Traverse Northern Michigan, February 2025 by MyNorth

Wed Nor Mic

13 THE

02.2025 THE WONDROUS WORLD OF

ALEXA GRAMBUSH

All the Macarons You Can Handle

Cadillac is for Snowkiting

MOST ROMANTIC GETAWAYS IN THE NORTH INSIDE

Northern Home & Cottage

FEBRUARY 2O25

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$6.5O

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hemmingwm.com / 231.922.2900

Financial Planning & Abundant Perspectives.

hemming& Wealth Management, Inc. is a Registered Investment Advisor Photo by Captured by Grace Photography

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Building and Renovating Northern Michigan’s Finest Residences

joel@joelpetersonhomes.com • 516 E. Front St., Traverse City • 231.994.2168

2620 Sandy Ridge, Lake Leelanau Enjoy lakefront living at its best. Build this modern custom residence with J. Peterson Homes. Situated on the sunset side of Lake Leelanau, just 20 minutes from Traverse City, the lot features 110’ of private sandy frontage at the end of a quiet cul de sac. With 2700 square feet of finished space, the home offers a main floor with panoramic lake views from the great room and primary suite with two additonal bedrooms and bath. Lower level brings a living room, exercise room, 4th bedroom and bath. Price includes landscaping, well and approved conventional septic system. MLS:1929207 $1,849,000

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features 02.25

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The 13 Most Romantic Getaways in the North

Whether your love language is off-the-grid solitude or I’m never-gonna-leave-this-bed luxury, these tucked-away destinations will delight you and your beloved. BY CA R LY S I M P S O N , CA R A M C D O N A L D

& A L L I S O N JA R R E L L AC O STA

Lost in Translation

Alexa Grambush on the art of coming home to yourself. BY CA R A M C D O N A L D

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Northern Home & Cottage

photo by Lindsey Makuwatsine

This month we go inside chic rental flats in the heart of Traverse City; plus, a modern Lake Charlevoix home inspired by the Northwoods.

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DISCOVER MORE ABOUT UP NORTH PEOPLE, PLACES, FOOD AND EVENTS.

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Traverse

NORTHERN

MICHIGAN A MyNorth Media Publication

Vol. 44 | No. 9

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Cara McDonald

MANAGING EDITOR

Carly Simpson Allison Jarrell Acosta

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Caroline Dahlquist

PROOFREADER REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

ART DIRECTOR PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

05 | Editor’s Note 07 | Up North

photos by (top) Allison Jarrell Acosta; (bottom) Tim Hussey

47 | Culinary North Nostalgic desserts reign at Sweet Tartlette in Traverse City; plus, three sumptuous sandwiches.

DIRECTOR OF SALES

Lisa Froning

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Mike Alfaro Cyndi Ludka Rachel North Erin Lutke

CIRCULATION MARKETING COORDINATOR

Ashlyn Korienek Kayla Kennedy

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES

415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684 Phone: 231.941.8174 | Fax: 231.941.8391

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52 | Love of the Land This Old Mission Peninsula preserve was made for serene winter hikes.

Rachel Watson

OFFICE MANAGER

Six Valentine’s Day gifts we actually want to receive; plus the secret finds our editors are loving this month. Head to Cadillac to witness an epic winter sport: snowkiting.

Tim Hussey Theresa Burau-Baehr

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

departments 11 | Outdoors

Lissa Martin Meagan Francis

ON THE COVER Photo by Pavel

Traverse Northern Michigan, (ISSN10713719) is published monthly by Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan, 1 Broadcast Way, Cadillac, MI 49601. Periodicals class postage paid at Traverse City, MI 49684 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Traverse Northern Michigan, 415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684. Advertising rates available upon request. Subscription rate: $39.95 for 12 issues. Single issue price: $6.50. All rights reserved. Copyright 2025, Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

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Editor’s Note

“My Heart Was In My Eyes and I Was Looking at You” by Alexa Grambush

MAKING SPACE FOR MIRACLES

n artist friend recently asked me a provocative question. “I’m curious,” he said, “about your specific practices of staying tuned to the beauty so you don’t miss the miracle.” (If you don’t have the kind of friend who will ask you that kind of question, may I recommend you find one.) We had been talking about distraction. And, worse yet, the way people’s allowance for distraction lead to the piercing of the space in which something is being performed or shared. My artist friend lamented our ability to hold space to experience art. Not just understand it or consume it, but really be in its presence. “It’s hard because it’s a practice,” I responded. Like anything. Practicing silence. Practicing boredom. Practicing presence. Practicing listening. It’s not like these skills are a given; we need to work on them constantly. When we don’t, we find ourselves waking up after 55 minutes of scrolling through meal prep and dance videos on Instagram. Consuming entertainment is not the same as being able to sit in the presence of art and letting it wash over you. The specific practice that works for me is one I’ve talked about often—I walk a lot. I walk to work, and on lucky days I see Ollie the micro doodle and his owner, Carol, on Ninth Street. When Ollie spots you, his entire being dissolves into flailing limbs and nose-to-tail-tip wiggling. I walk home at night through the twinkle-lit trees of Old Towne. I walk through the woods at The Commons looking for chickadees in sumac branches. I walk my neighborhood and smell the metallic scent of the Boardman River, listening to the ducks scold. I walk Front Street and gaze into the windows—the

last batch of fudge for the day, the couple on a date in the window of the coffee shop, the cozy sweaters on the headless mannequins. I collect these micro-joys until my mind is full again, like topping off a gas tank. And with this practice my senses sharpen, and the miracles become more easily seen. Our minds need this escape so that we can reconnect with our hearts. It’s what artist Alexa Grambush describes as coming home to ourselves. My conversation with her for this month’s story landed at just the right time, as I was thinking about making space in my life for art. Given the expressiveness and emotive nature of her work, it was delightful but unsurprising to learn that she had in fact studied psychology; the art was self-taught. Grambush, too, thinks a great deal about the strivings of her audience as they seek to connect with her work and is joyously reverent about the space created between her own feelings and theirs. Entering that bubble—the dark of the movie theater, the bliss of a well-written song, the awe of a sprawling canvas in a quiet gallery—welcomes us into a space created not just by the art, but also by those of us reaching out to connect with it. It carries us on fair winds to land somewhere startlingly familiar: the wild and beautiful landscape of our own hearts. Cara McDonald, Executive Editor cara@mynorth.com

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Up North local buzz · nostalgic finds · travel inspo

“

It’s a sense of freedom, being out there with nothing but the power of the wind. —SNOWKITER STEVEN NOVAK

EDITORS’ PICKS: SECRET DISCOVERIES P. 8

photo courtesy of Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTS WE ACTUALLY WANT P. 9

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THE WINTRY THRILL OF SNOWKITING P. 11

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Up North Curiosities

Soothing Skincare

EDITORS’ PICKS

The secret discoveries we tell our friends about.

When esthetician and herbalist Kelly Kehl isn’t giving facial massages in her Northport studio, you can find her crafting body care products for her Little Beauty Kitchen. With winter well underway, LBK’s whipped tallow balm is a godsend for dry skin. Made of cosmetically rendered local beef suet, Kelly says this “ancient topical remedy can be used anywhere and everywhere to support healthy skin.” (It’s even edible!) Tallow is great for small kids and babies, conditions like psoriasis and eczema; really any type of inflamed skin. “Humans have been using animal fat as food both inside and out since the beginning of civilization,” Kelly says. “Still to this day, tallow can tend to almost any ailment.” – A.J.A.

One of the better turns in the millennial hipster movement has been the reclamation of derelict motor lodges. Motel Bear Lake (formerly Bella Vista Inn), purchased and retrofitted in 2023 by Marta Turnbull, uses progressive kitsch styling as merely a platform for something broader, more inclusive. Perhaps a political anomaly for the quiet town of Bear Lake, the motel offers a “queer and cannabis friendly” respite, complemented by informed and carefully curated art and design throughout. In the same spirit that draws international art lovers to Marfa, Texas, Motel Bear Lake has maintained a mindful nod to its roots while unapologetically letting its freak flag fly. – T.H. XC-Ski Mastery

If you’ve ever hit a snowy trail on a pair of cross-country skis and thought: “That was pretty, but kind of a grind,” I’ve found the key to unlocking maximum winter joy is an hour of time and $50 for a private lesson—it’ll change your life. Suffer less and improve your form on hill climbs, extend your glide, troubleshoot your ski fit, even basics like cornering or getting back on your skis effortlessly after a fall. Book a sesh with the experts at Forbush Corner Ski Resort north of Grayling, including women-specific offerings. – C.M.

Epic Snow Sculptures

For more than 100 years, the hardy, snow-loving students at Michigan Tech have hosted a Winter Carnival. Today, the extravaganza is known for towering snow statues meticulously sculpted by fraternity members. Most are created in 24 hours, but the month-long-build category is especially impressive. Students and visitors also take part in skiing and hockey events, parades, broomball, ice bowling and live entertainment. This year’s theme is “Dragons, Knights & Legendary Sights.” See thou there February 5–8. – C.S.

clockwise: Tim Hussey, courtesy of Little Beauty Kitchen, courtesy of Visit Keweenaw

Motel Reno with Flair

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Up North Buzz

AROUND TOWN: 6 CLEVER VALENTINE’S GIFTS by CARLY SIMPSON

Sure, we all enjoy a box of chocolates. But we love something thoughtful, perhaps a little unexpected. We’ve curated a list of local gifts we’d be excited to give to a friend, partner or ourselves. WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

KEEP IT CLASSIC

THAT’S THAT ME ESPRESSO

Midwestern singer-songwriter Jack Senff ’s new album Feeling & Devotion is a soft, sentimental return to his roots. Standout tracks: “County Fair,” written by and performed with his wife, Em Randall, and “End of Time,” which brings tears to my eyes each time I listen. jackmsenff.com

If you’re going to gift chocolate, the ethically sourced, exquisitely crafted confections at Grocer’s Daughter in Empire are truly special. For $12.50, we’d build a four-piece truffle box, with out-of-the-box flavors like garden basil and chai latte. Watch for Valentine’s releases, too. grocersdaughter.com

A teensy coffee shop and roastery opened a few months ago in teensy Honor, offering a handful of singleorigin beans and specialty drinks. We’re pouring Weldon Coffee’s Colombia Finca Betulia with notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon and ginger. weldoncoffee.com

Feeling & Devotion

Grocer’s Daughter

Weldon Coffee

A COZY SPLURGE

FLOWERS, BUT BETTER

GET AWAY TOGETHER

Lake Superior Woolen Company, a fourth-generation centennial farm just north of the Mackinac Bridge, shears its sheep once a year, using their virgin wool to create thick, cuddle-worthy plaid blankets ($169–$369). Browse online or visit the new Mackinaw City storefront. lswoolen.com

Nab a vibrant bouquet of dried flowers, which can last for several years, from Lakeview Hill Farm in Traverse City. While you’re at the farm’s market, also grab local ingredients to cook your partner dinner. Extra special: Gift a summer bouquet subscription ($300 for 12 weeks). lakeviewhillfarm.com

Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City recently added a non-stop, year-round flight to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. Check out the historic arts district NoDa, snag tickets to the Charlotte Symphony and get your Southern cuisine fix at The Goodyear House. tvcairport.com

Lake Superior Woolen Company

Lakeview Hill Farm

Cherry Captial Airport

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Up North Outdoors

WIND POWER

photo courtesy of Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau

by ALLISON JARRELL ACOSTA

Forget the beach. In winter, kiteboarders take to frozen lakes, harnessing icy winds for an adrenaline-fueled ride like no other at Michigan’s premier snowkite event.

biting wind whips across a frozen lake, fueling a fleet of rainbow kites— and the daring athletes attached to them. It’s a wild spectacle, one that draws a crowd of front-row onlookers to the annual Midwest Snowkite Jam on Cadillac’s Lake Mitchell. The winter answer to kiteboarding, snowkiting is pretty much what it sounds like: using a kite to glide across snow or ice. Steven Novak, one of the jam’s organizers, says the sport is a rush like nothing else. “It’s a sense of freedom, being out there with nothing but the power of the wind,” Novak says. “The feeling of zero gravity; a quiet serenity when you jump. It’s an incredible stress release.” Novak will welcome registered riders on Friday, Jan. 31, with a party to kick off a weekend of snowkiting goodness. The tentative plan (weather dependent) for Saturday, Feb. 1, is to set up on Lake Mitchell by mid-morning, with

freeriding the rest of the day. It’s a chance for experienced riders to celebrate the sport, and for new riders to safely get into snowkiting. Spectators often bring chairs, coolers and fire pits for the show, and Novak noted that the Lake Mitchell parking lot should be plowed for easy access. You might be wondering … why Lake Mitchell? Novak says the jam started about a decade ago with a group of guys who just wanted to get together, demo new gear and, of course, snowkite. The event officially began in 2014 on Traverse City’s East Bay, but moved to Lake Leelanau due to the inconsistency of the bay freezing over. In 2022 they pivoted to Cadillac, and they’ve been there ever since. “We were overwhelmed by the support of the visitors bureau and the community,” Novak says. For more information on this year’s jam, head to midwestsnowkitejam.com, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and X: @midwestskj. Any event changes due to weather will be posted on those platforms. F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 5

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ESCAPE! THE 13 MOST ROMANTIC GETAWAYS IN THE NORTH WHETHER YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE IS OFF-THE-GRID SOLITUDE OR I’M-NEVER-GONNA-LEAVE-THIS-BED LUXURY, THESE TUCKED-AWAY DESTINATIONS WILL DELIGHT YOU AND YOUR BELOVED. BY C A R LY S I M P S O N, C A R A M C D O N A L D & A L L I S O N JA R R E L L AC O S TA

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IF YOU

S AV O R HALLMARK MOVIES …

photos: (left) courtesy of Hotel Walloon; (right) by Sarah Peschel

The staff at Hotel Walloon hear it all the time: “This place is like a Hallmark movie.” The whitewashed lakeside hotel in the Village of Walloon Lake greets visitors with the coziest of welcomes. From the moment you step inside, the lobby’s Hearth Room & Bar is the ultimate hangout, with cottagechic couches that swallow you up, good coffee-table books, a two-sided fieldstone fireplace and tiny bar with craft cocktails and wine on tap. SUPER BONUS: You are treated to complimentary small bites throughout the day, including a light breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres and a dessert display, and freshly ground gourmet coffee. Sigh. The rooms are no less magical—like little turquoise jewel boxes complete with luxury linens, balconies and views, and touches like heated marble floors and illuminated mirrors in the bath. Settle into a king lakeside room, grab a robe, then visit the hot tub for a soak; once warmed, swing by the bar for a glass of Cakebread Chard or whatever’s on tap. –C.M.

I N DU L GE

IF YOU’D LOVE TO IN YOUR MODERN FARM FANTASIES …

Escape to a 19th-century farmhouse surrounded by a 180-acre sustainable vineyard and a friendly herd of Highland cattle. The spacious kitchen is an entertainer’s dream with separate wine and coffee stations, and a sitting room just off the kitchen looks out at a historic barn and snow-covered grape vines. We’d grab a book from the den’s well-stocked library and spend the morning reading—or call dibs on the huge clawfoot tub in the upstairs bathroom. Then bundle up and hike the property’s wooded trails with sweeping views of the Manitou islands and Lake Michigan. –C.S. GOOD TO KNOW: GOOD TO KNOW: Walloon is tiny but still has onsite delights—like the village ice skating rink (the hotel offers complimentary skates for guests) and dining at charming Walloon Lake Inn just down the shore. Nearby joys await, too: Share popcorn and a movie at the old-timey Lyric Theater in Harbor Springs, or head to Petoskey’s gaslight district to link arms and window-shop the bakeries, boutiques, galleries and gift shops.

Known as North Farm, the property is owned by the Heekin family, who also own three local wineries. Go on a mini wine tour stopping at nearby Dune Bird Winery, Bel Lago and French Valley Vineyard to grab a few bottles for a relaxed evening back at the farm.

bellagowine.com/stay

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IF FOOD IS YOUR

LOVE LANGUAGE … Traverse City’s version of Central Park is tucked within 480 acres of preserved parkland just west of downtown. The buildings at the heart of this rolling greenery are collectively called The Commons. Once home to a 19th-century state psychiatric hospital, the stunning Italianate-style Victorian buildings have been reclaimed and turned into upscale restaurants, boutiques, galleries and condos—including the “Historic Hearth.” This one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo is a true gem with 15-foot ceilings and 8-foot windows that create an expansive, light-filled space that frames views of the surrounding estate. The original exposed brick walls and woodwork add a touch of warmth. –C.S. GOOD TO KNOW: There’s plenty to do and eat just an elevator ride away. Don’t miss happy hour at Left Foot Charley, dinner at Trattoria Stella (make reservations), decadent mochas at Higher Grounds Coffee, breakfast at Sugar 2 Salt (we beg you to order the blue cornmeal pancakes) and a guided walking tour of the former Traverse City State Hospital.

roostnort h.com

photos: (top) courtesy of Sault St. Marie; (right, top) by Courtney Kent; (right, bottom) by Kristen Turick

IF YOU LOOK A D OR A B L E IN FLANNEL … A lone chickadee sings like she’s making up for the lack of birds in the winter forest canopy. Her cheerful dee, dee, dee gets swept up in the whooshing of the pines surrounding Stokely Creek Lodge in the heart of Canada’s Algoma Highlands. The soft shush of your skis on the corduroy trail beneath lets you both slip into a glittering winter landscape—together. Romance with a side of outdoor adventure is de rigueur at this beloved cross-country ski destination outside of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada—a chance for tight pants, cozy sweaters and perpetually rosy cheeks. What adds more cartoon hearts to this getaway? Doing something challenging, active, a little scary even, strengthens the bond between couples. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that not only does working out with your partner release dopamine and improve mood, but also increases trust, empathy and overall relationship satisfaction. Win. –C.M. GOOD TO KNOW: The lodge at Stokely is delightfully all-inclusive with accommodations, meals, trail passes and perks like saunas and an all-day coffee bar. Lodge rooms are old-school with a Scandi-minimalist vibe; a stand-alone log cabin is also available on site if you want to feel more away-from-it-all.

stokelycreek.com

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IF YOU READ

IF YOU’D LOVE TO CHANNEL

VICTORIAN-ERA F. SCOTT FITZGERALD…

photos: (top) courtesy of Perry Hotel; (bottom) courtesy of Vault Hotel

DRAMAS …

Built in 1899, just three years after Petoskey was incorporated as a city, the Perry Hotel has long been a destination for resorters who traveled north by railway to escape the summer heat of big cities. Today, the hotel still embodies classic charm, with antique décor and furnishings, and while travelers now arrive by car, watching the sun set over Little Traverse Bay from the elevated perch of the rose garden veranda is just as momentous. –C.S. GOOD TO KNOW: Lake View Corner Rooms are the most luxurious with a private balcony, unobstructed views of the bay and a fireplace. A two-night winter getaway package runs through March 31, offering a welcome bag with wine or coffee, a $25 breakfast voucher each morning and $50 in dining dollars. The on-site Noggin Room Pub has a decadent chocolate lava cake that we’d pair with a glass of Veuve Clicquot.

t heperr yhotel.com

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In the heart of Copper Country, a grand 1887 bank has been transformed into a luxury boutique hotel, The Vault. The Richardson Romanesque-style building, made of the red-hued Jacobsville sandstone the region is known for, was the first stone and masonry structure in Houghton. The thoughtful renovation combines simple elegance and modern sophistication with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the historic downtown, in-room wet bars, suites with freestanding soaking tubs, memory foam beds and an exclusive basement speakeasy only available to hotel guests and members. While the Vault Room is popular, with a sitting area in the bank’s original vault, our favorite suites are found among the mysterious Found Money rooms on the hotel’s third level. –C.S. GOOD TO KNOW: This winter, The Vault is offering add-ons such as breakfast in bed, charcuterie boards and more. Watch for the annual Golden Egg Rate Hunt, a virtual hunt for hundreds of deals as low as $1 to $99 scattered throughout the booking calendar. It’s released on Easter Sunday and sells out within 15 minutes.

t hevault hotel.com

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IF YOU BINGE WATCH

SURVIVAL REALITY TV…

photos: (top) by Tyler Leipprandt; (bottom) by Dave Weidner; (opposite) by Mae Stier

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park can be unforgiving. It’s remote, vast, harsh. A place where wolves howl. But, if you’re the sort of people who have 0.5-micron water filters and headlamps in your closet, the Porkies offer unmatched natural scenery and a chance to reconnect without the constant ping of phone notifications. The park has four yurts and 19 rustic cabins that welcome hardy visitors year-round. The Little Union River Yurt, surrounded by a burbling creek, is a favorite of Park Interpreter Katie Urban. It’s one of the more isolated options, with no nearby campsites or passing trails. Bring a bottle of bourbon to share around a crackling woodstove and simply enjoy each other’s company. –C.S.

GOOD TO KNOW: There is no running water or electricity. Remember to pack toilet paper or suffer the dire consequences. Backcountry means you have to hike in (the shortest hike is 100 yards, the longest is 9 miles). Urban’s relationship-saving tip: It gets dark early in winter; plan accordingly. “While a moonlit stroll may start off sweet, navigating dense woods in the middle of a snowstorm quickly leads to icy glares.”

mic higan.gov/dnr

IF YOU’RE ENTHRALLED BY

T H E G I L DE D A G E … Curl up in the Ramsdell Inn to immerse yourself in the heart of Manistee’s historic district, a testament to the lumber boom of the late 1800s. The Ramsdell building originally housed a bank and the law offices of owner and philanthropist T.J. Ramsdell, but its current incarnation as a boutique hotel offers eight rooms and suites in the city’s most ornate brick building. Ask for the Harbor Suite, 3E, and you’ll be able to perch in its romantic turret sitting room overlooking the Maple Street bridge. –C.M. GOOD TO KNOW: Ready to promenade? Stroll the Origins walk, a new interpretive sculpture and signage installation telling the story of Manistee’s complete history, both indigenous and recently settled. Catch The Met Opera Live in HD at the Ramsdell Theatre then end the night with a juniper berry martini with elderflower, orange liqueur and cranberry at TJ’s Pub onsite at your hotel.

ramsdellinn.com

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IF YOU DON’T WANT TO PLAN A VACATION … All you have to do is get here. This renovated A-frame tucked away on a wooded dirt road is peaceful, quiet and delightfully hassle-free. A large deck backs up to a 200-plus acre nature preserve with an extensive trail system; a private hot tub sits below endless stars; and the little town of Lake Ann is 10 minutes away with a brewery, coffeeshop and a standout Thai Reuben at The Stone Oven. Owner Carrier Drier recommends karaoke night at Jodi’s Tangled Antler, a local dive with good bar food. –C.S. GOOD TO KNOW: Drier’s top-to-bottom renovation of a longtime hunting cabin turned tranquil retreat is impressive. The design is modern but timeless—scalloped cedar shingles, a sleek black metal roof, an inviting daybed under the stairs just waiting for you and a good book. “The walls are painted Origami White, giving the interior a fresh, bright feel, while the original wood-paneled ceilings add warmth and character,” Drier says. We appreciate the playful pops of terracotta, local artwork by Dani Knoph and the king-size bed in the loft bedroom.

roostnort h.com

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IF YOU’RE OBSESSED WITH H YG G E … The Icelandic word gluggaveður, which translates to window weather, expresses the idea of embracing raging snowstorms and howling winds just as much as blue-sky days, but lets you and your favorite person curl up inside beneath a thick blanket to watch the swirling flakes and quaking trees. Window weather is especially cozy at Fernside, an A-frame Airbnb just a few strides away from the banks of the Sturgeon River. There’s a window-side reading nook that’s simply begging for a warm cuppa, and it’s a perfect spot to enjoy snowflakes cascading between lush boughs of white cedar. The cabin’s floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the river and make the space feel airy—come nightfall, you’ll feel like you’re floating among the stars with nothing separating you from the dark skies above. Magic. –C.S. GOOD TO KNOW: Make reservations ahead of time to have Cheboygan Sauna deliver a mobile sauna to the property for your stay. After a slow morning at the cabin, spend an afternoon cross-country skiing along the 11-mile trail system at Wildwood Hills Pathway, or for a bit more adventure, the Black Mountain Nordic trails are 30 minutes away.

fernsideaframe.com

IF YOU WANT TO EAT

GOOD TO KNOW: The Mill House sits behind the main building and offers three nostalgic guest suites—Buckwheat, Emmer and Rye—named for heritage grains that passed through the grist mill. Emmer faces the back end of the five-acre property, with three direct exposures to the Crystal River for a quiet, tucked-away respite.

t hemillglenarbor.com

The restoration of The Mill in Glen Arbor is an inspiring reinvention of a historic property that has at last opened its wooden doors to generations of locals and visitors who have long dreamed of walking through them. (Read the delightful backstory: link.mynorth.com/themill.) Inside, guests chat quietly, crusty baguette sandwiches in hand, within a cavernous, pine-paneled great room. The pastry case in the adjoining café bursts with baked goods: soft bialys topped with sweet onion and sesame, plump hand pies filled with sweet potato and garlic confit, flaky almond croissants and perhaps the best peanut butter cookies in the North. Downstairs, the upscale restaurant Supper promises an intimate dining experience overlooking the languid Crystal River. Executive Chef Bobby Thoits celebrates local produce on his tasting menu, which dances from dilly trout roe to wild rice to hazelnut-studded winter squash and sourdough ice cream with caramel and candied breadcrumbs. –C.S.

photos: (top) by Gina Valente; (bottom) by Tim Hussey

BU T T ERY PA ST R IES AND TAKE RIVERSIDE NAPS …

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IF YOU HAVE A

PASSION FOR DESIGN … The Martin House in Traverse City is an exquisitely renovated early 1900s farmhouse. Owner Marissa Wege is a Realtor who also runs a vacation rental brand, Northern Migration, and a home decor shop, Au Sable, where you can browse curious and vintage finds from her travels. And her style is enviable. Wege credits both of her grandmothers for teaching her the “art of the find” and how to uncover treasures in decrepit barns and downtown alleyways. The Martin House holds a special place in Wege’s heart as it was once her grandmother’s home and where Wege’s mother was raised. Her renovation balances the home’s historic charm with contemporary comforts—a soaking tub in the primary bedroom and an eclectic art collection are favorites among travelers. In fact, shortly after the first guests to ever stay at the property departed, Wege got a note sharing that the welcoming atmosphere of Martin House inspired him to drop to one knee and propose to his partner. –C.S. GOOD TO KNOW: Martin House sits directly on the 17-mile Leelanau Trail with a short walk to a local dining favorite, Farm Club. In the winter, the trail is groomed for classic and skate skiing, fat biking and snowshoeing.

nort hernmigrationmi.com

photos: (top) courtesy of Northern Migration; (bottom) by Allison Jarrell Acosta

IF YOU WANT TO WALK ON THE W IL D SIDE , BUT WITH C E L L SE RV IC E … You and your beloved adore a wintry weekend outdoors, but you also love a cushy king-sized bed to cozy up in after the frost has bitten. If that speaks to you, then Marquette is your destination. This bustling U.P. college town boasts access to Marquette Mountain’s downhill runs, xc-skiing along the Noquemanon Trail Network, more than 60 miles of fat-biking trails and serene snowshoeing under snow-brushed pines. When you’re ready for a bit of peace after the adrenaline rush, head downtown to the Landmark Inn, a timeless fullservice boutique hotel that’s been welcoming guests since 1930. Old-world splendor meets modern amenities here—book a king suite and take in views of the lake and the historic Lower Harbor Ore Dock (perhaps while unwinding with a glass of bubbly in the clawfoot soaking tub). Ingrid Olson, director of sales and marketing, says you can’t go wrong; most rooms have a clear view of the water during the winter, offering some of the best vantages of Marquette. “Add a dusting of snow, and it’s pretty magical.” –A.J.A. GOOD TO KNOW: Landmark also has you covered for dinner and drinks: Hit the English-style Northland Gastropub on the first floor, then pop up to the Crow’s Nest for a cocktail or a locally brewed lager. Beginning in January, the inn has trivia night every Tuesday, paired with woodfired pizzas fresh from their oven. BONUS: If you’re staying over Valentine’s weekend, you’ll catch the UP 200 dogsled race (Feb. 13-17), just down the hill from the Landmark.

thelandmarkinn.com

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Lost in Translation

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Alexa Grambush on the art of coming home to yourself by Cara McDonald

n japan, art serves many purposes— to express vision, reflect culture, understand the natural world. It is not, at least traditionally, a vehicle for exuberant emotion and self-realization. Which explains, in part, how Traverse City artist Alexa Grambush found herself sitting in an exhibition space in the little town of Saikai, Japan, two years ago on the opening night of her show. Not mingling over flutes of champagne but laying bare her feelings and her process to a room full of Japanese art lovers who were equal parts perplexed and totally, completely transfixed. Grambush had come to Japan for a sixmonth visit with her sister, Jordan, who lives outside of Tokyo. As an artist, she was taking time to work on new pieces, but when conversations led to an opportunity for a show, she agreed. There was one request, however: The exhibitors were keen to have her host a question-and-answer session. A neighbor translated for Grambush as she described the inspiration behind her emotive abstract paintings. The questions that followed surprised her. Texture, gesture, color, form—and feelings. So much about those. Grambush’s works are typically large-scale abstracts using acrylic on raw canvas or moody watercolor on coldpressed watercolor paper. Their unconstrained passion had the Japanese crowd feeling a certain kind of way. “They asked such open-hearted questions,” Grambush says. “Like, ‘How does this NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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represent what you feel? How is this what’s inside, and you’ve made it outside?’” For Grambush, it brought the realization that Americans can say what they feel without question; in Japan, to break through that level of reserve and say “this is my emotion” is very unusual. Her audience was in awe; not of her per se, but of the very concept. Grambush’s story is like many of our own: She’d loved the North since she was a little girl, when her parents would load her and her sisters into the car, and they’d trailer the family boat up to Traverse City for a weekend on the water. She and her sister commuted from their home in Flint to Cranbrook Kingswood School which, she explains, opened her eyes to a broader educational horizon and inspired her to pursue college studies in psychology. An art class taken for fun opened doors to a passion she enjoyed in her free time. The summer she started college, her parents bought a bigger boat that they kept at a marina in Traverse City. Each summer, Grambush and her twin sister, Alana, lived out of their backpacks aboard the boat and worked summer jobs on Front Street—at Ella’s and The Little Fleet. “If someone asked, what is your perfect day,” Grambush says, “I’d tell them, I lived my perfect day every day of the summer, living on the boat in

Her work is intuitive, in the moment; very much a product of what she has been experiencing, meditating on, thinking about. “What I’m making is a reflection of the time-space-place I’m in at the time.”

photo by Meg Simpson

Traverse City with my twin. It became the backdrop and scene of what was really life-giving to me. I loved discovering what a special community this is; there’s no place like it.” After college, Grambush settled in California taking a job in the events business, but the grind of the hours and work began to take a toll. “I needed to reset,” she explains, and remembers thinking she’d try her hand at some art shows for fun. “So, I spent that summer doing art. It was healing. Then August rolled around. Then October. Then April. And I was still painting and doing it for a living—it was beyond my wildest dreams.” Now in her seventh year as a full-time artist, Grambush relishes both the flexibility and the adventure—when a chance to travel presents, she seizes it. Her current rhythm finds her spending half the year in Asia, where, she explains, the culture shock has served her well.

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It’s hard enough for most creators of abstract art to reach a broad or commercial audience within their own cultural parameters, never mind one so very different from their own—in Grambush’s case, Western—way of being.

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(top): photo by Lindsey Makuwatsine

Opposite (top): “I Think I’m Ready to Thank You,” 18" x 24" watercolor on paper, 2021 This page (top-bottom): You Can Come Home exhibition at Commongrounds in Traverse City, Michigan; Wagashi exhibition opening at Hoget in Saikai, Nagasaki, Japan.

“My work is fluid, it’s unpredictable,” Grambush says. “I find, though, that audiences everywhere—in both Asia and the U.S.—struggle to connect with abstract art. People often try so hard to see something concrete… they look to discern an object and ask me, ‘Is that right?’ I find it interesting that people have a compulsion to see something literal and figurative; and want there to be a ‘right’ answer. It makes me wonder how it might feel if I posed that what I aim to express is much more familiar than a figure; it's the experience of hope and disappointment, and surprise and sorrow.” Complicating things for sharing her work in Japan and then in Seoul, South Korea, was the challenge of translating her work’s titles into the native language. “Sometimes, there wasn’t a translation that fit,” she explains. “I remember being amazed at the artfulness of the act of translation itself.” That experience served as a springboard for what she explored in her next collection, in Seoul—the idea of how translation is an art form, and how the history of a country impacts the words you use to title and explain a piece, and how it’s received. “I began to ask myself, what if [this work can] represent something so universal and beyond language? What if there were no translators? How would it have 23

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Opposite: “The Smoke of Incense, the Smoke of the Shaft,” 26" x 36", watercolor on paper, 2021 Above (left-right): “Come.”, 26" x 36", watercolor on paper, 2021 (selected for the An Eye to the Future exhibition at Malibu City Gallery, Ca.); “Lake Treasures,” 18" x 24", watercolor on paper, 2021 Below: Wagashi exhibition opening at Hoget in Saikai, Nagasaki, Japan

gone if there were no signposts? That’s where I’m trying to bring audiences. There’s something about what instant gratification has done to us on so many levels. And that’s unsettling for American audiences, too.” Her work, she says, is intuitive, in the moment; very much a product of what she has been experiencing, meditating on, thinking about. “What I’m making is a reflection of the time-space-place I’m in at the time. It’s not always as straightforward, as directly tied to a contained experience, but I do find that when I’m here, I am reaching for paint in aqua blue, green, sand colors.” Grambush’s recent exhibition, “You Can Come Home,” at Commongrounds Cooperative in Traverse City, spanned several collections from the past two years, including pieces featured in her exhibitions in Japan and South Korea. Putting them together in one exhibit here at home, she says, was revelatory in discerning the hope toward which they all seem to be reaching: a current of peace, the assurance of welcome, the invitation of grace and a reminder that all that we see is not all that there is. The pieces exhibited in places where she does not speak the language, save the shared experience of viewing the work, have a particular power for her. “And I found that even then,” Grambush says, “we can be worlds unto ourselves. There are some places that language cannot go.” Cara McDonald is executive editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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LOCAL TICKE T S . ONE PLACE . Various Dates Sunday Brunch on the Farm, Black Star Farms 2/7 Comedy with Camila Ballario, Traverse City Comedy Club 2/14 Night at the Light: Tour & Tower Climb, Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum 2/15 Murder Mystery Masquerade Dinner, Otsego Club and Resort 2/18 Crocodile Palace Collaboration Dinner, The Cook’s House M y N o rth T i ck ets.co m 8 0 0 . 8 3 6 . 0 717 0225 Alexa Grambush.indd 26

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northern home & cottage FOR THE WAY YOU L I VE UP NORTH

With its white-oak floors and black and white palette, the home’s interior reflects the sublimity of the exterior. -Lissa Martin, Homes Contributor

DOWNTOWN FLATS WITH SCANDINAVIAN STYLE . 28 P

A NORTHWOODS HOME FOR THE GENERATIONS . 38 P

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FROM HISTORIC BRICK TO MODERN CHIC house and home

AN OLD TRAVERSE CITY STOREFRONT FINDS NEW LIFE AS A TEXTILE SHOP AND COZY RENTAL FLATS—WITH A DELICIOUSLY SUSTAINABLE BENT. B y L I S S A M A R T I N / Photos by RAQUEL LAUREN

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n 2022 Jen Vander Roest and her husband, Steve, were looking for a downtown building to house Jen’s growing independent textile brand, eelo, (formerly Fresh Water Textiles)— a venture that had grown exponentially since she’d started it in her home 10 years ago. Eelo was a product of Vander Roest’s passion for quality fabric and also her knowledge (based on a career in environmental science) of the issues facing the textile world. “I was committed to zero microfibers, plastics and nylons in the products I designed and produced,” she says. “That is when I began building relationships with weaving houses and family mills to explore the ability to scale my company while being completely committed to sustainable fabrics.” Over the years, eelo products—blankets, towels, bedding, table linens and much more—have made their way into fine boutiques and hospitality venues. Along the way, Vander Roest’s flagship store and production studio, located in Traverse City’s Warehouse District, had outgrown its space. The couple’s search for a commercial

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building turned into a far bigger adventure when they learned that the stately, Victorian-era building at the corner of Front and Union, in the heart of downtown Traverse City, was for sale. Known since its construction in 1890 as the Masonic Building, it housed the city’s beloved Trude Hardware for decades and still houses the legendary Robertson’s Hair Center, established in 1903. Amazingly, however, the building had only had two owners in all those years—the second

being Jack Miller, a respected figure in Traverse City who had kept the four-story building in pristine condition, as had his heirs over the two decades since he passed. The Vander Roests immediately saw the potential in the building and believed that they could create a project that would be as good for eelo— which could move into the large space on the ground floor that had once held Trude Hardware—as it would for Traverse City. “In a downtown, es-

pecially in a prominent location, you could easily have big chains come in if people didn’t take initiative,” Jen says. The couple’s friends, Roche and Leslie Featherstone, joined the Vander Roests in the Front + Union project. There was no doubt in either of the couples’ minds that they would bring the same sustainability ethos that Jen had incorporated in eelo into their new project. They would, of course, use eelo bedding, pillows and other textiles in the guest flats.

Above: History and modern design blend seamlessly in The Flats—an aesthetic that particularly shines in this unit with its view of the city’s equally historic Hannah & Lay Building across the street. Opposite: The kitchen in each unit is outfitted with a different colorful tile backsplash and matching eelo table linens. The company is named for the Vander Roests’ black Lab—who in turn was named for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, ‘īlio holo i ka uaua, which means “dog that runs in rough water.”

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Photography by Beth Singer

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But all of that would come later. First came a top-to-bottom interior renovation to turn the old building into six boutique flats and a handful of spaces they planned to lease to creatives—a mix they hoped would bring a lively clientele to the building. Although tearing down the old building would be easier than restoration and bringing it up to modern codes, the two couples chose the

harder road. Working with architect Ray Kendra of Environment Architects and the crew at Grand Traverse Construction, they removed the drywall and dropped ceilings to reveal the original brick walls, wood planking and fireplaces. Among the elements the couples’ salvaged was the ornate railing that had graced the stairway since 1890. “Uncovering, cleaning and reusing these elements not only honors the past but also embodies sustainability—and it’s undeniably cool,” Jen says. The outcome of that renovation are six units ranging from one to three bedrooms, all outfitted with kitchens, some with views of West Grand Traverse Bay. To imagine how each unit should be outfitted, Jen and Steve turned to their own experiences traveling abroad with their children. “We wanted to create spaces that we would enjoy, and

Above: Guests sleep cocooned in organic eelo bed linens from owner Jen Vander Roest’s own line. “The scientist part of me knew that I was not going to work with microfibers and plastics and nylons,” Vander Roest says. “That’s when I started going to the mills and talking to them about what could be made. I wanted pure linen and organic cotton.”

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that we knew that couples, families and groups would love. We wanted it very clean and simple so that people could come and go right out the doors to Front Street or walk the block to the bay and enjoy their time here.” To that end, Vander Roest worked with Blu Dot of Minneapolis, whose in-house designers produce sustainable furniture with clean, Scandinavian lines. The entire project was completed in an astonishing seven months. For more than a year now, families, couples and folks on their own have checked in so they could explore downtown Traverse City’s boutiques, eateries and bars, or hit the nearby beaches and wineries. All the life they’ve breathed into the old building delights and awes its new owners. And Vander Roest’s favorite part—aside from having both businesses under one roof? “When guests share how much they appreciate and notice the little pieces that we put so much intention into when remodeling—all of which celebrates well over a century of Traverse City history.”

Above: The design team preserved as much historic brick as possible; The floor in each bathroom has a unique tile pattern.

resources Architect: Ray Kendra, Environment Architects Contractor: Grand Traverse Construction HVAC: D&W Mechanical Electrical: Windemuller Electric Surfaces: Stratus Marble & Granite Signage: Image360 Flooring: Northern Floor & Tile Service

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Mountain Modern Meets Coastal 13 design strategies for filling your home with texture, style and warmth by CARA MCDONALD

ozy is having a moment— with “Mocha Mousse” being named Pantone’s Color of the Year and “mountain modern” capturing our interior design dreams, it’s clear our collective hearts are longing for design that’s not only visually clean, but with warmth and comfort layered throughout. “Using earthy tones, natural materials and beautiful textures—this leads to designs that are timeless,” says Sarah Sevin, interior design manager at Quiet Moose in Petoskey. “They still feel modern and sophisticated, but with a softness that’s inviting.” Here’s exactly how The Quiet Moose creates modern spaces that layer on the warmth: • Choose fabrics that are durable and soft. “Select leathers and high-performance velvet fabrics that have a nice hand to them. Also, bouclé has been huge—we use it to add interest and texture in monochromatic spaces.” • Use shapes with softness. “The sofa might have a track arm, but with a soft curve to it. Use more organic shapes for the coffee and cocktail tables—like large round pieces or live-edge wood.” • Think white oak, cerused wood for texture and softness. “We’re choosing bleached woods; for example, walnut knocks down into gorgeous, subdued tones.” • Add natural or natural lookalike stone flooring. “We’re loving taupey limestone looks with their texture and color.” • Create interest with beams. “We often use barn beams in ceilings or mantels—stained to match the flooring.” • Choose organic light fixtures. “Shapes that echo branches make this look work—and always on a dimmer so you can create ambiance.”

• Hardware stays contemporary—sleek and simple, not center stage. “Quality materials have a sturdy feel. The sleek functionality of the hardware pops against well-designed cabinetry.” • Frame the outside with windows. “Many of the homes we design are waterfront, so we maximize the view, which acts as a huge piece of art. Motorized window coverings control the ambiance and temperature, diffusing the light that’s streaming in.” • Add large-scale art. “Triptychs featuring nature scenes, like forests or water, create a sense of the outdoors within, making soaring ceilings feel more intimate.” • Always accessorize. “Add throw blankets and lots of pillows, because they instantly infuse layers of texture and interest. Update lamp shades, reframe art by switching from black frames to wood for softness.” • Sneak in some wallpaper. “We frequently incorporate wallpaper in dining rooms and bathrooms; something bold and natural, like birch trees to add drama.” • Pile on the books and candles. “Even the flameless faux candles create a cozy atmosphere and books add a homey feel.” • Invest in high-end faux greenery. “Small-leaf trees such as Ficus and Olive feel soft and are great fillers in empty corners.” F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 5

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house and home

A HOME FOR THE GENERATIONS FORWARD-THINKING CLIENTS TEAM UP WITH A CUTTING-EDGE DESIGN AND BUILD FIRM TO CREATE A HOME FOR THE AGES. B y L I S S A M A R T I N / Photos by JES SICA FARRAN

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O n a chilly morning in 2018, Justin Roberts and Matt Chaperon of Black Birch Design + Build walked through thick cedar woods that sloped to a peninsula on Lake Charlevoix. A high-pressure system had recently moved over the lake, pinning a thick fog onto the site. “As I walked toward the lake it just kept getting foggier and foggier and foggier,” recalls Roberts, the firm’s principal designer. It was a mystical moment on the property that he began calling Foggy Bottom that day—a moment that highlighted the ancient, sacred connection between lake and land for the designer. Roberts could easily imagine the home his clients, Gretchen Grebe and Russ DePriest, wanted on the site—a home that

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they hoped would meld a Northwoods cozy cottage feeling with enough space for their family for decades, even generations, to come. The rest of the couple’s wish list for their new home was straightforward. Russ wanted a workshop; Gretchen, a craft room—and a place in the kitchen customized for a handcrafted French Lacanche range. Russ was also interested in pursuing a rainscreen on the home’s exterior walls, similar to one the couple had seen at Farm Club, a forward-looking restaurant, farm market and brewery in Traverse City. Equipped with his marching orders and his innate feeling for the couple’s sensibilities, Roberts went to work on the design. The result is a transitional-style take on a quintessential Northwoods cottage. Using various roof lines, heights and jogs in the facades, Roberts was able to create the illusion of an old home that had been added onto over the years. “I wanted it to appear as a compound that had been in the same family for a couple hundred years. As if one generation added a second floor and then maybe another generation added a

Left: The landscaping, done by Landscape Logic, has a subtle Asian garden feel. The painstakingly created water feature allows visitors to cross a stream to the home’s entrance. Below: The first floor has a sense of serenity, thanks to a palette of warm wood, black and white. Opposite: The handmade French Lacanche range is the kitchen’s command center.

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This page: The upstairs rooms diverge from the quiet palette below with bursts of fun wallpaper and trendy lighting.

wing over here,” he says. The home’s black-stained exterior and black-framed windows make a decidedly modern statement, as does the rain screen that the team at Black Birch was enthusiastic about installing for both its aesthetic and functional properties. While the screen helps the home “breathe” out moisture, its three-inch gap between the cedar siding spaced at half an inch with a quarter-inch gap to the black (Tyvek-like) home wrap, “gives a shadow gap,” says Roberts. “It’s very expressive.” The exterior’s pièce de résistance, however, is a water feature that Roberts designed to honor the home’s boggy site while directing runoff from

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Outdoor Living at its Finest

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rain and springs at the top of the slope in an artful way. The human-made stream begins at a stone-lined pond near the far end of the driveway, flows under a boardwalk that leads to the home’s entrance, then wraps around the home to drop in a waterfall that ends at a lakeside patio before it’s pumped back to the pond in a closed-loop system. With its white-oak floors and black and white palette, the home’s interior reflects the sublimity of the exterior. As she dreamed it would, Gretchen’s black and gold Lacanche stove holds court in

the kitchen from a central wall clad in white subway tiles. The couple happily attests the construction process overseen by Matt Chaperon was as harmonious as the design. “We loved working with Black Birch—everything from their sense of style to execution—this house is just so well built,” Gretchen says. It’s all just as Roberts and Chaperon envisioned from the get-go: the home at the enchanted place where water meets land will live on for generations.

This page: Gretchen got her wished-for crafting room; The handsome greenhouse tethers the home to the outdoors.

resources Design & Build: Black Birch Design + Build Interior Design: KLK Design Building Materials: Preston Feather Kitchen Cabinetry: Kitchens North Landscape: Landscape Logic, Kalkaska Plumbing and Heating Appliance Installation: R & R Installation Excavation: Sommer Solutions Advanced Treatment Septic Installation: Performance Engineers

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Whether you head North for vacation or a day trip. Start planning your next adventure on MyNorth.com

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The Cu l i nary North local restaurants · craft drinks · seasonal cuisine

“

Looking through [Steele’s] dessert case feels like a walk down memory lane. —ASSOCIATE EDITOR ALLISON JARRELL ACOSTA

A NOSTALGIC BAKERY COMEBACK photo by Allison Jarrell Acosta

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The Cu l i nary North Destination Eats

HOW SWEET Indulge in a moment of nostalgia at this beloved Traverse City bakeshop. photos and story by ALLISON JARRELL ACOSTA

tep inside sweet tartlette and you’ll be greeted by a rainbow of macarons, cheerful cake pops sprinkled to perfection and cupcakes frosted with vanilla bean, dark chocolate and every flavor in between. It’s a welcome sight for longtime fans of pastry chef extraordinaire Sarah Steele, who closed up shop in 2021 after six years in business. Steele says she and her small team were burned out after working through a busy post-pandemic wedding cake rush. After some rest, she began teasing her treats at pop-ups and markets in 2023. “I couldn’t stay away,” she says with a smile. Last September, she returned Sweet Tartlette to its brick-and-mortar glory.

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The walls of Steele’s new Union Street bakeshop are painted Cherry Chip Buttercream—a pastel hue of baby pink she achieved by whipping up a batch of her famous buttercream (in her pink KitchenAid mixer, no less) to find an exact color match. Steele folds that same passion and attention to detail into all of her treats, from custom wedding cakes and dessert tables to grab-and-go confections steeped in nostalgia. She takes time to make high-quality ingredients, such as homemade vanilla extract, and doesn’t shy away from old-school flavors, like her mom’s favorite—coconut cake with lemon curd filling—and her sister’s choice: the iconic cherry chip cake, of course. Steele grew up with a sweet tooth, often indulging in all things Hostess, so it should come as no surprise that looking through her dessert case feels like a walk down memory lane. Last fall, this author fell in love with a pumpkin whoopie pie: caramel and brown butter buttercream piped between two super-soft pumpkin cakes. And there’s even an homage to the stately Ding Dong—the Luna Cake—featuring two layers of chocolate devil’s food cake filled with vanilla bean buttercream and dipped in dark chocolate. Think elevated comfort treats that deserve a proper wine pairing. Don’t Miss: Speaking of pairings, Sweet Tartlette now offers beverages like wine and cider for off-site enjoyment, thanks to a new liquor license. And with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Steele is excited to launch splits of Champagne adorned with a shareable box of macarons or chocolate-covered strawberries. Grab a treat (or two … or three) to-go and enjoy a cozy night in. For info on custom orders—we see you, vintage heart cake—head to sweettartlette.com.

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The Cu l i nary North Bite

The grilled mac ’n’ cheese at Bridge Street Taproom.

OUTRAGEOUS SANDWICHES Over the years, our writers and editors have come across many a sandwich—some lackluster, some superb. Come winter, when we’re in need of especially hearty fare, these sumptuous stacks stand out from the crowd. GRILLED MAC ’N’ CHEESE

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BBQ PORK

Outside, snow whirls over Round Lake but inside it’s all frothy pints of porter and toasty sandwiches at Bridge Street Taproom. Charlevoix’s bustling craft beer and comfort food hangout pushes a creative spectrum of brew-friendly vittles like smoked brisket nachos, naan bread pizzas and a heroic grilled mac and cheese sandwich with Plath’s bacon, avocado and sriracha aioli. –Tim Tebeau

Traverse City’s Outpost expanded its menu this fall, curated in partnership with The Mill Glen Arbor, and this two-hands-required sandwich is a triumph. Mortadella, salami, provolone, mild peppers, red onion and Italian mayo are generously layered between two slices of soft, salty focaccia. Complete your lunchtime bliss with a cardamom molasses cookie and a snowy stroll down Front Street. –Ashlyn Korienek

After you’ve explored the icy splendor of nearby Esch Beach, the good people at Jim’s Joint are ready to fix you a sammie heavy with succulent, barely sauced smoked pulled pork. Squeeze on the Benzie Burn—a homemade sauce with enough heat to hug you then let you go. The corncakes (a riff on the Midwestern delight that is Jiffy Corn Casserole) and potato salad are the stars of the sides. –Emily Tyra

photo by Todd Zawistowski

Bridge Street Taproom, Charlevoix

Outpost, Traverse City

Jim’s Joint, Honor

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photo by Rick Kane, courtesy of GTRLC

Love of the Land

get there PYATT LAKE: THE BILL CARLS NATURE PRESERVE Hike this serene Old Mission Peninsula property in the still of winter, and you’ll be treated to the drumming echo of pileated woodpeckers and perhaps the sight of an owl or two resting atop a lofty perch. This enchanting 159-acre preserve is Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s oldest (protected in 1992), and offers the first Universally Accessible (UA) trail on the peninsula, nestled along Pyatt Lake. GTRLC is actively fundraising to continue trail and access improvements, including a UA trail extension that would connect the parking area on Pyatt Road with the Peninsula Drive trailhead. For more info on the project or to donate, visit gtrlc.org. –A.J.A.

52 T R A V E R S E N O R T H E R N M I C H I G A N

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