Ross Boissoneau | Author

“Electric Folk” To Sit Down and Listen To

March 9, 2019

The Scottish band Heron Valley is performing for the first time in the region on March 17 at Crooked Tree Arts Center.

The group is comprised of six friends from Argyll: piper/guitarist/whistle player Euan McNab; banjo player and drummer Nick Hamilton; keyboardist Arlene Mackechnie;… Read More >>

L’Chayim Breakfast Bagels

March 9, 2019

Fast-food breakfast? No thank you — not when you can get a freshly baked hot bagel sandwich to kick off your day. The crunchy crust of the bagels (made in-house, of course) keep the heat in, so the last bite is every bit as warm and tasty as the first. As for the other kind of heat, t… Read More >>

StrongBrew: NITRO Cold Brew Coffee & Chai Tea

March 9, 2019

Coffee in a can? Why not? Troy Daily has added two new products to his StrongBrew beverage line: StrongBrew NITRO Cold Brew Coffee and Elevated Cold Brew Chai Tea have joined the original StrongBrew Cold Brew Coffee. NITRO Cold Brew Coffee is infused with nitrogen bubbles, but doesn’t… Read More >>

Sober St. Patty’s

March 9, 2019

You don’t need to be Irish to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day, and despite what the North’s many packed pubs and bars indicate each year, there are other ways to celebrate the holiday without guzzling a gallon of green beer. Here are our picks for getting in the Irish spirit befor… Read More >>

Greens from Northport, All Year Long

Feb. 23, 2019

Baby basil. Tiny little leeks. Miniature radishes, super-small cilantro. Linda Szarkowski grows those and more at her facility in Northport. She shares the bounty of Green Spirit Living Microgreens with eager culinary adventurers around the area, at farm markets, through her CSA, and at var… Read More >>

Feeling the Burn

Feb. 23, 2019

Few things are more devastating for a business than a fire. The double whammy of loss of property and loss of income can completely destroy a business. And when it’s a community hub like a bar or restaurant, it can impact the town as well. From Kalkaska, where Dingman’s Bar was … Read More >>

Regina Carter Bringing Ella Fitzgerald Alive at City Opera House

Feb. 16, 2019

Renowned violinist Regina Carter has found inspiration in what might appear to be an unusual place: a vocalist. 
 
Though in the case of a jazz musician, it’s hard to get much better inspiration than from Ella Fitzgerald.

Carter’s latest album,Ella: A… Read More >>

The Lazy Novice’s Guide to Ice Fishing

Feb. 16, 2019

When’s the best time to fish? Some will say a calm day. Some will suggest early morning; others, evening.
 
But many will tell you one of the North’s sweetest secrets: The best time to wet a line is in the dead of winter. No waves, no boats, and little to no noise… Read More >>

Loss of Finger Doesn’t Stop Pianist

Feb. 9, 2019

For Dr. Michael Coonrod, Memorial Day weekend 2014 was looking like any other. He went camping with the scout troop he sponsors, and after dinner they decided to go on a hike, as they had the previous year. But when Coonrod tried to clamber over a barbed wire fence, the ring on the fourth f… Read More >>

First Comes Love

Feb. 9, 2019

Correct us if we’re wrong, but marriage proposals aren’t what they used to be — and happily so. While our grandparents might have proposed marriage with no frills and a simple question — or even a statement — the couples of today are turning the big ask into a … Read More >>

The Lost Art of Animal Trapping

Feb. 2, 2019

Mark Valente always loved the outdoors. So perhaps it wasn’t surprising that after spending his early years in the Motor City, he decamped to northern Michigan. “I grew up in Detroit, and I hated it. I got out at 21. I wanted to be outside.”
 
So he moved t… Read More >>

Return of the King

Feb. 2, 2019

When Luke Winslow-King takes the stage at Old Town Playhouse Feb. 9, it will be just voice and guitar, and Winslow-King is completely OK with that.

“Playing solo — it’s a different approach and repertoire,” said Winslow-King. “I relate to the audience a… Read More >>

In Lieu of Gifts

Jan. 26, 2019

For Gerald and Shenandoah and their daughter, Sophia, the holidays have become a time for family, though in a different way than the norm. They now eschew buying presents for one another or indulging in a huge meal, and instead take the family time to see sights far distant from northern Mi… Read More >>

Farm School for All

Jan. 19, 2019

Despite the name, organizers emphasize that the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference is not just for farmers. Gardeners, homesteaders, and those who want to learn more about growing their own food are wholeheartedly invited. In fact, “It’s also people who just want to learn a… Read More >>

Wanna Laugh?

Jan. 12, 2019

If laughter is indeed the best medicine, then folks in northern Michigan must be feeling pretty good. From open mic nights to shows by regional and national comics, the laughs just keep coming.
 
Chris O’Non is a veteran of the local scene, though he has morphed more in… Read More >>

The Great-White North Way

Jan. 12, 2019

If the play’s the thing, as Hamlet said, then audiences around the region are in luck. A host of local community groups stage dramas, comedies, and musicals throughout the year, in venues from high schools and churches to dedicated theaters and even restaurants. Whether you want to st… Read More >>

Parallel 45’s Latest Coup

Jan. 12, 2019

New season, new shows, and a new venue make this summer a big one for Parallel 45, the professional Traverse City-based theater company that brings high-caliber actors and production and tech pros from around the world (and northern Michigan) to stage innovative new and classic works.
… Read More >>

A Man. A Shirt Collar. And a Dream.

Dec. 29, 2018

Blame it on Obama. No, not any kind of political or policy problems. But when Anthony Pickarski saw the 44thPresident at a news conference in 2012, he was taken by the president’s attire:a dark suit, white dress shirt, and a striking blue tie that really grabbed his attention.

Read More >>

Cheboygan’s Libby’s Café in Overdrive

Dec. 15, 2018

If the food and service are good, restaurants can thrive in most any location. But in an auto dealership? Well, yes. At Fernelius Toyota and Chrysler in Cheboygan, that’s exactly where you’ll find Libby’s Café.
 
Owner Dave Fernelius came up with the … Read More >>

Your 2018 Holiday Soundtrack

Dec. 15, 2018

No matter how many times we’ve heard “Deck the Halls” or “Winter Wonderland,” each year sees artists trying to (re)capture the holiday spirit by putting their stamp on songs of the season. The appeal of holiday music crosses all genres, from country to pop, big… Read More >>