Al Parker | Author

The Oldest House in Town

Oct. 7, 2023

Historic homes across northern Michigan have stories—and secrets—to reveal, and there are battalions of local historians and amateur sleuths working to unearth their tales, chapter by chapter.

Fueled by curiosity and a quest for knowledge, these folks pour over aging doc… Read More >>

You Sold How Many Bushels of Apples?!

Sept. 30, 2023

For almost four decades, the Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market has been a key sales venue for area farmers, a place where residents and visitors can buy quality farm-grown goods, and a welcoming gathering place in the heart of downtown Traverse City.

Named after one of the area&rsq… Read More >>

Building Peninsula Shores

Sept. 23, 2023

After almost a decade of planning and preparation, an exclusive enclave of luxury homes is becoming reality on Old Mission Peninsula…and the houses are selling fast.

Peninsula Shores is set on a pristine stretch of East Grand Traverse Bay, and the 41 home sites offer panorama… Read More >>

What’s in Season in September?

Sept. 16, 2023

Eating what’s in season is as old as farming itself.

Before refrigeration and other types of food preservation were common, folks ate whatever was fresh out of their garden or growing on the farm when it was ready to harvest. So seasonal eating is not only chic among foodies&m… Read More >>

Second Chance Schools

Aug. 26, 2023

It’s estimated that at one time there were some 7,200 one-room schoolhouses in Michigan, with dozens across the northwestern region we all call home. Many of those buildings have been lost to time, but several have been refurbished and are living on with renewed purposes as charming r… Read More >>

Rowing Against the Waves

Aug. 19, 2023

Sitting in the kitchen of his Bellaire area home, first-time author Reg Sprik shares a secret when he talks about his new book, Rowing Against the Waves.

“I didn’t like the title at all,” says the 95-year-old with a smile. “There’s nothing abou… Read More >>

“Farming Is Just Solving Problems”: 150 Years of History at Petoskey’s Coveyou Scenic Farm Market

Aug. 12, 2023

There aren’t many Michigan businesses that keep rolling along for 150 years, let alone under the same family ownership. 

But that’s an achievement that Coveyou Scenic Farm Market will reach next year. “It’s been in our family since 1874,” explains … Read More >>

A Little Music History Lesson

Aug. 5, 2023

The sun is shining and a pair of aerobatic birds dance through the azure sky as I drive into the circular drive of the Music House Museum.

There’s a tour bus out front, and it’s loading visitors who have finished their morning stop at the museum. There’s a buzz abo… Read More >>

The J-1 Experience

July 22, 2023

Every summer, hundreds of college students from around the world trek to northern Michigan…and the local economy would be seriously diminished if they didn’t make the trip.

These international students aren’t just visiting—they’re coming to northern Mi… Read More >>

State of the Trees

July 15, 2023

Whether you’re a hiker, mountain biker, or just an outdoorsy person who enjoys a shady stroll, northern Michigan forests offer a lush, living cathedral of peace in a sometimes hectic world.

But what’s the current health of that wooded sanctuary that we enjoy? Norther… Read More >>

Cooking on the Edge

July 1, 2023

Veteran chef Darlene Kline is depending on small plates to realize her big dream.

Kline, known to her many friends as Dee, is the owner of the newly-opened on the eDge tapas, just north of the drawbridge in bustling downtown Charlevoix. She received her liquor license in January and… Read More >>

Serving Those Who Served

June 24, 2023

Five years into his job as director of Grand Traverse County’s Veterans Affairs Office, Michael Roof is very familiar with the issues facing northern Michigan veterans. He knows first-hand that sometimes, vets need a little help.

At 22, fresh out of the Marines, Roof had a wif… Read More >>

The Language That Was Almost Lost

June 17, 2023

In the middle of June, the downtown streets of Harbor Springs bustle with visitors whose boats pack the harbor. At the end of Main Street, there’s an old church that once led one of the longest-running Native American boarding schools in the nation: Holy Childhood of Jesus.

Th… Read More >>

How Healthy Are Our Waters? Experts Weigh in on the Well-being of NoMi Waterways

June 3, 2023

We’re all about to be waist deep in the busy summer season, and for many of us, it’s also time to get waist deep in a northern Michigan lake, river, or stream to enjoy our favorite water activities.

But what’s the current health of that water that we’re playi… Read More >>

College Bound?

May 27, 2023

Another high school graduation season is here. Well before the final notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” drift away, most northern Michigan grads have already made their plans for life after high school. What that future life looks like is as varied as the clouds in a blue June sky… Read More >>

What Was Your First Job?

May 13, 2023

Young workers shouldn’t be discouraged if their first jobs don’t come with big paychecks and even bigger status. Many very successful people had humble work debuts: Beyoncé’s first work situation was sweeping up hair in her mother’s salon; Mick Jagger sold ice… Read More >>

The Little Pot Shop That Could

April 15, 2023

When the legal sale of recreational marijuana began on March 1 in Green Lake Township, Interlochen Alternative Health (IAH) felt an immediate high.

“It’s been awesome,” says owner Stephen Ezell, who opened the business in 2013 to provide medical marijuana to card-h… Read More >>

Creative License

March 18, 2023

Before there was Photoshop or any other image-altering technology, there was Traverse City’s own reality revisionist, Orson Peck.

Born in 1875, Peck was a self-taught photographer with a sharp wit and a keen eye. Starting around 1890, he built a bustling business creating and … Read More >>

Ancient Arts

March 18, 2023

Yvonne M. Keshick’s eyes brighten with excitement when she remembers the first time she ever designed and crafted quill art more than half a century ago. 

“I was very shy and couldn’t go looking for a job,” recalls the 76-year-old Harbor Springs resident… Read More >>

Playing for a Community

March 4, 2023

Aaron Stander is all about that bass—the upright bass, that is.

“My entanglement with an upright bass started about 10 years ago when I was entering my seventies,” recalls Stander. “One fall afternoon, as my wife and I were walking through the Interlochen Sta… Read More >>