Geri Dietze | Author

The Same, But Different at Boyne River Inn

March 23, 2024

For several years, Boyne City residents and visitors were impatiently waiting for the reopening of the Boyne River Inn, a popular downtown landmark for a good drink, a great meal, and a river view. After a seemingly endless round of will it/won’t it, the iconic eatery finally reopen... Read More >>

From the Hands of the Artists

March 16, 2024

Is it easy for an artist to switch mediums? In the case of Make Believe Pizza, absolutely. Em Randall is a self-taught northern Michigan artist with a solid following in and outside of Michigan; now, with musician husband Jack Senff, she’s taken their creativity into the kitchen.Read More >>

Have Love Your Way: 14 NoMi Events Around Valentine's Day

Feb. 3, 2024

Candy, flowers, and poetry—that’s how we traditionally think about Valentine’s Day, and it hasn’t changed much since Geoffrey Chaucer was writing about love in the 14th century.

But like all origin stories, this Hallmark holiday’s history is more comp... Read More >>

A Getaway for Your Tastebuds, by Way of Mexico

Jan. 13, 2024

Traverse City foodies probably know that Happy’s Taco Shop recently vacated its long-term berth (since 2015) at The Little Fleet to concentrate on its Petoskey and Boyne City operations. Happy’s is a fixture at The Back Lot in Petoskey, Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, and Happy... Read More >>

A Chef-Worthy, Shareable Feast

Dec. 16, 2023

We all know that when winter arrives, it’s here for the long haul. Some of us love it; some, not so much. But the shared experience of breaking bread, especially in the chilly season, is a beloved tradition that helps the short days and long nights pass that much faster.

Ind... Read More >>

Coffee, Community, and Conscience

Nov. 11, 2023

If you’ve been to Commongrounds Coop in Traverse City, you’re familiar with its mission to combine “food, family, arts, and wellness” in one inviting space. If you’ve yet to visit, your timing is perfect, coinciding as it does with the recent opening of NoBo ... Read More >>

Dammm. Good. Food. (and That’s a Quote)

Oct. 28, 2023

The Foundry Craft Grillery celebrated its Elk Rapids opening this summer in the space previously occupied by American House Pizza and, before that, Siren Hall. Here you’ll find upscale bar food in generous portions, with craft cocktails, wine, and brews—all in a no-nonsense in... Read More >>

Hoop’s Pet Food Pantry

Oct. 21, 2023

No one should go to bed hungry, including our pets. To help financially strapped pet owners—and to keep fur babies in their homes rather than being surrendered—Hoop’s Pet Food Pantry steps up to feed between 250 to 300 pets per month at their Saturday Pet Pantry. The non... Read More >>

Heart, Soul, and Saltimbocca

Sept. 30, 2023

The Golden Stag in Manistee opened its doors July 2023 to glowing reviews and enthusiastic repeat customers. In fact, first timers not only returned to the Mediterranean restaurant, and returned quickly, but they brought their friends along as well.

“The response was overwhe... Read More >>

Where Old and New, Renovation and Regeneration, Meet

Sept. 2, 2023

Something’s been blooming on the corner of Northport’s Mill and Third streets, and it’s not just the gardens. Yard & Lake, an eclectic, quirky, wonderfully inventive collection of spaces and experiences, is the result of a four-stage business plan, thoughtfully plann... Read More >>

Welcome to Archie’s Social House

Aug. 12, 2023

The folks behind Archie’s Food Truck parked their rolling stock this past May and moved to a permanent location at 237 Lake Ave., just on the edge of downtown. (The site was previously occupied by Benedict, and before that, Patisserie Amie—a brunch dynasty, if you will.)

Fingers Crossed for a New Era of Dining

July 22, 2023

When Garage Bar owner Bruce Viger finally decided to end his three-decade career in the restaurant business, it was hard on the legions of regulars who loved the Garage. But Viger’s exit was an opportunity for Detroit entrepreneur Dave Kwiatkowski, who already had nine eclectic, hig... Read More >>

Taste the Love in Every Bite

July 15, 2023

Thomas Koch, owner of Polish Countryside Kitchen in Cedar, was born and raised in Hamtramck, a little city just a few miles outside of downtown Detroit—or as Koch likes to refer to it, “the jelly to the doughnut of Detroit.” His Polish grandmother and grandfather, loving... Read More >>

Draken, Kraken, and Nuts

July 8, 2023

An intrepid crew of sailors, aka Unsalted Nuts, left Port Townsend, Washington, on June 5 to compete in the Race to Alaska (R2AK), a grueling, dangerous, 750-mile run up the inside passage from Washington through British Columbia and Alaska.

The route is a labyrinth of islands wit... Read More >>

Life is Just a Bowl of Tart Cherries

June 24, 2023

It seems that the whole world is catching on to the magic of tart cherries, both for their clean, fresh flavor and for their value as a nutritional powerhouse. Even Martha Stewart is singing the praises of this wonderful fruit. (We can’t help wondering about the collab possibilities... Read More >>

Hidden Dragons in the Forest

June 17, 2023

Karl Rykert is a self-taught sculptor who was enjoying anonymity until he chose to carve a dragon’s head jutting out of the woods on a busy section of US-131 south of Boyne Falls, near the Charlevoix/Antrim county line. Drivers took notice, word spread on social media, and before he... Read More >>

Dig This

June 3, 2023

The Friendly Garden Club of Traverse City, with over 50 active members, is still going strong after a century.

The group enjoys an advantageous mix of skill sets: master gardeners trained in the science and art of gardening, enthusiastic novices, self-taught hobbyists, retir... Read More >>

Introducing The Social

May 27, 2023

It’s tempting to call chef Eric Nittolo an overachiever, but perhaps he just channels his enormous energy and prodigious talents into doing what he loves and comes out the other side looking like a visionary.

If you know the name—and you probably do—you understan... Read More >>

Home Improvement, the Natural Way

April 29, 2023

What’s your style? Hip and earthy? Sophisticated and minimal? Current decorating trends are embracing natural materials, colors, and finishes, and they are finding their way into a variety of design styles. Because today, if it comes from terra firma, it’s cool. Below, read ab... Read More >>

Kingsley Inn Redux

April 15, 2023

Sometimes a name just sticks. Even after the Kingsley Inn was sold in 2020 and was briefly renamed the Judson Market and Restaurant, the place was still known to locals by its old name—or its nickname, KI, for short.

That name is back for good. Today, new owners Brian McAlli... Read More >>