Issuu

northern home & cottage

INSIDE

0 4 . 20 2 6

Best New Restaurants CONSIDER THIS YOUR EDIBLE TO-DO LIST.

BLINK AND THEY’RE GONE: A LOVE LETTER TO SPRING’S WILDFLOWERS—AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

HIGH-END, LOW-SEASON: APRIL’S BEST LUXURY HOTEL ESCAPES

(MINUS THE PEAK-SEASON PRICE TAG)

APRIL 2O26

0426_TVM COVER.indd 1

$6.5O

3/9/26 12:28 PM

Three decades and three generations making one of a kind creations

Serving Northern

Michigan for over 30 years.

Specializing in custom design & designer collections wexfordjewelers.com • 231-775-1289 0426_TVM COVER.indd 2

3/9/26 12:31 PM

0426_TVM_TOC.masthead.indd 1

3/9/26 2:27 PM

Building and Renovating Northern Michigan’s Finest Residences

joel@joelpetersonhomes.com • 516 E. Front St., Traverse City • 231.994.2168

The Ottaway delivers an exceptional luxury living experience in the heart of downtown Traverse City, offering fully furnished, designer curated residences in an exclusive four home boutique building. Timeless architecture, refined finishes, private elevators, rooftop pool amenities, and sweeping water views create a truly elevated Northern Michigan address. Call Tommy Corbett at 617-515-9707 for more information.

brickcorbett.com 231.715.1464

0426_TVM_TOC.masthead.indd 2

3/5/26 3:23 PM

features 04.26

The Baker Bakers

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

A Northern Michigan couple finds the good life Up North through predawn shifts, fresh cookies and time outdoors.

BY M AT T H E W D U R S U M / P H O T O S BY C O U R T N E Y K E N T

//22 22//

Golden Afternoon

You can learn a lot of things from the flowers— but you have to know what to look for first. S T O RY A N D P H O T O S BY A L L I S O N JA R R E L L AC O STA

//28 28//

Now Open!

The last 12 months of Northern Michigan restaurant openings have left us breathless,prompting us to eat our way across the region to curate the best of the bunch.

BY M AT T H E W D U R S U M , N I C O L E L A N E

A N D CA R A M C D O N A L D P H O T O S BY C O U R T N E Y K E N T

43// /43 SPECIAL SECTION:

Northern Home & Cottage

photo by Courtney Kent

0426_TVM_TOC.masthead.indd 3

APRIL 2026

3/5/26 4:19 PM

Sports

Ashiatsu Deep Tissue

Swedish

Pregnancy Integrative

Stay Active!

with Regular Massage Downtown Traverse City l ZenMassage-TC.com l 231.632.2309

Booking Online

0426_TVM_TOC.masthead.indd 4

3/4/26 11:02 AM

3214 Tibbets Dr, Traverse City, MI Waterfront home on a peaceful no-wake lake Large windows with abundant natural light Split floor plan with private primary suite Main-floor laundry and ample pantry storage Walkout lower level with two bedrooms and office Kitchenette and multiple lower-level living areas Bonus space off garage for flexible use

MLS #1942306 l $775,000

ANN PORTER Ann Porter

ASSOCIATE BROKER / REALTOR

departments 9 | Editor’s Note 11 | Up North

Novelist Sara Maurer’s poignant debut crafts a tender meditation on love.

17 | Travel

Four luxury staycation destinations that will make you fall in love with the shoulder season.

63 | Culinary North

Delicious bites at a snug Traverse City creêperie, plus the chai latte that haunts our dreams.

photo by Dave Weidner

72 | Love of the Land

Spotting spring’s earliest ephemeral along Boardman Lake. ON THE COVER

ASSOCIATE BROKER

231.944.4959 231.944.4959 Ann@AnnPorterTC.com

Ann@AnnPorterTC.com

FindVisit detailed listing information AnnPorterTC.com for atmore www.AnnPorterTC.com information. 521 Randolph Street, Traverse City, 49684 521 Randolph Street, Traverse City, MI MI 49684

The Daily Splash

Daily Stories from life up north, delivered straight to your inbox on weekday mornings! Daily stories from life Up North, delivered straight to your inbox on weekday mornings! Subscribe here: MyNorth.com/Newsletter Subscribe here:

MyNorth.com/Newsletter

Landon McDaid of Birdie’s in Suttons Bay. Photo by Courtney Kent

APRIL 2026

0426_TVM_TOC.masthead.indd 5

3/9/26 9:55 AM

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

There’s no time like now to plan for tomorrow What’s important to you? Let’s We map out future canyour help youtogether. get there. Traverse City

You can leave aligns with yo Start here.

Joel Leipprandt Jamie Keillor Jim Mellinger Financial Advisor Financial Advisor Financial Advisor CFP®, AAMSTM 806 S Garfield Ave Copper Ridge Dr, Jon Lamb 12935 S. West Bay Shore AlysiaDr. Boynton-Fisher Financial Advisor Heather Boivin, Jamie4110 Keillor ® ™ Airport Road WestFinancial Suite B BldgAdvisor D, Suite 202 355 Financial Advisor South Financial Suite Advisor CFP3285 , AAMS Heather Traverse City Boivin,

Traverse City, MI 49684 Financial Advisor 3285231-933-5263 South Airport Road West

Traverse City, MI 49684 231-933-5263 Yancy Boivin, AAMSTM

Traverse City,Dr, MI 49684 12935 S West Traverse City,Dr MI 49686 12935 S West BayTraverse Shore Dr City, MI 49686 4110 Copper Ridge Bay Shore Suite 355 231-932-1290 231-252-3561 231-947-1123 Bldg D, Suite 202 Suite 355 Traverse City, MI 49686 Traverse City, MI 49684 Traverse City, MI 49686 231-947-1123 231-252-3561 231-947-1123 Justin Liptak Jon Lamb

Interlochen

Financial Advisor Financial Advisor Financial Advisor ™ Yancy Boivin, AAMS Road WestJustin Liptak Andrew 12935 Weaver 513 S. Union Street S. West Bay Shore Dr. 3285 South Airport Interlochen Bill Collin, ABFPTM Financial Advisor Financial Advisor Financial Advisor Traverse City, MI 49684 Suite 355 Traverse City, MI 49684 ™ Financial Advisor Bill Collin, ABFP 3285231-933-5263 South Airport Road West 513 S 231-933-0881 Union Street 125 Park Street Traverse City, MI 49686 Traverse City, MI 49684 Traverse City, MI 49684 Suite 250 9672 US Highway 31 Financial Advisor 231-947-1123 231-933-5263 231-933-0881 Traverse City, MI 49684 9672 US HighwaySuite 31 400 Andrew Weaver John W. Elwell, AAMSTM 231-947-3032 Suite 400 Interlochen, MI 49643 Financial Advisor Leah Pierce 3588 Veterans Dr Advisor ™ JohnFinancial W Elwell, AAMS Interlochen, MI 49643 Jim Mellinger 231-276-1355 Joel Leipprandt 125 Park Street Financial Advisor 3588 Veterans Dr. 231-276-1355 Financial Advisor Traverse City, MI 49684 Financial Advisor Financial 12935 Advisor Suite 250 S. West Bay Shore Dr. Suite 2 3588 Veterans Dr 12935 S West Bay Shore Dr 231-947-0079 Traverse City, MI 49684 806 S Garﬁeld SuiteAve 355 Traverse MI 49684 Traverse City, MICity, 49684 Suite 355 Suite B Traverse City, MI 49686 231-947-3032 231-947-0079 231-947-0079 Traverse City, MI 49686 Traverse City, MI 49686 231-947-1123 231-947-1123

John W Elwell, AAMS® Financial Advisor

231-932-1290

0426_TVM_TOC.masthead.indd 6

MKT-5894O-A-A1

EJB-19325-A-E-DA-4 AECSPAD 26446412

3/4/26 11:02 AM

Traverse

NORTHERN

MICHIGAN A MyNorth Media Publication

Vol. 45 | No. 11

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Cara McDonald S. Nicole Lane Matthew Dursum

PROOFREADER

Caroline Dahlquist

EXECUTIVE EDITOR SENIOR EDITOR

Allison Jarrell Acosta Lissa Martin Meagan Francis Carly Simpson

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

Tim Hussey Theresa Burau-Baehr > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC ART DIRECTOR

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

Rachel Watson Lisa Froning

DIRECTOR OF SALES LOCAL SALES DIRECTOR

Michael Assink

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Sabrina Haskell Heather Houdek Carrie Iverson Paul Marek Kathy Netzley Todd Norris

DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT/SUBSCRIPTIONS

Asher Considine

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR

Ashlyn Korienek

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES

415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684 Phone: 231-775-3478 | Email: info@mynorth.com SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

eave a legacy that th your values. e.

AMS®

Visit MyNorth.com/Account to renew your subscription, change your address or review your account. Subscribe to Traverse Northern Michigan at MyNorth.com/Subscribe. Please email other subscription inquiries to info@mynorth.com or call 231-775-3478 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

Traverse Northern Michigan, (ISSN10713719) is published monthly by Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan, 415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684. Periodicals class postage paid at Traverse City, MI 49684 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Traverse Northern Michigan, 415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684. Advertising rates available upon request. Subscription rate: $39.95 for 12 issues. Single issue price: $6.50. All rights reserved. Copyright 2026, Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

instagram.com/mynorthmedia

A-A1

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 Branch Manager

Cole T. Blades, MBA, CFP®, AIF®, ABFP® Financial Advisor

Jim Stoops, AWMA®, CRPC® First Vice President, Investments

Courtney C. Jackson Complex Business Coordinator

H. Todd Jandreski, CFP® Vice President, Investments

Susan Stepka Registered Client Service Associate

Youker, CFP®, CRPC® Jeff Jennifer K. Pasche, CFA Financial Advisor Senior Vice President, Investments Traverse City Complex Manager 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

M. Bonaccini JenniferPaul S. Bunker ClientVice Service AssociateInvestments President,

Accredited Asset Management Specialist Tyne Hyslop Financial Advisor Jennifer Youker, CFP®, CRPC® Financial Advisor Eric H. Palo Financial Advisor James Spencer, ChFC, AAMS Associate Vice President, Investments Robert Fenton Financial Advisor

13818 S West Bay Shore Dr • Traverse City, MI 49684 • (231) 946-3650

13818 S West Bay Shore Dr. • Traverse City, MI 49684 (231) 946-3650 • www.raymondjames.com/Traverse-City

Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Raymond James® is a registered trademark of Raymond James Financial, Inc. 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. CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (with plaque design) in the U.S.

APRIL 2026

46412

0426_TVM_TOC.masthead.indd 7

3/4/26 11:02 AM