Features

Shipwreck Whiskey: What’s Happening with the Westmoreland and its High-Proof Treasures?

The process of salvaging the 170-year-old shipwreck

By Greg Tasker | Dec. 2, 2023

Few shipwrecks in the Great Lakes pique the fascination of armchair treasure hunters as much as the Westmoreland, a cargo-laden passenger steamer that met its doom in the icy waters of the Manitou Passage off the Leelanau Peninsula in 1854. Bound for Mackinac Island on its last voyage of the year, with provisions (and possibly pay) for soldiers at Fort Mackinac, the 200-foot-long ship foundered in an early December snowstorm, taking on ... Read More >>

Northern Michigan: A Distillery Destination

From trending spirits to customer transparency to new facilities, distillery owners share thoughts on the state of the industry

By Art Bukowski | Dec. 2, 2023

Long known for its wine and craft beer scenes, northern Michigan has in the last decade or so also developed a very strong reputation for distilled spirits—products like whiskey, gin, vodka, and more. That’s a direct result of the innovative distilleries that have opened their doors throughout our region in recent times. As they’ve become established, these distilleries have produced award-winning products that are attracting national attention and earning distribution throughout Michigan ... Read More >>

Let’s Go Find a Tree!

Three Christmas tree farms to explore this December

By Brighid Driscoll | Dec. 2, 2023

The Christmas tree is a tradition that has stood the test of time. Long before becoming a symbol of Christmas, evergreens were used to celebrate the winter season or to ward homes against evil and illness; Egyptians, Romans, and Druids all had versions of this practice. The origins of the contemporary Christmas tree trace back to 16th-century Germany, but it wasn’t until the 1840s, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were shown ... Read More >>

The Mocktail Man

Roman Albaugh and the growing demand for zero-proof drinks

By Ashlee Cowles | Dec. 2, 2023

The holiday season can be a tricky time of year for those abstaining from alcohol, regardless of the reason. There are only so many flavors of La Croix, and when it comes to seasonal gatherings, a festive drink can add to the experience of getting into the holiday spirit. Fortunately, we are living in an exciting new era when it comes to non-alcoholic offerings, which provides those who aren’t partaking in alcohol ... Read More >>

Merry Mittens

Stuff We Love

Dec. 2, 2023

The Mitten Real Estate Group of Traverse City is helping make the season bright by kicking off their first Mitten Drive, which runs now through Dec. 22. The drive is a community-focused initiative aimed at collecting new mittens, gloves, hats, and warm winter clothing to support Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) students and their families during the upcoming winter season. (Important note: Unlike other winter gear drives, the Mitten Drive requests ... Read More >>

A Literary History of TADL

Dec. 2, 2023

Next year, the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) will celebrate 155 years of lending books and knowledge in northern Michigan. What a feat! To celebrate the impending milestone, TADL is hosting “A Walk Through Library History” exhibit throughout the months of December and January. The timeline-based display begins in 1869 and continues around the room to the present day. Originally founded by the Ladies Library Association, the library has had several homes—notably ... Read More >>

A Colonial Christmas

Dec. 2, 2023

Christmas is coming to Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City on Dec. 9. Storytellers will bring to life the stories of the old trading post, including a retelling of the first Christmas at Mackinac in 1679. Also true to life in the 18th century, the church at Ste. Anne’s will be prepared for Christmas Mass as it would have been in the days of yore. (Though the church itself is a reconstruction built ... Read More >>

Wine & Wreaths at Mari

By Jamie Kauffold | Dec. 2, 2023

If you like wine and wreaths, you’ll want to head to Mari Vineyards on Old Mission Peninsula. A 90-minute wreath-making session will be led by Terry Hooper of Hoopers Forever Florals on Wednesday, Dec. 6,  Sunday, Dec. 10, and Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 6-8pm. Bonus: Enjoy wine while you craft! Tickets are $65; learn more at marivineyards.com. Read More >>

How the Mural Gets Made

Two local artists share what it takes to create enormous works of art

By Jillian Manning | Nov. 25, 2023

Brianne Farley is no stranger to turning a boring old wall into a vibrant, eye-catching mural. When she’s painting on that massive version of a canvas, she says it really feels like “the world is your oyster.” You can find Farley’s whimsical works around northern Michigan, from the Dennos Museum and the Traverse Area District Library to Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate and The Little Fleet food truck lot. (Plus Trattoria Stella, the daycare ... Read More >>

Elijah Nykamp: Turning Clothing into Confidence

How this Suttons Bay designer turned a thrifting hobby into a thriving new boutique

By Craig Manning | Nov. 25, 2023

“I think there’s a lot in the fashion world that makes people feel really, really bad about themselves. My goal is the complete opposite.” So says Elijah Nykamp, the owner, visionary, designer, sewist, and sole employee of nykamping. The boutique store, which opened its doors in downtown Suttons Bay this past July, “originated from a love both for oversized outerwear and thrifting—along with the desire to take textile sustainability, circular fashion, ethically ... Read More >>