Kristi Kates | Author

Don’t Miss the Music of Alpenfest

July 8, 2017

If you’re a fan of free, live music, the Pontresina Entertainment Tent at Gaylord’s Alpenfest (July 11–15) is the place to be. “We’ve got more entertainment than we’ve ever had before this year,” said Paul Beachnau, the executive director for the ... Read More >>

Gaylord’s Grocery Store Glockenspiel

July 8, 2017

A quarter century old, nearly two dozen bells strong, and a favorite stop for many people coming up north for Gaylord’s Alpenfest each year, the Gaylord glockenspiel makes tradition a timely pursuit.

Glockenspiel is the German name for what’s technically a carillion, a... Read More >>

Death Cab’s Depper Gets Emotional

July 8, 2017

Death Cab for Cutie bandmate Dave Depper, who’s also been collaborating with the bands Fruit Bats and Menomena, is finally releasing his own debut solo album, Emotional Freedom Technique, complete with nine tracks of synthy pop that embrace the infl... Read More >>

Sensory Successes at Gaylord's Liberty Valley Ranch

July 8, 2017

According to Gaylord’s Jane Rau, passion for horses runs in the blood. Rau and her family — husband, Robert, and their four kids — moved to Michigan from Madison, Wisconsin in 2000. Since Rau had grown up with horses, they family planned to get a couple after establishin... Read More >>

Top Ten Reasons to Alpenfest

July 8, 2017

Wilkommen one and all to the 2017 Gaylord Alpenfest (July 11–15), the trademark summer celebration of the Up North destination that claims the title of Michigan’s Alpine Village. Chock full of food, music, and activities for people of all ages, the city’s nummer eins (ak... Read More >>

Charlevoix’s Vibrant Venetian Fest Returns

July 8, 2017

The third week in July is Charlevoix’s big summer moment in the spotlight. It’s Venetian Festival time, when the waters are lined with boats, the streets are lined with happy shoppers, and, as the local saying goes, there’s only one thing missing: an admission fee. Gener... Read More >>

Tropical Wines at The Rusty Pelican

July 8, 2017

Traditionally, our fave way to savor summer is with northern Michigan-made wine. But if you’re looking to sip something a little more southern, you’ll find that, too, at Gaylord’s Rusty Pelican Wine Shop.

Owners Mike and Cassie Meredith — both Michigan nati... Read More >>

Air (Dog) Apparent

July 1, 2017

Behind every great athlete there’s almost always a great coach. So let’s start there, in this case with Lori Caloia, a physical therapist and athletic trainer, and her husband, John, also an athletic trainer.

The Caloias moved to Traverse City three years ago fro... Read More >>

FourScore

July 1, 2017

A Thousand Horses – Bridges – BMLG
Blending country with Black Crowes-style Southern rock is A Thousand Horse’s forte, especially when it gets the chance to charge full speed ahead on tracks like “Blaze of Somethin,’” which will su... Read More >>

Find Your Bliss

July 1, 2017

With nearly 50 great performers packed into northern Michigan’s annual Blissfest, the weekend-long summer folk and roots music festival in Bliss, Michigan, choosing which shows to see is a tough task — and one made tougher by the multitude of other diversions available at this... Read More >>

Harbor Springs Night of Arts

July 1, 2017

Oils and acrylics. Pastels and clay. Precious metals, gemstones, bronze, glass, vintage art and collectibles. You’ll find all of these at Harbor Springs’ Night of Arts, an expanded version of an art gallery walk that’s being specially dedicated to local artists and the f... Read More >>

Fustini's Traverse City Cherry Balsamic Vinegar

July 1, 2017

In January, the folks at northern Michigan’s Fustini’s Oils and Vinegars had the idea to flavor one of their balsamic vinegars with Michigan fruit. What more natural choice than the cherry? Over the first quarter of this year, Fustini’s worked closely with Cherry Central... Read More >>

Modern Rock

July 1, 2017

A Capitol Fourth, the free annual concert performed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. in celebration of Independence Day will feature classic ’60s California-rockers The Beach Boys, Broadway actress Phillipa Soo, Disney Channel... Read More >>

Good Harbor's Coffee Shandy

June 24, 2017

In Germany, it’s a Biermischgetränke. In Belgium, it’s called a Panaché. In France, it’s a Bière Monaco. And in Australia, they call it a Portergaff. Here in the U.S., we know it as a shandy, a half-and-half mix of lemonade and beer.

Teetota... Read More >>

Old Dominion & Aubrie Sellers Bring Nashville to Cherry Fest

June 24, 2017

Nashville is a magnet for songwriters, many of whom toil away for years before reaching any level of success. For the five members of the country music band Old Dominion, it was their early success as individuals that spurred them sideways in a completely different direction.

Trev... Read More >>

How to Hunt Antiques

June 24, 2017

Antique-hunting is a genteel northern Michigan sport that picks up steam in the summertime — oodles of seasonal antique shops open, the number of yard sales increase, and pickers flock to major market events like Petoskey’s Antiques at the Fairgrounds, where you can take in be... Read More >>

Three Times the Fun

June 24, 2017

Big northern Michigan music events like Blissfest and the Traverse City National Cherry Festival get lots of attention — and rightly so — but there are dozens of under-the-radar Up North festivals music lovers shouldn’t miss. Here are three summer 2017 essentials sure to... Read More >>

A Ghost of Wartime

June 24, 2017

Many historical moments, otherwise lost to time’s passing, are newly discovered in letters written to loved ones during times of war. One letter acquired by the Grand Traverse Light House Museum reveals a time in northern Michigan’s history when one major moment occurred right... Read More >>

Ambiance and Acoustics Rule at Aten Place

June 24, 2017

Set in a vintage barn with wonderfully warm acoustics and welcoming a diverse miscellany of live performers, Aten Place offers a distinctive take on local music festivals with both its surroundings and its ambiance. 

While the talent is top notch, it’s the combination o... Read More >>

Do You Voodoo With Foo?

June 24, 2017

The 2017 Voodoo Music and Arts Experience festival has been set for Oct. 27–29 this year in New Orleans’ City Park. The annual Louisiana event is led this year by headliners Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar, Vegas indie-rockers The Killers... Read More >>