Craig Manning | Author

Lofty Ambitions

Feb. 13, 2021

You wanna fly, little girl? Or try it yourself? You’ll have your chance Feb. 20, when a mix of local and out-of-town snow-kiters converge on Lake Leelanau’s ice in search of big wind and even bigger air.

Next weekend marks the annual Midwest Snow Kite Jam, one of the f... Read More >>

The long-awaited opening of Stone Hound Brewing Co.

Feb. 6, 2021

In an alternate timeline, Brent Faber would have opened the doors to Stone Hound Brewing Company nearly a year ago. Faber’s intention for his brand-new Acme-based brewery was to hold a grand opening in April or May of 2020, followed by a busy summer slinging craft beers to locals an... Read More >>

Tusen Takk’s Gift to Artists

Jan. 9, 2021

What if you could escape your normal environment for a few weeks — ditch your day-to-day obligations and disappear somewhere quiet and remote, free of distractions and routine? What could you get done? What could you create? Would it be your masterpiece?

These are the questi... Read More >>

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Dec. 19, 2020

Rockefeller Center in New York City might be the home to the country’s most famous jumbo Christmas tree, but the Big Apple isn’t the only city in the United States with a big tree. And if you’ve spotted one of the big trees in Grand Rapids, Detroit, Chicago, or even Okla... Read More >>

Lost Village Pierogi

Dec. 12, 2020

 

Up until a few years ago, husband-and-wife team Mike and Holly Kotz weren’t working jobs even tangential to the culinary scene. Mike was a screen printer making T-shirts; Holly was a high school English teacher. Now, they’re on a mission to preserve and share so... Read More >>

Running Down a Dream

Nov. 7, 2020

If one were to describe Hunter Jones in three words, it would be tough to think of a better phrase than “fast as lightning.” 

A student-athlete at Benzie Central High School, Jones is just a few months into his sophomore year but he’s already the fastest run... Read More >>

The Queen of Underground Country Returns

Oct. 17, 2020

The last time Rachel Brooke released a full-length solo album, things looked very different — both in the northern Michigan country songwriter’s personal life and in the world at large.

That album, titled A Killer’s Dream, dropped on Dec. 4, 2012. Barack... Read More >>

Northern Michigan Modern

Sept. 26, 2020

From rustic log cabins to Victorian-style homes all the way to more traditional suburban-like developments, northern Michigan boasts quite the eclectic range in home design. Until recently, though, modern architecture didn’t have much of a foothold in the region -- but that’s ... Read More >>

Forged In Fire

Sept. 19, 2020

As the new managing director for Traverse City’s Tamarack Holdings, Michael Lahti is helping to lead a company that is one of the biggest players in northern Michigan’s food and agriculture industries. And it’s a job that, had things gone a little differently, he might n... Read More >>

Burritt's Wine Sale: Luzón Colección 8 Meses

Sept. 19, 2020

Stocking up on wine for the holidays, or just hunting for the best deal you can find? Don’t miss out on the fall Spanish wine sale at Traverse City’s Burritt’s Fresh Markets (509 W Front St). Burritt’s holds two wine sales each year, offering direct import pricing ... Read More >>

Resale is the New Black

Sept. 12, 2020

It’s a common tradition at this time of year: parents flocking to clothing stores in the last weeks of summer to get their kids new duds for back-to-school time. But what happens when the economy is in shambles, when many people have been out of work since March, and when the return... Read More >>

Hall of Fame Athletes: Where Are They Now?

Sept. 5, 2020

Some became Olympians, some became doctors. Some were the stars of their college sports teams, others chose to focus on other things. Northern Michigan’s former standout high school athletes have taken a multitude of paths over the years. And while the region has had no shortage of ... Read More >>

Get the Full Hook-Up

Aug. 29, 2020

Why stop at hotels, restrooms, or restaurants when you can take your own lodging, bathroom, kitchen, and dining room with you on the road? 

Evidently, a lot of travelers have been having similar thoughts lately. A few months ago, RVshare, a peer-to-peer recreational-vehicle r... Read More >>

Resort Memberships for Locals: Are they worth it?

Aug. 22, 2020

A major perk of living in a heavily touristed region: There are beautiful resort properties tucked in just about every corner, all of them offering an embarrassment of riches in terms of amenities. While some spots and services within the resorts’ properties are earmarked for guests... Read More >>

Welcome to Beer Valley

Aug. 15, 2020

It’s no secret that Northern Michigan has become something of a craft beer Mecca. From Short’s in Bellaire (the third biggest brewery in the state in terms of production volume, after Bell’s and Founder’s) to the collection of breweries scattered around Downtown Tr... Read More >>

TC Whiskey’s Barrel Proof Cherry Whiskey

Aug. 15, 2020

On its journey from the barrel to your glass, most whiskey is diluted with water to reduce its strength. Not so with Traverse City Whiskey Co.’s limited edition “Barrel Proof” whiskeys, which are bottled at cask strength. TC Whiskey has been releasing Barrel Proof editio... Read More >>

Listen Up: The Latest & Greatest Spins

Aug. 8, 2020

So 2020 has not been a particularly great year for arts and entertainment. Film releases have been delayed. Concert tours and music festivals have been canceled, with no indication of when they might realistically return. The lights won’t come back up on Broadway until at least 2021... Read More >>

Say You Were a Fan First

Aug. 8, 2020

Who are the next big bright stars on the Michigan musical landscape? Who’s the next band to become a local favorite — or, maybe even more than that, a true national or international act? We can’t claim to have a crystal ball, but we do think these four artists have a cer... Read More >>

Winning.

Aug. 1, 2020

Which northern Michigan businesses are best positioned to thrive in the aftermath of COVID-19? While the pandemic has been devastating for many industries, it has also created opportunities elsewhere. Northern Express flagged six local businesses that are poised for growth going ... Read More >>

Northern Michigan’s Most Iconic Eats, 2020 edition

July 25, 2020

Even in the best of times, a remarkable dish from a local restaurant is a joy, a comfort, and a reminder of the best that life can be. It’s safe to say that 2020 has not been the best of times, but in an odd way, that’s only made the bright spots feel that much brighter. Suffi... Read More >>