Brighid Driscoll | Author

35 Spots to Grab an Ice Cream Cone

July 6, 2024

While it’s good all year round, ice cream in the summer (as the kids say) just hits different.

Yes, it’s a cold treat to quell hot weather, but even beyond temperature, ice cream seems to taste better after a busy day outside. Whether you’re a sucker for sundaes ... Read More >>

Lavender Fields Forever

June 15, 2024

Though it’s called the Secret Garden, the secret’s been out for a while at Brys Estate on Old Mission Peninsula.

Walter and Eileen Brys own Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery and its not-so-secret sister property, the Secret Garden at Brys Estate. The garden is hidden by ... Read More >>

7 Ways to Celebrate Pride Month in Traverse City

June 1, 2024

As June arrives, the vibrant colors of Pride month brighten the community as we celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors. From festive parades to thought-provoking discussions, Pride events worldwide serve as beacons of solidarity, empowerment, and inclusion, and northern Michigan is no... Read More >>

What to Do This Memorial Day Weekend, from Parades to BBQs to Concerts

May 18, 2024

Memorial Day Weekend, a time to honor and remember those who have served and fallen in the United States Armed Forces, has also become the unofficial start of summer Up North. Whether you’re a local or just visiting for the weekend, Northern Express rounded up some fun options to st... Read More >>

Where Community, Photography, and Technology Meet

May 11, 2024

Michael Kent is a Traverse City-raised photographer…and one of at least three well-known Michael Kents in TC. (His dad is also MK, as is another local photographer, which doesn’t make things confusing at all!) A friend to many, he’s made his mark with com... Read More >>

From Landlubbers to Master Mariners

April 6, 2024

Amy Keller has always been passionate about sailing. “My family are all sailors, and I have early memories of being on the sailboat, but I don’t remember the first time I ever went sailing. It’s just something that’s always been a part of my life.”

Am... Read More >>

Nine St. Patrick's Day Celebrations Around the North

March 9, 2024

Even though St. Patrick was a Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland, today's version of St. Patrick's Day is not exactly what we’d call theological. (Unless of course you have a religious experience with green beer.) No, St. Pat’s—or Paddy’s, but never Patty&r... Read More >>

Beyond Books

Feb. 24, 2024

When was the last time you visited your local library?

For many of us, it’s been since childhood, or at least since our kiddos were little. Even if we have active library cards, it’s all too easy to place a hold on a book online, pick it up, drop it back off, and never... Read More >>

Stay Warm, Look Cool

Feb. 3, 2024

It hasn't exactly been a perfect winter for shredding the slopes or hitting the cross-country trails. But even though Michigan doesn't look much like a winter wonderland, local resorts are pumping out the snow and working hard to make the gray days of February feel a little brighter.

Staycation Packages and Deals for Those with Getaway FOMO

Jan. 13, 2024

Snowy, icy northern Michigan winters are one of the few deterrents from living Up North year-round. (At least for those who aren’t into cold-weather sports.) While the snowbirds seek solace in southern locales, the rest of us will soldier on here, trying to stay awake past 9pm and r... Read More >>

NaCl: Or the Chemical Elements of Relaxation

Dec. 23, 2023

On a trip to Louisville, Kentucky, Traverse City locals Carol and David Saxton didn’t expect to find themselves in a salt cave.

“I was looking for things to do so I decided to try it,” Carol says. She left feeling relaxed and like she could breathe easier. &ldquo... Read More >>

Secondhand Finds

Dec. 9, 2023

A couple of months ago, The Atlantic published an article titled “Your Sweaters Are Garbage.” In the piece, writer Amanda Mull details how drastically clothing quality has declined over the past few decades. Sweaters, in particular, were once crafted with care and nat... Read More >>

Let’s Go Find a Tree!

Dec. 2, 2023

The Christmas tree is a tradition that has stood the test of time.

Long before becoming a symbol of Christmas, evergreens were used to celebrate the winter season or to ward homes against evil and illness; Egyptians, Romans, and Druids all had versions of this practice. The origin... Read More >>

A Leelanau Shopping Spree

Nov. 18, 2023

It’s early Saturday morning and still dark when I hear a knock at the door. Despite attempts to pull a pillow over my head and muffle the sound, the knock only gets louder and more insistent. Annoyed and with no chance of falling back asleep, I slip on bunny slippers and head downst... Read More >>

Reclaimed, Recycled, and Redeemed

Nov. 4, 2023

Denice Leonard grew up in a small town just south of Manistee and then spent 23 years away from the area while her husband served in the U.S. Navy. “When we retired, we moved back here, and I started working in the medical field,” Leonard says. On weekends, she began selling g... Read More >>

A Weekend Retreat to Treat Yourself

Oct. 14, 2023

Autumn, a quintessentially cozy time of year, calls for some R&R. After a busy summer and before the hectic holidays, it’s a great time to treat yourself, and what better way than a weekend getaway? We’ve mapped out a perfect self-care day in the Petoskey area packed with ... Read More >>

Locals’ Summer

Sept. 16, 2023

Take a breath, northern Michiganders. We made it.

Labor Day weekend may mark the end of summer for many, but it’s only the beginning of Locals’ Summer for those lucky enough to live here year-round. The weather is still favorable for outdoor activities, your favorite b... Read More >>

At the Top of Their Game

Sept. 2, 2023

Step into a world where phones, tablets, and TV screens take a back seat to a couple of well-loved throwbacks: board and arcade games. At The Coin Slot and Tabletop Underground, all the action happens in real time around a table or a pinball machine. Choose your player, stack your decks, ... Read More >>

Charting a Course for Traverse City: This 60-year-old Yacht Is Making Waves on the Bay

Aug. 19, 2023

“The saying goes, ‘You can put a boat on a ship, but you can’t put a ship on a boat,’” Captain Brett Derr says as he climbs aboard his 60-year-old boat, Althea.

Clear skies and a warm but steady breeze all but beg for a sail, and Captain Bret... Read More >>

Bringing the Party to You with Mobile Bars

July 29, 2023

Just as the kitchen is the heart of a home, a bar is the heart of a party. Outdoor gatherings especially raise spirits (pun intended) when the bar goes above and beyond, and local mobile and pop-up bars are doing just that with plenty of versatility and style.

Ready to bring that ... Read More >>