Features

What We Wish Visitors Knew about Leelanau County

Leelanau locals share their tips, gripes, and hopes for summertime

By Sarahbeth Ramsey | June 10, 2023

Leelanau County is home to destinations like Empire, Northport, Leland, and Suttons Bay. The county is even more popular for its picturesque views, including rows of vineyards, stunning waterways, and historic storybook towns. The county’s crown jewel, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, makes Leelanau County one of the most highly visited areas in northern Michigan, especially in the summertime. We asked a few business owners, leaders, and locals what they would like ... Read More >>

Jumping into June

10 can’t-miss events this month

By Alexandra Dailey | June 10, 2023

Memorial Weekend has come and gone, and now we’re in the season of all festivals, all the time. But there are some cool, quieter events breaking through the hubbub this June, and we want to make sure they’re on your radar…and your calendar. 1. Gaudy Giggles Paint Nights at Lavender Hill Farm, June 14, 6-8:30pmThis one is perfect for a girls’ night out or a family activity. Lavender Hill Farm is hosting ... Read More >>

Big Voices, Big Bands, and Big Hits

A music nerd’s guide to the 2023 Interlochen Arts Festival

By Craig Manning | June 10, 2023

Another summer is upon us, which means another slate of big-name artists are headed to Interlochen Center for the Arts for the annual Interlochen Arts Festival. If you’re like us, you consider those firefly-lit nights under the Kresge Auditorium roof to be sacred—an idyllic way to while away northern Michigan summer nights with friends, family, and new acquaintances alike. But which of this year’s more than two dozen events will be on ... Read More >>

Flower Magic in Walloon Lake

A look inside Sweetwater Floral

By Ashlee Cowles | June 10, 2023

“We firmly believe in: the joy flowers bring, locally grown blooms, statement flower moments at any life event, [and] wildflower seed confetti…” So writes Kalin Sheick in a recent Facebook post about her floral design business, Sweetwater Floral, which opened its first retail space in Walloon Lake at the beginning of May, just in time for the Mother’s Day flower rush. For Sheick, what started as a hobby and then a part-time ... Read More >>

How Many Hotels (and Short-Term Rentals) Does Traverse City Need?

Competition for guests heats up while the question of market saturation looms

By Ross Boissoneau | June 10, 2023

Northwestern Lower Michigan has long been attractive to vacationers. The Campbell House, which was eventually replaced by the Park Place Hotel, was the first hotel aimed at the tourist market when it was built in 1873. Others soon followed. Today, there are more than 1,000 guest rooms in the city and over 5,000 in the nearby area, a total that doesn’t include private vacation rentals. One might think we’ve reached the limit, ... Read More >>

Summer 2023 Race Calendar

70+ races around the North

By Northern Express Staff & Contributors | June 10, 2023

It’s off to the races for summer 2023 as we run headlong into a season packed with athletic feats. Marathons? Check. Triathlons? Check. Open water swims? Check. Just about everything you can do with a paddle, a bike, or a pair of running shoes? Check. Below, you'll find dozens of races from Manistee to Mackinac Island starting this weekend and running through September. Then lace up your trainers, sign up to volunteer, ... Read More >>

Film Review: ​​Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

5 Stars

By Joseph Beyer | June 10, 2023

From the first visually-hypnotizing frames and pulsing tones of the opening overture, the epic follow-up Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse had me spellbound. In fact, it may have made me believe again there is a reason to watch a movie on the largest screen possible. Think of the film as a modern art montage for all ages that will bombard and mesmerize you with inspirations from visual masters like Stan Lee, Roy Lichentstein, ... Read More >>

Fishing, Beer, and a Fun Run

June 10, 2023

Right Brain Brewery (RBB) is ready to kick off Father’s Day weekend with some creative family fun. Perfect for the outdoorsy family, the Magnet Fishing event on Saturday, June 17, is like a giant version of the Let’s Go Fishin’ game beloved by kids of the eighties and nineties. You’ll throw a big magnet tied to a cable into the water and reel in scrap metal from the Boardman, searching for both ... Read More >>

48 Hours in Frankfort

June 10, 2023

Roll the cameras—the Frankfort48 Film Contest is full of action this weekend! The contest is the trial grounds for the local films and filmmakers who make it into the Garden Theater’s Frankfort48 Film Festival in October. These aren’t films folks have worked on for months or years; instead, participants are given just 48 hours (thus the name) to create a 3-5 minute short after being given a line from a movie, a ... Read More >>

What’s Cooking at Shady Lane

By Jamie Kauffold | June 10, 2023

Celebrate your dad at Shady Lane Cellars’ Father’s Day Cookout. Offering a brat and Gruner Veltliner pairing for $18, the Suttons Bay winery will also have a cigar lounge with cigars available to purchase. This event runs from noon until 5pm on Sunday, June 18, along with live music from Luke Woltanski from 2-5pm. shadylanecellars.com/event-home/events Read More >>