Northern Express - December 11, 2023

NORTHERN

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Holiday Happenings b Six winter performances z Five weekend outings e Four Christmas cocktails b Three secondhand shops z Two holiday recipes e And a new winery in Suttons Bay

NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S WEEKLY • december 11 - december 17, 2023 • Vol. 33 No. 49 Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 1

November 13 - December 17, 2023

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letters Minimizing the Differences Stephen Tuttle’s column “Try Something Else” demands a response. He minimizes the vast differences between the Republican and Democratic Parties. Only today’s Republican Party is wholly dysfunctional. Only Republicans have abandoned democracy for power; authoritarianism, fascism, and oligarchy (rule by billionaires). Only the Republican Party is unable to accomplish anything outside of tax cuts predominantly benefiting the wealthy.

After Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID recovery bill, much of which benefited individual Americans, not banks, he signed into law his Infrastructure and Jobs Act. Forbes termed it “one of the largest infrastructure bills in US history.” The result has been resolution, in record time, of one the nation’s worst recessions followed by 21 months of unemployment below 4 percent, something not seen in 50 years! As proven by rapidly diminishing inflation, most of that was caused by COVID bottlenecks, Putin’s war, and gouging businessmen.

Compare with Trump’s endless talk of a $1.3 trillion infrastructure bill—all but $200 billion magically, supposedly, coming from private investment and state and municipal funds, and none of it signed into law. That’s what you can expect from a party that blames your problems on liberals and immigrants instead of 40 years of discredited Reaganomics, 40 years of middle class economic stagnation resulting in middle class wealth declining 20 percent and that of the poor 45 percent, while the wealthy saw an 33 percent increase (Pew).

Finally, Tuttle fails to explain Biden’s fluency/senility problem: a lifetime problem with stuttering. Now 68 percent of Americans believe Biden is compromised by shady business dealings, again due to their believing baseless Republican lies. Biden is as clean as Carter and far smarter and experienced, which explains his amazing success, not recognized by the majority of Americans, as

the media concentrate on Trump and Majorie Taylor Greene.

John Wierenga | Traverse City Oranges, Horses, Connections This responds to a November 11 letter from Ron Stetson, in which he writes that my letter of October 30 said “cars are the greatest contributor to greenhouse gasses.”

In fact, I said that transportation, a category of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters, is our greatest contributor, having recently passed power generation to become No. 1. It should be noted that within that category, “light duty vehicles”—cars and light trucks—provide nearly 60 percent of the emissions. So, yes, gasoline-powered cars and small trucks are a big part of the U.S. GHG emission problem.

But big kudos to Ron for pointing out the GHG “footprint” of container ships, thousands of them, bringing oranges from South Africa, bringing manufactured goods from China and elsewhere in Asia, bringing clothing from anywhere cheap labor can put it together, etc.

Kudos also to Ron for pointing out— when he writes that “the import tax was cut,” thus making the selling of South African oranges in Michigan sufficiently profitable— that legislation (subject to the influence of public and other interests) shapes and misshapes our consumer marketplace.

Part of building public will—here in northwest Michigan and elsewhere—to respond to the challenge The Warming presents is building understanding of the connections between what we, as consumers, choose to buy or not buy, and what consequences those particular choices have on the planet and its inhabitants.

Finally, I kind of liked his description of my argument about cars as “a worn-out dead horse beaten to nausea.” Wow! Dostoyevskian!

Ron Tschudy | Echo Township

CONTENTS

feature

’Tis the Season for the Stage...........................10 Ginger, Spice, and Everything Nice...................13 A Night on the Town.......................................15 Secondhand Finds..............................................16 The Holiday Spirits.............................................18 Your 2023 Holiday Soundtrack........................20 Crafting Wine, Cultivating Family.....................22

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MUS I C

Book 7 days a week maraschinostudios@gmail.com Call or text 231-735-3355 1317 W South Airport Rd in TC

columns & stuff Top Ten..........................................................4 Spectator/Stephen Tuttle..................................6 High Points.......................................................7 Guest Opinion...................................................8 Weird............................................................9 Dates..........................................................23 Nitelife.........................................................28 Crossword...................................................29 Astro..............................................................29 Classifieds.................................................30

Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase PO Box 4020 Traverse City, Michigan 49685 Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com Editor: Jillian Manning Finance Manager: Libby Shutler Distribution Manager: Roger Racine Sales: Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance, Michele Young, Todd Norris, Abby Walton Porter, Caroline Bloemer For ad sales in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 838-6948

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Copyright 2023, all rights reserved. Distribution: 36,000 copies at 600+ locations weekly.

Northern Express Weekly is free of charge, but no person may take more than one copy of each weekly issue without written permission of Northern Express Weekly. Reproduction of all content without

WE’RE HAVING AN UGLY SWEATER PARTY!

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Traverse City Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 3

this week’s

top ten Dudes’ Night Out Grab your best guys and shop downtown TC businesses for your holiday gifts at Men’s Night on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 5-9pm. Be sure to stop by the J Smith Walkway, between Pangea’s and Kilwins, where Evergreen YASC (that’s Young Adult Social Club) will provide hot chocolate and be your guides to downtown. Special discounts and savings are decided by each business; visit downtowntc.com/mensshopping-night to see what some of them have in store.

4 Hey, watch It!

Fellow Travelers

Toasting the Season Winery fans, this is your weekend to party like it’s, well, Dec. 16, 2023. First, stop in at Shady Lane Cellars for their Wine Wonderland (free admission) from 2pm to 5pm with live holiday music, caramel apple mimosas, peppermint s’mores, and holiday art projects. (Plus, bring an unwrapped Toys for Tots gift and get a waived-fee tasting!) Next, choose between Bonobo Winery’s 7pm Snow Ball ($85)—a semi-formal reception complete with holiday treats, wine, and tunes—or Chateau Chantal’s Naughty and Nice Dinner ($109) at 6pm. The dinner features the winery’s signature Naughty and Nice wines plus a six-course meal. And hey, if beer is more your style, Silver Spruce in Traverse City is celebrating their fifth anniversary with an Ugly Sweater Party from 12pm to 10pm with a festive tap list, music from Mike Moran and Ryan McGee, and a donation drive for the Father Fred Foundation. Get more details on all of the above at traversecity.com/events.

If you haven’t stepped back into the 1950s yet with Showtime’s latest hit, Fellow Travelers, then it’s time to don your fedora. The show is billed as a historical romance meets political thriller, and it doesn’t disappoint on either front. Fellow Travelers follows a love affair between Hawkins Fuller (Matt Bomer of White Collar fame) and Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey, aka Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton from…well, Bridgerton). Hawkins is a WWII vet working at the State Department and Laughlin a congressional staffer who meet during the height of the Lavender Scare.

The miniseries chronicles their decades-long romance against the backdrop of McCarthyism, the Vietnam War, and other major U.S. turning points up through the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. The love scenes are steamy, the costumes and sets are stunning, and there’s never a shortage of drama or tension in the political underbelly of Washington, D.C.

5

2 tastemaker

Roasted Café’s Biscuit Sandwich

As the name suggests, everything at Roasted Café in Cadillac—from pastries and coffee, to brunch and beyond—sees a little exposure to heat.

Their just-released winter menu is no exception, and the pulled-pork Biscuit Sandwich sure brings the fire! The real star of the show is the slow-roasted pork, which is rubbed down in a custom brine (ingredients: dried peppers, pineapple, and plenty of spices), before it’s marinated and cooked until pull-part tender. From there, the pork is stacked atop a flaky biscuit with bread-and-butter pickles, a sunny egg, and a generous drizzle of housemade Carolina Gold barbeque sauce (though the traditional stuff is also on hand). Enjoy one alongside a Bloody Mary—made with the works, including crispy bacon and roasted garlic-infused vodka—and settle in for a proper thaw. Get your hands on a Biscuit Sandwich ($8) at 115 N Mitchell Street in Cadillac, or order online at roastedcafe. co. (231) 224-6192.

4 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

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6 A Breath of Fresh Air

Feeling a little burnt out (already) from the pressure of the holidays?

Swap the pulsing light displays and busy downtown districts for glowing lanterns and the great outdoors.

Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling welcomes you for a hike on the lanternlit Old Growth Trail on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 5pm to 8:30pm. Depending on the snow cover, you may want hiking boots, crampons, or snowshoes. The park has several pairs of snowshoes available to borrow on a first come, first served basis. (Note: In the event of truly inclement weather, the hike may be canceled.) After a peaceful stroll through the woods, warm up with your fellow outdoorsy friends at a bonfire near the Logging Museum. The event is free, but a Michigan Recreation Passport is required for entry to the park. (Passports can be purchased at the Visitor Center, where you will park for the hike.) Find the park at 4216 Ranger Rd in Grayling, and call the Visitor Center at 989-348-2537 with any questions.

Stuff We Love: A Local Cider House in the National Spotlight Did you know Taproot Cider House in downtown Traverse City was the first cider bar and restaurant to open in the U.S.? We didn’t! But it appears the American Cider Association noticed that accomplishment and more, because they awarded Taproot their Midwest “Cider Focused Establishment of the Year” honor for 2023. It’s an award that has been a long time coming—since Taproot first welcomed patrons back in 2016—and also comes after a challenging few months for the restaurant. An oven fire in early September led to Taproot being closed for over two months until they were able to reopen the weekend before Thanksgiving. Now they’re back at it, with 10 Michigan cideries on draft, an updated fall menu (that includes plates focused on infusions with that aforementioned cider), and a slew of other new treats, like seasonal zero-proof cocktails. See more at taproottc.com.

Nonprofits + NMC

Every nonprofit could use a little extra marketing help, right? Especially for some of the pricier projects, like a high-quality TV commercial or an overhaul on your logo and branded content. Well, now’s the chance to get some design work for free. Northwestern Michigan College’s Visual Communications department is accepting local nonprofit requests for graphic design, art direction, and new media projects. The chosen submissions will be completed as pro bono class projects during the spring 2024 semester. This could be anything from an infographic to an entire ad campaign; the goal is to give students a real-world assignment to help them hone their skills…and get some great creative assets in the process. Project requests must be submitted by Jan. 5, 2024, and completion dates will range from Feb. 28 to April 30. For more information and examples of past projects, head to nmc.edu/news/2023/12/vis-comm-pro-bono-2024.html.

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bottoms up bigLITTLE Wines’ Open Road Rosé Something special has shown up in our stocking this year. (Yes, we’re on the nice list.

Obviously.) It’s the Open Road Rosé from bigLITTLE Wines. We know what you’re thinking: rosé in December? Absolutely. When red wine and dark beer feel too heavy, this crisp pink drink will have you feeling refreshed and ready for another round of caroling…without forgetting the words. Plus, some wine experts actually recommend lighter, brighter wines to balance out hearty winter meals. No matter the season, Open Road is sure to please just about every guest at the party. This semi-dry wine is made up of Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Marechal Foch grapes fermented in stainless steel, and its flavors bring to mind some of our favorite summer fruits like strawberry and watermelon. Find the 2021 edition at bigLITTLE Wines, 4519 Elm Valley Rd in Suttons Bay (next door to sister winery MAWBY) or order online at biglittlewines.com.

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 5

BAD ATTITUDES, PARTY ISSUES, AND PIPELINES

Step

into winter with the

best

spectator By steven Tuttle A certain former president who would like to return to the White House becomes more unhinged with each campaign rally.

He has already said, right out loud, he would use another presidential term to exact “retribution” on his political enemies, meaning anyone not willing to offer him ovine fealty.

Like all petulant children, he likes to insult opponents calling them liars, losers, scum, Marxists, communists, fascists (interesting contrast there), and, in what sounded like something right out of the 1930s, referred to some as “vermin who must be rooted out.”

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To be fair, he doesn’t dislike everyone. No, he’s especially fond of and publicly praises oppressive and murderous dictators like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Recep Erdogan, Viktor Orban, Kim Jong Un (the man he said he fell in love with), and any other autocrat whose name he can remember.

He also claims to have incontrovertible “proof ” he won the 2020 election, but he seems unwilling or unable to share that information with the rest of us, likely because it’s just another Trumpian lie.

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6 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

A recent Gallup Poll indicates the public believes Republicans are better able to deal with the economy, immigration, and crime. They also believe that Democrats are better at handling environmental issues and, by a two to one margin, healthcare, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and abortion. So, of course, Trump and his allies have decided to attack the ACA and support a national ban on abortions. Never mind that choice has prevailed every time it has appeared on a statewide ballot, even in the brightest red states, and with 92 percent of Americans now enjoying some form of health insurance, the ACA is considerably more popular than it once was.

Michigan’s local Republican Party organizations are still functioning and trying to reverse some of their recent losses, which is more than can be said about the state party apparatus. Having chosen an election-denying, conspiracyspouting state executive director who wants to relitigate her own massive loss for secretary of state in 2022, it’s no wonder the disarray is rampant. The state organization is short both money and internal support, and the dissension is sufficient enough that they now want to hold their meetings over Zoom instead of in person to reduce the possibility of fisticuffs. Her chief opponent has been indicted for various shenanigans, so the state party isn’t exactly in good hands.

But it could be worse, or more salacious.

The head of the Florida GOP, an ally of Governor Ron DeSantis and loud advocate for “traditional family values,” has been arrested for sexual assault including rape… and it gets stranger. He and his wife, a founder of Moms for Liberty, a group trying to take over local school boards to save our children from anything that even hints at non-traditional relationships, aren’t quite so traditional.

By his own admission, he, his wife, and another woman enjoyed at least one threesome in the past and were going to enjoy another. The allegation is his wife decided not to participate on that occasion but Mr. Executive Director would not be deterred and assaulted the third member of their little assignation. He now claims it was all consensual, you know, like traditional adultery.

Had enough yet of the endless Enbridge print and television ads claiming to be such staunch environmentalists? Not just that, but apparently Michigan, and especially our Upper Peninsula, will practically wither away to nothing without Line 5. Yes, we will surely be doomed if we don’t continue being the conduit for fossil fuels extracted in Canada and mostly ending up in Canada but running for hundreds of miles through our state.

It’s not as if Enbridge and their pipelines have an immaculate safety record, despite their assurances to the contrary. In 2010, their Line 6B ruptured in Calhoun County, spewing what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated at 1,000,000 gallons of dirty oil into the Kalamazoo River watershed in one of the largest and most expensive inland oil spills in U.S. history. Enbridge once claimed their safety systems could detect a line break almost instantaneously, but Line 6B poured poison for nearly 17 hours. Enbridge pipelines had 10 more spills just in 2021.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says there are 2.6 million miles of fossil fuel pipelines in the country with more than 100,000 miles right here in Michigan.

According to the Federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, there have been 8,000 “significant” pipeline spills nationally since they started keeping track in 1986. (They define “significant” as any incident causing injuries or death, fire or explosion, spills of more than five barrels of volatile liquids or more than 50 barrels of non-volatile liquids.)

Fossil fuel pipelines can be dangerous and always have been, regardless of what those making billions in the pipeline business claim.

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231-941-5740 In a world with so many options—where to eat, what to wear, what to do with our limited free time, who to be—we also have the option to treat ourselves. Many of us think of treating ourselves in one particular way, like taking a trip or paying for an expensive spa day at a resort. In short, we think it costs money (and a lot of it) to show ourselves a little extra love. But in reality, there are just as many options in the way we take care of ourselves as there are stars in the sky.

Starting with a trip to your local Dunegrass, where you can find just the product to get you on the right path. Choose from classics like flower pre-rolls and gummies to atypical items that will expand your horizons, such as beverages and breath strips. Let’s not forget about the wide array of concentrate-infused items!

Full grams of concentrate are available, but why not take an evening to yourself up a notch with infused pre-rolls? These joints come rolled up for convenience with a concentrate of your choosing—pick from liquid diamonds, hash rosin, and even kief rolled varieties. When chatting with any of our grasstenders, don’t be afraid to ask questions! (Psst…a little secret: We love questions!)

Journey along from one of our locations to one of our hotspots listed on our website or recommended by a grasstender in-store. We’re dedicated to sharing our knowledge of seasonal activities, spectacular attractions, and all the essentials you could need to plan an amazing day for yourself.

During this busy holiday season, allow yourself to enjoy getting lost for a day in the forests and beaches of northwest Michigan. Getting outdoors on some of the best trails in the country may be the breath of fresh air you’ve been needing!

If the type of self-care you are looking for isn’t for a day outdoors, bundle up and soak in the snowy views from the couch with a cup of coffee and your favorite book or TV show at hand. Or perhaps allow yourself a three-minute meditation during a busy morning or take the scenic route home after work. Similarly, you could implement short walks at lunchtime, go to bed a little earlier for extra Z’s, or try practicing gratitude by journaling or writing cards to friends and family.

All these ways and more begin with the right mindset provided by Dunegrass.

With our eighth shop opening in downtown Traverse City in early 2024, we’re here to hook you up with all the essentials.

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Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 7

TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES

Guest Opinion

by Greg Holmes My typical morning routine would go like this: drink coffee, scroll through various newsfeeds, and come across a story about a politician lying. You’ve heard plenty of these stories— the vast majority involving either accusations about the politicians lying or politicians accusing the news media of spreading lies by being purveyors of “fake news.”

So imagine my surprise one morning as I read the story about a politician who actually was caught telling the truth. I could hardly believe it. At first I wondered if it was some sort of self-promotion, the kind politicians use on their ubiquitous campaign advertisements.

(Honest! Dependable! Trustworthy!)

But the story I read that morning was different. A representative in the Michigan House of Representatives, Angela Witwer, was accused of letting one of her staff hold a baby shower in the Appropriations Committee room of the State Capitol. This was in violation of a rule of the Michigan

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890 Munson Ave, Traverse City DONORRSKIHAUS.COM 8 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

Lying by a politician is, in some cases, protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution as free speech. Whereas corporate executives can be held accountable and punished for making fraudulent statements, politicians rarely have any such liability. Basically, everyone has a right to their own opinion about religion, politics, etc., even if they know it is false and use it in an attempt to manipulate others.

Politicians are not the only ones that lie: The fact is we all do. If you say you don’t—well— that’s just another lie. Studies show that people admit to lying twice a day. My guess is that the actual number is higher, as most people are not honest when answering surveys about

Sometimes we lie to protect others from feeling the imagined pain of our honesty. However, being honest can have the positive consequence of building trust. Increased intimacy often follows.

House that lawmakers cannot use the facilities for personal matters.

habits, behaviors, or beliefs that they believe are embarrassing or shameful.

Here’s the shocker: Instead of denying that she did it, blaming the opposing party, or claiming she was a victim of fake news, Witwer actually admitted that she was guilty. She was honest and told the truth.

Not only did she confess to violating the rules, she offered to reimburse the state for any expenses incurred by the staff member hosting the baby shower.

We all learn to lie at an early age. Children by the age of three know what behaviors are rewarded and those that are not. We begin to fib early on in an attempt to avoid punishment, shame, and embarrassment. Our siblings always started the fights, the teacher didn’t give us any homework, I did clean my room, etc., etc., etc. After I learned in Catechism class that lying was a sin, I made it a point that when I went to Confession, the last sin I confessed to was lying. I figured that covered everything that I didn’t tell the priest.

Witwer’s admission is very rare for a politician. Why? Because the primary goal of a politician is to get elected. Therefore, they are keen to tell voters what they believe voters want to hear rather than telling them what they really believe. Potentially embarrassing details about their personal behaviors or beliefs that are contrary to those of their constituents are most often concealed in a cloak of deception.

Is this as bad as it seems? Believe it or not, some have argued that politicians should lie.

The Greek philosopher Plato, for example, wrote in The Republic that the public good required that they lie and that we should be grateful that they do!

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Stephen King put it succinctly when he said, “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool.” Throw in the prejudice of voters to believe their respective party line no matter what, and lies often go unchecked and unchallenged.

The reason politicians get away with lying is basically because it works. Studies have shown that people have a “truth bias,” which is a tendency to believe statements are true rather than false. In addition, statements that are made repeatedly, even if false, have a greater likelihood to be believed no matter how crazy they may seem.

We continue to lie as adults. Just a few examples: 40 percent of us are dishonest with our physicians about our diet and lack of exercise; 31 percent of us admit to embellishing our resumes and CVs; 50 percent of us lie on dating apps.

Sometimes we lie to protect others from feeling the imagined pain of our honesty. However, being honest can have the positive consequence of building trust. Increased intimacy often follows. Would you trust your partner, friend, or employer if they never gave you constructive criticism? Our growth is dependent upon receiving honest feedback from others.

So kudos to Representative Witwer for her honesty. We can only hope other politicians will follow in her footsteps. Meanwhile, will the rest of us summon up the courage to be more honest?

Greg Holmes lives and writes in Traverse City.

Awesome!

Get those pens and pencils -- OK, Google forms -- ready! The Tampa Bay Times is inviting readers and anyone else around the world to submit their grievances, the best of which the Times will publish to celebrate Festivus on Dec. 23. United Press International reported that this will be the eighth year for the Times' Airing of Grievances. The custom is one feature of the holiday, which was introduced on a "Seinfeld" episode in 1997.

(You might also remember the unadorned metal pole and feats of strength.) Happy Festivus, everyone!

Precocious Ann Arbor, Michigan, police chased a stolen 17-ton forklift through city streets for an hour on Nov. 25, NBC News reported, in what they called "a very dangerous situation" -- especially so, since the driver was a 12-year-old boy. The boy allegedly found the construction vehicle outside Forsythe Middle School with the keys inside. While no one was injured, the forklift struck 10 cars as it crawled through neighborhoods with law enforcement in pursuit; at one point, officers warned other cars that he was "lowering the hooks -don't go in front" of it. The boy was taken into custody and moved to a juvenile detention center.

The Passing Parade "I'm having it my way!" appeared to be the message from a large inflatable Burger King Whopper that came loose outside a restaurant in Newberg, Oregon, and took off through the windy streets. KOINTV reported that the sandwich began its journey around 7 a.m. on Nov. 11 and crashed into a smoke shop before hitting an American flag and another business. Amy Kepler of the Newberg Police Department said that strangely, they didn't receive any 911 calls about the burger, and no injuries or damage were reported to police. "It happened very quickly and did not affect traffic," she said.

Unconventional Weaponry Sandra Jimenez, 44, is cooling her heels at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, Florida, after she attacked her boyfriend of eight years on Nov. 25 at their home, Fox35-TV reported. According to the victim, as the couple argued about him "looking at other women," Jimenez allegedly jumped on him as he lay on the couch and stabbed him in the right eye with one of her dog's rabies shot needles. She then left the house, and he called police, who took him to the hospital. Officers later found her asleep in a vehicle outside the home and arrested her for aggravated battery. Jimenez told them her boyfriend's injuries were "self-inflicted."

Government in Action Iris Logan, 70, converted her front yard in St. Paul, Minnesota, into an expression of her individuality more than 30 years ago, the Associated Press reported. But the city inspector is fed up with her stones, statues and decorative art and has given her until Dec. 22 to clear it out. "I'm a rock lover,"

Logan said. "If I see a rock I like, I try and roll it in my car on a 2-by-4." A petition supporting Logan gained 150 signatures.

"It's not just about aesthetics," said Justin Lewandowski, a community organizer.

"It's about our identity and how we, as residents, engage with each other and with city policy."

Kansans, emboldened by their vote to keep abortion legal in 2022, have spoken again: On Nov. 28, Gov. Laura Kelly announced that the state will halt production on the "ugly as sin" new license plates that were supposed to roll out in 2024. Fox News reported that some drivers balked at the design because it too closely resembled the University of Missouri's colors; others thought the gold-and-black plate was Kelly's nod to New York, her home state. Others called it "slapdash and dull." The governor promised a future public vote on possible new designs.

The Continuing Crisis Only in 2023. On Nov. 28, as a big gust of wind whirled through Washington, D.C., the fully decorated National Christmas Tree was blown over, WUSA-TV reported.

The National Park Service had to replace a snapped cable and install reinforcement cables and concrete blocks to secure the tree, but the lighting ceremony went on as planned on Nov. 30.

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The Golden Age of Air Travel A woman flying from Orlando to Philadelphia on Nov. 20 on Frontier Airlines apparently couldn't hold it another second, WKRC-TV reported. "Sorry, everybody," she said in a video captured by traveler Julie Hartman, before pulling her pants down and squatting in the aisle to urinate. According to the woman, she had been told by a flight attendant that she couldn't use the restroom; one woman on the video can be heard saying, "That poor little boy" about a child sitting next to the spot where the woman squatted.

Wait, What?

A 35-year-old man from Vietnam went to the hospital in Dong Hoi on Nov. 24 with severe headaches, fluid discharge and loss of vision, Metro News reported. When doctors did a CT scan, they discovered two broken chopsticks that were penetrating into his skull from his nose. Apparently, the man had been in a fight several months before and didn't remember much about it -- but said he thought something might have been stabbed into his face. Surgeons removed the chopsticks, and the patient is recovering.

Yikes!

As a man in Xiamen, China, used the "smart" toilet in his home on Nov. 10, he first smelled smoke -- right before the toilet burst into flames. He didn't have time to pull his shorts back up, but he did manage to capture pictures of the toilet with flames emerging from the bowl. Oddity Central reported that the owner believed a short circuit was to blame; other incidents of toilets bursting into flame in China have been reported over the last two years.

Burning ring of fire, indeed.

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Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 9

’Tis the Season for the Stage Six must-see performances before Dec. 25

By Rachel Pasche Festive performances abound in northern Michigan at this time of year, from yuletide classics like The Nutcracker and Handel’s Messiah to family-friendly showcases. There’s no shortage of holiday cheer to be found at these upcoming events, so get out your calendar and make note of the pre-2024 fun!

1. Messiah, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra Great Lakes Center for the Arts; Thursday, Dec. 7, and Friday, Dec. 8, at 7pm There’s something intrinsically beautiful about a live chamber orchestra, and that may be even more true when the orchestra performs music as historic and spiritually uplifting as Handel’s Messiah. The oratorio was originally performed in 1742 in Dublin, Ireland, and is believed to have been performed every year since in cities around the globe.

“This is an annual tradition, cherished by our communities. I believe we have been performing it since our inception in 2000,” says Deedee Picard, head of events and communication for the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra (GLCO).

The orchestra lineup for this performance contains 22 musicians, who will be joined by the GLCO Chorus of 43 plus four guest soloists for the occasion. The result is a powerful concert that takes listeners through biblical passages, prophesies, and scriptures, ending with a chorus of “Hallelujah.”

Tickets range from $35 to $65. glcorchestra.org 3. Christmas by Candlelight Cheboygan Opera House; Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7:30pm The Jewel of the North is hosting an evening of Christmas song with soprano and harpist Karen Beacom and cellist Maggie Twining. Beacom, an Upper Midwest finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, has performed dozens of leading roles in opera and musical theater throughout her career.

Twining began playing cello at age 10, teaches cello and violin, and has been director of the Preparatory Strings (Beginning Orchestra) and the Keweenaw Youth Symphony Orchestra for the past 10 years.

Tickets range from $10 (students) to $20 (adults). theoperahouse.org

5. A Special Christmas, Northern Lights Dance Academy and Cadillac Classic Arts Co. Cadillac High School; Saturday, Dec 16, 2pm & 6:30pm; Sunday, Dec 17, 2pm If you’re looking to add another Christmas dance performance to your holiday schedule, the Northern Lights Irish Dance and Ballet Academy and the Cadillac Classic Arts Co. have just the thing. This year, the organizations will be performing Leo Tolstoy’s Christmas story, Papa Panov’s Special Christmas, as told through dance.

After five years of putting on their production of A Christmas Carol, Elizabeth Dewey, the studio manager and director, says, “We knew we needed a change. We happened upon Papa Panov’s Special Christmas and knew it would make a beautiful production about the true meaning of Christmas.” The show combines elements of Irish dance, ballet, contemporary dance, acting, and narration.

Tickets range from $5 (2-11 years) to $10 (12 years and up). vbs20.com/Irish

10 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

2. Home for the Holidays—Let It Swing, Traverse Symphony Orchestra Lars Hockstad Auditorium, Traverse City; Saturday, Dec. 16, 7:30; Sunday, Dec. 17, 3pm There’s nothing quite like the oldies, and that’s what the Traverse Symphony Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Singers are playing during their holiday pops concert.

Audience members can expect to hear a variety of holiday hits and favorite genres, including swing, jazz, classical, and Broadway. The performance hopes Photo by John Robert Williams to evoke nostalgia for old favorite TV specials from Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Manhattan Transfer in addition to giving some of the classic festive tunes a jazzy twist. Attendees can arrive 45 minutes early to listen to some toe-tapping holiday favorites before the real performance begins.

Tickets range from $25.50 to $61.50. (Note: Students and first-time attendees are eligible to receive 50 percent off single ticket purchases.) traversesymphony.org/concert/h4h-swing

4. The Nutcracker, Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet Great Lakes Center for the Arts; Saturday, Dec. 16, 3pm & 7pm; Sunday, Dec 17, 3pm No matter how many times you’ve seen it, The Nutcracker ballet always offers a dose of Christmas magic. Heather Raue and Finley Van Patten, the artistic director and assistant to the artistic director of the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet, say this year’s performance should be especially remarkable.

That’s thanks to the seven choreographers who contributed to the ballet—most notably Peter Sparling, University of Michigan dance professor emeritus.

We’re told Sparling brings a “fresh, new take to the Waltz of the Flowers,” through which the directors “sought to reimagine the entire ballet … connecting themes from Clara’s adventures in the Party Scene, which is now set in the 1920s, into Act II Land of the Sweets.”

Tickets range from $10 (students) to $35 (adults) to $75 (box seating). crookedtree.org/ballet

6. Sounds of the Season, Interlochen Center for the Arts Saturday, Dec. 16, 7:30pm; Sunday, Dec. 17, 2pm The annual student and staff showcase at Interlochen Center for the Arts celebrates both the holidays and the talented members of the school. The presentation features performances by the Interlochen Arts Academy choir, wind symphony, musical theater, and longtime instructor of voice Jeffrey Norris, with over 100 student performers taking the stage.

Brent Wrobel, director of Interlochen Presents, comments on the huge number of visitors that come annually, saying, “The show is very popular and often sells out. Last year we added a second performance and greeted almost 2,000 guests.”

He says the interactive nature of the show adds to the appeal. “Each audience member will receive their own set of jingle bells. We also invite our youngest audience members on stage to help us ring some larger bells, and we have an audience sing-along.” Wrobel adds that the showcase “reminds me how important the arts are, especially during the holiday season.”

Attendees are welcome to cookies and candy canes in the lobby postperformance while they wait to greet their favorite characters.

Tickets range from $19 (children through college students) to $36

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Ginger, Spice, and Everything Nice INSIDE THE INGREDIENTS

By Nora Rae Pearl The holiday cooking season has arrived, and we’re here to help you start this month on the right boot—we mean foot. We’re keeping things warm and cozy with two recipes that will give you all the holiday feels and look great on the potluck table.

December produce can be hard to come by, so we’re looking to our local farmers and retailers for the basics: fresh eggs, creamy milk, and dried spices. (Plus coffee for those lattes!) While you’re dashing through snow, be sure to stop in at Suttons Bay Trading Company for all things snappy and spicy. Then, to make spirits bright, brew up some Cannonball Espresso from Roaster Jack Coffee Co. in Traverse City or slip into Leelanau Coffee Roasting in Glen Arbor to peruse their wares.

Trust us—yule love it.

Eggnog Latte

Impress your guests with this new holiday classic.

Eggnog Ingredients • 6 large eggs • 3/4 cup sugar • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 4 cups whole milk, divided • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream Latte Ingredients • Strong hot coffee • Reserved whipped cream • Freshly ground nutmeg

Gingerbread Biscotti

Change up tradition with this spicy cookie topped with creamy white chocolate.

Ingredients • 2 1/4 cups flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper •1/4 teaspoon ground cloves • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 2 eggs • 3/4 cup sugar • 1/4 cup molasses • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 tablespoons finely chopped candied ginger • 4 oz. white chocolate bar, melted

Instructions To make eggnog: In a heavy bottomed medium saucepan, whisk together eggs, sugar, and salt. Beat until thoroughly combined. Gradually add 2 cups of milk.

Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it begins to thicken and Instructions temperature reaches 160 degrees. Take off the heat. Stir in vanilla, nutmeg, and Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Set aside. remaining 2 cups milk. Pour into a large pitcher (or a cleaned milk In a medium bowl, sift together the first eight ingredients. Set aside. carton) and chill for at least 3 hours.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until pale in color, Beat cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form (sweeten with a Nora Rae Pearl is 99 about two minutes. Stir in the molasses and vanilla. Fold in the flour tablespoon of powdered sugar if desired). Set aside a generous 1/2 cup percent foodie and 1 mixture until just combined. Fold in candied ginger. Divide dough in to use in topping your lattes. Fold in a small amount of chilled eggnog half. Shape into a 12-inch-long by 5-inch-wide log on the prepared percent chef. When she is into the cream. Gradually work in remaining eggnog. Stop stirring sheet. Press down slightly to make 3/4 inch thick. Bake for 24 minutes, not writing about food, she once you have a smooth mixture. Chill for at least 2 hours. rotating halfway through. can be found waiting in To make one eggnog latte: heat 1/2 cup eggnog in a small saucepan Cool for 10 minutes, then cut into 3/4-inch thick slices. Place cut side line at the farmers market over medium heat until warmed, stirring constantly. (Watch carefully— down on sheet. Lower oven to 325 degrees. Bake for an additional 10 the eggs will continue cooking if you walk away.) Pour into your favorite hoping to get a croissant minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature—the cookies will crisp as they mug, then top with 1/2 cup hot coffee. Add a healthy dollop of whipped before they run out. cool. Drizzle on white chocolate. cream, then sprinkle on a pinch of nutmeg.

Photo credits Cody Werme.

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 13

14 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

A NIGHT ON THE TOWN The impact of events like Ladies’ and Men’s Night in the holiday season

By Al Parker Along with festive parties with friends and goofy Christmas sweaters, the annual shopping sprees often known as Ladies’ Night or Men’s Night have become traditions during the holiday season. Northern Express checked with several northern Michigan communities to see how these events are celebrated and what kind of impact they make on local downtown communities.

MANISTEE In downtown Manistee, Men’s Night typically draws a larger turnout than Ladies’ Night. (Surprised? We were too!) That’s according to Carrie Mosher, owner of The Outpost, which offers an extensive line of quality clothing for women and men.

“There’s a good turnout for both,” she says. “But Ladies’ Night brings in about 200 people, and Men’s Night brings in roughly 300 people. It’s amazing to see how much the community supports local businesses during this time of year.”

That kind of crowd means The Outpost adds extra staff, plus “a very merry vibe” as they help guests pick out those just-right gifts and offer snacks and beverages.

“Because these are local events, we try to source food and beverage options from the community,” says Mosher. “At both Men’s and Ladies’ Night, we have live music from local musicians. We help pick out gifts and wrap them so our customers can socialize and catch up with one another. It is very festive!”

While summer sees plenty of outof-town visitors, these special nights in Manistee are pretty much local events.

“We see a lot of familiar faces from the community,” explains Mosher. “It’s important for us to provide a merry time for our customers who are with us year-round.

We enjoy helping find the perfect gift for loved ones and we appreciate their business, so this is our way of saying thank you.”

This year Ladies’ Night was held Dec. 6, while Men’s Night will be Dec. 20 from 5 to 8pm.

ELK RAPIDS Hundreds of shoppers, and a few nonshoppers, turn out every year for this village event, according to village merchants.

That number is bolstered by the fact that the 100 Women Who Care hold their annual meeting at 5pm the same night.

After the hour-long gathering, the group heads downtown, where the shopkeepers stay open until 8pm.

“While our group’s mission is to gain awareness and collectively support area nonprofits, we also strive to support our local businesses,” says Cindy Zarow, the organization’s community outreach official.

“Ladies’ Night is the perfect event to show our appreciation for Elk Rapids businesses … and we have a lot of fun doing so.”

Last year, some 120 members and their guests attended the group’s meeting on Dec. 15. “The meeting duration goal is always one hour,” says one member. “But this particular meeting was completed in just 59 minutes, partly because members were so anxious to hit the streets of Elk Rapids for Ladies’ Night.”

Shop owners handle the rush one customer at a time, with some adding extra help. “Some had lines out the door and are planning to be better prepared this year,” recalls one shopper.

There’s little doubt that the shopping spree is a special time in the Antrim County village. Most merchants see a boost in sales and enjoy the social side of the evening too.

All offer food and drink, making it a fun evening while shopping with friends.

This year the fun is set for Dec. 14.

Learn more at elkrapidschamber.org/events.

HARBOR SPRINGS “Locals love having an evening of getting together, shopping, and gathering at one of our local restaurants for fun gifts and prizes,” says Bonnie Kulp, director of the Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce, which coordinates the annual holiday event. “It’s a wonderful event that the locals truly appreciate. It definitely generates future purchases, not always the night of the event.”

This year, Ladies’ Night was held Nov. 11 and Kulp says it was a great turnout with over 30 giveaways for shoppers. The evening is not so overwhelming that businesses need to add extra staff, but the combo of shopping and socializing offers each storekeeper the chance to offer snacks or beverages. Many do.

Kulp says it’s hard to guess just how many shoppers hit the sidewalks, but merchants tell her they are busy all evening.

“It's important for the community in gathering together,” notes Kulp.

PETOSKEY More than 200 people turn out for the annual Ladies’ Opening Night in

Petoskey, according to Andi Symonds, marketing and promotions director at Downtown Petoskey.

Ladies’ Opening Night was Nov. 17, linked with the opening of rifle deer hunting season. “Instead of hunting for bucks, come spend some bucks to kick off the holiday season,” was one marketing line. Shoppers had a chance to win one of three “doe prizes” ranging from a big basket of goodies, gift cards, and $700 in Downtown Dollars to $300 in Downtown Dollars.

The merchants get as excited as the shoppers and love providing little games that go along with the hunting theme.

“This is a slower season, and this event boosts sales and foot traffic in the stores,” Symonds explains. “We market this event as a great way to start your holiday shopping early. Many stores host a fun game, discount, or incentive to encourage customers to come in, and a sales boost during this slower time is a huge bonus.”

Merchants offer sips and nibbles to get the crowd in a celebratory mood.

Landmarks like Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts, American Spoon Foods, and Quiet Moose are must-stops on a night of downtown fun.

“These nights are very important as November is a slower month before the big holiday shopping starts up in December,” explains Symonds. “ This is a nice preview of the special holiday items and a great way to slowly start the holiday shopping season.”

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 15

SECONDHAND FINDS The benefits of buying vintage and used clothing

By Brighid Driscoll A couple of months ago, The Atlantic published an article titled “Your Sweaters Are Garbage.” In the piece, writer Amanda Mull details how drastically clothing quality has declined over the past few decades. Sweaters, in particular, were once crafted with care and natural fibers like cotton and wool.

Nowadays, you’d be hard pressed to buy a new sweater that doesn’t have any plastic woven through its material (usually polyester, acrylic, or polyamide).

What changed? Most notably, the onslaught of fast fashion. When lower-end retailers started aggressively competing with each other to keep up with trends, they began to produce huge amounts of cheaply made clothing and, consequently, huge amounts of waste.

Is there a way off the hamster wheel of low-quality overconsumption? Yes: The answer is buying secondhand. It’s easy on your pocketbook, the environment, and more luxurious than you can imagine. Northern Express connected with a few Traverse City based secondhand shop owners to talk about the perks of being thrifty and what to shop for this season.

Zany

slip.vintage

Photo by Casey Chamberlain

A locally loved gem, Zany has been dressing shoppers in Traverse City (and beyond) for nearly two decades.

“We’re celebrating 20 years in January,” says owner Kate Kohler. She started Zany in 2004 a few years after moving to TC. “I felt like there was room for something a little more boutique-y and selective.”

Zany is a classic consignment store, following a simple model of selling items on behalf of an individual and splitting the proceeds. Items are kept on consignment for 60 days and can be picked up at the end of that window or donated by Zany. Sold items are split 60/40, with the seller receiving 40 percent of the price.

Every consignment store is different in what they’re looking for and willing to accept. Zany stocks everything from women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories to select home décor. But no matter what clients bring in, for Kohler, it’s all about the quality.

“Number one, we’re looking for high-quality items. For me that means natural fabrics like linen, leather, wool, cashmere. We want the kind of items that are going to last. Not fast fashion where you’re going to buy it this season and then get rid of it the next.”

That means trends are not always in demand by Zany’s staff. (In the not so distant past, low-rise jeans were the thing, and no one was better for it…let’s not let that come back around!) Instead, Kohler looks for well-made items that will stand the test of time.

“Quality clothing has such a long life; cheap clothing does not. I want to sell items that are still going to look beautiful in 10 to 20 years and still be in style.”

As we transition into winter, Kohler says that a cashmere sweater is a great piece of clothing to have for the season. She also says cropped denim and baggier, boyfriend styles are great go-tos that look modern but won’t fade into fashion obscurity by next year.

For gift giving, you can’t go wrong with handbags or jewelry. “We have beautiful, handmade, artshow-quality earrings that you’d pay $50 for at a show but only $12.99 here,” Kohler says. “We have lots of great little finds all over.”

Find Zany Consignment at its two Traverse City locations—4630 US-31 (Zany East) and 318 Vine St (Zany West)—or online at zanyconsignment.com.

16 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

Katie Asher’s downtown vintage boutique started before she opened her doors in 2021.

“I’ve always loved vintage clothes and thrifting, so I started selling clothes at pop-up shops and on Instagram in 2018,” she says. Her Instagram story sales were a safe and sustainable way to shop local, especially during the pandemic. As life began to normalize, though, Asher’s thoughts drifted towards opening a shop of her own.

In April 2021, those thoughts became a reality when slip.vintage opened in the Front Row Centre building downtown. Asher’s shop now is an eclectic curation of her own vintage finds, as well as locally-made items.

“The thing that has always stayed constant is that I buy stuff that I like,” she tells us. “I buy stuff that I would wear, or if I wouldn’t wear it, I would admire it on someone else. The shop changes with my taste.”

As for what winter clothing staple Asher recommends this season? “A long wool coat. Like a midcalf, structured, single-breasted with a lapel is the one thing I think everyone should have. I’ve seen people wearing sweatsuits with a long wool coat, and it still looks so put together.”

Within slip.vintage, racks of yesteryear delights line the walls, including quality jeans, retro T-shirts, outerwear, and more. Beyond the racks, a tarp hanging from the ceiling hides a section of the shop. Asher, speckled with paint splatters, explains that she’s renovating that half of the space for Secondhand Social Club, an art cafe and creative social space.

“We’re going to have lots of workshops and classes—I’m hoping to have a full calendar of events,” she says. “I’d love to host people’s clubs, like if they have a knitting club or something like that. And it’ll be available to rent out too. The art cafe aspect will basically be like ordering at a restaurant. You’ll come up to the counter and order a project, and we’ll provide you with everything you need to work on that project.”

Find slip.vintage at 121 E Front St Suite 108 in Traverse City and online at slipvintage.com. Reservations for Secondhand Social Club can be made online at secondhandsocialclub.com.

Penny Lane

Waves of color will beckon you into this downtown TC storefront, and owner Jena Wright’s vision will make you want to wander through.

“I grew up in Arizona, and the thrift stores out there were awesome,” Wright tells us.

“When I moved up here permanently, there was a lack of thrift stores in comparison.”

Penny Lane is unique in that it hosts a variety of local sellers with dedicated spaces. The racks are divided by seller, with each getting their own designated block of space to peddle their goods. Some sellers have vintage clothing items, others sell from their own personal collection, and others are artisans who create their products.

The shop opened earlier this spring, and Wright’s fears of not being able to fill the store were quickly quelled. “I was worried that I might not be able to find enough people, or have enough stuff, or it would be a store full of junk because I don’t dictate what people sell,” she explains. “What I think is cool, not everyone else is going to think is cool.”

The first week, Wright relied on friends to fill the seller spaces with items. As business began to grow, Penny Lane hit its stride. Now the shop has seller spots booked out over a

month in advance and regular sellers continue to have success.

To host a booth for one week, sellers pay just $30. The week starts Saturday, and a quick glance at the calendar shows Penny Lane booked up through December. Setup takes place from 9am-11:45am before the store opens at noon, with regular hours Tuesday-Sunday.

Wright can offer breakdown assistance at the end of the week on Friday (an extra $10), and there’s an option to donate unsold items. Commission payouts are sent the following week on Monday, with Penny Lane keeping 35 percent of the revenue on sales and sellers getting 65 percent.

Wright considers Penny Lane an easy choice for holiday gifting. “One of the great things about Penny Lane is not only are you supporting my small business, but also all the individual sellers’ small businesses. I really love the idea of supporting small, local vendors who are doing something creative.”

Find Penny Lane at 501 E Front St in Traverse City or online at pennylanetc.com.

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Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 17

The Holiday Spirits Local distilleries share their origin stories and seasonal recipes

By Karl Klockars These days, cocktail menus are moving from vodka-laden lemonades and beach-friendly rum punches to sharper drinks, pairing gin and whiskey with citrus and syrup to create concoctions more appropriate to sweater weather and tree stand sipping. Winter is coming on quick, and while you’re pulling the hats, scarves, and gloves out of the closet, have you considered the holiday status of your home bar? Or thought about what might be the best bottle to gift this season?

We checked in with the teams behind Ethanology Distillation in Elk Rapids and Gypsy Spirits in Petoskey to chat about the high-proof process to bring their beverages to life, how their offerings change as the calendar progresses, and favorite recipes for the holidays.

ETHANOLOGY DISTILLATION

Nicholas Lefebre, co-founder and CEO of Ethanology, knows that they’re doing things the hard way.

When he and his wife, Geri, were starting the Elk Rapids-based distillery over a decade ago, they opted to not hire a distiller and have Geri take on the responsibility herself after thousands of hours of self-guided instruction.

They committed early to using only locallysourced grains and fruits to create their vodka, gin, whiskey, and mel, a spirit distilled from local honey. They work on a timeline measured in not months or years but a decade or more out, and they pivoted from the business being a retirement project to a potentially lifelong endeavor.

All of this is in pursuit of one thing: “Our goal has always been to make the world’s best products with the current skill set that we have,” Lefebre says. “So we’re

learning along the way, and [we want] to remain focused on one thing, and that’s quality. We don’t want to be a 10,000-case distillery. We don’t want our bourbon or mel to be your everyday spirit; we want it to be your specialization spirit.”

As winter rolls around, the flavors in their tasting room make the transition from clear spirits to oakier ones. “As the temperature drops, … people are more attracted to barrel-aged products,” Lefebre says. “They can be smoky, they can be more phenolic, [with] cedar, clove, cinnamon.”

An oak-barrel-aged gin like their Ferox ($70) is not a typical expression of the spirit, but it plays beautifully in their Newest Wrinkle cocktail. “We are just as passionate about our cocktails as we are our spirits. The same passion that we have for creating unique products in the production area is directly echoed in the tasting room,”

18 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

Lefebre tells us.

They’ve also created some cocktail gift boxes that are great options for the holidays—the perfect “turnkey gift,” as Lefebre describes it. Ethanology has packages featuring gin or vodka with tonic syrup, their “Mel Fashioned” with bitters and Luxardo cherries, and the aforementioned Newest Wrinkle, all packed into handcrafted wooden crates built locally by Backwoods Specialties.

Black Friday also saw the release of their newest specialty product, Vespera Mel ($125), which translates to “twilight honey” in Latin.

The tasting notes for it promise “banana flan and beeswax … bound with delicate resinous smoke.” Lefebre calls it “really, really unique.

We’re really excited about it.”

For the Vespera Mel, no recipe is required, assuming you can get your hands on a bottle.

“We recommend you sip it neat,” Lefebre says.

“A spirit this refined needs no additions.”

THE NEWEST WRINKLE COCKTAIL Ingredients

• 1/4 oz maple syrup* • 1/3 orange slice (with rind, muddled gently) • 15 drops bitters (to taste) • 1/3 oz orange juice* • 2 ounces Ethanology gin

Instructions

Fill a rocks glass with large ice cubes and add all ingredients. Stir for 20-30 revolutions and top with additional ice if necessary.

Garnish with an orange rose.

To make an orange rose: Using two orange peels, roll the first and then roll the second over the first. Skewer to secure and drizzle maple syrup over the center of the rose. *Pro tip: Use local maple syrup and fresh pressed OJ to pump up the flavor.

GYPSY SPIRITS

Even though a trip to Kentucky’s famous Bourbon Trail takes you across hill and dale carpeted with dense bluegrass, one look at the Gypsy Spirits in Bay Harbor will convince you that Bourbon country ain’t got nothing on northern Michigan. (After all, does Kentucky have a view overlooking Little Traverse Bay?) This 42,000-square-foot facility operated

by High Five Spirits is now the state’s largest operating distillery under one roof and actually has winter weather to thank for its existence, as frigid temps weren’t great for housing horses by the former tenant, the Bay Harbor Equestrian Center.

Gypsy Spirits has its roots in a much smaller, but also quite chilly spot. According to

PEPPERMINT MOCHA ESPRESSO MARTINI Ingredients

• 2 oz Gypsy Vodka • 1 oz fresh espresso • 1 oz peppermint simple syrup • 0.5 oz chocolate syrup • Whipped cream and chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions

Mix in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake vigorously until combined, strain into a martini glass, and garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

owner and co-founder Michael Kazanowski, “my brother [Adam, co-founder] and I were living in Colorado and we met a guy on a chairlift who owned a distillery.”

After that, their newfound goal was to open up their own distillery in northern Michigan, but funding was an issue. “So we spent three years working out of our van … and we did that until we saved enough money to produce our first set of bottles of Gypsy Vodka out in Denver.”

So if Colorado was the spiritual origin (pun intended), why Bay Harbor? “We’re from the metro Detroit area, and we would spend almost every weekend up here in the winter time. And we made a lot of really good friends up in this area, and it always

just felt like home.”

Sadly, one of those friends passed away in a house fire when the Kazanowskis were in college, and that changed their entire outlook on life. “We decided to be a little bit more free spirited and … get the most out of every single day.” With Michael’s science background and Adam’s in finance, plus some time spent learning the ropes of distilling in Louisville, Gypsy was up and running by 2017.

As autumn kicked in, Gypsy partnered with Blake’s Hard Cider to develop their Apple Pie Vodka ($25) with apple cider and cinnamon, which is still on store shelves. All the same, Michael says their vodka ($20) is still everyone’s preferred product, even in winter. “People always ask what makes it

different. We took it all the way back to the basics: A good quality sweet corn that we source from Michigan farmers, and then really good water quality, which brought us up here originally.”

Gypsy sells gift boxes with their vodka that also features a mug, a shirt, and some stickers, but the lavender lover in your life might also want to try their award-winning Petoskey Stone Gin ($35). “We really wanted to encapsulate as much local [product] as we can, so a lot of our botanicals are local, like our lavender that was sourced from [Boyne City’s] Lavender Hill Farms,” which helped it earn the distinction of being named 2020’s Best in Show for an American gin by the London Spirits Competition.

YULETIDE MULE

HOT BUTTERED RUM

Ingredients • 1.5-2.oz Gypsy Vodka • 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice • 3 oz. cranberry juice • 3-4 oz ginger beer • Limes, cranberries, and rosemary for garnish

Ingredients • 2oz Mackinac Island Rum • 1 tbsp hot buttered rum batter *recipe below • Hot apple cider • Cinnamon stick for garnish

Instructions Pour vodka, lime juice, and cranberry juice into a copper mug filled with ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with fresh cranberries, lime wedge, and a sprig of rosemary.

Instructions To make the hot buttered rum batter: Melt 1 lb butter in a large pot over medium heat. Blend in 1 lb brown sugar and 1 lb confectioners sugar until smooth. Remove from heat and add 1 quart of ice cream (softened), 2 tbsp ground cinnamon, and 2 tbsp nutmeg and whisk until incorporated. Pour mixture into a plastic container and store in the freezer for later use.

Pour rum into glass and add buttered rum batter. Stir to combine and top with hot apple cider. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 19

Your 2023 Holiday Soundtrack Avoid Christmas radio fatigue and mix these albums into your next playlist

By Ross Boissoneau It’s the most wonderful time of the year…especially for those who love the sound of Christmas carols, whether it’s Mel Tormé or Mariah Carey, Mannheim Steamroller or Trans-Siberian Orchestra. We know you’ll already be listening to Christmas with Brandy and Cher’s Christmas, so we tracked down 13 other albums to enjoy in 2023, plus some singles for a little extra holiday magic.

Gregory Porter, Christmas Wish Porter’s voice has been called “a creamy baritone that flows thick and smooth,” and we think that’s a pretty good way to describe this jazzy singer. His album includes not only some of the usual suspects (“Silent Night,” “Do You Hear What I Hear”), but also unexpected choices like Marvin Gaye’s “Purple Snowflakes” and Stevie Wonder’s “Someday At Christmas.”

On another of the lesser-known tunes, “Christmas Waltz,” the clever wordplay—“And this song of mine, in three quarter time, wishes you the same thing too”—is sure to bring a smile to your face. Plus, Porter has also written three new holiday-esque tunes.

Ted Nash & Kristin Lee Sergeant, Holidays Nash is a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and composer, and Sergeant is an accomplished vocalist and songwriter. The collaborative couple are joined by a 15-piece big band, providing plenty of highlights as long as you’re not expecting too traditional an outing. Bob Dourough’s offbeat “Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)” gets additional lyrics from Sergeant and three—count ’em, three—trombone solos. It’s brilliantly done, but not your typical holiday fare…some listeners might find it a touch too out there to put on for background music while you unwrap presents.

We Four Kings, Kings Return The holidays seem especially appropriate for groups with multiple singers and few, if any, instruments; witness the popularity of Straight No Chaser, the Nylons, Accent, and Pentatonix, among others. Now you can add We Four Kings to the list. Their Kings Return includes a bevy of holiday treats, even enlisting other vocalists such as Christie Dashiell on a delightful “Let it Snow.” Their wordless vocalizing on “The King’s Nutcracker Suite” is especially enjoyable.

George Burton, The Yule Log Pianist Burton doesn’t waste any time letting the listener know this is a different jazz take on the holidays, with violinist Diane Monroe and violist Veronica Jurkiewicz sawing away on the Catalan carol “Fum Fum Fum” that opens the disc.

“Christmas Time Is Here” showcases the lustrous vocals of Nancy Harms and the string players, while a strident “Auld Lang Syne” will send revelers out into the night.

(Writer’s note: Those inclined to more familiar holiday norms may find these tunes on the eclectic side.)

The Kirk Pasich Project featuring Scout Durwood, A Scout Durwood Christmas It’s a rollicking party at Durwood’s home this year, at least according to “Ain’t Nothing Like Christmas.” The self-described “existential comedian who sings” is by turns tender (“Snowman”), somber (an indie rock cover of The Killers’ “Christmas In L.A.”), and raucous (the aforementioned “Ain’t Nothing”). She adds some additional lyrics to the concluding “White Christmas” explaining the lack of snow in Los Angeles. It almost makes you feel sorry for those who don’t experience a frosty holiday.

Samara Joy, A Joyful Holiday The heralded newcomer and winner of Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album and for Best New Artist delivers an EP of ho-ho-holiday treats. She gives “O Holy Night” a gospel treatment, complete with organ and additional vocalists, no surprise given her church background (her father toured as a vocalist with Andraé Crouch).

That contrasts with a swinging but sparse approach to “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” with bass, guitar, and drums (with brushes!). The title track dates back decades, though little known—maybe this version will change that.

20 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

The Tenors, Christmas with the Tenors The Canadian quartet exchanges its mix of opera and pop for the sounds of the season. They’re at their best on the classic “Christmas Time Is Here”, where they trade off leads. The singers are accompanied by an orchestra, but the focus remains on their voices, as it should be. You’d think a quartet of singers wouldn’t need any more voices, but Natasha St-Pier joins on the French “Petit Papa Noel,” while the addition of Ekaterina Shelehova on “Snowman” is the icing on the cake.

Adam Hawley, What Christmas Means To Me Hawley comes across as a latter-day George Benson on the opening “Jingle Bells,” while the following “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” offers a funky take on the holiday staple. He employs some vocalists as well, with L. Young’s take on “What Christmas Means To Me” and wife Kat Hawley’s gospelish take on “Mary Did You Know” with Adam’s acoustic guitar set against a synth backdrop. Unfortunately the programmed finger snaps on the latter are really intrusive. Other than that misstep, he seems right at home for the holidays.

Christian Sands, Christmas Stories A decidedly bluesy take on “Jingle Bells” opens the pianist’s new recording, based (according to the liner notes) on Miles Davis’s “All Blues.” More surprises await: Halfway through “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” Sands and company veer from jazz to Latin swing. Even more outré is “Silent Night,” with some twangy guitar punctuated by cymbals.

At the other end of the spectrum is an introspective “Last Christmas.” Wham’s melancholy tune is taken at a slower tempo, with strings complementing Sands’ gentle piano. Sands also adds three originals to the holiday canon.

Stephanie J. Block, Merry Christmas Darling The theater star, best known for portraying Elphaba in touring and Broadway versions of Wicked, goes all out on this recording, with an orchestra recreating the lush sounds popularized by the likes of Johnny Mathis and Henry Mancini. (Though it’s a safe bet Mancini never wrote a bluegrassy/ hot jazz holiday tune, as Block does here with “And Snow.”) The title track, originally by the Carpenters, receives a glorious orchestral glow-up. Block’s lustrous voice is powerful throughout, but not overpowering. Like eggnog, it’s a sweet Christmas treat.

Nils Landgren, Christmas With My Friends VIII The eighth holiday outing from the Swedish jazz-funk trombonist is a mixed bag of holiday goodies. There’s the surprising “Most of All,” recalling the sounds of Rosemary Clooney or the Andrews Sisters, with no trombone till a brief Dixieland-ish interlude and conclusion. The different vocalists bring a different mood to each track.

Hauser, Christmas For those who prefer classical sounds for the season, Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser offers his first holiday recording. Few instruments offer the range of the cello, and Hauser plumbs its emotional depth. “O Holy Night” is one of the standout tracks. He takes “Angels We Have Heard On High” at a slightly slower tempo than most versions. The instrumental version of “The Christmas Song” is another winner, as is “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

Pairing his cello with orchestra is a holiday treat indeed.

Single All the Way

Need a little more holiday spirit? Here are a few singles to sample: John Paul McGee, A Gospeljazzical Christmas A taste of jazz, gospel, and classical, all in one place? Yes, please! Berklee professor and pianist McGee quotes Chick Corea’s “Spain” opening and throughout “Emmanuel.” In the first 30 seconds of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” he’s already changed the tempo three times. Yet it works, as does the rest of this entertaining recording.

“Go Tell It On The Mountain” provides much of the gospel feeling, particularly with McGee’s vocals, with “Jesus, What A Wonderful Child” with female voices a close second.

JR Bohannon, JR Bohannon Plays Vince Guaraldi: Bohannon takes on two classics from the Peanuts specials in which his steel guitar is less country and more akin to Hawaiian music. “Christmas Time Is Here” is all ringing overtones, while “Skating” is somewhat spooky and mysterious.

Erin Stevenson, “Christmas Time With You”: Bouncy and playful, this hummable track from the R&B songstress could easily become a holiday staple. Next time out, how about a full album?

Shawn Raiford, “Santa Baby”: Raiford’s sax shines on this straightforward version that fortunately keeps the schmaltz to a minimum.

Mickey Thomas, A Classic Christmas: The Starship vocalist delivers two holiday staples: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

Also new this year: It’s Christmas, from the always hip Tower of Power; Imani Records Holiday Extravaganza, a recording of the label artists performing a streaming Christmas Eve concert from their homes during the pandemic (available on Bandcamp); the bluesy Alligator Christmas Collection; and Michelle Malone and the Hot Toddies’ rollicking Toddie Time.

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 21

A look inside the renovated home-turned-tasting room.

Bison gumbo

After long careers as doctors, Elizabeth and Marc Huntoon only intended winemaking as a retirement hobby, but soon turned it into a family business.

Basque cheesecake. Photos by Alyssa Brittain

CRAFTING WINE, CULTIVATING FAMILY Gilchrist Farm and Winery is growing from the ground up

By Kierstin Gunsberg As the summer season wound down in Suttons Bay and crowds of beachgoers headed back home by M-22, Gilchrist Farm and Winery swung open its doors to the public. With their kids by their side, founders Elizabeth and Marc Huntoon celebrated the soft opening of their brandnew tasting room inside a renovated turnof-the-century home with peekaboo views of the bay.

The St. Joseph Street location is only a meandering afternoon bike ride north of the family’s 85-acre South French Road farm established in 2018. Twenty-two of those farm acres are dedicated to growing grapes from all over the globe, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, plus some winterhardy varieties from Spain, Austria, and northern Italy.

Creating a Home Away from Home Both Elizabeth and Marc are retired doctors turned vintners, but Elizabeth’s green thumb always kept her busy gardening and tending to hobby orchards before turning farming into a family vocation.

She and Marc admit that while they would have liked a summertime opening for Gilchrist Farm’s tasting room, the renovation timeline of their new digs just happened to put it closer to autumn. Despite the economic challenges of waiting another six months for the busy season to start back up, they plan to take the winter in stride.

“Starting a winery is a lot like medicine in the sense that one has to be prepared to delay gratification for several years,” Elizabeth says.

The upside, she adds, is getting to roll

out a prolonged soft opening as they and their team—which includes two of their daughters, Laurel Huntoon and Alyssa Brittain, and son-in-law George Brittain— fine-tune the details for guests.

For Gilchrist Farm—a name chosen to honor Elizabeth’s mother’s surname—the details are everything. From the rich robin’s egg blue exterior where the family can be spotted romping around in muck boots and farm flannels, to the sunbathed interior furnished with antique touches, the tasting room and its branding were all designed

by Alyssa. Her vision from the start was to carve out a homey, casual setting for both locals and Up North visitors to kick back with good friends and good wine.

“We wanted a comfortable, lived-in atmosphere that feels like eating at a friend’s beautiful home,” explains George, Gilchrist Farm’s business manager. “We believe a beautiful space can be inviting to everyone, so come as you are.”

From Ground to Grape to Glass While the idea of swirl, sniff, sip, and savor might seem like a super luxe aspect of winemaking, the reality of bringing Gilchrist Farm’s wine to fruition (pun intended) begins with dirt, digging, sampling, and analyzing by Elizabeth and Marc’s youngest daughter and farm manager, Laurel.

A soil scientist, Laurel maintains the family’s vines starting at the roots through regenerative agriculture and nurturing the Soil Food Web. (For those of us who haven’t taken a biology class in a hot minute, the Soil Food Web is a collaborative community of organisms and microorganisms that live in the soil and interact—think: eat, excrete, repeat—to create organic compost.)

To help that process along, Gilchrist

22 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

Farm gets grape must (crushed grapes) from local wineries and spent grains (the leftovers of beer making) from breweries to toss into their soil, creating a rich, healthy foundation for their grapes.

“At its core, regenerative farming is working with over-farmed land to restore the soil,” explains George. “Great wine is made in the vineyard. When winemakers work with excellent fruit, the wine almost makes itself.”

Working closely with Drew Perry, head winemaker of neighboring Aurora Cellars, the family has been transforming their vineyard rows into exceptional wines.

The process involves Marc’s hands-on involvement, from sampling at each stage to making crucial decisions that shape the finished bottle.

The farm’s top-selling wines include Four Daughters, a red blend paying homage to Elizabeth and Marc’s own four daughters, and the Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, a white that George notes isn’t too “oaked or buttery.”

For gifting, he recommends the 100 percent chardonnay sparkling wine. “It’s very easy to drink and all about celebration,” he says. And, to thaw out from a crisp afternoon of snowshoeing the shoreline, George points to a warm glass of spiced mulled wine sipped inside one of the tasting room’s cedar patio chalets.

More Than Wine Of course, Gilchrist Farm doesn’t only grow—or serve—wine.

“We always knew from the outset that we wanted to do locally grown and seasonal food,” says George. “We are farm to table in all things. Everything we do starts at our farm.”

To complement their drink menu, the

tasting room’s chef-led kitchen offers brunch and dinner options, like a heaping bowl of locally-raised bison gumbo or a plate of creamy Basque cheesecake topped with cardamom cookie crumbles. Before anyone gets their heart set on one of these tasty dishes though, Chef Deanna Mikalauskas, one of Gilchrist Farm’s five chefs, says that to keep the menu and ingredients fresh, their daily offerings are unique and dependent on what the farm and local vendor farms have available.

Each day, the kitchen team inventories their own ingredients, then collaborates with other producers like Loma Farms, Guernsey Farms Dairy, 9 Bean Rows, and Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars to brainstorm one-of-a-kind meals for Gilchrist Farm’s guests. It keeps Chef Deanna and the rest of the kitchen testing their creativity from one dish to the next while ensuring a sustainable, minimalwaste kitchen.

Meanwhile, the five chefs are working in tandem with Laurel to plan next season’s edible garden in the farm’s newly built hoop house.

“I love this one very specific cabbage,” says Chef Deanna of her recent garden wish list request of Caraflex, a soft, sweet cabbage variety that can be sliced into salad or roasted as a main dish. “A week later, [Laurel] looked into it and texted me. She’s like, ‘Oh my god, we got the cabbage.’ So she’s planting seedlings for that now. We’re all weirdly excited about a tiny little cabbage.”

As for what winter farm visitors can get excited about, George says they’ll be hosting a Supper Club for noshing and mingling, and, after years of nurturing their vines, they’ll be offering their first estate wine, with ingredients grown completely on their farm, this spring. Cheers to that!

dec 09

Saturday

OLD MISSION WOMEN’S CLUB HOLIDAY COOKIE FUNDRAISER: Peninsula Township Hall, Old Mission Peninsula. Held 8am until sold out (usually by 1111:30am) so come early. Boxes will be provided along with gloves to pick your own cookies.

Large assortment of holiday cookie specialties. Proceeds to benefit local nonprofits each year. Entry free, $12/lb. oldmissionwc.org ----------------------------ANNUAL TRINITY CHURCH & SCHOOL CHRISTMAS COOKIE EVENT: 9am, Trinity Lutheran School Gym, TC. Nearly 23,000 traditional & Old World favorites will be offered. For more info call 941-3487 or 231499-9259. tctrinity.org ----------------------------COOKIE SWAP FUN RUN: 9am, Fleet Feet, 300 E Front St., Suite 103, TC. Join for a 3 mile run followed by a festive cookie swap.

Bring 12-24 of your favorite holiday treats & an empty plate. Following the run, you will have the opportunity to then fill your plate with the goodies that others have brought in. Feel free to bring in copies of your recipe cards. 9325401. Suggested entry fee is $10.

----------------------------ELK RAPIDS JINGLE JOG: The Dam Shop, Elk Rapids. Featuring the 5K Jingle Jog & 1 Mile Reindeer Run. 5K starts at 9am; 1 Mile at 10am. $25; $15. runningintheusa.com/details/132617 ----------------------------NORTHPORT WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS BAKE & TREASURE SALE: 9am-noon, Trinity Church, Northport. Presented by The Women’s Club of Northport. All money is used for area scholarships. Cash or check only.

----------------------------CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE: 10am, The Village at GT Commons, TC. Santa, shopping specials, carriage rides & much more.

Find ‘Christmas in The Village’ on Facebook.

----------------------------GUIDED BIRDWATCHING HIKE: 1011:30am, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Join Executive Director & birding guide Angie Quinn on a birdwatching hike through the Art Park - in the midst of a 30-acre preserve—& part of the Sleeping Bear Birding Trail. Free with Art Park admission. michlegacyartpark.org/ tours-workshops/birdwatching-series ----------------------------OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in for arts & crafts activities.

New projects are offered each week. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/openstudio-december-9 ----------------------------SATURDAY 25 CENTS FAMILY FAVORITES: 10:30am, Lyric Theatre, Harbor Springs. Featuring “Jack Frost.” 25 cents.

----------------------------CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY: Mackinaw City.

11am-3pm: Christmas Cocoa & Chocolate Crawl. Noon-3pm: Horse-drawn wagon rides compliments of Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry. 3:30-6:30pm: Colonial Christmas at Colonial Michilimackinac. 231-436-5574.

----------------------------PHOTOS WITH SANTA TO BENEFIT TOYS FOR TOTS: 11am-3pm, The Ellison Place, Gaylord. Sponsored by Jim Wernig Chevrolet & Jim Wernig GMC. Visit Santa, get photos, do a holiday craft, enjoy the hot cocoa bar, & visit The Christmas Shop, Vendor & Craft Show. $1 entry fee; can donate more. facebook. com/events/856795586092261?active_ tab=about ----------------------------GIFT WRAPPING PARTY: Noon, Leland Township Public Library, Leland. Wrap pres-

ents while enjoying cookies & warm beverages. Bring a roll or two of wrapping paper & your gifts & wrap them. The library will provide extra paper, ribbons, bows, tape & scissors. There will also be helpers who have offered to wrap for you if you don’t have time to stay. Free. lelandlibrary.org ----------------------------VISIT WITH SANTA: Noon-3pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Community Building, Petoskey. Take a photo with Santa, make crafts to take home, & enjoy hot cocoa & cookies. Free.

----------------------------BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. JeffrAy N. Kessler will sign his book “Fixey Fox Lights the Night.” horizonbooks.com/ event/fixey-fox-lights-night-jeffray-n-kesslerbook-signing ----------------------------“THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER”: 2pm & 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Based on the historic voyages of Christmas tree ships during the late 1800s & early 1900s, “The Christmas Schooner” is the musical story of a Michigan shipping captain who braves the deadly winter weather to bring Christmas trees to homesick German-American families in Chicago. Adults: $33; youth under 18: $20. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/mainstage/the-christmas-schooner.html ----------------------------“THE NUTCRACKER”: 2pm & 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Presented by the Interlochen Arts Academy Dance Division. The story of Clara & her enchanted Nutcracker comes to life in this ballet production. Original choreography by Director of Dance Joseph Morrissey & a live performance by the Arts Academy Orchestra. $42 adult; $19 child through college. interlochen.org/events/nutcracker-2023-12-09 ----------------------------PICTURES WITH THE GRINCH AT THE KATYDID: 2pm, The Katydid, Petoskey. Get your pictures with the one & only Grinch! Free.

----------------------------BENZIE COMMUNITY CHORUS - ONE STARRY STARRY NIGHT: 3pm, Frankfort United Methodist Church. A freewill offering will be collected to help defray costs. 231-651-0311; benziechorus@gmail.com. benziechorus.org ----------------------------ENCORE SYMPHONIC WINDS - “IN THE SEASON OF GIVING”: 3pm, First Congregational Church, TC. This concert will honor the stillness & joy of the holiday season. Compositions by Bach & Shostakovich, along with David Lovrien’s “Minor Alterations.” Free. traversesymphony.org/encore ----------------------------LIGHT UP INTERLOCHEN: 3-7pm, Tom’s Food Market, Interlochen. Featuring a lighted art display with over 150,000 color changing lights & a 20-foot mega pixel tree with synchronized light & sound, fireworks, pre-packaged treats, beer/wine, grilled food tents, carriage rides, live reindeer & an appearance from Santa Claus. Free.

----------------------------MANITOU WINDS PRESENTS WINTER SONGS & CAROLS: 4pm, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Beulah. Enjoy a festive evening of traditional carols, holiday favorites, & wintry originals interspersed with inspiring spoken word. Featured guests include soprano Emily Curtin Culler & a Community Choir under the direction of Michael Beery. Free. manitouwinds.com/upcoming-performances ----------------------------LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY LIGHTS HIKE: 4:30-7pm, Leelanau State Park campground, Northport. Enjoy a stroll through the Leelanau State Park campground lit with lanterns, Christmas trees & many holiday decorations with 3D glasses. End your tour at the Lighthouse & walk through the decorated home of the McCormick family of the 1920’s. Hear the pump organ & climb the

december

09-17

send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com Photo by: Madi Taylor Photography

Catch the holiday spirit from advanced students in the OTP Young Company as they perform “Holiday Cabaret.” This yuletide take on the Broadway Showstoppers features festive songs in a dance and musical revue. Performances run at 7pm on Fri., Dec. 15 and Sat., Dec. 16, and at 2pm on Sat., Dec. 16 and Sun., Dec. 17 on the Old Town Playhouse’s MainStage, TC. The OTP Jingle Party is offered for ticket holders for the two matinee shows and will feature Santa, cookies and cocoa, and a holiday craft room. Tickets: $21 adults; $12 youth under 18. tickets. oldtownplayhouse.com

tower for a night view of Lake Michigan. Venture into the Fog Signal Building to see the Grinch tree & activities for kids & adults. $5; 5 & under, free. mynorthtickets.com/events/ christmas-at-the-lighthouselantern-lit-walk? fbclid=IwAR0TkVvhMs0CaN0JFjTzS5D5APUWKzDmaVxy0hjru-qdK0sPfvPl6g3eSM ----------------------------WINTER SOUNDS: 5pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville.

Enjoy hot cider, a warm bonfire, a winter hike through the woods, & an outdoor performance from the TC West Middle School Madrigal Singers. Dress warm, bring something warm to sit on, & arrive early to allow for a 1/4 mile hike to the amphitheater. $10; 17 & under, free. crystalmountain.com/event/winter-sounds ----------------------------BAYSIDE TRAVELLERS TRADITIONAL DANCE SOCIETY EVENT: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, TC. Potluck Dinner, 5:30pm; Beginner Dance Workshop, 7pm; Dance, 7:30-10:30pm. Please bring a dish to pass & your own drink & table service. Music provided by The Johns band. No partner or experience is necessary.

----------------------------THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY: 5:30-7:30pm, New Hope Community Church, Williamsburg. Experience the Story of Christmas from Creation to Bethlehem & beyond in a 45 minute tour completely outdoors. Watch scenes come to life as a guide leads you through a woodland path filled with actors, scenery & live animals. Free. newhope.cc ----------------------------LIGHTS, BITES, & BOOKS GALA: 6-9pm, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library. Enjoy a night of fellowship, food & fun, including a silent auction. All proceeds from each ticket & silent auction sales support the library. 231271-3512. $60/person. sbbdl.org ----------------------------“A CHRISTMAS CAROL” DRAMATIC READING: 6:30pm, Grace Episcopal

Church, TC. Drew Gibson & Don Kuehlhorn bring the Charles Dickens’ classic to life.

Free. gracetraversecity.org ----------------------------NMC JAZZ BANDS CONCERT: 7:309:30pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Featuring the music of Battle, Durham, White, Mercer, Jones, Mingus & many others. Tickets available in advance for a discount at nmcmusicdepartment.simpletix.com. At door: $15 adults; $10 seniors & students; NMC students are free with student ID. ----------------------------THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: 7:30pm, Left Foot Charley, Barrel Room, TC. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. $30. hauntingofebenezer.com

dec 10

Sunday

CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE: 11am, The Village at GT Commons, TC. Santa, shopping specials, carriage rides & much more. Find ‘Christmas in The Village’ on Facebook.

----------------------------LUNCH WITH SANTA: Noon-2pm, American Legion Post 159, Mackinaw City. Enjoy lunch, cookies & a visit with Santa. Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary & Sons of the American Legion. Free.

----------------------------S’MORES WITH SANTA: 1-3pm, Camp Daggett, Petoskey. Enjoy hot cocoa & s’mores, decorate sugar cookies, take a photo with Santa, write letters to the North Pole, & go on a scavenger hunt. Free. campdaggett.org ----------------------------SECOND SUNDAY ART PROJECT: 1-3pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Drop in & enjoy a family friendly art activity led by docents in the sculpture court. Free with price

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 23

National Series National Writers Writers Series

Presents International bestselling author

MITCH ALBOM TRAVERSE CITY'S FAVORITE STORYTELLER

Join us in a conversation with Mitch Albom, a #1 New York Times bestselling author who spins universal tales of our eternal search for meaning. He has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, in forty-eight languages, including Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time.

His powerful new novel, The Little Liar, is as stunning and thought-provoking as anything Albom has ever written.

Event Sponsor: Magmus Tool & Die Works Literary Sponsor: A Generous Friend of NWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 • 7 PM

In-person at City Opera House + Livestreamed

For tickets, visit NationalWritersSeries.org

DO

NA TE

THANK YOU 24 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

dec 11

DONATE For Good

monday

KID’S CRAFT LAB: REINDEER SALT PAINTING: 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Create a beautiful salt & watercolor background that reindeer would love to fly through. Sign up at the front desk when you arrive. Make your reservation on the web site. greatlakeskids.org ----------------------------BE HEALTHY, BE ACTIVE COMMUNITY COOKING WORKSHOP: 3:30-5pm, Interlochen Public Library. Chef Susanne will show a few techniques & then participants can cook the whole recipe from start to finish.

Limited to 10 adults. Registration required: 231-276-6767. Free.

----------------------------G.T. HUMANISTS MEETING: NORTHERN LIGHTS & THE DARK SKY PROJECT: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Join the Grand Traverse Humanists as they welcome Dr. Jerry Dobek for a program on the northern lights, light pollution & the Dark Sky Project. Dr. Dobek is an astronomer & professor at NMC, as well as director of the Rogers Observatory & a founding member of the International Dark Sky Association. Free. gthumanists.org

dec 12

for your gift of giving

goodwillnmi.org/donate

of admission. dennosmuseum.org/events/ community-programs.html ----------------------------“THE NUTCRACKER”: (See Sat., Dec. 9, except today’s only time is 2pm.)

----------------------------A CHRISTMAS CAROL: 2pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy a two man adaptation of a holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Free. tadl.org/event/christmas-carol-10968 ----------------------------THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: 3pm, St. Ambrose Cellars, Beulah. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. $20. hauntingofebenezer.com ----------------------------UGLY SWEATER CONCERT: 3pm, Northport Performing Arts Center. Join the Northport Community Band for their first ever Ugly Sweater Concert. Featuring seasonal favorites, & favorites from around the world. Wear your most festive - or heinous - holiday knitwear for a chance at prizes. $0-$15. northportperformingarts.org/tickets-and-events ----------------------------THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY: (See Sat., Dec. 9) ----------------------------BENZIE COMMUNITY CHORUS - ONE STARRY STARRY NIGHT: 7pm, Frankfort United Methodist Church. A freewill offering will be collected to help defray costs. 231651-0311; benziechorus@gmail.com. benziechorus.org

tuesday

STORYTIME ADVENTURES: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Featuring “The Very Hungry Reindeer.” Sign up at front desk when you arrive.

Make your reservation on the web site. greatlakeskids.org ----------------------------GREAT LAKES UNTAMED: A DOCUMENTARY FILM SERIES: Glen Lake Library, Empire. Learn about the Great Lakes ecosystem in this three-art film series. One episode will be shown on these dates: Dec. 5, 12 & 19 at 7pm. glenlakelibrary.net ----------------------------PARKINSON’S NETWORK NORTH SUP-

PORT GROUP: 1pm, The Presbyterian Church of TC, 701 Westminster Rd. Christmas Luncheon: Entrée supplied. Bring a dish to share. Info: 947-7389. pnntc.org ----------------------------ISN ANNUAL MEETING: 6:30-8pm, The Mills Community House, Benzonia. Help the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN) celebrate their first year as a 501(c)3.

Learn about ISN & hear from Designs In Bloom owner Carolyn Thayer about how you can make your landscape work for you, all while using native plants to support your local habitat.

Free. HabitatMatters.org/Events ----------------------------CHEBOYGAN AREA SCHOOLS CHOIR: 7pm, Cheboygan Opera House. Celebrate the holidays with the Cheboygan Area Schools Choir, under the direction of Kevin Wells. Free. theoperahouse.org

dec 13

wednesday

MAKE IT FOR THE HOLIDAYS: HOLIDAY COOKIE DECORATING: 2pm, Disability Network Northern Michigan, TC. disabilitynetwork.org/events ----------------------------HOLIDAY AFTER HOURS: 5pm, The Ellison Place, Gaylord. Live music & door prizes.

Toys for Tots donation spot. $5 members; $10 non-members.

----------------------------NWS PRESENTS: A CONVERSATION WITH MITCH ALBOM: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Author of “Tuesdays with Morrie,” the bestselling memoir of all time, Albom brings his new novel, “The Little Liar.” Every ticket includes a hard copy of this book with a signed bookplate. $10-$55. cityoperahouse.org/node/543 ----------------------------CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT: 7:30pm, Cheboygan Opera House. An evening of Christmas song with soprano & harpist Karen Beacom, & cellist Maggie Twining. $20 adults; $15 Veterans; $10 students. theoperahouse.org/tickets

dec 14

thursday

NMCAA’S LAUNDRY PROJECT: 8:30-11:30am, Eastfield Laundry, TC. Free laundry service for those in need. Call 947-3780 with questions.

----------------------------FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY MEETING & LUNCHEON: Helena Township Community Center, Alden. 9:30am social time; 10am meeting; noon luncheon at Johnny’s Torch Riviera, Rapid City. To RSVP for menu choice call the Alden District Library: 231-331-4318.

----------------------------REDUCE & REUSE: 1pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Staff member Dawn Farley helps make reusable fabric gift boxes for the holiday season. Materials provided. RSVP required as space is limited. 231-223-7700.

----------------------------BENZONIA ACADEMY LECTURE SERIES: UKRAINIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS: 4pm, The Mills Community House, Benzonia. Presented by Matthew Jason. Matt has been a history & social studies teacher for more than 20 years. He will share what he experienced & learned about re. Christmas in Ukraine while he taught & lived there. benziemuseum.org/2023/11/03/december14-2023-benzonia-academy-lecture-seriesukrainian-christmas-traditions ----------------------------LADIES NIGHT IN ELK RAPIDS: 5-8pm, River & Ames streets, Downtown Elk Rapids.

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There will be refreshments, specials, pampering, giveaways & more. facebook.com/ downtownelkrapids ----------------------------MEN’S SHOPPING NIGHT: 5-9pm, Downtown TC. Shop the Downtown TC businesses with your best guys. Special discounts & savings will be decided by each business. downtowntc.com/mens-shopping-night ----------------------------INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FORUM GLOBAL HOT SPOT - ISRAEL-PALESTINE: CONFLICT IN CONTEXT: 7pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Featuring Leila Hilal, human rights attorney & a former legal advisor to Palestinian peace negotiators, & Jack Segal, former senior U.S. diplomat who served in the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. In-person & online livestream tickets at TCIAF.com. $15 in-person ticket; $10 online livestream; free for current students & educators. tciaf.com/event-dec-2023

dec 15

friday

STORYTIME: 10:30am, Leland Township Library, Leland. Stories & more for patrons aged 0-6 & their caregivers. Free. lelandlibrary.org/programs-events ----------------------------FAMILY FUN WITH CRAFTS!: 3:30-5:30pm, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library. Drop by & make a winter craft for a loved one.

Snacks will be provided. Free. sbbdl.org ----------------------------LIVE NATIVITY: Walloon Lake Community Church. Join at 6:30pm, 7pm or 7:30pm.

Look for the star & campfire that lights the way to the manger. There will be cookies & hot chocolate in the gymnasium following each performance. walloonchurch.com ----------------------------THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: 6:30pm, Oliver Art Center, Beck Gallery, Frankfort. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. $20 members; $25 non-members; $40 VIP. hauntingofebenezer.com ----------------------------“HOLIDAY CABARET”: 7pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Get in the spirit with the Young Company! This yuletide take on the Broadway Showstoppers will feature songs from the season in a dance-filled, musical revue. Featuring advanced students. Adults: $21; youth under 18: $12. oldtownplayhouse.com/youngcompany/performances/holiday-cabaret.html ----------------------------INTERLOCHEN IN TOWN SERIES: NANCY STAGNITTA W/ YA-JU CHUANG: 7:30pm, The Alluvion, TC. Interlochen Instructor of Flute Nancy Stagnitta is renowned for her excellence as both a classical & jazz artist. Chuang is an active performer, appearing around the world as a soloist, chamber musician, & collaborative pianist. She has received top prizes in many prestigious competitions. $28. interlochen.org/events/nancystagnitta-ya-ju-chuang-2023-12-15

dec 16

saturday

HOLIDAY COOKIE WALK: Grace Episcopal Church, TC. Featuring homemade cookies & other baked goods.

8am-noon or until sold out. gracetraversecity.org ----------------------------MARKET AT THE MUSEUM: 9am-1pm, Harbor Springs History Museum. Stock up on local foods & artisan goods at this Indoor Harbor Springs Farmers Market.

REDEEMER LUTHERAN COOKIE WALK & CRAFT FAIR: 9am-2pm, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Interlochen. Hosted by Redeemer Women in Mission. Lots of homemade cookies, a soup lunch, & more than 35 crafters. All proceeds support community & world missions.

----------------------------CANDY HOUSES AT TADL: Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Must pre-register. Enjoy festive holiday crafting. The Library will supply everything, from frosting, candy for decorating, graham crackers, & cartons to build your candy house. Register online for one of the four time slots: 10am, 10:30am, 11am or 11:30am. Each time slot is limited to 75 people. Please arrive for your time slot at least 5 minutes early. Free. tadl.org/events ----------------------------OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: (See Sat., Dec. 9) ----------------------------HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. Noon-2pm: Lunch with Santa. 3-5pm: Photos with Santa in Mountain Grand Lodge & Spa lobby. 5-8pm: Meet The Grinch. 3-9pm: Lights In The Sky at SkyBridge Michigan. boynemountain.com/x22594.xml ----------------------------BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Steve Reddicliffe will sign his book “NYT Essential Book of Cocktails.” horizonbooks. com/event/nyt-essential-book-cocktailssteve-reddicliffe-book-signing ----------------------------“A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS” - CLASSIC TALE TOLD THROUGH DANCE: 2pm & 6:30pm, Cadillac High School Auditorium. Presented by the Northern Lights Irish Dancers & Cadillac Classical Arts Company. Based on the classic tale “Papa Panov’s Special Christmas” by Leo Tolstoy told through dance. Tickets available in advance at the NLDA or day of at the door. $10 ages 12-adult; $5 children. vbs20.com/Irish/ performances/a-special-christmas ----------------------------“HOLIDAY CABARET”: (See Fri., Dec. 15, except today’s times are 2pm & 7pm.)

----------------------------PICTURES WITH THE GRINCH AT THE KATYDID: (See Sat., Dec. 9) ----------------------------WINE WONDERLAND: 2-5pm, Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay. Enjoy live holiday music, art projects & more. Participate in the Toys for Tots toy drive. Bring an unwrapped gift & receive a waived-fee tasting. shadylanecellars.com ----------------------------CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER SCHOOL OF BALLET PRESENTS: THE NUTCRACKER: 3pm & 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Enjoy this dynamic & beautiful show with original choreography. $35 adults, $10 students. greatlakescfa.org/ events/detail/the-nutcracker-2023 ----------------------------WINTER SOLACE HARP & VIOLA CONCERT W/ JOAN & DAVID HOLLAND: 3pm, Interlochen Public Library. Free.

----------------------------ELF ON THE TOP SHELF: 4pm, TC. A caroling-bar crawl. Elf attire encouraged. Starts at Lil Bo & carols down to Kilkenny’s, then up Wadsworth to 7th, make another stop at Brady’s Bar, then down Cass to Bootlegger’s & Dillinger’s, then back to Lil Bo. Sheet music for caroling will be provided to participants. 231-421-3100.

----------------------------LIVE NATIVITY: (See Fri., Dec. 15) ----------------------------SOUNDS OF THE SEASON: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Enjoy a wintry mix of seasonal songs

by Interlochen Arts Academy’s musical, theatre & interdisciplinary arts students. Movies come to life with a medley from Disney’s

12/11

THU DEC

14th

JAZZ FOR ALL WITH THE

JEFF HAAS TRIO + LAURIE SEARS

6:00 FRI DEC

15th

7:30 $28

Works include vivid musical depictions of the poetry of Maya Angelou, a rhythmic reference to Morse Code, the Greek myth of Icarus, and a tale of unrequited love.

SPIRIT OF DETROIT.

SAT DEC

16th

7:30 $25

An Evening of Poetry & Live Jazz with Joel Fluent Greene & Friends.

Featuring poetry by Joel Fluent Greene, live jazz by Detroit's own Evening Star Trio, w/guest poet Peace Bell.

TUE 12/19 @ 7:00

WED 12/20 @ 7:30

FRI 12/22 @ 7:30

W INTERSONG

Traditional tunes & step dance from Ireland, Canada, & Appalachia meet seasonal songs, ballads, & fiddle tunes, centering the winter solstice & Yule.

NIC GA R EISS

All Tickets Here!

W W W. T H E A L L U V I O N . O R G Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 25

“Frozen” & “March of the Toys” from “Babes in Toyland,” a performance of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” a holiday sing-along & much more. $36 adult; $19 child through college. interlochen.org/events/sounds-season-2023-12-16 ----------------------------TERRY FATOR: A VERY TERRY CHRISTMAS: SOLD OUT: 8-10:30pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. “America’s Got Talent” winner Terry Fator combines ventriloquism, singing, comedy, & celebrity impressions. $60-$75. lrcr.com/event/terry-fator

Art Cafe Now Open Order from our menu of art projects We supply you with all the tools you need Take your projects home We clean up the mess

Check out our calendar of events

TOY HARBOR

UNWRAP

THE MAGIC OF

THE SEASON SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS 7 DAYS A WEEK

CREATIVE & QUALITY TOYS SINCE 1984 • DOWNTOWN TC 231-946-1131 •

dec 17

Sunday

SANTA SUNDAY: Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls.

Dress as Santa, Mrs. Claus or The Grinch & you’ll receive a $25 lift ticket. Plus you’ll also receive an extra day of skiing for free, valid from Dec. 18-25. All proceeds benefit Brother Dan’s Food Pantry. boynemountain.com/x22594.xml ----------------------------HOLIDAY CONCERT WITH PETER BERGIN: 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Local pianist/ vocalist Peter Bergin will share his musical talents for the holiday season. Free. tadl.org/ event/holiday-concert-peter-bergin ----------------------------“A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS” - CLASSIC TALE TOLD THROUGH DANCE: (See Sat., Dec. 16, except today’s only time is 2pm.)

----------------------------“HOLIDAY CABARET”: (See Fri., Dec. 15, except today’s time is 2pm.)

----------------------------PICTURES WITH THE GRINCH AT THE KATYDID: (See Sat., Dec. 9) ----------------------------SOUNDS OF THE SEASON: (See Sat., Dec. 16, except today’s time is 2pm.)

----------------------------CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER SCHOOL OF BALLET PRESENTS: THE NUTCRACKER: (See Sat., Dec. 16, except today’s only time is 3pm.)

----------------------------HOLIDAY CONCERT, TLC HANDBELL CHOIR: 3pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Free. tadl. org/handbellchoir ----------------------------THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: 5pm, Willowbrook Mill, Northport. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. $15. hauntingofebenezer.com ----------------------------“A QUEST FOR INNER PEACE”: 5:30-8pm, First Congregational Church, TC. A Soul Stirring Sound Experience Vol V. An immersion of strings, voice, art, sacred sounds & soul food.

Featuring musical artists Ruby Bardenhagen, Christian Turner, Aaron Rossan, Tracey Hankins, & Crystal Woodward-Turner. Includes refreshments & soul food small plates. For more info & tickets visit web site. $30 GA; $15 students w/ ID. karasifitnessandhealingarts.com ----------------------------JINGLE BELL RUN: 5:30pm, Park Place Hotel, TC. A non-timed 5K run/walk that tours favorite neighborhood streets bordering downtown TC that are adorned in holiday lights & decorations.

Wear your festive holiday costume. Enjoy free cookies & hot cocoa afterwards. $20; free for Traverse City Track Club members. May donate during registration. runsignup.com/Race/ MI/TraverseCity/JingleBellRun?aflt_token=vk mwDmweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw

helping hands

FRIENDS OF IPL HOLIDAY MITTEN TREE: Interlochen Public Library. Donate new or hand-made mittens, scarves, socks & hats

26 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

to the Friends Holiday Mitten Tree through Jan. 3, 2024. Items will be donated to local schools & baby pantries. 231-276-6767.

----------------------------LIGHTS OVER LEELANAU: The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail is partnering with Leelanau Christian Neighbors for a canned food drive for the month of Dec. Bring a donation of 2 canned goods per person to any & all participating local wineries & receive a winery-choice promotional benefit. lpwines.com/lights-over-leelanau ----------------------------SAFE HOME HARVEST FOOD & SUPPLY DRIVE: Asking for grocery or supermarket gift card donations & financial contributions to benefit the Safe Home that is operated 24/7 by Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan. wrcnm.org/event/harvest-foodand-supply-drive-4-copy/ ----------------------------MCLEAN & EAKIN BOOKSELLERS – THE GIVING TREE: Select an ornament off the tree to guide your purchase of an age-appropriate book to share with children utilizing Safe Home services. Runs through Dec. 15 at McLean & Eakin Booksellers, downtown Petoskey.

ongoing

BELLAIRE WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Bee Well Mead & Cider; Short’s Brewing Co. Southside event space; & Terrain. Held on Fridays through the middle of May from 9am-noon.

----------------------------BOYNE CITY MARKET AT THE PAVILION: Veterans Park Pavilion, Boyne City. Held every Sat. through May from 9am-12:30pm.

Shop local artists, food makers & farmers. boynecityfarmersmarket.org/series/marketat-the-pavilion-2 ----------------------------INDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato, TC. More than 35 vendors offer a variety of items from farm fresh eggs, meats & cheeses, to fruits, veggies, homemade breads & more. thevillagetc.com ----------------------------OPEN DANCE: Bodies in Motion, TC. Held every Weds., 8-11pm. Donation appreciated.

No partner needed. bodiesinmotiontc.com

art

HOLIDAY GIFT MARKET: Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan. Runs through Dec. 19 from 1-4pm. Featuring gifts made by local artists. jordanriverarts.com ----------------------------CHARLEVOIX CIRCLE MARKET: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. More than 30 local artists, crafters & makers create & sell their items. Runs through Dec. 30. Open Mon. through Fri., 11am-4pm & Sat., 11am-3pm. charlevoixcircle.org/circle-market ----------------------------JUST GREAT ART EXHIBIT & SALE: Runs through Dec. 30 at City Opera House, TC. Artists Sue Bowerman, Kurt Bullock, Lori Feldpausch, Rita Harrington, Michelle Jahraus, Ruth Kitchen, Dorothy Mudget, Joyce Petrakovitz, Marilyn Rebant, Laura Swire, Linda Tyson, & Wendy McWhorter are showing over 100 original works of art in oil, watercolor, acrylic & pastel. Enjoy holiday shopping during the City Opera House hours, daily 10am-2pm & during their many evening events. cityoperahouse.org ----------------------------“ESCAPING THE FRAME”: Commongrounds, 414 E. 8th St., TC. Etching prints by Dorothy Anderson Grow. Runs through Jan. 7.

----------------------------“BARBARA REICH EXHIBIT: ART IN THE LIBRARY”: Bonobo Winery, library, TC. This exhibit features a select collection of Barbara’s original paintings that focus on still life & snow. Runs through Feb. 26. barbarareich.com

----------------------------5TH ANNUAL SMALL WORKS & ART TREE SHOW: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Visit a tree of artisan made ornaments, along with a wall of small works. Show runs during open hours through Dec. 23. higherartgallery.com ----------------------------MERRY MARKETPLACE 2023: Runs through Dec. 9 at Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. Shop hundreds of unique handmade gifts & works of art from artists all over the state. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/merry-marketplace ----------------------------BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD: Glen Arbor Arts Center, Lobby Gallery. A series of abstract landscapes out of the imagination of painter Alice Moss. This small show runs through Dec. 15. Moss’ focus is on Leelanau County roadways, woodlands & beaches, all of which she has been walking, watching, & visiting since childhood in the early 1960s. glenarborart.org/ events/exhibit-by-the-side-of-the-road ----------------------------CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY - CROOKED TREE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY EXHIBITION 2023: Held in Atrium Gallery. The photographs included in this show were self-selected by the group through peer review. Runs through Dec. 9. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/crooked-tree-photographic-society-exhibition-2023 - HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Runs through Dec. 20 in the galleries. Featuring handmade gifts & artwork. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/holiday-bazaar-petoskey-0 ----------------------------DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: - “A SEPARATE SHINING: SELECTIONS FROM THE TUSEN TAKK FOUNDATION COLLECTION”: The Tusen Takk Foundation & the Dennos Museum present this exhibition representing artists who have participated in its artist-in-residence program to date. Taking its title from the poem “Joy” by Hilda Conkling, the exhibition surveys the artist’s exploration of the intangible, the unseen qualities of joy, beauty, & hope. Runs through Jan. 7.

Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/index.html - “PASSAGES: THE ART OF RON GIANOLA”: Gianola’s paintings are the result of a fifty-plus year long experience with the Art Spirit, pursuing the possibilities of a personal transformative vision, engaging emotion, expression, & the poetry of visual music. Runs through Jan. 7. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-onview/index.html - “STEPHEN DUREN: A LIFE OF PAINTING”: This exhibit brings together works by artist Stephen Duren that cover his sixtyyear career & bring greater definition to his artistic contributions. Runs through Jan. 7.

Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/index.html ----------------------------- NORTHLAND WEAVERS & FIBER ARTS GUILD’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: Runs through March 3 & includes the work of 27 current & past members. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org ----------------------------OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT: - WINTER MARKET: Runs through Dec. 30. Featuring the work of more than 30 area artists & craftspeople. Includes ornaments, wearable art, home decor, jewelry, cards, photography, prints, paintings & more. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am4pm & on Sundays from noon-4pm. The OAC will be closed on Dec. 24-26. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org - ANNUAL WINTER MEMBER EXHIBITION: Runs through Jan. 12. The Oliver Art Center is open Tues. - Sat., 10am-4pm & Sun., noon-4pm. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

JAN UARY 31 - FEBRUARY 3, 2024 :

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Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 27

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska ENCORE 201, TC 12/9 -- The Jon Archambault Band, 7-10; DJ Ricky T, 10 12/14 -- Scarkazm, 7-10 12/15 -- DJ Ricky T, 9 12/16 -- The Heat Above, 7-10; DJ Ricky T, 10 IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC DINING ROOM: 12/15 -- Mitch McKolay, 6 KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC 12/8-9 -- The E Quality Show Band, 9:30 12/11 -- Team Trivia, 7 Thu -- DJ Leo, 9:30 12/15-16 -- Life Theory, 9:30 KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING 12/11 -- Trivia, 6-8 12/12 -- Open Mic, 6-8 12/15 -- The Goofy Foot Band, 7-9 LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM: 12/9 -- The Haunting of Ebenezer, 6:30 12/11 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9 TASTING ROOM: 12/15 -- Weston Buchan, 5-7 LIL BO, TC Tues. – Trivia, 8-10 Weds. – Open Mic Night w/ Aldrich, 9-11 Sun. – Karaoke, 8 MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC 7-10: 12/9 -- Andrew Lutes 12/15 -- Clint Weaner

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC 12/15 -- Rolling Dirty Trio, 6-9 NORTH BAR, TC 7-10: 12/9 -- Brett Mitchell 12/14 -- Drew Hale 12/15 -- Chris Smith PARK PLACE HOTEL, TC BEACON LOUNGE: 12/8-9 & 12/15-16 -- Jim Hawley, 7-10 ROVE WINERY AT THE GALLAGHER ESTATE, TC 12/15 -- Miriam Pico & Ryan Younce, 5-8 SORELLINA'S, TC SLATE RESTAURANT: Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 5-8 Fri. & Sat. – Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9 SPARKS BBQ, TC 12/15 -- John Richard Paul, 8-10 THE ALLUVION, TC 12/9 -- Yimes Album Release Show + Steve Leaf, 7-10 12/11 -- Big Fun - Funky Mondays, 6 12/13 -- After Midnight in Buenos Aires - TC Tango Club, 7-10 12/14 -- Thurs. Night Jazz feat.

Claudia Schmidt, 6-8 12/15 -- Interlochen In Town: Nancy Stagnitta w/ Ya-Ju Chuang, 7:30-9:30 12/16 -- The Spirit of Detroit: An Evening of Poetry & Live Music, 7:30-10 12/17 -- May Erlewine & The Motivations Dance Party: SOLD OUT, 7:30-9:30

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC 12/16 -- Themed DJ Night: ‘Hotter than July’ w/ DJ Greg V, 8-11 THE PARLOR, TC 12/9 -- 10th Anniversary Prohibition Party w/ Chris Sterr & Delilah DeWylde, 5 12/12 -- Jesse Jefferson, 8-11 12/13 -- Wink Solo, 8-11 12/14 -- Jimmy Olson, 8-11 12/15 -- Blue Footed Booby, 8-11 12/16 -- Jazz Cabbage, 8-11 THE PUB, TC 8-11: 12/9 -- Wink Solo 12/14 -- Steve Clark 12/15 -- Empire Highway 12/16 -- Slim Pickins THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC 12/9 -- 1000 Watt Prophets, 7-9 Tue -- Open Mic Night, 7-9 Wed -- Jazz Show & Jam, 6-8 Thu -- Trivia Night, 7-8 12/15 -- Dawn Campbell and the Bohemians, 7-9 12/16 -- The Goofy Foot Band, 7-9 12/17 -- Ha Ha Ha Holiday Mixtape: Comedy Variety Show, 7 TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY CLUB, TC 12/9 -- Drag Me to Bingo, 7:30-10 12/15 -- Comedy w/ Brad Wenzel, 7:15-8:45 12/16 -- Comedy w/ Brad Wenzel, 7-8:45 TRAVERSE CITY WHISKEY CO. 6-8: 12/9 & 12/16 -- Ben Richey 12/13 -- Luke Woltanski

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM 12/14 -- Adam and The Cabana Boys, 7-9 ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS 7-10: 12/9 -- Crosscut Kings 12/16 -- Ugly Sweater Party w/ DJ

Franck JAX NORTHSIDE, CHARLEVOIX Wed -- Trivia Night, 7-9 THE EARL, CHARLEVOIX LOBBY LO BAR, 7-10: 12/9 -- Jeff Socio 12/16 – Jesse Jefferson

edited by jamie kauffold

Send Nitelife to: events@traverseticker.com

Michigan duo The Goofy Foot Band with John Burnett on guitar and vocals, and Nick Kanakis on upright bass and vocals will share their rockabilly music with a “punk rock heartbeat” at Kingsley Local Brewing on Fri., Dec. 15, and at The Workshop Brewing Co., TC on Sat., Dec. 16, both from 7-9pm.

Otsego, Crawford & Central ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 6: 12/9 & 12/15 -- Nelson Olstrom 12/16 -- Lou Thumser

C.R.A.V.E., GAYLORD 6-9: 12/9 -- Randy Reszka 12/15 -- Lou Thumser

Emmet & Cheboygan BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY ROOT CELLAR: 12/9 -- DJ Clark After Dark, 6:30-9:30 BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY 2-6: 12/9 -- Chris Calleja 12/16 -- Michelle Chenard CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY Tue -- Trivia Night, 7-9 12/15 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR 12/14 -- Trivia, 7-9 MICHAEL'S TAVERN & STEAKHOUSE, INDIAN RIVER 12/13 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 5:30 NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY 12/9 -- Sunny Bleau, 7-10 12/13 -- PubStumper's Trivia, 6:30 12/15 -- Michelle Chenard, 7-10 12/16 -- Holly Keller, 7-10

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES: 12/15 -- Scarkazm, 9 RUSTY SAW, BRUTUS 12/9 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 6 THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 12/9 -- AZIC, 8-11 12/14 -- Musicians Playground ‘Open Mic,’ 6-8 12/15 -- Mark Bowen, 8 12/16 -- Spencer Opperman, 8-11

Leelanau & Benzie

Antrim & Charlevoix BARREL BACK RESTAURANT, WALLOON LAKE 12/14 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 6

nitelife

dec 09-dec 17

Thu -- Open Mic & Nick Vasquez, 7 Fri - Sat -- Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick, 7:30 Sun -- Trivia, 5:30; Dominic Fortuna, 6:30 WATERFIRE VINEYARDS, KEWADIN 12/17 -- James Dake, 1-5

TORCH LAKE CAFÉ, CENTRAL LAKE

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY 12/17 -- Luke Woltanski, 2-4:30 DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1 IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE 12/9 -- Zie, 5-7

12/14 -- Trivia Night, 7 12/15 -- Serita's Black Rose Duo, 6:30 12/16 -- Manitou Blues, 6:30

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY 12/15 -- Friday Night LIVE w/ Luke Woltanski (Holiday Tunes), 5-8

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH 12/9 -- Tula Skylark, 5-8 12/12 -- Traditional Irish Session, 5:30-7 12/14 -- Open Mic, 6-8:30 12/15 -- Blake Elliott, 5-8 12/16 -- Bekah Brudi, 5-8 12/17 -- Red Barn Brass Quintet, 3-5

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT 12/9 -- Nick Veine, 7-9 12/16 -- Jake Frysinger, 3-5; Blake Elliott, 6-8 12/17 -- Nuclassica Electro-Pop Violin Performance, 4-5:30

SPECIALS!

LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 12/9 -- Adam Duress, 6:30-9:30

WEDNESDAYS: D.A.T.E. NIGHT

E HAV WE NDAY 0 1 SU NFL T & BIG E RK K O C I W T NET

SPECIALS!

Free Dessert or Appetizer w/purchase of Two Entrees

TUE TO-GO ORDERS AVAILALBLE 231-252-4157

S 7–9 TRIVI PM A

Sun-Tues: 12-9pm, Thurs: 4-9pm Fri-Sat: 12-10pm

DRINK SPECIALS (3-6 Monday-Friday) :

$2 well drinks, $2 domestic drafts, $2.50 domestic bottles, $5 Hornitos margarita SUNDAY - $6 Ketel One Bloody Mary & $4 Mimosas

DAILY FOOD SPECIALS (3-6pm):

Mon- $1 chips and salsa Tues- $1 enchiladas Thurs - $5 fried veggies Fri - $5 hot pretzels w/ beer cheese

221 E State St. - downtown TC

SPECIALS! (Begins 11/29) WEDNESDAYS: D.A.T.E. NIGHT WEDNESDAYS:

Kitchen open ’til 8:30pm Sun-Tues & Thurs, 9pm Fri & Sat

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”- John 13:3 Love Everybody. No Exceptions.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church 785 Beulah Highway, Beulah www.stphilipsbeulah.org Sunday worship 10 a.m.

28 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

Free Dessert or Appetizer with

D.A.T.E. NIGHT THURSDAYS: purchase of Two Entrees Free Dessert or PASTA NIGHT! WEDNESDAYS: Appetizer w/purchase THURSDAYS: PASTA NIGHT 2 pasta dinners & a

of Two Entrees D.A.T.E. NIGHT

2 pasta dinners and a bottle of wine for $62 bottle of wine for $62 (Begins 11/29) *Now open Tues–Sat at 5:00 pm

Free Dessert or THURSDAYS: Appetizer w/purchase NIGHT! (*not available for take out,PASTA not available 12/27-28) Tues - Sat

231.334.3900 | www.trattoria-funistrada.com

W MacFarlane Rd, Maple City *Now open4566 at 5:00pm!

231.334.3900 | www.trattoria-funistrada.com | (not 4566 W. MacFarlane Maple City, MI 49664 available forRd. take-out * not available 12/27-28)

2 pasta a ofdinners Two&Entrees bottle of wine for $62

(Begins 11/29)

*Now open at 5:00pm!

lOGY

DEC 11 - DEC 17

BY ROB BREZSNY

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun died over 3,300 years ago. When his mournful entourage placed him in his tomb, the treasures they left included a pot of honey, which was meant to sweeten his travels in the afterlife. In the early 20th century, archaeologists excavated the ancient site. They dared to sample the honey, finding it as tasty and fresh as if it had just been made.

Amazingly, this same longevity is a characteristic of most honey. I propose we use this as a metaphor for your life. What old resources or experiences from your past might be as pure and nurturing as they were originally? And now could they be of value now?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Have you taken a

refreshing break lately? Maybe even a soothing sabbatical? Have you treated yourself to a respite from the gritty grind? If not, please do so soon. And while you are recharging your psychic batteries, I ask you to give your fantasy life ample room to wander wildly and freely. In my astrological opinion, your imagination needs to be fed and fed with gourmet food for thought. For the sake of your soul’s health, I hope you dream up fantastic, unruly, even outrageous possibilities.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): My Uncle Ned

advised me, “The best gift you can compel your ego to accept is to make it your servant instead of your master.” An early Buddhist teacher sounded a related theme when she told me, “The best things in life are most likely to come your way if you periodically shed all hope and practice being completely empty.”

The girlfriend I had when I was 23 confided, “You may get more enjoyment from the witty ways I confound you if you don’t try to understand them.” I offer these three ideas to you, Libra, because you’re in a phase when the moral of your story is that there is no apparent moral to your story—at least until you surrender your notions of what the moral of your story is.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I believe you Scorpios are the zodiac sign mostly likely to benefit from being empathetic. By that I mean you have substantial power to thrive by reading other people’s moods and feelings. You are often able to figure out angles that enable you to gather what you want while helping others to gather what they want. You are potentially a genius at doing what’s best for everyone and getting paid and rewarded for it. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, this knack of yours will soon be operating at peak levels.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Screenwriter John Patrick Shanley writes, "Life holds its miracles, good erupting from darkness chief among them." I predict a comparable miracle for you, Capricorn, though I suspect it will arise out of confusion or inertia rather than darkness. My advice: Don't be so bogged down in the muddle that you miss the signs that a great awakening is nigh. Start rehearsing how you will feel when deliverance arrives.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Before

he reached the height of fame as a novelist, Aquarian Charles Dickens experienced financial instability. When he was 31, the situation got desperate, and he resolved to take extreme measures. For six weeks, beginning in October 1843, he obsessively worked on writing the story A Christmas Carol. It was published on December 19 and sold out in a few days. Within a year, 13 editions were released.

Dicken's economic worries were over. Dear Aquarius, I think the near future will be a favorable time for you, too, to take dramatic, focused action to fix a problem you're having.

PISCES

(Feb 19-March 20): Many religious people believe God can hear their prayers and intervene in worldly affairs.

Other religious folks think God can hear their prayers but may not intervene. Then there are the non-religious folks who don’t believe in God and think praying is useless. Wherever you might be on the spectrum, Pisces, I’m pleased to reveal that you will have extra access to support and benefaction in the coming weeks—whether that’s from God, fate, nature, or other

humans. So seek out blessings and assistance with alacrity.

Be receptive to all potential helpers, even unlikely ones.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1849, Harriet

Tubman escaped from enslavement on a plantation in Maryland. She could have enjoyed her new freedom in peace, but instead resolved to liberate others. During 13 bold forays into enemy territory, she rescued 70 enslaved people and ushered them to safety. She testified that she relied on her dreams and visions to help her carry out her heroic acts. They revealed to her the best escape routes to take, the best times to proceed, and information about how to avoid the fiendish “slave catchers.” In alignment with astrological omens, I invite you to be like Tubman and seek practical guidance from your dreams in the coming weeks—to solve problems or seek bliss.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Jack Nicholson has often played mavericks and anti-heroes in his movies. His life away from the silver screen has also been less than steady and predictable. For example, he has fathered six children with five different women. His fellow actor, Carrie Fisher, said Jack was "fun because he doesn’t make sense." A person with casual knowledge of astrology might be surprised that Nicholson is a Taurus. Your tribe isn't typically renowned for high eccentricity. But in his natal chart, Nicholson has the brash planet Uranus near his sun in Taurus, indicating he's quirky. Aside from that, I have known plenty of Tauruses whose commitment to being uniquely themselves makes them idiosyncratic. These themes will be in play for you during the coming weeks. (PS: Taurus musician David Byrne starred in the concert film, Stop Making Sense.)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The platitude says that if life gives us lemons, we should make lemonade. I’ve got a variation on this theme.

Consider the Neva River in northwestern Russia. It freezes every winter. During the frigid months of 1739-1740, Empress Anna Ioannovna ordered her workers to cut huge blocks of ice and use them to construct a magnificent palace on the riverbank. She filled the place with furniture and art, making it a hub of festivities celebrating Russia’s triumph over the Ottoman Empire. I bring these themes to your attention, Gemini, because I suspect that in the coming weeks, you will have substantial redemptive power. Whether you make lemonade from lemons or a palace from a frozen river is up to you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy,” wrote Cancerian author E. B. White. “If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.

This makes it hard to plan the day.” According to my astrological analysis, your fate in recent weeks has been more challenging than seductive. You've been pressed to work on dilemmas and make adjustments more than you might like. But this rhythm is about to change. Up ahead, life is seductive, welcoming, and appealing. Are you prepared to drop any unconscious attachment you have to your interesting discomfort so you can smoothly make the transition to more ease?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I want to prepare you for the delights of the coming days. I want to make sure you are fully alert for them and primed to appreciate them. So I give you the thoughts of Leo psychologist Carl Jung.

"It is important to have a secret, a premonition of things unknown," he said. "We must sense that we live in a mysterious world—that things happen and can be experienced that remain inexplicable; that not everything can be anticipated; that the unexpected and incredible belong in this world. Only then is life whole."

“Jonesin” Crosswords "I'm Not Lost"- we did it! by Matt Jones

ACROSS 1. ___ fides (credentials) 5. Coll. deg. for artists 8. Mowed path 13. Long, long time 14. ___ Gatos, CA 15. Breathing space 17. "Are You Being Served?" and "Friday Night Dinner," for example 19. Shakespeare title setting 20. Minced veggie for stews and casseroles 22. Preschool activity 23. Near-eternity 24. Belief statement 26. Alcohol type used as biofuel 29. "Cats" poet's monogram 31. Backward-looking 34. Night sky feline 35. Urban growth 38. What lumberjacks do 39. They're on the books 41. Video game protagonist with a 2023 movie 42. Aucklander, casually 43. "Nah, it's all good ..."

44. Use your blinker 46. Former All-Star closer Robb 47. Video game character on a roll?

49. Poe's "Annabel ___" 50. Postal Service symbol 52. Piano practice piece 54. Bob ___ apples 55. "A Wrinkle in Time" director DuVernay 57. Tops that don't require a bottle opener 63. Download the wrong way, maybe 65. Closet-organizing device 66. "Stormy" seabird 67. Winner's take 68. Volunteer's statement 69. Go for a spin?

70. "All opposed" reply 71. Heartless

DOWN 1. Word before Ruth or Bjorn 2. Fiona, eventually 3. First name among astronauts 4. Rick often behind a slick click 5. Like some fuses or glass 6. Acronymic anxiety about exclusion 7. Part of WNBA 8. Take time to enjoy 9. Type of "mobile" for Oscar Mayer 10. Musical adaptation abbr.

11. Early score in a baseball or basketball game 12. 1980s tennis star Mandlikova 16. Talk excessively 18. Becomes less hot 21. Drink made from frozen grapes 25. Card pack 26. Author Bret Easton ___ 27. "I love you," in Spanish 28. Words of astonishment 29. Promo of sorts 30. "Beetle Bailey" character 32. Spiked wheel on a boot spur 33. State one's views 36. Some U.K. statespeople 37. Mauna ___ (Hawaiian peak) 40. Comedy scene 45. Sierra ___ (Liberia neighbor) 48. General killed at Little Bighorn 51. Northern region 53. Flashlight battery size 54. Australian Rules, informally 55. Smartphone download 56. Vantage point 58. "SportsCenter" network 59. "Hold on there!"

60. West Coast gas brand 61. Bell ringing 62. Outlook action 64. Actress Graynor

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 29

N O RT H E R N E X P R E S S

CLA SSI FIE DS

EARLY HEAD START TEACHER NEEDED: NMCAA Early Learning Center in Traverse City Full time, year-round, benefits. CDA with focus on infant and toddler development $19.93 -$21.14 For details visit www.nmcaa.net ___________________________________

PERSONAL DRIVER AVAILABLE FOR EVENTS/TOURS ETC.: Experienced, Clean Driving Record, non-smoker. You provide vehicle. 231-357-0362 ___________________________________ PRESCHOOL TEACHER AND ASSISTANT TEACHER: Needed for our NMCAA Preschool Blair. Great benefits with summers off. $20.62-$21.81 teachers, $14.78-$16.63 ass teachers. EOE. visit www.nmcaa.net for details and to apply. ___________________________________ FLORIDA RENTAL IN PUNTA GORDA FL.: Our fully furnished attached villa in Burnt Store Marina is available for the month of January @ $4,000. This is a beautiful gated community with restaurants, tennis, fitness center, golf, pickleball and large marina.

Google 3181 Matecumbe Key Rd, #12 for additional pics. Our unit is managed by Thomas Ryan management. Contact our Realtor Sanjeev 941-286-8120 ___________________________________

DOWNTOWN ROOMS FOR RENT: THE WHITING. Downtown rooms for rent on a month to month basis. Rents starting at $500/ mo includes all utilities. Single occupancy, no pets. 231-947-6360. www.thewhitinghotel.com

DRIVER FOR OMISH: Amish driver, 85 cents plus gas per mile long distance driving 15 passenger van. Call (989) 964-9461. ___________________________________ SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-6248 ___________________________________ PAID WORK TRAINING FOR SENIORS 55 AND OVER: Paid part-time positions are waiting to be filled in and around the Grand Traverse region for seniors age 55 and over. Must be 55+, unemployed, seeking work and meet program eligibility. Positions in retail, cashier, clerical support and more. For information or to qualify, call the AARP Foundation SCSEP office in Traverse City at 231-252-4544. ___________________________________

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7812 E 14 Road, Manton • 231-824-9002 (if line is busy, keep trying) 30 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly

CHIROPRACTIC

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Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2023 • 31

32 • december 11, 2023 • Northern Express Weekly