Anna Faller | Author

Inside the Science of EMDR

Nov. 9, 2024

When you think about therapy, what comes to mind? Is it a chaise lounge in a quiet room? A stoic professional taking notes? Sigmund Freud?

Whatever visual the term conjures, we bet it doesn’t include using bilateral stimulation to help process traumatic experiences—but t… Read More >>

Gathering around great food is the name of the game at Archie’s Social House in Traverse City, and it wouldn’t be a proper party without their infamous Brunch Burger ($18). Crafted in homage to the eatery’s food truck roots, this sandwich starts with two smash-style Beefal… Read More >>

Paddle Hard's Cinnamon Ghoul

Nov. 2, 2024

Halloween might be over, but we’re still feeling the spooky energy and seeking a ghoulishly-good cocktail! Enter: the newly-concocted Cinnamon Ghoul ($8) at Paddle Hard Brewing in Grayling. Inspired by the decadence of a freshly-dipped caramel apple, this fall-ified White Russian riff… Read More >>

From Hunting Ghosts to Tending Gardens

Oct. 26, 2024

If you looked up “Jane-of-all-trades” in the dictionary, you’d likely find Samantha Fall’s picture.

A Michigan native, Fall (née Harris) is a demonologist with a background in abnormal psychology, a former ghost hunter and deliverance minister (i.e., a… Read More >>

Fingers Crossed's Grilled Cheese

Oct. 26, 2024

Comfort food meets worldly flavors in Fingers Crossed Northport’s new fall menu (gochujang wings, anyone?), and we can’t think of a more perfect pairing than the Leelanau Raclette Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup ($15). An elevated riff on the classic combo, this nourishing plate … Read More >>

The Daily Grind's Orange Creamsicle Soda

Oct. 19, 2024

Have we got the perfect, pumpkin-hued pick-me-up for your next fall afternoon! Tucked at the east edge of downtown Traverse City, The Daily Grind’s drive-through trailer is designed for on-the-go indulgence. Inside, they’re cranking out Roaster Jack coffee, organic teas, and fre… Read More >>

Upscale Staycations Up North

Oct. 12, 2024

When you hear “luxury vacation” what do you think of? Is it a sumptuous bed with satin pillows? A swim-up bar on a pristine beach? Spa services or award-winning golf courses? A certain number of hotel rating stars?

Northern Express caught up with two local accommodations… Read More >>

2 the Moon Bakery's Vanilla Bourbon Poached Pear Croissant

Oct. 12, 2024

It’s still stone fruit season, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a scratch-made pastry. Enter: 2 the Moon Bakery’s Vanilla Bourbon Poached Pear Croissant ($4). Bosc pears (sourced from 3rd Day Farm in Lake City) are the stars of this Danish-style tr… Read More >>

The Mill's House Rosé

Oct. 5, 2024

For the perfect rosy-hued drink to go along with the early days of fall, the 2023 House Rosé from The Mill in Glen Arbor is a no-brainer. Crafted in partnership with Boathouse Vineyards in Lake Leelanau, this wine is made with 100-percent estate-grown (and organic) Cabernet Franc gra… Read More >>

Putting Michigan Wines on the Map

Sept. 28, 2024

In its literal sense, “terroir” refers to the natural and environmental factors—like soil type, climate, and topography—that not only affect how a wine tastes and smells but also help define it as an undeniable expression of where it was made.

In other words,… Read More >>

Slabtown Cookies' Molasses Cookies

Sept. 28, 2024

Our grandma always told us that a cookie in both hands meant we were doing it right, and that’s just what we find ourselves doing when the Slabtown Molasses Cookies are on the menu at Slabtown Cookies in Traverse City. Inspired by owner and baking magician Katie Otterman’s secre… Read More >>

Poppycocks' Crystal Chai Margarita

Sept. 21, 2024

Things are getting warm and cozy at Poppycocks in Traverse City thanks to lead mixologist Emily Bryant's newest cocktail, the Crystal Chai Margarita. This autumnal flavor bomb blends traditional Masala chai—that’s black tea brewed with aromatic spices, like ginger, clove, and ca… Read More >>

Reimagining the Cherryland Center

Sept. 14, 2024

Back in the nineties and early aughts, the Cherryland Center in Traverse City was a bustling shopping center at the intersection of Garfield and South Airport roads. But the rise of online shopping, several recessions, and the decline of big box stores led to the property slowly emptying&he… Read More >>

Raduno’s Bolognese

Sept. 14, 2024

If pasta is a love language, Raduno in Traverse City is the mother tongue! Now in their seventh year of business, this Italian-inspired gastronomia is cranking out spools of scratch-made pasta, which owner Janene Silverman crafts from a blend of semolina and all-purpose flour and Michigan e… Read More >>

State Street Coffee's Apple Crisp Latte

Sept. 7, 2024

State Street Coffee Company in Cheboygan is all about catering to your sweet treat cravings, and it doesn’t get any more decadent (or caffeinated!) than their seasonal Apple Crisp Latte. Inspired by fresh-picked orchard apples—and the eponymous autumnal dessert—this cuppa … Read More >>

Shakespeare, or Someone Else?

Aug. 31, 2024

With nearly 30 books to her name, internationally bestselling author Jodi Picoult says the secret to finding great stories is to keep asking questions: about people and culture, about current headlines, and increasingly, about what the world might look like for people generations from now.<… Read More >>

TJ's Pub's Pub Prime Soup

Aug. 31, 2024

TJ’s Pub is tucked downstairs at the Ramsdell Inn, built circa 1891, and while you might go for the Victorian vibes, you’ll stay for the locally infamous and made from scratch daily Pub Prime soup. This stick-to-your-ribs recipe is inspired by classic pub fare of old and incorpo… Read More >>

The State of Foster Care Up North: "We Just Don't Have Enough Homes"

Aug. 24, 2024

It's no secret that the U.S. needs more foster parents. The Michigan foster care network alone comprises about 10,000 children.

Though the state has made some recent strides—1,600 children were adopted in 2021, and as of late 2023, the number of kids in foster care was down by… Read More >>

Old Mission Distilling's Soggy Dollar

Aug. 24, 2024

Only good vibes are allowed at Old Mission Distilling on Old Mission Peninsula thanks to their newly-released craft cocktail menu. While you’re drinking in those last days of summer, the Soggy Dollar ($13) makes the perfect pairing. Inspired by the tropical flavors of a swim-up bar, t… Read More >>

Faro's Panuzzo

Aug. 17, 2024

What happens when a sandwich meets pizza? The answer is the pocket-shaped panuzzo: an Italian street-food specialty and the answer to our lunchtime cravings! At Faro in Northport, these baked-to-order baddies comprise a cold-fermented sourdough crust—a 72-hour labor of love—cook… Read More >>