Northern Express - May 05, 2025

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Line 5 Fast-tracked

The Great Lakes tunnel is being fasttracked by Trump. If Enbridge goes forward as planned, Line 5 will be operating into its late 70s while a tunnel is bored directly below it in the Mackinac Straits to replace four of its 645 miles. Enbridge chooses to repair 72-year-old Line 5 with a tunnel, not use its 10-year-old line around the lakes, rebuilt with excess capacity after the Kalamazoo spill. Both lines reach Ontario.

In 2018, Gov. Snyder said Line 5 could operate until the tunnel was completed, so Line 5 makes Enbridge $6 billion in the decade awaiting the tunnel—whether or not it’s built. If built, Michigan must own the tunnel to lease to Enbridge for 99 more years of Canadian oil.

A methane explosion in a Detroit intake tunnel killed 22 in 1971, yet Enbridge dismisses methane pockets in the Mackinac Straits. A tunnel like this one has never been attempted, so a new boring machine must be built. Does Enbridge even consider that the Great Lakes are at stake?

Line 5 has leaked 33 times crossing Michigan. If Enbridge really wanted to “make a safe line safer,” it would pause old Line 5 until the tunnel with the new line was ready. The Line 5 tunnel requires diligent Army Corps’ oversight, not fasttrack approval. Although Enbridge has said if the tunnel is not approved, it will continue to operate old Line 5.

When elected, Gov. Whitmer promised to protect the Great Lakes. She should join the Tribes in taking a stand against fasttracking the tunnel. Her silence is deafening.

Barbara Stamiris | Traverse City

DROP US A LINE!

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

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

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Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase PO Box 4020

Traverse City, Michigan 49685 Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com

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Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold

Cover photo by: Megan Renae Studios

Contributors: Ross Boissoneau, Art Bukowski, Anna Faller, Karl Klockars, Craig Manning, Nora Rae Pearl, Greg Tasker, Stephen Tuttle

this week’s

top ten

Need a creative experience for Mom this weekend? Here are three cool ways to show her some love. 1) On May 6 from 6-8pm, hit up Mom’s Night Out at Up North Arts in Cadillac. Bring a tracing of your child’s handprint and mold stoneware clay to add it to a mug! All materials are included, and you get to pick the glaze for your one-of-a-kind pottery piece. $40 per person; upnorthartsinc.com. 2) Take a free spring wildflower hike with Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy May 7 (Arcadia Dunes) or May 8 (Hickory Hills) from 1012pm. Details at gtrlc.org. 3) Wreath and wine the night away at Rove Winery with Hang Workshop on May 8. From 6-8pm, you’ll craft a farmhouse-inspired burlap wreath. Class is $60 and includes one glass of wine or cider; rovewinery.com/pages/ events-and-happenings.

Queens of the Greens

Fresh off their Cinco de Mayo opening weekend, River Club Glen Arbor wants to treat the queens of Mother’s Day. Bring your mom for 18-hole mini golf, dinner, movies under the stars, and $1 bellinis and mimosas. Moms get a free entree and a free round of golf all weekend long, May 9-11! Get details on this event and upcoming celebrations at rcglenarbor.com.

Hey, Read It! youthjuice 4

At nearly 30, Sophia Bannion has long been searching for the meaning of beauty: first, through her girlfriends, Mona and Dom, and now through a new marketing job at luxury wellness brand, HEBE. Helmed by supple skincare legend Tree Whitestone, the team looks flawless to Sophia, who can barely keep her demons and nasty skin-picking habit under wraps— that is, until she’s invited to try a proprietary product called “youthjuice.” Instantly, the stuff heals her hands (and clears her head, or so it seems), leaving Sophia with a dangerous combination of baby skin and corporate entitlement. A few unsavory discoveries, though, lead Sophia to the horrific truth about HEBE’s revolutionary ingredients, and with it, a lifealtering question: Just how far is she willing to go in the name of staying young and beautiful? Anti-aging takes on all new meaning in E.K. Sathue’s satirical horror debut, giggle, you’ll gag, and you’ll definitely rethink your face cream!

If there’s one place in town that has the market cornered on condiments, it’s Osorio Tacos y Salsas. (It’s right there in the name!) While there are plenty of salsa heat levels to choose from on the menu, the Salsa Roja is always a crowd pleaser. This medium-spice salsa combines red and green tomatoes, red pepper, cilantro, and classic spices like garlic and salt. It pairs perfectly with chips or as a dipping sauce for just about any of Osorio’s menu items, from tacos to flautas to quesadillas. Find the full salsa collection at the restaurant in Williamsburg (6037 US Highway 31 N), shop at select local grocery stores, or get your Cinco de Mayo opening weekend fix on a visit to their food truck at Short’s Pull Barn in Elk Rapids (211 Industrial Park Dr.). osoriotacosysalsas.com

Stuff We Love: Art at the Zoo

This winter, Tonya Lutz and Rick Pruckler of Alden’s Whistling Frog Tile have been working on a special installation: turning a design by Detroit artist Hubery Massey into a mural for the Detroit Zoo! The mural, once complete, will run on either side of the zoo’s new Discovery Trails, an “immersive, 7-acre experience” coming in summer 2025. This piece of art is meant to be touched, with different tile shapes and colors. Per Lutz, “The first panel features a diverse representation of patrons gazing at the second panel of flora [and] fauna.” She adds that the Whistling Frog team “invited local artist Mike Sincic of Williamsburg for assistance incorporating the use of Braille in the mural” and worked with NMC’s ceramics instructor Laura Korch and ceramic students for “the final stages of wet clay work in Traverse City.” Watch the Detroit Zoo’s website for updates on the new Discovery Trails!

For more than 60 years, one northern Michigan town has been putting the fun in fungi, and the Mesick Mushroom Festival returns May 9-11 with activities for the whole family. Even if you’re not a shroom fan, you can explore the flea market and craft show, enjoy the atmosphere of the Friday Night Street Fair, cruise the Antique Car Show, catch the Grand Parade, or just hit the T.J. Schmidt & Company carnival. (P.S. on May 11, Mother’s Day, moms get into the carnival free with their kiddo!) For those who want the full fungi experience, there is a scheduled mushroom hunt…just be sure you don’t spill your secret morel spot! And don’t miss the 5K Walk on Saturday or the cornhole and softball tournaments. Get the full schedule at mesick-mushroomfest.org.

It has taken time, but volunteerism is finally bouncing back after the COVID pandemic. The U.S. Census Bureau partners with AmeriCorps to survey civic engagement every two years, and in 2024 they found volunteering is up nearly five points from its 2021 low of 23.8 percent of the population. (Though the number of hours served per person has continued to decline.) Want to help improve those statistics? Leelanau County is holding a Volunteer Fair at the Friendship Community Center (201 West Broadway in Suttons Bay) from 4-7pm on May 19. Attendees will learn about local nonprofits in Leelanau County (there are dozens of them!), meet with representatives from those organizations, and explore ways to get involved. The fair is geared toward experienced volunteers and newbies alike. Learn more at friendshipcommunitycenter.org.

We don’t know about you, but we’re going a little nuts waiting on warm beach days and bathing suit weather, so we’re giving the sun gods an extra nudge by sipping on the Chamomile Pisco Sour at Modern Bird. Crafted in homage to the bright-meets-bundled balance of early spring, this nutty little number combines house chamomile tea-infused Control Pisco (that’s a South American grape-based brandy) with a delicate egg white froth, fresh lemon juice, and a scratch-made simple syrup flavored with toasted and salted pistachios. Shaken, served up in a coupe, and finished with pistachio dust, this sip feels just like sunshine in a glass! (Enjoy it alongside the citrus-spiked Hamachi Crudo and thank us later). Drink it in, literally, at Modern Bird, 541 W. Front St. in Traverse City. modernbirdtc.com

spectator By steven Tuttle

As always, there is plenty of activity in Traverse City. Issues pop up like trilliums this time of year. Some are old and reliably and perpetually unsolved, like affordable housing or what to do with the homeless population, and some show up uninvited, like how to make up for cuts in federal funding to programs.

Let’s take a look at three current issues that were neither surprises nor crisis-level impossible.

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Traverse City Police Department (TCPD) are teaming up to purchase another portable surveillance system for use mostly during significant events, but it can be used anywhere at any time.

Even though there is no legal expectation of privacy in public spaces, this is potentially

nebulous term that it’s not always clear what it is they do to economically develop the region or individual businesses. Do they get credit, or take credit, every time a new business comes to town or an existing business expands? If so, how did they do that? Is there a criteria we can follow?

The Traverse City City Commission has agreed to renew a contact with Traverse Connect for economic development services through 2027. They will pay more than $50,000 annually for the next three years, and the DDA will kick in almost as much. As reported in The Ticker, City commissioners met with Traverse Connect leaders to review priority areas that include developing an “equitable and sustainable future for city residents” and building “a thriving year-round economy.”

In fact, according to both pedbikesafe.org and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one-way streets are statistically safer for pedestrians and cyclists because there are fewer points of conflict, even though traffic moves slightly faster.

slippery slope territory. We are assured by police Chief Matt Richmond that everyone’s constitutional rights will be protected, the system will not be used to target anyone engaged in legal activities, and all data acquired will only be held for 30 days.

One supposes this kind of system has been used elsewhere without abuse, but it takes but a single incident of someone using the system for some personal reason when real trouble begins.

One DDA board member, who says she frequently walks downtown alone, was quoted in The Record-Eagle saying, “We live in an increasingly dangerous environment these days, and we need to protect our citizens.”

Really? Downtown Traverse City is increasingly dangerous to the point we need more surveillance? Does TCPD have data supporting this notion? Should somebody have told the rest of us there is now greater risk from criminal activity in our community? And if there is an increasingly dangerous environment out there, shouldn’t we have surveillance everywhere and all the time to better protect our citizens and visitors?

No doubt surveillance of this type can be a useful law enforcement tool, but the advantage for the law-abiding being surveilled is far less obvious.

Traverse Connect describes itself as the “lead economic development organization for the Grand Traverse region.” Unfortunately, “economic development” is such a hazy,

Maybe that is money well spent and the area would suffer economic hardships if Traverse Connect did not receive more than $90,000 of taxpayer money annually for the next three years, but we could use more definitive evidence to justify spending taxpayer money.

Meanwhile, State Street will continue as a twoway street at least for the time being. We were told it was slower and safer than it had been as a one-way street, though traffic studies show the differences between one-way and twoway were minimal. State was never treated as a drag strip by local motorists, and there was no data indicating one-way State created vehicle accidents or created more danger for pedestrians or cyclists.

In fact, according to both pedbikesafe. org and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), oneway streets are statistically safer for pedestrians and cyclists because there are fewer points of conflict, even though traffic moves slightly faster.

At a minimum, our traffic engineers will need to figure out how to improve intersections so a single vehicle turning left does not halt every vehicle behind it, as is the case now.

The issues above listed are likely not crises but they do raise questions worth asking and should create attention worth paying; we should carefully watch the watchers, count the specific benefits of the economic developers, and make a turn without creating gridlock.

RAISED BY BENIGN NEGLECT (AND IT WAS FANTASTIC)

Opinion Columnist

by Mary Keyes Rogers

I am incredibly grateful to have been born and raised in the 1960s and ’70s. I believe we were the last generation of a world that has been fading ever since. My childhood was radically different from today’s parenting norms; it might qualify as neglect by modern standards. It was fantastic.

In today’s language, my parents “created space for me to develop.” When asked to describe or defend their parenting style, my mother would smile and declare, “Benign neglect seems to be working just fine, right, girls?”

My sister and I never thought this line was as funny as our parents did. As a little kid, “benign neglect” was over my head. I assumed Benign Neglect was a person. “Okay, where is he?” I would wonder.

Looking back, Mr. Benign Neglect worked better than “just fine.” My parents weren’t my friends—they were a looming obstacle to having too much fun. I don’t think they ever once asked me how I felt about anything. They were adults doing adult things: hiring babysitters, going bowling or out for dinner, living their lives. Meanwhile, I was allowed and expected to have a childhood rich in experience and independence.

I

When I wasn’t playing outside, I was inside, glued to the television. I loved TV—and I’m convinced it loved me right back. Whatever I might have learned in Sunday school—had we gone to church, and we didn’t—I soaked up from sitcoms and family dramas.

I watched fictional families have deep, meaningful conversations that I would never experience at home, and came to construct my core values.

The moral guidance of prime-time television was significant. The Flintstones , Gilligan’s Island , I Love Lucy , Family Affair , The Monkees , The Brady Bunch , My Three Sons , and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father taught me the essentials: right versus wrong, and loyalty versus selfishness.

Television also gave me my first glimpse of lives far beyond my white, suburban bubble. I was exposed to other perspectives and struggles through shows like Julia, Room 222, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, and Good Times.

As a girl growing up in the ’70s, television showed me women who worked, made decisions, and lived lives beyond wife and mother. I fully expected to grow up to be

hope things change, screens get put away, and every kid finds what they need to be happy, purposeful humans.

During those years, my parents were generally unaware of my specific whereabouts. Maybe one of them kept an eye on me while I poured milk into my cereal bowl, but after that, I was out the door. I might yell, “Going to the park!”— but it wasn’t a rule, just a courtesy I had picked up from watching other kids on TV.

Our neighborhood was a loose group of kids, girls and boys, ranging from about six to 16 years old. I was on the younger end, looking up to the teenagers like they were rock stars. They mostly tolerated us little kids because they had no choice—we were there.

We learned everything important from each other. The older kids taught us how to whistle with our fingers, play kick-the-can, hula hoop, make gum wrapper chains, shoot baskets, and ride a bike with no hands.

But even more importantly, we taught each other how to be decent human beings. I learned to wait my turn, ask for help when needed, share toys and food, never complain, keep a secret, and avoid being a tattletale or a show-off.

Parents can tell kids to behave, but only other kids teach the consequences of being a jerk in real time.

like Maude, Rhoda, Alice, Mary Richards— or Angie Dickinson’s Police Woman Strong, smart, independent women were everywhere on my screen, and it never crossed my mind that I couldn’t be one too.

ABC’s After School Special series launched in 1972 and delivered weekly masterclasses in tough subjects: domestic violence, divorce, cancer, drug abuse, mental illness—you name it. These shows opened my eyes to realities happening near and far from my neighborhood.

It makes me quite sad to think about today’s kids. Many can’t sit through a full story with a beginning, middle, and end. They live in short bursts of TikTok videos, shorts, and reels. Real-world connection skills— patience, empathy, kindness—seem to be getting harder.

I feel incredibly lucky that my parents let me be a child, one who could be perfectly happy playing make-believe with a stick and a milk carton. I hope things change, screens get put away, and every kid finds what they need to be happy, purposeful humans.

Mary Rogers is a 25-year resident of Traverse City, a freelance writer, with a husband and two grown children.

Jonathon N. Fazzola Attorney

THE OPPOSITE OF EQUITY IS INEQUITY

GUEST OPINION

by Li-Ann Kaye

I will never forget the day I was accepted into the University of Michigan. My immigrant mother called me in the middle of my school day to scream, “Li-Ann, we got in!” She used the term “we” because, in many ways, it was her accomplishment as well.

My mother didn’t have the opportunity to go to college or even high school. She was born into poverty, growing up in a two-bedroom shack with a dirt floor in 1950s Singapore. Her parents were both illiterate—her dad, my grandfather, forced eight pregnancies on my grandmother, trying to produce a son, and only succeeded with my Uncle Ronnie. The male heir was given one of the bedrooms all to himself while the seven daughters—Mollie, Annie, Mary, Jennie, Lily, Lucy, and Tina—were forced to share the other one. My grandmother slept in the kitchen, and soon after, my grandfather left to start a whole new family in hopes of producing more sons.

My mother, Lily, brought her daughters to America to give us a better life. These hopes came with a mandate to attend college. However, as two of the few non-white students in our competitive high school, it became clear that our environment was not a level playing field.

It was in middle school when I first realized most of my friends could ask their parents for help with their homework. In high school, I learned that other families were paying for private tutors and SAT prep classes. By the time college applications rolled around, I found out that some of my peers were getting in based on “legacy admissions,” a practice that gives special consideration to applicants whose relatives were alumni of an institution.

In his first week of his 2025 term, Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders targeting DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs in the public and private sectors. MEI, which stands for “merit, excellence, and intelligence,” is the new term Elon Musk has endorsed. This pivot seems to enhance a sentiment I have dreaded hearing all my life, “I don’t mind diversity as long as the candidates are good. I’m all about merit.”

But how does one define “merit” when Donald Trump started his company on a million-dollar loan from his father? What is “excellence” when the Economic Policy Institute finds that parental income is the leading predictor of a student’s academic success? What is “intelligence” if someone scores lower on the English portion of a standardized test but is smart enough to speak two or three languages?

I was deeply saddened by the news of my alma mater shuttering its DEI office under the pressure of losing federal funding. This office had boosted enrollment of firstgeneration undergraduates like myself by 46 percent. I fear that closing, rather than

reforming, these programs only perpetuates the misconception that mediocre minorities are receiving advantages over white people based on the color of their skin. In truth, it’s been the opposite since America’s inception.

My Screen Arts & Cultures degree at U of M gave me opportunities and connections I never would have had otherwise as a filmmaker. My mini-series, The Blessing explores interracial relationships through the lens of my Italian American husband, who married into my immigrant Chinese family. My latest film, Seoul Switch imagines a world where an insecure Korean American college student finds out he looks exactly like the hottest K-pop idol in Seoul, and they decide to switch lives.

I’ve had the opportunity to share my work throughout Traverse City, holding screenings at the Dennos Museum, The Alluvion, and even my own home. I’d like to think my work has enriched our community and offered a different perspective through which audiences might see the world.

And yet, opportunities in Hollywood are disappearing in real time. To be clear, making films starring minority protagonists has never been easy. After a brief push for more diversity on screen in 2020, many studio executives have reverted back to believing only white A-list stars (Brad Pitt, Scarlett Johansson, George Clooney) can interest American audiences. On top of this, only 16 percent of 2024’s top 250 domestic-grossing films were directed by women.

A POUR FOR THE PLOVERS Sip. Support. Share.

A Rosé made for the birds—and the people who protect them.

A

It’s devastating to realize that the postGeorge Floyd initiatives aimed at acknowledging racial differences are now being called racist.

My mother always told me that college was merely the starting line to achieving the American dream. With a foreign-looking name like “Li-Ann,” I worried that admissions officers would block me from passing through their gates on the assumption that I didn’t speak English. So, I Americanized my name to “Liann.” However, I’ve since realized that hiding my diverse background only perpetuates the false belief that being different means being inferior.

Much like the essay I wrote to get into college, I hope this op-ed humanizes one of those statistics behind DEI. I hope my community will continue to call their representatives, vote with their dollars (look up companies that are folding to Trump’s EO and invest in those that are doubling down), and remember that the opposite of equity is inequity.

Li-Ann Kaye is an AAPI writer and director based in Traverse City. She enjoys exploring interracial stories through a cross-cultural lens.

CELEBRATION OF ELEGANCE

Indulge in our exclusive Champagne Brunch, Sunday, May 11th

Savor an exquisite menu crafted for the most deserving woman in your life!

Every mother deserves a moment of luxury. Join us for an intimate celebration where owing champagne meets culinary mastery, and cherished memories are made over exceptional cuisine.

THIS ISN'T JUST BRUNCH – IT'S A CELEBRATION WORTHY OF MOM.

This rare Sunday opening is available by reservation only. Space is limited for this exclusive event. Gift her a memory, not just a meal.

Taco Shop or Brewery? Why Not Both?

Happy’s Taco Shop expands to

By Karl Klockars

For over a decade, northern Michiganders have known Happy’s Taco Shop as a destination for fun, creative menu items, like their lamb cheeseburger taco, choriqueso rangoons, and Crunchwrap Royale. Last summer, however, The Happy’s team quietly added another line to their collective resume: beermaker.

Unless you were paying close attention to their Instagram feed, you probably wouldn’t have known that they’ve been pouring their beers out of a converted shipping container at their Boyne City space for about a year now. When they started packaging and selling cans of their Happy’s Lager and Happy’s Dark Lager in a few select locations (including at their former TC home, The Little Fleet) a few weeks ago, however, we knew it was time to check back in on this new chapter for Happy’s.

One Really Good Lager

Tacos and beer are one of life’s true perfect pairings, but with so many other lagers and other breweries in Michigan, why add this to the to-do list for a small restaurant? Like many things, it stemmed from the urge to be master of their domain.

“We wanted to bring things home, focus on a space of our own [where] we could control the atmosphere and have full control over the experience,“ explains founder/ owner Drake Nagel. “And that’s where the idea of wanting to brew some beer to go with the tacos came from.”

Having a trained brewer on hand also helped to inform that decision. Aaron

McCarthy started homebrewing a couple of decades ago and worked as a production brewer at Beards Brewing in Petoskey shortly after relocating to the area with his wife. Happy’s also operated out of Beard’s for a few years, but McCarthy didn’t cross paths with Nagel until another Beards employee joined Happy’s as a sous chef. (Two beer and taco ships, passing in the night.)

That mutual friend invited McCarthy along to do a little extra work at Happy’s when COVID-19 slowed down the world of production brewing significantly.

“So I started to help in the kitchen a little, and I jived well with these guys, and eventually, when they brought up the idea of starting up a beer project over here, I jumped at the opportunity and made the move,” McCarthy says.

“The idea of brewing beer came after we had the truck set up out here. We got to thinking, it’d be nice if there was something more here we could offer—something to make it a more full experience,” Nagel says. “The idea at first was, we wanted to brew just one really good lager. And from there, the idea expanded as we talked to Aaron.”

Two Really Good Lagers

Today, instead of brewing just one really good lager, they have two (a dark lager and a light lager) plus a Kolsch-style beer (which is lager-adjacent).

“I feel like it makes sense to pick your lane and then stay in that lane,” McCarthy says. “We really wanted to focus on lager because it’s what we all enjoy drinking.”

And while macro-lagers are traditionally

identical every time, “they lack that little extra something that makes you go, ‘hmmm,’” McCarthy adds. “Just making beer on a small scale … there’s a little bit of variance, batch to batch. It gives your beer a little bit of soul, you know, which is fun.”

That small scale helps keep the brewing process lean—“There’s just one employee on the brewing side; it’s just me,” McCarthy shares—and they built it from the ground up specifically for making lager.

“We’re probably one of the only breweries around that has horizontal lagering tanks,” McCarthy says, “[and] we also have four stainless serving tanks. Rather than kegs, we serve directly out of those. They live right behind the bar,” meaning the beer they pour you this summer has traveled a grand total of just a few feet from where it was made.

Speaking of pouring the beer, how they serve those lagers also comes with a little bit of extra attention.

“The central tap handle at our pub is a Lukr side pull. You typically see them in the Czech Republic,” McCarthy says. “They’re becoming more popular because you really have a lot of control over not only the amount of foam that goes into the glass, but the type of foam, which is the most important part. It produces a wet foam, which is really, really, really delicious.”

If you see someone in the beer garden drinking from a full glassful of that foam, that’s a purposeful decision.

“There are pours that they do in the Czech republic that are 100 percent wet foam, and it’s absolutely delicious. From the beginning, when we were designing the bar, I wanted one,” McCarthy says, with Nagel

beermaking

adding that “they’re super cool. I definitely hope this summer we can do more of the ‘milk’ pours this summer and get people into that. We totally love them.”

Three Really Good Lagers?!

While there are some summer plans for additional beers and beer cocktails—a session pale ale should make a return, as well as a pineapple shandy and a michelada—one of their newest beers comes to Boyne by way of New Mexico.

“I just got back from a trip out west with my wife and I had a beer from a brewery in Albuquerque called Bow and Arrow. It was a lager made with blue corn and it blew my mind,” McCarthy says. “This beautiful corn flavor was in that beer, and that obviously is a really solid pairing for a taco.”

Now that the beer side of the business is up and running, and even though their canned beers have entered the world, don’t expect to see a massive expansion into a production brewery any time soon. “We’re pretty committed to doing everything here,” McCarthy says.

“We’re not going to do much distribution at first—keep it local, so it’s a little special for places to have it,” Nagel agrees.

“We’ll make as much beer as our customers make us make,” McCarthy concludes. “Right now, we just want to keep it as simple as possible.” Tacos and beer. Sometimes simple is exactly what you need.

Happy’s Lager can be found in cans at Toski Sands Market & Wine Shop in Petoskey, Provisions and The Back Lot in Boyne, and The Little Fleet in Traverse City.

Fullfilling

SŌMA

SCHOOL OF THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN!

At SŌMA, we aim to empower and inspire the next generation of Therapeutic Bodyworkers through a comprehensive and integrative curriculum We are dedicated to nurturing diverse learning styles and developing leaders in the Massage and Bodywork field, continually advancing the standards of practice Together we will explore the practice of touch, ethics, critical observation, and holistic healing, centered around a strong foundation of anatomical knowledge so we can continue to watch this work nurture and heal our communities

JUNE 13 Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ with special guest Abraham Alexander

JUNE 14 Ben Folds & A Piano Tour with Lindsay Kraft

JUNE 15 Whiskey Myers with Bayker Blankenship

JUNE 17 Diana Krall

JUNE 20 Gary Clark Jr. with Lamont Landers

JUNE 25 Rick Springfield with John Waite, Wang Chung, and Paul Young

JUNE 26 Wynonna Judd

JUNE 28 May Erlewine and Joshua Davis

JULY 9 America

JULY 10 Iron & Wine and I’m With Her

JULY 12 St. Paul & The Broken Bones and The Wood Brothers with Yasmin Williams

JULY 14

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with JJ Grey & Mofro and Dumpstaphunk

JULY 15 The Infamous Stringdusters & Leftover Salmon featuring special guests Kitchen Dwellers

JULY 17 Ashley McBryde

JULY 18 Let’s Sing Taylor - An Unofficial Live Tribute Band

JULY 19 Detroit Symphony Orchestra

JULY 22 Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Marshall Tucker Band with Jefferson Starship

JULY 23 Mat Kearney

JULY 24 Straight No Chaser with O-Town

AUG. 2 Lang Lang

AUG. 4 The War and Treaty

AUG. 5 Earth, Wind and Fire

AUG. 6 The Temptations and The Four Tops

AUG. 7 The Head And The Heart with Wilderado and Katie Pruitt

AUG. 9 Toad the Wet Sprocket with Semisonic & Sixpence None the Richer

AUG. 12 moe. with Special guest Eggy

AUG. 14 The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

AUG. 15 Cake

AUG. 16 Brit Floyd - Pink Floyd Experience

AUG. 18 Allison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas (SOLD OUT)

AUG. 22 Greensky Bluegrass (Two Nights)

AUG. 23 Greensky Bluegrass (Two Nights)

STRAWBERRIES, SCALLIONS, AND SPRINGTIME Inside the Ingredients

By Nora Rae Pearl

As we get ready for the first crops of the season, there’s no time like the present to prep our kitchens with spring recipes. These showstoppers will remind you that the long winter wait was not in vain. As poet Anne Bradstreet once said, “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.”

For these savory scallion pancakes, seek out Second Spring Farm’s organic green onions (along with their impressive variety of other organic produce at Oryana on Tenth St. in Traverse City). And for a fresh take on an old favorite, there’s strawberry sponge cake. We sourced some of northern Michigan’s finest heavy cream from The Farmer’s Creamery available at Friske’s Farm Market in Ellsworth, and when the time comes, don’t forget to use local strawberries!

SCALLION PANCAKES

These Chinese-inspired chewy, yet crunchy, pancakes are a true spring treat.

Pancake Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

• 1 cup boiling water

• 12 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

• 2 1/2 cups finely sliced green onions, about 2 small bunches

Dipping Sauce Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 teaspoon gochujang paste

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

To make the sauce: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl until thoroughly mixed. Set aside.

To make the pancakes: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Mix in the sesame oil and boiling water with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. The dough will be very hot at this point, so carefully knead until smooth, about five minutes. Cover tightly and allow to rest at room temperature for one hour.

Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Working one piece at a time, while leaving the remainder covered, roll to a 7 to 8-inch circle/oval shape on a lightly floured surface. Brush with 1 teaspoon oil, then sprinkle on 1/4 cup green onions. Roll up into a long log, then roll the log into a coil. Set aside and cover while you repeat this process with the remaining pieces. Let each coil rest at least 15 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out each spiraled coil into a 5 to 6-inch circle. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a medium nonstick pan over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add one pancake. Fry four to five minutes per side, flipping two or three times, until each side is nicely golden. Lower heat if browning too quickly to ensure the inside cooks through. Cool a few minutes on a wire rack lined with paper towel before devouring these with your homemade sauce.

WHITE CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY CAKE

A light lemon cake filled with spring’s ruby jewel and topped with white chocolate cream.

Cake Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 cup whole milk

• 4 large eggs, separated, at room temperature

• 1 3/4 cups sugar

• Zest of 1/2 lemon

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling Ingredients

• 3 cups strawberries, cut into small dice, frozen overnight

• 6 whole strawberries, set aside for top

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons water

• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

Whipped Cream Ingredients

• 4 oz. white chocolate, broken into small chunks

• 2 cups heavy cream

• Pinch of cinnamon

• Pinch of salt

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 tablespoons cream cheese, at room temperature

To make the whipped cream: Place the white chocolate in a medium bowl, set aside. Bring 1 cup of the heavy cream to a simmer in a small pot. Pour over the chocolate. Let sit for five minutes. Whisk until smooth. Whisk in the remaining ingredients except for the cream cheese. Chill at least five hours.

To make the filling: Place the frozen strawberries in a small pot with the brown sugar and a 1/4 cup of the water. Cover and cook on low heat for 20-30 minutes, or until the strawberries are starting to swim and simmer in their own juices. Uncover, and continue to cook until reduced slightly, about five minutes. In a small cup, whisk together the remaining 3 tablespoons of water and the cornstarch. Add to pot, and cook an additional minute until the mixture has thickened slightly. Take off the heat, and stir in the lemon juice. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

To make the cake: Line the bottom of a 8-inch springform pan (with a removable bottom) with parchment. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees with a rack in the middle. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside. In a small pot over medium heat, heat the milk until it just comes to a simmer. Take off heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the egg yolks, 1 cup of the sugar, and lemon zest. Beat with an electric hand mixer on medium for three to five minutes, until the mixture has more than doubled in size and is pale in

color. Scrape down the sides. Slowly add the milk in a few additions while the mixer is running on low. Mix in the vanilla. Scrape down the sides. Add the flour mixture in three batches, beating until just combined after each addition. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, gently fold to make sure there are no flour pockets in the batter. Set aside. Wash your mixer whisks thoroughly.

In a medium bowl, whip the egg whites on mediumhigh until light and foamy, about one minute. Gradually add in the remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Beat on mediumhigh until you have glossy, droopy, soft peaks, about three to five minutes. Fold in one-third of the egg white mixture into the batter until mostly combined. Add the rest of the egg white mixture, and gently fold it in until no streaks remain. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 60 minutes, or until when gently poked the cake bounces back and makes a slight squishy sound. If you feel it is not done, bake an additional five minutes and check again. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Run a knife along the sides to loosen. Invert onto a plate, remove cake pan, then peel off parchment. Cut into three equal layers.

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add in the cream mixture, then whip until stiff peaks have formed. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure all the cream cheese has been incorporated. Place into a piping bag with desired tip.

Place one cake layer on a cake plate. Pipe a thick layer of whipped cream along the edge. Fill the inside with half of the strawberry filling. Add the next cake layer and repeat. Add the final layer and decorate with remaining whipped cream. Mix 1 tbsp. sugar and 1 tbsp. warm water in a small cup. Dip in the six strawberries that were set aside, then roll in sugar. Place atop the cake. Allow the cake to chill at least three hours before slicing—it will get better with time.

Northern Michigan’s Most Iconic Eats

LEGENDARY DISHES TO PUT ON YOUR MUST-EAT LIST

By Craig Manning

Since 2018, Northern Express has been scouring the northern Michigan restaurant scene in search of the region’s most iconic dishes. Our Iconic Eats series has spotlighted both obvious staples (the Cherry Crumb Pie from Grand Traverse Pie Company, or the sandwiches from Village Cheese Shanty) and hidden gems (the Chicken Tikka Masala from NJ’s Grocery in Lake Leelanau, or the Petaled Brussel’s Sprouts from Corner Bistro in Bellaire).

This year, we inducted another five dishes into the hall of fame, which now includes 34 dishes from 34 different restaurants. It’s an increasingly big tent, which has had us thinking a little differently about what constitutes “iconic.” Is it longevity? Buzz? The dopamine rush you feel when you taste something indescribably delicious?

This year’s class, which includes everything from a century-old culinary tradition to one of the newest and most exciting up-and-comers in the Traverse City foodie scene, is a celebration of the many definitions of the word “iconic.”

Crocodile Palace (traverse city)

CRISPY PORK BELLY

Opened in January of 2023, Traverse City’s Crocodile Palace is the newest restaurant the Express has ever included in an Iconic Eats class. You might be wondering: How could a place that opened so recently already have enough of a reputation to make the list?

Here’s the thing with Crocodile Palace, though: Even before owners Patrick and Michael Evans opened a restaurant in TC, buzz has followed them. The brothers are Traverse City natives, but they left the region for years, cutting their teeth at Michelin-star restaurants in other parts

of the country. After moving home, they started to gain a following thanks to soldout pop-up events under the name Conifer.

When efforts fell through to open a full Conifer restaurant downtown, the brothers ultimately pursued Crocodile Palace instead, a concept that had originated as a one-night-only Chinese food pop-up at The Little Fleet in December 2021. At that pop-up, the Evans brothers tried their hand at Sichuan, a type of Chinese food known for its bold, spicy flavors. It was a hit, and a little over a year later, Crocodile Palace was up and running as a brick-andmortar takeout joint.

Crocodile Palace has quickly garnered national attention, with Conde Nast Traveler praising its “tantalizing Sichuan takeout with a seasonal flare” and the New York Times shouting out its “lip-numbing

Sichuan chicken wings.” But we’re going a different route with our pick for the dish most worthy of iconic status: the crispy pork belly.

While not the restaurant’s top seller— according to Patrick Evans, that title belongs to the Dan Dan noodles—the crispy pork belly has the distinction of being the only Crocodile Palace specialty available from both the main restaurant on Cochlin Street and the Croc Palace satellite at The Little Fleet. Evans says the pork belly became a staple at both locations due to its shareability.

“Often, when you’re eating at Chinese restaurants, there’s a huge focus on ordering a ton of food and then sharing those dishes amongst the people you’re eating with,” Evans explains. “We wanted something for our menu that was a larger-

format protein dish for people to share. Pork belly lent itself to that easily, because we were already receiving pork belly to make bacon for one of our other dishes.”

To ensure just the right flavor and texture, Evans says the pork belly is cured for two to three days in “the same spice mix we use on our numbing chicken wings,” slow-cooked, cooled, and then portioned out and deep fried “until it is very, very crispy.” The dish is then served with assorted fermented and vinegar pickles and a chili paste black bean condiment, which the Evans brothers make in house.

Pair it with a few other Crocodile Palace dishes—Evans recommends a bed of white rice, the cucumber salad, and the Laiziji chicken—and you’ve got a bonafide Sichuan feast.

Legs Inn

(Cross Village)

TASTE OF POLAND

If Crocodile Palace is the newest restaurant we’ve ever featured in the Iconic Eats hall of fame, then Legs Inn in Cross Village might be the oldest.

“We’re a third-generation family-owned business and a State of Michigan landmark, and we’ve been around for 100-plus years,” says owner Mark Smolak. “And despite how the business has evolved in that time, there’s always been an emphasis on traditional, authentic Polish cuisine, which we carry on to this day.”

By far the most popular dish on the Legs Inn menu, Smolak notes, is the Taste of Poland, an entrée which essentially acts as a Polish cuisine sampler plate.

“It brings together the three most popular, most common Polish items,” Smolak says of the dish. “There’s pierogi, which are Polish dumplings with various fillings. There’s Golabki, which is a Polish cabbage roll. And then kielbasa, which of course is Polish smoked sausage. So, this dish really captures the essence of traditional Polish cuisine, and it’s always been featured on our menu for that reason.”

For years, when Polish cuisine was less familiar to the general public, the Taste of Poland was a perfect way for northern Michigan customers to get a crash course. But even now that Polish food has gone a lot more mainstream in the United States—the popularity of pierogi has exploded in recent years, particularly in the Midwest—the utility of Legs Inn’s most popular dish hasn’t faded.

“Everyone orders it,” Smolak says with a laugh. “It touches on all demographics. Really, it seems like the overwhelming majority of our customers come here to try the Taste of Poland.”

Do note that, if you happen to have a hankering for good, authentic Polish food, you’ll have to wait a little bit to get your hands on anything from Legs Inn. The business is seasonal and is just preparing to come out of hibernation for the 2025 season. “This year, we’re going to open right before Memorial Day,” Smolak shares.

Folgarelli’s Market & Wine Shop

(traverse city) THE GODFATHER

A great deli is an underrated asset in any community, and Traverse City is lucky enough to have a few of them. Perhaps the most beloved of those is Folgarelli’s, the downtown market and wine shop that doubles as one of the region’s coolest takeout spots.

Take-n-bake pizzas, house-made soups, rigatoni pasta with meatballs, cheesy risotto, spinach pie, and even crab cakes: You can find all of the above and more at Folgarelli’s, making it an easy option to feed the whole family (and a hard place to walk out of without making more impulse buys than you intended).

But perhaps the most famous aspect of Folgarelli’s is its sandwiches. Like any great deli, Folgarelli’s has a daunting sandwich menu—daunting, in that there are nearly 50 options to choose from, and they all sound amazing. Ultimately, though, there’s no question about which sandwich is the most iconic.

“Our most popular sandwich is The Godfather, a combination of capicola, prosciutto, provolone, Roma tomatoes, roasted red peppers, our house-made Marge’s Italian dressing, and fresh basil pesto,” says owner Darric Newman.

That sandwich has won countless accolades (it’s been a regular fixture in MyNorth’s Red Hot Best Awards over the years) and has endured for decades (Folgarelli’s has been in business since 1978). And while being named after one of the most iconic films in history probably doesn’t hurt The Godfather’s sales numbers, Newman—who is the third generation of the Folgerelli family to own and run the store—puts forth a simpler explanation for its popularity.

“Why’s it so popular? I think purely because it is delicious,” he says.

Welp, we can’t argue with that!

North Country Kitchen and Bar

(suttons bay)

WALLEYE ALMONDINE

Since changing hands in 2023, Suttons Bay’s North Country Kitchen and Bar has both switched its name (it was formerly North Country Grill and Pub) and pivoted its menu. Under the leadership of new owner Matthew Branton and chef Eric Force, North Country has embraced southern cuisine, packing its menu with Cajun and Creole flavors.

“My family is from the south, and I spent a ton of time in New Orleans growing up,” Branton told the Leelanau Ticker a few years ago. “When I met our chef, Eric Force—who was a sous chef at PepeNero in Traverse City for about a decade—I asked him what kind of food he wanted to do, and he told me he wanted to do Lowcountry Southern food. I said, ‘Well that’s weird, because that’s my family food! How can I say no?’”

That’s how a restaurant named for the north became one of the region’s leading purveyors of food from the south. Not everything on the North Country menu is southern, though: in fact, one of the restaurant’s key dishes is the Walleye Almondine, which is a Midwest American seafood tradition through and through.

A signature dish in the Great Lakes region, due mostly to the prevalence of walleye in the nearby waters, walleye almondine is a twist on a French cuisine preparation method, “a la amandine,” which simply means “prepared or served with almonds.” It may sound fancy, but walleye almondine initially became popular because it was a simple yet delicious way to prepare a readily available type of whitefish.

North Country’s version steers into the “comfort food” roots of the dish: fresh Great Lakes walleye, dredged in panko bread crumbs and almonds, friend until it achieves a deliciously crispy golden brown crunch, and finished with a sherry brown butter sauce. No wonder it’s become the top fish dish on a menu full of some of northern Michigan’s best seafood.

Don’s Drive In (Traverse City)

VANILLA MILKSHAKE

In the seven years of the Iconic Eats series, we have only spotlighted one item that could be conceivably described as a drink: the famous “Chubby Mary” from The Cove in Leland. Well, today we’re making it two, and the second one comes from one of Traverse City’s longest-running burger joints: Don’s Drive-In.

Don’s Drive-In has been serving up hamburgers, fries, and “real hand-dipped shakes and malts” on US-31 in East Bay Township since 1958. A lot has changed in the nearly 70 years the restaurant has been operating—including, on numerous occasions, the owners. Don Shaff, the business’s namesake, owned the joint from 1960 to 1980, then sold it to his neighbor, Bob Wilson, who ran it until 2017. Current owner Mike Maddasion bought Don’s that year, but his history with the place reaches back to 1987, when he first took a job there.

No wonder, then, that Maddasion’s philosophy revolves around preserving what has made Don’s Drive-In a beloved Traverse City institution since its inception. For one thing, the restaurant looks and feels like a piece of mid-century Americana, from the pink exterior and retro road sign to the black-and-white checkered floors. For another, the food still tastes great—especially those milkshakes.

Need proof that the Don’s shakes are worthy of iconic status? Look no further than USA Today, which in 2019 published an ambitious list cataloging “The Best Place to Get a Shake in Every State.” The pick for Michigan? Don’s Drive-In.

“An old-fashioned drive-in, opened in 1958 and still featuring ’50s-style carhop service in the summer months, Don’s is a traditionalist in the shake department,” the USA Today blurb reads.

“Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and cherry are the standard flavors (Traverse City is cherry country), with the option to mix in pieces of actual fruit – strawberry, cherry, and other seasonal specials.”

Our favorite shake flavor is the most classic one: vanilla. But you really can’t go wrong with a Don’s shake, especially on a hot July night. Bring on the summertime!

Indian Spice

Cadillac

The origin of Cadillac’s Indian Spice took shape in the tiny kitchen at NJ’s Grocery in Lake Leelanau, managed by Indian Spice founder Sam Chugh and owned by his brother Raj. NJ’s is a go-to mini supermarket— operating in the same location since 1918— supplying the staples and the extras for local and seasonal residents. But it was Chugh’s sister Rosie, using the cooking skills she learned from her mother, who took over the kitchen, selling freshly-made Indian take-out under the name India’s Kitchen.

That success inspired the new restaurant. In a tight and pricey real estate market, Chugh and nephew Paul Singh found a space in Cadillac which fit the bill. The site began life as a Bonanza Steakhouse, and then a Ponderosa, before it became Cast Iron Kitchen in 2021, closing in 2024.

On the Menu

Chugh and his siblings grew up in India’s northwest Punjab province, known for its distinctive flavors influenced by the region’s farming and agriculture products, including rice, wheat, and dairy products. Punjabi cuisine is rich and creamy, with a focus on butter, cream, fresh yogurt, and paneer, or soft cheese, all of which inform the restaurant’s menu.

The menu is like a trip to the subcontinent, showcasing the deep history and culture of India through its cuisine. Meat eaters will love the just-short-of-a-dozen entrees, including these current big sellers: Chicken Tikka Masala, yogurt-marinated chicken in a creamy, colorful spiced sauce; Chicken Korma, a sweet, rich, yogurt-based curry with warm spice flavors; and Vindaloo, with curry paste and chilis featuring chicken or lamb. Likewise, vegetarians have an equal number of entrees from which to choose. Two of the most popular are the Dal Makhani, a creamy, buttery combination of lentils, kidney beans, and spices, and the Kadhi Pakora, fritters served in a creamy yogurt sauce, served with rice or naan.

Patrons can expect the menu to offer the full experience with the opportunity to try roti, naan, and paratha, all Indian flatbreads, each with its own distinctive flavor and texture. And don’t miss the Cumin Rice, a deeply flavorful side that goes with everything on the menu.

Find Indian Spice at 621 South Mitchell St., Cadillac. (231) 468-2171; theindianspicerestaurant.com

By Northern Express Staff & Contributors

This spring’s restaurant guide will take you around northern Michigan and around the world with Indian, Thai, Italian, and Mexican cuisine, plus a classic American steakhouse. We’ve also found lighter eats for breakfast and lunch focused on allergen-free, locallysourced, and good-for-you (and the soul) bites from smoothies to salads to sandwiches.

Some of these spots are in their first year of operation, while others are celebrating 15 or 50 (!) years in the business. Best of all, you’ll see a few familiar names, as local chefs and restaurant owners branch out into new endeavors. Cheers to these culinary creators who make dining Up North a treat!

Water Bearer Coffee Traverse City

When Azure Klug took over Traverse City’s Rough Pony in February 2024 and rebranded it as Water Bearer Coffee, she wasn’t just changing the name—she was embracing a vision, one that blends her love for coffee, community, and creativity into a welcoming, quirky space for locals and visitors alike.

Water Bearer Coffee isn’t just a place to grab a coffee to go—it’s an experience. Inspired by tarot and zodiac themes, the café has a cozy, mystical atmosphere, complete with a new zodiac mural by local artist Heather Spooner.

On the Menu

Water Bearer Coffee serves up a menu full of thoughtfully crafted drinks and dishes.

When it comes to beverages, The Banana Split and PB Power are favorites from the smoothie menu. The Chai Latte features homemade cardamom syrup and housemade chai, while the Magic Hour Juice offers a blend of orange, turmeric, lemon, and ginger. And if you need a caffeine boost, opt for the Shakerato, a refreshing shot of espresso shaken with ice and cardamom syrup, creating a cold, frothy, 4-ounce floralpine delight.

The food choices are just as varied. The Egg and Cheese Sandwich is a classic from the Rough Pony menu featuring a folded egg, melted havarti, and saucy sauce on a toasted country pullman loaf or a Bubbie’s Bagel.

Burritos are also popular, whether it’s the OG Burrito—a staple for regulars made with pintos, folded egg, verde, white onion, feta, sour cream, broken chips, cilantro, and homemade cilantro lime cream sauce—or the Smutty Burrito, a unique twist on a classic wrapped in a tortilla with cheddar cheese, tangy jalapeño crema, tater tots, egg, and bacon (or tempeh bacon).

For Klug’s personal favorite, try the Bougie Toast. You’ll get avocado, jammy egg, everything seasoning, pickled onion, chili oil and micro greens on toasted whole wheat pullman loaf.

Find Water Bearer Coffee at 144 Hall St Suite #100 in Traverse City. (231) 252-2442; waterbearercoffee.square.site

Thai Cafe Traverse City

Tucked in a small shopping center near the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, Thai Cafe has served as a staple of Asian cuisine in Traverse City for 15 years.

“There’s not a lot of variety of Asian food in this town,” co-owner Vilai Yang says. “I think we bring a different culture and a variety of Asian food. I think people appreciate that.”

While seating is limited to 14 right now— most of their business is carryout—Yang hopes to add more tables in the future. Open six days a week (closed on Mondays), Thai Cafe does brisk business during the traditional lunch and dinner hours, both in-dining and carryout.

On the Menu

When you take a look at the menu, you may feel overwhelmed—in a good way. Thai Cafe offers 22 appetizers, soups, and salads and nearly 40 mains, with customizable proteins (chicken, tofu, beef, pork, shrimp, and roast duck) and spice levels (mild, mild+, medium, medium+, hot, and extra hot).

The Chinese-American dishes at Thai Cafe include Orange Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Mongolian Beef, egg rolls, Wonton Soup, and Crab Rangoon. The Thai selection includes spring rolls, lettuce wraps and a variety of noodle soups, salads, and variations of fried rice.

Yang recommends the Pad Thai, one of the best-known traditional Thai dishes and a popular street food in that country. For the unfamiliar, the dish consists of sauteed rice noodles, onions, eggs, scallions, and bean sprouts and is topped with crushed peanuts and lime.

Variations include Pad Kee Maw, also known as “drunken noodle” and Yellow Curry Pad Thai, in which the noodles are simmered in “our house special creamy coconut sauce along with yellow curry.”

Yang says the most popular dishes are the vegetable and chicken spring rolls, the fried rice options (with variations that include infusion of basil, yellow curry, red curry, and pineapple), anything with red curry, Pad Thai, and Peanut Curry Pad Thai. The latter varies from traditional Pad Thai with a house-made creamy coconut sauce along with peanut butter and red curry.

Find Thai Cafe is in Campus Plaza, 1219 E. Front St. in Traverse City. (231) 642-5166; tcthaicafe.com

BeeSmooth/The Buzz Café Manistee

A conscious effort to provide healthy, flavorful food is what drives BeeSmooth Café, Manistee’s light, bright, and eclectic eatery. BeeSmooth is the dream of Natasha Partridge, and she’s growing that dream with a new name—The Buzz Café and Bakery—and a new location. The Buzz Café and Bakery will be a “more intimate setting,” Partridge explains, “with counter access and guest wifi.” Outdoor tables, in season, will increase seating to around 25, about half of the current BeeSmooth site, but with a grab and go deli, as well as table service, Partridge is confident The Buzz Café will handle the numbers with aplomb.

On the Menu

There is something for everyone at BeeSmooth/soon to be Buzz. All day breakfast includes combos of eggs, meats, potatoes, pancakes, or waffles, regular and GF. For something different, order the Shakshuka Eggs, two fried eggs on a rich tomato base with seasoned chickpeas, feta, kale, and a side of pita. Or try a breakfast Busy Bee Bowl, with interesting flavor variations like Biscuits & Gravy Bowl, Southwest Bowl, and Chorizo Bowl. We like the Sweet Potato Bowl, with a sweet potato base and your choice of sweet and fruity (with flax, chia, peanut butter, and maple syrup) or savory (with kale, quinoa, crispy chickpeas, avocado, soft boiled egg, and side of tahini dressing).

House-made sandwiches, salads, and soups are flavorful and creative. Go for the Bee

A Brie, with grilled brie, special mayo, Granny Smith apple, red onion, bacon, and turkey; or the Salmon Sub, made with lightly blackened salmon on a buttered bun with garlic aioli, spring mix, and mango slaw. Vegans will love the Chickpea Quinoa Patty or the Coconut Turmeric Curry, featuring veggies in sweet and savory curry sauce served over quinoa. (Add shrimp or chicken if so desired.)

An array of baked goods—cakes, pies, breads, muffins, and cookies—are both traditionally made and made allergen-free for those with dietary restrictions. For example, the delicious Honeycomb Cakes are always gluten-free. And look for vegan muffins and pie every week.

Find BeeSmooth Café at 215 Arthur St. Manistee (and the future Buzz Café and Bakery at 390 River Street). (231) 299-1144; beesmoothcafe.com

Mode’s Bum Steer

Traverse City

On April 7, 1975, Bob and Anita Mode opened a bar and restaurant that was to bear their name. A half century later, Mode’s Bum Steer is still going strong, with their daughter Skylar now running the enterprise. That makes it the longest-running family-owned restaurant in Traverse City.

And it looks the part. Walk in the door and you are immediately transported back in time to…the 60s? The mid-70s? Surely no later than that, as the low-slung, comfy swivel dining chairs, the deep reds and greens, the wood accents, low lighting, and Tiffany-style lamps conjure up a feeling of days gone by.

On the Menu

The time travel extends to the bar, not only in its throwback look, but in its customers’ preferences. Bartender Terri “Trixie” Cunningham, a veteran of 25 years, says the resurgence of classic cocktails across the country is reflected at Mode’s—though the question is whether they were ever really out of favor.

“We are definitely known for our Old Fashioneds and martinis. We have this way of serving our martinis in a little sidecar that everyone loves,” she says.

Since the outset, Mode’s has been a steakhouse, and that’s still the case. The menu boasts six different cuts of steak, seven if you count the six-ounce New York strip (prepared two ways) on the “Lighter Side” menu.

Lighter Side apparently stands simply in contrast to the rest of the menu, which is heavy on meat: Beyond the bevy of steaks, there’s the prime rib, rack of lamb, chicken, duck, and pork alongside eight choices of seafood, plus traditional appetizers like shrimp cocktail and wings, and even a Polish sausage platter.

Through it all, Mode’s has maintained a following locally, as well as welcoming visitors.

“Mode’s is still here,” Skylar says proudly.

Still here, still a business, still with the same family after 50 years. That makes it still a tradition.

Find Mode’s Bum Steer at 125 E State St. in Traverse City. (231) 947-9832; modesbumsteer.com

Nittolo’s Little Italy

Traverse City

Craving a pizza or a hearty bowl of pasta? You’re in luck:

Nittolo’s Little Italy, from restaurateur Eric Nittolo, is slated to open downtown in the Warehouse District this spring, pending licensing and approvals.

The new spot was built out in the space where Cut & Run used to be, next to The Tasting Room on the ground floor of the Breakwater building. Nittolo, who runs the eponymous (and popular) Nittolo’s Seafood & Pizza in Lake Leelanau, has a two-fold premise: to bring the taste of Italy to Traverse City, and to offer great value.

By offering a similar menu as the Nittolo’s location in Lake Leelanau but in smaller quantities, Nittolo’s Little Italy will be able to maintain high quality meals while charging customers less.

On the Menu

“This isn’t French refined style; it’s good home cooking Italian,” says Nittolo.

Appetizers include Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta ($9.99), with smoked tomato mostarda, balsamic, and burrata; the Truffle Fries ($9.99), complete with parmesan and truffle aioli; and the Prosciutto di Parma ($19.99), a meat and cheese board perfect for sharing. You’ll also find mussels, calamari, crab cakes, and shrimp scampi on the small

plates side, all for under $10.

Entrees run the range from pasta classics like Gnocchi, Tortellini, Risotto, and Carbonara to Lobster Fettuccine Alfredo, complete with jumbo shrimp, lobster claw meat, and tomato basil fettuccine. Pescatarians will opt for the Frutti di Mare or the Alaskan Halibut, while carnivores can choose from Filet Mignon and Lobster and chicken three ways (Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Piccata, and Chicken Marsala).

And then, of course, there are the famous Nittolo’s pizzas, 14 of them, plus cheese bread. Pizzas range from $15.99 for a Classic Cheese to $19.99 (think: Margherita, Smoked Brisket BBQ, Jersey White) to $25.99 for specialities like the Forest Morel (garlic butter, morel blend, truffle oil, raclette, asparagus, and cippolinis) or Torta di Nitollo (bufala mozzarella, cherry bomb tomatoes, prosciutto, arugula, and pomodorino).

Find Nittolo’s Little Italy at 155 Garland St #101 in Traverse City. nittolostc.com

El Maguey

Cadillac

Cadillac already has a wealth of Mexican restaurants, so how does one succeed in what appears to be a saturated market? It’s all about authenticity and family heritage, according to Dusty Rodriguez, manager of Cadillac’s El Maguey and member of the family who owns the eatery.

“The food sets us apart,” she says. The family hails from Michoacán, a state in the central west of Mexico on the Pacific coast.

Michoacán cuisine emphasizes traditional techniques, such as slow cooking, combined with fresh authentic ingredients, using corn, beans, chiles, tomatoes, tomatillos, and avocados. The 16th century Spanish occupation influenced indigenous foods by introducing garlic and herbs, livestock including beef and pigs, and dairy products, yielding today’s flavor combinations that are both balanced and layered.

On the Menu

While this super-sized menu has all of the south-of-the-border favorites, plus plenty for the Americanized palate, start by taking a look at the authentic and unique entrees and sides straight from Michoacán. Try the Carnitas, the Mexican version of pulled pork (and a generational favorite of the Rodriguez family), slow cooked and then gently crisped, served with rice, beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, and choice of corn or flour tortillas.

Al Pastor, sweet and spicy rotisserie-cooked marinated pork slices, is another Michoacán specialty, and teams up with carnitas and chorizo in El Maguey’s enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos, or tacos. We also recommend the Birria Con Consume, marinated beef, slowcooked in a peppery broth, served shredded with corn tacos. (Birria is native to Jalisco, a neighboring state of Michoacán.)

The Burrito Michoacán, a big favorite, is a protein blast with steak, chicken, and chorizo, a tomatillo sauce and cheese dip, topped with a skewer of shrimp, and served with rice, lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream. For an intense traditional side, try the Chile Toreados, blistered jalapeño or serrano chiles finished with salt and sometimes a squeeze of lemon or lime.

While El Maguey does not focus on wine, it does offer a satisfying collection of beers and spirits. Enjoy Modelo Special and Dos Equis lager on tap, plus 10 varieties of bottled beer including Corona, Sol, and Pacifico. Tequilas, including La Siete Leguas, Komos, Hornitos, Patron, and Jalisco are on offer, plus more.

Find El Maguey at 1700 S Mitchell St. in Cadillac. (231) 444-6118

NEW DATE!

Saturday May 17th, 2025 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Barnes Park, Eastport

ACTIVITIES:

• *NEW* Small Petting Zoo!

• Petoskey Stone Hunt

• Stone Skipping Contest

• Kids Fishing Pond

• Handmade Arts, Crafts, and Rock Vendors

• Delicious Food Vendors

• Balloon Animals and Face Painting

ENTERTAINMENT:

• Tommy Tropic

• Kenny Thompson Join us for a FREE day of family-friendly fun!

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(your home here because good marketing matters)

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER

Hello

to

Enclave

201, but Not

Goodbye to Sparks BBQ

A rebrand and a new direction for this downtown TC eatery

By Greg Tasker

There’s good news for barbecue aficionados in northern Michigan: Sparks BBQ in Traverse City is not going away.

The popular barbecue spot, which closed earlier this year, will return in the summer as part of a reconfiguration of its former space in the 200 block of East Front Street in Traverse City. Sparks BBQ will reopen as al-fresco dining at the back of the rear parking lot and along the Boardman River, creating a one-of-a-kind space in downtown Traverse City.

Popular go-to’s such as pulled pork, brisket, and smoked chicken thigh will return, along with sides like baked beans, cornbread, mac ‘n’ cheese, and Sparks Famous BBQ Sundae—not a dessert but a concoction of creamy coleslaw, baked beans, pulled pork or chicken, and “Original BBQ Sauce,” layered twice in a pint glass.

Inside, the space has been reimagined as Enclave 201, serving casual American fare with a twist. And upstairs? Encore 201, the nightclub, thrives.

Switching Gears

For owner Dean Sparks, a self-taught pitmaster who launched his barbecue businesses in a food truck a decade ago, the revamp makes sense and binds the three businesses together.

“It’s kind of my dream,” says Sparks, an architect by profession who spent years perfecting the art of barbecue in his backyard. “I’m wearing three hats—one for a barbecue place, the second for a restaurant with American cuisine, and a third for a nightclub—all in the same building, with me

as the building owner. It’s one of the benefits of moving Sparks BBQ outside.”

Purchasing the building a year ago has enabled Sparks to make changes to the building and to the menu. He was unable to make some equipment changes to the kitchen because of lease limitations, which prohibited expanding the menu.

“Customers were constantly asking for French fries and hamburgers,” he says, noting it wasn’t something he could do without a kitchen hood. “For most people, barbecue means something from a grill— burgers and steaks.”

Despite the popularity of his barbecue, produced from 100 percent-wood-powered smokers, Sparks was well aware of his menu restraints.

“We noticed through the years that it was difficult to sell exclusively barbecue when there is three feet of snow outside,” Sparks says. “Barbecue was popular in the summer but not so much in the winter.”

A New Concept

His new concept, Enclave 201, opened in early April. The restaurant serves typical American fare: burgers, sandwiches, and French fries, and also much more.

His twists include Chicken and Waffles, “a fun Southern classic dish,” topped with bacon and pepper jam and pure maple syrup, Sparks says, and Pear Brandy Pork Tenderloin, a pork tenderloin served with sauteed pear slices and a pear brandy cream sauce reduction.

A family favorite is the Kickin’ Meat Loaf, a blend of ground sirloin and chuck, bell pepper, onions, and carrots, glazed with a cumin, honey-infused ketchup. The entree

is served with roasted fingerling potatoes and green beans.

“The menu is a blend of what customers wanted, what we wanted—what my wife wanted,” he says. “These are flavors our family wants to share with the world.”

The influence of his wife includes vegetable eggplant parmesan, calamari, and Panzanella Salad, featuring mixed greens with red and golden beets, pickled red onions, Burrata cheese, croutons, pear, and red wine vinaigrette.

The appetizers and soups are not traditional bar fare. Instead, you’ll find Whipped Feta Dip, Street Corn Dip, and Roasted Brussel Sprouts. With the change in clientele inside, wine and cocktails have also become more popular.

Inside, Sparks has made some renovations and changes. There is a new, shorter bar with a warm wood feeling to match the early 20th-century vibe. A new wall separates the bar from the dining area, and an entry host stand has been created to better serve incoming guests. More curtains have been added to better light control during the day and create ambiance and a sense of privacy.

“The whole experience is a huge upscale step from Sparks,” he says. “The devil is in the details. I wanted anything we put in this building to give the feeling of having been here forever. It was imperative that the floor plan flows logically with the renovations. With the new layout, we were able to do that .”

A Trio of Businesses

“The feedback has been incredible— everybody is raving about the food,” Sparks

says, noting a soft opening with family and friends was held in early April. “People are acting as though we are Traverse City’s bestkept secret. We kept this all under wraps until we were ready to reveal it.”

Moving Sparks BBQ outside and taking advantage of the summer outdoors will allow the barbecue to thrive as its own little food court. Sparks has applied for a liquor license, and says the riverside location will add to the appeal.

“That coupled with being on Cass Avenue right outside the tunnel,” he says. “It’s one of the most foot-traveled north to south routes in the city. We’ll be the first restaurant people hear, see, and smell coming out of the tunnel from the beach.”

Sparks intends to rebrand the whole building as 201.

“We want to be the fun destination for the downtown district,” he says. “We want to be a place where people can go and have multiple things to do. You can have a dinner date at the restaurant and then go upstairs and dance and have a blast.”

As Sparks BBQ, Enclave, and Encore move into the future, Sparks plans to launch a series of promotions and discounts to inform people of the changes and let them know Sparks BBQ will be around this summer.

“It’s been very flattering,” he says of the concern about Sparks BBQ. “We never said we wouldn’t come back. We’re just putting Sparks BBQ away in the winter like people would a grill. We’ll bring it back out in the summer.”

Find Enclave 201 and its sister businesses at 201 E Front St. in Traverse City. (231) 633-7800

Meeting in the Middle

The latest reactions to Michigan’s new minimum wage, tip credit, and sick leave policies

By Art Bukowski

Could have been better. Could have been worse.

Broadly speaking, that’s the consensus among folks on both sides of the fight for higher minimum wage, more sick time, and a phase-out of the tipped worker pay credit a few months after new legislation was adopted.

As predicted, legislators in an eleventhhour deal reached a compromise of sorts before changes to all these items (including a complete elimination of the tip credit) were scheduled to take effect in February. Now, businesses and workers are figuring out exactly what it means to their bottom lines.

Northern Express takes a look at how it started and how it’s going, particularly for local restaurants.

How It Started

The Michigan Supreme Court in July 2024 issued a ruling that stood to completely eliminate the state’s tip credit (which allowed tipped workers to be paid $3.93 an hour) by 2029 and raise the state’s minimum wage to roughly $15 dollars an hour (it was $10.33) over three years.

This sent shockwaves through the restaurant industry, and understandably so.

If and when the tip credit was eliminated, restaurants would have to start paying their workers the full minimum wage.

Industry advocates said it could cripple and potentially close scores of restaurants across the state.

The ruling also allowed workers to accumulate more paid sick leave than was prescribed under state law and removed the paid sick leave exemption for employers with less than 50 employees.

This all began with a pair of ballot initiatives introduced in 2018 that outlined sweeping changes to Michigan employment laws and compensation. Rather than have voters weigh in on the matter, the Republican-led legislature adopted into law both proposed ballot measures. But a few months later, the legislature substantially amended and “watered down” these measures, leading to a legal challenge.

After winding its way up to the Supreme Court, justices ruled that the state legislature’s “adopt-and-amend” modification of what was described in the ballot initiatives was unconstitutional, thereby reverting the laws back to the ballot initiative versions.

A Last-Minute Compromise

Though labor advocates celebrated the

ruling, insiders predicted that legislators would intervene and stave off a potentially massive impact on the restaurant industry.

The insiders were correct. Only a day before the new rules were set to take effect, legislators agreed on bills that considerably revised the changes outlined in the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Though minimum wage will still increase to $15 by 2027, the most noteworthy and impactful legislative change involved the tip credit. Instead of completely eliminating this credit, legislators set rules that gradually increase the pay of tipped workers to 50 percent of the minimum wage by 2030. This means employers will still have to pay tipped workers more, but much less than previously expected and in a more palatable timeline.

The revisions also softened paid sick leave requirements, but still increased time owed to workers and required employers under 50 employees to provide sick time. The final law mandates that employees accrue one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with a cap of 72 hours annually for most employers and 40 hours for small businesses (10 or fewer employees).

Monique Stanton is president and CEO at the Michigan League for Public Policy, which was a strong advocate for the changes

outlined in the initial Supreme Court ruling. While the February legislation is a step in the right direction, she says, it still feels like a letdown.

“We really wanted to see the original language that was included with the ballot initiative implemented, so we were ultimately disappointed in the legislation that was passed earlier this year,” she says.

Sigh of Relief

Local restaurant leaders have mixed feelings about the new rules, but are unanimously relieved that the tip credit remains. Skylar Mode, general manager of Traverse City’s Mode’s Bum Steer, recalls a ton of anxiety in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling last year.

“It was definitely scary,” she says. “We were coming up with all kinds of scenarios trying to figure out what we were going to do if that happens. We are very lucky the tip credit didn’t [go away].”

Over at Amical, owner Jeff Libman points out that many servers, particularly good ones, were set to make considerably less money if relegated to direct wages alone. Libman, Mode, and many others in the industry had concerns about losing good servers to other professions had the tip

credit disappeared.

“Saving the tip credit was huge. Servers can still do their jobs and get rewarded for being really good at it via tips,” Libman says. “That was the big thing we all wanted to keep, so that’s fantastic.”

For her part, Stanton contends that an increase in direct pay wouldn’t necessarily mean the end of tips, and that many tipped workers (especially those with inconsistent customers or in lower-end restaurants) would have benefitted from an elimination

of the tip credit.

“When other states have boosted their tipped minimum wage to match the regular minimum wage, there hasn’t necessarily been this significant decrease in tips,” she says.

Shelby Oberstaedt is vice president of operations at Mission Restaurant Group (North Peak, Jolly Pumpkin, Blue Tractor, and many more). She was concerned not only about losing good workers, but about a massive, crippling payroll increase across the

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hundreds of workers employed by her group. On her end, it’s hard to not feel OK with the final outcome.

“I think we’re in a good spot with where it landed,” she says. “We looked at all angles— this is the best case scenario, this is the worst case scenario—and I think we met somewhere in the middle.”

That said, Oberstaedt said increased labor costs, regardless of how they manifest themselves, will likely need to be passed on to the consumer.

“When we do have to pay more in labor out, whether it be for sick pay or for minimum wage increases or whatever the case may be, to offset those costs, chances are there’s going to have to be increases in [the customer’s] cost,” she says.

The sick time changes have the biggest impact on places like Mode’s, which have a smaller staff. Mode says it’s too early to determine how much of an impact it will have on her business, as it remains to be seen how much her employees will use it.

a place downtown where every visit reveals something special. Where familiar cocktails take unexpected turns. Where weekly specials inspire you to try something new.

to The Tasting Room!

The Tech Revolution

Tien Kung Ultra took home the gold medal on April 19 in the Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon in Beijing, CNN reported. Ultra and more than 20 other robots ran alongside (but in a separate lane from) their 12,000 human competitors, supported by navigators, operators and engineers. It crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds, after three battery changes and one fall. The winner of the men's race finished in 1 hour and 2 minutes. Almost every robot in the race suffered falls or overheating issues, and one spun in two circles after leaving the starting line, hit a wall and dragged its human operators down with it. Another's head repeatedly fell off.

Best-Laid Plans

In case you hadn't heard, the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War was last week. In commemoration of that event, the city of Lexington, Massachusetts, held a Patriots' Day Awards Ceremony, during which an arch was unveiled, Boston.com reported on April 18. But as the arch was moved to the front of the stage at the event, the top part of it fell backward and broke into pieces. Mona Roy, the vice chair of the Lex250 Commission, remarked, "Don't worry, completely fixable" as the audience gasped and laughed. One Reddit user commented, "The symbolism is unbelievable."

Police Report

On April 18, the Bozeman, Montana, police department held a press conference to share that 13 of its officers, including two sergeants, had been involved in a bingo game with different kinds of arrests on the card, KBZK-TV reported. The game took place over 12 days in mid-January, with custom bingo cards with squares reading "Over .30 BAC DUI," "3+ Vehicle Accident," "Butt-Ass Naked" and "Extinguish Fire Before BFD." Police Chief Jim Veltkamp said the game was shut down and an investigation was done to make sure there were no wrongful arrests or officers acting outside their normal duties. He said the officers involved "were warned about how inappropriate this is." He added that participating supervisors were disciplined.

Saw That Coming

On Good Friday in Weston, West Virginia, an unnamed 84-year-old man went to the hospital after falling about 10 feet from a cross at a crucifixion reenactment at the Masonic Cemetery, WDTV reported. The event was sponsored by the Vandalia Community Christian Church. The reenactor was life-flighted to an emergency facility, but family members said he was doing better, and doctors no longer considered his injuries life-threatening.

News You Can Use

On April 19, NOAA Ocean Exploration sent a remote-control camera inside the wreckage of the USS Yorktown, which was sunk in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 miles from Honolulu, in 1942 during World War II, the Miami Herald reported. Along with all the expected finds, the researchers discovered something odd: a "1940-'41 Ford Super Deluxe 'Woody' in black," with flared fenders, what's left of a rag top and chrome trim. Ocean Exploration officials

called the car "an exciting find. Perhaps the car belonged to someone important on the ship or to the fleet: the captain or admiral." The wreckage, about 3 miles deep, was first discovered in 1998.

Rude

A 20-year-old Indian man identified only as Rahul disappeared nine days before his planned wedding, The Economic Times reported, taking with him cash and jewelry and, most insultingly, the bride-to-be's mother. On April 9, Rahul said he was going shopping for wedding clothes, but he later called his father to say, "I'm leaving. Don't try to look for me." Around the same time, his future mother-in-law also went missing without leaving a message. Police say the new couple may be in Uttarakhand, where he works, and are investigating there. Invitations for the wedding, scheduled for April 16, had already been sent. Bride-to-be Shivani said her fiance and her mother "used to talk on the phone a lot over the past three to four months. All we want is that the money and jewelry should be returned to us."

Can't Possibly Be True

CNN took a deep dive into the latest fashion trend on April 10, chronicling $150plus "nap dresses" one could use for ... napping. CNN calls the style "one of the latest iterations of the house dress," which has been a "staple in women's fashion for decades and potentially even centuries." CNN Underscored Director of Social Stephanie Griffin notes that a dress from Hill House Home, which sells for $150, is "comfy enough to nap in, but the ruffled shoulders, elasticized smocking and tiered midi skirt are elevated and sophisticated enough to wear to fancy drinks." Uh, that's just a DRESS. Also, who would spend $150 for something to wear while snoring on the couch? Griffin would: "One word: obsessed."

Unclear on the Concept

Katelyne Dye, 33, a postal worker in Melbourne, Florida, was arrested on April 12 after she allegedly stopped to attend a house party along her route, ClickOrlando reported. Police were alerted to a postal truck driving the wrong way on South Harbor City Boulevard. When they caught up with the driver, the truck was swerving "in and out of its lane"; Dye "appeared confused and disoriented." She told police she had consumed two shots of vodka at the house party and had been falling asleep while driving, which caused her to swerve. Dye was charged with DUI.

There Goes the Neighborhood

A Rockport, Massachusetts, neighborhood is reeling from a wave of vandalism that has claimed at least 25 car mirrors in recent weeks, People.com reported on April 24. When resident Janelle Favaloro caught the culprit in the act, she posted on Facebook: "There has been a vandal breaking car mirrors. He is described as 18"-24" tall, wearing black and white, with a red hat." If that sounds a bit like Woody Woodpecker, that's because the guilty party is a pileated woodpecker -- the inspiration for the cartoon character, and a species that happens to be in the throes of mating season. Experts believe the felonious fowl is mistaking its own reflection for a rival, and residents have taken to covering their car mirrors in the hope of preventing the bird's attacks.

Nonstop

Atlanta - ATL

Boston - BOS

Charlotte - CLT

Chicago - ORD

Dallas/Fort Worth - DFW

Denver - DEN

Detroit - DTW

Fort Lauderdale - FLL

Houston - IAH

Minneapolis - MSP

Newark - EWR

New Haven - HVN

New York - LaGuardia - LGA

Orlando/Sanford - SFB

Philadelphia - PHL

Phoenix/Mesa - AZA

Punta Gorda - PGD

Tampa/St. Pete - PIE

Washington DC - Dulles - IAD

Washington DC - Reagan - DCA

Cherry Capital Airport

THE BIG THREE Parking, Branding, and Housing

Sleeping Bear Gateways Council is working to tackle the challenges faced by dunes-adjacent communities

By Anna Faller

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore draws a staggering 1.5+ million visitors every year. Managing that level of tourist traffic poses a challenge for the area’s small gateway communities, those within the 30mile swath between Frankfort and Leland that serve as park access points.

Local nonprofit group Sleeping Bear Gateways Council (SBGC) is dedicated to mitigating those challenges. Founded in the 1960s as the Citizens Council of the Sleeping Bear Dunes area, SBGC was assembled in response to the creation of the National Lakeshore, whose boundaries often encroached on surrounding landowners and communities.

“There was a great need for [it], because people didn’t know what their rights were. So, that was our place at the table as an organization,” SBGC board member Mike Rivard explains.

For nearly 60 years, SBGC played an active role in supporting landowners in navigating issues of park boundaries and private property rights. By the late 2010s, however, the park had matured and there was less push to acquire more land, which resulted in a decreased need for that organization’s expertise. Several veteran members took the opportunity to reposition.

“The board decided to transform into an advocacy organization to assist those gateway communities,” Rivard notes.

Parking

With a seasonal influx of nearly 300,000 people to the region, a key project for

the SBGC is maximizing parking space, particularly in Glen Arbor and communities towards the lakeshore’s center.

To achieve this, the organization has explored allocating unused parking for visitors (an effort that’s been tabled for now), as well as tapping and expanding municipal ownership outlets. This initiative could involve enlisting a parking consultant, as well as coordinating with municipal officials to adapt under-utilized swaths of land.

“The [goal] would be to lay out something in character with the community, so that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb,” Rivard adds.

Branding

SBGC has also earmarked a potential branding initiative for the region, inspired by the Conservation Fund, wherein Sleeping Bear Dunes gateway communities could be united under a single title, for instance, “The Sleeping Bear Dunes Area,” instead of Frankfort, Glen Arbor, etc.

As Rivard notes, this strategy has proven benefits—notably, increased recognition from high-season tourists and employees planning to return. Advertising this way could also help bolster the seasonal workforce, particularly as it relates to the increasingly-formidable demographic of “work campers,” or visitors who work Up North for the summer and camp. SBGC even led a study of commutable campgrounds to determine regional RV pad and short-term rental capacities, some of which are already set for expansion.

“There’s a whole strategy about how to find and reserve available [hangers] and

recruit for those kinds of workers, but it takes a dedicated effort and resources to go about formalizing it,” SBGC president Bill Witler says.

Housing

Increasingly, the most pressing issue for the SBGC’s communities is attainable housing.

It’s no secret that northern Michigan is a tough location to buy or rent long-term. In fact, recent census data names Leelanau County as the state’s most expensive housing market, with median home values clocking in at over $700,00. Per Leelanau County’s 2024 Housing Survey, the National Lakeshore’s gateway communities are also facing a serious shortage of space, with a mere 0.2 percent rental vacancy (based on Housing North’s 2023 Housing Needs Assessment).

Especially for seasonally-driven communities, that lack of housing poses further challenges to maintaining yearround infrastructure like supporting school districts, retaining residents, and attracting local employees.

“It just doesn’t work well for [developing] balanced communities,” Rivard notes.

To address this growing housing need, SBGC began by building a prototype of what attainable housing in these communities could look like, one that satisfies workforce needs without sacrificing the natural landscape.

To do this, the organization was awarded a two-year USDA Rural Development grant, through which they developed a framework for housing options in a variety of tenure

structures and styles (single family homes, town houses, co-living spaces, etc.).

“We worked for two years to develop this concept that we could now go out and talk to interested [entities] about solving these [housing] problems in gateway communities. That transcended into a much larger conversation about permanent workforce housing,” Rivard explains.

Finding the right property for that concept is easier said than done. For starters, there’s the cost of buying land in northern Michigan, which, when coupled with the price of construction, far exceeds the financial threshold for most of the county’s median earners.

“To have attainable housing, the land really has to either be gifted or free,” says

Rivard

Rivard. “Otherwise, costs are too high.”

Then there’s the logistical framework a new development needs to operate, including infrastructural requirements, like septic connections and transportation, as well as regulatory provisions, like zoning ordinances and site management.

Still Trying

It’s that latter category, in particular, that’s proven especially tough to surmount.

A recent collaboration between the SBGC and the Glen Lake Community Schools (GLCS) district was scrapped by the school’s board in December—at least for now—due in large part to uncertainty surrounding the land’s enabling legislation.

Originally broached in summer 2023, the project would have allocated about 40 acres of a 180-acre forest plot belonging to GLCS for attainable housing geared towards public employees. The property’s enabling policy, however, MCL Act 451, strictly limits how it can be used, which, when combined with several other factors, complicated SBGC’s proposal.

The nonprofit also reports a similar recent experience when an initiative to repurpose a multi-acre swath of the Platte River Elementary School property for

attainable housing was nixed on the basis of an encumbrance prohibiting property division. Nevertheless, SBGC remains optimistic in their pursuit of viable housing properties, be that building from scratch or refurbishing an existing structure.

“We got some visibility [from those discontinued projects], and at the end of the day, the study pointed out how critical rural development is and elevated the housing deficiency across all worker categories,” Witler explains.

These endeavors have also opened the door to SBGC’s next housing initiatives, which, per Witler, include a renewed focus on seeking affordable land opportunities, as well as a fresh effort to educate interested parties on the administrative and infrastructural demands of creating an attainable product.

“We’re going to focus on where the science and regulatory [aspects of housing development] can meet and work together to facilitate the kind of housing we need. Then, we can continue to search for locations in our gateway communities,” he says.

For more information on the Sleeping Bear Gateways Council and their work, visit sleepingbeargateways.org.

TOY HARBOR TOY HARBOR

CREATIVE & QUALITY TOYS IN DOWNTOWN TRAVERSE CITY

SINCE 1984 • 231-946-1131 •

Witler

Lasting Impact of March Ice Storm

“A Lot to Recover From”

At a glance: 3,600 miles of power line wire needed in Gaylord, nearly $5M in business losses estimated in the Tip of the Mitt, and 1 million acres of forest damaged

By Ross Boissoneau

When the latest storm of the century ped through northern Michigan, it was a given that some people would lose power. What no one expected was the fury and breadth of the storm, nor its longevity. Thousands lost power for days, even weeks, with a state of emergency declared across the region.

Allan Berg, CEO of Presque Isle Electric s, says at the height of the outage, less than one percent of the customers in the affected area still had electricity. Not only did falling trees take down power lines and poles, but substations were also destroyed, meaning there was no power coming into the area. And before any of those situations could be addressed, the roads had to be cleared, leading to a wait for some people of two, even three weeks to get their power restored.

“There was no radio or cell service, roads were impassable, there was no gasoline within 60 miles,” says Berg. “The first challenge was to get the power flowing. That took quite a few days.”

“The first 72 hours was absolute chaos. You had to drive 60 miles for gas for generators,” echoes Nikki Devitt, President and CEO of the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Like a Category 1 Hurricane

The largest ice storm to impact northern Michigan in over 100 years cut a swath across the northernmost part of the lower peninsula. From Petoskey and Harbor Springs in the west across the state to Alpena, trees snapped like matchsticks under the weight of the ice.

In turn, the trees took out power lines and poles while wreaking havoc on cars, homes, and anything else in their way. “Trees were the enemy,” says Berg.

Berg says despite preparation for the storm, the destruction it left in its wake was beyond their worst fears. “We had plans and were ready to go, but it came in and the ice stayed for three days. Trees continued to [fall]—we’d put up a line, the tree takes it n,” he says. “The entire distribution net was broken,” including 29 substations.

“It was like a category 1 hurricane that hree days,” he continues. “We realized we never worried about the roads becoming impassable.” Both he and Devit say they heard over and over from the outside power restoration crews that wherever they were from, they had never seen anything like this storm.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in 10 counties: Otsego, Oscoda, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Mackinac, and Alpena. Almost miraculously, there were no deaths attributed to the storm in this region, but three children tragically lost their lives when a tree fell on their vehicle in Kalamazoo County.

Today the power is back on for everyone, but the wreckage from the millions of downed trees, and what they crushed, remains and likely will for a while, according to Jon Deming. The head of Otsego’s County’s Emergency Services says homeowners are largely left on their own.

“We can’t [clean up] private citizens’ [property],” he says. “It’s mind-boggling, the amount of vegetation to be removed. There’s no insurance that can take care of all this.”

The Damage Is Done

The storm toppled trees that had stood for 50, 60 years, even a century. The devastation extended beyond those that were downed, ripping the tops off or shredding others. All told, millions of trees were destroyed, dealing a huge blow to the state’s forest industry. Michigan’s forest products industry contributed $26.5 billion to the state’s economy, according to a 2022 report

from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the most recent figures available.

The estimated loss and damage to the state’s maple syrup industry is north of $3 million, as trees and infrastructure were destroyed in the midst of harvest season. A GoFundMe fundraiser cites two examples: Maple Moon Sugarbush and Winery faces losses of $280,000 in lost syrup over the next two years, with $250,000 needed to clean up and rebuild the infrastructure. Harwood Gold, which relies on pumps to carry sap from the woods to the sugarhouse, was forced to abandon production for the season. Both lost acres of trees, and they are only two of many.

Approximately one million acres of forest were affected, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Forest Resources Division. “There’s a lot of sticks,” says Deming, referring to the remains of trees left without any branches.

Devitt calls the financial losses “staggering” from an early survey of businesses. “The numbers right now with about 200 responses is $4.9 million,” she says. The survey, done through Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, includes loss of revenue, loss of product, and building damage.

Devitt says about 80 percent of the responses came from Emmet County businesses, and included the following: only 9.4 percent of respondents did NOT close due to the storm; 74 percent were without power for more than four days; and 56 percent experienced payroll challenges.

Working Together

Over 1,500 workers from across the country assisted in the massive project to restore electricity, almost four times the number of Great Lakes Energy and Presque Isle employees.

GLE established what it called a “Storm Camp” at the Otsego County Fairgrounds for workers who assisted the energy companies. It provided housing, food, and laundry facilities for 1,100 contractors. Together they replaced over 2,500 poles, triple the average for an entire year. Berg says Presque Isle alone had to replace 3,600 miles of wire.

While the storm is over, the damage is ongoing. Deming says he brought in a forester to assess the damage and provide advice for how to deal with it. He said those trees which survived but were damaged are now more susceptible to disease, insects, or other challenges.

Foresters across the region are busy assessing the damage and helping clean up the debris. Ben Veling from Timberwolf Tree Care, which serves the Tip of the Mitt area, believes the forests will regenerate given enough time. “I would point out the public

has been given a fair amount of information that causes unwarranted panic,” he says. “Trees have the ability to recover.”

What’s Next?

Have there been any lessons learned to mitigate possible subsequent once-in-ageneration storms?

This isn’t the first natural disaster to hit the area, but it’s one of the most widespread. And in the wake of previous challenges over the past few years, Demming says the region’s resilience is being tested like never before. “COVID, the tornado, now this. It’s a lot to recover from.”

Berg says one lesson the various communities continue to learn is the necessity for everyone to come together, and he saw that happening firsthand. “Line workers, volunteers, 911, sheriff and police, they were all a part of this.”

DeVitt agrees, praising the generosity of businesses and neighbors helping neighbors. “Businesses had grills under a tent out in the street,” she says. “It was fascinating to watch the community come together.”

As to what’s next, DeVitt says things are only getting started, as businesses and residents hope for financial assistance from the government while working to clear the debris. “The governor’s emergency declaration was one of the first pieces for FEMA funding. Assessments have started. Tree service companies are working around the clock,” she says, noting that the debris must be cleared up for safety, to address environmental concerns, and for fire prevention.

She also hopes that people who weren’t directly affected by the storm don’t forget about it in the days and weeks to come. “I hope visitors have patience and understanding. It takes a lot of support from everywhere.”

Summer 2025 Craft Shows

Volunteers help make meals for utility workers during the early days of recovery.

The event will be outside, so please dress appropriately. MAY PM - PM

Join local flower farmer Angie Ross of Oak Park Flowers at Oryana West, where she will help you cra the perfect arrangement using some of Traverse City’s freshest and most vibrant blooms. Choose from two bouquet sizes to build your beautiful arrangement. Bring a li le local love (and a lot of color) home with you.

photo by Harpe Star

Saturday

DERBY DAY AT GRANDPA SHORTER’S GIFTS: Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts, 301 & 311 E. Lake St., Petoskey. Celebrate in true Kentucky Derby style - with games, photo ops, & dressing in your best derby get-up. facebook.com/ events/1898802060526554

INTERLOCHEN RUN FOR THE ARTS 5K: 9am. Experience live music & art as you run (or walk) a course through the grounds of Interlochen Center for the Arts. Registration proceeds support student scholarships. The course includes paved & unpaved trails along the shores of Green Lake & Duck Lake. $35 pre-race; $40 race day. interlochen.org/events/ interlochen-run-for-arts-5k-2025-05-03

MUD, SWEAT & BEERS MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE: 9am, Mt. Holiday Ski & Recreational Area, TC. All races are SOLD OUT except for the Ginger Ale - 2 miles & Root Beer - 1/4 mile. $10-$15. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/MudSweatBeersMI

INDOOR SIDEWALK SALES: 10am-6pm, The Village at GT Commons, TC. Snag some local deals! There will also be $5 Tunnel Walks (ages 12+) from 2-5pm on Sat. & 11am-2pm on Sun.; scan the posted QR codes along the Mercato for giveaways; a used book sale hosted by AAUW, & more. thevillagetc.com/ events/indoor-sidewalk-sales-2025

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN SUMMER CRAFT SHOW SERIES: 10am, Washington Park, downtown Cheboygan. More than 30 crafters & artists will display jewelry, home decor, artwork & much more. Free. facebook.com/ madeincheboygan

SUPER STEAM DAY: 10am-2pm, Interlochen Public Library. Featuring engaging hands-on activities. 231-276-6767. Free.

WANDER WALLOON: WILDFLOWER

HIKE: 10am, Fields Preserve, Petoskey. Guided by CAKE CISMA Coordinator Katie Gray, you’ll unravel the life cycle of ephemeral spring wildflowers, from their brief but spectacular bloom to their crucial role as early-season pollinators for native insects. Free. cakecisma.org/event-details/walloonwildflower-walk-2

NEEDLE FELTING WORKSHOP: 10:30am, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Learn the basics of needle felting & explore creating shapes & designs with provided materials. All skill levels are welcome & no knowledge is required. This program is geared towards adults & adult/child duos. Space is limited & registration is required. Please email information@ sbbdl.org to reserve your spot. Free. sbbdl.org

11TH ANNUAL GLEN LAKE RESTAURANT

WEEK: Glen Lake & surrounding area, April 25 - May 3. From casual bites to gourmet dining, participating businesses will feature specials or a prix-fixe menu that highlights the best of the local culinary scene. Visit web site for more info. visitglenarbor.com/event/ glen-lake-restaurant-week-2025

BLESSING OF THE VINES: 11am-3pm, Brengman Family Wines, TC. Following the medieval French tradition of the Burgundy wine festival, the Saint Vincent Tournante, the Brengman family carries on this spiritual tradition each year, before the threat of the last frost. A procession of over 100 club members, family, friends, & visitors walk from the tasting room through the vineyards to bless the vines & the growing season to come. Carrying banners & carved effigies

honoring St. Vincent, special guests include Monk Ribby & Decon Jude who will lead the charge & prayers. Guest musicians Mark & Carl will join in with entertainment throughout the event. brengmanfamilywines.com

PETOSKEY SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: Petoskey area, May 2-11. Enjoy special pricing & specials from area restaurants, with some establishments offering two-forone pricing. petoskeyarea.com/events/petoskey-restaurant-week-spring-2025

WORLD LABYRINTH DAY: The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, TC. Celebrating peace, mindfulness & community connection. Gather at the Visitor Center at 12:30pm for a story time featuring “When I Slow Down” by local author Paul Sutherland. Then move to the Garden Labyrinth at 1pm to take part in a meditative walk as part of the international “Walk as One at 1” movement. Free. thebotanicgarden.org

TERESA SCOLLON - BOOK LAUNCH & SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Scollon is the author of “No Trouble Staying Awake.” horizonbooks.com/event/teresascollon-book-launch-and-signing-no-trouble-staying-awake

HARRY MANX: 7pm, The Bay Theatre, Suttons Bay. Guitarist Harry Manx has been dubbed an essential link between the music of East & West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. $25 advance; $30 at door. prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/ info.aspx?evtinfo=466729~73d539eae963-4dcb-b1cf00ef2ec5215c&epguid=f29d1b84-c6504ad4-a720-40ead3000f53&mdy=5/3/2025&

NORTHERN MICHIGAN CHORALE PRESENTS “MUSICAL MOSAIC”: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. This spring concert features a unique collection of popular songs that may not traditionally go together but perfectly align through their theme, sound, & production. The performance is led by director Hannah Hoffman & accompanied by Cynda Coleman. Tickets are $15 for the general public, $12 for students & seniors, & free for children 10 & under. They can be purchased from chorale members, at the NMC welcome table in the lobby before the show, or online at greatlakescfa.org. nmchorale.org

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. When Monty Navarro discovers that he’s eighth in line for the lofty D’Ysquith family’s earldom, he figures outliving his predecessors is unlikely & sets off down a more ghoulish path. Adults: $33; youth under 18: $20. oldtownplayhouse. com/performances/mainstage/a-gentlemansguide-to-love-and-murder.html

BLISSFEST TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY

DANCE: 7:30pm, Littlefield/Alanson Community Building, Alanson. Music provided by The Hybrids, with Larry Dyer calling. All dances taught. No need to bring a partner. Potluck at 6:30pm. Bring table service & dish to pass. $10; $5 students; free for 12 & under. blissfest.org

Sunday

INDOOR SIDEWALK

SALES: (See Sat., May 3, except today’s time is 10am-4pm.)

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN SUMMER CRAFT SHOW SERIES: (See Sat., May 3)

Want to swap your old books for new? Castle Farms in Charlevoix hosts the Boozy Book Fair – Chapter 2, Sat., May 10! Along with more than 70 vendors showcasing books and literary-themed goodies, you can check-in your books for swapping from 1-2pm, and then swap from 2-4pm. There will also be eats from Rouge Pierogi and K&J Food Truck and live music by the Crazy Socks Swing Band. Can’t beat the FREE admission! castlefarms.com/events/boozy-book-fair-chapter-2

PETOSKEY SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., May 3)

BOOKS TO MOVIES: 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, Thirlby Room, TC. Watch a movie based on a book or real life. Free. tadl.org/event/books-movies-17877

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH BREW: 1pm, K&A Hop Dogs, TC. Join for an epic Star Wars celebration. Star Wars-themed drinks, Galactic Costume Contest, Wookiee-approved Dog Costume Parade, prizes for the best costumes, best trivia answers, & more. Free. kahopdogs.com/events

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER: (See Sat., May 3, except today’s time is 2pm.)

NORTHERN MICHIGAN CHORALE PRESENTS “MUSICAL MOSAIC”: (See Sat., May 3, except today’s time is 3pm.)

BENZONIA AREA COMMUNITY EMERGENCY FUND CONCERT: ROBIN LEE BERRY: 4-6pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. Robin sings folk music with hints of jazz, rock, & some blues. Performing since the late ‘70s, she has released several CDs & collaborates with other area musicians as well. Free; donations support the emergency fund. millscommhouse.org

MODERN WARRIOR LIVE: 5pm, City Opera House, TC. A music & narrative event that tells the story of US Army veteran Jaymes Poling, his journey through three deployments in Afghanistan & his transition back home. Also featuring internationally acclaimed trumpeter & MWL creator Dominick Farinacci & others. Free tickets for Veterans & up to three guests available at GT County Veterans Affairs, 2650 Lafranier Rd., TC. cityoperahouse.org/node/654

VIOLINIST TINA QU & PIANIST CHRISTOPHER GOODPASTURE: “AN EVENING WITH THE GREAT MASTERPIECES”: 7pm, The Music House, Williamsburg. Enjoy a recital of music by Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Saint-Sans & more. $25 online;

$30 door. mynorthtickets.com/events/themusic-house-is-proud-to-present-violinist-tina-qu-and-pianist-christopher-goodpasturefor-an-evening-with-the-great-masterpiecessunday-may-4th-at-700pm-5-4-2025

CHAMBERFEST CHEBOYGAN SERIES: WINDSYNC: 7:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Enjoy this dynamic wind quintet known for its vibrant performances that embrace classical works & contemporary compositions. Their appearances at renowned venues include the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, & the Ravinia Festival. $0-$30. theoperahouse.org

monday

PETOSKEY SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., May 3)

“RICHARD DESCENDING,” A ONE-MAN PLAY BY RAYMOND GOODWIN: 6:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. The youth of a small town are losing hope & a teacher is trying to figure out why. Free. tadl. org/event/richard-descending-21725

PICKIN’ WITH THE CHAMP: 6:30pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Join Anthony Williams for advice on gathering the elusive morel. Williams’ family has been pickin’ in northern Michigan since 1890. He won the National Morel Hunting Championship 5 years in a row! 231-223-7700.

tuesday

PETOSKEY REGIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY HOSTS ODEN FISH HATCHERY BIRD WALKS: 8am, Oden Fish Hatchery, Alanson. Park at 3377 U.S. 31 at Visitor Center & meet at the old train car. Explore the trails at the Oden Fish Hatchery in search of migrating & nesting birds. Free. petoskeyaudubon.org

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Preschool children of all ages & their caregivers are invited to join each Tues. morning for stories, songs & more. Free. sbbdl.org

PETOSKEY SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., May 3)

TECH TUESDAY: IDEVICES: 2pm, Leelanau Township Library, Northport. Join Corey Buchan of BucahnTECH for a tutorial & Q&A all about Apple devices, also known as iDevices (this includes iPhones & iPads). Drop in with your device & questions. Free. leelanautownshiplibrary.org

PRIORITY LANDSCAPES LEARNING SERIES: PRESCRIBED BURNS: 5pm, The McMullen Family Conservation Center, TC. Join GTRLC Land Stewardship Specialist Cody Selewski & Mary Parr, a fire ecologist with Michigan Natural Features Inventory, for an exploration of the historical & modern uses of prescribed fires. Registration required. Free. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/es/event/ home/plls_prescribedburns050625

GREAT LAKES CINEMA SERIES PRESENTS “STOP MAKING SENSE”: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. This 1984 film was directed by renowned filmmaker Jonathan Demme & is considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time. $5. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/ stop-making-sense

wednesday

WALK, BIKE, ROLL TO SCHOOL DAY!: 7:308:30am. Presented by Norte Youth Cycling, this event encourages healthier, more eco-friendly ways for students to get to school. Norte helps facilitate this event at schools across northern Michigan. Free. norteyouthcycling.org/calendar/walk-bike-roll-to-school-day

SPRING WILDFLOWER HIKE: 10am, St. Pete’s Woods trail, Arcadia Dunes Nature Preserve, Arcadia. Walk along the trail with volunteer leader Paula Dreeszen who will highlight the blooming wildflowers during key periods in spring. Bring hiking shoes, water & a snack. Registration required. 929-7911 or info@ gtrlc.org. Free. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/ es/event/home/springwildflowerapr232025

HOMESCHOOL HANGOUT: 10:30amnoon, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. For homeschool families. There will be two groups: one for littles with story time & cootie catcher making with Ms. Martha, & one for tweens with Fun with Physics with Ms. Erica. All will come together at the end to share what resources & services the library has to offer for homeschooling families. Please bring your favorite book to share. Free. sbbdl.org

PETOSKEY SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., May 3)

“REDUCING LIGHT POLLUTION: WHY? AND HOW?”: Noon, Leelanau County Government Center, lower-level Community Room, Suttons Bay. Take part in the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County’s May 2025 Public Forum. Bring a sack lunch & join for an engaging presentation by Barb Foster & Nicole Arbury of Leelanau Dark Sky, a chapter of Leelanau Energy. Discover how unnecessary outdoor lighting affects people, wildlife & energy use. Learn practical steps you can take to help protect the night skies. A short LWVLC member meeting will follow. Free. LWVLeelanau.org

MAY RECESS: 5-7pm, Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Food Rescue program, 2889 Aero-Park Dr., TC. Traverse Ticker’s after-work happy hour for adults. Enjoy In It to Win It protein balls, veggies & hummus, and fruit & cookies. Plus, appetizers prepared with food items rescued by Food Rescue & prepared in the Food Rescue kitchen. Beverages include beer, wine and lemonade & water. Prizes include a $500 gift card to The Boathouse, a floating water mat from Action Water Sports ($550 value), & a $100 Goodwill Northern Michigan thrifting spree. Attendees will also have a chance to play a game to win a Food Rescue Swag Bag. A special silent auction will be available at the event for a chance to bid on additional prizes. Silent auction proceeds & onsite donations will benefit Food Rescue, which rescues, harvests, repacks, & distributes 2 million pounds of food annually — $3.34 million worth of food — to 78 food pantries, community meal sites, & baby pantries. Recess 2025 is brought to you by Grand Traverse County: A grand place to live, work and play. Admission is $10. traverseticker.com/recess

MAY COMMUNITY DINNER: 6pm, Friendship Community Center, Suttons Bay. The May dinner theme is “Breakfast for Dinner,” so you’ll be enjoying classic staples from your favorite morning meal. Bring a dish to pass if you can. Email info@thecentersb.com with questions. Free - donations welcome. friendshipcommunitycenter.org/communitypotlucks

thursday

PETOSKEY REGIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY HOSTS SPRING LAKE PARK BIRD WALKS: 8am, Spring Lake Park, north of Petoskey. Meet at the gazebo. Walk the flat trails, boardwalk, & paved rail trail long Mud Lake to Round Lake. Free. petoskeyaudubon.org

AGELESS GRACE: 10am, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Join Lisa George for a class on Ageless Grace Neuroplasticity Exercises. The Ageless Grace Brain Health Program is based on consciously choosing to change the brain through physical movements similar to playful childhood activities that fired neurons & developed neural pathways from birth to mid-teens. Free. tadl.org/event/ageless-grace-22997

KID’S CRAFT LAB: MOTHER’S DAY CARD: 10am-noon, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, GT Mall, TC. Tell your mom you love her with a special card made by you! Free with cost of admission. greatlakeskids.org

SPRING WILDFLOWER HIKE: 10am. Meet at Hickory Hills Recreation Area parking lot, TC. Enjoy a spring wildflower display along the new Hickory Forest trail. This is a guided walk with GTRLC’s Angie Bouma (senior ecologist), Steve Lagerquist (land steward), & volunteer Paula Dreeszen. Come prepared for a 2.5mile moderately strenuous hike on rolling hills, which will take about two hours. You will walk over a 200-ft. elevation change, with a steep climb up to the top & unstable footing. Registration required. For more info: 929-7911 or info@ gtrlc.org. Free. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/ es/event/home/springwildflower050825

PETOSKEY SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., May 3)

GRAND TRAVERSE MUSICALE PROGRAM: “KEYBOARDING”: 1pm, First Congregational Church, TC. Presented by Sally Lewis, organist extraordinaire, Jan Mudget & Mike Smith. Other performers include Cheryl

Knight, harpsichord, Judith Weaver, violin & John Woodruff, synthesizer. In addition, GT Musicale Scholarship winners Liam Bushong, Johanna Urbain, & Isla Falconer will be demonstrating their talents. Free. gtmusicale.org/ event-schedule

BOOKENDS BOOK DISCUSSION: 2pm, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library, lower level Community Meeting Room. Books for the upcoming month will be available at the library’s front desk, or use the Libby app to borrow the title from the library’s digital collection. May’s selection is “The Maid” by Nita Prose. Free. sbbdl.org

“RICHARD DESCENDING”: 5:30pm, Interlochen Public Library, Community Room. Enjoy this play written & performed by Raymond Goodwin. The youth of a small town is losing hope. A teacher is trying to understand why. For ages 14+. 231-276-6767. Free.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: LGBTQ+ INFO NIGHT WITH ACLU: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Join Up North Pride & the ACLU of Michigan for an evening of education & action focused on the legal challenges facing the community. If you have questions about the rights of protestors, you’ll want to attend. If you have a specific question, please send an email to info@upnorthpride.com in advance of the event. Free. tadl.org/ACLU

CHEBOYGAN AREA HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR SPRING CONCERT: 6:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Please show your support for these talented students & their music director, Ms. Mullis. Free. theoperahouse.org

“95 YEARS OF LUEDTKE ENGINEERING COMPANY - 1930 TO 2025”: 7pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. Presented by Alan Luedtke. This presentation is part of the Benzie Area Historical Society’s Benzonia Academy Lecture Series. Recommended donation: $5. benziemuseum.org

“ALMOST, MAINE”: 7-9pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. An Almost Romantic Comedy. Presented by Little Traverse Civic Theatre. Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine find themselves falling in & out of love in unexpected & hilarious ways. $10-$20. ltct.org/season-events

GITS & SHIGGLES IMPROV COMEDY SHOW: 7-9pm, AuSable Artisan Village Performing Arts Center, Grayling. A “Whose Line is It Anyway” type improv. For ages 13+. Free; donations accepted. artisanvillage.org/ event/gits-shiggles-improv-comedy-show

MONTHLY MOVIE CLUB: “BEST IN SHOW”: 7:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Come dressed in your best “Best in Show” outfit to receive a free Kilwins treat (first-come, first serve basis). Free. gardentheater.org/upcoming-events

friday

HIKE THE RIDGE!: 10am, Five Mile Rd., TC. Enjoy a hike on The Ridge, a new Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy project that will help safeguard the water quality of Grand Traverse Bay, save wildlife habitat, & open up recreational opportunities. Register. Free. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/es/event/ home/theridge050925

MORE TO EXPLORE: PLANT A POT: 10amnoon, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, GT Mall, TC. Children will get to decorate a flowerpot & then plant it with a beautiful flower to give to Mom or Grandma for Mother’s Day. Free with cost of admission. greatlakeskids.org

66TH ANNUAL MESICK MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Mesick, May 9-11. Includes hunting for mushrooms, Blessing of the Jeeps, a 5K, food, concerts, kids events, baseball, volleyball, grand parade, & much more. mesickmushroomfest.org/index.html

PETOSKEY SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., May 3)

TRAVERSE CITY TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL: 6:30pm, VASA Trail system. Tonight includes the 10K Relay ($75) & the 5K ($40). The VASA Trail system, nestled within the Pere Marquette Forest, offers soft, smooth, & forgiving terrain, perfect for trail running. Participants will experience a mix of singletrack & doubletrack trails. The 5K consists of one 5K loop, & the 10K Relay consists of two 5K loops. See web site to register. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/TraverseCityTrailRunningFestival “ALMOST, MAINE”: (See Thurs., May 8)

BLACK VIOLIN: FULL CIRCLE TOUR: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. GRAMMY-nominated duo Wil Baptiste & Kev Marcus redefine the possibilities of music by merging classical depth with hip-hop’s pulse. $10-$62. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/ black-violin

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER: (See Sat., May 3)

CAROUSEL: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Witness an enduring story of love, unfinished business, & redemption as director Bill Church & the Arts Academy Theatre Division stage Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein’s iconic 1945 musical, “Carousel.” Adult, $38; child-college, $19. interlochen.org/events/carousel-2025-05-09

AARON TIPPIN: 8pm, Odawa Casino Resort, Ovation Hall, Petoskey. This American country music singer, songwriter & record producer is known for hits like “Cold Gray Kentucky Morning,” “You’ve Got to Stand for Something,” “There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with the Radio,” & “I Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way.” $40-$50. etix.com/ticket/p/63897234/ aaron-tippin-petoskey-ovation-hall

saturday

TRAVERSE CITY TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL: VASA Trail system. Today includes the 100K/100K Relay, 50K/75K, 25K, & 10K. See web site for starting times & to register. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/TraverseCityTrailRunningFestival

ART IN THE BARN - EMMET COUNTY: 9am, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey. Featuring arts & crafts, a new workshop section, a new garden & plant area & more. facebook. com/events/1229584888281490?ref=110

FATHER FRED FOUNDATION ANNUAL

GARAGE SALE: 9am-3pm, Father Fred Foundation, 826 Hastings St., TC. Clothes, shoes, jewelry, household goods, antiques, sporting equipment, & much more. fatherfred.org

FREE COMMUNITY PLANT SWAP: 9amnoon, Mancelona Baptist Church parking lot. Bring a plant/take a plant - indoor & out-

door plants, seeds, cuttings, etc. Bring extra boxes, plant pots, bags, wagons if you have them. Please label your plants. Co-hosted with Antrim Citizens for Common Sense. Text any questions to 616-920-1776.

GARLIC MUSTARD WORKBEE - HICKORY

HILLS: 9am, Hickory Meadows, TC. Join ISN & the GT Conservation District to help manage invasive garlic mustard & restore impacted areas by planting trees. Please wear appropriate clothing & closed toed shoes, & bring water & gloves, if you desire to wear your own. All tools needed for garlic mustard removal & tree planting will be provided. Please register on website. HabitatMatters.org/Events

VOLUNTEER STREAM MONITORING

PROGRAM: 9am, Benzie Conservation district office, Beulah. Join Benzie Conservation District to collect samples of aquatic insects, snails, & algae from local rivers, & learn what they reveal about water quality. Spend a morning “in the field” as a community scientist by gathering indicator species (insects that help us study water quality) & looking for invasive species like New Zealand Mudsnails & Didymo. Registration required: email john@ benziecd.org. benziecd.org/events

ART IN THE BARN: 10am-5pm, 6411 N. Overlook Rd., Northport. Artist Douglas Racich will be in his studio in the historic Leelanau barn. Featured art will include egg tempera & watercolor paintings by Racich. leelanauprints.com

FREE FAMILY DROP-IN ART, TC: 10amnoon, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All materials provided. crookedtree.org/class/ctactraverse-city/free-family-drop-art-may-10

SPRING ART MARKET: 10am, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Featuring 25 Michigan artists selling their work indoors, along with free admission to the museum & special programming to celebrate artists, spring, & moms. Free. shop.dennosmuseum.org/2025-spring-art-market

66TH ANNUAL MESICK MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: (See Fri., May 9)

ARTIST TALK: SCOTT WILSON OF VADA COLOR: 11am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Carnegie Galleries, TC. Scott will share insights into the world of art reproduction, artwork photography, note card printing, & lighting techniques for painting. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ artist-talk-scott-wilson-vada-color

PETOSKEY SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., May 3)

BOOZY BOOK FAIR - CHAPTER 2: 1-4pm, Castle Farms, Charlevoix. Featuring over 70 vendors showcasing books, literary-themed goodies, & more. There will be eats from Rouge Pierogi & K&J Food Truck, live music by the Crazy Socks Swing Jazz Band, & a Book Swap: Check-in your books for swapping from 1-2pm, & enjoy swapping from 2-4pm. Free admission. castlefarms.com/ events/boozy-book-fair-chapter-2

MOM & DAUGHTER PROM PARTY: 5-7pm, Interlochen Public Library. Dress up in your favorite fancy outfits, dance the night away to fun tunes, enjoy light refreshments, & capture the moment at the photo booth. There will also be crafts, games & more. Register: 231-276-6767. Free.

ROOM FOR MORE: 5pm, Cedar North, Cedar. Join for an opening reception of an exhibit of work by Ian John Solomon. Ian’s in-

terdisciplinary lens based practice explores themes of identity, ancestry, community & ecology. Free. cedarnorthtc.com

CANDLELIGHT: FEATURING VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS & MORE: 6:15pm, City Opera House, TC. Enjoy the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience under the gentle glow of candlelight. $24-$47. cityoperahouse.org/node/656

STRINGS AT THE CASTLE: DIXON’S VIOLIN EXPERIENCE: Knight’s Castle, Castle Farms, Charlevoix. Experience a candlelit concert with Dixon’s Violin, renowned for his fusion of classical & electronic violin. Enjoy an intimate, fully improvised performance blending melodies & emotional storytelling. $30 presale; $35 at door; $5 kids under 12. Doors open at 6pm; Q&A with Dixon at 6:30pm; concert begins at 7pm. castlefarms.com/events/stringsat-the-castle-the-dixon-violin-experience

“ALMOST, MAINE”: (See Thurs., May 8)

COUSIN CURTISS: 7-9pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Enjoy a fiery dynamic rarely seen by a solo act & now partnered up with the equally enigmatic & soulfully driven electric guitar prowess of Harrison B. “Blues at bluegrass speeds.” “Rock Americana with a soulful drip.” OAB members: $25; non-members: $30. oldartbuilding.com/events/cousin-curtiss

MUSIC IS THERAPY: 7pm, The Village at GT Commons, Kirkbride Hall, TC. Hear the music of the series “Songs About Buildings and Moods,” created by Interlochen Center for the Arts faculty Cynthia Van Maanen & Thomas Childs, who have composed “transformational landscapes” to commemorate the rebirth of northern Michigan’s Kirkbride asylum. The story of Building 50 will be told with their music in this series for PBS viewers. You will also meet the creator of the PBS show, Seth Boustead, & hear about turning the story of architectural renovation into music & dance. Free. thevillagetc.com/events/music-is-therapy-at-building-50

SETH BERNARD HOUSE CONCERT:

7-9pm, 4320 E 46 Rd., Cadillac. Seth is known for his captivating performances & full spectrum guitar work serving songs to lift our spirits & give us courage in turbulent times. He is the founder of the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan, Title Track, Earthwork Music, & the Earthwork Harvest Gathering. Find ‘Seth Bernard House Concert’ on Facebook. 1-800-836-0717. $10-$25; 12 & under, free.

SONGS FOR WATERMELON SEEDS:

7-9pm, The Workshop Brewing Co., TC. An evening of folk music & fun dedicated to raising funds for a family impacted by war. Enjoy live music with Stanley and Quiggle & a silent auction with items kindly donated by local favorites. facebook.com/share/19zbdc SNcg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER: (See Sat., May 3)

CAROUSEL: (See Fri., May 9)

CANDLELIGHT: TRIBUTE TO FLEETWOOD MAC: 8:45pm, City Opera House, TC. Enjoy a live, multi-sensory musical experience under the gentle glow of candlelight. $24-$47. cityoperahouse.org/node/655

sunday

SATURDAY, MAY 17 • 7:30 PM • $30

An interactive performance, meditation, and ritual that weaves together live original music, dance, video projection and original artwork. ANCESTRAL HAIKU explores Black Ancestry and the Middle Passage, and engages the work of poet/scholar Mursalata Muhammad.

MARION HAYDEN LEGACY

Marion Hayden — Composer/Bass Violin

Jeffrey Trent — Saxophones/Flute

Max Bowen — Guitar

Tariq Gardner — Drums

ROBIN WILSON — Movement Director & Dancer

ALEXANDRIA DAVIS — Dancer & Vocals

M. SAFFELL GARDNER — Artwork & Video

THE MAILING LIST IS THE FIRST TO KNOW. SIGN UP FOR THE EMAIL LIST AT

ART IN THE BARN - EMMET COUNTY: (See Sat., May 10)

ART IN THE BARN: (See Sat., May 10) may 11

SECOND FLOOR COMMONGROUNDS BUILDING

WEDNESDAYS:

D.A.T.E. NIGHT

Free Dessert or Appetizer w/purchase of Two Entrees (Begins 11/29)

THURSDAYS: PASTA NIGHT!

66TH ANNUAL MESICK MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: (See Fri., May 9)

PETOSKEY SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., May 3)

MOTHER’S DAY SPRING FLORA WALK: Noon-1:30pm, Chaboiganing Preserve, Brutus. Join Amy Lipson, conservation specialist, for a relaxing walk with your mom. This will be a slow walk, taking in everything the rebirth of spring has to offer. landtrust.org/ events-template/mothers-day-walk

SPECIALS!

“ALMOST, MAINE”: (See Thurs., May 8, except today’s time is 2-4pm.)

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER: (See Sun., May 4)

WEDNESDAYS: D.A.T.E. NIGHT

CAROUSEL: (See Fri., May 9, except today’s time is 2pm.)

JAZZ CANTATAS: 3pm, Lars Hockstad Auditorium, TC. The TC Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra & NMC Choirs team up under the baton of guest conductor Jeffrey Cobb. This concert features the sounds of Duke Ellington’s “Sacred Concert” & the live premiere of Cobb’s own work, “The Lesson of the Lark.” $27-$65. tcphil.org

FREE MOTHER’S DAY RECITAL: 4pm, First Presbyterian Church of Harbor Springs. The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra presents The Hummel Trio. Enjoy the music of Beethoven, Piazzolla, & Dohnanyi. glcorchestra.org

munication students in a variety of media & styles including painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, ceramics & graphic design. Runs through May 4. dennosmuseum.org/ art/upcoming-exhibitions/

- “SMALL EXPRESSIONS”: The Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.’s “Small Expressions” exhibit is an annual juried exhibition showcasing contemporary small-scale works using fiber techniques in any media. Works do not exceed 15 inches in any direction, were completed within the last two years, & were not previously published. Runs through May 25. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/small-expressions.html

- “NORTHWEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION”: Held regularly at the Museum for over 30 years, the exhibition features artwork made by regional artists over the last year & juried by an arts professional outside of the region. This year’s juror is Teresa Dunn. It runs through May 25. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/northwest-michigan-juried-show-and-call.html

art

THURSDAYS: PASTA NIGHT!

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC: - ART OFF THE EASEL: WORKS BY THE CTAC HIGH SCHOOL PORTFOLIO PROGRAM - TC: Held in Carnegie Rotunda. See the creativity & artistic talent of emerging young artists enrolled in the High School Portfolio Program led by Royce Deans. Over the last 12 weeks the students in this program have had the opportunity to develop their skills & build a comprehensive portfolio. Runs through May 23. Check web site for hours. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traversecity/art-easel-works-ctac-high-school-portfolio-program-tc

- 10 FOLD: CELEBRATING 10 YEARS - TC: Held in Cornwell Gallery through May 23. In celebration of ten years of creativity, community, & connection, juried artists from diverse disciplines explore the theme of TEN—not just as a number, but as a symbol, a concept, & a source of inspiration. Artists were invited to push boundaries, experiment boldly, & interpret “ten” in fresh, unexpected ways. Check web site for hours. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traversecity/10-fold-celebrating-ten-years-tc

- EVERYTHING SOMETIMES: WORKS BY MARK MEHAFFEY - TC: Held in Carnegie Galleries, this exhibit is a reflection of ideas in motion. Mark Mehaffey’s paintings are driven by concepts, each leading him down a unique creative path. Runs through May 31. Check web site for hours. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/everything-sometimes-works-mark-mehaffey-tc

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- NMC HOSTED HIGH SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION: Juried by NMC Art & Visual Communication faculty, this exhibition features artwork in a variety of media & styles by juniors & seniors from northern Michigan’s regional high schools. Runs May 9 - June 1. A reception will be held on May 13 at 5pm. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org

- NMC STUDENT ART EXHIBITION: Featuring work by NMC Fine Art & Visual Com-

- A STYLE ALL OUR OWN: CANADIAN WOODLAND ARTISTS: Runs through May 25. In the early 1960s, young Indigenous artists from the Great Lakes region created a unique style of painting known as the Woodland School of Art. Early members of this prolific art community included Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray, Roy Thomas, Sam Ash, Jackson Beardy, & Daphne Odjig. Perhaps the best-known of the group is Norval Morrisseau, who is often referred to as the Father of the Woodland School. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/ now-on-view/canadian-woodland-artists.html

- CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE CERAMICS FROM THE HORVITZ COLLECTION: Runs through Sept. 28, 2025. An array of works by contemporary Japanese ceramic artists, this is a sampler of the great diversity of styles, forms, glazes, & ages. These artworks are drawn from the curated collection of Carol & Jeffrey Horvitz, some of the leading collectors of Japanese contemporary outside of Japan. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/index.html

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:

- RANDOM EXHIBITION: Runs through Aug. 28 in the Lobby Gallery. “Random: Collages From The Scrap Pile,” an exhibition of spontaneous compositions by Leelanau County artist Mark Mehaffey. Random is also a tutorial about remaining alert to creative possibilities. glenarborart.org/exhibits

- WALKING: An exhibit about ambling, rambling, wending one’s way. Paint, clay, woven & quilted fibers, mixed media, metal, etching, photography, & found object sculpture. Runs through May 29. glenarborart.org/product/ exhibit-walking

OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT: - ALCHEMY + ARTISTRY: Exploring the line between abstraction & representation. Large scale watercolors, intricate ceramics, inventive metalwork & dramatic paintings. Featured artists include Rocco Pisto, his daughter Gina Pisto, Arthur Johns, & Rochelle Aultman. Runs May 9 - June 20. An opening reception will be held on Fri., May 9 from 5-7pm. Open Tues. - Sat. from 10am-4pm; Sun., noon-4pm. Beginning June 2: Open Mon., 10am-4pm. oliverart.org

- MAD HATTER’S GARDEN PARTY: Explore the upside-down with a whimsical take on a Mad Hatter’s garden party. Participating artists include Katie Ward, Marti LiddleLameti, Laurie Eisenhardt, Stephanie Gregg, Shannon Johnson & more. Runs May 3-31. Check web site for hours. oliverart.org

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska

CHATEAU GRAND TRAVERSE, TC

5/10 – Luke Woltanski, 5-8

ENCORE 201, TC

5/3 -- Latin Night w/ DJ Ricky T, 9

5/9 -- The Jon Archambault Band, 8-10:30; DJ Ricky T, 10:30-2

5/10 -- DJ Ricky T, 9

IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC

5/5 -- Vinyl Night w/ DJ E-Knuf, 5-8

5/6 -- TC Celtic, 6-8

5/8 -- Beyond Trivia!, 7-9

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC

9:30: 5/2-3 -- Lucas Paul

5/9-10 – The Off Beat Band

KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING

5/6 – Open Mic Night, 6-8

5/8 – Trivia Night w/ Marcus Anderson, 6:30-8:30

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM:

5/5 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

LIL BO, TC Tues. – Trivia, 8-10 Sun. – Karaoke, 8

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC

5/3 -- Rolling Dirty, 6-9

5/7 -- Trivia Night w/ Steveo, 7-9

NORTH BAR, TC 7-10:

5/3 & 5/7 – Clint Weaner

5/8 – Drew Hale

5/9 – Funky Uncle 5/10 – Jeff Linsell

OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC

SEVEN HILLS, 7: 5/3 – Mitchell McKolay

5/6 – Vinyl NIght 5/9 – DJ Ras Marco 5/10 – Pete Fetters

THE ALLUVION, TC

5/3 -- Robin Connell & Paul Brewer Septet, 7:30-9:30

5/5 – Big Fun – Funky Fun Mondays, 6-8:30

5/6 – Ship Yard #5 – Feat. Magic People & Beaver Stew, 5:30-8:30

5/8 – The Jeff Haas Trio feat. Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive, 6-8:30

THE COIN SLOT, TC

5/7 -- BYOVinyl Night with Eugene’s Record Co-op, 7

THE HAYLOFT INN, TC 7:30-11:

5/2-3 -- Grand Crew

5/9-10 -- Andylynn & BetsyBaye's DanceMix

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC

5/3 -- Cinco De Mayo Celebration w/ Botala, 4

THE PARLOR, TC

8-11:

5/3 – Chris Sterr

5/7 – Rob Coonrod

THE PUB, TC

5/3 – Jesse Jefferson, 9-12

5/5 – Karaoke w/ DJ Shawny T, 8-11

5/6 – Pub Club Mic Check – Open Mic Night, 8-11

5/7 – Zeke Clemons, 8-11

5/8 – Music Bingo, 7:30-10

5/9 – Rob Coonrod, 9-12

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC 7:

5/3 -- Jacob McLeod

5/4 -- Here:Say StoryProv w/ Full Tilt Comedy

5/6 -- Open Mic w/ Zak Bunce

5/8 -- DJ Trivia

5/9 -- The Fridays

5/10 -- Songs for Watermelon Seeds Fundraiser

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC PATIO:

5/10 – Hot Flat Pop, 6:30-9:30

UNION STREET STATION, TC

5/3 -- Comedy Show w/ Randy's Cheeseburger Picnic Tour, 7; The Boardman River Band, 10

5/8 – DJ1 Wave, 9

5/9 – The Blue Pines, 10

5/10 – DJ Simple Jack, 10

Otsego, Crawford & Central

ALPINE TAVERN, GAYLORD

6-9:

5/3 – Lou Thumser

5/9 – Rick Woods

5/10 – Nelson Olstrom

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM

5/8 -- Adam & The Cabana Boys, 7

ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS

7-10:

5/3 -- Trent Breit & the Tradesmen

5/10 -- Crosscut Kings

LOST CELLARS WINERY, CHARLEVOIX

5/9 -- Elisabeth Christe, 5-8

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD 5/9 – Mike Ridley, 6-9

C.R.A.V.E., GAYLORD

5/9 – Nelson Olstrom, 6

D&K BAR & GRILL, WEST ELMIRA 5/7 – Pete Fetters, 6-9

RAY'S BBQ, BREWS & BLUES, GRAYLING

5/4 – Brian Curran, 4-7

Antrim & Charlevoix

MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY

5/9 – Kevin Johnson, 8-11

SHORT'S PUB, BELLAIRE 5/8 -- Trivia, 6:30

SHORT'S PULL BARN, ELK RAPIDS

5/4 -- Cinco De Mayo Fiesta w/ Botala & DJ Clark, 3-6 5/5 -- Cinco De Mayo Fiesta w/ Botala, 4-7

WALLOON WATERSHED, WALLOON VILLAGE Thu -- Laura Crowe, 6-9

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee

LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT, MANISTEE

8: 5/3 – La Prueba

5/10 -- Onager

NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER HOUSE & WINERY, KALEVA

5/3 -- A to Z, 6

5/8 -- Chief Jams - Open Mic

Hosted by Cheryl Wolfram, 6

5/9 -- Dave Bruzza of Greensky Bluegrass, 7

5/10 -- The Nephews, 6

nitelife

Send Nitelife to:

funny, full-time

singer/songwriter

8-11pm. He’s also a long-time host of Monday Open Mic at Left Foot

Leelanau & Benzie

BLACK STAR FARMS, SUTTONS BAY

BISTRO POLARIS, 6-8:

5/3 -- Nick Veine

5/10 -- Audrey Mason

BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU

5/9 -- Andre Villoch, 5:30-8

FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH 6-9:

5/8 -- Trivia Night w/ Mark

5/9 -- Open Mic w/ Andy Littlefield

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

5/8 -- Chris Skellenger, 4-7

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

5:30-7:30:

THE GREENHOUSE - WILLOW/ PRIMOS, CADILLAC

5/7 – Trivia Night, 6-9

THREE SISTERS TAVERN, KALEVA 5/10 – Cheryl Wolfram, 6

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY

5/3 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

BURT LAKE BREWERY/SEASONS OF THE NORTH, INDIAN RIVER 5/10 – Mike Ridley, 6-9

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY 5/9 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

DIXIE SALOON, MACKINAW CITY 5/8 – Pete Fetters, 8-11

5/9 – Larz Cabot

5/10 – Blake Elliott

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

5/3 -- Daydrinker's Series w/ Jim Crockett Band, 3-6; Stonefolk, 7-10

5/9 -- Silver Creek Revival, 7-10

5/10 -- Daydrinker's Series w/ Delilah DeWylde, 3-6; The Jameson Brothers, 7-10

LITTLE TRAVERSE INN, MAPLE CITY

5/9 -- Lipstick & Dipstick, 6-9

NORTHERN LATITUDES DISTILLERY, SUTTONS BAY

5/9 – Brian Curran, 4:45-6:45

RIVER CLUB, GLEN ARBOR

5-8: 5/3 -- Loose Change

5/10 -- Ben Richey

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

5/3 – Mary Sue Wilkinson & Chris Skellenger, 5-8

5/8 – Open Mic Night, 6-9

5/9 -- Stanley & Quiggle, 5-8

5/10 – Alex Teller, 5-8

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

5/9 -- Friday Night Live w/ The Real Ingredients, 4-7

5/11 – Randy Reszka, noon-2

SWEET’S BAR & GRILL, HONOR Mon. – Music Bingo, 7 Fri. – Music Bingo, 8; Karaoke, 10 Sat. – Karaoke, 8

GYPSY DISTILLERY, PETOSKEY 2-4:

5/3 -- Keith Scott 5/10 -- Elisabeth Christe

NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY

5/3 – Eric Jaqua, 7-10

5/7 – Singo Bingo, 6:30

5/9 – Michelle Chenard, 7-10

5/10 – Brett Harfert, 7-10

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY

OVATION HALL: 5/9 -- Aaron Tippin, 8

POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS

5-8:

5/3 -- M-119 Band

5/10 -- Kirby Snively

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 5/3 -- Emily Kenyon, 8 5/8 -- Musician's Playground, 7 5/9 -- Nate King, 8-11 5/10 -- John Piatek, 8

THE WIGWAM, INDIAN RIVER

5/8 -- Dominic Fortuna, 7:30-9:30

Emmet & Cheboygan

TC’s

eclectic guitarist,

Rob Coonrod takes over Wednesdays at The Parlor, TC from

Charley in the Barrel Room from 6-9pm, and you can catch his funk, jazz, soul and rock again on Fri., May 9 at The Pub from 9pm – midnight.

lOGY

MAY 05 - MAY 11

BY ROB BREZSNY

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Classical ballet dancers often seek to convey the illusion of weightlessness through highly stylized movements. Innovative Taurus choreographer Martha Graham had a different aim, emphasizing groundedness. Emotional depth and rooted physicality were crucial to her art of movement. "The body never lies" is a motto attributed to her, along with "Don't be nice, be real." I recommend you make those themes your guides for now, Taurus. Ask your body to reveal truths unavailable to your rational mind. Value raw honesty and unembellished authenticity over mere decorum.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In 1971, Virgo poet Kay Ryan began teaching English at a small community college. Though she wrote steadily, working hard to improve her craft and publish books, she never promoted herself. For years, she was virtually unknown. Finally, in 2008, she flamed into prominence. In quick succession, she served as the US Poet Laureate, won a Pulitzer Prize, and received a $500,000 “genius grant” as a MacArthur Fellow. Why am I telling you about her long toil before getting her rightful honors? Because I believe that if you are ever going to receive the acclaim, recognition, appreciation, and full respect you deserve, it will happen in the coming months.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran author Diane Ackerman combines an elegant poetic sensibility and a deft skill at scientific observation. She is lyrical and precise, imaginative and logical, inventive and factual. I would love for you to be inspired by her example in the coming weeks. Your greatest success and pleasure will arise as you blend creativity with pragmatism. You will make good decisions as you focus on both the big picture and the intimate details. PS: If you immerse yourself in the natural world and seek out sensory-rich experiences, I bet you will inspire a smart solution to an achy dilemma.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio-born Sabina Spielrein (1885–1942) was one of the earliest woman psychoanalysts. In the 21st century, she is increasingly recognized as a great thinker who got marginalized because of her feminist approach to psychology. Several of her big contributions were Scorpionic to the core: She observed how breakdown can lead to breakthrough, how most transformations require the death of an old form, and how dissolution often serves creation. These will be useful themes for you to ruminate about in the coming weeks. For best results, be your deep, true, Scorpio self.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In the middle of his art career, Sagittarian painter Paul Klee (1879–1940) was drafted into the German army as a soldier in World War I. Rather than fighting on the front lines, he managed to get a job painting camouflage on military airplanes. This enabled him to conduct artistic explorations and experiments. The metal hulls became his canvases. I am predicting a comparable opportunity disguised as an obstacle for you, Sagittarius. Just as the apparent constraint on Klee actually advanced his artistic development, you will discover luck in unexpected places.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): "To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else," wrote poet Emily Dickinson. I often feel that truth. As much as I would love to devote 70+ hours a week to creative writing and making music, I am continually diverted by the endless surprises of the daily rhythm. One of these weeks, maybe I’ll be brave enough to simply give myself unconditionally to ordinary life’s startling flow and forget about trying to accomplish anything great. If you have ever felt a similar pull, Capricorn, the coming days will be prime time to indulge. There will be no karmic cost incurred.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): David Bowie was a brilliant musical composer and performer. His artistry extended to how he crafted his persona. He was constantly revising and reshaping his identity, his appearance, and his style. The Ziggy Stardust character he portrayed on stage, for example, had little in common with his later phase as the Thin White Duke. “I’ve always collected personalities,” he quipped. If you have ever felt an inclination to experiment with your

image and identity, Aquarius, the coming weeks will be an excellent time. Shape-shifting could be fun and productive. Transforming your outer style may generate interesting inner growth. What would be interesting ways to play with your self-expression?

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): The Voynich manuscript is a famous text written in an unfamiliar script filled with bizarre illustrations. Carbon-dated to the early 15th century, it has resisted all attempts at deciphering its content. Even Artificial Intelligence has not penetrated its meaning. I propose we make this enigmatic document an iconic metaphor for your life in the coming weeks. It will symbolize the power you can generate by celebrating and honoring mystery. It will affirm the fact that you don’t necessarily require logical explanations, but can instead appreciate the beauty of the unknown. Your natural comfort with ambiguity will be a potent asset, enabling you to work effectively with situations others find too uncertain.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Just for now, you might benefit from moderating your intensity. I am pleased to see how much good stuff you have generated lately, but it may be time to scale back a bit. At least consider the possibility of pursuing modest, sustainable production rather than daring to indulge in spectacular bursts of energy. In conclusion, dear Aries, the coming days will be a favorable time for finding the sweet spot between driving ambition and practical self-care. Your natural radiance won’t have to burn at maximum brightness to be effective.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini photographer Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971) was a trailblazer. She was the first American woman war photojournalist, the first professional photographer permitted into the Soviet Union, and among the first to photograph a Nazi concentration camp. She was consistently at the right place at the right time to record key historical moments. She’s your role model in the coming months. You, too, will have a knack for being in the right place and time to experience weighty turning points. Be vigilant for such opportunities. Be alert and ready to gracefully pounce.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): "Each negative word in a news headline increases clickthrough rates," writes Joan Westenberg. "Negative political posts on social media get twice the engagement. The system rewards pessimism." She wants to be clear: "Doomsayers aren't necessarily wrong. Many concerns are valid. But they've built an attention economy that profits from perpetual panic. It's a challenge to distinguish between actionable information and algorithmic amplification, genuine concern and manufactured outrage." Westenberg’s excellent points are true for all of us. But it's especially important that you Cancerians take measures to protect yourself now. For the sake of your mental and physical health, you need extra high doses of optimism, hope, and compassion. Seek out tales of triumph, liberation, pleasure, and ingenuity far more than tales of affliction, mayhem, and corruption.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Bees are smart. The robust and lightweight honeycombs they create for their homes are designed with high efficiency, maximizing storage space while using the least amount of resources. Let's make the bees' genius your inspirational role model for the coming weeks, Leo. It will be a favorable time to optimize your own routines and systems. Where can you reduce unnecessary effort and create more efficiency? Whether it’s refining your schedule, streamlining a project, or organizing your workspace, small adjustments will yield pleasing rewards.

“Jonesin”

Crosswords

"Ee-Aw" some donkey noises, completed. by Matt Jones

ACROSS

1. Low-lying region

5. Building girder

10. Petition

13. The big screen?

14. "A Confederacy of ___" (John Kennedy Toole book)

16. St. crosser

17. Property purchased with Qatari currency?

19. Pickleball divider

20. Hit the buffet

21. "Boo-___!"

22. Regretted

24. Words to a song

26. Shared billing for Etta and Celine?

31. "___ & Greg" (late '90s sitcom)

33. Extremely successful, in Variety

34. Singer Lily

36. Military packaged meal, for short

38. Granola grain

39. Performed in front of a pharaoh?

43. Pretty great

44. It may be original

45. "C'mon, please?"

46. Defunct channel that aired "Felicity"

49. Elegant detail

51. A pleased 500e, maybe?

53. Paul of "Breaking Bad"

57. "The Wire" character

58. Tajikistan, for short, once

60. Wondrous feeling

61. Mellow like cheese

63. Food served up for some rock Kings?

67. Tattletale

68. Of the lower back

69. Like some sporting equipment

70. "The Amazing Race" network

71. Photographer Arbus

72. Extremely

DOWN

1. All over the web

2. "Jaws" town

3. Cake component

4. Prefix that follows giga, tera, and peta

5. Notion

6. Another nickname for Dubya

7. Sinus doc

8. 2010 health legislation, in brief

9. London length

10. Crash, for one

11. The night before

12. Understand

15. "Yertle the Turtle" author

18. Chinese fruit

23. Tokyo's former name

25. Without doing anything

27. Household cleaning chemical

28. Johnny of The Smiths and Modest Mouse

29. Giraffe's relative

30. Forget-me-___ (certain flowers)

32. "No ifs, ___ , or buts"

34. Waimea Bay greeting

35. Group including Wordsworth and Coleridge, based on their location in England

37. "Behold!" to Caesar

39. Hiking trail

40. Word at the end of a French film

41. 1962 John Wayne film set in Africa

42. New Age Irish singer

47. Typing speed acronym

48. "___ means!"

50. Diagnostic image, for short

52. Psychoanalyst Sigmund

54. Increase

55. Deed holder

56. Requiring attention

59. "Yeah, whatever"

61. Part of a circle

62. Talk a lot

64. "Cheerleader" singer of 2015

65. Pelicans' org.

66. Bronco or Equinox, e.g.

R ECESS ! HAPPYHOUR

AT FOOD RESCUE

a program of Goodwill Northern Michigan (2889 Aero-Park Dr, Traverse City)

WEDNESDAY

MAY 7 • 5-7PM

$10 entry

Silent auction, tasty Hors d’oeuvres, local spirits and fun, with over $1,000 in prizes all supporting a great cause.

PRIZES INCLUDE

-$500 Gift Card to the Boathouse Restaurant

-Floating Water Mat from Action Water Sports ($550 value)

-$100 Goodwill Northern Michigan Thrifting Spree!

Recess is brought to you by

CLASSIFIEDS

THE FLATS - A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME!: NEW CONDOS, WILLIAMSBURG,2 & 3 BEDROOMS FOR RENT. AVAILABLE NOW - 231.499.9310!

TRAVERSE CITY COTTAGE FOR RENT: TC 1 BR Cottage, Very Nice, Utilities Included, Fully Furnished, All New Appliances Including W/D, Patio, BBQ, No Pets, Month to Month to 1 Year; $1,600 per month; (231) 631-7512.

We met at Torch Lake Cafe in July last Summer: You're on Elk, I'm on the Bay. We were to meet at Shorts on 7/10: Hurry 676/7539

YARD SALE: May 15-17. 8AM-5PM 250 E Valley Rd, Maple City. Wide variety for kids to adults

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?: I will come to your home or office and make your computer, phone, tablet, tv and printer all work! Call

James Downer - Advent Tech. Your HIGH TECH HANDYMAN. 231-492-2087

SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-6248

FACILITIES LEAD AT CITY OPERA HOUSE

Set and strike events & live shows, clean & maintain building, 4PM to 12AM with some later. Flexible, independent, motivated, high standards, able to lift and move tables & chairs. boxoffice@cityoperahouse.org