Traverse Northern Michigan, July 2023

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EXPLORE YOUR SHORE

Snorkel a SECRET SHIPWRECK Paddle a WILD OASIS Photograph the PRETTIEST LIGHTHOUSE

SPECIAL INSERT

Real Estate & Home Services

JULY 2O23

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$6.5O

24 HOURS IN ELK RAPIDS / INSIDER’S FOURTH UP NORTH / FOOD TRUCK DELIGHTS

6/7/23 10:08 AM

THE SHAWN SCHMIDT GROUP LUXURY LISTINGS

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BEAUTIFUL TRAVERSE CITY HOME ON OVER AN ACRE WITH HEATED POLE BARN

OLD MISSION PENINSULA ESTATE ON 6+ ACRES WITH POLE BARN & SHARED WEST BAY FRONTAGE

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6/12/23 1:03 PM

Building and Renovating Northern Michigan’s Finest Residences

joel@joelpetersonhomes.com • 516 E. Front St., Traverse City • 231.994.2168 0723_TVM_TOC_masthead.indd 2

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7.23

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

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A L I B E R AT E D L A N D S C A P E Seven years ago, Megan Gilger came close to letting her popular Fresh Exchange lifestyle blog wither on the vine. Instead, she dug deeper, put down new roots and weeded out what she didn’t value until she grew what did.

B Y LY N D A T W A R D O W S K I W H E A T L E Y / P H O T O S B Y M I K E G I L G E R

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photo by Mike Gilger

C O C K TA I L T I M E S

The editor of the newly released The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails, Elevated and Expanded shares how the collection came to be—and the role Northern Michigan plays in his love of mixology.

Plus, recipes to try now.

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T H E N O RT H ’ S P I N - U P

Frankfort’s famous Point Betsie Lighthouse is known for being the most photographed lighthouse in the state. Local photographers share what makes a visit so magical.

BY ALLISON JARRELL

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A F T E R N O O N AT T H E M E T R O P O L I S

A crew of four friends set off to snorkel a Lake Michigan shipwreck— and they’re back before happy hour.

Dive below the waves with them.

BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS / PHOTOS BY LIAM KAISER

BY E L I Z A B E T H E D WA R D S / P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S

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CAREFREE CONDO LIVING Nearly brand new (2021) Main floor living 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom Finished lower level Attached 2-car garage Walking trails nearby Furnishings can be sold separately for a turn-key experience!

2235 Chelsea Lane, Traverse City MLS #1910942 | $625,000

521 Randolph Street, Traverse City, MI 49684

Ann Porter

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DEPART M E N TS

ASSOCIATE BROKER

7 | EDITOR'S NOTE

231.944.4959

Ann@AnnPorterTC.com

9 | UP NORTH

Visit AnnPorterTC.com for more information.

An insider’s guide to spending the 4th Up North; Sweetwater Floral’s contemporary-cool new flagship store; meet artist Nancy Nash; events you’ll want to attend.

— Celebrating 67 Years — 1956 - 2023

66 | LAST CALL

Muddle Saskatoon berries for a haute new cooler.

68 | LOVE OF THE LAND

Cedar River Preserve is one of Michigan’s last wild places.

21 | TRAVEL

Explore Elk Rapids like a local.

(Your day starts with doughnuts and ends with pizza at sunset.)

25 | OUTDOORS

Take a spin around Traverse City’s Boardman Lake Loop Trail.

Hull’s of Frankfort Open Year Round Family Owned & Operated Since 1956 419 Main Street, Frankfort | 231-352-4642

hullsoffrankfort.com

photos by Prein&Newhof (top) and Dave Weidner (bottom)

61 | CULINARY NORTH

Food truck finds: Izakaya-style street eats in Traverse City (think Japanese fried chicken sandwiches and soba with pulled pork and coconut cream), plus clucking good barbecue in Ludington.

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Follow Us On Social Media facebook.com/mynorthmedia instagram.com/mynorthmedia

ON THE COVER

pinterest.com/mynorthmedia

Snorkeling the Metropolis, East Grand Traverse Bay PHOTO BY LIAM KAISER

4 T R AV E R S E N O R T H E R N M I C H I G A N

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Traverse

NORTHERN

MICHIGAN A MyNorth Media Publication

Vol. 43 | No. 2

PRESIDENT

Michael Wnek Cara McDonald

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

SENIOR EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT & SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST CULINARY COLUMNIST

Your local source for carefully curated perennials, trees, and shrubs.

7740 N. Swede Road Northport, MI 49670 (231) 944-6663

www.peninsulaperennials.com

Elizabeth Edwards Carly Simpson Allison Jarrell Rachel Soulliere Stacey Brugeman

Sleeping Bear Woods

Elizabeth Aseritis Caroline Dahlquist

PROOFREADERS

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

ART DIRECTOR PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Kandace Chapple Kim Schneider Lynda Twardowski Wheatley

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

Rachel Watson Julie Parker Erin VanFossen Mike Alfaro Ann Gatrell Julie James Meg Lau Kirk Small

DIRECTOR OF SALES SALES COORDINATOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

MARKETING DIRECTOR MARKETING COORDINATOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Two Wo oded

Tim Hussey Theresa Burau-Baehr

Suzy Voltz

(231) 651-9711 suzy.voltz@gmail.com

3426 Old Trail • mls 188

Lots

RealEstateOne.com

57 N. Michigan Ave • Beulah • 231-882-4449

Erin Lutke Ashlyn Korienek Nichole Earle Beth Putz

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EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES

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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: $29.95 for 12 issues. Single issue price: $6.50.

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BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION TODAY 231-935-1440 545 S. GARFIELD AVE SUITE A, TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49686

WWW.TRAVERSECITYORTHODONTICS.COM

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D I S COV E R D E L I G H T F U L

We’re on Lake Michigan inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Crystal clear water, sandy beaches, pools, tennis, an inviting restaurant and fun bar on the shore. Family fun and lively entertainment at Mountain Village.

With choices...a resort hotel, inn, lodge, or privately-owned vacation home.

All with membership privileges at our waterfront club.

Discover delightful, delightfully free of crowds.

For reservations, 231-334-5100.

thehomesteadresort.com 0723_TVM_edit note.indd 6

|

Glen Arbor, Michigan 6/9/23 10:26 AM

editor's note

ADVENTURE FOR THE REST OF US

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by CARA MCDONALD

his past weekend i decided to take my mountain bike to the trails at Palmer Woods Forest Reserve for the first time. It was also the first ride of the season for me, and so it involved rummaging for my bike shorts—why is every piece of outdoor clothing I own black?—and putting the new bike rack on the car with some subtle cursing. The idea was a bit of a wild hair; I’d already puttered, gardened and farmers-marketed. I needed to go somewhere and get a little sweaty, and a jaunt to the trails seemed like an easy enough lift.

I don’t actually identify as a mountain biker. I came to it through road biking (also don’t identify: I bought the road bike during the Lance Armstrong years) which I came to through a pedal-til-you-barf spin class that had a hot instructor and good beats. So, I sort of acquired the legs and then the bikes and now I do bike, but I also know enough to realize when something isn’t “my sport.” In my experience, mountain biking is pretty fun, mostly, except when it’s terrifying. Or cold out. Or involves a dawn-patrol start time. Or ends in a sandy patch with a separated rib and bleeding abrasions.

I value adventure and think I’ve done a lot of it; some involved things like sharks or making poor decisions in a Bangkok bar. Turns out the definition of adventure includes the notions of “hazard” and “danger.” I’ve always held to a sense that it was just about putting your eyes on the horizon

and sallying forth, maybe going somewhere wild and pretty without a lot of people. But part of what makes adventure fun IS the risk, just a sip of it; the danger brings out the brighter tasting notes and without it, adventure would just be a Really Fun Activity.

I’m not risk averse, but as I reach a certain point in my life, I like my adventures to like me back—not to leave me bruised and bleeding, or with my ego wilting in the hot summer sun. This was baked into our request when we circled around to contributor Liam Kaiser; Liam has taken our readers on some interesting jaunts, most recently a trip to Isle Royale which went well until Mother Superior got a little riled up. Could he guide us somewhere cool yet friendly? You know, maybe with some post-worthy photo ops not requiring tons of gear, specialized knot-tying or hours of driving down remote two-tracks?

This month, he brings us along on a snorkel outing anyone can do. Sure, you’ll need to work for it—get on a boat or paddle a board out to find an old wooden shipwreck in warm, shallow waters just begging to be explored. But it’s not stupidly dangerous or tediously time-consuming and packs enough summer-adventure feels to put some color in your cheeks.

No matter what we identify with as our brand of getting out there, we all need that. Just a soupçon of adrenaline to let us know we’re alive, we’ve still got it. As they say: A ship is safe inside the harbor, but that is not what ships are built for.

I unloaded my bike feeling optimistic—nothing but beginner and intermediate trails here—but still my heart started to pound. Maybe I imagined my poor rib creaking or my scars burning. As I wound through the beech trees and pines and the trails proved grippy and kind, I loosened my hold on the handlebars and started to relax.

These trails were built for bikes, especially riders like me.

Fast, friendly, rolling, but no unpleasant surprises, overly tight turns, slippery roots or jarring rock gardens. Every pedal stroke resuscitated my confidence a bit more, and then my joy. I let off the brakes, starting to seek out the bumps and dips, to opt-in for the tabletops and rocks.

Just enough to know: Maybe I’ve still got it.

Cara McDonald Executive Editor cara@mynorth.com J U LY 2 0 2 3

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6/9/23 10:29 AM

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6/7/23 10:27 AM

Up North.

PEOPLE | NATURE | ARTS | NOSTALGIA | BUZZ | WISDOM | CURIOSITIES

AN INSIDER’S FOURTH UP NORTH

by LYNDA TWARDOWSKI WHEATLEY

8 events locals love—and will happily recommend to a friend.

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rguably the most action-packed day and night of summer in Northern Michigan, July 4th in the North is bursting—in air, on water and across most every town—with fireworks, parades and patriotic parties of all kinds. Your challenge: choosing. Here, our well-intentioned attempt to help you find the all-American North Country fun that fits you best:

MEGA MUSICAL

A TWO-FER

Fort Mackinac will celebrate Independence Day much as its soldiers did more than a century ago: with music, banners and bunting; patriotic toasts; games of catch, hoop and stick, and Jacob’s Ladder. Watch fireworks explode overhead from the fort’s hilltop perch or scurry west of downtown to the schoolyard on Main Street; its wateradjacent location gets you closer to the action and the Mighty Mac, lit up red, white and blue-tiful for the occasion.

The sky over Little Traverse Bay hosts not one but two fireworks shows on the Fourth: Harbor Springs schedules its start for 10:30 p.m. Petoskey, just four miles across the water, aims for the thereabouts-ish “dusk.” Whether the neighboring shows ultimately overlap or light up the night in succession, you’re guaranteed two for the price of none.

photo by Taylor Brown

THE BIGGEST

Mackinaw City bills its Fourth of July fireworks—starting at dusk, after a peppy Patriotic concert at Conkling Heritage Park—the largest display in Northern Michigan.

(We’re inclined to believe; the city takes its fireworks shows so seriously it also hosts two a week, every Friday and Sunday night, all summer long.)

A 30-minute multi-genre musical mashup timed to the rhythm of jaw-dropping pyrotechnics dancing over West Grand Traverse Bay makes this 10:30 p.m. event a favorite at Traverse City’s National Cherry Festival—one worthy of the name of the nonprofit that makes it happen, the TC Boom Boom Club.

FUN, CIRCA 1880

WE THE PEOPLE

Neither sun nor wind nor heat nor parade traffic stays volunteers from delivering a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at the doors of multiple Leelanau County post offices at 10 a.m. each Fourth of July. Find locations and call ahead to confirm: postallocations.com.

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WHEN OUR CLIENTS SPEAK, WE LISTEN. It’s a simple but effective way of helping people reach their financial goals - and it’s a way of doing business that Raymond James has pioneered for more than 50 years. Make your voice count. Partner with one of our financial advisors and get guidance that’s in tune with your life. LIFE WELL PLANNED.

Susan G. Carlyon, WMS Senior Vice President, Investments ® Wealth Management Specialist James Spencer, ChFC®, AAMS® Financial Advisor Stoops, AWMA Jeff K.JimPasche, CFA , CRPC First Vice President, Investments Senior Vice President, Investments ® Jennifer Youker, CFP , CRPC® Traverse City Complex Manager Financial Advisor Dennis J. Brodeur Vice President, Investments Wealth Management Specialist Trevis E. Gillow Vice President, Investments Wealth Management Specialist Susan Carlyon First Vice President, Investments Wealth Management Specialist Keith Carlyon Senior Vice President, Investments ®

®

Maggie Beeler, AAMS®, CRPC® Investment Portfolio Associate Shelley A. Stefanits Complex Administrator Manager West Michigan Complex

Much as we love Frankfort’s sand sculpture contest, kids’ bike decorating competition and small town–vibe parade and fireworks, our favorite Fourth of July finale is one the city started in the ’70s: a hunt for a hidden brass medallion, a relic of the city’s 1930s-founded Soaring Club. Once each day from July 1 to 4, the Frankfort Elberta Chamber of Commerce posts a progressively easier clue—usually tied to community history—leading hunters to the hiding spot. Whoever finds the medallion first wins $150 and a little historic footnote of their own.

West Grand Traverse Bay

Courtney C. Jackson Complex Business Coordinator Barbara S. Shellman, MBA, APMA™ Accredited Portfolio Advisor™ PaulManagement M. Bonaccini Financial Advisor

Vice President, Investments Susan Stepka Accredited Asset Management Specialist Client Service Associate Tyne Hyslop Financial Advisor Jennifer Youker, CFP®, CRPC® Financial Advisor Eric H. Palo Financial Advisor James Spencer, ChFC, AAMS CRAZY PARADE Associate Vice President, Investments An exploding volcano, a dancing Robert Fenton five-person flag, Sasquatch and leashed hamsters have appeared in Horton Financial Advisor

13818 S West13818 Bay Shore Traverse MI 49684 (231) 946-3650 S WestDr Bay• Shore Dr. •City, Traverse City, MI •49684 (231) 946-3650 • www.raymondjames.com/Traverse-City ©2015 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Raymond James® is a registered trademark of Raymond James Financial, Inc. 15-BDMKT-1770 ME/CW 4/15 Chartered Retirement Plan SpecialistSM, AWMA®, Accredited Wealth Management AdvisorSM; CRPC®, Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM and AAMS® are trademarks or registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning in the United States and/or other countries. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks Certified Financial Planner™ and CFP® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Bay’s annual (and infamous) July 4 parade. In 2023, with a “Let’s Go Retro!” theme and some of Samuel Horton’s own (very enthusiastic) descendants at the helm, we’re expecting a parade of historic proportions. See facebook.com/ hortonbayparade2022 (not a misprint).

GET YOUR DUCKS IN A RACE

At 2 p.m., you can watch hundreds of rubber ducks race down the Boyne River from Old City Park (27 S. Lake St., Boyne City) or, better yet, buy one from the Boyne Area Chamber for $10 and a chance to win a prize between $50 and $1,000 … depending, of course, how lucky your ducky.

photo by Dave Weidner

Jeff K. Pasche, CFA® Senior Vice President, Investments Traverse City Branch Manager

HISTORICAL HIDE-N-SEEK

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Up North Buzz NEW UP NORTH Cool finds, community updates and sweet new businesses.

CUT & RUN 155 GARLAND ST., STE. 101, TRAVERSE CITY

Coffee, cocktails and plenty of co-working space in a downtown setting across the street from the bay. Plus, fresh pastries delivered daily from Bay Bread Co. cutandrun.co

TILLIE’S TAFEL ICE CREAM PARLOR 435 E. MITCHELL ST., PETOSKEY

The beloved bakery known for its cinnamon rolls has expanded next door, adding an ice cream parlor exclusively serving Moomers.

The shop will also sell Grand Traverse Pies. (Get a pie flight!) tilliestafel.com

A REASON TO CELEBRATE …

100 YEARS: A.R. PONTIUS FLOWER SHOP 592 E. MAIN ST., HARBOR SPRINGS

photos by Dave Weidner

In 1923, Arthur Pontius and his wife, Florence, grew award-winning gladiolus and lilies in the lot behind the shop, selling them in the same location the store is today. Now owned

by Jamie Beth Platte, the floral shop offers arrangements for weddings, special events and everyday occasions. pontiusflowers.com

Know of a business that just opened or have a fun community update?

Let us know at: editorial@traversemagazine.com

B

A new three-screen movie theater opened its doors in May with state-of-the-art projectors and sound systems. The cinema’s name pays tribute to Alpena’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, an underwater preserve that protects historic shipwrecks. alpenamovies.com

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S

GHT LI

S

HIG

H

INE

101 S. SECOND AVE., ALPENA

US

SANCTUARY CINEMA

echnically, Sweetwater Floral’s new SWEE contemporary-cool flagship store in the TW FLOR ATER heart of the village of Walloon Lake is a 4128 N A L flower shop. There are, after all, flowers WA L LO . M -75, ON L A for sale: botanical lovelies and woodsy whatsis KE chilling in coolers, singular seasonals popping from stout glasses on the walls, and garden-like piles of petals and stems strewn over wooden tables, being bibbidi-bobbidi-booed into wedding bouquets and centerpieces.

But thanks to the vision of owner, educator and fairy-godmother-like florist Kalin Sheick, this latest incarnation of Sweetwater Floral is so much more.

Sheick calls her 2015-founded biz a “flower-focused lifestyle brand.” And if that means sipping “fluffy coffee” while shopping her plants, garden goodies and Sweetwater swag; sprawling across a couch while whispering your wedding-day dreams; or taking one of her many virtual and in-person workshops—foraged and found fall wreaths, DIY planters, hand-tied bouquets, anyone?—it’s exactly the kind of lifestyle we want to cultivate.

Watch what’s blooming and the refreshingly real lifestyle guru Sheick (often fresh-scrubbed, make-up free and in a towel turban; always funny and frank) in action by following Sweetwater Floral on Instagram, or visit the shop at 4128 N. M-75. -L.T.W. J U LY 2 0 2 3

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6/11/23 10:16 PM

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6/7/23 10:27 AM

Up North Art Watch

CURIOUS CREATURES

by PATTY LANOUE STEARNS

Inside the wild imagination of Nancy Adams Nash.

T

raverse City native Nancy Adams Nash’s lively works kindle joy, mystery and questions: Who are these exotic creatures, and what do they represent? With titles such as “The Origin of Sculpture as Told by the Dragon,” one can only imagine how her mind runs wild when she sits at her easel and her cat-, deer- and alien-like images take form.

“I don’t have any preconceived ideas when I sit down,” Nash says. But what comes next is always the same process: First, she covers her canvas in a light color. After that dries, a thick coat of dark paint. Next, while the paint is still wet, she etches the lines for her figures. She then paints inside the lines, layering on colors for depth and texture. “The lines are kind of primitive, not straight,” she says.

Nash, who lives across from Houghton Lake in Prudenville with her Siamese cats, Panda and Lord Jameson, has been a painter for more than 45 years. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1975 from Michigan State University and spent a

year in Wayne State University’s Masters of Fine Arts program, after which she pursued her talents on the East and West coasts—making public murals, teaching and managing an art gallery before her homecoming to Michigan. Her works are in public and private collections across the U.S. “Animal-Vegetable-Mineral: Paintings by Nancy Adams Nash,” will be on exhibit through the summer at Crooked Tree Arts Center’s Bonfield Gallery in Petoskey, with a July 27 artist meet-and-greet. crookedtree.org

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SHIMMERING BLUE DIAMOND HAND CRAFTED MICHIGAN NECKLACE

Chimoski Bakery of Suttons Bay A small-town bakery that uses some of Grandma’s best recipes. cherry pie cherry muffins cherry cookies cherry danish cherry donuts ... we are all about eating cherries!

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6/9/23 10:44 AM

Up North Events

JULY JUBILEE

by ALLISON JARRELL

Savor these sweet summer days.

SAT 7/15 Charlevoix’s week-long Venetian Festival is filled with a carnival, fireworks, parades and games. July 15–22. venetianfestival.com

National Cherry Festival

SAT 7/1 The National Cherry Festival returns with outdoor concerts, parades and air shows featuring the legendary United States Air Force Thunderbirds. July 1–8. cherryfestival.org TUES 7/4 Celebrate Independence Day on Mackinac Island with a stone skipping contest for professionals and amateurs alike, followed by fireworks at dusk. mackinacisland.org

photo by Dave Weidner

FRI 7/7 At Blissfest Music Festival, bluegrass, blues, zydeco, Celtic, folk, jazz, Latin, world and dance music all share the stage July 7–9. blissfestfestival.org

SAT 7/8 The Accidentals—a female-fronted, multi-instrumental trio with Traverse City roots—heads to the U.P. for an evening of pop, rock and indie folk music at the Erickson Center for the Arts’ Pine Performance Center. MyNorthTickets.com

SAT 7/8 Head to Jacob’s Farm for Traverse City Shop and Sip, a handmade market featuring local artwork, pottery, jewelry, textiles and woodworking, with many vendors featuring cherry-inspired designs and themes. MyNorthTickets.com TUES 7/11 Gaylord’s Alpenfest honors the city’s heritage and partnership with its sister city, Pontresina, Switzerland. Expect five days of festivities including a parade, carnival, kids’ activities and live entertainment. July 11–15. gaylordmichigan.net

SAT 7/15 Join Otsego Resort for a Starlight Wine Walk, including a tour through the Sturgeon River Valley at dusk. Enjoy three wine stations along the trail, leading to a bonfire at The Beaver Dam. A nearby meadow at the final station provides a perfect star gazing location.

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THUR 7/20 The Friendly Garden Club of Traverse City hosts their 40th Annual Garden Walk, celebrating the history and gardens of the city (and the club’s 100th anniversary!). The walk features two historic neighborhoods: Boardman and Central.

MyNorthTickets.com FRI 7/21 Indian River Summerfest takes place the third week of July. Live music on the festival stage, craft show, classic car and truck show and more. July 21–23. irchamber.com FRI 7/21 Arcadia Daze celebrates the heritage of this sweet lakeside community. July 21–23. townshipofarcadia.org FRI 7/21 Grayling’s AuSable River Festival is home of the annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon, plus loads of family-friendly events. July 21–29. ausableriverfest.com THURS 7/27 The Northern Michigan Antique Flywheelers Club is hosting the 36th Annual Tractor, Engine and Craft Show in Boyne Falls. July 27–30. walloonlakeflywheelers.com J U LY 2 0 2 3

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Up North Wish You Were Here

FEEL THE THUNDER

photo by Michigan Sky Media

Airheads, keep your eyes on the sky over Traverse City's West Grand Traverse Bay between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. July 1 and 2—and be ready to duck. Among a half-dozen airborne wonders (a stunt plane, Huey and Coast Guard rescue copters,a MiG-17, Naval Rhinos and more!), the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, flying F-16 Fighting Falcons, will roar overhead, sometimes as low as 100 feet above ground and only 18 inches apart, for 30 solo and formation maneuvers executed at nearly 700 mph—just shy of the speed of sound. Shades suggested; earplugs recommended. -L.T.W.

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travel

24 HOURS IN ELK RAPIDS

by ALEA WILKINS

photo by Dave Weidner

How to explore this sweet shoreside village like a local.

B

link and you’ll unknowingly drive right past tiny Elk Rapids on US-31, missing its charming small-town quirks and sweeping coastal views. While there are plenty of fun ways to spend a day in this village squeezed between East Bay and Elk Lake, these are the can’t-miss stops according to a local. >

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travel

DON’T FORGET THE DOUGHNUTS

Mornings in Elk Rapids begin with the aroma of freshly baked goods wafting downtown thanks to The Flour Pot. This itty-bitty storefront doesn’t have space for tables, but is stacked with old-fashioned glass cases of doughnuts, cookies, coffee cakes, turnovers and more delights. When it comes to doughnuts, there’s no wrong choice. Flavors range from classics like glazed and nutty to Fruity Pebbles and s’mores. Pro tip: If you like to sleep in, place your order over the phone the night before to ensure you get the goods—they sell out fast.

DISCOVER PARADISE

photos by Tess Crowley

Between East Grand Traverse Bay, Elk River and Elk Lake, there’s no shortage of waterfront hangouts. While Memorial Park’s downtown location and playground make it a popular spot for families, those looking for a quieter beach day should drive seven minutes north to WilcoxPalmer-Shah Nature Preserve. Walk the short nature trail to find a secluded sandy shoreline along East Bay. FUEL UP

When midday hunger hits, grab a bite from The Dam Shop at the Elk Rapids Marina. The Dam’s food truck slings a variety of good eats, from falafel wraps layered with toum and pickled carrots to crispy chicken tacos doused in sweet chili

Veterans Memorial Park

sauce and slaw. Inside, find a pro shop, coffee shop, deli with grab-and-go items for boaters and beachgoers, and a full bar.

STROLL DOWNTOWN

Even as the day winds down, there is plenty of buzz in town.

Catch a movie at the Elk Rapids Cinema, an 80-year-old historic gem with a recently restored ceiling mural. Shop at Golden Hill Farms, a home and garden store with a fab selection of plants, and browse books and gifts at Word Love Goods. On Wednesdays, partake in a favorite weekly summer tradition, “Evenings on River Street,” when concession stands from local businesses line the main strip with food, live music, crafts and more family fun.

MAKE A DATE FOR SUNSET

Nothing beats grabbing a box of pizza and heading out to watch the sunset (Elk Rapids Day Park is a great spot to spread out a picnic blanket). Everyone knows the pesto at Chef Chucks on River Street is primo. We suggest ordering “The Chef Charles” with that famous pesto, feta, artichoke hearts, fresh garlic, kalamata olives and toasted pine nuts all atop a sesame crust.

Downtown Elk Rapids

Alea Wilkins is an Elk Rapids local and former editorial intern for Traverse Northern Michigan and MyNorth.com.

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outdoors

IN THE LOOP

by KANDACE CHAPPLE

photo by Prein&Newhof

Take a cool spin around Traverse City’s Boardman Lake this summer for a lollygagging good time.

Here’s the intel.

L

ast summer it finally happened: the long-awaited four-mile Boardman Lake Loop Trail just south of downtown Traverse City opened. It now wraps around Boardman Lake, offering bikers, hikers, walkers and strollerpushing parents the perfect in-town place to recreate.

Give the new-and-improved trail a loop-de-loop by bike, following my (leisurely) lead. > J U LY 2 0 2 3

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photo by Kandace Chapple

outdoors

awesome—you are literally riding high above the lake, making it look like a painted picture below. Then, behind the University Center, there’s a long downhill stretch that offers surprising speed. (Which was made evident when I almost branded a squirrel with my front tire.)

• At last—the coolest part of • Rally at Hull Park behind the Traverse Area District the trail—the Boardman Lake Bridge that takes you across Library; there’s typically plenty of parking. Set out heading the south end of the lake to Medalie Park. This stretch is west (counter-clockwise) around the lake. This section of full of lily pads and would be impassable if not for the cool the trail has been there for years and new bridge. There’s a sweeping curved winds past the boat launch, where lookout, and I suggest you take a photo there’s often a group of youthful sailors here. It’s gorgeous boardwalk, gorgeous TRAIL SNACKS taking to Boardman Lake. lake and gorgeous sky. (Hunger games: • Cross the big, old wood and steel You can also stop into the nearby plaza West Side bridge over the Boardman River. This is a and get gorgeous Brooklyn’s Pepperoni Right Brain Brewery, cool and somewhat eerie place to stop and Rolls and Chicago Style Pizza.)

Traverse City Whiskey Co. look over the edge. There are old pilings • From there, slip into the woods on North End and the train bridge running parallel. the east side of the lake. This is the oldest The Filling Station • Around the bend to the left, maybe part of the trail and truly serene. You feel Microbrewery a half-mile, hit up the new “Grand like you are away from it all and thoughts Traverse Fitness Court” tucked in just of the city disappear. It’s shaded and you South End north of the trail, by Oryana Commucan see the lake every inch of the way.

Brooklyn’s Pepperoni Rolls nity Co-op. This is an outdoor wellness Watch for swans and those sailboats I & Chicago Style Pizza center with blocks to jump and bars to told you about, plus golden retrievers out wrangle. (I am nowhere close to pullwalking their owners. ing off a public pull-up, but it was fun • Finally, four miles in, you’re back to to play around on it.)

Hull Park, refreshed and happy.

• Make your way to 14th Street and Right Brain Brewery.

For more info on the loop, head to traversetrails.org.

You may or may not have bevvie stops on the agenda, but it’s a refreshing foil to a solid workout.

Kandace Chapple is a freelance writer and avid Michigan • Now, enter the new part of the trail! This stretch is outdoor adventurer. mi-girl.com J U LY 2 0 2 3

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COCKTAIL TIMES THE EDITOR OF THE NEWLY RELEASED THE NEW YORK TIMES ESSENTIAL BOOK OF COCKTAILS, ELEVATED AND EXPANDED SHARES HOW THE COLLECTION CAME TO BE—AND THE ROLE NORTHERN MICHIGAN PLAYS IN HIS LOVE OF MIXOLOGY.

BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS

photo by Allison Jarrell

H

is work as deputy editor of The New York Times International Edition wrapped for the day, Steve Reddicliffe is carefully mixing four Mezcal Negronis at the kitchen counter in his Glen Arbor home—the once-upon-atime family summer place where he has lived and worked since the pandemic. The fortunate recipients of the sexy, burnt-orange-colored cocktails are his wife, Connie, photographer/editor Allison Jarrell here to shoot this story, and me. As he hands them out—one chunky cube clinking in the middle of each rocks glass—we all slip out to the deck with its breathtaking view of Sleeping Bear Bay. While the sun lowers into sheer clouds, casting diffused sparkles over pewter water, Reddicliffe talks about his long career in journalism, and the cocktails that have been stirred, shaken and sipped throughout it.

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Photo: George Etheredge © 2023 THE NEW YORK TIMES

Back in 2012, when Reddicliffe was the deputy editor of The Times Travel section, his friend and fellow editor, Michael Winerip, asked him to write a column called “A Quiet Drink.” It ran with the tagline: “Bars and restaurants where one can have grown-up conversation over a good drink.” Reddicliffe obliged, indulging in careful research primarily throughout the NYC area, but in one case, while visiting his in-laws at their Glen Arbor cottage, he departed, writing about Trattoria Stella in Traverse City. “It must have looked like I got hammered and went on an incredible jag to Michigan,” Reddicliffe says with a laugh.

“I love that bar.”

A year or so later, Reddicliffe was asked to edit a definitive tome on cocktails for The Times. He agreed and launched into a two-year deep dive of the paper’s cocktail coverage, beginning with mint juleps in 1886 and including recipes from the renowned food editor, Craig Claiborne—a man who loved a good cocktail as much as a fine dinner. The first edition of The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails was released in 2015. Five years later, the newspaper asked Reddicliffe to refresh it. Released last year, the “Elevated and Expanded” edition is packed with beautiful pictures of great drinks as well as a slew of new recipes.

In the meantime, the transition from New York life to Glen Arbor has been an easy one for the Reddicliffes; the colorful bar scene up here helps, they say, and they both love making the cocktail recipes from this very magazine, pulling inspiration from the seasonal, freshpicked ingredients. The couple has even been inspired to do a bit of Up North foraging.

“This is a beautiful place with many cocktail possibilities,” Reddicliffe says. “Yes, snipping at dusk,” he says with a chuckle, recalling a lilac bush at the edge of the woods that he passed recently and a lilac cocktail syrup he wanted to make.

Over the decades, Reddicliffe has enjoyed cocktails around the world at places famous and not-so famous (an Amore Amaro at Bar Sotto in Paris, The Victorian at Billy Sunday in Chicago, a Black Manhattan at Alice in Omaha all pop to his mind). Cherished also are his memories of the fine martinis he and Connie enjoyed with his parents, Violet and Don Reddicliffe, on this deck, when they owned the cottage. “Cocktails are a ritual. A punctuation at the end of the day,” he says. “They are fun to drink, fun to make and fun to drink with other people—people are just happier when you give them a good drink in a pretty glass.”

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Mezcal Negroni Yield: 1 drink Americans have been ordering classic cocktails with mezcal instead of the typical spirits. One of the most popular is the mezcal Negroni, in which the gin is replaced with the smoky agave spirit. The switch works well because mezcal is as assertive in its flavors as gin is, and can stand up to flavorful tough customers like sweet vermouth and Campari. A number of different mezcals work well in this mix; Del Magueys Vida brand is a good place to start in your experimenting.

—By Robert Simonson 1 ounce mezcal 1 ounce sweet vermouth 1 ounce Campari Orange twist, for garnish 1. Combine liquid ingredients in a mixing glass three-quarters filled with ice. Stir until chilled, about 30 seconds.

2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

3. Squeeze the orange twist over the surface, then slip it into the drink. Alternately, this drink can be served in a rocks glass over ice, also with an orange twist.

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Batched 50/50 Martini Yield: 6 (3 ¾-ounce) drinks Martinis are bound to kick up strong opinions that tend to intensify as more martinis are consumed. Gin versus vodka. Shaken versus stirred. Dirty? How dirty?

Olives, lemon twist or both? This batched recipe makes the biggest decisions for you: Gin — the spirit of choice — is paired with vermouth in equal measure, a ratio that means you and your guests can and should pour freely. From there, the drinker has full control to dirty and garnish to their heart’s content.

—By Rebekah Peppler 9 ounces dry gin 9 ounces dry vermouth 4½ ounces filtered water Lemon twists, green olives, olive brine, cocktail onions and orange bitters, for serving 1. Combine the gin, vermouth and water in a spouted measuring cup or pitcher, or a medium bowl. Pour the cocktail blend, using a funnel if needed, into a 750-milliliter bottle; seal, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to 2 weeks. (You can also freeze the 50/50 martini for several hours before serving.)

Photo: David Malosh; Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne © 2023 THE NEW YORK TIMES

2. To serve, pour 3 ¾ ounces into a coupe glass and serve immediately with assorted garnishes.

Frozen Tom Collins Yield: 6-8 drinks Think of this frozen drink as a Tom Collins meets Italian lemon ice: It’s refreshingly sweet-tart, boozy and fully capable of giving you brain freeze in a painfully nostalgic way. Since colder temperatures can shift the way we perceive sweetness, frozen drinks read less sweet on the palate and thus require a bit more added sugar to balance flavors. This recipe employs a final flourish of syrupy maraschino cherries, stirred in to taste. If you’re skipping the cherries or don’t have time to run out to stock up, you can simply add a bit more simple syrup to taste while blending. You’ll lose the brilliant color contrast—and the outright fun of snacking on ice-cold, candylike cherries— but, like most good drinks, this one’s adaptable.

—By Rebekah Peppler

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Photo: Christopher Testani; Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne © 2023 THE NEW YORK TIMES

8 ounces gin 6 ounces fresh lemon juice (from 3 to 4 large lemons) 4 ounces simple syrup 5 to 6 cups cracked or crushed ice cubes Maraschino cherries and syrup, preferably Luxardo, for serving 1. In an airtight container, combine the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup. Seal and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.

2. Transfer the chilled mixture to the blender, add the ice and blend until smooth and slushy.

3. Divide the mixture among 6 lowball glasses; garnish each with a few cherries and a drizzle of cherry syrup.

Serve immediately, and store any extras in the freezer in a covered container until ready to enjoy.

Simple Syrup Sugar is called for in many cocktails, both new and classic. While plain sugar can certainly be used to make these drinks, simple syrup—which is nothing more than sugar water—often leads to a better integration of ingredients and consistency of texture, with no stray granules lingering at the bottom of the glass.

—By Robert Simonson 1. Simmer equal parts sugar and water over a low flame until the sugar has dissolved.

2. Let the solution cool. It will keep for a week.

Store it in the fridge in a sealed container.

3. If you’re in a hurry, shake the sugar and water in a sealed container until the sugar disappears.

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Gin Cidre Yield: 1 drink Bright, botanical and lightly bubbly, this cocktail is an ideal entry point to fall drinking—and one that can easily take you straight through to spring. Look to a cider that’s dry, light and not overly powerful in acid or funk here: You want the botanicals of the gin and the salinity of the sherry to play an equal role in balancing the drink.

Photo: David Malosh; Food Stylist: Simon Andrews © 2023 THE NEW YORK TIMES

—By Rebekah Peppler

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¾ ounce gin ¾ ounce fino sherry ½ ounce orange liqueur ½ ounce fresh lime juice 2 dashes orange bitters Ice 2 ounces light, dry cider, chilled 1. In a shaker, combine the gin, sherry, orange liqueur, lime juice and bitters.

Add ice, cover and shake vigorously until the drink is well chilled, about 15 seconds.

2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with cider.

6/7/23 11:34 AM

Nonalcoholic: Chamomile Lime Rickey Yield: 1 drink A floral twist on a classic, this delicious fizzy limeade is the perfect front-porch sipper on a warm afternoon. The chamomile adds some sunshine to this refresher, and little ones will love it as well. You just might find yourself making — or craving—this every summer weekend.

—By Cassie Winslow

¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice, plus more to taste 2 tablespoons Chamomile Simple Syrup (see below), plus more to taste Ice 8 ounces seltzer water Thin lime slices or a fresh organic edible chamomile flower, for garnish 1. Combine the lime juice and chamomile simple syrup in a large (16- to 18-ounce) tumbler and stir to combine. Taste and add more lime juice or syrup, if you’d like.

2. Fill with ice, top off with the seltzer and gently mix to combine. Garnish with lime slices, or an organic edible flower, if you are feeling extra fancy.

Chamomile Simple Syrup

Yield: About 1 1/3 cups Chamomile has a sweet, earthy flavor, and makes a lovely simple syrup that may soon become a staple in your refrigerator. Not only is this syrup delicious in a cocktail or mocktail, it is also wonderful drizzled on French toast, or vanilla ice cream with fresh berries. You can even use it to sweeten iced coffee.

1 cup granulated sugar, preferably organic ½ cup filtered water 3 individual bags of chamomile tea 1. Place sugar and filtered water in a small saucepan and set over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes.

2. Remove from heat and add the chamomile tea bags. Steep for 10 minutes, then discard tea bags.

3. Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Photo: David Malosh; Food Stylist: Simon Andrews © 2023 THE NEW YORK TIMES

Elizabeth (Lissa) Edwards is senior editor of Traverse Northern Michigan. She has been writing about the region’s history, outdoors and lifestyle for more than 30 years.

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/ photos by Mike Gilger /

a liberated landscape

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/ Seven years ago, Megan Gilger came close to letting her popular Fresh Exchange lifestyle blog wither on the vine. Instead, she dug deeper, put down new roots and weeded out what she didn’t value until she grew what did. / by Lynda Twardowski Wheatley J U LY 2 0 2 3

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f for megan gilger, 2009 was the best of times and the worst of times. Newly graduated with a design degree and unemployed—thanks to a job offer that had tanked with the Great Recession—Gilger found her great post-grad expectations dashed, and herself, like her packed and previously bound-forCalifornia boxes, rerouted to Traverse City for an extended layover in her parent’s basement.

The situation wasn’t all bad. It was summertime Up North. Her boyfriend, Mike, similarly degreed and likewise unemployed, opted to join her in the basement rather than head home to Texas. And in between applying for jobs and freelancing, Gilger worked in her dad’s garden.

Playing among the plants was a comfort. After nearly two decades away, Gilger got to recapture a bit of her childhood Up North, when her grandpa’s Harbor Springs home was her daycare and his one-acre garden their playground.

Kneeling in the dirt as a grown woman, yanking weeds and wheedling robust stalks from gangly sprouts as her grandpa had taught her, Gilger felt the worrisome what-ifs and restless what-nexts fall away like fistfuls of loam through her fingers.

It wasn’t long before uncertainty and basement living were in the rearview. She and Mike ultimately bucked traditional employment, formed their own design studio—logos and branding mostly—and rented a little house off M-72. Megan started a new garden. They married, traveled, moved to North Carolina for a few years, started a garden there. Moved back to Michigan, started another.

Along the way, Gilger documented their experiences on Fresh Exchange, a blog she had started in early 2010. “It was just this fun thing, like, ‘We went on a hike,’” she says. “It wasn’t anything super serious.”

Until it was.

Following a series of photo drops chronicling a trip to Paris, Gilger’s blog readership boomed. Sponsors came calling. By 2016, Fresh Exchange had evolved into a lifestyle blog—a full-time, fully monetized one.

It’s a feat many decades-long bloggers would cut off both index fingers to achieve, except for one thing: This particular lifestyle blogger no longer wanted the world watching her life.

Like her grandpa before her, Gilger is a big believer in bringing kids into her garden, chaos and all. “I’ve just embraced it. Their story here is as important as mine,” she says. “It’s not about me controlling the garden. My grandfather never did. I would bite the heads off his broccoli, and he never got mad— he thought it was funny. He never approached it in a way where, ‘This is my space,’ and I never approach it that way either.”

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Behind Fresh Exchange’s serene garden scenes, there are countless stories about the chickens tearing out veggies Gilger just planted, a toddler who lived to climb and collapse her bean trellis, a baby who loved to wake up early from her naps the moment Mom got knee-deep in a garden project.

Gilger drops the occasional blooper reel to keep the lush life real and remind fans that, “There’s always something. You’re just human, and it’s nature.

It’s going to be messy in some way. I think it’s just about finding the beauty among that.”

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Kneeling in the dirt as a grown woman, yanking weeds and wheedling robust stalks from gangly sprouts as her grandpa had taught her, Gilger felt the worrisome what-ifs and restless what-nexts fall away like fistfuls of loam through her fingers.

“When my son was born, I questioned it all,” she says. “I was encouraging people to buy things, and that’s how I made money. I didn’t feel good about that. It’s easy to enjoy in some way, but there’s no deeper value to it. I wanted to be able to tell my son … ‘This is what I do,’ and for it to have an impact on the world in a positive way.”

During those first bleary-eyed post-partum months, Gilger says she didn’t know what she wanted, but she was clear on what she didn’t: “I didn’t want to take sponsored content anymore. I didn’t want to do graphic design. And I didn’t want my kids to grow up in a photo shoot.”

While Mike headed up the studio, Gilger decided to tighten Fresh Exchange’s field of view, whittling down its wide capture of her entire life to a narrower, but perhaps more revelatory, look at life itself at its most basic and accessible: the interplay of sun, soil, seeds and water.

The shift wasn’t so abrupt. As in Gilger’s own life,

gardening and nature had always had a place on her blog.

So, while finishing out her contractual obligations with Fresh Exchange’s sponsors, she began devoting more blog content to food, its origins, farmers markets, the changes that come with each season. She volunteered on a farm in Leelanau, picked the brains of local chefs and digested more and more about growing native plants and food in ways that regenerate the soil rather than deplete it.

Around the same time, she and Mike were building their first home, on a hillside south of Cedar. Conveniently—or perhaps not—it wasn’t the lush, fertile ground her 50,000-plus Instagram fans and blog subscribers gape at today.

Save for a few trees and a two-track, Gilger says, “This land was just gravel. It was gross. There was nothing here.

There weren’t even birds, only hawks. It was almost silent.”

To see what crowns and cascades from their hilltop today is to first experience awe and, admittedly, next, envy. From a

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“… we need places that aren’t about achieving or controlling, that aren’t about any of that. It’s about connecting with yourself, connecting with nature and enjoying the process of what it is.” –Megan Gilger

slope of scrub and sand, the Gilgers have liberated a landscape of native trees, shrubs, grasses and multiple gardens— perennial, kitchen, pollinator.

The scent of lavender wafts by on the same breeze that tickles tall fans of native bluestem and switch grasses, palmsized leaves of wayward grapevines. As butterflies, birds and bees bandy about clusters of strawberries and spinach, a harem of chickens cluck and scratch at the ground beneath sunflowers and anise hyssop.

What the idyllic scene doesn’t show but Gilger is quick to note is that Shugart Builders built the family a home without removing a single tree or sapling. The Gilgers then put in retaining walls and created a five-year plan for the property that, as Gilger hoped, “gave back to the ecosystem.”

And finally, there are the last five years Gilger has spent, back hunched and usually bone-tired in the dirt, over the keyboard, or in the kitchen, feeding and tending to the soil, the plants, the kids (her second child, a daughter, arrived after the couple installed the raised beds in 2019) to bring her sponsor-free vision for Fresh Exchange to life.

But growing Fresh Exchange’s membership community, writing an e-book, creating instructional courses (five and

counting), drawing up pre-drafted and tailored-to-buyer garden plans, recording a bi-weekly podcast, hosting free online workshops and more—for Gilger anyway—has been and will likely continue to be a lot like gardening itself.

“My grandpa set a really strong tone in my life about the power of our connection to nature. And also taught me how fun and exciting gardening can be,” she says. “I really do try to have a good time with it. And that’s what I am always trying to instill in people because I think we need places that aren’t about achieving or controlling, that aren’t about any of that. It’s about connecting with yourself, connecting with nature and enjoying the process of what it is, more than anything.”

Lynda Twardowski Wheatley is an award-winning writer specializing in stories that showcase Michigan travel and recreation, history and the passionate folks who make this place so extraordinary. ltwriter.com Mike Gilger is the lens behind Fresh Exchange and a product designer for Google. When not working, he can be found skiing, standup paddleboarding or wrangling chickens and kids with Megan.

Although surrounded by trees, the hilltop the Gilgers elected to build on in 2017 was little more than a scrub- and sapling-dotted pile of gravel and sand. A thoughtful approach to home construction, the installation of several retaining walls and a five-year landscaping plan that included a lot of soil amending, native plantings and elbow grease accomplished what Gilger most wanted: “To make sure that this land was better than when we found it.”

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Point Betsie’s glamour is undeniable. With her timeless beauty, miles of Benzie County shoreline and sprawling Lake Michigan views, this 1858 icon is a stunner any time of day, any season. Of Michigan’s more than 120 lights, Betsie is largely considered one of the most photographed, and we can see why—whether it’s a stormy sunset or a blue-sky afternoon, she’s the kind of romantic luminary worthy of wall art. Here, four photographers, drawn to Betsie’s magnetic charm time and again, tell us why a trip to this alluring muse isn’t just a one-and-done photo op—it’s an awe-inspiring experience that lingers with all who visit her shores.

THE NORTH’S PIN-UP CURATED BY ALLISON JARRELL

P H O T O B Y H E AT H E R H I G H A M

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“

THE STRUCTURE at Point Betsie is so pretty—the striking red roof, the gables. It looks like an actual house with a light tower, plus the red fog signal building. It doesn’t matter what else is happening with the lake or the sky, the lighthouse is such a solid feature, it’s hard to make a bad photo of Betsie!”

–Heather Higham

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t h i s p a g e : P H O T O B Y H E AT H E R H I G H A M opp osite: PHOTO BY MARYBETH KICZENSKI

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“

THIS BEAUTIFUL LIGHTHOUSE is a delight in all seasons. If you love the quiet, I suggest a visit in the winter—the snow and ice formations will leave you speechless. Summer, of course, is hard to beat for comfortable temperatures and relaxing on the beach, listening to the song of Lake Michigan. Odds are you won’t be alone, though. Regardless of when you visit, I promise you’ll leave with a smile.”

–MaryBeth Kiczenski

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t h i s p a g e : P H O T O B Y S A R A H G O O DW I N o p p o s i t e : P H O T O BY T R E VO R M A H L M A N N

“

FROM THE BLOSSOMING LILACS that adorn her in the spring and the warm summer days and nights, to the fall colors that envelop her and the elegant ice formations that cover her in the winter, she’s a timeless classic, and a photographer’s playground. Whether it’s to capture a sunrise, sunset or the night sky (Point Betsie is a favorite spot for capturing the Milky Way and northern lights), it’s really the surrounding landscape that makes this lighthouse a photogenic gem.”

–Sarah Goodwin

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“

IF YOU’VE BEEN to Point Betsie, you know that as soon as you walk away from the road and toward the Lake Michigan beach, the rest of the world sort of just fades away. I’m in this fairytale-looking place with incredibly colorful turquoise-blue water, hearing the waves lap on the shore and thinking of what it would have been like to traverse the waters out from Frankfort and around the northern coast of Michigan long ago.”

–Trevor Mahlmann

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Afternoon

at

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A crew of four friends set off to snorkel a Lake Michigan shipwreck— and they’re back before happy hour.

by Elizabeth Edwards

t he

Met ropol i s photos by Liam Kaiser

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The weather hardly looked propitious

on a late morning last August when pals Grant Piering, Karissa Buel, Sara Tucker and the group’s leader, Liam Kaiser, unloaded their paddle boards at Haserot Park on Old Mission Peninsula for a quick snorkeling adventure.

The radar showed thunderstorms scattered over Lake Michigan and as the party launched, a steely chop agitated the water.

But Kaiser is a man who doesn’t give up easily. Readers of Traverse Northern Michigan may recall Liam Kaiser as the photographer of several hardcore adventure stories chronicled in our pages—most recently, a gripping, death-defying paddleboard journey around Lake Superior’s Isle Royale. His assignment on this August day, however, was not nearly so epic. But that was the point: We asked Kaiser to find and shoot a readily accessible adventure that those of us who don’t possess the strength and stamina of a 20-something with a Goliath-sized shoulder span could do.

Something on the water, something a little thrilling, something that won’t make us wet our pants in fear. Something that could be done in the window of a summer afternoon.

Kaiser suggested a snorkel expedition to the wrecked schooner Metropolis—one of the approximately 6,000 shipwrecks (1,500 in Lake Michigan alone) lost in the Great Lakes in the 19th and early- to mid20th centuries. Certainly, many of those wrecks are located in waters far too deep to snorkel or even recreationally scuba dive. But many also lie just offshore, sometimes in water so shallow you can see them from the surface. Such is the case with the Metropolis, whose ancient bones have been lying off Old Mission Peninsula for almost 140 years—some years completely covered by sand, other times partially exposed, depending on the whims of wind and tides.

A rager of a storm on November 26, 1886, grounded the 165-foot long, two-masted schooner off Old Mission Peninsula on what was to be its last run of the season from Elk Rapids to Chicago. The ship, owned and captained by Duncan Corbett, could not be salvaged, though the captain and crew made it safely to land. That would not be the outcome almost 10 54 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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Floating atop his own SUP, Liam Kaiser snaps photos as Sara Tucker, Karissa Buell and Grant Piering paddle off from Haserot Park.

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“We asked Kaiser to find and shoot a readily accessible adventure. Something on the water,

something a little thrilling, something that won’t make us wet our pants in fear.”

years to the day later, when Corbett and his new ship, the Waukesha, were taken down by another winter storm off the coast of Muskegon. This time, Corbett and five of his six-man crew succumbed to the chilling horror of a watery grave.

When she storms, she storms big and bad, but when Lake Michigan behaves, there’s nothing quite as beautiful. As the paddlers rounded a small point along the shoreline and headed north, the wind ceased and the lake morphed from looking for a fight, to calm and, as Kaiser describes, “crystal clear.”

While the Metropolis lies just offshore, it is off shore from private property. So the closest way to get to

her—and not trespass—is by launching from Haserot Park followed by a two-mile paddle on East Grand Traverse Bay. Kaiser, Piering (who had accompanied his friend on that death-defying Isle Royale paddle) and Tucker were experienced paddlers. Buel hadn’t logged much time on a board—a point that was all but moot under the near pond-like conditions.

Not quite an hour after takeoff, the paddlers had the GPS coordinates for the Metropolis in their sights—although the long dark shape lurking on the lake floor was the true giveaway. Once over the wreck, Kaiser tied the four paddleboards together and dropped in an anchor. And then, in late August water so warm there was as Kaiser says, “no need for Neoprene,” the four played

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Opposite page: Tucker prepares to plunge; Piering throws in the anchor.

This page: The group swims along the ship’s ancient keel and ribs.

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“When she storms,

she storms big and bad, but when Lake Michigan behaves, there’s nothing quite

as beautiful.”

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LIAM KAISER’S TIPS FOR AN EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

The hungry crew heads for sandwiches at nearby Old Mission General Store.

> GETTING TO THE METROPOLIS <

PADDLE NORTHEAST AS YOU’RE LEAVING HASEROT PARK. ONCE YOU EXIT THE SMALL BAY, FOLLOW THE SHORELINE NORTH. THE WRECK IS ABOUT 2 1/4 MILES FROM HASEROT PARK. THAT SAID, KAISER ADDS: “I FEAR ANY MORE INFORMATION AND THE EXPERIENCE WILL BE CLOSER TO FINDING A PARK RIDE AT DISNEY WORLD THAN IT IS EXPLORING A SHIPWRECK. GET OUT THERE, EXPLORE, AND FIND IT YOURSELF. SOME THINGS ARE BETTER WHEN WE HAVE TO WORK FOR THEM.” > DON’T FORGET TO BRING <

“A ROPE AND ANCHOR ARE CRUCIAL IF YOU WANT TO ENTER THE WATER,” SAYS KAISER. “THE METROPOLIS LIES A DECENT DISTANCE FROM SHORE. WITHOUT AN ANCHOR IT WILL BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO LEAVE YOUR BOARD WITHOUT IT DRIFTING OFF INTO THE WIDE EXPANSES OF LAKE MICHIGAN.” ANOTHER IMPORTANT ITEM IS A DRY BAG FOR YOUR CELL PHONE FOR GPS AND EMERGENCY CALLS. > MORE SAFETY TIPS <

“ALWAYS LET SOMEONE KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING AND ALWAYS CHECK THE WEATHER BEFORE YOU GO. CHECKING THE WEATHER IS CRUCIAL WHEN PLAYING OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY ON LAKE MICHIGAN, BECAUSE WHEN THINGS GO BAD, THEY GO BAD QUICKLY. KEEP A CELL PHONE OR GPS WITHIN REACH TO CONTACT EMERGENCY SERVICES IN CASE YOU NEED HELP. MOST IMPORTANT, DON’T PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION WHERE YOU NEED TO CALL FOR HELP. BRING A FLOATATION DEVICE, DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR THE WEATHER AND USE YOUR BRAIN. GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU USE YOUR BRAIN.” FIND THE GPS COORDINATES AND OTHER INFORMATION ON HUNDREDS OF GREAT LAKES’ SHIPWRECKS ON TRAVERSE CITY’S SCUBA NORTH WEBSITE: SCUBANORTH.COM/DIVE-SITES

like dolphins over the skeleton of one man’s long-ago financial disaster.

Floating on top of the water, they peered through their masks for a clear view of the massive structure below. Flutter-kicking down just five feet or so, they touched the behemoth keel, then finned their way along its 60-foot length, counting ancient ribs as they swam.

The awe of exploring a wreck in their Up North backyard left even these four Northern Michigan-reared outdoor enthusiasts exhilarated.

“It was amazing—the most perfect day,” says Tucker, who counted the experience as her first time snorkeling. “It was just great to be in the water and be active and to try something new and fun.”

Forty-five minutes after their rendezvous with the Metropolis, the friends pulled themselves back on their boards and, with the wind behind them, made the return paddle to Haserot Park in 40 minutes—allowing Buel to make it to her job in Traverse City by 3 p.m. without breaking a sweat. The others hit the Old Mission General Store for to-go sandwiches then cracked a couple beers on the beach to cheer an adventure—and afternoon—well done.

Elizabeth (Lissa) Edwards is senior editor of Traverse Northern Michigan.

She has been writing about the region’s history, outdoors and lifestyle for over 30 years.

Liam Kaiser is a visual storyteller with a strong love for the outdoors and the grit that comes with it. Follow his adventures on Instagram @LiamKaiserCreative.

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CONTENTS A MyNorth Media Publication

Michael Wnek Cara McDonald

PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Elizabeth Edwards Carly Simpson Allison Jarrell

SENIOR EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT & SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Rachel Soulliere

PROOFREADERS

Elizabeth Aseritis Caroline Dahlquist

ART DIRECTOR

Tim Hussey Theresa Burau-Baehr

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

DIRECTOR OF SALES SALES COORDINATOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

MARKETING DIRECTOR MARKETING COORDINATOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rachel Watson Julie Parker Erin VanFossen Mike Alfaro Ann Gatrell Julie James Meg Lau Kirk Small Erin Lutke Ashlyn Korienek Nichole Earle Beth Putz

OFFICE MANAGER

4

LET’S TALK CURB APPEAL In this housing market, you’re going to need a little imagination to see a home’s true potential. But with the right vision, and some expert advice, you can transform a drab exterior into something downright dreamy.

11

THE LEGACY CONTINUES Honor these five key elements, and you’ll create a Northern Michigan home that lasts for generations.

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CURVE APPEAL A beautiful arched front door. A round window at the end of a hallway.

Curvaceous shapes are key architectural elements that lend a home a sense of relaxation, spontaneity and surprise.

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PAINLESS PAINTING Use low-maintenance ceramic-based paint to save the classic siding and woodwork you love.

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BUILD LOCAL, BUY LOCAL Tips and know-how from longtime Northern Michigan building-supply pros.

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LOVE YOUR LAKE LIFE How to make the most of a lakefront setting when building your dream home.

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4 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT HOME AUDIO From outdoor speakers nestled in your landscaping to hidden sound panels in your house, Waara Technologies will revolutionize your home.

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How to make your porch work like a room.

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10 SURPRISING SHED IDEAS The backyard shed is cool again. Like really cool.

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HOME SERVICES GUIDE Find local pros for every project.

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let’s talk curb appeal

by CARA MCDONALD, CARLY SIMPSON & EMILY TYRA

In this housing market, you’re going to need a little imagination to see a home’s true potential. But with the right vision and some expert advice, you can transform a drab exterior into something downright dreamy.

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From dated chalet to cute and cottagey, a new porch and façade changed the entire vibe of this Gaylord home.

BEFORE

AFTER

LET’S TALK: PUMP UP A PLAIN FAÇADE The Expert: Bradley Butcher, AIA, Sidock Group, Gaylord

photos courtesy of Bradley Butcher

Tip #1: Add dimension to a drab exterior. Architect Bradley Butcher’s homes always have a backstory: this is the tale of a ho-hum gingerbread chalet owned by a single man, Frank from Gaylord, who fell in love with a gal named Jill in Chicago. They were meant to live happily ever after—but not before his dated Hansel-and-Gretel-style house underwent a transformation for the ages.

The home nestled in the winding hills of the community of Michaywé is “a standard Michaywé chalet and, over the years, a lot of folks have been reimagining them,” explains Butcher. “The original generation of these homes have a center front door, and no front porch—a pseudo balcony over the front door is all you get for dimension. We knew we needed to add some depth.” People now go by this house and smile, he says. Here’s how they got there: Tip #2: Put a porch on it. “Most architects will say you want to know where the front door is,” says Butcher. “A house has to have a place that welcomes visitors,” especially in the Northern Michigan elements. Bonus: a front porch is a gracious extension of your living space—“it’s like an outdoor room overlooking the front yard and a great place to hang out.”

Tip #3: Ditch non-functional details (and add some hard-working ones!). As part of its Craftsman-style conversion, this home had its faux balcony peeled away, as well as all of the gingerbread scalloped trim. Texture now comes via the lap siding and some cedar shake shingles, plus “a reverse gable over the garage, which adds interest to the left half of the house, and sheds water and snow away from the garage door.”

Tip #4: Add an arch. The arch feature and barrel vault ceiling on the porch highlight the front door, “creating a portal and a feeling you are sheltered and out of the elements.”—E.T. mynorth.com

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LET’S TALK: TRANSFORMATION WITH PAINT The Expert: Ashlee Carnes, Carnes Painting and Gardening, Lake Ann Tip #1: Plan a pleasing color combo.

Instead of thinking of your house as a singular color opportunity—which can feel very flat and one-note—embrace the idea of a complete palette with multiple colors all singing together. “Shutters, porches, pillars, trim and other architectural details should stand out and make a statement, and paint is the perfect way to highlight them,” says Ashlee Carnes, who, with sister Brandi, runs Carnes Painting and Gardening. Carnes never travels without her monster paint chip wheel and encourages clients to sift and sort, even change their mind mid-project if need be, in the pursuit of creating interest and choosing colors that make you happy.

To create a more design-y feel, pull complementary and unexpected colors together—like a navy house with a turquoise front door, bright orange patio furniture and creamy white trim. Other combos? Sage + cream + yellow, lime + powder blue + white blue, slate + creamy white + rust, gray + white + cobalt blue, lavender + purple + white. Combinations are endless, but the magic is in the mix, which can be hard to nail.

“This is where a paint and design pro can really guide you. I always encourage people to play,” Carnes says. “Don’t be boring.

You can always change it. It’s just paint.”

Tip #2: Watch your whites. Ever been to the “white” section of the paint chips and basically lost your mind, there are so many to choose from? That’s because there is no such thing as one perfect white, especially when you’re pairing with other colors. A rich slate color will feel cold and gray with a stark white, but an alabaster, dove or chamois white will make it feel rich and inviting. Whites can have hints of peach, blue, yellow, green and beyond, so be sure your white wants to play well with your palette.

Tip #3: Let the front door have a moment. Not willing to repaint the whole house? Focus on the front door, and whatever you choose, make it anything but boring old brown or “meh” white. “A front door can be a safe way to play with color and still make a statement,” Carnes says. “There’s a lot of potential for personality there.” Turquoise, lime green, soft apricot, bold 6

red, soothing sage, glossy black—anything but brown or white creates not only a memorable entrance, but also adds a style note that can set the tone for matching furniture, window boxes, mailboxes, planters and other accents.

Tip #4: Prepare to prep. Hiring a paint pro isn’t cheap and DIYing is certainly an option, but in order to get the job done right you may need to power wash, sand, scrape and prime— laborious steps that can require days of work and specialized tools. “Honestly, prep is the most time-consuming and most important,” Carnes says. “When you nail that part, the painting goes much more smoothly and quickly.” —C.M. LET’S TALK: A FRESH LANDSCAPE The Expert: Dave Grossi, Landscape Architect/ Design Director, Drost Landscape, Petoskey Tip #1: Lean into native plants. “One of the most impactful things you can do for your landscape is to learn the native plant palette in your area and utilize them,” says Landscape Architect Dave Grossi. In Northern Michigan, around the lakes, that means plants such as Carex, Lobelia, Iris, Asclepias (milkweed), Eupatorium, Viburnum, fern varieties and others. “These plants are at home here because of the availability to water the soils provide,” Grossi explains. “Used in organized patterns or masses, native plants will bring a connection of the natural environment surrounding us to your home.”

real estate & home services 2023

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Tip #2: Walk on solid ground. “Whether you hire a landscape professional or you’re a DIYer, if you are looking to install a walkway, you must take your time and be persistent in building a a solid base,” Grossi says. “Most of our soils here are sand but have a shallow organic makeup at the surface.”If the organics are removed, they can be spread elsewhere on your property for various purposes. Getting down to the sand layer, providing a bed of crushed aggregate and a good compaction will solidify the ground enough to install a walkway of your choice. Large irregular flagstone (limestone, sandstone or granite) is a popular selection for cottage owners who want pathways to wind through their gardens.

Tip #3: Sketch it out. “If you don’t have a vision for how the space will take form, the final product may fall short of your expectations,” Grossi says. “Hand-sketching your ideas on paper is an easy method that will help problem-solve issues you might not be aware of at first glance, and in turn, save you time and money. If you don’t have a natural knack for sketching, you can always hire a landscape architect or garden designer to assist you. Proper planning goes a long way and should not be discounted to save time.” —C.S.

Photo by Maconochie Photography

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skilled tradesmen and women from site prep to finished home to turn their clients’ dreams into reality.

Their process includes these five elements that help define a Northern Michigan legacy home:

The Legacy Continues

Honor these five key elements, and you’ll create a Northern Michigan home that lasts for generations.

photo courtesy of Ferraro Group

by CHASE EDWARDS

Dane Englert was living in the Arizona desert, working for the U.S. Green Building Council—a third party certifying body for sustainable building design and construction—before he decided to move back to the lush forests of the Midwest where he would be closer to family. Looking to purchase a locally owned and reputable business, he found The Ferraro Group, an acclaimed Traverse City-based custom-home design and construction company.

Friends familar with the region assured Englert his outdoorsy personality was a great fit. As it turns out, Englert and The Ferraro Group founder and owner, Mike Ferraro, were an equally good match. The two, recalls Englert, gelled at their first meeting—both had formerly worked in the auto industry and shared similar values when it came to efficiency and production. Englert purchased The Ferraro Group in March 2023, and has worked closely with Ferraro to ensure a seamless transition. “I’m here to learn what’s been working and then apply it to continue the legacy,” Englert says.

Indeed, The Ferraro Group has built its reputation on a legacy of designing and building fine, timeless—often known as legacy—homes that will be cherished for generations to come. With in-house interior design and an experienced quality central management team, they manage the local

• Custom Woodwork: Beautifully crafted custom woodwork, says Englert, is one of the most important traditions of The Ferraro Group. “The millwork, trim and custom woodwork is what really sets a legacy home apart from the crowd,” says Englert.

“It’s what people see and remember. It creates an impression.” The team has an interior designer who works closely with carpenters when designing custom woodwork such as built-in bookshelves, custom window seats and bunkbeds.

• Interior and Exterior Stonework: Stonework, including fireplaces and foundations, is a surefire way to bring a timeless feel to your Northern Michigan home. “We have some great masons working with us,” Englert says, adding that he encourages customers to incorporate stone because it creates a feeling of heftiness and quality. “We also have a lot of beautiful rocks in Michigan and we can bring that element inside the home,” he says.

• Energy-Efficient Products: Englert’s background in green buildings means he’s well-versed in energy efficient products, and can easily source them for his customers. He knows which products off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and can point clients toward the safest products—from rugs to cooking ranges. Englert recommends incorporating sustainable systems such as natural lighting designs, air sealing around the floor systems and HVAC systems with high-efficiency Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) ratings.

• Low-Maintenance Products: Legacy homes are about enjoying—not choring. Englert and his colleagues often point clients to low-maintenance products like metal roofing, composite decking, and even metal siding products. “Metal siding products have come a long way,” says Englert. “They don’t fade like they used to and they’re really durable, longlasting and recyclable.”

• Connection to the Outdoors: “Most people choose to live in Northern Michigan because they love the outdoors,” says Englert—which is why he recommends screened-in porches and/or large decks. “You have more living space when you can open it up to the outside.” mynorth.com

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We specialize in architectural molding, windows, doors, stair parts, and siding.

Visit one of our three locations: NEW Petoskey Showroom, 1920 M-119 Traverse City Showroom, 3025 Cass Rd. Millshop, 931 Mill St., Northport For more information call us at 231-881-9318

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Curve Appeal Looking for eye-catching impact? Incorporate graceful curves with custom millwork.

by LUCINDA HAHN

Rectangular windows. A peaked roof. Straight walls intersecting with a hardwood floor. A home is often a study in orderly, linear shapes. Still, maybe you’ve noticed a neighbor’s beautiful arched front door that seems so welcoming. Or perhaps a round window at the end of a hallway, revealing porthole-like views of a distant lake. Curvaceous shapes are key architectural elements that lend a home a sense of relaxation, spontaneity and surprise.

“And because they’re rare in project design, they attract the eye and add excitement to a space,” says Andy Thomas, founder of Thomas & Milliken Millwork, Inc., a Northern Michigan millwork company.

His firm’s busy workshop in Northport is reached via a stretch of M-22 that winds and bends along West Grand Traverse Bay. That’s fitting, because while Thomas & Milliken makes all manner of millwork, from wall paneling to staircases, it has made a specialty of crafting curved forms—the sort that elevate a home from standard to spectacular. Equipped with computer-controlled machinery (CNC routers) manned by woodworkers with the requisite skill, precision and patience, the firm is uniquely positioned to do so. “Creating anything curved,” Thomas says, “is a final exam for woodworkers.”

Curve curious? Here’s some advice for how to stray from the straight-and-narrow:

could be arched to add distinction. A staircase might be flared, with a curved banister, to create panache in a foyer. On balconies, the handrail—though typically straight—can be curved to lend a softer look.

Seek out expertise. Exploring a showroom, such as Thomas & Milliken’s outposts in Petoskey and Traverse City, is a good way to get ideas. “You can see examples of every type of trim,” Thomas says, including hundreds of molding variations, from those with traditional patterns to more recent designs. The experienced staff is a resource, too. “They are well-versed in reading blueprints and identifying what needs to be filled in by the homeowner or builder, as well as applying the products to the architectural design.”

Less can be just right.

“You don’t have to have a lot of curves to create an impact,” Thomas says.

A crown molding with a French curve (concave at the outer edge and convex at the inner edge) can add just enough of an accent to achieve old-world charm. Whether you’d like two round columns to stand sentry at the entrance to your living room, or a kitchen island graced with a curved wooden countertop, “any little extra curved treatment can really enhance a space. It doesn’t take a lot.”

The pros at Thomas & Milliken are able to craft custom millwork with a hands-on approach, no matter your inspiration. They thrive on helping DIY-ers, homeowners, architects and designers give projects that “uniquely you” touch. Their full mill shop can supply everything from graceful curves, to accurate representations of period millwork, and a boundless supply of straight-line moldings, doors, windows, stair parts and siding.

inset photo courtesy of Thomas & Milliken

Creating anything curved is the final exam for woodworkers.

Focus on the places where you want to draw attention.

You might have a high ceiling in the dining room, for instance.

“If you look up, and it’s just drywall, that can be dull,” Thomas explains. “Consider a coffered ceiling with a circular center, with the circle creating a bit of a surprise and also a focal point.” A front door, or a doorway into a special room such as a library,

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It’s Better than Paint!

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Priceless Painting Use low-maintenance ceramic-based paint to save the classic siding and woodwork you love.

photo courtesy of Rhino Shield

by LISA BLAKE

Northern Michigan’s long-standing Victorian homes, lakeside cottages, ranches and bungalows summon a sense of architectural—and oftentimes multi-generational—pride.

Homeowners work diligently, painting and repainting cedar, aluminum and vinyl siding every three to five years to keep up with the cracking, peeling and fading delivered by intense Michigan ultraviolet rays and sub-zero moisture.

But one thing is for sure: It’s a lot of work. And homeowners are turning away from latex paint’s strip-prime-repaint cycle and looking to a longer lasting alternative: ceramic-based Rhino Shield. Licensed Rhino Shield paint dealers Sheryl and Marc Mercier have been backing the brand since they opened Timeless Coatings, LLC in Brighton, Michigan, 15 years ago.

“We eliminate that maintenance headache,” Marc Mercier says. “The Rhino Shield business model is, let’s paint you once and give you a product that won’t fade or chip. It’s a 3M ceramic coating; basically a permanent paint job.”

The low-maintenance ceramic coating is gaining ground as a smarter option to preserving old siding and woodwork without covering it up with toxic vinyl. Here’s how it stands up to Michigan weather.

Insulating Barrier: Rhino Shield’s secret weapon lies in its ceramic microspheres that pack tightly together with pockets of air forming a protective barrier. These insulating microspheres replace the inexpensive fillers found in typical exterior paint and reflect radiant energy, keeping heat outside and cool air inside.

“It’s ten times thicker than paint,” Mercier explains.

“Regular paint contains high water content. When that water evaporates, you’re left with just a thin coat of paint.

With our product, you’re left with a thick, rich coat that adds a level of insulation.”

Solar Reflectance: Unheard of in the exterior home painting industry, Rhino Shield actually reflects solar rays away from your home, lowering wall surface temperatures and cooling your home while reducing energy consumption.

“It reflects all that heat so that your wall space is cooler, which in turn means your AC comes on less,” Mercier says of the Energy Star-rated product.

Waterproofing: Wind, rain and snow take a toll over time, causing deterioration and damage. Rhino Shield seals to the surface and helps prevent water penetration. The ultra-tough ceramic coating also exceeds Federal Wind-Driven Rain Specification at 98 miles per hour and uses a proprietary EPA-registered mold, mildew, fungus and algae additive.

Breathability: Trapped water and condensation in nonpermeable coatings are the leading causes of coating failure and contribute to mold and mildew growth. Pores in Rhino Shield ceramic coating repel water while permitting vapor to escape, allowing your home to breathe.

Elasticity: As historic Victorians and old lakefront cottages age even further, latex paint cracks and peels because of the home’s natural tendency to expand and contract. Ceramic-based paint is flexible, flowing with the house so there’s no cracking or peeling.

Longer Lasting: Because it contains less water than latex paint and includes ceramic microspheres, Rhino Shield lasts years longer than regular latex paint and comes with a 25-year warranty against cracking, chipping and peeling. The thicker ceramic paint also includes mildicide, which prevents mold and mildew.

Ringing in at about the same price as vinyl siding, Rhino Shield is allowing Michigan homeowners to maintain the natural look of their homes without the constant upkeep factor. mynorth.com

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1381 Martin Drive, Frankfort MI 3 Bed / 3 Baths 1,640 Sq. Ft. / 3 Car Garage MLS #1911819 $445,000 Enjoy main-level living with this immaculately maintained family home- nestled just outside the city of Frankfort on a spacious 1.5-acre lot. This home offers room for everyone, with three bathrooms, 3-Bedrooms, ample storage space and whole house Generac generator.

Relish in year-round countryside views in the sunroom overlooking your open backyard with a large private deck and garden area— plenty of room for everyone, just up the hill from schools, parks, downtown Frankfort, Lake Michigan, and other amenities.

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Newly Reinforced Veranda Foundation (June 15)-- helping to ensure this turn-of-the-century original masterpiece has all the updates! Providing ornate finishes and custom details throughout, creating a beautiful living space that is both elegant and comfortable. Mature hardwood mixed trees surround this property along with a well-landscaped and spacious lawn. The home’s second floor has a separate entrance option with a large deck/entertaining area for potential short-term rental income or guest privacy. Tucked away in the rolling hills of Crystal Lake, this home offers breathtaking panoramic views with its OWN private Crystal Lake frontage. Boat ready lake frontage with 100’ dock and hoist included. This pristine freshwater shoreline provides everything that water enthusiasts could dream of. This home located just a minute’s walk from the quaint lakeside village of Beulah (shopping/dining) and the Betsie Valley Trail system.

7227 Crystal Drive, Beulah MI 4 Bed / 2 Baths / 2,264 Sq. Ft. MLS #1910966 $849,000 Over 80 feet of private Crystal Lake frontage.

This home maximizes entertaining and family fun with two living room areas with a main floor gas fireplace, enclosed porch areas, and two long-covered decks overlooking the beach. Over 80 feet of frontage includes a private dock and a marina a short distance away. Great place for kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, or families (no road between home and lake). The workshop room creates a private space for hobbies or storage.

Excellent natural lighting throughout the home provides open-concept living, dining, and kitchen areas. The beach area is complete with a fire pit. Located a mile from downtown Beulah & Betsie Valley Trail.

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August 15TH

1963

st

3

Honor Building Supply 10635 Main Street, Honor, MI 49640 800-444-6396 FAX: 231-325-2115 2023_REHS.indd 18

Onekama Building Supply 4847 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675 231-889-3456 FAX: 231-889-3633

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Build Local, Buy Local Tips and know-how from longtime Northern Michigan building-supply pros.

by EMILY TYRA

Time travel a moment with us: It’s 1963 in Benzie County, Michigan. The shiny new A&W opened a year ago, serving root beer floats car-side in Frankfort. Up the road, the screens at The Cherry Bowl Drive-In have played flicks under the Northern stars for just a decade. The Platte River State Fish Hatchery in Honor is well on its way to becoming Michigan’s salmon hatchery headquarters. Meanwhile, quaint village homes and cottages are popping up in town and on the shores of nearby Crystal and Platte lakes, and family fishing cabins are getting fixed up to welcome another season on the banks of the river.

Earl and Shirley Soderquist, a couple in Honor, recognized a need in their community: a local supplier of building materials and hardware products for contractors and DIYers.

Honor Building Supply was born in 1963 (as well as their fourth daughter).

That daughter, Mary Rodriguez, is now vice-president/ owner of Honor-Onekama Building Supply alongside her husband, Doug Rodriguez.

“I am grateful for what my parents founded and so very proud to be able to carry on the family business. All the blessings we have received have far outweighed the difficulties.”

Indeed, though big box stores have put immense pressure on independent, family-owned building supply stores across America, this local supplier in Benzie (and now Manistee) County has persevered: 2023 rings in 60 years in Honor and 25 in Onekama. “Now more than ever we believe buying local builds a stronger community for all of us,” shares Mary.

Here, a few close-to-home reasons why it’s worth hitting up an independently- and family-owned building supply company rather than the big guys:

taught us to treat our employees the same way.” Members of their teams have served the local community for 20 and 30 years.

Familiarity with product: With long employee tenure comes deep knowledge of products and proper applications, so you get a project right the first time. After witnessing decades of his customers’ deck installations, Doug intimately knows how treated lumber and first- and second-generation composite decking performs in the Northern elements.

He’ll share what he’d choose at his own home, and for you, depending on locale.

Knowledge of what questions to ask the DIYer: “With decks, garages and pole barns, instead of spitting out a plan that is not what they really want, we ask, ‘Where is it going to be on your property? Do you want windows? Where do you want your doors?’ Even the placement of a doorknob: with experience comes questions back to the customer.”

A local business carries a strong personal commitment to the outcome of projects as well as their longevity.

Continuity in customer service: A local business carries a strong personal commitment to the outcome of projects as well as their longevity. “My parents led this business to success on the foundation of honesty and integrity,” says Mary. “They also

They know the builders: “We cater to the professional contractor, but anyone can walk in,” Mary says. Bonus: “Our sales team is in constant contact with contractors who went to school or learned on the job. Perhaps a customer has some drainage issue on his roof,” explains Doug. “We have a good relationship with professionals so we can ask, ‘Hey, what would you do in this case?’”

They are hands-on kitchen concierges: “The difference here is that we physically go out and measure,” says Mary of their kitchen sales team of two. “Kitchens are complicated, and if it’s your kitchen, you want this attention to detail.”

In the end, what inspires Rodriguez and team? “A business built on a foundation of knowledge, service and integrity makes a difference,” she says. “Remember when a handshake meant something? It still does, here.” mynorth.com

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Refined Waterfront Living ~ Simplified

Inspiring Design | Thoughtfully Crafted | Exceptionally Built

WHITE & LIEBLER | a r c h i t e c t s 117 howard street, petoskey mi 49770 www.white-liebler.com 231-347-6870

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such as ample glass, with traditional forms to create a sense of history.

Here, Liebler shares some guiding principles to help families pump up their enjoyment of life on the lake.

Buy a site that’s right for your lifestyle.

“The architecture should respond to the site, not the other way around,” he explains. Want to walk out the back door and be steps from the water, without having to manage pesky stairs? Don’t buy a hilly site. Is porch-sitting while enjoying bird’s-eye views your favorite thing? Make sure a property’s elevation has room for the house to sit up high. “You don’t want to force the land into doing something it’s not.”

Love Your Lake Life

How to make the most of a lakefront setting when building your dream home.

by LUCINDA HAHN

For many custom-home clients who build on the water, the dream is not only a gorgeous house with stirring views. It’s also the desire to create a generational through-line, a place to gather, bond and grow—one that will stay in the family for decades, passed down to kids, grandkids and beyond.

With so much riding on the outcome, a good architect must know how to maximize enjoyment of the lake, the landscape— and all those days of family memory-making. “Creating that connection to the water, and also to each other, is paramount to what we do,” says Nick Liebler, partner and president of Petoskeybased White & Liebler Architects.

Lake life is embedded in the firm’s DNA: Liebler is a Petoskey native and son of a custom-home builder, while the firm’s founder, Nick White, grew up spending summers at his family’s Northern Michigan cottage. They bring more than 50 years of experience designing residential lakefront architecture, and it shows in their exquisite designs, which marry modern elements,

Maximize views in multiple ways. Advances in technology mean more glass can be used than 30 years ago—all the better to showcase those sublime lake vistas. “You are on the water for a reason, and bringing those views of the water everywhere into the house is important,” Liebler says. Good design also helps: Even rooms on a home’s back side can have sight lines to the lake. An office can have a pair of doors that open to a water view across the hallway, for instance. “We try to design so that you’re only ever one room away from the lake.”

Extend outdoor enjoyment. Your lakeside porch creates a connection to the water that should be comfortable nine months out of the year, not just three. Liebler often uses fireplaces, motorized screens and vinyl curtains, infrared heaters (tucked into a ceiling) and more, so the outdoor living spaces can be enjoyed even on chilly March or November days.

Build in waterfront-specific spaces. A delightful quirk of lake life is that guests may arrive by boat rather than car. “You want that lakeside door and entryway to be a nice, welcoming space,” Liebler says. This often includes built-ins, a bathroom with shower and tile floors suitable for wet feet and sand. A separate “beach storage room” is another essential, roomy enough to hold all those summer toys, which may include lifejackets, kayaks, even a sailboat.

Keep it simple. Lake homes are for escape and enjoyment, not angsting about upkeep. Liebler has found success with certain synthetic products “that have all the character of a 100-yearold cedar cottage, but are very low maintenance,” he says. “The goal is for owners to just enjoy their time on the water, from the time they pull into the driveway to the time they leave.” mynorth.com

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4 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Home Audio From outdoor speakers nestled in your landscaping to hidden sound panels in your house, these tech options will revolutionize your home.

by ALLISON JARRELL

When warm weather arrives, we find ourselves lingering with a lemonade on the patio, meandering through our lush gardens and floating between soaking up the sunshine and seeking shade indoors. And if you’re a music lover, the ultimate way to set the vibe on days like these is a serotonin-boosting Spotify playlist, or taking your favorite record for a spin. Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if those melodies followed wherever the day takes you?

For Todd Waara and his team at Waara Technologies, audio (and visual) needs are personal. Their aim is to transform your home into a haven that matches your daily rituals. Do you like putting on some jazz while cooking? Listening to the news during your morning shower? Unwinding with a podcast while gardening? Waara has you covered. Here, their team shares the latest sound and visual trends.

Network is your foundation (literally). Say you buy a 2,000-square-foot home. It’s an older house, and you go to a big box store to grab a router. Then Spectrum comes by and installs a modem off in a corner somewhere. But the other side of the house now has weak service and slow internet speed.

Sound familiar?

Embracing a good network is key when laying the foundation for audio and sound quality in your home.

Waara recommends wiring network access points throughout the house, using commercial-grade products direct from the manufacturer. And while they’re happy to come troubleshoot problems after the fact, he also encourages new homeowners to reach out while they’re in the building stages, so they can wire rooms with personal preferences in mind.

“When you’re building a new house, at the end of the project, when the drywall is going on, is not the time to be thinking of us,” Waara says. “We have a lot of clients that bring us their blueprints and grab us early in the planning stages.”

“To get good sound, you still need a good network and it still needs to be wired,” Waara continues. “We’re not in the age of Star Trek yet.”

Home automation will exceed your expectations. We may not be living in Star Trek times quite yet, but talk to Waara about home automation options for a few minutes and you may feel like you’re entering another dimension. Automation today extends far beyond speakers and TVs in different rooms—Waara and his team can help automate almost anything, from thermostats, Nest doorbells and smart lightbulbs, to voice commands, Jacuzzis and irrigation. “We integrate it all into one app, which makes everything more convenient,” Waara says.

Sound equipment can be hidden pretty much anywhere …

“In the last few years, outdoor sound has changed from just a couple speakers on the outside of a house or deck to being more intentional about trying to hide speakers,” Waara says, noting you can bury subwoofers and sneak speakers into landscape lighting.

Indoors, Waara highlights how the science of acoustics has morphed in recent years. Instead of using obvious sound panels to dampen echoing, Waara loves wood-like panels that blend seamlessly with wooden design elements. “You wouldn’t even know these are absorbing sound,” Waara says as he sifts through an array of maple-, oak- and mahoganyhued panels. He then points to what looks like a canvas-wrapped photo print on the wall— in actuality, it’s a front for sound-absorbing fiberglass mesh.

“There are so many different styles you can go for,” he says.

photo courtesy of Waara Technologies

We integrate it all into one app, which makes everything more convenient.

… or it can be the bold (and stylishly old-school) centerpiece of a room. Between old-fashioned speakers and turntables straight from the ’60s and ’70s, making a statement with your sound gear is definitely on-trend. Vinyl sales even outpaced CD sales in the U.S. this year, for the first time since 1987. “We still have Spotify, Title and Pandora; they’re here to stay,” Waara says.

“But the fun of having a turntable and playing an album, there’s nothing better than that.” mynorth.com

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Quality Attention to every detail

Draper.Construction@yahoo.com 231.322.3015 AaronDraperConstruction.com

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UP NORTH LIVING! We furnish the comfort the rest is up to you!

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Our 49th Year!

TWO TRAVERSE CITY LOCATIONS: 231-941-1220

231-943-4220

732 S. Garfield Ave., Traverse City

458 N. U.S. 31 South, Traverse City

www.ComfortCenterTC.com

Home of the Michigan Chair!

Welcome to th neighborhood! talk.

John W Elwell, AAMS™ Financial Advisor

3588 Veterans Dr Traverse City, MI 49684-4569 231-947-0079 2012 - 2022

Outdoor Living at its Finest 28

MKT-5894L-A-A1 AECSPAD

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> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

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John W Elwell, AAMS™

John W Elwell, AAMS™

Financial Advisor

Financial Advisor

3588 Veterans Dr

3588 Veterans Dr Traverse City,Financial MI 49684-4569 Advisor in Interlochen 231-947-0079

Financial Advisors in Traverse CityAAMS™ John W Elwell, Traverse City, MI 49684-4569

Financial Advisor 231-947-0079

Teressa Hupfer Heather J Boivin, AAMSTM 4110 Copper Ridge Dr, 3285 South Airport Road West Dr 3588 Veterans D Suite 202 231-933-5263 Traverse City, MIBuilding 49684-4569 231-252-3561 TM MKT-5894L-A-A1 AECSPAD 231-947-0079 Yancy Boivin, AAMS Jamie Keillor 3285 South Airport Road West 4110 Copper Ridge Dr, 231-933-5263 Building D, Suite 202 231-252-3561 John W Elwell, AAMSTM MKT-5894L-A-A1 AECSPAD 3588 Veterans Dr Jim Mellinger 231-947-0079 12935 SW Bay Shore Dr, Ste 310 231-947-1123

John Tredway 806 S Garfield Ave, Suite B 231-932-1290

Bill Collin 9672 US Highway 31, Ste 400 231-276-1355

Dreaming up the ideal retirement is your job.

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John W Elwell, AAMS™

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Andrew Weaver 125 Park Street, Suite 250 231-947-3032 Greg Williams 513 S Union St 231-933-0881

Call or visit any of our financial advisors in the area.

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INC. Awnings - Upholstery Serving Northern Michigan for over 30 Years

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Extend Your Outside-Living Season How to make your porch work like a room.

photo courtesy of Advanced Awnings

by LISA BLAKE

Quiet dewy morning coffee time. A lazy afternoon curled-up reading session. Checkers and lemonade with the grandkids. A lot of life’s best moments take place on the porch. So why not make it a year-round destination?

“Closing in a screened-in porch with drop-down walls easily turns a three-season into a four,” says Doug Saul, co-owner of Advanced, Inc. Awnings & Upholstery. “Put small patio heaters out there and you can sit and enjoy the space comfortably in the middle of winter.”

The Acme, Michigan, biz specializes in high-quality commercial and residential awnings, creative designs and weather load–engineered frames.

Saul points to retractable and drop-down walls to extend the summer porch season well into late fall and beyond. His team uses ultra-durable Serge Ferrari vinyl fabric to create weatherresistant porch walls, providing all the hardware, fittings and

tubing needed for ambitious DIYers to complete the project themselves.

“Ferrari is very durable yet nice to look at, it doesn’t look like a tarp,” Saul says. He notes that alternative options like Sunbrella and Naugahyde fabrics wear out and fade faster in the Michigan sun and snow.

Adding resilient roofs, awnings or walls to your screened and non-screened outdoor spaces provides shelter from rain, snow and sun, opening up possibilities for more porch time throughout the year and adding to your home’s livable footprint. Even in the dead of winter.

“Everything we build is snow rated,” Saul says. “Any awning I put on will withstand a snowload and not be a danger to anyone underneath it. People say we overbuild, but I would rather be safe than sorry.”

Here are more tips for extending your porch season and creating a comfy living space that everyone will flock to: • Choose suitable seasonal furniture. Delicate, artful rattan meshes well with summer, but doesn’t provide the cushy sink-in you’re craving on a crisp late-September evening.

• Use weather-resistant materials. Make sure your flooring, furniture and décor can all withstand Northern Michigan’s extreme hot and cold.

• Add color and texture. Think of this space as an extension of your family room and have fun with the design, calling in colorful rugs, throw pillows, blankets and plants.

• Make it a space for hosting. An easy roll-away bar or corner coffee station mean you can welcome dinner guests to a sunset nightcap or arrange for a cozy book club meet up.

• Install a fireplace or fire pit. Adding a gas fireplace or fire pit to your porch can create a pleasant homey ambiance, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space on cooler nights.

• Strategically place outdoor heaters. Another way to stay warm is to use small outdoor heating units. Adjustable wallmounted models allow for pivoting with the sun and breeze.

• Incorporate outdoor lighting. Create a soft glow for nighttime porch hangouts. Consider installing string lights or lanterns, or adding recessed lighting to your porch ceiling. mynorth.com

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COUNTRY STORE

MID MICHIGAN BARNS

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Pahl’s Country Store offers exceptional quality spaces that fit your lifestyle.

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Affordable and Customizable Call (231) 269-4400 to order!

6/12/23 2:50 PM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

10 Surprising Shed Ideas The backyard shed is cool again. Like really cool.

photos courtesy of Pahl’s Country Store

by CARLY SIMPSON

You’ve seen tool sheds and she sheds, but what about wellness studios, grandparent suites and movie theaters (yes, in sheds!)? “If you can dream it, we can do it,” says Holly Pahl, who owns Pahl’s Country Store in Buckley with her husband, Dave.

As Holly parks a Kubota UTV alongside the “Highland” shed, their bestseller, Pahl’s official greeters, corgis Oliver and Poppy, hop out and join us inside the 10x16-foot structure. A sweet porch out front and a higher roof pitch are highlights, making it a comfy option for guests staying with you on a weekend getaway or a roomy yoga, meditation and workout space.

Then Oliver and Poppy are on to the next shed, an 8x12foot greenhouse complete with electricity, a thermostat, 12-inch fan and a window—all you have to do is plug it in and get planting. Pahl’s even handles delivery, which is included in the cost.

Pahl’s partners with Weaver Barns, Mid Michigan Barns and North Edge Steel, each offering a variety of building styles and materials for completely customizable sheds, carports, barns and more. Or, choose an already built, ready-to-go design. “The nice thing about going through a dealer like us is that there’s no additional expense, and you’ve always got a person to call if anything goes wrong,” Holly says. “Luckily, we don’t have very many issues. We take great pride in the companies we work with.”

Another perk: an online “3D Shed Builder” lets you virtually try out different siding options, porches, windows, flooring, roofing and colors, plus smaller details like flower boxes and shelves. (Find the tool at pahlscountrystore.com.)

Customers can also stop by Pahl’s store in Buckley or one of six display lots in Cadillac, Cedar, Grawn, Honor, Kalkaska and, opening soon, Elk Rapids.

Holly has been working at Pahl’s since 2017, and over the years has seen some incredible shed ideas come to life. “We get to do the coolest projects,” she says.

“I love it when people come in and say, ‘I want to try this …’” Here, a few of Holly’s favorites:

• Home office • Collectibles shed • Movie theater • Music/rehearsal space • Art studio • Writing studio • Chicken coop: Pahl’s coops come with chicken runs and also have nesting boxes that you can access and clean without going inside.

• Guest quarters/grandparents’ suite: Add a lofted bedroom to maximize your space.

• Wellness shed: Think meditation, yoga, strength training.

• Greenhouse: One customer put a hot tub inside their greenhouse, Holly shares. Talk about hygge. mynorth.com

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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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Wide open options.

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We Do The Work So You Can Play!

Home Services Guide

Your Local Pool and Spa Experts

ARCHITECTS RAY KENDRA, AIA 10241 E. Cherry Bend Road Traverse City, MI 49684 231-946-1234

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JOSEPH MOSEY ARCHITECTURE, INC. Elk Rapids. 231-498-2500 Northville. 248-515-4477

When architecture is done beautifully, it has the same power over the mind as music, poetry or any healthy activity, creating meaningful human experiences. josephmoseyarchitecture.com

Call Today - 231-947-4576 8am - 4pm Monday - Friday SEARS ARCHITECTS 16 Ionia Ave SW, Suite 1 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 616-336-8495

We are an award winning boutique architecture and planning firm with projects that include private individuals, historic residential associations, and private developers. searsarchitects.com BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS COOLEY CONTRACTING, LLC

6446 E Traverse Hwy. Traverse City MI 49684 231-933-4336

More than 25 years of experience in building distinctive homes while exceeding the expectations of discriminating clients.

We demonstrate a total commitment to quality while specializing in projects of all sizes. jim@cooleycontracting.com

PAUL MAURER GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC.

10167 E. Cherry Bend Rd., Traverse City, MI 49684 231-941-1448

CALL FOR HOMES!

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Paul Maurer General Contracting has been building some of Northern Michigan’s finest, most innovative custom homes for more than 40 years. Call on Paul Maurer Home Services for expert handling of smaller projects, maintenance, and major home improvements. paulmaurer.com

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Creating your dream home shouldn’t be an overwhelming experience. Let us guide you through the design process in a way that makes it fun & exciting! We provide design and construction. Initial consultation is complimentary. Call for appointment. homecabinetryandinteriors.com

real estate & home services 2023

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The Water is easy to find.

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T he Cu l i nary North local restaurants . craft drinks . seasonal cuisine

—CHEF RYAN MATELING, AIKO STREET FOOD

Kokonattsu soba with local Dan Hof Farm pork

photo by Dave Weidner

“

I want every dish to have a ‘What’s going on here’ moment.

Something that makes you say ‘Wow.’

BARBECUE DELIGHTS TO GO P. 63 STREET FOOD WONDERS P. 64 SIP A SASKATOON SMASH P. 66 J U LY 2 0 2 3

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T he Cu l i nary North Grab & Go

Spicy chicken sandwich with hot sauce and slaw

CLUCKING DELICIOUS BARBECUE Head to Ludington for a winner chicken dinner.

photos by Dave Weidner

by CARLY SIMPSON

GRAB

Cluck Bucket Just a Snack: Snag a freshly made Cluck Bucket pretzel at The Port. “Best pretzel ever” has been uttered many a time, but you go ahead and decide for yourself.

Food truck: 88 S. Pere Marquette Hwy., Ludington // The Port: 222 W. Ludington Ave., Ludington

When life handed Sheri Eaton a big ol’ bucket of lemons, she made pitchers of lemonade. In 2018, her husband, Derek, had emergency openheart surgery to save his life after suffering an aortic dissection. He spent a week afterward in a medically induced coma. On Christmas Eve, the family of nine witnessed a miracle. Derek came home.

The road to recovery would be a long one though, and doctors told Derek his career in construction was over.

Cue the lemonade. Sheri rolled up her sleeves and started cooking. The family purchased a food truck and a grill, serving barbecued chicken piled high on sandwiches, nachos and mac ’n’ cheese,

along with classic sides like creamy slaw and cornbread. A favorite: The Cluck & Pits. Pit-tatoes (roasted on the grill over charcoal) are layered with pulled chicken, cheese, sour cream and Sheri’s homemade BBQ sauce. And about that lemonade: Try it in a sunburst float with Sprite and a scoop of ice cream.

Turns out, Ludington had a hankering for juicy barbecued chicken, and the Eatons opened a second location last June at The Port, a destination marketplace home to several local-gem boutiques and eateries. cluckbucketmi.com GO

Ludington State Park 8800 W. M-116, Ludington

Sheri loves heading out toward Ludington State Park and parking along the beach on M-116 for a private picnic party. pureludington.com J U LY 2 0 2 3

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T he Cu l i nary North Served Chilled Soba Noodle Salad with Edamame

Yaki Asparagus No Goma

Untraditional Takoyaki with Ginger Butternut Squash Purée

Grandpa Fujii’s Yakitori

Nagoya Tebaseki-Style Chicken Wings

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D I N I N G OUT

STREET FOOD WONDERS

by CARLY SIMPSON

Chef Ryan Mateling’s modern take on Izakaya-style food is turning heads.

photos by Dave Weidner

T

here’s a touch of whimsy in every dish Chef Ryan Mateling passes through his food truck window. Pipettes filled with nước mắm to squeeze on soba. Delicate rice paper that reveals charcoal grilled skewers of octopus beneath it. Fizzy, soda-charged whipped cream that tingles your mouth.

The truck, Aiko Street Food, and Mateling’s menu are influenced by his Japanese heritage and his grandmother, Aiko, who was incarcerated on the West Coast during WWII. Following her family’s release, Aiko moved to the Midwest to start a new life. Her name means “little loved one,” a fitting description of how Mateling feels about his tiny kitchen.

On his flagship menu, the spicy kara-age yaki sando (a Japanese fried chicken sandwich with red cabbage jalapeño slaw, red onion, Kewpie mayo) is a favorite, as is the kokonattsu soba (soba noodles with pulled pork, coconut cream, bacon confit, pickled carrots and daikon radishes, crispy shallots, a slew of fresh herbs and that pipette of nước mắm).

“We’re trying to push the envelope when it comes to our technique and plating,” Mateling says. “I want every dish to have a ‘What’s going on here’ moment. Something that makes you say ‘Wow.’ That interactivity is very Japanese. In the fall, for example, you’ll get a bamboo plate and there will be a smoking maple leaf garnish—they play with the seasons.”

Mateling, a “Bellaire boy,” does, too. His menu has a handful of constantly rotating, seasonally inspired

Kokonattsu soba

dishes. This spring saw grilled asparagus with maple tahini sauce and a foraged leek and shallot serrano relish paired with citrus-soy marinated shrimp.

The Great Lakes Culinary Institute grad got his start in Chef Ryan Mateling Northern Michigan kitchens—Grand Traverse Resort, Leland Lodge, Harbor 22, Lulu’s Bistro—before diving headfirst into Detroit’s restaurant scene. He shucked oysters at Voyager, leaned into French cuisine at Antietam and began developing Aiko on the city’s pop-up circuit. “When this brand first took off, I was more into global cooking, it was a lot more fusion,” Mateling says. “I was safe, so safe. Until I had a conversation with Gary Jonas [co-founder of The Little Fleet] that sparked me. He said, ‘Come on man, you’ve got all five of my food trucks on your one truck. You’ve got to focus on you.’”

Great advice, Gary. And keep on being you, Ryan.

Aiko Street Food Parked at The Coin Slot until Oct. 31 346 E. Front St., Traverse City J U LY 2 0 2 3

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T he Cu l i nary North Last Call

SMASHED

by STACEY BRUGEMAN

S

askatoon. serviceberry. amelanchier.

Shadblow. Juneberry (err, Julyberry this far north)? Whatever you choose to call the fruit of this flowering shrub, did you know that it’s edible? Native to Canada, the plant does especially well here in Northern Michigan.

So well that I’ve got a Leelanau County neighbor who planted and prunes so many bushes that they set a sign in the road every July advertising U-Pick Saskatoons.

The tiny, ombré-purple berry resembles a blueberry but is less cloying. They’ve been long loved by indigenous cooks for soups, stews and dried cakes; my kids put them in their pancakes, smoothies and muffins. This mama? I muddle. Each berry is filled with tiny seeds that—when smashed against the bottom of my shaker— release a woodsy, nutty, marzipan-like quality. Pair that

with fresh, flowering basil, a few fingers of high-quality bourbon and a boatload of crushed ice and you’ve got a classic smash. Civil War buffs have the Brandy Smash.

Kentucky Derby revelers have the Mint Julep. Up North, we totally deserve the Saskatoon Smash.

Stacey Brugeman is a 20-year food and beverage journalist.

Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Saveur, Travel + Leisure, Eater and on Instagram @staceybrugeman.

Dave Weidner is an editorial photographer and videographer based in Northern Michigan. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook @dzwphoto.

Sarah Peschel, @22speschel, is a stylist and photographer with an appreciation for all things local agriculture, food and drink.

photo by Dave Weidner// styling by Sarah Peschel

Muddle Saskatoon berries for a haute new cooler.

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^ Saskatoon Smash Serves 1 ¼ cup fresh Saskatoons, plus additional for garnish 4 large basil leaves, plus an additional sprig for garnish 2 ounces bourbon ½ ounce simple syrup ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice crushed ice

photo by Dave Weidner // styling by Sarah Peschel

Place Saskatoons and basil leaves into the bottom of a cocktail shaker and muddle until the juice from the berries is released and the basil is fragrant.

Add bourbon, simple syrup, lemon juice and ice cubes to the shaker and cover, shaking until cold and the cubes start to release some of their liquid. Fill a julep cup or double old fashioned with crushed ice, pour the mixture from the shaker into the glass, straining it and shaking it as you go to release all the liquid from those Saskatoons. Garnish with basil and berries, and serve.– S.B.

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love of the land get there

photo by Taylor Brown

CEDAR RIVER PRESERVE The Cedar River is one of those singular, serene places where paddling feels like an expedition. Zippy whirligig beetles and unhurried turtles carve ripples among the yellow pond lilies, while a chorus of chirping green frogs and swamp sparrows echoes through the fen.

Known as “Northern Michigan’s Everglades,” this 548-acre undisturbed wetland within the Solon Swamp is protected by the Leelanau Conservancy, and it’s one of the wildest, most fragile places left in the state. The preserve is a haven for a world that often goes unseen—soaring sandhill cranes, scarce carnivorous plants like sundew, rare Saturniid moths dancing in the moonlight. And with almost no current, the river allows leisurely paddlers to soak in the fauna and flora (more than 260 species)—keep an eye out for a mischievous mink or muskrat playing among the cattails. To access this otherworldly water trail, launch at Cedar Village Park or Lake Leelanau, or check out the new 1.4-mile trail—Ingraham Preserve at Cedar River—that will open to hikers in August. -A.J.

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CRYSTAL

SUMMER

MICHIGAN’S PREMIER FAMILY RESORT AWAITS. Swim, bike, hike, ride the Alpine Slide down the mountain, take a chairlift back up, enjoy the Crystal Spa, play one (or both) of our championship 18-hole golf courses, and more. Call now to reserve your stay: 866-348-9070.

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