Our Top Stories of 2025

Your favorite features, food stories, and film reviews

By Northern Express Staff & Contributors | Dec. 27, 2025

Each year, we look back at the stories we’ve shared over the last 12 months and pull together the ones that got the most eyeballs on our website. Below, we highlight those stories, which are full of local events, great places to eats, fascinating people, and fun ways to get outside.

Happy New Year to you from all of us at Northern Express!

FEATURES

1. Histories and Mysteries at the Grand Traverse Commons, by Greg Tasker
“It’s no surprise that a complex of distinctive aging buildings constructed to house and treat the mentally ill more than a century ago continues to pique the interest and imagination of visitors and locals alike. Old or new, true or false, the former Traverse City State Hospital is a treasure trove of stories…” READ MORE

2. What to Do This Memorial Day Weekend: 11 Ways to Celebrate Up North, by Abby McKiernan
“Memorial Day weekend is almost here, and it’s time to kick off summer the northern Michigan way—with festivals, races, cookouts, and celebrations across the region. Whether you’re looking for family fun, lively music, historical reenactments, or just a glass of wine in the sunshine, there’s something for everyone…” READ MORE

3. The Air Show Must Go On, by Ellen Miller
“For many, the National Cherry Festival Air Show is synonymous with big jet teams like the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds. Last year, however, news broke that neither group would be back in 2025…” READ MORE

4. Winter Traditions in 2025, by Rachel Pasche
“Summertime means the National Cherry Festival, Elk Rapids Harbor Days, Alpenfest, and the dozens of other celebrations scattered between June and August. But wintertime holds its own beloved traditions. They may be a little smaller—and a little colder—but you can count on locals in the crowd, a cup of cocoa at hand, and a new adventure with friends and family. Here are 10 of our favorite winter events happening in January and February…” READ MORE

5. Northern Express Fascinating People of 2025, by Northern Express Staff & Contributors
“This is one of our favorite issues of the year, when we get to know the wonderful, weird, and wildly adventurous people of northern Michigan. This year’s crop of 20 Fascinating People includes artists and animal activists, filmmakers and foreign language learners, marathoners and martial arts instructors. Get to know them…” READ MORE

6. What’s Playing: Your 2025 Summer Concert Guide, by Ross Boissoneau
“For the next three to four months, summertime sounds are everywhere. Rock to folk, country to jazz, classical to pop will be played in auditoriums, listening rooms—even on islands and (local) mountains. So grab your dancing shoes, get out there, and enjoy!” READ MORE

7. Buy Here, Not There, by Abby McKiernan
“In an age where everything can be bought with a single click, it’s easy to default to online shopping. But our region is packed with incredible local retailers offering unique products, personalized services, and a chance to bolster your community. Next time you’re tempted to click “Add to Cart,” consider the stories behind the products and the people offering them. For this Celebrate Local issue, we’re showcasing some great alternatives to online shopping…” READ MORE

8. Inside Beaver Head Lighthouse’s (Almost) Made-for-TV Renovations, by Drew VanDrie
“Lighthouses possess a rugged allure here in Michigan. Anchored in the maritime lore of the Great Lakes, these beacons (many well over a century old) are physical reminders of the extensive nautical history and heritage of the state. During the mid-20th century, many of these storied structures were automated or decommissioned, leaving their fate and state of repair in the dark. Organizations like the Beaver Island Historical Society have taken up the mantle for restoring these beloved guiding lights…” READ MORE

9. Labor Day 2025 in Northern Michigan, by Ellen Miller
“Labor Day weekend marks a seasonal shift Up North. The weather is still beautiful (we hope!), and “locals’ summer” is about to kick off. On the flip side, kids are headed back to school and the long summer days are fading. So take advantage of the holiday weekend by checking out one of the region’s fun, mostly free events…” READ MORE
https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/labor-day-2025-in-northern-michigan/

10. 12 New, Expanded, or Improved Trails to Explore in Northern Michigan, by Drew VanDrie
“For many outdoor enthusiasts, taking to the hiking trails and pathways is the ideal way to experience the emerging spring season. Northern Express connected with several conservancy groups about newly opened, improved, or otherwise lovely trails to hike, bike, and enjoy this spring…” READ MORE

FOOD

1. Tacos, Tradition, and Traverse City, by Abby McKiernan
“Taqueria Las Lagunas in Traverse City is more than a restaurant—it’s the realization of a family’s long-standing dream. What began with a few family recipes has showcased the Guillén family’s dedication to authentic, homemade Mexican cuisine…and created a loyal following that continues to grow…” READ MORE

2. Northern Michigan’s Most Iconic Eats, 2025 Edition, by Craig Manning
“Since 2018, Northern Express has been scouring the northern Michigan restaurant scene in search of the region’s most iconic dishes. Our Iconic Eats series has spotlighted both obvious staples (the Cherry Crumb Pie from Grand Traverse Pie Company, or the sandwiches from Village Cheese Shanty) and hidden gems (the Chicken Tikka Masala from NJ’s Grocery in Lake Leelanau, or the Petaled Brussel’s Sprouts from Corner Bistro in Bellaire)…” READ MORE

3. 50 Years for Mode’s Bum Steer, by Ross Boissoneau
“On April 7, 1975, Bob and Anita Mode opened a bar and restaurant that was to bear their name. A half century later, Mode’s Bum Steer is still going strong, with their daughter Skylar now running the enterprise. That makes it the longest-running family-owned restaurant in Traverse City…” READ MORE

4. Douglas Lake Bar: A Destination Restaurant, by Todd VanSickle
“You won’t see any billboards or flashy advertisements for the Douglas Lake Bar & Steakhouse as you make your way to this hidden summer gem 20 minutes south of the Mackinaw Bridge and just six miles west of I-75. ‘It is really a destination restaurant,’ says front of house manager and head server Sue Kohs, who has worked at the DLB for 28 seasons…” READ MORE

5. The 2025 Winter Restaurant Guide, by Northern Express Staff & Contributors
“A key part of any bear’s hibernation strategy is to fill up on plenty of food to last the winter. We writers take a similar approach, dining out whenever we can in the fall and winter months at new restaurants (seven of them on this list!) and old favorites (one with a history dating back more than 100 years)…” READ MORE

6. Nittolo’s Little Italy Comes to Downtown TC, by Ellen Miller
“Craving a pizza or a hearty bowl of pasta? You’re in luck: Nittolo’s Little Italy, from restaurateur Eric Nittolo, is slated to open downtown in the Warehouse District in this April, pending licensing and approvals…” READ MORE

7. Hello to Enclave 201, but Not Goodbye to Sparks BBQ, by Greg Tasker
“There’s good news for barbecue aficionados in northern Michigan: Sparks BBQ in Traverse City is not going away. The popular barbecue spot, which closed earlier this year, will return in the summer as part of a reconfiguration of its former space in the 200 block of East Front Street in Traverse City…” READ MORE

8. Late Summer Eats: Recipes with Corn, Peaches, and Tomatoes, by Nora Rae Pearl
“Our last month of uninterrupted summer has come to an end. Back to school is upon us, but fear not; the bounty of summer is now coming to harvest. Your favorite farm market or local co-op will have everything you need to make these summertime recipes…” READ MORE

9. A Year-Round Pizza Joint in Elberta, by Geri Dietze
“When we talk about fresh, house-made, and hand-crafted at a pizzeria, that means fresh dough daily, in-house sauces, hand-grated cheese, and hand-cut meats. We wouldn’t expect anything else, and Elberta Pizza Co. has made its mark doing just that in a matter of months after a soft opening in May…” READ MORE

10. Your 2025 Spring Restaurant Guide: Where to Eat Up North, by Northern Express Staff & Contributors
“This spring’s restaurant guide will take you around northern Michigan and around the world with Indian, Thai, Italian, and Mexican cuisine, plus a classic American steakhouse. We’ve also found lighter eats for breakfast and lunch focused on allergen-free, locally-sourced, and good-for-you (and the soul) bites from smoothies to salads to sandwiches…” READ MORE

FILM

1. Film Review: A Complete Unknown, by Joseph Beyer
“With lifetime record sales approaching over 150 million albums, writer and musician Bob Dylan is one of America’s greatest artistic exports. From the beginning, he wanted the music to be remembered even as he dodged the almost-instant fame and attention it brought. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature: an honor he declined to accept. With a reclusiveness often hidden behind dark sunglasses, Dylan is a mysterious artistic enigma…” READ MORE

2. Film Review: The Last Showgirl, by Joseph Beyer
“Gia Coppola is the revelatory director behind The Last Showgirl, a new film starring an almost unrecognizable Pamela Anderson as the lead. It’s an intimate portrait-slash-metaphor of the American dream. And far from being the nepotistic indulgence you might expect, The Last Showgirl is accomplished, original, and displays true talent in the hands of the mid-career Coppola. At age 38, this is her third feature film…” READ MORE

3. Film Review: The Brutalist, by Joseph Beyer
“With an elongated running time of 3 hours and 35 minutes (which doesn’t even include the mandated 15-minute theatrical intermission), director Brady Corbet’s epic drama The Brutalist is not for the faint of heart or time. Should you decide, after 10 recent Academy Award nominations, that it’s finally time to see it on the big screen, I hope you feel it was worth it. For this critic, I left somewhat puzzled, wondering why this period piece demanded all that time and energy…” READ MORE