Traverse Northern Michigan's Magazine July 2022 by MyNorth

Traverse + 3 LOCAL CHERRY TREATS

ROCK HUNT FOR LELAND BLUES p.42

p.30

THE BEST SUMMER MARG

p.48

p.36

Picnic with Escape to the Biking Lake The Buzz at Charlevoix Hilbert's Honey Mel & Fell Keweenaw

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

KNOCKOUT MEET THE ALL-FEMALE SAILING CREW TAKING THE RACE SCENE BY

STORM PAG E

JULY 2O22

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WE’RE SURROUNDED

We’re surrounded by natural beauty. The beach National Geographic named one of the “21 Best Beaches in the World” is on our west. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which the viewers of Good Morning America chose as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”, is on our north and east. The most popular vacation activities in the national park and area, including biking, hiking, swimming, paddling, dune climbing, golf, tennis, shopping, sightseeing, wine tasting and dining are on our property or nearby. Stay here...be surrounded...save the drive and the gas.

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T Remarkable opportunity to build a new J. Peterson home on North Lake Leelanau. The elevated site features year round lake views with 110’ of across the road frontage for your lakefront entertaining and dockage. Amenity includes all the quality you expect from J. Peterson Homes including hardwood floors, Pella windows, Kohler plumbing fixtures, quartz countertops and much more. Call Joel today to walk lot and discuss the building process. $1,995,000. MLS # 1898472

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Traverse 07.22 INSIDE

F E AT U R E S

THE KNOCKOUT DISCOVER MORE ABOUT UP NORTH, PEOPLE, PLACES, FOOD AND EVENTS.

Meet the adventure-loving, all-female crew taking the yacht racing scene by storm in Northern Michigan. B Y E M I LY H O P C I A N

COPPER COUNTRY IS CALLING

A newly imagined crop of historic lodges, modern hotels and snug cabins on the Keweenaw Peninsula is an excellent reason to head north. Way north. B Y S TA C E Y B R U G E M A N PHOTOS BY AARON PETERSON

PHOTOS BY BETH PRICE

THE BEE ATTITUDE

After 130 years of promoting pollination and caring for their hives, the Hilbert family knows this to be true: Blessed are the beekeepers. BY ROSS BOISSONEAU PHOTOS BY BRIAN D. SMITH

42 photo by Brian D. Smith

IN AND AROUND THE LAKE

A 53-mile bike route around stunning Lake Charlevoix yields the perfect loop for scenic beauty and small-town charm. T E X T A N D P H O T O S B Y G A T E LY W I L L I A M S

36 A DELIGHTFUL PAIRING

Leelanau foodies Melanie and Tim Griffith, aka Mel & Fell, love showcasing local bounty in their seasonal, globally inspired recipes, just right for a July picnic. B Y C A R LY S I M P S O N PHOTOS BY TIM HUSSEY

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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— Celebrating 66 Years — 1956 - 2022

64 DE PART M E N T S

Hull’s of Frankfort Open Year Round Family Owned & Operated Since 1956 419 Main Street, Frankfort | 231-352-4642

7 | EDITOR'S NOTE 9 | UP NORTH

hullsoffrankfort.com

Fifty years of land preservation with the Little Traverse Conservancy; insider tips from one of the world’s best stone skippers; Sleeping Bear Inn gets a facelift; more.

19 | EVENTS

Always the unique and unexpected since 1986

The National Cherry Festival and Traverse City Film Festival return, as well as farmers markets, art fairs, walks, runs and cycling events.

25 | TRAVEL

Up North towns with familyfriendly activities and spectacular fireworks on the Fourth.

27 | UP IN MICHIGAN

Reliving sweet summer memories at Frankfort’s Crystal Downs Country Club.

Frida-Style!

Mexican Colonial designs, hand wrought in Sterling Silver.

The newly renovated STIX in Ludington has a fab beer garden and a state-of-the-art bowling alley; plus, three not-to-miss cherry treats in TC and fresh lettuce wraps at FireFly.

64 | ON THE TABLE

Leave pie behind and try your hand at France’s favorite cherry dessert: clafoutis.

66 | LAST CALL

This classic edible flower is even better muddled into a spicy margarita.

68 | LOVE OF THE LAND

Comb the beaches in Leland for beautiful “Leland blues”—pieces of colorful lake-tumbled slag.

112 North Main Street Leland, MI 49654 (231) 256-7747 info@TampicoLelandMi.com

61 | THE CULINARY NORTH

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ON THE COVER The Knockout yacht racing team PHOTO BY BETH PRICE

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Traverse NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

A MyNorth Media Publication

Vol. 42 | No. 02

PRESIDENT

Michael Wnek Cara McDonald

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

SENIOR EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT & SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST CULINARY COLUMNIST

Elizabeth Edwards Carly Simpson Allison Jarrell Rachel Soulliere Stacey Brugeman

PROOFREADERS

Elizabeth Aseritis Caroline Dahlquist

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

Andrew VanDrie Kandace Chapple Kim Schneider Heather Durocher

ART DIRECTOR PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF SALES SALES ACCOUNT COORDINATOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

MARKETING DIRECTOR MARKETING COORDINATOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

World Famous Smoked Pork Loin, Bacon, Ham, Hot Dogs, Bratwurst, and Smoked Fish.

Nationwide Shipping Available at Plathsmeats.com

Tim Hussey Theresa Burau-Baehr

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

2200 East Mitchell Rd. at the corner of Mitchell & Division Roads PETOSKEY 231-348-8100

Rachel Watson Julie Parker Tabatha VanWingerden Mike Alfaro Ann Gatrell Julie James Meg Lau Kirk Small Erin Lutke Ashlyn Korienek Nichole Earle Libby Stallman

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EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES

415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684 Phone: 231.941.8174 | Fax: 231.941.8391

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130 HALL STREET TRAVERSE CITY 231-252-4132

116 South 3rd Street ROGERS CITY 989-734-2232

Just sittin’ on the dock of the bay, watchin’ the cares roll away...

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Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine, (ISSN10713719) is published monthly by Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan, 1 Broadcast Way, Cadillac, MI 49601. Periodicals class postage paid at Traverse City, MI 49684 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine, 415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684. Advertising rates available upon request. Subscription rate: $29.95 for 12 issues. Single issue price: $6.50. Manuscripts must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. All rights reserved. Copyright 2022, Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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YOU’RE INVITED

The viewers of Good Morning America chose it as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. National Geographic named its beach one of the “21 Best Beaches in the World”. It’s the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Other communities claim to be close to it but aren’t. We don’t make that claim. It surrounds us. So save the driving and gas...vacation here and stay here.

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editor's note

LOVE IT HERE by CARA MCDONALD

t’s been an ornery winter and a noncommittal, hold-out of a spring. But we made it—July. The big payoff. The month when the North is at its easiest to love. My friend Jeff Smith once said to me, “If you can’t love Northern Michigan in summer, there’s something wrong with you.” That is so true. Which should make this month’s editor note the easiest to write, but it’s been the hardest so far. Not that I don’t have things to say about summer picnics, or honeybees or local farms or sailing or any of the beautiful things captured in these pages. The fact is, working on this issue has caused an easy, predictable swell of love for this region. It’s not the feeling love part that’s hard. It’s the loving. I’ve lived in resort regions for most of my life. I’ve been an outsider, an insider, and, after many years and volunteer hours and county commissioner meetings, a local. I’ve had to think about what it means to love a place. When I closed my eyes in a hammock swinging between two blazing gold trees in autumn, it felt like love. Skiing first tracks on Christmas morning, catching the Leonids from my deck, pushing a paddle board out onto a morning lake, biting into the season’s first peach: Love. Easy love. I guess I’ve made my living as a love pusher, publishing and editing stories celebrating the reasons to live, visit, buy into, support, make a first home or find a second in some of the prettiest places on the continent. This comes with some emotional tension for me. In part because, despite that love, I can often complain about the state of things where I live. The community, the local leadership, the soccer game schedule and, holy Hannah, I’ll admit it, the weather. My kids have taken a rather literal interpretation of this. “Mom, you hate winter.” “Mom, you don’t like snow/the school principal/soccer games.” I happen to love snow (just not in May), respect the school principal and enjoy a September soccer Saturday, and I know this because I live it. I celebrate the first snow of the season with Champagne and fondue; I Nordic and alpine ski in all kinds of spitting weather. I loved my kids’ school enough to be a reading buddy and bring the “healthy” Halloween snack. And soccer Saturdays? I will never be a line judge because I have no idea what’s going on, but I will be the mom to pour a slug of the good kind of apple cider into your travel mug.

My love isn’t just a feel-good thing. It might involve cage rattling, piping up or a good eye roll. But if we’re only loving the easy things during the good times, well, I think the universe has a bigger ask of us. That came crashing home the week I sat down to write this column, when a tornado of historic force devastated the Gaylord community. Buildings and whole neighborhoods were demolished and two lives were lost, leaving the rest of us feeling some mix of guilty, spared and heartbroken. Those of us who were unaffected grappled with what to do next. The answer is love. Within hours, donation centers were created, funds established, volunteers signed up, a veritable army of those who love this piece of the mitten mobilized to support a community we feel connected to in a meaningful way. Fierce love is often inconveniently felt and messily delivered. But the world needs it even more than the pretty kind. This July, in the midst of all the beauty and gifts this place showers on us, I hope we can love Northern Michigan in the myriad ways that count. Not just the sunsets and wildflowers and Insta-worthy family snaps. Rather, love that shows up by being gracious with long lines and short-handed staff; picking up trash on the beach; sharing your parade curb space with a family who arrives too late; donating to a local conservancy; leaving an outrageous tip for the teen scooping your ice cream. Love in action is Up North at its very best, and the best way to embrace this place that embraces us. I hope your summer is brimming with it. Cara McDonald Executive Editor cara@mynorth.com NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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LAND FOR ALL by ALLISON JARRELL

photo by Rachel Haggerty

This year, Little Traverse Conservancy (LTC) celebrates half a century of land protection and preservation across its five-county service area in Northern Michigan. From Charlevoix to the tip of the U.P., LTC has protected nearly 70,000 acres of land since 1972, including these five projects that are especially beloved for their public water access.

Thorne Swift Nature Preserve

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WHEN OUR CLIENTS SPEAK, WE LISTEN. It’s a simple but effective way of helping people reach their financial goals - and it’s a way of doing business that Raymond James has pioneered for more than 50 years. Make your voice count. Partner with one of our financial advisors and get guidance that’s in tune with your life. LIFE WELL PLANNED. Jeff K. Pasche, CFA® Senior Vice President, Investments Traverse City Complex Manager Susan G. Carlyon, WMS Senior Vice President, Investments ® Wealth Management Specialist James Spencer, ChFC®, AAMS® Financial Advisor Stoops, AWMA Jeff K.JimPasche, CFA®, CRPC® First Vice President, Investments

Senior Vice President, Investments ® Jennifer Youker, CFP , CRPC® Traverse City Complex Manager Financial Advisor Dennis J. Brodeur Vice President, Investments Wealth Management Specialist Trevis E. Gillow Vice President, Investments Wealth Management Specialist Susan Carlyon First Vice President, Investments Wealth Management Specialist Keith Carlyon Senior Vice President, Investments

Maggie Beeler, AAMS®, CRPC® Investment Portfolio Associate Shelley A. Stefanits Complex Administrator Manager West Michigan Complex Courtney C. Jackson Complex Business Coordinator Barbara S. Shellman, MBA, APMA™ Accredited Portfolio Advisor™ PaulManagement M. Bonaccini Financial Advisor

ST. CLAIR LAKE-SIX MILE LAKE NATURAL AREA, CHARLEVOIX COUNTY

Size: 261 acres Frontage: 2.3 miles along St. Clair Lake & Sinclair River Why it’s special: This natural area— protected in partnership with Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy— provides a universal access hike and a kayak launch for accessing the upper Chain of Lakes. Beautiful for canoeing, kayaking or paddleboarding, this area is one of the longest stretches of undeveloped shoreline within the Elk River Watershed. Trails: The Mary Behrens Sorrell Trail (universal access) allows people of all ages and abilities to appreciate this natural wonder. The preserve lies along the Chain of Lakes Water Trail (paddleantrim.com). THORNE SWIFT NATURE PRESERVE, EMMET COUNTY

Vice President, Investments Melissa Size: 30 acres Accredited AssetDavis Management Specialist Client Service Associate Frontage: 950 feet along Lake Michigan, Tyne Hyslop with 300 feet of beach open to the public Why it’s special: Located just 10 minutes Financial Advisor northwest of Harbor Springs, this preJennifer Youker, CFP®, CRPC®serve features not only a Lake Michigan beach, but also a beautiful trail network Financial Advisor and a nature center. (Note: Dogs and horses are not allowed at Thorne Swift.) Eric H. Palo Trails & Facilities: A large parking area Financial Advisor lies adjacent to the Elizabeth Kennedy James Spencer, ChFC, AAMSNature Center. One and a half miles of trail, a dune observation platform, Associate Vice President, Investments a pond observation platform, gazebo, amphitheater and seasonal guided proRobert Fenton grams all make this an excellent family Financial Advisor destination. Call 231.526.6401 for current programs and seasonal hours.

DUNCAN BAY NATURE PRESERVE, CHEBOYGAN COUNTY

13818 S West13818 Bay Shore Traverse MI 49684 (231) 946-3650 S WestDr Bay• Shore Dr. •City, Traverse City, MI •49684 (231) 946-3650 • www.raymondjames.com/Traverse-City ©2015 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Raymond James® is a registered trademark of Raymond James Financial, Inc. 15-BDMKT-1770 ME/CW 4/15 Chartered Retirement Plan SpecialistSM, AWMA®, Accredited Wealth Management AdvisorSM; CRPC®, Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM and AAMS® are trademarks or registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning in the United States and/or other countries. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks Certified Financial Planner™ and CFP® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Size: 145 acres Frontage: 3,500 feet along Duncan Bay/Lake Huron Why it’s special: This preserve is walkable from downtown Cheboygan (less than a mile) and has become a special community area offering public access to Duncan Bay, just down from where the Inland Waterway empties into Lake Huron via the Cheboygan River. (And the beach is gorgeous!)

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up north

“ THE CORE VALUE HERE IS THAT FOR PEOPLE TO APPRECIATE NATURE, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN IT. EDUCATION SHOULD BE THE STARTING POINT, NOT AN ADD-ON TO THAT

Thorne Swift Nature Preserve

^ For more on these preserves, including directions, features and preservation history; landtrust.org. You’ll also find info on seasonal field trips that are open to the public: landtrust.org/events.

Trails: The land can be enjoyed with an easy 0.9-mile trail loop and boardwalk leading to the shore. A short overlook platform offers stunning views. This preserve lies along the Sunrise Coast Birding Trail and the City of Cheboygan’s Bike Route.

photo by Rachel Haggerty

VERMILION POINT NATURE PRESERVE, CHIPPEWA COUNTY

Size: 175 acres Water frontage: 9,240 feet along Lake Superior Why it’s special: About half an hour northwest of Paradise, you’ll find this gorgeous and rugged Lake Superior preserve that features a wide sandy beach, low shore dunes, upland forest, old cranberry bog wetlands and a stream. Ecologically, this is known habitat for the federally endangered piping plover. This area is also home to a historic U.S. Coast Guard Life Saving Station.

PHILOSOPHY. ” —KIERAN FLEMING, LTC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Trails: A dirt road leads to a parking area where easy access to the beach is available. Look for the marked trail when walking between the historical buildings. WILLIAM B. DERBY JR. NATURE PRESERVE, MACKINAC COUNTY

Size: 207 acres Frontage: More than a mile along Lake Huron Why it’s special: Just a half hour east of the Mackinac Bridge, this preserve takes you through moss-covered boulders and cedar trees and along the shores of “The Snows” channel in northern Lake Huron. It’s LTC’s most visited preserve in the Les Cheneaux region, and is a magical place for a hike. Trails: A nearly 3-mile trail loop. Public parking is available for the preserve on Club Road thanks to the Les Cheneaux Club and Les Cheneaux Community Foundation. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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MODERN LUXURY. LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE.

Introducing the U23i luxury performance boat from the Thoroughbred Boat Company. Handcrafted by artisans in Manistee, Michigan, the U23i offers simple elegance and delivers pure performance. Jump aboard at thoroughbredboats.com

AVAI L AB L E NOW AT 9685 US 31 South Interlochen, MI 49643 231-276-9910 longlakemarina.net

The Taste of Michigan Summer –

It’s Cherry Time! Enjoy “Cherry Time”, ANYTIME with Food For Thought sauces, salsas, condiments, and preserves, all handcrafted in small batches, right here in beautiful Traverse City, MI – the cherry capital of the country! Intentional ingredients, sophisticated flavors, no added preservatives, clean label, made in Michigan. Order online at foodforthought.net SAVE 25% off your purchase with promo code: CHERRY25travmag.

OUR ARTISAN CHERRY PRODUCT LINE-UP INCLUDES: Montmorency Cherry Preserves, Cherry Raspberry Preserves, Cherry Cabernet Preserves, Medium Cherry Salsa, Cherry Fireball Salsa, Cherry Bourbon Preserves, Tart Cherry Preserves, Cherry Habanero Pepper Jelly, Cherry Tequila Hot Sauce, Cherry BBQ Sauce, 12

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^ NEW UP NORTH A monthly column highlighting new businesses and community updates. BOYNE RIVER GRILL

Kristin Hussey

201 WATER ST., BOYNE CITY

This family-owned restaurant opened in April and sources ingredients from local farms whenever possible for dishes like deep-fried cauliflower, smash burgers, garden salads and more. View the full menu on Facebook. facebook.com/Boyne-River-Grill CUTEA BOBA 1525 S. DIVISION ST., STE. 105, TRAVERSE CITY

As of press time, Traverse City’s first bubble tea shop was on track to open in June. Bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the ’80s and is a tea-based drink with chewy tapioca balls, known as boba. facebook.com/cuteaboba FRICANO’S

126 BOARDMAN AVE., STE. D, TRAVERSE CITY

Live Well, opened in June, offers dry needling, O3 rejuvenation (ozone therapy), cupping and herbal medicine in addition to acupuncture. livewelltc.com UP SUNRISE COTTAGES

photo by Captured by Grace Photography

ON FARMER LAKE, LITTLE LAKE

These lakefront cottages sit on springfed Farm Lake in the town of Little Lake (about 10 minutes from Gwinn and 30 minutes from Marquette). Purchased by the Martin family in 2021, they’re excited to offer an Aquapark, brand new playground and a fleet of kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and rowboats. upsunrisecottages.com

Know of a business that just opened or have a fun community update? Let us know at editorial@traversemagazine.com.

LIGH H

LIVE WELL ACUPUNCTURE

USINE

The Michigan pizza chain is opening its seventh location in downtown Manistee on the Manistee River channel. From the deck, patrons can watch the passing freighters and the sunset over the river.

440 RIVER ST., MANISTEE

HIG

THE WARREN COLLECTIVE

106 N. MAIN ST., LELAND

A new downtown storefront opened this spring and showcases the work of painter Kristin Hussey, jewelry designer Kelsey McQuown and the wildly talented Sarah Peschel (you’ve seen her food styling byline in our Last Call and On the Table departments!). “After two years of being isolated from the outside world, we were excited to find a way to connect with the Leland community and share our artwork with them face to face,” Hussey says. “This shop is acting as a space of creative exploration for all three of us, and I can’t wait to see where that takes us in the future.” Hussey, who you may know as Kristin MacKenzie Design, will be featuring her “Towns of 22” series, which includes paintings of Empire, Arcadia, Frankfort and more communities on M-22, along with original paintings, stationery, playing cards, blankets, water bottles and more. Peschel will have an evolving collection of items ranging from plants and flowers to antiques and photography, and McQuown will be selling her contemporary filigree jewelry.“In my newest line, launching at the shop this summer, I was inspired by the light patterns created when sunlight strikes moving water,” McQuown says. “That mesmerizing shimmer we all know and love here in Northern Michigan.” thewarrenleland.com NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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You belong on a

Casual Elegant Fashions for Men and Women State and Main Streets • Harbor Springs 231.526.6914 • hildaharbor@gmail.com Mon-Sat 9am-5pm • Sunday 12pm-4pm 14

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up north

THE SPORT OF STONE SKIPPING

John Kolar skipping stones.

by CARLY SIMPSON

We ask a world record stone skipper what it’s like to compete.

because it was very foggy, and I wanted as many pairs of eyes judging the skip as possible. Sure enough, I threw a stone that skipped 24 times visibly, and then disappeared into the fog. The judges gave me a score of 24+ infinity. I am still the only person to have skipped a stone into infinity in tournament play.

ohn “the sheriff” kolar can talk for hours about the sport of stone skipping— velocity and controlling the rotation of the stone; the first time he competed in Mackinac Island’s W.T. Rabe Stone Skipping Competition, held each year on the Fourth of July; and the joy it’s brought to his life. Here are some of the highlights: Q. What’s your first memory of stone skipping? A. My father taught me to skip when I was 3 years old on a lake in northern Ontario. I saw him pick up a little rock and kind of whip it sidearm fashion, and it skipped a couple of times. I just remember seeing that skip. So, of course, immediately I was trying to replicate what my father did. photo courtesy of Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau

FUN FACT

The first written record of stone skipping as a sport dates back to 1583. Some sources say an English king skipped sovereigns (British gold coins) across the River Thames. Back then, it was a game called “ducks and drakes.” Q: Tell us about that world record you hit at age 19. A: On July 4, 1977, I tied the world record of 24 skips. In the tournament play [the W.T. Rabe Competition on Mackinac Island] I insisted on having three judges. Mostly

FUN FACT

The current world record, 88 skips, is held by Kurt “Mountain Man” Steiner of Pennsylvania. Kurt regularly competes on Mackinac Island, winning the competition in 2021 with 23 skips. Q: Describe the perfect stone. A: Very smooth and generally round. A little oblong is okay. Any place on the stone that has a little bit of a point or a corner or an indentation—a place where your finger can get a grip on it. Those that are concave or convex have problems. Really flat is ideal.

Q: Let’s talk science. A: There’s been a lot of research done on why and how a stone skips. A French science institution [the Institut de Recherche sur les Phénomènes Hors Equili^ bre] developed a machine that would throw an aluminum disk onto a surface of water. W.T. Rabe Stone Skipping Competition They came up with what they call the magic angle, which is about 20 degrees. If you can Date: July 4 get your stone to approach the water from Time: 10 a.m., professionals compete at noon this angle, it will skip the most number of Divisions: Gerplunking times.

(ages 5 & under), Pebbles (ages 6-12), Open (ages 13 & up), Professionals (Invitational, plus the winner of the Open) mackinacisland.org; stoneskipping.com

FUN FACT

For a deep dive on the art of stone skipping, check out: Clanet, C., Hersen, F. & Bocquet, L. Secrets of successful stone skipping. Nature 427, 29 (2004). Read the full article on nature.com. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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up north

10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT SLEEPING BEAR INN

e couldn’t be more excited that Glen Haven’s historic Sleeping Bear Inn is being renovated, with plans to reopen in spring 2023. The property, owned by the National Park Service, has been leased to the nonprofit Balancing Environment and Rehabilitation (BEAR), led by President Maggie Kato. We asked Maggie to share a few fun facts about the inn—#1 is going to wow you. 1. Sleeping Bear Inn is the oldest inn within the National Park System. Built in 1866, it predates Yellowstone by six years. 2. The inn was originally known as Sleeping Bear House. 3. On Oct. 9, 1871, the same night as the Chicago fire and at least eight other major fires in Wisconsin and Michigan, Glen Haven burned. The fire started in the woods and consumed more than 2,000 cords of wood and most of the buildings in the village. The inn and general store were saved, as reported by the Traverse City Herald.

4. Sleeping Bear Inn housed guests of the village for nearly 100 years. D.H. Day married the daughter of the innkeeper and lived in the second story for a while. In addition to Day and his family, the inn hosted an eclectic mix of lumberjacks, dock workers, businessmen and posh guests. The inn was where hard work could be put aside for a night of drinking and laughter. 5. Just like the past, when most of the socializing occurred in the large parlors on the first floor or on the porch, these renovated rooms will be used for the same purpose. 6. Future plans include food service to the public; however, these will be phased in over several years. 7. BEAR is looking forward to providing guests with opportunities to view dark skies in Glen Haven and throughout Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. 8. There are three fireplaces in the inn, but there has never been a furnace or other heating source. All three fireplaces will be kept, and since the inn will operate year-round, the renovation will include adding efficient heat and air. 9. There are some unique bottle openers/corkscrews in each room of the inn, which will be kept and put in guest rooms. 10. Thanks to a Glen Arbor Women’s Club grant, BEAR will be building two lending libraries on the inn grounds, one for books and the other for beach and sand toys for use on Glen Haven Beach. sleepingbearinn.org NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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photos courtesy of Balancing Environment and Rehabilitation (BEAR)

by CARLY SIMPSON

6/7/22 6:29 PM

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6/10/22 12:21 PM

TIX

Blue Angels

Watch for the MyNorthTix symbol and get your tickets at MyNorthTickets.com.

July edited b y LIBBY STALLMAN

FRI

Frankfort’s Fourth of July celebration begins at 10 a.m. with the posting of the first clue for the Annual Medallion Hunt (the winner gets $150!). A new clue will be posted each morning until the medallion is found, with a final clue posted after the parade on July 4. benzie.org

SAT

The National Cherry Festival is back in a big way, with live concerts and air shows featuring the legendary Blue Angels. July 2–9. cherryfestival.org

MON

Celebrate Independence Day on Mackinac Island with a stone skipping contest for professionals and amateurs alike, followed by fireworks at dusk. mackinacisland.org

photo by Taylor Brown

The Summer Sounds Concert Series at Thompsonville’s Michigan Legacy Art Park kicks off today with Cary Morin. Described as “one of the best acoustic pickers on the scene today,” Morin brings together the great musical traditions of America like no other. MyNorthTickets.com

FRI

Blissfest Music Festival is a showcase of many musical styles—bluegrass, blues, zydeco, Celtic, folk, jazz, Latin, World music and dance all share the stage July 8–10. blissfestfestival.org

TUES

Gaylord’s Alpenfest honors the city’s heritage and partnership with its sister city, Pontresina, Switzerland. Expect five days of festivities including a parade, carnival, kids activities, live entertainment and more. gaylordmichigan.net

THU

The Friendly Garden Club of Traverse City hosts “Between the Bays - 39th Annual Garden Walk” on Old Mission Peninsula. The tour features four private gardens and the First Congregational Church’s Garden of Remembrance. MyNorthTickets.com

SAT

Set upon five miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, Bay Harbor provides a truly spectacular backdrop for artists and patrons alike at the two-day Bay Harbor Arts Festival. bayharbor.com

TUE

The Traverse City Film Festival returns this summer! Plan on six days, 40-plus incredible movies and nearly two dozen filmmakers and stars attending in person. traversecityfilmfest.org

23 26 SAT

A twisted take on a beloved tale, “ALICE” brings new life to Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Through pop-rock hits from the ’90s and 2000s, Parallel 45 Theatre in Traverse City tells a rebellious tale of discovering the strength in one’s heart. MyNorthTickets.com

FIND MORE AT MYNORTH.COM > EVENTS

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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6/7/22 7:05 PM

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6/7/22 7:05 PM

Charlevoix Venetian Festival

events ART FAIRS, LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

7/1–7/29 Northport’s Music in the Park has live music on July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. northportomenachamber.org 7/1–7/29 Frankfort’s Concert in the Park series (Fridays at Mineral Springs Park) begins June 24 and runs through Aug. 19. 7/2

Traverse City’s live music venue Encore201 presents the Gasoline Gypsies. More upcoming shows include James Armstrong Band on July 10 and Comedy Night on July 30. MyNorthTickets.com 7/2–7/3 Ludington’s famed West Shore Art Fair will take place in downtown’s Rotary Park for its 54th year. ludingtonartscenter.org 7/2–7/3 The Petoskey Antiques Show takes place at the Emmet County Fairgrounds showcasing 140 dealers from across the U.S. 7/3 St. Ignace hosts free family-friendly Movies by the Bay at American Legion Park every Sunday evening from July 3 to Sept. 4. All movies begin at dusk. Popcorn and other concessions available for purchase. stignace.com 7/3 Head to The Village at Grand Traverse Commons for the National Cherry Festival Arts & Crafts Fair. cherryfestival.org 7/4 Frankfort’s Art in the Park is held on the shore of beautiful Betsie Lake. frankfort-elberta.com 7/4 The Harbor Springs Art Show is held in Zorn Park and attracts artists from around the country. harborspringschamber.com

7/9–7/10 The Arts & Crafts Show in Charlevoix takes place along Bridge Street. visitcharlevoix.com

7/30 61st Annual Crooked Tree Art Fair at Traverse City’s Civic Center. crookedtree.org

7/15–7/16 Cadillac Festival of the Arts featuring the annual Phyllis Olson Fine Art Fair, children’s activities, music and food vendors within the Cadillac Commons. facebook.com/ CadillacFestivalOfTheArts

FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

7/16–7/24 Charlevoix’s week-long Venetian Festival is filled with a carnival, fireworks, parades, games and more. venetianfestival.com

7/16

The Gene Rantz Plein Air Paint Out hosted by the Northport Arts Association continues in its 10th year. Wet Paint Sale held Saturday evening. MyNorthTickets.com

7/21–7/24 Indian River Summerfest takes place the third week of each July. Live music on the festival stage, craft show, classic car and truck show and more. irchamber.com

7/16 Art in the Park has terrific art and includes a children’s tent in Petoskey’s Pennsylvania Park. petoskeychamber.com 7/16

7/22–7/24 Arcadia Daze celebrates the heritage of this sweet lakeside community. townshipofarcadia.org

7/27

7/23–7/30 Grayling’s AuSable River Festival is home of the annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon, plus loads of family friendly events. ausableriverfest.com

Enjoy A “Toppermost” Beatles Tribute Concert at Rudbeckia Winery and Burnt Marshmallow Brewing in Petoskey. MyNorthTickets.com Country singer Josh Martin takes the stage at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey, bringing together the ultimate all-star cast of Nashville’s finest roots musicians. MyNorthTickets.com

7/28–7/31 The Northern Michigan Antique Flywheelers Club is hosting the 35th Annual Tractor, Engine and Craft Show in Boyne Falls. walloonlakeflywheelers.com

Walks, Runs & Cycling Events 7/9 Black Bear Gran Fondo Bike Event, Grayling, blackbeargranfondo.com 7/9 Sweaty Yeti Run, East Jordan, sweatyyetirun.com

photos by Kelly Rewa

7/15 Tour de TART: Darrow Park, Traverse City to North Park, Suttons Bay, traversetrails.org 7/16 Friends of Fishtown 5K, Leland (hybrid event: both in-person & virtual), fishtownmi.org 7/26 Running Bear 5K, Glen Arbor, runningbearrun.com

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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6/7/22 7:05 PM

Let Your Hometown Gals Guide You Home

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events Sara Hardy Farmers Market

Farmers Markets Bellaire Located at 102 Maple St. (Pavilion) adjacent to the Yard Sale supported by Area Seniors, Inc., Fridays Benzonia At Grow Benzie on M-115, Mondays Boyne City 207 North Lake St., Wednesdays & Saturdays Cadillac 117 W. Cass St., Tuesdays & Fridays East Jordan 80 Bridge St., Thursdays Elberta Penfold Park, Thursdays Elk Rapids By the Swan on Elk Lake, 305 US-31, Fridays Empire Located next to the post office, Saturdays Gaylord Pavilion on Court Street, Saturdays Grand Traverse Commons Between Cottageview & Red Drives, Mondays Glen Arbor Located behind the Township Hall, Tuesdays Harbor Springs W. Main Street, Wednesdays & Saturdays Interlochen 2112 M-137, Sundays Kalkaska 384 S. Cedar Street, Tuesdays; Cherry Street Market, open every day Leland Located in the Bluebird Restaurant parking lot, Thursdays Ludington 153-109 N. James Street, Fridays Mancelona Big Buck Pole, Thursdays

photo by Dave Weidner

Northport Located across from the marina, Fridays Suttons Bay Located on St. Joseph Street, at the north end of the village, Saturdays Traverse City Sara Hardy lot, located off Grandview Parkway, Wednesdays & Saturdays NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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6/7/22 7:05 PM

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6/10/22 8:57 AM

travel

A DOUBLE SHOW by HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER

Insider tips on the best destination fireworks for the Fourth.

ack your cooler and beach blanket—don’t forget sparklers!—and make your Fourth of July weekend an all-day celebration at these Up North towns with family-friendly activities and spectacular fireworks. We’re talking double-the-fun fireworks, too—these neighboring locales give you front-row seats to not one but two Independence Day shows lighting up the night sky. MACKINAC ISLAND + MACKINAW CITY

Both Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City celebrate America’s birthday with fireworks on the Fourth. (Fun fact: Mackinaw City also puts on fireworks displays over Lake Huron on Tuesday and Friday nights all summer long.)

photo by Taylor Brown

During the Day: Mackinac Island’s celebration includes the annual W. T. Rabe Stone Skipping Contest that draws professionals to test their skills on Lake Huron. Over at historic Fort Mackinac—decked out with banners, flags and bunting for the occasion—take part in an 1880s Independence Day with 38-gun salutes honoring the states of the period, performances of patriotic music and Victorian children’s games. Grand Hotel also hosts numerous events, including a BBQ, children’s carnival, American picnic and more, all a part of its “Old Fashioned Mackinac Fourth of July” lodging package July 2 to 5. grandhotel.com; mackinacparks.com; mackinawcity.com Where to View: Stake your spot on the west side of Mackinac Island for the best views of the stunning firework displays (Windermere Point and the public school yard are both good options). In Mackinaw City, spread out your blanket at Alexander Henry Park, located next to historic

Colonial Michilimackinac and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse (tour the lighthouse tower during the day). This park offers amazing views of the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island and more than 1,700 feet of accessible lakefront walkway. PETOSKEY + HARBOR SPRINGS

It’s a weekend of fireworks over Little Traverse Bay, starting with a glittering display from the Village at Bay Harbor near Petoskey on July 3. Then on Monday, July 4, fireworks launch again over the bay from both Harbor Springs and Petoskey. During the Day: Start your day with the Paul Revere 5K & 10-Mile Run in Harbor Springs. Then head over to Art in the Park, featuring fine artwork in an array of mediums, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Zorn Park. Street vendors and a parade down Main Street are also a part of the day’s festivities. At the Village at Bay Harbor, peruse boutiques and eateries before the big show. bayharbor.com; harborspringschamber.com; petoskeyfourth.org Where to View: You can set up your chairs early to reserve a spot at the Village at Bay Harbor (make sure you do it sooner rather than later) to watch the July 3 fireworks. In Harbor Springs, catch the show at Zorn Park Beach or set up your chairs at Zoll Street Beach. Bayfront Park in Petoskey is another ideal viewing area (stop by the Little Traverse Historical Society Ice Cream Social beforehand, from 7 to 9 p.m.). Heather Johnson Durocher writes from Traverse City, where she lives with her husband Joe and their three kids. She is the founder of the travel and active lifestyle site MichiganRunnerGirl.com and also hosts a weekly podcast. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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6/7/22 7:11 PM

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up in michigan

The author's Dad, enjoying a walk down memory lane.

A NICE DAY FOR A DRIVE by CAROL VOTAW

Reliving sweet summer memories at Crystal Downs.

Designed by Alister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell, Golf Digest ranks Crystal Downs the 14th best golf course in the U.S., and Golfweek ranks it the best private course in Michigan. Arguably the greatest golf course designer of all time, MacKenzie also designed Augusta National, Cypress Point and the Royal Melbourne. The views at Crystal Downs are spectacular, even on cloudy days. I park the car and we climb up to the restaurant. We make our way carefully, although we do take a daunting shortcut for a 91-year-old. It’s a bit steep, but I take Dad’s arm and together we climb. We make it to a long stone stairway with a wrought-iron railing that sweeps elegantly to the restaurant perched atop the hill. Like a trooper, Dad climbs to the top. We walk around the patio and admire the gardens and striking views. Five years earlier, I NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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photo courtesy of Carol Votaw

he deck is wet from last night’s rain. It’s gray and cool. What to do on a summer day when the weather didn’t get the message that you’re on vacation? Rather than let the day slip away, I come up with a way to pass a few cloudy hours. My 91-year-old dad is just finishing breakfast. He’s immersed in an article when I interrupt his reverie. “Hey Dad, I’m going to Frankfort to pick up some smoked fish, want to come?” “No, I think I’d rather stay home and read.” Hmm … I try again: “Why don’t you come just to keep me company?” “When are you leaving?” “Fifteen minutes.” “Fifteen, huh?” “What else are you going to do on a cool, cloudy day?” That did it. “You know, Carol, I think I will join you.” Yes! The lake is churning out waves full of attitude. Clouds are slung low and heavy across the sky. I doubt Eeyore could have ordered a gloomier day than the looks of this one. Yet, soon we are cruising along the north shore of Crystal Lake listening to a new CD I picked up in Empire by a kid who just graduated from Hillsdale College. The bluesy folk music matches today’s moody clouds perfectly. As we round the west shore, I see the gate to Crystal Downs and suggest we take the scenic drive to the clubhouse that overlooks Crystal Lake to the east and Lake Michigan to the west. Summer homes nestle in the high hills above this remarkable Scottish links course that steals me back to another time. We drive through a tunnel of trees that winds higher and higher until it opens up to a vast backdrop of rolling land speckled with sand traps and tall, heather roughs.

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watched the Chicago to Mackinac Race from this same vantage point. Four yachts sailed past, their spinnakers tightly trimmed, as a brisk breeze propelled them across the horizon. The restaurant isn’t open, and even if it were, you’d have to be a member to dine. But we didn’t come for the food, we came to see an old friend—a place where the land rolls in green waves dotted with sandy islands tucked between two stunning, glacially carved lakes; a place where time seems to stand still. Overlooking this familiar course, time is unbound and the years tumble away. Looking at Dad, I see the joy of youthful memories in his smile. Tiny lines, earned by a lifetime of living, radiate from the corners of his eyes, making his smile unabashedly genuine. A cool breeze hints at autumn days just around the corner. On the way back down, I see a sundial that says, “I count only sunny hours.” I pause wistfully and doubt the wisdom of these words. Today’s as cloudy as they come, a day the Scots would call dreich—devoid of sunshine! Yet, Dad and I are thankful to be here overlooking this beautiful course that kindles fond memories on even the dreariest of days. And, I’m secretly charmed to discover that Crystal Downs first opened for play the summer my Dad was born, 1929. Before we leave, we poke our heads in the golf shop. Dad reminisces about playing the course years ago as I admire the Crystal Downs crest etched on fine glass pilsners and stout brandy snifters. Soon we’re on our way, driving the narrow road that rises and falls with the bluffs. We pass carriage houses quaint as cottages, and I find it hard to believe they were originally built for horses. Before long, Dad and I emerge from the wooded drive that embraces this timeless golf course. We turn onto Homestead Road and I see a twinkle in Dad’s eye. “I’m glad we did this Carol. I’ve always loved that course.” Me too, Dad… me, too… Carol Votaw is a children’s book author, freelance writer and piano teacher. Since she was a little girl she’s spent summers at Crystal Lake and, even on a cloudy day, it’s her favorite place to be.

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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6/7/22 7:28 PM

COPPER COU N T RY IS CALLING

A newly imagined crop of cozy lodges, historic hotels and snug cabins on the Keweenaw is the perfect reason to head north. Way north.

by Stacey Brugeman / photos by Aaron Peterson

WHEN YOU PULL INTO CALUMET,

located on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, the history—and onetime wealth—is striking. The massive sandstone buildings with arched windows and intricate details are a visual reminder of a long-ago era of serious prosperity. While this northernmost stretch of Michigan not far from the 47th parallel was once a bustling hub of mining commerce, that all dried up in the years following the Great Depression. “Copper Country,” as the region is known today, has been relatively sleepy in the century since. Over the decades, the Keweenaw has become known for its recreation—a place to mountain bike 1.1-billion-year-old basalt cliffs, chase waterfalls, enjoy birding at Estivant Pines, take in a Lake Superior sunset from Great Sand Bay, hop the ferry to Isle Royale National Park, and otherwise get off the grid in a location where it’s easier to find a Yooperlite than a cell signal. In the last few years, however, the energy in the Keweenaw is shifting. The recent addition of five refreshed lodging options signals a new dawn for Keweenaw tourism—one that is steeped in history, holds deep respect for the region’s sheer beauty and will make you want to head north stat. Whether you’re an empty nester visiting your grown kiddo at Michigan Tech, an avid cyclist looking to careen down a world-class mountain-biking center, a family craving summer vacation memories, a couple wanting to unplug, or even a foodie who knows there’s far more to the U.P. than pasties alone, here are five noteworthy hotspots to rest your head. 30

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THE EMPTY NESTER The Vault Hotel HOUGHTON

Parents with students at Michigan Tech already know Houghton’s a sweet place to stay awhile. But even if your kids have flown elsewhere, this charming city on the Portage Canal makes a great getaway for folks looking to escape and reconnect. Make your home base The Vault Hotel on Houghton’s main drag, Shelden Avenue. The stately sandstone building was originally built as Houghton National Bank in 1887, during the heyday of Copper Country’s mining boom, and remained a bank for more than a century until reopening as a boutique hotel in 2019. Following an extensive renovation, the 17room property is at once historic and modern. The lobby is home to vintage safety deposit boxes and the original teller windows that once witnessed the transactions of the copper boom’s wealthiest players. Rooms have been outfitted with memory foam beds, soaking tubs, full wet bars (each with a coffee press), geometric wallpaper and lush jewel-toned window treatments. Those who really want to steep themselves in the region’s bygone era of glitz and glamour should book the first-floor “Vault Room,” which houses the bank’s massive 130-year-old vault, now a sitting room. Be sure to make time for a cocktail in the property’s subterranean speakeasy. The space is open only to hotel guests and features a rescued miningera piano and a bar topped in copper pennies. The Vault Hotel, 600 Shelden Ave., Houghton; thevaulthotel.com; peak-season rooms from $289.

O U T A N D A B O U T: Grab lunch at Milly’s

After a day spent viewing Houghton by paddleboard (above), sidle up to the penny-topped bar at The Vault Hotel’s guests-only speakeasy (middle) before retreating to one of 17 luxurious rooms, one of which features an original bank vault (top), now a sitting space.

(millyshancock.com), which is just across the Portage Canal in Hancock and offers Detroitstyle pizza with gorgeous, inventive flavor combinations. Think: burrata cheese, housemade kale pesto and smoked salmon from Native-owned and nationally celebrated Peterson’s Fish Market (petersonfish.com). Work off lunch by heading to Portage Paddle Sports (portagepaddlesports.com) to rent paddleboards, which are the perfect way to see Houghton from the water. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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THE FOODIE Fitzgerald’s Hotel EAGLE RIVER

For years, foodies have flocked to Fitzgerald’s Hotel & Restaurant in the sleepy hamlet of Eagle River (population 112) for some of the best site-smoked barbecue, whiskey cocktails and sunsets in Northern Michigan. But now this dining destination boasts six fully remodeled, 520-square-foot rooms. Owner Mike LaMotte, who took over the family motel from his parents in 2007, spent Covid time wisely, using lockdown as an opportunity to convert the 12 original 1950s motel rooms into modern, well-appointed suites. Leather couches from Article, Leesa beds, West Elm side tables and “a metric ton of pillows,” as LaMotte jokes, are now available a stone’s throw—literally—from Lake Superior. Check in to your room, wander up and down Eagle River beach while you wait for your table at “the Fitz,” as it’s known, and order as much whiskey as you want knowing that a Pendleton blanket and morning room service are just a few footsteps away. Fitzgerald’s Hotel & Restaurant, 5033 Front St., Eagle River; fitzgeralds-mi.com; peak-season rooms from $270.

Don’t miss Keweenaw Coffee Works (below) in historic Calumet (above right) before checking in at “The Fitz” (top), one of the best restaurants in the Upper Peninsula and now also home to 12 stunning suites overlooking the rugged expanse of Lake Superior.

O U T A N D A B O U T: If your long drive to Michigan’s north-

ernmost peninsula calls for a pick-me-up before checking into your room, stop just shy of Eagle River in Calumet for a cold-brew coffee at Keweenaw Coffee Works (keweenawcoffeeworks.com). Wander the brick streets and take in St. Anne’s church, the Calumet Theatre, the historic Calumet Village Fire Station and other turn-of-the-last-century structures that are a stunning reminder of the region’s prosperous mining era. After an indulgent night at the Fitz, burn off those calories with any of the Keweenaw’s monster hikes. One of our favorites is the Grinnell Memorial Nature Sanctuary at Bare Bluff (pictured above), which is located off Smith Fisheries Road near Lac La Belle. Be sure to wear good footwear—there is a terrific scramble on the far side. 32

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O U T A N D A B O U T: Start at least one day watching the

sunrise from the Point Isabelle stretch of Bete Grise Preserve (keweenawlandtrust.org)—a protected area of dune swell wetlands and Lake Superior shoreline that is one of the most undiscovered parts of the county. Couples should also rent a tandem kayak from Keweenaw Adventure Company (keweenawadventure.com), a Copper Harbor outfit that offers a variety of guided paddles. For experienced kayakers, we suggest paddling along the southern edge of Keweenaw Point past sea caves and arches to Montreal Falls, a remote waterfall that is best viewed from the water. Back in Copper Harbor hit The Genny—a vintage general store that carries bottlings from Gitchee Gummee Ciderworks (gitchegumeeciderworks.com). The Hancock cider house is using foraged, wild apples to craft dry cider, perfect for pairing with a Lake Superior sunset under those twinkle lights.

T H E L OV E B I R D S Fresh Coast Cabins EAGLE HARBOR

Lynn and Jason Makela met while students at Michigan Tech. After time in Seattle and Corvallis, Oregon, they are back in their old stomping grounds as husband and wife. The Copper Country sweethearts (pictured above) are rescuing Lakeshore Drive’s old Eagle River Lodge, a collection of nine cottages on a western-facing stretch of Lake Superior, and bringing them back to life as Fresh Coast Cabins—the most design-savvy rental cabins we’ve seen in Michigan. While each cabin has its own distinct personality, they are all inspired by Jason’s Scandinavian roots. “We wanted everything to feel like you walked into someone’s living room instead of a hotel,” says Lynn of the property’s carefully curated but still woodsy style. We love Cabin 9 (pictured at top) for couples. This unit has everything you need for a romantic weekend away—a cozy queen-sized bed that’s covered in a Sunday Citizen duvet and throw from the Lake Superior Woolen Company, a rustic-chic kitchen, a freestanding midcentury modern fireplace, and a private patio with twinkle lights and frontrow views of Lake Superior’s basalt coves. Fresh Coast Cabins, 13051 M-26, Eagle Harbor; freshcoastcabins.com; peak-season cabins from $145.

Montreal Falls (above) is one of the most remote waterfalls in Copper Country and is especially beautiful from the water. Rent a tandem kayak and commit a day to this 15-mile out-and-back paddle.

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T H E A DV E N T U R E R Camper Cabins at Trails End Campground COPPER HARBOR

While much of Northern Michigan is home to fertile farmland, the Keweenaw is beloved by mountain bikers for its steep volcanic cliffs and more than 100 miles of single track, especially the trails at the top of Brockway Mountain Drive. Trails End Campground, located at the foot of this famed cycling route, is a great spot for bikers to pitch their tents … or not. Tents are one piece of gear you can now leave behind thanks to seven new glamping cabins that were recently built onsite, with an additional seven in the works. The insulated cabins were built using Keweenaw cedar and remain primitive, with no plumbing or running water, but each are outfitted with BYO-linen bunks, an indoor dining table and chairs, solar-powered charging stations, a wood stove with as many logs as you want to burn through and plenty of hooks to hang all the gear you crammed into your car. Outside, guests will find a covered porch with chairs, picnic table and fire pit—the perfect place to swap stories from a day on the trails. Trails End Campground, 14203 M-26, Copper Harbor; campcopperharbor.com; 6-person camper cabins from $100.

O U T A N D A B O U T: As you cross over the Portage Lake

Lift Bridge in Hancock to finish your journey north toward Trails End, stock up on groceries and other campsite supplies at the Keweenaw Coop (keweenaw.coop), one of the best cooperative grocers in Northern Michigan. After a day careening down Brockway Mountain’s intermediate Flow Trail or experts-only The Edge, swap your padded shorts for a pair of pants and hit reset on the rocks at Horseshoe Harbor before heading to Harbor Haus (harborhaus.com), a German-themed institution. Skip the formal dining room and ask for a seat at the bar, where you can watch kayakers paddle out to Porters Island for sunset while you sip from an impressive list of dunkels and doppelbocks. You’ve earned it. The modern, thoughtfully constructed camper cabins (top left) at Trails End Campground are located less than a halfmile from Brockway Mountain Drive (at left), a world-class destination for avid mountain bikers who journey north for the region’s steep basalt cliffs.

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T H E FA M I LY Keweenaw Mountain Lodge COPPER HARBOR

Families have been making the pilgrimage to Keweenaw Mountain Lodge since the 1930s, when this now-institution was built as part of FDR’s Works Progress Administration (WPA). In many ways the property—which is today listed on the national register of historic places—hasn’t changed since. The main lodge (pictured at right) remains one of the most beautiful log cabins we know, and the destination, long beloved by golfers, should stay on any regional bucket list for nine holes of golf. The historically protected cabins are stuck in time—with, for now, the same fixtures and finishes you remember from when you were a kid. That said, the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge changed hands in 2018, when private owners purchased it at auction from the county. “The mission was really noble, with FDR’s New Deal and the WPA,” says owner John Mueller, who compares the vibe to that of the national parks, like “a mini scale of a Yellowstone or Yosemite lodge, or Timberline out in Oregon,” he says. Inspired by the property’s history and with an eye on its future, Mueller has made several improvements in the years since. Among them, there is now a trail system on “the back nine,” a section of the golf course that was never finished. The trails (which double as Nordic terrain in the winter) fill a longstanding void for beginner mountain bikers and kids. Just this spring, Mueller acquired additional acreage, bringing the property’s total size up to 560 acres with some 15 miles of trails. Couple this with refreshed common spaces in the main lodge and the property’s commitment to becoming an International Dark Sky Park for stargazing, and it might be high time to introduce the kids to the type of cabin your parents took you to. Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, 14252 US-41, Copper Harbor; keweenawmountainlodge.com; cabins from $250.

O U T A N D A B O U T: While it’s tempting to remain onsite,

families should carve out at least one day to explore. Start by taking your little people to Lake Linden for Swedish pancakes at Lindell’s (906.296.8083), an old soda fountain. Stop by the famed Jampot (poorrockabbey.com) on your way back north and pick up some jars of thimbleberry jam made by Byzantine Catholic monks at Poorrock Abbey. Save time to wander the kid-friendly trails throughout the monastery. While you are there, don’t miss Jacob’s Falls. Its roadside location makes it one of the easiest Keweenaw waterfalls to spot.

Stacey Brugeman is a Leelanau County-based food and travel writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Saveur, Eater and Denver’s 5280, where she served as Restaurant Critic. Follow her on Instagram @staceybrugeman. Aaron Peterson is a photographer and filmmaker based in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. See more at aaronpeterson.studio

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

This northernmost stretch of Michigan is truly remote, with spotty WiFi and—in many places—nonexistent cell phone signal. We recommend packing a printed copy of this story in your duffel and mapping the selections you wish to visit in advance.

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A DELIGHTFUL PAIRING LEELANAU FOODIES MELANIE AND TIM GRIFFITH, AKA MEL & FELL, LOVE SHOWCASING LOCAL BOUNTY IN THEIR SEASONAL, GLOBALLY INSPIRED RECIPES, JUST RIGHT FOR THE PERFECT PICNIC.

BY CARLY SIMPSON PHOTOS BY TIM HUSSEY / STYLING BY SARAH PESCHEL

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elanie Griffith has been visiting Empire forever— or as her mom likes to joke, since before she was born. Her family purchased a cabin in 1969, and 50 years later they still go straight to the beach as soon as they arrive to say hello to the lake. Tim’s introduction to Northern Michigan came later in life, after meeting Melanie. In 2003, they were both working at Beverly Hills Grill in Detroit, Mel as a server and then a manager, and Tim as pantry chef and later sous chef. Shortly after being introduced, they began dating and, not long after, they were saying “I do” at Sleeping Bear Dunes. While still working in Detroit, the duo would head north every chance they got, packing the car after a shift and tooling around Leelanau County, the “Land of Delight,” on their days off: smoked chubs from Fishtown, farmstand pitstops for dinner ingredients, evenings at the beach. In 2010 they were ready to be here full time, Tim taking a chef job at amical and Melanie working front-of-house at Trattoria Stella, two of Traverse City’s most respected restaurants. In 2018, they

made another leap, starting their own business Mel&Fell (melandfell.com), offering catering for small events and a weekly meal delivery service. Many of Tim’s recipes are inspired by global flavors and how to best pair them with local ingredients—think za’atar and grape tomatoes or a tahini sauce with grilled chicken. “I really enjoy making global flavors more approachable on a local level,” he says. Most of their produce is sourced from Lakeview Hill Farm in Traverse City, Cedar’s Second Spring Farm and Lost Lake Farm in Honor. In the summer, Mel and her fella (the couple earned the nickname Mel&Fell during their days together at Beverly Hills Grill) love cooking for visiting friends and family. These are some of their favorite dishes for the perfect picnic spread; elevated but easy, and each bite a delight. Opposite: For Tim and Melanie Griffith, cooking and community go hand in hand. “That’s what we love the most about living up here,” Tim says. “The community.”; Special thanks to the French Valley Vineyard team for hosting us at their centennial barn in Cedar. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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CHERRY LEMON BALM SODA Servings: 4-6 Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes (2 hours inactive) Ingredients: 2 cups sugar 6 cups water 12 ounces frozen tart cherries 15 leaves basil 10 leaves lemon balm* Juice from 2 lemons Club soda for serving Combine sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; let boil for 1 minute. Turn off and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Add cherries and herbs (tie basil and lemon balm together so you can remove them easily later). Put in the fridge to cool completely, 1-2 hours. Serve over ice and top with club coda. Note: Mel and Tim grow lemon balm in their garden. If you can’t locate it, substitute lemongrass, or mint would be equally delicious.

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GRAPE TOMATO & MILLET SALAD Servings: 6 Time: 3 hours (2 hours inactive)

PRESERVED LEMON AND ZA’ATAR DRESSING

Ingredients: 1 cup millet, rinsed before cooking 6 cups water 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced 2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in half 1 small red onion, diced small 2 cups packed baby spinach

Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 garlic cloves, chopped fine 2 Tablespoons preserved lemons, chopped (If you don’t have preserved lemon, substitute with 2 Tablespoons lemon zest and 1 teaspoon salt) 2 Tablespoons za’atar seasoning 1 cup vegetable oil

For salad: Combine millet and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then simmer for 20-25 minutes. Do not cover. Rinse with water until cool. Then mix all vegetables with millet. Toss the millet and vegetables with the dressing. Chill in the fridge for at least two hours for flavors to develop. For dressing: Combine vinegar, garlic, preserved lemons and za’atar seasoning in a food processor or blend with a hand blender. Slowly pour in oil while blending to emulsify until smooth.

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GRILLED SKEWERED CHICKEN TENDERS & TAHINI SAUCE Servings: 6-8 Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes (4 hours marinade time, or overnight) Ingredients: 3 pounds chicken tenders Bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 10-30 minutes, so they won’t burn SPICE RUB Ingredients: 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 Tablespoon salt 1 Tablespoon sugar 1 Tablespoon turmeric 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon coriander 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper 1⁄2 cup olive oil Juice of 1 lemon Dash of hot sauce, to taste TAHINI SAUCE Ingredients: 3⁄4 cup tahini paste 2 cloves of garlic, chopped fine 1⁄3 cup lemon juice 1⁄3 cup yogurt Salt and pepper to taste Skewer the chicken tender pieces. Whisk together dry ingredients, add oil, lemon juice and hot sauce, and rub mixture on chicken. Let marinate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight, in the refrigerator. Preheat your grill to medium high, 350 F. Remove excess marinade from chicken. Grill chicken until 160 F on a thermometer, or until cooked through. Juices will run clear. While the chicken cooks, mix ingredients for tahini sauce. Serve sauce on the side.

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GRILLED ZUCCHINI & CHARRED RED ONION WRAP Servings: 4 wraps Time: 20-30 minutes, plus time to preheat grill Ingredients: 1 medium zucchini, cut in half, then sliced lengthwise 1 medium yellow squash, cut in half, then sliced lengthwise 1 small red onion, cut in thick round slices 6 ounces feta cheese, 2-3 Tablespoons per sandwich 5 ounces pea shoots 1⁄4 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 4 flour tortillas BASIL MAYO Ingredients: 3 pasteurized egg yolks 2 garlic cloves Juice from 2 lemons 1 cup vegetable oil 10 basil leaves Salt to taste Preheat grill to medium high, 350 F.

For sandwich: To grill the vegetables, brush with olive oil and salt and pepper. Start the onions first, cook 3-4 minutes before starting squash and zucchini. Grill until charred and tender. Build sandwiches, spread the mayo first, then feta, layer zucchini, squash and red onion. Finish with pea shoots, wrap up like a burrito and enjoy! For mayo: In a food processor, blend egg yolks, garlic and lemon juice. Slowly add the vegetable oil to emulsify. Add basil, puree until smooth, and salt to taste.

Carly Simpson is the associate editor of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine and editor of MyNorth’s popular email newsletter The Daily Splash. Subscribe at MyNorth.com/Newsletter. csimpson@mynorth.com Tim Hussey is the art director of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine. He is also a fine artist and photographer who enjoys shooting stories that speak to him. husseyart.com

Dessert please! Get Mel’s local berry summer trifle Earl Grey pound cake recipe at: link.mynorth.com/berrypoundcake NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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A 53-mile bike route around Lake Charlevoix yields the perfect loop for scenic beauty and small-town charm. BY GATELY WILLIAMS

In and Around the Lake

“Want to ride your bike around Lake Charlevoix?” This was one of the easiest questions I’ve answered lately. I love to prep and plan a route almost as much as I like exploring it and meeting up with new people and places on the way. With the advice of Chet Morris of Revolution Bike in Charlevoix, I decided to ride a recommended 53-mile loop around the hilly, scenic back roads of Lake Charlevoix. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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Day One My adventure started with prepping my bike and making sure all my camping gear would fit snugly on it. As for the route? I stopped in Revolution Bike shop to pump tires and go over my plan with Chet. The goal was to cover 53 miles in two days. Day one, I’d stop at Young State Park, so I had all day to cover 28 miles. With a recommendation for a little restaurant on the water, I set off in search of lunch. Heading south out of Charlevoix, I passed a big white barn behind a “Share the Road” sign and I knew I was going to enjoy this trip. Six quick miles later, I coasted downhill into Ironton. I felt no need to lock my bike as I slid into a two top on the dock for lunch at The Landing, where I demolished a lobster sandwich while watching the Ironton Ferry come and go a few times. After lunch, I hit the road and headed south on M-66. A couple of miles later, I came upon an old wooden barn, home to Otis Pottery, where I got to meet Andrew Otis, a second-generation potter running the family biz. After a pleasant chat, it was time to get some miles in, and I pedaled south around the bottom arm of the lake, passing

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I s aw my ne ig hb o r sipping coffee, with a classical guitar resting patiently on his lap

through East Jordan and back north to Advance. I turned right to make my last six miles to Young State Park, where I had a one-night tent camping reservation. I was pleasantly surprised to cruise into Boyne City—what a charming little town. Since it was early afternoon and I had plenty of time, I parked my bike outside Lake Charlevoix Coffee Company to have a look around before making my way toward the park. My final stretch into Young State Park was down a treelined, winding trail away from the road into the campground. I set up camp and found it easy to make friends—as I was taking a short walk to refill my water bottles, I met the Sisson family playing on their slackline. I watched the kids and parents take turns for a couple of minutes before they invited me to join the fun. Back at my camp, I saw my neighbor sipping coffee with a classical guitar resting patiently on his lap and headed over to see what he might play. I met Mark and his wife, who were spending an easy weekend camping out of their fifth wheel. He graciously played me a song and his wife handed me the latest issue of Traverse Magazine for my nighttime reading. As the sun began to dip, all the campers gathered on the bank of Lake Charlevoix to watch the sunset.

Opening spread: Riding south out of Charlevoix on M-66; Hilly Boyne City Road; a stop at Lake Michigan Shores Roadside Park along The Little Traverse Wheelway. This spread: Chet Morris of Revolution Bike Shop; The Landing Restaurant on Ferry Road; Gunther’s General Store now operates as an Airbnb; a gravelly Eveline Orchard Road; Andrew Otis of Otis Pottery. A sleepy rainy morning view of Lake Michigan from US-31; Mark and SueBeth Balash enjoy a quiet happy hour at Young State Park; Scott Jasper and his daughter Lydia take turns with friends on a slackline at Young State Park; Campers join together to watch the light fade over Lake Charlevoix. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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This spread: Arriving back in Charlevoix on Saturday morning; Michigan Beach Park; Horton Bay General Store; Looking west out the Round Lake Channel toward the Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse.

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Day Two The next morning, I only had to ride four miles to find coffee. I stumbled upon Horton Bay General Store, established 1876, which doubles as an inn. While there, I got caught up on the Hemingway history and lore of the area. After refueling, I followed the hilly farm roads north to Bay Shore, where I joined the Little Traverse Wheelway. This rail trail, which starts in Harbor Springs, parallels US-31 all the way back to Charlevoix. The final nine-plus miles were pleasant, with views of the lake and plenty of fellow cyclists. I coasted back into the town of Charlevoix on Saturday afternoon. The drawbridge was constantly working for passing boats and the farmers market was in full swing; the loop had brought me full circle on a perfect summer weekend in the most beautiful of places. My final stop? To visit Chet at Revolution and share the highlights of my trip. Gately Williams is originally from the Midwest but has called Charleston, South Carolina home for 15 years. He lives there with his wife and daughter. When he does not have a camera in his hands, he can be found on one of his bicycles. gately.format.com

INSIDER TIPS CHECK OUT: LITTLE TRAVERSE WHEELWAY, A 26-MILE RAIL TRAIL FROM HARBOR SPRINGS TO CHARLEVOIX. (NOTE: THE 1.25-MILE SECTION FROM EAST PARK IN BAY HARBOR TO MAGNUS PARK IN PETOSKEY IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.)

BITE: GET DINNER IN BOYNE CITY AT CAFE SANTÉ. THE PATIO HAS INCREDIBLE VIEWS OF LAKE CHARLEVOIX.

SCENIC SHORTCUT: TAKING THE IRONTON FERRY MAKES THIS SAME ROUTE JUST 33 MILES.

GEAR: THE ROADS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION, MAKING ANY BIKE POSSIBLE. (YOU’LL WANT GEARS FOR THE HILLS THOUGH.)

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The

BEE ATTITUDE After 130 years of promoting pollination and caring for their hives, the Hilbert family knows this to be true: Blessed are the beekeepers.

by ROSS BOISSONEAU photos by BRIAN D. SMITH

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It’s

a sweet dream of a business—most of the workers don’t get paid, yet the workplace is typically buzzing with activity. The new 10,400-square-foot warehouse in east Traverse City hums with machinery and is filled with the sweet scent of honey, which is being extracted from the honeycombs and processed for bottling and selling. The crisp, black labels on the jars simply read Hilbert’s Honey Co., stamped with a white H in the middle of a hexagon reminiscent of a cell in a honeycomb. It’s a far cry from its humble beginnings in 1887, but the company is flourishing, thanks to the passion for beekeeping and honey production that has survived and thrived across five generations. Larry and Geana Hilbert own Hilbert’s Honey Company in its latest iteration. They are the fourth generation of Hilberts to stand with the bees—their sons James and Keith represent the fifth. It’s a business fraught with risk and rich with reward, fighting against obstacles that would have been unthinkable in 1887, and succeeding thanks to savvy business strategies, profound dedication and a growing awareness that our most important pollinators are in a most precarious position.

The family business began more than 130 years ago, when Larry’s great-grandfather James Hilbert Sr., known as George, decided that hosting bees and their hives was the best way to encourage pollination on his fruit farms in Elmwood Township. And with that came honey. But honey wasn’t a full-time job back then, and he also owned the Hurry Back Saloon at what is now the site of Doug Murdick’s Fudge in downtown Traverse City. (A sign from the saloon now graces the Music House Museum in Williamsburg.) By the time of the Great Depression, the Hilbert farm boasted 30 to 40 workers. Honey was just one of the components, as the farm was also home for operations in fruit, vegetables and dairy products. In the midst of World War II, Larry says his family would seek butter on the black market and combine it with honey. It became a favorite, both for its taste and the fact that the honey made the product shelf-stable enough that a lack of refrigeration wasn’t problematic. “It was a huge treat,” Larry explains. It wasn’t all sunshine and sweetness, though. By the time Larry’s father, Arnold “Bud” Hilbert, returned from the war, Larry’s grandfather, James Jr. (a.k.a. Eldridge), had basically abandoned the bees and the honey side of the business. So, Larry’s dad started anew with 10 hives, this time in Traverse City. Fast forward a few years to the next generation; Larry and Geana began going out, and she became smitten—and not just with Larry. “We started dating and she fell in love with it,” Larry says, meaning the family business. Which wasn’t really what he was hoping for. “I was allergic to bees as a kid. I had no intention of being in the bee business,” he says. Happily, it turned out Geana had fallen in love with him as much as the business, and the two were married. While Larry worked at Chef Pierre and helped out with the family business, Geana opted for honey full time. “I had no job,” she says. “I started working for his dad and I loved it. But Larry was worried about being allergic.” Then their prayers were answered. Larry got stung and had a normal reaction. His allergy had disappeared. Even better, Larry’s father had decided he’d had enough, and he wanted out. Larry and Geana—make that Geana and Larry—stepped up to take the helm. “There was no doubt in her mind,” Larry says. She was ready for the challenge. 50

And it is a challenge, on many levels. Start with the extraction process. The bees have to be safely removed from the honey boxes. Workers (the human ones) evacuate them using a modified blower or a fume board, which produces a gas that hurts the bees’ eyes but is actually harmless. The boxes are then loaded onto a truck and driven to the extraction and processing facility, which becomes, well, a hive of activity. The dozen or so workers open the wax combs and “decap” them by using a machine with a chain, similar to a chainsaw. While there are systems that require fewer people but more of an investment, the machine the Hilberts use is a huge advancement from how Larry’s forebears did it. “Back in the day, they’d scrape them (by hand). It was a lot of physical work,” he explains. The process typically takes place over four or five weeks, from the end of July through August. Larry says the weather

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conditions affect exactly when harvesting takes place. “It’s after the honey flow,” he adds—which is not, as one might think, when honey is actually flowing. It is the time when bees have the best opportunity to collect nectar, i.e., when there are abundant sources of nectar and the weather is suitable for bees to forage. As summer turns to fall, the opportunities for pollination and honey-making decrease. “In fall it gets colder, there’s less sun, the hive is slowing down, the queens are laying fewer eggs,” Larry says. The warehouse is mostly empty of both people and bees as they await the next harvest season. When things get quiet here, that just means it’s time to head to sunnier climes. The Hilberts load up for the big move south, putting four hives on a pallet, then stacking the pallets up to four high on semi trucks. The bees head to Florida, where they get back to the business of pollinating and the queens start laying eggs again. The Hilberts themselves soon follow. A couple of months later, they’re off again: Come the end of January, they ship most of their bees to California to pollinate almonds, leaving the weaker colonies in Florida to build strength and help pollinate watermelons. In the spring the Hilberts split all the hives, taking a portion of an established colony and transferring it to a separate hive, thereby creating two colonies. The end goal is to have two colonies, each with sufficient worker bee populations, stores and their own queen, thus making more honey. Their work in the sunshiny states done— “There’s not as much going on there in summer,” Larry says—the bees return to Michigan after the danger of snow and freezing is past. And the cycle begins again.

Larry credits Geana’s enthusiasm for honey as a major reason for the company’s continued success. “She’s been a driving force,” he says. Today, Hilbert’s Honey has grown to become a major player in the industry, with more than 7,000 beehives. As evidence, look no farther than the 10,400-square-foot building that opened in 2019 to house the extraction and production sides of the liquid gold business. While it’s always been successful on the wholesale side, it’s only within the last couple of years that Hilbert’s has entered the retail world, including both branding their own honey in stores and embracing e-commerce.

The passion for beekeeping and honey production has survived and thrived across five generations. Above: The business dates back to the late 19th century, when current owner Larry Hilbert’s great-grandfather started collecting honey from the bees he brought in to pollinate his crops in Leelanau County. Two generations later, Larry’s father restarted what became the family business, this time in Traverse City.Top right: Producing honey is labor-intensive for the humans, too, who unpack honey boxes and decap wax combs to extract the honey, which eventually makes its way into jars and containers. Opposite: Thanks to the Hilberts’ dedication and passion for beekeeping, their company remains a successful multigenerational, family-run business.

So, what’s the big deal about their honey anyway? Isn’t honey just, you know, honey? Not necessarily. As bees feed on different plant blossoms, it gives the honey decidedly different flavors. And since the Hilberts move their hives around the country, they are able to produce honey from a variety of plant species. For example, their Brazilian pepperhoney is the result of having their hives in Florida where their bees feed on pollen from Brazilian pepper trees. It offers a taste unlike any other. “It’s a very robust honey. It’s different from anything in Michigan,” Larry says. “In Charlevoix, which is as far north as we go, it (the NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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The Hilberts collaborate with some 175 landowners to put beehives on their property—from farmers and gardeners to those who simply want their plants to thrive. The landowners reap the benefits of the busy pollinators.

bees’ pollen source) is basswood,” adds General Manager Jason Tamm. “It’s a light honey.” While the honey they sell is a tasty treat, that’s not always the case. For example, Larry says the honey produced from the almond blossoms is very bitter. That’s one instance where the pollination process, rather than the honey, is the desired end result. Larry says the honey produced when the bees feed on tea trees in Florida is sweet, but not something they would sell at retail. “It’s a bakerygrade honey,” he explains. Although they can’t keep track of every bee, they know where the hives are, as some 175 landowners let the Hilberts put the bees on their property. Larry says that includes a number of the same people every year, but things change over time. People die, or the property sells, and new owners maybe aren’t sure they want the bees nearby. “We’re always looking for new locations,” Larry says. The Hilberts see it as a win/win relationship for both landowners and themselves. Whether they place the hives with farmers, gardeners or simply those who want their plants to thrive, the landowners reap the benefits of the busy pollinators. 52

Plus, they get a case of honey for their trouble. The bees will travel up to a mile from their hive, so the Hilberts do their best to make sure they’re not placing their hives near other beekeepers’ hives. That’s easier in some places than others—for example, Larry points to South Dakota, where beekeepers have to register their operation as well as where they are placing their hives. It’s not a business without risk. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornados or forest fires can decimate the hives. Drought, late-season frosts or the like can do the same. “We deal with weather all the time,” Larry says. This past year, temperatures were cooler than the norm, setting back production. “We were about two weeks behind,” Jason Tamm says. The Hilberts also face other challenges, including the loss of habitat, diseases, pollution and pesticides, as well as climate change. They know it’s important to mitigate the risk. As Larry says: “Don’t put all your bees in one basket.” While murder hornets and pesticides have been in the news as hazards for bees, Larry says those aren’t as much of a worry for them at this time as the threat of a larger predator. “In Northern Michigan, the biggest [problem] is black bears,” he

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explains. “They were never a problem for my dad in 40 years, but there are a lot more bears than there used to be. I lose $10,000 to $20,000 (annually) to bear attacks.” Other concerns are growing as well. Most fruit growers are careful not to spray during times when the bees are pollinating, but the growers’ neighbors may not be so careful. “We do get hit pretty hard by chemicals, and lose a certain percent,” Larry says. “When we move north to south, we also lose some during the trip.” Mites, disease and colony collapse disorder also impact the industry, as well. “The murder hornets are out on the West Coast. That’s scary for everybody,” Larry says. “The nature of the business has changed dramatically.” In his grandfather’s time, wax moths, which could take over a hive, were the biggest and just about the only problem. “Now there are two different mites, as well as beetles, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides,” Larry says. “Neonicotinoids, a relatively new class of insecticide, don’t affect adult bees, but when the adults feed the pollen to baby bees it has a very negative effect on juveniles.” The Hilberts use nutritional supplements for the bees to help mitigate the impact of potential threats. Still, they say they are always picking up dead hives. Each generation of Hilberts has been about innovation. Beyond the honey butter, Geana says Larry’s grandfather was one of the first to market comb honey. Larry’s father was among the first to put bees on a pallet. And as tastes and needs change, the product line continues to evolve. “Honeycomb has become more popular, especially for charcuterie boards,” Jason notes. It’s a challenging way of life. Given the travel, hard work, dealing with landowners and farmers … not everyone would embrace it. “It’s a different kind of lifestyle,” Geana agrees.

While technology advancements have mitigated some of the backbreaking labor, it’s still a physical endeavor: placing the nearly 200 hives, collecting the honey, putting the frames on the truck and unloading them once they get to the production facility. Fun fact: A gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds, while a gallon of honey comes in at 12 pounds. “It’s a young man’s deal,” Larry acknowledges. He’s seen it firsthand. “Once Dad got to about 52 or 53, he just started slowing me down. He was more in the way.” So rather than becoming a burden as they get older, Larry and Geana are starting to let the next generation take their turn. “We still go out from time to time. We’ve become more like consultants.” The company boasts tens of thousands of workers, but far fewer if you’re just counting the two-legged variety. “During harvest season, there are 13 to help harvest quickly,” Geana says. There are five beekeepers full-time in the field, with additional help as needed. Overall, there are between 12 and 25 employees, depending on the time of year. Of course, this is still a family business. So, when there’s a big push, even Larry and Geana’s grandchildren help out.

WHERE TO BUY A part of the popular Taste the Local Difference program, Hilbert’s Honey is available at stores across the region, such as Anderson’s IGA, Bunting’s and Leland Mercantile in Leelanau County, Oleson’s Food Stores, Peninsula Market on Old Mission, Oryana and Harbor Springs IGA. And if you’re not near any of those, you can always shop online.

hilbertshoneyco.com “We work with the grandchildren who are ageappropriate,” Geana says. “They earn a lot of money and learn about bees. Some are more interested than others.” Could there be a sixth generation of Hilberts? It’s a little early to say for sure, but it’s a possibility. Likely a family legacy James Hilbert Sr. never imagined in his wildest dreams when he first brought bees to his farm. A sweet thought indeed. Ross Boissoneau has covered the business, culture and lifestyle scenes in the region for more than 30 years. He’s written for numerous local and national publications, print and online, including Something Else! Reviews, the Ticker and Local Spins. Brian D. Smith is a photographer whose work focuses on storytelling. He is influenced by the qualities of his subjects and summers spent at his grandfather’s cottage in Bear Lake, Michigan. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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K x

THE KNOCK OUT MEET THE ALL-FEMALE SAILING CREW TAKING THE RACE SCENE BY STORM. By EMILY HOPCIAN

Photos by BETH PRICE

On a wednesday evening in early June, there’s a slight buzz in the air at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club. Dinghies hum their way through the water out to vacant vessels, and as the various crews (around 40, in total) gather on their sailboats and get ready to race, they breathe life into the warm summer air. From a dinghy named Chase Her, chit-chat and laughter float on the breeze as a group of women motors out to their sailboat, a J/92 with a sleek, navy blue exterior and a white deck. One by one, the women climb aboard the boat and their chatter swiftly slides into a finely choreographed symphony of motions and sounds. Together, the women remove the mainsail from its cover. The wind tousles the sail as it is unfurled and hoisted up the mast toward the slightly cloudy sky. The winches click, click, click as the crew wraps and pulls ropes around them, finding just the right amount of tension with the breeze. Electronic GPS and wind instruments are turned on, meeting the action of the evening with a series of beeps. As the women continue with race preparations, Libby Tomlinson, the crew’s captain, navigates the sailboat through the yacht club mooring field and out toward the race course in Grand Traverse Bay. Near the starting area, the boat weaves in and out of a fleet of white sailboats, which are mostly crewed by men. Knockout, the J/92 these women are sailing, is the only sailboat crewed completely by women.

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The crew formed in 2013 and has evolved over the years, though there’s always been a mix of skill levels, ages and more. Tomlinson has never actively recruited members, yet every season, without fail, a mix of veterans and rookies find their way to Knockout. These women share a desire to learn, grow in different disciplines and simply be in community with other women on the water. Over the past nine years, Tomlinson and the seasoned members of the crew have cultivated a space that is welcoming and supportive. Though make no mistake—every week, these women come to compete. Knockout is not only a unique opportunity on Grand Traverse Bay, but is also so in the world of sailing overall, as the sport is disproportionately male. Registration information from Yacht Scoring, a widely used regatta registration platform, reveals that a mere 16 percent of competitors across all regattas from August 2020 through September 2021 were women.

AS THE VARIOUS CREWS GATHER ON THEIR SAILBOATS AND GET READY TO RACE, THEY BREATHE LIFE INTO THE WARM SUMMER AIR.

experiment wasn’t really there.” Marian had a desire to learn more and take on bigger roles. She wasn’t finding that through the crew she and Lovell were sailing with, so she eventually went off and pursued other passions. Meanwhile, Lovell didn’t lose sight of Marian’s desire to develop and grow as a sailor. He kept an eye out for opportunities and ultimately, around a decade ago, found an ally in Tomlinson, a fellow Grand Traverse Yacht Club member with experience not only sailing, but also teaching. Following some exposure to sailing in high school, Tomlinson joined the sailing team as a sophomore at the University of Michigan. She taught sailing at Northport Point and then the San Diego Yacht Club in California and has since sailed in Key West, Toronto and Europe. Today, she works for Quantum Sails, the second-largest

And a March 2022 article for Sailing World points out that sailing remains a male-dominated sport because people underestimate female sailors’ abilities, explaining that women are often “asked to round out a team in a way where the men expect minimal contribution to the sailing from them.” This, in turn, limits female sailors’ opportunities for development and growth into other roles on their crew. This was, more or less, Kim Marian’s experience—and the inspiration from which Knockout was born. When Marian moved to Traverse City more than 20 years ago, she started racing with her husband, Rob Lovell, an experienced change to a longtime sailor, and his crew. “It was fun,” she says. “I enjoyed going out, but as time went on, it became more evident to me that I was the wife of [a sailor] and not my own independent person.” Marian is quick to note that the crew she was sailing with is top-notch and that her comment is not a criticism of its members. She learned a lot from that crew simply by being involved on the boat. “They were just a fine-tuned machine,” she says. “For me, the chance to explore and 56

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sailmaking company in the world, headquartered in Traverse City. “Libby and I had been talking for a couple years, making the observation that we needed to buy a boat for the women to sail,” Lovell recalls. “The men would let them do a little, but they wouldn’t let them do enough, and you learn better and quicker when you do things.” Lovell and Tomlinson saw a need and had a desire to create a positive learning environment for Marian and other women, no matter their level of experience. It was decided Tomlinson would captain the crew, although she admits to having doubts about the decision. “I did some skippering in college,” she says. “I had a Laser for a while and did weekly races at the yacht club for a couple of summers, but I didn’t have a huge amount of driving experience. So, I came into this thinking, ‘I’m a novice at the helm among a crew of mostly beginner sailors. This could be interesting! But I think I can do it.’” Tomlinson and Lovell set out to find a boat that would be easy to own and ideal for teaching and sailing with a crew that ranged in experience. They landed on a B-25, a 25-footer well suited for a crew of five to six smaller people. “It was the right size, the right tool for the job,” Tomlinson says. “I couldn’t think quickly enough of a reason not to buy it, so we did. That’s how it started,” Lovell recalls. When it came to naming the boat, the women led the charge, but the whole yacht club was involved in the fun. “We went round and round on the name,” Tomlinson says. “There was a whiteboard upstairs at the yacht club, and we probably had 50 ideas for names on there. All kinds of silly stuff. The meaning of the name was intended to be [twofold], playing on this idea of boxing and being tough—‘We’re going to knock you out in this competition’—and the idea that yes, we’re a bunch of cute girls.” The Knockout crew sailed on the B-25 for their first six seasons. Then, in fall 2018, Tomlinson and Lovell sold the B-25 and bought a larger J/92, their current boat, to accommodate a growing crew of seven or eight. It’s race night on knockout, and this evening’s crew consists of seven women: Tomlinson, Petra Kuehnis, Kristen Hasbrouck, Sage Brown, Tammi Hollis, Amy Ranger and Michelle Kuffer. As they glide toward the starting area, Tomlinson starts asking questions of the crew and calling out commands as they go. As Hasbrouck checks the jib leads, Tomlinson notes how small changes in the control lines make significant changes to the shape of the sail and works with Hasbrouck to correct it. Knockout circles the race committee boat, and the women study a board displaying the race course and wind

Previous spread: Libby Tomlinson, Petra Keuhnis and Kim Marian aboard Knockout. This spread (clockwise from top left): Guest crew Katie Phelps pulls a halyard to raise a sail at the mast; Sherry Small, Petra Keuhnis, Michelle Kuffer and Tammi Hollis roll the mainsail post-race; (From left) Katie Phelps, Sherry Small, Petra Keuhnis, Tammi Hollis and Sage Brown sail out to the race course; Michelle Kuffer on the bow, checking for nearby boats.

direction. When another fleet takes off before them, they watch the boats in that group to see what they do and where they experience success. All the while, Tomlinson and Brown, the youngest member of the team at 18 years old, keep an eye on the clock, counting down the minutes to the start of the race. Tomlinson steers Knockout toward the starting line, maneuvering among the other boats. “One minute!” There’s a somewhat nervous but mostly excited—and oddly peaceful—energy to the evening. Perhaps it comes with years of sailing together, though every week is undoubtedly a little different for this crew. From the bow to the NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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“Rob hung out at the yacht club a lot and started talking about what we were doing,” Tomlinson says. “People were hearing about it. Husbands were mentioning it to their wives. Friends were mentioning it to friends. People just came to me and said, ‘I heard about what you’re doing. I want to do this with you!’” Today, the Knockout crew ranges in age from 18 to 63 and spans professions from a landscape architect, to a civil engineer, to a massage therapist, to a pilates instructor and more. During Knockout’s first season, Tomlinson and Kuehnis were coming up to speed in their positions, working together and navigating stern, each woman is fully focused. Some adjust sails. Others keep an eye on the race course for wind and other boats. All the while, their ears are trained on Tomlinson and Brown. “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two …” Following Tomlinson and Brown’s countdown, the echo of a signal horn marks the start of the race, and just like that, Knockout is cutting through the water alongside seven other sailboats. Though this crew works and sails quite effortlessly together now, it wasn’t always this way. During Knockout’s first few seasons, these women were coming together as one crew—and some were learning to sail for the first time. That first season, Tomlinson knew she needed at least one other woman with sailing experience to help run the boat. “If I’m on the driving end trimming the main, somebody has to do the other end and be able to help coach,” she says. “My best friend, Petra Kuehnis, has been a very integral part of Knockout in that regard. She and I were the ones in the know when it came to sailing knowledge.” Tomlinson and Kuehnis met through the Grand Traverse Yacht Club when Kuehnis first moved to Traverse City. They originally sailed on the same boat and then separately on other boats before Tomlinson asked Kuehnis to sail with her on Knockout. From there, interest grew organically and the crew took shape. 58

Clockwise from top left: Libby Tomlinson at the helm with trimmer, Michelle Kuffer, during the starting sequence; The team sails downwind; Michelle Kuffer holds out a spinnaker sheet with her feet; Tammi Hollis spots the leeward mark; Swimming into the yacht club from the mooring after a race is a summer tradition on Knockout; Libby Tomlinson, Amy Ranger, Tammi Hollis, Petra Keuhnis and Sage Brown toast to great friendships and a successful race.

THESE WOMEN SHARE A DESIRE TO LEARN, GROW IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES AND SIMPLY BE IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHER WOMEN ON THE WATER.

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what they were doing while instructing the other crew members and answering their questions. That summer, the Knockout women spent more time on the boat than most other crews, practicing on Tuesdays and racing on Wednesdays. From May through September, they worked on finding a position for each person to focus on. Each member learned their position as well as how to work together with the team. They’d go on mock roundings and, with time, started learning some different maneuvers. “The first summer was really fun because I was doing something completely new and challenging myself,” Kuehnis says. “It was novel. There weren’t very many womenonly boats really anywhere. Everyone was so excited about it and willing to learn.” The energy was electric. Everyone was excited to be on the water. Though the learning curve was steep, the women were getting better every time they went out, especially as they learned their positions and also how to communicate efficiently as a team. “It was really cool because we were all out there learning together,” Marian says. “We all make mistakes as we learn, and it was a place where you could make a mistake. We learned from Libby and Petra and also through trial and error, which is sometimes the best way.” The crew quickly found that on the boat it was time to focus. There was no time for chit-chat. “Being beginners, they didn’t realize everything that was actually going on and how they could contribute,” Tomlinson says. “Now, we have people watching for puffs and waves, keeping an eye on the competition or on the fleets ahead and looking for big shifts. There’s a lot to see out there, if you know where to look.” That first season and in the seasons that have followed, Knockout has made steady progress. The crew has maintained excellent attendance, even achieving perfect attendance in some seasons, among the boats at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club. “The yacht club was really excited about what we had done and how much improvement we made that first season,” Tomlinson says. “They bestowed the great honor of ‘Boat of the Year’ to Knockout, and we were truly shocked. That was a huge deal.” Over the course of the first few years, Tomlinson says Knockout went from placing in the lower middle to winning races more often. The crew was awarded “Boat of the Year” again in 2019, their first season on the J/92, and has placed first or second each season since. Sailing on Knockout isn’t limited to Wednesday evening races. The crew will occasionally race in other local events at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club as well as at other yacht clubs. They’ve also sailed out of Charlevoix and up to Beaver Island and back. Following the race (Knockout places first in its fleet on this particular Wednesday), the crew sails back to the yacht

club and derigs the boat. Then, with Knockout tucked in for the night, as the summer light glows across the bay, the crew pull out drinks and snacks, circle around the cockpit of the boat and sink into an easy rhythm of conversation and camaraderie. “Once the boat is put away and you’re done racing, you talk about life,” Marian says. “You’ve got a built-in network of supportive people who are there to listen to you, offer advice and more. We’ve had crew members go through all kinds of things, and we’re always there to support each other.” “The energy from this group is awesome,” Lovell adds. “The love that they have, the family bond—boats develop family bonds—the girls absolutely have that.”

Emily Hopcian is a writer, editor and content producer with a focus on character-driven stories of outdoor adventure and social and environmental impact. She calls both Northern Michigan and Argentine Patagonia home. emilyhopcian.com Beth Price is an editorial and commercial photographer based in Northern Michigan. She’s passionate about capturing authentic human experiences that help achieve a greater appreciation for the natural world we live in. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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“He was just like he is on the radio – funny, but really good at the whole process. I could not have been happier.” – Leigh Ann, Seller

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! h

we can get you where you want to be

we canESTATE get you where you want to be CONTENTS REAL

&HOME SERVICES A MyNorth Media Publication

Michael Wnek Cara McDonald

PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Elizabeth Edwards Carly Simpson Allison Jarrell

SENIOR EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT & SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Rachel Soulliere Elizabeth Aseritis Caroline Dahlquist

PROOFREADERS

ART DIRECTOR PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Tim Hussey Theresa Burau-Baehr

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

DIRECTOR OF SALES SALES ACCOUNT COORDINATOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Rachel Watson Julie Parker Tabatha VanWingerden Mike Alfaro Ann Gatrell Julie James Meg Lau Kirk Small

MARKETING DIRECTOR MARKETING COORDINATOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Erin Lutke Ashlyn Korienek Nichole Earle

4 | Signs of the Times Buy? Sell? Wait? Remodel? We’ve got answers to all of your real estate questions. 7 | Love at First Site Before you fall in love with a dream-home design, here’s what your builder wants you to know about working with your lot. 9 | When Experience Counts A crazy real estate market requires more than just a Realtor— you need a team of strategic partners. 13 | The Coach Approach Bryant Wilson doesn’t want to sell you insurance; he wants to coach you, so you can make the right choices for your life. 15 | Beat the Competition Five must-know tips for making the most competitive offer in today’s market. 19 | Millwork Style Statements Pro tips and trends for homeowners seeking outstanding design. 21 | Living Your Best Lake Life with PVC Decking Add value and longevity to your favorite outdoor living spaces. 25 | The Lifestyle Question Before you ask yourself what (and where) to buy, first ask, “How do I love to live?”

Libby Stallman

OFFICE MANAGER

27 | Never Paint Again How ceramic-based paint can battle mildew, moisture, cracking and peeling. 31 | Delight is in the Details Architect Nick Liebler weighs in on how to create welcoming spaces rich with detail and authenticity. EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES

415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684 Phone: 231.941.8174 | Fax: 231.941.8391 SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

33 | Selling the family cottage? Here’s how to do it right. The emotional and physical exchange that comes with selling the family lake home can be heavy. Use these tips to lighten the load. 34 | Home Services Guide Find local pros for every project.

MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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6/9/22 10:13 AM

signs of the

times Buy? Sell? Wait? Remodel? We’ve got answers. BY CARA MCDONALD

4 MyNorth.com

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e sussed out national trends and checked in with Matt Hodges, board president of Aspire North Realtors (an alliance of area Realtors focused on professional advancement) for a sense of what the market realities are now— and what they mean for buyers and sellers.

1. IT’S STILL A GOOD TIME TO SELL. AND TO BUY.

3. OUT-OF-STATE BUYERS ARE (STILL) CHANGING THE GAME.

“I think the Midwest is one of the most desirable areas in the country,” Hodges says. “We don’t have fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes … There are people flocking to this region.” Hodges adds that tracking buyer zip codes has led to some interesting revelations: more and more buyers are coming from California, Texas, Maryland and New York—hyper-expensive markets creating sellers who walk with major amounts of cash, and turn their eyes to the affordable Midwest.

Wait, what? For sellers, markets are white hot with record appreciation, buyer demand and fast-moving deals. That may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s also a good time to buy. Here’s why: “The market is slowing but not softening,” 4. CASH DEALS ARE STILL A THING. Hodges says. “There is less inventory, but the values continue The fiercely competitive market means buyers need to bring to rise.” And Fannie Mae is forecasting housing prices to intheir best offer to the table—and that often means buying with crease 10.8 percent this year—that’s a slowdown from last cash. According to a report from Redfin, homebuyers last year were four times more likely to win a bidding war by making year’s record 18.8 percent, but it’s still a record-breaking increase. If you can get an all-cash offer, and an all-cash offer improved a competiin the market now, these continued ristive offer’s success by a whopping 334 percent. “We are seeing ing prices lead to increased equity right buyers using retirement or other funds to buy with cash, then out of the gate. And with the shortage pulling some of those funds back out with delayed financing,” of rental properties, homeownership Hodges says. means fixed housing costs. “Don’t wait,” Hodges 5. THE RIGHT RENOVATIONS WILL PAY OFF, BUT DON’T adds. “The prices are going ACCORDING OVERDO IT. to continue to rise, and in my opinion, it’s going to The most recent State TO REDFIN, AN take something catastrophic of Home Spending report to move us off the trajecstates home improvement ALL-CASH OFFER tory we’re on.” So, his advice? spending rose 25 percent If you’re a buyer, hang in year-over-year to $10,341. IMPROVED A there. “There is opportunity. Homeowners who invested If you’re overpaying today, in home improvements did COMPETITIVE you’re setting the new comp an average of 3.7 projects, and creating the new level up from 2.7 in 2020. OFFER’S SUCCESS of value. Don’t be afraid of Improvements like gaoverpaying for your primary rage doors (nearly 100 perBY A WHOPPING home … Buy it today, stay in cent of costs recouped) and it, and you’ll be happy tomordecks (70 percent of costs 334 PERCENT. row, you’ll be happy next year. recouped) have some of the You’ll still see added value.” best return on investment (ROI), and don’t overlook 2. IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN, the value of a good paint refresh: According to a 2019 National THINGS AREN’T COOLING OFF Association of Realtors survey, 66 percent of Realtors recomANYTIME SOON. mended interior and exterior painting, with a 107 percent ROI Despite the fact that interest rates for interior paint jobs, and 55 percent for exterior. have shot up two points or more in the But be cautious with full-tilt renos on your way out the last few months, and the stock market door—two in five buyers surveyed were willing to do their is all over the place, prices continue to own renovations. And with high demand for contractors and climb. “I don’t see things slowing down,” labor, something like a major kitchen remodel could not only says Hodges. Paired with low inventory set you back a lot of money, but a good deal of time as well— and a ton of buyer demand, there’s not not worth missing a great seller’s window. a real slowing, and he adds that at the moment, the interest rates aren’t affectCara McDonald is the executive editor of MyNorth/Traverse, ing that market. Northern Michigan’s Magazine. MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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226 E. Mitchell St, Petoskey, MI 49770

New location! 236 E Front St, Tr averse City, MI 49684

C u s t om B u il d er s

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Visit our website to view our complete photo gallery. glennwoodcustombuilders.com | 231.439.9103

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Love at First Site by Greg Tasker

Before you fall in love with a dream-home design, here’s what your builder wants you to know about working with your lot and the landscape.

photo by Mike Gullon

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

When it comes to building your dream home amid the lakes and woods of Northern Michigan, there’s much more to consider than just gorgeous views or settings. Choosing the right property is one of the most important steps in the process of building a new home, says Jeff Collins, CEO and owner of Glennwood Custom Builders, a fullservice design and build team that has offices in downtown Petoskey and Traverse City. The company specializes in new construction and extensive remodeling projects. Collins recommends the buyer have their team in place— including the builder and real estate agent—before the selection process begins. The builder can identify issues with a property; how things such as topography, soil types, drainage and regulations for setbacks from lakes, rivers and roads may impact the building envelope. Those elements could add costs to the building project or deem a property unsuitable for the client’s vision. “We typically work with our clients to help them locate the perfect property, assist with pre-purchase due diligence and work through any items that may require interacting with state agencies, township zoning and county permitting,” Collins says, noting the state agencies include the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Natural Resources. “We have long-standing, high-quality relationships with these and other agencies important to the build process.” Glennwood Custom Builders has more than 25 years of experience helping customers build their dream homes in Northern Michigan. The family-owned company’s portfolio includes homes of all sizes, ranging from 3,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet or more. Their service includes coordinating and managing all the people, entities and components required in the complex process of purchasing the ideal property. “A lot of times people don’t consult with a builder ahead of time and they’ll buy the lot and then discover there are issues they didn’t consider,” Collins says. One example is the topography of a site. A customer may dream of a walk-out, but to build that on a flat parcel will mean moving and sculpting a lot of dirt. Steep slopes may also mean moving dirt around or constructing a retaining wall. The type of soil could require pilings for a foundation—more expensive than a traditional foundation. Other considerations include local setback requirements from waterways and roads. “We like to visit the site with our client and their real estate agent,” Collins says. “We try to give advice on the cost, what can be done there, what are the setbacks. All the lakes in Northern Michigan have different regulations on whether you can build a

guest house or a storage barn, and how big … there are a lot of things to weigh before purchasing a lot.” Many properties in Northern Michigan have wetland issues, which dictate how big the building envelope on a property can be. You cannot build on wetlands but there are ways to work around them. Wetlands were an issue for a client a few years ago. Before choosing Glennwood, the client had been told it was impossible to build his desired home on a 10-acre site on Lake Charlevoix because of setback requirements and wetlands. Glennwood negotiated with state agencies for a year to find workable solutions, reshaping the landscape to make the 10,000-square-foot house work on the property. Part of the solution included re-creating the wetlands elsewhere on the site and building bridges over streams to protect water. “It was extremely complicated and detailed,” Collins recalls. “We got the house in there when everyone said it was impossible. It took us a while, but [the customer] eventually got everything he wanted.” Choosing the right property also impacts the livability of the home, something most prospective clients don’t think about either. The livability of a site includes considering such things as how the sun falls in the afternoon—do you want shade after you’ve been out on the boat all day or do you want to grill in the sun? Others include where is the prevailing wind, and how deep is the water in front of the property? “There are so many things to think about,” Collins says. “Do you want to be right up against the water or do you want to be able to play yard games? Maybe you want to be 100 feet from the water—is the lot deep enough? You have to understand the pros and cons of different properties and how you plan to live there.” “Putting that team together and working with a builder who is truly custom and is engaged right from the start, even on the lot selection, can work with you to make sure your vision is going to happen, to make sure it’s going to be feasible,” Collins adds. “At Glennwood we enjoy and appreciate assisting our clients with their lot selection options, whether they are full of opportunities or challenges, to make sure their vision can be carried out. This does take time, so we encourage them to reach out to us as soon as they start the process of searching for the perfect property.” MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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R ESIDENTI A L

VA CA N T

L A ND

WATERFRONT SELLERS WANTED! BUYERS ARE WAITING!

Top selling independent brokerage in Northern Great Lakes Realtors MLS 2017-2021

KIMBERLY BORK • 231-631-2119 Kimberly@venturepropertiesmi.com

venturepropertiesmi.com PO BOX 6634 • TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN 49686 2022_REHS.indd 8

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

When Experience Counts by Cara McDonald

photos courtesy of Venture Properties

A crazy real estate market requires more than just a Realtor—you need a team of strategic partners.

Who would have thought the pandemic would have brought the real estate industry such huge growth? Venture Properties witnessed this firsthand, closing $112 million during a time they thought would be a downturn in the market. The fact remains: Buyers continue to flock to Northern Michigan in search of the perfect property. But in a crazy market, it’s the experience of your real estate team that makes the difference. Venture Properties has successfully connected their clients with vacation homes, primary residences and land since 1980, and is known for selling Leelanau County waterfront property. The brokerage had the largest sale on north Lake Leelanau in 2021 at $3.8 million, selling at $300,000 over the list price. Kimberly Bork, broker/owner of Venture Properties, then sold another home after a knock on the door from a neighbor before the listing ink was even dry—and this home also closed over $3 million. Venture Properties founder and Associate Broker Perry Pentiuk based the values of the brokerage on building relationships, not sales. As a result, Venture Properties is one of the most successful independently owned real estate companies in our region, with many long-time friends that remain clients today. When Kimberly purchased the company from Perry in 2019, she kept those core values intact. “I was fortunate to learn from the best in the business, and I am grateful for all Perry has taught me,” she says. “It is an honor to carry on the legacy with like-minded individuals.” Kimberly now has a team of seven, including Perry, as well as Realtors Nicole White, Hillary Voight, Powell Smith, Marissa Wege and recent addition Mark Hood—her father. “My dad hired me as his admin when I was in college,” she says. “He is responsible for shaping my entrepreneurial spirit. This is going to be an exciting new chapter for us.” Mark has always been keenly interested in real estate. Since moving to Traverse City in 2001, he and his wife, Karen, have

acquired and sold many vacant land parcels and residential homes. They also completely remodeled four homes on Old Mission Peninsula and became well-versed in the do’s and don’ts of home construction. Mark served on the Peninsula Township Board of Review for several years, gaining valuable experience and knowledge on the tax assessment and appeals process. Mark also brings decades of experience in the finance industry to Venture Properties. He has been directly or indirectly involved in more than $3 billion of financing for a wide spectrum of assets including aircraft, ships, barges, railcars, oil wells and computers. What’s next for Venture Properties? Home staging and property management are a few of the services that will continue to grow in 2022. Team members Kimberly, Marissa, Hillary and Nicole all have years of experience in this department. “We love to work with our clients to get a property ready for the market,” Kimberly says. A recent staging project included a waterfront cottage. The seller called for advice, and the team provided a detailed plan. The client followed the plan to the letter—they cleared the home of personal items, painted the interior, cleaned the house, carpets and windows, and had a pre-home inspection completed. Venture Properties staged the home and listed at a fair price. The result was 68 showings and 10 offers; all wildly above the list price. The property sold in three days for $225,000 over asking price. Sure, it would have sold without the staging plan—but not for nearly a quarter million more. “It pays to prepare,” Kimberly says. “We have many prequalified financed and all-cash buyers searching for homes in our region and the lowest inventory levels we’ve seen in a long time. If you’re thinking of selling, now is the time. Interest rates will continue to rise, and the market will shift, so don’t wait. And, if you need to find a home, Venture Properties excels at competing in this crazy market. We are here to help.” MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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Does the current Real Estate Market wrinkle your brow? Let my experience and energy take the stress out of buying & selling. Together, we can make a plan that’s right for your needs and goals, without any pressure.

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The ultimate goal of the Architect is to create a paradise... every house should be a fruit of our endeavor to create an earthly paradise for people.

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Bryant Wilson Call or Text: 231.668.6805 MichiganInsuranceCoach.com • bryant@michiganinsurancecoach.com 5756 US 31N, Williamsburg, MI 49690 (Next to Chase Bank) 2022_REHS.indd 12

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

3 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR INSURANCE AGENT

The Coach Approach by Carly Simpson

Bryant Wilson doesn’t want to sell you insurance; he wants to coach you, so you can make the right choices for your life. Like so many others when Covid-19 hit, Bryant Wilson was thrown for a loop. Central Michigan University cut its men’s track and field program and Bryant, who was the 2019 Assistant Coach of the Year at CMU and was a four-time national champion pole vaulter at Grand Valley State University, was out of a job. So, with a baby on the way, he and his wife took the opportunity to reset and find the perfect place to raise a family. Their search brought them to the Traverse City area, where they could be a part of the community and Bryant could carry on his passion for coaching with Traverse City Central’s track team. He brings his passion for coaching to home insurance, too, at his State Farm office in Williamsburg. “Our job is to inform and to ask the right questions,” Bryant says. “We love to have a conversation and coach you on insurance so you can make an informed decision. If you go with another company, that’s fine, no hard feelings, we sleep well at night knowing we did our job informing you.” Bryant’s process involves three key questions you need to be aware of before committing to an insurance purchase or working with an agent:

1) Am I overinsured or underinsured? “Real estate is a big investment, especially in our area. When it comes to home insurance, a lot of people have an escrow account and so their insurance is tied up in their mortgage payment and they don’t really think about it. Let’s say they buy a million-dollar home on Old Mission Peninsula or Torch Lake and they insure it for that price, but it’s a 1,200-square-foot ranch that would ‘only’ cost $250,000 to rebuild. You had to pay for the view, though, and the land, which is what adds up to that million dollars. We’re not going to rebuild the view if your house burns down, we’re only going to rebuild a structure of like kind and quality. A lot of people don’t know they’re overpaying for home insurance because their bank loan is for $1 million so the bank says, ‘Hey, we need to insure this for $1 million,’ and that’s not the case. In reality, if the structure is only worth $200,000, that’s the amount you need to insure.” 2) Do I have enough liability insurance? “Liability is what people should really be concerned about. Many people retire up here, and they over-insure their home because they think that’s the biggest risk exposure. On the flip side of that, a lot of people carry very low liability limits, and that’s the scary part. If something happens on your premises and you get sued, you may have to dip into your retirement accounts, or use up your nest egg—that’s a big risk. Also, liability exposures are much more significant on lakes. You might have a boat, or some kids are over who aren’t used to using a jet ski … It’s all your property; it’s your exposure. Having a conversation is worth it, to make sure you’re protected in the right way.” 3) I have a secondary home I want to rent out. Do I need to tell my agent? “It’s common for people to rent out their second or third homes as vacation rentals, but some people don’t tell their insurance company the house is being used as a rental. In the event of a loss, if it’s not documented and somebody sues or somebody accidentally burns it down, and your insurance company finds out that it was a rental, they’re not going to pay your claim. It’s not that those houses aren’t insurable as rentals, you just have to note that you’re using the house in a different capacity.” Why local? If you don’t have a personal relationship with your insurance agent, give Bryant a call or text at 231.668.6805 or stop by the office (5756 US-31 N., Williamsburg next to Chase Bank). His local team is happy to answer insurance questions, or recommend their favorite coffee shop, breweries and trails. “We don’t mind telling people, ‘We can’t beat that price,’” Bryant says. “But if price is all that matters, everyone would still have flip phones.” MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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11596 Bluff Road, Traverse City Offered for sale at $3,800,000

Stunning Modern Design Meets Old Mission Tranquility Situated on 191’ of private East Bay frontage yet just 8 miles from downtown Traverse City, this captivating West Coast style home designed by an award winning Seattle architect will welcome & wow. The intentional interplay of light, space & glass brings the outdoors in through each spectacular season. It is truly rare to find walk-out beach frontage that is this expansive, sandy, and private. One of the best locations on East Bay, with deep water access ideal for boating. Private showings available for qualified buyers.

Listed by Carly Smith Petrucci REALTOR® 231-649-3137

carly.cbrealtor@gmail.com

www.TheShawnSchmidtGroup.com 2022_REHS.indd 14

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

by Allison Jarrell

photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors

g al o st

Beat the Competition Shawn Schmidt Smith, a fourth-generation Traverse City Realtor with Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors, shares five tips for making the most competitive offer in today’s market. 1. As a buyer, you should make sure your Realtor is calling the listing agent to start a dialogue and find out what is important to the seller before submitting your offer. Having the strongest overall offer is about so much more than just having the highest price—your other terms have to appeal to the seller as well. Your Realtor should be picking up the phone, making that call and finding out what the seller is looking for besides just price. 2. Minimize your contingencies! The fewer contingencies your offer has, the better. In a seller’s eyes, every contingency is just a possible way that the deal may fall apart, so you need

to minimize that in order to give the seller confidence that the deal will make it to the closing table. For example, as a buyer, you shouldn’t be asking for more than a three- to four-day inspection period in this market. In 2015, you could ask for a two-week-long inspection period. Not anymore. Shorten/ minimize that inspection contingency to remain competitive. 3. Convey your enthusiasm about the home to the seller. Your Realtor should be filling out glowing feedback after the showing, telling the seller how much you love it. Sellers will feel more confident about you as a buyer if they know how badly you want the house—it conveys a willingness to do what it takes to make sure the deal will get to closing. 4. There are diamonds in the rough out there. If there’s an area you like but you can’t find the perfect home, consider a rehab loan that allows you to wrap the costs into your loan. Coast One Mortgage does a nice job with these loans. 5. Look for the hidden gems. Kingsley, for example, is a scenic, less crowded, more under-the-radar area to consider— perfect for families, professionals and retirees. It’s not as discovered, but give it a few years; choosing to live in an area on the front end of a trending location is valuable. Alden is tucked into a scenic area with water and rolling landscapes all around. These are great areas to buy real estate, knowing that your property values will grow nicely. MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TIP: START WITH ONE SMALL FOCUS.

Unless you have a finalized idea book tabbed out room by room, you’re starting with a blank slate. Don’t let product selection bog you down. Start with one thing—this could be the doors, the baseboard or the crown—and key in on that. “All other decisions can be made once you pick one thing,” Strawderman says. TREND: CONJURE AN ERA.

Thomas & Milliken welcomes loads of requests to replicate trim, interior doors and hardware from every architectural era. Step back in time, adding a Victorian vibe to your project with curated millwork and door packages. Trends are capturing looks from mid-century modern to contemporary farmhouse, and Thomas & Milliken pride themselves on accurate representations of period millwork. TIP: EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE. ASK FOR HELP.

Millwork Style Statements by Lisa Blake

photo courtesy of Thomas & Milliken

Pro tips and trends for homeowners seeking outstanding design. Walking into a millwork showroom can be a little daunting. Doors, window trims, molding, baseboards and panels in so many textures, styles and hues—“overwhelm” can creep in. And that’s ok. That’s when the experts stroll up, take your hand and help you articulate your vision.“It can be a pretty long and painful process to get to the first selection, but once that is made, it tends to be pretty smooth sailing,” says Thomas & Milliken sales associate Kent Strawderman.With showrooms in Petoskey and Traverse City, the retailer specializes in doors, windows and stair parts and has notched its pedestal as the number one millshop in Northern Michigan. Andy Thomas launched Thomas & Milliken Millwork in 1977 with his wife, Gloria. When he was just six years old, Andy’s parents gifted him a small red steel toolbox labeled “Handy Andy,” jumpstarting a basement woodworking shop and continuing the family tradition of woodworking, dating back to his great-great-grandfather who built Northport homes in the 1850s. Today, designers and DIY-ers appreciate Thomas & Milliken’s boundless custom millwork and hands-on approach. Here, Strawderman helps homeowners break down tips and trends for 2022.

“When someone comes into the showroom looking to pick out millwork, the basic premise is that they have a problem that they want to solve. It’s our job to help find the solution,” Strawderman says. The pros thrive on helping homeowners, architects and designers wade through products and services and lend projects that “uniquely you” touch. TREND: WELCOME UP NORTH COTTAGE NOSTALGIA.

Since millwork in general and trims, doors and cabinetry in particular are a reflection of a home’s geographical location and regional tastes, it’s no surprise the “Up North Cottage” is Thomas & Milliken’s top-selling millwork package. The lakeside-inspired design is clean-lined and linear with detailed baseboards and casing and a crown that follows the same line. It’s not uncommon to see beadboard paneling and nickel-slot ceilings and accenting in various patterns and widths, Strawderman says. Nature-inspired textures and customized light and airy nooks round out the Up North feel. TIP: DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO MODERN.

On another front, Strawderman says, Northern Michigan design is starting to lean more toward modern, contemporary aesthetics. It’s increasingly common to have stylish drywall returns on windows and doors with minimal baseboards and to see doors with contemporary flair. An entrance sets the tone for a home’s interior and enhances the overall appeal of a space. In the past, modern homes called on flush solid-core birch and other species of durable wood. To make a fairly simple yet bold style statement, Strawderman points to TruStile’s modern door collection and its stacked rail designs and sleek plank styles. READY TO GET STARTED

You’ve got Thomas & Milliken’s creative and dedicated employees and longstanding reputation on your millwork team. MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

Honor Building Supply 10635 US 31 Honor MI, 49640 231-325-4551 800-444-6396 2022_REHS.indd 20

Onekama Building Supply 4847 Main St. Onekama MI, 49675 231-889-3456 6/8/22 7:53 PM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Living Your Best Lake Life with PVC Decking by Lisa Blake

Add value and longevity to your favorite outdoor living spaces. In Northern Michigan, a beautiful, comfortable outdoor living space is just as important as interior aesthetics. Decks are the new dining room; patios step in as family dens and game rooms. When winter temperatures dip below zero and summer mercury soars to 90 degrees, durable building materials and solid construction are paramount to keeping these al fresco commons safe and enjoyable. Earl and Shirley Soderquist recognized these facts of Up North life when the local building material and hardware purveyors opened Honor & Onekama Building Supply. The trusted Northern Michigan lumber and building supplies source launched in 1963 with steadfast dedication to helping contractors and DIYers shop and build locally. As Honor & Onekama Building Supply has evolved from one generation of owners to another, so have the products they offer, adding to traditional wood-based products a wide range of long-lasting, low-maintenance items in a variety of materials. Natural seasonal elements and construction trends have had their way with wood and aluminum over the years. Now it’s PVC’s turn to take the decking spotlight, says Honor & Onekama Building Supply Manager Kevin Ingleston. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, deck boards are made from recycled plastic and can be shaped, colored and textured or embossed to appear like a grained or wood surface. Ingleston points to PVC as a superior product picking up speed in the Northern Michigan construction market. “PVC became active in our market 10 years ago,” he says. “It’s a premium product that comes with premium pricing. Now it’s one of the fastest growing categories here at the lumberyard.” WHY CHOOSE PVC?

With more manufacturers producing it and more homeowners and contractors using it, the premium pricing per board has become more reasonable in recent years. Honor & Onekama Building Supply sells the high-style, low-stress Wolf Serenity Decking line. Here’s what consumers are loving about PVC decking:

popular colors include driftwood gray, rosewood and sand castle. Solid and grooved boards provide more options and the classic matte finish never goes out of style. SUSTAINABILITY

Wolf decking is made of 94 percent recycled material and features a strong core, taking durability to a whole new level. When wood is used, Ingleston says, approximately 15 percent of the wood purchased isn’t usable because of knots, wanes and chatter marks, so there’s a lot more waste and cost. DURABILITY

Northern Michigan’s shoreline comes with its own unique climate—long winters where snow and ice sit on decks for months on end are followed by summers of intense sunshine and humidity. PVC decking is moisture resistant so there’s no rotting or mildew. The product doesn’t warp, crack or split and retains its color without fading from years of sun. Feet are safe from splinters and insects don’t care for the material. REDUCED MAINTENANCE

The premium decking product is basically maintenance free, so you can enjoy your deck and not spend off-seasons cleaning, sanding and staining. Low-maintenance engineered decking means a quick spray with the hose once in a while and an annual clean with soapy water and a soft-bristle brush. PVC decking comes with a 50-year warranty while composite decking typically comes with a 25-year warranty. HEAT SHEDDING

Unlike wood or composite materials that are dense and retain heat longer, UV-protected PVC is lightweight and easily sheds heat. Bring on the barefoot summers.

FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGN

PVC boards have the authentic color streaks and natural wood grain texture of real stained hardwoods. You can pick from rich on-trend hues that are updated every year. Current

Honor & Onekama Building Supply offers free project estimates and a $15 local delivery fee from their yard to your home or jobsite. No contractor’s license required. MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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2,260 Square Foot Home with 486’ Peninsula on Lake Cadillac Mid-Century Modern lakefront home nestled into a huge 486’ private peninsula. Natural stone seawall and sugar-sand lake bottom. Quiet central location, yet close to everything. Most beautiful lakefront property in the area! Bright open kitchen, dining and living area with vaulted ceilings, walls of windows and breathtaking views. Home features quartz countertops, hardwood flooring, ceramic tile, hot water heat and central air. Two-sided gas fireplace runs between the dining room and additional living room. Large private yard with Trex deck, 2 docks, hot tub and lawn irrigation. Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell are connected by a navigable canal. Together they providing over 3,700 acres of all-sports recreational fun. 601 LAKE SHORE DRIVE, CADILLAC / $980,000 Michael Fagerman Broker/Owner Realtor 200 Vick Avenue, Cadillac, MI 49601 Office and Cell: 231-920-8970 www.CadillacRealtyByFagerman.com Mike@CadillacRealtyByFagerman.com

CADILLAC, LUDINGTON & MANISTEE REGION

KALKASKA, GAYLORD & GRAYLING REGION

VIRGINIA PELTON

CHET WHEELER

CHARLEVOIX & CHAIN OF LAKES REGION

PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS & THE STRAITS REGION

Century 21 Boardwalk

PAT O’BRIEN

ReMax of Grayling

BETH FLYNN

Pat O’Brien & Associates

North Harbor Realty

BENZIE & LEELANAU REGION

TRAVERSE CITY REGION

KATHY NEVEU

WILLIAM KAUPAS

Real Estate One

Social Realty

ABOVE THE BRIDGE REGION

SUZANNE SASSO KUUSINEN Drummond Island Realty

See all the winners at link.mynorth.com/RHB2022Winners

Outdoor Living at its Finest 22 MyNorth.com

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6/10/22 1:00 PM

Financial Advisor in Interlochen

Financial Advisors in Traverse City AAMS®

IRT-1848G-A

Heather J Boivin, 3285 South Airport Road West 231-933-5263

Teressa Hupfer 4110 Copper Ridge Dr, Building D Suite 202 231-252-3561

Yancy Boivin, AAMS® Jamie Keillor 3285 South Airport Road West edwardjones.com John W Elwell, AAMS® 4110 Copper Ridge 231-933-5263 Member SIPCDr, Financial Advisor Building D, Suite 202 231-252-3561 John W Elwell, AAMS® Dr 3588 Veterans 3588 Veterans Dr City, MI 49684-4569 Traverse Jim Mellinger 231-947-0079 231-947-0079 12935 SW Bay Shore Dr, Ste 310 231-947-1123

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John Tredway 806 S Garfield Ave, Suite B 231-932-1290 Andrew Weaver 125 Park Street, Suite 250 231-947-3032 Greg Williams 513 S Union St 231-933-0881

Bill Collin 9672 US Highway 31, Ste 400 231-276-1355

edwardjones.com Member SIPC

Call or visit any of our financial advisors in the area.

6/9/22 7:26 PM

William Kaupas William Kaupas William Kaupas

The Swiss Army Knife of Brokers, always has the right tools on hand The Swiss Army Knife of Brokers, always has the right tools on hand The Swiss Army Knife of Brokers, always has the right tools on hand

William Kaupas helped us find our lake dream

William helped us discover Traverse City

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william@socialrealty.com william@socialrealty.com william@socialrealty.com

231-392-9445 231-392-9445 231-392-9445 2022_REHS.indd 24

6/9/22 7:28 PM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Lifestyle Question by Greg Tasker

photo by Taylor Brown

Before you ask yourself what (and where) to buy, first ask, “How do I love to live?” When it comes to buying a new home in Northern Michigan, there’s much more to consider than bricks and mortar or a prized parcel of land. Your lifestyle plays an important role in your decision, and can ultimately determine how well you adapt to—or even like—your new home, says William Kaupas, owner of Social Realty in Traverse City. Kaupas, who has been in the real estate business 15 years, is adept at helping his clients figure their lifestyle needs into their home-buying decisions. For Kaupas, the interview process is not a formal survey. Instead, he tends to ask less about the house a client is dreaming about, and more about their family, their interests, and what they do. He doesn’t have a ready set of questions in mind; he considers himself naturally curious and social (hence the name of his real estate company). “I’m very informal up front,” says Kaupas, who also maintains a second office outside of Detroit in Royal Oak. “I take someone to lunch or dinner and get to learn about them. We spend a lot of time together. Where the conversation begins is not where we are going to finish up.” Here are a few of the lifestyle scenarios Kaupas has encountered in recent months, and how his talents helped steer clients to more suitable options. Active, social: A Houston couple relocating to Traverse City had their eyes on Old Mission Peninsula. But as Kaupas learned about their lifestyle, he realized they loved biking, being out in the community, spending time at restaurants and happy hour on Traverse City’s Front Street. They preferred to bike or Uber rather than drive. He redirected them to a downtown Victorianera home, with easy access to the city’s amenities and no worries about getting around. Family: A young couple in their thirties with four young children were looking for a second home. They wanted a small cottage on the water for swimming and to use as a source of rental income. Instead, Kaupas steered them toward selling their suburban home and adding those funds to their cottage budget so they could live on the water. They ended up on south Long Lake, with a 120-foot beach they can enjoy every day. “I told them, ‘You are never going to use the cottage the way you think you will,’” he recalls, pointing out a host of kid-related issues on their horizon, everything from sports and activities to something as simple as a child not feeling well. “Our children are only little once, the memories of them growing up in this special place are priceless,” he says.

Aging, active: A man in his early sixties was looking to buy a house on Old Mission Peninsula; a bay view was his only non-negotiable. During conversation, the man joked, “I’m only one fall away from never mountain biking again.” With that in mind, and a 1 million-dollar budget to work with, Kaupas ended up finding this client a 1970s ranch home for just over $600,000. Kaupas is now coordinating extensive renovations that include panoramic bay views, as well as a spacious first floor guest suite with a large barrier-free bathroom, just in case it’s ever needed in the future. Busy, social and concerned about resale value: A thirtysomething tech guy wanted to relocate from his Traverse City condo to lakefront property. This client didn’t like fixing things around the house, didn’t want to deal with cutting the lawn and was very social; his main impetus for a lake property was to entertain. After looking at several lakefront properties, Kaupas found him a modern home in Traverse City, where he could entertain and not worry about the lawn; the back yard had all native plants. What’s more, he is close to downtown and popular hangouts, and the house will be easy to resell. Elderly widow: The children of a 78-year-old widow wanted to sell her spacious Williamsburg home and move her into a Traverse City condo. The woman was spry and active but couldn’t maintain the property on her own. “When her children left the room, I asked her point-blank, ‘What do you want?’” Kaupas recalls. Although she realized she couldn’t live there anymore, she didn’t want to sell the house; it contained many of her late husband’s artifacts—he was a paleontologist. Kaupas came up with an alternative: the family is keeping the house, housing the artifacts in a locked basement and renting the rest of the house as an Airbnb, providing enough income for the client to live in Cordia at Grand Traverse Commons, an all-inclusive senior residential community. “Everybody is different and if you’re willing to take the time to listen to them, to let them speak, you’ll find out what they really want,” Kaupas says. MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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It’s Better than Paint!

IMAGINE NOT HAVING TO PAINT YOUR HOUSE AGAIN! Ceramic based coating won’t peel, chip, or crack 25 Year Warranty • Waterproof and breathable • Endless array of colors BASF tested and proven to last • Eco-friendly, green product Works on virtually any surface including wood, aluminum, vinyl, HardiePlank®, brick, and block

RhinoshieldMI.com • 231-642-2442 2022_REHS.indd 26

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Never Paint Again? by Greg Tasker

photos courtesy of Rhino Shield

before

after

Sun and water are synonymous with Michigan summers, but these elements mean wear and tear on the exterior of traditionally painted homes along the state’s lakes and rivers. The biggest problems Michigan waterfront homeowners face are mold and mildew because of moisture, which causes paint to crack, peel and chip. The intensity of the summer sun wreaks havoc on painted structures, too—ultraviolet rays cause paint to break down, prompting cracking, peeling and fading. More homeowners are turning away from regular latex paint to a longer-lasting alternative: ceramic-based paint, a product offered by Timeless Coatings, LLC in Brighton, Michigan. Already a popular option in the Ann Arbor area, ceramic paint is gaining traction with homeowners in the northern Lower Peninsula and along the Lake Michigan shoreline. “We’ve been doing a lot of work on houses on the west side of the state, along Lake Michigan,” says Sheryl Mercier, part of the husband-wife team behind the company. “People don’t want to return to their summer home and have to paint every year. That’s a lot of work. Ceramic-based paint lasts a lot longer.” Sheryl and her husband, Marc Mercier, are licensed dealers for Rhino Shield, a brand of ceramic paint. They’ve been selling the brand since they opened their business 15 years ago. Ceramic paint, Sheryl Mercier explains, is thicker than regular latex paint and lasts years longer. Ceramic paint contains far less water than latex paint and includes ceramic microspheres instead of the inexpensive fillers found in most exterior house paints. Packed tightly together, the ceramic microspheres have pockets of air that form a protective insulation barrier, which helps insulate walls against heat, UV rays and coating breakdowns. “If you look at our paint in a bucket, it looks like pudding. It’s very, very thick,” Mercier says. “Other paints look thin because of the amount of water in them.” In addition, ceramic paint also includes mildicide, which prevents mold and mildew. It’s an additive not found in many paints, Mercier says. What’s more, the paint comes with a 25-year warranty against cracking, chipping and peeling. While more expensive than traditional latex paint, ceramic paint costs about the same as vinyl siding, and using ceramic-

How ceramic-based paint can battle mildew, moisture, cracking and peeling, and keep your house looking beautiful for years to come.

based paint allows homeowners to maintain the natural look of their homes. In fact, Timeless Coatings has painted the exterior of historic homes for several customers in Traverse City, Mercier says. The benefits of ceramic-based paints are many, including: • Longer lasting than regular exterior paint • Creates a waterproof barrier • No chipping or flaking • Can reduce energy costs • Reduces noise • Offers UV protection • Allows for good moisture management “The paint fades light years slower than regular paint,” Mercier notes. “The paint also helps lower the wall surface temperature—it won’t get as hot in your home with the sun beating on the house.” Ceramic-based paint is flexible, she adds, pointing out that as a house naturally expands and contracts, latex paint cracks and peels. Because of its elasticity, ceramic paint expands and contracts with the house so there is no cracking or peeling. Before putting the ceramic paint on a home, the company’s crew uses primer on the surface. One or two coats of paint are added. The primer needs about four to six hours to dry; the paint takes longer to cure because it’s a softer, more elastic product. “The primer protects the house from moisture,” Mercier says. “It’s almost like a rubber membrane around your house. It helps keep the water out.” Customers in West Michigan and beyond have been very happy with the change from latex to ceramic paint, she says. Some have tapped Timeless Coating to boost their home’s curb appeal before a sale or to save money by not having to paint every year. One customer, she says, was tired of being in the constant loop of painting every five years and reached out to Timeless Coatings. “The homeowners were very satisfied with the ceramic coating and are looking forward to never painting their home again,” she says. MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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Our mission is to help you “feel @ home”!

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808 South Garfield Avenue Suite B, Traverse City MI 49686 231.947.7040 www.homecabinetryandinteriors.com

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6/9/22 7:33 PM

Refined Waterfront Living ~ Simpliﬁed

Inspiring Design | Thoughtfully Crafted | Exceptionally Built

WHITE & LIEBLER | a r c h i t e c t s 117 howard street, petoskey mi 49770 www.white-liebler.com 231-347-6870

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

1. Focus on the fireplace. Liebler treats fireplaces as the central feature of the house, one that everyone gravitates toward. “Fireplaces are the focal piece of the room, the showstopper,” he explains. “When you step in the front door, you want to have a visual to that—put the featured element where you can celebrate it; when you step in, your eye lands on it. 2. Draw people through the spaces. According to Liebler, this is critical: “When someone enters the home, you want to pull them through with long sight lines in a way that is very clear, very orderly,” he explains. For example, good design can create an instant visual connection to the water, or draw people through the home to key focal points.

Delight is in the Details by Cara McDonald

photo by Jacqueline Southby

Architect Nick Liebler weighs in on how to create warm and welcoming spaces rich with detail and authenticity. Most prospective custom-home clients are eager to hire an architect for the big-picture plans—it’s the surest way to a oneof-a-kind dwelling that speaks to your distinct lifestyle and honors the setting and site. But beyond building envelopes and interior floor plans, an architect brings to life the design inspiration and feel of the home by uniting period details, focal points and materials that make a home feel cohesive, welcoming and contextually beautiful. White & Liebler Architects in Petoskey is known for classic and period-inspired designs rich with historic details and embellishments. “We help clients focus on features of the home that really bring the custom-design aspect of it to life,” explains Nick Liebler, LEED AP and partner at White & Liebler. Here, he shares seven guiding principles that will help elevate the look and feel of any Up North home.

3. Build in beauty and function with millwork. This is where you can create a sense of authenticity in detailing. “We’re known for capturing period style,” Liebler explains. “We’re not chasing trends, but working through traditional forms.” He helps clients capture this sense of history and utility by creating beautiful built-ins and striking molding, trim, doors and more. 4. Consider the staircase a piece of art. If you’ve only ever thought of stairs as a way to get you from A to B, you’re missing an opportunity to create a moment. “Staircase design can make or break that part of the house,” Liebler says. “Stairs are beautiful; a feature that’s celebrated. The beauty of the handrail, the continuous curve of the form … these elements are critical.” 5. Make room for a four-season porch. Not only is the porch a traditional part of a lake home, but for contemporary homeowners, porches have become almost year-round extensions of the living space and a connection to the outdoors. To add more draw to the porch, Liebler often adds a fireplace and big folding doors that lead out to those spaces. 6. Choose materials with authenticity. For one, don’t shy away from wood. “Homes have been built out of wood for hundreds of years,” Liebler says. So cedar shingles, siding and trim are natural products that “add a ton of authenticity.” A cedar roof gives a house a timeless appearance, too. He also likes working with copper flashings and trim which, although expensive, “add so much visual interest and can elevate the look.” 7. Utilize an extensive amount of glass. From an investment standpoint, windows can be one of the biggest-ticket items, but Liebler reminds, “What you are paying for is the view of the lake, the experience of living on the water. That interaction through the windows is worth the investment.” MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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88 81 A LV I N A S T R L, L A K E A N N

4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,800 Sq Ft

How sweet it is at this one of a kind Sweet Lake waterfront estate. Custom finishes you don’t see every day. Stone fireplace that is a work of art. Full log home that has been loved and cared for over the years and stands the test of time. Stunning wrap around porch with covered area overlooking the lake for enjoying sunsets or the summer rain. Many recent updates including a newer Geothermal heat system, kitchen counters, appliances, roof, chinking and stain. Rare opportunity to have peace, tranquility and privacy with this legacy, one of a kind waterfront property. Situated on 5 acres with 300’ of private frontage on Sweet Lake which is a private lake. Many happy memories made here, ready for the next owner to enjoy. 15 Minutes to Downtown TC, 15 minutes to Crystal Mountain! Custom built by Maple Island Log homes, windows, interior, floors, everything feels better than new! Over the years the owners added extensive gardens with water scapes and pond that adorn the gentle rolling slopes to the waters edge. Sandy bottom lake that is perfect for swimming. Dock and outdoor shower. Being a private lake you won’t experience jet skies or big boat tie offs, just nature, the loons call, campfires, kids laughter and joy. A true “legacy” waterfront estate which can sleep up to 12 of your most favorite people!

1 0 1 9 1 P E N I N S U L A D R , T R AV ERSE C ITY 3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 2,191 Sq Ft | $1,200,000 Peninsula Drive Waterfront Home- west facing to take in the pristine waters of West Grand Traverse Bay and all its splendor. Overlooking sunsets, Power Island views, sitting in an Adirondack chair, your feet in the sugar sand with a bonfire crackling--ready for you to move right in. This turnkey, immaculate-fully furnished Peninsula home provides instant comfort and relaxation. From the front covered porch overlooking the bay to the outdoor shower and woodside deck in the back, you will have no problem claiming where you want to relax. Generous kitchen, dining and living areas to entertain a crowd, yet not overwhelming for the day-to-day. Master suite has a main bedroom with additional sleeping area or sitting room and 2 extra closets for seasonal storage, relaxing garden tub and separate shower. Gorgeous maple floors on the main floor. Large main floor laundry to keep up with the beach towels. Bountiful storage throughout with basement and garage, plus extra linen, coat, and broom closets along with cabinetry in main floor laundry. This lake home has been exceptionally maintained over the years--pride of ownership shows! Minutes to the wineries or for a quick bite at the Boat House or Peninsula Grill. If you want all the magic of the Peninsula, this home has it all!

Cindy Anderson Cindy Anderson M A NMANAGING A G I N G B R O BROKER KER

231.218.5324 231.218.5324

canderson@lakehomes.com canderson@lakehomes.com www.LakeHomes.com www.LakeHomes.com 12935 SW Bay Shore Dr., STE 335 Traverse City, MI 49684

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Selling the family cottage? Here’s how to do it right. by Lisa Blake

The emotional and physical exchange that comes with selling the family lake home can be heavy. Use these tips to lighten the load. Family properties are highly sentimental, carrying generations of memories. How do you let go? And make it all worth it? Lake Homes Realty Associate Broker Cindy Anderson helps us dissect what she calls one of the biggest conflicts she’s seen in the real estate industry.

the best price. You want to be on the edge of where the buyer cannot say no and not have buyers find the repairs. Make it a family affair. When it comes time to sell, have a family meeting. You may get pushback and that’s okay. Ultimately, it is up to the decision maker. Just make sure voices have been heard.

When it comes to family cottages, what are the biggest seller mistakes you see? There are so many emotions when a family goes to sell what is basically their memories, and many times emotions cloud their approach. I often see families list emotionally, going with the agent who sends them calendars over the years and not interviewing to find the best fit. Look at hiring a lake home agent much like you would hire a heart surgeon. Would you hire a heart surgeon based on an ad on a park bench? Experience and market coverage area matters in getting the maximum dollar and best results.

What are some of the nuances of selling a lake property? Let’s say the property was built in the 1950s before building codes were invented. You can run into what we call dry wells, which are old-fashioned septics, or you may have water wells where the water has never been tested. Many times, families do not know where the septic field is and find that it is an old field that is leaching into the lake. The property may be a part of an old plat where there has not been a survey in years. We have run into waterfront properties without any waterfront attached. We are prepared for just about anything.

It’s a hot seller’s market. How can a lakefront homeowner use this to their advantage? List smart. Don’t fall for the strategy of listing low and having a piranha-like feeding frenzy. That creates negative emotions and only benefits the real estate agent’s business; it’s a dog and pony show at the seller’s expense. Craft a careful market strategy instead. Because our brokerage only sells lake homes, we know the regional market as well as state and national. Only selling to the immediate area leaves hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table. I have story after story of listings that we sold for $50,000, $100,000, $400,000 more than what the sellers were told by others. People may be looking to buy in Michigan, upstate New York, South Carolina, etc. We have our finger on the pulse of the lake home buyer, because that is all we do here in Northern Michigan and throughout the country.

Any insight for buyers? Our lake homes forecast is based on the representative from the Fed who visited us in October and indicated rates would climb by two points overall by the end of 2022. The forecast also was that sellers will want to take advantage of this market because they are fearful that it will end soon, so we will see more inventory on the water. Inventory is still short, but we are starting to see more waterfront homes come to market at the writing of this article. My prediction is short-term rentals will start to see backlash not only in Northern Michigan, but in all vacation destinations in the U.S. They can be a negative if you have a property next door to one of them; they impact the environment of our inland lakes, and many townships and neighborhoods are moving toward banning them completely. My professional opinion is short-term rentals do not belong on inland lakes. If you are considering buying a short-term rental, I would be very cautious of the environment surrounding your investment— you are a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.

How can sellers prepare? Estate plan if you can. Suburban houses usually sell every five years, so there is not a big legacy attached. With lake homes, mom and dad built the house when they retired and summer after summer families hang out there. There is a much longer holding period for a lake home. As soon as you buy a lake home, have your exit strategy in place or be thinking about it. Don’t leave it to your kids; be a part of the process early on. Maintain your property’s septic, exterior and interior. We go through and advise on what repairs or staging are needed to get

About Cindy Anderson: A Detroit native, Cindy spent every spring, summer and fall on the lakes of Northern Michigan. Fond family memories and deep knowledge of lake living spurred her successful 30-plus-year real estate career in Northern Michigan, for which she’s been honored with more than a dozen awards and designations. When she’s not in her office, Cindy and her husband are making memories with their four children, their spouses and three grandchildren, or cruising the lakes on their 42-foot sailboat. MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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Home Services Guide Your Building & Remodeling Resource Guide

The essential Northern Michigan guide for building, remodeling and decorating your home. Whether your home project involves building a new home from scratch, just adding a bath, or landscaping your special bit of the North, you’ll find the talented, skilled suppliers and craftspeople and skilled services you need in MyNorth Home Services guide.

Architects Audio & Video Systems Builders & Contractors Excavating Financial Services Kitchen & Bath Designers Millwork Real Estate

Visit link.mynorth.com/homeservices for more resources, products and services for homes and cottages in Northern Michigan.

34 MyNorth.com

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EXCAVATING

ARCHITECTS

ALPERS EXCAVATING

RAY KENDRA, AIA 10241 E. Cherry Bend Road Traverse City, MI 49684 231-946-1234

Ray Kendra, AIA; Local knowledge + Lifestyle and site inspired architecture. We believe architecture is rooted in its environment, and should be inspired by the uniqueness of each site and each client. env-arch.com

JOSEPH MOSEY ARCHITECTURE, INC. Elk Rapids. 231-498-2500 Northville. 248-515-4477

When architecture is done beautifully, it has the same power over the mind as music, poetry or any healthy activity, creating meaningful human experiences. josephmoseyarchitecture.com

SEARS ARCHITECTS 16 Ionia Ave SW, Suite 1 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 616-336-8495

We are an award winning boutique architecture and planning firm with projects that include private individuals, historic residential associations, and private developers. searsarchitects.com

16 S. West Silver Lake Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685 231-943-4710

FINANCIAL SERVICES GREENSTONE FARM CREDIT SERVICES

3515 West Rd East Lansing , MI 48808 800-444-3276

GreenStone supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. Visit greenstonefcs.com to learn more about country living financing including vacant land, home sites, home construction and country homes.

KITCHEN & BATH DESIGNERS

@HOME CABINETRY & INTERIORS

808 S. Garfield Ave, Suite B Traverse City, MI 49686 231-947-7040

WHITE & LIEBLER ARCHITECTS 117 Howard St., Petoskey, MI 49770 231-347-6870

Providing high quality residential and resort architectural services since 1979. Our project scope ranges from small residential additions to large estate residences, commercial buildings and institutional projects. white-liebler.com

Complete Excavating Services including removal of existing structures. Installation of Septic Systems. Water & Sewer Hookup. Residential & Commercial. Family owned and operated since 1969. alpersexcavating.com

Creating your dream home shouldn’t be an overwhelming experience. Let us guide you through the design process in a way that makes it fun & exciting! We provide design and construction. Initial consultation is complimentary. Call for appointment. homecabinetryandinteriors.com KITCHEN CHOREOGRAPHY 420 S. Division, Traverse City, MI 49684 231-932-9700

Northern Michigan’s leading design firm, we provide outstanding interior design for new construction and remodeling projects. Visit our award-winning, historically renovated showroom to discover how our team coordinates projects seamlessly from design to completion. kitchenchoreography.net

AUDIO & VIDEO SYSTEMS, HOME AUTOMATION WAARA TECHNOLOGIES 144 Hall St., Ste. B, Traverse City 49684 • 231-935-4511

We specialize in lighting control, home theater design, audio and HD video distribution, home and commercial internet networks, and whole-house automation. Come visit our showroom. waaratechnologies.com

MILLWORK Petoskey and Traverse City 800-968-7236

Since 1977, a leader in architectural woodwork for the building contractor and homeowner. Doors.Windows, Molding, Stair parts, & Siding. tmmill.com

BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS COOLEY CONTRACTING, LLC

6446 E Traverse Hwy. Traverse City MI 49684 231-933-4336

More than 25 years of experience in building distinctive homes while exceeding the expectations of discriminating clients. We demonstrate a total commitment to quality while specializing in projects of all sizes. jim@cooleycontracting.com

REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE ONE, SUZY VOLTZ 57 N. Michigan Ave, Beulah, MI 49617. 231-651-9711. RealEstateOne.com

40 years experience serving Crystal Lake, Platte Lakes, Glen Lakes and Lake Michigan areas. Resort, residential, vacation and commercial properties. Contact Suzy Voltz at suzy.voltz@gmail.com

PAUL MAURER GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC.

10167 E. Cherry Bend Rd., Traverse City, MI 49684 231-941-1448

Paul Maurer General Contracting has been building some of Northern Michigan’s finest, most innovative custom homes for more than 40 years. Call on Paul Maurer Home Services for expert handling of smaller projects, maintenance, and major home improvements. paulmaurer.com

MyNorth Real Estate & Home Services 2022

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The Water is easy to find.

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takes experience... See Don. Photo by Anderson Aerial Photography: Torch Lake in forground, Elk Lake, East Bay, West Bay, Lake Michigan

CallDon DonFedrigon Fedrigon Call Call Fedrigon

#1 Selling Realtorininthe the County 5County County Grand #1 Selling Realtor Grand #1Selling SellingRealtor Realtor in Grand #1 the 5 5 County Grand Traverse Regioninin2021, 2021,2020, 2020, 2019 & 2018. Traverse Region 2020, 2019 &2018. 2018. TraverseRegion Region 2019 & Traverse in 2021, 2020, 2019 & 2018.

231 218-8400cell cell 231 218-8400 231 cell cell 264-5400 231264-5400 264-5400office office 231 office office don@remaxelkrapids.com don@remaxelkrapids.com don@remaxelkrapids.com don@remaxelkrapids.com donfedrigon.com donfedrigon.com donfedrigon.com donfedrigon.com 614 US 31 South, Elk Rapids, Ml 49629

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T he Cu l i nary North local restaurants. craft drinks. seasonal cuisine

“

Nasturtiums are slightly spicy, with a welcome floral note that is more subtle than the green pepper kick of a spicy margarita made with jalapeños.

photo by Dave Weidner, styling by Sarah Peschel

—STACEY BRUGEMAN

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3 CHEERS FOR CHERRIES P. 62 FIREFLY’S SMALL PLATES P. 62 STIX, NOW RENOVATED P. 63 CHERRY CLAFOUTIS P. 64 NASTURTIUM MARGARITA P. 66

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T he Cu l i nary North Trends 3 CHEERS FOR CHERRIES by CARLY SIMPSON

In the Cherry Capital of the World, July is the sweetest (and tartest) month of all. Here are three ways to celebrate Traverse City’s favorite fruit.

Nutty Mother Munson Bars

Slabtown Cookie Co. 228 Monroe St., Traverse City

The menu changes daily at this self-serve cookie stand (menu on Instagram; Venmo or cash), but Katie Otterman’s “Mother Munson” bars make regular appearances. The chewy blonde brownies are brimming with pecans, dark chocolate chips and local dried cherries. Follow on Instagram for a special cherrylicious treat Otterman is dreaming up for the week of National Cherry Festival ( July 2–9).

the TART to the brewery!). stonehoundbrewing.com Cherry Turkey Sandwich

Bay Bread Company

Sour de TART

Stone Hound Brewing Co.

601 Randolph St., Traverse City

3593 Bunker Hill Rd., Williamsburg

This refreshingly tart cherry-lemonade beer is only available for a few months each summer. One dollar from each pint is donated to TART Trails (bike

Slices of multigrain bread are slathered with housemade cherry walnut spread and cherry butter from Ellsworth’s Rocky Top Farm. Simply splendid. baybreadco.com

J UST a BITE

From Our Cellar

Lettuce Wraps

The beers, wines or ciders that area beverage professionals are drinking right now.

in july, seats on the riverside patio at firefly are

coveted. But if you manage to nab one, a more difficult challenge awaits—deciding what to order. The downtown Traverse City restaurant known for its small plates and sushi is celebrating 20 years this month. I personally can’t pass up the lettuce wraps: chicken, water chestnuts, edamame, peanuts and hoisin sauce all tucked into crispy romaine. It’s salty, crunchy perfection. But you can’t just order one small plate, right? So also get the sweet potato fries and garlic aioli to share, and cheers to a match made in culinary heaven. 310 Cass St., Traverse City, tcfirefly.com –C.S.

spontaneously fermented natural wines have

been all the rage in coastal wine circles in recent years. But have you tried any of the bottlings from Michigan’s Old Mission AVA? Get your hands on the Neu Cellars 2021 Sparkling Riesling, made by this small-but-mighty father-son winery that brought the natural wine trend to Northern Michigan in a way that actually tastes like Northern Michigan. “Natural wine is an expression of terroir because of the wild ambient yeast,” says chef Forrest Moline, who stocks the label at his equally petite but progressive natural wine shop in Traverse City—Forrest, A Food Studio. Pair this cold-climate natural bubbly with lake trout, walleye or any other fish from this coast. neucellars.com; $33 per 750ml bottle –S.B.

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T he Cu l i nary North Served D I N I N G OUT

STIX 2.0 by CARLY SIMPSON

Five great reasons to visit the new iteration of this beloved restaurant and bowling alley.

photos by Dave Weidner

ndrew riemer has long loved stix, a Ludington restaurant and bowling alley originally built in 1954. Though it’d fallen into disrepair, he dreamed of what it could be. A few years ago, Riemer asked an area Realtor to give him a call if the property was ever put on the market, and in 2020, it was. He rebuilt the aging building from the ground up, creating a modern two-story restaurant with nautical vibes and a little something for everyone: 1) A family-friendly beer garden has games for kids and adults—cornhole, Jenga, bocce—along with a food truck, Argentinian grill, campfires and a huge oak tree wrapped in lights setting the scene.

2) The attached bowling alley was completely renovated and outfitted with the latest technology: Spark by Brunswick Bowling. The augmented reality system projects digital images and mini games onto the lanes; STIX is one of approximately 50 bowling centers in the world to have this new technology,Riemer says. 3) An upstairs patio called The Pier overlooks the beer garden; here you’ll find high-end whiskeys and hear live music on evenings when artists are performing in the garden. 4) The on-site dining is spot on. Riemer interviewed chefs across the nation—New York, Texas, Atlanta—before finding a perfect match in Ryan Wierenga from Lansing, Michigan, who crafts elevated dishes like prosciuttowrapped shrimp for the restaurant alongside more casual pub fare such as wings and loaded fries for the separate bowling alley menu. 5) A scenic setting helps sweeten the destination—STIX is the last business before the entrance to Ludington State Park, which Riemer says is one of the most beautiful state parks in the nation (we don’t disagree). Grab dinner after a day of hiking, biking and beaching. STIX 1963 N. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington stixludington.com NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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T he Cu l i nary North On the Table

ere in the greater grand traverse region, we all get really opinionated about who makes the best cherry pie. Is it the 100-year-old Cherry Hut in Beulah, where my mother worked (and learned to drink coffee) in high school? Is it Traverse City’s Cherry Republic or Grand Traverse Pie Company? What about Friske’s Farm Market in Ellsworth? Is it Grandma’s DINING IN pie, with that secret ratio of butter and lard? Our neighbors across the pond have a better answer to this riddle: Cherry clafoutis. Instead of sandwiching thickened by STACEY BRUGEMAN sour cherries between pie crusts, French cooks love to bake clafoutis— an eggy, custardy, single-layer cake This month, leave cherry pie to others and try your of sorts that is studded with sweet hand at France’s favorite cherry dessert: clafoutis. cherries and can double as breakfast or dessert. It’s the texture of a crêpe, but much thicker. Traditionally, this peasant recipe from the farming rewhat French traditionalists will say about pulling the flagion of Limousin is assembled with the pits still in the vor of the pits in this way, I am sure that there’s no harm cherries. A bowl is placed in the center of the table for in thinking beyond pie and mixing up our repertoire here discarding the pits. It’s been said that leaving them inside in cherry country. And who better to draw a little kitchen helps pull all the flavor from the pits during baking. That inspiration from than the French? said, as good as this dish may be, I’m thinking it might not go over well if I brought this as my dessert to share at Stacey Brugeman is a Leelanau County–based food and the next yacht club barbecue, with a note about spitting beverage writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Food pits. Instead, for this recipe, I pit the cherries, but capture & Wine, Saveur, Travel + Leisure, Eater and Denver’s 5280, all their flavor by first steeping the pits in the milk that where she served as restaurant critic. Follow her on ultimately gets poured into the batter. While I’m not sure Instagram @staceybrugeman.

photo and styling by Sarah Peschel

CHERRY, CHERRY, QUITE CONTRARY

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European Style Cafe

^ Cherry Clafoutis Makes 8 wedges 3 cups sweet cherries, washed and stems removed 1 ¼ cups whole milk Knob of butter (about 2 Tablespoons) 3 large eggs

POINTS NORTH Points North is a show about the land, water, and inhabitants of the upper Great Lakes.

2 Tablespoons kirsch or cherry brandy

Each week we look into what draws people to northern Michigan — the beaches, orchards, dunes, and forests — and the deeper stories behind these postcard settings.

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Fridays at 6:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.

¾ cup all purpose flour

91.5 FM, Traverse City 90.1 FM, Harbor Springs/Petoskey 89.7 FM, Manistee/Ludington

⅓ cup granulated cane sugar 2 pinches salt

confectioners’ sugar for dusting

1. Working over two food storage containers, pit the cherries, placing pits into one container and the fruit in the other. Pour the milk into the container with the pits to soak. Cover both containers and refrigerate overnight.

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2. The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 3. Place a generous knob of butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet and use a paper towel to rub it around the bottom and sides of the pan to coat. Add cherries to the pan and shake until they form a single layer. 4. Crack eggs into a blender and whiz at high speed until they are frothy on top, about 30 seconds. Working over a strainer, pour the milk into the blender, separating and discarding the pits. Add sugar, salt, brandy and vanilla, and pulse a few times to combine. Working in small batches while the blender is running at medium speed, add flour and blend until the mixture resembles frothy cream. 5. Pour the batter over the cherries and place the skillet onto the center rack of the oven. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. 6. Remove the clafoutis from the oven and allow to sit until the edges pull back from the side of the pan, about 15 minutes. While still warm, dust with confectioners’ sugar, cut into wedges and serve. –S.B.

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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T he Cu l i nary North Last Call

A SEED-SAVER’S SIP by STACEY BRUGEMAN

he first time i ate nasturtium flowers— the orange, red or yellow blooms from a low-lying plant that also has edible stems, leaves, and seeds—I was at the Sooke Harbour House on Vancouver Island. This celebrated destination restaurant and inn was also home to an extensive on-site garden. The evening we were there, the bright, fragile flowers came atop a salad of greens also grown on that lovely spit of land overlooking the Juan de Fuca Strait. We went home from our meal that night with a packet of their nasturtium seeds, the most inexpensive and enduring souvenir from a long-ago trip. Here in Northern Michigan, as in southwestern Canada, the nasturtium plant is an annual, but it produces a large seed that is easy to collect and save for replanting the following spring. Every summer at about this time, these colorful flowers open and are such a fun reminder of that bucket-list meal. The flowers are slightly spicy, with a welcome floral note. I adorn salads with them, or julienne the flowers and roll 66

them with butter in wax paper to make nasturtium butter. But there’s one thing I started doing with nasturtium flowers more than a decade ago that my friends still request every July—I muddle them in a shaker and mix up spicy margaritas. They add a flavor that’s more subtle than the green pepper kick of a spicy margarita made with jalapeños. Plus, the muddled flowers give the drink a gorgeous pale orange or light pink hue. Be sure to select a silver tequila, clear Cointreau and a pretty glass—all of which will let this natural coloring stand out. Grab a few tubs of nasturtium flowers from the farmers market or, better yet, order some seeds, and I promise your friends will also insist on a cocktail at your place every July. If they don’t, call me. Stacey Brugeman is a Leelanau County–based food and beverage writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Saveur, Travel + Leisure, Eater and Denver’s 5280, where she served as restaurant critic. Follow her on Instagram @staceybrugeman.

photo by Dave Weidner / styling by Sarah Peschel

Summer’s favorite salad flower is even better muddled into a spicy margarita.

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5 nasturtium flowers 3 ounces blanco tequila 1 ½ ounces Cointreau 1 ½ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice, plus the spent lime kosher salt Place ice cubes in a margarita glass to chill it and cover a small plate with kosher salt. In a dry cocktail shaker, muddle 4 of the nasturtium flowers. Add tequila, Cointreau and lime juice to the shaker and fill with ice, shaking the mixture until it is cold. Discard the ice in the glass, run a spent lime wedge around the edge of the glass, and tip the rim into the plate of salt to coat. Strain the contents of the shaker as you pour into the glass, garnish with the remaining nasturtium flower and serve. –S.B.

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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photo by Allison Jarrell

love of the land

SUMMER BLUES by ALLISON JARRELL

Comb Leland’s beaches for pieces of colorful lake-tumbled slag.

eneath leland’s crystal-clear turquoise waters and along its sandy shorelines lie brightly colored “stones” just waiting to be picked and admired. These prized stone-like gems are actually pieces of lake-tumbled slag—human-created treasures that are a byproduct of Leland’s smelting industry in the late 1800s. Slag glass can be found all over Michigan where smelting occurred, but you have to be in Leland to find the coveted “Leland blue.” Contrary to the name, Leland blues range in color—from blue, purple and gray to what’s called “Frankfort green”—and can have swirling patterns and pits/bubbles throughout, as well as rusty spots from the iron. Good spots to start are Van’s Beach and North Beach. It can take your eyes awhile to adjust to slag spotting, but once you find a piece or two, you’ll be hooked. Got skunked? Summer is the perfect time to wade out into the cold waters of Lake Michigan, but more visiting rockhounds can mean it’ll be harder to find pieces of slag. If you’re looking for a more peaceful (and potentially bountiful) experience, hit the beach early in the morning, or come back to hunt in the spring and fall, especially after a strong storm. Rock hunting laws: Per Michigan law, an individual can’t remove more than 25 pounds per year of any rock, mineral (exclusive of any gold-bearing material) or invertebrate fossil from state-owned land for personal or non-commercial hobby use. And it’s illegal under federal law to remove stones from a national lakeshore.

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Traverse Northern Michigan's Magazine July 2022

Articles inside

LOVE OF THE LAND

EDITOR'S NOTE

UP NORTH

EVENTS

UP IN MICHIGAN

TRAVEL