July 2011 Blog Posts (57)

Lucinda Williams performing at Interlochen Center for the Arts, photo by Jeff Smith

 

Full disclosure, I am a kind of over-the-top fan of Lucinda Williams, the legendary balladeer who defies genre labels, but I suppose comes closest to being called alt-country. And…

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Just as the fascinating syndicated television program Antiques Road Show has the ability to mesmerize viewers – when lucky participants discover their bric-a-brac is worth a small fortune – Chicago’s Randolph Street Market will captivate you with the prospect of finding that once-in-a-lifetime…

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Every summer Tuesday night around 5:30 a group of people meet in Lake Leelanau’s Pedaling Beans coffee shop, laugh with one another and then around 6:30 pedal off for a 25-30 mile ride around beautiful Leelanau County. Regardless of their cycling skill level or professional background people…

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Ship’s Log: September 9, @ 1600 hours

 

Latitude: 85 37’ 14” W…

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Good old Al. He was one smart postal clerk.  (Not much of a hair stylist, I grant you.) Decades after his death the great minds of our century still test and apply his theories daily. And each day they stand in awe of the man and his intellectual insight.

So why is it that so many of…

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Here we are near the middle of July and we’ve seen some of the best weather in Northern Michigan, for summer events, in years! With cities, towns and villages all sporting their festivals, evenings of street music, river music, or harbor music, one might expect to have some nasty weather instead of all the wonderful afternoons and evenings, to enjoy these festivities. We have been blessed to have the opportunity to enjoy festival after festival with only the occasional inconvenience of… Continue

On October 17th, 2010, I took a leap of faith and did something many recent college graduates dream of- I sold everything I owned except a few personal belongings, released myself from all obligations and restrictions, and went. Most people with this pull choose Europe, romantically traipsing about the globe in search of something, anything, greater than themselves. I however, a California girl as native as they get, left the golden coast with one destination in mind- Traverse City,…

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Just back from our second trek to Taquamenon Falls camping. Grandpa, my daughter and me. After one very cold trip last year and this year's one with nearly perfect weather, here are a few ideas that might help you prepare ...



1. In the Taquamenon Lower Falls Campground, the best campsites are along the river…

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James McCullough (left) and Tim Tebeau at birthday dinner.

 

Had the pleasure of helping celebrate the 50th birthday of James McCullough during an overnight in a century-old Symons Lodge on the Au Sable's North Branch this weekend. James teaches at Petoskey's North Central Michigan…

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That's right, it is now only two days before the first round of writing workshops at the beautiful and historic Vista Theater in Negaunee. I'll include more details later, but for now, check out Ron Reikki's Blog for a detailed schedule of who will be leading workshops and when.



It is a whole passel of Michigan authors (including me) so you'll definitely want to get up (or over, or down) there and check it out.… Continue

 

So you see this house that looks …well, perfect. It’s got a For Sale sign with a picture of this smiling real estate agent and, hey look, Smiley left a cell phone number. You call the number and the agent suggests that you come into the office so you can get better acquainted. You’re looking for information not a new best friend, but if that’s what it takes to tour your dream home, so be it.

Smiley is nice, hands you literature about the property with…

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2011’s Big Ticket Festival was unbelievable! Under my prevue, the Indie Stage ran very well over all and we had a marvelous selection of bands come through our stage! Thirty five bands performed over a three day period and really put the judges through their paces! The judging was tight but we eventually got down to the following Indie Winners: for the genre; Gospel/Hip Hop/Rap/Urban; Steve Robertson Band, for Worship: Nate Marialke, and for Rock/Alternative: Compelled, who also won the overall… Continue

I go to the University of Michigan, and I see college students all semester long--we're everywhere. And, logically, because I live in a college town for 2/3 of the year, and because the only people I see or spend time with during the year are college kids, it's easy to forget that the rest of the population is not in their twenties, and actually have real lives.

 

Therefore, when I come home for the summer, my college-life bubble is quickly popped. This…

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The festivities are taking place just a few blocks from the Traverse Magazine office, making it almost too easy for me to reach the plethora of food tents at the festival, in fact, as I sit at my desk typing this, I can almost hear the nachos, Gibby's Fries, and kettle corn calling…

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Congratulations! You finally found it - your beautiful new home! After months of combing the local real estate market, stressing over offers and counter-offers, you may feel as if your dreams are finally coming true. But before you begin unpacking grandma’s china and propping the glossy wedding…

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The Homestead announces the new Sounds of Sleeping Bear concert series for summer 2011. The concerts takes place on beautiful Bay Mountain that is located in the Village at The Homestead. Guests  will experience dazzling views…

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We love Leelanau Coffee. So much in fact, that we had it shipped to us when we lived out of state for a few years. Yrgacheffe is our favorite. And we're big Stone House Bread fans too.



At the recent Red Hot Best Bash, we…

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