Craig Manning | Author

Where to Dine Waterside

July 13, 2019

No matter what dish or drink you order from the menu, come summertime, it all pairs well with a scenic waterfront view. Fortunately, northern Michigan offers no shortage of such spots. Allow Northern Express to be your guide to some of the best waterside dining experiences in the... Read More >>

Pinkus Münster Alt

June 29, 2019

Last week, 7 Monks Taproom in Traverse City made history by becoming the first establishment in North America to tap a keg of Pinkus Münster Alt, from the Pinkus Müller brewery in Münster, Germany. We were on hand to try one of the very first pours, and it did not disappoin... Read More >>

Batch 10,000

June 22, 2019

Looks like 2019 has been a milestone year for Short’s Brewing Company. So far this year, the brewery has celebrated its 15th anniversary and brewed its 10,000th batch. Even if you missed the big anniversary party out in Bellaire in April, you can still get your hands on its ode to i... Read More >>

Keweenaw Brewing Co.’s Borealis Broo

May 18, 2019

Fans of cold brew coffee, take note. The Borealis Broo from Keweenaw Brewing Company — based in Houghton, Michigan — is a brewer’s twist on the popular summertime iced coffee trend. Most coffee-flavored beers are stouts or browns, heavy beers suited to cold winter nights... Read More >>

Northern Michigan's Most Iconic Eats, 2019

May 11, 2019

In early 2018, Northern Express set out to answer a vital question: What are some of the most legendary dishes in northern Michigan?
 
Through hundreds of recommendations fr... Read More >>

The New Groom

April 6, 2019

Used to be that the classic black tuxedo was the standard garb for grooms. It was simple and no-frills, while still fancy and formal. It looked good without drawing any attention away from — let’s face it, the focus of the whole affair — the bride and her gown.
&nbs... Read More >>

Fore!

March 23, 2019

In 2018, the Gaylord High School boys golf team didn’t get a chance to practice on an actual golf course until May 6. Less than a month later, the team’s players were teeing off for regionals. Gaylord’s golfers should have been hitting their stride in the ramp-up to stat... Read More >>

Lucky You: Local Brewers Spill Their Go-to Beers

March 9, 2019

You won’t catch a Ford salesman tooling around town in a Toyota, but seeing a local brewer tipping back a beer in another’s pub … ? Well, let’s just say it wouldn’t shock us. Local beer culture is a community culture. And be it in the name of love, respect, ... Read More >>

Ice Man

Feb. 16, 2019

During most of the year, Mackinac Island is a busy, bustling tourist destination, sometimes seeing as many as 15,000 visitors in a single day. During the winter, though, the island is more or less left to the roughly 500 people who actually live there. As the Mackinac Straits freeze over ... Read More >>

Homeschooling Northern Michigan

Jan. 26, 2019

The homeschool movement in northern Michigan is growing fast, moving away from the kitchen table, and making traditional K–12 education anything but. What's homeschooling Up North even like these days? Probably not what you'd think.
 
It used to be that homes... Read More >>

Short-term rental group v. Traverse City

Dec. 15, 2018

For more than two years, city officials in Traverse City have been debating whether to make changes to a 25-year-old ordinance that regulates home rentals. As written, the ordinance substantially restricts the ability of city homeowners to rent out their properties on a short-term basis. ... Read More >>

Kid's Extracurricular Activities

Oct. 13, 2018

The school year is now in high gear, and with it, an all-new season of extracurricular sports and activities is underway. Like most communities, northern Michigan has lots of options, both school-affiliated and independent, to keep kids involved, active, and challenged. To get a better se... Read More >>

Game Changer

Sept. 1, 2018

In the old days, aspiring college athletes would send out VHS tapes – and later, DVDs – to college coaches, all in the hopes of getting noticed. These tapes collected footage of the athletes and their performances into a highlight reel of sorts, showing game or meet footage th... Read More >>

Fall’s Must-have Necessity for High School Sophomores?

Aug. 4, 2018

 

The ivory tower has morphed into something beyond educating the young.

For many colleges, it's all about the bottom line.
"Colleges are not in the business of making money. Colleges are in the business of making huge money," said Matt Breimayer, the owner and ... Read More >>

Cherryland Band Classic is Back!

June 23, 2018

After being absent from the National Cherry Festival schedule last year, the Cherryland Band Classic is making a return in 2018.
 
According to Kat Paye, the Cherry Festival’s executive director, the competitive marching band event was pulled last year due to lack o... Read More >>

Bob Carr’s Uphill Climb

May 19, 2018

By all accounts, Bob Carr is an underdog.

The Mackinac Island native seeking a seat in the United States Senate looks to be up against some heavy hitters in August’s primary race — John James, both a combat veteran and the president of supply chain management company J... Read More >>

Glen Arbor's First Brewery Opening

May 12, 2018

On May 15, Cherry Republic will officially open the doors to its Cherry Public House. The establishment will feature full lunch and dinner menus, indoor seating, and an extensive outdoor beer garden. Most notably, the restaurant will mark Cherry Republic’s first-ever foray into beer... Read More >>

Spring Re-Awakening

May 5, 2018

Ever since she got her start at a Borders open mic night in 2002, local singer-songwriter Angela Josephine has been a notable fixture in the northern Michigan folk music scene. She’s flitted in and out of the Contemporary Christian Music world, earned comparisons to the likes of Amy... Read More >>

Home Sweet Homestay

May 5, 2018

On an average night, 2 million people around the world are sleeping at Airbnb rental properties. Since Airbnb’s 2009 inception, the online short-term rental marketplace has grown exponentially. Yet, despite the global embrace of platforms like Airbnb, or the slightly less popular VR... Read More >>

Five Albums Every Northerner Should Own

April 21, 2018

Northern Michigan might not rival Nashville or Austin as a hub of live music or a destination for artists hoping to hit it big. Still, there is a lot of talent up here, from the music rooms of local high schools to the stages of area bars and wineries. Consider this five-album collection ... Read More >>