Northern Express - December 05, 2022

Dear Oxford

Last year, I wrote a poem for the town of Oxford, Michigan, after the shooting. This could have been anywhere. It could have been TC Central, or West, or Mancelona. Even though the cameras have left, the people are still coping. After all, people in Gaylord are still rebuilding after the tornado. Let’s stand together and show them they have not been forgotten.

Oh little town in southeastern Michigan, Much sadness has befallen you! I read in the paper of the tears you shed, And through bleary eyes, I weep too.

For on that day in grim November, A monster we have known before, Left scars deep within our hearts, When it came knocking upon your door.

Though our hearts still bleed in sorrow, And grief may yet remain, Know that we all still remember, And your plight is not in vain.

Though the cameras traveled on, To cover “breaking news,” Your lovely town is not forgotten. Our hearts are yellows and blues!

From the Soul of Motor City, To the mines of Keweenaw, Love will be sent your way; We never shall withdraw.

Though we may not comprehend, All that you may suffer, We stand here with loving arms, So the pain at least may buffer.

We shall be there for those wounded, Strong, beautiful, and persistent. We shall remember those who passed, Who live in heaven so distant.

Together we stand hand-in-hand, Down but never broken. Love shall always conquer hate, Our hearts have been awoken.

So fear not, my friend! For fear is evil’s tool, Now is time to love thy neighbor; May compassion ever rule!

Remember the home of the Wildcats, The strong and victorious. Look to them for guidance now, For it is they who are glorious.

Vive la Oxford!

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Valerie Reeves | Mancelona

top ten

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons is a shopping destination all year round, but we especially love a visit during their Christmas in the Village celebration for the ambiance and the deals. This year’s event runs Dec. 10-11, with shopping specials at Mercato merchants, carriage rides on the grounds, and a Santa station and Christmas activities for the littles. Saturday is also the Commons’ indoor farmers market, which brings together dozens of local farmers, bakers, and makers to fill your winter pantry. At the time of this writing, all of the Commons’ guided tours have openings as well, so you might as well make a day of it. Choose from the Guided Historic Building & Tunnel Tour (two hours long and best for all ages); the Taste of the Village Tour (21+ with stops at Left Foot Charley and Earthen Ales); or the more adventurous Twilight Tour and Flashlight Tour. Get the scoop on all of the above at thevillagetc.com.

Cookbooks and Canadians

The beloved amical Cookbook Dinner Series is back, and this month the TC restaurant features The Art of Living According to Joe Beef: A Cookbook of Sorts, Dec. 7-13. Enjoy French market cuisine from a working-class neighborhood in Montreal with chef-driven recipes, theories, and tall tales from two French-Canadian restaurant heavyweights. For more info visit amical.com or call 941-8888. Open daily, 4-9pm.

Knot Just a Bar’s Why Knot Wings

As the days cool off for the long haul, we find ourselves looking for a tiny taste of summer wherever we can find it. Our go-to is Omena’s Knot Just a Bar, where the bayside views evoke memories of warmer months even when ice creeps onto the water. We warm things up with an order of the Why Knot Wings, which are slow roasted and then flash fried before being tossed in your sauce of choice: buffalo, sriracha sweet chili, Jamaican jerk, dry rub, or classic barbeque. Personally, we’re suckers for the buffalo or the sriracha, both of which pack just the right amount of heat, especially when paired with one of the bar’s wide selection of Michigan-made beers. And don’t miss some of the winter specials currently running at the Omena location: Mondays are BOGO days for pizzas, and Friday offers an all-you-can-eat fish fry, back after a three-year hiatus. Find them at 5019 N West Bay Shore Dr. in Omena. (231) 386-7393, knotjustabar.com

One of Us Is Lying, a twisty teen drama based on the bestselling young adult novel of the same name, premiered quietly last fall on Peacock. But don’t let the gentle buzz deter you from adding another streaming service to your queue. The show operates off a killer premise: What if The Breakfast Club was a murder mystery? Just like that iconic John Hughes classic, the story here starts with five high school archetypes—the straight-A student, the jock, the bad boy, the popular girl, and the outcast—stranded in detention together. When one of them drops dead, it kicks off suspenseful tale of secrets, lies, romance, shifting allegiances, and yes, murder. Season one was an edge-of-your-seat blast, and season two…well, let’s just say the showrunners figured out an intriguing way to keep the mystery going. Bayview’s Murder Club is back, and you won’t want to miss an

If you’d like your ho-ho-ho to be a bit more e-i-e-i-o, then look no further. First up: Christmas with Alpacas at Northern Lavender farm in Mesick. Get the perfect Christmas card picture, complete with an alpaca photo bomb, as you stroll the light display at Northern Lavender Dec. 10 and 11 from 4-9pm. Enjoy a lavender cocoa, shop the farm’s purple wares, and feed their reindeer—we mean, mini horses—before you head home. $6 per person, free for kids 5 and under. Get all the details on Northern Lavender’s Facebook page. Meanwhile, just a 10 minute drive up M-37 in Buckley is Pahl’s Country Store, which offers Santa visits, marshmallow roasting, and a tractor-pulled hayride on Fridays from 4-7pm or Saturdays and Sundays from 1-7pm. Stock up on snacks at the store before exploring the grounds or cozying up around a bonfire. Entrance fee is $8. Learn more at pahlscountrystore.com/ santa-experience.

Giving Tuesday, which falls every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is typically a busy day for northern Michigan, given the region’s many nonprofit organizations. This year, Giving Tuesday was extra special for Cherry Republic, which, though not a nonprofit itself, celebrated the 10year anniversary of its annual 31 Days of Giving campaign. This year, Cherry Republic will spend the month of December distributing $310,000 in grants to local organizations “that protect Michigan’s water, climate, and quality of life.” This year’s campaign, which kicked off on Giving Tuesday, began with $2,500 to 5Loaves2Fish Northern Michigan and Leelanau Christian Neighbors. 5Loaves2Fish, which provides meals to those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, will use the money “for kitchen upgrades and the cost of staple groceries sent to families.” Leelanau Christian Neighbors, meanwhile, will put its funding toward helping local students and families with food costs, heating bills, rent, and mortgages. Other grants will be announced throughout December, with updates posted daily at blog.cherryrepublic.com.

While season-pass holders have undoubtedly hit the slopes two or three times already, we casual snow bunnies are wondering which hills are open and where, given the ups and downs of the last few weeks of weather. Boyne Mountain and sister property the Highlands at Harbor Springs took advantage of the mid-November snowstorm and were up and running Nov. 23. Nub’s Nob was next on Thanksgiving day, and Crystal Mountain, Schuss Mountain, and Caberfae Peaks opened shortly thereafter on Nov. 25. (Thank goodness for snowmaking machines!) Other regional ski spots appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach. Mt. Holiday and Hickory Hills of Traverse City have not shared when we can hit the slopes, but we’re keeping an eye on their websites and Facebook pages. The Homestead in Glen Arbor is also TBD. For the cross-country folks out there, well, you’ll be better off hiking for a little while longer.

Picture, if you will: a powdery layer of new-fallen snow, punctuated by a crackling fire and a mug of something hot in your hands. Heck, maybe there’s even a yurt involved! If a more restorative scene exists, we don’t know what it could be, but we do know it begins with Ethanology’s Marriage Counselor cocktail. Inspired by the warmth of mulled wine, this salve of a winter sip combines Saba syrup (crafted from fermented grapes) with fresh-squeezed lemon, house vermouth, and an aromatic allspice liqueur. Simmered to spiced perfection and finished with a shot of Mel—that’s the distillery’s proprietary honey distillate—this drink won’t replace a professional advisor, but it doesn’t hurt. Enjoy one chilled or piping hot, and, while you’re at it, treat yourself (or someone on your “nice” list) to a coveted White Russian kit, available the second week of December. Seasonal restoration awaits at Ethanology in Elk Rapids at 127 Ames St., Olds. (231) 498-2800, ethanologydistillation.com

BARE

By Stephen Tuttle

“Hundreds of millions will starve over the course of the next decade.”

Stanford professor Paul R. Ehrlich said that when discussing the world’s growing population in his book, The Population Bomb That was in 1968, and the world population was just a bit more than 3.5 billion. The United States had about 200.4 million people at the time. (It should be noted the book was co-authored by Ehrlich’s wife, Anne, but she did not receive credit. She is the associate director of the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University.)

Ehrlich, the professor emeritus of population studies of the department of biology at Stanford University and president of their Center for Conservation Biology, has subsequently acknowledged his dire predictions have not come to pass, though he believes his overall premise—way too many people for the planet to sustain—still holds true. And he still believes we’re ultimately headed toward a doomsday scenario and a dystopian future.

In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, he said, “Collapse of civilization within decades is a near certainty.” He outlined his logic in a 2020 interview with The New York Times, saying,“We have a finite planet with finite resources and in such a system we cannot have infinite population growth.”

Ehrlich continues to believe the optimum population for our globe is about 2 billion or less. We recently passed 8 billion and, according to the United Nations, half that number now live in just seven countries— China, India, the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Brazil in descending population order.

There is significant evidence Ehrlich is mostly right.

According to the World Food Programme, a United Nations organization, 345 million people in 82 countries are facing acute food insecurity, defined as the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious and affordable food. (The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a slightly different definition of food insecurity—lack of access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.)

Famines or near famines already exist in nearly a dozen African nations plus Yemen in the Middle East. Haiti, the poorest country in our western hemisphere with half its population living below the World Bank’s definition of poverty, is perpetually in a state of famine or near famine. The available statistics are daunting and proof that Ehrlich’s predictions were only slightly overblown.

According to Oxfam International, 11 people die every minute from starvation or poor nutrition, more than the death rate for COVID-19 even at its peak. And the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that a staggering 3 million children a year die from starvation or poor nutrition, nearly half of all childhood deaths. Even worse, another 8 million children are at immediate risk.

And this is not a problem for just the rest of the world. While we shake our heads sadly about those poor countries that always seem to be on the verge of some sort of calamity, we should be looking right next door. This isn’t an issue that only impacts “them.” As of June 2022, according to Americanprogress. org, 24 million households in the United States, including nearly 12 million with children, reported they often or sometimes do not have enough to eat. That’s one of the many reasons breakfast and lunch programs at our public schools are so important; those might be the only real meals some children receive all day.

We’ve made little progress in slowing population growth—Ehrlich, in his darker moments, believes contraception should be free, widely available, and mandatory, and that abortion should be universally legal.

We have made some progress in developing food sources. Back in the mid-20th century, an American agronomist named Norman Borlaug led efforts to create more sustainable crops sometimes referred to as the Green Revolution. Among the accomplishments was the development of a high-yield, disease and drought resistant semi-dwarf wheat. For those efforts and others to feed an increasingly hungry world, Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. The Nobel Committee estimated that Borlaug’s contribution to the development of the semi-dwarf wheat, which represents more than 90 percent of the wheat grown today, saved as many as one billion lives.

(Contrary to the accusations of some, semidwarf wheat is not a genetically modified organism [GMO]. It was engineered over the course of decades by hybridizing wheat varieties, painstakingly matching the most desirable strains until current, hardier, and healthier varieties were developed.)

Our planet’s overpopulation has led to climate change, plastic islands in our oceans, overcrowded cities, air made difficult to breathe, and water unsafe to drink. And we can’t feed all the people already here. If too many cupboards are bare, the future will be empty for too many children.

IMAGINE THERE’S NO HOMELESSNESS

guest opinion

by Karen Mulvahill

’Tis the season of magic and wonder and imagining. So imagine if you will…

It’s Christmas Eve and you’re not sitting in your favorite recliner with a frothy cup of eggnog. You’re sitting in a ragged tent under a bridge surrounded by cold, damp cement and wind that swirls through the thin nylon walls. There’s no roasted turkey or mince pie, only half of a cold hamburger. Or it’s Hanukkah, and you’re not surrounded by family, feeling their love and support. Instead you’re terrified for your children. How will you feed them today?

More than a half million people in the United States will spend the holidays homeless. This is not a Hallmark holiday special with a happy ending. Many will be in the same situation when the next holiday season rolls around.

What’s being done? At the state level, The Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness, created in 2006, utilized the resources of various government departments and nonprofit organizations to develop a 2020-2022 State Action Plan. The goal is to make homelessness “rare, brief, and one-time.” According to their 2021 Annual Report, a number of programs have been initiated to offer support to the homeless. Emergency assistance programs created due to the pandemic doubtless played a big role in keeping the level of homelessness from spiking.

At the federal level, the housing choice voucher program is a critical tool for combating homelessness. These vouchers provide financial support to very low-income households looking for rental housing. But the number of eligible households far outstrips the

More than a half million people in the United States will spend the holidays homeless. This is not a Hallmark holiday special with a happy ending.

In 2020, more than 30,000 people in Michigan experienced homelessness at some point during the year. The northern Lower Peninsula saw a significant increase in homelessness from 2020-2021, with the northeast Lower Peninsula homeless population increasing by 35 percent and northwest by 16 percent.

Statewide, the overall level of homelessness declined slightly. However, requests for information about housing options increased 43 percent; requests for assistance with utility payments increased 37 percent; and requests for one-time payments to avoid eviction increased 16 percent. Thus, even if people are currently housed, housing insecurity is high. (Ending Homelessness in Michigan, 2021 Annual Report, State of Michigan)

It’s convenient for us as a society to blame those experiencing homelessness for their plight. We’re fond of the axiom, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” If you are homeless, some conclude, you must not have wanted to put forth the effort to learn to fish.

But what if you can’t afford a fishing rod? Or there just aren’t any? What if you had been born with a mental or physical disability? What if you had to work 60 hours a week at your minimum-wage job to afford the cheapest rental in your area, and then you couldn’t even find one? What if you found one and then a sudden health crisis caused you to lose your job? What if you fled your home because of domestic violence and had nowhere else to go?

The causes of homelessness are various and systemic and usually involve one or more of the following: unemployment or underemployment, health, racial discrimination, and domestic violence. Still, it’s not hard to pinpoint the major cause of the problem. From 1985 to 2020, rent prices increased 149 percent, while income grew just 35 percent (Housing and Urban Development; U.S. Census Bureau).

availability of the vouchers. Years-long waits are common. The Build Back Better Act, passed by the House but not the Senate, included $24 billion in housing vouchers, which would have provided support to more than 300,000 households. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which was enacted, eliminated this incremental investment in people entirely.

Following Hurricane Ian in Florida, $19 billion was appropriated to assist with recovery efforts. The photos of wrecked homes, many of them ocean-front mansions, are impressive. I suggest that the consistent level of homelessness in our country is also a disaster, albeit a more easily ignored one.

A bill introduced by Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) called The Ending Homelessness Act of 2021 would expand and transform the housing choice voucher program into a federal entitlement that would be phased in over eight years. So far, no action has been taken on this act. Furthermore, a 2019 version of this bill was introduced and went nowhere.

At the local level, support for the homeless varies. Although many fairly sizable towns in our area have no shelters at all, in Traverse City there are a number of organizations dedicated to providing shelter, food, and counseling.

If imagining being homeless scares you as it does me, what can we do? First of all, be respectful to people experiencing homelessness. Contribute food and financial support to our local shelters and food pantries. Volunteer time to these organizations. If you are a business owner, employ those who are homeless. Learn about the issue and advocate at local, state, and national levels.

“Imagine all the people living life in peace.” — John Lennon

Karen Mulvahill is a writer living in northern Michigan.

'Tis the Season

Archaeologists in Turkey believe they have found the tomb of the real St. Nicholas, People reported on Oct. 19. The grave was discovered beneath the floor of a 7th- or 8th-century church in the country's Antalya province. St. Nicholas of Myra, the inspiration for our modern-day Santa Claus, allegedly served as bishop there. Scientists say the site will be protected and prepared for display.

It's a Mystery

On a sheep farm in the Inner Mongolia region of China, a strange phenomenon has been caught on surveillance video, Oddity Central reported. Starting on Nov. 4 and lasting more than two weeks, dozens of sheep were seen walking clockwise in a large circle. Other animals could be seen staring at the circle from outside it, or standing motionless in the middle of it. Only sheep from one pen (out of 34) were acting strangely, according to Ms. Miao, the owner. Some viewers of the video theorized that the sheep are suffering from listeriosis, or "circles disease," but that condition usually causes a rapid death.

Fish Story

Bluewater Lakes in Champagne, France, is the home of the Carrot, a hybrid leather carp and koi fish that was released into the fishing lake 20 years ago and has been eluding fishers ever since, the Daily Mail reported. That is, until Nov. 3, when Andy Hackett, from Worcestershire, England, landed the 67-pound beauty. Hackett spent about 25 minutes hauling in the Carrot. "I always knew the Carrot was in there but never thought I would catch it," Hackett said. He released the famous fish back into the lake and celebrated with a cup of tea.

The Rules

In Tennessee, it is legal to collect roadkill for consumption, WJHL-TV reported on Nov. 20. In fact, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency encourages people to take home animals found on the road, with some strict rules in place. For example, deer and turkey must be reported to TWRA or local police within 48 hours of collection. But "bears, on the other hand, require that a TWRA agent come out and issue you a receipt for a black bear," said spokesperson Matthew Cameron. That's because the bear population is monitored, and the TWRA takes a tooth from the animal for the purpose of dating it. In addition, tracking bear kills helps the agency prevent the sale of bear parts on the black market. "It's highly illegal to sell any kind of bear parts in the state of Tennessee," Cameron said, "but it does happen." Small animals such as rabbits, raccoons, squirrels and skunks can be collected without notifying anyone.

Wiener War

A turf war of sorts broke out late on Nov. 19 in downtown San Diego, CBS8-TV reported: Interloper hot dog vendors from Los Angeles had set up outside Petco Park stadium, where Duke Dumont was playing, and the San Diego vendors weren't having it. A brawl involving 10 to 15 people ensued, with one 35-year-old man being stabbed in the back during the fray. Police arrested Yoni

Yates, 21, in the assault, which resulted in non-life-threatening injuries. No buns were injured in the incident.

Stowaway

TSA agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport saved the day on Nov. 16 when they spotted an unusual item in a passenger's checked baggage: a live cat. NBC2 News reported that the feline could be seen in an X-ray of the bag and was rescued before the suitcase went into the cargo hold. "The cat did not belong to the individual with the suitcase," TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said. "It belonged to someone else in the household."

The Demands of the Job

In Paris, a court has ruled in favor of "Mr. T," a former employee of Cubik Partners who was fired in 2015 for being "insufficient professionally" because he wouldn't take part in "team-building" activities, i.e., going to the pub after work hours and on weekends. In his suit, Mr. T said the company encouraged a culture "involving promiscuity, bullying and incitement to various excesses." The Court of Cessation declared that Mr. T "could not be blamed for his lack of integration in the fun environment," The U.S. Sun reported. Cubik was forced to pay him about $3,100 in compensation.

Extreme Measures

Jermaine Bell, 38, spent more than three years in jail fighting charges against him for an armed robbery in 2018, Local10TV reported. When he heard the guilty verdict in a Miami-Dade County, Florida, courtroom on Nov. 21, Bell guzzled a cup of bleach, becoming so sick that he had to be removed from the courtroom on a stretcher. He survived the self-imposed attack, but officials are unclear where he obtained the bleach. Rev. Jerome Starling, a distant cousin of Bell's, saw him "drinking something that's not right, and that his attorneys are letting him drink it, the corrections are letting him drink it. And all of a sudden, I see him collapse. And I'm like, 'What just happened?'" Starling recounted. Bell's family members are pursuing the matter.

Oops Japanese food shops rely on remarkably realistic plastic samples to showcase their offerings, but one Osaka shop mistakenly sold five plastic pastries to customers on Oct. 22, Gulf News reported. At Andrew's Egg Tart, a worker immediately noticed the mistake, and the plastic treats were exchanged for the real thing. From now on, the shop will use stickers to distinguish real egg tarts from their doppelgangers.

Likely Story

Police in Mathura, India, reported to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act court that more than 500kg of marijuana, confiscated and stored in two police stations, had been "eaten" by rats, Gulf News reported. Officers told the judge that mice and rats, although small, do not fear police. A district judge ordered police to eradicate the "mice menace" and provide proof that the critters actually consumed the weed by Nov. 26.

The More Music, the Merrier

Holiday concerts and performances for the whole family

By Al Parker

Live performances form some of the most lasting memories of the holiday season. Whether you’re seeing The Nutcracker for the hundredth time or catching a brand-new band, there’s something magical about music this time of year. Here are a few events you’ll want to put on your calendar in the coming weeks.

PHIL KLINE’S UNSILENT NIGHT Dec. 9, 6-8pm

Presented by Left Foot Charley Winery, this offering celebrates the coming holidays and a love of music in a way you’ve never seen before.

Unsilent Night is a free, outdoor sound sculpture played through a swarm of boomboxes, MP3 players, iPhones, iPads, and laptops all carried by the guests. Reservations are required, and all ages are invited to participate in this international event that has taken place in New York City, Los Angeles, and Melbourne, Australia, since its inception in 1992. Detroit and Traverse City are the only Michigan cities to hold the Unsilent Night.

“Since 2009, community participation has grown, and we get several families who return each year to participate in the walk through the Commons,” says Meredith Murray, event coordinator at Left Foot Charley. “It’s a great way to grow the holiday cheer and support our community. During the evening, we collect donations for Boots For Kids, a nonprofit in our community providing winter boots and clothing to children in need.” For more details, head to leftfootcharley.com.

THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER

Dec. 10, 6pm

Northport’s Willowbrook Mill will host this acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. The concert’s 16 Americana songs guide listeners through Ebenezer Scrooge’s haunting and transformation. It’s part concert, part musical theater, and all holiday cheer. Presented by the Stone Fruit

Collective. Cocktails are served at 6pm and the music starts at 6:30pm Tickets are $15 at mynorthtickets.com.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: LET IT

Dec. 17-18

SWING

Traverse Symphony Orchestra Maestro Kevin Rhodes leads a fun-filled twist on the traditional holiday concert. Jazz Orchestra solo singers and the Northwestern Michigan College choirs will make it a sassy, saxy holiday. Traverse City’s Lars Hockstad Auditorium will be the site for performances at 7:30pm on Dec. 17 and a 3pm matinee on Dec. 18. Tickets are $28-65 and available at traversesymphony.org.

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON

Dec.

17-18

Interlochen’s Corson Auditorium will be filled with holiday music at 7:30pm on Dec. 17 and 2pm on Dec. 18 for their Sounds of the Season event. The fast-moving showcase of seasonal songs and stories features cameos by faculty members, a reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and appearances by beloved holiday characters Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, and the Grinch. Tickets are $29 and $17 for students and available at interlochen.org/concerts-and-events.

A CELTIC CHRISTMAS

Dec. 20, 7pm

The Founding, a progressive folk band from Kalamazoo, will present original and classic seasonal tunes with a Celtic flare at the Cheboygan Opera House. With a timeless approach to songwriting and unique instrumentation, the group balances tradition and innovation.

“This is actually our first year doing a Celtic Christmas here at the Opera House. Last year we were still dealing with a COVID wave and concert cancellations; we didn’t have much in the way of holiday events,” says Owen Goslin, executive director of the opera house. “So this December we are excited to

have a diverse set of holiday concerts to offer once again, including Celtic Christmas.”

The Founding will perform a mix of traditional and original Christmas tunes, plus a selection of favorite Celtic music.

“The historic Opera House is a warm and inviting space in which to encounter live acoustic music, especially during the holidays when we put up all the trimmings,” adds Goslin. “We had a couple of highly successful Irish performers here in late summer—Jig Jam and Grammy-winner Eileen Ivers—so I think our audience will also enjoy these fine musicians working in the same tradition. I think their concert will appeal to people who are looking for a Christmas concert, but who may also want to hear something a little new and fresh at the same time.” Tickets are $30, $25 for veterans, and $10 for students and are available at theoperahouse.org.

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

Dec. 21, 7:30pm

Blissfest Music Organization presents this two-hour seasonal music event on Dec. 21 at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey. The evening’s co-headliner Wintersong is a collaboration of multi-instrumentalists Nic Gareiss and Laurel Premo, who combine traditional tunes and step dance from across the North Atlantic, along with seasonal songs, ballads, and fiddle tunes.

They’ll be joined by one of Michigan’s newest traditional Celtic bands, On the Lash, who create timeless sounds through original voices. With new takes on classic songs, On the Lash explores the inherent energy and versatility of the genre.

“I’m excited to see the project Wintersong that Laurel Premo and Nic Gareiss are preparing,” says Caroline Barlow, Blissfest’s talent buyer. “They are two nationally recognized Michigan artists, and we are lucky to have them right here in our backyard! We are also presenting On the Lash for the first time, and we think our audience will enjoy

meeting them, too.” Tickets are $25-30 and available at blissfest.org/ongoinevents.

JOHN LLOYD YOUNG: HEART OF CHRISTMAS Dec. 22, 7pm

This talented Tony and Grammy winner visits Petoskey at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts just before Christmas. In the traditional holiday style of Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole, he’ll perform warm, wistful traditional holiday favorites. Tickets are $37-67 at greatlakescfa.org.

NUTS FOR THE NUTCRACKER

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet, The Nutcracker, is one of the most popular productions of the holiday season. Here’s where you can catch a northern Michigan performance.

Dec. 8-11 at Interlochen Arts Academy’s Corson Auditorium: Experience the magic of this holiday classic as the IAA dance division stages the timeless story of Clara and her enchanted nutcracker, which comes to life through exceptional dancing, breathtaking costumes, dazzling scenic design, and live accompaniment by the IAA orchestra. Tickets are $17-35. Call 231 276-78 or visit interlochen.org/concerts-and-events.

Dec. 10-11 at Great Lakes Center for the Arts: When Clara receives a nutcracker on Christmas Eve, her dreams take her on a grand adventure. This spin on the classic is brought to you by the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the CTAC Dance Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $30-35 for adults and $10 for students. Details at greatlakescfa.org.

Dec. 17 at 7pm at the Northport Performing Arts Center: Pull on your cheeriest Christmas sweater and join the fun during the enchanted evening with Clara and her companions, performed by the Northwest Michigan Ballet Theatre. Tickets are $20. Learn more at northportperformingarts.com.

Grandma’s Baking Inspires Harbor Springs Cafe

Birch Tree Bakery & Cafe brings all the family feels to the table

By Eric Cox

Nichole Hall of Harbor Springs grins when she thinks about who influenced her love of baking—a love that led to the launch of her own bakery.

“My grandma has always inspired me,” Hall, a 2010 Harbor Springs High School graduate, says. “She has baked forever, and she always has like six different kinds of cookies and always a bake or a pie on the counter. My favorite is her sour cream cookies. Yum!”

Those youthful experiences of baking at home and with grandma (Judy Johnston, also of Harbor Springs) led Hall to launch Birch Tree Bakery & Cafe in February, located at 181 E. Main, in a space that formerly housed Cochon Gourmet Market and Coffee House.

With a small but thoughtful menu of baked goods, Hall has been slowly scaling up her operation and its offerings to avoid seasonal burnout.

Summer Heat

Since her February launch, Hall, a Harbor Springs native, has learned a lot about how to handle a service operation in a community thick with seasonal visitors. Those slower late winter and spring months gave her a chance to fine tune the restaurant before the throngs arrived.

Hall had never worked in any of the town’s bustling retail shops or restaurants. With no Main Street work experience to speak of, she wasn’t sure what to expect from the summer crowds.

“It was a great summer,” Hall tells Northern Express. “But I really didn’t know how busy it could get until I was in the midst of it all.”

Helping her now out are two full-time and three part-time employees, down from 10 workers in the peak months. But even as things slow down for the winter, Hall said year-round community members have enthusiastically supported her business.

Now that tourists have vacated Harbor Springs, Hall, who said she doesn’t “know what free time is” is reflecting on how to keep growing her business. She has ideas about what lunch items to add next, but was reluctant to share them. “I don’t want to reveal them because I’m not sure if they’ll come to fruition,” she explains.

In the off-season, Hall and her crew stay busy doing carry-out orders and catering jobs that include weddings and family events. Clever custom cakes and batches of colorful cupcakes are popular catering options.

For Thanksgiving, Hall offered a slate of order-ahead items that included two types of dinner rolls (Hawaiian or regular),

pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies, as well as pumpkin cheesecake.

All in all, Hall said her 10 months in business have been successful. “I’m thrilled with the community’s support and enthusiasm,” she said.

That enthusiasm has gone beyond simply buying coffee and baked goods. In October, the Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce awarded Hall—who has to be one of the youngest business owners on Harbor Springs’ Main Street—with its Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Maybe that’s just desserts for a woman whose grandmother’s baking hobby triggered the realization of a lifelong dream.

On the Menu

A visit to Birch Tree’s baked goods showcase revealed a unique variety of items baked with homemade care. The mini maple glazed donuts ($1.75) have a great cake consistency and a potent maple glaze encircling the top. The blueberry muffin ($2.75) didn’t have the typical lack of blueberries prevalent in so many brands. No, this one was pleasantly purple inside with the dark berries enmeshed in the muffin’s crumbly innards.

Large slices of apple cake were nestled near tantalizing chunks of maple walnut coffee cake. A small case of thick cookies

(chocolate chip and peanut butter, $2.15) sits atop the counter, welcoming every visitor. Some gluten-free options are available and can be requested.

Aside from the excellent baked goods, Hall’s Birch Tree Bakery & Cafe offers two varieties of breakfast burrito, also handmade and packed with quality ingredients. Since the egg-sausage-potato version was already sold out, we got the bacon-egg-cheese version ($9), which did not disappoint in terms of quality or quantity. Lightly grilled and stuffed with a tasty and expertly-prepared combination of scrambled eggs, tasty bits of bacon, grilled onions, and cheese, this breakfast item could easily cover you for lunch, if supplies last that long.

In terms of beverages, Birch Tree offers a variety of classic and upscale coffee drinks, as well as water, canned soft drinks, and juices.

But what about those beloved sour cream cookies? Will Birch Tree be selling those anytime soon?

“Grandma hasn’t shared the recipe with me yet,” Hall says with a laugh. “Maybe someday we will!”

Birch Tree Bakery & Cafe is open Monday through Saturday, 7am-3pm and Sunday, 7:30am-2pm. To find out more, visit the bakery’s Facebook page or call (231) 242-4402.

Building Dreams with Ford Insurance Agency

When most of us think of insurance, we picture premium payments and forms filled with jargon. But ask Madison Ford of Ford Insurance Agency in Traverse City, and he says insurance is really about making dreams come true. (Move over, Disneyland!)

1 > So dreams and insurance go together like…peanut butter and jelly?

Ford: When I started, I had to reframe insurance for myself, because it can be perceived to be dry. But think of a young couple who is buying their first home—that, to me, is a dream coming true. How cool is it that we get to talk to them about their first home? How cool is it that we get to be a part of that experience and help them step into that dream?

2 > When you’re working toward those dreams with clients, how do you make insurance—which can be daunting and confusing to many of us—feel more approachable?

Ford: We read these documents every day, so we know what they mean. But talking in insurance-ease can be terrifying. We hire people who can translate complex thoughts into simple ideas.

3 > Wow, so you’re thinking about that human connection even in the hiring process?

Ford: Insurance is a people business; it’s not a financial business. We’re here to help assess the risks and make a good judgment call about what may or may not happen. We’re also here to grow with people as they face those projects, face those prospects, or

face those problems, and to make them feel confident about leaning into the dream that they’re working toward.

4 > Is that what makes you love the work you do?

Ford: Part of the beauty of this job is that we get to be a part of people’s lives for long stretches of time. I think about it as a way to stand with people in these different moments of change and uncertainty in their life. Change is tricky for everybody, and if we can be there for them during those moments, then we’re developing a relationship for the long run.

5 > Ford Insurance has definitely been around for the long run—you guys just celebrated 40 years in business. What are some of the biggest changes you have seen over the years?

Ford: There are now the big industry players, which are heavily transactional, getting it done as fast as it needs to get done. We don’t have the capital or desire to become a transaction house. So the question becomes: How can we, as a smaller, locally-owned agency, give people what they want while still being ourselves?

6 > Good question! How do you do that?

Ford: We speed up our processes, while still creating that personal touch when it’s needed, with technology improvements or an online platform to be able to have people put in new quotes or new requests. It’s a little bit of what you need to have in order to play the game.

7

> So you have to change with the times too?

Ford: We do. Northwest Michigan is one of

the two regions in the state that’s growing. If it’s growing, it means where we’re gaining people from elsewhere who have different expectations. So, we have to balance the northern Michigan small-town experience to the couple who just moved up from Chicago with different expectations.

8 > How are you connecting with the folks who are coming here?

Ford: I think it’s a lot of word of mouth because we’ve been in the industry for a long time. A lot of it is also our quality of work. We’ve also increased our online presence, and we sponsor a number of local events too.

9 > Speaking of quality, you guys are a Trusted Choice agency, right?

Ford: Yes. A Trusted Choice agency basically means we write good risks all the time. We do good business both on behalf of the insured individual and on behalf of the carrier. You get that designation not just after one year but after a long stretch of time.

10 > As experts, what are some insurance “life hacks” everyone should know?

Ford: First, a regular self-assessment. Every two or three years, do a look back and a look forward for any scenario: your personal life, your work life, and your family life. If it’s been more than two or three years, that’s usually where we’ll see a big exposure. An example might be a home addition or remodel, purchase of a boat, change of your scope of business, or a change in family obligations.

Second, higher deductibles. Higher deductibles reduce premiums, and if you

have a large loss, a high deductible will be the least of your worries.

11 > What area(s) do you see people usually underinsured?

Ford: Property coverage, for one. Given the escalation of building costs, most homes and commercial buildings don’t have enough coverage to rebuild.

Another big one is life insurance. Statistics show one in three people have life insurance, which is crazy, because we all die. Mortality is not something that people like to talk about, but it is so critical in providing for those we leave behind.

12 > Life insurance can be a sensitive topic. How do you deal with thinking about the serious parts of the job?

Ford: One of my skills is being able to talk with people about things that are uncomfortable. I’m okay with people crying in my office! I lead with empathy in those situations and then am able to say, “Know that I’m here to take care of that so you don’t have to worry about it.”

13 > What’s it like to wear all those hats and navigate all those realms?

Ford: There are people at the agency who are specialists, but we need to know enough about everybody’s game in order to be able to make the correct handoff when the time is necessary. There’s a lot of collaboration. We ask ourselves, “How do we round out the entire protection profile? How do we protect this entire dream and help it become a reality?”

Jackie Kashian

Maria Bamford

Big Cat Energy

Authors Alice Wong and Stephanie Foo discuss disability, activism, and the importance of sharing your story

By Anna Faller

Meet Alice Wong. She’s the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project, an online creative space for promoting and sharing disability media, as well as the editorial mind behind the 2020 essay collection Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century (which has since been adapted for young adults).

Wong’s writings on disability justice have also been published in countless publications, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Radiolab, among others. “She’s not just talking the talk,” says fellow author Stephanie Foo (more on her in a bit!). “She’s so community-oriented and so about lifting all of us up.”

But while Wong elected to write—in fact, her favorite space at school was the library— the advocacy part chose her. She explains, “I’m an activist whether I wanted to be or not, because I am a disabled person born into a non-disabled world.”

Obtaining the tools to engage in that activism, though, often means breaking a few conventions, especially since Wong finds most traditional forms of activism inaccessible. “So,” she says, “I made it my own.”

This is where her debut memoir, Year of the Tiger, enters the frame. Born in the wake of Wong’s preceding anthology (2020’s Disability Visibility), the book aims to accelerate that movement’s momentum.

Coincidentally, 2022 would also be Wong’s year—like the year she was born (1974), it was also a Chinese Year of the Tiger. Add a little pandemic-stoked urgency and future uncertainty to the fire, and she had the perfect publication storm. “Reflecting on what I’d done,” she says, “the title came to me for a memoir.”

Wong, however, was resolute in telling that story on her own terms. “Many memoirs bore me and seem very self-aggrandizing,”

she says. “I wanted to show people what I’ve done instead of telling [them about] my life.”

To do this, she chose to layer her book with a selection of mixed media—including commissioned artwork, podcasts, and even a few SMS clips—interspersed with her past publications, ranging from funny to slightly profane.

Telling the Story

Year of the Tiger will be the subject of an upcoming event with the National Writers Series, though due to health concerns, Wong is not able to appear. Stephanie Foo, journalist and acclaimed author of What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma, will be speaking on Wong’s behalf.

For Foo, the book’s multi-sensory narrative—and the landscape of Wong’s lived experience—opens the door for real conversation. “The format of the book is really [important],” she says, “because it embodies the message that we can break the rules to create a world that’s accessible to disabled folks.”

She adds that the book was also gloriously bereft of the pity society often pins on the disabled community. “[Wong’s work] sort of shatters that view of, ‘look at how courageous this person is to be disabled and merely surviving,’” Foo explains.

Instead, both she and Wong promote a more nuanced take on disability, one that confronts limitations while still celebrating the fullness of life. In doing so, they’re destroying the ableist narrative and replacing it with one of inclusivity that extends to marginalized folks of all stripes.

“Stories shape how we see ourselves. That’s why it’s so important that books like [Wong’s] are out there,” says Foo. “They’re critical to our zeitgeist.”

Foo’s own memoir, What My Bones Know, details her complex-PTSD diagnosis (that’s a disorder caused by long-term trauma) and the subsequent journey to both

understand and heal from her condition. Her early search for literature, though, yielded only clinical accounts. “I wanted to immerse myself in a first-person narrative on c-PTSD, and I didn’t see any [books] that described the experience of possessing it,” she says.

So Foo set out to write one herself. It’s in this realm of reframing those ideals that Wong’s work intersects with hers. “I really wanted to create something that was, [like Year of the Tiger], a little outrageous, a little funny,” she notes. “[Celebration] isn’t something we see enough in the disabled narrative. Of all the books I had read, the [attitude] surrounding c-PTSD was one of being broken inside. And I was like, that cannot be the only way we see ourselves.”

Listening and Learning

How can folks better support those within that community? Both Wong and Foo agree that literature is a great place to start. “We are in a time where there is a wealth of disabled wisdom in print. Educate yourself and get politicized,” says Wong. She says this is not only to show support for those authors, but also to avoid the embarrassing error of making an incorrect assumption.

Foo explains, “Often a mistake that people make is trying to give [disabled] people what they think they need,” when, regardless of how well-intended the gesture, “that is not what we need at all.”

Consequently, the development of equitable infrastructure is an equallyimportant goal, and Foo says reshaping our understanding of “normal” is critical to creating them. No two human experiences are the same, and what might feel effortless to one person could be the keystone to survival for another.

To put the concept in perspective, Foo invites readers to consider the kind of impact an exceptional condition might have on something as basic as going to work. “For

example, I don’t know that I’ll ever have a job again that I have to go into an office for,” she says, “so, having employers that understand and can work around that is really key.”

Those accommodations, however, are not always met, thanks in large part to injustices ingrained in our labor laws. When that happens, Foo says, “You have to figure out how to fill those holes. You’re really just fighting for yourself.”

When a system fails one person, though, it fails everyone involved. This is where writers like Foo and Wong, whose work aims to fill a societal void, inherently carry an activist torch. “You see the holes that people fall through because you’ve fallen through them yourself,” Foo explains. “You also have to fight for everyone else.”

About the Event

This virtual event takes place at 7pm on Thursday, December 8, and will feature a conversation with Stephanie Foo on behalf of Alice Wong. Tickets are $9.95 and can be purchased, along with sale-priced copies of Year of the Tiger (Wong) and What My Bones Know (Foo), via the National Writers Series website. The guest host for the evening will be local writer and teacher Susan Odgers. To reserve tickets or for more information, visit nationalwritersseries.org.

The Cocktail Calendar

New book spotlights one cocktail for every day of the year

By Craig Manning

Calling all cocktail adventurers: Are you looking to concoct something new from what you have stashed in your liquor cabinet? Are you getting fatigued with your usual go-to cocktails? Do you want to wow your friends and family this holiday season by becoming a master mixologist with a repertoire of drinks they’ve never even heard of?

Enter: Cheers! Cocktails & Toasts to Celebrate Every Day of the Year, a brand-new cocktail recipe manual hitting bookstore shelves this holiday season. From New Year’s Day to New Year’s Eve, author Philip Greene has hand-picked a calendar-year’s worth of cocktail recipes for you to try. (You’ll even find a drink idea for February 29, even if you only get to make that one every four years.)

There are no repeats, and every drink has a connection to its corresponding day, even if those connections aren’t always what you’d expect. Greene takes readers through the whole experience with wit and palpable expertise, including a brief story or explanation for why he chose each and every cocktail in the book.

Greene is no stranger to cocktail literature. Cheers! Is Greene’s fourth book about drink culture, following To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion, The Manhattan: The Story of the First Modern Cocktail, and A Drinkable Feast: A Cocktail Companion to 1920s Paris.

Greene is also a cocktail columnist for The Daily Beast, though his actual day job has nothing to do with mixology at all. For the past 13 years, Greene has served as trademark attorney for the United States Marine Corps, which means he’s responsible for managing the 765 (and counting) trademark registrations of the Marines brand, from the eagle, globe, and anchor

emblem to the slogan, “The Few. The Proud. The Marines.”

From Petoskey to Casablanca

Greene has ties to northern Michigan, though he currently resides in Washington, D.C. To Have and Have Another brought the author to the upper part of the Mitten, due to the fact that Ernest Hemingway famously spent the first 22 summers of his life in the Petoskey area at a family cottage on Walled Lake. Greene’s daughter went on to attend Interlochen Arts Academy, and now, he and his wife are building a new house in Northport where they will eventually retire. (Greene and his cocktail expertise have also appeared in the pages of Northern Express before.)

While writing about cocktails is old hat for Greene at this point, Cheers! represents a bit of a departure from his past work.

“The first three books were about Hemingway, the Manhattan, and Paris, so they were all deep dives into a particular subject matter,” he says. “And for those three books, I consider myself the subject matter expert. I don’t think anyone on the planet knows more about Hemingway and what he liked to drink, or what they were drinking in Paris in the 1920s, or the history, folklore, and impact of the Manhattan. This book was fun because it was a very shallow dive. It has 366 topics, 366 drinks, and an associated quote or toast with each one.”

How does one go about picking a different drink for every single day of the year? For Greene, that question was the fun of the book, and it allowed him to play by an ever-shifting set of rules for what was significant—or significant to him—about specific days and dates.

“Sometimes, I’d take an event—like, ‘On January 23 in 1943, Casablanca debuted,’” Greene explains of his process. “There are

a lot of movie buffs out there who love the movie Casablanca, but I happen to know, because I’m a cocktail geek, that the French 75 is featured in that film.”

As such, the French 75—a cocktail featuring London dry gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, chilled champagne, and a lemon peel garnish—appears in Cheers! as the cocktail of the day for January 23. In addition to the cocktail recipe and some background information about Casablanca—and about how the cocktail figures into the film’s narrative—Greene also included a verbal toast and a mood-setting piece of music to go along with the drink.

“So, this drink was really perfect for the book,” he says of the Casablanca cocktail. “What’s your toast that day? ‘Here’s looking at you kid,’ of course. And what song should you listen to? Obviously, it’s ‘As Time Goes By.’”

Film enthusiasts will find other moviethemed cocktails in the book, for classics like Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Shawshank Redemption. But Greene also honors major historical milestones (the nomination of Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court), pop culture trivia (the day in 1975 when Bruce Springsteen appeared simultaneously on the covers of both TIME and Newsweek), holidays (the Christmas Day cocktail is fittingly a favorite of famed holiday crooner Bing Crosby), and more.

Drinking Tales

The structure of Cheers! gave Greene ample opportunity to fit mentions of lots of his favorite things into the book, from music to film to sports and beyond. Ultimately, though, he says the most fun part of the process was researching possibilities for the days on the calendar where ideas didn’t immediately occur to him. That research led to some wild stories—and some of Greene’s

very favorite cocktail picks in the book.

“There’s this little town called Nederland, Colorado, just west of Boulder, and there’s a hilarious story in the book, for March 6, about how that town has something called the ‘Frozen Dead Guy Festival,’” Greene says.

“In 1980, this Norwegian family, their grandfather died, and they brought his cryogenically frozen corpse to Colorado because they wanted to open a cryogenics facility in Nederland. Well, some locals weren’t happy about the possibility of having this potentially thawing dead guy in their midst, so they brought a lawsuit, and the court ordered that, ‘By March 6, you’ve gotta get him out of here.’ Well, somehow, popular support reversed on the matter, and money started pouring in to keep the guy there and build an actual cryogenics facility for him. And to this day, the frozen grandfather is still there. So every year, the town of Nederland celebrates Frozen Dead Guy Festival, where they have casket races and log rolling and polar plunges.”

To go with that narrative, Greene chose a drink called “Corpse Reviver No. 1,” which features one ounce of Cognac; half an ounce of apple brandy, Calvados, or applejack; and half an ounce of sweet vermouth, shaken with ice and served in a chilled cocktail glass. The drink comes from a 1930s cocktail book, which instructs that the cocktail should “be taken before 11am, or whenever steam and energy are needed.” It’s a good drink, Greene says, made better by the story it’s paired with.

“I liked the idea of telling this crazy story that you might never hear about,” Greene says of the Frozen Dead Guy Festival narrative. “Why not read about it while you’re fixing yourself a drink?”

Cheers! Cocktails & Toasts to Celebrate Every Day of the Year hits store shelves on December 6. Learn more about the book and its author at philipjgreene.com.

Given that there are 366 cocktails featured in Greene’s new work, it’s no surprise that the book calls for quite the variety of different spirits, mixers, auxiliary ingredients, bar tools, glassware, and other items. It can all be a bit overwhelming, especially if you don’t have a fully-stocked liquor cabinet in your kitchen already. While the book includes a helpful chapter on essential bar tools and ingredients, we asked Greene to share a few other tips to get

Tips for Cocktail Crafting

you started on your cocktail-making journey.

Don’t use your fanciest spirits: “You don’t have to break the bank on expensive spirits,” Greene says. “If you’re making beef stew, are you going to buy ribeye steak or filet mignon?

No, you’re going to buy something good, but something that’s a little less premium because it’s going to be blended with other ingredients anyway. The same is true with cocktails.”

Get the right bar tools: “Again, you don’t

have to break the bank, but if you’re garnishing a drink with a lemon peel, you really want to have something like the peeler I suggest [in the book],” Greene explains. “With that garnish, you want to get just a really thin shave of the peel. If you use a knife and you take too much of the peel, you might get too much of the pith, which is very bitter and is not going to help the flavor of the drink. It’s just so much easier to make drinks with the right tools, and

they’re not expensive.”

It’s up to you whether to use the brands specified in certain recipes: “Sometimes, where I mentioned a specific brand in the book, it’s because the bartender who created the drink wanted to use that particular brand,” Greene says. “I wanted to be faithful to that.” With that said, less picky mixologists can swap in other brands as preference or availability dictates.

The Christmas Blues (and Jazz and Backstreet Boys)

2022 albums for your holiday soundtrack

By Ross Boissoneau

Each year brings a new mix of holiday music fare, all dressed up with somewhere to go. Here are our picks for the best and brightest of the season, with a few lumps of coal here and there.

Jane Monheit, The Merriest

One of jazz’s leading lights, vocalist Jane Monheit eschews overdone vocal histrionics in favor of a relaxed approach that still swings and soars. “That Holiday Feeling” (a sparkling duet between Monheit and John Pizzarelli) and a similarly warm “(Christmas) Stay With Me” showcase Monheit’s gorgeous voice. “The Merriest” is a too-short treat, clocking in just shy of two minutes, and her unique approach to “Winter Wonderland” is another winner. Best of all is a heart-melting “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” Monheit’s alternately understated and glorious vocals are accentuated but never overwhelmed by a swelling string section. Elegant, engaging, and highly recommended.

The popsy violin maven follows up her debut holiday album Warmer in the Winter with a new slate of holiday tunes. She creates a feeling in the same vein as The Nightmare Before Christmas or the Harry Potter movies: holiday nostalgia infused with a touch of spookiness. The title track satisfies that requirement with percussion, flute, and glockenspiel (!) alongside her violin. The beat-heavy “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” showcases Stirling’s frenetic fiddling alongside her own hypnotic, heavenly vocals. The similarly bouncy “Feliz Navidad” melds flamenco and hip-hop influences, and she enlisted the guitar-playing talents of Mark Ballas, who served as her partner on the Dancing with the Stars. Last, “Joy to the World” with guitarist Gladiu creates a Celtic-inspired take on the 18th century Christmas carol that evolves from familiar percussives to beats from the Riverdance playbook.

Backstreet Boys, A Very Backstreet Christmas

This is about what you’d expect from the one-time boy band (does that make the group a man band now?). Which is to say lots of multi-part harmonies, most all put to good use. Highlights include “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” An unfortunate lowlight is the version of Wham!’s “Last Christmas” with its insistent drum machine. For a group that’s prided itself on its soulful sound, there’s very little soul in this mechanized track. Meanwhile, “Winter Wonderland” is right up the group’s alley, err, lane, where snow is glistenin’ as the singers trade leads.

Jim Brickman, A Very Merry Christmas

For a mix of originals and holiday favorites, here the longtime piano favorite enlists a number of singers and musicians. The album features vocalists including Broadway’s Kelli O’Hara and John Ondrasik (Five For Fighting), and Brickman realizes his dream of recording with a symphony orchestra. The array of tunes is effective, and overall the recording is engaging without ever demanding your attention. Whether that’s good or bad is up to the listener.

He may only be 23, but Chris Ruggiero’s music dates back decades. He’s enamored with the sounds of the singing groups of the ’50s and ’60s, but this Christmas recording doesn’t sound dated. Instead, it sounds like a contemporary recording by the likes of Andy Williams, Robert Goulet, or his hero, Jerry Vale. Think Michael Bublé with hints of outfits like The Drifters or The Platters. The album opens with a slowed-down version of “This Christmas” before the band enters. He duets with the legendary Darlene Love on the original “Grown-Up Christmas List,” though it turns out it is actually one of the weaker tracks.

Celtic Woman, Christmas Cards from Ireland

This brief, four-track EP from the celebrated female Celtic group opens with the original “The Toys’ Waltz.” While hardly singalongable, it nonetheless sounds like a Christmas song. That’s no mean feat for a tune that must fit alongside the other three tracks here. “O Holy Night” swells with the voices of the group and orchestra before bagpipes briefly take the melody. “I Saw Three Ships” gets an even more over-thetop treatment, the orchestra and voices blending together in a big sound. “Silent Night” concludes the proceedings in a more relaxed mood. The accompaniment is uncharacteristically sparse, giving the voices more room to operate.

Lindsey Stirling, Snow Waltz

Chris Ruggiero, Christmas with Chris Ruggiero

Andrea Bocelli, A Family Christmas

Internationally renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli teams up here with his 24-yearold son Matteo and 10-year-old daughter Virginia for their first-ever album together. There’s nothing really new here, but that’s not a bad thing, because it’s uniformly excellent. Highlights include an original, “The Greatest Gift,” written and arranged especially for this album, and “Buon Natale.” One surprising, effective aspect of the latter is the section of Andrea (presumably) whistling. It lasts for less than 20 seconds, its brevity making it even more effective, balanced against the tender vocal and the sensitive string accompaniment.

Debbie Gibson, Winterlicious

The once and future pop queen presents a mix of traditional favorites and originals on her first holiday offering. The orchestration and performance are a bit over the top on the opening “Let It Snow,” and “I Wish Everyday Was Christmas” is similarly overdone, its repetitive piano riff and echoey percussion bringing hip-hop to mind without ever really going there. Similarly insistent beats mar “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” though the soaring violin is a treat. Gibson duets with her father on the holiday staple “White Christmas,” one of the highlights, with unexpected harmonies and modulations. If your taste in holiday music leans toward more is better, then the bouncing piano, swelling strings, layers of vocals, and Gibson’s vibrato-laden voice are just the ticket.

Voices of Service, Deck the Halls

The vocal quartet of retired service members formed in 2012, and a top-five finish on America’s Got Talent helped propel them into the country’s consciousness. Here “Sleigh Ride” is transformed into a soulful ride-along—“giddy-up, giddy-up, let’s go!” goes the refrain. “Deck the Halls” borrows heavily from “La La Means I Love You,” while “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” steers clear of new lyrics but is still so utterly reinvented it sounds almost nothing like the version we’re all used to. Originals “Santa Don’t Let Me Down” and “At Christmas” fit comfortably alongside these rearranged classics. A portion of the proceeds from download sales and streaming revenue of this unabashed soul recording will go to support various veterans service programs.

Joss Stone, Merry Christmas, Love

Lyn Stanley, Novel Noel

Clued in by its subtitle—“A Jingle Cool Jazz Celebration”—this recording harkens back at times to the ’60s approach of holiday recordings. On the one hand, it’s reminiscent of Eartha Kitt and the like, as on the opening “’Zat You, Santa Claus?” Other tracks, like “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” incorporate the sumptuous sound of studio orchestras. “Little Drummer Boy” opens as “Take Five” before transitioning into the familiar holiday tune. Stanley’s rich contralto sits atop it all.

of “The

Switchfoot, this is our Christmas album

This alt-rock band first gained recognition in the Christian rock scene before the hits came, so it’s somewhat surprising that this is the group’s first holiday album. It’s also safe to say the Velvet Fog never envisioned such a dolorous version of his “The Christmas Song.” “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is taken at a similarly funereal pace. The more upbeat original “Hometown Christmas” is a collaboration with Christian artists Needtobreathe and JUDAH and more successful, combining indie rock sounds with a holiday message.

The British Grammy-winning artist’s first-ever Christmas album was inspired by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and Michael Bublé. With its orchestral accompaniment and selection of holiday chestnuts, it fits right in that milieu, though it sounds a bit mannered at times, as on “Jingle Bells.” But her version of Mel Torme’s chestnut “The Christmas Song,” with its sweeping orchestral arrangement, is one of the best tunes on the album. The recording also features two new original songs written by Stone, “If You Believe” and “Bring On Christmas Day.” The latter is admittedly over the top, but the keening Celtic-influenced violin, bevy of background singers, and Stone’s singing make it a joyful holiday tune.

Richard Williams, Hollywood Christmas

Seems this must be the year of reinvigorating the classic Hollywood-style approach. Here composer and orchestrator Richard Williams pulls out all the stops with his lush arrangements, featuring strings, horns, and a boatload of vocalists. His deft touch keeps the proceedings from devolving into overblown excess. Best bets: a tear-jerking version of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” the latter with strings that will sweep you right into the holiday feeling.

“The

Jessy J, California Christmas Volume 2

Bouncy smooth jazz holiday music? With soul? Well, why not? That seems to be the overriding feeling here. It’s hard not to enjoy the music, though it’s difficult to reconcile semi-sacred fare like “Go Tell It On The Mountain” and “O Holy Night” with Jessy’s playful sax. It works altogether better on “Auld Lang Syne.”

Allen Austin-Bishop, Christmas London-based singer Allen Austin-Bishop reinvents a number of lesser-known holiday songs by the likes of The Sugarcubes, Hurts, S-Club 7, and others. The single version

Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot” melds honky tonk, rockabilly, and jazz with AustinBishop’s raspy vocals, and if you think that’s an unlikely combination—you’re right. The album version hews much closer to the tone of the rest of the recording, a jazzy jaunt with electric piano and acoustic bass. Apparently

Christmas Song” is required for virtually every holiday recording this year, and this one is a bit more on the jazzy side.

saturday

CHRISTMAS TREE DECO

RATING: 8am-noon, Macki naw City Recreation Center. Bring supplies & decorate a tree. Thirty-five Christmas trees will be placed along Central Ave. & key areas of the Village. They will be lit on the evening of Dec. 9 during the procession of the Christmas Parade of Lights.

TOY DRIVE WITH THE CHERRYLAND GHOSTBUSTERS: 8am-2pm, Aroma’s Cof fee & Tea at Bayview Professional Centre, TC. Join the Cherryland Ghostbusters & other groups to collect toys for NW Michigan Marines Toys for Tots. Help fill the Ectomo biles. fb.me/e/1XMKogZRQ

VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE & OLD CHRISTMAS WEEKEND: Manistee, Dec. 1-4. Today includes a Saturday Breakfast Buf fet, Pancake Breakfast, Christmas Craft Ba zaar, 25 Cents Holiday Movie, Jingle Bell Jog 5K Run/Walk, Scandinavian Christmas Open House, Victorian Sleighbell Parade, Sleighbell Fireworks, Jingle Jam, & much more. manist eesleighbellparade.com/event-schedule ------------------- -- -

CHRISTMAS COOKIE WALK: 9-11am, 1st Congregational Church, Charlevoix. Choose from thousands of homemade cookies. Come early for the best selection. ----------------------

ELK RAPIDS JINGLE JOG: The Dam Shop, Elk Rapids. Choose from the 5K Jingle Jog or 1 Mile Reindeer Run. 5K starts at 9am & 1 Mile starts at 10am. $20, $15. runsignup.com/Race/MI/ElkRapids/ ElkRapidsJingleJog?aflt_token=vkmwDmw eQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw

10TH ANNUAL LAKE LEELANAU PROVEMONT HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW: 10am-3pm, St. Mary’s School, Lake Leela nau. Artwork & crafts from over 50 artisans from around the state. There will be local food vendor booths from Nittolos, Fiddle heads & Hannah’s. There will also be arts & crafts projects for very young shoppers. Local 4-H leaders will offer 4-H giveaways, card making & easy craft kits to make there with children or grandchildren, or take for an at-home activity. Also enjoy local musicians & a visit from Santa. Free. facebook.com/ events/987894109279487

BREAD MAKING CLASS: JALAPENO CHEDDAR LOAF: 10am, Bellaire Public Li brary. Taught by Chef Ben. Registration re quired. Free. bellairelibrary.org

CHRISTMAS MARKET: 10am-2pm, Central United Methodist Church, TC. New Christmas Market Pairs with Annual Messiah Sing for a Weekend of Holiday Cheer. Shop local artisan products, visit with Wesley the miniature horse (Reining Liberty Ranch), enjoy the sounds of Christmas with saxophonist Peter Deneen, build a wreath, enjoy a children’s story walk, & roast s’mores by the fire. Volunteers will ac cept Christmas donations through the Serve Noel Project until noon. Join in the 44th Annual Messiah Sing the next day, Sun. Dec. 4. Fea turing soloists Laura Osgood Brown, Lindsey Anderson, John Bragle & Keith Brown. Also performing will be the NMC Grand Traverse Chorale. Rehearsal for those who want to sing starts at 2:45pm. All are welcome to sing or watch. Admission to the concert is by donation. Free. tccentralumc.org/events ----------------------

CREATE AN ORNAMENT: 10am-2pm, Vil lage Arts Building, Northport. Presented by the Northport Arts Association. Create your own design or use a ready-made design. The NAA supplies the tile, glaze & kiln firing. First ornament free for 12 & under. Adults &/

or additional ornaments, $5 each. Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits

HOLIDAY ART SHOW 2022: 10am-4pm, Almira Town Hall, Lake Ann. Local art show with a variety of handmade goods for sale from all local artists. Paintings, fiber art, clothing, crocheted items, photographer, woodwork, basketry, jewelry, etc. Bake Sale that benefits the Almira Township Historical Society. fb.me/e/2eknwajdQ

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR - “CHRISTMAS AT BERRY LAKE”: 10am-3pm. Featuring four homes, all situated around Berry Lake, five to ten minutes southeast of downtown Cadil lac. Decorated by the Cadillac Garden Club with the homeowners’ individual personali ties sparkling throughout. Tickets ($15 in ad vance; $20 at door) available at Brinks Art & Framing in advance. Available on the day of the tour at each of the homes & at First Presbyterian Church, with organ recitals & refreshments provided as part of the tour. cadillacgardenclub.com

HOLIDAY MERCHANT OPEN HOUSE & HOT COCOA CONTEST: Downtown Charlevoix. Merchant Open House is held all day & includes holiday sales, snacks, give aways & more. Hot Cocoa Contest runs from noon-5pm. Follow the “Cocoa Trail” posters in the windows of participating downtown businesses or view on charlevoix.org. “The Polar Express” will be shown at Charlevoix Cinema III at 1pm. One non-perishable item gets you one free admission. business.char levoix.org/events/details/holiday-merchantopen-house-hot-cocoa-contest-14110

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT & SOUP COOK-OFF: Bellaire. Events include a “Last Chance Craft Fair” at ASI Community Center from 10am3pm; 5K Elf Run by the Village Hall on Broad St. at 10:30am; Kids Free Ornament Making at The Grand Victorian from 2:30-4:30pm; Soup Kick-Off from 4:30-7pm (tickets, $15; typically sells out); “Parade of Lights” Community Pa rade at 5:30pm & much more.

MANISTEE JINGLE BELL JOG 5K RUN/ WALK: 10am, The Tabernacle Church, Man istee. $20. runsignup.com/Race/MI/Manist ee/ManisteeJingleBellJog5K

MERRY MARKETPLACE HOLIDAY FAIR: 10am-3pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, TC. Enjoy shopping, workshops, artist dem onstrations & more. Each weekend fea tures a different group of artists & artisans. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ merry-marketplace-holiday-fair-traverse-city

FARMLAND 5K & FREE FOR ALL BIKE RIDE: Rasho Farm, TC. The Farmland 5K Run takes place on a classic, European style turf grass course. There are optional knee high barriers including straw bales, fallen logs & stone fence. The bike event has cyclists taking to the running course for 7 laps of fun competition (approximately 12.75 miles total) on any bike you choose. Or you can do com bos. See web site for more info. Noon run; 1pm bike. $15-$55. farmland5k.com ----------------------

GOLDEN PRESENTATION ON ACRYL ICS: A TO Z WITH VALERIE ALLEN: 1-3pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Class room, TC. This lecture offers a lot of info about acrylics, guiding listeners through the basics while opening up new possibilities. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/gold en-presentation-acrylics-z-valerie-allen

IN STORE BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Ho rizon Books, TC. Tricia Frey will sign her book “Sheldon’s Journey.” horizonbooks. com/event/store-book-signing-tricia-freysheldons-journey

send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com

Ski and Ride for Benzie Area Christian Neighbors, who need your help collecting non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items for local families. Anyone ages 7+ who brings at least three items listed on Crystal Mountain’s web site will receive a $20 lift ticket. *** Valid for Dec. 10, 2022 only. crystalmountain.com/event/bacn

OBSERVING WITH NASA - FAMILY DAY: Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Make a Comet Project & Moon Phases, 1-2pm; Pre sentation by Jerry Dobek and the Astronomi cal Society, 2pm. Free. dennosmuseum.org/ events/community-programs.html

“THE NUTCRACKER” PRESENTED BY NORTHWEST MICHIGAN BALLET THEATRE: 2pm & 7pm, TC Central High School. Original choreography, stunning dancers, & one-of-a-kind costumes. $12-$20/person. nwmiballettheatre.org/performances

CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE: Heritage Village Chapel, Mackinaw City. Join for a his toric journey through Christmas of the past. Open House, 2-3pm. Hear the story of the Chapel & participate in a traditional service from the late 1800’s at 3pm. Dress warm; the Chapel is not heated. mackinawhistory.org ----------------------

BOOK SIGNING: 3-6pm, Birch Tree Bakery & Cafe, Harbor Springs. Local author Daph ne Thompson will sign her award-winning book “The Christmas Tree Wish.” facebook. com/birchtree.bakery.hs ----------------------

GRAND TRAVERSE LIGHTHOUSE HOLI DAY LIGHTS HIKES: 4-7pm, Grand Tra verse Lighthouse, Northport. Self-guided hike/scavenger hunt with 3D glasses ending at the Lighthouse. Enjoy hot cocoa, s’mores at the bonfire, tour the decorated lighthouse in 1920’s holiday decor, children’s activities & much more. Free. grandtraverselighthouse. com/events/christmas-at-the-lighthouse ----------------------

HOLIDAY MARKET AT THE WARREN: 4-8pm, The Warren, Leland. Enjoy this local artist market. Free. kristinmackenzie.com/ upcoming-events

THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY: Tours avail able, 5:30-7:30pm, New Hope Community Church, Williamsburg. The Story of Christ mas from Creation to Bethlehem & beyond in a 45 minute tour completely outdoors. Watch scenes come to life as a guide leads you through a woodland path filled with ac tors, scenery & live animals. ASL interpreta tion available at the 5:30pm tours, Fri., Dec.

2 & Sun., Dec. 11. Free. newhope.cc

HARBOR SPRINGS MERCHANTS HOLI DAY OPEN HOUSE: 6-9pm, Downtown Harbor Springs. Enjoy shopping, hot & cold refreshments & holiday treats. Main St. will be closed to allow the community to stroll between stores.

FRANKFORT COMMUNITY TREE LIGHT ING: 7pm, Rotary Park, Frankfort. Enjoy do nuts, cocoa & carolers. frankfort-elberta.com

SWITCHBACK BENEFIT CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 7pm, Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall, Elk Rapids. Advance tickets, $15 at Oryana, 10th St., Corner Drugs, & Cellar 152 in Elk Rapids, or brownpapertickets.com. $20 at door. ertownhall.org ----------------------

COMEDY WITH CLIFF CLASH: 7:30pm, Traverse City Comedy Club, TC. Clash’s brand of humor fearlessly tackles subjects of racism, homophobia, greed, war, loss, death, divorce, & the danger of ignorance in pop culture & music. $20-$25. traversecity comedyclub.com/cliff-clash

LITTLE TRAVERSE CHORAL SOCIETY HOLIDAY CONCERT: 7:30pm, Petoskey United Methodist Church. This year’s per formances will include the traditional French carol, No l Nouvelet performed by a brass quintet, & Sing We Now of Christmas ar ranged by Audrey Snyder & performed A Capella, plus much more. $15/adult; $5/ student; children under 12, free. littletraver sechoralsociety.org

MANITOU WINDS PRESENTS WINTER SONGS & CAROLS: 7:30pm, Grace Epis copal Church, TC. Featuring a variety of instruments in an eclectic program of tradi tional carols & original compositions. Free. manitouwinds.com/upcoming-performances

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. SpongeBob & all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. A musical based on the animated series with songs provided by a host of popular music luminaries. Adults,

$28; youth under 18, $15 (plus fees). tickets. oldtownplayhouse.com/TheatreManager/1/ login&event=407

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BROADWAY ON FRONT PRESENTS

“WHITE CHRISTMAS GALA”: 8pm, City Opera House, TC. Festive drinks, food, live auction & holiday classics featuring music from “White Christmas” performed by Broad way stars. Benefits Take it From the Top & City Opera House. Table seating, $150; bal cony seating, $50; includes two drink tickets. cityoperahouse.org

sunday

VICTORIAN SLEIGH BELL PARADE & OLD CHRISTMAS WEEKEND: Manistee, Dec. 1-4. Today includes Hand-Rung Christ mas Carols from the Historic Bell Tower, A West Shore Community College Holiday Rock Spectacular Reunion, Lessons & Car ols, & more. manisteesleighbellparade.com/ event-schedule

SANTA PAWS: 1pm, 9104 S. Kasson St., Cedar. Bring your dog in to take pictures with Santa Claus. For every dog that comes in to take pictures, $5 will be donated to Cherryland Humane Society. Pet supplies & donations are accepted for Cherryland Humane Society. Find ‘Santa Paws!’ on Facebook. Free.

CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE: 2pm, Hele na Township Community Center, Alden. Bob Holtzman presents the story of how, in 1981, a 52-foot white spruce from Michigan’s Hi awatha National Forest in the Upper Penin

sula was chosen to be the Christmas tree for the lawn at the Capitol in Washington DC & how his father-in-law, Dick Ruppenthal, was chosen to document the tree’s journey from the Upper Peninsula to Washington DC. 231-331-4318. Free.

CARPENTERS CHRISTMAS: 2pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Snowy days & Mondays... West End, Broadway & Inter national vocalist & entertainer Helen Welch takes you on a nostalgic seasonal journey of song & stories. Together with her world class musicians Helen performs all the Carpenters classics, plus some holiday songs. $30; $25 seniors & Veterans; $10 students. theopera house.org/tickets

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THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: (See Sat., Dec. 3, except today’s time is 2pm.)

LITTLE TRAVERSE CHORAL SOCIETY HOLIDAY CONCERT: 3pm, First Presby terian Church, Harbor Springs. This year’s performances will include the traditional French carol, No l Nouvelet performed by a brass quintet, & Sing We Now of Christmas arranged by Audrey Snyder & performed A Capella, plus much more. $15/adults; $5/ students; children under 12, free. littletraver sechoralsociety.org

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CHRISTMAS MARKET: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

JAZZ ORCHESTRA: DUKE ELLINGTON’S NUTCRACKER SUITE: 7:30pm, Interlo chen Center for the Arts, Dendrinos Chapel & Recital Hall. Enjoy new takes on your fa vorite numbers from Tchaikovsky’s timeless

ballet such as “Toot Toot Tootie Toot” (Dance of the Reed Pipes), “Danse of the Flore adores” (Waltz of the Flowers), & “Peanut Brittle Brigade” (March). $15 adult; $12 child through college. interlochen.org/events/ jazz-orchestra-duke-ellingtons-nutcrackersuite-2022-12-04

monday

EAST JORDAN HOLI DAY BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-6:30pm, Found ry Bar & Grill, East Jordan. Hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, networking & fun. Admission is a monetary donation to the Care & Share Food Pantry and Good Samaritan Food Pantry.

QUESTION, PERSUADE, REFER (QPR) TRAINING: 5pm. Virtual event. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors & save lives by providing innovative, practical & proven suicide prevention training. Qual ity education empowers all people, regard less of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. Free. For more info or to register visit: cfsn wmi.org/suicide-prevention

tuesday

COFFEE & CONVERSA TION AT THE CHAMBER: 8-10am, Harbor Springs Area Chamber office, 118 E. Main St., Harbor Springs. Hear about what’s happening in the area, learn about what the Chamber can do

Chamber staff & the sponsor of the month - Harbor/Brenn Insurance Agencies. Free. harborspringschamber.com/events/details/ coffee-conversation-at-the-chamber-harborbrenn-insurance-agencies-11046

GRAND TRAVERSE KENNEL CLUB MEETING: Incredible Mo’s, Grawn. 6pm social & dinner; 7pm meeting. Speaker: Dr. Chris Randall, DVM. Election of board & of ficers. Free. Grandtraversekennelclub.com

wednesday

HOLIDAY BAZAAR & CONCERT: First Congre gational Church, TC. The Grand Traverse Musicale, a local organization that sup ports area musicians in middle school & high school, is holding its annual fundraiser. This festive event will begin with a Holiday Ba zaar at noon, with many baked goods, pies & specialty items for sale. At 1pm a concert featuring the TC West Middle School Choir, under the direction of Emerick Dee, along with several young scholarship winners, will be presented in the church sanctuary. Free. gtmusicale.org ----------------------

GREENS OF DECEMBER HIKE: 1-3pm, Arcadia Dunes, Chestnut Loop, Arcadia. This rolling 2-mile loop hosts a variety of evergreen species that stand out amidst the grey background of early winter. Bring win ter gear, water & a snack. Participants are encouraged to bring snowshoes. The terrain is steep in places, making this a moderately strenuous event. 231-929-7911.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ABOUT

GRASS RIVER: 5-7pm, Grass River Center, Bellaire. Grass River Natural Area & Three Lakes Association will update attendees on the river’s health & its possible future, as well as listen to the community’s observations & concerns. Register. grassriver.org ----------------------

RECESS OF GIVING BENEFITING HABIT FOR HUMANITY: 5-7pm, Habitat ReStore, 2487 Rice St., TC. After work fun for grownups. Enjoy food provided by Jimmy John’s of TC, wine provided by Shady Lane Cellars, beer from Rare Bird Brewery, & a drawing for prizes, including a downtown getaway prize package from Park Place Hotel, including an overnight hotel stay, a $50 gift card to Miner vas/Beacon Lounge, a bottle of local wine, & Traverse City cherry products; a $250 gift certificate from TC Studio; a $75 ReStore gift card; a $25 Minervas/Beacon Lounge gift card (two will be given away); & a Traverse City cherry products gift bag. $10 minimum donation, with all proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity. Find ‘December Recess of Giving at Habitat ReStore’ on Facebook.

AUTHOR JACOB WHEELER: 7pm, Glen Lake Library, Empire. Jacob will share his new book, “Angel of the Garbage Dump.” This book documents the work of Hanley Denning, a young woman from Maine who dedicated her life to humanitarian projects in Guatemala. Free. glenlakelibrary.net

thursday

NMCAA’S LAUNDRY

PROJECT: Eastfield Laun dromat, 8th St., TC. A free laundry service for low-in

come families in the greater Grand Traverse Area during the school year. 947-3780.

TECHNOLOGY DAY WORKSHOP: 10am3pm, TC Disability Network office, 415 E. Eighth St., TC. Disability Network Northern Michigan & BoomerEm are offering a pilot program to help individuals with disabilities learn about the safe use of technology. De cember topics include Flights & Gift Shop ping. disabilitynetwork.org/events/technolo gy-day-workshop-december-meeting

BENZONIA ACADEMY LECTURE: “A NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS”: 4pm, The Mills Community House, Benzonia. Sharon Ericksen McKinley will share how her fam ily & many others celebrated past & present Norwegian heritage with yuletide traditions. benziemuseum.org

LADIES’ SHOPPING NIGHT: 5-9pm, Down town TC. Shop Downtown TC businesses & have fun as you buy your holiday gifts. downtowntc.com/ladies-shopping-night

MAKE IT BENZIE - CHAMBER OFF THE CLOCK NETWORKING: 5-7pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Enjoy fare from Stormcloud Brewing Co., holi day tunes by Analog Fusion, libations, fun & an update on Chamber operations. There will also be a Holiday Wacky Ward robe Contest. $5/person - Chamber mem ber. business.benzie.org/events/details/ benzie-area-chamber-off-the-clock-event15986?calendarMonth=2022-12-01

NWS VIRTUAL EVENT: ALICE WONG: 7pm. Disabled activist, writer, editor, media maker & consultant, Wong is the founder & director of the Disability Visibility Project, an

online community dedicated to creating, shar ing & amplifying disability media & culture. Due to a health emergency, Wong cannot partici pate in virtual interviews, so author & podcaster Stephanie Foo will be speaking on her behalf to celebrate the incisive wit, joy, rage & “big cat en ergy” embodied by Wong’s debut memoir “Year of the Tiger.” Guest host is Susan Odgers, past chair of the Keweenaw Storytelling Center in Calumet, & since 1989, has taught psychology at NMC. $9.95. nationalwritersseries.org/prod uct/stephanie-foo-for-alice-wong

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”: 7:30pm, Glen Lake Church, Glen Arbor. Presented by the Glen Arbor Players. Free; donations accept ed. GlenArborPlayers.org

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THE NUTCRACKER, INTERLOCHEN: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Presented by the Inter lochen Arts Academy Dance Division. The timeless story of Clara & her enchanted Nut cracker comes to life through exceptional dancing, breathtaking costumes, dazzling scenic design, & live accompaniment by the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor Gavriel Heine of the Royal Opera House. Performances run December 8-11. $35; $17 for children & students. interlochen.org/concerts-andevents/signature-series?search=nutcracker

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

friday

STORYTIME: 10:30am, Le land Township Library, Le land. Enjoy stories & more for young children aged 0-6

& their caregivers. Free. lelandlibrary.org/ programs-events

GRAND TRAVERSE LIGHTHOUSE HOLI DAY LIGHTS HIKES: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

BOYNE CITY FARMER’S MARKET SIP & SHOP HOLIDAY BAZAAR: 4:30pm, Vet erans Memorial Park, Pavilion, Boyne City. An evening of holiday shopping with 25 local artists, wine tastings & holiday music. Free.

THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

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CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY: Santa Claus ar rives in Mackinaw City during the Christmas Parade of Lights & Annual Tree Lighting at 6pm. The parade proceeds along Central Ave. to Marina Park. Enjoy cookies & co coa, visit with Santa & sing along with carols while you count down for Santa to light the tree. Free.

PHIL KLINE’S UNSILENT NIGHT: 6-8pm, Left Foot Charley, Tasting Room, TC. An outdoor participatory sound sculpture of many individual parts played through a rov ing swarm of boom boxes, phones & tablets, all carried through a cloud of sound which is different from every listener’s perspective. Each person is asked to bring their own por table musical device to carry along the walk through The Village at Grand Traverse Com mons property. Free. traversecity.unsilent night.com

SWINGSHIFT & THE STARS: GRAND EST FINALE: 6pm, City Opera House, TC. SwingShift and the Stars invites you to help celebrate 15 years of giving, while they round-up the donation totals for this year’s

participating nonprofit organizations. Din ner, dancing, donating & performances from today’s & yesterday’s participants. Table: $125/person or balcony seats: $75/person. cityoperahouse.org/node/467 ----------------------

ceive a $20 lift ticket. Valid for Dec. 10, 2022 only. crystalmountain.com/event/bacn

Swing Into Spring

on sunday, may 8th at 3pm

Bravo! Encore! Bravo! Traverse City’s Encore Winds, will present a “Musical Mosaic” concert at The First Congregational Church at 6105 Center Road December 10th Saturday at 3pm. Works by J.S. Bach, Alfred Reed, Percy Grainger, Robert Sheldon, Anton Bruckner and Leroy Anderson will be performed.

DR. TIMOTHY TOPOLEWSKI, ENCORE DIRECTOR

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL,” GLEN ARBOR: (See Thurs., Dec. 8) ----------------------

VISIT WITH SANTA & MORE!: Bellaire Public Library. Enjoy visiting with Santa from 10am-noon. Also participate in a Polar Ex press Scavenger Hunt, & watch “The Polar Express” at noon. Free. bellairelibrary.org ----------------------

SPECIAL GUEST ENSEMBLE “SUN RADIUS BIG BAND”

Did You Hear? Encore is back and will present a re-opening concert on October 16th at 3 pm at The First Congregational Church. This year's concert theme is "A Musical Mosaic." Our first concert will include works by Holst, Lo Presti, Ticheli, Bach and Shostakovich. Please put these concert dates on your calendar and support Encore's Concert Series. Oct. 16 Dec. 10th March 12th May 14th Encore is happy to be back making music.

tickets available at mynorthtickets.com or at the door Come tap your toes

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

Adults: $15.00

NMC CONCERT BAND 2022 HOLIDAY CONCERT: 7:30pm, Dennos Museum Cen ter, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Advance tickets: $13 adult, $8 senior/student. At door: $15, $10. nmc.edu/programs/academic-pro grams/music/concert-dates.html#smtx-click ----------------------

Conducted by our wonderful maestro Dr. Timothy Topolewski, you’ll hear lots of exciting concert band music, including holiday tunes and, of course, our famous Sousa march encore! Bring the whole family! At 2 pm treat yourself to the “ever popular” free tuba christmas performance.Join us and get in the Holiday Spirit! Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (yes, we know most of you are adults also), students $5, and kids 12 and under are always FREE.

Seniors: $ 10.00 Students: $5.00 Kids 12 & under: Free www.encorewinds.org

1150 MILLIKEN DR. - TRAVERSE CITY

Let's make some "great" musical memories.

THE NUTCRACKER, INTERLOCHEN: (See Thurs., Dec. 8) ----------------------

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

dec 10

saturday

GRACE COOKIE WALK 2022: Grace Episco pal Church, TC. Runs from 8am until sold out. Free entry. docs.google. com/document/d/1QgCc8X9P-9O16T T4aXjlOmxzxUEFUtCzxUn8wPdPYDI/ edit?usp=sharing ----------------------

OLD MISSION WOMEN’S CLUB 25TH AN NUAL CHRISTMAS COOKIE SALE: Pen insula Township Hall, TC. 8am-1pm or until sold out. The Old Mission Women’s Club makes cash donations to area charitable & educational organizations. All proceeds from the Cookie Sale will go to this philanthropic work. $10 per pound for cookies. oldmis ----------------------

24TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS COOKIE : Trinity Lutheran Church & School, TC. Runs from 9am until sold out. Thousands of traditional & old world cookies including vari ety packs for gift giving available. Go early to handpick your homemade, hand-decorated

Mackinaw City. Enjoy Breakfast with Santa from 9-11am, & a merchant open house from 11am-3pm. mackinawchamber.com/event/15619

FRIENDS OF FIFE LAKE LIBRARY’S 1ST : Fife Lake Li brary. Grab a to-go container & plastic glove & choose from a wide variety of home-made cookies, candies for sale at $13/lb. Or pies, breads, & other baked goods priced per item. Benefits the Fife Lake Library. Friends of Fife Lake Library Preview: 9-10am. Open to pub

ARTS IN ACTION WITH MR. MICHAEL 9:30-11:30am or noon-2pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Drop-in with your children for an interactive experience. Enjoy painting without seeing. Your little one can create a work of art to take home. Free with Museum admission. greatlakeskids.org ----------------------

CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE: 10am6pm, The Village at GT Commons, TC. A weekend-long celebration filled with Santa, shopping specials, carriage rides & much more. thevillagetc.com/christmas-in-the-vil ----------------------

10am, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Benzie Area Chris tian Neighbors (BACN) needs your help! They are collecting non-perishable food items & personal hygiene items for local families. Any one ages 7+ who brings at least three items site will re

GLCO’S LITTLE WAVES CHILDREN’S MU SIC PROGRAM: 10:30-11:15am, Petoskey District Library, & 1pm, Charlevoix Public Library. For ages 4-10 & their families. This year’s theme is “My Favorite Instrument.” Featuring a multimedia story, an opportu nity to hear one or more GLCO musicians demonstrate & explain how their instruments work, & fun music-related activities for kids. Free. harborspringschamber.com/events/ details/little-waves-children-s-music-pro gram-12-10-2022-10927

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CAROLING: 2-4pm, Interlochen Public Library. Led by Gwen Willson & Tim Jahn. Featuring a singalong, story reading, gingerbread house making, & more. 231-276-6767. Free.

THE NUTCRACKER, INTERLOCHEN: (See Thurs., Dec. 8, except today’s times are 2pm & 7:30pm.)

THE NUTCRACKER, BAY HARBOR: 3pm & 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Presented by the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet. Featuring original choreography, awe-inspiring sets & cos tumes, & Tchaikovsky’s beloved score. $35, $30 adults; $10 students. greatlakescfa. org/events/detail/crooked-tree-arts-centerschool-of-ballet-presents-the-nutcracker

GRAND TRAVERSE LIGHTHOUSE HOLI DAY LIGHTS HIKES: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

WINTER SOUNDS: Michigan Legacy Art Park, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. A celebration of the season, with warm bev erages, a bonfire, winter hike, & an outdoor holiday performance from the Traverse City West Middle School Madrigal Singers. Dress for cold weather, bring something warm to sit on, & arrive early to allow for a 1/4 mile hike to the amphitheater. Concert begins at 5pm. $10 per adult; children are free. crystalmoun tain.com/event/winter-sounds

THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

ROARING 20S CENTENNIAL CELEBRA TION: 6-10pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Le land’s Old Art Building celebrates its 100th birthday with a Roaring 20’s themed party. This ticketed event features the Gatsby Gang Jazz Band, dancing, heavy appetizers & a cash bar featuring themed cocktails. Attend ees encouraged to dress up in era-themed clothing. $75/person. oldartbuilding.com/ events/roaring-20s-centennial-celebration

THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: Willow brook Mill, Northport. Cocktails at 6pm; con cert at 6:30pm. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. These sixteen origi nal Americana songs guide a listener through Ebenezer Scrooge’s haunting & transforma tion. The lively band, playing folk instruments & singing in harmony, embrace the ghosts & regrets, the love & joy that has made “A Christ mas Carol” such a beloved & enduring holiday tradition. $15 a ticket. hauntingofebenezer.com

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A DRAMATIC READING: 6:30pm, Grace Episcopal Church, TC. Drew Gibson brings Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, “A Christmas Carol,” to life in a dramatic reading. Free. gracetraversecity.org

A CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 7-9pm, Gaylord High School, Gornick Auditorium. Presented by the Gaylord Community Orchestra & Gay lord Community Choir. $15 adults, students free. gaylordorchestra.org

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL,” GLEN ARBOR: (See Thurs., Dec. 8)

COMEDY WITH CHRIS YOUNG: 7:30pm, Traverse City Comedy Club, TC. This come dian is able to take real life experiences & turn them into laughs that maintain a clean but funny appearance. He is a frequent per former at comedy clubs, colleges & casinos, as well as corporate shows around the coun try. $20-$25. traversecitycomedyclub.com/ chris-young

NMC JAZZ BANDS IN CONCERT WITH LAURIE SEARS, DIRECTOR: 7:30pm, Den nos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Email for tickets: nmcmusicde partment@simpletix.com $13 adults; $8 se niors & students in advance. mynorthtickets. com/events/nmc-jazz-bands-presents-win ter-jazz-ensemble-showcase-12-4-2021 ----------------------

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: (See Sat., Dec. 3) ----------------------

THE PROLIFICS MOTOWN REVUE CHRISTMAS SHOW: 8-9:30pm, Leelanau Sands Casino, Peshawbestown. leelanau sandscasino.com/entertainment

sunday

CHRISTMAS IN THE VIL LAGE: (See Sat., Dc. 10, except today’s time is 10am5pm.)

WINE WONDERLAND: 12-4pm, Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay. A family-friendly holiday festival! Holiday fun includes: Holi day music jam with Luke Woltanski; local carolers; Local Toy Drive for Leelanau Coun ty Toys for Tots (bring an unwrapped toy for a child of any age & receive a complimen tary wine tasting); Youth Holiday Art Project; beverages, soup & much more. Free. shady lanecellars.com/event-home/events

CHERRY CAPITAL MEN’S CHORUS HOL

IDAY CONCERT: 12:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Free.

GREENS OF DECEMBER HIKE: 1-3pm, Ar cadia Dunes, Baldy Trails, Arcadia. This roll ing 2-mile loop hosts a variety of evergreen species that stand out amidst the grey back ground of early winter. Bring winter gear, wa ter & a snack. Participants are encouraged to bring snowshoes. The terrain is steep in places, making this a moderately strenuous event. 231-929-7911.

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

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL,” TADL: 2pm, Tra verse Area District Library, McGuire Commu nity Room, TC. Enjoy a two-man adaptation of Dickens’ holiday classic. Free.

THE NUTCRACKER, INTERLOCHEN: (See Thurs., Dec. 8, except today’s time is 2pm.)

“THE NUTCRACKER,” BAY HARBOR: (See Sat., Dec. 10, except today’s time is 3pm.)

HOLIDAY CONCERT WITH NORTHPORT COMMUNITY BAND & THE VILLAGE VOICES: 3pm, Northport Auditorium, Northport Public School. A cookie reception will follow the concert. Tickets are available by calling 231-386-2009 or at the door. $15 adults; $5 students. northportperformin garts.org

JAZZY CHRISTMAS XI: 3pm, Central Unit ed Methodist Church, TC. Admission is free but a free will offering will be taken to sup port the Homeless Outreach at the church. There will be instrumental & vocal favorites performed with a little jazzy twist. ----------------------

THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

helping hands

HARVEST FOOD & SUPPLY DRIVE: Held at Women’s Resource Center of North ern Michigan & Gold Mine Resale Shops, Petoskey. Help support survivors & their family members who utilize Safe Home Services. The Safe Home is operated 24/7 by Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan. It is a caring, secure & supportive place to seek refuge from domestic abuse & sexual assault when home is not a safe place to live. Grocery or supermarket gift card donations & financial contributions help Safe Home staff purchase exactly what is needed at any given time. Nonperishable donations are also accepted. wrcnm.org/getinvolved/safe-home-needs ----------------------

FRIENDS OF INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY HOLIDAY MITTEN TREE: Inter lochen Public Library. Donate new or handmade mittens, gloves, scarves & hats during regular hours. 231-276-6767.

GLEN LAKE FRIENDS OF THE LI BRARY’S 24TH ANNUAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DRIVE: Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor. Nov. 19 - Dec. 17. The Friends of Glen Lake Community Library join forces with Glen Lake Schools to provide new books for families & children who are in need of assis tance this holiday season. The wish list can be found at Glen Lake Community Library & Cottage Book Shop. The Cottage Book Shop will give a 20% discount for books bought for the book drive & will wrap the books & take them to the library. 231-334-4223.

PRESTON FEATHER’S ANNUAL HOLI DAY FOOD DRIVE: Bring non-perishable or canned goods to any of Preston Feather’s four locations: Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Gaylord & TC by Dec. 16. Donations go to local food pantries to help families across northern Michigan.

ongoing

HOLIDAY BOOK POP-UP SALE: 10am, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Featuring gently used books & puzzles. Each bundle is $5. Runs through Dec. 15.

BELLAIRE WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, 9am-noon, Nov. 11 – May 12. Held at 3 locations: Bee Well Mead & Cider, Short’s Brewing Co., & Terrain, Bellaire.

BOYNE CITY MARKET AT THE PAVILION: Saturdays, 9am-12:30pm, Veterans Park Pavilion, Boyne City. Shop local produce, baked goods, artisan foods & crafts.

THE VILLAGE INDOOR FARMERS MAR KET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, Mercato, TC. Fresh produce, eggs, pastries, honey, jams & more. thevil lagetc.com

ings of subjects ranging from landscapes to homes, portraits & animals. She also worked in other mediums, such as wood carving, oil paint, pen & ink, collage, art therapy & more. An opening reception will be held on Fri., Dec. 9 from 6-8pm. Exhibit runs through

City Opera House, TC. An opening reception will be held on Dec. 8 from 5-8pm. Anyone looking for unique holiday gifts or a treat for themselves, as

dies Night are welcome. Just Great Art! runs from 10am-5pm during the week & evening events, from Dec. 1 - Jan 31. The group of 12 artists paint using oil, watercolor, pastel or acrylic to create their pieces. They love to depict their northwest Michigan area while painting outside, through the warm months.

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- “JASON S. YI: DISSIMULATIONS”: Runs through Dec. 23. Jason S. Yi is an interdisci plinary artist working in photography, video, sculpture, drawing, & site-specific installa tions. Immigrating from South Korea to the United States at an early age, his work is conceived through a bi-cultural lens & inter rogates the notion of perception’s equiva lence to reality.

Sun-Tues: noon-9pm (closed Wed) Thurs: 4-9pm Fri-Sat: noon-10pm Kitchen open until 8:30 Sun-Thurs and 9pm on Fri & Sat

DRINK SPECIALS (3-6 Monday-Friday): $2 well drinks, $2 domestic drafts, $2.50 domestic bottles, $5 Hornitos margarita SUNDAY - $6 Ketel One Bloody Mary & $4 Mimosas

DAILY FOOD SPECIALS (3-6pm): Mon- $1 chips and salsa Tues- $1 enchiladas Thurs - $5 fried veggies Fri - $5 hot pretzels w/ beer cheese

E State St. - downtown TC

- INFINITE SPLENDOR, INFINITE LIGHT: Runs through Dec. 23. Two years after graduating from DePauw University in 1953, Bruce Walker became a case officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. As a CIA officer, Walker participated in the Tibetan resistance project (code name ST CIRCUS) in its earli est stages, only six years after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army invaded Tibet & captured the capital city of Lhasa. In 2002, Walker donated his 66-piece collection of Ti betan thangkas, works on paper, & religious objects to DePauw University. dennosmuse um.org/art/now-on-view/index.html ----------------------

OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT: - HOLIDAY ART MARKET: Runs now through Christmas. Shop a diverse collection of local artisan-made gifts, crafts & sweet treats. Open 10am - 4pm, Monday through

: Runs Dec. 9 - Jan. 13. Works of all kinds by local & regional artists will be on display in the galleries. An opening reception

hibition is sponsored by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. oliverart centerfrankfort.org/events

Twisted Fish Gallery, Elk Rapids. Featuring Joani Braun’s lifetime of art. In recent years, Joani

Higher

al artists. Small works of art displayed on the

Jordan River Arts

ing paintings, collages, jewelry, scarves,

KET: Charlevoix Circle of Arts, through Dec. 30. Closed Sundays. A festive, handmade,

A CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 7-9pm, Gaylord High School, Gornick Auditorium. Presented by the Gaylord Community Orchestra & Gay lord Community Choir. $15 adults, students free. gaylordorchestra.org

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL,” GLEN ARBOR: (See Thurs., Dec. 8)

COMEDY WITH CHRIS YOUNG: Traverse City Comedy Club, TC. This come dian is able to take real life experiences & turn them into laughs that maintain a clean but funny appearance. He is a frequent per former at comedy clubs, colleges & casinos, as well as corporate shows around the coun try. $20-$25. traversecitycomedyclub.com/ chris-young ----------------------

NMC JAZZ BANDS IN CONCERT WITH LAURIE SEARS, DIRECTOR: 7:30pm, Den nos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Email for tickets: nmcmusicde partment@simpletix.com $13 adults; $8 se niors & students in advance. mynorthtickets. com/events/nmc-jazz-bands-presents-win ter-jazz-ensemble-showcase-12-4-2021

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL:

THE PROLIFICS MOTOWN REVUE CHRISTMAS SHOW: 8-9:30pm, Leelanau Sands Casino, Peshawbestown. leelanau sandscasino.com/entertainment

free

THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY: (See Sat., Dec. 3)

helping hands

HARVEST FOOD & SUPPLY DRIVE: Held at Women’s Resource Center of North ern Michigan & Gold Mine Resale Shops, Petoskey. Help support survivors & their family members who utilize Safe Home Services. The Safe Home is operated 24/7 by Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan. It is a caring, secure & supportive place to seek refuge from domestic abuse & sexual assault when home is not a safe place to live. Grocery or supermarket gift card donations & financial contributions help Safe Home staff purchase exactly what is needed at any given time. Nonperishable donations are also accepted. wrcnm.org/getinvolved/safe-home-needs

FRIENDS OF INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY HOLIDAY MITTEN TREE: lochen Public Library. Donate new or handmade mittens, gloves, scarves & hats during regular hours. 231-276-6767.

art“GIFT OF A LIFETIME” EXHIBIT: Twisted Fish Gallery, Elk Rapids. Featuring Joani Braun’s lifetime of art. In recent years, Joani was mostly known for her watercolor paint ings of subjects ranging from landscapes to homes, portraits & animals. She also worked in other mediums, such as wood carving, oil paint, pen & ink, collage, art therapy & more. An opening reception will be held on Fri., Dec. 9 from 6-8pm. Exhibit runs through Dec. 31. Open 10am-5pm, Tues. - Sat. twist edfishgallery.com

JUST GREAT ART!: City Opera House, TC. An opening reception will be held on Dec. 8 from 5-8pm. Anyone looking for unique holiday gifts or a treat for themselves, as well as the downtown shoppers from La dies Night are welcome. Just Great Art! runs from 10am-5pm during the week & evening events, from Dec. 1 - Jan 31. The group of 12 artists paint using oil, watercolor, pastel or acrylic to create their pieces. They love to depict their northwest Michigan area while painting outside, through the warm months. cityoperahouse.org

3RD ANNUAL ART TREE SHOW: Higher Art Gallery, TC. More than 15 local & nation al artists. Small works of art displayed on the Art Tree. Runs through Dec. 24. higherart gallery.com

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- “JASON S. YI: DISSIMULATIONS”: Runs through Dec. 23. Jason S. Yi is an interdisci plinary artist working in photography, video, sculpture, drawing, & site-specific installa tions. Immigrating from South Korea to the United States at an early age, his work is conceived through a bi-cultural lens & inter rogates the notion of perception’s equiva lence to reality.

- INFINITE SPLENDOR, INFINITE LIGHT: Runs through Dec. 23. Two years after graduating from DePauw University in 1953, Bruce Walker became a case officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. As a CIA officer, Walker participated in the Tibetan resistance project (code name ST CIRCUS) in its earli est stages, only six years after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army invaded Tibet & captured the capital city of Lhasa. In 2002, Walker donated his 66-piece collection of Ti betan thangkas, works on paper, & religious objects to DePauw University. dennosmuse um.org/art/now-on-view/index.html

OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT:

- HOLIDAY ART MARKET: Runs now through Christmas. Shop a diverse collection of local artisan-made gifts, crafts & sweet treats. Open 10am - 4pm, Monday through Saturday. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

CHRISTMAS IN THE VIL (See Sat., Dc. 10, except today’s time is 10am5pm.)

WINE WONDERLAND: 12-4pm, Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay. A family-friendly adults; $5 students. northportperformin garts.org

GLEN LAKE FRIENDS OF THE LI BRARY’S 24TH ANNUAL CHILDREN’S Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor. Nov. 19 - Dec. 17. The Friends of Glen Lake Community Library join forces with Glen Lake Schools to provide new books for families & children who are in need of assis tance this holiday season. The wish list can be found at Glen Lake Community Library & Cottage Book Shop. The Cottage Book Shop will give a 20% discount for books bought for the book drive & will wrap the books & take

JRAC GIFT MARKET: Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan, through Dec. 17. Fea turing gifts for giving by local artists, includ ing paintings, collages, jewelry, scarves, baskets, cards & Christmas decorations. jor danriverarts.com

CHARLEVOIX CIRCLE HOLIDAY MARKET: Charlevoix Circle of Arts, through Dec. 30. Closed Sundays. A festive, handmade, shopping experience featuring more than 40 local artists & makers. There will be a German-style holiday Christkindl Festival on Sat., Dec. 3 from 12-5pm. There will be food, drinks, live music by the Foghorn Jazz Band, CMHS Performing Arts students, & The Sig nificant Others, plus children’s cookie deco rating, face painting, a visit from Santa & more. charlevoixcircle.org/exhibits-2022

SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY EXHIBIT: Glen Arbor Arts Center. An annual showcase of 2D + 3D work that offers small, original art at affordable prices; $150 or less. Runs through Dec. 15, & features over 100 works of art, 12 x 12 or smaller, by 17 artists work ing in mixed media, collage, paper, painting, wood, clay & photography. glenarborart.org

SHIPWRECKS OF THE MANITOU PAS SAGE EXHIBIT: Runs through Dec. 30 at Leelanau Historical Society Museum, Le land. This exhibit illustrates the stories of the ships, steamers & crews lost in the Manitou Passage, the waters that surround the Lee lanau Peninsula & its islands. leelanauhis tory.org/exhibits ----------------------

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETO

- TOGETHER THROUGH ART: CROOKED TREE PAINTERS’ STUDIO EXHIBITION: Runs through Dec. 22 in Atrium Gallery. The CT Painters’ Studio aims to encourage ar tistic expression in all media & at all levels. crookedtree.org/article/ctac-petoskey/art-

- HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Held in Galleries through Dec. 20. Shop hundreds of unique handmade gifts & works of art. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/holiday-bazaarpetoskey-opens-november-22

- WINTER MEMBER ART EXHIBITION RE CEPTION: Runs Dec. 9 - Jan. 13. Works of all kinds by local & regional artists will be on display in the galleries. An opening reception will be held on Dec. 9 from 5-7pm. This ex hibition is sponsored by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. oliverart centerfrankfort.org/events

JAZZY CHRISTMAS XI: 3pm, Central Unit ed Methodist Church, TC. Admission is free but a

will offering will be taken to sup port the Homeless Outreach at the church. There will be instrumental & vocal favorites performed with a little jazzy twist.

Bring non-perishable or canned goods to any of Preston Feather’s four locations: Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Gaylord & TC by Dec. 16. Donations go to local food pantries to help families across 10am, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Featuring gently used books & puzzles. Each bundle is

BELLAIRE WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, 9am-noon, Nov. 11 – May 12. Held at 3 locations: Bee Well Mead & Cider,

BOYNE CITY MARKET AT THE PAVILION: Saturdays, 9am-12:30pm, Veterans Park Pavilion, Boyne City. Shop local produce,

Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, Mercato, TC. Fresh produce,

Revenge may not be a dish best served cold after all, at least if the piping hot temperature of director Mark Mylod’s delightful debut satire, The Menu , has anything to say about it.

The organic and certified fresh thriller offers a full palette of themes, including the sour notes of mockery, the salty transparency of truth, the bitterness of great culinary art being commodified by outsiders, and the savory, mutinous dreams come true of every kitchen staff in the world. What you won’t find is sweetness until the very end, in an absurd but perfect finale involving wearable desserts.

The Menu follows the obsessions and heroworship of Chef Julian Slowik, as channeled by actor Ralph Fiennes in a performance that combines Michelin-Starred inspirations from Ramsey Michel, Mario Batali, and possibly Hannibal Lecter.

Chef’s latest culinary adventure is a trendy destination restaurant called Hawthorne, a spot so exclusive it requires a ferry boat ride to the offshore Carolinian island where his monastery of dutiful interns forages the adventurous ingredients nightly.

Overseeing a militant team with exquisite precision, Chef pairs each course with increasingly more personal and profound introductions. Once revealed, the concept of The Menu is not just a tasting but a sociopolitical-turned-criminal experiment. His disgruntled dialogue on the obscene costs of running his epicurious empire, the sacred scarcity of reservations but blasphemous indifference of guests, and his intellectual debate about cuisine scientifique all play out in a colloquial tone of work/life torture that reveals the restaurant business is unpalatable for all involved.

The cast of rich and powerful diners thrown together by chance in this acidic medley (Nicholas Hoult, Reed Birney, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo, among others) soon realizes their exclusive bragging rights may come with an unexpected cost. Each guest begins to be demonized by the menu and staff attention in a meal turned into a puzzle and trap.

But it’s the central dynamic of Chef versus Margo, a mystery guest throwing the plans off played to piquant-perfection by Anya Taylor-Joy of Queen’s Gambit fame, that keeps the knives sharpened as the story unfolds. Disturbed and distracted by her presence, Chef instantly recognizes the intruder isn’t a part of the world he intends to skewer as they connect in the secret language of servers, have-nots, and the 99%.

If you’ve ever worked in a kitchen or waited tables, you’ll recognize the disdain from the customers. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable in a fancy restaurant, you’ll love the tone of absurdity applied to some of the rituals of fine dining (enhanced by real-life chef Dominique Crenn as script and on-set advisor to the film, food tweezers in hand).

Co-writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, blending previous emulsions from working for The Onion and Late Night with Seth Meyers, have created a brilliant “Top Death” where performative cooking, conceptual art, and economic theatrics are all considered fair, caricatured proteins to grill.

In a playful nod to the foodies out there, the dishes are highlighted with Chef’s Table style overviews of the courses that feature names like The Mess, Taco Tuesday, Man’s Folly, and Tyler’s Bullsh*t. It all exploits how our food porn culture has crossed over from fantasy to deviance…where the most transformative act is not photographing the dishes at all but simply tasting them.

BREW, TC

12/8 -- Chris Smith, 6-8

ENCORE 201, TC

12/3 -- Jon Archambault Band, 8-10; DJ Ricky T, 10 12/9-10 -- DJ Ricky T, 9

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC

BARREL ROOM:

12/3 -- Barrels & Beats w/ Rob Coonrod, 6 12/9 – Unsilent Night, 6-8 LIL BO, TC Tues. – Trivia, 8-10 Weds. – Aldrich, 9 Sun. – Karaoke, 8

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC

12/9 – Chris Smith, 6:30-9:30

NORTH BAR TC 7-10: 12/3 -- Old Mission Fiddle Vine 12/10 – Jim Hawley

ROVE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, TC

12/9 – Holiday Music w/ Luke Woltanski, 4

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC

12/3 -- DJ Dusty Staircase –Detroit Night, 8-11 12/7 – Endless Summer w/ DJ Dusty Staircase, 3-10 12/10 – DJ Marty Ball – Fresh Pressed, 8-11

THE PARLOR, TC

12/3 – 9th Annual Prohibition Party w/ Blair Miller, Chris Sterr, Slim Pickins & Joe Wilson, 7:30-11:30

12/6 – Jesse Jefferson, 7-10 12/7 – Wink, 7-10 12/8 – Jimmy Olson, 7-10 12/9 – Rolling Dirty, 7-10 12/10 – Blue Footed Booby, 7-10

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

12/3 -- 90's Pop Music, 6 12/6 -- Open Mic & Musical

Antrim & Charlevoix

Talent Showcase, 7 12/7 -- Jazz Show & Jam, 6 12/9 -- The Timebombs, 7 12/10 -- The Marsupials, 7

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC

Tues. – Trivia, 7-9 TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY CLUB, TC

12/2 -- Comedy with Cliff Clash, 7:45 12/3 -- Comedy with Cliff Clash, 7:30 12/10 -- Comedy with Chris Young, 7:30

UNION STREET STATION, TC 12/3 -- DJ PRIM, 10 12/6 -- Open Mic Comedy, 8-9:30; then Karaoke 12/7 -- Skin Kwon Doe, 10 12/8 -- DJ Parker Marshall, 10 12/9 -- Happy Hour w/ Chris Sterr; then One Hot Robot 12/10 -- One Hot Robot, 10

nitelife

edited by jamie kauffold

Send Nitelife to: events@traverseticker.com

\ BC LANES, BOYNE CITY

12/3 -- Scarkazm, 8

BIER'S INWOOD BREWERY, CHARLEVOIX

12/9 -- David Lawston, 7-9

HELLO VINO, BELLAIRE

12/9 -- Nick, 5:30-8:30

PROVISIONS WINE LOUNGE, BOYNE CITY 12/3 -- Randy Reszka, 6-8

RED MESA GRILL, BOYNE CITY 12/7 -- Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters, 6-9

SHORT'S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE 8:30-10:30: 12/3 -- Flylite Gemini 12/9 – John Paul 12/10 – Chris Sterr

Otsego, Crawford & Central

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 6: 12/3 -- Mike Ridley

12/9 -- Nelson Olstrom 12/10 -- Spencer Oppermann

BENNETHUM'S NORTHERN INN, GAYLORD 12/6 -- Jeff Greif, 5-8

Emmet & Cheboygan

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAY LORD 6-9: 12/9 -- Lou Thumser 12/10 -- Nelson Olstrom

BROOMSTACK KITCHEN & TA PHOUSE, MAPLE CITY Tue -- Pat Niemisto & Chris Skellenger, 6-9

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY 12/10 -- Luke Woltanski Christ mas Edition, 2:30-4:30

12/9 – Heikki Lunta Snow Party (3-8) w/ Nick Veine, 5-7 12/10 – Sean Baldwin, 5-7

LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 6:30-9:30: 12/3 -- Andre Villoch 12/9 -- Brett Mitchell 12/10 -- Tim Jones & Friends

12/11

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEU LAH

BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY

12/4 -- Drawbridge Uke Band, 4 12/10 – Syd Burnham Duo, 6-9

12/11 – Owen James Second Sunday Solo Set, 4

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY 2-6: 12/3 -- Chase & Allie

12/10 -- Michelle Chenard

MOOSE JAW JUNCTION, PELLSTON Thu -- Talent Contest, 6-8

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES, 10:

12/3 -- Yankee Station 12/9 -- Live DJ 12/10 -- Detour

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN

12/3 -- Ryan Svoboda & John Galacz, 8 12/9 -- Lori Cleland, 7 12/10 -- Lara & Justice, 7:30

DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE 12/3 – Barefoot, 2-4; Jackie Pappas, 5-7

LEELANAU SANDS CASINO, PESHAWBESTOWN 8-9:30: 12/3 -- The Carpenters Reimag ined Christmas Show 12/10 – The Prolifics Motown Revue Christmas Show

5:30-8:30: 12/3 -- Luke Woltanski 12/8 – Open Mic Night w/ Jeff Louwsma 12/10 -- Saldaje

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT 7-9: 12/3 -- Lynn Callihan 12/10 – Blake Elliott

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUT TONS BAY

-- Wine Wonderland w/ Music by Luke Woltanski, noon-4

Leelanau & Benzie

Michigan born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Luke Woltanski is well known on the northern Michigan circuit for playing guitar, piano, mountain dulcimer, Native American flute and harmonica – often two at a time! He brings his Christmas Edition to Ciccone Vineyard & Winery in Suttons Bay, Sat., Dec. 10 from 2:30-4:30pm. He also brings holiday music to Rove Estate Vineyard & Winery on Fri., Dec. 9 at 4pm, and hits St. Ambrose Cellars, Beulah on Sat., Dec. 3 from 5:30-8:30pm, and Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay, Sun., Dec. 11 from noon-4pm.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Sagittarians are least likely to stay in one location for extended periods. Many of you enjoy the need to move around from place to place. Doing so may be crucial in satisfying your quest for ever-fresh knowledge and stimulation. You understand that it's risky to get too fixed in your habits and too dogmatic in your beliefs. So you feel an imperative to keep disrupting routines before they become deadening. When you are successful in this endeavor, it's often due to a special talent you have: your capacity for creating an inner sense of home that enables you to feel stable and grounded as you ramble free. I believe this superpower will be extra strong during the coming months.

VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo author Jeanette Winterson writes, "I have always tried to make a home for myself, but I have not felt at home in myself. I have worked hard at being the hero of my own life, but every time I checked the register of displaced persons, I was still on it. I didn’t know how to belong. Longing? Yes. Belonging? No." Let's unpack Winterson's complex testimony as it relates to you right now. think you are closer than ever before to feeling at home in yourself—maybe not perfectly so, but more than in the past. I also suspect you have a greater-than-usual capacity for belonging. That's why I invite you to be clear about what or whom you want to belong to and what your belonging will feel like. One more thing: You now have extraordinary power to learn more about what it means to be the hero of your own life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): It's tempting for you to entertain balanced views about every subject. You might prefer to never come to definitive conclusions about anything, because it's so much fun basking in the pretty glow of prismatic ambiguity. You LOVE there being five sides to every story. I'm not here to scold you about this predilection. As a person with three Libran planets in my chart, I understand the appeal of considering all options. But I will advise you to take a brief break from this tendency. If you avoid making decisions in the coming weeks, they will be made for you by others. I don't recommend that. Be proactive.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A reader named Elisa Jean tells me, "We Scorpio allies admire how Scorpios can be so solicitous and welcoming: the best party hosts. They know how to foster social situations that bring out the best in everyone and provide convivial entertainment. Yet Scorpios also know everyone's secrets. They are connoisseurs of the skeletons in the closets. So they have the power to spawn discordant commotions and wreak havoc on people's reputations. But they rarely do. Instead, they keep the secrets. They use their covert knowledge to weave deep connections." Everything Ella Jean described will be your specialties in the coming weeks, Scorpio.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn author Edgar Allan Poe made this mysterious statement: "We can, at any time, double the true beauty of an actual landscape by half closing our eyes as we look at it." What did he mean? He was referring to how crucial it is to see life "through the veil of the soul." Merely using our physical vision gives us only half the story. To be receptive to the full glory of the world, our deepest self must also participate in the vision. Of course, this is always true. But it's even more extra especially true than usual for you right now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian theologian Henri Nouwen wrote, "I have discovered that the gifts of life are often hidden in the places that hurt most." Yikes! Really? I don't like that idea. But I will say this: If Nouwen's theory has a grain of truth, you will capitalize on that fact in the coming weeks. Amazingly enough, a wound or pain you experienced in the past could reveal a redemptive possibility that inspires and heals you.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky wrote, "To be free, you simply have to be so, without asking permission. You must have your own hypothesis about what you are called to do, and follow it, not giving in to circumstances or complying with them. But that sort of freedom demands powerful inner resources, a high degree of self-awareness, and a consciousness of your responsibility to yourself and therefore to other people." That last element is where some freedom-seekers falter. They neglect their obligation to care for and serve their fellow humans. I want to make sure you don't do that, Aries, as you launch a new phase of your liberation process. Authentic freedom is conscientious.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The term "neurodiversity" refers to the fact that the human brain functions in a wide variety of ways. There are not just a few versions of mental health and learning styles that are better than all the others. Taurus musician David Byrne believes he is neurodiverse because he is on the autism spectrum. That's an advantage, he feels, giving him the power to focus with extra intensity on his creative pursuits. I consider myself neurodiverse because my life in the imaginal realm is just as important to me as my life in the material world. I suspect that most of us are neurodiverse in some sense—deviating from "normal" mental functioning. What about you, Taurus? The coming months will be an excellent time to explore and celebrate your own neurodiversity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Poet Jane Hirshfield says that Zen Buddhism is built on three principles: 1. Everything changes. 2. Everything is connected. 3. Pay attention. Even if you are not a Zen practitioner, Gemini, I hope you will focus on the last two precepts in the coming weeks. If I had to summarize the formula that will bring you the most interesting experiences and feelings, it would be, "Pay attention to how everything is connected." I hope you will intensify your intention to see how all the apparent fragments are interwoven. Here's my secret agenda: I think it will help you register the truth that your life has a higher purpose than you're usually aware of—and that the whole world is conspiring to help you fulfill that purpose.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In my dream, I gathered with my five favorite astrologers to ruminate on your immediate future. After much discussion, we decided the following advice would be helpful for you in December. 1. Make the most useful and inspirational errors you've dared in a long time. 2. Try experiments that teach you interesting lessons even if they aren't completely successful. 3. Identify and honor the blessings in every mess.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): "All possible feelings do not yet exist," writes Leo novelist Nicole Krauss in her book The History of Love. "There are still those that lie beyond our capacity and our imagination. From time to time, when a piece of music no one has ever written, or something else impossible to predict, fathom, or yet describe takes place, a new feeling enters the world. And then, for the millionth time in the history of feeling, the heart surges and absorbs the impact." I suspect that some of these novel moods will soon be welling up in you, Leo. I'm confident your heart will absorb the influx with intelligence and fascination.

out, gangster-style "Bird is the Word" who knows where it'll end up. by Matt Jones “Jonesin” Crosswords

Laundry issue

Island near 11-Down

and to be braver in formulating your responses. Make the coming weeks be the time when you find out much more about what you truly think and feel. five longest answers (which might not be seen anymore if its platform implodes) DOWN 1. Eight, for starters 2. "Lord of the Rings" ringbearer 3. Less in number 4. Summer, in Paris 5. Bench press muscle, briefly 6. Fur-trading tycoon John Jacob 7. Spine feature 8. Fencing sword 9. Marina of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" 10. Taking things badly? 11. Greece/Turkey separator 12. Pleasant feeling, in reggae songs 13. Fledgling's place 18. Moon of Endor dweller 22. "___ Off the Boat" 24. Really fails 28. Long-armed animal 29. Computer memory unit 31. Dipped, like stocks 32. "___ Make a Deal" 33. Tool building 34. Radial, e.g. 35. Whenever 36. Old Venetian VIP 37. Wowed feeling 38. Island famous for its nightlife 40. Jacket over a shirt, e.g. 41. Mother of Abel 46. Elegantly clad 47. Got off the ground 49. Weasel's aquatic relative 50. Give credit for 51. Draw upon again 53. Stardust alter ego 54. The ones nearby 55. Femur, for one 56. Mosque figure 57. Done laps in the pool 58. Sidewalk sale pop-up 60. Don't delete 63. Part of a car rescue