Jillian Manning | Author
5 Years of Helpful Beers
May 14, 2022
Restaurants have endured some of the greatest staffing and operational challenges of any industry in the last few years. But through all those ups and downs, a Traverse City movement to give back has kept its wheels turning.
Tina Schuett, co-owner of Rare Bird Brewpub in Traverse ...
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Mmm, Morels!
May 7, 2022
The National Morel Mushroom Festival is…almost…here. The fun guys (get it?) take over Boyne City May 12-15 for a weekend of celebration in honor of the North’s favorite mushroom. Yes, we do know our beloved, spongy little friends have only just started to return after ...
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Off to the (Art) Market
May 7, 2022
Let’s face it. Winter was loooong this year. Extra long. You need to treat yourself. Your artistic neighbors also need a boost, which means it’s the perfect time to hit up the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City for their Spring Art Market on Saturday, May 14. From 11am to 5...
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Birch & Maple’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich
May 7, 2022
Honestly, it’s hard to pick one thing to order off the Birch & Maple brunch/lunch menu. (This has led Northern Express staff to order five entrees for two people, less from hunger and more from sheer enthusiasm.) Whether you’re ordering in bulk—did someone say leftov...
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$1M Grant Headed to Little Traverse Bay Bands
April 30, 2022
Funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) continue to be distributed around the country, and here in northern Michigan, the latest recipient is the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTTB), which was awarded a $1 million grant to support economic development strategies. The welco...
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Don Your Derby Hat
April 30, 2022
The fifth annual Hats & Horses Kentucky Derby Party returns to Iron Fish Distillery on Saturday, May 7, from 3pm to 8pm. Known as the two most exciting minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby will, in fact, be overshadowed by the Dirt Road Derby, starring the horses and riders of Benzie...
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Together for Ukraine
April 30, 2022
The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts and the Pines of Arcadia artist-in-residence program in Manistee are putting on a special benefit concert on Friday, May 6, at 7pm to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Tickets are $20, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Razom, a Ukr...
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A Fish Story
April 30, 2022
It’s been almost a decade since Northern Express covered the opening of Blue Fish Kitchen + Bar in 2013, and we were hungry to see what’s new. We’re not alone—according to Talia Miller, the restaurant’s newly-minted general manager, the business has ...
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Your Weekend Is Booked
April 23, 2022
Saturday, April 30, is Independent Bookstore Day, a national celebration of the hometown stores that connect us with the written word. These are the shops that bring authors to your town, find that rare book you can’t get on eBay, and employ literature lovers in your community. Inde...
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Take a Hike, History
April 23, 2022
It’s (finally) starting to feel like spring around here, and just in time. On Friday, May 6, the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society is hosting a “Natural Harbor Springs” walking tour starting at 1pm. Doug Fuller, former director of stewardship at the Little Traverse ...
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The Artistry of Artisan
April 23, 2022
Those who work at Artisan all agree: This is not your average hotel restaurant.
“[Artisan] is a restaurant that just happens to be at a hotel,” says Brandon Sheldon, general manager at Delamar Traverse City. “Artisan represents craftsmanship, hard work … t...
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We Speak for the Trees
April 23, 2022
The warehouse that Archangel Ancient Tree Archive (AATA) calls home is unassuming, a green and white affair nestled in the small village of Copemish in Manistee County. The town’s name means “big beech,” and in that sense, it’s a perfect place for a nonprofit like ...
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Hug a Tree in Cadillac
April 16, 2022
We have Earth Day on the brain this week, and the city of Cadillac does too. After a few years away from their normal community format, the Cadillac Earth Day Celebration returns on Sunday, April 24, at The Market at Cadillac Commons. This free event runs from 1-4pm and is perfect for the...
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Mother Earth’s Movies
April 16, 2022
In honor of Earth Day, we found several free, nature-inspired film screenings throughout the region this week. The Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City will host two showings (1pm and 2:30pm) on April 20 of America’s National Parks at 100, which takes armchair travelers on a tour o...
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Coffee Talk
April 16, 2022
Tucked behind sunset-orange doors on Waukazoo Street in Northport is a 1,000-square-foot space filled with the scent of fresh coffee and warm pastries. New Bohemian Café is one of the few restaurants in the town at the end of the Leelanau Peninsula that stays open all year round, a...
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Interlochen Doubleheader
April 9, 2022
Need a midweek artistic pick-me-up? Look no further than Interlochen Center for the Arts on Wednesday, April 13. Writers can enjoy an evening at The Writing House with Nana Kwame Adjei Brenyah, the New York Times bestselling author of the short story collection Friday BlackRead More >>
April 9, 2022 This Saturday kicks off National Parks Week. To celebrate, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is waiving their $25 entrance fee on April 16, making it the perfect day to visit the park in early spring. At this time of year, the sand is still chilly and compressed, which means you can ...
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April 9, 2022 It’s that time of year again, employers! Northern Express is looking ahead to our “Now Hiring” issue, which will be online and on newsstands May 16. We dedicate a special portion of the issue, sponsored by Hagerty, to job listings from across the region, so this is your ...
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April 9, 2022 Northern Michigan is a golden goose of the great outdoors, with thousands of miles of trails that offer scenic views of lakes, rivers, and forests. As our region continues to attract more residents and tourists—and a large segment of our population ages—the need for accessible...
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March 26, 2022 Two of our favorite things—art and castles—come together in Charlevoix April 9 and 10. This juried, fine-art fair features work from artists across the Midwest and is the perfect time to find a gift for the hard-to-shop-for person on your birthday or holiday list. (Or just tre...
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Free Admission Day at Sleeping Bear
List a Job, Find a Job
The Outdoors Are for Everyone
Art in the Castle