Northern Express - December 02, 2024

Photo of Low Bar Manager Zach Cavender by Megan Renae Studios

COME FOR THE COCKTAILS STAY FOR THE COCKTAILS.

With or without a cigar, our 11 signature cocktails and exceptional classics are worth the visit. And, we have over 60 Bourbons, Whiskeys & Ryes – after all, they go great with cigars.

Bar Hours Mon-Thu // 3p – 10:30p Fri-Sat // Noon - 11:30p

336 E FRONT ST, TC

NEGRONI THE MECHANIC THE JACKASS BLOODY MARY

TC WHISKEY JAR MULE

COLD BREW MARTINI

Prefab Houses, Expanded Yarrow Brown’s offering “Opportunities in Manufactured and Modular Housing” [Nov. 25, 2022] was appreciated. I concur, and eight years ago wrote Jimmy Carter and his foundation posing the question of whether prefab homes could be constructed in our state prisons? Benefits are completed units to house our people as well as providing reward, training, and a much-needed skill upon release. I received no reply. I wrote again two years ago to no avail.

A year and a half ago I contacted my State Representative Betsy Coffia. I asked if our state penal system could construct prefab units and be a model for our nation? A few weeks later, I was contacted by Coffia’s office saying they’d been in contact with State of Michigan prison officials who said thanks for the idea, but they were already working with Habitat for Humanity providing some cabinets; a pretty small start but maybe we could and should do more.

P.S. I may write President Carter one more time.

Bradley Price | Northport

& stuff

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It’s that time of year again, when the city of Manistee turns back the clock to the Victorian era for their Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend! The fun begins Thursday, Dec. 5, with ice shaking, a Christmas history talk, a Krampus Krawl bar crawl, and the Manistee Choral Society’s Annual Victorian Christmas Concert. Friday has a cookie crawl, holiday bracelet making (’tis the damn season!), the inaugural Manistee Art Stroll, jingle bell karaoke, and more. Saturday is the big day with a holiday craft show, the Jingle Bell Jog, appearances by the Grinch, Buddy the Elf, and Santa, and the big parade and celebration! Wind down on Sunday as the Manistee Civic Players present Matilda the Musical and explore a community art exhibition. Find the full weekend schedule at manisteesleighbellparade.com.

Hey, Read It! Toto

We’re all familiar with the story that lands Dorothy Gale on the yellow-brick path towards Oz. But how would the whole shebang have played out from her canine sidekick’s point of view? In her newest novel, Toto, acclaimed author A.J. Hackwith shows us we’re not in Kansas anymore! Packed with action and wry humor, this modern twist on The Wizard of Oz follows Dorothy, an impressionable teen, in her quest to offload some serious heels (and impress the pink witch who called her pretty!). Along the way, she picks up a crew of misfits: there’s Scarecrow, an ostracized mage; the Tin Man, a victim of Munchkinland’s hivemind; and the Cowardly Lion, a would-be king whose throne was seized by a bunch of mutinous birds. On top of that, Oz and its surrounding lands are on the edge of a political rebellion. What’s a dog to do?

Important PSA! The Spicy Chicken Sandwich ($15) is back on the menu at Hop Lot, and that means two things. One, that the quiet season has arrived for us locals. (Hooray!) And two, that you’re about to experience fried chicken perfection. This bad boy isn’t too spicy—a Hop Lot beer should be on hand, of course—but it does get a kick from the jalapeño lime slaw and house-made hot sauce that the chicken is dipped in before arriving on a brioche bun. Pro tip: Level up from the kettle chips to the Cajun Fries, which are crispy and flavorful and…might be our favorite fries in northern Michigan? (We’re happy to sample others—please send your suggestions for this very important research.) Eat up at 658 S W Bay Shore Drive in Suttons Bay. hoplotbrewing.com

Calling all book lovers! Traverse City Authors present the (free!) third annual Holiday Book Fair, featuring more than a dozen local authors reading from their books, as well as signing them, live music by Bob Downes, food and beverages, and more in the Mercato at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City. Catch all the reading fun on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 10am-2pm.

Sleigh Bells Ring

The shops in downtown Traverse City are getting ready for Ladies’ Night, held Dec. 5 from 5-9pm. Participating stores will offer treats, special discounts, prizes, and plenty of holiday cheer. Watch for updates and can’t-miss stops at downtowntc.com/ladies-shoppingnight. Two days later on Dec. 7, Myrtle & Maude’s of Williamsburg will open the market doors for their Ladies’ Night on the Farm from 11am-2pm. It’s their last shopping event of the year, featuring vintage decor and gifts alongside plenty of artisan bits and bobs for stocking stuffers or presents under the tree. The $20 admission at the door (or online—head to their Facebook event for the link) gains you entry, plus two drink tickets and access to festive hors d’oeuvres and a baked potato bar. Learn more at myrtleandmaudes.com and find the farm at 10981 Elk Lake Rd. in Williamsburg.

Smart Holiday Planning

Our friends at the Otsego Conservation District recently shared an important reminder about how much waste is created during the holiday season. (As much as 43 percent more than usual!) They offered the following tips for minimizing your carbon footprint contributions this year. 1) Pick sustainable gift wrapping materials, like paper wrapping, bags, and gift boxes. (Fabric ribbons can add a pop of color!) Anything with glitter, foil, or laminate cannot be recycled. 2) If you have dead twinkle lights, before you send them to spend hundreds of years in a landfill, check to see if your township or county offers a hard-to-recycle waste collection. 3) Be smart with holiday cooking—waste not, want not! And be sure to have leftover containers handy to properly store and save extra food…or to send home with your guests!

Holiday with MAWBY

Wine

It’s the season that sparkles and that means MAWBY. We offer both festive bubblies and NA fizzies for all your celebratory needs

A few weeks ago, we learned a new term when working on our Artists & Artisans issue: kinetic jewelry. These are pieces that have a moving element, either for beauty and interest or to keep the wearer gently busy. (Think fidget spinners for the sophisticated adult.) For a local touch, check out Cedar creator Dana C. Fear’s line of earrings, necklaces, and rings. These pieces combine movement, sound, and comfort into timeless looks for all genders. We particularly like Fear’s slide rings—pictured—which have tiny bars or stones that you can slide back and forth. Prices range from $95-$500+ depending on the complexity, design, and materials. Find her shop online at danacfear. etsy.com or visit her studio at 9044 S. Kasson St. in Cedar.

Time to put on your party pants, people! It’s officially festive season, and the Sneaky Pants cider at Snowbelt Brewing Co. in Gaylord is a humdinger of a holiday treat. Named for the powerful punch it packs—both in flavor and ABV, which clocks in at around 7 percent—this jewel-toned beverage combines raw-pressed apple and cherry juice, sourced from King Orchards in Central Lake, apple concentrate, and a hint of pure vanilla extract. Fermented onsite in stainless steel tanks, the result is a balanced, semi-sweet sip with a fruit-forward palette and bright finish. Pair one with a plate of pretzels and beer cheese, and you’ve got yourself a real celebration. (Psst—it also comes as a slushy!) Get your sneak on ($6 per pint) at Snowbelt Brewing Co. in Gaylord (132 W. Main St.). snowbelt. beer; (989) 448-7077.

pre-purchase tickets online limited quantity!

Live Music I Holiday Shopping I Vintage Decor

Refurb Furniture I Outdoor Holiday Decor I F

Massage Chair I Make & Take station I Cozy

Mashed potato bar I Sweet Treats I 2 drink indoor & outdoor gathering with your ga

LAKESIDE CLUB OF MANISTEE COUNTY

PROCEEDS BENEFIT

Lakeside Club High School Scholarship for Service Manistee County Historical Society/Museum Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts

FRIDAY

DEC. 6

1 PM - 9 PM Ramsdell Ballroom 101 Maple Street Manistee, MI ADMISSION: Suggested Donation $1 Minimum

RAMSDELLTHEATRE.ORG

spectator

By steven Tuttle

It’s been another year of efforts to ban books from public or school libraries or, at the very least, move them to a place that makes it harder to find them. All in the name of protecting our delicate children from the ravages of literature with controversial topics and language.

We recently had a reminder in Bellaire where some were complaining about the presence of a graphic novel (basically a novel in a comic strip/comic book format) in which there is an actual—gasp!—gay couple. It’s not the primary focus of the novel, and there is nothing explicit to merit concern, mind you, but we had to listen to the old canards about “indoctrination” as if the mere existence of a gay couple in a novel was somehow dangerous to our children.

according to the ALA, which keeps track of these things, there were an astonishing 4,240 individual book titles challenged, and libraries are on pace for about the same this year.

The major change has been the dramatic, organized challenges against books at public libraries, a 92 percent increase versus challenges in school libraries. Overall, about 46 percent of the challenges now involve books in public libraries and 54 percent books in school libraries.

Most public libraries have been honorably steadfast in their determination to avoid banning or censoring much of anything. Patrons decide what is and is not appropriate for their own and their family’s sensibilities and literary tastes. School libraries require

There are about 9,000 libraries in the U.S. with more than 17,000 branches. Last year according to the ALA, which keeps track of these things, there were an astonishing 4,240 individual book titles challenged...

What utter and complete nonsense.

At least the book banners have a certain consistency to them, or used to. According to the American Library Association (ALA), 1984 by George Orwell is once again the book title most requested to be banned or restricted. It has been number one on the censors’ hit list almost since the day it was published in 1949. It is, the bookbanners insist, too negative, subversive, procommunist, contains sexual content, etc., etc. Over the decades it has been banned in more than 100 American cities and twice as many schools. The ALA says 1984 is the most banned book ever in the U.S. and the world, but hardly the only target.

Huckleberry Finn always makes the top 10 list of most banned books because it has that n-word used frequently as part of a character’s name. But rather than let skilled teachers explain why the word was used at that time, what it meant then, why we consider it so offensive today, and what about that character’s relationship with Huck was unique to American literature at the time…nah, we’ll just ban the book or, even worse, rewrite any offending passages.

Also almost always on the shameful banned list are JD Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Alice Walker’s seminal The Color Purple, and pretty much anything written by James Baldwin or Maya Angelou. In the last decade, the focus of the banners has shifted to literature that focuses, or even touches on, racial or LGBTQ+ issues. Language and sexual situations still rank highest in complaints, but anything racial or involving “non-traditional” relationships is catching up quickly.

There are about 9,000 libraries in the U.S. with more than 17,000 branches. Last year

a somewhat more delicate balance. They deal with a captive audience that may include very young children and reasonably sophisticated young adults. What is appropriate for one may not be for the other.

Alas, there is some bad news for parents who think they are protecting their adolescent children from uncomfortable literary subjects—your kids already know. They are already exposed to bad language (maybe at home) and there is scant evidence that reading about race or sexual orientation offends or upsets them. They have gay friends or friends with same-sex parents or gay siblings or relatives. They have likely been exposed to different races, religions, and ethnicities.

And according to Pew Research Center’s study with students in grades 8-12, today’s teens are far more accepting of sexual orientation than are their parents’ generation. They are also more comfortable discussing racial issues and expect young adult literature to reflect their experiences.

Perhaps the students could sit with the overly concerned adults and reassure them it’s going to be all right. It’s just a good book, not a diabolical plot to indoctrinate them; be thankful they’re readers. And there is plenty of young adult literature with “traditional” boy-girl physical relationships, so relax.

Literature written for adolescents reflects their reality, so the mandatory angst might be about violence or sex or same sex relationships. Kids reading it are unlikely to be shocked.

In reality, parental concerns about library books are sadly misplaced. Your children can find much, much more dangerous content in seconds with a couple of keystrokes on their computers or phones.

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JOHNNY’S TORCH RIVIERA

LIL BO

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JOLLY PUMPKIN

PEEGEO’S

RICO’S CAFE & PIZZERIA

SORELLINA

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS

THE COTTAGE

HARRINGTON’S BY THE BAY

MCGEE’S 72

PARADISE COVE

RED MESA GRILL

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AFTER 26 DEPOT

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BUSHELL’S KITCHEN & COCKTAILS

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HABIBI MIDDLE EASTERN

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NIIJII RESTAURANT

RICO’S CAFE & PIZZERIA

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE

WILLIE’S REAR

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DILLINGER’S PUB

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HARRINGTON’S BY THE BAY

MILK & HONEY

MINERVA’S

J&S HAMBURG - SOUTH

AIRPORT

STEVE’S SMOKIN BBQ

TRAVERSE BAY CAFE

BC PIZZA

FIREBIRD PIZZA

MINERVA’S

THE CHEESE LADY

BAY MEADOWS FAMILY

GOLF COURSE

LIVING BEYOND YOGA

PLATTE RIVER PINES SUN 'N' SNOW SKI SHOP TRAVEL IS FUN, INC.

TRAVERSE CITY

COMEDY CLUB

WILD HAVEN DISC GOLF RESORT

DINO’S PIZZA

PAESANO’S PIZZA

PANGEA’S PIZZA

BAYSIDE MARKET

CADILLAC COUNTRY CLUB

ELMBROOK GOLF COURSE

OLD TOWN PLAYHOUSE

SHOOTERS RANGE

TRAVERSE CITY

PHILHARMONIC

WILDERNESS CANOE TRIPS

WRECKING BALLS AND WEDDING RINGS

Guest Columnist by

Mary Keyes Rogers

Where do a couple of billionaire businessmen intend to aim a wrecking ball on behalf of the Department of Government Efficiency? Sorry, that’s not a joke. It is an honest question.

Let me tell you a story. Little Jimmy was playing ball in the yard when he saw a giant bug on the outside glass of the kitchen window. He didn’t know what kind of bug it was, but it was huge and gross. Jimmy wanted to squish it with his thumb, but the window was too high. He looked at the baseball resting in his mitt and threw it at the bug. The glass broke into the kitchen sink, launching his mom’s wedding ring from the sill into the sink’s garbage disposal.

The crash brings Jimmy’s mom and dad into the kitchen to investigate. Seeing Jimmy’s baseball and the broken glass, they look out the window, finding a horrified Jimmy, jaw open wide, arms down, and mitt in hand. “There was a huge bug on the window!”

“What?” they scream in unison. “It was HUGE!” says Jimmy. Then, in perfectly united parentese: “What were you thinking? What did you think would happen? You threw a baseball at a window!”

Jimmy wasn’t thinking that far ahead. And what about that wedding ring?

following the Dobbs decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that the Constitution does not confer to women the right to have an abortion.

As expected, right-to-life advocates celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which they have demonstrated since 1973. Physicians, women’s health centers, women from sea to shining sea, and even some passionate right-to-life advocates were unprepared for the consequences created by the immediate return to the antiquated laws of their home states. Women experiencing fetal health emergencies while giving birth were at risk of dying. Americans were unprepared.

What will happen to the Affordable Care Act? Will Elon and Vivek address the needs of working-class families or corporate profits?

The wrecking ball may take its first swing at the Environmental Protection Agency. Wedding rings all over the place.

Sweet Deals! Half-off Meals!

Here’s why: The incoming administration has said the government needs to get out of the way of industry. Let business do business, they say. Okay, let’s make it less expensive and easier for manufacturers to dispose of their industrial waste in our waterways.

Reducing federal spending on programs millions of Americans rely on is like playing the whack-a-mole game. Hit one here, and another will pop up there.

I’m now thinking of a very real story featuring President-elect Donald Trump and his promise to “make everything about the United States government and Washington, D.C., better.” He will maneuver the pulleys and levers of the United States government through executive orders and outright illegal means to crush federal agencies from the inside before improving everything with his newly enhanced powers of the Oval Office.

He promises that his new government will bring working-class Americans lower prices, better schools, lower taxes, more affordable housing, fewer regulations, and cheaper gas. Hmm.

Remember that Jimmy only wanted to squish a bug. Trump and his team just want to fix the U.S. government. I predict many lost wedding rings over the next four years while our federal government is getting “fixed” by Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE, led by billionaire businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Do you think they will approach the task by looking through the eyes of a working-class Midwestern family? Unlikely.

A demonstration of the discord and danger resulting from a complete lack of preparedness from seismic change by government, this time from the judicial branch, is seen in the events immediately

Are Americans ready to say goodbye to the Environmental Protection Agency, which among other things, regulates industrial pollution of our forests, rivers, streams, air, and wildlife? I don’t think so. Economic growth be damned. We need a damn planet.

Every action has an equal reaction, and there is nowhere more vulnerable than federal programs. Here are just a few examples of how slashing federal funding by the DOGE wrecking ball could aim, fire, and cripple with obvious consequences and lost wedding rings: We will see more sick and hungry children (higher parental absenteeism from work), polluted air and waterways (devastated wildlife ecosystems and increased cases of cancer and asthma), workplace injuries (lifelong disability and poverty), and early release of inmates in federal prisons (crime and homelessness).

Reducing federal spending on programs millions of Americans rely on is like playing the whack-a-mole game. Hit one here, and another will pop up there.

Mary Keyes Rogers is a resident of Traverse City, providing consulting services to small business owners. Her career has included her radio show Mary in the Morning, Marigold Women in Business, executive director of the National Association of Women Business Owners, and Michigan Small Business Development Center.

More Than Just the Booze

Low Bar’s mixologist shares the ingredients and techniques behind out-of-this-world cocktails

By Karl Klockars

What makes a great cocktail?

If you were to judge by the array of hundreds of bottles of spirits behind the bar at Traverse City’s cocktail lounge Low Bar, your first instinct might be to name any number of high end whiskeys, rums, gins, vodkas, or other liqueurs. And sure, every great cocktail does start with a pour of something that may have been resting in a barrel for years, even decades, awaiting that final moment it meets the other ingredients that enter your glass.

But there’s much more than that. If all you needed was a pour of an intoxicating liquor to create a cocktail, we’d be done here…but we aren’t. What about all the other elements that go into making a delicious mixed drink? We’re talking bitters, herbs, syrups, and even smoke.

Maybe you don’t think about these things, but bar manager and mixologist Zach Cavender certainly does.

“I had a little bit of experience before [joining Low Bar]; Jeff Hoisington and Alex Reed were the bar managers and bartenders at the time, and they really encouraged the methodology and education behind cocktails. Especially Prohibition-era ones,” he says.

That education began amidst the pandemic-era drinking of 2021 when Cavender started out at Low Bar, and since then he’s worked his way up to not just mixing the classic prohibition-era cocktails they’re known for, but putting a few on the menu himself.

There’s one thing that’s harder to teach than recipes, though: heart. “[Hoisington and Reed] were both very passionate about it, [and] it made things easier to learn when you’re following someone that is as passionate as that,” Cavender says.

We chatted with him about what a good cocktail bar must have to go above and beyond what a mixed drink at home can taste like … including some things that you can’t simply go out and buy.

Bring in the Bitters

“Bitters are the salt and pepper of the cocktail world,” Cavender says. “Because bitters can make or break a drink, you know? But they’re such a small element by volume.”

Low Bar has many of the widely-available bitters on hand like Angostura and Peychaud’s that you need for drinks like a traditional Manhattan or a Sazerac (respectively), but they also have their own concoctions on hand for some very specific uses.

“The bitters that we’re known for is our Krampus bitters. They’re going to be more of a kind of a seasonal holiday-esque bitter. You’re gonna have those heavy cardamom elements in those bitters; it’s very rich, and you will find that in our Krampus Old Fashioned. That’s the only cocktail we use it in,” Cavender says.

That drink also blends bourbon with sugar and a brulee-ed orange slice to augment and elevate the traditional version of the drink, but like Cavender says—the house bitters give it that extra edge.

Jazz Up Your Juice & Spiff Up your Syrups

The next two ingredients are things that a home bar may or may not have on hand, but definitely makes a huge difference in the quality and freshness of a cocktail.

“We squeeze all our own juices and we make all of our own syrups,” Cavender says. While a straightforward simple syrup, rich simple, or even demerara syrup are all generally within the grasp of a home mixologist, the infusions that a discerning cocktail bar produces get much more specific.

For example, Cavender notes that “Right now we have a sour apple syrup for this time of year, [and] there’s a tea-infused syrup that

Photos by Megan Renae Studios

we’re using with tea from Spice Merchants here in Traverse City.”

Juices aren’t the only things you want on hand that are fresh—Low Bar also has fresh ingredients like mint and plenty of citrus (or at least as fresh as limes and lemons can be in northern Michigan) for the zest of their peels and the oils in their skins, which can be ignited across the top of a drink for a smoky, tart zip of extra flavor.

Building from Barrels

If resting whiskey or rum in a wooden barrel for a few years develops the delicious flavors that those spirits are known for, why not make a barrel an ingredient in a cocktail as well? Barrel-aged mixed drinks are fairly rare, but they do turn up from time to time at Low Bar.

“We’ve done barrel-aged Negronis and barrel-aged Old Fashioneds in the past,” Cavender says, but winter drinkers will want to be aware of what’s currently being infused. “Right now we have the base for our hot toddy resting in one of those barrels,” he adds. That bourbon-based blend of warming, comforting flavors starts out a little spicy, but “by resting it in a barrel, it’s going to mellow it out a little bit more.”

One main ingredient of a good barrel is the toasting of the internal oak staves. As a result, wood smoke is another ingredient you may have seen around town that’s unlikely to get incorporated into a home bar.

“I think there’s not just an interest, but a love of smoked drinks,” Cavender says. “One of our most popular drinks, The Boss”— made with mezcal, cognac, cherry Heering, and orange liqueur—“is a smoked cocktail that’s rather interactive. We smoke it in a bottle and so it’s deconstructed. It’s up to you to figure out how smoked you would like it.”

The Final Ingredient: A Skilled Hand

And where there’s smoke, there’s often also … fire.

Before we set things ablaze, there are a couple of very important cocktail “ingredients” that a home bartender can’t buy from a liquor store or order online: technique and skill.

We walked into Low Bar thinking we’d be discussing how they dehydrate fruit or prepare spice mixtures or distill rare ingredients into hyperconcentrated tinctures, but quickly realized that it’s the practiced skill of how a bartender spins ice in a mixing glass or shakes an egg white into foam which is the most important part of preparing a drink that someone would pay good money for.

“You can have a very simple drink with the right technique be out of this world. A complicated drink with the wrong technique? It can just ruin your night,” Cavender says. “But a lot of these techniques have been around for a hundred-plus years. For stirred cocktails, we’re stirring it for 40 seconds. The aeration of certain shaken cocktails … there’s a reason for everything.”

That’s when Cavender took a small saucepan filled with an aromatic concoction from atop a small burner. After explaining that this was the heated base for their hot toddy, he says, casually, “I'm gonna actually pass this one between two mugs while it’s on fire.”

(Flaming liquor is definitely a don’t-trythis-at-home kind of ingredient … but if you must try it, at least do it outside away from any tinder or kindling.)

Deftly grabbing a couple of jiggers, Zach drew out a measure of high-proof bourbon, then mixed it in with the heated base and a

bit of water to dilute this rocket fuel. Then, out came the butane torch, and he lit the drink and passed the flaming liquid between two mugs, artfully extending the glowing pour further and further with each pass before pouring it into a glass garnished with a small slice of orange peel.

Breathing in the slightly charred, spicy aroma of fire-activated hot toddy, we realized that there’s a final ingredient that only you get with very rare drinks: Showmanship.

Low

II

by JOSEPH BEYER

Ridley Scott is one of the most prolific Hollywood directors, with a whopping list of 60 iconic films notched into his career belt, including the cultural phenomenon Gladiator, which won Best Picture at the 2001 Academy Awards. It was a rare moment as the film wasn’t honored in either the Original Screenplay category (that went to Almost Famous), or Directing (that went to Steven Soderbergh for Traffic). Scott was snubbed, but the film was a smash hit.

Much of the original Gladiator praise was focused on the star turn of actor Russell Crowe, who took home the Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar for his intense and gritty portrayal of Maximus, a military man who becomes a slave and must fight for his life and freedom in the blood soaked sands of the Colosseum. More than a film, Gladiator became a cultural touchpoint and a meme for the male-dominated fascination with the Roman Empire.

Gladiator II arrives in theatres with huge anticipation and hype (even for today’s high-stakes sequels). Sporting a production budget reported to be a quarter of a billion dollars, a marketing spend of $100 million, and an opening weekend on over 3,500 screens, it’s all very epic.

But is it entertaining? I would argue, not so much this time.

That’s because after the shock and awe of the original (which included effects and CGI that brought the gladiator games to life on the big screen in a way never done before), there’s a certain been-there-done-that feeling of returning to a plot that is shockingly similar to the original. Running 2 hours and 28 minutes, Gladiator II is laborious at times, promising at others, but proves ultimately that you can’t bottle Jupiter twice.

There is no terra incognita here as II continues the narrative with overlapping characters, the familiar setting of the Colosseum, along

with flashbacks to Maximus’ legacy in the gladiatorial arts and untimely death in the original. Fans of blood-spattered violence and unhinged demonic animals will not be disappointed. The movie even brings to life the flooding of the arena for the naumachia, adding ferocious sharks to the mock naval battles, of course.

Taking the centerpiece role here is actor and heartthrob Paul Mescal as Lucius: a wellbuilt bruiser with a mysterious past, who now too must fight for his freedom and seek revenge using nothing but his fists, and a sword, and his Elizabethan-esque oratory when required. Mescal is best when he’s dashing about fighting and killing, and is strained in delivering much of the role’s requirements and emotional range. Mescal gets the job done, but comparisons to Crowe will be inevitable and not in his favor.

Supporting this new leading man are the talented actors Pedro Pascal, Derek Jacobi, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Connie Nielsen among others, who do their best to combine accents and lofty dialogue into a Pangaea. The politics and family feuds are easy to follow and understand, and perhaps because of that, made me miss the sharks.

But the truest hero of Gladiator II is the unexpectedly wicked performance from Denzel Washington as Macrinus, a red right hand with unstoppable ambition who plays Rome’s games with a chessmaster’s mentality. At age 70, actor Washington brings the film to life with his charisma, creating a daring flamboyance to an ancient version of Henry Kissinger. He shows just how important true star power is to a popcorn movie.

While I may quibble at a few plot points and performances, it’s the audiences who will ultimately decide the fate of Gladiator II As in the Colosseum, the only pollice verso that matters in the multiplex belongs to the people. And they have flocked to the film so far, giving it an emphatic thumbs up.

Celebration on Tap

Mobile bars still on the rise in northern Michigan

By Ellen Miller

A novel idea just a few years ago, mobile bars have taken off in northern Michigan with more popping up and different experiences available from each of them. A mobile bar is exactly what it sounds like: they bring the bar experience to you on wheels. These outfits will arrive at your birthday party, wedding, rehearsal dinner…any celebration!

In 2023, we covered three of these Up North businesses—Tonic & Lime, Wandering Spirits, and Roaming NoMi—and now we have three more to introduce. Whether you’re looking for a unique bar experience or hoping to create a completely customized occasion pop, these companies have you covered.

URBAN SIPS

Based in Cadillac, Urban Sips offers fun, creative bar experiences, with or without the booze. Robin Coombs had seen an idea on social media from a mobile bar in California. After years of research, Coombs started working to retrofit a vintage camper.

“It got to the point where we realized we just didn’t have enough knowledge to put it together and we needed to buy one that was already done and use that as our model,” Coombs says. So two Octobers ago, Coombs drove to Kentucky and bought a mobile bar from a mother-daughter team, updating it with a more modern feel. Thus, Urban Sips began its roaming journey.

Urban Sips’ most popular booking option is a wedding with a full bar. Current trends Coombs is seeing are having a signature drink—especially one named after a cat or dog. At a recent wedding Urban Sips did in Petoskey, both signature drinks (a gin paloma with a salted rim and an old fashioned with Michigan cherries) were named for beloved pets.

Weddings are, of course, a staple, but Coombs has also committed to exploring other pop-up options for the business, like doing a “bougie lemonade stand” at festivals. Beyond alcohol, lemonade in particular has been a hit, and Coombs tries to encourage clients to have a “hydration station” with infused water options for guests.

Urban Sips is also available for corporate events and holiday parties. “Anything that requires a cake I can come to—any kind of celebration,” says Coombs.

With mobile bar businesses on the rise, Coombs wants to be sure that she stands out from the crowd. Urban Sips did three festivals this past summer, handing out tons of business cards that led to bookings for open houses for graduates across northern Michigan in 2025. Coombs will also be popping up with Urban Sips at two winter festivals (like the first annual Cadillac Holiday Market), with coffee and hot cocoa options; she’s currently recipe-testing the coffee options every morning at home.

By the time Coombs shows up with the bar, she’s often been chatting with the party host for a year, and by the day of the event, they’re like old friends. “It’s been so busy; I’m so fortunate,” Coombs shares. “I wish I would have done this sooner instead of being so scared to try something.”

BUBBLES & BREWS

For Bubbles & Brews owner Lesley Endres, starting her own business was the antidote to burnout she’d been experiencing from years as a real estate agent. “I was looking for something different and thought of something like a bar business,” she says. “You see a lot of horse trailers and other kinds of trailers, and I wanted something different.”

What Endres chose was a Piaggio Ape—cute, vintage, and small enough that it would fit through any ADA door, ensuring that the business could operate at both indoor and outdoor venues, extending its season. Bubbles & Brews is part of a larger national brand, giving Endres a community of other mobile bar owners to learn from.

Like other mobile bar businesses, Bubbles & Brews is a dry rental. Because of Michigan state laws, Endres can’t sell alcohol, but anything the host purchases, she can make available. “Whatever you want on tap, I can put on tap. We can do mixed drinks, we can decant wine, we can do mocktails.” (And signature cocktails, too!)

The bar is appropriately nicknamed Stella. “She’s Italian, so she had to have a cute Italian name,” says Endres. Stella has display panels that can be customized for any event, plus customizable tap handles. Endres refers to Stella as the “Vanna White of bartending” since it’s a streamlined system—just pulling taps. All of the cocktails are made from scratch, and Endres tries to source all the ingredients locally, like the lavender in her lavender lemonade cocktail.

Bubbles & Brews’ biggest business is also weddings, though they have also worked with local businesses like Trattoria Stella and Brick Wheels at anniversary parties as well as celebrated birthday parties, customer appreciation events, and nonprofit events. All Bubbles & Brew packages include a staff person (often Endres) who can serve as bartender if needed and who will stay on site as an equipment tech during the event.

Beyond the wedding day, Endres particularly enjoys doing rehearsal dinners and welcome parties, where people are more relaxed and getting ready for the celebration. “Honestly, I love them all though,” Endres says. “It’s fun to be around happy celebrations.”

Learn more at bubblesandbrewsbar.com/locations#Michigan

MANDY & MARLEE

With something to fit everyone, Mandy & Marlee is a fleet of different types of mobile bars—think alcohol, ice cream, and more—that offer options for all kinds of occasions and venues. Owned by Courtney Lorenz and Sarah Boozer, the company just launched this fall but is already seeing demand for their unique offerings.

“Courtney and I traveled together to get these units and had a lot of great adventures,” Boozer says of the lead-up to their launch in September. “Since our launch party, we’ve made a lot of great connections with new people, which is always a wonderful thing about being a part of this community.”

With clever naming and custom add-ons, there’s a lot to choose from for potential clients. Mandy & Marlee recommends submitting an inquiry form so they can help you determine which option is the best fit for your day.

For example, Champagne Papi and Sparkle Donkey have been two of their biggest hits.

Champagne Papi is a vintage ice cream and champagne cart; Sparkle Donkey combines a four-draft mobile bar with a photobooth. Then there’s Brandy’s Bar, which is a sleek, wooden bar cart with four taps and soft mood lighting, comparable to Bella’s Bar with six taps housed in a tuk tuk (three-wheeled taxi cab). Romi’s Bar is the “crown jewel” of the fleet, a larger, Art Deco-inspired bar with room for two bartenders and plenty of drink options.

The company also offers floral walls as an add-on backdrop to any bar option.

While Mandy & Marlee is new to the area, they’re already thinking generations into the future.

“In all honesty, we are really excited to be here and be able to be part of so many great memories ahead,” says Boozer. “We’re looking forward to starting hopefully with a bride and groom and continuing to be a part of the story through the baby shower, kids’ parties, and anniversaries in the future.”

Learn more at mandyandmarlee.com.

No Alcohol, No Problem

From zero-percent products to creative NA twists, these local establishments are making drinks for everyone

By Art Bukowski

For a variety of health, financial, and personal reasons, many people reach for nonalcoholic (NA) drinks these days. And while a few companies have popped up in northern Michigan to offer these options exclusively, even outfits that have built their business and reputation around alcohol are now offering NA drinks to make sure everyone has a seat at their proverbial table.

What follows is a sampling of local NA options and how they came to be. You’ll also hear from those in the business about what’s next in this growing category.

Chateau Chantal (Old Mission Peninsula)

Product: 0% White Wine

Thoughts from: Marie-Chantal Dalese, owner

What was the impetus to create the 0% white?

With an oversupply of wine in our tanks due to a few years of bountiful crops, we decided to try a small batch of alcohol removed wine. Beyond the supply, we can see the trends toward more conscientious alcohol consumption, the betterment movement, and people abstaining from alcohol. We wanted to make non-alcoholic wine that still held some aromatics and body and hopefully tasted better than the global examples that exist today on grocery store shelves.

How do you make a great NA product, especially when you’re already known for making great alcohol?

A great NA product needs to start with a great wine. The alcohol removal process can take out a lot of flavor, which then needs to be added back in. We use natural wine grape juice to add back aromatics and body to the NA wine with the goal of tasting something like the original product. I think it offers a complement to our wide selection of wines and provides an option to still experience the Michigan fruit, but without alcohol.

How is it being received/what type of feedback are you getting?

We’ve sold our first batch through the tasting room over the summer. We’re getting great feedback from guests that tell us it’s the “best NA wine” they’ve tried to date. For the holidays, we are testing a few placements at the Traverse City Meijer store, and will then be taking it statewide to all their stores in the spring with a second larger batch. We’ve started with the “still,” or non-sparkling version, but will also be releasing a bubbly version as a companion product, also from a white wine base blend.

What do you see in the future of NA drinks (in the big picture, and in your own contributions)?

I think NA drinks are here to stay, and will only continue to improve, especially in the wine category. We’ve seen beer and spirits promote this heavily, even sponsoring things like the F-1 Grand Prix with Heineken 0.0 beer. That tells me there’s big corporate money behind this movement and it’s not just a flash in the pan. We’ll have to see if producing this type of wine will be sustainable over time. There are certainly added costs to the production process which, counterintuitively to the customer, makes it more expensive than a regular wine. I think we’ll have to wait and see if customers will pay this premium in the long run.

Short's Brewing (Bellaire and Elk Rapids)

Product: Thirst Mutilator, other experiments

Thoughts from: Christa Brenner, marketing & brand director

What was the impetus to create Thirst Mutilator and experiment with other NA beverages? Thirst Mutilator is a 100 percent NA product we make in collaboration with Billy Strings, who played often at the Pub when he was still in Michigan. Billy has been sober for years. We wanted to create something that would still be an experience, that folks could order at the bar when they’re not drinking. We use hop oils, natural flavors, and carbonated water, but there is zero fermentation, so Thirst Mutilator is totally alcohol free with no calories or carbs.

We’ve experimented with some near-zero beers at our Pub operation—great for when you want a beer at lunch but have to go back to work. These beers do have a very small amount of alcohol in them—typically around 0.4%—vs. our flagship IPA Huma which is 7.7% alcohol.

How do you make a great NA product, especially when you’re already known for making great alcohol?

We only put out products that we are proud of and that are fun for us, but at the end of the day, we also love to experiment with new brews, so we test products out at the Pub all the time. Our Up North operations are such an experience in and of themselves—we’ve got a lot of trust from our fellow Michiganders, and we want to offer something for everyone.

How are your efforts being received/what type of feedback are you getting?

Thirst Mutilator is one of our fastest growing products! Our lemon lime flavor is a goto alt-beverage for many folks, and we just had major chains pick up our newest flavor, grape. We hear so many amazing stories from good humans out there from all walks of life who can no longer enjoy our alcoholic products for a huge variety of personal reasons, and it’s been so good to reconnect with them and bring them back into the Short’s-iverse. When you visit the Pub in Bellaire or the Pull Barn in Elk Rapids, you can ask for our latest, greatest creations.

What do you see in the future of NA drinks (in the big picture, and in your own contributions)? The future of NA beverages is bright, and we’ll definitely continue to innovate in the space and bring even more folks into the craft beverage community.

Mawby Sparkling Wines (Leelanau County)

Product: Safe Sex

Thoughts from: Mike

Laing, co-owner

What was the impetus to create Safe Sex?

The NA space is a growing bright spot for the wine industry. Sparkling wines lend themselves to quality NA styles because of their natural acidity. Sex is our best-selling wine, and this product extension felt natural and passed customer survey testing with flying colors.

How do you make a great NA product, especially when you're already known for making great alcohol?

We worked with experts in this category in California to help us develop the recipe for this product. Specialized equipment and years of experience were drawn upon, and we went out in person for the final blending trials and decisionmaking.

How is it being received/what type of feedback are you getting?

We launched the product in early September in our tasting room with free samples that month. We also surveyed those who were interested and asked for feedback on the name, taste, etc. We then opened up sales to our online platform (as well as tasting room). We will keep sales to our DTC [direct to consumer] channels until the new year, when we plan to distribute the product starting in “dry-January” 2025. Sales and feedback have been positive, and we are optimistic about the opportunities for this product in the greater wine markets where our other products are sold.

What do you see in the future of NA drinks (in the big picture, and in your own contributions)?

We know people who love sparkling wine and want to celebrate with a product and brand that they know and love, but don’t want the alcohol. There are so many places where this product can fit into any celebration or gathering. We believe the possibilities are more than we know, and we are excited to take this product to the people.

Rare Bird Brewpub Product: Cold Brew (nitro-charged Roaster Jack’s coffee)

Thoughts from: Tina Schuett, co-owner

What was the impetus to create the cold brew line?

A few years ago, we saw the increase in popularity in cold brew coffee and other local companies offering it in cans (which we sold). The price was quite high and the quality was not consistent, so at some point it dawned on me that we could make it for much cheaper and have it on a nitrogen tap line to give it an even better, creamier mouthfeel with better quality.

How do you make a great NA product, especially when you’re already known for making great alcohol?

Making a great product is the name of our game. It doesn’t matter if it’s beer, draft cocktails, food, or NA beverages; the same rules apply for making something delicious that people want to consume.

How is it being received/what type of feedback are you getting?

Our cold brew has been a hit for the 7+

beers both canned and on draft, NA aperitivo cocktails, CBD seltzers, and more. We see it

Tinsel Tunes for 2024

New holiday songs and albums to play this season

By Ross Boissoneau

It’s that time of year again, when the 250 different versions of “The Christmas Song” playing on the radio and in stores are relieved only by Wham!’s “Last Christmas.” Over and over again. But even if it isn’t on the mainstream waves, each year brings something new, or at least someone new releasing a holiday collection.

The best ones bring back a rush of memories: decorating the tree, family gatherings, caroling trips, and more. Or maybe it’s a new song amongst the old destined to become a classic. (Who would have thought 40 years ago that a slick, synthesized “Deck the Halls” would propel the baroque and roll Mannheim Steamroller to holiday star status?)

So here is a selection of some new tinsel tunes, from country twang to steely drums to—wait, is that the soulful swagger of the mighty Tower of Power? Yes. Yes it is.

Tower of Power, It’s Christmas

“I didn’t want to do it,” says TOP bandleader Emilio Castillo about recording a holiday album. Reached by phone between tour dates, he says the idea came from his manager. “It was my manager, Ivory Daniel. He said, ‘You’re going to do a Christmas album. You need to do it, and you need to do it now. This is a gift that keeps on giving.’”

So here is It’s Christmas, and to no one’s surprise, it bears the signature sound of TOP: funky horns, chunky rhythms, soulful singing, with some holiday joy. “What we realized is no matter what we did, it sounds like Tower of Power,” says Castillo. “Tom Bowes [one of the band’s many lead singers] said there’s never any need to worry. You guys could play the yellow pages and it would sound like Tower of Power.”

Perhaps the most engaging tune is the opener, the band’s take on holiday chestnut

“The Christmas Song.”

“Joe Vanelli [who produced the album with Castillo] said, ‘I think I want to do a blazing instrumental.’ I said, ‘The Christmas Song’ as a blazing instrumental? You’re kidding me.’”

Spoiler alert: He wasn’t. The tune features Mike Bogart and Adolfo Acosta on flugelhorn and trumpet solos, set off by Jerry Cortez’s growling guitar. Other highlights include the band’s stellar version of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas,” sung by Mike Jerel, who trades off leads with Castillo, and the concluding “Christmas Medley,” incorporating “O Christmas Tree,” “Christmas Time Is Here” and “What Child Is This.”

The project was started last year, and the band put together a six-song EP that was only available at Tower of Power shows. “No downloads, no streaming,” says Castillo. The group finished off the album this year and is currently performing six songs from it on a Christmas tour. And yes, it’s now available on CD, download, and streaming. Happy holidays!

Ben Folds, Sleigher

Like Tower of Power’s new album, this creation was a suggestion to pianist/ vocalist Folds, albeit from his record label rather than manager. It produced a 10-track album featuring seven originals. Folds told Variety that when he first started working on it, his initial thought was to do mostly covers and whip up a couple originals. It turned out only three made the final cut: the Mills Brothers’ “You Don’t Have to Be a Santa Claus,” which he says is basically a Depression-era sentiment that asks why people don’t just help others all year long. Another is a little-known Burt Bacharach/ Herb Alpert collaboration, “The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle.” And he couldn’t resist singing about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. But his originals are what shine.

Kelly Clarkson, “You For Christmas” Clarkson’s new holiday single is bold poprock that suits her style perfectly. Think an updated Darlene Love or Ronnie Spector. With its pounding beat and backing girl group harmonies, it’s reminiscent of the Ronettes meeting Mariah Carey at her least florid.

Cher and Kelly Clarkson, “DJ Play A Christmas Song”

But wait, there’s more: Cher updated last year’s single by teaming up with Clarkson for a new version of “DJ Play A Christmas Song” in which the two discourse on the best holiday: “I wanna be dancing, dancing, that’s the only thing I want this year.” With the synthesizers, beats, and reverb turned up to 11, there’s really very little Christmasy about the track. Great for the clubs though.

Romero Lubambo & Pamela Driggs, Christmastime In Rio

Christmastime in Rio is part homage to classics like Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald, part tribute to the rhythms of bossa nova, samba, and Brazilian waltz, and all lovely. Driggs’s warm voice and Lubambo’s acoustic guitar shine, and prominent in the mix are piano, vibes, and accordion (!), which all beautifully set off the vocals. Original compositions like “Winter Reverie” and “Holiday of Love” and traditional classics are given gentle acoustic treatments. Seek this one out.

Jennifer Hudson, The Gift of Love Hudson’s first holiday album opens with a tender “Hallelujah,” which soon morphs into a powerful, nearly overwrought showcase for her voice. “Winter Wonderland” features a driving beat from the orchestra, reminiscent of the big band extravaganzas by the likes of Sinatra and Johnny Mathis. Hudson puts her big voice to use on sacred fare like “O Holy Night,” traditional tunes like “Little

Drummer Boy,” and originals alike. Hudson struts her stuff throughout—though whether that approach is always a positive is questionable.

Ben Levin, Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue

Inspired by classic holiday blues recordings from artists like Freddy King, Charles Brown, and Amos Milburn, pianist Levin recorded his first holiday-themed track in 2019. Now he’s finally completed the project. “The sun’s going and Santa’s on his sleigh, now’s the time the elves come out to play,” sings Levin on “Elf Boogie,” and that mood permeates the disc. Consisting mostly of originals, it showcases a number of different singers, including the leader. The constant throughout is Levin’s keyboards, with rollicking piano runs on “Elf Boogie,” shimmering electric piano on “Next Christmas,” and his unexpected organ on Vince Guaraldi’s “Skating.”

Band Of Other Brothers, This Year At Christmas

Keyboardist Jeff Babko (Jimmy Kimmel, Martin Short), bassist Will Lee (David Letterman), saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck, Dave Matthews), versatile guitarist Nir Felder, and Keith Carlock (Steely Dan) on drums put holiday music in a whole new light. Think late-night jazz, and you’re at least part way there. Much of the album bears little resemblance to a traditional approach: “Silent Night” is nearly unrecognizable, and “Good King Wenceslas” even more so. You’ve been warned. But think of it less as a Christmas album and more as a jazz noir album with references to the holidays, and it becomes one of the most enjoyable seasonal releases.

Little Big Town, The Christmas Record

The country quartet kicks off its new holiday venture with the original “Glow,” so you can “find that magic, let the light in you

show.” That’s the first of the album’s original songs, mixed with some holiday classics. “If We Make It Through December” showcases the band’s gorgeous harmonies, while the swelling strings on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” set the stage for their voices, which also shine on Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here.”

Joy Lapps & Larnell Lewis, The Caribbean Christmas Mixtape

Steel drum player Joy Lapps and her husband, drummer Larnell Lewis (Snarky Puppy), harness the sound of the Caribbean for a set of holiday favorites. Pans for Christmas? Why not? The couple are first generation Afro-Caribbean Canadians, and the recording features jazz-infused soca, zouk, reggae, and ska. Joy’s sister Subria sings throughout the album, but it’s the zesty steel drumming that commands the

most attention. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is perhaps the most engaging tune, while a reggae-fied “Carol Of The Bells” demonstrates a different approach to that wellworn staple. Most curious is “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” where the pans appear to be in 4/4 while the rest of the band is in 5/4.

Brett Eldredge, Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family)

More than a third of Eldredge’s recorded output (three of his eight albums) has been comprised of music for the holidays. When they’re as enjoyable as this, you can understand why. The album’s eight tracks are all originals, and Eldredge deftly weaves lyrical references into a mix of country-esque sounds. The twang is understated, which could help this find a place on the pop charts and playlists beyond those who subscribe strictly to a country aesthetic.

Laura Pursell, Three Miles From Christmas Eve

This six-track EP starts with a bang, the rollicking brass section setting up Pursell’s big voice on the title track. It’s the best of three originals bolstered by three classics: “The Christmas Song,” “Silver Bells,” and “Let It Snow.” Like Eldredge’s album, her big voice is mixed way out in front, sometimes to the detriment of the recording.

Laila Biali, Wintersongs

The Canadian songstress wrote the majority of this album (most are originals) while on a two-week writing retreat in wintry Alberta. Like Enya’s And Winter Came, it’s more about the winter season than just the holidays, but that doesn’t diminish its beauty. Unlike Eldredge or Pursell, Biali’s voice is integrated in the song rather than in your face, starting with the nearly wordless “Drifting Down the Ice,”

which opens the recording. Flute and the leader’s piano frame her vocals on “Rocky Mountain Lullaby” while “Dance of the Pines” sets off Biali’s voice with strings and Jane Bunnett’s soprano sax. If you’re looking for a new favorite sans Rudolph, Frosty, and a one-horse open sleigh, this would be an excellent choice.

A Few More Listens

There’s plenty more where these came from, including efforts by Mickey Thomas (Starship), Brandy, Lea Salonga, Rick Braun, Robert Glasper, Alex Bird (takes a breath), plus Valerie June, Joe Bonamassa, Finish Ticket, and a new holiday song from John Lodge, late of the Moody Blues, written and recorded in the wake of a stroke he suffered last holiday season. So for him and hopefully for you, this will be a merry Christmas indeed.

December 14 & 15 | 10am

Join us for holly, jolly, festive fun that includes a breakfast buffet, ornament and cookie decorating, roasted s’mores, a decadent cocoa and coffee bar, and of course, a visit with Santa. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Step Up Northern Michigan. It’s fun for the whole family!

tickets: mynorthtickets.com

Welcome to Walloon Watershed

Walloon Lake’s new bar is three months in and ready to be your go-to spot for a good drink

By Craig Manning

Do something different.

From the start, that was the goal husbandand-wife team Matt and Meghan Thatcher were chasing with Walloon Watershed, a new restaurant and bar that opened Walloon Lake in September.

Mission accomplished. From the design of the space to the cocktails, and from the food menu to the beer and wine program, Walloon Watershed is not quite like anything else in northern Michigan.

Thank the business’s origin for that spark of originality. While the Thatchers have deep roots in Walloon Lake—Matt says Meghan’s family “has been on the lake for 42 years”— they aren’t restaurateurs by trade. Walloon Watershed isn’t even the couple’s first local business; that title belongs to the Walloon Lake Boat Company, the private charter boat tour business they started in 2023.

In fact, the only reason Walloon Watershed exists is because the pair noticed what they thought was an unmet need in the village of Walloon Lake.

Finding a Niche

“We’ve always had the Barrel Back [an American-themed bar restaurant], and the Walloon Lake Inn [a more upscale spot], which are both fantastic,” Matt says. “And then there’s a new general store that just opened, and we also have the Hotel Walloon. But I felt like there was room for one more bar/restaurant that would split the difference between, let’s say, what the Barrel Back is and what the Walloon Lake Inn is.”

It was in conversations with boat charter clients that Matt started getting the sense that “people in the village were looking for somewhere to go and something to do besides what was there.” Add a post-COVID spike in Walloon Lake tourism and a “local wine boom” that Matt credits to the Petoskey Wine Trail, and the time seemed ripe for a

new restaurant.

“Plus, the building we moved into was basically the last space in the village,” Matt adds. “There are basically no more vacancies anywhere in the village. So, Meghan and I decided that this was the last opportunity for us to do something like this. And if we didn’t, someone else would.”

The idea of bridging the gap between the existing offerings in Walloon Lake informed many of the decisions the Thatchers have made about their new business. Take the design of the space, which Matt describes as “if Ralph Lauren had a baby with northern Michigan”—in other words, a mix between swanky upscale and relaxed, lakeside approachability.

Put the restaurant’s “wine cellar” space in the swanky column. That glassed-in room is apportioned off from the main part of the restaurant by wrought-iron-frame sliding doors and is appointed with custom-made bookcases that hold every bottle of wine Walloon Watershed has to offer. Matt says it’s already become a popular spot for private wine tastings.

The wine cellar is not the only very custom thing in the restaurant either. Per Matt, every single piece of furniture is also custom-built.

“We didn’t use any commercial bars or tables,” he says. “Our equipment, our tables, chairs, it’s all custom. We’ve got a beautiful 15-chair marble bar with a triple waterfall front edge. Everything’s totally unique.”

Many of those custom pieces are designed to temper the more luxurious aspects of Walloon Watershed with a homier feel. Most of the tables, for instance, were made from reclaimed wood. Add circular booths with cushy seating areas and a floor “layered with antique Persian rugs,” and you start to get the cozier vibe.

Discovery Mode

The Thatchers have tried to strike

a similar balance between upscale and approach with their food and drink menus.

The food is all “elevated shared plates” with a seasonal spin. Autumn inclusions include a house-made chili, nachos made with seasoned short rib meat, and a trio of pizza-like flatbreads. Spring and summer menus, meanwhile, will likely pivot more toward seafood; think oysters, caviar, shrimp, and light sandwiches made to be enjoyed on Walloon Watershed’s 1,300-square-foot patio space.

On the beer and wine side, Matt tells Northern Express that his goal was to take customers on a journey and “expand their horizons.” Rather than stocking the beers every local restaurant seems to have on tap—a Bell’s Two Hearted, for instance, or a Short’s Local’s Light—the beer choices lean

less familiar. Highlights include the Rezolute IPA from Drafting Table Brewing Company in Wixom, Michigan, or the Million Dollar Dog, a house-made lager only available at Walloon Watershed.

It’s a similar story for wine.

“There’s so many good smaller vineyards, whether it’s Napa, Sonoma, Oregon, Washington, or even local Petoskey wines, and that stuff deserves to be recognized,” Matt says. “When you come in and look at my wine menu, you may recognize a few names, but there’s going to be a lot of names on there that are less familiar. But they are all fantastic wines that I myself have hand-picked, because I think they’re just off-the-charts amazing.”

Cocktail Corner

Given that you’re currently reading

Northern Express’s annual spirits issue, we’d be remiss if we didn’t spend some time talking about cocktails. The goal there, Matt says, was to find ways to spotlight the distilleries that exist right out Walloon Watershed’s back door.

“We have so many good distilleries in the area, whether it's Foggy Mountain over in Boyne Falls, Mammoth Distillery down in Central Lake, or Gypsy Distillery and High Five Spirits, both in Petoskey,” he says. “We really wanted to showcase as much local stuff as possible.”

Similar to the food menu, the cocktail list will shift from season to season. Earlier in the fall, the Watershed had a series of spooky,

Halloween-themed cocktails on the menu (think lots of pumpkin spice). “Now we’re moving into our winter stuff—so, Spanish coffees and Christmas-inspired cocktails that get you in the holiday mood,” Matt says.

Some cocktails will likely stick around no matter the season, though, thanks to their quickly-growing status as fan favorites.

“We’re becoming famous for our Espresso Martini,” Matt says, laughing. “When one person orders one, I feel like the whole bar starts ordering them.”

Fantastic Fall

Whether it’s thanks to the food, the drinks, or the atmosphere, things seem to

be off to a strong start at Walloon Watershed since the restaurant opened its doors on September 15.

“I think we got a boost in business because of the hurricane coming through in Florida, which meant a lot of people who summer here stayed up in northern Michigan a lot longer,” Matt muses.

“Normally, they would have traveled back to their homes in Florida a little sooner. So, as a result, September was crazy busy, October was really good, and even November has been fantastic.”

While Matt fully expects business to slow down as winter arrives, he’s feeling positive about the off-season for two reasons.

“I think it helps that my wife and I are always in here, so we’re always the first ones to say hi to you and greet you, or to come over and hang out and chat and get to know you,” he says. “I think we’ve created a really warm environment, and we feel really optimistic that our regular customers will continue to visit us all winter.”

The other reason?

“Once we get snow on the ground, we’re only 12 minutes away from Boyne Mountain, so we’re expecting a lot of ski traffic.”

Find Walloon Watershed at 4128 M-75 in Walloon Lake. (231) 535-6048; walloonwatershed.com

Suspicion Confirmed

Customs officials at the Lima, Peru, airport spotted something unusual about a man boarding a flight on Nov. 8, The New York Times reported. The unnamed 28-yearold, a citizen of South Korea, was returning home with a planned stopover in France, but he was notable because of his extremely swollen stomach, officials said. When asked to lift his shirt, he revealed a creepy, crawly cargo: 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants. Each bug had its own plastic bag, all of which were attached to two girdles wrapped around the man's body. The 35 adult tarantulas were each about the size of a human hand. All the bugs are native to the Amazon region of Peru, said Walter Silva, a government wildlife specialist. He added that the discovery was "part of the illegal wildlife trafficking that moves millions of dollars." The tarantulas are on the country's endangered species list. The man was arrested with charges pending.

Field Report

Norwegian fisherman Harald Engen got a message on Nov. 11 that his 32-foot boat's trawl nets had snagged something most unusual, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Turns out the USS Virginia, a 377foot nuclear-powered submarine, had been chugging away from Tromso, Norway, with a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel escorting it, when its propellers became entangled with the nets. As a result, the Coast Guard had to cut the nets to free the submarine. They assured Engen that he would be reimbursed for his nets.

Can't Possibly Be True

KSNW-TV reported on Nov. 17 that Gina Morgan and her husband, Ronnie, felt double the bad luck when they both struck a deer while driving. Not such a weird occurrence near Wichita, Kansas -- but Gina and Ronnie hit the SAME deer while driving in different directions. "We were in two different vehicles, driving in two different directions, and we managed to hit the same deer," Gina explained. "It was just at the point where the sun had gone down." Damage to Gina's car was estimated at $6,000; Ronnie's car had a push bar, so it sustained less impact.

Gimme a Sign

Transportation workers in Boulder, Colorado, had to go out on Nov. 19 to take down some "freelance" road signs that had mysteriously appeared in the city, 9NewsTV reported. The signs, which appeared in four different locations, warned drivers to "Get Off Your Damn Phone" and "Don't Kill Any Kids Today," along with other messages. Boulder Police spokesperson Dionne Waugh said the signs are professionally made and installed, but officials don't know who put them up. "I'm guessing that it's a concerned citizen that is kind of fed up with the behavior they're seeing in their neighborhoods," said police commander Darren Fladung. He suggested there are more appropriate ways to get those messages out.

Latest Religious Message

Why settle for a middleman when you can confess your sins straight to Jesus Christ himself? Worshippers at St. Peter's Church in Lucerne, Switzerland, are baring their souls to a hologram Jesus powered by AI, the Daily

Mail reported on Nov. 20. And already, at least two-thirds of the people who have received the image's grace have called it a "spiritual" experience. "Though it's a machine, it gave me so much advice," one person said -- like, "Your task is not to judge, but to accompany with love." The AI Jesus can even speak 100 different languages. It was trained at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts using the New Testament.

It's Come to This

Sweden's minister for gender equality and work life, Paulina Brandberg, has spoken in the past about her extreme phobia of bananas, The Guardian reported on Nov. 14. But recently leaked emails have made clear just how far her staff will go to protect her from the yellow fruits. For instance, staff will specify that "no traces of bananas must be in the room" before she arrives. Brandberg said she was getting professional help with her phobia, but Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson backed her up: "I am disturbed when a hardworking cabinet minister is almost reduced to a phobia and people make fun of it."

Recent Alarming Headline

Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight from Milwaukee to Dallas on Nov. 19 went full-on MacGyver with an unruly Canadian passenger, ABC7-TV reported. While the plane was in flight, the passenger asked a flight attendant to open the cabin door; when his request was denied, he became agitated. He allegedly rushed toward the door, striking the flight attendant, before other passengers subdued him, eventually duct-taping his wrists and ankles and laying him on his stomach on the floor. Airport police and FBI personnel met him at the gate and took him for a medical evaluation.

Weird Science

University of Richmond professor and neuroscientist Kelly Lambert has been training rats to drive tiny cars since 2019, the New York Post reported. "Unexpectedly, we found that the rats had an intense motivation for their driving training, often jumping into the car and revving the 'lever engine' before their vehicle hit the road," Lambert said. She and her fellow scientists concluded that the rats' excitement was a Pavlovian response to treats and operating the vehicles -- but even when the treats were removed, they were ready to put the pedal to the metal. "They remind us that planning, anticipating and enjoying the ride may be key to a healthy brain," Lambert said.

Great Art

The duct-taped banana "artwork" just won't turn brown and mushy and find its way into the bin. On Nov. 20 in New York City, Sotheby's sold the latest iteration for $6.2 million to Justin Sun, founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON, WFAATV reported. Bidding started at $800,000. Sun said the art "represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes and the cryptocurrency community. ... In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture." Lucky for Sun, he technically bought the rights to duct-tape any other banana to any other wall and call it "Comedian," as it was dubbed in 2019 by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

Saturday

8TH ANNUAL VILLAGE TREE DECORATING: 8amnoon, Mackinaw City Recreation Center. Morning of tree trimming & family fun.

3RD ANNUAL LAKE LOUISE CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW: 9am4pm, Lake Louise Retreat Center, 11037 Thumb Lake Rd., Boyne Falls. Featuring more than 30 northern Michigan artists & craft persons. Lunch available by donation. Free admission.

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ANNUAL HOLLY BERRY ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL: 9am-3pm, Frankfort High School Gymnasium. Featuring over 70 vendors, & a holiday theme. Raffle items. frankfort-elberta.com

ARTISTS OPEN HOUSE: 10am-5pm, Long Lake Artisans, 9947 North Long Lake Rd., TC. Meet the local artists. Free refreshments. longlakeartgallery.com

COTTONWOOD INN HOLIDAY MARKET: 10am-4pm, Cottonwood Inn BB, 9583 W. Front St., Empire. Featuring local artisans & makers, holiday gifts, handcrafted treasures, hot cocoa bar, gift basket drawing & more. Your visit helps make the holidays brighter for over 100 local students. 231-631-5535.

FAMILY FUN DAY: 10-11am, Interlochen Public Library. Enjoy games & activities. All ages welcome. 231-276-6767.

GLEN ARBOR ARTISAN MARKETPLACE: 10am-3pm, Town Hall, Glen Arbor. Shop a selection of gifts from 24 vendors.

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HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS SALE: 10am4pm, Village Arts Building & Willowbrook Mill, Northport. Featuring more than 30 artisans The tree lighting will also happen at 6pm in front of The Mitten Brewery. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits

HOLIDAY MARKET AT THE OLD ART BUILDING: 10am-4pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Peruse artisan items from artists throughout Michigan, while you experience the magic of the Old Art Building at holiday time. Free admission. oldartbuilding.com/ events/holiday-market-at-the-old-art-building

HOLIDAY IN THE VILLAGE: Suttons Bay. All day: Shop the Village for event day specials; mail your letters to Santa; & read the holiday story through downtown. 1pm: Centerpiece Making at VI Grill; pre-registration required at suttonsbaychamber.com. 2pm: Free family movie at the Bay Theatre. 5pm: Santa arrives by firetruck to light the village tree. Visit Santa at the Bay Theatre afterwards. suttonsbaychamber.com/holidaylights-santa-comes-to-town

RIVERTOWN FOLLIES CRAFT SHOW: 10am-6pm, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Cheboygan. Featuring local crafts, a cookie table where you select your favorites, basket raffles, 50/50 raffles, & visits with Santa from 10am-2pm. Free admission.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY: Support Downtown TC & all northern Michigan small business & kick off the holiday shopping season with incredible deals. downtowntc. com/black-friday-small-business-saturday ----------------------

HARBOR SPRINGS TREE LIGHTING

MATINEE SPECIAL: 11am, Lyric Theatre, Harbor Springs. Featuring “ELF.” Get your free ticket in advance by stopping by the Lyric any time they are open.

2024 HABIT FOR HUMANITY OF BENZIE COUNTY’S FESTIVAL OF TREES: Noon-6pm, Benzie Area Historical Society & Museum, Benzonia. benziemuseum.org

ASHLEE COWLES BOOK LAUNCH & SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Celebrate the release of “Daughter of Bronze” with Ashlee Cowles. horizonbooks.com/ event/ashlee-cowles-book-launch-signing

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”: 2pm & 7pm, Cadillac Community Auditorium, Cadillac High School. Presented by the Cadillac Footliters. $12-$15. cadillacfootliters.com/tickets

ALDEN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION:

3-7pm, Downtown Alden. Train displays, cookies & crafts, tree lighting at 5:20pm, with Santa arriving at 5:30pm. Photo op with Santa. Free. facebook.com/visitalden

GAYLORD’S DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS STROLL & SANTA PARADE: 5-9pm, Downtown Gaylord. Enjoy special sales at businesses, along with individual bonuses, which may include gift wrapping, Christmas cookies & refreshments, selfie stations, prizes & more. Santa will be parading through the Alpine Village at 5:30pm. Following the parade Santa will receive the Key to the City & participate in the tree lighting ceremony. Find ‘Downtown Gaylord Christmas Stroll’ on Facebook.

THE VILLAGE TREE LIGHTING: 5-7pm, The Village at GT Commons, Historic Front Lawn, TC. Swing by for hot chocolate & Christmas music performed by Christina Teresa while you await the 6:15pm countdown. Prior to the fun, be sure to shop local for Small Business Saturday in the Mercato.

“BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER”: 6pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. Presented by Mills Community House Association & the Benzie County Players. Based on Barbara Robinson’s best-selling 1972 novel of the same name. It takes place in a church struggling to put on their annual Christmas pageant after the director is hospitalized with a broken leg. In her absence the Herdmans, probably the worst kids in town, end up in the title roles & cause chaos in the rehearsal process. Find out what happens next! Free; $10 suggested donation. millscommhouse.org/thebest-christmas-pageant-ever.html

HARBOR SPRINGS CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING: 6pm, Downtown Harbor Springs. Celebrate 109 years of this magical tradition.

MADONNATIVITY: 7pm, Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall. Presented by Mashup Rock & Roll Musical, a travelling troupe of actors aims to create an inclusive holiday themed show, incorporating music by Madonna & mixing in pop culture. Everything seems to be going wrong. Learn about the importance of community & connection even in the darkest of times. $15-$30. mashuprockandrollmusical.com/upcoming-shows-tickets

THE WAY DOWN WANDERERS: 8pm, Freshwater Art Gallery & Concert Venue, Boyne City. This Peoria, Illinois alternative Americana band brings their blend of bluegrass, folk & roots music. They are known for high-energy performances & tight harmonies. Tickets, $45: 231-582-2588. Please bring items for The Good Neighbor Food Pantry.

Sunday

2024 HABIT FOR HUMANITY OF BENZIE COUNTY’S FESTIVAL OF TREES: Noon-3pm, Benzie Area Historical Society & Museum, Benzonia. benziemuseum.org

“BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER”: (See Sat., Nov. 30, except today’s time is 2pm.)

SWIRL! Mingle while taking in the tunes of Pete Kehoe at Crooked Tree Arts Center’s (Petoskey) Holiday Swirl, Thurs., Dec. 5 from 5:30-7pm! While checking out the latest art and Holiday Bazaar, you’ll enjoy hearty appetizers and mini sweet treats from Spring & Porter. Tickets are $30 for CTAC Members and $35 for not-yet members; includes one drink ticket. Members will also receive 20% off all art and gift sales. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/holiday-swirl-2024

FREE “WICKED” SCREENING: 2pm, AMC Cherry Blossom 14 Theatre, TC. Thomas Judd Care Center (TJCC) will recognize World AIDS Day with a free movie screening of “Wicked” following a brief discussion with TJCC staff on the importance of HIV testing & prevention. Free concessions will be provided.

KIDS’ CHRISTMAS PARTY: 4-6pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Santa arrives at 4:15pm! There will also be snacks, crafts, photos & letters to Santa. peninsulacommunitylibrary.org/news-events/events

monday

DECEMBER SOUP & BREAD: 6-8pm, The Little Fleet, TC. Local restaurants donate soup. You pay what you want. All money raised this month goes to Women’s Resource Center. Participating restaurants include: Cooks’ House, Bubbies Bagels, S2S, Modern Bird, Spanglish & bread from Farm Club & Ghost Bread. thelittlefleet.com/events

tuesday

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, lower level Community Room. For preschool children of all ages & their caregivers. Join each Tues. for stories, songs & more. sbbdl.org

HOMESCHOOL LUNCH & LEARN: Noon, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library. Homeschoolers are invited to join SBBDL

librarians for a Lunch & Learn session. The library will provide lunch & an activity, & will share & gather info. If you can attend, email: youthservices@sbbdl.org.

wednesday

FREE HOLIDAY MOVIE FOR LIFELONG LEARNERS: 1pm, Lyric Theatre, Harbor Springs. Featuring “A Christmas Story.” Register in advance: ncmclifelonglearning.com/ event-5939748

DECEMBER RECESS OF GIVING: 5-7pm, Goodwill Food Rescue, 2889 Aero-Park Dr., TC. Traverse Ticker’s after-work happy hour for adults. Enjoy Michael P’s pizza, In It To Win It protein balls, veggies & hummus, fruit, cookies, Glen Light beer, red & white wine, & NA options from Audacia Elixirs. Mandy & Marlee Mobile Bars will be serving up drinks & hosting a photo booth for event guests. Prizes include a $500 gift card to The Boathouse, & $140 & $100 Goodwill thrifting sprees. There will also be additional silent auction prizes available to benefit the Goodwill Food Rescue. Sponsored by West Shore Bank. All proceeds benefit Food Rescue. $10. facebook. com/events/1141648827323859

LET’S TALK ABOUT HOUSING: BENZIE COUNTY: 6-8pm, Frankfort Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room. Housing North & Flywheel Community Development Services will share policies tailored to the area, highlighting complexities of housing & the need for thoughtful, customized solutions. RSVP: tracy@housingnorth.org. housingnorth.org/events

LOCAL AUTHOR: JIM MCCORMICK & “STORY OF A MARRIAGE: 50 YEARS

HOLIDAY

OF CHRISTMAS LOVE LETTERS”: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Free. tadl.org/ event/author-talk-jim-mccormick-and-storymarriage-18816

NWS: KIMBERLY BRUBAKER BRADLEY: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. This two-time Newbery Honor winning & #1 New York Times bestselling author will present her middle school mega-award winning novel, “Fighting Words.” Guest host will be Beth Milligan. Presented by the National Writers Series & the Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center. Doors open at 6pm with live music, a cash bar & cookies. $0-$27. cityoperahouse.org/node/616

thursday

INTERLOCHEN WOMAN’S CLUB: Interlochen Public Library. A short business meeting will begin at noon, followed by a Holiday Social. Bring a place setting & beverage, & donation of children’s hats, scarves & mittens. 231-392-3159.

MANISTEE’S VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE & OLD CHRISTMAS WEEKEND: Today includes Krampus & Old Christmas Curiosities, Chamber of Commerce UnTapped, Krampus Krawl, Victorian Christmas Concert, Night Before Sleighbell & more. westmichiganguides. com/manistee-victorian-sleighbell-paradeold-christmas-weekend

EAST JORDAN BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5pm, The Boathouse, Lake Charlevoix. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks & networking, & support local 501C3s by bidding on decorated Christmas trees & holiday baskets. ejchamber.org/event/4thannual-jubilee-of-trees-for-501c3s-holidaybusiness-after-hours

LADIES’ NIGHT: 5-9pm, Downtown TC. Find special deals, check off your Christmas shopping list, & support local businesses. downtowntc.com/ladies-shopping-night

HOLIDAY SWIRL: 5:30-7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Galleries, Petoskey. A blend of art, libations & fun. Enjoy a festive evening of merriment, hearty appetizers & mini sweet treats prepared by Spring & Porter. There will be holiday tunes with Pete Kehoe as you shop the Holiday Bazaar. $30-$35; includes 1 drink ticket. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/holiday-swirl-2024

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MADONNATIVITY: (See Sat., Nov. 30, except tonight’s performance takes place at The Garden Theater, Frankfort.)

friday

MANISTEE’S VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE & OLD CHRISTMAS WEEKEND: Today includes complimentary wine tasting, make & take holiday bracelets, Smitten Party, Cookie Crawl, Manistee Art Stroll, Jingle Bell Karaoke by Phattrax DJs, Sleighbell Social Holiday Bash, & much more. westmichiganguides.com/ manistee-victorian-sleighbell-parade-oldchristmas-weekend

LIGHT UP EAST JORDAN FOR CHRISTMAS PARADE: 5-7pm, Downtown East Jordan. Lighted Christmas Parade down Main Street, visit with Mrs. Claus & Santa, live reindeer, treats, crafts & more.

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“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”: 5:30pm, New Hope Community Church, Williams-

burg. Experience the Story of Christmas from Creation to Bethlehem & beyond in a 45 minute tour completely outdoors. Watch scenes come to life as a guide leads you through a woodland path filled with actors, scenery & live animals. Tours run between 5:30-7:30pm, first two weekends in Dec. Free; no tickets required. newhope.cc

DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 6-9pm, Downtown Petoskey. This event kicks off with Santa Claus flying into town to light the Christmas tree in Pennsylvania Park & greet children. The tree lighting ceremony starts at 6pm with live holiday music. Streets will be closed to traffic, & merchants will open their doors. Enjoy a performance by the Petoskey High School Steel Drum Band. petoskeydowntown.com/events/holidayopen-house

THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: 7pm, Willowbrook Mill, Northport. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. These sixteen original Americana songs guide a listener through Ebenezer Scrooge’s haunting & transformation. The band, playing folk instruments & singing in harmony, embraces the ghosts & regrets, the love & joy that has made “A Christmas Carol” such a beloved & enduring holiday tradition. $20. hauntingofebenezer.com

DOWNTOWN SOUND: OWEN JAMES & THE FEELS: 7:30-9:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Inspired by 60’s era Motown, Stax & Atlantic Records, Ray Charles & James Brown, & the Blues Brothers, Owen James & the Feels represents the many Owen James-led bands over the years. $10-$25. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/downtown-sound-owen-james-and-feels-december-6

ROALD DAHL’S “MATILDA” THE MUSICAL: 7:30pm, The Ramsdell Theatre, Manistee. Presented by The Manistee Civic Players. $10-$40. ramsdelltheatre.org

saturday

MANISTEE’S VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE & OLD CHRISTMAS WEEKEND: Today includes Flapjacks with Fire Hats, Christmas Craft Bazaar, Jingle Bell Jog 5K Run/ Walk, Sleighbell Gathering, Meet the Grinch, free drop-in keepsake ornament painting, free horse & carriage rides, Children’s Parade, Victorian Sleighbell Parade, Sleighbell Fireworks, Jingle Bell Jam, & much more. westmichiganguides.com/manistee-victoriansleighbell-parade-old-christmas-weekend

ELK RAPIDS JINGLE JOG: The Dam Shop, 118 Bridge St., Elk Rapids. Choose from the 5K Jingle Jog (starts at 9am) or the 1 Mile Reindeer Run (starts at 10am). $15-$25. runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/ ElkRapids/ElkRapidsJingleJog

HOLIDAY TREATS & TREASURES: 9am1pm, Trinity Church, Northport. Northport Women’s Club fundraiser. Featuring holiday treats: cookies, pies, cakes, candies, & find a treasure on the Treasure Table. Cash or check.

CRAFT SHOW ST. MARY’S HANNAH: 10am-3pm, St. Mary’s of Hannah School, Kingsley. Featuring many unique vendors. Canned good donation for entry.

FAMILY DROP-IN: HANDMADE GIFT

TAGS: 10am-noon, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. Do-it-yourself activity: Make handmade artful gift tags. Free or for a donation. crookedtree.org/ class/ctac-traverse-city/family-drop-arthandmade-gift-tags-free-or-donation

HOLIDAY MERCHANT OPEN HOUSE & HOT COCOA CONTEST: Charlevoix. The Holiday Merchant Open House runs all day with sales, snacks, refreshments, giveaways & more. The Hot Cocoa Contest runs from noon-4pm. Follow the Cocoa Trail posters in the windows of participating downtown shops & restaurants. A community movie - “The Grinch” - will be shown at Charlevoix Cinema III at 10:30am. Bring one canned food item or an unwrapped toy for admission. The Hot Cocoa Run happens at 11am. Choose from the 5K or 2 mile run. business.charlevoix.org/events/ details/holiday-merchant-open-house-hotcocoa-contest-14813

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT - SOUP COOKOFF: A full day of fun in Bellaire! Featuring a Last Chance Craft Fair, 5K Elf Run, Free Movie Matinee, Kids Free Ornament Making, Soup Cook-Off, Parade of Lights Parade, with Santa making an appearance, tree lighting & much more. bellairechamber. org/2024/11/22/15630/saturday-dec-7thlight-up-the-night-soup-cookoff-schedule

MERRY MARKETPLACE 2024 - ARTIST POP-UP: 10am-3pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Galleries, TC. Shop hundreds of unique handmade gifts & works of art from artists all over the state. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-traverse-city/merry-marketplace-2024-artist-pop-dec-7

FILL THE ECTOS TOY DRIVE: 11am-3pm, Five Below, TC. Join the Cherryland Ghostbusters to fill their Ectomobile with toys for Toys For Tots. They will be joined by Cherry Capital Comic Con, cosplayers, Cartman on the radio, & a few surprises. Free. facebook. com/cherrylandghostbusters

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Noon-2pm, East Bay Branch Library, TC. Celebrate the holiday season & enjoy snacks, treats, music, crafts, & games. Free. tadl.org/event/holiday-open-house-east-bay-branch-19065

VISIT WITH SANTA: Noon-3pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey. Take a photo with Santa, make crafts to take home, & enjoy hot cocoa & cookies. Entry is free. emmetcounty.org/parks-recreation/fairgrounds

JAZZ ORCHESTRA: DUKE ELLINGTON’S “NUTCRACKER”: 1pm, The Bay Theatre, Suttons Bay. Presented by Interlochen in Town. Enjoy an evening of different takes on Nutcracker favorites such as “Toot Toot Tootie Toot” (Dance of the Reed Pipes) & “Dance of the Floreadores” (Waltz of the Flowers). The 4:30pm performance is SOLD OUT. $10. interlochen.org/events/ jazz-orchestra-bay-theatre-duke-ellingtons-nutcracker-2024-12-07-0

INDIAN RIVER HOLIDAY BAZAAR: 2pm, Northland Brewing Co., Indian River. Handmade stocking stuffers & gift shopping. Swag bags, cookie exchange, cocoa & coffee, tacos, craft beer & festive sounds by DJ Franck. facebook.com/indianrivernightbazaar

THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: 2pm, The Ramsdell Theatre, Manistee. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. $15. ramsdelltheatre.org

Way to Hollywood & more. Includes Hayley Podschun (Wicked, Hello, Dolly), Steel Burkhardt (Hair, Aladdin), Miguel Ragel Wilson & others. Dinner is included with table seating & is based upon the menu of the very first dinner held at City Opera House in 1892. $50. cityoperahouse.org/node/622

MERCHANTS HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 6-9pm, Downtown Harbor Springs. Main & State streets will be closed to allow strolling between stores & enjoying an evening of tradition. The Petoskey High School Steel Drum Band will perform.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Renowned stage actor Allen Fitzpatrick returns to present his solo adaptation of Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” This story has been represented in over a hundred stage, film, opera, & radio adaptations. In Allen’s version, audiences can use the full range of their imagination as one actor on a virtually bare stage creates 26 different characters. $32-$99. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/achristmas-carol-2024

FRANKFORT COMMUNITY TREE LIGHTING: 7-9pm, Rotary Park. Cocoa, Santa, movies at The Garden Theater, tree lighting & horse drawn wagon rides. frankfort-elberta.com

VILLAGE OF THOMPSONVILLE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION: Betsie Valley District Library, Thompsonville. Check out the Library Holiday Open House from 6-7pm. Enjoy the Christmas Tree Lighting at 7pm & sing carols & enjoy treats. betsievalleydistrictlibrary. org/news-events/village-of-thompsonvillechristmas-tree-lighting-celebration

BLISSFEST COMMUNITY DANCE: 7:30pm, Alanson/Littlefield Community Building, Alanson. Live music by Peacemeal/ Harbor Hoedown & calling by Larry Dyer. Contras, squares, circles & more. All dances taught. Potluck at 6:30pm; bring dish to pass & table service. $10; $5/student.

MANITOU WINDS PRESENTS WINTER SONGS & CAROLS: 7:30pm, Grace Episcopal Church, TC. Celebrate the beauty of the season with this annual musical tradition, in its 10th year. Featuring soprano Emily Curtin Culler. Free. manitouwinds.com/ upcoming-performances

ROALD DAHL’S “MATILDA” THE MUSICAL: (See Fri., Dec. 6)

sunday

HOLIDAY BOOK FAIR: 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato, TC. Join several northern Michigan authors for the third annual Holiday Book Fair. Presented by local writers’ group Traverse City Authors. Highlights include 12 booths featuring the works of regional authors, along with live music by author & musician Bob Downes. Authors will provide 10-minute presentations that may include readings from their books or topics of their choice. Free.

& VIDEO OF YOUR SHOW • TECH MENTORSHIP • INDUSTRY LEADERS & EXPERIENCED MUSICIANS ON HAND FOR Q&A • LOTS MORE

“CHRISTMAS LIGHTNESS & LIGHT”: 4pm, First Presbyterian Church, Elk Rapids. A program of secular & sacred holiday music. Featuring a combined choir of area singers directed by Dorothy Clore & Cheryl Knight. A freewill offering benefits Michigan non-profits.

“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”: (See Fri., Dec. 6)

GILDED CHRISTMAS GALA: 6pm, City Opera House, TC. Featuring Broadway stars & holiday songs from the Great White

MANISTEE’S VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE & OLD CHRISTMAS WEEKEND: Today includes Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor Pick-up, Meet Author Don Hanson, Smitten Party, Lessons & Carols, & more. westmichiganguides.com/manistee-victorian-sleighbellparade-old-christmas-weekend

LUNCH WITH SANTA: Noon-1:30pm, American Legion Post 159, Mackinaw City. Enjoy a complimentary lunch, along with cookies, & a visit with Santa.

OF CHRISTMAS LOVE LETTERS”: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Free. tadl.org/ event/author-talk-jim-mccormick-and-storymarriage-18816

NWS: KIMBERLY BRUBAKER BRADLEY: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. This two-time Newbery Honor winning & #1 New York Times bestselling author will present her middle school mega-award winning novel, “Fighting Words.” Guest host will be Beth Milligan. Presented by the National Writers Series & the Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center. Doors open at 6pm with live music, a cash bar & cookies. $0-$27. cityoperahouse.org/node/616

thursday

INTERLOCHEN WOMAN’S CLUB: Interlochen Public Library. A short business meeting will begin at noon, followed by a Holiday Social. Bring a place setting & beverage, & donation of children’s hats, scarves & mittens. 231-392-3159.

MANISTEE’S VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE & OLD CHRISTMAS WEEKEND: Today includes Krampus & Old Christmas Curiosities, Chamber of Commerce UnTapped, Krampus Krawl, Victorian Christmas Concert, Night Before Sleighbell & more. westmichiganguides. com/manistee-victorian-sleighbell-paradeold-christmas-weekend

EAST JORDAN BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5pm, The Boathouse, Lake Charlevoix. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks & networking, & support local 501C3s by bidding on decorated Christmas trees & holiday baskets. ejchamber.org/event/4thannual-jubilee-of-trees-for-501c3s-holidaybusiness-after-hours

LADIES’ NIGHT: 5-9pm, Downtown TC. Find special deals, check off your Christmas shop-

burg. Experience the Story of Christmas from Creation to Bethlehem & beyond in a 45 minute tour completely outdoors. Watch scenes come to life as a guide leads you through a woodland path filled with actors, scenery & live animals. Tours run between 5:30-7:30pm, first two weekends in Dec. Free; no tickets required. newhope.cc

DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY HOLIDAY

OPEN HOUSE: 6-9pm, Downtown Petoskey. This event kicks off with Santa Claus flying into town to light the Christmas tree in Pennsylvania Park & greet children. The tree lighting ceremony starts at 6pm with live holiday music. Streets will be closed to traffic, & merchants will open their doors. Enjoy a performance by the Petoskey High School Steel Drum Band. petoskeydowntown.com/events/holidayopen-house

THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: 7pm, Willowbrook Mill, Northport. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. These sixteen original Americana songs guide a listener through Ebenezer Scrooge’s haunting & transformation. The band, playing folk instruments & singing in harmony, embraces the ghosts & regrets, the love & joy that has made “A Christmas Carol” such a beloved & enduring holiday tradition. $20. hauntingofebenezer.com

DOWNTOWN SOUND: OWEN JAMES & THE FEELS: 7:30-9:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Inspired by 60’s era Motown, Stax & Atlantic Records, Ray Charles & James Brown, & the Blues Brothers, Owen James & the Feels represents the many Owen James-led bands over the years. $10-$25. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/downtown-sound-owen-james-and-feels-december-6

ROALD DAHL’S “MATILDA” THE MUSICAL: 7:30pm, The Ramsdell Theatre, Manistee. Presented by The Manistee Civic Players. $10-$40. ramsdelltheatre.org

HOLIDAY MERCHANT OPEN HOUSE & HOT COCOA CONTEST: Charlevoix.

The Holiday Merchant Open House runs all day with sales, snacks, refreshments, giveaways & more. The Hot Cocoa Contest runs from noon-4pm. Follow the Cocoa Trail posters in the windows of participating downtown shops & restaurants. A community movie - “The Grinch” - will be shown at Charlevoix Cinema III at 10:30am. Bring one canned food item or an unwrapped toy for admission. The Hot Cocoa Run happens at 11am. Choose from the 5K or 2 mile run. business.charlevoix.org/events/ details/holiday-merchant-open-house-hotcocoa-contest-14813

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LIGHT UP THE NIGHT - SOUP COOKOFF: A full day of fun in Bellaire! Featuring a Last Chance Craft Fair, 5K Elf Run, Free Movie Matinee, Kids Free Ornament Making, Soup Cook-Off, Parade of Lights Parade, with Santa making an appearance, tree lighting & much more. bellairechamber. org/2024/11/22/15630/saturday-dec-7thlight-up-the-night-soup-cookoff-schedule

MERRY MARKETPLACE 2024 - ARTIST POP-UP: 10am-3pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Galleries, TC. Shop hundreds of unique handmade gifts & works of art from artists all over the state. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-traverse-city/merry-marketplace-2024-artist-pop-dec-7 ----------------------

FILL THE ECTOS TOY DRIVE: 11am-3pm, Five Below, TC. Join the Cherryland Ghostbusters to fill their Ectomobile with toys for Toys For Tots. They will be joined by Cherry Capital Comic Con, cosplayers, Cartman on the radio, & a few surprises. Free. facebook. com/cherrylandghostbusters

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Noon-2pm, East Bay Branch Library, TC. Celebrate the holiday season & enjoy snacks, treats, music, crafts, & games. Free. tadl.org/event/holiday-open-house-east-bay-branch-19065 ----------------------

Way to Hollywood & more. Includes Hayley Podschun (Wicked, Hello, Dolly), Steel Burkhardt (Hair, Aladdin), Miguel Ragel Wilson & others. Dinner is included with table seating & is based upon the menu of the very first dinner held at City Opera House in 1892. $50. cityoperahouse.org/node/622

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MERCHANTS HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 6-9pm, Downtown Harbor Springs. Main & State streets will be closed to allow strolling between stores & enjoying an evening of tradition. The Petoskey High School Steel Drum Band will perform.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Renowned stage actor Allen Fitzpatrick returns to present his solo adaptation of Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” This story has been represented in over a hundred stage, film, opera, & radio adaptations. In Allen’s version, audiences can use the full range of their imagination as one actor on a virtually bare stage creates 26 different characters. $32-$99. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/achristmas-carol-2024

FRANKFORT COMMUNITY TREE LIGHTING: 7-9pm, Rotary Park. Cocoa, Santa, movies at The Garden Theater, tree lighting & horse drawn wagon rides. frankfort-elberta.com

VILLAGE OF THOMPSONVILLE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION: Betsie Valley District Library, Thompsonville. Check out the Library Holiday Open House from 6-7pm. Enjoy the Christmas Tree Lighting at 7pm & sing carols & enjoy treats. betsievalleydistrictlibrary. org/news-events/village-of-thompsonvillechristmas-tree-lighting-celebration ----------------------

BLISSFEST COMMUNITY DANCE: 7:30pm, Alanson/Littlefield Community Building, Alanson. Live music by Peacemeal/ Harbor Hoedown & calling by Larry Dyer. Contras, squares, circles & more. All dances taught. Potluck at 6:30pm; bring dish to pass & table service. $10; $5/student.

MANISTEE’S VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE &

mas Craft Bazaar, Jingle Bell Jog 5K Run/ Walk, Sleighbell Gathering, Meet the Grinch, free drop-in keepsake ornament painting, -

rade, Victorian Sleighbell Parade, Sleighbell Fireworks, Jingle Bell Jam, & much more. westmichiganguides.com/manistee-victorian-

VISIT WITH SANTA: Noon-3pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey. Take a photo with Santa, make crafts to take home, & enjoy hot cocoa & cookies. Entry is free. emmetcounty.org/parks-recreation/fairgrounds

JAZZ ORCHESTRA: DUKE ELLINGTON’S “NUTCRACKER”: 1pm, The Bay Theatre, Suttons Bay. Presented by Interlochen in Town. Enjoy an evening of different takes on Nutcracker favorites such as “Toot Toot Tootie Toot” (Dance of the Reed Pipes) & “Dance of the Floreadores” (Waltz of the Flowers). The 4:30pm performance is SOLD OUT. $10. interlochen.org/events/ jazz-orchestra-bay-theatre-duke-ellingtons-nutcracker-2024-12-07-0

MANITOU WINDS PRESENTS WINTER SONGS & CAROLS: 7:30pm, Grace Episcopal Church, TC. Celebrate the beauty of the season with this annual musical tradition, in its 10th year. Featuring soprano Emily Curtin Culler. Free. manitouwinds.com/ upcoming-performances

ROALD DAHL’S “MATILDA” THE MUSICAL: (See Fri., Dec. 6)

sunday

5:30pm,

The Dam Shop, 118 Bridge St., Elk Rapids. Choose from the 5K Jingle Jog (starts at 9am) or the 1 Mile Reindeer Run (starts at 10am). $15-$25. runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/ 9am-

1pm, Trinity Church, Northport. Northportday treats: cookies, pies, cakes, candies, & find a treasure on the Treasure Table. Cash

CRAFT SHOW ST. MARY’S HANNAH: 10am-3pm, St. Mary’s of Hannah School, Kingsley. Featuring many unique vendors.

INDIAN RIVER HOLIDAY BAZAAR: 2pm, Northland Brewing Co., Indian River. Handmade stocking stuffers & gift shopping. Swag bags, cookie exchange, cocoa & coffee, tacos, craft beer & festive sounds by DJ Franck. facebook.com/indianrivernightbazaar

THE HAUNTING OF EBENEZER: 2pm, The Ramsdell Theatre, Manistee. An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens’ classic tale. $15. ramsdelltheatre.org

“CHRISTMAS LIGHTNESS & LIGHT”: 4pm, First Presbyterian Church, Elk Rapids. A program of secular & sacred holiday music. Featuring a combined choir of area singers directed by Dorothy Clore & Cheryl Knight. A freewill offering benefits Michigan non-profits.

HOLIDAY BOOK FAIR: 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato, TC. Join several northern Michigan authors for the third annual Holiday Book Fair. Presented by local writers’ group Traverse City Authors. Highlights include 12 booths featuring the works of regional authors, along with live music by author & musician Bob Downes. Authors will provide 10-minute presentations that may include readings from their books or topics of their choice. Free.

FAMILY DROP-IN: HANDMADE GIFT

10am-noon, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. Do-it-yourself activity: Make handmade artful gift tags. Free or for a donation. crookedtree.org/ class/ctac-traverse-city/family-drop-arthandmade-gift-tags-free-or-donation

“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”: (See Fri., Dec. 6)

GILDED CHRISTMAS GALA: 6pm, City Opera House, TC. Featuring Broadway stars & holiday songs from the Great White

MANISTEE’S VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE & OLD CHRISTMAS WEEKEND: Today includes Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor Pick-up, Meet Author Don Hanson, Smitten Party, Lessons & Carols, & more. westmichiganguides.com/manistee-victorian-sleighbellparade-old-christmas-weekend

LUNCH WITH SANTA: Noon-1:30pm, American Legion Post 159, Mackinaw City. Enjoy a complimentary lunch, along with cookies, & a visit with Santa.

“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”:

New Hope Community Church, Williams-

SECOND SUNDAYS ART PROJECT AT THE DMC: 1pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Take part in a vibrant participatory artistic experience every second Sun. of the month. From flower arranging & printmaking to painting & weaving, each session offers a unique & creative activity. $0-$10. simpletix.com/e/second-sundays-at-dmc-tickets-179984

ROALD DAHL’S “MATILDA” THE MUSICAL: (See Fri., Dec. 6, except today’s time is 2pm.)

HOLIDAY CONCERT W/ NORTHPORT COMMUNITY BAND & VILLAGE VOICES: 3-5pm, Northport Public School, Auditorium. For tickets visit the web site. $5 student; $15 adult. northportperformingarts.org

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”: 4pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Renowned stage actor Allen Fitzpatrick presents his solo adaptation of Charles Dickens’ tale. Fitzpatrick creates 26 different characters on a bare stage. $10-$30 with discounts for students, seniors & Veterans. theoperahouse.org

“CHRISTMAS LIGHTNESS & LIGHT”: 4pm, Church in the Hills, Bellaire. A program of secular & sacred holiday music. Freewill offering.

“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”: (See Fri., Dec. 6)

IRISH CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA: 6pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. This show features top Irish music, song & dance in a performance rich in humour & energy. The 2024 tour features the return of vocalist Caitr ona Sherlock. Enjoy instrumental tunes on fiddle, flute, uilleann pipes & harp, along with Irish old-style dancing from Samantha Harvey. $0-$40. simpletix.com/e/irish-christmas-inamerica-tickets-179243

GOOD LOVELIES: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. This annual Christmas tour brings classic holiday songs, timeless winter selections, & original Good Lovelies material. Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough & Susan Passmore are a trio of songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, & harmonizers whose nostalgic sound during the holidays crosses between folk-roots, old-time swing, soul & bluegrass. Their Merry Men will also accompany them on stage. $20-$49. cityoperahouse.org/node/578

JAZZ ORCHESTRA: DUKE ELLINGTON’S “NUTCRACKER”: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Dendrinos Chapel & Recital Hall. Enjoy an evening of different takes on Nutcracker favorites such as “Toot Toot Tootie Toot” (Dance of the Reed Pipes) & “Dance of the Floreadores” (Waltz of the Flowers). $14$17. interlochen.org/events/jazz-orchestraduke-ellingtons-nutcracker-2024-12-08

ART

ANNUAL SMALL WORKS SHOW: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Featuring over 200 small, original works of art made by over 65 artists. Runs through Jan. 4. higherartgallery. com/exhibitcalendar

“JUST GREAT ART”: Runs through Dec. 20 at City Opera House, TC. This art exhibit features work by local plein air artists Sue Bowerman, Kurt Bullock, Jeanette Dyer, Lori Feldpausch, Rita Harrington, Ruth Kitchen, Dorothy Mudget, Joyce Petrokovitz & Marilyn Rebant. It’s open Mon. through Fri. from 10am-2pm during normal box office hours & evening events. cityoperahouse.org

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY: - OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: Saturdays, 10am-1pm in the Visual Arts Room. Free drop-in art studio for the whole family. New projects are offered weekly. crookedtree.org

- “GHOST STORIES”: Runs through Dec. 7 in Atrium Gallery. This exhibit invites the viewer to consider the nature of a memory, storytelling, & its relationship to the human experience. Featuring Ronna Alexander, Nik Burkhart, Nancy Adams Nash, Egan Franks Holzhausen, TJ Schwartz, & Ann Willey. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ghost-stories

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- “A BEAUTIFUL MESS: WEAVERS & KNOTTERS OF THE VANGUARD”: The eleven artists in this exhibition transform rope, yarn, clay, wire, & extension cords into wall hangings & sculptures that range from minimal & hyper-organized to expansive, organic installations. Runs through Jan. 5. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum. org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/index.html

- “KATRINA BELLO: SKY INTO STONE”: A solo exhibition by Katrina Bello featuring charcoal & soft pastel drawings created around the time of her Tusen Takk residency in 2023. Runs through Jan. 5. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/art/ upcoming-exhibitions/index.html

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:

- OUTDOOR GALLERY EXHIBIT: MARGO BURIAN + ORDINARY MAGIC: Leelanau County artist Margo Burian’s collages have been chosen for display in the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s 2024-25 Outdoor Gallery exhibition, an annual, invitational exhibit. Runs through April 20, 2025. Check web site for hours. glenaborart.org

- SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY EXHIBITION: The 2024 Small Works Holiday Exhibition is an annual showcase of 2D + 3D work that offers small, original art at affordable prices; $150 or less. It runs through Dec. 19 & features more than 100 works of art. glenaborart.org

- WILD THINGS: Held in the Lobby Gallery. This exhibit is an homage to the natural world, & the creatures in it, as expressed in the collages by Benzie County artist Claudia Keglovitz. It runs through Dec. 19. Almost every aspect & element of Claudia’s compositions are created from recycled, reused, & found materials. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org/exhibits

OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT:

- ARTVENTURE: OAC ANNUAL WINTER MEMBER EXHIBITION: An opening reception will be held on Fri., Dec. 6 from 5-7pm. The show will run through Jan. 3. It will showcase the work of more than 100 area artists, all members of OAC. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, glass, fiber, photography, wood & more will be on display. OAC is open Tues.-Sat. from 10am-4pm, & Sun. from noon-4pm. OAC will be closed on Dec. 24-25 & Jan. 1. oliverart.org

- “RESONANCE AND RHYTHM”: This exhibit runs through Nov. 30. It highlights the work of four Michigan artists & focuses on the interplay of the abstract & organic as showcased in the whimsical & sculptural wood furniture of John DeHoog & the mixed media abstract paintings of Christy DeHoog Johnson. Michelle Krievins-Newman’s layered, color field paintings create a rhythmic balance against the geometries & patterns explored by Joan Richmond in her interpretive landscape paintings. The Oliver Art Center is open Tues-Sat. from 10am-4pm & Sun. from noon-4pm. oliverart.org

- WINTER MARKET: Runs through Dec. 22. Featuring the handmade work of more than 30 local & regional artists & craftspeople. Gift items include ornaments, jewelry, ceramics, cards, wearable art, prints, paintings & photography. Oliver Art Center is open Tues. - Sat. from 10am-4pm & Sun. from noon-4pm. It is closed on Mondays & on Nov. 28-29 for the Thanksgiving holiday. oliverart.org

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska

ENCORE 201, TC

11/30 -- DJ Ricky T, 9

12/6 – DJ Ricky T, 10

12/7 -- DJ Jr, 9

FRESH COAST BEER WORKS, TC

11/30 -- "Fairwell Fresh Coast" w/ What's Up Chuck, 7

IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC

11/30 -- Drew Hale, 6-9

12/3 -- TC Celtic, 6-8

12/5 -- Beyond Trivia, 7-9

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC

11/29-30 -- North 44, 9:30 Mon -- Team Trivia, 7-9

Tue -- The Will Harris Trio, 8 Wed -- The Pocket, 8 Thu -- DJ Leo, 9:30

12/6-7 -- Lucas Paul Band, 9:30

KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING

12/3 – Open Mic Night w/ LaRose Duo, 6-8

12/5 – Trivia Night w/ Host Marcus Anderson, 6:30-9

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC

BARREL ROOM:

12/2 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

TASTING ROOM:

12/6 -- John Piatek, 5-7

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

MARI VINEYARDS, TC

12/6 -- Randy Reszka, 4-6

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO.,

TC

11/30 -- Rolling Dirty, 8-11

12/6 -- Tai Drury, 6-9

NORTH BAR, TC 7-10:

11/30, 12/4 & 12/7 – Jesse Jefferson

12/5 – Drew Hale 12/6 – Rhett & John

OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC SEVEN HILLS:

11/30 – DJ Ras Marco, 4

12/4 -- Jimmy Olson, 6 12/6 -- Rhythm Theory, 6 12/7 -- Tower of Bauer, 6

SORELLINA'S, TC SLATE RESTAURANT:

Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 5-8

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

TC WHISKEY CO.

11/30 -- Ben Richey, 6-8

THE ALLUVION, TC 11/30 -- Ava DiSimone, 7:309:30

12/2 -- Big Fun - Funky Fun Mondays, 6-8:30

12/5 -- The Jeff Haas Trio feat. Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive, w/ Rob Smith & Chris Glassman, 6-8:30

12/6 -- Joshua Davis wsg A to Z, 7:30-9

THE HAYLOFT INN, TC

11/29-30 -- DanceMix, 7:3011

Antrim & Charlevoix

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC

12/4 -- DJ Dusty Staircase, 3-11

THE PARLOR, TC 8-11:

11/30 – Rhett & John

12/3 – Jesse Jefferson

12/5 – Jimmy Olson

12/6 – Chris Smith

12/7 – Chris Sterr

THE PUB, TC

11/30 – Friends with Benefits, 9-12

12/2 – Karaoke Monday, 8-11

12/4 – Zeke Clemons, 7-10

12/5 – David Martón, 7-10 12/6 – John Pomeroy, 7-10 12/7 – G-Snacks Acoustic, 9-12

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

11/30 -- 1000 Watt Prophets, 8 12/3 -- Open Mic w/ Zak Bunce, 6:30 12/6 -- Rebekah Jon, 8

TURTLE CREEK CASINO & HOTEL, WILLIAMSBURG 9-1:

11/30 – 2nd Hand Entertainment

12/6 – Northern Beat Entertainment 12/7 -- Protea

UNION STREET STATION, TC

11/30 -- Kenny Olson, 9 12/5 -- DJ 1Wave, 9 12/6 -- The Ampersands, 10 12/7 -- DJ Prim, 10

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM

7:

12/5 -- Adam & The Cabana

Boys

12/6 -- Patrick Ryan & Josh Raber

12/7 -- Patrick Ryan

BRIDGE STREET TAPROOM, CHARLEVOIX

12/3 -- Patrick Ryan, 7

CAFE SANTÉ, BOYNE CITY

12/2 -- The Shifties, 6-9

CELLAR 1914, CENTRAL LAKE

11/30 – The Soulshaker, 4:30 FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE

12/7 -- Matt Mansfield, 6-9

JAX NORTHSIDE, CHARLEVOIX

12/4 -- Trivia Night, 7

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BELLAIRE

12/4 – DJ Trivia, 7-9

MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY 8-11: 12/4 -- Karaoke Night 12/6 -- The Shifties

SHORT'S PUB, BELLAIRE

12/5 -- Trivia Hosted by DJ Trivia, 6:30

STIGGS BREWERY & KITCHEN, BOYNE CITY

12/4 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee

LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT, MANISTEE

12/7 – Grand Rapids Caroling Company, 3-7

Send Nitelife to:

& Benzie

BLACK STAR FARMS, SUTTONS BAY BISTRO POLARIS: 12/7 – Izzy Joy, 6-8

BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU

TASTING ROOM: 11/30 -- Lipstick & Dipstick, aka DOLCE, 2:30-5

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

12/5 -- Rhett & John, 4

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

11/30 – Wink, 5:30-7:30

12/6 -- Frank & Cora, 5:30-7:30

12/7 -- The Feral Cats, 5:30-7:30

12/8 -- Keith Scott, 3:30-5:30

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

11/30 -- Andre Villoch, 6:30-9:30

12/5 -- Trivia Night, 7

12/6 -- Wink Solo, 6:30-9:30

12/7 -- Rock Hat, 6:30-9:30

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

12/6 -- Friday Night Live w/ Kevin Paul, 4-7

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

11/30 -- Stanley & Quiggle, 5-8

12/5 -- Open Mic Night, 6-9

12/6 -- Billy & The Kid, 5-8

12/7 -- John Piatek, 5-8

12/8 – “The Haunting of Ebenezer,” 4-5:15

SWEET’S BAR & GRILL, HONOR Mon. – Music Bingo, 7 Fri. – Music Bingo, 8; Karaoke, 10 Sat. – Karaoke, 8

NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER HOUSE & WINERY, KALEVA

12/5 -- Chief Jams - Open Mic Night Hosted by Bee Jay & Nathon from Barefoot Music, 6-8

THE GREENHOUSE - WILLOW/ PRIMOS, CADILLAC

11/30 -- Silent Disco Dance Party w/ 3 DJs, 8

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY 2-6:

11/30 -- Chris Calleja

12/7 -- Two Track Mind

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY

12/3 -- Trivia Night, 7-9

12/6 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY

11/30 -- Brett Harfert, 7-10

12/4 -- Singo Bingo, 6:30

12/6 -- Delilah DeWylde, 7-10 12/7 -- Charlie Witthoeft, 7-10

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES, 9: 11/30 -- DJ Lee Michael Blossom 12/6 -- Detour

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD

6-9:

11/30 -- Jonathan Fayssoux

12/6 -- Mike Ridley

12/7 -- Brian Curran

12/7 -- Pete

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 11/30 -- Nate

12/5

12/6 -- Ryan

8 12/7 -- Chris

THE WIGWAM, INDIAN RIVER

12/5 -- Dominic Fortuna, 7:309:30

Otsego, Crawford & Central

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD

12/7 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

C.R.A.V.E., GAYLORD 12/6 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

12/6

POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS

Kehoe, 5-8

King, 8

-- Musicians Playground Open Mic, 7

Svoboda,

Neumann, 8

Emmet & Cheboygan

Leelanau

SNOWBELT BREWING CO., GAYLORD

-- Jakey T, 6-9

Southeastern Michigan duo Frank and Cora show off their multi-instrumental skills by sharing acoustic guitars, a flute, mandolin, piano and electric guitar. Hear what they are all about at Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, Fri., Dec. 6 from 5:30-7:30pm.

lOGY

DEC 02 - DEC 08

BY ROB BREZSNY

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In his song "Voodoo Child," Sagittarian musician Jimi Hendrix brags, "Well, I stand up next to a mountain / And I chop it down with the edge of my hand.” I encourage you to unleash fantasies like that in the coming days, Sagittarius. Can you shoot lightning bolts from your eyes? Sure you can. Can you change water into wine? Fly to the moon and back in a magic boat? Win the Nobel Prize for Being Yourself? In your imagination, yes you can. And these exercises will prime you for an array of more realistic escapades, like smashing a mental block, torching an outmoded fear, and demolishing an unnecessary inhibition or taboo. To supercharge your practical power, intensify your imagination’s audacity.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In written form, the Japanese term oubaitori is comprised of four kanji, or characters. They denote four fruit trees that bloom in the spring: cherry, plum, peach, and apricot. Each tree’s flowers blossom in their own sweet time, exactly when they are ready, neither early nor late. The poetic meaning of oubaitori is that we humans do the same: We grow and ripen at our own unique pace. That’s why it’s senseless to compare our rate of unfoldment to anyone else’s. We each have our own timing, our own rhythm. These ideas are especially apropos for you right now, Leo.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I hope you will hunker down in your bunker. I hope you will junk all defunct versions of your spunky funkiness and seek out fresh forms of spunky funkiness. In other words, Virgo, I believe it’s crucial for you to get as relaxed and grounded as possible. You have a mandate to explore ultimate versions of stability and solidity. Shore up your foundations, please. Grow deeper roots. Dig down as deep as you can to strengthen and tone your relationship with the core of your being.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Every one of us is a hypocrite at least some of the time. Now and then, we all ignore or outrightly violate our own high standards. We may even engage in behavior that we criticize in others. But here’s the good news for you, Libra. In the coming weeks and months, you may be as unhypocritical as you have ever been. According to my analysis of the astrological, omens, you are likely to be consistently faithful to your ideals. Your actual effects on people will closely match your intended effects. The American idiom is, “Do you practice what you preach?” expect the answer to that question will be yes as it pertains to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Author George Orwell advised us that if we don’t analyze and understand the past, we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the past. Alas, few people take heed. Their knowledge of our collective history is meager, as is their grasp of recurring trends in their personal lives. But now here’s the good news, dear Scorpio: In the coming months, you will have exceptional power to avoid replicating past ignorance and errors—IF you meditate regularly on the lessons available through a close study of your life story.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The name of my column is “Free Will Astrology” because I aspire to nurture, inspire, and liberate your free will. A key component in that effort is to help you build your skills as a critical thinker. That’s why I encourage you to question everything I tell you. Don’t just assume that my counsel is always right and true for you. Likewise, I hope you are discerning in your dealings with all teachers, experts, and leaders—especially in the coming weeks and months. You are in a phase of your cycle when it’s even more crucial than usual to be a good-natured skeptic who poses exuberant, penetrating questions. To serve your soul’s health, refine your practice of the art of creative rebellion.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Be like a beautifully made fountain that people love to visit, Aquarius. Not like a metaphorical geyser or stream or waterfall out in the natural world, but a three-tiered marble fountain. What does that entail? Here are hints. The water of the fountain cascades upward, but not too high or hard, and then it showers down gently into a pool. Its flow is steady and unflagging. Its sound is mellifluous and relaxing. The endless

dance of the bubbles and currents is invigorating and calming, exuberant and rejuvenating. Be like a fountain.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Around this time of year, persimmon trees in my neighborhood have shed their leaves but are teeming with dazzling orange fruits. Pomegranate trees are similar. Their leaves have fallen off but their red fruits are ready to eat. love how these rebels offer their sweet, ripe gifts as our winter season approaches. They remind me of the current state of your destiny, Pisces. Your gorgeous fertility is waxing. The blessings you have to offer are at a peak. I invite you to be extra generous as you share your gifts with those who are worthy of them—and maybe even a few who aren’t entirely worthy.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Blaming others for our problems is rarely helpful. If we expend emotional energy focusing on how people have offended and hurt us, we diminish our motivation to heal ourselves. We may also get distracted from changing the behavior that ushered us into the mess. So yes, it’s wise to accept responsibility for the part we have played in propagating predicaments. However, I believe it's also counterproductive to be relentlessly serious about this or any other psychological principle. We all benefit from having mischievous fun as we rebel against tendencies we have to be dogmatic and fanatical. That’s why I am authorizing you to celebrate a goodhumored Complaint Fest. For a limited time only, feel free to unleash fantasies in which you uninhibitedly and hilariously castigate everyone who has done you wrong.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): What you are experiencing may not be a major, earthshaking rite of passage. But it’s sufficiently challenging and potentially rewarding to qualify as a pivotal breakthrough and turning point. And I’m pleased to say that any suffering you’re enduring will be constructive and educational. You may look back at this transition as a liberating initiation. You will feel deep gratification that you have clambered up to a higher level of mastery through the power of your intelligent love and feisty integrity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You are now about halfway between your last birthday and next birthday. In the prophecy industry, we call this your Unbirthday Season. It is usually a time when you receive an abundance of feedback— whether you want it or not. I encourage you to want it! Solicit it. Even pay for it. Not all of it will be true or useful, of course, but the part that is true and useful will be very much so. You could gather a wealth of information that will help you fine-tune your drive for success and joy in the months to come.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Legend tells us that the Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating beneath the Bodhi Tree in Bihar, India. He was there for many weeks. At one point, a huge storm came and pelted the sacred spot with heavy rain. Just in time, the King of Serpents arrived, a giant cobra with a massive hood. He shielded the Buddha from the onslaught for the duration. Now I am predicting that you, too, will receive an unexpected form of protection and nurturing in the coming weeks. Be ready to open your mind about what help looks and feels like. It may not be entirely familiar.

“Jonesin” Crosswords

"Cast and Crew" --double examples. by Matt Jones

ACROSS

1. McEntire of "Happy's Place"

5. Backup idea

10. Racetrack gait

14. Alternatives to lagers

15. Indian currency

16. Water conveyor

17. Group of British whales covered in Band-Aids?

19. "You ___" (Burger King ad campaign)

20. Outdoor dining arrangement

21. Chinese zodiac sign

23. Accelerated

24. Dog-walker's item

25. Prescription sleep aid

28. Word sung before "dear [insert name here]"

31. "La ___" (Debussy opus)

32. Celery portion

34. Spine-tingling

35. ___-Z (old Camaro model)

37. Swung around a pivot

39. Take time off

40. Head & Shoulders target

42. Inherited factors

44. Actor Mahershala

45. Secluded spot

47. "___... on the side of my face" (line from "Clue")

49. Cow, in Cannes

50. Equipment

51. Pyongyang's country, in some headlines

53. Shout at some parties

57. Overnight ___

58. What to do in the search bar to get the latest scores?

60. One T of "ST:TNG"

61. Tiniest bit

62. Vacillate

63. Crafter's website

64. Cowboy's catcher

65. Till filler

DOWN

1. "Mean Girls" star ReneÈ

2. Late "First Lady of Children's Folk Songs" Jenkins

3. Rhythm

4. St. Francis's home

5. Puts forward

6. Drawn in

7. Scheduled mtg.

8. "The Matrix" protagonist

9. Two-___ (apartment spec, slangily)

10. Classic skateboarding magazine

11. Nightmare that keeps you tossing and turning?

12. 1952 Olympics host city

13. Prom attendee, usually

18. Overdrinks

22. Taxi posting

24. Compare (to)

25. "Weird Al" Yankovic's "___ Paradise"

26. Thanks, in Quebec

27. Ballots using really wide sheets of paper?

28. Bandit's kid

29. Supermarket section

30. Some coolers

33. Aquarium growth

36. Cloudless forecast

38. Lets have the last word

41. Treasure hunter's step

43. Acronym for a lawsuit filed to silence or intimidate opponents

46. "___ it be?"

48. Dry creek bed

50. Shot

51. Memo

52. Mario ___ (Nintendo series)

53. Aquatherapy locales

54. Press clothes

55. Eyelid nuisance

56. Those, to Jose

59. "Motion approved"

December Recess of Giving!

AT FOOD RESCUE

a program of Goodwill Northern Michigan (2889 Aero-Park Dr, Traverse City)

WEDNESDAY

DECEMBER 4 • 5-7PM

PRIZES INCLUDE

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

HOUSE CLEANING-ERRANDS-ELDER ASSISTANCE/OVERNIGHTS: HOUSE OR COTTAGE CLEANING. Kids/Elder Family EVENING Sitting. CALL 231.454.9022

TRAVERSE CITY COTTAGE FOR RENT: TC 1BR Cottage, Fully Furnished, All Utilities, A/C, W/D, Cable TV, Parking, Very Nice, Quiet Setting, Clean, Month-to-Month to Year, No Pets, $1,500 per month. (231) 631-7512.

PAID PT WORK TRAINING FOR SENIORS AGE 55+: Are you ready to work? Paid Part-Time Positions Are Waiting to Be Filled. Receptionist, Cashier, Retail and Customer Service, Custodial, Sorting and Stocking. Applicants must be age 55 and over, unemployed, seeking work and meet program eligibility. Call the AARP

Foundation SCSEP Program to find out if you qualify, 231-252-4544.

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?: I can fix your computer, tablet, tv and phone. I'll show you how to use it. If it can't be fixed I can help you replace it with the right device for you. I'll come to your home or office. Call Janes Downer, Advent Tech. Your high tech handyman. 231-492-2087

Michael P’s Specialty Foods Pizza, Fruits, Veggies, Desserts; assorted wine and beer - $10 entry.

All Recess and silent auction proceeds will benefit Food Recue!

• $500 Gift Card to The Boathouse • $100 and $140 Thrifting Sprees at Goodwill Northern Michigan FOR MORE DETAILS FIND US ON FACEBOOK

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MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS

A SNAPSHOT OF 2024 CLIENT EXPERIENCES

Mike was great to work with. HE UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF OUR PROPERTY and suggested that we list it higher than the appraised value. We couldn’t be happier with Mike and we are using him again to list another property of ours.

Mike is extremely knowledgeable about the value of local lake front property. He always showed a positive can-do attitude. The buyer spoke highly of Mike, also. They were impressed with his KNOWLEDGE OF THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.

Mike made our move from Florida to Michigan possible. Mike handled every roadblock. He was amazing and our family and I will be FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HIS EFFORTS AND KINDNESS.

It was a pleasure working with Mike Annelin. He gave excellent advice. I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR HIS PROFESSIONALISM.

Mike is great at what he does. He is PERSONABLE, PROFESSIONAL, AND MAKES THE PROCESS SMOOTH. Highly recommend him for anyone looking to buy or sell.

Mike’s PROFESSIONALISM, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNICATION DID NOT DISAPPOINT. He made selling my properties easy and manageable. I will continue to use Mike for all of my real estate needs!

We have worked with Mike for over 10 years on multiple purchases and sales. WE WOULD NOT WORK WITH ANYONE ELSE.