May 19, 2024

Anna Faller | Author


Terrain’s Skipping Stones

Jan. 7, 2023

The holiday season might be over, but Terrain Restaurant in Bellaire toasts local bounty all year long, and we think the plummy nuance of the Skipping Stones cocktail deserves its own celebration. Named for the local stone fruit it features, the drink begins with Kalkaska’s North Ri... Read More >>

Is Winter Outdoor Dining Here to Stay, or Are We All Headed Back Inside?

Jan. 7, 2023

Outdoor dining—snow, rain, or shine—went through the roof during the first year or two of the pandemic. But now, with most eateries going about business as usual, patrons seem to be fair-weather fans of al fresco dining. So what’s the plan for all those yurts, igloos, an... Read More >>

Edson Farms’ Sugar Cookies

Dec. 24, 2022

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... Read More >>

Paddle Hard’s River Rampage

Dec. 17, 2022

We’d be lying if we said that Paddle Hard Brewing’s house IPA didn’t have us longing for sweltering temps, neon pool floaties, and lots of glorious sunshine. (Remember sunshine? We hardly do…) But, are we still sipping it in December? You bet. The second in a thre... Read More >>

Through Ice and Snow They Go

Dec. 17, 2022

There is nothing quite so unpredictable as a Michigan winter. Though it’s true that a handful of weeks each year can be relied on for snow and sub-arctic temperatures, the rest of the season is anyone’s guess. Wintery weather does have one common feature, though: how it’... Read More >>

Spring and Porter’s Seared Venison

Dec. 10, 2022

The cold temps have left us craving all things cozy—we’re talking herb-laden stews, roasted root veggies, and multiple pairs of fleecy sweatpants. But, before you give in to that long winter’s nap, tuck into a plate of Seared Venison Backstrap ($54) at Spring and Porter ... Read More >>

Ethanology’s Marriage Counselor

Dec. 3, 2022

Picture, if you will: a powdery layer of new-fallen snow, punctuated by a crackling fire and a mug of something hot in your hands. Heck, maybe there’s even a yurt involved! If a more restorative scene exists, we don’t know what it could be, but we do know it begins with Ethano... Read More >>

Big Cat Energy

Dec. 3, 2022

Meet Alice Wong. She’s the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project, an online creative space for promoting and sharing disability media, as well as the editorial mind behind the 2020 essay collection Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-F... Read More >>

7 Monks’ Braised Pork Nachos

Nov. 26, 2022

While the rest of us pulled out our winter boots and grabbed an extra blanket (or five) this past week, 7 Monks Taproom in Traverse City was cranking up their menu’s heat in the form of a creamy queso, which they’ve spiked with flecks of flaming ghost pepper—and frankly,... Read More >>

Big Buck Brewery’s Michigan Sunrise

Nov. 19, 2022

As its name suggests, there’s nothing small about Big Buck Brewery. Established in 2018 (though the space had a past life in the mid-90s), this iconic Gaylord alehouse impresses, from its 300-seat interior to the can’t-miss-it beer bottle on the lawn. The pub has pulled out al... Read More >>

The Holiday Foodie Guide

Nov. 19, 2022

The holidays are fast approaching, and you know what that means…it’s time to get cooking! Before you bust out your cookbooks, have a peek at our list of 10 local makers whose goodies are changing the gourmet game. Stock up on early gift ideas or just stock your pantry shelves... Read More >>

Lighthouse Cafe’s Pumpkin Pancakes

Nov. 12, 2022

If you ask us, there’s never a wrong time for breakfast. No shade to lunch and dinner, of course; there’s just something about a cheesy egg scramble or buttery toast that sates at all hours. To quell those singular AM cravings, Elberta’s Lighthouse Café is a must,... Read More >>

St. Ambrose Cellars’ X.R. Cyser

Nov. 5, 2022

What do you do when life hands you honey? For beekeepers Kirk and Sharon Jones, the ownership team behind Sleeping Bear Farms, the answer is make it into mead—and cider and occasionally beer and wine. Enter: Beulah’s St. Ambrose Cellars. Established in 2010, what began as an a... Read More >>

The How-to-Retire Checklist

Nov. 5, 2022

These days, retiring is no easy feat. In a sea of inflation and increased costs, those caught without a floatation device (or a sizable savings account) often flounder. How do you stretch those hard-earned dollars in today’s sink-or-swim marketplace? And, most importantly, how do yo... Read More >>

Chubby Unicorn’s Truffle Philly

Oct. 29, 2022

Do you believe in magic? If the answer is no, we’re about to change your mind, because we’re pretty sure Chubby Unicorn is sneaking fairy dust into their sandwiches. The brainchild of Traverse City restaurant veterans Justin Chouinard and Ashley Moore, this gourmet lunch bus h... Read More >>

Cheboygan Brewing Company’s Blood Orange Honey

Oct. 22, 2022

The fall colors are changing, folks! And at Cheboygan Brewing Company, so are the beers. Opened in 2011, this old-school alehouse-turned-urban pub offers a rainbow of hand-crafted suds, from Blackberry Blonde Ale’s rosy pink to the deep cocoa of Oatmeal Cookie Stout (psst – th... Read More >>

Playa Bowls’ Pura Vida Bowl

Oct. 15, 2022

Opened in September, the Traverse City location of nationwide chain Playa Bowls specializes in surf-friendly eats like juices, smoothies, and healthy bowls, all with a superfood twist. Of these, antioxidant-packed acai (which they source straight from Brazil) is the top banana. It’s... Read More >>

Maybe We’ll Make It

Oct. 15, 2022

Of the countless stages Margo Price has played, Traverse City’s State Theatre isn’t one of them…until now. On Thursday, Oct. 20, the acclaimed country musician joins the National Writers Series to discuss her memoir, Maybe We’ll Make It.

It’... Read More >>

American Spoon’s Paloma Mix

Oct. 8, 2022

Since its establishment in the early 1980s, American Spoon has hung its hat on homemade brunch and breakfast bits, from Blueberry Coffee Cake to fruit conserves. (Try the Spiced Pear and thank us later.) Craft cocktail blends are a recent addition to their lineup, and the Paloma Mix is gi... Read More >>

Tillie’s Tafel’s Cinnamon Rolls

Oct. 1, 2022

For Jeff and Patti Dewes’ family, the communal table (“tafel” in German) has always featured cinnamon rolls, thanks to Grandma Tillie Dewes’ famous gourmet recipe. Opened in December 2020, Tillie’s Tafel in Petoskey—named for Grandma Tillie herself&mdas... Read More >>

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