Anna Faller | Author

Adventure Travel, A-Frames, and All-Consuming Wanderlust

Oct. 14, 2023

In a world where travel influencers inundate our social media feeds, it’s easy to envision ourselves on a faraway beach for our next vacation. Michigan, though, is its own destination, with plenty of picturesque towns, pristine scenery, and tasty eats more than worth exploring.

... Read More >>

Gilchrist Farm and Winery’s Malloreddus Pasta

Oct. 14, 2023

It doesn’t get much more farm-to-table than Gilchrist Farm and Winery in Suttons Bay. Nestled on 85 picturesque acres, this homegrown oasis is all about using local ingredients to create craveable flavors (and complement their top-notch wines!). This fall, find us fork-deep in a bow... Read More >>

The DAM Shop’s Pumpkin Spice White Russian

Oct. 7, 2023

Empty tank after a day on the river? The DAM Shop in Elk Rapids has you covered. Opened in 2021, this marine pro store turned local hotspot has expanded to include an on-site food truck, craft espresso, and even a rotating cocktail lineup…complete with a twinkly outdoor patio! This... Read More >>

Fear, Failure, and Redemption

Sept. 30, 2023

Bestselling author Victoria “V.E.” Schwab wants to make you believe in magic. “I’m inspired by speculative elements of our world—that it’s bigger or stranger than it is,” she explains.

Reality, though (think: power, politics, and people), ... Read More >>

Cupcake Mafia’s The Good Fella

Sept. 30, 2023

Mobile bakeshop Cupcake Mafia & Co. is all about extravagant sweets. Opened last year, this family-owned operation specializes in scratch-made desserts and offers rotating menus from cookies to brownies and even customizable pastries. This month, they’re upping the autumnal ante... Read More >>

Love Thy Neighbor

Sept. 23, 2023

Local homeowner and architectural designer Sam LaSusa isn’t a “tall fence” person. “I want to engage with the community,” he says with a laugh. “I want to meet my neighbors!”

A born-and-bred Traverse City local and graduate of St. Francis ... Read More >>

Two K’s Leelanau Radler Series

Sept. 23, 2023

As cider season quickly descends, Two K Farms in Suttons Bay has three reasons to up your beverage game. Enter: the just-released Leelanau Radler Series. A kicked-up take on the classic Radler—which usually combines lager with juice—this trio replaces the traditional beer with... Read More >>

Providence Organic Farm’s Bacon Burrito

Sept. 16, 2023

We think it’s always the right time for a breakfast burrito, especially when it’s jam-packed with the best in local proteins and produce! Enter: Providence Organic Farm and CSA’s famous Bacon Burrito ($12). This warm and savory bite starts with organic potatoes straight ... Read More >>

Inside The Outsider

Sept. 9, 2023

For wholesale branding and software executive Jon Faber, Manistee had always been the small town he and his family visited while vacationing at their nearby cottage.

Over a series of years, though, he noticed the region’s rapidly growing economy—headlined by a state-fu... Read More >>

Mission Proper’s Caramel Apple Latte

Sept. 9, 2023

As far as fall-themed treats are concerned, it doesn’t get better than the decadent Caramel Apple Latte from Mission Proper on Old Mission Peninsula. Inspired by the nostalgia of autumn baking, this fresh-picked coffee drink starts with house apple butter (layered with local fruit a... Read More >>

Bull and the Bear Kitchen’s Beef Barbacoa

Sept. 2, 2023

When the people want tacos, you give them tacos! At least, that’s how the menu at Bull and the Bear Kitchen in Traverse City was born, and we just can’t get enough of their rich and roasty Beef Barbacoa. Served on a 6-inch corn tortilla, each taco is packed with Michigan beef ... Read More >>

Building Safer Schools: Three ways TCAPS plans to protect students and staff

Aug. 26, 2023

Comprising 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, three high schools, and a smattering of preschool locations, TCAPS serves more than 10,000 students and is northwest Michigan’s largest public-school district.

That’s a lot of ground to cover (300 square miles to be... Read More >>

Dune Bird Winery’s Pinot Noir

Aug. 26, 2023

Like your favorite flannel in early September, we think the summer-to-fall transition deserves a glass of wine to go with it. Enter: Dune Bird Winery’s newly-released Pinot Noir. Featuring single-variety grapes grown on the Leelanau Peninsula, this approachable red is aged in French... Read More >>

Good Harbor Grill’s Veggie Stir Fry

Aug. 19, 2023

Versatility meets old-school tradition at Good Harbor Grill, where flavors from around the world converge to showcase local ingredients, and it doesn’t get better than the Veggie Stir Fry. A longtime dinner menu staple, this gloriously saucy dish combines garlic and herb-steamed sev... Read More >>

On the Ground with Higher Grounds

Aug. 12, 2023

In early May, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was hit with flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rain, devastating communities in the Kalehe Territory of the South Kivu province. As a result, more than 400 people were killed—with another 2,500 still missing&mdas... Read More >>

Spanglish’s Slushie

Aug. 12, 2023

There’s something about a frozen drink on a screaming hot day that just feels right. This week, find us beating the heat with slushie from Spanglish in the Grand Traverse Commons! Inspired by Mexico’s “Agua fresca”—which combines seasonal fruit with sugar and... Read More >>

The Family Farm with a Purpose

Aug. 12, 2023

For Larry and Caitlin McSweeney-Steffes, owners of Danu Hof Farm and Market, agriculture is all about forging community. The pair got their start in local kitchens—Caitlin in hospitality and Larry as an executive chef—before switching gears to pursue their own farm.

&l... Read More >>

A Smash Hit

Aug. 5, 2023

Master burger-slingers Bray and Brittney McCabe have always been “into food.” Born and raised in Saginaw, the pair grew up among restaurateurs before putting down roots in Traverse City and falling headlong into hospitality by means of their iconic smash burgers (which Tas... Read More >>

AIKO Street Food’s Okonomiyaki

Aug. 5, 2023

The brainchild of chef Ryan Mateling, AIKO Street Food (which means “little loved one” in Japanese) blends local ingredients with Izakaya cuisine, and the flavors are anything but small! Our go-to dish, and a truck menu staple, is a savory Japanese street pancake called Okonom... Read More >>

Stormcloud Brewing Company’s The Hat Dept.

July 29, 2023

Ever heard of a Belgian-style Pilsner? We hadn’t either, until we discovered Stormcloud’s seasonal brew, The Hat Dept., and we can’t think of a better sunny day pairing! Belgian-inspired, but with a local twist, this crusher of a summer lager blends Belgian malt with Mic... Read More >>