As the road construction on Ninth Street has come to completion, I want to commend the people involved in this project. I am a resident on the portion of the street that was redone. I have been in contact with the Traverse City Engineers department during the process and I was so appreciative of how easy they were to work with and how accommodating they were to the wants and needs of those who live on the block. The street looks amazing, and water pressure has much improved.
Elmer’s crew is also to be commended. They were friendly and efficient. I was impressed with how quickly they completed the final stages of the project. Well done, Traverse City.
Debbie Harris | Traverse City
More Hunting
I have always considered Northern Express to be primarily a leftist publication, adhering to the modern Democratic party’s position on everything from welfare to gun control—and to a great extent, hunting. (Past columnist Thomas Katchadurian excepted.) So, I was pleasantly surprised by (and greatly appreciated) your recent article by Victor Skinner (Nov. 3, 2025) about big game hunting. There are many of us readers who would like to see more such articles that reflect the hunting and outdoor heritage of those of us who have lived in northern Michigan all our lives. And we shouldn’t forget that input from hunters and sportsmen (and women) are the backbone of the well balanced wildlife management we enjoy here in Michigan. Let’s see more well written articles like Victor’s that would bring the Express a little closer to the center, and would be a tribute to the old Democratic party’s traditional values of the Roosevelt and Harry Truman era.
Keith Ogden | East Jordan
Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase PO Box 4020 Traverse City, Michigan 49685 Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com
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top ten this week’s
Everybody Dance!
Cedar’s Green Door Folk School has an array of cool classes to explore from a “Wild Dyers Lab” on Nov. 16 to “Creating a Stitch Journal” on Nov. 22 to “Winter Care: Daily Rituals and Kitchen Herbalism for Surviving the Winter Months” on Dec. 6. But right now, we’re most excited about their Fall Barn Dance, to be held at Gilbert Lodge at Twin Lakes on Friday, Nov. 21 from 6:30-9pm. The event is geared for all levels of experience, and attendees will learn contras, squares, and line dances, with a beginners’ lesson at 6:30pm with Pat Reeser of the Bayside Travellers before the real party starts at 7pm. The Barn Dance is free, but RSVPs are requested. There’s a suggested donation of $10$20 to support the musicians and venue that make the event possible. Learn more at greendoorfolkschool.com/class/fall-barn-dance.
2 tastemaker
Locals Lake Leelanau’s Tiger Pizza
Locals Lake Leelanau is known for its local touch (thus the name), and its Ole Provemont Pizza selection delivers. On a recent visit, we ordered the Tiger Pizza ($23), so named for a logging-era steamship that once navigated the Narrows. This pie combines a little bit of smoke and a little bit of spice for smooth sailing. It starts with a pimento cheese spread as the base, topped with mozzarella cheese and green onion. Then comes the pièce de résistance: burnt steak ends that have been tossed with a bacon habanero jam. The finished product is rich and savory, and it heats up well as leftovers if you decide you also need to get an order of the Emelia’s Prosecutor Poppers—bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers served with the aforementioned bacon habanero jam. Dig into a plate (and some history!) at 112 E Philip St. in Lake Leelanau. localsll.com
Strolling Lights, Feeding Neighbors
Help those in need by decorating a tree at the fifth annual Strolling Lights Festival in Glen Arbor! By sponsoring a tree for $150, you’re helping the Empire Area Food Pantry, which serves those who are struggling to put food on their tables. (Monetary donations can also be made online.) With the funds raised, Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District hopes to increase the amount of protein, flour, and sugar on hand at the pantry, as well as help four-legged family members who often go unfed when finances are tight. Tree decorating starts Nov. 21, and the public can view them Thanksgiving weekend through the New Year. crystalriveroutfitters.com
Hey, Read It! Sloppy 4
We get it: knowing yourself is hard, and loving yourself in spite of (and because of?) your less-thansavory habits is harder. Writer Rax King gets it, too, and she’s writing about every inglorious detail in her newest short story collection, Sloppy, Or: Doing It All Wrong. From lighter topics, like her recovering life as a Neopet-wielding online bully in “Your Pet Is Dying: An Online Life” and the millennial cringe of “Shoplifting from Brandy Melville”; to the existential weight of her inherited addiction problems in “Proud Alcoholic Stock” and slowly processing her father’s death through his countless tchotchkes in “Ten Items,” this raucous assemblage of 17 essays flips the script on the human condition, reframing our most taboo tendencies through a lens of compassion, sometimes-begrudging humor, and—could it be?— acceptance. What’s more put together than that?
Stuff We Love: Circular Shopping with
Fresh off the spooky fun of It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, and acting as the bridge between that show from the Manistee Civic Players and Ingrid Bond’s The Nutcracker Ballet (coming December 5-14), The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts will turn upside down for the Manistee Conservatory of Dance performance of Alice in Wonderland, which runs Nov. 20, 21, and 22 at 7pm and for a matinee Nov. 22 at 1pm. The show features dozens of local dancers and follows Alice down the rabbit hole for a curiouser and curiouser adventure among the flowers, cards, teacups, oysters, and other Wonderland residents. We’re all mad here! General admission tickets are $17 (plus fees; $19 at the door) at theconservatoryofdance.net.
Northwestern Michigan College health science student Zinnia Burks wants to understand the prevalence of “period poverty”—or the inability to afford or access menstrual products and education—here in northern Michigan. Burks is spearheading a survey that has thus far found that more than 17 percent of respondents say they do not have access to a sufficient amount of sanitary menstrual products and that more than 14 percent have had to choose between purchasing period products versus other necessities in the last year. “So far, it is clear that period products being supplied by food pantries and in public/ school/work restrooms makes a significant impact for many women in our region,” Burks says. If you are 18+, live in northern Michigan, and have had a menstrual period in the last year, you can complete the survey at smartsurvey.com/s/periodmichigan through Dec. 31.
For this holiday season, SEEDS Ecology + Education Centers—a nonprofit based in Traverse City that serves multiple counties with their “place-based activities that regenerate habitat, prevent carbon emissions, develop talent pipelines for green industries, and invest in the next generations”—has one of the most sustainable gift guides we’ve ever seen. Their Wood Rescue Initiative “saves fallen trees from becoming firewood, being chipped, or worse, getting landfilled” and turns those downed trees into practical, durable products. In their online shop, you can browse everything from French rolling pins ($30) to a toy building blocks set ($50) to a one-of-a-kind cribbage board ($50). Other items include bowls, dishes, and charcuterie and cutting boards. If you want to spring for a larger piece, SEEDS also has handcrafted garden benches, stools, rocking chairs, and coffee tables. Explore the full selection at ecoseeds.org/shop.
Your seasonal figgy pudding fix is getting a cheeky makeover this year in the form of Northern Latitudes Distillery’s Fig Aquavit Martini. This drink starts in the Nordic wonderland of Sweden—the homeland of NLD’s distiller, Martin Holst, and gin’s herby cousin, aquavit. NLD’s bourbon barrel-aged version, Mount Kebne Aged Aquavit, features the spirit’s classic caraway profile, rounded by a warm woody essence. It’s a mellow complement to the housemade fig and thyme simple syrup (whose recipe calls for actual fig jam), NLD’s Ice Dunes Vodka, and a citrusy pop of fresh lemon juice that completes this cozy cocktail. Pair one with a plate of Jägerschnitzel from the distillery’s new kitchen. Find NLD at their new home in Lake Leelanau (7150 E Duck Lake Rd.) and in Suttons Bay. northernlatitudesdistillery.com
WARMER, WETTER AND WINDIER
spectator
By Stephen Tuttle
Bill Gates has almost given up on the idea that we can slow down, much less stop, climate change. He thinks we should pivot our thinking to how best we can deal with the inevitable climate and weather changes headed our way.
He isn’t alone in his pessimism, as homeowners in several states will soon learn.
For example, State Farm insurance will no longer write homeowner insurance policies in California. Existing policies will be honored but not renewed. The ever-present risk of wildfires in everexpanding parts of the state has created too many claims on too regular a basis, so they have called it quits. Some claim that’s because of California’s poor wildlands management system and failure to mitigate risk by an incompetent Democratic state government.
But California is not alone. Insurers in Texas, Florida, and Louisiana are also pulling back due to increasing natural disasters including flooding. Those states are run by Republicans, proving natural disasters care little about political ideology.
We are still getting warmer, wetter, and windier while the air keeps getting dirtier.
For years we’ve been trying to avoid an average global surface temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrialization averages. (Those averages were taken from 1850-1900. Industrialization actually started prior to that, but good record-keeping did not.) That 1.5 degree tipping point will result in more severe weather events happening faster including flooding, wildfires, and rapid temperature increases, resulting in more storms of greater severity.
According to the World Meteorological Association (WMA), we are already at a 1.4 degree increase, and some scientists now believe the 1.5 threshold is inevitable and will be reached by 2040, sooner in some places.
According to our own National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), globally 2024 was the warmest year on record and the previous decade was also the warmest ever. In the continental U.S., our warmest years have all occurred since 1998, and our hottest were in 2012 and 2016.
(As a side note, yes the planet was warmer about 10,000 years ago after the last Ice Age ended. And warmer still during an interglacial period 125,000 years ago. If you’d like to go back even farther, it was really hot 56 million years ago during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. But those periods of heating occurred over thousands, even hundreds of thousands,
of years, not a couple hundred. There has never been so dramatic a temperature increase in so short a time period as is occurring now.)
The potential for severe, negative impacts is very real.
Let’s take sea level rise, as an example. According to UN News, sea levels have risen 9 inches since 1880, which doesn’t sound like much. But just an inch of sea level rise can erode 4 to 9 feet of beach, create more frequent and severe high tide events and storm surge flooding, destroy shoreline ecosystems, and, perhaps most importantly, infiltrate freshwater aquifers depended on for drinking water.
Those rising sea levels have been more than just a theoretical possibility for some. Louisiana’s Isle de Jean Charles, an island home for more than 170 years for indigenous people who escaped the Trail of Tears, has lost a whopping 98 percent of its land mass since 1955, and its people are being relocated to higher ground. Additionally, the coastal village of Shishmaref in Alaska has been relocated, as have the Guna people of Panama and folks in the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and El Bosque, Mexico.
Adding to the slow but inexorable sea level rise is the continued melting and retreat of glaciers around the world. The WMA says five of the last six years have seen the most rapid glacier retreat on record.
It is greenhouse gasses trapping heat in the atmosphere that is first creating, then exacerbating all the climate change issues. The U.S. actually reduced some greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 and then a bit less in 2024, but the world did not follow suit.
The International Energy Agency reports significant emission increases in both China and India helped the world increase greenhouse gas emissions yet again, a reality unchanged every year since the Industrial Revolution with the exception of 2020, when the COVID pandemic shut down much of the global economy and sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
The U.S. previously made strides to move away from CO2 emissions by shuttering coal power plants, offering tax breaks and subsidies for the use of renewable energy, and electric or hybrid vehicles. Unfortunately, the current administration has moved us away from all of that, ordering more drilling and mining and re-firing coal burning power plants while removing any benefits from the use of renewable sources. Our two years of progress reducing greenhouse gasses will likely end.
Our knowledge of the problem is substantial, solutions exist, but the political will is still weak.
OUR RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS
GUEST OPINION
by Peter Bormuth
The origins of the right to bear arms are lost in the mists of time in the villages of old England with an obligation of all men (16 to 60) to practice with the long bow, help keep the peace, and serve in the local militia.
The gradual shift to firearms did not alter the ancient covenant. The advancement in armaments did make the crown nervous, and in 1541, Henry VIII passed a law restricting the ownership of handguns and crossbows, while in 1553, Edward VI ordered “all persons who shoot guns” to register their names with the local Justice of the Peace.
But it was not until after the English Civil War with the restoration of the monarchy
preservation,” and “to restrain the violence of oppression.”
Blackstone’s views are significant since his Commentaries became the authority and basis for Common Law in the newlyformed United States. Our Second Amendment takes into account this history, and while its language is obscure today, it was clear to the Founders.
William Rawle, George Washington’s candidate for the nation’s first attorney general, described the scope of the Second Amendment’s guarantee: “The prohibition is general. No clause in the Constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give to congress a power to disarm the people.”
... it was not until after the English Civil War with the restoration of the monarchy that the first wholesale attempt was made to disarm the population.
that the first wholesale attempt was made to disarm the population. Wishing to force his religion on the English people, Charles II passed the Conventicle Act which outlawed meetings, allowed unlimited search and seizures, and did away with jury trails, overthrowing the traditional rights of the people under the Magna Carta, much like how President Donald Trump is allowing ICE to violate the Constitution.
Then in 1671, a new Game Law with rigid property qualifications was passed, which William Blackstone noted had the hidden intent of “prevention of popular insurrections and resistance to the government by disarming the bulk of the people.”
After the death of Charles, James II pursued the same policies with even greater vigor, using the private standing army Charles had established to cower resistance, until finally the English people had enough of his determination to shove religion down their throats, and with the help of William of Orange, overthrew the monarchy.
Before filling the vacant throne with William, the Convention Parliament thought it wise to protect themselves from arbitrary government and presented William and Mary with a Declaration of Rights, “true, ancient, and indubitable.” In that declaration was the right of all Protestant citizens to have arms for their defense. This was actually the first time that an individual right to bear arms was codified into English law.
Blackstone comments that all other rights are dependent on this “auxiliary” right and emphatically endorsed the view that keeping arms was necessary both for “the natural right of resistance and self-
The Philadelphia Federal Gazette (June 18, 1789) explained the aims of the article when it was sent to the states for ratification: “As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed…in their right to keep and bear their private arms.”
Defense Secretary Hegseth has ordered the creation of 500-man army “quick reaction force” units for every state while hosting evangelical prayer services at the Pentagon in which his pastor praises President Donald Trump as “sovereignly appointed.”
The President has pardoned everyone associated with Jan. 6. Will the Republicans give up power if they are voted out of office by the people in 2028?
In conclusion, I note that a law passed in Virginia in 1640 made it illegal for Black Americans to carry firearms, while a similar statute in Massachusetts (1648) made it illegal for Native Americans to possess powder or guns. The federal government did not protect freedmen and women from white Christian supremacists in the South after the Civil War. Racism is an inherent part of the Christian tradition, as Blacks, Native Americans, Asians, and Hispanics all can attest.
The Christian masters, be they kings, popes, Puritan clergy, southern plantation owners, robber barons exploiting labor, or modern multinational corporations poisoning our environment, always prefer that their underlings are unarmed.
Peter Bormuth is a Pagan Druid living in northern Michigan.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025
7
Creme de la Weird
Gizmodo reported on Nov. 5 that doctors in the Philippines have documented the case of a woman whose armpits leak milk. Dermatologists writing in the journal JAAD Case Reports said the patient was born with extra breast tissue on both sides of her underarms, which swelled up after she delivered a baby and produced "milky secretions from the overlying hair follicles." The condition didn't bother her when she wasn't pregnant or breastfeeding; doctors said it affects fewer than 6% of women.
Wait, What?
A woman in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was expecting a package of medicine that she had ordered, but when the box came, she found something very different inside: two human arms and four fingers. WSMV-TV reported that the woman contacted 911 and the Christian County Coroner, Scott Daniel. Daniel responded to the home and gathered up the unexpected parcel, and the body parts are being dispatched to the correct recipient -- but it's unclear in this case who that was.
Bright Ideas
Bothered by spicy foods? Researchers in China have developed an artificial "tongue" that can detect spice levels in foods, the New York Post reported on Oct. 29. The small transparent square is placed on the user's tongue and detects spice levels ranging from nothing to beyond levels perceived as painful. It can also detect flavors such as ginger, black pepper, horseradish, garlic and onion. No word on when it will be available to the public.
On Oct. 25 in Lille, France, an almosthomeless tech entrepreneur, Dagobert Renouf, married his love, Anna Plynina, People magazine reported. But because of Renouf's broke status, the nuptials nearly didn't happen. However, in July, Renouf had a brainstorm: He sold sponsorships for the wedding, with corporate donors getting their logos sewn onto his suit jacket. With Plynina supporting the project, Renouf launched a website, offering spots for $300 up to $2,000, depending on the placement. He promised to wear the jacket in all the wedding photos, which would be shared on social media platforms with 116,000 followers. Twenty-six companies bought in, for a total of $10,000 in advertising revenue. The suit cost $5,200 to make, and Renouf had to pay $2,500 on the income. "I basically got a free suit and $2,000 out of it," he said. Even better, he got a job: One company was impressed with his ideas and dedication, and "I've been absolutely killing it and enjoying it since then," Renouf said.
I Feel Like I've Forgotten Something ...
During a virtual hearing in the 36th District Court in Detroit on Oct. 27, police officer Matthew Jackson showed up to testify about a woman charged with drag racing and disorderly conduct. But, WXYZ-TV reported, he forgot one important part of his uniform: pants. "You got some pants on, officer?" asked Judge Sean Perkins. Jackson replied, "No, sir" and moved his camera up so his bare legs could no longer be seen, and the hearing continued. Jackson was apparently wearing underwear with his uniform shirt. Detroit police apologized and said they would remind all officers about
proper etiquette and dress codes for virtual hearings. "It was an interesting day, to say the least," said TaTaNisha Reed, the defendant's attorney.
Meanwhile, Glasgow (Scotland) City Councillor Hanif Raja dropped into a virtual planning meeting in early November but forgot to turn off his camera when he sat down on the toilet. The BBC reported that another councillor asked Raja if he was "aware that your camera is live," prompting Raja to explain that he is diabetic and needs frequent "comfort breaks." "The button was pressed and I didn't notice," he said. The council removed the livestream and said it would be uploaded after editing.
Saw That Coming
Hillary Martin of Orange County, Florida, has filed a lawsuit against SeaWorld Orlando following an incident that happened in March, ClickOrlando reported. Martin is seeking $50,000 in damages after she was struck by a duck riding the Mako roller coaster. (We didn't even know ducks like roller coasters.) Martin said the duck flew into the coaster's path and struck her in the face, causing her to lose consciousness. She claims the park created a "zone of danger" by placing the ride near a body of water. No word on the duck's condition or injuries.
Florida
On the morning of Nov. 3 at a Publix grocery store in Miami, a man using the restroom stall was assaulted after Alfredo Brindis, 72, "entered the restroom frantically and began to bang on the stall door," Local10-TV reported. When the victim exited the stall, Brindis yelled at him to "hurry and move," but Brindis was blocking his way. He said Brindis "presented a knife and waved it in front of the victim" and "tried to cut him." The victim used his bookbag to shield himself. Brindis told police that he "really needed to use the restroom." He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Compelling Explanation
Karen Dedert, 58, of Seminole, Florida, woke her husband up early on Nov. 4 by standing over him and asking where their son was, WTSP-TV reported. Then she said, "I need to sacrifice and kill you both," according to the arrest affidavit. She tried stabbing her husband, Richard, with a knife, but he blocked the attack and locked himself in a bathroom. Later, she lunged at him with the knife again, cutting his arm. Richard escaped and called for help; when they arrived, Karen was still in the house. She said she didn't want to talk but spontaneously offered, "These aren't the clothes I was wearing when I stabbed him." She was charged with attempted first-degree murder.
It's a Mystery
Police at Purdue University are grappling with a sticky situation on campus, WLFI-TV reported. On Nov. 5, officers received calls about a man walking around covered from head to toe in peanut butter. Witnesses were concerned about safety issues for people with peanut butter allergies. Investigators are unsure whether PB Man is a student and suggested he might be part of a hazing prank.
More than an Art Store
TC’s Surfaces Art Supplies offers something for everyone
By Ellen Miller
Since Traverse City Front Street newcomer Surfaces Art Supplies opened this July, they’ve hit the ground running, curating a mix of craft and fine art supplies alongside art experiences for tourists and locals alike.
Owner Liz Kennington opened Surfaces in pursuit of a longstanding dream to pursue art as a career over working in the corporate world.
“I really wanted to do something that made me happy. Being able to teach people what I know, what I love, and share that same passion with other people was important to me,” she says. “Plus showing my kids that whatever you dream of you can actually do as long as you put in the hard work for it.”
Kennington went back to school in 2021, graduating with a degree in graphic design from Northwestern Michigan College. All the while, Surfaces was in the back of her mind.
“As I was going back to school, I was planning out the business, models, graphic design—all my logos and advertisements and all that,” she says. “After I graduated, I was able to put all my hard work to work and was able to locate the perfect building.”
While Kennington had originally hoped to be in the Warehouse District, opening in a newer location along Front Street positioned the store next to the river and allowed her to design the store from the ground up. She knew from the start she wanted it to be more than a shop and dreamed of it being a gathering space for the community.
“A lot of people don’t have a place for kids to go to play and create,” Kennington reflects. “There are also individuals who live in apartments or condos who don’t have a workspace either.” Those aspects, combined with Kennington’s background as an artist, shaped her business model.
Supplies & Workshops
On the retail side, Surfaces Art Supplies fills a notable gap downtown, offering a variety of specialty art supplies. In addition to a range of brushes, paper pads, and canvas, artists can pick up Old Holland oil paints— one of top brands in the world, according to Kennington—and any of Golden Acrylic’s 144 colors. For artists who aren’t able to find exactly what they are looking for, Surfaces also offers specialty orders. “If someone requests something, we can usually get it within a week or two,” Kennington says.
Surfaces also offers a variety of drop-in projects in addition to a full class calendar for budding and experienced artists. The store offers an on-demand DIY station that changes seasonally with what’s trending; current project options include decorating a hairbrush, painting a doormat, and decorating a tumbler or pumpkins. They also do birthday parties and holiday workshops for businesses, and partner with local businesses to do workshops, like a recent pet portrait workshop at Silver Spruce.
When it comes to classes, most are offered as one-off workshops, enabling anyone to drop in (or preregister) and experience something new.
“We try to create classes for youth and toddlers; for example, we have Toddler Tuesdays, which is sensory art for an hour and kids can play, touch, feel, glue, and cut. They have that space to be a little free,” says Kennington.
Figure drawing and collage night are two of the store’s most popular classes. Plus, to get even more buy-in from the youngest artists, Kennington’s nine-year-old son, Elliott, teaches a kids’ class once a month! “Kids tend to respond well to another kid teaching,” she explains.
Kennington says she eventually plans to offer storage lockers for artists to be able to leave supplies in the store, instead of carrying them back and forth. “We’re looking for the perfect size lockers,” Kennington says, noting she wants to ensure they are able to fit larger artworks.
For now, even if you have to BYO some of your supplies, Surfaces is open seven days a week and almost always has parking available in front of the store.
“People are scared of art, and might think ‘Oh it’s just an art store,’” Kennington muses.
“People need to look at their inner child a little bit, and understand that art can be therapeutic and also bring out happiness in your life. … Everyone has that art in them.”
For the full class calendar, stop into Surfaces at 309 W Front St. in Traverse City or visit surfacesartsupplies.com.
Seasonal Showtime
20+ holiday shows, concerts, ballets, and plays
like dance, it’s digestible,” says Raue.
By Ross Boissoneau
Come the holidays, the Prince of the Land of Sweets will again reign supreme. If it’s Christmas time, it’s time for The Nutcracker, the world’s most popular ballet. But why is it such a beloved production?
“The dance community asks that question every season,” says Heather Raue, artistic director at the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet. “Us dance folks don’t quite get it.”
The ballet features music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky built around a story originally written in 1816 by German author E.T.A. Hoffmann. “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” told roughly the same tale people now know as “The Nutcracker,” but it was darker and more violent. Alexandre Dumas adapted it into a lighter version, and it was this tale that Tchaikovsky wrote his music for.
When the ballet premiered in Russia, it was not particularly well received, but when it was imported to the U.S., it became a holiday classic. “Russians didn’t like it. They thought it was gauche. America ate it up like TV dinners,” says Raue.
Today it is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands each holiday season. “The colors, the sets, costumes, music—even if you don’t
This year’s production at Great Lakes Center for the Arts takes place Dec. 20 and 21. It. will feature Miami City Ballet stars Taylor Naturkas—a Crooked Tree alum— and Alexander Peters.
But Crooked Tree isn’t the only company getting in on the sugar plum spirit. The Interlochen Center for the Arts production will premier Dec. 11 for the first of five shows running through Dec. 14 at Corson Auditorium. It will feature dancers from around the area, as well as Interlochen Arts Academy students and live music by IAA musicians.
Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts in Manistee will also host a production of The Nutcracker. It includes performers from six surrounding counties, and takes place Dec. 1-3 and 8-10.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Interlochen Jazz Orchestra will be performing Duke Ellington’s arrangements of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker music. The orchestra will play two shows at the Bay Theater Dec. 6 and one at Dendrinos Chapel and Recital Hall on Interlochen’s campus Dec. 7.
Of course, there are plenty more ways to celebrate the holiday season with music, dance, and more around the region. Here are a few of the highlights.
INTERLOCHEN
Sounds of the Season
Enjoy seasonal songs and stories brought to life by Interlochen Arts Academy’s music, theatre, and interdisciplinary arts students Dec. 18 and 19 at Corson Auditorium. The favorites from Frozen will be on hand, as will the jolly old elf himself, Rudolph willing. And what’s a holiday gathering without a singalong? (Spoiler alert: The audience will get a chance to join in the festivities.)
CHEBOYGAN OPERA HOUSE
A Christmas Carol with Allen Fitzpatrick
Shortly after writing the novella which became a holiday classic, Charles Dickens began public readings of it, which he continued until his death. Theater and Broadway veteran Fitzpatrick follows suit, taking on all the roles in this oneman performance Dec. 7, embodying 26 characters on a virtually bare stage.
The Tartan Terrors: A Celtic Christmas
The Tartan Terrors return to the stage of the Cheboygan Opera House Dec. 18. Their Celtic Invasion blends the energy of a rock show with humor and traditional
step dance. Pipes and fiddles alongside drums and electric guitars? Why not?
CITY OPERA HOUSE
The 2nd Annual Holiday Hideaway Nov. 22 allows guests to view the local Light Parade (see above) from a special vantage point. It includes music, a full bar, and holiday treats.
’Tis the Season, of course, and that’s the title of the City Opera House’s 2025 Gala. Christmas classics with Broadway flair will brighten the holiday season on Dec. 6.
The Bergamot presents its 8th annual “A South Shore Christmas” Dec. 12. Founding members Nathaniel Paul Hoff and Jillian Speece are joined by their full band in a set of stories, holiday classics and originals to showcase the harmony of the season.
NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN
COLLEGE ENSEMBLES
The NMC Jazz Bands Present will be Swingin’ for the Season Dec. 6 at Milliken Auditorium at the Dennos Museum Center. The Jazz Lab Band and Big Band will perform seasonal standards and holiday favorites made popular by Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra,
Photo courtesy of Interlochen Center for the Arts
Count Basie, Bing Crosby, and Louis Armstrong. Joining the proceedings will be guest vocalists Emily Kuschell and Scott Carter.
Two off-campus events will feature other NMC Ensembles. The NMC Concert Band 2025 Holiday Concert takes place Dec. 13, with a set of holiday classics arranged for the concert band. It will take place at Traverse City West Senior High School Auditorium.
And on Dec. 11, the NMC Chamber Singers will present their 2025 Holiday Concert at Central United Methodist Church with a selection of holiday favorites.
TRAVERSE CITY PHILHARMONIC
You want a (very) big band? On Dec. 21 and 22, experience the magic of the season and be surrounded by sound at Home for the Holidays. The full Traverse City Philharmonic will be joined by vocal director Jeffery Cobb’s combined choirs in a traditional holiday experience. The rafters at Corson Auditorium at Interlochen Center for the Arts will resound with holiday magic.
KIRKBRIDE HALL
Start with the Listeso String Quartet playing a generous selection of sacred and secular holiday favorites: “12 Days of Christmas,” “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” “Angels We Have Heard On High,” “Ding Dong! Merrily on High” and more. Then create the perfect atmosphere at Kirkbride Hall at Grand Traverse Commons by adding hundreds of soft flickering lights, and you have Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings on Dec. 19 and 20.
GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS
It’s time for Tinsel & Tunes on Nov. 15 and 16. the Northern Michigan Chorale presents holiday staples, part of its 44th season of performances.
On Nov. 21 and 22, the Great Lakes Dance Academy invites patrons to A Christmas Carol: The Mixtape. This mix of dynamic choreography and a joyful, jukebox-inspired soundtrack defines—
nay, redefines—a holiday classic. Ideal for those who cherish dance as storytelling.
The man gets around. On Dec. 6, Allen Fitzpatrick takes the stage for two presentations of his one-man telling of A Christmas Carol.
On Dec. 11 and 12, experience the tradition: Messiah by Candlelight featuring the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, GLCO Chorus, and guest soloists. The concert will also feature Schubert’s “Magnificat” and Mozart’s “Sleigh-Ride” to celebrate the spirit and joy of the holiday season.
On Dec. 14 the GLCO presents its Family Holiday Pops Matinee. Beloved carols, sing-alongs, with holiday favorites “The Grinch,” “The Polar Express,” “Sleigh Ride,” and more.
The Dorothy Gerber Youth Orchestra presents A Holiday Strings Celebration Dec. 15. It will include musical selections from Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and magical music from The Polar Express.
The Midtown Men’s “Holiday Hits” show Dec. 23 will feature Yuletide classics such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as their signature renditions of the greatest rock and roll hits of the 1960s by the Beatles, the Temptations, the Four Seasons, and more. The stars from the Broadway smash Jersey Boys will also perform their holiday single “All Alone on Christmas,” recorded with Stevie Van Zandt and members of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
OLD ART BUILDING
From the Season of Lights holiday light display to the Dec. 5-6 Holiday Art Market, there is plenty on the OAB schedule this winter. But we’re most excited to tune in for their Christmas at the Old Art Building: A Variety Show Spectacular on Dec. 13 from 6-7:30pm. The show will feature a “retro-inspired” lineup, including both Christmas comedy and caroling. But it’s this description that caught out interest: “Imagine Lawrence Welk, Dolly Parton, and the Muppets collaborating to put on a festive show.” Sounds like the perfect blend.
The Tartan Terrors
Radical Responsibility
Jamie John on what artists owe themselves and the world
By Anna Faller
“Artists have a responsibility to reflect the times that we’re living in,” says northern Michigan artist Jamie John (he/they). “Printmaking is entrenched in a radical history. I consider myself to be one of the newer additions to that, and I’m taking up that responsibility in the ways that I know how.”
For the Anishinaabe two-spirit, queer and trans, and Korean-American artist, art has never been just about “pretty pictures.” Instead, he says, art is about cultural connection. It’s about asking questions, sharing lived experiences, and urging audiences to take action to enact the change they’d like to see.
Grief & Experience
John’s artistic journey began with grief. One of his earliest artistic memories surrounds the death of his maternal grandfather and his subsequent enrollment in art therapy courses through the Traverse Area District Library.
“That’s when I was first introduced to woodcut; when I [started] building those habits of painting and drawing and filling my days with making things,” he says.
John, however, was no stranger to loss, even as an elementary schooler.
“Growing up in the tribal community [of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians], a huge portion of our life is grief,” he explains. That grief is rooted in the deaths of community members, as well as the loss of cultural pillars like ancestral land and language.
Consequently, John recognized art as a means of understanding and transforming big emotions like grief early on.
“Making things to relay a lived
experience [means] that I’m not only leaving something physical behind, but also a story. Folks can look at [my art] and think about what it means to me, the maker, but also to them,” he says.
Since those early days, he’s amassed numerous accolades, including a 2023 Trans Possibilities Initiative Sundance fellowship and a 2025 residency at The Aquarium Gallery in New Orleans. John is also a commissioned artist for upcoming TART Trail signage and a recent participant in Traverse City’s inaugural Mural Festival.
Culture & Blocks
A 2019 graduate of the Interlochen Center for the Arts, John’s body of work spans various media, including collage, zines, watercolor (he even thought he’d become a painter at one point), and public art and printmaking—in particular, relief, aka, block printing, which he highlights as his preferred and primary medium.
If you’re unfamiliar, “block printing” refers to an image creation technique wherein a material block—of linoleum, rubber, or in John’s case, wood—is carved, then inked or painted, and finally pressed to a surface, which transfers the design. It’s easily repeatable, which makes it an ideal vehicle for communication, notes John.
Block printing is also accessible to a degree that other forms of art often are not. The repeatability that block printing provides allows John to keep the bulk of his prices at around $60 per print or below. This, he adds, is intentional, as the goal is not only to increase his overall viewership, but also to get his work into as many hands and homes as possible.
Then, there are the multiple levels of cultural connection the medium provides. Block printing is an ancestral Anishinaabe
practice and a symbol of oral tradition— just like storytelling, he says, each piece is an original. John is also Korean-American, linking him to the east Asian-inspired print materials, like Kozo or mulberry paper. (Did you know Korea built one of the first printing presses outside of Germany?)
“It’s an ancestral citation in that way, too,” John adds. “Thinking about other Korean printmakers, even when our materials adapt, our processes stay very similar in terms of what I’m thinking about when I go to make something.”
Perhaps most importantly, John’s chosen medium provides a creative alternative to traditional indigenous Woodland motifs—a distinctive Anishinaabe style characterized
by bold lines, bright colors, and subjects from the natural world—which he didn’t want to limit his subject matter.
“Not only did I know that I could do more, but I [also] know that Anishinaabe people are more than just Woodland art,” John says. “Creative process demands dignity and respect to be seen as a person, and I was sick of the expectation that [Woodland] art was all I could do as an Anishinaabe artist.”
Global Thinking & Humanity
Instead, John finds himself most inspired to create based on global events and politics. With that comes the responsibility to voice radical thought and dissent, which John admits can be scary, but that fear just drives him more.
We Are Everywhere (Lenape Hoking) No Borders! No Raids!
Examples of his latest work include coverage of national ICE raids, especially in urban hubs, like Los Angeles and Grand Rapids (John’s interpretation of which inspired his No Borders! No Raids! and Abolish I.C.E! prints), the dehumanization of immigrants, and America’s involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict. John was even in Seattle during recent talks of deploying the National Guard.
John has devised a style that mimics the inviting and eye-drawing properties of the Woodland art tradition (think: defined shapes and intricate details) to emphasize and comment on some of the decade’s most contentious issues. The goal here, he says, is to prompt viewers to ask questions and “dig deeper” into the experience each piece depicts, a concept that also resonates throughout John’s more traditionally indigenous imagery, like the colorful Diné Corn Girl, We Are Everywhere (a Brooklyn brownstone relief), or the symbolically-fluid gradient of his My Gender is Two Spirit/ Gender Transitions are Sacred diptych.
“No one can really dictate or refute my lived experience, because I lived it,” he says. “So, a question I think about when I’m making an image is who it humanizes and how that connects in broader terms of national and global thinking.”
Reframing & Refusing
Throughout his work, John encourages viewers to reframe perspectives, or refuse to accept the old stories and stereotypes we’ve been told.
“This is all very much influenced by the fact that I experience gender and queerness differently. Refusal to participate in the colonial project that is meant to assimilate me”—whether that applies to gender, race, language, etc.—“is something that people over and over have done in ways that meant that I could be here,” John notes.
John says we can walk away from people and situations that don’t align with our values. We can refuse to engage with systems that perpetuate oppression of the working class, indigenous cultures, the queer community, and beyond. And we can support other people that might lack the resources to do those things.
It’s this sense of empowerment, of taking action, that John hopes audiences draw from his work.
“I want you to think about what you can do to alleviate [others’] suffering, to bring attention to it or disrupt it, rather than feeling like there’s nothing we can do,” he concludes. “I think the worst thing would be to feel defeat when our fight isn’t over yet.”
Crafting with a Conscience
Cozy up with the fiber arts scene of northern Michigan
By Geri Dietze
Have you heard of slow textiles? The idea is to have just enough of something—useful, beautiful, or both, to keep and enjoy—that will not end up in a landfill. According to earthday.org, in the U.S. alone, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste, about 85 percent of all textiles, go to landfills annually. Enter the mindful sewing and knitting circle, and the peace that comes from spending time in low-velocity, hands-on pursuits, with like-minded folk.
The Bird Nest
In 2023, Alisha Miller was a seamstress who needed to find a place other than her home to work and meet clients, never dreaming that she would eventually end up with not one, but two, vintage storefronts in downtown Cadillac. Her rented workspace soon became The Bird House, a retail spot
filled with goods from area crafters, followed by The Bird Nest, her specialty fabric and yarn shop.
The very existence of these two retailers illustrates the growing success of the slow textile movement, in which using quality products for crafting and knitting helps the environment, the local economy, and the conscience. Currently, tariffs are “pretty steep,” Miller admits, “but the store absorbs that.”
The Bird Nest doesn’t try to compete with the big box craft store down the road, instead offering an inventory of small batch, high-end yarns, and a vivid collection of quality designer fabrics. Miller’s customer base is made up of serious knitters and crafters, those who know what they want.
“The market was larger than I expected,” Miller says, and the busy shops are proof. (Hobby yarns and starter sets are available, too.) Much of the yarn is sold in hanks, (a loose twist, good for storing) and cannot be
used without first winding it, lest it become “a tangled mess,” so Miller winds the yarn at no cost.
The Bird Nest carries around 20 lines of yarn, mostly small batch, hand-dyed, breedspecific fibers, sourced from the United States and Europe. (Those with allergies will find a selection of cotton, linen, and acrylics.) Find alpaca yarn from Blue Sky Fibers and 100 percent Uruguayan merino from Malibrigo; Amano of Peru is the source of fine wools and alpacas, plus a stunning, hand-painted, premium line called Yana Journeys; Baah Yarn’s Mammoth line is produced in Las Vegas, Nevada; and a Yooper brand called Keenan is hand-dyed wool crafted in Rudyard.
The Bird Nest also stocks a large collection of high-end designer cottons, mainly for crafting, including Tilda of Norway, vintage patterns in colors both soft and bright; the eponymous Charlie Harper
nature designs from the minimalist realist; Heather Ross nostalgic prints in clear, crisp shades; and Tula Pink, which must be seen to be believed, with giant wallpaper florals, quirky animals, and optical illusions in saturated colors.
Next door, The Bird House has about 50 vendors offering handmade goods, including clothing, quilts, bags, jewelry, woodcraft, coffees and teas, honey and sauces, and skin care products, plus more. Vendors volunteer their time once a month, pay rent for their space, and keep 100 percent of their earnings. Check out the popular social events at the store, including Wind It Up Thursdays for open knit and crochet, and Open Stitch, the first Saturday of every month. (Think open swim, but dry, with yarn.)
Visit thebirdnestcadillac.com or 111 N. Mitchell St. STE B., Cadillac.
Fibershed Yarn and Fiber Arts
The term fibershed refers to a geographic region and the farmers, fiber producers, processors, and consumers within it, and that is precisely what goes on at Boyne City’s Fibershed.
Owner Nadine Basile calls it “primarily a retail yarn and craft supply shop,” and it’s true, but there’s so much more, and the space is far different than the big box craft retailers. Fibershed sells the must-haves, from needles and hooks, to the tools, fibers, and natural dyes for spinning, weaving, and felting, plus looms and spinning wheels, and everything in between, including fun stuff for non-knitters.
But it is the gorgeous yarns—in incredible colors, weights, and hands (the tactile feel)—that can make a crafter swoon. Fibershed sources mostly from a community of producers close by and around the state: the farmers and their flocks, the artisans and their natural plant-based dyes, and the mills where breed-specific fibers are spun into magic. Why Not Fibers, Traverse City; Coyote Run Fiberwork, Holly; Brittany Rae Knits, Petoskey; Supernova Dye Works, Lansing; and North Bay Farmer, Pinconning, are just some.
Basile also stocks yarn she makes herself from the sheep on her Boyne Falls farm. She became interested in fiber after grazing sheep in West Coast vineyards for eco-friendly weed and soil management, and she needed something to do with all that fleece.
“My intent is to make Fibershed a Michigan-specific shop for hand crafters,” Basile explains, adding that she is getting closer to realizing her goal as her connections in the fiber community grow.
Basile puts a “heavy emphasis” on education, art, and community through classes and group events, and the store can resemble “a very, very small version of a local fiber festival.”
“I’m constantly thrilled and surprised by the kinds of talent that walk through the door and ask if they can sell their artwork here, or with an idea for a class they might want to teach,” she says.
Currently, Fibershed has consignments from a couple dozen fiber artists and about a dozen teachers. Beginners can learn all fiber skills, from knitting to spinning, mending to weaving, and more, and advanced classes keep interest high. (And everyone is welcome. One farmer had to bring in two lambs, still on the bottle, so as not to miss class.)
Most recently, the shop hosted an off-site eco-printing and natural dye retreat called How to Dye in the Woods. “It was a hit,” Basile says.
Despite Basile’s dedication to local sourcing, she must still deal with tariffs. She currently sources some silks, cottons, linens, and cashmere from larger commercial ventures to meet demands, thanks to our less than robust textile industry in the U.S. And even if some crafting tools are produced in the U.S, the components still come from overseas, so it’s hard to avoid.
“As a country, we have lost the connection between soil, animals, wool, craft, and community, though to me, that line is as straight as a warp string,” she admits.
Still Basile carries on, “to build community, [to] learn…, educate, and gather people together, and to…show off a little of the authentic skill and talent that makes Michigan so special. I believe that people are genuinely craving this kind of real connection. Plus, we needed access to good supplies up here. The winters are long.”
Fibershed is moving soon to larger digs, so keep an eye on the website for the new schedule of classes and events, including the grand re-opening.
Visit michiganfibershed.com or 211 Front St., Boyne City. (New address, formerly Lashes and Lace Salon.)
An estimated 50 million people around the world knit or crochet, and the practice is gaining momentum among younger generations as a screen-free, hands-on activity.
Mix, Mash, and MATCH
By Nick Cooper
Earlier this year, Mashup Rock & Roll Musical, the TC-based indie theater creators of performances such as Quack to the Future, officially found a place to call home. Founders Lesley Tye and husband Anthony Bero have settled at the Music, Arts, Theatre, Community, Home event space in the Cherryland Center after years of moving from venue to venue.
Tye, Bero, and more than 20 artists and performers had been traveling around Traverse City practicing and performing at multiple locations as they looked for a place to settle. For a time, the traveling performers found a home at the Inside Out Gallery. However, once the gallery closed in 2016, the search and travel began again.
“It’s really a challenge to put on a show like we do. We don’t have a lot of money, and we’ve always cobbled together some sort of rehearsal space here and there,” Tye says.
Affectionately called MATCH by Tye, the new facility was transformed from what was once a Kmart.
“It was sort of like, right place, right time,” says Tye, a film and screenwriting professor at Interlochen Center for the Arts.
Home Improvement
When the couple began leasing the new space at the Cherryland Center, they found that there was an obvious need to update the former retail store, including updating bathrooms and push bars on all the exits in case of emergency in the 90-person capacity building.
“We worked with Jeff Neidorfler”—a local architect with Neidorfler Group— “who came up with the arrangement for the walls. The walls that we built kind of enclose
A look inside home sweet home for Mashup Rock & Roll Musical
the electrical room as well because that was just open,” says Tye.
The walls partially enclose the seating area around the stage, which Neidorfler designed to allow for an interesting visitor experience.
“It’s really cool because it makes it sort of closed in for the people [attendees] and our actors can still pass behind them,” says Tye.
Due to the intimacy and close proximity to the stage, Tye, Bero, and Neidorfler decided to employ a layered seating arrangement with each row being set a bit higher than the one before. The remodeling of the space included the addition of elevated flooring.
“Our audience that have been to a lot of our other shows really enjoyed being able to be on the riser seats, because other times they’d just all be on the floor. So, they might miss some of the action. The stage usually isn’t very high in the various venues,” says Tye.
The new elevated flooring is not only courtesy of Neidorfler but others in the area.
“He [Neidorfler] brought the bathrooms up to code. He helped build the risers which were gifted from the Old Town Playhouse. It really is a community effort,” Tye says.
Not all of the extinct Kmart store has been gutted during the renovations, as Tye found a valuable use for the remaining items.
“Everybody notices that it’s just a wideopen space. Having a drop ceiling makes it look really [dated], but at the same time, it helps acoustically. The philharmonic across from us took out all of the drop ceiling and then they had to add all kinds of stuff on top of it,” Tye says.
The drop ceiling is just one of the quirks of the MATCH. The location also has what the group refers to as the “ghost light,” which sits on center stage throughout the night. Tye had not noticed any paranormal activity to date.
Ready to Host
After shows such as Quack to the Future, which ran in September, Tye has noticed that the feedback from those visiting the MATCH to be positive.
“It’s really positive. We’re still kind of working on it since we have a loud rock and roll band. So, trying to get the right mix kind of depends on where you sit. [But] everybody is excited about it,” says Tye.
With the MATCH space, Tye hopes to grow the influence of Mashup throughout the community. She is confident that the location can become an asset for many local creative groups and organizations.
“We’re looking for partners who are ready to use the space. We’re partnering with another creative group called Stone Fruit Collective headed up by Steve Clark, a local writer and playwright. We’re looking for improv groups that want to use the space,” says Tye.
The Interlochen Center for the Arts instructor hopes to build a connection with local schools as well.
“I’ve offered workshops with special programming for students. I’m working with students at [Traverse City] West senior [high school] theatre class about adapting a Shakespeare for modern times,” Tye says.
Coming Soon
The Haunting of Ebenezer by Steve Clark and the Stonefruit Collective takes the stage Dec. 19, 20, and 21. The 16 original Americana songs take the audience through Ebenezer Scrooge’s haunting and transformation. Mashup will join in for a second act of merriment, revisiting past shows How Grinchy Met the Who and Madonnativity, and share some favorite traditional and not-so-typical holiday tunes. Learn more at mashuprockandrollmusical.com.
Photo of "Quack to the Future" performance by Harpe Star
The Beauty in the Broken Glass (Co.)
Bellaire’s Brooke Brewster is giving stained glass a 21st-century update
By Art Bukowski
As far as art forms go, few things are more traditional and stoic than stained glass.
This ancient practice invokes thoughts of quiet churches, stately administrative buildings, and other imposing structures, where it has been used for more than 1,000 years to add color and tell stories.
Brooke Brewster has a few designs traditional enough to hang in your greataunt’s house. A flower bouquet here, perhaps. A fruit basket there.
But what gets her going are her more irreverent designs. Booties (not the kind for your feet), shrimp cocktails, cartoon Chicken McNuggets, screaming possums, smoking frogs, balloon animals—you name it. She wants to have fun. And more importantly, she wants to spread joy.
“We have a lot of turmoil going on in the world, and your home is your safe space,” she says. “I like that people are able to look up and smile or laugh or get a little giggle before they start the day, or if they’re just walking by.”
With each sale of her self-described “whimsical” pieces, Brewster scatters some more good vibes in a world that needs them. These works are particularly popular, proof that they resonate with people.
“People are actually really drawn to those pieces,” she says. “I try to do some ‘normal’ designs, but they really want those funny, silly, and often dirty pieces of glass, which makes me even more happy to know that those are hanging everywhere.”
Living the Dream
Brewster, 40, is from the Flint area and now lives and works in her home studio in Bellaire. She’s made and sold thousands of pieces through her business, Broken Glass Co. (check it out on social media).
She moved up north about three years ago after time spent in Detroit and Lapeer, where she was a school art teacher. She had to have side jobs as a teacher to make ends meet, and she’s thrilled that she can now support herself completely with her art.
“It melts my heart every day that I’m able to do this and share it with people, and that
people give me money for it. Mainly it goes to my herd of animals,” she says. “I’m not rich—I’m not buying a property on Torch Lake or anything—but to be able to keep creating and be able to do this and not have to have a side job [is amazing].”
One of her side jobs while teaching was at a greenhouse, and it was in that gig she picked up the habit of working with glass to make handmade terrariums. A coworker who dabbled in stained glass-making gave Brewster some equipment, and from there was born her newfound passion.
She quit teaching during COVID and moved to Detroit, which turned out to be an excellent place for inspiration as she learned the ins and outs of stained glass.
“Living in the city, I would pick up scraps of glass from the abandoned churches and bring them home. I’d find all of these different colors and textures, a lot of stuff they don’t even make anymore,” she says. “I probably trespassed in a few buildings that I shouldn’t have, picking up some of those scraps of glass, because I was brought in by the broken windows.”
When she decided to move to northern Michigan, she specifically sought out a home with room for a studio. As with most creative processes, there was—and continues to be—a good deal of trial and error.
“I’ve definitely had a lot of slip ups. Glass is such a fragile material to work with, and I don’t have the softest hands,” she says. “Even when I draw, I wear through a sharpie in probably two days of drawing.”
The Process
Brewster first creates a design—she broke down last December and purchased an iPad to do some design work, but still draws most by hand—and then gets to work on bringing it to life.
“I come out in the studio, grab all my different colors I want to work with and hold them up to the window. Some are opaque, some are translucent,” she says. “You kind of play with that light, though sometimes you’re battling with Michigan and cloudy days and really being able to see the light.”
Brewster doesn’t make the glass itself. She buys it in sheets from various
suppliers and saves her many scraps, and she’s been known to spend hours on end searching through piles of glass to find just the right pieces.
“Some of it’s streaky, some of it has textures. I have German crackled glass that I’ve gotten from a few Marketplace finds that they don’t make anymore,” she says. “I have bins and bins and bins of glass—many art people are hoarders—and I won’t throw any away.”
Then she cuts and grinds the pieces before soldering them together.
“Traditional stained glass has mainly the silver solder, but I like to use the black patina because it gives it this illustrative look and I think it really makes the colors pop,” she says.
Inspiration and the Future
Brewster on average makes at least one new design a week, from which she often makes multiple pieces. Inspiration comes from everywhere: pop culture, personal experiences, things she reads about or sees.
She also takes commissions, and that’s a particularly special and meaningful process.
“It’s so exciting for me to take somebody’s idea, whether it’s their pet that passed away that they want to have in their window so they can look at it and smile, or sometimes it’s…something from the childhood home that they grew up in,” she says.
You may note that many of her works feature Kewpie dolls. These dolls were very popular in the early 20th century, and Brewster has an affinity for creating pieces with these dolls in fun or interesting situations. One such Kewpie piece hangs in the very popular Glendale Burger Shop in Traverse City, a particular point of pride for Brewster.
“My grandma collected Kewpie dolls, I thought they were really creepy and fun,” she says. “I didn’t like sleeping in the same room with them, but now I’m kind of fascinated by them.”
Going forward, Brewster hopes to one day teach stained glass-making and pass on her skills.
“Another side project I’m doing is working on a pattern book, and hopefully I can always continue to make patterns even when I’m not able to cut glass and take in the solder fumes,” she says.
Shop at brokenglasscompany.bigcartel.com or follow along at instagram.com/broken_glass_co.
This Dolly Parton "mirror" reflects the viewer's face back to them.
This Kewpie has left northern Michigan behind for the Southwest.
Saturday
3RD ANNUAL HARBOR SPRINGS HOLIDAY CRAFT & VENDOR SHOW: 9am-3pm, Emmet County VFW Post 2051, Harbor Springs. Entry by donation to a local family/charity. 989-884-4335.
CHRISTMAS ON THE PENINSULA: 9am, Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church, TC. An old fashioned Christmas Bazaar featuring a huge bake sale, handcrafted gifts, vintage items, & more. Lunch will be available. oldmissionpeninsulaumc.org
DOWNTOWN BELLAIRE HOLIDAY OPEN
HOUSE: 10am-9pm, Broad St., downtown Bellaire. Shops stay open late, offering holiday deals, giveaways, & gifts from local artisans & businesses. There will be carolers or live music, along with an apperance by Santa or Buddy the Elf, plus much more. bellairechamber.org/2025/11/15/289011/ downtown-holiday-open-house
IMPROV NIGHT: 7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. Join The Dean’s List improv group for unscripted comedy. Perfect for fans of dad jokes & uncle humor. Free; donation at door to support LTCT. ltct.org
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. facebook.com/ groups/1757664154533490
TC WEST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-3pm, TC West Senior High School. Featuring 100+ local vendors including students & student organizations. Find on Facebook. Free.
ARTIST TALK: THE ART & PROCESS OF PRINTMAKING W/ HAL PAPCUN: 11am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Carnegie Rotunda, TC. Illustrator & printmaker Hal Papcun will go over the histories & art of printmaking, & how their personal work has been shaped by the medium. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-traverse-city/artist-talk-art-processprintmaking-hal-papcun
DEER WIDOW’S WEEKEND: 11am-3pm, The Village at GT Commons, TC. Featuring a 2-day indoor craft & vendor show in Kirkbride Hall, complimentary tunnel tours, $5 mimosa kits, & giveaways. Free. thevillagetc.com/events/deer-widow-2025-1
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
canned meat, meals in a box, & kid snacks like granola bars & fruit snacks. upnorthpride.com/event/2025/11/15/big-beautifulbash-against-hunger
15 nov 16
TC BEER WEEK: Nov. 7-15. Today is Stout Showdown. 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
BIG BEAUTIFUL BASH AGAINST HUNGER: Noon-9pm, Five Shores Brewing, Beulah. For every food item you donate, you get $1 off beers or $2 off cocktails (up to 5 drinks). Needed items include: nut butters, instant potatoes, pasta & rice, shelf stable milk & juice, canned beans, soup, chili & stew, applesauce, oils & spices, crackers,
FLAPJACK & FLANNEL FESTIVAL: Noon5pm, Timber Ridge Resort, TC. Featuring 10+ beverage vendors, flapjacks, BBQ, chili & more, tons of flannel, Jack Pine Lumberjack Show, live music by Drew Hale, Little Dipper, & Chris Sterr, dodgeball & more. VIP doors open at 11am. Tickets start at $47.75 (GA). Kids are $21.16. flapjackandflannelfestival.com
“BELLAIRE LIVE!” IMPROV COMEDY SHOW: 4pm, Bellaire High School Performing Arts Center. Presented by the Bellaire Middle High School Drama Club. 231-5338015. $5 adults; free for students.
LADIES NIGHT OUT 2025: Downtown Harbor Springs. 4-5pm: Pre-Party at The New York Restaurant. 4:30-7:30pm: Shop at participating businesses & get your passport initialed along the way (to qualify for raffle tickets). 8-9pm: After-Party at The Pier Restaurant. Turn in your passport & receive raffle tickets for the prize drawing. Then head to the dining room for a complimentary appetizer spread. harborspringschamber.com/events/details/ladies-night-out2025-18278?calendarMonth=2025-11-01
UNPOPULAR: A STORYTELLING BENEFIT FOR UP NORTH PRIDE: 6-8pm, Lively NeighborFood Market, Empire. Help eat through the ice pops left in stock while gathering to listen to five storytellers share intimate readings from their high school journals/ diaries. Proceeds benefit Up North Pride. upnorthpride.com/event/2025/11/15/unpopulara-storytelling-benefit-for-up-north-pride
JOE HILL - KING SORROW: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of “The Fireman,” “HeartShaped Box,” & “Strange Weather,” Hill returns with “King Sorrow,” a chilling tale of the consequences of revenge. There will also be a Q&A & author signing. Doors open at 6pm with live music & a cash bar. $16-$65. cityoperahouse.org
NORTHERN MICHIGAN CHORALE PRESENTS TINSEL AND TUNES CONCERT: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. The fall & holiday concert features popular music as well as traditional music with creative choral arrangements. $15; $12 for seniors & students. nmchorale.org
URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL: 7pm, TC Central High School. Presented by TC Central High School Music Department. A blend of outrageous humor with sharp political commentary. Set in a dystopian future where a severe water shortage has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets, citizens are forced to pay for the privilege of using public restrooms. $20 regular seating. tcaps.booktix.com
“9 TO 5”: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Pour yourself a cup of ambition; Dolly Parton’s iconic gripe against corporate culture becomes a lyrical comedy in 9 to 5: The Musical. Adapted from the 1980 film, the Tony Award-nominated musical tells the tale of three disgruntled employees who plot the demise of their lecherous & domineering boss. $19-$38. interlochen.org/concertsand-events/all-events?search=9+to+5
TC PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS: BACH & BEYOND: 7:30-9:30pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. World-renowned trumpeter Caleb Hudson joins guest conductor Dr. Leslie Dunner in this program. Enjoy music from around the world by St. Georges (African-French), Piaz-
Hear about Murthy, the rogue elephant of India, Cannibals of Tasmania, Michigan’s hell-bound train and much more at Stories & Songs, TC author Robert Downes’ unique one-man, multi-media show! Along with eight books to his name, Downes is a singer-songwriter with more than 100 original songs. Enjoy stories from his books with songs on 6- and 12-string guitars, Thurs., Nov. 20 at 6:30pm at City Opera House, TC. You’ll also see projected images and films, with percussionist Mark Cantrell bringing his beats. Admission is a free-will offering, or buy one of his books! cityoperahouse.org
zolla (Argentinian), George Walker (American), Frank (Peruvian/Lithuanian/Chinese/ American), & Coleridge-Taylor (British). $27$65. tcphil.org/concerts
THE MINUTES: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, Schmuckal Theatre, TC. A city council meeting spirals into a dark exploration of American politics & the fragility of local government, revealing hidden truths & cracks in the surface of seemingly ordinary life in a small town. $25. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/studio-theatre/the-minutes.html
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
WORKSHOPS & CONCERT: 7:30pm, Family of Christ Church, Petoskey. A workshop offered from 4-5:15pm on Richard Gilewitz fingerstyle guitar techniques & a second workshop on flatpicking guitar techniques by Tim May ($40 each for workshop). Concert will follow later in the evening at 7:30pm at same location. $15 for concert; proceeds donated to local food bank. 989-731-2842.
Sunday
WORLD MARKET: 9:30am, The Presbyterian Church of TC, 701 Westminster Rd. Featuring handcrafts from ACT Uganda, E Africa & silk goods from Red Dirt Road, Cambodia. Books & water bottles from Groundworks & handmade items to support MidEast: Just Peace. tcpresby.org
DEER WIDOW’S WEEKEND: (See Sat., Nov. 15, except today’s time is 10am-2pm.)
PETOSKEY’S FALL RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., Nov. 15)
“9 TO 5”: (See Sat., Nov. 15, except today’s time is 2pm.)
BAD TREATIES & BROKEN PROMISES: 2pm, Helena Twp. Community Center, Alden. Presented by award-winning author Robert Downes, who brings his latest non-fiction book, “Raw Deal - The Indians of the Midwest and the Theft of Native Lands.” 231-331-4318. Free.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY DEPT. OF MUSIC PRESENTS: THE STRIATUS QUARTET: 2pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Enjoy an afternoon of music by these up & coming CMU graduate students performing classical works for string quartet. $10 adults; free for students 18 & under. To arrange for free student tickets, call 231627-5841. theoperahouse.org
FREE FAMILY FUN DAY - LEAF POUNDING PRINTS: 2-4pm, The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, TC. Use hammers to press fresh leaves & flowers onto paper releasing their natural pigments to create colorful, one-of-a-kind prints. Materials will be provided. thebotanicgarden.org/events
THE MINUTES: (See Sat., Nov. 15, except today’s time is 2pm.)
URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL: (See Sat., Nov. 15, except today’s time is 2pm.)
ORNAMENT MAKING: 2:30pm, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Beulah. Help create ornaments with Friends of Benzie Pride for a holiday tree that will be donated to Benzie Habitat for Humanity’s Festival of Trees. Supplies & snacks will be provided. benziepride.org
CADILLAC AREA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: 3pm, Cadillac High School, Community Auditorium. The theme of this performance is The Grand Tour. Following intermission the ensemble will perform music of the holidays. Come early -- there will be a silent auction before the concert. Santa will show off his musical talents! $15 adult admission; students with ID enter for free.
NORTHERN MICHIGAN CHORALE PRESENTS TINSEL AND TUNES CONCERT: (See Sat., Nov. 15, except today’s time is 3pm.) -
TC PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS: BACH & BEYOND: (See Sat., Nov. 15, except today’s time is 3-5pm.)
NATHAN GRAHAM & NOAH GUTHRIE:
7pm, City Opera House, TC. These two Americana singer-songwriters bring an evening of soulful, authentic & powerful songs. Graham meshes South Side Blues with Nashville Americana. Guthrie’s sound has been described as possessing Chris Stapleton’s country/rock grit with the authenticity of Jason Isbell. $20-$80. cityoperahouse.org/guthriegraham
monday
AAUW-TC NOV. MEETING:
6pm, Dennos Museum Center, Janis Room, NMC, TC. Featuring Chief Operating Officer of Munson Healthcare Laura Glenn. In her role, Ms. Glenn leads the advancement of Munson’s strategic plan for rural healthcare delivery. traversecityarea-mi. aauw.net/2025/11/01/laura-glenn
AUTHOR EVENT: CHRIS HAGSTROM: 6:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Join for an evening of piracy! Local author Chris Hagstrom will discuss his book “My Pirate Summer,” a book that came about while he was researching his grandfather’s life. Free. tadl.org/ event/author-event-chris-hagstrom-26265
CLIMATE CHANGE FILM SERIES: 6:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Citizens Climate Lobby brings you this facilitated film series about various aspects of climate change & how it affects people & the region. After the film participate in an open discussion about the topic with local environmental enthusiasts & experts. Free. tadl.org/event/climate-changefilm-series-citizens-climate-lobby-25621
tuesday
TCNEWTECH PITCH COMPETITION & 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: 4:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Hosted by 20Fathoms. Cheer on Michigan-based startups founders as they pitch their innovative business ideas on stage & compete for cash awards. Networking opportunities are available before the show (4:30pm) & afterwards as well. Free; registration required. cityoperahouse.org -
A SPIRITUAL LOOK AT A SECULAR BOOK: 6:30pm, New Waves Community House, TC. A Spiritual Study of a Secular Book, featuring “Democracy Awakening,” by Heather Cox Richardson. For more info email: esther@newwavescommunity.org. Free. newwavescommunity.org -
LET’S GET TICK-SENSIBLE!: 7pm, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Learn when, where, & how to avoid ticks in Michigan. Check event link for details or cancellations. Free. meetup.com/grand-traversechapter-north-country-trail-association/ events/311854442
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MONTHLY MOVIE CLUB: “THE FIRST WIVES CLUB”: 7:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Come dressed in your best Diane Keaton outfit, whether it’s this film or another one of her classic films. Free. gardentheater.org/comingsoon
wednesday
BRIDGE THE DIVIDE - TC: Noon-1:30pm, Dennos Museum Center, Dumters Theater, NMC, TC. Presented
by Rank MI Vote. Turn down the temperature in politics & Ranked Choice Voting will bridge the divide. Learn how this simple upgrade to how we vote decreases division & voter frustration & improves representation. More info: rankmivote.org. Free. secure.ngpvan.com/ZOyjcNSs065vnZoLTqaoQ2
WOMEN IN TECH MEETUP - TC: 5pm, Earthen Ales, TC. Join for connection, empowerment & fun. Each month Women in Tech gathers to build community & support amongst women working in, or interested in, the tech industry & tech-related roles. This meetup is casual, fun, & easy to drop into. Free. eventbrite.com/e/women-in-tech-meetup-traverse-city-tickets851116912597?aff=oddtdtcreator
BELLAIRE BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5:30-7pm, M88 Morning Grind, Bellaire. Networking, food, drinks & prizes. $5; $3 chamber members; free for spotlight members.
HERE:SAY PRESENTS: ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS: 7pm, The Alluvion, TC. Storytellers will tell true, first-person stories about a time in their lives that they had to navigate novelty, newness, & inexperience. $15. heresaystorytelling.com/storytelling=events
thursday
IN CONVERSATION WITH DEWEY BLOCKSMA: 4pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Join for an afternoon with artist Dewey Blocksma, whose solo exhibition “Roundtable” will be on view at the museum. $0-$10. simpletix.com/e/in-conversation-with-deweyblocksma-tickets-227592
TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AT UUCGT: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse, TC. Help honor the lives lost to transphobia & violence. 6-6:30pm: Honor trans lives with music, poetry, & reflection; 6:30-7pm: Food, crafts, & community. upnorthpride.com/event/2025/11/20/trans-dayof-remembrance-service-at-uucgt
STORIES & SONGS: TC AUTHOR ROBERT DOWNES IN A ONE-MAN, MULTIMEDIA SHOW: 6:30pm, City Opera House, TC. The author of eight books,hear stories from his books of high adventure with songs on 6- & 12-string guitars. The show will include projected images & films with percussionist Mark Cantrell providing the beats. Hear about Murthy, the rogue elephant of India, Cannibals of Tasmania, Michigan’s hell-bound train & more at this unique show! Free-will offering or buy a book! cityoperahouse.org
WARREN MILLER’S SNO-CIETY: 6:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfo rt. From the Scottish Highlands & the streets of Finland to the back bowls of Whitewater, BC & a local hill-turned-terrain park in downtown Denver, Warren Miller’s SNO-ciety celebrates the spirit of winter—wherever you ride & however you connect to the snow & the community around it. Proceeds benefit Crystal Community Ski Club. $25. donorbox.org/ events/810213/steps/choose_tickets
AN EVENING WITH JEFF DANIELS: SOLD OUT: 7pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Over the past 25 years, Jeff has taken his experience as a stage actor & created a oneman musical showcasing his storytelling, a sharp sense of humor, & an acoustic guitar full of his own original songs. He is influenced by Arlo Guthrie, Utah Phillips, & John Prine. $40-$60. theoperahouse.org
Featuring all three guitarists that made Organissimo the midwest's favorite soul-jazz organ trio, including original guitarist Joe Gloss.
Jim Alfredson on Hammond organ & keys Randy
on drums & harmonica • Larry Barris on guitar • Joe Gloss on guitar • Ralph Tope on guitar • Kevin Bujo
on percussion • Ron Blake on saxophone
Marsh
Jones
CREATIVE & QUALITY TOYS
December 20th - Two Shows!
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.
friday
LGBTQ SENIORS COFFEE
MORNING: 8:30am, UNP Community Center, TC. Start the morning off with a cup of Higher Grounds coffee at the Community Center with the LGBTQ+ Seniors Coffee Morning! Free. upnorthpride.com/event/2025/8/22/lgbtq-senior-coffee-morning-d64jj-2xte9-gj8t6
LUNCHEON LECTURES: HUMAN TRAFFICKING: 11:30am, NCMC, Library Conference Center, Petoskey. A community outreach educator & advocate for survivors of crime at the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Keely Frye will review the realities of human trafficking, domestic violence & sexual assault in our world today. Register. $15. ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-6289909
LADIES OPENING NIGHT: 4-8pm. Shop, sip, & stroll the streets of downtown Petoskey. Participating stores will offer gifts, games, specials, prizes, & nibbles. Free. petoskeydowntown.com/events/ladies-opening-night
TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE LUMINARY WALK: Join Up North Pride to honor the trans lives lost to violence this year. Gather at the UNP Community Center, TC at 5:30pm, where you will also have the opportunity to make a luminary for any additional names you would like to include before the walk begins. Free. upnorthpride.com/event/2025/11/21/ trans-day-of-remembrance-luminary-walk
CADILLAC FOOTLITERS PRESENT: “A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL”: 7pm, Cadillac Community Auditorium, Cadillac High School. Tickets: $12 advance at Brinks Art & Frame and Horizon Books; $14 online; $15 door. cadillacfootliters.com
GREEN DOOR FOLK SCHOOL BARN
DANCE: 7-9pm, Twin Lakes, Gilbert Lodge, TC. Sway, spin, & step your way through contras, squares, & line dances to live music. Friendly guidance will be provided by Pat Reeser of the Bayside Travellers, with a special beginner’s lesson starting at 6:30pm to walk through the basics. Suggested donation: $10-$20. facebook.com/events/1494697778420224
UNDER FRONT (MINI) COMEDY FEST: 7pm, ECCO, downtown TC. A two day mini comedy festival presented by Full Tilt Comedy. Enjoy events showcasing musical improv, long form, sketch comedy, improv for kids, & more. $12. fulltiltcomedy.org
URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL: (See Sat., Nov. 15)
THE MINUTES: (See Sat., Nov. 15)
saturday
EARLIER THAN THE BIRD - BOYNE CITY: 7am. Get a great start on the holidays as downtown Boyne City hosts this early morning shopping event with special offers for those shopping in their pajamas! Free. boynecitymainstreet.com
BROTHER DAN’S HANDMADE HOLIDAY
CRAFT SHOW: 9am-4pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Community Building, Petoskey. Local vendors will feature handmade items for sale in time for the holiday season. Brother Dan’s Food Pantry will be collecting admission & concession sales to benefit feeding local families. Admission is $2 or a non-perishable food item.
FOOD & CLOTHING DRIVE: 1-4pm, Grace
Episcopal Church, TC. Hosted by Women’s March TC. Warm, clean winter clothing, boots (men’s especially), & hand warmers will be donated to Jubilee House for the area’s homeless population as winter arrives. Easy to prepare healthy food will benefit their food pantry.
FRIENDS OF THE ALDEN DISTRICT LIBRARY BOOK SALE: 9am-3pm, Alden District Library. Books, DVDs, CDs, games & puzzles. 231-331-4318.
TORCH AREA ARTISANS GUILD ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW: 9am-3pm, Helena Twp. Community Center, Alden. Arts & crafts made by local vendors. Quilt for raffle, bake sale, lunch available, & periodic door prizes donated by vendors. Free admission. facebook.com/TorchAreaArtisansGuild
VASA SKI CLUB NORDIC SKI SWAP: 10am-1pm, Brick Wheels, TC. Gear up for the cross country ski season! VSC members can get in one hour early at 9am on Sat. VSC club memberships will be for sale on site. Drop off your gear on Fri., Nov. 21 from 4-7pm at Brick Wheels. Free. vasaskiclub.org
WORD FOR WORD: COPYING THE CONSTITUTION: 10am, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. Explore the U.S. Constitution. In partnership with Michigan Writers, author Anne-Marie Oomen will lead this hands-on workshop, with participants copying the entire Constitution, section by section, & then reading aloud & discussing their compiled work. Register in advance: 231.326.5361. glenlakelibrary.net
HIDDEN WORLD OF AQUATIC PLANTS: 10:30am, Benzie Shores District Library, Frankfort. Join the Benzie Conservation District’s Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Kyla Robinson for a presentation that explores the intersection of creativity & ecology. Free. bsdlibrary.org
$1 FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: “FLOW”: 4pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Kids are encouraged to bring their favorite animal stuffy. $1 snacks, popcorn & juice boxes available for purchase. gardentheater.org/comingsoon
SNOWVEMBER FEST XX - 20 YEARS OF RAILS, MUSIC & MAYHEM: 5-9pm, Mt. Holiday, TC. Kick off winter with creative railjam setups, DJs, food & drinks in the lodge, prizes for standout tricks & big style, & more. $30. mt-holiday.com/home
TRAVERSE CITY LIGHT PARADE: Downtown TC. Festivities begin at 5pm with treats, sing-alongs, & Santa’s arrival to light the tree at 6pm, followed by the parade at 6:30pm, & Santa’s House til 9pm. Guests are encouraged to watch from the sidewalks & enjoy giveaways during the Tree Lighting portion. Free. downtowntc.com/downtown-light-parade
2ND ANNUAL HOLIDAY HIDEAWAY: 6pm, City Opera House, TC. Enjoy the Light Parade in style... from above! Christmas music, full bar & treats. $15 in advance; includes a signature holiday beverage or hot cocoa. Under 12, free. cityoperahouse.org
CADILLAC FOOTLITERS PRESENT: “A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL”: (See Fri., Nov. 21)
INTERLOCHEN PIANIST HYEMIN KIM & OBOIST DANIEL GUREVICH: 7pm, The Music House Museum, Williamsburg. Featuring “Oboe: The Singing Voice” with music by M. Arnold, R. Still, C. Saint-Sa’ns, G. Verdi, G. Donizetti, & F. Mendelssohn. $25 online; $30 at door. mynorthtickets.com/events/ the-music-house-is-proud-to-present-thefourth-event-of-hyemin-kims-2025-classical-
ECCO, downtown TC. A two day mini comedy festival presented by Full Tilt Comedy. Today includes an 11am kids show + workshop for little improvisers; $5 kids, adult guardians are free. There will also be a 9:30pm post parade Full Tilt x Untitled Improv mash up show. $12. fulltiltcomedy.org
URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL: (See Sat., Nov. 15)
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DOWNTOWN SOUND PERFORMING ARTS SERIES: 7:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Featuring Peter Madcat Ruth’s CARMa Quartet. Led by Grammy Award–winning harmonica virtuoso Peter Madcat Ruth—also a gifted singer & multi-instrumentalist—the group draws on blues, American roots, folk, jazz, & world traditions. $10-$40. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-petoskey/downtown-sound-peter-madcat-ruths-carma-quartet-november-22
THE MINUTES: (See Sat., Nov. 15)
sunday
ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT & CRAFT SHOW: 11am5pm, Odawa Casino Resort, Petoskey. Support local artists & vendors. Admission is free, but non-perishable food & cash donations are being accepted at the door for the Manna Food Project. odawacasino.com
URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL: (See Sun., Nov. 16) -
DMC CONCERT: LUKE WINSLOW-KING: 6pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Originally from Cadillac, Luke fuses delta blues, roots-rock, & folk music. His music is powerful & authentic. $20 - $30. simpletix.com/e/luke-winslow-kingtickets-228064
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:
- 2025 HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Held in Galleries. A showcase of original art available for purchase during the winter holiday shopping season. This juried exhibition includes knits, jewelry, pottery, ceramics, notecards, prints, ornaments, artwork & more. Runs through Dec. 18. See web site for hours. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/2025-holiday-bazaar-petoskey
- ART SPEAKS: CREATIVE ARTS STUDIO FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES: Held in Atrium Gallery, this exhibition features work created by students in Challenge Mountain & Crooked Tree Arts Center’s Creative Arts Studio program. Runs through Nov. 22. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-petoskey/art-speaks-creative-arts-studio-adults-disabilities-exhibition
- OPEN STUDIO: Held in the Visual Arts Room, Saturdays, 10am-1pm. Free drop-in art studio for the whole family. New projects are offered weekly. crookedtree.org
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC:
- MERRY MARKETPLACE 2025: HOLIDAY ART MARKET: Runs through Dec. 13 in Cornwell Gallery. Shop hundreds of unique handmade gifts & works of art from artists all over the state. See hours on web site. Pop-Up Holiday Art Market on Sat., Nov. 22 & Sat., Dec. 6. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-
traverse-city/merry-marketplace-holiday-artmarket
- DREAM & MEMORY - WILLIAM LINDEMANN RECENT WORK: Held in Cornwell Gallery. Lindemann’s work explores the shifting space between dreaming & waking. Working mostly in acrylic & mixed media, he combines color, paper, & found materials to translate invisible emotions & fleeting memories into visible form. Runs through Nov. 15. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/dream-and-memorywilliam-lindemann-recent-work
- THE EKPHRASTIC 2: Held in Carnegie Galleries. This exhibit brings together the visual & the written word in a powerful celebration of creativity & connection. It features artwork by 16 artists, each paired with a writer who has created poetry, prose, or reflections inspired by the pieces on display. Runs through Nov. 15. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/ekphrastic-2-tc
DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:
- DEWEY BLOCKSMA: ROUNDTABLE: Blocksma’s artwork is a gathering of figures & ideas, real & imagined, informed by medicine & art. Common themes include: puzzle heads, violin women, fake computers, Dutch cowboys, porcupines, & much more, all within a world assembled & reassembled, juggling toys buffeted by current events. Runs through Jan. 4. Check web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view
- ICE INTO OCEAN: ARCTIC TRACINGS: This exhibition is the result of a seven year collaboration between Cy Keener & Justine Holzman, exploring how ice shifts & reshapes the landscapes of the Arctic. Through large scale drawings, images, & installation, the exhibit investigates the nature & movement of ice & water across this remote environment. Runs through Jan. 4. Check web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org/art/nowon-view
- BENEATH THE SURFACE: TRAINING TOMORROW’S WATER STEWARDS: The Great Lakes Water Studies Institute at NMC is advancing freshwater, groundwater, & marine science through cutting-edge technology, education, & research. This exhibit highlights NMC students’ hands-on work with remotely operated vehicles, sonar mapping, & groundwater sampling. Runs through Jan. 4. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum. org/art/now-on-view
GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:
- SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT: MIXED MEDIA PAINTINGS BY CAROL C SPAULDING: Held in Lobby Gallery. Enjoy this small group of new mixed media paintings that runs through Dec. 17. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org/exhibits
- 2025 SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY EXHIBITION: An annual showcase of 2D + 3D work that offers small, original art at affordable prices... $150 or less. The exhibition runs through Dec. 17 & features more than 100 works of art, 12 x 12 or smaller, by 19 artists. See web site for gallery hours. glenarborart. org/events/all-events
OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT
- OAC HOLIDAY ARTISAN BOUTIQUE: Find gifts from regional artists showcasing a variety of ready-to-gift handmade items, holiday cards, ornaments, accessories & more. Runs through Dec. 24. Tues. - Sat.: 10am4pm; Sun.: noon-4pm. Oliver Art Center is closed on Mondays & also Nov. 27-28. oliverart.org
- ELEMENTAL: EARTH, FIRE, AIR, WATER: Michigan artists explore the elements as inspiration for their work in a variety of media. Runs through Nov. 21. Open Tues. - Sat., 10am-4pm; Sun., noon-4pm. oliverart.org
THE GREENHOUSE - WILLOW/ PRIMOS, CADILLAC 11/19 -- Trivia Night & Music Bingo, 6-9 11/22 -- Silent Disco Dance Party, 8
BLACK STAR FARMS, SUTTONS BAY 6-8: 11/15 – Bob Roberts 11/22 – Nick Veine
FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH 6-8: 11/17 -- Monday Music Trivia 11/20 -- Trivia Thursdays
FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR 11/20 -- John Paul, 3-6
IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE 5:30-7:30: 11/15 -- Brian Curran 11/21 -- Andy McQuillen 11/22 -- Luke Woltanski
ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH 11/20 -- Open Mic Night, 6-9
Night Songs, 6:30 11/21 -- Charlie Witthoeft, 7-10 11/22 -- Mike Ridley, 7-10
THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 11/15 -- Emily Kenyon, 8 11/21 -- Musician's Playground, 7 11/22 -- Sam Schneider, 8
THE WIGWAM, INDIAN RIVER 11/20 -- Dominic Fortuna, 7:30-9:30
11/21 -- John Piatek, 5-8 11/22 -- Dags Und Timmah!, 5-8
SWEET’S BAR & GRILL, HONOR Mon. – Music Bingo, 7 Fri. – Music Bingo, 8; Karaoke, 10 Sat. – Karaoke, 8
Photo by Tyler Steimle
lOGY
NOV 17 - NOV 23
BY ROB BREZSNY
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your theme for the coming weeks is the fertile power of small things: the transformations that happen in the margins and subtle gestures. A kind word that shifts someone's day, for instance. Or a refusal to participate in casual cruelty. Or a choice to see value in what you're supposed to ignore. So I hope you will meditate on this healing theme: Change doesn't always announce itself with drama and manifestos. The most heroic act might be to pay tender attention and refuse to be numbed. Find power in understated insurrections.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I suggest that in the coming weeks you care more about getting things done than pursuing impossible magnificence. The simple labor of love you actually finish is worth more than the masterpiece you never start. The healthy but makeshift meal you throw together feeds you well, whereas the theoretical but abandoned feast does not. Even more than usual, Leo, the perfect will be the enemy of the good. Here are quotes to inspire you. 1. "Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order." —Anne Wilson Schaef. 2. "Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." — Harriet Braiker. 3. "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence." —Vince Lombardi.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Now is an excellent time to practice the art of forgetting. I hope you formulate an intention to release the grievances and grudges that are overdue for dissolution. They not only don’t serve you but actually diminish you. Here's a fact about your brain: It remembers everything unless you actively practice forgetting. So here’s my plan: Meditate on the truth that forgiveness is not a feeling; it's a decision to stop rehearsing the resentment, to quit telling yourself the story that keeps the wound fresh. The lesson you’re ready to learn: Some memories are worth evicting. Not all the past is worth preserving. Selective amnesia can be a survival skill.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): ): A Navajo blessing says, “May you walk in beauty.” Not just see beauty or create it, but walk in it, inhabit it, and move through the world as if beauty is your gravity. When you’re at the height of your lyrical powers, Libra, you do this naturally. You are especially receptive to the aesthetic soul of things. You can draw out the harmony beneath surface friction and improvise grace in the midst of chaos. I’m happy to tell you that you are currently at the height of these lyrical powers. hope you’ll be bold in expressing them. Even if others aren’t consciously aware and appreciative of what you’re doing, beautify every situation you’re in.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A day on Venus (one rotation on its axis) lasts about 243 Earth days. However, a year on Venus (one orbit around the sun) takes only about 225 Earth days. So a Venusian day is longer than its year. If you lived on Venus, the sun wouldn’t even set before your next Venusian birthday arrived. Here's another weird fact: Contrary to what happens on every other planet in the solar system, on Venus the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Moral of the story: Even planets refuse to conform and make their own rules. If celestial bodies can be so gloriously contrary to convention, so can you. In accordance with current astrological omens, encourage you to exuberantly explore this creative freedom in the coming weeks.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Let’s revisit the ancient Greeks’ understanding that we are all born with a daimon: a guiding spirit who whispers help and counsel, especially if we stay alert for its assistance. Typically, the messages are subtle, even half-disguised. Our daimons don’t usually shout. But I predict that will change for you in the coming weeks, especially if you cultivate listening as a superpower. Your personal daimon will be extra talkative and forthcoming. So be vigilant for unexpected support, Capricorn. Expect epiphanies and breakthrough revelations. Pay attention to the book that falls open to a page that has an oracular hint just for you. Take notice of a song that repeats or a sudden urge to change direction on your walk.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Awe should be one of your featured emotions in the coming weeks. hope you will also seek out and cultivate reverence, deep respect, excited wonder, and an attraction to sublime surprises. Why do I recommend such seemingly impractical measures? Because you’re close to breaking through into a heightened capacity for generosity of spirit and a sweet lust for life. Being alert for amazement and attuned to transcendent experiences could change your life for the better forever. I love your ego—it’s a crucial aspect of your make-up—but now is a time to exalt and uplift your soul.
PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): What if your anxiety is actually misinterpreted excitement? What if the difference between worry and exhilaration is the story you tell yourself about the electricity streaming through you? Maybe your body is revving up for something interesting and important, but your mind mislabels the sensation. Try this experiment: Next time your heart races and your mind spins, tell yourself "I'm excited" instead of "I'm anxious.” See if your mood shape-shifts.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the coming weeks, I invite you to commune intimately with your holy anger. Not petulant tantrums, not the ego's defensive rage, but the fierce love that refuses to tolerate injustice. You will be wise to draw on the righteous "No!" that draws boundaries and defends the vulnerable. I hope you will call on protective fury on behalf of those who need help. Here’s a reminder of what I’m sure you know: Calmness in the face of cruelty isn’t enlightenment but complicity. Your anger, when it safeguards and serves love rather than destroys, is a spiritual practice.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The Korean concept of jeong is the emotional bond that forms between people, places, or things through shared experiences over time. It's deeper than love and more complex than attachment: the accumulated weight of history together. You can have jeong for a person you don't even like anymore, for a city that broke your heart, for a coffee mug you've used every morning for years. As the scar tissue of togetherness, it can be beautiful and poignant. Now is an especially good time for you to appreciate and honor your jeong. Celebrate and learn from the soulful mysteries your history has bequeathed you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Over 100 trillion bacteria live in your intestines. They have a powerful impact. They produce neurotransmitters, influence your mood, train your immune system, and communicate with your brain via the vagus nerve. Other life forms are part of the team within you, too, including fungi, viruses, and archaea. So in a real sense, you are not merely a human who contains small organisms. You are an ecosystem of species making collective decisions. Your "gut feelings" are collaborations. I bring this all to your attention because the coming weeks will be a highly favorable time to enhance the health of your gut biome. For more info: https://tinyurl.com/EnhanceGutBiome
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Why, yes, I myself am born under the sign of Cancer the Crab, just as you are. So as I offer you my ongoing observations and counsel, I am also giving myself blessings. In the coming weeks, we will benefit from going through a phase of consolidation and integration. The creative flourishes we have unveiled recently need to be refined and activated on deeper levels. This necessary deepening may initially feel more like work than play, and not as much fun as the rapid progress we have been enjoying. But with a slight tweak of our attitude, we can thoroughly thrive during this upcoming phase.
“Jonesin”
Crosswords
ACROSS
1. Recede
4. Adjust to a new situation
9. Reach via jet
14. ___-Magnon (early Homo sapiens)
15. Opening
16. Hotel offerings
17. U.K. singer who left his boy band in 2015
19. Trooper maker
20. Digital party notice
21. Seafood in a "shooter"
23. Mosquito net material
24. He played Max Bialystock in "The Producers"
28. Volcanic debris
29. Election Day mo.
30. Repetitive Olympics chant
31. Bed covering
34. "You're born naked, and the rest is ___": RuPaul
35. New York City's mayor as of January 1, 2026
39. "Bob's Burgers" daughter
40. Pay rate
41. Disinclined (to)
44. Whatever number
45. Consumer protection gp.
48. Former Dallas Cowboys guard on the NFL 2010s
All-Decade Team
51. Back
52. More keen
53. "Filthy" money
54. "WarGames" org.
56. Youngest of a set of comedic film brothers
59. "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" author Fannie
60. "___ called to say I love you ..."
61. 2018 Super Bowl number
62. One-on-one student
63. "Ghostbusters" actress Annie
64. ___ Gala (annual NYC event)
DOWN
1. Dermatitis type
2. Faces courageously
3. Like some youthful charm
4. "Je t'___" ("I love you," in French)
5. Lab evidence
6. The NBA's Hawks, on a scoreboard
7. Aforementioned
8. Ginza's city
9. Chips with a Chili Cheese variety
10. Crosses the International Date Line, perhaps
11. "I've made my move"
12. Celebrity gossip website
13. Buckeyes' sch.
18. Extreme degree
22. Alma mater of Laura Bush, briefly
24. Harlem Renaissance author ___ Neale Hurston
25. Squares up
26. "Caprica" actor Morales
27. Fall behind
29. "All Songs Considered" network
31. Diver's enclosure
32. Reddit Q&A feature
33. Part of a Buddhist title
35. "NCIS: Tony & ___" (2025 spinoff)
36. Like some diamonds, sizewise
37. "Death in Venice" author Thomas
38. Not sweet, as wine
39. "Space Jam" character, familiarly
42. Mess up, as ink
43. Part of MRE
45. "Chill, will you?"
46. "Peter Pan" author
47. Portmanteau in 2016 U.K. news
49. Close again
50. Danny of "Machete"
51. Mojito liquor
53. A bunch
54. Theoretically uncopyable piece of digital art, for short
55. Jazz trumpeter/singer ___ Dara, Nas's father
57. Stated
58. Seattle hrs.
"Zoom Lens"-people with the same initials. by Matt Jones
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