The crazy, compelling story of football's greatest underdogs who finally defied the odds!
If you love success stories, we have a wonderful experience for you. Author BILL MORRIS wrote about the Detroit Lions’ history and why the once hapless team was able to make an astonishing turnaround. His new book, The Lions Finally Roar, highlights how the Lions under new leadership currently have the best record in the NFL. The Lions are roaring!
Event Sponsors: Cherry Republic, Cherry Capital Airport
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4 • 7PM
In-person at City Opera House + Livestreamed Doors open at 6PM with live music & cash bar For tickets visit NationalWritersSeries.org
Nature’s Rights? Rights of Nature?
Corporation B is downstream on a river, and its production process is compromised by effluent from upstream Corporation
A. Corporation B sues Corporation
A. Corporation B prevails, receives compensation from Corporation A, and Corporation A must change its process to abate the effluent.
Case closed. Right? Except for one thing: Who speaks for the damages to the river and all the macro- and micro-biota that depend on its healthy flow? Legally, no one.
Currently, many voiceless entities are given a voice in our legal system: children, incapacitated persons, corporations, universities, etc. If guardians of these entities can speak on their behalf when harmed or in danger, why not allow guardians to speak for natural beings, such as animals, species, ecosystems, etc., who regularly fall into development’s harm’s way?
In Leelanau County, we recently witnessed something close to this process. When the Tribe voiced its legal rights to protect the land endangered by Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Segment 9, the project was suspended by representatives of the U.S. government. By treaty, the Tribe can legally act to protect lands on behalf of its spiritual, cultural, and sustenance practices. These cultural practices are rooted in multiple millennia of living as part and parcel of nature’s processes, as human people living among their community of kin.
When claiming its right as a sovereign nation to protect the relationships that are the source of its being, the Tribe also asserts the rights of the natural beings that are that source. With this move, we are just one step away from a legal system that allows guardians to speak directly on behalf of the rights of natural beings. Let’s make haste to take this next step!
Douglas A. Jones, Ph.D. | Maple City
Why Warplanes?
I am bewildered and saddened at the “excitement” our Cherry Festival organizers feel because they have secured yet another military demonstration team for our upcoming festival. Combat supersonic fighter jets coming to our peaceful city. Hooray!
We are, to a rather large extent, a part of the bombing of hospitals, schools, and residences all around the world, yet we bring in those same machines that do the said killing and maiming to our city. Why? To watch them in awe while we are sipping our cocktails?
In these days of division, and our continued involvement in war after war after war in support of the killing and displacing of innocent civilians, bringing in combat war planes as entertainment seems so disrespectful and unwarranted. Is bringing these bombers to our city at a time we celebrate our cherry festival supposed to signify PATRIOTISM?
How will we ever attain any semblance of peace in our nation and abroad if we continue putting these warplanes on a pedestal? They are weapons of destruction.
Do we ever think that 90% of lives lost in war are innocent civilians? Yes, just like you and I.
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top ten this week’s
If your heart is full of unwashed socks and your soul is full of gunk, stop by The Katydid in downtown Petoskey to see the Grinch this year! He will take a photo with you…but don’t expect him to smile. (Bring your own camera, as the Grinch doesn’t have the time nor desire to supply his own film!) Choose from visits on Saturday, Dec. 14, Saturday, Dec. 21, or Sunday, Dec. 22, from noon-4pm. The Shortest Day Is Here!
The winter solstice arrives this week on Dec. 21, marking the end of the shortening days and the beginning of longer ones. Several local groups are observing the change of seasons. On Dec. 20, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse will offer two rituals and “joyful revelry” starting at 5pm and featuring the music of North Bay Celtic. All are welcome to this free event; see more at uucgt.org. Northern Michigan Ecstatic Dance will host a Winter Solstice Dance Retreat ($25-$100, depending on participation) on Dec. 21 at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, complete with a sunrise greeting, dancing, dune exploring, a potluck dinner, and an evening fire. Learn more at nomiecstatic.dance. Also on Dec. 21, the Grand Traverse Humanists will have a Winter Solstice Celebration at 7pm. See details at gthumanists.org.
Hey, read It! The Empusium
It’s early fall in 1913, and Polish law student Mieczysław Wojnicz has just checked into Wilhelm Opitz’s Guesthouse for Gentlemen in Göbersdorf—a well-to-do “health resort” at the foothills of the Silesian Mountains (aka, modern Poland)—in the hopes of healing from tuberculosis. At first, the sanitarium seems like the ultimate salve with its host of international guests, herbal liqueurs, and signature mountain air. That is, until he learns about the mysterious deaths that plague the village, starting with one in his very building. While Wojnicz struggles to separate reality from fever-fueled illusion, an unseen evil threatens to infiltrate the patients’ close-knit quarters. From Nobel Prize laureate Olga Tokarczuk and translator Antonia Lloyd-Jones comes the literary horror epic The Empusium. Much like its Greek goddess namesake, this quaint-meets-creepy read is a real shapeshifter—perfect for a chilly night in!
’Tis the season for festive treats, and it doesn’t get any sweeter than Poppyseed Bakery’s Vanilla Cranberry Cheesecake. Inspired by the season’s staple flavors, this mini delight stacks baker extraordinaire Maggie Hardy’s rich vanilla bean cheesecake atop brown-sugar spiked graham cracker crust and a layer of scratch-made cranberry sauce. Topped off with whipped cream and house-candied cranberries, each bite is tart-meetscreamy perfection. And at just a few bites each, there’s nothing stopping you from going back for seconds—or thirds! The cheesecake ($12) can be found exclusively at Red Ginger in downtown Traverse City (237 E. Front St.) throughout the month of December. Check out poppyseedtc.com for more custom bakes and catering info.
Fresh off their Bourbon Fanatic Weekend (if you pick up the paper early, you could still make the Dec. 14 boozy fun!), the Highlands at Harbor Springs has a slate of holiday events this weekend. Dec. 21 is the Santa Ski Holiday Scavenger Hunt from 12-2pm, with clues that will lead you toward Santa and the Highlands’ North Pole. Clues in hand, guests are welcomed with a festive, home-style dinner at Slopeside Lounge, featuring pickle-brined fried chicken with all the fixings. This is an early-bird meal from 4:30-6:30pm. Afterward, take the Enchanted Trail—lit up with holiday lights—to Santa’s Holly Jolly Yurt to meet Santa between 6-8pm. Jump into the festive fun a la carte, or bundle the dinner and Enchanted Trail access for $45 for adults and $29 for kids 12 and under. Get all the details and pricing at highlandsharborsprings.com/events.
New Preserve on the Clam River
Thanks to a generous land donation from Geoffrey Peckham and Patricia Melzer, 120 acres of forest with 1,800 feet of frontage on the Clam River will become a nature preserve and recreation area under the stewardship of the Cadillac Area Land Conservancy. Named “Peckham’s 100 Acre Wood,” the land will remain undeveloped and open to the public for activities such as hiking, picnicking, fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, and canoeing. According to a press release, “The land conservancy will permanently preserve the natural condition of the property while partnering with Lake Township, in Missaukee County, who will own and manage this gift as a public nature preserve.” The Cadillac Area Land Conservancy encourages folks to think about donating property or putting conservation easements in place to protect our remaining wild lands. Learn more at calc-landtrust.org.
When the snow falls, you can find snowshoe and cross-country trails just about everywhere. But what do you do when Mother Nature doesn’t send the white stuff our way? The answer: Head to Forbush Corner Nordic Cross Country Ski Center in Frederic. Our friends at Northbound Outfitters in Grayling let us in on a not-so-secret secret, which is that Forbush Corner has Olympic grade snowmaking equipment so that winter sports enthusiasts can be out skiing their loop all winter long. (And, come next spring, they’re hoping to add mountain bike trails!) Day passes range from $10-$18 for skiers and $2 for snowshoers. Rentals are also available for $5-$25 if you don’t have your own gear. Check out their webcam for snow conditions and get the scoop on the nonprofit’s programs, including ski school, at forbushcorner.com.
The holiday magic has officially hit downtown Traverse City, and it’s got us feeling that childlike glee—especially when we’re sipping a Sugar Cookie Latte from Water Bearer Coffee! The adult-ified (and caffeinated!) version of everyone’s favorite seasonal treat, this dessert-worthy brew combines house roaster Stockist Coffee Co.’s Heights Espresso Blend with homemade sugar cookie syrup (think: butter and almond meet caramelly brown sugar). Each cup is finished off with steamy whole or oat milk, but we go big with rainbow sprinkles and a dollop of whipped cream! Pair one with the chip-stacked Crunchy Bagel Sandwich, and fully embrace your inner kid (or at least, the energy to finish your holiday shopping!). Warm up with a mug at Water Bearer Coffee in the Warehouse MKT (144 Hall St. #100) in downtown Traverse City. waterbearercoffee.square.site
Photo by Geoffrey Peckham
SPACED OUT
spectator
By steven Tuttle
The Space Race began way back in 1957 when the old Soviet Union launched little Sputnik, the first human-made object placed in earth orbit. It didn’t do anything but blink and beep, but it was a very big deal at the time. The U.S. responded in 1958 with Explorer I, and the race was on.
Since then, tens of thousands of satellites have been launched (including two very special American satellites we’ll discuss later), about 30,000 of them are still in orbit, though only roughly 10,000 are still active. There is no truly accurate counting of what’s up there since the U.S., Russia, China, and probably others have sent up military satellites they chose not to publicly
and micro-meteors traveling at mindboggling speeds, human-made satellites become space junk once they die and can get in the way. Satellites traveling in low Earth orbit, including those no longer functional, zip along at about 17,000 miles per hour, so it’s best to avoid them. And it’s not just intact satellites that are dangerous.
According to the Museum of Modern History, there is plenty of “space junk” from defunct satellites—those that have exploded or slammed into each other or failed missions that were abandoned. About 30,000 bits of space junk larger than 10 centimeters and almost 700,000
We plan on sending more folks to the moon in 2027, but that’s just the interim goal. We want to place people physically on Mars, though it will take a very long time to get there.
discuss; surveillance and communication would be the primary purpose since space weapons are banned by treaty.
All the while, those nonfunctional satellites are just circling and circling, lower and lower, until gravity finally wins and they burn up falling to Earth.
Most satellites are in what’s called low Earth orbit, 1200 miles or less above the planet and some, in high earth orbit, are as much as 22,000 miles up there. In contrast, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is responsible for all those photos of deep space, is literally a million miles out there, so it is far away from any of Earth’s light or reflected light. The JWST doesn’t even orbit Earth; it orbits the sun like planets do.
The finish line for the space race was getting people on the moon, which we finally did in 1969. By the end of 1972, our Apollo program had put a dozen American men on the moon, but that was the end of it; budget restraints and congressional squabbling killed our moon missions. The Soviet Union/Russia, China, India, and Japan have all successfully landed probes on the moon but not human beings.
We plan on sending more folks to the moon in 2027, but that’s just the interim goal. We want to place people physically on Mars, though it will take a very long time to get there. There have already been successful Mars landings, all unmanned, with the first being from the Soviet Union way back in 1971. That probe operated for less than two minutes, but it was functional for that brief time. The U.S. has made 10 successful Mars landings, including multiple rovers and even a rover with its own little helicopter, so we know getting there is possible.
It won’t be easy or without danger. In addition to natural perils like space dust
pieces larger than one centimeter are all out there cruising at alarming speeds waiting to hit something.
Which brings us to NASA’s most remarkable satellite achievements, Voyager 1 and 2. (Some believe saving the crew of Apollo 13 was their greatest achievement, and that’s a reasonable argument.)
In 1977, we launched Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 to be the first human-made objects to approach and photograph the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter. The mission figured to take about four years, so they engineered the spacecraft to last five years, at which point they would run out of energy and just wander away.
Voyager 1 photographed Saturn and Jupiter and then became the first to take close up photos of Uranus and Neptune and even our little dwarf planet Pluto before it just kept going and transmitting. Two weeks ago, after what NASA feared was finally the end, Voyager 1 sent a “hello” message indicating it is still alive.
The five-year satellite is now in its 48th year and still functional, more than 15.5 billion miles from Earth, beyond the heliosphere and what most consider the solar system. It is the first human-made object to make it to interstellar space. (Voyager 2 dallied a bit in the solar system and is now a scant 12 billion miles from Earth.)
It is now so far away it takes its signals, traveling at the speed of light—186,000 miles per second—23 hours to reach us and another 23 hours for our responses to get back, but they do still connect. It is astonishing.
Meanwhile, your phone can’t get a signal in the woods and will be obsolete in a year or two.
EMBRACING THE SEASON
Guest opinion by
Kate Lewis
How lucky are we to be greeted by this early winter wonderland in northern Michigan! The short shoulder season has made way for full-blown winter, unveiling all its gleaming glory.
Now we are in the season of shovels, skis, and snowshoes. Just when the gray days seemed to limit outdoor options, the snow has transformed the landscape into a playground of opportunity—a reminder that a new season can spark new adventures.
I’ll admit, it took me some time to embrace northern Michigan winters. But it’s remarkable what a little cabin fever and a few key pieces of gear can do. Over the years, I’ve learned to lean into the season rather than retreat from it. Winter offers a unique invitation to explore, to learn, and to reconnect with the outdoors in fresh, exhilarating ways.
For over a decade, local partners including TART Trails, the Vasa Ski Club, Brick Wheels, Suttons Bay Bikes, Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association, and Timber Ridge have made it easier than ever to say yes to winter adventures. Together, they host Winter Trails Day, a
Alice’s natural ability didn’t go unnoticed. Volunteers and seasoned skiers marveled at her enthusiasm and skill, urging Fran to enroll her in the Vasa Ski Club’s SkiSparks after school program for young crosscountry skiers. By the end of that day, what began as a simple outing had blossomed into something much greater.
With the support of friends and ski club members, Fran connected with the program, and Alice began weekly ski sessions at Hickory Hills. That one single snowy morning opened up an entirely new world for Alice—one filled with joy, resilience, and the promise of many snowy adventures ahead.
This winter, Fran and Alice continue to ski together, forging a bond and a shared love for the season. Fran says it’s not just about the activity; it’s about discovering new possibilities and the sense of connection that winter can bring.
Stories like Alice’s remind us that winter isn’t something to endure—it’s something to embrace.
Whether you’re gliding along a snowy trail, crunching through the woods in snowshoes, or trying a fat-tire bike for the first time,
free community event where people of all ages can try activities like fat-tire biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. It’s the perfect chance to step into something new without the pressure of commitment— and you never know where that first step might lead you.
Just ask Frances Alfs. Her story is a shining example of how one snowy morning can spark a lifelong passion.
As a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Fran is always looking for healthy, engaging activities to share with her “little,” Alice. A few years ago, they attended Winter Trails Day at Timber Ridge. That morning, Alice sampled fat-tire biking and snowshoeing, enjoying each activity. However, cross-country skiing captured her heart.
With help from volunteers, Alice was outfitted with proper boots and skis—no poles, as recommended for beginners. From the moment she set out, something clicked. Fran watched in awe as Alice glided across the trails, arms swinging, her laughter echoing through the trees. They ventured beyond the Timber Ridge loops and onto the Vasa Pathway, tackling hills and exploring together.
each experience offers a chance to see the world—and yourself—in a new light.
This year, I’ll be taking my own children, ages three and five, to Winter Trails Day to introduce them to cross-country skiing. I can’t wait to see the look on their faces as they take those first, wobbly strides through the snow.
What will you try this winter? Maybe it’s strapping on a pair of skis, borrowing a pair of snowshoes, or simply bundling up and taking a walk under the stars.
Whatever it is, let the season inspire you. There’s a magic to winter that’s waiting to be discovered—and it might just lead you somewhere unexpected. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to start.
Because that’s the thing about winter: when you embrace it, it embraces you right back
Kate Lewis resides in Leelanau County and serves as the director of communications for Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails. You can typically find her biking on a trail, paddling on the water, hiking in the woods, exploring northern Michigan with her kids, or dancing at a Phish show.
Awesome!
No doubt inspired by "WKRP in Cincinnati," Esther Keim of Anchorage, Alaska, this year completed her third Alaska Turkey Bomb, the Associated Press reported. When Keim was growing up in rural Alaska, a family friend would drop turkeys to her family and others from a plane, along with newspapers and chewing gum. She started her tradition with a small plane she rebuilt with her father, and this year she dropped 32 frozen turkeys to people living beyond roads. Dave and Christina Luce live a 90-minute snowmobile ride from the nearest town. "I'm 80 years old now, so we make fewer and fewer trips," Dave said. Keim has "been a real good friend." She hopes to start a nonprofit organization to solicit donations and reach more people, with more than turkeys. "There's so many kids out in the villages," she said. "It would be cool to maybe add a stuffed animal or something they can hold."
Family Values
An unnamed mother in Cheshire, England, was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison for "extreme neglect" after her 3-year-old daughter of hers was found to have been living in a drawer under a bed, the BBC reported. The mother hid the child from her siblings and even from a boyfriend, who discovered her in 2023 after hearing her cry when the mom was away. The court said she was severely malnourished, looking more like a 7-month-old baby, and had a cleft palate, matted hair and other deformities. The mother told police she had not realized she was pregnant and was "really scared" when she gave birth, calling the child "not part of the family." Judge Steven Everett said he could not "remember a case as bad as this in my 46 years."
Three generations of a family in Palm Coast, Florida, celebrated Black Friday by shoplifting $400 worth of cosmetics and alcohol from a Target store, the Miami Herald reported. A 76-year-old woman, her 54-year-old daughter and a juvenile granddaughter were arrested after a Target loss specialist saw the juvenile putting items in her backpack, police said. The two adults were charged with theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor; the girl was turned over to her father.
Don't Try This at Home
Firefighters battled a blaze for more than 16 hours in Weston, Connecticut, on Thanksgiving, WFSB-TV reported, after flames erupted as someone tried to fry a turkey. The fire, which started in the garage of a $4 million mansion, quickly spread to the rest of the house, and six other fire departments joined in the effort to fight the fire. None of the residents or neighbors were hurt, but the home was deemed "uninhabitable."
Bright Ideas
If you're fortunate enough to live in California, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas or Florida over the next couple of weeks, you can have your photo snapped while
driving through Taco Bell, KTLA-TV reported. "Every day in our drive-thrus, we see moments that are so uniquely 'our fans,'" said Chief Marketing Officer Taylor Montgomery. Select locations will be transformed into photo booths, with some of the photos ending up on a Taco Bell commercial during the third quarter of the Super Bowl. Participating fans will need to have the TB app and scan a QR code at the drive-thru. Photos will be sent to the account holder's email address. Smile!
In Lone Tree, Colorado, on Nov. 23, police officer Jacob Tarr was busy arresting a suspect in a theft when the perp took off on foot, KY3-TV reported. Thinking fast, Tarr commandeered a kid's bike to continue the chase, police said. "The suspect might've had a scooter, but Officer Tarr had determination, and a kid's bike," the police shared on social media. The suspect, who had three outstanding warrants, was eventually nabbed and charged with felony theft.
But Why?
Tyler Wade Gibson, 35, and his wife, Bailey Alexus Gibson, 32, were charged with child abuse on Nov. 27 in Columbia, Missouri, after Tyler tried to perform a circumcision at home on their infant son, Law and Crime reported. The parents took the child to Lake Regional Hospital after being alarmed by the amount of blood; Bailey told police she was "very hesitant" about her husband doing the procedure but helped him do it. Social services went to the home on Nov. 29 and removed five children. The Gibsons are scheduled to be back in court on Jan. 28.
Animal Antics
12 days of Christmas sale!
They say all fashion trends eventually come back around. Science Alert reported on Dec. 3 that orcas off the West Coast of North America have started wearing salmon as hats -- again. The fad was first noticed in 1987 in Puget Sound, when orcas started balancing dead fish on their noses. Scientists believe they may be storing the food for later or "showing off," or it may just feel good. Humpback whales, for example, have been known to wear hats of seaweed. "Honestly, your guess is as good as mine," said Deborah Giles, science and research director at Wild Orca. With further study, "we may be able to gather enough information to show that, for instance, one carried a fish hat for 30 minutes or so, and then he ate it."
Least Competent Criminal
Maybe don't record your crimes in your journal -- that's the lesson just learned by Vanessa Guerra, 30, of Mankato, Minnesota. The Smoking Gun reported that on the same day that a 2004 Ford Freestar van was stolen, Guerra wrote in her diary: "Totally stole a car today! Something I never thought of doing." She sold the van to an auto salvage company for $2,000. As investigators closed in on Guerra as the thief, she told them she didn't know the van was stolen -- but they were "able to locate a journal belonging to Guerra" that included her admission. She was charged with two felonies.
12/16: ski jacket & pant purchase 30% off 12/17: All cross country hard goods 30% off 12/18: ski and boot purchase 20% ofF 12/19: All snowboard gear 15% off 12/20: All heated products 15% off 12/21: Free binding install with purchase of equipment.
By Ross Boissoneau
It was the worst of times, it will (hopefully) be the best of times. With apologies to Charles Dickens, that sums up last year and this coming year at Mt. Holiday ski hill in Traverse City.
With warm temperatures and little snow, the action at the longtime ski favorite last winter was…let’s be kind and call it subdued. “We were only open for skiing about 20 days last year,” says Executive Director Jim Pearson. This year, the hope is for colder weather and more snow. “The … forecast is looking good for the early part of December,” Pearson says. That buoys his hopes, but in the same breath he hedges his bets. “I’m not making any predictions.”
Despite dropping temperatures and plenty of snowfall around Thanksgiving, it wasn’t enough to get Mt. Holiday open. As of press time, they are now eyeing the opening for the bunny hill and tubing between Dec. 13 and 17, with more runs to open based on conditions.
Gearing Up
Whether or not Mother Nature brings bountiful snowfall throughout the winter, the conditions at the ski hill will be fluffier than ever before, as long as the temperature cooperates. A massive slate of upgrades has Pearson excited.
“We had aging pipes … a fleet of older, aging equipment and guns, mismatched parts. One single pump for the entire system, with 500-600 gallons a minute [maximum]. With new guns, the water pressure was fine, but there was not enough water. So we put in two new pumps, 800 gallons each, 8,000 feet of new pipe, bypassing all the old system.”
Plus 34 self-draining hydrants, new electric pedestals, five more super polecats, and three super polecats on 24-foot towers, three grizzlies, and more. And the retention ponds for the water to make snow were increased from 650,000 gallons to 800,000, with plans to expand to 1.2 million gallons next year.
For those unfamiliar with all those industry-specific terms, what it boils down to is a much greater ability to make snow and direct it to where it is needed. “This sets us up for success,” Pearson says. The manmade snow will be better, more consistent, and they can make it faster. That means that even if there are ebbs and flows in temperature and precipitation during the next few months, Mt. Holiday can capitalize and open runs within a matter of hours when conditions cooperate.
Needless to say, the entire construction process was pretty involved. “We tore the heck out of the hill, then had to fill, reseed the grass,” Pearson says.
Even with all the work, Pearson says the property was able to be open most of the summer. “The zipline was open most of the summer—we only had to close down for a week with all that construction. It was really, really busy.”
A Fresh Look, Inside and Out
While the focus this time of year is on the powder, interior upgrades will help make the experience better for those spending some time warming up. “We upgraded the lodge with new paint, carpet, [renovated] bathrooms, increased the size of the kitchen.”
Overall, the nonprofit is investing $1.4 million in the various upgrades, with funding coming from a variety of sources. “We had a
A 75-Year Tradition on the Slopes
Mt. Holiday is ready for the snowy season
big donation, got ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] funds, etc.,” Pearson explains.
The zipline was installed a decade ago with the goal of helping make the property more of a year-round venue. So too was the beer garden, which opened late this past summer, and other upgrades were done with that in mind as well.
“A lot of people are looking for something to do,” says Pearson of the non-winter season.
“We tore out an old overgrown garden for the new beer garden. It’s fenced in and has a stage for bands.”
Another new addition has been Hearth Sauna, located in the parking lot. The brainchild of Nick Olson, one of the founders of ELEV8 Climbing and Fitness, the company offers what it calls a traditional Nordic sauna experience, paired with highquality ice baths and a shower.
Pearson says when he was approached by the company, he embraced the idea. “It’s a lot of fun to do in the wintertime. It’s part of the outdoor activity lifestyle: Eat healthy, be outside, get away from the screens.”
There’s more to come. Pearson says with global warming and climate change limiting the winter season and increasing the length of spring, summer, and fall, it is even more important to provide reasons for people to come to Mt. Holiday in its traditional offseason.
“You can ride the chairlift and do downhill biking. We built more bike trails with more to come—we have connections to 150 acres East Bay Township owns. They’re turning that into bike trails too. You can access the TART Trail. The whole community is working together,” he says.
Despite all the accommodations for offseason ventures, Pearson is the first to admit that Mt. Holiday is first and foremost a ski hill. And as a smaller venue, unlike facilities like Boyne Mountain, Crystal Mountain, and others that can run hundreds of snow guns to create a base of two or three feet, Mt. Holiday has to work with nature, not despite it.
“Boyne, Nub’s Nob, they can survive warm times,” Pearson says. “I blow and get 12 inches. Obviously [we want] fresh natural snow and cooler temperatures.”
Fingers crossed.
A Community Hub
It’s all a bit of déjà vu for Pearson. “Mt. Holiday is where I hung out with my friends,” he says. That was then, and this is his now, overseeing the entire property.
Which wasn’t supposed to be the case. He was originally hired as the indoor operations
director. Two days after getting the job— before he even actually started—he was asked if he’d like to take over as executive director.
“On Dec. 3 [2022] I was hired. On the 5th, I got a promotion,” he says with a laugh.
Celebrating its 75th birthday this year— it was founded in 1949—Mt. Holiday is one of the few independent nonprofit ski areas in the country. That meant some on-the-job learning for Pearson, who had a background in various corporate positions and had experience in creating and curating events such as auto shows and film festivals. “I had to learn fundraising, how snow is made, how to run a nonprofit,” he says.
Now he is working with other organizations, such as Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center, Discovery Pier, and others. Pearson sees the community’s cooperative efforts benefiting both locals and visitors.
Nearby hotels like Grand Traverse Resort and Spa are offering recreational packages that include everything from skiing to biking to ziplining, even food.
“They [guests] get a voucher and for the additional money they [can] tube, ski, go to the restaurant,” Pearson explains.
With the snow—whether the natural variety or that from the venue’s new equipment—comes an emphasis on opportunities for youngsters (or oldsters) to learn to ski, provide recreation for all ages, even more opportunities for competition. “We [hired] a new programs director with a lot of experience for ski and race teams, and a lot of biking experience,” Pearson says.
Now they’re it’s just waiting for the mercury to drop, and hopefully a winter full of snow.
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Mention
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Ongoing
What to Do with No Snow 10 wintertime activities in northern Michigan
By Abby McKiernan
Winter Up North often brings snowy adventures, but when Mother Nature takes a break, it’s good to have a backup plan! Whether you’re looking for cozy indoor activities or invigorating outdoor fun, there are countless opportunities to make the most of winter— even without snow. From trivia nights and fat-tire biking to festive markets and family game nights, here are 10 budget-friendly, family-friendly ways to enjoy the season.
1. Library Learning at TADL
The Traverse Area Public Library has something for everyone this winter. After you pick out your books, teens can join video game competitions or tabletop campaigns like Dungeons & Dragons, while adults can explore tai chi and yoga classes. Storytime sessions will captivate younger kids, making it a great way to keep the whole family engaged and active indoors. Best of all, most events are free, making it an excellent option for the season of spending. (And if you live outside of Grand Traverse County, we have no doubt your local library has plenty of great programming to explore!)
Cost: Free More Info: tadl.org/events/month
2. Art Rapids! Walk of Art Sculpture Park
Explore creativity in the great outdoors at the Art Rapids! Walk of Art Sculpture Park in Elk Rapids. Open year-round, this beautiful park features an impressive collection of sculptures set among wooded trails and open fields along Grand Traverse Bay. Perfect for a family outing or a peaceful solo stroll, this free activity combines art and nature, offering a tranquil escape during the winter months.
Cost: Free More Info: artrapids.net/walk-of-art
3. Pinball Wars at Right Brain Brewery
For some retro fun, post up behind the flippers at Right Brain Brewery. This tournament welcomes players of all skill levels to compete on the brewery’s classic pinball machines. Enjoy a wide selection of craft beers and a relaxed atmosphere as you try your hand at this nostalgic game.
Cost: Free entry; pay per game
Dates: Check brewery calendar for dates More Info: rightbrainbrewery.com/83/pinball-leagues
4. Euchre at Leelanau Sands
If you love card games, head to Leelanau Sands Casino for Monday night euchre tournaments. This casual yet competitive event is perfect for seasoned players or those looking to brush up on their skills. With plenty of chances to win, it’s an ideal way to spend a winter evening indoors.
Cost: Free Dates: Mondays, 7pm
More Info: leelanausandscasino.com/euchre
5. Fat Tire Biking at Crystal Mountain
Crystal Mountain’s groomed winter trails are perfect for fat-tire biking, a thrilling way to explore the outdoors without snowshoes or skis. Rentals are available, so no equipment? No problem! Best of all, you can bike no matter the conditions, from bare earth to fluffy snow drifts.
Cost: Rentals start at $15/hour More Info: crystalmountain.com/activities/fat-tire-snow-biking
6. A Visit to Oliver Art Center
Oliver Art Center is a hub for creativity and inspiration, offering free admission to its art gallery year-round. Explore beautiful exhibits featuring local and regional artists, or check out their schedule of winter classes and activities, which include everything from painting workshops to pottery lessons. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just looking for a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, this welcoming space has something for everyone.
P.S. Their Winter Market, where you’ll find local artists and vendors selling unique gifts, crafts, and artwork, offers an excellent opportunity to shop local through Dec. 23!
Cost: Free admission to gallery; class prices vary
More Info: oliverartcenterfrankfort.org
7. Winter Rafting in Manistee
Embrace the serenity of northern Michigan’s rivers with a winter paddling or rafting adventure. The Big Manistee River offers calm, scenic waters perfect for paddling through snow-draped landscapes, while the Pine River provides an exhilarating rafting experience for thrill-seekers. These guided trips let you enjoy the beauty of Michigan’s winter wilderness in a unique and unforgettable way. Dress warmly!
Cost: Prices vary by trip
More Info: visitmanisteecounty.com/winter-paddling-on-the-bigmanistee and thepineriver.com/pine-river/pine-river-winter-rafting
8. Christmas Tree Cutting
Make this winter memorable by cutting your own Christmas tree in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. For just $5, you can explore the forest, select the perfect tree, and create a treasured holiday tradition. Bring a thermos of hot cocoa for an extra dose of seasonal cheer.
Cost: $5/tree (permit required)
More Info: recreation.gov/tree-permits
9. Step into History at Cheboygan Opera House
The historic Cheboygan Opera House is a hub of cultural activity, offering concerts, plays, and familyfriendly movie nights throughout the winter. The beautiful venue and diverse lineup make it a must-visit destination for entertainment seekers of all ages.
Cost: Prices vary per event
More Info: theoperahouse.org
10. Take the Kids to a Museum!
For the littles who don’t understand the “Do Not Touch/Climb/Hang Upside Down From” signs at traditional museums, head to one of these hands-on spots: the Great Lakes Children’s Museum in Traverse City (now in its new home at Grand Traverse Mall); COGNiTiON Science & Discovery Center of Beulah; Raven Hill Discovery Center of East Jordan (now operating on their weekends and by-appointment winter schedule); and the Thomas A. Rutkowski Discovery Gallery at the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City.
Cost: Admission varies per museum
More Info: greatlakeskids.org, discovercognition.org, miravenhill.org, dennosmuseum.org
By Max Howard
As the cold weather sets in, it can be a challenge to stay active, but thanks to our local conservancies, northern Michigan has an abundance of trails to experience no matter the temperature. Whether you are looking to snowshoe through serene, snow-covered woods, climb winter dunes to find that incredible view over a frozen Lake Michigan, or use the many groomed trails to cross-country ski, our trails have it all! Here are eight recommendations from several conservancies around the North.
Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
Covering more than 47,000 acres of land and 155 miles of shoreline, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) has been hard at work protecting critical habitats to ensure flora and fauna can thrive and people can continue to enjoy nature.
1. At Maplehurst Natural Area in Antrim County, visitors can hike around the beautiful Lake Maplehurst on 5.4 miles of trails. This stunning property features 150 acres of steep, hardwood-forested bluffs that flow into Torch Lake, along with open meadows surrounding the lake, a pristine 60-acre spring-fed treasure. Because the trail is positioned on high ground, hikers can also get excellent views of the Torch Lake, Elk Lake, and Grand Traverse Bay.
Cross-country skiing is available on the trail, although there is no grooming.
2. Nearer Kalkaska, the Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Nature Preserve has its own 130-acre spring-fed lake, diverse wetland habitats, and forests.
The preserve is able to support its large number of species like loons, bald eagles, and smooth green snakes (the only snake species in Michigan that is bright green in color). With almost 6 miles of trails, the preserve has lots of flat area that’s great for beginners to snowshoe and cross-country ski.
3. In Grand Traverse County, Turtle Cove Nature Preserve features a 1.7-mile trail loop which guides visitors through the different habitats of forest, steep lake bluffs, and bog. While in the warmer months visitors can be on the lookout for the scores of fish, reptiles, and amphibians that Turtle Cove has to offer, hikers and snowshoers in the winter can look out over the frozen Arbutus Lake and keep an eye out for deer, foxes, and year-round birds like the blackcapped chickadee.
4. And then there’s Arcadia Dunes, GTRLC’s largest preserve. Encompassing a massive 3,800 acres with 15 miles of trail, this preserve offers hikes through dunes that are universally accessible from the parking lot all the way to a beautiful overlook of Lake Michigan. The preserve is also a part of the Sleeping Bear Birding Trail and is an amazing
birding experience. Within the preserve there are multiple different trails to choose from. Whether you are looking for fantastic hiking and want to try out the Dry Hills Trail or you want to cross-country ski the flatter Camp Trail, Arcadia Dunes has it all!
Little Traverse Conservancy
Since its founding in 1972, the Little Traverse Conservancy (LTC) has been working to protect local lands and natural diversity. The nonprofit now manages 400 nature preserves and 38 working forest reserves spanning from Charlevoix all the way up to Mackinac County.
5. About 10 miles east of Indian River and easily accessible off of I-75, you’ll find Boyd B. Banwell Nature Preserve. This preserve has nearly 3 miles of frontage along the Pigeon River, making it a picturesque location to hike. Trails are groomed periodically throughout the winter. For a unique experience, check out the Nature Megaphone located along the trail. The megaphone is a wooden acoustic amplification device that you can step into, allowing you to hear birdsong and other sounds of the natural world.
6. A recent addition to the LTC trails is the Don and Eileen Klein Nature Trail Completed earlier this year, this new trail is accessible from downtown East Jordan and has a half mile of boardwalk trails along
the Jordan River. If visitors want to extend their hike, the trail leads to an additional 1-mile trail at the Rogers Family Homestead Nature Preserve. Be sure to keep an eye out for minks and muskrats in the wetlands area that borders the boardwalk!
Leelanau Conservancy
Founded in 1988, the Leelanau Conservancy (LC) dedicated their organization to the vision to protect all peninsula’s unique landscapes.
7. For a quiet, peaceful place to hike, the LC recommends one of its newer preserves: Pat’s Preserve at Lime Lake. Covering over 60 acres along the southwest shore of Lime Lake, the preserve offers an easy, short hike with a quarter-mile boardwalk leading up to the lakefront from which hikers can see a view of Sugar Loaf across the water. The preserve is home to a diverse set of wildlife where otters, beavers, coyotes, and bears can all coexist.
8. For more of an adventure, visitors can check out Palmer Woods Forest Reserve, LC’s largest natural area. With more than 1,075 acres, the preserve has plenty of rolling hills and 15 miles of trails for more difficult hiking and cross-country skiing. Winter is a great time to visit as views across the landscape open up with the disappearing leaves. The preserve offers groomed and ungroomed trails for cross-country skiing, which all feature wide paths and gradual turns.
Photo by Kathy Partin
By Victor Skinner
We very nearly had a no-snow November in northern Michigan, with Thanksgivingweek storms arriving in the region.
But until that point, things were…not so chill. The National Weather Service in Gaylord charts historical average first accumulating snow dates—Oct. 26 for Gaylord, Nov. 9 for Traverse City, Nov. 13 for Petoskey—which all went by without much in the sky and nothing on the ground.
Now, as of press time, Gaylord has gotten more than 80 inches of snow, Traverse City 41, and Petoskey 39, all well above the average in a season to date.
Wild weather throughout 2024 is expected to continue this winter, with early signals suggesting conditions could be similar to a 2023 season that provided the highest average temperatures on record for most areas across the region.
“The warmth definitely carried through the year,” says Harold Dippman, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Gaylord. “It was above normal across the region.”
Weather data shows the region was above normal in more ways than one.
“Across northern Michigan, [2023-24] was the warmest winter on record,” Dippman says, with average temperatures in places like Pellston and Traverse City two degrees above average, while Gaylord was 3.5 degrees above the second warmest winter.
Spring and Summer
“Obviously there was a big lack of snowfall,” Dippman says of 2023-24, but that changed in March, when several areas saw the heaviest precipitation since the beginning of reliable records.
The wet weather, with severe thunderstorms in late April, meant “most places with the exception of Traverse City itself ended [meteorological spring through May] with above average rainfall,” Dippman says.
All sites across northern Michigan monitored by the National Weather Service
WHAT’S THE FORECAST?
Coming off a turbulent year of weather, experts look at winter conditions for 2024-25
had at least their six warmest spring on record, as well.
Spring “started wet and did not let up until August,” he said, though “we eventually did dry up.”
Most locations across northern Michigan saw both their highest and lowest temperatures for June in the same week, when the thermometer dipped into the mid 30s on June 11, before reaching the mid 90s just six days later.
From July through August, “several places saw their top 20 warmest summer on record,” Dippman says, which came with an odd dynamic of little precipitation, but plenty of humidity.
“Despite it being dry, it was warm and humid,” he says.
Temperatures in Traverse City reached 97 degrees on Aug. 26, the “warmest August day in 23 years,” Dippman says, and the trend continued into the fall.
Fall
“The recurring theme [for fall] has been very dry, in some cases September was top five driest on record,” he says.
Gaylord had the second driest September since 1951, while it was the fourth driest in Traverse City since 1897. The same month was the warmest on record in Gaylord by nearly 7 degrees, while it was the second warmest in Pellston since 1948 and third warmest in Traverse City.
“The underlying theme is it’s been a warm year and there’s been periods where it was very dry and periods where it’s been very wet,” Dippman says.
The warm and dry fall went into October, which also registered as a top 10 warmest October for Alpena, Gaylord, Pellston, and Traverse City.
“It’s been just a tale of stagnant patterns this year,” Dippman says. “October was very dry most places, until Oct. 29 when we got a more active pattern. For most places, October is typically the wettest calendar month of the year,” he adds.
Winter
In November, we still had “above-normal temperatures,” Dippman says, augmented by “a wetter pattern induced by La Niña, which translates into moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.”
That moisture can fall as rain, or snow, depending on whether it collides with colder air from Canada and the Arctic, though forecasters aren’t expecting a strong intrusion of cold air any time soon.
“At this time, there’s a lot of uncertainty … about whether we will get into deeper colder air,” he says. “It’s going to be a little bit before we see consistent winter conditions in Michigan. There’s just a lot of indications the core of the coldest air is basically stuck over Alaska and not getting dissipated and moving over the Great Lakes,” Dippman says.
After the Thanksgiving and early December storms, temperatures rose again to the mid-40s before setting into the upper30s this past week, with the warmer temps and rainfall threatening the integrity of the accumulated snow.
“It’s still going to get colder, but it’s going to be more [of a question of] can we keep snow pack,” he says. “It’s definitely going to, at least the start, have similarities to recent winters.”
Agriculture Impacts
While Michigan’s unpredictable weather in 2024 largely tracks with the broader U.S., which had the second warmest JanuaryOctober on record, it has had a variety of impacts in northwest Michigan, both good and bad.
Michigan State University Extension Specialist Nikki Rothwell says the warm 2023-24 winter, coupled with a very wet spring, created optimum conditions for insect and disease outbreaks, such as American brown rot, a fungal disease that devastated the region’s cherry crops, as well as cherry leaf spot.
“Disease was about impossible to control with cherries this year,” she says, adding losses with sweet cherries was “probably over 75 percent.”
Other issues for cherries and apples stemmed from trees transitioning to
Rothwell
Dippman
winter during the dry fall, and increasing populations of deer, rabbits, and voles tied to the mild wither that became a “big problem in orchards,” Rothwell says.
“There isn’t really anything anyone can do,” she says, noting the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a declaration of disaster for cherries in Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties that will allow farmers to secure federal assistance to mitigate the damages.
The region’s hot and dry weather later in the year, however, was a boon for winemakers, producing natural sugar levels that will result in “some of the best vintage we’ve seen in years,” Rothwell says. “I’ve been hearing from wine makers that they’re really happy.”
Water Level Changes
Hot and dry weather has also put the
water level on lakes Michigan and Huron on a downward trajectory, dropping 8 inches from Nov 15, 2023, accelerated by a 4-inch drop from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15, says Heather Smith, Grand Traverse Bay Waterkeeper with The Watershed Center.
The lakes are now slightly below the longterm average, she says, and “the projection is we’re going to drop another 2 inches in the next month.”
“People should expect to get even lower water levels this year,” Smith says, though the level remains close to the historical average. “The big concern is there are extremes in Great Lakes water levels and those are the most difficult to deal with,” she adds.
The Watershed Center is working on coastal resiliency planning for those extremes to come more often, with higher highs and lower lows, and the problems the
swings create for wildlife habitat, erosion, recreation, boating, and other issues.
Cold-Weather Activities
In places like Gaylord, locals are already adapting to the trends, shifting from a heavy focus on snowmobiling to other outdoor pursuits that involve less snow, with fewer barriers to entry.
“The lack of snowfall for us can have a very big impact on travel tourism,” says Paul Beachnau, executive director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “For the most part, the ski resorts are in pretty good shape because all of them have ramped up snowmaking.”
Meanwhile snowmobiling, which requires significantly more snow, “has seen a decline” in recent years, with what is typically a 14-weekend season reduced
to just three with enough snow in 2023-24, Beachnau says.
While that shift has had a significant impact on restaurants, hotels, gas stations, repair shops, and other area businesses that have relied on the industry for decades, it’s also creating new opportunities to promote tourism that are significantly cheaper and more accessible to a broader demographic.
“What we’ve been doing is … we pivoted into travel and tourism things you could do,” Beachnau says. “You can still get out and go winter rafting. You can still go out and hike in the woods.”
Across the board, “There’s a focus on skiing, tubing, cross-country skiing,” he says. “One of our jobs has been some good education on getting out in the winter.”
Good news for Gaylord—they still have plenty of snow.
Hands-On
Smith
Beachnau
AMiE String Trio
$20 OAB Members
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An Evening of Classical Music
A Real Pain
Friday, December 20th
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Doors open 7 p m
by JOSEPH BEYER
performer known mainly for his star turn in the recent series Succession).
It’s been 15 years since actor Jesse Eisenberg broke onto the cinema scene: first in the cult classic Zombieland and then more famously portraying the founder of Facebook in The Social Network. The latter earned him nominations at the 2010 Golden Globes and Academy Awards and plucked him from obscurity.
NEVER ENDS HERE
Most performers would be content with a career cashing paychecks from studios and polishing their trophies, but Eisenberg has carved a different path, mixing occasional popcorn fare with fiercely independent films and projects (including most recently playing a humanoid beast in the brilliant Sasquatch Sunset).
In 2022, he went behind the camera for his directing debut with When You Finish Saving The World, a black comedy Eisenberg wrote and directed for A24 Films with lackluster results. In their review, The New York Times called it, “for better or worse, the film you would expect” from the multi-hyphenate actor and sometimes playwright.
True to form, Eisenberg soldiered on. And rather than abandon his directing career, he went back to the blank page and started working on the script that would become A Real Pain, his latest project earning him critical praise for his stints as screenwriter, director, producer, and co-star. I concur with all the accolades.
A Real Pain is a buddy comedy, of sorts, following two mismatched cousins reconnecting as they travel to Poland paying tribute to their family history after the death of their grandmother, a survivor of the Holocaust. It’s delicate territory, but not the tragic narrative you might expect from a movie set against touring concentration camps.
That’s mainly because of the standout chemistry between Eisenberg and his co-star Kieran Culkin (himself another fascinating
Eisenberg plays David, a reserved, playby-the-rules guy navigating his new life as a husband and father trying to stay safely between the lines. Culkin plays Benji, his wild-child counterpart who lives life spontaneously and feels everything profoundly. While connected by blood, the cousins are polar opposites in style and substance, and so each must adapt to the other while grieving the loss of their grandmother and reckoning with the pain of confronting the past.
As their trip continues, they build unexpected bonds with their tour guide and group—and ultimately each other. In this story, everyone processes the grief and the joy of the Human Comedy together. It’s an impressive accomplishment from an ensemble of performances that are often quiet, observant, and heartbreaking. Eisenberg has said parts of the film were inspired by his own family history.
The struggle to understand the past while savoring the present is real, and you will feel it here. What you will also experience, I think, is a story about honesty and inner lives told in a fascinating style that is effortless and fresh. Far from being indulgent, the film is fast paced and remarkably concise with a running time of just 1 hour and 30 minutes. Bravo.
It’s all very wonderful and unexpected and different, earning A Real Pain all the credit it deserves and creating much anticipation for what Eisenberg will dream up next.
Released by Fox Searchlight and rated R for adult language and the smoking of joints on Polish rooftops, A Real Pain is playing exclusively in theaters but expected to hit video-on-demand and streaming services in January 2025.
20Fathoms Dives Deeper
How millions in grant funding have transformed the startup incubator
By Art Bukowski
It’s been a big year for Traverse City’s homegrown startup incubator and coworking space, and 2025 promises even more action as key staff and new initiatives are in place.
20Fathoms (named for the 120 feet that Grand Traverse Bay is clear to a depth of) has been helping local technology entrepreneurs since opening its doors in 2018. But major grant funding in 2024 allowed the organization to substantially expand staff, programming, and its geographic footprint throughout northern Michigan. The group also has a new executive director.
Northern Express checked in with 20Fathoms leaders (and clients) to hear about what’s new and what’s next as the revamped organization looks forward.
New Leadership
In November, 20Fathoms announced the hiring of Craig Wesley as executive director. He replaces Eric Roberts, who led the organization since 2021.
Wesley is a Michigan native who spent more than two decades in Silicon Valley in a variety of roles, beginning with sales before moving into management at various levels.
“I was just a regular guy from the Midwest, and the place [Silicon Valley] to me was just nuts. People thought so differently, and the pace was so wild, and it was really quite invigorating,” he says. “I had the opportunity to work with lots of different teams and businesses because of the density of opportunities out there—sometimes startups work, and sometimes they don’t.”
He recalls the wild times of the late 1990s dot-com boom (and eventual bust).
“We felt that this is probably what
Florence was like during the Renaissance: Everything is happening right here, and we’re going to change the world, and it’s all because of what we’re doing on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “Well, we all know how that turned out.”
Even though he eventually transitioned to a management role at an established, nonstartup company, Wesley and his wife made a conscious decision to slow things down and spend more time with their young children. They moved to Traverse City in 2013, and Wesley took on consulting roles.
He was familiar with 20Fathoms since its inception and got excited about it being a place where he can “plug in and serve the community” in a way that’s not possible working for only one or two companies.
Significant grant funding and new staff made the opportunity extra enticing, he says.
“I thought that the organization was at a level of maturity and at a time where I could really come in and add some value,” he says.
The organization is thrilled to have Wesley at the helm.
“We conducted a nationwide search to find the right person, and we found him right in our own backyard,” Lowell Gruman, 20Fathoms’ board chair, said in a statement.
New Team
Though it was founded in 2018, about $7.3 million in state and federal economic development grant funding announced in late 2023 and received in 2024 has transformed the organization almost completely. It went from six full-time staffers a year ago to 15 now, with a variety of titles that include director of regional ecosystem, manager of startup capital, manager of startup education, and more.
“This team is new, and they’re learning
how to work together,” Wesley says.
“We’re at the beginning stage of really trying to build something that we think is going to be really great, not only for local entrepreneurs, but for the community and for the ability for companies to actually grow here and create jobs.”
Keri Amlotte is head of outreach and strategic programming for 20Fathoms. She says the new staff brings a very broad and deep range of expertise that will better help local entrepreneurs.
“When you look at the nature of what we do, it’s not cookie cutter. Every entrepreneur needs something different, and we need to
have people at the table who can really walk hand-in-hand with them,” she says.
Beyond that, the depth of the team overall means the ability to work with more people in more areas, Amlotte says, something the grant funding was specifically intended to facilitate.
“We’re not new. We have been here since 2018, and since that time, we’ve had a really healthy coworking space and have been providing an opportunity for entrepreneurs to come together and network and meet one another through our events,” she says. “But what we’re able to do now is just go much deeper and be much more intentional and
Craig Wesley and Keri Amlotte
“You can drop in and talk to a member of our startup team about what your challenges are right now,” Amlotte says. “Anything from how do you file your business with LARA (Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) to how you find new customers. Whatever is keeping you up at night.”
Starting in 2025, the organization will also start rotating weekly workshops on a variety of topics like marketing, customer discovery, funding a business, and more.
“You’ll come and there will be a learning piece to it, but there will also literally be workshopping,” Amlotte says. “It will be heavily hands-on, and you’ll be able to work with somebody one-on-one to talk through your particular business problems.”
Along a similar vein, 20Fathoms recently launched four-day boot camps that offer more in-depth solutions to common obstacles.
“These are very specifically for people who have an idea for how to start a business. They’re really excited about it, they’re all in, but they need help figuring out how to turn that idea into a business,” Amlotte says. “So you come to this very intensive boot camp session, and you’re surrounded by peers, and you really dig into things over a four-day period. You walk out of it with a business plan and steps on what to do next.”
Among these bootcamps is one specifically for indigenous entrepreneurs, a focused effort designed to give indigenous people training on all things related to launching a business. The first was held in September.
“That boot camp [filled up], and we have enough people on the waiting list to run two more,” Amlotte says. “There’s a very high demand for that one.”
Finally, 20Fathoms in early 2024 absorbed TCNewTech, a group founded in 2015 to connect local tech professionals with one another and with funding sources. TCNewTech is well known for its monthly pitch competitions, and this acquisition merged the two most prominent tech organizations in the community.
Most of 20Fathoms’ programs are available to non-tech entrepreneurs, but tech is likely to remain its bread and butter for the foreseeable future.
“We offer specialized services to help meet the unique needs of scalable startups because launching and growing a technology company, for instance, is different in some key ways— like funding—than opening a traditional type of small business,” Amlotte says. “Those services include access to capital programs for
scalable startups, specialized coaching, and pitch opportunities at TCNewTech.”
New Impact
In the past year alone, 20Fathoms has served 26 local tech companies who reported more than $5 million in combined growth through secured capital investment, Amlotte says.
Amlotte and Wesley are quick to point out that the work of 20Fathoms shouldn’t just be judged on startups incubated or assisted. Many people who attend 20Fathoms programs who don’t successfully start a company may take useful skills out into the community and apply them at other companies or organizations, for instance.
“What we’re talking about is a regional transformation to support a really vibrant, strong economy that supports and lifts up everybody,” Amlotte says. “That takes time.”
“There’s some risk here, as a lot of these [startups] may not turn into anything,” Wesley adds. “But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, and it doesn’t mean that you can’t bring some life into people and communities in a way that hasn’t been there before.”
Also of note are the more than 100 individuals or companies that use the organization’s well-appointed coworking space at the aptly named Bayview Professional Centre at the corner of M-72 and M-22. One of those is Jim Millar of Atterx Biotherapeutics, a virtual company that has its headquarters in a designated office in the 20Fathoms space.
“Even with the dedicated office, what I really enjoy is just the whole entrepreneurial culture. The vibe and the energy here is amazing,” Millar says. “To be able to come talk to other entrepreneurs over the coffee bar and share stories, kind of see what people are going up to is [enjoyable]…it’s a great way for me to plug in, to not just come in and shut my office door and get to work, but to interact with the ecosystem that’s here.”
Millar and Atterx have taken advantage of not only that vibe, but of coaching from 20Fathoms staff and funding connections provided by Boomerang Catapult and other 20Fathoms affiliated organizations.
Erin Eatough started off in a coworking space at 20Fathoms with a former company before taking the plunge and starting a new company, Fractional Insights. 20Fathoms staff and programming helped “demystify the idea of entrepreneurship,” she says.
“I give a lot of credit to 20Fathoms for helping me transition and build up my selfconfidence, motivation, and self-reliance,” she says. “I feel like I had a community to go to get resources, to get connections, to get education. And that made it feel much more possible to really take what is a gigantic leap of faith to walk away from an executive level salary and start my own thing.”
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Saturday
OLD MISSION WOMEN’S
CLUB HOLIDAY COOKIE FUNDRAISER: Old Mission Peninsula Township Hall, TC. Open 8am until sold out (usually noon). Boxes will be provided along with gloves to pick your own cookies. Large assortment of holiday specialties, plus much more. Proceeds to benefit local nonprofits. oldmissionwc.org
TUBACHRISTMAS WITH JERRY YOUNG: 2pm, Kirkbride Hall, GT Commons, TC. The Traverse City Philharmonic invites tuba & euphonium players of all ages to perform. This is a creation of Harvey Phillips, one of America’s great tuba players. It is celebrated all over the world. Free concert. Register to perform: $10. tcphil.org/free-community-outreach-events/ ----------------------
TRINITY LUTHERAN ANNUAL CHRISTMAS COOKIE EVENT: 9am, Trinity Lutheran Church & School, TC. Begins with almost 23,000 cookies: traditional decorated sugars & old world favorites. tctrinity.org
BEULAH CHRISTMAS MAGIC: Downtown Beulah. Includes the Darcy Library Friends Cookie & Bake Sale held at the Beulah Trailhead, Benzonia Public Library Holiday Party at Mills Community House - Upper Level, free family activities at the Beulah Trailhead, free horse-drawn wagon rides, Moonlight Madness, Christmas Magic Lighted Parade, Christmas Light & Music Show, & more. clcba.org/wp-content/ uploads/2018/03/Christmas-Magic-BeulahPoster-scaled.jpg
CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE: The Village at GT Commons, TC. Featuring an indoor farmers market from 10am-2pm, shopping specials & stocking stuffers under $20 from Mercato merchants, visits with Santa & kids crafts & letters for Santa from 3-6pm, $3 tunnel walks from 3-5pm (ages 12+ only), & Traverse Symphony Orchestra Tuba performance (free) from 2-3pm in Kirkbride Hall. thevillagetc.com/christmasin-the-village-2024 ----------------------
DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY HOLIDAY PARADE: 10am, Pennsylvania Park, downtown Petoskey. Featuring the Petoskey High School Marching Band performing, Santa Claus, creatively decorated floats, & local organizations coming together to spread holiday cheer.
HEALTH & WELLNESS: BE HEALTHY, BE ACTIVE FAMILY COOKING CLASS: 10am, Interlochen Public Library. Participants will be shown a few techniques, & will then cook the whole recipe from start to finish. It’s hands-on learning. This free class includes supplemental materials for living your best life. Class size is limited to 6 families per class. Registration required: 231-276-6767.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY: 11am-1pm, TC Elks Lodge #323. For kids ages 0-12. Featuring fun activities, games, lunch, crafts, & a visit from Santa. Free.
COCOA & CHOCOLATE CRAWL & HORSE DRAWN WAGON RIDES: Mackinaw City. 11am-3pm: Cocoa & Chocolate Crawl. Sip, shop & sample as you complete your Cocoa & Chocolate Crawl Passport by visiting participating merchants. Noon-3pm: Complimentary horse drawn wagon rides.
FREE PHOTOS WITH SANTA CLAUS: Noon-4pm, Luci & Carl’s Candy Cabin, downtown Petoskey. Share your holiday wishes with Santa, who will be inside, in front of a decorated fireplace that provides a backdrop for your photos. Free.
MISTLETOE MAGIC: Noon-6pm, Downtown Frankfort. Featuring more than 25 downtown businesses participating. Enter to win prizes. Enjoy holiday deals, samples, live music, & free horse drawn carriage rides.
PHOTOS WITH THE GRINCH!: Noon4pm, The Katydid, downtown Petoskey. Mix it up this year & have your photo taken with The Grinch. Bring your own camera; he hasn’t got the time or desire to supply film.
COCO SCREENING -- COLLECTIVE SELF CINEMA SERIES: 1pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Rated PG. Explore complex feelings through Collective Self Cinema, a partnership with Care-O-Van. Enjoy a movie & take home guided mental health resources. For a deeper experience, sign up with Care-OVan for guided sessions with professionals after the film. $0-$5. events.humanitix.com/ collective-self-cinema
SANTA CLAUS AT KILWINS: 1-5pm, Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen, 1050 Bayview Rd., Petoskey. Santa will be spreading holiday cheer with his sleigh parked right outside the store. Children can tell him their holiday wishes while enjoying a complimentary cup of hot chocolate, made at Kilwins. Free.
“A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS” - A CHRISTMAS STORY PRODUCTION TOLD THROUGH DANCE: 2pm & 6:30pm, Cadillac High School Auditorium. Presented by the Northern Lights Irish Dancers & the Cadillac Classical Arts Company. “A Special Christmas” is a full length holiday production based off of the classic story by Leo Tolstoy. Tickets available in advance at the NLDA, or at the door, while supply lasts. $12. dancenlda.com/performances/a-special-christmas
“THE HOLIDAY CHANNEL CHRISTMAS MOVIE WONDERTHON”: 2pm & 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Christmas is a time for magic, traditions, & watching too many original TV holiday rom-coms. Now you can enjoy the sugar rush of six Christmas shows at once, LIVE on stage. Disguised royalty, evil city slickers, movie stars & more have a snow-bound meet-up at a charming inn to find the connections they crave in this hilarious parody. Adults: $33; youth under 18: $20. oldtownplayhouse. com/performances/mainstage/the-holidaychannel-christmas-movie-wonderthon.html
“THE NUTCRACKER, INTERLOCHEN”: 2pm & 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. The Interlochen Arts Academy Dance Division performs Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet “The Nutcracker.” Featuring original choreography by Director of Dance Joseph Morrissey, & a live performance of Tchaikovsky’s iconic score by the Arts Academy Orchestra. $19-$47. interlochen.org/events/nutcracker-2024-12-14
INDIAN RIVER HOLIDAY BAZAAR: 2pm, Northland Brewing Co., Indian River. Craft market offering gifts & stocking stuffers, festive sounds with DJ Franck, swag bags & cookie exchange. Find ‘Indian River Night Bazaar - Holiday Edition’ on Facebook. ----------------------
MADONNATIVITY: 2pm & 7:30pm, GT Circuit, TC. Presented by Mashup Rock & Roll Musical, a travelling troupe of actors aim to create an inclusive holiday themed show, incorporating music by Madonna & mixing in pop culture. Everything seems to be going wrong. Learn about the importance of community & connection even in the darkest of times. $15-$30. mashuprockandrollmusical.com/upcoming-shows-tickets
OTP YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTS
“HOLIDAY CABARET”: 2pm & 7pm, Central United Methodist Church, TC. Enjoy a
Roaring at 12-1 so far this season, football has never been so exciting for Detroit Lions fans! Author Bill Morris has written about not just them, but Detroit itself, it’s changing racial dynamics, and how television has transformed the NFL, in his book “The Lions Finally Roar.” Meet Morris and guest host Keith Gave at City Opera House, TC on Weds., Dec. 18 at 7pm. This National Writers Series event includes a Q and A and author signing. Tickets range from $10-$52.50 and include one signed hardcover copy of the book. cityoperahouse.org
holiday music revue to celebrate this past year & ring in the new. Adults: $21; youth under 18: $12. oldtownplayhouse.com/young-company/performances/holiday-cabaret-2024.html
SANTA VISITS/CHRISTMAS TREES: 3-6pm, Jordan Inn, East Jordan. Visit with Santa while you enjoy free cookies & hot cocoa. The Lions Club of East Jordan will also be selling Christmas trees.
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PERRY HANNAH HOUSE HOLIDAY
OPEN HOUSE: 4-7pm, Perry Hannah House (Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home), TC. Tour the home decorated for the holidays including 35 trees of all shapes & sizes collected over the decades from friends, family & community events such as Festival of Trees. You are invited to bring a nonperishable item for the Father Fred Food pantry or an unwrapped Toys for Tots toy. TC Celtic will perform at 4pm. Derek Woodruff will present a short holiday floral arranging program at 5pm. Les Dalgliesh will play his guitar in Perry’s former bedroom on the second floor. Tour guides will be located throughout the home to answer questions. Free. Reynolds-Jonkhoff.com ----------------------
DOWNTOWN CHARLEVOIX LADIES
NIGHT: 5-8pm, Downtown Charlevoix. Shops & restaurants will offer specials, prizes & goodies. Free gift wrapping at most locations.
WINTER SOUNDS CONCERT: 5pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. A family-friendly celebration of the season, with hot cider, a winter hike through the woods & an outdoor performance from TC West Middle School Madrigal Singers. Arrive early to allow for the 1/4 mile hike to the amphitheater. $10 adults; kids free. michlegacyartpark.org/ events/winter-sounds
“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”: 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. Tours run between 5:30-7:30pm, first two weekends in Dec. Free; no tickets required. newhope.cc
BAYSIDE TRAVELERS HOLIDAY CONTRA DANCE: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, TC. Potluck dinner at 5:30pm; Beginner Dance Workshop at 7pm; dances from 7:30-10:30pm. Please bring a dish to pass & your own drink & table service. At some point in the evening will be the traditional White Elephant Dance. Bring a wrapped gift to be exchanged many times during the dance. Music provided by Laurel Premo & Michael Beauchamp-Cohen with dances called by Pat Reeser & Dave Goodwin. No partner or experience necessary. Questions? Email: baysidetravellersdance@yahoo.com. Donations only. dancetc.com
DEAD POETS SOCIETY - OPEN MIC POETRY: 6pm, Blessed Be Tea and Apothecary, TC. Theme: Winter Solstice. Share your verses or simply enjoy the poetic talents of the community. Suggested donation: $5-$10. Recommended for ages 15+. blessedbetea.com
“THE NUTCRACKER,” CHEBOYGAN: 7pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Capture the spirit of Christmas with Northwest Michigan Ballet Theater’s presentation of a holiday tradition & classic. Featuring original choreography by NMBT Artistic Director Thomas Morrell. $15-$25. ci.ovationtix. com/36618/production/1216210?performa nceId=11535933
ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Out of the violence of World War I, a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht.” An a cappella chorale, “All Is Calm” is a true story in the words & songs of the men who lived
it. Presented by Peppermint Creek Theatre. $10-$35; Veterans & active military & family, free. cityoperahouse.org/node/596
ROALD DAHL’S “MATILDA” THE MUSICAL: 7:30pm, The Ramsdell Theatre, Manistee. Presented by The Manistee Civic Players. $10-$40. ramsdelltheatre.org ----------------------
HOME FREE’S “ANY KIND OF CHRISTMAS” TOUR: 8-9:30pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. All-vocal country group Home Free mixes Christmas classics with Nashville-dipped pop hits & country standards. $40-$80. lrcr.com/event/homefrees-any-kind-christmas-tour
SAWYER BROWN HOLIDAY SHOW: 8pm, Odawa Casino Resort, Ovation Hall, Petoskey. Country music band Sawyer Brown is known for hits including “Step That Step,” “Some Girls Do” & “Thank God for You.” $40$50. odawacasino.com/entertainment
Sunday
CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE: The Village at GT Commons, TC. Featuring shopping specials & stocking stuffers under $20 from Mercato merchants, visits with Santa & kids crafts & letters for Santa from 11am-2pm, & $3 tunnel walks from 1-3pm (ages 12+ only). thevillagetc.com/ christmas-in-the-village-2024
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY TEA: 1-3pm, The Terrace Inn, Petoskey. Boys & girls of all ages will enjoy an afternoon of festive activities with principal performers of the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” Each reservation includes tea or lemonade, sweet & savory treats, tea sandwiches, a reading of The Nutcracker story & a ticket to a performance of “The Nutcracker” which takes place Dec. 21 at 3pm & 7pm, & Dec. 22 at 3pm at Great Lakes Center for the Arts in Bay Harbor. $50-$100. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey-ctac-school-ballet/ sugar-plum-fairy-tea
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“A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS” - A CHRISTMAS STORY PRODUCTION TOLD THROUGH DANCE: (See Sat., Dec. 14, except today’s only time is 2pm.)
“THE HOLIDAY CHANNEL CHRISTMAS MOVIE WONDERTHON”: (See Sat., Dec. 14, except today’s only time is 2pm.) ----------------------
“THE NUTCRACKER,” INTERLOCHEN: (See Sat., Dec. 14, except today’s only time is 2pm.) ----------------------
DOKTOR KABOOM! THE SCIENCE OF SANTA: 2pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. The Doktor Kaboom Holiday Extravaganza! Join Doktor Kaboom as he attempts to recreate all of Santa’s wonders using basic physics. No holiday icons are damaged in this show! This experience is enjoyable for all ages, especially those in grades 2-5 & families. $10-$40. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/doktor-kaboom-santa
FREE FRIENDS & FAMILY FUN DAY: 2pm, The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, TC. Create your very own gnome ornament using pinecones & craft supplies. Everything is provided. Plus, enjoy some tasty treats while you craft. Free. thebotanicgarden.org/events
OTP YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTS “HOLIDAY CABARET”: (See Sat., Dec. 14, except today’s only time is 2pm.)
ROALD DAHL’S “MATILDA” THE MUSICAL: (See Sat., Dec. 14, except today’s time is 2pm.)
TADL SUNDAY STORIES WITH MISS KATE: 2pm, Traverse Area District Library, Youth Story Room, TC. Recommended for ages 4+. No registration required. Free. tadl.org/events
“CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT” WITH ENCORE SYMPHONIC WINDS: 3pm, TC Philharmonic Center, Cherryland Mall, TC. Performed under the direction of Dr. Timothy Topolewski. This festive concert will serve up some beloved seasonal music designed to enhance your holiday spirit. Entrance is on the back side of the complex, between the TC Curling Club & the back entrance of Younkers. Free. tcphil. org/encore-symphonic-winds ----------------------
“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”: (See Sat., Dec. 14)
MADONNATIVITY: 6:30pm, GT Circuit, TC. Presented by Mashup Rock & Roll Musical, a travelling troupe of actors aim to create an inclusive holiday themed show, incorporating music by Madonna & mixing in pop culture. Everything seems to be going wrong. Learn about the importance of community & connection even in the darkest of times. Pay what you can for admission. mashuprockandrollmusical.com/upcoming-shows-tickets
monday
HOLIDAY SING-ALONG: 6:30-8:30pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Featuring guitarist Dave Baumann. 231-223-7700.
tuesday
GRINCHMAS MOVIE NIGHT: 6pm, EJMHS Auditorium, East Jordan. Doors open at 5:45pm. Wear your pajamas! Also enjoy a cookie & Grinch punch, a take home craft, photos with the Grinch & raffles. Free; donations accepted.
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PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, lower level Community Meeting Room. For preschool children of all ages & their caregivers. Join each Tues. for stories, songs & more. Free. sbbdl.org
AUTHOR TALK WITH JUDGE JIM MCCORMICK: 2pm, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, upper level Reading Nook. This local former judge’s latest book is a collection of Christmas letters to his late wife, Marilyn. He offers a candid & authentic look at their 50 years of marriage through the Christmas letters he wrote for her every year. Jim McCormick served 24 years on the bench of the 86th District Court, serving Grand Traverse, Leelanau, & Antrim counties. Free. sbbdl.org
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HOLIDAY MOVIE MATINEE: “THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS”: 3pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Program Room, Empire. This film is inspired by the life of Charles Dickens. Follow the magical journey that led to his creation of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim & other classic characters from “A Christmas Carol.” Free. glenlakelibrary.net
QUEER TALES BOOK CLUB: 7pm, Traverse Area District Library, Nelson Room, TC. Chat about books that are by &/or about LGBTQIA+ people. Reading is not required, & everyone is welcome. This month’s book is “Conversations with People Who Hate Me: 12 things I Learned from Talking to Internet Strangers” by Dylan Marron. Borrow it through MeLCat & Hoopla (audiobook). Free. tadl.org/event/queer-tales-book-clubconversations-people-who-hate-me-19340
wednesday
HOLIDAY PEACE & CRAFT FAIR: 4:30-8pm, Hexenbelle, 144 Hall St. in Warehouse District, TC. Local artists & artisans will be offering original artwork, jewelry, crafts, & other gift items. Enjoy Middle Eastern snacks, hot tea & holiday music. All proceeds benefit individual refugees & charities serving the children of Gaza. mideastjustpeace.net
“SCROOGE” PRESENTATION: 5pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Veteran thespians Don Kuehlhorn & Drew Gibson will present a one hour adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, “Scrooge.” Suitable for all ages. Free. ----------------------
LIVE NATIVITY SCENE: 5-7pm, Castle Farms, Queen’s Courtyard, Charlevoix. Watch as the story of the first Christmas comes to life amidst the castle setting, featuring live animals provided by Hungry Ducks. Includes performances by St. Mary School Children’s Choir & St. Michael High School Choir. Free. castlefarms.com/ events/live-nativity-scene-2
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO CHERRY REPUBLIC!: 5pm, Cherry Republic, Glen Arbor. Kids of all ages can take pictures with Santa & drop off their wish lists & letters to him. There will also be hot cocoa & candy canes. Free.
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HOLIDAY EVENT: “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”: 5:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy a two man adaptation of this holiday classic. Free. tadl.org/event/holiday-eventchristmas-carol-19108
PARKINSON’S NETWORK NORTH EVENING SUPPORT GROUP MEETING: 6:30pm, Munson Community Healthcare Center, Rooms A & B on main level, TC. Meets monthly, every 3rd Weds., 6:30-8pm. Friendship/resources/lifestyle strategies. Free. ParkinsonsNetworkNorth.org
“THE LIONS FINALLY ROAR!”: A NWS EVENT WITH AUTHOR BILL MORRIS & GUEST HOST KEITH GAVE: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Veteran journalist & author Bill Morris captures the Detroit Lions’ recent turnaround & playoff run under the savvy stewardship of Sheila Ford Hamp, general manager Brad Holmes & charismatic coach Dan Campbell. Includes a Q&A & author signing. $10-$52.50. cityoperahouse.org/node/626
HERE:SAY PRESENTS: BREAKING THE RULES: 7pm, The Alluvion, TC. Scheduled performers take the stage to tell true, firstperson stories about a time in their lives they chose to bend or blow up the norm. $10 at door. heresaystorytelling.com/storytelling-events
thursday
SANTA AT TOT TIME: 10am, Interlochen Public Library. Visit with Santa & take pictures! Also enjoy craft making & freshly made waffles. 231-276-6767.
THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: SOLD OUT: 7:30pm, Left Foot Charley, Barrel Room, TC. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. These sixteen original Americana songs guide a listener through Ebenezer Scrooge’s haunting & transformation. The band, playing folk instruments & singing in harmony, embraces the ghosts & regrets, the love & joy that has made “A Christmas Carol” such a beloved & endur-
ing holiday tradition. $30. leftfootcharley. com/events-calendar/
ADAPTIVE FORESTRY FOR A RESILIENT CLIMATE: 1pm, ISEA Campus, 100 Dame St., Suttons Bay. Join for a presentation from Madeline Baroli, a climate adaption specialist with Salix, ATREP, & NIACS. This presentation will discuss the introduction of diverse tree species as a means of climate resilience. Free. schoolship.org/ news-events/2024-public-event-schedule
TEEN MAKER THURSDAY: 4pm, Petoskey District Library, Makerspace. The Teen Makers will meet every third Thurs. for a fun maker project. Today’s project is Candy Cane Wreaths. For ages 11-18. Free. petoskey.librarycalendar.com/event/ teen-maker-thursday-2214
POETS’ NIGHT OUT: 5pm, Espresso Bay, downtown TC. Live poetry reading presented by TADL on the 3rd Thurs. of the month. TADL will help you sign up for a library card, have a selection of poetry books available for checkout, & provide reading lists to explore. Free. tadl.org/event/poets-night-outespresso-bay-17303
CANDLELIGHT: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FEATURING “THE NUTCRACKER” & MORE: 6:15pm & 8:30pm, Kirkbride Hall at GT Commons, TC. A live, multi-sensory musical experience under the gentle glow of candlelight. $37-$60.50. feverup. com/m/196405
COMPANY DANCE TRAVERSE & DANCE ARTS ACADEMY PRESENT “THE NUTCRACKER”: 7pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. The performance has a cast of 164 children & adults to tell this Christmas Story of Clara & the events that take place at the family Christmas Party. $30. 29469.danceticketing.com/r/events
“THE HOLIDAY CHANNEL CHRISTMAS MOVIE WONDERTHON”: (See Sat., Dec. 14, except today’s only time is 7:30pm.)
WINTER SOLSTICE GATHERING: 5:30pm, Interlochen Public Library. Join in a candlelight ceremony to acknowledge those you have lost, & the grief you feel amidst holiday joy. Light the way with hope & healing as you approach the darkest night of the year. 1-800-252-2065.
A MAGICAL MOTOWN CHRISTMAS!: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. A journey through Motown’s best including The Temptations, The Jackson Five, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, & some Christmas favorites. $39-$69. cityoperahouse.org/node/624
SOUNDS OF THE SEASON: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. A wintry mix of seasonal songs by Interlochen Arts Academy’s music, theatre, & interdisciplinary arts students. End with a holiday sing-along & special appearance by Santa! $19-$36. interlochen.org/events/ sounds-season-2024-12-19
friday
PETOSKEY MEN’S NIGHT OUT: 5-9pm, downtown Petoskey. Cross items off your shopping list while enjoying an evening of hospitality, gift wrapping & music. Includes the Men’s Night Out Poker Run for a chance to win a grand prize. petoskeydowntown.com/ events/mens-night-out
CANDLELIGHT: CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON STRINGS: 6:15pm, Kirkbride Hall at
GT Commons, TC. A live, multi-sensory musical experience under the gentle glow of candlelight. $45-$60.50. feverup. com/m/255702
COMPANY DANCE TRAVERSE & DANCE ARTS ACADEMY PRESENT “THE NUTCRACKER”: (See Thurs., Dec. 19)
“THE HOLIDAY CHANNEL CHRISTMAS MOVIE WONDERTHON”: (See Thurs., Dec. 19)
SOUNDS OF THE SEASON: (See Thurs., Dec. 19)
saturday
CODING FOR CHRISTMAS WITH SHELLY: 10am, Interlochen Public Library. No experience is necessary. Help light up the Christmas tree with your ideas, create new dance moves with code, or even program a car to follow along. Free. 231-276-6767.
MITCHELL CREEK MEADOWS: THE DON & JERRY OLESON PRESERVE CONSERVATION CENTER TOUR: 10am, 2846 3 Mile Rd. N., TC. This tour will include an inside look at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s new conservation hub & office space, including the McMullen Family Conservation Center, the Bob and Pauline Young Family Stewardship Workshop, & the native plant greenhouse & goat barn. Must register. Free. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/es/event/ home/conservationcentertour122124
SATURDAY BOOK SHOWDOWN: 10am, Petoskey District Library, Children’s Program Room. It’s a battle of two books. Two books will be read & only kids can decide who wins! A new twist on story time with a voting component. For ages 3-7. Free. petoskey.librarycalendar.com/event/saturday-book-showdown-1006 ----------------------
BILL O. SMITH BOOK SIGNING: Noon2pm, Horizon Books, TC. Smith is the author of five picture books for children, including four from his “chickadee” series. horizonbooks.com/event/bill-o-smith-booksigning-1
PHOTOS WITH THE GRINCH!: Noon4pm, The Katydid, downtown Petoskey. Mix it up this year & have your photo taken with The Grinch. Bring your own camera; he hasn’t got the time or desire to supply film. ----------------------
HOLIDAY EVENT: “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”: (See Weds., Dec. 18, except today’s time is 1pm.)
SANTA CLAUS AT KILWINS: (See Sat., Dec. 14)
“THE HOLIDAY CHANNEL CHRISTMAS MOVIE WONDERTHON”: (See Sat., Dec. 14)
COMPANY DANCE TRAVERSE & DANCE ARTS ACADEMY PRESENT
“THE NUTCRACKER”: (See Thurs., Dec. 19, except today’s times are 2pm & 7pm.)
CTAC SCHOOL OF BALLET PRESENTS: “THE NUTCRACKER”: 3pm & 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Enjoy this dynamic & beautiful show with original choreography. $10-$40. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey-ctac-school-ballet/ ctac-school-ballet-presents-nutcracker-0
HOLIDAY MUSIC: CHERRY CAPITAL MEN’S CHORUS: 3pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy holiday music to get in the spirit.
LIGHTING OF THE BRIDGES: 6-8pm, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Join as the bridges of the boardwalk are lit up with colorful lights & lanterns for one night only. Enjoy a quarter mile winter stroll around the boardwalk to see the lights & then warm up with a campfire & hot cocoa at the pavilion. Inside the Center will be a variety of holiday crafts to make. This is an “open house” style event. Snowshoes are available for rent if there is deep snow. $5/person. grassriver.org
THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: 6pm, Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. These sixteen original Americana songs guide a listener through Ebenezer Scrooge’s haunting & transformation. The band, play ing folk instruments & singing in harmony, embraces the ghosts & regrets, the love & joy that has made “A Christmas Carol” such a beloved & enduring holiday tradition. $20 for Oliver Art Center members, or $25 for nonmembers. hauntingofebenezer.com
YULETIDE FULL MOON PARTY:
Blessed Be Tea and Apothecary, TC. Yule tide crafts, intention setting, mini ritual, tarot readings & more. Free. blessedbetea.com
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS:
Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Audi torium. Yuletide sounds with the full TC Phil harmonic & Jeffery Cobb’s NMC choruses in a traditional holiday experience. Students & first-time attendees can receive 50% off single ticket purchases. Call 947-7120. $27-$65. tc phil.org/concerts/home-for-the-holidays
GOOD ON PAPER - IMPROV SHOW: 8pm, TC Comedy Club. A popular show of hilariously improvised scenes based on audience suggestions. Menu & full-bar available. Doors open at 7pm. $18/person. mynorthtickets.com/events/good-on-paperimprov-december-21-12-21-2024
TICKETS
See more live music and art More time out with friends Less time doomscrolling Spend locally & support artists Walk, bike, or bus more often
JAZZ 4 ALL • THURSDAY JAN 2
DROP IN ANY TIME BETWEEN 6:00 AND 8:30 PM FOR CLASSIC TUNES AND MELLOW VIBES WITH THE JEFF HAAS TRIO
CANDLELIGHT: CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON STRINGS: (See Fri., Dec. 20, except tonight’s time is 8:30pm.)
sunday
PHOTOS WITH THE GRINCH!: (See Sat., Dec. 21)
COMPANY DANCE TRAVERSE & DANCE ARTS ACADEMY PRESENT “THE NUTCRACKER”: (See Thurs., Dec. 19, except today’s times are 1pm & 5:30pm.) ----------------------
HOLIDAY MUSIC: 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/holidaymusic-peter-bergin-pianistvocalist-16520
CTAC SCHOOL OF BALLET PRESENTS: “THE NUTCRACKER”: (See Sat., Dec. 21, except today’s only time is 3pm.)
HOLIDAY MUSIC: TLC HANDBELL CHOIR: 3pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Welcome back the TLC Bells Choir, a family favorite to ring in the holiday season. Free. tadl.org/event/holidaymusic-tlc-handbell-choir-16519
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: (See Sat., Dec. 21, except today’s time is 3pm.)
TCTC JINGLE BELL 5K RUN/WALK: 5:30pm, Park Place Hotel & Conference
With her full band—the rain date show!
FRIDAY JAN 3 • MUSIC 7:30 PM
$20 ADVANCE TICKETS • $25 AT THE DOOR
THIS IS THE PSYCHEDELIC FUZZED OUT SPACE WITCH GOTHIC GLAM DOOM SLUDGE HEAVY ROCK SHOW EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR . THE ROOM WILL SWIRL WITH ART PROJECTED ONTO THE BIG SCREEN, CEILING, AND WALLS. THE NIGHT WILL PULSE WITH RIFFS FIT FOR A JOURNEY INTO THE VOID.
SATURDAY JAN 4 • MUSIC 8 PM
$15 ADVANCE TICKETS • $20 AT THE DOOR
FUNKY FUN MONDAYS • MONDAY JAN 6
COME AS YOU ARE AND PAY WHAT YOU CAN LIVE MUSIC FROM FUNKY UNCLE 6 TO 8:30 PM
TUESDAY JAN 7 • MUSIC 6 PM TICKETS BY DONATION 30-MINUTE PERFORMANCES FROM
Center, TC. A nighttime holiday run that tours favorite neighborhood streets bordering downtown TC that are adorned in holiday lights & decorations. Wear your festive holiday costumes & enjoy cookies & hot cocoa afterwards. Free for Traverse City Track Club members. $20. runsignup.com/Race/ Events/MI/TraverseCity/JingleBellRun
“CHRISTMAS TOGETHER”: 6pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Enjoy a concert with Cheboygan’s Agee Family to benefit the Cheboygan County Salvation Army. Consider donating to the Red Kettle Campaign &/or bringing dry food items to replenish their food pantry. Free; donations encouraged. theoperahouse.org
helping hands
FRIENDS OF IPL HOLIDAY MITTEN
TREE: Donate new or hand-made mittens, scarves, socks & hats to The Friends Holiday Mitten Tree at Interlochen Public Library through Jan. 6. The items will be donated to local schools. 231-276-6767.
“LOADS OF LOVE”: Please drop off new hygiene & laundry products at the Petoskey District Library’s main desk from now until Dec. 20, or reach out directly to the Women’s Resource Center (wrcnm.org). “Loads of Love” is a program which supports the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) Safe Home. The Safe Home is operated 24/7 & provides a secure, caring & supportive place for survivors of domestic abuse & sexual assault, & their family members. petoskeylibrary.org/en/index.aspx
ongoing
STROLLING LIGHTS FESTIVAL: Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District, Glen Arbor. Stroll by all of the sponsored trees now through the New Year. crystalriveroutfitters.com/strolling-lights-festival
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP/CLASS: East Bay Branch Library, TC. Held on Thursdays (except holidays) through mid-Dec. from 1-3pm. 922-2085. Free. tadl.org/event/understanding-your-grief-17583
art
“CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE ARTS BUILDING”: Northport Arts Association. A Special Holiday Art Exhibit. Runs through Jan. 4. Open Tues. through Sat., noon-4pm. Closed Dec. 24-25 & Jan. 1. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits
ANNUAL SMALL WORKS SHOW: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Featuring over 200 small, original works of art made by over 65 artists. Runs through Jan. 4. higherartgallery.com/exhibitcalendar ----------------------
“JUST GREAT ART”: Runs through Dec. 20 at City Opera House, TC. This art exhibit features work by local plein air artists Sue Bowerman, Kurt Bullock, Jeanette Dyer, Lori Feldpausch, Rita Harrington, Ruth Kitchen, Dorothy Mudget, Joyce Petrokovitz & Marilyn Rebant. It’s open Mon. through Fri. from 10am-2pm during normal box office hours & evening events. cityoperahouse.org
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:
- “BRIGHTLY COLORED, TIGHTLY WOUND”: Runs through Jan. 18 in Atrium Gallery. This exhibition explores how traditional crafting techniques are being reimagined to push the boundaries of art & design through bold textures, vibrant colors, & unexpected materials. Featuring: Stacey Campbell, Heather Mecali, Victoria Marcetti, Jasmine Petrie, & Kayla Powers. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ brightly-colored-tightly-wound - OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: Saturdays,
10am-1pm in the Visual Arts Room. Free drop-in art studio for the whole family. New projects are offered weekly. crookedtree.org
DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:
- “A BEAUTIFUL MESS: WEAVERS & KNOTTERS OF THE VANGUARD”: The eleven artists in this exhibition transform rope, yarn, clay, wire, & extension cords into wall hangings & sculptures that range from minimal & hyper-organized to expansive, organic installations. Runs through Jan. 5. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum. org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/index.html
- “KATRINA BELLO: SKY INTO STONE”: A solo exhibition by Katrina Bello featuring charcoal & soft pastel drawings created around the time of her Tusen Takk residency in 2023. Runs through Jan. 5. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/art/ upcoming-exhibitions/index.html
- A STYLE ALL OUR OWN: CANADIAN WOODLAND ARTISTS: Runs through May 25. In the early 1960s, young Indigenous artists from the Great Lakes region created a unique style of painting known as the Woodland School of Art. Early members of this prolific art community included Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray, Roy Thomas, Sam Ash, Jackson Beardy, & Daphne Odjig. Perhaps the best-known of the group is Norval Morrisseau, who is often referred to as the Father of the Woodland School. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-onview/canadian-woodland-artists.html
- CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE CERAMICS FROM THE HORVITZ COLLECTION: Runs through Sept. 28, 2025. An array of works by contemporary Japanese ceramic artists, this is a sampler of the great diversity of styles, forms, glazes, & ages. These artworks are drawn from the curated collection of Carol & Jeffrey Horvitz, some of the leading collectors of Japanese contemporary outside of Japan. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum. org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/index.html
GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER: - OUTDOOR GALLERY EXHIBIT: MARGO BURIAN + ORDINARY MAGIC: Leelanau County artist Margo Burian’s collages have been chosen for display in the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s 2024-25 Outdoor Gallery exhibition, an annual, invitational exhibit. Burian’s collages are rooted in the idea of Ordinary Magic, or delight. They were reproduced on five, 5-foot-square, weatherresistant aluminum panels created by Image 360 of TC. Runs through April 20, 2025. Check web site for hours. glenaborart.org
- WILD THINGS: Held in the Lobby Gallery. This exhibit is an homage to the natural world & the creatures in it, as expressed in the collages by Benzie County artist Claudia Keglovitz. It runs through Dec. 19. Almost every aspect & element of Claudia’s compositions are created from recycled, reused, & found materials. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org/exhibits
OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT: - ARTVENTURE: OAC ANNUAL WINTER MEMBER EXHIBITION: Runs through Jan. 3. Showcasing the work of more than 100 area artists, all members of OAC. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, glass, fiber, photography, wood & more will be on display. OAC is open Tues.-Sat. from 10am-4pm, & Sun. from noon-4pm. OAC will be closed on Dec. 24-25 & Jan. 1. oliverart.org
- WINTER MARKET: Runs through Dec. 22. Featuring the handmade work of more than 30 local & regional artists & craftspeople. Gift items include ornaments, jewelry, ceramics, cards, wearable art, prints, paintings & photography. Oliver Art Center is open Tues. - Sat. from 10am-4pm & Sun. from noon-4pm. It is closed on Mondays. oliverart.org
Serving Up Community by the Slice
New Suttons Bay pizzeria aspires to create community hub
By Ellen Miller
For Kristine Ingrao and Desmond Berry, running a business is all about family. First the owners of Suttons Bay’s Bay Burrito, the two recently took on a new local restaurant, opening up Bay Pizzeria in September.
Ingrao and Berry have owned Bay Burrito for a few seasons. They got into the restaurant scene, Berry explains, because “we wanted to have a place for our children to work. My son had been working there for the previous owners, and had just started managing the place when COVID hit.” Berry was good friends with the previous owners and “put a deal together” to buy the place. “Kris has four children, I have five kids, and we wanted to create a place where they could work,” Berry says.
The decision to jump into the pizza business was a bit more of a leap of faith. “What we knew about pizza: we like to eat it,” Berry says, laughing. When the opportunity arose to acquire a restaurant that was for sale, they dove in headfirst. They had known the owners for a couple of decades and bought the place trusting they could figure it out.
“For us it’s a family legacy. We want to create small businesses in our community to ensure our kids have a place to work and ensure the community has a place to go to get good food,” says Berry.
The new pizzeria owners brought in Walt Rowen to help. Perhaps best known for his roles in the Dogman film franchise, Rowan also boasts four decades of pizza prowess. He put together the restaurant’s recipes, hired and trained the staff, and trained Berry and Ingrao, too—“you’ve got
to know how to do it if you’re going to do it yourself!” Berry says.
Bay Pizzeria officially opened its doors on September 15, heading into the shoulder season. Business has been good so far, especially considering the slower time of year, Berry says.
On the Menu
“There’s a couple things on the menu that kind of connect to my past,” explains Berry. Berry was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula and moved below the bridge in the 1990s. “Leelanau County is home now, but I wanted to bring some U.P. influence,” he says.
That influence is seen most prominently in the presence of cudighi on the menu.
“Cudighi is a pork sausage that originated in the U.P. back in the 1930s from Italian immigrants. I grew up loving those sandwiches, and there is nowhere south of the bridge that serves them. Now there are only a couple spots left in the U.P. where you can get one, from Marquette over to Houghton. I wanted to put that on the menu and we did,” says Berry.
The Cudighi Sub is the No. 1 selling sandwich. In addition to the Italian sausage, it features pizza-lover ingredients like marinara, mozzarella, parmesan, red pepper, green pepper, and onion. The restaurant offers several other classic sandwiches like a Meatball Sub and a Club Sub.
Pizzas have naturally been popular; Bay Pizzeria offers them up by the slice as well as selling whole pies. Go for the Deluxe, Meat Lovers, or Cheese, or build your own with nearly 20 topping options.
A recent popular special was the “Dogman” pizza, with cudighi, meatballs, and jalapeño, named in honor of Rowan. Calzones have also been a hit; they aren’t common or readily available locally. The pizzeria also offers breadsticks, cheese bread, and a few salad options.
The previous iteration of the pizza shop was known not only for its pizzas but for its in-house baked goods, so Bay Pizzeria is also expanding in that direction. “People have been craving baked goods, and so we just hired a baker who will be able to provide homemade goods here at Bay Pizzeria,” says Ingrao.
The new baker comes in early and does all the dessert bars, as well as focaccia.
And don’t miss the newest addition to the menu, which “ties back to my history, and Kris’s—her family is from the U.P. as well… we have a strong Yooper connection!” Berry says. “In the U.P. you can find these paper plate-sized cinnamon rolls. We’re going to do that here, one of the biggest cinnamon rolls. We want the wow factor—when you see it we want people to go, ‘Oh my god, wow.’” Those cinnamon rolls hit the menu in late November.
Community Place
Many of Bay Pizzeria’s regulars are longtime customers who Berry and Ingrao know from Bay Burrito. The two businesses are tied together by more than their ownership; Berry and Ingrao are committed to supporting diners across both. They designed the logos and menus to reflect the connection and regularly cross-promote. Customers can grab a punch card that is
good at either restaurant; when you buy 10 burritos or pizzas, you get one free.
“We have a lot of regulars and relationships,” says Berry. “We know them by first name, we know their kids. It’s kind of like when I could grow hair, and I used to go to the barbershop… [laughs] that was a good place to catch up on information. I see that developing here with a lot of the regulars. Folks will come in and chat about who’s going where, who’s doing what. They’ll order their food and stand around and visit for five to10 minutes. It’s creating what we wanted, a community hub. It’s working— that’s exciting for us. That’s what we wanted.”
That community spirit is present behind the scenes as well; Berry describes it as a family atmosphere. Many employees are related, and others are close friends.
“For us, that feeling of family and tradition, that’s what we like to embody in our businesses,” says Ingrao. “Good memories, good food, and family.”
Bay Pizzeria is open daily, including Sundays (with slightly abbreviated hours). While Ingrao and Berry are hopeful that the community aspect of the business continues to grow, Bay Pizzeria also offers delivery (within 10 miles) for when you’re not feeling like bundling up to grab a slice. The restaurant plans to stay open over the winter and does not anticipate scaling back hours.
“We are hoping that delivery takes off in the wintertime when it’s nasty out and people want to stay home and stay warm,” says Ingrao.
Find Bay Pizzeria at 100A Cedar St. in Suttons Bay. (231) 866-4494; bay-pizzeria.com
ENCORE 201, TC
Grand Traverse & Kalkaska
12/13-14, & 12/21 -- DJ Ricky T, 9
12/20 -- The Jon Archambault Band, 8-10:30; DJ Ricky T, 10:30-2
IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC
12/17 -- TC Celtic, 6-8
12/18 -- Levi Britton, 6-8
12/19 -- Beyond Trivia, 7-9
KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC
12/13-14 -- Equality Show Band, 9:30 Mon -- Team Trivia, 7-9 Tue -- The Will Harris Trio, 8 Wed -- The Pocket, 8 Thu -- DJ Leo, 9:30 12/20-21 -- The Broom Closet Boys, 9:30
KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING
12/17 -- Open Mic Night, 6-8 12/19 -- Trivia Night, 6:30-9
LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM:
12/16 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9
12/19 -- Holiday Concert: "The Haunting of Ebenezer": SOLD OUT, 6:30-9:30
TASTING ROOM:
12/20 -- Rolling Dirty, 5-7
LIL BO, TC Tues. – Trivia, 8-10 Sun. – Karaoke, 8
MARI VINEYARDS, TC
12/20 -- Kevin Paul, 4-6
MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC
12/20 -- Shelby & Friends, 6-9
NORTH BAR, TC 7-10:
BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM
7:
12/14 & 12/21 -- Patrick Ryan
12/19 -- Adam & The Cabana
Boys
12/20 -- Patrick Ryan & Josh Raber
BRIDGE STREET TAPROOM, CHARLEVOIX
12/17 -- Patrick Ryan, 7
CAFE SANTÉ, BOYNE CITY
12/16 -- The Shifties, 6-9
12/20-21 -- Pete Kehoe, 7-10
12/14 -- Wink Solo
12/18 – Jesse Jefferson
12/19 – Drew Hale
12/20 – Mal & Mike
12/21 – Brett Mitchell
OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC
SEVEN HILLS:
12/14 -- Chris Smith, 6
12/18 – Jimmy Olson, 6 12/20 – Gemini Moon, 6:30
12/21 – Matt Mansfield, 5:30
SORELLINA'S, TC SLATE RESTAURANT:
Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 5-8 Fri. & Sat. – Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9
TAFFEL TOWN LODGE, FIFE LAKE
12/15 -- Braxton Hicks & The Contractions & Stonefolk, 3-6
THE ALLUVION, TC
12/14 -- May Erlewine & The Motivations Dance Party - Night 1: SOLD OUT!, 7:30-10
12/15 -- May Erlewine & The Motivations Dance Party - Night 2, 7-9:30
12/16 -- Big Fun - Funky Fun Mondays, 6-8:30
12/18 -- Here:Say StorytellingBreaking the Rules, 7-9
12/19 -- The Jeff Haas Trio feat. Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive, 6-8
12/20 -- Drew Hale & Friends, 7:30-9:30
12/21 -- Bob James & DiSimone Family Holiday Concert: SOLD OUT, 7:30-9:30
THE HAYLOFT INN, TC
7:30-11:
12/13-14 -- Sandy & The Bandits
12/20-21 -- DanceMix
Antrim & Charlevoix
CELLAR 152, ELK RAPIDS
12/21 – Blair Miller, 6-9
FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE
6:30-9:30:
12/17 -- Local Christmas Party w/ Jingle All The Way w/ The 3 BFFs
The Fireside Lounge in Bellaire will host singer/songwriter James Robnett on Sat., Dec. 21 from 6:30-9:30pm. Robnett spilts his time between Detroit and northern Michigan. He is a founding member of Detroit-based postpunk band Mostly Static.
lOGY
BY ROB BREZSNY
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): One of my paramount wishes for you in 2025 is this: You will deepen your devotion to taking good care of yourself. You will study and learn more about the sweet secrets to keeping yourself in prime mental and physical health. I’m not suggesting you have been remiss about this sacred work in the past. But I am saying that this will be a favorable time to boost your knowledge to new heights about what precisely keeps your body and emotions in top shape. The creative repertoire of self-care that you cultivate in the coming months will serve you well for the rest of your long life.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Anthropologist Robin Dunbar theorizes that most of us have limits to our social connections. Typically, our closest circle includes five loved ones. We may also have 15 good friends, 50 fond allies, 150 meaningful contacts, and 1500 people we know. If you are interested in expanding any of these spheres, Leo, the coming months will be an excellent time to do so. In addition, or as an alternative, you might also choose to focus on deepening the relationships you have with existing companions and confederates.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century. It was written by a Virgo, Harriet Beecher Stowe. Her story about the enslavement of African Americans in the US was not only popular. It awakened many people to the intimate horrors of the calamity—and ultimately played a key role in energizing the abolitionist movement. I believe you are potentially capable of achieving your own version of that dual success in the coming months. You could generate accomplishments that are personally gratifying even as they perform a good service for the world.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will be teased with an abundance of invitations to grow in 2025. You will be encouraged to add to your current skills and expertise. You will be nudged to expand your understanding of what exactly you are doing here on planet Earth. That’s not all, Libra! You will be pushed to dissolve shrunken expectations, transcend limitations, and learn many new lessons. Here’s my question: Will you respond with full heart and open mind to all these possibilities? Or will you sometimes neglect and avoid them? I dare you to embrace every challenge that interests you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpioborn Rudolf Karel was a 20th-century Czech composer who created 17 major works, including symphonies and operas. His work was interrupted when Nazi Germany invaded and occupied his homeland. He joined the Czech resistance, but was eventually arrested and confined to Pankrác Prison. There he managed to compose a fairy-tale opera, Three Hairs of the Wise Old Man. No musical instruments were available in jail, of course, so he worked entirely in his imagination and wrote down the score using toilet paper and charcoal. I firmly believe you will not be incarcerated like Karel in the coming months, Scorpio. But you may have to be extra resourceful and resilient as you find ways to carry out your best work. I have faith that you can do it!
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): What is the perfect gift I could offer you this holiday season? I have decided on a large square black box with nothing inside. There would be a gold ribbon around it bearing the words, "The Fruitful Treasure of Pregnant Emptiness." With this mysterious blessing, would be fondly urging you to purge your soul of expectations and assumptions as you cruise into 2025. I would be giving you the message, “May you nurture a freewheeling voracity for novel adventures and fresh experiences.”
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): To fulfill your life mission, to do what you came here to earth to do, you must carry out many tasks. One of the most important is to offer your love with hearty ingenuity. What are the best ways to do that? Where should you direct your generous care and compassion? And which recipients of your blessings are likely to reciprocate in ways that are meaningful to you? While Jupiter is cruising through Gemini, as it is now and until June 2025, life will send you rich and useful answers to these questions. Be alert!
PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Mysteries of the past will be extra responsive to your investigations in 2025. Persistent riddles from your life’s earlier years may be solvable. I encourage you to be aggressive in collecting previously inaccessible legacies. Track down missing heirlooms and family secrets. Just assume that ancestors and dead relatives have more to offer you than ever before. If you have been curious about your genealogy, the coming months will be a good time to explore it. I wish you happy hunting as you search for the blessings of yesteryear—and figure out how to use them in the present.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): If you worked eight hours per day, seven days a week, it would take you 300 years to count to the number one billion. I don't recommend you try that. I also discourage you from pursuing any other trivial tasks that have zero power to advance your long-term dreams. In a similar spirit, I will ask you to phase out minor longings that distract you from your major longings. Please, Aries, also beg you to shed frivolous obsessions that waste energy you should instead devote to passionate fascinations. The counsel I'm offering here is always applicable, of course, but you especially need to heed it in the coming months.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In 1951, minister and author Norman Vincent Peale was working on a new book. As he wrote, he would regularly read passages to his wife, Ruth. She liked it a lot, but he was far less confident in its worth. After a while, he got so discouraged he threw the manuscript in the trash. Unbeknownst to him, Ruth retrieved it and stealthily showed it to her husband's publisher, who loved it. The book went on to sell five million copies. Its title? The Power of Positive Thinking. I hope that in 2025, you will benefit from at least one equivalent to Ruth in your life, Taurus. Two or three would be even better. You need big boosters and fervent supporters. If you don't have any, go round them up.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I love how colorfully the creek next to my house expresses itself. As high tide approaches, it flows south. When low tide is on its way, it flows north. The variety of its colors is infinite, with every shade and blend of green, grey, blue, and brown. It's never the same shape. Its curves and width are constantly shifting. Among the birds that enhance its beauty are mallards, sandpipers, herons, grebes, egrets, and cormorants. This magnificent body of water has been a fascinating and delightful teacher for me. One of my wishes for you in 2025, Gemini, is that you will commune regularly with equally inspiring phenomena. I also predict you will do just that. Extra beauty should be on your agenda! DEC 16 -
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Just 81 billionaires have commandeered half of the world's wealth. Even worse, those greedy hoarders are usually taxed the least. That’s hard to believe! How is it even possible that such a travesty has come to pass? I also wonder if many of us non-billionaires have milder versions of these proclivities. Are there a few parts of me that get most of the goodies that my life provides, while other parts of me get scant attention and nourishment? The answer is yes. For example, the part of me that loves to be a creative artist receives much of my enthusiasm, while the part of me that enjoys socializing gets little juice. How about you, Cancerian? I suggest you explore this theme in the coming weeks and months. Take steps to achieve greater parity between the parts of you that get all they need and the parts of you that don’t.
“Jonesin” Crosswords
"Centers of Attention" --literally and figuratively. by Matt Jones
ACROSS
1. "Midnite Vultures" musician
5. False witness
9. PPO alternative
12. Biodiversity sci.
13. Taj Mahal city
14. Kinder chocolate biscuit bar
16. NYC mayor Ed Koch's greeting (or just a question of evalution)
18. "Rags-to-riches" author Horatio
19. Hoppy concoction
20. Western Nevada body of water with distinctive rock structures sticking out
22. Vice ___
24. Pitcher's asset
25. Indian lentil dish
26. In ___ (basically)
27. X in the Greek alphabet
30. Those running leisurely
32. Slow the progress of
35. The "V" in CV
36. CBS panel show hosted by Taylor Tomlinson
39. Book with routes
40. Shetlands, e.g.
41. Endocrinologist's concerns
43. Racing driver Verstappen
44. Petty squabble
48. Gobble up
49. Wanted poster abbr.
51. Overwhelmingly
52. Dale Earnhardt, Sr. nickname, with "The"
57. Yucatan yell
58. "Goosebumps" author R. L.
59. Centers represented by the circled letters
61. Grades
62. "___ least consider the possibility"
63. "30 Rock" costar Baldwin
64. "Excitebike" gaming platform
65. Faucets
66. Neighbor of Cygnus and Draco
DOWN
1. Act properly
2. French academies
3. Shrinks in fear
4. Dutch airline that's three letters in a row
5. "A Black ___ Sketch Show"
6. "Frankenstein" assistant
7. Opera highlight
8. "___ 1/2" (classic manga)
9. Ship bottom
10. Dave Mustaine thrash metal band
11. Basic gold unit
14. Basis for an "MST3K" episode, generally
15. Vague caveat
17. Linguist's notation system, for short
21. Non-virtual, for short
23. Vegan food also called "wheat gluten"
27. Lifeguard training subj.
28. Burlap base
29. Take the cake, for example
31. Complete mess
33. "___ et messieurs ..."
34. Mrs. Garrett on "The Facts of Life"
36. Like Chris Tucker and Ed Helms, by birth
37. Reason to pull over
38. Overrule
39. Type of hiring discrimination
42. Winter Olympics item
45. "We can hope!"
46. Move unsteadily
47. Coke-owned citrus soft drink
50. Take the blame for
51. Word following tech or crypto
53. Tattoo parlor stock
54. Opera set near the Nile
55. Letters on a vaccine for whooping cough (among other things)
56. Chooses (to)
60. Consequent ending?
COMPUTER PROBLEMS?: I can fix your computer, tablet, tv and phone. I'll show you how to use it. If it can't be fixed I can help you replace it with the right device for you. I'll come to your home or office. Call Janes Downer, Advent Tech. Your high tech handyman. 231-492-2087
SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-6248
520 S
Union Street | Downtown
$3,500 per month
Excellent location in Old Town! Spacious home that has been converted into an office with private office space, conference areas and storage on main, upper and lower levels. Features a welcoming entrance, shared kitchen, and 1 full bath and 2 half baths.
This beautifully crafted home sits on 2.2 private acres, showcasing serenity and space in the heart of Leelanau
Boasting 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and charming finishes throughout, this property is both elegant and comfortable. The finished lower-level walkout expands the living area, perfect for entertaining or relaxation. Enjoy peaceful mornings and evenings on the expansive, covered front porch. An oversized garage provides ample space for vehicles and storage. Conveniently located just a short distance to Downtown Traverse City offering amenities such as dining, shopping, and healthcare services and Empire Beach where you can enjoy the stunning views of Lake Michigan and iconic sunsets.
