Jillian Manning | Author
C-SPAN Recognizes Interlochen Student
March 26, 2022
Each year, C-SPAN hosts a national “StudentCam” competition, which invites middle school and high school students to create a short documentary film in response to a prompt. The 2022 competition garnered over 1,400 entries from 41 states (plus Washington D.C., Morocco, and Sou...
Read More >>
The Dish Cafe in Traverse City to Be Sold
March 26, 2022
Owners Patty Hickman and Randy Waclawski announced on March 22 that after 15 years of running the downtown Traverse City restaurant, they will be selling The Dish Cafe on April 8. Their Facebook post says, “15 years ago on April 9, we took over and re-opened The Dish Cafe. This year...
Read More >>
From the Mitten State to the Sunshine State
March 26, 2022
About 17,000 passengers will fly in and out of Traverse City in the two-week period surrounding spring break, according to Kevin Kline, CEO of Cherry Capital Airport (TVC). Many of those folks are headed south for warmer weather, especially since TVC boasts three nonstop flights to Florid...
Read More >>
Scovie’s Bordeaux Panini
March 19, 2022
Scovie’s Gourmet in Charlevoix has one of northern Michigan’s most mouthwatering lunch menus. With more than 40 options between their salads, burgers, wraps, paninis, and deli sandwiches, you could eat something new every day for the rest of March and all of April. But, if you...
Read More >>
Brews on the Farm
March 19, 2022
Raise a glass on Monday, March 21, at Farm Club’s Beer Gathering. This relaxed evening at the Leelanau County restaurant will feature brewing tips and beer storytelling from Farm Club brewer Corey Valdez alongside four beer tastings and a sampling of food. Attendees will get to know...
Read More >>
Gaylord’s Saturn Booksellers Announces Closure
March 19, 2022
Saturn Booksellers of Gaylord announced Wednesday (March 16) that the bookshop will close its doors in April. Owner Jill Miner had hoped to find a buyer for the store but instead had to make the difficult decision to end the store’s 29-year run before the lease renewal at the end of...
Read More >>
Welcome Spring!
March 12, 2022
Sunday, March 20, is the first day of spring, and whether it’s 25 degrees or 45 degrees, we’re celebrating the return of warmer, longer days. (Though let’s be honest—we’re ready to get the temps well above freezing.) The Little Fleet in downtown Traverse City...
Read More >>
Grand Traverse Pie Company’s Michigan ABC Crumb
March 12, 2022
If you haven’t already had this pie, do you really live Up North? An oldie but a very goodie, the Michigan ABC (apple, blueberry, cherry) Crumb has everything you love in a pie: a flaky, melt-in-your-mouth crust on the bottom; globs of toasty crumb topping; and a delicious blend of ...
Read More >>
Making Maple Syrup
March 12, 2022
’Tis the season for syrup in Bellaire! The sap is officially flowing, and you can get up close and personal to see the syrup in the making at Grass River Natural Area between 11am and 3pm on Saturday, March 19. At “MapleFest,” GRNA staff will be tapping trees, hanging bu...
Read More >>
New Name, Same Problem
March 12, 2022
One of northern Michigan’s peskiest, pestiest insects is now operating under a new name. Introducing the Spongy Moth, previously known as the European Gypsy Moth. Why the change? According to a statement from the Department of Natural Resources, the name switch was made by the Entom...
Read More >>
Make a Splash
March 5, 2022
This Saturday (March 12), Otsego Resort in Gaylord welcomes back Splashdown, the watery celebration that marks the transition from winter to spring. A full day of St. Patrick’s Day-themed activities will be happening around the resort, including live music, a costume contest, and Ir...
Read More >>
Light the Way at Duncan Bay
March 5, 2022
Join the Little Traverse Conservancy, Cheboygan Brewing Company, and Friends of Island Lake State Recreation Area for a peaceful evening stroll along Lake Huron. On March 12, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., folks are invited to register for a lantern-lit hike at the Duncan Bay Nature Preserve. These...
Read More >>
A New Season at Great Lakes Center for the Arts
March 5, 2022
Five years ago this summer, the Great Lakes Center for the Arts (aka the Center) in Bay Harbor opened their doors. Since then, they’ve seen more than 75,000 visitors and presented 150 events—no small feat given two of those years were eaten up by the pandemic. They’ve al...
Read More >>
Michigan Magic
Feb. 26, 2022
Retired elementary school teacher Debbie Watson sat down at her desk in May 2020 and began to write. It was early morning, and she’d just woken from a dream about a girl and a polar bear and a dragon on the shores of Lake Superior. She knew there was something magical brewing in her...
Read More >>
Therapy Hits the Road
Feb. 26, 2022
Back in November of 2021, Northern Express reported on the growing mental health crisis in northern Michigan. From the stress of the pandemic to bullying on social media, a variety of factors are causing the need for mental health services to skyrocket among children and adults. ...
Read More >>
Breaking the Ice
Feb. 26, 2022
For 47 years, the Traverse City Figure Skating Club (formerly known as Twin Bays Skating Club) has been producing athletes bound for college teams, national-level competitions, and even the much-beloved “Disney on Ice” show. TCFSC is also the driving force behind the Northern ...
Read More >>
Carrying on the Tradition
Feb. 12, 2022
What do Double Frosted Bourbon Brownies, Mock Apple Pie, and Prince of Wales Cake have in common? (Besides sugar and appearing together in the sidebar, you clever reader.) They're all recipes from Michigan author Carole Eberly’s cookbooks, which date back to 1977 and have all the no...
Read More >>
"Steaking" its Claim
Feb. 12, 2022
The No. 1 steakhouse in Michigan — according to MLive (and a vocal cadre of Northern Express readers who named its Tomahawk Ribeye to our first Iconic Eats list — is nestled in Harbor Springs, serving up award-winning Wagyu beef just past the intersection of M-119 and Powell R...
Read More >>
If You CAN Do, Teach
Feb. 12, 2022
For almost 20 years, Joel Papcun has been preparing the next generation of chefs at Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute. He has not only trained and graduated hundreds of students into the culinary industry but also opened the institute’s teaching re...
Read More >>
Great Meals, Hot Deals
Feb. 12, 2022
One of the biggest perks of enduring the colder months in northern Michigan is that we locals can finally get into our favorite restaurants without a wait. Even better, our foodie friends are ea... Read More >>