Northern Express - January 16, 2023

Pay Attention Now

Do you really care about the future of the earth?

Do you care about the future for your children and grandchildren?

Are you really paying attention?

With billion-dollar weather disasters happening every 18 days in the U.S., we cannot afford to ignore the problems in our own backyard. It is better to plan ahead and be proactive.

In Traverse City, we have infrastructure disasters waiting to happen, including a waste-water pipe that is badly in need of replacement and storm sewers that still empty into the bay. There is nothing more important to our health and economy than our bay.

Since 1947, The Global Footprint Network has measured the resources needed for human use. Every year they publish an “Overshoot Day” to designate the date of that year when global use of resources exceeds the sustainable supply for the entire 365 days. In 2022, the date was July 28. Everything used after that was an “overshoot” on the earth’s resources.

That should be a wake-up call to get our house in order, fix what is needed for survival, change codes to streamline needs, embrace green renewable energy, and plan for a more viable future.

Keep your letter to 300 words or fewer, send no more than one per month, include your full name and address, and understand it may be further edited. We publish letters “in conversation” with Northern Express articles or that address relevant issues Up North.

Send to info@northernexpress.com. and hit send!

Jillian Manning

top ten

Winter Wine Walk 4

Otsego Resort in Gaylord is pairing two of our favorite things this weekend: wine and the great outdoors. On Saturday, Jan. 21, from 12-4pm, they are hosting a Winter Wine Walk that offers attendees a guided stroll through cedar forests punctuated by three wine tasting stations with light snacks. It’s a perfect time to bundle up and enjoy the beauty of nature in winter, especially as you’ll get to experience a walk along creekland and quiet forests. Depending on snow levels, guests can hike or snowshoe, and the route takes you from the historical River Cabin on the resort property to a beaver dam and back. A roaring bonfire will warm you up at the dam before your return. Can’t make the Jan. 21 date? The Winter Wine Walk is also offered Feb. 4 and 18 and March 4 and 18. Guests must be 21 years or older. Tickets are $40 per person and available for purchase at mynorthtickets. com. More information is available at otsegoclub.com/events.

Hey, watch It! Murderville

Vote for your favorite chili at the 2nd Annual Snow Jam and Chili Challenge held on the Piazza at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City on Saturday, Jan. 21, beginning at 2pm. Ten northern Michigan businesses will compete for the Best Overall Chili and People’s Choice. There will also be live music by A/She/ DC, bonfires, frozen yard games, and more. Tickets: $25 (21 and over), $15 (ages 12-20), $5 (ages 11 and under). Visit thevillagetc.com/explore/events.

On the hunt for that magic ingredient to take your cooking up a notch? The Good Bowl has your next go-to, and it puts the rest of our spice rack to shame. Enter: “Vu-Tang” Chili Crisp. Named for executive chef Tony Vu (and the ’90’s hip-hop Clan), this versatile chili oil contains upwards of 21 complex spices—headlined by Sichuan pepper—and finishes with the savory crunch of fried garlic and shallot pieces. It is traditionally used as a flavorful seasoning (a standalone dipping sauce this is not), and Chef Vu recommends Chili Crisp as an ingredient in stir-fries or broths, or as a garnish for an extra spicy bite. Pair it with the eatery’s scratch-made Sriracha, and your tongue might never recover! Stock up on The Good Bowl’s full line of shelf-stable sauces and marinades (priced from $9-$12), at their Traverse City storefront (328 E. Front Street), or place an order online at goodbowleatery. com. (231) 252-2662

What happens when you combine a police procedural, celebrities, and sketch comedy? You get Netflix’s Murderville. The six-episode series stars Will Arnett as Terry Seattle, a bumbling homicide detective with a penchant for dramatics. The chief of police, who is also Seattle’s longsuffering ex-wife, pairs him up with a different celebrity guest in each episode to solve a murder, from a magician’s assistant who is literally sawed in half to a tech mogul’s death by CD-ROM. Seattle’s partners are missing one vital tool: a script, which means they’re improvising their way through the show while the rest of the cast spurs them along. Each episode is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud given the celebrity lineup of Conan O’Brien, Marshawn Lynch, Kumail Nanjiani, Annie Murphy, Sharon Stone, and Ken Jeong. Pay attention to the clues along the way to see if you can guess the killer at the end! (And don’t miss the Christmas special with Jason Bateman and Maya Rudolph.) All episodes are now streaming on Netflix.

Photo by Danielle Clark

’Tis the season for creative outdoor fun, and Boyne Mountain is jumping on the bandwagon. They’ve created a four-part dinner experience that offers scenic views, plenty of exercise, and a gourmet meal with their SkyBridge Snowshoe Supper on Saturday, Jan. 21. You’ll start with a ride on the Hemlock Chairlift before walking along the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge, aka SkyBridge Michigan. After warming up with a fireside hot toddy, you’ll strap on snowshoes for a guided hike, ending at onsite restaurant Stein Eriksen’s for a prime rib and shrimp dinner. Two “seatings” are available, the first starting at 4pm and landing you at dinner at 6pm, and the second kicking off at 6:30pm with an 8pm mealtime. Tickets are $120 per person and include all activities listed above. (A cash bar will be available at Stein Eriksen’s.) More details can be found at shop.boynemountain.com.

Stuff We Love: Award-Winning Libations

The Traverse Wine Coast has been getting lots of love lately, and we’re no longer biased locals to say the hype is well deserved. The most recent jewel in the local winery crown comes from Wine & Spirits magazine, which gave five Leelanau Peninsula wines a score of 91, the highest scores for Michigan wines ever recorded by national or international wine critics. So, what should you be drinking? The 91-point scorers were Verterra Winery’s 2021 Dry Riesling and 2018 Dry Gewurztraminer; Brengman Brothers’ 2018 Dagudscht Blanc de Blanc sparkling; Mawby’s Grace; and Ciccone Vineyard and Winery’s 2020 Lee La Tage. Patrick Comiskey, a wine critic for Wine & Spirits, says our wine region is “making impressive strides in quality, worldliness, and energy, a provincial locus with global aspirations, freshly interpreting the wine world’s latest innovations and trends.” Bravo!

Though we’re in the heart of winter, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel—and that’s the promise of summertime on the bay. In that spirit, Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) is growing its fleet with a three-masted schooner—ISEA’s biggest yet—called Alliance Coming in at a whopping 105 feet, Alliance can carry up to 54 passengers. The 28-year-old ship will be spending the winter in Virginia (lucky lady!) before sailing north in May, and ISEA will hold a grand celebration June 24 to welcome the newest addition to their fleet. Alliance will offer complementary programs to its original schooner cousin, Inland Sea, to help educate students of all ages and the public about Great Lakes conservation. While winter waters have most events and programs on hold, you can join ISEA for their Feb. 9 “cafe,” which will be focused on the ecological trends of the food web in Grand Traverse Bay. To learn more about Alliance and ISEA programming, visit schoolship.org.

If you want to experience the most creative, interesting, and all-around best beers that a brewery has to offer, you’ll often find those on the rotating seasonal release calendar. Such is the case, we think, with Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, whose recent seasonal beers have all been home runs. We were big fans of Noel, Jolly Pumpkin’s robust and flavorful holiday ale, and of Madrugada Obscura, the dark-as-night sour stout they rolled out in December. But it’s January now, and we can’t get enough of the latest Jolly Pumpkin offering: the iO Saison. Named after the Jupiter moon, iO is brewed with rose hips, rose petals, and hibiscus flowers, which impart tart, floral flavors and a gorgeous rosy-red hue to the beer. Jolly Pumpkin calls it “a beautiful piece of art presented in a glass,” and we’re inclined to agree. Give it a taste before the January/February availability window lapses. Available at Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant and Brewery, 13512 Peninsula Dr. in Traverse City. traversecity.jollypumpkin.com, (231) 223-4333

DYSFUNCTION AS THE NORM

spectator

By Stephen

If you enjoy slow-motion train wrecks, you had to enjoy the Republicans in Congress trying to elect a Speaker of the House. After 15 ballots, they finally chose Kevin McCarthy, who sold most of his power, his soul, and what was left of his integrity to secure the job.

This is the same Kevin McCarthy who, days after the Jan. 6 ugliness, said Donald Trump “bears responsibility” for the attack on the Capitol. When The New York Times reported he had told allies he was going to tell Trump he should resign, McCarthy vehemently denied it, saying it was “completely false.” But it was right there for all to hear in a recording provided to the Congressional committee investigating Jan. 6.

We only have to go back to the middle of the last century to find evidence of a Democratic Party that cannot get along with itself.

The American South had for the longest time been reliably Democratic. Then the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision eliminating the separate-but-equal philosophy that had justified racial segregation in the South. Southern Democrats, known as Dixiecrats, were not pleased with that decision.

While one contingent of Democrats supported civil rights in general and public school integration specifically, Governors George Wallace in Alabama, Lester Maddox in Georgia, Orval Faubus in Arkansas, and Ross Barnett in Mississippi, all Democrats,

Just two weeks later, he was down at Mar-aLago kissing the former president’s ring.

Meanwhile, a group of Republican members of Congress we’ll call the Not In Touch With Intelligent Thinking (NITWIT) wing of the party refused to vote for McCarthy on vote after vote after vote until they had wrung every conceivable concession from the wannabe Speaker. Rep. Matt Gaetz said he ultimately surrendered because he couldn’t “imagine” anything more to demand that hadn’t already been granted.

The NITWIT faction still harbors the notion that Trump won an election two years ago that he clearly lost. The princess of this group isn’t in Congress but is a failed gubernatorial candidate in Arizona. Kari Lake, who now calls herself the “duly elected governor” of a state she lost—her opponent, Katie Hobbs, has already been sworn in as the actual governor—claims she has evidence 60 percent of Arizona polling places “stopped working” on election day and that 75 percent of those voting in person that day would have voted for her. She has asked the courts to simply declare her the governor despite having thus far presented zero evidence to back up her preposterous claims.

This falls right into line with those still claiming the man who received fewer popular and electoral votes two years ago should be president. They continue, even now, to support Donald Trump’s nonsense— Trump is the president emeritus of the NITWITs—and are likely to try and govern the U.S. House based on their delusions.

All of which has led some pundits to describe the current GOP as the most dysfunctional political party ever. The claim is an insult to both our memory and the longstanding champions of internal dysfunction, the Democrats.

proclaimed they would never integrate their public schools. Maddox stood on the steps of a school wielding an ax handle. Federal troops had to be sent to Arkansas to protect a couple of Black kids just trying to go to school.

That Democrat dysfunction didn’t get any better when the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act were both passed a decade later. Party switching became epidemic, and the formerly reliable Democratic South was quickly the reliable Republican South.

If you thought those departures from an oft-racist South would have consolidated the remaining Democrats, you would have been wrong. The Vietnam War further split the party into hawks and doves, those supporting the war and those demanding we abandon that cause.

It started unified enough with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, based on exaggerated claims of North Vietnamese aggression at sea, which justified our expanded involvement in Vietnam, including the use of ground troops. It was only opposed by two Democratic senators. But the anti-war wing of the party grew, creating a divide so deep and wide it led to a crescendo of dysfunction and violence at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. That was dysfunction writ very large.

Fast forward to today. Republicans are deeply split between those who would like some rational discourse and accomplishment and the Trump-really-won NITWITs. Democrats are split between self-proclaimed Democratic Socialists and those who are, you know, just Democrats.

Dysfunction is now the norm for both parties and for a Congress that refuses to put aside their differences and incompetence and actually legislate. The dysfunctional political parties have morphed into a dysfunctional Congress.

Tuttle

Dysfunction is now the norm for both parties and for a Congress that refuses to put aside their differences and incompetence and actually legislate.

A NEW PATH FOR CANNABIS

Is it just us, or is it a greener winter this year? The snow hasn’t been falling as steadily as it usually does, giving us a little more time to travel with clear roads and green scenery.

The desire to go to places where cannabis is legal to purchase and legal to enjoy is becoming more obtainable, as cannabis tourism is infusing the larger tourism industry with some innovative pursuits. Cannabis is sensory driven, thus providing a memorable getaway. It’s often used to enhance experiences, amplify the senses, promote creativity, promote intimacy, and stimulate appetite.

The average person is more likely to get out of their comfort zone when traveling, and getting away from the everyday may facilitate a first-time or new type of cannabis experience. Since cannabis travelers come from all genders, age ranges, and income levels, various product categories within the market are available for the choosing.

Some questions remain about where chill seekers and tourists can consume the products they have purchased. While Michigan is a recreational state, this does not mean you can consume freely in public. Before lighting up at the park, remember that consumption must be private.

As Michigan adds more facilities and businesses to its list of adultuse consumption sites, such as consumption lounges and canna-friendly lodging, we will see an increase in our state’s availability for visitors to partake safely outside their own homes.

The West Michigan Tourist Association is an excellent source of information not only for locations of state-licensed cannabis retail shops but for all traveling needs in our area. You can also visit Dunegrass.co, or scan the QR code below, to locate a canna-friendly lodging option near you. If you are interested in adding your business to the list, reach out to Tourism@ Dunegrass.co.

Evolving cannabis policies bring the opportunity to not only roll cannabis into Michigan’s already stellar tourism experience but to light a path on fire for cannabis tourism itself.

Come hear co-authors Tim Rappleye and Keith Gave (author of The Russian Five) talk about their new book, A Miracle of Their Own. This is an amazing story of how the women's hockey team shocked Canada in the very first Olympic tournament for women at the Nagano games in 1998. Team USA players and their coach met the moment, upsetting a hockey superpower and skating away with glistening gold medals.

With a special appearance by 1998 Olympian Lisa Brown-Miller!

Event Sponsor: Common Good Bakery

Who Is Coming North?

By Al Parker and Jillian Manning

Coming off a couple of unusual winter travel seasons, many travelers and businesses across northern Michigan are hoping for a return to normalcy during the months before spring break. While our region isn’t as hot a destination in the winter as in summer— we mean that literally and figuratively— winter traffic in and out of NoMi plays an important role in keeping the local economy afloat during the leaner off-season.

Northern Express got insights from travel and tourism experts, asking them to assess the current situation and predict what to expect this winter for folks coming North.

Reaching Out to Visitors

This winter, the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau (PAVB) launched an ad campaign themed “The Right Way to Winter,” reminding people that Petoskey offers the very best of winter activities. The accompanying 30-second video ad includes shots of folks enjoying the slopes, trails, and dining options of the region.

Typically PAVB focuses its ad campaigns on targeting winter outdoor enthusiasts. “Skiers, snowboarders, Nordic skiers, and snowmobilers, with a focus on families and couples,” says Jim Powell, executive director of the PAVB. “Most of our paid media buy is digital because it allows us to target those lifestyle interests.”

But “The Right Way to Winter” isn’t just about getting outside—a good thing, given our hit-or-miss track record with snow for

the season. “You don’t need to be a skier or snowboarder to visit the Petoskey area in winter,” Powell says. “There are plenty of activities and amenities that can be enjoyed. All three downtowns offer great dining and shopping at locally owned and operated restaurants and shops.”

His organization represents Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor, Bay View, Boyne Falls, Boyne City, and Alanson. The group launched its winter marketing campaign in October, primarily targeting larger metro areas in the region, including Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint, Saginaw, Chicago, Indianapolis, Toledo, Columbus, and parts of southern Ontario.

Traverse City Tourism (TCT) targets a similar demographic, though they get big hits from Marquette and South Bend, Indiana, in the winter months too. Even though tons of traffic heads toward skiing-related content on the website, TCT President and CEO Trevor Tkach says his team has been focused on telling the “indoor story” of the Grand Traverse region this winter given our dearth of snowfall (more on that below).

“What we’ve been trying to educate people on is that we’re open,” Tkach says, pointing out how unusual Traverse City is for a beach or resort town because most of its businesses run throughout the offseason. “Our wineries are open; the great dining opportunities, they’re all available throughout the year. So the more we tell that story, we know that it converts.”

Tkach says that winter events, like the upcoming TC Comedy Fest and Traverse

City Restaurant Week, also offer a big draw for visitors, and that a robust calendar is key to attracting in-state and even out-of-state folks who need the extra nudge to brave winter travel.

Another opportunity to get people to northern Michigan is at conferences, an industry that is slowly rebounding from its flatline during the pandemic.

“We are starting to see this segment recover, but it’s still behind the pre-pandemic numbers,” says Powell. “Typically, we see more of this business in the spring, summer, fall, but we are constantly looking to attract small to medium size groups to the region for meetings and incentive travels.”

Tkach is optimistic about the return of business travel to the Traverse City area this year, explaining that TCT is anticipating growth in conference and group business.

“A lot of that growth potential is in what we consider the offseason or shoulder seasons,” he adds. “So even though the winter activity might not be as strong this year compared to last, hopefully the reintroduction of higher group and conference volume will help offset that softer leisure travel.”

The Case for Snow

When Tkach says “softer leisure travel,” he’s referring to the trickle down effect from the lack of snow, which is the base of much of the economic activity Up North during the winter months. Not only do visitors come for the ski hills and snowmobile trails, but so too do locals take advantage of the outdoor offerings, boosting local businesses that rely

on winter sports and activities.

“We had a really good winter last year; it was extraordinary,” Tkach says. “It’s disappointing to see inconsistent snow this season thus far… my instincts tell me that we’re falling behind because the snow has melted.”

He adds that the weather can change at a moment’s notice—don’t we know it—and that the region is ready to welcome outdoor adventurers.

But the need for precipitation is real: “We are extremely dependent upon the snow,” Tkach says. “We’ve got some really great ski hills, some great outdoor assets. For us to fully capitalize on our potential this season, we need that snow.”

Overall, Powell and Tkach agree that this winter has promise, so long as the snow falls.

“[We see] strong visitation in winter due to the ski areas,” notes Powell, referring to years past. “Boyne Mountain, The Highlands, and Nubs Nob continue to reinvest in winter mountain operations with new lifts, snowmaking, terrain expansion and providing additional winter amenities.”

Air Travel on the Rise

While the absence of snow is a detriment to skiers, at least the runways at Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) have been clear. Inbound and outbound flights have been brisk and steady, according to Director Kevin Klein.

“2022 [was] a strong year, and we should finish out as our second or third best year ever,” he says. “This will depend on how December’s numbers turn out. We have

Photos courtesy of Traverse City Tourism

returned stronger than most communities from the pandemic.”

Locals play a big part in that success. Klein estimates that 46 percent of TVC travelers are local to northern Michigan—a number that jumps as high as 70 percent during parts of the first and fourth quarters of the year for holiday and warm climate travel. Visitor numbers spike, unsurprisingly, to nearly 60 percent in summer and early fall. (Data is based on Department of Transportation statistics for the point of origin associated with a ticket.) In 2018, the number of local travelers was approximately 227,000, and in

2021, it was 264,000.

2022 numbers are still pending, but that growth could be poised to continue. Over the next three months, both bookings and schedules for the airport’s airlines are strong.

“United has added mainline aircraft to their lineup this first quarter, which has been a major upgrade of capacity compared to years past,” says Klein. “Delta has adjusted schedules to also have mainline on their morning kickoff. Allegiant has brought in more capacity on the Florida routes during our spring break. Load factors are up on all carriers.”

Will the looming recession put a dent in

air travel? At this point, Klein feels hopeful, noting recent aircraft orders from United and that “Delta is also saying that bookings are strong and counterintuitive to what many are saying about recessionary trends.”

Six direct flights will be available for the next two months out of TVC, including Delta flights to Detroit, American and United flights to Chicago, and Allegiant flights to Orlando, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and Punta Gorda, Florida. Starting on March 10, there will also be a direct flight to Phoenix.

Looking ahead a bit to June, a new carrier, Sun Country, will start direct flights

to Minneapolis. As other airlines bring back their summer routes, that will mean five TVC airlines will offer direct flights to 17 nonstop destinations.

Like the visitor bureaus, TVC registered the drop in business traffic from the pandemic, but it is starting to come back online. “We are currently seeing strong leisure travel, with business travel regaining momentum,” says Klein. “Business travel has been slow to return from the pandemic; however, the fourth quarter [was] strong with business travelers. We look forward to this trend continuing through 2023.”

Weekend Escapes

Three NoMi winter destinations

By Deb Dent

Ready to be transported to another place, even if you’re only a 30-minute drive from home? We are, which is why we took a look at three Up North properties that make you feel like you’re worlds away.

A Cozy Cabin in the Woods

Beaver Creek Properties

Located within Benjamin’s Beaver Creek Resort in Gaylord, this quiet hideout offers fully furnished log cabin condominiums for your winter retreat. Some cabins are set right on the edge of a golf course, while others offer a more secluded and private setting, tucked away among the trees.

Christiana Haight, property reservationist, shares, “[A] great thing about our properties is that they are all located within the same private neighborhood. For large groups or family reunions, oftentimes families will rent a string of homes next door to one another so everyone can be together for their trip but still have their own space.”

They offer homes that can accommodate up to 16 guests, along with some smaller options that work well for a cozy couple’s getaway.

While staying with Beaver Creek, you have full access to an indoor pool, a hot tub, a steam spa/sauna, and on-site snowmobile rentals, so you can explore the beautiful wintry trails right from your front door. You may also want to consider taking the short 20-minute drive to Wolverine to experience the serene waters of the Sturgeon River on a guided winter rafting trip.

If you’re looking for more winter activity options, you’re only 15 minutes from Treetops Resort, and downtown Gaylord is just a few miles down the road. Learn more at gogaylord.com.

Boyne Mountain

For great slopes sans the plane ride, Boyne Mountain, one of the largest ski resorts in the state, is a perfect option. Settled within the village of Boyne Falls, Boyne offers 63 runs spread over 415 skiable acres, making it a great choice for both beginners and advanced skiers.

Beyond that, they offer many winter recreation activities such as zipline adventures, fat tire snow biking, winter horseback riding, and even outdoor swimming. And if enjoying the snow from the inside looking out is more your thing, they also have a spa and an indoor waterpark. Plus, there’s the new SkyBridge Michigan suspension bridge for a bird’s-eye view of the ski hill action.

Events abound, and coming in February is their Samuel Adams Wicked Air & Après, the biggest ski and snowboarding show in the Midwest, complete with libations and fireworks.

For lodging, Boyne offers nearly 400 units spread between nine hotels, condos, and cabins. One of the more popular options is the new Chalet Edelweiss, a 35-room boutique hotel with European flair. It is a true ski-in and ski-out establishment, as the chalet is surrounded by snow on all sides. (They do offer a Chalet Valet, so that guests can have their luggage delivered directly to their doorstep.) Through Jan. 20, you can catch their Edelweiss Enchantment special by booking a king room at the chalet for $100 off.

Learn more at boynemountain.com.

An Alpine Chalet

Harbor Lights Resort

This summertime hotspot is hard to book in the warmer months, but still supplies a gorgeous setting along Lake Michigan in Frankfort during the winter.

The resort offers a variety of room types, and we recommend leveling up to a condominium, which gives you bay views and beachfront access. (From some, you can see the Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse!) Many have fireplaces or whirlpool tubs plus full kitchens, so you can snuggle up with your special someone and never have to leave the room. You can also enjoy the resort’s indoor pool, hot tub, and other amenities.

Just a short walk or drive from the resort along the main stretch of downtown are many local restaurants and shops that stay open year-round. Co-owner Janis Campbell says, “Charming Frankfort seems even more quaint—and quiet—in the winter months

when the beach town is yours to explore without the hustle and bustle of thousands of summer visitors.”

A favorite for guests is Stormcloud Brewing Company, which boasts good food and craft beer, live music on weekends, and a wintertime curling league. (In January and February, curling lessons are also available.) Frankfort also has a great independent bookshop, aptly named The Bookstore, and is home to the beautifully restored 1920’s Garden Theater, which features first-run movies plus indie and foreign films.

Best of all, you’re only a short drive from the south end of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the myriad of small towns tucked throughout Benzie County.

Learn more at harborlightsresort.net.

For Traverse City area news and events, visit TraverseTicker.com

DAILY FOOD SPECIALS (3-6pm): Mon- $1 chips and salsa Tues- $1 enchiladas Thurs - $5 fried veggies Fri - $5 hot pretzels w/ beer cheese

JANUARY IS INDOOR TRAINER SEASON

STARTING THE YEAR WITH HOPE

guest opinion by Isiah Smith, Jr.

My wife and I return from several weeks in Sweden and Italy with renewed feelings of hope. Taking a page from the Greek Stoics, we resolve to worry only about those things which we can control. It is humbling to realize how short that list is, and how painfully long the list is of the things we cannot control.

When you are away from the States for any length of time, you realize how infinitesimally small your concerns are in the larger universe of concerns and how little the world notices, and cares, about our broken political system. We met and dined with people from the Netherlands, from different Swedish provinces, Florence, Siena, and the Eternal City, Rome.

unavoidable, don’t let it ruin your day. Call it the Spartacus rules of engagement.

In The Innocent Abroad, Mark Twain wrote “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

Things have changed very little since Twain wrote those words in 1869. Not only travel abroad, but travel within the continental United States. In Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson wrote that one of the antidotes to racial and

In our travels, we learned anew that a sense of hope inspires millions of people across the globe in many different languages. It’s a belief in things unseen, unrealized, and difficult to conceive happening to us right here, right now.

We interacted with Moroccans and Nigerians, heard languages and dialects foreign to us. And there was the ebony brother from South Africa with his blond wife and blond baby boy. This mélange of humanity is a vivid reminder that our world is a colorful mixture of people, each perfect in their own right. Even though our distinctive American accents set us apart and outed us at every turn, no one ordered us to “go back where you belong.” We were where we were; and it was assumed that since we were there, we had every right to be there.

When we were younger, we considered international cultural differences weird because they were, well, different. It was later that we realized that the differences were beside the point. There are many different ways to be a human, no perfect way toward self-actualization, no perfect way to exist and coexist on this blue ball we call home. Perhaps when more of us realize this immutable fact, we will begin to treat our home with more respect.

At no point in time did any of these gentle souls ask us about conservatives versus liberals (whatever those maligned terms mean) or Republicans versus Democrats.

We forget how heavy the burdens are that we carry each day as we attempt to navigate the snares and pitfalls of “post-racial” America. We become numb to the poisonous and toxic drain on our minds and our spirits brought about by forces seeking to divide us for their own political gain.

An entire essay could be written about Italy’s automobile traffic. On several occasions, we seemed to die a thousand deaths, our lives cut short by a tiny car being driven with seemingly reckless disregard for the panicstricken Americans clinging to the ancient Roman walls. The first rule of driving in Rome—if there are any rules at all—is to do as little harm as possible. If harm becomes

ethnic animus is proximity. We simply need to associate more with people who don’t look like us, people with whom we appear to have nothing in common. By doing so, our minds expand beyond our current preoccupations and preconceived notions.

We started this first essay of 2023 with reflections of hope, and we have not forgotten it, and so we return to that forlorn and often missing ingredient in all that we do.

In our travels, we learned anew that a sense of hope inspires millions of people across the globe in many different languages. It’s a belief in things unseen, unrealized, and difficult to conceive happening to us right here, right now. And that hope does not reside in one person, one group, one way of seeing the world. Hope is expansive; without it, we become easily led and manipulated by empty slogans and paper-thin promises.

“Hope,” the great Czech dissident playwright turned president Václav Havel wrote, “... is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously headed for early success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed.”

Try as I might, I find it impossible to add to Mr. Havel’s wise words. There is a monument in St. Peter’s Square dedicated to the world’s migrants and refugees. The Angels Unaware boat by Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmaltz depicts 140 migrants, ranging from a Jewish man escaping Nazi Germany to a Syrian refugee fleeing the civil war, was inspired by the passage: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers…”

This is a message for all cultures, all races, all religions.

Isiah Smith, Jr. is a retired government attorney.

Now Boarding With Kevin Klein of Cherry Capital Airport

1

> Express: So 2022 is complete. How was traffic at the airport?

Klein: We don’t have our final numbers just yet. We should get those around the 20th of the month. But just based on initial TSA reports, it looks like it was our second best year ever.

2 > Express: Nice! Second best behind…?

Klein: Behind last year, which was massive. But 2022 will turn out to be better than 2019, which was our best year previously.

3 > Express: And where do we rank statewide? I know last year we had inched ahead of Flint to become the third busiest airport in the state.

Klein: It will be neck-and-neck with Flint, but we’re likely still number three. We’re definitely trending up, and they’re trending the other way.

4 > Express: I’m curious about the airlines. Are they becoming more and more alike in Traverse City, or more and more different? How has each airline’s presence changed here over time?

Klein: More and more alike. Several years ago, Delta had probably 50 percent market share here. Back when they were Northwest, it was probably 60 or 65 percent. Today, back to the July timeframe, United had 41 percent of our traffic, American had 31, Delta had 27, and the Allegiant had the rest. So the whole year will Riley show everyone being pretty balanced.

5 > Express: And do you prefer it that way?

Klein: I’d like to always see more seats in the market, but yes, good to have more competition here.

6 > Express: I also wonder: How much of how these airlines grow here is due to your relationship

with your contacts there and their familiarity with Traverse City versus just an overall corporate strategy and how aggressive a company is?

Klein: It’s how aggressive a corporation is. We have great relationships with all the airlines, but it’s about philosophy. Both American and United through the pandemic and coming out of it have been aggressive with seats and new markets. But Delta has followed their pattern of the economic downturns of 2008 and 2011, just being very conservative with their capacities; just kind of wanting to weather the storm. But now we’re starting to see some movement with Delta; they’re bringing back Boston [Non-stop to TVC] May through Labor Day.

a larger mainline aircraft handling 150 seats. And then with United to Denver, same thing; it was one regional and one mainline aircraft last year to this year having two mainline aircraft. Great news. And then Delta doing Boston, so that will be serviced by both Delta and American, which will make it very competitive.

11

> Express: What about at the airport?

7

> Express: So what are your goals at the airport for 2023?

Klein: Looking at our air service goals, one of the main goals is a successful kickoff of our fifth and newest airline, Sun Country.

8

> Express: And what would success look like there?

Klein: I’d say load factors [percentage of seats full] of around 80-85 percent.

Klein: Our number one goal here is to begin work on the instrument landing system for runway 10, which should begin construction this year. The public will just notice some new antenna arrays put up, but this will eventually mean it will significantly reduce weather delays for flights when there are east winds. It could eventually impact about 100 flights a year, which is really significant.

12 > Express: This has been on the drawing board for a while, right?

9

> Express: Sun Country is a huge airline in Florida and Minneapolis and other markets, but mostly unknown here. How does that change?

Klein: People will see their fantastic rates, and they will also do some aggressive marketing to their frequent flyer program members. We will also be doing some of our own marketing to introduce the brand here.

10

> Express: What else is a priority?

Klein: The second big one is with American, having the Dallas flights go from 76 seats per aircraft last year to

Klein: Yes, back in 2011, the FAA wanted to go completely to GPS systems and stopped installing new instrument landing systems. But we justified the need here, though we won’t be using federal grant dollars. This will come from the $4.50 PFC charge everyone pays on each ticket. All the airlines have approved it. It’s been a long time coming, but should bring some great benefits by end of 2023/ early 2024.

13 > Express: And what about the future terminal expansion? Anything happening there?

Klein: Yes, we will be expanding our terminal ramp itself, which we consider phase one of the new airport terminal construction. One reason we’re doing this is so we have ramp space during all the construction of the new terminal concourse, so we don’t have multiple planes waiting for gates. This will happen this summer, and is just the first step toward our eventual major airport terminal expansion.

Wine Country Getaway

From

to

By Greg Tasker

Believe it or not, winter is an ideal season for a wine country getaway on the Leelanau Peninsula. Snowdraped vineyards are as eye-catching in the winter as they are in the summer or fall, and colder temperatures means a welcome change in the cadence of life on the peninsula.

Things slow down, giving us locals some breathing room to enjoy our own backyards. The summer and fall crowds are long gone and tasting rooms are far less busy, allowing the winter-hardy to engage with staff, winemakers, and even owners. Some wineries open their vineyards for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and you’ll find no shortage of outdoor activities amid Leelanau’s rolling hills and frozen lakes. Towns like Suttons Bay are as welcoming as ever, offering shopping and other amenities year round.

In short: There’s plenty to do and explore, whether you’re on a budget or a spending spree.

The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail is home to some 20 wineries—visit the trail’s website (lpwines.com) for the full list and accompanying maps. They range from large enterprises like Black Star Farms of Suttons Bay to smaller mom-andpop operations like Dune Bird Winery, north of Leland. The region has become known for Riesling, but be sure to try other white varietals like Pinot Blanc and Gewürztraminer. Red favorites include Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir.

“Planning is essential for visiting wineries,” says Nicholas Hartmann, managing director of the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. “Because there are so many to choose from, I would recommend looking into which wineries you would like to visit the most and making sure that you don’t need a reservation … if you’re bringing kids or pets, that could change the

dynamic of your visit as well.”

Most wineries offer a variety of wine flights, wine by the glass, and specialty seasonal drinks, like mulled wine or cider. (Or the famous frosé of the summer months.) Black Star Farms is cited by many as the most upscale of the peninsula’s wineries with an expansive tasting room and extensive selection of wines, but it is in good company with wineries like Aurora Cellars, Good Harbor Vineyards, 45 North Vineyard & Winery, Blustone Vineyards, Shady Lane Cellars, and Verterra Winery gaining national accolades for their products. (Just to name a few!)

Greg Knorr of Grand Traverse Tours, which offers luxury winery tours on the peninsula, recommends choosing a glass of wine over a more expensive wine flight if you’re looking to stretch your dollar. He also shares this secret: Chateau Fontaine, one of the peninsula’s oldest wineries, offers free tastings. Complementing the tasting is a cheese ball, created from the family’s own recipe and using Chateau Fontaine wine. Less expensive traditional tastings can also

be found at Verterra Winery in Leland or Leelanau Cellars in Omena.

Other wineries offer discounts and host special events throughout the winter months, so be sure to stop by their websites when planning your trip. One event you won’t want to miss: the 2023 Sips and Soups Jan. 28-29. The $30 ticket price includes a 1.5oz pour paired with 3oz of soup from each of the 12 participating wineries. Your ticket also comes with $10 in “Cork Cash,” redeemable at participating wineries on certain purchases of bottles, merchandise, and tastings.

perfect Leelanau vacation :: step one :: plan your stops :: step two :: get around

A few of the wineries are close enough to hop from one to the other on foot, fat tire bike, cross-country ski, or snowshoe if you’re up for the workout, but most tasting

rooms are far-flung enough that you’ll want motorized transportation.

If you want the safety and confidence of a designated driver, especially on wintery roads, the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail lists six tour companies operating in the area, and you can easily find a few others with some internet sleuthing.

Prices are based on the size of the group, number of stops, and days of the week. Transportation options include everything from funky, kitschy buses to luxury stretch limousines. For a small busload of folks— aka 6-12 people—expect to pay north of $600 for the convenience.

Some outfits, like TC Wine Girl, cater to groups of two or three with an hourly rate ($55-$60/hour) for riding around in one of their SUVs. Another wallet-friendly option for small parties is the “join-in” rate offered by services like TC Brew Bus and The Magic Shuttle Bus, which lets you meet up with a group of likeminded wine-drinkers for a pre-set tour that costs $69-$99 per person without having to fill a whole bus with your own pals.

The bounty of land and sea are staples on many Leelanau menus, and for a nice night out, Martha’s Leelanau Table in Suttons Bay has it all, with farm-to-table offerings served with European inspiration. Menu standouts include escargot de Provence, lobster Wellington, and a parmesan and panko-crusted walleye. Don’t be surprised to find owner Martha helping in the kitchen or attending to her guests.

For another upscale option, consider La Bécasse, a French country restaurant in the Glen Lake area. Open since 1980, the cozy restaurant serves French classics like beef burgundy, cassoulet, and veal noisettes, using locally sourced produce and provision. La Bécasse, as you might expect, boasts an encyclopedic collection of wine.

For more casual digs, check out Boone’s Prime Time Pub in Suttons Bay or Boonedocks in Glen Arbor. You’ll find burgers, sandwiches, and classic American entrees at both. Dick’s Pour House in Lake Leelanau is a local favorite—the tavern fare includes pizza, burgers, and Friday night fish fries. For grab-and-go treats, stop by 9 Bean Rows on Route 204. The small farmstead includes a bakery and wood-fired pizza oven. It’s a great place to pick up freshlybaked bread, pastries, and sandwiches. Keep in mind that some of your favorite summertime haunts (thinking of you, Village

Leelanau

National

Hugging Lake Michigan, the resort has a variety of room accommodations, restaurants, a spa, and outdoor activities like downhill skiing. Rates range from $185/night midweek to $400+/night on the weekends, depending on the room type.

Another option, and one that gives the full wine country experience, is the Inn at Black Star Farms, Leelanau’s only winery inn. The Kentucky-style estate home is elegantly and classically furnished with contemporary and equestrian touches. There are just 10 guest rooms, some of which include fireplaces, hot tubs, or private patios. Every afternoon, guests enjoy a wine reception in the Pegasus Lounge, with a glass of Black Star’s awardwinning wines and freshly-made appetizers. In the winter, guests may snowshoe or crosscountry on the estate’s trails, and the heated Terrace Patio is open afterward for mulled cider.

While rates start $275/night midweek

and reach $425+/night on the oft-booked weekends, you can take advantage of two offseason specials running at the inn. One is a BOGO 50 percent off deal for the weekday crowd: Book a two-night stay Sunday through Thursday before March 29, 2023, and receive the second night 50 percent off. The other deal falls under the same days and dates as above, but gives you a third night on the house instead of half off your second night. Get the details and promo codes at blackstarfarms.com/package-specials.

Budget-minded travelers can opt for Airbnb or VRBO rentals, far less costly in the winter months, or accommodations at M22 Motel in Suttons Bay and Glen Arbor or Maple Lane Resort in Empire.

“These are more economical places in the off-season,” Knorr says. “A lot of locations are near grocery stores so you can grab groceries and do your own cooking. Each town has its own unique grocery store. It’s a great way to save money.”

Hartmann also suggests stocking up at local grocery stores to save money on meal expenses. Those options include The Leland Mercantile Co,. Hansen Foods of Suttons Bay, Anderson’s Glen Arbor Market, and Tom’s Food Market in Northport.

disappointed in Leelanau’s outdoor scene.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail is groomed for skiers when conditions allow. Although closed to vehicle traffic in the winter, the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a challenging climb for skiers, hikers, and snowshoers. Get to the top of the dune and your reward is a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. A park pass ($25/car, or $15 if entering on foot or bike) is required.

For a free and relatively flat alternative, try the Leelanau Trail, which runs from Suttons Bay to Traverse City. If the snow is minimal, grab your hiking boots and check out free trails at these locations: Whaleback Natural Area, south of Leland, and the Houdek Dunes Natural Area and the Clay Cliffs Natural Area, both north of Leland. They’re owned and maintained by the Leelanau Conservancy.

Lastly, Shady Lane Cellars and a handful of wineries open their slumbering vineyards for free cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when the snow falls. (What better way to earn a glass of wine?) Other trails can be found at French Valley Vineyards, 45 North Vineyard and Winery, Black Star Farms, and Two K Farms Cidery and Winery. Some wineries have rentals available.

When you need a break from all the eating and drinking, you won’t be

Cheese Shanty) may be closed down for the winter months. Be sure to check websites or social media pages for your desired dining spot before heading out into the cold.

is home to a handful of small motels and bed & breakfasts scattered around the peninsula and one resort, The Homestead near Sleeping Bear Dunes

Lakeshore.

Martha's Leelanau Table is a favorite spot for a firstclass meal after a day of exploring the wineries.

45 North Vineyard & Winery warms up

across

Leelanau Peninsula.

The Inn at Black Star Farms is renowned for wine country elegance and comfort.

B&B Home

Sweet Home

Get that getaway feeling without leaving the house

By Rachel Pasche

A vacation is so much more than a pin in the map: It’s a step out of your normal routine into new experiences, with time to enjoy your surroundings and moments to relax and unwind. Can a staycation replicate that feeling? We talked to the owners of several bed and breakfasts across the North to find out how the special touches that bring guests flocking to B&Bs can transform our own abodes into getaway-worthy destinations.

secrets on main

Built in 1894 by lumber baron James Dempsey, the Dempsey Manor once housed its namesake, his wife, and 12 children. This regal structure now stands tall in the Historic Homes District in Manistee, with a rustic red brick exterior and stately turrets.

The current owners, James Colburn and Janice Peterson, have devoted years to the masterful and careful restoration of this historic property. Colburn first scouted the site in 2014 after a three-year search for the perfect home to convert into a B&B. Both an Emmy-nominated set decorator and avid antiques collector, Colburn played a key role in the timelessness of the manor, helping furnish and restore the home to its 19th century glory. Peterson was one of the first guests when the B&B opened, and, upon falling in love with it, became Colburn’s partner.

Part of what makes the Dempsey Manor so special is how it feels like a step back in time. The exterior, interior, and furnishings all pay a loving tribute to the house’s original grandeur, making it one of the most spectacular pieces of restored architecture from the 1800s in West Michigan. Each room is uniquely designed with period furniture and all the trappings of comfort that allow guests to experience what a stay might have felt like over a hundred years ago. To follow their lead, give your guest room a theme and decorate it accordingly—then use it as your own escape for a night or two.

If you can’t spring for furniture updates or interior design touches, try another leaf out of the Dempsey Manor playbook: great food. They enhance guest experiences with additions like champagne and chocolate, beach picnics, and a complimentary wine bar in the evenings. Breakfast is a multi-course affair in the mornings, complete with a buffet, craft coffees, and a sweet treat to finish it off. Capture that vacation feel by treating yourself to specialty beverages, snacks, or meals—preferably ones that require minimal prep and clean-up—that you don’t get to enjoy every day.

B&B

Tips: Build an Experience

Originally built in 1892, the Victorian home that is now Secrets on Main Bed & Breakfast in Cheboygan was ready for a refresh, and that’s exactly what the new owners, Laurie and Terry Musclow, provided. The pair had long dreamed of owning a northern Michigan B&B, and when the home (previously known as The Gables) went up for sale in 2017, they leapt at the opportunity. With help from a team of volunteers and contractors, they have beautifully restored the home to its former splendor and offer five unique rooms for guests to enjoy.

Secrets on Main evokes a desire to slow down, breathe deeply, and enjoy some of the finer things life has to offer. Breakfast is family-style, served at a large table each morning at 9am sharp, starring an ever-changing assortment of fresh and often local foods. An art gallery features pieces done by owner Terry Muscow himself, while the tea room serves up steaming cups of assorted teas accompanied by scones and sandwiches in the afternoons.

The grounds themselves have plenty to offer, including a gazebo, hot tub, fire pit, lush lilac trees, and even kayaks, bikes, and a vintage buggy. A wraparound porch and Little Free Library out front promote afternoons spent leisurely reading in a rocking chair. Guests are encouraged to immerse themselves in the Victorian-era feel that permeates the entire property.

On a staycation, prepare your home or yard for activities you normally enjoy doing on vacation. Maybe that means making your own fancy afternoon tea with finger sandwiches and scones or creating a reading area in a window nook or in a sunny spot on the porch (complete with space heater). To include the whole gang, set up a fire pit area—check your local regulations first—for you and your family to sit around and enjoy with s’mores and cocoa.

B&B Tips: Lean In with Décor and Delicacies

Dempsey Manor

B&B Tips: Pay Attention to Detail

Deb Cannon started the Torch Lake B&B in 2003 with her husband, wanting to bring her experience as an inspector for the Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association and her passion for meeting new people together. Initially, the Cannons offered only a single room in their lakeside home; today there are four rooms available.

The Cannons think of themselves as a ministry of sorts, catering to the different needs of each visitor. Some arrive seeking the serenity of a quiet weekend on the water, while others want to experience a go-go-go vacation. Cannon loves entertaining, and the opportunity to share the beauty of Torch Lake with visitors from all around the globe has “opened up a whole new world” for her. Torch Lake was featured in a National Geographic article several years ago as the third most beautiful lake in the world, and Cannon credits that article for the large number of international travelers she receives.

Visiting the B&B feels like entering a lakeside cottage, with nautically-themed rooms adding to the home’s charm. Cannon makes sure all needs are anticipated, from snacks, drinks, and soaps, to access to a grill, boats, kayaks, and dock. Breakfast is brought to the room each morning, and coffee is provided.

Those are the kinds of small details that matter on vacation. Replicate room service with a breakfast dish that does most of the work on its own, like overnight French toast or oatmeal, or buy stocking up on treats from your favorite bakery. Place some freshlywashed towels on the counter and add highend soaps and toiletries in the bathroom. Or add fresh-cut flowers to the popular spots in your home—you’ll be transported to your happy place in no time.

48 Hours in Mackinaw City

By Ross Boissoneau

Where do people from northern Michigan go for a vacation? In the summer, we often head north, to the Straits of Mackinac, the U.P., and beyond, while in the winter we typically go south or west for warmer climes.

But why? Why not celebrate the snowy season with a trip, even just a brief one, to the northernmost point of the lower peninsula?

Because it’s the off-season, many of the attractions of summer are closed. But because it’s the off-season, there’s much less competition and crowding. Deb Spence, the executive director of the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau, says the relative lack of shopping and the quiet ferry docks are balanced by the welcoming attitude. Just head north and they’ll roll out the red—or, rather, white—carpet for you.

Lodging, Dining, and Shopping

Need a place to stay? Fortunately Mackinaw City has more than 2,400 rooms at motels, hotels and bed-and-breakfasts…in summer, at least. This time of year, the Holiday Inn Express and Hamilton Inn are open and inviting, as are a couple B&Bs—check out the Deer Head Inn. The B&B was built in 1913 and offers five rooms (including one named after Hemingway, complete with a periodappropriate desk) available year round.

You’ll want to eat, of course. Beer aficionados may want to stop at Dixie Saloon Food and Spirits. Not only has it been operating since 1890, but it’s billed as Mackinaw’s only grain to glass brewery. Rusted Spoke Brewing Co., Audie’s Restaurant, and Keyhole Bar & Grill are other popular options among locals and visitors alike.

Shopping opportunities quiet down in the winter—including most of the storefronts at the massive Mackinaw Crossings—but you can still find a fudge shop open here or there as you wander through downtown.

Festivals and Fun

If your time in town includes Saturday, Jan. 21, you’ll want to check out the 30th annual Mackinaw City Winter Festival. It includes partying at the Dixie Saloon and a chili cookoff at Mama Mia’s Pizza. The latter is closed to chefs, but chili tasting aficionados can enjoy the spoils for just $5 (plus a cash bar).

The Kids Big Freeze Obstacle Course for ages 6-17 (divided into different age groups) involves running, climbing, jumping, crawling, pulling, and balancing elements, all testing speed, endurance, and agility. Wait, there’s more? Of course there is: While not required, participants are encouraged to wear costumes.

The obvious highlight of the festival is the Mackinaw Pepsi International Outhouse Races. Five-person teams (one rider and four to push/pull/pray) race their outhouses on skis. The outhouse must have a toilet seat and…well, you can get the rest of the details yourself at MackinawCity.com/events.

The Outdoors

Now, if you’re heading north in winter, you must love to actually get out into the cold. So whether you want to hike, snowshoe, and/or cross-country ski, you’re in luck.

Historic Mill Creek is a popular attraction in summer, while in the winter it offers an abundance of hiking trails. So too does P.H. Hoeft State Park, approximately four miles north of Rogers City, with 4.5 miles of trails running through gently rolling, mixed hardwood-conifer forest, as well as along the Lake Huron shoreline.

Motorized conveyances more your speed? Not only does Wilderness State Park offer snowmobile trails, the North Central State Trailhead is just off Mackinaw Crossings Drive, connecting to Cheboygan, Rogers City, Alpena to the east, Petoskey to the west, and Gaylord to the south.

Snowmobilers slow their roll for a look at the Mighty Mac covered in snow.

Photo courtesy of Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau.

One of the unique attractions of the area is the Headlands International Dark Sky Park, just minutes from downtown. It encompasses 550 acres of pristine woodlands, with more than 2 miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline.

What is a dark sky park? It’s a property that’s buffered from light pollution and offers exceptional starry nights. The nocturnal environment is prized for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/ or public enjoyment. When it debuted in 2011, the Headlands was one of 10 International Dark Sky Parks in the world; today there are more than 200 certified Dark Sky Places around the globe.

Marked trails guide you through the property, where you may encounter everything from birds— including bald

eagles and osprey—to white tail deer, coyotes, and occasionally a black bear. You don’t need to wait until dark to experience the wonders of this amazing property, but nighttime offers great stargazing and, if you’re lucky enough, a glimpse of the northern lights.

On the Water

If you don’t mind a few splashes, head to Indian River, nestled between Burt and Mullett Lakes. It’s a summertime paddling paradise in the heart of Michigan’s longest chain of rivers and lakes. In the winter you can still check out the water with Big Bear Adventures, which offers a 90-minute winter rafting trip on the Sturgeon River.

While nature provides a great night sky panorama at the Headlands, Spence also

recommends another exquisite piece of nighttime scenery. The Mackinac Bridge isn’t just a connector between the peninsulas—when it’s lit up at night, the Mighty Mac is a noteworthy attraction all on its own.

And depending on the conditions, Spence says the lake’s shoreline itself captivates visitors. She says the blue ice has been especially attractive the past couple winters, though there’s no guarantee of if or when it will make an appearance. And whenever it does, she says it’s of paramount importance to remember it’s still ice floating atop water and potentially hazardous. So take lots of photos, but don’t take chances.

For more information, contact the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau at (231) 436-5664 or go to MackinawCity.com.

Bright Idea

Dog owner Erik Torres, who owns a pet store in Doral, Florida, is facing charges after he brought his Pomeranian -- dyed to look like Pikachu -- to a Miami Heat game on Dec. 26, WPTV reported. "It made NBA history because nobody's ever seen a Pikachu dog sitting next to an NBA player before," Torres said. But MiamiDade County Animal Services officials were unamused: "No animal should be dyed, regardless of whether there's an ordinance prohibiting that," said assistant director Kathleen Labrada. She noted it is "unlawful for any person to possess, sell or otherwise transfer within the county any dyed or artificially colored rabbit or other animal." Torres is fighting the charge, saying the dog is not for sale and he used dye that is safe for consumption. He also has no plans to remove the dye.

Nay-chur

In Derbyshire, England, Phil and Jane

-- but no suicide note. Geologists did not find any more human remains in the pool, other than "fatty deposits ... floating to the surface over time," a report indicated. The pool is more than 50 feet deep and has an average temperature of 140 degrees.

Overkill

Matthew Greenwood, 32, and Jeremy Crahan, 40, of Puyallup, Washington, only wanted to rob a business on Christmas Day, NPR reported. But their strategy got them in much more trouble than the original crime would have. Both were charged with attacking power substations, causing thousands of people to lose electricity on the holiday; Greenwood and Crahan admitted they just wanted to empty a cash register at a local business during the outage. The sabotage amounts to a federal crime; Crahan's lawyer said he plans to enter a not guilty plea.

Duuuude

For the third year in a row, the county in Oregon reporting the highest rate of cannabis sales was Malheur County -which shares a state border with Idaho and is close to Boise. KGW-TV reported that although sales were down in 2022, they still topped out at $104 million, or $3,243 per county resident. Cannabis sales -- medical or recreational -- are illegal in Idaho, which creates a boon for the Oregon

Public lands officials in Salt Lake City are trying to solve a mystery: Who is placing antennae with solar panels on public property? KSL-TV reported on Jan. 4 that a few of the devices were found about a year ago, but more have been discovered in recent months. The locked battery boxes, solar panels and antennae "have been bolted into different peaks and summits and ridges around the foothills," said Tyler Fonarow, the city's recreational trails manager. "It might be related to cryptocurrency and relaying networks and being able to make money off that," Fonarow speculated. He hopes to educate the public that items cannot be installed on public lands. "We want to stop it now before it becomes a dumping ground for dozens and dozens of more antennas."

Scott Stallings of St. Simons Island, Georgia, is not THAT Scott Stallings -- which became all too clear when he received a FedEx invitation to the PGA Masters Tournament, the Associated Press reported. Stallings reached out to golfer Stallings, who is from Knoxville, Tennessee, on Instagram: "I'm (100 percent) sure this is NOT for me," he wrote. Golfer Stallings said he had been waiting for his invite and thought maybe his wife was pranking him. But Georgia's Stallings won't miss out altogether: "We're going to give him some practice-round tickets and take him to dinner on Monday night for doing the right thing," the PGA

Dean Edwards

Tom Papa

Ismo

Jackie Kashian

Maria Bamford

saturday

PARADISE LAKE ASSOCIATION ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT: 8am-5pm, Chubbs Marina, Carp Lake. paradiselakeassociation.org -------------

FAT & FLURRIOUS FAT TIRE BIKE RACE: 10am, North Country Cycle Sport, Boyne City. Not for beginners; features a challenging & difficult course. $60-$65. fatandflurrious.com

FREE DROP-IN FAMILY ART: 10am-noon, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. Fun art activity inspired by exhibit in the gallery. Open to all ages. crookedtree.org/ class/ctac-traverse-city/free-drop-family-artjanuary

OPEN STUDIO: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in free arts & crafts for the whole family. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/openstudio-january-14

PAPER CRAFTING: 10am-noon, Interlochen Public Library. For tweens, teens & adults. Use paper & craft supplies to create a smash book, no-sew journal, collage, paper beads, greeting cards & more. 231-2766767. Free.

FAMILY FUN WITH LEGOS: 10:30am, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Drop-in between 10:30am - 12:30pm for Lego activities, snacks & more. Free. sbbdl.org ----------------------

LITTLE WAVES: 10:30am, Petoskey District Library & 1pm, Charlevoix Public Library. “Musical Adventures”: Aimed at children 4-10 years of age & their families, this program features a multimedia storybook time with Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra (GLCO) percussionist & program director Tim Mocny, an opportunity to hear one or more GLCO musicians demonstrate & explain how their instruments work, & fun music-related activities for kids. Free. glcorchestra.org/education/little-waves

WINTER TRAILS DAY: 10:30am-2pm, Timber Ridge Resort, TC. Join TART Trails for a fun, family-friendly day of winter trail activities at the 13th Winter Trails Day. Free. traversetrails.org/event/wintertrailsday

RAPTOR RAPTURE: RAPTURE PRESENTATION & AWARENESS: 11am, Whiting Park, Boyne City. Presented by Charlevoix County Parks Department. Featuring several live birds of prey from the North Sky Raptor Sanctuary in Interlochen. charlevoixcounty. org/whitingpark/index.php

BELIEVIE: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF EVIE LOWER: 1pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Friends & community members are welcome to attend a celebration of life for Evie Lower, culminating in a candlelight walk in her honor. Free. facebook.com/ groups/472940301658382

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SLEDDING & S’MORES: 5-8pm, Kiwanis Park, Harbor Springs.

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TONY ‘N TINA’S WEDDING: 6pm, Fox Hill Event Center, Cadillac. Presented by Cadillac Footliters. This dinner theatre event will be catered by Blue Heron’s Julie & Brian Williams. This is a fictitious joining of two largerthan-life Italian-American families. Watch the nuptials, toast the newlyweds, enjoy cocktails & dinner, & dance. This is a fundraiser for Footliters’ Fund for a Permanent Home. $70. cadillacfootliters.ludus.com/index.php?sections=events

“THE PETERS, PAULS & MARYS”: 7:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. A benefit show for The Cheboygan Opera House. Dale Rieger & musicians from the Cheboygan area play classic tunes that will chase away the winter blues. The set list will include covers of popular ‘60s & ‘70s favorites by musicians named... Peter, Paul or Mary. $20; $15 veterans & students. theoperahouse.org/tickets -

BLISSFEST PRESENTS: ERIN ZINDLE & THE RAGBIRDS: 7:30-9:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Enjoy this high-energy show with indie-pop melodies, global-infused beats, rock guitar riffs, & hints of folk. $25 Blissfest members; $30 GA. showclix.com/event/blissfest-presentserin-zindle-the-ragbirds-/listing ----------------------

CELEBRATING ELVIS PRESLEY’S RECORDS FROM SUN STUDIOS PERFORMED BY HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN & TYLER HILTON: 8pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Known for its legendary catalogue, including the early albums of Elvis Presley, Sun Studios has left its mark on the history of rock music. In 2005, Palm Desert native Tyler Hilton was cast to play the legendary rock star in the blockbuster biopic Walk the Line (starring Jaoquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash). Now Tyler has teamed up with Hot Club of Cowtown, bringing Elvis hits from the Sun Studios years to life on the stage. $50, $45, $40, $35, $25. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/cowtown-tyler-hilton

THE FRIARS WINTERPALOOZA: 8pm, City Opera House, TC. The Friars, the a cappella subset of the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, bring their questionable choreography, bad dad jokes, & boy-band hits. GA: $20; Students 18 or younger or with college ID: $10; Seniors 62+: $15. cityoperahouse. org/node/462

sunday

WORLD SNOW DAY: Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville is offering a variety of activities geared to introduce “first timers” to the world of snow. Chill Out for Winter Safety: Stop by the main floor of the Crystal Center between 10am-1pm to learn about proper helmet safety & preventing winter injuries. There will be a giveaway of up to 100 free helmets. 1pm: Cross Country Presentation. Meet at the Cross Country Learning Center. 2pm: Snowshoeing Presentation. Meet at Park at Water’s Edge. 3pm: Ski & Snowboard Presentation. Meet at the Learning Area outside the Mountain Adventure Zone. 12-4pm: Scavenger Hunt. Pick up clues at Park at Water’s Edge. Free. crystalmountain.com/ event/world-snow-day

CADILLAC FOOTLITERS AUDITIONS: 3-6pm, First Presbyterian Church, Cadillac. For “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.” 30 plays in 60 minutes. Each twominute play is performed in random order with an interactive audience. sites.google. com/cadillacfootliters.com/too-much-lightaudition-hub/?fbclid=IwAR1IadFctG8qVYfD y7yrAtYKDWeb_ITUHo1ZQghVDerYacp6b dDo7yEI3cc&pli=1

GREAT LAKES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

SUNDAY SERIES: 4pm, First Presbyterian Church of Boyne City. Featuring The Drumheads, a percussion ensemble playing a variety of instruments including snare drums, marimba, cymbals, glockenspiel, “found” instruments & more. Free. glcorchestra.org

monday

EMBRACE THE DREAM FREE DAY: 11am-4pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Enjoy free admission & help kick off NMC’s “Embrace the Dream” programs in honor of King’s legacy. You might even see staff installing three new exhibits. dennosmuseum.org ----------------------

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PEACE DAY CELEBRATION: Noon-2pm & 2:304:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Hands-on, peace-promoting activity stations will be set up in the Great Lakes Room throughout each session. There will be a special story time beginning one hour after the start of each session. Free with admission. greatlakeskids.org/peace-day-martinluther-king ----------------------

CADILLAC FOOTLITERS AUDITIONS: 6-8pm, First Presbyterian Church, Cadillac. For “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.” 30 plays in 60 minutes. Each twominute play is performed in random order with an interactive audience. sites.google. com/cadillacfootliters.com/too-much-lightaudition-hub/?fbclid=IwAR1IadFctG8qVYfD y7yrAtYKDWeb_ITUHo1ZQghVDerYacp6b dDo7yEI3cc&pli=1

AUDITIONS FOR “THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG”: 6:30pm & 9pm, Old Town Playhouse, Schmuckal Theatre, TC. This play has roles for two women & six men of varying ages. Open to all community members. oldtownplayhouse.com/engage/perform/actors.html

MLK DAY MOVIE NIGHT: 7pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: A Historical Perspective: An Authorized Biography of a Civil Rights Hero.” Free. tadl.org/events

REMEMBERING MLK: AN EVENING OF MUSIC, PROSE AND DANCE: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Featuring vocalist Joan Belgrave and Friends, spoken word artist Joel Fluent Green, & the Lisa McCall dancers. Also appearing will be TC’s Canticum

11:30am-1:30pm,

Novum vocal ensemble under the direction of Jeffrey Cobb with Joe Wilson on dobro & Kevin LaRose on tuba. Reserve your free ticket. prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/ info.aspx?evtinfo=260164~4398ba77-24fb4c97-ba39-c7c52fa2fcaf&epguid=74eb51fcb7f1-435b-877f-e12668802434&

tuesday

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library, lower level Community Meeting Room. Preschoolers of all ages are invited to join for stories, songs & active fun. Free. sbbdl.org

STORYTIME ADVENTURES: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Featuring “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Keats. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. greatlakeskids.org ----------------------

AUDITIONS FOR “THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG”: (See Mon., Jan. 16) ----------------------

GRAND TRAVERSE HIKING CLUB MEETING: 7pm, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Join the NCTA Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter for the January monthly meeting. Sally & Keith Dykhuis spent a month backpacking & exploring the mountainous region around Cusco, Peru in April 2022. They will share the geography, culture & history they discovered. Free. northcountrytrail. org/events/gtr-011723

wednesday

“DISRUPT & DISMANTLE: SHINGLE MOUNTAIN”: 1pm & 2:30pm, Dennos Museum Center, Dutmers Theater, NMC, TC. Soledad O’Brien visits Dallas to find out how environmental racism is plaguing a predominantly Black community as it tries to fight against a hazardous dump site called Shingle Mountain. Limit of 30 people per screening. Online registration required. Free. simpletix.com/e/disruptdismantle-shingle-mountain-tickets-119445

A long-time staple of Mackinaw City’s 30th Annual Winterfest is the Outhouse Races! They will be held Sat., Jan. 21 starting at The Hook Restaurant parking lot at 2pm, with an Afterglow party and live music at O’Reilly’s Irish Pub and Dixie Saloon. Send your kids to the Kids Big Freeze Obstacle Course at the Mackinaw Crossing front parking lot at 11am. The Chili Cook Off Competition at Mama Mia’s Pizza will run from

plus much more. mackinawcity.com/events/29th-annual-winter-fest

CHILLIN’ WITH THE CHAMBER OFFICE: 4-6pm, Harbor Springs Area Chamber office, 118 E. Main St., Harbor Springs. Find out about the sponsor’s business & what’s happening around town. Free. harborspringschamber.com/events/details/chillin-withthe-chamber-office-2023-12120

PENINSULA INSIGHTS: 7pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. County Commissioner TJ Andrews will talk about what she sees ahead over the next two years in Grand Traverse County. 231-499-4438.

t hursday

KID’S CRAFT LAB: GLITTERY ICICLES: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Make some shiny icicles out of aluminum foil. You can hang them anywhere & they will never melt. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. greatlakeskids.org

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WALK & WRITE: 2-5pm, Offield Family Viewlands, Harbor Springs. Join Good Hart Artist in Residence Christina Clancy & Little Traverse Conservancy staff for a winter forest bathing & writing experience. Enjoy a roughly one-hour winter walk at the Viewlands, where you will be given several writing prompts. After the walk, meet at the Petoskey District Library lower-level classroom to write & share. Register. petoskeylibrary.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=11576&backTo=Ca lendar&startDate=2023/01/01

HISTORY OF FRANKFORT HARBOR

LECTURE: 4pm, Benzie Shores District

Library, Frankfort. Andy Bolander, chief historian of the Benzie Area Historical Society will lecture on the development of Frankfort Harbor from a sparse settlement in 1859 to the modern day. benzieshoreslibrary.org

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READER CHEF, JR. COOKING CLASS: 4pm, Interlochen Public Library. For ages 10-14. Learn a new recipe & be able to cook the meal from start to finish. January’s recipe is Easy Stir Fry. Limited to 10 people. Registration required: 231-276-6767. Free. ----------------------

SHIPWRECKS: 6pm, Cheboygan Area Public Library. Explore the mystery of two Civil War era schooners, found bow to bow in the depths of the Great Lakes. Free. facebook.com/381973841114/posts/pfbid02NDsjUqPx6uF6ieG71y9TnYf1wywuYhYeroYViL9o8rsZLTfRBRHuwgEkxruFxFd8l

NWS: A CONVERSATION WITH TIM RAPPLEYE & KEITH GAVE: City Opera House, TC. These award-winning authors will talk about their new book “A Miracle of Their Own,” & will be joined by hockey Olympian Lisa Brown-Miller. You’ll hear about Team USA’s Olympic stunning upset against Canada in 1998 when the American women’s hockey team captured the gold medal. Doors open at 6pm with a cash bar & live music. Event starts at 7pm, followed by a book signing. cityoperahouse.org/node/485

friday

COFFEE @ 10, TC: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. Join northern Michigan artist Justin Shull in this week’s

Coffee @ 10 presentation. Justin’s work is featured in “Occupied Spaces: Work by Justin Shull.” Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctactraverse-city/coffee-10-justin-shull

LUNCHEON LECTURE: “AMERICANS AND THE HOLOCAUST”: 11:30am1pm, NCMC, Library Conference Center, Petoskey. In conjunction with Petoskey District Library presenting the traveling exhibit “Americans and The Holocaust,” NCMC Professor Charles McCaffrey will give a talk entitled “Henry Morgenthau: The Treasury Secretary Who Forced America to Aid the Jews of Europe.” $15; includes a buffet lunch. ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-5075429 ----------------------

NOON TAI CHI WITH TADL: Noon, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy an introduction to Tai Chi, a systematic & gentle form of exercise & stretching that is good for all ages. Free. tadl.org/events ----------------------

SELF-GUIDED, “OPEN HOUSE” STYLE SKI OR SNOWSHOE: 6:30-8:30pm, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Ski on GRNA’s groomed ski trails, or snowshoe the boardwalk to the river. Bring a flashlight or headlamp. There will be a campfire at the Center pavilion & the heated building will be open. Rental skis & snowshoes are $5. grassriver.org

“CLUE [HIGH SCHOOL EDITION]”: 7pm, Old Town Playhouse, MainStage, TC. Presented by the Old Town Playhouse Young Company. At a remote mansion, six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder & blackmail are on the menu. $16 adults; $8 youth under 18 (plus fees). oldtownplayhouse.com

OPENING RECEPTION FOR WINTER EXHIBITIONS: Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Celebrate the new exhibits that open on Jan. 21 at Dennos Museum Center. They explore identity & representation in art with a focus on BIPOC experiences. The reception will be held at 7pm & feature light refreshments, a cash bar & live music. dennosmuseum.org/ events/community-programs.html ----------------------

MITTEN SMITTEN: SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND: 7:30-9:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. A six-concert series featuring Michigan’s vibrant music scene. A collaboration between Crooked Tree Arts Center & Blissfest Music Organization. Featuring Blake Elliott, Jen Sygit & Rachel Brooke. $15. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/mitten-smitten-songwriters-round

COMEDY W/ KEITH LENNART: 7:45pm, Traverse City Comedy Club, TC. This internationally touring comedian performs at clubs across the U.S. & shows overseas for the troops. He has worked with comedy legends such as Bobcat Goldthwait, Pauly Shore, Jim Gaffigan & more. $25-$30. mynorthtickets.com/events/ comedy-wkeith-lennart-1-20-2023

jan 21

saturday

FROZEN FOOT FIVE MILE RACE & 1 MILE FUN RUN: Eastern Elementary School, TC. 1 Mile: 9am; 5 Mile: 9:30am. 1 Mile: $5; 5 Mile: $30; $20 for students 0-17. runsignup.com/ frozenfootrace

OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts

Room, Petoskey. Drop-in art for all ages. New projects are offered each week. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/openstudio-january-21

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION WITH TADL: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. 2023 is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit. Celebrate Chinese New Year by dropping in to make an origami rabbit (while supplies last). Free. tadl.org/events ----------------------

MACKINAW CITY’S 30TH ANNUAL WINTERFEST: Featuring the Kids Big Freeze Obstacle Course at the Mackinaw Crossing front parking lot at 11am; Chili Cook Off Competition at Mama Mia’s Pizza from 11:30am-1:30pm; Outhouse Races at The Hook Restaurant parking lot at 2pm, with an Afterglow party & live music at O’Reilly’s Irish Pub & Dixie Saloon, & more. mackinawcity.com/events/29th-annual-winter-fest ----------------------

“CLUE [HIGH SCHOOL EDITION]”: (See Fri., Jan. 20, except today’s times are 2pm & 7pm.)

LIVE IMPROV AT THE LIBRARY: 2pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. The Tilt Think Improv players present a totally improvised show. Sit back & enjoy the performance, or shout out ideas & inspiration to influence the characters & scenes. A show for children & families will be held on Jan. 28. Free. tadl. org/events

SNOW JAM & CHILI CHALLENGE: 2-6pm, The Village at GT Commons, Piazza, TC. Vote for your favorite chili. Ten northern Michigan businesses will prepare their best chili for a chance at Best Overall Chili & People’s Choice. There will also be live music by A/She/DC, bonfires, frozen yard games, & more. Mario Batali will announce the winner! Tickets: $25 (21 & over), $15 (ages 1220), $5 (ages 11 & under). thevillagetc.com/ snow-jam-chili-challenge-2022-2

GOPHERWOOD CONCERTS: MARK STUART: 7pm, Cadillac Elks Lodge. Versatile musician Mark Stuart performs rock, blues, folk, country & much more. He has played at Cambridge Folk Festival, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, MTV, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, & many other venues. $7-$15. mynorthtickets.com/events/ mark-stuart-1-21-2023

sunday

“CLUE [HIGH SCHOOL EDITION]”: (See Fri., Jan. 20, except today’s time is 2pm.)

RACH 3 + BEETHOVEN 7 WITH TRAVERSE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: 3pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Kevin Rhodes, conductor; Sean Chen, piano. Featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, nicknamed The Symphony of the Dance, followed by Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3. Students & first-time attendees, call or email the Box Office for a 50% off discount: 231-947-7120, x5 or info@traversesymphony.org. $25.50 - $61.50. traversesymphony.org/concert/rach3-beethoven7

ongoing

SNOWSHOES, VINES & WINES: 12-4pm, Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay. On Saturdays through the winter, explore easy to moderate trails & then warm up on the heated Terrace Patio & Hearth & Vine Café with wine & snacks. Onsite snowshoe rentals are available from noon - 4pm. Additional dates

include: Jan. 15, 2023 & Feb. 19, 2023. blackstarfarms.com/snowshoes-vines-wines

BABYTIME: Tuesdays in Jan. at 9:30am. Traverse Area District Library, TC. Baby Time with Miss Michele is an interactive story time introducing early literacy to the youngest patrons. Geared toward families with children ages 0-12 months. tadl.org/event/baby-timemiss-michele-18

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RANGER-LED SNOWSHOE HIKES: Saturdays through March at 1pm, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Empire. Rangers will first provide an introduction & basic snowshoeing instructions, & then everyone will travel by car to the trailhead or area of the National Lakeshore pre-selected for that day. Once there, the ranger will help participants learn about the park’s unique features & winter’s effect on them by exploring & discovering clues on site. Plan to be outside for about two hours. nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=3E7D5940-991F-BB2C-DDC71C23B7DB9C99

STORYTIME WITH MISS COURTNEI: Traverse Area District Library, TC. Featuring music, stories, early literacy tips & more. Programs last about 30 minutes & are geared toward preschool aged children. Held each Weds. in Jan. at 11am. tadl.org/events ----------------------

TADL STORYTIME FOR BIGS: Traverse Area District Library, TC. Families with preschool children are invited to join Mr. Andy for fun stories & engaging movement. Held every Thurs. in Jan. at 11am. tadl.org/events

TEEN WRITING GROUP: Traverse Area District Library, TC. The TADL teen writing group meets every Tuesday in January at 4pm. tadl.org/event/teen-writing-group-10

TADL THURSDAY TWEEN TIME: Traverse Area District Library, TC. Tweens are invited to try their hands at various arts & crafts techniques with STEAM related concepts & fun projects to make & take. Geared toward older kids, grades 3-6. Held every Thurs. in Jan. at 4pm. tadl.org/events

TODDLER TIME AT TADL: Traverse Area District Library, TC. Join Miss Michele for Toddler Time (formerly Mother Goose Time) as she leads families with young children through stories, rhymes & books. For children aged 12-36 months. Held every Tues. in Jan. at 11am. tadl.org/events

VINE TO WINE SNOWSHOE TOUR: Saturdays, noon-4pm. Enjoy a snowshoe adventure through the vineyards & orchards to three wineries. The private vineyard trail connects Suttons Bay Ciders, Ciccone Vineyards, & Big Little Wines. This guided tour starts at Big Little Wines, Suttons Bay. The tour includes your snowshoe & pole rental, a catered warm lunch of chili & soups overlooking the bay, & a wine purchase pick up service. grandtraversebiketours.com/vineto-wine-snowshoe-tour.html

BELLAIRE WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, 9am-noon. Held at 3 locations: Bee Well Mead & Cider, Short’s Brewing Co., & Terrain, Bellaire.

BOYNE CITY MARKET AT THE PAVILION: Saturdays, 9am-12:30pm, Veterans Park Pavilion, Boyne City. Shop local produce, baked goods, artisan foods & crafts.

THE VILLAGE INDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, Mercato, TC. Fresh produce, eggs, pastries, honey, jams & more. thevillagetc.com

artA TOAST TO ARTIST JERRY GATES: Mari Vineyards, TC. Twisted Fish Gallery & Mari Vineyards present the abstracted landscapes of artist Jerry Gates. Enjoy the opening reception on Sat., Jan. 14 from 3-6pm in the tasting room of Mari Vineyards. The Jerry Gates exhibit will be on display for two months. twistedfishgallery.com/event/atoast-to-jerry-gates-at-mari-vineyards-oldmission-peninsula

PHANTASMAGORIA ART EXHIBITION FOR THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL: Right Brain Brewery, TC. Featuring a huge display of the work of local artists. Special reception dates of Feb. 11 & March 4 will include live performances, music, dancing & more. Exhibit runs through March 4. rightbrainbrewery.com/23/upcoming-events ----------------------

JUST GREAT ART!: City Opera House, TC. Runs from 10am-5pm during the week & evening events, through Jan. The group of 12 artists paint using oil, watercolor, pastel or acrylic to create their pieces. They love to depict their northwest Michigan area while painting outside, through the warm months. cityoperahouse.org

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY: - GUILD MEMBER SALON SHOW: Hundreds of original works of art by Crooked Tree Arts Center’s artists fill the galleries, including painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, new media & more. Runs through March 4. An opening reception will be held on Feb. 14 from 5-6:30pm. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/guildmember-salon-show-2023-opens-january-14

- KALEIDOSCOPE: RECENT WORK BY LINDSEY CLAIRE NEWMAN: Held in Atrium Gallery. Lindsey’s deceptively simple mixedmedia collages reflect complex themes of time, creation, deconstruction, & motherhood. Runs through Feb. 25. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/kaleidoscope-recent-work-lindsey-claire-newman-opensjanuary-14

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC: - “ENTANGLED: PAPER SCULPTURES FROM ETCHING PRINTS BY DOROTHY ANDERSON GROW”: Held in the Carnegie Galleries. Dorothy Anderson Grow’s multi-layer etching prints are on display in this solo exhibition that runs through Feb. 18. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ entangled-paper-sculptures-etching-printsdorothy-anderson-grow-opens

- OCCUPIED SPACES: WORK BY JUSTIN SHULL: Held in Cornwell Gallery through Feb. 18. In his solo exhibition “Occupied Spaces,” Michigan artist Justin Shull presents a series of personal meditations on the environments that we shape & inhabit, & he invites us to consider how these environments shape us in return. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/occupied-spaceswork-justin-shull-opens-january-6

- TRAVERSE AREA CAMERA CLUB: 2022 AWARD WINNERS: Runs through Feb. 18 in the Carnegie Galleries. Exhibition featuring stand-out work by the Traverse Area Camera Club. crookedtree.org/event/ctactraverse-city/traverse-area-camera-club2022-award-winners

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: - “A RICH HISTORY: AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS FROM THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART”: This exhibit highlights the growing legacy of important African American artists from the Muskegon Museum of Art’s permanent art collection & features over 75 years of artistic excellence. Runs

Jan. 21 - April 2. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

- “US”: Teresa Dunn’s solo exhibition is a collection of her recent narrative painting series that brings voice to stories that people of color, individuals with complex cultural identities, & immigrants shared with her about their daily experience in America. Runs Jan. 21 - May 28. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

- “VITALITY AND CONTINUITY: ART IN THE EXPERIENCES OF ANISHINAABE, INUIT, AND PUEBLO WOMEN”: This exhibit celebrates some of the critical roles Anishinaabe, Inuit, & Pueblo women fulfill in their families, their communities, the art world, & beyond. Runs. Jan. 21 - May 19. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:

- A FERAL HOUSEWIFE: Held in the Lobby Gallery. An exhibition of collages by Leelanau County artist Mary Beth Acosta. Runs through April 21. Acosta uses simple, familiar tools & a range of recycled, vintage papers to create collages about mid-century housewives, big-finned cars, & labor-saving appliances that were promoted as drudgery-busting machines that would revolutionize the modern home. A video interview with Acosta about her materials & methods can be seen as part of the online version of this exhibition: glenArborArt.org/EXHIBITS. glenarborart.org/events/exhibit-a-feral-housewife

- TELLING STORIES EXHIBIT: Held in the Main Gallery. This juried exhibition about the power of visual storytelling runs through March 23. The GAAC’s exhibitors tell their own stories in the media of photography, fiber, clay, paint, wood, collage & more. The themes behind the Telling Stories exhibit are explored in two video interviews with three Northern Michigan residents. Winter hours are Mon. through Fri., 9am-3pm, & Sat., noon-4pm. glenarborart.org/events/exhibittelling-stories-fact-fiction-otherwise

BY ROB BREZSNY

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Some insects are helpful to humans. For example, ladybugs devour aphids, which are highly destructive to crops. Damsel bugs eat the pests called leafhoppers, and lacewings feed on the pernicious nuisances known as mealybugs. I also remind you that some bugs are beautiful, like butterflies, dragonflies, and jeweled beetles. Keep these thoughts in mind, Capricorn, as you contemplate my counsel. Metaphorically speaking, you will have experiences with bugs in the next three weeks. But this won’t be a problem if you ally yourself with the good, helpful, and beautiful bugs.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In his book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life, Donald Miller acknowledges that fear can be a "guide to keep us safe." Being afraid may indeed have its uses and benefits. But Miller adds that it’s also “a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life." In my astrological opinion, Virgo, fear will be of service to you—a guide to keep you safe—about nine percent of the time in 2023. Around 83 percent of the time, it will be a manipulative emotion not worth acting on. For the other eight percent, it will be neither. Please plan accordingly.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Good news, Aries! During the next episode in the age-old struggle between the Impulsive You and the Farsighted You, I predict the latter will achieve a ringing victory. Hallelujah! I also foresee you overcoming the temptation to quit a project prematurely, and instead pushing on to complete it. There's more! You will refrain from knocking your head against an obstacle in the vain hope of toppling it. Instead, you will round up helpers to help you wield a battering ram that will produce the desired toppling.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Select two sticky situations in your world that you would love to reinvent. Let other annoyances and glitches just slide for now. Then cultivate a focused desire to do everything in your power to transform the two awkward or messy circumstances. Proceed as if you will have to do all the work yourself—that nothing will change for the better unless you take full responsibility. If you're absolutely sure this involves other people altering their behavior, consider the possibility that maybe your behavior needs to shift as well. ACROSS

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): predict that love will bring you many AHA! moments in 2023. You can’t fully prepare yourself for them— and that's a good thing! The epiphanies will be brighter and deeper if they are unexpected. Your motivation to learn the available lessons will be wilder and stronger if you enjoy being surprised. So be ready for lots of entertaining rumbles and reverberations, Sagittarius. The adjustments you will be asked to make will often be strenuous and fun. The inspirations you will be invited to harvest will require you to outgrow some of your previous beliefs about the nature of intimacy and togetherness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Three out of four toxic waste dumps in the US are located in predominantly African American or Latino communities. Two million tons of radioactive uranium tailings have been dumped on Native American lands. Three hundred thousand Latino farm workers in the US suffer from pesticide-related sicknesses every year. These travesties make me furious. More importantly, my rage motivates me to mitigate these travesties, like by educating my readers about them and donating money to groups crusading to fix the problems. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, hope you will take advantage of your astrological potentials by using your anger constructively, too. Now is a favorable time for you to fight fiercely and tenderly for what's right.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): What are "brain orgasms"? Can you seek them out and make them happen, or do you have to wait patiently for them to arrive in their own sweet time? When they occur, what should you do? Surrender into them with all your welcome fully unleashed? Or should you question whether they're real, be suspicious of their blessings, or dismiss them as irrelevant flukes? encourage you to meditate on questions like these. That will raise your receptivity to the stream of brain orgasms that life will offer you in the coming weeks.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): My Piscean pagan friend Valie says God is stealthy yet blatant, like a green chameleon perched on a green leaf. After analyzing the astrological omens, I conclude that this is a helpful, all-purpose metaphor for you to use in the coming weeks. encourage you to be alert for beauty that is hidden in plain sight. See if you can spy the miracles embedded within the ordinary. Ask life to pleasantly blow your mind over and over again. Here's your phrase of power: open secret.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may not have a clear picture of where you'll be going in the next five years. The detailed master plan that your higher self devised for you before you were born might even be obscure. But I'm here to tell you that in the coming weeks, a new lucidity can be yours. You can summon an acute instinct about which way is forward, if only you will recognize the subtle ways it's speaking to you. In fact, I believe you will regularly know what move you should make *next* so as to expedite your long-term evolution. Life will be rewarding you with mysterious step-by-step guidance. Now please write a short statement affirming your intention to love, honor, and obey your intuition.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do you believe in the existence of guardian angels and spirit guides and ancestors who can intervene in your behalf from the other side of the veil? Do you wonder if maybe your invisible friends from childhood show up in your vicinity now and then to offer you support and kindness? Or how about the animals you loved earlier in your life but who have since passed away? Is it possible their souls have never left you, but are available if you need their affection? Even if your rational mind tells you that none of these possibilities are authentic, Gemini, I suspect you will nevertheless be the beneficiary of their assistance in the coming weeks and months. Their influence will be even more potent if you proceed as if they are real.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Among your potential strengths as a human being are empathy, sensitivity, and emotional intelligence. You may or may not choose to develop these natural gifts. But if you do, they can be instrumental in helping you achieve the only kind of success that's really meaningful for you—which is success that your heart and soul love as much as your head and your ego. According to my astrological analysis, you are moving into a phase of your cycle when you will have extra power to ripen your empathy, sensitivity, and emotional intelligence—and thereby enhance your ability to achieve the kind of success that's meaningful for you.

Early 1900s "King of Broadway" whose musical "Little Johnny Jones" is credited with popularizing "23 skidoo"

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): "Dear Rob the Astrologer: The computer firewall at my youth hostel is blocking your website. I am being told you practice 'Illegal Folklore and Insurrectionary Fairy Tales.' What the hell?

Can you do anything at your end to get me access to your wonderful horoscopes? Maybe cut back a bit on your Illegal Folklore and Insurrectionary Fairy Tales? Haha. Just kidding. love that crazy stuff. —Deprived Leo in Ireland."

Dear Deprived: Many of you Leos have lately had problems getting all the Illegal Folklore and Insurrectionary Fairy Tales you need. I hope you will push hard to compensate. In my estimation, you currently have a strong need for dreamy stories that appeal to the Wild Child in you. They're essential to your mental and spiritual health.

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