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NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S WEEKLY • october 05 - october 11, 2026 • Vol. 36 No.40
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letters CONTENTS Drop Us a Line! Northern Express is a communitycentered paper that covers local people, places, entertainment, and news. We invite letters to the editor that also address issues in northern Michigan, whether that’s local policies, changes in your community, art and education, or hot topics like housing, tourism, and the environment (just to name a few). If it touches northern Michigan, it is something we want to share! We also welcome letters “in conversation” with any stories, columns, and other letters published in Northern Express. Letters must be civil, 300 words or fewer, and submitted no more than once per month per person. Letters will be edited for clarity, and letters or portions may be omitted due to space or issues with questionable facts/ citations or privacy. We do not print letters that have been sent to or published in other media. To have your letter included, please provide your full name and city of residence in northern Michigan.
features The 2026 Apple Harvest.................................10
TC Leaf Pickup By The Numbers......................12 Falling in Love with Leelanau............................14 Navigating the Tunnel of Trees This Fall............16 The Tasting Room Is Now Cellar & Flame.........17
EXPERIENCE A NORTHERN MICHIGAN FALL Don’t miss the fall colors. Get your tickets now!
columns & stuff Top Ten.........................................................4 Spectator/Stephen Tuttle..................................6 Guest Opinion/Williams.....................................7 Weird..............................................................9 Dates..........................................................18 Astrology.......................................................23 Crossword.....................................................23 Nitelife...........................................................24
PLEASE NOTE: We do not print candidate/ ballot measure endorsements, but other local papers do!
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Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 3
this week’s
top ten NoMi’s Own Renaissance Faire
Step back in time at the St. Ambrose Faire! Held on the grounds of the popular Beulah meadery and winery, this Oct. 10 event invites you to dress in your Renaissance best and enjoy a day of old-timey fun and entertainment. There will be sword fighting, bards playing their tunes, a veritable feast (featuring St. Ambrose food and drink, plus faire-inspired treats), and plenty more for all ages. The Vendor Market is the star of the show, home to artisans from across the North selling everything from “handcrafted jewelry and rustic pottery to finely worked leather goods,” per the St. Ambrose website. Join in on the fun from 12-7pm on Saturday; tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for kids 5-12, and free for ages four and under. Learn more at stambrosemead-wine.com/events/st-ambrose-renaissance-faire.
2 tastemaker
Archie’s Chick Please
Food truck season is starting to wind down, so hurry to The Little Fleet in Traverse City to get your hands on our favorite falafel sandwich in town. This year, Archie’s Social House went back to their roots with the return of their truck, and the menu is a bit different from what you’ll find at the brick-and-mortar location. It’s a win for us, because we got to have the Chick Please, the veggie option on their slider menu that features a soft, buttery bun, a crispy falafel patty, and then the standard cucumber, tomato, and tzatziki sauce, plus shredded lettuce. It’s the type of “burger” you can feel good about eating. Grab one ($9) at 448 E Front St. in Traverse City. (And if it rains, just hit up Archie’s homebase on Lake Ave!) archiesfresh.com
4 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
Cozy Cottage Concerts
If you loved Music Under the Pines in the summer, head to Twisted Fish Art Gallery in Elk Rapids for Cottage Concerts! Enjoy an evening of traditional Celtic harp songs peppered with American folk, country, and pop classics performed by acclaimed harpist, singer, composer, and teacher Carol Kappus. In between traveling to Scotland and Ireland, Kappus stops at Twisted Fish Art Gallery, Sunday Oct. 11, at 4pm. Tickets are $30 and are limited to 50 guests; price includes light hors d’oeuvres and a beverage of choice. twistedfishgallery.com
Hey, Read It! In the Light of the Sun When we meet Rosa and Caramina Grassi, the year is 1941. As World War II rages on, Rosa, who’s nearing the end of her operatic conservatory training in Florence (aided by her accomplished nonna), is on the precipice of her stage debut, when the dictatorial hand of Mussolini—and the pull of a local anti-fascist group known as “la Resistenza”— calls everything she knows into question. Simultaneously, her younger sister Cara, also a gifted vocalist, is forced to put her future on hold when opposing Japanese forces invade their Mountain Province home in the Philippines. With thousands of miles and infinite dangers between them, the women must rely on the strength of family and their shared love of music for solace—and for survival. Based on real-life events, Michigan author Angela Shupe’s debut novel In the Light of the Sun is one of unthinkable loss, unconditional love, and the healing journey by which two sisters find their way back to each other. A historical fiction must-read!
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6 Running toward
Photo by Gabe Rovick
Fall in Frankfort
Fall festivals are going to be running nonstop from now until November, and Frankfort is no exception! The annual Frankfort Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9am-6pm. Expect all your favorite activities: the parade and accompanying Mutt March, live music, pumpkin carving and decorating, games for kids and grown-ups (including a cornhole tournament), and a craft fair packed with local talent. Learn more here: frankfortdowntown.com/fall-fest. That same day is the Port City Run starting at 9am, a 5K race which journeys from Open Space Park along the Betsie Valley Trail, into Elberta, and then back. Registration is $29+ (prices go up after Oct. 5) at runsignup.com/Race/ MI/Frankfort/PortCityRun. Funds raised from the event will help support the FrankfortElberta Area cross-country and track programs.
Stuff We Love: Five Impact100 Winners When Traverse City’s Impact100 first started, the goal was to raise $100,000 per year to support a local nonprofit, with each member of the group (all 100 of them) adding $1,000. Now, a decade after their founding, Impact100 wants to raise that annual bar to half a million dollars. They’re off to a strong start—at the end of September, Impact100 had their annual award meeting that delivered a total of $360,000 to three grantees: 5Loaves2Fish (a community meals program fighting food insecurity), The Bay Community Theatre in Suttons Bay, and Friends of the Fife Lake Public Library. Each received $120,000. Two other finalists, Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail and Michigan Indian Legal Services, each got a $3,000 award. In their 10 years of operation, Impact100 has generated more than $3 million for nonprofits in the five-county area. How will they grow next? impacttc.org
Pellston Trailhead Facility Opens North Western State Trail hikers and bikers (and once winter comes, snowmobilers) now have a new haven between Alanson and Mackinaw City. At the end of September, the Village of Pellston announced the opening of the new Pellston Trailhead Facility (6291 W. Main St.) that will be open year round. The facility includes a covered pavilion, public restrooms, parking, and a drinking water station. Per a press release from the village, the project was made possible through funding from “the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wenger Foundation & Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation along with in-kind contributions from the Village of Pellston and the DDA.” The North Western State Trail is 32 miles in length and connects Petoskey, Alanson, Pellston, and Mackinaw City. Learn more about the new trailhead at trailscouncil.org/north-western-state-trail.
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Autumn
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT COMEDY NIGHT | WEDNESDAY, 10/14 A HOGWARTS FEAST | SATURDAY, 10/17 ANNUAL HALLOWEEN BASH | SATURDAY, 10/31 TRIVIA TUESDAYS KARAOKE FRIDAYS D O W N T O W N P E TO S K E Y
bottoms up Noble Lounge & Bar’s Hungry for Apples With fall in the air, we’re craving orchard fruit—and the folks at Dexter Hotel’s Noble Lounge & Bar in Elk Rapids have the answer in their Hungry for Apples cocktail. An autumnal take on the French 75, this pomme-y pour layers the baked-fruit backbone of Chicken Cock Old Glory, the rye whiskey blended with Laird’s apple brandy, with house cinnamon syrup (notes of clove, allspice, and nutmeg) and clarified citric Honeycrisp apple juice. Finished with Bos Wine’s 2025 Spitzenburg Cider and an aromatic cascade of torched cinnamon, this seasonal sip is bright and crisp with a warmly-spiced palette and effervescent pop—just like sinking your teeth into a freshly-picked apple. Hungry, er, thirsty yet? Fill your glass at the Noble Lounge & Bar at 112 Dexter St. (inside the Dexter Hotel) in Elk Rapids. dexterhotel.com
Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 5
HELP WANTED
spectator By Stephen Tuttle The United States has an unemployment problem, but not because there are no available jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate as this is being written is 4.1 percent and, according to the state of Michigan’s own data, our unemployment rate at the end of August was 5.0 percent.
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But there are jobs aplenty currently open. The National Federation of Independent Businesses says fully 35 percent of small business owners report job openings and 56 percent are currently trying to hire. According to that same Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 7.3 million job openings nationally at the end of July— 205,000 in Michigan, or 1.2 unemployed people for every job opening. The problem is that way too often the job applicants do not have the requisite qualifications for the available jobs. Many require specialized skills, training, or education the applicants lack. Employers are having particular difficulty filling openings for registered nurses, physical therapists, computer technicians, and engineers, not to mention the trades like plumbers, electricians, and HVAC workers. Shortages even exist in unskilled construction jobs. In fact, according to Lighthouse Hiring, a whopping 82 percent of job applicants do not meet the required qualifications in the above mentioned categories. Then there is the agricultural sector, devastated by immigration round-ups and dramatic price hikes for fertilizers and diesel fuel. Dirt-to-Diner describes itself as an education organization that provides information on how food travels from the farm to the consumer. They keep track of farm employment among other metrics. They say 56 percent of farmers report labor shortages impacting both planting and harvesting. For those who believe illegal immigrants are taking jobs that would have otherwise been filled by U.S. citizens, Dirt-to-Diner has some unsettling facts for you. In 2025, there were 415,000 advertised labor jobs on U.S. farms. Of those 415,000, a pathetic 182 were filled by U.S. citizens. Even Congress acknowledges undocumented laborers plant and harvest much if not most of the food we eat; their data indicates between 50 percent and 70 percent of the agriculture workforce is still undocumented.
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6 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
Itinerant migrant workers of the sort who used to “follow the fruit” up western Michigan, including our cherry harvest, formerly a significant percentage of those harvesting our crops, now comprise just 4 percent of that workforce. While some row crops like corn, wheat, and soy beans can now be harvested by machine, some vegetables and nuts and most fruits must
still be harvested by human hands. Even worse, much of the harvest of many crops is time sensitive, so delays can cause a crop to fail on the tree or on the vine. More than a million legal and illegal immigrants have disappeared from the job market in the last five years, according to Preliminary Census Data, though there is no data on if and where they were employed. We do know that recent immigration sweeps have caught many employed non-citizens. That same census data indicated that prior to the most recent immigration sweeps, more than 74 percent of illegal immigrants were in the U.S. workforce. They worked in our fields, slaughterhouses, processing plants, packing plants, canning operations; in short, the unpleasant but necessary jobs American citizens shun. They bused our restaurant tables, mowed our lawns, and cleaned our hotel rooms. If, as the usually reliable Pew Research Center says, there are about 12 million undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. and 75 percent are employed, that means nine million jobs are now being filled by employees at risk of deportation and more job openings likely going unfilled by American citizens. When the current ICE immigration crackdown was announced as an effort to find and deport the “worst of the worst,” those who had arrived only to commit heinous crimes once here or to escape punishment for such crimes back home, support was nearly universal. But we quickly abandoned that idea and just started rounding up everybody we could find, including taking them away from job sites, courtrooms, even college campuses. So we created more job openings. The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a non-partisan research organization located at Syracuse University, found that 70.6 percent of ICE detainees have no criminal record of any kind at all, including traffic citations. (There are currently 65,000 to 75,000 ICE detainees, but the number changes daily.) Our labor shortage is partly the result of changing demands in the workforce requiring different skillsets in many industries. It’s also because we’ve created the shortages ourselves with a shortsighted and often cruel immigration crackdown that generates headlines but benefits almost no one. We understand the politics at play here, but pulling workers out of the fields also takes food off the grocery store shelves and off our plates. Immigration policies that lack common sense do more harm than good.
GET THEM TO THE POLLS
guest opinion by Cathye Williams About a third of Michiganders pick fall as their favorite season, and I’m definitely one of them. Oh sure, I love summer too, but often I’m too busy to get the most out of those sunny days. I will definitely make up for it in the fall. With a few exceptions, anything that you can do in August, you can still do well into October. Sure, the sun is out less, but so are the mosquitos. The air might get too chilly to swim, but the trails are just as lovely, and the streams just as sparkling. There is certainly no better time to go down a river than when the salmon are running. And of course… there’s the colors. Even as the days shorten, I notice plenty of people are still out there, paddling, hunting, fishing, birding, biking, and stargazing. They’re still on the water, on trails, in the backwoods, and in their backyards. Clearly, there are a lot of folks who love being in nature in all seasons. This could be a huge untapped demographic in northern Michigan, with many in this “big tent” likely sharing values about caring for and protecting our environment. This thought gets me revved up for another of my favorite fall things: voting. Call me a nerd, but if Election Day were a holiday, as it should be, it would be my favorite. I love a good sample ballot and learning as much as I can about what’s on it. I try to vote my values and want to support candidates who don’t shy from talking about environmental challenges and crises. In a few weeks, I’ll be grabbing a voting buddy and heading to my precinct. And after exercising my right to vote, I will exercise my right to a cookie and proudly take a selfie wearing my “I Voted” sticker. (Hey, I did say nerd.) Unfortunately, many like-minded people will likely sit it out on Nov. 3. As much as my neighbors cherish the nature around them, they may not always express that love by joining in the electoral process. According to the Environmental Voter Project (EVP), roughly 11.2 million registered voters identified as environmentalists did not vote in the 2024 presidential election. That means that roughly half of registered U.S. voters who named climate change or other environmental issues as their number one concern, did not vote. It’s likely that even more will sit out the midterms next month (Environmental Voter Project 2023-24 Impact Report). Fortunately, the EVP sees this rather depressing statistic as an opportunity to turn non-voters into voters, in a methodical long-term plan to create an environmental voting bloc that can’t
be ignored. Using analytics, prediction models, and messaging based on the latest behavioral science, the EVP identifies millions of environmentalists who are registered to vote, then narrows these subjects down to only those who usually don’t vote or are unlikely to vote. EVP volunteers then communicate (via text, calls, canvassing, writing, and ads) with these seldom or non-voters before every election—local, state, and national. They test their message effectiveness and continually update and optimize it to their specific audiences. Because the EV Project is non-partisan, political parties, issues, and candidates are not mentioned. Communication is focused on voting as a social norm and helping people make a concrete plan to vote. According to EVP founder Nathaniel Stinnett, once someone votes for the first time, they’re much more likely to vote again in future elections, but you can’t change long-term habits by only talking to people in even numbered years. That’s why the EVP works year round, every year, checking voter records and regularly following up with subjects until they become “super voters” who consistently vote in every election, even the small ones.
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Speaking of which, don’t overlook the importance of the small elections. Public service commissions, utility boards, permitting and zoning officials, school boards, and county commissions all have a role in energy, infrastructure, and environmental policy. Since piloting in 2015, the EVP has helped 2.2 million environmentally concerned citizens to reach the status of super voter and show up for all of it. Sixty percent of adults in Michigan are now worried about climate change. Sixtyeight percent believe climate change will harm future generations (Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2025). Don’t forget that the same fossil fuels driving climate change pose other dangers as well, such as particulate air pollution, site water contamination, and risk of leaks or explosions. We have the technology, the know-how, and lots of great solutions to these problems, but no leaders who are willing to implement them. Experience has shown them that getting elected is easier if they don’t. It’s time to show them differently. If you don’t have a plan to vote yet, for goodness sake, make one. Talk about it and, if able, help someone else to get there too. When you vote, flex it. Be loud and proud and show ’em how it’s done. Cathye Williams is a local climate activist. She writes from the northern corner of Manistee County.
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SYDNEY SWEET (Junior - Girls Golf - TC Central) Sydney has earned her way to the top spot on the golf team, improving her score every time we have played this year and earned her first career medal at the Traverse City Central BNC Invite. Sydney has also shown great leadership on the team and has grown into someone who holds the team accountable.
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Plot Twist A woman who fled from police in Bunnell, Florida, ended up needing their help. WFTV reported that Tiffani Driggers, 28, ran into a wooded area after the Flagler County Sheriff 's Office responded to a trespass complaint at a self-storage business on Sept. 17. Driggers had an active fugitive warrant and fled when she saw the deputies. The sheriff 's office utilized its drone unit, K-9 team and deputies to search for Driggers but didn't find her. However, a resident from the area called the sheriff 's department later that day after hearing a woman calling for help nearby. Upon responding, deputies made voice contact across a canal with the woman in distress, who turned out to be Driggers. According to a news release from the sheriff 's department, Driggers said "she was exhausted, unable to cross the water, and may have injured her ankle." An area resident offered to loan deputies a canoe, which they accepted. Deputies located Driggers and used the canoe to get her across the canal, where she was evaluated by Volusia County Fire Rescue. She was then taken into custody. [WFTV, 9/18/26] Horseplay A runaway horse led a parade of police, drone operators and cowboys down the streets of Santa Fe, People reported on Sept. 16. The horse made a break for it on the morning of Sept. 13, prior to Desfile de La Gente, an annual community parade in Santa Fe. In an aerial video shared by the Santa Fe Police Department, the horse was seen galloping down streets and sidewalks, eventually making its way to the highway. Police eventually confined the horse in a corner near a building by forming a wall with their bodies and motorcycles and attempted to calm the horse. "Motors Officers were able to corral him on Canyon Road and the owner was able to trot him back to the parade starting point in time for a quick drink of water before the parade started," SFPD said. [People, 9/16/26] Asking for Help A pelican seeking help used its beak to tap on the door of a Florida marine research facility, The Washington Post reported on Sept. 20. Upon answering the knock, a biologist found a brown pelican standing on the facility's stoop, its right wing wrapped with fishing line and speared with a doublebarbed treble hook. Additionally, several cactus spines were stuck in one of its feet. The bird was unable to fly. Though the biologists at that laboratory typically study sharks and fish, they didn't hesitate to help the injured bird. Annsli Hilton, a University of Miami research associate, was ready to assist. "I always kind of thought in my head -- and liked to think that -- animals would know to either come to me for help or to come to the lab for help," Hilton said. After receiving care, the pelican was carried to a nearby basin, where it stretched its wings and then flew away. [The Washington Post, 9/20/26] Goat Chase After months of searching, Ohio police finally caught their slippery fugitive: Cardio the Goat. The Washington Post reported on Sept. 24 that the runaway bovid had been wreaking havoc in the Dayton area
for months, even going so far as to damage cars. Three police officers responded to a call about a possible goat sighting. "I wanted to find the goat so I could pet it, mostly," Sgt. Salli Jones said. "But also, you know, it is a problem if things are getting damaged." After 90 minutes in pursuit, the officers captured the goat using a snare around its neck and named it "Cardio," in honor of the workout it put them through. Cardio was surrendered to the Humane Society, which put out a social media call for Cardio's adoption. Local goat farmer Cassie Keeton took him home, where she hopes he'll join her other goats for goat yoga and for cuddles at various events. [Washington Post, 9/24/26] Take a Chill Pill Matthew Ware, 34, of Los Angeles, was arrested after witnesses say he pepper-sprayed a fellow moviegoer in a theater on Sept. 15, NBC 4 reported. Two other people were treated at a nearby hospital after experiencing irritation from the aerosol spray. Ware allegedly ran out of the theater and was apprehended after three other patrons chased him down. "The thing that stuck out the most was him saying that the guy on the phone 'got smart' with him," witness Joe Rodriguez said. "This was just a guy who was frustrated and lashed out because a guy was being rude at the movies." [NBC 4, 9/20/26] Tiffany Booze, 38, of Maryland, is under electronic monitoring after punching a clerk and pulling a gun at a store in Charles County, ABC 7 reported on Sept. 16. The sheriff 's office says Booze, who was impatient after waiting in line to make her purchase, punched the cashier in the face, left the store and reapproached the store shortly after with a gun. She then left the area but neglected to retrieve her wallet and phone from the checkout counter, which aided police in tracking her down. [ABC 7, 9/16/26]
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Birthday Blues ONONON THE HISTORIC FRONT TRAVERSECOMMONS COMMONS THE HISTORIC FRONT LAWN OF THE VILLAGE TRAVERSE COMMONS THE HISTORIC FRONTLAWN LAWNOF OFTHE THEVILLAGE VILLAGEAT AT GRAND GRAND TRAVERSE Danielle Tammone of Long Island spent part of her 47th birthday in arguably one of the last places anyone would want to celebrate -- a hole in the ground. CBS News reported on Sept. 18 that Tammone was strolling her backyard when the ground suddenly gave way beneath her, creating a hole about 8 feet deep. Tammone said that when she tried to climb out, stone crumbled around her feet, putting her in an even more perilous situation. "It's my birthday. This might be my death date," Tammone said. "I couldn't breathe well, because I was gasping, and scared and crying." Neighbors heard her screams for help, rushed over and called 911. Responders used ladders to pull Tammone out of the hole. "Firemen, cops, ambulance, special unit, EMTs -- they were wonderful," Tammone said. "And they all sang 'Happy Birthday' to me. It was great." [CBS News, 9/18/26] Special Delivery Where do babies come from? Why, Bay Area traffic jams, of course. Baby Cielle was born on Saturday, Sept. 19, on the side of the road when her parents got stuck on their way to the hospital in San Francisco, ABC 7 reported. With traffic barely moving, paramedics had to park several blocks away and run to the family. Coincidentally, a doula was also stuck in thevillagetc.com/events the same area and was able to help coach thevillagetc.com/events mom Karollyn through her contractions. thevillagetc.com/events (231) 941-1900 Cielle was delivered safely, and Mom and thevillagetc.com/events (231) 941-1900 (231) 941-1900 baby are doing well. [ABC 7, 9/22/26]
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(231) 941-1900 Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 9
By Drew VanDrie Perhaps one of the most definitive signs of fall in northern Michigan is a bushel full of ripe apples. From U-pick at the orchard to perusing at the farmers market, fresh local apples are staple produce and one many look forward to all year. Northern Express connected with two local apple farmers to get the latest on this season’s apple harvest. Kristie Altonen is the owner of Altonen Orchards, a multigenerational farm based in Williamsburg. (Altonen is also the tasting room manager at the affiliated Townline Ciderworks in Elk Rapids.) Isaiah Wunsch is the CEO of Wunsch Farms, a sixth-generation farm located on Old Mission Peninsula. Express: How is the crop looking compared to last year? Altonen: “It’s looking quite comparable to last year. Three or four years have been what we would refer to as ‘good’ apple crops, as opposed to cherries that are volatile in the spring to maybe a late freeze. Apples aren’t far enough along at that time, so they escaped some of that potential freeze damage. So they generally do quite well, and they have done quite well the last three or four years. I would say [we’re] on track; there’s a good amount of fruit, good quality fruit.” Wunsch: “I think that it looks good! Last year was good, but it was a little bit of a smaller crop. This year, I would guess that there are maybe 10 or 15 percent more apples out in the field than there were last year. So we’re up a little bit over 2025, down a little bit over 2024. So it looks like a really, really nice balance. With cherries, you always want as many cherries as you can possibly get. With apples, they can over-crop. So I think we have a really nice balance between the kind of volume that we need for that ceiling before you start to see quality declining. So it looks like a really good volume.”
The 2026 Apple Harvest Farmers talk weird weather, climate change, U-pick, and hope for a successful crop
10 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
Express: What varieties are you growing? Altonen: “We grow several varieties, 20+ varieties and also 20+ varieties of cider apples, which are completely different from eating apples, which are also referred to as dessert apples. Our main seller is Honeycrisp … [but we also grow] Chisel Gold, Zestar, Paula Red, and there’s something called the Premier Honeycrisp. It’s like a sister to the Honeycrisp that we’re all used to, but it just ripens earlier. It doesn’t last as long as a typical Honeycrisp, but it gives you that flavor and that texture earlier than you would typically get a Honeycrisp.” Wunsch: “The main varieties that we grow are Honeycrisp, Johnny Gold, Northern Spy, McIntosh, Empire, Yellow Delicious, and a whole bunch of other ones. We have at least 15 different apple varieties.” Express: Where do the apples end up? U-Pick, market, wholesale? Altonen: “We sell them at our two retail locations, one on US-31, one on M-72. We also sell them for commercial use, some of those end users are things like GoGo Squeeze, which is very popular with children. They also end up in some fresh packs in the state when you sell commercially. But we also use some for juice, you know, that goes into our cider at our tasting room.” Wunsch: “We do primarily wholesale. We run a little U-pick every fall out on our main farm, which is on the north end of Old Mission. And the cool thing about our apple U-pick is that we donate one pound of apples for every pound of apples that people [pick]. So we sell the apples at the typical grocery store retail price. But then because people are out there picking them, we donate one pound for every pound that we sell to food banks like Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan.”
• INNOVATIVE NEW AMERICAN CUISINE •
Express: What have been some challenges this year with weather, pests, invasive species? Any lingering issues from the storms in April? Altonen: “[Apples] can get damage from wind and things like hail. Fortunately, we haven’t had hail at our primary locations for growing apples in Williamsburg, just south of Elk Rapids, and we also have a farm north of Elk Rapids near the 45th parallel. And neither of those locations have had hail yet, fingers crossed. … But there’s still a ways to go because we have apples on the trees until early October to mid-October. “There has been the disease pressure with the moisture. So that can introduce things like pests or bacteria or something called fire blight. It’s when you see an apple or a pear tree that looks like it’s been burnt. It’s a bacteria called erwinia amylovora—it’s not at all good for the orchard. So you have to be really careful to remove it. You have to dip shears into a bleach or alcohol solution and cut and do that every single time to cut it away from the tree so it doesn’t spread.” Wunsch: “The Old Mission Peninsula mostly came out of the frost this spring unscathed. So we had generally a pretty good crop of cherries on Old Mission, but we were definitely the aberration regionally. Most of my friends in the industry and over near Elk Rapids, Torch Lake side, I know were way down from a typical year on cherries this year. Apples actually bloom quite a bit later than cherries—they’re usually two weeks behind cherries—so we had really minimal damage to apples throughout the region. “So the bigger challenge for us this year was the excessive moisture that we had in July. We had almost twice as much rain this July as we would have in an average July, but it’s been a really good growing year for apples. So the kind of cool and wet weather that can cause problems for cherries, generally, the cool weather doesn’t bother the apples as much, and the wet weather is actually a positive for apples. So we were able to we were able to size the apple crop up nicely.” Express: What does the future hold for apple farming Up North? Altonen: “Well, I think of the stress of
growing cherries versus the stress of growing apples. I think growing apples is more profitable in the end, at least for us. It seems a little more hopeful or encouraging. You know, potentially new varieties down the road. I mean, that’s always a possibility or something to look forward to, and then we are excited about our cider apples. “We planted our cider orchard after that storm in 2015—that wind came through our orchard and took down an entire young orchard. So we tore it out, and we were able to find some cider trees late in the season like that and plant those. And they’re just now maturing. They’ve been producing quite well, so we’re always excited about that because those cider apples make a different product.” Wunsch: “I think apples are definitely more climate resilient than some of our traditional cherry varieties. If you had interviewed me 10 years ago, this year would have been an absolute catastrophe with cherries because we lost a lot of our main season, our historical mainstay variety, to that wet weather. So that was a painful bite, but it was also the first year that we had a lot of newer varieties come into production. Part of our strategy with choosing new varieties has been to select varieties that are better adapted to the more erratic spring temperatures that we’re having and the wetter summer conditions that we have. “I think that not only are apples more climate resilient, but I think about the success story with apples. The main variety that growers grow in northwest Michigan is Honeycrisp. It’s only 30 years old, and it’s very well adapted to cold climates. It’s a variety that was developed by fruit breeders at the University of Minnesota and it loves the cold climate. “I think, as a cherry grower, I’m not only looking at maybe I should want some more apples, also, are there other cherry varieties that would work for our industry and work better with the kind of climate that we’re facing in this region now? Because we’re still growing the same tart cherry variety in Traverse City that we were a hundred years ago, but the climate in this region is substantially different than it was a hundred years ago.”
• FARM-FRESH LOCAL INGREDIENTS • • VIEWS OF GRAND TRAVERSE BAY •
ARTISANTC.COM
Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 11
Photos courtesy of the City of Traverse City
TC LEAF PICKUP BY THE NUMBERS How the city processes fallen leaves and what residents can do to help keep their neighborhoods clean
By Ren Brabenec Walk or drive any Traverse City neighborhood, and one of the first things you notice is the mature tree canopy that seems to shade every parcel, sidewalk, and street corner. According to Michigan Public, a University of Michigan radio station, Traverse City boasts one of the densest urban tree canopies among Michigan metropolitan areas, with tree cover at 43 percent and rising (the state average is 38 percent, and the national average is just 26 percent). All those trees produce a significant amount of leaf litter every autumn, so we checked in with the City of Traverse City to learn what goes into collecting and processing it. Preparing for Falling Leaves As the Director of Mobility Infrastructure for Traverse City, Christopher Weber is deeply involved with leaf pickup. Animated and smiling, Weber spoke excitedly about leaf pickup, saying it’s a project he and the team look forward to each year. “We do not hire any additional staff specifically for leaf collection,” Weber tells us. “We all want to take turns with it, and as our department has 15 full-time staff members, we typically dedicate approximately 8-10 employees to leaf collection during the roughly 1.5- to 2-month fall collection period” which runs early-to-mid-October to mid-December, or whenever the snowfall prevents them from collecting. Weber adds that, while the leaf pickup season varies each year, the City always sends out a mailer to all residents announcing the start date for leaf pickup. Residents can also check the City of Traverse City’s official website or Facebook page for updates.
Given the extensive tree canopy, leaf pickup is a significant seasonal operation for the department. Weber says they typically run two collection crews throughout the workday, nonstop, for the full season. Furthermore, Weber sends crews out again in the spring to pick up whatever was missed last fall, as there are always more than a few stubborn trees that hold onto their leaves well after the snow flies. How Leaves Are Collected Weber pulls out his mobile phone and shows us photo after photo he and his crew had taken of the leaf collection process. “We use a variety of equipment throughout the collection and composting process,” Weber says. “Each crew uses a rearload garbage truck equipped with a shopbuilt loading pan. A compact front-end loader pushes the leaves into the pan, which is then raised to load the material into the rear of the truck.” “How much leaf material is collected is always fun to estimate,” Weber says, answering our next question before we’d asked it. “Our team measures the material primarily by volume rather than weight. In a typical year, the City collects approximately 8,000-10,000 cubic yards of leaves and other yard waste.” Where Do All Those Leaves Go? Once collected, the leaves are transported to the City’s composting facility at 2471 Keystone Road. At the facility, City employees use specialized composting equipment, including a compost windrow turner and a topsoil screen. “Through the composting process, that material breaks down considerably, ultimately producing approximately 4,0006,000 cubic yards of finished compost,”
12 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
Composting leaves takes months, but eventually yields the "black gold" soil that locals and the city itself can use.
Weber says. The composting process takes approximately nine months. During that time, staff monitor the internal temperature of the windrows and periodically turn the material to incorporate oxygen and moisture into the material. Over time, the leaves and yard waste break down into finished compost. “One of the more interesting parts of the program is that the material essentially comes full circle,” Weber says, swiping through the last of his photos of the collection process and landing on a new batch showing the composting facility and heavy equipment used to compost the leaves. “After the leaves have been composted, the finished material is then reused on various City street, landscaping, and parks projects.” Weber added that the public can also
purchase finished compost for $5 per cubic yard. “The leaves we collect from residents ultimately come back into the community as a useful soil amendment,” he says. Beyond the recycling aspect of leaf collection, Weber explained that it keeps leaf organic material out of the City’s stormwater system and catch basins and out of the bay. “If it wasn’t for leaf collection, a lot of these leaves would end up in the landfill or East or West Bay,” Weber explains. He holds up a photo of a crew member smiling while operating heavy machinery and collecting leaves. “Out of all the services we provide at the City, our leaf pickup is probably tied with snow clearing for most appreciated by residents. We’re all working together as a community to keep the city clean and to do so in an environmentally sensible manner. What’s not to love about that?”
Best Practices for TCTheResidents City’s leaf pickup works only when
residents work with the City to move leaves from yards to the street. “The biggest thing residents can do to help is make sure their leaf piles contain only leaves and acceptable yard waste, such as grass clippings, plants, and very small twigs,” Weber says. “Foreign materials can
slow down collection, damage equipment, and potentially injure employees.” Weber begins ticking items off on his fingers, counting the oddities he and his crews have found in leaf piles. “Lumber, bricks, metal, cinder blocks, dead animals,” Weber says. “One of the more memorable examples was someone who apparently collected a significant amount of dog waste and buried it in a leaf pile. The crew discovered it pretty quickly once they started moving the pile, and the
smell was unlike anything any of us had ever experienced!” While Weber says that particular example was more unpleasant than dangerous, materials such as bricks, metal, and lumber become a safety hazard for the City’s employees and equipment. Sticks hidden in leaf piles can bend, break, or shoot up and out of the pile during compaction, potentially injuring an employee; hence the need to move only leaf litter and the smallest twigs “no bigger than a thumb” to the street.
“Ideally, the piles would be just leaves, no twigs at all,” Weber emphasizes. “We have a separate operation for brush pick up, with different collection equipment and a different processing facility for that material.” For residents who can’t physically move the leaves to the street, Weber recommends private lawn care companies. For those who can’t afford a contractor, Weber suggests contacting the Commission on Aging for assistance.
Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 13
Falling in Love with Leelanau Where to find the most swoonworthy autumn views all around the peninsula
Suttons Bay Marina Docks; Photo by Lisa Baird
By Kierstin Gunsberg What’s brilliant red, ochre yellow, and cerulean blue all over? The horizon of our very own Leelanau Peninsula in autumn, of course! While folks from far away are hitting the highways to glimpse NoMi’s fleeting color in the coming weeks, all us locals have to do is trek around M-22. Before those leaves get crunchy, here’s your guide to where and how to catch the best views around the county (plus how to make a day of it). The Marina Docks in Suttons Bay Meandering M-22 is gorgeous, for sure, says Emily Worden, who grew up in Suttons Bay (and is now VP of the Chamber of Commerce there), but like a lot of locals, she’s partial to the less-busy views that can be found just traipsing through the village. One
of her favorites is over at Suttons Bay Marina. “You can walk down to the beach parking lot and continue straight out from there,” says Worden. “Or you can go out on the dock that forms the other side of the marina to the right of that strip of land.” And while it might seem counterintuitive, Worden suggests turning away from the bay and taking a reflective look back “at that little village we love so much.” Make a day of it: If October gives us a warm-up, head to another of Worden’s sortof-secret scenic spots where Stony Point Road and Vic Steimel Park (Sutton Bay Township Park) converge. “Hop in the water there and round the point via paddle board or kayak till you’re facing the view,” she says, adding that it’s a triple-whammy of the bay, the village, and tons of rolling color. Just be sure to wear water shoes because, as the name suggests, it’s a little stony over there.
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Pierce Stocking in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore For nearly seven and a half miles of views, it doesn’t get better than Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Open through late October, a $25 vehicle pass gets everyone in your vehicle through for the slow, 12-stop excursion where stop #3—the Dune Overlook—will score you a picturesque view of Glen Lake and D.H. Day Farm, standing in pristine contrast to the fall foliage this time of year. It’s an easy, accessible walk from your vehicle to the lookout. Heads up: The entire park is cashless, so bring cards or go to Recreation.gov to buy a pass online. Make a day of it: Start at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, where you can top off your water bottles at the refill station and
explore interactive park exhibits. Then, stop into the Shipwreck Cafe for an S.S. Noronic (that’s a BLT with a smattering of avocado) and a chocolate cherry cookie or two to enjoy at Picnic Mountain which adjoins the Dunes Overlook stop. The Crystal River in Glen Arbor Over 15,000 people make their way down the Crystal River annually. With most of them gone for the season, it’s your turn to take in NoMi’s wild beauty as it takes its final bow before winter. “Floating down the river in the fall is a completely different experience,” says Molly Connolly of Glen Lake’s Chamber of Commerce, adding there’s even a chance of spotting the salmon rush upriver through early October. Set off at the Crystal River Trailhead in Maple City or rent a kayak over at Crystal River Outfitters (open daily, hours
For Traverse City area news and events, visit TraverseTicker.com
RENTALS & RETREATS
Get Away Weekends - Family Reunions Holidays - Retreats - Workshops
40 ACRES ON BEAUTIFUL HIGGINS LAKE
Paddling the Crystal River
vary) in Glen Arbor and paddle on! Make a day of it: If you’re not completely tuckered out, lace up your hiking boots and check out Palmer Woods Forest Reserve. With over 1,000 acres of hiking and biking trails that edge along Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, there’s lots of color to be spotted. Then, warm up with a steamy cup of loose leaf tea on the deck of The Mill while gazing at the changing leaves. If you’re looking to splurge, Connolly suggests dinner at Blu, where the moody autumn waves rolling up on Sleeping Bear Bay are quite the spectacle come autumn. Leo Creek Preserve in Suttons Bay “Fall colors are blazing at Leo Creek,” says Jess Piskor, Grounds and Maintenance Supervisor for Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA). Gifted to ISEA early in 2025, Leo Creek Preserve is home to a 1.5-mile boardwalk/trail system that winds through seven acres of towering hardwoods which are quickly going from green to gold. For those who hold out until the last week
of October to visit, there will be a special selfguided ephemeral sculpture walk featuring wooden hand carvings of the spooky variety—just in time for Halloween. Park in the Leelanau Trail parking lot off 4th Street, then walk or ride the paved bike path (part of the greater TART system) straight to the preserve from there. It’s a “pleasant, two-minute stroll,” explains Piskor, adding that despite what the maps say, Leo Creek is still open for fall color seekers and fully accessible from that route while construction of the Leo Creek Bridge is underway. Make a day of it: Just north of the preserve, catch one of ISEA’s Fall Sails (and peak color) the weekend of Oct. 10 and 11 (tickets start at $30 on schoolship.org). These excursions last right around two hours and invite folks of all ages to take in fall scenery right from the water while sailing along Suttons Bay. Dry land more your thing? Set up at Sutton Park and watch the reflection of turning leaves dance across the bay from the swingset instead.
More to Explore
Truly, we’d need an entire year’s worth of pages to list every gorgeous autumn view and outing within Leelanau’s 350 square miles. Still, here’s a few more to consider before the month is over.
40 ACRES ON BEAUTIFUL HIGGINS LAKE
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DeYoung Natural Area: Just a stone’s throw from the base of the peninsula, this nearly 200-acre nature preserve gets a massive littering of fallen leaves in every shade of autumn. And with 2 miles of pet-friendly trails, it’s a great place for anyone looking to take in the season with their four-legged companions.
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Grand Traverse Lighthouse: Climb to the top of the 158 year old lighthouse for a live panorama of Grand Traverse and Cathead Bays and the Manitou Passage across Lake Michigan. Tickets are free for 5 and under, $3–$8 for everyone else.
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Clay Cliffs Natural Area: Hike uphill through old growth forests to the lookout over Lake Michigan. “On the return, your view is a large open meadow with rolling hills and Lake Leelanau in the background,” says Megan Ernst with the Leland Chamber of Commerce. “The double-view…makes this such a cool hike.”
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Kehl Lake at Kehl Lake Natural Area: A brisk, 10-minute walk through towering hemlocks leads to the serene (and colorful) lake, originally called Medahas–ah– eegan (or Leg Lake) by the Ottawa and Chippewa tribes who lived around it.
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Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 15
Photo courtesy of MDOT
Navigating the Tunnel of Trees This Fall Two detours still in effect after spring storms By Eric Cox Savvy leaf peepers know that Emmet County’s famous 22-mile Tunnel of Trees (M119) is one of the best autumn experiences in the Midwest, and a bucket list adventure for many of Michigan’s fall foliage faithful. While that beloved, time-tested route is still a viable option this year, travelers should be aware of a few lingering problems—and accompanying detours—which resulted from extreme weather back in April and June. The Aftermath Heavy spring rain events, coupled with quick snow melt, created torrents that led to major washouts of the state-managed M-119 between Harbor Springs and Cross Village. In all, these historic weather events resulted in seven washouts or road closures, cutting off businesses and residents alike, until detours were established. In each instance, high-volume water flow and/or culvert failures eroded land near or beneath roads or simply washed away pavement and shoulder material as it moved over the surface. Immediately after the weather passed, workers from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Emmet County Road Commission launched into damage assessment mode, tallying closures and, in some instances, evacuating cut-off residents. The Tunnel of Trees was effectively chopped into pieces, with MDOT routing traffic along interior county roads. Work to restore the other connections began shortly after the weather cleared, and continued throughout summer. MDOT announced section re-openings as repairs were finished. An April culvert collapse and slope failure south of Division Road, between Good Hart and Cross Village, has been the most problematic. The closure is between
Division and Pike roads. In that area, the road is only about 18 feet wide and has no center line, both factors that complicate repairs, according to MDOT. To the south, the Tunnel is also still closed between Stutsmanville and Terpening roads, another project slated for completion next year. Rebuilding Before it’s over, MDOT will have put millions into restoring the Tunnel of Trees— something the organization has done in the past as well. According to MDOT’s North Region spokesman, James Lake, M-119 is anything but a typical Michigan road. He says the Tunnel of Trees likely began as a Native American pathway that evolved, was added to, and improved over the years. “Today, we likely would not build this highway where it is now—almost certainly not—with most of it perched on sandy bluffs,” Lake says. “History shows that this road has undergone many iterations and upgrades. It’s very well-suited for the lower traffic volumes it sees, but not the extreme weather we’ve had the last few years.” Lake says area residents and business owners have been irritated by the repair work’s seemingly slow pace. “We know it’s a source of frustration that these closed sections haven’t been repaired yet, and we don’t have a firm timeline,” he says. “The reasons for that are multiple. We need to make sure we have a clear and complete understanding of remaining conditions in those locations. Then we will design a repair that takes those conditions into account, and will stand the test of time. These repairs will run in the millions, so if we’re going to invest that amount of money, it needs to be something that will last.” Lake opined that it’s “fairly likely” that extreme weather episodes will continue. Hence, he says MDOT is taking additional
16 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
measures to gird state roadways against future events. After all, the Tunnel of Trees was not the only casualty of last spring’s floods. Sections of M-88 and M-66 in Antrim County suffered similar damage. He also pointed to an M-119 slope failure near Harbor Springs a few years back. “In locations where we’re aware the road is more susceptible to washouts and erosion, [MDOT] can armor the roadside with larger stone, geotextile fabrics, and retaining walls,” Lake says. “All along that 20-mile route, we’ve had problems with erosion for many years. “Even the more populated areas of M-119 are still susceptible to this kind of damage,” he continues. “In the process of studying the entire corridor, not only do we look at these problem spot locations, we also try to identify other potential problem areas. We look at short-term erosion damage all the way up to long-term. We want to make those repairs before they become actual washouts and roadway failures.” Lake says MDOT is always looking at susceptible areas and trying to armor those locations. But, he says last spring’s extreme rain events were impossible to predict.
Trees still has plenty to offer leaf peepers. Lake says there’s still 20 miles of open Tunnel to explore, though he cautions explorers about road closures. “Motorists are able to access the closed sections to reach businesses or residences,” he explains. “However, the roads are firmly closed to through traffic, and testing the closures is not advised. Those not patronizing a business or visiting a residence are discouraged from accessing closed sections. Likewise, hikers and other people exploring on foot should stay out of closed sections.” According to Lake, residents in the closed areas have complained about motorists using their private driveways as turn-around points, once they realize they can’t go on. He said other motorists have become stuck trying to turn around in very narrow places. “Closed sections represent a good turning off point for detour routes. We’ve worked with the Emmet County Road Commission to identify easy-to-use detour routes around closed sections. We encourage motorists to use the detours.”
Respect the Closures In spite of these struggles, the Tunnel of
To learn more and see detour routes, visit m119tunneloftrees.org.
The Tasting Room Is Now Cellar & Flame New name reflects an evolving concept
By Ross Boissoneau Listen to your customers. That’s the lesson Carolyn Weeks took to heart, and it’s the reason The Tasting Room became Cellar & Flame. “Cellar & Flame is the name catching up with what we became. It evolved over the last five years. It wasn’t intentional,” says Weeks. The downtown Traverse City restaurant is led by Carolyn, her husband Derek Weeks, and Christine Skibowski. When the eatery debuted as The Tasting Room in 2021, the goal was to showcase their spirits. It was intended to serve as a gathering place, somewhere family and friends could congregate after work, slow down, have a drink and enjoy themselves. “Come in, hang out,” says Weeks of the original concept. They offered some small plates to balance things out. But it turned out that while people would indeed come in for a drink, they often didn’t linger. The small plates weren’t enough, so their customers went somewhere else for dinner. “You start off [with] what you think everybody wants. No, no, it isn’t. It was shocking,” Week admits. Changing Course “There was a call for more entrees,” she continues. “We’re guest-focused. It’s something we learned from the guests. It’s what they wanted. Within six months [of opening], customers were telling us they
wanted more dinners.” The team listened and embraced the changes. The menu has now grown to include appetizers, salads, entrees including steaks and seafood, and more. And now, the name has changed too. “The flame is the wood fire,” Weeks explains, where much of the cooking is done. Cellar? Well, that’s where you keep wine, and theirs is extensive. A quick peek at the menu shows roughly 200 options, ranging from affordable by-theglass picks to $250+ bottles. So the name is in keeping with the offerings. It just took a while to get there. The owners didn’t want to abandon the original concept and those who came in to partake of the signature beverages, from cocktails to wine. But eventually they realized the name “The Tasting Room” might actually be holding them back from greater success. “At least five times a night we had to tell people what we were. They had no idea we served food,” says Weeks. Now the question is, can two downtown steakhouses survive, even thrive, so close together? Cellar & Flame and The Pretty Penny, another steak-forward restaurant which opened earlier this year, are only about three blocks from one another. Weeks sees no reason why not. Though the pace has slowed since summer, she’s confident there will still be plenty of people finding their way downtown to eat and drink. She says many locals actually avoid downtown in the summer, but return once
the throngs of visitors dissipate. She likens it to family relaxing together after a busy season. “It’s like our family came back. We recognize faces, know our guests.” And she wouldn’t be anywhere else. “We wanted to be downtown. We love the vibe of downtown. We call it our happy place,” she says. What to Order The restaurant’s décor reflects that happy place aesthetic, with cozy seating and light pouring in from the riverside. Large garage doors open when the weather cooperates for al fresco dining. “We suffer all winter for the small window of good weather,” Weeks says. “We want to open it up.” Here’s what we would go for sitting on that lovely patio overlooking the river. Starters on the raw and cold bar include oysters, burrata, and ahi tuna, while the hot starters include calamari, Wellington bites, and Cellar & Flame’s signature meatballs. Featured soups and salads include Goats and Greens and a morel bisque. Moving on to the main event, there are five steak selections. Filets, New York strip, and ribeyes, each USDA Prime, which are then hand-selected and personally inspected. Other entrees? Absolutely. Twin lobster tails and lobster mac and cheese, chicken, chops, and halibut, even elk medallions. As the commercials say, but wait, there’s more. “Every week we do a feature,” says
Weeks. “New fish, new concepts, new things.” She says certain items do stand out to customers. “The signature filet is one of our biggest sellers,” Weeks says of the eight-ounce filet mignon, which is finished with black truffle butter and served with a twice baked potato. “Everybody loves truffle butter.” Another prize catch is the halibut, topped with prosecco beurre blanc and served with creamy parmesan risotto. The best thing on the menu? Well, it might not even be one of the entrees, as Weeks points to the restaurant’s signature meatballs. “We grind all our [steaks] in house,” Weeks says, and the meatballs are made from the trimmings from the steaks, plus veal and Italian sausage. They are then braised in San Marzano tomato sauce with fresh herbs and served with garlic bread. While Cellar & Flame has expanded its focus, Weeks says it is still all about the atmosphere. That goes back to the original concept of a place to come and relax, grab a drink with friends, and hang out. The only difference is now people can spend time together without needing to go somewhere else for dinner. “Come in and stay, enjoy, and not be rushed. People want to dine out, have an experience, be taken care of,” she says. Find Cellar & Flame at 155 Garland St. in Traverse City. (231) 525-0555; cellarandflame.com
Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 17
oct 03
Saturday
SLEEPING BEAR MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 5K (ALL SOLD OUT): 7:30am, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire. runsignup.com/Race/MI/Empire/ SleepingBear ---------------------------------HARVEST THE BOUNTY MARKET FESTIVAL: 9am-5pm, Wagoner Community Center, Manistee. Celebrating 25 seasons of the Manistee Farmers Market. This market & community garden fundraiser includes family fun activities, workshops, demonstrations, & live music by the Manistee County Barnraiser Brass Band, Ben Traverse, Youngman & Oldman, The Springtails, Jen Sygit, Laurel Premo & Michael Beauchamp-Cohen, & the Schrock Brothers Band. facebook.com/ManisteeFarmersMarket ---------------------------------RUN THE TOWN PINK 5K: 9am, 480 River St., Manistee. Runners are encouraged to wear as much pink as they’d like to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness. The course winds along the shores of First Street Beach & through downtown Manistee, starting & finishing near the Manistee Municipal Marina. $30 for 5K; free for 1 Mile Remembrance Walk. runsignup.com/Race/ Events/MI/Manistee/RunTheTownPink ---------------------------------WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S PETOSKEY: Pennsylvania Park, Petoskey. Registration begins at 9am, & the Promise Garden Ceremony & walk kickoff start at 10am. Free. act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2026/ MI-GreaterMichigan?pg=entry&fr_id=19690 ---------------------------------ART BEAT GALLERY TOUR IN ELK RAPIDS: 10am-5pm, Elk Rapids. A good cheer for 21 years with your friends from Blue Heron, Mullaly’s 128 & Twisted Fish Galleries of Elk Rapids! The Fall Gallery Tour offers art demonstrations, refreshments & special offerings at each gallery visit. Free. twistedfishgallery.com/event/art-beat-gallery-tourwith-blue-heron-mullalys-128-twisted-fishgalleries-of-elk-rapids-2 ---------------------------------C.S. LEWIS FESTIVAL: REMEMBER YOUR FAIRY TALES - FINDING HOPE WITH LEWIS & TOLKIEN: Oct. 1-4. Today includes Saturday Seminar & Keynote Address with Malcolm Guite at Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. The seminar’s three sessions run from 10am-3:30pm. The Keynote Address takes place at 6pm. Register. $25$65. cslewisfestival.org/festival-schedule ---------------------------------COLORS BY THE LAKE ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-5pm, Bayview Hotel, Petoskey. Local & regional artists showcase paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry & more. blueribbonevent.com/michigan-shows ---------------------------------SUPER STEM SATURDAY: 10am-2pm, TC Central High School, Innovation & Manufacturing Center, TC. An annual community event hosted by TC Central High School’s RAPTORS Robotics Team 1711. Kids ages 4-14 can explore science & technology through hands-on fun! Free. raptors1711.com/home ---------------------------------ICONIC ART: 11am, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Very few works become renowned the world over. Art historian Andi Gerring, retired instructor at NCMC, NMC & Kendall College of Art & Design, leads a discussion on specific examples to examine the reasons for their enduring fame. Free. ---------------------------------SAY NO TO ISRAEL’S GENOCIDE & MANIPULATION OF CONGRESS: 11am, Grandview Parkway + Union St., TC. Protest Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people &
18 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
october
03-11 send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com
TC Design Week returns Oct. 4-10! Celebrate, learn and shape the future of design in northern Michigan! Stop by The VoxBox to dive into interior, culinary, fashion, floral and community design; take part in The Great Waffle Wednesday Design Challenge at Esperance Community Teaching, plus much more! Visit tcdesignweek.com/eventcalendar for a full calendar.
manipulation of the American government. mideastjustpeace.net ---------------------------------17TH ANNUAL SKITOBERFEST: Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. Stein hoisting, keg throwing, spouse carrying! Boyne Mountain’s Skitoberfest brings you brews poured straight from the keg trailer, Bavarian plates in the food tent, & live music from Jelly Roll Blues Band, DJ T-Bone, Sydni K, Two Track Mind, Buddha Sweet, & more! Cap off the fun with a Pray for Snow Bonfire, sending good vibes for plenty of powder this winter! For tokens, wristbands & more, visit web site. boynemountain. com/upcoming-events/skitoberfest ---------------------------------FLANNEL FESTIVAL: Noon-8pm, Cellar 1914/Shooks Farm, Central Lake. Vendors & craft show. Live music by Knee Deep from 5-8pm. Food, treats, wine & more. cellar1914.com/event ---------------------------------FALL DANCE PERFORMANCE: 2pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. An evening of dance with the Inter-
lochen Arts Academy Dance Division. Enjoy a wide variety of classical & contemporary dance works, including ballet excerpts, modern masterpieces, & more. $14-$17. interlochen.org/concerts-and-events/all-events?se arch=Fall+Dance+Performance ---------------------------------LEELANAU HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING: 2pm, Leelanau Historical Society & Museum, Leland. Featuring a special history program with LHS staff, offering another opportunity to explore the people, places, & stories that have shaped the community. ---------------------------------NUTS: 2pm & 7pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Claudia is a call girl charged with killing a violent “john.” This courtroom drama is presented in staged reading format, & intended for adults only. $10. Oldtownplayhouse.com/ atp/performances/nuts.html ---------------------------------HARVEST IN THE ALLEY: Downtown Petoskey. Oktoberfest beer, food tasting stations, music, vendors, games, crafts & more. Runs from 3pm - sunset. Closing down
Petoskey & Bay streets; includes the alley way behind Beard’s Root Cellar. ---------------------------------SUNSET SOIREE: 4:30pm, Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay. This annual fundraising event benefits PoWeR! Book Bags - supporting children’s literacy & development initiatives. Enjoy live music by Rock Hat, wine, charcuterie, dessert & more. $100. powerbookbags.org/event-details/sunset-soiree-2 ---------------------------------HAUNTED HALLOWEEN WEEKENDS: 5-8:30pm, Camp Petosega, Alanson. Best Decorated Campsite contest, trick-or-treating, free hot dogs, chips, drinks, & a Haunted Trail. emmetcounty.org/experiences/camp_ petosega/park_events.php ---------------------------------FORT FRIGHT: 6:30-9:30pm, Colonial Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City. Lanterns light your way through an 18th-century fort & fur trading village overrun by werewolves, witches, goblins & ghouls. Storytellers weave spooky folktales near bonfires & treats such as hot mulled cider, cookies & candy. Most stops are suitable for all ages, but the Soldier Ghost Haunted Rowhouse, Demon Dance & Loup Garou Forest will give thrills & chills to all! $10.50-$16. mackinacparks.com/events/ fort-fright ---------------------------------A NIGHT IN VEGAS: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Enjoy the retro glamour of the 60s Vegas Strip, featuring nationally known lounge singer Dominic Fortuna, as well as Joan Ellison, internationally known for her Judy Garland tribute concerts. $33–$72. tcphil.org/events/a-night-in-vegas ---------------------------------BLISSFEST TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY DANCE: 7:30pm, Alanson/Littlefield Community Bldg. Music provided by the Traveling Elderberries with Cynthia Donahey calling. All dances taught (circles, contras, squares & more). No need to bring a partner. Perfect for families. By donation; suggested $10-$20. blissfest.org ---------------------------------GLCO PRESENTS PIETÀ: SACRED WORKS: 7:30pm, St. Francis Church, Petoskey. Featuring countertenor Stephen Pitters, this program explores the beauty of sacred music & concerto through the centuries in the acoustics of St. Francis. Also featured is the Noteable Chamber choir. Tickets range from free - $65. glcorchestra.org/concerts MITCH ALBOM’S TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: 7:30pm, The MATCH, Cherryland Center, TC. This limited engagement production of the true story of Mitch Albom & his beloved college professor will run Oct. 2-4 for just three performances. $30 per person. tuesdaywithmorrie.ludus.com
oct 04
sunday
COLORS BY THE LAKE ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., Oct. 3) --------------------C.S. LEWIS FESTIVAL: REMEMBER YOUR FAIRY TALES - FINDING HOPE WITH LEWIS & TOLKIEN: Oct. 1-4. Today includes Coffee with the Co-founder at 11am at Hotel Perry, Reycraft Room, Petoskey. Connect with other donors, sponsors, & admirers of C.S. Lewis’ work while hearing the C.S. Lewis Festival’s founding story from its cofounder & president, David Crouse. Register. Free. cslewisfestival.org/festival-schedule ---------------------------------TROUBLE IN PARADISE: A LANDSCAPE PAINTER’S CONUNDRUM: 11am, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Northern Michigan landscape painters Margo Burian, Lori Feldpausch, & Stephanie Schlatter explore questions about what landscape painters should do when landscape changes, is threatened by develop-
ments, & challenged by climate change, during this panel discussion. Free. glenarborart.org ---------------------------------FALL FEST & PIG ROAST: Noon-4pm, Ruby Ellen Farm, TC. Featuring museums, car show, demonstrations, cider pressing, petting zoo, & Westley mini horse. Pig roast meal at 1pm. Live bake sale auction at 1:45pm. Free event; meal $25. rubyellenfarm.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Pig-Roast-2026.pdf ---------------------------------CROP HUNGER WALK - “THE NEXT STEP”: 1pm, South Gazebo, Northport. Register on web site. Free. events.crophungerwalk.org/chw/home ---------------------------------MITCH ALBOM’S TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: (See Sat., Oct. 3, except today’s time is 2pm.) ---------------------------------TAP INTO DESIGN: TRAVERSE CITY DESIGN WEEK OPENING HAPPY HOUR: 4-6pm, Short’s Pull Barn, Elk Rapids. Explore the Pull Barn, get a peek at Short’s upcoming Logan’s Landing plans, & enjoy brewery tours, creative activities, & a giveaway. Short’s is offering your first Beer for a Buck! tcdesignweek.com/event-calendar
oct 05
monday
TC DESIGN WEEK: 4-7pm: The Voxbox: Culinary Design. Featuring Allium Hill w/ Tim Kemp + special guests. Free. The VoxBox, TC. 7:308:30pm: Designed to Resonate: A Panel Presented by Interlochen Music Production & Engineering. Dendrinos Chapel at Interlochen Center for the Arts. tcdesignweek.com/ event-calendar ---------------------------------ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE MEET & GREET: 5:30pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Thompsonville. Welcome the 2026 David Barr Legacy Artist-in-Residence, Hugh DeWitte, with an informal meet & greet near the entrance of the Art Park. Free. ---------------------------------TCAPS BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. The League of Women Voters Grand Traverse Area will host a candidate forum for the Traverse City Area Public Schools’ (TCAPS) board candidates. Free. lwvgta.org ---------------------------------THE ANISHINAABEK - PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE: 6:30pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. JoAnne Cook, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, will discuss the history & culture of the Anishinaabek, exploring how indigenous people in the Great Lakes region have been impacted by dramatic social, economic & environmental changes. glenlakelibrary.net
oct 06
tuesday
TC DESIGN WEEK: PULL UP A SOFA: CO-DESIGN A CO-WORKING SPACE: 9-11am, Grove Community Incubator, TC. A participatory design workshop focused on transforming an underutilized portion of its coworking space into something new: the Lounge of Possibilities. RSVP. See web site for a complete schedule of events. Free. tcdesignweek.com/event-calendar/pull-up-a-sofa-codesigning-a-co-working-space ---------------------------------TECH TUESDAY: IDEVICES: 2pm, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library, lower level Community Meeting Room. Join for a tutorial & Q&A on iDevice basics. Corey Buchan of BuchanTECH will be available to answer questions. Bring your Apple device (iPhone,
iPad, Mac laptop, or Apple Watch) & your questions! Free. sbbdl.org ---------------------------------BANNED BOOKS EDITION OF LEELANAU READS: 4:30pm, Leland Twp. Library. This year’s selection is J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye,” chosen in honor of the novel’s 75th anniversary. Libraries host a discussion for readers to talk through the book. ---------------------------------NWS PRESENTS: AN EVENING WITH JODI PICOULT: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. From #1 New York Times bestselling author of “By Any Other Name” comes “Hollow Bones” – a novel about the risks we take to protect the ones we love in a world where crisis is always just around the corner. $46-$56. cityoperahouse.org/events/an-evening-with-jodi-picoult
oct 07
wednesday
WALK, BIKE, & ROLL TO SCHOOL DAY: 7am, northern MI. This day encourages healthier, more eco-friendly ways for students to get to school. Norte helps facilitate this event at schools across northern Michigan. To learn more, contact your local school, or email: julie@norteyouthcycling.org if you’d like to help facilitate the event at your school. Free. norteyouthcycling.org/calendar ---------------------------------TC DESIGN WEEK: THE GREAT WAFFLE WEDNESDAY DESIGN CHALLENGE: 9-11am, Esperance Community Teaching Kitchen, 2nd floor of Commongrounds, TC. Build the coworking space of the future, WITH WAFFLES. Part gingerbread-house-style competition, part rapid design sprint, part waffle-fueled nonsense thought experiment. Free. See web site for a complete schedule of events. tcdesignweek.com/event-calendar ---------------------------------INTERLOCHEN WOMAN’S CLUB: Interlochen Public Library. 11am business meeting. Lunch-in provided at noon. Please bring a place setting including soup bowl & beverage. Program by Heather Bricca, meteorologist. For more info, text: 231-392-3159. Free. interlochenwomansclub.simdif.com/comingevents-continued.html ---------------------------------TIME TO VOTE: WHAT TO KNOW, WHAT TO TRUST, & WHAT TO QUESTION: Noon2pm, Leelanau County Government Center, Suttons Bay. This forum is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County. It will explain the two statewide ballot proposals currently headed for the November ballot: the constitutionally required question asking whether Michigan should convene a constitutional convention in 2027 & the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics initiative, which concerns campaign contributions & political communications. Free. lwvleelanau.org ---------------------------------WHAT IS THE “FREEDOM TO READ”?: 1pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Featuring Amber Sheerin of the Michigan Library Association. Sheerin will discuss intellectual freedom as a core value of public libraries, including why the free access to information & ideas is central to a library’s mission & critically important for communities. ---------------------------------TC DESIGN WEEK: THE TREE GETS A VOTE: HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: 5-8pm, Nocturnal Bloom Brewing, TC. An interactive design experience exploring what changes when the natural character of a material becomes part of the creative process. See web site for more info. Free; suggested donation to cover materials. tcdesignweek.com/event-calendar/the-tree-gets-a-vote-hands-on-workshop ---------------------------------CAIT WEST: AUTHOR EVENT: 6:30pm, The Folded Leaf, TC. Rachel Zemanek and Cait
This artisanal cidery is thoughtfully designed for intimate experiences, small batch authentic ciders, and a place to feel connected to our region in Leelanau County. Cider tasting and small plates inspired by Taproot Farmstead, menu changes seasonally as the gardens ripen OPERATING HOURS Thursday & Friday 3-8 Saturday 12-7 Sunday 12-4 Just 5 miles from downtown TC 8844 East Lincoln Road, Cedar, MI Plan your next visit at Taprootcellars.com
Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 19
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TUESDAYS ASIAN FUSION
oct 08
WEDNESDAYS ½ OFF SELECT BEERS SPECIAL WING FLAVORS
THURSDAYS RAMEN
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West, local author of “Rift,” will discuss the impacts of religious fundamentalism & what healing looks like on the other side. Free. thefoldedleafnomi.com/events/author-eventcait-west-rift ---------------------------------MARTIN SEXTON: LIVE WIDE OPEN TOUR 2026: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Martin Sexton tours in support of the 25th anniversary of Live Wide Open - the criticallyacclaimed double vinyl live album. The show will include these fan-favorites as well as some new material & surprise covers. $20$75. cityoperahouse.org/events/sexton
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RAREBIRDBREWPUB.COM
20 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
thursday
COFFEE @ TEN, PETOSKEY: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. “Caring for Walloon Lake: An Integrated Approach to Conservation.” Executive Director Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy Jon Breithaupt will explain how Walloon Lake Association & Conservancy’s integrated approach to watershed conservation ensures a healthy future for Walloon Lake, its inhabitants, & the folks who love it so dearly. Free. crookedtree. org/events-and-exhibitions/events/?page=1&lo cation=petoskey#class-list ---------------------------------BANNED BOOKS EDITION OF LEELANAU READS: 2pm at Suttons Bay Bingham District Library; & 3pm at Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. This year’s selection is J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye,” chosen in honor of the novel’s 75th anniversary. Libraries host a discussion for readers to talk through the book. ---------------------------------GRAND TRAVERSE MUSICALE - PIANO & CLARINET MUSIC: 2pm, Mission Hill Church, TC. This program features Jiawei Qu, piano & Jeanmarie Riccobono, clarinet. Student scholarship winners will display their talents as well. Free. gtmusicale.org ---------------------------------BENZONIA ACADEMY LECTURE SERIES: 4pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. “Oliver Art Center: 78 Years of Creativity in Benzie County.” Presented by Tamara Hoffbauer, executive director. $5 donation recommended. benziemuseum.org/2026/09/14/ october-8-2026-benzonia-academy-lecture-series-oliver-art-center-78-years-of-creativity-inbenzie-county-presented-by-tamara-hoffbaue - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -r EVERYONE HAS A STORY: STORYTELLING COMMUNITY CIRCLE: 5:30-7pm, Kingsley Branch Library. Join The Kingsley Folk School for a relaxed, no-prep storytelling community circle, Everyone Has a Story. Share real moments from your life, told to connect, laugh, & reflect. Held the 2nd Thurs. of every month. Free. tadl.org/event/ everyone-has-story-28438 ---------------------------------GROWING UP LEELANAU: 6-8pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Join LIFT Teen Center to celebrate the voices & experiences of young people across Leelanau County. Your ticket includes drinks, appetizers, live music & a commemorative booklet featuring the student portraits & narratives from the art exhibit. Proceeds benefit LIFT Teen Center. $50/person. zeffy. com/en-US/ticketing/growing-up-leelanau ---------------------------------MEET THE CANDIDATES - KIRTLAND: 6pm, Kirtland Community College, Grayling. Candidates invited: Congress First Congressional District, Michigan Senate District 36, Michigan House District 105, Michigan House District 99, & Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees. Free admission. ---------------------------------TC DESIGN WEEK: DESIGN IN ACTION: INTERACTIVE HAPPY HOUR: 6-8pm, Bay
View Flooring & Design Center, TC. Designers, architects, builders, craftspeople, & material experts come together for design hot-takes, creative conversation, & a handson look at how ideas take shape. Free. See web site for a complete schedule of events. tcdesignweek.com/event-calendar/designin-action-interactive-happy-hour ---------------------------------BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR: 6:30pm, City Opera House, TC. See incredible films celebrating adventure, exploration & the outdoors. This is Vasa Ski Club’s biggest fundraiser. $20. vasaskiclub.org ---------------------------------GREAT MICHIGAN GATHERING KICK OFF & WATCH PARTY: 6:45-8:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Priya Parker, author of ‘The Art of Gathering’ will be discussing how to fight the loneliness epidemic. Join the Institute for the Humanities as you tune in to The Great Michigan Gathering Watch Party, a statewide event hosted by the Michigan Humanities Council from the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn. Watch Parties will be held around the county at: The Garden Theater, Frankfort; Benzonia Public Library, Benzonia; & Elberta Labor Heritage Center, Elberta. Free. michiganhumanities.org/great-michigan-gathering
oct 09
friday
47TH ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX APPLE FEST: Oct. 9-11. Today’s hours are 10am-6pm. East Park & Mason St., downtown Charlevoix. Art & Craft Show, farmers market, Twister Joe, kids’ activities, balloon artist, petting zoo, orchards, food booths, live music & more. facebook.com/CVXAppleFest ---------------------------------MICHIGAN SILVER ALERT CELEBRATION: 1pm, Friendship Centers of Emmet County, Petoskey. This event will celebrate the passage of Michigan’s Silver Alert legislation & recognize the families, advocates, first responders & community members whose efforts helped bring it to law. Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police, is scheduled to speak about how Silver Alerts will help locate vulnerable adults who go missing. ---------------------------------TC DESIGN WEEK: THE VOXBOX: ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS DESIGN: 1-4pm, The VoxBox, TC. Featuring Balecraft with Sophie + Ellis. Free. See web site for a complete schedule of events. tcdesignweek. com/event-calendar/the-voxbox-environmentally-concious-design ---------------------------------HORROR WRITING WORKSHOP - FOR ADULTS: 5-8pm, The Folded Leaf, TC. Talk about what makes horror stories work - how to craft high stakes, build tension, & give readers goosebumps. Look at examples of published work from writers like Stephen Graham Jones, Kelly Link & Daniel Kraus. Then, write your own horror story. Included in the suggested donation price ($50) is a ticket to see Daniel Kraus, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, “Angel Down,” “Whalefall,” “The Shape of Water,” & more, at City Opera House on Nov. 23. Register. Class size: 8-10. nwsstoryloft.org/classes ---------------------------------ARTRAGEOUS: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. The Artrageous troupe of artists, musicians, singers & dancers, hailing from the high desert of New Mexico, pay tribute to a variety of art forms, icons & musical genres culminating in a gallery of fabulous finished paintings. $5-$39. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/artrageous ---------------------------------A SESAME STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE:
7:30pm, The MATCH, Cherryland Center, TC. A puppet-filled mashup parody for all ages. $18-$38. mashuprockandrollmusical. com/upcoming-shows-tickets ---------------------------------HONKY TONK LAUNDRY: 7:30pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Wash your cares away with this musical play full of country favorites as two laundresses of life join forces to turn their good ol laundromat into a bootscootin honky-tonk. Presented by Old Town Playhouse. $30$44. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/ special-events/honky-tonk-laundry.html ---------------------------------INTERLOCHEN “COLLAGE”: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Experience the very best of Interlochen Arts Academy in this annual tradition. “Collage” unites students from all seven of the Academy’s artistic disciplines for a fast-paced showcase of songs, readings, monologues, short films, dance works, & more. The event concludes with an exclusive preview of their fall musical theatre production. $19-$35. interlochen.org/ events/collage-2026-10-09
oct 10
saturday
FRANKFORT FALL FESTIVAL: Open Space Park, Frankfort. Featuring the Port City Run 5K, Fall Festival Craft Fair, Parade & Mutt March, live music under the beer tent with the Scottsville Clown Band & others, cornhole tournament, pumpkin decorating, giant pumpkin drop, Crystal Lake Alpaca Farm & more. frankfortdowntown.com/events/fall-fest ---------------------------------WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S: Open Space Park, TC. Registration begins at 9am, & the Promise Garden Ceremony & walk kickoff start at 10am. Free. act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2026/ MI-GreaterMichigan?pg=entry&fr_id=19695 ---------------------------------47TH ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX APPLE FEST: (See Fri., Oct. 9) ---------------------------------CONSERVATION CENTER TOUR: 10am, Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve, TC. Visitors can explore the 243-acre preserve’s diverse habitats, including wetlands, meadows & forest areas, & learn about the ongoing restoration work, while traversing the universally accessible Looyenga Family Trail. From the trail, you can also watch the invasive-plant-eating goats enjoying their job with gusto! Free. gtrlc.org/recreation-events/events ---------------------------------FRIENDS OF PCL ART SALE/ARTISTS IN THE LIBRARY: 10am-3pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Local artisans offer their work for you & gifting! ---------------------------------MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOWS: 10am-6pm, Washington Park, downtown Cheboygan. More than 30 crafters & artists will be displaying jewelry, stuffed animals, blankets, home decor, wooden signs, fresh desserts & much more. facebook.com/madeincheboygan ---------------------------------OUTDOOR CRAFT & VENDOR SHOW: 10am-3pm, The Village at GT Commons, historic front lawn, TC. Browse 100+ Michigan vendors offering art, jewelry, crafts, food & more. Free event. thevillagetc.com/events ---------------------------------ART IN THE BARN: 11am-4pm. Northern Michigan artist Douglas Racich welcomes you to a studio open house in his historic 1870s Leelanau County barn near Omena at 6411 N. Overlook Rd., Northport. Original egg tempera & watercolor artwork. leelanauprints.com ---------------------------------SAY NO TO ISRAEL’S GENOCIDE & MANIPULATION OF CONGRESS: (See Sat.,
Oct. 3) FARMLAND 5K, 10K & 1 MILE KID’S RACE: 11:30am, 999 Rasho Rd., TC. A cross-country style race over grass, dirt trails, & open farmland. Featuring a mix of rolling terrain & natural footing. See web site to register & for various starting times. $5-$35; price increases after Oct. 9. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/Farmland?aflt_token=vkmwDmwe Q4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw ---------------------------------EMPIRE MUSEUM HERITAGE DAYS: 1-4pm, 11544 LaCore, Empire. Includes a collection of old-time tools, machines, crafts, & food prepared with antique equipment on site. Artisan demonstrations & tours also on site. Free. empiremimusem.org ---------------------------------ARTRAGEOUS: SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE: 2pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. The Artrageous troupe of artists, musicians, singers & dancers, hailing from the high desert of New Mexico, pay tribute to a variety of art forms, icons & musical genres culminating in a gallery of fabulous finished paintings. $5-$25. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/artrageous ---------------------------------HAUNTED HALLOWEEN WEEKENDS: 5-8:30pm, Camp Petosega, Alanson. Best Decorated Campsite contest, trick-or-treating, free hot dogs, chips, drinks, & a Haunted Trail. emmetcounty.org/experiences/camp_ petosega/park_events.php ---------------------------------DINNER IN THE HILLS: 5:30pm, Mt. Holiday, TC. Legacy in Motion honors more than 75 years of memories made on the hill while looking ahead to the generations still to come. The evening will feature a cocktail hour, dinner, silent & live auctions, live music & dancing - all in support of a place that has brought the community together for generations. $120 per person. secure.qgiv.com/event/dinnerinthehills2026 ---------------------------------TC DESIGN WEEK CLOSING CELEBRATION: The Alluvion, TC. 6-7pm: Cocktail Hour + Designer Showcase. 7:30-9pm: Design Outside the Box w/ special guests. See web site for a complete schedule. $30. tcdesignweek.com/event-calendar/tcdw2026closingcelebration ---------------------------------DJANGOPHONIQUE: 7-9pm, AuSable Artisan Village Performing Arts Center, Grayling. Enjoy jazz manouche with award-winning Michigan ensemble Djangophonique. Rooted in the music & legacy of Django Reinhardt, Djangophonique was honored Artist of the Year at the 2022 WYCE jammies. $25$30. artisanvillage.org/events ---------------------------------MAY ERLEWINE WSG ANI MARI: 7pm, The Bay Community Theatre, Suttons Bay. Erlewine, one of the Midwest’s most prolific & passionate songwriters, returns by popular demand to share her gift for writing songs of substance that feel fresh, soulfully familiar & emotionally engaging. Also performing is altAmericana singer-songwriter Ani Mari, with influences ranging from Liz Phair to Waxahachee. $50-$55. thebaytheatre.org/movie/ live-at-the-bay-may-erlewine-and-ani-mari ---------------------------------A SESAME STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE: (See Fri., Oct. 9) ---------------------------------HONKY TONK LAUNDRY: (See Fri., Oct. 9)
oct 11
@ St. AmBrose CelLarS 841 S PiOneEr Rd, BeUlah, MI 49617
SwORd FIGhTINg • VENdORs MEaD • MUSIC • GAMES & MORE
For Traverse City area news and events, visit TraverseTicker.com
oct 03
sunday
FORMULA 1 FREE WATCH PARTIES: SINGAPORE: 8am, The Bay Community Theatre, Suttons Bay. Watch thrilling races on the big screen! Includes Formula 1 games. thebaytheatre.org
Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 21
47TH ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX APPLE FEST: (See Fri., Oct. 9, except today’s hours are 10am-4pm.) ---------------------------------ART IN THE BARN: (See Sat., Oct. 10) ---------------------------------MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOWS: (See Sat., Oct. 10, except today’s hours are 11am-3pm.) ---------------------------------LUNCHEON WITH WADE ROUSE: Noon, Bay View Association, The Terrace Inn, Petoskey. Connect with acclaimed author Wade Rouse in celebration of his newest book, “The Bluff.” Each ticket includes a signed copy of “The Bluff” paperback, a buffet lunch & more. Space is limited to 100 guests. $63.99. eventbrite.com/e/luncheon-with-wade-rousetickets-1994247591229?aff=oddtdtcreator ---------------------------------HARVEST GATHERING: 1pm, Samels Farm, Williamsburg. Horse-drawn wagon rides, blacksmithing, hit n’ miss engine, archaeology display, cider pressing, thresher demonstration, games, fresh apple cider, cookies, & coney hot dogs, along with other refreshments. Free. samelsfarm.org ---------------------------------HONKY TONK LAUNDRY: (See Fri., Oct. 9, except today’s time is 2pm.) ---------------------------------LUX AETERNA: 3pm, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Beulah. St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, The Arts on the Hill Ministry Team, Music Director Michael Beery, & Organist Emeritus with the 2026 Festival Choir Tim Quist present Morten Lauridsen’s setting of “Lux Aeterna,” a five-movement, non-liturgical requiem. ---------------------------------THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK CABARET CONCERT: 3pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Two Cheboygan friends return to the stage to sing music from The Great American Songbook. Jack Barber (vocals) & George Krawczyk (piano) share their interpretations of American standards by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby & many others. Join them on stage! Tickets are $25 (limited to 60) & include coffee, tea & homemade pastries. ci.ovationtix.com/36618/production/1 290718?performanceId=11866535 ---------------------------------COTTAGE CONCERTS W/ CAROL KAPPUS: 4pm, Twisted Fish Gallery, Elk Rapids. Enjoy an evening of traditional Celtic harp songs peppered with American folk, country & pop classics performed by acclaimed harpist, singer, composer & teacher Carol Kappus. In between traveling to Scotland & Ireland, Carol stops at Twisted Fish Art Gallery. Tickets are $30 & are limited to 50 guests. They include light hors d’ oeuvres & a beverage of choice. 231-264-0123. ---------------------------------A SESAME STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE: (See Fri., Oct. 9, except tonight’s time is 6pm.)
ongoing
THE DEAD ENDS ON SPRUCE: Oct. 1-31, Spruce St., TC. An ordinary home is transformed into a spooky & immersive haunted attraction. The display features elaborate Halloween decorations, eerie scenes, animatronics, special effects, & interactive elements for visitors of all ages. Find ‘The Dead Ends on Spruce’ on Facebook. ---------------------------------PETOSKEY BUDDHIST BOOK STUDY SANGHA: Tuesdays, 10am-noon through Dec. 8. First Presbyterian Church, Petoskey. Meditate, read together a current Buddhistfocused book, meet with Zen teacher. For more info contact: juliafogarty.jf@gmail.com or skiprenker@gmail.com.
farmers markets
BELLAIRE FARMERS MARKET: 102 S. Maple St., Bellaire. Fridays, 8am-noon through mid-Oct. localdifference.org/partner/ bellaire-farmers-market ---------------------------------BOYNE CITY FARMERS MARKET: Veterans Park, Boyne City. Featuring an array of goods from local small-scale farmers, artisans & entrepreneurs. Held through mid-Oct. on Weds. & Sat., 8am-noon. boynecityfarmersmarket.org ---------------------------------EAST BAY CORNERS FARMERS MARKET: Thursdays, 2-6pm through Oct. 29 at East Bay Twp. Offices, TC. Shop fresh local produce, baked goods, handmade items & more while connecting with neighbors & supporting regional farmers & small businesses. Special events each week. eastbaytwp.org/ residents/food_security.php ---------------------------------HARBOR SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET: Downtown Harbor Springs. Held every Sat. from 9am-1pm through Oct. 10. Featuring local farmers, artisans, food producers & more. Select dates will have music & Kids Days. petoskeyarea.com/events/harbor-springsfarmers-market-2026 ---------------------------------OLD TOWN EMMET FARM MARKET: 1322 Anderson Rd., Petoskey. Held on Saturdays through Oct. 10 from 9am-1pm. facebook. com/oldtownemmetfarmmarket ---------------------------------SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 7:30am-noon; Wednesdays, 8am-noon. Rotary Square, downtown TC. dda.downtowntc.com/farmers-market ---------------------------------SUTTONS BAY FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 9am-1pm, North Park Corner of M22 & M204, Suttons Bay. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com
art
“WOMEN AND WATER: WOVEN PORTRAITS FROM AROUND THE WORLD”: Petoskey District Library, 2nd floor. A traveling exhibition featuring handwoven jacquard portraits by artist Mary Burns that honor women who work with, protect, & advocate for water across the globe. Runs through Oct. 15. See web site for hours. petoskeylibrary.org ---------------------------------SHAPE, FORM & LIGHT 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY MEMBER EXHIBIT: Village Arts Building, Northport. Presented by the Northport Arts Association, this exhibit launches Oct. 3 with an opening reception from 5-7pm. Runs Oct. 6-31, Tues. through Sun., noon4pm. Free. northportartsassociation.org/ events-exhibits ---------------------------------“HEART OF A TREE, SOUL OF A STORM”: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. A juried art exhibition featuring creative works rooted in a fallen tree & shaped by the 2025 ice storm that changed the landscape. Runs through Oct. See web site for hours. charlevoixcircle.org ---------------------------------CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY: - ECHOES: REVISITING MEMORY: Held in Gilbert Gallery. Environments, places & landscapes shape our memories & experiences. “Echoes” explores how memories lose their clarity & change as we revisit them. The works on view reflect these varied reminiscences of environments that stay with us & reverberate in our minds over time.
22 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
Runs through Oct. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/echoes-revisiting-memory.html - WOMEN + WATER: LIFE BEARERS, TEACHERS, STORYTELLERS: Held in Atrium Gallery. Presented in conjunction with Women + Water at the Petoskey District Library, this exhibition features artwork by women artists reflecting on water, environmental stewardship, & advocacy. Runs through Oct. 17. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/women-water-life-bearers-teachersstorytellers.html - “MODERN MOVEMENT: MARTHA GRAHAM & BARBARA MORGAN”: Held in Bonfield Gallery. Featuring original Barbara Morgan photographs of Graham & her company in the 1930s & 40s. Runs through Oct. See web site for hours. crookedtree. org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/modern-movement.html ---------------------------------CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC: - “AMERICANA”: Held in Cornwell & Carnegie Galleries, TC. Artists across the Great Lakes region explore the many meanings of Americana through contemporary & traditional works that celebrate, question, reinterpret, or expand our understanding of American identity. Runs through Oct. 3. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/americana.html - JON LANGFORD: HONKY TONK HEAVEN: Held in Carnegie Rotunda. One of the founding members of the British first wave punk band The Mekons, & in several bands since & presently, Jon is also a prolific & outstanding painter. Runs through Oct. 3. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/eventsand-exhibitions/exhibits/jon-langford-honkytonk-heaven.html - TRAVERSE AREA CAMERA CLUB FALL 26’ WINNERS SHOWCASE: Held in Cornwell & Carnegie Galleries. Annual exhibit of the ever-growing Traverse Area Camera Club yearly award winners. Runs through Oct. 3. See web site for hours. crookedtree. org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/traversearea-camera-club-2026-award-winners.html ---------------------------------DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: - DARRYL BROWN: “BUBBLES OF LOVE”: A dreamscape of both primitive & modern juxtaposed color & a whimsical journey that blends Atavistic Animism with a pure discovery in the moment & from different angles. Runs through March 28, 2027. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed Mondays & major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/ art/upcoming-exhibitions - DRAWING TO MOTION: CONTEMPORARY INUIT ART FROM THE DENNOS MUSEUM: From spiritual & physical transformations to modes of transportation & scenes of daily life, this exhibition provides an intimate view into the hand-drawn & animated-byhand world of Inuit artists from the late 20th & early 21st centuries. Runs through May 30, 2027. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed Mondays & major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcoming-exhibitions - MATERIAL WORLD: TEN WOMEN: An invitational exhibition organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art, featuring women artists working with non-traditional materials or using traditional materials in non-traditional ways. Many of the works use found objects common to the everyday household, or bring elements from nature into inside spaces. Runs through Jan. 3, 2027. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on Mondays & major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/ art/upcoming-exhibitions - “FULL CIRCLE: WASTE PLASTIC TRANSFORMATIONS”: TC raised artist Simon Anton returns to the area with a body
of sculpture & design objects built over the last 12 years at his Detroit Studio for his solo exhibit. Anton uses plastic sourced from Detroit neighborhoods, factory waste & the automotive industry. Runs through Aug. 8, 2027. Dennos Museum Center is open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm; closed Mondays. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcoming-exhibitions - REFLECTIONS ON COMMUNITY: 75 YEARS OF STUDENT VOICES: This exhibition celebrates NMC’s 75th Anniversary by exploring the college’s history through the eyes of those who experienced it firsthand – students. Runs through Jan. 3. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/75-years-studentvoices.html ---------------------------------GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER: - “AT LEAST A DOZEN FRIENDS”: Held in Lobby Gallery. Margo Burian is known as a painter of quiet, atmospheric landscapes, waterscapes, farmsteads, & rowboats hitched to old docks. Over the years she has been developing a body of work based on collage, image transfer, & mixed media. Her exhibit runs through Dec. 17. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org/product/exhibitat-least-a-dozen-friends - “TAKING FLIGHT”: Invitational group exhibition featuring the works of Shanny Brooke (paintings), Cynthia Marks (ceramic vessels) & Michelle Tock York (mixed media sculpture). Runs through Oct. 29. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org/product/exhibittaking-flight ---------------------------------OLIVER ART CENTER: - ATMOSPHERES: PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE LOVELESS: Photographer & Michigan native, Steve Loveless, has been capturing the stunning atmospheres of northern Michigan for decades. This exhibition runs through Oct. 30. Open Tues. - Sat., 10am4pm; Sun., noon-4pm. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org/music-series - ALL MEDIA JURIED EXHIBITION: Runs Oct. 10 - Nov. 13. This exhibition showcases the best work of regional artists in all media. Open Tues.-Sat., 10am-4pm; Sun., noon4pm. oliverart.org
Deadline for Dates information is Tuesday for the following week.
lOGY
OCT 05 - 0CT 10 BY ROB BREZSNY
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Periodically, you have the cosmic right to
receive precisely what you need. Life is duty-bound to deliver a close approximation of full satisfaction. I believe now is one of those times. So please be bold and articulate about naming the specific blessings you require. Write them down, speak them aloud, and pray for them—not as a demand, but as a hearty invitation. Then, for a while, live as if all of creation is indeed honor-bound to respond accordingly, adjusting its behavior so it's in harmony with the gifts you’ve asked for.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Botanists know that climbing vines have a simple approach. They keep extending their sensitive tendrils until they discover something sturdy enough to support upward growth. Their progress depends on continual experimentation. I love it when you imitate this style of intelligence, Leo, which I think will be especially useful and successful during the coming weeks. So instead of demanding guarantees before beginning a new endeavor, offer exploratory feelers. Ask friendly questions. Test prototypes. The right support system probably already exists, but may not reveal itself until you reach toward it.
“Jonesin” Crosswords
"It's Always Something New"-sounds like an original idea. by Matt Jones ACROSS 1. Surrender, so to speak 5. Diner breakfast option 9. "Frozen II" snowman 13. 2023-2024 tour that set multiple Guinness World Records 14. Those not in favor 16. Jail unit 17. Quick burst of house cleaning? 19. Three in a gig? 20. Actor Vigoda 21. Chefs signing a contract before the wedding? 23. Scalawag 25. "Harper Valley ___" (#1 hit of 1968) 26. "Correct!" 27. Studio behind October 2026's "Wildwood" 30. "___ Amatoria" (Ovid work) 32. State home to Celeryville and Mount Healthy 35. Bottle feature 37. Post-workout soreness 41. Huge statue that can't lie? 44. Like the former financial backers of LIV Golf 45. Mapo ___ 46. Website with a "Collectibles" section 47. Pepper's rank 49. Nabisco's ___ Wafers 51. Relaxing getaway 54. Owns 56. Bind securely 60. Fertilizer for only growing plants in the dark? 64. "Wayward" creator/star Martin 65. "Garfield" canine 66. Green fuzzy stuff on some legumes? 68. Maze divider 69. Per ___ (yearly) 70. Roster-shortening abbr. 71. Took a gander at 72. ___ Club (retail chain) 73. "Breakadawn" hip-hop group ___ Soul
DOWN 1. Moth-repelling closet wood 2. Antilles resort island 3. Places to gather your buds? 4. Superlative suffix 5. Recession victim? 6. One of the BrontÎs 7. Astonish 8. Ask for money 9. Prefix meaning eight 10. Sports artist Neiman 11. Similar 12. Freebie from a dentist visit 15. 58-Down partitions 18. Former name of the film ratings org. 22. Jeweler's weight unit 24. Overcast sky feature 28. Where Canterbury is 29. Be motivated by 31. 1996 horror film with sequels 32. Chant sounds 33. Condo gp. 34. Shiba ___ (Japanese dog breed) 36. Former U.N. secretary-general Annan 38. Airline's home city 39. Rideshare app stat 40. Reserved 42. Could possibly 43. Seesaw pivots 48. Lightning's home 50. Spelling style used by hackers 51. Longtime Maine senator Olympia 52. Math-themed March 14th observance 53. Nimble-footed 55. "Carnival of the Animals" composer Camille Saint-___ 57. Act dramatically 58. Like some vowels in French 59. Unit of magnetic flux 61. Retained 62. "Peter Pan" dog 63. Word on a coin 67. Club ___ (resort chain)
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): One of my favorite Virgos works in a museum cleaning centuriesold paintings with exquisite patience. She uses tiny swabs and gentle solvents to lift away layers of darkened varnish and grime. She’s an expert at making the original colors emerge so vividly that the painting looks newly made. But her work demands artful restraint. If she presses too hard or applies the wrong solvent, she could destroy the very thing she means to reveal. This approach can be your specialty in the coming weeks, Virgo. I hope you will attend to valuables that have been obscured by accumulated grime, like old habits, stale assumptions, and other people's projections. Your task is to gently lift it all away and let the true colors shine.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Every Thursday night, I haul my trash bin out to the street so the collectors can empty it the following morning. Most weeks it’s threequarters full. But now and then I produce an unusually large haul of debris. On those occasions, I have to turn into a one-person compaction crew: I grab a lowhanging branch of the persimmon tree, hoist myself up, drop down feet-first into the can, and bounce around to squash everything enough to squeeze in the overflow. Consider this my audition to be your role model, Scorpio. According to my reading of the celestial weather, it’s time for you to consolidate and discard at least half a year’s accumulation of obsolete clutter—both the invisible emotional kind and the tangible stuff filling your space.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Ancient
navigators sometimes crossed vast stretches of sea by studying the swells beneath their boats. Their bodies were instruments of perception that enabled them to feel the subtle wave patterns generated by winds and distant islands. Your intuition has a similar sensitivity these days, Sagittarius. I hope you will trust it: what your whole being senses before your rational mind assembles the evidence. I call this fully embodied intelligence. It deserves a key role in your decision-making.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’ve never
been a fan of Capricorn poet Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931). The ideas he expressed seem commonplace and sentimental to me. But his book The Prophet is an all-time bestseller translated into over 100 languages. Millions of readers have adored and benefited from his words, and he’s acclaimed as a literary hero in his native Lebanon. So who cares what I think! I’ll just shut up and appreciate the fact that he worked hard and published a lot. His disciplined, painstaking efforts have been widely inspirational. Let’s make him your role model for the coming months. I think you’re primed to create enduring offerings that nourish people’s souls.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Think of an
aspect of your life that you have always wished you could change but have assumed or feared you could never change. What if, sometime soon, you try to change it, but this time you do it with playful lightheartedness? You resolve to feel zero
stress and have as much fun as possible as you try to shift how this problem works. You decide you will use your imagination to dream up unprecedented and even outrageous ways to break your trance and invite sweet liberation to swoop in.
PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Geologists tell us
that over time, rocks really do get transformed under sustained pressure. Their material gets reorganized into denser, more stable stuff. This is an apt metaphor for you, dear Pisces. You're under pressure right now, and it may feel intense. But what if it's actually reconfiguring you? Maybe the constraints are what you need to make you more focused, more essential, and more real. Not all pressure is bad, and this is proof. Ask yourself: What is this pressure making possible that freedom couldn't create? Let yourself be reorganized.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Dear Oracle:
My secret terror is being ordinary. I need to be special, and lately I'm worried I'm just average and unremarkable. That thought is repugnant to me! Can you offer any advice? — Afraid of Average." Dear Afraid: The pressure to be extraordinary is exhausting because it's the wrong goal. Your birthright and your life assignment aren't about being special in the sense of better-than. You’re simply meant to be vividly, generously, amazingly yourself. In the coming weeks, I invite you to trade the anxious hunt for superiority for the warm, throbbing joy of full self-expression. Shine because it feels fantastic, not to outrank anyone.
TAURUS
(April 20-May 20): Ravens sometimes hide food while pretending to conceal it elsewhere, especially if another raven is observing. They're strategic and imaginative and aware of how they're perceived. With their social intelligence as inspiration, I will encourage you to think more consciously about the stories you're broadcasting. Which precious projects will flourish better if protected from premature scrutiny? Do you have any in-progress blooms that really should continue to incubate before being revealed? Discernment isn't deception. PS: Conversely, there may be a part of you that deserves greater visibility.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The Taurus
philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote that life must be lived forward but can only be understood backward. You Geminis are naturally inclined to resist that advice. Many of you analyze experiences while they're still unfolding. Can I coax you to try a different approach in the coming weeks? As usual, you may be tempted to figure everything out immediately. But the most useful clarity won’t arrive until later, as you survey what has occurred and recognize patterns you couldn’t see in real time. So try to stay curious rather than overly diagnostic. Keep gathering impressions, stories, and clues. Allow events to transpire like chapters in a book whose ending you haven’t reached yet.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): The Germans
have a word, Sehnsucht, for a feeling that my English language can't quite convey: a deep, sweet, aching longing for something you can't name. It may be a faraway home you've never visited or a wholeness you seem to remember without ever having had it. Most people treat this yearning as a problem to be fixed or numbed. But I think it's sacred information, Cancerian, and you’re especially fluent in it right now. Don't rush to resolve the ache or explain it away. Instead, follow it like a scent. What is your Sehnsucht pointing toward? Let it lead you toward the beauty and meaning your soul is homesick for.
Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 23
Grand Traverse & Kalkaska CHATEAU GRAND TRAVERSE, TC 5-8: 10/3 -- Jesse Jefferson 10/9 -- Mal & Mike 10/10 -- Drew Hale JACOB'S FARM, TC 10/3 -- North 44, noon-3; Timberline North, 5-8 10/4 -- Wavrunner, noon-3; Broom Closet Boys, 5-8 10/7 -- Andy McQuillen, 5-8 10/8 -- Olivia Prior, 5-8 10/9 -- Stefanie Clark Harris, 5-8 10/10 -- A.S. Lutes, noon-3; Split Decision, 5-8 10/11 -- Mar in Color, noon-3; Fabulous Horndogs, 5-8 KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC 10/2-3 -- Scarkazm, 9:30 Mon. -- DJ Trivia, 7-9 Tues. -- The Will Harris Trio, 8-12 Weds. -- The Pocket Band, 8-12 Thurs. -- DJ Leo, 9:30-1:30 10/9-10 -- Broom Closet Boys, 9:30 KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING 10/3 -- Rachael Kleinsorge, 5-7 10/6 -- Open Mic Night, 6-9 10/8 -- Trivia Night w/ Marcus, 6:30-9 LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC 10/4 -- 19th Annual Harvest Festivus w/ Ted Bounty Trio, 1:30-4:30 BARREL ROOM: 10/5 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9 TASTING ROOM: 10/9 -- OK Serafina (Rachael), 5-7 MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC 10/3 -- Protea, 6-9
10/7 -- Trivia Night w/ Steveo, 7-9 10/9 -- Soren Knudsen, 6-9 NOCTURNAL BLOOM BREWING, TC 10/5 -- Celtic Music/Open Session, 5:30-8 Thu -- Trivia, 6 10/9 -- Aaron Dye, 6:30-8:30 10/10 -- Loren w/ Openers Jeremiah, Matt Vaught & DJ Zeb K, 8 NORTH BAR, TC 10/3 -- Brady Corcoran, 7-9 10/7 -- Jim Hawley, 6-10 10/8 -- Drew Hale, 7-9 OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC SEVEN HILLS: 10/3 -- Levi Britton, 6:30 10/6 -- Music Bingo, 6 10/9 -- Derek Boik, 7:30 10/10 -- Erik Burke & Mark Daisy, 6:30 RIGHT BRAIN BREWERY, TC 8: 10/9 -- USS Comedy Showcase 10/10 -- Comedy Night w/ Joe Elder & Morgan Sterling; Hosted by Joe Curtis TC WHISKEY CO. - THE STILLHOUSE 10/10 -- Dolly Karaoke, 7 THE ALLUVION, TC 10/5 -- Big Fun + DJ Ras Marco, 7-9:30 10/6 -- Don Was & the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, 7: SOLD OUT 10/6 -- Don Was & the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, 9 10/7 -- Kiefer, 7-9:30 10/8 -- The Jeff Haas Trio feat. Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive, 5:30-8 10/9 -- Djangophonique - “Django
Stories,” 7-9:30 10/10 -- TC Design Week Closing Celebration, 6-9 THE HAYLOFT INN, TC 7:30-11: 10/2-3 -- Sandy & The Bandits 10/9-10 -- Cody Stewart & the Traverse City Troubadours
10/9 -- Nelson 10/10 -- Zeke
BRANDY'S HARBORTOWN, BAY HARBOR 10/3 -- Nick Visconti, 5 10/8 -- Jelly Roll Blues Band, 6 10/9 -- Will Springsteen, 5 10/10 -- Brian Thomas, 5 CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY 10/6 -- Trivia Night, 7-9 10/9 -- Karaoke, 9:30 NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY
THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC 10/3 -- Sandbox Ramblers, 7 10/4 -- Stretch Stand-up Comedy Contest, 7-9 10/5 -- USS Comedy: Open Mic, 8-9:30 10/6 -- Open Mic w/ Zak Bunce, 6-10 10/7 -- Jazz Jam w/ Ron Getz, 6-9 10/8 -- DJ Trivia, 7-9 10/9 -- Miriam Pico & Ryan Younce, 7 10/10 -- MI Sane Asylum, 7 10/11 -- Full Tilt Comedy Presents: Comedy Lab, 6-8 TURTLE CREEK CASINO, WILLIAMSBURG WATERFALL, 6-10: 10/3 -- House Cats 10/9 -- Mojave Red
SNOWBELT BREWING CO., GAYLORD 10/8 -- Trivia Night
7-10: 10/3 -- Matt Sayles 10/9 -- Holly Keller 10/10 -- Delilah DeWylde
10/10 -- Larz Cabot, 11am-2pm; The Outfit, 3-6 10/11 -- Chris & Jeff Duo, 11am2pm; Serita's Black Rose, 3-6
NORTHERN LIGHTS RECREATION, HARBOR SPRINGS 10/6 -- Trivia, 6:30 10/9 -- Ty Parkin, 5:30-8:30
THE LARK LOUNGE, CHEBOYGAN 5:30-7:30: 10/8 -- Peter Allen Jensen 10/9 -- Gravity Storm
POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS 10/3 -- Kirby, 11am-2pm; Lee & The Whiskey Wranglers, 3-6 10/4 -- Mike Snell, 11am-2pm; 1000 Watt Prophets, 3-6 10/9 -- Riff Rider & The Vista Cruisers, 5-8
THE PIER, HARBOR SPRINGS 10/4 -- Pat Ryan, 1-4
NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER HOUSE & WINERY, KALEVA 10/3 -- Alex Teller, 7 10/9 -- Thirsty Perch Blues Band, 7 10/10 -- Chief Day w/ Great Lakes Brass, Ted Bounty & The Bounty Hunters, Smokin' Dobroleles, &
24 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
Leelanau & Benzie AURORA CELLARS, LAKE LEELANAU 10/4 -- Harvest Party w/ Trillium Groove, 2-5 BEL LAGO VINEYARD, WINERY & CIDERY, CEDAR 10/7 -- Jakob Abraham, 3:30-5:30 BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU TASTING ROOM: 10/4 -- Dominic Fortuna, 3-5 10/11 -- Chris Skellenger & Patrick Niemisto, 3-5:30 CEDAR TAVERN 10/3 -- Annual Autumn Music Fest w/ Jim Hawley, Split Decision & Loophole TC, noon-11pm DUNE BIRD WINERY, NORTHPORT 3-6: 10/4 -- Elizabeth Landry Trio 10/8 -- Luke Woltanski 10/11 -- Rhett & John FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR 10/8 -- Loose Change, 4
THE WIGWAM, INDIAN RIVER 10/8 -- Dominic Fortuna, 7:309:30 10/9 -- Karaoke, 8-11 10/10 -- Darwin Project, 8
Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT, MANISTEE 10/10 -- Virgil Baker & The Just For Fun Band, 1; Fröhliche Polka Band, 7
Acoustic rock, folk and country from Will Springsteen, Fri., Oct. 9 at Brandy’s Harbortown, Bay Harbor at 5pm.
THE PUB, TC 10/3 -- John Richard Paul, 7:30-9 10/5 -- Karaoke, 8 10/7 -- Zeke Clemons, 7-10 10/8 -- DJ Producer AJ, 6-9 10/9 -- DJ Vai, 10
Emmet & Cheboygan BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY 10/3 & 10/10 -- Chris Calleja, 2-6 10/4 -- Chris Calleja, 1:30-5 10/9 -- Yankee Station, 4-7:30
oct 03 - oct 11 Send Nitelife to: events@traverseticker.com
THE PARLOR, TC 10/3 -- Bauer Jones, 9 10/6 -- Jesse Jefferson, 8-11 10/7 -- Rob Coonrod, 8-11 10/8 -- Jimmy Olson, 8-11 10/9 -- Dollar Shavey Club, 9 10/10 -- Rolling Dirty Duo, 9
Otsego, Crawford & Central ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 6-9: 10/3 -- Laura Thurston
nitelife
Manitou Truckin' Company, noon10pm THE GREENHOUSE – WILLOW/ PRIMOS, CADILLAC 10/7 -- Trivia & Music Bingo, 6-9
HOP LOT BREWING, SUTTONS BAY 10/10 -- Stone Travelbee, 3-6
10/9 -- The Fridays 10/10 -- Loose Change
IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE 10/9 -- JABO, 5:30-7:30 10/10 -- Andy McQuillen, 5:307:30 10/11 -- Iron Fish Blues, BBQ & Bourbon w/ Brian Curran, 1-3 & Pop Fly Band, 4-6
SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY 10/4 -- Grateful Dead Harvest Party w/ Touch of Grey, 1-4; & DJ Ras Marco, 4-6 10/9 -- Friday Night Live w/ Nick Veine, 4-7
LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 10/3 -- Lake Ann Oktoberfest w/ Delilah DeWylde, 3-6; & Rock Bottom Remedy, 7-10 10/7 -- Open Mic Night Hosted by Johnathon North, 6:30-9:30 10/9 -- Bad Jam, 6:30-9:30 10/10 -- John Pomeroy, 6:30-9:30 LITTLE TRAVERSE INN, MAPLE CITY 10/9 -- Fifth Street, 6-9 NORTHERN LATITUDES DISTILLERY, LAKE LEELANAU 10/9 -- Rhett & John, 4:45-6:45 RIVER CLUB, GLEN ARBOR 5-8: 10/3 -- Luke Duo
ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH 10/3 -- Doc Probes, 5-8 10/10 -- St. Ambrose Renaissance Fair, noon-7pm STORMCLOUD BREWING FRANKFORT 10/7 -- Trivia Night, 7-9 SUTTONS BAY CIDERS 10/8 -- Thurs. DJ Trivia, 6:30-8 THE CABBAGE SHED, ELBERTA 10/8 -- Open Mic Night, 6:30-9 10/10 -- Jake Frysinger, 5-8 THE HOMESTEAD RESORT, GLEN ARBOR WHISKERS, 6-9: 10/3 & 10/10 -- Bryan Poirier 10/9 -- Chris Michaels
Antrim & Charlevoix BLU DOT FARM & VINEYARD, CHARLEVOIX 10/3 & 10/10 -- Andy Kline, 3-6 CELLAR 152, ELK RAPIDS 10/3 -- Blair Miller, 6-9 CELLAR 1914/SHOOKS FARM, CENTRAL LAKE 10/3 -- Flannel Festival w/ Knee Deep, 5-8
FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE 6:30-9:30: 10/3 -- Matt Mansfield 10/9 -- Nick Vasquez 10/10 -- Jessica Dominic LOST CELLARS, CHARLEVOIX TASTING ROOM: 10/9 -- Leebee Shaner, 5-8 MUSKRAT CITY
DISTILLING, BOYNE
CO.,
8-11: 10/7 -- Karaoke Night 10/9 -- Sean Bielby SHORT'S PUB, BELLAIRE 10/8 -- DJ Trivia, 6-8 BEER GARDEN: 10/3 -- RPM, 7-9:30 TOWN CLUB, ELK RAPIDS 10/6 -- Mike Ridley, 6-9
NORTHERN EXPRESS
CLA SSI FIED S NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE SEEKS MATH INSTRUCTOR NMC is seeking a full-time Mathematics Faculty member to teach courses ranging from PreAlgebra to Differential Equations across various modalities, including in-person, online, and Zoom. $65,752.00 - $76,084.00 NMC is EOE nmc.edu/non-discrimination ___________________________________ JOIN OUR TEAM – GREAT LAKES STAINLESS & ARCHITECTURAL CASE WORK NOW HIRING – GREAT LAKES STAINLESS & A.C.I.! Great Lakes Stainless – Traverse City: Assembler/Fabricator/ Finisher/Basic Welder, CNC Cutting Operator, Detailer/Packer/Cleaner/Assembler (Custom Fabricated Cabinets), Laser Operator & Design Engineer. Architectural Case Work (A.C.I.) – Williamsburg: Custom Cabinet Builder. Competitive pay, great benefits & opportunities for growth. Join our team and build your career with us! https:// greatlakesstainless.com/careers/
COMPUTER PROBLEMS? I WILL COME TO YOU:: I will fix your phone, tv, tablet and computer and show you how to use them at your home or office. Call James Downer, Advent Tech. YOUR HIGH TECH HANDYMAN. Call 231-492-2087. ___________________________________ TRAVERSE BAY WATERSHED GREENS PRESENT GREEN CAFE': GREEN CAFE' "The Green Party Difference" 2pm Sun Oct 11 and "How to Vote Green" 6pm Tue Oct 13 both at Horizon Books Cafe' Traverse City. Hosted by an elected Green. Join in. ___________________________________ BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL: Big adventure. Local impact. The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is coming to Traverse City with breathtaking films, wild adventures and people who dare to go a little farther. Join Vasa Ski Club for a big-screen escape into the outdoors. Get your tickets at cityoperahouse.org or in person at Brick Wheels, Backcountry North or Oryana.
WE ARE EXPANDING OUR VACATION RENTAL CLEANING TEAM: Hiring f/t & p/t vacation rental cleaners.Email resume: info@coastalstaypm.com ________________________________ SEWING: SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231-228-6248
easy. accessible. all online.
THE NEXT CHAPTER FEELS LIKE HOME
Independent Senior Living 231-995-9385 Assisted Living 231-932-9757 TRS DIAL 7-1-1 3850 Scenic Ridge
Traverse City www.villageatbayridge.com
Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 25
26 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly
Mike Annelin Enthusiastic & Experienced
231-499-4249 | 231-929-7900
NEW PRICE
COMMERCIAL NEW LISTING
000000 Bluff Rd/Center Rd Parcel
5168-5200 573US Madeira 31 N, Williamsburg Drive
$895,000 | MLS 1950216
PENDING
$595,000 | |MLS $2,200,000 MLS1949557 1947502
PENDING
14935 N Cathead Bay Dr, Northport
4186 Aquila Court
$595,000 | MLS 1941736
PENDING
$999,000 | MLS 1949558
SOLD
5119 Anna Drive
504 Highland Park Drive
RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL | VACANT LAND
MIKEANNELIN.COM
$475,000 | MLS 1949890
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Northern Express Weekly • october 05, 2026 • 27
28 • october 05, 2026 • Northern Express Weekly