Ross Boissoneau | Author

Betting on a Pretty Penny

May 2, 2026

Dean Sparks had an idea for a restaurant. A couple of them actually, starting with the eponymous Sparks BBQ. It debuted first as a food truck, then moved into the cozy space at 439 E. Front Street (now home to Chubby Unicorn). He then found a larger space at 201 E. Front, where he debuted t… Read More >>

Local Podcast Explores Unexpected Connection

May 2, 2026

When Isiah Smith (a regular Northern Express columnist) started reading The Early County Massacre, a recounting of events that took place in 1915 in Early County, Georgia, he didn’t expect to find a personal connection. But within its pages he found a bill of sale do… Read More >>

FishPass Flood Heroes

April 25, 2026

The unprecedented flooding throughout the region, including the Boardman-Ottaway River, forced road closures, caused sinkholes, destroyed bridges, and was, by any stretch, a disaster.

Yet it could have been much worse if not for the efforts of what Leah Bagdon McCallum calls local h… Read More >>

Buzzing about the Kingsley Tuba Parade

April 18, 2026

If it’s a holiday, there’s a parade somewhere. St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, the Fourth of July, International Tuba Day—they all feature mirth, merriment, and parades.

Which means that it is almost time once again for the Kingsley Tuba Parade. The brainchild … Read More >>

Four Years of the Traverse City Comedy Festival

April 4, 2026

If laughter really is the best medicine, then doctors can take the weekend off come April 16-18. That’s when the Traverse City Comedy Festival returns with a bountiful slate of national and local comics.

CEO Ann Duke says the festival’s popularity has been increasing in … Read More >>

From the Caribbean to California to Traverse City

March 21, 2026

A piano bar that features live entertainment seven days a week, with two shows on the weekends? That may sound like a bit much, but if it works in Sint Maarten and Santa Barbara, it might just work in Traverse City. Right?

Jason Jones thinks so. Jones and his partner, Colin Campbell… Read More >>

Two Concerts Worth the Winter Drive

Jan. 31, 2026

Winter time is concert time. True, there aren’t nearly as many shows as in the summer, but it’s still a good time to catch your favorites or have your ears opened to new discoveries. While you don’t have to brave the crowds, you do have to brave the weather. So here are a … Read More >>

A Tale of Two Historic Buildings in Elk Rapids

Jan. 17, 2026

For one iconic building in Elk Rapids, a 2025 controversy has largely subsided. But for another it continues, as ownership transitions for both the town hall and the Elk Rapids Cinema resulted in fraught relations in the Antrim County village and township.

After a heated bidding war… Read More >>

No Winter Blues Here: 40+ Concerts & Shows

Jan. 10, 2026

Things may slow down in the winter compared with summer’s hectic pace, but there is still plenty to do in northern Michigan…and plenty to hear. Whether your preference is folk or metal, classical or punk, there’s bound to be something on stage this winter to get everyone … Read More >>

26 Ways to Ring in 2026 in Northern Michigan

Dec. 20, 2025

Counting the days, hours, and minutes to the New Year? You’re not alone—or at least you don’t need to be, as there are celebrations of all sorts across the region. The list of NYE parties below is not by any means comprehensive, but it does serve as a sampling of what ther… Read More >>

15 New Albums for Your Festive Playlists

Nov. 22, 2025

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, unless you are sick to death of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” or “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.”

Never fear. Despite the ubiquity of Mariah Carey and the sad story of Grandma’s holiday-related de… Read More >>

K. Jones & the Benzie Playboys Celebrate a Quarter Century

Nov. 22, 2025

Twenty-five years ago, Kirk Jones and Mark Stoltz joined forces at a fais do do, a Cajun-themed party at a friend’s. At that first outing, Jones played harmonica while Stoltz played the triangle—tit fer, in the vernacular. Here they are all these years later, still playing the m… Read More >>

Seasonal Showtime: 20+ Holiday Shows, Concerts, Ballets, and Plays

Nov. 15, 2025

Come the holidays, the Prince of the Land of Sweets will again reign supreme. If it’s Christmas time, it’s time for The Nutcracker, the world’s most popular ballet. But why is it such a beloved production?

“The dance community asks that question ever… Read More >>

Finding True North

Nov. 8, 2025

For most, the next step after graduating from law school and passing the bar exam is to join an established law firm. That’s not the script Josh Traeger followed. He instead entered the United States Air Force and for a decade served as a military prosecutor.

Traeger believes … Read More >>

15 Art Markets This Holiday Season

Nov. 1, 2025

’Tis the season already? Well, yes, at least when it comes to the multitude of holiday-themed arts and craft shows. From local churches and town halls to behemoths like Grand Traverse Resort and Castle Farms in Charlevoix, venues across the region welcome artists, crafters, bakers, an… Read More >>

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

Oct. 25, 2025

The dark is a scary place. That’s where all the bad stuff happens, from horror movies to monsters under the bed to long winters.

But maybe the dark can be warm and inviting, too. That was the hope when local musicians Andrew Dost, A.S. Lutes, and Jack M. Senff first decided to… Read More >>

Forty Years in the Making: The Pan-Detroit Ensemble

Oct. 4, 2025

Don Was has an appreciation for the past, but he doesn’t live there. That’s one way to describe the music of the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, the band he is bringing to The Alluvion Oct. 8 to kick off its first-ever tour.

Was describes this band as a “nine-piece soul jazz… Read More >>

Variety Is the Spice of Life at K-Pocha

Sept. 27, 2025

Who knew Froot Loops were a staple of Korean street food? Well, Phong Nguyen, for one. A Froot Loops-coated corn dog is one of the many popular dishes at his restaurant K-Pocha.

“Kids love Froot Loops. It’s sweet and savory and really pretty,” says Nguyen, the owne… Read More >>

Remembering Bernie Rink

Sept. 20, 2025

Pop quiz: Bernie Rink was A) The godfather of northern Michigan’s wine industry; B) an art visionary; C) a Renaissance man; D) an old curmudgeon.

Bernie would probably bristle at A, B, and C, but truth to tell, they’re all pretty accurate, including D. So that makes the … Read More >>

North Manitou Trail

Sept. 6, 2025

James Filkins’ latest album of acoustic guitar compositions, North Manitou Trail, is available as a CD, download, and on streaming platforms…but don’t expect to hear him playing it live. The lifelong musician plunged headfirst into composing and recording after r… Read More >>