6 minute read
Top Ten
this week’s top ten
Illuminate the Night
Do you still have that old prom dress hanging in the back of your closet? A tux from days gone by? (And the hair, makeup, and accessories to top it all off?) If so, Oct. 1 is the night to bust it all out at Illuminate the Night Adult Prom. The event is co-hosted by Right Brain Brewery, Spark in the Dark, and Illuminate My Life Counseling, and the goal—beyond a night of great dancing and potentially dubious fashion—is to raise $5,000 for those in need of mental health services who cannot afford them. The prom will have hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and dancing tunes presented by 231 Entertainment, and a photographer will be available from 6-7pm to capture you in your retro or modern-day best. The event runs from 6-10pm at Right Brain Brewery at 225 East 16th Street in Traverse City. Learn more at rightbrainbrewery.com/23/ upcoming-events.
2 tastemaker
Dalwhinnie Bakery & Deli’s Shrimp Boil
While the seasonal, Cajun-inspired All You Can Eat Shrimp Boil at the Dalwhinnie Bakery & Deli is a terrific deal at just $30 per person, you’ll need to add some adventuring to take in all the savory shrimp, smoked Andouille sausage, fingerling potatoes, corn on the cob, toasted garlic bread, slaw, and dessert. This family-style feast is only available on Beaver Island, and a lovely two-hour ferry trip across Lake Michigan or a shorter plane ride from Charlevoix will be required before you tuck in your bib. Once you hit island time, you can easily walk or bike to Dalwhinnie’s and enjoy your lazy picnic on the patio overlooking the harbor at Paradise Bay. What started as a creative solution to a staffing shortage has now become a weekend tradition; the boil runs on Saturday afternoons with reservations requested for planning. Dalwhinnie Bakery & Deli can be found at 38240 Michigan Ave and posts updates on their weekly shrimp boil to Facebook. Call (231) 448-2736 for more information. 4 • sept 26, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly
Be Afraid…
Gaylord’s newest haunted house may send you screaming all the way home! The inaugural Haunted Bluffs at 254 Little League Dr. will hold its grand opening on Friday, Sept. 30, at 8pm, and will then be open every Thursday through Saturday from 8pm to midnight and Sundays from 6-10pm through Oct. 29. $20/person. alpenbluffs.com
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Hey, watch It! The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
A massive opportunity or an unenviable task? That’s the question many J.R.R. Tolkien fans asked when news broke that Amazon would be developing material from The Lord of The Rings into a brand-new TV series. On the one hand, Tolkien’s Middle Earth saga is one of the most beloved pieces of fantasy fiction ever written. On the other hand, Peter Jackson’s Oscar-fêted Lord of the Rings trilogy is perhaps the pinnacle movie-making achievement of the past 25 years. Could a TV series live up to the legacy of the material? Turns out, yes! The Rings of Power, which is slated to last five seasons and chart the history of Middle Earth leading up to the epic events of The Lord of the Rings, is a masterclass of fantasy worldbuilding, creepy foreshadowing, and nerdy fan service. It’s also one of the most lushly gorgeous things ever produced for the small screen—no surprise, given that it’s reportedly the most expensive television show ever made. Watch it on as big a TV as possible. Now streaming on Amazon Prime.
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Photo courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
6 Harvests and Haunts in the Park
Harvest festivals are popping up all over the region, and if you plan your autumn schedule just right, you can hit at least two or three for your fill of pumpkins, cider, donuts, and fall fun. For a twist on the traditional small-town celebration, the Michigan State Park system celebrates their annual Harvests and Haunts this weekend at parks across the North. Events are scheduled for several area parks: Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park, Aloha State Park in Cheboygan, and Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling. Activities include pumpkin carving, family-friendly crafts, and even pre-Halloween fun like trick-or-treating and costume contests. (Yes, this is your cue to start thinking about Oct. 31.) Campers are also encouraged to decorate their campsites with their favorite festive or spooky décor for the season. Visit michigan.gov/dnr/places/state-parks/harvest-and-haunts-events to find an event near you. Reservations and recreation passports are required.
See Your Pet in Print!
Every fall, Northern Express puts together our Pets Issue, which features stories about our favorite furry friends. As part of that issue, we create a collage of pet photos from across the North who are very much #livingtheirbestlives. That’s where you come in! Send us photos of your best bud—cat, dog, rabbit, turtle, you name it—for a chance to see them featured in our October 24 edition. We recommend image sizes that fall between 150KB and 1MB to print well (and so we don’t have giant files flying between mailboxes), and we prefer full-color images rather than black and white. You can be in the shot with your pet, or they can be the star of the show. To be considered, send your photo to info@northernexpress.com with the subject line “Pet Issue Photo” and include your name, your NoMi city of residence, and the name of your pet. We will collect submissions through October 14. Please only send one photo per pet.
One great joy of childhood is getting creative in art class and then seeing your work proudly displayed in your school hallways. Similar opportunities don’t come along very often in adulthood, but the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts in Manistee is offering one this fall. The Ramsdell’s Community Art2 project invites community members to turn blank 6-by6-inch canvas “squares” into unique pieces of art, which will then be combined into a “canvas wall” set to be exhibited at The Ramsdell from Nov. 17 to Dec. 18. Canvases are $5 for two or $10 for four and can be picked up at the Ramsdell Mondays through Fridays between 10am and 5pm. Each piece will also be available for purchase during the exhibit. All proceeds support The Ramsdell’s “grassroots programs,” including school field trips, workshops, and theater camps. Note that participants must return their squares to The Ramsdell by Saturday, Oct. 29, at 3pm. Register online at ramsdelltheatre.org/art.
bottoms up Side Traxx’s Ice Cold Jägermeister
Long the parody shot of bad judgment, it’s hard to believe that Jägermeister (yes, that mysterious liqueur in the stag-tagged bottle) is, well, having a moment. Cocktail bars across the world are rediscovering this famous German digestif (made with the same secret mix today of 56 herbs and spices that was created fatefully in 1934 by brothers Wilhelm and Curt Mast). Rumored to include anise, poppy seed, saffron, ginseng, citrus peel, and juniper berries, Jägermeister bottles even contain a poem in homage to their storied history: “This is the hunter’s blade of glory.” The best cold and generous Jäg pour locally is at Side Traxx, where the official chilled dispenser maintains the company’s recommended serving temp of -18 C for the best tasting experience. If going neat is too bold for your palette, ask to add ice, a splash of pineapple juice, or even just fresh lime. Side Traxx is located at 520 Franklin St. in Traverse City, sidetraxxtc.com.
