Top Ten

this week’s top ten

Sliding into the New Year

Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs is ready for a week of sledding and pizza parties Dec. 26 through Dec. 31 from 128pm. The working farm has plenty to explore on the property—a winery, brewery, cafe, market, hiking trails, and a playground await in addition to the sledding hill. Their weeklong event is free for those who want to sled and use the trails, and you can BYO sled or borrow one on-site. (No wood or metal sleds if you’re bringing from home.) Pond Hill will also have a bonfire going and plenty of warming food and drink available for purchase. The party happens snow or shine. And don’t miss a chance to sign up for their upcoming Farm to Table dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 25: seven courses plus estategrown wines for $150 per person. Get more details at pondhill.com/events.

2 tastemaker

Edson Farms’ Sugar Cookies

Established in the late ’70s, Edson Farms Natural Foods has long been our go-to for local produce and better-for-you deli staples. We just can’t help ourselves, though, when it comes to their house-baked sugar cookies. Inspired by owner Jessica Edson’s own family’s dietary needs, these holiday treats are gluten-free and call for only whole ingredients like grass-fed butter, raw vanilla, and eggs from Kingsley’s River Valley Farms. Each six- or 12-count cookie box contains an array of festive cut-outs, from stockings to stars to gingerbread men, and is ready to take home and decorate. Top them off with a schmear of organic icing or a shake of naturally-colored sprinkles—complete with tiny Christmas sweaters—and let the sugar rush commence! Grab a box (for $6 and $12 each, respectively) at Edson Farms Natural Foods, 835 S. Garfield Ave, Traverse City. (231) 9415221, edsonfarms.com 4 • dec 26, 2022 & jan 02, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

A Week of Festive Films

Get the popcorn ready! The Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay is offering a different holiday-themed movie every evening through the end of 2022—except Christmas Day—at 7pm for only $5/person. Take the whole family (an appropriate choice for many of the films) or sneak away from the holiday hubbub for a quiet night in the theater with their brand-new, ultra-comfy seats. In order from Monday, Dec. 26, through Saturday, Dec. 31: White Christmas, Remember the Night, Gremlins, The Bishop’s Wife, The Shop Around the Corner, and Love Actually. Find tickets at thebaytheatre.com.

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Hey, Read It! Motherthing

Ainslie Hogarth has left us all a little ho-ho-holiday horror in her newest black comedy, Motherthing. Longterm care worker Abby Lamb has never liked her motherin-law, a cruel and recalcitrant woman named Laura who seems to delight in her daughter’s discomfort. Abby likes her even less when Laura takes her own life near Christmas and then has the audacity to haunt Abby and her husband Ralph, eternally thwarting their future plans as ghost. (Or is her presence imagined? We might never know). Abby decides she’s had enough when she learns that her favorite inpatient, the ironically maternal Mrs. Bondy, is being moved to another location and hatches a scheme of Home Alone-level genius to expunge that evil thing in her basement— and take her life back—once and for all. We won’t give spoilers here, but prepare for a juicy twist of an ending! (PSA: This book contains strong language and sensitive topics—we recommend caution for younger readers)

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6 Resolve to Run

Start those New Year’s resolutions off on the right foot with the South Course SnowK Food & Fun Run at beautiful Arcadia Bluffs. (No, you can’t bring your driver, but at least you can start daydreaming about golf season.) The organizers have given you seven days to get past the champagne hangover and into the gym to gear up for the 3-mile race, which starts at 10:30am on Jan. 7. Better yet, the run is untimed, which takes the pressure off that first race of 2023. Registration is $35 for the SnowK and free for the 1-mile Kids Fun Run, which takes place at 10am. After all that exercise, enjoy a lunch buffet (included in your SnowK registration and available to spectators to purchase the day of the event—$20 for adults; $10 for kids) plus activities, prizes, and plenty of hot cocoa. Get the details and sign up at arcadiabluffs.com/news/snowk.

Are You Connected?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a new National Broadband Map. But does it really reflect internet connectivity in the U.S., especially in rural areas like most of northern Michigan? The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) and personnel at the new Michigan High-Speed Internet Office are working to challenge the map, as it could help secure future federal funding for internet projects. The NLEA is recommending that folks who live in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet Counties head to broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home and check to see if your home and/or business is accurately reflected on this new map before Jan. 13, 2023. If it isn’t, you can file an availability challenge. The NLEA is on hand to help with more resources and information at northernlakes.net. You can also contact the Michigan HighSpeed Internet Office at LEO-MIHighSpeedInternet@michigan.gov.

Celebrations New Year’s Eve

Three-course Prix Fixe A la Carte All Night in Bar

Three-course Specialty Menu A la Carte Menu in Bar

NYE BASH | DJ Skin Kwon Doe

Stuff We Love: Merry Less Mess

According to a study by Stanford University, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash during the holidays than we do the rest of the year. (And we always rank in the top five countries for most waste production.) So how can you cut down on waste these next few weeks? 1) Skip the wrapping paper and shiny gift bags—most of them (like the fun, glittery kinds) can rarely be recycled anyway—and use packing paper or reusable bags and boxes instead. 2) Say no to bows and ribbons and other adornments that wind up in the trash. 3) Opt for white tissue paper that is sans harmful dye. 4) Send your holiday cards electronically or print on recycled paper. 5) Keep bubble wrap and plastic bags separate to dispose of at your nearest plastic film recycler. 6) Don’t drop the Christmas tree at the dump—contact your municipality to learn about their organic material recycling programs. Let’s all be merry and make less mess!

bottoms up Mari Vineyards’ Maple Wine

Yes, you read that right—maple wine. This is a first for the Old Mission Peninsula winery, which is known for its Italian-style wines and Old World ambiance. The Essenza Dell’Albero (aka essence of the tree) Maple Wine was made from estate sugar maple trees, with syrup tapped and aged each year from 2017 to 2020. We didn’t know what to expect, but suffice to say if you like maple syrup, you’re going to love this wine. Maple is, fittingly, the first and strongest flavor you’ll find, but the hints of vanilla and caramel give it a rich finish. This is a decadent treat—not unlike maple candy in a glass, though it’s not overly sweet—and is perfect for pairing with a pecan or pumpkin pie after Christmas dinner. (The experts at Mari also recommend serving at brunch with chicken and waffles, and we give this idea two thumbs up.) Find a bottle ($50) at Mari Vineyards, 8175 Center Rd, Traverse City. 231-9386116. You can also order online at marivineyards.com. Northern Express Weekly • dec 19, 2022 & jan 02, 2023 • 5