Anna Faller | Author

City Park Grill’s Mediterranean Linguine

Nov. 11, 2023

’Tis the season for warm and nourishing eats, and dinner doesn’t get cozier or more classic than the Mediterranean Linguine ($18.95) at City Park Grill. (History lovers, take note: The location that houses City Park Grill first opened as a restaurant in the late 1900’s&mda… Read More >>

Seeking Help: Students and Mentors Reflect on Local Teen Mental Health Survey

Nov. 4, 2023

It’s no surprise that mental health in American teens has seen a recent decline. In fact, according to national data, about 15 percent of middle and high school students experienced a major depressive episode in the last year, and more than a third (about 37 percent) reported persiste… Read More >>

WaterFire Vineyards' Riesling

Nov. 4, 2023

As temperatures (and leaves) start to fall, you can find us cozied up in the tasting room at WaterFire Vineyards. Opened in 2017, this intimate Torch Lake winery combines homegrown fruit with high cellar standards to craft its pristine wines in small batches. It’s also the first viney… Read More >>

Applesauce Inn Bed & Breakfast’s Pumpkin Souffle

Oct. 28, 2023

Built on a former apple orchard just outside downtown Bellaire, Applesauce Inn Bed & Breakfast draws guests in for its charming rooms and relaxing spaces (complete with a coffee and hot chocolate bar). It’s the gourmet breakfast spread, though, that’ll have you hooked, and t… Read More >>

Playa Bowls' Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Oct. 21, 2023

Calling all pumpkin pie lovers! There’s an old adage that says you should eat dessert first, and we couldn’t agree more. We’ve got a little cheat for you, though, and it’s creamy, cold, and comes with a straw! The Playa Bowls’ Pumpkin Pie Smoothie is inspired b… Read More >>

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 bowl … 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 f… 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), of… 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 w… 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 a… 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 Hi… 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 fr… 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 and… 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-fund… 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 br… 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 e… 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 o… 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 seven… 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 p… Read More >>