Northern Express - January 15, 2024

NORTHERN

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Vacation Vibes Ditch the winter blues with local getaway deals, travel hacks from Disney insiders, and a trip to northern Michigan’s own Schitt’s Creek.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S WEEKLY • january 15 - january 21, 2024 • Vol. 34 No. 02 Photo by Meg Bowen/Soleil TC

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 1

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2 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

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letters CONTENTS

Northern Express is a communitycentered paper that covers local people, places, entertainment, and news. We invite letters to the editor that also address issues in northern Michigan, whether that’s local policies, changes in your community, art and education, or hot topics like housing, tourism, or the environment (just to name a few). If it touches northern Michigan, it is something we want to share! We also welcome letters “in conversation” with any stories, columns, and other letters published in Northern Express.

Letters must be civil, 300 words or fewer, and submitted no more than once per month per person. Letters will be edited for clarity, and letters or portions may be omitted due to space or issues with questionable facts/ citations or privacy. We do not print letters that have been sent to or published in other media. To have your letter included, please provide your full name and city of residence in northern Michigan.

feature

Opening the Slopes for All..................................9 I Want to Get Away (But I Can’t Fly Away)........10 From Schitt’s Creek to Bear Lake..................12 The Do’s, Dont’s, and Definitelys of Disney......14 Happy’s Taco Shop..............................................16

columns & stuff

Top Ten..........................................................4 Spectator/Stephen Tuttle..................................6 Guest Opinion...................................................7 Weird............................................................8 Dates..........................................................19 Film............................................................23 Nitelife.........................................................24 Crossword...................................................25 Astro..............................................................25 Classifieds.................................................26

Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase PO Box 4020 Traverse City, Michigan 49685 Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com

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

Editor: Jillian Manning Finance Manager: Libby Shutler Distribution Manager: Roger Racine Sales: Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance, Michele Young, Todd Norris, Abby Walton Porter, Caroline Bloemer For ad sales in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 838-6948 Creative Director: Kyra Cross Poehlman Distribution: Joe Evancho, Sarah Rodery Roger Racine, Gary Twardowski Charlie Brookfield, Rachel Cara Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold

Contributors: Joseph Beyer, Geri Dietze, Brighid Driscoll, Anna Faller, Kierstin Gunsberg, Al Parker, Stephen Tuttle

Copyright 2024, all rights reserved. Distribution: 36,000 copies at 600+ locations weekly.

Northern Express Weekly is free of charge, but no person may take more than one copy of each weekly issue without written permission of Northern Express Weekly. Reproduction of all content without permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 3

this week’s

top ten World Snow Day Snow is finally here, so now there's all the more reason to celebrate those frosty flakes. (Perhaps then they’ll stick around!)

Crystal Mountain is hosting a free World Snow Day event on Sunday, Jan. 21, where snow newbies and enthusiasts can chill out and geek out about snowmaking and snowsports. First up, starting at 12pm, head to the slopes behind the Crystal Center to get a behind-the-scenes look at how snow guns and groomers work. Then, try out something new with free presentations on cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, and snowboarding. A scavenger hunt will also be offered throughout the day—pick up clues at the Park at Water’s Edge. Add to the fun with ice skating ($12/person) or fat tire biking ($20/ person). Get all the details at crystalmountain.com/event/world-snow-day.

Poetry, Music, and MLK An MLK Day celebration will be held across two TC venues as Building Bridges with Music presents “Ocean: The Life and Times of Poet Phillis Wheatley” by composer/bassist Marion Hayden on Mon., Jan. 15, at 7pm at The Alluvion. Hayden and her all-star Detroit octet will perform a musical suite centered on the life of African American poet Phillis Wheatley. The program will be live streamed into Milliken Auditorium, where NMC’s Chamber Singers, Cantus Children’s Choir, and Skyelea Martin with Jimmy Olson will perform an interactive dance celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. thealluvion.org/tickets/mlkday

4 Hey, watch It! Echo

Another Marvel TV show? Before you click past the MCU’s latest, consider watching Echo. While technically a spin-off of the 2021 Hawkeye series, this show is meant to stand alone and can be enjoyed

by Marvel fans and newbies alike. (Admittedly, this writer is deep into the multiverse, and having background on past shows—including Netflix’s 2015 Daredevil—adds to the fun.) Maya Lopez, aka Echo, is a deaf Native American woman with photographic reflexes and superhuman fighting abilities. While there are plenty of beautifully choreographed, gritty fight scenes for viewers, Maya’s internal battle is the most compelling one as she wrangles with grief, betrayal, and her own identity. (Note that this show is rated TV-MA for language and violence.) Yes, this is an anti-hero origin story, but it’s easy to cheer for Maya along the way. Now streaming on Disney+.

5

2 tastemaker

Around the Corner’s Community Supported Restaurant Meals

For cozy winter nights on the couch, we’ll gladly let Around the Corner Food & Fun in Northport do the cooking with their Community Supported Restaurant (CSR) program.

Launched in November, this prepared meal service features scratch dishes made from local ingredients, and all you have to do is open your fridge. Choose from Comfort Food Fridays, with options ranging from pudding to pot pies and casseroles, or Foodie Exploration Saturdays, with rotating menus inspired by global cuisine. Each meal includes an entrée, two sides, a dessert, and bread or an appetizer, and comes in a microwave-safe container. Pick one up at ($25-$30 per meal) at 115 S. Waukazoo St. in Northport, or check out aroundthecornerfood. com for more details. Psst—head to the “shop” tab to sign up for a 17-week subscription!

4 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

6 A Cup of Cocoa Now, when we say a cup of cocoa, we really mean two or three…or maybe even four. Because how else will you sample all the libations at the Elk Rapids Cocoa Crawl? Held in downtown Elk Rapids on Saturday, Jan. 20, this family-friendly afternoon treats cocoa connoisseurs to chocolatey concoctions from local businesses and restaurants. As you’re strolling down River Street with a spring in your step from that sugar high, be sure to vote for your favorite! For those keeping score, The DAM Shop, Cellar 152, and Nifty Things took first, second, and third places respectively in 2023. Can they rise to the top—like marshmallows!—again this year, or will another contender take the top spot? Stay tuned for more information at elkrapidschamber.org or facebook.com/downtownelkrapids.

Stuff We Love: Culinary Adventures Since they met in 1994, Freeman and Megan Gunnell have been letting their appetites inspire their travels around the world. Freeman is an impressively trained cook and gourmet pastry chef, while Megan has 25 years experience in the healthcare and therapy industries. The duo are now based in Michigan and building a home—and a business—in Onekama. Gunnell Innovation, which offers market and winery tours, cooking classes (online or a private class in your own kitchen), and communal table events, also has immersive culinary tours with settings around the globe. These food and wine getaways are billed as luxury vacations with a focus on authentic meals of the region. In 2023, the Gunnells took folks to Provence and Tuscany, and this year, they’re signing travelers up for a trip to Crete, Greece, in October. Learn more at gunnellinnovation.com.

New Preschool Openings in Five Counties Big news for local families seeking preschool care: The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) currently has openings for 85 four-year-old children at its centers in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties. (Availability varies based on location.)

The State of Michigan recently adjusted the requirements for the 2023-24 school year that determine whether a family is eligible for free GSRP preschool. Previously, income was one of the factors for eligibility, but according to a press release from Northwest Education Services—which works with GSRP and local childcare providers to operate several free preschool programs—families of all income levels can now access GSRP by submitting an application. Note: Some families may still need to pay a one-time fee for tuition that is based on income. Learn more at helpmegrow-mi.org/northwest.

8

Bottoms Up Bee Well Mead & Cider’s North Cider Tucked in a cozy storefront in Bellaire is Bee Well Mead & Cider. The meadery has been churning out sweet, dry, and sometimes even spicy beverages (looking at you, Ghost Cider, with your Scotch bonnet, habanero, Carolina Reaper, and ghost peppers!) since 2014. In the last 10 years, they’ve honed in on their flagship line of drinks, and that’s why we are paying homage to the North Cider. This cider is drinkable in any season, with just the right mix of tartness, apple-forward flavor, and crisp bite to please any palate. As Bee Well claims, it is “a true representation of our northern Michigan region.” Pick up a 4-pack of cans at dozens of locations across the North, or pop into the tasting room at 116 N. Bridge Street in Bellaire for a fresh draft pour. beewellmeadery.com

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 5

ORNY ADAMS

“I'm a big Orny Adams fan.”

-Jerry Seinfeld

A SCOTUS PROBLEM

spectator By steven Tuttle The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has decided to take up the Colorado case in which Donald Trump has been booted off their primary ballot after allegedly having violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

This has the potential to become very messy regardless of which side of the political spectrum you call home.

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Section 3 of the 14th Amendment says, “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President or VicePresident, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State

Claiming he “might” or “could” or “would,” if reelected, offer pardons to the now hundreds convicted of or having admitted to Jan. 6 crimes (700 have admitted wrongdoing, another 150 have been found guilty at trial, 80 are still being sought for alleged crimes of violence) seems likely to have offered the sort of “comfort” to the miscreants the constitution proscribes.

“Aid and comfort” are subjective terms not spelled out in the constitution or in statute, so SCOTUS will have to guess. While this is an unusually contentious and highly political issue of the sort SCOTUS usually likes to avoid lest they be accused of partisanship, they probably had to take action before this became a real problem.

What seems to be beyond debate is whatever decision SCOTUS makes will be met with howls of protest from the side that feels most aggrieved. legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

Adopted in 1868, the idea was to prevent folks who had been active members of the Confederacy from holding public office since no one was certain they could be trusted. And those combatants certainly qualified as people who met Oxford Languages’ definition of insurrectionists as involved in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority of the U.S. Trump defenders point out the constitutional language does not specifically include the president or vice president among those who would be disqualified from seeking high office. But the “... or hold any office, civil or military...” would surely include the president and VP and the “... as an officer of the United States...” probably would include the country’s CEO and commander-in-chief of the military. In fact, one could easily make the argument that the president is the officer of the United States.

His defenders might also argue the 91 felony charges in four states levied against Trump do not include insurrection or rebellion or related offenses. But his outlandish rhetoric surrounding the events of Jan. 6 could certainly be construed as participating in an attempted rebellion by providing aid to those storming the Capitol that day. Some might suggest his calls to Mike Pence, insisting Pence commit an act he clearly had no authority to undertake, not to mention the threats he made to the Georgia secretary of state who would not “find” votes that didn’t exist or face jail, plus calls to officials in both Michigan and Arizona, make Trump a direct participant in an attempted insurrection.

Colorado and Maine have determined Trump does not belong on their primary ballot because of his actions on and after Jan. 6. A decision or appeal on the same issue is now pending in an additional 19 states, such efforts have already been dismissed in 13 states (including Michigan), and 17 other states have not yet joined the party.

SCOTUS has themselves a problem likely to worsen for which there is no precedent or statute, the constitution’s language is nonspecific, and they have agreed to take a case that, in essence, will mean they are deciding who will or won’t appear on a state’s ballot as a presidential candidate.

The Court could make this a states’ rights case as they have been wont to do several times in the past including, at least in part, in their decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

But that would allow Colorado, Maine, and others, presumably states that do not want Trump on the ballot for any number of reasons, to summarily end his candidacy.

Or, they could decide the political parties are entitled to place on their primary ballot whomever they want as long as those candidates are natural born U.S. citizens and at least 35 years old.

Or maybe, as one of Trump’s attorneys foolishly said in an interview, the justices he appointed will support him out of loyalty.

Or maybe they will surprise us all and, unwilling to be accused of naked partisanship, they will decide Colorado, Maine, and other states are within their legal rights to decide who has given aid and comfort to insurrectionists and who has not.

What seems to be beyond debate is whatever decision SCOTUS makes will be met with howls of protest from the side that feels most aggrieved. And on we go.

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Usage of postage stamps in the mail has of course declined with the emergence of postage meters and emails. Still, postal departments worldwide commission special stamps by topic and season. This year’s U.S. stamps include celebrations of people—Ernest J. Gaines, Chief Standing Bear, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Toni Morrison, and Roy Lichtenstein. Subjects include tulips, pinatas, railroad stations, waterfalls, endangered species, winter woodland animals, and snow globes.

If stamp collecting is not for you, get out your cookbook, your coloring book, jigsaw puzzle, snowshoes, or matchbox cars. Invite some people over for a game of euchre or Catan. Enjoy the winter without leaving home.

(And please—skip those boring Forever stamps. Make your mail more artful by using special edition stamps. And maybe save a few just in case.)

Karen Mulvahill is a writer living in northern Michigan.

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Stamp collecting has fallen pretty far out of favor over the years. At one time, nearly 20 million people were collectors; the present estimate is 500,000. I rediscovered my album recently, during one of my regular reorganizations of books. The “Ambassador Album” has a blue and yellow plastic cover illustrated with a picture of the globe, its pages organized alphabetically by country.

My name and address are inked inside in my mother’s handwriting.

Not sure where to start?

of art by artists including Thomas Hart Benton, Edward Hopper, Mary Cassatt, and Dorothea Lange. (For a local touch, art specifically commissioned for stamps includes a series of Great Lakes lighthouses

by Howard Koslow in 1995.)

While the popularity of collecting stamps among the general public has waned, the interest among investors has boomed.

Anyone who’s seen the movie Charade knows that a single stamp can be extremely valuable. The Mauritius Post Office One Penny Red Stamp from 1847 sold for nearly $13 million in 2021. My San Marino Olympic stamps can be bought on eBay for $1.29.

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Collecting objects is a hobby that became popular during the Victorian era, when aristocrats displayed cabinets of curiosity containing such things as fossils and zoological specimens. Today, more than a third of us collect something. Sometimes it’s serendipitous. You find yourself with two or three beer coasters, and soon you’re asking friends on a European tour to get you a Fou’ Foune from Belgium. People collect pencils, napkins, even the stickers from grocery store bananas.

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As a society, we tend to prioritize leisure activities far below working or other activities considered “productive.” We may even feel guilty for spending time on a pleasurable hobby. But studies have shown that engaging in a hobby has significant mental health benefits, primarily through lowering stress levels. Both cortisol level and heart rate are lowered while engaging in a hobby. Self-esteem is increased, as is general overall satisfaction with life.

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Stamp collecting may also have fueled my interest in art. It takes a magnifying glass to really appreciate the intricacies of some of these works. Many are actual reproductions

Stamp collecting was my gateway to learning about geography, art, history, and biography, a form of armchair travel that I suspect fueled my interest in visiting other countries. unwilling to suffer the insults of modern travel, unable to afford that resort with the five pools and waterfall, or just happy to be homebodies, we have an undeniably long period of cold and gloomy days before sighting a crocus. Pursuing a hobby is one way to increase our enjoyment of winter.

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My parents had given me a stamp album for my ninth birthday, and we were about to start my collection. The proprietor quickly assessed the situation and waved us over to where he sat. “I have just the thing for the new collector,” he said, taking a large waxedpaper envelope from the counter. “This,” he said softly, “contains stamps from all parts of the world.”

Stamp collecting was my gateway to learning about geography, art, history, and biography, a form of armchair travel that I suspect fueled my interest in visiting other countries. I have a colorful group of San Marino Olympic stamps from 1964. Yes, San Marino is still a country, one of the smallest in Europe and completely enclosed by Italy. Founded in 301, it is the world’s oldest republic, a gorgeous, mountainous place full of clay-tile-roofed stone buildings. I learned the names of many other countries: Monaco, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco. I learned that Canada had a queen and Africa had zebras. I learned that Persia was also called Iran.

visi t

My father led me by the hand into the dusty store lined with glass cases. The entire world was there, represented by postage stamps issued by every country in existence and some that were no more. A small man seated near the back looked up from his magnifying glass. “May I help you?”

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Creme de la Weird The Kyiv Post reported on Dec. 13 that Russia's security service, the FSB, has released its 2024 propaganda fundraising calendar, and it's a doozy! The front cover features "art" of an improbably ripped Vladimir Putin giving his best sultry stare while leaning on a big, black compensator vehicle. Meanwhile, the apocalyptic November image depicts an FSB special forces soldier standing before the U.S. Capitol while drones and helicopters attack it. Is this a popular holiday gift in Russia? Who knows. The bigger question: Why does the FSB need to fundraise?

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Weird Science Gatorland in Orlando, Florida, can boast a fascinating new resident: a leucistic white alligator, born on Dec. 7, CNN reported.

The female gator is believed to be one of only eight in the world and the only one born in human care. She was hatched along with a normal-colored brother of the same size (about 19 inches long). "Leucistic alligators are the rarest genetic variation in the American alligator," the park said. They have bright blue eyes, as opposed to albino gators, which have pink eyes. The public is invited to vote on a name on the park's social media sites.

Scientists at Northwestern University in Chicago have created teeny-tiny VR headsets for laboratory mice, Sky News reported on Dec. 8, so that they can experience the freedom they will never have. The Miniature Rodent Stereo Illumination VR has two lenses and two screens to give the little dudes a realistic 3D picture of ... aerial threats, like an owl coming in for a meal. The goggles help the mice "engage with the environment in a more natural way," said lead scientist Daniel Dombeck.

Crime Report In Louisville, Kentucky, a bronze statue of President Abraham Lincoln has been seated on a rock, overlooking the Ohio River, since 2009, the Louisville Courier Journal reported. But Lincoln's top hat, which rested at his side on the rock, disappeared sometime at the beginning of December. The sculptor, Ed Hamilton, suspects the hat was stolen: "It was anchored down into that monolith rock," he said. "I don't know what they could have used, maybe some more manpower or some crowbars. Bring the hat back, because you can't wear it," he warned potential thieves.

Police and park officials are investigating.

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Bright Idea An unnamed 22-year-old man from Taiwan was detained on Dec. 5 at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok after he was found to be transporting two Asian small-clawed otters and a prairie dog, Metro News reported. The man had the animals stuffed into three separate socks and taped into his boxer shorts; security officers became suspicious about the large bulge below the man's waistband. They believe he purchased them at a market in the city. The animals were taken to the Wildlife Conservation Office; the smuggler was arrested. "We will catch anyone who tries to take animals on planes," a Thai customs department spokesperson said.

Suspicions Confirmed Cops in Genoa, Italy, were stumped by

8 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

a drug-trafficking case in their city, BNN reported on Dec. 1 -- that is, until they noticed a large number of bald and beardless men visiting a local barbershop. Investigators initiated surveillance and searched the shop, where they found 100 grams of cocaine, precision scales and packaging materials.

They also found hashish at the barber's home and evidence of ongoing communication with inmates in a Genoa prison. The 55-yearold barber is awaiting sentencing at the Marassi prison.

Awesome!

The Burnside Shelter in Portland, Oregon, hit the jackpot earlier in the year when workers discovered a pair of gold sneakers at the bottom of a donation bin, United Press International reported. Turns out, the Air Jordan 3 kicks were commissioned by Spike Lee for him to wear at the 2019 Academy Awards -- and they're valued at more than $10,000, according to Sotheby's. The auction house will donate 100% of the proceeds, expected to be as much as $20,000, to the Portland Rescue Mission, which operates the shelter. Bidding continues through Dec. 18.

Wait, What?

Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava was arraigned on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles federal court after a bizarrely uninterrupted trip from Denmark to L.A., the Associated Press reported. The Russian flew in November without a ticket, passport, visa or seat assignment. Flight crew members told investigators that he wandered around the plane and switched seats while talking with other passengers. When U.S. Customs and Border Patrol searched his belongings, they found "Russian identification cards and an Israeli identification card," court documents outlined. Ochigava gave a variety of explanations, including that he hadn't slept in three days and wasn't sure how he got through security in Copenhagen. A trial is scheduled for Dec. 26.

Compelling Explanation Michael Green, 50, and Byron Bolden, 37, were sentenced in December in Colorado's 18th Judicial District for felony theft after they shoplifted about $2,100 worth of items from a Kohl's store, The Denver Gazette reported. In Colorado, theft under $2,000 is a misdemeanor, which is why their defense counsel creatively argued that the store was having a sale, and the men had coupons, which brought the value of the items down below the threshold for felony theft. The DA wasn't having it: "Just because an item is on sale doesn't mean it's free to steal," said John Kellner. "Retailers in our community are fed up with theft, and my office will actively prosecute these offenders."

Least Competent Criminal On Dec. 9, as first responders were assisting a person "experiencing an altered mental state" in Columbia County, Florida, Stanley Williams, 35, hopped into the waiting ambulance and drove away, ClickOrlando reported. But officers didn't have to chase him down -- Williams drove to the sheriff 's office operations center and stopped near the main entrance, where he was arrested and taken to a hospital for examination.

Williams faces grand theft and evading law enforcement charges.

OPENING THE SLOPES FOR ALL Northern Michigan Adaptive Sports works to make skiing and snowboarding more accessible

By Al Parker Northern Michigan is smack in the middle of ski season, and for most skiers and snowboarders, the rush of gliding effortlessly over the snow is truly magical.

But for those facing physical challenges, the downhill thrills may seem very elusive or even out of reach.

Northern Michigan Adaptive Sports (NMAS), an energetic team of nonprofit volunteers based in Traverse City, works tirelessly to turn those downhill aspirations into cherished memories.

“It’s really rewarding,” says Shelly Brodeur, who teams up with Kris Navin to run the program, which began about 30 years ago under the leadership of Ann Reichert, a Traverse City-based physical therapist. “We had one fellow last year who came down the hill and he was just smiling ear-to-ear.”

“The goal is to teach each individual to participate at their highest ability,” says Reichert, who still lends a helping hand when needed.

Leveling the Ski Slopes When NMAS launched some three decades ago, it was part of Munson Healthcare and included a number of activities, including sailing, horseback riding, ice skating, kayaking, hand cycling,

and more. Eventually other organizations took over some of those events, and NMAS now focuses on the winter events of skiing and snowboarding.

Many of the skiers may be dealing with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, vision problems, and more. Others may be recovering from a stroke or a spinal cord injury. Either way, there are typically more adult skiers than youngsters in the program.

The athletes are all fitted with specialized equipment designed to maximize safety and fun. Some may use a mono ski, while others may opt for a bi-ski for their downhill experience. Whatever the gear, each skier has a certified instructor, along with several buddy volunteers, to make their trip down the slopes successful.

Like every other program and business, COVID interrupted the NMAS winter events and the group is still feeling the effects. Pre-COVID the program had seven specially trained instructors; now it’s down to only three. Even talented skiers require special training to safely aid the athletes, explains Reichert.

“We’re still trying to rebuild from COVID,” says Navin. “We’re seeking grants and donations. And we can always use more volunteers.”

Both Brodeur and Navin came to NMAS as avid winter sports enthusiasts. Brodeur

grew up in the Kalamazoo area and learned to ski at a young age. She’s been in northern Michigan for some 30 years and was urged to get involved in NMAS by her son, Jack, who’s involved as a volunteer. Her daughter, Abby, is also a volunteer and is a key member of the program’s snowboarding activities.

Navin, who’s been in Traverse City for 26 years, comes from a skiing family and learned to navigate the mountainous slopes in Washington state. “Our kids grew up skiing,” she recalls. “Friday nights at Crystal was our thing.”

Saturdays at Crystal Mountain Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, a longtime partner with the program, hosts the NMAS events each year.

This winter’s fun-filled Saturdays are set for Jan. 20, Feb. 10, and March 2.

Each daylong event is full of activities, beginning at 8:30am and ending about 5pm.

A typical day sees 30 to 40 athletes on the slopes with their friends and families nearby.

“It’s a real family atmosphere,” explains Reichert. “We encourage families to come out and watch. We have families who are willing to travel from Grand Rapids, down from the U.P., and from the Chicago area, too.”

There’s a minimal cost which covers lift tickets and equipment, but no one

is turned down for financial reasons, according to Reichert.

Preparation for the three winter events usually starts in September, but gets intense once the first snow is on the ground. The early preparations involve working closely with officials from Crystal Mountain to find winter Saturdays that might be available at the resort. “We have an excellent relationship with them,” notes Navin. “They’re very good to work with.”

“We started working with Northern Michigan Adaptive over 25 years ago,” recalls the resort’s Chief Operating Officer Karyn Thorr, who actually played a role in bringing NMAS to the slopes of the resort.

“The Crystal Mountain team loves working with NMAS because they’re able to provide adaptive equipment, trained instructors, and many supportive volunteers across many disciplines of adaptive snowsports.”

Thorr continues, “Over the years, we’ve been able to accommodate NMAS with space to train their instructors, and to meet, greet, and teach their participants over multiple sessions on snow. We appreciate all that NMAS is doing to support the adaptive sports community in northern Michigan.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the program should visit the NMAS Facebook page, @NMAdaptiveSports.

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 9

I Want to Get Away (But I Can’t Fly Away) Staycation packages and deals for those with getaway FOMO

By Brighid Driscoll Snowy, icy northern Michigan winters are one of the few deterrents from living Up North year-round. (At least for those who aren’t into cold-weather sports.) While the snowbirds seek solace in southern locales, the rest of us will soldier on here, trying to stay awake past 9pm and remembering to shovel with our legs and not our back.

But you can still channel your inner Lenny Kravitz—a staycation may be the perfect way to break up the winter blues if a trip to warmer shores isn’t in the cards. Off-season rates and winter packages are the perfect reason to plan a close by getaway, and Northern Express has a few to check out.

Boyne Mountain Resort Escape the weekend crowds and embrace the solitude of mid-week skiing. Glide through pristine slopes, revel in shorter lift lines, and savor the uninterrupted thrill of downhill descents. Boyne Mountain offers a Nothing Beats Midweek deal that includes a third night at half price and discounts on skiing and more now through March 8.

(Alternatively, guests staying four nights can get a fifth night free.) The promo works on any dates booked Sunday through Thursday except for Jan. 14 and Feb. 18-22. And keep in mind: Kids five and under sleep and ski/ ride for free.

Delamar Delamar Traverse City is a fantastic option for a winter staycation right in the heart of downtown Traverse City.

“Our Snow Days day pass gives you access to all of our wonderful amenities we offer throughout the winter,” says Marketing Manager Layla Field. Those perks include complimentary s’mores kits, a hot cocoa bar, 20 percent off drop-in classes at on-site Yen Yoga, and the use of heated indoor and outdoor pools.

The outdoor pool is heated to a balmy 94 degrees and is surrounded by cabanas that can be rented out for an additional fee. “There’s a special menu where you can order food and drinks to enjoy in the cabanas. They don’t have to be rented with a Snow Days pass,” says Field. Snow Day passes are $35 for adults and $25 for kids ages three to 12. (Littles ages two and under are free.)

For a true staycation, however, staying a couple of nights at the hotel is a must. The Michigan Neighbor rate is a discount offered to residents of Michigan and our neighbor states. And an upcoming Wellness Weekend promises to soothe both body and mind.

Twenty spots are available for the Jan. 26-28 weekend packed with yoga, classes on mindfulness, nutrition coaching, massages, sauna sessions, and more.

The Oviatt House Tucked away on Eighth Street in Traverse City is The Oviatt House Bed and Breakfast. A Scottish blacksmith built the house in 1900, and the original woodwork and wood floors have been preserved.

History buffs will appreciate that the B&B’s furniture was all carefully chosen to reflect the Federalist Era of 1750 to 1850.

Owner Julia Lawson is offering guests a Mid-Winter Special that includes a third night for just $25 throughout January and February.

10 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

KOTI Vacation Rentals Get out of your head and into nature at KOTI, a collection of cabin rentals in Williamsburg. Located near Acme Creek and the TART trail, these 14 fully furnished cabins boast tall ceilings and a modern, efficient design. They’re all about embracing a cozy, Scandinavian aesthetic— thus the name KOTI, Finnish for “home.” The idyllic setting invites a seamless blend of nature and city exploration. Gather up the family or a few friends, and then go online and use the code STAYCATION to book a two-bedroom cabin for $350 for two nights, or $450 for two nights in a three-bedroom.

Antiquities’ Wellington Inn Speaking of history, the beautiful and stately Wellington Inn sits at the corner of Washington and Wellignton in downtown TC. Built in 1905, the building stands as a grand testament to Victorian elegance.

Originally the residence of a prominent lumber baron, it has evolved from a family home to a medical clinic and, eventually, a beloved bed and breakfast. Beyond its architectural charm, the Wellington Inn has become famous for reported paranormal activity, adding an intriguing layer to its storied past. During the offseason (through April 30) their room rates are $100 cheaper than peak rates.

The eight uniquely decorated guest rooms within the Inn include breakfast with your stay, and two separate apartments can add breakfast at an additional charge.

Lake ‘N Pines Lodge Located in Interlochen, Lake ‘N Pines Lodge is all about embracing the outdoors in the winter season. Surrounded by the secluded woods of the Pere Marquette State Forest, the lodge has plenty of trails near the property. Guests can immerse themselves in beautiful northern Michigan forest with a winter hike or snowshoe, and Lake ‘N Pines offers sporting gear rentals for those looking for adventure.

Want something a little more…indoorsy? All the lodge’s suites come with a $20 gift certificate to a local restaurant for breakfast, the use of an outdoor jacuzzi, and over 200 DVDs for quiet nights in. Or try out their TC Escape package ($99+), featuring a bottle of wine from Leelanau Cellars, a $50 dinner gift certificate, and $35 for a movie at the AMC Cherry Blossom 14 theater.

Other winter packages include a Take to the Trails package ($155+) with a wine tasting for two at M22 in Glen Arbor, plus a $50 dining gift certificate and the option for cross-country ski or snowshoe rentals; and Hills and Hops ($180+), which includes AMC and dining gift cards, two two-hour passes to Mt. Holiday Ski Resort, and a six-pack of Michigan beers.

The Park Place The Park Place Hotel in downtown Traverse City has been a local landmark since its 10-story tower rose in 1930. Their annual Winter at the Park package includes breakfast for two in all weekday bookings, and Guest Relations Officer William Becker says it’s a great way to get away and relax for a mini-vacation. “It’s a great excuse to come out to the city for a night, do some shopping, and get breakfast before starting your day,” he tells us. Guests can pick from a full breakfast menu at Minerva’s Restaurant attached to the hotel.

Becker says that a can’t-miss part of a Park Place stay is a visit to The Beacon Lounge, aka the Top of the Park. The circular, glass lounge caps the hotel and offers guests a great view of the bay and downtown alongside drinks and small plates. The lounge is open from 5pm-10pm on weekdays, 5pm-11pm on weekends, with live music from 7pm-10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

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Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 11

From Schitt’s Creek to Bear Lake

A retro-modern motel transformation Photo by Jackie Blair Photography

By Kierstin Gunsberg Marta Turnbull is something of a globetrotter, with her career in business and marketing taking her all across the map, from L.A. to Ukraine.

These days though, Turnbull can be found settled in quaint Bear Lake. The lakeside village, which shares its name with the 1,744-acre all-sports lake it’s built around, holds a population of just 342 last census check. It’s where “every sweet personal family memory” happened for Turnbull over summer vacations and holidays spent with family at her grandparents’ place.

It’s also where she purchased the former Bella Vista Inn last spring. With previous experience as an Airbnb host under her belt, Turnbull and her operations manager Kendall McIntyre transformed the property into Motel Bear Lake, marketed on Instagram as a “Renovated Schitt’s Creek.”

“Of course, we were always making that comparison,” says Turnbull of the 1960s brick motor lodge, its 18 rooms and attached bathrooms decked out from floor to ceiling in nostalgic, mid-century pinks and seafoam greens. But, when one of their first guest reviews praised the similarities between the motel and the hit show, “We decided to

bring it into our brand.”

(For those who haven’t—yet!—watched the show: Schitt’s Creek premiered on Canada’s CBC network in 2015 and became a fast audience fave across American streaming platforms. The show follows the wealthy Rose family’s inverted richesto-rags story in the quirky fictional town of Schitt’s Creek, where they’re forced to move into an outdated but totally retro roadside motel after losing their family fortune. Even after its 2020 finale, the show’s portrayal of relationships— familial, platonic, and romantic—and the inclusion of characters from the LGBTQ+ community sans stereotypes continue to find a foothold with viewers.)

A Nice Place to Stay As for Motel Bear Lake, whose tagline is “A Nice Place to Stay,” Schitt’s Creek’s themes of love, acceptance, and hospitality “immediately connects with our community and ideal guests,” says Turnbull, explaining that just like the show, Motel Bear Lake is a playful, come-as-you-are ode to classic small-town charm—with some modern touches.

Instead of being met by Roland Schitt, zoned-out on a musty 50-year-old sofa,

12 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

Motel Bear Lake guests enjoy a lobby-free, digital check-in as soon as they pull up to their room, which is stocked with organic toiletries and fitted with a smart TV and noise machine. Guests don’t even have to repeatedly ask a sullen Stevie Budd for towels because Motel Bear Lake provides full access to a complimentary supply room of bath linens, along with a selection of teas, board games, books, and other I-can’t-believe-weforgot-to-pack-it items, like portable cribs.

“We’re not just giving guests a room for the night,” explains Turnbull of all of the little details. “We’re giving them an experience.”

An experience that she and McIntyre hope brings guests back to a simpler time and allows them to kick back in comfort with friends, family, and even their dogs.

“You’re not flying with your pet very often; [instead] it’s motel road trips,” says Turnbull of marketing the motel towards dog owners.

“We’re just building the space that we want to spend time in. It’s for families and it’s for people from every generation.”

But, she says, Motel Bear Lake is also for those travelers that aren’t mass-marketed to, including cannabis consumers and LGBTQ+ folks.

“I didn’t know how that would be welcomed in a small community,” admits

Turnbull, who is a founding member of Traverse City’s Up North Pride. As it turns out, not only has the inclusion been welcomed by the Manistee area—which promotes the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community through its PFLAG initiative—guests are embracing it too.

“There’s a big market for queer people,” she says, noting statistics that show these households hold an overall higher income— and ability to spend money on travel—than their straight counterparts because they have fewer children.

A Modern Classic Just as the show that inspired its branding became an unexpected modern cult classic, Motel Bear Lake seems to be heading toward popularity too. But even with over 600 reservations totaling over 1,000 nights booked in the first six months of opening, the chances of success looked a little murky there for a minute.

Wanting to return to her Bear Lake roots, Turnbull had had her eye on the Bella Vista Inn property for almost a year when it went up for sale in the early spring of 2023. She jumped to put in an offer, applying for loans on the fly, but it was, in the words of David Rose, a real quick no. “I had two banks deny

Retro vibes meet modern amenities in the motel's 18 rooms. Photo by Jackie Blair Photography.

Alexis Rose would be proud of this owner's photoshoot! (If you know, you know!) Photo by Lil Jes Photography.

Photos by Lil Jes Photography

Marta Turnbull’s Guide to Visiting Bear Lake (Even When it’s 15 Degrees Out)

me,” Turnbull recalls, “and then the sellers accepted someone else’s offer.”

When that offer fell through, a winded Turnbull scrambled to jump again, this time with West Shore Bank, which expedited her loan approval in less than a week to ensure the purchase agreement wouldn’t expire before she could close on the motel, which she finally did in mid-May. “Up until the moment that it happened, I didn’t know if my life was going to change a lot or if it wasn’t,” she says.

Before she could even catch her breath to celebrate the closing, Turnbull and McIntyre were rolling up their sleeves. “I wouldn’t and couldn’t do the motel without Kendall,” says Turnbull.

Together, the pair fought through exhaustion and a few “Ew, David!” moments to haul out old carpeting, throw fresh paint on the walls, and power through the motel’s decades of furniture and tchotchkes to reset it for Memorial Day weekend traffic. “It was 14-hour days, seven days a week, calling on friends and family…but we knew that we had to be open for summer or the business wouldn’t survive.”

As they welcomed their first guests and continued to work on the motel over the summer, Turnbull and McIntyre looked to their social media followers for design suggestions and plumbing advice while updating the masses on renovations (like

their pool, which Turnbull expects to “live its best life” next summer with poolside DJs and colorful floaties), hiccups (loud and stubborn old dryers), and wins (nearperfect vintage thrifts to complete their vision for motel).

And it wasn’t just their Instagram buddies who were excited about the motel’s invigoration. Turnbull says that even as their first busy season has come and gone, locals still pop in to encourage the Motel Bear Lake crew in their efforts to revamp the place.

They also love to share memories of their own time growing up near and even working at the property. “I had a guy reach out who was like, ‘I was digging your pool when I was 16 and helped with the wiring!’” Turnbull tells us with a laugh.

With the property open year-round, the Motel Bear Lake Crew are taking the winter reprieve to put some more elbow grease in around the motel (that noisy dryer really is a conundrum) while planning upcoming events like hosting wellness retreats, small business pop-ups, and family reunions.

And, when they get the chance, basking in the warm glow of a near-impossible whirlwind grand opening. “Everyone was just so encouraging. The community also believed in us, and that was something super refreshing,” Turnbull reflects. “The most amazing thing is to feel like everybody’s rooting for you.”

The pool’s closed for the season and Bear Lake is only fit for a polar plunge, but that’s no reason to hibernate! Surrounded by rivers, state forests, and Americana charm, Bear Lake’s slower pace makes it a local’s destination. As Turnbull puts it, “It’s unassuming and welcoming.” Here are her top must-dos when visiting Bear Lake.

Take a Hike Down Old Baldy: A scenic 15-minute drive from the motel, Arcadia Dunes’ affectionately named Old Baldy Trail is a year-round hotspot for bird watchers and wintertime sunshine chasers alike. Take the accessible 1-mile round-trip to a relaxing Lake Michigan overlook, or bundle up for a more challenging stretch that opens up to stunning panoramic views 300+ feet above the shoreline. Before heading out, make a pitstop for jerky and trail mix at Saddle Up Gas & Grocery, where stuffed deer, fish, and even bears are displayed above beverage coolers and s’more supplies.

“It’s like a taxidermy museum of regional and national animals,” that quickly becomes a kitsch tradition for all who pass through Bear Lake, says Turnbull.

Stock Up on Souvenirs: Enjoy some retail—and aroma—therapy at Bear Lake Soap Co. on Lake Street. The small-batch apothecary would be David Rose approved for its lotions, salves, balms, and laundry essentials in scents like Vanilla Smoke, Bergamot Rose, and Tobacco Leather.

Then, head over to Maggie’s. The shop contains over 1,000 square feet of “local makers, boutique clothing, and great gifts,” says Turnbull. Plus, they’ll be selling Motel Bear Lake merch later this year! And don’t leave town without stopping into Wee Bee Jammin’ for a jar of preservative-free Razzle Dazzle jam (packed with Michigan-grown red and black raspberries) or a fistful of honey sticks to savor on the drive home.

Feast in Small-Town Style: Just across the street from the motel is another business returned to its former glory. Dormant since 2012, Bear Lake Bar was reopened in January of 2023, complete with a total remodel, billiards, and vintage arcade games.

The tiki-themed bar hosts Monday night trivia and live music, while its Southern Sinthesis food truck dishes up nachos and burgers to hungry guests.

Turnbull suggests an order of Moose Nuts at Rosie’s Place for quick happy hour dining or a casual sit-down meal. The dough bites can be made sweet and dunked in syrup and frosting or savory with a side of ranch and washed down with a cold one.

For early risers getting ready to hit the road back home after a Motel Bear Lake getaway, stop by Lakeside Café. It’s Bear Lake’s version of Café Tropical with an allday breakfast and “always welcoming” staff. Order a mess of hashbrowns and sugar dusted french toast or attempt the “Get Stuffed” challenge: devour four Belgian waffles stuffed with nine chicken tenders, eggs, and strips of thick-cut bacon smothered in sausage gravy and topped with shredded cheese. Winners get their meal for free and everyone else gets their photo on the wall of shame. (If that sounds a little heavy before cramming back into the luggage-packed car, Turnbull recommends splitting a cinnamon roll with the table.)

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 13

Chloe Leach has visited Disney enough times that Minnie Mouse is basically an old friend.

The Do’s, Don’ts, and Definitelys of Disney Travel These NoMi Disney gurus can take your Disney trip from overwhelming to out of this (small) world

By Anna Faller We all love a Disney vacation—it’s the most magical place on earth, after all!

Planning one, though, can take months of research (not to mention a scary amount of money), especially if you’re new to the process or let some time pass since your last visit.

How do you navigate Disney’s ins and outs like an expert, even if you aren’t one?

Northern Express sat down with a pair of travel agents and Disney experts—Chloe Leach of Mickey Travels and Tammy Sofonia of The Travel Authority—for the inside scoop on budget bookings, travel hacks, and top-tier attractions.

Don your mouse ears, Disney Explorers: It’s go time!

Where to Start The first step toward planning a Disney vacation should be enlisting a certified travel agent. “It’s really a no-brainer,” Leach explains, as Disney structures certified travel services into all of its vacation packages. In layman’s terms: There’s no extra cost to book your trip through a seasoned pro.

In fact, reserving via consultant (versus trying to do it on your own) will likely lower your overall bill, as Disney planners are trained to sniff out the best promotions and purchasing rates. “There is so much to learn and know about Disney. Why not use

14 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

someone who has that experience? It’s what we’re here for,” Sofonia adds.

A little background on our experts: Both Sofonia and Leach fell in love with Disney during respective trips to the parks as kids. Together, they have more than 30 years of travel planning experience and have collectively visited global Disney locations dozens of times.

“I love that it’s such a happy place,” says Leach. “And you’re never too old for magic.”

Next, it’s time to get digital. Gone are the days of waltzing into a Walt Disney World theme park without reservations. Instead, there’s the Disney Genie system, a tool through the My Disney Experience (MDE) app, through which guests can monitor wait

times, order food, and even book theme park plans.

It’s also nearly impossible to arrange a Disney trip without it. “Everything is done through the app,” says Leach, adding that reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to book well in advance.

When to Go When deciding on your trip timing, especially if you’re a Disney newbie, Sofonia recommends aiming for a window of five days and four nights. That way, there’s enough time to get a taste of what each park has to offer (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios). “You won’t see everything in that

time, but it’s a good start to find out if you love it and whether you’d like to come back,” she notes.

As for the best time to buy your tickets? That all depends on your personal checklist. The short answer is: whenever you want. Disney World, though, sees a staggering annual attendance of 58 million tourists, making it the busiest vacation resort in the world.

To avoid getting stuck in endless lines, Sofonia recommends planning a trip for a time when most kids are in school. “That’s when crowds are the least,” she explains.

Late November and early December (preholiday fun), for instance, are a safe bet; as are February, April, and early May. Those hoping for free reign of the parks should also avoid major holidays (think: Christmas, New Years, and Fourth of July), which pull in droves of out-of-state tourists.

To ensure a manageable date, Leach also suggests consulting crowd calendars—that’s an online tool gauging park attendance— before you finalize your tickets.

Who to Take Then there’s the question of gauging whether your kids are old enough to go.

The answer here is pretty subjective.

For starters, there is no childhood age that’s “too young” for Disney. All of Walt Disney World’s theme parks have attractions tailored to tiny explorers, and children under the age of three also receive free park admittance— an obvious plus for budget travel.

Kids younger than three or four years old, though, likely won’t remember much.

Babies and toddlers that have to be carried also come with bulky equipment (diaper bags, strollers, and the like) requiring transportation and storage that could mean shelling out extra cash. On top of that, countless theme park rides—even including some of the tamer options, like the chairlift at Blizzard Beach and Hollywood Studios’ Spinning Alien Saucers— impose strict height requirements that many little adventurers have yet to meet.

As for prime-time Disney age? The pair agree that ages five through 10 years old are golden. “They can remember it, they know what’s going on; but they’re not old enough to [lose the magic],” says Leach.

Where to Stay To accommodate a range of budgets, Disney resorts come in one of three tiers: value, moderate, and deluxe, which also includes several private villas. On campus, there are a whopping 25 resorts and hotels to choose from—that’s about 30,000 rooms— all in easy range of the parks and with free transportation included. (Pro tip: Guests of Walt Disney World Resorts get a half-hour jump on public park entry!).

Value resorts, which include locations like Pop Century and Disney’s All-Star line, are a great choice for first-time visitors, families with children, or guests with busy itineraries.

These are the most inexpensive option, with nightly rates as low as $150, and generally feature closer quarters, fewer services, and primarily quick-service restaurants.

Moving into moderate and deluxe tiers, guests can expect more space overall, bigger beds, and luxe touches like intricate theming.

Some even come with concierge service. The facilities, though, are the real game-changer.

Transportation options, for instance, might include Disney’s signature monorail or the newly-installed aerial Skyliner, whereas value resorts might just offer buses. There’s also a wider dining selection, as well as a host of on-site activities, like decked-out pool and spa services, family games, and even outdoor movies. If roughing it is more your style, you can also reserve an RV hangar at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort!

Tammy Sofonia never misses a chance to visit the Magic Kingdom.

live stand-up

R IMPROV E P A P N O GOOD

Saturday, jan. 13 - 8:00 PM

T. Barb

Friday, jan. 19 - 7:15 PM saturday, jan. 20 - 7:00 PM These stays have a higher price tag though, with off-season rates for campsites and suites ranging from about $300-$600 per night, while villas often exceed $1,000.

“They’ll all have what you need for your vacation. Book the space that’s best for your family,” says Sofonia.

Where to Eat and What to Do Once in the parks, evening fireworks— especially Magic Kingdom’s display, which incorporates complex pyrotechnics— should be at the top of your bucket list, as well as a stage performance or two (notable options include Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! and the laserstudded Fantasmic! musical), all of which come with the price of park tickets.

If you’re traveling with an adrenaline junkie, roller coasters like EPCOT’s new Guardians of the Galaxy and Tron both meet the need for speed. Or you can soak in the nostalgia with simulations, like Peter Pan’s Flight (that’s Leach’s favorite) or the wildlyimmersive Avatar Flight of Passage.

When you’re hungry, head over to Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom for a casual bite (their baked macaroni and cheese with pulled pork is a must!), or indulge in a high-end dinner with Tiffins’ African-inspired fare. Dining experiences, like ‘Ohana Table Service in Disney’s Polynesian Village, can also be a lower-stakes way to rub elbows with your favorite characters. “You still get that oneon-one interaction, but it’s less than the cost of a ticketed event,” Leach explains.

As for adult-friendly activities, EPCOT’s

World Showcase is a prime destination, where you can eat your way through 11 countries or reserve a custom VIP tour (though these can cost upwards of $400).

The cherry on top is a BoardWalk sunset, which is both free and totally priceless.

Insider Tips and Tricks To really do Disney like a pro, though, it doesn’t hurt to have a few hacks up your sleeve.

For starters, make sure you’re wellrested! “Every time I travel to Disney, I do as much as I can in the parks in the morning.

Then, I go back to my room and take a long nap in the afternoon,” says Leach. Not only does this get you out of the sun at the hottest part of the day, but it also means you’re snoozing away the longest wait times for each attraction. “It’s a really nice way to manage a park day, especially if you have kids!” she adds.

Sofonia also swears by the convenience of bringing a rental car to Disney, which not only eliminates offsite transport costs but also provides a fast getaway for cranky kids.

(Bonus: Disney offers free theme park and resort parking!)

The key to an unforgettable Disney vacation, though, is to go with the flow.

“Overplanning and stressing about perfection is a quick way to ruin the magic,” Leach notes. Instead, she encourages Disney visitors to approach each day with high expectations while knowing that some things won’t go to plan.

“Trust the process, do your planning, and wait to be amazed,” she adds. “That’s what Disney specializes in, and they do it!”

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Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 15

Photo credit Michael Murphy IV Photography

A GET A W FOR Y AY O TASTE UR BUDS,

BY WA OF ME Y XICO What a long, flavorful trip it’s been for Happy’s Taco Shop

By Geri Dietze Traverse City foodies probably know that Happy’s Taco Shop recently vacated its longterm berth (since 2015) at The Little Fleet to concentrate on its Petoskey and Boyne City operations. Happy’s is a fixture at The Back Lot in Petoskey, Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, and Happy’s Headquarters, located just outside of Boyne City.

Northern Express followed them north to get the story on their 10-year anniversary, their modus operandi in the world of tacos, plus a hint at their future plans.

The Authentic Beginnings First, a quick recap. Drake Nagel of Ellsworth and Drue Wright of Boyne City both graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2012. By the end of 2013, they had combined their degrees—Nagel’s in design, and Wright’s in entrepreneurship— with Nagel’s restaurant experience and Wright’s tenure in snowboard industry customer service into a viable business model.

They set out to create a good product and a friendly vibe with the help of a used step van. That good product was, of course, a taco. The Mexican tortilla, flour or corn, has become the vehicle of choice for creative chefs with international tastes, and the fillings have evolved far beyond the traditional Mexican staples. Yes, Happy’s is a Mexican taco purveyor, but its influences include the flavors of China, Korea, Tex-Mex, and pretty much anything the chef desires.

The folks at Happy’s just want to be “authentically ourselves.” But it is fitting

that the tortilla has now proven itself as the perfect starting point for a broader experience, and we have proof: “[The taco] is a reflection of time and place,” says taco editor Jose Ralat of Texas Monthly. (You know the taco has arrived when it gets its own editor.)

Happy’s caught on quickly thanks to a winter gig at Boyne Mountain, plus other venues like the Boyne City Farmers Market.

It didn’t take long for recognition to come from outside of northern Michigan: In 2014, Happy’s Tacos made it onto the nationwide list of the top 15 food truck entrepreneurs by Mobile Cuisine, a food industry resource for the culinary profession.

That was just the beginning, but the accolades were never the goal for Happy’s.

“We have been nominated and [have] won a few awards…” explains Wright.

“Although we appreciate the praise, we try not to focus too hard on contests.” He adds, “We get a better sense of accomplishment from the day-to-day feedback…from our fans and our team members.”

The Location Changes Ten years on, and Happy’s has built those fans across northern Michigan, and they perhaps saw the majority of them during their eight-year tenure at The Little Fleet.

Nagel says that while it was bittersweet to leave their customers in Traverse City, “the next logical step” for the business was to focus on expanding operations above the 45th parallel.

In Petoskey, Happy’s Taco Shop operates out of a refurbished shipping container

16 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

located at The Back Lot, the year-round, pet-friendly venue with five food trucks and two bars. On a Saturday in the offseason, they serve around 200 patrons, twice that in the summer.

You can also find a Happy’s truck at Boyne Mountain, parked at the base of the Express lift throughout the ski season.

“The winter season didn’t show up right away,” Wright notes, “but it’s pretty on par with what it’s been in the past couple years.”

He says that between the holidays and more ski tourists heading Up North, “it’s busy out there” at the slopeside truck.

Once the snow melts, Happy’s Headquarters in Boyne City, where all food is prepared, will serve lunch and dinner spring through fall from their food truck adjacent to the brightly colored outdoor dining area fashioned to match the Happy’s brand.

The Business Commitments Though they’ve gone from farmers markets to food truck lots and just about everywhere in between, the foundation of Happy’s—Wright and Nagel—has held steady. What do they think makes a good business relationship?

With these two, it involves friendship, trust, and a commitment to both the business and to their communities. “Drue and I were about 24 when we started Happy’s. I think the business [grew] as we [grew] as people,” explains Nagel.

And do they feel like, at this 10-year mark, that they’ve “made it” in the restaurant business? “To be honest, I don’t know if I will ever want to feel that moment,” Wright says.

“Happy’s has always been about innovation and pushing the envelope. Maybe we’ll say ‘we made it’ when we retire.”

Today, Nagel and Wright are able to focus more on the business end and leave the driving up to someone else. Wright handles human resources and bookkeeping, plus project development and the occasional situation requiring hammer and nails. Nagel runs the kitchen, creates the menu, handles tech, and designs the merch and signage.

They work together on “big picture ideas,” concerning the look and feel of the business.

“We both like things to look and feel special and maybe a bit out of the ordinary,” Nagel says. “I think [that playing] such different roles in the business is a cool thing,” he adds. “You have to…trust…the other person and their expertise and vision.”

And, their trust in their employees—16 in the winter, double that in the summer— is evident in that they now offer health insurance and retirement plans. “We want Happy’s to be a career option for people, not just a stepping stone to the next job, as many restaurants are. We have awesome employees and some that have been with us for over seven years; we want to keep them around,” says Wright.

The Menu Evolutions While many of the faces at the counter are the same, none of Happy’s original items from a decade ago remain on the menu.

(Though old favorites might surface now and then, with some flavor updates.)

“I’m a better [chef] than I was a decade ago,” Nagel reasons. “Change is good.”

Happy's prides itself on innovative ingredients and creative (if sometimes kooky) takes on classic dishes.

Look for fresh and innovative variations, like the Crispy Shrimp taco with green curry mayo, red chili jam, cabbage, and fried shallot; or the Spicy Pork version with Napa cabbage kimchi, ssamjang glaze (spicy Korean paste), and togarashi (Japanese 7 spice). And you don’t have to be vegan to fall for the Smoked Potato Taco with chile sour cream, pickled veggies, and pepita crunch.

(Indeed, Wright advises, “Don’t sleep on the Smoked Potato Taco.”)

The biggest seller is the Super Burrito, with a choice of roasted pork, smoked potato, shrimp, griddled kimchi, or pinto beans, with chihuahua cheese, salsa verde, chile sour cream, cabbage, and tortilla strips.

Weekly specials depend on whatever the staff feels like cooking. “Sometimes it’s an old favorite we’re bringing back; sometimes it’s something…that we feel like experimenting with,” Wright says.

When Northern Express visited Happy’s Headquarters, Wright was marinating a goat neck, butchered locally, which would be slow-roasted in mole sauce. But, if goat isn’t your thing, there is always a large and varied selection. (Some specials are truly limited edition, like the prized Fried Chicken Sandwich, served Wednesdays at The Back Lot, so prepare accordingly.)

Sauces are all house-made, and Wright, the self-described “ranch freak,” has created

a macha ranch, made with homemade salsa macha with dried chilies, roasted garlic, miso, olive oil, and sesame seeds, all mixed with mayo, traditional ranch spices, and a few ingredients which must remain a secret.

“It all goes on our Crunchwrap Royale, and it is sublime,” he says. The Crunchwrap Royale offers a choice of pork, smoked potato, shrimp, kimchi, or pinto beans, with pickled veggies, tostada, lettuce, and chile jam, folded up and grilled in chihuahua cheese. Sublime sounds about right.

Expect everything to be fresh and locally or regionally sourced whenever possible.

Sweet Grass Farm in Pickford is one of Happy’s favorites. “They raise all of our lamb for our Lamb Cheeseburger taco.” Nagel explains. “If there’s no Sweet Grass Lamb, there’s no Lamb Cheeseburger Taco.”

Their variety of chiles, cilantro, and other staples come from Daybreak Dreamfarm in East Jordan. According to Nagel, “This winter I’m excited to start working with Big Stone Bay [Fishery] out of Mackinaw City.

They’re a local fish market getting fish out of our Great Lakes, and I’m excited to get some of their fish on our next menu.”

Find Happy’s at The Back Lot at 425 Michigan St. in Petoskey and their food truck at Boyne Mountain, Friday through Sunday, in Boyne Falls. happystacoshop.com

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 17

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jan 13

GOPHERWOOD CONCERTS PRESENTS Saturday STEPPIN’ IN IT WSG ZAK BUNCE: 7pm, PARADISE LAKE ASSO-

CIATION ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT: 8am-5pm, Chubbs Marina & Market, Carp Lake. Cash payouts each division: 1st, 2nd, 3rd: walleye, panfish, pike & mystery weight.

Adult pre-registration, $25; day of, $30. 12 & under, $20. 231-626-1035.

----------------------------POLAR PLUMAGE: EXPLORING WINTER BIRDS ON FOOT: 9am. Meet at Oleson Pavilion, behind Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Join GTCD naturalists & Grand Traverse Audubon Board member Kirk Waterstripe on a community birdwatching hike on the Natural Education Reserve. This less than 1 mile loop hike is free & open to all ages & experience levels. Pre-registration is required. natureiscalling.org/events ----------------------------FAT & FLURRIOUS: 10am, Boyne City. A fat tire bike race with a challenging & difficult course, not designed for beginners. Two race divisions: sport class (one lap around Avalanche) & open class (2 or 3 laps around Avalanche). Each lap is 7 miles. $60. fatandflurrious.com ----------------------------OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in art for the whole family.

Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ open-studio-january-13-0 ----------------------------LITTLE WAVES: This is a musical children’s program series hosted by the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra. Each session includes a multimedia musical storybook time & a chance to see one or more instruments of the orchestra up close. Held at 10:30am at Petoskey District Library & 1pm at Charlevoix Public Library. 231-487-0010. Free. glcorchestra.org/education/little-waves ----------------------------BREAK OUT OF THE BOX!: 11am, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Preteens/teens can try to crack the code to the lock box & solve a winter mystery for a prize. RSVP. peninsulacommunitylibrary.org ----------------------------POETRY READING WITH C. SCOTT MILLS: Noon, Leland Township Library, Leland. Scott will read from his new book “Drift Gestures.”

Free. lelandlibrary.org/programs-events ----------------------------HIGH SCHOOL PORTFOLIO REVIEWS: WINTER 2024: 2-4pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Lower Carnegie Studio, Petoskey.

Students in grades 8-12 who are interested in receiving feedback on their artwork & creative portfolios &/or are looking to qualify for merit-based scholarships for CTAC’s High School Portfolio program can sign up. Free. crookedtree.org/class/ctac-petoskey/highschool-portfolio-reviews-winter-2024 ----------------------------PUFFS OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A SCHOOL OF MAGIC: 2pm & 7pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. This is the story of a regular boy who finds out he’s a wizard & goes to a school of magic in England where he makes two best friends & has seven increasingly eventful years of adventures. Performed by Young Company students. Adults: $21; youth under 18: $12. oldtownplayhouse. com/young-company/performances/puffs.html ----------------------------SLEDDING & S’MORES: 4-6pm, Kiwanis Park, Harbor Springs. 231-526-2104.

----------------------------BAYSIDE TRAVELLERS CONTRA DANCE: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, TC. Beginner Dance Workshop at 7pm; dances from 7:3010:30pm. Music provided by the band Dag Nabbit & workshop taught & dances led by Dave Goodwin. No partner or experience is necessary. Donations only. dancetc.com

Elks Lodge Cadillac #680. This band has been playing traditional American folk & blues & old-time string music for more than 20 years. They are made up of singer/songwriter Joshua Davis on guitar, Dominic John Suchyta on standup bass, & Andy Wilson on harmonica with twin brother Joe Wilson on steel guitar. $30. gopherwoodconcerts.org ----------------------------DOWNTOWN SOUND PERFORMING ARTS SERIES: DJANGOPHONIQUE: 7:30-9pm, Crooked Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. This virtuosic, instrumentally driven quartet is led by guitar player Andrew Brown, who has studied the language of Django Reinhardt’s jazz manouche. $30 members; $40 non-members; $10 students. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ctacpresents-djangophonique ----------------------------GOOD ON PAPER IMPROV: 8-10pm, Traverse City Comedy Club, TC. Enjoy this cross between Saturday Night Live & Whose Line Is It, Anyway?. This group has been performing for over 10 years. $18. mynorthtickets.com/ events/good-on-paper-improv-1-13-2024

jan 14

13-21

send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com

Sunday SECOND SUNDAY ART

PROJECT: MUSEUM SNOW DAY: 1pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. A celebration of snow in honor of “Snowflake Bentley” where you will observe & classify shapes of snow crystals, make paper snowflakes, & build snow sculptures in front of the museum, weather permitting. Free with admission to the museum. dennosmuseum.org/events/communityprograms.html ----------------------------“ART AS RENEWAL”: 2pm, Old Art Building, The Blue Lantern Team Room, Leland.

With Anne-Marie Ooman & Robert Vivian. $30/per person or $125 for all 5. oldartbuilding.com ----------------------------“ROWING AGAINST THE WAVES”: 2pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden.

Local author Reg Sprik discusses his autobiography that highlights his life as a young boy growing up in rural northern Michigan during the Great Depression. 231-331-4318. Free.

----------------------------PUFFS OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A SCHOOL OF MAGIC: (See Sat., Jan. 13, except today’s time is 2pm.)

----------------------------“OUR TOWN” AUDITIONS: 4-6pm, Cadillac Footliters Clubhouse, 3841 Walker Ave., Cadillac. This is a large cast with a wide variety of roles for ages 12+. sites.google.com/cadillacfootliters.com/our-town-hub ----------------------------GREAT LAKES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’S SUNDAY SERIES: REPERIO: This trio includes Nancy Stagnitta, Ya-Ju Chuang, & Dane Philipsen. 4pm, First Presbyterian Church of Boyne City. Free. glcorchestra.org SECOND SUNDAY IMPROV SHOW W/ TILT THINK COMEDY COLLECTIVE: 7pm, The Workshop Brewing Co., TC. For ages 16+. $10 suggested donation. tiltthink.com

jan 15

january

monday GLOBAL STUDIES PRO-

GRAM & INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE PRESENTATION: “CELEBRATING THE HUMAN FABRIC”: 1011:30am, NCMC, Library Conference Center, Petoskey. During his trips to all seven

Embrace winter at the Dogman Challenge, part of the 2024 Tour De Fat Bike Race Series. Take on rolling and wooded terrain through a 2 mile loop on the trails around Mt. McSauba Recreation Area and North Point Nature Preserve in Charlevoix. The Open and Master’s categories are 2 hours, and the Junior category is 45 minutes, with all three beginning at noon on Sat., Jan. 20. $25-$50. runsignup.com/Race/MI/Charlevoix/DogmanChallengeFatBikeRace

continents & more than 100 countries over the past 36 years, Dr. Gary L. Hauck has taken thousands of photographs of people he has observed, experienced or befriended.

Register. Free. ncmclifelonglearning.com/ event-5507793/Registration ----------------------------MLK DAY OF SERVICE: DIAPER DRIVE & PACK-A-THON: 10am-noon, Suttons BayBingham District Library, lower-level Community Room. Volunteers will repackage diapers into bags with wipes & a book. These bags will be distributed by the Leelanau Christian Neighbors Baby Pantry. Drop off diapers at the Suttons Bay Bingham District Library between January 2-15 or bring items to the Pack-a-thon.

Items needed are: Diapers sizes 5, 6 & 7; Pullups size 4/5T for boys & girls; fragrance-free/ sensitive diaper wipes. sbbdl.org ----------------------------EMBRACE THE DREAM FREE DAY: 11am, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day & kick-off the Embrace the Dream programming with free admission to the museum. dennosmuseum. org/events/community-programs.html ----------------------------KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE: 11am, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Preschoolers are invited for a special story hour celebrating Martin Luther King Day. Stories, free book, craft & more. 231-223-7700.

----------------------------GLCM’S PEACE DAY: Noon-4pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Hands-on peace activity stations will be set up in the Great Lakes Room throughout the day. Although the concepts presented in the activities are aimed at children 4 & up, younger children will be able to enjoy the multiple Peace Day-themed arts & crafts. There will also be a special story time at 2pm, when a book about Martin Luther King will be read. Free with admission. greatlakeskids. org/celebrate-peace-day-at-the-great-lakeschildrens-museum ----------------------------“OUR TOWN” AUDITIONS: 6-8pm, Cadillac

Footliters Clubhouse, 3841 Walker Ave., Cadillac. This is a large cast with a wide variety of roles for ages 12+. sites.google.com/cadillacfootliters.com/our-town-hub ----------------------------BUILDING BRIDGES WITH MUSIC PRESENTS: AN MLK DAY CELEBRATION ACROSS TWO TC VENUES: Enjoy an original literary & musical masterpiece by acclaimed composer/bassist Marion Hayden: “Ocean: The Life and Times of Poet, Phillis Wheatley” at The Alluvion, TC at 7pm. In addition, this same program will be livestreamed into Milliken Auditorium where NMC’s Chamber Singers, Cantus Children’s Choir & Skyelea Martin with Jimmy Olson will perform live in an interactive dance celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Also at Commongrounds will be: 10-10:45am: Music for Kids in The Alluvion; 11-11:45am: Art for Kids in The Alluvion; Noon-2pm: Free Community Lunch at NOBO Market; Spirituals throughout the building played by Kevin LaRose on tuba & Joe Wilson on dobro. Free. mynorthtickets.com ----------------------------MLK CELEBRATION PERFORMANCE: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Featuring an interdisciplinary showcase alongside slam poet S.C. Says.

Students explore the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through the themes of resilience & progress. Free. interlochen.org/events/mlkcelebration-performance-2024-01-15

jan 16

tuesday MEDICARE 101 SEMI-

NARS: 10am: Traverse Connect, Blue Room, TC. 6pm: Traverse Area District Library, Thirlby Room, TC. Local columnist & Certified Senior Advisor Fred Goldenberg will be holding free educational Medicare 101 seminars for those turning 65 in 2024 or retiring & going on Medicare for the first time. This is not a sales presen-

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 19

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----------------------------OPEN HOUSE: ART ABLE: 5:30-6:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Classroom, TC. Learn about the Art Able program.

With the recent closure of Art for All, CTAC will be offering an opportunity for community & art experiences for people of all abilities. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ open-house-art-able ----------------------------OTSEGO COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEETING: 5:30-7pm, Otsego County Library, Gaylord.

----------------------------2 Color: GRAND TRAVERSE HIKING CLUB - JAN. PMS 7459 Light Blue MEETING: PMS 7462 Dark Blue7pm, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Adventures in off-trail backpacking in Denali National Park. Colleen Contardi reveals the unexpected life lessons she, her husband, & son learned from the megafauna, glacial water features & spectacular terrain. Free.

----------------------------QUEER TALES BOOK CLUB: 7pm, Traverse Area District Library, Nelson Room, TC. Chat about books that are by &/or about LGBTQIA+ people. Reading is not required, & everyone is welcome. This month’s book seGreyscale: lections are “Art is Life” by Tami Lewis Brown K 100% / K 75% & “Shitty Craft Club” by Sam Reece. Free. tadl.org/event/queer-tales-book-club-12114

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jan 17

wednesday GUIDED SNOWSHOEING:

10:30am, Seven Springs Nature Preserve, Indian River. Snowshoe with the Library & Little Traverse Bay Conservancy. Snowshoes are available to use or bring your own. Sign up on Library web site. Free. indianriverlibrary.org ----------------------------SELF CARE & MOVEMENT WORKSHOP: 10:30am, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library.

This program is taught by Brian Truskowski, a seasoned massage therapist & bodyworker of over 12 years based in Lake Leelanau. Bring your yoga mat & questions & be prepared to move. 231-271-3512. Free. sbbdl.org ----------------------------GREETING CARD WORKSHOP: 1pm, Glen Lake Library, Empire. Create your own birthday card or valentine with paper crafter Susan Schneider. All materials provided.

Contact the library to register by Jan. 15: 231.326.5361. glenlakelibrary.net ----------------------------MAKE IT BENZIE - CHAMBER OFF THE CLOCK NETWORKING: 5-7pm, Benzie Area Christian Neighbors, Benzonia. Enjoy games, raffles & an update on Chamber operations. RSVP. $5. business.benzie.org/ events/details/benzie-area-chamber-off-theclock-event-16914 ----------------------------HERE:SAY PRESENTS: “LAW & ORDER”: 7pm, The Alluvion, TC. Scheduled performers take the stage to tell true, first-person stories about times in their lives that they tangled with the law or the courts. $10 at door. heresaystorytelling.com/storytelling-events ----------------------------PENINSULA INSIGHTS: 7pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Hear from Bradford Clingan, the new Peninsula Market Store manager. Free. peninsulacommunitylibrary.org

jan 18

thursday COFFEE @ 10: EXHIBI-

TION WALKTHROUGH: 10-11am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. CTAC Visual Arts

Director Liz Erlewine will introduce you to the new winter exhibitions, “Fields of Vision: Juried Fine Art Exhibition,” & “Cultivated: Relationships with Nature.” Hear about what goes into selecting artwork, artists, & exhibitions for Crooked Tree Arts Center’s gallery spaces. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/coffee-10-exhibition-walkthrough-0 ----------------------------“RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE” FREE SCREENING: 4pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Please register in advance.

Limit of 34 people; please limit groups to four people. Liberty City, Miami is home to one of the oldest segregated public housing projects in the U.S. Now with rising sea levels, the neighborhood’s higher ground has become something else: real estate gold. Free. simpletix.com/e/free-screening-raising-liberty-square-tickets-153325 ----------------------------HOP LOT SOCIAL: 4-6pm, Hop Lot Brewing Co., Suttons Bay. Chat about the Great Lakes & what’s coming up in 2024 for Inland Seas Education Association. RSVP. schoolship.org ----------------------------TRAVERSE INDIVISIBLE DINNER MEETING: 6pm, Raduno, 545 E. 8th St., TC. New location. Brandi Sigler of Conflict Mediation Services will discuss their work resolving personal & business issues without going to court. Arrive early & order dinner. Raduno is remaining open just for TI. Free. traverseindivisible.org/events ----------------------------PUFFS OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A SCHOOL OF MAGIC: (See Sat., Jan. 13, except today’s time is 7pm.)

----------------------------TRAVERSE AREA CAMERA CLUB MEETING: First Presbyterian Church, TC. Meets the third Thurs. of the month. Social hour at 6pm; meeting at 7pm. tacameraclub.org

jan 19

friday COFFEE WITH A COP:

9-10:30am, McDonald’s, 710 Front St., TC. Join for free coffee & conversation.

-------------------BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING: 10am, Bellaire Public Library. Join every third Fri. bellairelibrary.org ----------------------------STORYTIME: 10:30am, Leland Township Public Library, Leland. Stories & more for children aged 0-6 & their caregivers. Free. lelandlibrary.org/programs-events ----------------------------LUNCHEON LECTURE: 11:30am-1pm, NCMC, Library Conference Center, Petoskey.

“The State of Public Health 2024: Charting a Path Forward” with Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MD, MPH, FIDSA. A brief update on pressing issues of public health importance in the state. These include the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid crisis, maternal & infant health, vaccine preventable diseases & STIs. Register. $15; includes a buffet lunch. ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-5492970 ----------------------------SENIOR HIKE: 1pm, Elmer Johnston Preserve, Harbor Springs. Seniors can enjoy a winter hike. Snowshoes provided if needed.

Must register on web site or call 231-3470991. Free. landtrust.org ----------------------------CADILLAC FOOTLITERS PRESENTS “NOISES OFF”: 7pm, Elenbaas Performing Arts Center, McBain High School. This play-within-a-play captures a touring theatre troupe’s production of “Nothing On” in three stages: dress rehearsal, the opening performance, & a performance toward the end of a

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debilitating run. GA Online: $11. cadillacfootliters.ludus.com/index.php ----------------------------COMEDIAN KERMET APIO: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Kermet has his own special on “Dry Bar Comedy” & can be heard regularly on Sirius/XM satellite radio. He is a past winner of both the Seattle Comedy Competition & the Great American Comedy Festival, a competition held in Johnny Carson’s hometown. $25 & up. greatlakescfa. org/events/detail/kermit-apio ----------------------------PUFFS OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A SCHOOL OF MAGIC: (See Thurs., Jan. 18) ----------------------------ONE-ACT FESTIVAL: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Harvey Theatre. Join Interlochen Arts Academy theatre students as they direct & star in a festival full of one-act plays that span genres & styles. Free. interlochen.org/events/one-act-festival-2024-01-19 ----------------------------THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FRIARS WINTERPALOOZA: 8pm, City Opera House, TC. The Friars, the a cappella subset of the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, will perform. They bring their questionable choreography, bad dad jokes, & boyband hits. GA: Adults: $20; Students 18 or younger or w/college ID: $10; Seniors 62+: $15. cityoperahouse.org/node/533

jan 20

saturday ADVENTURES AT THE

NATIONAL LAKESHORE: SATURDAY WINTER PROGRAMS: 10am, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Anishinaabe historian Eric Hemenway will lead a guided hike focused on survival strategies & traditional Anishinaabe activities during the season of biboon (winter). Must register: 231-326-4700, ext. 5010. From 1-3pm Eric will also share about traditional Anishinaabe art at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center. All programs will be free with a park entrance pass or annual pass, which must be displayed in your vehicle. nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm ----------------------------HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID SURVEY & TREATMENT TRAINING: 10am, The Mills Community House, Benzonia. Join ISN to learn about how to protect & manage your ecologically important hemlock trees on your own property. With the 2023 discovery of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) in Frankfort, ISN is dedicated to giving the community the best info & guidelines available. Registration required. Free. HabitatMatters.org/Events ----------------------------KIDS CODING CLUB: 10am, Bellaire Public Library. Join Gabe every third Sat. for an hour of fun coding & STEM activities. Registration appreciated; call 231-533-8814 or bellairelibrary.org. Free.

----------------------------OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in art for the whole family.

Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ open-studio-january-20 ----------------------------14TH WINTER TRAILS DAY: 10:30am-2pm, Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, TC. Enjoy free trail access & free fat tire bike, crosscountry ski, & snowshoe demos. Free rental equipment will be available on a first-comefirst-served basis. Introductory ski lessons will be led by Vasa Ski Club members & TART Trails’ volunteers. Register in advance. traversetrails.org/2024-winter-trails-day-registration ----------------------------WINTERFEST CHILI COOK-OFF: 11:30am1:30pm, Mama Mia’s Pizza, Mackinaw City.

DOGMAN CHALLENGE FAT BIKE RACE: Noon, 09223 Mt. McSauba Rd., Charlevoix.

Open Category & Master’s Category are 2 hour races. Junior Category is a 45 min. race. $25-$50. runsignup.com/Race/MI/ Charlevoix/DogmanChallengeFatBikeRace ----------------------------DIGITAL DIVIDE: 12:30pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Join librarians Mary, Denise & Anais to find out how to use all your TADL library card has to offer – online books, audio books, movies, magazines & more.

Bring your device for help downloading the apps. Free. peninsulacommunitylibrary.org ----------------------------CADILLAC FOOTLITERS PRESENTS “NOISES OFF”: (See Fri., Jan. 19, except today’s times are 2pm & 7pm.)

----------------------------PUFFS OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A SCHOOL OF MAGIC: (See Sat., Jan. 13) ----------------------------BLISSFEST PRESENTS: GOOD MORNING BEDLAM: 7:30-9pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. This folk-rock band from Minneapolis, MN is known for their wild energy & stunning harmonies. In 2019 they claimed the first-place title at the John Hartford Memorial Festival Band Competition. $25-$30. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/blissfest-presents-good-morningbedlam ----------------------------ONE-ACT FESTIVAL: (See Fri., Jan. 19) ----------------------------COMEDIAN ORNY ADAMS: 8pm, City Opera House, TC. Known for his brutal honesty, Orny has toured the world with his high energy show. He has had one hour stand-up specials on Netflix, Comedy Central & Showtime. He was on the hit TV show “Teen Wolf” & the new “Teen Wolf” movie just released on Paramount Plus. $20-$30. cityoperahouse. org/node/545 ----------------------------ROCKET QUEEN & LET THERE BE ROCK: 9pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee.

See Guns N’ Roses tribute Rocket Queen & AC/DC tribute Let There Be Rock. For ages 21+. Free. lrcr.com/event/rocket-queen-letthere-be-rock

jan 21

sunday WORLD SNOW DAY:

Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Enjoy a free variety of activities geared to introduce first timers to the world of snow. Noon-4pm: View a snow gun & groomer up close. Located on the slopes behind the Crystal Center. 1pm: Cross Country Presentation. Meet at the Cross Country Learning Center. 2pm: Snowshoeing Presentation. Meet at Park at Water’s Edge. 3pm: Adults & Kids Ski & Snowboard Presentation. Meet at the Learning Area outside the Mountain Adventure Zone. crystalmountain. com/event/world-snow-day ----------------------------ONE-ACT FESTIVAL: (See Fri., Jan. 19) ----------------------------ROCKET QUEEN & LET THERE BE ROCK: (See Sat., Jan. 20)

ongoing SNOWSHOES, VINES, & WINES: Explore

the trails at Black Star Farms Suttons Bay & then warm up with mulled wine, soup or wood-fired pizza. Held on Saturdays through the winter with the exception of Feb. 10.

Onsite snowshoe rentals are available from noon-4pm. Additional dates include Sundays, Jan. 14 & Feb. 18. blackstarfarms. com/snowshoes-vines-wines

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Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 21

OPEN DANCE: Bodies in Motion, TC. Held every Weds., 8-11pm. Donation appreciated.

No partner needed. bodiesinmotiontc.com ----------------------------PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Tuesdays, 10:30am, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, lower-level Community Room. Preschoolers of all ages are invited to join for stories, songs & active fun. sbbdl.org ----------------------------BELLAIRE WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Bee Well Mead & Cider; Short’s Brewing Co. Southside event space; & Terrain. Held on Fridays through the middle of May from 9am-noon.

----------------------------BOYNE CITY MARKET AT THE PAVILION: Veterans Park Pavilion, Boyne City. Held every Sat. through May from 9am-12:30pm.

Shop local artists, food makers & farmers. boynecityfarmersmarket.org/series/marketat-the-pavilion-2 ----------------------------INDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato, TC. More than 35 vendors offer a variety of items from farm fresh eggs, meats & cheeses, to fruits, veggies, homemade breads & more. thevillagetc.com

art FORM + FUNCTION: Oliver Art Center,

Your Northern Michigan

Connection

Cherry Capital Airport tvcairport.com

It’s Time For You To Fly!

22 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

Frankfort. This exhibition is an exploration of sculptural forms & functional fiber & opens with a reception on Fri., Jan. 19 from 5-7pm.

It runs through Feb. 16. Includes artists from around Michigan presenting 3D sculptural works & assemblages in wood, ceramic, metal & other materials in the Beck & Borwell galleries. A range of fiber & related functional work will be displayed in the Fisher Room & North & South Exhibit Halls. Additionally, the galleries will include work created by artists in the community selected via an open call. The Oliver Art Center is open Tues. - Sat. from 10am-4pm & Sun. from noon-4pm. Closed on Monday. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org ----------------------------NORTHLAND WEAVERS & FIBER ARTS GUILD’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. The exhibition runs through March 3 & includes the work of 27 current & past members. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org ----------------------------“HAPPY”: Glen Arbor Arts Center, Main Gallery. This exhibit opens Jan. 12 with a reception from 5-7pm. “Happy” features the work of 26 artists who explore & interpret the many facets & meanings of happiness: literal to metaphorical, in 2D + 3D. Runs through March 21. Open Mon. through Fri., 9am-5pm.

Free. glenarborart.org/events/exhibit-happy ----------------------------“RISE, SERVE, LEAD! AMERICA’S WOMEN PHYSICIANS” EXHIBITION: Runs from Jan. 10 - Feb. 15 in the NCMC Library, Petoskey. A traveling exhibition celebrating the contributions & legacy of our nation’s women physicians, this is a display of six roll-up graphic banners. It highlights the lives & achievements of U.S. women physicians who have made a difference through their medical practice & research, their work as activists, their service as administrators, & their mentorship to the next generation of doctors. ncmich.edu ----------------------------ART EXHIBIT: KATI ROSENBAUGH & LYNN STEPHENSON: City Opera House, TC. Enjoy contrasting visual arts mediums & styles - each taking inspiration from the beauty of northern Michigan. The exhibit runs from Jan. 7 - Feb. 29. cityoperahouse.org ----------------------------GUILD MEMBER SALON SHOW 2024: Runs from Jan. 9 - Feb. 16 at Crooked Tree

Arts Center, Carnegie Galleries, TC. Featuring more than 100 artists, this recurring exhibition opportunity rotates between CTAC’s Petoskey & TC locations each year, & features work by Crooked Tree Arts Center’s Artist Guild Members. An opening reception will be held on Jan. 12 from 5-7pm. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-traverse-city/guild-membersalon-show-2024 ----------------------------“BARBARA REICH EXHIBIT: ART IN THE LIBRARY”: Bonobo Winery, library, TC. This exhibit features a select collection of Barbara’s original paintings that focus on still life & snow.

Runs through Feb. 26. barbarareich.com ----------------------------CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY: - CULTIVATED: RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATURE: Runs from Jan. 13 - Feb. 24 in Bonfield Gallery. Contemporary photographs, fiber works, & installations explore the concept of cultivation. An opening reception will be held on Jan. 13 from 5:30-7pm. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/cultivated-relationships-nature - FIELDS OF VISION: JURIED FINE ART EXHIBITION: Runs from Jan. 13 - Feb. 24 in Gilbert Gallery. Annual juried all-media exhibition featuring works by Michigan artists.

An opening reception will be held on Jan. 13 from 5:30-7pm. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-petoskey/fields-vision-juried-fine-artexhibition - MICHIGAN MEDITATIONS: Runs from Jan. 6 - Feb. 3 in Atrium Gallery. Michigan pastel artists Linda Klenczar & Sharon Wade unite for this exhibition. Despite their depictions of contrasting settings—outside & inside, organic & structured, nature & urban—these artists are united by their desire to capture a sense of peace. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/michigan-meditations

Deadline for Dates information is Tuesday for the following week.

by JOSEPH BEYER

Ferrari

TOY HARBOR

CREATIVE & QUALITY TOYS IN DOWNTOWN TRAVERSE CITY

Director Michael Mann’s first film in eight years came roaring into the theatrical marketplace with all the fanfare worthy of a star-studded cast and a famed helmer. But despite grand international aspirations for an equally grand biography of a singular sports car and racing legend, Ferrari is disappointingly in need of too many tuneups for this critic to recommend highly.

(Although I did find myself fascinated by the cinematic car wreck as I watched it play out over 2 hours and 10 minutes idling toward the finish.)

As a story, the Ferrari narrative is grounded in truth and based on Brock Yates’ 1991 biography Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races, the Machine. As a screenplay adaptation in the hands of Troy Kennedy Martin (famed writer of the original 1969 film The Italian Job), it moves broadly and confidently across time and space historically and then introspectively into the inner life of the motorsports legend.

The film is mainly set in the Italian town of Modena where the iconic car company was born, and the script is crafted quite beautifully to fit Mann’s directorial style of observation and voyeurism with characters in the midst of existential crisis.

The real Enzo Ferrari’s life was a cycle of personal tragedies, booms, and financial busts, and finally defined by a sort of Elon-Muskian drive to succeed at all costs.

Playing a character filled with inherent complications and drama, actor Adam Driver portrays Ferrari in a subdued, quietly tortured, and sometimes intriguing way, rather than offering the larger-thanlife personality you might expect.

As he struggles to use lagging car sales to fuel his truest desire for car racing, Ferrari

is simultaneously haunted with personal demons of his past, the mechanical limits of his vision, and the remnants of a loveless marriage to his wife and business partner, Laura.

As played with surprising gusto by Penélope Cruz (a star who seems determined to continue exploring powerful and complicated characters in this stage of her career), Laura battles with Enzo for his love and attention in the only relationship on screen you’ll likely care about. Using the quiet precision of a relationship dynamic forged from years of resentment, Cruz and Driver’s performances deliver much needed synchronicity, cohesion, and depth.

If, as some say, a film is only as great as its worst moments, then Ferrari does offer many to choose from, from the cheeky and somewhat unrewarding cameo

by Patrick Dempsey (another real-life racing aficionado) as Peiro Taruffi, to the repetitive laps around the track that prove hard to reimagine, to the wild variation of accents and colloquial approaches to “playing Italian.”

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But most confusing might be the key performance of Ferrari’s mistress, Lina Lardi (as played by actress Shailene Woodley), whom Ferrari hides and protects along with his secret son. Lina and Ferrari’s relationship is meandering, lethargic, and lacks chimica romantica in all ways. Casting director Francine Maisler’s “what if?” choice becomes one of the movie’s most fatal flaws.

As the credits roll, you may find yourself wondering if you really know much more about Enzo Ferrari than you could have gleaned from the trailer, but for race fans or motor history buffs, it may be enough.

866-929-9044 ComfortKeepersTC.com

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 23

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska ENCORE 201, TC 1/13 & 1/19-20 -- DJ Ricky T, 9

MARI VINEYARDS, TC 1/19 -- John Piatek, 3

IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC DINING ROOM: 1/19 -- Matt Phend & Brian Clous, 6-9

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC 1/16 -- Rebekah Jon, 6-9 1/17 -- Speed Trivia, 7-9

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC 9:30: 1/12-13 -- Risque Thu -- DJ Leo 1/19-20 -- Life Theory KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING 1/13 -- Keith Scott, 7-9 1/15 -- Trivia, 6-8 1/16 -- Open Mic, 6-8 LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM: 1/15 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9 TASTING ROOM: 1/19 -- Kevin Johnson, 5-7

NORTH BAR, TC 7-10: 1/13 & 1/17 -- Jesse Jefferson 1/18 -- Rebekah Jon 1/20 -- Mal & Mike PARK PLACE HOTEL, TC BEACON LOUNGE: 1/13 & 1/19-20 -- Jim Hawley, 7-10 SORELLINA'S, TC SLATE RESTAURANT: Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 5-8 Fri. & Sat. – Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9 THE ALLUVION, TC 1/17 -- Here:Say Storytelling - Law + Order, 7-9:30 1/18 -- Jeff Haas Trio Feat. Laurie Sears & Lisa Flahive, 6-8

LIL BO, TC Tues. – Trivia, 8-10 Sun. – Karaoke, 8 MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC 1/13 -- Chris Smith, 8-11

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC 1/13 -- DJ Franck, 8-11

THE PARLOR, TC 8-11: 1/13 -- Mal & Mike 1/16 -- Jesse Jefferson 1/17 -- Wink Solo 1/18 -- Jimmy Olson 1/20 -- Brett Mitchell

nitelife

jan 13 - jan 21 edited by jamie kauffold

Send Nitelife to: events@traverseticker.com

THE PUB, TC 1/13 -- Empire Highway, 8-11 1/14 & 1/21 -- Rob Coonrod, 6-9 1/17 -- Tyler Roy, 7-10 1/18 -- John Piatek, 7-10 THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC 1/13 -- Jazz Cabbage, 8-10 1/14 -- Second Sunday Improv Show w/ Tilt Think Comedy Collective, 7 Tue -- Open Mic Night, 7-9 Wed -- Jazz Show & Jam, 6-8 Thurs -- Trivia Night, 7-8 1/19 -- Justin Wierenga, 8-10 1/20 -- Aaron Dye, 8-10 1/21 -- Comedy Open Mic, 7 TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY CLUB, TC 1/13 -- Good on Paper Improv, 8-10 UNION STREET STATION, TC 1/18 -- Ladies Night Dance Mix DJ 1Wave, 10

Antrim & Charlevoix BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM 7-9: 1/13 -- Patrick Ryan 1/18 -- Adam and The Cabana Boys Fri -- Patrick Ryan & Josh Raber 1/20 -- Adam Engelman & Patrick Ryan BRIDGE STREET TAP ROOM, CHARLEVOIX 1/16 -- Patrick Ryan, 7

ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS 7-10: 1/13 -- Peter Allen Jensen 1/20 -- Jazz Cabbage FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE 1/13 -- Dance Party w/ DJ Mark, 8-11 1/20 -- Doc Woodward, 6:30-9:30

JAX NORTHSIDE, CHARLEVOIX Weds. -- Trivia Night, 7-9 TORCH LAKE CAFÉ, CENTRAL LAKE Thu -- Open Mic & Nick Vasquez, 7 Fri - Sat -- Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick, 7:30 Sun -- Trivia, 5:30; Dominic Fortuna, 6:30

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee

Double your rock at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee on Sat, Jan. 20 at 9pm! An awesome night of rock and roll with AC/DC tribute band Let There be Rock and Guns n' Roses tribute Rocket Queen. Don’t pass up this free concert!

Otsego, Crawford & Central ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 6-9: 1/13 -- Kenny Thompson 1/19 -- Rick Woods 1/20 -- Keith Menzies

LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT, MANISTEE 1/20 -- Rocket Queen & Let There Be Rock, 9

BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY ROOT CELLAR: 1/13 -- John Piatek Duo, 6

TASTING ROOM, 9: 1/13 -- Michelle Chenard 1/19 -- DJ Parker Marshall

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY 2-6: 1/13 -- Michelle Chenard 1/20 -- Chris Calleja

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR 1/18 -- Trivia, 7-9

GYPSY DISTILLERY, PETOSKEY 1/18 -- Trivia Night, 6:30-8:30 HIGH FIVE SPIRITS, PETOSKEY

C.R.A.V.E., GAYLORD 6-9: 1/13 -- Lou Thumser 1/19 -- Kenny Thompson

Leelanau & Benzie Emmet & Cheboygan

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY Tue -- Trivia Night, 7-9 1/19 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD 1/19 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY 1/13 -- Donald Benjamin, 7-10 1/17 -- PubStumper's Trivia, 6:30 1/19 -- Lee Fayssoux, 7-10 1/20 -- Holly Keller, 7-10 ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES: 1/19 -- Driving Dawn, 9

24 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU 1/19 -- Chris Smith, 5:30-8 POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS 1/13 -- Ty Parkin & The Old Souls, 4-8 1/20 -- Steel & Wood, 5-8

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY 2-4:30: 1/13 -- Mark Daisy 1/21 -- Jabo Bihlman

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 1/13 -- Sam & Justus, 8 1/18 -- Musicians Playground ‘Open Mic,’ 7 1/20 -- Brett Harfort, 8

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE SLOPESIDE TENT, NEAR CRYSTAL CLIPPER CHAIRLIFT, 3-5: 1/13 -- Luke Woltanski 1/14 -- Carl Pawluk 1/20 -- Nick Vasquez VISTA LOUNGE: 1/13 -- Carl Pawluk, 2-5; Tommy B. & The Verk, 8-11 1/14 -- Jesse Jefferson, 2-5; Jim Hawley, 8-11 1/19 -- Scarkazm, 8-11 1/20 -- Christopher Winkelmann,

THE HIGHLANDS AT HARBOR SPRINGS SLOPESIDE LOUNGE: 1/20 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

2-5; Scarkazm, 8-11 DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1 FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR 1/18 -- Rhett & John, 4-7 GLEN ARBOR WINES, GLEN ARBOR 1/13 & 1/20 -- Saturday Night Live Music, 7-9 1/16 -- Luke Woltanski, 5:30-8 IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE 6-8: 1/13 -- Wink 1/19 -- John Paul 1/20 -- Zie

LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 1/13 -- Tim Jones, 6:30-9:30 1/18 -- Trivia Night, 7-9 ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH 1/13 -- Barefoot, 5-8 1/18 -- Open Mic Night, 6-8:30 1/19 -- Blair Miller, 5-8 1/20 -- Luke Woltanski, 5-8 SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY 1/19 -- Friday Night Live w/ Clint Weaner, 5-8 STORMCLOUD BREWING FRANKFORT 1/13 -- Jake Frysinger, 7-9

CO.,

THE HOMESTEAD RESORT, GLEN ARBOR WHISKERS BAR & GRILL, 6-9: 1/13 – Bryan Poirer 1/20 -- Andrew Littlefield

lOGY

JAN 15 - JAN 21

BY ROB BREZSNY

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): We all go through phases that feel extra plodding and pedestrian. During these times, the rhythms and melodies of our lives seem drabber than usual. The good news is that I believe you Capricorns will experience fewer of these slowdowns than usual in 2024. The rest of us will be seeing you at your best and brightest on a frequent basis. In fact, the gifts and blessings you offer may flow toward us in abundance. So it’s no coincidence if you feel exceptionally well-loved during the coming months. PS: The optimal way to respond to the appreciation you receive is to ratchet up your generosity even higher.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Rainer Maria

Rilke exalted the physical pleasure that sex brings. He mourned that so many "misuse and squander this experience and apply it as a stimulant to the tired spots of their lives and as a distraction instead of a rallying toward exalted moments." At its best, Rilke said, sex gives us "a knowing of the world, the fullness and the glory of all knowing." It is a sublime prayer, an opportunity to feel sacred communion on every level of our being. That's the erotic experience I wish for you in the coming weeks, Virgo. And I believe you will have an expanded potential for making it happen.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries chemist

Percy Julian (1899–1975) was a trailblazer in creating medicine from plants. He patented over 130 drugs and laid the foundation for the production of cortisone and birth control pills. Julian was also a Black man who had to fight relentlessly to overcome the racism he encountered everywhere. I regard him as an exemplary member of the Aries tribe, since he channeled his robust martial urges toward constructive ends again and again and again. May he inspire you in the coming weeks, dear Aries. Don’t just get angry or riled up. Harness your agitated spirit to win a series of triumphs.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Even if you are

currently bonded with a spouse or partner, I recommend you consider proposing matrimony to an additional person: yourself. Yes, dear Libra, I believe the coming months will be prime time for you to get married to your own precious soul. If you’re brave enough and crazy enough to carry out this daring move, devote yourself to it with lavish abandon. Get yourself a wedding ring, write your vows, conduct a ceremony, and go on a honeymoon. If you’d like inspiration, read my piece “I Me Wed”: tinyurl.com/SelfMarriage

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Talking about a problem can be healthy. But in most cases, it should be a preliminary stage that leads to practical action; it shouldn’t be a substitute for action. Now and then, however, there are exceptions to this rule. Mere dialogue, if grounded in mutual respect, may be sufficient to dissolve a logjam and make further action unnecessary. The coming days will be such a time for you, Scorpio. I believe you and your allies can talk your way out of difficulties.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian cartoonist Charles M. Schulz wrote, "My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out.

What am I doing right?" I suspect that in 2024, you may go through a brief phase similar to his: feeling blank, yet quite content. But it won’t last. Eventually, you will be driven to seek a passionate new sense of intense purpose. As you pursue this reinvention, a fresh version of happiness will bloom.

For best results, be willing to outgrow your old ideas about what brings you gladness and gratification.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the fall

of 1903, The New York Times published an article that scorned human efforts to develop flying machines. It prophesied that such a revolutionary technology was still at least a million years in the future—possibly 10 million years. In conclusion, it declared that there were better ways to apply our collective ingenuity than working to create such an unlikely invention. Nine weeks later, Orville and Wilbur Wright disproved that theory, completing a flight with the airplane they had made. I suspect that you, Aquarius, are also primed to refute an expectation or prediction about your supposed limitations. (Afterward, try not to gloat too much.)

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Your sweat and

tears are being rewarded with sweets and cheers. Your diligent, detailed work is leading to expansive outcomes that provide relief and release. The discipline you’ve been harnessing with such panache is spawning breakthroughs in the form of elegant liberations. Congrats, dear Pisces! Don’t be shy about welcoming in the fresh privileges flowing your way. You have earned these lush dividends.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus actor Pierce Brosnan says, "You struggle with money. You struggle without money. You struggle with love. You struggle without love. But it’s how you manage. You have to keep laughing, you have to be fun to be with, and you have to live with style." Brosnan implies that struggling is a fundamental fact of everyday life, an insistent presence that is never far from our awareness. But if you're willing to consider the possibility that his theory may sometimes be an exaggeration, I have good news: The coming months could be less filled with struggle than ever before. As you deal with the ease and grace, I hope you will laugh, be fun to be with, and live with style—without having to be motivated by ceaseless struggle.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author and activist William Upski Wimsatt is one of my role models. Why? In part, because he shares my progressive political ideals and works hard to get young people to vote for enlightened candidates who promote social justice. Another reason I love him is that he aspires to have 10,000 role models. Not just a few celebrity heroes, but a wide array of compassionate geniuses working to make the world more like paradise. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to gather new role models, dear Gemini. I also suggest you look around for new mentors, teachers, and inspiring guides.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I want you to fulfill your desires! I want you to get what you want! I don’t think that yearnings are unspiritual indulgences that divert us from enlightenment.

On the contrary, I believe our longings are sacred homing signals guiding us to our highest truths.

With these thoughts in mind, here are four tips to enhance your quests in the coming months: 1. Some of your desires may be distorted or superficial versions of deeper, holier desires. Do your best to dig down and find their heart source. 2. To help manifest your desires, visualize yourself as having already accomplished them. 3. Welcome the fact that when you achieve what you want, your life will change in unpredictable ways. You may have to deal with a good kind of stress. 4. Remember that people are more likely to assist you in getting what you yearn for if you’re not greedy and grasping.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I regard Leo psychologist Carl Jung (1875–1961) as a genius with a supreme intellect. Here's a quote from him that I want you to hear: "We should not pretend to understand the world only by the intellect; we apprehend it just as much by feeling. Therefore, the judgment of the intellect is, at best, only the half of truth, and must, if it be honest, also come to an understanding of its inadequacy." You may already believe this wisdom in your gut, Leo. But like all of us, you live in a culture filled with authorities who value the intellect above feeling. So it's essential to be regularly reminded of the bigger truth—especially for you right now.

To make righteous decisions, you must respect your feelings as much as your intellect.

“Jonesin” Crosswords "Welcome to '24"--the year with things in common. by Matt Jones

ACROSS 1. Roast battle hosts, for short 4. Bumble profile maintainers?

8. Flight seat option 13. "___ y Plata" (Montana motto) 14. Actress Mitra of "The Practice" 16. National prefix 17. Lead character of "24" 19. Feeling regret 20. Early Peruvian 21. Nursery rhyme pie fillers ("four and twenty", they say) 23. Connect with 25. Barely achieve 26. Rowboat implement 27. George Burns title role 29. Impersonated 30. Spot for a soak 33. Big name in circuses 36. Loads 37. Ratio that's often 24 for film cameras 42. Like some salad dressings 43. Stracciatella, e.g.

44. 7'7" former NBAer Manute 45. "___ the Walrus" (1967 Beatles tune) 48. Uno plus uno 49. Talk trash about 52. Removes names from pictures, on some social media platforms 54. To the letter 56. Units where 24 = 100% 60. Poodle plaguer 61. Remain patient 62. The NBA sets it at 24 64. Penny-pincher 65. Vietnamese capital 66. Burns downvote?

67. Planetarium display 68. ___ baby (one who's famous via family connections) 69. Pre-album drops

DOWN 1. Mint-garnished cocktail 2. They surround brains 3. Goal-oriented item?

4. Royal sphere 5. Obsessive whale hunter of fiction 6. Biffed it 7. Creep around 8. "He's right. Ain't no rule that says a dog can't play basketball" movie 9. Arctic First Nations resident 10. Make Kool-Aid 11. Give for a bit 12. Rowing machine units 15. Took a curved path 18. "WandaVision" actress Dennings 22. Pond fish 24. Fairy tale meanie 28. Come-___ (enticements) 30. Was the odd one out 31. "___ de Replay" (Rihanna's first single) 32. Joining word 34. Actress Adams 35. Sister of Chris and Stewie 36. Division for "Hamlet" or "Hamilton" 37. Keyless car key 38. Duran Duran hit of 1982 39. Former Viacom chairman Sumner 40. ___-pitch softball 41. Reduce 45. Comic book artists 46. ___ standstill 47. Swampland 50. Polar covering 51. They may never have been higher 52. Part that the ointment Bag Balm was designed for 53. Depeche Mode lead singer David 55. Short-lived gridiron org. revived in 2020 56. Legs, in film noir monologues 57. "In memoriam" piece 58. Simpson who got into crosswords around 2008 59. Word before "Hammer time!"

63. A.F.L. merger partner

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 25

NORTHERN EXPRESS

CLA SSI FIE DS

DOWNTOWN ROOMS FOR RENT: THE WHITING. Downtown rooms for rent on a month to month basis. Rents starting at $500/ mo includes all utilities. Single occupancy, no pets. 231-947-6360. www.thewhitinghotel.com ____________________________________

COTTAGE FOR RENT - TRAVERSE CITY: TC 1BR Cottage, Fully Furnished, Includes All Utilities, New Appliances, W/D, Cable TV, Very Nice & Quiet, Beautiful Setting, Parking, No Pets; $1,600 per month, (231) 631-7512.

Torch Conservation Center Gallery Manager: WANTED- The TRUE BLUE Gallerv in Alden needs an enthusiastic individual to manage operations, staff, inventory and artwork. ____________________________________

OTHER: SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231-228-6248 ____________________________________

HIRING: COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP SPECIALIST Join us and help live out our mission! Now accepting applications for a full-time Commercial Relationship Specialist.

Must be able to promote and attract new commercial business to the credit union by developing relationships within the community. See website full details. Benefits: competitive compensation, great insurance, PTO, 401(k) match, and more! https://www. tbacu.com/our-story/careers/

MANAGEMENT & RETAIL EXPERIENCE PREFERRED. Send resume by Feb 1, 2024 to: Gallery@conservetorch.org.

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231-346-4100

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The newly constructed Riverview 401 condos provide guests with a unique opportunity to stay in the heart of it all in downtown Traverse City. These luxury condos are located on Front Street directly on the Boardman River. As a guest, you will be able to take in spectacular views of West Grand Traverse Bay from inside and from the outdoor patios. Boasting 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, the property will accommodate up to 16 guests between both the upper and lower units. Secure onsite covered parking is included.

Northern Express Weekly • January 15, 2024 • 27

28 • January 15, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly