Northern Express - March 13, 2023

top ten

A Four-Leaf Clover Week

Things are looking green this week…or, at least, the beer is. While we have a whole story dedicated to cool St. Patrick’s Day events around the North, we wanted to put four more shamrock-themed activities on your calendar. Wednesday, March 15, the Traverse City Track Club is hosting a St. Patty’s fun run that starts and ends at The Filling Station. (Those who dress in their green best will be entered for raffle prizes!)

Thursday, March 16, Shady Lane Cellars of Suttons Bay offers their Celtic Celebration Winemaker Dinner ($74), with a four-course Irish-inspired menu, wine pairings, and live music from Old Mission Fiddle Vine. Friday, March 17, head to L.C. Taphouse in Lake City for green beer, Irish eats, and a performance by Northern Lights Dance Academy at 5pm. And last but not least, on Saturday, March 18, traditional Irish folk group TC Celtic will be playing at Rove Estate, where you’ll also snag all-day happy hour specials. There it is, folks—four days of St. Pat’s fun!

Kayaks on the Snow

Competitive kayak racing (in the snow, no less) is just part of the St. Patrick’s weekend fun at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville during their Celts & Kayaks event on Saturday, March 18. Also watch out for leprechauns skiing on the slopes, the On-Slope Scavenger Hunt, and the annual Slush Cup! crystalmountain. com/event/celts-kayaks

Hey, watch It! Daisy Jones & the Six

It’s here, it’s finally here! The first adaptation of a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel comes in the form of Amazon’s new miniseries, Daisy Jones & the Six . First, for the readers, let us say this feels like a faithful retelling and even offers the documentary-style narrative found in the book. To recap for those still on the library hold list, Daisy Jones & the Six follows a 1970s rock group—cough, a fictional Fleetwood Mac—as they climb the unstable ladder of fame to become one of the most popular bands in the country. Sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and plenty of drama await, but all couched in clever plotting, tight pacing, and beautifully flawed characters that only Taylor Jenkins Reid can create. Performance highlights include Riley Keough (Elvis Presley’s granddaughter) as manic hippie dream girl Daisy Jones, Sam Claflin as band leader Billy Dunne, and Sebastian Chacon as laidback drummer Warren Rojas. Oh, and did we mention there’s an actual album to go with the show? (And it’s pretty darn good.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime.

For an early slice (or five) of spring, it doesn’t get better than the Pesto Pizza at Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs. Stone-oven baked on yeasted dough, this classic white pie starts with fresh basil leaves and a whopping four different kinds of cheese—parmesan, pecorino romano, asiago, and plenty of fresh mozzarella—before it is baked to blistered perfection and topped with basil pesto imbued with crunchy sunflower seeds (no nut allergies here!). Though herby-good all on its own, chef Dominic Angelosante recommends upping the pizza ante further by adding slices of salty prosciutto—that’s a dry-cured Italian ham—and a drizzle of Calabrian Chile-infused “hot honey” for a mind-blowing bite. Sink your teeth into a 10-inch pie for $16 (there’s an upcharge for the extras) at Pond Hill Farm at 5699 S Lake Shore Dr. in Harbor Springs. And be sure to stay tuned for market updates, including hot honey for your pantry! (231) 526-3276, pondhill.com

On Thursday, March 16—perfect timing ahead of St. Patrick’s Day—Gypsy Distillery of Petoskey is hosting their first-ever cocktail making class. Whether you have your own beverage cart at home (and know how to use it) or you have always relied on bartenders for a great drink, there’s something for everyone in this class that covers the history and science of making a great cocktail. You’ll learn some of the classic recipes, plus how to create your own signature drink. (Everyone needs one of those!) Ingredients will be provided, including an opportunity to build a personalized Gypsy Vodka Infusion that goes home with you and your new cocktail recipes. The class ($60) runs from 7-8:30pm—be sure to arrive and check in at 6:30pm—at the distillery’s 5251 Charlevoix Avenue location in Petoskey. Visit eventbrite.com and search “Gypsy Distillery” for more

Stuff We Love: Supreme Slumber Parties

You know about renting bouncy houses for birthday parties and giant floaties for pool parties. But what about tents, fairy lights, and piles of cozy blankets and pillows for slumber parties? The newly-launched Dreams and Themes Sleepovers of Traverse City is ready to quite literally make dreams come true. Started by Tara Rybicki and Rhiannon Barr, the party business offers set up and tear down of a magical scene for the kiddos, complete with fun add-ons like a candy cart, gumball machine, or a Polaroid selfie station. The founders both have kids in the sleepover age group, so much of their inspiration and product testing comes straight from their (very honest) target audience. That’s why décor themes include Unicorn and Rainbows, Under the Sea, Gamers’ Paradise, and several others, with more to be added as the business grows. More details for party planning fun can be found at dreamsandthemessleepovers.com.

Bringing Boyne Trails Together

This spring, bikers and walkers will find a new path running through downtown Boyne City. Thanks to a partnership between Leadership Charlevoix County (LCC) and Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC), a new connector trail is in the works to link up the Boyne Valley Trail and the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail. The route for this trail segment has been selected, and the organizations leading the charge are now working on fundraising and wayfinding signage, the latter of which will feature information to direct trail users to local businesses and different points of interest in Boyne City. LCC and TOMTC are hopeful that time and funding will also allow tackle other signage and trail marker projects along the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail and the Little Traverse Wheelway. To learn more about the project, visit LCC’s website at leadershipcharlevoixcounty.com/community-service-project.html.

Oh, So Lucky

March 17 - 23

Irish Pop-up Restaurant

CITYPARKGRILL.com

DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY

bottoms up The Filling Station’s Union Street Vanilla Brown Ale

The brown ale has fallen by the wayside a bit as far as beer styles go, a victim of the wild popularity of IPAs and some impressive growth in the specialty barrel-aged stout market. These days, it’s not even a guarantee that there will be a single brown ale on a brewery’s tap list, let alone a superb example of the form. Traverse City’s The Filling Station Microbrewery is an exception, with the Union Street Vanilla Brown Ale standing as easily one of the most well-rounded beers on the menu. For this one, Filling Station brewers took their existing Union Brown Ale—already a solid beer—and added Madagascar vanilla beans. The result has all the malty, flavorful goodness of a nice, smooth, drinkable brown ale with the added dessert notes of chocolate and vanilla that you get from a good stout. And at 5.6 percent ABV, you can even enjoy a few of them in a row! Find it at 642 Railroad Place in Traverse City. (231) 946-8168, thefillingstationmicrobrewery.com

By Stephen Tuttle

A scant four and half years after Michigan voters approved the sale of recreational marijuana to adults, Traverse City is finally about to approve those businesses.

The law, passed in 2018, allowed communities to opt out, as many did, or opt in as many more did. Traverse City chose a different strategy: studying and studying and forming a committee and debating and studying some more, neither in nor out, just lingering in some kind of recreational marijuana purgatory. It cost the city and the county significant tax income.

The state recently distributed checks of nearly $52,000 to the city/town/ village and their county for every weed establishment in their jurisdiction. Kalkaska received some money, as did Honor, Williamsburg, Northport, and others, but not the City of Traverse City, which left hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table while dawdling.

The decision made by the city to finally allow recreational marijuana businesses could have just as easily been made years ago. One does wonder how many liquor licenses the city routinely issued during that same four years plus.

There is something that begins to feel seriously amiss about the downtown Traverse City development model that seems both unsustainable and unfair to much of the rest of the city. In the rush to feed the obsession with both downtown housing and density, we’ve created a development paradigm almost totally dependent on taxpayer subsidies with the notion of creating even more.

There’s the payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) program that allows a developer to pay a flat rate tax that is usually a small percentage of what actual property taxes would be, sometimes as small as 10 percent. Then there’s brownfield money that’s used for all manner of environmental clean-up on property to be developed and for which nearly all of downtown Traverse City qualifies because there is coal dust from the old power plant and other pollutants from the days the city had a more industrial downtown.

Now the city is also considering creating neighborhood enterprise zones (NEZ) that could provide even more tax breaks.

The result of all this is a handful of developers reap the subsidy rewards while creating housing for a small portion of our population. Nobody else gets much benefit, and the city loses tons of tax revenue. It’s hard to blame the developers, who would be foolish to ignore the availability of the tax breaks being offered.

The real question is whether the city is being foolish making the offers.

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) now has two proposed projects that together will approach $100 million. The third parking deck we’ve known about for a long time, and depending on which set of numbers are being used, it will cost as much as $30 million when completed. Add to that the just-proposed plans to dramatically redo the lower Boardman River area for a whopping $63.5 million.

The need for another parking deck when one of the existing decks is seriously underutilized is up for debate. But the lower Boardman with its alley and the backs of businesses and its concrete wall is an eyesore in desperate need of beautification.

Even assuming finishing the two projects will take multiple years, that is a huge amount of money. By way of an apples to oranges comparison, the annual operating budget of the entire county is less than half what the DDA plans to spend on just those two projects.

Thanks to reporting by Ted Wendling writing in The BOC Beacon, we know some county commissioners are heavily feeding at the taxpayer money trough. (The BOC Beacon is a newsletter about Grand Traverse Board of Commissioners activities produced by the GT County Democratic Party so it is, by nature, partisan. Bruce Moore, a former commission candidate, obtained the data, subsequently reported by Wendling, through a Freedom of Information request.)

You might recall the county commissioners gave themselves a raise of 73 percent not that long ago and nearly doubled their per diem pay from $35 to $65. Commissioners Brad Jewett, Daryl Nelson, and commission chair Rob Hentschel all claimed five-figure per diem reimbursements over the last several years. That includes payments for activities specifically prohibited in their own rules like meeting with constituents, taking phone calls, or even meeting with each other.

Nelson even suggested he should charge for phone calls because doctors and lawyers do. Except there are some major differences in those professions; lawyers and doctors are not public servants, and they aren’t paid exclusively with taxpayer money.

The per diems should not be handed out every time a commissioner says “hi” to a constituent. Thanks to Mr. Moore and Mr. Wendling for exposing the greedy per diem abuses inflicted on Grand Traverse

Luck of the Highrish

You don’t need the luck of the highrish to have a great time this St. Patrick’s Day. Dunegrass Co. can enhance your plans, whether you have a party invitation or want to keep your day low key by chilling at home. Thanks to cannabis legalization spreading wider and wider each year, more people have options for how they would prefer to celebrate.

These days, green beers and “Kiss me, I’m Irish” T-shirts are a thing of the past—all you need is a little bit of weed for a fun time. Adventurous cannabis users can smoke a pot o’ gold-en bud from the exclusive selection of Northern Grown provided only at Dunegrass. If you’re not a smoker or are just beginning your cannabis quest, we recommend eating the rainbow with an infused gummy. Low and slow is the way to go when consuming edibles, and you’ll get to enjoy the night without ever having to stand in line to get a drink.

Although St. Patrick’s Day is known as a day dedicated to drinking, people are more willing now than ever to try alternatives to alcohol. Another great way to skip the booze is to add dissolvable THC drink enhancers to your favorite nonalcoholic beverages. These drink enhancers will have you dancing in minutes with no chance of a hangover. Speaking of the dreaded next-day headache, research has found cannabis to help with symptoms of a hangover, so taking precautionary measures by having a few wake ‘n’ bake joints on hand can’t hurt!

We all know impaired driving increases on St. Patrick’s Day, and Dunegrass wants you to puff, puff, pass on driving. Instead, plan ahead and arrange a safe ride home.

Visit Dunegrass.co to place a pick-up order before heading to your party, enjoying your relaxing night in, or looking for a hangover helper.

NOW OPEN!

THE COTTONPICKER MEETS QUEEN BEATRIX

guest opinion

by Isiah Smith, Jr.

A poignant account of how one’s small personal history can reflect the larger history of a republic.

On April 19, 1782, the State General of the Dutch Republic admitted John Adams as Minister of the United States of America, gaining the second diplomatic recognition of the United States as a nation independent from Great Britain. On October 8, 1782, Adams signed the first Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the two countries.

When the Netherlands recognized the United States as an independent nation, it represented a key step in U.S. efforts to take its place among the world community of nations as a sovereign state. This act of recognition was a very big deal.

In 1982, to celebrate the 200 years of diplomatic relations with the United States, the Dutch government decided to select 200 Americans

But here I am in the flesh, bearing witness. Recently, a friend was describing to me what life was like when he was 10 years of age. At that time, his life consisted of concerts and lectures, hobnobbing with world-renowned celebrities, musicians, actors, and government officials, many of whom often visited his home. At 10, he saw some of America’s greatest cultural icons, names you would easily recognize, people whom I admire, people who made valuable contributions to the American way of life. People who taught him what to aspire to.

But when I was 10 years old toiling away in the cottonfields of Southeastern Georgia, I had never heard of these people.

“You know what I was doing at age 10?” I asked. He shook his head. “I was picking cotton,” I replied.

You might think that picking cotton was a phenomenon that occurred in olden times, and that it happened so long ago that anyone who had engaged in it would have been dead centuries ago. But here I am in the flesh, bearing witness.

to travel there to celebrate the occasion. The Dutch, always practical, used an essay contest as a selection tool. My wife and I submitted a winning essay and were selected.

And so it was that in the spring of 1982 we found ourselves standing in a receiving line at the historic Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, waiting to meet Queen Beatrix and shake her royal hand.

The queen appeared, resplendent in a beautiful green silk dress, wearing what appeared to be a smile of genuine pleasure at meeting this motley group of Americans. She was otherworldly: beautiful, warm, and royally gracious. She took my hand between both of hers, looked deeply in my eyes, and said softly, “Welcome.”

In this subdued, yet exciting place and time, in the building that housed Rembrandt’s incomparable Night Watch , my mind was miles and years away. I seem to travel back in time to 1966, to the cotton fields of adolescence in southeastern Georgia. How had I traveled from there to here?

A first-person account of picking cotton is probably the last thing you expected to read about when you picked up this paper. You may be surprised to learn that there was a time in our history when actual humans, not machines, toiled from sunup to sundown, pulling crude sacks behind them and picking cotton in unrelenting heat under an unforgiving sun.

You might think that picking cotton was a phenomenon that occurred in olden times, and that it happened so long ago that anyone who had engaged in it would have been dead centuries ago.

I don’t recall at what age I started my youthful cotton-picking career, but certainly it was long before I turned 10. I have vivid memories of walking down long rows of cotton stalks that stood so high, I could not see over them

When one cannot see beyond one’s immediate environment, one’s dreams and aspirations are constrained. The way forward seems opaque. Beyond the cotton fields, the world seems a foreign place.

On the face of it, picking cotton is a simple process. The most uninspiring part by far was having to deal with the attitudes of the man—in this case, Mr. Woodrow King—who owned the field, which carried a hint of proprietary. An example will suffice to illustrate this: At some point I was moved to keep careful records of how much cotton I picked each week. After one particularly grueling day under the hot Georgia sun, my records indicated I had earned the princely sum of $15. Mr. King disputed this figure and claimed that he only owed me $13. I showed him my records, and with a deep sigh he concurred. “This boy is pretty smart,” he muttered under his breath, revealing the depths of his rotten sociopathy.

And now the same hands that picked Woodrow King’s cotton were being enveloped between Queen Beatrix’ soft, unblemished hands, hands that eschewed cotton over silk. I wondered if she could feel the dried and ragged bruises on my hands, ravaged by the cottonfields. Bruises untouched by nine years of higher education.

“I am a witness … you were supposed to bear witness to the truth.” —James Baldwin

Isiah Smith, Jr. is a retired government attorney.

The Luck of the Michigander

From the pubs to the dance floor to the ski hills, here are seven ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in northern Michigan

By Alexandra Dailey

Each year, people all over the North gear up for the holiday of green: St. Patrick’s Day. And for 2023, we’re all feeling extra lucky because St. Patrick’s Day takes place on a Friday—ideal for all the shindigs featuring stout and songs, merriment and mirth. Open up your calendars; here are seven can’t-miss events occurring across northern Michigan this St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

FRIDAY

1. LAKE ANN BREWING CO., LAKE ANN

Friday, March 17, 3-6pm

For some afternoon fun, head to Lake Ann Brewing Co.—known for its stellar weekly music lineups—to hear live music by Rigs and Jeels. Veteran musicians Dane Hyde and Rick Willey, accompanied by local singer and dancer Katie O’Connor, are ready to put you in the Irish spirit while you relax and enjoy a drink.

“The trio offers a fresh spin on classic Irish tunes and popular favorites,” says Matt Therrien, owner of Lake Ann Brewing Co. “Rigs and Jeels will be followed by The Jameson Brothers, and The Stone Oven will be offering corned beef and cabbage as well. We expect it will be a good crowd.”

2. ETHANOLOGY DISTILLATION, ELK RAPIDS

Friday, March 17, 3-7pm

Stop by Ethanology Distillation in Elk Rapids for some good company, good food, deep laughs, and great drinks. Event partner and Ethanology neighbor Ames St. Cafe will host an Irish food pop-up with grilled Reubens and traditional Irish side dishes, and local bard Jim Ribby is set to tell Irish stories in the oral tradition. Plus, starting at 7pm, professional comedians Ken Witzgall and Bill Bushart will take the stage to end the night with a laugh. (Note: There’s a $5 cover for the comedy show.)

3. SEASONS OF THE NORTH & BURT LAKE BREWERY, INDIAN RIVER

Friday, March 17, 7-10pm, $10/person

This year marks the first St. Patrick’s Day event that Seasons of the North Winery and Burt Lake Brewery of Indian River have ever hosted, featuring live music by Melissa Behring and Jake Tobias. “We’ve never hosted a St. Patrick’s Day event before,” says Sarah Kolb, event coordinator for the dual winery-brewery. “We wanted to give our offseason a little kick and thought this would be the perfect time to do so.”

During the celebration, Behring and Tobias will perform unique acoustic versions of classic rock and soul favorites while attendees enjoy light snacks, wine, and beer, with green beer upon request in honor of the day. Limited tickets are available at seasonsofthenorth.com.

4. TREETOPS RESORT, GAYLORD

Friday, March 17

Spend St. Patrick’s Day at Treetops Resort in Gaylord and ski over their giant green Treetops logo on the slopes, specially placed in honor of the Celtic holiday! Legends on the Hill—one of Treetops’ on-site restaurants—will feature Irish favorites all day with

corned beef and great beers. After a day on the slopes, those 21 and up can dance the night away from 9pm to 1am at Hunter’s Grille with a shamrockin’ DJ.

5. KARMA TAPROOM, GAYLORD

Friday, March 17, 8-11pm

Gaylord’s downtown wind-down hotspot is Karma Taproom, and they’re ready to celebrate St. Pat. If you purchase a $10 St. Patrick’s Day mug, you’ll also receive a bracelet that gets you special discounts and bigger pours for the night, plus money for a taxi ride home after spending the evening with Karma. In addition, Darrell Boger will be performing live (rock and soul) throughout the night.

CC CCCCCCCCC

SATURDAY

6. 2023 FIFTH THIRD LEAPIN’ LEPRECHAUN 5K

Saturday, March 18, 9am

The 13th annual Fifth Third Leapin’ Leprechaun 5K is running a brand-new course this year! Starting on Lake Avenue in Old Town Traverse City, the race concludes at Brady’s Bar for a fun after-party, and all participants who are 21 and up get a free beer. (Cheers!) Each racer receives a T-shirt and accurate timing, and prizes are offered for top finishers and best Irish costumes. Bonus: The race course is stroller and dogfriendly. Register at leapinleprechauntc.com.

7. ST. PATRICK’S DAY COMMUNITY CEILI, CADILLAC

Saturday, March 18, 2-4pm

Put on your dancing shoes and participate in a community ceili at Up North Arts with the Northern Lights Irish Dance Academy.

“Ceili, in Gaelic, means to gather, but in this case, we will be gathering to dance several group dances,” says Gina Dewery, owner of Northern Lights Dance Academy. “This is a free event for all ages to come and learn a real historic Irish folk dance.”

Dewey will teach attendees the dance steps while the Irish dance troupe dancers assist. As a special treat, the Northern Lights Irish Dancers will perform, and attendees can enjoy complimentary cookies and lemonade. “We also have prizes to win to boost the Irish spirit,” adds Dewey.

By Karl Klockars

“I wanted to create something that was extraordinary.”

That’s how Joe Short, founder of Short’s Brewing, describes the beers he crafted for their famed Imperial Beer Series, the collection of 13 craft beers released in 2007 that put Short’s—and the northern Michigan beer scene—on the global map.

It was in the early days of the American craft beer renaissance, and just a couple of years into the existence of the company, when Short came up with the idea for the series.

“It was a pretty ambitious project, [and] I knew that my time physically brewing beer was limited,” Short says. His beer was beginning to get a toehold in Michigan’s brewery landscape thanks to his flagship IPA, Huma Lupa Licious, but “because we are in such a remote area, we needed something that set us apart, something that would give people a reason to explore and seek us out,” he says. “I felt like I needed to really swing for the fences.”

That project started with a plan to brew a different imperial beer per month and concluded with an epic beer dinner at the end of the year, though the series became a baker’s dozen of extreme beers. (“There’s 13 because I brewed an extra just in case one didn't turn out,” Short says.)

The series required brewing over 200 gallons per month, as well as labeling and filling up to a thousand bottles by hand. Those 750ml bottles ended up carrying the Short’s name throughout America as aficionados and tourists took them home and even shipped them internationally to friends abroad who needed to try the boundary-shattering beers coming out of Bellaire, Michigan.

“The ones that went overseas were the ones that blew my mind the most,” Short says. “People would send us photos or write us notes saying that they were traveling

abroad and went to a beer bar and saw a lone bottle of Ginger in the Rye or Peaches & Creme.”

And for a beer program that produced some of the craziest beers on earth (at the time), there was one simple rule Short followed through the entire process: “I really tried to make sure we were at least 8 percent ABV,” he says. Beyond that, as you’ll see below, the only limitations were those of imagination and fermentation.

The imperial series was also, fiscally speaking, something of a moonshot. “We didn’t have any financial resources. I think we made $25,000 or $30,000 that year and I spent it all on glass and labels,” Short says with a laugh. “You dream big and you try to make it work. I just knew that the payoff wasn’t going to be until way later—and by ‘later’ I didn’t mean like, 10 years away later, I meant like at the end of the year I thought I was gonna sell all these beers. It really took two or three more years to sell all these beers—no one was buying a case of these things.”

We recently sat down with Short for a look back on the entire series and to hear some of the origin stories and behind-thescenes tales that went into every single beer in the series—many of which are still being brewed to this day. Here, in Short’s words, is the tale of each beer.

Spruce India Pilsner

The inspiration was largely drawn from historical, early colonial brewing. As the pilgrimage was underway, settlers were building churches and breweries, and the Native Americans had shown them their tips and tricks for their own fermented beverages. And so they would use things like corn and spruce.

That first batch was done with oldgrowth pine. We clipped the tips in the winter time so they were all hard and crunchy—they probably didn’t have as much residue or oil in there as new growth

would, but we emulsified it with the liquid wort and fermented it like normal. Let’s say it accomplished all of my personal objectives, but the beer itself was super polarizing, especially for newcomer craft beer enthusiasts back then.

Peaches & Creme

[This] one wasn’t necessarily like a beer of inspiration, it was more like a beer of technical components that sounded good, you know? The first two times [I made this], I did it with fresh peaches that Leah [Joe’s wife] and I had peeled by hand, and then we left for a weekend. I came back to check on it, and it [had gone] lactic—I’m sure that would have been a great sour beer.

I finally caved and bought IQF [individually quick frozen] peaches which were easier to process and easier to keep sterile versus the fresh whole ones that were probably full of so much bacteria. I think the music prevalence in craft beer is just as important as the beer itself, so having the Peaches & Creme inspired by a Beck song just kind of helps tie that thing together in a nice little bow.

Publican Porter

It’s pretty boring. Actually, the best

part about that beer is the story about the publican, or the tavern keepers, or the purveyors of public houses. The publican is essentially the bartender at a portside tavern, and porter also was a style that was born from mixing fresh beer and stale beer together. I don’t even think roasted grains came until later. But I did want to do a stylistically accurate porter, but then I wanted to bump the alcohol to make it imperial. So that’s really the best, straightforward porter recipe that basically just amplified the alcohol in it.

Bloody Beer

Growing up in the bar scene, I first learned that people would pour tomato juice in a Miller Lite or a Bud Light. I thought that was odd, but it wasn’t uncommon, so I filed that away in my memory bank. That’s definitely the most technically advanced brew of the mix—something truly experimental and imperial. So being a big Bloody Mary fan, I sort of reverse-engineered a Bloody Mary into a beer.

We used Roma tomatoes, blanched them all, pulled the skins, and then emulsified them in five-gallon buckets until they were all poured into the fermenter. Once the beer was close to being done, I pulled a couple of gallons out to use for the spice,

Joe and Leah Short in the early days of the brewery.

Joe working with the pub's original brewing equipment.

and that’s where I added the horseradish, the peppercorn, the celery seed, and the fresh dill. [Then] I sterilized it in just a small solution of the beer itself and then poured that back into the fermenter. And it did turn out really good. That one is really a technical masterpiece.

Abnormal Genius

I don’t know why I decided sunflower seeds went with honey, but I had read a lot about honey and mead, and there’s a lot of powerful elements of honey. I think the “Abnormal Genius” name was taken out of a kind of a conversation I’d had with somebody about my thought process [and] how it doesn’t make a lot of sense if you hear me talk about it. But then, after you see and experience the result, it makes sense to you—so I coined that “the abnormal genius approach.”

This was just a combination of being inspired by all the powerful properties of honey and then balancing that with something else that would also make it like a golden ale made sense. So you have the sweet and then sort of the salty and the nutty part of the beer … but it definitely was not my favorite beer.

[This was] the one beer that I don’t feel tasted right to me … but I’d never really brewed with sunflower seeds before, and nuts can get weird. But I’ve also had people tell me that was their favorite one.

The Woodmaster

That came from being inspired by a guy named Bill Sohn. Bill still does a ton of woodworking for us, so I call him the Woodmaster. Bill and Pat Sohn are important because without meeting or knowing them, Short’s wouldn’t exist today. Way back in the 2000s, I was dating Bill and Pat’s daughter for several years and through that time, Bill and I became good friends. I always tested all my homebrews on him.

I made the choice to leave college after my third year to really pursue this brewing thing, and when I came home, I learned about this old hardware store for sale. I was in between brewing jobs, [and] I needed to decide if I was gonna find the next brewery

to work at or see if it was worth exploring going out on my own yet.

I knew that the brewpub [I was working at] was not going to last, and I’d just packaged an Imperial stout that I had made [there that] was probably one of the best beers I’ve ever made. So we had cracked one of these in his woodshop and we’re just admiring it, and I told Bill that I found this building that was for rent and some brewing equipment online for like $25,000.

I was working on my business plan thanks to a book that Bill had bought me called Starting Your Own Business, and we kind of just took a couple of sips of that stout, and he said, “Why don’t you call those guys who have that equipment and tell them you want it?” And that’s how this started. We’re still very good friends.

Aorta Ale

That one was inspired by a guy named Mark Mueller, who got me into mountain biking and kicked off my physical fitness regime. I was a young brewer at the time without any real health regime outside of picking up 50-pound bags of grain. He had an issue with his heart, and long story short, he had surgery and he’s still with us, and it was a beer to honor him. [He was] a regular at the pub. He was always drinking Huma Lupa Licious, which was an IPA, so a red ale inspired by the heart, the hoppiness, the Imperialness, the whole story—just to acknowledge a friendly local.

Ginger in the Rye

The name was inspired by The Catcher in the Rye, but ginger is a great, great brewing ingredient. It adds a lot of personality, and rye is another one of those ingredients that isn’t super common because it’s very difficult to brew with, but it does produce some real earthy, bigger elements on the maltier side of things. And then you cut through that with a slice of ginger, which is the refreshing component. I felt like those two were kind of a good fit. It sounded like a cool name and sounded like it could be very imperial-worthy.

Soft Parade

We kinda shot ourselves in the foot on

that one. Over the course of time, that beer confused what our regular offering is by being “Imperial,” and it was always kind of imperial. The Double Soft Parade that we brewed last year was the same as the Imperial, which is, I think, two or three times more fruit and maybe a little beefier malt bill to just amp it up a couple percent. The fruit was the same makeup; the Imperial just used way more of it. And fruit is an agricultural product; it has elements of nature that make it “good” or “not good” in some years. So, our most recent claim to fame with Soft Parade is that we really found a great fruit supplier that was better than years past, so the flavor is a lot better than it was.

This was a “double our pleasure, double our fun” kind of beer that’s already pretty much double everything.

Carob Stout

I’d never used carob before, but I thought it would be cool to do something different, something that was unusual but would still complement a stout. Carob has a kind of chocolatey nuttiness to it, without the oil and the sugar. So it was really easy and simple to use. It did add some flavor, some nuttiness, some earthiness, some dryness. I wouldn’t mind trying that beer again. [It was] another classic style that was amplified, and we used it like tea. We made some big muslin bags and steeped it in there.

Good Feller

So, Good Feller is essentially a double IPA that took our Stellar Ale and Hanging Frank [now known as Controversi-ale], which were two regular IPAs but they used exclusive hops. Stellar Ale was all Amarillo, Frank was all Simcoe. So “Frank” and “Stellar” [became] “Feller,” became Good Feller. Just an imperial version of two really awesome independent IPAs joined at the hip with a fun name.

Black Cherry Porter

Like so many other ones, this was really just a beer that sounded like it was a good combination of style and adjuncts. And being a local product is always nice too.

I don’t know how many people know this

part of the story, [but] it still kind of pisses me off. A friend of mine, his family owns this orchard, and he says, “Oh man, just come get these cherries off the tree, they’re just falling on the ground going to waste.” I was like, “Great, I’ll just come fill up a bunch of tubs and help you with this cherry problem that you have.”

So, we spent hours just filling up hundreds of pounds of containers full of cherries, and my friend’s dad comes out— the real owner of the farm—and charges me for these cherries! … We ended up buying the “free” cherries that were offered to me and we made the beer with it by mashing them with my bare feet.

Black Licorice Lager

That beer is inspired just because I simply love black licorice. I love black jelly beans, [and] I thought it would be a cool beer if it tasted like black licorice. It was made with anise and I think even fennel, and then I used vanilla and some mint. It came out a little mintier than expected, so that one I actually would like to try again. That beer and the Bloody Beer both won medals, which is a point of pride, especially for those two styles. I wanted to age a batch of black licorice lager in Absinthe barrels—I thought that would have been cool. I just don’t know where to get an absinthe barrel from.

Where to Find the Imperial Beer Series

Want to get your hand on some of these beers? Good news: Some are available regularly, while others still make occasional appearances.

Short’s recently debuted their “Classic Stache Pack,” which featured the return of Aorta Ale and Black Cherry Porter. The Peaches & Creme is regularly sold in their “Dessert Island” variety pack alongside their Key Lime Pie and Strawberry Short’s Cake beers. And, of course, Soft Parade has become one of their most popular offerings.

And if you can source an absinthe barrel, we know someone who might like to talk to you.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dozens of patrons turned out for the Short’s Imperial Beer Series dinner to conclude the 2007 project.

By Craig Manning

Six years: That’s how long it took for Loco Boys Brewing Company, Traverse City’s newest craft brewery and restaurant, to evolve from the germ of an idea into a fullfledged business. As of February 5, though, this new establishment is officially up and running, slinging from-scratch Mexican food and unique beers from its space in the old Impres Salon building near Slabtown.

Loco Boys is the brainchild of Mike Mohrhardt, a born-and-raised Traverse Citian who hit the road and moved to Mexico shortly after completing a bachelor of arts in business marketing from Michigan State University. Drawn south of the border by his grandmother’s Mexican heritage, Mohrhardt wanted a chance to fully immerse himself in Mexico’s culture. He ultimately ended up in Los Angeles, where he fell in love with craft beer.

“June 2017 is when I first put the idea together in my head for [Loco Boys] as a business,” Mohrhardt says. “I was living out in California at the time, and was involved in the entertainment industry and looking to shift gears. My wife and I loved visiting breweries up and down the coast of California, and I started thinking of starting my own.”

A Long and Winding Road

While Mohrhardt hadn’t called Traverse City home in the better part of two decades, he had a few aces up his sleeve in the form of his family members. “My dad was involved in Timber Lanes from its inception, into it

becoming Lucky Jack’s,” Mohrhardt says. “And then my brother, Chris Mohrhardt, was involved with Incredible Mo’s and Pangea’s Pizza. So I started having conversations back and forth with them about this idea, and we put a business plan together and started the journey.”

That journey ended up being a lengthy one. Step one was moving from California back to northern Michigan, which Mohrhardt and his wife did in late 2017. Step two was finding an appropriate space for a brewery, which was easier said than done in the midst of Traverse City’s economic boom, which was followed by the pandemic, which stalled years of growth in the world of Michigan craft beer.

Loco Boys Brewing eventually found its home in the former Impres Salon building at 901 West Front Street in Traverse City. Two years, a big renovation, some struggles with liquor licensing, and a few other hurdles later, the 3,800-square-foot brewery opened its doors.

Perhaps above all else, Loco Boys Brewing is a love letter to Mohrhardt’s heritage. The name, he says, is both a play on the phrase “local boys” and a tribute to his Mexican grandmother, who appears in the form of a big mural on the brewery wall. Other elements of the business, from a tap list of original beers heavily influenced by Mexican and California brewing styles to a scratch kitchen that focuses on authentic Mexican cuisine, also pay homage to the Mohrhardts’ heritage and to the years that Mike spent living in Mexico and Southern California.

Assembling the Crew

While the family is pulling in a lot of their past to make Loco Boys what it is, Mohrhardt is quick to note that the brewery’s X-factor is really its collaborative nature.

To lead the establishment’s beer and food programs, Mohrhardt tapped Andy Largent and Bryon “Fig” Figueroa, two well-known and well-seasoned northern vets in their respective fields.

Largent comes to Loco Boys off a lengthy stint as head brewer at The Filling Station, and before that, from brewing and distilling jobs at Stormcloud Brewing Company, Grand Traverse Distillery, Right Brain Brewery, and North Peak Brewing Company.

Figueroa, meanwhile, was the owner and chef at Lake Leelanau’s beloved Fig’s Breakfast & Lunch until that establishment closed its doors in September 2019. For the past few years, he’s served as head chef at Northport Pub & Grille, which opened in summer 2021.

Scoring both of those key team people for his crew, Mohrhardt says, was crucial for setting Loco Boys on the path toward success.

In Largent—who is not just an employee, but also a co-owner in the business— Mohrhardt was looking for a brewer who could capably make great beer in any style. Largent’s background, which ranges from the experimental bent of Right Brain to the Belgian-style expertise of Stormcloud, made him a no-brainer choice.

In Figueroa, meanwhile, Mohrhardt saw a chef who could bring his vision

of a Mexican-centric menu to life with authenticity and flare.

“When Bryon and I met for the first time, the first thing I said to him was, ‘Hey Bryon, how’s your mole game?’” Mohrhardt says with a laugh. (Pronounced MOE-lay, mole is a term used in Mexican cuisine to describe a type of sauce.)

Mole appears twice on the current Loco Boys menu—first in an appetizer called Mole Bravas, which tops crispy potatoes with a mole poblano sauce; and second in the restaurant’s flagship entrée, Enchiladas de Mole Poblano, described as “pulled chicken in corn tortillas, scratch mole poblano, with steamed rice and refried beans.”

“ That’s one of the dishes that I’m most proud of,” Mohrhardt says of the enchiladas. “Mole is tough, because there are so many different variations of it. If you’re from the Oaxaca region in Mexico, I think there are seven different moles of Oaxaca, and every other region of Mexico has their own take on mole, too. It’s always very ingredientdriven. There’s anywhere from 25-30 ingredients that go into it. So it’s a pretty intricate dish, and it takes a bit of time to develop that right. We went through a lot of tests to recreate the mole I love, and Bryon just really nailed it.”

While mole is one specialty that Mohrhardt expects locals will be trying for the first time at Loco Boys, there are also a few more familiar options on the menu. One example? A La Hora Que Sea (translated roughly to “any time at all”), a breakfast burrito that Fig’s fans will recognize from Figueroa’s old Leelanau restaurant.

Golden Stouts and Mexican Lagers

A similar approach of balancing Mohrhardt’s vision with the ideas of his collaborators also drives the Loco Boys beer program. On that side, Mohrhardt once again had a few checklist items he knew were must-haves for the menu. Case in point is Dirty Over the Shoulder, a golden milk stout that boasts all the rich, sweet, creamy, and coffee-tinged flavors of a stout beer, but that pours with a golden hue more associated with IPAs or amber ales.

“That was a type of beer I tried and really liked in my time in California, and I remember asking Andy if it was something we could brew here,” Mohrhardt says of the golden stout. “And it’s quickly become the beer on the menu that everyone has to try. My uncle, who is a Miller Lite drinker, came in, and I said, ‘Ok, you’ve gotta try this.’ He took one sip of it, his eyes lit up, and he said, ‘I’d probably order that.’”

For the most part, though, Largent says he’s had free rein to design a well-rounded beer menu that ranges from Mexicaninspired recipes (a Mexican lager, a habanero chocolate porter) to familiar staples (a variety of IPAs, an English brown ale). For his part, the brewer is excited about exploring the Mexican influence a bit more in the future— ideally, in tandem with Figueroa.

“Bryon and I have talked about doing something with the mole he’s been making and putting it in a beer,” Largent says. “We’re definitely going to do some collaborative projects where we get some of the stuff from the kitchen into the beer.”

After a pause, Largent laughs and adds: “If we have time. We’ve been extremely busy these first few weeks. But that’s a good thing.”

Find Loco Boys Brewing Company at 901 W Front St. in Traverse City. (231) 252-2378, locoboysbrewing.com

Andy and Mike hold up their first dollar.

A La Hora Que Sea breakfast burrito

By Deb Dent

It’s officially fish fry season here in northern Michigan, with many local establishments featuring specials on fish on Fridays during Lent. (Check out the sidebar for inspiration!)

But if you want to DIY your own Friday dinner, you can’t have a fish fry without the fish. And thanks to the unseasonably warm weather we’ve had this year, winter fishing has been challenging at best for local fishing charter services. From bad ice to canceled reservations to unusual fish behavior, it’s been a perfect storm…without the cold and snow they need.

C.A.R.M.A. Sport Fishing Charter Service

Captain Randy J. Cornell of C.A.R.M.A. Sport Fishing Charter Service, based out of Cadillac, says that the warmer weather has absolutely had a negative impact on his business.

“It is difficult to adapt to warm weather when ice fishing,” he explains. “This winter we have gone from no ice to not enough safe ice, and good ice with 4 inches of standing water on top of it. It’s an odd situation for guiding. We can’t get out on the ice because it isn’t safe, and we can’t put a boat in the water because there is too much ice.”

Cornell also points out that considering the safety of the ice is different from the perspective of a professional guide and that of a fisherman. “A full-service guide than to carry enough gear for one to five or six clients. That is typically three rods per client, a couple of augers, a pull-behind two-person flip-over fish shanty, or a six-to-eight-person hub style-shanty, two heaters, propane tanks, and all the tackle and bait. It takes a vehicle to get it all on the ice, and if there isn’t 8 to 10 inches, it isn’t safe enough to withstand the weight of all the clients and the gear.”

The real challenge, he feels, is that there is no real feasible alternative to ice fishing when the weather won’t cooperate. And with most clients booking their trips up to a year in advance, it’s very difficult to try and reschedule them.

“Poor ice conditions, lack of ice, days of rain caused complete cancellation of our ice guiding in December and January,” Cornell says. “We lost every booking we had because of weather. A weather cancellation is a total loss, and sometimes you lose the client completely.”

Compared to previous years, C.A.R.M.A. would have 15 to 20 guided trips during this season. As of late February, they had only two.

The warmer temperatures this season also have an influence on the behavior of the fish themselves, according to Cornell.

“We usually have had the fish set up in the winter patterns along the weed lines [feeding grounds] that are still green and producing oxygen in the lakes. The bait fish and water insects live in the oxygen rich areas, and the predator fish migrate to where the food is, providing excellent opportunities to zero in on active fish. The inconsistent weather and lack of ice this year has allowed the weeds to not die off with any significance, and the fish are scattered everywhere.”

Cornell says that this dynamic means that one day you’ll find a spot where you’re really catching fish, and the next day they will be completely gone from that area, forcing you to start the process of searching for them all over again.

He believes that the weather is the biggest factor in determining fishing success. “Warm and cold fronts, high- and low-pressure systems, and the wind that accompanies them are the biggest conditional circumstances we have to adapt to as fishermen.”

All in all though, Cornell tries to keep a positive attitude despite the weather-related challenges. “I try to focus on the fishing as the adventure and just enjoying being outside doing what I enjoy doing. Catching anything then becomes the bonus to the day!”

Storm Hawk Sport Fishing

According to Captain Brady Anderson of Storm Hawk Sport Fishing in Traverse City, the biggest hurdle this season “has been the need to be flexible to what the conditions allow.” When taking his clients out on guided ice fishing expeditions, Brady generally targets winter fish like walleye, perch, pike, lake trout, and panfish. He says we’re lucky to have such a diverse fish population in a winter like this one, because it makes it a little easier for him to switch gears and focus on a different type of fish if needed.

But the fish aren’t the only tricky part of the equation. Often, because of the fluctuating temperatures, Anderson and his clients are forced to seek out different lakes in the area where the ice is safer and more solid. Some areas aren’t freezing much at all, or at least not up to normal winter levels. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the Great Lakes have been experiencing recordlow ice cover. As of February 13, only 7 percent of the total surface area of the Great Lakes was frozen, compared to the 35-40 percent norm for mid-February.

Due to the weather this winter, Anderson feels that the demand for guided ice fishing trips has been less than in years past, and most cancellations are because of the poor ice conditions. Ultimately though, he says the season has been decent so far, and that the Storm Hawk team has been keeping themselves busy.

When asked if he thought the warmer

weather this season will affect the fishing come spring, he answers with some optimism.

“The warmer winter has me excited for the fishery,” Anderson says. “With less pressure on the lakes, it may help give the fish a little break from being targeted. It’s unfortunate for now, but long term I feel it will be a good thing for our lakes. It will also be great for our baitfish population in Lake Michigan since alewives spawn in the spring and have thrived in the past when we have had mild winters.” Learn more at carmasportfishing.com and stormhawksportfishing.com.

Friday Fish Fry

Need to skip the meat on Fridays this March? Here are a few local establishments offering a fish fry and/or specials on fish on Fridays during Lent:

• Sleder’s Family Tavern, Traverse City: all-you-can-eat fish fry

• J&S Hamburg, South Airport, Traverse City: all-you-can-eat fish fry

• Randy’s Diner, Traverse City: allyou-can-eat fish fry

• Lil Bo, Traverse City: fish fry from 5-9pm

• Jolly Pumpkin, Traverse City: fried fish and chips special

• Dillinger’s Pub, Traverse City: allyou-can-eat fish fry

• Sacred Heart Church, Elk Rapids: fish fry from 5-7pm, eat in or take out

• Knot Just a Bar, Omena: all-youcan-eat fish fry

• Brady’s Bar, Traverse City: fish fry special all day

•Curly’s Bar & Grill, Cadillac: allyou-can-eat fish fry

Fine Points of the Law

Natalia Harrell, 24, was arrested last July in Miami for allegedly shooting and killing Gladys Yvette Borcela, 28, as they rode in an Uber. Since then, she's been in the custody of the Miami-Dade Corrections Department -- along with her unborn child. Now, Michael O'Brien, the father of the child, has filed a petition claiming the baby has not been charged with a crime and is having its due process rights violated, NBC Miami reported. "I don't want the baby to be born prematurely or low birth weight," O'Brien said. "The conditions (in the jail) are terrible and I feel she's not getting the prenatal care she should be getting." He seeks the baby's immediate release. Officials replied that they are reviewing the care Harrell has received "to ensure that all prenatal care being provided in our custody is appropriate."

Irony Police in Glemgormley, Northern Ireland, pulled over a Mini Cooper on Feb. 27 and asked the driver for proof of insurance, the Irish Mirror reported. After cagily searching around for the document, the driver admitted they didn't have insurance -- even though they were sporting a bumper sticker that cheekily asked, "My brakes are good!! Is your insurance?" The car was seized and the driver was issued a penalty for the lack of coverage.

New World Order

Tired of your John Hancock looking like a child's scribble? Priscilla Molina of Los Angeles can help with that. The Associated Press reported that Molina's business, Planet of Names, will make over anyone's signature for between $10 and $55. People seeking her service are "not happy with their signatures. They don't relate to who they are. They don't give the message they want to convey to the world," Molina said. She designs up to 300 custom signatures per month, and offers a range of styles, from elegant and artistic to ... illegible.

My Kindom for an Editor

First it was a misspelling of Georgia O'Keeffe's name in New York City's new Grand Central Terminal. On Feb. 26, according to the Associated Press, the state's Department of Transportation installed a new sign in Queens to identify the Jackie Robinson Parkway, established in 1997. Robinson was the first African American player to compete in major league baseball. But the DOT forgot the C, spelling the baseball great's first name Jakie. The sign was quickly replaced with the correct spelling.

Unconventional Weaponry

In a puzzling attempt to draw attention to the climate crisis, three people defaced a woolly mammoth at the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria, Canada, on March 1, the Times Colonist reported. A woman allegedly used her hands to paint the mammoth's tusks pink. A group called On2Ottawa has claimed responsibility for the vandalism; the painter, "Laura," says in

a video posted online, "If the government does not enact a citizens' assembly to tackle the climate and ecological crisis in the next one to two years, then we will be traveling to Ottawa to demand one." The waterbased paint was cleaned off the tusks and three people were arrested.

Oops

More than 40 high school students from the Barr Beacon School in Walsall, England, were stranded in the U.S. for four extra days after a ski trip to New Hampshire, the New York Post reported. It wasn't weather that shut down their travel, but the fact that the Kancamagus Lodge in Lincoln, New Hampshire, "accidentally" shredded 42 of their passports. Fortunately, head teacher Katie Hobbs, who was not on the trip, was on top of the situation and had the group move to New York City, where the British embassy was preparing emergency documents. In the meantime, the kids toured the city and took in the sights. "The silver lining is that they can have an amazing experience," said one parent. The lodge had no explanation for the destruction of the passports other than it happened by mistake.

Perspective

Hicham Argani, a police officer in Boxtel, Netherlands, was patrolling his neighborhood when he spotted an unidentified object in the sky, the Daily Star reported on March 1. He posted on Instagram about the "suspected 'spy balloon'" hovering over the Selissen district and followed it in his car. Finally, he decided to pull over to get a closer look at it -- which was when he realized the UFO was a blob of bird poo stuck to his windshield. Argani updated his post with his findings and an all-clear: "Boxtel is safe!"

Compelling Explanation

A Peruvian man, 26-year-old Julio Cesar Bermejo, is being detained in Puno after police discovered a mummified human in his possession, People reported. Officers approached three men drinking in a park on Feb. 25 and noticed the remains inside a cooler delivery bag. Bermejo told them that he had brought the mummy to the park to show his friends; it had been in his family for decades. He said he named the remains "Juanita" and it was his "spiritual girlfriend." However, officials say the mummy is actually that of a 45-year-old man, and they've turned it over to Peru's Ministry of Culture.

Repeat Offender

Rodolfo Santillan just can't stop burglarizing cars. On Feb. 21, he broke into a work van in Chicago while wearing an ankle bracelet for two pending car burglary cases, CWB Chicago reported. A passing police officer stopped and charged him with misdemeanor criminal trespass, and he left the police station at about 4:40 p.m. Two hours later, police were called to another van, where workers said they had found Santillan inside. He was also caught on video taking tools from a nearby car. Santillan was held without bail for violating bond in the previous cases.

Classical Music

JULY 27 - AUGUST 5

Programs and artists subject to change.

Presented by

Thursday July 27 7:30

DRINKS, DESSERT, AND DISCUSSION

A Festival Introduction

Robert Nordling, host

Saturday July 29 | 7:30

OPENING NIGHT

BENEFIT

Ying Li, solo piano

Monday July 31 | 4:00

BRASS ON THE GRASS

Popular Favorites with the Metallurgy Brass Quintet

Monday July 31 | 7:30

NEW AND NEXT

Contemporary Classical

Robert Nordling, guide

Tuesday August 1 | 7:30

CHAMBER MUSIC

WATERSIDE

Music of Bach, Coleridge

Taylor, Joplin

Wednesday August 2 | 3:00

THE ST JAMES JAZZ

ENSEMBLE Happy Hour Jazz Standards

Wednesday August 2 | 7:30

THE FOUNDERS VOCAL CONCERT

The Festival Chorus

Kevin Simons, conductor

Thursday August 3 | 2:00

CHAMBER MUSIC

AL FRESCO

Light Classics with the Donegal Bay Woodwind Quintet

Thursday August 3 | 7:30

MOZART ONLY

Overture, Don Giovanni; Piano

Concerto No. 20; Symphony No. 40

The Festival Orchestra - Robert Nordling, conductor; Ying Li, piano

Friday August 4 | 2:00

KIDS IN CONCERT!

The Dorothy Gerber Strings

Program David Reimer, director

Saturday August 5 7:30

BAROQUE, NATURALLY

Beethoven Symphony No. 6; Vaughan-Williams “Flos Campi”

The Festival Orchestra & ChorusRobert Nordling, conductor Young Soloist Competition Award Winner

WINDS OF Spring

IN CONCERT

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

3:00PM · TICKETS AT THE DOOR

Tickets $10 Adults / Students Free First Congregational Church 6105 Center Road, Traverse City encorewinds.org

By Ashlee Cowles

Whittney Allen, an entrepreneur who has worked in beauty and wellness for over 20 years, is bringing a new approach to the industry to Traverse City.

Her soon-to-be-launched The NoMi Collective brings together three brands under one roof. The largest business in the space will be The Collective, a coworking community for independent beauty and wellness practitioners. The Label, a boutique retail space, and The Eatery, a commercial kitchen space, will sit adjacent to The Collective in the same building, which Allen purchased in October 2022.

Creating a Community

Allen says her businesses were “born out of a need for creating a community of people who are passionate and thrive in a communal environment.” The pandemic served as a catalyst for the venture, as it became clear to Allen that Traverse City could use more spaces for independentlyminded practitioners that went beyond renting a booth or chair. The model she has adopted is popular downstate and in larger cities, and Allen is passionate about bringing the concept to northern Michigan.

When a stylist merely rents a chair or booth, Allen explains, “you don’t have control over business hours, the environment, the level of professionalism for yourself or your guest, and you’re not provided with specific stimulating opportunities like education or how to brand yourself. Those things are really important to our profession and what we do.”

It was out of these needs that Allen joined a business partner in creating Team Hair + Beauty, an on-site service that contracts with over 25 beauty and wellness practitioners across the state of Michigan for events such as stage productions and weddings. In 2017, Allen and her partner opened a brick-and-mortar location for the business called The Hair + Beauty Lounge, located across from the Grand Traverse Mall.

From these endeavors, Allen believes she has learned how to cultivate a team of professionals “who encourage each other and hold each other accountable out of love.”

The Collective

Allen says she intends to bring a similar “community over competition” spirit to The NoMi Collective. One of the distinctive features of The Collective will be its continuing education classes for beauty and wellness practitioners that enable them to pursue professional development. Artists can come in and share their wealth of knowledge in a facility that has the space, seating, and proper lighting for effective demonstrations.

Members of The Collective’s community will also receive annual professional headshots—not something an independent contractor can always afford to invest in each year, even though it is an important part of branding in the industry. Community members will have access to a digital marketing specialist, and The Collective will host an online platform that includes social media channels. All members of The Collective will be able to utilize these marketing tools to promote their services.

These are benefits Allen says she herself was never offered early on as a practitioner in the beauty industry, though she believes that continuing education and training on how to brand yourself as an independent contractor are essential to the profession.

Space in The Collective will be available to a variety of practitioners, including hair stylists, make-up artists, health and

wellness coaches, and massage therapists. Even though The Collective does not have an opening date on paper just yet, of the fourteen spaces available, about one-third have been reserved. Allen is receiving frequent inquiries and requests for walkthroughs. She’s not surprised about the level of interest from beauty and wellness practitioners, given that this business model “is something this city really needed.”

The Label

The Label will be a boutique retail space that offers a thoughtful curation of brands and lifestyle products. Allen’s goal with The Label is to provide unique pieces at affordable prices in a local-friendly environment that also meets the needs of out-of-town visitors.

“It will be a space to find something for yourself or a gift for a loved one,” she says. “The hope is that the space will support clientele as they’re waiting for their practitioner for their appointment [at The Collective].”

Allen is currently working with a designer to create unique wear pieces that tastefully reflect northern Michigan. She notes that the region “is not always held in the highest regard when it comes to beauty, wellness, and fashion,” and that changing this perception is part of the reason she named her new business The NoMi Collective.

“I’m proud of where we live, and I’m excited to be able to offer these kinds of tasteful wear pieces,” Allen says.

The Eatery

Supporting the overall purpose of The NoMi Collective—that it’s good for the mind, body, and soul—The Eatery will be a commercial kitchen space that allows clientele to purchase prepared food to enjoy in a casual, communal guest lounge while they wait for an appointment at The Collective.

Although the proposed menu offerings are still in the planning phase, there are several existing kitchens in Traverse City interested in utilizing the space, which Allen hopes to open in the summer or fall of 2023.

The Growth of Eighth Street

The North Boardman Lake District (also known as NOBO) to the east of downtown is a part of Traverse City that is attracting a variety of businesses. When searching for a space for The NoMi Collective over the past two years, Allen was looking for a location near downtown, but she also knew there were specific needs for creating a successful beauty and wellness business.

For example, catering to clientele who live locally and are trying to make it to appointments means thinking about the hassle of finding parking during the busy summer months. “I wanted something centrally located but that had parking, lighting, and easy entrance and exit points,” Allen says.

Instead of pursuing a new build, which she briefly considered, Allen wanted to find a space that had atmosphere, energy, and a history. “Eighth Street is up and coming. I’m really excited to see the new Mundos HQ and the Common Good Bakery [nearby]. There are a lot of businesses going into Eighth Street, and I think it’s going to be a nicely utilized part of our town where the traffic is a little more regulated.”

The Label is projected to launch a soft opening in March, with the goal of opening the suites at The Collective for appointments toward the end of March or beginning of April.

Learn more at thenomico.com.

saturday

HBA GRAND TRAVERSE AREA HOME EXPO: 9am5pm, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Acme. One of the largest building industry events in northern Michigan, drawing residential construction industry professionals to showcase their products &/ or services in just one weekend. $10 PreExpo; $12 at the door; $25 family passes. hbagta.com/home-expo

SPRING CARNIVAL: 9am-11pm, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Enjoy snow-filled fun! Fun-in-the-sun costumes are encouraged. Includes the Cardboard Classic Race, Creative Sled Contest, On-Slope Scavenger Hunt, Slush Cup, live music & more. crystalmountain.com/event/spring-carnival

COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR TO SUPPORT TEEN WELLNESS & INCLUSION

WITH POLESTAR: 10am-4pm, Traverse Area District Library, Atrium, TC. Join Polestar, in partnership with the Traverse Area District Library, & a variety of community organizations for a Community Resource Fair in support of LGBT+ youth & families. There will be info, resources, & giveaways for all attendees. Free. tadl.org/events ----------------------

FREE DROP-IN FAMILY ART: 10am-noon, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. Stop by for a fun, free art activity for all ages. crookedtree.org/class/ctac-traversecity/free-drop-family-art-march

GRAND TRAVERSE BAY POLAR PLUNGE & FROZEN 5K CHARITY WALK: Centerpointe Marina, Visions Banquet Center, TC. Participants brave the cold & plunge into Grand Traverse Bay. A Frozen 5K Walk will also be part of the festivities. Plunge, walk or watch the fun. Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics. 10am: Pre-Plunge Party & Check In; Noon: Plunge. classy.org/event/grandtraverse-bay-polar-plunge-2023/e442410 ----------------------

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

“ENCHANTMENT ON ICE”: 11:30am & 4:30pm, Centre Ice Arena, TC. Presented by the Traverse City Figure Skating Club. Featuring the classic tales of Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Tangled & Encanto. $20. gofiguretc.org

M-22 CHILI CHALLENGE: 1-5pm, Leelanau Sands Casino, Peshawbestown. With local participating restaurants including Big Dex’s Restaurant, Bogeys at The Leland Lodge, Lylahs, & more. Enjoy tastings, outdoor yard games, bonfire, & live entertainment with the Broom Closet Boys. $20 adult ticket ages 18+ includes 8 tastings, 3 voting tickets, one e-credit voucher, & one beverage (alcoholic beverage choice for ages 21+). $10 guests up to age 18 includes 8 tastings & 3 voting tickets. leelanausandscasino.com/play/ m22chili_challenge

MEET THE AUTHORS OF “BIGFOOT AND THE MITTEN”: 1pm, Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts, Petoskey. Karen Bell-Brege & Darrin Brege are award-winning husband & wife

bestselling children’s book authors, voiceover artists & comedians. They will share art & writing secrets & some voice impersonations. petoskeyarea.com/events/meet-theauthors-of-bigfoot-and-the-mitten

“GRIMM’S ALTERNATIVE FAIRY TALES”: 2pm & 7:30pm, The Alluvion, TC. Tickets: $28 GA; $38 VIP Reserved Front Row. Mashup Rock & Roll Musical is reviving their 2014 show “Grimm’s Alternative Fairy Tales.” The story is a twisted romp through magical woods, where creatures, royalty, & lost children are mashed up with New Wave & Rock stars from the 1980s. mashuprockandrollmusical.com/upcoming-shows-tickets

“SCENES FROM A PARK”: 2pm & 7pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Presented by the Northwest Michigan Youth Ballet Company, featuring 19 dancers, ages 11-22, along with professional mime Tom Johnson, & other performers. This Ballet meets Broadway production features costumes of stylish dresses & suits, knickers & vests, military uniforms & even the rags of a bag lady. It tells the story of the characters & everyday occurrences in a city park over the course of a year during the 1940’s. $15-$20. mynorthtickets.com/ events/scenes-from-a-park-3-11-2023

ELK RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS

THE MUSICAL GREASE!: 2pm & 7pm, Elk Rapids High School, Peterman Auditorium. Buy tickets online. $5 students; $10 adults. erschools.com/schools/cherryland-middleschool/enrichments/musicals

“PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION”: 3pm, City Opera House, TC. Join the musicians of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra & IPR Kids Commute’s Kate Botello as they tell the story of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Free. cityoperahouse.org/ node/500

BEE WELL CHILI COOK-OFF: 5pm, Bee Well, Bellaire. Set up at 4:30pm. Cost is $8 to enter your chili & $8 tastings (or whatever you feel comfortable with, donation wise). Money goes to the winners. Traditional chili only; no soups. To register or any questions, call 248-755-4164.

30 NEO-FUTURIST PLAYS FROM “TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND”: 7pm, Charming North, Downtown Cadillac. Thirty plays in 60 minutes. Presented by Cadillac Footliters. A madcap collection of mini-plays where the audience picks the order each night. $11 GA; $12 at the door. facebook.com/CadillacFootliters

BAYSIDE TRAVELLERS CONTRA DANCE: Solon Township Hall, Cedar. Family friendly dance event. 7pm: Learning Workshop; 7:30pm: Contra Dancing. The live band will be Woodland Celtic & the caller will be Pat Reeser. No partner or experience necessary. Masks required when dancing. Info: 231-313-2596. Donations only. dancetc.com

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GOPHERWOOD CONCERTS PRESENTS WILLY PORTER: 7-10:30pm, Cadillac Elks Lodge. Willy’s musical career has spanned over two decades, 11 albums, & multiple continents. He plays contemporary American rock & his songs weave a universal perspective about the questions, struggles, & triumphs of human existence. $10-$20. mynorthtickets.com/events/willyporter-3-11-2023 -------------------- --

“SUN IN YA HANDS”: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Phoenix Theatre. Detroit-based theatre artist & University of Michigan playwriting instructor Emilio Rodriguez brings a modern spin of the Brothers

Grimm’s classic fairy tale “The Frog Prince” with “Sun in Ya Hands,” set in the Caribbean with production design inspired by Disney films “Pocahontas” & “Moana.” Presented by the Interlochen Arts Academy Theatre Division. $22 adults; $17 children through college. interlochen.org/events/sun-in-yahands-2023-03-10

CHEBOYGAN HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S “CINDERELLA”: 7:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. This Enchanted Edition is inspired by the 1997 teleplay. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 at the door. theoperahouse.org/tickets

OTP POP UP THEATRE PRESENTS “CRY IT OUT”: 7:30pm, Grand Traverse Event Center, TC. Two moms meet for coffee during naptime in their adjoining yards & a fast friendship is born. When a stranger who lives in the mansion up on the cliff appears in the yard, asking if they would include his wife, the duo tries to become a trio, but with very mixed & surprising results in this comedy with dark edges. $18 (plus fees). oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/pop-up-studio-theatre/cry-it-out.html

sunday

HBA GRAND TRAVERSE AREA HOME EXPO: 11am3pm, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Acme. One of the largest building industry events in northern Michigan, drawing residential construction industry professionals to showcase their products &/or services in just one weekend. $10 Pre-Expo; $12 at the door; $25 family passes. hbagta.com/home-expo

MAPLE SYRUP MASTERS WORKSHOP SERIES: 1-3pm, Danu Hof Farm, Mancelona. Demonstrating syrup production on a very small scale. Registration advised.

Email: wagbo.wendy@gmail.com. Free.

“SUN IN YA HANDS”: (See Sat., March 11, but today’s time is 2pm.)

CHEBOYGAN HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S “CINDERELLA”: (See Sat., March 11, except today’s time is 2pm.) ----------------------

OTP POP UP THEATRE PRESENTS “CRY IT OUT”: (See Sat., March 11, except today’s time is 2pm.)

ENCORE WINDS SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT: 3pm, First Congregational Church, TC. Winds of Spring: Featuring works by E. Strauss, R. Vaughan Williams, Giannini, Elgar, Percy Grainger, & a flute feature by Leroy Anderson. Tickets at the door: $5-$15; kids 12 & under, free. encorewinds.org

FRESHWATER CONCERTS PRESENTS: WILLY PORTER: 7pm, Freshwater Art Gallery & Concert Venue, Boyne City. Willy’s musical career has spanned over two decades, 11 albums, & multiple continents. He plays contemporary American rock & his songs weave a universal perspective about the questions, struggles, & triumphs of human existence. $40. petoskeyarea.com/ events/freshwater-concerts-willy-porter

monday

DROP-IN PRESCHOOL ADVENTURES IN ART:

9:30-10:15am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Classroom, TC. Early registration encouraged. Young artists will have an opportunity to engage in themed activities while exploring various art methods. $5. crookedtree.org/class/ctac-traverse-city/ preschool-adventures-art-march-13

The 45th Annual Northern Michigan Home & Outdoor Living Show will be held at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey on Fri., March 17 from 11am-5pm, and Sat., March 18 from 9am-4pm. It will feature about 70 booths with vendors showcasing home remodeling companies, outdoor living including landscaping and decks, home services and home-related businesses in finance, insurance and dog fencing. Home Depot will have a

children’s building project on Sat. from 11am-3pm. $5 adults; free for 17 and under. hbanorthernmichigan.com

BE HEALTHY, BE ACTIVE COMMUNITY COOKING WORKSHOP: 3:30-5pm, Interlochen Public Library. With Chef Susanne. You will be shown a few techniques, & then you can cook the whole recipe from start to finish. Limited to 10 people. Registration required: 231-276-6767.

KID’S CRAFT LAB: SHAVING CREAM SHAMROCKS: 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Paint a shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day with shaving cream & green watercolor paint. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. glcm.org

G.T. HUMANISTS MEETING: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Join the Grand Traverse Humanists for a presentation by Liz Kirkwood, executive director of FLOW (For Love of Water), a non-profit based in Traverse City, dedicated to protecting the public waters & ecosystems in the Great Lakes Basin. Her presentation is called “Water for All: The Future of Water in the Great Lakes Region.” Free. gthumanists.org

REFIT® TC: 7pm, The Presbyterian Church of TC, 701 Westminster Rd. Enjoy a group fitness experience that rocks your body, heart, & soul with powerful moves & positive music. Classes begin March 13, & are held Mondays at 7pm & Thursdays at 9:30am. $1 suggested donation. facebook.com/profile. php?id=100090460000055

tuesday

GREAT LAKES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM’S PI DAY

CELEBRATION: 9:30am, noon & 2:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. All three sessions will feature a round of activities related to geometry, math, & pie! Everyone attending will get a free book, “All for Pie, and Pie for All,” provided by Great Start for Quality. Each session will have circle games, crafts, activities & a story, along with a free piece of pie. Sarah Lee is donating apple & cherry pie. Free with admission. greatlakeskids.org/pi-day-2023

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PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library, lower level Community Meeting Room. Free. sbbdl.org

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PARKINSON’S NETWORK NORTH SUP-

PORT GROUP: 1pm, The Presbyterian Church of TC, 701 Westminster Rd. “Wellness with Parkinson’s Disorder (PD).” Coffee & snack provided. Info: 947-7389. Free. pnntc.org

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READ TO A DOG!: Glen Lake Library, Empire. Kids are invited to share their favorite stories with Skye, the Corgi. Drop in between 4:30-6pm. glenlakelibrary.net

2023 S.T.I.R.: 5-7pm, Pond Hill Farm, Harbor Springs. Enjoy healthy farm to table tasty treats & learn from area experts on all things health. The Outfitter crew will lead those interested on a mid-winter hike. Reservations needed if you wish to borrow snowshoes provided by The Outfitter. Free for members; $15 for nonmembers. harborspringschamber.com/events/ details/2023-s-t-i-r-at-pond-hill-farm-12781

ELK RAPIDS CHAMBER BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-7pm, Town Club, Elk Rapids. Town Club & Golden Hill Farms/Amy Kate Designs will provide snacks as you mingle with business associates & friends. Remember to bring business cards. $5 members; $10 non-members. facebook.com/eve nts/783905282608179?ref=newsfeed

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EXPLORING GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECKS: 6pm, The HERTH, Elk Rapids.

Renowned underwater & nature photographer Chris Roxburgh will share photography from his more recent shipwreck dives. Free.

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HOCKEY WITH AUTHOR KEITH GAVE: 6:30-8pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Keith Gave is the author of the best-selling book, “The Russian Five” & writer/producer of the award-winning feature documentary film of the same name. The story reveals how five former Soviet Red Army Club stars wound up in Detroit to help the Red Wings win their first Stanley Cup in 42 years in 1997 – & again in 1998. tadl.org/hockey

TSO CIVIC ORCHESTRA CONCERT: 7pm, First Congregational Church, TC. The multiage Traverse Symphony Civic String Orchestras under the direction of Lynne Tobin present a free Dance Delights concert featuring instrumental dance music from Renaissance to Contemporary. traversesymphony.org

wednesday

WOMEN DEMS & FRIENDS

LUNCHEON: 11:30am, Torch Lake Café, Central Lake. The guest speaker will be Rich Polich, managing director at GDS Associates. RSVP: nathomps@charter.net.

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OPEN STUDIO CREATIVE HOUR & ANIMATION WITH DIANE: 3:30pm, Arts for All of Northern Michigan, 1485 Barlow St., TC. Bring your sketchbook, painting supplies, or artwork-in-progress for a chance to share, & enjoy a boost of inspiration from other creative individuals. OR make a short stop-motion animation video with Diane. Limited easels & other art tools will be available. All ages & abilities. Free. artsforallnmi.org/event/openstudio-creative-hour-animation-with-diane-4

2023 BUSINESS EXPO & TASTE OF CHARLEVOIX: 4-7pm, Castle Farms, Charlevoix. Featuring vendor booths in a wide range of categories, including retail, professional, industry, service, tourism & more. Restaurants will offer a sampling of their culinary specialties. Taste & vote for your favorite dining establishment.

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AFTERNOON CHILL: 4-6pm, Harbor Springs Area Chamber Office. Featuring Lauretta Reiss & her Small Batch offerings. Enjoy drinks, appetizers & conversation.

ESCAPE ROOM: 5pm, East Bay Branch Library, TC. For adults after hours. Solve puzzles, find clues, & break the code before time runs out. Register online. Free. tadl.org/ event/escape-room-adults

INLAND SEAS: TOOLS OF THE TRADE: 5pm, Glen Lake Library, Empire. Learn about the environmental health of the Great Lakes with the Inland Seas Education Association. ISEA staff will describe the various monitoring activities they perform during their excursions on Grand Traverse Bay & demonstrate some of the specialized equipment they use in this work. You can also learn about volunteer opportunities. glenlakelibrary.net

PLACE: GOING BEYOND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Presbyterian Church of TC, 701 Westminster Rd. Dinner at 5:30pm; 6:30pm presentation. This is an examination of the missional history & colonization of this region & European impact upon & relationship with the Indigenous Peoples of this geographic region. Presentation of the Land Acknowledgement adopted by the church will be presented. March 15: Native Peoples of North America, Dr. Daniel

Cobb, Traverse tcpresby.org

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photographotography Free.

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Cobb, DVD; March 22: JoAnne Cook, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa. Free. tcpresby.org

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ST. PATRICK’S PUZZLING PARTY: 5:308:30pm, The Katydid, Petoskey. In teams of up to four, put together a 500-piece puzzle, competing against other teams to see who can put it together the fastest. The team who wins will receive $100 in Downtown Dollars, $200 in Katydid gift certificates, $100 in Roast & Toast gift certificates, & $100 in Grandpa Shorter’s gift certificates. Also enjoy food & beverages. If you purchase enough tickets to fill out a 4-person team, you will only have to pay $100 ($25/ticket). petoskeyarea.com/ events/st-patricks-puzzling-party ----------------------

EQUAL PAY DAY MOVIE EVENT: The State Theatre, TC. In celebration with Women’s History month in March & Equal Pay Day on March 14, the Zonta Club of Traverse City is hosting a community movie night. The feature screening will be “A League Of Their Own” March 15 at 7pm. This event will feature a special presentation outlining income inequality for women & the strides women have made to close the gap. $7 for women & $8 for men. zontacluboftraversecity.org

AN EVENING WITH ALICE BOLIN & DANIEL HORNSBY: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, The Writing House. Interlochen Arts Academy Creative Writing Division will host these acclaimed guest authors. Enjoy a reading, Q&A session, & book signing. Bolin is the author of “Dead Girls” (Harper Collins 2018), a collection of essays about crime, gender, & the American West. Hornsby is the author of the novel “Via Negativa.” Free. interlochen.org/events/evening-alice-bolinand-daniel-hornsby-2023-03-15

thursday REFIT® TC: (See Mon., March 13) --------------

GALLERY TALK: CRAFT BEER & ART PAIRING: 121pm, Charlevoix Circle of Arts. With Emily Hengsteback of Beards Brewery. Free; limited seats available. charlevoixcircle.org

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. Limited to 10 kids per class. Registration required: 231276-6767.

KID’S CRAFT LAB: SHAVING CREAM SHAMROCKS: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Paint a shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day with shaving cream & green watercolor paint. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. glcm.org

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EAST JORDAN BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-6:30pm, Rebec-Hosler Sweet American Legion Post #227, East Jordan. “BINGO & Business.” Food, refreshments, networking, prizes & fun.

MAPLE SYRUP MASTERS WORKSHOP

SERIES: 5-7pm, Harwood Gold, Charlevoix. Facility tour & demonstration of production on a large scale. Registration advised. Email: wagbo.wendy@gmail.com. Free.

PETOSKEY BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-7pm, Corktown Pizza & Buffalo Wild Wings, 1965 Waabizish Dr., Petoskey. The theme is “March Madness.” Watch the NCAA Tournament, wear your favorite college team’s apparel, enjoy food & prizes, & ask Damon Whitfield, PT of Harbor Springs

Therapy & Wellness, any questions. $10 Chamber members; $15 not-yet members. petoskeychamber.com ----------------------

GRAND TRAVERSE AUDUBON CLUB

MEETING: 7pm, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Terry Grabill presents “A Bird in the Hand,” stories & images of his big year run. Terry will show you his journey to bird in all 83 Michigan counties on the way to chase rare birds & share with some special birding people. Free.

OTP POP UP THEATRE PRESENTS “CRY IT OUT”: (See Sat., March 11)

POPULAR MUSIC ENSEMBLE: ALTERNATIVE HEROES OF THE UNDERGROUND: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Relive the American underground movement of the 1980s as the Interlochen Arts Academy Popular Music Ensemble performs a selection of classic alternative songs. $12-$15. interlochen.org/ events/popular-music-ensemble-alternativeheroes-underground-2023-03-16

friday

CARNIVAL WEEKEND: Today is the St. Patty’s Green Party in Snowflake Lounge. Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. Info: boynemountain.com

STORYTIME AT LELAND TOWNSHIP

LIBRARY: 10:30am, Leland Township Li brary. Stories & more for kids aged 0-6 & their caregivers. Free. lelandlibrary.org/ programs-events

45TH ANNUAL NORTHERN MICHIGAN HOME & OUTDOOR LIVING SHOW: 11am-5pm, North Central Michigan College, Petoskey. Featuring about 70 booths with vendors showcasing home remodeling com panies, outdoor living including landscap ing & decks, home services & home-related businesses in finance, insurance & dog fencing. Home Depot will have a children’s building project on Sat. from 11am-3pm. $5 adults; free for 17 & under. hbanorthern michigan.com ----------------------

LUNCHEON LECTURE: “COUNTING BIRDS, TRACKING BUTTERFLIES”: 11:30am, NCMC, Library Conference Cen ter, Petoskey. Scott Davis, executive direc tor, Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch, will talk about the tens of thousands of hawks, ea gles, owls & butterflies that cross over the Straits every spring & fall, & why the Straits area is so important to their migration. $15; includes a buffet lunch. ncmclifelonglearn ing.com/event-5108209

RING IN SPRING: The Highlands at Harbor Springs. Enjoy On Hill live music from 124pm, a cookout on the Zoo Bar Patio from 12-4pm, Slush Cup from 2-4pm & much more. highlandsharborsprings.com/events/ ring-in-spring-at-the-highlands

TRAVERSE CITY BOAT SHOW: GT County Civic Center, TC. Presented by Blue Water Promotions. $8 adults; $2 ages 6-15; free for ages 0-5. traversecity boatshow.com/index.html

ST. PATRICK’S DAY SCAVENGER HUNT

IN ELK RAPIDS: Search 19 participating businesses in Elk Rapids from 1-5pm for a St. Pat’s Day themed item. Visit at least 10 & get a sticker on the ticket for a chance at a prize drawing. Also enjoy the bonfires & s’mores downtown. Free. facebook.com/ downtownelkrapids

ST. PATRICKS DAY CRAWL FOR THE CURE: Bellaire. The Chain of Lakes Relay For Life will be hosting Pub Crawl Bingo from 6-9pm. Participants will crawl at their own pace while completing tasks & finding items on their bingo cards. At 9pm all participants will meet back at Terrain to tally their bingos & get entered into a drawing for door prizes. Register. $30 per person. relayforlife.org/ chainoflakesmi

MORE TO EXPLORE: PUZZLE TIME: 9:30am, noon & 2:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Play with lots of fun puzzles that help your child’s cognitive development & fine motor skills. glcm.org

CHEBOYGAN NORTHLAND PLAYERS DINNER THEATER: 6:30pm, Cheboygan Eagles. A 2 act comedy plus dinner presented by Northland Players of Cheboygan. The play is “Kitchen Witches” by Caroline Smith & presented under license with Concord Theatrical. Call 231-627-4051 for reservations. $27; seats must be reserved. ----------------------

30 NEO-FUTURIST PLAYS FROM “TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND”: (See Sat., March 11)

AGED TO PERFECTION: SCREWBALLS & SUSPENSE: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, Schmuckal Theatre, TC. The Old Town Playhouse’s Senior Reader’s Theatre presents an evening of laughter & menace. Three pieces will be read: the classic story of love & marriage - “The Philadelphia Story”; the thriller “Sorry Wrong Number”; & the new contemporary boardroom comedy “The Rosewood Art Society, established 1903.” No tickets required: Free will donations accepted. oldtownplayhouse.com/aged-toperfection/performances/screwballs-andsuspense.html

JAZZ ORCHESTRA & CHAMBER STRINGS WITH DIANE MONROE: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Violinist Diane Monroe joins the Interlochen Arts Academy Jazz Orchestra and Chamber Strings for a multi-genre performance. Monroe has held first violin positions with the Uptown String Quartet, Max Roach Double Quartet, & Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, among others. As a composer, her compositions & arrangements have been highlighted in TV shows, films, recordings, & performances, including the 2019 drama “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” $12$15. interlochen.org/events/jazz-orchestraand-chamber-strings-special-guest-dianemonroe-2023-03-17

OTP POP UP THEATRE PRESENTS “CRY IT OUT”: (See Sat., March 11)

saturday

CARNIVAL WEEKEND: Today is the Costume Contest at Disciples Overlook. There will also be live music all day at SkyBridge Michigan Stage, Mountain Express Base Stage, & The Back Forty Stage. Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. Info: boynemountain.com ----------------------

45TH ANNUAL NORTHERN MICHIGAN HOME & OUTDOOR LIVING SHOW: (See Fri., March 17, except today’s hours are 9am-4pm.)

LEAPIN’ LEPRECHAUN 5K: 9am. This new route starts & ends on Lake Ave., TC. It takes you on a scenic route over the Boardman River & through residential neighborhoods with a short trip on the TART Trail. An after party will be held at Brady’s Bar. $35-

$40. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/ LeapinLeprechaun5K

NUB’S NOB MARDI GRAS: 9am-4:30pm, Nub’s Nob, Harbor Springs. Free Mardi Gras beads, face painting, balloon animals, food, costume contests, the Soaker Cup & much more. The Petoskey Steel Drum Band will be performing on the main deck outside Nub’s Pub. petoskeyarea.com/events/2023-nubsnob-mardi-gras ----------------------

CELTS & KAYAKS: 9:30am, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Featuring the Kayaks on the Snow Race, Slush Cup, On-Slope Scavenger Hunt, look out for leprechauns skiing on the slopes & more. crystalmountain.com/event/celts-kayaks ----------------------

CARD MAKING WORKSHOP WITH SHAWN MCDANIEL: 10am-noon, Interlochen Public Library. Participants will be given three card kits with all the materials necessary to create three different cards. 231-276-6767. ----------------------

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-march-18

TRAVERSE CITY BOAT SHOW: 10am8pm, GT County Civic Center, TC. Presented by Blue Water Promotions. $8 adults; $2 ages 6-15; free for ages 0-5. traversecityboatshow.com/index.html

LOCAL HISTORY VOLUNTEER INFO SESSION: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Become a citizen historian with TADL’s Local History Collection. Learn about the history of the LHC & what types of things are in the collection. Then learn the different roles you can play in helping to bring the content of this collection to the community. tadl.org/events

MAPLEFEST: 12-3pm, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Watch sap being boiled to syrup on the evaporator at the Pavilion at the Grass River Center. Stop in to see the process of making maple syrup in action. Ask staff questions & hike on the trail to see where they tap trees, hang buckets & lines, & collect sap. Register. Free. grassriver.org ----------------------

ST. PATRICK’S DAY EXTRAVAGANZA: 12-7:30pm, Pond Hill Farm, Harbor Springs. Enjoy a Leprechaun Candy Hunt, Trail Side Bar by the Trout Pond, Irish Beer Release Party, live music by M119 Band under the tent, & more. petoskeyarea.com/events/stpatricks-day-extravaganza-at-pond-hill-farm

VEGMICHIGAN GET-TOGETHER: Noon, Stone Hound Brewing Co., Williamsburg. Enjoy a 100% plant-based menu including wraps, burgers, bowls & snacks. Free. meetup.com/traverse-city-vegmichigan-meetup/events/292010891?utm_ medium=referral&utm_campaign=sharebtn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_ source=link

30 NEO-FUTURIST PLAYS FROM “TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND”: (See Sat., March 11, except today’s times are 2pm & 7pm.)

HOPE WATER INTERNATIONAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING: 3pm, Fellowship Church, TC. Hope Water International is a non-profit organization created to bring clean & living water to many in Africa who are in need. Learn more about their efforts & how you can join. Please contact Carol Brown with questions: carolzbrown@yahoo. com hopewaterinternational.org

AURORA BOOK Petoskey. teaches She will

“Below Guide Lakes grandpashorters.com/product/aurora-chas ing-tips-advice-and-book-signing

COMMUNITY lehem drinks, “Up.” your org/community-movie-night

AGED & SUSPENSE:

OTP

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TUMBAO Tree combo Cuba bers; crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ctacpresents-tumbao-bravo

boynemountain.com

TRAVERSE 4pm, ed by ages boatshow.com/index.html

AGED & SUSPENSE: today’s

AUDITIONS

CAL”: Cadillac. adults older the audition before email: ----------------------

TRAVERSE SYMPHONIC SPRING: Arts, poser Larson, esymphony.org/concert/appalachian-spring

GLCO QUARTET: Church Mendelssohn, Turina ongoing

GREAT GROUP: Leelanau Great Association. library affairs. events/lib-cal/great-decisions-in-library-2

SNOWSHOES, Black

runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/ 9am-4:30pm, Gras food, much will be Nub’s petoskeyarea.com/events/2023-nubs----------------------

MounKayaks

On-Slope leprechauns crystalmoun---------------------WITH Interwill be materials cards. ---------------------Tree Petoskey. family. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/open-

10amPresentadults; $2 traversecity-

SESLibrary, Become a History of the collecyou can of this tadl.org/events

Natural boiled to Pavilion at see the action. to see lines, grassriver.org ----------------------

EXTRAVAGANZA: Springs. Side Release under the petoskeyarea.com/events/stpatricks-day-extravaganza-at-pond-hill-farm Noon, Williamsburg. includsnacks. meetup.com/traverse-city-vegmichigan-meetup/events/292010891?utm_ medium=referral&utm_campaign=sharebtn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_

“TOO GO except to-

INFORFellowship International is bring who efforts Carol carolzbrown@yahoo.

AURORA CHASING TIPS/ADVICE & BOOK SIGNING: 5-7pm, The Katydid, Petoskey. Join Melissa F. Kaelin as she teaches tips on chasing the Aurora Borealis! She will also be signing copies of her book, “Below the 45th Parallel: The Beginner’s Guide to Chasing the Aurora in the Great Lakes Region.” Free, but ticket required. grandpashorters.com/product/aurora-chasing-tips-advice-and-book-signing

COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT: 6:30pm, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, TC. Enjoy popcorn, drinks, & balloons. See the Disney Pixar film “Up.” Feel free to bring pillows, blankets, & your favorite pajamas. Free. bethlehemtc. org/community-movie-night

AGED TO PERFECTION: SCREWBALLS & SUSPENSE: (See Sat., March 17)

OTP POP UP THEATRE PRESENTS “CRY IT OUT”: (See Sat., March 11)

TUMBAO BRAVO: 7:30-9:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. This combo presents the authentic rhythms of Cuba with rich jazz harmonic. $25 members; $35 non-members; $10 students. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ctacpresents-tumbao-bravo

sunday

CARNIVAL WEEKEND: Today is the Slush Cup at noon at the Base of North McLouth. Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. Info: boynemountain.com

TRAVERSE CITY BOAT SHOW: 10am4pm, GT County Civic Center, TC. Presented by Blue Water Promotions. $8 adults; $2 ages 6-15; free for ages 0-5. traversecityboatshow.com/index.html

AGED TO PERFECTION: SCREWBALLS & SUSPENSE: (See Sat., March 17, except today’s time is 2pm.)

AUDITIONS FOR “MATILDA: THE MUSICAL”: 3-6pm, First Presbyterian Church, Cadillac. There are 25-40 roles available for adults & kids. Must be 10 years of age or older by Opening Night (June 16). Head to the audition hub to fill out the audition form before you arrive at auditions. For questions, email: jvanhaitsma@cadillacfootliters.com ----------------------

TRAVERSE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SYMPHONIC SERIES: APPALACHIAN

SPRING: 3pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Featuring composer & conductor Jim Stephenson & Ken Larson, trumpet. $25.50 - $61.50. traversesymphony.org/concert/appalachian-spring

GLCO PRESENTS THE CUMMINGS

QUARTET: 4pm, First Congregational Church of Charlevoix. Enjoy works by Felix Mendelssohn, William Grant Still, Joaquin Turina & more. Free. glcorchestra.org

ongoing

GREAT DECISIONS DISCUSSION

GROUP: Tuesdays through March, 1:30pm, Leelanau Township Library, Northport. 2023

Great Decisions with the Foreign Policy Association. Pick up a briefing book at the library & join for a deep dive into foreign affairs. leelanautownshiplibrary.org/newsevents/lib-cal/great-decisions-in-library-2

SNOWSHOES, VINES & WINES: 12-4pm, Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay. On Sat-

urdays 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. blackstarfarms. com/snowshoes-vines-wines

RANGER-LED SNOWSHOE HIKES: Saturdays through March 11 at 1pm, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Empire. Rangers will first provide an intro & 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 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=3E7D5940-991FBB2C-DDC71C23B7DB9C99 ----------------------

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

art

ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY: REGIONAL IMAGES THROUGH THE LENS: The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, Manistee. An exhibition of community photography. Runs March 8 - April 22. ramsdelltheatre. org/art

ANNUAL YOUTH ART EXHIBIT 2023: March 7 – April 15, Crooked Tree Arts Cen ter, TC. Celebrating the work of K-12 art students & educators from throughout the Grand Traverse region. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/youth-art-exhibit2023-traverse-city

“CHARLEVOIX CREATIVES COLLECTIVE – TOOLS OF CREATIVITY”: work by six local artists who are members of the Charlevoix Creatives Collective, an artist group that meets weekly at Charlevoix Circle of Arts. Member artists include Jennifer Car roll, Mary Duggan, Shayla Johnson, Kathie Libert, Ruby Smith & Sharon Smithem. Runs March 10 - April 8. Charlevoix Circle of Arts is open Mon. - Fri., 11am-4pm; & Sat., 11am3pm. charlevoixcircle.org

----------------------

REVERBERATIONS: WORK BY NIK BUR KHART AND MARTI LIDDLE-LAMETI: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. This exhibition runs through March. The Oliver Art Center’s hours are Mon. - Sat., 10am-4pm. oliverart centerfrankfort.org

----------------------

A TOAST TO ARTIST JERRY GATES: Mari Vineyards, TC. Twisted Fish Gallery & Mari Vineyards present the abstracted landscapes of artist Jerry Gates. The Jer ry Gates exhibit will be on display for two months. twistedfishgallery.com/event/atoast-to-jerry-gates-at-mari-vineyards-oldmission-peninsula

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:

- SPECIAL NEEDS ARTISTIC MOVEMENT: Held in the Dance Studio, this class provides the special needs community a chance to

MICHIGAN’S #1 CRAFT LAGER

ry Gates exhibit will be on display for two months. twistedfishgallery.com/event/atoast-to-jerry-gates-at-mari-vineyards-oldmission-peninsula

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:

- SPECIAL NEEDS ARTISTIC MOVEMENT: Held in the Dance Studio, this class provides the special needs community a chance to expand their artistry & movement creativity while giving the example that the arts are for everyone. This dance & movement class is designed for teens & adults. It includes basic to intermediate dance education, & is held on Mondays & Fridays from 1-2:30pm through May 12. Register. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/special-needs-artisticmovement

- EMERGING ARTISTS 2023: A COLLECTION OF NCMC STUDENT WORKS: Held in Atrium Gallery from March 14 – April 15. Work in glass, metals, ceramics, painting, drawing, photography, illustration, video, & more will be on display. This exhibition is organized by NCMC faculty. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/emerging-artists2023-collection-ncmc-student-works-opensmarch-14

- YOUTH ART SHOW 2023 - PETOSKEY: Work by students working throughout CharEm ISD fill the galleries in this annual showcase. Runs March 18 - May 4. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/youth-art-show2023-petoskey-opens-march-18

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 through April 2. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm.

- “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 through May 28. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm.

- “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 through 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 drudgerybusting 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/events/exhibit-aferal-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

Best selling Lager based on 2022 IRI sales data

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska

ACOUSTIC TAP ROOM, TC

7:

MARI VINEYARDS, TC

THE PARLOR, TC

8-11:

3/11 -- Kylar Kuzio

3/17 -- Trevor Pinney

3/18 -- Luke Woltanski

ENCORE 201, TC

3/11 -- Jon Archambault

Band, 8-10; DJ Ricky T, 10

3/17 -- DJ Ricky T, 8

3/18 -- DJ Ricky T, 10

KILKENNY’S IRISH PUB, TC

3/11 – Broom Closet Boys, 9:30

3/15 – The Pocket, 8

3/17 – The Wild Sully’s, 2; 2

Bays DJs, 9:30

3/18 – Stone Folk, 9:30

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC

3/17 -- Reese Keelor, 5-7

BARREL ROOM:

3/13 -- Barrels & Beats w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

LIL BO, TC

Tues. – Trivia, 8-10

Weds. – Aldrich, 9

Sun. – Karaoke, 8

3/16 -- Dennis Palmer, 3-5

3/17 -- The Duges, 4-6

PARK PLACE HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER, TC

Fri.-Sat. -- Jim Hawley & Jeff Currie on keyboard, 7-10

ROVE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, TC

3/18 -- TC Celtic, 4-7

SORELLINA'S, TC

SLATE RESTAURANT:

Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 5-8

Fri. & Sat. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC

8-11:

3/11 -- Themed DJ Sat.: Def

Jam, DJ Skin Kwon Do

3/18 -- Themed DJ Sat.: College Radio, DJ DizKriz

Antrim & Charlevoix

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM

Thu -- Sean Bielby & Adam Engelman, 6-9

CELLAR 152, ELK RAPIDS

3/18 -- Blair Miller, 6

ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS

7:

3/11 -- Winter Music Series

3/17 -- Stand Up Comedy w/

Mat Alano-Martin & Ken Witzgall

3/18 -- John Piatek Duo

HELLO VINO, BELLAIRE

3/17 -- The Pistil Whips, 5:30-8:30

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BELLAIRE

3/11 & 3/17 -- Matt Mans-

Emmet & Cheboygan

BEARDS BREWERY, ROOT

CELLAR, PETOSKEY

3/11 -- Pajammy Jam Jam

feat. Botala, 7-11

3/12 -- Owen James, 5

3/16 -- U.N.C.L.E., 5:30

3/18 -- Owen James Trio, 6

3/19 -- Eliza Thorp, 5

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY

2-6:

3/11 -- Michelle Chenard

3/18 -- Chase & Allie

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOS-

3/11 -- Empire Highway

3/18 -- Chris Sterr

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

3/11 -- Jack Pine, 7

3/14 -- Open Mic & Musical Talent Showcase, 7

3/15 -- Jazz Show & Jam, 6

3/17 -- Ben Traverse Band,

7-9

3/18 -- Hail Your Highness/ Native World, 7

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC

Tues. – Trivia, 7-9

UNION STREET STATION, TC

3/11 -- The Bad Jam Band, 10

3/15 -- DJ Red, 10

3/16 -- DJ 1 Wave, 10

3/17 -- Rolling Dirty, 4-8; Soul Patch, 10

3/18 -- Rolling Dirty, 10

Leelanau & Benzie

field, 7-11

SHORT'S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE

8-10:30:

3/17 – Crosscut Kings

3/18 – John Paul

WALLOON LAKE EVENT CENTER

3/18 -- Jelly Roll, 7:30

BEL LAGO VINEYARD & WINERY, CEDAR

3/11 -- Bob Roberts, 3-5

3/17 -- Luke Woltanski, 3-5

3/18 -- Zeke Clemons, 4-6

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

2:30-4:30:

3/17 -- North Bay Celtic Band

3/19 -- Rigs & Jeels

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE

VISTA LOUNGE:

3/11 -- Drew Hale Solo, 2-5; Bermuda Triangle, 8-11

DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU

Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1

FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH

Fri -- Open Mic Night Hosted by Andy Littlefield, 6-8

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

3/16 -- Luke Woltanski, 4-6:30

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

3/11 -- Barefoot, 5-7

3/17 -- Brett Mitchell, 5-7

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

3/11 -- Tim Jones & Friends, 6:30-10:30

3/17 -- Rigs & Jeels, 3-6; The Jameson Brothers, 6-9

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

3/17 -- Friday Night LIVE w/ Luke Woltanski, 5:30-8:30

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

3/11 -- Bill Frary, 5-8

3/15 -- Comedy Hive Open Mic, 7-8:30

3/17 -- Barefoot, 5-8

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT

3/18 – 31 Planes Release Party, 3; Tim Jones, 4

UPRIVER SLICE OF MUSIC, BENZONIA

3/15 -- Kubota Dragon, 6-8

KEY

3/17 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR

3/18 -- Eric Jaqua, 7-10

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES, 9: Sat. -- Live DJ

3/17 -- Jabo Bihlman's Family Jam

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN

3/11-12 -- Holly Thomp-

son, 8-12

3/16 -- Open Mic Night, 6-8

3/17 -- Lee Fayssoux, 8-11

3/18 -- Ron Getz, 7:3010:30

THE HIGHLANDS AT HARBOR SPRINGS SLOPESIDE LOUNGE:

3/14 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

THE NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY

3/11 -- Moon Howlers, 7-10

3/17 -- Mike Ridley, 6-9

3/18 -- Kyle Brown, 7-10

3/18 -- Max Lockwood & Eric O'Daly, 6:30-9:30

Otsego, Crawford & Central

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD

6:

3/11 -- Kenny Thompson

3/18 -- Mike Ridley

BENNETHUM'S NORTHERN INN, GAYLORD

3/14 -- Pete Kehoe, 5-8

Dane Hyde and Rick Willey bring along local singer and dancer Katie O’Connor to make up Rigs & Jeels, offering a fresh spin on classic Irish tunes and favorite hits this St. Patty’s Day at Lake Ann Brewing Co. from 3-6pm. Following them will be The Jameson Brothers from 6-9pm. You can also catch Rigs & Jeels at Ciccone Vineyard & Winery in Suttons Bay on Sun., March 19 from 2:30-4:30pm.

lOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): In describing her process, Piscean sculptor Anne Truitt wrote, "The most demanding part of living a lifetime as an artist is the strict discipline of forcing oneself to work steadfastly along the nerve of one’s own most intimate sensitivity."

I propose that many Pisceans, both artists and non-artists, can thrive from living like that. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to give yourself to such an approach with eagerness and devotion. I urge you to think hard and feel deeply as you ruminate on the question of how to work steadfastly along the nerve of your own most intimate sensitivity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): ): You are in the sweet, deep phase of the Receiving Season. And so you have a right and a duty to show the world you are ready and available to be blessed with what you need and want. I urge you to do everything necessary to become a welcoming beacon that attracts a wealth of invigorating and healing influences. For inspiration, read this quote by author John Steinbeck: "It is so easy to give, so exquisitely rewarding. Receiving, on the other hand, if it be well done, requires a fine balance of self-knowledge and kindness. It requires humility and tact and great understanding of relationships . . . It requires a self-esteem to receive—a pleasant acquaintance and liking for oneself."

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran poet E. E. Cummings wrote that daffodils "know the goal of living is to grow." Is his sweet sentiment true? would argue it's only partially accurate. I believe that if we want to shape our destinies with courage and creativity, we need to periodically go through phases of decay and decline. They make periods of growth possible. So would say, "The goal of life is to grow and wither and grow and wither and grow." Is it more fun to grow than to wither? Maybe. But sometimes, withering is educational and necessary. Anyway, Libra, I suspect you are finishing a time of withering and will soon embark on a series of germinations and blossoms.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): All of us have elements of genius. Every person on the planet possesses at least one special talent or knack that is a gift to others. It could be subtle or unostentatious, like a skill for communicating with animals or for seeing what's best in people. Or maybe it's more spectacular, like composing beautiful music or raising children to be strong and compassionate. I mention this, Scorpio, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to identify your unique genius in great detail—and then nurture it and celebrate it in every way you can imagine.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The emblem associated with Sagittarius is an archer holding a bow with the arrow pointed upwards. This figure represents your tribe’s natural ambition to always aim higher. I bring this to your attention because your symbolic quiver is now full of arrows. But what about your bow? Is it in tip-top condition? I suggest you do some maintenance. Is the bow string in perfect shape? Are there any tiny frays? Has it been waxed recently? And what about the grip? Are there any small cracks or wobbles? Is it as steady and stable as it needs to be? I have one further suggestion as you prepare for the target-shooting season. Choose one or at most two targets to aim at rather than four or five.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s prime time to feel liberated from the urge to prove yourself to anyone. It’s a phase when your selfapproval should be the only kind of approval you need, a period when you have the right to remove yourself from any situation that is weighed down with gloomy confusion or apathetic passivity. This is exciting news! You have an unprecedented opportunity to recharge your psychic batteries and replenish your physical vitality.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I suspect you can now accomplish healthy corrections without getting tangled up in messy karma. Here are my recommendations: 1. As you strive to improve situations that are awry or askew, act primarily out of love rather than guilt or pity. 2. Fight tenderly in behalf of beautiful justice, but don't fight harshly for ugly justice. 3. Ask yourself how you might serve as a kind of divine intervention in the lives of those you care about—and then carry out those divine interventions.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I highly recommend the following experiences: 1. ruminating about what you learned in a relationship that ended—and how those lessons might be useful now. 2. ruminating about a beloved place you once regarded as home—and how the lessons you learned while there might be inspiring now. 3. ruminating about a riddle that has long mystified you—and how clarifying insights you receive in the coming weeks could help you finally understand it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): For "those who escape hell," wrote Charles Bukowksi, "nothing much bothers them after that." Believe it or not, Taurus, I think that in the coming weeks, you can permanently escape your own personal version of hell—and never, ever have to return. I offer you my congratulations in advance. One strategy that will be useful in your escape is this idea from Bukowski: “Stop insisting on clearing your head—clear your f*cking heart instead.”

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini paleontologist Louis Agassiz (1807–1883) was a foundational contributor to the scientific tradition. Among his specialties was his handson research into the mysteries of fossilized fish. Though he was meticulously logical, he once called on his nightly dreams to solve a problem he faced. Here’s the story: A potentially crucial specimen was largely concealed inside a stone. He wanted to chisel away the stone to get at the fossil, but was hesitant to proceed for fear of damaging the treasure inside. On three successive nights, his dreams revealed to him how he should approach the work. This information proved perfectly useful. Agassiz hammered away at the slab exactly as his dreams suggested and freed the fossilized fish. I bring this marvel to your attention, Gemini, because I suspect that you, too, need to carve or cut away an obstruction that is hiding something valuable. Can you get help from your dreams? Yes, or else in deep reverie or meditation.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Will you flicker and sputter in the coming weeks, Cancerian? Or will you spout and surge? That is, will you be enfeebled by barren doubts, or will you embolden yourself with hearty oaths? Will you take nervous sips or audacious guzzles? Will you hide and equivocate, or else reveal and pounce? Dabble gingerly or pursue the joy of mastery? I’m here to tell you that which fork you take will depend on your intention and your willpower, not on the caprices of fate. So which will it be: Will you mope and fritter or untangle and illuminate?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I applaud psychologists who tell us how important it is to feel safe. One of the most crucial human rights is the confidence that we won't be physically or emotionally abused. But there's another meaning of safety that applies to those of us who yearn to express ourselves creatively. Singer-songwriter David Bowie articulated the truth: "If you feel safe in the area you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a bit out of your depth, and when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re in the right place to do something exciting." I think this is a wise strategy for most of us, even those who don't identify as artists. Almost everyone benefits from being imaginative and inventive and even a bit daring in their own particular sphere. And this will be especially applicable to you in the coming weeks, Leo.

Crosswords

ACROSS

1. Cacique garment

4. Finnish Olympic runner Nurmi

9. "Be on the lookout" alerts, for short

13. Slipshod

14. "Gimme a sec"

15. Karate stroke

16. Annual fashion-based New York fundraiser

18. Ancient harplike instrument

19. Shadowy locale?

20. "Under the Sign of Saturn" writer Sontag

21. He helps reveal RSTLN and E

24. Foe

26. Cousin that may appear in future seasons of "Wednesday"

27. Muscat denizens

29. Holding accompaniment

31. Jan. 6 Committee vice chair Cheney

32. One who's in the hole

35. Initialism of urgency

38. Granular pasta

40. Bay of Naples isle

41. Pre-verbal Jodie Foster character

42. Coffeehouse connection

43. Like "Cocaine Bear"

45. Org. that 2K Sports creates games for

46. Sore subject?

48. Make rise, as bread

50. Rental hauler

52. 2600 maker

55. "It's coming to me now"

56. Open-eyed

58. Beagle, e.g.

60. "Legal" attachment

61. Japanese-manufactured photography equipment, perhaps

65. Vizquel of baseball

66. Timeworn truisms

67. Sawmill input

68. Job for an actor

69. Resort lake near Reno

70. Entry price

DOWN

1. Three-layer sandwich

2. Retro shout of support

3. It may get thrown at trendy pubs

4. Cat food form

5. It might be obtuse

6. "Encore!"

7. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (conveniently created by She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Mentioned)

8. Out ___ limb

9. Org. that fights voter suppression

10. Scoffing term used to criticize research of "softer sciences" (such as with the Nobel Prize in Economics)

11. Sacha Baron Cohen journalist

12. Burnt out

14. Millennial's call to a Gen Z-er, maybe (which makes me feel ancient by now)

17. Math average

20. ___ admin

21. "How could you stoop ___?"

22. Late poet Baraka

23. Traditional New Orleans procession with band accompaniment

25. Toni Collette title character

28. Hush-hush

30. Actor McDiarmid

33. Heart song with that guitar hook

34. Gulf Coast airport luggage code

36. "Seascape" Pulitzer-winning playwright Edward

37. Maps out

39. Dashboard gauge

44. "Strawberry Wine" singer Carter and crooner's daughter Martin, for two

47. Pet it'd make sense to call something like "Sir Meowington"

49. "May I interrupt?"

50. Smoke, fog, or mist

51. "King of the Hill" beer brand

53. Princess Jasmine's tiger

54. "The Princess Bride" character Montoya

57. It's not not unusual

59. Slurpee alternative

61. Polyunsaturated stuff

62. North Pole toymaker

63. Fish eggs

64. Mellow

"Them Apples"-If I had four apples and you took one... by Matt Jones

“Jonesin”

NORTHERN EXPRESS

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CANVASSERS / DOOR TO DOOR

MARKETERS WANTED You set itThey sell it!! • $20-$24/hr starting base • Commissions & daily bonuses • Weekly Pay • Advancement Opportunities. Call or email us today. Leaf Filter Gutters(231) 649-0472

GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY and Join BATA’s Board of Directors BATA is expanding its board from 7 to 9 members and seeks to fill two new at-large board seats. Be part of an essential service to the community by helping guide the vision of public transit in our region. To learn more about this meaningful role visit www.bata.net/board or e-mail BATA’s Board at info@bata. net. Applications accepted until March 15, 2023. https://www.bata.net/board

JOIN OUR TEAM! Want to join a great team and make a difference? Northwest Education Services is seeking candidates for Custodian, Receptionist, Technology Support, Teacher Assistant and Special Education positions! Visit our website at www.northwested.org to view all open positions and to apply!

CUSTOMER SERVICE-ORIENTED

PROFESSIONAL Versatile individual seeks PT afternoon work +/-20 hrs/ wk. Real estate, leasing, marketing, hotel, legal, office mgmt & arts background. Prefer to be within 15 min. of downtown TC.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Mini Golf Design/Build firm seeking full time Administrative Assistant responsible for supporting sales/

marketing efforts with lead assignment, proposal documents, working with ACT database, SmartSheets, improving marketing collateral, assisting tradeshow tasks along with general office support including monitoring/ ordering office supplies, answering phones, etc. Candidates must possess strong proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint as well as strong communication skills and ability to work in a fast paced environment. cherie@ adventureandfun.com