Ross Boissoneau | Author

Go North of the 45th, Young Man

May 25, 2019

Your trip begins — well, wherever you are. But where it heads is the lush and lively region north of the 45th Parallel, running east-west just north of the tip of Old Mission Peninsula. So we’re looking at you, Charlevoix. And Petoskey. And Harbor Springs. And you too, Gaylord.<… Read More >>

Criss Angel to Appear — and Probably Disappear

May 18, 2019

Criss Angel is revered as one of the best magicians out there. Among his accolades, he’s been named the Magician of the Decade, the Magician of the Century, even the Greatest Of All Time. The escape artist, illusionist, and sleight-of-hand master is bringing his bag of tricks to Leela… Read More >>

Go Big. Go UP This Summer, Eh?

May 18, 2019

Summer isn’t summer without a trip to the Upper Peninsula. Huge forests, wee towns, long stretches of uncrowded beaches, and endless character (and, some ight say, characters), the UP is home to a unique host of delights you can’t readily find in our neck of the woods. This summ… Read More >>

Lawyer-Turned-Author Showcases the Women History Hides

May 11, 2019

For Marie Benedict, the opportunity to explore and share her vision of female pioneers overshadowed the perks of her day job. A magna cum laude graduate of Boston College and cum laude graduate of the Boston University School of Law, Benedict was a successful litigator with two of the count… Read More >>

Don’t Ride 100 Miles for a Banana

May 11, 2019

The Kentucky Derby is over, but race fans are just getting started in northern Michigan. And among the myriad races of all stripes is the 11th Annual Bike Up North, which takes place June 1.
 
If you’re not yet a road biker, this might be your reason to become one.
Read More >>

The Life-Changing Magic of an Estate Sale Maven

May 4, 2019

Lisa Lamont will provide asset extraction — but she’s not getting any spies out of the country. These assets are items being sold at an estate sale. Lamont’s company, Moxie Estate Sales, is one of a growing number of such businesses. They step in when property is being sol… Read More >>

Rare Books, Rare Sale

May 4, 2019

Book sales at libraries are nothing new. They typically include, among other things, books that were donated but don’t meet the library’s needs.
 
That is sorta, kind of the case for the Friends of the Traverse Area District Library’s upcoming sale of rare a… Read More >>

The Time to Sell? Now.

May 4, 2019

If you liked 2018, the sequel looks to be even better. Real estate sales will continue to be strong for the rest of this year, according to those in the know. “We’re seeing good activity,” said Michael Cnudde, broker with Coldwell Banker A.L.M. of Manistee. “People a… Read More >>

Paul Reiser Returns to His First Love

April 20, 2019

Paul Reiser is no stranger to audiences. He’s successfully navigated television, from My Two Dads to Mad About You to Stranger Things. He’s appeared in movies, such as Aliens, Beverly Hills Cop, and Whiplash. He’s writt… Read More >>

Let the Sculpture Challenge Begin!

April 13, 2019

If the budding trees and increasingly blue skies don’t inspire you to head out for a spring stroll, maybe this will: April 27 is International Sculpture Day, a singular day the International Sculpture Center created to get people seeing sculptures and thinking about the artform and it… Read More >>

Trombonist Billy Gauthier Started a Jazz Band in 1978.

April 13, 2019

Over the course of its 40 years of existence, Northwestern Michigan College’s Big Band has seen conductors come and go (and sometimes come again). Scores of musicians have passed through its ranks. It’s even spawned another big band, while performing music by a host of the genre… Read More >>

Must-have Items for Spring

April 13, 2019

It’s spring (some days, anyway), and rumor has it summer is right behind. Once stripped of our bulky parkas, hats, and boots, what will we need to stay in step with the styles and update ourselves in accordance with the warmer weather? We asked several stores across the region to pick… Read More >>

Putting a Ring on It?

April 6, 2019

One ring to rule them all? Not any more. National trends, backed up by local experts, point to variety — more colors, more stones, and more shapes— being the spice of engagement and wedding rings these days.
 
According to wedding-everything site The Knot, pear, o… Read More >>

Beyond the Ballroom

April 6, 2019

Northern Michigan is famed for being a great setting for weddings. But beyond its familiar township halls and many beautiful resort ballrooms, there are a number of ceremony and reception sites of all sizes and styles that not everyone knows about. We went to work digging up a list of alter… Read More >>

Joe’s Empire Ale & Joe’s Friendly Root Beer

March 30, 2019

The preponderance of brewpubs and craft brews has so impacted local bars and restaurants that many have had specialty beers made and branded specifically for their establishment. Joe’s Friendly Tavern in Empire goes that one better. Not only does it offer Joe’s Empire Ale ($5 pe… Read More >>

Spring (& Summer) Revivals

March 30, 2019

For vacationers, northern Michigan offers a host of things to do: Festivals, music, biking and hiking, boating, golfing, swimming. But if you just want to get away from it all — or learn how to do so — there are any number of people and places willing to help.
 
M… Read More >>

East Meets West Meets … North

March 30, 2019

Used to be that things like yoga and acupuncture were considered unconventional, — even downright weird, with no proven benefits. Today, those and other alternative therapies might not quite be mainstream, but they’re regarded as legitimate means of treating or preventing diseas… Read More >>

If They Only Had an App …

March 30, 2019

Spark in the Dark is hoping to provide more than just a spark. Hopefully it’ll ignite a blazing fire — if it can secure an ACT grant through USA Today. The local nonprofit is vying with other organizations from around the country for part of $2 million in grant monies.

B… Read More >>

One-Tank Road Trips

March 16, 2019

No, it won’t be 80 degrees and you won’t be on the beach. But there are plenty of things to do and enjoy if your break means staying home, or at least nearby. These options for a daytrip/daycation are all within 2½ hours of Traverse City.
 
For starters, he… Read More >>

Spring Break in Your Own Backyard

March 16, 2019

You’ve sprung ahead, and now you’re looking to spring somewhere nearby.Not to worry. The region offers plenty of fun. Sure, you can do the usual: Traverse City Children’s Museum, Kilwin’s chocolate factory tour in Charlevoix, bowling… Read More >>