Eric Cox | Author

Grandma’s Baking Inspires Harbor Springs Cafe

Dec. 3, 2022

Nichole Hall of Harbor Springs grins when she thinks about who influenced her love of baking—a love that led to the launch of her own bakery.

“My grandma has always inspired me,” Hall, a 2010 Harbor Springs High School graduate, says. “She has baked forever, … Read More >>

Making Migizi Fly

Sept. 4, 2021

America’s first tribal eagle aviary and rehabilitation center east of the Mississippi is perched on the edge of success.

And Traverse City’s Higher Art Gallery (see sidebar) is determined to help the fledgling operation, which announced its intention to establish a facil… Read More >>

One Thirty Eight Cocktail Lounge

Aug. 14, 2021

When Steve and Victoria McDiarmid were considering ideas for a new Harbor Springs restaurant, their love of excellent cocktails made with premium ingredients was foremost in their minds.

The couple envisioned a subtle but classy joint where they could showcase parts of their extensi… Read More >>

The New York

July 10, 2021

A leaden sky and steady drizzle don’t dampen spirits at The New York Restaurant, Harbor Springs’ elegant-yet-relaxed bar and eatery at Bay and State streets.

Inside on a dreary Wednesday evening, the place is lively with the staccato of laughter, well-coifed couples enjo… Read More >>

Mim’s Mediterranean Grill, 1823 U.S. 31-N, Petoskey, is a bit of an oasis for some. Its Greek-inspired cuisine and diminutive and colorful house-turned-restaurant serve as a welcome respite from the region's delicious but ubiquitous pub fare.

At Mim’s, says owner Brett B… Read More >>

CBC’s Michigan Beach Blonde — Resurrected

March 20, 2021

Like a primary color, blonde or golden ales are basic and ubiquitous in the American beer scene. At Bridge Street Tap Room, that scene is enriched by an active tap containing Michigan Beach Blonde ($6/pint, 5% ABV), a sturdy, clear and gilded beer produced by Grand Armory Brewing in Grand H… Read More >>

Hoppies Landing

March 20, 2021

Few restaurants offer expansive views of airport runways, but Hoppie’s Landing at Pellston Regional Airport does. While there isn’t big-city stream of takeoffs and landings to watch from this elevated airport eatery, there are enough to entertain aviation fans, stunning sunset v… Read More >>

Charlevoix's Pigs Eatin' Ribs

Feb. 20, 2021

By 2008, Charlevoix Chef Adam Kline had seen and tasted enough. The Northern Michigan food scene had stagnated, he said, into a pre-fab nightmare of canned goods and ready-made bar food.

At age 24, Schoolcraft College culinary degree in hand, Kline and his wife, Jill, bailed out. Se… Read More >>

Forty Acres’ Spa Day Martini

Jan. 23, 2021

Myriad methods of cocktail creation are on display at bars around the world. There are flaming drinks, compotes laden with almost absurd amounts of fruits and vegetables, and sometimes even aerosolize booze infused with, well … weird stuff. At Boyne Mountain’s slope-side Forty … Read More >>

The Legendary Moose Jaw Safari

Jan. 9, 2021

The nation’s longest-running snowmobile event – the Harbor Springs Snowmobile Club’s annual Moose Jaw Safari – has shown tremendous resilience.

For 54 years, the 30-mile ride has survived frustratingly warm winters and disappointing, low-snow Januaries, choos… Read More >>

Nub’s Pale Ale

Jan. 9, 2021

After a day carving up some fresh powder, it’s nice to soak in some quality suds and watch the tide of humanity play in the snow. At Nub’s Nob near Harbor Springs, one can recline with the ski resort’s own signature beer, Nub’s Pale Ale ($6/pint).
Read More >>

Bill and Carol’s Time Out

Jan. 9, 2021

Resort communities such as these we call home can sometimes feel like they’re smothered in high-dollar burgers, fancy sandwiches, and other high-end culinary creations. While delicious, those upscale plates aren’t always attainable — especially now.

Thanks, the… Read More >>

Moose Jaw Junction, Larks Lake

Jan. 9, 2021

America is speckled with little hole-in-the-way places that sometimes make our culinary hearts go pitter-pat. These little bars and restaurants can often be found in the most rural, out-of-the-way places, where there might be as many poor or mediocre joints as there are good ones.

T… Read More >>

Sam’s Graces Vanilla-Blueberry Pancakes

Nov. 28, 2020

According to National Geographic magazine, ancient Greeks and Romans regularly ate pancakes, sweetening them with honey. Much later, Elizabethans enjoyed them as well, flavoring them with spices, rosewater, sherry, and apples. At the newly opened Petoskey location of Sam’s Gr… Read More >>

My Grandmother's Table

Nov. 28, 2020

Gestures of love come in many forms. Gifting flowers, running errands for a sick loved one, wearing masks, or shoveling out a neighbor’s driveway on a frigid morning qualify.

But one loving act stands out for its ability to remain close to our hearts, both figuratively and lit… Read More >>

Petoskey Fog

Nov. 7, 2020

An offshoot of Lake Charlevoix Coffee Company in Boyne City, North Perk Coffee in downtown Petoskey has a great neighborhood vibe enhanced by reasonable music at a conversational volume. Hardwood floors opposite a vintage tin ceiling railed with track lighting make this friendly little java… Read More >>

Eagle Spirit

Nov. 7, 2020

Roberta Shalifoe’s pride in her Native American ancestry is never in doubt, but it’s also never more clear than when she talks about her love of “fancy dancing.” The 31-year-old Petoskey resident, a member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, is a force of cul… Read More >>

Gabriel Farms & Winery’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Cider

Oct. 17, 2020

So, summer has faded amid the death song of insects and the rustle of changing leaves. Please know, gentle reader, that a warming dose of the temperate season lives on in Gabriel Farms & Winery’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Cider (5% ABV, $7/pint). Each sip of this blush-colored, effervesc… Read More >>

Snickerdoodlz’ Pumpkin-NY Cheesecake Froyo

Oct. 10, 2020

Like crisp, brown leaves on an October lawn, autumn in the Midwest is strewn with pumpkin-flavored sundries that come in all shapes and sizes. But, at Petoskey’s new self-serve frozen yogurt shop, Snickerdoodlz (2700 Anderson Rd., Petoskey), that ubiquitous fall favorite has … Read More >>

Down on Main Street

Oct. 10, 2020

In the cozy confines of a small-town Main Street restaurant, a casual but discerning diner can often find bliss.

It might come in the form of great coffee, a deliciously fluffy pancake, or a glowing vintage jukebox.

But at Turkey’s Cafe & Pizzeria in Harbor Springs… Read More >>