Northern Express - July 10, 2023

Photo by Josh + Ali Moon

Look to Pros for Meaningful Action

Sometimes the deluge of issues we face is daunting. What can I do to stop this march to oblivion?

Fortunately, we have professional organizations that are experts at making things happen. They work hard to educate us and organize effective actions. I support them with dollars and participation when I can. Years ago, I thought I had to know “enough” to engage. Instead of doing anything, I sidelined myself and felt guilty. Now, it’s easy to help.

For example, I signed up with Oil and Water Don’t Mix (OWDM) to watch progress in shutting down Line 5 (an epic threat to our Great Lakes). This week I received this email from them:

“A lot is happening in the work to shut down the Enbridge Line 5 crude oil pipeline— so much that it’s sometimes difficult to keep up! We’ve got you covered.” It goes on to promote a Zoom panel presentation on July 19, now on my calendar.

I’m grateful to OWDM, For Love Of Water (FLOW) and others for doing this work. This is what happens when we engage—and financially support—this work. They make it easy for us to participate in meaningful ways.

Goodbye guilt. Be the change.

Betsy Alles | Frankfort

columns & stuff

Equal Opportunity

I read Mr. Tuttle’s opinion dated July 3, 2023. I believe he is confusing equal opportunity with equality. Equal opportunity guarantees a level playing field where talents and interests allow an individual to excel. Equality guarantees outcome.*

Even Senator Bernie Sanders doesn’t agree with equality* (which is what he stated on Bill Maher’s program). He supports equal opportunity. So do I.

If one wishes to go into history, I can argue that George Washington did not win battles. But he won the last one!

Christine Ann Maxbauer | Traverse City

*Editor’s Note: In a March 3, 2023, interview, Bill Maher asked Bernie Sanders to define the difference between “equality” and “equity.” Sanders responded, “I don’t know what the answer to that is.” Sanders added, “Equality is equality of opportunity.” Maher said, “Equity, I think, is more of a guarantee of outcome, is it not?” to which Sanders replied, “Yeah, I think so.” Maher then asked, “Which side do you come down on?” and Sanders responded, “Equality.”

Editor: Jillian Manning Finance Manager: Libby Shutler

Manager: Roger Racine Sales: Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance, Michele Young, Todd Norris, Abby Walton Porter, Caroline Bloemer

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, Randy Sills Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold

Contributors: Joseph Beyer, Ross Boissoneau, Ashlee Cowles, Geri Dietze, Anna Faller, Kierstin Gunsberg, Craig Manning, Stephen Tuttle

top ten this week’s

Listen to the Music of the Night

Whoops, did we get the haunting words of the Phantom stuck in your head? Abandon your defenses and let your soul take you where you long to be: Great Lakes Center for the Arts (GLCFA) for a musical celebration of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. The EGOT GOAT—that’s Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony meets Greatest Of All Time—had his 75th birthday this spring, and GLCFA is putting on a show in honor of the milestone that includes your favorite songs from Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sunset Boulevard, and more. The Broadway musical revue runs July 14 and 15, with doors at 7:30pm and the show at 8pm. Tickets start at $57 on the main level. Get all the details and purchase tickets by heading to greatlakescfa.org/events. (You alone can make these songs take flight!)

Don Your Lederhosen!

Gaylord’s annual Alpenfest is back in action July 11-15! (We’re especially looking forward to getting our groove on at the 22K Magic – Bruno Mars/Taylor Swift Tribute on Wednesday, July 12, from 8-10pm at the Main Stage.) Don’t miss the Burning of the Böögg, pet parade, Alpenfest Run, the Grand Parade, and so much more, including contests for best Alpenfest attire, stilt walking, and brat eating. Visit gaylordalpenfest.com for a complete schedule of events.

Hey, Watch It! Secret Invasion 4

Nick Fury is back on Earth…and just in time to deal with the latest threat to humankind. This time around, Marvel’s top spy is facing off against a sect of shapeshifting aliens called Skrulls who want to take the planet for their own. But when the enemy can look like everyone—even you—how can you trust anyone?

Fury’s allies doubt he’s up for the challenge of saving the world again, but Samuel L. Jackson brings his trademark dry humor, charisma, and general badassery to the show, promising us Fury can talk (or shoot) his way out of any tough spot. A few more stars join the Marvel cast in this miniseries, including Emilia Clarke as G’iah, a conflicted Skrull; Olivia Colman as MI6 agent Sonya Falsworth; and Kingsley Ben-Adir as rebel Skrull leader Gravik. Ben Mendelsohn returns as Talos, G’iah’s father and Fury’s friend, and Don Cheadle is back as James Rhodes, aka War Machine. New episodes stream Wednesdays on Disney+.

2 tastemaker

Fried Food Truck’s Roasted Beef Sandwich

Good food is the name of the game at Fried Food Truck in Lake Leelanau. While there’s nothing short of delicious on their almost entirely un-fried menu, the star of the show is their Roasted Beef Sandwich ($15). It starts with a tender, Detroit-style hoagie layered with shaved ribeye and melted sharp cheddar (which chefs “boost” with tomato, garlic, and red pepper). From there, they up the flavor ante with a healthy schmear of dijonnaise—ingredients: mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, horseradish, lemon zest, and confit garlic—and a savory onionmushroom relish. Scarf one down as is, or make it gluten free by topping a plate of home fries with all the beefy fixin’s. Find Fried Food Truck slinging their signature goodies at 45 North Winery (8580 E. Horn Rd, Lake Leelanau) from 11am-6pm Thursday to Sunday, and stay tuned for a monthly wine-pairing dinner, featuring chef Adam Raupp! Learn more at friedfoodtruck.com.

Photo by Bentley Photography

6 Mustang Stampede Across Mackinac Bridge

Which car made its debut at the New York World’s Fair in 1964? And has gone on to sell more than 10 million units? And win Motor Trend Car of the Year twice? If you guessed the Ford Mustang, you guessed right. This weekend, Mackinaw City celebrates this iconic vehicle with the 10th annual Ford Mustang Car Show on Saturday, July 15. Mustangs from 1964 to 2021 will be on display from 10am-4pm, followed by a parade of cars across the Mackinac Bridge at 4:30pm. Food and beverages will be on-site at the Straits State Harbor (409 S. Huron Street in Mackinaw City) plus fun and games for the whole family. The event is free to attend, and registration for the parade will be offered until full capacity is met on Friday from 2pm7pm and Saturday from 8am-2pm. To learn more or get more details on registration, visit mackinawcity.com or call (231) 436-5664.

A Wild July

Things are about to get wild…July has once again been proclaimed “Michigan Wildlife Conservation Month” by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. This year coincides with 10 years of work by the Michigan Wildlife Council (MWC), which works to “educat[e] the public about the importance of wildlife conservation and its role in preserving Michigan’s great outdoor heritage for future generations.” For 2023, the MWC shared its Top 10 list of wildlife management success stories. On the list: the Kirtland’s warbler, which was nearly extinct 50 years ago and now is estimated to have more than 2,000 nesting pairs; and moose, which have grown to number around 500 in the Upper Peninsula after decades of work to restore the population. Also in their Top 10 are pheasant, osprey, lake sturgeon, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, elk, muskellunge, and wood duck, many of which were threatened from loss of habitat or over-fishing and hunting. Get the scoop on these success stories and more at HereForMiOutdoors.org.

Stuff We Love: Riding for Refugees

Doug Hoff and Jordan Poznick aren’t your average cyclists. In 2021, they biked from St. Louis, Missouri, to Leelanau County…just for fun. In 2022, they were at it again, biking 560 miles that summer around the coast of Michigan. But the second time around, they dedicated the ride to help refugees and victims of the war in Ukraine, using the hashtag #rideforrefugees to raise funds on Instagram. “We’ve always enjoyed biking and sharing adventures,” Hoff says. “In 2022, we wanted our trip around much of the perimeter of Michigan to be for a reason bigger than ourselves, so we decided to try to raise awareness and money for Ukraine.” This July, they set off on their third adventure, a 700-mile trip from Gary, Indiana, through Chicago, Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula, and then ending again in Leelanau County. Once more, they’re hoping to shine awareness on the ongoing war and raise money to help folks in need in Ukraine. Follow along at #rideforrefugees.

bottoms up Brys Estates’ Frosé

The dog days of summer aren’t just the time of year when dogs (and humans) are panting from the heat. The name for these warm weeks in July and early August actually come from the Greeks and the Romans, who noticed the star Sirius—aka “big dog” in Latin—rises with the sun. So when the sun and Siris are at their highest, leave Fido in the air conditioned house and make your way to Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery on Old Mission Peninsula to cool off with their famous Frosé ($10). This icy pink beauty is made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Riesling and brightened up with strawberry and lemon juice for the perfect summer drink. Add a wine “topper” for $2-$3, or enjoy as is on their deck overlooking the green vineyards. Find a glass at 3309 Blue Water Road in Traverse City. (231) 223-9303, brysestate.com

Photo courtesy of Michigan Wildlife Council

ZONING CHANGES DESERVE DISCUSSION

spectator By Stephen Tuttle

The Traverse City Planning Commission recently recommended several zoning changes designed, they say, to help alleviate our current housing shortage. Any debate should come into sharp relief when the proposals are next discussed by the City Commission.

Though you won’t find it in our constitution or statutes, many people believe shelter in the form of housing is a fundamental human right to which we are all entitled. Others talk as if that right extends to the housing we want in the location we want for the price we want.

The primary goal of the zoning changes is to provide the opportunity for more housing in more locations, including multi-family housing in areas it is now prohibited by some zoning, more accessory dwelling units (ADU) in backyards, and, most controversially, more rentals in single-family neighborhoods that would not require property owners to be present.

There are multiple schools of thought on the impact such changes might bring.

Research by the Brookings Institution indicates owner-occupied rental requirements reduce the availability of a community’s rental housing inventory, driving up both demand and costs and increasing housing inequalities that already exist. They even call it a “back-door attack on renters.”

The other side of the argument seems to have more advocates. Trulia, Shelterforce, Habitat for Humanity, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and others believe owner-occupied housing is a key factor in maintaining neighborhood stability and fostering a sense of community. The owner-occupied housing advocates point to communities like Aspen, Colorado, and Sedona, Arizona, where rental properties, especially short-term rentals, have decimated the housing inventory and destabilized neighborhoods.

The fear among some Traverse City residents is that without owner-occupancy requirements, real estate investment groups, already existing or newly created, will buy existing single-family homes as they come to market, then either convert them to multifamily if possible, tear them down to create multi-family structures, or slap an ADU or two in the backyard as would be allowed by the proposed zoning changes.

Those investors will want to recoup the cost of those conversions—plus a reasonable return on their investment—so new rentals in that scenario will be at market rate and will not fall into the elusive “affordable housing” category. Additionally, converting singlefamily homes or home lots into multi-family rentals will reduce the single-family home

inventory, further driving up home prices in an already over-priced market.

Additionally, without owner-occupied rentals, there is some question as to who will maintain, repair, and enforce rules on the property. If ownership is an investment group located elsewhere, even out of state, how is that going to work? It’s likely a property management company will be required, and that adds additional expense to pass on to the renters.

Maybe the biggest mystery is whether or not the kind of rental opportunities now being proposed actually fill a need. We’re told Traverse City should cater more to a so-called “missing middle,” or middle income families with children. But there isn’t much evidence that that demographic is interested in small apartments or ADUs in someone else’s backyard. Nor is there much evidence that already existing homeowners have significant interest in filling their backyard with an ADU and renters who are strangers

It may be some zoning changes will help facilitate more rental properties, helping to at least somewhat mitigate an ongoing problem. It’s also possible urban living with greater density is not why people want to move here at all, that we should be focusing our efforts away from downtown where land, construction, and rents all need to be taxpayer subsidized for developers to make a profit.

And are we even asking the right questions? Are all those zoning changes, if enacted, going to negatively impact neighborhood stability and the sense of community that comes with that stability?

All of the above is speculative on all sides of the discussion; there is no objective right or wrong, and the only truth is we don’t know what the proposed zoning changes might create.

Increasing the number of available rental properties seems likely, but will that be an additional stressor on the single-family home inventory? Will such a change destabilize existing singlefamily home neighborhoods? If we fail to take any action, won’t that further squeeze the available rental inventory and drive those prices even higher? Does requiring owner-occupation depress the rental market? Does permitting off-site ownership reduce landlord involvement and accountability? And if we rezone or not, is there any way short of massive subsidization that provides reasonable housing opportunities for those already economically marginalized?

We have questions aplenty but no definitive answers. Those questions deserve both time and discussion as we try to figure this out.

MO-SAT 9-6 SU 11-5

144 E FRONT STREET TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49684 plamondons com

guest opinion

by Isiah Smith, Jr.

The nightmare that haunts my dreams and disturbs my sleep is the prospect that America’s flirtation with authoritarian rule may yet blossom into a full-fledged romance from which we will never divorce ourselves.

Some people think we are obsessed with the man elected President of the United States in 2016. In their minds, we continue to pay far too much attention to that authoritarian figure.

However, to them I say, “Sadly, you are not paying enough attention. He remains a clear and present danger to American democracy and the rule of law. One day he will be gone, but the poisonous politics he unleashed upon our country may well live on.”

Contrary to these assertions, we are not obsessed by the accidental president. The man is unimportant, dispensable, and irrelevant. He, like all of us, will eventually be consigned to the dustbin of history, unable to cause further harm. As the Greek Stoics remind us: memento mori, or remember that you will die.

What doesn’t die so easily is authoritarian philosophy making a mockery of truth and the rule of law. Toni Morrison once wrote that “facts can exist without human intelligence, truth cannot.”

Anyone interested in fully understanding the clear and present danger inherent in the threat the former president poses to our democracy and the rest of the free world should read Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present. Ben-Ghiat argues that, as history has shown, strongmen with dictatorial and tyrannical tendencies are as inevitable as the changing of the seasons and the phases of the moon.

Sadly, the United States has proven unusually susceptible to the loathsome lure of strongmen wannabees and authoritarianleaning politicians.

Unlike diamonds, the former president is not forever. In time he will fade away, but the progeny he has inspired will not, and more are sure to follow in an unending supply of arrogance seeking power.

We are fortunate that the meanspirited man-child governor of Florida appears both too slow afoot and comedically incompetent to create much of a following. His vacant stare and robotic delivery inspire more laughter than fear. It’s profoundly difficult to create and lead a mass following by merely moronically repeating his imbecilic pledge, “We’ll defeat the woke,” whenever he gets near a microphone.

To be a successful authoritarian requires, at minimum, some fragment of an idea. As we have seen, even bad ideas can attract followers. The Florida Man in Tallahassee suffers from a poverty of ideas.

Creeping authoritarianism is nothing to sleep on, nor ignore, not after the disaster of the past seven years. Politics is all about the pursuit of power; thus, anyone who enters politics is thirsting for power. The only thing that will quench their thirst is more power. Those power-seeking “public servants” waiting in the wings are no doubt salivating over the prospect of obtaining boundless authoritarian power. The “former guy” has already given them the road map and shown that it’s easier than they thought.

Ben-Ghiat warns us to beware of wouldbe leaders who attempt to sell themselves as pure and noble champions of the people and who claim that they are fighting against greedy and corrupt elites who disdain ordinary citizens. They resist all limitations to their powers and launch sustained attacks against established institutions that undergird our democratic institutions and our constitutional norms and laws.

From Mussolini to the present, these strongmen move swiftly to stack the judiciary and the legislative bodies with their hand-picked toadies. Then, to tighten their control, they declare war on the press. (Both Stalin and the former guy declared the press to be the “enemy of the people.”) Drunk on power, they proceed to scrap the laws the founders designed specifically to prevent such abuses of power.

When strongmen make absurdist comments such as, “Only I can fix it,” “I am your retribution,” and “They’re not coming after me, they’re coming after you—and I’m just standing in the way,” they present themselves as messianic saviors, the people’s champions singularly able to resist the evil and voracious elite and defeat them on behalf of the people. The only surprise is how easily the authoritarian dream can be realized.

The strongman’s most powerful weapon is his war against truth. Because, as Voltaire said (in translation), “...those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Nothing explains Jan. 6 better than those elegant words.

The last thing you need to know about strongmen: They never leave voluntarily and will do anything to hold on to power. Even resorting to violence.

Sound familiar?

“Like one, that on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread, And having once turned round walks on, And turns no more his head; Because he knows, a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread.”

— Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Isiah Smith, Jr. is a retired government attorney.

AN ANTI-SOCIALIST TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR MICHIGAN

guest opinion

by David Bessmer

Recently, in response to civil rights groups’ advisories against travel to his state, U.S. Senator and former Florida governor Rick Scott issued this statement: “Let me give you a travel warning: if you’re a Socialist, Communist, somebody that believes in big government, I would think twice—think twice—if you’re thinking about taking a vacation or moving to Florida.”

Well, we can all admire Sen. Scott for wanting to keep socialist thought from infiltrating his state. However, it seems to me even more important to hold off at the border actual socialist behavior. This is especially critical in today’s brainwashed, woke culture where most people don’t realize the extent of socialist oppression to which they are already subject. So I have composed a fairly detailed travel warning which I strongly

and fire departments or EMT services or from hospitals that receive public funding or accept government insurance.

Do not travel on any communally owned roads, streets, sidewalks, or conveyances. Enter the state only by private aircraft, landing at a privately owned airfield and paying no attention to deep-state air-traffic control.

If you are moving to Michigan (in addition to all the above)…

Avoid taking up residence in any municipality where you are forced to buy your water from a socialized public system. Choose a dwelling or building site in the country, where you can pump your own free, unfluoridated water straight out of the ground. By doing so, you will also avoid one of the

U.S. Senator and former Florida governor Rick Scott issued this statement: “Let me give you a travel warning: if you’re a Socialist, Communist, somebody that believes in big government, I would think twice—think twice—if you’re thinking about taking a vacation or moving to Florida.”

advise our own state’s leaders to promote in order to discourage visitors from engaging in socialist activities while in Michigan.

If you are traveling to Michigan…

Do not set foot on any socialized, publicly “owned” land, such as federal and state parks, forests, campgrounds, and nature preserves or municipal parks and beaches. Remember that a “commons” is a theft of both private property and taxpayers’ money.

Similarly, since almost all our waterways are considered a commons, do not use them for boating, fishing, swimming, paddling and so forth. If you come here specifically to enjoy Michigan’s water wonderland, you should be able to find a private farm pond whose owner will charge you a fair admission fee.

If you should fall into one of our Great Lakes, please learn to swim rather than summon the big-government Coast Guard. (They’ll just ticket you for not wearing a USCGapproved personal floatation device.)

Don’t even think about exercising your riparian “rights” by walking along a beach in front of private property.

Do not attend sporting, cultural, or entertainment events at venues such as colleges, schools, arenas, stadiums, theaters, museums, or open spaces that are to any extent publicly owned or funded. Make sure no cultural event you attend is supported by federal or state grant money.

For the love of God, stay out of public libraries.

Take care of your own problems. Do not seek help from public agencies such as police

most disgusting of all socialist afflictions— the one where you can’t go to the bathroom without paying the government to carry off and “process” your own personal metabolic byproducts via public sewers. And don’t be fooled: most local governments charge your septic-tank pumping company to empty their trucks into municipal processing facilities, so the best practice is probably to surreptitiously divert your household outflow into the nearest body of water or wetland.

Do not seek employment with any public agency or governmental unit. Home school your children or send them to parochial or for-profit schools. Do not send your offspring to any college or university, except Hillsdale. Be prepared to pay for all your own medical expenses, out of pocket or via private insurance. Do not let Medicare pay any of your medical bills.

Do not spend any money that you have received from Social Security or any other publicly funded pension program, veterans’ benefits, or other kind of welfare. This is stolen money. Until someone finds a way to return it to its rightful owners, it’s probably best to bury it in your backyard, uphill from your septic field.

That said, we want to extend to you a warm and heartfelt welcome to Michigan—whether you are coming here for the vacation of a lifetime or to start a new life in the Wolverine state. And please know that by complying with this advisory you are helping to ensure that the prosperity engendered by our sacred system of private enterprise will never be crushed under the weight of big-government socialism—that Michigan will always be a thriving state where people love to vacation and live.

David Bessmer is a retired writer and editor living in Grand Traverse County.

Draken, Kraken, and Nuts

Two NoMi sailors and their compatriots race from Washington to Alaska

By Geri Dietze

An intrepid crew of sailors, aka Unsalted Nuts, left Port Townsend, Washington, on June 5 to compete in the Race to Alaska (R2AK), a grueling, dangerous, 750-mile run up the inside passage from Washington through British Columbia and Alaska.

The route is a labyrinth of islands with the Pacific ocean’s power creating some of the world’s fastest currents. This race is not for the faint of heart…or for those seeking a comfortable berth, normal sleep, warm food, emergency services, or a motor. We could go on, but suffice it to say that R2AK is sometimes serious fun, and sometimes just straight-up serious.

The R2AK organization does not mince words: “It’s like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, being run down by a freighter, or eaten by a grizzly bear.” First prize is $10,000. Second prize is a set of steak knives. Just finishing is priceless. (In 2023, 40 teams were accepted and 16 finished.)

Who Are These People?

Yes, they have a penchant for danger. They’re also tenacious, courageous, loyal, and funny. Most importantly, these people like and respect each other. They’ve shared close quarters around the world, agreed on tough decisions, and worked hard for their common goals. Heather Jankens explains,

“We [do] our best to take care of each other.” Landlubbers, meet your new role models.

Heather Jankens, Omena Unsalted Nuts is the result of Jankens’ search for sailors who share her penchant for quirky—or irrational—sailing adventures: She’s crossed the north Atlantic on the Draken Viking ship and the Indian Ocean via hollowed-out mango tree in the Kraken Cup. Closer to home, she’s crewed on the Madeline and Champion of Traverse City’s Maritime Heritage Alliance. She’s also the executive coordinator for the organization.

Think of Heather as an event planner for impractical boat trips, cajoling her crew into grabbing their gear and meeting up someplace inconvenient. Special skill: She’s “not opposed to bad ideas, abnormal rigs, and strange places.”

Homer Williams, Boyne City Williams was sailing solo from Boyne City to Charlevoix by age seven, and also comes with Draken Viking and Kraken Cup crew credentials. Special skill: Once saved a 76-foot ketch (a two-masted sailboat) from disaster by outmaneuvering a 60-foot wave, using “the best bad idea” involving seat-ofthe-pants physics.

Greg Flannigan, Baltimore, Maryland Circumnavigated the globe, age three, with family, aboard a 53-foot steel ketch.

“It seemed to work,” he deadpans. “No one died.” Special skill: Nerves of steel developed while reef surfing Kneeknocker Pass in French Polynesia.

John Flannigan (Greg’s dad), Baltimore, Maryland Skipper of the Flannigan family ketch. Special skill: navigating Kneeknocker

Pass. Plus, deep experience in modern boats (as opposed to Viking ships and hollowed-out logs).

Pelayo Secades Roncero, Bergen, Norway Marine biologist turned world sailor and for-hire adventurer. A true team player. Special Skill: Rigging specialist for large

Unsalted Nuts sailors navigate log debris on the race course.

Part of the Unsalted Nuts team at the beginning of the race. From left to right, Pelayo Secades, Micheal Breske, and Heather Jankens.

stages, operas, events. Useful for potential Unsalted Nuts Does Broadway.

Michael Breske, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Draken crew member, hiker, diver, rafter, world adventurer, humanitarian. Board member of Haitian nonprofit, P4H Global. Ready to go virtually anywhere on very short notice. Special skill: Adaptive, resourceful, problem solver. Limbo champ, Copenhagen, 2015.

The Proving Ground

The Nuts sailed aboard Sabrosa, a 2006 Henderson 30 well-known among racers for being maneuverable and fast—sometimes too fast. For optimal handling, sailor chatrooms advise a crew of “10 beefy guys,” but in the case of Nuts, five variously-sized guys and Heather. (Despite the modern craft, the crew’s traditional Viking/tall ship skills are still essential to surviving R2AK.)

Sabrosa is a luxury ride compared to the exposed kayaks and rowboats chosen by some of the participants for the race. The only requirement in the R2AK is that all entrants be completely non-motorized. That means just sails, oars, paddles, or pedal power (bicycle gears and paddle-wheels).

The 40-mile Stage 1 proving ground of R2AK separates the hardcore from the merely stalwart as they travel from Port Townsend to Victoria, British Columbia. In this leg, Sabrosa came in fourth.

Into the Wild

If 40 miles of sailing or paddling seems like no big deal, how about 710 miles? That’s the length of the second stage of the race, which runs from Victoria to Ketchikan, Alaska.

Sabrosa worked through stiff winds and wild currents, sailing through the night whenever possible, using their watch system of four up and two asleep, unless something dramatic happened and all hands were needed. But the wind came and went, and when the wind died, they rowed. “Oars are crucial,” Jankens says.

Day three, the crew was able to sail through the tricky tidal rapids of Seymour Narrows. “Seymour Narrows was my biggest

worry, but it turned out fine,” Jankens tells us. But eventually the crew decided to take back channels to make progress. “We realized we couldn’t beat into the wind…and not hazard our vessel. Or ourselves.”

By day five, other boats were withdrawing from the race because beating into the wind had damaged their equipment. Then gale conditions and 45 mph gusts in Johnstone Strait, a narrow 68-mile passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland, famous for wind and wicked tides, brought the race to a standstill for all involved.

Two days of idleness can be tough on sailors. “We didn’t expect to get winded into a tiny spot in the wilds…surrounded by bears, [but] we hoped for the best,” Jankens says.

To lighten things up, the guys posed on the beach in their Speedos for a “Wish you were here” greeting to send to the race-boss up ahead in Ketchikan. “Then we busted out the good coffee,” Jankens says with a laugh.

To the Bitter End

The following days saw Sabrosa moving without stopping. “When there is wind, it is right on our nose. When there is no wind, we row,” Jankens says. On their tenth night, in the rain, the crew rounded Cape Caution, a place where one is exposed to a combination of ocean swell from the Pacific along with wind and waves from the inside passage. “They didn’t name it Cape of No Problems,” says Jankens.

From the Bella Bella checkpoint, they were on their own for the next 200 miles. In place of other boats and signs of civilization, Sabrosa cruised with the whales. Hecate Strait, with wind, tricky tides, shoals, and shallows, “beats us hard, [but] we work[ed] through it.”

On day 14, they reach Ketchikan, the finish line, for an admirable eighth place. Fellow racers, waiting dockside, christened them with salt.

The Nuts are unsalted no more.

Support the crew: The Unsalted Nuts are fundraising for the Schooner Madeline and the Maritime Heritage Association to promote sailing and the Great Lakes. Unsalted-nuts.com.

APRIL

June

Fonts: Gotham Black / Century Expanded

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BEACH ROBOT

Meet BeBot and PixieDrone, The Watershed Center’s robot helpers

By Kierstin Gunsberg

In an era where technology is integrated into just about everything, even our beaches are getting the high-tech treatment.

The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay has recently received two cuttingedge beach cleaning robots, BeBot and PixieDrone, through the Council of the Great Lakes Region Foundation, thanks to a generous donation from Meijer. This year, these “robots” are commencing their first summer patrolling TC’s shores and waterways. Here’s how they’re helping to keep our beaches safe and plastic-free for beachgoers and wildlife alike.

The Bots

Meet BeBot. Resembling a dune buggy more than a humanoid, the stealthy beachcleaning robot was designed by Searial Cleaners, a division of Poralu Marine (an international company that designs sustainable marinas).

A totally green cleaning machine free of gas emissions, BeBot starts its shift by announcing its presence, ensuring the safety

of any critters (or humans) nearby. Once the literal coast is clear, BeBot gets to work, preserving the tranquility of a northern Michigan lakeside sunrise by sifting through the sand in silence while collecting plastic pollution and other trash that’s found its way onto the beach.

Its primary targets are the usual suspects: bottle caps, plastic bottles, and cigarette butts that get littered or blown onto the beach during these most active summer months.

Meanwhile, BeBot’s partner in wastecollection, PixieDrone, is designed to tackle the water nearby. As the name suggests, this bot is actually a drone that floats on the water’s surface, reminiscent of a small boat. Pixie’s duty is to collect floating debris that could interfere with both marine life and marine safety, including glass, metal, plastic, rubber, and even organic waste.

The drone’s secret weapon against crashing into obstacles is its LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, which uses laser beams to measure distances and create precise 3D maps or detect objects, allowing the drone to gracefully maneuver around boats, marinas, buoys, and any

seagulls waiting to be tossed a spare fry.

The bots, while intuitive, aren’t autonomous. Like a remote-controlled car, they’re operated on-site by The Watershed Center’s interns and can be seen out and about sifting and sorting up to twice a week.

Their Reach

The technology is certainly a step forward in streamlining the reduction of environmental pollution, but it’s not without limitations, and The Watershed is still learning about the cool stuff their new technology can accomplish while adapting to its roadblocks.

BeBot, for example, is a pretty hefty machine that can’t yet navigate the steep terrain of bluffs, whereas PixieDrone is less suited for open water and does its best work in marinas and harbors where trash gathers in corners convenient to the bot’s collecting abilities. And both need to be manually unloaded and then loaded onto a trailer for transport by their human operators, who are starting PixieDrone and BeBot out on Traverse City’s public beaches, thanks to an agreement with the city.

The Watershed Center, which advocates for waterways across all of Grand Traverse County as well as Leelanau, Antrim, and Kalkaska counties, is hoping to expand the bots’ work, especially on inland lakes that don’t receive regular grooming but still see a lot of boating, swimming, and sandcastle action from May through August.

At the moment, they’re in talks with leaders outside of Traverse City to use this technology across the 1,000 square miles of watershed that the organization protects. The endeavor is part of a broader initiative called the Great Lakes CleanUP to reduce the threat of microplastics in the Great Lakes, which provides drinking water to over 40,000 Americans and Canadians.

Their Impact

BeBot or not, the program reminds us that we can all do our part to mitigate our impact on the freshwater that makes our area so special. And, while visitors to the bays, lakes, rivers, and streams of the region can start by leaving these spaces cleaner than they found them, Christine Crissman, executive director of The Watershed Center,

Acquired by The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay in the fall of 2022, BeBot’s beach cleaning technology will help keep northern Michigan beaches plastic-free.

notes that our efforts to protect the Great Lakes must be more intrinsic.

“Providing trash receptacles and signage at public beaches can help educate residents and visitors alike about the harm trash can cause when it enters our waterways,” she says. “It also starts with decisions people make every day, from not purchasing singleuse plastic to properly [implementing] recycling practices.”

Of the most common offenders, she says the number one find after cleanup is cigarette butts, highlighting that the challenge isn’t so much what washes up onto the shores, but what’s left behind.

And it’s not just litterbugs that create issues for our waterways; it’s also some of the current infrastructure. As Crissman explains, “The way our stormwater system works in Traverse City, we collect all of the stormwater off of our roads and parking lots, and all of that goes directly either into a river that makes its way into the bay or into the bay itself.”

That’s why the impact of runoff from a summertime downpour presents the risk of elevated E. coli levels, particularly for

beaches near storm drain outlets, something

The Watershed is tasked with monitoring.

“We help coordinate the beach testing program where they test for E. coli bacteria in the summer months at the beaches,” says Crissman.

In a place where the tranquility of fresh water is a draw for both locals and visitors, Crissman says one of the best ways to rein in the negative effects of water pollution is through engagement, something The Watershed is finding BeBot and PixieDrone inspire in those who come across them in action.

“People are going to come out and ask us what we’re doing, and so it’s a chance for us to talk to people about plastic pollution,” she explains.

Crissman says the operators take these interactions as an opportunity for hands-on education, pulling out vials of little plastic particles and man-made fragments to share with curious observers. “Then we can help provide information to people about what we’re doing and why, and then also try to help reduce plastic from getting into the environment in the first place through that sort of education.”

PixieDrone and BeBot are hauled via trailer to and from their worksites by a team of operators.

The Alternative to the Marina

Boat concierges, clubs, and other creative ways to get out on the water

By Ross Boissoneau

Michigan is known as the water wonderland, and indeed northern Michigan is a boater’s paradise. But if you don’t have a house on the water or a slip in a marina—many of which have waiting lists of 10+ years—paradise comes with all the hassles of readying the boat, launching it, parking the trailer…and then taking it out again and hauling it home when your time on the water is done.

That’s why some area businesses are stepping up to fill the gap between the DIY approach and the convenience of a marina.

Leelanau Boat Company

Founded by longtime marine surveyor and boat expert Adam Prettyman and hospitality veteran Jason Thibodeau, Leelanau Boat Company provides a variety of rentals, boat and engine repairs and service, and detailing.

It also offers an in-and-out “boat concierge” service so boat owners can store their boats at the Bingham Road location and the company will provide transportation to and from the water.

“Now it’s so hard to get a slip. We meet them with their boat,” says Thibodeau. Boat concierge members must call 24 hours in advance. The service operates six days a week, and boats are launched from the Lake Leelanau Boat Launch.

If you don’t (yet) own your own boat, Leelanau Boat Company’s Boat Club might be the answer. Members pay a one-time enrollment fee and a monthly fee, then can use a rental boat (almost) whenever they want.

The Boat Club came about as a result of the partners noticing how many people wanted to go boating but didn’t live on the water or have ready access to docking. The club enables them to avoid the cost and, as Thibodeau says, the hassles of ownership. “They can spend more time on the water,” adds Prettyman.

The plan covers two captains who share the same address, and members can select from different boats, like the Landau 2021 tritoon and the Landau 2021 pontoon.

“It takes the hassle out of boating,” says Thibodeau.

While the bulk of Leelanau Boat Company’s business is in Lake Leelanau, they can and do service other nearby bodies of water in Leelanau County or Grand Traverse, including West Bay.

Learn more at leelanauboatco.com.

Dewitt Marine

The approach is much the same with the Dewitt Marine Boat Club on Clam River between Clam Lake and Torch Lake. Sales representative Joe Irving says the club is a boon for people who love to boat but don’t want to make the investment. “It’s a great option,” says Irving, calling it particularly appropriate for those who don’t live on the water.

The Dewitt Boat Club offers members access to a fleet of new, premium boats for a one-time fee of $5,000 and then a monthly fee of $300. That’s a hefty layout for sure, but for their money, club members get the use of a Bennington or Sylvan tritoon that’s no more than two years old. Their only other cost is fuel. Compare that to a one-day rental fee—commonly around $500 in these parts—or the purchase, upkeep and transport of a family boat, and it seems pretty reasonable.

Boat Club also means members don’t need to worry about maintenance, storage slip fees, repairs, insurance costs, or winter storage. Boat Club boats are even petfriendly.

An FAQ section on Dewitt’s website provides additional information. Perhaps the best piece of advice might be the following:

“Can my guests use the club boats without me being there? No, but they will continue to be your friend as long as you are the boat captain!”

Witticisms aside, Irving says the marina needs an hour’s notice, then club members can pick their boat up on Dewitt Marine dock on the Clam River. They can cruise throughout the Chain of Lakes, including Clam River, Clam Lake, and Torch Lake.

Learn more at dewittmarine.com.

Northern Lakes Boat Co.

If you simply want unfettered access to your boat yet want it to be safe and secure, Matt Keiper offers just the program. He established Northern Lakes Boat Co. in Rapid City last year after retiring from the Coast Guard.

His come-and-go service is a DIY program geared toward those who own a boat but who don’t have a home on the water and want to be able to launch it when and where they want. Boat owners can store their boat at his secure 3-acre facility, and they can access it anytime through a gate code. Customers have 24-hour access to their boat, seven days a week, with no need to set things up ahead of time.

“That way, if they want to go on a night cruise or go out at 6am to catch some fish, they can do it,” he says.

Keiper says the service is particularly useful for those who don’t want to store their boat in their yard or driveway or haul it for a long distance to get to Torch Lake, as Northern Lakes Boat Co. is located just two miles from the lake’s southern access point. (Of course, owners can choose to launch their boat in any body of water.)

As Keiper purchased the property and started the business just last August when he retired, he says the business will continue to take shape; he’s not ruling out offering a more complete concierge service in the years to come. He also offers off-season storage and rents out pontoon boats on Torch Lake, Lake Skegemog, Elk Lake, or Clam Lake, which he says is ideal for vacationers who rent a lakeside home for a week or two and want to get out on the water while they’re here with no complications or long-term commitments.

Learn more at nlboatco.com.

Wild Waves and the People Who Ride Them

By Craig Manning

Matt Myers has three different apps on his phone to keep track of wind conditions. When the apps tell him conditions are optimal for kiteboarding, it usually only takes a few minutes for Myers to pile himself and his equipment into the car and set course for a beach somewhere.

“When those optimal conditions hit, you’re gone,” Myers says, laughing. “No matter what you’re doing, you drop it, and you go.”

Such is the life of a die-hard watersports enthusiast who lives in northern Michigan. While the region has an embarrassment of riches to offer in terms of water resources, Myers says optimal wind is significantly harder to come by.

“This place can have amazing conditions,” Myers explains. “But the conditions are not consistent. If you’re a surfer, you don’t get good surf here three or four days a week. But when it’s good, it’s great.”

Perfect Wind, Perfect Day

What is Myers looking for, specifically? His adventure of choice is always kiteboarding. That revelation won’t come as much of a surprise to most northern Michiganders, who know Matt and his brother Keegan as the two kiteboarders who

founded the M22 brand in 2004 “in search of epic wind and waves.” For years, M22 even hosted a kiteboarding school as part of its business model.

The apps in Myers’ arsenal include a “basic weather app” to keep an eye on general conditions in the area; a tool called Windfinder, which provides accurate global forecasts for wind, weather, waves, and tides; and a radar tool to monitor for rainstorms and other weather systems coming across the lake. “Because up here, usually all the wind is generated by storm systems,” he explains. “So [the radar] will give me an idea of how long I have before the storm is going to be on top of us.”

If the wind is blowing right, Myers grabs his gear and goes. But where, exactly?

While Myers has his fair share of secret spots that he’s not willing to spill, he says the golden rule for local kiteboarders is typically this: If the wind is blowing out of the north, head to Leland; if it’s blowing out of the south, make for Frankfort.

“That Frankfort/Point Betsie area is actually one of the windiest destinations in all of Michigan,” Myers reveals. “If you look at historical wind charts, Point Betsie is a consistently windy point. So anytime there’s any type of south wind pattern happening, that’s going to be the windiest spot. Back when we did kiteboarding lessons [at M22],

that’s where we did a lot of our lessons.”

That’s also where Myers says he’s had the majority of his most thrilling kiting adventures in recent years—at least locally.

“There’s really nothing that beats a downwinder when it’s blowing hard south from Frankfort to Point Betsie,” he says. “You can go from Frankfort up the coast to Point Betsie. It’s a couple miles, and when the wind is strong, the waves are everything like the ocean. It’s spectacular. That downwinder, we get that maybe twice a year, and it’s always the most mesmerizing day of the year.”

What about days without “mesmerizing” conditions, though? What’s life like for a kiteboarder who lives in a place where the weather only sometimes allows for a worthwhile excursion?

For Myers, the key is not being too picky about how he spends his time out on the water. “I live right on West Bay, so I do something on the water literally every day,” Myers says. If the water is glassy, then it’s probably a stand-up paddleboarding day, or maybe an outing on a surfski—a narrow, lightweight type of kayak that is built for speed. When the wind picks up, Myers grabs his kiteboarding equipment or his wing foil.

Wing foiling is a newer watersport that uses a foilboard, a type of board that has a hydrofoil mounted on the underside rather than the fins you’d typically find on

a surfboard or paddleboard. A hydrofoil makes it possible for the board and its rider to elevate above the surface of the water in a way that some say mimics the feel of flying.

The Hydrofoil Revolution

Both foilboards and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) have become increasingly commonplace on northern Michigan’s waters. Of the two, foils are (so far) the less popular option, in part because foilboards aren’t cheap. Out in Lake Leelanau, though, an entire business has sprung up around the phenomenon of hydrofoils—and around the huge number of people who want to experience the flightlike feeling that a foilboard can conjure.

Paul Andrus is the owner and instructor at Lake Leelanau’s Lake Life Efoils, a business that is marking its third summer of operations this year. Lake Life is based specifically on the eFoil, a type of hydrofoil board with an electronic motor and propeller. That design allows for riders to fly over the water even with zero wave action— and to do so at pretty decent speeds.

At Lake Life Efoils, which gives lessons and sells boards, Andrus says each summer so far has seen a significant uptick in the number of people interested in trying out an electronic hydrofoil experience.

“The first year, people were like, ‘What is

Photo by Jason Hamelin

that thing?’” Andrus says. “Last year, people were like, ‘Hey, that’s a hydrofoil!’ This year, people are saying, ‘Hey, that’s a Lift eFoil, isn’t it?’ So, people are just becoming more aware of foilboards in general, and more curious to try them out.”

Like Myers, Andrus comes from a kiteboarding background. He fell in love with eFoils because they offered “a good way to get out on the water on those nonwindy days.” In a tourist mecca like northern Michigan, he figured that giving others an opportunity to learn the ropes of eFoiling would be a pretty sound business model.

It has been. Heading into summer number three, Andrus says Lake Life Efoils is “pretty much booked through August” with lessons and will stay busy through September or early October. “We’ll be doing lessons five days a week for the next few months,” he says. “I’ve got one full-time instructor and another part-time instructor, and then I handle quite a few lessons myself, too.”

Lake Life also sells eFoils, but because the equipment itself is still extremely pricey, the majority of the business’s revenues still come from lessons. Lower-end eFoils, Andrus says, cost around $6,000 or $7,000, but the average price lands somewhere in the $10,000 to $14,000 range. “We probably sell 18-20 units per year,” Andrus shares.

To try eFoiling in a rent-and-learn

capacity is significantly more affordable, and has become a popular activity for “big groups or families looking for a fun afternoon activity on a hot July day,” Andrus says.

One of Andrus’s favorite things about eFoiling is that it tends to draw a broad clientele, from eight-year-old kids to 70-something adults. “And they all come off the water the same way: with these huge smiles and just raving about that feeling of being on the foil and flying over the water.”

A fairly gentle learning curve doesn’t hurt things, either.

“When you’re being pulled by a boat, like if you’re learning how to wakeboard or waterski, you’re going to fall down a lot,” Andrus explains. “You fall, and then you have to go through all these steps to get everything reset. With an eFoil, you’re in control of everything. You’re not relying on a driver or things like that. There is a hand controller that controls your speed, and from there, it’s all about learning the little weight shifts needed to stay on the board. So, all of our students start lessons on their knees, but by the end of the first two-hour lesson, I would say 70 percent are standing up and foiling.”

As for getting up to the 30-mile-perhour top speed that most eFoils are capable of? Well, that might take a few more lessons.

What’s SUP?

While foils are still something of a niche in northern Michigan, it’s nearly impossible to go near water in the summer and not see a SUP. Paddleboards are everywhere, and Stephanie Myers has a theory about why.

These days, Stephanie—who just happens to be married to aforementioned kiteboarding maestro Matt Myers—is the convener behind one of the biggest SUP groups in northern Michigan. Each week during the summer, Stephanie’s “Women’s SUP Nights” draw dozens of female SUP enthusiasts from all over the region. But it was never a foregone conclusion that Stephanie would become the leader behind such a summertime tradition.

“The first watersport I ever did was kiteboarding,” Stephanie says. “Matt taught me how to kiteboard back in 2008, and what I quickly learned was that there were no women doing it, at least in northern Michigan. I started trying to convince my friends to do it, but it’s a really hard sport to get into. I obviously had an advantage because my boyfriend-nowhusband was teaching me.”

A few years later, as the popularity of SUPs started to take off, Stephanie had a thought: “If I can get girls stand-up paddling, maybe eventually they’ll kiteboard with me.”

Women’s SUP Nights were born—a collection of 10 or so ladies who got together

every Thursday evening to paddle and enjoy one another’s company. Through wordof-mouth and the general growth of SUP culture in northern Michigan, the group expanded. These days, an average Women’s SUP Night draws 30-40 people.

As for Stephanie’s original master plan, of using Women’s SUP Nights as a means of convincing her friends to join her for kiteboarding excursions?

“Nobody ever did get into kiteboarding,” Stephanie admits with a laugh. “And I think that’s because stand up paddling is just so much more accessible. You can learn to standup paddleboard in a day, and it’s just one piece of equipment that you need. So, it’s just an easy sport to get into. And it’s versatile.

“It’s like having a pair of good athletic shoes,” she continues. “You can run in them, you can walk in them, you can do a workout, whatever. Once you have a SUP, you can go for long paddles or fast paddles to get good exercise, or you can cruise and enjoy the scenery. Michigan is just so beautiful, and it’s such a new point of view to get out on the lake and admire the shoreline from a SUP.”

Details about this summer’s Women’s SUP Nights can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/womenssup. Those considering attending are encouraged to RSVP ahead of time.

Women’s SUP Night brings together dozens of women on NoMi bays and lakes.

Efoils are gaining popularity for their ability to let users cruise across calm waters.

“ROCK TRANSCENDS THE CONSTRAINTS OF TIME”

Classic rock band Styx returns to Interlochen

By Ross Boissoneau

Many bands find that as they mature, members want to take a shot at a solo career. That’s been the case for everyone from Phish to Yes to the Moody Blues.

Lawrence Gowan of Styx did the opposite.

The classically-trained keyboardist had a successful solo career before joining the pop-prog band, first as a touring substitute in 1997, then as a full-fledged member two years later.

“I had a 14-year solo career. I never saw myself joining a band,” he says.

A Sign from the Universe

He’d grown up wanting to emulate his heroes: Elton John, Rick Wakeman, Tony Banks, and Keith Emerson. Wakeman had attended the Royal Academy of Music before heading into the recording studios and then joining first Strawbs before decamping to Yes. So Gowan followed suit, enrolling at the Royal Conservatory of Music in his hometown of Toronto.

“I was deep into classical. That is what influenced progressive rock. I loved blues piano, but with progressive rock, the limitations were broken,” Gowan says.

While he was successful building a career in his native Canada and in England, his records weren’t being released in America, an endless source of frustration. His publicist for England was the first to suggest he could find satisfaction as a member of a

group rather than leading the band. When he was contacted by Styx to tour with them as a guest, he was happy to do so, but didn’t plan on it becoming permanent.

Funny how life happens. “When they called in ’99, I thought maybe the universe was trying to tell me something.”

He says he was a fan of the band long before he joined Styx. “It was progressive rock, but with the pop-rock sensibility of listeners. Yes and Genesis were on other planets,” he says with a laugh.

The Test of Time

Today, Gowan maintains his solo career, but most of his time is spent with his brothers in Styx, with whom he’s now spent 24 years. But he says it never gets old, even when he plays “Come Sail Away,” “Fooling Yourself,” or any of the band’s other hits night after night after night.

“This is what I wanted to do. It’s just so great to see what music does to people,” he says. “Every night you play it’s different. We woke up in Nashville after playing in Atlanta last night. I took a walk in the park. That’s going to be part of how I sing ‘Come Sail Away.’ The notes are the same, the song’s the same, but it takes on an inflection of today. You relate differently every day.”

Gowan adds that the interaction between the band and that night’s audience is always different, and always invigorating.

“Half our audience is under 40, and twothirds of those are under 30. They weren’t even born [when the band had its hits],

but they know the songs,” Gowan says. He thinks the classic rock radio format played a large part in that, along with the band’s relentless touring. “We withstood the test of time,” he says.

That time marches on. With the exception of drummer Todd Sucherman, Gowan and his bandmates are well past 60. Yet he sees no reason to slow down.

“Rock transcends the constraints of time. I find when I’m playing, I don’t feel any age. I’m ageless,” he says. Though he admits that he does feel it the next morning…but after a cup of coffee and a walk around whatever town they’re in, he’s ready to do it all again.

Making New Music

Another advantage to being part of a band with a lengthy history, especially one that is still creating new music, is while they may be obligated to play the hits, there’s always plenty of other material to choose from.

That includes the band’s newest album, Crash of the Crown, which was released a year ago. Gowan says the band recorded much of it live in their individual studios during the pandemic shutdown. “We thought we’d be down three weeks. Then it was three months,” he says.

“We quickly embraced all the tools and technology to stay in each other’s orbit. In February [2020] we had no clue what Zoom was. In May we were on Zoom together daily or weekly.”

As a Canadian, Gowan was prohibited from even entering the U.S., so the band

had to find other ways to make music together. They tried exchanging audio files electronically, but that wasn’t satisfactory for a group used to recording together. Once again, it was technology to the rescue.

“Audio Movers is an app with just a fraction of a second latency,” Gowan says, meaning Styx could record together in real time. “Linking up became second nature.” The setup enabled Gowan to use some of the vintage equipment in his studio which he doesn’t take on the road, such as a mellotron.

Looking back, no doubt the 66-year-old Gowan would tell his younger self it would all work out. “This is all I knew I’d be good at. When I first started playing guitar, I related to my classmates differently, and they related differently to me,” he tells us.

Gowan agrees that the music of Styx relies on some of the same language as progressive rock heroes like Jethro Tull and King Crimson, but boasts a more radio-friendly sound, reminiscent of fellow classic rock bands like Journey and Foreigner. Maybe they could be described with a take on one of their most popular songs: Is Styx a bluecollar prog band? He thinks that’s not a bad description. “I think that’s why we continue to relate to people of all ages,” he says.

Gowan and the rest of Styx perform Wednesday, July 12, at Kresge Auditorium at Interlochen Center for the Arts. This is the second time the band has played there, the first coming in 2009. For tickets or more information, go to tickets.interlochen.org.

Styx circa 2015. From left to right, Chuck Panozzo, Ricky Phillips, Todd Sucherman, Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan. Credit Rick Diamond.

Let the Meat and the Smoke Do the Talking

By Ashlee Cowles

From the outside, Willow Market & Meats in Cadillac—home to Primos BBQ— looks like one of the specialty grocery stores that are common in northern Michigan… but there’s a lot more going on here than you might think.

Willow Market owner Jason Towers first got into barbeque as a hobby. In 2017, he was working at a large dairy farm and opened a barbeque food truck as a side gig. Towers and his business partner hoped to cater an occasional event and maybe donate some of the proceeds to charities.

But it didn’t take long for the demand for barbeque to exceed what their “hobby food truck” could provide, and Towers and his partner decided to open a brick-and-mortar location on the west side of Cadillac in 2018. Although they started Primos because of a passion for smoking meat, opening a barbeque joint in Cadillac turned out to be a good business decision that filled a gap in the market.

“There’s not a lot of barbeque in northern Michigan north of Grand Rapids, at least in the style that we do,” Towers tells us. “People were really excited about being able to get brisket every day.”

The BBQ Brisket is definitely one of the most popular menu items at Primos. It’s also a signature dish of Texas-style barbeque, which tends to emphasize beef over the pork offerings that are popular in other regional barbeques, such as Carolina-style. Texas-style often incorporates a heavier, tomato-based sauce, but that’s actually one of the ways Primos BBQ does things a little differently.

“Our meat is not all sauced up,” says Towers. Primos prefers to keep it simple and pure, using two or three spices before smoking the meat. Afterward, customers can add sauce to their own liking. “We let the meat and the smoke do the talking.”

The pulled chicken is another stand-out dish that sometimes flies under the radar but

happens to be Towers’ favorite. “It comes off good the way we smoke it. It’s not heavily smoked…it’s just really nice, flavorful, and tender chicken.”

A unique item on the menu is the Primos Parfait, made up of a choice of either pork or beef layered with two sides (slaw, smoked mac-n-cheese, baked beans, or smoked cheesy potatoes) and served in a parfait cup. You’ll also find classic BBQ staples like ribs, wings, and pulled pork, plus sampler and family meals that give you and yours a taste of the menu.

The Market

As the reputation of Primos BBQ grew, another opportunity presented itself in 2020. Willow Market became available, which meant a more central location closer to downtown. Towers and his partner decided to merge the two businesses and began offering Primos BBQ on-site at the market just one month before the COVID-19 lockdown.

Maybe that seems like bad luck, but in hindsight, the timing ended up working out well. Because of the market’s well-established deli, a good percentage of Willow’s business was already take-out, and Primos BBQ only added to the offerings customers could order to-go.

“We doubled down and tried to do whatever it took to get people fed,” says Towers. That meant delivering themselves and signing up for DoorDash as soon as the service became available in Cadillac. “We learned how to pivot, try new things, and keep moving forward,” he says.

Today, Towers says his goal with the deli side of Willow Market is to provide an alternative to chain restaurants and fast food by offering a healthy, high-quality menu with items that are handmade and locally sourced in Michigan whenever possible. “All the sandwiches are killer,” he says, though he acknowledges that at 10 or 11 bucks a pop, they’re not cheap. (That’s due to the use of fresh, quality ingredients, a spot where Towers won’t compromise.) “But it’s a good sandwich. It’s handmade when you order it.”

In addition to sandwiches, the deli menu includes salads, soups, wraps, stonebaked flatbread pizzas, all-day breakfast, and Wednesday pot pies. And for those who aren’t crazy about smoked meats, there are vegetarian options and a variety of dishes that can be prepared gluten-free.

The market consists of a small grocery with mostly Michigan-made products, as well as 400+ craft beers and 350+ wines to choose from. There’s also a growler filling station with twelve rotating taps. Part of the store has been transformed into a winetasting room with a private seating area and fireplace. Towers says he hopes the cozy space will allow wine enthusiasts to select bottles they can’t find anywhere else in Cadillac and try it right there in the store.

Recently, Chef Hermann—well-known in Cadillac as the former owner of Hermann’s European Cafe and Restaurant—came to Towers with a plan to collaborate. Now the respected chef and wine expert teaches customers about wine several nights a week.

The Greenhouse

But that’s not all, folks. The most recent addition to the business, The Greenhouse, began as a space to sell seasonal plants and has become a year-round gathering place for the Cadillac community. “People tell me they just feel comfortable out there. They love how it feels,” says Towers.

The idea for The Greenhouse was born during the pandemic, as Towers knew they needed to innovate by providing customers with an open, airy space that had good ventilation and allowed people to social distance easily. Towers envisioned the space having “a beer garden feel, with an indoor and outdoor dining area.”

The Greenhouse provides a versatile space with craft beers on tap and entertainment several nights each week. On Wednesdays, the venue hosts a trivia night, and there is live music on weekends, giving local musicians from Cadillac and beyond the opportunity to play for an audience.

“Musicians were calling me as soon as they found out,” says Towers. “It’s good to

bring live music back to Cadillac.”

When The Greenhouse was transformed from a plant nursery to a one-of-a-kind event space in 2022, Willow Market & Meats became much more than a place to pick up a local Michigan brew—it became a celebration of community. In addition to local chess club meetings, karaoke nights, speed dating, and silent discos, the space has been rented out for events such birthdays, anniversaries, and even wedding receptions.

Towers once saw a couple get engaged in The Greenhouse, which brought up something he hadn’t anticipated when opening this part of the business: Because of the special life events that occur there, “this place will be important to people for the rest of their lives. There’s just a significance to that that I didn’t see coming.”

Find Primos BBQ, Willow Market & Meats, and The Greenhouse at 916 S. Mitchell St. in Cadillac. (231) 779-1575, willowmarket.com

saturday

NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL: TC, July 1-8. Today includes the Meijer Festival of Races: 13.1M, 15K, 10K, 5K; Cherry Farm Market, Festival Open Space Park, Go For the Gold! Pin Program, Ultimate Air Dogs, Festival Finale Fireworks, DTE Energy Foundation Cherry Royale Parade, Jeff Foxworthy & Larry The Cable Guy, & much more. cherryfestival.org

SWEATY YETI RUN: 5K & 1 MILE FUN

RUN: 8am, 101 Maple St., East Jordan. $15, $35. sweatyyetirun.com

20TH ANNUAL BOYNE THUNDER POKER

RUN: Fun on the water with big rigs. Starts Fri., July 7 in downtown Boyne City from 6-9:30pm with Stroll the Streets, a street party with a collage of music, entertainment, dining, shopping, boat displays, & a car show. Check the web site for more info. boynethunder.com/events

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54TH ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-6pm, East Park, Downtown Charlevoix. ----------------------

BABY’S BREATH WORKBEE AT ELBERTA BEACH: 10am-noon, Elberta Beach. Join ISN & the GT Regional Land Conservancy to remove invasive baby’s breath. Please bring work gloves. Long pants & close-toed shoes are recommended because there is poison ivy around the beach. Meet at the Elberta Beach parking lot. Free. habitatmatters.org/ babys-breath-workbees.html ----------------------

BLISSFEST FOLK & ROOTS FESTIVAL: 3695 Division Rd., Harbor Springs. July 7-9. This year’s lineup includes Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Colin Hay, Valerie June, Abigail Washburn, Marc Broussard, Lindsay Lou, The Moxie Strings, Seth Bernard, The Third Degree, The Vermeers & many others. There will also be a silent disco, buskers, drum & dance, folkscool, healing arts, craft show, kids area & activities, & more. blissfest.org

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CADILLAC FREEDOM FESTIVAL: The Cadillac Commons, July 4-8. Today includes the Classic Car Show, Cornhole Tournament, live music by HoneyBadger, North 44, & Claim Jumpers, Pork in the Park BBQ Competition, fireworks & more. cadillacmichigan.com/cadillac-freedom-festival

FRIENDS OF THE LELAND TOWNSHIP

LIBRARY USED BOOK, PUZZLE & GAME

SALE: 10am-2pm, Leland Township Library, Munnecke Room, Leland. lelandlibrary.org

GUIDED BIRDWATCHING HIKE: 1011:30am, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Join Executive Director & birding guide Angie Quinn on this hike to hear a variety of Michigan birds. Meet at the trailhead at 10am. Free with Art Park admission. michlegacyartpark.org/toursworkshops/birdwatching-series

HAPPY DAYS ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-5pm, Depot Park, Alden. daniellesblueribbonevents.com

MORNING MEDITATION & SOUND BATH: 10am, The Alluvion, 2nd floor, TC. With artists Ahavani Mullen & Kevin Summers. $10 suggested donation. tusentakk.org/exhibitions-events/morning-meditation-sound-bath

OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in, free arts & crafts for the whole family. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/open-studio-july-8-0

THE 25TH ANNUAL ARTISTS’ MARKET: 10am-4pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Offering more than 70 booths of original work from artists & makers around the Midwest. Gourmet food, kid’s booths & more. Free. oldartbuilding. com/events/artists-market-2023

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TRAVERSE CITY SHOP & SIP: 11am-5pm, Jacob’s Farm, TC. A diverse range of handmade crafts & artwork from artisans from around the region. $10 Early Bird (11am-noon); $5 GA (noon-5pm). traversecityshopandsip.com

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

I: Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg, July 5-9. Gates open at noon. CSI 3*, USHJA National Hunter Derby, Premier Hunter / Jumper 6 / Equitation. GA, $15. traversecityhorseshows.com/events

OPENING RECEPTION FOR CTAC, TC JULY

EXHIBITS: 5-6:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, TC. Celebrate the opening of “New Work by Royce Deans and Angela Saxon” in West Carnegie Gallery; “Reflections Between Conversations: Rufus Snoddy and Glenn Wolff” in East Carnegie Gallery; & “Paint Grand Traverse” - extended exhibit in Rotunda Gallery. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/opening-reception-traverse-city-july-exhibits

MAJOR MURPHY & BREATHE OWL

BREATHE: 5:30pm, Mayfield Pond Park. An evening of live contemporary indie music with Grand Rapids-based band, Major Murphy, & folk phenomenon, Breathe Owl Breathe. Bring chairs & blankets. 231-2635484. Free. tadl.org/event/major-murphybreathe-owl-breathe-mayfield-pond-park

CONCERT IN THE PARK FEATURING THE FABULOUS HORNDOGS & THE BURDICKVILLE BOYS: 6-9pm, Old Settlers Park, Glen Lake. Presented by the Glen Lake Church Men’s Group. Benefits the Empire Community Emergency Fund & Leelanau HelpLink. Free will offering. thefabuloushorndogs.net

PERIL: 7pm, Northern Exposure Campground, Mesick.

“JULIUS CAESAR,” INTERLOCHEN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: 8pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Upton-Morley Pavilion. Starring Interlochen alumni Sydney James Harcourt (Broadway’s “Hamilton”) & James Ginty (“K-19: The Widowmaker”). $39. interlochen.org/events/julius-caesar-interlochenshakespeare-festival-2023-06-30

BLACKBERRY SMOKE: 8-10:30pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. This band has always embodied Georgia’s rich musical legacy, honoring the people, places & sounds of their home state. $50, $60, $65. lrcr.com/ event/blackberry-smoke

DAVID KWONG: INSIDE THE BOX: AN EVENING OF PUZZLES: 8pm, Bay View Association, John M. Hall Auditorium, Petoskey. Kwong has created crossword puzzles for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal & the Los Angeles Times. His show “Inside the Box” garnered a Critic’s Pick from the New York Times. Tickets start at $20. bva. booktix.net/view/42/97f21144a3ee0faa

MUSIC IN MACKINAW: ROSE CITY TROUBADOURS: 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Roth Performance Shell, Mackinaw City. Americana, folk, rockabilly.

sUNDAY

54TH ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-4pm, East Park, Downtown Charlevoix.

july

BLISSFEST FOLK & ROOTS FESTIVAL: (See Sat., July 8)

HAPPY DAYS ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., July 8)

THE SOUTH ARM CLASSICS: 10am-3pm, Spring St. & Memorial Park, East Jordan. Classic boats, classic cars, vendors & a beer tent. facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072204164428

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

I: (See Sat., July 8)

SUNDAY MUSIC IN THE PARK: LITTLE BAY LIVE! (GREAT LAKES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA): 4-6pm, Marina Park, Harbor Springs.

THE BENZIE AREA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS NORTHPORT BAROQUE: 4pm, Northport Performing Arts Center. Featuring Conductor Tom Riccobono & Jim Bekkering & Ken Larson on trumpets. benziesymphony.com/performances

WORLD YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: CRISTIAN MĂCELARU, CONDUCTOR: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. Join the World Youth Symphony Orchestra & Grammy Award-nominated guest violinist Philippe Quint for an evening of classical music. $26 adult; $19 child through college. interlochen. org/events/world-youth-symphony-orchestra-cristian-macelaru-conductor-2023-07-09

send july 10

MONDAY

SUMMER SIZZLES COOKING CLASS: 3:30-5pm, Interlochen Public Library. Featuring grilling techniques & fresh summer produce. Travel the world with chef Susanne while making a healthy new recipe each month paired with signature mocktails. Classes are limited to 10 people. Must register: 231-276-6767.

G.T. HUMANISTS MEETING: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: 6pm, Traverse Area Dis-

trict Library, TC. Join the Grand Traverse Humanists as they welcome Eric Bravick for a talk called “AI: Powering Humanity’s Potential.” Eric is currently the CEO of The Lifted Initiative, where he is leading a team that is building the next generation of AI enabled Internet infrastructure. Free. gthumanists.org

THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE: THE FIRST EXCITING SCIENCE RESULTS: 6-8pm, State Theatre, TC. Enjoy a public presentation by two internationally renowned astrophysicists: Dr. Ewine van Dishoeck (Leiden University) & Dr. Jonathan Gardner (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center). They will provide a night of science detailing the first exciting science results from the James Webb Space Telescope. Free. stateandbijou.org

FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES - JAMMIN’ MONDAYS ON BETSIE BAY: 7-9:15pm, Waterfront Park Amphitheater, Elberta. Enjoy blues & rock classics with an edge with Howard Wilson & the Salt City All Stars.

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KENOSHA KINGFISH: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traverse-city-pitspitters/schedule ----------------------

CLASSICAL CONCERT WITH REPERIO: 7:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Featuring the resident woodwind faculty of the Interlochen Center for the Arts including Nancy Stagnitta, flute, & Dane Philipsen, oboe, & with Ya-Ju Chuang, piano. $15. gardentheater.org/upcoming-events

TUESDAY

GAYLORD ALPENFEST: Gaylord, July 11-15. Live music, carnival, art tent, car show, Fun Run, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Doppellauf (Half Marathon + 5K), & much more. gaylordalpenfest.com

OUTDOOR STORY TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Please

bring a blanket for your family to sit on. Geared towards children pre-K to grade 2 & their caregivers. Free. sbbdl.org

PARKINSON’S NETWORK NORTH: 1pm, The Presbyterian Church of TC, 701 Westminster Rd. Topic: “Your best day with Parkinson’s.” Questions & answers. Split session. Socialization, important for Parkinsonians & their Care partners. Info: 947-7389. Free. pnntc.org

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EAST JORDAN JAM: 6-9pm, American Legion Post #227, East Jordan. Held every Tues. Play, sing, or just listen. Free.

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TCNEWTECH PITCH & NETWORKING

EVENT: City Opera House, TC. Select startups will be allowed 5 minutes to present their pitch & 5 minutes of questions & answers from the audience. The audience is made up of technology-minded people. Cash bar & networking at 5:30pm; investor pitches at 6pm; winners announced at 7pm. tcnewtech.org

“LIGHTHEADED: A GORDON LIGHTFOOT STATE OF MIND”: 7pm, State Theatre, TC. This film celebrates & chronicles Gordon Lightfoot’s career by taking viewers on a journey into the lives of his devoted fans, affectionately known as Lightheads. Free. stateandbijou.org

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GRIEVING A SUICIDE LOSS: 7pm, Bay View Association, Voorhies Hall, Petoskey. A presentation on grieving & healing after a loss to suicide by Barb Smith of the Suicide Resource & Response Network. Free. bayviewcampusclub.org

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TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KENOSHA KINGFISH: (See Mon., July 10)

INTERLOCHEN “COLLAGE”: 7:30pm, In-

terlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. Experience the talents of Interlochen Arts Camp’s artists in this performance. “Collage” unites students & faculty of all ages & artforms in a multidisciplinary showcase including music, theatre & dance performances; creative writing readings; film screenings; live drawing & painting; & more. $34 adult; $19 child through college. interlochen. org/events/interlochen-collage-2023-07-11

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NMC CONCERT BAND PRESENTS

SUMMER ‘23 FREE CONCERT SERIES: 7:30pm, TC Civic Center Amphitheater. With Patricia Brumbaugh, conductor. Arrive early for a seat or bring a chair.

SUMMER YOGA SERIES: 7:30pm, Vans Beach, Leland. With local yoga instructor Kat Palms. Bring your towel & water bottle. All donations support the Leelanau Conservancy’s Water Quality Program. Suggested donation: $20.

MUSIC IN MACKINAW: STRAITS AREA

CONCERT BAND: 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Roth Performance Shell, Mackinaw City. Enjoy patriotic, popular & Broadway show tunes. Bring lawn chairs. Free.

TUESDAY NIGHT MOVIES IN THE PARK: 10:30pm, Zorn Park, Harbor Springs. Featuring “The Greatest Showman.” Starts at dusk.

WEDNESDAY

THRIVE 45º YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MORNING

MEET-UP: 7-10am, New Coworking space, 417 Howard St., Petoskey. Enjoy coffee & donuts while connecting with

other young professionals. facebook.com/ events/2583391331801834

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

II: Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg, July 12-16. CS 3*, World Championship Hunter Rider, USHJA National Hunter Derby, Premier Hunter/Jumper 6/Equitation. traversecityhorseshows.com/events

BABY’S BREATH WORKBEE AT ELBERTA BEACH: 10am-noon, Elberta Beach. Join ISN & the GT Regional Land Conservancy to remove invasive baby’s breath. Please bring work gloves. Long pants & close-toed shoes are recommended because there is poison ivy around the beach. Meet at the Elberta Beach parking lot. Free. habitatmatters.org/ babys-breath-workbees.html

GAYLORD ALPENFEST: (See Tues., July 11) ----------------------

SUMMER NATURE PROGRAM: LEAF IMPRINTED CLAY: 10:30am, Old City Park, Boyne City. Geared toward ages 3-6, but all ages welcome. Listen to the story “Red Leaf Yellow Leaf” to learn about photosynthesis & the role of roots in a tree. Then explore the park to collect fallen leaves for imprinting into clay & create your own necklace or bracelet. Free. business.charlevoix.org/ events/details/summer-nature-program-leafimprinted-clay-14522

SUMMER READING PROGRAM WITH KEVIN DIVINE: 10:30am, Interlochen Public Library. Kevin is an award-winning children’s musical entertainer, songwriter & recording artist specializing in participatory concerts for children & families of all ages, full of upbeat sing-alongs & dancing. 231-276-6767. Free.

BASKETRY WITH DOROTHY WALTER:

1-4pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. 231-331-6583. $5.

DART FOR ART: PREVIEW NIGHT: 6-9pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. Enjoy strolling heavy appetizers, drinks, live music, & a silent auction as you mingle with artists to preview the Dart for Art gallery. $100. crookedtree.org/dart2023

ELLSWORTH CONCERTS ON THE SQUARE: 7pm, Ellsworth Community Square, next to Banks Township Hall. Enjoy rock cover band Strings Attached. Bring a chair or blanket.

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KOKOMO JACKRABBITS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traverse-citypit-spitters/schedule

STYX: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. The pioneers of the power ballad cemented their place in rock & roll history in the 1970s as the first group to score four consecutive multi-platinum albums, topping the charts with Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight, Cornerstone, & Paradise Theatre. Enjoy hits like “Renegade” & “Too Much Time on My Hands.” $45-$75. interlochen.org/events/styx-2023-07-12

THURSDAY

NMCAA’S LAUNDRY PROJECT: 6-9am, Eastfield Laundry, TC. Free laundry service for those in need. 947-3780.

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL II: (See Weds., July 12)

GAYLORD ALPENFEST: (See Tues., July 11)

SUMMER READING EVENT WITH CHEF BRUCE: 10:30am, North Park Pavilion, Suttons Bay. This week’s theme is All Together Now with FOOD! Learn how food connects us all. For all kids, preschool through 8th grade. Free. sbbdl.org

KIDS CAN COOK COOKING CLASS: 11am-12:30pm, Interlochen Public Library. For ages 5-12. Learn about good nutrition, what’s in season, planning & preparing meals, & reading food labels. Must register: 231-276-6767. Free.

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KOKOMO JACKRABBITS: 11:05am, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traverse-city-pitspitters/schedule ----------------------

PARKINSON’S NETWORK NORTH SUPPORT GROUP: 1pm, The Leelanau County Government Center, Suttons Bay. “Socilization is important for Parkinsonians and Their Care-partners.” Bring your questions & concerns. Info: 947-7389. Free. pnntc.org ----------------------

ARTIST’S OPENING RECEPTION: 5-7pm, Commongrounds, TC. For new exhibitions by Tusen Takk Artist-in-Residence Hong Hong alongside Dana Falconberry, Kayla Powers, & Alyssa Smith. Free. tusentakk. org/exhibitions-events/hong-hong-opening

CHARLEVOIX CIRCLE OF ARTS PAINT

OUT! QUICK DRAW: 5-7pm, downtown Charlevoix. Artists are challenged to create a work of art in the 2-hour timeframe, from the perspective of their choice in East Park or the adjacent Marina area. People’s Choice Award voting will take place from 7-9pm for cash award. charlevoixcircle.org/paint-out

DART FOR ART: MAIN EVENT: 6-10pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. ONLINE SALES HAVE CLOSED FOR THE MAIN EVENT. Call 231-347-4337 to check availability or join the waitlist. Cocktail hour with appetizers by featured chefs, top-shelf bar, gourmet dinner by Chef Eric Basta of NOMAD, silent & live auctions, entertainment, & “darting” for your choice of artwork to take home from the Dart Gallery (at no extra charge). crookedtree.org/dart2023

DIET CULTURE DROPOUT CLUB: 6-7:30pm, Higher Grounds Coffee, GT Commons, TC. Join for community building, laughter, venting & zero diet talk! Enjoy a safe space for people in all bodies to connect as you actively deconstruct & unlearn the pervasive messages of diet culture. Free. headandhearttc.com/events-1/2023/4/12/ diet-culture-drop-out-club ----------------------

SUMMER FUN SERIES WITH MARVEL ILLUSTRATOR JERRY DECAIRE: 6pm, Interlochen Public Library. Art & fantasy will be created in this live drawing demo. Characters illustrated include Thor, X-Men, Wolverine, Conan, Punisher, Iron Man, Nick Fury, The Phantom & more. 231-276-6767. Free.

HARBOR SPRINGS STREET MUSIQUE: SOUNDS OF EMMET CO.: 6:30-8:30pm, Downtown Harbor Springs. Featuring Shouting Bones, Two Track Mind, Kevin Johnson, Lee Ann Whitman, & face painting.

“A MAN, A PLAN, A CANAL, A BEACH, A PANORAMA - A SAUNTERER’S VIEW OF CRYSTAL LAKE”: 7pm, The Mills Community House, Benzonia. Presented by Dr. Stacy Daniels. Donation; $5 suggested. benziemuseum.org

BOOK SIGNING WITH KAREN DIONNE: 7pm, McLean & Eakin Booksellers,

Petoskey. Karen is the author of “ The Marsh King’s Daughter” & “The Wicked Sister.” She will be sharing some of her favorite books as well as what it was like to have “The Marsh King’s Daughter” made into a movie. RSVP required. Free. mcleanandeakin.com/event/ karen-dionne-store-event

CONCERTS ON THE LAWN: MIRIAM PICO: 7pm, GT Pavilions, Grand Lawn, TC. This singer/songwriter performs her unique blend of folk, jazz & pop. She will be joined by Ryan Younce on lead guitar, Al Jankowski on keys & saxophone, Will Harris on drums, & Andy Evans on upright bass. Free. gtpavilions.org/events/concerts-on-the-lawn-21

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LAKE CITY MUSIC IN THE PARK: 7-9pm, 115 E. John St., Lake City. Featuring the Cambio Band.

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THE SOUND GARDEN PROJECT: BLUE QUARTET: 7pm, Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay. Free. interlochenpublicradio.org/thesound-garden-project

UPBEAT CADILLAC MUSIC SERIES: HOWARD WILSON & THE SALT CITY ALLSTARS: 7-9:15pm, 100 S. Lake St., Cadillac

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KOKOMO JACKRABBITS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traverse-city-pitspitters/schedule

juLY 14

FRIDAY

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL II: (See Weds., July 12)

GAYLORD ALPENFEST: (See Tues., July 11)

NIGHT AT THE NATURE CENTER: 5-7pm, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Afterhours fun where you will discover the world around you through indoor & outdoor activities. $5. natureiscalling.org/events

GUIDED FOREST HIKE: 10am, Ruby Ellen Farm, TC. Walk with District Forester Ellie Johnson to learn about the ecology, management & health concerns for northern mesic hardwood forests. Free. leelanaucd.org

SHAY DAYS: Shay Park, Harbor Springs. Today includes live model steam trains, crafts & games, electric trains, Lumber Camp Story Time, & “In Shay’s Day” Walking Tours. Donation. harborspringshistory.org/events/?acti on=evrplusegister&event_id=85

AFTER-HOURS GALLERY VISIT: 5-8pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center. glenarborart.org

CHARLEVOIX CIRCLE OF ARTS’ PAINT OUT RECEPTION & SUMMER SALON

OPEN HOUSE: 5-7pm, Charlevoix Circle of Arts. Enjoy light fare, mingle with artists, & view & purchase artwork on display in the Summer Salon & created during the 2-day Paint Out. charlevoixcircle.org/paint-out

REFLECTIONS OF A NOMI SUMMER: 5-8pm, Tinker Studio TC. Join for the third Artist Reception of the 2023 Summer Season. Enjoy an artist demonstration by local painter & 2023 Paint Grand Traverse participant, Lori Feldpausch, while you mingle with fellow artists. Free. Find on Facebook.

OPENING CELEBRATION FOR “GREAT

BODIES”: 6-8pm, Higher Art Gallery, TC. This group exhibit with 32 artists, “Great Bodies,” celebrates the life giving, fresh bodies of water throughout Michigan. Enjoy the Opening Celebration tonight while browsing

COMING

PRESENTS

SUMMER 2023

& meeting the artists. Exhibit runs through Aug. 5. higherartgallery.com ----------------------

FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC IN THE PARK: 6:308:30pm, Marina Park, Harbor Springs. Live music by Peter Allen Jensen.

EAST JORDAN MUSIC IN THE PARK: 7-9pm, Memorial Park Bandshell, East Jordan. Enjoy rock & blues with Levitator.

SOUNDS OF SUMMER - DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY: 7-8:30pm, Pennsylvania Park, Petoskey. Featuring Tim Jones & Stonefolk. Bring a blanket or chair. Free.

SUMMER SOUNDS CONCERT: SETH BERNARD & JORDAN HAMILTON: 7-9pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Amphitheater, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. $15 advance; $20 door; free for ages 12 & under. crystalmountain.com/event/summer-sounds-july/1

Bay Harbor. In this musical revue created for the Center, hear favorites from Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sunset Boulevard, & more. Tickets range from $57 - $112. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/musicof-the-night ----------------------

COUNTRY CONCERT SERIES: LUCAS HOGE: 9pm, Odawa Casino Resort, Victories, Petoskey. Doors open at 7pm. $10. odawacasino.com/entertainment

MOVIES IN THE PARK AT DARK: 9-11pm, Pennsylvania Park, Petoskey. Featuring “Holes.” Free.

JULY 21

JULY 23

TC SACRED DRUM CIRCLE: 7pm, House of Bear, 4242 Co. Rd 633, Grawn. Held the 2nd Fri. of the months (through Oct.). No experience necessary. No drum necessary, but feel free to bring an acoustic item of your own making. Dress for outside. Children must stay with adults. 231-383-0803. Free. facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065646933215

SALVATION ARMY FUNDRAISER NIGHT

JULY 24

SUMMER

AUG. 10

World Youth Symphony Orchestra

A multidiciplinary showcase (LIMITED TICKETS)

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Five for Fighting

Donny Osmond

The Temptations & The Four Tops

High School Musical Production

Dark Star Orchestra - Grateful Dead Tribute

AUG. 10 Train (LIMITED TICKETS)

AUG. 11 Lindsey Stirling (LIMITED TICKETS)

AUG. 17 The Lone Bellow Trio with Drew Hale

AUG. 18 The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA

AUG. 19 The Beach Boys

SEPT. 1 Brandi Carlile (SOLD OUT)

july 15

AT TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KOKOMO JACKRABBITS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. The Salvation Army Traverse City will be the fundraising partner during the TC Pit Spitters Fireworks & Reverse Night. $3 of each ticket sold when using code TSATC on box seat tickets online will be donated to feed hungry neighbors. traverse-city-pit-spitters. nwltickets.com/SingleGame/Tickets/SelectSeats/5707. Donations of non-perishable food items will also be accepted at the main gate. Receive a free Salvation Army souvenir stadium cup with a food donation while supplies last. $14. centralusa.salvationarmy.org/traversecity/events/traverse-city-pit-spitters-andthe-salvation-army-partner-to-reverse-hunger

THE GAMBLER RETURNS: THE ULTIMATE KENNY ROGERS TRIBUTE SHOW: 7:30pm, Ramsdell Theatre, Manistee. $10$50. ramsdelltheatre.org/events

THE JORDAN VALLEY COMMUNITY BAND: 7:30pm, Memorial Park Bandshell, East Jordan.

“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”: 8pm, Bay View Association, John M. Hall Auditorium, Petoskey. The story of an unkind prince who has been magically transformed into an unsightly creature as punishment for his selfish ways. bva.booktix.net/view/46/ b51bb4f82afeeb94

KINDNESS WINS COMEDY + MAGIC TOUR FEATURING “THE ILLUSIONIST” TOM COVERLY: 8pm, City Opera House, TC. Known as the adlib king, Tom’s show is best described as a comedy show, with a handful of magic tricks. He has entertained celebrities such as Paula Abdul, Duck Dynasty, C.S.I. NY, Alex Mapa (Ugly Betty) & the entire cast of the “Batman vs. Superman” movie. Tom is donating 100% of the proceeds to his non-profit to help stop bullying across America. $15-$40. cityoperahouse.org/node/499

MUSIC IN MACKINAW: NORTHERN MICHIGAN BRASS BAND MARCHES, SHOW TUNES, POP: 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Roth Performance Shell, Mackinaw City. Bring lawn chairs. Free.

MUSIC OF THE NIGHT - A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER: 8pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts,

SATURDAY

TRIWALLOON: FULL: 7:30am, Walloon Lake. Offering a sprint distance triathlon, duathlon, & aquabike. For more info & to get on the wait list, visit web site. triwalloon.com

BEAR RIVER CRAWL 5K: Bayfront Park, Petoskey. 5K Run, 8am; 5K walkers with strollers & dogs, 8:10am. $25 before July 7; $30 July 8-14; $40 day of race. nmsportsmed. com/events/bear-river-crawl-5k-10k-run

FRIENDS OF FISHTOWN 5K: 9am, Fishtown, 201 W. River St., Leland. $40; $45 virtual. runsignup.com/Race/MI/Leland/ Fishtown5K?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ4iCYn 8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL II: (See Weds., July 12)

PLATTE RIVER CLEAN SWEEP: 9am-2pm, Veterans Park, Honor. Become a Benzie River Steward at this 15th annual volunteer river cleanup. The event begins at Veterans Park at 9am for check-in. Registration required. Email info@benziecd.org or call 231-8824391. Participants should bring a boat, life jacket, insect repellent, sunscreen & water. Picnic lunch immediately following. benziecd. org/home/platte-river-clean-sweep-2023

“FORM AND FEATURE” OPENING RECEPTION: 10am-5pm, Tamarack Gallery, Omena. See the new exhibit “Form & Feature,” a show of landscape paintings by Amy Falstrom & new ceramics by Laurie Shaman. Both artists will be onsite to discuss their artwork & answer questions. Free. tamarackartgallery.com/exhibitions ----------------------

37TH ANNUAL PETOSKEY ART IN THE PARK: 10am-5pm, Pennsylvania Park, Petoskey. Featuring more than 100 booths with items ranging from pottery to jewelry, from paintings to photographs, & much more. ----------------------

ELK RAPIDS ARTS & CRAFT SHOW: 10am, River St., Downtown Elk Rapids. More than 60 artisans & crafters displaying & selling their work. Pet-friendly, family-friendly. elkrapidschamber.org/arts-crafts-show ----------------------

GAYLORD ALPENFEST: (See Tues., July 11)

MIDSUMMER ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-5pm, Gypsy Farms, Petoskey. Fine art & craft show with live music & an outdoor cocktail garden.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN CREATIVE CRAFTERS CRAFT SHOW: 10am-3pm, GT County Civic Center, Howe Arena, TC. Presented by Armstrong Acre Creative Design LLC. Featuring a wide range of mediums, including paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, textiles, woodworking, & more. For more info, email: armstrongacrecd@gmail.com. Free.

SUMMER 2023

SHAY DAYS: Shay Park, Harbor Springs. Today includes live model steam trains, crafts & games, electric trains, Log Hewing Demonstration, & “In Shay’s Day” Walking Tours. Donation. harborspringshistory.org/events/? action=evrplusegister&event_id=85

CHARLEVOIX VENETIAN FESTIVAL: Charlevoix, July 15-22. Today includes Aquapalooza with live music by Lazo & Exodus, “Cornetian” Corn Toss, & volleyball. venetianfestival.com

THE NEED FOR TREES: 1pm, Platte Plains Trail-Bass Lake Trailhead, Sleeping Bear Dunes Trail Head, Honor. Join Anishinaabe historian Eric Hemenway for a stroll to find out the Anishinaabe connection to trees. Free. nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details. htm?id=4E8463D5-D9AD-6C71-8D23C5BE7AF4545B

SUMMER BLUES FEST: 3pm, Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay. Food trucks, music & wine. The blues lineup will feature Keith Scott Blues from 3-6pm & Crosscut Kings from 6:30-9:30pm. $15/person. shadylanecellars. com/event-home/events

BENZIE BEE GUILD: APITHERAPY: 6pm, Grow Benzie Bee Yard, Benzonia. Join the Benzie Bee Guild to learn about healing ways from bees. Hosted by longtime beekeeper Sharon Jones of Sleeping Bear Farm. Free. growbenzie.org/events-calendar/event-one85gaw-ptjse-w6nmc-m7ngj-ex55w-87pbhj4fn5-5em43-9slt4-c3jhp-e34ma-2s74r

“GET BACK WITH SWITCHBACK”: 7pm, Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall, Elk Rapids. Performed by Brian FitzGerald & Martin McCormack. Door opens at 6pm. $20 advance; $25 door.

THE TIME BEFORE EUROPEANS & AMERICANS ON TURTLE ISLAND: 7pm, DH Day Campground Amphitheater, Glen Arbor. This talk will be presented by Anishinaabe historian Eric Hemenway. Free with a valid park entrance pass. nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=DF7AB964DCB7-3A74-ED58AA874EFBC75C

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BENZIE COMMUNITY CHORUS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: 7:30pm, The Mills Community House, Theatre, Benzonia. $20 per person. benziechorus.org

“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”: (See Fri., July 14)

MUSIC IN MACKINAW: STEEL & WOODBLUEGRASS: 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Roth Performance Shell, Mackinaw City. Bring lawn chairs. Free.

MUSIC OF THE NIGHT - A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER: (See Fri., July 14)

SUNDAY

36TH ANNUAL RIDE AROUND TORCH: 8am, Elk Rapids Cherryland Middle School. Presented by the Cherry Capital Cycling Club. A 26, 40, 63, or 100 mile bicycle tour primarily along the scenic shores of Torch Lake. This is a recreational social tour. Ride fees range from $40-$75. cherrycapitalcyclingclub. org/content.aspx?club_id=87045&module_ id=461732&page_id=22

CHARLEVOIX VENETIAN FESTIVAL: Charlevoix, July 15-22. Today includes

Beach Bash Basketball, Disc Golf Doubles, & “Worship on the Water” with Stephen Stanley. venetianfestival.com

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

II: (See Weds., July 12)

MIDSUMMER ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., July 15)

$145,100 CSI3* GRAND PRIX: 2pm, Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg. Olympic-caliber show jumping at the $145,100 Grand Prix. Equestrian performances, food & drink & Family-friendly activities. Event is dedicated to supporting Hospice of Michigan Foundation. open at noon. GA tickets, $15. eventbrite.com/e/145100-fei-3grand-prix-tickets-599190403627?aff=odcleoe ventsincollection

THE SACRED EARTH TRIBE PRESENTS

THE DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE: 3:30pm, Llama Meadows Eco Farm, Benzonia. These dances blend chants with live music & simple movements into a living experience of unity, peace & joy. Love offering of $7-$10. facebook.com/thesacredearthtribe

SUNDAY MUSIC IN THE PARK: 4-6pm, Marina Park, Harbor Springs. Featuring the Rivertown Jazz Band.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: THE SLEEPING GYPSIES: 7pm-10pm, Claude Shannon Park, Gaylord. Bring a chair.

BENZIE COMMUNITY CHORUS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: 7:30pm, The Mills Community House, Theatre, Benzonia. $20 per person. benziechorus.org

WORLD YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: ERINA YASHIMA, CONDUCTOR:

7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. Under Yashima’s baton, the ensemble will perform Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1 in E Minor and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “The Rock,” Op. 7. $26 adult; $19 child through college. interlochen.org/events/ world-youth-symphony-orchestra-erina-yashima-conductor-2023-07-16 ----------------------

VESPER: REAL-LIFE SOUNDTRACK: 8pm, Bay View Association, John M. Hall Auditorium, Petoskey. Enjoy familiar melodies & heartwarming stories. GA, $14.50. bva.booktix.net/view/33/42d741f33590bcd5

ONGOING

FREE CHILDREN’S DENTAL FAIR: Copper Ridge parking lot, TC. United Way of Northwest Michigan has partnered with Delta Dental to borrow a large dental bus & park it out front of their new building in Copper Ridge, TC to host a four-week long “pop-up clinic” to help alleviate some of the backlog of young children waiting to be seen by a dentist. Hours are Mondays, 9am-3pm & Tuesdays-Fridays, 8am-3pm from July 11 - Aug. 4. Services are provided on a walk-in basis only. unitedwaynwmi.org

HARBOR SPRINGS COMMUNITY BAND: Mondays, Harbor Springs waterfront, next to Pier Restaurant, 8pm. Free outdoor symphony band concerts.

JORDAN VALLEY COMMUNITY BAND: Thursdays, 7:30pm, Memorial Park Bandshell, East Jordan.

BICYCLE MUFFIN RIDE: Fridays, 9am1pm, Darrow Park, TC. Join the Cherry Capital Cycling Club for their weekly Muffin Ride from TC to Suttons Bay & back. The ride is 33 miles round-trip & includes a stop at a

bakery or coffeehouse in Suttons Bay. cherrycapitalcyclingclub.org

BLOOMS & BIRDS: WILDFLOWER WALK: Tuesdays, 10am through Sept., Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Go for a relaxing stroll on the trails with GRNA docents to find & identify the unique wildflowers at Grass River Natural Area. Along the way look & listen for the birds who call Grass River home. grassriver.org

GUIDED WALKING HISTORY TOURS OF TRAVERSE CITY: Tours are at 10am on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays through Labor Day. They are about two miles long & take a little more than two hours. They begin at the Perry Hannah Plaza at the corner of 6th & Union St. near downtown. Groups of six or more can schedule tours at other times. walktchistory.com

DOUGHERTY MISSION HOUSE TOURS: Held Weds.-Sun., 10am-4pm, June 10 – Aug. 26. Docent led tours of the 1842 Rev. Dougherty Mission House, TC built by the Odawa & Chippewa with Chief Agosa. Explore the House, summer kitchen, carriage shed, icehouse, demonstration gardens & trail through the 15 acres. Visiting exhibit features the Inns of Old Mission. Discover where Old Mission Peninsula earned its name. doughertyoldmissionhouse.com

ART

JORDAN RIVER ARTS PRESENTS FARMER, FARMHERS & FARMS: Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan. This exhibition celebrates local farms with works in a variety of media. Runs through Aug. 5. Regular gallery hours: 1-4pm, Thurs.-Mon. jordanriverarts.com/farmers-farmers-and-farms

“GREAT BODIES”: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Group exhibit - 32 artists - celebrating the life giving, fresh bodies of water throughout Michigan. Runs July 7 - Aug. 5. An opening reception will be held on July 14 from 6-8pm. higherartgallery.com

SUMMER SALON: Runs June 30 - Sept. 2 at Charlevoix Circle of Arts. 4th annual salonstyle exhibit showcasing regionally inspired work by local & area artists. An open house will be held on Fri., July 14 from 5-7pm with Paint Out Event Wet Paint Sale & Reception. Gallery is open Mon. through Fri., 11am4pm, & Sat., 11am-3pm or by appointment. charlevoixcircle.org/exhibits-2023

OLIVER ART CENTER PRESENTS SUMMER MEMBER SHOW: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. Featuring a wide variety of work in all mediums. The show runs through July 28. Oliver Art Center is open Mon. - Sat., 10am4pm. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

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PARTS OF THE PROCESS - SHANNY

BROOKE ART EXHIBIT: Twisted Fish Gallery, Cottage Gallery, Elk Rapids. Taking us on her emotional journey, painter Shanny Brooke explores the creative steps that emerge when processing the loss of a loved one. This selection of paintings is an intimate glimpse into Shanny’s journey of healing & insight. The exhibit runs through mid-July with viewings: Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm. Free. twistedfishgallery.com/event/parts-of-the-process-openingreception-with-artist-shanny-brooke

“YOUTH INNOVATION IN RURAL AMERICA”: Raven Hill Discovery Center, East Jordan. Community-based youth design projects by local students. Runs through Oct. 7. miravenhill.org

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:

- MICHIGAN SUMMERS: WORKS BY JULIA

DUFAULT MCGRATH: Held in Atrium Gallery. Julia includes colorful & texture-filled watercolor & mixed-media paintings that capture the beauty of Michigan Summers. Runs June 17 - July 22. Hours are Tues. through Sat., 10am5pm. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ michigan-summers-work-julia-dufault-mcgrath

- ANIMAL - VEGETABLE - MINERAL: PAINTINGS BY NANCY ADAMS NASH: Held in Bonfield Gallery. Enjoy new paintings from Nash, as well as select works from the past. Runs through Sept. 2. CTAC hours are Tues. - Sat., 10am-5pm. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/animal-vegetable-mineral-paintingsnancy-adams-nash-opens-may-25

- TRISHA WITTY: PILGRIMAGES IN PAINT, A RETROSPECTIVE 1988 TO PRESENT: Runs through Sept. 2 in Gilbert Gallery. Retrospective exhibition highlighting Trish Witty’s paintings from the past 35 years. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ trisha-witty-pilgrimages-paint-retrospective1988-present-opens-may-25 ----------------------

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC:

- GREAT LAKES PASTEL SOCIETY: 2023

MEMBERS JURIED EXHIBITION: Runs July 8 – Aug. 25 in the Cornwell Gallery. Featuring 65 works by 58 artists working throughout the Great Lakes region. Works were reviewed & selected by guest juror & judge of awards, Kathleen Newman. An opening reception & awards will be held on July 8 from 2-3:30pm. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ great-lakes-pastel-society-2023-membersjuried-exhibition-opens-july-8

- REFLECTIONS BETWEEN CONVERSATIONS: Held in Carnegie East Gallery. This exhibit is showcasing 2D & 3D artwork by Rufus Snoddy & Glenn Wolff, who are friends & teaching colleagues in the Art Department at NMC, & have often collaborated on public art. Runs July 8 - Aug. 5. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traversecity/reflections-between-conversations

- ROYCE DEANS & ANGELA SAXON: NEW MONOTYPES: Held in Carnegie West Gallery. Showcasing new work by artists & collaborators, Royce Deans & Angela Saxon. The prints celebrate the collaborative energy of the two local artists. Runs July 8 - Aug. 5. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-traverse-city/royce-deans-andangela-saxon-new-monotypes

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- A NEW PERSPECTIVE: LANDSCAPES

FROM THE DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER: Runs through Sept. 3. Hours are Tues.Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

- JERRY’S MAP: This exhibition is comprised of over 4,000 individual eight by ten inch panels. Its execution, in acrylic, marker, colored pencil, ink, collage, & inkjet print on heavy paper, is dictated by the interplay between an elaborate set of rules & randomly generated instructions. Runs through Sept. 3. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

- LUSTER: REALISM & HYPERREALISM IN CONTEMPORARY AUTOMOBILE & MOTORCYCLE PAINTING: Runs through Sept.

3. This is a traveling exhibition comprised of over 55 paintings by 15 leading photorealists & hyperrealists who specialize in automobiles & motorcycles as their primary subject of choice. Featuring dazzling paintings that encompass a broad range of vintage vehicles, recent classics, off-road vehicles, exotics & more. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:

- “THE BIRDS ARE WATCHING”: Runs through Aug. 25 in the Lobby Gallery. Mixed media constructions by Jessica Kovan. glenarborart.org/events/exhibit-the-birdsare-watching

- 2023 MEMBERS CREATE: An exhibition of work by 49 GAAC members. Runs through Aug. 10 in the Main Gallery. glenarborart.org/ events/exhibit-2023-members-create

While the conventions of a play within a play or a film within a film are well known and explored, Wes Anderson’s delightful desert romp Asteroid City is neither, but instead, something new. A film within a play? A Greek tragedy within a government amusement park? An allegory within a slideshow?

Whatever else it may be, Asteroid City is a moving image marvel that will deliver all the feels for fans of Anderson’s offbeat storytelling style. (For those unfamiliar with his fairy-tale flare for patter and dialogue, short interstitial scenes, and supersaturated visuals, the film could feel impenetrable.)

Asteroid City begins and ends with a chorus of sorts and a voice-of-God narrator in Bryan Cranston, who brings a nostalgic Our Town colloquialism to his role guiding the exposition and narrative along. We learn quickly we are watching a production—a fantasy and perhaps the private inner world where the script’s writer and characters merge together. Edward Norton plays the playwright Conrad Earp, who is crafting this tale as it plays out in front of our eyes and who could possibly be Anderson or his screenwriting partner Roman Coppola’s alter ego if you’d like to go there.

The bizarro collection of characters centers around a soft-spoken war photographer Augie Steenbeck (played with quiet gusto by Jason Schwartzman), who arrives in Asteroid City due to car trouble only to be held there against his will. Complicating matters, the photographer who confronts death on a daily basis struggles to find a way to explain his wife’s recent passing to his young children.

The Steenbecks and others have all gathered in Asteroid City for the annual Junior Space Cadet convention, a science-meetsscouting event that pairs genius teenagers

100’

together with a government eager to tap into and exploit their discoveries. The convention features a central competition of ideas, eclipse watching, and the occasional thermo-nuclear blast safely in the distance.

Anderson controls it all in a series of acts and scenes that give him the structure to quickly bounce around and explore all his fascinating storylines, of which there are many. As he has in the past, the director manages to find enough threads to tie everything together in the end and leave you haunted by a bittersweet experience of sorrow and joy.

The famous ensemble includes celebrity standout Jeffrey Wright as General Gibson, a five-star military man who delivers modern space directives to the convention audience with the same spirit and vigor as Pershing on the Western Front. Equally entrancing is Scarlett Johansson as the wayward starlet Midge Campbell, who develops intimate friendships with strangers using only her magnetic melancholy from across a window.

Adding to the fun are Tom Hanks as a wealthy snowbird; Tilda Swinton as an astronomer fascinated with the cosmos; Hope Davis and Liev Schreiber as guests of the resort dependably seen near the vending machines for cocktails and real estate; Steve Carell as the motel manager; and Matt Dillon as the dreaded mechanic who always has bad news for the stranded.

I refuse to reveal one of the film’s best surprises, except to say it involves actor Jeff Goldblum hidden in plain sight.

And finally, the rockabilly vintage soundtrack scores Asteroid City perfectly for a road trip through humanity so enticing, you won’t want to miss a mile of it.

private

by Joseph Beyer

Anne Rollo - Gil/Betsy Webb - Rob Serbin - Ron Raymond - Nick Vanden Belt serbinrealestate.com

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska

BONOBO WINERY, TC

PATIO, 6-8:

7/12 -- Jackie Pappas

7/14 -- DJ Ras Marco D

7/15 -- Chasing Denver

BRADY’S BAR, TC

6:30-9:30:

7/8 -- Timothy Michael Thayer

7/16 – Blair Miller

CHATEAU CHANTAL, TC PATIO:

Thu -- Jazz at Sunset w/ Jeff Haas

Trio w/ Laurie Sears & Watercolorist

Lisa Flahive, 7

DELAMAR, TC

7/7-8 -- 1Wave DJs, 2-9

ENCORE 201, TC

7/8 -- The Vinyl DJ Robbie Greco, 9

7/13 -- John Richard Paul, 8-10

7/14 -- DJ Ricky T, 9

7/15 -- Equality Show Band, 7; DJ

Ricky T, 10

JACOB’S FARM, TC

6-8:30:

7/8 – Austin Benzing

7/9 – Miriam Pico

7/12 – G-Snacks

7/13 – Jack Pine

7/14 – Earth Radio

7/16 – Ras Marco

KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING

7/11 -- Open Mic, 6-8

LUMBEERYARD:

7/14 -- Elizabeth Landry, 7-9

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC

BARREL ROOM:

7/10 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

TASTING ROOM, 5-7:

7/8 – Jigs & Reels

7/15 – Mountain Gloom & Mountain Glory

LIL BO, TC

Tues. – Trivia, 8-10

Weds. – Open Mic Night w/ Aldrich, 9-11

Sun. – Karaoke, 8

NORTH BAR TC

7/8 – Nick Vasquez, 1-4; Blake Elliott, 5-8

7/9 – Les Dalgliesh, 1-4; Brett Mitchell, 5-8

ROVE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, TC

7/14 – Broom Closet Boys, 5:308:30

SORELLINA’S, TC

SLATE RESTAURANT:

Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano,

5-8

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

THE ALLUVION, TC

7/8 -- Ani & Kora + Dead North + Trillium Groove, 7-10

THE COIN SLOT, TC

7/8 -- Protea, 7

7/12 – BYOVinyl, 8

7/15 – Parking Lot Dance Party w/

Skin Kwon Doe, Zeb K, Waverunner & Mr. Markis, 7-11:30

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC

PATIO:

7/14 – Funky Uncle, 6:30-10

THE PARLOR, TC

7/11 – Jesse Jefferson, 8-11

7/12 – Wink, 8-11

7/13 – Jimmy Olson, 8-11

7/14 – Blue Footed Booby, 6-9; Rebekah Jon, 9-12

7/15 – Rolling Dirty, 6-9; Empire Highway, 9-12

THE PUB, TC

7/8 -- Kevin Paul, 4:30-7:30

7/9 -- Drew Hale, 4:30-7:30

7/12 – Tyler Roy, 8-11

7/13 – Steve Clark, 8-11

7/14 – John Pomeroy, 4:30-7:30

7/15 – Nick Vasquez, 4:30-7:30

7/16 – Drew Hale, 4:30-7:30

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

7/11 -- Open Mic, 7-9

7/12 -- Jazz Show & Jam, 6

PATIO:

7/13 -- DJ Dance Party, 9-11

7/14 -- Ben Richey, 8-10

7/15 -- Jazz North, 8-10

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC PATIO, 6:30-9:30:

7/8 -- TC Guitar Guys

7/13 – TSP

7/14 – Snacks & Five

7/15 -- Styleguides

TOWNLINE CIDERWORKS, WILLIAMSBURG

7/14 -- Fiddlevine, 6

UNION STREET STATION, TC

7/8 -- The Brother James Band, 10

7/9 -- DJ 2 Straws, 10

7/10 -- Jukebox, 10

7/11 -- Open Mic Comedy, 8-9:30; then Karaoke 7/12 -- DJ Jr, 10

-- Red Elvises, 7

-- DJ Prim, 10

-- Cosmic Knot, 10

-- Skin Kwon Doe, 10

Leelanau & Benzie

45 NORTH VINEYARD & WINERY, LAKE LEELANAU

7/13 -- Rhett & John, 3-6

AURORA CELLARS, LAKE LEELANAU

7/9 -- Rhett & John, 3-5

BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU

TASTING ROOM LAWN:

7/9 -- Legal Rehab, 4:30-7

7/12 -- Larry Perkins, 5:30-8

7/14 -- The Good Time Gals, 5:30-8

7/16 -- Bryan Poirier, 4:30-7

BROOMSTACK KITCHEN & TAPHOUSE, MAPLE CITY

5:30-8:30:

7/11 -- Lars Cabot

7/12 -- Andre Villoch

7/13 -- Jim Hawley

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

7/9 -- Jeff Socia, 2-4:30

7/13 -- Elizabeth Landry, 5-7:30

7/16 -- Loose Change, 2-4:30

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE BARR PARK, 6-8:

7/8 -- Blair Miller

7/9 -- Doc Probes

LEVEL4 LOUNGE, 8:30-10:30:

-- Nick Vasquez

-- Jim Hawley

-- Johnny P

-- Dominic Fortuna

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

7/9 -- Sav Buist, 9

7/10 -- Legal Rehab, 4-7

7/13 -- Luke Woltanski & Dalton Sala, 4-7

FURNACE STREET DISTILLERY, ELBERTA

6-9:

7/8 -- Jerome Forde

7/9 -- Jason Locke

7/13 -- Matt Gabriel

7/14 -- Pinter Whitnick

7/15 -- Evan Kielty

7/16 -- Billy & The Kid

GOOD HARBOR VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU TASTING ROOM:

7/12 -- Rhett & John, noon-3

HOP LOT BREWING CO., SUTTONS BAY 5-8:

7/8 -- Jen Sygit

7/10 -- Jameson Bros

7/12 -- Blair Miller

7/13 -- I Am Hologram

7/14 -- Zak Bunce & Denny Richards

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

7/8 – Haiven, Bella Wright & Lorrynne, 3:30-5:30; Lighting Matches, 6:30-

8:30

7/9 – Barefoot, 6-8

7/10 – Ethan Bott, 6-8

7/13 – Anna P.S., 6-8

7/14 – Frank Pfaff, 6-8

7/15 – Johnathan Fiene, 6-8

7/16 – Feral Cats, 6-8

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

BIÉRE DE MAC BREW WORKS, MACKINAW CITY

7/9 -- Lara Fullford, 5

7/14 -- DJ Franck, 7

7/15 -- Owen James Quartet, 7

7/16 -- Mike Morter, 5

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY

PATIO:

7/8 -- Chris Calleja, 2-6

7/14 -- Lou Thumser, 4-7:30

7/15 -- Michelle Chenard, 2-6

CHEBOYGAN BREWING

7/14 -- The Fridays, 5:30

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY

7/7-8 -- Huckleberry Groove, 9

7/14 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

CROOKED VINE VINEYARD & WINERY, ALANSON

7/8 -- John Piatek, 1-4

7/15 -- Pete Jackson, 2-5

DIXIE SALOON, MACKINAW CITY

7/7-8 & 7/14-15 – Pete Big Dog

Fetters, 8

DOUGLAS LAKE BAR, PELLSTON

6-9:

7/9 -- Nelson Olstrom

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 7/14

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

7/8 -- The Feral Cats, 1-4; Ethan Bott, 5:30-8:30

7/9 – Jabo, 3-6

7/10 – The Duges, 5:30-8:30

7/11 – Bill Frary, 5:30-8:30

7/13 – Wink, 5:30-8:30

7/14 – The Kettle Belles, 5:30-8:30

7/15 – Eric Nassau, 1-4; Troy Graham, 6-9

7/16 – Jabo, noon-3; Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra, 4-5

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

7/14 -- Friday Night LIVE with Blair Miller, 5:30-8:30

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT

7/9 -- Cousin Curtiss, 5-8

7/13 -- Jacob & Olivia, 6-8

STREETSIDE GRILLE, SUTTONS BAY

7/16 -- DJ Trivia w/ Short’s Brewing Co., 4

SUTTONS BAY CIDERS

4:30-7:

7/9 – Billy and the Kid

7/16 – Brady Corcoran

THE HOMESTEAD RESORT, GLEN ARBOR WHISKERS, 6-9:

7/8 -- Rolling Dirty

7/12 -- Gary Hempsey

7/14 -- Billy & The Kid

7/15 -- Randy Reszka

THE UNION, NORTHPORT

7/16 – The Significant Others

GYPSY DISTILLERY, BAY HARBOR

7/8 -- Jelly Roll Blues Band, 7

INN AT BAY HARBOR

CABANA BAR, 3-6:

7/9 – Michelle Chenard

7/14 – David Lawston

7/16 – Sean Bielby

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR

7/12 – David Lawston, 7:30-10:30

7/13 – Jessica Dominic

7/14 – Bill Oeming

NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY

7:30-10:30:

7/8 -- Adam Hoppe

7/12 – Dogwood Rhythm

7/13 – Kyle Brown

7/14 – Sunny Bleau

7/15 – Adam Hoppe

NORTHLAND BREWING CO.,

INDIAN RIVER

BACKYARD:

7/8 -- Brian McCosky, 7

7/13 -- Dave Cisco, 6:30

7/14 -- Harmonized Steel, 7

Emmet & Cheboygan Otsego,

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY

VICTORIES:

7/14 -- Country Concert Series: Lucas Hoge, 9, followed by DJ

POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS

7/8 -- Ty Parkin, 4-8

7/9 -- Kate Hinote Trio, 2-5

7/12 – Kirby Snively, 6-8

7/15 – M-119 Band, 4-8

7/16 – Jackie Pappas, 2-5

RUDBECKIA WINERY/BURNT

MARSHMALLOW BREWSTILLERY, PETOSKEY

7/8 & 7/16 -- Peter Allen Jensen,

5-7

7/9 -- Lou Thumser, 2-4

7-13 – Open Mic/Vinyl Night, 6

7/14 – Mark Champion, 6-8

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN

8-11:

7/14 -- Brett Harfort

7/15 -- Flylite Gemini Duo

WALLOON LAKE WINERY, PETOSKEY

7/13 -- Wife Island, 6-8

DICK’S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1

DUNE BIRD WINERY, NORTHPORT 3-6: 7/9 – Adam Dennis

7/16 – Luke Woltanski

FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH

7/12 -- Open Mic Night w/ Andrew Littlefield, 7

7/14 -- Gabrial James, 6-9

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM Sat,Thu -- Adam & The Cabana Boys, 7

BOYNE MOUNTAIN RESORT, BOYNE FALLS BEACH HOUSE DEER LAKE:

7/8 -- Nelson Olstrom, noon

BRIDGE STREET TAP ROOM, CHARLEVOIX Wed -- Chris Calleja & Adam Engelman, 6-9

FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE

6:30-9:30:

7/8 -- The Daydrinkers Series w/ Uncle Z, 3-6; then Cousin Curtiss Band,

7-10

7/11 -- New Third Coast, 6:30-9:30

7/12 -- Aaron Dye & Friends, 6:309:30

7/13 -- Red Barn Brass Quintet, 5-6; Drew Hale, 6:30-9:30

7/14 -- Happy Hour w/ Jackie Pappas,

3-6; then Delilah DeWylde, 7-10

7/15 -- The Daydrinker Series w/ Jon & Will, 3-6; then Stonefolk, 7-10

Antrim & Charlevoix

7/8 -- Randy Reszka

7/14 -- Clint Weaner

7/15 -- Peter Allen Jensen

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BELLAIRE

7:30-10:30:

7/8 & 7/15 – Steve Dawson

PEARL’S NEW ORLEANS KITCHEN, ELK RAPIDS

7/13 -- Craig Jolly, 6-9

PROVISIONS WINE LOUNGE, BOYNE CITY

7/11 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 6

7/8 -- BIG FUN (unplugged), 7

Sun -- Waterbed feat. Jimmy Olson & Matt McCalpin, 7-9:30

Thu -- Blake Elliott & Friends, 7-9:30

TWO K FARMS CIDERY & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

4:30-6:30:

7/8 – Rhett & John

7/13 – DJ Marco

7/15 – Blair Miller

VI GRILL, SUTTONS BAY Sat. – Karaoke, 9

SHORT’S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE BEER GARDEN, 7-9:30:

7/8 -- Snacks & Five

7/14 -- Austin Benzing Band

7/15 -- Steve Brown

SHORT’S PULL BARN, ELK RAPIDS

7/8 -- Alex Teller, 6:30-9:30

7/9 -- Ethan Bott, 6:30-9:30

7/13 -- Old Mission Fiddle Vine, 6:30-9:30

7/14 -- Petko, 6:30-9:30

7/15 -- Matt Mansfield, 6:30-9:30

7/16 -- Mulebone, 6-9

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee

7/15 --

NORTHERN

7/12

RAY’S BBQ, BREWS & BLUES, GRAYLING

7/9 -- Blair Miller, 4

7/8

7/15

MANTON

7/8

OUTDOOR STAGE:

MANISTEE, WEXFORD & MISSAUKEE COYOTE CROSSING RESORT, CADILLAC 7:30:

-- Them Dirty Roses wsg Paradise Outlaw

-- Kendell Marvel w/ Joe Stamm

Kendell Marvel wsg Joe Stamm

TRAILS RV PARK, HOTEL & CAMPGROUND, MANTON

-- Devin Weber, 7-10

NATURAL CIDER HOUSE, KALEVA

-- Peter ‘Madcat’ Ruth & the C.A.R.MA Quartet, 7

7/14 -- Charlie Millard Band, 7

lOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The Simpsons animated show has been on TV for 34 seasons. Ten-year-old Bart Simpson is one of the stars. He is a mischievous rascal who’s ingenious in defying authority. Sometimes teachers catch him in his rebellious acts and punish him by making him write apologetic affirmations on the classroom blackboard. For example: “I will not strut around like I own the place. I will not obey the voices in my head. I will not express my feelings through chaos. I will not trade pants with others. I will not instigate revolution. I am not deliciously saucy. I cannot absolve sins. Hot dogs are not bookmarks.” In accordance with your unruly astrological omens, Cancerian, I authorize you to do things Bart said he wouldn’t do. You have a license to be deliciously saucy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In reviewing the life work of neurologist and author Oliver Sacks, critic Patricia Holt said he marveled at how “average people not only adapt to injury and disease but also create something transcendent out of a condition others call disability.” Sacks specialized in collaborating with neurological patients who used their seeming debilitations “to uncover otherwise unknown resources and create lives of originality and innovation.” I bring this up, Libra, because I suspect that in the coming months, you will have extra power to turn your apparent weaknesses or liabilities into assets.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It’s a mistake to believe we must ration our love as if we only have so much to offer. The fact is, the more love we give, the more we have available to give. As we tap into our deepest source of generosity, we discover we have greater reserves of it than we imagined. What I’ve just said is always true, but it’s especially apropos for you right now. You are in a phase when you can dramatically expand your understanding of how many blessings you have to dole out.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Home computers didn’t become common until the 1980s. During the previous decade, small startup companies with adventurous experimenters did the grunt work that made the digital revolution possible. Many early adapters worked out of garages in the Silicon Valley area of Northern California. They preferred to devote their modest resources to the actual work rather than to fancy labs. I suspect the coming months will invite you to do something similar, Sagittarius: to be discerning about how you allocate your resources as you plan and implement your vigorous transformations.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m tempted to call this upcoming chapter of your life story “The Partial Conquest of Loneliness.” Other good titles might be “Restoration of Degraded Treasure” or “Turning a Confusing Triumph into a Gratifying One” or “Replacing a Mediocre Kind of Strength with the Right Kind.” Can you guess that I foresee an exciting and productive time for you in the coming weeks? To best prepare, drop as many expectations and assumptions as you can so you will be fully available for the novel and sometimes surprising opportunities. Life will offer you fresh perspectives.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): By 1582, the inexact old Julian calendar used by the Western world for 13 centuries was out of whack because it had no leap years. The spring equinox was occurring too early, on March 10. Pope Gregory commissioned scientists who devised a more accurate way to account for the passage of time. The problem was that the new calendar needed a modification that required the day after October 4 to be October 15. Eleven days went missing—permanently. People were resentful and resistant, though eventually all of Europe made the conversion. In that spirit, Aquarius, I ask you to consider an adjustment that requires a shift in habits. It may be inconvenient at first, but will ultimately be good for you.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Piscean

novelist Peter De Vries wrote, “Sometimes I write drunk and revise sober, and sometimes I write sober and revise drunk. But you have to have both elements in creation—the Apollonian and the Dionysian, or spontaneity and restraint, emotion and discipline.” In the coming weeks, you Pisces folks will be skilled

at weaving these modes as you practice what you love to do. You’ll be a master of cultivating dynamic balance; a wizard of blending creativity and organization; a productive changemaker who fosters both structure and morale.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Many astrologers enjoy meditating on the heavenly body Chiron. With an orbit between Saturn and Uranus, it is an anomalous object that has qualities of both a comet and a minor planet. Its name is derived from a character in ancient Greek myth: the wisest teacher and healer of all the centaurs. Chiron is now in the sign of Aries and will be there for a while. Let’s invoke its symbolic power to inspire two quests in the coming months: 1. Seek a teacher who excites your love of life. 2. Seek a healer who alleviates any hurts that interfere with your love of life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s high time for some high culture! You are in a phase to get rich benefits from reading Shakespeare, listening to Beethoven, and enjoying paintings by Matisse and Picasso. You’d also benefit lavishly from communing with the work of virtuosos like Mozart, Michelangelo, and novelist Haruki Murakami. However, I think you would garner even greater emotional treasures from reading Virginia Woolf, listening to Janelle Monáe’s music, and enjoying Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings. For extra credit, get cozy with the books of Simone Weil, listen to Patti Smith’s music, and see Frida Kahlo’s art. If you read between the lines here, you understand I’m telling you that the most excellent thing to do for your mental and spiritual health is to commune with brilliant women artists, writers, and musicians.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The French phrase j’ajoute (translated as “I adjust”) is a chess term used when a player is about to adjust their pieces but does not yet intend to make a move. J’ajoute might be an apt motto for you to invoke in the coming days. You are not ready to make major shifts in the way you play the games you’re involved in. But it’s an excellent time to meditate on that prospect. You will gain clarity and refine your perspective if you tinker with and rearrange the overall look and feel of things.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Early in her career, Leo actor Lisa Kudrow endured disappointments. She auditioned for the TV show Saturday Night Live but wasn’t chosen. She was cast as a main character in the TV show Frasier but was replaced during the filming of the pilot episode. A few months later, though, she landed a key role in the new TV show Friends. In retrospect, she was glad she got fired from Frasier so she could be available for Friends. Frasier was popular, but Friends was a super hit. Kudrow won numerous awards for her work on the show and rode her fame to a successful film career. Will there be a Frasier moment for you in the coming months, dear Leo? That’s what suspect. So keep the faith.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The coming weeks will be a good time to seek helpful clues and guidance from your nightly dreams. Take steps to remember them—maybe keep a pen and notebook next to your bed. Here are a few possible dream scenes and their meanings. 1. A dream of planting a tree means you’re primed to begin a project that will grow for years. 2. A dream of riding in a spaceship suggests you yearn to make your future come more alive in your life. 3. A dream of taking a long trip or standing on a mountaintop may signify you’re ready to come to new conclusions about your life story. (PS: Even if you don’t have these specific dreams, the interpretations offered are still apt.)

Crosswords

ACROSS

1. Brooks who turned 97 this year

4. Planktonic crustaceans

9. Political Pelosi

14. Eggy start

15. Capital of Vietnam

16. “___ a couple seconds ...”

17. Source of coincidental thoughts

19. Manicurist’s expertise

20. Driver’s permit that’s only for the First Lady?

22. Have a sample of 23. Faux ___ (misstep)

24. Copy mistake

27. Amounts owed

31. New Jersey players

35. Regatta racer’s implement 36. Le ___ (French seaport)

37. Decked out

38. “That sound! Is it a giant keyring?”

41. From ___ (effective immediately)

42. Baryshnikov’s company, once

43. Suffix for Nepal

44. Mumford’s backup?

45. Mombasa’s country

46. “Bullet Train” star Pitt

47. “Shameless” network, for short

49. Actress Vardalos

51. Either of my kids, compared to me?

58. Insults, when thrown

59. Obvious sticking point?

61. Monty Python member Michael

62. “Buenos Aires” musical

63. Matchbox Twenty’s Thomas

64. Concert venue

65. Spouts off without reason

66. Old-school icons, slangily

DOWN

1. Actress Gretchen of “Boardwalk Empire”

2. Satan’s specialty

3. “The Avengers” villain

4. Cambodian language

5. Save point?

6. Wayside taverns

7. Big deposit

8. Rolling Stone article, often

9. Stealthy sort

10. “Henry and June” diarist

11. Part of NdGT

12. Biology class unit

13. Gridiron stat

18. Hi-C ___ Cooler (“Ghostbusters”-inspired drink)

21. “Call of Duty: Black ___”

24. Commuter train stops

25. Owner of Tumblr (until 2018)

26. Jumbo shrimp

28. Bring up memories of

29. Boston hockey player

30. Discworld creator Pratchett

32. Lawn tool

33. Second-largest city in Oklahoma

34. Go too fast

36. QVC rival (and corporate sibling)

37. “Captain Underpants” creator Pilkey

39. Included

40. “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” singer

45. “Kitchy-kitchy-___!”

46. ___ mi (sandwich on French bread)

48. “Laughing” animal

50. Small amounts

51. “ ___ she blows!”

52. Hearty partner

53. Laptop owner

54. Suddenly bright star

55. Sheepish look, sometimes 56. Italian money

57. Pollution in big cities

58. Resort to retreat to 60. Little pellets

"Get the Hook" another letter, please. by Matt Jones

“Jonesin”

CLASSIFIEDS

REWARDING CAREERS IN TRAVERSE CITY: Are you searching for a meaningful career opportunity that will help you make a meaningful difference in the Traverse City community? PMP Personnel Services is hiring professional Case Managers and Outreach workers to assist in securing and maintaining housing for people in Traverse City who are experiencing homelessness. Interested? Call 231-999-8024.

LAKE MICHIGAN A FRAME on East Bay sleeps 4 no pets: 8/25-9/1 2500. Fall 2000/wk.3 nite 925 31099556375 Glampinghub.com 4 pics

“HORSES OF FIRE” Book Signings with A.D. Rhine: Come celebrate the publication of HORSES OF FIRE (Dutton/ Penguin-Random House), a historically-rooted myth retelling of the Trojan War in which Troy’s strong yet misunderstood women take center stage. Both co-authors will be signing books from 1-3pm at Horizon Books in Traverse City on July 25 and at McLean & Eakin in Petoskey on July 26. www.adrhine.com

TOUR GUIDE WANTED DOWNTOWN TRAVERSE CITY: Walking Tour Guide. Few nights/week. Kind Reliable Outgoing. Call for more info.

WANTED: OLD WOODEN DUCK, FISH, GOOSE DECOYS: Paying cash for old, wooden duck & fish decoys. Call or text 586-530-6586.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR TECHNOLOGY? ASK BUCHAN TECH...: 20+ years experience, call (231) 598-8324 or visit my website www.BuchanTECH.com

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

MR.GETITDONE: Got a task, powerwashing, hauling junk, moving, leaves piles, if I can’t I can tell you who can 231871-1028

YOUR WEEKEND SIDE HUSTLE AT $25 PER HOUR!

Two newspaper delivery routes are now available with Northern Express, covering northern Michigan between Kalkaska, Grayling, Petoskey and Cheboygan. Driving routes usually take 7 to 8.5 hours per week with flexibility of delivering on Saturday or Sunday. Must be able to lift bundles of newspapers and have a dependable vehicle. Ideal for students, retirees or anyone seeking extra cash. If interested, email us! Distribution@northernexpress.com

STUDIO PRO BOUTIQUE MASSAGE THERAPY SCHOOL

Now accepting applications for open enrollment! www. studiopromassage.com or e-mail studioproeducation@gmail. com for more details! $35 Massages for public with our senior students!

Corner lot, ranch-style home close to NMC, Civic Center, and East Bay! Two bedroom, two bath home with nonconforming third bedroom and full bath in the spacious basement. High angled ceilings in bedrooms and living area. Main floor laundry and family room. Dining room sliding doors open to back yard, outdoor seating with garden beds, shed, and nice lawn. 2 car attached garage.

1625 E Eighth Street • Traverse City

$350,000

Michael Harrison has been very responsive to our stated needs over the five years in which we’ve been searching for property. He was always respectful of our time constraints and consistently sent only listings which he felt suited our needs. Once we made a decision on a property, we needed to move quickly. Michael went above and beyond to facilitate the negotiation, the closing, and everything in between. We are extremely happy to know Michael and would highly recommend him!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home within the next 12 months, call me today and let’s have a conversation about our current market.