Anna Faller | Author

Hotel Indigo’s Warehouse Wings

Feb. 25, 2023

Who says taking a mid-winter break means actually having to go somewhere? Go the staycation route instead and treat yourself to a night in at Hotel Indigo’s Warehouse KiTChen + Cork, starting with a plate of the restaurant’s signature Warehouse Wings. Released as part of the hot… Read More >>

Les Cheneaux Distillers’ Island Hopper IPA

Feb. 18, 2023

When it comes to tasting new beers, we like to keep our options open. At Bridge Street Tap Room in Charlevoix, those options feel almost endless thanks to a whopping 32 taps all featuring Michigan craft beer and hard cider. Our go-to, though, is the Island Hopper IPA via Les Cheneaux Distil… Read More >>

New Bohemian Cafe’s Kev McMurphin

Feb. 11, 2023

For those in need of a little mid-winter respite, Northport’s snowy paths and sledding hills (Nagonaba Trail System is a must) make for the perfect local excursion. While you’re out there, warm up at New Bohemian Café with a latte and a Kev McMurphin. Named for co-owner K… Read More >>

Driving the Green Book

Feb. 11, 2023

An international financial authority and prolific storyteller, Alvin Hall’s renowned broadcast and media career includes five years as the host of the award-winning BBC series Your Money or Your Life, as well as regular contribution to NPR’s Tell Me More w… Read More >>

Happy Camper Coffee Co.’s Cinnamon Roll Latte

Feb. 4, 2023

Though we know money can’t buy happiness, it can buy a great cup of coffee. And we can’t think of a happier combo than the coffee-meets-breakfast-pastry perfection of Happy Camper Coffee Co.’s newly-added Cinnamon Roll Latte. This one-two-punch of a morning cuppa starts wi… Read More >>

Bay Bread’s Thank You Boxes

Feb. 4, 2023

We all know actions speak louder than words. And, what better way to say, well, anything than with a box of homemade treats? Next time you find yourself at a loss for words, consider letting one of Bay Bread Co.’s Thank You Boxes do the talking. Curated via client request, th… Read More >>

Crooked Tree Breadworks’ Pub Nuts

Jan. 28, 2023

Snacking gets the grown-up treatment at Crooked Tree Breadworks in Petoskey, where scratch-made bread and pastry selections (the rye-flecked sourdough is a must-try) are traditionally baked with simple ingredients. Our recent obsession, though, is the Pub Nuts. The newest in the shop’… Read More >>

No Woman Left Behind

Jan. 28, 2023

For many of us, the onset of the pandemic hit pause on most parts of everyday life. Domestic abuse, however, continued, with instances still on the rise even as lockdown regulations have waned. This is where the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) of Traverse City comes in. As an area exper… Read More >>

The Socialite’s The Gossip

Jan. 21, 2023

We’ve heard that no one likes a gossip, but we could be convinced if it comes over ice with a citrus garnish. The rumors are true, dear readers: Traverse City’s newest temperance bar, The Socialite (established last year), is serving up curated cocktails minus the booze. Their n… Read More >>

The Good Bowl’s “Vu-Tang” Chili Crisp

Jan. 14, 2023

On the hunt for that magic ingredient to take your cooking up a notch? The Good Bowl has your next go-to, and it puts the rest of our spice rack to shame. Enter: “Vu-Tang” Chili Crisp. Named for executive chef Tony Vu (and the ’90’s hip-hop Clan), this versatile chil… Read More >>

Terrain’s Skipping Stones

Jan. 7, 2023

The holiday season might be over, but Terrain Restaurant in Bellaire toasts local bounty all year long, and we think the plummy nuance of the Skipping Stones cocktail deserves its own celebration. Named for the local stone fruit it features, the drink begins with Kalkaska’s North Rive… Read More >>

Is Winter Outdoor Dining Here to Stay, or Are We All Headed Back Inside?

Jan. 7, 2023

Outdoor dining—snow, rain, or shine—went through the roof during the first year or two of the pandemic. But now, with most eateries going about business as usual, patrons seem to be fair-weather fans of al fresco dining. So what’s the plan for all those yurts, igloos, and … Read More >>

Edson Farms’ Sugar Cookies

Dec. 24, 2022

Established in the late ’70s, Edson Farms Natural Foods has long been our go-to for local produce and better-for-you deli staples. We just can’t help ourselves, though, when it comes to their house-baked sugar cookies. Inspired by owner Jessica Edson’s own family’s d… Read More >>

Paddle Hard’s River Rampage

Dec. 17, 2022

We’d be lying if we said that Paddle Hard Brewing’s house IPA didn’t have us longing for sweltering temps, neon pool floaties, and lots of glorious sunshine. (Remember sunshine? We hardly do…) But, are we still sipping it in December? You bet. The second in a three-… Read More >>

Through Ice and Snow They Go

Dec. 17, 2022

There is nothing quite so unpredictable as a Michigan winter. Though it’s true that a handful of weeks each year can be relied on for snow and sub-arctic temperatures, the rest of the season is anyone’s guess. Wintery weather does have one common feature, though: how it’s … Read More >>

Spring and Porter’s Seared Venison

Dec. 10, 2022

The cold temps have left us craving all things cozy—we’re talking herb-laden stews, roasted root veggies, and multiple pairs of fleecy sweatpants. But, before you give in to that long winter’s nap, tuck into a plate of Seared Venison Backstrap ($54) at Spring and Porter in… Read More >>

Ethanology’s Marriage Counselor

Dec. 3, 2022

Picture, if you will: a powdery layer of new-fallen snow, punctuated by a crackling fire and a mug of something hot in your hands. Heck, maybe there’s even a yurt involved! If a more restorative scene exists, we don’t know what it could be, but we do know it begins with Ethanolo… Read More >>

Big Cat Energy

Dec. 3, 2022

Meet Alice Wong. She’s the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project, an online creative space for promoting and sharing disability media, as well as the editorial mind behind the 2020 essay collection Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-Fir… Read More >>

7 Monks’ Braised Pork Nachos

Nov. 26, 2022

While the rest of us pulled out our winter boots and grabbed an extra blanket (or five) this past week, 7 Monks Taproom in Traverse City was cranking up their menu’s heat in the form of a creamy queso, which they’ve spiked with flecks of flaming ghost pepper—and frankly, w… Read More >>

Big Buck Brewery’s Michigan Sunrise

Nov. 19, 2022

As its name suggests, there’s nothing small about Big Buck Brewery. Established in 2018 (though the space had a past life in the mid-90s), this iconic Gaylord alehouse impresses, from its 300-seat interior to the can’t-miss-it beer bottle on the lawn. The pub has pulled out all … Read More >>