Ross Boissoneau | Author

Feb. 15, 2020

Crispin Campbell plays well with others.
 
His cello repertoire is outside the normal realm of orchestra and chamber music groups, including rock, jazz, Gypsy and classical.
 
In fact, his debut album, About Time, features three exemplary jazz musici... Read More >>

Insights and advice from couples who make it work 9-5 and then some

Feb. 8, 2020

Love and marriage are hard work, but some couples take this challenge to a new level.
 
Northern Express spoke with the rare breed that both live and work together. The couples shared their not only their concerns and challenges, but also what brought them closer t... Read More >>

Valentine's Gifts: For Him, For Her, For Yourself

Feb. 8, 2020

That day is coming again. Expressions of love – from candy hearts to flowers to chocolates – are all the rage on Valentine’s Day. But why be stuck with the mundane? Whether for a loved one or even yourself, there are plenty of unique and intriguing gifts and ways to spen... Read More >>

Sleeping Bear Farms’ Raw Honey

Feb. 1, 2020

The secret to Sleeping Bear Farms’ raw honey: It’s spun out of its natural beeswax honeycombs without the addition of heat, which can change the taste and fragrance. All the enzymes, natural bee pollen, and floral essences from the star thistle flowers remain — and ... Read More >>

Beat the Winter Blahs

Feb. 1, 2020

It seems regardless of winter’s weather — whether we’re talking frozen lakes or muddy trails, mounds of powdery snow or sleet-filled roadways — a malady hits around this time each year. The frigid temperatures, short days, and lack of sunshine can leave even the ha... Read More >>

“Sow-Nah”

Jan. 18, 2020

You sit on a wooden bench, wearing a bathing suit (or less). The temperature rises to 100, then 120 degrees. You start to sweat, and then ladle water onto scalding-hot rocks. The temperature continues to climb, to more than 150 degrees, yet you continue to sit. And sweat. And sweat some m... Read More >>

Ode to the Unsung Wards of Winter Fun

Jan. 18, 2020

Northern Michigan’s reputation as a haven for outdoor recreation is well-earned. But who maintains those miles and miles of trails for bikers, hikers, skiers, and snowmobilers? While the DNR has some responsibilities, in large part, winter maintenance is left up to volunteers.
... Read More >>

Willy Porter Coming to Cadillac

Jan. 11, 2020

He’s received accolade upon accolade. “A dazzling acoustic guitarist with a moody baritone,” according to The Washington Post. “A genre-defying maverick,” says Frets magazine. “A relaxed and fearless performer who’ll en... Read More >>

Art & Joe

Jan. 11, 2020

How many people enter an art gallery each day? Is that number greater or smaller than the number of patrons who visit a coffee shop?
 
Carol Spaulding knows the answer. That’s why she her friend and fellow artist Angela Saxon create a monthly art show at BLK\MRKT in T... Read More >>

Live: on Stage

Jan. 11, 2020

From shows that have never been performed before to those that have stood the test of time, the region raises the red velvet curtain on an astonishing number of stage productions each winter. Make a date to unpeel from the couch and take in some ultra-high-definition (i.e., in-person) per... Read More >>

Want to Feel Better? Try Vitamin V

Jan. 4, 2020

A family practitioner in Kalkaska, Natalie Okerson-Sparks, M.D., regularly treats a variety of ailments and complaints. One thing that’s long bothered her, as it does many physicians in the modern age, is the need to see as many patients as possible in a given day. The rush results ... Read More >>

Resolve to Move

Jan. 4, 2020

It’s undoubtedly the oldest and most common New Year’s resolution: Everybody wants to get in better shape, lose weight, become more flexible. But how to do it?
 
There are certainly plenty of options. Join a gym (and bail after a month or so). Get a home gym (th... Read More >>

Dry January: Actually Possible Up North

Jan. 4, 2020

With so many excellent distilleries, breweries, wineries, fine restaurants, and cozy hometown bars around northern Michigan, we’ve got a drinking culture some say is second to none. And that’s fantastic — until it’s not.
 
Should you find yourself on... Read More >>

Sober Scene Small But Growing

Jan. 4, 2020

There are countless bars across the region, but indoor spots where people can socialize without alcohol around … ?
 
Turns out, they’re few and far between. Studio Anatomy in Traverse City is one. Brian Chamberlain started the underground hideaway as a recordin... Read More >>