August is here.

The days are long. The water is warm. And the orchards still have cherries if you know where to look.

But… there’s a subtle shift you can start to feel. The mornings are a little cooler. The evenings too.

That makes August one of the best months to be up here. Enjoy every minute of it.

________________

In today’s edition:

A few things worth knowing about this week.

The pizza war is over. If you have been following the Wild Tomato versus Wild Man Pizza saga that went viral earlier this year, here is your (partial) resolution.

Wild Tomato Pizza filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit in April after Wild Man Pizza opened in Carlsville with what Wild Tomato argued was a confusingly similar name and logo.

After mediation and a few months of social media tension, both sides announced a collaborative resolution on July 29.

Wild Man Pizza is now officially Ooluru Pizza. Wild Tomato keeps its name and brand.

There is a bit of a twist to the saga however, this announcement comes just days after the owner of Ooluru announced it will be closing this fall.

Apparently, there’s more to come.

Wisconsin tornadoes. Our thoughts go out to everyone across Wisconsin who was affected by the tornadoes that touched down July 28.

Door County was spared but neighboring communities that were not are going support. Click here if you are looking for ways to help.

The Alpine Resort waterfront property is back up for sale. The historic property in Egg Harbor, which has been at the center of a year-long controversy over demolition plans, is now (again) listed for sale.

The Sagorac family, who also own Wild Tomato Pizza, purchased the lodge and waterfront cottages in 2025 for $6.75 million and announced plans to demolish the old building.

Local opposition was significant. Now the property is back on the market.

Whether this marks the end of the controversy or the beginning of a new chapter depends on who buys it and what they plan to do with one of the most historically significant pieces of waterfront real estate in Door County.

Red Putter crowns a champion. Last week's 24th annual Red Putter Pro Tournament had a family showdown at the top.

Matthew Kraus reclaimed the title, edging out his brother Nathaniel who finished second.

93 pros competed for the $2,000 first place prize and The Red Jacket.

Door County Baseball League. The race at the top just got interesting.

After this past weekend's results, Washington Island, Kolberg, and Sister Bay all sit at the top of the standings with a 10-2 record.

Sister Bay made their move with a 2-1 win over Washington Island on Sunday while Kolberg edged Egg Harbor 5-4 in a tight one.

Sister Bay visits Kolberg this Sunday in one of the most important games of the season. Washington Island plays Maplewood the same day. If you have been meaning to catch a game this summer, this weekend is the right time.

This one came in from a reader named Terry, and it speaks to how special Door County really is.

Terry and her husband met in 1972 at St. Norbert College in De Pere.

During their college years they would drive to Peninsula State Park for the day, hike the trails and climb Eagle Tower. They would sit and talk for hours, and somewhere in all of that, they fell in love.

They have now been married 49 years. They still come back to Door County every fall. On September 15th they arrive to watch the sunset, eat whitefish and ice cream, drink brandy old fashioneds, and fall in love all over again.

I do not have much to add to that. It is what Door County does to people who give it the chance. I’m living proof.

Terry, thank you for sending this. This is why I write the newsletter every week.

Do you have a Door County story worth sharing? Send me your story and tell me what makes this place so special for you.

Summer is not the only season worth celebrating up here.

The fall festivals are some of the best events on the Door County calendar, and they are just around the corner.

The complete Door County festivals guide covers every major event from May through October, with dates, locations, and everything you need to build a trip around the celebrations that matter most to you.

Whether you are squeezing in one more summer trip or starting to think about fall, this guide has you covered.

Read the complete Door County festivals guide here.

Last week we asked whether you were enjoying the newsletter and 97% of you said “it was awesome.” That means a great deal to me.

This newsletter takes real time every week and knowing you enjoy it makes it all worth it.

That said, the goal is always to get better.

If there is something you want to see more of or a topic you wish we would cover, please reach out and let me know.

Every week we spotlight a recently sold home and an active listing to give you a feel for what the Door County real estate market looks like.

JUST SOLD: Washington Island

A six bedroom, home on 45 acres on Washington Island recently sold for $650,000. Three combined lots, a main home built in 1912, and a large outbuilding make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

This is the kind of property that reminds you how different the market is on Washington Island. Real estate like this rarely hits the market and when it does, it moves.

FOR SALE: Fish Creek

If you have ever sat on a bluff watching the sun go down and thought, I need to find a way to own this view, here is your answer.

A four bedroom home in Fish Creek is listed at $3,100,000. On 5.55 acres, the home sits on the bluff with views from every room and an expansive deck built specifically for watching sunsets.

The listing has drawn more than 2,200 views on Zillow. The views alone explain why.

Most people who visit Peninsula State Park Golf Course come for the full course, and for good reason. But there more flexible option just across the street.

The short course is six holes and perfectly designed for the moments when you want to swing a club without committing hours of your day.

It is ideal if you have kids who are not ready for a full round, a spouse who isn’t interested in playing 18, or an afternoon that does not have room for more than an hour of golf.

I play it every summer with my family. It fits perfectly between breakfast at Julie’s and a massage at Sacred Grounds.

Six holes, no pressure, all the fun.

Open Acoustic Jam in the Great Hall at the Donald and Carol Kress Pavilion on Wednesday. A relaxed, welcoming session for anyone who wants to play or just listen.

Sister Bay Concerts in the Park on Wednesday at the Sister Bay Performance Pavilion. Free, outdoors, and one of the most enjoyable weekly traditions on the northern end of the county.

Sister Bay Historical Society Fish Boil on Thursday at the Corner of the Past Museum. A fish boil with a local history backdrop is a perfect combination.

The Mockingbird Band plays Simon Creek Vineyard and Winery on Saturday. Live music at a winery on a Saturday afternoon in August. There are worse ways to spend the day.

Door County is home to more miles of shoreline than any other county in the continental United States.

With Green Bay on the west side, Lake Michigan on the east, and the waters surrounding Washington Island and the smaller islands in the archipelago, the county has approximately 300 miles of shoreline packed into a peninsula that is roughly 75 miles long and 18 miles wide at its broadest point.

Tuesday should hit around 76 degrees with a slight chance of rain. A perfectly reasonable late summer Tuesday.

Wednesday brings a slightly cooler 74 degrees with about a 25 percent chance of rain before things clear out nicely Thursday and Friday. Highs climb back toward 80 on Friday and Saturday.

Sunrise Tuesday is at 5:44 a.m. Sunset comes around 8:18 p.m. Still more than 14 and a half hours of daylight. Still worth being outside as much as possible.

Green Bay water temperatures are holding in the low to mid 70s. This is peak swimming season on the bay side. Take full advantage before the water starts its slow September retreat.

This week it was Legend by Bob Marley and the Wailers, which is one of those albums that does not require any introduction or justification. Every song is exactly what it needs to be. It just rolls from one to the next with a warmth and ease that makes whatever you are doing (like writing a newsletter) feel more manageable.

I started listening to Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Yellowman in high school and that music has never really left. There is something about reggae on a warm August afternoon that just feels right.

Meet Kevin, Larry, and Hank.

Three therapy dogs from Texas who travel to elementary schools and nursing homes doing what therapy dogs do best - make people feel better just by showing up.

Last week their owner Jeremy brought them up to Door County for a vacation, and they spent part of it picking cherries at Soren's Valhalla Orchards in Jacksonport. Jeremy has roots in Jacksonport, spending summers up here as a kid, and now he brings his boys back to the place that means so much to him.

That is a Door County story and a pet story wrapped into one, and it is exactly what this section is for.

Kevin, Larry, and Hank, welcome to the newsletter. Come back soon.

We want to see your pets enjoying Door County. Send me a photo with your pet's name, the village you were in, and anything worth knowing about the moment. The best ones end up right here.

A 49-year love story that started on the trails of Peninsula State Park.

A pizza feud settled.

A mini golf champion crowned.

Six holes of golf inside one of the most beautiful parks in the Midwest.

And Kevin, Larry, and Hank.

That’s a week!

August is short. Make it count.

See you up here,
Brian.