Ross Boissoneau | Author

Bahle's: The Store that Built Suttons Bay

Dec. 18, 2021

*With its antique displays, wood floors, classic clothing lines and various reminders of days past, Bahle’s of Suttons Bay feels like it’s been there forever.

Just about. As Bahle’s nears its sesquicentennial, it’s interesting to observe how its rise, fall, a… Read More >>

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

Dec. 18, 2021

New Year’s Eve 2020 was … quiet. New Year’s Eve 2021, on the other hand … ? It’s ready to rock. For those who prefer a quiet celebration with family or a few friends, more power to you. But for those looking to break out and make up for lost time, revelry is … Read More >>

Cue Up the Holiday Soundtrack

Dec. 4, 2021

 

’Tis not only the season for hosting parties, over-indulging and exchanging gifts, it’s also the time when we all want to gouge out our ears at the first bars of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” and Wham’s “Last Christmas.&rd… Read More >>

50 Years in Focus

Nov. 27, 2021

Have you ever given someone a gift that changed the trajectory of their life? John Russell’s girlfriend did. A half-century ago, when Russell was a mop-topped 19-year-old at Michigan State University, his girlfriend — “my first serious girlfriend,” he says — ga… Read More >>

Is There Something Strange in Your Neighborhood?

Oct. 23, 2021

If your nonprofit group is hosting an event, and you want to drum up some attention to your cause, who you gonna call?

Your local Ghostbusters group, of course. Yes, northern Michigan has one, and it stands ready to aid your fundraising efforts — no spirit-raising, unfortunate… Read More >>

Cherry Capital Comic Con Strikes Back

Oct. 23, 2021

Legions of good, evil, and the artists, authors, and voice actors that bring them to life will converge for what is likely Cherry Capital Comic Con’s most anticipated sequel.

The locally founded convention dedicated to superheroes, cartoons, and comic books, and their cr… Read More >>

Posh Escapes

Oct. 16, 2021

In Michigan, everybody heads north to vacation. It’s what in large part built the reputations of places like Traverse City, Charlevoix and Harbor Springs.

But what if you live here? Fear not. Sure, you can still go to the UP or beyond, but this region has plenty of great getaw… Read More >>

Lighting Up the Marquee in Marquette

Oct. 9, 2021

The Upper Peninsula, like this region, has always attracted people to its natural beauty.
It has also inspired filmmaker Aaron Peterson, store owner Bill Thompson and U.P. influencer Bugsy Sailor to create the first-ever Fresh Coast Film Festival in Marquette, devoted (mostly) to docum… Read More >>

Guitarist Trevor Gordon Hall bringing original hybrid instrument to Traverse City

Oct. 9, 2021

How do you define the music of Trevor Gordon Hall? There are folk influences for sure – and some New Age-y sounds and textures. A bit of worldbeat, what with the kalimba and all. There are some jazzy chords, but it’s not jazz. And while he performs Bach and Satie, it&r… Read More >>

Onekama celebrates 150 years

Oct. 2, 2021

In the last scheduled celebration of its sesquicentennial, Onekama will host a history-themed evening at the Portage Point Inn on Portage Lake Thursday, Oct. 7. It will include displays of Onekama’s history, tributes to the families involved in “The Cut” and live music, ap… Read More >>

Mortgage Rates Low, But Will That Last?

Sept. 26, 2021

As anyone who has had even a passing interest in the housing industry has noticed, for the past two years real estate sales have been on a tear. Between remote working, the area’s appeal, and the dearth of homes for sale, it has been a seller’s market.

One key to a stron… Read More >>

The Next Hot Spot Up North: East Jordan

Sept. 25, 2021

Paths, trails, a bridge, high-speed internet, a revitalized downtown: What might sound like a few dry infrastructure projects is actually a part of a substantial series of thoughtful investments positioning East Jordan, a town of about 2,300 in Charlevoix County, to become the next hot spot… Read More >>

Escanaba in da Moonlight at Old Town Playhouse Sept. 23–25

Sept. 18, 2021

A trip to the U.P. is as close as Old Town Playhouse. The venerable community theater is welcoming back audiences with Jeff Daniels’ play about the vagaries of deer camp. “It’s ridiculously silly,” says OTP Artistic Director Phil Murphy. “I look at it as he lea… Read More >>

Touring Shows Return to City Opera House

Sept. 18, 2021

A number of national touring acts are coming to downtown Traverse City as the City Opera House returns to business as (almost) normal.

Events like the TCNewTech Pitch and Networking nights and presentations by National Writers Series and artists like May Erlewine have brought … Read More >>

Read ’Em and Meet

Sept. 18, 2021

Bibliophiles rejoice: The Harbor Springs Festival of the Book is returning Sept. 23–25, with a slate of authors, in-person events, and books.

“We’re thrilled,” says Amy Gillard about the upcoming festival. It will take place at four venues across the city; ma… Read More >>

Zest

Sept. 11, 2021

Tarah Elhardan and Satya Pillay say they want their breakfast and lunch eatery to provide options that anyone will enjoy. Which is an interesting concept, given that Zest Café is entirely vegan. Nevertheless, “We want our restaurant to be something for everyone,” says Elh… Read More >>

LEGO my Art Center!

Sept. 4, 2021

Roldan Grace wanted to give back to the facility that has meant so much to him. So he’s going to build a replica of it using LEGO blocks. Grace, a 16-year-old student at Concord Academy in Petoskey, has participated in numerous programs at Crooked Tree Arts Center, including plays, or… Read More >>

Education, Faith & New Frontiers

Sept. 4, 2021

Who knew there was a college hidden away in the wilds of western Grand Traverse County back in the 1800s? Students of history do, though even some of them might not realize that the Mills House in Benzonia — the only building still standing from that long-ago social and educational ex… Read More >>

Second Wind

Aug. 28, 2021

 

Jon Zickert thought he had it made. 

He attended school for hospitality management, then almost immediately got a job with Marriott, eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife.

But the Wisconsin native and his wife, originally from Reed City, wa… Read More >>

Don’s Drive-In

Aug. 21, 2021

It’s hard to determine exactly what it takes for someone or something to be dubbed an icon. Yet it’s clear that whatever those requirements are, Don’s Drive-In has met them.

Located on US-31 in East Bay Township, the eatery opened in 1958. While the world around it… Read More >>