Molly Cox | Author

A Morning at the Mercato

Nov. 22, 2025

Beneath the yellow brick and red spires of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons is The Mercato, the Italian word for “market.” Tucked into the lower level of Building 50—the main building of the hundred-year-old former asylum—are 15 small stores selling treasures yo… Read More >>

What’s Trending in Real Estate Up North?

Sept. 27, 2025

Many locals and visitors are seeking a home on our pleasant peninsula, but competition remains fierce for the limited inventory in northern Michigan. So Northern Express spoke to four real estate professionals in our area about what to expect over the next six months in terms of ho… Read More >>

Antique Treasure Hunting Up North

Aug. 9, 2025

Whether you long for the nostalgia for days gone by, you’re increasing your eco-consciousness, or you’re seeking the thrill of hunting hidden treasure, antique shopping is becoming more popular than ever.

The biggest draw is finding high quality items at lower prices, as… Read More >>

Barefoot on the Boards

June 28, 2025

Jason Thelen only set out to build one paddleboard in 2012. His daughter Shawni wanted one, so he decided to build a paddleboard for her out of the natural material he knew best: wood.

Thelen was a master carpenter, building homes with his father-in-law in Petoskey. While doing rese… Read More >>

Long Ears, Olive Trees, and Lots of Apple Cider Vinegar

May 10, 2025

Spring is in the air, and we are all eager for visits to northern Michigan’s many farmers markets and farm stands. Our abundance of fresh, local products and produce is one of the many perks of our region, but we rarely take time to understand and appreciate the work farmers do to get… Read More >>

"Readers Have to Demand the Works That Are Controversial"

April 12, 2025

In the near-future world of Leif Enger’s I Cheerfully Refuse, a few ultra-wealthy autocrats control the world, while the majority of people are indentured servants with little autonomy, living in extreme debt and poverty. The power grid is unreliable, the police are totally u… Read More >>

Discovering Regional Runways

Feb. 22, 2025

The U.S. is home to over 19,700 airports, with around 5,200 for public use. Of these, only about 500 are “towered airports,” meaning they have an air traffic control tower.

Per Michigan Department of Transportation Aeronautics, “Michigan is home to 215 licensed pub… Read More >>

Cherry Capital Airport in its Growth Era

Jan. 11, 2025

If you’re tired of layering up for another icy-cold day, your hands frozen—even inside those bulky wool mittens—chances are you might be dreaming of lying on a sun-baked beach. A little vacation might be just the thing to escape the Midwest’s coldest, darkest months … Read More >>