Ross Boissoneau | Author

Ride with Pride July 14

July 10, 2021

In case you needed another reason to go to Mackinac Island in the summer: Straits Pride hosts a Pride Ride the second Wednesday of each month on Mackinac Island. Riders will meet in Marquette Park at 6pm and ride to British Landing. Bring your own bike but plan to pick up a free pride fla... Read More >>

Willkommen zurück, Alpenfesters!

July 10, 2021

In 1964, when U.S. Plywood announced plans to build a plant in Gaylord, the town decided to celebrate the opening with a gala event. To make it even more special, the town opted to embrace an alpine theme for both the event and the city as a whole. That was the beginning of what today sta... Read More >>

William West's Inn for All

July 10, 2021

A long time ago, in a Petoskey seemingly far, far away, The Rainbow Inn stood as a beacon of hope for people of color. Or was it simply a hotel ahead of its time? The answer is both, and it’s part of a vital chapter of local history few recall. 

To understand the signif... Read More >>

Ramsdell Goes Live and Big for Summer

July 3, 2021

The slow march back to live presentations has become more like a giant leap at Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee. Its schedule includes concerts, exhibits, and the return of the Tuesday Talks, a free lecture series on a wide variety of topics. Ramsdell Executive Director Xavier Verna says the ... Read More >>

Cherryarama: The Best Mystery on Two Wheels

June 26, 2021

It’s a virtual event, but it’s not online. Nope, you have to put in the work in the real world. But that begs another question: Is biking really work? Not at Cherryarama. Part healthy activity, part scavenger hunt, and all fun, you and your family or friends can take on the Ch... Read More >>

Live Theatre Returns!

June 26, 2021

Theatre in the (almost) post-pandemic summer? Well, yes, at least a bit. Stalwarts such as the Interlochen Shakespeare Festival and Lakeside Shakespeare in Frankfort are MIA, and the performances by campers at Interlochen are closed to the public. Other pickings are slim as well, as commu... Read More >>

Free Summer Art Classes for Kids

June 19, 2021

Keep your kids learning and creating with Summer Class for Kids at Oliver Art Center in Frankfort. Starting July 5 and running every Monday and Tuesday through Aug. 10, each class will include a brief lesson on an artist, his or her artistic period, and most famous works, plus give kids t... Read More >>

Tiffany's Ice Cream & Little Finger Sandwiches Café

June 19, 2021

Tina and Mark Dunphey know better than to mess with a good thing.

“This has been Tiffany’s for over 40 years,” says Tina.

True. But while the ice cream shop in Empire has long been a tradition for beachgoers and locals alike, the Dunpheys have only ... Read More >>

Traverse City's Jewish Community Holds a Sacred Gem

June 19, 2021

It might be small in numbers, but Traverse City’s Jewish congregation is rich in history. One needs to look no further than the white frame building with gable roof ends it calls home. It is the oldest continuously operating synagogue in the state, opening its doors in 1886. Read More >>

Boat Dreams Sunk?

June 12, 2021

If you’re looking to get out on the water this summer, good luck. A banner on the top of Sailsport Marine’s website says it all: “Thinking about a new boat, kayak, or board this year? Act fast! Supply is tight.”

With all the pandemic-related restrictions la... Read More >>

Summer ’21 Mega-Music Guide

June 5, 2021

After a summer of silence, musicians are ready to retake the region’s stages. From free shows in the open air to large-scale performances in state-of-the-art concert halls, the sounds of rock, pop, classical, jazz, folk, and more will once again rise up to rock local audiences Up No... Read More >>

Nittolo’s Pizza & Nittolo’s Seafood and Social

June 5, 2021

Think of Chef Eric Nittolo’s latest restaurant as a family affair. And not just because multiple members of his family are on staff. He believes it’s important to treat the customers as family, to the point of allowing — even encouraging them — to take their time a... Read More >>

Summer Music Highlights

June 5, 2021

Heartfelt Country
July 17: Morgan Myles
Lavender Hills Farm
Named a 2019 “Artist to Watch” by the Nashville-based country music website The Boot, Morgan Myles was recognized even earlier by Rolling Stone, which ... Read More >>

Car Shows Approach the 2021 Starting Line

May 29, 2021

If summer 2020 was all about pumping the brakes, summer 2021 seems to be the season to hit the gas, squeal the tires, and barrel into at 100 miles per hour. One American summer staple in particular — car shows and cruises — are looking ready to roll Up North. Some, like the Na... Read More >>

Running Down a Dream

May 22, 2021

Cory Wade
GR Auto, Traverse City
What TJ Maxx is for housewares and clothes hounds, the newly opened GR Auto of Traverse City is for classic car lovers. Whether you’re dying to buy or just want to ogle at an ever-changing inventory (pictur... Read More >>

U.S. v. China

May 15, 2021

The International Affairs Forum will welcome Lingling Wei, senior China correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Thursday, May 20. The 5pm Zoom presentation will focus on the relationship between China and the U.S. and such issues as human rights, trade, intellectual disputes a... Read More >>

Vita Bella Italian Kitchen and Market

May 15, 2021

Maybe Ed Carella didn’t have a choice. After all, he’d basically been raised in a pizzeria. His parents, Tina and Angelo, were immigrants from Naples and had opened a pizza and pasta spot in Chicago. Ed spent much of his boyhood working there. “As a kid, I literally grew... Read More >>

The Ultimate in Outdoor Dining

May 8, 2021

We love the variety of outstanding food and beverages available here in the North country, from our restaurants, markets, and roadside stands to our bakeries, breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries. But rather than praying for an open table while hungry tourists and pandemic rest... Read More >>

Live and In-Person Performances at GLCFA are Back — and Big

May 8, 2021

In the good old summertime, people used to gather, enjoy one another’s company, and do things. One of the things they’d do was go to concerts. Then 2020 happened, and everything changed.

At Great Lakes Center for the Arts, like every other venue, that meant the season&... Read More >>

Servers Spill All

May 8, 2021

Few industries have been as decimated by the effects of the pandemic as the restaurant industry. As the world stumbles toward a new normal, we wondered what the last year has been like on the front lines as restaurants suddenly had to change their business model, many looking to takeout a... Read More >>