Northern Express - May 27, 2024

Boyne City • Gaylord • Manistee • Petoskey

Joseph Ward, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon Hip and Knee Specialist

Matthew Dubiel, MD Orthopedic Surgeon Shoulder and Elbow Specialist

Michael VanWagner, DO Orthopedic Surgeon Hip and Knee Specialist

Sidewalk Unicorns

I am a 44-year-old man who knows a thing or two about the beautiful city of Traverse, my hometown. One thing I don’t know much about, because I have rarely seen this unicorn, are sidewalks.

I am not talking about share-the-lane roads between bikers and automobiles, because I would never roll the dice on a hope and a prayer that the driver behind me is not on their phone texting as I am cruising on my bike. No, I am talking about the main highways through and around Traverse that offer no other alternative in travel if not in an automobile.

There are plenty of hardworking individuals who have no other choice but to bike or walk to work, and that is just not doable on South Airport or US-31 or Division or Garfield, etc. If we truly want to be a welcoming community that offers the younger community a viable option in their mode of transport, then let us at least talk about ways to find and finally slay this rare unicorn that has been an eyesore to this beautiful city for decades.

Patrick Farkas | Traverse City

Commuting Smartly

As we enter a true run-up to a June Solstice, one of my favorite weeks of the year is Traverse City’s Smart Commute Week.

Ah, the joy of walking as a pedestrian here, being grateful for BATA—our public transportation—and the TART bike trail. (For the sake of transparency, I used to bike and I still wish I could.)

So is Traverse City the next Copenhagen, the cutting edge of peddling power? All I know is to put one step forward one day at a time year-round.

See ya on the street! And drivers: Obey the stop sign at pedestrian crosswalks.

George Golubovskis | Traverse City

America’s Diversity Is Its Collective Strength

Lt. Col Hal Moore’s speech in the movie, We Were Soldiers, reflected America’s diversity. Playing Moore, commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, Mel Gibson presents Moore’s speech to the battalion before embarking to Vietnam in 1965. In this overview, consider how Moore highlighted the mixed origins of the soldiers in his command and identified their common responsibilities.

Moore essentially tells his troops to look at who they will be fighting with, and identifies a Ukrainian and Puerto Rican officer and soldiers who are Japanese, Chinese, Black, Hispanic, and Cherokee, as well as signifying Jews and Gentiles. Most importantly, Moore emphasized that all of them are Americans. He also recognizes some of his soldiers might have experienced discrimination simply due to their race or creed, but added strongly that none of that matters now because in battle, you will watch out for the man next to you like he will watch out for you, and you will not care about his skin color or what name he calls God.

Now a retired Lt. Gen, Hal Moore’s words should be remembered, especially on Memorial Day. America’s diversity is its collective strength, as found in Moore’s words. As a nation, the people from all walks of life, including the military, serve

as one—together unified—to keep America strong and free. Let’s not forget it!

Bill Steeves, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret) Traverse City

Weird in Michigan (Not Texas)

I realize that Northern Express has no editorial control over News of the Weird. You just drop it in as it is delivered to you. Even so, it is more than a little disappointing that the May 20 issue contained such a glaring error. In the story “Bright Idea,” the woman living in the grocery store sign on the roof of a Family Fare was attributed to Midland, Texas, and not to Midland, Michigan, where it actually occurred. Enough weird things already happen in Texas on a regular basis. They don’t need to get credit for Michigan’s occasional display of weirdness.

John Noonan | Traverse City

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

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this week’s

top ten

HOXEYVILLE IN SPRING

Wait, isn’t Hoxeyville, Wellston’s big music fest, in August? It sure is, but you can get a taste of the August fun May 31 through June 2 with their debut Hoxeyville Spring event. Dark Star Orchestra headlines along with The Allman Betts Band, Leftover Salmon, local group The Sweetwater Warblers, and nearly a dozen more bands and musicians. And, as is custom, the best way to stay and play is by camping on the Hoxeyville grounds in your tent, van, or even an RV. Ticket prices range from $80 for day passes to $175 for camping and show tickets, with discounts for kids 5-15 (those under 5 attend free). There’s even an option to add on a canoe trip ($80) or a raft trip ($125) on Saturday or Sunday along the Pine River. Find the full schedule of shows, music workshops, and outings at hoxeyvillepresents.com.

2 tastemaker: Traverse Bay Café’s Strawberry Sando

PAWS ON THE PLAZA

Line up at the kissing booth with your furry companion at Paws at the Plaza on Saturday, June 1, at Towne Plaza in Traverse City from 4-7pm! Benefitting the Cherryland Humane Society, this event includes a professional photographer, appetizers, door prizes, live music by Crater & the Impact, and more. Enter the Best Dressed Pet Contest and meet pets from the Humane Society who are searching for homes. Tickets are $35 for adults, and free for kids, with a donation at the door if possible.

Hey, watch it! Welcome to Wrexham

Is anyone else missing the optimsim of Ted Lasso, the smirk of Jamie Tartt, the growl of Roy Kent, or the posh accent of Rebecca Welton? Well, if you’re like us and there’s a BELIEVE-sized hole in your TV schedule, now’s the perfect time to dive into Welcome to Wrexham. Season three of the real-life Ted Lasso show dropped on Hulu this May, bringing the show up to 40+ episodes of soccer— we mean football—fun. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased Wrexham A.F.C., a Welsh professional association football club (and the third-oldest team in the world) in 2021, and the show chronicles the struggling team’s rise up the sporting ranks. It has all the heart and perseverance you love about Ted Lasso with real-world stakes and athletes in the spotlight.

Detour Destination: Northern Express is committed to highlighting businesses in the construction zones of northern Michigan this season.

While you might know Traverse Bay Café for its home-style lunch and breakfast selections, we bet you didn’t know this eatery also dabbles in international flavors! Head in for a morning smorgasbord of beignets and banana fritters, and top it off with a cool and creamy Strawberry Sando ($6) just in time for summer. Inspired by the Japanese sandwich and back by popular demand, this brunch-ified twist on strawberry shortcake tastes just as decadent as it looks: buttery brioche—minus the crusts, of course—layered with homemade vanilla whipped cream and studded with heart-shaped strawberry slices. Pair it with the café’s iced strawberry matcha, and enjoy your new jet-setting status! Snag your sando at Traverse Bay Café (810 E. Front St.) in Traverse City, but hurry—these treats sell out berry quickly. (231) 943-1755

Stuff We Love: Art in the Great Outdoors

The summer temperatures may be heating up, but the Grand Traverse Conservation District and the Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club Pebble Pups are taking us back in time to colder days with their Family & Children Geology Hike Series. On June 1, from 10-12pm, the topic of the hike will be the Ice Age. You may not run across a wooly mammoth or a saber tooth tiger out in the woods, but you will get to explore terrain that was shaped by the glaciers of the Ice Age and learn from knowledgeable geological guides about the ecological and geological legacies left by the retreating ice. Meet at the Oleson Pavilion next to the Boardman River Nature Center at 1450 Cass Rd. in Traverse City. The event is free, but registration is required at natureiscalling.org/events.

This past week, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced over $1.7 million in state grants that will help fund conservation projects on lakes and streams throughout Michigan. (Bonus: There is nearly $1 million in matching partner contributions, meaning $2.7 million are headed to protect our waterways.) NoMi is getting a piece of that grant pie: Conservation Resource Alliance will receive $135,000 for an analysis of the Boyne Falls Dam removal options as well as $150,000 for an aquatic organisms passage in Manistee River tributaries. Meanwhile, Michigan Trout Unlimited will have $144,800 to put toward North Branch Manistee stream restoration and improvement at Flowing Wells and $27,000 for a riparian wood inventory for stream improvement on state lands in Crawford and Kalkaska counties. Learn more at michigan.gov/DNRGrants.

Two of our favorite Antrim County locales are getting a glow-up with new artwork found out in Mother Nature. In Elk Rapids, two pieces are being installed in the Walk of Art Sculpture Park: Determination and Reflection (pictured). Artist Tom Moran used salvaged metal to create the seven-foot-tall sculptures and bring to life their eponymous expressions. Find the pieces in the Elk Rapids Day Park on South Bayshore Drive, and learn more at artrapids.net. Further north, Bellaire is celebrating the opening of their “Unique Art of Antrim County” outdoor art exhibit. The exhibit features the work of 13 local artists and will be on display from June 1 to October 31 in downtown Bellaire thanks to grants from several organizations. A special opening reception will be held June 4 from 5-6:30pm at the Flying Pig.

There are plenty of reasons to take a stroll through downtown Frankfort: the shops (finally reopening for the summer!), the beer garden at Stormcloud, the views of Lake Michigan, and—at least for this writer—the coffee. Perks of Frankfort is a creative neighborhood coffee bar also home to breakfast and lunch eats like cinnamon rolls and daily soup specials. This month, we were drawn in by the Early Summer Latte Flights, which run through the end of June. Pick two drinks off the seasonal menu and two from the regular menu to create your flight: pictured here are the White Chocolate Lavender Mocha, Cookie Butter Latte, Mocha, and Caramel Macchiato. Enjoy your drinks hot or iced depending on the day. Find the coffee shop at 429 Main St. in Frankfort. perksoffrankfort.com

Photo courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Perfect FOR DAD

MANY PRESIDENTIAL OPTIONS

spectator By steven Tuttle

Quick now: What do Chase Oliver, Randall Terry, Claudia De la Cruz, Peter Sonski, Michael Wood, Bill Stodden, Joseph Kishore, Rachelle Fruit, Tom Ross, and Paul Noel Fiorino all have in common? No clue?

What if we add Cornel West and Jill Stein? No? Then let’s add Robert Kennedy, Jr., Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, because all of the above are running for president. And you thought you had no real choices.

We already know more than we wanted or needed to know about Mr. Trump, and Biden isn’t exactly a secret after more than half a century of political public service.

Rescue, Terry has been arrested on multiple occasions at multiple demonstrations. He’s running, he says, to “end murdering babies and to destroy the Democratic Party.”

Michael Wood is a member of the Prohibition Party, the country’s third oldest, but appears to be running as an independent and is not yet on our ballot. Interesting that they are still around and still delivering a message of temperance despite Prohibition having been repealed 91 years ago.

Then there’s Claudia De la Cruz, another independent without a ballot home. De la Cruz is a self-described “hard Socialist,” has been endorsed by the South

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(Trump is insisting his pair of debates with Biden require both of them to stand, as he apparently believes he can stand longer than Biden, a true measurement of presidential potential. A better option would be to hook both up to a polygraph and let us see the results in real time. Some might prefer a candidate who is less deceptive while sitting than one who is lying while standing.)

That leaves us with the rest of this group. Along with Biden and Trump, Kennedy, Stein, and Terry have all qualified to be on the Michigan ballot. Others have qualified in other states, and the final five are still

Let’s start with Robert Kennedy, Jr., who is running as an independent. Kennedy has generated plenty of interest but not necessarily in a good way. He’s an anti-COVID vaccine person but says he’s not a blanket anti-vaxxer. Kennedy, who regularly boasts about his vitality at 70, has recently claimed part of his brain was eaten by a parasitic worm. The medical community says a worm could have invaded his brain but likely did not eat any of it, which is why the thing starved and died.

Jill Stein is once again the candidate of the Green Party, and her platform is short and easily understood. Stein says she is “...proworker, anti-war and pro-climate action.” This will be Stein’s third run for the White House.

Cornel West is an author, college professor and lecturer, and long-time civil rights activist. He’s not yet on the Michigan ballot, but he has campaigned here extensively, targeting Arab-Americans, Muslims, and young Black voters disappointed in Biden.

Randall Terry represents something called the Constitution Party and will be on the Michigan ballot. To say he is an antiabortion activist would be something of an understatement. As a founder of Operation

Carolina Workers Party, and pledges to “end capitalism once and for all.”

In fact, Socialists have so many various arms and branches they’ve practically torn themselves asunder. Bill Stodden is the candidate for the Socialist Party USA, Joseph Kishore the candidate of the Socialist Equality Party, and Rachele Fruit the choice of the Socialist Workers Party. That’s quite a few Socialist candidates in a country that rarely elects them.

Tom Ross is the nominee of the Transhumanist Party. If you’ve never heard of them, that’s likely because they did not exist prior to October of 2014. Their platform is “...putting science, health and technology at the forefront of American politics.” (Go to transhumanistparty.org, and scroll down a bit to behold the most astonishing candidate photo ever.)

Paul Noel Fiorino is the candidate of the Unity Party of America which boasts members in 40 states. Their slogan is “Not left. Not right. Forward.” but their platform might not generate as much unity as they’d like since they support a balanced budget amendment, elimination of the federal income tax, and Congressional term limits, among other ideas.

Finally, there’s Peter Sonski of the American Solidarity Party. Sounds like a unifying party, but it is not. Their vision of the “tradition of Christian democracy” starts to sound less than inclusive and it goes on to say we have to recognize the “primacy of religion in each person’s life.” That sounds more theocratic than democratic.

Every presidential election affords us many, many options. That we choose to ignore all but two of those choices every four years is not the system’s flaw but ours. We claim we don’t want to “waste” our vote because no third party candidate has a chance to win. Maybe that’s because we never give them that chance.

by sam inglot

Days are getting warmer, summer is quickly approaching, and school is ending soon. This means booking trips on airlines, making hotel reservations, and spending with credit cards.

At some point, you’ll probably notice added fees and higher costs at checkout than what’s initially advertised. What you may or may not realize is that corporations are nickel-and-diming us with junk fees on pretty much every purchase to line their pockets…with little to no repercussions.

The reality is that our finances are not unique. We’re all just trying to pay the bills, save for the future, and enjoy life along the

The Biden Administration has stepped up for us and announced a final rule to protect airline passengers from junk fees like this. This means no surprises with fees listed up front and requiring airlines to seat anyone 13 years or younger next to an accompanying adult without the extra charge. As a new dad, I’m very thankful for this change.

While many American families prefer to spend the summer locally to avoid airlines altogether, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) still plans on saving them money. Over 80 percent of Americans have at least one credit card in their wallets, and credit card companies

way. We’re also being preyed on by the same wealthy corporations that don’t care who we are, where we live, or how we live. They’re just after our money, and they weave a web of complex agreements, jargon, and hidden fees to get it.

While many Republicans work tirelessly to protect the interests of corporations and megamillionaires, Democrats are supporting initiatives that push back against corporate greed. In an effort to protect families from rising prices on everyday necessities, the Biden Administration is cracking down on unfair and predatory pricing by implementing an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy.

Chaired by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a new Strike Force will be established to root out illegal corporate behavior. Democrats are taking on companies across multiple sectors—keeping price hikes in check and eliminating junk fees.

An obvious and often egregious example of these kinds of fees: air travel. If you’re on TikTok, you’ve probably seen viral videos of parents pleading with passengers to switch seats so they can be next to their child. Oftentimes we think, “Why didn’t you just book the seats together?”, but we forget that airlines can charge an absurd amount of money in order to do that after already booking your tickets.

Other times, airlines overbook their planes, knowing very well that they don’t have capacity for all the passengers who’ve bought their tickets. I’ve been tempted to buy tickets through a seemingly affordable airline, before realizing the surprise fees at checkout can add up to $100.

are raking in billions of dollars in junk fees that push us further into predatory cycles of debt.

The CFPB’s final rule caps late fees at 25 percent of the minimum payment due, alleviating some of the burden associated with accumulating debt. Instead of spending anywhere between $30 to $200 on late fees, people can now use that money to pay for gas, groceries, and other utilities (or, perhaps, to save for that family vacation).

Democrats are planning to continue taking on money-hungry companies and individuals to put money back into the hands of those who work hard for a living. This includes holding universities accountable as lenders, reducing textbooks costs, preventing schools from withholding transcripts over unpaid debts, and increasing college cost transparency. Democrats are also cracking down on mortgage and rental fees. These new policies give families all the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions up front, instead of suffering from the financial consequences later.

The hope is that large companies stop using inflation (caused or exacerbated by corporate greed) as an excuse to pass on outrageously high prices to increase their profits. The Biden Administration also hopes that the Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing gives Americans the option to choose goods and services that fit in their budget instead of breaking the bank.

These are great continued steps in the right direction, and a great addition to Democrats’ record of standing up for working folks and families.

Sam Inglot is the executive director of Progress Michigan, a nonprofit communications advocacy and government watchdog group. Corporations are nickel-and-diming

SPICING UP LIVES FOR 40 YEARS!

New World Order

"Father Justin," an AI priest created by Catholic Answers, a Christian group in San Diego, was defrocked on April 24 after claiming to users that he was a real member of the clergy and performing sacraments, the New York Post reported. Holy Justin told users he was a priest in Assisi, Italy. He shared his views on sexual issues and took confession, concluding with, "Go in peace, my child, and sin no more." He also advised one user that they could use Gatorade to baptize their child. Christopher Check, president of Catholic Answers, explained: "We chose the character to convey a quality of knowledge and authority ... Many people, however, have voiced concerns about this choice." The avatar was rebranded as Virtual Apologist Justin, minus the cassock and collar, after an uproar about his behavior. "We won't say he's been laicized," Check said, "because he was never a real priest!"

Internationals Behaving Badly

restaurant destroyed all its food and sanitized the kitchen and adjacent areas. Gives a whole new meaning to "au jus."

Firelands Elementary School in Henrietta Township, Ohio, was locked down on May 1 after a sasquatch was spotted running past classroom windows, WKYC-TV reported. Superintendent Michael Von Gunten said a person in a Bigfoot costume parked in one of the district's lots, "crossed our campus and caused the district to enter into a lockdown." Kids outside on recess were quickly moved indoors. Bigfoot never made it inside any of the buildings; the Lorain County sheriff's office revealed the person in the costume was a parent pulling a prank. The parent was pulled over in a traffic stop, but no charges have been filed yet.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Artist Benediktas Gylys went live with his installation "Portal" on May 14, United Press International reported. "Portal" is a live video stream connecting New York City with Dublin, Ireland. But it was switched off the same day because of "instances of inappropriate behavior" that have been "amplified on social media." The naughty actions included swearing, nudity and displays of images from the 9/11 terror attacks in New York. "I thought the people of Dublin deserved to see my two New York homegrown potatoes," said Ava Louise, who bared her breasts to "Portal." Governments on both sides of the pond are considering actions to take to curb the bad behavior.

It's a Mystery

On April 25, an employee at the Avalon Theater in Marysville, Ohio, who had noticed a person acting suspiciously the night before, discovered a treasure in the restroom: $25,000 in cash, WBNS-TV reported. Two days later, $12,000 turned up in a KFC restroom. "I would absolutely say they are connected in some way," said police Capt. Nate Sachs. Authorities determined that the money is legitimate. "One is just weird in and of itself," Sachs said, "but two times in one week is definitely another level." He encouraged citizens to call police if they find any more cash to "help us with our investigation."

Questionable Judgment

On May 2 in Johnson County, Kansas, the district attorney charged 21-year-old Jace Christian Hanson, of Kansas City, Missouri, with unlawfully adulterating or contaminating food, a felony, at the Hereford House restaurant in Leawood, Kansas. The Kansas City Star reported that Hanson was connected with videos posted online showing him urinating into restaurantstyle food containers and rubbing food on his body parts, including his feet. The FBI, which received a tip, contacted the restaurant after pinging Hanson's phone and finding his car in the parking lot; the head chef confirmed that the au jus container shown in one video belonged to the Hereford House. When asked about it, Hanson said, "I'll just be straight up, yeah." He said men online, whom he had met through dating apps, had asked him to make the videos and revealed that he had committed more than 20 incidents of contaminating food. The

Middleburg Heights, Ohio, residents who were hoping to do business at the Social Security office there were turned away in early May, News 5 reported on May 2. It wasn't computer issues or flooding that shut the office down, though. Michael Murphy, president of the Local 3448 of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the problem was raccoons. "There's urine stains on the tiles. The smoke detectors came falling down. ... (A)pparently the animals may be eating through the wiring." When 25% of the lighting went out, employees got in touch with Murphy. "These employees were reporting concerns of noises above the ceiling as early as January," he said. The SSA released a statement saying the office would reopen "as soon as possible."

No Longer Weird

The last four years have brought about 700 reports of orcas attacking boats. On May 12, in the Strait of Gibraltar, a 49-footlong vessel called Alboran Cognac sank after repeated blows from a group of orcas, Reuters reported. The yacht carried two people, who felt the shocks before water started seeping in. They alerted rescue services, and a nearby oil tanker took them in. Researchers don't know why the animals attack ships.

Awesome!

World War II veteran Roger Wonson of Beverly, Massachusetts, turned 100 years old on April 20, CBS News reported. Wonson celebrated with his family and friends and a custom cake -- and by playing drums with his band, The Current Voltage, at his senior living facility on April 24. Wonson also played saxophone during the performance. He said his brother got him into drumming: "When he was 18 and I was 12 ... I said, 'Gee, can I practice on the drums?' and he said, 'Sure.' So that's the way it started." The Current Voltage includes some of his fellow residents and staffers from the facility.

Least Competent Criminal

An unnamed woman who had been accused of stealing a car was released from jail on May 3 in Boulder, Colorado. Upon her release, she walked down the road until she found a truck with the keys inside, the Associated Press reported. She got as far as starting the truck, but when she was confronted with the truck's manual transmission, she got out and walked off, leaving the truck to roll forward and hit a fire hydrant. She was arrested again and has a May 30 court date for multiple offenses.

WALKIN’ THE RIVERWALK

$1.25 million renovation planned for Manistee’s

top attraction

By Al Parker

Whether you’re a Manistee resident or a once-in-while visitor to this venerable Victorian city, a leisurely stroll along the scenic Riverwalk is a well-spent way to savor a summer day.

To walk the full 1.75-mile length of the Riverwalk, start at Jones Street on the east and head under the US-31 bridge. The woodand-concrete pathway meanders behind the downtown district, and along the way there are stairs you can climb to access the many downtown eateries and shops. To the west, at the end of Spruce Street, you’ll find a welcoming park, complete with picnic tables, grills, and swings. It’s a perfect place to stop, rest, and enjoy a lunch or snack.

And if you’re lucky and the timing is right, you may view a large freighter or smaller vessels as they glide along the Manistee River.

Where Tourism and History Meet

The idea to build something along the river popped up in the early 1980s. The Riverwalk was put together in phases, with the Manistee Downtown Development Authority (DDA) spearheading the project as a way to lure folks to downtown businesses.

Wow, did it work. Today the Riverwalk and downtown Manistee is the No. 1 attraction for visitors in Manistee County, according to Sammie Lukaskiewicz, executive director of the Manistee County Tourism Authority. “A little more than 705,000 people a year visit our county,” she says. “And most of them make some kind of trip to the Riverwalk and downtown.”

The Riverwalk is more than just a footpath—it’s also a walking history lesson. Spaced along the Riverwalk, dozens of markers and plaques highlight the history of the region and the important role the Manistee River played.

For example, did you know that in addition to its logging and commerical industries, several large vessels were built in Manistee? How about the time in 1853 when the U.S. Navy declared war on Manistee? And who knew that the town was once considered the world’s largest shingle manufacturing center?

Be sure to save time to check out the Origins Walk in particular, a cultural display that was unveiled in 2022. Plaques highlight the lives of important individuals and the impact they had on Manistee. Some depicted

in the walk include “tribal water protectors, tribal traders, and tribal elders” alongside community and civic leaders such as T.J. Ramsdell, Louis Sands, Fannie Fowler, and Nels Johnson. The Stronach, Filer, and Canfield families are also represented. Each of the 20 monuments is carved from durable structural steel, purposely angled to cast shadows at different times of the day as the sunlight changes.

“The Riverwalk is not just a lovely place for tourists, but it is used year-round by locals, too,” says Lukaskiewicz. “It gets people outside as a walking trail and to look at freighters, but it also serves as a central point of our history—from the indigenous people who lived here and used it for transportation and fishing, to the lumber shipping lanes during the growth of Manistee, to the charter fleet that fish today. It really is a magical place that must be maintained, restored, and elevated.”

Renovations Coming Soon

The Riverwalk experience will soon be made even more enjoyable by a $1.25 milllion upgrade that covers about 1.5 miles of the walkway.

“The project will update and enhance the Manistee Riverwalk within the Downtown Development [Authority] boundaries on the south side of the Manistee River from just east of US-31 to Spruce Street,” says City Manager Bill Gambill.

“The idea was to leverage a DDA commitment to improve the Riverwalk at the base of the West Shore Community College building as matching funds to obtain an [Economic Development Administration] grant that would enhance more of the Riverwalk and spawn businesses to open storefronts on the Riverwalk side of the buildings,” Gambill explains.

City officials worked with West Shore Community College on an updated design that will include a Manistee River observation deck. “This overlook will be the same elevation as the existing parking lot,” says Gambill. “We are modifying the existing driveway to create a pedestrian access from River Street to the overlook. We will also be constructing an outdoor terrace seating area with shade sails along the Riverwalk.”

One of the nicest aspects of the Manistee Riverwalk is the fact it is handicap accessible, allowing everyone to enjoy it. Wheelchairs, strollers, and folks using walkers are all able to enjoy the scenic walk. A new switchback sidewalk access, which will be ADA compliant, will be added to the west of the Manistee Municpal Marina.

There’s an environmental upgrade coming with the project, too.

“Rain gardens will be added at the east end of the Riverwalk,” explains Project Director Shane Brennan. “There’s an existing access ramp from the Chamber parking lot that has planting beds. There is currently a catch basin and outlet pipe that takes the runoff from the parking lot and empties directly into the Manistee River. We are converting the planting beds into rain gardens to catch this runoff and filter it prior to letting it out into the river.”

Of course, there’s also more history to highlight in the renovation plans. “As part of this project, we will be installing six existing marker signs at locations of future cultural displays to be coordinated with a future project being planned by the Manistee County Tourism Authority,” Gambill says. “We will also be installing up to five kiosk style signs which will include historic information and directional signage.”

Other improvements being planned include: replacing the treated lumber decking with a modified wood product (with a bid alternative for treated lumber in case modified wood decking prices are too high); repainting the galvanized rails along the walkway; and cleaning and updating the light poles to use LED lighting.

The improvements are designed to ensure that residents and visitors are able to enjoy the Riverwalk for many years to come. City officials are currently awaiting final approval to bid the project, but are hoping to begin in July, with work expected to take three to four months. The current project cost is $1.25 million, with $650,000 from a federal Economic Development Administration grant, $240,000 from the DDA, and $160,000 in city funds.

An upgrade of the Riverwalk is expected to begin this summer.

Manistee City Manager Bill Gambill and Project Manager Shane Brennan at the west end of the Riverwalk.

A view of an incoming freighter from the riverwalk.

A MICHIGAN MAIN STREET Metamorphosis

Twenty-one years of change in Boyne City

By Geri Dietze

Today Boyne City is a thriving fourseason destination, a Master Level Main Street community, and is nationally recognized as a model for the Michigan Main Street initiative (MMS), part of a national effort to help communities reclaim their historical roots and revitalize their downtowns.

But Boyne City’s transformation from a worn-out lumber-era boomtown to a thriving small town didn’t just happen—it needed a push.

Dust Devil Inspiration

Mark Kowalske, Boyne City native and real estate broker, has spent the last five decades in the same downtown building. At some point in the late 1980s or early 1990s, he looked out his office window to see the breeze whipping up a cyclone of dust and dirt from the street and gutters. An inquiry to City Hall about the availability of street sweepers was informative, but not actionable. (Yes, there were two, but they weren’t working.) “We’ve got to do something,” was Kowalske’s next thought.

And so, a dust devil became the catalyst for a clean-up of Boyne City’s functional, but uninspiring downtown, and the first of what is now known as the annual Buff Up Boyne. “We weren’t super organized,” Kowalske says of that first work bee, but with brooms, wheelbarrows, and shovels, business owners and volunteers brought some shine to downtown.

One thing led to another as the group continued its improvements, and with a combination of volunteers and financial donations, plus help from the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Boyne, things started to change.

Decorative banners appeared on the lamp posts. A billboard was created to reach travelers on US-131. (“No one knew where we were,” Kowalske adds.) Curbs were painted, and parking lots were paved.

But a heavy reliance on donations was not going to work long term, so, in 1994, City Hall suggested forming a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to shift the financial burden to tax-increment financing (TIF). Grants became another important funding source to keep the improvements going.

And yet there was still something missing.

Committing to Main Street

The DDA knew Boyne had good bones, an intriguing history, and a willing citizenry, but they needed help with a master plan. DDA member Jodie Adams is credited with discovering the pilot program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation called Main Street, which promotes historic preservation and economic development in struggling downtowns through technical guidance and organizational expertise.

After determining the level of community support, Adams and others went to Boston, in 2000, for the National Main Street Conference.

“We were hooked,” she says of the experience. And, when Michigan introduced a statewide Main Street initiative, part of the Michigan Economic Development Commission (MEDC), “[we] jumped at the chance to be included.”

After only a few months on the job, in 2003, City Manager Mike Cain faced some negativity from those thinking it was “too much work,” but the DDA and the city prevailed. “It was a journey to apply, [with] no guarantee that we’d be successful,” Cain says, but he notes the team’s “desire to [make] Boyne City the best that [it] could be.”

The whole process took months, including a trip to Lansing to present the pitch, and two visits to Boyne City by a representative of the Main Street program. In the end, Boyne was among the first four communities selected.

Laura Krizov, current program manager for Michigan Main Street in Lansing, visited Boyne in 2003 in her role as community assistance team member and remembers what impressed her. “Really [it was] the people,” she says, citing their interest in moving Boyne City forward “rather [than focusing on] personal agendas.” Krizov also stresses the strength of the proposed program, including the DDA. “They had a [funding] mechanism in place.”

Adams also credits “excellent” Cain as well as the “…many talented, dedicated, and passionate residents and staff over the past 20 years” for what has become a roaring success.

Slow and Steady Progress

Resident Michelle “Mit” Cortright served on the Main Street board for 20 years, including two terms as chair. She remembers a downtown that “was OK, but definitely not thriving … [but] over time, as things ramped up and Main Street got on its feet, the residents started to notice—and liked what they saw.”

A streetscape was an early initiative, transforming downtown with new sidewalks, benches, lamp posts, and trees, as well as updating the unglamorous stuff underneath: new sewer, water, and power lines. A facade grant program, with $20,000 annual matching funds, has, since 2003, helped 72 downtown businesses and building owners revitalize facades with historical accuracy. Today, downtown Boyne is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Main Street success attracted new developments, restorations, and upgrades helping the community at large, including marina expansion, city park and beach improvements, outdoor art, and new retail and business spaces. In the last 21 years, private investment has totaled $29,158,435 to help fund facade and building improvements and dozens of new businesses.

Other highlights, according to a 2024 Main Street Impact report, include a 1 percent storefront vacancy rate in downtown, six new businesses opened in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, and over 64,500 volunteer hours since the Main Street program began.

Boyne’s certification as a Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC), in 2015, through

fiscal year, and over 64,500 volunteer hours since the Main Street program began.

Boyne’s certification as a Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC), in 2015, through the MEDC, has also given them a leg up. The certification streamlines the process for some developers and businesses who wish to invest in the community through new construction or building rehab. For example: The inprogress historical restoration of the 1912 Dilworth Hotel will be a favored destination upon completion.

And the Winner Is...

All of that work has not gone unnoticed by the state or the rest of the country. In 2020, Boyne City won the prestigious national American Main Street award. (They were recognized as a Premier Main Street community in both 2011 and 2019.)

“For our little town to receive the Great American Main Street award was incredible,” says Courtright. The award segued nicely into their 20th anniversary Main Street celebration in 2023, attended by the MMS

team. “Michigan Main Street considers Boyne City a huge success,” she adds.

So, what’s next? Current Main Street director Ingrid Day says there are things in discussion, but it’s “premature” to start planning the future, and stays focused on the good working relationship between Main Street, the Chamber of Commerce, and the city.

“Our goal is to maintain what we have… and what we know works,” she says, adding that Boyne’s “economic vitality” is key.

City manager Cain agrees. “We don’t want Boyne to be a cycle that rises and falls with the seasons,” he says, adding that Boyne’s future is “very, very bright. We’re held up as an example of how to do it.”

For details on Main Street events in Boyne City, visit boynecitymainstreet.com. For more information about the Michigan Main Street initiative, visit miplace.org/programs/ Michigan-main-street

Things to Do On (or Near) Main Street

Check out the four-season season roster of annual Main Street events below. These events are estimated to bring more than 60,000 attendees to the city each year.

Boyne Appétit!: already held April 15-21

A showcase of Boyne restaurants and purveyors, including traditional American and internationally-inspired dishes, plus homemade treats, from chocolate to popcorn.

Buff Up Boyne: already held April 27

Community spring cleaning effort, the very first event which inspired Boyne City Main Street.

Farmers Market: Wednesday and Saturdays mid-May through midOctober, plus Saturdays in the Winter

The region’s best, featuring homegrown produce, artisanal products, and more.

Stroll the Streets: Fridays June 7 through Aug. 30

Friday evening fun on every corner for every age. Music, face painting, and balloon animals.

Boyne Thunder: July 12-13

Sleek powerboats—last year saw 120— gather in Boyne for a 150-mile poker run fundraiser for local charities.

Food Truck Rally: July 25

One-of-a-kind event with food trucks galore. Vendors, music, and libations bring folks out for this annual Farmers Market fundraiser.

Harvest Festival: Sept. 28

The final Farmers Market of the season moves downtown, with decorations, games, music, fun, and beautiful local harvests.

Earlier than the Bird: Nov. 23

Start your pre-holiday shopping early (7am!). Dress in your pajamas and get special deals and discounts.

Holly Jolly Boyne: Nov. 29

Boyne glitters during the holidays with a Christmas open house for shoppers, Santa parade, and tree lighting in Old City Park.

Sip & Shop Holiday Bazaar: Dec. 6

Find unique gifts for the family at this elevated craft show and enjoy wine tastings from local wineries.

Spring sailing on Lake Charlevoix.

A biker enjoying the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail (BC-CVX).

Kayakers pass by town along the lakeshore.

FROM A RAILROAD TOWN TO A GASLIGHT DISTRICT

How History Defines Petoskey

By Hannah Cumler

“It is a beautiful downtown. And that’s why I came back,” says Amy Tweeten, manager for Petoskey Downtown.

Tweeten recently moved back to Petoskey after a brief stint as a city planner out West. But before that, she served as a city planner for Petoskey for 16 years. Truly appreciating the beauty of northern Michigan may be a realization you have to come to by leaving, but just take a look at Petoskey’s history, and you’ll see that the city has long been desired by residents and tourists alike.

“The passenger train started in the summer of 1875, and really, right away, people started coming,” Jane Garver, executive director of the Little Traverse History Museum, says as she reflects on the town’s history of tourism.

While many of us drive, bike, or boat to Petoskey today, Garver says the railroad is what really opened up the city to tourism, an industry that still defines it today.

But long before the railroad, Indigenous peoples called the Petoskey area home. “The Odawa people lived here for hundreds of thousands of years. Then, in 1852, a Presbyterian missionary named Andrew Porter came to the area,” explains Garver. “The Odawa camped around here, but a lot of them lived in what’s now Harbor Springs, but there were some in this area and Andrew Porter started a missionary school because he wanted to convert the Odawa people.”

Garver explains that Porter also had a couple of mills, including a sawmill and a gristmill, as far as she knows. “There was also a lot of industry,” says Garver, “H.O. [Hirem Obed] Rose got his money from the

Gold Rush and then came here and started the lime kiln on the waterfront.”

Rose made a fortune in Petoskey with lime quarries and other business ventures, contributing to the industry of the area.

“There were sawmills and grist mills all up and down the river. Michigan Maple Black was here, in some form starting in 1880, all the way until 2020,” Garver says.

Around the same time that the trains began running in 1875, Bay View, a Methodist Chautauqua, opened its doors. “It started more as a campground,” Garver says.

“The cottages didn’t start right away. But people started coming here for the summer starting in 1875. So we’ve really been a resort

Most of those passengers were making their way Up North from Chicago, St. Louis, or Detroit. Petoskey was a summer town, and “a lot of the stores were seasonal because people came either via boat or rail,” says Tweeten. Garver adds that tourists were brought right into downtown Petoskey, which once boasted over 10 hotels, as well as boarding houses.

“The only one we have left is The Perry Hotel because a lot of them were wood structures and easily caught fire,” says Tweeten. “But if you go around downtown and you see we have surface parking lots … they’re all named after a lot of those hotel sites. There’s a sign that shows a picture and

“It is a beautiful town. And that’s why I came back.”

—Amy Tweeten, manager for Petoskey Downtown

town almost since the train started coming.”

Railroad Boom

Although train passengers didn’t roll into town until 1875, the railroad was required to be completed by 1874. Engineers and builders at the time used every last day, working right up to the deadline to complete the rail.

“The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad arrived December 31, 1874. Because they had a contract with the government, they had to come in 1874, so they made it by that time,” explains Garver. “Passenger trains started in the summer of 1875.”

gives a little history of the hotel that was at that location.”

Another iconic spot in downtown arrived about 50 years later: JCPenney.

“Mr. and Mrs. Penny came to Petoskey on their honeymoon and decided to open a store here,” says Garver. “They thought Petoskey would be a great location for a store. That building was there before they opened the store; it had been a billiards hall and some other things.”

JCPenney opened on the corner of Mitchell and Howard streets in 1926 and only recently closed its doors in 2020 after 94 years in business.

Gaslight Questions

History continues to be a big part of downtown Petoskey, reflected in its architecture, multi-generational businesses, and more. The downtown, referred to as the Gaslight District, is on the National Register of Historic Places. “We have 278 contributing structures downtown in the historic district,” says Tweeten.

As for how it became known as the Gaslight District? Well, that has less to do with the city’s history than one might assume.

“That is interesting, because when I look at the pictures from say the 1880s and ’90s, I’ve only seen two gaslights in any old pictures,” says Garver. “So I don’t know that they necessarily used them.”

Garver explains the city’s moniker was actually formed much later. “In 1967, Bill Barney, who had Barney Linens on Lake Street, formed the Gaslight Association, and he got other merchants to join him.” The association was formed to get people interested in coming downtown. “As far as I know, it wasn’t like there were always these gaslights there.”

Blending Past and Present

Gaslights or no, preserving historic buildings and finding businesses to occupy the space has always been a high priority for the city. “That’s what the beauty of a downtown building is … the framework stays the same but the storefronts can change,” Tweeten says.

While some businesses have stood the test of time in their original locations, others have found new homes in the city’s historic buildings.

Past & Present: The Perry Hotel. (Photos courtesy of Little Traverse History Museum and Downtown Petoskey)

“Two contrasting businesses: you have Grandpa Shorter’s at the corner of Lake and Petoskey, which has been a gift shop for three generations,” says Tweeten, “and then you have North Goods, which is at the corner of Lake and Howard, which used to be a bank, and they’ve turned it into a retail space.”

Although new businesses come and go, memories of the building’s previous life will always remain. As Garver explains, “The

place where Gypsy Vodka [Gypsy Distillery] is now, was Jesperson’s Restaurant for 114 years. That was a place where Ernest Hemingway went.”

(It wouldn’t be a true recollection of Petoskey history without mention of Hemingway, who spent summers at nearby Walloon Lake. “After he [Hemingway] was injured in the war in Spain, he spent November and December in town in Petoskey

at a boarding house and kind of hung out downtown and frequented Jesperson’s and what is now City Park Grill,” Garver says.)

As Petoskey looks ahead to the future, the city’s history and preservation efforts are paramount. While the downtown district is on the National Register of Historic Places, Tweeten says that “for many years we’ve had this discussion that we really need to create a local historic district which allows for local

County Michigan

regulation to try to preserve buildings, to prevent buildings from being torn down.” Tweeten adds that there was a study committee created for the local historic district shortly before the pandemic, but as with so many other endeavors, COVID slowed its progress. “There’s still very much an interest both from the city as a whole, and the downtown community to move forward on that process,” she says.

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Past & Present: Corner of Mitchell and Howard Streets.

Past & Present: E. Lake Street.

MICHIGAN’S ALPINE VILLAGE

A

brief history of Gaylord’s iconic Main Street look

By Kierstin Gunsberg

From nomming down smoked brats at Alpenfest to taking in the views from an alpine ski lodge, so many of Gaylord’s experiences and attractions tie back to its downtown Main Street.

Known for its alpine village look, Gaylord’s downtown architecture looks like it’s been pulled straight from the set of Heidi—all that’s missing are the snow capped mountain peaks and wildfloweradorned goats.

“Our alpine theme makes our downtown more distinct and memorable,” says Christy Walcott, Gaylord’s director of marketing and communications at the tourism bureau. From offices to boutiques, nearly every building adheres to the classic white-andbrown design. But how did the inspiration for the chalet-style facade make it all the way to northern Michigan in the first place?

It All Started with a Ski Club

When steel magnate Donald McLouth founded the Otsego Ski Club (now Otsego Resort) in 1939, he styled its lodge in the Tyrol style, synonymous with the quaint mountain villages of Austria, Bavaria, and of course, Switzerland. Nearly a century and a few owners later, Otsego Resort’s alpine motif remains inside and out, with their lodge rooms incorporating timber-framed

designs and their restaurants serving up sausages, bavarian beer cheese, and plenty of beer on tap.

As northern Michigan historian Phil Alexander recalls, Otsego Ski Club was the first business in the area to take on the alpine theme. McLouth had even petitioned the rest of town to follow suit, but at the time, no one else shared his enthusiasm for the folksy design concept.

Clearly, McLouth was just ahead of his time. Ultimately, Gaylord’s Alpine Village did come to be—just a couple of decades after it was first proposed.

That’s when a few business folks took a look around and realized the small town was in a bit of a rut. By the late 1950s, Gaylord was “tired, threadbare, and very much down-at-the-heel,” according to Richard H. Drullinger. In his 1967 piece, “A Cinderella Town Wins the Recreation Prince” published by the Yearbook of Agriculture, Drullinger explains that the town was struggling to attract visitors and retain residents.

After a brief boom as a manufacturing hub (when local investors unsuccessfully attempted to transform Gaylord into an industrial mecca à la Detroit) and long past its lumber and agricultural rush at the turn of the century, Gaylord wasn’t exactly bustling. “There were 15 vacant stores in the three blocks of Main Street,” writes Drullinger. “Chronic unemployment among

the 2,500 residents of the town and the 7,000 in the county drove young people to look to the cities for jobs and homes.”

That is until Harold Elgas, a marketer, and Gordon Everett, the president of Gaylord State Bank, decided to take up the task of reinvigorating the town

Getting a Facelift

According to Drullinger and historian Alexander, the two business-minded men, Elgas and Everett, saw a whole lot of untapped potential in Gaylord’s location. Surrounded by hunting woods, fishing lakes, and the impending construction of I-75 that would bring the highway straight through the center of town, Gaylord was primed to grow. Elgas and Everett knew it was time to show northern Michigan’s visitors that the town was worth more than a glance out the passenger window.

Looking to McLouth’s Otsego Ski Club as inspiration, Elgas and Everett took up the torch to once again petition the town to incorporate a theme throughout, and this time it stuck. Everett brought renderings of Main Street’s empty buildings reimagined with added steep pitched roofs, cedar shake shingles, and stone elements to Gaylord officials. Sold on the glow-up, the Chamber of Commerce gave “Project Tyrol” its full approval, and in 1964, the entire town started working on Main Street’s overhaul,

with a focus on “modern merchandising with old world charm,” as they called it.

“Cost of the facelifting operation is borne by the individual merchants,” writes Drullinger in that 1967 piece, estimating that the new exteriors and rebuilds cost between $700 and $15,000 depending on how elaborate the facade. (That’s between $6,500 and a whopping $140,000 in today’s money!) The good news is that while the original facades cost a pretty penny to build, the materials used—like stone and cedar— are naturally hearty against the elements, so upkeep since then has been pretty minimal.

Around the same time that Elgas, Everett, and other local leaders were bringing the Alpine vision to life, a particle board manufacturing plant built a factory in Gaylord, bringing a load of fresh jobs— and a market for locally sourced pine and aspen wood, which the product was made with—to the area. Because the plywood manufacturing process was patented by a Swiss businessman, the nod to Switzerland in downtown was even more fitting.

In 1965, only a year after the town began their reconstruction, downtown Gaylord held its first Alpenfest, then called Alpine Festival. Complete with locals dressed up in traditional lederhosen and dirndls and attracting 15,000 visitors to the four-day event, the festival proved McLouth’s original idea a very good one indeed.

Sunset over Otsego Resort, the building that started it all.

Parallel 45 gives a nod to the village look with its stone facade.

Gaylord’s Alpine Village.

The town’s Tyrol style shines during the winter months.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Today, the summertime festival draws crowds of nearly 100,000 who come to celebrate the town’s historic Main Street attractions.

Staying On Theme

Since the alpine motif was first introduced in the 1960s, it’s become a bylaw of the downtown development authority (DDA). That means that every business in Gaylord’s downtown district, from Burger King to Circle K, abides by the Tyrol style. And, whether it’s a rainbow of stained glass

window panes or faux balconies dripping in summer blossoms, each business’s exterior takes on its own interpretation of the theme. While exploring Main Street, make sure to check out these extra on-theme stops along the way!

Snowbelt Brewing Company: Grab a seat near one of the brewery’s Main Street facing windows and take in the apre´s-ski atmosphere with a bowl of Bavarian-style broccoli and beer cheese soup. The beer and cider there are served “cold as snow,” with everything from lagers to stouts.

Otsego County Historical Society: For the full lowdown on Gaylord’s rise to a top NoMi destination, pop through the quaint doors of the Otsego County Historical Society for an immersive education about Main Street and beyond.

45th Parallel: This northern Michiganowned lifestyle clothing brand offers fickle spring weather staples from tanks to windbreakers and sits inside one the Alpine Village’s prettiest stone covered buildings.

Alpine Chocolat Haus: No trip to downtown Gaylord’s Main Street would be

complete without a stop at the irresistible Alpine Chocolat Haus. Known for their chocolate covered potato chips, the confectionery also carries haus made candies and chocolates, sea salt caramel apples, and Ashby ice cream for those meltier days.

White Birch Outfitters: Edelweiss may be getting ready to bloom, but it’s never too early to daydream about upgrading that sweet ski setup. Decked out in painted bricks and shaker shingles, White Birch Outfitters has slope season covered all year round.

Alpine Chocolat Haus embraces the alpine theme in appearance and name...and in several of its confections.

A view of Main Street in downtown Gaylord.

DID YOU KNOW WE’RE KNOWN FOR THAT?!

From important soil to portals to hell to pirate kings, here’s what seven NoMi towns are (only somewhat) famous for

By Rachel Pasche

Everyone knows Traverse City is famous for the Cherry Festival. Leelanau is home to Sleeping Bear Dunes. Mackinac Island has great fudge. But what about some of those lesser-known attractions? The cool, quirky, or downright weird things that define our northern Michigan towns? Let’s find out what some of our friends and neighbors are known for…at least among those in the know.

Benzie County: Home to Only One Stoplight

A drive through most cities and towns will guarantee multiple red lights along the way, but in Benzie County, you’ll have to take a specific route to hit the region’s lone stoplight.

Benzie County is home to Benzonia, Frankfort, Beulah, Honor, Thompsonville, Elberta, Lake Ann, Hardwood Acres…and one stoplight between all those towns. The stoplight sits at the intersection of US-31 and M-115, though the county wouldn’t mind adding in a few more, says Michelle Barefoot, executive director of the Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Benzie County’s many small towns have speed zones as low as 25 miles per hour within a downtown district as well as many ordinances regarding pedestrian crossings [much like Traverse City’s Front Street]. Unfortunately, with the influx of visitors in the summer months, these ‘slow zones’ are often disregarded,” Barefoot says.

If you’re driving through Benzie County this summer, remember to slow down, and don’t get too upset if you hit the red light!

Kalkaska: Home of the Official State Soil

Michigan boasts over 500 different types of soils, but the state soil is Kalkaska Sand.

First identified in 1927, Kalkaska Sand consists of multiple layers of soil, including light sand, yellowish sand, dark sand, and humus, ranging in color from reddish brown to yellow to black. This soil filters water well, and is said to be partly responsible for the water quality of the lakes and rivers in regions where it’s found.

The water filtration and well-draining nature of Kalkaska Sand also make it important to agriculture and forestry, which were important considerations when deciding what the state soil should be in 1990. The designated soil needed to support a state crop (white pine) and be widespread (Kalkaska Sand covers nearly 1 million acres across both peninsulas). Kalkaska Sand meets both requirements, and is a unique element of our state.

Traverse City: Home to the Hippie Tree (or a Portal to Hell)

In the woods near the Village at Grand Traverse Commons grounds in Traverse City is an area that’s been visited and decorated by thousands of people for generations. The Hippie Tree is more than a single tree and more closely resembles something out of a Disney film: a tucked away space with large fallen trees and smaller trees surrounding it, all painted and decorated in bright, beautiful colors. The end result is a dazzling display that feels otherworldly.

Some folks take that otherworldly aura literally, and explanations for the draw of the grove include that it’s a portal to hell, haunted by spirits, and/or is a spot for supernatural encounters. Legends say the spirits rumored to haunt the place are disquieted shades of previous residents of the Northern Michigan Asylum/Traverse City State Hospital. To visit the Hippie Tree and decide for yourself whether it’s a place of good or evil, park in

the lot near Greenspire School and head up the trail, taking the right at the fork and then the first left.

Kaleva: Home of the Bottle House

In the small town of Kaleva is the Bottle House, a home constructed of over 60,000 glass bottles that serve as the primary exterior walls.

John Makinen immigrated to Kaleva from Finland in 1903 and opened a local bottling company, Northwestern Bottling Works Co., from which he sourced the materials for his project. It’s rumored that he used chipped, defective, and surplus bottles to build his house, using a technique he developed in 1932 to mortar and stack the bottles to create the walls. Makinen finished the house in 1941 and passed away a year later, never able to live in his glass home, though his family resided there for nearly 40 years.

“Over the years, there was one instance of vandalism and a few bottles displaced. Where they have been repaired is obvious because Mr. Makinen’s secret mortar formula couldn’t be replicated. For the most part the bottles have held up over the 80 years since construction,” Cynthia Asiala, president of the Kaleva Historical Society, tells us.

Today, the Historical Society owns and maintains the museum. Tours are given upon request.

Petoskey: Home of the Underwater Crucifix

Offshore beneath the waves near Petoskey lies an 11-foot-tall crucifix made of Italian white marble, the only known underwater crucifix found in freshwater.

The marble statue was carved in Italy in the 1950s at the order of a couple in Rapson, Michigan, who had it crafted to commemorate their son who had passed in a tragic accident the year prior. When the marble arrived broken, having cracked in transit, the couple no longer wanted it, and it was sold to the Wyandotte Dive Club. Eventually, the crucifix made its way to the Petoskey area, where it was placed in the water in 1962 to honor Charles Raymond, a diver who drowned in Torch Lake, and later the focus grew to memorialize all those who have perished at sea.

Visitors and divers in the area can visit the monument; divers in the warmer months, and visitors during the “Viewing of the Crucifix” that takes place each winter, where a hole in the ice and lights placed on the monument allow easy visibility of the marble.

Charlevoix: Home of a Floating (Now Sunken) Speakeasy

There are few things more enjoyable than sipping an adult beverage on a boat during a northern Michigan summer, a sentiment that stayed true during Prohibition times. If we were to guess, that’s why Captain James Gallagher transformed an old lumbar barge into Lake Charlevoix’s hottest speakeasy, the Keuka

On New Year’s Eve of 1929, the Keuka was opened to the public as a dance hall on the water, advertising music and a roller rink as a cover for the illicit drinking and casino activities that were really taking place. Passengers would line up on the dock in Charlevoix, where they were ferried out to the middle of Lake Charlevoix and the facade removed.

“The Keuka wasn’t just related to Charlevoix … it made its way up and down Lake Charlevoix to Boyne City, where it was frequently docked, and I am sure now and then toward East Jordan,” says Trevor Dotson, manager of operations at the Charlevoix Historical Society.

The Hippie Tree (Traverse City), photo by Jeremy Thompson

Bottle House (Kaleva)

“There is no factual evidence as of today that Al Capone was ever on the boat or had anything to do with the boat and the speakeasy. That myth just keeps getting perpetuated,” Dotson adds, alluding to the rumors that Capone was involved with the operations on the Keuka

The barge remained in and out of operation until it mysteriously sank in 1932. The wreck can be visited by divers, and there is a Keuka exhibit at the Museum at Harsha House in Charlevoix.

Beaver Island: Home of the County’s Only King

Did you know the United States once had a king? Well, sort of: James Jesse Strang was a religious leader and self-proclaimed king who based his operations out of Beaver Island.

Strang thought himself to be a prophet and the successor to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism and the Latter-day Saints movement. He gathered a following that went with him to Wisconsin and later Beaver Island, and in the late 1840s, he established the settlement of St. James on Beaver Island’s northern coast. Strang held a coronation for himself in July of 1850, naming himself King James I. His was an ecclesiastical reign rather than a geographical one, but it did lead to trouble with the law and the people and militias living nearby.

Though not buccaneers in the typical sense, Strang’s followers accrued notoriety around northern Michigan for their ruthless antics on the island—namely taking goods and land from the island’s occupants—and were deemed pirates by the local press. Strang faced trial in Detroit for various crimes during his reign—including theft, treason, and trespassing—but was not

convicted. Instead, Strang was twice elected into the Michigan House of Representatives, serving from 1853 to 1856, furthering his power. (An ironic but perhaps unsurprising twist for us 21st-century cynics.)

His reign ended when he was shot by two former followers in 1856, after which Beaver Island’s populace drove out the remaining Strangites and dismantled the sect.

Bottle House (Kaleva)

The Keuka Speakeasy (Charlevoix)

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BOTANICAL GARDEN AT HISTORIC BARNS PARK

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S atu rday

BAYSHORE MARATHON (SOLD OUT), HALF MARATHON (SOLD OUT), 10K (SOLD OUT) & KIDS’ RUN: Full Marathon: 7:15am; Half Marathon & 10K: 7:30am; Kids’ Run: 1:30pm. All races besides the Half Marathon start at NMC, TC. The Half Marathon buses runners to their start at Devils Dive Rd. bayshoremarathon.org

TOP OF MICHIGAN FESTIVAL OF RACES: Lime Kiln Kid’s Fishing Pier, Bayfront Park, Petoskey. Half marathon: 7:30am; 10K: 8am; 5K: 8:15am. $40-$85; prices increase after May 22. runsignup.com/Race/ MI/Petoskey/TopofMichiganFestivalofRaces

BIRDING BY EAR: 8-10am, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. The birds are singing but may be difficult to see this time of year as the trees leaf out. Learn to ID birds by their songs & go for a birding walk. Binoculars are available to borrow at the Grass River Center before the walk. Pre-register. $5. grassriver.org

BOOK SALE: 9am-2pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Books, audio books, DVDs, music CDs & puzzles. Sponsored by Friends of the Alden District Library. 231-331-4318.

FRIENDS OF IPL PLANT & FLOWER

SALE: 9am-2pm, Interlochen Corners parking lot, across from Tom’s Food Markets Interlochen. Featuring a wide variety of annuals & perennials to choose from. All proceeds support programming at Interlochen Public Library. 231-276-6767.

LAKE ANN CAMP FAMILY FUN DAY: 9am, Lake Ann Camp. Tour the grounds, meet the staff, & preview the various activities planned for the summer. Free. lakeanncamp.com/retreats/family-fun-day

ELK RAPIDS ARTS & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-4pm, River St., downtown Elk Rapids. More than 70 artisans & crafters displaying & selling their works. Pet friendly, family friendly. Free. elkrapidschamber.org/ arts-crafts-show

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: 10am-6pm, Washington Park, downtown Cheboygan. Featuring more than 30 crafters & artists. facebook.com/madeincheboygan

MEMORIAL WEEKEND SIDEWALK SALES: 10am-5pm, Bay Harbor Village.

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NORTHPORT CARS IN THE PARK: 10am, Haserot Park, Northport. Enjoy a wide variety of cars - from pre-war to modern, both stock & modified, foreign &

domestic. Free for spectators. northportcarsinthepark.com

OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in art for the whole family. New projects are offered each week. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ open-studio-may-25

WALLOON LAKE WET PAINT ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am-5pm, Village Green Park, Walloon Lake. Shop from painters, sculptors, mixed media artists, potters, jewelers, printmakers & much more. Admission is free.

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“LAYING OF THE LILACS” CEREMONY: 11am, Benzonia Township Cemetery. Held to honor the Civil War Veterans & two World War II Prisoners of War. Takes place at the mushroom-shaped monument made by the E.P. Case Grand Army of the Republic Post 372 Veterans in the late 1880s. Lawn chairs suggested. Following the program will be a headstone cleaning workshop. Bring a “cleaning kit” consisting of a bucket, natural stiff brush, toothbrush, trowel, trash bag, & plastic or wood “scraper.” benziemuseum.org

MEMORIAL WEEKEND ACTIVITIES IN MACKINAW CITY: 1pm: Mackinaw City’s Grand Memorial Parade. Begins at the Straits State Dock, travels through downtown Mackinaw City, ending at the entrance to Colonial Michilimackinac. 3:30pm: The 60th Consecutive Fort Michilimackinac Reenactment. Takes place on location of the events of 1763. Held at Colonial Michilimackinac. Free. mackinawchamber.com/ event/memorial-day-parade

STORYTIME ADVENTURES: 1:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Featuring “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type” by Doreen Cronin. greatlakeskids.org

AUTHOR SIGNING: 2-4pm, Horizon Books, TC. Interlochen Arts Academy graduate Dara Levan will sign her new book “It Could Be Worse.” horizonbooks.com/ event/dara-levan-book-signing ----------------------

MICHIGAN BEER & BRAT FESTIVAL: Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Enjoy the 17th annual celebration of Michigan made food & craft beverages. Featuring The Drew Hale Band & The RockShow. Sample an enormous selection of Michigan’s finest microbrews, meads, hard ciders, wine, liquor & gourmet brats from northwest Michigan markets. VIP Admission begins at 3pm; General Admission from 4-8pm. Ages 3 & under are free. crystalmountain.com/beerfest

“OUR INHERITANCE”: SOLD OUT: 6-8:30pm, Higher Art Gallery, TC. A visual & live storytelling exploration of what gets passed down through the generations. Sto-

rytellers include Renée Dillard, Mayor Amy Shamroe, Shea Petaja & Dana Black. Artists include Shanny Brooke, Kim Kleinhardt, B.G. Mills, Ann Willey & Michelle Tock York. higherartgallery.com

RUTH & MAX BLOOMQUIST: 7pm, Grow Benzie, Benzonia. Enjoy these Michigan folk music legends. Tickets available at Frankfort Bookstore, Frankfort Corner Toy Store, East Shore Market in Beulah, & Grow Benzie. $20-$25.

“THE WEDDING SINGER”: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. It’s 1985, & rock star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. Love, laughter & ‘80s music collide in this romantic comedy. Adults: $33; youth under 18: $20. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/mainstage/ the-wedding-singer.html

Sunday

MEMORIAL WEEKEND

SIDEWALK SALES: 10am5pm, Bay Harbor Village.

WALLOON LAKE WET PAINT ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., May 25) ----------------------

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., May 25, except today’s hours are 11am-5pm.)

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PINK LADY SLIPPER HIKE : 2pm, Houdek Dunes Natural Area, Leland. Find these orchids blooming in rich communities of native & diverse plants, animals, & fungi, hoping share this unique natural area with others such as bugs, bees, birds, bears, & more. Free. leelanauconservancy.org/events

MEMORIAL WEEKEND ACTIVITIES IN MACKINAW CITY: 2:30pm: The 60th Consecutive Fort Michilimackinac Reenact-

ment. Takes place on location of the events of 1763. Held at Colonial Michilimackinac. mackinawchamber.com/event/memorialday-parade

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. This band was founded in 1961, & since then has been dedicated to playing & promoting the traditions of New Orleans jazz. They have shared stages with Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Grateful Dead, Beck, & many others. $47-$92. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/ preservation-hall-jazz-band

RUTH & MAX BLOOMQUIST: 7pm, Grow Benzie Event Center, Benzonia. Don’t miss these Michigan folk music legends! Tickets are available at Grow Benzie, Oryana Food Co-op (10th St.), East Shore Market in Beulah, Frankfort Bookstore, & Corner Toy Store in Frankfort. $20 advance; $25 door.

monday

RECOGNITION OF DECEASED VETERANS OF WAR: 9am-2pm, The Open Space, TC. Sponsored by Chapter 50 of Veterans of Peace. At noon Taps will be played & the names of the Michigan service members killed in Iraq & Afghanistan will be read.

HARBOR SPRINGS MEMORIAL WEEKEND PARADE & BREAKFAST: Breakfast is held at the American Legion from 7-9am. The parade starts at 10am on Main St.

AMERICAN LEGION POST 531 MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE SCHEDULE: 7:45am: Flag raising, Legion Post 531, Copemish. 8:15am: Memorial service, Nessen City Cemetery. 8:30am: Memorial service, Nessen City Catholic, Lindy Rd. 9am: Memorial service, Grant Twp. Cemetery, Zue Rd., Buckley. 9:30am: Memorial service, Cornell Cemetery, 4 Rd., Buckley. 10am: Memorial service, Minar Cemetery, 16 Rd., Mesick. 10:30am: Memorial service, Marilla Twp. Cemetery, Erwin Rd. 11:15am: Memorial service, Springdale Twp. Cemetery, Springdale. 11:45am: Memorial service, Pleasanton Twp. Cemetery, US 31. 12:15pm: Memorial service, Thompsonville Cemetery. 12:45pm: Memorial Service, Cleon Twp. Cemetery, Faylor Rd. 1pm: Memorial service, Cleon Twp. Cemetery, Rice Rd. facebook.com/americanleagionpost531

ROTARY STRIDE FOR S.T.R.I.V.E. 5K: 8:30am, 601 Chestnut St., Cadillac. $25; cost is higher after May 27. cadillacrotary. org/sitepage/strive-5k-race

BUCKLEY MEMORIAL DAY COLOR RUN: 9am, 315 E. Wexford Ave., Buckley. Run through the village of Buckley while colorthrowing volunteers douse you from head to toe in colorful powder. Featuring a 5K, 1 Mile, Kids 5K, & Kids 1 Mile. $10-$20. runsignup. com/Race/Events/MI/Buckley/BuckleyMemorialDayColorRun

LAKE CITY MEMORIAL DAY 5K & 1

WALLOON LAKE WET PAINT ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., May 25, except today’s time is 10am-3pm.)

MONDAY NIGHT MOVIES: 7:30pm, Bay View Association, Voorhies Hall, Petoskey. “Military Wives (U.K.).” 2019, 112 mins. Free. bayviewassociation.org/mondaynight-movies

tuesday

MILE ROAD RACE: 9am, Ardis Missaukee District Library, Lake City. $15-$35 + SignUp fees. runsignup.com/Race/Events/ MI/LakeCity/LakeCityElementaryTrojanRunningClub5k

MEMORIAL WEEKEND ACTIVITIES IN MACKINAW CITY: 10am: Memorial Day Service at Mackinaw City Municipal Lawn. 2:30pm: The 60th Consecutive Fort Michilimackinac Reenactment. Takes place on location of the events of 1763. Held at Colonial Michilimackinac. mackinawchamber. com/event/memorial-day-parade

MEMORIAL WEEKEND SIDEWALK SALES: 10am-5pm, Bay Harbor Village.

PEEPERS PROGRAM: RAD REPTILES: 1011am, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. An adultaccompanied program for early learners ages 3-5 years old of all experience levels with the natural world. Enjoy stories, crafts, music, & discovery activities. Learn about Michigan reptiles & what makes them different from us. Programming is 100% outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Register. $5 per child. natureiscalling.org/preschoolpeepers-program

STORYTIME WITH MISS DIANE: 10am, Bellaire Public Library. Join each Tues. for stories, crafts & snacks. Free. bellairelibrary.org

KID’S CRAFT LAB: DINOSAUR PAINTING: 10:30am, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. greatlakeskids.org

SPIRITUAL READINGS & GUIDANCE WITH JULIE CHAI: 11am-7pm, Higher Self Bookstore, TC. Enjoy a Clairvoyant Reading, Aura Healing, Oracle Card, or Past Life Reading, in alignment with your highest good & the purpose of your soul. Call 941-5805 to schedule or drop in. $1/ minimum.

TECH TUESDAY, BELLAIRE: 11am-3pm, Bellaire Public Library. Bring in your devices &/or technology questions & Gabe will help. Free. bellairelibrary.org

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CONNECTING WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON: 11:30am-1pm, Stafford’s Bay View Inn, Petoskey. Learn more about Harbor Springs Festival of the Book from Executive Director Amy Gillard. $35 CWIB members; $45 all others. petoskeychamber.com/events/details/cwib-luncheonmay-28-2024-32090

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FREE OPEN STUDIO TUESDAYS: Noon4pm, Boyne Arts Center, Boyne City. Bring your paints, fiber arts, written arts, sculpting, jewelry, cards, drawing, or other portable mediums. Create & share.

LAST TUESDAY BOOK CLUB: Bellaire Public Library. This book club meets the last Tues. of each month at 1pm. Free. bellairelibrary.org

STORYTIME ADVENTURES: 1:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Featuring “Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes” by Eric Litwin. greatlakeskids.org

TECH TUESDAY, GLEN LAKE: 3pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. Corey Buchan of BuchanTech will discuss & demonstrate the many functions of the Apple iPad. Bring your own iPad & questions. Free. glenlakelibrary.net

wednesday

BACKYARD COMPOSTING WORKSHOP: 9amnoon, Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn Gardens. Held in collaboration with the Leelanau County Solid may

Waste Council. This hands on composting program will help you divert organic material from your kitchen & backyard to build rich compost for many home planting projects. Led by Kate Thornhill, founder & caretaker of Leo Creek Preserve in Suttons Bay. At 11am the tour will move a quarter mile east on County Road 616 to Krull’s Composting. Learn how owner Barry Kroll produces premium humus compost for backyard & commercial uses. Please bring a folding chair, hat, rain gear & a water bottle. Free for county residents. leelanau.gov/news.asp?aid=1053

SPANISH SPEAKING COHORT: 4pm, Bellaire Public Library. This is not a Spanish class; it is a chance for native speakers to keep their skills sharp & enjoy conversations with other Spanish speakers. 231533-8814. Free. bellairelibrary.org

THE HARVARD-RADCLIFFE VERITONES: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Harvard University’s award-winning, contemporary, all-gender a capella group. Last year they took first place at the International Championship of Collegiate A Capella Quarterfinals, sweeping the awards for Outstanding Arrangement & Outstanding Vocal Percussion. $20; students 18 & younger, $10. cityoperahouse.org/node/599

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KOKOMO JACKRABBITS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traverse-citypit-spitters/schedule

thursday

NMCAA’S LAUNDRY PROJECT: 8:30-11:30am, TC Laundry, 1131 S. Garfield Ave., TC. Free laundry service for those in need. 947-3780.

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TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KOKOMO JACKRABBITS: 11:05am, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traverse-citypit-spitters/schedule

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BUSINESS IDENTITY THEFT PRESENTATION: 1:30pm, Courtyard Petoskey, Victories Square. Presented by Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel. Learn about the different types of business identity theft as well as how to prevent your assets, credit, & reputation from being stolen or compromised. Preregistration required. Free. petoskeychamber.com

OREO TASTE TEST CHALLENGE: 4pm, Petoskey District Library. Try out a vast array of Oreo cookies & tell what the flavor is! Winner gets to take home the remaining Oreos! Program is for grades 7-12. Free. calendar. petoskeylibrary.org/default/Detail/2024-0530-1600-Oreo-Taste-Test-Challenge ----------------------

SPRING CHAMBER CONNECT: 5-7pm, M22’s Wine Patio, Glen Arbor. Gather for a social hour hosted by the Glen Lake Chamber. Connect with the chamber community, learn about business updates, & engage in conversations. Free. visitglenarbor.com/ event/spring-chamber-connect-24

SOUND SUBMERSION - YIN YOGA: 6-7pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. This week’s session is a community Yin Sound Submersion. Provided by Embody the Bee NPO, AKA EmbodyTC. Free. tadl.org/event/yinsound-submersion-yoga-tadl-12006

AN EVENING WITH KEITH TAYLOR & MONICA RICO: 7pm, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey. Taylor is the author of “All the Time You Want - Selected Poems - 1977-2017.” Rico is the author of “Pinion.” RSVP. mcleanandeakin.com

JANE ELDER: WILDERNESS, WATER &

RUST: 7pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. Author & environmentalist Jane Elder will discuss her newly published book. It weaves together memories from her life in the upper Midwest with nearly fifty years of environmental policy work, presenting a unique perspective into the quest to protect the Great Lakes. Free. glenlakelibrary.net/events

THE WYDAHO ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. This festival showcases adventure films that inspire, educate & encourage making a difference, & also celebrate the local Teton Valley culture of storytelling & adventure. $12-$19 pre-event; $22-$29 day-of. cityoperahouse.org/node/584

friday

ANIME CLUB: 3:30pm, Petoskey District Library. Join the Anime Club & get to know others who share your enthusiasm, plus watch anime together. Anime Club is for tweens & teens in 6th-12th grade. Free. petoskeylibrary.org/en/index.aspx ----------------------

MAY MERRIMENT: AN EVENING OF MUSICAL JOKES: 6:30pm, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse, TC. Music & comedy, featuring PDQ Bach & other charlatan composers. Proceeds will fund the music programs of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse. Free; donations welcome. uucgt.org

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FREE MOVIE NIGHT: 7pm, Action Center, Cherryland Center, 1730 S. Garfield Ave., TC. The Eric Metaxas documentary, “Letter to the American Church,” will be shown.

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KALAMAZOO GROWLERS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traversecity-pit-spitters/schedule

RHUBARBARY HOUSE CONCERT: 7:30pm, The Rhubarbary, Five Mile Creek Rd., north of Harbor Springs. Featuring Hannah Harris & Trillium Irish Band. While their primary focus is on Irish traditional music, they add their own spin through references to Cape Breton repertoire, Australian aboriginal instrumentation, & hints of string quarter arrangements. Donation: $20. dalescottmusic.com

THE WYDAHO ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL: (See Thurs., May 30, except tonight’s time is 8pm.)

saturday

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN BIKE BENZIE TOUR: 8am, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Choose from the 63 (8am), 46 (8:30am) or 28 (9am) mile tour. Includes food stops. $50-$75. bikebenzie.org

DISCOVER FISHING AT THE PIER: 8:30am, Discovery Pier, TC. For youth aged 7-16 who are interested in learning how to cast, knot tie, identify fish, & investigate Great Lakes food webs. Space is limited & registration is required. Free. discoverygreatlakes.org/discoverfishing

38TH ANNUAL BOAT AUCTION & NAUTICAL GEAR SALE FOR MARITIME

HERITAGE ALLIANCE: Discovery Center, TC. 9am viewing; sale auction starts at 11am. Support Schooner Madeline & Cutter Champion youth programs. maritimeheritagealliance.org/boatsforsale

HANSON HILLS CHALLENGE TRAIL RUN: 9am, 7601 Old Lake Rd., Grayling. Featuring a 5 mile trail run & a 3 mile-ish trail run. $20-

BANH MI • MI LAMB BURGER • TURKEY PESTO CLUB

master of harmonica and piano, composer and founding member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

Allie Kessel

$35. runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/Grayling/HansonHillsChallenge5MileTrailRun

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY CELEBRATION WITH NCTA GRAND TRAVERSE CHAPTER!: 9:30am, Spring Lake State Forest Campground, Fife Lake. Short or long hike, hotdog roast with potluck, & campfire. Sign up. Free. meetup.com/grand-traversechapter-north-country-trail-association/ events/300872160

ART BEAT - THE BIG DAY OF ART: 10am-5pm, Elk Rapids. Visit four galleries for art demonstrations, prize giveaways, drawings for gift certificates, refreshments & more. Galleries include: Mullaly’s 128 Studio & Gallery, Blue Heron Gallery, Twisted Fish Gallery, & Art & Connection. Four $100 gift certificates will be drawn from those visiting all four locations during the day. twistedfishgallery.com/ event/art-beat-elk-rapids-gallery-tour

BELLAIRE GARDEN CLUB PLANT EXCHANGE: Bellaire Public Library. Stop by between 10am-noon. Drop off plants &/or pick up a few. bellairelibrary.org ----------------------

GEOLOGY HIKE SERIES: ICE AGE ODYSSEY: 10am. Meet at Oleson Pavilion, next to Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Featuring the Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club Pebble Pups. This program offers hikers the opportunity to traverse terrains shaped by the forces of the Ice Age. Must register. Free. natureiscalling.org/events

KICK-YER ASSPARAGUS 5K FUN RUN/ WALK: 10am, The Pavilion at Empire Beach. $20-$40. runsignup.com/Race/ Events/MI/Empire/KickyerAssparagus5kmFunRunWalk

TC SPRING ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am5pm, The Open Space, TC. 2D & 3D art, jewelry, fluid art, glassblowers, woodworkers, sculptors & more. Find ‘Traverse City Spring Art & Craft Show’ on Facebook. Free admission.

DIRTY DOG DASH: 11am, Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. This race covers 5km across the slopes of Boyne Mountain Resort. Climb, crawl, wade & slide to conquer many obstacles. For ages 8+. After the race enjoy live music, a cookout, & cold beer (for ages 21+). Numerous awards given. Visit web site for more info. boynemountain.com/ upcoming-events/dirty-dog-dash ----------------------

BOB DOWNES BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Downes’ “Raw Deal” explores the theft of Native lands by squatters, speculators, unfair treaties & blatant swindles, focusing on the Indians of the Midwest & the Great Lakes. horizonbooks. com/event/bob-downes-book-signing

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GARDENING STORY HOUR: 2pm, Interlochen Public Library, patio. Miss Mary Anne, a gardening enthusiast, is launching the library’s new vegetable garden. Join her for a story & planting craft, & then help plant the garden. Each participant will take home their seeds to start their own garden at home. 231-276-6767.

PADDLE ANTRIM 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY KICK-OFF CELEBRATION: Richardi Park, Bellaire. A kick-off on Intermediate River. The community paddle portion of this event will run from 2-3:30pm, followed by a gathering at Short’s Beer Garden from 3:305pm. All paddlers must bring their own craft/ boat, paddle, & pfd (life jacket). All paddlers must complete a paddling event waiver prior to participation. Free. paddleantrim.com/ event/10yearcelebration

PAWS AT THE PLAZA: 4-7pm, The Towne Plaza, TC. Line up at the kissing booth with your furry companion! Benefitting the Cherryland Humane Society, this event includes

a professional photographer capturing special moments of you & your pet, appetizers, pupa-chinos, biscuits, door prizes, live music by Crater & the Impact, & more. Enter the Best Dressed Pet Contest & meet pets from the Humane Society who are searching for homes. Tickets are $35 adults, & free for kids, with a donation at the door if possible. cherrylandhumane.org

FREE CONCERT TO KICK OFF LESS CANCER’S HIKE & BIKE AMERICA

2024: 6pm, Mt. Holiday, TC. Help kick off this month-long endeavor to help get & keep America moving. Featuring The Insiders: A Tribute to Tom Petty & opening band, Sean Kelly and The Timewiser. Gates open at 5pm. Donations to Less Cancer will be accepted. lesscancer.org/how-we-do-ourwork/less-cancer-bike-ride

SOME LIKE IT YACHT: 7pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Enjoy many iconic sing-along tunes from the 70’s & 80’s. This concert features local phenom Judy Harrison & many other performers, harmonies, choreography, & songs you love. Adults: $33; youth under 18: $20. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/ special-presentations/yacht.html

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KALAMAZOO GROWLERS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traversecity-pit-spitters/schedule

sunday

BLUEBERRY PANCAKE BREAKFAST: 8am-noon, Rainbow of Hope Farm, Kingsley. rainbowofhopefarm.weebly.com

BOATER SAFETY CLASS: 9am-4pm, Interlochen Public Library. Presented by the Department of Natural Resources. Lunch is provided. All ages welcome. Registration required. Free. michigan.storefront.kalkomey.com/em/events/6779

TC SPRING ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., June 1)

BARTER FAIR: 2-5pm, Grow Benzie, Benzonia. An afternoon of trading. Bring your unused tools, clothes you’re tired of, carefully crafted goods, plant starts -- whatever you think will make a good trade. (Nothing illegal, please!) The only rule -- money won’t get you anything. Questions? Email: Paulamfriedrich@gmail.com. Free.

art

CHARLEVOIX PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

15TH ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. Runs May 31June 15 with an opening reception on May 31 from 5-7pm. See web site for hours. charlevoixcircle.org

NORTHPORT PHOTO EXHIBIT: The Village Arts Building, Northport. Featuring 35 photographers from across Michigan & beyond. Runs through June 11. Gallery hours are Tues. through Sun., noon-4pm. The photography judges include Scott Wilson of VADA Color & Carol Greilick from the Traverse Area Camera Club. Free. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits

“ALL THINGS SPRING EXHIBIT”: Boyne Arts Center, Boyne City. Featuring the photography of Winnie & Bill Johnston. In addition, local artists have chosen one or two of the Johnston’s photographs to recreate in a medium & perspective of their choice. Their artwork will also be on display. Runs through May 30. Open Tues. through Sun., noon-4pm. boynearts.org

GENERATIONS EXHIBITION - FATHER

DAUGHTER WORKS OF ART: City Opera House, TC. Enjoy an exhibit that features large-scale paintings from a father & daughter duo – TC native Mitchell Truemner & Midland resident Katie Truemner Bruessow. This father & daughter bring two different styles. Their part II series will exhibit paintings inspired by Michigan’s landscapes. The exhibit runs through June 29. cityoperahouse.org/node/587

UNIQUE ART OF ANTRIM COUNTY

OUTDOOR ART EXHIBIT: Downtown Bellaire. Featuring 12 local artists’ works on display. After the exhibit the artwork will be auctioned off, & these funds will help fund future public art exhibitions in Downtown Bellaire. Runs June 1 - Oct. 31. bellaireart. wixsite.com/bellaireart

“BLOOM” ART EXHIBIT: Runs through May 31 at Three Seasons Gallery, The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, TC. An exhibit of spring & summer gardens, orchards & area farmsteads. The paintings are by local oil painter Wendy McWhorter.

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:

- MICHIGAN: AN AMERICAN PORTRAIT: Runs through Aug. 31 in Gilbert Gallery. This exhibit re-envisions the PBS documentary film of the same name as a dynamic art & culture exhibition. Open Tues. through Sat. from 10am-5pm. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-petoskey/michigan-american-portrait - HORIZONS: LANDSCAPES & FIGURES BY ROBERT & SUSAN PERRISH: Held in Bonfield Gallery through Aug. Works by Michigan-based painters Robert & Susan Perrish. Open Tues. through Sat. from 10am-5pm. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/horizons-landscapes-and-figuresrobert-and-susan-perrish

- CREATIVE PRACTICES: AN EXHIBITION OF WORK BY CTAC HIGH SCHOOL PORTFOLIO STUDENTS: Runs through June 8 in Atrium Gallery. See & celebrate the work of dedicated young artists. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/creative-practices-exhibition-work-ctac-highschool-portfolio-students ----------------------

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC: - TRADING PLACES: Held in Cornwell Gallery. An exchange of artwork between Adrian Center for the Arts (ACA) Members & Crooked Tree Arts Center Guild Members. This will be an exhibit of ACA artwork only. Runs through May 25. Gallery hours are Tues. through Fri., 11am-5pm, & Sat., 10am-4pm. crookedtree.org/event/ctactraverse-city/trading-places-adrian-centerarts-crooked-tree-traverse-city - AGRICULTURA - TC: Held in Carnegie West Gallery. An open call juried exhibit with agriculture-inspired artwork by 40 artists. Runs through May 25. crookedtree.org/event/ctactraverse-city/agricultura-traverse-city - TRAVERSE AREA CAMERA CLUB 2023: AWARD WINNERS - TC: Held in Carnegie Rotunda. The Traverse Area Camera Club is a group of beginner to professionallevel photographers who all have the same love of cameras & photography. Each year, group members critique & select top examples of photography in different skill categories. Runs through May 25. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-traverse-city/traverse-area-camera-club2023-award-winners-traverse-city

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: - SOLO E TUTTI: A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY: Inspired by the musical phrases “Solo e Tutti,” which translates to “alone” & “everyone,” this collection of works offers a new take on the concept of community, reflecting the diversity of backgrounds that make up the students at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Runs through Sept. 1. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/

solo-e-tutti.html?utm_source=cision&utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=dmc-summer-2024

- NMC STUDENT ART EXHIBITION: Runs through June 1. An expanded student show this year, with juried work from both NMC students along with selected artwork from regional high school students. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/index.html

- PAUL WELCH: 90 WORKS, 90 YEARS: Runs through May 26. 2024 marks the 90th birthday of artist & retired NMC faculty member Paul Welch. This retrospective of his work, including several newer pieces created during the isolation of the pandemic, will be on view in the museum’s sculpture court. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/ paul-welch.html

- 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 through May 26. Hours are Tues. - Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum. org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/hemingwayin-comics.html?utm_source=cision&utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=DMC-winter-2024

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER: - BY HAND PROJECT: This project is a consideration of the myriad ways in which the human hand is intrinsic to creative work; & a demonstration of what human hands can make. It runs through May 30 & offers a range of programs that explore this theme through the visual, performing, architectural, & literary arts. glenarborart.org/events-page/events-all - NATIVE PLANTS: PAINTED + STITCHED CANVASES BY DANA FALCONBERRY: Held in the Lobby Gallery through Aug. 29. Falconberry, a musician, printmaker, painter & more, has been creating textile works that combine hand-painted imagery with machine chain stitch embroidery. She uses this hybrid method of creation to continue her exploration & interpretation of native plants local to northern Michigan. Gallery hours are Mon. through Fri., 9am-3pm; & Sat. & Sun., noon-4pm. glenarborart.org/eventspage/events-all

- OUTDOOR GALLERY EXHIBIT: MARGO BURIAN + ORDINARY MAGIC: Leelanau County artist Margo Burian’s collages have been chosen for display in the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s 2024-25 Outdoor Gallery exhibition, an annual, invitational exhibit. Burian’s collages are rooted in the idea of Ordinary Magic, or delight. They were reproduced on five, 5-foot-square, weatherresistant aluminum panels created by Image 360 of TC. Runs through April 20, 2025. Check web site for hours. glenaborart.org

OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT:

- OLIVER ART CENTER PRESENTS: LAURA MILLER: Held in the Fisher Room. The work of multi-disciplinary artist Laura Miller of Frankfort will be showcased in a solo exhibition from May 24 - June 26. An opening reception will be held on May 24 from 5-7pm. An artist talk will take place from 4-6pm on June 26. Laura Miller shares her zest for life through her work as she explores color & sculptural forms. Her painting style is fluid, relaxed yet bold featuring a wide range of subject matter & color. Check web site for hours. oliverart.org

- ARTISTS’ ROUNDTABLE: For more than 30 years about a dozen artists have met weekly over breakfast in Empire. The Artists’ Roundtable, a retrospective exhibition of their work, runs through June 14. An artists’ talk will take place in the gallery on June 14 from 4-6pm. The art is diverse in media, style, technique & content. Check web site for hours. oliverart.org

PENINSULA MEMORIES

guest opinion

by JULIA PARTON

My neighborhood on Old Mission Peninsula is etched in my memory as a magical place.

Summer vacations were particularly special as I think back, always beautiful with the beach and the woods. How lucky I was to have had such good close neighborhood friends. All the kids played together, and the older bunch watched out for the younger ones. There was always so much fun at our beach on the Grand Traverse Bay and exploring the woods. It was the best time in my life.

I can remember by tradition that shortly before school got out for the summer break, the neighborhood raft would be

that she knew it; she had watched us all summer to make sure we didn’t drown.)

The beach holds many memories of not just swimming, but of bonfires on the cool summer evenings. Remember when you were a kid and put a hotdog on a stick, roasted it until it was all charred black? We actually ate those! And there was always that Jiffy popcorn that my dad could shake and make it turn out over the fire, and someone’s mom would always bring s’more fixings before the fire was put out.

Sometimes we had sparklers, and sometimes the older kids could stay and camp out all night. It was so fun to play in that big green tent with the broken

Living on Old Mission Peninsula as a child with the neighbor kids and several surrogate parents was the best time in my life. The beach and the woods both have remained my favorite places.

maintained for launch on an appointed Saturday morning. It became an annual event. The area dads of the five neighborhood families would meet at the beach to repair and paint the raft that would be anchored in the bay. At the same time, the moms made everyone breakfast, and all the families ate together on the beach.

I can still remember how that day made summer feel so close. A couple weeks later, when school was out for the summer break, the raft would be set in place in about 12-foot-deep water. There began the official start of summer.

When I think back 60 years, which is about as far back as my memories begin, I don’t know how all the moms did what they did in those summers. Any one of them were known to make tons of cookies, gallons of Kool-Aid, along with being disciplinarian to whichever kid needed it. They always made sure that one of them was down on the beach as we kids were swimming. That was a rule. No swimming unless there was an adult somewhere on the beach. Everyone knew how to swim, but as a precaution, the adults insisted on being there.

I assume that rule was never broken; at least I don’t recall that it was. The one particular rule I do know was broken, since I was the offender, was swimming to the raft. Only the older kids were allowed to go in water that deep. But at eight years old, after a summer of sneakily trying, I finally did it! (It was a well-kept secret, and I only tell it now since my parents are both gone. My friend did tell her own mom we had done that many years later. Her mom replied

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zipper on the door flap. The same tent the older kids didn’t want us younger kids near because we tracked so much sand in it. And at all costs, nobody could get near it with a sparkler! Those simple nights from a carefree time are etched in my memory forever.

There were woods behind all our houses. No idea who owned the property, but all the kids played and explored in those woods as if we owned it. I recall it was laden with poison ivy and it never failed if you played in the woods, you got poison ivy. There was an absolutely forbidden abandoned tree house in those woods, and it simply drew everyone to the very place we were warned constantly never to go. With the rotten boards and rusty nails, it should have been obvious to us even as kids to avoid the hazard.

A real live-and-learn moment came when my brother did actually step on a nail and had to get a tetanus shot. Adding insult to injury, he got grounded. Shortly after, together the dads took the old tree fort down. The end of an era.

Living on Old Mission Peninsula as a child with the neighbor kids and several surrogate parents was the best time in my life. The beach and the woods both have remained my favorite places. Many of the people are gone now, but I do still connect with some remaining few. We all agree that Old Mission Peninsula on Grand Traverse Bay was an enchanted place to live and grow.

Julia Galligan Parton grew up on the Old Mission Peninsula. Retired and now living in Florida, she enjoys writing about her childhood.

ALEXANDRA INN, TC

BLUSH, ROOFTOP TERRACE:

Mon. -- John Piatek, 6-8

BRADY'S BAR, TC

6/1 -- Craig Jolly, 6:30-9:30

COMMON GOOD RESTAURANT, TC

6: 5/25 -- Blair Miller

5/31 – The Fridays 6/1 – Ted Alan & Ron Getz

ENCORE 201, TC

5/25 & 5/31 -- DJ Ricky T, 9

FRESH COAST BEER WORKS, TC

5/31 -- Jeff Socia, 7-10

IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC

5/31 -- Alex Teller, 6-9

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC

5/24-25 -- Equality Show Band, 9:30 Mon -- Team Trivia, 7-9 Tue -- The Will Harris Trio, 8 Wed -- The Pocket, 8 Thu -- DJ Leo, 9:30

5/31-6/1 -- Life Theory, 9:30

KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING

5/25 -- The Boardman River Band, 7

5/28 -- Open Mic, 6-8

5/30 -- Speed Quizzing w/ Host Marcus Anderson, 7-9

6/1 -- The Haz Binz, 7-9

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC

BARREL ROOM: 5/27 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

TASTING ROOM: 6/1 – Weston Buchan, 5-7

LIL BO, TC Tues. – Trivia, 8-10 Sun. – Karaoke, 8

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC

5/25 -- Matt Mansfield, 7:30-10:30

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC

5/25 -- One Hot Robot, 8-11

5/31 -- Rolling Dirty Trio, 6-9

NORTH BAR, TC

5/25 – Chris Sterr, 1-4; Jonathan Stoye, 5-8

5/26 – John Piatek, 1-4; 2nd Annual Mal’s Music Bash Bday Bash: One Hot Robot wsg Amanda Igra, John Richard Paul & Empire Highway, 5-8

5/29 – Jesse Jefferson, 7-10

5/30 – Drew Hale, 7-10

5/31 – Tai Drury, 7-10

6/1 – Jimmy Olson, 1-4; Swan Bros, 5-8

6/2 – Amanda Igra, 1-4

OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC SEVEN HILLS:

5/25 – Kenny Olson Cartel Live Show, 7

5/31 – Mitchell McKolay, 6

6/1 – Cosmic Knot, 6

PARK PLACE HOTEL, TC BEACON LOUNGE:

5/24-25 & 5/31-6/1 -- Jim Hawley, 7-10

ROVE WINERY AT THE GALLAGHER ESTATE, TC

5/31 – Levi Britton, 5:30-8:30

SORELLINA'S, TC SLATE RESTAURANT: Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 5-8

Fri. & Sat. – Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9

THE ALLUVION, TC

5/25 -- Earth Radio & Medicinal Groove w/ Live Visuals by Super Nuclear, 8:30-10:30

5/30 -- The Jeff Haas Trio feat. Laurie Sears, Anthony Stanco, Marion Hayden, Tariq Gardner, & Artist Lisa Flahive, 6-8:30

5/31 -- Elden Kelly feat. The Wilson Brothers, 7:30-9:30

6/1 -- Bill Frisell Trio feat. Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston: SOLD OUT, 7:30-9:30

Antrim & Charlevoix

6/2 -- The Sweet Water Warblers: SOLD OUT, 7:30-9

THE HAYLOFT INN, TC

7:30-11:

5/25 -- The Mix

5/31 -- The Hay Makers

6/1 -- Knuckleheads

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC

5/26 – Summer Launch Party w/ Go Rounds, M Sord, The Marsupials, & Brother Wolf, 5-11

THE PARLOR, TC

5/25 -- Nick Vasquez, 6-9; Rhett & John, 9-12

5/26 -- Rolling Dirty, 6-9; Empire Highway, 9-12

5/28 – Jesse Jefferson, 8-11

5/29 – Wink Solo, 8-11

5/30 – Jimmy Olson, 8-11

5/31 – Amanda Igra, 6-9

6/1 – Miriam Pico & Ryan Younce, 6-9

THE PUB, TC

5/25 -- Amanda Igra, 5-8; Soul Patch Trio, 9-12

5/26 -- Rob Coonrod, 5-8

5/30 – David Márton, 7-10

6/1 – Empire Highway, 9-12

6/2 – Luke Woltanski, 1-4; Rob Coonrod, 5-8

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

5/25 -- Dawn Campbell & The Bohemians, 8

5/26 -- TiltThink Comedy Improv Mixtape, 7

5/28 -- Open Mic Night, 7

5/29 -- Jazz Show & Jam, 6

5/30 -- Disney Trivia Night, 7

5/31 -- Aaron Dye, 8

6/1 -- The Parallelz, 8

UNION STREET STATION, TC

5/25 -- Rolling Dirty, 9:30

5/29 -- Trapt & Redburn, 7

5/30 -- Ladies Night Dance Party w/ 1Wave DJs, 9

5/31 -- DJ Prim, 9:30

6/1 -- Soul Patch, 9:30

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM

5/30 & 6/1 -- Adam & The Cabana Boys, 7-9

CAFE SANTÉ, BOYNE CITY

7-10:

5/25 -- Pete Kehoe

5/31 – Brett Mitchell

6/1 – Chris Calleja

CELLAR 152, ELK RAPIDS

5/31 -- Blair Miller, 6

CELLAR 1914, CENTRAL LAKE

5/25 -- Anniversary Party w/ Hanna von B, noon-2; Rolling Dirty, 3-5; North End Drifters, 6-9

ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS 6/1 -- Stone Folk, 8-11

FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE 5/31 -- DJ Bingo, 7-9

JAX NORTHSIDE, CHARLEVOIX 5/29 -- Trivia Night, 7-9

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BELLAIRE 5/25 -- Clint Weaner, 7:30-10:30

MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY

8-11: 5/25 -- Jakey T 5/29 -- Karaoke Night 5/31 -- Bruce & The Originals

SHORT'S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE BEER GARDEN:

5/25 -- Austin Benzing Band, 7-9:30

5/26 -- Nathan Walton & The Remedy, 5-7:30

5/31 -- Pajamas, 7-9:30

6/1 -- The Sleeping Gypsies, 7-9:30

SHORT'S PULL BARN, ELK RAPIDS

5/25 -- Serita's Black Rose, 5-8

5/26 -- Randy Reszka, 2-5

5/31 -- David Lawston, 5-8

6/1 -- Flylite Gemini, 6-9

6/2 -- Alex Teller & Ben Traverse, 2-5

STIGGS BREWERY & KITCHEN, BOYNE CITY

6/1 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6:30

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee

LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT, MANISTEE

5/25 – Onager, 9-1

BEL LAGO VINEYARD, WINERY & CIDERY, CEDAR

5/25 -- John Piatek, 2:30-5:30

5/26 -- Zeke Clemons, 3-5:30

5/27,6/1 -- Larry Perkins, 3-5:30

5/28 -- Nick Veine, 3:30-5:30

6/2 -- Ally Kessel, 3:30-5:30

BROOMSTACK KITCHEN & TAPHOUSE, MAPLE CITY PATIO:

5/26 -- Memorial Day Weekend Concert w/ Drew Hale, 5-7

5/28 -- Andre Villoch, 5-8

5/29 -- Pat Niemisto & Chris Skellenger, 5-8

5/30 -- Luke Woltanski, 5-8

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

5/30 -- Rhett & John, 5-7:30

6/1 -- Loose Change, 2-4:30

6/2 -- Jeff Socia, 2-4:30

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE

LEVEL4 LOUNGE, 8:30-10:30:

5/26 -- Jim Hawley

6/1 -- Bill Frary

DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU

Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1

BOB'S PLACE, ALANSON

5/29 -- Mike Ridley, 6-9

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY

2-6:

5/25 -- Chris Calleja

5/26 -- Pete Kehoe PATIO: 5/31 -- Chris Calleja, 4-7:30 6/1 -- Chase & Allie, 2-6

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY 5/31 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

DIXIE SALOON, MACKINAW CITY

5/29 & 5/31 -- Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters, 8-11

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR

5/30 -- Thursday Trivia, 7-9

FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH

6-9:

5/30 -- Trivia Night

5/31 -- Blake Elliott

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

5/30 -- Bekah Brudi, 4-7

FURNACE STREET DISTILLERY, ELBERTA PATIO, 5-7: 5/25 -- Blake Elliott

5/26 -- Kevin Johnson

5/27 -- Tim Jones

5/31 -- Matt Gabriel

6/1 -- Blair Miller

HOP LOT BREWING CO., SUTTONS BAY

5/25 -- The Dune Brothers, 5-8

5/26 -- Rhythm Theory, 4-7

6/1 -- Jameson Bros, 5-8

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

6-8:

5/25 -- John Piatek & Luke Woltanski

5/26 -- Blair Miller

5/31 -- Sam & Bill

6/1 -- Zie

Emmet & Cheboygan

NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY

5/25 -- Brett Harfert, 7-10

5/29 -- PubStumper's Trivia, 6:30

5/31 -- Delilah DeWylde, 7-10

6/1 -- Lee Fayssoux, 7-10

NORTHLAND BREWING CO., INDIAN RIVER BACKYARD:

5/25 -- Jelly Roll Blues Band, 7-10

5/26 – Groove Yard Vinyl Session w/ DJ Yakob, 5-8

5/31 – The Shifties, 7-10

6/1 – The Real Ingredients, 7-10

6/2 – Groove Yard Vinyl Session w/ DJ Clark After Dark, 5-8

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES:

5/31 -- Uncle Ugly, 9

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

5/25 -- Daydrinker's Series - Skellenger & Paul, 3-6; G-Snacks, 7-10 5/26 -- Daydrinker's Series - Runaway Mule, 3-6; Max Lockwood Trio, 7-10

5/28 -- Chris Smith, 6:30-9:30

5/31 -- Happy Hour w/ Johnathon North, 3-6; Uncle Z, 7-10 6/1 -- Daydrinker's Series w/ Rigs & Jeels, 3-6; Barefoot, 7-10

LITTLE TRAVERSE INN, MAPLE CITY

5/31 -- Billy & The Kid, 6-9

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH 5/25 -- Bekah Brudi, 5-8

5/26 -- Jabo Bihlman, 3-6

5/27 -- Luke Woltanski, 5-8

5/31 -- Keith Scott, 5-8

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

5/31 -- Luke & John, 4-7

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT

5/27 – Serita’s Black Rose, 4-7 6/1 – Blake Elliott, 7-9

POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS

5/25 -- Ty Parkin & The Old Souls, 4-8

5/26 -- Serita's Black Rose, 3-6

5/31 -- Jelly Roll Blues Band, 6-9 6/1 -- Kirby Snively, 5-8

RUDBECKIA WINERY & BURNT MARSHMALLOW BREWSTILLERY, PETOSKEY

6/1 -- John Piatek, 5:30-7:30

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 5/25 -- Azic, 8 5/29 -- Ahab & The Smelt Dippers, 7 5/30 -- Musicians Playground ‘Open Mic,’ 7

6/1 -- Cellar Door, 8

THE LARK THEATER, CHEBOYGAN 5/25 -- Mike Ridley, 6

Otsego, Crawford & Central

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 6: 5/25 -- Keith Menzies

5/31 -- Mike Ridley 6/1 -- Brian Curran

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD 5/25 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

C.R.A.V.E., GAYLORD 6: 5/25 -- Brad Corpus 5/31 -- Zie

6/1 -- Michael Hozz

OTSEGO RESORT, GAYLORD LOGMARK: 6/1 -- Randy Reszka, 8-11

RAY'S BBQ, BREWS & BLUES, GRAYLING

4-7:

THE GREENHOUSE - WILLOW/ PRIMOS, CADILLAC

5/25 -- Big 80's 90's Black Light Dance Party w/ DJ Nate, DJ DeanO & VJ Shawny-D, 8 5/29 -- Trivia Night & Music Bingo w/ Shawny-D, 6-10

5/30 -- Karaoke Night w/ DJ Shawny-D, 7-10

5/31 -- Tyler Roy, 7

5/26 -- Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters 6/2 -- Brian Curran

Leelanau & Benzie

lOGY

MAY 27 - JUNE 02

BY ROB BREZSNY

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): All of us periodically enjoy phases I call "Freedom from Cosmic Compulsion.” During these times, the Fates have a reduced power to shape our destinies. Our willpower has more spaciousness to work with. Our intentions get less resistance from karmic pressures that at other times might narrow our options. As I meditated on you, dear Gemini, I realized you are now in a phase of Freedom from Cosmic Compulsion. I also saw that you will have more of these phases than anyone else during the next 11 months. It might be time for you to get a “LIBERATION” tattoo or an equivalent new accessory.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo-born Irène Joliot-Curie craved more attention than she got from her mother, Marie Curie. Mom was zealously devoted to her career as a chemist and physicist, which is one reason why she won Nobel Prizes in both fields. But she didn't spend sufficient time with her daughter. Fortunately, Irène's grandfather Eugène became his granddaughter’s best friend and teacher. With his encouragement, she grew into a formidable scientist and eventually won a Nobel Prize in chemistry herself. Even if you're not a kid, Virgo, I suspect there may be a mentor and guide akin to Eugène in your future. Go looking! To expedite the process, define what activity or skill you want help in developing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I have a fantasy that sometime in the coming months, you will slip away to a sanctuary in a pastoral paradise. There you will enjoy long hikes and immerse yourself in healing music and savor books you’ve been wanting to read. Maybe you will write your memoirs or compose deep messages to dear old friends. Here’s the title of what I hope will be a future chapter of your life story: “A Thrillingly Relaxing Getaway.” Have you been envisioning an adventure like this, Libra? Or is your imagination more inclined to yearn for a trip to an exciting city where you will exult in high culture? I like that alternative, too. Maybe you will consider doing both.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): An Instagrammer named sketchesbyboze advises us, “Re-enchant your life by making the mundane exciting. You are not ‘going to the drugstore.’ You are visiting the apothecary to buy potions. You are not ‘running an errand.’ You are undertaking an unpredictable adventure. You are not ‘feeding the birds.’ You are making an alliance with the crow queen.” I endorse this counsel for your use, Scorpio. You now have the right and duty to infuse your daily rhythm with magic and fantasy. To attract life’s best blessings, you should be epic and majestic. Treat your life as a mythic quest.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I invite you to invite new muses into your life in the coming months. Give them auditions. Interview them. Figure out which are most likely to boost your creativity, stimulate your imagination, and rouse your inspiration in every area of your life, not just your art form. Tell them you’re ready to deal with unpredictable departures from the routine as long as these alternate paths lead to rich teachings. And what form might these muses take? Could be actual humans. Could be animals or spirits. Might be ancestral voices, exciting teachings, or pilgrimages to sacred sanctuaries. Expand your concept of what a muse might be so you can get as much muse-like input as possible.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The Japanese have a word for a problem that plagues other countries as well as theirs: karoshi, or death from working too hard and too much. No matter how high-minded our motivations might be, no matter how interesting our jobs are, most of us cannot safely devote long hours to intense labor week after week, month after month. It’s too stressful on the mind and body. I will ask you to monitor yourself for such proclivities in the coming months. You can accomplish wonders as long as you work diligently but don’t overwork. (PS: You won’t literally expire if you relentlessly push yourself with nonstop hard exertion, but you will risk compromising your mental health. So don’t do it!)

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Typically, human fertility is strongest when the temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit. But I suspect you will be an exception to the rule in the coming months. Whether it's 10 below or 90

in the shade, your fertility will be extra robust—literally as well as psychologically and spiritually. If you are a heterosexual who would rather make great art or business than new babies, be very attentive to your birth control measures. No matter what your gender or sexual preference is, I advise you to formulate very clear intentions about how you want to direct all that lush fecundity. Identify which creative outlets are most likely to serve your long-term health and happiness.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Here’s a key assignment in the coming months: Enjoy fantasizing about your dream home. Imagine the comfortable sanctuary that would inspire you to feel utterly at home in your body, your life, and the world. Even if you can’t afford to buy this ultimate haven, you will benefit from visualizing it. As you do, your subconscious mind will suggest ways you can enhance your security and stability. You may also attract influences and resources that will eventually help you live in your dream home.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Welcome to the future of your education, Aries! Here are actions you can take to ensure you are exposed to all the lush lessons you need and deserve in the coming months. 1. Identify three subjects you would be excited to learn more about. 2. Shed dogmas and fixed theories that interfere with your receptivity to new information. 3. Vow to be alert for new guides or mentors. 4. Formulate a three-year plan to get the training and teachings you need most. 5. Be avidly curious.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Poet Emily Dickinson was skillful at invoking and managing deep feelings. One scholar described her emotions as being profoundly erotic, outlandish, sensuous, flagrant, and nuanced. Another scholar said she needed and sought regular doses of ecstasy. Yet even she, maestro of passions, got overwhelmed. In one poem, she wondered "Why Floods be served to us in Bowls?" I suspect you may be having a similar experience, Taurus. It’s fun, though sometimes a bit too much. The good news is that metaphorically speaking, you will soon be in possession of a voluminous new bowl that can accommodate the floods.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Bold predictions: 1. Whatever treasure you have lost or are losing will ultimately be reborn in a beautiful form. 2. Any purposeful surrender you make will hone your understanding of exactly what your soul needs next to thrive. 3. A helpful influence may fade away, but its disappearance will clear the path for new helpful influences that serve your future in ways you can’t imagine yet. 4. Wandering around without a precise sense of where you’re going will arouse a robust new understanding of what home means to you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Denmark’s King Canute IV (1042–1086) wasn’t bashful about asserting his power. He claimed ownership of all the land. He insisted on the right to inherit the possessions of all foreigners and people without families. Goods from shipwrecks were automatically his property. But once, his efforts to extend his authority failed. He had his servants move his throne to a beach as the tide came in. Seated and facing the North Sea, he commanded, “Halt your advance!” The surf did not obey. “You must surrender to my superior will!” he exclaimed, but the waters did not recede. Soon, his throne was engulfed by water. Humbled, Canute departed. I bring this up not to discourage you, Leo. I believe you can and should expand your influence and clout in the coming weeks. Just be sure you know when to stop.

“Jonesin”

Crosswords

"Opera Biffs"--classing it up, but with one letter off.. by Matt Jones

ACROSS

1. Gave a hoot

6. Some TV screens

10. Herring cousin

14. Former "SNL" cast member Cheri

15. "It's all ___!"

16. "Aladdin" parrot

17. Opera that's sorta supernatural, but by chance?

19. Actress Cannon of "Heaven Can Wait"

20. 2024 title role for Michael Douglas on Apple TV+

21. Those who ___ most

23. Partner of yang

24. Opera about actor Ribisi turning into a canine?

26. ___ California, Mexico

27. Expected

28. Opera about an Irish wiggly dessert?

31. Collective auction offering

32. Software creators, for short

36. "Holy cow!"

37. Office seeker, for short

38. Shakespeare collection

39. Ooze through a crack

40. Stan Getz's instrument

41. Opera about a superhero mechanic?

42. League where Utah is deciding on a team name

43. "The Big Easy"

44. Opera where a future king turns blue-green?

49. "Ask later" on schedules

52. Playwright Eugene

53. Send mass phone messages during an election, maybe

55. Shoelace issue

56. Italian opera about pub quizzes?

58. German article

59. Snack with a roughly 1.75-inch diameter

60. Oopsie

61. In proximity

62. Notify

63. Break a truce, maybe

DOWN

1. Like a nice recliner

2. Pong producer

3. "King Lear" daughter

4. ___ go bragh

5. "King of the Surf Guitar"

6. Division for FC Barcelona

7. Held on (to)

8. "Hi and Lois" creator Browne

9. Escorted to the door

10. 45's main feature?

11. Composer with all the symphonies

12. "What is it now?"

13. "___ Make It Look Easy" (Meghan Trainor song)

18. 1988 Olympics track star nickname

22. Night before

25. K-pop star, e.g.

26. Radar flash

28. Fractions of a lb. or qt.

29. Coffee

30. Shorn animal

31. Bagel go-with

32. Kids' show explorer

33. Shade tree

34. Through

35. Family tree branch, perhaps

37. Hand part

38. Topple

40. Superficial

41. Raccoon's South American cousin

42. 0, on a soccer scorecard

43. Cell that fires on impulse

44. Gotten out of bed

45. Concave belly button

46. Singer Lewis

47. Quart's metric counterpart

48. ___ Tots

49. Papal headpiece

50. Ulan ___, Mongolia

51. Clock-radio feature

54. Very urgent

57. Longtime Notre Dame coach Parseghian

CLASSIFIEDS

HANDY SERVICES: Portable Handyman. Power Washing. Mobile Home and Home maintenance/repairs. Junk removal of all kinds - including vehicles. Exterior/Interior painting. Is what you need done not listed? Let's talk about it. Senior discounts. 231463-1294

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

BOAT AUCTION & NAUTICAL GEAR SALE Sat. June 1st: Maritime Heritage Alliance 13268 S W Bayshore Drive Sale 9am Auction 11am

BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER: The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy seeks an organized, independent, and driven individual with excellent communication skills to strengthen our Business Operations team. Please submit a cover letter & resume with

references to Connor Sweeney (csweeney@ gtrlc.org) by the end of the day on June 2, 2024. Visit gtrlc.org for the full job description.

WANTED: OLD WOOD DUCK, GOOSE, FISH DECOYS: Paying cash for your old duck, goose, fish decoys. Call or text 586530-6586.

MAH JONGG CLASS with Barbara: Learn this exciting game. All Thursday afternoons in June. NOT the computer matching game. $40. Register in advance. For info/registration contact: ellives@Aye.net, 231-383-0803

LEAD OFFICE FURNITURE INSTALLER:

Looking for lead office furniture installer/ assembler/ box truck driver. Must be professional, timely, skilled knowledge of assembly and tool use. Great pay. Call 231932-4000.

SEEKING A GRAPHIC DESIGNER:

Experience only, full or part time, Great pay and hours.Apply in person or send resume to 515 S. Garfield Ave, Traverse City, Mi 49686 or fax to (231) 946-2401

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?: I can solve your computer, phone, tablet and TV issues and show you how to use them too. If it's beyond repair I can help you shop for the device that fits your needs. Call James Downer, Advent Tech. 231-492-2087. Your high tech handyman.

ORYANA IS HIRING!

We're currently hiring for Grocery Buyer, Floor Manager, Front End Lead, Meat Cutter, Café Staff, Cook, Wellness Associate & more! At Oryana, we offer a friendly and inclusive workplace-- open to all. Bring your passion for food and community and we'll provide the training you need to succeed! Visit our website or stop by the store to apply! https:// www.oryana.coop/careers/