Brighid Driscoll | Author

A Picture-Perfect Proposal

Feb. 4, 2023

It all starts with four little words: “Will you marry me?”

No two proposals are exactly alike, and many of them have an element of surprise, which makes proposal photography a unique profession. Local photographer Nicole Geri has seen it all, whether she’s hiking... Read More >>

Meeting People, Making Friends

Jan. 28, 2023

We’ve had a lot of gray days and not a lot of snow since the start of 2023. Visions of skiing and snowshoeing while the sun streaks through forest branches have sometimes felt just as far away as warm summer beach days. After the seemingly longest month of the year, leaving a perman... Read More >>

Gifting for the Green Thumb

Nov. 19, 2022

Along with rattan furniture, shag carpet, and macrame, houseplants were a beloved part of many American households in the 1970s. Mid-century modern architecture had exploded decades prior, and interior designers were using houseplants to soften the straight lines while sticking to the con... Read More >>

Halloween Haunts

Oct. 22, 2022

Halloween is more than a day of neighborhood kids going door to door for candy. Really, it’s a month-long celebration filled with sweet, spooky, and downright scary fun for all ages. We found plenty of local activities to hit up this week, ghosts and ghouls included.

SWEET<... Read More >>

Donuts, Pumpkin Patches, and Corn Mazes, Oh My!

Oct. 1, 2022

The bittersweet transition from fall to summer has been made a little easier. The Farmers' Almanac has predicted a warmer-than-usual autumn for us northern Michiganders, and with a host of fun fall activities and our beautiful northern Michigan home as a backdrop, we’re excited to s... Read More >>

Live Music Haunts

Aug. 6, 2022

Live music is abundant in northern Michigan, and with it plenty of places to sit back, relax, and enjoy with friends and strangers alike. From farms, parks, and beaches to wineries, bars, and clubs, there’s an atmosphere for all. We’ve chosen a sampling of NoMi’s coolest... Read More >>

Northern Getaway

July 9, 2022

’Tis the season when we northern Michiganders start to feel a case of summer ennui setting in. Traffic is heavy, the days are hot, and a rotating cast of friends and family seem to be in the guest room every weekend. (And don’t get us started on how long it takes to get a tabl... Read More >>

Walking on the Wild Side

June 11, 2022

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SBD) is a favorite place for locals and tourists in search of stunning views and sun-soaked hikes. However, while we’re snapping Insta-worthy skylines, crucial mating, nesting, and migrating are going on behind the scenes.

We have a be... Read More >>

Fab Food Trucks: The intersection of great meals and local wheels

May 28, 2022

It’s late spring in northern Michigan, and everything is coming alive—including the local food trucks. They’ve re-emerged from their winter rest and are ready to provide delicious solutions to the perpetual question of “What’s for dinner?”

Like ... Read More >>

A Farm-Fresh Approach

May 7, 2022

An old saying instructs us to make friends with a doctor, lawyer, and bartender, as an ally in each profession can provide a solution for most of life’s problems: medicine for our ailments, counsel in tough times, and a drink when the other two don’t work.

What the say... Read More >>

Make the Climb

April 9, 2022

We already know that cherries, beer and wine, beaches, and unbeatable views are attractions that cause visitors to flock to northern Michigan. While these are all tried and true reasons to enjoy the area, mountain biking is proving to be a dark horse in the region’s tourist industry... Read More >>

Simplify Your Spring Cleaning

March 19, 2022

Michiganders, pat yourselves on the back. We’re emerging from another long winter, and our prize is on the horizon. More sunny days are beginning to crop up on the forecast; thawed earth squishes under muddy boots; and the icicles melting off gutters provide a steady beat to the cha... Read More >>

Old Art Building: 100 Years of Magic in Leland

Jan. 1, 2022

What happened to all the magic?

There are still practicing magicians in this day and age, of course, but entertaining audiences with magic is not nearly as popular as it was 100 years ago.

In the early 1900s — aka the “Golden Age of Magic” — magicia... Read More >>

Dorothy Gerber Strings Program Turns 20

Dec. 11, 2021

In 2000, a musician named Karey Sitzler was working as the education director for Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey. A large portion of her job was dedicated to touring local arts students through CTAC’s galleries. The other part of her job — the smaller portion, which had ... Read More >>

In Pursuit of the Perfect Cup

Nov. 27, 2021

Chuck Korson’s quest to craft the best possible cup of coffee began in, perhaps, a not-unexpected place. He was working at Morsels, a petite coffee shop in Traverse City known for its bite-sized baked goods, espresso, and brew-to-order coffee.

Among those of us who rely on c... Read More >>

The Giving Spirit of Bill O. Smith

Nov. 20, 2021

Traverse City author Bill O. Smith didn't expect to be living with his former mother-in-law as a middle-aged man, but when her health began to decline due to dementia, he stepped in to care for her in the last years of her life.

"My own mom had died when I was pretty young, so I w... Read More >>

Randy’s Diner

Nov. 13, 2021

Here in Michigan, we're fond of our boundless coney islands and old-school diners. These culinary relics of Americana embody a sense of coziness and nostalgia that feel almost as familiar as home. The spirit of the American diner lies in its unpretentious yet excellent, affordable dishes ... Read More >>

The Haunting of Big Bay Point

Oct. 23, 2021

November 1901: A Marquette man named Frederick Babcock loaded up supplies for a day of hunting near Big Bay, Michigan. Back then, hunting big and small game was as routine for the average Yooper as going to the local grocery store is today. What wasn't routine on this particular trip 120 ... Read More >>

Japan, Switzerland, Brooklyn...Traverse City?

Oct. 16, 2021

There is only one boutique in the world that has locations in Japan, Switzerland, Brooklyn … and Traverse City.

The Parisian fashion brand Anne Willi has limited locations around the world, but how this brand came to 216 Cass Street in downtown Traverse City is a story that... Read More >>

Where Did All the Ubers Go?

Sept. 18, 2021

Is there a better airport experience to be had at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City?

I don't think so.

The postage-sized airport is pleasant. It's clean and quiet, and its small size makes for a simple, streamlined experience. Never have I dreaded navigating a long T... Read More >>