Why would you consider this narcissistic

top ten this week’s

Northern Michigan’s Jeopardy! star

Cadillac resident Ben Scripps went on a winning streak on the game show Jeopardy!, winning in his first two appearances. Unfortunately, the third appearance wasn’t a charm; Scripps ultimately lost to competitor Nathan Berger, of Portland, Maine, after making a big bet on what would turn out to be an incorrect answer to a Daily Double.

The 9&10 television director appeared on the show May 18 and got off to a quick start, beating the buzzer on the first three questions, answering them correctly, and jumping out to an early lead. Then he fell behind, ending the first round in third place.

Scripps eventually came back to win the game in Final Jeopardy. When he returned the next day, host Alex Trebek said of the champion: “He was up and down more often than a yo-yo.” Scripps went on to win that game, too.

“Being on Jeopardy! was literally a life-long dream; when I was a kid in the Grand Rapids area, the whole family would be in front of the TV at 7:30 to watch, and I knew right from the start I wanted to be on the show, even if I was only 11 at the time,” Scripps told Northern Express in an email. “The whole thing is still a little surreal to me, but it was also the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”

tastemaker Ali Ababwa’s Lamb Gyro and Chicken Shawarma Plates

In an age where just about everything’s gone virtual, The Kitchen (1249 Woodmere Ave., Traverse City) has still managed to surprise us. It just launched a new virtual takeout/delivery restaurant, Ali Ababwa. From the taste of the Middle Eastern-inspired food’s robust dusts of sumac, za’atar, and harissa, your tongue might tell you these dishes had emerged from a tent in Tunisia, but in fact, they’re simply the latest tasty, healthy twist coming out of the The Kitchen’s always-inventive, well … kitchen. We took a mini-tour of the Mediterranean on our first try, choosing the Chicken Shawarma Plate (chicken with onion, tomato, pickle, and feta on warm naan, with a side of garlic sauce, potato wedges, and mixed vegetables for) and the Gyro Plate (real gyro lamb with onion, tomato and feta on warm naan, also with a side of garlic sauce, potato wedges, and mixed vegetable). Each are only $13 but big, zesty, and filling in the most flavorful comfort-food kind of way. They’re also available for takeout or delivery through your new best socially distant friend, the “tcfood delivers” app, which links you to The Kitchen’s sister eateries, Firefly, Bubba’s, and the alsonew Lil Wangs. Find menus and the app at www.tcfood.com. Current hours for The Kitchen are 11am to 7pm Mondays through Saturday (closed Memorial Day).

Good News: Annual Car Cruise is Ready to Roll (in Real Life!)

Congratulations, northern Michiganders — we’ve flattened one curve, and now we’ve got the green light to corner a bunch of them. The annual Accelerate the Cure — a car-enthusiast cruise hosted by the Northern Michigan Alzheimers Association — is on, and you can join. Some rules and details will be finalized later to reflect the social distancing recommendations in place at the time, but what we do know is this: At 9am Saturday June 20, participants will begin a majestic drive through northern Michigan, offering drive-by honks and hellos while coasting by assisted living centers, and making a few safe and scenic pitstops along the way. See www.acceleratethecurealz.com to register ($100 per car for two people) or donate.

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Hey, watch it! PROP CULTURE

One of the most powerful tools in a filmmaker’s toolbox are the craftsmen and technicians who painstakingly bring worlds to life through the magic of props. And with the takeover of digital technologies, it is this somewhat dying art of practical props and effects that is explored in the delightful behind-the-scenes journey of Disney+’s Prop Culture. Amiably hosted by noted collector Dan Lanigan, the show takes us inside some of the most iconic films of all-time — including Mary Poppins, The Muppet Movie, and more. Sometimes hunting down what happened to the original pieces of Hollywood history, other times recreating props from what remains, he gets the backstories straight from the filmmakers, creators, and stars (including a rare interview with the notoriously out-of-thespotlight Rick Moranis — spoiler: he looks great!). The show will give you a new appreciation for not only some of your favorite films but also the wonders of moviemaking.

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Dine-in Limited Seating with Reservation Curbside & Dockside Menus on website / Call to place order Special Two dinners and a bottle of wine ~ $55