Craig Manning | Author

The Pre-Wedding Prep Couples Actually Need

April 4, 2020

Five-hundred twenty-eight. That’s the number of hours that the average American couple spends planning their wedding, according to a 2019 study conducted by the artist-and-designer marketplace Minted. That’s 22 entire days spent on everything from wedding dress shopping to cre... Read More >>

Despite Virus, Soon-to-be Wedded Couples Are Marching On

April 4, 2020

Each year, roughly 2.3 million weddings take place in the United States, with approximately 60 percent of them occurring between May and October. But as fears over COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continue to infect virtually every aspect of day-to-day life, it’s time to ask an important ques... Read More >>

Can the Count Go On?

March 28, 2020

Census Day 2020 fell on April 1 — a fact that might have registered as something of a cruel April Fool’s joke in a year when the pandemic crisis has pushed virtually everything else from people’s minds.

Still, despite the lockdowns, quarantines, fear, and unc... Read More >>

Southern Saviors: Our Chance to Save NoMi Forests?

March 28, 2020

For years, the Leelanau and Benzie Conservation Districts have been selling bare root seedlings and encouraging locals to plant trees on their properties. This spring, those local organizations are trying something new: a “citizen science” initiative called the Assisted Tree R... Read More >>

Earthen Ales’ Beers To Go

March 21, 2020

Someday, hopefully soon, we’ll all be able to head back to our favorite breweries and enjoy sampler flights like the ones pictured. Until that day comes, though, our northern Michigan breweries are hustling to make their beers (and food) available for the quarantine era. Ever since ... Read More >>

Mama Lu’s Curbside Pickup & Delivery

March 21, 2020

Each day, from 11am to 8pm, Mama Lu’s taco shop in Downtown Traverse City is offering both curbside pickup outside its front door and free delivery within a 10-mile radius. If you’re ordering for the entire family, consider a taco kit (pictured), which includes 20 tortillas, y... Read More >>

What Would Jesus Do?

March 14, 2020

Traverse City's Central Methodist Church's might be part of an unprecedented split within the denomination — one likely to threaten ruptures in organized religion as a whole.

Last year, the congregation at Traverse City’s 150-year-old Central United Methodi... Read More >>

Strange Brew

March 7, 2020

He’s not running the biggest or the oldest brewery, but you can call Brewery Terra Firma’s John Niedermaier the godfather of northern Michigan craft beer.

Before he opened his own place in 2013, Niedermaier was playing an important role in shaping Traverse City into th... Read More >>

Red + Blue = An Unlikely Pair Lobbying for a 28th Amendment

Feb. 22, 2020

Hal Gurian and John DeSpelder have a lot in common. They’re both Traverse City locals who share a deep love for the northern Michigan area. They are both civically minded individuals who are passionate about politics. And they’re good friends who have worked together to build ... Read More >>

Billy Strings is Coming Home

Feb. 22, 2020

Five months ago, Billy Strings was standing on the stage of Colorado’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre, playing to nearly 10,000 bluegrass fans. On Friday, Feb. 28, he’ll stroll onto the stage at the City Opera House in Traverse City to play to a slightly smaller sold-out (wi... Read More >>

Back to Reality

Feb. 8, 2020

Laith Al-Saadi is still standing.
 
It hasn’t been an easy road for the 42-year-old The Voice contestant, who made it to the May 2016 finale of the popular NBC show.
 
For one thing, the Michigan native has brushed up against reality TV’s... Read More >>

A Touch of Sunshine

Feb. 1, 2020

 “Michigan winters are unrivaled for their utter lack of sunshine,” wrote Thrillist when it ranked Michigan as the state with the second most miserable winter in the country. (Minnesota topped the list.) Needless to say, in the bitter doldrums of a nort... Read More >>

Cadillac’s Clam Lake Beer Co.

Jan. 25, 2020

It’s 3:00 on a Thursday afternoon, but Clam Lake Beer Co. is already bustling with regulars. The taphouse and brewery, which is located right on the main drag of S. Mitchell Street in downtown Cadillac, is a popular local hangout spot no matter the time or day. In the winter, it&rsq... Read More >>

Drop the Needle: Wax is Back

Jan. 25, 2020

Not so long ago, vinyl records were considered a dead format. When the compact disc made its debut in the early 1980s, many viewed it as the vinyl killer. Here was a new format of music distribution that improved upon its predecessor in virtually every way, from convenience and portabilit... Read More >>

Cheboygan Brewing Co.'s Imperial Cinnamon Hefeweizen

Jan. 18, 2020

Winter is prime time for imperial stouts and barrel-aged beers, but what if you’re not a fan of those big, heavy, dark brews? The Imperial Cinnamon Hefeweizen is a perfect winter beer for folks who prefer the hue of their ales to stay on the lighter side of the spectrum. On the one ... Read More >>

Say Cheese

Nov. 30, 2019

“Holiday fact: Everybody loves a cheese platter.”
 
That’s the wisdom of Sue Kurta, owner and cheesemaker at the Kingsley-based Boss Mouse Cheese. We happen to agree with her: Not many things are more essential to a festive holiday gathering than a careful... Read More >>

Why Your Favorite European Wine/Cheese/Whisky/Coffee Is About to Get Pricier

Nov. 30, 2019

If you’re planning to put imported wine on your holiday table this season, it could cost you.
 
Thanks to a series of tariffs imposed on select products from the European Union (EU), U.S. consumers are likely to pay more for Scotch whisky, Italian cheeses, German coff... Read More >>

The Local

Nov. 16, 2019

Not so long ago, Jamie Wentworth was 99 percent certain her restaurant had burned to the ground. Wentworth, who owns The Local in Elk Rapids, was heading home from the restaurant with her husband, Drew, when they got a call from a friend saying the building was on fire. As Wentworth tells... Read More >>

The local musicians you must hear now

Nov. 2, 2019

Doesn’t matter if you’re into blues, funk, folk, rock, or country, or whether you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing cover band or a singer/songwriter known for deep, personal confessionals. Northern Express has you covered. Below, we’ve rounded up 10 terrific musicia... Read More >>

Suttons Bay Ciders' Barrel Rider

Nov. 2, 2019

There might not be a better view on Leelanau Peninsula than the one from the Suttons Bay Ciders tasting room. Especially amidst the full splendor of northern Michigan fall color, simply walking through the door of Suttons Bay Ciders or spending a few moments on the deck is enough to make ... Read More >>