Starting at 12:00 noon, to 5:00 PM At Paradise Ranch just North of downtown Kingsley
If you’re looking for a new home or a lot to build on, it may be the best thing you ever did!
Join Paradise Ranch as we celebrate Summer UpNorth with live music, food trucks, horse drawn wagon tours and beautiful new custom homes now for sale and ready to move in!
It’s going to be a great time while enjoying Paradise Ranch’s spectacular 240 acres of lush hardwoods and rolling hills. If you’re looking for a home or a special place to build your dream home, you don’t want to miss out! Special financing is available on land loans OAC with only 10% down!
H Looking for a spot to enjoy your RV for the Summer? Camping is permitted for up to 180 days per year!
H Need a place to keep your Boat or ATV toys indoors? Storage buildings are allowed!
H How about keeping Horses onsite? Yup, horses are allowed on lots over 2.5 acres.
Come see what Paradise Ranch all is about and enjoy a
H All this is available as a lifestyle within an easy drive to downtown Traverse City, and just 15 min drive to Cherry Capital Airport and Costco!
H Owners of Paradise Ranch enjoy a park like setting along with amenities such as private maintained black top roads, underground electric, high speed fiberoptic cable and natural gas!
day outdoors before the summer is gone!
Ranked Choice Voting
After reading Steve Tuttle’s “Third Party Futility” in the August 4, 2025, Express, I have been further reading that maybe there is a way to upgrade the way we vote by allowing a voter to cast their vote for their favorite candidate…and then vote for their second favorite candidate. Then their third favorite candidate.
No, not cheating, but using what is called Ranked Choice Voting. Google it to see what this way of voting offers those voters who want to vote for an alternative party candidate and not really throw their vote away. As a bonus, they say this style of voting fosters cooperation instead of division among the candidates. I know I am ready for that.
In Michigan right now there is a petition drive underway to put Ranked Choice Voting in front of voters for future elections. It is voluntary—you can still vote the regular way if you want, so why not endorse this change? A ballot committee named Rank Michigan Vote (Rank MI Vote) is collecting signatures across Michigan to give us this choice when we vote. It will be through a constitutional amendment of the 2026 voting ballot. Consider signing a Rank MI Vote petition. We have nothing to lose and maybe something to gain.
Bert Courson | Traverse City
Failed System
In your piece
“What Do We Say When It Happens Here?” your assessment of the mental health system is gone, offering no help, and now courts/cops will leave a heavy burden on taxpayers—far more expensive and ignores the problem.
It’s a sad and ugly subject of violence, but it will happen more for homeless and mentally challenged, who get no help in our cruel ugly system of jailing the sick. Now it will cost taxpayers billions more and keep us far less safe than when Engler and Reagan got rid of mental help services back in the ’80’s. Many I know thought just kill the perp, but where’s the compassion for more than just victims and how to solve? If Gilles had a place to live and received a few hundred a week, won’t this anger against society be in
check with this sad individual? Now it will cost us thousands a week to jail him where he won’t get help, only giving courts and cops more power to be cruel and making the issue worse and hundreds of times more expensive! I don’t have all the answers, but at least I know the failed system we now have!
Bradford Krull | Traverse City
Good for the Economy...What about Us?
Our increasingly under-regulated market economy is based on the consumption of our natural resources and the consequential polluting of our air, water, and soil; and, I believe, it fosters greed and inequality by rewarding people for taking more than they truly need.
The next time you hear someone say, or if you already believe, we need to keep this type of economy going, or we need to make it stronger, realize it means things will be worse (than they already are) in the future; and please think twice, or more than twice (if that is what it takes), before you believe it is the right, or only, thing to do.
Patrick McDuff | Manistee
Are Workers Willing to Die for Enbridge Folly?
All the hype about making the 645-milelong pipeline “safe” by putting five miles of Line 5 through a tunnel ignores the dangerous stuff being pumped through the pipe. Enbridge has signs posted that declare “DANGER - HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS AND EXPLOSIVE GASES” where it crosses from under water to over land.
Now suppose the Enbridge tunnel gets built and begins pumping oil and gas under high pressure as proposed. Has anyone approved a plan for inspecting and maintaining the pipeline once it is operating? Of course, one advantage of having the pipe contained inside a tunnel is that anything that leaks from the pipe should be confined and not bubbling up or floating down a river. But what will happen to it inside the tunnel? Oil leaks should be easy to find, because oil will settle on the floor. But who will
wander miles into a dark tunnel to search for a leak, and how will they fix it? With a welder? Not likely, since this stuff is explosive.
Gas leaks would be considerably more difficult to deal with. With a pipe under a lake, anyone can watch for bubbles, but in this tunnel, there is a chance someone will die before a leak is found. That is what the Enbridge sign warns about: “HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS AND EXPLOSIVE GASES.” If you can smell it, you can die. If you turn a light ON or OFF, or make a spark with a steel tool, it could explode. Think about that: a five-mile-long by eighteen-footdiameter bomb.
Anyone hired to work inside this tunnel should be encouraged to drink a lot of whiskey; otherwise, they would need to be insane before entering into the Enbridge death trap.
Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase PO Box 4020 Traverse City, Michigan 49685 Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com
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David Petrove | Interlochen
Brabenec, Anna Faller, Kierstin Gunsbreg, Rachel Pasche, Stephen Tuttle
top ten this week’s
Grab your dancing shoes and a fork for pierogi, because it’s time for Cedar’s Polka Fest! This Polish bash runs Aug. 21-24 complete with live polka music, food vendors serving up authentic food and drink, and a busy slate of activities for the whole family. A few highlights of the festival include the Leelanau Performance Car Show (Friday, 5-8pm), the Run 4 the Kielbasa race (Saturday, 8:30am-12pm), a Craft Fair & Farmers Market (Saturday 9am-3pm), the Polka Fest Parade (Saturday 12pm), and the Polish Pooch Pageant (Sunday 11am-12pm). Day passes range from $10-$15—buy in advance to save on the door price. Sunday’s activities are free, and kids under 12 can enjoy the whole festival free of charge with their parents. Find all the details at cedarpolkafest.org.
The inaugural Traverse City Food & Wine festival runs Aug. 20-24, and while events are selling out quickly, here’s what we see open at press time: Aug. 22, Meet Bel Lago North Farm’s Highland cows and Katahdin sheep while learning about how they help sustainability at the farm/vineyard. Also Aug. 22, the National Writers Series presents A Conversation with Antoni Porowski (producer and star of Netflix’s Queer Eye) at City Opera House. The Grand Tasting will be held at Open Space Park on Aug. 23. Sample local produce and products, sip on local wines and other craft beverages, and catch food celebs on the Main Stage. For more info, a complete schedule of events, and tickets visit traversecity.com/food-wine.
Hey, watch It! Too Much 4
If you’re a fan of HBO Max’s Hacks and Starstruck, we have a new show starring Megan Stalter (Hack’s hilarious manager-in-training Kayla Schaeffer) that you won’t want to miss. Stalter plays Jessica, a commercial producer who uproots her life from New York to London after a messy break-up. Jessica has watched just about every BBC adaptation there is, and surely London will be the cure for this hopeless and heartbroken romantic (who may also qualify as a crazy ex-girlfriend). Alas, the move doesn’t prove so simple, nor is her tangled relationship with British musician Felix (played by Will Sharpe of The White Lotus fame). Creator Lena Dunham (Girls) was inspired by her own AmericanBritish relationship to create this modern rom-com. P.S. Keep an eye out for cameos from Jessica Alba, Andrew Scott, Kit Harington, Rita Ora, and more. All episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
We’re all for a little summer nostalgia: golden sunsets on the porch, weekend mornings on the lake, and—stay with us on this one—meatloaf for dinner. Specifically, we’re eyeing the gourmet version at The Kingsley Inn, and it’s definitely not your mama’s (it even says so on the menu!). An homage to the supper staple, with a dash of retro plating, this comfort classic starts with 100 percent ground beef cooked down with mirepoix veggies and deglazed with wine before hitting the oven on low and slow. From there, the whole shebang is flash-seared, which locks in moisture and makes for a caramelized bite, then is topped with scratch-made gravy and haystack onions and served alongside smash-fried potatoes and char-grilled Michigan asparagus. Pair a plate with the Smoked Old Fashioned, and you might just stop time for a second! Eat up at 211 E Main St. in Kingsley. kingsleyinnmi.com
Big Bear Butt Cruise
If you suddenly see a bunch of bikes, bears, or big butts around Manistee and Benzie counties this Saturday, never fear—it’s only the Big Bear Butt Cruise. This one-day road bike extravaganza is not for the faint of heart (or weak of leg), with four different rides around the region to choose from: 70k, 130k, 170k, or 210k. (210 kilometers is 155 miles, for those who don’t have a conversation calculator handy.) There’s also a paddle and pedal option! All routes start and end in Kaleva, and there are scenic stops along the way at spots like Inspiration Point, downtown Onekama, Tippy Dam, Crystal Mountain, and more. While the big ride is on Saturday, Aug. 23, there are events scheduled for registered riders on Friday and Sunday, too. Check out the activities, the route, and the registration details (starting at $75/ person) at bigbearbuttcruise.com.
Disaster Loans Are Out There
Is your business still reeling from the March ice storm? The Small Business Administration has approved more than $4.2 million in federal disaster loans to businesses affected by the storms, and there’s still an opportunity to apply for aid. While the application date for physical property damage has passed, you can still send in economic injury applications through March 9, 2026. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and private nonprofit organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster. To learn more and find out if your business is eligible, visit sba.gov/ disaster. Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
Stuff We Love: Getting Out on the Water with RadPadz
Summer is flying by all too quickly, but there’s still plenty of fun in the sun left to be had. Enter: RadPadz, the Lake Michigan inflatables created by Traverse Citians Ben and Lillian Swan. After their kiddos wore out their floating water mat, the couple decided to design their own—one that would withstand a summer of jumps and dives. Launched this year, the brand has four different designs available of the “Cannonballer,” a 12-by-6-foot inflatable made from UV resistant materials with a weight capacity of 1,500 pounds. Each Cannonballer ($699.99) comes with a set of accessories: a manual air pump, a rope ladder, a storage bag, and a repair kit. You can even level up with a sandbag anchor or an electric pump. Shop the selection at radpadzusa.com. (And P.S. We saw northern Michigan locals can get 15 percent off with code LOCALSUMMER.)
The Originals: NAA Founders Showcase
“From Strong Roots, Creative Branches Grow.”
bottoms up Stormcloud Brewing’s Chaise Longue
301 N. Mill St, Northport Exhibit runs: Tues–Sun 12-4, thru Sept 9 www.NorthportArtsAssociation.org A Retrospective of NAA’s Roots
Reception: Sat, Aug 23, 4-7
Want to try one of the most unique beers in all of northern Michigan? If the answer is yes, then head over to Stormcloud Brewing Company in downtown Frankfort and order yourself a draft of the Chaise Longue. A kettle sour brewed with lemon, vanilla, and basil, the Chaise Longue sounds, on paper at least, like a collision of ingredients that simply wouldn’t mix well. But trust us when we say that this beer is delicious, refreshing, and wonderfully weird. It’s a sour beer without the overpowering funk that some sours have, and a dessert beer without the heaviness or cloying sweetness often associated with that category. Instead, the Chaise Longue goes down as smooth as a lager, with a fascinating mixtape of flavors that will keep you coming back. “Perfect for sunny afternoons and adventurous palates,” reads the description on the Stormcloud menu, and we have to agree. Enjoy at 303 Main St. in Frankfort. stormcloudbrewing.com
GOING BACKWARD
By steven Tuttle
tary of Defense Pete Hegseth isn't making our military great again but he is making it about a century old. How? No women leaders, no men of color as leaders, no hesitancy to honor traitorous generals who took up arms against this country, no room for service members whose only offense was trying to be who they are... going backward in
Who was replaced? Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti was booted by Hegseth, the first woman to head Naval Operations and the first to sit on the Joint Chiefs. Then there was Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, the first woman to serve as head of the Naval War College and our U.S. representative to the NATO Military Committee, who spent half her 40-year career at sea commanding ships and strike groups. And Lt. General Jennifer Short was the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense.
National Cemetery at a cost of $10 million. It is especially onerous, a Confederate soldier being supported by what appear to be Black men, perhaps slaves. This insult to decency was first erected in 1914, a year that saw 55 Black men lynched, and includes a plaque in Latin that translates to, “The victorious cause was pleasing to the gods but the lost cause to Cato.”
This plays into the “lost cause” or, worse, the “noble lost cause” narrative that likes to tout the war as a righteous fight against federal government tyranny and in support of states’ rights. But there was nothing remotely noble about the Civil War, and the proof is in the secession letters and declarations of the Confederate states.
Here’s the letter from Mississippi: “Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery...”
Pete Hegseth has chosen to honor the treasonous people who took up arms against the United States while he devalues some and punishes others who have honorably served the United States.
(It should be noted the first victim of this purge was Admiral Linda Fagan, the first female Commandant of the Coast Guard, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, not the Department of Defense. Trump fired her his first day back in office, claiming she had been too focused on DEI. He also fired General Charles Brown, the first Black Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who was too strong a believer in equality.)
There are more—including all the uniformed lawyers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force— but the above is a reasonable sample.
The so-called “new day” at the Pentagon in which they will be focused on readiness, deterrence, and lethality, included a conversation regarding military strikes against the Houthi rebels on a communication platform that was not secured and could have been, and likely was, accessed by any of our adversaries.
Hegseth has also declared he will be reinstalling statues and plaques honoring Confederate soldiers because they are an “important part of our history.” Actually, they are an ugly part of our history, traitors whose actions led to our deadliest war with some 700,000 dead from combat and disease.
First up on Hegseth’s restoration of shame?
General Albert Pike to be reinstalled in Judiciary Square in Washington, D.C. Pike was an unapologetic racist and slaveholder who said, “... the white race, and that race alone, shall govern this country. It is the only one that is fit to govern, and it is the only one that shall.”
What a lovely sentiment to be memorialized.
Then there is the so-called Reconciliation Monument to be reinstalled at Arlington
This one is from South Carolina: “... an increasing hostility on the part of nonslaveholding states to the institution of slavery...”
Or Georgia: “...serious causes of complaint against our non-slaveholding confederate states with reference to the subject of African-slavery.”
Texas actually had it written into their constitution in 1861 there could never be any emancipation of “negro slaves.”
We haven’t erected statues to Japanese or German generals, and we should treat those involved with the Confederacy similarly.
Finally, Hegseth has decided to boot transgender service members without any evidence that they are in any way a detriment to the combat readiness of any service branch.
They have served with honor and distinction for a long time. If you don’t believe that, do your own research, but start with Kristin Beck, a 20-year Navy vet, a Navy Seal, a member of Seal Team 6, awarded the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Service, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Purple Heart. Or how about West Point graduate Allyson Robinson? Or Army vet Shane Ortega? He served in three hostile fire combat zones and executed over 400 combat missions.
Pete Hegseth has chosen to honor the treasonous people who took up arms against the United States while he devalues some and punishes others who have honorably served the United States. It is offensive at best, repulsive at worst.
WHAT ABOUT THE GIRLS?
GUEST OPINION
by Isiah Smith, Jr.
*Sensitive Content: This column includes a discussion of sexual assault.
In a hundred years, I shall never forget that 13-year-old child’s face, how her small, undeveloped body shrank as if disappearing into herself. She was 13 and a legally mandated participant in an adolescent group therapy session I led, along with my co-therapist, Angela, when I worked at South Dade Mental Health in Homestead, Florida. Little did we know the horrible trauma we were to witness and, in a sense, become part of.
The first group therapy session provided each child with the chance to explain why they were placed in the group.
“Mary [not her real name], please tell us why you are here. Feel free to share as much or as little as you’re comfortable with at this moment.”
It was crucial first to establish a safe space where children felt comfortable sharing their most intimate secrets and feelings. This process rarely happened all at once, and when it did, it could often be intense. Not much was expected during the initial session.
But this time, it was different, and what happened next has stayed with me for over 50 years. Mary stepped back further into herself, her face lowered and shoulders drooping. She licked her lips, then rubbed them roughly, as if trying to wipe away a stubborn stain only she could see. “I’m here because my father used to make me [perform oral sex] on him and his friends.”
What kind of man does this?
Angela gasped, covered her mouth with her hand, and a look of horror flashed across her face. Her legs started to twitch. South Florida felt heavy. My throat began to close, and my breathing became shallow and laborious. The other kids fidgeted uneasily in their chairs, their faces flushing red, showing signs of fear. I couldn’t speak, but Mary could, and she did.
“My father would never have sex with me, and he made his friends promise they wouldn’t either. But one day, when he was not at home, one of his friends came over and had sex with me. I got pregnant, and Dade County Children and Family Services took me from my house and sent me here to see you.”
Finally, I spoke. “Do you know what happened to your father and his friends?” I asked.
Mary shook her head and withdrew into her own world again. All this time, Angela remained silent, so overwhelmed that she couldn’t even speak. We faced a long road ahead.
This is the situation that convinced me to go to law school, because I knew from personal experience how hard it was to make Mary see that nothing she went through was her fault, or that what those terrible men had done to her was their sickness. To get her to stop asking, “What did I do to make them think they should have done these things to me? What’s wrong with me?”
I’ve been thinking a lot about Mary over the past few days. Unless you’ve been on a silent retreat somewhere in the Himalayas, you’ve heard more than you want to about Jeffrey Epstein and the “leader of the free world.” And if you’re like me, you’ve been banging your head against the wall, asking, “What about the girls? Why isn’t anyone talking about the victims and their inevitable suffering?”
The monstrous men get all the attention, while the victims become the forgotten players in this morality play.
Data collected by The Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (WCSAP) shows that many of us suffer silently from the effects of childhood sexual abuse. Victims often go through five stages, similar to Kubler-Ross’ On Death and Dying, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages almost always impact those grieving their sexual assault. The process begins with denial, which is usually the victim’s initial response to the unspeakable crime.
If an individual is sexually assaulted, they may experience somatic (body) complaints, eating disturbances, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and physical symptoms related to the areas of their body affected by the assault. Survivors might become very expressive (anger, sadness), disoriented (disbelief, denial), or controlled and calm.
One thing I can tell you for sure, from personal experience and half a century of denial: the painful memory of the assault and abuse worsens when the abuser faces no consequences or when no one believes your account of what happened because the molester is your protector.
Everyone should protect the young, the weak, and the helpless instead of taking advantage of them. Epstein and his depraved accomplices failed the test of responsible adulthood and basic humanity.
Shame and dishonor upon their wretched souls.
Now, what about the girls? Why is all the attention focused on the perverted adults instead of the children? What about the children?
Isiah Smith, Jr. is a retired government attorney.
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Fish Flambe, S'il Vous Plait
Fire investigators in British Columbia, Canada, discovered an unlikely culprit in a brush fire that knocked out power in the town of Ashcroft on July 30: a hungry osprey. Ashcroft Fire Rescue posted on social media that the peckish avian pulled a large fish from a river about two miles away, but as it labored to fly with its supersized meal in the July heat, it became tired and eventually dropped the fish ... directly onto a power line, which sparked the blaze in the dry grass below. NBC Bay Area reported that it took about 4,800 gallons of water to stop the fire -- quite a lot of trouble over a bird whose eyes were bigger than its stomach. "Another suspicion could be that it's tired of raw fish and wanted to give cooked a try," the post from Ashcroft Fire Rescue said.
New World Order
by 124 mph on July 28. Speed limit? On the Autobahn? Yes, while the motorway is known worldwide as a de facto raceway where drivers can go as fast as they please, it has stretches where speed limits are posted and enforced. German police said the motorist was clocked at over 199 mph on the A2 highway near Burg, a portion of the Autobahn where the limit is 74.5 mph.
The Bear Jar
For more than a week, residents of northwest Wisconsin had been riveted by sightings of a hapless yet elusive bear with a jar stuck on her head. "The bear had been identified plenty of times ... but by the time anyone got there that could help, she was gone," said Erik Donley of Duluth. Donley and his nieces were arriving at their family cabin when the bear came out of the woods near them. Understandably scared, the youngest niece locked the cabin doors -- briefly leaving her poor uncle outside. The family called wildlife authorities, then Donley went back outside to follow the bear from a safe distance and prevent her from disappearing again. The USDA soon arrived, tranquilized the bear and finally -- finally -removed that stubborn jar. Authorities said the creature was underweight for this time of year, but has been safely relocated and is expected to recover.
Climb Every Mountain
A zoo in northern Denmark has made an unsettling request of pet owners in Aalborg, the Associated Press reported. In a July 31 Facebook post, the zoo suggested, "If you have an animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us." Not for a domestic pet display, mind you. The zoo is planning to "gently euthanize" the donated animals and feed them to its predators. Zoo officials said they're trying to mimic the natural food chain, calling out specifically guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens as preferred donations. "That way, nothing goes to waste -- and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators," the post read.
Sports Whiplash
On July 31, as the Tampa Bay Rays battled the New York Yankees in the Bronx, one player ended up "winning today regardless," the Associated Press reported. Jose Caballero, 28, started the game with the Rays and played through the sixth inning. But during the seventh-inning stretch, he was traded to the Yankees. The deal was announced after the rain-delayed game, which the Yankees won. Caballero reportedly hugged his Tampa teammates in the dugout, then turned up in the Yankees clubhouse to conduct his post-game interview.
Bright Idea
In the Hautes-Vosges region of France, farmers have become discouraged with the lack of help from the law regarding squatters who appear in camping vans and park illegally on private property. So, The Economic Times reported on Aug. 4, the farmers unleashed the power of the poo on the interlopers. Six tractors circled around the campers and released slurry -- a mixture of manure and water -- that's used to fertilize the soil. "We've had enough," one farmer said. "If no one listens, we make ourselves heard another way."
Easy There, Leadfoot
A driver on Germany's famed Autobahn was issued a $1,000 fine and had his license suspended for three months, CNN reported, after he exceeded the speed limit
To be awarded a scholarship for college, most prospective students must write a killer essay, but South Korean students with the right lofty aspirations can take a hike. Literally. According to UPI, Seoul National University offers a scholarship of up to $540 to students who climb any six mountains in the Blackyak Apline Club's 100 Famous Mountains and 100+ Famous Mountains lists, excluding those traversed by cable car or gondola. Students must use the Blackyak app to prove they hiked the mountains. The Misan Mountain Hiking Scholarship, which is funded by alumnus Kwon Jun-ha, 81, is highly competitive -- only 70 spots are available, but 1,400 students applied for it during the open period from July 8-18. "The scholarship reflects the donor's desire to foster healthy individuals with a spirit of challenge and community spirit," the school said.
No Fans of Drama
Farmers near Yellowstone National Park, struggling with wolves attacking their livestock but prohibited from harming the protected animals, have turned to technology -- and Hollywood -- for help in keeping the predators away. Yahoo News reported on Aug. 4 that quadcopter drones equipped with speakers blaring AC/DC songs and audio from a Scarlett Johansson movie had been dispatched in the ongoing fight. Per the USDA, "people arguing is a distressing sound for wolves, and so the fight scene between Johansson and Adam Driver in the 2019 movie 'Marriage Story' is a perfect deterrent." The music and film clips seem to be working: Since their deployment, the number of cows killed by wolves in southern Oregon has fallen from 11 over a 20-day period to two over the next 85 days.
GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE, SUPPORT WHERE YOU SUMMER
GUEST OPINION
by Mercedes Bowyer
As early as the late 1800s, northwest Michigan was a vacation destination. The expansion of steamship routes across the Great Lakes and the rise of passenger railroads made the region more accessible to travelers from cities like Chicago and Detroit and even as far as St. Louis.
Wealthy industrialists and middle-class families alike were drawn to the area’s cool breezes, dense forests, and pristine lakeshores, seeking refuge from the sweltering heat and pollution of rapidly industrializing urban centers. Resorts, summer camps, and grand hotels began to dot the landscape helping to establish a tourism economy that would shape the region’s identity for generations.
Now, every summer, northern Michigan’s quiet towns and scenic shorelines come alive. Visitors to a region can make an impact in many ways: socially, economically, and physically, just to name a few. These impacts can be both negative and positive both in numbers and impression. On the positive side, tourism can stimulate local economies, support small businesses, and foster cultural exchange between residents and visitors. Seasonal events, farmers markets, and art fairs often thrive thanks to the influx of tourists.
While we enjoy the beauty and peace these communities offer, we must also recognize our role in sustaining them. The phrase “give where you live, support where you summer” reminds us to invest in our home communities. Increased foot traffic and development can strain infrastructure, disrupt ecosystems, and alter the character of small communities.
Balancing growth with preservation has become a central challenge for many towns in the region as they strive to maintain their charm while accommodating the needs of a growing number of seasonal guests. If you spend your summers in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, or Leelanau Counties, you are part of the ecosystem— and these communities need your support.
A 2022 study by local workforce and community development nonprofit Networks Northwest found that the summer population in our region surges dramatically. Antrim County’s population nearly doubles, and Leelanau County’s increases by a staggering 126 percent during peak season. Grand Traverse and Benzie Counties also see significant seasonal spikes, driven by second homeowners and tourists.
As mentioned above, this seasonal influx is not a new phenomenon. But what was once a leisurely migration of vacationers has evolved into a complex dynamic that deeply impacts the region’s year-round residents.
This influx brings economic benefits— tourism in Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and
Benzie Counties generated $1.4 billion in 2022, supporting nearly 9,000 local jobs. However, roads, emergency services, and public utilities are stretched thin during peak months, while schools and healthcare systems must adapt to fluctuating populations and seasonal employment patterns. It also places immense pressure on housing, infrastructure, and local nonprofits.
Additionally, the region is facing a housing crisis. Grand Traverse County alone has a housing gap of over 11,000 units, with a rental occupancy rate of 99.3 percent— leaving little to no availability for workers and families.
In Leelanau and Benzie Counties, the majority of homes for sale are priced well above what most residents can afford. Seasonal demand drives up prices, pushing out the very people who keep these communities running. Historic cottages and modest homes are increasingly converted into short-term rentals or luxury second homes, further reducing the stock of affordable housing.
Without strategic investment and policy reform, the region risks losing its workforce, its character, and its ability to sustain the very tourism economy that fuels it.
Local nonprofits are stepping up to meet growing needs—from combating food insecurity and providing youth programs to engaging in environmental protection efforts and offering housing assistance. These organizations are the backbone of community resilience, often rooted in decades of service and driven by a deep understanding of local challenges.
But they can’t do it alone. As northwest Michigan continues to welcome seasonal visitors, the gap between summer abundance and year-round need becomes more visible. If you summer here, consider this your invitation to support where you summer.
Donate to local nonprofits that serve yearround residents. Shop local—support the farmers, artists, and small businesses that make this region special. Volunteer your time or skills, especially in the offseason. Advocate for policies that promote affordable housing and sustainable tourism.
As you enjoy the lakes, trails, and towns of northern Michigan this summer, ask yourself: How can I help ensure these places I love remain vibrant, livable, and welcoming for everyone?
Mercedes Bowyer is the Donor Engagement Director for the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. She has worked in the nonprofit sector, often serving in leadership roles, for more than 25 years. Mercedes holds a certificate in Fundraising Management from Lilly School of Indiana University and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from the University of Oklahoma.
CAFE - open daily at 8am SUPPER - menu, schedule, & reservations www.themillglenarbor.com 5440 W Harbor Hwy, Glen Arbor
8am - 7pm seven days / week coffee, fresh baked goods, breakfast, lunch, beer & wine www.outposttc.com 108 E Front St, Traverse City seasonal fare overlooking the Leland River terrace, deck, & dock open all summer Wednesday - Sunday www.theriversideinn.com 302 River St, Leland Book a Table! 4pm - 8pm seven days / week scratch made pizzas & ice cream www.milliesglenarbor.com
6281 W. Western Ave, Glen Arbor
Step Into the Frame
By Kierstin Gunsberg
A peek inside the “crazy exciting” world of custom framing
On the surface, custom framing may seem like a calm, quiet career where picking the just-right shade of cream matting to accentuate a favorite childhood photo is the gist of the gig.
But, as Jane Garrett, manager of Traverse City’s Fusion Fine Art Framing and Gallery (located in The Camera Shop on Front Street) and Jennifer Nowak, owner of Juniper Framing Studio in Petoskey (located inside the antique store, August) explain, it’s actually quite the adventure in social studies. Clients bring them everything from spoons and toilet paper to disco dresses to eight-foot flags to ready for display.
And when asked what the most interesting piece she’s ever been tasked with framing was, Garrett is a little hesitant: “I don’t even know if I should tell you,” she says, before revealing that it wasn’t a run-of-the-mill black and white candid or heirloom oil painting but a certain phallic walrus appendage, a project she recalls as “not overly pleasant.”
True, not everything the framemakers work on is overly pleasant, but as Nowak puts it, it’s almost always “crazy exciting” because “you’re like, ‘Wow, I would have never have thought of that.’”
Creativity and Restoration
For both women, who have a combined 50+ years of experience in the custom framing industry, and who both started off in the niche role downstate before working their way Up North, their job is a cool behind-the-scenes peek into what folks in their communities hold near and dear. “It’s their desires, their loves and passions,” says Nowak.
It’s also a service that—despite the gamut of
websites and apps now offering custom framing for a fraction of the cost of in-person—is as indemand as ever, especially with those who feel overwhelmed by the endless combinations of frame materials and mat colors.
“I think people are uncomfortable with their own creativity,” says Garrett who describes her role as part design guide, part preservationist. “I just like to let them know it’s okay to be creative—what you like might not be what I like or what someone else likes, but you’re the one who’s going to be looking at it, you’re the one who enjoys the art. So, let’s make [sure] that you can enjoy it for a long time. You know, preserve it.”
That last part is one of the most important aspects of Garrett’s job, and one of the best reasons to visit a custom framer instead of grabbing something off the clearance shelf at Target where there’s no one to help choose the right glazing (that’s the clear glass or acrylic layer) or to make sure there’s an adequate amount of space between the glazing and artwork to prevent UV and moisture damage.
Tricks of the
Trade
Nowak, who opened the doors to Juniper Framing Studio just this past December, also helps clients figure out the best way to display their mementos while keeping them safe. Sometimes, the mementos are the frames themselves. In her 500-square-foot workspace, Nowak not only builds custom frames for clients, but restores old frames too, some from as far back as the 1700s.
And just like the pieces she carefully works her way around, restoration is an art form unto itself — one that Nowak learned on the job starting when she was 19, with a little homegrown inspo and instruction too. “My mom restores furniture,” explains
Nowak. “So, growing up around that, it really helped to bring me a love of antiques and it was almost a natural step being around it and learning how to do it.”
Restoring frames that are decades, if not centuries old, is a delicate process of Nowak finessing her way around gold leaf and grooves with dremels and brushes. One knee-jerk move and things could go awry.
“You’re picking through the design of the filigree…cleaning it, prepping it,” and she says, working toward the goal of casting a mould to create a replica of any pieces missing within the frame, then adhering that replica “to make it look like nothing ever happened.”
Sometimes, the design (or damage) is so complicated that she has to ditch the mould and hand carve the new pieces herself. Ironically, less intricate designs are tougher to work with, since they don’t have as much to distract from the toll time has taken on them. For her most elaborate projects, Nowak’s hourly rate might jump from $60 to $100 per hour, but not everyone who rolls through her studio has big bucks to spend.
When clients come to her on a tight budget, she says she’s all about upcycling, pulling out her generic stock of moulding or turning toward secondhand frames. She jokes that she’ll even suggest scouring her
A look inside Fusion Fine Art Framing and Gallery.
Custom framing work can be memories, like this WWI call to arms, or more traditional pieces of art. (Photos: Fusion Fine Art Framing)
clients’ yards for wood to chop down for free.
“I want to be able to help people that need hands-on [assistance]. I think that’s what keeps people coming,” says Nowak.
Changes Ahead?
Even though the framing industry isn’t challenged by a lack of demand, tariffs on the materials custom framers use has their supply chain looking a little murky, with some suppliers putting shipments on hold
or cancelling them altogether because “they don’t know what they’re going to end up paying by the time it gets to the States,” says Fusion’s Garrett.
Those tariffs are also impacting the styles her clients are opting for. “In the ’80s and ’90s, everything was in a metal frame,” she explains. Shiny brass, matte black, and that moment in the early aughts when gold Victorian and baroque framing was all-in, has kept metal as the top contender for
decades. But now, it’s not the cheapest or even the most popular option anymore.
“Now we’ve got barnwood and we’ve got hardwoods,” says Garrett, who juggles upward of 18 project deadlines each week as a nearly one-woman show.
As word-of-mouth spreads across the Petoskey community, snowballing traffic for Nowak—she’s worked with over 100 clients on multiple projects each since opening Juniper—she guesses she’s likely to outgrow
her current space in the near future. When she does, she hopes to bring on a couple apprentices to pass her skills and, eventually, her business on to.
“As I get busier, I’m hoping to be able to bring my family aboard and train them how to assist and truly make this a family business,” says Nowak. “That’s my goal, having something I can hand down to my family, my children or my husband or whoever ends up with it.”
“From the custom mini golf to the frozen margaritas, you will not be disappointed. This place is fantastic! Live music, great bar, fun atmosphere and a great shop onsite for River Club swag.
perfect place for date night, meet up with friends, work gathering, or place to take the kids and also have a drink.”
MARG BAR Magnificent MARG BAR Magnificent
The small but mighty studio where Nowak works and restores old frames.
O ne D ay at a t ime
How one photographer is using art, a sailboat, and the ocean breeze to stay alive
By Ren Brabenec
According to Dr. Andrew Wang of Yale School of Medicine, autoimmune diseases are on the rise. Not only are more people being diagnosed with such ailments year over year, but the list of named autoimmune diseases is getting longer, too.
“Our genes haven’t changed much in the last 70 years,” says Wang. “But our current environment is vastly different.”
While the environment might be changing in ways that harm us, for some, changing their environment is exactly what they must do to stay alive, as is the case with photographer Joe Clark.
A Background in Sailing and Photography
“I was born and raised on the Ludingtonarea shores of Lake Michigan, where my family had lived for generations,” says Clark. “I had to hear all about sailboats from a very early age thanks to my shipbuilder grandfather, but it didn’t take long for me to become just as obsessed as he was. I started restoring an old racing boat when I was 16, and I’ve always had a sailboat since.”
Clark migrated north and graduated high school in Glen Arbor. When he took a job as a firefighter and EMS responder in Interlochen, solo sailing expeditions on Grand Traverse Bay during his days off became his way of coping with long hours and stressful work conditions. Clark left the TC area in 2014, moved to Petoskey, and began exploring another of his many passions: photography.
“Just as with a sailboat, a camera demands
your attention and insists you have some command of the instrument in your hands,” Clark says. With a chuckle, he ticks off the various hobbies he’s had—hobbies that became side hustles that became passions that became careers.
“Scientific and technical instruments have always fascinated me,” Clark says, adding that he finds the greatest joy in the near-spiritual marriage between science and art, be it the euphoria at the helm of a wind-powered means of travel, or the wonder during the mere seconds-long opportunity one has to capture a once-in-a-lifetime sunset.
Once in Petoskey, Clark and his thengirlfriend-now-wife opened Glass Lakes Photography, a gallery where prints, canvases, and metal signs were just some of the couple’s many offerings. The pair also shot portrait clients and commercial businesses, provided printing services, and served as a custom frame shop. From time to time, Clark’s technical know-how was called upon to perform delicate artwork analysis and other high-stakes tasks that, as Clark puts it, “others wouldn’t touch.”
Clark also taught classes, something he’s still interested in. “I call it Driver’s Ed for the camera,” he says. Clark would schedule several people for a course on the same technical aspects of photography that had fascinated him as a child. “Aperture, sensitivity, and shutter speed,” Clark says. “We’d get folks trained up on those, then we’d go on a field trip to Headlands Dark Sky
Park, and do some shooting. We’d meet the next day and talk about what we’d learned.”
A Disease Unlike Any Other
A man with a baritone voice built for giving outdoor photography lectures or speaking over ocean winds, Clark lets out an audible sigh when we ask him about the autoimmune disease that sent him away from his beloved northern Michigan.
“In 2020, I began experiencing arthritic symptoms that would appear and vanish without any real explanation. As it got worse, the inflammation manifested in many ways: loss of hearing, vertigo problems, balance issues, gastrointestinal complications including nausea and vomiting, memory loss, migraines—you name it.”
But what worried Clark most was the extreme pain he was experiencing throughout his musculoskeletal system. “From pretty early on in the disease, I would get so much pain in my hands, legs, and back that I couldn’t move,” Clark says. “It would get so bad I couldn’t physically hold a camera in my hands, much less operate it. I couldn’t wrap canvas. I couldn’t play with my son. I couldn’t hold my wife’s hand. If I had been an animal suffering in that manner, I would have been euthanized.”
Back to the Water
The pandemic afforded some time away from the gallery, so as Clark was suffering the onset of a confusing and rapidly worsening autoimmune disease, he sought comfort in what had always eased his mind: sailing.
Clark noticed that trips down to the water
and onto the boat always seemed to leave him feeling better, which led to a hypothesis that the allergens on the land, around his property, and in his home and studio were the main culprits in his condition. Inspired, Clark pored over medical journals late into the night and traveled across the state to speak with specialists even as his condition continued to deteriorate.
The hypothesis became a theory which became a prescription: Clark needed to leave northern Michigan, or he might die.
So he did. Since 2021, Clark, his wife, their son, and their dogs have led a mostly nomadic lifestyle. It took a few tries to get it right, but every time the family was able to get onto their 1984-built 38-foot-long sailboat for extended periods, Clark experienced significant relief from his symptoms. Because of that, Clark named the vessel “Animaashi,” which is Ojibwe for “Blown by the wind, he/ she flies, soars, and sails.”
Advice for Artists with Disabilities
“I guess I’ve just been in fight-or-flight mode since 2020,” Clark says when we ask how he juggles a photography career, homeschooling a child, and coping with a disease that incapacitates him if he spends too much time on dry land.
“It’s a hard road, and our American culture makes it even harder,” Clark says. “Access to public resources and healthcare is almost impossible when you’re nomadic, your primary care doctor changes with the season, and your residence isn’t a house with a mailbox but a sailboat on the Atlantic Ocean.”
Challenges abound, but Clark is surviving. And along the way, he’s also setting an example for how others can make a living as an artist despite a life-changing disability.“Take one challenge at a time, one day at a time, and find a solution,” Clark says. “Then take the next challenge, one day at a time, and find a solution. You’re the only one who can know what you have to do next in order to keep on keeping on, so find a way to
get relief, joy, and a sense of accomplishment, despite your limitations. Find a way to return your functionality, and be willing to advocate for yourself.”
“This is a challenging lifestyle,” he concludes. “It’s a challenging way to exist, but if I don’t do it, I won’t be able to be a father and husband. It’s a means of survival, and when you’re surviving, you just have to take it one day at a time.”
Where to Find Joe Clark
Clark is living the real-life version of the Where’s Waldo books. When we spoke with him, Clark and his family were anchored in the small harbor town of Oriental, North Carolina, with plans to set sail soon to get out of the path of this year’s hurricanes.
CATERING
As for what’s next?
“I’d like to do more work in my Public Lands and Lost Lands collections,” Clark says, referencing his efforts to use photography to document America’s public lands throughout the East Coast, primarily the barrier islands that protect many of the beach towns in the region. The project aims to use photography to document critical lands that, due to climate change, may be underwater in a few years.
Clark supports his family through art sales, including prints, canvases, metal signs, and soon-to-be coffee mugs, calendars, and other items featuring his work. His photography is on display and available for purchase at joeclarkphotographer.com.
Animaashi in Jackson Harbor, Chicago.
The former Glass Lakes gallery
FRAMED
Readers share their favorite summer shots
We asked, and you answered! For our first ever “Framed” issue, Northern Express readers sent in the photos that showcased the beauty of summer in northern Michigan, from lakes to dunes, sunrises to sunsets.
Owen Sermak
Amy Barickman
Elizabeth Jackson
Cathy McKinley
Sue Dennis
Rose Fiore-Clark
Paul Bader
Micheline Padella
Louann Brohl
Cathy McKinley
Jeff Beamsley
Diane Budzynowski
Lynn Faulkner
Kabie Stein Joy Murdock
Brandon Armstrong
40 OVER 40
Jamie Kirschner’s photo series highlights just how fresh life beyond 40 can be
By Kierstin Gunsberg
They say age is just a number. But when the big 4-0 started creeping around the corner, Traverse City photographer Jamie Kirschner (owner of Crackerjack Photography) felt an impending feeling that she wouldn’t exactly label as excitement. After all, cultural perception hasn’t always been kind to women of a certain age.
“I had some kind of yucky feelings about turning 40,” says Kirschner. “You know, getting old, getting wrinkly—all the things that society tells us are bad about aging.”
Instead of just bracing herself for the milestone, she decided to temper her apprehension with curiosity and dove head first into her “40 Over 40” series in spring of 2024. Working out of her studio/event rental space in the original Mundos Roasting building right across from The Kitchen, Kirschner has spent the past year capturing images of 40 northern Michigan women over the age of 40—jumping for joy, lost in reflection, or mid-laugh as metallic confetti rains down.
“It’s not like a completely original idea that I made up,” she says, noting other photographers have done similar projects. But for Kirschner, it’s been integral to processing the next decade of her life while sorting out what it means to keep momentum as the years press on.
“I really wanted to do this project to show myself that it wasn’t something to be afraid of and it could actually be something
that’s celebrated, that there are things to look forward to.” She adds, “It’s not like you reach a certain age and then you just expire or it goes downhill after that.”
Celebration and Vitality
Before taking her first portrait with her Canon 5D Mark IV, Kirschner spent time defining what the project meant to her.
“Two big words that came up for me were ‘celebration,’ so celebrating everything that these women have done up until this point,” she explains. “Vitality” was the other word that stuck out. “Learning about all the things that they still aspire to do—it’s not like they’re just giving up on life.”
Once she put the word out through social media, her inbox quickly filled with interest. Each session begins with a phone interview where Kirschner gets to know what the women are most proud of in their lives and what brings them their bliss, whether it’s devouring books, spending time in nature, or hopping on a motorcycle.
Throughout the process, one theme continues to surface: pressure.
“I feel like there’s a lot more pressure on women to not age… we’re supposed to try and preserve our youth as long as possible,” says Kirschner. But the women she’s met through the project aren’t buying into it. “I'm looking at these people, and they’re all just super positive people who have this great outlook on life. You know, they’re just happy to be alive and they love dancing and learning new things.”
Second Act Personas
Kirschner, who grew up in Alpena and earned a photography degree from Grand Valley State, has spent much of her career photographing families along the coast and shooting headshots for professionals. But “40 Over 40” is not that, explains Kirschner. Her subjects—who are all between the ages of 40 and 72—are required to leave their families and job titles at the door (though some pets have made their way in).
Instead, they bring with them only the clothing and props that represent who they are outside of the roles they accumulated in life’s first act, because, as Kirschner puts it, the project is “more than the photograph. It’s about the experience for them, just taking a whole day where it’s just about them.”
And it’s a long day. Each session runs four to five hours and includes multiple outfit changes, lots of pampering and styling by Kirschner’s makeup and hair partners, and hours of shaking off camera-shyness. It’s also “nourishing” she says. “Every single person, when they leave the studio, they’re like, ‘that was so much fun.’”
While Kirschner originally hoped to wrap the series in time for her own 40th birthday back in March, she still has a handful of sessions left, with plans to culminate in a gallery exhibition and a coffee table book that will feature portraits alongside short essays from each subject.
“When I first started the project, I had some fear,” she admits. “I was like, ‘what if
this is dumb or no one cares? What if it’s stupid?’ And then I did like three phone interviews and I was like, ‘OK, I’m getting everything I need.’ I don’t even care what the photographs look like at this point—I just wanted to learn from them.”
Stay tuned for the conclusion of the series by watching Kirschner’s Facebook page, facebook. com/crackerjackphotographystudio.
Jamie Kirschner
The Third Coast: America’s Great Lakes Shoreline
Photographer David Zurick on the connection between people and place
By Anna Faller
People leave a mark on the places we’ve been, whether that’s buildings and structures that might stand for centuries, or something as small and insignificant as a footprint in the Lake Michigan sand. It’s all those little imprints, though, that eventually form a place’s identity.
In his newest book, a photo collection entitled The Third Coast: America’s Great Lakes Shoreline, award-winning photographer David Zurick explores the locations, culture, and history that define the Great Lakes region—from the tulips of Holland to Sleeping Bear Dunes to the Straits of Mackinac and beyond.
“I photograph cultural landscapes because I see them as mirrors that hold the history of humankind in that place,” Zurick says. “In that way, these landscapes tell a story about the people who live there. That’s what I’m getting at.”
Home-State Inspiration
A graduate of the University of Hawaii and East-West Center in Honolulu, Zurick’s own story begins more than three decades ago in his first life teaching college geography.
The focus of that work, however, slowly began to evolve, he says, once he started exploring and incorporating photography as a tool for class instruction.
“I was using photography along with my academics, and eventually, I started to use [it] as a means of communicating,” Zurick explains. “It was like a visual language for me, as opposed to an academic jargon, and as I got more into photography, I started learning how to make images.”
All it took was one bite from the snapshot bug to hook Zurick on full-time photography. Since then, he’s spent the last two decades behind a camera lens, in which time he’s published more than 12 books—including the award-winning Illustrated Atlas of the Himalaya (2006) and Morning Coffee at the Goldfish Pond: Seeing a World in the Garden (2017)—and earned countless accolades.
When COVID struck in 2020, Zurick was forced back to his home-state of Michigan, where he unexpectedly found himself searching for a new artistic subject.
“I still wanted to do something creatively with my photography,” he notes. “My internal compass took me north to where I grew up, and as I started taking photographs, it dawned on me what a great place this was to center for a couple of years.”
Four Season, Five Lakes
The result of that endeavor is Zurick’s newest book, The Third Coast: America’s Great Lakes Shoreline. Compiled over about five years, this collection of uniquely Midwestern photographs, which also features a forward written by acclaimed Michigan author Jerry Dennis, encapsulates the singular beauty that defines the Great Lakes throughout the year.
Structurally, the book is divided into
five sections, each representing a lake and a season with a bonus “connecting waterways” category, which progress chronologically (winter, then spring, etc.) as readers move from cover to cover.
As for the subjects contained in each chapter? Per Zurick, he simply picked the places he “wanted to be” and let his eye do the rest. The finished collection comprises images from several states, including Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, as
Photos: Copyright David Zurick
well as both of Michigan’s peninsulas, from Whitefish Point down to Lexington and Sanilac counties of the southern “thumb.”
“I began on Lake Huron, because I’d gone up to visit my family,” Zurick says. “That’s also the shoreline of my youth, and autumn has this reminiscent atmosphere to it. That’s how those linked up in my thinking at the time, and how I [decided] to do the lakes as different seasons.”
From there, he says, the icy peaks of Lake Superior made for the clear winter pick; meanwhile, he went for a bustling “summer-in-the-city” theme for Lakes Erie and Ontario.
This left Lake Michigan for spring, which Zurick admits he purposely timed to coincide with the blooming tulips and cherry blossoms, and with it, a host of delightfullyfamiliar spots from Ludington up to Point Betsie Lighthouse.
People and Portraiture
Zurick is quick to rebuke the title of “landscape photographer” and underscores that he had more in mind for the book than just a Great Lakes “inventory.” Instead, he’s crafted these images to illustrate how human impact has, and continues to, shape the region, for better and for worse.
“We give these places character,” he adds. “That’s what I’m interested in photographing.”
A striking example of this arrives about halfway through the Lake Michigan section, with a bi-colored shot of the Sleeping Bear Dunes intersected by an ant-sized man. As Zurick points out, the shot is divided into the natural elements of sand and sky—a geometric “rule of thirds” principle that’s at play throughout the book—that would otherwise be crisp and clean, if not for the single human imprint.
The theme also speaks to Dennis’ point in the forward about loss of connection: “The greatest threat to the Great Lakes is anything that causes us to lose hope […] is anything that makes us prefer to stay inside our houses,” he writes.
That’s not to say that Zurick’s images are entirely bereft of people. In fact, much of his photography from the Himalayas features portraiture, which was another artistic throughline he aimed to implement in The Third Coast. “Portraiture” here, though, means people-plus-place, which we see in images like “Laura and Colin” or “Paul and Elsa,” taken on Little Traverse Bay and the Platte River Campground, respectively. In each case, the
intent was to remind viewers that the Great Lakes are also defined, and even perpetuated, by the people that live there.
Scale, Majesty, and Diversity
On the flip side of that photo coin, Zurick also peppered the book with shots that evoke a sense of place minus people: a field of trilliums or an endless blanket of cherry blossoms on the Leelanau Peninsula—“I wanted to get totally enveloped those blossoms!” he says—or the stark comparison of three silver birches pitted against the skyline.
“I was really drawn to the simplicity of [those images]. There’s a spaciousness I enjoy about them. They just take you, and you can kind of breathe easier,” says Zurick.
Still other works in book’s collection are there purely for a little fun, like the double-layout depicting the iconic Miss Uniroyal statue (aka, “Jolene”) outside of Olean’s in Northport or the trio of kitschy pirates at a mini-golf course in Emmet County. For Zurick, these types of shots strike visual interest for their irony or the curiosity they spark.
In fact, if readers take anything from The Third Coast, Zurick hopes it’s a new understanding of and appreciation for the richness the Great Lakes contain, both in terms of topography and local tradition.
“It’s an incredibly diverse landscape, and [many of us] only know a little piece of it,” he says.
“[I wanted] to present the scale, the majesty, and the diversity of these Great Lakes for folks who aren’t from the region,” Zurick adds. “They might not know about the Great Lakes at all, and [they don’t know] what they’re missing!”
“Silver Birch”
“Laura and Colin”
Yoga in the Great Outdoors
Add some extra zen to your practice in the vines, on the beach, or in fields of lavender
By Rachel Pasche
Combining time in the outdoors with the meditative calm of a yoga class is a recipe for restoration and relaxation during the busy summer season. Northern Michigan offers several ways to take your practice out of the studio and into the great outdoors, whether that’s at a vineyard or on the beach.
Yoga in the Vines
Becky Kalajian has been at Yen Yoga since 2010. She sought stretching and stayed for all the other benefits she experienced at the practice. “It’s been an incredible place for fostering my overall wellness, deep friendships, and developing tools for stress management,” she says. She emphasizes how important the community of the studio is, and how many relationships have bloomed there.
Yoga in the Vines was born in 2016 as a collaboration between Yen Yoga & Fitness and two local wineries. Today, Yen partners with Black Star Farms for Sundays in July and Mari Vineyards on Friday mornings and Sundays in August.
“The idea was simple but powerful: to highlight the beauty and abundance of the Grand Traverse region through movement, mindfulness, and community, all in the
middle of stunning vineyard landscapes,” Kalajian says.
What started as a handful of classes has grown into a cherished seasonal tradition. Yen Yoga has expanded to partner with multiple outdoor venues, drawing both locals and visitors who want to experience yoga in spectacular settings like lavender fields, hilltop farms, the Open Space, beaches, and even on the Nauti-Cat, Kalajian says. “Each year we fine-tune the experience, but at its heart, it’s always been about celebrating nature, wellness, and connection.”
The pros of outdoor yoga comprise a long list, but boil down to this: “The scenery is unbeatable. You’re breathing fresh air, feeling the sun on your skin, and moving with a panoramic view of vineyards and rolling hills. There’s something incredibly grounding and freeing about practicing in nature,” Kalajian tells us.
The downsides are quintessentially Michigan. “Mother Nature keeps us on our toes! Our first summer, the sprinklers turned on mid-class, which was definitely an unplanned water feature.”
There aren’t many non-weather-related cons to yoga outdoors, but one thing that comes up a lot is people being intimidated to go to a yoga class for the first time. “I always
reassure people and encourage them by saying it’s not just being flexible or looking a certain way: It’s about feeling better,” Kalajian says. “Plus, pairing yoga with wine or mimosas doesn’t hurt! It brings a sense of fun and celebration to the practice, while still keeping things rooted in mindfulness.”
Over the years, attendees have discovered the joy of yoga outside, including those in wheelchairs and casts, who simply want to be part of a community and enjoy their abilities.
“Yoga meets you where you are, and that was my intention for this right from the beginning,” Kalajian concludes.
To sign up for a class or learn more, visit yogainthevines.net.
Yoga on the Beach
The waves lapping on the shore, the sand beneath your toes, and the feeling of a good stretch await attendees of Yoga on the Beach. Amy Hubbell has been teaching shoreside yoga since 2010, after co-founding Yoga on the Beach with a few like-minded friends.
Having studied and worked in the fields of psychology and public health, the holistic and healing potential of yoga appealed to
Hubbell when she first began practicing in her 20s. Yoga has since become a vital part of her life, and she aims to start every day with a few minutes of practice. “This helps me bring my focus inward, so I can check in with my whole self—body, mind, and spirit.”
After completing her yoga teacher training with Sandra Carden of Lake Leelanau, Hubbell mentioned to her teacher that she wanted to teach yoga on the beach. Carden connected Hubbell with another student who wanted the same thing, and Yoga on the Beach was created.
Though not advertised on social media, a following slowly grew for the small, donation-based classes, and now consists of a “group of wonderful, nature-loving students that I look forward to seeing year after year, along with new students that discover my outdoor offerings every summer.”
Practicing outdoors brings myriad benefits, but awareness is the one Hubbell touts the most. “Sunshine, a gentle breeze, the scents of the air and water are natural reminders to notice what arises in each moment, and then you can bring that awareness inward, noticing your heart beating, your body breathing, how you feel in each pose. Listening to your body is so important in yoga, and I always invite
everyone to move at their own pace and offer modifications so the practice can meet each person where they’re at.”
While yoga is traditionally practiced on a hard surface, practicing on sand can give you additional support or an added challenge, depending on the pose. “It’s lovely to relax on the soft sand in supine poses like corpse pose, and poses practiced on the knees like child’s pose and low lunges can also benefit from a little extra give to avoid straining the joints,” Hubbell says.
Partnering with area businesses and nonprofits has been an essential part of that growth, Hubbell says. In 2015, Hubbell partnered with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to offer classes along the national lakeshore, with 50 percent of proceeds going to their work to help steward our beloved park.
“Those classes have really taken off, and we’ve raised thousands of dollars to support initiatives like the track chair and wheelchair
bike programs, which allow those with disabilities to enjoy the park’s hiking and bike trails,” Hubbell says.
She was even able to take one of her brothers on a hike last summer with the aid of a track chair, an experience that meant a lot to both of them. “I’m grateful that I can help make moments like that happen for other families, too, just by doing what I love.”
In addition to classes at Fountain Point Resort and on the beach, Hubbell offers Yoga Hikes year-round (a hike plus shorter standing practice), yoga retreats at Sleeping Bear Inn, and workshops each month in Leland that include a moon-themed yoga practice, sound bath with singing bowls, and a discussion of Ayurvedic wellness practices appropriate for the season.
You can find more information on her classes and workshops at yogaonthebeachnmi.com.
Kalajian
Saturday
38TH ANNUAL RUBBER
DUCKY FESTIVAL & PARADE: Bellaire. Includes a 3v3 basketball tournament, Quackapalooza, art & craft show, merchant sidewalk sales, music downtown on Broad St. with Andy Grefe, Grand Parade & Rubber Ducky Race at 3pm, ice cream social & music at Richardi Park with Jelly Roll Blues Band, & much more. bellairechamber. org/2025/08/16/288052/tickets-on-sale
35TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT COLLECTOR CAR SHOW: 8am-2:30pm, Mineral Springs Park, Frankfort. A variety of vintage & collector vehicles will be on display. Attendees will be transported through automotive history, stroll through rows of meticulously restored automobiles, chat with passionate owners, & more.
SUMMER IN DISGUISE 3K/5K FUN RUN & WALK: 8am, Michigan Beach Park Pavilion, Charlevoix. Proceeds support Safe Haven Ministries CHX. $27.50. runsignup.com/ Race/Register/?raceId=179553
13TH ANNUAL KIERSTEN’S RIDE: 9am, Chandler Hill Campground, Boyne Falls. Horse/bike/walk/ORV. Benefits suicide prevention programs in northern lower Michigan. To register & for more info visit web site. $0-$25. kierstensride.org/annual-event
BEAR RIVER CLEANUP: 9am, Bear River Valley Recreation Area, Petoskey. Presented by Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council & Bearcub Outfitters. Help remove plastics, household trash, tires, scrap metal & other debris from the river corridor so everyone can continue to use Bear River & Bear River Valley Recreation Area for paddling, hiking, fishing & more. The cleanup will conclude with a community celebration at Elder Piper, where you will enjoy a meal from Stigg’s BBQ, live music, outdoor games, a chance to win outdoor gear & prizes from Bearcub Outfitters, & more. Register. watershedcouncil.org
CHARLEVOIX SUMMER SIDEWALK SALES: 9am-6pm, downtown Charlevoix. Take advantage of substantial reductions on a variety of seasonal inventory that must go.
49TH ANNUAL FINE ARTS FRANKFORT ART FAIR: 10am-4pm, Market Square Park, Frankfort.
GT BAY SUMMER ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-5pm, GT County Civic Center, TC. Free admission.
GREAT LAKES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM’S 25TH BIRTHDAY BASH: 10am-4pm, The Curiosity Place, GT Mall, TC. Admission is FREE today! Explore brand-new exhibits, stilt-walkers, extra crafts & programs, & more. Spots are limited. Reservations are highly recommended. greatlakeskids. org/25th-birthday-bash
WILDFLOWER VINTAGE MARKET: 10am5pm, BLOOM Flower Shop, Charlevoix. Jewelry, home decor, clothes, accessories, buried treasure & more. There will also be a beverage bar, bubble party for kids, & a tiny art vending machine.
ARTIST TALK: MEMBERS OF NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN WOODTURNERS
CLUB: 11am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Carnegie Galleries, TC. These club members currently have work on view in the “Turning” exhibition. Hear firsthand about their inspirations, the tools & techniques they use, & the process behind transforming raw wood into beautifully crafted functional & decorative works. Free. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/artist-talk-membersnorthwestern-michigan-woodturners-club
SAY NO TO ISRAEL’S GENOCIDE: 11am12:30pm, corner of Grandview Parkway & Union St., TC. Join in showing solidarity with the people of Palestine who are being killed by Israel while our communities pay for the weapons. Demand that the U.S. Government serves America, not Israel. Meet every Sat. mideastjustpeace.net
FRESH COAST FRENZY TOURNAMENT:
GT County Civic Center, TC. Aug. 15-17. Teams from four other states will join TC Roller Derby in a round robin style tournament. Today features TC Roller Derby vs. North Star Roller Derby at noon; Chicago Style Roller Derby vs. Free State Roller Derby at 2pm; North Star Roller Derby vs. Harrisburg Area Roller Derby at 4pm, & TC Roller Derby vs. Free State Roller Derby at 6pm. $10-$20. tcrollerderby.com/events-2-1/ fresh-coast-frenzy-njcmy
RED, WHITE AND BLUES FEST: Noon6pm, Bel Lago Vineyard, Winery & Cidery, Cedar. Enjoy live music from Larry Perkins, Zeke Clemons & Delilah DeWylde plus a few raffles. A portion of proceeds from this event will benefit Reigning Liberty Ranch, a local nonprofit offering community-based programs for Veterans, their families, & oth-
ers in need. Free. bellagowine.com/events/ red-white-and-blues-fest
IN-STORE BOOK SIGNING W/ KAREN BELL-BREGE & DARRIN BREGE: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Karen & Darrin are the authors of “Biggie and Birdie are Different (so what),” “Ghost Board Posse #1: London Screaming,” & more. horizonbooks.com/event/ karen-bell-brege-darrin-brege-book-signing
FROZEN KIDS: 2pm & 5pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Join Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven, & all your favorite characters as they embark on an ice-filled journey of self-discovery, camaraderie, & the real meaning of true love. Performed by students from the 1-Week Intensive Musical Theatre Camp. Adults, $22; youth under 18, $15. oldtownplayhouse.com/youth-learning/performances/frozen-kids.html
LOOKING FORWARD: CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG – THEIR MUSIC, OUR WAY: 4pm, French Valley Vineyard, Barn, Cedar. Featuring Patrick Niemisto, John Kumjian, Chris Skellenger & Roger Tarc-
zon. Enjoy an evening of timeless folkrock hits. Buy tickets online in advance. $15-$20. mynorthtickets.com/events/ crosby-stills-nash-young-their-music-ourway-8-16-2025-203417
BACKROOM GANG BRINGS DIXIELAND MUSIC: 7pm, The Music House Museum, Williamsburg. Enjoy the final night of the Music House Museum Mid-Summer Music Fest. Your ticket includes a reception with soft drinks & treats on the new deck from 6-6:45pm, prior to the concert. $25 online; $30 door. mynorthtickets.com/events/ the-music-house-museum-is-happy-to-welcome-the-backroom-gang-for-an-eveningof-dixieland-music-on-saturday-august16-at-700pm-8-16-2025
SATURDAYS IN THE PARK: GREG NAGY BAND: 7pm, GT County Civic Center Amphitheater, TC.
“THE MUSIC MAN”: 7:30pm, Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, Manistee. Presented by the Manistee Civic Players. A mu-
Performing for the first time in Michigan is jazz musician Joe Taylor & His Allstar Group! Also bringing hints of country, chill, rock, pop and more, Joe’s “West Side Chill” received a nod for a Grammy Award! Check him out just before his new recording, “Last Boat Home” will be officially released. Hear the magic on Weds., Aug. 20 at the Chalfonte Theatre in Elk Rapids from 6-8pm ($25-$30) and Thurs., Aug. 21 at the top of Bay Mountain at The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor at 7pm ($15). See Dates listings for web sites.
sical with book, music, & lyrics by Meredith Willson. $20-$35. ramsdelltheatre.org
BRIT FLOYD WISH YOU WERE HERE
50TH ANNIVERSARY: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. Enjoy the iconic songs & legendary stagecraft of Pink Floyd with Brit Floyd! Tickets start at $38. interlochen.org/events/brit-floyd-wish-you-werehere-50th-anniversary-2025-08-16
DJANGOPHONIQUE: 7:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. This award-winning group brings the joy & freedom that is at the heart of Django Reinhardt’s jazz. $10-$30. theoperahouse.org
ELVIS. ELVIS. ELVIS.: 8pm, Leelanau Sands Casino Showroom, Peshawbestown. NYC 1972: The Show that Rocked the Garden. World Champion Elvis Tribute Artist Tim “E” Hendry brings the King’s legendary 1972 Madison Square Garden concert to life – song for song, move for move, with The Change of Habit Tribute Band. $45 + fees. leelanausandscasino.com/events
HAPPY TOGETHER TOUR 2025: 8-9:30pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. This touring sensation brings chart-topping hits from the ‘60s & ‘70s - 61 Billboard Top 40 smashes. Featuring The Turtles, Jay and the Americans, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap & more. $54. lrcr.com/event/happy-together
MUSIC IN MACKINAW: 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Mackinaw City. Enjoy ragtime piano with Bob Milne.
Sunday
RACE THE STRAITS OF MACKINAW: 8am, Mackinaw City. Choose from the Long Course Tri, Sprint Tri, Super Sprint Tri, Duathlon, KayaTRI, Long Course Aquabike, Sprint Aquabike, Long Course Tri Relay, & Sprint Tri Relay. $75-$210. runsignup.com/Race/MI/MackinawCity/ RacetheStraitsofMackinac?aflt_token=vkmw DmweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw
FRESH COAST FRENZY TOURNAMENT: GT County Civic Center, TC. Aug. 15-17. Teams from four other states will join TC Roller Derby in a round robin style tournament. Today features Harrisburg Area Roller Derby vs. Chicago Style Roller Derby at 10am; North Star Roller Derby vs. Free State Roller Derby at noon; & TC Roller Derby vs. Harrisburg Area Roller Derby at 2pm. $10-$20. tcrollerderby.com/ events-2-1/fresh-coast-frenzy-njcmy
GT BAY SUMMER ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., Aug. 16) -
“THE MUSIC MAN”: (See Sat., Aug. 16, except today’s time is 2pm.)
ROMANTIC PIANO: 4pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Dr. Hyemin Kim will join the Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra for Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Minor. The concert will also include Symphony No. 9 in E Minor by Dvorak. By donation. benziesymphony.com -
SUNDAY MUSIC IN THE PARK: 4-6pm, Marina Park, downtown Harbor Springs. Featuring The Tweed Tones. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
BAYSIDE CONCERT SERIES: LARA FULFORD: 5-7pm, Petoskey’s Waterfront, on the Promenade near waterfront clock tower. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
WILL MARSH AND THE INTEGRATION ENSEMBLE: 5pm, Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. Will Marsh is an internationally acclaimed sitarist, guitarist, & composer who will be joined by Crispin Campbell, Josh Mellinger, & Patrick Booth to present a unique blend of instrumentation, genres, & styles, spanning diverse influences. $36-$40. oliverart.org
monday
119TH EMMET-CHARLEVOIX COUNTY FAIR: 1129 Charlevoix Ave./U.S. 31, Petoskey, Aug. 18-24. Games, rides, animals, food, shows & much more. emmetchxfair.org
STEM MAKER CART: RAIN GUTTER REGATTA: 1-3pm, The Curiosity Place, GT Mall, TC. Build yourself a sailboat & enter the Rain Gutter Race to win! Free with admission. greatlakeskids.org
LINE 5 OIL TUNNEL FORUM & HAPPY
HOUR: Odawa Casino Resort, Petoskey. Join Oil & Water Don’t Mix for an in-person forum where you’ll learn about the impacts & threats posed by Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 Oil Tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac. Come at 5pm for a free Happy Hour with refreshments, hors d’oeuvres, & door prizes. Program begins at 5:30pm. oilandwaterdontmix.org/petoskey_line_5_great_lakes_oil_tunnel_forum
PAYING FOR COLLEGE: THE MICHIGAN EDUCATION TRUST: 5:30pm, Benzie Shores District Library, Frankfort. Have a student in your life? This informational program is all about the Michigan Education Trust & the Michigan Education Savings Program. Free. bsdlibrary.org
FOOD PRESERVATION: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy a presentation by Kara Lynch, a food safety educator with MSU Extension, where she will talk about the best practices of food preservation & answer questions. Free. tadl.org/foodpreservation
JAMMIN MONDAYS ON BETSIE BAY: GREG NAGY BAND: 7-9:15pm, Waterfront Park Amphitheater, Elberta. Enjoy this National Blues Chart topping guitarist/vocalist & his band.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: 7pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Featuring Michigan Emmy recipient Kitty Donohoe who draws from both her Irish & American roots. 231-223-7700. Free.
ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION FEAT. JERRY DOUGLAS WSG WILLIE
WATSON: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. Standing Room
Only tickets are $38 & include outdoor general admission areas, located outside the auditorium on the Beer & Wine Patio & open-air Osterlin Mall. Remaining regular tickets are $78-$128. interlochen.org/events/alisonkrauss-union-station-featuring-jerry-douglas-2025-08-18
BAY VIEW MONDAY NIGHT MOVIE: 7:3010pm, Voorhies Hall, Bay View Association, Petoskey. Featuring “Kidnapped: Abduction of Edgardo Mortara.” Free. bayviewassociation.org/monday-night-movies
tuesday
119TH EMMET-CHARLEVOIX COUNTY FAIR: 1129 aug 17 aug 19 aug 18
SAT, AUGUST 23 • TWO SHOWS: 7 & 9 PM
This is the album cover.
This is the video of 4-year old Cory laying it down at his church in Brooklyn.
Cory Henry has toured and sessioned with Stevie Wonder, Jon Batiste, Bruce Springsteen, Imagine Dragons, Kanye West and Vulfpeck—he’s an absurdly versitile B3 player at home with any kind of music.
Join us for TWO rare, intimate, solo performances featuring Cory singing, playing our signature grand piano and a vintage Hammond B3 Organ.
This is going to sell out fast!
$30 ADVANCE TICKETS
SECOND FLOOR COMMONGROUNDS BUILDING
Charlevoix Ave./U.S. 31, Petoskey, Aug. 1824. Today includes the Skerbeck Family Carnival, Midway vendors, Community Center exhibits, Firefighter Show, cornhole at The Grandstand & much more. emmetchxfair.org
MIND YOUR MONEY: SMART FINANCES FOR SENIORS: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, Thirlby Room, TC. Partners from 5/3 Bank will share essential info to help you become more comfortable with your banking & finances in today’s digital world. August’s session is Understanding Credit & Score. Free. tadl.org/ event/hold-financial-programs-seniors-22824
RESEARCHING ROOTS: 4pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Jessica Trotter, genealogist, speaker & blogger, will share her expertise on discovering & using non-traditional resources in genealogical research. 231-223-7700.
SALES & MUSIC IN THE STREETS: Downtown Bellaire. Sidewalk sales run from 4-6pm. Enjoy jazz, blues, rock & soul with Sean Blackman from 6-9pm.
COUNTRY CONCERT W/ JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY & SPECIAL GUESTS WAYLON HANEL & PHIL VASSAR: 5:30pm, The Grandstand at Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair, 1129 Charlevoix Ave./U.S. 31, Petoskey. John Michael Montgomery is performing for his “The Road Home 2025 Farewell Tour”! After 30 years of performing for his fans, this is your chance to see him live before he hangs up his touring hat for good. $55-$160. emmetchxfair.org
QUEER TALES BOOK CLUB: 7pm, Traverse Area District Library, Nelson Room, TC. Chat about books that are by &/or about LGBTQIA+ people. Reading is not required, & everyone is welcome. This month’s book is “The Memory Librarian” by Janelle Monae. Free. tadl.org/event/queer-tales-book-club-17693
SWEETWATER EVENING GARDEN CLUB: 7pm, Acme Twp. Hall, 6100 US 31 N. Featuring guest speaker & local expert Jeanine Rupert from Pine Hills Gardens. 904-318-6785. Free.
STRAITS AREA CONCERT BAND: 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Mackinaw City.
aug 20
wednesday
119TH EMMET-CHARLEVOIX COUNTY FAIR: 1129 Charlevoix Ave./U.S. 31, Petoskey, Aug. 18-24. Today includes a Country Concert with John Michael Montgomery & special guests Waylon Hanel & Phil Vassar at The Grandstand, livestock shows & auctions, the Firefighter Show, The Midway & much more. emmetchxfair.org
ARCADIA MARSH WILDFLOWER HIKE:
10am, Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve. Enjoy a walk along the universally accessible boardwalk. Volunteer leader Paula Dreeszen will highlight the many marsh wildflowers during peak blooming & butterfly viewing times. Registration required: 231-929-7911 or info@gtrlc. org. Free. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/es/ event/home/marshwildflowersaug202025
TRAVERSE CITY FOOD & WINE: Aug. 2024. Today includes cellar tour/barrel tasting at Bel Lago Winery, a custom whiskey blending class at Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge, sunset sail with Left Foot Charley on the Wind Dancer & much more. Some events are sold out. traversecity.com/foodwine/events/all-events
NAMI CONNECTION & NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP: Noon, Christ Church, lower level, 430 Fair St., TC. NAMI Connection is a support group for people with mental health conditions. You will gain insight from hearing the challenges & successes of others, & the groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there. NAMI Family Support Group is a support group for family members, significant others & friends of people with mental health conditions. Gain insight from the challenges & successes of others facing similar experiences. Both groups are held on Wednesdays at the same location & at the same time. Free. namigt.org/supportand-education/support-groups
JOE TAYLOR & HIS ALLSTAR GROUP: 6-8pm, Chalfonte Theatre, Elk Rapids. Joe is an acclaimed guitarist, composer & producer who brings his debut appearance in Michigan. While largely considered a jazz musician, Joe also incorporates country, chill, rock, pop & more. New recording, “Last Boat Home,” will be officially released Aug. 22. $25 advance; $30 door. zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/live-joe-tayloraugust-20th-7pm
CENTRAL LAKE COMMUNITY PADDLE: 6:30pm, Thurston Park, near pavilion, Central Lake. Grab your paddleboard, kayak, or canoe & life jacket & join Paddle Antrim for a slow evening paddle out of Central Lake. All paddlers must complete a paddling event waiver prior to participation. Free. paddleantrim.com/ event/central-lake-community-paddle-6
EVENINGS AT THE GAZEBO - SUMMER MUSIC SERIES: 6:30-8pm, Old City Park Gazebo, Boyne City. Featuring Delilah DeWylde. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
BEACHES ARE BORING; SHORELINE BUFFERS ARE WHERE IT IS AT!: 7pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. Hear Emma Fitzgerald, conservation director at Grass River Natural Area, discuss the benefits of shoreline plants on waterways. She will cover why you should leave those trees, the best lawn care practices, & how to determine what plants will be best suited for your shoreline. Free. PlantItWild.net
BOOK LOVERS MIXER!: 7pm, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Try your luck at winning a door prize, hear from a guest speaker, & meet & mingle with other readers. Please note that the library will close at 6pm & re-open at 6:45pm for this event. Free. sbbdl.org
aug 21
thursday
119TH EMMET-CHARLEVOIX COUNTY FAIR: 1129 Charlevoix Ave./U.S. 31, Petoskey, Aug. 18-24. Today includes the Monster Truck Throwdown at The Grandstand, Skerbeck Family Carnival, Community Center exhibits, animals & much more. emmetchxfair.org
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE TALK: LYNN HEASLEY: 10am, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Kalamazoo, Michigan writer Lynne Heasley’s residency with the Glen Arbor Arts Center is bat-centric, & a springboard for writing about the natural world & how it intersects with the human world. Heasley will talk about her essay-in-progress at this public presentation. Free. glenarborart.org/events/all-events
COFFEE @ TEN, PETOSKEY: BRUCE LYNN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECK MUSEUM: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. “Gales of August: The Sinking of the Western Reserve.” Dive into maritime history with the story of the Western Reserve, a
freighter lost on Lake Superior in 1892. Free. crookedtree.org/article/ctac-petoskey/lectureseries
TRAVERSE CITY FOOD & WINE: Aug. 20-24. Today includes A Culinary Journey: Lunch Collaboration with Miss Kim + Artisan at Artisan Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern at Delmar TC, Blind Tasting Thursday at Cafe Exalt at Brengman’s, Traverse City’s Top Wines with a Global Expert at Hotel Indigo, goat yoga & much more. Some events are sold out. traversecity.com/food-wine/events/all-events
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STEM MAKER CART: RAIN GUTTER REGATTA: (See Mon., Aug. 18)
43RD ANNUAL CEDAR POLKA FEST: Under the big tent, Cedar. Featuring First Responder Appreciation Night. Free admission for police, firefighters, EMS, & 911 dispatchers. Flag raising & National Anthem. There will also be live music by Bavarski - Polkas NYC & The Diddle Styx. Enjoy beer, food, kids games & more. cedarpolkafest.org/events
DROP IN & DRAW: 4-6pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Drop In & Draw With the Plein Air Painters of Northern Michigan. Bring your own sketchbook & pencils, or just come to watch as artists interpret the museum’s collection. Included with price of admission. $0-$10. dennosmuseum.org/events/community-programs.html
MORE GIRLS ON BIKES!: 6-7:15pm, Norte Youth Cycling, 1213 West Civic Center, Dr., TC. Join Norte for a laidback 3-4 mile bike ride for mothers & daughters. Young riders in fourth grade & up are encouraged to ride. Third grade & lower should consider hopping in a bike trailer. All riders 12 & younger must be accompanied by an adult. Free. norteyouthcycling.org/ calendar/more-girls-on-bikes1
SPEAKING OF WILDLIFE: 6pm, Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor, marina pavilion, Elk Rapids. Dr. Christopher Preston, author & professor of environmental philosophy, will discuss the challenges facing our threatened environment, the tensions between humans & wildlife, the ethics of human intervention, & ways to create a positive relationship with wildlife. Suggested donation: $10. greenelkrapids.org
HARBOR SPRINGS STREET MUSIQUE: FINALE WITH THE LOCALS: 6:30-8:30pm, downtown Harbor Springs. Featuring Hipps & Ricco, Overthere, Jake Waite, Lara Fullford, Magic by Jania, & Tommy Tropic.
AN EVENING WITH JEFF DANIELS: SOLD OUT: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. This award-winning actor, writer & musician performs songs from his multiple albums. $50$150. cityoperahouse.org/node/679
MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN: JOE TAYLOR QUARTET: 7pm, The Homestead Resort, top of Bay Mountain, Glen Arbor. Joe is an acclaimed guitarist, composer & producer, who brings his debut appearance in Michigan. While largely considered a jazz musician, Joe also incorporates country, chill, rock, pop & more. His new recording, “Last Boat Home,” will be officially released Aug. 22. His previous recording, “West Side Chill,” received a nod for a Grammy Award. $15. thehomesteadresort.com/event/music-onthe-mountain-with-joe-taylor-quartet/2273
THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: 7pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Based on the beloved, Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, you’ll journey through the wonders of Ancient Egypt as Ramses & Moses, two young men raised together as brothers in a kingdom of privilege, find themselves suddenly divided by a secret
CORVETTE CROSSROADS AUTO SHOW & MACKINAC BRIDGE PARADE - 36TH ANNUAL: Downtown Mackinaw City. Beginning Fri., Corvettes of various vintages will begin arriving in the area, cruising & getting registered for Saturday’s festivities. On Sat., hundreds of Corvettes will be on display in Mackinaw City from 10am-2pm. A poker walk for show participants will also be offered during the day. Peoples choice style of judging will determine winners in several different award classes. Winners will be announced at an awards presentation at 3pm. Saturday’s festivities will culminate with a parade of Corvettes across the Mackinac Bridge, beginning at 7pm. Free for spectators; $25-$35 for participants. mackinawcity.net/mackinawcity/ event/Corvette_Crossroads_Auto_Show/357
119TH EMMET-CHARLEVOIX COUNTY FAIR: 1129 Charlevoix Ave./U.S. 31, Petoskey, Aug. 18-24. Today includes the Monster Truck Throwdown at The Grandstand, livestock shows & auctions, the Firefighter show, Midway vendors & much more. emmetchxfair.org
IN-WATER TRITOON BOAT SHOW: 10am6pm, Holiday RV Park & Campground, 4860 US 31 South, TC.
TRAVERSE CITY FOOD & WINE: Aug. 2024. Today includes Icons of Traverse CityAn Interactive Food & Wine Pairing Seminar at Harbor Brook Hall; Meet & Greet with Bel Lago’s Highland Cattle, Vineyard Sheep & Pollinating Bees; NWS: A Conversation with Antoni Porowski at City Opera House; Tour of Leelanau Farms & Lunch with MI Farm Co-op; Vineyard Morning at Dune Bird Winery, with Ducks!; Wine Paired Estate Dinner with Guest Chef Debbie Gold at Black Star Farms, & more. Some events are sold out. traversecity.com/food-wine/events/all-events
“A CANOE NAMED KLMIN”: 1pm, Little Traverse History Museum, Petoskey. This program features Lotsie Hermann Holton, a seventh-generation descendant of Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Holton will share the moving story of her family’s efforts to correct a historical wrong by replacing a canoe stolen from the Chinook tribe. Free. petoskeymuseum.org
43RD ANNUAL CEDAR POLKA FEST: Under the big tent, Cedar. Today features the Leelanau Performance Car Show, The Diddle Styx, Bavarski - Polkas NYC, beer, food, kids games & more. cedarpolkafest.org
BALLOONS OVER BELLAIRE: 6:30-8pm. Featuring 15+ hot air balloonists at Shanty Creek & Bellaire behind the Lakeview Hotel. Teams of balloonists take flight, while the sky above Lake Bellaire comes alive with color. Tonight will be balloon launches from the alpine tubing hill behind The Lakeview Hotel. shantycreek.com/event/balloons-over-bellaire-2
DOWNTOWN GAYLORD SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: 7-9pm, Claude Shannon Park, Gaylord. Featuring Driving Dawn. Bring a chair.
NWS: A CONVERSATION WITH ANTONI POROWSKI: 7-10pm, City Opera House, TC. The National Writers Series & Traverse
City Food & Wine welcome “Queer Eye’s” Antoni Porowski. A self-taught cook, Porowski will take the stage with writer & podcast host Matt Rodbard, to talk about his unique path to culinary stardom, gastronomic creations, & his work in the realm of animal welfare. $49.85$61.15. cityoperahouse.org/node/681
THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: (See Thurs., Aug. 21)
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. This five-piece band from Kalamazoo is renowned for their signature sound–described by Parade as “traditional bluegrass stylings meet Grateful Dead influences.” This band performs Aug. 22-23, each featuring a different set. Tickets start at $38. interlochen.org/ events/greensky-bluegrass-2025-08-22
MUSIC IN MACKINAW - AN EXCEPTIONAL CHORUS: 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Mackinaw City. Featuring the Youth Chorale.
aug 23
saturday
BALLOONS OVER BELLAIRE: Featuring 15+ hot air balloonists at Shanty Creek & Bellaire behind the Lakeview Hotel. Teams of balloonists take flight, while the sky above Lake Bellaire comes alive with color. This morning at 7:30am the balloon flight runs over Torch Lake (location TBD based on weather & wind conditions). Tonight at 6:30pm the balloon launches run from the tubing hill behind The Lakeview Hotel. shantycreek.com/event/balloons-over-bellaire-2
43RD ANNUAL CEDAR POLKA FEST: Under the big tent, Cedar. Today features the Flipping Pancake Breakfast, Run 4 The Kielbasa, Craft Fair & Farmers Market, Ultimate Air Dogs, Cedar Polka Fest Parade, Kids Day, The Scottville Clown Band, Polka Generations, Larry and His Larks, Leelanau Sands Casino, Veterans Tribute, & more. cedarpolkafest.org
CORVETTE CROSSROADS AUTO SHOW & MACKINAC BRIDGE PARADE - 36TH ANNUAL: (See Fri., Aug. 22)
NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL RUN: Manistee National Forest, Big M trail system near Wellston. Featuring a 50 Mile Ultra Marathon, 50K Ultra Marathon, 26.2 Mile Marathon & 13.1 Mile Half Marathon. northcountrytrailrun.com
FIRST-EVER ZUCCHINI BREAD BAKEOFF: Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts, 301 E. Lake St., Petoskey. Bakers of all ages & skill levels are invited to enter & show off their most delicious recipes all while supporting the Manna Food Project. Bakers may submit one mini-loaf (or half loaf) of homemade zucchini bread in one of three categories: Classic, Creative Twist, or Kids (14 & under). Entry drop-off is between 9-11am day of event. A $15 donation to Manna (cash or check only) is required at drop-off. Judging begins at noon & winners will be announced at 3pm. Bakers must sign up in-store only. Full rules & event details can be found instore or by calling 231-347-2603.
LOPE FOR LOONS 6K TRAIL RUN: 9am, Mt. McSauba Recreation Area, Charlevoix. Money raised will go to the Little Traverse Conservancy to provide updated signage to help protect loons at boat launches around the area, & also to support Mt. McSauba’s outdoor education infrastructure. $35. runsignup.com/Race/MI/ Charlevoix/LopeForLoonsTrailRunK
MICHIGAN PARKINSON FOUNDATION
HERO WALK: 9am, GT County Civic Center, TC. The Parkinson Hero Walk is a team/pledge
walking event that allows the continuation of critical programs & services free of charge, to help ensure no person with Parkinson’s in Michigan is without quality care & support. Adults: $20; 17 & under: free. parkinsonsmi.org
SUMMER SIDEWALK SALE: (See Fri., Aug. 22)
TRAVERSE CITY FOOD & WINE: Aug. 2024. Today includes The Art of Riesling Tour & Barrel Room Tasting at Chateau Grand Traverse; The Grand Tasting hosted by Amy Smart & Carter Oosterhouse at Open Space Park; The Indigo Sessions: Sunset, Saffron & Sound at Hotel Indigo, & much more. Some events are sold out. traversecity.com/foodwine/events/all-events
119TH EMMET-CHARLEVOIX COUNTY FAIR: 1129 Charlevoix Ave./U.S. 31, Petoskey, Aug. 18-24. Today includes Autocross Racing, Skerbeck Family Carnival, animals & much more. emmetchxfair.org
BENZIE AREA RADIO CONTROL CLUB’S 28TH ANNUAL AIRSHOW: 10am-4pm, Thompsonville Airport. Watch radio control pilots from all over northwestern Michigan fly model aircraft of all types & sizes. Bring chairs. Free.
BIRD WALK & NATIVE PLANT ID: 10am, Antrim Creek Natural Area, Ellsworth. Join Katie & Tyler from CAKE-CISMA for a guided walk focused on birdwatching & learning to identify native plants & invasive species. Meet at the natural area north entrance along Rex Beach Rd. This educational outing is free & open to all; a $5 donation is suggested to support future projects at Antrim Creek Natural Area.
GAYLORD ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am5pm, downtown Gaylord, Court Ave., by Pavilion. There will also be a food collection for local food banks, including United Way & Community Lighthouse. daniellesblueribbonevents.com
IN-WATER TRITOON BOAT SHOW: 10am2pm, Holiday RV Park & Campground, 4860 US 31 South, TC.
MACKINAW PREMIER ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW: 10am, Conkling Heritage Park, Mackinaw City.
MADE IN CHEBOYGAN SUMMER CRAFT SHOW SERIES: 10am, Washington Park, downtown Cheboygan. More than 30 crafters & artists will display jewelry, home decor, artwork & much more. facebook.com/madeincheboygan
TUNNEL OF TREES ART TRAIL: 10am5pm. See web site for locations. Featuring art workshops & demos at scenic properties & nature preserves, a quill work exhibition, Odawa art demonstrations, & a local art show. Trail maps available at local galleries & Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce. Free. goodhartartistresidency.org/tunnel-oftrees-arts-weekend
SAY NO TO ISRAEL’S GENOCIDE: (See Sat., Aug. 16)
JOSH VEITH BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Veith is the author of “Island and Main: The Sudden Quiet: Book I” & “Dark Straits: Sudden Quiet: Book II.” horizonbooks.com/event/josh-veith-book-signing
FROZEN KIDS: (See Sat., Aug. 16)
THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: (See Thurs., Aug. 21, except today’s time is 2pm.)
BUILDING THE COMMONS: 4-7pm, Studio
231, downtown Elberta. A DIY Pop-Up Art & Music Event. At the heart of the event is a community mural project. You’ll also be tiedying & will have a song circle. Bring a paintbrush, a musical instrument, or a craft you’d like to share. Free. elbertalaborheritagecenter.org/event/building-the-commons-elberta
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION: 7-9:30pm, Camp Daggett, Petoskey. Camp Daggett is celebrating 100 years of adventure, growth & community. Enjoy cake, ice cream & a drone show by Firefly Drone Shows on Walloon Lake. RSVP required. campdaggett.org/ events/centennial-celebration
NWS: DISHING IT OUT - CHEFS TALK LIFE ON CAMERA: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Chefs Mei Lin & Sarah Welch will take the stage with television producer Jim Berger to dish about what it’s like to be on a reality competition show & how it compares to real life in the kitchen. Lin was the winner of season 12 of Top Chef & season 4 of the Food Network’s Tournament of Champions. Welch was a Top Chef finalist in season 19 in 2022. She & her restaurant, Marrow, in Detroit have been recognized by the James Beard Foundation. Food writer & TASTE podcast host Matt Rodbard will moderate the panel. $28.25-$39.55. cityoperahouse.org/node/682
SATURDAYS IN THE PARK: JEFF HAAS BIG FUN ELECTRIC BAND: 7pm, GT County Civic Center Amphitheater, TC.
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS: (See Fri., Aug. 22)
THE FOUR FRESHMEN: 7:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Formed in 1948, this jazz group rose to prominence with hits such as “It’s a Blue World” & “Mood Indigo.” Their innovative vocal blend left a lasting mark on future artists, notably Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The legacy of their harmonydriven jazz-pop style continues to resonate with audiences, as the group continues to tour worldwide today. $25-$40; Veterans, $5 discount; students, $10. theoperahouse.org
MUSIC IN MACKINAW - THE CHITANS (CARIBBEAN): 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Mackinaw City.
sunday
NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL RUN: (See Sat., Aug. 23)
-
119TH EMMET-CHARLEVOIX COUNTY FAIR: 1129 Charlevoix Ave./U.S. 31, Petoskey, Aug. 1824. Today includes the Skerbeck Family Carnival & much more. emmetchxfair.org
43RD ANNUAL CEDAR POLKA FEST: Today includes Polka Mass Under the Big Tent, Larry and His Larks, Polish Pooch Pageant, Polka Generations, Ultimate Air Dogs, Cornhole Tournament, Bavarski - Polkas NYC & more. cedarpolkafest.org
GAYLORD ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., Aug. 23)
MADE IN CHEBOYGAN SUMMER CRAFT SHOW SERIES: (See Sat., Aug. 23)
BLESSING OF THE PETS: 10:30am, 1st Congregational UCC of Charlevoix. Join with your furry, fuzzy, feathered, or scaled friends for a special service where you can have your pets blessed. There will be treats for all pets. You do not need to be a regular participant in the church to have your pet blessed. If you can’t bring your pets, you can bring a picture & they can be blessed that way. Free. chxucc.org
COFFEE WITH THE AUTHORS: 11am, Glen Arbor Arts Center, Main Gallery. Learn about building the history of a place, in this case Glen Arbor Township: A History to 1920, a new, hardcover book edited by Andrew White; & written by Paul Dechow, Mary Severson Tris, Barbara Siepker, & John Tris. GAAC Gallery Manager Sarah Bearup-Neal will explore the mechanics of how a group of writers build a cohesive history, & what current day residents can glean from the past. Free. glenarborart.org/product/coffee-withthe-authors-glen-arbor-township-history
NORTHPORT COMMUNITY BAND END OF SUMMER CONCERT: 3pm, Northport Performing Arts Center. Featuring well-known Northport pianist & organist Bobbie Lange. $15 adults; $5 students.
BAYSIDE CONCERT SERIES: LAURA CROWE: 5-7pm, Petoskey’s Waterfront, on the Promenade near waterfront clock tower. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. bigwatercreativearts.org
ongoing
TERRIFIC TUESDAYS: Tuesdays, 4-6pm, Leland United Methodist Church. Join 5Loaves2FishNMI for a community meal. 5loaves2fishnmi.org
BOYNE CITY’S STROLL THE STREETS: Downtown Boyne City. Held Friday evenings at 6pm through Aug. 29. Enjoy live music, children’s activities & much more. Free. boynecitymainstreet.com
BRIGHTLETICS AGELESS GRACE PARKINSON’S CLASS: Mondays, 11-11:50am, GT County Senior Center, TC. Brightletics founder Lisa George teaches this class that is done in a seated chair & is structured in a seven part sequence targeting specific challenges or symptoms of Parkinson’s. Sponsored by Parkinson’s Network North.
GUIDED WALKING HISTORY TOUR OF TC:
This tour is an easy 2 mile walk that includes the historic neighborhoods & waterfront of TC. Begins & ends at the Perry Hannah Plaza, located at the corner of 6th & Union streets near downtown. There is no charge for the tours, but gratuities for the guides are appreciated. Tours run at 10am every Weds. through Sept. walktchistory.com
WEEKLY WILDFLOWER WALK: Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Every Tues., 10:30am-noon through Aug., take a leisurely stroll through the scenic trails of Grass River Natural Area alongside knowledgeable docent Lyn Petty. Discover the variety of wildflowers & learn to identify their unique beauty. Keep an ear out for the melodies of birds that call Grass River home. grassriver.org
art
AN ART PAIRING WITH DEBRA LAROCQUE & MARILYN STOVER: Twisted Fish Gallery, Cottage Gallery, Elk Rapids. Featuring acrylic painter Debra LaRocque & ceramicist Marilyn Stover. Breathe in nature & pause to appreciate Mother Nature. Runs through Aug. 24. Hours: Tues. through Sat., 11am-5pm; Sun., 11am-3pm. twistedfishgallery.com/event/an-art-pairing-debralarocque-marilyn-stover
SPECTRUM OF REALISM: The Ramsdell Theatre, Hardy Hall Gallery, Manistee. Featuring art by Amelia Gorman, Anna Hansen, Arthur Marshall & Sierra Valencia. Runs through Aug. 24. Gallery is open daily, noon3pm. ramsdelltheatre.org/art
GREAT BODIES - ANNUAL GROUP SHOW: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Featuring
23 artists from across Michigan, “Great Bodies” is a visual love letter to the abundance of fresh water throughout Michigan. Runs through Aug. 16. Check web site for hours. higherartgallery.com
JRAC MEMBER EXHIBIT: Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan. This event features diverse works by more than 30 JRAC member artists. Runs through Aug. 30 from 12:304:30pm daily. jordanriverarts.com/2025-events
THE QUILT AS ARCHIVE: Cedar North, Cedar. A solo exhibition of new textile work by artist & writer Cody Cook-Parrott. The show explores the quilt as a container for memory, devotion, time, & personal record. Runs through Sept. 13 on certain days at certain times. Contact Cedar North for available days & times. A free Closing Reception & Artist Talk will be held on Sept. 13 at 6pm. cedarnorthtc.com/classroom
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:
- ALONG OUR WAY: THE ART OF DOUG BARRON & BRIAN GOFF: Held in Atrium Gallery through Aug. 30. Check web site for hours. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ along-our-way-art-doug-barron-and-brian-goff - OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: Saturdays, 10am-1pm in Visual Arts Room. Free drop-in art studio for the whole family. New projects are offered weekly. crookedtree.org
- IMMERSED: An immersive exhibition exploring aesthetic, cultural, environmental, & historical dimensions of water - through art, artifacts, sound, & motion. Runs through Aug. Check web site for hours. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/immersed-free-public-programming
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC:
- PAINT GRAND TRAVERSE 2025 - EXTENDED EXHIBIT: Held in Carnegie Rotunda through Aug. 22. Features a selection of available artwork created during Paint Grand Traverse 2025, a week-long event where artists painted on location throughout the greater Grand Traverse area. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-traverse-city/paint-grand-traverse-2025-extended-exhibit
- TURNING - TC: Held in Cornwell Gallery. An exhibit of wooden artworks by members of the Northwestern Michigan Woodturners Club whose motto is “Dedicated to the Art of Turning Wood on the Lathe.” Runs through Aug. 22. See web site for hours. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-traverse-city/turning-tc
- WOODEN & EARTHEN: A CELEBRATION OF ART ROOTED IN NATURE: An exhibit featuring Nik Burkhart & Nick Preneta & multi-juried artists celebrating artworks created from natural wood & earth-based materials. Runs through Aug. 22. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/wooden-earthen-celebration-art-rooted-nature-tc
DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:
- JOAN FITZSIMMONS: INTO WHAT WORLD?: Runs through Aug. This is a solo exhibition by Joan Fitzsimmons & a personal investigation into landscape as a place of dreams & imagination. It consists of selections from three of her photographic series called “The Woods,” “Blue Moon,” & “Plant Life.” Hours are Tuesdays through Sundays, 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org
- MATT SHLIAN: EVERY LINE IS A CIRCLE IF YOU MAKE IT LONG ENOUGH: Runs through Aug. See a world where art, science & engineering converge. Renowned for his intricate paper sculptures, Shlian transforms flat sheets into dynamic, dimensional forms, exploring the beauty of structure, pattern, & movement. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org
- RECLAIMED: THE ART OF ECOLOGY: Runs through Aug. San Francisco’s waste
management service Recology believes that art plays a unique role in educating & inspiring the public. Each year they award residencies to artists, which include a stipend, coveted studio space, & scavenging privileges at their Transfer Station & Recycling Center. These 33 artists have created this exhibit. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org
- CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE CERAMICS FROM THE HORVITZ COLLECTION: Runs through Sept. 28, 2025. An array of works by contemporary Japanese ceramic artists, this is a sampler of the great diversity of styles, forms, glazes, & ages. These artworks are drawn from the curated collection of Carol & Jeffrey Horvitz, some of the leading collectors of Japanese contemporary outside of Japan. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/ art/upcoming-exhibitions/index.html
- A STYLE ALL OUR OWN: CANADIAN WOODLAND ARTISTS: Runs through Sept. 28, 2025. In the early 1960s, young Indigenous artists from the Great Lakes region created a unique style of painting known as the Woodland School of Art. Early members of this prolific art community included Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray, Roy Thomas, Sam Ash, Jackson Beardy, & Daphne Odjig. Perhaps the best-known of the group is Norval Morrisseau, who is often referred to as the Father of the Woodland School. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/ now-on-view/canadian-woodland-artists.html
- SECOND SUNDAY ART PROJECT: 1-3pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Take part in a vibrant artistic experience every second Sun. of the month. From printmaking to painting & weaving, each session offers a unique & creative activity. Included with museum admission. $0-$10. simpletix.com/e/secondsunday-art-project-tickets-219823
GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:
- HISTORY / HERSTORY: WHOSE STORY?: This exhibition explores the idea that the victors have written history. It opens Aug. 15 at 5pm with a reception in the GAAC Main Gallery. Whether it’s visual art, literature, film, sports, science, politics, education, animal, mineral, real or imagined history, this exhibition asks: Who’s telling what stories? Who’s included in the official record? Who’s excluded? Omitted? Erased? Twenty-four exhibitors take on these questions. The exhibition runs through Oct. 23. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org - RANDOM EXHIBITION: Runs through Aug. 28 in the Lobby Gallery. “Random: Collages From The Scrap Pile,” an exhibition of spontaneous compositions by Leelanau County artist Mark Mehaffey. Random is also a tutorial about remaining alert to creative possibilities. glenarborart.org/exhibits
OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT: - HORIZONS: ALTERNATIVE LANDSCAPES:
A fresh look at the landscape genre, exploring it through the lens of several artists with a unique twist on the subject. This exhibit runs through Sept. 5. An artist talk will take place on Fri., Sept. 5 from 2-4pm. Hours are Mon. - Sat., 10am-4pm & Sun., noon-4pm. oliverart.org
- SAILING LIFE: THE ADVENTURE OF MICHIGAN’S WATERWAYS: This exhibition explores the joy of sailing Michigan’s rivers & lakes, & celebrates the adventurous heart of the harbor community. Artwork in all media highlighting all kinds of water travel from tug boats to kayaks, canoes to freighters, & everything in between. Runs through Aug. 22. Hours are Mon.-Sat., 10am-4pm; Sun., noon4pm. oliverart.org
- “SMALL WORKS: COMMUNITY COLLAGE” PROJECT, HONORING LEGACY OF JOE MUER: Runs through Aug. This engaging project underscores the Oliver Art Center’s commitment to fostering awareness & accessibility of the visual arts by inviting artists of all ages & abilities to contribute their creativity. oliverart.org
FARMERS MARKETS
ALDEN SUNSET MARKET: By tennis courts on Tyler St. Held on Thursdays through Sept. from 2-7pm. Shop for fruit, veggies, gifts, art & much more. The downtown stores will be open late & there will be live music.
BOYNE CITY: Veterans Park. Held on Wednesdays & Saturdays through mid-Oct. from 8am-noon. Exceptions include July 12 at Peninsula Beach & Aug. 9 at Green Space between City Hall & Field of Dreams. boynecityfarmersmarket.org
DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY: Howard St., between Mitchell & Michigan streets. Held every Fri., 8:30am-1pm. Local producers offer organic meats, fruits & vegetables, flowers & more. petoskeychamber.com/ downtown-petoskey-farmers-market
EAST BAY CORNERS: Thursdays, 2-6pm through Oct. 2. Township Hall, 1965 N. 3 Mile Rd., TC. This market accepts SNAP/ EBT benefits & also offers a Power of Produce program for kids ages 5-13. There will be live music, food trucks, & family game nights. eastbaytwp.org/residents/food_security.php
ELK RAPIDS: Cedar St. Parking Lot, downtown. Runs every Fri. through Oct. 3, 8am-noon. elkrapidschamber.org/farmersmarket
EMPIRE: 10234 Front St. Held every Sat. through Aug. 30 from 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com
FRANKFORT: Saturdays, 9am-1pm, Open Space Park, Main St.
GLEN ARBOR: Behind Glen Arbor Twp. Hall, 6394 W. Western Ave. Held every Tues. through Sept. 16, 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com
HARBOR SPRINGS: Corner of State & Main streets, downtown. Held on Wednesdays & Saturdays from 9am-1pm through Aug. 27, & Saturdays continue through Oct. 11. Featuring local farmers, artisans, food producers & more. There will be live music on select dates, & also Kids Days. petoskeyarea.com/events/harbor-springsfarmers-market-2025
INTERLOCHEN: Corner of US-31 & J. Maddy Parkway. Held every Sun. through Oct. from 9am-2pm, & every Thurs. in July & Aug. from 2-7pm. Featuring local fresh produce, locally produced food, & natural artisan arts & crafts. facebook.com/InterlochenFarmersMarket
KINGSLEY FARMERS MARKET: Brownson Park, Kingsley. Held every Weds. from 3-7pm through Oct. Featuring 30+ vendors, hot food, live music & free workshops. kingsleyfarmersmarket.com
LELAND: Immanuel Lutheran Church parking lot. Held every Thurs. through Sept. 4, 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com
LONG LAKE TWP.: Haywood Park, 8870 N. Long Lake Rd., TC. Held on Thursdays through Oct. 2, 9am-1pm. 946-2249.
MACKINAW CITY: Conkling Heritage Park. Held every Mon., July 7 - Sept. 29 from 11am-3pm.
MANISTEE: Wagoner Community Center. Held every Sat. through Oct. 4, 9am-noon. manisteekitchen.org/farmers-market
NORTHPORT: 105 S. Bay St., across from marina. Held every Fri. through Sept. 19, 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com
OLD TOWN EMMET: Saturdays, 9am-1pm through Oct. 4, Friendship Center of Emmet County, Petoskey. This market is made up of a group of local farmers, growers, bakers, makers, crafters, & artisans. petoskeyarea. com/events/old-town-emmet-farm-market
OUTDOOR MINI FARMERS MARKET:
Mondays, 1-5pm through Aug. 25. The Village at GT Commons, Piazza/Pavilion, TC. Find local baked goods, vegetables, herbs & more.
SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS
MARKET: Parking Lot B, Cass St. & E Grandview Parkway, TC. Held on Wednesdays through Oct. from 8am-noon, & Saturdays through Oct. from 7:30am-noon. dda. downtowntc.com/farmers-market/
SUTTONS BAY: North Park, 601 Front St. Held every Sat. through Oct. 18, 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com
Folktales
by Joseph beyer
Since the mid 19th century, immigrant settlers from the Scandinavian lands of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden have been leaving their mark on Anishnaabek Aki, these spectacular lands of abundance connected by powerful waters we get to call home.
Deadline for Dates information is Tuesday for the following week.
As modern Michiganders, we are still obsessed with all things Arctic: ice fishing, crosscountry, sledding, saunas, minimalist design, and the concepts of hygge (coziness), lagom (moderation), and lykke (good fortune). We fantasize from the 45th parallel that Nordic life (at the 69th parallel) is perfectly harmonious, elegantly simple, and disconnected from the rest of the world.
In the moving and beautifully-photographed documentary Folktales, filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady both challenge and then validate some of those myths through their true story of modern European teenagers sent to Norway to experience a unique “outdoor” high school.
Here, the classes involve how to make fire, survive outdoors under the lights of the aurora borealis, and most central to the plot: how to care for, control, and travel with sled dogs.
Set in a remote location hoping to disconnect them from their screens while reigniting their primal minds, Folktales follows their raw personal journeys at the same time their teachers/elders urgently try to pass on the “old ways” before they are lost.
Through physical, mental, and emotional struggles, some students attain fresh selfreflection and a new sense of empowerment on their way to adulthood. Others struggle and resist the experience, unable to fully commit themselves or burdened by past trauma they are only starting to understand.
Their assigned sled dogs become their companions and vessels for learning, and each student’s relationship to the dogs themselves (and what the animals
teach them), is surprising and tender and powerful. “Dog people” will be especially moved, and many outdoor screenings of the film at festivals and special events have welcomed canines as part of the audience.
For younger viewers, the Gen-Z angst seen on-screen and through intimate confessionals will be all too familiar. For older viewers, the film offers an unfiltered insight into how the “most-connected” of generations can still feel such isolation and loneliness. But through the arc of following three main subjects over one epic year, both sides may feel the same hope for the future. I sure did.
Such is the touch of a great documentary worth the watch: one that draws you in, allows you to recognize vulnerable humanity, and then leaves you with a more profound understanding of it no matter who you are, no matter how old you may be.
While filmed overseas, Folktales is accessible to all with about one-third of the film in English, one-third with subtitles, and the rest overwhelmingly visual (speaking in the universal language of images only cinema still provides). Through their lenses, this epic wilderness and the thrill of dogsledding comes alive and draws you in.
Directors Ewing and Grady have been doing this now for decades, with previous deepdive stories like Jesus Camp and Detropia and Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You, among other award-winning docs. They leave behind complex time capsules of the here and now that will still be relevant for generations to come.
Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Folktales was picked up by Magnolia Pictures and is currently in select theaters nationwide and then available to stream on multiple platforms starting September 2, 2025. The film is not rated, but is appropriate to watch with your kids and might even provoke some unexpected conversations.
Grand
CHATEAU CHANTAL, TC
Thu -- Jazz at Sunset w/ Jeff Haas Trio & Laurie Sears, 7
ENCORE 201, TC
8/15-16 & 8/22-23 -- DJ Ricky T, 9
IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC
8/18 -- Vinyl Night w/ DJ E-Knuf, 5-8
8/21 -- Beyond Trivia!, 7-9 PATIO, 6-8:
8/19 -- TC Celtic
8/22 -- Levi Britton
JACOB'S FARM, TC
8/17 -- Blair Miller, 5
KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC
9:30:
8/15-16 -- Jay Hawkins Band
8/22-23 -- Risque
KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING
8/19 – Open Mic Night w/ LaRose Duo, 6-8
8/21 – Trivia Night w/ Marcus Anderson, 6:30-8:30
LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM:
8/18 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9
TASTING ROOM:
8/22 -- Jakob Abraham, 5-7
MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC
8/16 -- The Swan Brothers, 6-9
8/20 -- Trivia Night, 7-9
8/21 -- Open Mic Night, 7-9
8/22 -- Clint Weaner, 6-9
8/23 -- Jesse Jefferson, 6-9
MT. HOLIDAY, TC BEER GARDEN: 8/22 -- DJ Zeb, 6-9
NORTH BAR, TC
8/16 – Mallory Ramage, 1-4; Wink Solo, 5-8
8/17 – Ben Richey, 5-8
8/20 – Jesse Jefferson, 7-10
8/21 – Mal & Mike, 7-10
8/22 – Henry Herig, 1-4; Funky Uncle, 5-8
8/24 – Brady Corcoran, 5-8
OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC
SEVEN HILLS:
8/16 -- Erik Burke & Mark Daisy, 6 8/17 -- Tray Wellington, 6
8/19 -- Analog Auto Night w/ Alloy Magazine, 6
8/20 -- Jimmy Olson, 7
8/21 -- Blair Miller, 6 8/22 -- Tower of Bauer, 6
8/23 -- Twlight Tunes Dueling Pianos, 5
8/24 -- Jacob McLeod, 6
SAIL INN BAR & GRILL, TC PATIO:
Wed -- Live Music w/ Josh, 6 Thurs, Sat – Karaoke, 9
STONE HOUND BREWING CO., WILLIAMSBURG
8/16 -- Mike Moran, 7-9
TC GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
8/22 -- Jim Hawley, 6-9
TC WHISKEY CO.
8/20 -- Blair Miller, 6-8
THE ALEXANDRA INN, TC BLUSH ROOFTOP TERRACE: Mon -- John & Madeline Piatek, 4-6
THE ALLUVION, TC
8/16 -- Will Marsh & The Integration Ensemble, 7:30
8/18 -- Funky Uncle - Funky Fun Mondays, 6-8:30
8/21 -- Decibelz Summer Dance Party, 7-10
8/22 -- Full Cord Bluegrass, 7-9:30
8/23 -- Cory Henry, 7 THE COIN SLOT, TC
7:
8/16 -- DJ E-Knuf/Senses Taker
8/20 -- BYOVinyl Night with Eugene’s Record Co-op
8/21 -- DJ Darren T
8/22 -- Parallelz 8/23 -- Protea
THE HAYLOFT INN, TC
7:30-11:
8/15-16 -- Sandy & The Bandits 8/22-23 -- Off Duty
Antrim & Charlevoix
THE LITTLE FLEET, TC
8/22 -- Little Dipper, 6-10
THE PARLOR, TC PATIO:
8/16 – David Marton, 5-8; Jeff Linsell, 9-12
8/19 – Reese Keelor, 8-11
8/20 – Rob Coonrod, 8-11
8/21 – Jimmy Olson, 8-11
8/22 – Rhett & John, 6-9; Erik & Mark, 9-12
8/23 – Nick Vasquez, 6-9
THE PUB, TC
8/16 – Stone Travelbee, 9-12
8/17 & 8/24 – David Marton, 5-8
8/18 – Karaoke, 8-11
8/19 – Open Mic Tuesdays w/ Chris Sterr, 8-11
8/20 – Zeke Clemons, 8-11
8/21 – Music Bingo, 7:30-10
8/22 – Craig Jolly, 5-8; Dollar Shavey Club, 9-12
8/23 – One Hot Robot, 9-12
THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC
8/16 -- Andy McQuillen, 8
8/19 -- Open Mic w/ Zak Bunce, 7
8/20 -- Straight Forward Bluegrass Jam, 7
8/21 -- DJ Trivia, 7
8/22 -- Jazz Jam w/ Ron Getz Trio, 6
8/23 -- Delilah DeWylde, 8
THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC PATIO, 6:30-9:30:
8/16 -- Jet Beasley
8/21 -- Peril
8/22 -- Open Mic Jam
8/23 -- J Hawkins
TOWNLINE CIDERWORKS, WILLIAMSBURG
8/22 -- Chelsea Marsh, 6-8
UNION STREET STATION, TC
8/16 -- ZUZ, 10
8/21 -- DJ1 Wave, 9
8/22 -- DJ Prim, 10
8/23 -- 74 Marauder, 10
8/24 -- 74 Marauder, 8
nitelife
Send
Antrim & Charlevoix continued...
8/17 -- Nick Veine, 2-5
SPARE KEY WINERY, CHARLEVOIX 8/16 -- Randy Reszka, 1-4
STIGG'S BREWERY & KITCHEN, BOYNE CITY 8/16 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6
THE DAM SHOP, ELK RAPIDS PATIO, 6: 8/16 – Chris Smith
8/22 – Drew Hale 8/23 – Zeke Clemons
Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee
LOG CABIN, KALEVA 8/22 – Truck Driver Bingo, 7
MANISTEE NATIONAL GOLF & RESORT THE BACKYARD: 8/22 -- BVO, 8
BIER'S INWOOD BREWERY, CHARLEVOIX
8/21 -- Open Mic w/ Host John Eaton: Sign up at 6:15; Music at 7
BOYNE CITY TAPROOM
7:
8/16, 8/21 & 8/23 -- Adam & The Cabana Boys
8/22 -- Patrick Ryan & Friends
BRIDGE STREET TAP ROOM, CHARLEVOIX
8/19 -- Patrick Ryan, 7
CHALFONTE THEATRE, ELK RAPIDS THE PLATFORM:
8/19 -- Kitty Donohoe, 7
ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS OUTDOORS, 8-11:
8/16 -- Chris Michels Band
8/23 – The Reverend Jesse Ray
FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE PATIO, 7-10: 8/16 -- Sean Miller 8/22 – Laura Thurston
JAX NORTHSIDE, CHARLEVOIX
8/16 & 8/23 -- Karaoke Night, 9
LAVENDER HILL FARM, BOYNE CITY
8/16 -- Local Ground: Two Track Mind, 6; The Series: Ashes & Arrows, 7:30
LOST CELLARS, CHARLEVOIX
8/22 -- Open Mic w/ Leebee Shaner, 5-8
MAREK'S HARBOR GRILL, CHARLEVOIX THE FLYBRIDGE (ROOFTOP BAR), 7-11:
8/16 -- Jake the Dog
8/17 & 8/24 -- Lou Thumser
8/21 -- Karaoke
8/22-23 -- Boardman River Band, 8-11
MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY
8/22 -- Buddha Sweet, 6-9
PROVISIONS WINE LOUNGE, BOYNE CITY
8/19 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6
SHORT'S PUB, BELLAIRE BEER GARDEN:
8/16 -- Heart of Gold Band: A Grateful Dead Tribute, 7-9:30
8/21 -- Shortstop, 7
8/22 -- 1000 Watt Prophets, 7-9:30
8/23 -- The Hey! Makers, 7-9:30
SHORT'S PULL BARN, ELK RAPIDS
8/16 -- Botala & DJ Clark, 6-9
ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD
6-9:
8/16 -- Jonathan Stoye
8/22 -- Mike Ridley 8/23 -- Rick Woods
-- Randy Reszka, 5:30-8:30
BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY
8/16 -- Chris Calleja, 2-6 8/22 -- Two Track Mind, 4-7:30 8/23 -- Elisabeth Cristi, 2-6
BRANDY'S HARBORTOWN, BAY HARBOR
8/16 & 8/23 – Ty Parkin, 12:303:30
8/17 & 8/24 – Joey Hickman, 12:30-3:30
8/18 – Sean Bielby, 6-9
8/19 – Sean Miller, 6-9
8/20 – Derek Boik, 6-9
8/21 – Chris Calleja, 6-9
8/22 – Patrick Ryan, 12:30-3:30
CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY
8/22 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30
DIXIE SALOON, MACKINAW CITY
8/17 & 8/22 -- Pete Fetters, 8-11
INN AT BAY HARBOR
CABANA BAR, 6-9: 8/18 -- Dominic Fortuna
8/21 -- Nelson Olstrom
NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER HOUSE & WINERY, KALEVA
8/16 -- Saxsquatch Unit, 7 8/17 -- "Searching for Jane" with Jane Amstutz, 3 8/21 -- Chief Jam-Open Mic hosted by Cheryl Wolfram, 7 8/22 -- Brian Curran & Ivas John, 7 8/23 -- Y-Not, 7
PORTAGE POINT INN RESORT, ONEKAMA LAHEY'S PUB: 8/22 -- Dr. Sunnyside, 8-11
ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES: 8/16 -- DJ, 9 8/23 – Battle of the Bands, Round 1, 8-10
POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS
8/16 -- Lew Russ, 5-8
8/17 -- Delilah DeWylde, 3-6
8/20 -- Open Mic Night w/ Kirby, 5-8
8/22 -- M-119 Band, 5-8
8/23 -- Sugarbush, 5-8 8/24 -- Terry Coveyou, 3-6
SEASONS OF THE NORTH WINERY, INDIAN RIVER 8/22 -- The Darwin Project, 6-9
THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN
8/16 -- Beau Summer Fest w/ Silverfox Supernova, Half Pints, M to the B, Cellar Door, Hillbilly & The Burnout, Azic, & more, 4 8/21 – Musician’s Playground, 7 8/22 – Curtis Allen, 8 8/23 – Brian McCosky, 8
THE HIGHLANDS AT HARBOR SPRINGS SLOPESIDE PATIO: 8/20 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6-9
THE WIGWAM, INDIAN RIVER 8/21 -- Dominic Fortuna, 7:309:30
WALLOON LAKE WINERY, PETOSKEY
8/21 -- The Backroads Band, 6-8
BAY HARBOR YACHT CLUB QUARTER DECK: 8/21
lOGY
AUG 18 - AUG 24
BY ROB BREZSNY
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In traditional Chinese medicine, the heart is the seat of joy. It’s also the sovereign that listens to the wisdom of the other organs before acting. Dear Leo, as you cross the threshold from attracting novelty to building stability, I encourage you to cultivate extra heart-centered leadership, both for yourself and for those who look to you for inspiration. What does that mean? Make decisions based on love and compassion more than on rational analysis. Be in service to wholeness rather than to whatever might bring temporary advantage.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In Mesoamerican myth, the god Quetzalcoatl journeys to the underworld not to escape death, but to recover old bones needed to create new life. I propose you draw inspiration from this story, Virgo. In recent weeks, you have been gathering pieces of the past, not out of a sense of burdensome obligation, but as a source of raw material. Now comes the time for reassembly. You won’t rebuild the same old thing. You will sculpt visionary gifts for yourself from what was lost. You will use your history to design your future. Be alert for the revelations that the bones sing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the Hebrew language, the word for “face” is plural. There is no singular form for panim. I love that fact! For me, it implies that each of us has a variety of faces. Our identity is multifaceted. I think you should make a special point of celebrating this truth in the coming weeks, Libra. Now is an excellent time to explore and honor all of your many selves. Take full advantage of your inner diversity, and enjoy yourself to the max as you express and reveal the full array of truths you contain.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I Invite you to channel the spirit of Kali—not in her form as the destroyer, but as the fierce liberator. She has the power to burn away stagnation, neutralize the poison of old lies, and slice through illusion with a sword of compassion—and so do you. I believe you are ready to sever a bond that has secretly (or maybe not-sosecretly) limited you. Don’t be afraid of the emptiness that results. It may appear to be a void, but it will quickly evolve into a fresh sanctuary. Into this newly cleared room, you can pour your strongest longings and most rebellious love. What are the wildest versions of your truths?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Daoist cosmology, the nature of life is characterized by cyclical, flowing patterns rather than linear, static motions. In my study of its gorgeous teachings, I exult in how it inspires me to honor both contraction and expansion, the power of circling inward and reaching outward. With this in mind, Sagittarius, I invite you to make the spiral your symbol of power. Yes, it may sometimes feel like you’re revisiting old ground. Perhaps an ex will resurface, or an old goal will seek your attention. But guarantee it’s not mere repetition. An interesting form of evolution is underway. You’re returning to longstanding challenges armed with fresh wisdom. Ask yourself: What do know now that I didn’t before? How can I meet these interesting questions from a higher point of the spiral?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Inuit artworks are often made from materials available in their environment, like driftwood, stones, walrus ivory, whale bones, and caribou bones and antlers. Even their tools are crafted from that stuff. In part, this is evidence of their resourcefulness, and in part, a reflection of how lovingly they engage with their environment. recommend you borrow their approach, Capricorn. Create your practical magic by relying on what’s already available. Be enterprising as you generate usefulness and fun out of scraps and leftovers. Your raw material is probably better if it’s not perfect.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The medieval alchemists had a central principle, rendered in Latin as follows: Visita interiora terrae, rectificando invenies occultum lapidem. Translated, it means, "Seek out the lower reaches of the earth, perfect them, and you will find the hidden stone.” I invite you to go on a similar underground quest, Aquarius. The purpose is not to wallow in worry or sadness, but rather to retrieve a treasure. Some magnificence
beneath your surface life is buried—an emotional truth, a creative impulse, a spiritual inheritance. And it’s time you went and got it. Think of it as a quest and a pilgrimage. The “hidden stone,” an emblem of spiritual riches, wants you to find it.
PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): In ancient Greece, the god Janus presided over doorways. He had two faces, one looking outward and forward, one gazing inward and backward. I believe this is your Janus phase, Pisces. Before you launch into your next fluidic quest, pause and take inventory. Peer behind you, not with regret but with curiosity and compassion. What cycle has fully ended? What wisdom has settled into your bones? Then face the future, not with shyness or foreboding, but with eager intention and confidence. What goals, rooted in who you are becoming, can inspire an exciting new plot thread?
ARIES (March 21-April 19): When glassmakers want to cool a newly blown piece, they don’t simply leave it out to harden. That would cause it to shatter from the inside. Instead, they place it in an annealing oven, where the temperature drops in measured increments over many hours. This careful cooling aligns the internal structure and strengthens the whole. Let’s invoke this as a useful metaphor, Aries. absolutely love the heat and radiance you’ve expressed recently. But now it’s wise for you to gradually cool down: to allow your fervor to coalesce into an enduring new reservoir of power and vitality. Transform sheer intensity into vibrant clarity and cohesion.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): To paraphrase Sufi mystic poet Rumi: “Don’t get lost in your pain. Know that one day your pain will become your cure.” In my astrological opinion, Taurus, you have arrived at this pivotal moment. A wound you’ve had to bear for a long spell is on the verge of maturing into a gift, even a blessing. A burdensome ache is ready to reveal its teachings. You may have assumed you would be forever cursed by this hurt, but that’s not true! Now it’s your sacred duty to shed that assumption and open your heart so you can harvest the healing.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): As you enter a Tibetan Buddhist temple, you may encounter statues and paintings of fierce spirits. They are guardian figures who serve as protectors, scaring away negative and destructive forces so they can’t enter the holy precincts. In accordance with astrological omens, Gemini, I invite you to be your own threshold guardian. Authorize a wise and strict part of you to defend and safeguard what truly matters. This staunch action doesn’t have to be aggressive, but it should be informed with fierce clarity. You can’t afford to let the blithe aspect of your personality compromise your overall interests by being too accommodating. Assign your protective self to stand at your gate and say: “I protect this. I cherish this. I won’t dilute this.”
CANCER (June 21-July 22): "Dear Dr. Feelgood: Lately, you seem to be extra nice to us hypersensitive Crabs. Almost too kind. Why? Are you in love with a Cancerian woman, and you're trying to woo her? Did you hurt a Cancerian friend’s feelings, and now you’re atoning? Please tell me you're not just coddling us. —Permanently Drunk on a Million Feelings."
Dear Drunk: You use your imagination to generate visions of things that don't exist yet. It's your main resource for creating your future. This is especially crucial right now. The coming months will be a fertile time for shaping the life you want to live for the next 10 years. If I can help you keep your imagination filled with positive expectations, you are more likely to devise marvelous self-fulfilling prophecies.
“Jonesin” Crosswords
"A Little Outside" four notable characters. by Matt Jones
ACROSS
1. Johnny formerly of The Smiths
5. "Straight Outta Compton" costar ___ Jackson Jr.
10. Pop group with 40 years between albums "The Visitors" and "Voyage"
14. ___ d'amore (Baroque instrument)
15. "Matilda" author Dahl
16. It's a square number in German
17. Began eagerly
19. Knitting festival material
20. He played opposite Burton in "Becket"
21. Go head-to-head
23. "Dear" group
25. Night in Madrid
26. Like some relationships
30. New Orleans pro team
33. "___-Pah-Pah" ("Oliver!" tune)
34. ___ de Torquemada (Spanish Inquisition leader)
36. Feedback
37. Short cut
39. "Little" literary characters that can be found on the outside of the four longest answers
41. "Young Frankenstein" actress Teri
42. Kickoff
44. Middle East desert region
46. "We'll say later," on a schedule
47. Mudslide liqueur
49. Subject of an upcoming cancellation, with "The"
51. Capital of Guadeloupe, ___-Terre (literally, "low land")
53. Big ripoff
54. Walking loudly in armor, maybe
57. Sci-fi visitors
61. "The Avengers" costar Diana
62. Supplement that may assist cognition
64. Motivate
65. Electric toothbrush maker
66. Made shinier, perhaps
67. Delivery time, usually
68. Ballot box bundle
69. Smoked fish
DOWN
1. Supernatural charm
2. Share a boundary with
3. Former Cowboys quarterback Tony
4. Share again on social media
5. Infomercial's urgent request
6. "___ says to the guy ..."
7. Poker holding
8. "Candle in the Wind" name
9. Philippine meat dishes
10. Whatever
11. Familiar route
12. "A Holly Jolly Christmas" singer Ives
13. "Breathing Lessons" author Tyler
18. "Middlemarch" novelist George
22. Source of antioxidants
24. Four-color toy of the 1980s
26. "The Chosen" author Chaim
27. ___ Doone (Nabisco cookie)
28. Slow-moving vehicle in parts of Pennsylvania
29. Oasis animal
31. Prefix with prop or charger
32. Takeout bag item
35. Some consoles
38. Spice mixes
40. Measurement in some diets
43. Mammoth protrusion
45. Calflike
48. Prolific author Isaac
50. Little bit
52. Febrero preceder
54. Icky stuff
55. Italian money, once
56. Bus. school entrance exam
58. Detroit River's lake
59. Void's partner
60. RCMP ranks
63. Shout after a score
nitelife
continued...
Leelanau & Benzie
45 NORTH VINEYARD & WINERY, LAKE LEELANAU
8/21 – Rebekah Jon, 5-7
BEL LAGO VINEYARD, WINERY & CIDERY, CEDAR
8/16 -- Red, White and Blues Fest w/ Larry Perkins, Zeke Clemons & Delilah DeWylde, noon-6
8/17 -- Larry Perkins, 3:30-5:30 8/19 -- Dominic Fortuna, 5:30
8/22 -- Luke Woltanski, 5:30
8/23 -- Larz Cabot, 3:30
8/24 -- Jedi Clampetts, 3:30
BLACK STAR FARMS, SUTTONS BAY LAWN, 6-8:
8/16 -- Jakob Abraham
8/23 -- Audrey Mason
BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU
8/17 -- Jim Hawley & his Band, 4-6:30
8/20 -- Luke Woltanski & John Piatek, 5:30-8
8/24 -- Bryan Poirier, 4-6:30
CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY
2-4:30: 8/17 -- Luke Woltanski
8/24 -- Michelle Chenard
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLLE
BARR PARK, 6-8: 8/16 -- Brady Corcoran 8/17 -- Jesse Jefferson 8/24 -- Jim Hawley
KINLOCHEN PLAZA, 6-8: 8/16 -- Bill Frary
8/23 -- A to Z LEVEL4 LOUNGE, 8:30-10:30: 8/17 & 8/24 -- Nick Vasquez
8/20 -- Jim Hawley
8/21 -- Jakob Abraham 8/22 -- Sydni K 8/23 -- Cole Caspers
DUNE BIRD WINERY, NORTHPORT
3-6: 8/17 -- Rhett and John 8/20 -- Highway North 8/24 -- Dennis Palmer
FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH
8/20 -- Open Mic w/ Andy Littlefield, 7-9
8/22 -- Porcelain Train, 6-9
FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR
4-7:
8/16 -- Looking Forward: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Their Music, Our Way
8/18 -- Zeke Clemons
8/21 -- Keith Scott
FURNACE STREET DISTILLERY, ELBERTA
PATIO, 6-8:
8/16 & 8/23 – Andy Littlefield
8/22 – Jason Locke
HOP LOT BREWING CO., SUTTONS BAY
5-8:
8/16 -- Eric Jaqua
8/22 -- Rolling Dirty
8/23 -- Drew Hale
IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE
8/16 -- Garage Sale Band, 6:30-
8:30
8/17 & 8/24 -- DJ Rhet, 4-6
8/22 -- Patrick Niemisto, 6:308:30 8/23 -- Gretchen Woell, 6:30-8:30
JACOBSON MARINA RESORT, FRANKFORT
8/16 & 8/23 -- Jim Hawley, 3-6
LAKE ANN BREWING CO.
8/16 -- Daydrinker's Series w/ Trillium Groove, 3-6; Barefoot!, 7-10
8/22 -- Friday Night Live w/ John & Madeline Piatek
8/23 -- Luke Woltanski
SOUL SQUEEZE CELLARS, LAKE LEELANAU
4-7:
8/16 -- Touch of Grey
8/22 -- Dre & Six
8/23 -- TC Knuckleheads
ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH
8/16 -- Mary Sue & Mark, 1-4; Jen Sygit Duo, 5-8
8/18 -- Jesse Jefferson, 5-8
8/19 -- Matt Lefler, 5-8
8/20 -- Porcelain Train, 5-8
8/21 -- A to Z, 5-8
8/22 -- Delilah DeWylde, 5-8
8/23 -- Billy Blanchard, 1-4; Wink, 5-8
8/24 -- Brian Curran & Ivas John, 3-6
STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT
8/21 -- Matt Gabriel, 6-8
CLASSIFIEDS NORTHERN EXPRESS
HOUSE FOR RENT TRAVERSE CITY 3 BED 1 BA. $1600/MO: 1618 Crescent St. Off Barlow near the airport. stephenjosephemery@gmail.com
JAGUARS UNCAGED ! (JUST OUT OF STORAGE): Rare 5-Speed '89 XJS & '85 XJ6 Both with Low Miles & Pretty. 231-536-7439
TREASURES CONSIGNMENT $ELL YOUR FURNITURE & DECOR: NoMi’s source for furniture and decor! 211 Bell Ave. Cadillac, MI 231-444-6094
NMCAA DISCOVERY EARLY LEARNING
Professional development opportunities. EOE. For details and to apply visit www. nmcaa.net select Careers/Search Jobs.
BUYING OLD WOODEN DUCK and FISH SPEARING DECOYS: BUYING OLD WOODEN DUCK and FISH SPEARING DECOYS, call, text 248 877-0210
BENZIE SYMPHONY PRESENTS
COMPUTER PROBLEMS?: I'll come to your home or office and make your computer, tablet, phone and TV work! Call James Downer, at Advent Tech. YOUR HIGH TECH HANDYMAN. Call: 231-492-2087
SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE WANTED
SUTTONS BAY CIDERS
8/17 -- Chris Smith, 5:30-8
8/21 -- Thurs. DJ Trivia, 6:30-8
8/24 -- Steve Sikes & Barb Pons, 5:30-8
SWEET’S BAR & GRILL, HONOR Mon. – Music Bingo, 7 Fri. – Music Bingo, 8; Karaoke, 10 Sat. – Karaoke, 8
THE CABBAGE SHED, ELBERTA 8/20 -- Vinyl Vednesday w/ DJ T.J., 5-8
8/21 -- Open Mic Night, 6:30-9 8/22 -- Larz, 5:30-8:30 8/23 -- Gabrial James, 5:30-8:30
THE FOLDED LEAF, CEDAR 6-8:30: 8/16 -- Miriam Pico & Ryan Younce 8/20 -- Jeff Haas Trio 8/23 -- A.S. Lutes
THE HOMESTEAD RESORT, GLEN ARBOR WHISKERS, 6-9: 8/16 – The Sundogs 8/22 – Billy & The Kid 8/23 – Dan Merryman
TWO K FARMS CIDERY & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY 8/16 -- Blair Miller, 4
SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-624
CENTER: Seeking Early Head Start Teacher for classroom of 8. CDA required, infant toddler preferred. 40 hours per week, 41 weeks per year, summers off. $20.75-$21.99 per hour. Paid time off, insurance, continuing education support. EOE. For details and to apply visit www.nmcaa.net select Careers/ Search Jobs.
ROMANTIC PIANO 8/17 4 PM: Dr. Hyemin
Kim Performs Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1. at Interlochen Center for the Arts Corson Auditorium. BASO also performs Dvorak. Admission by donation suggested $15 for adults
COMPUTER PROBLEMS?: I'll come to your home or office and make your computer, tablet, phone and TV work! Call James Downer, at Advent Tech. YOUR HIGH TECH HANDYMAN. Call: 231-492-2087
NMCAA DISCOVERY EARLY LEARNING
CENTER: Seeking classroom aide for classroom of 8 infant and toddlers. High School Diploma or GED preferred. 40 hours per week, 37 weeks per year, summers off. $14.26-$15.36 per hour. Accrued vacation/ personal time off, paid holidays, insurance,
TREASURES CONSIGNMENT $ELL YOUR FURNITURE & DECOR: NoMi’s source for furniture and decor! 211 Bell Ave. Cadillac, MI 231-444-6094
SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-6248
Adventure Golf & Sports(AGS), specializing in design and construction of mini golf and game courts is looking for an in-office sales account exec to help expand our reach and support our growing list of clients globally by responding to inbound leads, manage outbound call and email campaigns using our existing ACT! database as well as maintain strong relastionships with new and existing clients. Min 3 yrs proven sales experience (B2B or construction/design industry preferred). Selfmotivated, organized, goal oriented. Benefits offered cathy@adventureandfun.com
OFFICE FOR LEASE! for Rent in a fresh, clean space. $500/month, includes a large storage space, all utilities, wifi, plenty of off-street parking, and access to a shared conference room. Suite is in a shared
space with a successful local graphic design firm. Ideal for someone in the creative industry or someone looking for a clean, quiet professional space. Please call 231-357-2450 or email eric@ proofpositivedesign.com for a tour.
WE'RE HIRING AN EXPERIENCED Accountant! Take your accounting career to the next level at a reputable firm that values integrity and excellence.Perform bookkeeping services, maintain accurate financial records and manage a diverse client accounting workflow. Enjoy great benefits, pay, and work culture!
