Anna Faller | Author

Bay Bread’s Thank You Boxes

Feb. 4, 2023

We all know actions speak louder than words. And, what better way to say, well, anything than with a box of homemade treats? Next time you find yourself at a loss for words, consider letting one of Bay Bread Co.’s Thank You Boxes do the talking. Curated via client request, th… Read More >>

Crooked Tree Breadworks’ Pub Nuts

Jan. 28, 2023

Snacking gets the grown-up treatment at Crooked Tree Breadworks in Petoskey, where scratch-made bread and pastry selections (the rye-flecked sourdough is a must-try) are traditionally baked with simple ingredients. Our recent obsession, though, is the Pub Nuts. The newest in the shop’… Read More >>

No Woman Left Behind

Jan. 28, 2023

For many of us, the onset of the pandemic hit pause on most parts of everyday life. Domestic abuse, however, continued, with instances still on the rise even as lockdown regulations have waned. This is where the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) of Traverse City comes in. As an area exper… Read More >>

The Socialite’s The Gossip

Jan. 21, 2023

We’ve heard that no one likes a gossip, but we could be convinced if it comes over ice with a citrus garnish. The rumors are true, dear readers: Traverse City’s newest temperance bar, The Socialite (established last year), is serving up curated cocktails minus the booze. Their n… Read More >>

The Good Bowl’s “Vu-Tang” Chili Crisp

Jan. 14, 2023

On the hunt for that magic ingredient to take your cooking up a notch? The Good Bowl has your next go-to, and it puts the rest of our spice rack to shame. Enter: “Vu-Tang” Chili Crisp. Named for executive chef Tony Vu (and the ’90’s hip-hop Clan), this versatile chil… Read More >>

Terrain’s Skipping Stones

Jan. 7, 2023

The holiday season might be over, but Terrain Restaurant in Bellaire toasts local bounty all year long, and we think the plummy nuance of the Skipping Stones cocktail deserves its own celebration. Named for the local stone fruit it features, the drink begins with Kalkaska’s North Rive… Read More >>

Is Winter Outdoor Dining Here to Stay, or Are We All Headed Back Inside?

Jan. 7, 2023

Outdoor dining—snow, rain, or shine—went through the roof during the first year or two of the pandemic. But now, with most eateries going about business as usual, patrons seem to be fair-weather fans of al fresco dining. So what’s the plan for all those yurts, igloos, and … Read More >>

Edson Farms’ Sugar Cookies

Dec. 24, 2022

Established in the late ’70s, Edson Farms Natural Foods has long been our go-to for local produce and better-for-you deli staples. We just can’t help ourselves, though, when it comes to their house-baked sugar cookies. Inspired by owner Jessica Edson’s own family’s d… Read More >>

Paddle Hard’s River Rampage

Dec. 17, 2022

We’d be lying if we said that Paddle Hard Brewing’s house IPA didn’t have us longing for sweltering temps, neon pool floaties, and lots of glorious sunshine. (Remember sunshine? We hardly do…) But, are we still sipping it in December? You bet. The second in a three-… Read More >>

Through Ice and Snow They Go

Dec. 17, 2022

There is nothing quite so unpredictable as a Michigan winter. Though it’s true that a handful of weeks each year can be relied on for snow and sub-arctic temperatures, the rest of the season is anyone’s guess. Wintery weather does have one common feature, though: how it’s … Read More >>

Spring and Porter’s Seared Venison

Dec. 10, 2022

The cold temps have left us craving all things cozy—we’re talking herb-laden stews, roasted root veggies, and multiple pairs of fleecy sweatpants. But, before you give in to that long winter’s nap, tuck into a plate of Seared Venison Backstrap ($54) at Spring and Porter in… Read More >>

Ethanology’s Marriage Counselor

Dec. 3, 2022

Picture, if you will: a powdery layer of new-fallen snow, punctuated by a crackling fire and a mug of something hot in your hands. Heck, maybe there’s even a yurt involved! If a more restorative scene exists, we don’t know what it could be, but we do know it begins with Ethanolo… Read More >>

Big Cat Energy

Dec. 3, 2022

Meet Alice Wong. She’s the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project, an online creative space for promoting and sharing disability media, as well as the editorial mind behind the 2020 essay collection Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-Fir… Read More >>

7 Monks’ Braised Pork Nachos

Nov. 26, 2022

While the rest of us pulled out our winter boots and grabbed an extra blanket (or five) this past week, 7 Monks Taproom in Traverse City was cranking up their menu’s heat in the form of a creamy queso, which they’ve spiked with flecks of flaming ghost pepper—and frankly, w… Read More >>

Big Buck Brewery’s Michigan Sunrise

Nov. 19, 2022

As its name suggests, there’s nothing small about Big Buck Brewery. Established in 2018 (though the space had a past life in the mid-90s), this iconic Gaylord alehouse impresses, from its 300-seat interior to the can’t-miss-it beer bottle on the lawn. The pub has pulled out all … Read More >>

The Holiday Foodie Guide

Nov. 19, 2022

The holidays are fast approaching, and you know what that means…it’s time to get cooking! Before you bust out your cookbooks, have a peek at our list of 10 local makers whose goodies are changing the gourmet game. Stock up on early gift ideas or just stock your pantry shelves&m… Read More >>

Lighthouse Cafe’s Pumpkin Pancakes

Nov. 12, 2022

If you ask us, there’s never a wrong time for breakfast. No shade to lunch and dinner, of course; there’s just something about a cheesy egg scramble or buttery toast that sates at all hours. To quell those singular AM cravings, Elberta’s Lighthouse Café is a must, w… Read More >>

St. Ambrose Cellars’ X.R. Cyser

Nov. 5, 2022

What do you do when life hands you honey? For beekeepers Kirk and Sharon Jones, the ownership team behind Sleeping Bear Farms, the answer is make it into mead—and cider and occasionally beer and wine. Enter: Beulah’s St. Ambrose Cellars. Established in 2010, what began as an at-… Read More >>

The How-to-Retire Checklist

Nov. 5, 2022

These days, retiring is no easy feat. In a sea of inflation and increased costs, those caught without a floatation device (or a sizable savings account) often flounder. How do you stretch those hard-earned dollars in today’s sink-or-swim marketplace? And, most importantly, how do you … Read More >>

Chubby Unicorn’s Truffle Philly

Oct. 29, 2022

Do you believe in magic? If the answer is no, we’re about to change your mind, because we’re pretty sure Chubby Unicorn is sneaking fairy dust into their sandwiches. The brainchild of Traverse City restaurant veterans Justin Chouinard and Ashley Moore, this gourmet lunch bus has… Read More >>