7 minute read
Top Ten
this week’s top ten
Have a Heart
Arts for All of Northern Michigan is all about making arts and culture accessible for every member of the community, regardless of their age, ability, or financial situation. The nonprofit returns with their second annual artist market and fundraiser—Have a Heart Art Mart—Nov. 4 (11am-5pm), Nov. 5 (11am-5pm), and Nov. 6 (12pm-4pm), offering the perfect chance to find creative, handmade gifts from makers in your backyard. More than 20 artists and artisans from across the region will be featured, with proceeds going back to creators and to Arts for All itself. The Real Estate One Charitable Foundation is also making a 50 percent matching donation on all sales, so the impact of your home or holiday shopping can stretch even further. The event will be held at Arts for All’s new location at 1485 Barlow Street in Traverse City. For more information, head to artsforallnmi.org or call (231) 947-1278.
2 tastemaker chubby Unicorn’s Truffle Philly
Do you believe in magic? If the answer is no, we’re about to change your mind, because we’re pretty sure Chubby Unicorn is sneaking fairy dust into their sandwiches. The brainchild of Traverse City restaurant veterans Justin Chouinard and Ashley Moore, this gourmet lunch bus has been slinging paninis since July; and, much like its tutu-clad mascot, it’s never in one place for long. When you do manage to catch them, the Truffle Philly is a must. Built on herb butter-crusted ciabatta, this delightfully-plump panini is stacked with Philly-style beef, gooey cheddar, caramelized onions, and dueling green bell and roasted red peppers. Finished with house-made truffle aioli—and a few melty minutes on the press—it’ll make a believer of you. Experience a magical handheld yourself for $12 per panini. For current menus, locations, and hours, check Chubby Unicorn’s social media (@chubbyunicorntc). Psst—they’re also available for private events and catering! Reach out at chubbyunicorntc@gmail.com. 4 • october 31, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly
Music and Menus
“Musical Moments with Michael Coonrod” will take place at a beautiful Suttons Bay home on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 4pm as part of Traverse Symphony Orchestra’s Music & Menus events. Dr. Coonrod is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins and was an instructor of piano at Interlochen Center for the Arts for 46 years. Enjoy Mawby bubbly wine, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts following the concert. Seating is limited to 25 attendees and tickets are $75. (231) 947-7120.
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We’re not out of Halloween season yet, and if you’re still in search of some witchy vibes with a cozy twist, look no further than Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. The book feels like a hot cup of tea on a chilly fall day—warming, soothing, and exactly what you need. (It’s also perfect for fans of TJ Klune.) Mika Moon is a witch living in Britain, and, like other witches around the world, she keeps her gifts secret…at least until she gets an unexpected request to tutor three young witches living in the mysteriously-named Nowhere House. There, all of Mika’s carefully-built walls begin to crumble as she gets to know her students and their caretakers, a cast of quirky, non-magical humans who are bent on keeping their charges safe. The book hits all the right notes of found family, selfactualization, and romance, and leaves you desperately wishing for a sequel just so you can see what this lovable crew will do next.
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DEMOCRACY needs YOU! Protect your vote with Prop 2.
FOR SECURE & ACCESSIBLE ELECTIONS
On Nov. 8:
VOTE FOR
DEMOCRATS
VOTE YES ON
PROP 2
Charlevoix County Democrats Phone (231) 753-8411 Email: democrats.charlevoix@gmail.com Website: charlevoixdems.wordpress.com Like us on Facebook
6 A Trail-Running Trifecta
Get ready to run this weekend at the Treetops Trifecta at Gaylord’s Treetops Resort. Why trifecta? Because, if you have the leg muscles and the guts, you can sign up to participate in not just one, not just two, but three trail races. Saturday, Nov. 5, starts off with an easybreezy 5K at 10am on the newly-crafted single track around ski hills and golf courses at the main campus of the resort. Next up is the 4pm 1K hill climb—300 feet of elevation gain, or six ski runs—for your Saturday afternoon workout. The cherry on top is a halfmarathon on Sunday morning at 9am, with a beautiful course that routes you through the Headwaters Land Conservancy, Sturgeon River Preserve, and Treetops Project Nature. All races are limited to 300 people, so sign up before the slots are gone! Registration ($45, $35, and $85 respectively, or $120 for all three) is online only—no day-off registration—at greatlakesendurance.com/michigan-races/treetops-trifecta.
Stuff We Love: A Big Win for Michigan Rockhounds
If you’re a rock collector in Michigan, chances are you’ve heard of Michigan Rockhounds. Founded just two years ago as a hobbyist Facebook group with a mere dozen members, the organization has grown to nearly 100,000 members and is perhaps the state’s top convener for people who share the “rockhounding” passion. Now, Michigan Rockhounds has gotten its next big break. On Oct. 20, Facebook announced the latest round of participants for its prestigious Community Accelerator grant program, and out of more than 4,000 North American applicants, Michigan Rockhounds was selected as one of just 34 recipients. The grants are worth up to $40,000 and come with extensive coaching and networking opportunities, all intended “to enable great communities to make an even greater positive impact in the world.” Michigan Rockhounds, which seeks “to engage and educate Michiganders on the geological history of the mitten state,” says it will use the money and support from Facebook “to fast-track several ongoing projects to aid our community and the state of Michigan.” Learn more at michiganrockhounds.com.
Your Nov. 2022 Election Primer
With Election Day on the horizon, here are the important dates and details for voting next week. The statewide general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8, with polls open from 7am to 8pm. We’ve passed the deadline for online voter registration, though you can still go in person to your clerk’s office to register through Election Day. Absentee ballots should also have already come and gone from your mailbox to avoid potential mailing delays, so if you still have yours sitting on the kitchen table, take it to your designated dropbox or deliver it to your clerk’s office before 8pm on Nov. 8. If your in-person voting plans change and you need an absentee ballot, you can request one online or by mail up until 5pm on Friday, Nov. 4. Important to note: This year, some voting districts have changed, so your polling place may be different than in years past. To find your polling place, learn about registering to vote, and get more information on voting in person or via absentee ballot, head to mvic.sos.state.mi.us.
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bottoms up Brewery Terra Firma’s Vanilla Ancho
For nearly 10 years, Brewery Terra Firma has offered a hard-to-say but awesome-todrink beer: the Ancho Chile Dutch Double Chocolate Porter. It was among the first to hit draft lines and recently returned to BTF’s offerings. Unlike other beers, the recipe has never been tweaked…until now. Their first-ever vanilla-infused variant recently is on tap, and if you thought the original version was a treat, you’ll want to get a pint of this before it disappears. The OG porter offers a delicious combination of delicately-balanced heat from the chiles paired with a rich, roasty, dark chocolate note on top of a lighter-thanexpected body. Topping it with a delicious ribbon of vanilla smooths out the rougher edges and makes it more approachable without losing sharpness or depth. A limited amount is available, so stop by soon to compare and contrast the two beers at 2959 Hartman Rd. in Traverse City. breweryterrafirma.com Northern Express Weekly • october 31, 2022 • 5
