Anna Faller | Author

The Canines Behind the K-9 Units

Sept. 13, 2025

The American Kennel Club describes K-9 dogs as “a special type of dog. These impressive animals come from generations of dogs specifically bred to perform the complicated tasks that police dogs are required to accomplish.” Those tasks include search and rescue, detection of haza… Read More >>

Polish Countryside Kitchen’s Pork Cutlet

Sept. 13, 2025

With comfort food season coming in hot, find us filling our plates (and our bellies) with the Pork Cutlet Dinner ($24) at Polish Countryside Kitchen in Cedar. Inspired by classic Polish fare, this behemoth features tender Mangalitsa ham—a heritage breed known for its flavor and marbli… Read More >>

Weldon Coffee’s Michigan Maple Latte

Sept. 6, 2025

If you ask us, nothing is quite as life-giving as an expertly-crafted cup of coffee, especially on an early school morning. For our next crack-of-dawn coffee run, we’ll be heading straight to Weldon Coffee in Honor for their signature Michigan Maple Latte ($4.75). Flavored with local … Read More >>

Gold Baby Biscuits' Sausage, Egg, & Cheese

Aug. 30, 2025

We’ve all heard that gold has to glitter, but our favorite semi-precious substance is the tender crumb of a just-baked biscuit. That’s right: We’re talking Gold Baby Biscuits. First baked in Suttons Bay in 2019, these pastry squares were developed specifically as a vehicle… Read More >>

Manitou & Co.'s Whaleback Whiskey

Aug. 30, 2025

With a view of the eponymous islands just steps away from their front door, Manitou & Co.’s tasting room in Leland is all about beverages that reflect local flavor, and their signature Whaleback Whiskey is northern Michigan in a bottle! Inspired by local agriculture, this small-ba… Read More >>

What’s New at TCAPS: Major Projects for the 2025-26 School Year and Beyond

Aug. 23, 2025

Like everyone else, Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) is headed back to school. And this year, the district has several major projects in the works or nearing completion, from construction to curriculum and beyond.

Virtual Learning

In the truest back-to-school form… Read More >>

The Third Coast: America's Great Lakes Shoreline

Aug. 16, 2025

People leave a mark on the places we’ve been, whether that’s buildings and structures that might stand for centuries, or something as small and insignificant as a footprint in the Lake Michigan sand. It’s all those little imprints, though, that eventually form a place&rsqu… Read More >>

The Kingsley Inn's Meatloaf

Aug. 16, 2025

We’re all for a little summer nostalgia: golden sunsets on the porch, weekend mornings on the lake, and—stay with us on this one—meatloaf for dinner. Specifically, we’re eyeing the gourmet version at The Kingsley Inn, and it’s definitely not your mama’s (… Read More >>

Little Juice's Jaws Smoothie

Aug. 9, 2025

We love a beachside snack selection—bonus points if it’ll tide you over til dinner! Little Juice in Harbor Springs has the goods, from freshly-pressed juices to masa chips and acai bowls stacked with tasty toppings. But after a sunny afternoon on the bay, nothing beats the islan… Read More >>

Welcome to Camp Compost

Aug. 2, 2025

As humans, it can be easy to forget that there’s a whole universe under our gardens and lawns, one that’s vital to the health of our ecosystems and all the lives they sustain (including our own). In fact, a single spoonful of soil should contain more microorganisms than there ar… Read More >>

Vander Farm's Sourdough Scones

Aug. 2, 2025

Tucked among the endless acres of field and farmland in Leelanau County, Vander Farm might just be one of Traverse City’s best-kept secrets—but we’re not about to gatekeep the goods! This self-service farmstand and micro-bakery is a haven for all things sourdough, but it&r… Read More >>

Hill Top’s Mojito Mojo

July 26, 2025

Midday slump sufferers, rejoice! We’ve found the sweet spot between a cup of coffee and an energy drink (but with none of the artificial stuff): the vibrantly green Mojito Mojo at Hill Top Coffee & Ice Cream in Benzonia. Inspired by the classic cocktail’s mint and lime, with… Read More >>

Creating Recovery Friendly Workplaces

July 19, 2025

If Anna Serrano, chef-owner of Spanglish in Traverse City, had her way, we’d be approaching our shared challenges not as weaknesses, but as qualities that make us most human.

Per Paula Lipinski, CEO of Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) in Traverse City, the nonprofit served a… Read More >>

Harwood Gold's Hand Pies

July 19, 2025

With endless beach days on the horizon, a primo snack selection is a must. We’re talking sweet treats, bubbly drinks, and the pièce de résistance: homemade hand pies ($12.95) from Harwood Gold in Charlevoix. Rooted in similar on-the-go fare, like the classic Aussie meat … Read More >>

Shady Lane Cellars' Golden Hour

July 12, 2025

What’s better than catching a pastel sunset over the lake? Pairing it with a glass of the 2023 Golden Hour from Shady Lane Cellars in Suttons Bay! Named for the pinky-orange hue of pre-dusk, this gorgeous pinot gris (which, believe it or not, are red-skinned grapes!) features estate-g… Read More >>

10 Horses to Watch at Traverse City Horse Shows

July 5, 2025

With its stalls of designer shopping, chef-worthy dining, outdoor games, and beyond, the Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) at Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg has become a summertime destination. Of course, most folks are there for the riders and the horses—more than 1,500 in pea… Read More >>

MorrisMade’s Cherry Chocolate Sourdough

July 5, 2025

Attention, cherry lovers! Allow us to introduce your next stone-fruit obsession: the Cherry Chocolate Sourdough ($12) at MorrisMade Bread and Bakery in Traverse City. Opened in May, this micro-bakery is all about serving up joy in the form of scratch-made bread and baked goods (did someone … Read More >>

Seismoto Coffee's Banana Bread Matcha

June 28, 2025

It’s officially hot out, and you know what that means: iced coffee! For our next summer beverage obsession, try the Banana Bread Matcha latte at Seismoto Coffee Bar in Traverse City. The latte isn’t technically coffee, but with its base of finely ground green tea leaves—Se… Read More >>

Is Your Cannabis Real or Synthetic?

June 21, 2025

At Torch Cannabis Co. in Central Lake, the motto is: “Life is too short to feel anything less than your personal best.” For CEO and Founder, Kelly “Green Girl” Young, this translates to a storefront full of full-spectrum cannabis and CBD products, ranging from infuse… Read More >>

Chubby Unicorn's Breakfast Burrito

June 21, 2025

While we already love Chubby Unicorn in Traverse City for their stacked sandwiches and scratch-made soups, we didn’t know that this day dining gem also makes one heckuva breakfast burrito. Originally a featured item made permanent—because it’s just that good!—this fl… Read More >>