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831 GARFIELD - TRAVERSE CITY 2 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

coal-fired stations around the state to make everything work when the sun isn’t shining.

What have you really accomplished?

Consider what it would take to get all the fossil fuels out of your lifestyle, in a way that our resources would allow everyone to do. Most people can’t even do the math. The worst part is, the one way that is actually proved to work is literally unthinkable to most people.

Sweden has done it, for electricity.

France has too. Ontario is right behind.

“Greens” want all of them to change from what works to what has never been shown to work, anywhere, ever. The greens in Denmark and Germany prefer coal. Coal!

Seriously, they do.

If we want actual climate solutions, we have to think things that certain people have been trying to make unthinkable for nigh unto 50 years now, and act on those thoughts. It’s hard. But we have no choice.

It’s time for every environmentalist to see “Pandora’s Promise,” and take it to heart.

We are out of time.

— Russ Cage, Williamsburg

Seek truth on pipeline

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Frustrated by driving habits

The person in the lane next to me suddenly decides to change lanes and cut in front of me in order to save a few seconds because the car in front of him is turning.

I’m surprised I still have a left front bumper.

The snow or the rain is blinding, and yet so many people are driving without lights.

I flash mine to alert them but to no avail.

It’s especially dangerous when the car in front of you is driving without lights on in a whiteout. The no-headlight thing seems to be a pattern with mail delivery trucks, UPS, FedEX and even the cops.

Rolling through stop signs is certainly

not a favorite of mine. I see it happening all the time and usually while the other driver has a cell phone in their hand or is looking down at their lap. Beware of the corners near Oryana. Two stop signs, but no one seems to care. There are also the drivers in the parking lot of Meijer.

Numerous stop signs, but they don’t stop — they love to speed.

That brings up the speeders. Garfield, South Airport, Eighth Street, Division, U.S. 31, Front and Munson streets, Peninsula Drive, the Parkway — all are favorites, where 35 mph turns into 55 mph.

And it’s not just passenger vehicles on Peninsula Drive. It’s the UPS drivers, the FedEX drivers, the postal delivery drivers, BATA bus drivers, pizza delivery drivers, Jimmy John’s drivers and school buses. That’s right — school buses. Good to know that our children are experiencing an amusement park ride while trying to get home after school.

The little flasher thing they put up giving you your speed is a joke. Once the drivers are past it — they’re gone. The sign that says the area is patrolled is also a joke.

Cell phones and driving. I witness people texting all the time. They are driving and texting by using both hands. Somehow they manage to text and steer at the same time.

Or, as mentioned before, their eyes are glued to their laps.

And why do they do it? Because they can get away with it!

— Tom Emmott, Traverse City

Must find solutions on climate

So you’re feeling all green and proud because your roof is covered with black rectangles, your electric bill nets out to zero, and the loan to pay for it is cheaper than your juice bill was (after all the tax credits).

Meanwhile, you’re still heating with propane or natural gas, driving in a petroleumpowered vehicle, and depending on the

The letter writer of “A Michigan standoff, imagined” (Dec. 12 Express), comparing the Dakota Access Pipeline near Standing Rock, N.D., to an imaginary pipeline through Grand Traverse Bay and Peshawbestown, missed the mark on relevance based on truth. Of course, the real subject matter is much more than the writer dared to allow.

The real Dakota Access Pipeline went through a rigorous approval process over several years and many court challenges in federal court and were resolved. The protesters are far more than indians from the Standing Rock Indian Reservation — which is two miles away from the pipeline right of way.

That’s right, the pipeline right of way is not on indian reservation land, nor is it on ancient burial grounds. The pollution of indian lands from an imagined pipeline leak enforces the eco-terrorist anarchist narrative. The truth is, the indian reservation is upstream from the Cannonball River crossing.

Do you get the idea yet that this is not really about this pipeline per se, or indian lands encroachment, or even the fact that it is a pipeline because there is already another pipeline buried in this approved pipeline right of way — it is gas. The protested pipeline will carry oil. Think maintaining the man-made global warming fraud.

Don’t imagine lies. Seek truth.

— Matthew Schoech, Traverse City

Outstanding forum

The recent “In Our Own Voices ...

Living with a Physical Disability” forum, sponsored by the Traverse City Human Rights Commission, was outstanding.

The forum was the most recent of the worthwhile activities of the Human Rights Commission. These activities have included, at the Human Rights Commission’s initiative, the City Commission passing the Equal Rights Ordinance, adopting the Resolution Recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day, and adopting the Resolution Recognizing the Rights of People Experiencing Homelessness.

We can be proud that the Human Rights Commission is doing this proactive work to help make Traverse City a welcoming city.

CONTENTS

features Crime and Rescue Map.......................................7

Michigan recylcing.........................................10 Mouthwatering holiday sweets........................13 New Year’s celebrations Up North....................14 Michigan ice festivals bring chills, thrills...........17 The season’s best holiday TV shows.................19 Organist shows off his range.............................21 Ballaro Wine Lounge..............................................22 Boyne City Tap Room............................................25 Seen.................................................................26

dates...............................................27-30 music FourScore.......................................................31 Nightlife...........................................................33

columns & stuff Top Five...........................................................5

Spectator/Stephen Tuttle...................................4 Weird................................................................8 Style.................................................................9 Crossed..........................................................12 Modern Rock/Kristi Kates.................................32 The Reel.......................................................34 Advice Goddess..............................................36 Crossword.....................................................37 Freewill Astrology...........................................38 Classifieds......................................................39

Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase Editor: Allen Johnson 129 E Front Traverse City, MI Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com Finance & Distribution Manager: Brian Crouch Sales: Kathleen Johnson, Peg Muzzall, Katy McCain, Mike Bright, Michele Young, Randy Sills, Todd Norris For ad sales in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 881-5943 Creative Director: Kyra Poehlman Distribution: Matt Ritter, Randy Sills, Kathy Twardowski, Austin Lowe Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold Contributing Editor: Kristi Kates Reporter: Patrick Sullivan Contributors: Amy Alkon, Janice Binkert, Ross Boissoneau, Rob Brezsny, Jennifer Hodges, Candra Kolodziej, Clark Miller, Beth Milligan, Al Parker, Michael Phillips, Chuck Shepherd, Steve Tuttle Photography: Michael Poehlman, Peg Muzzall Copyright 2016, all rights reserved. Distribution: 36,000 copies at 600+ locations weekly. Northern Express Weekly is free of charge, but no person may take more than one copy of each weekly issue without written permission of Northern Express Weekly. Reproduction of all content without permission of the publisher is prohibited.

— Lee Hornberger, Traverse City

Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 3

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4 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

opinion

By Mary Keyes Rogers Year of the woman? Yes, I know that our nation’s first female presidential candidate lost to the misogynist. I know how dark things look right now for the men and women who support the progressive agenda of equality and protecting women’s rights.

Had Hillary Clinton actually won, 2 Color: have known that PMSsupporters 7459 Light Blue would PMStheir 7462 Dark Blue would be in the capable and issues manicured hands of a female president. We could relax, secure in the knowledge that she had our collective back.

Instead, we now face a very different political landscape where reproductive health, access to birth control and pay equity are threatened. Not to mention that “locker room talk” is not only excusable but apparently acceptable. I believe that in this defeat we will see a louder and more active women’s movement to bring equal opportunity for women to the forefront.

Greyscale: K 100% /From K 75% where I sit, I see newcomers answering the call for women’s rights, including young women, middle-aged women, grandmothers and teens. The “pussy-grabbing” and “blood coming out of wherever” comments did more to get the attention of women than Clinton ever inspired on her own.

Although I remain curious to know why more women didn’t see voting for Clinton as the collective slap-across-the-face response, I do believe that there is something to be gained by the result. That something is a nation of pissed-off women. I am delighted to welcome these newly pissed-off women into the fold. Not only must we maintain and protect what our bra-burning mothers and suffragette grandmothers achieved on our behalf; we must now fight again to be treated with dignity and equality in the workplace and in every space. Without a woman in the White House, without equal representation in the cabinet or in Congress, something exciting is afoot: grassroots activism.

I hear from women, regardless of how they cast their ballot, that the campaign dialogue raised their awareness of how women continue to suffer from genderbased discrimination, harassment and denigration. With Clinton’s defeat, even if they contributed to it with their vote, they are organizing, mobilizing, writing letters and checks.

2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the Silent Sentinels of the National Woman’s Party picketing Woodrow Wilson’s White House, the protest action that finally led to the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. The peacefully picketing women were beaten, arrested and jailed.

On Jan. 21, the first day of the new administration, the Women’s March on Washington and satellite marches in every state of the country will unite women and supportive men peacefully demonstrating their collective response to the new political climate.

The official mission statement of the march reads: “The rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonized, and threatened many of us — immigrants of all statuses,

Muslims and those of diverse religious faiths, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Native people, Black and Brown people, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault — and our communities are hurting and scared. We are confronted with the question of how to move forward in the face of national and international concern and fear.

“In the spirit of democracy and honoring the champions of human rights, dignity, and justice who have come before us, we join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore. The Women’s March on Washington will send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women’s rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.

“We support the advocacy and resistance movements that reflect our multiple and intersecting identities. We call on all defenders of human rights to join us. This march is the first step towards unifying our communities, grounded in new relationships, to create change from the grassroots level up. We will not rest until women have parity and equity at all levels of leadership in society. We work peacefully while recognizing there is no true peace without justice and equity for all.

“HEAR OUR VOICE.” Well, it’s about time. I believe that women have become complacent. Feminism became an old-fashioned and negative idea.

Rush Limbaugh’s pejorative “feminazi” term created the mistaken belief that the women’s movement sought superiority over men rather than equality. The 700 Club’s Pat Robertson said, “Feminism is a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.”

Over the past two decades, younger women have taken their rights for granted.

They took for granted that they are and will be protected from discriminatory and abusive practices. Some seem genuinely shocked by how recently women in this country had to fight for what we have now. Those very rights, we must remind everyone, were fought for and won with the outspoken courage of pissed-off women.

Would this reborn feminist spirit have occurred with a Clinton victory? Yes, no, and maybe so. If so, it would have been with an air of bona fide confidence beneath their wings. In this reality of defeat, it will be anger and fear that give them lift and power. If you’ve ever gone into a fight with a woman, you will find her confidence much easier to squelch than her anger or fear.

Hello, my name is Mary, and I am a pissed-off feminist. Happy New Year.

To learn more about the Women’s March on Washington, visit womensmarch.com. You can also find several Facebook pages with information on local, regional and state events happening on Jan. 21.

this week’s

top five

ski with santa

Postcard from Standing Rock Petoskey resident and Marine Corps veteran Nathan Wright has been back and forth to the Standing Rock Sioux reservation to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline, first in September and again on the weekend of Dec. 2-3, when the action broke up amid a howling snowstorm and the Obama administration’s rejection of a permit for the controversial project.

Wright, a 50-year-old Sioux, said he hopes to bring the energy he found in North Dakota to the protest in northern Michigan against the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline that runs under the Straits of Mackinac.

“This movement has become more than about the pipeline itself,” Wright said. “It’s about a group of people from all around the world who stand up and take a stance against this kind of situation” when corporate interests are in conflict with environmental ones.

Wright expects he may be back in North Dakota to peacefully protest next month after President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated.

“Right now its deescalated,” he said. “We just don’t know if it’s going to escalate again come Jan. 20.”

bottomsup Grinch hot cocoa This week’s Bottoms Up is a little different in that it’s one you can actually make yourself, thanks to the direction of the festive folks at Grandpa Shorter’s in Petoskey.

Holiday favorite The Grinch is the Dr. Seuss character who’s opposed to all things Christmas — but even he would probably soften up upon one sip of this delicious, chocolatey treat, especially when he sees it’s been crafted in his favorite color.

Per Grandpa Shorter’s instructions (also found on its website), all you have to do is stir together 4 cups of milk, 8 ounces of mint chocolate chips, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and 2 drops of green food coloring in a medium saucepan, warming until the chocolate is melted and the beverage is simmering (not boiling.)

Dip the rim of your cup in water, then add in red sugar sprinkles, pour in the cocoa and serve topped with whipped creme.

Grandpa Shorter’s is located at 301 E. Lake St., Petoskey. For more information, visit grandpashorters.com or dial 866-SHORTER.

Ski with Santa for free on Christmas Day on the slopes of Schuss Mountain at Shanty Creek Resorts, Bellaire, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please donate nonperishable food items, gently used winter clothing, and/or household items to benefit local charities. shantycreek.com

‘River rat’ comes to Boyne You can now find a true “river rat” in Boyne City.

In a nod to the town’s logging history, a new sculpture called “The Last River Draw” depicts a river rat, a worker engaged in the perilous business of tending to logs as they flow downstream. The work was installed this month at Old City Park, which is bordered by East, River and Lake streets.

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Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 5

Holidays in The Village

CHRISTMAS OF YOUR CHOICE spectator by stephen tuttle

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons: History, music, food and wine, with quaint Traverse City-original boutiques.

SHOP Locally-owned stores with unique products and excellent service.

Christmas appears to have survived another year. Nativity scenes everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief.

The claims that Christmas is being attacked sprout up annually. If such a battle has ever really existed, Christmas continues a long winning streak. That’s because Christmas is exactly whatever we make it.

Winter festivals existed for millennia before the birth of Jesus, typically to celebrate the return of longer daylight. Some included trees, and later trees lit by candles, some included gaudy decorations, and nearly all included feasting and gift-giving.

The Romans, whose more moderate climate promoted a longer growing season, celebrated the winter crops during a drunken bacchanal called Saturnalia.

Early Christians, more than a little appalled at the activities rampant during Saturnalia, more or less co-opted the dates for

and Native American religions, just to mention a few of the thousands of religious belief systems around the world, all have their own holidays and traditions, none of which include Christmas.

Even if Christmas is nothing more than a shopping and feasting extravaganza, you can do both without concern. Interference with your Christmas interpretation is unlikely. If it means church and prayer, no one is going to stop you. Your church of choice will be open; congregants who share your beliefs will be openly gathering.

And if you want nothing to do with Christmas at all — no religion, no parties, no gifts, no celebrations, no feast — that’s all right, too. You will be frequently invited, even encouraged, to participate in the buying portion of Christmas. But Christmas doesn’t force itself on anyone not a willing recipient. We need not succumb.

TASTE Some of the best foodie stops in Traverse City: fine food, coffee, bread, sweets, & award-winning local wines.

EXPLORE Beautiful parks and hiking trails, and guided historic tours, www.thevillagetc.com/tours!.

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Mi Farm Market & Underground Cheesecake - 866.544.1088 PepeNero & Ballaró - 231.929.1960 Pleasanton Bakery - 231.941.1964 Premier Floral Design - 231.947.1167 Raven’s Nest – 231.360.9658 Silver Fox Jewelry - 231.935.1701 Spanglish Cafe - 231.943.1453 TASTES of Black Star Farms - 231.944.1349 To Have & To Hold Bridal - 231.922.9333 Trattoria Stella - 231.929.8989 Vintage Du Jour - 231.943.2222

6 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

You will be frequently invited, even encouraged, to participate in the buying portion of Christmas.

But Christmas doesn’t force itself on anyone not a willing recipient. We need not succumb.

their own celebration they called the Feast of the Nativity. Dec. 25 was a date intentionally picked by a pope to conflict with celebrations to a pagan god on that date. (No one knows for sure when Jesus was born; the Bible is silent on the issue, and many researchers believe historical Jesus was most likely born in the spring.)

The Puritans in early America used the lack of a Biblical source for Jesus’ birth date to decry Christmas celebrations. In Boston, from 1659 to 1681, they actually outlawed Christmas and all Christmas-related activity. Anyone exhibiting the “Christmas spirit” was fined five shillings. Even the Grinch never levied fines.

Christmas, as always, bounced back.

We now bemoan the commercialization that accompanies the holiday, but it has been so for nearly two centuries. What was celebrated by few in 1800 was blossoming just 30 years later. Commercialization grew with the trend. As more people, and new immigrants, moved to cities the opportunities to participate in commerce grew exponentially. By 1870, Dec. 25 was declared a federal holiday.

Still, despite the sales, many people believe this is a sacred time to honor their messiah, not a time for mirth. Others believe it is simply a time to enjoy family and friends. Most of us adopt some combination of the two.

In fact, nearly 70 percent of the planet has no interest in Christmas at all. That’s because only 31 percent of the world identifies itself as Christian. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism, Sikhism

That’s really the beauty of Christmas for those of us who celebrate, or not, in any way; we get to choose. It’s difficult to destroy anything that flexible. And nobody since the Puritans has really tried.

Of course, there is always the random display or pageant that runs afoul of church-state separation issues. Those incidents do nothing to harm Christmas, nor are they an attack on Christmas. It’s a small reminder that while we are free to choose our beliefs, our government is not free to endorse any of them. That’s a good thing.

This is also a time of year for charitable giving, a tradition not unique to Christians.

Part of that has to do with the spirit of the season, and part of it, perhaps a large part of it, has to do with tax deductions for calendar year 2016. Still, so many charities and churches help so many people in our little local communities. The gifts help serve a good cause regardless of why they were given.

(If you want to really help those organizations, contribute the week after Christmas. Food pantry shelves are nearly bare, clothes and other necessities have been picked over, and the charitable group of your choice likely needs your help more on Dec. 26 than it did before Dec. 25.)

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Ramadan, Hanukkah, or you’re just happy daylight will glow longer, there is one holiday bromide with which we nearly all agree.

It would be nice if at some point in 2017 we really did experience peace on earth and good will to all. Those are gifts everyone would gladly open.

Crime & Rescue THC OVERDOSE SPURS INVESTIGATION A suspect is under investigation after a 13-year-old boy overdosed on concentrated THC in Benzie County.

The boy was treated for the Dec. 13 overdose and released from Munson Medical Center.

Michigan state police and officers from the Traverse Narcotics Team investigated and zeroed in on a suspect. The team searched a Benzonia Township home where it found a concentrated THC product known as “dab.”

The suspect, who was identified as an adult male, cooperated with investigators, and police submitted a report to the prosecutor requesting charges, according to a press release.

WOMAN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES An 86-year-old woman who was seriously injured in a collision with a cement truck has died.

Traverse City resident Evelyn Rose Dugan passed away Dec. 11 in the intensive care unit at Munson Medical Center, Grand Traverse County sheriff’s Lt. Chris Barsheff said.

Dugan was injured in a crash Dec. 5 in Garfield Township when she pulled her car onto Silver Lake Road from Creekside Drive into the path of a cement mixer.

MAN GUILTY BUT MENTALLY ILL A Boyne City man was found guilty but mentally ill in the death of his friend.

Jurors in Charlevoix County found Matthew Mark Fruge guilty of manslaughter on Dec. 8 for the 2015 death of Jacob Conklin. The 35-yearold faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced in January.

The trial included seven days of testimony from 15 witnesses. Prosecutor Alan Telgenhof argued that Fruge and Conklin stayed up all night abusing drugs while Conklin was visiting Fruge from Florida. Amid the bender, Fruge attacked his friend with a butcher knife.

Fruge’s defense attorney, Bryan Klawuhn, argued that his client suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder after serving two tours of duty in Iraq.

The verdict represents a compromise by the jury, who could have found Fruge guilty of first- or second-degree murder or not guilty by reason of insanity.

BOYFRIEND ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT A 35-year-old woman wearing pajamas and no shoes showed up at jail with scrapes, bruises, a swollen lip and a cracked tooth to report that she’d just been assaulted by her boyfriend.

The woman arrived at the Grand Traverse County Jail at 10:53 p.m. Dec. 10 and said she had been assaulted at her home on Franklin Street a few blocks away by her 27-year-old boyfriend.

A Traverse City police officer went to the home and interviewed the boyfriend, who claimed he’d only deflected punches from the woman, Chief Jeff O’Brien said. The officer determined the man had assaulted the woman and then threw her cellphone on the roof to prevent her from calling police.

O’Brien said the suspect apparently assaulted the woman because she decided to walk a neighbor’s dog rather than spend time with him.

The man faces charges of domestic violence and interfering with a 911 call.

SNOWMOBILER KILLED A Thompsonville man died when he drove his snowmobile into a downed tree on a two-track near Wellston.

Speed and alcohol were factors in the Manistee County crash that happened at 2:20 p.m. Dec. 12,

by patrick sullivan psullivan@northernexpress.com

state police said.

Edward Fraley, 56, crested a hill and did not see a tree that had fallen over the path until it was too late, police said. He attempted to ditch the machine but instead slid sideways into the tree.

Fraley was taken to West Shore Medical Center in Manistee where he was pronounced dead. A passenger survived and was treated for injuries at the same hospital.

MAN ACCUSED OF MOLESTING TEEN A 50-year-old man allegedly had sexual contact with a 15-year-old boy in the parking lot of Traverse City West High School.

Grand Traverse sheriff’s deputies said the suspect met the teen online and arranged to meet him in person at the school during the lunch hour Dec. 1. The incident was reported to school officials, who called police.

Larry Leroy Tabbert faces up to 15 years in prison on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He’s scheduled for a preliminary examination in court Dec. 22.

ONE WEEKEND, THREE CRASHES Roads closed following three serious crashes in snowy conditions that involved drivers losing control and crossing into opposing traffic in Grand Traverse County. In one of them, a 59-year-old woman lost her life.

The fatal crash happened Dec. 10 at 11:30 p.m. on U.S. 31 South near County Line Road in Green Lake Township when the driver of a pickup skidded into the path of an SUV. A front-seat passenger in the SUV, Interlochen resident Victoria Laviola, died at the scene, Grand Traverse County sheriff’s deputies said. The driver of the pickup, a 39-year-old Bear Lake woman, suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. Three others in Laviola’s vehicle also suffered injuries.

Later that day, deputies were called to Keystone Road near Hoch Road in Garfield Township at 2:30 p.m. to investigate a two-vehicle crash.

A 19-year-old driver lost control and slid into the opposite lane, crashing into an oncoming car. That driver and her 17-year-old passenger were transported to Munson Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening. The other driver, an 83-year-old Interlochen man, was taken to Munson in critical condition.

On Dec. 11 at 2 p.m., another crash closed down U.S. 31 North near Four Mile for two hours.

A 71-year-old Traverse City woman lost control of her car and crossed into opposing traffic and crashed into an SUV driven by a 30-year-old Traverse City woman. Another vehicle driven by a 43-year-old Lake Leelanau woman was also involved in the crash.

The 71-yearold was taken to Munson with serious injuries.

Traffic stop leads to drug bust

Police pulled over a Mesick man and arrested him after determining he was using his vehicle to make methamphetamine.

A state police trooper pulled over the car Dec. 13 in Haring Township near Cadillac and found that 37-year-old Gary Edward Storie had a suspended license.

The trooper also found Storie in possession of methamphetamine, which prompted a search of the vehicle and the discovery of items used to make the drug in a portable “one pot” meth lab.

Storie faces charges in Wexford County of maintaining a meth lab, possession of meth and being a four-time habitual offender. A female passenger was questioned and released.

DEPUTY AND FIREMAN INJURED A deputy was injured in a crash in Grand Traverse County, and a fireman was injured as he responded.

State police were called after a car lost control as it was turning onto M-72 from Elk Lake Road and skidded into the path of a patrol car before noon Dec. 14. The deputy was injured in the crash and taken to Munson Medical Center. The other driver was not injured.

Police closed the highway as emergency workers tended to the scene, but the driver of an approaching car lost control and crashed into a patrol car, a fire truck and a Grand Traverse County Rural firefighter. The firefighter was injured and taken to Munson.

The crashes occurred amid whiteout conditions.

12 INJURED AT BOYNE HIGHLANDS An unexplained fire that injured 12 people as it consumed part of a hotel at Boyne Highlands is under investigation.

The fire broke out on the third floor of the resort’s main lodge before 1:34 a.m. Dec. 11, when dispatchers received the first call.

Multiple fire departments responded, and 12 people were taken to McLaren Northern Michigan for treatment; one person was transferred downstate to be treated for serious smoke inhalation.

One person was injured by jumping from an upper balcony.

Emmet County sheriff’s deputies and the State Fire Marshal are investigating the cause.

The fire and efforts to fight the fire damaged 70 rooms, or around 15 percent of the resort’s capacity, according to a Boyne press release. The fire didn’t affect ski operations, and the resort has reopened.

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Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 7

Suspicions Confirmed Evolution, according to scientists, likely explains why some “prey” develop defense mechanisms to avoid “predators,” i.e., the prey who fail to develop them are unable to procreate (because they’re dead), but a team of scientists from Sweden and Australia recently concluded that something similar happens in a species of fish in which males mate basically by huge-appendaged rape. Growing nine generations of the species in the lab, the researchers concluded that the females who can avoid the “rapist” evolve larger brains than those who fall victim. (Researchers, loosely speaking, thus concluded that as males grow bigger penises, females grow bigger brains to outsmart them.)

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Recurring Themes Whistleblower goes to jail; responsible industry executives make millions. Longtime Mississippi environmental activist Tennie White is 27 months into a 40-month sentence (for “falsifying” three $150 tests in her laboratory), but high-ranking executives at the Kerr-McGee chemical conglomerate made millions on the case White helped expose: leakage of cancer-causing creosote into communities, including White’s Columbus, Mississippi, neighborhood.

A detailed investigation by TheIntercept. com in November noted the executives’ brilliant response to the 25,000 creosote lawsuits nationwide: put all the liability into one outlying company (eventually going bankrupt) but selling off, highly profitably, the rest of the firm.

Compelling Explanations Texas is among the most enthusiastic states for jailing low-income arrestees who cannot pay a money bail, especially during devastating family hardships, and the four Houston bail magistrates are particularly harsh, according to a recent report of the Texas Organizing Project. After hearing one financially overwhelmed woman beg sarcastically that $1,000 bail is “nothing” next to her other bills, unsympathetic magistrate Joe Licata shrugged, “It’s nothing to me, either. It’s job security.”

Pervert -- Or Not (1) When police in Port Orange, Florida, arrested Anthony Coiro, 76, in November, he admitted that he had a stash of “crazy” pornography, some featuring children.

However, he adamantly insisted, “I’m not a pedophile. I’m just a pervert,” adding, “a law-abiding pervert.” He faces 52 counts. (2) In November in Osaka, Japan, an unnamed arrestee apparently had his sexual molestation charge (against a woman on a crowded train) dramatically downgraded. “Actually,” the man indignantly told the judge, he is not a pervert -- but just a pickpocket (a lesser crime). The victim had testified that the man had brushed against her for “3 seconds” and not the “30” she originally told police.

Weird Quantities Recently in the News (1) Price tag for one round of a 155mm projectile shot from the Navy’s USS Zumwalt: $800,000. (2) Trees killed in California by the now-5-year-old drought: 102,000,000. (3) Recent finding of “water” farthest from the Earth’s surface: 621 miles down (one-third of the way to the Earth’s “core”). (4) Odds that Statistics Lecturer Nicholas Kapoor (Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut) said he played against in buying a $15 Powerball

ticket: 1 in 913,129 (but he won $100,000!).

(5) Speed police calculated Hector Faire, 19, reaching in an Oklahoma police chase: 208 mph (but they got him, anyway). (6) Different languages spoken by children in Buffalo, New York, public classrooms: 85.

Hardly Need a Breathalyzer (1) Michelle Keys, 35, among those joyously caught up in Iowa’s upset win over highly ranked Michigan in football in November and celebrating that night in Iowa City, was slurring and incoherent and told police she was certain she was standing in Ames, Iowa (120 miles away), and had just watched the “Iowa State - Arizona” game (a matchup not played since 1968). (She registered .225) (2) A 38-year-old woman was arrested in Springwood, Australia, in November when police stopped her car at 3 a.m. at an intersection -- with a children’s swing set wedged onto the roof of her SUV. (She had shortly before mistakenly driven through someone’s back yard and through the swing set.) (.188.)

Perspective “Sexually-based offenses,” a TV show intones, are “particularly heinous,” but to the small Delaware liberal arts Wesley College (according to the U.S. Department of Education) even an accusation of sexual misconduct is so heinous that there was no need even to interview the alleged wrongdoer before expelling him. (An informal meeting did occur, but only after the investigation was completed.) The expulsion occurred even though the victim herself had not originally accused that particular student. The expelled student’s offense was to have helped set up video for a consensual sex encounter that was (without consent) live-streamed.

(The Department of Education accepted a settlement in which Wesley agreed to revamp its code of student rights.)

Recent Alarming Headlines • “Man Mixing LSD and Cough Syrup Saves Dog From Imaginary Fire” (WNYT-TV, Albany, N.Y.), 10-15-2016). (Panicked, he had first sought help from neighbors -- who were unpersuaded by the sight of a fireless fire.)

• “Santa Claus Speaks Out Against North Pole Ban of Marijuana Sales” (KTUU-TV, Anchorage) (Cannabis is legal in Alaska unless towns ban it, and the legally-named Mr. Claus needs it for cancer pain.)

• “Dog On Loose Causes Sheep To Have Sex With Their Sisters in Walton On The Hill” (The wild dog has wrecked a planned mating program, leaving female sheep to canoodle with each other) (Surrey Mirror, Redhill, England, 9-22- 2016) Least Competent Artists • Apparently the plan by a 33-year-old unlicensed, un-car-registered driver in Perth, Australia, in November to keep from being stopped by police was to print “POLICE” in large, “official”-looking letters on the sides of her white Hyundai, using a blue dry-erase board marker. (She was, of course, quickly stopped by police.)

• A woman in a quiet north Minneapolis neighborhood told reporters she became fearful after seeing a large swastika spraypainted on a garage door down a nearby alley (just after election day!). (Problem: The base “X” of the correct design has “hooks” that should always extend to the right, clockwise; three of the Minneapolis “artist’s” awkwardly hook left.)

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Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 9

MESSAGE IN THE BOTTLES As Michigan’s 10-cent deposit law turns 40, environmentalists and store owners agree the state needs to get better at recycling

By Patrick Sullivan The law responsible for Michigan’s famous 10-cent deposit on bottles and cans turned 40 this year (and the “Seinfeld” episode that makes fun of it turned 20), but that doesn’t mean the debate over its scope or effectiveness has been settled.

Environmentalists say the measure has been an unqualified success and want the bill expanded to include all kinds of beverage containers. Bottled water, for example, was unheard of in 1976 and is now the fastest-growing drink category in the country, on pace to outsell soft drinks this year.

Grocers, however, don’t like the law and in particular don’t like empty bottles and cans returning to their stores; at least one northern Michigan store owner wants to see the bottle bill crushed.

“Even if you’re fervently environmental, you have to see that this is just a terrible law.

It had good intentions in its infancy, but it’s like a child that never grew up,” said Brad Anderson, owner of Anderson’s Market in Glen Arbor. “It’s just the bane of my existence.”

STORES BECOME RECYCLING CENTERS Anderson ticks off the reasons why he dislikes Michigan’s bottle deposit law, which he says essentially forces people to bring garbage into his store.

The bottle bill was meant to rid the state’s highways of garbage.

“It’s job was to get litter out of our roads

and forests and streams, and it’s done a really good job at that,” said Kerrin O’Brien, executive director of the Michigan Recycling Coalition.

Anderson counters that today the law encompasses such a small portion of containers sold in stores that it’s no longer re-

ables in the store creates a health hazard because the empty bottles and cans arrive dirty and still partially filled with beer or pop.

They come back filled with cigarette butts or regurgitated chewing tobacco or dead mice, he said.

“This is a health and safety issue,” he said,

“Even if you’re fervently environmental, you have to see that this is just a terrible law. It had good intentions in its infancy, but it’s like a child that never grew up.”

— Brad Anderson, Anderson’s Market

sponsible for keeping the state clean. Roads are kept clean nowadays by adopt-a-highway programs, he said. Anyway, the vast majority of people no longer throw garbage out of their windows as they drive, he said.

Anderson also contends that the law puts public health at risk.

“The health department goes through here every three months, but they don’t even look at these,” Anderson said, referring to the reverse vending machines where customers bring bottles and cans. The return area is just feet away from the back of the deli where sandwiches are prepared.

Anderson said having to collect return-

10 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

though he acknowledges that he has no firsthand knowledge of disease or illness spread as a result of returned containers.

Linda Gobler, president and CEO of the Michigan Grocers Association, said she’s heard of an instance in the past few years when a store closed because of a noxious chemical in a returned container. She said there have been a couple of instances of employees getting stuck with needles while handling bottles and cans, but she said she is not aware of any incidents that have been documented.

“I think what people fail to understand is that most of the containers that are coming

back into the stores are not clean, sanitary containers,” Gobler said.

A 12-PACK OF REASONS The value of the 10-cent deposit is much less today than it was in 1976. If deposits would have kept up with inflation, they’d cost 42 cents today, according to the Consumer Price Index inflation calculator.

Even if a dime isn’t worth what it was 40 years ago, the amount remains motivational.

In 2014, the redemption rate for returnables was 94.2 percent; that means $351.1 million in deposits were redeemed. The money that’s not redeemed is split up by the state — 25 percent is returned to retailers, and 75 percent goes to the Michigan Cleanup and Redevelopment Trust Fund to clean pollution and contamination.

Anderson believes some resistance to repealing the bottle bill exists because the state has come to rely on its slice of the unclaimed bottle return funds.

Anderson said his store sells a half million returnable bottles and cans per year, and around half that number is returned to his store. He said the refund he receives from the unclaimed fund does not make up for the employee hours that to go into sorting and getting rid of 250,000 returned bottles and cans each year.

What’s more, as the years have gone by, the deposit law has grown more complicated. When it was passed, store coolers were full of Budweiser and Miller. Lowenbrau was exotic — it was brought to North

America from Germany by Miller in 1975 with an Americanized recipe. Today there are thousands of microbrews, and a single store might sell hundreds of them. Stores are only required to accept containers that they sell, but knowing what’s sold at some stores is beyond the pay grade of the clerk at the register. That’s created an industry of reverse vending machines that scan barcodes, crush cans and sort containers.

Those machines cost $20,000, Anderson said, and they require a lot of maintenance and use a lot of electricity. Anderson said the law also doesn’t make sense to tourists because sometimes two containers can appear to be the same but only one is returnable.

Anderson said visitors bring empty wine bottles to his store all of the time.

“Tourists come in, and they don’t understand what’s recyclable and what’s not,” he said.

COMPREHENSIVE RECYCLING Greg Reisig, chairman of the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, said NMEAC wants to see bottle deposits spread to more kinds of beverage containers, like bottled water and energy drinks.

“This has been a very successful law and has led to greater recycling rates and cleaner roadsides,” Reisig said. “Michigan lawmakers should build on this bill and make it more expansive.”

Democratic lawmakers have proposed expansions to the law. A Senate bill was introduced in March 2015 and a House bill in April 2016 that would have broadened the deposit law to noncarbonated drinks.

Neither bill got any traction or even received a hearing, said Mike Berkowitz, legislative and political director for the Michigan chapter of the Sierra Club.

Anderson, meanwhile, said it would be crazy to thrust greater recycling responsibilities on small grocery store owners. He said he believes the state should scrap its deposit law and create a comprehensive recycling program that would work with waste haulers to ensure that garbage is sorted and recyclables stay out of landfills. That would increase recycling rates and lead to more green jobs, he said.

That echoes the position of his industry lobbying group — the state would be better off instituting comprehensive curbside recycling so that everything that can be recycled gets recycled, not just beer and pop bottles and whatever people chose to put into recycling bins, said Gobler, of the Michigan Grocers Association.

Gobler said her organization has been lobbying for a better recycling policy in the state. She said despite the bottle bill, Michigan lags behind other Great Lakes states in overall recycling rates.

Gobler, who serves on the Governors Recycling Council, an initiative launched by Gov. Snyder to look at ways to boost recycling, said the MGA’s objective isn’t to eliminate the bottle deposit law, but rather to get grocers out of the bottle and can recycling business.

“We are very much in favor of a more comprehensive recycling program for the state of Michigan,” Gobler said.

IN 1976, A DIFFERENT FIGHT Lynn Jondahl said he is wary of grocery or drink manufacturer lobbyists who talk about comprehensive recycling centers — that was one of the arguments they made against the bottle bill when it was up for a vote in the first place.

Jondahl, who represented East Lansing in the Legislature for 22 years and who ran for governor in 1994, spearheaded the bottle bill legislation that led to the 1976 referendum.

There had been a couple bills that hadn’t

Reverse vending machines like this one at Anderson’s Market in Glen Arbor take in returnable cans and bottles.

be motivated to recycle, she said.

O’Brien said the MRC saw an opening with the Snyder administration to improve Michigan’s recycling policy in 2011. Her organization released a report on the value of the state’s solid waste that ended up in landfills that estimated that if the state could recycle half of what was thrown away, Michigan would see an annual $435 million economic benefit through resource recovery.

That report prompted Snyder to form the Governor’s Recycling Council with the goal of raising the state’s recycling rate from 15 percent to 30 percent, O’Brien said.

O’Brien said she is encouraged with the council’s progress. But when the council — which is made up of interests from across the political spectrum — releases its final report, it will be up to state lawmakers to improve recycling policy.

“The big challenge will be selling this to the Legislature,” she said. “We’ve never had an opportunity like we have right now to move things forward. But it’s going to take anyone who has an interest in this issue reaching out to their legislators, reaching out to their local decision-makers.”

gone anywhere when Jondahl was approached by a 15-year-old East Lansing high school student who had written a bill based on one that had passed in Oregon. Jondahl said he ran the bill past lawyers and determined it was sound. He decided to propose it, and that led to a firestorm of opposition from industry groups.

When the bill failed to get out of committee, Jondahl decided the only way deposits would become reality was if he went directly to the voters.

He said it was easy to collect the signatures needed to get an initiative on the ballot. The first person to sign a petition was then-Gov. William Milliken, the Traverse City Republican who became an ardent supporter of the law.

A lot of grassroots groups and churches circulated petitions; one of the biggest supporters was the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, which had typically limited its activism to hunting and fishing causes.

Bottle manufacturers funneled millions into the Committee Against Forced Deposits while environmentalists took to the roadsides to sweep discarded bottles and cans into piles to prove to passers-by the need for deposits.

A front-page syndicated column by William F. Buckley in the Record-Eagle in the weeks before the election demonstrated just how different society was in 1976 — union officials bitterly opposed the bottle law while the state highway commissioner campaigned for it, arguing it would save the state millions it spends to clean its roads.

Buckley quoted the director of the American Can Company, who compared littering to drunk driving in a bizarre argument against the proposal: “As long as the fine for drinking while driving is greater than the fine for littering, people are going to throw empties out of their cars.”

Jondahl is proud of the act and says it accomplished what it set out to. He said it wasn’t as comprehensive as it should have been because supporters had to make compromises in order to win.

Today, Jondahl is disheartened by the direction of recycling policy.

A measure passed on Dec. 1 by the state Senate prohibits localities from regulating or placing a tax on plastic shopping bags, for example. Jondahl said that’s in a spirit that runs opposite to what he tried to do 40 years ago.

He said it’s getting harder and harder to launch environmental initiatives, even for measures with broad public support.

“It is not encouraging,” he said. “If it got to the vote, I’m pretty confident on most of these issues that the voters would be supportive. But getting there is more than half the trouble.”

A RECYCLING REVOLUTION Michigan’s recycling policy and infrastructure may be on the verge of a revolution. What the bottle bill looks if that revolution happens is anyone’s guess, said O’Brien, of the Michigan Recycling Coalition.

But what the bottle bill has done without question is demonstrate that consumers can

LESSONS FROM FLINT The material covered under deposit represents 2 to 3 percent of the state’s solid waste stream, but it makes up 10 to 11 percent of recycled materials.

The 10-cent deposit encourages recycling of bottles and cans, but does it discourage further recycling? It might indirectly, because the aluminum and PTE plastic that get recycled under the bottle bill are some of the most valuable recycled material in the market, O’Brien said.

The bottle bill removes those valuable materials from curbside recycling containers, which makes the material not covered under the bottle bill less attractive to recyclers.

Also, anecdotally, O’Brien has heard that some consumers believe they have done their part once they’ve returned their bottles and cans.

“I have heard people say they think their recycling is done when they take their recyclables to the store,” O’Brien said. “Nobody’s ever really studied this, so nobody knows.”

Jan O’Connell, the Sierra Club’s development director, said she believes the bottle bill is responsible for an ethos against littering in the state.

“I can remember before, I mean, these things (bottles and cans) were just everywhere on trails,” she said. “I do see some of the water bottles now. I’ve noticed some in lakes and streams, but I think now there’s a mindset with the bottles, with the bottle bill.”

There are many reasons why Michigan needs to overhaul its recycling policy somehow, O’Brien said. Look at Flint, where a lead poisoning crisis has forced thousands of residents to live off of bottled water.

That’s made the city a case study in the challenge posed by plastic water bottles to a recycling regime.

Flint has opt-in curbside recycling, and it is not equipped to handle families that today use dozens of bottles of water just to make dinner, O’Brien said. The lightweight bottles overflow the blue recycling bins.

“They’re so light, if they’re put in the bins in any quantity, they’ll blow out, and they’ll wind up in waterways,” O’Brien said. “It is an absurd picture when you think about it.”

The state needs a revolution in the way it views recycling, O’Brien said.

“Solid waste management — recycling, composting — is really infrastructure development and really, it should be seen as a utility,” she said. “Everybody produces garbage.”

Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 11

Religion: Optional belief system or natural aspect of humanity?

Bill’s statement “Here’s what I don’t get about religion ... why do all of these factions insist upon getting involved in politics? To me, if you are comfortable with your beliefs, you should not need to be part of the political realm at all. You know, separation of church and state and all that.” This was

Rev. Dr. William C. Myers Senior Pastor at Presbyterian Church of Traverse City

Gary’s question, as we prepared our column.

My response? Why are people of color, people from the LGBTQIA community, or women involved in politics? Why should race, sexual identity and gender be part of the political realm at all? You know, the great melting pot and all that.

It’s in our DNA! Gary’s question concerns power and identity. My faith

defines my identity more than my gender or race. Where many see faith as a garment people can put on or take off leaving the body untouched, I see faith as part of the human fabric. To remove faith is

CROSSED

to destroy the body.

Following Christ, I am called to make the world a better place for others, especially the poor and those who suffer. To do so, I have

Gary’s statement I have always admired Buddhism as a belief system.

Other than what I might term the “reincarnation fantasy,” I am on board with virtually all other characteristics of the religion. I also admire the way practitioners are comfortable in their own skins. You seldom hear of Buddhist protests or governmental involvement unless it is to protect themselves Gary Singer against violence and discrimination.

Gary helps In the U.S., where Christianity is the predominant religious businesses with belief system, things are different. A foundational aspect of Christheir Internet tianity is the need to “spread the word of Christ” and inform marketing.

He was raised a nonbelievers they will burn in hell after they die unless they see Catholic. the light. To Christians, their belief system is as fundamental to their existence as is gender and race. As a result, there is an exaggerated effort on the part of Christians to convince legislators they deserve similar political recognition and protections.

In fact, the preponderance of Christianity in America today is such that it is virtually impossible for a nontheistic candidate to be elected to Congress. We are saddled with ATHEIST DEBATE Bible-toting candidates, many of whom are undoubtedly closet atheists, appearing in churches begging for votes. The result is that religion and its optional beliefs receive weighted advantages in a country founded upon freedom from the Church of England.

The very first Constitutional Amendment addresses religious belief, stating: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” That’s it. That statement is clear — the U.S. government is to be completely divorced from any activity that would lead it to either condone or limit religious practice.

My wish during this holiday season is that all Americans find a way to tolerate each other and simply be free to be who they are. Promote equal treatment, not special consideration. If you don’t approve of the gay lifestyle, have heterosexual sex. If you don’t approve of abortions, don’t have one. It’s time to truly separate church and state.

A LOCAL PASTOR AND A LOCAL

to be involved in the political process.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership of the civil rights movement offers a good example. What moved King to be involved in the political process on behalf of civil rights was his faith. Had King been white, his role may have been different, but his passion for civil rights would have remained. His sacrifices for justice and peace … his belief all lives matter … were inspired more by his faith than his race.

King’s public expression of his faith was precisely the reason the establishment clause was written, to preserve the right of diverse religious expression in the public forum. Church and state are separate, but faith and life can never be!

Gary’s reply The reason people of color, the LGBTQIA (that needs work!) community, and women actively engage in politics makes perfect sense to me. In virtually every facet of our society all three are discriminated against and vilified for simply being themselves.

There are countries where Christianity receives similar vile treatment, but not here. Politicians on both sides of the aisle wail and gnash their teeth at the thought of disparaging any Christian principle. Recall the political backing Kim Davis received as she ignored her oath of office, refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay applicants.

Lest anyone dispute this is a Christian-dominated nation, the Christian God is plastered all over our money, our Pledge of Allegiance, and many of our national songs.

Bill, you may see your faith as “part of the human fabric,” but no credible scientist is likely to agree. You were born a white, straight, male and later learned Christianity. Had you been born into an Islamic or Hindu family, chances are very good your God would be different, but those other features would remain.

Bill’s reply Gary’s wish is “all Americans find a way to tolerate each other and simply be free to be who they are.” Sounds good. Hopefully, those who live in Christian communities can return their crèches to their town squares, and people of other faiths will be free to publically display symbols where appropriate. Perhaps even valedictorians, who want to glorify God, will be free to do so.

If we really want to push the tolerance envelope, maybe merchants, who have concerns about gay marriage, will not be forced to participate in gay weddings.

Sounds good, but I won’t get my hopes up.

Column space won’t allow me to offer the litany of restrictions placed on Christians by various Supreme Court decisions since the 1940s. When one atheist can have religious expression banned, that seems like special consideration to me.

As a Christian preacher, I’ve never condemned anyone to hell for not sharing my beliefs. However, I was physically escorted out of an Eagle Scout ceremony, by a member of my congregation, because I prayed in Jesus’ name.

Agree statement Though we have different feelings about religion, we respect each other, learn from each other, and both feel our society could benefit significantly from these types of open and honest dialogues. Merry Christmas, Bill!

Happy holidays, Gary!

12 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

5 mouthwatering holiday sweets 2

Samantha Okazaki

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By Kristi Kates Sweets to the sweet, so the saying goes.

We aren’t referring to the quote from Hamlet’s mother (thank goodness), but the way sugary goodness fits right into the holiday season, whether as a gift, a special dessert, or a treat for yourself while wrapping up your Christmas shopping. These local picks are sure to mollify your sweet tooth, and they’re got festive flair, too.

1. Tom’s Mom’s white chocolate peppermint cookies With sweet white chocolate and handcut soft peppermint chunks in Tom’s Mom’s famous cookie base, it’s no wonder these seasonal cookies are the boss’ favorite. NBC’s “Today” show, which invited Tom’s Mom’s to appear, even called this cookie “perfect for holiday cookie swaps.” One bite, and you’ll understand why. These are available only during the month of December, so order ’em now for holiday gifts and snacking.

Price: $18 for one dozen cookies; $25.95 for

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one dozen in a cookie tin.

Available at: Tom’s Mom’s Cookies, Spring Street, Harbor Springs; tomsmomscookies. com or 231-526-6606.

2. Simply Sweet by Jessica chocolate peppermint cake jars A delicious, portable cake that’s practically mess-free? We’ll take it. This unique version of a layer cake arrives in a glass jar, with a wooden spoon tied on with a jaunty ribbon. But that’s just the exterior. Inside, you’ll find rich layers of sour creme dark chocolate cake, almond buttercreme frosting, chocolate ganache and crushed candy canes, stacked up until they reach the jar’s brim. The peppermint and chocolate complement each other perfectly, and what says Christmas more than candy canes?

Price: $6 per jar.

Available at: Simply Sweet by Jessica, 324 E. Mitchell St. in downtown Petoskey; simplysweetbyjessica.com or 231-622-8322.

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3. Potter’s Bakery snowflake sugar cookies This third-generation bakery in Traverse City is known for many scrumptious treats, not the least of which are its sugar cookies.

Arriving just in time for the holidays are the special snowflake cookies, gently falling out of the oven in shades of wintery blues and purples, with hand-iced white snowflakes and sprinkles of icy glitter.

Price: $12 for one dozen cookies.

Available at: Potter’s Bakery, 908 E. 8th St., Traverse City; pottersbakery.com or 231-947-5125.

4. Sisson’s pecan snowballs Also tops in the cookie department are these confections from Sisson’s Main Street Specialties in Leland as run by the Sissons, the former proprietors of the Leelanau County Inn, which they ran for over 20 years.

They’ve brought all of their expertise to their bakery, the result being fine baked goodies like these pecan snowballs. Filled with fresh pecan chunks and dusted in powdered sugar, these cookies melt in your mouth and are perfect for a winter treat. Stop in person to

pick some up and make sure you say hello to the bakery dog, Rosebud.

Price: $6.39 for one dozen cookies.

Available at: Sisson’s Main Street Specialties, 203 N. Main St., Leland; sissonsmainstreet. net or 231-256-9201.

5. The Underground Cheesecake Company’s cherry swirl cheesecake From the small but ambitious cheesecake specialist in The Village at Grand Traverse Commons arrives this delectable cherry swirl cheesecake, resplendent in holiday red and white and festooned with white chocolate-dipped maraschino cherries, the perfect garnish. Light in texture yet heavy with creme cheese flavor, the cherry swirl isn’t an ordinary cheesecake, and that’s what makes it so good.

Price: 6-inch cheesecake $25; 9-inch cheesecake $35; single slice, $5.50.

Available at: The Underground Cheesecake Company, 800 Cottageview Drive, Suite 10, Traverse City; undergroundcheesecake.com or 231-943-1746.

Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 13

Mon, Dec 19

Celebrating weekends Celebrating weekends with 2 Bays DJs for years! for 25 26 years!

Ladies Night $1 off drinks & $5 martinis w/ Jukebox

Tues, Dec 20 - $2 well drinks & shots OPEN MIC W/HOST CHRIS STERR

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14 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

By Kristi Kates

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Indoors or outdoors, rustic or elegant, northern Michigan has plenty of options for your New Year’s Eve celebration. Here are highlights of the five biggest parties happening around the region to welcome in 2017.

1. Aerie New Year’s Eve Dance Party, Acme In 1989, Grand Traverse Resort’s Aerie Restaurant was known as The Trillium, and the Aerie’s going back in time to that year for 2016’s New Year’s Eve. A DJ will be spinning ’80s dance tunes on a floor of fog sprinkled with the light of disco balls, so put on your big Aqua Net hair and your neon clothes and capture your look in the Aerie’s photo booth.

After midnight, make more totally rad memories at a complimentary light breakfast right on-site.

WHERE: The Aerie in Grand Traverse Resort, Acme WHEN: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

COST: $20 for party and breakfast; dinners are separate and vary in cost.

INFO: grandtraverseresort.com or 231-534-6000.

2. New Year’s Eve Bridge Drop, Charlevoix Charlevoix may not have a giant ball to drop — but it does “drop” the U.S. 31 drawbridge over the Round Lake Channel at midnight for a unique New Year’s Eve experience. This downtown party includes a plethora of other activities as well, from snowman building and carriage rides to bonfires, live music, and a wide selection of eats from an eclectic selection of local food trucks. There are also two fireworks shows, one at 9 p.m. and one at midnight.

WHERE: Bridge Park, Downtown Charlevoix.

WHEN: Activities start at 1 p.m.; event closes at 2 a.m.

COST: Free to watch (purchase your own food/beverages).

INFO: www.visitcharlevoix.com/bridgedrop.

3. New Year’s Eve at CTAC, Petoskey Petoskey’s main event brings together art, music, dance and theater at the Crooked Tree Arts Center to craft a fun-filled, all-ages New Year’s celebration suitable for all. Three busy buildings are stuffed full of activities in-

cluding complimentary food and beverages, hands-on workshops, live music from more than 20 performers including Jetty Rae and Lara Fulford, magicians and more, followed by the early “Midnight at 9 p.m.” ball drop outdoors on Division Street, which includes street performers, stilt walkers and jugglers.

WHERE: Crooked Tree Arts Center, Carnegie Building and Petoskey District Library, all on Mitchell Street in downtown Petoskey.

WHEN: 5-9 p.m.

COST: Adults $7, students $3.

INFO: crookedtree.org or 231-347-4337.

4. CherryT Ball Drop, Traverse City This party with a purpose and a clever name (“CherryT”/charity) benefits local area food banks and downtown businesses as you ring in the new year right in the middle of the street. Expect live DJ music, fireworks and a giant social screen where you can post celebratory selfies. Get there early to grab a good spot for watching the illuminated cherry drop at midnight, as this is one of the most popular New Year’s events in the region.

WHERE: Front and Park streets in downtown Traverse City.

WHEN: 9:30 p.m. to midnight.

COST: Suggested donation is $3 or three nonperishable food items.

INFO: cherrytballdrop.com.

5. Treetops New Year’s Eve Bash, Gaylord Gaylord’s Treetops Resort has divided its New Year’s Eve festivities into two events, one family-friendly and one just for adults. The big family party in the Oak Room offers dancing to DJ music, nonalcoholic beverages, French bread pizza and brownies, and a photo booth.

The adult event in the convention center features live music from CP2, plus party favors including beads and glow sticks, late-night snacks and a champagne toast. Both celebrations gear up to fireworks at midnight.

WHERE: Treetops Resort in Gaylord.

WHEN: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

COST: Tickets start at $10 and vary by age group/party.

INFO: treetops.com or 888-906-5668.

Kristi Kates is a contributing editor and freelance writer.

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Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 15

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16 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

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MICHIGAN ICE FESTIVALS BRING CHILLS, THRILLS

Michigan Ice Fest

By Kristi Kates Can’t get enough of those glimmering, shimmering, gravity-defying works of art carved from giant blocks of ice? Happiest when you’re either climbing a sheer cliff of the stuff or gliding around it on thin blades attached to your feet? Think chili and soup taste best when consumed outdoors in subzero temperatures? Then this is your perfect season — it’s time for Michigan’s ice festivals.

1. Plymouth Ice Festival, Plymouth — Jan. 6-8 Dedicated to the art of ice carving, this fest calls itself the largest free ice festival in the state, and it’s certainly an ambitious one.

This year’s event, now in its 35th year, will include live exhibition ice carving amid the already-installed sculptures, plus the “dueling chainsaws” competition, where carvers are given one block of ice and 15 minutes to create; other attractions include the Winter Wonderland Michigan Market, selfie ice sculptures for great phone photo ops, a stage with live entertainment, and the Fire and Ice display towers that are set afire each evening.

Pro tip: The ice sculptures are lit with colored lights once the sun sets and are viewable 24 hours a day, which can make for some magical moments late at night.

More info: plymouthicefestival.com.

2. Ice Sculpture Festival, Tecumseh — Jan. 21-22 Downtown Tecumseh, just south of Ann Arbor, is the host for this fest, now in its

eighth year, with its focus on ice sculpture carving demonstrations. Three big dueling ice carving events are held for sculptors, with enthusiastic crowds cheering them on next to Olaf, the snowman from the movie “Frozen,” who also serves as the fest’s unofficial mascot. A winter warmup beverage walk lets visitors get to know local businesses that welcome them in with a complimentary beverage, and a chocolate walk offers similar tastings and specials; demonstrations share a glimpse into old world talents like spinning yarn, weaving and soap-making in addition to ice carving.

Pro tip: Check out the festival’s unique antique sock knitting machine and learn how to make the perfect accessory for all things icy cold.

More info: downtowntecumseh.com.

3. Ice Breaker Festival, South Haven — Feb. 3-5 An hour or so from busy Grand Rapids and Grand Haven sits South Haven, a smaller community that comes to life during its own ice festival, a landmark event in February. The biggest draw are the ice sculptures, of course, with more than 50 ice blocks on display during the event. In addition, guests can enjoy other ice activities like ice skating, curling, and icy drinks as well as hot ones, plus a variety of hot foods including a chili competition.

A snowsuit fashion competition is hilarious runway fun, and new to the Ice Breaker this year is the cardboard sled race, with plenty of prizes in categories like best cool style, crowd favorite and overall speed.

Pro tip: This is a crowd that enjoys a good (family-friendly) joke, so if you have a funny idea for a cardboard sled, give it your best shot and you might just find yourself locally famous for the weekend.

More info: southhavenmi.com.

4. Magical Ice Festival, St. Joseph — Feb. 3-5 In the deepwater southwest Michigan port town of St. Joseph, the ice grows thick in the winter, making this the perfect environment for an ice festival. Frosty fun is in the works for the entire weekend, with certified ice competitions running all three days, a big Ice Wars competition on Saturday, and additional events like the Fire and Ice Party at Shadowland on Friday night giving you the opportunity to warm up before heading back out into the ice and snow the following day.

Pro tip: Participate in the scavenger hunt by seeking out logo ice sculptures downtown and win a gift certificate good at more than 40 locations.

More info: stjoetoday.com.

5. Michigan Ice Fest, Munising — Feb. 15-19 This isn’t just any ordinary ice. When the Michigan Ice Fest is talking about ice, it means really big ice, namely the staggering ice formations of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising. These are the grand icicles of legend ranging from 20 to 90 feet high, with nary a fancy ice sculpture in sight, unless you’re talking about the ones Mother Nature makes. The festival’s instructors, all experienced athletes, will

Plymouth Ice Festival

help attendees learn how to climb the ice with special gear, at a fest that’s considered a bucket list event for many winter adventurers. A demo program, slideshow and film presentations, and climbing socials for the social climbers of the ice set round out the weekend’s cool schedule, all for $40.

Pro tip: Like the fest’s program says, the weather on Lake Superior is unpredictable at best, so bring more layers than you think you’ll need and be prepared for plenty of cold, snow and wind.

More info: michiganicefest.com or downwindsports.com/icefest.

Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 17

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18 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

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The season’s best holiday TV shows

By Kristi Kates Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s good to take a break now and then with a cup of hot cocoa and something festive on the TV to restore your holiday spirit.

But with every channel airing its own version of The Big Holiday Special™, how do you dig out those that are the most worth your viewing time? Here are our picks for 2016’s best holiday TV shows.

“America’s Got Talent Holiday Spectacular” Hosted by the always-enthusiastic Nick Cannon, this holiday-themed special of the competition series is perfect for reality-TV fans and is set to bring back this season’s youthful winner, singer Grace Vanderwaal, for a performance. Magicians Penn and Teller will also take the stage to do a little festive entertaining, as will fan favorite Sal Valentinetti, who will be crooning “Santa Baby” with AGT judge Heidi Klum. The rest of the show’s talent judges, Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel and Mel B., will be overseeing the proceedings, which will also include performances from The Clairvoyants, Brian Justin Crum and the Olate Dogs, and daredevil Professor Splash, who will perform a seasonally appropriate jump into a pool of eggnog.

C’mon, no one wants to miss that.

WATCH IT: 8 p.m. Monday on NBC.

“The iHeart Radio Jingle Ball” iHeartRadio’s annual holiday extravaganza brings together a long list of pop royalty in New York City every year, and this year it took the show on the road to visit a plethora of extra cities too. If you missed the Jingle Ball on tour, you can watch a special rebroadcast of the show on broadcast TV, with performances from headliner Justin Bieber plus The Chainsmokers, Meghan Trainor, Fifth Harmony, Ellie Goulding, Diplo, Charlie Puth, Lukas Graham and more, direct to the comfort of your living room from Madison Square Garden. It’s 90 minutes of poprockin’ fun without all that screaming every time The Bieb sets foot on stage. If that’s still not enough music for you, iHeart Radio will also be gifting viewers with two nights’ worth of concert footage from the iHeartRadio Music Festival from this past September.

WATCH IT: “The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball” will air at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 26 on The CW. The first night of the iHeartRadio Music Festival will air on The CW at 8 p.m. on Dec. 30; the second will air at 8 p.m. Jan. 2.

“Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2016” Dancing Christmas trees, pop-drinking polar bears, stories of Christmas past — what will make the list this year? Television personalities Kevin Frazier (co-host of “Entertainment Tonight”) and Keltie Knight (weekend co-host of “The Insider”) are your hosts for this fun, “12 Days of Christmas”themed look at some of the best and most entertaining American holiday commercials of all time, as well as a peek at what foreign holiday commercials look like around the globe. Some are heartwarming, some are funny, but all are the kind of advertisements that will actually make you put down the remote and pay attention.

WATCH IT: 9 p.m. Tuesday on The CW.

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” and “Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution” Music fans will find two great ways to ring in the new year via television this year. The first is always a classic: “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” with the torch having been passed to Clark fan and accomplished broadcaster Ryan Seacrest. This year’s edition will include performances from Mariah Carey, DNCE, Thomas Rhett and Gloria Estefan with the cast of her Broadway musical “On Your Feet!,” and Fergie taking the reins at the Hollywood outpost of the show. This 45-year-old New Year’s Eve tradition will be staged in front of more than 1 million fans attending live in Times Square, with millions more watching the most famous midnight ball drop on TV. If you prefer tunes of the EDM/hip-hop variety, join Pitbull at what’s being billed as “the hottest party in Miami” as he hosts his own countdown telecast live from Bayfront Park with co-hosts Queen Latifah and Snoop Dogg. Performers include Shawn Mendes, Prince Royce and Austin Mahone.

WATCH IT: “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” will air at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 on ABC. “Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution” will air at 11 p.m. on Fox.

Come spend your holidays with us!

Gift Cards available 231.943.1555 236 E. Front Street • Traverse City

Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 19

20 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

ORGANIST SHOWS OFF HIS RANGE AT MUSIC HOUSE ANNUAL

Pajama Party Monday, December 26th

By Kristi Kates Dave Calendine leads a double life.

By day, he works in the operations department of Olympia Entertainment in downtown Detroit. By night (and, well, sometimes during the day too), he’s the resident organist and organ curator for Detroit’s 5,100-seat Fox Theater, the organist for the Detroit Red Wings, an occasional accompanist for the Radio City Rockettes, and a solo concert performer.

Calendine got his start in music at the age of 3, when his parents got a player piano from his uncle, who restored player pianos, nickelodeons and band organs. By 5, he was taking piano lessons, which tapered off for him around 9 years old as he continued to learn and play by ear.

By the time he was 15, he’d noticed the organ at his church and was fascinated by the myriad sounds it could make. He started taking lessons from church organist Dorothy Reynolds, who was an honors graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., and it was all about the organ from that point on. More specifically, the theater organ.

“The theater organ, or cinema organ, is so much more versatile than a regular pipe organ,” Calendine said. Specially developed to provide music and sound effects to accompany silent films during the early 20th century, the theater organ adds in percussion and a wider range of sounds to the usual range of keyboard notes.

The pipes produce notes from highest (very small pipes, the size of a pencil) to lowest (in large instruments, these can be up to 32 feet tall and wide enough that a person can stand inside them), while the stop tabs, an array of colored tabs and switches, admit pressurized air through the pipes to create sound. These sounds are then “translated” by a musician playing the organ’s keyboard. “You literally have the full resources of an orchestra,” Calendine said.

When Calendine heads Up North, he’s often traveling up to play the organ at The Music House Museum near Traverse City, where he accompanies a range of silent films and special shows.

“The Music House’s organ is typical of theater organs around the world,” he said. “Where the Fox Theater’s organ is very large, to befit such a large theater, the Music House’s is more modest. The organ at the Fox Theater has 36 sets of pipes, so over 3,000 pipes in all, and 349 stop tabs; the Music House’s organ has 13 sets of pipes, so around 1,200 pipes total.”

This holiday season, Calendine will be performing two shows at the Music House, the first being the Pizza and Pipes event. “Back in the day, in the ’60s and ’70s, a lot of old organs had been removed from churches and were being bought by pizza parlors all over the country,” Calendine said. “You could go in, get pizza, and request a song. We’re recreating that experience with this show.”

At the Music House’s version, Calendine actually will be taking requests for music, and there will be different gourmet pizzas and desserts available to enjoy. “This will be

Dave Calendine will play organ music to accompany the Laurel and Hardy silent film “Big Business” at The Music House Museum.

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downtown Suttons Bay a lot of fun, as opposed to how it turned out for the restaurants that tried this — they’d put more money into buying the organs than they did into ingredients for the pizzas, so once the pizzas weren’t any good, the gimmick didn’t work.”

The second Calendine show will be Holiday Classic Shorts, a real throwback to the old silent movie days. “This show is going back to the main reason that the theater organs were invented,” he said.

“We’ll recreate that by playing holidaythemed short silent movies, and I’ll accompany them with music. Plus, I’ll be playing Christmas songs in between.” Included in this year’s program will be the classic “A Christmas Carol” as well as the Laurel and Hardy film “Big Business,” where the comedic pair try to sell Christmas trees in Los Angeles.

While Pizza and Pipes is more of a cafe show, with little tables and chairs so that people can mingle over their pizza and the tunes, Holiday Classic Shorts is a sit-down theater show and also a chance for Calendine to play Christmas music, which he said is a particular favorite of his. “I’ve always really enjoyed Christmas music, and it just suits the organ so well,” he said.

So, are people really watching the movie, or are they watching him play the organ during these unique events?

“Well, my goal as a silent movie organist is to make people forget that I’m even there,” he said. “But sometimes they do end up watching what I’m doing. So, while I don’t have an ‘ugly Christmas sweater,’ I’ll have to make sure to wear something Christmas-sy.”

Pizza and Pipes will take place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 28; adults $25, kids 10 and under $10 (includes dinner). Holiday Classic Shorts offers two shows, one at 5:30 p.m. and another at 7:30 p.m., both on Dec. 29; adults $15, seniors $13, students $5. Both shows take place at The Music House Museum, 7377 U.S. 31 in Williamsburg. For more information, visit musichouse.org or call 231-938-9300.

Kristi Kates is a contributing editor and freelance writer.

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Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 21

An ode to an Italian enoteca

The charcuterie board with imported Italian cheeses and cured meat.

Ballaro Wine Lounge shares a kitchen with owners Giorgio and Monica Lo Greco’s Pepe Nero Italian restaurant The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. TOM GORSLINE PHOTO

By Janice Binkert A native of Palermo, Sicily, Giorgio Lo Greco was born into a family whose roots as restaurateurs go back five generations. He grew up to be a chef himself, traveled the world cooking, and eventually emigrated to the U.S. with his Romanian wife, Monica, whom he met while the two were working for Princess Cruise Lines.

The two had been living in Italy, but Traverse City — which Giorgio had discovered several years earlier and returned to repeatedly — kept calling him back. Five years ago, the pair decided to take a leap of faith and move “across the pond” to continue Giorgio’s family legacy by opening their own small restaurant.

Pepe Nero, in The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, opened in 2011.

The good news was that Pepe Nero quickly gained a loyal following; the bad news was that just as quickly, it began to outgrow its tiny quarters. Looking for a larger property, Monica and Giorgio were confronted with yet another good news/bad news scenario when a space literally across the parking lot became available — the former kitchen of the old State Hospital.

We really liked it — as Europeans, we’re used to old buildings, and this one had a kind of Italian feel, too — but it was much bigger than what we wanted,” said Monica.

“And then after some discussions, it clicked: Why don’t we do two places with two different experiences served by the same kitchen? With separate names, concepts, decors and menus for each. We had talked about opening a little wine lounge here in Traverse City sometime, but we hadn’t considered combining it with Pepe Nero — until we got this place.” And that’s how Ballaro Wine Lounge (named after one of the oldest and liveliest street markets in Palermo) came to be.

Though the building needed plumbing, electricity, even ceilings, the Lo Grecos didn’t really want to change much about their new surroundings.

“There are a few restaurants we know in Palermo that have the same marble floor — even down to the size and the black and white pattern of the tiles — and the same yellow brick walls,” said Giorgio. “It felt familiar and right.” So, they cleaned and renovated

Pepe Nero’s sibling spot Ballaro Wine Lounge serves up dishes inspired by owner’s Italian roots

instead of erasing the history of the rooms.

Monica was responsible for the decor. “For the restaurant, we tried to make it intimate, very romantic, with vintage Italian film posters on the walls, and long, soft neutral curtains on the high windows. It has an old Italian castlelike atmosphere, whereas Ballaro is more representative of Italy now — very trendy, edgy and modern, but still comfortable and cozy.”

The black and red color scheme adds to that feel. Grinning, Giorgio added: “The only thing I contributed was the red 1962 Piaggio Vespa. It was in very bad shape, and we completely restored it.”

BACK TO THE ROOTS Menu planning came next. “When we are in Italy, we like going to an enoteca (wine bar), where you can get little bites or small plates of all kinds. We wanted Ballaro to be reminiscent of those places we knew back home.”

Giorgio said most of the food he serves is inspired by his Sicilian roots, “but I also do dishes from other parts of Italy.”

He emphasized that he likes to support local farmers as much as possible. “Loma Farms is a very good source for vegetables in the summer and fall. They inform us about what they have, and we try to work around that and make a recipe for the product.”

Menus change seasonally. As chef-owner, Giorgio works side by side in the kitchen every day with executive chef Coburn MacNaughton, and they develop new dishes together. “We’re lucky to have a very good team in the kitchen,” he said.

Giorgio is particularly proud of Ballaro’s charcuterie plate. It features products directly from Italy, representing various regions.

“Each of the cheeses is from a different part of the country, and there are olives from Puglia and salami from Naples and Milan,” he said.

“And I lived by the ocean in Palermo, so I like to cook seafood — especially octopus.”

By now it must be clear that this is anything but your usual “bar food.” The Ballaro menu is as diverse as it is ambitious. Besides octopus and charcuterie, it features such delicacies as tuna mojama (filleted salt-cured tuna with organic arugula and cherry tomatoes), and spinach fettuccini (fresh tomato sauce and burrata cheese) among its vegetarian, seafood and meat options.

22 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

Spinach fettucine with house-made tomato sauce and burrata cheese.

VINO, VINO EVERYWHERE Ballaro small plates are designed for sharing, in the tradition of Italian antipasto, and for enjoying with a glass of wine or a cocktail. They are presented as they are prepared — not all at once. “It is meant to be a leisurely experience that allows you to savor each dish fully,” said Monica.

Monica chooses the wines and trains the staff. “We were able to expand our wine selection greatly when we moved here,” she said. “She’s a natural at it,” said Giorgio. “She has a very good sense of taste — for food and for wine.”

As might be expected, the wine choices lean heavily — although not exclusively, toward Italy, with about 40 wines offered by the glass. The cocktail menu, on the other hand, is very select. “We use only premium brands,” said Monica. “Our bar manager is Italian, and he’s doing a very nice craft cocktail program.”

In response to a comment that they are both very ambitious and energetic, Monica replied, “We would not have made it this far

without being that way. Of course it’s a lot of work, and sometimes a lot of stress, but mostly a lot of fun.”

Giorgio added, “It’s like this: We can be here 17 hours, finish at midnight, and look forward to coming back in the morning. We never get tired of it. And that means only one thing: You love what you are doing. We strive to do our best and make sure this place works.

And it’s not only for our satisfaction — we’re happy when we see that our guests are happy.”

Ballaro and Pepe Nero are located on the first floor of the Kirkbride Hall Building at 700 Cottageview Drive, Suite 100, in Traverse City (inside The Village at Grand Traverse Commons).

Open noon to 5 p.m. daily for happy hour, noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Also open New Year’s Eve. For private events, a dedicated dining room (seats 34), as well as the restaurant and lounge (seat 54 and 62, respectively), can be rented out. Cooking demonstrations and classes will start in early 2017. For more information, visit pepenerotc. com or call 231-929-1960.

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24 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

Boyne City tap room completes trio of brewpubs No shortage of microbrew options here — there are 40 varieties of craft beer always on tap.

By Kristi Kates First the Bridge Street Tap Room arrived in Charlevoix in 2015. Then, a second brewpub, Lake Charlevoix Brewing Company, popped up down the street, near the Beaver Island Ferry. Now, the Boyne City Tap Room is making the scene, the third in a trio of microbrew hangout spots launched by owners Richard Bergmann and Aaron Hagen.

‘TAP ROOM BLUE’ Bergmann grew up in Indiana but spent a significant amount of time in the Charlevoix area in his youth; Hagen grew up locally. Both men manage all three brewpubs through Round Lake Group, where Bergmann is the managing partner and Hagen is vice president. Hagen also serves as the overseeing chef for the trio of properties.

Having opened three brewpubs in just over a year, the partners operate like a welloiled machine — so much so that they managed to open their latest tap room in record time this past June.

“The building was only purchased 30 days before the Boyne City Tap Room was planned to open,” said Mike Dunlop, general manager of the venue. “So that was a real challenge.”

Because the building had been the site of five different restaurants over the past 10 years, it was mostly turnkey, but there were some cosmetic changes the team wanted to implement.

“It was pretty neutral when we came in,” Dunlop said. “Our other locales are themed in what we call ‘tap room blue,’ so we brought that color over, and that immediately gave the place more character.”

The large and inviting space was further warmed with the addition of dark wood chairs and barstools, upholstered in a complementary blue. A stone floor anchors the bar side, while wood-textured tiles add a rustic tone to the dining area.

Boyne City Tap Room’s chili with tortilla chips.

“The art that we’re in the process of putting up is going to be real neat too,” Dunlop said. “Rich found some great old historical photos of Boyne City, and we’re getting those enlarged for the walls.”

RAMBLING BREWS The hardest part of meeting the deadline for opening was actually getting a staff put together on such short notice. Fortunately, thanks to local connections already established, the team was able to round up a crew and train it in just two weeks.

With 40 beers on tap, staff training posed another challenge. “98 percent of our beers are from Michigan breweries,” Dunlop said,” and it’s important to us to support that, and for our staff to be knowledgeable about the beer.”

Two on the extensive list with which staff are exceptionally familiar now are North Peak Brewing Company’s Rambler, a Czech Pilsner-style brew Dunlop calls a real crowd pleaser, in part, perhaps, because Boyne City High School’s sporting teams are also called the Ramblers.

“Another really popular one is the Nitro Rubaeus from Founders,” Dunlop said.

“It’s hooked up to a nitrogen draft line, so it pours creamy, like a Guinness. It’s a real standout.”

For the upcoming winter, Boyne City Tap Room plans to turn the microbrew focus over to brown stouts and porters: “Things that are darker and more malty for the colder season,” Dunlop said. “One in particular I think will be a favorite is the Scotty Karate, a barrel-aged Scotch ale from Dark Horse Brewing Company.”

The beers, of course, serve the dual purpose of also complementing the tap room’s food — a modern American menu that starts with appetizers like pulled pork nachos, homemade onion rings, fried pickles and bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers.

Manager Mike Dunlop oversees day-today happenings at Boyne City Tap Room.

FRESH AND READY As the food menu winds through fresh soups and salads (the black bean chili is a local favorite), more highlights start to emerge.

“Our fried egg cheddar burger is one of the most popular meals,” Dunlop said. “The fried egg just takes it to another level when the cheddar gets all mixed in with the egg yolk; it can be messy, but it’s so worth it.” The mahi-mahi fish tacos offer a well-balanced blend of flavor and texture with pineapple salsa made in house, and the eggplant Neapolitan is another unusual juxtaposition of ingredients that really works.

“We take slices of eggplant, lightly breaded and fresh-fried, layer them with mozzarella cheese and tomatoes, and serve it all on top of palomino sauce (spiced tomato and cream) finished with 18-year old balsamic vinegar from Fustini’s,” Dunlop said.

All food at the tap room is made from scratch.

“The prep crew starts early in the morning,” Dunlop said, “led by our in-house chef, Cole Dominick. We have such good variety on the menu, and we continue to tweak it based on feedback from our guests.”

The strong brand of the other two brewpubs, Dunlop added, gave the Boyne City Tap Room a strong head start, and it’s poised now for a great winter season.

“Between the food and the 40 microbrews on draft, I’m hoping we’ll be a huge hit,” he said.

The Boyne City Tap Room is located at 220 South Lake St. in Boyne City, open Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Find it online at bctaproom.com or call 231-4594487 for more information.

Kristi Kates is a contributing editor and freelance writer.

Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 25

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NORTHERN SEEN 1. Courtney Look and Ben Watts sampled wine at a Boathouse Restaurant tasting event on Old Mission.

2. Joe Balinski and Mike Evoy welcomed visitors to the Masonic Lodge during Petoskey’s Holiday Open House.

3. Charles, Dawn, J.J. and Renee got together for happy hour at Clam Lake Beer Company in Cadillac.

4. Robert McNulty and Meghan McDermott of Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities sampled some food from Bistro FouFou at The Traverse City Ticker’s Recess event.

9

5. Brittany, Lauren, Melanie and Lindsay made an appearance at the Traverse City Young Professionals event at The Parlor in Traverse City.

6. Matt and Colleen Pangonis showed off some holiday looks during the open house at Boyne Mountain.

7. A surfer tried to catch a wave as the Emerald Isle ferry arrived in Charlevoix.

8. Santa and Mrs. Claus visited Boyne Mountain’s Holiday Open House.

9. Tamara Lavati and David Schaller won a season pass in a raffle at the Boyne Mountain Holiday Open House.

26 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

dec 17

saturday

SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE CENTENNIAL FILM FESTIVAL: Noon, Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Empire. Find Your Park through a collection of National Park Service short films. nps.gov/slbe

-------------------HOLIDAY CONCERT: 6:30pm, Milliken Auditorium, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Over 100 students will be performing in The Dance Center’s annual Holiday Concert. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 door.

947-6820. dance-center.net

-------------------“NUTCRACKER BALLET”: 7:30pm, Ramsdell Theatre, Manistee. Presented by over 60 dancers representing teachers from Manistee, Benzie, Mason, Oceana, Mecosta & Kalamazoo counties. Tickets, $20. mynorthtickets.com

Winter Solstice Celebration: 1-5pm, Three Pines Studio, Cross Village. Workshops, food & fun. threepinesstudio.com

AN IMPLAUSIBLE CLAUSE: 3pm, Munnecke Room, Leland Library. Presented by the Ho Ho Ho Hotline & The Leelanau Players. Free. 994-2098.

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17-01

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send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com

AUTHOR SIGNINGS: 12-6pm, Horizon Books, TC. Info: horizonbooks.com

GIFTS TWICE GIVEN: 10am-5pm. Ward & Eis Gallery, Petoskey will donate 20% of store sales to Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan. www.wrcnm.org

-------------------PINE, FIR OR SPRUCE? Learn ID techniques during a short hike at Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire at 1pm. Donations appreciated. grassriver.org

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“THE NUTCRACKER”: Presented by the CTAC School of Ballet at Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center at 3pm & 7pm. $20 adults, $10 students. crookedtree.org

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PARALLEL 45 THEATRE’S “A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE”: Presented by CherryT Ball Drop at 3pm & 7pm at City Opera House, TC. Tickets start at $13. cityoperahouse.org

DEPOT DINNER CONCERT: 6-8pm, After 26 Depot, Cadillac. Featuring the Northern Winds Quintet. Advance tickets, $25. after26project.org COOKIE DECORATING & SCAVENGER HUNT: 12-5pm, Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay. Complimentary cookie decorating & scavenger hunt, & kid’s meals are 50% off at Hearth & Vine Café. 944-1297.

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HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 1-3pm, East Bay Branch Library, TC. Featuring appetizers, music by Miriam Pico & David Chown, crafts projects & more. 922-2085.

-------------------TANNENBAUM BLITZEN: 6-8pm, Ivan’s Café, Shanty Creek Resorts, Bellaire. Buffet, torchlight parade down Schuss Mountain, Christmas carols, cookie decorating, & Santa. $12 adults, $7 children 5-12, & free for children 4 & under. shantycreek.com

-------------------“PETER & THE STARCATCHER”: 7:30pm, Mary Schmuckal Theatre, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Tickets start at $15. mynorthtickets.com

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11TH ANNUAL BLISSFEST WINTER SOLSTICE SHOW & POTLUCK: 5pm, Emmet County Community Building, Petoskey.

Featuring The Ragbirds with indie-pop melodies & global rhythms, & The Turnips with a roots-based blend of rock, blues, folk, Americana & more. Tickets: $15 adult member & $20 adult non-member. blissfest.org

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3RD ANNUAL HOLIDAY MARKET: 1-6pm, The Little Fleet, TC. Mulled wine, handmade goods, & DJ spinning vinyl. thelittlefleet.com

dec/jan

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-------------------WINTER SOUNDS HOLIDAY CONCERT: 5-6pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Featuring the Benzie Central Chamber Choir. michlegacyartpark.org

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S.T.R.U.M.: The Society of Traverse Region Ukulele Musicians will perform at Landmark Books, TC at 5:30pm. landmarkbookstc.com

dec 18

sunday

HOLIDAY CONCERT: 2pm, Milliken Auditorium, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Over 100 students will be performing in The Dance Center’s annual Holiday Concert. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 door. 947-6820. dancecenter.net

-------------------“NUTCRACKER BALLET”: 2pm, Ramsdell Theatre, Manistee. Presented by over 60 dancers representing teachers from Manistee, Benzie, Mason, Oceana, Mecosta & Kalamazoo counties. Tickets, $20. mynorthtickets.com

-------------------JINGLE BELL 5K RUN: 5:30pm, Park Place Dome, TC. $15 if you register by Dec. 16; $20 after. Benefits First Community Bank Christmas Wish program. Please

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Sunday Service 10:30 •• Youth Program December 24 - Christmas Eve Candle Light Service at 5:00 10:30 p.m. a.m.

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Start off the New Year on the right foot with the Resolution Run on New Year’s Day at 11am. Starting & finishing at The Little Fleet, TC, this 5K run/walk benefits Traverse Health Clinic. resolutionruntc.com

bring a non-perishable food for ACTS Food Pantry. Festive attire encouraged. tctcjinglebellrun.com

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CHRISTMAS FROM THE ARCHIVES: 2pm, McGuire Room, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Vignettes of Christmas from Traverse City’s Past. Presented by the Traverse Area Historical Society. traversehistory.org

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“NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS”: 3pm, the Presbyterian Church, 701 Westminster Dr., TC. Music by Guy William Molnar & Mary Sue Wilkinson, & the Old Town Playhouse Young Co. will perform selections from “Elf, Jr.!”. Freewill offering requested to benefit Dann’s House. dannshouse.org

PARALLEL 45 THEATRE’S “A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE”: Presented by CherryT Ball Drop at 2pm & 6pm at City Opera House, TC. Tickets start at $13. cityoperahouse.org

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY AUCTION & CONCERT: 4pm, Empire Township Hall. Enjoy live music

by Good Boy & a live auction. Free admission.

monday

dec 19

Author Signing: Karl Manke will sign his book “Gone to Pot” at Horizon Books, TC from 10am-6pm. horizonbooks.com

-------------------“THE NUTCRACKER”: Presented by the CTAC School of Ballet at Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center at 3pm. $20 adults, $10 students. crookedtree.org

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Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 27

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dec 20

tuesday

AUTHOR SIGNINGS: Starting at noon at Horizon Books, TC. Info: horizonbooks.com

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GET CRAFTY: 11am & 2pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Create holiday lights garland. greatlakeskids.org

-------------------“A CAPPELLA HARMONY”: 6:30-8:30pm, Kirkbride Hall, TC. Performances by the GT Show Chorus & Cherry Capital Men’s Chorus Quartets. A carol sing-along. Freewill donation. kirkbridehall.com

dec 21

wednesday

MUSIC IN THE PARK SERIES: The Petoskey Madrigals Concert. 7pm, East Jordan Community Auditorium. Free.

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AUTHOR SIGNINGS: Starting at noon at Horizon Books, TC. Info: horizonbooks.com

-------------------TC RIDES TO SEE THE LIGHTS: 6pm, Workshop Brewing Co., TC. Join Norte! for a short & winter-y community bicycle ride through TC neighborhoods to see the Christmas lights. Please bring food & clothing donations to support the Jubilee House. elgruponorte.org/lights

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WINTER SOLSTICE CANDLELIGHT TEA: 7pm, Peninsula Community Library in Old Mission Peninsula School, TC. Holiday music by The Johnson Ladies. RSVP: 231-223-7700.

dec 22

thursday

STASH FOR NORTE!: 5-9pm, My Secret Stash, TC. Proceeds from bike inspired gifts will be donated to Norte! elgruponorte.org/strong

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WINTER SOLSTICE DANCE: 7-10pm, Northport Village Arts Building. Featuring the Hoop-n-Hollar Band. Benefits the Northport Arts Association. Free; donations are appreciated. 231-386-9798.

-------------------AUTHOR SIGNINGS: Starting at noon at Horizon Books, TC. Info: horizonbooks.com

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ANTRIM PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: 5-7pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Free slideshow. For info find ‘Antrim Photography Workshop’ on Facebook.

231-331-4318.

dec 23

friday

HOLIDAY PROGRAM: Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. At 10am enjoy reindeer theme games. At 1pm create Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments. greatlakeskids.org

-------------------STORYTIME WITH SANTA: 7-8pm, Lakeview Lobby, Shanty Creek Resorts, Bellaire. shantycreek.com

-------------------AUTHOR SIGNINGS: Starting at 2pm at Horizon Books, TC. Info: horizonbooks.com

-------------------ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER COMMUNITY MEAL: 11:30am-1:30pm, The Salvation Army TC Community Center, 1239 Barlow. satraversecity.org

28 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

dec 25

sunday

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS DINNER: 1-3pm, East Jordan United Methodist Church.

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SKI FREE WITH SANTA: Join Santa on the slopes of Schuss Mtn., Shanty Creek Resorts, Bellaire from 9am4:30pm. Please donate non-perishable food items, gently-used winter clothing and/or household items to benefit local food pantries. shantycreek.com

dec 26

monday

SLIPPIN’ & SLIDIN’: 11am3pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Try out some hands on activities that show off the science behind cold weather fun. greatlakeskids.org

-------------------FREE KIDS MOVIE NIGHT: 7:30-9pm, Aspen Room or Alpine Room, Treetops Resort, Gaylord. Featuring “Santa Claus”. treetops.com

dec 27 dec 28

tuesday

FREE KIDS MOVIE NIGHT: 7:30-9pm, Aspen Room or Alpine Room, Treetops Resort, Gaylord. Featuring “Snow Dogs”. treetops.com

wednesday

PIZZA & PIPES: 6-8pm, Music House Museum, Williamsburg. Featuring a gourmet pizza dinner & a concert with Red Wings organist Dave Calendine on the ‘Mighty Wurlizter. $25 adults, $10 children 10 & under. musichouse.org

-------------------FREE KIDS MOVIE NIGHT: 7:30-9pm, Aspen Room or Alpine Room, Treetops Resort, Gaylord. Featuring “Antz”. treetops.com

-------------------SNOWSHOE HIKE: Meet at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Empire at 1pm. www. facebook.com/sbdnl

dec 29

thursday

INDOOR IGLOO: 11am3pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Help build a life-sized structure big enough to play in. greatlakeskids.org

-------------------FREE KIDS MOVIE NIGHT: 7:30-9pm, Aspen Room or Alpine Room, Treetops Resort, Gaylord. Featuring “Wall-E”. treetops.com

dec 30

friday

HORIZON BOOKS, TC EVENTS: 10am: Story Hour – “Snow”. 8:30-10:30pm: Live music with Kat Eldred. horizonbooks.com

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FREE KIDS MOVIE NIGHT: 7:30-9pm, Aspen Room or Alpine Room, Treetops Resort, Gaylord. Featuring “The Little Rascals”. treetops.com

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Rolling Hills Right onto Cedar Run (at Antiques the light), Go ½ Mile and Turn Right on Barney Rd. 12th Annual Top of the Hill on the Left “Between the Holidays”

HOLIDAY RAIL JAM: 4pm, Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls. A fast moving competition for skiers & snowboarders. boyne.com

-------------------FRESHWATER CONCERTS: 8pm, Freshwater Gallery, Boyne City. Enjoy Americana & roots rock mixed with traditional folk by Drew Nelson & Hwy 2. Tickets, $25. 231582-2588.

dec 31

saturday

CHERRYT BALL DROP: Held at the corner of Front & Park streets, Downtown TC. Enjoy a live DJ starting at 10pm, with the countdown to the Dropping of the Cherry at midnight. www.cherrytballdrop.com

-------------------INDIGO ICE: A New Year’s Eve Gala: 8pm1am. Champagne toast & count down to midnight atop Hotel Indigo’s roof, TC. Hors d’euvres & icy beverages prepared at the Ice Bar. Live entertainment, Red Carpet Reception, & more. 21 & up. VIP starting at $100. www.downtowntc.com

-------------------NYE AT GTR: 10pm, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme. Throwback to the 80’s. Dance party on Level 17 with a photo booth, fog, disco balls, complimentary breakfast at 1am, & more. Tickets: $20 or free with Aerie NYE Dinner receipt. SOLD OUT. grandtraverseresort.com/newyearseve

-------------------NYE BRIDGE DROP: At midnight Charlevoix “drops” the U.S. 31 drawbridge over the Round Lake Channel. This party at Bridge Park, Downtown Charlevoix includes snowman building, carriage rides, bonfires, live music, two fireworks shows, & much more. Activities start at 1pm; event ends at 2am. visitcharlevoix.com/bridgedrop

--------------------

COUNTDOWN TO NOON: Activities including decorating the ball & a time capsule craft begin in the Great Lakes Room, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC at 10am, & the countdown of the ball drop commences at 11:59am.

Activities continue until 3pm. greatlakeskids.org

-------------------NYE AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN: Starts at 4pm, Crystal Mountain Resort, Thompsonville. Featuring Jungle Family Fun, music by DJ CDX, Teen DJ Dance Party, Torchlight Parade, Fireworks Over the Mountain & much more. crystalmountain.com

--------------------

CHERRYT COMEDY: Laugh in the New Year with Nate Armbruster & Mike Stanley at City Opera House, TC at 8:30pm. Tickets start at $10 & all proceeds benefit area non-profits, including the Salvation Army & Father Fred Foundation. cityoperahouse.org

-------------------NYE AT TREETOPS RESORT, GAYLORD: A family party will be held in the Oak Room featuring dancing to DJ music, pizza, a photo booth & more. The adult party in the convention center includes live music by CP2, late night snacks, fireworks & more.

8pm-1am. Info: treetops.com

-------------------ANNUAL PAJAMA PARTY: 7am-5pm, Downtown Elk Rapids. Enjoy bargains on River St. elkrapidschamber.org

--------------------

--

RESOLUTION 5K: 9am, Cadillac Area YMCA. 5K & Kids 1 Mile Fundraiser. cadillacareaymca.org

---

NYE AT CTAC, PETOSKEY: Enjoy art, music, dance & theater; performances & workshops; food; “Midnight at 9” Ball-drop on Division St. & more. Alcohol-free. For all ages.

, s Ras-

--------------------

5-9pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. $3 students, $7 adults. www.crookedtree.org

--------------------

NYE DINNER DANCE: 7pm – midnight, Corwith Township Hall, Vanderbilt. Featuring live music by the Northern Nites, dancing, food & more. Tickets: $7.50 or $15/couple; available at door.

-------------------FREE KIDS MOVIE NIGHT: 7:30-9pm, Aspen Room or Alpine Room, Treetops Resort, Gaylord. Featuring “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”. treetops.com

-------------------SNOWSHOE HIKE: Meet at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Empire at 1pm. www. facebook.com/sbdnl

jan 01

sunday

RESOLUTION RUN: 11am, The Little Fleet, TC. 5K run/ walk that benefits Traverse Health Clinic. resolutionruntc.com

!!EVERYTHING IN SALE THE STORE 20% OFF!! !! OPEN HOUSE AND !!

ROLLING HILLS ANTIQUES “Between the Holidays”

OPEN HOUSE & SALE!!

PLEASE COME, BROWSE, EAT AND DRINK WINE! FOOD! GOODIES!

W !F !G !

Fri. dec. 30 11am-7pm Saturday and Sunday, Dec.29 & 30, 11-6pm Also visitsus www.rollinghillsantiques.com atat: .d ec. 31 11am - 7pm

We specialize in Real Antique Art & Accessories ine Furniture, ood Original oodies We offer restoration, appraisals, delivery, layaway and cc use

In the Big, Historic, Dairy Barn 5085 Barney Rd., Traverse 49684 Just 2City Miles West of Downtown at phone: 5085947-1063 Barney Rd., Traverse City 49684 • 231.947.1063 Just 2 Miles West of Downtown: West Street, on FrontRight Streetonto Cedar Run (at the light), West on Front Right onto Cedar Run (at the light), Go ½Right Mile on andBarney Turn Right on Barney Rd. Top of the Rd. Hill on the Left Top of the Hill on the Left

storewide sale 20% oFF!

!!EVERYTHING IN THE STORE 20% OFF!!

Also visit us at: www.rollinghillsantiques.com

PLEASE COME, BROWSE, EAT AND DRINK We specialize in Real Antique Furniture, Original Art & Accessories We offer restoration, appraisals, delivery, layaway and cc use Also visit us at: www.rollinghillsantiques.com

helping hands

HARVEST FOOD & SUPPLY DRIVE: Bring donations to the Women’s Resource Center of Northern MI & Gold Mine Resale Shops in Petoskey or to agency offices in Cheboygan, Gaylord & Mancelona. Benefits domestic abuse survivors & their children who come to the Safe Home from various counties. Runs through Dec. 31. Visit wrcnm.org for a Safe Home needs list.

--------------------

MITTEN TREES: Donate new mittens, hats & scarves to the Mitten Trees at the TC Senior Center through Dec. 29 to help those less fortunate. 922-4911.

FINE DINING ON LAKE MICHIGAN

GLEN ARBOR

Open Wed - Sun at 5pm

231.334.2530 - glenarborblu.com

-------------------ANNUAL HOLIDAY MITTEN TREE: Donate new mittens, hats & scarves to Interlochen Public Library through Dec. 23.

231-276-6767.

-------------------THE GIVING TREE BENEFIT: Through Dec. 24, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey.

Choose an ornament on the tree to help children at the Safe Home. wrcnm.org

--------------------

BOOK DRIVE: Stop by Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor now through Dec. 17 & purchase a book for 20% off to be donated to children in need. cottagebooks.com

ongoing

FESTIVAL OF TRAINS: Through Dec. 31, Carnegie Building (CTAC), TC. Presented by the Northern MI Railroad Club, City of TC & Great Lakes Children’s Museum.

Admission, $5. For more info & hours visit: greatlakeskids.org/trains.

-------------------OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: No dues, fees, weigh-ins, or diets. Meeting Tues. at 12:15pm; Thurs. at 1:30pm; Fri. at 8am; & Sat. at 10:30am. Call Pat: 989-448-9024; Tom: 231-590-8800; or Genie: 231-271-1060.

-------------------ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - YOUNG PEOPLE’S MEETING: Fridays at 8pm, Grace Episcopal Church (basement), TC. www.district11-aa.org/

-------------------ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - OPEN SPEAKER MEETING: Saturdays at 8pm, Munson Medical Center (basement), TC. www.district11-aa.org/

-------------------COMPULSIVE EATERS ANONYMOUS HOW: Held every Thurs. from 5:30-6:30pm

Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 29

--------------------

IN WATER: A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION: Beth Price Photography. Through Dec. at SPACE, second floor, TC. All print sale profits benefit FLOW. bethpricephotography.com

--------------------

THROUGH THE WINDOW, ALL MEDIA: Through March, Three Pines Studio, Cross Village. threepinesstudio.com

at Friends Church, 206 S. Oak Street - at 5th Street, TC. traversecityCEAHOW.org

YOGA 1-2: With Kelly Stiglich 500-ERYT at GT Circuit, TC on Tuesdays at 5:30pm. $10 suggested donation. gtcircuit.org

SCHMIDT REALTORS

Welcome

CAMILLE CAMPBELL ASSOCIATE BROKER

Call Camille today! 231-944-9385 402 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49686 A Learning Studio

& Gallery

Looking for unique and beautiful gifts this season?

Shop Glass Artz Gallery!

We’ve got a colorful assortment of ornaments, glass, ceramics, paintings, mosaics, wind chimes, or give the gift of a glass class gift certificate.

Fri & Sat • 11am-7pm 441 E. Front Street 231-709-0667 dartzy@charter.net

ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS (ACA): 5:30-7pm, Thursdays in the basement of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, TC. For those who seek to address the residual effects of having been raised in dysfunctional household. adultchildren.org

--------------------

OM GENTLE YOGA: With Kelly Stiglich 500-ERYT at GT Circuit, TC on Saturdays at 10:30am. $5. gtcircuit.org

--------------------

MCLAREN NORTHERN MI DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP: Meets the second Mon. of each month from 7-8pm at the John & Marnie Demmer Wellness Pavilion & Dialysis Center, Petoskey. northernhealth.org/wellness

-------------------BELLAIRE FARMERS MARKET: Held inside the Community Center, Bellaire on Fridays: Dec. 16 & 23 from 9am-1pm.

-------------------INDOOR FARMERS MARKET, THE VILLAGE AT GT COMMONS, TC: Held in The Mercato on Saturdays through April 29 from 10am-2pm. thevillagetc.com

-------------------CTAC ARTISANS & FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, 10am-1pm, Bidwell Plaza during good weather, or Carnegie Building, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. crookedtree.org

“JUST FOR US” BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP: First Tues. of every month from 6:30-8:30pm at the McLaren Northern MI John & Marnie Demmer Wellness Pavilion & Dialysis Center, Petoskey. 800-248-6777.

-------------------SONG OF THE MORNING, VANDERBILT: Free yoga classes, Tues. – Fri., 7:308:30am. songofthemorning.org

-------------------TRAVERSE BAY BLUES SOCIETY JAM SESSION: Held the third Thurs. of every month from 7-10pm at InsideOut Gallery, TC. traversebayblues.com

-------------------PETOSKEY FILM THEATER: Showing international, indie, art house & documentary films on Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays.

Carnegie Building, 451 E. Mitchell St., next to Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. Donations welcome.For schedule find ‘Petoskey Film Theater’ on Facebook. 231-758-3108.

ART 30 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

--------------------

“MAKING ART TOGETHER”: The Northport Arts Association hosts this open studio every Thurs. from 10am-1pm in the Village Arts Building, Northport. northportartsforall.com

ADOPTION SATURDAYS: Pets Naturally, TC hosts one dog & one cat from the Cherryland Humane Society on Saturdays from 11am-2pm. www.petsnaturallytc.com

--------------------

231.947.5091 plamondons.com

NORTHPORT CAR FERRY “MANISTIQUE” & TRAIN FESTIVAL: This exhibit runs through Dec. 18 at the GT Lighthouse Museum, Leelanau State Park, Northport. $4 adults, $2 children 6-18, free for 5 & under. 231-386-7195.

--------------------

BOXING FOR PARKINSON’S: Parkinson’s Network North meets at 10am every Mon. at Fit For You, TC for these free sessions. gtaparkinsonsgroup.org

144 E. Front St. Traverse City

--------------------

PROTECTION: This Woodland Indian screenprint by Jackson Beardy is installed on the east wall of Cuppa Joe, 1060 E. Front St., TC. dennosmuseum.org

DEBTORS ANONYMOUS: 12 Step Meeting.

Held on Tuesdays from 7-8pm at Munson Community Health Center, east door, Room G, TC. For info, email: tcdajp34@gmail.com

--------------------

Crow, $199.95 $195.00 Black

HOLIDAY GIFT MARKET: Through Dec. 18, Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan.

Featuring over 40 vendors. Admission by donation. jordanriverarts.com

--------------------

BLISSFEST JAM SESSIONS: Every Sun., 1-4pm, Red Sky Stage, Petoskey. Bring your instruments or just sing along or listen. www.redskystage.com.

Crow, $199.95 $195.00 Cane

--------------------

MIDWEST TWILIGHT: This painting by Glenn Wolff has been installed on the south wall of the Omelette Shoppe, Cass St., TC. dennosmuseum.org

--------------------

Crow, $195.00 $199.95 Java

--------------------

WINTER WONDERS SHOW & SALE: Through Dec. 23 at Gaylord Area Council for the Arts, Downtown Gaylord. gaylordarts.org

---------------------------------------------------------PLEIN AIR PAINTING EXHIBIT: Presented by the Plein Air Painters of Northwest MI at City Opera House, TC. Runs through Dec. cityoperahouse.org

--------------------

HIGHER ART GALLERY, TC: - Call for Jewelers: For a market event: Valentines Day Jewelry show on Feb. 5.

Call 231-252-4616 or email higherartgallery@gmail.com for info.- Call for Artists: 1st Mark Makers Competition: Calling all acrylic painters to battle it out in front of a supportive live audience in 3 rounds of friendly painting competition. We are looking for 6 artists . DEADLINE to apply is January 10. The event is to be held at Higher Art Gallery, TC on January 27. For details on how to apply please visit: higherartgallery.com - Open Mic Night to Begin in February!: Seeking music, storytelling, poetry, spoken word, performance art, magic & more. Submit your idea to be a part of it. Please submit your info & performance medium to: higherartgallery@gmail.com

-------------------OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT: - Holiday Market: Held in the Fisher classroom through Dec. 23. Featuring over 100 artists of all media.

- Members Exhibit: Runs through Dec. 30. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

--------------------

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY: - Back to School: CTAC Teachers’ Exhibition: Runs through Jan. 7 in the Atrium Gallery.

- “Painters Reunite”: Charlevoix Circle of Arts, Jordan River Arts Council, & the Boyne Arts Collective will join together with Crooked Tree Arts Center’s Kitchen Painters for this holiday exhibit, showcasing their work. Runs through Jan. 6 (except Dec. 23 (after 1pm) – Jan. 2) in the Bonfield & Gilbert Galleries. crookedtree.org

-------------------DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: - Permanence & Impermanence: Iceland – a Land of Temporal Contrasts. By Jean Larson. Runs through Dec. 31.

- Grandmother Power: A Global Phenomenon: The works of renowned photographer Paola Gianturco. Runs through Dec. 31. dennosmuseum.org

FOURSCORE

DOWNTOWN

TRAVERSE CITY

by kristi kates

MONDAY & FRIDAY 1 • 4 PM TUESDAY 1 • 4 • 9:30 PM WEDNESDAY 2:30 • 8:45 PM THURSDAY 1 • 4 • 10 PM

Pentatonix – “A Pentatonix Christmas” – RCA

Pentatonix’s brand of a cappella pop is not just distinctive, but also remarkably successful, having sent the quintet from “The Sing-Off” and YouTube to the big time. The group’s second full-length holiday set perfectly captures a unique balance of confident vocal ability and a penchant for twisting tracks around to its own audio aesthetic, which includes adding heavy beatboxing and an island feel to the traditional carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” There’s also a catchy original, “Christmas Sing-Along,” and PTX’s take on Kanye West’s “Coldest Winter,” which becomes more festive than you might expect.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••

Joy Month at the State!

Holiday Specials December 16-31

Don't just give a Gift...

GIVE A NIGHT OUT! Movie/Dinner Package $20 per person (tax included). available at

Petoskey, Mt. Pleasant and two locations in Traverse City.

See full holiday schedule: stateandbijou.org DOWNTOWN

Various Artists – “NOW! That’s What I Call Merry Christmas” – NOW Famed for its never-ending collections of pop hits that surface with remarkable frequency, the “NOW! That’s What I Call Music” album series started in 1998, with the most recent being this November’s No. 60, so it’s safe to say that “NOW!” has a handle on putting together compilation albums. This latest may seem a bit generic, but it does collect many of your favas in one place, so it’s an easy no-brainer for any holiday gathering, with tunes including Wham’s modern ’80s classic “Last Christmas,” Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” and Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe.”

IN CLINCH PARK

SUNDAY 12n* • 3 • 6* • 9 PM MONDAY 3 • 6:30* • 9:30 PM TUE & THU 12:45 • 3:45* • 6:45 • 9:45* PM WEDNESDAY 12:45* • 3:45 • 6:45* 9:45 PM FRIDAY 1:30* • 4:30 • 7:30* • 10:30 PM *Presented In Dolby Digital (no 3D surcharge)

231-947-4800

Sarah McLachlan – “Wonderland” – Verve

McLachlan’s previous Christmas album, “Wintersong,” featured songs by Joni Mitchell and John Lennon as well as a darker, more melancholy ambiance. This is pretty much the polar opposite of that effort, with McLachlan’s delicate vocals and prettier instrumental arrangements being more suited to the cheerful, lighter, more traditional side of the holidays. Highlights include her take on the unusual old Canadian hymn “Huron Carol” as well as her graceful version of “Silver Bells”; a special Barnes & Noble edition includes two bonus tracks, “Amazing Grace” and “Snow.”

Trans-Siberian Orchestra – “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” – Rhino/Atlantic

And now for something completely different, we bring you TransSiberian Orchestra’s contribution to the holidays, which probably leans far more toward rock-opera than Santa can handle. These are themed holiday tracks from the band’s long-time PBS extravaganza of the same name, and like much of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, this is something of an acquired listen, best suited to those who appreciate vintage prog-rock ’70s acts like Yes or Emerson Lake and Palmer. It’s well-performed music, but the melodrama may not quite be what you’re after at Christmastime.

Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 31

DETROIT’S MOTOWN MUSEUM EXPANDS The Motown Museum is an icon of Detroit’s music scene and a major tourist attraction, with its “Hitsville U.S.A.” facade and memorabilia from the golden age of the Motor City’s record industry. And now it’s about to get even groovier with a $50 million expansion that will create space for a performance theater, interactive exhibits and new recording studios, all of which will be designed and built around the existing museum. Berry Gordy, who launched Motown Records in 1959, said in a news release that he is “proud and humbled to know that the inclusive legacy of Motown, and the most talented people who are so near and dear to my heart, will have their stories told in this new museum.” For more, visit motownmuseum.org.

Foo Fighters have been confirmed to headline not one, but two festivals next summer, the Nos Alive fest in Portugal and Open’er Festival, where they’ll be joining Radiohead on the main stage as well as additional performers LCD Soundsystem, Foals, Bastille and the Last Shadow Puppets. These festival appearances (especially Open’er, which takes place the week after the Glastonbury Festival) are giving new weight to the rumor that the Foos will also be playing Glastonbury next summer, but time will tell.

MODERN

ROCK

BY KRISTI KATES

In other festival news, for those of you heading overseas this summer, you’ll want to check out Croatia’s massive INMusic Festival June 19-21; not only will that festival welcome Grammy-winning Canadian outfit Arcade Fire for one of its comeback gigs, but the lineup will also include performances from Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys, Placebo, Florence and the Machine, PJ Harvey, Morrissey and Moby.

Bruno Mars is prepping to hit the road in a big way in 2017, with his massive 24K Magic World Tour, which will kick off July 15 in Las Vegas. Tickets are already on sale for the trek via Live Nation and Ticketmaster, and they’re also already in high demand since this will be Mars’ first full-length tour since his Moonshine Jungle outing in 2013, during which he performed in both Grand Rapids and Detroit. If you want to catch him live in Michigan this time around, you’ll only have one shot at it: his show at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Aug. 12 will be his only Michigan date, so you’d better snag those tickets now.

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK A new rockumentary premiered last week at the Token Lounge in Detroit, and was filmed in and around the Motor City.

“Nothin’ But Music” looks behind the scenes at how musicians dedicate their lives to a music career, with appearances from How-

ard Glazer, Benny “Jet” Speer, Eliza Neals and garage icon Question Mark; it’s just starting to make its way out to theaters, and you can keep an eye on everything behind the production at the film’s official blog, www.vision561.com/apps/blog.

MichiBUZZ PJ Harvey, whose most recent album is her Grammy-nominated “The Hope Six Demolition Project,” has just announced her most extensive North American tour in over 10 years, which will include a stop at the Royal Oak Music Theater on April 24; tickets are on sale now for that show. … Speaking of the Grammys, a couple of Detroiters also snagged nominations for the 2017 awards: Iggy Pop for his “Post Pop Depression” album, and Jack White for his song “City Light” and for his collaboration with Beyonce on her “Lemonade” album. … Detroit band Danny and the Darleans

have finally released a sophomore album, “Bug Out,” three years after their debut set. … Grand Rapids jam band Ultraviolet Hippopotamus has just announced plans to head into the recording studio early in 2017 to record a long-awaited new album. … Treat yourself to some holiday sounds when the Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs in concert at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Dec. 22 and at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Dec. 30.

ROCK TRIP The biggest trip on our minds this week is Santa’s. Keep an eye on the sky for the big guy in the sleigh, and best wishes to you for a rockin’ holiday from Modern Rock.

Comments, questions, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com.

Crazy Family Fun!

rides | slides | Ver tical Drops | arcade | surf simulator

Alwa

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8

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boyne mountain resort 855.420.8048 | avalanchebay.com

Junior Pricing | Day Passes online 32 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

michigan’s

Largest

indoor Waterpark

nitelife

dec 17 - jan 1 edited by jamie kauffold

Send Nitelife to: events@traverseticker.com

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee

• 522 - MANISTEE Tues. -- Karaoke Thurs., Fri., Sat. -- DJ • BUCKLEY BAR - BUCKLEY Fri. -- DJ Karaoke/Sounds - Duane & Janet • CADILLAC SANDS RESORT Porthole Pub & Eatery: Thurs. -- Live music

SandBar Niteclub: Fri. & Sat. -- Phattrax DJs Fri. -- Karaoke/line dancing, 8:30 Sat. -- Dance videos, 8:30 • COYOTE CROSSING - HOXEYVILLE Thurs. -- Open Mic Sat. -- Live Music • DOUGLAS VALLEY WINERY MANISTEE

Sun. -- Live music, 1:30-4:30pm • HI-WAY INN - MANISTEE Wild Weds. -- Karaoke Fri.-Sat. -- Karaoke/Dance • LOST PINES LODGE HARRIETTA Sat. -- Karaoke, dance videos

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska • 7 MONKS TAPROOM - TC 12/28 -- Levi Britton, 7:30-10:30 • ACOUSTIC TAP ROOM - TC 12/23 -- Andre Villoch, 7-9 12/30 -- Andre Villoch, 7-9 Tues. -- Open & un-mic'd w/ Ben Johnson, 7-9 • BUD'S - INTERLOCHEN Thurs. -- Jim Hawley, 5-8 • FANTASY'S - GRAWN Adult Entertainment w/ DJ • GT RESORT & SPA - ACME Lobby: 12/16-17 -- Blake Elliott, 7-11 12/23 -- Blake Elliott, 7-11 12/30 -- Blake Elliott, 7-11 Aerie: 12/31 -- John Pomeroy, 7-11 • HAYLOFT INN - TC Thurs. -- Open mic night by Roundup Radio Show, 8 Fri. - Sat. thru Dec. -- Two Old Broads & 3 Buddies • HORIZON BOOKS - TC 12/30 -- Kat Eldred, 8:30-10:30 • LEFT FOOT CHARLEY - TC 12/16 -- May Erlewine, 6-9 Mon. -- Open mic w/ Blake Elliott, 6-9 • LITTLE BOHEMIA - TC 12/17 -- Fresh Fossils, 8-11 Tues. -- TC Celtic, 7-9 • NOLAN'S CIGAR BAR - TC 12/27 -- Windy Ridge Trio, 9-11 12/28 -- Blues Boy Stanton, 9-11 12/29 -- The True Falsettos, 9-12 12/30 -- G-Snacks, 9-12 • NORTH PEAK - TC Kilkenny's, 9:30-1:30: 12/16-17 -- Phunk Shway 12/23 -- Savage Soul Mon. -- Michigan Team Trivia, 7-9; Toxic Trivia, 9-11 Tues. -- Levi Britton, 8-12 Weds. -- The Pocket, 8-12 Thurs. -- 2 Bays DJs, 9:30-1:30

Sun. -- Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 7-9 • PARK PLACE HOTEL - TC Beacon Lounge: Mon. -- Levi Britton, 8:30-11:30 Thurs. - Sat. -- Tom Kaufmann, 8:30-11:30 • PARKSHORE LOUNGE - TC Fri. - Sat. -- DJ • RARE BIRD BREWPUB - TC 12/17 -- Very Rare-y Christmas Party w/ AOK, 9 12/19 -- Open Mic/Artist Night, 7:30-11:30 12/21 -- Brady Corcoran, 8:30 12/26 -- Open Mic/Artist Night, 7:30-11:30 Tues. -- Trivia night, 7 • SAIL INN - TC Thurs. & Sat. -- Phattrax DJs, karaoke, dance videos • SIDE TRAXX - TC Weds. -- Impaired Karaoke, 10 Fri.-Sat. -- DJ/VJ Mike King • STREETERS - TC Ground Zero: 12/17 -- Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys w/ Brushville & Matt Mason, 8 12/31 -- The Journey Tribute wsg Jesse Jefferson, 9 The Reserved Ultra Lounge: 12/31 -- DJ Ricky T w/ Z93, 8 • STUDIO ANATOMY - TC 12/17 -- Comedy Night, 9 • TAPROOT CIDER HOUSE - TC 12/17 -- Christopher Dark, 7-9 12/18 -- Kids Open Mic, 3 12/21 -- Open mic w/ E Minor, 7-10 12/23 -- Rob Coonrod, 7-9 12/24 -- Christopher Dark, 7-9 12/25 -- Kids Open Mic, 3 Tues. -- Turbo Pup, 7-9 Thurs. -- G-Snacks, 7-9

Fri. -- Rob Coonrod, 7-9 Sat. -- Chris Dark, 7-9 • THE LITTLE FLEET - TC 12/17 -- 3rd Annual Holiday Market w/ DJ spinning vinyl, 1-6 12/18 -- The Ragbirds Holiday Concert, 12:30 • THE OL' SOUL - KALKASKA Weds. -- David Lawston, 8-12 • THE PARLOR - TC 12/20 -- Clint Weaner, 7:30-10:30 • THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO. - TC 12/23 -- Eric Engblade Quartet, 8-11 12/31 -- Broom Closet Boys, 8-12 Mon. -- Rotten Cherries Comedy Open Mic, 8-9:30 Weds. -- WBC Jazz Society Jam, 6-10 • TRATTORIA STELLA - TC Tues. -- Ron Getz, 6-9 • TRAVERSE CITY WHISKEY CO. - TC 12/22 -- Paul Livingston, 6-8 • UNION STREET STATION - TC 12/19 -- Jukebox 12/20 -- Open mic w/ Chris Sterr 12/21 -- 2 Bays DJs 12/22 -- Oh Brother Big Sister 12/23 -- Biomassive 12/26 -- Jukebox 12/27 -- Open mic w/ Chris Sterr 12/28 -- DJ DomiNate 12/29 -- DJ Dante 12/30 -- DJ Fasel 12/31 -- Brotha James, Turbo Pup & Barbarossa Brothers • WEST BAY BEACH RESORT - TC Fri. -- Live Blues, 7-9:30 View: 12/31 -- DJ Motaz, 8 Thurs. -- Jazz w/ Jeff Haas Trio & Laurie Sears, 7-9:30

Antrim & Charlevoix • BC TAPROOM -- BC 12/17 -- Sean Bielby, 8-11 12/31 -- Adam & the Cabana Boys • BRIDGE STREET TAP ROOM - CHARLEVOIX 12/17 -- Lee & Jake, 8-11 12/18 -- Pete Kehoe, 6-9 • CELLAR 152 - ELK RAPIDS 12/23 -- Blair Miller, 7:309:30 • JORDAN INN - EAST JORDAN Tues. -- Open Mic w/ Cal Mantis, 7-11 Fri. & Sat. -- Live Music • MURRAY'S BAR & GRILL - EAST JORDAN

Fri. & Sat. -- Live Music • QUAY RESTAURANT & TERRACE BAR CHARLEVOIX Weds. -- Live jazz, 7-10 • RED MESA GRILL - BOYNE CITY 12/20 -- Soul Patch Solo by Wink, 6-9 12/27 -- Blake Elliott & The Robinson Affair, 6-9 • SHANTY CREEK RESORTS - BELLAIRE Ivan's 12/31 -- Jedi Mind Trip, 9 • SHORT'S BREWING CO. - BELLAIRE 12/17 -- The Whiskey Charmers, 8:30-11

12/23 -- Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, 9 12/26 -- The Pistil Whips, 8-10:30 12/27 -- Seth Bernard, 8:3011 12/28 -- Luke Winslow-King, 8:30-11 12/29 -- Public Access Trio, 8:30-11:30 12/30 -- The Go Rounds & Vox Vidorra, 9 12/31 -- 3 Hearted, 9-12 • VASQUEZ' HACIENDA ELK RAPIDS Acoustic Tues. Open Jam, 6-9 Sat. -- Live music, 7-10

Sing along to all the Journey hits you remember on New Year's Eve at Ground Zero, Streeters, TC at 9pm with TC's own The Journey Tribute. This five man group includes frontman Jim Adkins, aka "Ninja Dave," who has performed on America's Got Talent. Joining The Journey Tribute will be Jesse Jefferson. Tickets, $10. streetersonline.com

Leelanau & Benzie • BELLA FORTUNA NORTH - L.L. Fri.-Sat. -- Bocce e DeRoche, 7-10 • BLACK STAR FARMS - SB Third Weds. of ea. mo. -- Jazz Café w/ Mike Davis & Steve Stargardt, 7-9 • CABBAGE SHED - ELBERTA 12/31 -- Live band Thurs. -- Open mic, 8 • DICK'S POUR HOUSE - L.L. Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-2 • JODI'S TANGLED ANTLER BEULAH Fri. -- Karaoke, 9-1 • LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 6:30: 12/20 -- Pat Niemisto & Friends Christmas, 6:30 12/27 -- Nick & J, 6:30 • LAUGHING HORSE -

THOMPSONVILLE Thurs. -- Karaoke, 9 • LEELANAU SANDS CASINO PESHAWBESTOWN Tues. -- Polka Party, noon-4pm • LUMBERJACK'S BAR & GRILL - HONOR Thurs., Fri., Sat. -- Phattrax DJs, karaoke, dance videos • MARTHA'S LEELANAU TABLE SB Weds. -- The Windy Ridge Boys, 6-9 Sun. -- The Hot Biscuits, 6-9 • ROADHOUSE - BENZONIA Weds. -- Jake Frysinger, 5-8 • ST. AMBROSE CELLARS BEULAH 12/17 -- Jen Sygit - Holiday Soiree, 6 12/23 -- Dede Alder, 6

12/24 -- Dede Alder, 2 12/30 -- Gaje Turja, 6 Thurs. -- Open mic night, 6-8 • STORMCLOUD BREWING CO. - FRANKFORT 12/17 -- Barbarossa Brothers, 8-10 12/22 -- Blake Elliott & The Robinson Affair, 8-10 12/27 -- Jake Frysinger, 8-10 12/28 -- Evan Burgess, 8-10 12/29 -- Nathan Kalish, 8-10 12/30 -- Chloe & Olivia Kimes, 8-10 12/31 -- Dot Org, 9-12 • WESTERN AVE. GRILL - GLEN ARBOR Fri. -- Open Mic Sat. -- Karaoke

Emmet & Cheboygan • BARREL BACK RESTAURANT WALLOON LAKE VILLAGE Weds. -- Michelle Chenard, 5-8 • BEARDS BREWERY - PETOSKEY Weds. -- "Beards on Wax" (vinyl only night spun by DJ J2xtrubl), 8-11 • CAFE SANTE - BOYNE CITY 12/17 -- Honesty Duo, 8-11 12/22 -- Younce Guitar Duo, 6-9 12/23 -- Chris Calleja, 8-11 12/29 -- Sean Bielby & Patrick Ryan, 7-10 12/30 -- Pistil Whips, 8-11 12/31 -- The Shifties, 8-12 Mon. -- Nathan Bates, 6-9 • CITY PARK GRILL - PETOSKEY 12/17 -- 2nd Annual Star Wars Party w/ The Marsupials, 10 12/20 -- Sean Bielby, 9 12/23 -- Funky Reggae Ugly Sweater Christmas Party w/ DJ Franck, 10 12/27 -- Duffy King, 9 12/28 -- Jeff Haas Quartet w/ Don Julin, 10 12/29 -- Biomassive, 10 12/30 -- The Sleeping Gypsies, 10 12/31 -- Tell Yo Mama, 9

• DIXIE SALOON - MACKINAW CITY Thurs. -- Gene Perry, 9-1 Fri. & Sat. -- DJ • KNOT JUST A BAR - BAY HARBOR Fri. -- Chris Martin, 7-10 • LEO'S NEIGHBORHOOD TAVERN 12/17 -- DJ Psycho - Land of Misfit Birthdays Party, 10 12/23 -- Galactic Sherpas - Night the Grinch Gave a Funk, 10 12/27 -- Michigan Rattlers wsg, 10 12/29 -- DJ Tim Nixon's Throwback Dance Mania!, 9-12 12/31 -- Bowie & Prince Silent Masquerade, 10-2 Weds. -- Karaoke Night w/ Michael Williford, 10-1 Sun. -- S.I.N. w/ DJ Johnnie Walker, 9-1 • MOUNTAINSIDE GRILL - BOYNE CITY Fri. -- Ronnie Hernandez, 6-9 • MUSTANG WENDY'S - HARBOR SPRINGS 12/23 -- LGBTQ Night - Naughty or Nice? w/ Nelson Ostrom, 7-10, then

house music • OASIS TAVERN - KEWADIN Thurs. -- Bad Medicine, DJ Jesse James • ODAWA CASINO - PETOSKEY 12/17 -- Loud Mouth Soup, 8 12/23 -- Pete Kehoe, 8 12/30 -- Michelle Chenard, 8 • STAFFORD'S PERRY HOTEL - PETOSKEY Noggin Room: 12/17 -- Jake Allen 12/21 -- Pete Kehoe 12/22 -- Michelle Chenard 12/23 -- Pistil Whips 12/26 -- Younce Guitar Duo 12/27 -- Michelle Chenard 12/28-29 -- Mike Struwin 12/30 -- The Ledgerman 12/31 -- A Brighter Bloom • STAFFORD'S PIER RESTAURANT HS Pointer Room: Thurs. - Sat. -- Carol Parker on piano

Otsego, Crawford & Central • ALPINE TAVERN - GAYLORD 12/17 -- Mike Ridley, 7-10 •BENNETHUMS - GAYLORD 12/27 -- Randy Reszka • DEAD BEAR BREWING CO. GRAYLING 12/17 -- Lou Thumser 12/23 -- Reese Janisse 12/30 -- Oh Brother Big Sister 12/31 -- Duffy King

• MAIN STREET MARKET - GAYLORD 12/17 -- Adam Hoppe 12/22 -- Open mic w/ Richie V 12/23 -- Jake Thomas 12/29 -- Open mic w/ Jacob Thomas 12/30-31 -- Acoustic Bonzo • TIMOTHY'S PUB - GAYLORD Fri.-Sat. -- Video DJ w/Larry Reichert Ent.

• TREETOPS RESORT - GAYLORD Hunter's Grille: 12/26-29 -- Acoustic Bonzo, 9-12 12/30 -- CP2 Oak Room, Main Lodge: 12/31 -- The Family Party w/ DJ, 812:30 Treetops Convention Center: 12/31 -- New Year's Bash w/ CP2, 9-1

Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 33

The reel

by meg weichman

‘moonlight’

W

hereas some filmmakers would seem to have to toil to achieve the emotional impact and feeling of “Moonlight,” for director Barry Jenkins it seems to have emerged fully formed out of a delirious, poetic dream.

He has structured his film in episodic sections that chronicle a man at three different points in his life (played by three different, yet completely cohesive actors). And the result is an unforgettably brilliant and timelessly beautiful comingof-age story about a gay, African-American boy growing up with his drug-addicted mother in 1980s Miami. There’s not much action to speak of, but even the smallest moments and gestures — dancing in gym class, lighting a cigarette for his mother, asking a simple question — carry an unbearable weight of significance. In one second it ravishes you with its artistry and then turns around and makes rubble of your heart.

There’s next to no violence, and hardly any sex, but I’d be hard-pressed to think of a film that destroys or aches more.

There’s no way to sugar coat it, this is a challenging work. It will leave you gutted and exhausted, but also renewed and restored. This is the movie you didn’t know you were waiting for. And out of its rigorous specificity comes a universal humanity and piercing familiarity about our most basic needs: for connection, for touch, for love.

‘OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY’ Sure, the title alone suggests “Office Christmas Party” was cooked up in a Hollywood high-concept lab (it’s “The Hangover” meets “Office Space”), where the title came first, casting came second, and script came third. And yes, that there are six credited writers (three for story, three for screenplay) does raise some concerns.

But then they went and packaged it with so many bright, shiny stars (of both the movie and comedy variety), and I was suddenly drawn in by the thought that, at the very least, “Office Christmas Party” would be interesting thanks to all the genuinely solid comedic talents involved.

But as I’ve learned in life and at the movies, you shouldn’t judge a gift by its wrapping, and inside “Office Christmas Party” was nothing but a stale and dull lump of coal.

The film’s greatest fault is not that it’s bad — it’s actually fairly watchable (this isn’t some patently offensively waste of time like other “outrageous” R-rated comedies). It’s just that for a film built upon the promise of unfettered bacchanalian debauchery, it doesn’t rage all that hard. No, it plays it safe with guarded jokes — like the filmmakers were preemptively editing themselves for the TV version — that make for an uninspired, middle-of-the-road disappointment.

And its greatest feat is that it could render so many hilarious people so forgettable. They are so bland that I struggled to remember any of the film’s jokes while writing this except for one about a college major in Canadian TV with a focus in Drake (and to be clear, that’s only because I am a “Degrassi” super fan).

The office in question here is the Chicago branch of Zenotek, some vaguely techy tech company doing some vaguely techy stuff.

The son of the company’s founder runs the Chicago offices, a well-intentioned manchild named Clay (played by the absolutelybrilliant-on-“Silicon Valley” T.J. Miller).

His employees are prepping for that evening’s nondenominational holiday mixer at which they will receive their bonuses. But then like a modern-day Scrooge, Clay’s sister and Zenotek’s interim CEO Carol (Jennifer Aniston) swoops into town to crush their yuletide dreams with the announcement that the branch is in trouble, the party is

canceled, no one will receive bonuses, and 40 percent of the staff will be let go.

It’s do or die time at Zenotek, and the only hope is landing a new client (“The People vs. O.J. Simpson’s” Courtney B. Vance). Thankfully the inept Clay has a solid team of supporters including his chief technical officer (Jason Bateman, doing his boring straight man thing) and tech genius Tracey (Olivia Munn).

But even with them by his side, they botch the meeting, and their Hail Mary plan is to throw the old-school businessman an epic office Christmas party in order to sway his opinion.

So it’s party time, and it’s all going well enough until a blast of cocaine via the party’s snow machine takes things to another level.

But that level? Ultimately it’s predictable, rote, and filled with tedious sitcom tropes.

OMG they’re so cray cray they’re copying butts on the Xerox. But this is 2016, so they’ve added a 3-D printer! So relevant! So hip! So lame!

Where does it go from here? Of course there’s the expected family sentimentality (’tis the season), but if I told you the third act also involved the launching of the most revolutionary, world-changing technological development of this millennia, would you believe me? Cause it does, and it’s as ridiculous as it sounds.

As far as the central characters go, only Kate McKinnon’s parrot-loving, minivandriving, multidenominational sweaterwearing wacky HR eccentric Mary leaves an impression (“22 Jump Street’s” Jillian Bell as a naughty-and-nice pimp, and “The Mindy Project’s” Fortune Feimster as a clueless Uber driver do their scene-stealing best in the realm of the bit players). But even the great McKinnon underwhelms, and you’ll only laugh dutifully out of habit, just like you would at your co-worker’s jokes at your real office Christmas party.

But remember, this isn’t your office Christmas party, and you’re under no obligation to go. So the only reply you need to give to an invitation to see this movie is your regrets.

Meg Weichman is a perma-intern at the Traverse City Film Festival and a trained film archivist.

34 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

‘moana’

“M

oana,” hits a complete sweet spot. It takes the best of the late ’80s/early ’90s Disney renaissance – Broadway melodies, action set pieces, plucky heroines – and melds it with progressive and rich storytelling to create a true gem of a film. With dazzling animation, spoton vocal performances, a witty and poignant script, and catchy music by Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton” fame, it’s everything one could hope for in an animated movie.

Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin”) have made a completely transportive film based on Polynesian myth that tells the beautifully resonant story of Moana, a young girl preparing to assume her role as the leader of her people. But even though she’s the daughter of the chief, she’s definitely not a “princess.” There’s a darkness threating Moana’s island, so when destiny calls, she sets sail and embarks on the adventure of the lifetime: learn the wayfaring ways of her ancestors to restore the heart of the goddess of creation. First though, Moana has to find the swaggering, narcissistic demigod who stole the heart in the first place, Maui (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson). Moana and Maui then begrudgingly team up to hilarious and heartfelt effect. Without even a hint of romance and a body that is proportioned like an actual human girl, “Moana” delivers all sorts of feminist feels.

Though it will be merchandised to the hilt and fall into the pervasive Disney princess machine, what kids will really take home is its earnest message of finding your way and never giving up. So call it terrific, call it exhilarating, just don’t call it a princess movie.

‘Fantastic beasts and where to find them’

“F

antastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” isn’t just a continuation of the “Harry Potter” cash cow for Warner Bros. et al., it’s also a continued opportunity to grow with these wonderful stories and this world that has provided so much joy throughout people’s lives. And for both Potterheads and neophytes alike, the resultant film is an enchanting, spirited, inventive and sweet fantasy adventure that, yes, most definitely casts a spell over audiences. It’s both familiar and fresh — an extremely savvy franchise expanding move that is the rare kind of blockbuster entertainment that dares to be restrained on the special effects, have an honest-to-God story, and even a little subtext. On the surface it’s an effervescent family film, but there’s also a simmering sense of darkness that speaks to very adult fears and concerns — yet another example of how the Potterverse has so superbly expanded, grown and matured with its audience. It follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a magical naturalist of sorts. He’s traveled the world researching and caring for magical creatures in an effort to protect them and bring understanding with his latest adventure landing him in Prohibition-era New York. The story is quite dense, a little too long, and heavy on the exposition. But thankfully “Potter” mainstay David Yates is at the helm. This is a world he is so comfortable in that he translates it to a new time and place beautifully. And although J.K. Rowling’s original script is no doubt overstuffed, you can’t help but get the sense she is leaving crumbs that will pay off in a big way down the line for the planned five-film franchise.

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Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 35

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36 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

the ADViCE GOddESS Rump For Joy

Q

: I am a curvy girl with a big butt. I hate it.

I have a small waist, and it makes my butt look even bigger. I don’t care that the Kardashians have made big butts cool. I’d like to lose weight in that area. However, my boyfriend LOVES my butt and told me there’s research that says girls with bigger butts are smarter and healthier. Is that true? That can’t be true.

— Tushy Galore

A

: Welcome to the science-inspired catcall: “Woooo, girl…you look like a nuclear physicist in them hot pants!”

Yes, there seems to be a cognitive edge in being a woman with a big caboose — provided you have a low “waist-to-hip ratio.” That’s professor-speak for women who have small waists relative to their hips — an “hourglass figure” like yours, as opposed to a body that’s more No. 2 pencil-esque or beerguttylicious.

Epidemiologist William Lassek and anthropologist Steven Gaulin find that being voluptuous in the way you are is associated with both being a bit smarter and having smarter children. To understand why starts with understanding “parent-offspring conflict,” evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers’ term for how it’s in each child’s genetic interest to suck as much in the way of resources out of their parent as they can.

This battle for resources starts early, which is to say a fetus is a little hog. It hoovers up its share of nutrients and then may go after some of its mother’s share, too — not so much that it kills her but maybe, “Hey, Ma, enjoy the gestational diabetes!”

Lassek and Gaulin note that this competition for resources is especially rough on teen mommies, whose own brains are still developing.

Both the teen mother-to-be and her child are prone to having their cognitive development “impaired” — irreversibly diminished from what it could be -- when she’s forced to compete for a limited supply of nutrients with the fastgrowing fetusmonster.

However, Lassek and Gaulin find that women with bodies like yours seem to be cushioned — or, you could say, “seat-cushioned” — against this cognitive impairment, apparently because the butt and hip area serves as a supplemental food storage locker for the developing fetus.

There’s a special kind of fat that gets deposited in this area -- gluteofemoral fat.

This booty fat is different from and healthier than belly fat. It’s loaded with omega-3 fatty acids — especially DHA, docosahexaenoic acid

adviceamy@aol.com advicegoddess.com

— which we can only get from things we ingest, like seafood, walnuts, cooked spinach, and krill oil supplements. DHA is essential for day-today cognitive functioning in all people. And, Gaulin emphasized to me, it’s “the most important brain building resource” for little fetus people. He and Lassek controlled for things like parents’ income and education and the number of dollars spent per student and found mothers’ higher DHA to be the strongest predictor of kids scoring significantly higher on tests in math, reading, and science.

You’re packing more DHA than a woman who carries her fat Santa-style, but any woman can increase her DHA through diet, especially by eating fish. As for your desire to shave off some of Mount Buttmore, bad news: Gluteofemoral fat is extremely resistant to weight loss (as that basically would amount to throwing away some of your brain’s lunch).

But to lose weight overall -- while feeding your brain and protecting it from cognitive decline — consider this from Lassek and Gaulin’s book, “Why Women Need Fat”: “The single dietary factor most strongly related to women’s weight gain was the amount of omega-6 linoleic acid in their diet.”

A major source of omega-6 is factory Frankenstein oils — polyunsaturated, heat-processed seed oils like soybean, sunflower, corn, and canola. (Extra-virgin olive oil is healthy — an omega-3 source.) And, surprise! Eating fish cooked in these omega-6-packed Franken-oils makes us “unlikely to retain the valuable omega-3 present in the fish.”

Getting back to your back end, it seems you owe it an apology. Maybe you were swayed in what you find attractive by the cadaverishly thin women that gay male designers send out to faint on the catwalk. Consider that you may be confusing body weight and booty shape in how self-conscious you feel about your behindquarters.

Now, whether men prefer heavier or slimmer women varies by culture. However, the late evolutionary psychologist Devendra Singh found that men across cultures overwhelmingly are hotter for the smarter-baby-producing hourglass bod that you have — though without any conscious understanding of why this preference evolved. (No, their penises didn’t put on their reading glasses and pore over Gaulin and Lassek’s research.)

Instead of longing for a body type that men don’t find as sexy, maybe resolve to start appreciating what you have — including your own special version of the trickiest no-win question a woman can ask a man: “Baby, does our future Einstein look fat in these pants?”

“Jonesin” Crosswords "Make It Work"--a freestyle puzzle full of style. by Matt Jones ACROSS

DOWN

1 Divisions of “The Hunger Games” series 10 One-named R&B singer with the hit “1, 2 Step” 15 Unaware 16 Historic account 17 1990 Warrant hit that was overplayed on MTV, but banned by Canada’s MuchMusic 18 Urban Dictionary fodder 19 Need to unwind 20 So last week 21 Strong quality 22 Home to part of Lake Tahoe, for short 23 Essence from rose petals 24 “Guarding ___” (1994 Nicolas Cage movie) 26 Nearby 28 Put the ___ on (squelch) 31 Bezos or Buffett, e.g.

32 Enjoy Mt. Hood, say 33 Eerie sign 34 Phone setting 36 Accessories often gifted in June 37 Bait shop purchase 38 1958-61 polit. alliance 39 “Nature ___ a vacuum” 41 Put under a spell 44 “Star Trek: TNG” counselor Deanna 45 South African playwright Fugard 46 Potential Snapchat debut of 2017 48 Track on a compilation album, maybe 52 “___ More” (Backstreet Boys song) 53 Broadcast 55 Chronicler of Don Juan 56 Exploiting, in England 57 Orange Free State colonizers 58 Cheapen 59 Chimichanga ingredient 60 Protectors of the orbs?

1 Obiter ___ 2 “___ Life: The John Lennon Story” (2000 TV biopic) 3 Mushroom features 4 Like some cranes 5 Bumps an R down to a PG-13, perhaps 6 Peaceful poem 7 Barnyard fowls 8 Troika 9 More questionable, maybe 10 1980s defense secretary Weinberger 11 Tardy 12 Phish lead vocalist Trey 13 Rifle-man?

14 Suspected Soviet spy of the McCarthy era 25 Title sheep in a wordless Aardman movie 27 Fenway star Garciaparra 28 Bulgogi or galbi, e.g.

29 “Can’t fool me!”

30 Source for wood used in Budweiser fermentation tanks 31 Ride, perhaps 35 Tropics definer 36 2016 NBC family drama full of surprise moments 40 Original host of “This Old House” 42 What some ribbons denote 43 Spanish Formula One racer Fernando 44 “I Want ___!” (1958 Susan Hayward film) 47 “Freek-A-Leek” rapper ___ Pablo 49 Basketball Hall-of-Famer Thomas 50 Al ___ (pasta request) 51 Neatens a lawn 54 Transportation to Tel Aviv

Happy Holidays!

I am Grateful this Holiday Season!

I welcome future opportunities to assist you with

your Real Estate!

I Wish You and Yours Good Health and Spirits in 2015.

2017.

Thank You!

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Saamm

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Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 37

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(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Physicist Stephen Hawking is skeptical of the hypothesis that humans may someday be able to travel through time. To jokingly dramatize his belief, he threw a party for time travelers from the future. Sadly, not a single chrononaut showed up to enjoy the champagne and hors d’oeuvres Hawking had prepared. Despite this discouraging evidence, I guarantee that you will have the potential to meet with Future Versions of You on a regular basis during the next nine months. These encounters are likely to be metaphorical or dreamlike rather than literal, but they will provide valuable information as you make decisions that affect your destiny for years to come. The first of these heart-to-hearts should come very soon.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): NPR’s Scott

Simon interviewed jazz pianist and songwriter Robert Glasper, who has created nine albums, won a Grammy, and collaborated with a range of great musicians. Simon asked him if he had any frustrations -- “grand ambitions” that people discouraged him from pursuing. Glasper said yes. He’d really like to compose and sing hip-hop rhymes. But his bandmates just won’t go along with him when he tries that stuff. I hope that Glasper, who’s an Aries, will read this horoscope and take heart from what I’m about to predict: In 2017, you may finally get a “Yes!” from people who have previously said “No!” to your grand ambitions.

drunk hot tea for over two millennia. Chinese emperors were enjoying it as far back as the second century B.C. And yet it wasn’t until the 20th century that anyone dreamed up the idea of enclosing tea leaves in convenient one-serving bags to be efficiently brewed. I foresee you either generating or stumbling upon comparable breakthroughs in 2017, Taurus.

Long-running traditions or customs will undergo simple but dramatic transformations that streamline your life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “What you do

is what counts and not what you had the intention of doing,” said Pablo Picasso. If I had to choose a single piece of advice to serve as your steady flame in 2017, it might be that quote. If you agree, I invite you to conduct this experiment: On the first day of each month, take a piece of paper and write down three key promises you’re making to yourself.

Add a brief analysis of how well you have lived up to those promises in the previous four weeks. Then describe in strong language how you plan to better fulfill those promises in the coming four weeks.

CANCER June 21-July 22):

During the campaign for U.S. President in 1896, Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan traveled 18,000 miles as he made speeches all over the country. But the Republican candidate, William McKinley, never left his hometown of Canton, Ohio. He urged people to visit him if they wanted to hear what he had to say. The strategy worked. The speeches he delivered from the front porch of his house drew 750,000 attendees and played an important role in his election. I recommend a comparable approach for you in the coming months, Cancerian. Invoke all your attractive power as you invite interested parties to come see you and deal with you on your home turf.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Poetry is a way of

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WHERE EVERY MEAL IS A GREAT CATCH 38 • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

BY ROB BREZSNY

SAGITTARIUS

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): ): Humans have

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knowledge, but most poetry tells us what we already know,” writes poet Charles Simic.

I would say the same thing about a lot of art, theater, film, music, and fiction: Too often it presents well-crafted repetitions of ideas we have heard before. In my astrological opinion, Leo, 2017 will be a time when you’ll need to rebel against that limitation. You will thrive by searching for sources that provide you with novel information and unique understandings. Simic says: “The poem I want to write is impossible: a stone that floats.” I say: Be on the lookout for stones that float.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Economist

magazine reports that if someone wanted to transport $10 million in bills, he or she would have to use eight briefcases. Sadly, after evaluating your astrological omens for 2017, I’ve determined that you won’t ever have a need for that many. If you find yourself in a situation where you must carry bundles of

money from one place to another, one suitcase will always be sufficient. But I also want to note that a sizable stash of cash can fit into a single suitcase. And it’s not out of the question that such a scenario could transpire for you in the coming months.

In fact, I foresee a better chance for you to get richer quicker than I’ve seen in years.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): For a bald eagle in

flight, feathers are crucial in maintaining balance.

If it inadvertently loses a feather on one wing, it will purposely shed a comparable feather on the other wing. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, this strategy has metaphorical meaning for your life in 2017. Do you want to soar with maximum grace and power?

Would you like to ascend and dive, explore and scout, with ease and exuberance? Learn from the eagle’s instinctual wisdom.

ScORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In August 2012,

a group of tourists visited the Eldgja volcanic region in Iceland. After a while, they noticed that a fellow traveler was missing. Guides organized a search party, which worked well into the night trying to track down the lost woman. At 3 a.m., one of the searchers suddenly realized that she herself was the missing person everyone was looking for. The misunderstanding had occurred many hours earlier because she had slipped away to change her clothes, and no one recognized her in her new garb. This is a good teaching story for you to meditate on in 2017, Scorpio. I’d love to see you change so much that you’re almost unrecognizable.

And I’d love to see you help people go searching for the new you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn writer Edgar Allan Poe has been an important cultural influence. His work appears on many “must-read” lists of 19th-century American literature. But during the time he was alive, his best-selling book was not his famous poem “The Raven,” nor his short story “The Gold-Bug,” nor his novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. Rather, it was The Conchologist’s First Book, a textbook about mollusk shells, which he didn’t actually write, but merely translated and edited. If I’m reading the astrological omens correctly, 2017 will bring events to help ensure that your fate is different from Poe’s. I see the coming months as a time when your best talents will be seen and appreciated better than ever before.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) “My goal is to

create a life that I don’t need a vacation from,” says motivational author Rob Hill Sr. That’s an implausible dream for most people. But in 2017, it will be less implausible than it has ever been for you Aquarians. I don’t guarantee that it will happen. But there is a decent chance you’ll build a robust foundation for it, and thereby give yourself a head start that enables you to accomplish it by 2019. Here’s a tip on how to arouse and cultivate your motivation: Set an intention to drum up and seek out benevolent “shocks” that expand your concepts of who you are and what your life is about.

PIScES (Feb. 19-March 20):

The birds known as winter wrens live in the Puget Sound area of Washington. They weigh barely half an ounce, and their plain brown coloring makes their appearance unremarkable. Yet they are the avian equivalents of the opera star Pavarotti. If they weighed as much as roosters, their call would be ten times as strong as the rooster’s cock-a-doodle-doo. Their melodies are rich and complex; one song may have more than 300 notes. When in peak form, the birds can unleash cascades at the rate of 36 notes per second. I propose that we make the winter wren your spirit animal in 2017, Pisces. To a casual observer, you may not look like you can generate so much virtuosity and lyrical power.

But according to my analysis, you can.

NORTHERN EXPRESS

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Northern Express Weekly • DECEMBER 19/26, 2016 • 39

2017

Ring in

with

Odawa

Saturday, December 31, 2016 Noon – 1am

$22,000 Hot Seat Drawings, win up to $2,017 Cash!

In observance of the Holidays and to give everyone time with their families, Odawa Casino Petoskey will be closing on Christmas Eve at 10pm and reopening Christmas day at 2pm. Odawa Casino Mackinaw will close Christmas Eve at 8pm and reopen December 26 at 10am.

Happy Ho li days From Your Friends at Odawa Casino

1 40ODA-4256_Northern • DECEMBERExpress_12-19_10.375x12.25.indd 19/26, 2016 • Northern Express Weekly

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