Northern Express - October 02, 2023

September 18 to October 29

menu samplin’

Spiked French Onion Soup

Bourbon Brie Fondue

Chicken & Waffles

Daniel Boone Stroganoff

Bourbon Orange Salmon

Cherry Pecan Bread Pudding

We Dodged a Bullet in TC

After reading the heartbreaking story about a young man who recently rammed his truck into Munson and two other buildings, I was thankful that no one was hurt. At the same time, I felt ashamed that our community hadn’t done more to help this young person by providing much-needed mental health care, even if by court order.

Situations like this could have resulted in multiple injuries and deaths. We dodged a bullet this time, but we must do better treating persons with mental illness so these things don’t happen. Recovery is possible. It happens every day. It takes a community and community support.

I want his family and others to know that NAMI-GT and BDAI (Before, During and After Incarceration) are here to help. We offer free classes, support groups, navigation of both the mental health services system and the justice system.

Families and individuals should not have to suffer this trauma alone. There is help.

Kate Dahlstrom | Traverse City

How Clean Is Clean Energy?

In her Sept. 16 Guest Opinion “Fire, Flooding, and Misinformation,” Cathye Williams calls out resistance to solar and wind solutions as misinformed. It is true that to ask a question such as “Where would the energy come from when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing?” could, as she says, be an effort to plant doubts or falsehood. But couldn’t it also be a legitimate and even necessary question?

People need to be able to question wind and solar without being labeled climate deniers. I know the climate is changing. I know humans are responsible. I know we need to change our behavior. I also know:

According to trustworthy sources of information—International Energy Alliance, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Federal Register, and others—because sun and wind are intermittent, solar and wind need backup energy like natural gas, hydro, nuclear, even biofuel (trees!). In addition, critical habitat, carbon sequestering forests, and sacred lands are destroyed daily to clear space and/ or to mine lithium necessary for “clean” or “green” energy production and storage. Energy companies on our East Coast and in our western deserts have been issued “Incidental Take Authorizations”—permits to harass, injure, or kill endangered animals in the course of installing wind and solar.

I also know this: Alternative energy production is not only destructive, but our belief that it is going to save the world distracts from the obvious truth we don’t want to face. No matter what the energy source, it will have an environmental impact, and we need to use less. Energy companies and other corporations don’t want us to stop buying and flying and creating new generations to do the same. We need to reduce consumption and population. Why is nobody talking about this?

Diane Miller | Honor

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Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC.

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top ten

From

Manhattan to Frankfort

A Night at Fort Fright

This is not your typical haunted house or trail! Make your way through Fort Fright, an 18th-century fort and fur trading village full of werewolves, witches, goblins, and ghouls at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City. Hear spooky folktales around a bonfire while enjoying hot mulled cider, cookies, and candy Oct. 6-7 from 6:30-9:30pm. $12 adults, $8 ages 5-12, and free for 4 and under. mackinacparks.com/ fort-fright

Hey, watch It! The Other Black Girl 4

Ever wanted to be a film critic? Now’s your chance: The Garden Theater in Frankfort is participating in the 26th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival, and the audience gets to do the judging. In over 500 venues across six continents, 10 short films—all of which are also eligible to be Oscar contenders—will be screened during a one-week period. At each theater, the audiences will get to vote on awards for best film and best actor. The films themselves come from eight different countries: the U.S., UK, Canada, Afghanistan, Australia, Finland, Iran, and Switzerland. You’ll follow a woman through Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, see music transform darkness and shadow into vibrant color, and explore both the deep sea and a landing on the moon, among other stories and adventures. Catch all of the shorts and cast your votes Oct. 6-8. To learn more, visit gardentheater.org/upcoming-events or call the box office at (231) 352-7561.

2 tastemaker Cupcake Mafia’s The Good Fella

Mobile bakeshop Cupcake Mafia & Co. is all about extravagant sweets. Opened last year, this family-owned operation specializes in scratch-made desserts and offers rotating menus from cookies to brownies and even customizable pastries. This month, they’re upping the autumnal ante with the return of their popular fall cupcake lineup and the unequivocal godfather of all that is pumpkin spice, The Good Fella. Inspired by everyone’s favorite flavor, this boss bake features a tender pumpkin spice cake stuffed with homemade pumpkin spice custard and slathered in cinnamon buttercream frosting. Topped off with a tiny pumpkin pie, this eye-popping treat is served up with a spoon so you can savor every last crumb. Don’t sleep on this dirty half-dozen; they’re only available until Thanksgiving. Grab a Good Fella cupcake ($4) and a host of other seasonal suspects at one of Cupcake Mafia & Co’s many pop-ups or online at cupcake-mafia-co.square.site.

Nella Rogers is an editorial assistant at Wagner Books, a job that could be a dream but lately, is more like a nightmare. Nella is the only Black woman working for the publishing company, and there are far too many days where Nella feels left out or marginalized by her coworkers. When Hazel-May McCall, another Black woman, joins the team, the two instantly bond and Nella’s work life starts looking up. At least until she gets a message—a warning, or maybe a threat—telling her to leave Wagner. Could Hazel-May be behind the note…or any of the other strange things that are starting to happen to Nella? Based on the bestselling novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris, The Other Black Girl is one part corporate culture commentary, one part dark comedy, and one part mystery (with a bent toward Jordan Peeleesque horror). Relative newcomer Sinclair Daniel stars as Nella and steals the show, making audiences feel her pulse-pounding terror as she untangles the web of secrets around her. Now streaming on Hulu.

The Magic of the Season at Myrtle & Maude’s

Myrtle & Maude’s market in Williamsburg looks like something out of an autumnal storybook these days. The charming farm just north of Traverse City is festooned with pumpkins and corn husks, with hints of crimson in the trees and plenty of apples to pick, eat, and drink. (Plus a treasure trove of locally-crafted gifts, fall-themed goodies, and antique furniture to shop in their store.) This weekend, they’re offering a chance for you to embrace the season by pressing your own cider…or opting for an apple cider slushie. You can nosh on donuts and caramel apples before taking a tractor-pulled wagon tour of the farm…or stay behind by the bonfire, where an outdoor big screen TV plays your favorite football game. (Go Blue!) The farm is open daily from 10am to 5pm at 10981 Elk Lake Road. Find all the details at myrtleandmaudes.com.

Stuff We Love: All the Scents of Fall

With the equinox behind us, it’s time to go all in on autumn. Traverse City Candle Co. has done just that with their 2023 fall candle drop, and we can’t get enough of this seasonal quintet. First up is the Maple Bay (pictured), with notes of oak moss, dried leaves, and warm musk. Then there’s Farmers Market—a perennial favorite—which transports you to the Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market with a nose full of apples, cinnamon, and clove. Speaking of being transported, Good Harbor Bonfire blends the lines between summer and fall, reminding you of your favorite Lake Michigan sunset with hints of marshmallows and chocolate. The Petoskey Pumpkin scent is like a pumpkin pie in a jar, and last but not least, the Tunnel of Trees has that woodsy, apple-scented vibe of driving north through Harbor Springs as the leaves are changing. All candles are 100 percent soy, with a burn time of 50+ hours. $28 per candle, or $90 for four. Shop traversecitycandleco.com.

This past week, Goodwill Northern Michigan opened a new Goodwill store in Petoskey at 2154 Anderson Rd., which replaces the old store in Bear Creek Plaza. According to a press release from Goodwill Northern Michigan, the new space offers an improved shopping and donating experience along with a better environment for the Goodwill team. The Anderson Road building will also be owned by Goodwill, rather than being leased as it was in their previous location. Purchases made at the store support Goodwill programs in Emmet and Charlevoix counties, such as Patriot Place, which helps veterans transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. Each year, Goodwill Northern Michigan also provides $100,000 in free store vouchers to people facing homelessness and other emergencies in the Emmet-Charlevoix region. See more about the new store at goodwillnmi.org/goodwill-petoskey.

bottoms up Cherry Republic’s Night Swim Porter

In the words of an unspeakably gorgeous R.E.M. song, “Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.” That song captures the beauty and daring of a late-night dip beneath the start-lit glow of fleeting summer skies, and Cherry Republic’s Night Swim Cherry Porter is a beer brewed in tribute to all the same things. Made with local sweet black cherries and eight different malts, this flavorful brew seems tailor-made for this specific moment of the year. The demonstrable cherry flavor screams summertime, while the malty character and notes of roasted chocolate tilt toward shorter days and cooler temps. It’s the perfect beer for northern Michigan’s “locals’ summer,” when most of the tourists have cleared out but there’s still lots of the most glorious season left to savor. Try some for yourself at Cherry Republic’s Cherry Public House at 6026 South Lake Street in Glen Arbor. (231) 226-3033; cherryrepublic.com/ cherry-public-house

TILTING AT BUDGET WINDMILLS

spectator

By steven Tuttle

By the time this column goes to print, the federal government could be shut down. Or, more rational voices within the Republican party will have been heard and at least some sort of stopgap budget deal will have been made to keep the government running.

This trip to the edge of an economic cliff now occurs with troubling regularity. Some, especially a certain former president, believe a shutdown would be a good thing politically, with the blame falling primarily on President Biden. But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is right when he suggests the blame will fall on Republicans because it is their most extreme wing refusing to compromise.

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Some of those demands have included an end of aid to Ukraine and most other foreign allies; an end to spending on COVID education, prevention, and treatment; greatly reduced budget for the Department of Justice and Department of Education; reductions in the social safety net including what are typically called food stamps; and, most improbably, a balanced budget.

None of that is very likely, and some of it is practically and politically impossible. Threatening a government shutdown while tilting at windmills is especially foolish and destructive.

Let’s take a look at that federal budget some insist be balanced. It sounds completely logical but isn’t. According to U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data, the government took in slightly more than $5 trillion (that’s $5,000,000,000,000) in fiscal year 2022 but spent just under $6.5 trillion—quite a bit of overspending. How do we spend it?

Almost 56 percent of that $6.5 trillion is spent on Social Security (19 percent), defense and veterans (16 percent), Medicare (12 percent), and Medicaid/food stamps (9.5 percent). That’s four budget items consuming well more than half, and, as we stagger into an election year, there is not now any appetite among any congressional majority to cut any of that spending.

So the budget-balancers will have to find $1.5 trillion to cut not from the $6.5 trillion total, but from 44 percent of it, or less than $2.9 trillion. What does that money include?

Transportation, like highways, rail, air travel, and airports. Then there’s federal money for the federal public education bureaucracy and money to the states for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and four year colleges and universities. There is a federal Department of Health Services and federal money given to state health departments. We also spend money on foreign aid, but it’s a

comparative pittance, less than $65 billion for non-military aid. According to the Kiel Institute for World Economy, a German organization that keeps track of such things, we’ve thus far spent an additional $75 billion in humanitarian, financial, and military aid to Ukraine.

A government shutdown means most non-military departments will be closed. National parks and monuments will be closed, government offices will be shuttered, highway construction and maintenance will grind to a halt. Social security checks will continue to be disbursed, and the Postal Service, which is not technically a government agency, will continue delivering mail. But

federal employees will not be paid, including air traffic controllers, who will be required to keep working without compensation.

There are 2.2 million Americans working in civilian positions for the federal government in those various departments, so there will be plenty of economic pain to spread around.

The last time the federal budget was balanced was 2001 when George W. Bush was president. It continued a budget balancing routine started in 1998 when Bill Clinton was president and Newt Gingrich was Speaker of the House. The budget was also balanced in 1999 and 2000 before it blew up in 2002. Since then, Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump all spent well into the red, an overspending tradition being upheld by Joe Biden.

Those intent on balancing the budget have a lot of cutting to do, and that’s a problem. What departments will they ax or bleed nearly dry? Which federal workers—our friends and neighbors—will lose their jobs? Those workers are all constituents of some member of Congress, and slashing jobs during an election year in somebody’s home district or state isn’t typically popular.

The cascading impact of that many lost jobs—it would have to be in the hundreds of thousands to have the desired budget balancing impact— would hurt communities large and small. Restaurants, grocery stores, and retailers of all sorts would lose business, and there would be home foreclosures and vehicle repossessions.

A government shutdown is, or could have been, a temporary disaster caused by recalcitrant extremists who demand getting their way or else. The economic pain caused by futile negotiating tactics employed by the we-demand-everything crowd would at least be temporary. But the economic and employment amputations required to balance the next budget would be permanent, and permanently destructive.

A government shutdown is, or could have been, a temporary disaster caused by recalcitrant extremists who demand getting their way or else.

HIGH POINTS

A FALL COLOR TOUR WITH DUNEGRASS

The colorful displays of Mother Nature’s seasonal changes. The brisk air that makes you reach for your sweater. The comforting bowls that put a smile on your face. These are some of our favorite experiences of autumn. With seven locations and counting, allow us to guide you as northern Michigan becomes an ideal place to harvest intention, gratitude, and connection.

Let’s begin in our southernmost Dunegrass location: Big Rapids. Their annual fall festival on Oct. 21 is a favorite for the whole family, with a Trunk or Treat and inflatables for the kiddos, plus food trucks and other seasonal fun. We’ll be there to say hello, so be sure to find a Dunegrass grasstender for an elevated treat.

As you head north toward our Cadillac store, experience breathtaking views from your car, bicycle, kayak, canoe, motorcycle, or foot. This is one of our favorite corridors for fall color, with long stretches of uninterrupted hardwood trees. Check out CadillacMichigan.com to select a route and view turn-by-turn directions in an all-new interactive map with 218 miles of roads to explore and over 40 destinations to enjoy.

In our hometown of Traverse City, where our newest facility is located, we’re proud to be a part of the prestigious Banff Film Festival World Tour. Hosted by the Vasa Ski Club on Oct. 12 at the City Opera House, this special evening showcases short films and documentaries about the great outdoors.

Trek a little farther north into Gaylord and find Fleming Farm equipped with pumpkins, corn mazes, hayrides, and yes…cider! The Gaylord area also has 200+ miles of beautiful backroads to experience the fall color displays. (Just don’t go too far without whipping into our Gaylord store’s drive-thru to try our Croptober harvest.)

If you also can’t go wrong with a M-22 afternoon. Starting near our first location in Manistee, swing by Nugent Orchards to take a relaxing wagon ride around the farm and enjoy the scenic views or pick a variety of apples. Just a small detour from M-22 is our Beulah store. There you will find information on the Betsie Valley Trail, which stretches 22 miles through Benzie County.

Whatever your Up North thing is, we are here to hook you up with the essentials and direct you to all the local hot spots.

by David Lindsay-Abaire

EXPANDING NURSE PRACTITIONERS’ AUTHORITY TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE IN MICHIGAN

opinion columnist by Jennifer Attie, FNP-C

One of the biggest concerns I hear about as a nurse practitioner living in Emmet County is how difficult it is for people of all ages to find a primary care physician. Therefore it should come as no surprise that more than 3.5 million Michigan residents (approximately one third of our population) are without a primary care physician, with a majority of these individuals living in rural Michigan communities just like ours.

This shortage of primary care physicians leaves many people, including those with an established primary care provider, in a dire situation when they are in need of healthcare. Often, they end up finding it through an urgent care or emergency departments, resulting in excessive fees, high deductible payments, and long wait times.

certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners that guaranteed I had a broad knowledge base of medical care and safety to practice. Since 2006, I have held several jobs in an outpatient setting, caring for individuals of all ages as long as a physician agreed to enter into a contract with me as my collaborating physician.

Every physician who has entered into a collaborative agreement with me has been supportive and willing to assist me whenever I needed to ask further questions, discuss a plan of care, or seek a second opinion. I am certain that each of them would have done all of these things without a mandatory contract because everyone in healthcare knows that our model of care is changing and we need a team of providers to meet the needs of our patients, their families, and our community.

communities just like ours.

For decades, nurse practitioners have helped fill this shortage by providing primary care to Michigan residents as a “partner” in their care. But Michigan nurse practitioners have never had full practice authority to allow us the opportunity to assess, plan, diagnose, treat, prescribe, and advocate for our patients without the supervision of a physician.

This could all change with Senate Bill 279, recently introduced by State Senator Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) with bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 279 will allow Michigan to join 27 other states that provide full practice authority to their certified nurse practitioners. This would broaden the scope of care for nurse practitioners by removing the unnecessary burden of physician requirements, while honoring our education, training, and commitment to the safety and care of our patients and their families.

Like many nurse practitioners, my educational journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing followed by many years as an acute care nurse in an inpatient hospital setting. As I observed the many inadequacies of inpatient healthcare, I decided to return to school for my Master’s of Science in Nursing— another three years of education.

The degree allowed me the opportunity to become a nurse practitioner and obtain a

Now is the time to allow nurse practitioners in Michigan full practice authority so that we are recognized as primary care providers in our state and our communities. Allowing nurse practitioners the opportunity to function as primary care providers will help close the gaps in access to care and lower healthcare costs.

It will also keep Michigananders safe and healthy, provide a choice for healthcare, and—perhaps most importantly—ensure quality healthcare for all. In fact, it has been demonstrated that people living in states with full practice authority have significantly improved access to care compared to those living in states that restrict or reduce a nurse practitioner’s scope of practice.

Nurse practitioners often have years of nursing experience in addition to years of education culminating with a masters or a doctorate degree. It’s time to remove the barriers between patients in need and nurse practitioners who can provide much needed healthcare.

Denying our ability for full practice authority is simply depriving patients access to affordable healthcare— something 3.5 million Michiganders are already without.

Jenni Attie has been a Family Nurse Practitioner since 2006 and currently practices in Petoskey.

more than 3.5 million Michigan residents (approximately one third of our population) are without a primary care physician, with a majority of these individuals living in rural Michigan

Harvest Season = Festival Season

Check out these seven fall celebrations around the North

By Rachel Pasche

If you ask us, it’s impossible to beat the beauty of fall in northern Michigan. Vibrant-hued trees, glowing sunsets, that unmistakable autumnal smell in the air, and the abundant harvests make for an unforgettable season for residents and visitors alike. And what better way to commemorate this gorgeous time of year than with a festival? Here are seven of the fun fall events happening around northern Michigan this autumn.

1. Fall Fest at Pond Hill Farm

11am to 6pm, weekends Sept. 23 through Oct. 29

Looking for some creative ways to get in the fall spirit? What about pumpkin bowling, shooting squash out of a Squash Rocket, or pumpkin smashing? These unconventional festivities are all part of Fall Fest at Pond Hill Farm, which takes place every weekend from late September through October. If playing with pumpkins isn’t quite your speed, visitors can also enjoy the autumn air in more relaxing ways with hayrides, live music, and wine tasting. Just be sure to come hungry—homemade brick oven pizzas are available, plus hot apple cider and donuts. The drink tent has craft beer and cider for adults, and a bounce house is there on some weekends to keep the little ones occupied (and tired!).

2. Benzie County Fall Festival

Saturday, Oct. 7, 10am to 5pm

The Benzie County Fall Festival celebrates everything we love about the fall season: pumpkin carving, good soups, and a chance to slow down after a busy summer. Visitors won’t want to miss the unique chance to watch a master at work; Pat Harrison, otherwise known as the “Lord of the Gourd,” sets up shop at this fall festival to carve up pumpkins into truly terrific (and sometimes terrifying) faces. Spectators can watch Harrison at his craft during the festival…and maybe glean some inspiration for their own future pumpkin carvings. Taste-test entries for the annual soup contest, stroll around the participants of the car and motorcycle show, enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride, or test your mettle at the Haunted Library.

3. Onekama Fall Festival

Saturday, Oct. 7, 10am to 3pm

Family-friendly activities are at the forefront at the Onekama Fall Festival, a day chock-full of activities that kids of all ages can enjoy. Games include musical chairs, a Hula hoop competition, and even the chance to find money in a haystack. Those with a sweet tooth can compete in the apple pie and pumpkin pie eating contests, or try their hand (or mouth, to be more accurate) at the donut eating competition. Guests with a penchant for arts and crafts can participate in rock painting or peruse the arts and crafts fair that sets up at the festival. Make a day out of it and grab lunch at one of the food trucks, or while away an hour with a horse and carriage tour. This festival is all about slowing down and enjoying autumn with neighbors and family.

4. Bellaire Harvest Festival

Saturday, Oct. 7, 10am to 4pm

If you’re someone who likes to celebrate Halloween all throughout October, the Bellaire Harvest Festival is guaranteed to delight (or frighten!). Show up in your costume and participate in the Halloween dress rehearsal mile-long fun run or show off your dapper dog in the Best Dressed Pet Parade. Kids can spend the afternoon searching for clues in the Halloween Scavenger Hunt for the chance to win a prize. A fine art and craft fair will be set up, plus a fleet of food trucks for a snack after the festivities. One Hot Robot, a band known for their upbeat tunes and funky beats, will be performing live music on Broad Street during the festival.

A member from the Bellaire Chamber said the festival feels like “One big community party,” with adults, kids, and pets alike “dressed up, enjoying themselves, and kicking off fall.”

5. Chateau Chantal Annual Harvest Festival

Saturday, Oct. 7, 11am to 7pm

We’ve heard about a lot of wonderful fall produce so far…but what about grapes?! Never fear—Chateau Chantal on Old Mission Peninsula (pictured above) has the wine fans covered. Their 23rd annual festival includes a public cellar tour (including details about the winemaking process), vineyard tours, and grape stomping to channel your inner Lucille Ball! Snacks will be available—think hot pretzels and brats—and you’ll be able to pursue an artisan vendor showcase. This is also the perfect time to stock up on holiday booze, with discounts of up to 20 percent on cases of wine. And as always, you can enjoy wine tastings and wine by the glass along with one of the best views in all of northern Michigan. (Hint: It’s one of the few hilltops where you can spot both East and West Bay!)

6. The Charlevoix Apple Fest

Friday, Oct. 13, to Sunday, Oct. 15

Crisp apples are one of the emblems of the fall season, and there’s no better place to celebrate this crop than at the 44th annual Charlevoix Apple Fest. The fruit-filled festivities include a huge array of tents peddling apple varieties, apple baked goods (including apple cider donuts, apple crisp, and apple pies), apple cider, and other sweets like crepes and honey. Four different orchards will also set up areas where visitors can sample different types of local apples and take some home. “SweetTango apples are a favorite every year,” says Caitlin Cole, the event organizer.

Over 100 craft booths and art vendors set up shop as well, to the delight of anyone who likes to start their holiday shopping early. Cole says they’re making an extra effort in their kid-focused activities this year, which includes a petting zoo (complete with a camel and kangaroo), storytime, and shows performed by Chet the Juggler. “The festival has a Hallmark feel to it,” Cole says. Her No. 1 recommendation? Trying as many of the different apple treats as possible.

7. Frankfort Fall Festival

Saturday, October 14th from 11am to 7pm

Strap in for the annual Frankfort Fall Festival, where visitors can watch a parade, admire the dashing dogs in the Mutt March, take a spin on the carnival rides, and sip on some local libations in the big tent while watching the Scottville Clown Band (returning by popular demand).

Joanne Bartley, the executive director of the Frankfort Elberta Chamber of Commerce, also recommends visitors enter the cornhole tournament (complete with prize money) or try their hand at the Hillibilly Olimpiks, an obstacle course full of hilarious hurdles. Kids have the chance to win a new bike if they correctly guess the weight of one of the massive pumpkin entries (most of which, Bartley says, exceed 300 pounds!), and pumpkin decorating and pie-eating contests are also available. Be sure not to miss the giant pumpkin drop at 2:30pm near the boat launch!

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Cherry Capital Airport CEO Kevin Klein has lots of reasons to smile this fall. The state’s third largest airport has 17 direct destinations and just had its biggest summer ever, with major expansion ahead. We caught up with him to get the update — and some breaking news.

1 > First of all, how did summer turn out?

Summer was awesome. We are up so far for 2023 including summer and the first quarter 19.1 percent. August alone was up 23.9 percent. We thought we’d get close to our 2021 numbers, which was our best year ever. And at that this point were almost 60,000 passengers ahead of that. So we’re now predicting a record year.

2 > So it’s way ahead of even your projections. Why?

I think a couple things were in play. One, our business traveler in northern Michigan has returned! We recently did some surveys, and we’re seeing our business traveler back full-force and even stronger than prior to the pandemic. The other thing driving this is our different events. At Traverse City Horse Shows, during the pandemic, many of those workers came and stayed the full duration of the show. This summer we saw many of those individuals commuting back and forth from destinations. But I also think from the airline side, we had a lot more seats. We saw United and American put in mainline aircraft and seat capacity, so that alone cultivated traffic.

3 > And how are you doing versus other Michigan airports?

Grand Rapids is growing very similarly, but the rest of the airports in Michigan like Lansing, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Flint are not growing as fast, and the U.P. airports are still struggling. We’re really seeing the health of our economy on the whole west side of Michigan.

4 > This issue of Northern Express is being read by thousands from metro Detroit. Talk about how you “sell” our area when you travel within the industry.

When I talk about our region as a whole I always start with our natural resources. It’s such a major selling point. The Sleeping Bear Dunes are so unique to northern Michigan. So when we talk to airlines or other communities, we’re selling sugar sand beaches with fresh, clean water. Then you get to our trails and golf. And the cool breezes that really cut the humidity here. That appeals to southern Michigan or the southern U.S.

5 > And of course events, too.

Yes, of course events. The Traverse City Horse Shows

Flying High With Cherry Capital Airport's Kevin Klein

and the amount of events they have over a13-week period and now expanding beyond jumping into other disciplines on an international scale. The National Cherry Festival of course is our staple event, with concerts, activities, the air show, all to celebrate what we’re known for. Then the wineries are growing, our food scene is among the best, and the shopping — from Traverse City to Charlevoix and even up to Mackinac Island — you have the small town feel that is such a draw.

6 > You mentioned the wine scene. Are you starting to hear in your travels that we’re now “on the map” for wine?

I definitely hear that, yes. It’s not Napa Valley, but people are looking for those sweeter wines our region has to offer. Definitely more and more people are looking to visit for that. And I share that as I travel, and I take some of our wines to airline meetings across the country.

7 > What do you think of from an airport perspective about Detroit and its travelers and airport specifically?

Well, the biggest thing is the Delta hub in Detroit. All of the towns that get Delta service in Michigan benefit from that hub growth. Whether it’s a domestic or international route, those coming into Detroit Metro have the opportunity to experience all of Michigan. So we all need to continue to invest in and promote that airport. And internationally, we see it with so many international students here at Interlochen Arts Academy coming from all over the world. So it’s really key to have that vital hub in Detroit.

8 > What about your own expansion at the airport?

The terminal is going to grow a lot over the next handful of years.

Yes! We met with the FAA over the summer to review our justification [for expansion]. That went very well, so we’re looking to finalize that and then they will give us the go-ahead to proceed with an environmental review and financial planning, which will take the better part of 2024. Then we’ll be able to go to the design [phase] in 2024 and 2025. And once that’s approved and bid, we’ll have shovels in the ground late ’25 or early ’26, with completion around 2027.

9 > And you’re also busy with some technical improvements on a runway that will really help weather delays and cancellations...

Yes, we’ve been working hard on the instrument landing system for Runway 10. It’s finally under construction as of July, when we installed 52 manholes for control

cables, the new antenna and the shelters for electronics, with cabling being run now. Flight check is scheduled for November, and final commissioning on November 30. That’s all if the government stays in operation; an extended government shutdown could delay us. But if all goes as planned, we’ll be operating from then on. We’ve been getting delays or cancellations of 100-plus flights a year due to weather, which will be corrected. This will offer higher levels of safety and reliability for the airport and traveler.

10 > And I’ve seen more work going in at the airport, too.

Yes, we expanded the air carrier ramp 130 feet to the east and the west of the terminal. That allows us to handle significantly more aircraft. It’s been done since July and it’s been used every single second since then. And then we also received a $5.2 million grant to replace gates one, three and four. One and three were from the old terminal, so they are close to 40 years old. parked at times so now we can handle more overflow. Done in mid-July and used every second since.

11 > How are the airport tenants doing, like rental cars and gift shop?

The gift shop has that expanded liquor license for more seating with alcoholic beverages and that has been a big help. Their year has been a record year for them. They also expanded their food menu, which is great. We’ve had probably our best year since the pandemic in terms of having rental cars available, though we were still short cars around Labor Day weekend. And the airport has worked with the Turo app so now Turo can operate here at the airport, so that’s good news, too.

12 > You mentioned earlier this year that the TSA at Cherry Capital is “leveling up?"

Yes. It’s about the number of passengers going through the facility, and we’ve graduated to a new category that allows infrastructure investments made by the TSA here. We went from two checkpoint lanes to three and also upgraded the x-ray technology and the system so travelers just have to present their drivers license, all making it much faster.

13 > And you promised us some breaking news! I did! We applied with the Department of Transportation for a Small Communities Air Service Development grant, and we just learned we landed it. It’s $750,000 and will allow us to partner with United Airlines for Houston service. So the announcement is coming soon, and the next step will be to work with United to roll that out. We’re very excited to add another Texas route!

HEART, SOUL, AND SALTIMBOCCA

Discover authentic Mediterranean and Italian cuisine at The Golden Stag

By Geri Dietze

The Golden Stag in Manistee opened its doors July 2023 to glowing reviews and enthusiastic repeat customers. In fact, first timers not only returned to the Mediterranean restaurant, and returned quickly, but they brought their friends along as well.

“The response was overwhelming during the summer,” explains owner Jamil Alam. “People were waiting at the door. It was almost immediate.”

Jamil and Laura Alam purchased the River Street building in September 2022 and spent eight months getting ready for its opening, with a laser focus on details. The location was the former site of another eatery, the Fillmore Restaurant and Bar, but it was originally built in 1896 as a tailor shop and ice house.

They refurbished the site, making sure to protect “the attributes of the building,” according to Jamil. That meant lots of brick, original floors, and a fireplace, complemented by comfortable chairs, wood topped tables, and modernist touches. Today, the dining room seats 100, the bar 10. Outside, the façade is clean red brick with bright white and black trim— contemporary, but still fitting in nicely in Manistee’s historic downtown.

The Alams spent 26 years in the restaurant business in Birch Run before relocating to Portage Point Resort in Onekama, where they own and operate Lahey’s Pub, Portage Point Café, and the Portage Point event space. Jamil, with 40 years of culinary experience, works the kitchen. Laura fine-

tunes the recipes and works the front of the house. “My wife is instrumental in the operation,” Jamil says.

Laura also chose the restaurant’s name, in reference to the Mediterranean region’s shared mythologies (think of stories associated with the goddesses Artemis and Diana). The stunning logo is the creation of their son, Merek, a graphic designer. And son Victor takes care of the business end as well as social media.

They are a family committed to the business. “Our heart and soul are in this,” Jamil says.

What Can We Get You?

So what is it that keeps customers coming back? First, know that everything is a combination of fresh, organic, pesticide-free, farm-raised, free-range, and—whenever possible—local ingredients, especially from among the farms and producers along the M-22 corridor and in Arcadia. Some items, such as Double O Neapolitan flour (best for crispy/chewy pizza crusts and pita) and San Marzano tomatoes (the gold standard for fine sauces), are sourced from other, more far-flung, climes.

The Alams seek out the highest quality both in and outside of the region, and Jamil likens it to gathering up “anything we can get our hands on,” as long as it is the best.

Starters and salads include a trio of vegan Stuffed Grape Leaves, Fresh Hummus, and Tabbouleh; Saganaki, seared goat cheese with sherry and lemon and housemade pita; and Spanakopita, the traditional phyllo crust with spinach, feta, dill, ricotta, and fresh herbs. The Golden Greek salad

offers crisp greens topped with grilled feta, roasted golden beets, red onion, cucumber, Kalamata olives, and fresh tomatoes with lemon Greek dressing.

Diners can expect “built in the pan” traditional specialties, including Lemon Chicken Piccata, Chicken Marsala, and Pasta Carbonara. We like the Golden Beurre Blanc, featuring fresh sautéed shrimp in a lemon scampi beurre blanc sauce, tossed in squid ink pasta, finished with edible gold flakes. Abbacchio A Scottadito is composed of marinated lamb chops, grilled medium rare, over rice with mint marmalade. Shish Tawook and Shish Kabob (chicken and beef respectively) are loaded with peppers, onion, and grape tomatoes, served with a tahini drizzle.

When asked about customer favorites, Jamil admits that “it’s difficult to narrow it down, because everything has been so popular.” But he says that the namesake Golden Stag, their version of traditional saltimbocca, is the biggest seller. The dish features medallions of Nevada-raised elk, with shallots, garlic, fontina, and prosciutto, in a pan deglazed with red wine. (Filet can be substituted for the elk.)

And who can resist a rustic, wood-fired pizza? Try the authentic Margherita; or the Not-a-Rita with hand-shredded fontina cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, pesto, pine nuts, and olive oil. The Pasto Abbondante with grilled chicken, leek, asparagus, and potato sounds like a meal, and the Quattaro pairs mozzarella and fontina with capocollo,

Photos by Mariada Gezon

Saltimbocca Saltimbocca

salami, pepperoni, and soppressata. Choose from one of eight options, or design your own from two dozen available toppings.

(Tip for the host: Party season is on the horizon, and we can’t think of anything better than an array of Golden Stag pizzas, in their sophisticated flavors, cut into cocktail-size bites. Looking at you, Prosciutto & Fig pizza!)

Desserts include warm baklava, with local honey, pistachios, and walnuts, and wood-fired cobbler made with fresh local fruits, served in its own skillet. Both offerings come with a serving of gelato du jour.

Something from the Bar?

This fresh and authentic menu calls for an interesting wine, and while there is a fine selection from California and Michigan, we took the opportunity to sample something truly new and different.

Opt for the Lebanese Ksara, a fullbodied cabernet or Zoe, a Greek rosé with hints of cherries, raspberries, and florals. Alpha Estate, of Greece, offers a sauvignon blanc with a “strong and lively nose,” and a citrusy chardonnay with hints of oak.

The signature craft cocktails all deserve mention, but we are especially taken with the

Golden Stag Negroni with Campari, Cinzano 1757 Vermouth, Bombay Sapphire, and orange peel, as well as the Golden Bee, with Empress 1908 gin, limoncello, fresh lemon juice, and honey, served straight up. Traditionalists will like the Greek Old Fashioned with Woodford Reserve bourbon, Metaxa, and walnut bitters or the Cetriolo, with Hendrick’s gin, a dry vermouth rinse, and cucumber.

Beers include international brews from Greece and Lebanon, Italy and Turkey, plus choices from Manistee, Frankfort, Gaylord, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee.

Keep an eye on the restaurant’s Facebook

and Instagram to keep track of what’s happening at the Golden Stag. (Fingers crossed that lunch is coming to the eatery soon!) New this season is the Thursday Couples’ Special, with any two specialties and a bottle of wine of your choice, all for just $65. Look for trivia night on Wednesday, and watch for music and special events in the future. A catering menu is in the works, and the Golden Stag can also accommodate private parties of up to 50 people. Find the Golden Stag at 318 River St. in Manistee. (231) 299-1200; @thegoldenstagmanistee on Instagram

Our mission at Authentic Health is to facilitate healing by serving the whole person nutritionally, structurally, and energetically, using nutritional therapy, chiropractic care, and cold laser.

Spanakopita

Beurre Blanc

The Apples Are Calling… and We Must Go Eat Them!

INSIDE THE INGREDIENTS

By Nora Rae Pearl

Crisp air, rosy foliage, and hot cider—the hallmarks of apple season in northern Michigan—are luring us out of the house and into the orchards this October.

One of my favorite U-pick spots is at Jacob’s Farm on M-72, home to some of the fullest apple trees you have ever seen. Find yourself lost in the orchard (and/or in the farm’s nearby corn maze) as you wander between the rows. If you’re short on time, pop across the street to Gallagher’s Farm Market, where they offer a selection of apples and other homegrown or homemade treats. Grab a peck of your preferred apple type, and be sure you don’t leave the market without one (or a dozen) of their famous pumpkin donuts.

Once your apple haul is in the kitchen, it’s time to start cooking. The beauty of the recipes here is you get to highlight the apple variety you like most. No need to look for the best baking apple—just look for the one you enjoy eating, and its flavor will shine. Local standouts like Zestar, Honeycrisp, and Jonagolds are all great options.

APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUT CAKE

A new take on the timeless classic. You won’t believe this one’s vegan!

Applesauce Ingredients

• 6 medium sized Zestar apples, cut into 1/4 inch diced pieces

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• Juice of one lemon or 1/4 cup juice

• 3 tablespoons water

• A dash of cinnamon

Cake Ingredients

• 3 1/4 cups flour

• 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 1/4 teaspoons five-spice powder (or cinnamon)

• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt

• 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed

• 1 1/4 cup sugar

• 1 cup apple cider

• 1 cup homemade applesauce

• 3/4 cup oil

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

To make the applesauce: Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook, covered, over medium low heat for 20 minutes. Uncover, stir, and continue to cook until most of the juice is cooked off, 20 to 30 minutes. Mash about half of the apples, keeping some chunky. Chill. Makes around 2 1/2 cups.

To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 12 cup bundt pan. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1 teaspoon spice, and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together the flaxseed with 1/2 cup water. Let sit for five minutes. Give a brief stir, then whisk in 1 cup sugar, apple cider, apple sauce, oil, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Pour into the prepared pan. In a small bowl, mix together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon spice. Sprinkle over the cake. Bake for 50 minutes, rotating halfway through. Cool for 15 minutes in the pan before turning out to cool completely.

CARAMEL APPLES

Showcase your favorite apples in the best form possible.

Caramel Ingredients

• 2 cups packed brown sugar

• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk

• 1 cup light corn syrup

• 1 cup butter, room temperature

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apple Ingredients

• 9 large apples (use your favorite eating variety)

• 9 large, sturdy wooden sticks

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate

• 1/2 cup white chocolate

Instructions

Wash and pat dry all of the apples. Poke centers with wooden sticks, going all the way to the bottom. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet 3 inches apart. Set aside.

Combine the sugar, condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter in a large, heavy bottom pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 236 degrees, 25 to 35 minutes. It should feel thicker and appear slightly darker in color compared to the start. (If you do not have a thermometer, drop a small amount of the caramel into a glass of ice cold water. Let chill for a few seconds then remove the small piece. If it holds together like a soft caramel, it’s ready.) Take off the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract. The mixture will bubble.

Allow to cool to 200 degrees, or until it thickens slightly, 15 to 25 minutes. If you dip too soon, the caramel will pool on the bottom.

Give the caramel a stir, then dip the apples one by one.

Let cool for 20 minutes. Melt the chocolates separately. Place each in small piping bags. Drizzle over dark chocolate, then the white. Allow to cool until chocolate is set. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Cook’s Advice: When cooking sugar, remember these few tips: do not walk away, stir carefully and constantly, and avoid using metal utensils (use wooden, silicone, or heat-proof plastic), as the hardened sugar will be very difficult to clean.

Nora Rae Pearl is 99 percent foodie and 1 percent chef. When she is not writing about food, she can be found waiting in line at the farmers market hoping to get a croissant before they run out. Photo credits Cody Werme.

Fear, Failure, and Redemption

By Anna Faller

Bestselling author Victoria “V.E.” Schwab wants to make you believe in magic. “I’m inspired by speculative elements of our world—that it’s bigger or stranger than it is,” she explains.

Reality, though (think: power, politics, and people), often makes for just as fascinating a story as any made-up creature or villain. It’s the intersection between real and imaginary that much of Schwab’s work aims to explore. “That’s where you, as the reader, can believe magic might be possible,” she adds.

Tune in on Saturday, Oct. 7, as she takes the National Writers Series stage for a truly enchanting conversation.

Writing the “Weird and Unapologetic” Books

Like so many authors, Schwab has always known she wanted to be a storyteller. How to tell those stories, though, took years of trial and error to determine. This is because she was—and remains—overwhelmed by the full-length novel format. “They just feel too long for me,” she explains. “I find [writing those stories] extremely daunting.”

Schwab, however, also has what she calls a “deeply adversarial” relationship with fear. Once she realized her mind was the obstacle, the author (then in her second year of college) resolved to take the bull by the horns. “I made myself sit down and write my first book. It was terrible,” she admits, “but I got to the end of it, and then I was hooked. I had to do it again.”

Since then, she’s penned more than 20 books, including the acclaimed Shades of Magic series, the Cassidy Blake trilogy, and the international bestselling novel The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Netflix even made one of her short stories into a series: First Kill, a teenage vampire drama.

In that time, Schwab’s own character development has followed a “weird redemption arc based on spite.” Contrary to what many readers might assume, Schwab wasn’t an overnight success. In fact, she nearly gave up publishing after her first three books were killed in succession. “But before I quit,” she says, “I was going to write one more book, and I was going to stop trying to write anything that anyone else cared about.”

That book was Vicious (2013), her breakout adult novel all about the great and terrible power of modern-day superheroes… and of those who seek to destroy them. The book was an intended expletive to Schwab’s experience in the publishing industry. What it wasn’t supposed to do was sell—which is exactly what it did. From there, though, it took another five novels before A Gathering of Shadows, the second in the Shades of Magic series, charted as her first bestseller in 2016.

Fast forward seven years, and Schwab is finally seeing her dedication pay off, with the success of series like Shades of Magic and most notably Addie LaRue—which sold one million copies its first year in print—highlighting a readership that took years to build.

“I think that’s one of the only reasons my career works,” Schwab says. “It’s really weird and unapologetic, but I’ve cultivated an audience that expects that from me—that

I’m going to try something new each time.”

The Fragile Threads of Power

That’s exactly what she’s done in her newest book, The Fragile Threads of Power. Schwab returns to the alternate London of her popular Shades of Magic series with a fresh cast of characters and more than a few hair-raising adventures.

The concept for the novel, which is an indirect continuation of the preceding Shades of Magic books, occurred to her about halfway through writing A Conjuring of Light, the trilogy’s third and final installment.

(Some context here: Shades of Magic is set in an alternate world wherein London comprises four magical realms—White, Grey, Red, and the ominous Black—all of which hang in a delicate balance as their inhabitants grapple for power and glory. At the center are a dwindling race of magicians with the power to travel between parallel worlds. The books unfold as a core cast of characters fight for the worlds they call home…and to stay alive in the process.)

As Schwab tells Northern Express, the arc was only supposed to cover three books— that is, until she spied a plot hole that she could use to return later on. She explains, “I realized that I either had to resolve [that part of the story] in less time than I had; or I could leave it and it could become an ellipsis.”

Suffice to say, she chose the latter.

Schwab prides herself on never telling the same story twice, a difficult feat when writing in the framework of a fantasy world you not only created, but to which your readers are deeply connected. “I wanted Threads of Power

to feel essential,” she explains, and not just a continuation of a story based on past success.

To avoid that, she’s introduced a few new faces to accompany the original cast. There are also new motivations afoot, both for Schwab as well as her players’ end game.

“One of my personal philosophies is that a character should not feel continent upon a reader’s attention,” she notes. In other words, Schwab wants you to believe that her characters go on living outside her books. To do that, Threads of Power pins them against a host of real-world conflicts; like industrial revolution (through the scope of magic), innovation, and how we move forward in time.

One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the gratitude Schwab has for her readers. “I hope Threads of Power feels like coming home, and I hope they feel the love in that,” she adds. “I try very hard to write for myself, but [this book] would not have been possible without readers loving and holding space for these worlds.”

About the Event

“An Evening with V.E. Schwab” takes place on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7pm at the Lars Hockstad Auditorium (TCAPS Central Grade School, 301 W. 7th Street) in Traverse City and via livestream. Tickets range from $40-$65 plus ticket fees and come with a hardcover copy of The Fragile Threads of Power via Horizon Books. Both in-person and livestream tickets can be purchased through the National Writers Series website. The guest host for the event will be local journalist Beth Milligan. For more information, visit nationalwritersseries.org.

#1 NYT bestselling author V.E. Schwab shares her own author character arc

Wine as Folk Art

Inside Folklor

Wine & Cider’s unique approach to viticulture

By Craig Manning

In culture, “folklore” refers to the legends, myths, and stories that a culture or community passes down through generations. (In music, the word denotes a pitch perfect—and sometimes underrated— Taylor Swift album.)

But what about in wine?

For Derrick Vogel and Izabela Babinska, the husband-and-wife team that founded Folklor Wine & Cider in Charlevoix, the concept of folklore can and should extend to the world of viticulture.

“We really love the communal aspect of wine,” Babinska says when asked how the name came to define the winery. “So, when we named the business, we wanted to draw a connection between wine and that idea of oral storytelling or oral history. We love just sitting around and having a glass of wine— whether with friends, or with family, or sometimes with complete strangers—and we felt like there was a tie between that idea and folklore. But we also chose to use the Polish spelling of ‘folklor,’ because ‘folklor’ is what Polish folk art is called.”

“Wine as folk art” might be a good encapsulation of what Vogel and Babinska are doing with Folklor, an off-the-beatenpath winery that approaches viticulture in an extremely traditional and locally-centric way. Where the typical commercial vineyard has a clean and almost angular aesthetic, Babinska notes that Folklor’s setup “might look a little unruly” in comparison.

“There’s a lot of grasses and plants and flowers and stuff growing among the grapevines,” she says.

That “unruly” look speaks to the philosophy that Vogel and Babinska bring to their winemaking. Before they were vintners, the pair were pursuing careers in healthcare—a path that happened to take them to the world-famous Hawke’s Bay wine region in New Zealand.

An Unexpected Origin Story

Back then, winemaking wasn’t even on the radar for the pair. Vogel had a bachelor’s degree in laboratory science and a master’s degree in health administration, as well as a decade under his belt working in the healthcare field. Babinska, meanwhile—who was born in Poland before immigrating to the United States in childhood—had an MBA in nonprofit management and a knack for project leadership.

While they were in New Zealand, though, Babinska says being surrounded by “the science and art of farming” got her and Vogel thinking about a wildly different career path than the ones they were on.

Fast-forward a few years, and the couple were volunteering for local wineries in northern Michigan, learning the ropes of the industry they now wanted to join.

“It didn’t take long working in the wine industry for us to realize that we wanted to do things a little bit differently, particularly with the farming,” Vogel tells Northern Express “One of the biggest things for me was driving around vineyards and orchards and seeing the areas where herbicides had been applied. And I could just see that there was no life left in the soil where those applications were happening year after year.”

While herbicides and insecticides are supposed to protect crops and make life easier for farmers, Vogel and Babinska felt like what they were seeing in the local wine industry ran contrary to what they’d learned about the “science and art of farming” in New Zealand. Soon, the couple knew they were going to do two things: one, open their own winery, and two, grow vines in the most natural way possible.

“We’re still working on figuring out

Izabela Babinska treats guests to a pour from Folklor’s 2020 Row Boot, a Riesling grown by the Altonen Family on the north end of Torch Lake.

exactly what that looks like for us,” Vogel admits of the “all natural” approach. “But we knew we wanted, at a minimum, to be growing organically and working with living soils, which means not using herbicides, not tilling, and allowing for plant life to cover the earth in addition to the vines.”

The First Harvest

One reason why Vogel and Babinska are still figuring out their exact approach? The two only just purchased their Charlevoix farmland in 2021, and this fall’s harvest will yield their first wine vintage grown on that property.

“So, what Derrick was saying about the soil health and the ecosystem and how all of that is reflected back in the wine? Well, the proof will be in the pudding this year,” Babinska says with a laugh.

And what of the wine that Folklor has been serving customers since it opened its doors in northern Michigan two years ago?

Most of those vintages come from wine grapes grown at a vineyard that Vogel and Babinska leased in Pellston, Michigan, for four years. In other words, this year’s harvest marks a dividing line between what Folklor’s wines have tasted like up to now and what they’ll taste like in the future.

When asked what sort of differences Folklor fans can expect from the winery’s 2023-and-beyond vintages, Vogel laughs.

“Well, I wish I had an answer,” he says. “This is our first chance to taste the fruits of our labor with these grapevines, and it’s also our first chance to taste fruit that has been grown in soils where we’ve never sprayed insecticide or herbicide. So, talk to us again in six months [about how the wine tastes]. But I think the answer will be ‘better.’ We fully believe that our customers will be able to taste the difference, and that the difference will be positive.”

According to Babinska, Folklor’s customers already know a shift is coming. “The first thing we tell people about the wines on the menu is what vineyard they come from,” she says. “So, we explain why we have been producing certain wines so far and what they’re shifting to as we pivot to this vineyard.”

One big example, Babinska says, is Folklor’s Ice Box Red, which has become the signature red on the winery’s menu.

“[The Ice Box] is made with a grape variety called Leon Millot, and we’ve really liked working with that variety, but it poses some challenges in our new vineyard,” she says. “So [on the Charlevoix property],

Which do you prefer, White or Red?

looking at every different piece of farmland that was for sale, and when we saw this farm and saw that the old apple orchards were

The Charlevoix land that is now Folklor once housed a U-pick fruit operation, which grew both apples and cherries. The cherry trees are gone now, but the apple trees are thriving, and Babinska and Vogel have loved using that fruit as an excuse to expand their

“Cider making, fortunately, is on the same license as wine,” Babinska says. “And except for a couple differences, the production process is similar enough that we were able to take our winemaking experience and apply it to apples. So, that’s been a nice piece of the puzzle, because cider just feels like it makes so much sense for Michigan. You drive around here and you see all these old orchards and all these beautiful apples. Apples are just a big part of Michigan agriculture, and we’ve loved

Babinska and Vogel stand among the orchards on their Charlevoix property.

exactly what that looks like for us,” Vogel admits of the “all natural” approach. “But we knew we wanted, at a minimum, to be growing organically and working with living soils, which means not using herbicides, not tilling, and allowing for plant life to cover the earth in addition to the vines.”

The First Harvest

One reason why Vogel and Babinska are still figuring out their exact approach? The two only just purchased their Charlevoix farmland in 2021, and this fall’s harvest will yield their first wine vintage grown on that property.

“So, what Derrick was saying about the soil health and the ecosystem and how all of that is reflected back in the wine? Well, the proof will be in the pudding this year,” Babinska says with a laugh.

And what of the wine that Folklor has been serving customers since it opened its doors in northern Michigan two years ago?

Most of those vintages come from wine grapes grown at a vineyard that Vogel and Babinska leased in Pellston, Michigan, for four years. In other words, this year’s harvest marks a dividing line between what Folklor’s wines have tasted like up to now and what they’ll taste like in the future.

MICHIGAN GROWN, MICHIGAN BREWED IN

When asked what sort of differences Folklor fans can expect from the winery’s 2023-and-beyond vintages, Vogel laughs.

“Well, I wish I had an answer,” he says. “This is our first chance to taste the fruits of our labor with these grapevines, and it’s also our first chance to taste fruit that has been grown in soils where we’ve never sprayed insecticide or herbicide. So, talk to us again in six months [about how the wine tastes]. But I think the answer will be ‘better.’ We fully believe that our customers will be able to taste the difference, and that the difference will be positive.”

According to Babinska, Folklor’s customers already know a shift is coming.

“The first thing we tell people about the wines on the menu is what vineyard they come from,” she says. “So, we explain why we have been producing certain wines so far and what they’re shifting to as we pivot to this vineyard.”

STORES NOW

One big example, Babinska says, is Folklor’s Ice Box Red, which has become the signature red on the winery’s menu.

“[The Ice Box] is made with a grape variety called Leon Millot, and we’ve really liked working with that variety, but it poses some challenges in our new vineyard,” she says. “So [on the Charlevoix property],

we planted a grape that is a genetic cousin to that varietal. It has plenty of similar characteristics, but grows in a way that we can manage on an organic program.

“So, we’ve been really open with people about those types of changes,” Babinska adds. “We basically just tell them, ‘Hey, these wines that are on the menu right now, once they’re gone, they’re gone. Come back and see what we do next year!’”

And Then There’s the Cider

While a lot is about to change at Folklor, at least one thing is going to stay the same: the cider.

“For anyone who’s been drinking our cider, every cider we’ve ever produced has come from our Charlevoix property,” Vogel says. “We started making cider as soon as we could from established apple trees that were on the property, and that style of cider isn’t going to change.”

Babinska calls the cider aspect of Folklor “exciting and unexpected,” noting that making cider hadn’t even been part of the original vision for the winery.

“Our initial business plan didn’t include cider until we saw this property,” Babinska says. “But then we probably spent two years driving between Traverse City and Petoskey,

looking at every different piece of farmland that was for sale, and when we saw this farm and saw that the old apple orchards were here, we just totally fell in love with them.”

The Charlevoix land that is now Folklor once housed a U-pick fruit operation, which grew both apples and cherries. The cherry trees are gone now, but the apple trees are thriving, and Babinska and Vogel have loved using that fruit as an excuse to expand their efforts into cider.

“Cider making, fortunately, is on the same license as wine,” Babinska says. “And except for a couple differences, the production process is similar enough that we were able to take our winemaking experience and apply it to apples. So, that’s been a nice piece of the puzzle, because cider just feels like it makes so much sense for Michigan. You drive around here and you see all these old orchards and all these beautiful apples. Apples are just a big part of Michigan agriculture, and we’ve loved working with them.”

The Folklor tasting room is open Thursday from 4pm - 8pm (aka Locals’ Night) and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm - 7pm. Private tours and tastings can be booked at their website, folklorwinecider.com.

The Easily Offended

A resident of Trail in British Columbia called police on Sept. 8 to complain of a man wearing camouflage pants, which he believed to be a violation of some rule, the Toronto Sun reported. The caller, 27, said he was "offended on behalf of the military" and requested that an officer find the man and remove his pants. When the officer said he could not do that, the caller said he would remove the man's pants himself "under order of (the) king of England." The local Royal Canadian Mounted Police did look for the camouflage wearer, presumably to warn him about the caller, but -- surprise! -- couldn't find him.

News That Sounds Like a Joke

After the long-awaited capture of escaped fugitive Danelo Cavalcante on Sept. 13, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens held a press conference to share the details of the arrest, Huff Post reported. One attendant, a podcaster named Michael Rainey, gets the prize for the most bizarre question posed to Bivens: "Was there any concern he (Cavalcante) would team up with another small man to step inside of a trench coat, 'Little Rascals'-style?" What?

On X, Rainey said he "knew no one else would ask the questions that needed to be asked. Also, they were very polite in asking me to leave." Bivens shot a curt "No" back to Rainey's question before the podcaster was encouraged to hit the exit.

Awesome!

Pedro Carvalho, CEO of Destilaria Levira, a wine distillery in Levira, Portugal, assured citizens that the 600,000 gallons of red wine that spilled from the facility on Sept. 10 and covered the city's streets would not leave a lingering smell because it was "good quality wine." The New York Times reported that one tank collapsed because of a "structural failure," knocking over another tank. The distillery promised to "take full responsibility for the costs associated with damage cleanup and repair," which included one basement that was flooded. Firefighters collected some of the wine and removed it to a wastewater treatment plant.

Irony

Sure, if you work for the Walt Disney Co., you expect to have mice all around you on the daily. But at the company's headquarters in New York City, advertising staffers on the fifth floor were advised on Sept. 11 to clear out "immediately" because the building was infested with the happy little rodents (oh, and also, fleas), the New York Post's PageSix reported. "Risk management and facilities teams are aware of these issues and working to quickly resolve them," the email to personnel said. One source said the existing building is set to be demolished and "there's no incentive for upkeep. At any given time, most of the elevators are broken." Sounds like a fairy-tale job.

Bright Idea

Police in Wiltshire, England, were called out on Sept. 12 when a neighbor spotted a grisly scene by the side of the road -- an arm and two bloody feet hanging out of a garbage bin. Wiltshire Live reported that

as officers scoured other nearby trash cans, one resident alerted them that the body parts were fake and he had placed them in a neighbor's bin as a prank. "It's just a practical joke that got out of hand," he said. "I've put them in a bag so they can't be seen now." Save it for Halloween, chap.

It's Come to This

Rock climbers in British Columbia's Squamish area, north of Vancouver, have a new convenience available to them: Waste Alleviating Gel (WAG) bag stations. Yep, they're poop bags for humans. The CBC reported that after an "explosion in the usage of our backcountry areas ... increasingly we are finding that there are issues with human waste, particularly in our more remote crags (cliffs with climbing routes)," according to Ben Webster, chair of Squamish Access Society. Katy Holm, an owner of a store called Climb On, called the bags "totally robust. You don't have to fear that it's going to explode or anything." Well, that's a relief!

What's in a Name?

We'll keep this short: Michael Gordon Dick, 61, of Beaverton, Oregon, was sentenced on Sept. 11 to 90 months in prison following his guilty plea for felony public indecency, KPTV reported. Dick was arrested last year after someone reported him standing on a bench in a backyard, naked from the waist down and looking into neighbors' backyards. He was on probation for the same crime when the incident took place.

Attention, Tourists!

Looking for something else to do in Washington, D.C., besides endless monuments and galleries? Check out the Museum of Failure, WUSA-TV suggested. The brainchild of Dr. Samuel West, the Museum of Failure is a traveling exhibition that features some of history's biggest busts, from Crystal Pepsi to Thirsty Cat (fishflavored water for your cat). "We need to be better at learning from failure," West said. "I want visitors to recognize that failure is an essential aspect of progress and innovation." The museum also includes a Failure Confessional, where visitors can leave their own personal flops behind. Don't fail to check it out: The museum will be open until Dec. 10.

Cry for Help

If there was ever a place where it would be better to let a dropped Apple Watch go, a Michigan woman found it. ABC News reported that on Sept. 19, passersby called police when they heard a woman yelling for help from within an outhouse. The unidentified woman had lowered herself into the outhouse toilet to retrieve her Apple Watch, which had fallen into the unmentionable muck below. Unable to climb back out, the woman resorted to yelling for assistance, and she was eventually lifted out via strap by first responders. State police issued a statement with a warning to any fumble-fingers who might follow the woman's poor example: "If you lose an item in an outhouse toilet, do not attempt to venture inside the containment area. Serious injury may occur."

TOP OF THE Wine List

By Alexandra Dailey

How much are you willing to spend for that special occasion bottle of wine?

You’re out at dinner, celebrating a birthday or anniversary or promotion, and as you scan the wine list, you decide to spring for the bottle with a few extra zeroes. Maybe you opt for the sparkle of Dom Pérignon or find a rare Old World red. But how do you choose, and where do you go if you want some of the good stuff? Northern Express connected with four restaurants to get a peek at their top-of-the-line wine cellar offerings and recommendations.

Vernales

Open since 2014, Vernales is situated on M-119, roughly halfway between Petoskey and Harbor Springs, and boasts three separate dining rooms and two outdoor patios. Recognized as the No. 1 steakhouse in Michigan and a top 50 steakhouse in the nation, the restaurant is also known for its seafood, pasta, and wine. We caught up with Vernales General Operations Manager Nikki Gray to get some insight regarding Vernales’ wine collection.

On the high-end side, Gray points to the Continuum 2018 ($400; Napa Valley), a blend of 54 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 31 percent Cabernet Franc, 9 percent Petit Verdot, and 6 percent Merlot. “We sell three to four bottles each year,” says Gray.

Like the flavors but need a slightly different price point? “Arise by Blackbird Vineyards is an absolutely delicious option that has a much more approachable price of just over $100,” says Gray. “And Arise uses three of the four same grapes as Continuum.”

Aerie Restaurant & Lounge

Known for its panoramic views and contemporary menu, Wine Spectator award-winner Aerie Restaurant presents a one-of-a-kind dining experience on the 16th-floor of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

“It is incredible to be able to give people a dining experience above the land, water, and vineyards that we get so much of our product from,” says Executive Chef Auston Minnich. “The views alone from the restaurant are spectacular, but when you pair them with high quality, local wine and creative food dishes, the experience is instantly elevated.”

To follow Minnich’s convincing pitch to dine at Aerie, Manager Maria Lopez filled us in on their top-of-the-line wine offerings.

The most exclusive bottle on their list is another Napa Valley star: the 2016 Opus One, ringing up at $525. “We currently have four bottles on hand,” says Lopez. She adds that it’s a highly reputable vintage and is ordered often by guests.

For a more wallet-friendly wine, Lopez knows just what to pick. “Based on our current wine menu, I recommend the Stag’s Leap Artemis,” she says. “This is priced at $159 rather than the $525 price point on the Opus One. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon that is aged in French oak barrels. This is a fullbodied wine, with dark fruit flavors, spice notes, and a desirable finish.”

Vintage Chophouse & Wine Bar

An upscale lounge and classic steakhouse rolled into one, Vintage Chophouse & Wine Bar at the Inn at Bay Harbor provides diners with a warm and welcoming setting to relax and unwind. And whether you’re on a date night or celebrating one of life’s milestones, a nice bottle of wine makes the evening memorable.

Wine Director and Restaurant Manager Jamison Cronk points to the 2016 Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($560) as a top choice. It’s the third Napa Valley pick on this list, and Vintage Chophouse keeps about six bottles in their cellar at any given time.

How often do people order it? “Not often, but more so in the fall,” says Cronk. “While that bottle is absolutely astounding, we have a broad selection of high-quality wines from Napa at a diverse range of price points,” Cronk continues. “I’m partial to the Cade Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 [$185]. It is bold, smooth, and well-structured with prominent notes of bramble fruit, warming spices, and dark chocolate, and it is sure to satisfy anyone looking for an excellent Napa Cabernet.”

The Boathouse

Known for its beachy cottage atmosphere and gorgeous sunset views on West Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City’s Boathouse Restaurant welcomes the mariners and landlubbers alike to partake in the creations of their talented culinary team, soak up the exceptional scenery and, of course, indulge in some excellent wine.

Looking at their menu, we found both a 2018 Opus One and Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, plus the Cade Howell Mountain and some selections from Stag’s Leap. But when asked for his most exclusive option, owner Doug Kosch points to a bottle that’s worth as much as all the wines on this list combined.

That’s the Harlan Estate (from the winery of the same name in— you guessed it—Napa Valley), and it hits the tab at $2,200. The wine is predominantly made from the vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, but is also blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

“We sell two to three bottles per year,” Kosch tells us.

If the idea of a four-figure bottle makes your head spin more than the wine itself, Kosch has a tip for shopping the rest of the wine list. “Typically, the best value wine where price and quality work together, giving you the best wine without spending a fortune, is in the $50 to $75 range, and we have 50 to 100 bottles in that range,” he says.

Local restaurants share their most expensive, exclusive bottles

Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, pictured at Vintage Chophouse & Wine Bar

lOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take a few deep, slow breaths. Let your mind be a blue sky where a few high clouds float. Hum your favorite melody. Relax as if you have all the time in the world to be whoever you want to be. Fantasize that you have slipped into a phase of your cycle when you are free to act as calm and unhurried as you like. Imagine you have access to resources in your secret core that will make you stable and solid and secure. Now read this Mary Oliver poem aloud: “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves."

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Do you perform experiments on yourself? I do on myself. I formulate hypotheses about what might be healthy for me, then carry out tests to gather evidence about whether they are. A recent one was: Do I feel my best if I eat five small meals per day or three bigger ones? Another: Is my sleep most rejuvenating if I go to bed at 10 pm and wake up at 7 am or if I sleep from midnight to 9 am? I recommend you engage in such experiments in the coming weeks. Your body has many clues and revelations it wants to offer you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): An Oklahoma woman named Mary Clamswer used a wheelchair from age 19 to 42 because multiple sclerosis made it hard to use her legs. Then a miracle happened. During a thunderstorm, she was hit by lightning. The blast not only didn’t kill her; it cured the multiple sclerosis. Over the subsequent months, she recovered her ability to walk. Now I'm not saying I hope you will be hit by a literal bolt of healing lightning, Scorpio, nor do predict any such thing. But I suspect a comparable event or situation that may initially seem unsettling could ultimately bring you blessings.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): What are your favorite mind-altering substances?

Coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, or tobacco?

Alcohol, pot, cocaine, or opioids? Psilocybin, ayahuasca, LSD, or MDMA? Others? All the above? Whatever they are, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to re-evaluate your relationship with them. Consider whether they are sometimes more hurtful than helpful, or vice versa; and whether the original reasons that led you to them are still true; and how your connection with them affects your close relationships. Ask other questions, too! PS: don’t know what the answers are. My goal is simply to inspire you to take an inventory.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In his book Meditations for Miserable People Who Want to Stay That Way, Dan Goodman says, "It’s not that I have nothing to give, but rather that no one wants what have." If you have ever been tempted to entertain dour fantasies like that, I predict you will be purged of them in the coming weeks and months. Maybe more than ever before, your influence will be sought by others. Your viewpoints will be asked for. Your gifts will be desired, and your input will be invited. I trust you won’t feel overwhelmed!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): William James (1842–1910) was a paragon of reason and logic. So influential were his books about philosophy and psychology that he is regarded as a leading thinker of the 19th and 20th centuries. On the other hand, he was eager to explore the possibilities of supernatural phenomena like telepathy. He even consulted a trance medium named Leonora Piper. James said, "If you wish to upset the law that all crows are black, it is enough if you prove that one crow is white. My white crow is Mrs. Piper." I bring this to your attention, Aquarius, because suspect you will soon discover a white crow of your own. As a result, long-standing beliefs may come into question; a certainty could become ambiguous; an incontrovertible truth may be shaken. This is a good thing!

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): If we hope to cure our wounds, we must cultivate a focused desire to be healed. A second essential is to be ingenious in gathering the resources we need to get healed. Here’s the third requirement: We must be bold and brave enough to scramble up out of our sense of defeat as we claim our right to be vigorous and whole again. I wish all these powers for you in the coming weeks.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I’ve been doing interviews in support of my new book Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle. Now and then, I’m asked this question: "Do you actually believe all that mystical woo-woo you write about?" I respond diplomatically, though inwardly I’m screaming, “How profoundly hypocritical I would be if I did not believe in the ‘mystical woo-woo’ have spent my adult studying and teaching!” But here’s my polite answer: I love and revere the venerable spiritual philosophies that some demean as “mystical woo-woo.” I see it as my job to translate those subtle ideas into well-grounded, practical suggestions that my readers can use to enhance their lives. Everything I just said is the prelude for your assignment, Aries: Work with extra focus to actuate your high ideals and deep values in the ordinary events of your daily life. As the American idioms advise: Walk your talk and practice what you preach.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I'm happy to see the expanding use of service animals. Initially, there were guide dogs to assist humans with imperfect vision. Later, there came mobility animals for those who need aid in moving around and hearing animals for those who can't detect ringing doorbells. In recent years, emotional support animals have provided comfort for people who benefit from mental health assistance. I foresee a future in which all of us feel free and eager to call on the nurturing of companion animals. You may already have such friends, Taurus. If so, I urge you to express extra appreciation for them in the coming weeks. Ripen your relationship. And if not, now is an excellent time to explore the boost you can get from loving animals.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author Chuck Klosterman jokes, "I eat sugared cereal almost exclusively. This is because I’m the opposite of a 'no-nonsense' guy. I’m an 'all-nonsense' guy." The coming weeks will be a constructive and liberating time for you to experiment with being an all-nonsense person, dear Gemini. How? Start by temporarily suspending any deep attachment you have to being a serious, hyper-rational adult doing staid, weighty adult things. Be mischievously committed to playing a lot and having maximum fun. Dancing sex! Ice cream uproars! Renegade fantasies! Laughter orgies! Joke romps! Giddy brainstorms and euphoric heartstorms!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian comedian Gilda Radner said, "I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn’t itch." Let's use that as a prime metaphor for you in the coming weeks. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will be wise to opt for what feels good over what merely looks good. You will make the right choices if you are committed to loving yourself more than trying to figure out how to get others to love you. Celebrate highly functional beauty, dear Cancerian. Exult in the clear intuitions that arise as you circumvent self-consciousness and revel in festive self-love.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The amazingly creative Leo singer-songwriter Tori Amos gives this testimony: "All creators go through a period where they’re dry and don’t know how to get back to the creative source. Where is that waterfall? At a certain point, you say, ‘I’ll take a rivulet.’" Her testimony is true for all of us in our quest to find what we want and need. Of course, we would prefer to have permanent, unwavering access to the waterfall. But that's not realistic. Besides, sometimes the rivulet is sufficient. And if we follow the rivulet, it may eventually lead to the waterfall.

You So ld How Many Bush els o f Apples?

Farmers share their harvest stats, popular crops, and hidden gem offerings

By Al Parker

For almost four decades, the Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market has been a key sales venue for area farmers, a place where residents and visitors can buy quality farm-grown goods, and a welcoming gathering place in the heart of downtown Traverse City.

Named after one of the area’s leading philanthropists, the market started with less than 10 vendors and now serves more than 115 local farmers through the season. It’s operated by the Downtown Development Authority and managed by SEEDS. The market runs every Wednesday and Saturday through October.

Though the season is winding down, the market remains busy until the first flurries fly. Northern Express recently visited with a variety of local farmers who set up at the market to share their harvests with the community. Here’s what they had to say about their fall hauls.

ALL ABOUT APPLES

Bakker’s Acres

Bakker’s Acres is a 40-acre, family-run fruit farm at 2677 Setterbo Road, just north of Suttons Bay. They are best known for their apples and provide fresh, local fruit at many farmers markets across the region.

Which crop do you grow the most?

Bakkers Acres grows mainly SweeTango and Honeycrisp apples, but also Gala and Fuji and 20-plus other varieties. In addition, we have a few trees of apricots, plums, pears, peaches, and nectarines. We produce over 10,000 bushels each of SweeTangos and Honeycrisp, about 5,000 bushels of Gala, and 3,000 bushels of Fuji.

When is your busiest harvest time and what’s it like?

Busiest time is right now; harvest is most of September and October. [We’re] busy before daylight until after dark, [and] catch-up time is rainy days. Market day and the day before are hectic.

What’s the fastest you’ve sold out—either one product or the whole market? We very seldom sell out as we’ve adapted to eliminating the volume needed at each market and have on farm storage for the needs at the next market.

What’s an under-the-radar crop people should try?

Something I would like people to try that is unique is the Shiro yellow plum. It is like a round yellow sugar bomb—as juicy as you will find.

THE SPICE OF LIFE

Great Lakes Garlic Farm

You’ll find this fragrant farm at 7269 County Road 633 in Buckley. Kevin and Tiffany Gregory, along with sons Micah and Joel, grow garlic on about three acres of their 40-acre farm. Their fresh garlic and garlic powder are a hit at local markets.

Which crop do you grow the most?

We love garlic. When we started six years ago, we thought we could start small and it was relatively inexpensive, and it’s been great. We grow four types of garlic: Chesnok Red, Svea, Northern Jewel, and Music, both culinary and seed size. And my 11-year-old son grows little pumpkins. Kids at the market love the little pumpkins.

When is your busiest harvest time and what’s it like?

Harvest time is June and July, that’s when we start selling.

What’s the fastest you’ve sold out—either one product or the whole market?

Only once have we sold out of our garlic and garlic products.

What’s an under-the-radar crop people should try?

Wheat berries. They are heritage certified organic and can be ground into flour, which we sell, or you can boil them and eat them. They have a nice flavor.

FRUIT FORWARD

Interwater Farms

Interwater Farms, at 10877 U.S. 31 S in Williamsburg, continues a family farming legacy that goes back five generations over 100 years. Joann Brown and the family grow cherries, apples, peaches, and more.

Which crop do you grow the most?

Apples—we typically bring about 15 bushels to the market. It’s been a good summer for us. [Our most popular offerings] are SweeTango apples, along with peaches.

When is your busiest harvest time and what’s it like?

Right now. During cherry season, we’re up at 5am and out the door. Now, we’re waiting for the sun to rise so we can start. Typically it’s 7am until 7pm.

What’s the fastest you’ve sold out—either one product or the whole market? Peaches! We brought seven lugs, but underestimated how popular they were.

What’s an under-the-radar crop people should try?

I would say the SweeTango apple. It’s the trademark club apple that everyone can’t grow. It’s a great apple. We mainly only sell that at the market just to get the apple out there. We also have a self-serve stand at the farm so people can get it fresh.

What’s your favorite crop to grow?

I love them all—it depends on what is ripe. When cherries start, I can’t get enough of them and wouldn’t think of eating anything else. But when cherries end, it’s peaches, and the same for apples.

THE BIRDS AND THE BEASTS

Morganic Farm

This farm, nestled between Fife Lake and Kingsley on M-113, is owned and operated by Stuart Morgan Kunkle. He offers grass-fed beef and lamb, pastured pork, chickens, turkeys, and ducks, along with freerange chicken and duck eggs.

What’s your most popular offering at the market?

Eggs, but everything sells pretty well. We have 20 pigs, 50 sheep, 23 goats, 25 turkeys, 180 hens, and 150 broiler chickens. Along with our store at the farm, the market is our number one outlet. We’ve been here seven or eight years now.

When is your busiest harvest time and what’s it like?

Lamb, goat, and pork are harvested year-round. Chickens, ducks, and turkeys in late summer. It’s crazy now because the animals mature and there’s pretty decent demand for all.

What’s the fastest you’ve sold out—either one product or the whole market?

One time I brought 28 dozen eggs and they sold out. Weather plays a role in it too; when the weather’s bad, sales are slower.

What’s an under-the-radar product people should try?

Goat—it’s awesome. The rest of the world eats goat, but we in the U.S. don’t. It’s an economical livestock. Flavorwise it’s somewhere between lamb and deer, not a super strong flavor. If you like lamb, you’ll love goat.

What’s your favorite livestock to raise?

For social reasons, I love the goats. For a product, I like sheep. And I’m amazed by turkeys, how well they forage. We’re already taking deposits on our turkeys for Thanksgiving.

TOMATO TIME

TLC Farms

TLC Farms is owned and operated by husband and wife duo Joe Vanderbosch and Anne Cunningham. It's a hydroponic farm at 4030 Setterbo Road in Suttons Bay that’s home to popular heirloom and cherry tomatoes.

Which crop do you grow the most?

Tomatoes and lettuce. We harvest twice a week: 2,500 to 2,600 pounds a week.

When is your busiest harvest time and what’s it like?

We’re busiest in July and August. That’s when the demand is up.

What’s the fastest you’ve sold out—either one product or the whole market?

Oh, cherry tomatoes. One time we brought about 50 pounds and they were gone by 9am on a Saturday!

What’s an under-the-radar crop people should try?

People should try our beefsteak tomatoes; they’re sometimes overlooked. And head lettuce is nice, with different textures and colors. Our bibb lettuce is most popular, but we also grow Romaine, leaf lettuce, and arugula.

What’s your favorite crop to grow?

Jimmy Nardello peppers from Italy. It’s a sweet pepper with a very unique flavor.

saturday

EAST JORDAN FALL FESTIVAL: 8am-11pm, East Jordan Tourist Park. Today includes the Co-Ed Softball Tournament, Cornhole Tournament, Northern Michigan Ax Throwing/Ballistic Swing, pumpkin & gord painting, live music by Charlie Hipps Witthoeft, Lilak Brothers, & Derailed, trickor-treating & much more. Find ‘East Jordan Fall Fest’ on Facebook.

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BOYNE CITY HARVEST FESTIVAL: 9am3pm, Downtown Boyne City. Featuring a farmers market, food, drinks, kids activities, hand crafted artwork & more on Water & Lake streets in downtown Boyne City. Free. boynecitymainstreet.com

DISCOVERING CAREERS IN MARINE

TECHNOLOGY: 9am, Discovery Pier, TC. Presented by Discovery Center & Pier and NMC’s Marine Technology Department. This 2.5-hour, boat-based program will explore what it takes to be a marine technician & introduce participants to remotely operated vehicles through hands-on experience. Register. Free. discoverygreatlakes.org/discovering-careers

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: 9am-5pm, Washington Park, Cheboygan. Featuring a large assortment of crafters selling jewelry, home decor, pottery, clothing, toys, kitchen essentials, custom printed shirts & mugs, & more. For vendor info, email: madeincheboygan@gmail.com. facebook.com/madeincheboygan

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TRAVERSE CITY TRAILS FESTIVAL: 9am, Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, TC. Choose from the Full Pint (28 miles, $50), Half Pint (15 miles, $50), Non-Competitive 15 Mile Tour ($50), or Norte Youth Cycling - Balance Bike Race (free). Presented by Stone Hound Brewing. The Full Pint & Half Pint begin at 9am; Non-Competitive at 9:30am; & Balance Bike Race at noon. bikesignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/TraverseCityTrailsFestival

15TH ANNUAL AUTUMN ON THE BREEZEWAY: Start in Atwood at Royal Farms & Cellars from 10am-noon. Hit the corn maze, a hayride, enjoy pumpkins, apples, wine & more. Then cruise the Breezeway at your leisure from Atwood, through Ellsworth & East Jordan, passing through Deer Lake & ending in Boyne Falls. Take in this 26-mile scenic route & visit attractions & businesses along the way. End at Boyne Mountain where they offer chairlift rides, the SkyBridge & much more. For more info call 231-536-7351.

ANNUAL SEAT CHECK SATURDAY: 10am-1pm, Williams Chevrolet, 2600 N US 31 South, TC. Have your child’s car seat checked by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Free. gtmetrofire.org

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FALL HIKE AT GREENWOOD FOUNDA-

TION: 10am, Cheboygan County. Greenwood staff will take you around Lake Holy Smoke where you will keep your eyes & ears open for migratory birds, wild turkeys, & elk. Directions will be sent after you register. Free. landtrust.org/events

GREAT LAKES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM’S

FALL SAFETY DAY: 10am-1pm. Gather outside the Great Lakes Children’s Museum for a day of safety & fun. The hands-on activities will include learning about fire hoses & fire safety with the Elmwood Fire Department, getting an up-close look at a Leelanau Co. Sheriff’s squad car & discovering the sci-

ence behind electrical wires & how to stay safe with Cherryland Electric Cooperative. Free. greatlakeskids.org/come-one-comeall-be-safe-this-fall

RAINBOW STORYTIME: 10am, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. This free community event is rooted in celebrating love for self, others & being who you are. It features music, a read aloud, & an art project. Held in partnership with Wild & Wonder TC and Up North Pride. dennosmuseum.org/events/ community-programs.html

9TH ANNUAL NORTHPORT’S LEELANAU UNCAGED: 11am-10pm, Northport. Live music all day/night, including Dune Brothers, StoneFolk, Prevailing Winds, The Residents, Runaway Mule, & many others; Water Blessing, Parade, Kids Tent, & art & food vendors. leelanauuncaged.com ----------------------

ELK RAPIDS FALL FESTIVAL: 11am-3pm, Downtown Elk Rapids. Music, dancing, kids’ activities, food, vendors, corn hole, & a football toss. Vote for your favorite scarecrow. Free. facebook.com/events/32112210258 45565/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_ history%22%3A[]%7D

EAST JORDAN LIONS SPONSOR FREE VISION SCREENINGS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN: Noon-3pm, Tourist Park, East Jordan. Held at the East Jordan Fall Festival at the Kids Sight Trailer. For ages six months to seven years.

GENO’S ANNUAL CAR SHOW & FRIENDS OF THE BVDL FLEA MARKET & ARTS/ CRAFTS SHOW: Geno’s Sports Bar & Grill, Thompsonville. Car Show: Noon-4pm. Top 10 Participant Judged Trophies & People’s Choice Trophy. Please call Geno at 231378-2554 by Sept. 29 to confirm entry. Live entertainment by Duke and the Studebakers. Flea Market & Arts/Crafts Show: Noon-5pm. 231-378-2716. betsievalleydistrictlibrary.org/ news-events/genos-annual-car-show-andfriends-of-the-bvdl-flea-market-and-artscrafts-show

POP UP & POP ON: 12pm-4pm, Northport Arts Association, Village Arts Building, Northport. Featuring artwork from members of the Northport Arts Association, music & wine. Pops Up: Sept. 30, noon-4pm. Pops On: Oct. 1 & Oct. 3-7, noon-4pm. Free. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits

BOOK SIGNING: 1pm, Happy Owl Bookstore, Manistee. Author Bob Van Dellen will present & sign his new book, “Reflections on Literature: Exploring Meanings and Messages; Volume I: The Modern Novel from the Roaring Twenties to the Mythic West.” Free.

BOOK SIGNING WITH PEGGY CRETEN: 1pm, Horizon Books, TC. Featuring Peggy’s newest title in the Peggy Perch series: “Opal Otter Chooses Courage.” Free. horizonbooks.com

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CREATIVITY Q+A LIVE WITH FIBER ARTIST MEG STALEY: 1pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Meg will talk about her practice with Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager. She hand builds women’s clothing, & uses clothing as an expressive tool. Free. glenarborart.org/events/creativity-qa-live-withfiber-artist-meg-staley

CELEBRATE SOUTH PIER LIGHTHOUSE

TURNING 75: 2-4pm, Michigan Beach Park, Charlevoix. Featuring live entertainment from Pat Ryan, lighthouse keeper interpreter Carl Jahn, children’s activities, historical info, play the original foghorn ‘Ferdinand’ & more. Free.

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UP NORTH PRIDE WEEK: VISIBILITY RALLY & MARCH: 4-6pm, F&M Park, TC. The

South African

prison, on Sun., Oct. 8 at Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor at 3pm. In his discussion with moderator and film producer David Crouse, Brand will explain the power of hope that unites us all as members of one human race, and will also touch on topics in his book “Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend.” Preceding this discussion will be a performance by the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet, entitled “Resonance.” Following the talk, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra Chorus Master André Strydom will perform “He Walked to Freedom.” $5 student, $25 GA, $125 VIP. greatlakescfa.org

Rally will start at 4pm with keynote speakers & this year’s Grand Marshall, RuPaul Drag Race’s Miss Congeniality: Nina West. The March will follow the kickoff speeches. Free. upnorthpride.com/event/2023/9/30/visibilityrally-amp-march

PINK SING: 6-10pm, Midnight Acres, Bellaire. Presented by Antrim County High Tea for Breast Cancer Prevention. Tickets include specialty cocktails, beer, wine, light meal, dessert, door prizes & karaoke. $35. antrimcountyhighteaforbreastcancerprevention.org/highteaevents

UP NORTH PRIDE WEEK: DRAG NIGHT & SILENT DISCO: 6pm, The Open Space, TC. Support the national, regional, & local drag artists including RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants: Nina West & Jackie Cox. Drag Night will be hosted by local Drag King Ben Eaton. Free. upnorthpride.com/event/2023/9/30/ drag-night-amp-silent-disco ----------------------

ELK RAPIDS CONCERT: 6:30pm, Historic Town Hall, Elk Rapids. Featuring Jim Hawley. Donation. facebook.com/downtownelkrapids

“JUNIE B. JONES THE MUSICAL JR.”: 7pm, Elenbaas Performing Arts Center, McBain High School. Presented by Cadillac Footliters. An adaptation of four of Barbara Park’s best-selling books. On Junie’s first day of first grade, many changes are in store! Tickets: $12 in advance at Brinks Art & Frame & Horizon Books, both in downtown Cadillac; $14 in advance online, or $15 at door. cadillacfootliters.com

JOSHUA DAVIS W/ FULL BAND: 7-9:30pm, The Alluvion, TC. Enjoy Davis with his oneof-a-kind songs, stories & selections from his catalog of music, along with his band. $35 advance; $40 door. thealluvion.org/tickets/ alluvion-presents-joshua-davis-w-full-bandnight-2

ROLLIE TUSSING HOUSE CONCERT: 7-9pm, 4320 E 46 Rd., Cadillac. Presented by Gopherwood Concerts. Award winning finger-style guitarist Rollie Tussing performs

classic & country blues, songs from the 20’s, & more. $9-$18. mynorthtickets.com/events/ rollie-tussing-house-concert-9-30-2023

BLISSFEST PRESENTS: MIKO MARKS: 7:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Enjoy Marks’ unique style & powerful vocals that blend the best of country, soul, & Americana. $25-$30. showclix.com/ event/miko-marks-

OLD TOWN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS RIPCORD: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, so when the cantankerous Abby is forced to share her quarters with new-arrival Marilyn, she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary. Adults: $33. oldtownplayhouse.com/ performances/mainstage/ripcord.html

PAUL SULLIVAN & CRISPIN CAMPBELL DUO: 7:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Cellist Crispin Campbell (teacher at Interlochen Cello & recently Visitor Professor of Cello at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami) & Grammy-winning pianist Paul Sullivan (whose 18 CDs have sold over 300,000 copies) bring their program that will be a journey from jazz standards & Latin grooves to original blues & world music. $15-$30. theoperahouse.org

THREE ONE ACT PLAYS: 7:30pm, Glen Lake Church, Glen Arbor. Presented by the Glen Arbor Players. Featuring “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell, “Out At Sea” by Slawomir Mrozek, & “The Dark Lady of the Sonnets” by George Bernard Shaw. Free.

sunday

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., Sept. 30, except today’s time is 10am-3pm.)

UP NORTH PRIDE WEEK: BIG GAY BRUNCH: 11am-2pm, Open

former prison guard Christo Brand will recount his time spent monitoring Nelson Mandela in

LilJes Photography

Space Park, TC. Admission is free to this brunch & picnic, with local food & beverages available to purchase. There will also be family-friendly activities & live music. upnorthpride.com/event/2023/10/1/big-gaybrunch

POP UP & POP ON: (See Sat., Sept. 30)

ANNUAL BUILD A SCARECROW FAMILY FUN DAY & CONTEST: 1-4pm, Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, TC. Scarecrow frames, burlap & straw will be provided. Bring your own scarecrow attire & decorations. Botanic Garden visitors will be invited to vote for their favorite scarecrow, & the winner will receive a one-year membership to the garden. Reserve your spot. 935-4077.

INDIGENOUS ART AND CULTURE: Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan. The opening reception for this exhibit is held today from 1-4pm. It will feature drum voices of Greensky, hoop dance from Wren Zhawenim Gotts, & Hadassa GreenSky will sing traditional songs. Experience a taste of Indigenous foods from the Great Lakes region. Free. jordanriverarts.com

NWS: KEN FOLLETT’S NEW NOVEL: 1:30-3pm, The Alluvion, TC. Follett’s new novel, “The Armor of Light,” completes his eight-volume series that chronicles the last thousand years of Western civilization. Guest host is Pat Livingston, news director at Up North Live News, 7 & 4 News, & 29 & 8. $54, $44. thealluvion.org/tickets/nationalwriters-series-presents-ken-folletts-newnovel-the-armor-of-light

“JUNIE B. JONES THE MUSICAL JR.”: (See Sat., Sept. 30, except today’s time is 2pm.)

COFFEE: FROM FARM TO CUP: 2pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Celebrate International Coffee Day. Enjoy a visit to a coffee farm in Costa Rica with our guide, Alejandro. Learn all about coffee, the plant, the history, the production, even the chemistry of caffeine, & the preparation of a cup of coffee in the traditional way. Register. Free. tadl.org/event/ coffee-farm-cup

OLD TOWN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS

RIPCORD: (See Sat., Sept. 30, except today’s time is 2pm.)

CELEBRATE 50 YEARS WITH CTAC, PETOSKEY: 5-6:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. Enjoy family-friendly activities, live music, interactive demonstrations, a scavenger hunt, giveaways & more. Free. crookedtree.org/openhouse

TAKE3: WHERE ROCK MEETS BACH: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Genre-defying trio Take3 infuses their classical music background with rock-star charisma. TAKE3 was created by violinist/vocalist Lindsay Deutsch (Yanni’s featured violin soloist), alongside cello & piano. $10-$30. cityoperahouse.org/ node/505

monday

PRESCHOOL ADVENTURES IN ART: 9:3010:15am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Classroom, TC. Drop in for handson fun for preschoolers & their grown-ups. $5. crookedtree.org/class/ctac-traverse-city/ preschool-adventures-art-october-2

10TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER

WEEK: Oct. 2-7. Celebrate all that is great

about Michigan Craft Beer & the awesome food scene in Frankfort & Elberta. Participating locations offer specials. For more info, visit the web site. frankfortbeerweek.com

tuesday

10TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 2)

NORTHPORT WOMEN’S

CLUB MEETING: 1pm, Trinity Church, Northport. Mary Stanton, executive director of Leelanau Christian Neighbors, will be the guest speaker. Area women may attend by calling either Jacquie Johnson: 231-432-0771 or Marcia DeBoer: 734-546-9955. Free.

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POP UP & POP ON: (See Sat., Sept. 30)

TCNEWTECH PITCH & NETWORKING

EVENT: 6pm, 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. Registration required. Free. tcnewtech.org

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GRAND TRAVERSE KENNEL CLUB

MONTHLY MEETING: Incredible Mo’s, Grawn. 6pm: Dinner & socialize; 7pm: Meeting. Free. Grandtraversekennelclub.com

wednesday

NCNST HIKE FROM SPRING LAKE STATE FOREST CAMPGROUND: 9am. Join the Grand Traverse Hiking Club chapter of the North Country Trail Association on a fall hike on the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) from Spring Lake State Forest Campground located off US-131 near Fife Lake to the US 131 rest stop. Meet at Spring Lake Campground & park by the kiosk on the main road into campground. Will shuttle cars to US 131 rest stop to get back to the starting point. Bring lunch, snack, water, bug spray, & anything you need for comfort. Be able to hike 8 miles. Contact: Kathy Taylor: kayakingkathy@gmail.com. Free.

POP UP & POP ON: (See Sat., Sept. 30)

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NORTE YARD SALE: 10am-4pm, Norte Clubhouse, 1213 West Civic Center Dr., TC. Featuring refurbished adult bicycles for sale, an assortment of bike-related accessories & tools, & Norte-branded swag. norteyouthcycling.org/calendar/norte-yard-sale

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10TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER

WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 2)

UPDATES ON NEW VOTING RIGHTS: 11am, Leelanau County Government Center, lower level, Suttons Bay. Learn about Proposal 2 that was passed in 2022. The Voter Service Committee of the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County will hold a forum to review changes in early voting, absentee voting, military & overseas voting, voter IDs & more. Free.

OCTOBER RECESS AT SEVEN HILLS: 5-7pm, Seven Hills, TC. After-work happy hour for adults. Appetizers provided by Mission Proper, including pierogis, kielbasa skewers, mini cucumber toasts & apple cake squares. Wine & craft cocktails provided by Old Mission Distilling. Prizes include $300 in gift cards to Tinker Studio, Old Mission Distilling & Mission Proper. $10. facebook.com/ events/1345637389429270

EXPAND STORYTELLING #3: 7pm, The Alluvion, TC. Four storytellers invited from the NoMi community will take the stage to share their life stories around how they find fulfillment from the inside out wherever they are. $15 on Eventbrite or $18 at door. eventbrite.com/e/expand-storytelling-3-tickets-714714940627

PETOSKEY FILM SERIES: 7pm, Carnegie Building, Petoskey. Featuring “12 Monkeys.” Free.

thursday

NMCAA’S LAUNDRY PROJECT: 8:30-11:30am, TC Laundry, Garfield Plaza, TC. Free laundry service for those in need. Call 9473780 with questions.

FRIENDS OF THE CADILLAC LIBRARY USED BOOK SALE FUNDRAISER: 9am6pm, Cadillac Wexford Public Library, Cadillac. friendsofthecadillaclibrary.wordpress. com/upcoming-programs ----------------------

POP UP & POP ON: (See Sat., Sept. 30) ----------------------

PRESCHOOL ADVENTURES IN ART: (See Mon., Oct. 2)

COFFEE @ 10, PETOSKEY: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. Challenge Mountain is a year-round adaptive recreation program for individuals with disabilities. It has integrated many forms of art into its programming ranging from stained glass, painting, woodworking, mosaics, ceramics & dance/movement. Hear more about the organization & view participants’ artwork. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ coffee-10-challenge-mountain

10TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 2) ----------------------

TRAVERSE INDIVISIBLE: 11am, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse, TC. Speakers include Taryn Indish of Michigan League of Conservation Voters and Kim Murphy-Kovalick of Voters Not Politicians. Free. traverseindivisible.org/events ----------------------

“SMALL STEPS FOR BIG CHANGETHRIVING PETOSKEY”: 4-5:30pm, Country Club of Boyne, Harbor Springs. This twopart discussion panel will be held over two days: Sept. 28 & Oct. 5. For all area employers & employees. Today will feature Cherell Granger, development & communications coordinator for Manna Food Project; Mari Kissinger, director of skier services and sustainability at The Highlands at Harbor Springs; & Caroline Barlow, artistic director of Blissfest Music Organization, as they discuss the environment as it applies to business. $25 for each session, or $40 for both. petoskeychamber.com/events/details/small-steps-for-bigchange-thriving-petoskey-29971

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OFF THE WALL MOVIE NIGHT & POTLUCK: Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Potluck dinner, 6pm; movie, 7pm. Call 231-331-4318 for movie details & to sign up for the potluck. Sponsored by Friends of Alden District Library. Free.

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AN EVENING WITH POETRY: 6:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Michigan poet Brandon Rushton will read from his book, “The Air in the Air Behind It.” Rushton is a winner of the Berkshire Prize. He will bring a couple fellow award winning writers/poets with him: Lindsay Tigue & Andrew Collard. Free. tadl.org/ event/evening-poetry

CONTRADICTIONS, DILEMMAS, AND DIFFICULT CHOICES IN CONSERVATION: 6:30pm, Nathan “Barry” Driggers Nature Preserve, Charlevoix. Join LTC Director of Stewardship Derek Shiels on a walk & share outing. Free, but registration required. landtrust. org/events-template/contradictions-dilemmas-and-difficult-choices-in-conservation

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FORUM, “AFRICA: PERMANENT CRISES?”: Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Featuring Amb. (ret.) Susan D. Page, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. 6:30pm program; 5:30pm reception. $15 in-person ticket; $10 online livestream; free for current students & educators. tciaf.com/event-oct-2023

WAYNE POPE: BIRDS OF MICHIGAN: 6:30pm, Glen Lake Library, Empire. Learn about native bird species with photographer & birding expert Wayne Pope. He will share his new book which includes photographs, natural history notes, & personal observations celebrating our avian friends. Copies of his book will be available to purchase. glenlakelibrary.net

OLD TOWN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS RIPCORD: (See Sat., Sept. 30)

friday

COFFEE @ TEN, TC: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Carnegie Rotunda, TC. Talk with artists & the juror from “Lost and Found: Juried Photography Exhibit,” Kathryn Dimond. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traversecity/coffee-10-lost-and-found-juried-photography-exhibit ----------------------

10TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 2)

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PRESENTATION: Noon, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Sault Ste. Marie writer Sara Maurer will use her Glen Arbor Arts Center residency to complete a third draft of her novel, “Claybaby.” She will talk about her project -- a series of edits & revisions intended to tighten & ready the manuscript for publication. Free. glenarborart.org/ events-page/events-all

POP UP & POP ON: (See Sat., Sept. 30)

VEGMICHIGAN-TC-MONTHLY MEETUP: 1-3pm, Oryana West Co-op, TC. Octoberfest with vegan brats & sausages & local cider. Free. meetup.com/traverse-city-vegmichigan-meetup/events/296148427/?utm_ medium=referral&utm_campaign=sharebtn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_ source=link ----------------------

SIP & SUPPORT FOR LUPUS: 6pm, Bonobo Winery, TC. Enjoy a guided wine tasting amidst the fall views. The tasting will include five 1-ounce pours & shareable small plates. Bid on silent auction items or make additional contributions to support lupus services, education efforts, awareness & research across the state of Michigan. The tasting is limited to 40 guests. Register by Thurs., Oct. 5. Ages 21+. $50 per person. milupus.org/events/sipsupport-for-lupus

FORT FRIGHT: 6:30-9:30pm, Colonial Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City. An 18th-century fort & fur trading village full or werewolves, witches, goblins & ghouls. Hear spooky folktales around a bonfire while enjoying hot mulled cider, cookies & candy. $12 adults, $8 ages 5-12, & free for 4 & under. mackinacparks.com/fort-fright-2023

COLLAGE: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Enjoy live performances by the Academy’s musicians, actors & dancers; readings by creative writers; & shorts by filmmakers. A visual arts exhibition rounds out this event. $35 adult; $19 child through college. interlochen.org/events/collage-2023-10-06

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MITTEN SMITTEN PRESENTS: LAITH ALSAADI: 7:30-9pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Known for being in the Season 10 finale of NBC’s “The Voice,” Laith Al-Saadi brings his blend of blues, soul & classic rock. He has performed on stages across the country with Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Bob Seger & many others. $25 adults; $10 students. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/mitten-smitten-presents-laith-al-saadi

OLD TOWN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS RIPCORD: (See Sat., Sept. 30)

MOLLY HATCHET: 8pm, Odawa Casino, Ovation Hall, Petoskey. This American rock band hit it big in the 70’s & 80’s. They are known for their song “Flirtin’ With Disaster,” among many others. $30-$40. odawacasino. com/entertainment

saturday

SLEEPING BEAR MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 5K: 7:30am, Empire. These scenic races run through the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The half & full marathon start at the Dune Climb Parking Lot off of Hwy. 109 at Hunter Rd., Glen Arbor. The 5K starts in the village of Empire. All races finish at Empire Beach. Marathon: $85-$125; Half Marathon: $75-$115; 5K: $35-$65. sleepingbearmarathon.com

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LEIF ERIKSSON DAY ROW & RUN: 9am, Depot Beach, Charlevoix. A 1 mile row from Depot Beach to Ferry Beach, followed by a 5K run along Lake Charlevoix. Options for row only & run only are also available. Find ‘10th Annual Leif Eriksson Day Row & Run’ on Facebook. $35.

POP UP & POP ON: (See Sat., Sept. 30)

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YAK FEST: 9am-5pm, A Yak or 2 Ranch, Mancelona. Take a wagon ride into the pasture with the yaks, learn about them, have a bite to eat, pick a pumpkin, listen to live music, enjoy family friendly activities & more. Free. ayakor2ranch.com/yak-fest-2021

14TH ANNUAL SKITOBERFEST: 10am, Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. Enjoy keg bowling, stein hoisting, Kids’ Zone fun, pond pedaling, craft brews, live music, Pray for Snow Bonfire, & more. boynemountain. com/annual-events/skitoberfest

15TH ANNUAL AUTUMN ON THE BREEZEWAY: Start in Atwood at Royal Farms & Cellars from 10am-noon. Hit the corn maze, a hayride, enjoy pumpkins, apples, wine & more. Then cruise the Breezeway at your leisure from Atwood, through Ellsworth & East Jordan, passing through Deer Lake & ending in Boyne Falls. Take in this 26-mile scenic route & visit attractions & businesses along the way. End at Boyne Mountain where they offer chairlift rides, the SkyBridge & much more. Call 231-536-7351.

25TH ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL: 10am-4pm, Bellaire. Art & craft show, live music, kids’ activities, food truck rally & much more. bellairechamber.org

FAMILY FUN DAY!: Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Drop by between 10:30am-

12:30pm for Family Fun with Monsters & Unicorns! Enjoy crafts, games, & fun with STEM. All ages welcome. Free. sbbdl.org/event/ family-fun-with-monsters-unicorns

10TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 2)

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23RD ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL: 11am-7pm, Chateau Chantal Winery, TC. 1pm: Public Cellar Tour. Learn the basics of winemaking from vine to glass. 2pm: Grape Stompin’. Crush grapes the old-fashioned way; with your feet! 3pm: Public Vineyard Tour. Learn the basics of viticulture from vine to glass. shop.chateauchantal.com/res404312/23rd-Annual-Harvest-Festival.html

FRIENDS OF THE CADILLAC LIBRARY

USED BOOK SALE FUNDRAISER: 11am1pm, Cadillac Wexford Public Library, Cadillac. friendsofthecadillaclibrary.wordpress. com/upcoming-programs ----------------------

HIGHLANDS HARVEST FEST: 11am-4pm, The Highlands at Harbor Springs. There will be activities for everyone, including face painting, cookie decorating, toy in a haystack, burlap sack racing, pumpkin ring toss, yard games, & s’mores. highlandsharborsprings.com/events/highlands-harvest-event

TOUR GT METRO FIRE: 11am-2pm, Grand Traverse Metro Fire, at Station 9, TC. Food, prize drawings, kids obstacle course. Tour 1st responder truck. See Sparky the dog. gtmetrofire.org

ALANSON OCT. FALL FESTIVAL: Noon4pm, Downtown Alanson. Pumpkin painting & carving, cider, donuts, food, Business Poker Run for Prizes & more.

TRAVERSE CITY LUPUS SYMPOSIUM: 1-4pm, Park Place Hotel & Conference Center, TC. Hear from experts on mental health, therapeutic nutrition & more. Open to those with lupus, friends & family, medical professionals & students. Registration opens at 12:30pm. Speakers include Dr. Jill Balla D.C. of Authentic Health LLC; Rick Coates, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Grand Traverse; & Kimberly Dimond, MI Lupus Foundation executive director. $10 or free for members. milupus.org/ events/tclupus2023

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ENEMIES IN THE ORCHARD AUTHOR

EVENT: 2pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Youth readers & their families are invited for a presentation by author Dana Vanderlugt about her middle grade novel-in-verse, “Enemies in the Orchard.” Afterwards, ask questions, get books signed, & interact with Vanderlugt. Free. tadl.org/event/enemiesorchard-author-event-person-and-zoom

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ROTARY CLUB OF PETOSKEY’S FALL

FESTIVAL: 3-7pm, Petoskey Winter Sports Park. Pumpkin painting, lawn games, live music by Levitator, magic shows, cornhole tournament, & much more. Free.

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FALL FREEDOM FESTIVAL: 4-9pm, Cherryland VFW Post 2780, TC. Enjoy live music from Sean Kelly, the Boardman River Band, & Jabo Bihlman Family Jam Band. Food & drinks available for purchase. Free admission. vfwpost2780.org

BLISSFEST COMMUNITY CONTRA & SQUARE DANCE: Alanson-Littlefield Community Hall, Alanson. Music by The Johns & caller Larry Dyer. Potluck at 6pm; bring your own table service & a dish to pass. Dancing begins at 7:30pm. All dances taught. $10/ person, $5 student. blissfest.org

FORT FRIGHT: (See Fri., Oct. 6)

THE ART OF PERFORMANCE

FOUR great shows

An Interlochen woodwind trio with a shared passion for great chamber music, dedicated to the power of music to connect artist and audience.

Flutist Nancy Stagnitta

Pianist Ya-Ju Chuang

Oboist Dane Philipsen

SAT OCT 7 @ 7 pm $20 adv/$25 door

Domi Edson is an emerging force in jazz education, leadership, and performance, performing at the Alluvion with her trio, including Spencer Zweifel on piano and Bobby Wiens on drums.

Fri, Oct 13 @ 7 PM $10 adv/$15 door

SAT, Oct 14 @ 7 PM $20 adv/$25 door

NWS PRESENTS V.E. SCHWAB: 7pm, Lars Hockstad Auditorium, Central Grade School, TC. This author will discuss her latest book, “Fragile Threads of Power.” Schwab is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.” Tickets: $45 plus ticket fee; $40 plus ticket fee for livestream; $10 in-person students. nationalwritersseries.org/v-e-schwab ----------------------

REPERIO - FEATURING NANCY STAGNITTA, DANE PHILIPSEN, & YA-JU CHUANG: 7-9:30pm, The Alluvion, TC. Reperio shares a passion for chamber music & the art of collaboration. Featuring music by Lili Boulanger, William Grant Still, Madeline Dring, Francis Poulenc, Benjamin Britten, Edmund Rubbra, & Johann Sebastian Bach. $20 advance; $25 door. thealluvion.org/tickets/alluvion-presents-reperio-featuring-nancy-stagnitta-danephilipsen-and-ya-ju-chuang

OLD TOWN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS RIPCORD: (See Sat., Sept. 30)

BLKBOK: 8pm, City Opera House, TC. Born & raised in Detroit’s inner city, BLKBOK (Charles Wilson III) grew up in a music-filled house & was an acclaimed piano prodigy, winning statewide accolades & college-level competitions by the time he was 8. The name BLKBOK symbolizes his colorful journey from pop & hip-hop culture to his critically acclaimed, neo-classical debut album “Black Book,” & various Mixtape projects & collaborations. $10-$27. cityoperahouse.org/node/506

FRESHWATER CONCERTS PRESENTS

BIG SANDY & HIS FLY-RITE BOYS: 8pm, Freshwater Art Gallery & Concert Venue, Boyne City. Enjoy this high energy band who is right out of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame & travelling the world. 231-582-2588. $40.

JOHN LLOYD YOUNG’S BROADWAY: 8pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Tony & Grammy Award-winner John Lloyd Young interprets the showstoppers that shaped his earliest Broadway aspirations. He sings from “Jersey Boys,” “The Wiz,” “Chicago,” “Hair,” “Dreamgirls,” & more, along with classics by legendary Broadway writers. $37 - $82. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/john-lloyd-young

sunday

A SEPARATE SHINING

TOUR: Noon, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Maggie Pavao, assistant director of the Tusen Takk Foundation will lead an in-depth tour of “A Separate Shining: Selections from the Tusen Takk Foundation Collection.” Limited to 20 people. Please limit groups to 4 people. $0 - $10. simpletix. com/e/a-separate-shining-tour-tickets-139692 ----------------------

WATERFIRE FEATURED ARTIST SERIES - ELIZABETH MANNING: Noon-5pm, WaterFire Vineyards, Kewadin. Meet local watercolor artist Elizabeth Manning from Two Hoots Studio. She may do a demonstration, show off some of her work in progress, or give some one-on-one tips & techniques. Free to attend. waterfirewine.com/eventdetails-registration/waterfire-featured-artistseries-elizabeth-manning

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HARVEST GATHERING: 1-4pm, Samels Farm, Williamsburg. All the buildings will be open, & there will be demonstrations of various farm activities. There will be food available, music, wagon rides, tours of the woods, archaeological exhibits/lectures, & games. samelsfarm.org/events.html

HISTORY OF SPENCER CREEK VILLAGE: 2pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Paul DeLange, president of Helena Township Historical Society, will give a historical photo presentation of Spencer Creek Village, along with a discussion on its origins & how it later was renamed Alden. Sponsored by Alden District Library and Friends. 231-331-4318. Free.

OLD TOWN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS RIPCORD: (See Sun., Oct. 1)

A CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTO BRAND: NELSON MANDELA, HOPE, & HUMANITY THROUGH STORIES, MUSIC, & DANCE: 3pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Christo Brand was responsible for monitoring Nelson Mandela during his time in prison. In his discussion with moderator & film producer David Crouse, Brand will explain the power of hope that unites us all as members of one human race. He will also share details that recount his time spent with Mandela & touch on topics discussed in his book – “Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend.” Preceding this discussion & integrating themes from Mr. Brand’s book is a performance by the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet entitled “Resonance.” Following the talk, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra Chorus Master André Strydom will perform “He Walked to Freedom,” a song by South African composer Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph. $5 student, $25 GA, $125 VIP. greatlakescfa.org

art

CHARLES CULVER PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION: On display throughout downtown Bellaire through Oct. Each piece of art will display a QR code to access an audio presentation providing history & background of the particular piece. bellairelibrary.org

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CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY

- ART + PLACE + COMMUNITY: 10 YEARS WITH GOOD HART ARTIST RESIDENCY:

Held in Gilbert & Bonfield galleries. The exhibit will contain works from GHAR alumni, including visual artists, writers, & composers, highlighting the unique breadth of creative work that has been supported by the residency over the past decade. Runs through Nov. 4. CTAC, Petoskey is open Tues. through Sat., 10am-5pm. https://crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/art-place-community10-years-good-hart-artist-residency

- ART SPEAKS: CREATIVE ARTS STUDIO FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES: Held in Atrium Gallery. This exhibition features work created by students in Challenge Mountain & Crooked Tree Arts Center’s Creative Arts Studio program. Runs through Oct. 21. Open Tues. - Sat., 10am-5pm. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/art-speaks-creativearts-studio-adults-disabilities

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC:

- “INTERLACEMENTS: THE FINE CRAFT OF WEAVING”: Featuring nine Michigan artists including Boisali Biswas, Martha Brownscombe, Deb Cholewicki, Sharon Gill, Carol Irving, Jasmine Petrie, Carol Madison, Nancy McRay, & Shanna Robinson. A range of fiber art practices are explored. Runs through Oct. 28. CTAC - TC is open Tues. through Fri., 11am5pm, & Sat., 10am-4pm. crookedtree.org

- “LOST AND FOUND: JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION”: Held in Carnegie Galleries. 28 artists were selected for inclusion. Selections were made by guest juror Kathryn Dimond, executive director of Detroit’s historic Scarab Club. Runs through Oct. 28. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ lost-and-found-juried-photography-exhibition

- LIFETIME OF ART & TRAVEL: A FLORA RICCA HOFFMAN RETROSPECTIVE: Held in Carnegie Rotunda. This exhibit celebrates the artwork of the late prolific artist Flora Ricca Hoffman. Runs through Oct. 8. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ lifetime-art-and-travel-flora-ricca-hoffmanretrospective

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- “A SEPARATE SHINING: SELECTIONS FROM THE TUSEN TAKK FOUNDATION COLLECTION”: The Tusen Takk Foundation & the Dennos Museum present this exhibition representing artists who have participated in its artist-in-residence program to date. Taking its title from the poem “Joy” by Hilda Conkling, the exhibition surveys the artist’s exploration of the intangible, the unseen qualities of joy, beauty, & hope. Runs through Jan. 7. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/index.html

- “PASSAGES: THE ART OF RON GIANOLA”: Gianola’s paintings are the result of a fiftyplus year long experience with the Art Spirit, pursuing the possibilities of a personal transformative vision, engaging emotion, expression, & the poetry of visual music. Runs through Jan. 7. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/index.html

- “STEPHEN DUREN: A LIFE OF PAINTING”: This exhibit brings together works by artist Stephen Duren that cover his sixtyyear career & bring greater definition to his artistic contributions. Runs through Jan. 7. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/index.html

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:

- “IN TRANSLATION”: Held in Main Gallery. A multi-pronged project that explores how humans employ creativity & the arts to translate the world, contemporary life, contemporary social & political issues, & the world in which they live. The exhibit features the work of 32 visual artists from throughout Michigan, the Midwest, & California. Runs through Oct. 26. Hours are: Mon. through Fri.: 9am-3pm; Sat. & Sun.: Noon-4pm. glenarborart.org/events/ exhibit-in-translation

- BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD: Held in Lobby Gallery. A series of abstract landscapes out of the imagination of painter Alice Moss. This small show runs through Dec. 15. Moss’ focus is on Leelanau County roadways, woodlands, & beaches, all of which she has been walking, watching, & visiting since childhood in the early 1960s. glenarborart. org/events/exhibit-by-the-side-of-the-road

OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT:

- ANNUAL JURIED ART EXHIBITION: Work in all media by regional artists. Runs through Oct. 20. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

- EXHIBEERTION POP UP EXHIBIT: In honor of Frankfort’s Fall Festival Beer Week, Oliver Art Center will be hosting “ExhiBEERtion,” a popup art show devoted to beer, beer products, beer-making, beer venues, & beer enjoyment. Runs from Sept. 26 - Oct. 13. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

- TERRAIN BIENNIAL 2023: Enjoy this international art exhibition featuring an original sculpture installment by Manistee artist Nat Rosales. Nat’s work, “The Echo Effect,” will be on display outside from Oct. 1 - Nov. 15. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

RAVEN HILL DISCOVERY CENTER, EAST JORDAN:

- SMITHSONIAN TRAVELING EXHIBIT: Enjoy the newest Smithsonian Museum’s national traveling exhibit, “Spark! Places of Innovation” through Oct. 7. The exhibit features stories gathered from diverse communities across the nation. Includes photographs, engaging interactives, objects, videos, & augmented reality. Free.

- “YOUTH INNOVATION IN RURAL AMERICA”: Community-based youth design projects by local students. Runs through Oct. 7. miravenhill.org

Sitting in Bars with Cake

With a slate of spooky movies headed into theaters over the next few weeks, this scaredy cat searched for a new release that promised no jump scares or exorcisms. I landed on Sitting in Bars with Cake, an Amazon Prime adaptation of…a cookbook memoir.

Yes, that was about as far away from a horror film as I could go, and yet I still found myself pulling the blanket up over my eyes at the end. (Though in fairness, that was to dry an unexpected torrent of tears.)

The film—inspired by true events and based on the book of the same name by Audrey Shulman—follows best friends Jane and Corinne, who are living in L.A. in their midtwenties. Jane is studying for the LSATs to make her lawyer parents proud, though she’s happiest when baking up confections in the kitchen. Corinne has big dreams of being a record label agent and is working her way up the ranks of Capitol Records.

While Jane is quiet, shy, and far more likely to stay home in her PJs than hit the clubs, Corinne is a carefree, Mick Jagger-loving wild child who wants every moment to count. We know the duo have been inseparable since childhood, but there is surprisingly little friction in their opposites-attract friendship and roommate relationship.

After Jane brings one of her cakes to the bar to celebrate Corinne’s birthday—garnering rave reviews and a few interested men—a challenge is born. Jane will bake a cake every weekend for the girls to take out to a different watering hole in search of Jane’s true love…or at least a confidence boost and some leftover dessert.

The film starts out like a too-sweet cupcake, sugary and lacking much substance beyond

montages of cake baking and visits to different L.A. bars. But the tone shifts when Corinne—who has been experiencing unexplained headaches for weeks—winds up in the hospital after a seizure. She’s diagnosed with a brain tumor, sending her life and Jane’s in an entirely new direction.

It’s in the second half of the film that actors Yara Shahidi (Jane) and Odessa A’zion (Corinne) shine. Shahidi brings a quiet stoicism as her character becomes a caretaker, and A’zion delivers an emotional representation of the frustrations and fears of living life with cancer. The friends’ unlikely bond is finally tested, and we come to understand why Corinne needs Jane’s steadiness just as Jane needs to be pushed out of her comfort zone by Corinne’s unflagging zest for life.

Few secondary characters are given space to grow, but Martha Kelly and Ron Livingston each offer a quirky take on parenthood as Corinne’s mom and dad, Ruth and Fred. To manage their anxiety over their daughter’s diagnosis, Ruth is up at 4am to do the Wordle and make endless trays of lasagna, while Fred tries to fix every scratched car, moldy shower floor, and wobbly piece of furniture he can find. Bette Midler also has a small role as Benita, Corinne’s boss, but only appears fleetingly—though in quite fabulous outfits.

In all, the 2-hour dramedy feels a little underdone, and perhaps could have used a little more baking time (or at least a little more spice) to achieve greater depth. But I was glad the plot pivoted away from baiting boys with cake—though some of those recipes certainly bear looking up—and focused on the real love story of Jane and Corinne.

by jillian manning

“Jonesin” Crosswords

3. Nintendo console avatar

4. Former international airline, for short

5. "24/7 ___ hip hop beats"

6. Veggie in Indian and Cajun cuisine

7. Fertile type of soil

8. Pre-paid cocktail source at parties

9. Over again

10. Seized vehicles

11. Figure skating event

12. Appease, as thirst

15. Daily Planet reporter Clark

18. Piercing look

21. The other poetic Muse (the one not in crosswords as much)

22. Outta here

Martindale game show) 33. With 43-Across, [Mystery Clue 2] 39. Peaceful creatures in "The Time Machine" 40. Radio station sign 41. Hershey caramel candy 43. See 33-Across

23. No longer a minor

24. Aquaman portrayer Jason

29. Like electrical plugs and forks (don't mix the two!)

30. "It's Always Sunny" group, collectively

32. ___-Alt-Del

34. Transportation to the mini-mart, perhaps

35. ___ Schwarz (New York toy store)

36. Brief bit of bickering

37. Kinda dull

38. Make happy

42. Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan

44. Flabbergasted

45. ___ nous (just between us)

49. Addis ___, Ethiopia

50. Impressionist Edouard

51. Slalom expert

67. "And there you have it!"

68. Solitary

69. "Fish in ___? How can that be?" ("Hop on Pop" line)

70. ___ judicata (case that's been decided)

71. Grogu, aka Baby ___

DOWN

1. Cloth for a spill

2. Gold, in the place where that announcer says "Gooooooooool"

53. Take a breather

54. "CODA" prize

56. What Olive Garden is supposed to represent, vaguely

58. Suffix still used after "Bachelor" in reality shows

59. "Smooth Operator" singer

60. Taylor Swift's 2023 tour

63. "Extraordinary Attorney ___" (Korean Netflix show)

64. Word often used in jokes that end "In this economy?"

65. Vote to approve

"An Easy Puzzle" some similar similes. by Matt Jones

CLASSIFIEDS

THE PENINSULA MARKET STAFF NEEDS

YOU!: Cashiers(must be over 18yrs) Prep and Pizza Cooks, Stockers w/projects,...NO Late Nights! Positions are P/T or F/T for the right individual(s) with open availability. In a nutshell, if your reliable, enthusiastic and love making others day better, Bring in your resume or do a quick application! We're located at: 14111 Center Road, Traverse City, Mi 49686

PAID PART-TIME WORK TRAINING FOR SENIORS 55+: For Seniors Age 55 and Over: Employment Specialist Trainee, Cashier, Stocking, Clerical Support. Applicants must be age 55 and over, unemployed, seeking work and meet program eligibility. Positions available in Traverse, Benzie, Manistee and surrounding counties. To find out if you qualify contact the AARP Foundation SCSEP office, 231-252-4544.

MAH JONGG CLASSES - BASIC AND STRATEGIES: Mah Jongg Classes with Barbara: Basic 4 Thursdays Oct 19-11/9;

Strategies 4 Wednesdays 10/18-11/8, 1-4 PM. MiddleCoast Brewing Co. $45, preregister. 231-383-0803, ellives@aye.net

COTTAGE FOR RENT: Traverse City

1BR Cottage; Fully Furnished; Includes All Utilities; New Appliances; W/D; A/C; Cable; Very Nice; Quiet Setting; No Pets; $1,700 per month; (231) 631-7512. Free: FREE,

36X60 GLASS TABLE TOP. Create your own base…could be cocktail or dining Free: FREE, 36x60 glass table top. Create your own base…could be cocktail or dining

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TC Request

For Proposal 2024: The Presbyterian Church of Traverse City is seeking local organizations in ministry to submit proposals by 11/1/2023 to receive grant monies.Our goal is to address critical needs in our community. Link for the non-profits: https://forms.gle/ yXRhJ1zdzFFkHT6Q7

NORTH HOPE CRISIS: New location NOW OPEN! Help Those Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis by joining our direct care team. Sign on Bonus $1,000Starting pay $17 - Full Benefits start first day - Paid training provided – No experience needed. All shifts available. Contact Dana @ 616-260-7266 or dgrummet@ hopenetwork.org

OTHER: SEWING, ALTERATIONS, Mending & Repairs. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231-228-6248

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

easy. accessible. all online.

231-499-4249 | 231-929-7900

Modern twist on a Classic Ranch built in 2018. A charming 2 bed, 2 bath home situated on 4.39 acres, just 1 mile east of the village of Lake Ann. This home features an open floor plan with 1,938 sq ft of living space on the main floor. Includes a beautiful, spacious kitchen with large island and pantry, 10’ ceilings, gas fireplace, wood floors and two outdoor decks. The primary bedroom flows into a large bathroom with two walk-in closets. Tons of potential in the unfinished lower level with a walkout, egress windows and plumbing for a 3rd bath and wet bar. The heated garage with epoxy floors provides a clean workspace or storage area. This home is located just a short drive from the Red Door Cafe, Stone Oven, Almira Township Park and public access to Lake Ann. Only 20 minutes from Traverse City, enjoy the quiet of country living with the convenience of nearby amenities.

231-929-7900

WEST SIDE LIVING! In popular Tyler Hills neighborhood, minutes from downtown TC. Ranch-style home, main floor living, open concept floor plan, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, spacious living room, main floor laundry, 2 covered porches and a partially finished walk-out lower level which includes a 4th bedroom, 3/4 bath and a family room perfect for entertaining family and friends. 2257 Tyler Hills Drive, Traverse City

MLS# 1915942

Storage unit located in Eagle Storage Condominium just off US-31. This 30’ x 40’ end unit features pole barn construction with steel siding, shingled roof, 14’ ceiling height, concrete floor, 100 amp service and a 12’ x 12’ overhead door. End unit gives accessibility for loading and unloading your cargo. This is a great opportunity for your personal and/ or business storage needs. Commercially zoned.