Brighid Driscoll | Author

Old Art Building: 100 Years of Magic in Leland

Jan. 1, 2022

What happened to all the magic?

There are still practicing magicians in this day and age, of course, but entertaining audiences with magic is not nearly as popular as it was 100 years ago.

In the early 1900s — aka the “Golden Age of Magic” — magicians… Read More >>

Dorothy Gerber Strings Program Turns 20

Dec. 11, 2021

In 2000, a musician named Karey Sitzler was working as the education director for Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey. A large portion of her job was dedicated to touring local arts students through CTAC’s galleries. The other part of her job — the smaller portion, which had at… Read More >>

In Pursuit of the Perfect Cup

Nov. 27, 2021

Chuck Korson’s quest to craft the best possible cup of coffee began in, perhaps, a not-unexpected place. He was working at Morsels, a petite coffee shop in Traverse City known for its bite-sized baked goods, espresso, and brew-to-order coffee.

Among those of us who rely on cof… Read More >>

The Giving Spirit of Bill O. Smith

Nov. 20, 2021

Traverse City author Bill O. Smith didn't expect to be living with his former mother-in-law as a middle-aged man, but when her health began to decline due to dementia, he stepped in to care for her in the last years of her life.

"My own mom had died when I was pretty young, so I was… Read More >>

Randy’s Diner

Nov. 13, 2021

Here in Michigan, we're fond of our boundless coney islands and old-school diners. These culinary relics of Americana embody a sense of coziness and nostalgia that feel almost as familiar as home. The spirit of the American diner lies in its unpretentious yet excellent, affordable dishes an… Read More >>

The Haunting of Big Bay Point

Oct. 23, 2021

November 1901: A Marquette man named Frederick Babcock loaded up supplies for a day of hunting near Big Bay, Michigan. Back then, hunting big and small game was as routine for the average Yooper as going to the local grocery store is today. What wasn't routine on this particular trip 120 ye… Read More >>

Japan, Switzerland, Brooklyn...Traverse City?

Oct. 16, 2021

There is only one boutique in the world that has locations in Japan, Switzerland, Brooklyn … and Traverse City.

The Parisian fashion brand Anne Willi has limited locations around the world, but how this brand came to 216 Cass Street in downtown Traverse City is a story that a… Read More >>

Where Did All the Ubers Go?

Sept. 18, 2021

Is there a better airport experience to be had at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City?

I don't think so.

The postage-sized airport is pleasant. It's clean and quiet, and its small size makes for a simple, streamlined experience. Never have I dreaded navigating a long TSA… Read More >>

A Matter of Life & Breath

Sept. 18, 2021

When it comes to cooking, you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone opposed to throwing in a few extra cloves of garlic. Humans have used and loved the aromatic herb for thousands of years, with early uses being culinary, medicinal, and even spiritual. Though we no longer use it to ward off omi… Read More >>

Visual + Aural Alchemy

Sept. 11, 2021

Dana C. Fear has a name that sounds like a sentence.

“I’ve just realized that in the last couple of years, ‘Oh! my name is a sentence,’ she says. “Maybe it’s because I’m a bit of an over-thinker, but what I realized too is, it’s not ju… Read More >>

Roll Out the Barrel: The Cedar Polka Fest is Back

Aug. 21, 2021

The village of Cedar is home to roughly 900 people, but every year for one weekend, the little village sees 2,000 to 3,000 visitors who are there all in the name of polka. When Polish immigrants settled in Cedar in the 1800s, they brought their culture and a strong sense of community. They'… Read More >>

Lighthouse Getaways

July 31, 2021

Though they’re rarely necessary to guide Great Lakes ships home anymore, Michigan’s lighthouses are still alluring destination points for travelers, photographers, and history buffs. What draws us to these relics of Michigan’s storied past? Their grand stature? The mysteri… Read More >>