Traverse Northern Michigan's Magazine, December 2022

Traverse 01.23

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

Unraveling the Mysteries of

BLUE ICE +

How to Raise a Skier P. 34

THE BUZZ:

Up North Coffee Culture P. 28

PINE RIVER WINTER RAFTING

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/

COLD-WATER THERAPY

/

LUXE CHARLEVOIX GETAWAY

/ SIP: NORDIC MULE

JANUARY 2O23

$6.5O

12/12/22 11:28 AM

CRYSTAL THRILL

“ONE OF THE BEST SKI RESORTS” U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT With 59 trails for skiers and boarders of all experience levels. Bring family and friends to spend the day or stay the night. Crystal Spa, ice skating, Michigan Legacy Art Park, kids’ programs, too.

C R YS TA L M O U N TA I N .C O M

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THOMPSONVILLE, MI

Ad Number:

PP-CM-22746A

Trim:

8.25" x 10.875"

12/7/22 7:43 PM

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

We’re on Lake Michigan. Panoramic views from the mountain.

Crackling fires, inviting restaurants, and lively entertainment at the base.

Lift and lodging packages from only $139 per person per night.

All with limited lift ticket sales.

Discover delightful skiing, delightfully free of crowds.

For reservations, 231 334-5100. Priceless memories guaranteed!

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12/7/22 9:59 PM

Building and Renovating Northern Michigan’s Finest Residences

T

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

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Traverse 01.23 INSIDE

F E AT U R E S

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

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HOW TO RAISE A SKIER Experts, families and skiers young and old weigh in on what it takes to raise a skier in Northern Michigan. We’ve got teaching techniques, gear advice and tips for getting kids to love the slopes.

BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS, ALLISON JARRELL, C A R A M C D O N A L D A N D C A R LY S I M P S O N

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FROZEN

When freezing temps descend on the Straits, a forest of icy blue shards sets a surreal scene.

Here’s how to see this stunning winter phenomenon.

B Y H E AT H E R J O H N S O N D U R O C H E R PHOTOS BY KIM METTLER

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GOOD THINGS BREWING

From Cadillac to Bellaire, a new wave of mission-driven coffee roasters is taking on the North.

BY CHRIS LOUD / PHOTOS BY NICK LOUD

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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46 DEPART M E N TS 7 | EDITOR'S NOTE 9 | UP NORTH

Enhance Your Home with a

Meet a Leelanau chef using cold water therapy to help treat her chronic pain; spend New Year’s Eve in downtown Ludington; take a wintry hike along Empire Bluff Trail.

Residential Elevator We can incorporate an elevator, beach lift, or stairlift into your home.

15 | EVENTS

Start the new year off right with art exhibits, gourmet meals, outdoor hikes and plenty of live music.

16 | TRAVEL

Treat yourself to a luxurious Charlevoix getaway—complete with fireside cocktails— at Hotel Earl.

Serving Michigan for over 70 Years

(1-800-626-2559)

Tom McNally 4

photo by Dave Weidner

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

20 | OUTDOORS

Embark on an ethereal winter rafting trip with Pine River Paddlesports.

41 | CULINARY NORTH

Belly up to the bar at Boyne City’s newest watering hole, Muskrat Distilling; plus, head to Poppycocks in Traverse City for date night.

44 | ON THE TABLE

Tuck into a pot of good fortune on New Year’s with a tradition born in the South, starring beans grown in the North.

46 | LAST CALL

Add a splash of color to your winter palette with a jammy Nordic mule.

48 | LOVE OF THE LAND

The North’s sand dunes are even more stunning dusted in fresh powder.

ON THE COVER Blue ice in the Straits of Mackinac PHOTO BY KIM METTLER

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Traverse NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

A MyNorth Media Publication

Vol. 42 | No. 08

PRESIDENT

Michael Wnek Cara McDonald

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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

Elizabeth Edwards Emily Tyra Carly Simpson Allison Jarrell Rachel Soulliere Stacey Brugeman

PROOFREADERS

Elizabeth Aseritis Caroline Dahlquist

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

Andrew VanDrie Kandace Chapple Kim Schneider Heather Durocher

ART DIRECTOR PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Tim Hussey Theresa Burau-Baehr

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Subscribe here: MyNorth.com/Newsletter

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

SALES COORDINATOR

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Daily Stories from life up north, delivered straight to your inbox on weekday mornings!

Rachel Watson

DIRECTOR OF SALES

MARKETING DIRECTOR

The Daily Splash

Erin Lutke Ashlyn Korienek Nichole Earle Libby Stallman

OFFICE MANAGER

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES

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

Visit MyNorth.com/Account to renew your subscription, change your address, or review your account.

Please email other subscription inquiries to info@mynorth.com or call 800-678-3416 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine, (ISSN10713719) is published monthly by Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan, 1 Broadcast Way, Cadillac, MI 49601.

Periodicals class postage paid at Traverse City, MI 49684 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine, 415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684. Advertising rates available upon request. Subscription rate: $29.95 for 12 issues. Single issue price: $6.50.

Manuscripts must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023, Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan.

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

We start the new year with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, nicknamed ”The Symphony of the Dance,” which is sure to get a balletic interpretation from our Maestro Rhodes. Then we welcome back to TC one of the orchestra’s favorite collaborators, pianist Spencer Meyer, with the gargantuan, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3.

GET YOUR TICKETS! TRAVERSESYMPHONY.ORG OR 231-947-7120 STUDENTS & 1ST TIME ATTENDEES—CALL FOR 50% OFF! NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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YOU’RE INVITED

Named “Most Beautiful Place in America” by the viewers of Good Morning America, and sitting pretty on National Geographic’s list of “21 Best Beaches in the World.”

There are plenty of places to vacation, but nowhere comes close to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

You don’t have to take our word for it though.

Come experience the magic of Northern Michigan for yourself.

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editor's note

W

hen my oldest, alek, was a newborn, I remember sitting in a coffee shop with the baby as one of my husband’s acquaintances came in and stopped by our table. Without so much as a glance at our new little dude, he regaled us with tales of a recent mountain bike competition and his son’s performance in it—granular details about mechanical mishaps and injuries and times.

After he left, I looked at my husband and made him swear we would never be those sports parents. The ones who never think they’re the problem, but are always the problem—the joy thieves who push hard, go all in, brag, agitate, raise the stakes, challenge the coaches, hover, shout directives from the sidelines and basically become so hardcore and un-fun and enamored of their children’s sport and accomplishments that they kill the mood, and sometimes even their kid’s passion.

It seemed so far away, anyway, the idea of this burritosized bundle ripping down a mountainside. But just two years later there he was, standing in a blue snowsuit with an ear-to-ear grin, cheeks red, nose running, sliding the length of the driveway again and again on the world’s tiniest skis with a look on his face that said this is what I was made for. We could see the road unfolding before us. He would be a skier—and we would have the opportunity to foster his love and help him live into his potential without screwing it all up.

Each winter we watched him grow taller, faster, more joyful and coordinated. His little brother, Kieran, joined us on the slopes and we soon found ourselves dividing and conquering, skiing with and along and behind, rearing two boys with a hair-raising propensity for speed and fearlessness. And as they grew as skiers, so did I. I wasn’t the best or most committed, I wasn’t as into the gear or the freezing runs at dawn, and their ability soon outpaced mine. They led the way through trees and cut-throughs, over modest bumps and rails, calling out for me to come on, hurry up, let’s go, Mom, one more time.

As much as we raised them as skiers, they raised us. I learned a lot of valuable lessons (that work both on and off the slopes) which inspired this month’s “How to Raise a Skier” story. In it, our experts share their best hacks and insights for cultivating a lifelong love of the sport, and their advice is eye-opening, heart-warming and overwhelmingly encouraging and practical. Here, a few of my own: Keep your pockets full. Energy bars, Clementines, peanut-butter crackers, jerky, Hershey’s kisses, all keep spirits and energy up. A friend of mine used to bring gold coin chocolates and scatter them off the lift and have her kids ski down to find them—best on uncrowded days so someone else doesn’t pocket your booty.

SNOWMEN

by CARA MCDONALD

Ski on football days. Bowl games, rivalries? Ideal afternoons to plan for a mellow ski, when crowds bail early to head to the nearest TV. Teach them to be ambassadors. As your kids get comfortable on skis, help them do the same for others—offer a hand when someone takes a fall, chat with folks on the ski lift, ask about their day or favorite runs, and above all, be gracious and safe.

Let your child lead. Sports are so painfully structured these days. It’s great when kids can opt for a program that fits who they are—whether that’s a regular family ski day, a high school team or a just-for-fun club. And let them lead on the mountain, too, showing you what they’ve learned, their favorite runs or new tricks and terrain.

Celebrate failure. It’s trendy to say it and a lot harder to mean it. But excelling at skiing means taking risks, looking foolish, feeling awkward, and, if they make it to the racing level, skiing so hard and fast you might eat it or miss a gate.

But that’s the price of not holding back.

My kids are now 14 and 11, and the kind of skiers who have the skills, the intuitive ability and passion deep in their bones—the kind of skier I’ll never be. But I catch just a fleeting moment of it as they carve down the mountain and hockey stop, spraying me with snow and laughing. I pull them in for an awkward side hug and tell them it’s enough to watch them, that I simply love to watch them ski.

Cara McDonald Executive Editor cara@mynorth.com NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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PA I D C O N T E N T

WHERE TO

SKI NOW

Where to stay, where to play: 10 reasons to plan a ski vacation in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada

BY CARA MCDONALD AND MYNORTH CUSTOM STUDIOS

W

hen you’re a midwesterner in love with

the snow, finding your skiing sweet spot can be a little tricky. Fortunately, tucked on the shores of Lake Superior sits a skiing destination where the slopes are steep and deep, lift lines are swift and amenities tick all boxes: the Algoma region’s Searchmont Resort, just 40 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. Thanks to lake-effect snow and a magical microclimate mixed with the sweetness of nearby Sault Ste. Marie, it draws devoted skiers from all over the Midwest and Canada. Here’s why:

7. ROOMS WITH A VIEW: Find deluxe digs at Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront, which overlooks the boardwalk and St. Mary’s River and has cool views of the Soo Locks from the dining room.

8. BADASS BREAKFAST: Diehard skiers know the secret 1. SNOWFALL: Over the last 10 years, Searchmont has averaged 132” (336 cm) annual real snow. Lake-effect squalls result in huge dumps of freshies, especially in snowy December and January, resulting in more than 90 percent terrain coverage with snow-making.

2. JUST-SO GROOMING: A brand new Pistenbully 600 makes for an eco-friendly addition to the grooming fleet, offering better winching for steep-slope corduroy.

3. VERTICAL DROP: Searchmont claims a 1,650-foot elevation and 750-foot vertical drop, about 300 feet higher than resorts in northern lower Michigan, making for some of the longest runs in the region.

4. UPDATED CHAIRLIFTS: Searchmont Resort recently added two Skytrac triple chairs as part of a major modernization. The longer of the two lifts will replace the mountain’s original double chairlift, built in 1972. With better lift capacity comes easier access and shorter lines. The Buzzsaw lift now feeds into Buzzsaw and Lumberjack, two new trails designed to create an easier transition to the main trails for new and beginner skiers.

5. A GREAT EXCHANGE RATE: A strong U.S. dollar means it’s super affordable for U.S. residents to travel and play in Canada for less. With full-day lift tickets at $70 CA, that means you’re hitting some of the best snow in the Great Lakes for around $52.

6. COASTAL BREWS: Your après plan doesn’t have to stay slopeside—head to Outspoken Brewing (on Queen Street in Sault Ste. Marie) for a Fresh Coast Kolsch-style ale in their cozy tasting room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Northern Superior Brewing Co. brews a popular Canadian lager.

8

to a nonstop day on the slopes is a serious pre-ski breakfast to fuel it all. The Breakfast Pig Badass Eatery claims bragging rights to Sault Ste. Marie’s best breakfast. Pigtastic dishes like the Notorious P.I.G. feature pulled pork, grilled cheese, poached eggs and hollandaise.

9. POUTINE: At the end of a long day in the snow, thank whatever gods inspired Canadians to create the greatest winter snack ever—French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy.

Searchmont Resort’s onsite restaurant, The Kiln, offers a classic poutine with the addition of bacon. Back in town, you’ll find plenty of killer options, like those at Low & Slow Smoked Fusion Barbecue, served up with burnt ends. Other spots? Chummy’s Grill, Burger Don, Stackburger, Smokey’s BBQ Pit & Patio, Stockhouse Grill, Breakfast Pig, even Georgie’s Shawarma.

10. MORE SNOWY ADVENTURES NEARBY: Add in some extra play and find plenty of snowshoeing within Sault Ste. Marie city limits on the Hub Trail and Voyageur Trail and more terrain available at Hiawatha Highlands. Hiawatha is also home to 50 km of expertly groomed cross-country ski trails. Fat bikers can head to Crimson Ridge just minutes from the city center, with 20 km of packed and flowy trails, or grab some rental skates for forest skating on their iced-over forested trails.

saultstemarie.com

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Up North.

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

INTO ICY WATERS

by CARLY SIMPSON

Meet Laura Mason, a Leelanaubased chef and food blogger who is using cold water therapy— swimming in Lake Michigan’s frigid winter waves—to help treat her chronic pain.

I

photos courtesy of Laura Mason

t takes a lot of pluck to get into Lake Michigan when the water temperature is hovering around 34 degrees, the wind chill has dipped below 0 and ice chunks are bouncing along the shoreline. But for Laura Mason, the benefits are worth it.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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Cedar Shingle Farmhouse

Garden ar ea and w oods

Suzy Voltz

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

1903231 River Road • mls

RealEstateOne.com

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

Bradley J. Butcher, AIA 989.705.8400 • sidockgroup.com Novi • Wyandotte • Lansing • Muskegon • Gaylord • Sault Ste. Marie • Tampa • Williamsport, PA

Read informative articles about us at MyNorth.com: search Sidock Group

IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

MYNORTH.COM/SUBSCRIBE 10

Laura uses cold water therapy to reduce pain and inflammation caused by her rheumatoid arthritis. Last fall and winter, she swam for 171 consecutive days in Lake Michigan, beginning in September. When the water started to freeze in February, she purchased a portable tub to continue her outdoor soaks at home. Today, she takes cold dips three to four times a week—but even now it takes grit. “Honestly, I still have some anxiety when I get into cold water. I don’t know if that ever goes away … though it’s becoming easier to calm my anxiety.”

Her in-water ritual helps. When Laura submerges up to her shoulders, her heart skips a beat and for a split second, she loses her breath. When the “stomach flutters kick in,” she starts the ritual, saying a prayer to God and giving thanks to the water. “I started to look at [the water] as a friend,” Laura explains. “I would say, ‘Hey, thanks for showing up with me today. I appreciate that support.’ And eventually, my gratitude toward the water also became a prayer. I thanked it for being with me, holding me and hugging me.”

On Instagram and her blog, Love Chef Laura, (lovecheflaura.com) she writes about the physical and mental health benefits of cold-water therapy, tips for getting started and her journey of navigating autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s and vitiligo. She also shares recipes for all diets—dairyfree, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan and more—inspired by her lifelong love of food and training in French culinary school.

Through sharing her story, Laura has met a community of autoimmune warriors. She’s received photos of people cold dipping with family members on Thanksgiving, which has become a tradition, and emails from those who can now walk their dogs with less pain—for the first time in years— thanks to HOKA running shoes that Laura recommends. “The autoimmune community is incredible and so intense,” she says. “I am inspired by so many, and if I can help one person live a better life while battling an autoimmune disease, even if it’s something ‘small’ such as taking a walk, it puts a big smile on my face.”

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Up North Kids & Family

ADVENTURE WITH A VIEW Leelanau’s Empire Bluff Trail is perfect for a family-friendly hike year-round, but you’re more likely to have it all to yourself in the off-season. Plus, you and your littles will be rewarded with stunning snowy views and plenty of selfie ops at the top.

An added bonus: The 1.5-mile loop trail was improved last fall with a re-route to avoid a steep eroding section of the bluff, which means you can hike safely knowing you’re respecting your surroundings and treading lightly. More info at: nps.gov -A.J.

^

photos by Tim Hussey

NEW UP NORTH

Cool finds, community updates and sweet new businesses.

AMES STREET CAFE ELK RAPIDS

OPEN LATE KITCHEN TRAVERSE CITY

TC DECORATING CO. TRAVERSE CITY

Located in the former home of The Local, Ames Street Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch, offering lots of gluten-free options and some vegan dishes. Co-owner Allie Gualco and her mom, Kristen “KJ” Joppich, will also continue to operate their food truck, Alley Cat’s Eats & Sweets.

Open from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., this delivery-only eatery offers comfort foods like loaded tater tots and buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches. Place orders online or call 231.590.9055.; delivery available in the TC area within 5 miles. openlatekitchen.square.site

Let Jenna Pizarek decorate your Traverse City bachelorette party.

You pick a theme and color palette, she'll take care of the rest. Add-ons include invitations, gift bags, snack bars, party favors and more. tcdecorating.com

Know of a business that just opened or have a fun community update? Let us know at editorial@traversemagazine.com.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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MODERN DESIGN. MODERN DESIGN. MODERN DESIGN. MADE FOR THE WAY MADE FOR THE WAY YOU LIVE. MADE FOR THE WAY YOU LIVE. Let Thomas & Milliken Millwork help YOU LIVE. Let Thomas & Milliken Millwork help

MODERN DESIGN. MADE FOR THE WAY YOU LIVE.

you see Modern design differently. you see Modern design differently.

Let Thomas & Milliken Millwork help you see Modern design differently.

Let Thomas & Milliken Millwork help you see Modern design differently.

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Up North Wish You Were Here

photo by ToddandBradReed.com

New Year’s Eve on Ludington Ave. We can’t think of a more festive place to ring in 2023 than glitzy downtown Ludington. The city’s annual New Year’s Eve street party kicks off at 9 p.m. on Ludington Avenue with music and a beer tent offering commemorative light-up glasses. But the real claim to fame is the glittering centerpiece— West Michigan’s largest NYE ball drop at the stroke of midnight—followed by a sparkling fireworks display.

Tip: Make it a weekend getaway and stay for the New Year’s Resolution 5K Run on Jan. 1. With a cushy 11 a.m. call time, you can grab your coffee and avo toast before starting 2023 on the right foot! downtownludington.org/nye -A.J.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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TIX Watch for the MyNorthTix symbol and get your tickets at MyNorthTickets.com.

January edited b y LIBBY STALLMAN

SUN

Join Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for a guided New Year’s Day hike at Green Point Dunes in Benzie County. This moderately strenuous trek winds through forests and meadows to stunning Lake Michigan views. gtrlc.org

THU

Drop in for Pinball Wars every Thursday night at Right Brain Brewery. The league includes beginner level (no buy-in) and advanced ($5 buy-in) with double elimination tournaments. rightbrainbrewery.com

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5

MON Amical’s Cookbook Dinner Series features spicy, sharp Thai party food this month. Los Angeles chef Kris Yenbamroong is known for stripping down traditional Thai recipes to bring out maximum flavor with the least amount of hassle. Jan. 9–15. amical.com

FRI

Take a self-guided lantern-lit hike at the Brown Bridge Quiet Area. Grand Traverse Conservation District staff will greet you with hot cocoa before you explore the landscape.

A limited amount of snowshoe equipment is available to use.

Register at natureiscalling.org.

FRI

Watch U.S. and international ski jumpers defy gravity as they soar off the historic K90, Suicide Hill ski jump at the annual Ishpeming Ski Jumping Tournament—the longest consecutive tournament in the country. Enjoy tailgating, concessions and bonfires while watching athletes compete. travelmarquette.com

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SAT

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The Friars, an a cappella subset of U of M’s Men’s Glee Club, have been entertaining audiences for years with questionable choreography, bad dad jokes and boy-band hits. Check out this talented group during The Friars Winterpalooza at Traverse City’s City Opera House. cityoperahouse.org

SAT

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Gopherwood Concerts presents Mark Stuart at the Cadillac Elks Lodge. Stuart, a full-time working artist and musician, is known for performing his own original music, collaborating with singer-songwriters in concert and performing as a band guitarist in his hometown of Nashville.

MyNorthTickets.com

SAT

21

TUE

Head to The Dennos for a new exhibit—Teresa Dunn: Us—and take in Dunn’s narrative painting series. Her work reflects the stories that immigrants, people of color and individuals with complex cultural identities shared with her about their daily experience in America. Jan. 21– May 28. dennosmuseum.org

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Savor an evening at The Cooks’ House as they welcome Iron Fish Distillery and pair high-quality whiskey, gin and vodka with a five-course dinner.

MyNorthTickets.com

SAT

Embrace the winter spirit and embark on a fairy tale–like sleigh ride at Treetops Resort in Gaylord. A horse-drawn sleigh will take guests through the property’s secluded woods, before ending at Hunter’s Grille for a gourmet four-course meal. treetops.com

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FIND MORE AT MYNORTH.COM > EVENTS

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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travel

WINTER INDULGENCE

by CARLY SIMPSON

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Treat yourself to a luxurious Charlevoix getaway in the new year.

inter weekends in charlevoix are decadent: the pier glistening with ice crystals, Lake Michigan’s aquamarine waters, the golden glow of downtown’s boutiques and eateries—all especially magical after a fresh snow. And set in the heart of it all is Hotel Earl ready to welcome you with fireside cocktails and cozy amenities (hello, plush robes).

A mid-century modern gem designed by renowned architect Earl Young, Hotel Earl was built in 1959 (then called Weathervane Lodge). A top-to-bottom renovation was completed in 2020, preserving much of Young’s architecture while modernizing the property. A year-round outdoor hot tub, an indoor pool and a brand-new rooftop deck that just opened in July are favorites among guests. In the lobby’s LO Bar, “Earl’s Perfect Manhattan” made with Mammoth Distilling’s nine-year Northern Rye is especially warming. Pair it with a charcuterie board or thin-crust pizza from the bar’s snack menu.

The Earl Suite, the hotel’s largest at 1,500 square feet, is the pinnacle of luxury, offering up views of both Round Lake and downtown Charlevoix’s Michigan Avenue. One of 56 rooms at the boutique hotel, the third-floor Earl Suite is designed for socializing. There’s a stone fireplace in the living room; a full kitchen stocked with wine glasses and champagne flutes (request a bottle of Veuve Clicquot ahead of your stay and the staff will have it chilled and waiting in your room); and a stunning five-foot-long soaking tub in the primary bathroom. A large private balcony and an elegant powder room also delight.

When you’re ready to explore, Hailee Arnold, Hotel Earl’s sales coordinator, recommends rounding out a January weekend with a hike at Mt. McSauba.

Candlelight hikes are scheduled on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m. through February 24. Afterward, grab dinner at Terry’s, a casual fine dining spot with to-die-for crab cakes and locally inspired cuisine like duck with Michigan cherry sauce.

Book a room: The Earl Suite costs $750 to $2,100 a night, though winter rates average between $750 and $1,500. Don’t need quite so much space? Book a King guest room; January stays range from $149 to $209 per night. hotelearl.com.

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photo by Dave Weidner // top photos courtesy of Hotel Earl NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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outdoors

PADDLING THE ELEMENTS

by ANDREW VANDRIE

Embark on an ethereal winter rafting trip along the Pine.

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photos by Andrew VanDrie

A

blue canoe paddle marked our destination: Pine River Paddlesports Center in Wellston, about an hour south of Traverse City. We drove up to the wide property, scattered with blue rafts and home to a cozy lodge, smoke curling up from the chimney. Enveloping the scene was the Pine River, which we would be rafting today.

During this guided voyage, we would float the placid surface of the Pine with Jacob Miltner. A family affair, Pine River Paddlesports Center was founded by Jacob’s father, Mark Miltner, in 1971. Today, it’s operated by Jacob and his wife, Alaney. As we exited our vehicles, Jacob paused from pumping up rafts to greet us. After the initial paperwork, we assembled in a semi-circle for a safety briefing. Alaney doled out life jackets, along with hand-frosted sugar cookies. The company mascot and hairiest employee, Hoxey the husky, lay in the snow, eyeing the proceedings nonplussed.

It was a glorious morning. A light dusting of snow from the night before blanketed the boughs of pines and the rake-thin limbs of cedars. The sun shone golden and soft through the knitted canopy, uninhibited by a single cloud. Our two rafts were lowered into the murmuring Pine and, one by one, we carefully boarded.

We shoved off from shore and our rafts were embraced by the steady current. Slow and shallow, the river meandered unhurriedly through the hunched shoulders of the river valley. Our rafts were sturdy and surprisingly comfortable as we sat perched on the edge. Jacob even stood up in the rear to effectively prove the boat’s stability. The water was blissfully calm, the surface stilled to glass in the deepest pools and stirred to dimpled rivulets over rock shallows and around tree roots. The uncharacteristic winter sun had cheered the spirits of the river’s wildlife as well. Chickadees sang a rosy song as they flittered among the cedar boughs. Jacob expertly maneuvered our raft with a few deft paddle strokes, slipping us beneath encroaching tree limbs.

Along the banks, icicles cascaded among the dangling tendrils of grasses and sedge like crystalline chandeliers.

Similar to the fleeting sun on this winter morning, our venture was over too soon. Having arrived at Lincoln Bridge, To schedule your own winter rafting we nestled against the bank and climbed trip, call Pine River Paddlesports from our raft. We had a choice to hike the Center at 231.862.3471. They scenic Silver Creek Pathway back to the offer two rafting trips per day, seven put-in, but we opted for a van ride on this days a week, so there are plenty of chilly day. Waiting for us at the lodge was opportunities to get out on the river. a warming, popping fire.

For more info on guided trips, Our trip was in late February, and those visit thepineriver.com. precious rays of sunshine had hinted that spring wasn’t too far away. But as we stood Tip: Layer up for the weather! with cheeks warming, I gazed at the Pine Wear heavy wool socks and your River gracefully waltzing around the next winter coat and snow pants for outer protection. Don’t worry about having bend, and wished perhaps winter would waders, as the guides will pull you hold on just a bit longer.

Andrew VanDrie writes from Traverse City. vandrieand@gmail.com

close to the bank for loading/ unloading.

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WHEN F A FOR R E E Z I N G TEMP E ST O S F ICY BLUE DE S CEN D S SHAR D S S E L OW A N D S TS A S U R R T E A DY O N EAL S CENE THE STRA . HER E’S H ITS AND C OW T O SEE ONDITION S THIS ST U N A R E J U ST NING W I N T R I G H T, ER PH ENOM EN pho

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the news of Northern Michigan’s blue ice: thick crystals jutting upward, the formations jagged and glacier-like in color, the majestic Mackinac Bridge in the distance. Professional and amateur photographers alike flock to the Straits as word gets out about this fleeting and fickle natural phenomenon.

Still, nothing quite captures the eerie wonder of seeing this spectacle up close. A chance to experience it in person is worth it, demanding we watch, wonder and understand the natural forces that align to gift it to us.

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THE S CIENCE BEHIND BLUE ICE According to the U.S. Geological Survey, ice appears blue when the red (long wavelengths) part of white light is absorbed by ice, and the blue (short wavelengths) light is transmitted and scattered. The longer the path light travels in ice, the bluer it appears.

To further understand why ice in the Straits of Mackinac and other spots in the Great Lakes region sometimes appears blue, we turned to Will H. Cantrell, PhD, a physics professor at Michigan Technological University, where he and his students research why water in the Earth’s atmosphere condenses into cloud droplets, when and where this happens, and why that water sometimes freezes.

One important condition for blue ice to occur is freezing temperatures that stick around long enough for a body of water to freeze and thicken slowly, Cantrell explains. “By freezing slowly, it makes a nice, clear crystal.”

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Mackinaw City’s Alexander Henry Park is a perfect spot to view blue ice—and gorgeous wintery scenes of the Mackinac Bridge.

WHY WE SEE THE BLUE HUE Thick ice crystals with few bubbles or particles inside allow light to penetrate farther into the ice without scattering and before reflecting back. This is similar to what happens when we look into a vast, deep body of water like a Great Lake or ocean and see a deep blue hue versus the clear color of a much smaller amount in, say, a glass of water, Cantrell says.

Thick ice can transform into shards as the ice breaks up and forms ridges. “You might have a windstorm and the wind will move the different plates of ice on the lake around and they run up against each other and break,” he explains. “It’s not like they just butt up against each other and stop—one will ride up and break it, causing a ridge.”

Looking through these shards of ice, we see blue because the pathway of the light is long enough. “It’s not being scattered because it’s this nice, clear pristine ice that formed on the underside. And so, when the light transmits through that, the crystal is absorbing the red and yellow parts of the visible part of the spectrum and what you see is blue.”

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M A K E I T A DAY Since blue ice is both gorgeous and fleeting, we recommend making plans for a Mackinaw City visit when winter is at its coldest. Follow local photographers on social media who will tip you off if the phenomenon occurs.

W H E R E TO S E E B LU E I C E The best spot to view glittering blue ice up close is Mackinaw City’s Alexander Henry Park, located at the northern end of Henry Street next to Colonial Michilimackinac on Lake Huron. This park also offers amazing views of the Mackinac Bridge, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Mackinac Island.

W H E R E TO G R A B A B I T E Pre-adventure, stop by Pancake Chef, one of the oldest restaurants in Mackinaw City. Fuel up with banana or pumpkin pancakes (a “brunch after 11 a.m.” menu is available, too). For a meal later in the day, check out Keyhole Bar & Grill, a local favorite that’s decorated with a collection of 25,000 keys and locks—they completely cover the bars, tables and walls. Try the Bushel of Potatoes (French fries!) and original broiled whitefish.

W H E R E TO EX P LO R E N EXT Cross the Mighty Mac and head five miles north of St. Ignace for a picturesque winter hike at the North Country Trail’s Castle Rock Trailhead. This pathway winds through the forest for miles, so use the map at the trailhead to determine an out-and-back route to your liking, and bring snowshoes.

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PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FROM A PRO Kim Mettler of Michigan Barefoot Memories Photography has taken stunning photos of blue ice at the Straits. After Mettler captured the phenomenon in 2018, both CNN and The Weather Channel shared her images.

Here are her tips for taking aweinspiring photos and making the most of your blue-ice adventure: Consider going at the beginning or end of the day, when the sun isn’t the brightest. “I’ve mostly done sunset because I wanted to get more color—it’s a more dynamic image if you get some pinks in the sky.”

Make sure the Mackinac Bridge is in the background of your shot— and don’t be afraid to include people in your photos, too. “Having people in the image doesn’t hurt—it shows the grandness of it.”

Snap photos from your knees, or even your belly. “A low angle is always great, because you have these shards that shoot up and you’re seeing the variations in the blue.

When you get lower, you can see that, versus standing up and shooting down at it. You’ll get more sky, more bridge.”

Stay safe! Shoe traction is always important when walking along an icy shoreline, and don’t venture out too far. “Even if you see tracks out there, it may not be safe. Having a healthy respect for the Straits is super important.” Be sure to wear weather-appropriate clothing, too.

Think layers.

Heather Johnson Durocher writes from Traverse City, where she lives with her husband Joe and their three kids. She is the founder of the travel and active lifestyle site MichiganRunnerGirl.com.

Kim Mettler is a Northern Michiganbased commercial, lifestyle and fine art photographer. Follow her on Instagram @Michiganbarefoot.

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good things brewing A new wave of

coffee roasters on a mission is taking on

northern michigan

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by Chris Loud / photos by Nick Loud

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he coffee industry is subject to the force of waves of evolution. The first wave is linked to when coffee became widely available to the common consumer, often paired with the industrial revolution. The second wave? That’s when we transitioned to coffee as an experience, and eventually a coffee culture—like coffee houses and Starbucks.

But the third wave is upon us, and nowhere more clearly than in our food-conscious North. This marks a shift to more consumer awareness and a heightened sense of bean origin. Basically, it’s when coffee started to get more of the wine-culture treatment—like the

intricacies of the origins, roasting methods and serving methods, and how they affect the taste.

However, there’s another movement that is essentially a deeper dive into the third wave. Some are even calling it a “fourth wave.” This more recent ebb is all about ethical sourcing, higher quality beans and mission-driven roasters.

In Northern Michigan, you no longer have to visit larger towns to find this level of coffee culture. With this in mind, we set out to find some of those roasters who are pushing that third wave further and influencing the coffee culture in their area.

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“I think of it as minimal-intervention roasting.”

–Chuck Korson

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fortunate Coffee Co. Fortunate coffee co. is the current iteration of what many folks came to know as BLK MRKT Coffee, the beloved roaster formerly located in the Warehouse District of Traverse City (products now sold online only), and is the brand that represents Chuck Korson’s current coffee roasting mission.

“I love coffee for how varied and interesting it can be,” Korson says, “and how differences in plant stock, topography, weather, processing methods and more can impact a coffee before it even hits the roaster.” After spending time away from home training to be a sommelier and working at high-caliber cafés in cities like Louisville and Des Moines, Korson realized he was interested in diving deeper into the world of coffee. He decided to bring that interest to his home turf. “It took being away for 15 years to realize that Northern Michigan, and particularly Leelanau County, is the emotional center of my universe,” he says.

His roasting philosophy is a big part of what makes his coffee a local favorite. “I tend to choose coffees that I feel offer a great deal of inherent complexity, and do my best to apply a roast profile that accentuates and complements these qualities already in the coffee without obscuring them. I think of it as minimal-intervention roasting.”

For Korson, it comes down to the relationships with the people, from start to finish. “I have worked with the same core group of green-coffee importers since I started roasting on a larger scale,” he says. “I chose to work with these small companies because we have many similarities in regard to our philosophies in working with coffee. It really comes down to putting the people who are growing the coffee first, then building long-term sustainable relationships with them.”

It’s not only confidence in his palate, but also a sense of coffee-tasting realism that allows Korson to create a personal experience for everyone who samples his product. “I’m not a super taster or anything, but I have spent my entire life eating, drinking and tasting as much as possible, and I feel like that informs the decisions I make with purchasing and roasting coffee. I think running a business should have very little to do with bolstering your self-importance or worth and more to do with sharing with others what you are truly passionate about.”

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owl eye Coffee Roasters Visiting owl eye in Cadillac is an absolute delight—mainly because owner Aaron Fekete is one of those rare humans with natural hospitality skills and an almost savant-level knowledge of coffee. He’s a young man with a young family and a new business, but he’s been

coffee business. Fekete intentionally focused on the roasting and wholesale operations while there, seeking to dive into the real art form of roasting.

In Uganda he met his wife, Jin, a Korean expat, and had a daughter, Shiloh. Within a few years, Fekete and his family were forced to move due to a frightening ISIS-related incident and decided to return to his hometown of Cadillac. At the time, Cadillac didn’t have a roaster, and he saw this unusual turn in his life as an opportunity. “I would not die happy if I didn’t give it a go,” he says.

Fekete has a clear vision of what kind of roaster he wants to be. “My end goal is to directly source all of our beans,” he says.

“Perhaps one day to even offer annual trips to customers to visit the farms producing the coffee they are drinking. The farmers are getting more for their product and they are more passionate in return, and produce some amazing specialty graded beans. All of our beans are specialty graded, and all are traceable to the exact farms and farmers.”

“The farmers are getting more for their product and they are more passionate in return.”

–Aaron Fekete working in the coffee industry for a long time.

And, thanks to Fekete, his home town of Cadillac might offer one of the best cups of coffee in the entire region.

He entered the industry as a barista at the age of 13, and since then has worked at seven different coffee shops. While in college, Fekete spent time living in Uganda with a host family, sparking his curiosity about culture and travel. After his last semester, with a combination of ambition, the internet, and an unusual connection, he found himself in Dhaka, Bangladesh, working with a new

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coffee by Steph Stephanie mora puts her name directly on her brand, and that says a lot about how she treats her reputation. Coffee by Steph is located in Grayling’s AuSable Artisan Village, a nonprofit community art center that includes an art gallery, shop, performance stage and Paddle Hard Brewing.

Mora’s relationship with coffee in general is deep-rooted. “My first experiences of drinking coffee were as a teenager trying to find common

“My coffee is unique because I am unique.”

–Stephanie Mora ground with my father,” says Mora. “[That] created an association between those moments and the aroma and taste of coffee that I carry with me always.” After living in the San Francisco area for 14 years, she moved back to her husband’s home state of Michigan, and they chose Grayling for its access to outdoor recreation.

One of her main goals is to influence change and progress through her product. She selects direct-trade coffee based on relationships to the farmers and their communities, and seeks to support women-owned farms whenever possible. “As we’ve grown, I’ve started to have farmers that I know reach out to me whenever they meet women producers so that we can 32

connect, and I love that we can all support each other in this way.”

She’s also an advocate for better working conditions globally. While in college, Mora spent time on coffee farms in places like Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, and saw firsthand how different farms could be. “Some used child labor and paid little for very hard work,” she recalls. “Others paid their workers good wages and focused on improving their communities. This was the first time that I realized the power that we have as consumers.”

She roasts her coffee in micro batches of four pounds or less on a fluid bed roaster, which pushes hot air through the roaster. The force lifts the beans into the air, causing them to float on a “bed” of hot air.

“When we receive a new variety of coffee, I roast several batches to different roast levels to get an idea of the potential flavors,” says Mora. She views the coffee roasters across the region as community members, not competition, and sums up perfectly why craft coffee roasters can provide such a special experience, no matter where they’re located: “No two roasters will roast a coffee the same way. My coffee is unique because I am unique.”

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freedom hill Coffee Roasters

“Our mission is serving veterans, and raising mental health awareness through our nationwide messaging.”

–Scott Thomas

Freedom hill doesn’t have a café at their facility, located in a small warehouse just outside downtown Bellaire. Most of their sales are online, with customers located across the country. They’ve come to the coffee industry from a different angle than most, focusing on a truly sustainable business model first, while being located in an area of their choice. And most important, grounding the business in a worthy cause.

“My family and I started Freedom Hill in honor of a dear friend and fellow combat veteran who tragically took his own life due to post-traumatic stress,” says owner Scott Thomas. “Our mission is serving veterans, and raising mental health awareness through our nationwide messaging. We’re veteran-owned, have an over fifty percent veteran team, and we’re doing everything we can to share peace and purpose with our fellow veterans of every branch and era.”

Thomas spent a lot of summers in Northern Michigan while growing up before becoming a fulltime resident. “We chose this area because of the values and warmth of the communities, and four seasons of outdoor recreation,” he says. “There’s nowhere else in the country we’d rather be.”

For Thomas, even at a young age, coffee represented an important part of his day. “I grew up working at a neighbor’s farm. I’ll never forget standing around the farm office’s wood stove in the early morning dark, having a cup of coffee to start the day and feeling like one of the guys.”

Beyond their cause, Freedom Hill focuses on producing high-quality and accessible coffee.

“We’re not here to try to tell anyone what they should be drinking,” says Scott. “We’re here to provide the very best of the product types you find in the coffee market.” Their light roast and single-origin selections have lighter profiles that highlight their brighter attributes; they also offer espresso roasts and an extra dark for customers who enjoy a smokier cup.

Chris Loud is co-founder of The Boardman Review and lives in Traverse City with his wife, two young daughters and two dogs. In addition to the written word, Chris also produces projects in TV, film and short-form video.

BONUS CONTENT ON MYNORTH!

The Ultimate Guide to the North’s Coffee Roasters link.mynorth.com/coffeeroasters

Nick Loud is the co-founder & creative director of The Boardman Review. He is based in Traverse City. Follow him @nloud on Instagram and check out theboardmanreview.com.

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BY Elizabeth Edwards, AllisOn Jarrell, Cara McDOnald and Carly SimpSOn

O H W O T A S R I E A S I ER K LEARNING TO SKI IS ONE THING; FALLING IN LOVE WITH A SPORT FOR LIFE IS ANOTHER. HERE,S HOW TO SHARE THE JOY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN,S SNOWY SLOPES—WITHOUT TEARS, MELTDOWNS OR FREAKOUTS.

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, IT S

no secret that the image of happy families expertly skiing down sunny slopes is an ideal that not all of us reach. The road to competency on the mountain can be paved with tantrums, refusals, wet snowpants, cold fingers and weeping—for both the parents and kids involved.

But sharing a sport as a family can be a great joy, cultivating shared values, traditions and healthy habits that children take with them for life.

Skiing builds balance and coordination, contributes to mental toughness, provides a cardiovascular workout and forges a bond with the natural world. Skiers welcome the first flakes of the year with a hard-to-contain delight, and you can,t help but live and die by changes in the weather when you,re plotting your next outing.

And as global warming becomes more of a reality and challenge for the ski industry, cultivating a love of the outdoors in kids helps raise the next generation of environmentally aware adults and advocates.

Forging that love together fosters the emotional bond between parents and children.

Need more motivation?

Shared family activities result in better communication, fewer behavioral problems and even better grades.

But you need to get it right— provide the inspo and opportunity for kids to grow as skiers without pressure or turning them off before they get a chance to grow into the sport.

We asked a ski-crazy family, a veteran instructor and grandpa, and a just-launched young adult ripper how to best help get your kids to join you on the hill, and to one day teach their kids to love it, too.

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Mark Fisher, Ski Instructor After 50 years as a Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) certified instructor, Mark Fisher knows his way around the slopes. For 43 of those years, Fisher has been on the organization’s education staff, training other instructors in the latest, safest and—especially for children— most fun ways to learn to ski. Fisher’s winter résumé also includes decades as a high school coach. Currently, he is an instructor at Crystal Mountain.

When he’s not teaching, Fisher loves spending slope time with his family including his four grandchildren who range in age from 4 to 10. As they wedge and turn their way down the hill, Evelyn, Henry, Ethan and Simon have no idea they are being gently taught by one of the most seasoned instructors in the country: For them, it’s just another play day in the snow with Grandpa Mark.

We asked Fisher for tips on getting kids to love skiing. Not surprisingly, it’s one of his favorite subjects.

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1. GET THEM USED TO HAVING LONG

FEET. Before they ever get on the snow,

you have to get kids to figure out that their foot isn’t going to be six inches long on skis—it’s going to be longer. What I recommend is that when you get ski equipment for your young kids, let them walk around in the house or outside with their boots on. That way the kids get used to the additional weight of the boots.

The next thing is to let them put their skis on in the house and walk around in them on carpeting to let them get acclimated to their equipment. They won’t slip and slide on carpet so they can work on balancing/moving with the skis. Once there is snow on the ground, let them walk around in their skis on the driveway or other flat area—and if you have a little slope in the yard, let them get used to standing on skis while in motion. All of this helps them understand that their foot is a whole lot larger, and they have to change their movements with their equipment on.

At the same time, you’re getting them used to balancing/standing/moving on the skis.

2. PURCHASE OR LEASE CORRECTLY FITTING EQUIPMENT THROUGH SPECIAL PROGRAMS JUST FOR KIDS.

You don’t want a child’s feet to grow into a boot. If you try to have them grow into a boot, it will be too sloppy; too big a boot will not fit well and only the foot would move inside the boot versus the foot moving the ski. And you don’t want their skis too long. If anything, err on the shorter side because they’ll be easier for them to maneuver. Many ski shops have programs where you can either lease equipment for kids for a season or purchase equipment initially and exchange when the child outgrows the equipment.

3. NO POLES! Don’t give young kids poles.

You might as well give them weapons. Once children are older, can ride a chairlift and have complete control on the hills, then a parent can look at introducing poles.

4. ENROLL THEM IN A LESSON OR , CHILDREN S PROGRAM. Professional

instructors are specifically trained and accredited for working with kids, and have a whole of bag of tricks that they use to help kids learn. If you are the one taking them on a beginners hill for the first

Three generations of Fisher family skiers on a NoMi ski day. Opposite: Grandpa Mark with his then 2-year-old grandson Simon.

time, start small and work your way up.

Walk up the hill with them a little bit and let them experience sliding down, then go up a little higher and do the same. Before they go up a lift, Magic Carpet, rope tow or chair lift, your child/student should be able to slow down, turn and stop on skis.

5.

REPLENISH SPIRITS WITH HOT CHOCOLATE. If the kids start becoming

frustrated or not having fun, at home or at a ski area, immediately take them out of their skis and go inside for hot chocolate—that way, after the hot chocolate, they’ll associate skiing with fun, not their frustration. You don’t want them to have a bad experience, you want them to have a good experience.

IF THE KIDS START BECOMING FRUSTRATED OR NOT HAVING FUN, AT HOME OR AT A SKI AREA, IMMEDIATELY TAKE THEM OUT OF THEIR SKIS AND GO INSIDE FOR HOT CHOCOLATE

6. HAVE FUN. With young kids you have

to have fun and be goofy. Skiing is the most fantastic family sport and something that you can do with your family the rest of your life. And so when kids are at a young age, that’s the time to have fun with them, and to really kind of cement the idea that you’re going out and just having a good time.

—ELIZABETH EDWARDS

4th & 5th Graders Ski Free in Michigan Download the Cold is Cool Ski & Ride Passport App for 4th and 5th graders, and get up to three free lift tickets or trail passes at 29 participating ski areas, plus additional discounts on the slopes and in Michigan ski shops. The passport costs $30; find more information online: goskimichigan.com/cold-is-cool.

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1. BOOK YOURSELF A SEASON-LONG CLASS. Learning to ski is mostly practice, but if you don’t have the fundamentals down, you will not be able to progress.

2. RENT GOOD GEAR. For your first time on the mountain, try to stay away from the skis in grandma’s attic; spend the extra money and get a pair of rentals. Not only will these skis be newer and maintained at a much higher standard, they will also be set up by certified professionals and specifically tuned to your height, weight, age, boot size and rider ability. This will keep you safe on the hill.

Tanner Guidas, Student/Skier Eighteen-year-old Tanner Guidas has spent nearly half his life hitting the slopes—it was only a year after moving from Illinois to Houghton that he started taking ski lessons in fourth grade. The year after, it was snowboarding (which would become his sport of choice).

Tanner eventually went on to teach both skiing and snowboarding at Michigan Tech’s Mont Ripley Ski Area, and has not only kept his own passion for the sport, but is also paying it forward for the next generation. Today, his life as a student keeps him within arm’s reach of the best snow in North America, studying finance at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction in between runs at nearby resorts.

But Michigan’s slopes still hold a special place in his heart, especially his favorite U.P. spot (and former home turf ), Mont Ripley. He shares his advice for young skiers and snowboarders looking to up their game.

3. SAFETY IS SEXY. Always remember to wear a helmet and ski in control and within the open trail for your safety.

4. STUDY UP. If you’ve been riding for a while and you’re looking

to get into riding in the terrain park, I would recommend snowboarders watch SnowboardProCamp on YouTube, and skiers watch Stomp It Tutorials.

5. EMBRACE THE COMMUNITY. If you love skiing, snowboard-

ing or even just being outside in the winter, you’re not alone. Support the industry, go ride, go watch people ride, attend events and meet people with similar interests. When you’re out on the mountain, remember to have fun. Add your style and personal touch to your riding. Ride with your friends and learn together.

—ALLISON JARRELL

Kid-Friendly Ski Hills

These small community hills are fabulous for families just getting started.

HANSON HILLS RECREATION AREA 7601 Old Lake Rd., Grayling

the fleet. At the lodge, grab a snack then warm up around two outdoor fire pits or the indoor fireplace.

This nonprofit recreational area is home to a 275-vertical-foot hill that features terrain for all levels of skiers. For beginners, the Bunny Hill and Bonkowski Children’s Learn to Ski Area are great starting points. Hanson Hills also has two tubing runs along with cross-country and snowshoe trails.

Tip: “Purchase a lesson!

Let our Snow Sports School train your new skier in a safe, efficient way.”

–Justin Andre, Director

Tip: “Rent equipment the first

HICKORY HILLS RECREATION SKI AREA 2000 Randolph St., Traverse City

Tanner says he loves “the freedom you get when riding the mountain. Everyone gets to express their own style of riding, from the way they dress to the way they stop or turn.”

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Hickory Hills offers 15 runs, including a bunny hill with an effortless ride to the top via carpet lift. Snowmaking capabilities are amped up this year with snow guns and hydrants, there’s additional lighting along the cross-country trails and more snowboard equipment has been added to

time, so you can see if skiing is up your alley before making a big purchase.”

–Emily Ladd, Lodge Operations MT. HOLIDAY 3100 Holiday Rd., Traverse City

Tucked within TC’s Holiday Hills neighborhood, this nonprofit ski hill has 16 runs, two chair lifts, four rope tows and a tubing hill.

The Basecamp Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Lessons are new for winter 2022/23 and highly trained instructors are available to work with all ages and abilities.

Tip: “Get lessons from a

professional ski instructor. We have a wonderful ski School with qualified instructors who specialize in youth ski and snowboarders.

Snowsports can be dangerous.

The knowledge gained in even an introductory lesson increases safety. And as always, HELMET, HELMET, HELMET.” –Tommy Hess, Head of Guest Services/Lodge Manager.

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The skiing Lewandowskis—all eight of them.

Caleb (left) and Aiden; parents Tonya and Jeremy.

Tonya Lewandowski, Ski Parent Extraordinaire The fact the Tonya and Jeremy Lewandowski have so far raised not one but two champion ski racers is pretty impressive. But what’s really jaw-dropping? That all six of their kids—including the set of quadruplets that followed their first two boys—simply love hitting the slopes as soon as the first snow flies.

You can chalk that success up to desperation, necessity and some pretty deliberate parenting choices that seem to have paid off. Their oldest, Aiden, is a Federation of International Skiing (FIS)-level competitor and a freshman at Westminster College in Utah; Caleb, a sophomore at Traverse City’s West High School, helped the school become state champs last year and competes nationally, with the 13-year-old quads not far behind. Tonya, who currently serves as the executive director for the Grand Traverse Ski Club, shares some of her hard-won wisdom.

1.

THROW YOUR KIDS OUTSIDE EARLY (AND OFTEN). When the quads

were born, I stayed home with them—we doubled our family and halved our income, so our fun became what we could do outside in nature. Our kids’ first exposure to skiing was on plastic skis in our front yard; we had no idea what we were doing.

We’d get those big Home Depot lights and drag extension cords in our yard so they could play outside at night.

We were like, ‘we’ve got to occupy these kids, so this is what we’re going to do.’ (Editor’s note: Also, the Lewandowski’s don’t really watch TV and no one gets a phone until age 13, so outside is their happy place. Respect, Mom. Respect.)

2. EMBRACE THE FUN. Hit the trees,

ski with friends. Our kids will get on twin tips and build jumps in the backyard to this day. Or we’ll go to Hickory Hills

before it opens: Every year we are the first people out there; the kids hike up and ski down before the tow ropes open.

invested in it, and they appreciate it even more because they had to earn it.

3. YOU,VE GOT TO NURTURE AND

family, this sport has changed our life.

The Lewandowski family of eight gets in our gosh-darn van and stays in one hotel room with a contractor bag full of sleeping bags. I’ve always got a big cooler full of food. That’s our jam. We try our best to be a family as much as possible. It’s not standing on the side of a court and watching one kid play; it’s everybody goes, and rips around, and heads to watch brother for a minute, then goes back out to have more fun.

SUPPORT THE LOVE FOR IT TO GROW. We bought

a family pass to Hickory Hills because it was cheap, and our kids would have camped there and never come home if we had given them the option. We were there all the time. Our kids had so much fun.

Our best days were when five hours after practice, they were still on their skis, no racing involved. They would cry if we didn’t go skiing.

4. LET THEM EARN IT. We provided basic gear and passes, but anything extra the kids wanted—race skis, travel to competitions—they had to provide by working summer jobs. They are super

5. MAKE IT A FAMILY AFFAIR. As a

6. UTILIZE THE LOCAL SKI SWAPS

AND HAND-ME-DOWNS. We wouldn’t be here without the generosity of other people’s hand-me-downs. That’s how we got the taste of what good gear was.

Don’t be too proud—it’s a sport where you can get caught up in needing the biggest, best and shiniest. Pro tip: Hook into a family with kids older than yours who will sell or hand down the gear their kids outgrow.

—CARA MCDONALD

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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wedding FOR COUPLES WHO LOVE NORTHERN MICHIGAN » 2023

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For Couples Who Love Up North

To know Northern Michigan is to love it. Whether you spend every summer at the family’s lakeside cottage, have an annual weekend getaway during fall color season or visit just once. And that’s what leads to so many people choosing to be married here. Every couple we interview is so excited to share a piece of Up North with their guests, and we’ve heard time and time again that their guests say, “This was the most beautiful wedding we’ve ever been to.” But it’s not just the North’s breathtaking landscapes and stunning seasons that make this place so special—it’s the wildly talented and creative wedding professionals, from planners and photographers to florists, bakers, DJs, hair stylists and more who come together to make your day shine. We hope these ideas inspire and help you plan the wedding of your dreams.

—THE EDITORS

contents 4 | TOP TRENDS From bold hues to elevated florals, here are seven hot wedding ideas you'll see see in 2023.

9 | GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA When the pandemic threw a wrench in this couple’s plans for a large indoor wedding, the team at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa went above and beyond to make their special day possible.

The Finest Luxury Mobile Restroom Fleet in the Midwest

17 | BAY VIEW WEDDINGS AT GALLAGHER FARMS Cherry orchards? Check. Panoramic view of Grand Traverse Bay? Check. This Traverse City venue was the perfect spot for a Memorial Day Weekend destination wedding.

25 | THE HOMESTEAD When it comes to wedding ceremonies, three times was the charm for this couple, who held out for their dream day. And The Homestead, with its sandy Lake Michigan beach and variety of lodging options, was the icing on the cake.

33 | WILLOWBROOK MILL This idyllic event venue in equally idyllic Northport holds a special spot in the hearts of this couple, who invited friends and family to celebrate during Northern Michigan’s glorious fall color season.

44 | ENGAGEMENT PHOTO ADVENTURES Turn your engagement photo session into a day trip or weekend getaway, picking locations that are special to you as a couple.

MyNorth Wedding is produced by MyNorth Media. Advertising and editorial offices at: 415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684. 231.941.8174, MyNorth.com.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2023, Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

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from traditional These top trends will help you plan the wedding of your dreams in 2023.

BY MELISSA CONRADIE OF CONRADIE EVENT DESIGN

to tailored

1

The modern-day wedding couple is all about showcasing their individuality and style; fewer couples are focused on a “traditional” approach to planning their big day. We’re seeing couples thinking outside of the box and planning wedding celebrations that are tailored to their personalities—from the décor to their attire. Follow along for some of the top wedding trends you’ll see in 2023.

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1. fashion forward

The traditional white dress is likely to be replaced by shades of blue and jewel tones—cornflower blue will make an appearance this year. It’s also likely you’ll see fashion-forward suits that ditch tradition for statement pieces, incorporating fitted cuts that are simple and more comfortable. Eye-catching accessories are also becoming more prominent.

If you’re seeking a softer palette, don’t worry— pastels such as peach and blush with sheer overlays are still in style this season. PHOTO BY HALLIE KOHLER PHOTOGRAPHY

2. bold hues

We can expect to see pastels taking a bit of a back seat this year, as bolder color palettes are starting to make a splash. PHOTO BY JESSE DAVID GREEN PHOTOGRAPHY, FLORALS BY BLOOM FLORAL DESIGN

3. intimate gatherings

Smaller celebrations allow couples to reallocate their budget and focus on creating more elevated experiences—from eye-catching décor to next-level menus. PHOTO BY SAMANTHA JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY, FLORALS BY FIELD OF FLOWERS NORTH

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5 4. adventure seekers

Couples are more interested than ever in creating impactful experiences for their special day. We’re seeing couples look beyond the traditional rehearsal dinner and wedding day events, with destination wedding getaways gaining popularity. This type of wedding celebration gives couples the opportunity to really take in being surrounded by their nearest and dearest for more than one or two days. Even better: this can double as an extended vacation for the guests and a honeymoon for the couple after the wedding celebration has concluded.

5. design to new heights

Elevated florals make a full-scale impact and allow for a visually striking statement.

More couples are opting for suspended floral arrangements and keeping their tabletop floral designs simple and modern by incorporating different shapes and textures. PHOTO BY RYAN RAY PHOTOGRAPHY, FLORALS BY BLOOM FLORAL DESIGN

6. a retro touch

The puffy sleeve is back! The quintessential staple of ’80s fashion is being paired with a modern twist: form-fitting cuts to full-skirted gowns. PHOTO BY OLIVIA ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY Melissa Conradie lives in Traverse City with her husband and business partner, Dawie, and English bulldog, Lola. With a passion for design, creative endeavors and bringing people joy on their happiest days, Melissa’s boutique event planning and design company has been creating unique memories in exceptional locations since 2011. conradieeventdesign.com

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7. all that glimmers

Twilight weddings that take place closer to dusk will be on trend in 2023. The season does play a role in whether or not this type of wedding is possible. Couples seeking a twilight ceremony filled with stunning candlelit walkways should opt for an autumn or winter wedding.

PHOTO BY BETH PRICE PHOTOGRAPHY

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wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

Grand Traverse

Resort & Spa

BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS PHOTOS BY SLOW JUKE PHOTOGRAPHY

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Claire Dijak & Shaughn Handley GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA, TRAVERSE CITY | JULY 17, 2021

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Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

C

laire and shaughn’s wedding is proof that, despite obstacles, love prevails. On October 26, 2019, Shaughn proposed to Claire on a vacation in Colorado. The couple, who live in Traverse City, immediately began planning a large wedding at a big indoor venue there for the next summer.

We all know what the Covid-19 lockdown did to the best-laid wedding plans. With a 2020 wedding scratched off, they booked for 2021 at the same venue. But just two months before the July date, they were told the venue would be restricted to 25 guests (Covid again). With invitations waiting to be sent out, they knew they’d have to scramble to locate an available reception venue.

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Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

Claire’s father, Tim, rolled up his sleeves and got on the phone. His calls included Grand Traverse Resort, a venue with several outdoor wedding spaces. But, of course, they were already booked. Tim didn’t give up, explaining the couple’s dilemma. The resort’s wedding coordinator at the time, Steve Baehr, graciously offered them the use of The Clubhouse and adjacent lawn at the 18th hole of the resort’s beautiful golf course, The Bear. While The Clubhouse is often used for events, it has never been the site of a wedding. Unbelievably, the resort also offered to cater and staff the wedding.

Claire and Shaughn would, however, need to find their own tent, tables and chairs.

Enter the invincible Melissa Conradie of Conradie Event Design. “She helped us coordinate getting everything we needed,” Claire says. “She made it work; we resources wouldn’t have been able to do it without her.”

With all finally in place, Shaughn and his friends kicked off the wedding weekend with a golf outing at Venue Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Grand Traverse Resort before the rehearsal dinner. grandtraverseresort.com The next afternoon, the ceremony took place at St. Francis Church in Traverse City. Afterward, the wedPhotography ding party boarded the Traverse City Wine & Beer Slow Juke Photography Tours white trolley and headed out to Old Mission Videographer Peninsula for photos. By 5 p.m., they were back at the Mountain & Mitten Videography resort to join their guests for cocktails and appetizers. mountainandmitten.com Booking the resort at the last minute meant that the couple hadn’t had time to try the food in advance. “We Wedding Planning & Event Design thought, ‘We’ll just get what we get,’” Claire recalls. The Conradie Event Design conradieeventdesign.com appetizers—which included delicious bites like tuna tartare on wonton chips and crostini topped with goat Wedding Cake cheese and morel mushrooms—were the tipoff that the Aunt B’s Cakes & Dessert entire meal would be outstanding. Not only was the food 231.642.1205 impressive, but so were the well-staffed bar and knowlRentals edgeable bartender. Then came the plated dinner with enEvent Theory tree choices of filet mignon, cherry chicken or vegetarian eventtheory.com pasta, all of which, Claire says, was “yummy right down to the cheesy potatoes dauphine, salad and mixed veggies.”

Sensational Events TC sensationaleventstc.com The couple kicked off the dancing to Gregory Alan Isakov’s “Suitcase Full of Sparks,” which set the stage for Florist a romantic evening. Jordan Anderson with Mr. Music Amy Kate Designs DJ & Event Services followed the dance with a playamykatedesigns.com list of upbeat, fun music. When guests needed to reMusic fuel, the resort staff supplied pizza. “We heard it came Mr. Music DJ but we never even saw it,” Claire says, laughing. As the mrmusicdjs.com reception wound down, Claire and Shaughn retired to their suite in The Tower at Grand Traverse Resort—acStationery commodations that came with a jaw-dropping view of Holly Thomas Design hollythomasdesign.com Grand Traverse Bay. After soaking in that panorama the next morning, the newlyweds headed back to the tent Honey Paper Boutique for a farewell brunch, catered by the resort. “It was wonhoneypaperboutique.wixsite.com/ derful because we got more use out of the tent and one website more chance to enjoy the way Melissa and [florist] Amy Hair & Makeup Kate decorated it,” says Claire.

Pavlova Salon & Spa The brunch was a lovely ending to the wedding that pavlovaspasalon.com went on against all odds. “Melissa and the resort were amazing,” Claire says. “They really pulled out all the stops.”

Trolley Traverse City Wine & Beer Tours wineandbeertours.com

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Melissa and the resort were amazing.

They really pulled out all the stops.

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Weddings

at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

Multiple Venues 86,500 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor function space gives you ultimate flexibility in selecting the venues for your special day.

All guests can enjoy the on-site Spa, Salon, Golf and nearby Turtle Creek Casino. With multiple venue spaces you can create intimate unions or grand affairs. Your guests will feel every bit loved, cherished and honored as the wedding couple.

Michigan’s Premier Resort Experience People often remark that the most appealing thing about the 900-acre Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is its sense of northern Michigan charm and elegance. When couples choose to exchange their vows here, it feels especially romantic. Sincerity resonates among the trees, and love sparkles on the water. Simply put, it just feels right.

Our wedding staff is practiced at transforming the venue selection of your choice into a truly unforgettable environment. You’ll appreciate the smooth, detail-oriented leadership of our event professionals, as they turn your vision into reality. Welcome parties and rehearsal dinners are easily arranged onsite.

From our convenient, centrally located Midwest location, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is easily accessible to all of your guests – just ten minutes by Resort shuttle from Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport (TVC).

Catering From 25 to 2,000 people, our Catering department can make an unforgettable experience for your wedding. Weddings are a time for celebration, and our catering staff can work with you on any specialty menu to suit your attendees and their finer tastes! Our culinary team is well versed on dietary restrictions and are more than happy to accommodate your needs.

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Recreation

Accommodations

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is renowned for many things, but the golf experience is among the best anywhere.

For each of our three signature courses, we sought out the finest designers the industry has to offer.

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The Bear by Jack Nicklaus

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Our 100,000-square-foot Health Club offers something for everyone. Features include: Whether you stay in the Hotel, the Tower or a Condominium, you’ll revel in the natural splendor of the outdoors, the luxurious amenities and outstanding accommodations within.

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• The Hotel – Our six-story hotel is undergoing a $10 million renovation to be completed in Spring 2023. The renovation includes over 200 guest rooms, 2 junior suites, 4 hospitality suites and corridors.

• The Tower – Our 17-story Tower offers 186 large, luxuriously appointed rooms and suites. You’ll relax amid breathtaking views of East Grand Traverse Bay, and the rolling hills and orchards of the surrounding golf courses.

• Condominiums - Experience fairway or beachfront living when you get away to one of our 161 condominiums.

Studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations are available in a variety of locations.

Guest Services At Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, you’ll find nearly 600 rooms, suites, and condominiums plus a combination of services and amenities unmatched elsewhere. The experts at Spa Grand Traverse provide endless relaxation for wedding couples and their guests alike, offering luxurious treatments and massage, along with bridal party hair and makeup services. Guests will enjoy a pre-wedding round of golf on one of our three premier courses, a tension-releasing game of tennis, or a relaxing whirlpool. Pristine beaches and exciting water sports are additional options that will make your wedding a memorable mini-getaway for each and every guest. Winter weddings have a special allure with our crackling fireplaces, snow-covered views, and elegant lodge atmosphere. Your guests can also enjoy cross-country skiing and other winter activities.

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Acme, MI 49610-0404 231-534-6000 800-748-0303 weddings@gtresort.com GrandTraverseResort.com

Reception Capacity 2,500 Event Rooms 35 Guest Rooms 585

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wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

Bay View Weddings at Gallagher Farms

BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS PHOTOS BY MEGAN HANNON PHOTOGRAPHY

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Danielle Parker & Alex Solis BAY VIEW WEDDINGS AT GALLAGHER FARMS, TRAVERSE CITY | MAY 28, 2022

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Bay View Weddings at Gallagher Farms

R

omances that begin as close friendships are generally very blessed. Such was the case with Danielle and Alex, who met as undergraduates at Ohio’s Bowling Green State University. Alex is two years older and graduated first, heading off to start his professional career. Several years later, after Danielle had graduated, the two both ended up working at their alma mater, where Alex is now chief of staff to President Rodney Rogers and Danielle is a senior director of development.

With so many shared interests, values and experiences, a romance bloomed.

In January of 2021, eight years after they’d met as undergrads, Alex proposed on a hike in a nearby Toledo Metropark. Danielle was all in. The only decision left before they started their lives together was what kind of wedding they wanted.

When they started imagining their big day, Danielle recalls that Traverse City kept coming up. Alex, who is from the Detroit area, had vacationed across the state with his family throughout his childhood. But Danielle, who is from a small town in Ohio, had never been to Northern Michigan. When Alex found that out, he made plans for them to take their first trip away together to Traverse City. Smitten with the area, Danielle remembers thinking, “Where has this been all my life?” After that, the couple escaped to the Traverse area a couple times a year getting acquainted with the wineries, restaurants and scenic beauty.

With their busy careers, the two knew that if they were going to pull off a destination wedding, they’d need help, and began contacting Traverse area planners. One phone call with Meaghan Kenny of Fox & Fern Events had them sold. “We can’t speak highly enough of Meaghan and her team,” says Danielle. “We just felt really inspired by her vision for our special day. We were instantly comfortable with her and she has such great connections and relationships around Traverse City.”

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Bay View Weddings at Gallagher Farms

After interviewing them about what kind of wedding they wanted (outdoors and hopefully on Memorial Day Weekend), Meaghan set up tours of several venues on a weekend in early March. They liked the other venues, but when they drove up the hill to Bay View Weddings at Gallagher Farms, they were blown away by the beautiful grounds that include working cherry orchards and the horizon-filled view of Grand Traverse Bay. “I thought, if it looks like this with an inch of snow on the ground and no leaves on the trees, imagine what it will look like in May,” Alex remembers.

But it was Bay View Weddings owner Rose Gallagher who really tipped the scale. “Rose is incredible and has fostered such an unforgettable venue. She is just fantastic to get to know and to work with—she is like a rockstar of the wedding world,” Danielle says.

The plans came together harmoniously for the Saturday of resources Memorial Weekend 2022. Danielle and Alex booked The Guesthouse at Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery (their favorite Up Venue North winery) to stay in, while some of the 150 guests stayed in Bay View Weddings rented properties and hotels in Traverse City and others opted at Gallagher Farms to camp. Before and after the wedding, guests toured wineries, bayviewweddings.com Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and some even headed to Mackinac Island and the Upper Peninsula.

Photographer & Videography Megan Hannon Photography The festivities kicked off with a Friday evening rehearsal dinmeganhannonphotography.com ner at outdoor tables set in Gallagher Farms’ cherry orchards under lights threaded through the trees. With a pasta buffet and Wedding Planner plenty of local and West Coast wine catered by The Flying NooFox & Fern Events dle in Traverse City, the meal felt warm, rustic and Old World. foxandfernevents.com The ceremony the next day, under a blue sky, was officiated Catering

by President Rogers of Bowling Green State University. “It was Reception: Boathouse Restaurant really meaningful to have someone who is so important to us boathouseonwestbay.com and could really speak to who we are,” says Danielle. The couple Rehearsal Dinner: The Flying Noodle flyingnoodletc.com exchanged their own vows: “I was nervous about mine knowing Alex is such an incredible writer in his career. But it all turned out Dessert perfectly,” Danielle says. The Unity Ceremony was also very intiSister Pie mate; the couple combined colored glass, which they later took to sisterpie.com a glass blowing studio where they created a symbolic glass bowl Bartending to cherish for years to come.

Tonic & Lime Boutique Bartending With the Bay View Weddings’ beautiful outdoor bar just steps tonicandlimemi.com from the ceremony site, happy hour commenced immediately.

Boathouse Restaurant, which catered the entire event, kicked off Rentals the appetizers with an oyster bar (Alex’s big wish). The plated 307 Events & Tents 307events.com dinner was as memorable with duet servings of beef tenderloin with tomato jam and chicken with saffron pasta. And the cake?

Event Theory Alex nixed that in favor of pies (his favorite dessert) from Sister eventtheory.com Pie in Detroit.

The newlyweds started off the dancing to Beyoncé’s rendition Florals Bittersweet & Co. of “Moon River,” and from there 2Bays DJs got the floor hopping. bittersweetandco.com A special bourbon and cigar bar added even more fun. Before the couple knew it, The Boathouse staff was bringing in the late-night DJ eats—fried chicken and wagyu beef sliders as the pitch perfect 2Bays DJs 2baysdjs.com event was winding to a close.

Alex sums it up by thanking three women. The first, of course, Hair and Makeup being Danielle: “I am the luckiest guy on the face of the Earth,” The Hair + Beauty Lounge he says. The second and third? Rose Gallagher and Meaghan teamhairandbeauty.com Kenny. “Your wedding is the most special day in your life and Shuttles Rose and Meaghan really made the whole wedding experience Blue Lakes by the Bay for us,” Alex says. “They will always have a place in our hearts.” bluelakesbythebay.com

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They will always have a place in our hearts.

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Wedding Notebook Bay View Weddings at Gallagher Farms

Wedding Ceremony

If you are looking for an incredible Ceremony Site that will take your breath away and leave your friends and family in awe - that is what you will find at Bay View Weddings at Gallagher Farms. Whether you desire a romantic site with lush grape vines and views of Grand Traverse Bay with close proximity to the tented

Northern Michigan’s Premier Farm Wedding Venue Bay View Weddings at Gallagher Farms offers a romantic, breathtaking,

reception site for a beautiful transition from your dream ceremony to a relaxing cocktail hour on the lawn or an elevated destination that is so stunning it will take your breath away. Full of awe-inspiring romance, rolling hills, stunning bay views, and Northern Michigan beauty that overlooks Grand Traverse Bay, Downtown Traverse City, Power Island, and Leelanau County, it will create ceremony memories that will last a lifetime. With views so stunning and worthy of the journey, it is clear your happily ever after begins here.

beautiful, and elegant atmosphere surrounded with the most unforgettable natural Northern Michigan beauty. This family-owned venue nestled on a four hundred acre fourth generation family cherry farm which provides a stunning backdrop for your most special day. With gorgeous views of Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City, and Leelanau County with elevations close to 1000 feet, you and your closest family and friends will not only be blown away by the magnificent natural beauty of the views but also by the pristine vineyards and cherry orchards that romantically roll along the beautiful landscape. We believe that you deserve the wedding of your dreams and we are here to help make your wedding dream become a reality.

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Wedding Venue

Services We are committed to providing a memorable experience for you and your guests. With a wonderful staff dedicated to supporting set up, maintenance, farmers focused on caring for the aesthetics of the farm and property, and event managers, we have the expertise needed to help and assist you. We also provide a wedding coordinator for the day of the event to assist with coordinating the rehearsal and dayof-the-wedding details in a calm and pleasant demeanor all with a smile as we are happy to help and serve you. We enjoy helping you relax, enjoy every minute, and celebrate each beautiful moment of your wedding day.

When we think of a wedding, we think of the most beautiful and unforgettable day of your life. That is what you will find at our Bay View Hill Top Venue. An infinitely gorgeous destination venue on our multi-generational family cherry farm. Our tented venue for up to 250 guests provides the outdoor grandeur and elegance that every dream wedding or event may desire. After taking in this spectacular view of Grand Traverse Bay, we believe that dreams do come true.

Customize Your Day

Bay View Weddings at Gallagher Farms appreciates and values each client in selecting their own vendors that can meet your custom needs for food, music, photography, decor, and beyond. We are grateful to share the natural beauty of our multi-generational farm and venue overlooking Grand Traverse Bay, a beautiful tent with lovely concrete underneath, tables, chairs, golf carts to get around the property, restroom trailer, caterer's tent, dance floor, wood bar, bonfire and fire tables to enjoy all evening long, and an exceptional staff to assist with providing your family and friends with a wonderful and pleasant experience as they work to bring all the details together for the wedding of your dreams.

Beautiful Traverse City Much of our farm is located within Traverse City, Michigan. Traverse City is a four-season playground for anyone who loves to be outdoors. With nearly two hundred miles of beaches, an array of delicious and enticing restaurant options, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and excellent hotels and inns, motels, resorts, or rental homes, there will be accommodations and activities to support everyone. Wedding guests will also enjoy inviting shops in historic downtown Traverse City in addition to the many downtown activities, including the National Cherry Festival that Traverse City hosts each summer, along with stunning sunrises and sunsets to start and end each day. These are just some of the many unforgettable opportunities that can be enjoyed in beautiful Traverse City.

8629 E. Lincoln Road Cedar, MI 49621

231.645.2732 bayviewweddings.com info@bayviewweddings.com Wedding & Event Coordinator Rose Gallagher

Reception Capacity Up to 250 Guests

As a fourth generation family farm, we are committed to maintaining the agricultural strength and aesthetic beauty of the farm. We strongly encourage you to come visit and explore our farm as it is an unforgettable experience that you have to see to believe. Please contact us today to set up a tour. We are happy to help and serve you.

Photos by: Jefferson May Photography

Located on the west end of Traverse City, Michigan

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Northern Michigan’s Premier Farm Wedding Venue

Breathtaking Destination.

Extraordinary Experience.

Bay View Weddings is a beautiful Northern Michigan farm wedding destination with views so stunning it is worthy of the journey.

Booking for May through October 2024

Dreams do come true.

Your happily ever after starts here.

Photos by: Jefferson May Photography

For Reservations, Information, or to Schedule a tour contact our Wedding and Event Coordinator at info@bayviewweddings.com or 231.645.2732.

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wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

The Homestead

BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS PHOTOS BY CAPTURED BY GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY 2023 MyNorth Wedding 25

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Adeline Sanchez & Joe Conner THE HOMESTEAD, GLEN ARBOR | JUNE 3, 2022

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The Homestead

W

hen it comes to wedding ceremonies, three times was the charm for this couple.

After their January 2020 engagement at O’Sheas Casino in Las Vegas, where the two had first met, Joe and Adeline quickly made plans for a large wedding the following October. Although the couple lives in California, where Adeline is from, Joe is from Michigan and introduced Adeline to Northern Michigan on family visits to Petoskey and Traverse City. Adeline fell in love with the area, and decided that she would love to be married in Northern Michigan—particularly in the autumn when the leaves were at their peak color.

Immediately after their engagement, the couple flew to Detroit where they met Joe’s parents, and headed north to check out venues.

“We put a thousand miles in on one weekend,” Joe recalls. It was Northern Michigan in midwinter (a novel experience for Adeline), a season when it is hard to imagine azure waters and fiery foliage.

Nevertheless, when they drove through the gracious entrance to The Homestead, they knew they’d found their venue. “Everything was covered in snow but it felt just right,” Adeline remembers.

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The Homestead

That “just right” feeling grew when they met Sandy Luthardt, event sales manager at The Homestead. “We really hit it off with her—from the beginning we felt as though we’ve known her for a long time,” Joe says. As the couple flew back to California, they were already imagining their October wedding at The Homestead.

Then came the Covid-19 shutdown that put those plans on indefinite hold. But the couple wanted to have a child (and be married when they did) so they eloped to Glacier National Park for a small, intimate ceremony. That was wedding number one.

Being legally married didn’t keep the Conners from dreaming of that big destination wedding at The Homestead. After juggling logistics—which included making sure that all the vendors they’d originally wanted were still available—the couple settled on June 3, 2022. By this time, baby Westin had come and was eight months old. But wait—there was one more small hurdle to overcome: Adeline is Catholic and Joe is Lutheran. Although they planned to have a Lutheran pastor re-marry them at The Homestead, they had attended the Catholic pre-nuptial process. In May, three weeks before their ceremony at The Homestead, they learned that for their marriage to be sanctified by the Catholic Church, it needed to be in a sacred space—meaning a church. Shifting gears one more time, Joe and Adeline arranged to be married in Traverse City’s Lutheran Church the Tuesday prior to their Homestead wedding, by Pastor Michael Goers, the same pastor who also graciously agreed to repeat the ceremony the next weekend. Check that off as ceremony number two.

When wedding number three finally came, it was a bluebird day without a cloud in the sky. In reality, however, it was a week-long celebration rather than just a day.

The 107 guests came from all over the country, all of whom stayed on The Homestead property. Throughout the week they enjoyed the resort’s beautiful beach club with its pool wedged between the mouth of the Crystal River and sandy Lake Michigan beach, as well as charming Cafe Manitou and its outdoor bar. From the rehearsal barbecue at the quaint Camp Firefly right through to the après wedding brunch at CQ’s in the resort’s village, all of the festivities took place at The Homestead.

In between those events, of course, was the stunning wedding ceremony at the top of a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. To the delight of the guests, the trip up was via chairlift. Guests enjoyed cocktails and music courtesy of Brian Wright of 2Bays DJs at the top resources of the hill prior to the moving ceremony. There, the two wed for the third (and final) time, with cobalt blue Lake Michigan in the background and baby Westin gurgling in the arms of Venue Joe’s parents.

The Homestead, Glen Arbor thehomesteadresort.com After the ceremony, guests rode the lift back down to the resort’s nearby Mountain Flowers Lodge for a plated Photography dinner (choice of filet mignon, chicken,vegetarian and vegan Captured by Grace Photography entrees)—a dinner that, the couple agrees, was absolutely gracehudsonphotography.com delish. The newlyweds opened the dancing to the blend of Videographer Jack Johnson’s songs “Better Together” and “Angel.” After Sol Collective that, the party flowed late into the night, as The Homestead thesolcollective.us staff replenished appetites with pizza and cookies, and the team at the resort’s pub, Whiskers, went above and beyond Music 2Bays DJs to accommodate the after-party.

2baysdjs.com The entire week was perfect thanks to many elements, and the couple especially credits The Homestead’s Luthardt with Florist “being at the heart of everything.” It might have taken three Field of Flowers North ceremonies to feel like their marriage was complete, but the fieldofflowersnorth.com couple would do it all again to make the final one happen. “We Dessert were blessed. The whole week was amazing,” Adeline says.

The Flour Shop kelseygracebarnes.com

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We were blessed. The whole week was amazing.

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Wedding Notebook The Homestead

Accommodations You’ll feel at home in one of our resort hotels or in the spaciousness of a privately-owned villa or a home. Rates span a wide range but all are available on attractively priced wedding specials. So you can choose a level of luxury that suits your mood and your means.

Bay Mountain Ceremony

We invite you to visit a special place where generations of lovers have shared whispered promises, their faces caressed by Lake Michigan breezes, hearts touched by the vision of shimmering

A Suite at Little Belle

islands, souls stirred by watercolor sunsets over a vast bay and towering dunes. Here, at The Homestead, you’ll feel waves of emotion wash over you, as you discover the most wonderfully romantic setting in the place chosen by Good Morning America as the "Most Beautiful Place in America". You'll choose one of three wedding venues with unmatched style and beauty. Each promises a succession of memorable moments you’ll treasure forever.

To learn more, please call us. We will send you information filled with wonderful photos and warm reviews from recent brides. And, we will invite you to come for a visit. When you do, you’ll see that your perfect wedding, like Memories

your love, can begin with a look and a touch.

Catering

We’ve carefully paired our menus with our community. They include seasonally fresh food from local farms and awardwinning wines from nearby vintners. To that we add sparkling table settings and seemless service for fabulous dining on the most important day of your lives.

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Event Facilities

Destination Services

Mountain Flowers Lodge

Almost touching the sky, and fresh as the flowers that scent its terraces, Bay Mountain offers panoramic views of Lake Michigan and Glen Lake. Your ceremony and cocktail reception can be there, dinner in the valley below at Mountain Flowers Lodge where you'll find the warmth of stone and pine logs with country gardens and a sparkling waterfall. Accommodates 160.

Camp Firefly captures the charm of the north woods with welcoming ponds, a pine-paneled great hall, covered porch with an outdoor fireplace and wildflower-lined patio overlooking a waterfall and pond. Accommodates 60.

A bouquet’s throw from the beach, Café Manitou inspires Thoreau-like vows in an intimate, shoreside setting with endless blue views of lake and sky from outdoor brick terraces a cozy café. Accommodates 40.

NEW! "Mountain Village" featuring an all new grocerant, restaurant, outdoor grill and bar, stage, dance floor and fire pits. And, a massive stone fireplace and curvilinear celebration table that's perfect for your rehearsal or brunch.

Lillyjade

You and your guests will enjoy the resort’s many amenities - beach, pools, tennis, golf, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, fitness center, skiing, and snowboarding. Your man and his groomsmen might enjoy golf at Manitou Passage Golf Club or Mountain Flowers Par 3.

You and your bridesmaids are sure to enjoy Spa Amira which overlooks Lake Michigan and offers lighthearted fun around a pool. Then, bathed in natural light beside Lillyjade Salon's reflecting pool, you and your bridemaids locks will be coiffed and colored, your nails and toenails buffed for the Big Day. You can welcome your guests in a variety of ways. Your rehearsal reception, and brunch can feature sophisticated soirees or picnics to go.

Wood Ridge Road Camp Firefly

Glen Arbor, MI 49636 231-334-5000 231-334-5300 Events Phone thehomesteadresort.com Event Sales Tony Farragh Sandy Luthardt

Café Manitou

Reception Capacity Up to 160

Event Rooms 3 Guest Rooms 225

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wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

Willowbrook Mill

BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS PHOTOS BY DAN STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY

2023 MyNorth Wedding

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Kiley Hogg & Mike Heberlein WILLOWBROOK MILL, NORTHPORT | OCTOBER 15, 2022

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Willowbrook Mill

O

n a november evening in 2018, Mike Heberlein had no idea that when he and a friend walked into The Pearl of Germantown, a dive bar in Louisville, Kentucky, his life would change for the better. Way better. After a snarky exchange with a sarcastic bartender, Mike exclaimed, “Give me a break. I'm from Chicago.”A luminescent blonde a few seats down overheard the exchange and interjected that she, too, was from Chicago and she was moving back there.

Her name was Kiley Hogg, and after the two got talking they found plenty in common. For example: Mike’s roommate at the time was his cousin, Will DiFrancesca, who it turned out was also one of Kiley’s college friends. Together, they called Will and had a laugh over the meet-cute. After completing her master’s degree six months later, Kiley finally made her move to Chicago. By that time the pair was a definite couple.

In March of 2020, with the pandemic beginning, Mike and Kiley chose to escape their city apartments for Mike’s parents’ Northport home in the peace and quiet that is the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. His family also owns the village’s charming wedding and event venue Willowbrook Mill and the couple often worked remotely from its empty ballroom.

In January of 2021, Mike took a knee in Chicago’s Oz Park, a favorite picnic spot, to ask Kiley to marry him. Though she also researched venues in Chicago, it soon became clear that Northport was perfect for their wedding. “We realized that Willowbrook meant so much to both of us,” Kiley says. “It’s a beautiful destination and I loved the idea of having everyone in one place for the whole weekend.”

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Willowbrook Mill

They set the wedding date, and with all of the Heberleins’ connections in the area, plans came together quickly and beautifully—including hiring wedding planner Stacy Horn of Juniper & Lace Events. The couple booked the nearby 16-bedroom Northport Bay Retreat so that many of their friends could stay there together and the space could be used for a welcome party hosted by the Heberleins.

October ushered in a spectacular color season, and many of the 120 wedding guests from all over the country arrived early in the week to take advantage of it, enjoying Leelanau Peninsula activities from wine tasting to hiking Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Beautiful weather held until Wednesday, when the temperature then fell and rain moved in, putting the plans for an outdoor ceremony at Northport’s waterside Haserot Park in jeopardy. But they had a backup plan: the quaint, white (with a steeple, of course) Trinity Church just a short walk from Willowbrook Mill.

The little church was just exactly big enough to fit all the guests. “There wasn’t one seat left but everyone was warm and cozy,” says Kiley.

The moving and funny ceremony, officiated by friend/cousin Will, included an acoustic duet performed by Kiley’s brother and sister-in-law, Seamus and Kyna, who were spontaneously joined in singing by their 2-year-old son, Cormac.

The newlyweds then boarded a golf cart clad with a “Just Married” sign and cans in tow for the short trip to the enchanting Willowbrook Mill where guests were greeted by a “Bourbon and Bubbles” table filled with welcoming glasses of Mike’s favorite bourbon pours resources and flutes of Prosecco. As if it were staged, guests thrilled to the sight of the seasonal salmon run viewed from the footbridge as coho and Chinook salmon made their way up the Venue Willowbrook Mill Northport Creek that flows directly beneath the ballroom. willowbrookmill.com Inside the rustic-elegant venue, Christina Pfeufer, of Field of Flowers North, had created a stunning arrangement Photography of white roses and greenery cascading around the fieldstone Dan Stewart Photography fireplace. White fairy lights and chandeliers twinkled from danstewartphotography.com the rafters while the flames from warm gold candles cast Videography their glow on gold Chiavari chairs. The newlyweds opted for Montage Media Films their own sweetheart table set in front of the fireplace; an montagemediafilms.com intimate perch for them to share their dinner while enjoying the happy scene of family and friends before them. And what Wedding Planning Juniper & Lace Events a dinner! Dan Kelly of Catering by Kelly’s personally overjuniperandlaceevents.com saw the serving of braised short ribs, salmon, and mushroom pasta ensuring the picture-perfect plating arrived piping hot.

Catering Dinner was followed by a blueberry-lemon wedding cake and Catering by Kelly’s cateringbykellys.com a table filled with matching flavored cupcakes made right in Northport by Kate LaCross, owner of The Baker’s Gamble.

Flowers & Candles “She’s the new baker on the block and she is phenomenal,” Field of Flowers North says Kiley. fieldofflowersnorth.com After dessert, tables were moved to make room for dancMusic ing to the five-piece Bluewater Kings Band from Grand Bluewater Kings Band Rapids. The couple’s first dance was to “Beyond” by Leon bluewaterkingsband.com Bridges. And from then on, the dance floor was packed— with Kiley leading the fun. “Quite literally, she never left the Cake dance floor,” laughs her husband.

The Baker’s Gamble facebook.com/thebakersgamble After the reception, the party kept going at Garage Bar-B-Q, a Northport favorite where the staff graciously Rentals & Décor stayed open late just for the wedding guests. A bit after the 307 Events & Tents stroke of midnight, the storybook wedding, in the storybook 307events.com venue, in the storybook village wound to a close.

Event Theory eventtheory.com

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We realized that Willowbrook meant so much to both of us.

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Wedding Notebook

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J. Zevalkink photo J. Zevalkink photo

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Yeah, yeah. We're beautiful. Thanks. You know what else we are?

Photo by Anna at Dan Stewart Photography

Mike & Kiley 10/15/22

We’re Fun!

“I love this song!”

Northport Michigan The award winning wedding & special event venue

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Willowbrook Mill

Events at Willowbrook Mill

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Discounts on group orders! info@mynorth.com

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Mill

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Fairy Tale for Real

Have your

Dream on Wedding

A

nnie Dwyer always pictured herself getting married on Mackinac Island. She envisioned an outdoor ceremony with gorgeous views, spectacular photos with perfect lighting and the ideal reception space where all her friends and family could celebrate.

Dwyer saw it all in her mind’s eye. Yet, she never could have imagined how it actually felt for her and Parker to marry at a stunning waterfront venue, then be whisked away on a horse-drawn carriage ride down Mackinac Island’s Main Street.

“Everything exceeded expectations. They do a million weddings, and they know what they’re doing. They made it super easy.”

“I didn’t really expect how excited people would be,” Dwyer said. “They were literally stopping and watching like it was a parade, clapping and cheering.

“I felt like royalty.”

Is there a wedding in your future?

Mackinac Island can make your fairytale come true. With unparalleled venues and a wealth of wedding professionals at your beck and call, Mackinac Island should

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Mackinac Island

Grand Hotel

be the first place you look to make your dream wedding a reality.

Mackinac Island was an easy choice for Annie and Parker. Here are just a few reasons why the couple decided to tie the knot on Travel + Leisure’s No. 1 Best Island in the Continental U.S. • Magnificent Views that make for amazing sun-kissed photos.

• Things to Do that made their big day feel like a destination wedding. “For so many of our guests, it turned out to be a fun vacation.”

• Hassle-Free Logistics thanks to the wedding professionals of Mackinac Island.

Just lean on the knowledge and experience that has helped countless couples pull off fabulous Mackinac Island weddings any day of the week in spring, summer or fall.

• Variety of Venues both indoor and outdoor for weddings and budgets of all

sizes, from historic churches and secluded gazebos to scenic waterfronts.

Of course, the wedding carriage is a nice touch, too! It was fun to have horses bring her right up to the ceremony where she could make a grand entrance and walk down the aisle, Annie said.

You can get married on Mackinac Island 24/7 – any time of the day, any day of the week.

Annie lived her fantasy, from Parker’s marriage proposal at Sunset Rock with the Mackinac Bridge on the horizon to their glorious wedding day last June. It was incredible.

Your wedding could be, too.

4 Ways a Wedding Planner Can Help Identify the Perfect Venues

Work With Your Budget Arrange Transportation

Find Wedding Vendors

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el

d

k

e

How Mackinac Island Saved this Wedding from the Fire Jake and Elizabeth never expected to have their first dance at Mission Point Resort. They didn’t imagine their guests would enjoy food cooked at Island House Hotel and served on dishes from the Pink Pony.

But when a nearby fire disrupted the newlyweds’ reception, Mackinac Island came together to make sure their memorable day had a perfect ending.

Here’s how their amazing wedding played out…

• Jake and Elizabeth married in a beautiful ceremony at historic Ste. Anne’s Church and experienced a treasured wedding day carriage ride.

Then, just as Elizabeth’s father was giving a speech during their reception, flames burst out from a neighboring cottage.

• Smoke filled the air, and the yacht club was evacuated. As the couple retreated to the church, the wedding professionals of Mackinac Island swung into action.

• Within an hour, the entire reception had been moved by bike and horse-drawn carriage to Mission Point where the CEO served food and a bellhop became the bartender. When the best man told the bride and groom that their reception was ready to resume, the couple was “blown away.”

It’s a good thing Mackinac Island has so many places skilled at hosting weddings and committed to exceptional customer service! Not even a fire could keep Jake and Elizabeth’s wedding from being a day they’ll cherish forever.

Photo by Cody Langhorne

Mackinac Island-based Wedding Vendors

3 Iconic

Mackinac Island Wedding Traditions The Downtown Kiss

By the Numbers

1 2 3

• DJ

• Live Wedding Artists

Fudge Favors

Private wedding carriage

10+ 6 5 4

• Rehearsal Dinner Venues

• Salons & Spas • Invitation Creators • Fudge Favor Companies • Ferry & Cruise Companies • Carriage Companies • Wedding Cake Bakers

• Ceremony Sites • Wedding Photographers

• Church Venues

• Wedding Officiants • Florists

Scan to find more information about Mackinac Island weddings!

n

Mission Point Resort

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Engagement

Photo Adventures Turn your photo session into a day trip or weekend getaway, choosing photogenic spots that create lasting memories.

BY JULIE PALMER, CATCHFLY PHOTOGRAPHY

2023 MyNorth Wedding

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Sound and Lighting Rentals DJ Services • Sound Production 231-883-9437 • rentals@geartogorentals.com geartogorentals.com

Valley View Farms

A FAMILY FARM THAT’S STILL KICKIN’

Valley View Farms wedding and event venue is located in East Jordan, Michigan where you’ll see panoramic views overlooking the beautiful Jordan River Valley. The barn is just under 5,000 square feet and has a capacity of 250 guests. Immerse your guests in a functioning family farm that provides the rustic, yet elegant feel you’re looking for in a wedding venue.

Visit valleyviewfarmllc.com or call 231-838-5348 to schedule a tour.

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SECRET GARDEN AT BRYS ESTATE + OLD MISSION PENINSULA Tip: Always double check if your photoshoot location requires a permit or not. For example, state parks and Michigan’s national lakeshores both need passes. As your wedding photographer, this is something I help my couples with. I personally like to follow the rules of each location and all Leave No Trace principles.

Kyra & Matt

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Clarissa & Mike

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ARCADIA DUNES + DOWNTOWN TRAVERSE CITY Tip: Arcadia Dunes is one of the best spots to watch a sunset together, and that’s exactly what we did.

We played around the dunes for a while and then stopped to take the moment in. You’re only getting engaged once—stop, breathe and take it all in.

Watch that sunset! And bring a headlamp for the trek back in the dark.

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Let’s make your special day even

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CopperAesthetics.com 231.929.7700 Traverse City | Petoskey Christopher C. Jeffries, MD, FACS Trevor K. O’Brien, MD, FACS Ryan S. Burke, MD

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Start Start Exploring Exploring Today Today at at MyNorth.com Start MyNorth.com Exploring Today at

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mynorth.com/wedding

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12/11/22 10:24 PM

PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE Tip: I love shooting at waterfalls when they are accessible, and finding spots where you can touch the running water and feel the mist. The walk can be slippery though. I’ve hiked down with a changing tent so that my couples could wear proper footwear and then change at the bottom. It’s always best to be safe!

Amanda & Brandon

2023 MyNorth Wedding

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12/7/22 11:15 PM

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

photo by Dave Weidner

“

DATE NIGHT AT POPPYCOCKS P. 42 NEW IN TOWN: MUSKRAT DISTILLING NEW YEAR’S BEANS AND GREENS P. 44 A NORDIC MULE P. 46

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The flavors really evolve on the palate.

Starting with the smell of that rosemary garnish and fresh ginger and continuing to the first sip, you get every layer.

—POPPYCOCKS’ LEAD MIXOLOGIST EMILY BRYANT

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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12/9/22 12:00 PM

T he Cu l i nary North Bite

DATE NIGHT

by CARLY SIMPSON

Wednesday is the new Friday in Traverse City.

Poppycocks Dinner Special

photo by Dave Weidner

It’s a steal in downtown Traverse City—two entrees and a bottle of wine for $60.

Poppycocks rolls out its Date Night deal every Wednesday night throughout winter.

“It really is something we love to offer to our beloved locals,” says proprietor Whitney Biggs.

What to order: The braised short ribs with white-cheddar mashed potatoes and fried Brussels sprouts atop a brown-butter carrot purée and drizzled with tarragon oil.

Reservations welcome: Call 231.941.7632. Dine in or carry out. poppycockstc.com

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12/7/22 10:36 PM

T he Cu l i nary North Served

N I G H T OUT

NEW IN TOWN

by CARLY SIMPSON

Belly up to the bar at Boyne City’s newest watering hole, Muskrat Distilling.

cocktail photo by Roger James Fruin; interior photo by Paul Distefano

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hen owners augie engelhart and Matt McCann moved their business Detroit Stillworks, a distillation equipment manufacturer, to Boyne City in 2019, they didn’t have any intentions of opening a tasting room. But when a historic space downtown became available—a 130-year-old building, once the city’s pharmacy—they decided it might be the best way to give back to a community that had welcomed them with open arms. The next step was finding someone to build out the bar program. They found a perfect partner in GM/Beverage Director Roger James Fruin, and Muskrat Distilling opened in April 2022. “Boyne epitomizes the Northern Michigan, small-town experience,” Fruin says. “After nearly a decade of overseeing and working in some of the best-known cocktail establishments in Detroit as well as competing across the country, I can honestly say there is nowhere with quite the same character as this area.”

The team paid homage to the building’s legacy during a nearly year-long renovation, keeping the original 1890s maple floors, brick walls and tin ceiling. The bar was inherited from the historic Dilworth Hotel located just up the street. But as the sun goes down, pink neon signs and orange tungsten bulbs beneath wicker chandeliers give the space a modern flare, bathing the room in a warm glow. “From the beginning, we really wanted to focus on the hospitality experience and create an inclusive space for anyone who walks through the door,” Fruin says. “You can have a drink anywhere, so why come here?”

Well, to try Muskrat’s spirits you’ll have to pay them a visit. The distillery isn’t distributing its products, which include aged rum, vodka, gin and bourbon. The cocktail menu features seasonally rotating specialties and fresh takes on Prohibition-era classics, such as The Scofflaw. Invented in 1924, it was named after the term given to those who secretively sipped spirits during the 1920s and early ’30s.

There are also non-alcoholic beverages, including mocktails and kombucha, and outside food is welcome.

Muskrat Distilling 121 Water St., Boyne City themuskrat.com NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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12/7/22 10:36 PM

T he Cu l i nary North On the Table

DINING IN

LUCKY LEGUMES

by STACEY BRUGEMAN

Tuck into a pot of good fortune on New Year’s with a tradition born in the South, starring beans grown in the North.

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or those of us who live nestled in farm country, certain growers become household names at the dinner table. We know which farm stands are our first choice for arugula, tomatoes, even pork. But when it comes to legumes, is there a favorite farmer who comes to mind? Michigan is the second largest producer of dried beans in the country, and yet, many of us can’t name an area farm that offers them. Beans have historically been grown in the thumb region of the state by massive commodity farms where the equipment that is needed to harvest and package them is more economical at a larger scale. But climate-conscious farming experts are starting to understand the role that locally farmed beans will play in regional food security, and this previously overlooked category is beginning to emerge Up North, at micro-farms such as Empire’s Bluebird Farm and Gardens.

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“The structure of milling and processing legumes and grains is more focused on processing at scale,” says Bluebird’s Austin Weed, who, with partner Chelsea Loomis, started growing beans as a source of vegetable protein. “We wanted to do beans because we were eating less meat,” Weed says. Today, the duo dedicates 15 percent of their 1.5 planted acres to heirloom varietals such as yellow Arikara, maroon-streaked Tiger’s Eye, black and white Wolverine’s Orca and a deep-blue flecked pinto-style bean known as Brighstone.

I especially love eating beans in January—not only because many vegetables grown here on the 45th parallel have long since expired, but also because my Southern friends eat them on New Year’s Day. Throughout the American South, it’s considered good luck to eat black-eyed peas with collards to usher in the new year. Black-eyed peas don’t grow especially well this far north, but the custom works with any bean, especially Bluebird’s Brighstone. I don’t know about you, but these days I’m willing do whatever it takes to ensure a little good luck. If eating a hot pot of locally grown beans is all that’s required, I’m all in for making this a daily thing instead of an annual one.

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

Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Saveure, 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 is a stylist and photographer with an appreciation for all things related to local agriculture, food and drink.

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^ New Year’s Beans and Greens Makes 8 cups 12 ounces dried Brighstone beans, crowder beans, black-eyed peas or other pinto- or cowpea-type beans Half a bunch of kale, about 8 stems or 6 ounces 2 Tablespoons olive oil, plus more for finishing 1 smoked ham hock, about 1 pound 1 large yellow onion, diced 2 celery stalks, trimmed and chopped 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 32-ounce carton of chicken stock 1 bay leaf A few pinches of cayenne or Aleppo pepper Kosher salt and flake salt, to taste

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1. Sift through the dried beans, discarding any stones.

Place the beans in a large bowl, cover generously with water, and set aside to soak overnight. The next day, rinse and drain the beans.

photo by Dave Weidner // styling by Sarah Peschel

2. Strip the tender leaves of kale off each stem, tearing into bite-sized pieces. Set the leaves aside for finishing the dish. Working crosswise to shorten the fibers, finely chop the stems into small quarter-inch pieces.

3. In a large Dutch oven or pot set over medium heat, add 2 Tablespoons olive oil. Once the oil is hot but not yet smoking, place the ham hock in the pot. Sear each side until the fat is released and the pork skin is browned in places, a few minutes per side. Tip the hock on end and move it to one side of the pot to open up more available surface area on the bottom of the pot. Add the chopped kale stems, onion and celery and cook, stirring from time to time, until tender, about 5 minutes. Fold in the garlic, cooking until it is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the beans, stock, and bay leaf to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partially covered, until the beans are fork tender, about 40 minutes depending on the type and freshness of your beans.

4. Remove the pot from the heat and add cayenne and Kosher salt to taste. Working gently to avoid mashing the beans, fold in the kale leaves, carefully tossing the mixture until the heat from the beans and broth wilts the kale.

Leaving the hock and bay leaf behind, spoon the beans into equal portions, serving them for a light lunch or side, atop rice for a more hearty entrée, or even placed on toasted bread rounds using a slotted spoon and offered as an appetizer to pass. Finish each serving with a drizzle of olive oil and flake salt. – S.B. NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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12/11/22 10:06 PM

T he Cu l i nary North Last Call

JAM SESSION

by CARLY SIMPSON

Add another layer of flavor and complexity to your cocktails with a spoonful of homemade jam.

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oppycocks in traverse city is known for its innovative cocktail program. Guided by lead mixologist Emily Bryant, the seasonally changing menu has featured beverages with bouncy, aromatic bubbles, foam-topped negronis and a campfire espresso martini garnished with torched marshmallows. “Learning about cocktails, and the multitude of flavor profiles that can be incorporated into various drinks, opened a whole new level of creativity for me,” Bryant says. “The joy of being a part of this ever-changing liquid culture—and watching patrons return again and again, whether it’s next Saturday or next summer—is what gets me hyped to walk into work each day. My fascination with the science and chemistry behind mixology is just a bonus.”

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Bryant’s favorite wintertime cocktail is the Nordic Mule, featuring Petoskey’s Gypsy Vodka and a spoonful of cranberry-orange jam. “The flavors really evolve on the palate,” she says. “Starting with the smell of that rosemary garnish and the ginger, and continuing to the first sip through a straw, you taste every layer.”

We also love the splash of color this cocktail lends to the North’s great white winters. After a snowy Saturday adventure, once you’ve peeled off your layers of winter gear, it’ll warm you right up.

Dave Weidner is a local photographer for Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine. Follow him on Instagram @dzwphoto.

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12/12/22 1:08 PM

^ Poppycocks’ Nordic Mule Serves 1 1 teaspoon Emily’s cran-orange jam (see below) .75 ounce Norden aquavit .75 ounce Gypsy vodka, or your favorite brand .5 ounce lime juice .5 ounce rosemary clove syrup (see below) Ginger beer, Emily’s favorite brand is Fever-Tree 1 sprig of rosemary Add a teaspoon of Emily’s cran-orange jam to the bottom of a rocks glass. Fill with ice. Pour Norden aquavit, vodka, lime juice and rosemary clove syrup over ice.

Top remainder of glass with ginger beer. Stir gently to combine flavors while still maintaining that beautiful color gradient. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary slightly dampened with water and rolled in sugar.

Emily’s cran-orange jam Yields 4 cups 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries 1 cup granulated sugar ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ orange, peeled Add all ingredients to a stove pot. Bring to a rolling boil.

Turn heat down to medium and simmer for 5 minutes.

Take off heat and let cool. Once jam has cooled completely, blend on high in a blender until you get an even consistency. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Rosemary clove syrup

LOCAL TICKE ONE TS. PLACE .

Yields 1 cup 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup water photo by Dave Weidner

1 sprig rosemary 8 whole cloves

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Add ingredients to stove pot and bring to a boil.

Once boiled, turn off heat. Let ingredients marinate in syrup for at least one hour before straining.

Refrigerate until ready to use.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MAGAZINE

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12/11/22 10:09 PM

love of the land

THE DUNES IN WINTER Michigan’s sweeping sand dunes are especially stunning when dusted with freshly fallen snow. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore permits snowshoeing on all snow-covered dunes, fields and forests, but visitors should stay on well-marked pathways (try snowshoeing Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive or cross-country skiing the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail). In Manistee County, the Baldy Trailhead at Arcadia Dunes offers serene forested paths, including a universally accessible trail that leads to a scenic overlook. Explore 3,400 acres of mature forests and open dunes at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area in Mason County (access 10 miles of trails at the Nurnberg Trailhead). And for the first time ever, fat-bike cyclists are welcome to climb Silver Lake Sand Dunes, south of Pentwater, December 15 through March 15. -A.J.

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photo by Taylor Brown

get there

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12/7/22 10:37 PM

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