Ellen Miller | Author

June 20, 2026

For tourists and locals alike, the construction at the Traverse City State Park has been a big change. Normally at this time of year, its parking lots and campsites are packed with cars and campers as folks from downstate (and further away) head up north to experience the great outdoors dur… Read More >>

Women Are the Backbone of the Tribe

May 16, 2026

Bay Mills Indian Community President Whitney Gravelle’s journey has always been deeply informed by her community, who supported her and helped raise her, buying from her lemonade stand to help her go to college. She wanted to give back, but wasn’t sure how.

“When I… Read More >>

Traverse City’s Crooked Tree Arts Center Looks Ahead

Dec. 6, 2025

Local arts and community center Crooked Tree Arts Center—with locations in Petoskey in Traverse City—has no shortage of offerings from classes to exhibits to shows. And their dedication to cultivating the arts Up North shows.

“Our biggest success in 2025 has been s… Read More >>

More than an Art Store

Nov. 15, 2025

Since Traverse City Front Street newcomer Surfaces Art Supplies opened this July, they’ve hit the ground running, curating a mix of craft and fine art supplies alongside art experiences for tourists and locals alike.

Owner Liz Kennington opened Surfaces in pursuit of a longsta… Read More >>

Candy Land

Oct. 25, 2025

Leaves are turning and the shelves are stocked with Halloween sweets…but skip the chain store aisles this year and instead, get your sweet tooth fix close to home. Below, explore the offerings at local candy purveyors before the first trick-or-treater rings the doorbell.

Tra… Read More >>

Café Exalt Shifts with the Seasons

Sept. 20, 2025

The Brengmans are a third-generation hospitality family from the Detroit area. “Our grandfather and dad operated restaurants in the east side mostly of the Detroit area and downtown,” says Robert Brengman. “It was pretty cool to be able to go to all those places as a young… Read More >>

Labor Day 2025 in Northern Michigan

Aug. 23, 2025

Labor Day weekend marks a seasonal shift Up North. The weather is still beautiful (we hope!), and “locals’ summer” is about to kick off. On the flip side, kids are headed back to school and the long summer days are fading. So take advantage of the holiday weekend by checki… Read More >>

Old Mission Inn: Then & Now (and Now For Sale)

Aug. 9, 2025

The Old Mission Inn has seen a lot in its years on the peninsula. Established in 1869, the inn has only had four owners over the course of its life and is the oldest continually-operating hotel in Michigan.

Current owners Angie and Bruce Jensen bought the inn in 1998; they had been … Read More >>

Bringing Art to Community

July 26, 2025

With the beauty of the coastline front and center, you could be forgiven for not knowing that Traverse City has a robust public arts scene. Walk around town, though, and you’ll be met with a rich artistic experience, from gallery walls to public art on buildings to TART Trail sculptur… Read More >>

Shoring Up Coastal Resiliency

July 12, 2025

Michigan has almost 4,200 miles of coastline, more than any other state except for Alaska. And in recent years here in northern Michigan, the swing in lake levels has been particularly apparent, with high water causing major damage in 2020.

There have always been fluctuations in the… Read More >>

The Air Show Must Go On

June 27, 2025

For many, the National Cherry Festival Air Show is synonymous with big jet teams like the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds. Last year, however, news broke that neither group would be back in 2025.

Never fear—the Air Show still has plenty on offer! From a tribute performance to … Read More >>

Simple, Scratch-made, and Seasonal at Leto’s Osteria

June 7, 2025

Folks in Petoskey craving authentic Italian need look no further than Leto’s Osteria, which opened in April in the heart of downtown.

From general manager Todd Chinnock and chef Ray Kumm, Leto’s Osteria takes the place of POUR, which had a loyal following among locals an… Read More >>

TART Super Bikers

May 24, 2025

For those who love being outdoors (and during Traverse City’s beautiful and fleeting spring, who doesn’t?), the TART Trails are a well-known community asset. This local network includes several multi-use trails in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties, as well as a cross-town bik… Read More >>

Skate, Jam, and Roll

May 10, 2025

For the past 15 years, TC Roller Derby has been tearing up the rink and building relationships on and off the track.

Back in 2010, a group of interested potential derby players met up to discuss the possibility of forming a team. They met at public spaces downtown, including Horizon… Read More >>

Nittolo's Little Italy Comes to Downtown TC

April 19, 2025

Craving a pizza or a hearty bowl of pasta? You’re in luck: Nittolo’s Little Italy, from restaurateur Eric Nittolo, is slated to open downtown in the Warehouse District in this April, pending licensing and approvals.

The new spot was built out in the space where Cut &… Read More >>

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits

April 5, 2025

Jennifer Weiner was on a vacation with her husband in Alaska when she had the vision that sparked her new book. “We were talking to lots of people, eavesdropping on conversations,” she remembers. “I got this image in my head of a woman wearing a giant puffy parka and carry… Read More >>

Dining with the Kosch Brothers

Feb. 15, 2025

Everyone has a story for how they got started in their careers. For Gary, Gordie, and Doug Kosch, the story is simple: early experiences working in hospitality led to opportunities and knowledge that they could invest back in their communities.

Getting Their Start

A career… Read More >>

The Shoulder Season Slump

Jan. 18, 2025

The weather outside can be frightful, and without the twinkling lights of the holidays, downtowns in northern Michigan can see business slow this time of year as locals snuggle up at home.

All the presents have been bought, the family dinners have been eaten, and the gift cards have… Read More >>

14 Creative Classes to Cozy Up with This Winter

Jan. 4, 2025

'Tis the season…the post-holiday season, that is, when the days are short, the light is weak, and a creative project is a welcome distraction. Whether you’re looking for a one-off crafting session or hoping to achieve a lifelong creative dream, there are a bevy of creative clas… Read More >>