"Kalamazoo is the new Naples." Are you buying that?

Still time to train for the Borgess Run


By Blaine Lam
Publisher, ShareKalamazoo.com

“Kalamazoo is the new Naples.”

That’s my new campaign to convince people that the vitality of community life in these snowy climes is superior to the hassle of going all the way to Florida and putting up with the boredom/traffic (pick one).

Word has just filtered back, however, that 75 Kalamazooans got together the other night for entertainment and cocktails in Bonita Bay. A similar-sized crowd of your friends and mine gathered for same in Sarasota the next night.

In other words, the campaign isn’t going very well.

But, if you have something like, say, a job this time of year, get ready to beat the winter blahs -- or is it blues?

The key is taking it head on. So, they cancel school. They’re just playing it safe. That’s a chance for you to take the kids to their favorite sledding hill or putting on your cross country skis. (Visit our Hidden Treasures section on the three best places in Kalamazoo County to cross-country ski.) Last call, by the way, for Connecting Women & Nature: Skiing by Moonlight. Women 14 and over are invited to enjoy the trails of the Kalamazoo Nature Center on Wednesday, February 20. The moonlit exhibition is from 6-9 p.m. and will be guided by ski and nature experts Kara Haas and Sarah Reding. The cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members and pre-registration by February 18 is required.

If you’re too late for that one, but want to get outdoors, consider a trail walk to discover nature’s first signs of Spring on Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m. Nature Up Close Camp Director Dan Keto will help participants identify new plant life and the “early birds.” He’ll be talking about the first birds to return from winter migration, but won’t mention our friends in Naples.

A little discouraged that your New Year’s Resolutions haven’t panned out? You’ve still got two months to prepare for the Borgess Run for the Health of It, or the Priority Health 5K Walk on April 26. The night before, some 1,200 kids take part in the Meijer Kids’ Fun Run at the Borgess Health & Fitness Center. Go to http://www.borgessrun.com for more details.

Looking for something a little less invigorating to do the next couple of weeks?

First of all, phone a friend and make dinner reservations NOW for the expanded Art Hop on Friday, March 7. No reservations needed for the hop itself, but good luck finding a restaurant seat without advanced planning.

Then, as long as you’re looking ahead to what might be considered “mid-to-late winter” around here, make plans to attend the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Kalamazoo on Saturday, March 15.

If you only want to work out your vocal chords, note that you can audition Monday, March 17 for All Ears Theatre shows to be held on May 17 and 31. Auditions will be at 7 p.m. in the Epic Center classroom. The first evening of auditions will be an open call, followed by a callback on the second night. No experience is necessary. Come prepared to read from a script. For more information, visit www.allearstheatre.org.