Traverse Northern Michigan, January 2026

/ PLUS: NORTHERN MICHIGAN WEDDINGS /

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SKI LIKE A LOCAL THE INTEL, UPGRADES AND OFF-MENU FINDS OF THE SEASON

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Winter is more than an outdoor destination in Manistee.

The natural beauty is paired with the right combination of small-town hospitality, fantastic food and a unique dose of Michigan history and culture.

Whether you are here for an epic winter adventure in the great outdoors or have more of a low-key getaway in mind, you are sure to be delighted by all there is to see and do in our corner of The Mitten.

Discover all the ways to winter at: VisitManistee.com

Fishing on the Upper Big Manistee River

The Arcadia Overlook along Lake Michigan and the M-22 scenic highway

Downhill skiing at Caberfae Peaks

Fat biking at Big M Recreation Area

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106 E Front St. Traverse City, MI

Photo by Jess Marie Photography

Performing Arts at City Opera House: FRI

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Invoke tHU

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Interlochen Singer Songwriter SUN FEB

WEDDINGS HISTORIC | ELEGANT | DOWNTOWN

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Puppy Pals Live!

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Women of Americana WED MAY

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The Moth Radio Hour

EXPLORE THE VENUE www.cityoperahouse.org

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features 01.26

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

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The Great Northern Glow-Up Michigan’s ski country has entered its self-care era: salt spas, tiki bars, faster lifts, fewer lines, delightful food.

Here’s what’s making a ski day worth the drive this winter.

BY CA R A M C D O N A L D

/22 22//

The Groove Lives On

The vinyl resurgence is having a moment.

We’re here with the liner notes to help you turn on, tune in and drop the needle.

29// / 29 SPECIAL SECTION:

Northern Michigan

WEDDINGS

BY JOSEPH BEYER

P H O T O S BY M I C H A E L P O E H L M A N

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photo by Rachel Lefor, Boyne Mountain

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Design in action: the team reviewing samples in our new tile room.

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67 US 31 S., TRAVERSE CITY, MI 12/4/25 3:03 PM

NORTHERN

MICHIGAN A MyNorth Media Publication

Vol. 45 | No. 8

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Cara McDonald S. Nicole Lane Matthew Dursum

PROOFREADER

Caroline Dahlquist

EXECUTIVE EDITOR SENIOR EDITOR

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

Allison Jarrell Acosta Lissa Martin Meagan Francis Carly Simpson

ART DIRECTOR

Tim Hussey Theresa Burau-Baehr

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

Rachel Watson Lisa Froning

DIRECTOR OF SALES LOCAL SALE DIRECTOR

Sabrina Haskell

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Heather Houdek Carrie Iverson Paul Marek Jack Rutkowski

DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT/SUBSCRIPTIONS

Asher Considine

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Ashlyn Korienek

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departments 07 | Editor’s Note 09 | Up North

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

The Leelanau Conservancy and Anishinaabe elders are re-imagining what it means to care for the Great Lakes region together.

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

Visit MyNorth.com/Account to renew your subscription, change your address or review your account.

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On the Keweenaw Peninsula, the Finnish spirit turns winter into a season of joy.

53 | Culinary North

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 2025, Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan.

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An elderberry cocktail to ward off winter’s chill. Plus, community comes to the table at India Garden.

64 | Love of the Land photo by Tim Hussey

T

Traverse

Explore one of winter’s most underrated hikes.

ON THE COVER

The Groove Lives On Photo by Michael Poehlman

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Editor’s Note

BLACK (JACKET) MAGIC

W

hen he was about 9, the one thing my son Alek wanted more than anything was an official competition center ski jacket. It wasn’t enough just to be in our home resort’s race-training program—he wanted that black Spyder jacket with the sponsor patches and the proud logo.

Ever since he’d begun skiing as a 2-year-old, he’d watched packs of “comp center” kids whiz by in a blur of black.

They traveled in packs, popping over bumps, flinging snow with their wide, confident turns and nicking the backs of other people’s skis as they cut uncomfortably close to us mere mortals on the slopes.

For Alek, it was a love-hate fascination: He hated their show-off-y behavior. He yearned to belong to their fearless herd.

So, when he was big enough and a serious-enough skier to merit a jacket, he got his wish. As his dad took the jacket out of its plastic bag and held it up to his shoulders to check the fit, Alek leaned in for a wordless hug.

We told him: Once you wear it, you’re no longer anonymous. You’re an ambassador for the mountain. As I smeared sunscreen on his cheeks each morning, I’d remind him not to be “that guy,” the one who caused slow-moving skiers to flinch and parents to pull their kids close as you flew right on by.

It’s a charge he took to heart. Alek tended toward the shy, but that jacket seemed to impart a magic. It made him brave. If a little kid ate it unloading from the lift, he’d glide in to hoist up an elbow. If a grownup caught an edge and had a yard sale, he’d slide to a stop to hand them a rogue ski or lost pole.

As the years went by, the sleeves grew short. He sized up—in jackets, in skis and in maturity. His confidence grew and so did his heart, which manifested in a delightful phenomenon. He chatted with strangers on the lift.

The default ski-team mode was to pile on a chair with your buddies, the bar up, skis casually swinging. But Alek found something that unlocked his ambassadorship: He’d turn to strangers on the chair and ask, “How’s your day going?” As a question, it’s a gimme—most days on the slopes are very good days. But sometimes on the lift, people told of healing injuries, or traffic jams en route to the mountain. They talked about the runs they’d explored, other

mountains they skied. Old timers remembered their days of ski racing, or shared stories about their kids’ and grandkids’ racing exploits.

In turn, Alek would share his favorite runs, fastest lift lines, where to find the waffle shack, or give a shout out for the bumpy, through-the-trees trail little kids loved. As the lift crept into the unload zone, he’d give a mittened wave and call out, “Have a good one.”

The first time I witnessed this, I got a little teary-eyed— not just to see his kindness, but also his bravery. I gave it a try myself. As my kids trained on the mountain, I’d hop the singles line to ride a chair with strangers and, if the situation seemed right, ask, “How’s your day going?” As we talked about their day, or their visit, or their season, it filled me with a sense of camaraderie and appreciation for the pure luck I had to live in ski country. In return, I’d share my intel for the best mocha, the tucked-away tapas spot, the bar with the big stone fireplace.

Consider this our ambassadorial moment. In this issue, we roll out some news from the resorts as well as our hot takes: We’ll share where we go for expert terrain. The best times to beat the lift lines. Fun runs for experts. Food that doesn’t just get you through a cold day, but actually inspires a little sigh of contentment. We guarantee you will find at least one “Aha!” in here that makes your day on the slopes a little more satisfying. So, from us to you, a mittened wave. Have a good one.

Cara McDonald, Executive Editor cara@mynorth.com

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Turning Dreams into Milestones. forestarea.com

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Up North

local buzz · nostalgic finds · travel inspo

“

Are our properties truly open to everyone—elders, children, all people?

— JENEE ROWE

Kira Davis, Indigenous Knowledges Project contributor

EDITORS’ PICKS: OUR BEST DISCOVERIES

photo by Courtney Kent

P. 11

LISTENING TO THE LAND P. 13

FINDING FINLAND P. 14

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Vince’s Jewelers at Logan’s Landing

231-929-1936 • vincesjewelers.com Buying • Consigning • Resale

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Up North Curiosities

EDITORS’ PICKS

The secret discoveries we tell our friends about.

top photo courtesy of Ishpeming Ski Club // right photo courtesy of Port City Smokehouse

Soaring High Up North

Few thrills beat watching winter athletes launch themselves into the sky. This January, I’ll join the crowd at the 139th Annual Ski Jumping Tournament in Ishpeming, home to the longest-running ski jumping competition in the country.

I won’t clip into the skis, but I’ll chase the rush from the sidelines. Food trucks, beer tents, bonfires and fireworks send the town into full-throttle celebration mode. The tournament kicks off on January 16 with a U.S. Cup competition, and on January 17, Suicide Hill sends skiers soaring and leaves viewers wide-eyed and gasping. So whether you ski or simply admire, head to the U.P. to make even the coldest January feel electric.

– Nicole Lane

Happy Trails

Smoky Snacks

– Cara McDonald

- Matthew Dursum

As a Nordic skier I’m thankful to live close to the Vasa’s mighty system and to Hickory Hill’s race-accredited trails with their snow–gun boosted base. But my truest love is for the humble 6K at Traverse City’s Hickory Meadows.

This free community loop promises me a quick 30-minute workout that I know by heart—a spaghetti bowl of looping tracks that offer fast flats and just a few climbs to get the heart going. Insider scoop: If you can catch fresh corduroy here, it makes for sublime and seamless skating, thanks to meticulous pre-season mowing and a seasoned trail crew.

Smoked fish—chubs, whitefish, salmon—was a treat in my childhood home. Those smoky, umami-rich fillets crowned salads and occasionally made their way into my school lunches. Today, I keep the tradition alive with stops at Port City Smokehouse in Frankfort, where fresh-caught fillets are cured and smoked over the low heat of sugar maple logs until golden, tender and deeply flavorful. I bring home a small haul—and enjoy one on the drive back to Traverse City for a post-surf snack that screams Up North.

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Up North Buzz

LISTENING TO THE LAND

by NICOLE LANE

Through the Indigenous Knowledges Project, the Leelanau Conservancy and Anishinaabe are re-imagining what it means to care for the Great Lakes region together.

photo by Courtney Kent

O

n a quiet fall day, grand traverse Band elder Hank Bailey sits on a weathered stump beneath a canopy of oaks. A feather rests in his hat. One hand is steady on a fallen tree while he looks out to the land around him. As the camera rolls, Bailey’s voice cuts through the hush of the woods with a measured and strong voice.

Growing up, he would hunt, trap and fish for his family.

He tells the story of following the same trails he had always walked with his eight siblings. One day, he remembers, he came face-to-face with something he had never seen before: a “No Trespassing” sign freshly nailed to a tree. He recalls thinking, “Wow, does that mean me?”

The bitter moment stayed with him. The land where he and his ancestors had walked was rapidly shrinking, fenced off by lines and signs. Decades later, he shares these stories with the Leelanau Conservancy as part of the Indigenous Knowledges Project, a collaboration that seeks to amplify Native voices and reshape how Northern Michigan understands land stewardship.

The project is a partnership between the Conservancy, media producer Mark Wilson of New Leonard Media and members of the Anishinaabe community. Its videos and podcasts, available on YouTube, Spotify and the Conservancy website, feature tribal citizens speaking about land, water and kinship.

“This is a new chapter,” says Jenee Rowe, the Conservancy’s land protection and project manager. “It’s very personal.

We’re going slowly, building deep, long-term relationships because both tribal and non-tribal communities care deeply about this place.”

Before the project officially began, Conservancy staff spent years walking the land with elders like Joanne Cook and Eva Petoskey, learning how to collaborate respectfully.

Before all interviews, clear consent and review agreements were established with opportunities for review and reflection.

I

Podcast guest Kira Davis reflects on community healing and the collaboration between tribal nations and the National Park Service.

“We wanted people to feel safe and seen,” Rowe says. “Elders hold stories that aren’t in books. They carry the history of this place in their memories.”

In his video segment, Bailey gazes toward a nearby river, the sunlight flickering off the flowing water. “The value of this land is beyond words,” he says. “What kind of world would we live in if we didn’t have birds singing to us every day?” For him, caring for the land isn’t a task—it’s a relationship. The forest, the water, the sky: All are relatives.

Out of these conversations and stories has come a shift in perspective for the Conservancy. The project has prompted harder questions. “Are our properties truly open to everyone—elders, children, all people?” Rowe says. “And are we doing enough to make sure the habitats we protect connect with others? Those are lessons coming directly from these conversations.”

Rowe believes the project’s success won’t be measured by metrics or grant reports but by longevity. “If we’re still in conversation years from now, still listening—that’s success,” she says.

Each episode highlights a different aspect of stewardship. Kira Davis discusses integrating ecological knowledge with Western science. Tera John and Courtney Miller touch on allyship in creating safe spaces for Indigenous voices. Joanne Cook guides us through the healing power of honoring water.

The Indigenous Knowledges Project reveals that the land itself is a teacher, and those who’ve known it longest are its first students. “The project is a 101 course,” says Rowe. In a region that defines itself by its natural beauty, Bailey’s message lingers: Protecting Northern Michigan’s wild places means listening to the land, to each other and to the stories that have always been there. “It’s been a beautiful, beautiful process,” Rowe says. “And we’re just getting started. Tune in.”

Nicole Lane is senior editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.

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Up North Outdoors

FINDING FINLAND

by CARLY SIMPSON

On the Keweenaw Peninsula, saunas steam beneath frosted pines, folklore parades brighten the dark and the Finnish spirit turns winter into a season of joy.

I photo courtesy of

n the heart of the keweenaw peninsula, on hancock’s main streets, bilingual Finnish-English street signs guide you past cozy cafés and wood-fired saunas, and the rhythm of life flows to a distinctly Nordic beat.

In fact, the five northwestern-most counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are the only in the U.S. where Finns are the largest ethnic group.

It’s no surprise, then, that Hancock has been named the 2026 FinnoUgric Capital of Culture—the first city in North America, and the first outside a region indigenous to any of the Finno-Ugric peoples, to hold that title. With one of the deepest concentrations of Finnish heritage in the U.S., it’s an affirmation of what locals have always known. “The Finnish spirit is woven into our identity, from the early immigrants who worked the mines and farms to our modern-day sauna culture, distinct architecture and deep sense of community,” says Brad Barnett, Visit Keweenaw’s executive director.

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Vault Hotel

Mt. Bohemia

That authenticity is easy for visitors to experience. Start, as every Finn would, with a sauna.

Across the Keweenaw, steam rises above both public and private setups, including the Nordic Spa at Mount Bohemia, with three to choose from—a classic Finnish sauna, herbal and Himalayan salt—plus, cold plunge and hot springs mineral pools. Along the Portage Canal in Hancock, the new Takka Portage saunas offer social and private sessions.

Sisu, a Finnish concept of perseverance and inner grit, is best understood outdoors, where locals find joy in the deep freeze. As soon as the snow flies, winter trails become a playground.

At Swedetown Recreation Area in Calumet, glide through frosted forests on 29 km of groomed cross-country ski trails or 9 miles for snow bikes. Just north of downtown Hancock, Maasto Hiihto, Finnish for cross-country ski, has 25 km of classic skiing with creek and forest views, packed-in and free-range snowshoeing and 10 miles of groomed singletrack for fat bikes. Afterward, settle in with a plate of pannukakku, a pillowy, custard-like pancake served with warm raspberry sauce, at Suomi Home Bakery & Restaurant in nearby Houghton.

But the truest expression of the region’s Finnish roots comes every January with Heikinpäivä, a community festival honoring Heikki Lunta, the Upper Peninsula’s mythical snow god. On Jan. 24, 2026, folklore characters parade through downtown Hancock; tori (town square) market vendors fill the Finnish American Heritage Center with handmade treats like nisu bread, hand-knitted mitts and vibrant rag rugs; and a jolly crowd gathers for the delightfully quirky wife-carrying contest—equal parts athleticism and good humor. Stay close to the festivities at the Magnuson Copper Crown or Ramada, or indulge at the luxurious Vault Hotel with its freestanding soaking tubs, in-room wet bars and exclusive speakeasy where you can wind down the Finnish way: kalsarikännit— relaxing indoors with a cozy drink as the snow piles high outside.

Carly Simpson is a freelance writer living in Traverse City.

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THE GREAT NORTHERN SKI GLOW-UP Michigan’s ski country has entered its self-care era: salt spas, tiki bars, faster lifts, fewer lines, delightful food. Here’s what’s making a ski day worth the drive this winter.

by CARA MCDONALD

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Mt. Bohemia Highlands (top) Caberfae Peaks (bottom)

DEALS, STEALS

Because a ski day feels even better when you outsmart the price of it.

For about what you’d pay to park for a day in Vail, you can get an entire season pass at the Keweenaw’s Mt. Bohemia: only $112 (if you buy in early or pre-season). But double check your insurance deductible—it’s all expert terrain.

School’s canceled, but skiers know that really spells p-o-w-de-r-d-a-y. At Crystal Mountain, schools listed on the 9&10 News (full disclosure: our sister station) closure list get 50 percent off lift tickets for the rippers, 50 percent off access to the indoor pool/hot tub. Parents, you know what to do.

Crystal Mountain has also finally cracked the code on grown-up flexibility. The new Afternoon Pass (daily access at 1 p.m., no blackouts, $379) lets you sleep in, skip the lines and still chase golden-hour turns.” The Midweek Pass ($379) caters to those who occasionally “work from lodge.”

photos courtesy of: (opposite) Mt. Bohemia; (this page) The Highlands, Caberfae Peaks

With a super-favorable exchange rate, your dollar stretches hard at Searchmont resort in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, just across the St. Marys River—lift tickets start at $53 US, a slopeside suite at $266, and a budget motel a few minutes away runs $50 to $75.

Embrace the tailgating vibe at Caberfae Peaks and BYO lunch—the lodge has a station for plugging in your crockpot while you get your laps in, without stopping to pay for a sad cup of on-mountain chili.

At T.C. favorite Hickory Hills, you can score adult tickets for just $23 ($28 on Saturdays). Kids 12 and under ski the bunny hill for free.

Best deals by far: night skiing. Nearly every resort has an offering for lit runs beginning around 4 p.m., and lift tickets in the $25–$35 range. Our picks? Boyne Mountain Resort has loads of terrain offered, while Nub’s Nob boasts new LED lights and shuts down the entire hill for re-grooming at 4:30 p.m.

KHQ Night on Schuss Mountain at Shanty Creek means $22 lift tickets and $33 rentals from 5-9 p.m. every Wednesday in January, February and March.

Buy online at Nub’s Nob, and automatically save $5 on your lift ticket.

Midweek adult tickets start at $49 at Caberfae Peaks —serious deal territory for a major resort—topping out at $84 for Saturdays.

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NEW ON THE MOUNTAIN

Schuss Mountain

The behind-the-scenes wizardry making every run faster, snowier, smoother.

Shanty Creek quietly made the biggest move for your sanity: a new online system for rentals and tickets that means fewer lines, more chair time and one less reason to stress-chug your coffee in the parking lot.

Boyne Mountain doubled its snowmaking power with a new booster pump house feeding Barker and Locke Peaks—basically the ski-area version of upgrading from a garden hose to a fire hydrant. Your payoff ? Better base, more early season snow, more dispersed crowds.

We’re still not over the Boyne Camelot 6 lift, which debuted in the 23/24 season as the first of its kind in the Midwest—a sixperson, high-speed Doppelmayr D-Line bubble chairlift that annihilates lift lines and keeps out the biting wind as you’re whisked uphill.

Otsego Resort Hickory Hills

Shanty Creek’s Schuss Mountain added new snowmaking pipes and an extra mSnow ramp at the Pink Lift, which makes for earlier run-openings for those who treat “first chair” like a calling.

Caberfae Peaks is setting up the future: its Green Mountain expansion—terrain clearing and grading now complete—sets the stage for a whole new pod of runs and a future lift. Think of it as a teaser trailer for Michigan’s next great vertical.

Shanty has also been upgrading snowmaking and has a new innovative mSnow system installed on the Purple, Red, and Yellow lifts that helps skiers and snowboarders use the chairlift loading ramps when natural snow is scarce.

Otsego Resort refined its alpine and XC grooming systems, quietly leveling up that just-right corduroy.

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EATS AND APRÈS SKI For every hill, we know where to find the delicious sips and bites; and no one cares you have helmet hair.

Mount Bohemia: She wins this season’s mic drop with two new debuts: a salt-based mineral pool—a 103° shimmer of steam tucked in the Keweenaw woods—and a Polynesianinspired restaurant and rooftop tiki bar under construction, slated to open around Christmas.

Boyne Mountain: The mountain’s newest drink spot is Iglu Snow & Ice Bar next to the Sky Bridge—proving that yes, you can sip a craft cocktail in 15-degree weather. In Boyne City, Provision’s Lounge serves up curated cocktails and a small-plates menu with Asian ribs, Rockefeller flatbread and chicken beurre blanc.

Highlands: Staying in Petoskey? At Aamchi Mumbai Cuisine, share a plate of onion pakora (fritters) followed by hearty lamb palak, chased with a chai. You’re warm again.

photos courtesy of: (opposite) Go Ski Michigan, Otsego Resort, Hickory Hills; (this page) Boyne Mountain, Caberfae Peaks

Nub’s Nob: A plate of pierogi from nearby Polish Kitchen will replenish spent carbs; goulash warms the soul.

Crystal Mountain: Head to Iron Fish Distillery for warming sips like the smoked s’mores Old Fashioned: bourbon + chocolate liqueur + marshmallow syrup + mole bitters.

Hungry? The “Brussels Crunch” woodfired pizza, with sprouts, Gorgonzola cream, roasted garlic, bacon, pears.

Caberfae Peaks

Caberfae: Find a fantastic pub atmosphere at Clam Lake Beer Co., with 40 craft beers on tap and brick-fired flatbread pizza (we’d order the chicken dill pizza with pickles).

Treetops: The Sports Bar, located hilltop at the resort, claims 100-plus Michigan craft brews on the menu. For eats, the Alpine Tavern & Eatery in town pairs a localhangout vibe with hearty pub fare like brisket grilled cheese.

Mt. Holiday: This locals’ ski hill in Traverse City is perfect when you’re feeling low-commitment, and is home to a bar and grill with a rowdy/friendly neighborhood vibe and perfect fried cheese curds. Bonus: A parking-lot sauna rounds out post-ski offerings.

Boyne Mountain

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EXPERT EXPLOITS

Mount Bohemia

For the skiers who measure winter in vertical feet and days skied.

As the friendly signs at Mount Bohemia warn: NO BEGINNERS ALLOWED / RECKLESS BEHAVIOR ON MOUNT BOHEMIA CAN KILL YOU. Still stoked? This is your hill.

Totally ungroomed steeps, deeps and glades plus an average of 270 inches of snow await (skilled) skiers.

Otsego Resort’s race calendar is stacked—giant slalom (Feb 22), slalom (Mar 1), downhill (Mar 8), open to all ages and abilities. If your idea of fun involves split times and wax kits, this is your spot.

Boyne Mountain’s turbocharged snowmaking means early-season corduroy worth chasing—and they were the last NoMI resort to close last spring, so you know you’ll get your days in.

The new lift-loading automation at Shanty trims the jams and keeps lift lines flowing—less standing around pretending you’re not freezing, more hot laps.

For advanced skiers, the front face of Nub’s is perfect: three black diamonds snuggled up, plus two terrific bump runs and plenty of glades for variety.

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INSIDER TIPS

Crystal Mountain

The kind of intel and curiosities that don’t always make the press release.

Ski the trees takes on a different meaning if you make your Crystal Mountain basecamp at Treehouse Resort Rentals in nearby Thompsonville.

photos courtesy of: (opposite) Mt. Bohemia; (this page) Crystal Mountain, Shanty Creek, Tony Demin

Mount Bohemia quietly added four new glades—the kind you find by accident, then swear to keep secret.

Crystal Mountain’s North Village groundbreaking hints at the resort’s long-game evolution—think “from ski hill to alpine town.” The heart of it: First Tracks, a slopeside, skier-focused, mixed-use building at the base of the Loki Quad, with snowsports school, rental/retail, and luxury residences above.

Shanty Creek’s lift automation doesn’t make headlines, but it makes mornings faster, and that’s the kind of magic locals care about.

Follow resort socials for flash openings, locals’ nights, and bonus powder days. The best secrets drop quietly—and disappear just as fast. Our faves? The Boyne/Highland marketing team is on point, plus their copy cracks us up. Mount Bohemia crowdsources, well, a lot; we come for the comments from opinionated locals.

Nub’s Nob

Nub’s new Wintersteiger Jupiter tuning machine has a ton of features that may not mean much to the skiing public, but the biggest takeaway is that it’s capable of doing radically different tunes back to back— making tunes faster and shrinking turnaround time.

Treetops is the first resort in Michigan to roll out terrain-based learning: stations with purpose-built snow features to facilitate the development of essential movements. Translation? Using the shape of the hill to get newbies from pizza to French fry, faster.

Bay views on skis? We never get tired of the White Trillium Run at Homestead—carve your way down while looking out over the Manitou islands.

As mom to two alpine racers, Cara McDonald is the worst skier in the family and executive editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.

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The Groove Lives On Northern Michigan has never stopped spinning—and in listening rooms and funky record shops, DJ booths and recording studios across the region, the vinyl resurgence is having a moment.

We’re here with the liner notes to help you turn on, tune in and drop the needle.

by JOSEPH BEYER

t

he moment you enter a great record shop, it should hit you like a four-album limited-edition box set: that irresistible smell of something precious, timeless and wise. It’s a perfume made from the combination of older LPs being rediscovered, the new-car fragrance of the latest releases pressed into vibrant colors no one has seen before, with just a touch of Mary Jane and patchouli.

Then your ears will perk up—ambient sounds of something you haven’t heard before, playing from the Staff Picks rotation on the counter. You let your hands play across the cardboard tabs as you thumb through eye-popping graphics in wooden bins like some kind of psychedelic Rolodex. And finally, the pure and indescribable anticipation when you leave with new music under your arm and the doorbells jingle behind you.

Whether records were your first interaction with Music writ large, or they are where you go now to reconnect with it, there’s no denying the distinct pleasure of placing a round disc onto a platter, fitting it over the spindle, then (ever so gently, out of respect for what’s to come), lifting the stylus and dropping a needle onto it. An act so special and strange it’s hard to put into words. Lionel Richie helps: “Let the music take control.”

It would have been impossible for the French printsmith Édouard-Léon Scott to have known he was about to spark a pop-culture phenomenon when he first recorded the signals of sound onto glass plates, all the way back in 1857. Zut alors! He was on to something.

Twenty years later, Thomas Edison tweaked Scott’s original invention to include new tin cylinders able to take recordings and hold playback of up to two whole minutes. People went mad for sounds of every kind, and the world rushed to record and play back itself using the TikTok of their time. But it would JA N UA RY 2 0 2 6

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take a few decades before those tin rolling pins were flattened into the round flat disc we now iconically call a record (in both form and format).

The first single-sided ones would spin around at approximately 78 times per minute, and were made of a wax and shellac mix that could hold early data from music or words spoken into a horn which would imprint vibrations into a lacquer master using a lathe.

When World War II strained shellac supplies, the industry moved to the innovative polyvinyl chloride to keep up with demand, and black vinyl PVC records hit the scene. Their color was accidental, a result of added carbon to make them more durable.

It wasn’t until 1948, that Columbia Records released the first Long-Play (LP) vinyl, spinning at 33 ⅓ rotations per minute and holding an astonishing 23 minutes of music on each side, all thanks to Hungarian inventor Peter Goldmark, who created the format while on the music industry payroll and tasked with getting more bang for the buck.

The True Black of Vinyl has never been beaten for the loyalty to its sound, the cultural impact of its format or the pure joy it still brings fans.

Almost overnight, you could find a record player in nearly every home, jukeboxes in every bar and diner and even Highway Hi-Fi systems playing 7” records in cars.

By 1978, the Golden Age of LP and now Extended-Play (EP) vinyl hit its peak, with more than 340 million albums sold in the U.S. amid a counterculture raging from the effects of revolutions in sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll.

The amplified and rich sounds from the channels cut into these discs (a mere 0.0011 inches deep) ended up defining music experiences for generations, and literally spinning off terms like HighFidelity, Stereosonic. Records were so precious and worthy of protection, they got their own packaging with a distinct 12.37-inch-square sleeve that would surprisingly become the canvas for some of the world’s most bonkers art and photography. It was all so groovy.

In Traverse City, treasured record shops and record shop guys rode the vinyl wave, like Mike Parshall, owner of Full Moon (later New Moon) Records and long-plagued quasi-associate of Bob Seger, or Randy Man, at Flipside Records: both on Front Street downtown until the dawn of digital.

The last holdout, Camelot Music at the Cherryland Mall, kept the flame alive alongside cassettes and CDs until 1996, among others that have come and gone since.

But the love stays. Last year alone, more than 50 million new albums were sold. Because, as any addict will tell you: “It’s the expense and inconvenience I love.” So it’s worth marveling in surprise and delight that this analog tradition that has not only survived here in Northern Michigan, but is now stronger than ever.

The North is home to locally owned

and operated stores dedicated to everything from jazz and blues to the latest releases from Taylor Swift, but we also have regular record swaps, meet-ups, vinyl nights at bars and arcades, and local DJs and remixers spinning two (honest-to-god) turntables at venues like The Alluvion.

The culture waits for the vinyl curious and casual picker, too. Duck into a Goodwill thrift store, nonprofit secondhand shop, or garage sale and you could be rewarded with discoveries like a tworecord Harry Belafonte live concert from Carnegie Hall, or a pristine 1982 Richard Simmons Reach dance record with a 20-page deluxe exercise booklet for only a buck. Some of the most amazing music you never knew you needed might still be plucked from obscurity in these hunts, and every collector has their stories about unusual finds, mind-blowing deals or the discovery of

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sprawling landscape of classics brought to reclaimed life, with all the latest and regional band releases and a steady stream of fascinating background music. Sure, there are also box sets, cassettes, posters and merch, but the heart and soul and coin of their realm remains The Album. When asked what album he would take into an infinite space journey, Walton’s choice: Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here.

Olivia Newton John albums at once, or oddities like Evelyn Evans, a.k.a. The Whistling Woman of West Michigan.

The stores are also a great place to source players, speakers and components for your listening lounge and the inventory is never the same twice.

Eugene’s Record Co-op

Dawn Guthre is watching a whole lot of older customers getting back into vinyl from her vantage point at eclectic vintage shop Chill Retro, which features a large selection of albums among other second-hand merchandise. She remembers a different era, when she’d go directly to the record shop after payday, ask the store rep what was new and what she should take a chance on.

Then she’d head home to unwrap it carefully and absorb it in a trance of listening while exploring the artwork.

Nowadays, she’s the one offering tips to customers, but they are more practical: “Store the records properly. Heat is not their friend. Cleaning is important, not only to the sound but to preserving the quality of the vinyl,” she shares.

Her outer-space album of choice was Vancouver-based band Dreamboat Annie and their 1975 debut Heart.

eugenesrecordcoop.com

346 E. Front St. Lower Floor, Traverse City

an album they’ll never part with.

Whether you’re a turntable oldtimer or a new recruit to this previously unknown tribe, you’ll find plenty of community vibes here at home. The True Black of Vinyl has never been beaten for the loyalty to its sound, the cultural impact of its format, or the pure joy it still brings fans.

RPM Records

rpmrecordstc.com 1015 Hannah Ave., Traverse City

It may have seemed crazy for Alex Walton to open RPM Records in the middle of a digital-driven Spotify music business in 2010, but he’s been rewarded by a regional fandom loyal to his vision of creating a place to find a new perspective in any album. “It’s not something that you can just randomly press ‘play’ on,” he says. “You need to take the time to pick out an album … and really set the mood to listen and focus on some music you love.” Used records start at less than $10, with a large selection of jazz and blues among box sets and other vinyl ephemera.

RPM Records is a surprisingly

Founded late in 2019, Eugene’s has a distinctly underground vibe—equal parts basement retail shop, performance space and club of like-minded music nuts. Perhaps that’s the reason it feels like a homecoming when you finally discover it, hidden in plain sight underneath a pinball arcade off Front Street.

Audio enthusiast and owner Brian Chamberlain says he thinks younger generations discovering the culture are attracted to the mindfulness of the process and the tangibility and physical interaction of what they see now as an almost ancient technology. He himself is now a kind of third-generation record shop guy, having grown up after the demise of New Moon and Flipside but hanging out at RPM Records at their old South Airport location.

Nowadays, kids can get an automatic turntable, which controls the arm with the touch of a button for those still intimidated by “dropping the needle” but still wanting the analog fun. The team at Eugene’s will give anyone a demo and let them get the hang of it. “It’s such a great way to interact with people, build community and teach each other about different artists and types of music,” Chamberlain says. “Anytime you walk into a record store, there’s something new playing, and it starts a conversation.”

Goodwill of Northern Michigan goodwillnmi.org

With nine regional thrift stores out there, almost all albums you’ll find are priced universally at $3.99. In this Gen-X writer’s experience, you can be blown away finding an entire canon of

Chill Retro

chillretro.com 6900 US-31, Charlevoix

Rotten Princess Records East

facebook.com/ rottenprincessrecordseast 234 Michigan Ave., Grayling

Owner James Lee Jones has seen a lot of vinyl trends: from the indie, hip-hop and punk scene in the 1990s to the major labels jumping into the trend over the past two decades. “When a person is truly fanatical about something, they want to represent that devotion. And not to be biased, but it’s a lot of fun to collect records,” he says.

Lee Jones will happily teach customers at the Grayling store what they may not know, or how to operate the player.

He says he’ll love records “for all my time on this earth,” and is equally clear on the most perfect rock album ever created: Funhouse from The Stooges, released by Elektra in 1970. He calls it, “Unstoppable and unbeatable! Iggy Pop forever!”

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The Artists

Why Vinyl Is Still a Big Deal for Musicians Up North, we’ve not only got incredibly talented musicians, bands and performers living and working in our backyard, but many of them are passionately committed to pressing their own work on vinyl.

Andrew Dost

andrewdost.com Grammy award– winning musician and artist Andrew Dost says it’s a mindset for him: “If I’m making ‘A Record’ then I know the art lives a long time, so I take it more seriously,” Dost said. “As a creator and a listener, I want to go on some kind of ride, some highs and lows, immersing myself in a world for a while. I like to think about the first sounds you hear after the needle touches down.” Dost recently grabbed a 1973 Sand album from a bargain bin in Detroit because he liked the sandwich-on-a-beach artwork and the promise of weird countryish rock within. He says it turned out to be “one of the best records I now own! It’s so fun to take a gamble and be surprised.”

Dost and his current project, Metal Bubble Trio, are prepping their second album now for release in spring 2026, and their first record, Cucumber, can be had at live shows, from their website or Eugene’s Records.

May Erlewine

mayerlewine.com May Erlewine has experience recording and mastering for vinyl, thanks to years of projects with many of the bands she’s led or been involved in. She’s even worked with a mastering engineer to cut her own lacquer masters before they go to the pressing plant, explaining, “You’re not just getting it for the look, but making sure your record is being pressed in a

way that will really sound great. It’s supposed to sound amazing, that’s the whole point.”

Erlewine’s latest, What It Takes, came out this year and sells online and at her live shows. “It’s nice to have a piece of art that you can hold in your hands,” she says. “Vinyl is about slowing down and savoring something.”

Jack M. Senff jackmsenff.com

Jack M. Senff has been unusually lucky.

Most of his albums have been released on vinyl, so he knows a thing or two about the process. Contemporary artists have to know, as they now create dual masters for digital and streaming, and then, if they are fortunate, get a vinyl pass. Senff not only loves the sound, but he’s also aware of the ritual and the long traditions of releasing music physically. “Just about every recorded note in music history is available somewhere on a piece of wax,” he says.

Senff ’s advice to newcomers is not to be afraid to pick up records just because you think you recognize the bass player’s name in the credits, or you like the cover, or the woman next to you says, “That’s a good one,” as you ponder an album in your hands. “That’s how they used to do it in the old days,” Senff adds. “And it’s still a wonderful way to discover new music.” His latest album, Feeling & Devotion, can be found at live shows or online from Skeletal Lightning Records.

Charlie Millard

hattiejanemusic.com One of the more arresting vinyl album covers in the region features Charlie Millard in a pink suit with a purple umbrella, running across a white landscape. The album, Pilot Boy, is the studio debut for The Charlie Millard Band. It reflects his adventurous

musical and vinyl tastes and he sees it differently than the experience of music on Spotify. “Each side of a record has its own flavor, in two movements.

Each side has openers, closers and the themes and sounds that get called back when you flip it,” he says. “The parameters can make you even more creative sometimes.”

For Millard, tapping into local wisdom is a key to enjoyment. “Talk to RPM and Eugene’s Records about your setup. Take their advice, they know a ton and can hook you up with solid gear so you can hear the records just right,” he says.

Joseph Beyer is a writer and producer working from Old Mission. He’s a frequent contributor to Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.

Michael Poehlman is primarily a portrait photographer living in Traverse City. He attributes his style to his years living and working in New York City and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

THE LISTENING LOUNGE:

MALTED VINYL maltedvinyl.com

Located in Petoskey’s cozy gaslight district, Malted Vinyl isn’t a record shop and it’s not just a bar, either.

It’s a high-fidelity listening lounge designed for “those who appreciate both music and mixology,” according to managing founder Missy HundeyLeverett. They curate both the sounds and the array of elixirs they offer (with some seriously good N/A options) to intentionally slow people down. “It’s where every note and sip are meant to be enjoyed,” she says.

When asked what single album she’d take into outer space, HundeyLeverett says it would have to be Rumors by Fleetwood Mac.

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WINTER LOOKS GOOD FROM THIS SIDE OF THE STRAITS.

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“

I wanted to get married on Lake Michigan.

—CASSANDRA BONNER

The Love Boat p. 30

Moments That Matter p. 42

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the

LOvE BOAT ST O RY BY N I C O L E L A N E // P H O T O S BY S T E P H A N I E PA R S H A L L P H O T O G R A P H Y

Forget the ballroom. This couple turned a Traverse City tall ship into the wedding venue of their dreams.

C

assandra bonner never dreamed about her wedding dress or the perfect first dance song. She didn't dream of the cake, the bouquet, the ring or the typical wedding details. Instead, one image stayed with her: “I wanted to get married on Lake Michigan,” she says.

On a sunny August day with sails billowing, family aboard and her closest friend behind the camera, a Great Lakes tall ship transformed into an intimate wedding venue, turning a childhood wish into a one-of-a-kind nautical celebration.

The Jackson-based couple wanted their ceremony to feel intimate and—most of all—fun. Their biggest challenge? Finding a vessel large enough for their 42 guests and a few chairs for parents to sit comfortably.

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They found the perfect fit in Manitou, a 114-foot replica of an 1800s schooner from the Traverse City Tall Ship Co. As the dramatic vessel left the dock, guests joined the crew to hoist the sails. Laughter rippled through the decks as Larry grabbed a line himself, helping to lift the sheets that would carry them into a promise.

The ceremony was short—15 minutes—but sweet. Personalized vows included plenty of tears, with Larry's wet cheeks setting off a beautiful chain reaction as guests joined him, laughter and sniffles echoing in the lake breeze. The wind carried their vows; the sunlight sealed them in a shimmer.

After the kiss, guests mingled, chatted and posed for photos in the open lake air. The boat carried the newlyweds and their guests across the sparkling bay for two hours.

Cassandra’s close friend, and Grand Rapids-based wedding photographer, Stephanie Parshall, played a starring role, capturing the full sweep of the day. To photograph the schooner from above, Parshall earned her drone license to film and photograph some of the ceremony from above the glinting water.

On board, Parshall took intimate photos of guests, snapping candids as well as posed portraits of each guest and couple.

“Stephanie really drove the day,” Cassandra says. “The captain even moved the schooner into the best light for her.”

With an eye to capturing every aspect, her friend kept the couple on schedule and directed guests where they needed to go. “Stephanie also wore blue to match our colors, as I would have chosen to have her and my sister standing next to me,” Cassandra explains.

Cassandra décollaged shells collected by friends and family for decor and sweet party favors, and a friend helped create cheerful bouquets from a local flower farm.

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The couple searched for a boat that could accommodate all their guests while also providing sufficient seating space. They found that with the Manitou.

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Guests indulged in cupcakes, cookies and a lavender cake with lemon custard and lavender icing swirled in a watercolor design by Crystal City Confectionery in Beulah. A close friend gifted the couple a custom cake topper depicting Cassandra holding a fish while wearing Converse—a whimsical tribute to the couple’s shared love of fishing and Cassandra's casual wedding shoes.

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Your ring should be a bridal wave of beauty.

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The rest of the details of the wedding came together effortlessly. Cassandra collaborated with Jackson-based artist Amy Guerriero who painted the ship for their invitations and gifted the couple an original painting of Manitou. Cassandra DIY’d her envelopes, lining them with nautical prints and sealing each with a wax stamp of a ship or compass.

She filled her bouquet with pastel blooms from White Fence Cut Flowers in Onstead, arranged by a friend and coworker from Autumn Brooke Farms. Cassandra painted her nails blue—not for the lake, but because it’s Larry’s favorite color.

One of her favorite moments of the day was sharing Northern Michigan with Larry’s family. “His parents and sisters had never been to Traverse City,” she says. “They couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.” Although Larry had originally imagined a simple courthouse ceremony to spare guests the travel Up North, he now calls their Lake Michigan wedding the perfect choice.

Once Manitou arrived back at the dock, the reception unfolded at the Park Place Hotel, where the Grand Traverse Bay stretches endlessly. Cassandra leaned into her nautical theme with Michigan-inspired favors—hand-decorated shells, driftwood and Petoskey stones she’d collected with friends.

As twilight deepened, Larry's hand-picked playlist filled the top floor with music, and when the final song faded, the night stilled into the same quiet beauty that surrounded them on the water hours earlier.

Looking back, Cassandra feels grateful that she was able to bring her lifelong vision to life. "The boat was my favorite part—besides actually getting married," she says with a laugh.

"It was everything I dreamed of."

Nicole Lane is senior editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.

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Focus on Forever—We’ll Handle the Rest.

Our event venue offers unparalleled service and state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring your gathering leaves a lasting impression. With a dedicated team ready to assist with every detail, we transform your vision into a reality with precision and care. Elevate your “I do’s” against a backdrop of breathtaking vistas, where every moment becomes an unforgettable memory framed by nature’s beauty.

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Why Turnkey Weddings are Having a Moment A do-it-all venue means more flexibility, ease and togetherness, and way less stress for couples. Here’s how.

by MEAGAN FRANCIS

F

rom tracking down vendors and coordinating schedules to managing countless details, even the most organized couples can feel overwhelmed by the stress of planning their big day. That’s why couples across Northern Michigan are looking to turnkey wedding experiences—venues where every piece of the process and element of your big day is thoughtfully managed by a single team.

“We’re seeing a lot of couples looking for a personalized, all-inclusive,” says Merrie Corbett who, with her husband, Chris, owns The Overlook at The Chief in Bellaire. While The Overlook is new to the Northern Michigan wedding scene, its team, including Events Coordinator Trisha Marr, brings a long history of hospitality and events in the region, through Chris and Merrie’s deep ties to the region and a history of hospitality via their other properties including the beloved historic Blue Pelican Inn. Here are a few of the reasons a turnkey wedding experience can be one of the smartest ways to say “I do.”

STRESS-FREE PLANNING FROM DAY ONE

Wedding planning can be overwhelming, from selecting a caterer and a florist to coordinating DJs and décor. With a turnkey option, couples have one dedicated point person who manages every detail, from the initial tour to the last dance.

“We guide couples through everything,” says Marr. “Tables, chairs, linens, glassware—it’s all handled. They can walk in knowing everything is taken care of.” This level of guidance allows couples to focus on the joy of the day, not the logistics.

photo courtesy of The Overlook

CULINARY VISION MADE SIMPLE

Finding a caterer who can accommodate your tastes while staying on budget and ensuring guest safety is one of the trickiest parts of wedding planning. A turnkey venue simplifies this by offering in-house catering, streamlining everything from menu creation to meal service. “Couples don’t have to juggle multiple vendors,” Marr notes. “We handle everything and ensure that the food experience matches their vision.

That makes the day feel truly effortless.” At The Overlook, all food is prepared under strict allergy and safety protocols, giving couples peace of mind while keeping costs predictable.

SPACES THAT ADAPT TO EVERY CELEBRATION

Turnkey venues are designed for versatility, Marr explains, allowing couples to create the wedding they’ve always imagined, whether it’s an intimate gathering of 100 or a larger celebration for 350. The Overlook’s flexible floor plans and thoughtfully designed layouts can be customized for ceremonies, receptions or combined events. “We can make a space feel cozy and intimate or open it up for a grand celebration,” Marr says. “It’s about making the venue fit the couple, not the other way around.” This flexibility ensures that every guest feels included and every detail flows seamlessly, without the headaches of coordinating multiple spaces.

BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER

A turnkey approach also simplifies accommodations, and it’s an even easier call when the property has a variety of options— from hotel-style rooms to suites or condos. Onsite lodging also helps couples keep their guests close, creating opportunities for informal get-togethers and family bonding. “Having everyone under one roof—or just a few steps away—changes the weekend,” Marr says. She adds that lodging flexibility makes this easier on out-of-town guests and families with longer stays, or can allow for entire bridal parties to bunk together, making catching up and getting ready so much more enjoyable.

“Having a range of options on property keeps families connected, and everyone can relax, celebrate and enjoy the moment without worrying about transportation or logistics,” Marr says.

After all, the best part of the wedding is coming together, not melting down trying to make everything work. Choosing a spot that can host the entire crew—from arrival barbecue all the way through farewell brunch—turns a wedding weekend into a true shared experience.

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Moments That Matter A Traverse City wedding photographer on how to turn the smallest instant into timeless images.

STORY BY NICOLE LANE PHOTOS BY JESSIE ZEVALKINK

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patch of afternoon light reflects through tulle, two lovers’ hands hover over gold bands in anticipation, glimmering leafshaped earrings brush against auburn hair. Jessie Zevalkink’s wedding photographs capture these fleeting intersections—where emotion meets memory. Her lens finds the ephemera: the afterglow of a laugh, the blur of a passing glance, the quietness that emerges. Amid the flurry of a wedding day, she spots what others might miss and whispers to the viewer, hey, look over there.

Zevalkink’s images aren’t your standard wedding photographs. They focus, blur and push the viewer into rethinking what a wedding shoot can look like. What the present moment feels like.

Typically, and not surprisingly, wedding photographers tend to focus on people.

But Zevalkink sees beyond this framework. She pays attention to the clouds, the trees, the wind moving throughout the landscape, the hum of the moment that transcends the vows. She says that she thinks in terms of five senses: What can you see, smell, taste, hear and feel in each image?

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Zelvalkink didn’t expect to become a wedding photographer. She was the artsy kid in high school, doodling noses, eyes and lips on her homework assignments. But in her sophomore year she picked up a camera, walked into the darkroom and never looked back, leading eventually to a career in photography. She had found a new way to study faces.

Her curiosity and focus start long before the wedding day. She’ll book an engagement shoot or meet clients for a cup of coffee to get them comfortable with the process. Zevalkink explains that it’s important for clients to protect their peace and positivity and to find someone who is looking out for them and is on their side.

“You need to feel good with the photographer, be excited about them. They should feel like a friend,” she says.

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Being photographed, even for the most confident of people, can feel intimidating. “The word ‘posing’ freaks people out,” Zevalkink says with a laugh. Instead of stiff direction, she offers gentle guidance while having a conversation. She describes herself as a naturally curious person, so she asks questions to keep the couple’s anxiety at bay. Within minutes, clients unclench their jaws, their shoulders drop and the camera is forgotten.

That’s when Zevalkink’s magic happens. “Let’s just have a nice conversation,” she says. “And somewhere in that conversation, I always find my little peek of sunshine.”

On the day of a wedding, Zevalkink helps couples design a time map that honors photography without making the entire day about the camera. “Let’s not get ready earlier than we need to,” she suggests. “Instead of an hour of photos at 3 p.m. in bright sun, let’s take half that time and then add a session at 9 p.m., when it’s cooler, the sun’s lower and everyone’s relaxed.”

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Throughout the day, she finds her detailed shots as an observer, standing back to watch the joy unfold. “There are also moments when I need to step in and help move things forward.

I love both roles,” she says.

Zevalkink knows that a photograph can’t capture everything, but it can gesture toward the texture of light, the pulse of the nerves, the rhythm of the day. For her, wedding photography lives in the pauses, not the perfect poses. She observes rather than directs, letting the moments find her behind the lens. It’s an act of noticing and never a pursuit of perfection. Zevalkink’s images are a quiet proof that beauty doesn’t need to be staged—it only needs to be seen.

Nicole Lane is senior editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.

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LIGHT AT THE LAST NOTE Laughter rises into the last warm notes of the wedding weekend. The shadows stretching on the wall hint that the weekend is coming to a close; a final signature on a story freshly written. The vows, the toasts, the dance are savored with one last look and one fresh reminder that love, when held lightly, glows brightest. – N.L.

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I’m excited to share my Indian culture with people who may have never experienced it before.

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The Cu l i nary North Profile

A NEW FLAME ON STATE STREET

photos by Tim Hussey

by CARA MCDONALD

O

From tandoor to table, the new India Garden brings the heart of Indian cooking to Traverse City.

n a cold night in downtown Traverse City, the door to India Garden swings open and the scent of roasting spices rolls into the street—smoky cumin, cardamom, ginger and something deeper: the perfume of the tandoor. Inside, warm light spills across copper pots and glossy wooden tables.

In the kitchen, a cook slides a skewer of marinated chicken into the clay oven. A few minutes later, it emerges charred at the edges and alive with color. It’s the kind of

food that tells you instantly that someone here cares— about flavor and balance, and getting it right.

For owner Malkeat Singh, the journey to this moment traces back far beyond State Street. Singh, originally from India, grew up surrounded by the sound of sizzling onions, the scent of ghee and the rhythm of daily cooking that anchors family life there. In his kitchen today, that early imprint shows up in generous portions, handmade bread and the attention that goes into every plate. “I’m excited to share my Indian culture with people who may have never experienced it before and hope the community enjoys it,” Singh says.

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And the Northern Michigan community has been ready and waiting for more global flavors and a go-to Indian option, as evidenced by the quiet, steady fandom of NJ’s in Lake Leelanau and the launch of Indian Spice in Cadillac.

After years of running restaurants in Grand Rapids—including Bombay Cuisine and Curry Kitchen—Singh began to imagine something new: a place that could bring the flavors he knew so well to a town that had long lacked a dedicated Indian restaurant. “People [were] going to Grand Rapids from Traverse City and telling me things like, ‘You need to bring your stuff over there.’ That’s why [I found] a place over here,” he says.

The heart of India Garden’s kitchen is the tandoor, the clay oven central to North Indian cooking, and the tandoor dishes are not to be missed. The cook pulls the chicken tikka from the tandoor, perfectly blistered and smoky, the edges just caramelized; paneer tikka glows orange-red from its yogurt marinade. For Singh, a tandoor-centered menu—and breads made fresh to order—are key to his goal of serving authentic, carefully prepared dishes.

The kitchen team makes everything fresh: they grind spice blends in-house, mix marinades daily and bake breads to order. The menu includes butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, biryani and dal makhani, along with tandoori specials like chicken tikka and paneer tikka—dishes that have quickly become favorites among early diners. On a recent visit, staff recommended the vegetarian navratan korma, with mixed veg

cooked in creamy cashew sauce with herbs. For non-vegetarians, the lamb and goat dishes are standouts and cooked to tenderness, like the lamb saag with fresh ginger and chunks of cinnamon bark.

In a region where familiar standbys often anchor menus, India Garden feels like a new rhythm—a chance for Traverse City diners to explore a different culinary landscape. Staff members greet guests with an easy warmth, taking time to explain dishes and offer suggestions to help newcomers navigate the menu.

Word has spread quickly since their 2025 opening. Among India Garden’s admirers is Chef Jen Blakeslee of The Cooks’ House, a James Beard Award–nominated chef, who recently named it one of her favorite restaurants in the state. Blakeslee singled out the “spot-on” tandoor paneer tikka, the fresh roti and the great chai as standouts—dishes she says she returns for again and again.

For now, Singh is focused on perfecting each dish, building his team and earning his place in Traverse City’s food landscape. He turns back toward the kitchen, where another round of naan is ballooning in the tandoor’s heat. The smell fills the air. For a moment, this little restaurant on State Street feels like part of something much bigger—a growing community built on heat, spice, warmth and welcome.

Cara McDonald is executive editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.

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The Cu l i nary North Bite

BISQUE BY THE CHANNEL

by NICOLE LANE

photo courtesy of The Weathervane

A chilly Charlevoix winter warms up with a steamy bowl by the fire.

W

e may think charlevoix’s draw is only for summer watersports, basking in the golden glow and sipping lakeside cocktails, but there’s a shimmer in winter, too. The Weathervane—a true local staple—invites patrons in from the cold with Earl Young–designed stonework and a rustic fireplace for thawing. The former grist mill opened as a restaurant in the 1950s and has been serving up homestyle Michigan favorites ever since.

When the air turns brisk, forget the seafood and steak specials meant for summer days. Instead, savor the roasted squash bisque that cozies up perfectly to warm cold hands.

The bowl feels like a hug: made with fire-roasted squash,

then topped with toasted pine nuts, micro-herbs and a dollop of crème fraîche.

Pair the bisque with light appetizers (don’t miss the cherry-smoked bacon and Brussels with whipped goat cheese) and a seasonal cocktail. Dining along the Pine River Channel may whisper instead of shout this time of year, but it still finds a way to make your soul sing.

Tip: Stay for First Fridays and shop at local boutiques from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. or go for a free post-dinner candlelight snowshoe or ski romp at Mt. McSauba.

Nicole Lane is senior editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.

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THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN A taste of the North’s craft beverage scene.

A NORTHERN MICHIGAN BREW STOP WITH SOUL PICTURE THIS: A CENTURY-OLD BRICK BUILDING ON N. McEwan Street in downtown Clare, the soft glow of vintage lighting, the low hum of conversation and the sturdy promise of a well-poured pint. That’s Four Leaf Brewing, a three-barrel microbrewery that’s become Clare’s beloved craft-beer hideaway since opening in 2015.

Owner Amy Shindorf, once an environmental and natural resource specialist, transformed the front 2,500 square feet of the historic Davis Block into a cozy taproom that feels rooted deeply in community. Brewing happens onsite with Michigan-sourced malts, local fruits and honey and the kind of care only a small-town brewery can muster.

Step inside and you’ll find 20 taps flowing with craft beer, mead, cider, wine, plus a pub-style menu.

WHAT’S WORTH SIPPING: Four Leaf ’s “Beers on Tap” page shows a brew list as wide as it is adventurous and plenty of names stand out. Here are a few that tend to linger in memory (and in glasses) long after the first sip.

Lady Luck A Michigan Montmorency-cherry wheat that favors tart fruitiness over syrupy sweetness. Light, refreshing, and easy on the palate, it’s a great welcome pour for newcomers.

Coal Cracker Stout For nights when you want something roasty and comforting.

This English oatmeal stout leans on chocolatey malt and a full body, perfect after a long drive or on a crisp Up North evening.

Gordie’s Hop Bomb A double IPA with serious bite: Simcoe hops and local clover honey give it punch and character. It’s the kind of beer for hop lovers who don’t mind a little swagger.

Betty Berry A sweet fruit cider blending blackberry and blueberry for a lighter, refreshing alternative—good if you’re craving something less heavy than a stout or IPA. And for those who like variety: The tap list often includes cream ales, pale ales, lagers, seasonal brews—the kind of rotating selection that invites you to linger a while, catch up with friends or just sip slowly and savor Michigan-made craft beer.

Whether you’re stopping in after a day of driving Michigan’s backroads or you’re a regular from Clare, there’s a welcome here. And with 20 taps, a rotating menu, local-first ingredients, it doesn’t try to be flashy. It just tries to be good.

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The Cu l i nary North In the Kitchen

THE WILD MULE

by MATTHEW DURSUM

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A foraged-forward riff on the Moscow Mule brings elderberries, local honey and Northern Michigan terroir to the glass.

photo courtesy of Taproot Ciderhouse

W

hen jennifer and Andrew Viren opened Taproot Cider House in 2016, they imagined a place where every plate and glass told the story of Northern Michigan—rooted in terroir and defined by what’s local, organic, humane and often foraged.

“I’ve always had a long-standing love for foraging and food as medicine,” says Jennifer Viren. “When we started Taproot about 10 years ago and we were creating the menu, I thought we should come up with a cocktail that reflects how I eat at home.”

These meals brim with wild herbs, foraged mushrooms and wild fruits like the elderberries she gathers along the Betsie River from her kayak.

From that love of the woods came the Eldermule, a distinctly Northern Michigan spin on the classic Moscow Mule. “I was inspired by my elderberry syrup that I make at home, which has honey, locally foraged elderberries, ginger, lemon and cinnamon,” Viren says.

The cocktail starts with a drizzle of local honey inside and outside the glass, followed by a generous portion of Gypsy Vodka that’s been infused with local elderberries for nearly a week. Then comes raw-sugar ginger beer from

Northwoods Soda, a squeeze of lemon and a dried citrus garnish—the cocktail’s only non-local ingredients.

At first sip, sweet local honey hits the lips, followed by satisfying effervescence, balanced ginger spice and the slightly bitter warmth of the elderberry-infused vodka.

A hint of citrus and spice lingers on the tongue.

Will this elderberry cocktail help you fight the winter flu? Perhaps not. But it will pair magically with food. Try the Eldermule with spicy birria tacos or wood-fired cherry BBQ pizza.

Matthew Dursum is associate editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.

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Love of the Land

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photo by Dave Weidner

BIG SABLE POINT LIGHTHOUSE One of winter’s most underrated hikes: the snow-dusted sandy trek to Big Sable Point Lighthouse along the coast of Ludington State Park.

A relatively flat and easy path, this 1.8-mile sand-and-gravel trail (4 miles roundtrip) is perfect for hiking and snowshoeing, with spots for resting and berms protecting you from the big-water breeze.

The payoff is a striking black-and-white lighthouse complemented by icy-blue waters. (Note: The light is closed during the winter, so visitors won’t be able to go inside.) Parking is available adjacent to the warming shelter, just north of the park entrance. Find full directions at michigandnr.com.

Tip: Enjoy even more hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing with free lantern-lit treks on Jan. 10 and 24, Feb. 7 and 21, and March 7 from 6–8 p.m. The one-mile walks begin at the warming shelter, and you’ll find bonfires and warm beverages at the amphitheater. No registration required.

The park also offers free guided snowshoe hikes in January and February, and loans out 60 pairs of snowshoes on a first-come, first-served basis. More info at visitludington.com. –A.J.A.

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