Top Ten

this week’s top ten

Harbor Springs & Bay Harbor In Some Elite Company

Travel + Leisure magazine knows its stuff, so when the publication partnered released its list last week of the “Eight best small towns to buy a vacation home” and our very own Emmet County landed on the list, we were impressed. The article notes that second homes are having a moment right now because so many people are escaping big cities and can work from anywhere.

The piece notes Bay Harbor and Petoskey have seen a “surge of demand” in waterfront homes of late, and hails the area further: “These serene resort communities on Lake Michigan attract visitors of all ages year-round with their charming lakeside dining and shopping spots, golfing, fishing, and sailing opportunities, as well as their overall laidback vibe. Fall foliage here is absolutely stunning, and when the first snow transforms the area into a winter wonderland.”

The other towns were Bend, Oregon; Seaside, Florida; St. Augustine, Florida; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Grand Lake, Colorado; Big Sky, Montana; and Wailea, Hawaii.

tastemaker Gallagher’s Farm Market Donuts

Bike The Hills

Here’s a mountain bike event even beginners can roll with! The 15th annual Founders Peak2Peak Mountain Bike Classic will be held in and around the gently rolling terrain surrounding Crystal Mountain on Sat., Oct. 23 at 9:30am. The race starts and finishes near the base of the front-side slopes. Riders will journey through hardwood and pine forests along rambling two-tracks and flowing single-track on a fast and challenging course -- but not too difficult for beginners! The Tour de Tykes will also take place for ages 7-12 or 6 and under. Register your kids at the Mountain Adventure Zone at 1pm. For all other registration info, visit crystalmountain.com/event/peak2peak/.

4

Hey, watch this Maid

Perhaps lost among all the (well-deserved) hype surrounding Netflix’s breakout sensation Squid Game is a less buzzy (and less violent) new limited series, but one no less devastating in its impact. Inspired by Stephanie Land’s memoir of the same name, Maid is the story of single mother Alex (an incredible Margaret Qualley) doing everything she can to escape an abusive relationship and provide for her two-year-old daughter. But with an estranged father and a bipolar mother (played by Qualley’s real-life mother Andie MacDowell), the lack of a support system in her life leaves her scrambling, desperate, and jumping through impossible hoops. One of the most honest and affecting portrayals of the realities of poverty, even with its beats of levity and uplift, it refuses to sugarcoat Alex’s situation and it’s all the more compelling for it. Streaming on Netflix.

5

We’re not much for pumpkin spice lattes, but we do have our own seasonal cravings, and these little round wonders can be found at Gallagher’s Farm Market in Traverse City. Gallagher’s doles out fresh donuts in dozens from June through October. Founded in 1972 by Jack and Bernie Gallagher, this Certified Centennial farm features nearly 600 acres of pristine pasture - as well as a few friendly animal faces - and its famous market. But the real draw is the donut case. Featuring a rotating array of seasonal flavors, Gallagher’s powerhouse bakery bangs out more than 200 treats per hour! From batter to baking sheet, each perfect bite is specially mixed in three to five-gallon batches. Following a quick flip in the hopper, each crumbly-perfect pastry is carefully coated in sugar mix, frosting, or simply left plain. Pair your selection with a little local cider for the perfect autumn afternoon snack! $1 each or $11 per dozen. 7237 E Traverse Hwy, Traverse City. (231)-947-1689 or www.facebook.com/GallaghersFarmMarket.

WE ALL KEEP SECRETS

EVEN FROM OURSELVES

Please join us for a mysterious October event at the City Opera House on Monday, October 18 • 7PM ALEX MICHAELIDES

Joining us from the UK in conversation about his new book, The Maidens, now an international bestseller!

“A twist that blew my mind.”

~ LUCY FOLEY, New York Times bestselling author Event Sponsor: AMICAL In-person and livestreamed

For tickets go to NationalWritersSeries.org

Frankfort Toasts Great Films

This week is the 13th annual Frankfort Film Festival, featuring 17 films on the big screen at the historic Garden Theater. The festival runs October 21-24, with the opening night party the evening before. Our movie picks: the moody French film Night of the Kings, Russia’s 1960s award-winner Dear Comrades, and the documentary about life in The Villages in Florida, Some Kind of Heaven. Individual tickets to films are $12. An opening party ticket is $25. Or become a Directing Sponsor for $200 and get tickets to every single showing and the party. For more, visit frankfortgardentheater.com/film-festival/.

Fall For Leelanau

Immerse yourself in autumn during the second annual Fall For Leelanau from October 18-24, presented by Leelanau Conservancy. The event begins with a workbee cleanup at Chippewa Run Natural Area on Monday and ends with a concert by Andrew Lutes and Chris Smith at Tandem Ciders on Sunday. In between, events include volunteer opportunities at some of the county’s natural areas, a tour of new additions to Palmer Woods, and a curated fall color drive. Sign-up is required for some events and can be found at leelanauconservancy. org, under the Events tab. All events are free! Photo credit Jim Saffell.

Eco-Friendly Clothing

Handmade Home Decor

Local Jewelry

Paper Goods

Local Artist Prints

326 N. Saint Joseph Street, Suttons Bay, MI

Stuff We Love: Your Castle Awaits

It is, after all, our Luxe issue, so we thought we’d tempt you with something that will make you feel very wealthy. Inspirato, which some call the “Netflix of travel,” allows you to stay in some of the world’s finest hotels, resorts, private homes, and castles for one simple monthly subscription fee. Want to visit a nine-bedroom estate in Tuscany this weekend, and stay for a month? That’s included. How about a penthouse at The Beverly Hills Hotel? Do it, with no fees or taxes as part of the Inspirato Pass. Passholders can even take a cruise or a safari, all included with their monthly subscription. Some stays include a maid or a car, too. Waiting for the catch? All you need to know is you can’t book your next stay until the current one ends. Oh, and the monthly subscription fee? $2,500. Yes, it’s steep, but that estate in Tuscany costs commoners that much for one night’s stay. More at Inspirato.com.

bottoms up

Oktoberfest I and II, Silver Spruce Brewing

It’s October, which means it’s prime fall beer season. There’s maybe no beer that screams “fall” more than the German Oktoberfest style, and there’s no brewery in northern Michigan that does a more authentic Oktoberfest than Silver Spruce Brewing. From the beginning, Silver Spruce brewers Leah Tyrell and Scott Stuhr have sought to carve out their niche in Traverse City’s busy beer scene by crafting light, easy-drinking beers. That’s true to the age-old German brewing philosophy, and there’s more than a little bit of Germany in Silver Spruce’s beers – including the brewery’s most popular beer, the German Pilsner. So, if you’re in the mood for a satisfying, crisp, caramel-y, malty Oktoberfest beer, Silver Spruce has you covered. In fact, Silver Spruce has you covered twice over. Oktoberfest I is the lighter-bodied option, with a low ABV (4.9 percent) that makes it ideal for day-drinking your way through college football Saturdays. If you’re in the mood for something a bit richer and fuller, try the Oktoberfest II – which bumps up the caramel and toffee flavors and ratchets up the ABV to 5.9. Frankly, you can’t go wrong either way. www.SilverSpruceBrewing.com Northern Express Weekly • october 18, 2021 • 5