Anna Faller | Author
Grands LC’s Peanut Butter Brittle Butty
Aug. 29, 2026
In the world of sweet flavor combinations, chocolate and peanut butter takes the cake, which is why we’re suckers for the Peanut Butter Brittle Butty from Grands LC in East Jordan. Inspired by an heirloom family recipe for peanut brittle, these hand-dipped “butties” (prono…
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Ready, Set, Locals Summer! Tourist hot spots become local haunts once more
Aug. 22, 2026
With our dreamy beaches, farm-fresh agriculture, and nationally acclaimed hospitality industries, it’s no secret (especially not to locals) that northern Michigan is becoming an increasingly popular destination for out-of-town tourists.
“Local flavor is what makes a plac…
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Shady Lane’s 2025 Reserve Riesling
Aug. 22, 2026
If you’ve ever dabbled in Michigan wine, you’ve almost certainly tried a late harvest Riesling— but we’re certain that you have yet to taste anything like Shady Lane’s 2025 Reserve version. Inspired by a fall trip to Germany, this tastebud-bender features estat…
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Oryana’s Turkey Brats
Aug. 15, 2026
We’re all about squeezing a proper holiday into Michigan’s fleeting summer season—and this month, Thanksgiving’s coming early in the form of Oryana’s turkey brats. Inspired by America’s favorite bird (and our go-to lunch for the dog days of summer), each …
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Guardians of Lake Michigami
Aug. 8, 2026
It’s a founding belief of most indigenous cultures that caring for the earth is important because the earth cares for us.
Though this concept continues to shift through the modern fog (sometimes literally) of climate change, sudden weather events, and looming industrial threat…
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Left Foot Charley’s Blanc
Aug. 8, 2026
If you had to choose, what would the signature flavor of northern Michigan be? Is it local whitefish? The famous cherry? If we’re talking wine, Pinot Blanc is the answer—and we’ve found our new favorite in the crispy perfection that is Left Foot Charley’s Blanc. Feat…
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Leelanau Sourdough Co.’s Blueberry Muffins
Aug. 1, 2026
Though we don’t know the Muffin Man personally, we suspect a similar magic is at play at Leelanau Sourdough Co. in Traverse City, where the scratch-made muffins are the stuff of legend. This time of year, it’s all about the blueberries, which this micro-bakery sources from Bulld…
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A Mirror, a Myth, and a Lifetime of Art
July 25, 2026
For award-winning multi-media artist and former Traverse City resident Rufus Snoddy, a canvas is more of a mirror for what’s going on in the world than a blank space that needs filling.
“I’m just trying to mirror things that are going on around me,” he …
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American Spoon’s Cherry Lime Punch
July 25, 2026
When it comes to filling our summer glasses with options, American Spoon’s cult-favorite Cherry Lime Punch is the cherry on top! Hand-blended a few jars at a time in their Petoskey kitchen, this cocktail mix begins with puréed Michigan Montmorency cherries as the star of the fl…
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Songbird Provisions’ The Cinnamon Roll
July 18, 2026
What defines the ultimate cinnamon roll? Does it melt in your mouth? Is it loaded with filling? Will you need a nap when you’re finished? If your answer is yes to all of the above, we’ve found your final pastry pursuit: it’s The Cinnamon Roll—capital “The&rdquo…
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Horses on the Move
July 18, 2026
It’s that time of year again, folks, that season from June to September when the population of Williamsburg grows by thousands of residents, many with hooves, for the Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS).
“There are equestrian communities throughout the country,” TCHS …
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Three Trees Vineyard’s Goat Shepherd
July 11, 2026
We don’t know about you, but we’re always on the hunt for a red wine suited for warm-weather sipping, and we’ve found our new favorite in The Goat Shepherd Cabernet Franc from Three Trees Vineyard in Suttons Bay. A selection from the 2024 harvest, this sustainably-farmed, …
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Alley Cat’s Eats’ Classic Smashburger
July 4, 2026
Does it get better than an alfresco lunch on a sunny afternoon in northern Michigan? Only if the Classic Smashburger from Alley Cat’s Eats + Sweets food truck is on the menu! Packed with locally-sourced ingredients, this picnic-perfect handheld features a Michigan Craft Beef smash-sty…
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The Little Fleet’s No Proof, All Fun
June 27, 2026
This summer, we’re bringing the beach party vibes—and the probiotics!—with the No Proof, All Fun mocktail at The Little Fleet in Traverse City! Built around layers of tropical flavor, this breezy bevvy combines passionfruit puree with Coco López (the quintessential …
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The Manitou’s Northwoods Crispy Duck
June 20, 2026
Summer tradition awaits at The Manitou Restaurant in Honor, where dining amid Sleeping Bear Dunes gets the seasonal cherry treatment. Enter: the Northwoods Crispy Duck! The perfect rich-but-lighter bite to showcase some cherry good sauce (ingredients: northern Michigan cherries, cinnamon, c…
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Being Human in a Wild World
June 20, 2026
If you ask award-winning wildlife artist Kim Diment, humans have far more in common with the world of animals than many of us realize.
“We came from animals,” she notes. “If you’re open to it, we can learn so much from them, [because they] teach us about us.&…
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WildFlour Bakery’s Tiramisu Vietnamese
June 13, 2026
You could travel far and wide for a little coffee flavor fusion, or you could swing down to WildFlour Bakery in Cadillac for their Tiramisu Vietnamese coffee. Crafted using the traditional phin (aka, a small metal filter on top of the glass), this highly-concentrated coffee brews directly i…
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The State of Foster Care in 2026
June 13, 2026
In a world of increasing budget cuts and bureaucratic red tape, members of our most vulnerable populations are being left behind. With about 20 counties and hundreds of families and community members under their purview, Traverse City-based nonprofit Child and Family Services of Northwester…
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The Making of a Community Center
June 6, 2026
Founded in 2005, Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology is the brainchild of co-founders and co-directors Brad and Amanda Kik, who have long shared a passion for exploring the magic that happens when agriculture and art overlap.
Now in its 21st year of operation, the nonprofit conven…
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2 The Moon Bakery’s Green Goddess Sandwich
June 6, 2026
With the season’s verdant foliage finally out in full swing, we can’t help but think green—specifically, the Green Goddess sandwich from 2 The Moon Bakery in Lake City. Picture this: two toasty slices of house-made sourdough (which undergoes a 24-hour fermentation for plen… Read More >>