Northern Express - January 29, 2024

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What’s Hot Up North • Steamy saunas and polar plunges • Artificial intelligence at work • Mobile mental health care NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S WEEKLY • january 29 - february 04, 2024 • Vol. 34 No. 04 Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 1

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letters Citizens Deserve Better On Wednesday, Jan. 17, the majority on the Grand Traverse Board of Commissioners chose to ignore a number of extremely well qualified citizen volunteers in favor of appointing a sitting member of the commission to the BATA board as the citizen appointee.

When one considers the importance of citizen engagement on local and community issues, this decision seemed especially unwise. In attempting to justify the board’s questionable actions, Board Chair Rob Hentschel stated, “I do think they [BATA] need more oversight.” Does this mean Hentschel considers well qualified citizens incapable of providing oversight?

No doubt the recent policy on making appointees to county boards sign “loyalty oaths” to ensure they toady to the BOC majorities’ party line has a lot to do with their moves to control the BATA board.

That BATA provides vital transportation services to our community is indisputable.

Diminishment of service routes would be a slippery slope toward eliminating BATA transportation services entirely. I think it is appropriate to be suspicious of the majorities’ motives in their efforts to control the BATA board.

While Mr. Hentschel hinted at conditions that need “oversight” at BATA, he did not provide any evidence of those conditions or that adding another BOC commissioner rather than a citizen appointee to the BATA board would solve these hypothetical problems.

I think it ironic that Mr. Hentschel thinks board appointees should sign a loyalty oath to swear to serve the interests of county taxpayers while at the same time inviting lawsuits that taxpayers will ultimately foot the bill for. The citizens of our county deserve better.

Sylvia McCullough | Interlochen Beer Inspiration Back in 2007, I was the marketing and events director for Timber Ridge Resort. I was tasked with promoting Timber Ridge as a winter activity destination. Having frequented Traverse Brewing Company and immediately smitten with its tasty beer and casual environs, I came up with the idea of getting both craft beer and outdoor aficionados on the trails for an outdoor beer festival.

Without a doubt, it is in large part because of Jack Archiable (and mentee Joe Short) that the now annual beer festival, Suds & Snow, was born. Jack ignited a passion for not just craft beer but community and camaraderie that helped shape this popular northern Michigan event.

Jack is truly a godfather of the northern Michigan beer scene, and also of the culture that surrounds it. I sure do miss that ol’ brewpub, but I am grateful for the time afforded me in Jack’s good company.

Sara Klebba | Traverse City Why Grand Traverse Matters This Election Year Okay, let’s get down to metrics—just the numbers.

In Iowa, only 15 percent of registered Republicans showed up for their recent caucuses. That’s 110,000 people, which is a touch higher than the population of Grand Traverse County. Throw in our localized

region of Antrim, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Benzie counties, and that population number is further north.

The point is why Iowa is determining our national agenda this election year and not you and your neighborhood?

When Donald Trump won the swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin in 2016, add up the margins of victory in all three states and you get it: same as the modest population of Grand Traverse County.

With months still to go this presidential election year, the view of the bay is where our nation will go its way.

George Golubovskis | Traverse City Photographic Memory Thank you, Northern Express, for the article relating to Joe Yuchasz and our cinema. I grew up and still reside in Elk Rapids. Joe and the theater were a large influence in my younger and later years in life. The black and white photo of Joe standing by those old war horse projectors was taken, developed, and printed by me in 1974. I was enrolled in a photography class at NMC for a semester. No doubt I gave Joe one of those prints—cool to see it being used to honor a great human being.

Steve Miller | Elk Rapids Speaking and Listening Thank you for chronicling the Milliken family, who for generations have contributed to the fabric of our region. Political, business, and philanthropy seem common traits exhibited by the family.

I was fortunate to be able to speak with William—Bill—as we circled the Civic Center track. He was a very open, engaging man with a broad smile, and we would have a one-lap discussion. He would mention his wife and ask of mine, and we continued with many topics, occasionally disagreeing but always civil with one speaking, one listening.

When Mr. Milliken was 94 years old, the longest Republican governor ever was deemed not worthy to be accepted by the local bunch of “new Republicans.” One Jason Gilman brought a motion to remove him from the party. Mr. Gillman’s quotes bear repeating, that Milliken’s act of speaking “from the bully pulpit” and endorsing “the other side” was “dishonest” and “not right,” and suggested that Milliken was “confused about what a Republican really is.”

Since this occurred eight years ago, we can only imagine where Mr. Gilman and his group have buried “the party.” Loyalty oaths, anyone?

Bradley Price | Northport

For Traverse City area news and events, visit TraverseTicker.com

CONTENTS

feature

Writing in Pursuit of Meaning.............................9 Sauna Mania..................................................10 Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace.............12 On the Move with Mobile Crisis Care................14

columns & stuff Top Ten..........................................................4 Spectator/Stephen Tuttle..................................6 Guest Opinion...................................................7 Weird............................................................8 Dates..........................................................16 Film............................................................19 Nitelife.........................................................20 Crossword...................................................21 Astro..............................................................21 Classifieds.................................................22 Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase PO Box 4020 Traverse City, Michigan 49685 Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com Editor: Jillian Manning Finance Manager: Libby Shutler Distribution Manager: Roger Racine Sales: Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance, Michele Young, Todd Norris, Abby Walton Porter, Caroline Bloemer For ad sales in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 838-6948

An old favorite is back!, Love Colorwork? Jamiesons Spindrift is now in stock.

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Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 3

this week’s

top ten

Catch Winter Olympics Close to Home Don’t miss the action of the Special Olympics Michigan State Winter Games held right here in northern Michigan! Between Jan. 30 – Feb. 2, you can catch various indoor and outdoor events at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme, Schuss Village at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, and Howe Arena in TC. For more info visit somi.org/wintergames.

Comedy in the City “You want laughs? We got laughs.”

That’s the promise of the Traverse City Comedy Fest, which returns for its second year Up North Jan. 31 – Feb. 3. Performances will be held across seven venues—including the City Opera House, Old Town Playhouse, and The Alluvion—with local, regional, and national talent taking the stage.

Headliners include Zainab Johnson, Rory Scovel, Joe List, Norm Stulz, and Dwayne Kennedy. You’ll also be able to find various comedy showcases, open mic shows, workshops, roast battles, and even something called “Comedy Karaoke” at The Workshop Brewing Company, where festival comics will team up with a local DJ. Many events are free, while ticketed shows range from $15 to $55. See the full schedule and get tickets at tccomedyfest. com. (P.S. Each show description offers a helpful content rating of G-R!)

Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Michigan

4 Hey, watch It!

Death and Other Details

There’s been a murder aboard a swanky cruise ship, and Imogene Scott (played by the charismatic Violett Beane) is the No. 1 suspect.

The only person who can help her clear her name and find out whodunnit just so happens to be aboard the ocean liner, too. Disgraced detective Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin) promised to find Imogene’s mother’s killer 20 years ago, but left the investigation unfinished. Now he thinks the deaths are related, despite the decades between them. The two must put aside their past to dive into a world of money, politics, lies, and yes— murder. Death and Other Details is perfect for fans of Knives Out and all things Agatha Christie, with a bougie (and untrustworthy) cast of characters, a locked-room mystery, and a dynamic duo of sleuths determined to find the truth…no matter the cost. Now streaming on Hulu.

5

2 tastemaker

Two Sons Pizza’s Grand Pepperoni

East Coast eats meet Midwest flavor at Two Sons Pizza in Traverse City, where New York-style pies are the name of the game, and it doesn’t get any more quintessential or delicious than the Grand Pepperoni. Built on the eatery’s signature crust (which is delightfully-blistered and crafted from scratch), this flavor-bomb of a pizza begins with a layer of whole milk mozzarella before it’s par-baked to perfection and loaded with toppings: homemade savory marinara—yep, the sauce goes on top of the cheese!—dozens of mini pepperonis, creamy Fior di Latte, and a garnish of fresh basil and Parmesan. Paired with a frosty drink and some pinball? Fuhgeddaboudit! Grab a slice ($5.95) or a 20-inch pie ($29.95) at Two Sons’ storefront at 346 E. Front Street, inside The Coin Slot, or order online at twosonspizza.com.

4 • January 29, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

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6 Love You to the Yak ’n’ Back

Okay, now this sounds like an adorable way to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit: The Kiwidinok Tibetan Yak Petting Farm in Boyne City is hosting a recurring “Love You to the Yak ’n’ Back” event February 1-19. Get out of the cold and head inside the barn to meet the farm’s animal residents—Tibetan yaks, alpacas, turkeys, goats, rabbits, sheep, and more. You’ll get a chance to pet and feed the friendly animals, plus get memorable Valentine’s photo ops.

Tours take place at 11am, 12:30pm, and 2pm Thursday through Monday, with advance reservations required.

Admission is $10 per person, or $9 for groups of three or more people. While you’re there, be sure to visit the farm’s gift shop, which is packed with yak-inspired souvenirs. More details can be found at kiwidinok.com.

Stuff We Love: The Coziest Alpaca Mittens We’re not even halfway through winter, so if you have been holding out on new gear, now’s the time to level up your winter warmth game. This season, we’ve fallen for a pair of knitted alpaca mittens from Northern Blessings Alpacas, a farm in Benzonia. These bad boys are just the right weight to wear when running errands, taking a wintery stroll, or just clutching your cup of coffee closer. (We wouldn’t recommend wearing them for heavy-duty winter activities or shoveling, as the weave is a bit open and delicate.) The mittens are also impossibly soft, so maybe next year we’ll see about getting a full wardrobe of alpaca winter wear. Northern Blessings’ collection is ever changing, but you’re sure to find something cozy in their Etsy shop. Learn more at northernblessingsalpacas.com.

Tattoo Time A local tattoo parlor has deepened its commitment to honoring “the people on the front lines of society holding things together”: medical professionals, first responders, those in military service, and educators.

In 2020, Black Candle Tattoo Co. in Traverse City started their Give-Back program, offering a $175 credit to clients who signed up and fit the list above. Monthly drawings determined the winner, and to date, more than 80 people have applied for the program.

Now, Black Candle is expanding the program to the tune of over $10,000 in credits for every eligible person left on their list before starting a fresh list in the spring. Owner Leif Kolt says, “While tattoo time pales in comparison to the appreciation these individuals truly deserve, we do hope it’s something.” Learn more at blackcandletattoo.com/giveback.

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Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 5

RHETORIC IS UP, BUT CRIME IS DOWN

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Donald Trump has nearly made fearmongering an art form. He announces we’re facing great danger, usually imagined, then finds someone to blame for it and declares himself the only solution.

According to detroitmi.gov, our biggest city was part of the trend, reporting the fewest homicides, 253, since 1966, a 16 percent reduction in non-fatal shootings, and a 34 percent reduction in carjackings.

You might recall his announcement speech before he ran in 2016, with ugly assertions that illegal immigrants were being “sent” and included rapists and murderers so we must fear them. Then he banned travel from several Muslim countries because he equates Muslims with terrorists and wants us to do the same. Our big cities, he claimed, were more dangerous than Afghanistan.

As reported by NBC News, Jeff Asher, a former crime analyst for the CIA and New Orleans Police Department and founder of AH Datalystics, said, “It is historic. It’s the largest one year decline. It’s cities of every size.

It’s the suburbs, it’s rural counties, tiny cities, it’s large cities, it’s really a national decline.”

Asher believes approximately 2,000 fewer people were murdered in 2023 than in 2022.

Apparently he didn’t do much to improve things in his four years as president because he’s replaying that same big-cities-are-

The country also realized comparable reductions in robbery and aggravated assaults.

Almost every crime category saw reductions

It’s good news we’re now safer than we’ve been in many years. But it’s not good news at all that those serving and protecting us are more at risk than ever.

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more-dangerous-than-Afghanistan song.

At a campaign rally in New Hampshire he specifically mentioned Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles and described them as “terrible.”

(There is something interesting about the cities Trump singles out as terrible—they are all in states he lost and they all have large populations of minorities. It’s not likely a coincidence.)

Trump’s nonstop, multi-year drumbeat claiming the crime sky is falling—and the right-wing media who regurgitate his every negative comment—must be working, because according to a Gallup Poll in December, 77 percent of the country believes crime is getting worse.

The problem is both Trump and his fearmongering allies are wrong.

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Local police departments keep track of crimes, and the FBI keeps track of those statistics.

According to that FBI data, violent crime— they consider the four categories of violent crime to be murder, rape, robbery/aggravated assault, and non-negligent manslaughter— was down 1.7 percent in 2022 from 2021. Even better, the third quarter statistics for 2023, the last period for which they have complete data, showed violent crime was down another 8 percent nationally and property crime was down more than 6 percent. Here’s the real kicker and what pleasantly surprises many: Big city murder rates are way, way down.

Every year, ABC News surveys 180 cities, and that data indicates murder rates have dropped by historic rates in seven of our 10 biggest cities. How big a drop from 2022 to 2023? Down 25 percent in both New Orleans and Baltimore, down 18 percent in Atlanta, down 15 percent in Miami, down 13 percent in Chicago, and down 11 percent in New York City.

from 2021 to 2022 and more still in 2023.

That doesn’t sound more dangerous than Afghanistan. In fact, we are now safer than we have been in some time, Donald Trump’s false claims notwithstanding.

Some of this hysteria over crime was perpetuated by communities talking about defunding the police after the murder of George Floyd. GOP Rep. Jim Jordan likes to talk about “21 cities that defunded their police departments by more than $1 billion.”

But according to PolitiFact, at least 14 of those cities reversed course and actually increased funding for police, and the other seven simply reallocated money to other law enforcement programs.

(Note: Statistics for rape are a lot trickier.

Rapes aren’t always reported in the year they occur and different organizations have different data sets. Statista says there were 475,000 reported rapes in 2022, but only about 38 percent of rapes were actually reported. The New York office of the National Organization for Women (NOW), which keeps track of such things, puts the number at 675,000 and says only 20 percent are reported, with 19 percent of those reports resulting in arrests and convictions.

Most organizations seem to agree less than 10 percent of reported rapes result from false allegations.)

There was one area of violence that did not improve at all. According to the Fraternal Order of Police, 378 law enforcement officers, from departments large and small, were shot in the line of duty last year, an all-time record.

At least 46 of those officers died.

It’s good news we’re now safer than we’ve been in many years. But it’s not good news at all that those serving and protecting us are more at risk than ever.

REAL CHANGE REQUIRES LOSS Guest Opinion

by Isiah Smith, Jr. Two separate events occurred in the last few weeks. The first was when Harvard President Claudine Gay announced she was stepping down just six months into her presidency amid a firestorm of controversy at the university. The second was the annual MLK birthday celebration.

At a glance, these two events seem entirely unrelated. But upon closer examination, it became apparent that they had much in common.

In her Jan. 2 resignation letter, Gay said, “When my brief presidency is remembered, I hope it will be seen as a moment of reawakening to the importance of striving to find our common humanity—and of not allowing rancor and vituperation to undermine the vital process of education.”

Gay also noted that “it has been distressing to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigor—two bedrock values that are fundamental to who I am—and frightening to be subjected to personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus.”

In a statement as predictable as it was inaccurate, the Reverend Al Sharpton claimed Gay’s resignation was “an attack on every Black woman” in America who has “put a crack in the glass ceiling.”

In a Jan. 8 New York Times op-ed column, John McWhorter, an American linguist specializing in Creole languages, sociolects, and Black English, wrote he doesn’t think race was the primary reason for Dr. Gay’s resignation. Mr. McWhorter, who is Black, is currently an associate professor of linguistics at Columbia University, where he also teaches American studies and music history.

He writes that although Dr. Gay received deplorable racist hate mail, “I don’t think the notion that racism was substantially to blame for Claudine Gay’s trouble holds up.”

He continues, “No, the charge that ultimately led to Gay’s resignation was plagiarism, of which more than 40 alleged examples were ultimately unearthed. And plagiarism and related academic charges have, of course, also brought down white people at universities many times.”

He adds, “The lessons from what happened to Professor Gay are many. But cops-androbbers thinking about racial victims and perpetrators will help answer few of them.”

Every negative encounter that occurs in a black person’s life need not be informed by prejudice or racism. Black people, as well as white people, can make mistakes in their personal and professional lives.

Dr. King understood this and preached that character counts, as does assuming personal responsibility for one’s actions. To reduce every adverse consequence in one’s life to racism is to dishonor the memory of

social justice fighters who fought so hard for equality.

On Jan. 15, we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Although I participated in the celebration, I was conflicted. Year in and year out, we performed the old, tired rituals repeatedly—music, singing, and joining hands with teary eyes—but everything seems to stay the same. We continue to receive the same results since we continually do the same thing.

Children growing up in the Deep South, witnessing awful things and witnessing so much mindless suffering, developed thick skin. But they also created something else: hope. They knew things were not what they should have been and learned about real suffering and disappointments. They thought we would overcome someday. Isn’t that what the song promised us?

Through it all—and by all, I mean watching the evaporation of generational wealth and painful legacies their forebears had bequeathed—a sense of hopelessness developed so suddenly it seemed like it happened overnight. But it wasn’t overnight; it was a long time coming, and when it arrived, a dark and gloomy night appeared that never entirely lifted.

As Ray Charles sang, “Here we go again.”

The great writer James Baldwin thought any real change “implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one an identity, the end of safety.”

When we experience moments where genuine change is possible, we often find ourselves caught in the awful pull of the present moment, where we cannot see or even dare to imagine what a different future would bring. That is why change is so complex and why we cling to what we know, to the old and familiar ways of being to which we have become strangely devoted.

I have come to believe that it is when we are able, without reservation or hesitation, to surrender the familiar for a chance at real change and self-actualization that we can be set free—and put ourselves free—“for higher dreams, for greater privileges.” If we cannot, or feel that we cannot, set ourselves free and embrace a new world with more rewards, then we are lost, taking the same actions repeatedly and hoping for different results.

Real change is possible, but only if we put aside our entrenched, preconceived notions about the nature of reality.

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.”

Martin Luther King Jr. Isiah Smith, Jr. is a retired government attorney.

Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 7

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The Passing Parade South Korean model Ain, also known as Angel Box Girl, is being prosecuted for obscene exposure following incidents from last fall, Oddity Central reported. In Seoul and Gangnam, Ain walked through the streets wearing a large cardboard box with holes for her arms and legs -- plus two more, which she invited strangers to put their hands in to grope her breasts and other body parts. Naturally, she attracted large crowds that police were called to disperse.

"It's freedom of expression," she said. "I just wanted to market myself. I actually saw many positive reactions, with people telling me they support me and applaud my courage." If found guilty, Ain could face a $3,800 fine or up to a year in jail.

Ohhhh-kkaaaayyyy Pet owners who are exceedingly attached to their furry friends sometimes go to the trouble of having them preserved through taxidermy after they die. After her Roborovski dwarf hamster, Hammy, passed away last year, Jess Porter-Langson, 27, who lives in Brighton in the U.K., sought out Bea Ostrowska, a local taxidermist, hoping to immortalize her beloved pet as a poledancing stripper, Metro News reported.

"This hamster was so iconic, and all my friends knew Hammy and wanted to see him," Porter-Langson said. "He needed something special." Ostrowska posed Hammy on a small platform with a pole and sewed a little thong for him to wear, which is stuffed with tiny dollar bills. "He's got this creepy little smile going on," PorterLangson said. "I was blown away. What is more iconic than a hamster on a stripper pole hustling for money?" What, indeed.

Funsuckers The U.S. Federal Highway Administration, in an effort to suck any remaining fun from highway commutes, has laid down the law: By 2026, states must ban messages on electronic highway signs that include references to pop culture or evoke a laugh. Examples: "Visiting in-laws? Slow down, get there late" from Ohio; "Use Yah Blinkah" from Massachusetts; and "Hocus Pocus, Drive With Focus" from New Jersey. The Associated Press reported that the agency wants the signs to be "simple, direct, brief, legible and clear" because clever messages might distract or confuse drivers.

One Arizona state representative, David Cook of Globe, was underwhelmed: "Prime example that the federal government is not focusing on what they need to be."

Be Careful What You Wish For The Lexington (Kentucky) Convention and Visitors Bureau appears to be desperate for tourists, the Associated Press reported. It is using an infrared laser to send messages toward potentially habitable planets in a solar system 40 light years away, luring extraterrestrials with "lush green countryside ... (and) famous bluegrass." Lexington native Robert Lodder, an expert in astrobiology and SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), conceived the idea, and linguistics expert Dr. Andrew Byrd consulted: "We included ... the molecular structure for water, bourbon and even dopamine ... because Lexington is fun!" he said. See you in 2064!

Bright Idea Jessica Beatty, 42, of Clearwater, Florida, thought she might throw off the court by submitting someone else's urine for a mandated drug test, The Smoking Gun reported. She didn't choose just any old random donor, though -- she allegedly collected urine from her aunt's dog. Beatty was arrested on Dec. 28 for possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license; she had priors for cocaine possession and other offenses. When she was confronted on Jan. 11 for her "fraudulent urine sample," she admitted that it wasn't her pee. Her bond is likely to be revoked, sending her back to jail.

Government in Action In Oklahoma, a proposed new bill, HB 3084, would prohibit students who "purport to be an imaginary animal or species" -i.e., furries -- from participating in schools' curriculum or other activities, KOKH-TV reported. Rep. Justin Humphrey of Lane, Oklahoma, filed the bill on Jan. 17; it would also require parents to pick up their furry offspring from school or risk them being turned over to animal control. Leave the cat ears at home, kids.

You'll need your dictionary for this one.

In York, England, signs have been popping up that appear to encourage citizens to "exercise obtundity," the BBC reported on Jan. 17. Of course, no one knows what that word means: "Knowing the police, it could be anything," said one resident. Social media has come alive with speculation about the signs, but it turns out that "Exercise Obtundity" is the name of a training program involving the York City Council, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and the signs are merely warnings of streets that might be closed during the activities. Stand down.

Least Competent Criminal A man in Sulphur Springs, Texas, was arrested on Jan. 9 for stealing a Lamborghini in Houston, KLTV reported. Everett Van Jennings, 34, parked the sports car in his own garage, police reported -- along with two other vehicles he had nicked. Police said together they were valued at $500,000.

The Lamborghini's owner tracked the car using a GPS device and set off the lights and alarms, but Jennings claimed to be out of town and unable to return home. Law enforcement got a search warrant and along with the cars found materials used in VIN swapping. Jennings was charged with at least two felonies.

Don't Try This at Home OK, everyone knows that opening a bag of potato chips can be as challenging as breaking into a bank vault, especially if you're hungry. But on Jan. 3, a 75-yearold man in Dalton, Georgia, used an unorthodox -- and dangerous -- method that landed him in the hospital, The Charlotte Observer reported. The man tried to use a lighter to get his chips open, resulting in third-degree burns to about 75% of his body and the recliner he was sitting in. Chips, with their high concentration of fat and carbohydrates, are highly flammable. Try the scissors.

Writing in Pursuit of Meaning Iranian American novelist and poet grapples with life’s mysteries in his new book

By Ren Brabenec The human race faces infinite unknowns.

Every time a question is answered and a mystery is solved, another reveals itself. And while some mysteries are new, others are questions humans have asked themselves since the dawn of civilization. What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? What does it mean to make our lives have value and purpose?

“I’ve always been obsessed with meaning,” says poet-turned-novelist Kaveh Akbar. “We have a very brief interval of time on Earth, with the unknowns of eternity that came before us and the even greater unknowns that will continue on after us.

Our brief moment on this planet is precious, and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we can make it count.”

Akbar, professor of English and Creative Writing at Iowa University and acclaimed poet, will take the stage for a National Writers Series conversation at City Opera House on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 7pm. He’ll be discussing his debut novel, Martyr!, in an exploration of how we spend our lives seeking meaning.

A Foray into Fiction Akbar has been a poet since his teen years, and he’s often used his poetry to investigate the quandaries of life. He’s the author of several works of poetry, including Pilgrim Bell and Calling a Wolf a Wolf, and is the poetry editor for The Nation magazine,

which has published work by luminaries like Sylvia Plath, Langston Hughes, and William Butler Yeats since its inception in 1865.

“I’ve always played with language like a child might play with Legos,” says Akbar, reflecting on his writing journey. “I’ve spent more than half my life as a poet, and to me it’s just always been something I’ve loved to do, moving words around and finding ways to articulate unique and interesting concepts. But I wanted to do something different. It happened that with Martyr!, a narrative sprouted up and it led to a novel and not a poem.”

Martyr! is his first full-length work of fiction. In the book, protagonist Cyrus Shams is an Iranian American poet in recovery from alcoholism and opioid addiction. Cyrus struggles throughout the book with challenges many readers can relate to: deaths in the family, loneliness, and despair.

The novel finds its narrative engine when Cyrus realizes he can counter the weight of his mortality by researching and writing about people who managed to live on in the minds of millions long after they themselves had passed on. He’s compelled to this task by the death of his mother Roya, who was killed in 1988 when the plane she was traveling on from Tehran to Dubai was shot down by the U.S. Navy (an homage to the tragic real-life destruction of Iran Air Flight 655 that same year).

The novel is more than a bit semiautobiographical, and as you read it, you’ll

walk side-by-side with Cyrus as he examines the mysteries and meaning of the past, present, and future.

Advice for Aspiring Novelists For Akbar, the writing process for his first novel was a lot less glamorous than many make it out to be.

“Hack, hack, hack away!” Akbar says with a laugh, referencing how much of the original draft had to be left on the cutting room floor. “While a finished book looks nice, manicured, professional, and crisp, no one knows what the actual writing process is like until they get into it. And don’t get me wrong, I highly recommend getting into it!

But just be prepared for a lot of work.”

Akbar wrote all of the pages by hand. As he described the process and the “thousands of pages that went nowhere,” one can envision a floor littered with paper, the scent of ink in the air, and a man’s body hunched over a desk, fingers cramping, wrist all but immobilized from the strain. “I felt like a documentarian who shoots 800 hours of footage for a 90-minute movie,” Akbar says.

Akbar is honest about the challenge of writing a novel, but that honesty does not dampen the glimmer in his voice when he talks about the adventure of taking his decades of poetry-writing and shifting to authoring a novel. “I spent the last five years of my life in Cyrus’s life, and I’m thrilled I did,” he says.

As someone who just went through the first-book learning curve every

aspiring novelist comes up against, Akbar’s experience may be informative for others, and he was happy to share notes: “First, you have to get really good at cutting things out,” he says. “A lot of authors have this concept of, ‘Well I wrote it for the book, so it therefore must have value.’ Nope!

A lot of books end up being too wordy as a result of that viewpoint. Get used to cutting the things out that don’t need to be there, and you’ll be left with a far more fluid, engaging, and interesting story.”

He continues, “Also, be patient. Patience, patience, patience. There’s no shortcut to writing a book. It’s about hours in the chair.

It’s about being disciplined and methodical.

Be OK with it taking a long time, but do show up to work on it everyday.”

And last but not least: “Finally, read a lot, too! X number of hours spent reading gets you Y better at writing,” Akbar says in closing. “The best writers are also the best readers, and when I was working on Martyr!, I read two novels per week and watched one film per day, all so I could study narratives and how authors and directors compose stories.”

About the Event: This event is presented by the National Writers Series at the City Opera House at 7pm on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Livestream and in-person viewing options are available. Signed copies of Martyr! will be available, discounted by 20 percent. Tickets can be purchased through the National Writers Series website: nationalwritersseries.org.

Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 9

SAUNA

MANIA This Finnish tradition is red hot in northern Michigan

By Anna Faller We’ve all noticed them by now—parked along local beaches or tucked away in parking lots, surrounded by people in swimsuits and towels, even when there’s snow on the ground.

You guessed it: We’re talking about mobile saunas, and they’re appearing all over northern Michigan.

The sauna experience has long been touted for its numerous health and wellness benefits, like improved sleep, stress management, and relaxation. On the physical end, effects range from cardiovascular improvements like decreased blood pressure and heart rate to weight loss and quelling inflammation. Plus, it’s a cozy place to hang out when the temperatures drop into the single digits.

For the latest on winter’s hottest pastime, Northern Express sat down with three local mobile sauna owners—Dr. Daniel Sarya of MI Sauna, Blake Begin of Begin Adventures Barrel Sauna Rentals, and Crystal Mason of Fox & Flame Sauna—to talk health benefits, sauna hype, and a few tips and tricks to stand the heat.

10 • January 29, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

MI Sauna For Dr. Daniel Sarya of MI Sauna, the rejuvenating effect of a sauna is more than a health trend—it’s a way of life.

A Michigan native with Nordic heritage, Sarya grew up participating in the traditional sauna culture of Finland. It was upon coming home from one of these trips that he realized American saunas were missing the mark. “Everyone [here] is always in a hurry,” he says. “I realized we needed to take a step back and appreciate what we have in nature and in ourselves.”

Thus, his mission to make the Finnish experience accessible at home was born, and a business on wheels, MI Sauna, was the answer. “The only way you can grow what you love is to share it,” Sarya notes. “This was a vision we wanted to share.”

Opened in 2020, MI Sauna is stationed at Traverse City State Park beach. The space, which Sarya built with his family, can comfortably fit up to eight people seated.

Inside, it comprises a compact changing space stocked with towels and storage hooks and a multi-level, bench-style sauna surrounding a wood stove stacked with stones.

The build, says Sarya, is meant to mimic the traditional Finnish sauna experience, which is a highly ritualistic practice focused on cleaning the body from inside out. Touchstones include low moisture and sizzling heat (about 185-220 degrees), punctuated by sacred löyly, or cleansing steam, made by dousing the stones with water.

If you’re unfamiliar with traditional sauna, the basic premise revolves around alternating cycles of hot and cold therapy for a host of physiological and mental health benefits.

Participants start in a heated sauna, which is usually a wood-lined room, where temperatures soar to upwards of 200 degrees. Sweating encourages the body to flush out impurities, like heavy metals, while increased blood flow from sauna heat promotes cell turnover for a healthful complexion. (That’s why your skin’s so smooth when you’re done!).

Once you’ve gotten sufficiently sweaty, the next step is to cool back off by exposing your body to a shock of cold. Options here range from icy showers to snow angels to dunking in frigid waters. Sarya says a cold plunge, especially when coupled with breathwork, also helps regulate the limbic system—your “fight, flight, or freeze” response—making our bodies more resilient to stress.

To warm up, you head back into the sauna, and the cycle starts again. To get a taste for the full experience, at least three rounds is a good place to start—“That’s when you start to relax,” notes Sarya—though longer or shorter stints also work, depending on what feels good for you.

As for the people you meet in the sauna? “We get clients from all walks of life,” says Sarya, from fitness junkies to hospital staff, and even those seeking new winter activities. On the rental end, special occasions are popular (think: bachelorette parties and family gatherings), as are private sessions for those who are still getting comfortable with sauna practice.

They are, however, all united by a common quest for better health.

“The data is becoming enumerated, and you can see it and feel it when you experience sauna,” says Sarya. “I think people are learning to appreciate health and wellness and want to find ways back to that.”

Founded by Michigan power-pair Danielle and Blake Begin, Begin Adventures Barrel Sauna Rentals is about sweating it out wherever you are.

It all began in the mid-2010s, when Blake, fresh from a day of snowmobiling, was invited to warm up inside a friend’s sauna. “I couldn’t get out of the darn thing,” he says with a laugh. “I just had so much fun, and I thought, how cool would it be if I could take one to other people so they could have the same experience?”

Begin Adventures was launched in December 2022. The service offers a two-sauna fleet—which can accommodate four and six people, respectively—for private short- and long-term rental. The hallmark of the Begins’ services, though, is each sauna’s permanent trailer mount, by which they deliver their saunas to clients and retrieve them at the end of each booking.

The saunas are custom-built by The Sauna Guys out of Pelkie, Michigan, and feature cedar planking and a rounded “barrel” construction, which promotes even air flow and heat diffusion.

Each sauna comes equipped with a wood-burning stove, which Blake teaches users to operate, as well as enough wood to last the rental and a few other tools for peak relaxation.

Inside, each space has three seating levels, as well as two windows for taking in views. The larger build even has a small porch!

For Blake, though, the core of sauna experience is all about cultivating joy in the community. “The overarching theme here is excitement,” he adds. “In this day and age, doing something that makes other people happy is really satisfying.”

MI Sauna is located at Traverse City State Park Beach. Rental rate is $35 per seat for an 80-minute session, and discounted 10-session punch cards are also available. Walk-ins are accepted when available, but reservations are strongly recommended. michigansaunas.com

Find Begin Sauna Adventures Barrel Sauna Rentals at 10699 Picket Hinge in Traverse City. Rental rates begin at $300 (4-person sauna) and $450 (6-person sauna), with a 2-day minimum reservation required. beginadventures.com

Begin Adventure Sauna

Fox & Flame Sauna Fox & Flame Sauna owners Crystal Mason and Joe Buteyn have long been saunaobsessed. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the Upper Peninsula and saw how it could connect a person to family, place, and nature,” Mason notes. Add to that the practice’s proven health benefits and a past cancer diagnosis, and that passion quickly blossomed into a business.

“Joe and I wanted to create something beautiful,” she adds, “and a space for others to find bliss in their day.”

Opened in spring 2022, Fox & Flame Sauna offers public and private sessions on a pop-up basis. The concept was born in 2019, when Buteyn, a veteran craftsman, started sketching designs. From there, they completed an entrepreneurship course through Cedar + Stone Sauna in Duluth, which, says Mason, further incited their mission to create quality saunas in northern Michigan.

Since then, their wood-fired sauna services have popped up all around the region, including Northport’s 3RDandRose, as well as Nature Michigan Retreat in Maple City.

“There’s a natural acceptance in the sauna that’s unique for each of us,” Mason says. “I love bearing witness to those moments and creating a space for our community to come together.”

Now tucked along the western arm of Grand Traverse Bay at the Delamar Hotel, Fox & Flame Sauna offers guided 75-minute sessions for up to six people. Inside, two benches provide wood stove access, while an outside lounge area and a variety of coldplunge options are also available.

“Resting and listening to our bodies is important in every step of the process,” Mason adds.

If three mobile saunas in one geographic area sounds like a lot, think again. (There are even others out there we couldn’t fit in this story!) Mason says the sauna community in northern Michigan has been on the steady incline for the last few years. Since the onset of COVID, all three businesses have noted an uptick in local sauna demand, with MI Sauna booking at least a month out and the whole Begin fleet reserved for most weekends.

“The excitement for sauna has exploded. We love being part of it,” Mason says.

Fox & Flame Sauna’s latest pop-up location is The Delamar Hotel in Traverse City (615 E. Front St.). The space is available for private rental (up to 6 people) for $130, and weekly public sauna sessions are $35 per seat. foxandflamesauna.com

Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 11

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE WORKPLACE How do local experts think AI will affect northern Michigan businesses?

By Al Parker and Jillian Manning The role of artificial intelligence (AI) is growing dramatically, with new uses popping up almost overnight, like morels after a spring rain. For some, AI takes the stress out of daily work tasks. For others, AI has actually taken their jobs.

Generative AI—that is artificial intelligence like ChatGPT that creates content—has been the latest game changer.

Roughly 300 million jobs worldwide are expected to feel the benefits (and challenges) of the technology, and as many as 85 million jobs could be replaced by 2025.

How will AI affect our lives tomorrow, next year, or 10 years from now? Will it be a blessing or a curse for businesses and workers across the region? We asked a few local experts in the field for their thoughts.

A Win for Real Estate Chris Linsell is a Traverse City-based

realtor, content strategist, writer, real estate analyst, and self-described technology pundit who relies on AI every day.

“There are certain tasks that AI is very good at, even at this stage in its development,” says Linsell. “I use it daily to

Linsell believes AI is well suited at the present time for chores like data entry, simple communication, basic content generation, and objective question-answer interactions. In the real estate industry, a big chunk of a professional’s time is spent

“AI will not likely, at least not in our lifetimes, ever replace humans when the task requires specific, unique experience and insight,” Linsell predicts. aid in my production of written content. It’s a part of the workflow—all content gets a pass through AI to check for spelling, grammar, punctuation, missing words, etc. AI isn’t writing my content for me, but it is making sure I’m not making any easy mistakes.”

12 • January 29, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

executing tasks, many of which are largely administrative, he explains.

“However, the true value of a real estate professional is rooted in their ability to serve their clients and build relationships with them,” Linsell says. “The rise of AI-powered

tools will allow real estate professionals to spend dramatically less time executing tasks and dramatically more time focusing on their purpose—serving the real estate needs of their clients and the community at large.”

He continues, “For realtors whose value is rooted in purpose, this is going to allow them to flourish. For realtors whose value is rooted in their ability to execute tasks, well, they’re going to be in trouble.”

But does he think one day soon AIpowered tech will be handling home sales from end to end? Not so much.

“AI will not likely, at least not in our lifetimes, ever replace humans when the task requires specific, unique experience and insight,” Linsell predicts. “Remember, the current AI models work by aggregating all the experience and input across the internet in order to answer questions. Which works great when your questions are things like, ‘How much flour do I need to make a batch of 20 cookies,’ but terrible when the questions

Chris Linsell

Tessa Lighty

Weeknight Happenings MONDAY - FRIDAY are things like ‘What kind of cookies should I bake for my sister who has expressed her preferences over the many years of knowing each other?’”

In the real estate world, AI has long had applications for agents, buyers and sellers alike—think of the Zestimate tool on Zillow, for example, which estimates a home’s value based on a number of factors. That’s the kind of AI Linsell expects to see significantly integrated into real estate technology in the next two years.

“Most notably, searching for a home will likely get a lot easier and more efficient,” he says, “since AI will allow searchers to identify preferences based on criteria like what’s in the listing photos. Additionally, I think we’ll see the tools real estate professionals are using to automate much of the administrative tasks.

Gone will be the days where realtors will be trapped behind a computer all day.”

A Sticky Situation for Marketing But what if you are someone whose job is all about being trapped behind a computer?

CNBC reports more than “one-third (37%) of business leaders say AI replaced workers in 2023,” and an article from Forbes listed media and marketing as two industries that are most impacted by AI. Indeed, copywriters and content creators have been cut loose left and right—for example, both CNET and Insider trimmed 10 percent their staff last spring—with some companies saying they’ll now rely on AI-generated content that is checked over by a real human.

Oneupweb, a full-service digital marketing agency based in Traverse City, is taking a more intentional approach to using the powerful technology.

“As an experienced team of digital marketers, we’re experimenting and evaluating how to use AI assistants while prioritizing human experience,” says Oneupweb’s Brand Manager Tessa Lighty.

Rather than leap blindly into the AI fray, the firm has developed an in-house manifesto on using AI responsibly. These are their eight guiding principles: 1. We believe artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable, ever-changing tool we can use to expedite, streamline and multiply our efforts.

2. We understand the limiting and concerning aspects of AI and will consider those factors in our decisions.

3. We believe AI to be assistive but not autonomous; no final product will be 100% produced by AI.

4. Individual team members are accountable for decisions and actions produced by AI under their instruction.

5. Continued transparency, education and experimentation is critical to maintaining a proactive and productive approach to AI. 6. We believe humans are integral to producing creative, engaging, intelligent, human-centered content in all forms.

7. We will prioritize educating our teams, our clients and our industry on the responsible use of AI tools.

8. We believe AI is not, and never will be, a replacement for humanity.

On that last note, Lighty says, “I don’t necessarily think that we really feel threatened [by AI] at this point. In our agency, we haven’t found an AI that is able to replace a human.”

She says Oneupweb uses generative AI to create outlines, help with brainstorming, and build the base of an image that would then be “heavily tweaked” by a human staff member.

(If you’ve ever seen the many-fingered hands produced by art bots, you’ll understand why.)

Lighty points to improvements in image editing, like Photoshop’s Generative Fill, and tools like Grammarly as the place where AI and humans work best together.

“But we’re not having Grammarly write entire books for us—we’re simply using it to check our spelling,” she explains. “AI is really good for very black and white, cut and dry items. It’s really great for data analysis, things like that. It can help speed up processes. But at the end of the day, the stuff that is being created is better created by a human.”

There are other drawbacks, too, when using AI, which is part of the reason Oneupweb treads lightly. According to Lighty, there have been “a lot of changes” to AI within the last year and “there’s not a lot of regulation over it.” She points to litigation over how intellectual property is being used by AI when it comes to everything from image and text generation to Google responses to search questions.

“The world has changed forever because of it. There’s just no doubt about it,” Lighty says. But for the foreseeable future, Oneupweb plans to work with AI rather than let AI do the work.

She concludes, “A quote that sticks with us as an agency is that marketers will not be replaced by AI, but marketers who use AI will replace those who do not use it. So it’s all about learning how to use it, how to make it better.”

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Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 13

On the Move with Mobile Crisis Care Helping people—and avoiding tragedy—anywhere in northern Michigan

By Ross Boissoneau A recently developed collaborative program is providing those facing a mental health emergency in Grand Traverse County an option beyond first responders or a trip to the emergency room.

“If someone is in a mental health crisis, they should be talking to a mental health clinician,” says Nancy Stevenson, the COO of Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority (NLCMHA) in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties.

This mobile mental health crisis program, which went live last May, includes professionals from NLCMHA working alongside the likes of the Grand Traverse County Sheriff ’s Department, Addiction Treatment Services (ATS), Traverse City Police Department (TCPD), and other partner organizations. “We all worked together” to bring the program to fruition, Stevenson says.

How It Works NLCMHA defines their mobile crisis care

as “short-term, on the phone or face-to-face services intended to restore an individual’s or family’s functioning level to where it was before the crisis. Mobile mental health crisis response offers adults as well as children and families an opportunity to de-escalate a situation or problem in the least restrictive setting, while also developing strategies to address any future safety concerns.”

Stevenson says the service provides a crucial link to the community. “What was missing was in a crisis, they [those suffering a mental health emergency] would have to come to us. It’s better for us to go,” she says.

The “mobile” in mobile crisis care means that the team comes to you when a crisis hits. Clinical therapist Brad Neuder serves as the program’s community liaison, the point person for the community response to someone’s mental health crisis.

“I triage, determine the level of care” the person needs, he says. “I team up with others in other services: Goodwill Inn, ATS, etc. Our motto is, ‘Put the community back in community mental health.’ We meet the

14 • January 29, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

Stevenson

Neuder

person where they’re at—in the community, in their home, etc. Each crisis is different.”

Neuder says a number of people can request a person be seen by a mental health professional such as himself in the field, including “the individual, a business or property owner, emergency services, or a family member.”

Clinical therapist Lauren Franklin of NLCMHA says people are now less reluctant to address mental health challenges. “There’s

Franklin

Lipinski

been less stigma since COVID,” she says. She says it’s also important to note that a mental health crisis needn’t be a big event. “We respond to anything—thoughts of suicide to behavioral [problems].”

How It’s Going Sheriff Michael Shea is a big believer in the program. He says in the past, the various organizations had a difficult time working together.

“It was a bureaucratic mess. What I think is really, really amazing is how law enforcement, Northern Lakes, Addiction Treatment Services are coming together and working so closely,” he says. He adds that the joint program allows all the partners to see the whole picture, where previously they might only be aware of that part their organization was directly responsible for.

Shea says he and his officers are well aware that interactions between those having a mental health crisis and police can go off the rails and lead to disaster. “It can turn into tragedy,” he acknowledges. That has led him to ask, “Does law enforcement need to be involved, or is there a better tool?”

Chief Matt Richmond of the Traverse City Police Department agrees with Shea that collaborating with other services makes sense and actually relieves pressure on law enforcement. He says that over his 20 years in the department, the various organizations focused on their individual missions. “Now we see them all come together,” he says.

The group holds monthly meetings to discuss their individual challenges and successes. Each still concentrates on its own area of expertise, but they’re no longer closed off from other organizations and unaware of others’ efforts. “We all have our areas of expertise, but there are no silos,” says Shea.

How It’s Growing Paula Lipinski, CEO of Addiction Treatment Services, echoes that sentiment.

“Living in silos hasn’t been effective,” she notes. “We are all as leaders of agencies acknowledging we need each other. That was the point of hiring Jenn.”

Jenn Holm is a social worker for the TCPD, working as part of the Quick Response Team (QRT) and with the collaborative

mobile mental health crisis program. “We partner with 45 agencies,” she says, including Goodwill, Safe Harbor, Traverse Health Clinic, and others. Members of vulnerable populations often face consistent issues, and QRT can assist those facing at least two of three determining factors to persons within the city limits: mental health challenges, substance abuse, and homelessness.

From its inception on Nov. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31 last year, there have been 238 referrals, with 175 of those deemed eligible for the program. Those who were not eligible either did not meet the two of three factors or were outside the city; they were referred to other agencies.

Holm says 130 of the 175 individuals signed up to participate in the program, which offers those in crisis options they might not otherwise know of. “It can be a bridge between the community and the police,” she says, as when someone who might want treatment is reluctant to call law enforcement.

While the QRT is restricted to Traverse City proper, the mobile crisis intervention services reach across Grand Traverse County. Holm and others say the hope is that over time the program’s reach will extend to other areas as well.

How It’s Helping Neuder says he also makes it a point to practice proactively as well as reactively, visiting homeless encampments, shelters, and riding along with law enforcement, anywhere there may be people in need of emergency mental health services. “I’m a ghost in the office. Between 75 and 80 percent of my work is out in the field,” he says.

Such an approach breeds familiarity, which Stevenson says is vitally important.

Richmond

Shea

Holm

Shea says he and his officers are well aware that interactions between those having a mental health crisis and police can go off the rails and lead to disaster. “It can turn into tragedy,” he acknowledges. That has led him to ask, “Does law enforcement need to be involved, or is there a better tool?”

“Those individuals know Brad,” she says, from his work at the Pines, Safe Harbor, the library, and other places where the unhoused gather. “They trust him.”

The concept of trust also extends to the partner organizations. The more they work together, the more comfortable they get with one another. “It breaks down the stigma of a social worker in law enforcement,” Neuder says. “They don’t always see eye to eye. Now officers feel very comfortable with Jenn as they’ve seen it work.”

That feeling extends to the rest of the mobile mental health crisis network, where

the relationship with individuals such as Neuder provides assurance and assistance, not competition. “Brad says anytime, just call me. It allows our officers to make that contact,” says Richmond.

Shea adds the fact Traverse City police and sheriff ’s officers can use an iPad to immediately communicate with mental health professionals while on scene is a huge boon. They can ask if the person they’re helping is willing to speak with a mental health professional and instantly talk with one.

“If we can stabilize and de-escalate, it’s a win,” Shea concludes.

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Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 15

jan 27

saturday

TURTLE CREEK CASINO & HOTEL 250 SNOWMOBILE RACE: Held in the open field near Acme Meijer on M-72.

Today features sprint races with 5-7 high-intensity laps.

Held all day. Ages 13+: $15/ day; $20/weekend. 12 & under: free. turtlecreekcasino.com/events

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11TH ANNUAL FAT CHANCE FAT TIRE BIKE RACE: Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Presented by Iron Fish Distillery. Held on the new Multi-Use Trail, located near Crystal Mountain’s main entrance. This course will have plenty of variety with berms, rollers, twisty single tracks & wide open areas. This course will be a 1-mile loop. Helmets are required. This race is happening rain or shine, snow or dirt. The 90-minute race begins at 9am. The 45-minute race begins at 10:30am. $50. crystalmountain.com/ event/fat-chance-fat-tire

---------------------BIGFOOT SNOWSHOE RACE: 9am, Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, TC. Featuring 1M, 5K & 10K races. Enjoy a snowy jaunt through the woods with logs to jump & branches to duck. Gather pre-race in the Timber Ridge Nordic Center around a roaring fire, & stick around post-race to warm up with a bowl of chili. You can rent snowshoes for $40 if you don’t have your own. $15-$40. runningfitevents. redpodium.com/2024-bigfoot-snowshoe-race

---------------------OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Free drop-in arts & crafts for the whole family. New projects are offered each week. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ open-studio-january-27

---------------------WINTER HIKE: 10am, Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve, Frankfort. Join volunteer leader Sally Manke for this hike. Enjoy this coastal property. The ridge trail offers tremendous views of Lake Michigan & Lower Herring Lake. Register.

Free. gtrlc.org/recreation-events/events

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WINTER HIKE AT MAPLEHURST NATURAL AREA: 10am, Maplehurst Natural Area, Kewadin. Enjoy this hike led by volunteers Paul & Paula Moyer. Discover hidden gems along the winding trails & scenic views that are only visible during the winter months. Register. Free. gtrlc.org/recreation-events/events

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FRIENDS OF IPL SOUPER SATURDAY FUNDRAISER: 11am-2pm, Interlochen Public Library. Enjoy soup, bread & dessert. Several soup choices available. Suggested donation: $5/person or $20/family. Dine in or take out.

231-276-6767.

---------------------ICE WINE FESTIVAL: Chateau Chantal Winery & Vineyard, TC. Try the “Nectar of the Gods,” ice wine. Beyond the sweetness & fruitiness that comes from this dessert wine made from grapes frozen on the vine, this festival offers an ice sculpture luge, outdoor fire pits with roasted treats, snowman building, a walking trail for snowshoeing or skiing, ice wine vineyard tour, ice wine production & cellar tour, & much more. The festival runs from 11am-5pm with a special Fire & Ice Wine Dinner offered at 6pm (currently sold out). Visit the web site if you’d like to be added to the wait list, & to learn more about the festival. Entrance is free, with a fee to sample. chateauchantal.com/icewine-festival

---------------------WALK + TALK THE EXHIBITS: 1pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center. A guided walk-and-talk through the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s new exhibit, “Happy,” with Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager. “Happy” explores how 26 visual artists interpret the many facets & meanings of happiness. The Walk + Talk will also include conversation about Tree Of Life - Connecting The World, a mixed media installation by TC artist Mary Fortuna. Free. glenarborart.org/ events/walk-talk-the-exhibits-happy

GREAT LAKES CINEMA SERIES: Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. 2pm: “2001: A Space Odyssey.” 7pm: “Pink Floyd: The Wall.” $5 per film. greatlakescfa.org/ events/detail/2001-a-space-odyssey

jan/feb

----------------------

27-04

SLEDDING & S’MORES: 4pm-6pm, Kiwanis Park, Harbor Springs.

----------------------

NWS: BONNIE JO CAMPBELL: 7pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Author Bonnie Jo Campbell will discuss her new novel, “The Waters.” Guest host is author Anne-Marie Oomen, recipient of the Michigan Author Award from the Library of Michigan. $5 - $51.50. eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-withbonnie-jo-campbell-featuring-the-waters-tickets-771874175437

send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com

---------------------OTP PRESENTS “CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION”: 7:30pm, Lynas Event Center, Flat Cap Ventures Bldg., Grawn. Catch a unique glimpse into the lives of an eclectic group of people as they embark on a six-week acting class. $23. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/pop-up-studio-theatre/circle-mirrortransformation.html

---------------------THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MEN’S GLEE CLUB: WINTER TOUR CONCERT: 7:30pm, First Congregational Church, TC. “Sing to the Colors”: An evening of song & U-M spirit featuring a selection of classic tenor-bass repertoire ranging from Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria” to spirituals such as Moses Hogan’s “Go Down Moses” & finally, a collection of songs from & about the university itself. Free.

jan 28

sunday

TURTLE CREEK CASINO & HOTEL 250 SNOWMOBILE RACE: Open field near Acme Meijer on M-72. Today features a NASCAR-style race with pit stops & crews, electronic scoring & a pace sled. Held all day. Ages 13+: $15/day; $20/weekend. 12 & under: free. turtlecreekcasino.com/events

---------------------OTP PRESENTS “CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION”: (See Sat., Jan. 27, except today’s time is 2pm.)

---------------------CARDBOARD SLED RACE: 3pm, Petoskey Winter Sports Park. One person per sled. Sleds must be crafted out of only cardboard & tape.

The winner will be determined by the fastest time down the hill. Winner gets cash prize.

To register, email: 901293@northmen.org. $5 cash entry fee paid at arrival.

jan 29

monday

jan 30

tuesday

WHERE TO START?: 6:30pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Professional organizer & home simplification expert Alison LeJeune of Simply Ali demonstrates ways to manage space in any home, large or small. 231-223-7700. Free.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MICHIGAN STATE WINTER GAMES: Running from Jan. 30 – Feb. 2, you can catch various indoor & outdoor events at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, Schuss Village at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, & Howe Arena in TC. somi.org/wintergames

---------------------DEATH CLUB: 6pm, The Alluvion, TC. Dive into the Deep End of Life’s Final Journey. Engage in open discussions about death, grief, the afterlife, & hospice care. By donation. eventbrite.com/e/deathclub-tickets-790195194097?aff=oddtdtcreator

16 • January 29, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

Get a jump on those valentines in Elk Rapids at Art & Connection’s family friendly Valentine’s Day Card Making Party on Sat., Feb. 3 from 11am-2pm, where not only will all of the supplies be provided, but there will also be sweet treats and light refreshments courtesy of The Flour Pot. artandconnection.org

jan 31

wednesday

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MICHIGAN STATE WINTER GAMES: (See Tues., Jan. 30)

-------------

HEALTHY REMEDIES COOKING CLASS WITH PAM & JENNIFER: 6-7pm, Interlochen Public Library. This informal & fun adult class includes food demonstrations.

231-276-6767. Free.

---------------------TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY FESTIVAL: 7:309pm, City Opera House, TC. Tonight features stand-up comedian, writer & actor Joe List whose movie “Fourth of July” (directed by Louis CK) played theaters all over North America. He has performed on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, & has appeared multiple times on Conan.

This event also features Ann Duke, host, & Drew Harmon & Melanie Hearn. $35-$55. mynorthtickets.com/organizations/traversecity-comedy-festival

feb 01

thursday

COFFEE @ 10, PETOSKEY: 10-11am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. Artist Sue Moran will join for an artist talk about her creative work & studio practice. Her fibers work is on display in the group show, “Cultivated: Relationships with Nature.” Immediately following this lecture, CTAC Visual Arts Director Liz Erlewine will provide an exhibition walkthrough of “Cultivated: Relationships with Nature” for the in-person audience.

Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ coffee-10-sue-moran

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MICHIGAN STATE WINTER GAMES: (See Tues., Jan. 30)

---------------------POTLUCK & OFF THE WALL MOVIE NIGHT: Helena Township Community Center, Alden.

Dinner, 6pm; movie, 7pm. Call the library at 231-331-4318 for movie details & to sign up for the potluck. Free.

---------------------TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY FESTIVAL: Today features the Clean Comedy Showcase at Old Town Playhouse from 6-7:30pm; Zainab Johnson at City Opera House from 6:30-8pm; The Daily Dozen Showcase at Encore201 from 6:30-8pm; Norm Stulz at Traverse City Comedy Club from 7-8:30pm; Open Mic at The Workshop Brewing Co. from 7-9:30pm; Teachers Lounge Comedy Showcase at Old Town Playhouse from 9-10:30pm; Out-of-Towners Comedy Show at City Opera House from 9:30-11pm; & Dwayne Kennedy at Traverse City Comedy Club from 10pm-midnight. For more info & tickets visit web site. mynorthtickets.com/organizations/traverse-city-comedy-festival

feb 02

friday

COFFEE @ 10, TC: 10-11am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. “Artist Best Practices, Presentation, & More.” Free. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-traverse-city/coffee-10-artistbest-practices-presentation-and-more

---------------------TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY FESTIVAL: Today features Stand-Up Workshop: The Basics of Stand-Up at Hotel Indigo from 10-11am; Stand-Up Workshop: The Do’s & Don’ts of the Business at Hotel Indigo from 11:30am12:30pm; Improv Workshop for Adults at Old Town Playhouse from 1-3pm; Meet & Greet with the Comics at Hotel Indigo from 3-6pm;

The Daily Dozen Showcase at Encore201 from 4:30-6pm; The Sal & Bob Show at Old Town Playhouse from 5:30-7pm; Good on Paper Improv at The Alluvion from 6:30-8pm; Dwayne Kennedy at Traverse City Comedy Club from 6:30-8:30pm; Sahib Singh/Chad & JT at City Opera House from 7-8:30pm; Open Mic at The Workshop Brewing Co. from 7-9:30pm; Jokes On You Comedy Show at Encore201 from 7:30-9pm; Comedy Rumble at Old Town Playhouse from 8:30-10pm; Planet Ant “Home Team” Improv at The Alluvion from 9:30-11pm; Sahib Singh at Traverse City Comedy Club from 9:30-11:30pm; Norm Stulz at City Opera House from 10pm-midnight; Comedy Karaoke at The Workshop Brewing Co. from 10pm-1am; & Roast Battle with Roastmaster Kevin Johnson at Encore201 from 10:30pm-midnight. For more info & tickets, visit web site. mynorthtickets.com/ organizations/traverse-city-comedy-festival

---------------------$2 FRIDAY CLASSICS: 11am, Lyric Theatre, Theater 1, Harbor Springs. Featuring “The Killers” (1964). lyricharborsprings.org

---------------------BOOKBINDING DEMONSTRATION: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, Atrium, TC. Using a series of homemade contraptions & a bottle of Elmer’s glue, Mr. Rowlader will take a stack of paper & turn it into a book. He’ll be working on copies of his book, “Ordinary Time,” an irreverent Midwestern fairy tale about a couple of teenage boys seeking Salvation under a constant bombardment of puberty chemicals & Catholic guilt. Free. tadl.org/event/bookbinding-demonstration-12817

---------------------LUNCHEON LECTURE: “ELECTION 2024: IT’S A LOT CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!”: 11:30am-1pm, NCMC, Library Conference Center, Petoskey. Charlie MacInnis successfully stood for elective office 10 times in Emmet & Jackson counties. He & Emmet County Clerk Suzanne Kanine will provide an overview of the election year ahead. They will also explain how to get your name on the next ballot – but you will have to act soon! Register. $15; includes a buffet lunch. ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-5492973

---------------------SPECIAL OLYMPICS MICHIGAN STATE WINTER GAMES: (See Tues., Jan. 30)

---------------------MITTEN SMITTEN PRESENTS: THE GASOLINE GYPSIES: 7:30-9pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. This group’s music sounds like “fine vintage southern rock, rolled around in the grand ol’ grit of the Motor City.” $20 adults; $10 students. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/mitten-smitten-presentsgasoline-gypsies

---------------------OTP PRESENTS “CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION”: (See Sat., Jan. 27)

feb 03

saturday

WINTER CLASSIC: 8am5pm, Chubbs Marina & Market, Carp Lake. Cash payouts each division - 1st, 2nd & 3rd: Walleye, Panfish, Pike & Mystery Weight. Adult preregistration, $25; day of, $30. 12 & under, $20.

Everyone wins a prize! 231-626-1035.

---------------------5 MILE FROZEN FOOT RACE & 1 MILE FUN RUN: Eastern Elementary School, TC. 1 Mile Fun Run (for 12 & under): 9am; $5. 5 Mile Frozen Foot Race: 9:30am; $30; free for TC Track Club members. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/FrozenFootRace

---------------------OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop in for free arts & crafts for the whole family. New projects are offered each week. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ open-studio-february-3

---------------------TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY FESTIVAL: Today features Stand-Up Workshop: So You Think You Can Produce A Comedy Show at

Hotel Indigo from 10-11am; Improv Workshop for Youth - Ages 13-17 at Old Town Playhouse from 11am-1pm; Stand-Up Workshop: Marketing Yourself to Success at Hotel Indigo from 11:30am-12:30pm; Kamikaze Comedy Show from 12:30-2pm at Traverse City Comedy Club; Clean Comedy Showcase at Old Town Playhouse from 2:30-4pm; Eyes Up Here Comedy Show at Traverse City Comedy Club from 3:305pm; Next Up Showcase at Encore201 from 4:30-6pm; “Big Fun Murder” - Murder Mystery Improv Show at Old Town Playhouse from 5:30-7pm; Norm Stulz at Traverse City Comedy Club from 6:30-8:30pm; Go Comedy Improv at The Alluvion from 6:30-7:15pm; Rory Scovel at City Opera House from 7-8:30pm; Hip-Prov with Tam White at Encore201 from 7:30-9pm; PG-13 Comedy Showcase at Old Town Playhouse from 8:30-10pm; “Tilt Think” Improv at The Alluvion from 9:30-11pm; Chad & JT Show at Traverse City Comedy Club from 9:3011:30pm; Comedy Karaoke at The Workshop Brewing Co. from 10pm-1am; Dwayne Kennedy at City Opera House from 10pm-midnight; & The Nightcap: A Dirty Show at Encore201 from 10:30pm-midnight. For more info & tickets visit web site. mynorthtickets.com/organizations/ traverse-city-comedy-festival?page=3

New Yorker. 800-363-5487. Free for students; $10 adults. eventbrite.com/e/st-olaf-band-attraverse-city-west-senior-high-school-traversecity-tickets-748681826497?aff=oddtdtcreator

DIETRICH BROTHERS HOST POP-UP PHOTOGRAPHY & ART SHOW: 11am-4pm, Friends of the Jordan River Watershed building, 101 Union St., East Jordan. Experienced photographers & artists Bill, Jim, Kevin & Rich Dietrich are holding this show to benefit the Friends of the Jordan River Watershed. Attendees will also be able to learn more about the Don and Eileen Klein Nature Trail which will be constructed in the Spring of 2024 & also about the mission & activities of the Friends of the Jordan River organization. 231-350-8086.

OTP PRESENTS “CIRCLE MIRROR TRANS$3 0Jan. 28) FORMATION”: (See Sun.,

----------------------

---------------------SATURDAY 25 CENTS FAMILY FAVORITES: 11am, Lyric Theatre, Theater 1, Harbor Springs.

Featuring “The Secret of NIMH.” (1982) lyricharborsprings.org

---------------------VALENTINE’S DAY CARD MAKING PARTY: 11am-2pm, Art & Connection, Elk Rapids. Family friendly. All supplies provided. Sweet treats & light refreshments courtesy of The Flour Pot. Free.

---------------------WIENER SKI: Noon-5pm, Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay. Enjoy local hot dogs from Uncle Bob’s. Prize categories: Best Dressed: Strut your winter style for a chance at the fashion crown; Most Laps: Keep those skis moving, & the title could be yours; Largest Group: Rally your squad, & win the group prize. Suttons Bay Bikes will be on-site, providing ski & snowshoe rentals. shadylanecellars.com

----------------------

VEGMICHIGAN – TC – MONTHLY MEETUP – TACO TIME: 1pm, Barrio, TC. meetup.com/traverse-city-vegmichigan-meetup/events/298469166/?utm_ medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_ savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link

---------------------BOOKBINDING & AUTHOR TALK WITH AUSTIN ROWLADER: 2pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Austin Rowlader, author & owner of Arrow Publishing, will take questions & tell stories in a live interview with Taylor Reed from the Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology. The book, “Ordinary Time,” reads like an irreverent Midwestern fairy tale about a couple of teenage boys seeking Salvation under a constant bombardment of puberty chemicals & Catholic guilt.

Take a peek inside the world of writing & binding books. Free. tadl.org/event/bookbindingand-author-talk-austin-rowlader-12818

---------------------SLEDDING & S’MORES: 4-6pm, Kiwanis Park, Harbor Springs. Free.

---------------------ST. OLAF BAND: 7pm, TC West Senior High School. Conducted by Henry Dorn. Founded in 1891, the St. Olaf Band performs compositions & transcriptions for symphonic band, producing a crowd-pleasing style. The band was dubbed one of America’s preeminent bands by The

----------------------

BLISSFEST TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY DANCE: 7:30-10pm, Alanson-Littlefield Community Bldg., Alanson. Calling by Larry Dyer & music by Peacemeal String Band. All dances taught (squares, contras, circles, & more). Potwed feb 14 @ 7:30 luck at 6:30pm. Bring dish to pass & tableware. $10/person, $5/student, 12 & under free.

---------------------OTP PRESENTS “CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION”: (See $3 0Sat., Jan. 27)

feb 04

sunday

DIETRICH BROTHERS HOST POP-UP PHOTOGFRI APR 5 7:30 RAPHY &@ ART SHOW: (See Sat.,RETURN Feb. 3) OF THE

--------------

FARM CLUB BON FUEGO WINTER SOCIAL: Noon-4pm, Farm Club, TC. Snowman building, cozy winter crafts, free s’mores & more.

Free. farmclubtc.com/events-2 WITH SPECIAL GUEST DRUMMER

- - - - - -GERALD - - - - - -CLEAVER ----------

ongoing ELLEN ROWE OCTET FRI JUN 21 @ 7:30

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

---------------------BOYNE CITY MARKET AT THE PAVILION: Veterans Park Pavilion, Boyne City. Held every Sat. through May from $3 9am-12:30pm.

Shop local 0 artists, food makers & farmers. boynecityfarmersmarket.org/series/market-at-the-pavilion-2

---------------------INDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato, TC. More than 35 vendors offer a variety of items from farm fresh eggs, meats & cheeses, to fruits, veggies, homemade breads & more. thevillagetc.com

art

“SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION”: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. This annual regional high school student exhibit is a vibrant showcase of student artwork. Featuring the talents of local 11th & 12th grade students, this artwork will be on display through Feb. 24. charlevoixcircle.org

---------------------FORM + FUNCTION: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. This exhibition is an exploration of sculptural forms & functional fiber. It runs through Feb. 16. Includes artists from around Michigan presenting 3D sculptural works & assemblages in wood, ceramic, metal & other materials in the Beck & Borwell galleries. A range of fiber & related functional work will be displayed in the Fisher Room & North & South Exhibit Halls.

Additionally, the galleries will include work created by artists in the community selected via an open call. The Oliver Art Center is open Tues.

- Sat. from 10am-4pm & Sun. from noon-4pm.

Closed on Monday. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

---------------------“RISE, SERVE, LEAD! AMERICA’S WOMEN PHYSICIANS” EXHIBITION: Runs through Feb. 15 in the NCMC Library, Petoskey. A traveling exhibition celebrating the contributions & legacy of our nation’s women physicians, this is a display of six roll-up graphic banners. It highlights the lives & achievements of U.S. women physicians who have made a difference through their medical practice & research, their work as activists, their service as administrators, & their mentorship to the next generation of doctors. ncmich.edu

---------------------ART EXHIBIT: KATI ROSENBAUGH & LYNN STEPHENSON: City Opera House, TC. Enjoy contrasting visual arts mediums & styles - each taking inspiration from the beauty of northern Michigan. The exhibit runs through Feb. 29.

cityoperahouse.org

- - - - - -F- U - - -L- L --B - -A - - -R- - - GUILD MEMBER SALON SHOW 2024: Runs FOR SHOWS through Feb. 16 at ALL Crooked Tree Arts Center, Carnegie Galleries, TC. Featuring more than 100 artists, this recurring exhibition opportunity rotates between CTAC’s Petoskey & TC locations each year, & features work by Crooked Tree Arts Center’s Artist Guild Members. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/guildSAT MAR 9 @ 7:30 member-salon-show-2024

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

Runs through Feb. 26. barbarareich.com

QUARTET

Phil Markowitz, John Riley & Jay - - - - - - - - - - - -Anderson ---------CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:

$ 3 0NA- CULTIVATED: RELATIONSHIPS WITH TURE: Runs through Feb. 24 in Bonfield GalSAT APR 20 @ 7:30 lery. Contemporary photographs, fiber works, & installations explore the concept of cultivation. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/cultivated-relationships-nature - FIELDS OF VISION: JURIED FINE ART EXHIBITION: Runs through Feb. 24 in Gilbert WILL BERNARD Gallery. Annual juried all-media exhibition feaDEASE MICHAEL turing works by MichiganDIEGO artists. crookedtree.

RIVERA ANTHONY STANCO org/event/ctac-petoskey/fields-vision-juriedALEX WHITE $30 fine-art-exhibition - MICHIGAN MEDITATIONS: Runs through Feb. 3 in Atrium Gallery. Michigan pastel artists Linda Klenczar & Sharon Wade unite for this exhibition. Despite their depictions of contrasting settings—outside & inside, organic & structured, nature & urban—these artists are united by their desire to capture a sense of peace. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ michigan-meditations

----------------------

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: - NORTHLAND WEAVERS & FIBER ARTS GUILD’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: The exhibition runs through March 3 & includes the work of 27 current & past members. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org - HEMINGWAY IN COMICS: This exhibition presents a new, more complicated way to look at Hemingway: a man, an artist, & a character that has taken on a life of its own & allows visitors to consider why Hemingway’s image, in particular, is so enduring. It’s not only for the dedicated Hemingway fan, but for all those with an appreciation for comics, pop culture, & the absurd.

Runs Feb. 3 - May 26. Hours are Tues. - Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcomingexhibitions/hemingway-in-comics.html?utm_ source=cision&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=DMC-winter-2024 - YOUNG AT ART: A SELECTION OF CALDECOTT ILLUSTRATIONS: This exhibition includes original illustrations from Caldecott Medal recipients & from “runnerup” Honor books, as well as other illustrations by award-winning artists. It is an exhibition of works from Wichita Falls Museum of Art’s permanent collection. It runs Feb. 3 - April 28. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/ upcoming-exhibitions/young-at-art.html?utm_ source=cision&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=DMC-winter-2024

---------------------GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER: - “HAPPY”: Held in Main Gallery. The rescheduled opening reception for this exhibit takes place on Feb. 2 from 5-7pm. “Happy” features the work of 26 artists who explore & interpret the many facets & meanings of happiness: literal to metaphorical, in 2D + 3D. Runs through March 21. Open Mon. through Fri., 9am-3pm; Sat., noon-4pm. Free. glenarborart.org/events/ exhibit-happy - TREE OF LIFE -- AN EXHIBIT: TC artist Mary Fortuna explores the Tree Of Life - Connecting The World in this mixed media installation. This small show runs through April 25. The Tree Of Life that will grow in the GAAC’s Lobby Gallery is populated with animals, birds & insects. Each one is a hand-sewn soft sculpture. Hours: Mon. through Fri., 9am-3pm; Sat., noon-4pm. glenarborart.org/ events/exhibit-tree-of-life-connecting-the-world

Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 17

The Daily Dozen Showcase at Encore201 from 4:30-6pm; The Sal & Bob Show at Old Town Playhouse from 5:30-7pm; Good on Paper Improv at The Alluvion from 6:30-8pm; Dwayne Kennedy at Traverse City Comedy Club from 6:30-8:30pm; Sahib Singh/Chad & JT at City Opera House from 7-8:30pm; Open Mic at The Workshop Brewing Co. from 7-9:30pm; Jokes On You Comedy Show at Encore201 from 7:30-9pm; Comedy Rumble at Old Town Playhouse from 8:30-10pm; Planet Ant “Home Team” Improv at The Alluvion from 9:30-11pm; Sahib Singh at Traverse City Comedy Club from 9:30-11:30pm; Norm Stulz at City Opera House from 10pm-midnight; Comedy Karaoke at The Workshop Brewing Co. from 10pm-1am; & Roast Battle with Roastmaster Kevin Johnson at Encore201 from 10:30pm-midnight. For more info & tickets, visit web site. mynorthtickets.com/ organizations/traverse-city-comedy-festival

Hotel Indigo from 10-11am; Improv Workshop for Youth - Ages 13-17 at Old Town Playhouse from 11am-1pm; Stand-Up Workshop: Marketing Yourself to Success at Hotel Indigo from 11:30am-12:30pm; Kamikaze Comedy Show from 12:30-2pm at Traverse City Comedy Club; Clean Comedy Showcase at Old Town Playhouse from 2:30-4pm; Eyes Up Here Comedy Show at Traverse City Comedy Club from 3:305pm; Next Up Showcase at Encore201 from 4:30-6pm; “Big Fun Murder” - Murder Mystery Improv Show at Old Town Playhouse from 5:30-7pm; Norm Stulz at Traverse City Comedy Club from 6:30-8:30pm; Go Comedy Improv at The Alluvion from 6:30-7:15pm; Rory Scovel at City Opera House from 7-8:30pm; Hip-Prov with Tam White at Encore201 from 7:30-9pm; PG-13 Comedy Showcase at Old Town Playhouse from 8:30-10pm; “Tilt Think” Improv at The Alluvion from 9:30-11pm; Chad & JT Show at Traverse City Comedy Club from 9:3011:30pm; Comedy Karaoke at The Workshop Brewing Co. from 10pm-1am; Dwayne Kennedy at City Opera House from 10pm-midnight; & The Nightcap: A Dirty Show at Encore201 from 10:30pm-midnight. For more info & tickets visit web site. mynorthtickets.com/organizations/ traverse-city-comedy-festival?page=3

New Yorker. 800-363-5487. Free for students; $10 adults. eventbrite.com/e/st-olaf-band-attraverse-city-west-senior-high-school-traversecity-tickets-748681826497?aff=oddtdtcreator

DIETRICH BROTHERS HOST POP-UP PHOTOGRAPHY & ART SHOW: 11am-4pm, Friends of the Jordan River Watershed building, 101 Union St., East Jordan. Experienced photographers & artists Bill, Jim, Kevin & Rich Dietrich are holding this show to benefit the Friends of the Jordan River Watershed. Attendees will also be able to learn more about the Don and Eileen Klein Nature Trail which will be constructed in the Spring of 2024 & also about the mission & activities of the Friends of the Jordan River organization. 231-350-8086.

OTP PRESENTS “CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION”: (See Sun., Jan. 28)

MID WINTER SALE

---------------------$2 FRIDAY CLASSICS: 11am, Lyric Theatre, Theater 1, Harbor Springs. Featuring “The Killers” (1964). lyricharborsprings.org

---------------------BOOKBINDING DEMONSTRATION: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, Atrium, TC. Using a series of homemade contraptions & a bottle of Elmer’s glue, Mr. Rowlader will take a stack of paper & turn it into a book. He’ll be working on copies of his book, “Ordinary Time,” an irreverent Midwestern fairy tale about a couple of teenage boys seeking Salvation under a constant bombardment of puberty chemicals & Catholic guilt. Free. tadl.org/event/bookbinding-demonstration-12817

----------------------

BLISSFEST TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY DANCE: 7:30-10pm, Alanson-Littlefield Community Bldg., Alanson. Calling by Larry Dyer & music by Peacemeal String Band. All dances taught (squares, contras, circles, & more). Potluck at 6:30pm. Bring dish to pass & tableware. $10/person, $5/student, 12 & under free.

---------------------OTP PRESENTS “CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION”: (See Sat., Jan. 27)

feb 04

sunday

DIETRICH BROTHERS HOST POP-UP PHOTOGRAPHY & ART SHOW: (See Sat., Feb. 3)

--------------

FARM CLUB BON FUEGO WINTER SOCIAL: Noon-4pm, Farm Club, TC. Snowman building, cozy winter crafts, free s’mores & more. Free. farmclubtc.com/events-2

- - - - - - - - -50% - - - - - -OFF ------- ---------------------SELECT SKI PACKAGES AND OUTERWEAR 30%-50% OFF.

HURRY IN WHILE SELECTIONS LAST

---------------------LUNCHEON 231-946-8810 LECTURE: “ELECTION 2024: IT’S A LOT CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!”: 11:30am-1pm, Library Conference 890 NCMC, Munson Ave, Center, Petoskey. Charlie MacInnis successfully stood forTraverse elective office City 10 times in Emmet & Jackson counties. He & Emmet County Clerk DONORRSKIHAUS.COM Suzanne Kanine will provide an overview of the election year ahead. They will also explain how to get your name on the next ballot – but you will have to act soon! Register. $15; includes a buffet lunch. ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-5492973

---------------------SPECIAL OLYMPICS MICHIGAN STATE WINTER GAMES: (See Tues., Jan. 30)

---------------------MITTEN SMITTEN PRESENTS: THE GASOLINE GYPSIES: 7:30-9pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. This group’s music sounds like “fine vintage southern rock, rolled around in the grand ol’ grit of the Motor City.” $20 adults; $10 students. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/mitten-smitten-presentsgasoline-gypsies

---------------------OTP PRESENTS “CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION”: (See Sat., Jan. 27)

---------------------SATURDAY 25 CENTS FAMILY FAVORITES: 11am, Lyric Theatre, Theater 1, Harbor Springs.

Featuring “The Secret of NIMH.” (1982) lyricharborsprings.org

---------------------VALENTINE’S DAY CARD MAKING PARTY: 11am-2pm, Art & Connection, Elk Rapids. Family friendly. All supplies provided. Sweet treats & light refreshments courtesy of The Flour Pot. Free.

---------------------WIENER SKI: Noon-5pm, Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay. Enjoy local hot dogs from Uncle Bob’s. Prize categories: Best Dressed: Strut your winter style for a chance at the fashion crown; Most Laps: Keep those skis moving, & the title could be yours; Largest Group: Rally your squad, & win the group prize. Suttons Bay Bikes will be on-site, providing ski & snowshoe rentals. shadylanecellars.com

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VEGMICHIGAN – TC – MONTHLY MEETUP – TACO TIME: 1pm, Barrio, TC. meetup.com/traverse-city-vegmichigan-meetup/events/298469166/?utm_ medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_ savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link

e l i m S with e! c n e d fi Con

feb 03

saturday

WINTER CLASSIC: 8am5pm, Chubbs Marina & Market, Carp Lake. Cash payouts each division - 1st, 2nd & 3rd: Walleye, Panfish, Pike & Mystery Weight. Adult preregistration, $25; day of, $30. 12 & under, $20.

Everyone wins a prize! 231-626-1035.

---------------------5 MILE FROZEN FOOT RACE & 1 MILE FUN RUN: Eastern Elementary School, TC. 1 Mile Fun Run (for 12 & under): 9am; $5. 5 Mile Frozen Foot Race: 9:30am; $30; free for TC Track Club members. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/FrozenFootRace

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---------------------BOOKBINDING & AUTHOR TALK WITH AUSTIN ROWLADER: 2pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Austin Rowlader, author & owner of Arrow Publishing, will take questions & tell stories in a live interview with Taylor Reed from the Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology. The book, “Ordinary Time,” reads like an irreverent Midwestern fairy tale about a couple of teenage boys seeking Salvation under a constant bombardment of puberty chemicals & Catholic guilt.

Take a peek inside the world of writing & binding books. Free. tadl.org/event/bookbindingand-author-talk-austin-rowlader-12818

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OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, SLEDDING & S’MORES: 4-6pm, Kiwanis Petoskey. Drop in for free arts & crafts for the Park, Harbor Springs. Free. whole family. New projects are offered each www.schulzortho.com week. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ ST. OLAF BAND: 7pm, TC West Senior High open-studio-february-3 School. Conducted by Henry Dorn. Founded in 1891, the St. Olaf Band performs compositions TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY FESTIVAL: To& transcriptions for symphonic band, producing 231-929-3200 Skyview 106 The E. Garfield Ave. day features Stand-Up• 4952 Workshop: SoCt. You a 231-237-0955 crowd-pleasing • style. band was dubbed Think You Can Produce A Comedy Show at one of America’s preeminent bands by The

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- - - - -TRAVERSE - - - - - - - - - - -CITY ------

CHARLEVOIX

18 • January 29, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

ongoing

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

---------------------BOYNE CITY MARKET AT THE PAVILION: Veterans Park Pavilion, Boyne City. Held every Sat. through May from 9am-12:30pm. Shop local artists, food makers & farmers. boynecityfarmersmarket.org/series/market-at-the-pavilion-2

---------------------INDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato, TC. More than 35 vendors offer a variety of items from farm fresh eggs, meats & cheeses, to fruits, veggies, homemade breads & more. thevillagetc.com

art

“SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION”: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. This annual regional high school student exhibit is a vibrant showcase of student artwork. Featuring the talents of local 11th & 12th grade students, this artwork will be on display through Feb. 24. charlevoixcircle.org

---------------------FORM + FUNCTION: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. This exhibition is an exploration of sculptural forms & functional fiber. It runs through Feb. 16. Includes artists from around Michigan presenting 3D sculptural works & assemblages in wood, ceramic, metal & other materials in the Beck & Borwell galleries. A range of fiber & related functional work will be displayed in the Fisher Room & North & South Exhibit Halls.

Additionally, the galleries will include work created by artists in the community selected via an open call. The Oliver Art Center is open Tues.

- Sat. from 10am-4pm & Sun. from noon-4pm.

Closed on Monday. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

---------------------“RISE, SERVE, LEAD! AMERICA’S WOMEN PHYSICIANS” EXHIBITION: Runs through Feb. 15 in the NCMC Library, Petoskey. A traveling exhibition celebrating the contributions & legacy of our nation’s women physicians, this is a display of six roll-up graphic banners. It highlights the lives & achievements of U.S. women physicians who have made a difference through their medical practice & research, their work as activists, their service as administrators, & their mentorship to the next generation of doctors. ncmich.edu

---------------------ART EXHIBIT: KATI ROSENBAUGH & LYNN STEPHENSON: City Opera House, TC. Enjoy contrasting visual arts mediums & styles - each taking inspiration from the beauty of northern Michigan. The exhibit runs through Feb. 29.

cityoperahouse.org

---------------------GUILD MEMBER SALON SHOW 2024: Runs through Feb. 16 at Crooked Tree Arts Center, Carnegie Galleries, TC. Featuring more than 100 artists, this recurring exhibition opportunity rotates between CTAC’s Petoskey & TC locations each year, & features work by Crooked Tree Arts Center’s Artist Guild Members. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/guildmember-salon-show-2024

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

Runs through Feb. 26. barbarareich.com

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CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY: - CULTIVATED: RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATURE: Runs through Feb. 24 in Bonfield Gallery. Contemporary photographs, fiber works, & installations explore the concept of cultivation. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/cultivated-relationships-nature - FIELDS OF VISION: JURIED FINE ART EXHIBITION: Runs through Feb. 24 in Gilbert Gallery. Annual juried all-media exhibition featuring works by Michigan artists. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/fields-vision-juriedfine-art-exhibition - MICHIGAN MEDITATIONS: Runs through Feb. 3 in Atrium Gallery. Michigan pastel artists Linda Klenczar & Sharon Wade unite for this exhibition. Despite their depictions of contrasting settings—outside & inside, organic & structured, nature & urban—these artists are united by their desire to capture a sense of peace. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ michigan-meditations

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DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: - NORTHLAND WEAVERS & FIBER ARTS GUILD’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: The exhibition runs through March 3 & includes the work of 27 current & past members. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org - HEMINGWAY IN COMICS: This exhibition presents a new, more complicated way to look at Hemingway: a man, an artist, & a character that has taken on a life of its own & allows visitors to consider why Hemingway’s image, in particular, is so enduring. It’s not only for the dedicated Hemingway fan, but for all those with an appreciation for comics, pop culture, & the absurd.

Runs Feb. 3 - May 26. Hours are Tues. - Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcomingexhibitions/hemingway-in-comics.html?utm_ source=cision&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=DMC-winter-2024 - YOUNG AT ART: A SELECTION OF CALDECOTT ILLUSTRATIONS: This exhibition includes original illustrations from Caldecott Medal recipients & from “runnerup” Honor books, as well as other illustrations by award-winning artists. It is an exhibition of works from Wichita Falls Museum of Art’s permanent collection. It runs Feb. 3 - April 28. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/ upcoming-exhibitions/young-at-art.html?utm_ source=cision&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=DMC-winter-2024

---------------------GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER: - “HAPPY”: Held in Main Gallery. The rescheduled opening reception for this exhibit takes place on Feb. 2 from 5-7pm. “Happy” features the work of 26 artists who explore & interpret the many facets & meanings of happiness: literal to metaphorical, in 2D + 3D. Runs through March 21. Open Mon. through Fri., 9am-3pm; Sat., noon-4pm. Free. glenarborart.org/events/ exhibit-happy - TREE OF LIFE -- AN EXHIBIT: TC artist Mary Fortuna explores the Tree Of Life - Connecting The World in this mixed media installation. This small show runs through April 25. The Tree Of Life that will grow in the GAAC’s Lobby Gallery is populated with animals, birds & insects. Each one is a hand-sewn soft sculpture. Hours: Mon. through Fri., 9am-3pm; Sat., noon-4pm. glenarborart.org/ events/exhibit-tree-of-life-connecting-the-world

by JOSEPH BEYER

Quantum Cowboys

During this awards season of repetitious praise for a handful of studio movies and critical darlings (some of which actually deserve them), it may feel like you’re experiencing a loop of the familiar. If so, then allow me to scratch your itch with a recommendation for something uniquely different: Quantum Cowboys. This fiercely independent film is now available on Amazon and perfect for philosophers, cannabis lovers, and those seeking existential meaning from the cosmos.

The project features some familiar faces like Lily Gladstone (recent Golden Globe winner for Killers of the Flower Moon and newly minted Oscar nominee), David Arquette (who, along with Gladstone, also produced the film), and the always entertaining Gary Farmer. Quantum Cowboys also reveals new talents in the young actors Kiowa Gordon and John Way, who play the leads with pitch-perfect postmodern angst.

The plot itself, inspired heavily by the genre of Westerns, follows two friends and drifters on their crusade to course-correct the outcomes of their lives. We ride along with them as they follow clues that lead them to an eventual understanding of the elasticity of the universe and, more importantly, a rediscovery of their own humanity. Along the way, as in life, there are allies and enemies, and it’s not always clear who is who.

Produced independently by a tight-knit group of artist-collaborators taking a chance on a wild concept, Quantum Cowboys is a selfdescribed “antilogy” or set of contradictions led by writer and director Geoff Marslett, who also supervised the 14 different conceptual animation styles that make up the film’s many storylines and iterations.

The result is a visually hypnotic and strange narrative about (I hypothesize) time,

space, and the singular work of humans to mark it through observation, art, and memories. There’s also a subatomic subplot involving the microcosmos for those more scientifically than spiritually inclined.

Whatever Quantum Cowboys may mean to you, the creatives behind it have allowed you plenty of freedom to discover your own interpretations. What will hook you, I suspect, are the confident and engaging performances of an ensemble of talented actors—enhanced by different teams of animators, designers, and digital wizards.

The sardonic and witty script achieves a logic all its own, and the dynamics of the characters and their conflicts are strong enough to become cohesive, even as they exist within extremely varied styles and approaches.

While much of the narrative begins in mystery, director Marslett is a talented storyteller with an instinctual trust for his audience, and he guides the story with confidence until its unusual but logical ending. In addition to his role as master of this created universe, Marslett extracts terrific and subtle performances from his cast, combining them all together in something that seems almost inevitable.

Should you choose to spin Quantum Cowboys, I hope it will strike you as visually stunning, intelligent, and patient storytelling that’s full of surprises. The film has gained momentum across the world through film festivals, special screenings, and word of mouth driven by the tenacious enthusiasm of the cast and crew. This first installment of an intended “Arizona Trilogy” of stories is an exciting teaser, and like a bottle flying out of the air and hitting you on the head, you will likely be knocked out (in a good way) by a film you never saw coming.

GET READY FOR

GAME DAY! Two full service grocery stores featuring year-round local, natural, organic foods, game day snacks and more.

Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 19

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska COMMON GOOD BAKERY, TC 2/3 -- John & Madeline Piatek, 6

MARI VINEYARDS, TC 2/2 -- John Paul, 4-6

ENCORE 201, TC 1/26-27 -- DJ Ricky T, 9 2/1 -- TC Comedy Fest - Daily Dozen, 6:30-8 2/2 -- TC Comedy Fest - Daily Dozen, 4:30-6; Jokes on You, 7:309; Roast Battle w/ Roast Master Kevin Johnson, 10:30 2/3 -- TC Comedy Fest - Next Up Comedy, 4:30-6; HipProv w/ Tam White, 7:30-9; The Nightcap: A Dirty Show, 10:30

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC 1/27 -- Ampersands, 8-11 2/2 -- Rolling Dirty Trio, 6-9

FRESH COAST BEER WORKS, TC 2/2 -- John Piatek Duo, 3 IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC DINING ROOM: 2/2 -- Matt Mansfield, 6-9

NORTH BAR, TC 7-10: 1/27 -- SkyeLea 1/31 -- Jesse Jefferson 2/1 -- Drew Hale 2/2 -- Rhett & John THE DUNE ROOM: 1/28 -- Writers in the Round: Rob Coonrod, John Richard Paul & Rebekah John, 4-6 PARK PLACE HOTEL, TC BEACON LOUNGE: 1/26-27 & 2/2-3 -- Jim Hawley, 7-10

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC 9:30: 1/26-27 -- Equality Show Band Thu -- DJ Leo 2/3 -- The Ampersands

SORELLINA'S, TC SLATE RESTAURANT: Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 5-8 Fri. & Sat. – Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9

KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING 6-8: 1/29 -- Trivia 1/30 -- Open Mic

STONE HOUND BREWING CO., WILLIAMSBURG 2/1 -- John Richard Paul, 7-9

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM: 1/29 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9 TASTING ROOM: 2/2 -- Rebekah Jon, 5-7 LIL BO, TC Tues. – Trivia, 8-10 Sun. – Karaoke, 8

THE ALLUVION, TC 1/27 -- The Bill Sears Quintet “With One Accord,” feat. Xavier Davis, Bobby Ferrazza, Rodney Whitaker, & Keith Hall, 7:30-9:30 1/29 -- Big Fun - Funky Mondays, 6-8 2/1 -- Jeff Haas Trio feat. Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive, w/ Rob Smith, 6-8 2/2 -- TC Comedy Fest: Good on Paper Improv, 6:30-7:45; Planet

Ant “Home Team” Improv, 9:30-11 2/3 -- TC Comedy Fest: Go Comedy Improv, 6:30-7:15; “Tilt Think” Improv, 9:30-11 THE HAYLOFT INN, TC 1/27 -- Empire Highway, 7:30-11 Thu -- Open Mic Night, 6 THE LITTLE FLEET, TC 1/31 -- Comedy Show w/ Host Leah Grey & Co-Host Jack Rutkowski, 8:30-11 THE PARLOR, TC 8-11: 1/27 -- Rhett & John 1/30 -- Jesse Jefferson 1/31 -- Wink Solo 2/1 -- Jimmy Olson 2/3 -- Brett Mitchell

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC 1/27 -- Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory, 8-10 1/28 -- Comedy Mixtape w/ Tilt Think Improv, 7 Tue -- Open Mic Night, 7-9 Wed -- Jazz Show & Jam, 6-8 2/1 -- TC Comedy Fest Open Mic, 7-10 2/2-3 -- TC Comedy Fest Karaoke Party, 10 2/4 -- Comedy Open Mic, 7-9 TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY CLUB, TC 1/26 -- Comedy w/ Steve Sabo, 7:15-8:45 1/27 -- Comedy w/ Steve Sabo, 7-8:30

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD 2/2 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

C.R.A.V.E., GAYLORD 6-9: 1/27 -- Brad Corpus 2/2 -- The Rounders 2/3 -- Kenny Thompson

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee THE GREENHOUSE - WILLOW/PRIMOS, CADILLAC 1/27 -- Adam Joynt Band - After 26 Cafe Fundraiser, 7

WE HAVE 0 THE BIG 1 NETWORK

1/31 -- Trivia Night & Music Bingo w/ Shawny-D, 6-10 2/1 -- Karaoke Night w/ DJ Shawny-D, 7-10

TO-GO ORDERS AVAILALBLE 231-252-4157

Sun-Tues: 12-9pm, Thurs: 4-9pm, Fri-Sat: 12-10pm Kitchen open ’til 8:30pm Sun-Tues & Thurs, 9pm Fri & Sat

DRINK SPECIALS (3-6 Monday-Friday) :

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

DAILY FOOD SPECIALS (3-6pm):

Mon- $1 chips and salsa Tues - $1 enchiladas • Thurs - 1/2 off appetizers Fri - $5 hot pretzels w/ beer cheese

221 E State St. - downtown TC

20 • January 29, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

edited by jamie kauffold

Send Nitelife to: events@traverseticker.com

Antrim & Charlevoix

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM 7-9: 1/27 -- Adam Engelman & Patrick Ryan Fri -- Patrick Ryan & Josh Raber 2/3 -- Patrick Ryan BRIDGE STREET TAP ROOM, CHARLEVOIX 1/30 -- Patrick Ryan, 7 ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS

THE PUB, TC 1/28 & 2/4 -- Rob Coonrod, 6-9 1/31 -- Tyler Roy, 7-10

Otsego, Crawford & Central ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 6-9: 1/27 & 2/3 -- Todd Aldrich 2/2 -- Kenny Thompson

nitelife

jan 27 - feb 04

7-10: 1/27 -- Jerome Forz 2/3 -- Ron Getz Trio 2/4 -- DJ Franck FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE 1/27 -- Comedy Night w/ Marti Johnson & Niko Lukoff, 7-9 2/3 -- Nick Vasquez, 6:30-9:30 JAX NORTHSIDE, CHARLEVOIX 1/31 -- Trivia Night, 7-9

SHORT'S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE 2/3 -- Delilah DeWylde & Lee Harvey, 8 SHORT'S PULL BARN, ELK RAPIDS 1/28 -- Blair Miller, 12:30-2:30pm TORCH LAKE CAFÉ, CENTRAL LAKE Thu -- Open Mic & Nick Vasquez, 7 Fri - Sat -- Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick, 7:30

Leelanau & Benzie LEELANAU & BENZIE BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU TASTING ROOM: 2/2 -- Bryan Poirier, 5:30-8 CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE SLOPESIDE TENT, NEAR CRYSTAL CLIPPER CHAIRLIFT, 3-5: 1/27 -- Meg Gunia 2/3 -- Certainly Syd VISTA LOUNGE: 1/27 -- Two Feet, 2-5; Boone Doggies, 8-11 2/2 -- Scarkazm, 8-11 2/3 -- Rhett & John, 2-5; Scarkazm, 8-11 DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1 FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH 6-9: 2/1 -- Trivia Night 2/2 -- Open Mic

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR 2/1 -- Billy & The Kid, 4-7 GLEN ARBOR WINES 1/27 & 2/3 -- Saturday Night Live Music, 7-9 1/30 -- Luke Woltanski, 5:30-8

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH 1/27 -- Reminisce (David & Jim), 5-8 2/1 -- Open Mic Thursdays, 6-8:30 2/2 -- Whitney Boecker, 5-8 2/3 -- Highway North, 5-8 2/4 -- Kid's Open Mic Hosted by Chris Winkelmann, 3-5:30

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE 1/27 -- Hog & Bear Mid-Winter Island Bash w/ J&O Junction, 6-8 1/28 -- Hog & Bear Mid-Winter Island Bash, noon-6 2/2 -- Blake Elliott, 6-8 2/3 -- Luke Woltanski, 6-8

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY 2/2 -- Friday Night Live w/ Jesse Jefferson, 5-8

LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 1/27 -- Rhythm Theory, 6:30-9:30 2/1 -- Trivia Night, 7-9 2/2 -- Aaron Dye wsg Matt Prorok, 6:30-9:30 2/3 -- The BooneDoggies, 6:309:30

THE HOMESTEAD RESORT, GLEN ARBOR WHISKERS BAR & GRILL, 6-9: 1/27 -- Bryan Poirier 2/3 -- Billy & The Kid

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT 1/27 -- Robert Rolfe Feddersen, 7-9

THE RIVERSIDE INN, LELAND 2/2 -- Chris Skellenger, 5-7

Emmet & Cheboygan BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY 1/27 -- Chase & Allie, 2-6

NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY 1/27 -- Delilah DeWylde, 7-10 1/31 -- PubStumper's Trivia, 6:30 2/2 -- Brett Harfert, 7-10 2/3 -- Adam Hoppe, 7-10

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY Tue -- Trivia Night, 7-9 2/2 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30 HIGH FIVE SPIRITS, PETOSKEY TASTING ROOM: 1/27 -- SaxU4ia, 9

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES: 2/2 -- The Marsupials, 9

POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS 1/27 -- Serita's Black Rose, 4-8 2/3 -- Pete Kehoe, 5-8 THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 1/27 -- The Lonely Pines, 8 2/1 -- Musicians Playground ‘Open Mic,’ 7 2/3 -- Chris Neuman, 8

For Traverse City area news and events, visit TraverseTicker.com

lOGY

JAN 29 - FEB 04

BY ROB BREZSNY

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): It's the fifth annual

Brag Therapy Holiday—for you Aquarians only. During this celebration, we expect you—indeed we want you—to boast with panache. Tell us all in exquisite detail why you are such a marvelous creation. Explain how you have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to transform yourself into a masterpiece of intuitive intelligence. Regale us with stories of your winsome qualities, your heroic triumphs, and your hilarious and poignant adventures on the edge of reality.

Make sure we understand how educational and healing it can be to bask in your influence. Show us why we should regard you as a role model.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the coming

weeks, I hope you avoid sucking up to egotistical manipulators. Please also refrain from being an unappreciated beast of burden and a half-willing pawn in boring games. If you are interested in paying off karmic debts, make sure they are yours, not anyone else’s. If you plan to work hard to lay the foundation for a future liberation, get a guarantee that YOU will be one of the liberated people. PS: I’m fine with you doing unselfish things as long as they will also have selfish benefits.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): One of the great

maladies affecting modern people is the atrophy of the soul. It’s related to another affliction: the apathy of the soul. A key contributor to these misfortunes is the entertainment industry. Its shallow and artificial stimuli are engineered to overfeed our egos, leaving our poor souls malnourished. Please note that I have no problem with our egos. They are an important part of our make-up and are essential for healthy functioning.

But it's a shame they hog all the glory and sustenance. Now here’s my climactic message for you, Libra: It's high time to celebrate a holiday I call Nurture the Soul. Make it last at least three weeks. Homework: Identify three actions you will take to excite, cherish, and enhance your soul.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In myth and legend, pregnancies don’t always begin with two humans having sexual communion. The wellknown story of the Virgin Mary tells us she was impregnated when the Holy Spirit, disguised as a dove, whispered in her ear. The Roman goddess Juno conceived her son Mars solely with the help of an enchanted lily flower. The Greek hero Attis germinated inside his virgin mother Nana after she placed a pomegranate in her lap. This might sound outlandish, but I foresee you having a metaphorically comparable experience. Do you believe in the possibility of being fertilized by miraculous magic or a divine spirit? Might you be dramatically awakened or inspired by a very subtle influence? I think it will happen even if you don’t believe.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian

computer scientist Grace Hopper (1906–1992) wrote, "The most damaging phrase in the language is: ‘It’s always been done that way.’”

I will expand on that wisdom. The most obvious meaning is that we risk ignoring our individualized needs and suppressing our creative inspirations if we mindlessly conform to the habits of society. But it's equally important not to mindlessly repeat our own longstanding ways of doing things. Maybe they were brilliant and appropriate in the past, but there's no guarantee they will always be so. In conclusion, Sagittarius, I recommend you rebel against your own personal "it’s always been done that way" as well as everyone else's.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Being in love is as desirable for you Capricorns as it is for everyone else. You may be less open and dramatic than the rest of us in expressing your yearnings, but they are still a driving force. Here’s an important point: Even if you are not constantly chattering to others about your urges to give and receive intimate care, it’s crucial that you acknowledge them to yourself. To keep your soul healthy, you must be in close touch with this core fuel. You must love your need for love. Now is an excellent time to deepen your appreciation for these truths.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): I invite you

to resolve old business, draw unrewarding projects to a close, and finish your lessons at the School of Tough Love. You don’t have to carry out my next proposal, but if you do, I will

be glad: Politely and quietly scream, "Get out of my life" at anyone who doesn’t give you the respect and kindness you deserve. I also recommend that you do a Wrap-It-Up Ritual.

Start by making an altar that pleases you with its beauty. Take scraps of paper and write on each one a description of an influence or experience you want to purge from your life. As you rip each scrap into bits, say this: "I’m grateful for what I have learned from you, but now I am leaving you behind.”

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Happiness” is

an amorphous term with a different meaning for everyone. What makes me feel happy may be unlike what works for you. Besides that, any kind of perfect happiness is impossible to achieve. However we define it, we are always a mix of being happy and unhappy. Nevertheless, I invite you to ruminate about the subject in the coming days. I believe you are primed to arrive at a realistic new understanding of your personal version of happiness—and raise your happiness levels by at least 15 percent. Maybe more! Now here are helpful clues from philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “Precisely the least thing, the gentlest, lightest thing, the rustling of a lizard, a breath, a whisk, a twinkling of the eye—what's little makes up the quality of the best happiness. Soft!”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I invite you to take an inventory of your taboos, inhibitions, and restrictions. Meditate on why you originally adopted them. Evaluate how well they have served you and whether they are still meaningful. If you find any of them have become unnecessary or even injurious, jettison them. And be excited and happy about being free of them. If you decide that some taboos, inhibitions, and restrictions are still wise for you to maintain, thank them for their service and honor the selfprotection they provide.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini novelist Gregory Maguire says there are a “thousand ways people shrink from life, as if chance and change are by their nature toxic and disfiguring." Your assignment in the coming weeks is to contradict his theory. I’m hoping you will interpret all chance and change as potentially expansive, redemptive, and interesting. You will never shrink from life, but will boldly meet challenges and embrace twists of fate as interesting opportunities. I have abundant faith in your ability to carry out this vigorous project!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You could be a masterful eliminator of toxins and wastes in the coming weeks. Do it both for yourself and for those you care about. Start by purging nonessentials that obstruct the flow of the good life. These might include defunct fantasies, mistaken understandings, apathetic attitudes, and unloving approaches. Among the other dross or dreck you could root out is any clutter that’s making familiar environments feel oppressive. By the way, fellow Cancerian, this should be .fun.

If it’s not, you’re doing it wrong.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): My goals right now are to inspire you in the following three ways: 1. to be full of love for your daily life; 2. to adore yourself exactly as you are; 3. to shed any numbness or boredom you feel and replace them with alert aliveness. To help you in this exalted effort, I offer the inspiration of three quotes. 1.

“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson. 2. “The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” –Eden Phillpotts. 3. “I have the mysterious feeling of seeing for the first time something I have always known.”

–Bernardo Bertolucci.

“Jonesin” Crosswords "How to Succeed"--you know what they say. by Matt Jones

ACROSS 1. Card pack 5. Jazz legend Davis 10. Galaxy addition?

13. Supporter 14. Kind of army or band 16. 2014 U.S. Women's Open champ Michelle 17. *Showroom sale item 19. Tax preparer's charge 20. There's no accounting for it 21. *"You'll do great!"

23. Indefinitely long period 24. Actress Taylor-Joy of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" 25. Bar offerings 26. "Yes, ___" (improv principle) 28. Small child 30. Lay down the lawn 32. "Help wanted" listings 34. Capricious urge 37. Overinflate 41. *"All we need," per a 1988 Guns N' Roses ballad 44. "8 Seconds" venue 45. Make agitated 46. One of four on the New Zealand flag 47. Geese formation shape 49. ___ Soundsystem ("I Can Change" band) 51. He/___ pronouns 52. Not fully 55. Certain internet junk 58. Monopoly board abbr.

60. *Screen protector of sorts?

62. Amounts typically shown in red 65. Got away fast 66. Conclusion leading to perseverance, or a hint to the last words of the starred answers?

68. Enmity 69. Tribute 70. Lower range 71. Like much of PinkNews's demographic 72. See 33-Down 73. Decelerate

DOWN 1. Nuts 2. Swingin' Fitzgerald 3. Secretive kind of auction without knowing the price 4. City near Osaka 5. Rapper/actor ___ Def, a.k.a.Yasiin Bey 6. Worked up 7. "30 Rock" character Liz 8. Bad thing to see on your gas gauge 9. Mexican restaurant condiments 10. Horrible 11. Jigsaw unit 12. Looks up the answer, maybe 15. Org. for teachers or artists 18. "It's living ___-free in my head" 22. Crockpot scoopers, maybe 26. Partway open 27. ___ contendere (no contest plea) 29. Nighttime hunter 31. Kimono sash 33. With 72-Across, portrayer of Brian Hackett on "Wings" 35. Corp. debut 36. Word processing function for automating letters 38. Attentive 39. "Superfood" berry 40. Political period 42. Shoe end 43. "Waterfalls" group 48. Conditional deposit 50. Marcel Duchamp's movement 52. Parsley bit 53. Scarlett of "Gone With the Wind" 54. It doesn't grow on trees 56. "Fork it over!"

57. Take ___ at (guess) 59. The Venetian's site 61. Numerical suffix 63. One of the Jackson 5 64. Winter weather prediction 67. "Get ___ Ya-Ya's Out!" (Rolling Stones album)

Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 21

NORTHERN EXPRESS

CLA SSI FIE DS

SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-6248 ___________________________________

COTTAGE FOR RENT: TC 1BR Cottage, Fully Furnished, Includes All Utilities, New Appliances, W/D, Cable TV, Very Nice & Quiet, Beautiful Setting, Parking, No Pets; $1,600 per month, (231) 631-7512. ___________________________________

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FEB8TH HEALTHFULLY NUTRITIOUS CLASS: Sleeping Well: Optimize your sleep with nutrition and lifestyle! Taught by Sarah Jackson, MS Clinical Nutritionist. Feb8th 4:30pm in-person, 6pm virtual. Blessed Be Tea 231-409-2894 for more info

easy. accessible. all online.

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Join us at Middlecoast Brewing WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7TH 5-7PM

Local Beer and wine selections and assorted appetizers. $10 entry ENTER TO WIN: • $200 Downtown TC gift certificate • Assorted merchandise and Middlecoast Brewing gift certificates totaling $250

22 • January 29, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly

Recess 2024 is brought to you by West Shore Bank. When you choose West Shore Bank, you’re not just choosing a bank; you’re choosing a partner committed to the well-being of our community. Visit us today on 8th Street or at westshorebank.com

Recess is brought to you by

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Northern Express Weekly • January 29, 2024 • 23

24 • January 29, 2024 • Northern Express Weekly