Northern Express - November 03, 2025

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.

CORRECTION: In the Oct. 27, 2025, issue of Northern Express, we incorrectly referred to the setting of the theatrical production of The Laramie Project at Interlochen Center for the Arts as Laramie, Wisconsin. The correct setting is Laramie, Wyoming. We apologize for the error.

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

Editor: Jillian Manning Finance Manager: Libby Shutler

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Creative Director: Kyra Cross Poehlman

Distribution: Marc Morris, Gerald Morris, Dave Anderson, Joe Evancho, Jason Ritter, Sherri Ritter, Roger Racine, Sarah Racine, Brandy Grames, Rachel Cara, Jackson Price, Lisa Price, Peggy Bell

Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold

Contributors: Joseph Beyer, Ross Boissoneau, Ren Brabenec, Art Bukowski, Anna Faller, Rachel Pasche, Victor Skinner, Stephen Tuttle

top ten this week’s

Beer Week Is Back!

Traverse City will be getting sudsy this weekend, as Traverse City Beer Week returns Nov. 7-15. This year, each day has a theme—think Pilsner Party, Hop Harvest, or Stout Showdown—and various breweries will host specials and events, like trivia night at Nocturnal Bloom and brewery tours at Short’s. K&A Hop Dogs will have a Mystery Beer Flight Challenge (name the style, the brew, and the brewery) on Nov. 7; Right Brain offers a “Beer Edition” of their Boozy Bee spelling bee on Nov. 12; and The Little Fleet will host their annual IPA Challenge on Nov. 13 (tickets $35). There’s also a beer week passport that will help you score discounts or get insider access at the 28 participating businesses. Find all the hoppy info at traversecity.com/tcbw.

2 tastemaker

Samaha’s Baklava

It’s November, which means it’s time for all things comfy and cozy—and that includes food. We got the tip from Hilbert’s Honey in Traverse City that Samaha’s baklava was back in their “Honey House” on 5 Mile Rd on Mondays. Made with flaky, golden phyllo dough, drenched in Hilbert’s Michigan-made honey, and packed with walnuts, cinnamon, cardamom, and lemon zest, these sweet bites are not to be missed. A 4-by-4-inch packaged box is $25, which makes it perfect for gifting in the busy holiday season. And don’t miss out on Samaha’s other treats, from chocolate espresso scones and apple streusel quickbread to jalapeño cheddar sourdough. Shop their full selection and see where else this small-batch bakery will pop up this fall at samahabakery.com.

Wreath the Halls

Get ready for the holidays with the ultimate wreath workshop! Boyne Mountain hosts Wreathfest, Sat., Nov. 8, with Kalin Sheick of Sweetwater Floral guiding the way. Make a gorgeous handmade greenery wreath at 10am, 12:30pm, or 3pm. GA is $99 and VIP $199 (includes a VIP Welcome Party and shopping access, entry to a podcast recording, and a gift on Fri., Nov 7; along with premier seating, swag bag, and more at the workshop). The next morning, hop over to “Drag Yourself Out of Bed Brunch” at Stein Eriksen’s! A brunch buffet will open at 8:30am with a drag show from 9:15-10:45am, when three fabulous queens bring you holiday hilarity. $69/person. shop.boynemountain.com/l/events/wreathfest-4/p/wreathfest

4

Hey, Read It! Mayra

At 20-something, life is finally starting to take shape for Ingrid: she has a new job in real estate and her own apartment—she’s even joined the dating apps! Still, it’s hard to rationalize her grownup identity without Mayra, her adolescent partner in crime who all but disappeared after leaving for college. That is, until Mayra calls one evening, inviting Ingrid to spend a nostalgic weekend with her in the Everglades. When Ingrid arrives (after a treacherous drive), something immediately feels off. For starters, there’s the labyrinthine house, with fun-house rooms that seem to go on forever; there’s Mayra’s unsettling boyfriend, Benji; a diary under Ingrid’s bed; and then there’s Mayra herself, who’s both a stranger and exactly the same. As Ingrid settles in for her stay, so does a nightmarish new reality—one that threatens to swallow her whole. Equal parts coming-of-age story and Southern Gothic, Nicky Gonzalez’s new novel, Mayra, is a lush, literary treat.

The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald

The National Writers Series welcomes New York Times bestselling author John U. Bacon to talk about his new book The Gales of November, the definitive account of the Edmund Fitzgerald disaster. Drawing on more than 100 interviews with the families, friends, and former crew mates of those lost, the book is both an emotional tribute to the Fitzgerald’s captain and crew and a propulsive, page-turning narrative history of America’s most-mourned shipwreck.

TICKETS GOING FAST!

Join NWS on Thursday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m ., in-person at City Opera House or join our livestream with a virtual ticket.

tickets,

6 Drinking Habits Stuff We Love: Saving

Wild Elk Country

The AuSable Artisan Village Community Theatre is leaning into a play on words with their upcoming production of Drinking Habits, a play written by modern American playwright Tom Smith and directed locally by Penny Podjaske. The show follows two nuns at a convent called the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing. Except instead of embroidering, these nuns have been making wine. Their intentions are good—to earn money to keep the convent open—but when some undercover reporters try to suss out the secret business, all hell breaks loose. The Artisan Village touts the play as a “zany tale of love, faith, and farcical misunderstandings.” Check out performances Nov. 7 and 8 at 7pm and Nov. 9 at 4:30pm at the Performing Arts Center at 122 Michigan Avenue in Grayling. Tickets are $20 at artisanvillage.org.

Thanks for Giving

With SNAP benefits expiring on Nov. 1 for thousands of our neighbors across the region, there has never been a more urgent time to fight food insecurity in our community. Northwestern Michigan College is taking up its 12th annual “Thanks for Giving” project, with a goal “to provide 175 Thanksgiving meals to families in need across both NMC and the local community,” including a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan. NMC students will be collecting monetary donations at nmc.edu/give along with granola bars and jars of peanut butter through Nov. 18. Red collection bins for food will be located across NMC’s campuses, including the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, Aero Park Parsons-Stulen campus, and the Great Lakes campus. Learn more at nmc.edu/news/2025/10/thanks-for-giving-drive.html. (Note: NMC also operates a year-round food pantry for students.)

This fall, the elk population got a helping hand from their human friends. Gaylordbased conservation nonprofit Huron Pines purchased a 236-acre property from a private landowner (to protect the site from future development) and transferred ownership to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which now manages it as part of the Pigeon River Country State Forest. The property will be called the “Elk Run Tract,” as it’s home to one of the state’s biggest and most iconic creatures. Not-so-fun fact: Native elk disappeared from Michigan in the late 1800s, and the current population grew from a 1918 release of “western” elk, according to the DNR. Pigeon River Country is the herd’s core habitat. Per a story in MLive, “The Elk Run Tract is in Cheboygan County’s Nunda Township, just north of the Otsego County line along Grass Lake Road. It’s about two miles northeast of Pickerel Lake State Forest Campground.” Learn more about Huron Pines’ conservation work at huronpines.org.

bottoms up Nocturnal Bloom Brewing’s Carya Old Fashioned

As fall descends, we’ll be sipping the Carya Old Fashioned from Nocturnal Bloom Brewing in Traverse City. Named for a Greek mythological figure who turned into a walnut tree, this riff on the classic cocktail takes the warm and spicy profile of the brewery’s Corvis Brown beer (think: caramelly malts and fenugreek) in syrup form and layers house-made cherry-walnut bitters and a curated bourbon selection from Grand Traverse Distillery, which features a high inclusion of Michigan-grown barley and rye. Topped with orange peel and a plump cocktail cherry, this perfectly autumnal sip is nothing short of transformative—but not in the turnyou-into-a-walnut sort of way. Branch out at 3344 Cass Rd. in Traverse City. And stay tuned for on-site commercial kitchen, Acorn, coming mid-November! nocturnalbloombrewing.com

Photo courtesy of Huron Pines

Photo by Hallie Kohler

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SHUTDOWN COLLATERAL DAMAGE

spectator

By Stephen Tuttle

On and on it drags, a shutdown of the government because we no longer have a functioning government. Congress needed to pass a budget extension no later than October 1, but they did not. Instead, we have a seemingly intractable argument over federally funded healthcare.

In the background of this stalemate is the so-called Big Beautiful Bill that Republicans already passed. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), that bill will slash Medicaid, the program providing healthcare assistance to elderly, low-income adults, and some children, by $1 trillion (that’s $1,000,000,000,000) over the next decade. As a result, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) says millions will lose coverage and face far more restrictive enrollment policies or dramatically higher premiums.

Additionally, according to the CBPP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), first initiated in 1996, designed to help low-income families with children, will be cut to some of those families and their two million SNAP eligible children. Same with free school lunch programs for low-income students.

So the Democrats argue they want some restoration of Medicaid cuts and an extension of healthcare tax credits that are part of the Affordable Care Act, plus a dispersal of money already budgeted for and approved by Congress.

Republicans are demanding what they call a “clean” budget extension and say they will negotiate the healthcare and other issues after the current bill is signed. Of course, once the current budget bill is signed, the GOP has almost no incentive to negotiate any issues they claim were just settled.

The GOP might have an additional motive for their intransigence; it gives them the opportunity to lay waste to the federal workforce they’ve long wanted to cut. Since January, prior to the shutdown, more than 4,000 federal employees had been laid off, fired, or furloughed, though the courts have halted some of those actions.

President Trump sees this as a chance to “gut Democratic agencies,” whatever those might be, and further reduce spending to Democrat-run cities or states.

Currently, some services are already dramatically slowed or unavailable. The Small Business Administration and Federal Housing Administration and their financial assistance and mortgage loans are stopped; National Parks remain open, but much of the maintenance and development work is stopped; all food assistance programs will soon run out of money; 730,000 federal employees are currently working without pay

(including air traffic controllers!) and another 670,000 have been furloughed outright.

And, of course, scientists and researchers from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been laid off, endangering both national health and preparation for nasty weather events. According to a 2019 law, those temporarily laid off because of the shutdown should all receive back pay, but Trump is trying to find loopholes to avoid that obligation.

As you might have guessed, Congress continues to pay themselves, and the Constitution requires we keep paying federal judges, federal appointees confirmed by the Senate, the military, and federal law enforcement. A strong, loud argument could be made that Congress deserves no paycheck as long as they deprive other federal workers of theirs, but unsurprisingly they’ve protected themselves against the vagaries of their own stupidity.

Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says “the public is not stupid” and they know the Democrats are to blame because they are demanding free Medicaid for illegal immigrants, among other dishonest talking points. Fortunately, the public isn’t stupid and understands the Democrats are demanding no such thing, but they’d kind of like Medicaid for poor folks back and some nutritional food for low-income kids both at home and at school.

The public seems to agree as virtually every poll points the finger of blame squarely at Republicans. (Be advised the public is not at all thrilled with either party as this foolishness drags on, but less so with the GOP right now.)

Some examples: the latest Reuters/Ipsos polls blames the GOP by a 50-43 margin, a Quinnipiac poll has it 45-39 GOP fault, and the Economist/YouGov poll pegs it at 3930 Republicans to blame. Additionally, the Economist/YouGov poll asked respondents if they thought the Democrats should continue to hold out or agree to support the GOP budget, and 45 percent said they should hold fast, while only 32 percent thought they should cave.

Government shutdowns are not new—there have been 14 government shutdowns since 1980. None of them made much sense, though all of them were touted as acts of great principle and conscience. The current impasse has the earmarks of another Trump ulterior motive, an attempt to slash and burn federal departments he neither understands nor appreciates.

The people losing their jobs or their healthcare, or children losing their school lunch, are just collateral damage in the MAGA world.

HELPING AN ALCOHOLIC

Guest Columnist

by Mary Keyes Rogers

My name is Mary, and I’m the child of an alcoholic. My mom passed away years ago, when I was in my mid-thirties, but lately, memories of those years have been resurfacing—the chaos, the heartbreak, and all the strange little moments that come with loving someone who’s drinking their life away.

If you have a loved one who struggles with addiction—booze, heroin, or something else—you have my deepest sympathies. Especially if that person is someone you depend on, as children often must. It’s a confusing kind of heartbreak when the person who’s supposed to protect you is the one you have to protect from themselves.

and yes, I was prepared to call the police if I had to. That wasn’t punishment; that was love with boundaries.

Today, we know more. Alcoholism is now classified as a brain disease, and that’s important—but it doesn’t mean the rest of us are powerless. Families and friends can still make a huge difference. We can also, unintentionally, make things worse if we keep shielding the person from consequences.

The old “rock bottom” idea came from the belief that only when life becomes unbearable will an addict seek recovery. But modern thinking—and science—say otherwise.

Addiction isn’t just about bad choices— it’s a disease that hijacks the brain.

Even today, when I’m around someone who’s clearly had too much, I can feel my whole body tense up. My inner siren starts blaring: Get out, get away, this is familiar and not safe. It’s not logical, it’s reflexive—like a smoke detector that still goes off years after the fire’s out.

Here’s what I’ve learned and what I want to say, especially to those on the sidelines: If you haven’t personally confronted the drinker— taken their keys, let them sit in jail overnight, or looked them straight in the eye to tell them how their behavior affects you—please, do not call their family to “express concern.”

Families don’t need more calls. They need more courage from the people standing right in front of the problem. Offer your help directly to the person who’s drinking. Be kind, be compassionate, but don’t protect them from their own reality.

There’s no compassion in calling their spouse or kids. I promise you, you’re not revealing any breaking news. We already know.

When I was younger, my mom’s employees would call my dad—or sometimes me— saying, “Your mom’s drunk at work again. What should we do?”

At first, I’d say, “Get her in the backroom, make some coffee, and I’ll send Dad.” A few years later: “Tell her she’s drunk and walk out.” And eventually: “Why are you still working there? You’re not helping her—or us.”

Everyone around her was so afraid of embarrassing her that they ended up enabling her. They thought they were being kind. They weren’t.

Back then, the big advice from experts was: Let them hit rock bottom. It sounded cruel at the time. But I started to understand that sometimes pain can be a wake-up call. I figured that if nobody would work for her, maybe she’d see she needed help. If she insisted on driving drunk, I’d take her keys—

Waiting for the crash can be dangerous, even deadly. Here’s a better way to look at it:

Rock bottom looks different for everyone. For one person, it might be losing a job; for another, a health scare or a night in jail. There’s no single breaking point. Don’t wait for one—act early.

Addiction isn’t just about bad choices— it’s a disease that hijacks the brain. When someone’s deep in it, they literally can’t see straight. Early intervention can save their life.

Help, don’t enable. Set boundaries. Refuse to excuse destructive behavior. Stay compassionate but firm. That’s the sweet spot where change can begin.

And most importantly, connection helps more than isolation. Research shows that early, loving, direct engagement—offering treatment, therapy, or just a listening ear— works better than watching from the sidelines hoping they’ll hit bottom.

In my family’s case, it took two trips to rehab before things truly changed. Both times, loving friends and family had to step in with real conversations and real consequences. The first time, a group of her closest friends joined my dad and me for an intervention that led to her entering The Betty Ford Clinic. She got sober for a while, but after my dad passed away, she relapsed.

When it happened again, there was no big crowd—just me and her best friend sitting across from her, hearts pounding, determined to help. She agreed to go to a rehab program for people over 60 and stayed for six weeks. That stay gave her back her life, and she stayed sober for the rest of it. It wasn’t easy or perfect, but it was proof that love, honesty, and timely intervention can still break through the fog of addiction.

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

50 Years Since the Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Bestselling author John U. Bacon and his new book on the Great Lakes shipping disaster

By Ren Brabenec

Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” helped the world immortalize the shipwreck on Lake Superior. Now, Michigan resident and New York Times bestselling author John U. Bacon has contributed his own work to the living history of the ship with his latest gripping read, The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Nov. 10 marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and Bacon will visit the National Writers Series Nov. 6 to discuss the new book. Ahead of the event, we sat down with Bacon to learn why telling the story of the shipwreck is so important, even half a century later.

A New Look at an Old Mystery

As is the case for many Michiganders, the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald has been both terrifying and fascinating for author John Bacon. “I was 11 years old when the ship went down,” Bacon says. “I still remember it and the haunting feeling it gave me whenever I looked out across any of the Great Lakes.”

Bacon has authored 14 books on sports, business, and history, but he says he’s always wanted to tell people about the dual wonder and danger of Michigan’s lakes, the importance of humanizing the people who’ve died on commercial shipping vessels, and the significance of Great Lakes shipping.

“Fortunately, the families of the [Edmund Fitzgerald] sailors were willing to talk with me about their fathers, their uncles, their brothers, cousins, and in a couple cases their boyfriends,” Bacon says. “They’ve never told

their stories publicly before, so I’m greatly appreciative. I think the readers will be, too.”

Not only does the book have these brand-new perspectives, but it also takes a different approach to the mystery of the ship’s sinking.

“Take what actually caused the shipwreck,” Bacon says. “Authors have devoted entire books to push their theories that the Fitzgerald sank due to this or that reason. My book does not attempt to solve the mystery of the ultimate causes of the Fitzgerald’s demise—my belief is that there were probably many [causes].”

He continues, “Some of the possible causes include: the design of the ship itself, a modular construction which favored welds over rivets, which made it more flexible than most; the government’s decision to relax regulations on how much cargo a ship can carry; the storm of the century, which was only partially forecast and insufficiently communicated to the captains; mechanical failures on the Fitzgerald and the Whitefish Point’s lighthouse; a couple well-intended decisions by Captain McSorley to play it safe, which might have backfired; and finally the possibility that the Fitzgerald sailed over Six Fathom Shoal. A fathom is six feet, so six fathoms is 36 feet, but in some places it’s only 11.”

How One Shipwreck Changed Great Lakes Shipping

One of the many fascinating aspects of the Edmund Fitzgerald story is that, despite thousands of shipwrecks occurring on the Great Lakes before the Fitzgerald sank in 1975, not one such wreck has occurred since.

“Because the Fitzgerald’s sinking drew

so much attention, [people who worked in the industry] greatly improved forecasting, communications with the captains, and decision making from corporate headquarters to the pilothouse,” explains Bacon.

“[Those efforts] produced this stunning statistic,” Bacon continued. “From 1875 to 1975, the Great Lakes claimed at least 6,000 commercial shipwrecks, but in the half century since the Edmund Fitzgerald went under, not one commercial ship has sunk on the Great Lakes, by far the longest run of safe trips since the French fur traders started traversing the same waters four hundred years ago. As one of my experts said, ‘When do you fix anything? When it’s broken.’”

That statistic is something to celebrate, but it required the lives of 29 men to finally prompt the shipping industry to implement better safety protocols and prioritize the lives of sailors and their families over profits.

“When talking with the families of the victims, you notice how often they make that very point,” Bacon said. “As devastating as it was to lose their fathers, their uncles, their brothers, their cousins, and their boyfriends, they are acutely aware that no commercial ships have suffered a similar fate since, and they justly take pride in that fact. The immeasurable sacrifices of that day were not made in vain.”

An Essential Industry

The Bay Mills News, a monthly paper published by the Bay Mills Indian Community in the eastern Upper Peninsula, has recently been reporting extensively on the critical nature of Great Lakes shipping and the ongoing $2.6 billion New Lock at the Soo infrastructure project made possible by President Joe Biden’s 2021 Bipartisan

Infrastructure Law. That project aims to provide resiliency and expand U.S. shipping capacity in an increasingly competitive global shipping industry.

According to the reporting, Great Lakes shipping is so essential to U.S. manufacturing and national security that a six-month slowdown of ship movement across the Great Lakes and through the Soo Locks would reduce U.S. GDP by $1.1 trillion and result in the loss of 11 million jobs.

To Bacon, it was a big goal for the book to use the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald to emphasize the importance of modern Great Lakes shipping and the sailors who make it possible.

“The Great Lakes are bigger and more dangerous than most people realize,” Bacon says. “And Great Lakes shipping is far more important than we know. We depend on these sailors more than we think, if we think about them at all; and because the Fitzgerald’s last trip is more complicated than it appears at first, we’ll probably never know exactly what happened. Bruce Hudson’s mom Ruth said it best: ‘Only 30 know what happened: 29 men and God.’ And they’re not talking, so we’re just guessing.”

About

the Event

An Evening with John U. Bacon will take place at 7pm on Thursday, Nov. 6, at City Opera House and will include a Q&A and an author book signing. Tickets are $32 for Tier One, $21 for Tier Two, and $16 for students and educators. For those who cannot attend the event in person, a live virtual option is available, as well as an on-demand streaming option. For in-person tickets, head to cityoperahouse.org. Visit nationalwritersseries.org to order virtual tickets or purchase the book.

BIG GAME HUNTING

By Victor Skinner

As roughly 600,000 deer hunters head into the woods for the 2025 season, thousands more are targeting Michigan’s other big game species after years of applying for limited licenses.

In recent years, a growing number of applications for both Michigan bear and elk licenses have defied a decades-long trend of declining hunter numbers and driven up the time it takes to land a license, with some, for bull elk, limited to once in a lifetime.

Bears Below the Bridge

The situation makes for high-stakes hunts that are influenced in large part by factors hunters can’t control, from weather to natural food production, and 2025 is proving especially challenging for many in northern Michigan.

“It was tough, real tough,” says veteran bear guide Darren Kamphouse, who helped four hunters harvest bears in the Baldwin Bear Management Unit despite warm weather, plentiful natural foods, and strong competition that has made finding them far more difficult than in years past.

“There’s not as many bears, and lots of hunters and a lot of food out there— acorns and corn and lots of natural food,” Kamphouse says, adding he believes the DNR is “giving out too many” tags in the northern Lower Peninsula. “Spots we used to have numerous bears hitting baits … we had baits that didn’t get touched.”

It’s a similar situation elsewhere in the Lower Peninsula, where hunters harvested 295 bears out of a desired harvest of 441

through early October, which constitutes the bulk of the season that ran through Oct. 9 below the bridge.

“Our bear check has been down pretty substantially,” says Mark Boersen, Department of Natural Resources biologist in Roscommon, who oversees the Lower Peninsula harvest.

Boersen says the decline in bears coming in there is likely due in part to new private check stations in the region this year. But even so, “I’ve been hearing from hunters that bear activity is quite low,” he says.

“Warm temperatures and abundant acorns are making things tough for hunters,” Boersen says. “Even one of my co-workers has a tag and has been working hard baiting—running three stations—with little bear activity.”

“There’s just not a whole lot of bears on public land,” says Mike Thorman, legislative liaison for hound hunters who hunts the Red Oak BMU covering the eastern half of the Lower Peninsula.

Others, including Michigan Bear Hunters Association President Keith Shafer, contend those problems were compounded in many counties by damage from ice storms this spring, with some areas “absolutely miserable to get through.”

“The guys I talked to had a rough time finding bears,” he says, “especially in the ice storm areas.”

Bears Above the Bridge

In the Upper Peninsula, home to the majority of Michigan bears, it’s a much different dynamic.

“Overall, on average, we’re looking at a

pretty consistent harvest compared to last year,” says Cody Norton, the DNR’s bear specialist, noting 2024 “was a phenomenal year for success rates and harvest” in the U.P.

“Bear weights have been kind of ridiculous this year,” he adds, with numerous bears registered north of 400 pounds, as well as a few eclipsing 500.

Through early October, hunters had harvested 867 bears toward a desired harvest of 1,244, as hunting continued through Oct. 26.

The 2025 season also offered a unique experience for researchers they didn’t expect, Norton says. In the western U.P., a hunter harvested a boar that Norton and others handled as a cub and a yearling. The bear was born in the winter of 2022-23 and was tagged during a den check as a cub. Biologists returned with an ear tag in the winter of 2023-24, and the bear denned by itself as a two-year-old last winter.

This fall, a hunter harvested the threeyear-old bear about 20 miles from where it was born. “It was neat to have a full circle on that one, from birth to death,” Norton says.

Evasive Elk

DNR officials in elk country, meanwhile, are reporting the lowest success rate on record following the conclusion of the first of two seasons in 2025.

“There were some high temperatures that certainly impacted participation early in the season,” says Chad Stewart, a DNR deer and elk manager. “Certainly, the ice storm … probably impacted not only access in certain areas for hunters, but probably redistributed elk in a couple locations, as well.”

Just 51 out of 99 hunters who participated

harvested elk during the early hunt that ran through the end of September. That season targets elk outside of their core range, while a second season in late December includes the same area, as well as the core range.

The early 2025 elk registrations included 26 bulls, 21 cows, 3 calves, and a bull taken by a Pure Michigan hunt winner, Stewart says.

“It’s the lowest success rate we’ve ever documented,” says Shelby Adams, DNR biologist in Pigeon River Country, who notes the five-year average is 66 percent, which includes some years that eclipsed 80 percent.

The ice storm “really impacted the whole elk range,” Adams says. “Just moving through the woods is challenging” for both hunters and elk.

Hunter success typically increases during the late hunt in December as snowfall makes tracking easier, but Adams suggested “large snowfalls could make it more challenging” in 2025 with many more tripping hazards created by the ice storms.

Other impacts from the ice storms aren’t yet fully evident, though some could be beneficial in the long-run, Adams says. “Some other changes it’s caused is it’s reset some forest stands,” she says, creating “flushes of young aspen.”

“This isn’t going to be a one-year impact—it’s really changing some of the forest types and ages,” Adams adds. “I’d expect to see impacts for years to come.”

Tracking Other Big Game

While other big game species, such as moose and wolves, are not currently hunted in Michigan, DNR biologists are undertaking

Abundant food, warm weather, and ice storm damage affecting elk and bear harvests

feed into population growth.”

Petroelje and others are also working to leverage a network of more than 1,200 trail cameras distributed across 159 hexagonal cells across the entire U.P. in 2023 to better estimate wolf abundance, an effort that will also produce numbers for deer, moose, bobcat, bear, fox, coyote, and turkey.

The first year produced six million images that were sorted using artificial intelligence, and the project is expected to continue through 2026, with a final report in 2027, Petroelje says.

are raising young in the spring.

DNR biologists presented the latest moose population estimates to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in October, pegging the population at about 600, marking a significant decline of several hundred from the prior survey.

“It’s very possible that moose distribution is changing to outside the core,” Stewart told the NRC. “Whether this is a realized decline … or a sort of redistribution of the population on the landscape is something we’re wanting to find out.”

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What to Do in November

Don’t let the gray days get you down with these 12 events

By Rachel Pasche

The cooler months are upon us and the holidays aren’t quite here, but there’s still plenty to do in northern Michigan. Whether you want to push your limits with a challenging race, chill out at a craft beverage festival, or see a show, November is full of events to keep busy.

1. Cantus – Saturday, Nov. 1

Step out of the cold and warm up with the distinctive performance of Cantus, one of the few full-time vocal ensembles in the nation. The members of Cantus perform completely a cappella, covering a wide range of music, from modern-day favorites to Renaissance numbers. The group performs at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts; doors open at 3:30pm and the show begins at 4pm. Tickets start at $32. greatlakescfa. org/events/detail/cantus

2. Iceman Cometh – Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7–8

Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge is a point-to-point mountain bike race that promises 30 miles of epic mountain biking. This year’s course starts at the Kalkaska Airport and ends at Timber Ridge Resort, with miles of rugged terrain between that may or may not be seriously muddy, depending on the weather leading up to the race. The Meijer Sno Cone and Slush Cup races offer shorter courses for beginner and younger riders. Last year, over 1,200 spectators lined the course and greeted racers at the finish line for the after-party. Registration is full for the Iceman, but spots remain for the other races, and spectating is always free! iceman.com

3. Fall Floral Workshop — Friday, Nov. 7

Interested in assembling some fun fall florals? Check out this workshop hosted by the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City. The Botanic Garden will provide all the autumnal blooms, plants, and textures to work with, though attendees are asked to bring their own container (with an opening of 6 inches or fewer) and favorite snippers to work with. Tickets are $43-45. thebotanicgarden.org

4. Second Saturday at Raven Hill — Saturday, Nov. 8

Gather the family and gear up for a day of curiosity and learning at Raven Hill Discovery Center in East Jordan. Admission is free at their monthly Second Saturday event, and all exhibits are open to visitors. Raven Hill boasts a variety of displays and interactive activities that teach visitors about a range of topics, including energy, printmaking, history, woodworking, technology, earth and life sciences, radio, geology, and reptiles (this last involves animals you can meet and hold!). Raven Hill asks that visitors register in advance. miravenhill.org

5. Hoffmaster Turkey Trail Run — Saturday, Nov. 8

For those who prefer something a little more rugged than the traditional Turkey Trot, the Hoffmaster Turkey Trail Run in Muskegon hits that mark. Enjoy the last of the beautiful fall colors and the scenery of Hoffmaster State Park as you wind through peaceful forests and dunes. The race begins at 10am, starting at the beach parking lot and ending at the visitor center. Registration is $35 and can be done online or before the event on race day. runsignup.com/Race/MI/Muskegon/ TurkeyTrail5KatHoffmaster

6. Clairvoyants Show — Saturday, Nov. 8

Sit back and experience a magic show unlike any other when the Clairvoyants tour arrives at Odawa Casino. Straight from Las Vegas and America’s Got Talent, Thommy Ten and Amélie van Tass put on a performance that blends mentalism, illusions, and magic for an unforgettable and dazzling evening. Tickets are $45. odawacasino.com/ entertainment

7. Cider Fest — Sunday, Nov. 9

LeRoy Brewing, the cider and beer arm of Cadillac Winery, is hosting its first-ever Cider Fest. The fun starts at 12pm, and the $20 ticket includes a tasting of each of the cidery’s five creations and a pint of your favorite (including a souvenir glass to take home). cadillacwinery.com/ event-details/cider-fest-2025

8. 9 to 5: The Musical at Interlochen — Friday, Nov. 14

The Tony-Award nominated musical 9 to 5 hits the stage at Interlochen this fall, delighting guests with the comedic script and a soundtrack including Dolly Parton originals. The musical is adapted

from the popular 1980’s film, following disgruntled employees plotting to rid themselves of their licentious boss. Tickets are $38. interlochen.org/events

9. Small Business Saturday — Saturday, Nov. 15

As part of Small Business Saturday—on which we’re encouraged to shop local and support the businesses that make our communities thrive—Cadillac will be doubling up with their Holiday Market Series. Explore the seasonal selection from local farmers and artisans at the Cadillac Farmers Market from 12-4pm. facebook.com/CadillacFarmersMarket

10. Flapjack and Flannel Festival — Saturday, Nov. 15

Come enjoy some flapjacks while watching lumberjacks do what they do best at the Flapjack and Flannel Festival. Hosted by Timber Ridge Resort, this festival features World Champion lumberjacks competing across events: axe throwing, chopping, log rolling, speed climbing, and more. Drinks from multiple local breweries, wineries, and cideries are available. Tickets are $40 and include two drink tokens and one flapjack. flapjackandflannelfestival.com

11. Christmas on the Farm — Sunday, Nov. 16

Ready to get into the Christmas spirit a little early? Myrtle & Maude’s of Williamsburg welcomes Santa to the farm on Nov. 16 from 11am-2pm for photos and merriment. Other attractions include a free hot cocoa bar, shopping the market for holiday finds (think Michigan-made gifts, refurbished furniture, and more), and the famous “Grandma Birdie” homemade treats. myrtleandmaudes.com

12. Thanksgiving Market at Farm Club — Saturday, Nov. 22

If you’re looking for that perfect something to make a dish pop or to give your host this Thanksgiving, swing by Farm Club for their Thanksgiving market. Baskets of local and seasonal produce and corresponding recipe cards, hosting gifts, and beer and wine samples await any eager shopper prepping for the big meal. farmclubtc.com/events

Catch all the muddy, magnificent action at the Iceman Nov. 7-8.

WE’VE GOT IT GOING ON.

Short’s TC Beer Week Event Schedule

Friday Nov 7

Saturday Nov 8

Beer Dinner at Minerva’s: 5:30-10pm

Bellaire Brewery Tours: 11-3pm

Sunday Nov 9 Lion’s Game at the Pull Barn

Wednesday Nov 12

Thursday Nov 13

Bingo at the Pull Barn: 6pm

Elk Rapids Brewery Tours: 2 & 4pm

Tom’s Tastings: West Bay & 14th St: 4-6pm

IPA Challenge at Little Fleet: 5:30-9:30pm

Bingo at the Pub: 6pm

HOT 2025LOINS GABF SilverMedalist ondraft

SPECIALS

Rare beers and features all week!

HUCKSTER 22oz bomber release at Tom’s Markets

Friday Nov 14

Saturday Nov 15

Short’s TC Bar crawl 5-9pm

Stop by Brady’s, Buschell’s, 7 Monks, The Pub, U & I Lounge, and Park Place Hotel. Fill your punch card for beer week swag!

Bellaire Brewery Tours: 11-3pm

GUEST OPINION

by Tess Tarchak-Hiss

I know there are by far worse people in the world, but something about film bros— the pretentious guys with big opinions— provokes me like nothing else. As someone who was held at gunpoint to watch and critique Seven Samurai by their father at age eight, I know for a fact that your favorite movie isn’t Casablanca. Get off Letterboxd, sit your butt down, and watch Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs like a real man.

I wouldn’t go so far as to state that social media has demolished movies; however, I will die on the hill that technology destroyed the people who watch them. For most of my life, I only witnessed these film bros online, where they could be easily avoided, blocked, and eventually publicly shamed, Puritan-style.

share the same precedence of undivided attention. We could pause, start, rewind, and skip the stories on our screens to our liking.

Our wavering attention spans initiated the shift from household bonding to disputation. It drove my parents up the wall, and fun family nights turned into screaming matches and spilled popcorn.

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Pausing the moment never creates memories; pressing play and being present do.

That is, until the double-drop of Barbienheimer. In real time, I watched a group of six dolled-up guys sit in front of me, watch the first scene of Barbie, and skedaddle after giving it five stars and making a Mojo Dojo Casa House joke (we didn’t even get to that scene yet).

Shortly thereafter, the same teenagers, dressed like extras from Peaky Blinders, strolled into Oppenheimer with Letterboxd—dubbed “a social platform for sharing your taste in film”— already open and ready to rate. Interestingly enough, they stayed until that Florence Pugh scene and then bitterly vacated.

My parents would’ve had a heart attack. Netflix movie nights were considered sacred in the Tarchak-Hiss household. Not the Netflix that churns out nine seasons of Love is Blind faster than the boys leaving after the Oppenheimer sex scene, but the Netflix that sent DVDS in the mail. The idea of streaming was in the works, but our family hadn’t utilized it yet. On Fridays, my mom and I would skip down to the post office to retrieve whatever film they thought was (barely) appropriate to culture their daughters. These movies ranged from Spaceballs to Onibaba: both respectively scarring for a six-year-old.

The circumstances were flexible; we would all watch during dinner with our food in our laps on the floor or bundled up under blankets, clinging to my dad’s arm, yet there was always one underlying rule. Nobody could pause the movie. We lived by the notion from our parents’ generation: time is transient, and in moments together, we had to be present.

At least, up until our DVD player broke.

My dad resented the Roku. At a moment’s notice, my sister and I went from consciously available to consistently weaving in and out of the living room. Whether it was wanting a glass of water or just pure boredom, we didn’t

My parents slowly stopped the dictatorship of deciding what movies to watch every Friday. They started taking suggestions from my sister and me, what we wanted to watch, what stories we wanted to share. We would deliberately pick 10-minute dopey YouTube videos, under the guise of “I swear it’s cinema,” to get the night over with and evacuate to our bedrooms. If we really wanted to watch a movie with them, we could at any time— it’s not like Meet the Fockers would plunge off our TV because we didn’t feel like seeing it at that very moment.

All of this tension resulted in our family giving up. Friday nights became too forced and eventually became fleeting. My sister and I could still feel that our parents wanted to convey their love through lengthy features, but we didn’t care—we had our own mini-televisions in the back pocket of our Justice jeggings. There were endless options. There were endless opportunities.

Until there weren’t.

For me, movies are memories. I can hold onto memories. I can hold onto the initial gut-punch feeling a film gives me. I can hold onto the phone while I give it fewer stars than it really deserves because everyone online hates it and I want to fit in. I can hold onto the remote to replay the same scene for eternity because it secretly speaks to me.

But I can no longer hold onto my dad. In less than a year, chances to hold on to my mom will dwindle.

My message to teenagers my age is to please pay attention. Pay attention to the stories around you, pay attention to the experiences you might not encounter again. Practice actual awareness, not half-heartedly holding your phone while life keeps playing in the background.

Many say to prioritize pausing, to take breaks, but we already stop so much. Pausing the moment never creates memories; pressing play and being present do.

Tess Tarchak-Hiss is a senior at Traverse City West Senior High. She explores the world around her by writing at her dining room table while listening to Wiz Khalifa

www.themillglenarbor.com 5440 W Harbor Hwy, Glen Arbor 8am - 7pm seven days / week coffee,

Saturday, November 8 / Noon to 8pm BBQ, Live Music, Free Admission

www.outposttc.com 108 E Front St, Traverse City seasonal fare overlooking the Leland River terrace, deck, & dock open all summer 4pm - 9pm / every day www.theriversideinn.com

THE ART OF THE DECOY

World-renowned faux fish are made right here in northern Michigan

By Art Bukowski

On mantles and shelves around the country (and indeed, around the world) sit intricate and beautiful wooden fish decoys that began as blocks of wood in the cozy workshops of three northern Michigan artisans.

In a practice that was far more prevalent in years past, ice fishermen use these decoys to lure pike and other game fish close enough to be speared through a large hole in the ice. These carvings have become collectible over time, with examples from noteworthy early carvers fetching thousands of dollars at auction

Most carvings made by Dave Kober and the married team of Fred and Jo Anne Campbell of BenzieJo Decoys never see the water. They’re made for people who want to buy them as folk art, and those clients are numerous. Kober and the Campbells have sold well over 13,000 pieces combined over the years, and they don’t show any signs of slowing down.

Dave Kober

Kober’s shop was on M-115 near Cadillac

for many years, but he now lives and works near Thompsonville. He’s well known in the decoy world, having earned state and national recognition for his work.

Now 86, Kober is a Grand Rapids-area native who grew up on a fruit and dairy farm before a career in environmental remediation. His “fishaholic” grandfather carved decoys many moons ago, giving a very young Kober a first taste of what would become a lifelong hobby.

“I’ve still got some he carved before the turn of the century,” Kober says. “Those were decoys he used to feed his family.”

Kober was well into adulthood before he really leaned into carving, first for friends and family by request and then for the general public. Word began to spread about his work, which is easily recognizable for its distinctive style and dynamic poses.

“I’ve always tried to animate my stuff and give it a little character,” he says. “I had an outdoor writer one time that [said] it’s like I step on their tails to wake them up.”

He roughs out each piece with a saw, but then finishes the carvings completely by hand. Some wood (mostly cedar) he sources

from suppliers, while other pieces end up in his possession from people who are aware of his craft.

“There’s all kinds of cedar in this area and people know that I use it, so when they’re cutting stuff down, they’ll call me and tell me I better come over,” he says. “Sometimes I come home from coffee and there’ll be a nice log leaning against the front door of my shop, and I’ll never even find out where it came from.”

Regardless of where it came from, Kober lets the wood do the talking when he sits down to work on a decoy.

“Each piece has got a distinctive characteristic to it, and it’s the grain of the wood that tells the whole story,” he says. “I follow the grain, and that dictates what the end product is going to be.”

After the carving comes painting. All told, he puts in 30-40 hours for each piece, which mostly sell for $150-$300 depending on size or other factors. He carves a core set of 40 freshwater species, and several dozen collectors have completed the full set. But most are one-offs, and he’s sold a lot over the years.

“Every piece has a control number, and it’s in my logbook,” he says. “I’m well over 8,000 the last time I checked, and I haven’t checked in a year or so.”

Most people these days call or email him to order directly. His current home and shop is off the beaten path, and that’s a good thing. His old highway location started bringing in too much business.

“I had my shop on M-115 there south of Cadillac and it was just too busy. It got to the point where I couldn’t work,” he says. “There were just too many people coming in.”

He also used to supply pieces to dealers and shops across the country, but dropped that line of business as well.

“It got to the point where it went from a hobby to job, having to meet deadlines and stuff,” he says. “So now it’s all just word of mouth.”

These days he’s selective about the orders he accepts. Most current work is standard decoy size, as he’s entirely quit his practice of making super-sized carvings (he has a 10foot muskie hanging in Boone’s Long Lake Inn and another in the Mall of America, two of several giant pieces across the country).

“I never do get quite caught up entirely where I don’t have outstanding orders,” he says. “But I pick the ones that I want to do because I know I can do a nice job on them, and that I don’t have to kill myself physically to complete.”

The “nice job” part is important to Kober, who, like many top artisans, is his own biggest critic.

“Every now and then I have a piece where I’m half done with it, but I throw it in the wood stove,” he says. “If it doesn’t satisfy me, I don’t even want anyone else to see it.”

Even after all these years, he still derives great joy from happy customers.

“What’s better than getting an ‘attaboy’ when people stand there with something you made by hand with a big smile on their face?” he says. “There’s nothing better than that. That’s what you’re after.”

Kober has sent fish all across the country and to several locations overseas. He’s honored to know that his pieces are sought after and hold a special place on display in thousands of homes.

“People are going to remember me when I’m gone, that’s for sure,” he says.

BenzieJo Decoys (Fred and Jo Anne Campbell)

The Cambells, married for almost 40 years, work out of their home south of Benzonia, just a stone’s throw from the Manistee County line. All of their vivid decoys are a team effort—Fred carves and Jo Anne paints.

In their working lives, Jo Anne was an insurance agent and Fred was a plant manager. They also owned and operated motels and a gift shop in Wellston, where they lived for many years before moving to Benzonia.

Fred had already gotten into chainsaw carving when he happened to stop by a flea market where a man was selling fish decoys. He thought it looked interesting and gave it a try, launching a nearly 30-year run of decoy production. He connected with other carvers to learn the tricks of the trade, and eventually roped Jo Anne into the hobby.

“I told her, ‘You know, I’m really tired of painting,’” Fred recalls. “And she says ‘Well, if you carve them, I’ll paint them.’”

The two have become a well-oiled machine, having produced somewhere around 4,000 decoys over the last three decades.

“Let me put it this way—we’re each other’s biggest fans, but we’re also each

other’s biggest critics,” Jo Anne says. “So if he gives me a decoy that I think needs more work, he knows it. But I’m probably a bit more outspoken than him because he always compliments me and tells me what a good job I did, even if I’m disgusted with it.”

“I have probably 40 fish in there lined up for Jo Anne to paint right now,” Fred says. “I can carve them and test them a lot quicker than she can paint them.”

That’s at least in part because Jo Anne is meticulous about researching what these fish look like in real life and then carefully recreating their patterns. Their trout in particular have won several awards for their artistry largely because of this attention to detail.

“I do a lot of research on the internet, but I also get a lot of pictures sent to me by fishermen. You get the best picture when it’s fresh out of the water,” Jo Anne says. “I think sometimes I maybe exaggerate the colors a little bit, but if you were to see them underwater, they are very bright.”

Fred and Jo Anne are also inspired by the fish themselves, especially the trout. Their Facebook page serves to educate readers about the natural histories of these fish just as much as it serves to sell decoys.

“I get quite attached to their stories. Where are they native? How were they named?” Jo Anne says. “It gives them all a bit of personality. And they’re like people. They’re all different.”

Like Kober, the Campbells are tickled to know their pieces are in collections all over the globe. They sell on eBay, Etsy, and through direct order. Pieces start at $90, with price depending on size and other factors.

“We’re really proud of that,” Jo Anne says. “We’ve got them over in Finland, in Germany, in the UK, in Singapore…and I think we’ve probably got one in every state.”

They also do good business at the weekly Frankfort farmer’s market. “We get a lot of repeat business at that market,” Fred says. “People coming back year after year, and they pick up another one for their collection.”

Fred and Jo Anne also make and sell so-called “working” decoys, which are used by ice fisherman for their originally intended purpose. This requires extra work, as these working decoys need to be carefully balanced with lead weights to ensure they swim properly.

Their shop has photos from fishermen of several massive pike lured to the spear by these decoys. “We take a lot of pride in that,” Jo Anne says.

TESSA MASCARI

Tessa is an amazing competitor, her drive and toughness are big reasons why she is one of our top student athletes at West! She had a fantastic fall season including setting a new school record with a time of 17:49 at the Ottawa Hills Invitational!

Kober poses with a shelf full of decoys.

interlochen.org/

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Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall

by Joseph beyer

Imagine walking into a soundproof studio that only a handful of people even know about, watching robotic un-manned cameras come to life as they follow your every move, sitting down to be interviewed deeply about how you view your life and mortality, and then walking away knowing the world won’t ever know what you say until after your death.

Such is the high-concept but deeply moving convention of a new, very secretive docuseries from Netflix that has no airdate until someone in their unknown archive of interviews passes away.

On October 1, 2025, the famed scientist, researcher, primatologist, activist, and ethologist Dr. Jane Goodall passed away from cardiac arrest at age 91. Her death set in motion a detailed set of memorials that culminated in the release of the first episode from the vault from Netflix.

Famous Last Words is based on a Danish TV2 series from creator and host Mikael Bertelsen, who would sit with the subject and slowly peel back the layers of their life, reminding them along the way that this interview would outlive them and only be shown later, giving them full freedom to frame it all and leave behind a riveting testimony of life—both the success and the regrets.

In the new version from Netflix, host Brad Falchuk takes this role. His demeanor, admiration, and gentle nudges to Goodall to confess anything she feels have made the interview inspirational and unforgettable. With no music to inflate the inherent drama or underscore the back and forth, Famous Last Words runs only 55 minutes.

The set resembles a kind of cosmic void where truth and only truth can exist and is lit in the style of a Catholic confessional booth. The format of the show—and the reality that Goodall is aware that she’ll be talking to us only when she’s gone—feels uncomfortable at first and reflects our societal aversion to even speaking about death and how we view it.

Like so many challenges she faced, Goodall seems content to face this one head on as she sits down to a sip of whisky and brings her famous stuffed monkey toy “Mr. H” along with her as a reminder of the journey they have both been on…and the mysteries of what might be next after we are gone.

In a style that naturally moves toward death by starting at birth, Goodall remembers the people and events that shaped her and why, and how they led one after another to her sainthood in the eyes of the public and an environmental justice movement that was just getting started.

The burdens she faced as a cultural hero, the secrets of her love life and relationship with two husbands, her connection with her son, and her predictions about the future are all laid bare. The elegant simplicity of the conversation, and what it means, is clear throughout.

It’s hard to root for a series to continue when it means someone we likely admire and miss is gone, but it’s an extraordinary gift to those they leave behind and a remarkable act of bravery.

In the most harrowing transition and climax, host Falchuk leaves the room and Goodall is left alone to address the world she has already departed by the time we see it. She shares her last moments with us as she wants to and as only she can.

“I would say I was somebody sent to this world to try to give people hope in dark times because without hope we fall into apathy and do nothing,” Goodall says with conviction.

Famous Last Words is streaming only on Netflix, which will not announce who it has invited to be interviewed, nor who they may have interviewed already. Episodes are only released posthumously after the subject’s death, and likely contain mature themes and language.

15 Art Markets This Holiday Season

Shopping that support local artists

By Ross Boissoneau

’Tis the season already? Well, yes, at least when it comes to the multitude of holiday-themed arts and craft shows. From local churches and town halls to behemoths like Grand Traverse Resort and Castle Farms in Charlevoix, venues across the region welcome artists, crafters, bakers, and makers who showcase their wares to throngs of holiday shoppers.

In It for the Long Haul

Unlike the majority of shows, which are one- or two-day events, the Winter Market at Oliver Art Center is almost two months long.

“I think it’s the coolest place to shop for gifts in Benzie County,” says an admittedly biased Tamara Hoffbauer. The executive director of the Frankfort gallery says the market opens Nov. 7 and runs through Dec. 24, giving shoppers plenty of time to peruse the gallery and shop, pick out their favorites, then come back and do it again.

“As things change, artists restock, bring in new works—it’s constantly updating,” continues Hoffbauer. She says there are works in all media and gifts of all sorts, including jewelry, prints, wood, ornaments, and various art and crafts.

Between 50 and 100 different artists will be participating. When making the lineup, Hoffbauer asks the artists to think in terms of holiday gifting, rather than expansive (and potentially expensive) works of art. “We encourage artists to think gift pricing,” she says, noting that the

sale is meant to complement the artworks on display at the gallery, rather than compete with them. “It expands the gift shop footprint.”

Indeed, the market is set up as an extension of the gift shop, with OAC staff overseeing the sale, rather than having artists at individual booths. “We’ll have gifts for ages five and up, [including] children’s art books, art projects, children’s books. A lot of things reasonably priced— wooden bowls, hand-painted mugs, art, cards, ornaments.”

The market will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sundays noon to 4pm. The gallery is closed Mondays.

Hoffbauer says OAC will also be participating in Frankfort’s Community Christmas on Dec. 6. She believes the more ways in which the art center can take part in community events, the more people may venture to the art center. It is sequestered at the end of Coast Guard Road, jutting out into the Betsie River, separating Frankfort and Elberta. As people aren’t likely to stumble upon it on the way to anywhere else, she says it’s important to make the Oliver Art Center a destination.

Two Days Only

Nicole Zeiler, the store manager at the Dennos Museum Center, says one of the things that makes the museum’s Nov. 7 and 8 Holiday Market distinctive is the fact that despite spilling out into the Sculpture Court and Milliken Auditorium entryway, it remains relatively small and intimate.

“One of the things that makes it so special and gets so much great feedback from artists, customers, and museum members is we have a unique, small space,” Zeiler says.

That means attendees at the market, which runs 10am to 4pm each day, can interact directly with the presenting artists. “We can only accommodate 20 to 30 artists. People feel they get to engage with artists.” Zeiler says that lends to an atmosphere that’s welcoming but not overwhelming. “It’s festive and friendly,” she adds.

She says artists are invited to present based on recommendations from a jury committee of Northwestern Michigan College staff and faculty, Dennos staff, and members of the artist and art-related community. She selects new committee members each year to maintain a fresh and balanced perspective. That means there are always new artists showcasing their wares each year.

Zeiler says while the majority of artists are from the region, the show attracts some from elsewhere. “This year we have some from as far away as Detroit and Kalamazoo,” she says.

The committee also strives to ensure a variety of mediums and items for sale, like jewelry, fiber, glass, metal, illustration/ drawing, pottery, and many more. “We want the customers to come back year after year,” says Zeiler.

That must be working, as she says the number of attendees continues to increase yearly. When it first started, the

market was held in a small room. “It grew and grew,” says Zeiler. Its success also benefits the museum: “It might be their first time at the Dennos,” she says of some of the shoppers, who stay to wander the exhibits.

Those are just a couple examples of the art and gift shows that place across the region. In fact, there are so many we can’t list them all here. What follows is a sampling of the many such events taking place this year. Ho, ho, ho!

Crooked Tree Merry Marketplace

Nov. 8–Dec. 13, Tuesday-Friday 11am5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm. Shop hundreds of unique handmade gifts and works of art from artists all over the state. Crooked Tree Art Center, 322 Sixth Street, Traverse City. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traversecity/merry-marketplace

Crooked Tree Holiday Bazaar

Nov. 14–Dec. 18, Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Original art available for purchase during the winter holiday shopping season. Crooked Tree Art Center, 461 E. Mitchell St., Petoskey. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/2025-holiday-bazaar-petoskey

Charlevoix Circle mARkeT

Nov. 15–Dec. 30, 11am-4pm daily, 109 Clinton Street, Charlevoix. More than 30 local artists, crafters and makers. charlevoixcircle.org/circle-market

Harbor Springs Holiday Craft/ Vendor Show

Nov. 15, 9am-3pm. The third annual show features a variety of gift items. VFW Emmett County Post 2051, 599 W. Conway Road, Harbor Springs. Look up 4 Seasons Craft & Vendor Shows on Facebook for details.

Lake City Holiday Artisan Craft Market

Nov. 22, 9am-3pm. Crafts, bake sale, photos with Santa. Lake City Elementary, 710 East Mitchell St. Lake City. facebook. com/LCHACM/

Brother Dan’s Handmade Holiday Craft Show

Nov. 22, 9am-4pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, 1129 Charlevoix Avenue, Petoskey. Admission ($2 or a nonperishable food item) and concession sales benefit Brother Dan’s Food Pantry.

Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace

Nov. 28, 6:30-8pm, Nov. 29, 10am4pm. Glen Arbor Town Hall. Dozens of artisans and crafters. facebook.com/ glenarborholidaymarketplace

Jingle Mingle Holiday Market, Marion

Dec. 5, 4-8pm, Dec. 6 10am-3pm. Holiday sip and shop bi ack for its sixth year at Olde Mill Venue, 314 N Mill St, Marion, MI. tinyurl.com/y7452r5m

Inaugural Holiday Craft and Vendor Market

Dec. 5 4-7pm, Dec. 6 10am-4pm. Gifts, food, drinks, music, door prizes. Proceeds benefit Foster Closet of MI Wexford/Missaukee. Revival Center Church, 5676 E. M-55, Cadillac.

Christmas Craft Bazaar, Manistee

Dec. 6, 9am-3pm. Part of the annual Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old

Christmas Weekend features crafts and gifts from local artisans at Wagoner Senior Center, 260 St. Mary’s Parkway. manisteesleighbellparade.com

Traverse City Shop and Sip

Dec. 6, 2-7pm. (VIP 1-2pm). Home décor, art, live music, bar. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Acme. traversecityshopandsip.com

The Christmas Shop Vendor & Craft Show

Dec. 13, 9am-3pm. Crafts, food, jewelry and more. Ellison Place, 150 Dale Drive, Gaylord. gaylordmichigan.net/ event/holiday-craft-vendor-show-at-theellison-place

Holiday Market at Castle Farms

Dec. 13 & 14, 10am-4pm each day. Unique gifts, handmade crafts, holiday décor, treats, and more. 5052 M66 North, Charlevoix. castlefarms.com/events/ holiday-market-vendor-information

Todd Hart Insurance Agency Inc

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Bus: 231-946-8790 Fax: 231-946-0822

Right coverage. Right price. Right here in town.

Here’s the deal. The right insurance should help you feel confident and comfortable. I’m the right good neighbor for that. Call me today.

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Community Shop Your November 8 Shop Small

Give Big

15% of your purchase at participating downtown shops goes to a local nonpro t of your choice.

Scan to see list of participating nonpro ts and businesses. downtown tc.com

Hosted By: Downtown Traverse City Association

State Farm Bloomington, IL

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

On Oct. 18 in Bangkok, Thailand, Pittaya Moolin, 51, was arrested as he conducted a delicate procedure in the backseat of his vintage Toyota Corolla, the Daily Mail reported. Moolin, also known as Chang Yai Modify, allegedly offered genital enhancement treatments to men in the region in spite of the fact that he is not licensed to perform such services. He promoted his business on TikTok, offering penis enlargement, circumcision and pearl implantations, saying he learned how to do the surgeries by watching social media videos. "I became interested in this kind of work, so I studied and developed it as a side hustle to supplement my income," he said. Authorities found no sterilizing equipment in the makeshift operating theater, but they did find local anesthetics, surgical blades, needles and other equipment. He was charged with practicing medicine without registration and authorization, which could land him in prison for three years.

Animal Antics

Ray Ray the cat clearly did not want to be left behind when his family left their home in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, for Keene, New Hampshire, on Sept. 26, The Washington Post reported. After driving about 100 miles, Tony Denardo, Ray Ray's owner, stopped the family van for a bathroom break and discovered the 8-year-old cat clinging to the vehicle's roof. "How did this cat stay on there?" wondered Tony's wife, Margaret. "And he was completely unfazed." The family believe Ray Ray lodged himself in between luggage strapped to the van's top as they sped along the interstates. The Denardos leaned in, stopping at a pet store for a leash, harness, backpack and food for Ray Ray, and he joined the adventure. Tony carried him across the finish line at a marathon in Keene, and Ray Ray "seemed to really like Times Square at night," Margaret said of their stop in New York City. She plans to write a children's book about her pet's adventure.

Suspicions Confirmed

You may have heard that gold prices are at an all-time high, so it's no wonder people are willing to go to extreme lengths to get their hands on it. Or, in this case, their private parts. Three women from Hong Kong were arrested in Japan on Oct. 20 for trying to smuggle about 8 kilograms of gold powder in their underwear, The Mainichi reported. The women were recruited by Masamori Nishimura, 34, they said, to conceal pouches of gold powder on a flight bound for Tokyo last summer. The precious metal was valued at about $650,000. The smugglers' payment? Cash and travel expenses.

The Passing Parade Kira Cousins, 22, of Airdrie, Scotland, allegedly misled family and friends for months about her pregnancy and the Oct. 10 birth of her daughter, Bonnie-Leigh Joyce, the Daily Star reported on Oct. 20. She wore a prosthetic baby bump and introduced a plastic Reborn doll as her newborn -- even to the baby's supposed dad. Cousins also claimed the baby girl had health problems including a heart defect, which was why she wouldn't allow anyone to hold her. When her mom discovered the doll, Cousins

messaged the would-be dad that BonnieLeigh had passed away, but the deception was soon revealed. "Everybody believed her," said friend Neave McRobert. "We were all so happy. I feel totally used and drained." Another friend said she had "noticed straight away that her bump wasn't real. You could see the straps on her back holding it on." Cousins declined to comment.

Inexplicable

Residents of the Rockridge area of Oakland, California, are on high alert, KTVU-TV reported, after someone keeps throwing rocks through home windows. The attacks have been going on for almost a year. Luis Aguirre said his home was targeted three weeks ago, after which he installed security cameras. On Oct. 6, video caught the man throwing a rock through Aguirre's car window. "We got footage of the individual who did it," he said. "Just aimlessly walking in the middle of the street." Another homeowner said her duplex was hit six times in the last year. Neighbors have spent thousands of dollars repairing the damage. Oakland Police are investigating but can't confirm that the incidents are related.

What's in a Name?

When police responded to a call from a home in Crawford County, Kansas, on Oct. 18, they found a red pickup truck that had been stolen earlier in the week, KAKE-TV reported. Officers were told that the truck had pulled into the property and the driver had asked the resident for gasoline, and to "not call the cops." So they called the cops. The driver, Michael Jackson -- "and not the one who sang Billie Jean," they said -- was arrested for possessing stolen property.

Compelling Explanation

The trial began on Oct. 17 in Houston for Kristina Chambers, 34, who is accused of manslaughter, the Houston Chronicle reported. In 2023, Joseph McMullin, 33, was leaving a doughnut store with a date when he was struck and killed by Chambers' Porsche 911 Carrera. Police said Chambers was four times over the legal alcohol limit and had baggies of cocaine in her car and purse, and they estimated she was driving about 70 mph when she hit McMullin. He was thrown about 30 feet and died at the scene. Chambers' attorney, Mark Thiessen, however, posited that it was Chambers' Christian Louboutin shoes that caused the accident, claiming the heel got stuck on the car's gas pedal. Chambers could serve up to 20 years in prison if she is convicted.

Nature

Gone Wild

Residents of Christmas Island, about 900 miles from Australia, are carrying rakes in their cars and avoiding driving at certain times as the annual red crab migration begins, ABC reported on Oct. 21. Each year, 100 million crabs leave their forest burrows and make their way to the ocean, where they lay eggs. "We have to put rakes in our cars and leaf blowers to ensure the crabs have a safe passage," said Christmas Island National Park acting manager Alexia Jankowski. "A lot of people, if they can, will work from home," said resident Megs Powell. "It's one of the most amazing wildlife experiences you can see on the planet," said Oliver Lines, director of community services.

Beginner Olympic Fencing

New Session Starts November 16th

Program

Ombudsman volunteers visit older adults in northwest Michigan’s nursing homes, homes for the aged, and adult foster care homes—offering a listening ear, friendly support, and a voice when it’s needed most.

We’ll guide you with stepby-step training, let you shadow a mentor until you’re comfortable, and offer a flexible schedule that works for you.

Get involved like you would for your own loved one. Your presence matters more than you know.

Saturday

SKI SWAP: 9am-2pm, Crystal Mountain, James Bay, lower level of Crystal Center, Thompsonville. The swap is looking for skis, boots, snowboards, poles & goggles. They’ll also accept clean & lightly used ski & snowboard outerwear. No used helmets. Drop off to the lower level of the Crystal Center, Oct. 30 from noon-6pm or Oct. 31 from 1-7pm. Equipment not sold must be picked up after the Ski Swap sale, Nov. 1 from 2-4pm. 25% of the proceeds benefit local high school ski teams & the Crystal Community Ski Club. crystalmountain.com/events-activities/ events/event-calendar/ski-swap

TRAVERSE CITY REPAIR CAFÉ: 9am1pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room & Front Lawn, TC. Presented by Green Door Folk School. Come with anything from a pair of ripped jeans to a broken plate or an old bike. Check in & get matched with a skilled fixer who will teach you how to repair your item with all the tools needed for basic repairs. Free. greendoorfolkschool.com/repair-cafe

BELLAIRE CHAMBER HOLIDAY GIFT

FAIR: 10am-3pm, Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire. This event showcases local artisans, crafters & vendors, offering a festive marketplace for holiday gift shopping. Free admission.

THE ELKS HOOP SHOOT: TC West Senior High School Gym. Hosted by the TC Elks Lodge #323. All children ages 8-13 years as of April 1, 2026 can participate. Registration opens at 9am & the contest begins at 10am. The first-place winners in each age category for both boys & girls will advance to the District Finals in Jan. at Ferris State University. Free. facebook.com/TCElks323

WOMEN’S WELLNESS EXPO: 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, Kirkbride Hall, TC. This open house style event celebrates all things wellness - body, mind & spirit. Explore a variety of local vendors, meet wellness experts, sample products, & take part in experiences designed to refresh, recharge & reconnect. Presented by Northern Michigan Woman Magazine. $5. northernmichiganwoman.com

ZONTA CLUB OF PETOSKEY’S 53RD ANNUAL FASHION SHOW FUNDRAISER: 11am-2pm, Bay Harbor Yacht Club, Lange Center. This year’s theme is “We Are Women. Hear Us Roar.” A full runway show that highlights the latest fall & winter fashions from more than 30 retailers in the PetoskeyHarbor Springs area. Also includes an elegant lunch, live music by Michelle Chenard & DJ Parker Marshall, a silent auction & more.

All attendees will be entered into a drawing for a $2,500+ piece of diamond jewelry. This event benefits the Zonta Club of Petoskey, which gives more than $20,000 to organizations that improve the status of women & girls. Tickets, $100. zontapetoskey.com

LEAD & EAGLES, WORKING TOGETHER FOR HEALTHY WILDLIFE: 2-4pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Join Skegemog Raptor Center, in partnership with the Traverse Area District Library, for an engaging program exploring how hunters & outdoor stewards can help keep Michigan’s eagles healthy for the future. Education ambassador Bald Eagle, Ishkode, will make a live appearance. Free. tadl.org/event/ skegemog-raptor-center-lead-and-eaglesworking-together-healthy-wildlife-27892

ARTIST RECEPTION: THOMAS W. FORD: 3-5pm, The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, TC. Meet the artist, view his detailed illustrations inspired by northern Michigan’s natural world, & enjoy light snacks & pours of Tom’s favorite wine. Free. facebook.com/ events/789133633986857

DAY OF THE DEAD: 3-5pm, Interlochen Public Library. Dia De Los Muertos. Crafts, snacks, story time & sharing. Bring a picture of a loved one to add to the ofrenda. Free. facebook. com/share/14MoMXPsFvR/?mibextid=wwXlfr

GRATITUDE GATHERING: 3-5pm, The Cathedral Barn at Historic Barns Park, TC. A free community event hosted by Yen Yoga & Fitness. Celebrate connection & thankfulness with an evening of local vendors, food & good vibes. Everyone is welcome. yenyogafitness.com

CANTUS: 4pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Cantus’ music ranges from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The Philadelphia Inquirer called the group nothing short of exquisite. Tickets starting at $32. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/cantus

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW: 6pm & 10pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. When two squeaky-clean college kids - Brad & his fiancé Janet - go to visit a former professor, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion where they meet a cross-dressing mad scientist. $35 adults, $25 youth under 18. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/mainstage/the-rocky-horror-show.html

MANITOU TRUCKIN’ COMPANY: 6:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. The ultimate Grateful Dead experience. Tonight also includes a costume party & laser show. $15. gardentheater.org/comingsoon

FALL FOR DANCE: 7-8pm, Harbor Springs

Performing Arts Center. CTAC School of Ballet performs their 18th annual Fall for Dance as they present works choreographed by their preprofessional dancers & celebrated guest choreographers. $5-$50. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-petoskey-ctac-school-ballet/fall-dance

HELLO DARKNESS MY OLD FRIEND: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Held in celebration of the imminent & long cover of darkness. Featuring performances by Andrew Dost’s Metal Bubble Trio, A.S. Lutes, Jack M. Senff and the Heartland Mission, & special surprise guests. $25. cityoperahouse. org/hellodarkness

LIVE AT THE BAY FALL SERIES: JOHN HEFFRON: 7pm, The Bay Community Theatre, Suttons Bay. Last Comic Standing winner, bestselling author, & veteran stand-up comedian John Heffron has been seen on NBC, Netflix, Comedy Central, & more. He brings a style that’s relatable & full of real-life humor. $25-$35. thebaytheatre.com/specialevents/live-at-the-bay-john-heffron

“THE LARAMIE PROJECT”: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Harvey Theatre. In the wake of the 1998 murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shephard, Moises Kaufman & members of the Tectonic Theatre Project embarked on an ambitious project: to conduct interviews with

both those involved with the case & everyday citizens of Laramie, Wyoming. $19-$24. interlochen.org/concerts-and-events/allevents?search=laramie

ANTHONY STANCO ENSEMBLE: 7:30pm9:30pm, TC Philharmonic Center, TC. A night of live jazz! With brand new compositions by Stanco, this is part of the release tour for his upcoming album, “In the Groove.” Enjoy the sounds of bebop, blues & swing. $35-$48. tcphil.org/concerts BLISSFEST TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY DANCE: 7:30pm, Littlefield/Alanson Community Building, Alanson. Music will be provided by The Hybrids, with Pat Reeser calling. All dances taught (circles, contras, squares & more). No need to bring a partner. Potluck at 6:30pm. Bring table service & a dish to pass. $10/person; $5/student; free for 12 & under.

nov

02

“THE

Sunday

FREE VETERAN’S DAY DINNER: Noon-3pm, TC Elks Lodge #323. Dinner is free to all Veterans & $15 for their guests.

PROJECT”: (See Sat., Nov. 1, except today’s time is 2pm.)

LARAMIE

Celebrate the magic of stories and reading together at the Traverse City Children’s Book Festival, Sat., Nov. 8 from 10am-2pm at City Opera House, TC. This free event brings award-winning authors and illustrators, including Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards medalists. Local non-profits also bring kid-friendly activities and crafts. Every attendee receives $1 in Book Bucks, good towards the purchase of any book at the festival! Find ‘Traverse City Children’s Book Festival’ on Facebook.

ANTHONY STANCO ENSEMBLE: (See Sat., Nov. 1, except today’s time is 3-5pm.)

GALES OF NOVEMBER: MARITIME MUSIC WITH BEN TRAVERSE: 3pm, The Friendship Community Center, Suttons Bay. Honor the 50th anniversary of the sinking of The S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald with maritime ballads, sea shanties, & Gordon Lightfoot’s infamous song. Presented by the Suttons Bay Bingham District Library, Leelanau Historical Society, Leland Twp. Public Library & The Friendship Community Center. Free. sbbdl.org

monday

DOUGHNUTS WITH THE DIRECTOR: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Drop in & chat with Library Director Michele P. Howard. If you have questions about using the updated catalog search, now is a great time to ask them. Free. tadl.org/event/ doughnuts-director-26338

THE COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES PRESENTS “THE FOUR HORSEMEN”: amical, TC, Nov. 3-9. Chef Nick Curtola shares his philosophy of simplicity. The Michelin-starred NYC eatery is about more than just exceptional cuisine, with its emphasis on what inspired the restaurant: how to have fun. amical.com/four-horsemen

G.T. HUMANISTS MEETING: FISHPASS: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. For the Nov. meeting of the Grand Traverse Humanists, Dr. Daniel Zielinski will present an update on the Traverse City FishPass Project. gthumanists.org

tuesday

FALL PEEPERS: CLEVER

CAMOUFLAGE: 10am, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Be a nature detective & uncover how animals use different colors, patterns, & textures to blend into their environments & stay safe from predators. For ages 3-5 with an adult. Takes place outdoors. $5/child; cash only. natureiscalling. org/preschool-peepers-program

NORTHPORT WOMEN’S CLUB: 1pm, Trinity Church, Northport. Martha Meek, director of Suttons Bay Ukulele Orchestra is the guest speaker. Area women are welcome. Call 231-631-8084 for more info. Free.

DIY RIBBON TABLE RUNNER: 2-4pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Craft a ribbon runner for your Thanksgiving table. RSVP. Free. peninsulacommunitylibrary.org

CONNECTING WOMEN HAPPY HOUR:

3-5pm, BJ’s Events Center, Gaylord. Celebrate women coming together & learn how to give back to the community. Enjoy three tasting stations & networking. RSVP. $30 members; $35 not-yet-members. gaylordchamber. com/events/details/connecting-women-happy-hour-2025-10501

THE COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES PRESENTS “THE FOUR HORSEMEN”: (See Mon., Nov. 3)

wednesday

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF LEELANAU COUNTY PUBLIC FORUM: Noon, Leelanau County Government Center, Suttons Bay. “Federal

Dollars & Rural Healthcare: What’s Ahead for Our Region?” Find out how budget cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill will impact the region’s healthcare services, including rural hospitals, mental health services, the Indian Health Service & more. Panelists include Ed Dolan, an economist with the Niskanen Center; Gabe Schneider, director of Governmental Relations for Munson Healthcare; Greg McMorrow, a board member of Northern Lakes Community Mental Health; & Mari Rafael, an RN from Tribal Health Services. lwvleelanau.org

THE COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES PRESENTS “THE FOUR HORSEMEN”: (See Mon., Nov. 3)

PETOSKEY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2025 BUSINESS EXPO: 5-7:30pm, Nub’s Nob, Harbor Springs. Featuring 50 area businesses & organizations, including six restaurants who will offer a “Taste of Petoskey.” Bring your business cards for a chance to win prizes. $10 advance; $15 door. petoskeychamber.com

NOVEMBER COMMUNITY DINNER: 6pm, The Center, Suttons Bay. Join for the last of the 2025 Potluck series. Bring your favorite potluck dish-to-pass & a donation if you’re able. Neither are required. thecentersb.com/ communitypotlucks

thursday

GRASS RIVER NATURAL AREA FAMILY PLAYGROUP: 10:30am, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Enjoy stories, playtime, snacks, & connection with other families all in the beauty of the outdoors. No pre-registration needed. Free. grassriver.org

THE COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES PRESENTS “THE FOUR HORSEMEN”: (See Mon., Nov. 3)

BINGO TO BENEFIT NAMI-GT: 5-8pm, Lil Bo, TC. All donations support the mission of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Grand Traverse. Suggested $5 donation. facebook.com/events/683227414838728

NWS: JOHN U. BACON: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. John brings “The Gales of November,” an account of the Edmund Fitzgerald’s tragic sinking. Arriving on the 50th anniversary of the disaster, Bacon draws from more than 100 interviews with the families & crewmates of the 29 men lost. John has seven national bestsellers & in 2009, the University of Michigan students awarded him the Golden Apple Award as their favorite teacher. $16-$32. cityoperahouse.org

SAVING THE BARN: THE LEELANAU COUNTY POOR FARM: 7pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. The Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society will present their recent documentary film, which relates the history of this landmark & the efforts to preserve the barn. glenlakelibrary.net

friday

FESTIVAL OF TREES: Grand Traverse Mall, TC. Shop in the festive holiday Emporium, sample local bites on Foodie Friday, 10am-1pm & bring all the kids to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Sunday, noon-3pm. Proceeds support the Zonta Club of Traverse City empowering women. zontacluboftraversecity.org/service

SAVE THE DATE!

Dominic Fortuna’s HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR RETURNS!

Back by popular demand — Dominic Fortuna & Company revive their beloved holiday show for one unforgettable evening.

Two Shows Saturday, December 20: Early Show 4:00pm Late Show 7:30 pm

Enjoy a festive buffet dinner, a signature holiday drink, and a joy-filled dinner show all included in your ticket. Online Ticket Sales open Friday, November 7

HOLIDAY ARTISTS MARKET: 10am-4pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. A festive, two-day indoor event celebrating the creativity of 30 talented Michigan artists. It is set within the museum’s Sculpture Court & Milliken Auditorium entryway. Free. dennosmuseum.org/ events/community-programs.html

KALKASKA FESTIVAL OF TREES: 10am7pm, Northland Foods Plaza, Kalkaska. Nov. 7-15. Help raise funds to feed neighbors in need; benefits the food pantry at KAIR. Fifty Christmas trees up for raffle this year, along with many gift baskets, gift cards & experiences. Family Day from 1-3pm on Sat., Nov. 8 with Santa, real reindeer & sweet treats. facebook.com/groups/1757664154533490

PETOSKEY’S FALL RESTAURANT

WEEK: Nov. 7-16. Participating restaurants in & around Petoskey will be setting their own menus & deals. petoskeychamber.com/ petoskey-restaurant-week

TC BEER WEEK: TC. Nov. 7-15. Today is Pilsner Party: Kick off Beer Week with crisp, refreshing pilsners. Discover the TC brew scene by taking a self-guided tour of local breweries & restaurants. Track your tour in the passport by checking in to the places you go & you’ll be eligible to win prizes. traversecity.com/tcbw

LUNCHEON LECTURE: RANKED CHOICE

VOTING: 11:30am-1pm, NCMC, Library Conference Center, Petoskey. A proposed constitutional amendment to significantly change the way Michigan voters elect federal & certain state office holders will likely be on the Nov. 2026 general election ballot. Scott LaDeur, Ph.D., NCMC political science professor, will analyze the proposal & look at what else voters will decide a year from now. Register. $15. ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-6289908

THE COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES PRESENTS “THE FOUR HORSEMEN”: (See Mon., Nov. 3)

TINKER BY TWILIGHT: HOLIDAY ART & ARTISAN OPENING EVENT: 4-7pm, Tinker Studio, TC. Holiday decor & gift ideas, featuring items from 50+ local artists. Free to attend. tinkerstudiotc.com

NOV. RECESS: LEARN TO CURL!: 5-7pm, Traverse City Curling Club at the Cherryland Center. Held on FRIDAY this month! After work fun for grown-ups! Enjoy tailgating snacks, & local & domestic beers on tap in the TC Curling Club taproom. Plus, try out one of the country’s fastest-growing sports with on-site curling demonstrations! Tennis/rubber-soled shoes recommended. Play the “Closest to the Button” curling game for a chance to win your choice of a TC Curling Club t-shirt or long-sleeve tee! Attendees will be entered to win prizes, including: a Small Group Rental for up to 8 people, 2 hours of Ice Time ($320 value, scheduled at a time that works for the group), 90-Minute Try Curling Beginner Class for 2 ($60 value, must register for a scheduled class), & K1 Speed Racing Race Tickets for 2. Recess 2025 is brought to you by Grand Traverse County: A Grand Place to Live, Work & Play. Admission, $10. traverseticker.com/recess

GALA EN POINTE: MASQUERADE BALL: 6pm, City Opera House, TC. Enjoy a night of world-class food from Trattoria Stella. Tickets also include a live auction, silent auction, raffles & more. This night of live music, dining, dance & philanthropy raises vital funds for Northwest Michigan Ballet Theatre. $100 + fee. cityoperahouse.org

THE NORTHLAND PLAYERS PRESENT “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”: 7:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein. Set

in 1938, as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, the play follows the von Trapp family, who must make a moral decision. You’ll recognize songs like “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” & “Do-Re-Mi.” $15-$25; $5 discount for seniors on Sun.; students, $10. theoperahouse.org

saturday

THISTLE & THREAD HOLIDAY SHOW: 8am-4pm, Suttons Bay Fire Hall. Homemade arts & crafts from area artisans. Holiday, pottery, stained glass, quilts, baby items, soaps, ornaments, gifts & decor. Free admission.

BELL’S ICEMAN COMETH CHALLENGE: 8:45am, Kalkaska Airport. The main event is SOLD OUT, but there are still openings for the Meijer Slush Cup, Meijer Sno Cone, Iceman Junior & more. See web site for various races & registration. A point-to-point mountain bike race. Over 5,000 riders from across the country & around the globe converge on TC for 30 miles of fast, fun racing capped off with a big party. iceman.com

LONG LAKE CRAFT SHOW: 9am-3pm, Long Lake Elementary, TC. This event features over 60 local vendors & helps raise money for the elementary students. Vendors in every classroom, the library & the gym, as well as a raffle, lunch & bake sale. Free admission.

TOY TOWN TOY TROT 5K: 9am. The race starts behind Toy Town at Lake St. between the pavilion & water fountain, Cadillac. Benefits Toys for Tots of Wexford & Missaukee counties. $30-$35. toytowncadillac.com/events

FESTIVAL OF TREES: (See Fri., Nov. 7)

FIFTH ANNUAL EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKET: 10am-3pm, tucked behind EB2 Vintage, 516 E. Eighth St., TC. Vintage, holiday & treat vendors. facebook.com/ events/2810355662506328

HOLIDAY ARTISTS MARKET: (See Fri., Nov. 7)

KALKASKA FESTIVAL OF TREES: (See Fri., Nov. 7)

SHOP YOUR COMMUNITY DAY: Front St., downtown TC. Today, 15% of every purchase at participating stores will be donated to one of 30 local nonprofit organizations. You choose which organization benefits from your purchase from a provided list. downtowntc.com/annual-event-calendar

SWEATER WEATHER ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-5pm, Pavilion, downtown Gaylord. Handmade art, crafts, jewelry, & seasonal treasures from local & regional artisans. There will also be an Ugly Sweater Contest, Sat. at 3pm. blueribbonevent.com/michigan-shows

TC CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL: 10am, City Opera House, TC. This annual event brings together Michigan & national publishers to showcase a wide variety of books for readers of all ages. Families can enjoy fun, kid-friendly activities & crafts hosted by local non-profits. Award-winning authors & illustrators—including Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards medalists—will share their inspiring work. Free. cityoperahouse.org

GLCO’S LITTLE WAVES CHILDREN’S MUSIC PROGRAM: A drop-in program for ages 3-10 & their families. Featuring a musical story, an opportunity to hear one or more GLCO musicians demonstrate & explain how their instruments work, & fun music-related activities for kids. Held at 10:30am at Petoskey nov 08

District Library & 1pm at Charlevoix Public Library. Free. glcorchestra.org/education

APPLY WITH CONFIDENCE: GAAC ARTIST

EXHIBIT APPLICATION TUTORIAL: 11am, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Free. glenarborart.org -

PETOSKEY’S FALL RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Fri., Nov. 7)

TC BEER WEEK: Nov. 7-15. Today is Lager Love: Enjoy the crisp, clean simplicity of lagers, from light pilsners to dark bocks. Discover the TC brew scene by taking a selfguided tour of local breweries & restaurants. Track your tour in the passport by checking in to the places you go & you’ll be eligible to win prizes. traversecity.com/tcbw

WILD TURKEY TROT 5K: 11am, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Run or walk the designated course on race day with other participants, or run your own 5K at your own convenience & submit your time later. $35. grassriver.org

MAP-MAKING WORKSHOP: 2pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. Featuring artists Jerry Gretzinger & Meg Staley. Using the acclaimed Jerry’s Map as inspiration, participants will create map tiles, charting their own imaginary landscapes. Register: 231-326-5361.

JAZZ CONCERT & BANQUET - HONORING VETERANS: Zion Lutheran Church of Petoskey. Featuring Foghorn Jazz Band. 4pm concert; 5:30pm banquet dinner. Please RSVP: 231-347-3438. Free-will donation. forms.gle/HSY2pWBhGGrvcN8y9

THE COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES PRESENTS “THE FOUR HORSEMEN”: (See Mon., Nov. 3)

LET’S CURL!

“TEN NOVEMBER”: SOLD OUT: 5:45pm, GT Yacht Club, TC. A dramatic play that recounts the true story of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes freighter that tragically sank during a fierce storm in Nov. 1975. $75; includes dinner buffet. oldtownplayhouse.com

DAISY MAY & LITTLE DIPPER: 7pm, Old Art Building, Leland. These local favorites join together to bring you a night of country music to dance & sing along to. $25. oldartbuilding.com/events/daisy-may-little-dipper

THE CLAIRVOYANTS: 7pm, Odawa Casino Resort, Ovation Hall, Petoskey. Enjoy a night of world-class mindreading, magic, & mystery from the stars of America’s Got Talent. $40/person. etix.com/ticket/p/72537660/theclairvoyants-petoskey-ovation-hall

THE NORTHLAND PLAYERS PRESENT “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”: (See Fri., Nov. 7)

sunday

KALKASKA FESTIVAL OF TREES: (See Fri., Nov. 7)

SWEATER WEATHER ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., Nov. 8)

PETOSKEY’S FALL RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Fri., Nov. 7)

TC BEER WEEK: Nov. 7-15. Today is Blonde Moments. Discover the TC brew scene by taking a self-guided tour of local breweries & restaurants. Track your tour in the passport by checking in to the places you go & you’ll be eligible to win prizes. traversecity.com/tcbw

9TH ANNUAL SOUP-OFF AT THE LEGION: Noon-8pm, Smith-Hoover American Legion Post 281, Harbor Springs. Bring your best soup to compete with fabulous local cooks - one topping allowed per soup. Or just come to sample & vote on some of the best soups in town.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: (See Fri., Nov. 7)

GRAND WEDDING EXPO: Noon-3pm, Castle Farms, Charlevoix. Includes more than 45 of northern Michigan’s top wedding vendors, featuring everything from photographers & florists to stylists, caterers, & décor experts. One lucky couple will win a FREE wedding at Castle Farms! $5 advance; $10 door. castlefarms. com/events/grand-wedding-expo-2024

SECOND SUNDAY ART PROJECT: 1pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Take part in a vibrant participatory artistic experience every second Sun. of the month. From printmaking to painting & weaving, each session offers a unique & creative activity. $0-$10. simpletix.com/e/second-sunday-art-projecttickets-227579

THE DAM RACE! 5K & THE DAM DASH! 1 MILE: 1pm or 1:30pm, The Dam Shop, Elk Rapids. All profits go towards Elk Rapids Class of 2026 Project Graduation. $15-$30. runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/ElkRapids/ ElkRapidsJingleJog

THE NORTHLAND PLAYERS PRESENT “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”: (See Fri., Nov. 7, except today’s time is 2pm.)

THE COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES PRESENTS “THE FOUR HORSEMEN”: (See Mon., Nov. 3)

“TEN NOVEMBER”: SOLD OUT: (See Sat., Nov. 8)

ongoing

SCREAMS IN THE DARK HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS: Screams in the Dark: Blackwood Hollow, 5548 M-66, Kalkaska. Embark on a terrifying adventure through the twisted halls of Blackwood Manor & the haunting paths of Trails Of The Lost before it’s time to face your fears as you enter the chaotic dark carnival of Pandemonium, where nightmares come to life. Plus more! Held on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, starting at 7:30pm, through Nov. 2. See web site for times & tickets. $20/ person. evernighthaunt.com/index.html

FREE COMMUNITY YOGA CLASS: Wednesdays, 7:30pm at Original Hot Yoga TC. 231-392-4798. originalhotyogatc.com

INDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm. The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato, TC. Browse the Mercato halls every Sat. through April. More than 30 vendors offer a variety of items from farm fresh eggs, meats & cheeses, to fruits, veggies, homemade breads & more. thevillagetc.com/events art

3RD ANNUAL WHEN FORM MEETS FUNCTION EXHIBIT: Northport Arts Association. This juried show spotlights artists who work in three dimensions - clay, wood & fiber - & gives them a chance to exhibit & sell their work in one collaborative space. Runs through Nov. 2. See web site for hours. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits

FRIDAY • NOV 7 • 5-7PM

TRAVERSE CITY CURLING CENTER AT THE CHERRYLAND CENTER

Tailgate Snacks - Local and domestic beers on tap in taproom - $10 entry

ENTER TO WIN:

•Curling class for two (90 min, $60 value, scheduled session)

•Small group rental for up to 8 (2 hrs, $320 value, flexible scheduling)

•K1 Speed Racing Race tickets for two!

Please wear or bring tennis/rubber soled shoes for Curling Demos!

Recess is brought to you by

lOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Martin Luther King Jr. said that harnessing our pain and transforming it into wise love can change the world for the better. More than any other sign, Scorpio, you understand this mystery: how descent can lead to renewal, how darkness can awaken brilliance. It's one of your birthrights to embody King’s militant tenderness: to take what has wounded you, alchemize it, and make it into a force that heals others as well as yourself. You have the natural power to demonstrate that vulnerability and ferocity can coexist, that forgiveness can live alongside uncompromising truth. When you transmute your shadows into offerings of power, you confirm King’s conviction that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Black activist Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” He was proclaiming a universal truth: Real courage is never just about personal glory. It’s about using your fire to help and illuminate others. You Leos are made to do this: to be bold not just for your own sake, but as a source of strength for your community. Your charisma and creativity can be precious resources for all those whose lives you touch. In the coming weeks, how will you wield them for mutual uplift?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Who would have predicted that the first woman to climb Mount Everest would have three planets in Virgo? Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei did it in 1975. To what did she attribute her success? She described herself not as fearless, but as “a person who never gives up.” I will note another key character trait: rebellious willfulness. In her time, women were discouraged from the sport. They were regarded as too fragile and impractical for rugged ascents. She defied all that. Let’s make her your inspirational role model, Virgo. Be persistent, resolute, indefatigable, and, if necessary, renegade.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): ): Among the Mbuti people of the Congo, there’s no word for “thank you.” Gratitude is so foundational to their culture that it requires no special acknowledgment. It’s not singled out in moments of politeness; it’s a sweet ambent presence in the daily flux. I invite you to live like that for now, Libra. Practice feeling reverence and respect for every little thing that makes your life such an amazing gift. Feel your appreciation humming through ordinary moments like background music. I guarantee you that this experiment will boost the flow of gratitude-worthy experiences in your direction.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Apophenia is the tendency to perceive meaningful patterns in seemingly random data. On the downside, it may cause a belief in delusional conspiracy theories. But it can also be a generator of life’s poetry, leading us to see faces in clouds, hear fateful messages in static, and find key revelations in a horoscope. Psychologist C.G. Jung articulated another positive variation of the phenomenon. His concept of synchronicity refers to the occurrence of meaningful coincidences between internal psychological states and external events that feel deeply significant and even astounding to the person experiencing them. Synchronicities suggest there’s a mysterious underlying order in the universe, linking mind and matter in nonrational ways. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, suspect you will experience a slew of synchronicities and the good kind of apophenia.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Philosopher Alfred Korzybski coined the phrase "the map is not the territory.” In other words, your concepts about reality are not reality itself. Your idea of love is not love. Your theory about who you are is not who you are. It’s true that many maps are useful fictions. But when you forget they’re fiction, you're lost even when you think you know where you are. Here’s the good news, Capricorn: In the weeks ahead, you are poised to see and understand the world exactly as it is—maybe more than ever before. Lean into this awesome opportunity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Babies are born with about 300 bones, but adults have 206. Many of our first bones fuse with others. From one perspective, then, we begin our lives abundant with possibility and rich with

redundancy. Then we solidify, becoming structurally sound but less flexible. Aging is a process of strategic sacrifice, necessary but not without loss. Please meditate on these facts as a metaphor for the decisions you face. The question isn't whether to ripen and mature—that’s a given—but which growth will serve you and which will diminish you.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Beneath every thriving forest lies a lacework of mycelium. Through it, tree roots trade nourishment, warn each other of drought or illness, and make sure that young shoots benefit from elders’ reserves. Scientists call it the “wood-wide web.” Indigenous traditions have long understood the principle: Life flourishes when a vast communication network operates below the surface to foster care and collaboration. Take your cues from these themes, Pisces. Tend creatively to the web of connections that joins you to friends, collaborators, and kindred spirits. Proceed with the faith that generosity multiplies pathways and invites good fortune to circulate freely. Offer what you can, knowing that the cycle of giving will find its way back to you.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1995, wolves were reintroduced to the American wildlife area known as Yellowstone Park after a 70-year absence. They hunted elk, which changed elk behavior, which changed vegetation patterns, which stabilized riverbanks, which altered the course of the Lamar River and its tributaries. The wolves changed the rivers! This phenomenon is called a trophic cascade: one species reorganizing an entire ecosystem through a web of indirect effects. For the foreseeable future, Aries, you will be a trophic cascade, too. Your choices will create many ripples beyond your personal sphere. I hope you wield your influence with maximum integrity.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): authorize you to explore the mysteries of sacred laziness. It’s your right and duty to engage in intense relaxing, unwinding, and detoxifying. Proceed on the theory that rest is not the absence of productivity but a different kind of production—the cultivation of dreams, the composting of experience, and the slow fermentation of insight. What if your worth isn’t always measured by your output? What if being less active for a while is essential to your beautiful success in the future?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You are not yet who you will become. Your current struggle has not yet generated its full wisdom. Your confusion hasn’t fully clarified into purpose. The mess hasn’t composted into soil. The ending that looms hasn’t revealed the beginning it portends. In sum, Gemini, you are far from done. The story isn’t over. The verdict isn’t in. You haven’t met everyone who will love you and help you. You haven’t become delightfully impossible in all the ways you will eventually become delightfully impossible. NOV 03 - NOV 09

CANCER (June 21-July 22): By the time he became an elder, Cancerian artist David Hockney had enjoyed a long and brilliant career as a painter, primarily applying paint to canvases. Then, at age 72, he made a radical departure, generating artworks using iPhones and iPads. He loved how these digital media allowed him to instantly capture fleeting moments of beauty. His success with this alternate form of expression has been as great as his previous work. I encourage you to be as daring and innovative as Hockney. Your imaginative energy and creative powers are peaking. Take full advantage!

“Jonesin” Crosswords

"My Wish List" some numbered items. by Matt Jones

ACROSS

1. Hand-craft?

5. "Get outta here"

10. Burt's Bees target, sometimes 14. A head

15. Justice Kagan

16. Red-wrapped cheese

17. Wee

18. Used an e-cig

19. "Could ___ ... Satan?" (mid-1980s "SNL" catchphrase)

20. "First, a favorable lottery ticket would be nice ..." 23. Organ with a hammer

24. Words before "the world on a string," in a song

25. "Next, I'd like something hand-written ..."

31. ___ Sophia (Istanbul landmark)

32. Secret competitor

33. Tennis feat

36. Measure of land

37. Kenneth ___, theater critic and co-writer of "Oh! Calcutta!"

38. Shortstop great Vizquel

39. Boot point

40. Media attention

41. Best Picture of 2024

42. "A little later, I'd like my own aviary ..."

44. Lunar stages

47. Highway warning sign, for short

48. "And further down my list, a beautiful panoramic view"

55. Gillette razor option

56. Dentist's directive

57. "Banana Boat Song" refrain

58. Arena level

59. HBO series set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

60. "___ three ships ..."

61. Staircase part

62. More offbeat

63. Calligrapher's supply

DOWN

1. Free version

2. Pour down

3. Dermatology concern

4. Some formal wear

5. ___ tire damage (warning sign topic)

6. Acknowledge the performers

7. Defaulter's risk

8. Over again

9. Arrived, but barely

10. Songwriting partner of Stoller

11. Suitcase label

12. Literature Nobelist Neruda

13. Refine, as ore

21. Funny response

22. Road-tripped, in a way

25. "Um, [points to an item out of range]"

26. Site of Baylor University

27. Fiend of fairy tales

28. Blanket

29. Physicist Mach

30. Litter

33. Love, in Lima

34. King or queen

35. Times for Swifties?

37. Gives for safekeeping

38. Bowlful at a party

40. Frost or Pound, e.g.

41. Not just ready and willing?

42. Musical neighbor of G

43. Artist known for tessellations

44. Fuel sources

45. "Now play!"

46. Say "My sentiments exactly!"

49. Like some water or time

50. Looked over

51. "My sentiments exactly!"

52. Facility

53. Director Coogler

54. Cries of pain

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska

ENCORE 201, TC

9:

10/31-11/1 -- DJ Ricky T & DJ Fade 11/8 -- DJ Ricky T

FANTASY’S, TC DJ

HOTEL INDIGO, TC

10/31-11/1 -- Jim Hawley, 6-8

IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC 11/6 -- Beyond Trivia!, 7-9

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC

9:30: 10/31-11/1 -- Timberline 11/7-8 -- Risque

KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING

11/4 – Open Mic Night w/ LaRose Duo, 6-8

11/6 – Trivia Night w/ Marcus Anderson, 6:30-8:30

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC

BARREL ROOM:

11/3 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

11/6 -- Benefit for Darrell Wilson w/ Live Music, 5-8 TASTING ROOM:

11/7 -- Rebekah Jon, 5-7

MARI VINEYARDS, TC 4-6:

11/1 -- Jerry Byville 11/7 -- Kevin Paul

BIER'S INWOOD BREWERY, CHARLEVOIX

11/6 -- Open Mic: Sign-up at 6:15; Music at 7

BOYNE CITY TAPROOM

7:

11/1 & 11/8 -- Patrick Ryan

11/6 -- Adam & The Cabana Boys

BRIDGE STREET TAPROOM, CHARLEVOIX

11/4 -- Patrick Ryan, 7

11/8 -- Dennis Palmer

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC 7-9: 11/5 -- Trivia Night 11/6 -- Open Mic Night

NORTH BAR, TC 11/6 – Drew Hale, 7-10

OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC SEVEN HILLS: 11/1 -- Gemini Moon, 7 11/7 -- Jeff Socia, 7 11/8 -- John Paul, 6

TC WHISKEY CO. Tue -- Open Mic w/ Chris Sterr, 6-9

THE ALLUVION, TC 11/1 -- Sean Dobbins - The World We Know!, 7:30 11/3 -- Big Fun - Funky Fun Mondays, 6-8:30 11/4 -- Ship Yard Series - Bridge Between & Stone Reverie, 6 11/6 -- The Jeff Haas Sextet feat. Laurie Sears, Chris Glassman, Rob Smith + Lisa Flahive, 6-8:30 11/8 -- Charlie Hunter Trio, 7

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC 11/1 -- DJ Franck Noir 4, 8-10

THE PARLOR, TC 11/1 – Chris Smith, 9-12 11/5 – Rob Coonrod, 8-11

Antrim & Charlevoix

CAFE SANTÉ, BOYNE CITY 11/3 -- The Shifties, 6-9

CELLAR 152, ELK RAPIDS 11/1 -- Blair Miller, 5:30-8:30 FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE 11/7 -- DJ Bingo, 7-9

MAREK'S HARBOR GRILL, CHARLEVOIX

THE FLYBRIDGE (ROOFTOP BAR): 11/1 -- Halloween Party, 7-10

11/6 – Jimmy Olson, 8-11

11/8 – Dollar Shavey Club, 9-12

THE PUB, TC

11/1 -- Pick Your Poison Halloween Weekend Party w/ DJ Skin Kwon Doe, 9-12

11/3 – Karaoke Mondays, 8

11/5 – Zeke Clemons, 8-11

11/6 – Music Bingo, 7:30-10:30

11/7 – The Fridays, 9

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

11/1 -- Zak Bunce, 7 11/4 -- Open Mic w/ Zak Bunce, 6:30-10

11/6 -- DJ Trivia, 7-8:30 11/7 -- Jazz Jam w/ Ron Getz Trio, 6

11/8 -- Kevin Wolff, 7 11/9 -- Full Tilt Comedy: Comedy Lab!, 7

UNION STREET STATION, TC

11/1 -- Jazz Cabbage, 9

11/2 -- Jay Hawkins CD Release Party, 7

11/6 -- DJ1 Wave, 9 11/7 -- DJ Beck, 10 11/8 -- Scarkazm, 10

PETOSKEY

2-6: 11/1 -- Chris Calleja 11/8 -- Derek Boik

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY 11/4 -- Trivia Night, 7-10 11/7 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

INN BETWEEN, INDIAN RIVER 11/6 -- Mike Ridley, 4-7

NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY 11/1 -- Holly Keller, 7-10

11/3 -- Quiz Runners Trivia, 6-8

11/5 -- Singo Bingo: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 6:30 11/7 -- Kyle Brown, 7-10 11/8 -- Donald Benjamin, 7-10

NORTHERN LIGHTS RECREATION, HARBOR SPRINGS 11/1 -- Nelson Olstrom, 5

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY OVATION HALL: 11/8 -- The Clairvoyants, 8

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 11/1 -- The Beau House Band, 8 11/7 -- Musician's Playground, 7 11/8 -- Happy Little Accidents, 8

THE WIGWAM, INDIAN RIVER 11/6 -- Dominic Fortuna, 7:309:30

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee

MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY 8-11:

11/5 -- Karaoke Night! 11/7 -- Eric Jaqua

TOONIE'S, BELLAIRE 11/1 -- Halloween Costume Party, 8

TOWN CLUB, ELK RAPIDS 11/5 -- Mike Ridley, 6-9

11/3

11/1 --

11/6

11/7

Otsego, Crawford & Central

11/7

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS,

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD

-- Mike Ridley, 6-9

C.R.A.V.E., GAYLORD 11/7 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6-9

SNOWBELT BREWING CO., GAYLORD 11/7 – Elizabeth Landry, 6-9

BUCKSNORT SALOON, MESICK

-- Monday Open Mic w/ Vic Trip, 6-9

NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER HOUSE & WINERY, KALEVA 6:

Cheryl Wolfram

-- Chief Jam - Open Mic

Hosted by Andy McQuillen

-- Jakob Abraham

11/8 -- The Feral Cats

THE GREENHOUSE - WILLOW/ PRIMOS, CADILLAC 11/5 -- Trivia Night & Music Bingo, 6-9

Head over to Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay on Sat., Nov. 8 from 6-8pm to feel the good light and energy of LoonShine, a northern Michigan band who covers tunes throughout the ages and also brings originals that express real life.

Emmet & Cheboygan

nitelife

continued...

Leelanau & Benzie

BLACK STAR FARMS, SUTTONS BAY 6-8: 11/1 – Highway North 11/8 – LoonShine

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE HUDSON BAY, CRYSTAL CENTER (3RD FLOOR): 11/1 -- DJ Trivia, 6-8

FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH 6-8: 11/3 -- Music Trivia

11/5 -- Open Mic w/ Andy Littlefield 11/6 -- Trivia Thursdays

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR 11/6 -- Larry Perkins, 3-6

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

5:30-7:30: 11/1 -- Matt Gabriel

11/7 -- Ashley Pyle 11/8 -- Chris Smith

LITTLE TRAVERSE INN, MAPLE CITY

11/7 -- Thomas & Hyde, 6:30-9

RIVER CLUB, GLEN ARBOR

11/1 -- Luke Woltanski Duo, 4:30-7:30

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

11/1 -- Mason Grady, 3-6

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

11/1 -- Jesse Jefferson, 5-8

11/6 -- Open Mic Night, 6-9

11/7 -- Chris Smith, 5-8

11/8 -- Jakey Thomas, 6-9

SUTTONS BAY CIDERS

11/6 -- Thurs. DJ Trivia, 6:30-8

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

NORTHERN EXPRESS

CLASSIFIEDS

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

NORTHERN EXPRESS CLASSIFIEDS

TRAVERSE CITY COTTAGE FOR RENT: 1 BR, Full Bath, Well Furnished, All Utilities Included, All New Appliances, W/D, Parking, Nice Setting, Month-to-Month to One-Year, No Pets; $1,600 per month. Call (231) 631-7512.

TRAVERSE CITY COTTAGE FOR RENT: 1 BR, Full Bath, Well Furnished, All Utilities Included, All New Appliances, W/D, Parking, Nice Setting, Month-to-Month to One-Year, No Pets; $1,600 per month. Call (231) 631-7512.

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?:: I'll come to your home or office and make your computer, tablet, phone and TV work! Call James Downer at Advent Tech. YOUR HIGH TECH HANDYMAN! Call: 231-492-2087

$21.42-$22.65 dependent on education. Minimum- Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development. Fulltime, yearround. EOE. For more details and to apply, visit www.nmcaa.net Select Careers/Search Jobs.

COMMUNITY SHOP WARMING PARTY NOVEMBER 8TH 12-5PM!: The Maritime Heritage Alliance is celebrating our new office and woodshop at 3820 Cass Road! Come down between 12 & 5pm for a tour, silent auction, live music with TCCeltic and light refreshments! Learn how you can get involved and some new friends. All welcome, we can't wait to see you! Silent Auction ends at 4pm. www.maritimeheritagealliance.org

COMMUNITY SHOP WARMING PARTY

NOVEMBER 8TH 12-5PM!: The Maritime Heritage Alliance is celebrating our new office and woodshop at 3820 Cass Road! Come down between 12 & 5pm for a tour, silent auction, live music with TCCeltic and light refreshments! Learn how you can get involved and some new friends. All welcome, we can't wait to see you! Silent Auction ends at 4pm. www.maritimeheritagealliance.org

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE IS HIRING FULL TIME POSITIONS NMC seeks an Academic & Career Advisor ($57,515.00 salary) to join our stellar Student Success team and a Senior Programmer Analyst and Solution Architect ($84,505.00 salary) to join our legendary Informational Technologies team! Full Benefits package. Join us in our mission to transform lives & enrich our community. NMC is EOE nmc.edu/non-discrimination

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?:: I'll come to your home or office and make your computer, tablet, phone and TV work! Call James Downer at Advent Tech. YOUR HIGH TECH HANDYMAN! Call: 231-492-2087

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

NMCAA EHS FAMILY & CENTER SPECIALIST

-MANCELONA: Oversees Early Head Start center daily operations. Fulltime, year round,

NMCAA EHS FAMILY & CENTER SPECIALIST -MANCELONA: Oversees Early Head Start center daily operations. Fulltime, year round, $21.42-$22.65 dependent on education. Minimum- Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development. Fulltime, yearround. EOE. For more details and to apply, visit www.nmcaa.net Select Careers/Search Jobs.

Mike Annelin

Enthusiastic & Experienced

231-499-4249 | 231-929-7900

MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS

A SNAPSHOT OF 2025 CLIENT EXPERIENCES

Mike is ALWAYS AVAILABLE, RESPONSIBLE, HONEST, AND FAIR. I give him the highest recommendation. Every detail was handled in the best possible way. I would definitely use him again for my real estate needs.

We worked with Mike previously so felt like we were in good hands, especially since we live downstate. His HONESTY AND WILLINGNESS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN makes the process run smoother.

Mike was a HUGE HELP THROUGHOUT OUR HOME BUYING PROCESS! He is very knowledgeable with the different areas of the city, was quick to book showings, and was fantastic answering any questions we had.

Mike was NEVER MORE THAN A PHONE CALL AWAY. I truly valued his opinion and HE MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS HIS TOP PRIORITY at every turn. I would highly recommend him to all my friends and family and will definitely use him again.

Mike went ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR EXPECTIONS as our agent. He worked tirelessly to help us find our dream home here in Traverse City.

I want to thank Mike for being so responsive during a huge transition for us. He was WILLING TO GET CREATIVE to make the best recommendations and he made the experience as smooth as possible.

Mike and Libby made the house buying process seamless. They both had our best interest in mind when looking at houses within our price range. OUR EXPERIENCE HAS LEFT US SPEECHLESS WITH HOW CARING AND COMPASSIONATE THEY WERE during our house buying process.