Mary Bevans Gillett

Art Mary Bevans Gillett New ventures, familiar scenes and reminiscences of playhouses past are on tap as regional stages light up their summer slates.  Here’s a preview:
 
NEW IN THE NORTH
Promising to marry the power of the page with the power of the stage, Stage Turner stepped into the Northern Michigan spotlight last February with a delightful evening of staged readings by some of the region’s top talent.  The group returns with a summer series featuring contemporary and classic short stories by such authors as Jim Harrison, Ernest Hemingway, Anne-Marie Oomen, T. C. Boyle, M.F.K. Fisher and E. Annie Proulx.  Performance are held on Sunday evenings at the Old Art Building in Leland.  The line-up includes The Year of the Dog featuring animal stories on June 25, Up North and Personal featuring Michigan stories on July 23, and Half Baked and Hard Boiled featuring food stories on August 20.  For more information, call 231-256-9299.
Lovers of theatre, pop culture and an earlier Traverse City will enjoy Summer Stock and the Cherry County Playhouse on exhibit in the Museum of History at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.  The exhibit showcases the stars and story of Traverse City’s legendary summer stock theatre. Programs, performances and lectures will compliment the exhibition including a lecture and performance on American Musical Theatre on June 15, a lecture on American Summer Stock Theatre on August 10, performances by Riverside Shakespeare and the Traverse City Children’s Theatre, and a Cherry County Playhouse reunion and roundtable discussion with former cast, crew members, staff and families. For more information, call 231-995-0313.
 

Features Mary Bevans Gillett Marigold Productions is giving business women the tools to mine their
richest resources – themselves. The Traverse City based business was
launched recently by Mary Rogers and has already attracted an avid
following.
Using the slogan, “because a woman’s work is never done,” Marigold
offers career building seminars, hands-on workshops and networking
lunches as well as opportunities to play, travel and informally meet
others. It’s marketed as “a women’s business organization that you
don’t join, you just join in.”
“With women, all business is personal,” Rogers says. “We thrive on
networking, flexibility and creativity… and value the quality of life
both personally and professionally.”

Art Mary Bevans Gillett In the world of tango, a “milonga” is a social gathering where one can dance the Argentine tango and other Latin dances. Gallerie Medici brings milonga to Traverse City in a dance that weaves art, music and community in a tantalizing tango.
The art gallery is unique in Northern Michigan. It showcases original works while also offering a venue for dancers to meet and novices to learn. Paying tribute to the owner’s Italian heritage, it is named for the Medici, the powerful and influential Florentine family who were leaders during the Renaissance as patrons of the arts, architecture and philosophy.
Owner Cindy Carleton opened Gallerie Medici in early October in a stunning space in the 500 block of West Front Street in Traverse City. The completely refurbished building is tucked between Mary’s Kitchen Port and the Evergreen Gallery. Step inside the storefront and the first impression is of a striking yet warmly welcoming room. A vast wood floor sweeps through the space. Deeply hued red walls and high ceilings provide a dramatic backdrop to artwork created by a palette of local, regional and international artists. The room is open, punctuated by a skylight and flower filled table in the center, and a fireplace and cozy sitting area near the back. Music wafts through the air with a subtle fluidity.

Dining Mary Bevans Gillett “Living Simple… Cooking Smart” is the slogan at Main Dish Kitchen which just opened its doors in early December at the Cherryland Center in Traverse City. The new enterprise brings one of the state’s fastest growing franchises to Northern Michigan. Co-owners Gene and Joyce VanKoevering are joining forces with son- and daughter-in-law Greg and Lori VanKoevering to spearhead the operation.
Acknowledging that they were ‘happy empty nesters’ living in southwest Michigan, Gene and Joyce were initially customers of the original Main Dish Kitchen in Holland, then fell in love with the food and the concept, and jumped at the chance to bring a franchise to Traverse City where Greg and Lori lived.
“The principles are family, friends and community,” Gene said, “the bonus is that the food is unbelievable!”

Features Mary Bevans Gillett In an era of big box megastores and high tech playthings, Toy Harbor in downtown Traverse City continues sailing its classic craft through shifting retail waters. Its commitment to creative, quality toys has successfully stayed the course for 21 years.  
“We believe in the diversity of creativity and strive to find the playthings that encourage it,” said Nancy Walton, owner and co-founder.  
A stroll through Toy Harbor conjures up memories of childhood toy stores along with the anticipation and excitement that those visits to such a fantasyland would generate. No shopping carts, computer games or blue light specials, just floor to ceiling shelves filled with the tools that spark imagination – bins filled with knights in shining armor, dolls with shimmering curls, Legos and building sets, creative crafts and science adventures, puppets, horses, dinosaurs, books, puzzles and games.  

Features Mary Bevans Gillett Strolling into Cherrybend Animal Hospital in Traverse City, one is greeted by several friendly faces at the front desk. Some, though, wag tails and only stand 10 inches high.
“These are my surrogate children,” laughs Daniel S. Aja, D.V.M., introducing Gator and Beignet, two of the five dogs that accompany him and his wife, Rhonda, to work each day. Their two cats and horse stay home.
Dr. Aja’s love for animals is obvious and infectious. It began young and never waned. He’s now sharing his enthusiasm on a national stage as president of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
The AAHA is the accrediting body for veterinary hospitals in North America, an international organization of close to 35,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals or pets. Members range from veterinarians to technicians to office staff. Using the slogan, “Healthy Practices, Healthy Pets,” the organization advocates for high standards, compassionate care, continuing education and responsible pet ownership. Dr. Aja was named national president last spring, after serving in several leadership roles during the past decade.

Features Mary Bevans Gillett The stage is set and the curtain is rising on a new theatrical season throughout northwest Michigan. Here’s a preview of upcoming productions:
Old Town Playhouse opened its 46th season with The Diary of Anne Frank running September 16 – October 1 on the mainstage followed by the studio production of Don’t Dress for Dinner October 7-22 and the major Disney musical, Beauty and the Beast, November 4-26.
The new year opens with Anatomy of a Murder January 13-28 and an original work, The Fallen, in the studio February 10-25. The cult musical The Rocky Horror Show is showcased March 3-25, followed by an evening of classic one acts in the studio April 7-22, and the season finale the Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 on May 5-21, 2006.

Dining Mary Bevans Gillett The home is new but the food is comfortably familiar at Roma Italian Restaurant. Located in the new Parkway Plaza across from the Bayshore Resort, the eatery features favorite Italian dishes in an open, airy dining room.
Roma has been a Traverse City staple since Ennio and Carmela Iadeluca  and Ennio’s brother Vinnie opened their tiny Italian restaurant near Northwestern  Michigan College in 1975.   A 10-year-old Phil Iadeluca began learning the family business when the doors first opened, and continued honing his skills on Roma’s loyal following for close to 30 years. 
Phil took over the reins from his parents eight years ago, and began dreaming of a move to larger quarters. His wish became reality on March 26 when the “new” Roma opened for business.  The new facility is three times the size as the original, with seating capacity at 110 seats in the window-filled dining room.  During the summer, patio seating will be available outdoors.  Most notably, the restaurant’s newly acquired liquor license made way for wine glasses on the tables and a comfortable bar filling one side of the space.

Features Mary Bevans Gillett All the world’s a stage and Northern Michigan is in the spotlight as theatres across the region gear up for an applause-filled summer.  Here’s a preview:

GRAND TRAVERSE
LEELANAU - BENZIE:
• Godspell comes to Milliken Auditorium at the Dennos Museum Center for long weekends this July.  Pat Gallagher, who has directed many of Traverse City  Central High School’s most memorable productions, will be staging this rousing musical Thursdays through Saturdays from June 30 through July 23.  During August, improvisational theatre takes over the Milliken stage with a high energy troupe of professional alums from Detroit and Chicago present Auditions Tonight. For more information, call 231-995-1553.

Dining Mary Bevans Gillett taste is ‘grande’ at tiny Patisserie Amie

By Mary Bevans Gillett

Didn’t mother always say “...the best gifts come in small packages...”? A stop by Patisserie Amie proves that, once again, mom was right! This tiny French bistro is big on taste, ambience and hospitality.
Patisserie Amie is Traverse City’s newest addition to its busy downtown dining scene. It is located at 439 East Front Street, tucked along the bank of the Boardman River near Wellington Street. Look for the striped canopy with Patisserie Amie’s signature sign heralding “Croissant, Café, Chocolate,” along with nearby tables on the grass and a flower decked window displaying baskets of fresh bread and ribbon-decked boxes waiting to be filled.

Features Mary Bevans Gillett At age 68, many people are thinking about slowing down and relaxing into retirement. Janet Weiler turned 68 and decided to compete in her first triathlon.
Weiler’s running shoes have seen their share of competition during the past year, having completed the Detroit Marathon on October 24. She also competed in the Interlochen and Chicago Triathlons as well as the Chicago Marathon, where she joined family, friends and 32,000 other runners in a trek through the Windy City.
The Weiler family ran as a group, joined by all three of her children and one son’s girlfriend. “I think one son (a serious bicyclist from California) came to really appreciate marathons … I’m not sure that he’ll ever do another one.”

MAKING THE SWITCH
After competing in several marathons, Weiler decided to turn her attention to triathlons instead.
“I’m a hiker, a biker and I love to swim,” she said. “After running the Chicago Marathon, I thought that it might be better on my body if I wasn’t pounding the same muscles over and over again.”
So Weiler, who has lived in Empire for the past 10 years, began training for the Olympic length competition consisting of a six-mile run, 26-mile bike ride and a one-mile swim. She completed both in just under four hours – 3:49 in Interlochen and 3:38 in Chicago, crediting the improved Chicago time to flat terrain.
“At Interlochen you finish running with a gigantic hill right at the end,” Weiler said. “It went straight up and I just groaned. That was the 11-minute difference.”
Weiler took first place in her age class in Chicago, and continues a daily training regimen which includes a one mile swim every day during the summer as well as frequent trips to the biking and hiking trails.
“It’s much more interesting to train,” Weiler said, “It’s seems less concentrated but I’m convinced it’s better for your body.”

Features Mary Bevans Gillett Great food, simply prepared” is the creed at Hanna, Downtown’s newest addition to its burgeoning restaurant scene.
Located in the former Komo’s on Cass near East Front Street, Hanna opened this fall to an enthusiastic audience. Its signature is simple yet strong – excellent food, outstanding service and a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere.
Owners Jim Milliman and Rob Giffer are familiar faces to the region’s food lovers. Milliman created Suttons Bay’s popular Hattie’s 17 years ago and earned a reputation for innovative menus and elegant dining. Giffer joined Hattie’s over a decade ago, becoming a partner in 2000. They bring their high standards to their new venue while taking a fresh direction with the bistro menu.
“America has become a more casual nation,” Milliman said. “We recognized the trend toward casualization and wanted to exploit it.”
“We’re taking almost an Italian approach with techniques that are simple and straightforward.” he said. “We promise great food that is simply prepared.”
Fresh food and seafood are showcased with such entrees as wood grilled salmon and tuna, clams “poirer,” east coast fluke, and wild Atlantic tilapia. The pan seared Florida red snapper is served with toasted orzo, roasted corn and a lobster chorizo broth while the sautéed orange roughy features a thai red curry sauce.