Ashlee Cowles | Author

The Mocktail Man

Dec. 2, 2023

The holiday season can be a tricky time of year for those abstaining from alcohol, regardless of the reason. There are only so many flavors of La Croix, and when it comes to seasonal gatherings, a festive drink can add to the experience of getting into the holiday spirit. Fortunately, we ar… Read More >>

From Community Solutions to Systemic Challenges

Nov. 4, 2023

Finding a therapist who is able to take on new clients in our post-pandemic landscape continues to be a challenge, and yet the need for mental health practitioners has never been so apparent.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) says one in five U.S. adults experience ment… Read More >>

We Never Go Out of Style

Oct. 14, 2023

Most small businesses change over time, especially when they’ve been landmarks in downtown Traverse City for nearly 25 years. Ella’s, which began as a vintage clothing store in 1999, has evolved into a small department store that offers high-end apparel, most of it European and … Read More >>

Let the Meat and the Smoke Do the Talking

July 8, 2023

From the outside, Willow Market & Meats in Cadillac—home to Primos BBQ—looks like one of the specialty grocery stores that are common in northern Michigan…but there’s a lot more going on here than you might think.

Willow Market owner Jason Towers first g… Read More >>

Flower Magic in Walloon Lake

June 10, 2023

“We firmly believe in: the joy flowers bring, locally grown blooms, statement flower moments at any life event, [and] wildflower seed confetti…”

So writes Kalin Sheick in a recent Facebook post about her floral design business, Sweetwater Floral, which opened its … Read More >>

Nursing a Dream

May 13, 2023

It wasn’t long ago that patients staying overnight at Munson Medical Center might have received their meal tray from a friendly young woman who always wore a flower tucked behind her ear.

Livia Argyle, R.N., a native of Brazil, moved to Traverse City in 2015 following her marr… Read More >>

New GM, New Season

April 22, 2023

Imagine it’s the opening day of the Pit Spitters’ 2023 season. The weather is pitch-perfect—75 degrees and sunny. Turtle Creek Stadium is packed. There are almost as many enthusiastic children waiting in line for Moomers ice cream as there are climbing the stadium’s … Read More >>

A Collective, a Label, and an Eatery

March 11, 2023

Whittney Allen, an entrepreneur who has worked in beauty and wellness for over 20 years, is bringing a new approach to the industry to Traverse City.

Her soon-to-be-launched The NoMi Collective brings together three brands under one roof. The largest business in the space will be Th… Read More >>

Historic Charm in a Community That Cares

Jan. 28, 2023

“Who’s going to show?”

That’s the question Lindsey Swidorski, owner of the Ramsdell Inn and TJ’s Pub in Manistee, asked her team on that first “Thirsty Thursday” in March 2020, right after her restaurant closed for in-person dining due to CO… Read More >>