top ten

A Flannel Affair

Bust out the flannel one more time before spring is here to stay for the Wexford County Historical Society’s Lumberjack Social. No foolin’...though this event takes place on April 1, it’s a serious tradition. An evening of live music, line dancing, silent and live auctions, raffles, and appetizers (plus a cash bar) awaits, but instead of black tie, you can stay comfy in your buffalo plaid. (Just leave the axe at home, please.) The woodsy party benefits the historical society, a nonprofit committed to the preservation and presentation of the history and culture of Wexford County, and its 5,000-squarefoot museum housed in the former Cadillac Public Library. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased at Horizon Books, Brinks Custom Framing, and the Cadillac Elks Club—the latter of which is where the party will be held at 6pm. Get more details at wexfordcountyhistory.org.

Main Street Lanes

Kids of all ages can bowl down Main Street in Harbor Springs on April Fool’s Day—no joke! Harbor Springs will close down the street on Saturday, April 1, from noon to 2pm to knock down some pins, no matter the weather. Enjoy hot chocolate and donuts from Johan’s, a bowling card from Northern Lights Recreation, a freebie from Rocking Horse Toy Co., ice cream from Harbor Ice Cream Soup & Sandwiches, and plenty of bowling fun.

Hey, watch It! Shadow and Bone

A war-torn country. A young woman with the power to summon the sun. A ragtag (and immensely loveable) group of criminals. It’s all in Shadow and Bone , which just returned to Netflix for its second season. Adapted from the works of bestselling author Leigh Bardugo, the fantasy series offers a Tolkien-esque clash of good, morally gray, and evil set in a world where magic is science, war is commerce, and you can only trust yourself. (And the occasional thief with a heart of gold.)

No spoilers: When mapmaker Alina Starkov discovers she has the power of the foretold savior of her homeland of Ravka, she also learns just about everyone wants her gift, her loyalty, or her life. What ensues is a quest to tame her power, survive several kidnapping and assassination attempts, and unite an embattled Ravka. While there’s no shortage of danger, the main cast of characters offers just the right amount of sweetness and humor to offset the (frequent) impending doom. Now streaming on Netflix.

This week, we’re ready to risk it for the biscuit…or for a breakfast sandwich from Gold Baby Biscuits, that is. Established in 2019 by bakers Alicia Manson and Lyndsey Egli, this pop-up powerhouse features a rotating menu and even a few take-and-bake options of biscuit-y goodness. Right now, we’re after The Delicatessen. It starts with a signature crumbly biscuit (the recipe remains a secret), which they’ve stacked with paper-thin pastrami and pillowy scrambled eggs. To finish, the whole shebang is topped with Tillamook Swiss and a drizzle of Russian dressing, before it’s wrapped, still piping hot, to go. Get your hands on The Delicatessen ($11)—and maybe a side of chocolatey breakfast cake—at Gold Baby Biscuits’ weekend pop-up every Sunday from 10am-1pm at Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery at 811 Cottageview Dr. in Traverse City. Be sure to preorder, as items sell out fast! Find each week’s menu in their Instagram bio: @goldbabybiscuits, and order online at gold-babybiscuits.square.site.

6 Ready Those Easter Baskets!

Easter is coming—we’ve seen the bunnies hopping around!—and many local spots are offering egg-themed fun for the family. Here are a few: Cedar hosts its first annual Easter Eggstravaganza at 11am April 8, with an egg hunt and appearance from the Easter Bunny. That same day, Downtown Traverse City offers the Bunny Hop, Scavenger Hunt, and Story Time with participating downtown businesses and Horizon Books. Eagle-eyed egg hunters should head to Frankfort’s Mineral Springs Park (3,000 eggs; 10am on April 8), Charlevoix’s East Park (4,500 eggs; 2pm on April 8), or Cheboygan’s Washington and Major City parks (10am on April 8). Need more Easter Bunny photo ops? Try Grandpa Shorter’s in Petoskey April 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 for a chance at a picture—smiling, not screaming—for the mantel. Or make it a meal at kid-friendly Easter brunch spots like Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay or Boyne Falls at Boyne Mountain Resort.

Watch Out for Invaders

Spring is here—cue the trumpets! But while we’re thrilled about the return of warmer days, we’re not so stoked about the reawakening of invasive species. Whether it’s balsam wooly adelgid, spotted lanternflies, autumn olive, or a smear of rock snot, we don’t want it around! The Michigan Invasive Species Program—a team up between the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development—has recently released their Michigan Invasive Species Program 2022 Annual Report, and in addition to a lot of helpful info about what the state is doing to mitigate these pests, you’ll also find a list of invasive species in the area and ways to help spot, report, and remove them. Head to michigan.gov/invasives to read the report and learn what you can do to stop the spread. (Or better yet, contact your local conservation district and see how you can get involved in the fight!)

Stuff We Love: Anniversaries Celebrated in the Great Outdoors

The Leelanau Conservancy turns 35 this year, and in those three-plus decades, they’ve preserved over 16,000 acres and created 28 natural areas. While some of us at that age were worried about how much closer that brought us to the big four-oh, the conservancy is embracing its youthful energy with their “35 Miles for 35 Years” challenge. Throughout 2023, hikers, bikers, skiers, SUPers, and paddlers are invited to explore and log 35 miles of adventure within the conservancy’s trail systems and waterways. (Keep in mind: The Leelanau Conservancy has about 28 miles of trails, so you’ll need to double up on your favorite segment to get across the finish line.) You can join the challenge for free, and when you’ve completed your 35-mile journey, you can submit your log sheet to receive a commemorative patch and sticker. Sign up, get your log sheet, and even send pictures of your adventures by heading to leelanauconservancy.org/trailchallenge.

bottoms up Bloom Wildcraft’s Drift Tea

With spring in the air, we wanted something soft and light to help us wind down our day. (Bonus points if it could be organic.) We found the perfect cup with Bloom Wildcraft’s Drift Tea, a soothing blend of herbs like lemon balm, holy basil, and valerian, plus a bright note of hibiscus. It also contains catnip—though you won’t get all goofy like your feline friends— and hops, which help give this tea a signature all its own. The tea is literally meant to help you drift off to sleep, and we found its effects calming and its flavor warm and gently earthy. Drift comes from the Traverse City-based Bloom Wildcraft brand, which produces natural teas, spices, and body care products. Find them online and place an order for a 34-gram tin of loose leaf ($19.99) at bloomwildcraft.com, or enjoy a cup at local coffee shops like Mundos Roasting Co.