Anna Faller | Author

Iron Fish’s Salted Maple Old Fashioned

Jan. 1, 2022

With the end of yet another season, it’s tough not to feel that New Year, new you pressure. But before you swallow that self-help pill, why not treat your tastebuds to something familiar? At Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, cocktails are the cream of their crop. Founded in 201... Read More >>

The Baklava Shop's Salted Cashew Caramel Baklava

Dec. 18, 2021

The Baklava Shop launched in Lewiston in 2011 for one reason: The community couldn’t get enough of the Prince family’s specialty sweet.  “When my kids brought treats to school, [ours] was always baklava,” says shop owner and family matriarch, Georgette. Built ... Read More >>

Brasserie Amie’s Eggnog

Dec. 11, 2021

It’s officially eggnog season, folks, and Brasserie Amie’s traditional prep is putting the store-bought swill to shame. Creamy and light, with just a hint of decadence, this O.G. cocktail recipe has a reputation for changing the minds of even the egg averse. The secret? A scra... Read More >>

Meet the Storyteller behind “Firekeeper’s Daughter”

Dec. 4, 2021

For indigenous author Angeline Boulley, storytelling has become almost second nature. A longtime communication liaison for local tribes, Boulley honed her storytelling skills in fairly demanding medium: writing grant applications for the various Native American tribes with whom she worked... Read More >>

Stella’s Hot Buttered Rum

Dec. 3, 2021

Few things fend off November’s chill quite like a swig of something spiked. For the ultimate internal thaw, cozy up to a cupful of hot buttered rum. With recipes preceding the American revolution, this traditional cocktail is a bar-backed staple, but we suspect none do it more authe... Read More >>

Cellar 152’s Brauhaus Pretzel & Beer Cheese

Dec. 3, 2021

There’s something about the dark skies and early nightfall that makes evenings inside sound especially inviting in December. Of course, no proper hidey-hole would be complete without a healthy stash of snacks, and maybe a few libations to boot. That’s where Cellar 152 Pub and ... Read More >>

Palette Bistro’s Acorn Squash

Nov. 20, 2021

Known for its casual-upscale vibe and built on a foundation of Mediterranean flavor, Palette Bistro’s ever-evolving menu of small plates, brick-oven offerings, and locally sourced ingredients has made the place an Up North foodie find since the region’s WineGuys Restaurant Gro... Read More >>

What Strange Paradise

Nov. 13, 2021

When asked where he’s from, author and journalist Omar El Akkad doesn’t have a clear-cut answer. Born in Egypt, El Akkad grew up in Qatar before moving to Canada at age 16.

Though he is now a United States citizen, he describes himself as “anchorless.”
Read More >>

Dancer. Builder. Architect. Poet.

Nov. 13, 2021

For Jennifer Sperry Steinorth (pictured below), art is as much instinct as skill. “Emily Dickinson talks about how she knows a poem when the ‘top of her head comes off,’” says Steinorth, “and I also feel art’s physical effects in my body.”
... Read More >>

Fire-Roasted Sweet Corn Cream Ale

Nov. 13, 2021

At Brewery Terra Firma, down-to-earth drinks are the name of the game. The brainchild of master brewer John Niedermaier, Terra Firma has been pumping out unprocessed pints since its tasting room door opened on a farm just south of downtown Traverse City in 2013. And, as the state’s ... Read More >>

Raven Social’s Penne Rosa

Nov. 6, 2021

For the ultimate in upscale comfort food, look no further than Raven Social in downtown Cadillac. Opened in September 2016 by restaurant-power couple Chuck and Connie Freiberg, Raven Social combines a seasonal farm-to-table sourcing philosophy with classic European prep. The result is Eur... Read More >>

RBB’s Chubby Squirrel

Nov. 6, 2021

It’s officially hibernation season, and no Northerner’s hidey-hole can be considered adequately prepped for the coming winter without a good stock of games, snacks, and of course, beer. That’s where Right Brain Brewery comes in. Founded in 2007 by then-stylist and still-... Read More >>

Let’s Talk About Race, Kids

Oct. 30, 2021

Award-winning author Jason Reynolds never intended to write for young adults. Instead, the category came to him.  

“Most people enter into the industry in their late 20s or early 30s — sometimes even in their 40s or 50s,” he says. But Reynolds was a bit... Read More >>

Pumpkin Spice Witch’s Brew

Oct. 23, 2021

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Or rather, the much greater Pumpkin Spice Witch’s Brew. The stuff of northern Michigan legend, Leelanau Cellars’ Witches Brews have been around for more than two decades (Leelanau Cellars itself is a bit of a vinology veteran; it wa... Read More >>

Bob Phillips Brings It to TC

Oct. 16, 2021

When you’re one in a crew of eight Catholic kids, it’s imperative that you find your spot.

For seasoned stand-up comic and self-proclaimed funny-man Bob Phillips, that spot was the center of evening entertainment. “I was the kid who watched Johnny Carson every ni... Read More >>

Kangaroo Court

Oct. 2, 2021

As “America’s funniest science writer,” acclaimed author and journalist Mary Roach’s whopping six best-selling books – all of which are science-centered – seem no less than par for the course.

Released last month, Roach’s 11th book, &ldquo... Read More >>

Pour’s Sweet Potato Salad

Oct. 2, 2021

Prep your palettes, cold-weather comrades! Autumn is officially on the menu at Petoskey’s Pour Kitchen & Bar, and we can’t wait to take a taste. Launched in August 2016 and helmed by general manager and sommelier Todd Chinnock, in partnership with executive chef Colin Camp... Read More >>

Roast & Toast’s Apple Chai-der

Sept. 18, 2021

With the change of season already upon us, crisp nights and cozy sweaters abound, and few things say fall quite like local cider — that is, until it’s spiked with chai. Enter: Roast & Toast Coffee in downtown Petoskey. Owned by coffee connoisseurs Bob and Mary Keedy, Roast... Read More >>

Simply the Best (Things)

Sept. 11, 2021

How do you know you’ve made it in the vintage market? When you can sell pencils — albeit, nice ones — for nearly $100 dollars apiece, you know you’ve done something right. Enter self-proclaimed “vintage slinger,” and local style legend, Kelly Nogoski.Read More >>

Two K Farms Apple Pie Cider

Sept. 11, 2021

At Two K Farms Cidery and Winery, apples are the name of the game. Nestled snugly along northbound M-22, this Suttons Bay sippery is changing the face of estate-grown fruit — and from #farmtoglass, it shows. The cider house is owned by “K and K” brothers, George and Max ... Read More >>