Anna Faller | Author

Oakwood Proper Burgers' Chili Queen

June 8, 2024

Opened in 2021, Oakwood Proper Burgers in Traverse City is all about crafting meaningful eats, and when it comes to next-level flavor, the Chili Queen burger ($14.50) is the crowning jewel. Picture this: a one-third pound beef patty (sourced from a single Michigan farm), seared to juicy per… Read More >>

Closing the Housing Gap in Frankfort

June 1, 2024

It’s no secret that finding affordable housing is an increasing issue in northern Michigan. In fact, housing nonprofit Housing North estimates a regional gap of more than 30,000 units in the next five years. It’s a big gap, and the Frankfort Area Community Land Trust (FACLT) is … Read More >>

Missing History, Broken Promises, and Steps Toward Healing

June 1, 2024

On a gloomy morning in 1900, members of the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians watched in horror as their homes and belongings burned before they were driven off their ancestral land.

This event is known as the Burt Lake Burnout, and if you were raised in northern Michiga… Read More >>

Iron Fish Distillery's Soft Parade Vodka

June 1, 2024

There’s something about a fruity cocktail that screams “summer,” and the 2024 batch of Iron Fish Distillery’s Soft Parade Vodka has us hollering from the rooftops! Crafted in collaboration with Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire, this local little number combi… Read More >>

Traverse Bay Cafe's Strawberry Sando

May 25, 2024

While you might know Traverse Bay Café for its home-style lunch and breakfast selections, we bet you didn’t know this eatery also dabbles in international flavors! Head in for a morning smorgasbord of beignets and banana fritters, and top it off with a cool and creamy Strawberr… Read More >>

Maple Moon's Maple Gold Wine

May 18, 2024

If maple syrup is liquid gold, Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery in Petoskey has hit the beverage jackpot with their bestselling Maple Gold wine, which blends sugaring with viniculture for a port-style sip steeped in local flavor. It starts with a base of pure maple syrup (sourced from the … Read More >>

What’s New at Norte?

May 11, 2024

Norte Youth Cycling is known for their brightly painted Wheelhouse, neon orange jerseys, and packs of pedaling children that appear on northern Michigan’s sidewalks each summer. But the nonprofit is so much more than just a biking club for kids.

“We’re showing chil… Read More >>

Lil Bo's Chicken Tenders

May 11, 2024

Since opening in 1932, Lil Bo Bar and Restaurant in Traverse City has mastered elevated pub-style eats, and their pickle-brined chicken tenders are the true cock of the walk. These punchy little bites start with a 24-hour marinade in kosher dill pickle juice and fresh buttermilk (this secre… Read More >>

JAX Northside’s 6th Green Cocktail

May 4, 2024

Time to dust off those argyle socks, everyone! It’s officially golf season, and JAX Northside Food & Spirits in Charlevoix is a gimme for pre-game fuel. This local favorite specializes in scratch-made American fare (including an epic salad bar), paired with an array of craft libat… Read More >>

The Flour Pot's Cherry and Cheese Danish

April 27, 2024

Classic treats meet modern flair at The Flour Pot Bakery and Coffeeshop in Elk Rapids. This sugary mecca has been cranking out baked goods for decades, and though its name has changed, the recipes haven’t. We especially love the Cherry and Cheese Danish ($3.50) for spring. A perfectly… Read More >>

The Blue Goat's Cocktail Bundles

April 20, 2024

With patio season well on the way, sipping on a tasty tonic at home has never sounded better—especially if you don’t have to buy full-sized bottles of booze! Enter: The Blue Goat’s new Cocktail Bundles. Mixed up just in time to pack in picnic baskets and boat-day coolers, … Read More >>

The Munchies

April 13, 2024

It’s a tale as old as time…weed brings on the munchies. It’s hard to achieve canna-bliss when you’re hungry, so we asked seven dispensaries throughout northwest Michigan for the restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops they recommend to their customers. (It&rsquo… Read More >>

Spoonful of Granola's Cinnamon Roll Granola

April 13, 2024

For those in search of the ultimate snack, we raise you: Spoonful of Granola’s Cinnamon Roll Granola. Rolled out just in time for spring, this not-too-sweet treat packs all the cinnamon-y goodness of its namesake pastry into a handful of key natural ingredients: old fashioned oats, ho… Read More >>

Left Foot Charley's Tepache

April 6, 2024

Warm weather is finally on the horizon, and we can’t think of a better way to welcome it than Left Foot Charley’s Tepache hard cider. Inspired by Tepache, a traditional Mexican fermented beverage, this dry and highly-sessionable cider (which clocks in at around 5 percent ABV) be… Read More >>

Mysterious Michigan Reads

March 23, 2024

We can’t think of a better way to spend spring break than with a great book. Northern Express asked local booksellers to share their favorite set-in-Michigan (or written-by-Michiganders) titles to mystify readers of every age.

Get your tea and slippers ready, folks&md… Read More >>

Palette Bistro's Salmon Benedict

March 23, 2024

We think the weekend deserves some celebration—and that would never be complete without brunch! The best version of breakfast is back at Petoskey’s Palette Bistro, and we just can’t get enough of the egg-ceptionally good Salmon Benedict. Inspired by the eatery&rsq… Read More >>

The Modern OB-GYN

March 16, 2024

The field of medicine is in constant flux, and women’s health is no exception. In the last three decades alone, we’ve developed technologies for breast cancer detection, approved emergency contraception, and implemented critical research to decrease deaths from heart disease.Read More >>

Modern Bird’s Heartbreaker

March 16, 2024

There’s a new dessert cocktail at Modern Bird in Traverse City, and it’s releasing our inner sweet-treat fantasies (eat your heart out, Pat Benatar!). Enter: the Heartbreaker ($15). Crafted in homage to both romance and the dessert menu’s rotating flavors, this velvety pos… Read More >>

The Workshop's Smoked Nachos

March 9, 2024

Lunch is back on the board at The Workshop Brewing Co. in Traverse City, and it’s nacho typical soup and salad combo! The menu is all about comfort fare, and the heaping Smoked Nachos ($14) are a must. Picture this: a base of crunchy corn chips piled high with melty cheddar-j… Read More >>

Fighting Back Against Disinformation

March 2, 2024

Legal expert and author Barbara McQuade has dedicated the last three decades to fighting for America’s national security. In recent years, though, her battles have been closer to home as disinformation has spurred public distrust and violence in the U.S. This work formed the inspirati… Read More >>