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Growing a Gorgeous Garden

Is anyone else getting the itch to get out in the garden? (Come on, spring—do your thing!) The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park is here to feed your garden fever with their “Designing a Garden Good Enough to Eat” class on Sunday, March 26. Led by Botanic Garden director Matthew Ross, this four-hour workshop will walk you through techniques to “create your own backyard grocery store,” focusing on designing your garden and picking out edible plants that will thrive in spring, summer, and fall. Attendees will also get to go home with a selection of “weird and wild edible plant seeds” to sow once the ground warms up. Tickets are $49 for Botanic Garden members and $59 for the general public. You can find more details at thebotanicgarden.org and buy tickets by heading to eventbrite.com and searching “botanic garden Traverse City.”

Maple Weekend Fun

Northern Lower Michigan celebrates our Michigan Maple Weekend 2023 on March 25-26. A local spot celebrating is Out of the Woods Farm in Rapid City. Head there Saturday between 10am and 4pm to take a farm tour, learn about the maple process, sample products, and purchase your favorites to take home. (That includes maple syrup, sugar, cream, candy, and fresh maple cotton candy.) Admission is free. Find “MI Maple Weekend – Out of the Woods Farm” on Facebook.

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Hey, read It! The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

Pirates and demons, magic and mayhem, kidnapping and backstabbing…it’s all in New York Times bestselling author Shannon Chakraborty’s new novel, The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi . Protagonist Amina is cunning, brave, and snarky… all good attributes for a legendary pirate. She’s also now a mother in her forties who retired from life on the high seas to keep her family safe. But she’s drawn back into the life of piracy when the daughter of a former shipmate goes missing under mysterious— and perhaps mystical—circumstances. Chakraborty’s dismantling of age, gender, and societal expectations pairs perfectly with a rollicking plot and big-screenworthy action scenes. Part historical fiction (the novel is set in the ports and waters of the Indian Ocean in the 12th century) and part fantasy, the tale is nothing short of swashbuckling, with characters and settings that leap to life on the page as though you were breathing that same sea air.

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There’s a lot to love at Frankfort’s Dos Arboles, the sister restaurant of Birch & Maple (which is conveniently located next door). The from-scratch kitchen, the authentic Mexican dishes, and the tequila options are all high on our list. But the gold star this week goes to the restaurant’s Cubano Chimichanga ($16), which combines two equally delicious dish inspirations into one unforgettable meal. On the Cubano side, you get Black Forest ham, spicy pickles in lieu of the traditional cucumbers, baby Swiss cheese, and a Dijonaise dipping sauce. The Chimichanga twist adds house carnitas—braised pork shoulder with jalapeños, pickled cabbage, queso fresco, and sweet pepper aioli—and a deep fried flour tortilla to hold it all together. Pair it with a side of chips and queso or guac, and you’ll be in food fusion heaven. Get yours at 735 Main Street in Frankfort. (231) 399-0770, dosarbolesfrankfort.com