Craig Manning | Author

The New Groom

April 6, 2019

Used to be that the classic black tuxedo was the standard garb for grooms. It was simple and no-frills, while still fancy and formal. It looked good without drawing any attention away from — let’s face it, the focus of the whole affair — the bride and her gown.
 … Read More >>

Fore!

March 23, 2019

In 2018, the Gaylord High School boys golf team didn’t get a chance to practice on an actual golf course until May 6. Less than a month later, the team’s players were teeing off for regionals. Gaylord’s golfers should have been hitting their stride in the ramp-up to state … Read More >>

Lucky You: Local Brewers Spill Their Go-to Beers

March 9, 2019

You won’t catch a Ford salesman tooling around town in a Toyota, but seeing a local brewer tipping back a beer in another’s pub … ? Well, let’s just say it wouldn’t shock us. Local beer culture is a community culture. And be it in the name of love, respect, or… Read More >>

Ice Man

Feb. 16, 2019

During most of the year, Mackinac Island is a busy, bustling tourist destination, sometimes seeing as many as 15,000 visitors in a single day. During the winter, though, the island is more or less left to the roughly 500 people who actually live there. As the Mackinac Straits freeze over an… Read More >>

Homeschooling Northern Michigan

Jan. 26, 2019

The homeschool movement in northern Michigan is growing fast, moving away from the kitchen table, and making traditional K–12 education anything but. What's homeschooling Up North even like these days? Probably not what you'd think.
 
It used to be that homesch… Read More >>

Short-term rental group v. Traverse City

Dec. 15, 2018

For more than two years, city officials in Traverse City have been debating whether to make changes to a 25-year-old ordinance that regulates home rentals. As written, the ordinance substantially restricts the ability of city homeowners to rent out their properties on a short-term basis. Si… Read More >>

Kid's Extracurricular Activities

Oct. 13, 2018

The school year is now in high gear, and with it, an all-new season of extracurricular sports and activities is underway. Like most communities, northern Michigan has lots of options, both school-affiliated and independent, to keep kids involved, active, and challenged. To get a better sens… Read More >>

Game Changer

Sept. 1, 2018

In the old days, aspiring college athletes would send out VHS tapes – and later, DVDs – to college coaches, all in the hopes of getting noticed. These tapes collected footage of the athletes and their performances into a highlight reel of sorts, showing game or meet footage that… Read More >>

Fall’s Must-have Necessity for High School Sophomores?

Aug. 4, 2018

 

The ivory tower has morphed into something beyond educating the young.

For many colleges, it's all about the bottom line.
"Colleges are not in the business of making money. Colleges are in the business of making huge money," said Matt Breimayer, the owner and fo… Read More >>

Cherryland Band Classic is Back!

June 23, 2018

After being absent from the National Cherry Festival schedule last year, the Cherryland Band Classic is making a return in 2018.
 
According to Kat Paye, the Cherry Festival’s executive director, the competitive marching band event was pulled last year due to lack of … Read More >>

Bob Carr’s Uphill Climb

May 19, 2018

By all accounts, Bob Carr is an underdog.

The Mackinac Island native seeking a seat in the United States Senate looks to be up against some heavy hitters in August’s primary race — John James, both a combat veteran and the president of supply chain management company Jam… Read More >>

Glen Arbor's First Brewery Opening

May 12, 2018

On May 15, Cherry Republic will officially open the doors to its Cherry Public House. The establishment will feature full lunch and dinner menus, indoor seating, and an extensive outdoor beer garden. Most notably, the restaurant will mark Cherry Republic’s first-ever foray into beer, … Read More >>

Spring Re-Awakening

May 5, 2018

Ever since she got her start at a Borders open mic night in 2002, local singer-songwriter Angela Josephine has been a notable fixture in the northern Michigan folk music scene. She’s flitted in and out of the Contemporary Christian Music world, earned comparisons to the likes of Amy G… Read More >>

Home Sweet Homestay

May 5, 2018

On an average night, 2 million people around the world are sleeping at Airbnb rental properties. Since Airbnb’s 2009 inception, the online short-term rental marketplace has grown exponentially. Yet, despite the global embrace of platforms like Airbnb, or the slightly less popular VRBO… Read More >>

Five Albums Every Northerner Should Own

April 21, 2018

Northern Michigan might not rival Nashville or Austin as a hub of live music or a destination for artists hoping to hit it big. Still, there is a lot of talent up here, from the music rooms of local high schools to the stages of area bars and wineries. Consider this five-album collection yo… Read More >>

Bike Trail Updates

April 7, 2018

Planning a spring or summer bike trip in northern Michigan? If so, staying aware of the latest trail closures, construction plans, and other developments is always a good idea. Not only will knowing about recent updates help you plot your route, but it will also give you something to look f… Read More >>

Safe Zone Legislation Pedaling Forward

April 7, 2018

On July 7, 2016, a man driving a pickup truck plowed into a group of bicyclists in Kalamazoo. The crash killed five cyclists and injured four others. It also became a lightning rod of controversy and activism for Michigan’s bike community, which has long criticized the state and its l… Read More >>

Biker Girls

April 7, 2018

Norte is fighting to get more girls involved in cycling.

For the past four years, the Traverse City-based organization has pushed to get more local youths on bikes. For the most part, the mission has been successful. Norte has hundreds of kids involved in its various programs, inclu… Read More >>

Security for the Sanctity of Life

March 31, 2018

“I’m always armed. Sometimes I carry a weapon.”

That saying has become something of a motto for Colby Taylor, a local Krav Maga black belt and founder of Covenant Defense, a faith-based security organization in Traverse City. The company — which offers consul… Read More >>

Staycation Time!

March 17, 2018

A lot of local families are counting down the days until they can jet off to somewhere warm. Not one of ’em? We feel your pain.

If you’re sticking around for spring break, there’s a good chance you’ll be stuck with gray skies and cold temps, but there’s… Read More >>