Ellen Miller | Author

Inside the Mind of a Metalsmith

Nov. 16, 2024

Metalsmith Lucy Lowe takes inspiration from the natural beauty surrounding us, so it seems appropriate that the leaves are brilliantly colored when we drive out to her studio near Moomers on the west side of town.

Inside, light streams in from a window; a few select pinecones and ro… Read More >>

Meatless in Michigan: Plant-Based Eaters Speak Up

Nov. 9, 2024

Options for vegetarian and vegan dining have exploded in the last decade, including here in northern Michigan.

Long gone are the days where plant-based eaters were relegated to only a salad when dining out. Vegan, vegetarian, or Mediterranean diets (the latter includes some meat and… Read More >>

Purrfectly Political in Omena

Oct. 19, 2024

With all eyes on November’s presidential election, plus initiatives and races on local ballots, voters could be forgiven for missing this summer’s most significant local election: the first horse to take the mayoral office in Omena.

Omena’s mayoral race is a compet… Read More >>

Back to School for Grown-ups

Oct. 5, 2024

When you imagine the demographics of a college campus, it’s likely 20-somethings that come to mind, young people who are studying (and maybe partying) and exploring paths for their future careers.

But at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), rich opportunities await at any age,… Read More >>

The Most Valuable Home Renovations

Sept. 21, 2024

Sometimes you buy a house and the honey-do list is obvious: there’s a leaking bathtub. Peeling wallpaper from the eighties. A door hanging off its hinges. But if you’re ready to update rather than repair, where do you start? Which projects are going to be most impactful as you l… Read More >>

Pickleball by the Numbers

Sept. 7, 2024

​​Whether you play, know a dinking buddy, or have just heard the distinctive pop-swoosh of a pickleball paddle connecting with a ball, you know: pickleball is the hottest sport of the moment. While pickleball has been around Traverse City since 1985, it has exploded in popularity i… Read More >>

Off-Road Exploring

Aug. 17, 2024

Getting out on the trails is almost a requirement in northern Michigan, whether that’s hiking and biking in the summer or snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. Each year, our outdoor recreation options seem to draw more people to the area. If you hear a rumble or a roar … Read More >>

Ode to Joy

Aug. 3, 2024

Heather Kingham is not one to sit still. When we talk, the director of TC Sings—a community singing organization based in Traverse City—sounds surprisingly chipper for someone who directed a concert the night before, especially as she’s just coming off TC Sings’ bian… Read More >>

Everyone Is an Artist at Art & Connection

July 27, 2024

In a bright room with bins of colorful materials lining the wall, Sheri Reid Grant stands over a mold filled with fresh flowers. She recounts the history of Art & Connection, the organization she founded and runs, while stirring a jar of resin, testing ways to preserve her niece’s… Read More >>