Ross Boissoneau | Author

TC-raised Filmmaker Brings his Award-Winning Movie Home

July 27, 2019

Lije Sarki is coming home, and he’s bringing some friends with him: Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen, and more.

Sarki, who was born in Michigan and spent most of his junior high and high school years in Traverse City, was one of the producers of The Peanut Butter... Read More >>

Tales from the Green Room

July 27, 2019

We’ve all heard the stories about high-powered touring performers demanding specific, sometimes ridiculous things in their performance contracts (looking at you, Van Halen, and your infamous “no brown M&Ms” rider). So has that been the case in northern Michigan?
Read More >>

Catching Up with Petoskey Filmmaker, now Berliner, Emily Manthei

July 27, 2019

Catching Up with Emily Manthei
Petoskey native began making films in the sixth grade. We tracked her down in Berlin to see what this wunderkind is making now.
 
By Ross Boissoneau
 
Emily Manthei was hooked at an early age. Growing up with an interest i... Read More >>

Beulah’s Lucky Dog Restaurant and Cool Cat Ice Cream Bowl

July 20, 2019

Cool cats and lucky dogs, all in the same place. Thanks to Rich and Karen Allen, the downtown Beulah’s former bowling alley has been reborn as a rustic bar and grille, dubbed Lucky Dog, and ice creamery, Cool Cat Ice Cream Bowl.
 
“Cool Cat came first,’ sa... Read More >>

5 Questions with Weird Al

July 20, 2019

When Alfred Yankovic was six years old, he began taking accordion lessons. No one knew then that only one decade later he’d unleash his talents on an unsuspecting world, playing his accordion to parodies of popular music of the day.
 
Today, Weird Al is an institution... Read More >>

Legendary Detroit Artist to be Honored Up North

July 13, 2019

 

Charles McGee is a legend in the Detroit art scene. His work is found in many contemporary art collections around the world, as well as the permanent collections of the Detroit Institute of the Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, and t... Read More >>

Ludwa's "Codeswitch" Chronicles Life, Music and Murder of Mr. Soul, Sam Cooke

July 13, 2019

Sam Cooke’s mellifluous voice, undeniable stage presence, and talent took him to the top of the charts and to stages across the country. That all came to an abrupt end when he was shot and killed Dec. 11, 1964.
 
Now audiences will have a chance to hear some of his be... Read More >>

Golden Retriever Bash!

July 13, 2019

Each year, Golden, Colorado, holds a gathering of golden retrievers. Which gave local Golden canine owner Jeff Rabidoux an idea. Why not host a group in this area, giving the dogs and their owners a chance to socialize?
 
A Realtor at Crystal Mountain, where his dog, Fisher... Read More >>

Good Bowl's Bánh Mì & Goi Ga Box

July 6, 2019

Don’t waste a minute prepping a picnic for a sunny day on the boat or the beach — just order your crew a Good Box (our term) from the Good Bowl. Partners Soon Hagery and Tony Vu have put some of the favorites from their Vietnamese restaurant into handy-dandy kit form. There ar... Read More >>

Beulah’s Cherry Hut

June 29, 2019

Tradition can mean many things. For vacationers and residents around Crystal Lake and nearby, it often means a mandatory visit to the Cherry Hut. In an industry where 90 percent of independent restaurants close during their first year and 70 percent of those that make it past the first ye... Read More >>

Not Your Mom-n-Pop’s Hotels

June 29, 2019

Owning a hotel is hard enough. But building another? Then buying a third?
 
Welcome to the world of Peter and Megan Schous, among a number of hoteliers bringing new life to old hotel traditions across the area. They’re joined by Cooper and Emily Heston, who continue t... Read More >>

Equestrian Fest, Real-Life Horse Whisperer & Bliss' Secret Polo Grounds

June 29, 2019

The competition will be fierce. That’s to be expected; they’re some of the greatest athletes in the world. And the people riding on them aren’t exactly slackers, either.
 
The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival attracts thousands of riders and trainers, ... Read More >>

Grocer’s Daughter Fudgesicles

June 29, 2019

Fudgesicle (fuj-sikl) noun. The melding of chocolate ganache with various flavors in a delicious confection, served frozen on a stick. See Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate for details. Or just go there yourself and pick one (or more) up. The confectionary in the bright green bui... Read More >>

Motown Magic at Cherry Festival

June 22, 2019

“Bring over some of your old Motown records,” sang Rod Stewart in “The Motown Song.” The National Cherry Festival is going one better, with a July 4 show featuring the Four Tops and The Spinners.
 
The Four Tops have been Motown royalty since the 196... Read More >>

Cherry Fest Top 10

June 22, 2019

Nearly a half-million people hit Traverse City during the National Cherry Festival — this year, June 29–July 6 —  and the festival delivers seven jam-packed days of good and fun: amusement park rides, concerts, parades, races, contests, games, get-togethers, and mor... Read More >>

Pack a Picnic for Parallel 45’s Outdoor Summer-theater Series

June 22, 2019

The tradition of summer stock theater — productions usually staged outside in the heat of summer — is an old one, harkening back to a handful of American cities (and their outskirts), circa 1920.

But what’s brand spanking new in Traverse City this July: Parallel ... Read More >>

Matt Younkin never intended to be a stunt pilot — until his dad died in an airshow.

June 22, 2019

For Matt Younkin, flying isn’t the only thing, but it is the best thing. Especially when he’s in his Beech 18. 
 
While some aeronautic shows feature planes known for their breathtaking speed or maneuverability, Younkin instead flies a Twin Beech that was n... Read More >>

Wheels Up!

June 22, 2019

Eight — count ’em, eight — different airshows will take to the skies over West Bay as the 2019 National Cherry Festival takes flight. The shows take place beginning at 1pm both Saturday and Sunday, June 29 and 30, and run till 4pm, with no letup. Headlining the show will... Read More >>

The Fabulous Miss Peppermint to Headline Drag Night

June 15, 2019

A fixture on the New York nightlife scene, Miss Peppermint will headline Drag Night at The Little Fleet on June 21. Peppermint has starred on TV and the Broadway stage and will be bringing her talents to Traverse City as part of Pride Week, June 17–23.
 
Peppermint is... Read More >>

Paula Poundstone Returning to Boyne City

June 15, 2019

Paula Poundstone is bringing her smart, observational humor and spontaneous interaction with the crowd to the Boyne City Performing Arts Center. Again. Her upcoming June 29 date will be the third time the comedian has performed in Boyne City. “My manager asked, ‘Would you work... Read More >>