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Black History Month at the Ramsdell 4

The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts has teamed up with the Manistee Racial Justice and Diversity Initiative (MARJDI) to present “Journey of Discovery,” a month-long series of events that celebrates Black History Month and specifically the contributions of African Americans in rural Michigan. This week, you can catch two of the events. First up, on Thursday, Feb. 16, is a performance by singer-songwriter Crys Matthews, a classically-trained clarinetist who is now heralded as one of “…the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers.” Then, on Saturday, Feb. 18, the Ramsdell MARJDI will welcome Dr. Anna Lisa Cox, an Alumna Fellow at Harvard University’s Hutchins Center for African American Research, for a special lecture focused on “Black pioneers who upheld the values of the American Revolution in frontier Michigan and Manistee.” Both events are free to the public, but do require pre-registration. Get the details and make plans by visiting ramsdelltheatre.org.

Snowshoe Under the Stars

Enjoy a guided candlelight tour of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park with experts from the Grand Traverse Conservation District on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 5-7:30pm. While you wander, learn about the art and science of snowshoeing, as well as winter plant identification. Snowshoes will be provided or you can bring your own…or better yet, make your own! (see “Build Your Own Snowshoes” thebotanicgarden.org/ events/)! Tickets: $15-$19.

Hey, watch It! Shrinking

It’s time for a new take on mental health. Apple’s latest, Shrinking, stars Jason Segel as Jimmy Laird, a grieving therapist struggling with the death of his wife and his new role as a single parent to his teenage daughter. In short, he’s not handling it well. Not at all. But when he starts taking creative and maybe not-quite-ethical approaches to helping his clients, he starts to see positive change in himself, too. Jimmy’s rapport and refreshing honesty with his patients—especially Sean (Luke Tennie), who is working through PTSD—will have you wishing you had a shrink just like him. The cast is rounded out by Jessica Williams and a delightfully grumpy Harrison Ford playing fellow therapists Gabby and Paul, plus Christa Miller (of Scrubs and Cougar Town fame) as Jimmy’s next-door neighbor. While there’s plenty of gravity in Jimmy’s situation and those of his patients, humor and heartwarming moments abound. Now streaming on Apple TV+.

For those in need of a little mid-winter respite, Northport’s snowy paths and sledding hills (Nagonaba Trail System is a must) make for the perfect local excursion. While you’re out there, warm up at New Bohemian Café with a latte and a Kev McMurphin. Named for coowner Kevin Murphy (with a cheeky nod to McDonalds’ Egg McMuffin), New Bo’s signature breakfast sandwich is stacked with scrambled eggs, crispy hashbrowns, and sausage, all piled high on a toasted English muffin. Finished with homemade garlic-chili mayo and a layer of gooey American cheese, this après-hike snack is just as decadent on a plate as it is wrapped in foil to go. We’re thawing out just thinking about it—and at only $6.50 per sandwich, there’s nothing stopping you from stocking up! The Kev McMurphin is available at New Bohemian Café (110 S. Waukazoo St., Northport), and you can place an online order at newbohemiancafe.com. (231) 386-1034

6 Cheers to the First TC Bourbon Fest

Stuff We Love: Honoring a Local Wonder Woman

We have cherry festivals and comedy festivals and film festivals…and now, we have a bourbon festival! The inaugural TC Bourbon Fest heads to town on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Visions Weddings & Banquets on West Bay Shore Drive. You’ll get to explore more than 200 bourbons and whiskeys alongside cocktails (think Manhattans, Old Fashioned, Mint Juleps, and Kentucky Kisses) and high-end bottle selections. Most of the makers on the list are the giants of the industry, but you’ll see local establishments like Traverse City Whiskey in the mix, too. The festival will also have beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverage options, plus food trucks and live music to enjoy. Tickets start at $50 (purchased online ahead of time, $60 at the door) and include a souvenir glass and 10+ tasting tickets. Event proceeds benefit Friends of the River, a nonprofit that works to improve water quality, access, and awareness on the rivers in Michigan. Learn more at traversecitybourbonfest.com.

Walloon Writers Review Opens for Submissions

Ready to see your name in print? Walloon Writers Review, a local literary magazine, is now accepting submissions through March 15, 2023, for their summer 2023 compilation of creative Up North stories. The editors are looking for pieces that illustrate the many ways to explore northern Michigan and the U.P. from local writers who know our area’s beauty, secrets, and quirks the best. You can submit short stories (under 4,000 words), poems, other creative writing pieces (like letters or a short play), or a series of nature photographs (sans humans). Each person is limited to two submissions—which are sent electronically— and both previously published and new writers are encouraged to participate. Each submission comes with a $6.50 fee. This is the eighth edition of the review, and the finished, print editions are sold locally at shops and independent bookstores and online. Get all the details and submit your piece by heading to walloonwriters.com.

Mary Sutherland (Feb. 6, 1930 to Jan. 28, 2023) is a name many Leelanau and Grand Traverse locals know. Her list of accomplishments in the region is as long and impressive as her nearly 93 years on the planet and 53 years in Glen Arbor. Described by loved ones as “a feminist to the bone,” she was a founding member of the Women’s Resource Center and National Organization for Women in Traverse City. She taught a course in assertiveness at Northwestern Michigan College about “self love, the right to say no, and that women were equal (if not superior) to men in every way.” She was a prolific professional speaker and authored the book Claim Yourself about honesty, authenticity, and self-esteem. Later in life, she became a beloved and cheerful fixture at Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor, the original location of the store opened by her son, Bobby. Her activism, fearlessness, and joy made an indelible mark on northern Michigan!

bottoms up Five Shores Brewing’s Bear Dozer Stout

One of the joys of winter for us beer enthusiasts is kicking back with a big, flavorful imperial stout. These beers don’t typically match well with hot summer days, but they sure taste good on winter evenings. Sometimes, though, even we are overwhelmed by the heaviness and booziness of an imperial stout. Thank goodness, then, for Five Shores Brewing’s Bear Dozer Stout, an imperial with all the character and complexity of other big stouts, but with a slightly lower ABV and an uncharacteristic drinkability. This cream stout delivers a smorgasbord of different flavors—cocoa, caramel, milk sugar, an edge of hops—but evens them out with a remarkably smooth, creamy finish that makes the beer go down nice and easy. It is, simply put, one of the most well-balanced stouts you’ll find in northern Michigan. Get over to Five Shores (at 163 S Benzie Boulevard in Beulah) and see for yourself! fiveshoresbrewing.com, (231) 383-4400.