Top Ten

this week’s top ten

Sweet, Sweet Memories

We have one question for you: Are you a Sugar Loafer? If you A) know what that means and B) answered yes, don’t miss the Sugar Loaf Discovery Day at the Leelanau Historical Society on Saturday, July 23. A team of archivists will be ready and waiting to record your Sugar Loaf oral histories, documents, and artifacts to help preserve the history of the former Leelanau County skiing hotspot. Though it may have been 20 years since the resort was last open, its memory will live on through this communitysourced experience. Bonus: You can enjoy free admission to the museum on Saturday as well, where a special exhibit will chronicle the resort’s early history. No appointments are necessary, but if you can’t make the event and still want to tell your Sugar Loaf story, call (231) 254-7475 or visit leelanauhistory.org/events. Otherwise, head to 203 E. Cedar St. in Leland between 10am and 4pm.

2 Hippie Chippies tastemaker

We don’t often wax rhapsodic about something as mundane as a corn chip, but Michigan-made Hippie Chippies deserve our exaltation. At first glance, these tortilla triangles might seem like they’d be just another sad sack of snacks gone wild, with “exciting new flavors” and brightly colored bags that promise a party inside. But no. Neon tie-dyepatterned packaging aside, the only party here happens in your mouth. Hippie Chippies bring a beguiling mix of sweet and savory with the merest hint of heat, and in such a subtle and not overpoweringly fake way (looking at you, Tostitos Hint of Lime, Spicy Queso, and Habanero) that it feels increasingly impossible to stop shoving them in your face once you start. That said, if you’re lucky enough to find these addictive chips on the shelf—they sell out often and as quickly as expected—buy two bags and tell no one. We find ours (when we’re lucky) at Burritt’s Fresh Markets, 509 W Front St., Traverse City. (231) 946-3300. Find other retailers at hippiechippies.com.

Get Your Jam on at Dunesville

The Dunesville Music Festival aims to entertain everyone. Located at Harmony Pines in Interlochen and running July 22 to 24, this festival offers not only tons of bands but also workshops, an art gallery, fire performers, and more. Jam to live music by Galactic Sherpas, Brotha James and The Gazing North Band, Silver Creek Revival, The Whiskey Charmers, Blue Water Ramblers, and so many more. For a complete lineup and tickets, visit dunesvillemusicfestival.com. (Photo by This Is a Good Sound)

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Hey, watch It! The Summer I Turned Pretty

Oh, to be young again. Amazon Prime’s The Summer I Turned Pretty is certainly pitched toward the young adult crowd, with its fresh-faced cast and classic coming-of-age tropes. But it might also scratch a nostalgic itch for older audiences who still fondly remember their own youthful summers. The show follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung), just on the verge of 16 and heading off to a very-northernMichigan-like town called Cousins Beach to spend the summer. There, she finds herself navigating love triangles (or maybe quadrangles?), family drama, and the local debutante ball. The show depicts those hurdles of youth with tenderness and authenticity, perfectly capturing the late nights, busted curfews, swooning romance, and limited responsibility of a teenage summer. Based on the novel by Jenny Han—who also wrote the books that became Netflix’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy—The Summer I Turned Pretty is like a satisfying beach read come to life. Now streaming on Amazon Prime.

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6 Rockin’ Golf

The 6th annual Kenny Olson RockN-Hole Golf Tournament at Elmbrook Golf Course in Traverse City is just around the dogleg on Saturday, July 24. Olson, an acclaimed musician with a resume that includes guitarist for Kid Rock, has put his talent to use for a personal cause. Hallie Olson Watsell passed away in 2016 after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer, and her family rallied to continue her legacy. Proceeds of the event go toward the Hallie’s Hearts Endowment (through the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation), which helps northern Michigan women battling ovarian cancer. The $100 ticket covers golf, prizes, meals, and the concert. If you’re not one for the fairway, you can attend just the concert for $20, which starts at 7pm at Elmbrook and also features Jimmy Olson on keyboard. To learn more, head to facebook. com/KennyOlsonGolfTourney.

Workforce Housing Projects in the Works

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, one of the largest employers in Grand Traverse County, broke ground last week on a new employee housing project (pictured). The building—set to be completed in 2023—will include 40 units for GTRS employees and will be primarily dedicated to seasonal international staff who are instrumental in shouldering the resort’s summer rush. Meanwhile, a project in Leelanau called “Vineyard View” is facing a $150,000 gap in its funding. Vineyard View is planned to have eight townhouse-style apartments, but HomeStretch Nonprofit Housing Corporation—the organization helming the build—still has to make upgrades to Marek Road, which leads to the development site. With federal and state grants already under their belt—plus a completed (and successful) local fundraising campaign—the opportunities to bridge the $150,000 shortfall are limited. At this time, HomeStretch anticipates a best-case scenario of breaking ground in September and occupancy available in the fall of 2023.

“Honey Flow ” is almost here! Harvest of the sticky goodness begins in the next couple weeks and goes through late fall. The honey bees had a great spring and early summer season in over 250 pollination locations across Northern Michigan. Hilbert’s Honey Co. specializes in raw honeycomb that comes straight from our hives, to our packing facility, then to your table. Get your sweet fix at our 5 Mile location in Traverse City, on our website and many local businesses.

Stuff We Love: A No Swimming Short

Since the members of Chicago soul band The O’My’s came together a decade ago, they’ve retreated to a family barn in Leelanau County to write and record their music. In October, they brought along an audio and visual team to film a live rendition of their latest EP, No Swimming. The short film, a beautiful capture of moment as well as music, just went live on YouTube last week. Their stellar sound—always chill, often sexy, and as ideal a soundtrack for intimate dinner parties as hanging alone in the hammock—feels even more personal when bookended by snippets of the musicians hiking, cooking, and talking about what the space and place means to them and their creative process. “We’re city kids,” they say as the film opens, later observing, “There’s not even cell phone service here, so that creates a different level of focus and commitment that’s difficult to get from a group of people back home.” Before you’re inspired to unplug, too, search “O’My’s No Swimming” on YouTube.

bottoms up Townline Ciderworks’ Fresh Strawberry Cider

“Homegrown” gets a whole new meaning at Townline Ciderworks in Williamsburg. Opened in 2017, this tasting room and production facility features hand-crafted wine and cider sourced from surrounding Altonen Orchards. While there’s certainly no shortage of heritage apples (the South Farm alone houses thousands of trees), the cidery also gets funky with other flavors. For summer, berries are a no-brainer. Enter: Townline’s Fresh Strawberry cider. “The strawberries are grown right near the apples, so it seemed natural to marry the two,” says Tasting Room Manager Kristie Altonen. Comprising three heirloom apple varieties (Goldrush, Golden Nugget, and Golden Russet), this zingy, apple-forward cider is balanced by fermentation on whole berries. The result is a refreshingly acidic structure with a subtle strawberry nose and semisweet finish. Enjoy a tapped pint for $6 or a 4-pack for $20. But don’t sleep on this seasonal sip—it only comes around once a year. Find it at Townline Ciderworks, on the southern edge of Altonen Orchards, 11595 US-31 S, Williamsburg. (231) 883-5330. townlineciderworks.com Northern Express Weekly • juLY 18, 2022 • 5