Anna Faller | Author

Kilkenny’s Iced Irish Coffee

March 14, 2026

Kilkenny’s Irish Pub in Traverse City is flipping the script on our morning joe with an Iced Irish Coffee feature in time for St. Paddy’s Day! Inspired in part by the infamous Erin Rose Bar in New Orleans (with a nod to the Starbucks Frappuccino), this sweet treat blends Tullamo… Read More >>

Bug’s Everything Bagel

March 7, 2026

Breakfast is served at Bug’s Bagels in Northport, where we’re in the pursuit of filling up on scratch-baked bagels. While owner and baker Em Korte’s menu often combines the staples like plain and cinnamon sugar bagels with locally-inspired flavors, we only have eyes for th… Read More >>

Gilchrist’s Grüner Veltliner

Feb. 28, 2026

We’re already thinking spring over here—specifically, spring in central Europe—and we’re setting the vibe with the 2024 Grüner Veltliner from Gilchrist Farm + Winery in Suttons Bay, which just won a Double Gold award at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Comp… Read More >>

Acorn Kitchen’s Chicken Shawarma

Feb. 21, 2026

If food is its own language of love, then the folks at Acorn Kitchen in Traverse City speak it fluently through soulful eats like their craveable Chicken Shawarma. Inspired by the Eastern Mediterranean classic, the core of this drool-worthy handheld is roasted meat—specifically, tende… Read More >>

More Than Enough

Feb. 14, 2026

As a journalist, avid reader, and bestselling author, Anna Quindlen has always been interested in authenticity—both in books that readers can lose themselves in and characters whose lives feel real and familiar.

“I want a book I live in,” she says. “I want to… Read More >>

Elder Piper Beer & Cider's Deep Winter Imperial Stout

Feb. 14, 2026

If you ask us, February is all about layers: layers of snow, layers of warm socks and sweaters, and in the case of seasonal libations, layers of flavor. So, we’re suiting up with a beverage that checks every box: the Deep Winter Imperial Stout from Elder Piper Beer & Cider in Peto… Read More >>

Market 22’s Cuban Pizza

Feb. 7, 2026

Maybe if we blast the furnace, we can pretend that those piles of snow are sandy dunes…and what better snack for a beachy staycation than the warm-weather flavors of the Cuban Pizza at Market 22 in Maple City? Inspired by the signature sandwich, each Detroit-style pie is built atop a… Read More >>

NMCAA Working to Build Communities that Thrive

Jan. 31, 2026

We’re all familiar with the adage that says “it takes a village” to reach a long-term goal. For the team at Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency (NMCAA), that goal is eliminating poverty and empowering local families, and their growing network of community-focused pr… Read More >>

Milk & Honey’s Chocolate Shake

Jan. 31, 2026

We’ll happily brave treacherous blizzard conditions for the promise of sweet and chocolatey treasure at the end of our trek! It’s all about pure dessert bliss at this Traverse City ice creamery, as their cakes, confections, and coffees are all free of GMOs and artificial additio… Read More >>

Brotherton Farm’s Everything But the Bagel English Muffins

Jan. 24, 2026

At Brotherton Farm, an organic produce haven and small-batch bakery in Bellaire, the guiding philosophy on new menu items is “what would we want to eat?” While it’s easy to get stuck waffling between the buttery scones and artisan sourdough breads, we know exactly what we … Read More >>

Voices Carry Forward on MLK Day

Jan. 17, 2026

Longtime musician and founder of Traverse City nonprofit Building Bridges with Music (BBwM) Jeff Haas was only nine or 10 years old when he first heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attribute the root of human action to love or fear.

Haas believes love is always the right choice, so BB… Read More >>

Supreme Bar Service’s Maple Sea Salt Iced Espresso Martini

Jan. 17, 2026

It’s all about elevated hospitality for Traverse-based mobile bar company Supreme Bar Service, and they’ve reached the beverage peak in their Maple Sea Salt Iced Espresso Martini. Inspired by the richly roasted and herbal notes of a Turkish brew (a nod to their upcoming coffee m… Read More >>

The Dandy’s Quiche Lorraine

Jan. 10, 2026

A dandy is, by definition, a person of impeccable style, and there’s no shortage of good taste at Traverse City’s newest day-dining hotspot, The Dandy, which is owned by the folks behind Red Spire Brunch House. From looks to flavor, the Quiche Lorraine lives up to the restaurant… Read More >>

The Superfoods of Winter: Exploring Year-Round Farmers Markets

Jan. 3, 2026

Finding healthy, locally-grown food—a practice touted for its nutritional benefits, better flavor payoff, and cost efficiency—can feel next to impossible once the open-air stalls have shuttered their tents and the ground is covered in snow.

But never fear: NoMi farmers a… Read More >>

Folklor’s Field Blend Perry

Jan. 3, 2026

It’s always the season to celebrate local terroir at Folklor Wine & Cider in Charlevoix, but we’re taking the New Year’s festivities one step further with a bottle of their newly-released 2024 Field Blend Perry. An effervescent homage to the pomme, this off-dry sparkli… Read More >>

Right Bower’s Bower Breakfast

Dec. 20, 2025

It’s all about the experience at Right Bower Kitchen & Coffee in Traverse City, from the elevated café classics to boutique shopping (featuring Michigan makers!) in their Seven Hills space shared with Old Mission Distilling. A day of local discovery, though, demands tasty f… Read More >>

Welcoming the Winter Solstice: Rituals & Events for the Shortest Day of the Year

Dec. 13, 2025

With the winter solstice quickly approaching, it’s hard not to notice how dark each day feels. Astronomically, this is because the North Pole is nearing its farthest point from the sun. Culturally, though, the winter solstice, also known as Yule (a term with roots in Old Norse), is al… Read More >>

Petoskey Farms' Christmas Coffee Flight

Dec. 13, 2025

There’s nothing like a cozy drink to complement a winter flick—even better if it matches the theme! Enter: the Christmas Movie Night coffee flight at Petoskey Farms. Brewed in homage to a quad of holiday classics (bonus points if you can name them!), this seasonal sip features C… Read More >>

Idyll Farms’ Goata

Dec. 6, 2025

As we settle in for this year’s long winter’s nap, our visions won’t be occupied by dancing sugar plums but decadent wheels of cheese—specifically, the Idyll Goata from Idyll Farms in Northport (which just won a 2025 World Cheese Award!). Each creamy, Gouda-style wed… Read More >>

Embracing the Mocktail Moment

Nov. 29, 2025

It’s no secret that the U.S. has entered a dry spell when it comes to alcohol enjoyment, with factors like health concerns and economic constraints driving consumption down in the last few years.

This increase in teetotalers, however, doesn’t negate the demand for a tast… Read More >>