Brighid Driscoll | Author

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 >>

A Local’s Guide to Cherry Festival

July 1, 2023

Skies are blue, temperatures are rising, and your morning commute is probably a little longer than usual; it’s Cherry Festival time in Michigan’s favorite vacation spot.

Though the National Cherry Festival (NCF) attracts over half a million visitors, it also offers som... Read More >>

Where the Croissant Reigns Supreme

June 17, 2023

The French popularized it, pastry connoisseurs love it, and bakers revere it…it’s the almighty croissant.

A tedious process that involves layering dough with butter, croissant-making isn’t for the impatient. But a well-made croissant is a pastry worthy of its la... Read More >>

Outdoor Living on a Budget

June 3, 2023

It’s all too easy to daydream about splashy outdoor rugs, cool egg chairs, eight-person farmhouse tables, and flower-laden gazebos this time of year. But if your eyes are bigger than your wallet, decorating your outdoor space might seem like too much of an investment.

Never ... Read More >>

The Wheels on the Bike

April 8, 2023

As temperatures begin to rise, so does the number of cyclists we see about town and beyond. Biking is a great way to commute, recreate, and spend leisure time behind two wheels instead of four, and it’s one of our favorite ways to take in all the beauty of northern Michigan. With bi... Read More >>

Full Steam Ahead for Northern Michigan Summer Camps

Feb. 25, 2023

A rite of passage. A family tradition. An opportunity to learn new things and meet new people. (Or, sometimes, simply a way to keep the kids busy while school is out.) Summertime and camp go together like peanut butter and jelly, but amid staffing and childcare crises, demand has never be... Read More >>