn more, experience more, and explore more of Door County’s past and present.

– Sally Collins, guest editor

THE TRAILHEADS. THE EXHIBITS. The open-air park shelters.

THEY DON’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

BECOME A GUARDIAN OF THE GREENS AND DONATE TO PROTECT DOOR COUNTY’S STATE PARKS

We asked, and you’re answering. Through the Door County State Parks Challenge, generous donations are making a big impact.

When you become a Guardian of the Greens, your donation doubles through a special parks challenge grant initiative. With $500,000 already committed, your gift can help boost the total impact to $750,000. All funds will be used to enhance our beloved state parks, and you can choose which State Park Friends’ group you’d like to support.

To learn more about how these funds are being used and to make a donation, scan the QR code or visit doorcounty.com/donate.

Pickers’ Gallery

by

What grabs you first when you walk into the Blue Ox? Is it the dentist’s chair tucked into the front nook of the bar? Or the theater seats in the front window, courtesy of the old Lake Cinema that once stood down the street? Or is it the old Tonka trucks hanging from the ceiling, or the chain carved out of a single piece of wood that’s woven amongst dozens of other finds above the bar?

“Bud Haberli carved that chain,” said Jerry Kwaterski, who owns the bar with his brother Joe, as I toured the Ox in the last hour before opening on a June morning.

In a great bar, or at least my favorite kind of bar, everything on the walls has a story behind it. And the Blue Ox is definitely a great bar – maybe the epitome of it.

Beyond the first impression, it only gets more interesting. There’s a collection of chainsaws in the garage, several old shop scales around back, and a battle flag from Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders in a corner, alongside WWI medals and a gas mask the brothers found in an old tote box they bought at auction.

“We’re just always picking when we come across stuff,” Jerry said.

The twins bought the bar from Mike Minnehan in 1975 for $35,000, and they have been filling its walls, floors and garage with curios ever since. That first year, locally renowned glass artist Gary Chaudoir made the stained glass windows that frame the front door.

The brothers found most of the items themselves, while others were gifts from customers. After 50 years of collecting, there’s scarcely room for more.

“We’ve never turned something down,” Jerry said.

The bar was built in 1887 and is one of the oldest in the county, operating at one time as a combination butcher shop, gas station and bar. Today, the twins serve a simple menu out of a small kitchen and offer friendly barside service from the bar. The Ox (as it’s called by locals who don’t have time for the second syllable) is famed for its name, bestowed by Carl Jonas for unknown reasons, and the ring toss game on the back wall, known more accurately as bimini.

Ring toss is fun, but the walls themselves are better.

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Located off the lobby of the Hillside Waterfront Hotel, Ephraim

The Summer POWs Picked Cherries

by SALLY COLLINS and photos from the W.C. Schroeder Collection Door County Museum and Archives

“Curiosity is running high over the presence in Door county [sic] of our first German prisoner of war camp, set up last week at Martin orchards. What are they like? How do they live? How are they treated?”

These questions were asked in the Door County Advocate newspaper on May 25, 1945. Eighty years later, that curiosity remains.

To some readers, high wire fences and armed guards might seem wildly out of place amid the quaint, pastoral beauty Door County is known for. But others might have evidence of the prisoners’ barracks remaining on their orchards, or memories of their grandparents’ tales about the more than 2,000 German prisoners of war (POWs) filling the peninsula’s wartime labor shortage for the summer of 1945.

Door County Museum and Archives staff know these tales well, and they’re accustomed to questions, pointing visitors to a display that highlights the county’s cherry production history; pulling out a binder of Door County Advocate articles detailing the prisoners’ meals, pay and tobacco allotment; and shuffling through historical images snapped by photographer W.C. Shroeder. In many, the POWs are smiling.

“I think this was a pretty good gig for being a prisoner,” said Joseph Taylor, Door County Museum and Archives manager. “They were treated well. At

first, people were mad because ‘They’re the Nazis!,’ but pretty quickly they won them over because - they look like [much of the local population]. And they’re young, 18- to 20-year-old kids.”

When the first POWs arrived by train in Sturgeon Bay, the Door County Advocate reported on the 50th local casualty of World War II. To ease the hostility and resentment felt towards the prisoners, press tours of the camp were arranged and assurances circulated that the men were not taking away jobs, they were not a threat to locals, and they were not enjoying any beer or candy.

This chapter in Door County’s history inspired Emilie Coulson Salgado and Katie Dahl to write Victory Farm, a play produced by American Folklore Theatre (now Northern Sky Theater) in 2012 and 2017.

“Because of the surprising nature of this very real thing that happened, we felt this story needs to be told,” Coulson Salgado said.

Their fictionalized story follows three POWs who work on a local cherry orchard run by a mother and daughter grieving the loss of their husband and father in the war.

Coulson Salgado and Dahl began their research in the Sturgeon Bay Library’s Laurie History Room, examining Door County Advocate archives and Betty Cowley’s book Stalag Wisconsin: Inside the WWII prisoner-of-war camps. They even video chatted with one of the former prisoners, Werner Krauskopf.

“He had a very positive experience, which is so nuanced,” Coulson Salgado said. “He remembered being welcomed.”

“He called it ‘Vacation Camp Door County,’” added Dahl. “They felt, comparatively, lucky to be here.”

That feeling was not only because of Door County’s climate and beauty, but also because Wisconsin has so much German heritage. Many prisoners could have interacted with people who spoke some German or had German names.

“They found some fellow feeling, and of course, a lot of anti-German sentiment,” Dahl said.

These two sides of the POW experience show that, like so much of history, this story isn’t tidy.

“We need to acknowledge that it was complicated, and not like a

JUNE 12 The Wallflowers with Special Guest Silverada

Little Feat

Eric Lewis & Josh Harty

storybook part of our history,” Coulson Salgado said.

So while examining individual vignettes, it’s also important to look at the bigger picture – a priority for the Door County Museum and Archives.

“We want to tell the whole story, not just the parts people want to market,” Taylor said.

That means remembering the stories of prisoners jumping in the lake after learning they would soon be shipped home and stories of prisoners returning to Wisconsin to live after the war, but also the stories of foreign migrant workers living in worse conditions than the prisoners, and a story of one prisoner taking his own life in Ellison Bay. In a place lauded for its idyllic charm, it can be difficult to reconcile with an uncomfortable, not-so-charming past.

“Door County in some ways feels separate, like an escape from the world for so many people,” Dahl said. “But it isn’t separate from the world, and it’s all of the world’s problems, a little

microcosm. We in Door County might like to think of our history as neutral or sweet or provincial, but it has a lot of real-world implications.”

For more information, visit the Door County Museum and Archives, located at 18 N. 4th Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. To dig deeper, check out the Door County Library’s online Door County Advocate archives or the Laurie History Room at the Sturgeon Bay branch.

Further recommended reading includes “The Harvest of 1945” by Mariah Goode, featured in the 2005 summer issue of Door County Living and “The Cherryland Problem” by Sergio M. Gonzalez, featured in the 2023 summer issue of Wisconsin Magazine of History and featured in the Peninsula Pulse.

Harmony in Art

by BETSY LECY and photos by REMY CARMICHAEL

Just off County E in Egg Harbor sits a quiet sanctuary.

A century-old farmhouse stands framed by trees and gardens, its weathered siding brushed by leaves and its silo wrapped by climbing vines. Inside one of its buildings, sunlight pours through a wall of windows, warming the space and catching dust motes as they drift toward the wheel, where Reneé Schwaller’s hands coax clay into vessels.

Off The Wheel Pottery is a gallery and studio that Schwaller has made her own. The story begins in 1988, when her parents built a cottage on the peninsula. At the time, Schwaller was studying communications at the

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and spent summers on the peninsula working at The Cookery Restaurant and Potter’s Wheel Gallery.

Schwaller’s job at the Potter’s Wheel started after a dance class with owner Ginka Cohn, who offered her a position in retail. That summer job sparked Schwaller’s love for pottery. While Cohn would run the front of the house, her husband, Abe, would sit on the wheel in his corner, and visitors would watch him throw pots.

“I just developed this intimate relationship with these clay items,” Schwaller said.

After graduating from college and spending time in Europe, Colorado,

Minnesota and Hawaii, where she studied pottery for a semester, Schwaller and her husband, Steve, purchased property in Door County in 1996. The property that would become their home and studio was, at that time, a “complete dump” with no greenery or trees.

Their first priorities were to remodel the house and convert the back buildings, once a granary, into a retail space.

The couple married in 1997 and opened the business in 1998. The studio Schwaller now works in didn’t exist until 2005. For those first seven years, she made pottery in her laundry room, with no insulation.

and Nature

“Everything probably looked really bad, but we were all so proud of it,” she said. “It was ours.”

Angela Lensch, a fellow artist and a friend of Schwaller, remembers those early years,their young sons splashing in a kiddie pool while the two mothers made art together.

“It’s just been amazing to see her go from the little granary and then expanding into the barn and then building her own studio,” Lensch said.

Lensch, who opened her own gallery in 2014, often leaned on Schwaller for guidance.

“She was so supportive and encouraging,” Lensch said. “Just being

an example, just watching her run her shop, doing it in such a relaxed and natural way, she made it look easy.”

Schwaller’s studio sits a mile east of Egg Harbor, away from the bustle. While that location means less foot traffic, it also means the visitors who make the trip come with intention.

“Everybody who comes here wants to see handmade work, so they all appreciate it,” she said.

Though Schwaller is at the helm, Off The Wheel is far from a one-woman show. The gallery features the work of about 50 other artists – a way to support fellow makers while keeping the space

fully stocked without having to be in the studio constantly.

When she does sit down to throw, her process is deliberate, and each piece is unique. These pieces are often adorned with plants, animals, flowers and other motifs inspired by the nature surrounding her at the studio.

That environment was purposefully curated. After purchasing the property, Schwaller and her husband planted around 300 trees and tended to the gardens to replace the barren landscape left by the previous owners.

Schwaller believes this harmony between art and nature is what draws her back to the wheel and visitors to the space.

“There’s something about clay and the Earth, and enjoying art and nature

“There’s something about clay and the Earth, and enjoying art and nature at the same time. I just love it.”

– Reneé Schwaller

at the same time,” Schwaller said. “I just love it.”

Even with decades of experience under her belt, Schwaller still feels like she’s just getting started. She jokes that only now does she feel like she can finally throw pots the way she wants to.

“I feel grateful and fortunate that I’ve done so much, but I still feel like I’m kind of beginning,” she said.

Looking back, she credits much of her success to Abe and Ginka.

From Ginka, she learned a lesson in letting go of perfection. Ginka was often particular when it came to the pots, yet she realized how unrealistic this was with creating a handmade piece.

“You never know what to expect when you open the kiln – it’s just very unpredictable and very sensitive,” Schwaller said.

From Abe, she found her first spark of love for clay. That love remains, carried into her own space today. She still uses his wheel, shelves and even doors from their house.

Schwaller wants her studio to exude the warmth that Potter’s Wheel once did.

“I feel like this is sort of a little bit of an old Door County right here,” Schwaller said. “I have to preserve that old Door County.”

Off the Wheel Pottery is located at 4234 County Road E near Egg Harbor. For more information, visit offthewheelpottery.com.

Indoors

TUSCAN WINE BAR

Trailing arbutus flowers are very fragrant when

Durable

Delicate Blooming Heather

by CHARLOTTE LUKES

You may have heard of heather as a dominant plant of the moors of England and northern Europe. The heath family, Ericaceae (air-uhKAY-see-ee), is named for these plants of acid soils and bogs.

Many plants in this family are native to the north and the boreal forest regions, but are also found in other parts of the country. The dictionary defines them as low-growing shrubs with evergreen leaves and small urn-shaped pink or purple flowers.

If you’ve traveled to the southeastern U.S. in spring, you may have seen the brilliant azaleas in bloom.

Rhododendrons are also in this group of ornamental shrubs.

The Ridges Sanctuary has a variety of plants in the heath family. Quite a few can be seen as you walk the trails and look for their small flowers in spring.

When Roy and I lived in The Ridges’ Upper Range Light, we hoped for warm Aprils so that the trailing arbutus would come into bloom. Once, it did blossom by the fourth week of April, then we received some snow, but the flowers persisted, sticking up through their white coating.

The scientific name of trailing arbutus is quite fitting: Epigaea (ep-uh-JEE-uh) repens (REH-pens). The genus name comes from the Greek, “upon the earth,”

and repens means “with creeping and rooting stems.”

Trailing arbutus, only up to 3 inches tall, is probably the earliest of the heath family plants to bloom in The Ridges Sanctuary. Leatherleaf is also an early bloomer, but not as easily seen as the arbutus.

The leatherleaf plant is a shrub growing up to 3 feet tall, but it is in parts of the sanctuary that are swampy with no boardwalk nearby. Roy photographed that shrub in The Ridges’ wetlands along County Highway Q.

Trailing arbutus has one of the most fragrant flowers, and I remember conservationist Emma Toft kneeling down on the narrow trail to take in its wonderful aroma.

Another heath family plant that may grow nearby is the bearberry, with delicate quarter-inch pink and white flowers.

You may be familiar with other plants in this group, some of which have edible fruit, like blueberry, cranberry, huckleberry and lingonberry (the latter one’s fruit is often served with Swedish pancakes).

The heath family is quite large with 126 genera worldwide consisting of over 4,200 species. Their evergreen leaves are tough and durable, able to survive through harsh winters.

Bog rosemary and wintergreen plants both have delicate pink and white flowers that are only a quarter-inch long. Wintergreen is more common along the trails and will show its bright red fruits later in summer.

Wintergreen leaves lie close to the ground, oblong and up to 2 inches in length. Bog rosemary leaves are long and narrow, with edges slightly curved under.

One plant found along the wet edges of the swales is the small cranberry, Vacciniumoxycoccos.Vaccinium is Latin for “bilberry,” a type of tiny blueberry, and oxycoccos is Latin for “acid berry.”

Native Americans called the small wild cranberries swamp berries. They grew in large mats of minuscule-leaved plants with brilliant pink flowers.

Of the thousands of people who enjoy eating cranberries at Thanksgiving, very few ever get to see the wild plants. The flowers have four pink, sharply recurved (curved back) petals resembling miniature shooting stars.

They develop at the tips of the creeping prostate stems. The small oval pointed leaves are a dark glossy green above and nearly white beneath.

This sparkling little plant hides well, largely because it favors sphagnum bogs, muskegs and wet acid soil. A short stretch of one of the Ridges trails parallels about 20 feet of hundreds of flowers, yet few people even notice them due to their small size.

Some Native Americans named it “sour berry,” and pilgrims called it “ruby of the bog.” The wild cranberry is thought to be the first native American fruit to have been eaten in Europe.

The fruits of the small cranberry are about the size of a currant, from one-quarter to one-third of an inch in diameter. They are much smaller than the cultivated cranberry used as the fruit of Thanksgiving dinners.

A close relative of the small cranberry is also in the Vaccinium genus, the lingonberry. It is also called the mountain cranberry because its species name, vitis-idaea, is derived from the Greek meaning “the grape of Mount Ida.”

This plant is found in a few far northern counties of Wisconsin and is considered endangered in the state. It blossoms with deep pink bell-shaped flowers that form at the end of the stems.

Huckleberries and blueberries are low, upright, branching shrubs that thrive in the sandy acid soil of dry open woods. Songbirds and gamebirds, as well as some mammals, relish these wild fruits.

One of the easiest of the heath family plants to see – Labrador tea – is abundant on a few of the inner trails. The shrubs grow up to 3 feet tall and are often right near the edge of the trail.

Its white five-petaled blossoms stand tall in May. The leaves are very fuzzy on the underside with short orange hairs. This insulates them as they stay on the plant through the winter, then falls off later the next year.

Whether you love blueberries, cranberries or lingonberries, seek out these evergreen plants to find their delicate flowers in the spring boreal forest. Get to know the uplifting fragrance of the trailing arbutus.

Most of all, be a friend to the wild preserves where these delicate plants grow. Help to ensure their survival for future generations to enjoy them in the spring.

There is a moment, standing in the great room of 3765 Bay Shore Drive, when the distinction between inside and outside dissolves entirely. Floor-toceiling glass frames the bay like a living painting. The stone fireplace rises two stories beside you. Dark-stained beams cross the vaulted ceiling overhead. And beyond the sliding doors, 150 feet of sandy shoreline waits — unhurried, unchanged, entirely yours.

All Aboard with Bryon

by BETSY LECY

After just two Door County Trolley rides, Bryon Shea became more than just a tour guide to one of his riders – he became an honorary family member.

“We think of him as like a distant cousin,” Terese Hendrickson said.

That kind of bond may seem unusual, but during tours, Hendrickson said Shea doesn’t just talk about Door County; he gets to know the people visiting it.

One of his tours took a playful turn when he dressed up as Blippi, a character from a children’s educational YouTube channel. The idea was inspired by Shea’s sister, whose kids regularly watch the show and noted the character’s resemblance to Shea. He then purchased the outfit and debuted it on Halloween at the Door County Trolley station.

“I was doing a tour that day and there were these kids seeing me drive the trolley,” he said. “They just became ecstatic.”

Although the costume only comes out for special occasions, Shea has fun with it.

“I like to be a little fun and quirky, and I like to be able to do it in a role that I can share with other people,” he said.

The Hendrickson family got to see Blippi in person after their second tour with Shea. After leaving an impression during the first ride, Hendrickson requested him again the next year and invited him to their family reunion afterwards. They had young grandkids in attendance, so Shea offered to wear the costume for them.

“He made the whole experience so memorable,” Hendrickson said.

Shea has put in six seasons as a guide for Door County Trolley, which hosts 21 themed tours. He mostly sticks to the classics, including the narrated scenic tour and the lighthouse tour, but he’s also filled in on others.

Shea didn’t always picture himself behind the wheel of a trolley. But in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was looking to relocate from Neenah, Wisconsin to Door County. He began applying for jobs when he saw an opening for a tour guide position with Door County Trolley. He was then hired into a dual role, managing office operations and driving tours.

The tour guide side of his job requires multitasking; guides narrate the tour while managing the group and safely driving the trolley. Many of Shea’s fellow

drivers are current or retired teachers, a background that helps with the people skills the role demands.

While Shea doesn’t have a teaching background, he said his years in the restaurant industry gave him a foundation in hospitality.

“I’ve always liked the restaurant industry, taking care of people, whether it be at a table or on a tour,” he said.

When the season starts in May, Shea admits he still gets a little nervous about what he’s going to say and which stories he’ll tell his riders. But once passengers are on board, the conversation flows easily. Some of Shea’s favorite parts of the job are the small exchanges –answering questions about Door County or recommending local hiking trails.

He has special expertise on the latter because for the past two years, he’s

been involved with Door County Trails, a nonprofit working to build a bicycle and pedestrian network throughout the peninsula. Shea joined the board for a year while also doing educational outreach on the organization’s behalf. He has spoken to students in the Gibraltar and Southern Door County school districts, including the Gibraltar Ecology Club, to explain the initiative and get them excited about its future.

“These trails hopefully will be here longer than most of the adults, so to get the kids involved is important,” he said.

Whether he’s behind the wheel of the trolley or speaking to a classroom of kids, Shea takes the same approach.

“I think it’s just being yourself, really,” he said. “Once you get that nervousness out, as long as you’re yourself, it’s a role where you can be yourself in.”

Wooden Boats Iron Men, and Well-made Nets

How early Northern Door settlers survived

by KEVIN O’DONNELL

One March morning, in 1877, William Sanderson, the lighthouse keeper at Cana Island, spied a wooden fishing boat drifting by, embedded in ice.

In the boat sat two men. As it drew closer, Sanderson saw, to his horror, that the men were frozen stiff in an upright, sailing position.

The old man at the stern of the vessel had his arms folded, his face with an expression of straining to see, turned toward the shore. His cap was dusted with snow, and icicles dangled from his grey beard. The younger man near the bow had the same countenance but was staring directly forward, glassy-eyed.

There was no way to retrieve them as they slowly drifted past, surrounded by pack ice. They were never seen again, nor was the boat ever found.

Sanderson subsequently learned that he had seen Alve Simonson, one of the earliest immigrant fishermen in Door County, who had sailed out from Ellison Bay a month earlier with his son, Alfred, ferrying a new teacher, Dora Higgins, to Washington Island. They had arrived at Detroit Harbor around noon that fateful day, and with fair winds, the father and son set out immediately for home.

They hadn’t gone far when a blinding snowstorm descended upon them from the northwest. Caught in drifting ice floes, their route through Death’s Door became impossible to navigate.

This is just one of the harrowing stories that exemplify the dangers that beset mid-19th-century European pioneers who settled the northern Door peninsula – a time when there were no roads, few towns and even fewer ports. Here, at land’s end, a handful of iron men in wooden boats established remote fishing outposts, cleared the land, eked out a living, and grew their families and their trade.

The first European fisherman to make a permanent home in this wilderness was Allen Bradley in 1850. Others soon followed – the bountiful northern waters of Gills Rock lured in immigrants from Norway, Sweden, Germany and Czechia. With surnames Johnson, Weborg, Simonson, Larson, Voight, Seaquist and Teskie, they soon spread out to Ellison Bay, Northport, Rowleys Bay and Sand Bay – the region known now as Liberty Grove.

It was a hard life. Danger lurked everywhere as settlers traversed the treacherous waters of Death’s Door, setting and lifting nets by hand in double-ended, lightweight Mackinac boats, made mainly of the area’s abundant cedar. Their unique design allowed the fishermen to pull them up on any beach, as docks were rare in those days.

Their fishing methods and equipment were basic: pound nets, gill nets and

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Enjoy Life to the Fullest

hook-and-line rigs. The summer waters were teeming with plump lake trout. In the fall, they could lift 1,000 pounds of herring in a single day. Whitefish, chub, lawyerfish and perch were also seasonally plentiful.

They fished all year, and the families kept busy with all that that entailed: making, repairing, boiling and drying nets; maintaining the smokehouse; dressing, salting and barreling herring; and selling their catch to passing schooners and steamers making their way between cities rimming Lake Michigan. It was endless, backbreaking work that paid only pennies on the pound.

The stories of several of these early fisherman-families are chronicled in the newest exhibit at Death’s Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock, A Well-Made Net. Curated by museum exhibit manager Kay Dragan, the display details her months-long genealogical research and sketches a portrait of how, in isolation, and despite incredible odds, the first European families to settle Liberty Grove became intertwined, weaving together business and blood over several generations. This resulted in strong bonds that laid the foundations for a commercial fishing industry that grew to contain more fisheries than any other county bordering Lake Michigan.

“The Voight, Johnson, Weborg and Teskie families in particular became related through marriage as a matter of geographical practicality, and subsequently through partnerships, not out of nepotism, but out of necessity,” Dragan said.

One of the more tangled instances of intermarried relationships occurred between the Johnson and Voight families. Stanley Voight was born to German and Swedish immigrant parents in Gills Rock in 1893. He began his fishing career at age 11, when he was forced to quit school to help support his family after his father’s death.

In the early 1920s, Stanley began fishing with the Johnson brothers,

Willie and Alick. Not only did they team up on the water, but they became in-laws when Stanley’s daughters, Florence and Isabel, married his business partner-brothers. The Johnson and Voight partnership lasted until 1948, and their fish tug, Hope, is on permanent exhibit at the Death’s Door Maritime Museum.

Another prolific family name associated with northern Door fisheries is Weborg.

“While Ole Weborg was the first to list his occupation as ‘fisherman’ on the U.S, Census, his son, Andrew, was the one to make it a family legacy,” Dragan said. “When he emigrated, he was just a young man and came to Gills Rock when it was still called Hedgehog Harbor in 1860. Many of their descendants remain here to this day.”

provided enough food to sustain the family and to sell. Andrew fished yearround, setting nets through the ice for lake trout and keeping them frozen in snowbanks until they could be shipped in spring.

Two generations later, Alfred’s grandson, Leif Weborg, also died on the water along with two other crew it; a curious and ever-changing to 1909; and a timeline on the history of the Washington Island Ferry.

The Weborg fishing legacy is marked with both success and tragedy, beginning with the industrious Andrew Weborg, who started a multigenerational dynasty with only a rowboat and a few nets made from cotton thread strung by his wife, Anna. He used cedar sticks for floats and rocks for weights. They were primitive, but worked well, and in addition to farming,

Each of Andrew’s three sons, Alfred, Arthur and Willie, followed in their father’s footsteps, fishing with him from the time they were young boys. Together as adults, the three brothers worked diligently to improve and grow the family business.

Nothing would keep Alfred from going out on the lake – not even a heart condition. At age 64, he was given strict doctor’s orders not to fish anymore, but he would not give up what he loved to do best, and died soon after at the helm of his beloved boat Golden Girl, “where he was happiest,” Alfred’s son, Emery, would often say.

members in December 1998, when the integrated tug/barge, Michigan/ Great Lakes, collided with their fish tug, Linda E, seven miles west of Port Washington, Wisconsin.

Another brother, Arthur, was a fortunate fisherman who went on to partner with Frank Teskie on the Dalia and marry Frank’s sister, Anna Teskie Arthur and his son, Marvin, and their crew lifted a total of 240,000 pounds of herring out of the bay of Green Bay in the fall of 1952. Some days, the nets were so full, the crew claimed you could walk on the water!

Commercial fishing in Door County reached its zenith during the first decade of the 20th century, with more than 400 fishermen throughout the peninsula, mainly near the tip. Many fishermen from the Liberty Grove region have come and gone since European immigrants began fishing these waters, and only a few of the old guard remain active today.

But their names are remembered, repeated and revered. Their legends and legacies cling steadfast to the limestone bluffs like the roots of the red cedar trees that surround them.

The author would like to thank the Door County Maritime Museum and Lighthouse Preservation Society staff, including Kay Dragan and Brennan Christianson, in addition to author/historian Tygvie Jensen, for their contributions to this essay.

SOUP

MAP PUTS Jackson Harbor BACK ON THE

by ELEANOR CORBIN photos by REMY CARMICHAEL

When the Gibson siblings began their soup and sandwich shop on the northeast corner of Washington Island, they were met with incredulity.

“It’s never going to work,” Sarah Gibson recalled being told. “No one’s going to go all the way out to Jackson Harbor for a sandwich.”

Ten years later, the line filing out of Jackson Harbor Soup and Sandwiches on most summer days begs to differ. Arthur, Becca and Sarah Gibson all grew up and graduated from high school on Washington Island. They’re sixth-generation islanders on their dad’s side, fourth on their mom’s.

The property where the restaurant sits has long been a part of that history – their grandfather, and his father before him, used the land to process lumber and build boats. The building, a renovated fishing net shed that used to sit directly on the beach, now sits further back, overlooking the water, the surrounding greenery and Rock Island across the way.

After years of the building sitting vacant, Arthur decided to set up a soda

machine for those traveling from the Rock Island ferry dock right next door. Once he saw a critical number of people stop by the property, he placed a “For Rent” sign on the building in the hopes that someone could do something with it.

“That’s when these two came,” Arthur said, referring to his sisters.

“I said, ‘You know what? Let’s take that down. We can figure something out,’” Sarah said.

Both Sarah and Becca have extensive experience in the hospitality business.

The Gibsons’ parents ran a small hotel on the west coast of the island, where the siblings grew up, and the two sisters have spent much of their adult lives working in various restaurants. While most of their previous workplaces were classic burger joints, they wanted to try something new when they opened their own restaurant.

“We said, ‘We don’t want to work in fryers anymore. So let’s do fresh food,’” Sarah said.

The heavy flow of campers heading to Rock Island inspired the Gibsons to base their new menu on soup and sandwiches – meals that can be

packaged to-go or heated over a camp stove. The restaurant also serves as a spot for ravenous hikers to fill up on their way back from an excursion.

Every morning, Becca uses her “soup Bible” to prepare the day’s options from scratch, like their Grammy’s potato soup, French onion and a selection of daily specials.

The sandwich menu was more of a collaboration between the siblings. The Infidel’s Delight, for instance, is a sandwich inspired by Arthur’s time working abroad in the Middle East, where he found himself missing classic American ham sandwiches.

Similarly, their Cubano, the most popular sandwich on the menu, was inspired by Becca’s time working in Florida near a Little Havana neighborhood.

In addition to attracting vacationers, some of whom bike to the far corner of the island just for lunch, the restaurant has become popular among locals as well, the Gibsons said.

Some guests go as far as to say that the soup and sandwich company “put Jackson Harbor back on the map,” Sarah said.

“There are some people that live over on the west side of the island, or the south end of the island, that say, ‘It’s been about 15 years since I’ve been out to Jackson Harbor,’” she said.

At any given time, the Gibsons might personally know several of the families grabbing a bite. That sense of community extends to those working in the restaurant; local young adults help sling sandwiches and soup during their summer breaks from college, as do a few of the island’s high school students. Sarah, the high school girls’ basketball coach, has even managed to recruit a few of her players there.

As the tiny kitchen pumps out sandwich after

sandwich, employees move around each other like a well-oiled machine.

“In the heart of the summer, we have eight, nine kids with us, and it’s a lot of people running around,”

Sarah said. “But to watch us all intertwine and work around in that small, little kitchen, it’s like, ‘Wow, there’s something amazing going on in there.’”

For the Gibsons, the Washington Island community is like a family. Arthur, who spends much of his time abroad for work, said there is no place like it in the world.

“Everybody looks out for each other, and I think you don’t see that in a lot of parts of the world anymore,” he said. “That’s what brings me back.”

A Door County Reading List Glancing Back:

“Do not sweep too well. When someone goes, traces will be left to tell.”

From “Leavetaking” by Frances May, Door County’s first poet laureate

Thankfully, our Door County Libraries do just that – hold on to the traces left by the countless writers who have gathered the county’s histories and art, recipes and rituals, field notes and profiles of the people who called this peninsula home.

Two such profiles are Norbert Blei’s 1981 Door Way: The People in the Landscape and Chas Martin’s History of Door County, Wisconsin Together with Biographies of Nearly Seven Hundred Families, and Mention of 4,000 Persons, published a full century earlier in 1881.

Other books cover Door County’s lighthouses, cherries, ghosts, dragonflies, theaters, summer camps, shipwrecks, wildflowers and post offices. Fiction written in the county spans every genre there is, from mystery to

romance, historical to contemporary, plus poetry, essays and children’s books.

A slow skim across the spines of each local library branch’s Door County shelves reveals the wide breadth of life this narrow strip of land contains. It’s intriguing to glance back and see the many facets of this life – the memories, recipes and art earlier generations felt were worth recording, preserving or spinning from imagination.

Here are just a few enduring recommendations amid Door County’s immense catalog.

The Children’s Books of Phoebe Erickson

A nationally renowned author and illustrator of children’s books, Phoebe Erickson grew up on a Northern Door

farm in the early 1900s, the daughter of Swedish immigrants.

She learned to draw the nature surrounding her, scratching images of flowers and wild animals on the back of birch bark, and took those earliest inspirations with her throughout her successful career, creating and illustrating classics that remain on many bookshelves including Black Penny, Daniel ‘Coon, and Slip, The Story of a Little Fox.

The author had a room named after her in the Baileys Harbor Library, which features some of her original drawings and paintings.

The Poetry of Frances May

Door County’s first poet laureate, Frances May, captured snippets of life and glimpses of people with a witty,

observant eye, revealing our shared humanity, flaws, humor and heartbreaks in her poetry collections including The Summer I was a Horse, Tell Me About the People, and The Poet’s Cat. Some of her poems are short and blunt, while others unfold like vignettes, stories that encapsulate a full scene, image, emotion or person with beautiful nuance.

Fun fact: May was a popular Milwaukeebased accordion player who began spending summers in Door County in 1959 when her sister and brother-in-law bought Lakewood Lodge in Fish Creek, renaming it the White Gull Inn. There, May helped decorate and bake and played the accordion for diners.

The Memories of Grace Samuelson

Born in 1904 in Sturgeon Bay, Grace Samuelson experienced, witnessed and recorded almost a century of worth of life in Door County.

In Reflections of Door County, a collection of personal essays and select columns she contributed to the Door County Advocate, she shares intriguing, humorous and sometimes tragic memories and musings, providing a fascinating window back in time.

A skilled storyteller, Samuelson wrote about everything from grade-school antics to the end of the telephone party line, from working in the orchards to owning Samuelson’s Restaurant and hosting Cooking with Grace on the Green Bay station WFRV-TV.

The Nature Writing of Roy and Charlotte Lukes

Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame Inductees Roy and Charlotte Lukes have made immeasurable contributions to preserving and sharing Door County’s natural wonders. They’ve spent a lifetime appreciating, researching, observing and teaching others about the wild world around us. The depth of their knowledge is both inspiring and humbling, and their list of accolades is lengthy.

In 1968, Roy, a Kewaunee native and lifelong naturalist, began writing newspaper columns about his encounters with Door County nature for the Door County Advocate contributing to the Peninsula Pulse Door County Living until his death in 2016. Charlotte has carried the torch ever since.

The couple met in 1971 while Charlotte was hiking with a friend at The Ridges Sanctuary, where Roy worked. Roy also wrote numerous books including on a Limb and Once Around the Sun highlighting specific plants and animals, always including a personal encounter.

The Histories Recorded by Paul and Frances Burton

Neither Paul nor Frances Burton was born in Door County. He hailed from North Carolina, she from Missouri, but the couple always spent a week or two of their summer vacationing in Door County until finally making Ephraim their retirement home in 1991.

Their love and knowledge of Door County’s places and people made their “retirement” busier than one might

the vast Door County collection

Behind the Scenes

and Beyond

by SAM WATSON

Linda Fortunato wears many hats over 20 years with Peninsula Players

Linda Fortunato has done it all at Peninsula Players Theatre, from acting onstage to running the show backstage. But one of her favorite spots is in the back of the theater during a performance, where she watches everything come together and sees how the audience responds.

When she sat there watching the theater’s summer 2025 production of Dear Jack, Dear Louise, she was struck by how still the audience was during the last 10 dramatic minutes of the play.

It’s a powerful feeling “to know that you’ve got 300 to 500 people that engrossed in the same thing,” Fortunato said. “People weren’t squirming in their seats or blowing their nose. Everybody was so connected to what was happening onstage.”

Fortunato has spent much of her life tuned in to a live audience like this, having been involved in theater since she was a child. But it wasn’t until halfway through high school, after actors from a touring production of Cats came and talked to students about their jobs, that she realized theater could be a viable career option.

“That was probably my first exposure to somebody who made their living in theater,” she said.

It made an impression on Fortunato, so she switched tracks on her college search and ended up at Millikin University in Illinois, where she majored in acting and minored in dance. While acting was her focus, her studies covered a wide breadth of subjects under the theater umbrella, including direction, musical theater and technical theater.

This prepared her well for her time at Peninsula Players, where she would do a bit of everything, working as a performer, director, choreographer and business manager. She even spent one season helping out in the kitchen.

Now, around 20 years in, she’s the company’s artistic director. This year-round position allows Fortunato to split her time between

Door County in the summer and Illinois in the winter, where she prepares for the upcoming season.

When asked if she had a favorite among the many positions she has held at Peninsula Players, Fortunato said she didn’t, and that her favorite part was getting to wear so many different hats.

She’s not the only one in the company who does so. During the hiring process, organizers of the rural resident theater are drawn to multitalented staff members who can do more than one role, and many potential team members are drawn to the theater because they know it’ll allow them to stretch their creative muscles.

Not every theater company leverages its actors’ full potential the way Peninsula Players does, per Fortunato.

“While I have been able to do multiple things in my career, it is unique to be able to do them all in one place,” she said. “In any field, people know you for what you do, and you can get pigeonholed – ‘You are a dancer’ or ‘You are a director’ or ‘You are a writer.’ For an organization to be able to see the whole person – ‘Oh, you do this, and this, and this?’ – is great.”

Fortunato got involved at Peninsula Players through connections in the regional theater world; she knew a director, an intern and a fellow Chicago-area performer, Greg Vinkler, then the company’s artistic director.

Before coming to audition, Fortunato knew nothing about Door County – though she was familiar with the hype that surrounded it.

“When I first got here, I was like, ‘Okay, what’s the big deal?’” she said. “And then after living here for about a week, I realized, ‘Oh, I understand the magic that is Door County.’”

That’s part of what keeps her coming back summer after summer, making the long commute from Evanston, Illinois to Fish Creek, where she lives onsite with the rest of the company. The communal living creates bonds unique to the job.

Typically, “you work your job and everyone goes home or goes their separate directions,” Fortunato said. “For us, this is also home while we are here. We eat our meals together. We work together, we live together, we play together.”

In addition to shared living quarters, the cast and crew have shared history, visible throughout campus in the form of posters and other artifacts from the company’s past. This history was on Fortunato’s mind in 2025 especially as Peninsula Players celebrated its 90th anniversary.

“In 1935, a brother and sister created this theater company, and they were hoping to create a place where their friends and colleagues could come and spend a summer away from city life and have a respite, have connection, have collaboration,” Fortunato said. “I think that intention, that spirit of what they wanted to create, is still really present here.”

From an organizational perspective, remembering the theater’s original mission keeps it on track for the future, positioning its leaders as stewards. On a personal level, keeping history alive connects company members past and present, many of whom have had similar experiences at Peninsula Players despite generations separating them.

“It’s interesting looking back at someone who was an intern in

the 1970s, and how their experience, even though so much has changed and so much has grown, is still so very similar,” Fortunato said. “I don’t think you find that a lot of other places, decades later.”

But while much has stayed the same at Peninsula Players, theater is ephemeral by nature. That makes it both “difficult and special,” Fortunato said.

“Even though we do a performance every night, every performance is different,” Fortunato said. “We say the

same words, we go the same places, we turn the lights on exactly the same, but because it’s humans, everything is a tiny bit different. And because the audience is different every night, the experience is different.”

While she likes the view from the back row, another one of Fortunato’s favorite vantage points in the theater is the exits as the audience leaves.

“Sometimes, they say things, which is great to hear, but sometimes you can see on their face whether they’ve been moved, or whether they feel light because they’ve been laughing,” she said.

To Fortunato, these reactions are signs of success – and in a career like hers that benefits people in often intangible ways, identifying such signs is important. Performances might also succeed in ways “we’ll never know” – by giving someone a break for a few hours, inspiring them through a story or reminding them of a loved one.

Regardless of how they react –and if they make their reactions known – the audience is at the heart of every show, Fortunato said.

“Theater isn’t anything if nobody comes to watch it,” she said. “The audience really is the reason that we do it.”

Modern Comfort with Door County Charm

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The Fancy B is a new boutique Bed & Breakfast overlooking the waters of Egg Harbor in Door County, WI. With five private suites, every stay feels personal, unhurried, and intentionally designed.

Enjoy a scratch-made locally sourced breakfast, spend the afternoon exploring shops, beaches, and restaurants within walking distance. Return to spa showers, comfortable spaces, and an evening made for sunsets!

Green Thumb Magic

by KEVIN O’DONNELL

You almost have to know where it is to find it. There, along Highway 42 about a half mile north of “the split,” behind the cluster of red and white agricultural research buildings that couldn’t look any more ordinary if they tried. In fact, most people drive right past without a second glance.

Big mistake. Turn in, follow the signs past the greenhouses and prepare to discover one of the peninsula’s most extraordinary secrets: The Garden Door. This oneacre paradise will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about what’s possible in Wisconsin soil.

The Magic Trick That Never Gets Old

The entrance to the garden is pure theater. Towering evergreens block your view like nature’s own curtain. You squeeze through an arbor heavily draped in wisteria, feeling slightly claustrophobic, and then – BAM!

The world explodes into a sensuous technicolor display that belies its postagestamp-sized footprint.

“First-time visitors often just stop and stare,” said Sue Kunz, coordinator of the company of volunteers who maintain this oasis, with a laugh. “We call it the ‘gobsmacked’ moment.”

She is not exaggerating. Within seconds, you go from squinting through shadows to standing in the middle of an open, airy diorama. 20 different themed display and demonstration gardens, holding every plant from coreopsis to cacti, spiral out from winding brick pathways. 350 plant varieties surround you in a symphony of textures, colors and scents. This isn’t your grandmother’s vegetable patch.

Where Fairy Tales Meet Real Life

Whimsy grows alongside the plants at The Garden Door. A fairy garden dares grown adults to crouch down and peek through tiny doors, bridges and castles. 60 varieties of rustling ornamental grasses sway in the breeze like waves upon the shore. A “toad abode” is tucked into a cedar grove where kids can hunt for amphibian neighbors.

A human sundial lets you become the gnomon; place your feet in the right place, and your shadow tells you the time. Slowly turn the bowl of flowers while looking down through the eyepiece of a giant garden kaleidoscope and you will witness a psychedelic parade of color with a soundtrack provided by an enthusiastic chorus of songbirds hidden in nearby trees.

Local artists have scattered their work throughout with wood carvings, metalwork and stone sculptures. Stained glass panels depict birds and dragonflies that seem ready to take flight, and mosaic memorial benches invite visitors to sit, reflect and soak it all in.

But the crown jewel of the garden? A massive cedar gazebo offering an elevated view of the entire wonderland.

Of course, magic doesn’t happen on its own. There are magicians.

Tis The Season

The Volunteer Platoon Behind the Magic

Every bit of this paradise was built and is maintained by volunteers.

A fledgling Door County Master Gardeners Association (DCMGA) created it from scratch in 1996 and opened it to the public in 2005, and Master Gardeners have been pouring their hearts and hands into it ever since.

“Our team contributes about 2,000 hours each season,” Kunz said. “That’s a full-time job’s worth of labor, but we do it for love of it.”

25 dedicated volunteers work in small teams, each claiming their piece of paradise.

Some specialize in perennials, others in native plants, soil conditioning, or disease and pest control and remediation. There are the “heavy lifters” – separate crews for the pond, the pathways, the irrigation system and the gazebo. They’re like garden superheroes, wearing sun hats and aprons instead of capes.

No Dilettantes Here

Don’t dismiss the DCMGA as a social club with trowels. These folks are serious about their craft and their community impact, and joining their ranks is not a casual commitment.

Candidate Master Gardeners must complete a 14-module online course, Foundations in Gardening, through the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Division of Extension Horticulture. They also have to pass an entrance exam, enroll in an onboarding course, pay annual dues and commit to 24 hours of volunteer service plus 10 hours of continuing education annually to remain certified.

“People think it might be intimidating, but we support each other,” DCMGA President Penne Wilson said. Experienced members help newcomers grow – like a trellis to the vine.

Wilson’s personal passion project, the Door County Seed Library, a program she cofounded, captures the organization’s community spirit. Since 2019, residents can borrow free seeds for vegetables, herbs, flowers and native plants, then grow them at home and ideally return some seeds for the next gardener.

“There are many reasons why someone might take the Master Gardener training program,” said Hugh Zettel, a self-described boomerang resident and retired electrical engineer who became a Master Gardener after moving back to his native Door County in 2018.

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IN THE GARDEN

“For me, it was about continuously learning, being outdoors and the social interaction,” he said. “But most of all, it was about producing beautiful outcomes for everyone to enjoy.”

The group’s 125 active members tackle about 20 projects annually across Door County. In addition to tending gardens, they host plein air artists, jazz performances, writing workshops and guided tours at The Garden Door. Their wildly popular spring plant sale keeps DCMGA financially independent, proving that passion projects can be sustainable, too.

Hidden in Plain Sight

The Garden Door is open to the public year-round, dawn to dusk, and is entirely free. No admission fee, no tickets, no memberships and no reservations required. It’s DCMGA’s gift to anyone in need of a moment of beauty or fresh air.

So next time you drive past those unremarkable research buildings north of Sturgeon Bay, needing a bit of magic to improve your day, do yourself a favor; follow the signs past the greenhouses, squeeze through that wisteria-covered arbor and prepare to be gobsmacked.

You’ll be glad you did.

The Garden Door is located near Sturgeon Bay, a half-mile north of the Hwy 42/57 split on the campus of the UW-Madison Peninsular Agricultural Research Station at 4312 Hwy 42. It is open daily from dawn to dusk, and offers free admission. For more information, visit dcmga. org.

Rock Retirement

by CASSIDY JOHNSON

illustration

by

ELLIE JOHNSON

After moving to Door County a couple of months into the COVID-19 pandemic, retiree Mike Bacsi tuned in to YouTube one day to cure some COVID-19 boredom and found a livestream of David Cavanaugh jamming out in his living room.

Called “Dave’s Saturday Night Live-ing Stream Show,” these livestreams came from Cavanaugh’s desire to continue performing through the pandemic. He was just returning to playing live music when COVID-19 shut the world down, but instead of taking this as a sign to quit, he took it as an opportunity.

The two connected and decided to jam together, then posted a classified ad for a drummer for

their new group. That led them to Steve Gomoll, the president of the board for Birch Creek Music Academy, who tried out and got the job.

The trio has been jamming ever since, with Cavanaugh on guitar, Gomoll on drums and Bacsi on bass. All three contribute vocals, as does, at times, Gomoll’s wife, Mary, covering songs with female vocals.

The band covers a blend of classic rock and oldies, from the ‘50s to the ‘80s. It’s a blend appreciated by audiences at The Augusta Club in Baileys Harbor.

“They just bring great vibes [and] they play good music,” Augusta Club co-owner Madeline Kwaterski said. “As a business owner, it’s always nice to have a guaranteed good crowd coming in on a night. They know how to liven and fill up this big space.”

Though The Cherry Tones officially formed only a few years ago, all

three have similar musical origin stories, with their talent and interest in music stretching back decades. Cavanaugh started performing at 7 years old, singing Beatles songs to a throng of neighborhood kids.

“I’ve always wanted to be that guy standing in front of the group singing,” Cavanaugh said.

Bacsi also recalled singing Beatles songs, though his performances were in front of the bathroom mirror around age 8, using a tennis racket as his guitar.

“The Beatles were foundational for all three of us,” Bacsi said.

Later, he performed in choir, swing choir and even a barbershop quartet in high school. His love of performing continued into college, when he bought a bass guitar with some of his student loan money and taught himself how to play. Through the years he played in a series of bands, including The Weeds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, until moving up to Door County fulltime about six years ago.

Gomoll, on the other hand, started playing drums at age 12 to get out of his tap-dancing lessons. He’s been playing ever since, though the tap dancing wasn’t a total loss, he said – it taught him the rhythm he needed to be a drummer. He carried these skills to college, playing drums in a band called Blue Horizon at UW-Oshkosh. After taking a break from music to raise a family, Gomoll joined a couple of big, 16-piece bands, playing music from the ‘30s and ‘40s around Green Bay. Those performances inspired his involvement in Birch Creek.

“I feel lucky to be in a band with these guys,” Cavanaugh said.

And if the large audiences they draw are any indication, their connection is contagious.

“You look out in the audience and you see everybody just vibing and singing, that’s the best part,” Cavanaugh said.

All three are returning to music from other careers. Cavanaugh had a career in social services, and Gomoll in finance as a controller and financial manager. Bacsi, too, worked in finance as a mortgage lender before retiring.

Today, their shared passion has bonded their music and friendship and allowed them to expand their musical abilities and horizons.

“We get dancers pretty much at all of our shows, and when we can get people up and dancing, that always makes me feel good.”

And for band members, The Cherry Tones offers a new persona.

“I’ve become this identity that I wanted for, like, 30 or 40 years,” Bacsi said.

“I’m no longer just a retired dude. I’m the musician; I’m a Cherry Tone.”

At the Door County Maritime Museum, discover the shipyards that built Great Lakes legends, the boneyards where old boats spill their secrets, and the surprising role maritime history played in shaping the region. It’s a story of grit, guts, and yes–a little bit of grape. Around here, history isn’t just something you read about… it’s something you drink in!

Discover us in STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN or online DCMM.ORG

•

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by ANDERS ERICKSON

SHigh Flavor Low Proof,

pring never arrives all at once. It eases in and nudges us toward lighter things – lighter jackets, lighter moods or even lighter drinks.

Low-ABV cocktails have grown in popularity for good reason: they taste great, and they won’t knock you over. The idea isn’t new, of course. Low-proof cocktails have been around for generations, though they’re often overshadowed by the heavy hitters.

Here are three recipes I return to each spring when the frost starts to melt.

photos by AZUSA INABA

Named after the silent film star, the Charlie Chaplin is an all-equal-parts cocktail that was created at the original Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Fresh lime juice balances the combined

Although it’s often mistaken for a style of gin, sloe gin is actually a gin-based liqueur, which helps keep the proof of this cocktail low. Bright and tart, this easy-to-make drink is refreshing on warm spring days and just as enjoyable well into

Shake all ingredients with ice, then double-strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime

The Chrysanthemum

The Chrysanthemum is a century-old cocktail that was once served aboard the German cruise liner S.S. Europa, where it was a popular choice in the ship’s American Bar during Prohibition. Although the flower blooms in the fall, the cocktail feels perfectly suited for spring.

Vermouth typically plays a supporting role in cocktails, but here it takes center stage. Its bright botanicals complement sweet Bénédictine and a few dashes of absinthe.

The drink benefits from being stirred with a swath of orange peel, sometimes called a regal stir. The expressed oils add a subtle citrus note and a gentle bitterness. It’s a balanced cocktail that fits the season’s back-and-forth between cooler evenings and the promise of warm days ahead.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) dry vermouth

• ¾ oz (22.5 ml) Bénédictine D.O.M.

• 3 dashes absinthe

• 1 swath orange peel

• Expressed orange oil and peel for garnish

Combine all liquid ingredients in a mixing glass. Express the oil from one orange swath over the mixture and drop the peel in. Add ice, stir until well chilled and strain into a cocktail glass. Express orange oil across the top and garnish with peel.

The Bitter Giuseppe

Created by Chicago bartender Stephen Cole, the Bitter Giuseppe is a modern take on the lowABV cocktail. It drinks somewhere between a Manhattan and a Negroni, offering deeper flavor and a pleasantly bitter finish without the punch of whiskey or gin.

Cynar, a lower-proof amaro made from artichokes, leads the way. What makes this build especially interesting is the small addition of lemon juice. It’s not enough to push the drink into sour territory, but it subtly brightens everything.

This drink also benefits from a regal stir, this time with lemon peel. It’s a great option for spring’s chillier days, when the air still has some bite, but you’re ready for something lighter than the usual cold-weather options.

Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 ml) Cynar

• 1 oz (30 ml) sweet vermouth

• ¼ oz (7.5 ml) fresh lemon juice

• 4 dashes orange bitters

• 1 swath lemon peel

• Expressed lemon oil and peel for garnish

Combine all liquid ingredients in a mixing glass. Express the oil from one lemon swath over the mixture and drop the peel in. Add ice, stir until well chilled, and strain into a lowball glass filled with ice (or one large cube). Express lemon oil across the top and garnish with the peel.

Winner, Winner, Chicken... Salad

Late last winter, as spring was knocking on the door, I rallied with a group of my girlfriends to celebrate one of our birthdays. We are all mothers (of fur babies and human babies) working full-time with families that rely on us, so getting out of town for a weekend takes preplanning and some skill.

We planned to meet up in Chicagoland, stay in a vacation rental, enjoy a spa day, eat delicious food, get a little shopping in and let our hair down. We peeled ourselves out of our day-to-day routines without making a food and drink plan, trusting in each other’s inner gourmand that it would all work out perfectly.

As we arrived, we noticed a theme emerging in the kitchen. Along with the exorbitant amount of groceries that quickly accumulated, we all packed

by JESS FARLEY NIELSEN and photos by KATIE HOHMANN

chicken salad, purchased along the way from a favorite deli or Trader Joe’s.

Some went with curry, some the herby variety. We giggled at our collective love for chicken salad. Birds of a feather indeed flock together.

This experience got me thinking about how entwined chicken salad is in our social culture. Most luncheons I have attended offer a chicken salad option. My friends share chicken salad recipes. It’s a great snack with crackers, as a wrap or in a sandwich. Even my teenager loves it when I pack it in his lunch (“that sandwich was fire!”) It’s a great addition to a picnic, a beach day, or a boat day. In spring, chicken salad is a fabulous addition to a bed of freshly cut garden greens, the perfect light lunch or dinner option.

As the flowers start to pop and your garden wakes up, I recommend gathering some of your favorite guys

and gals. Plan for an outside soiree, feel the breeze in your hair, sip on some white wine, share your warm-weather plans and gnosh on some chicken salad.

My favorite method is to roast a whole bird, use the meat for the chicken salad, then make stock with the carcass, letting nothing go to waste. Or, place chicken breasts in the slow cooker, set it and forget it while you are at work or out for the day, then you’ll have meat ready by the time you get home. Or, push the easy button and simply pick up a rotisserie from the grocery deli.

Whichever cooking method you choose, be sure to cool, debone and shred or cube the meat before you mix the ingredients together. For the most flavorful experience, make the chicken salad a day or two ahead of time to allow all the ingredients to meld.

Try one of these versions of this classic for your next lunch or picnic!

Greek Chicken Salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups chicken, chopped or shredded

• ¼ cup red onion, diced small

• 1 medium cucumber, peeled, de-seeded, cubed small

• ¼ cup red pepper, diced

• ¼ cup green olives, chopped

• ¼ cup pistachios, chopped

Place all the ingredients in a bowl.

Dressing

• 1 ½ cups plain Greek yogurt, preferably whole fat

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 2 Tbsp lemon juice

• 2 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped

• 1 garlic clove, grated

Whisk the dressing ingredients until they are blended. Add the dressing to the salad ingredients. Stir until everything is coated.

Jess’s Herbed Chicken Salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups chicken, chopped or shredded

• 1 cup red grapes, halved or quartered

• ¼ cup red onion, diced

• ½ cup celery, diced small

• ½ cup toasted pecans, chopped

• 2 Tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped

• 2 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped

Place all the ingredients in a bowl.

Dressing

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise

• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

• 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

Whisk the dressing ingredients until they are blended. Add the dressing to the salad ingredients. Stir until everything is coated.

Ingredients

• 2 cups chicken, chopped or shredded

• ½ cup diced red onion

• 1 cup dried Montmorency cherries

• ½ cup celery, diced small

• ¼ cup chopped cilantro, stems removed

• ¼ cup roasted cashews

Place all the ingredients in a bowl.

Dressing

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 2 Tbsp apricot jam

• 1 ½ tsp curry powder

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• ½ tsp ground coriander

• ¼ tsp cayenne

Whisk the dressing ingredients until they are blended. Add the dressing to the salad ingredients. Stir until everything is coated.

Join us at Write On for writing and reading events for all.

Everyone has a story to tell...and whatever your skill level, our summer classes can help you express yourself in a poem or memoir, or retell your story as fiction.

While you’re here, discover our Writer’s Walk — 59 acres of trails that are the quiet spirit of Write On, Door County.

find a world of words online at

Our online Events Calendar has details and more.

Kids WOW! Creative Camp

June 22-26 AND July 13-17

Two sessions! Two age groups! A summer opportunity for kids.

Writing the Seasons

June 8, 10 and 12 with Michael Brecke

Let the wonder of nature help you create your story.

Writing Your Spiritual Memoir

June 12-13 with Paul Brophy and Melissa Resch

Delve deeply and let your experiences guide your words.

Free Monthly Events — Open to All

Art/Speaks • Memoir Monday • Socrates’ Cafe • What’s Your Story? Get inspired in a gallery or museum, draft your memoir, think big, or step up to an open mic. Join us!

Become a member, donate, and fi nd classes and events at writeondoorcounty.org

RESTAURANT GUIDE

Key

$

$10-15*

$15-20*

$20*

Full bar

Beer and wine only Outdoor seating available Kids’ menu available

Offering breakfast

Offering lunch

Offering dinner

Reservations accepted

Open during winter (hours may vary)

*Price range based on average dinner entrée (if available)

BAILEYS HARBOR

AC Tap 9322 Hwy 57 (920) 839-2426

$ L D J T

Baileys 57 7998 Hwy 57 (920) 839-2114

$ B L T

Chives Restaurant 8041 Hwy 57 (920) 839-2000

$$$ L D T (

Cornerstone Pub & Restaurant

8123 Hwy 57 (920) 839-9001

$$ B L D J T {

Coyote Roadhouse 3026 Cty E (920) 839-9192

$$ L D J T {

Located on the shore of Kangaroo Lake offering a full-service bar, appetizers, lunch and dessert selections in a casual and comfortable setting. Children’s menu available. Family friendly. DCBC Eats 8099 Hwy 57 (920) 239-8181

$$ L D

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order by town. Information is subject to change. Contact individual restaurants for hours of operation. Inclusion in this directory should not be considered an unqualified endorsement by Door County Living. Restaurants are encouraged to email us with up-to-date information at info@doorcountyliving.com.

Gatsby’s Grille

7680 HWY 57 (920) 560-0103

L D $$ J (

Harbor Fish Market & Grille 8080 Hwy 57 (920) 839-9999

$$$ B L D J { ( T

A full-service restaurant in the heart of Baileys Harbor. Distinctive waterfront dining with a casual upscale vibe. Seasonal, pet-friendly garden seating.

Harbor Market Grocery 8024 Hwy 57 (902) 473-0199

$ L D T

Inland Door County 8085 Hwy 57 (920) 717-6116

$$$ L D JT

PC Junction Corner of A and E (920) 839-2048

$ L J { Pizza Czar Corner of A and E (920) 839-2048

$ D J { Roost + Banter 8093 Hwy 57

(920) 839-0060

$$ B L {T

Located on the corner of 57 and Howard, Roost + Banter offers a full coffee and Rishi tea menu with breakfast sandwiches and bagels. Our lunch has sandwiches, salads, and soups with vegan and gluten free options available. Indoor and outdoor seating with a great view, Open daily year round.

Sway Brewery & Bakery 2434 Cty F (920) 241-2562

$ B L D { T The Blue Ox 8051 Hwy 57 (920) 839-2271

$ L D { The Thirsty Cow Taphouse 7899 Cty A (920) 839-9991

$ L D T

Top Deck Restaurant & Bar 1420 Pine Dr. (920) 839-2331

$$$ B D J { (

Vino! Vino! at Stone’s Throw Winery

3382 Cty E (920) 839-9760

$$ L D T Vino! Vino! Is a contemporary Tuscan wine bar and tapas experience. Join us for great wine and fresh food in an atmosphere of friendly, casual elegance.

BRUSSELS/LITTLE STURGEON

Chaudoir’s Dock 10863 Cty N (920) 493-7075

$$ L D { Gilmo’s Bar & Bistro Wavepoint Marina Resort, 3600 Cty CC (920) 824-5440

$$ L D J T { ( Idlewild Pub & Grill 4146 Golf Valley Dr. (920) 743-3334

$$ L D { Joe Rouer’s Bar E1098 Cty X (920) 866-2585

$$ L D Rouer’s Roadhouse 8649 Cty C (920) 824-5100

$ L D

Sawyer Harbor Pub & Grill 36963 Cty Rd. M (920) 493-6558

$$ L D T Sunset On Riley’s Point 6952 Cty M (920) 824-5130

$$ D J T { The Belgian Delight 1100 Cty C (920) 825-1111

$$ B L D (

CARLSVILLE

$ L D T { Rouer’s Grand Slam 9710 School Road (920) 493-6556

Carlsville Roadhouse 5790 Hwy 42 (920) 743-4966

$ L D T Door County Coffee Co. 5773 Hwy 42 (920) 743-8930

$ B L J T {

Rusty Tractor 6216 Hwy 42 (920) 743-8704

$ B

Wild Man Pizza 5781 Hwy 42 (920) 868-0953

$$$ L D

EGG HARBOR

Big Easy Bagel & Beignet 7755 Hwy 42 (920) 868-9600

$ B L T {

Burton’s on the Bay 7715 Alpine Road (920) 868-3000

$$$ B L D

Burton’s on the Green 7670 Horseshoe Bay Road (920) 868-3000

$$ B L D J

Casey’s BBQ & Smokehouse 7855 Hwy 42 (920) 868-3038 caseysbbqand smokehouse.com

$$ L D J T

Cupola Cafe 7838 Hwy 42 (920) 868-2233 T

Ember at The Landmark 7643 Hillside Rd (920) 868-5162

$$ L D {

Fika Bakery & Cafe 4614 Harbor School Rd (920) 868-5105

$ B L {

Fireside Restaurant 7755 Hwy 42 (920) 868-4800

$$$ D J T

Greens N Grains Deli 7821 Hwy 42 (920) 868-9999

$ B L J {

The Greens N Grains Deli features a selection of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and raw-food cuisine. The deli also features a juice bar with freshly pressed veggie juices, fruit smoothies, a healthful bakery, tea bar and organic coffees.

Log Den 6626 Hwy 42 (920) 868-3888

$$ L D J T { (

MacReady Artisan Bread Company 7828 Hwy 42 (920) 868-2233

$ L D J T { Mezzanine 7821 Horseshoe Bay Road (920) 786-7698

$$$ B L D

Pizza Bros 4633 Market St. (920) 868-5257

$$ L D

Salute Wine and Beer Lounge 7778 Hwy 42 (920) 868-3247

$$ T {

Shipwrecked Brew Pub 7791 Hwy 42 (920) 868-2767

$$$ L D J T { Stone Hedge Golf and Pub 4320 Cty E (920) 868-1861

$ L D

The Orchards at Egg Harbor 8125 Heritage Lake Road (920) 868-2483

$ L J { Village Cafe 7918 Hwy 42 (920) 868-3342

$$ B L J { Villaggio’s Steak House 4655 Cty Rd. E (920) 890-2190

$$$ D J (

ELLISON BAY

Blue Bear 12029 Hwy 42 (920) 854-3284

$$ B L D

Featuring a locally sourced menu created from scratch in our kitchen. Offering an extensive selection of both gluten-free and vegan options. Full bar with craft cocktails, local beers, sustainably sourced wine and specialty coffee drinks.

Brew Coffee 12002 Hwy 42 (920) 421-2739

$ B L T { Della Porta 12029 Hwy 42 (920) 854-9400

$$ D

Authentic southern Italian cuisine. With 20 years of experience cooking in the finest restaurants, our chef is excited to present their vision to you and all our guests. We refuse to compromise on quality in our restaurant. That’s why we source our fresh ingredients from local farmers markets. No matter what time of year, you can be sure you’re eating the best of the season.

The Ellison Inn Lounge 11934 Hwy 42 (920) 868-2928

$$ B L D La Piazza 12029 Hwy 42 (920) 264-0895

An outdoor Italian wine bar. Stop for a drink, stay for the food!

A selection of Italian small plates including great gluten-free & vegan options – until 10 pm. Plus wood-fired Pizza Napoletana and desserts. Over 48 Italian wines, from Northern Italia to the southern islands of Sicilia & Sardegna we have a wine for you to enjoy, all estate grown. And, of course, signature cocktails and beer.

$$ L D

Mink River Basin 12010 Hwy 42 (920) 854-2250

$$ B L D J T { (

Osteria Tre Tassi 11976 Mink River Rd.

$$$ D T (

EPHRAIM

Anatolia

9922 Water Street, Unit 7 (920) 633-4011

$$ L D

Bad Moravian

3055 Church St.

$$ D T

Chef’s Hat

3063 Church St. (920) 854-2034

$$ B L D J T { ( Cultured

2570 Cty Q (920) 512-3821

$ B L T

Good Eggs

9820 Brookside Lane (920) 854-6621

$ B L {

Klaud’s Kitchen

10420 Water Street (920) 854-3005

$ B L D J {

La Sirena

9996 Pioneer Ln (920) 854-3232

$$$ D J {T(

Old Post Office Restaurant

10040 Hwy 42 (920) 854-4034

$$ B D J { (

Pearl Wine Cottage

3058 Church St.

$$ D {

Prince of Pierogi

9922 Water St, Unit 6 (920) 421-8619

$$ L D {

Peninsula State Park

Clubhouse Restaurant

9890 Shore Road (920) 854-5791

$ B L

Sip

10326 N. Water St. (920) 857-5602

$$ B L D T {

Summer Kitchen

10425 Water St. (920) 854-2131

$$ B L D J { ( Located between Ephraim and Sister Bay, Door County’s only garden restaurant, Summer

Kitchen, is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Well known for its soup bar and homemade pies- in addition to the extensive menuSummer Kitchen also serves authentic Mexican food.

Sunset Harbor Grill 10018 Water St. (920) 854-6565

$$ B L D J

Wilson’s Restaurant 9990 Water St. (920) 854-2041

$ L D J {

FISH CREEK

Alexander’s of Door County 3667 Hwy 42 (920) 868-3532

$$$ D J T { (

Backroads Deli 3903 Hwy 42

$$ L J

Barringer’s Restaurant 1 N. Spruce St. (920) 868-5445

$$$ L D { T ( Bayside Coffee The Shops at the Bayside (920) 495-8338

$ B L J Fish Creek’s only waterfront cafe. Beautifully situated across the street from the town dock. Outdoor seating with a view. Featuring piping hot or iced Colectivo coffee, espresso drinks and Rishi teas, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, salads and bakery. Open May-August. Bayside Tavern 4160 Main St. (920) 868-3441

$ L D J T

For an unpredictably great time, visit Fish Creek’s favorite

tavern. Serving cocktails, beer and our famous Bayside Coffee. Our shortorder menu features hearty house-made soups, sandwiches, burgers, housemade pizza, Friday fish fry and Smilen Bob’s chili. Open daily year-round!

Blue Horse Beach Café 4113 Main St. (920) 868-1471

$ B L J T { CUT

4135 Main St. (920) 333-8813

$$$ B L D T( CUT isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a statement. A bold, multi-level dining and event destination where fire fuels every flavor and experience. From high energy lounges to seductive dining spaces, every detail is designed to impress. We cut through the ordinary to create an experience that lingers, a space that captivates, and a fire that never fades.

English Inn 3713 Hwy 42 (920) 868-3076

$$$ D J T ( Fish Creek Market 4164 Main St. (920) 868-3351

$$ L Hill Street 4149 Main St. (920) 868-5282

$$ L D T

Julie’s Park Cafe & Motel 4020 Hwy 42 (920) 868-2999

$$ B L J { (

Kettle Black Fish Boil 4158 Main St. (920) 868-5215

$$ D (

Loft 4170 Main St. (920) 868-5242

$$ L D J { Not Licked Yet 4054 Hwy 42 (920) 868-2617

$ L D {

Pelletier’s Restaurant Founder’s Square (920) 868-3313

$$ B L D J { (

Shiny Moon Café 4164 Main St.

$$ B L T

The Cherry Hut 8813 Hwy 42 (920) 868-4450

$$ L D J {

Welcker’s Lounge 4192 Main St. (920) 868-5037

$$$ B L D ( White Gull Inn 4225 Main St. (920) 868-3517

$$$ B L D J T ( Serving breakfast, including the famous cherry stuffed French toast as featured on Good Morning America, as well as a full menu daily. Featuring fish boils in the summer, fall and select winter nights, along with candlelight dinners. Reservations recommended for dinner.

Wild Tomato Wood-Fired Pizza & Grille 4023 Hwy 42 (920) 868-3095

$ L D J T {

FORESTVILLE

The Bullpen 213 W. Main St., #9691 (920) 856-6199

$$ L D T

The Hen House Bar & Grill 131 W. Main Street (920) 856-6950

$$ L D T

FRIDAY - TUESDAY

8 AM - 2 PM

920.854.3284 | bluebeareb.com

DAILY

4:30 - 9 PM

920.633.4014 | dellaportadc.com

DAILY

12 - 10 PM

920.264.0895 | lapiazzadc.com

FARM-TO-TABLE BRUNCH

Homemade breads & pastries

Craft cocktails & coffee drinks

Extensive gluten-free & vegan options

Open year-round THREE UNIQUE RESTAURANTS, ONE GREAT LOCATION 12029, HWY 42, Ellison Bay, WI, 54210

Seasonal menus based on local farm-fresh produce

100% wood-fired Nepolitan pizza

Curated all-Italian wine list

Open year-round

SICILIAN & SOUTHERN ITALIAN CUISINE

CRAFT COCKTAIL BAR

Vertical Herb Garden

100% wood-fired Neapolitan pizza

Oyster & Spritz Apertivo Hour

Extensive selection of Italian wine, liqueurs, & digestivi

RESTAURANT GUIDE

GILLS ROCK

Shoreline Restaurant 12747 Hw. 42 (920) 854-2950

$$$ D (

JACKSONPORT

Island Fever Rum Bar & Grill

Cty V and Hwy 57 (920) 823-2700

$ L D J T {

Little Bit of Coffee 6332 Hwy 57 (920) 823-2408

$ B D

Located in Jacksonport at the Square Rigger Lodge, you will find us serving delicious coffee, quiche and baked goods. Serving small plates Tuesday and Thursday night. Come for the coffee and linger for the great water view!

Scotty’s Grub + Pub 6269 Hwy 57 (920) 818-0178

$$ L D

Wally’s Weenie Wagon 6313 Hwy 57 (920) 493-3016

$ B L D

SISTER BAY

Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant 10698 N. Bay Shore Dr. (920) 854-2626

$$ B L D J T

Base Camp Door County

10740 N Bayshore Dr. (920) 421-0733

$ B L Boathouse on the Bay 10716 N. Bay Shore Dr. (920) 854-3223

$$$ L D J { Carroll House 2445 S. Bay Shore Dr. (920) 854-7997

$ B L J

CHOP 2345 Mill Road (920) 854-2700

$$$ D J T { ( Door County Creamery 10653 Bay Shore Dr. (920) 854-3388

$ L D { Door County Ice Cream Factory 11051 Hwy 42 (920) 854-9693

$ L D J {

Try premium ice cream made right here in-store! Choose from 30 flavors, a long list of sundaes and other specialty ice cream offerings. Enjoy one

of 15 sandwiches made to order, home-made pizza, soups and saladsyou’ll find something for everyone!

Dovetail Bar & Grill

10282 Hwy 57 (920) 421-4035

$$ L D J Fat Belly 10621 N. Highland Rd (920) 854-3500

$$ L D { Goose & Twigs

Coffee Shop 2322 Mill Road (920) 854-3212

$$ B L {

Happy Coffee 10678 S. Bay Shore Dr., Building 2

$ B L J T { Husby’s Food and Spirits 10641 N. Bay Shore Dr. (920) 854-2624

$ L D J T { Juicy Burgers 10635 N. Bayshore (920) 365-2748

$ L D { LURE

Intersection of Hwys 42 and 57 (920) 854-8111

$$$ D J T { (

McEvoy’s Culinaria & Catering

2602 S. Bay Shore Dr. (920) 854-8029

$ L D T { Northern Grill & Pizza 10573 Country Walk Dr. (920) 854-9590

$$ L D J { One Star Burger & Dogs 10440 Orchard Drive

$ L D

Pasta Vino 10571 Country Walk Dr. (920) 633-4037

$$$ D Rad House Cafe 10580 Country Walk Ln Unit 10.

$ B L J { Roots Kitchen 2378 Maple Dr. (920) 854-5107

$ L T {

Savor Barbeque & Taphouse 10635 N. Bayshore (920) 365-2748

$ L D { Savor Barbeque & Taphouse 10663 N. Bayshore (920) 365-2748

$ L D {

Sister Bay Bowl 10640 N. Bay Shore Dr. (920) 854-2841

$$ L D J T Famous for its Friday-night perch fry and its prime rib, this throwback to yesteryear is located in the heart of Sister Bay, open yearround. Featuring a full dining room, grill and bar, plus Northern Door’s only bowling alley.

Stabbur Beer Garden at Al Johnson’s 10698 Bay Shore Dr. (920) 421-4740

$$ L D {

Sub Express at Sister Bay Mobil 2579 S. Bay Shore Dr. (920) 854-6700

$ B L D J T { The Cleat 10961 Hwy 42 (920) 854-3200

$ L D J T

The Waterfront 10947 Hwy 42 (920) 854-5491

$$$$ D ( Thyme Restaurant + Catering 10339 Hwy 57 (920) 421-5112

$$ L D { J T (

Wild Tomato WoodFired Pizza & Grille 10677 N. Bay Shore Dr. (920) 854-4685

$ L D J T {

ZaZa’s Pizzeria 10553 Country Walk Dr. (920) 854-3142

$$ L D

STURGEON BAY

5th and Jefferson Café

232 N. 5th Ave. (920) 746-1719

$ B L D { Betsy Ross Family Restaurant 239 Green Bay Road (920) 743-811

$ B L D Birmingham’s 4709 N. Bay Shore Dr. (920) 743-5215

$$ L D J T

Blue Front Café 86 W. Maple St. (920) 743-9218

$$ B L J T (

Brick Lot Pub & Grill

253 N. 3rd Ave. (920) 743-9339

$ L D J T

Brygga Plates & Pours

107 N. 1st St. (920) 746-0700

$$$ B L D J T{(

SPRING INTO BAYSIDE!

Morning, day or night the Bayside Tavern and The Bayside Shop are serving up Spring.

Gather with family and friends at the historic Bayside Tavern, named “Wisconsin’s Best Small Town Bar.” Enjoy “Smilen” Bob’s Famous Chili, made-to-order pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, Friday Fish Fry and our full bar.

Coming soon in late May, Bayside Coffee, Fish Creek’s only waterfront cafe serving hot drinks, fresh baked goods, fresh salads, and breakfast sandwiches.

Spend the day strolling through our charming cottage shops and discover beautiful books, handbags, jewelry, home goods, baby gifts and our branded apparel at The Bayside Shop.

Bayside Tavern, The Bayside Shop and Bayside Coffee located in downtown Fish Creek, Door County, WI

Cedar Crossing Restaurant & Bar

336 Louisiana St. (920) 743-4200

$$$ B L D J T (

Chaser’s Sports Bar & Grill

1217 N. 14th Ave. (920) 743-6997

$$ Cherry Lanes Arcade Bar

127 N. 4th Ave. (920) 818-0093

$$$ D Corner Café

113 N. 3rd Ave. (920) 743-1991

$ B L J T (

Crate — Sushi & Seafood

136 N. 3rd Ave. (920) 818-1333

$$$ D T { (

Door County Fire Company

38 S. 3rd Ave. (920) 818-0625

$$ L D J T

Door County Sandbox 1023 Egg Harbor Rd. (920) 818-0134

$ L D

Drömhus

611 Jefferson St. (608) 333-4553

$ B L D T {

Drömhus is a warm, inviting wine bar and eatery rooted in community, offering thoughtfully crafted food, curated wines, and a welcoming space for connection, music, and conversation. Bākhus, its sister bakery, brings the same spirit to life through slow-made breads, seasonal pastries, and simple, highquality ingredients. Together, they create a destination that blends Europeaninspired charm with Midwestern heart, where locals and

visitors gather to savor, celebrate, and feel at home. Every detail reflects care, creativity, and a deep love for community and craft. They are not just places to eat and drink, but experiences that nourish connection, creativity, and belonging.

Elmo’s Woodfired Pizza

143 N. 4th Ave. (920) 818-0408

$$ L D T

Fatzo’s

46 Green Bay Road (920) 743-6300

$ L D J T {

Get Real Café

43 S. Madison Ave. (920) 818-1455

$$ B L D

Gloria’s Authentic

Mexican Restaurant

23 W. Oak Street (920) 818-1733

$$ L D J T

Greystone Castle

8 N. Madison Ave. (920) 743-9923

$$ L D J T

Hidden Bridge Pub 2049 Cty S (920) 743-4807

$$ D

Hoffman’s Red Room

66 S. 3rd Ave. (920) 743-3913

$ L D T

Kick Coffee

148 N. 3rd Ave. (920) 746-1122

$ B L T {

Kinara Urban Eatery 25 N. Madison Ave. (920) 743-8772

$ L D T

Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub

59 E. Oak St. (920) 743-7441

$$ L D J T {

Lodge at Leathem Smith

1640 Memorial Dr. (920) 743-5555

$$ L D J T { (

Lolo’s

231 Michigan St.

$ B L T

Melt Bistro 2189 Cty DK (920) 825-7272

$ B L T {

Mill Supper Club 4128 Hwy 42/57 N. (920) 743-5044

$$$ D J T

Morning Glory by the Bay

306 S. 3rd Ave. (920) 818-0711

$$ B L

Morning Glory

Restaurant

7502 Hwy 42 (920) 743-5355

$ B L J

Nightingale

Supper Club

1541 Egg Harbor Road (920) 743-5593

$$$ D J T

With a rich history dating back to the earliest 20th century, join us for dining, classic vibes, and great tunes.

Old Mexico

901 Egg Harbor Road (920) 818-1500

$$ L D J T {

Poh’s Corner Pub

164 N. 3rd Ave. (920) 743-3938

$ L D T

Prince of Pierogi

846 Egg Harbor Rd.

$ L D

PTY’s Kitchen

50 S. 3rd Ave. (920) 818-1300

$ L D T

Samuelson’s Creek

Pub & Grill

1009 S. Oxford Ave. (920) 743-3295

$$ L D J T (

www.SisterBayBowl.com

Scaturo’s Café

19 Green Bay Road (920) 746-8727

$ B L J T { ( Sonny’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria

129 N. Madison Ave. (920) 743-2300

$$ L D J T ( Sunrise Food & Drinks 1463 Egg Harbor Rd. (920) 818-0157

$ B L T

Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club

600 Nautical Dr. (920) 743-6934

$$$ L D ( The Gnoshery 23 N. 3rd Ave. (920) 818-0727

$ B L D TJ

The Gnoshery is the county’s premier board game cafe. Filled with fun, games and great “Gnoshables” – food and drink that make your experience a truly memorable one! The Spot Downtown

229 Louisiana St. (920) 818-0124

$$ B L D J T {

Trattoria Dal Santo

147 N. 3rd Ave. (920) 743-6100

$$$ D T (

Waterfront Mary’s Bar & Grill

3662 N. Duluth Ave. (920) 743-3690

$$ L D J T { West Side Commons

26 E. Oak St. (920) 818-0372

$$ L D T

VALMY

Donny’s Glidden Lodge Restaurant

4670 Glidden Dr. (920) 746-9460

$$$ D J T { (

Institute Saloon 4599 Hwy 57 (920) 743-1919

$ L D T The Hitching Post 4849 Glidden Dr. (920) 818-1114

$$ B L D J (

Valmy Happy Hour 4418 Whitefish Bay Road (920) 743-6236

$ L D J T

DOOR COUNTY FOOD TRUCKS

Backbone instagram.com/ backbonefoodtruck

Carjacks Patty Wagon facebook.com/ carjackspattywagon

Chives’ Food Truck Court chivesfoodtruck.com Jolly Street Pizza facebook.com/ jollysstreetpizza

LoLo’s Food Truck www.lolosfoodtruck. com/food-truck

Mauricio’s mauriciosdoco.com

Nicolet Beach Food Trucks www.nicoletbeach. com/foodtrucks

Papa B’s facebook.com/ PapaBsFoodTruck Savor Barbeque facebook.com/ savorbbqco

RESTAURANT GUIDE

WASHINGTON ISLAND

Albatross Drive-In

777 Main Rd. (920) 847-2203

$ L D {

Bread & Water Café 1275 Main Road (920) 847-2400

$$ B L {

Cellar Restaurant at Karly’s Bar and Dance Hall 1265 Main Road (920) 847-2655

$$$ L D J T { ( Hotel Washington 354 Range Line Road (920) 847-3010

$$$ D T { (

Island Pizza At the ferry dock (920) 847-3222

$ L D

Jackson Harbor Soup 1904 Indian Point Road (920) 847-2589

$ L { KK Fiske Restaurant 1177 Main Road (920) 847-2121

$ B L D T

Le Café and The Distillery at Fragrant Isle

Lavender Farm 1350 Airport Road (920) 847-2950

$ B L { Nelsen’s Hall Bitters Pub 1201 Main Road (920) 847-2496

$ L D T {

Red Cup Coffee House 1885 Detroit Harbor Road (920) 847-3304

$ B L

Sailor’s Pub 1475 South Shore Dr. (920) 847-2105

$$$ D { ( The Point Grille 164 Green Bay Road (920) 421-3663

$$ L D

Sergio’s sergiosmexicanfood.com

Skandimania skandimania.co

Sloppy Hog BBQ

Wally’s Weenie Wagon Doorcountyweenie wagon.com

Taqueria Neri www.taquerianeri.com/ The Purple Yum www.facebook. com/jmjsbakery 888 Cheese & Co. 888cheeseandco.com

Sister Bay

CONCERTS & MOVIES IN THE PARK

THURs-Sat: noon-7 sun-wed: noon-6

Run Door County

May 2

Door County Half Marathon and Nicolet Bay 5K, Fish Creek

13.1-mile run, 5K

Hailed as one of the best runs in the Midwest, runners enjoy a closed USATF-certified road course that takes you along the shore, through the woods, and atop the bluffs of Peninsula State Park. Finish with music, beer and friends at Nicolet Bay. doorcountyhalfmarathon.com

May 9

Blossom Run, Egg Harbor

2-mile and 5-mile courses, plus a 1-mile option for kids 12 and under. doorcountyymca.org/events/blossomrun-2

May 24

Maifest Lake to Lake Race, Jacksonport 10k run and 2-mile fun run runsignup.com/Race/WI/Jacksonport/ JacksonportMaifest

June 13

Crossroads Trail Run, Sturgeon Bay 10k, 5K, and 2k trail run through the woods, meadows, and orchards in and around Crossroads at Big Creek. crossroadsrun.com

July 4

Hairpin Run, Fish Creek 5K run/walk to kick off the 4th of July celebration. Door County’s largest 5K run benefits Friends of Gibraltar. hairpinrun.com

July 18

Washington Island Rec Run, Washington Island 10K, 5K, and 2k walk/ run moslingreccenter.org/events

Aug. 15

Shanty Days 5K, kids run, Algoma 5K run/walk, kids superhero fun run visitalgomawi.com/5K-run-walk

Sept. 26

Hey Hey 5K, Baileys Harbor 5K fun run in Baileys Harbor that starts and ends at the Door County Brewing Co. taproom. Get great swag, including a free beer and an awesome shirt! heyhey5K.com

Oct. 3

Door CANcer Run/Walk, Sevastopol 2-mile and 4-mile run. doorcancer.com/runwalk/

Oct. 10

Potawatomi State Park Run Wild, Sturgeon Bay Quarter marathon, 5K run/walk, and 1/3-mile Smokey Bear Run www.runwild.org/run-wild

Whether you’re looking for competition or camaraderie, there’s a race for all tastes on the peninsula. You can also take on the challenge of the Run the Door race series by emailing visiting rundoorcounty. com to enter to earn points for each race you participate in.

HELP in Motion Trail Run, runsignup.com/Race/WI/SturgeonBay/ HELPInMotionTrailRun

Oct. 24

Fall 50, Gills Rock to Sturgeon Bay 50-mile solo and relay run from the tip of the peninsula at Gills Rock to the base at Sawyer Park in Sturgeon Bay. Includes prizes for best team name and costume, and a huge post-race party with pizza and beer. fall50.com

Nov. 7

Pen Park Trails Fest, Fish Creek Third edition of a new running experience featuring a 14k and 30k course in Peninsula State Park. penparktrailsfest.com

Nov. 28

One Barrel 2.62 Run, Egg Harbor

A 2.62-mile run on Whitecliff Road with a post-run party in the taproom. All runners get a One Barrel Run knit hat and a beer at the finish line! onebarrelrun.com

Dec. 5

Northern Door YMCA Ugly

Sweater Run, Fish Creek 5K fun run/ walk.

Drömhus

DEATH’S DOOR