Top Ten

this week’s top ten

We’re Going Gray — Fast

Much of northwest Lower Michigan is getting grayer, and we’re not talking about the folks who quit coloring their hair when pandemic restrictions shuttered salons in 2020. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey reports that 33.3 percent of the people living in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties were age 60 or older. In 2010, that 60+ population was 25.3 percent. Considering that region’s overall population decreased in that same period — from 109,708 to 107,916 — the rapid increase in the over-60 crowd is not only significant but concerning, says Northern Lakes Economic Alliance in a recent report.

The group, whose aim is to provide resources to communities and entrepreneurs to create and retain jobs in Antrim, Charlevoix, and Cheboygan counties, contends that rapidly aging communities pose serious challenges to local communities and economies, playing a part in driving labor shortages and housing challenges, and increasing demand on industries like health care, retirement communities, restaurants, and recreation,

“These demographic trends warrant a serious examination by community leaders,” the report urges. “In order to maintain our vibrant economy, our workforce needs to be maintained. The COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in work-from-home options may have contributed to last year’s population growth, but that does not mean new residents entered our local workforce. Our leaders need to explore avenues for attracting young professionals and families to the area.”

To read the full report, visit northernlakes.net.

tastemaker Raven Social’s Penne Rosa

For the ultimate in upscale comfort food, look no further than Raven Social in downtown Cadillac. Opened in September 2016 by restaurant-power couple Chuck and Connie Freiberg, Raven Social combines a seasonal farm-to-table sourcing philosophy with classic European prep. The result is Euro-fusion flavor in a relaxed Up North atmosphere. And for a frigid autumn evening out, the Penne Rosa is exactly what executive chef Steve Gorski suggests you order. A modern take on the traditional alfredo, Gorski begins with a sauce-gripping base of penne noodles, which he drenches in a decadent garlic-Parmesan cream. Topped with a portion of thin-pounded chicken breast that’s hand-battered and seared up to crispy perfection, then finished with a drizzle of “Rosa” sauce — that’s a tomato-based sauce spiked with cream and basil — and flakes of fresh Parmesan. Pasta enlightenment, achieved. $19.95 at Raven Social, 119 S. Mitchell St., Cadillac. (231) 444-6396. Follow “Raven Social Cadillac” on Facebook. 4 • november 08, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

Fun Run, Pancakes & Fall Drinks Down on the Farm

Work up an appetite with a 9am fun run at Jacob’s Farm in Traverse City on Saturday, Nov. 13. Jacob’s A-maze-ing 5K & 10K includes an off-road adventure across the farm and through a portion of its 10-acre corn maze. Fun-run tickets also get you free entry to the farm’s Flapjack & Flannel Festival following the race, 1pm–6pm, where you can refuel with a stack of pancakes and wash ’em down with water … or fall-focused beverages from Mammoth Distillery, Blackrocks Brewery, Silver Spruce Brewery, Right Brain Brewery, Stone Hound Brewing, Cheboygan Brewing, Earthen Ales, Left Foot Charley, and Blake’s Hard Cider. Enjoy live music by the Drew Hale Band, Jack Pine, and Stonefolk, too. Search Jacobs A-maze-ing 5k for race registration or Flapjack Flannel for festival tickets at Eventbrite.com.

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Hey, read it Out of the Corner of Your Eye

If you weren’t lucky enough to be one of the legions of seventh- or ninth-grade science students Richard Fidler inspired over 31 years, thank your lucky stars the former Traverse City teacher has so far spent his retirement authoring some of our favorite books on nature and local history. His latest, “Out of the Corner of my Eye: Seeing Things That Matter,” is an immersive capture of the essence and beauty of living things, filled not only with his usual mind-opening (and often mind-blowing) revelations about the inner workings of the natural world but also poetry, narratives, his own pencil drawings, and a more personal glimpse of the author himself. A treat for fans and soon-to-be fans alike.

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Insanely Good!

Baked French Toast

Catch the Mist, Catch the Myth: Rush Tribute in Manistee

The Rush catalog will come alive when The Rush Tribute Project takes the stage at the historic Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts (RRCA) Friday, Nov. 12. An homage to one of the most enduring and influential bands in rock music, RTP covers all 40-plus years of Rush’s run, painstakingly recreating the sound and energy that has made Rush one of the top-selling rock bands of all time. This particular three-piece lineup uses vintage instruments, clothes, and sounds to produce a concert experience so real that it’s performed Rush tribute shows for over a decade across North America and around the world, including the biggie: RushCon. Don’t know what we’re talking about? You’ll probably still enjoy it; there’s also an on-site cash bar and complementary admission at 6:30 into RRCA’s newest art exhibit, First Americans, in Hardy Hall. Theatre seating for RTP begins at 7pm. RamsdellTheatre.org.

Make Way for the Queens!

Ladies, bid your hunters a joyous buh-bye next weekend. Four fun and fabulous drag queens — Michigan’s own Sydney Chablis, Deja Vaton, Krystal Van Kartier, and our personal favorite, Vajojo Visage — are about to storm Castle Farms in Charlevoix for one of the few events worth an 11am Sunday commitment. The Deer Hunters’ Wives Drag Brunch will treat each ticketholder to a mimosa and brunch provided by 1918 Cellars (make that a bottle of wine and brunch if you purchase a VIP ticket) 11am to 2pm Nov 14. Expect lots of glitter, girlfriends, and giggling, and don’t feel a bit guilty if this party sends you to bed by 4pm; it benefits the Paper Angels Project, which ensures that every child served by Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan has gifts under their Christmas tree. Click on the Event Calendar tab at www.castlefarms.com for more information and tickets.

casual worship @ 9a | traditional worship @ 11a ONLINE ANYTIME AT: tccentralumc.org | facebook.com/cumctc

Stuff We Love: New U.S.-built Freighter Hits the Great Lakes

For the first time since 1983, a U.S.flagged freighter has been constructed on the Great Lakes. Fincatieri Bay Shipbuilding, based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, built the 639-foot beast for the Great Lakes’ own Interlake Steamship Company, whose roots trace back more than a century, to 1913.

Named the Mark W. Barker in honor of Interlake Steamship’s president, the self-unloading bulk-carrier launched last week. Its mission for the next half-century or so: transporting raw materials throughout the Great Lakes region.

If you’re not a boat nerd and the name Interlake sounds familiar to you, that’s likely because the longtime family-owned company made big news Up North in 2020, when it acquired the historic SS Badger passenger and car ferry; its sister ship, the non-operating SS Spartan; and an esteemed ol’ workhorse, the articulated tug-barge Undaunted-Pere Marquette 41 from Ludington’s Lake Michigan Car Ferry Co.

bottoms up RBB’s Chubby Squirrel

It’s officially hibernation season, and no Northerner’s hidey-hole can be considered adequately prepped for the coming winter without a good stock of games, snacks, and of course, beer. That’s where Right Brain Brewery comes in. Founded in 2007 by thenstylist and still-beer-buff, Russell Springsteen, RBB has been a pivotal part of Traverse City’s creative beer culture. Pie filling, pig bones, and even asparagus are all featured on their menu right now, but it’s their Chubby Squirrel amber ale that’s bringing some extra body to our cold-weather party. The ultimate multi-palette pleaser, this easy-drinking red stacks the mellow maltiness of vanilla and toffee with a bouquet of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Topped off with a twist of lemon peel for a delightfully dry finish, this seasonal brew pairs best with a crisp autumn evening. $6.25 per pint at RBB, 225 E. 16th Street. By the way, the time is right to taste and stock up on local beers: From Nov. 12 to 19, Traverse City and Frankfort area brewers are hosting Brew Week, a self-guided tour of regional breweries, many of which are celebrating with discounts on beer and food, plus incentives for Beer Week participants — like a “My Hoppy Place” T-shirt, a beer-themed weekend in Traverse City that includes a $200 hotel voucher, and other beer-related gifts. For more information, visit www.traversecity.com/tcbw. Northern Express Weekly • november 08, 2021 • 5