This is another message for Michigan constituents who care for the health of their communities, the Great Lakes, and more, as I do. For the sake of those who struggled with record temperatures and weather extremes both in warmer and colder months (sciencetimes.com/ articles/61191/20260126/how-polarvortex-warm-oceans-are-driving-extremeus-winter-storms-2026.htm), and air and water pollution from disasters or outside sources, I hope you will consider contacting lawmakers to pass a superfund bill to help affected communities and exact funds for it from industrial leaders most responsible for the damage. It seems only fair that those who cause the most damage work to prevent more, or at least contribute means for us to fix it.
I understand many fossil-fuel/energy/ agribusiness companies will balk at this, and many in federal offices act to grant them immunity. (For instance, the DOJ filed a preemptive lawsuit last spring.) However, something is happening that may inspire you: Attorney General Nessel is currently filing a lawsuit against major oil companies for decades of disinformation and other damage. I appreciate the people and groups at the local and state level who keep fighting to protect and improve the health of people and nature, however scary the odds seem, and I hope you encourage them in turn.
Call or message your state senators, representatives, and governor and ask about starting a superfund bill like those Vermont and New York have, or if one exists, revisiting and expanding it. Thank the Attorney General, and others on similar cases, for their commitment. Keep seeking local helpers such as Groundwork and Michigan Homegrown Power. Thank you!
Emily Baker | Traverse City
Thank God for Minnesota
The tactics used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enforce our immigration laws are simply reprehensible and unconstitutional—a probable precursor of our future under Trump. ICE tactics in Minneapolis proved yet again that the ends never justify the means. But the good people of Minnesota have shown us how to curtail these gestapo excesses.
The small town (5,000) of Cheboygan had its own anti-ICE demonstration on Jan. 30 in single-digit, gusty weather. About 50 freezing protesters peacefully assembled, but we were warmed by hundreds of friendly car honkers and passenger waves. Hundreds of cities did the same. All wondered how thousands in Minneapolis could also protest every day in this sort of weather.
Governor Walz put it well: Minnesota is an island of decency, of justice and the rule of law, of community, and of peace. That island is growing. Minnesota may have saved us by their amazing display of strength, courage, determination, and patriotism. We are all hail from Minnesota now.
To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln: “Thank God for Minnesota!” You may remember Lincoln’s tribute to Michigan when the Civil War started at Ft. Sumter. The U.S. Capitol was unprotected at the time, and Lincoln made an urgent call for loyal states to send troops. Michigan troops were the first to march down Pennsylvania Avenue, prompting Lincoln to exclaim, “Thank God for Michigan!” I think history will also
record the great service of Minnesotans in leading the rest of us away from the dark side of fascism.
Leonard Page | Cheboygan Thru the Roof
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE FOUR LETTER WRITERS IN YOUR JAN. 26, EDITION. FIRST OF ALL THEY CANNOT SEEM TO SEE THE "FOREST THRU THE TREES." WHAT THEY DO NOT REALIZE IS: ICE HAS REMOVED THOUSANDS OF CRIMINALS WITH "BAD" RECORDS, I WOULD LIKE GET THEIR THINKING IF ONE OF THESE "CRIMINALS," MOVED NEXT DOOR TO THEM. AS FAR AS ICE REMOVING OTHER ILLEGALS, ANYONE WHO CAME INTO OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, UNDER BIDEN, BROKE OUR LAWS AND IS A CRIMINAL. ALL MY GRANDPARENTS CAME INTO OUR COUNTRY THRU ELLIS ISLAND AND HAD TO BECOME CITIZENS BEFORE THEY WERE LET MOVE INTO THE INTERIOR. AS FAR AS TRUMP DOING THE JOB. HE IS BY FAR THE BEST PRESIDENT THAT WE HAVE HAD IN 100 YEARS. I WONDER IF ANY OF THESE "LILLY" LIVERED LIBERALS CHECKED THEIR 401K RECENTLY. MY IS GOING THRU THE ROOF.
Douglas Wickstrom | Bellaire
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top ten
A Cheesy Valentine
Traverse City Food & Wine festival—which debuted last August—is feeling a bit romantic this month thanks to their Cheesiest Valentine’s Ever event running Feb. 12-15. Much like the summer festival, the weekend celebration features multiple northern Michigan businesses and team-ups. On Feb. 12, there’s a “tasting and talk” with French Valley Vineyards and Leelanau Cheese and a whiskey and cheese pairing at Traverse City Whiskey., while Feb. 13 brings wine and cheese fun at Bel Lago. Valentine’s Day itself boasts a Galentine’s Charcuterie Workshop at Black Star Farms, Bubbles & Brie at Mawby Vineyards with The Cheese Lady, and more. Last but not least, Left Foot Charley hosts an afternoon of “Vintage Reds and Grateful Dead” on Feb. 15. That’s just a small selection of the events, so head to traversecity.com/food-wine/events/the-cheesiest-valentines-ever for the full schedule and tickets.
2 tastemaker Market 22’s Cuban Pizza
Maybe if we blast the furnace, we can pretend that those piles of snow are sandy dunes…and what better snack for a beachy staycation than the warm-weather flavors of the Cuban Pizza at Market 22 in Maple City? Inspired by the signature sandwich, each Detroitstyle pie is built atop a scratch-made crust (a focaccia-based, triple-proofed labor of love) complete with a crown of crispy frico. Ingredients are layered with buttery garlic oil, handblended cheese, house ham, and citrus-marinated pork before hitting the oven. Topped off with homemade spicy pickles and a tangy yellow mustard drizzle, it’s the perfect bite to pair with a frosty beverage and bask in the heat, even if the source is your boiler room! Paradise awaits Thursday-Sunday at Market 22 in Maple City (497 E Harbor Hwy). market22mi.com
Two cops, three crooks, eight doors! This year’s Cocktails, Canapés, and Comedy theater production by the Northport Performing Arts Center is Unnecessary Farce. Set in a hotel room, where an embezzling mayor is supposed to meet with his accountant, the show also follows the two undercover cops next door, who are supposed to catch the meeting on videotape. (As you may expect, hijinks ensue!) Head to The Willowbrook in Northport, Feb. 13-15 and Feb. 20-22. Friday performances are at 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 4pm. Doors open one hour early. Your $60 ticket includes the show plus hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and dessert. northportperformingarts.org/cocktails-canapes-and-comedy
Hey, watch It! The End of an Era 4
If you’ve been holding out on watching the Taylor Swift Eras Tour documentary, perhaps it will help to know that this writer cried no fewer than five times across the six-episode series (and basically all the way through episode five, “Marjorie”—if you know, you know). I went in fully expecting fluff and self-indulgence, because what was there to say about the Era’s Tour that hadn’t already been said? But the show didn’t put the spotlight on its star as much as it did on the choreographers, dancers, band, vocalists, and other creative humans who made the record-shattering tour possible. The End of an Era felt more like a love letter to music and musicians than it did to anything else in the Swiftie universe, and it was truly a joy to see the “backup” or “behind-the-scenes” people have their moment on stage. Cozy up this weekend with a box of tissues and supplies for making friendship bracelets as you tune in on Disney+.
Love at The Weathervane
After closing from Jan. 12-29 for renovations, The Weathervane in Charlevoix is back up and running and ready to celebrate the day of love. On Saturday, Feb. 14, let someone else do the cooking with their Valentine’s Day Four Course Dinner with seatings from 4-8:30pm. ($68 per person or $120 per couple; reservations recommended.) Start off with lemon and passionfruit poached shrimp, then enjoy a dressed-up Caesar salad (think garlic confit dressing and mustard tuiles), before your main: Sea Bass En Papillot. A Black Forest Torte awaits for dessert. The following day, bring your favorite friends for a Galentine’s Day Paint & Sip from 1-3pm. Make a “Welcome” sign that matches your home vibe while you snack on apps and perhaps pay a visit to the cash bar slinging mimosas, Bloody Marys, and more. ($48 per person.) See all upcoming events at facebook.com/weathervanerestaurant.
Interlochen State Park Planning
Did you know Interlochen is home to Michigan’s first official state park? It was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1919, and in the past century has been one of the most beloved camping destinations in the state. Following a summer-long closure for upgrades in 2024, Interlochen is back on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ radar as they seek public input on a new general management plan for the park. The plan seeks to define “long-range planning and management strategies that protect parks’ natural and cultural resources, while also addressing recreation and educational needs and opportunities.” An online survey is running now through Feb. 22 at Michigan.gov/ Interlochen, where you can also review amenities, campsites, and trails. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Stuff We Love: A Tulip Subscription
This Valentine’s Day, roses are out and tulips are in. Often symbols of springtime and fresh starts, tulips are a versatile flower for gift-giving or just brightening your own space during the long, cold trudge of winter. With these good vibes in mind, Lakeview Hill Farm is launching a nine-week Tulip Subscription that runs March 6 through May 2 ($180). As a bonus, if you sign up before Valentine’s Day, you’ll get a free bouquet of tulips—grown right in the Lakeview Hill greenhouse—to pick up on Feb. 13 or Feb. 14. When subscription time hits, you’ll pick up your weekly flowers at the farm’s schoolhouse market at 8236 East Lakeview Hills Rd. just outside Traverse City on Fridays (12-6pm) or Saturdays (9am-6pm). Sign up at lakeviewhillfarm.com/flowers.
bottoms up Tank Space’s Good Will Hunting
As fans of both great beer and great cinema, we’re suckers for a first-rate brew named in reference to one of our favorite movies. The Good Will Hunting from Tank Space in Traverse City is case-in-point: a superbly-satisfying, perfectly-balanced brown ale tailor-made for easy drinking on a wintry afternoon. (The 4.9 percent ABV makes it an ideal choice for daytime sipping.) Just like its parent brewery, Earthen Ales, Tank Space usually allocates some room on its tap list for small-batch beers, and many of those limited-run concoctions are born as passion projects for staff members. The “Will” in this Good Will Hunting is an Earthen Ales/Tank Space staffer who apparently loves brown ales as much as we do, and our hat is off to him. How do you like them apples?! Stop in at 1110 E Eighth St. in Traverse City. tankspacetc.com
Photo courtesy of the Michigan DNR
Photo courtesy of Lakeview Hill Farm
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TURNING VICTORY INTO DEFEAT
spectator
By Stephen Tuttle
Immigration enforcement should be a win for Donald Trump. He promised he would secure the border, and he has certainly tightened it. He also claimed his administration would go after the worst of the worst illegal immigrants, those who committed terrible acts of violence before or after they arrived here.
It was a campaign plank with widespread support. Nobody on either side of the political fence was in favor of sheltering murderers and rapists and human traffickers. In fact, according to Pew Research Center, that support was consistent through all demographic groups.
included a requirement to learn Spanish. Detailed background checks, requiring 4560 days, were also conducted before anyone is hired. Those used to be the standards. Now agents can be trained in as little as 42 days, there is no language requirement, and it would seem that some background checks are being conducted after the fact—if at all.
On our streets we have masked and heavily armed individuals trying to deal with situations for which they are only minimally trained. The result could have been easily predicted by any administration decisionmaker, if any cared.
Trump has declared war on some American cities and in the process turned what should have been a victory lap into a bloodstained defeat.
Then Trump let his hyperbolic nonsense take over. He claimed the Biden Administration had allowed 25 million illegal immigrants into the country and further claimed countries were emptying their prisons and mental institutions and sending us the “worst of the worst.” Never mind that little of that was true, because Trump’s MAGA stalwarts are always true believers.
So, instead of identifying, targeting, and apprehending those who really do represent the worst of the worst, we decided rounding up anybody with brown skin and an accent was fair game. We send enforcement “surges” into communities typically run by Democrats simply because the disruption it causes apparently pleases Trump.
(It should be noted there was such a thing as a “Kavanaugh stop,” at least temporarily. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested accents and skin color were, in fact, sufficient for cursory stops and requests for identification during immigration surges. He has since tried to walk back those comments, since stopping anyone for no reason other than skin color and an accent is clearly unconstitutional.)
Now we have Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) roaming various neighborhoods searching for illegal immigrants. They hang out at Home Depot, outside immigration offices, and anywhere they think they might find someone here illegally. They haven’t been especially nice about it once they encounter protesters.
Enforcing immigration laws and investigating and stopping cross-border crimes, including smuggling of all kinds, is what they typically train to do. Crowd control, a more traditional law enforcement activity, is not even part of their training, such as it is these days.
Before Trump, training for ICE and the other border agencies typically took 22 weeks and
All those rapists and murderers we were going to round up? According to the Associated Press, the left-leaning Cato Institute, and others, about 70 percent of those we have apprehended and deported had no criminal records at all, and only 5 percent had any kind of violent criminal history. (The White House reverses those numbers and claims 70 percent have a criminal record simply because they were here illegally. But the Supreme Court has already ruled being in the U.S. without proper authorization is a civil offense, not a crime.)
In the midst of all of this, more than 170 American citizens have been wrongly detained according to ProPublica, and not all have yet been released. Multiple American children, including a four-year-old receiving cancer treatment and a 10-year-old with a brain tumor, have been deported.
It could be worse and has been. In Minneapolis, two protesters were killed by our surging immigration officers. Renee Good was accused of attempting to run over ICE agents and was shot in the head. The videos from many angles do not show such an attempt but do show multiple agents shouting contradictory orders at her; she could not both get out of the car and drive away at the same time.
Alex Pretti, was shot 10 times, mostly in the back by a Border Patrol agent and a Border Protection officer, neither of whom would ordinarily be facing a crowd in Minneapolis. Pretti, who was accused immediately after his death of being a “domestic terrorist” and a “wannabe assassin” who was intent on causing as “much damage as possible,” was none of those things. An ICU nurse at a local VA center, Pretti told officers he was legally armed and his gun was safely removed. Then, on the ground and with no weapons, Pretti was pepper sprayed and shot to death.
Trump has declared war on some American cities and in the process turned what should have been a victory lap into a bloodstained defeat.
WHY WALK OUT?
GUEST OPINION
By Quinn De Vecchi
In the sea of cardboard signs that read “MELT ICE,” “DEFUND ICE NOW,” and “IMMIGRANTS ARE HUMANS TOO,” students at Interlochen Arts Academy (IAA) joined in on the nationwide protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Minnesota killings.
IAA is one of the northern Michigan high schools that participated in a campus walkout against the murders in Minnesota, like Traverse City West and Traverse City Central. For IAA’s protest, over 100 out of 500 students showed up outside Corson Auditorium with signs and speakers, walking out of their 11am classes. Protestors handed out printed QR codes that led to GoFundMe pages for “communities affected by ICE” and email templates to contact state representatives.
For IAA, this protest was incredibly important, as about 20 percent of the student body is international. And while kids from abroad who are legally residing in the United States may not seem like ICE’s victims, it’s a reality many international students have had to face.
The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a nonpartisan data distribution organization that was founded in 1989 at Syracuse University, publishes immigration statistics within the United States. Since Nov. 30, 2025, the Trump Administration has held about 65,735 people in detention centers.
However, TRAC research shows 48,377 people out of that number have no criminal record whatsoever. That’s about 73 percent of detained people. Even the rest of the percentage—the ones with the criminal record—usually have “committed only minor offenses, including traffic violations,” writes TRAC.
It becomes even more worrying, as the Trump Administration seems to have no qualms about detaining children, either.
According to The Marshall Project—a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that focuses on criminal justice and was founded by Neil Barsky in 2014—there are an average of 170 children held in ICE’s detention centers a day.
Since Trump took office, over 3,800 kids have been held in detention centers, many for over 20 days, “a court-ordered limit on child detention,” explains The Marshall Project.
So for international students, the threat of being taken away and deported is completely real, and incredibly frightening.
“The growth of ICE raids has struck fear in not only me, but a lot of other students— [specifically] with how ICE has been operating,” says an international student from IAA, who has chosen to stay anonymous due to the threat of being deported. “As we
all come from such diverse backgrounds, I think that’s one of the reasons why we’re so sensitive to news related to the raids.”
On the subject of being deported, the student tells me, “We [international students] might joke around it, but I feel like some part of it is fear that it’ll happen to ourselves. We’re still in the middle of nowhere, but with how rumors have gone around…I’ve been more worried about the possibility of it happening.”
“The walkout is important because it’s one way for us to show solidarity with the national community, and it’s the easiest first step we can take to raise awareness to current national issues to the wider campus community.” Then they add, “It also gave us a platform to share our own voices about what we felt about current events, which is really precious considering how isolated we are.”
For someone who isn’t an international student, protesting ICE is a completely different experience. Yusef Henry, a senior classical double bassist at IAA who chose to be known by name “because there are individuals who don’t have the privilege of showing their face,” believes in fighting for the rights of international students at IAA.
“The importance of this walkout was to educate the students of IAA, show support for the international students, and to make sure everybody knows this is a national strike,” says Henry. Protesters also refused to buy anything on Jan. 30 to “withhold their money from the American economy.”
“I’m hoping this walkout shows the severity of this situation to those who feel impartial to it,” Henry says. “We as a society have become so devoid of empathy it’s a rare thing now. Too many people are accustomed to seeing oppression and doing nothing. We must have empathy and call upon that empathy for courage.”
Every day, teens are subject to harrowing news headlines and fact-checks on fastpaced media sites and apps, making the “oppression” Henry references feel like a part of daily life. Henry says this was one of the reasons IAA students decided to walkout with the rest of the nation during the strike. While students at IAA can live in a bubble— of media or of the separation of boarding school life—protesting and making voices heard is part of being a student there. To Henry, being an artist means stepping up and saying something.
More broadly, students protesting all around the nation are doing so for similar reasons: to defund ICE and get justice for those murdered in Minnesota and elsewhere, to show that immigrants are humans with rights, and to prove that speaking up does make a difference.
Quinn De Vecchi is a creative writing senior at Interlochen Arts Academy.
The Happiest Place on Earth
Kevin Westerhold, 51, was arrested on Jan. 27 at his home in Oviedo, Florida, ClickOrlando reported. Westerhold was sought after an incident on Jan. 22 at Windsor Hills Resort, near Disney World, in which "a male, partially clothed ... engaged in a sexual performance with a vacuum cleaner," the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said. Witnesses provided a cellphone recording of the act, but the suspect had left by the time officers arrived. Other residents of the area had reported similar occurrences to the HOA in December. Westerhold was charged with exposure of sexual organs. [ClickOrlando, 1/29/2026]
Awesome!
It's the 40th anniversary of Super Bowl XX, when the Chicago Bears won their one and only Vince Lombardi Trophy. So, WGN-TV reported on Jan. 26, what better way to celebrate than with a piece of Bears memorabilia? Up for sale at Goldin Auctions is the iconic sweater vest that became a uniform for Bears coach Mike Ditka. It comes with a letter of provenance from Ditka. (Bring your piggy bank: As of this writing, the bidding was up to $82,000.) "This wasn't Nike or Reebok or someone telling a coach what to wear," said Darren Rovell, founder of media site Collect Media. "He was going to wear it every time." Fans of the team still wear replica vests at games; the size of the original is XXL. [WGN, 1/26/2026]
People With Issues
After a romantic relationship ended, Eyvan Collins of Burnaby, British Columbia, "just needed to do something with it," they said. Thus was born the Museum of Personal Failure at the Kingsgate Mall in Vancouver. United Press International reported that Collins posted signs around the region seeking exhibits, with the headline "Failures wanted." The museum has a "wall of reject" with job application rejections and firing notices. A knife maker with Lynn Valley Forge donated a knife he had made that was unable to be sharpened because of the chemical properties in an oil he used. Also on display are tie rods from a failed car repair, failed songs from a local music producer, and Collins' mother's wedding gown, which she named "Threads of Innocence." [UPI, 1/26/2026]
It's Come to This
8AM
9AM
11AM
CNN reported on Jan. 23 that in advance of the winter storm affecting much of the nation, FEMA was warned not to use the word "ice" in any of their messaging or signage because doing so could spark confusion or online mockery. The Department of Homeland Security allegedly delivered the directive on Jan. 22. However, a FEMA spokesperson said in a statement: "FEMA will use correct and accurate descriptors of weather conditions to communicate clearly to the American people." [CNN, 1/23/2026]
And So It Begins
A chain pub in Tokyo called Tori Yaro has drawn a line in the sand: No geezers are welcome at their Shibuya location,
Japan Today reported on Jan. 25. A posted sign reads: "This is an izakaya (pub) for younger generations. Pub for under-40 only." The sign goes on to specify that as long as one person in the group is 39 or under, others will be admitted with them. "With older customers, they tend to make a lot of complaints about the restaurant being too noisy and such, so we decided to limit who's coming in," said Toshihiro Nagano, a PR spokesperson for the chain. But here's a secret: Tori Yaro will admit over-40s who are "OK with the noise level" and "have the spirit of a 20-something." Whew. [Japan Today, 1/25/2026]
Next Up: Cow Tools
Veronika, a Swiss brown cow who lives in Austria, has been documented using a tool, Live Science reported on Jan. 19. Witgar Wiegele, Veronika's owner, had seen her picking up sticks with her mouth occasionally over about nine years, but then Alice Auersperg, a cognitive biologist at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, raised the bar. Auersperg and a colleague visited Veronika and placed a broom near her. The cow used the broom to scratch her back, employing the brush end about 2.5 times more than the handle end. She learned to use the handle end to scratch more delicate areas, like her udder or navel. She would also readjust her grip on the broom for a better angle. "It showed the kind of a behavior I would expect from the stricter definitions of tool use," Auersperg said. [Live Science, 1/19/2026]
The Tech Revolution
First, we had to be afraid that students would use AI to write papers and otherwise cheat their way through school. Now, NBC News reported on Jan. 28, AI is helping students "dumb down" their work so that it's more believably original. New generative AI tools, some costing about $20 per month, "humanize" text so that it doesn't seem to be created by AI. But there's more! Other software will detect text that has been reviewed by a humanizer. "So where are we? We're just in a spiral that will never end," said Erin Ramirez, an associate professor of education at California State University. Aldan Creo, a graduate student from Spain, said he sometimes turns in his original work with a few misspelled words or using Spanish structures that aren't proper English, just so he won't be accused of using AI. "Long term, I think it's going to be a big problem," he said. [NBC News, 1/28/2026]
Yeah, That'll Work
The Independent reported on Jan. 29 that the Royal Navy is cracking down on boozy sailors. Under the new policy, crewmembers will be restricted to 14 "units" of alcohol (about 6 pints) per week, and ships will be dry on certain days. The change is in response to "significant concerns" about alcohol consumption. For their part, sailors are worried that the move is a slippery slope toward banning booze altogether. One retired rear admiral says the rule could affect morale. "You can screw down a system too much," Chris Parry said. "Sailors take great risks and make big sacrifices." [Independent, 1/29/2026]
Happily Ever After
ADVICE FROM “OLD MARRIED COUPLES”
LOVE (AND WINE, AND CHEESE, AND DANCING) IS IN THE AIR UP NORTH
By Abby McKiernan
Northern Michigan’s mid-February calendar is serving up plenty of ways to celebrate a weekend of love, whether you’re planning a classic Valentine’s date, a friends’ night out, or a family-friendly winter outing. From cozy wine-and-cheese pairings to cocoaforward bistro dinner or ice sculptures downtown, these events across the region offer a little romance, a little adventure, and a whole lot of reasons to get out of the house and explore!
What: Galentine’s with Cherry Coast
When: Feb. 11, 7pm – 9pm
Where: Modus+ Barre Fitness | 406 S Union St, Traverse City
Cost: $30
Details: A month after celebrating their grand reopening, Modus+ fitness studio is teaming up with Cherry Coast Events for a night “dedicated to friendship, fun, and supporting local.” Their Galentine’s night includes specialty cocktails, appetizers, door prizes, and activities with participating local businesses. Talk about a good way to reconnect with your 2026 fitness goals…and maybe some new gal pals along the way!
What: Valentine’s Bistro Dinner: Wine and Cocoa
When: Feb. 13, 6pm – 8pm
Where: Black Star Farms |10844 E Revold Rd, Suttons Bay
Cost: $71.10 – $87.15
Details: Cocoa takes center stage in this
multi-course dinner that explores the ingredient that goes far beyond dessert. Expect creative uses—from savory rubs and subtle accents to silky sauces and sweet finales—designed to highlight cocoa’s warmth, spice, and depth. Optional wine pairings are selected to complement each course and show how effortlessly cocoa can bridge sweet and savory.
What: Winter Wonderland Weekend
When: Feb. 13 – Feb. 15
Where: Downtown Petoskey
Cost: FREE
Details: Downtown Petoskey turns into a winter playground with ice sculptures, carving demonstrations, and plenty of reasons to linger between shops and restaurants. (There’s even a “Cupid’s Lane” section of Pennsylvania Park where folks purchased sculptures for their loved ones!)
Come for the artistry, stay for the strolling— this is the kind of weekend that makes even errands feel like an outing.
What: Valentine’s Day Tea at the Inn
When: Tea times available Feb. 13-15
Where: Inn at Bay Harbor | 3600 Village Harbor Dr #134, Bay Harbor
Cost: Prices vary
Details: Enjoy a Valentine’s-themed tea service featuring sweets, finger sandwiches, and fresh scones paired with specialty teas. For an extra treat, look for featured holiday cocktails that add a celebratory twist.
What: Beulah’s Annual Winterfest
When: Feb. 14, 10am – 8pm
Where: Downtown Beulah | S Benzie Blvd, Beulah
Cost: FREE
Details: Beulah’s Winterfest is a full-day, small-town celebration with something happening around every corner—cookie sales, chili cookoffs, wagon rides, a parade, and even an outhouse race. Add in quirky classics like frozen turkey bowling and a snowmobile poker run, then cap it off with fireworks. Come for an hour or make a whole day of it.
What: Kickball Tournament
When: Feb. 14, 10am
Where: NanBop Farm | Broadcast Way, Clam Lake Township
Cost: $175 per team
Details: Bundle up and bring your A-game for the Kickin’ It Cold Kickball Classic—a winter spin on the playground favorite. This co-ed tournament is family-friendly, community-focused, and packed with laughs (plus prizes for first and second place). Perfect for teams looking for something active and different on Valentine’s weekend.
What: Family Indian-spiced Cocoa Fest
When: Feb. 14, 1pm – 3pm
Where: Masala Magic | 115 Ames St, Elk
Rapids
Cost: Prices vary
Details: Warm up with a family-friendly
cocoa celebration featuring Indian-spiced hot chocolate, snacks, and simple activities for kids. It’s a sweet, low-key way to spend Valentine’s weekend—especially if you’re looking for something festive that isn’t a formal dinner.
What: Sip. Savor. Melt. A Love Story of Wine & Cheese at Bonobo Winery
When: Feb. 14, 1pm – 5pm
Where: Bonobo Winery | 12011 Center Rd, Traverse City
Cost: $56
Details: Spend Valentine’s Day the cozy way: wine in hand, winter views, and plenty of ooey-gooey cheese. This laid-back afternoon features raclette and other cheese specials from Leelanau Cheese and Idyll Farms, plus Bonobo wines and cocktails to match. Great for couples, friend groups, or anyone who prefers their romance with a side of melted cheese.
What: Mozzarella WorkshopCheesemaking
When: Feb. 14, 2pm
Where: Leelanau Cheese | 3324 S W Bay Shore Dr, Suttons Bay
Cost: $66.30
Details: Learn the art (and science) of fresh mozzarella in this hands-on workshop— stretching, pulling, and shaping your way through the basics. You’ll practice making bocconcini, string cheese, and burrata, then taste your creations alongside charcuterie bites. You’ll also leave with a reliable recipe
Pictured: Valentine's Day Tea at the Inn at Bay Harbor.
for making curd at home. Please wear closed-toe shoes!
What: Valentine’s Day Date Night Dance
When: Feb. 14, 5pm – 6pm
Where: Zoe Dance | 5052 M-66 N, Charlevoix
Cost: $40 per couple
Details: Skip the reservation scramble and do something you’re sure to remember: a date-night dance class. This one-hour session is designed for all levels (no experience needed), and it’s followed by 30 minutes of open dance time to keep the fun going. Just bring your partner and a willingness to learn!
What: Teen L.O.V.E. Dance
When: Feb. 14, 5pm – 7pm
Where: Cadillac Wexford Public Library | 411 S Lake St, Cadillac
Cost: FREE
Details: Speaking of dances, “Let’s Own the Valentine Energy” is exactly the vibe—this teen dance is all about celebrating friendship and self-love. Bring a sweetheart or roll with friends, dress up or dress down, and show up with good energy. A fun, welcoming option for teens who want Valentine’s plans that aren’t “cringe.” (We’re cringing just using that term!)
What: Love at First Bite: A Valentine’s Wine & Cheese Dinner
When: Feb. 14, 6pm – 8pm
Where: Dune Bird Winery | 5620 N. Manitou Trail, Northport
Cost: $160
Details: Make Valentine’s Day feel extra
special with an intimate four-course dinner featuring Idyll Farms goat cheese woven into a seasonal menu by Frederick’s Wood-Fired Catering. Each course is paired with Dune Bird wines chosen to complement every bite. Ideal for couples, friends, or anyone who believes the best celebrations happen around a great table.
What: Murder Mystery Dinner
When: Feb. 14, 7pm
Where: Otsego Resort | 696 W M-32, Gaylord
Cost: $65.75
Details: Dinner comes with a side of suspense at this Valentine-themed murder mystery night at Otsego Resort’s Special Events Center. Enjoy a curated buffet, dress up if you’d like, and lean into the drama as the story unfolds around you—then work with your table to piece together the clues. Note: This experience includes adult themes; discretion is advised for younger guests.
What: Downtown Sound: KalHaven Strings
When: Feb. 14, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Where: CTAC Theater | 461 E. Mitchell St., Petoskey
Cost: $10 – $45
Details: Crooked Tree Arts Center hosts KalHaven Strings, a Michigan-based string ensemble ready to perform everything from Mozart to Motown for audiences of all ages. The group is performing as part of CTAC’s Downtown Sound Performing Arts Series, which brings “nationally touring acts and local favorites from Michigan’s vibrant music scene” to Petoskey in the fall, winter, and spring.
NIGHT SKIING: TUESDAYS - SATURDAYS, 5 to 9 PM. Adult tickets start at $30.
As always, ages 6 and younger and 80 plus ski/board free. Details at crystalmountain.com/lifttickets.
THOMPSONVILLE,
The Ultimate Love Story Told without Words
By Lourin Sprenger
At Interlochen Center for the Arts, high school dancers are learning what it means to fall in love, feud, and grieve… all without saying a word.
This February, Interlochen’s high school ballet program will present a 90-minute production of the ultimate love story: Romeo and Juliet. Set to Sergei Prokofiev’s score and staged under the guidance of Joseph Morrissey, director of dance at Interlochen, the production brings together nearly 50 student and faculty performers for an emotionally driven retelling of Shakespeare’s tragic love story.
“We have four full weeks of rehearsal, and then the fifth week we’re in the theater,” Morrissey says of the streamlined rehearsal schedule. “By that point, if we don’t know what we’re doing, then we still have a problem.”
Despite the compressed timeline, Morrissey believes the challenge is exactly what makes the experience impactful for young dancers between the ages of 14 and 19. “It’s mature beyond their years,” he explains. “But they’re handling it very well.”
Drama Drives the Dance
Unlike popular ballets filled with fairies, princes, and swans, Romeo and Juliet demands emotional honesty and restraint. Morrissey emphasizes that the smallest details: the way a hand lifts, a glance is held, or a character hesitates are what carry the story forward.
“This ballet is so drama driven,” he says. “The drama drives the dance.”
For Lindy Sloan and Rowan Barber, seniors cast in the title roles of Juliet and Romeo (roles shared with two other sets of students), that shift has been both challenging and exciting.
“This ballet is more human-like versus the more classical repertoire we do,” Sloan says. “You’re not standing super polished all the time. You’re just standing how you would every day, which is really hard, especially in pointe shoes.”
“There’s a lot of acting and character work,” Barber says. “It’s like an extra muscle you have to flex in your brain. But once you’re comfortable, you can really manipulate it and have fun with the emotions.”
Interlochen Arts Academy takes on Romeo and Juliet as a ballet
That vulnerability is something Morrissey actively encourages, pushing students outside of the typical dance role.
“I find myself telling them the opposite of what ballet usually demands: Turn in,’” he says. “Just be a human being. That can be surprisingly difficult.”
No Performance Is the Same
The production’s quick turnaround, about 20 days from start to stage, adds pressure, but it’s a pace the dancers at Interlochen know well.
“We’re used to it,” Sloan says. “But this feels like a lot to learn in a very short amount of time, especially because it’s so character based. Every rehearsal moment really counts.”
Still, both dancers say the process has been deeply rewarding, particularly in the scenes that define the ballet. The seniors in the starring roles have been working tirelessly for this moment for the last four years.
“My favorite parts to rehearse are the iconic scenes…the ballroom, the balcony,” Sloan says with a smile. “And honestly,
learning my death was really fun.” Barber, who alternates between the roles of Romeo and Tybalt, relishes the dramatic contrast. “I love being Tybalt,” he says. “He’s intimidating, but he’s not really evil, he’s protecting what he loves. It’s so different from playing a prince in a fairytale ballet. This feels like real life.”
Morrissey has triple-cast several principal roles, allowing different interpretations to emerge across performances. “Each show has a different energy,” he says. “Everyone’s making it their own.”
“That’s what keeps it exciting,” Sloan adds. “Each performance is its own event. Someone’s doing something for the first or last time. It’s never exactly the same.”
A Right of Passage
For Sloan and Barber, Romeo and Juliet marks a milestone in their senior year. The ballet has been part of Interlochen’s four-year performance cycle, something they’ve known was coming since they first arrived on campus.
“It’s been in the background for four years,” Sloan says. “There’s pressure, but it feels
Interlochen last performed the Shakespeare classic back in 2022.
like the right timing. It feels very full circle.”
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” Barber explains. “I’ve seen so many interpretations, both on stage and in film. To finally get to tell this story, and really act through movement, is incredibly exciting.”
Adding to the production’s complexity are striking sets and costumes, some of which were recently hand-sewn in Kyiv under wartime conditions.
“When you try them on for the first time, it’s magical,” Barber recalls of his costume fitting. “Professional companies don’t always have resources like this. It’s such a privilege.”
The designs aim at realism over the fantasy
that often comes with ballet—long dresses instead of tutus, hair worn down instead of tightly secured buns. “You never dance with your hair down in ballet,” Sloan says. “That’s just Juliet. It makes it feel so real.”
From the director’s chair, Morrissey sees these choices as essential to the storytelling.
“This is a human story,” he says. “They’re not flying around with wings on. This gives them the chance to show who they are.”
Capturing Audience Attention
Running approximately 90 minutes, Morrissey has shaped the ballet with modern attention spans in mind, editing Prokofiev’s
score to keep the narrative moving.
“I’m here to tell a story,” Morrisey says. “It just happens to be through the medium of dance.”
The production runs over Valentine’s Day weekend, Feb. 13-15, at Interlochen’s Corson Auditorium, with performances Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday afternoon. The ballet will then tour to Bay Harbor’s Great Lakes Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 20.
“Whether you’re in a relationship or not, you’re going to feel something,” Morrissey says. “It’s the ultimate love story and a great way to warm your heart in the middle of a
cold February.”
For the young dancers telling a story of young love, the impact will last long after the final curtain. “No matter what you do in life,” Sloan says, “this is something you carry with you forever.”
And for audiences, it’s an opportunity to witness young artists telling a centuries-old story with fresh vulnerability, learning, in real time, how to be human on stage.
Tickets are available through Interlochen Center for the Arts’ box office and online at interlochen.org. Advance purchase is recommended.
Morrissey Sloan Barber
Serving Up a Winning Hand
Right Bower of Seven Hills not going alone (but they’ve been dealt some great cards)
By Todd VanSickle
Right Bower Kitchen & Coffee owner Victoria Levinsohn recently returned from El Salvador. The trip was intended to be a vacation, but it turned into business.
“It wasn’t planned this way, but El Salvador is a very renowned coffee growing country, so I was able to do some farm visits and marketing stuff,” Levinsohn says. “I brought back some amazing coffees from producers that I got to visit and did a tasting here.”
For little more than two months, Right Bower Kitchen & Coffee of Traverse City has been serving up freshly-made baked goods, locally-sourced dishes and, of course, gourmet coffees. Guests can order breakfast or lunch all day.
The coffee shop and bakery is tucked away inside the Seven Hills hotspot on Old Mission Peninsula. Mission Proper formerly occupied the space, but closed in October.
“I was an employee at Mission Proper and decided to carry the torch forward with a refreshed vision,” Levinsohn says. “While my business is completely new, I had some inspiration from working at Mission Proper before.”
Collaboration (for All Businesses)
Levinsohn says Seven Hills is a unique space and has a lot to offer guests throughout the year, including events and live entertainment during the summer. She feels Right Bower fits in well with the community hub that has diverse offerings.
“I refer to it as the Seven Hills collective,” Levinsohn says. “We’re not competing. It’s all very collaborative. There are two different main buildings. So we share one building with Old Mission Distilling, and then the other building houses Tinker Studio, and they do art classes, as well as selling local crafts, books, and art.”
The owner says Right Bower’s name is a play on its location and a popular Michigan pastime—euchre. Right Bower’s logo is a
feminized Jack of Diamonds.
“I am all right. I dabble a bit,” Levinsohn describes her euchre-playing skills. “It’s a unifying Midwest and northern Michigan sentiment. I think the nostalgia of it brings people together, and that’s what I want to cultivate.”
Right Bower is also located just east of Bowers Harbor on Old Mission.
“The name has a double meaning, being close to Bowers Harbor, for sure,” Levinsohn says. “When I came up with it, I was thinking that a lot of things on Old Mission Peninsula are named for Michigan or the peninsula. They all have names that resonate with the area. I wanted to do that as well, but I wanted to be extra creative somehow.”
Right Bower and Old Mission Distillery currently host euchre nights on Sundays at 5pm.
“We keep the kitchen open and serve dinner,” Levinsohn says. “People want cocktails or beer in the evening more than they really want a latte. We are able to support the bar and they help our side as well.”
Even when Right Bower closes they still have something to offer, Levinsohn tells us. Old Mission Distillery patrons are able to snag a bite by ordering food that Right Bower leaves available for purchase after they shut down for the day.
“We always leave some after-hours food like soup or sandwiches,” Levinsohn says. “There’s not a ton of people ordering food in the evenings. But, a customer working on their computer for a few hours in the afternoon doesn’t have to leave at 3pm when we close. They can just stay, because the whole building stays open.”
In the future, she hopes to work more with nearby vineyards.
“We’re kind of one of the only casual food stops for people visiting the wineries,” says Levinsohn. “I am excited to connect more with the wineries and see if we can collaborate a little bit.”
Comfort (for Food and Coffee)
Right Bower’s atmosphere is warm and inviting with comfortable seating and a relaxed vibe.
“A lot of coffee shop strategy is let people be comfortable, but not too comfortable, because they’ll stay forever and they’ll only pay $4,” Levinsohn says. “I’m not too worried about that. I want people to just be comfortable and enjoy the space, so we have a lot of comfortable spots to sit and some unique designs.”
The whole space has a modern feel with a retro twist that flows seamlessly between the distillery and coffee shop. Subway tiles line the front counter and a large Persianstyle rug covers the concrete floor. The many windows give a view of the surrounding hills and maples that dominate the landscape.
Right Bower is still in its infancy, but the owner is looking to expand on what she has to offer guests, including more dinners, bakery goods, and possibly roasting coffee. Levinsohn says Right Bower uses “high quality” Panther Coffee Roasters.
“I’m very passionate about coffee quality,” she says. (Be sure to check out
their seasonal specials in addition to a list of classic options.)
Levinsohn describes her food as “classic, comfortable plates with an elevated twist.”
On the breakfast side, you’ll see a dressedup avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, and the Cinnamon Oat Pancakes, topped with Greek yogurt, spiced apple compote, and crunchy pepitas.
For lunch, there’s the Spinach Artichoke Wrap, a roast beef melt, and the Queen’s Proper Handheld (honey-roasted turkey layered with swiss cheese, thinly sliced apples, pickled red onion, cranberry dijonnaise, and arugula on warm housemade focaccia). Soup, soft pretzels, and bites for littles (like PB&J and grilled cheese), round out the offerings.
Levinsohn uses local ingredients as much as possible, and as the seasons change, so does the menu.
“I think a lot of people up here are looking for comfort, and we want to give that to them,” Levinsohn says. “I love the creativity that comes with cooking. I want to highlight Michigan produce. It tastes better that way too.”
The owner adds that Right Bower has a pastry chef and bakes most things in-house. Levinsohn makes all the bread and helps out her team of eight employees where she can.
She sees a demand for more dinner options and is planning on doing more this spring. One of her favorite aspects about running Right Bower is the monthly dinners, which are slated for the third Tuesday of each month. Tickets are sold for the four-course meal and seating is limited.
“It is a set menu themed differently each month meant to highlight local farmers and healthy, delicious and more intricate spreads of food,” she says.
Looking Ahead (to Summer!)
As the warmer months approach, Levinsohn plans to have dinner daily and stay open later.
“June is when I’m planning on launching the dinners officially,” she says. “That’s kind
of meant to complement the summer music series and when more people are in town.”
Before starting Right Bower, Levisohn was staying with her aunt and uncle on Old Mission training for the Frankfort half Ironman.
Swimming is her strongest leg, she says.
“Finished it,” she says of her first Ironman.
“It happened—it could have been worse, it could have been better. I'm relatively new to the triathlon world, but I really like it.”
The East Lansing native spent a few years living a nomadic life traveling and working remotely. She helped open and manage a coffee shop in Los Angeles, California, and also started and ran a plant-based meal prep company.
“I see things growing in so many ways,” Levinsohn says of Right Bower’s future. “I’m trying to hold myself back a little bit, I have a lot of ideas.”
Find Right Bower at 13795 Seven Hills Rd in Traverse City. (231) 492-0026; rightbowertc.com
The monthly dinner series has been a huge hit.
Levinsohn in front of the walk-up counter of the eatery.
Enjoy a cocktail from neighboring Old Mission Distilling in the same space at Right Bower.
Yorgos Lanthimos could be described as more of a state of mind than a director.
The creative visionary behind Dogtooth, The Lobster, and Poor Things to name just a few, Lanthimos doesn’t so much take you on cinematic journeys as much as he takes you on moving-image acid trips. His now signature style of cerebral stories with eccentric and often dazzling performances continues with Bugonia, a psychological thriller with a sci-fi twist that has four upcoming chances to win an Oscar.
Most notably, Bugonia is nominated for Best Picture of the Year, and is in my opinion the most uniquely weird of the bunch. Also notable is the Academy’s absence of a Best Director honor to Lanthimos (he’s been nominated twice before), reflecting perhaps a mixed/positive response to the Hollywood outsider from Greece.
Bugonia makes its dreamy tone known from the get-go, so you need to settle in early and allow the world of the story to reveal itself bit by bit. For most of the remarkably simple plot, the film will feel very familiar as it follows a classic “hostage film” narrative from beginning to end in the same vein as Silence of the Lambs or Misery
The kidnapper is a greasy social outsider named Teddy, played with a creepy savant edge by Jessie Plemons as a painfullyprecise conspiracy theorist who comes to believe nature’s imbalances have been caused by forces only he can stop. Recruited reluctantly into his madness is simpleton Don (played beautifully by Aidan Delbis), Teddy’s cousin, who is along for the ride and a sidekick for Teddy’s rants and raves, even if he can’t quite understand them.
The prisoner of these hijinks is pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller,
by Joseph beyer
played by Emma Stone with the same brave fierceness she’s brought to other Lanthimos’ films (this is their fifth collaboration). Her portrayal of the not-helpless-at-all victim who uses all her skills to extract herself is biting, unpredictable, and sometimes riveting. Stone has already won two acting Oscars, and with Bugonia she has earned another deserving nomination.
There’s a certain Sigourney Weaver “Ripley on Ambien” vibe to Stone’s performance, and a milder Of Mice and Men chillness to the hijackers. That simmering tension in the film’s center can drag on a bit when you don’t yet understand the character vendettas or how dense they will become.
Most dramatic are the music cues and score from composer Jerskin Fendrix, another of the film’s Oscar nominees.
But Lanthimos and screenwriter Will Tracy bring the drama back big time in the final act for a symphony of bizarre twists and turns I should not reveal. It all explodes into a final sequence that is impossible not to be mesmerized by, but also makes you feel as if you don’t really know what happened either. Perhaps that lonely confusion is the point?
Such is the delight and provocation of the work—a treatise on social power struggles, our place in the universe, our animal nature, and the impossible powers of minds that not even AI can understand. Despite its name, Bugonia is a clever profile of we humans in both our bravado and insignificance.
Rated R mainly for some bloody violence, the film runs 1 hour 57 minutes and is widely available to stream or rent online.
A NEW DEAL OR A RAW DEAL?
Guest Opinion
by Cathye Williams
President Trump often compares himself to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In a recent cabinet meeting, he asserted that his 2025 legislation known as the “Big Beautiful Bill” was the “Republican version of the New Deal.” Pointing to FDR’s portrait, Trump added that the BBB is a “much better deal than the FDR deal” (CNN News).
While this thought may have FDR rolling in his grave, let’s see how the two legislative juggernauts really compare:
FDR’s New Deal comprised several public acts implemented throughout the 1930s aimed at lifting America out of the Great Depression and making it resilient against future calamities.
Like the CCC, the WPA employed millions building roads, bridges, schools, and arts and literacy programs across the country. In these programs, thousands of illiterate people learned to read and write, leading to opportunities to enrich themselves and their communities.
In contrast, Trump’s policies aim to dismantle public funding for education and the arts. (Particularly those that don’t fuel his ego or align with MAGA ideology.) His landmark legislation introduced significant cuts targeting the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and various grant programs (Center for American Progress).
FDR’s New Deal comprised several public acts implemented throughout the 1930s aimed at lifting America out of the Great Depression and making it resilient against future calamities.
One of the best known of these New Deal efforts was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which provided jobs and training to three million young men to protect the nation’s natural resources.
Corps members planted over three billion trees, created countless state parks, fought fires, and constructed hundreds of thousands of miles of roads and trails. The CCC’s erosion control work restored precious soil lost in the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma and other farm belt states. Training and pay went directly to the people doing the service work, boosting the economy and their collective power (Oklahoma Historical Society).
In comparison, Trump’s legislation does very little for natural resources and not much more for job growth. It strips policies that protect our air, water, and land while Trump’s “drill baby drill” mentality damages the environment and drives climate change. Fossil fuel extraction requires far more energy and heavy equipment than it does manpower.
Trump’s jobs plan involves giving tax cuts and other advantages to wealthy people and corporations. He claims that these benefits will grow the economy and “trickle down” to create jobs and investment.
History has shown us, however, that executives and shareholders usually reap the most benefit from trickle down economics, and much less flows to workers and local communities.
Additionally, these tax cuts shrink the public funds needed to keep up infrastructure used by businesses and individuals alike. Responsibility falls more and more on working people to keep things running for the common good.
The New Deal also established the very effective Works Project Administration.
After the devastation of the Great Depression, FDR wisely created oversight for financial markets: the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for protecting people’s hard-won savings. His Social Security Act established unemployment, disability, and old age benefits for millions.
Today, Trump’s administration is trying to weaken or abolish consumer protections, market oversight, and unions, as well as interfering with the operation of the Federal Reserve.
The New Deal seems to lack what Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill has in abundance— cruelty. With the BBB, Republicans in Congress are making major cuts over 10 years to Medicaid ($900 billion), Obamacare ($31 billion), and SNAP food assistance ($187 billion). This means cutting healthcare for the poor, health insurance subsidies for the middle class, and food benefits for children and families.
Will these devastating cuts help lift the nation out of debt? Doubtful. The Congressional Budget Office projects that the BBB will increase the deficit by $3.4 trillion.
Don’t worry—it’s not all cuts. The Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for instance, will have a budget of $85 billion to carry out illegal arrests, detentions, and rights violations, making it the highest funded law enforcement agency in the U.S. (NPR).
Apparently, the real art of Trump’s deal is to make us poorer, sicker, hungrier, and more afraid.
Cathye Williams is a local climate activist. She writes from the northern corner of Manistee County.
Saturday
GRASS RIVER 5K/10K
SNOWSHOE RACE: 10am, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Put on your snowshoes & run or walk for this fundraiser for Grass River Natural Area programs. $45. grassriver.org
VINTAGE VALENTINE’S DAY CARDS & CRAFTS: Harbor Springs History Museum. Tour the museum & create handmade Valentine’s cards & crafts inspired by historic designs. Stop in any time between 10am-3pm. Cookies & hot chocolate will be served. You are welcome to make an online donation. harborspringshistory.org/events/calendar/ programs/vintage-valentines-day-cards-andcrafts-open-house.html -
HARBOR SPRINGS ICE FEST: Featuring more than 50 ice sculptures throughout downtown Harbor Springs, along with multiple live carvings & the Dueling Chainsaws Show. There will also be an interactive ice park in Zorn Park with large sculptures that are perfect for photo ops & play, a scavenger hunt, games & two horse drawn wagons giving free tours. Free. downtownharborsprings.com/ice-fest
MUSICAL STORYTIME WITH THE TC PHIL: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Featuring: Trombone. Instrument petting zoo, story reading, movement, & crafts. Recommended ages: 7 & under. Free. tcphil.org/concerts
TEA PARTY & HISTORY TALK: 11am, Ephraim Shay Works Museum, Harbor Springs. Curator Beth Wemigwase will give a History Talk exploring the history of the Shay Hexagon House as a longtime tearoom & talk a little about the history of Valentine’s Day. For the first time in over 60 years, you can experience the Shay House’s tea room for yourself! During the talk, you will enjoy a sampling of handmade teas from local company Jordan’s Teas, along with fresh scones & other baked treats. $30; must register in advance. harborspringshistory.org/events/calendar/programs/ tea-party-and-history-talk.html -
WIENER SKI: 11am-6pm, Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay. Includes free access to two freshly-groomed trails, just steps from the tasting room. Visitors can take the 5K loop for cross-country skiing & hiking or choose a separate 1.5K trail made for snowshoeing on the estate winery’s property. Guests can bring their own equipment or rent skis or snowshoes from Suttons Bay Bikes. Rentals will be arranged in advance. Leelanau Cheese will be serving their beer brats. shadylanecellars.com/event-home/events
PARENT & CHILD RACE: 1-3pm, The Highlands at Harbor Springs. A fun NASTAR giant slalom challenge designed for families who love a little friendly competition. Each team is made up of one parent & one child. Each racer takes one run, & the combined handicaps determine the team score. Registration runs from 9am-noon in Brew Bar in the Day Lodge. highlandsharborsprings.com/events/parent-andchild-race
SLEDDING PARTY: 1-3pm, Grace Macdonald Park, TC. Enjoy sledding, hot chocolate, coffee & sweet treats. 947-8647. Free.
OTP’S STAGED READING GROUP’S SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF “SAM SHOVEL
– PRIVATE EYE”: 4pm, The Music House Museum, Williamsburg. This performance is a fundraiser for The Music House Museum. It’s a hot & sultry day in the gritty city, & Sam Shovel has a dead man sprawled in her office, stabbed in the back with a yardstick. Ends up this is just the first of a string of murders
happening in the fashion industry. $25 online; $30 door. purchase.oldtownplayhouse. com/EventAvailability?EventId=22801
THE COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES:
“BOKA THE COOKBOOK”: amical, TC, Feb. 2-7. Since 2003 BOKA has solidified its place as one of Chicago’s most iconic & award-winning restaurants. The cookbook offers a journey through the seasonal American flavors & traditions that define BOKA’s legacy. amical.com/boka
ALL HEARTS DANCE PARTY: 5-7pm, The Curiosity Place, GT Mall, TC. Featuring family-friendly D.J. Ryan Shrock of Shoreline Sound bringing tunes, lights, bubbles & more. Tickets: children - $13 members; $15 nonmembers. $5 adults. Tickets include activities, snacks, full museum admission, & an entry into a door prize raffle. greatlakeskids.org/news
CANDLELIGHT: VALENTINE’S DAY SPE-
CIAL: 6:30pm, Kirkbride Hall, The Village at GT Commons, TC. $49-$57.50. Enjoy the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience under the gentle glow of candlelight. Featuring the Listeso String Quartet performing songs like “Unchained Melody,” “A Whole New World,” many others. feverup.com/m/470677
DINNER THEATER: NANA’S NAUGHTY
KNICKERS: 6:30pm, Eagle’s Hall, Cheboygan. A silly play about Bridget’s energetic Nana & her secrets & a tricky stage set that reveals them. Northland Players production. Call 231627-4051 for reservations. $30. nlplayers.org
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. The Acting Company reinvigorates Charles Dickens’ novel with a stage adaptation full of unexpected hilarity & romantic heart. Starting at $37. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/ great-expectations
BLISSFEST TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY
DANCE: 7:30pm, Littlefield/Alanson Community Building, Alanson. All dances taught (circles, contras, squares & more). No need to bring a partner. Potluck at 6:30pm. Bring table service & a dish to pass. $10/person; $5/student; 12 & under, free. blissfest.org
DESMOND JONES & MARK LAVEN-
GOOD: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Five-piece rock band from Grand Rapids, Desmond Jones brings their groove-driven original music, joined by dobro master Mark Lavengood. $20-$30. cityoperahouse.org
SISTERS OF SOUL: 7:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Lead vocalist of northern Michigan’s Barefoot, Jenni Rae brings a love letter & tribute to the songs & stories of Ella Fitzgerald & Etta James. Joining Rae are musicians Phil Tarczon, Jason Hargreaves, Eric Joslin, Carter and Logan Hargreaves, Markus Messina, Brian Ferriby & Phil Coryell. Tickets are $25; a table (4 people) with champagne is $250. gardentheater.org/thisweek
WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Ken Harrison, a successful sculptor, is paralyzed & kept alive by support systems. Outwardly he’s cheerful, but he does not want to live only as a medical achievement. However, his physician is determined to preserve his life. $25. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/studiotheatre/whose-life-is-it-anyway.html
sunday
DWELLING: A CONVERSATION ABOUT LIVING
WELL: 1pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center, Main Gallery. How
Go Big or Go Home! Fife Lake’s Annual Ice Fishing Derby is held on Valentine’s Day this year, and also happens to fall on Free Fishing Weekend, which means no license required. Grand Prize is $1,000, and there are also Big Catch prizes for pike, perch and walleye for both adults and children (youth anglers 2-17 yrs. old). Register at JB’s Midway Outdoor Supply. $10-$35 before Feb. 13; $20-$50 after. You can also enter in the free Ice Shanty Decorating Contest! The derby runs from 7am-4pm at 211 E. State St. eventcreate.com/e/fife-lake-annual-1000-ice-derby-2026
can we live better, & dwell more thoroughly in our homes? Two northern Michigan interior designers explore that question. This conversation takes place as part of the GAAC’s INteriors exhibition. Free. glenarborart.org
GREAT LAKES CINEMA SERIES: PADDINGTON IN PERU: 2pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. A new adventure filled with humor, heart, & plenty of mishaps as Paddington travels to his homeland. Pay what you can admission. greatlakescfa.org/ events/detail/paddington-in-peru
monday
BRIGHTLETICS CHAIR EXERCISES: 10am, Senior Center, TC. Brightletics founder Lisa George teaches low-impact fitness classes from a seated chair. $5. gtcountymi. gov/2165/FitnessExercise
2026 LECTURE SERIES: HISTORIC COSTUME INTERPRETATION: 7pm, Mackinaw Area Public Library, Mackinaw City. Explore the process of researching & implementing historic clothing for museum educators & hobbyists with Curator of Interpretation at Mackinac State Historic Parks LeeAnn Ewer. Free. mackinawhistory.org
tuesday
WINTER PEEPERS: LINGERING LEAVES: 10am, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. For ages 3-5 years old with an adult. Stories, crafts, music, & discovery activities. Takes place entirely outside. Learn about why some leaves stay green through the
colder months while others change color & fall. Register. $5/child per session; cash only! natureiscalling.org/preschool-peepers-program
VOTER INFO: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, Lobby, TC. Join the League of Women Voters of Grand Traverse Area on the second Tues. of every month during 2026 for all of your voter info needs - registration, info about candidates & ballot measures, & more! This event is part of the 2026 Civics Celebration - tadl.org/ democracy. Free. tadl.org/LWVinfoTable
AFTERNOON CHILL ON THE ROAD: 5-7pm, The LOFT CoWorking Space, upstairs, 152 E. Main St., Harbor Springs. Enjoy light refreshments & conversation. Find out what’s happening around town & meet new people. No RSVP needed.
wednesday
HEMLOCK WOOLY ADELGID WALK: 8am, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Join GRNA’s Conservation Director Emma Fitzgerald for the yearly Hemlock Wooly Adelgid monitoring of the Hemlocks along the GRNA trails. Learn how to identify Hemlock trees & common look-a-likes. Please RSVP: emma@ grassriver.org. Free. grassriver.org
GAYLORD BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-7pm, Hogans Jewelers, Gaylord. An evening of networking, conversation, & connection with fellow local professionals. $5 Chamber Members; $10 not-yet members.
HOUSING TRUST OF BENZIE’S ANNUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: 5:30pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. Housing expert Ryan Kilpatrick of Flywheel Momentum will share insights on today’s most
pressing issues, as you explore the future of housing in Benzie County. Free. www-housingtrustofbenzie-org.
ART MEET UP: 6-8pm, Up North Pride Community Center, TC. Bring your own art project & enjoy an evening with friends. If you don’t have an art project, just bring yourself & a smile. Free. upnorthpride.com
thursday BRIGHTLETICS CHAIR
EXERCISE CLASS: 10am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Brightletics founder Lisa George teaches low-impact fitness classes from a seated chair. Registration is not required. Free. brightletics.com
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COFFEE @ TEN, PETOSKEY: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. “Northern Michigan Winters: Past, Present, Future” will be led by Freshwater Future’s Ann Baughman. She will share info on how climate change is impacting northern Michigan winters & how we can prepare & adapt for changing conditions. Free. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/eve nts/?page=1&location=petoskey#class-list
“THE HISTORY OF CRYSTAL HIGHLANDS”: 4pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. Presented by Anne Rogers. Learn about Crystal Highlands, located high on a glacial moraine above Crystal Lake’s north shore. In the early part of the 20th century, after the logging era, orchards & farms were established in the cutover lands. In the early 1970s, Jim Kelly & Jack French acquired 550 acres of farmland with a vision to create a resort community while preserving the area’s ecology. This is the story of that community. Recommended donation: $5. benziemuseum.org
EVERYONE HAS A STORY: STORYTELLING COMMUNITY CIRCLE: 5:30-7pm, Kingsley Branch Library. Join The Kingsley Folk School for a relaxed, no-prep storytelling community circle, Everyone Has a Story. Share real moments from your life, told to connect, laugh, reflect. Held the 2nd Thurs. of every month. Free. tadl.org/event/everyone-has-story-28438
HAMILTON SING-ALONG: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Join fellow fans to watch & sing along with the hit Broadway musical about the ten-dollar founding father. Costumes encouraged! This event is part of the 2026 Civics Celebration - tadl.org/democracy. Free. tadl.org/singhamilton
CLASS: 11am, Senior Center, TC. Brightletics founder Lisa George teaches low-impact fitness classes from a seated chair. Register on site or online. $5. gtcountymi.gov/2165/ FitnessExercise
NIGHT TO SHINE: 6-9pm, New Hope Community Church, TC. A global celebration for people with special needs, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Includes a red-carpet welcome, dinner, dancing, & a crowning ceremony where every guest is honored as a king or queen. Free. newhope.cc/shine
DINNER THEATER: NANA’S NAUGHTY KNICKERS: (See Sat., Feb. 7)
“UNNECESSARY FARCE”: 7pm, The Willowbrook, Northport. Two cops, three crooks, eight doors! This year’s Cocktails, Canapés, and Comedy theater production by the Northport Performing Arts Center takes place in an economy hotel room, where an embezzling mayor is supposed to meet with his accountant. In the room next door, two undercover cops are supposed to catch the meeting on videotape. See what happens when there is hilarious confusion, including who is in which room, & why does the accountant keep taking off her clothes? Doors open one hour early. Your $60 ticket includes the show plus hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, & dessert. northportperformingarts. org/cocktails-canapes-and-comedy
DMC CONCERT: FULL CORD: 7pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Michigan-based bluegrass supergroup Full Cord won the 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition in Colorado. Following that, the International Bluegrass Music Association named Full Cord its Momentum Award Band of the Year. Visuals by Super Nuclear. $20-$30. dennosmuseum.org/events/milliken
“ROMEO AND JULIET”: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Witness William Shakespeare’s tragic tale of star-crossed lovers as the Arts Academy Dance Division presents the ballet adaptation of Romeo & Juliet. Sparks fly when Veronese teenagers Romeo & Juliet meet at a party, but their whirlwind courtship is complicated by their families’ long-standing feud. $19$34. interlochen.org/concerts-and-events/ all-events?search=Romeo+and+Juliet
MISERY: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Novelist Paul is rescued from a car crash by his fan, Annie, & wakes up in her secluded home where she reads his newest novel & realizes he has killed off her favorite character. Annie forces Paul to write a new novel, as he discovers Annie has no intention of letting him leave. $35 adults; $25 under 18. oldtownplayhouse. com/performances/mainstage/misery.html
feb 14
saturday
FIFE LAKE ANNUAL ICE FISHING DERBY: 7am, 211 E. State St., Fife Lake. This event falls on the Free Fishing Weekend, which means there is no license required. $1,000 Grand Prize & Big Catch prizes for pike, perch & walleye for adults & children - youth anglers - 2-17 yrs. old. Online registration; in-person registration at JB’s Midway Outdoor Supply. $35 per adult; $10 per child. eventcreate.com/e/fife-lake-annual-1000-ice-derby-2026
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT!: Help count birds & enter the data into the eBird app. This event begins at Medalie Park on Boardman Lake, TC from 9-11am & moves to Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve from 11:30am to 12:30pm for a nature walk on the Looyenga Family Trail. This is part of the global Great Backyard Bird Count. Download the eBird app in advance. Must register in advance. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/es/ event/home/greatbackyardbirdcount021425
FEATURING SOPRANO
ASHLEE FOREMAN
ONE OF THE FRESHEST AND MOST ASSURED NEW VOICES IN CLASSICAL MUSIC
SATURDAY • FEBRUARY 21 • 7:30 pm • $30
SECOND FLOOR COMMONGROUNDS BUILDING
HBA OF NW MI TRAVERSE CITY HOME EXPO 2026: 9am-5pm, GT Resort & Spa, Acme. Featuring 100+ exhibitors, the Love Your Home Expo fills the entire lower level with more vendors, workshops, & inspiration than ever before. From remodeling to new builds, discover fresh ideas & connect with the experts who can help you create a home you love. eventhub.net/events/HBA-of-NWMI-Traverse-City-Home-Expo-2026_6903
THE 50TH ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN VASA: 9am, Timber Ridge Resort, TC. Nordic ski & fat tire bike races on the Vasa Pathway & winter sports single track trails of the Pere Marquette State Forest in GT County. See web site for multiple race options & to register. There will also be a Vasa Community Celebration & Awards Ceremony on Feb. 14 from 5-8pm at Park Place Hotel Ballroom (tickets, $10-$15). Race: $0-$105. vasa.org/Race/MI/TraverseCity/NorthAmericanVasaFestivalofRaces
WINTER WONDERLAND WEEKEND: (See Fri., Feb. 13)
BETSIE BAY FROZEN 5K: 10am, Elberta Lookout, Bye Rd., Elberta. Busing to the start will be provided by Frankfort Area Schools & Benzie Bus. Proceeds benefit Benzie County Youth Initiative. $37. runsignup.com/Race/ Events/MI/Elberta/BetsieBayFrozenK
BEULAH’S ANNUAL WINTERFEST: 10am8pm, downtown Beulah. Cookie sale, snowmobile poker run, frozen turkey bowling, chili cookoff, horse drawn wagon rides, snowball target throw, frozen fish toss, parade, valentine contest, outhouse race, fireworks & more. clcba.org/event/winterfest
CHARLEVOIX INDOOR SIDEWALK SALES: (See Fri., Feb. 13)
PETOSKEY WINTER CARNIVAL: 10am, Petoskey Winter Sports Park. “Throwback to Winter.” Bumpjump race in the morning. Spend the afternoon skating, sledding, & playing hockey. Then make your own cardboard sled & participate in the Cardboard Challenge! petoskey. us/news_detail_T29_R197.php
SWEETHEART OF A SALE: Downtown TC, Feb. 14-16. A downtown-wide, shop-dineplay weekend featuring special offers, treats, & feel-good finds from participating TC businesses. See web site for offers. downtowntc. com/sweetheart-of-a-sale
Children’s Program Room. Drop in any time between noon-3pm. Free. petoskeylibrary. org/whats-happening/kids-programs
GAAC GALLERY WALK + TALK: 1pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center, Main Gallery. Join a conversational tour of the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s current exhibits. GAAC Gallery Manager Sarah Bearup-Neal leads a Walk + Talk of INteriors, and Small Accomplishments. Free. glenarborart.org/product/gallery-walk-talk
MARCH FOR JUSTICE: 1pm, The Workshop Brewing Co., TC. Join Women’s March Traverse to march to demand justice for Renee Nichole Good & Alex Pretti, both of whom were shot to death by ICE in Minnesota while peacefully protesting. Gather at The Workshop Brewing Company on Garland St. March peacefully & respectfully through downtown TC & then line the Parkway, ending back at The Workshop.
PICTURE THIS: A DAY OF CONNECTING THROUGH ART: 1-4pm, Hotel Indigo, TC. A free community gathering centered on connection & healing through creative expression. There will be a raffle for a winner to go home with a microwave donated by Traverse City ABC Warehouse. This event is hosted in honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness Month. eventbrite.com/e/picture-this-aday-of-connecting-through-art-tickets-19818 79510968?aff=oddtdtcreator
“ROMEO AND JULIET”: (See Fri., Feb. 13, except today’s performances are at 2pm & 7:30pm.)
“UNNECESSARY FARCE”: (See Fri., Feb. 13, except today’s time is 4pm.)
DEAD POETS SOCIETY: DEVOTION: 6pm, Blessed Be Tea and Apothecary, TC. Held every 2nd Sat. of the month. You will gather in a circle & take turns reading poetry in a round-robin style. Poetry may come from poets dead or alive, & your own original works are encouraged. Recommended for ages 15+. Led by Allie Robinson-Ollila. Suggested donation: $5-$10. blessedbetea.com
THE BEST YETI FEST THIS SIDE OF THE HIMALAYAS: Suttons Bay. Includes Yeti fun at Suttons Bay Bingham District Library from 10am-2pm; a free movie at Bay Theatre at 10am; Digital Scavenger Hunt & Kids Scavenger Hunt from noon-4pm; Strolling Chili Cook-Off from 2-4:30pm, & much more. suttonsbaychamber.com/yetifest
LITTLE WAVES WITH GREAT LAKES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: Held at 10:30am at Petoskey District Library, Children’s Dept.; & 1pm at Charlevoix Public Library. Designed for curious minds aged 4 to 10, this program invites young explorers to discover the wonders of music & instruments in a relaxed & informal setting. Held the second Sat. of the month. Free. glcorchestra.org
ARTIST TALK: 11am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. “Paris, a Plein Air Journey with Adam VanHouten.” 2026 Paint Grand Traverse invited artist will share insights from a month-long plein air journey he undertook last summer. Free. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/events/?page=1&location=traversecity#class-list
CONVERSATION HEART CRAFT: Petoskey District Library. A Valentine’s Day craft in the
VALENTINE’S DINNER THEATRE: 6pm, AuSable Artisan Village Performing Arts Center, Grayling. Enjoy fine dining & dessert paired with select wines, plus live piano music by Allen Bondar, & three performances by the AAV Community Theatre. $75 + fees. artisanvillage.org/events -
DINNER THEATER: NANA’S NAUGHTY KNICKERS: (See Sat., Feb. 7)
“LOVE LETTERS”: 7pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. Presented by the Benzie County Players. Find ‘Mills Community House’ on Facebook. $10; available at door.
GREAT LAKES CINEMA SERIES: “LA LA LAND”: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. $5 all seats or 2 for $8. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/la-la-land
MARDI GRAS IN SUTTONS BAY: 7pm, The Bay Theatre, Suttons Bay. Enjoy Detroit jazzmen, the Paxton-Spangler New Orleans band. They’ve backed NOLO greats Johnny Adams & Earl King. Mardi Gras beads & masks available if you don’t bring your own. $30 advance; $35 door. thebaytheatre.org/ movie/live-at-the-bay-paxton-spangler-mardigras-band?date=2026-02-14#/movie/live-atthe-bay-paxton-spangler-mardi-gras-band
DOWNTOWN SOUND: KALHAVEN STRINGS: 7:30-9:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Enjoy the elegance of a traditional string ensemble with a fresh, modern twist. Michigan’s KalHaven
Strings moves easily from Bach to the Beatles, from Mozart to Motown, & beyond. $10$40. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/ events/downtown-sound.html -
GUITAR DREAMS: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Featuring Jake Allen & Ryan David Green. Includes instrumental guitar pieces & delicate vocal tunes. Allen has toured globally, is endorsed by Takamine Guitars, & has shared stages with guitar legends such as Andy McKee & Mike Dawes. Green’s original compositions have received numerous film & TV placements, including shows on E!, Lifetime, & ABC Family/Freeform. $20-$30. cityoperahouse.org/guitardreams
MISERY: (See Fri., Feb. 13)
MOCK TOURS AT THE DENNOS: VALENTINE’S EDITION: 7:30pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Professional improvisers from Full Tilt Comedy return as fictional docents leading you on dramatic & totally made up tours of the museum. Perfect for couples, friends, or solo adventurers, enjoy this lighthearted evening of laughter. $20-$25. simpletix.com/e/mock-tours-at-the-dennos-valentine-s-editi-tickets-247336
SIDE BY SIDE: 7:30-9:30pm, TC Philharmonic Center, MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation Hall. A two-piano tribute to American music. Featuring the music of Gershwin, Bernstein, Adams, & Beach. $34-$48. tcphil.org/concerts
FULL CORD: 8pm, Freshwater Art Gallery/ Concert Venue, Boyne City. Michigan-based bluegrass supergroup Full Cord won the 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition in Colorado. Following that, the International Bluegrass Music Association named Full Cord its Momentum Award Band of the Year. Opening for Full Cord is special guest, Michigan singer-songwriter Robin Lee Berry. Call to reserve tickets: 231-582-2588. Please bring items for the Good Neighbor Food Pantry. $45. freshwaterartgallery.com
sunday
WINTER WONDERLAND WEEKEND: (See Fri., Feb. 13)
THE 50TH ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN VASA: (See Sat., Feb. 14)
CHARLEVOIX INDOOR SIDEWALK SALES: (See Fri., Feb. 13)
SWEETHEART OF A SALE: (See Sat., Feb. 14)
HBA OF NW MI TRAVERSE CITY HOME EXPO 2026: (See Sat., Feb. 14, except today’s time is 11am-3pm.)
“ROMEO AND JULIET”: (See Fri., Feb. 13, except today’s time is 2pm.)
-MISERY: (See Fri., Feb. 13, except today’s time is 2pm.)
SIDE BY SIDE: (See Sat., Feb. 14, except today’s time is 3-5pm.)
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“UNNECESSARY FARCE”: (See Fri., Feb. 13, except today’s time is 4pm.)
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GLCO PRESENTS CUMMINGS QUARTET RECITAL: 4pm, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Petoskey. The public recital is part of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra’s Sunday Series, which features small orchestra ensembles performing free of charge. glcorchestra.org/sundayseries
ongoing
WOW ON WEDNESDAYS: Petoskey District Library. Held every Weds. from 3:30-4:30pm. Featuring a new craft, taste-test, or simple challenge each week. Dropping in during the hour is okay. Ages 8-12. petoskey.librarycalendar.com/event/wow-wednesday-8636
NAMI-GT SUPPORT GROUPS – MON.: Free, peer-led mental health support groups: NAMI Family Support (Mondays at 6pm; online & in-person - see web site for Zoom link), HBA, 3040 Sunset Ln., TC, & NAMI Connection Group (Mondays at 6pm, online - see web site for Zoom link). namigt.org/calendar/
NAMI-GT SUPPORT GROUPS – WEDS. AT NOON: Free, peer-led mental health support groups: NAMI Family Support and NAMI Connection Group. Both held Wednesdays at noon at Christ Church, 430 Fair St., TC. namigt.org/ support-and-education/support-groups/
NAMI-GT SUPPORT GROUPS – WEDS. AT 5PM: Free, peer-led mental health support: NAMI Connection Group. Held Wednesdays, 5pm online (see web site for Zoom Link) & in person at Child & Family Services, 3785 Veterans Dr., TC. namigt.org/calendar/
INDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato, TC. Browse the Mercato halls every Sat. through April. More than 30 vendors offer a variety of items from farm fresh eggs, meats & cheeses, to fruits, veggies, homemade breads & more. thevillagetc.com/events
YOUTH ICE FISHING PROGRAM: Saturdays, 11am through Feb., Dune Center at the Dune Climb, 6748 S. Dune Hwy., Glen Arbor. Kids & their families are invited to join park rangers for youth ice fishing events. Participants will learn essential ice fishing skills, safety measures, & fishing regulations, culminating in a “Junior Angler” certification & a fishing pole to take home (while supplies last). If ice conditions permit, attendees will have the opportunity to ice fish. nps.gov/slbe/ planyourvisit/calendar.htm
art
OUT OF THE BOX - ELEVATED CIGAR
BOXES: Higher Art Gallery, TC. “Out of The Box” is a group show & invitational featuring 30 artists. Cigar boxes have been elevated, transformed & turned into treasures. The exhibit runs Feb. 7 - March 14. See web site for hours. higherartgallery.com
SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. This annual regional high school exhibition celebrates the creativity, skill, & fresh perspectives of emerging young artists. It will be on display through Feb. 21, featuring work by 11th & 12th grade students from area high schools. See web site for hours. charlevoixcircle.org
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:
- CROOKED TREE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY ANNUAL EXHIBITION: Held in Atrium Gallery, this exhibition features recent work by members of the Crooked Tree Photographic Society. The photographs included in this show were self-selected by the group through peer review. Featuring intricate details from nature, evocative scenes & moments, & creatively constructed composition. Runs through Feb. 21. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/ events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/crooked-treephotographic-society.html
- ON ICE: Held in Gilbert Gallery through Feb. 28. Includes plein air icescape paintings
by Margie Guyot, winter landscape paintings by Kevin Barton, photographs by Susan Tusa, documentary works exploring the communities & culture of ice fishing by Amy Sacka, photographs exploring ice as an aesthetic & environmental subject, drone shots by Ray Gaynor, & much more. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/on-ice.html
- AT HOME: Held in Bonfield Gallery through Feb. 28. Featuring quilts by Erick Wolfmeyer, Heidi Parkes, & the Little Traverse Bay Quilters Guild, ceramics by Madeline Kaczmarczyk, pastels by Heidi Marshall, & works by other artists. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/at-home.html
- OPEN STUDIO: Held in the Visual Arts Room, Saturdays, 10am-1pm. Free drop-in art studio for the whole family. New projects are offered weekly. crookedtree.org
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC:
- GUILD POP-UP EXHIBIT: ADAM VANHOUTEN: Held in Libragallery. One Easel, One City, Thirty Days in Paris. Runs through Feb. 21. Check web site for hours. crookedtree.org/ events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/guild-popupexhibit-adam-vanhouten.html
- 2026 ARTIST GUILD MEMBER SALON SHOW: Held in Carnegie Galleries through Feb. 21. This exhibition showcases the work of 118 Guild Members, representing Greater Northern Michigan & beyond. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/guild-member.html
- BETWEEN US - WINTER 2026 EXHIBITION: Held in Cornwell Gallery. This exhibit explores connection, distance, & everything that exists in the in-between. It invites artists to reflect on how we reach for one another & ourselves across emotional, physical, & imagined spaces. Runs through Feb. 21. Visit website for hours. crookedtree.org/eventsand-exhibitions/exhibits/between-us.html
DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: - NEW PERSPECTIVES: RECENT AQUISITIONS FROM THE DENNOS PERMANENT ART COLLECTION: Held in McFarlane Gallery through May 31. From new paintings & works on paper gifted through the Museum Exchange program to generous donations on behalf of museum members, friends, & NMC alumni, New Perspectives seeks to highlight convergent, as well as, divergent perspectives on contemporary art & collecting practices in the 21st century. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org
- TRILOBITE TREASURES: Runs through May. This exhibit presents Paleozoic creatures in a way that tells a story of the prehistoric life in the ancient seas. The collection, assembled over 35 years, provides a unique snapshot of life in the ancient seas from 250 to 500 million years ago. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org
- TWELVE-BY-TWELVE: Runs through April 1. Created by students & faculty at Interlochen Arts Academy, every participant had to create something that would fit within an imaginary twelve-inch cube. They self-imposed this limit to discover what ideas those boundaries might produce. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org
- DOUG CANNELL: “SELECTIONS FROM BACKSTORIES”: An introduction to Doug Cannell’s works that merge sculpture, installation, & storytelling into layered experiences. Cannell creates objects that resist easy definition. Runs through April 3. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org
- IMPRESSIONS OF AN ERA: PRINTS FROM THE DENISON MUSEUM COLLECTION: This selection of prints, created between 1970 & 1990 by nationally & internationally recognized contemporary artists, reflects two transformative decades in con-
temporary printmaking. Artists include Dee Shapiro, Barbara Kohl-Spiro, KUDO Muramasa & James Rizzi. Runs through May 31. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org
GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:
- INTERIORS EXHIBITION: An exploration of inner spaces, both real & imagined, spaces of the home & of the mind. Runs through March 12. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org
- SMALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY HARVEY GORDON: Enjoy this exhibition of acrylic paintings held in the Lobby Gallery through April 23. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org
OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT: - ANDREW JAGNIECKI: WILD IMPRESSIONS: Featuring woodcut, intaglio & linocut prints. Runs through Feb. 13. See web site for hours. oliverart.org
- ANNUAL REGIONAL STUDENT ART EXHIBITION: Runs Feb. 13 - March 6. Featuring hundreds of works created by students in grades K-12 from regional schools. Works in all media will be presented. The work will be juried by area artist & educator, Glenn Wolff. Open Tues.-Sat., 10am-4pm; Sun., noon4pm. An opening reception will be held on Fri., Feb. 13 from 5-7pm. oliverart.org
Deadline for Dates information is Tuesday for the following week.
“Jonesin”
Crosswords
"Who's Your Baddie?" they're villains, to a degree. by Matt Jones
ACROSS
1. It may be served with gravy
8. Comparative phrases
15. Over a third of Earth's land area
16. "Will it happen to me?"
17. Austin Powers villain who's way more malicious than quirky?
19. Things to show newbies, as the saying goes
20. Elmo's foil
21. "Before," if before
22. It's usually blue, green, or brown
23. Sandwiches served with tzatziki
24. Tide type
25. Rogue
26. Computer file, informally
27. Bayer cramp relief brand
28. Margaret Mead study site
30. German state whose capital is Dresden
31. Inspector Gadget villain who grabs plush toys at an arcade?
34. Gave a creepy glance
35. Night noise
36. "___ if I never left!"
37. Square root of nove
38. Army officers, for short
41. Persist in
42. Acrobatic
45. Take a big risk
46. "I heard him exclaim, ___ he drove out of sight
..."
47. Frasier's surname
48. Blender button
49. Spider-Man villain reading apprehensively through social media?
52. Genre for many boy bands
53. Enlighten
54. "In all likelihood ..."
55. Greek counterpart of Ceres
DOWN
1. Comedian called "The Entertainer"
2. Illinois's second-most populous city
3. Apprehensive (with a more common opposite starting with "in")
4. #1 picks
5. Suffix for many sicknesses
6. OPEC's concern
7. Source of unpasteurized milk
8. 1920s anarchist in a prominent trial
9. Late-'90s Apple products now in their 7th version
10. FundaciÛ Joan ___ (art museum in Barcelona)
11. "Newhart" establishment
12. Jumped atop
13. Spare
14. At an alarming angle
18. "___ should you!"
23. Lose it
24. Undeliverable letter, in post office slang
26. Secluded valleys
27. 1984 Olympic slalom champ Phil (and not the talk show host Bill)
28. Abandon, as a project
29. Breakfast hrs.
30. "Success!"
31. Hindered
32. Sowed again
33. Like a moose
34. Did with relish
38. Cowboy movie prop
39. Thirty, in Paris
40. "If I Had a Hammer" co-writer Pete
42. Mail for a knight
43. Quebec city, its peninsula, or its bay
44. It may be seen at the close of business
45. ___ de leche
47. ___ AmÈrica (South American soccer tournament)
48. "Clue" professor
50. Tunisian tennis player Jabeur
51. Pindar poem
lOGY
FEB 09 - FEB 15
BY ROB BREZSNY
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Poet Mary Oliver asked her readers, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
This Valentine season, I propose a collaborative version of this prod: Ask those you care for to help you answer Oliver’s question, and offer to help them answer it for themselves. Now is an excellent time to act on the truth that vibrant intimacy involves the two of you inspiring each other to fulfill your highest callings. Do whatever it takes to make both of you braver and bolder as you learn more about who you are meant to be.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Choreographer Twyla Tharp said she fell in love with her husband partly because "he was the only person who didn't seem impressed by me." I will extrapolate from that to draw this conclusion: Our most valuable allies might show their most rigorous respect by seeing us clearly. This Valentine season, Leo, invite you to test the hypothesis that being thoroughly known and understood is more crucial than being regularly praised and flattered. Enrich your connections with the perceptive souls who love you not for your highlight reel but for your raw, genuine self.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The famously kind and caring author Anne Lamott confessed, "I thought such awful thoughts that I cannot even say them out loud because they would make Jesus want to drink gin straight out of the cat dish." That’s a liberating insight. She revealed that even kind, caring people like her harbor messy internal chaos. This Valentine season, Virgo, I dare you to share a few of your less-than-noble thoughts with soulful characters whom you trust will love you no matter what. Let them see that your goodness coexists with your salty imperfections. Maybe you could even playfully highlight the rough and rugged parts of you for their entertainment value. What’s the goal? To deepen spirited togetherness.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): ): How do we eagerly and daringly merge our fortunes with another person while maintaining our sovereign selfhood? How do we cultivate interesting togetherness without suppressing or diluting our idiosyncratic beauty? In some respects, this is a heroic experiment that seems almost impossible. In other respects, it’s the best work on the planet for anyone who’s brave enough to attempt it. Luckily for you Libras, this is potentially one of your superpowers. And now is an excellent time to take your efforts to the next level of heartful grittiness.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here’s a quote by the character Carrie Bradshaw from the TV show Sex and the City: “The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you that you love, that's fabulous." I invite you to make this a prime meditation, Scorpio. To begin, get extra inspired by your own mysterious beauty: captivated by your own depths, fascinated by your mysterious contradictions, and delighted by your urge for continual transformation. The next step is to identify allies and potential allies who appreciate the strange magnificence you treasure in yourself. Who devoutly wants you to fulfill your genuine, idiosyncratic soul’s code? Spend the coming weeks enriching your connections with these people.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): This Valentine season, I propose that you infuse your intimate life with a fun dose of playful curiosity. Visualize your beloved allies, both current and potential, as unfolding mysteries rather than solved puzzles. Ask them provocative questions you’ve never thought to ask before. Wonder aloud about their simmering dreams and evolving philosophies. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule #1: Iwhen you think you've figured someone out completely, the relationship withers.) In fact, let’s make this one of your assignments for the next five months: Heighten and nurture your nosiness about the beautiful people you love. Treat each conversation as an expedition into unexplored territory. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule #2: A great way to stoke their passion for you and your passion for them is to believe there’s always more to discover about each other.)
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ecologists studying symbiosis know that successful partnerships aren't always between similar organisms. Some bonds link the fortunes of radically different creatures, like clownfish and sea anemones or oxpeckers and buffalo. Each supplies resources or protection the other lacks, often assuring they live more successfully together than they would on their own. This is useful information for you right now. At least one of the allies you need looks nothing like you. Their genius is orthogonal to yours, or they have skills you don’t. The blend may not be comfortable, but I bet it’s the precise intelligence you need to achieve what you can’t accomplish alone.
PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Can you care for stressed people without making it your duty to rescue them? Can you offer support without being taken advantage of? hope so, Pisces. Life is inviting you to be more skilled about expressing your love without compromising your own interests. How? First, offer affection without signing up for endless service. Second, don’t let your empathy blur into entanglement. Third, monitor your urge to care so it doesn’t weaken your sovereignty. Your gift for soothing others' struggles evokes my deep respect, but it’s most effective when it’s subtle and relaxed. Give people room to carry out their own necessary work.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): "The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them," wrote Ernest Hemingway. This Valentine season, I propose you experiment with his approach. Take a smart risk with people who have shown glimmers of reliability but whom you haven't fully welcomed. Don’t indulge in reckless credulity, just courageous and discerning openness. Be vulnerable enough to discover what further connection might bloom if you lead with faith rather than suspicion. Your willingness to believe in someone's better nature may help bring it forth.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus singer Barbra Streisand addressed her legendary perfectionism. She said that truly interesting intimacy became available for her only after she showed her dear allies her full array of selves, not just her shiny, polished side. In alignment with astrological omens, I encourage you to experiment with the daring art of unfinished revelation. Let the people you care for witness you in the midst of becoming. Share your uncertainties, your half-formed thoughts, and your works in progress. Surprise! Your flaws may prove as endearing as your achievements.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Author Anaïs Nin wrote, "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." I believe this understanding of camaraderie should be at the heart of most Geminis’ destinies. It’s your birthright and your potential superpower to seek connections with people who inspire you to think thoughts and feel feelings you would never summon by yourself. You have an uncanny knack for finding allies and colleagues who help you unveil and express more of your total self. Now is a good time to tap further into these blessings.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Poet David Whyte said that "heartbreak is unpreventable.” It’s “the natural outcome of caring for people and things over which we have no control." But here's the redemptive twist: Your capacity to feel heartbreak proves you have loved well. Your shaky aches are emblems of your courageous readiness to risk closeness and be deeply affected. So let’s celebrate your tender heart not despite its vulnerability but because of it. You should brandish your sensitivity as a superpower.
Grand Traverse & Kalkaska
CHATEAU GRAND TRAVERSE WINERY, TC
4-6:
2/7 -- Christina Teresa
2/14 -- Rob Coonrod
IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC
2/9 -- Vinyl Night w/ DJ E-Knuf, 5-8
2/10 -- TC Celtic, 6-8
2/12 -- Beyond Trivia!, 7-8:30
KARLIN INN, KARLIN/INTERLOCHEN
2/10 -- Speedquizzing Trivia, 7-9
KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC
9:30:
2/6-7 -- The Off Beat Band
2/13-14 -- North 44
KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING
2/7 -- Zie Simmons, 6-8
2/10 -- Open Mic Night, 6-9
2/12 -- Trivia Night w/ Marcus Anderson, 6:30-8:30
LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM:
2/9 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9
MARI VINEYARDS, TC
2/14 -- Jim Hawley, 3-5
MT. HOLIDAY, TC
T-BAR & GRILL: Sat. -- Apres Ski Live Music w/ Matt Mansfield, 2-5
NOCTURNAL BLOOM, TC Thu -- Thurs. Night Trivia, 6
NORTH BAR, TC
2/7 -- The Real Ingredients, 7-10
2/12 -- Drew Hale, 7-9
2/13 -- Jim Hawley, 7-10
2/14 -- Mallory Ramage, 7-10
OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC SEVEN HILLS:
2/7 -- Brett Mitchell, 6 2/13 -- Derek Boik, 7:30 2/14 -- DJ Ras Marco D, 6
THE 231 BAR & GRILL, THOMPSONVILLE 2/7 – Split Decision, 7-10
THE ALLUVION, TC
2/9 -- Big Fun - Funky Fun Mondays, 6-8:30
2/12 -- The Jeff Haas Trio w/ Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive, 6-8:30
2/14 -- The Bill Sears Quintet, 7-9:30
THE HAYLOFT INN, TC
2/6-7 & 2/13-14 -- Sandy & The Bandits, 7:30-11
Antrim & Charlevoix
THE PARLOR, TC
2/7 -- Nick Vasquez, 9
2/8 & 2/15 -- Music Bingo, 7-9
2/10 -- Jesse Jefferson, 8-11
2/11 -- Rob Coonrod, 8-11
2/12 -- John Richard Paul, 8-11
2/13 -- Rhett & John, 9
2/14 -- Jim Hawley, 9
THE PUB, TC
2/7 -- Jim Hawley, 8-11
2/9 -- Karaoke Mondays, 8
2/11 -- Zeke Clemons, 6-9
2/12 -- Music Bingo, 7:30-10:30
THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC
2/7 -- Mason Gratton, 7
2/8 -- Full Tilt Comedy presents: Comedy Lab, 6-8
2/10 -- Open Mic w/ Zak Bunce, 6-9
2/12 -- DJ Trivia, 7-9
2/13 -- Ron Getz Trio, 6-9
2/14 -- Allie Jade, 7-9
TRAILSIDE TAVERN, MESICK
2/9 -- Speedquizzing Trivia, 6:308:30
UNION STREET STATION, TC
10:
2/7 -- The Jay Hawkins Band
2/12 -- DJ DomiNate 2/14 -- DJ Prim
Leelanau & Benzie
BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU
FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH
BIER'S INWOOD BREWERY, CHARLEVOIX
2/12 -- Open Mic Night, 7-9
BOYNE CITY TAPROOM
2/12 -- Adam & The Cabana Boys, 7
BOYNE RIVER INN, BOYNE CITY
2/12 -- Nelson Olstrom, 7-10
ETHANOLOGY DISTILLATION, ELK RAPIDS
2/14 -- The Fridays, 7-10
FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE
2/14 -- Eric Jaqua, 6:30
LOST CELLARS, CHARLEVOIX
TASTING ROOM:
2/14 -- Jeffrey Schubler, 1-4
MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY
2/11 -- Karaoke Night, 8-11
2/14 -- DJ Lee Blossom, 8
SHORT'S PUB, BELLAIRE 6-8:
2/11 -- Open Mic Night 2/12 -- Trivia w/ DJ Trivia
SHORT'S PULL BARN, ELK RAPIDS
2/12 -- Karaoke Night w/ Taylor & Rybo, 6 2/14 -- Gemini Moon, 4
TORCH LAKE CAFE, CENTRAL LAKE Thu -- Nick Vasquez, 6 Fri. & Sat. -- Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick, 7
TASTING ROOM:
2/13 -- Highway North, 5:30-8
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE
SLOPESIDE TENT, NEAR CRYSTAL CLIPPER CHAIRLIFT, 3-5:
2/7 -- Cole Caspers
2/14 -- The Bear
2/15 -- Rhett & John VISTA LOUNGE:
2/7 -- Jim Hawley, 2-5; Scarkazm, 8-11
2/8 -- Chris Smith, 2-5
2/13 -- Luke Woltanski, 2-5; Life Theory, 8-11
2/14 -- Nick Vasquez, 2-5; Life Theory, 8-11
2/15 -- Two Feet, 2-5
BOB'S PLACE, ALANSON
2/11 -- Mike Ridley, 6-9
BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY
2-6:
2/7 -- Michelle Chenard
2/14 -- Chris Calleja
BRANDY'S HARBORTOWN, BAY HARBOR
5-8:
2/7 -- Lee Fayssoux
2/13 – Chris Calleja
2/14 – Nick Visconti
CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY
2/10 -- Trivia Night, 7-9
2/13 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30
GYPSY DISTILLERY, PETOSKEY
2/7 -- Jelly Roll Blues Band, 6-9
2/14 -- Amanda Jane, 2-4
NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY
2/7 -- Eric Jaqua, 7-10
2/9 -- Quiz Runners Trivia, 6-8
2/11 -- Singo Bingo: Love Themed Evening, 6:30
2/13-14 -- Dueling Pianos by The Detroit Piano Bar!, 7-10
NORTHERN LIGHTS RECREATION, HARBOR SPRINGS
2/8 -- Ty Parkin, 3-6 2/12 -- Trivia Night, 6:30-8:30 2/13-14 – Ty Parkin, 6:30-9:30
ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES, 9: 2/7 -- DJ Big Ton 2/13-14 -- DJ Hotkeys
POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS
2/7 -- Chris Calleja & Jeff Schlehuber Duo, 5-8
2/14 -- Yankee Station, 5-8
2/15 -- Charlie's Root Fusion, 3-6
THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN
2/7 -- The Beau House Band, 8 2/13 -- Musicians Playground, 7
2/14 -- Gina & Jordan, 7
THE HIGHLANDS AT HARBOR SPRINGS MAIN LODGE BACKYARD, NOON-4:
2/7 & 2/14 -- DJ T-Bone
2/8 & 2/15 -- DJ Michael Wilford SLOPESIDE LOUNGE, 6-9:
2/7 -- Brian Thomas
2/14 -- Pete Kehoe
2/15 -- Michelle Chenard
ZOO BAR:
2/7 -- Dr. Smith, 4-8
2/13 -- Riff Ryder and the Vista Cruisers, 6-9
2/14 -- The Remedee, 4-8
THE QUEENS HEAD, CHEBOYGAN
2/7 -- Mike Ridley, 5-7
THE WIGWAM, INDIAN RIVER
2/12 -- Dominic Fortuna, 7:30-9:30
2/13 -- Karaoke, 8-11
BUCKSNORT SALOON, MESICK 2/9 -- Vic Trip, 6-9
6-8:
2/9 -- Monday Music Trivia
2/12 -- Trivia Thursdays
FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR
2/12 -- Loose Change, 3-6
IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE
5:30-7:30:
2/7 -- Jakob Abraham
2/13 -- John Piatek
2/14 -- Alex Teller
LAKE ANN BREWING CO.
2/7 -- Drew Hale, 6:30-9:30
2/11 -- Open Mic Night, 6:309:30
2/12 -- Trivia Night, 7-9
2/13 -- Manitou Truckin' Company, 6:30-9:30
2/14 -- John Pomeroy, 6:30-9:30
LITTLE TRAVERSE INN, MAPLE CITY
2/13 -- Song of the Lakes, 6-9
NORTHERN LATITUDES DISTILLERY, LAKE LEELANAU
2/8 -- Ron Getz, noon-2pm
2/13 -- Loose Change, 4:45-6:45
ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH
2/7 -- Cheryl Wolfram, 5-8
2/12 -- Open Mic Night, 6-9
2/13 -- Andy Six, 5-8
THE 231 BAR & GRILL, THOMPSONVILLE
2/13 -- Karaoke, 8
& Missaukee
NORTHERN NATURAL
&
&
2/13 -- Matt Orlandi, 6-9
Otsego, Crawford & Central
2/13
EATERY, GAYLORD
BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD
-- Mike Ridley, 6-9
SNOWBELT BREWING CO., GAYLORD
-- Brian Curran, 6-9
Manistee, Wexford
CIDER HOUSE
WINERY, KALEVA 7:
-- The Smokin' Dobroleles Duo Show
-- Chief Jam - Open Mic Hosted by Cheryl Wolfram
-- Jakob Abraham
-- Barefoot RAVEN
The Manitou Truckin’ Company asks you to bring your dancing shoes to Lake Ann Brewing Co., Fri., Feb. 13 from 6:309:30pm for their ultimate Grateful Dead experience!
Emmet & Cheboygan
CLASSIFIEDS
COMPUTER PROBLEMS? NEW TV, PHONE OR TABLET?: Old device too slow? I can fix them all and show you how to use them. I'LL COME TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE. Call James Downer-Advent Tech. Your high tech handyman. 231-492-2087
TRAVERSE CITY COTTAGE FOR RENT:
1 BR, Full Bath, Well Furnished, All Utilities Included, New Appliances, W/D, Parking, Nice Setting, Month-to-Month - One Year, A/C, No Pets; $1,600 per month. Call (231) 631-7512.
SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-6248 Sewing and Quilting Classes at InterQuilten: You can learn to sew or make quilts! See our class list at www.interquilten.com
FREE WEEKLY ORIGINAL HOT YOGA COMMUNITY CLASS: EVERY WED. @ 7:30PM - 845 S. GARFIELD AVE. ORIGINALHOTYOGATC.COM 231-392-4798
HELP WANTED - CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS
Everyone's favorite men's store is looking for some great people to join our crew! Call, Stop In, or Apply Online Now! 231-946-7066 - 151
E Front St - Downtown Traverse City https:// captainsquarterstc.com/jobs/sales-associate/
WOODLAND SCHOOL BOARD
OPENINGWoodland School is seeking new board members to join our dedicated volunteer team. Individuals who are passionate about children, education, and are committed to making a difference in our community are wanted. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about this opportunity, please reach out to boardpresident@woodlandschooltc.org by 2/14. https://www.woodlandschooltc.org
THE GREENSPIRE SCHOOL OPEN ENROLLMENT The Greenspire School OPEN ENROLLMENT begins February 6! http://www. greenspireschool.org
NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE SEEKS STUDENT SUCCESS COACHES
Join our team at Northwestern Michigan College as a Student Success Coach for a unique opportunity to act as a bridge between a student’s potential and their ultimate achievement. Full time year round full benefits $23.58 Hourly NMC is an EOE employer nmc. edu/nondiscrimination
2026 DESIGN TRENDS Lookout Architecture is defining the “Northern Michigan Modern” aesthetic for 2026. Ready to dream or build? Book your project discovery call today. Let’s design your legacy. http://lookoutarchitecture. com/contact
