Anna Faller | Author

On a Mission

June 4, 2022

Whether it’s beer, Irish fare, BBQ, or fine dining, local boys turned business associates Greg Lobdell and Jon Carlson know how to make a restaurant shine. Under Mission Restaurant Group’s operation, the duo have five local eateries in Traverse City: North Peak Brewing Company... Read More >>

Holesome Bites’ Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

May 28, 2022

Imagine, if you will, the ultimate pastry-case perfection, packed and waiting on your porch. Drooling already? We don’t blame you. Enter: Holesome Bites in Manistee. Opened in 2021 by pastry chef Kaitlyn Huber and her partner Marc Qualls-Sanchez, this by-delivery bakery is all about... Read More >>

Blackrocks Brewery’s Honey Lav

May 21, 2022

What do you do when your day job pulls the plug? For homebrewing duo David Manson and Andy Langlois, the answer was to hone their hobby. “We thought at retirement we’d dabble more professionally in [brewing],” says Manson. “It just came around earlier than anticipa... Read More >>

Don’s Drive-In Big D Burger

May 14, 2022

Opened in 1958, Don’s Drive-In is a Traverse City staple. Specializing in hand-dipped shakes and hearty sandwiches, Don’s menu is old-school carhop fare served with a heaping side of nostalgia. It doesn’t get much more Americana than Don’s classic Big D Burger. Ser... Read More >>

The Sea Bird in Central Lake

May 14, 2022

Chris and Merrie Corbett are experts at spotting a hidden gem. Since starting their first northern Michigan business—Adams Madams boutique in Central Lake—in 2002, the pair has wasted no time in amassing a whopping 10 other area properties.

Their leisure and retail loc... Read More >>

Coffee by Steph’s Samoa Cookie Draft Latte

May 7, 2022

What do you get when human connection meets craft? For West Coast transplant Stephanie Mora, the answer is an outrageous cup of coffee. A java junkie since college, Mora’s highly-caffeinated career was sealed by her experience on Central American coffee farms, where she saw first-ha... Read More >>

Alley Cat’s Eats & Sweets’ Massaged Kale Salad

April 30, 2022

At Alley Cat’s Eats & Sweets, mama-food is the name of the game. Founded in May 2021 by hospitality veteran Allie Gualco and her mother, Kristen “KJ” Joppich, this no-frills food truck is fully committed to filling your belly and fortifying your soul. “I don&rs... Read More >>

A Swim in Grand Traverse Bay in the Rain

April 30, 2022

Esteemed author and essayist George Saunders arrived rather late to the literature party. “I’d always liked reading,” he says, “and I had this idea of myself as being a writer, in the tradition of Hemingway, having adventures.” His South Chicago background, h... Read More >>

MI Brew’s Bee’s Knees

April 23, 2022

While warm weather in northern Michigan is only starting to arrive, there’s no reason we can’t all be on a white sand beach if we squint hard enough, and the image gets a little clearer when accompanied by a handmade cocktail. This is where Grayling’s Michigan Brew comes... Read More >>

Banana Bread French Toast at The Iron Skillet

April 16, 2022

Every small town has its distinguishing dive, and for residents of Mancelona, that spot is The Iron Skillet. Helmed by hospitality veteran Mike Nygren, the café opened its doors in 2011 to an array of kicked-up diner classics. Since then, the Skillet’s from-scratch kitchen, n... Read More >>

Green Bird Organic Cellars’ Concord Rose

April 9, 2022

Au naturel is the name of the game at Green Bird Organic Cellars and Farm in Northport. Originally founded in 2005, its current owners, Tim and Betsy Hearin, purchased the property in 2019, which, they were surprised to find, came with its own vineyard. Situated on 15 stunning acres, Gree... Read More >>

Trailside Eats: Where to dine when you’re out and about

April 9, 2022

Not much tastes better than a meal you didn’t have to cook; especially when it’s served with a side of fresh air. For those with an appetite for the outdoors, here are four of our favorite trailside stops—all of which are athletic gear and gym shoe-friendly—and the... Read More >>

Black Market Foods’ Hot Mess

March 26, 2022

Few things scream spring in northern Michigan quite like the perfect roadside sandwich. For the best in mobile munchies, look no further than Charlevoix’s Black Market Foods. First opened as a food truck in 2021, the business expanded to a permanent storefront earlier this year, and... Read More >>

Blustone Vineyards’ Artisan Series

March 19, 2022

For the rock hunters among us, Michigan is the mother lode, and finding an elusive Leland Blue is the jackpot. That same sense of unexpected discovery is at the heart of how Blustone Vineyards in Lake Leelanau approaches its product. Situated along 40 acres of pristine Leelanau soil&mdash... Read More >>

Bringing the U.P. Closer to Home

March 19, 2022

For award-winning author Ellen Airgood, writing often feels like fate.

“I think I’ve always been a writer at some level,” she tells Northern Express. The realization first hit her at age 10, when, with the help of her mother’s trusty typewriter, sh... Read More >>

Aliens, iPods, and Carl Sagan

March 5, 2022

Jack Cheng didn’t set out to be a children’s book writer. An alumnus of the University of Michigan with a degree in communications and media studies, Cheng worked in copywriting and design—and co-founded a tech startup—before his nightly journaling practice provide... Read More >>

Northern Latitudes' Sweet Tart

March 5, 2022

While spring is still a few weeks away, Northern Latitudes Distillery is serving up seasonal flavors by the swig. Open since October 2012, this Lake Leelanau stillhouse features classic and craft drinks alike, and their rotating selection of hand-made hooch is at the center of every scrip... Read More >>

Pond Hill Farm’s Parm-crusted Grilled Cheese

Feb. 26, 2022

At Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs, playtime is the name of the game for adults and kids alike. Founded in 1995 as a family-owned egg and produce stand, the place has since blossomed into a full-blown agritourism park. Visitors can play with the “kids” — pun intended &m... Read More >>

One Night, a Trifecta of Authors

Feb. 12, 2022

On Thursday, Feb. 24, the National Writers Series welcomes esteemed authors Wanda M. Morris, Vanessa Riley, and Honorée Fanonne Jeffers to its virtual stage for a special Black History Month celebration. Featuring each of their buzz-worthy books — “All Her Little Secret... Read More >>

Archie's Rueben Egg Rolls

Feb. 11, 2022

Archie’s Fresh Food Truck in Traverse City takes eating local to a whole new level — specifically, that of the “Average Joe.” “We want people to know that they don’t have to spend $100 for all-local foods,” says chef Jon Petrie. “These thing... Read More >>