Anna Faller | Author

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 >>

Hive North’s The Mix

Feb. 5, 2022

Imagine Christine King’s surprise when, on a family trip to Savannah, Georgia, she discovered a mead made in her own backyard. “We couldn’t believe it was from northern Michigan,” she says. “I thought, people need to know about this product!” That revel... Read More >>

Grandmothers of America

Jan. 29, 2022

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or so the old adage goes. But for Michigan-based photography duo John Hanson and Joey Schultz, beauty lives in the eye of the camera. “I’m a street photographer,” says Schultz. “I find beauty in everybody.”

Contem... Read More >>

Lake Street Bakery’s Buckwheat Crepes

Jan. 29, 2022

Itching to get the heck out of your house? We hear you. Luckily, France — or at least authentic Breton pastries — are only as far away as Boyne City. Owned by classically trained Boulanger Gildas Berrou, Gildas’ Lake Street Bakery has been shamelessly fueling local wande... Read More >>

Terrain’s Smoked Whitefish Pate

Jan. 22, 2022

Mama knows best when it comes to home-cooking — especially when that mother is Michigan. At Terrain restaurant in Bellaire, “mama food” is the main ingredient. “Our philosophy is all about local terroir, and celebration the [region’s] flavors,” says che... Read More >>

Iron Goat’s Chai Tea Latte

Jan. 15, 2022

In the market for a mid-winter pick-me-up? Iron Goat Coffee in East Jordan has been sating the region’s coffee cravings since it opened its doors in 2019. Featuring Lake Charlevoix Coffee Company beans, Iron Goat’s rotating beverage menu ranges from staff-inspired creations to... Read More >>