Top Ten

farmfest 2020

Just days after our July 13 issue went to print with the story heralding the triumphant — albeit scaled-down and very COVID-19-cautious — plans for Farmfest 2020, “The Show Will Go On,” we learned that the 23rd annual show wouldn’t go on, after all. Festival founder and host Stacy Jo Schiller did not respond to our request for comment on the sudden cancellation, but the Farmfest website (www.farm-fest.com) now states, “Out of caution and concern for our festival-goers, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Farmfest 2020. Please have a safe and wonderful year and come see us in early August of 2021.” Although no specific dates have been announced, the outdoor music festival typically takes place the second weekend in August.

Stuff we love A Royal Flush (Es- pecially When the House has Folded)

Boyne Thunder — a 150-mile highspeed-boating poker run that raises mega money each year for Camp Quality, Challenge Mountain, and Boyne City’s Main Street program — usually draws about 120 boats, 550 competitors from around the country, and thousands of on-water and on-shore spectators to Lake Charlevoix each summer. Out of concern for everyone involved in this year’s event, organizers opted to cancel the 17th annual run, which was to be held last weekend, July 10–11. Nevertheless, the sponsors and participants “showed up” in their own way, refusing the offered refunds for their sponsorship and registration fees. As a result of that generosity, the charities will still receive more than $50,000 from the 2020 (non-)event and can likely count on lots of love from next year’s event, slated for July 9–10, no matter what shape the world is in.

Ring-a-Ding-Ding: Volunteer for a Virtual Christmas in July

Maybe you’re one of those hardy folks who stands outside in the icy-wet winds of December, ringing a bell to inspire passersby to drop some cash in your red kettle. Or maybe you wish you could be, but — well, you’re more of a climate-controlled-72-degree sort of gal. Guess what? Your giving spirit and temperature needs can finally come together! Now through July 31, you can volunteer to man a virtual red kettle on social media to raise money for Salvation Army Traverse City’s annual Christmas in July campaign. The critical funds you raise enable the organization to feed the hungry, assist with utilities, help people stay in their homes, boost area kids’ character, and enable families to break the cycle of poverty. As the Salvation Army says: Need Knows No Season. (But temperature-sensitive volunteers know this is one opportunity to help that couldn’t be easier.) Volunteer or donate at SATraverseCity.org.

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No oNe WriteS A

Better tHriLLer!

Meet #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor in this free NWS virTual eveNT on Thursday, July 23 at 7pm. Called “America’s favorite author,” Thor has written 20 thrillers, including Backlash and Spymaster. In his new book, Near Dark, coming July 21, the world’s largest bounty has just been placed upon America’s top spy. With guest host doug STaNToN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Horse Soldiers. Register at https://bit.ly/NWSSummer.

Presented by the National Writers Series, a year-round book festival that uses net proceeds to help fund youth literacy programs. Details: NationalWritersSeries.org.

bottoms up Middlecoast’s Ginger Kölsch

A new beer from Traverse City’s MiddleCoast Brewing Co. is made for summer and tastes a little like Detroit’s own Vernors.

That unmistakable flavor isn’t a mistake, but what’s blended into MiddleCoast’s Ginger Kölsch isn’t actually Michigan’s signature beverage but something very, very close to it, says lead brewer Joel Mulder: “It’s a local product that’s a barrel-aged ginger ale.”

Their Ginger Kölsch starts out as a traditional Kölsch, he said, but then it’s brewed down so that it becomes dry enough to be mixed with the potent barrel-aged ginger ale; this genius melding gives the brew its kick.

A seasonal offering intended for hot summer days, Ginger Kölsch is at what Mulder calls “session level” — a gentle 4 percent ABV — so that it doesn’t pack too much of a kick if you drink more than one. Find it at 331 E. State St. (231) 943-1606 Northern Express Weekly • july 20, 2020 • 5