Ross Boissoneau | Author

Everybody’s a Critic

June 9, 2018

Social media has made critics of us all. Had a great time with your friends? Tell the world. Lunch was outstanding? Let everyone know. Your accommodations didn’t meet your expectations? Blast the place online.

But what if you’re a hotelier in one of the most touristed ... Read More >>

State of the Art

June 2, 2018

Northern Michigan is synonymous with many things: Lake Michigan, cherries, beautiful rolling hills, wineries, and, of course, art — folk art, fiber art, photos, oil and watercolor paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and on and on.

While there’s no way to cover all the gall... Read More >>

Albert Loeb’s Crazy Charlevoix Experiment Turns 100

May 26, 2018

It’s a castle. It’s a site for weddings. It’s an extraordinary garden. It is — or at least was — a giant rockin’ concert venue. And this year, it is 100 years old.

“It” is Castle Farms in Charlevoix. The sprawling grounds and the man... Read More >>

Will the Dark Sky Park Ever Be So Stellar Again?

May 26, 2018

Recent controversy isn’t slowing down the Headlands Dark Sky Park a bit, said Marci Schmiege, the director of parks and recreation for Emmet County.

“The park is open 24/7. We have a new gift shop that just opened and the observatory is open. It’s doing very well... Read More >>

Sounds of Summer Start Now

May 19, 2018

The summer music season gets underway with the Round Lake Music Festival in downtown Charlevoix May 25–27. Three bands each on Saturday and Sunday will provide the festivities, with the Jelly Roll Blues Band kicking things off with a special Friday evening performance starting at 5p... Read More >>

The State of the Market Up North

May 5, 2018

Back in the early 2000s, the real estate market was exploding. Lenders were eager to provide money to buyers and property values were appreciating yearly. Then the recession hit, the bubble burst, and the values started to tumble.

If you’ve been paying attention, you probabl... Read More >>

More For Sale By Owner Than Ever?

May 5, 2018

With what is undeniably a seller’s market, it seems like this would be an ideal time for a seller to forego the cost of a Realtor and sell their home as a FSBO (For Sale By Owner, pronounced FIZZ-bo). And when you look around, both on the street and online, you do see signs of an in... Read More >>

One Week to Change Your Life

May 5, 2018

Those interested in creating plays have friends they might not even know about. That’s because Katherine Carter and Rachel Sussman are offering emerging artists an opportunity to hone their craft at a retreat in September in Bear Lake. The MITTEN Lab — aka the Michigan Incubat... Read More >>

New Affordable Housing Development Ruffles Feathers

May 5, 2018

Add to the list of housing debates in Traverse City: the conversion of part of a former Country Inn and Suites hotel to an apartment building. The proposed East Bay Flats, at 420 Munson Avenue, just east of Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), will offer both working-class ... Read More >>

Kid Geniuses

May 5, 2018

So when should one start preparing for the job market? Maybe it’s never too early — though that’s not necessarily the motivation for two groups of elementary students. Teams from both Traverse City’s Central Grade and Crystal Lake Elementary in Benzonia have made t... Read More >>

The Arrangement

April 21, 2018

There’s nothing like a symphony. Sure, you can plug in guitars and turn them up to 11, pound massive drum sets, even make whale sounds on synthesizers, but the power and majesty of a symphony orchestra can’t be duplicated. Not when you have 40, 50, 60 or more people all keepin... Read More >>

Computer Scientist Gives up Software Career for Piano

April 21, 2018

Peter Bergin’s choice was simple, though fraught with challenges. For 24 years, he had worked in the computer and software industry, mostly for Silicon Valley companies such as Autodesk and Adobe. He fed his musical muse with side jobs as a church musician and teaching piano lessons... Read More >>

A former Freep writer tells his story about the Red Wings’ famed Russian Five

April 14, 2018

It was more than two decades ago, but in many ways it feels like yesterday. In 1997, the Detroit Red Wings were on top of the world as Stanley Cup winners, thanks in very large part to the Russian Five. Days later, that euphoria was suddenly, shockingly ended when the car carrying Vladimi... Read More >>

Young Playwrights Get a Chance to Strut (and See) Their Stuff

April 7, 2018

When writing a story, the characters come alive on the pages. For many that’s enough. But five young writers from around the area will see their characters come alive on stage April 29 at the Young Playwrights Festival at the City Opera House.

The Young Playwr... Read More >>

Making Civic Engagement … Civil?

March 24, 2018

In this increasingly polarized time, where name-calling, ridiculing, and shouting without listening (a favorite of both public servants and anonymous online trolls) is increasingly the norm, is there any hope for civil engagement? Several local institutions think so, and they’re doi... Read More >>

Interlochen Students Join Grammy-winning Groups to Tackle Music Few Can

March 24, 2018

Two celebrated percussion groups and Interlochen Academy students will play some of the most demanding music in the classical canon — over and over and over again. The repeating and slowly mutating rhythms and motifs of classical composer Steve Reich will be presented at a two-night... Read More >>

Super Summer Getaways

March 17, 2018

Looking for a summertime sabbatical in northern Michigan? You’re in luck. Even though many Up North cottages are rented out a year in advance, just as many are still available for fun in the sun.

We checked with local consultants, real estate and rental agents, and the... Read More >>

Abuzz in Petoskey

March 10, 2018

On the north side of Petoskey, there are the Victorian cottages and music of Bay View. On the south, there’s the appeal of tony Bay Harbor, with golf, equine and water activities, and the upcoming opening of the Great Lakes Center for the Arts.

North, south, a... Read More >>

Stormcloud Brewing’s Forecast: 100 percent chance of growth

March 10, 2018

With demand at the Frankfort brewpub and retail outlets exceeding even its founders expectations, five-year-old Stormcloud Brewing Co. has opened a (giant) second facility and tasting room just a mile from its first. Northern Express goes inside.

W... Read More >>

Wildflower Crusaders

March 3, 2018

What does it take to grow wildflowers? In the case of lady slippers, one of the region’s native orchids, quite a lot. Just ask Chuck and Janet Dickerson of Omena, who have spent a decade trying to grow and then replant them. “They’re very sensitive, touchy plants. That&r... Read More >>