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Articles by Blair Yaroch
Welcome to Kid City
How does the "great family vacation" label fare for a waterside wonderland in winter? By Blair Yaroch | Jan. 26, 2019 Last July, NBC’s TODAY Show — awed by Charlevoix’s beautiful beaches, bike and hike trails, and overall sunny disposition — named the city one of the best places to go with kids. Northern Express puts it to the test … in the dead of winter. There’s something about Charlevoix that gives you all the feels.
Sunrise Quiche
Tastemaker By Lynda Wheatley | Jan. 5, 2019 We almost wrote about a sugarless, cheese-less, nutrient-packed dish this week — this is our annual Clean Living & Health issue, after all — but then we remembered that a critical part of sticking to a healthy diet and losing weight is throwing your metabolism for a spin one meal a week. Well, a hungry metabolism can do no better than this: the Sunrise Quiche at Warehouse KiTChen + Cork in Traverse City’s Hotel Indigo.
The Death Doula
Traverse City doula Krista Cain guides people in … and out of the world By Molly Korroch | Jan. 5, 2019 “The human brain learns from stories,” says Traverse City birth and death doula, Krista Cain. As she sits with a mug of hot herbal tea at Cuppa Joe in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, she explains her own story and the not-so-strange duality of her business, Sweetwater Doula, this way: Everyone experiences birth and death.
Walk the Moon– What If Nothing– RCA
FourScore By Kristi Kates | Jan. 5, 2019 Right from the album’s first track (the aptly named, earnest “Press Restart”), Walk the Moon immediately stakes its claim to the third of their album releases by throwing down some unswerving hooks on tunes like first single, “One Foot,” and the impudent “Headphones.” Elsewhere, “Sound of Awakening” takes more of a shoegaze approach, showcasing Walk the Moon’s slowly growing versatility.
Lame Duck Lame Legislation
Spectator By Stephen Tuttle | Jan. 5, 2019 Lame duck legislative sessions, those that occur between the November general election and the start of a new session the first week of January, are typically full of mischief. For defeated or retiring legislators, it's a last chance to sneak in some new pet law or project. Or just the last chance to get even with opponents or just be contrary.
Arctic Monkeys Go Warp Speed
Modern Rock By Kristi Kates | Jan. 5, 2019 Arctic Monkeys have released a brand new short rockumentary called Warp Speed Chic. Directed by Ben Chappell, the doc features a mini selection of live performances from the band’s recent tour dates, plus some studio and behind-the-scenes clips.
America the Stupid
Guest Column By Amy Kerr Hardin | Jan. 5, 2019 Ignorance is not bliss. It’s ignorance — impervious to window dressing, and made all the worse if it’s willfully engaged. Were it truly rapturous, Fox News viewers would exist in a perpetual state of orgasmic euphoria. But alas, they live in a world awash in hate, anger, and fear, leaving their collective amygdalae (the fear center of the brain) swollen to the size of an overripe cantaloupe.
The Vape Debate
How bad is vaping? And whose responsibility is it to keep kids from doing it? By Todd VanSickle | Jan. 5, 2019 I have never smoked a cigarette. Not even one puff. I think it was the smell that turned me off. At an early age, the stench was burned into my memory. I can’t think of one family member who didn’t smoke cigarettes. On the weekends, I grew up going to smoky bowling alleys and BINGO halls with my grandparents.
The Road to Health
Could a couple blocks on Eighth Street become a catalyst for better regional health? By Patrick Sullivan | Jan. 5, 2019 There’s a movement afoot to improve the health of the Grand Traverse region, and it might begin by reimagining Traverse City’s Eighth Street, between Boardman and Railroad avenues, as a “health district” — an area designed to promote walking, biking, and connections to the outdoors and healthy activities.
Raduno
Traverse City's European-style gathering place By Janice Binkert | Jan. 5, 2019 When they first met several years ago, Janene Silverman and Andrea Deibler could not have imagined how their very different lives, in places thousands of miles apart, would someday converge through their love of food and community.
Morsels' Matcha Tea Latte
Bottoms Up By Blair Yaroch | Jan. 5, 2019 With the serene Boardman River as a backdrop in one of the most charming spaces in Traverse City, Morsels Espresso and Edibles is an ideal spot to get your Zen on — especially if you sip one of its Matcha Tea Lattes while watching the water flow.
A Man. A Shirt Collar. And a Dream.
Petoskey’s Anthony Pickarski on the art of tenacity. By Ross Boissoneau | Dec. 29, 2018 Blame it on Obama. No, not any kind of political or policy problems. But when Anthony Pickarski saw the 44thPresident at a news conference in 2012, he was taken by the president’s attire:a dark suit, white dress shirt, and a striking blue tie that really grabbed his attention. “I thought to myself, ‘What could be done to accentuate his blue tie around the collar?’” said Pickarski.
It’s Not Me. It’s You.
Guest Column By Mark Pontoni | Dec. 29, 2018 Back in February 2015, I wrote a blog post entitled, “Divorcing Friends: It’s not you … it’s me.” In that post, I explained why I had to unfriend some folks on Facebook: It had become unbearable to attempt discussions with people who willingly used false information and consistently invoked inaccurate sources when we debated.
Taproot’s Veggie Taco
Tastemaker By Blair Yaroch | Dec. 29, 2018 There’s something about stepping into Taproot that gives you all the feels. The combination of earthy décor, farm-to-table deliciousness, mouthwatering craft ciders, and exceptionally inventive cocktail menu get us every time. As do their tacos. In particular, their veggie taco, which could challenge the heart of any carnivore. Upon two warmed corn tortillas sits a hearty layer of roasted squash marinated in a sweet chili and adobe-spiced marinade.
Tune-Yards Release “Mango” and More
Modern Rock By Kristi Kates | Dec. 29, 2018 Tune-Yards, currently wrapping up its tour with David Byrne (of Talking Heads) and U.S. Girls, has been busy in the studio as of late, releasing not only its new single, “Mango” (a collaboration with Lakeith Stanfield), but also having its own tracks remixed by the likes ET.PATXKEISHH, Suzi Analogue, Sylvan Esso, and the aforementioned Girls.
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive (Deluxe Edition) – Vagrant
FourScore By Kristi Kates | Dec. 29, 2018 If you’re a vinyl collector and a Hold Steady fan, make this your next purchase. This 10th anniversary reissue of the band’s standout Stay Positive set is jampacked with, well … loads of jams, broken down into three LPs that bring together the original album, three never-before-released tunes (the best of the bunch being the affecting “Ballad of the Midnight Hauler”), and a mini collection of rarities that are uber-tough to find anywhere else.
An Anti-Racism Seminar for White People?
It's coming to Traverse City in January. By Clark Miller | Dec. 29, 2018 Could the dearth of people of color in northern Michigan mean we let down our guard against institutionalized and individual acts of racism? A series of two-day workshops beginning in January at Neahtawanta Research and Education Center will tackle those issues with help from instructors from Allies for Change, a downstate justice group. There is a difference between these two types of racism.
Three Non-Trump Stories from 2018
Spectator By Stephen Tuttle | Dec. 29, 2018 That was an interesting year, wasn't it? Here are three stories that went under-reported and under-appreciated, and did not involve Donald Trump. NASA The United States no longer has a manned space program. Embarrassingly, we have to hitch a ride with the Russians to get to the International Space Station and back. But our space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has not been idle.
Long Road Distillers Amaro Pazzo
Bottoms Up By Lynda Wheatley | Dec. 29, 2018 Amaro, a centuries-old Italian herbal liqueur, is experiencing a rebirth of popularity in America. And if you ask us, the timing couldn’t be better for Long Road Distillers version, released just this month.
Beloved Alden Bar Bought — Becoming Torch Lake Beer Co.
Beloved Alden Bar Bought — Becoming Torch Lake Beer Co. The plan: to “employ local, feed local, and build relationships locally with the community.” By Al Parker | Dec. 15, 2018 It’s never easy replacing a local legend. But that’s the challenge facing Daniel D. Minor and Adam Morris. In October, Minor bought the Alden Bar and Grille, a Torch Lake landmark where locals have long mingled over drinks and dinners.
Short-term rental group v. Traverse City
Short-term rental group v. Traverse City Are the wheels of progress purposely turning slow? For more than two years, city officials in Traverse City have been debating whether to make changes to a 25-year-old ordinance that regulates home rentals. As written, the ordinance substantially restricts the ability of city homeowners to rent out their properties on a short-term basis.
Bells Will Be Ringing
Bells Will Be Ringing Meet some angels behind the Salvation Army bells. By Al Parker | Dec. 15, 2018 From its humble beginnings in 1891 in San Francisco, the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable charitable efforts in the nation. Last year it raised $144.5 million that went to support an array of community programs. And it wouldn’t be possible without the 25,000 bell ringers who are dedicated to raising funds that stay in their community.
North Peak’s ORC
North Peak’s ORC Bottoms Up For the next month or so, North Peak Brewing Company has a great way for you to stay toasty warm on a wintery day. Grab a pint of The ORC, North Peak’s seasonal brown ale, and for a few moments you might even forget that baby, it’s cold outside. The ORC is named for the oats, rye, and chocolate and crystal malts it’s made with, and is as likeable as a golden retriever puppy.
Petoskey Pretzel Co.'s Soft Pretzel
Petoskey Pretzel Co.'s Soft Pretzel Tastemaker This time of year makes everyone want to be a kid again. And the kid inside each one of us wants to eat a large hot pretzel RIGHT NOW. Girl, you know it’s true. Head over to Petoskey Pretzel and treat yourself to a warm, freshly baked, straight-out-of-the-oven soft pretzel. Watch as the dough is twisted, tossed and flipped, then inhale the sweet doughy smell of busy ovens.
Winter Weekend Getaways
Winter Weekend Getaways Dig in Up North Old Man Winter has always been a friend to northern Michigan, and this year, he started the party early. Instead of letting those extra winter days stretch dreadfully before you while you pout beneath an electric blanket, get out there and embrace them. Our beautiful neck of the woods is full of extrordinary nooks and crannies just waiting to be discovered.
Coming to a Chimney Near You
Coming to a Chimney Near You Bellaire resident grows the beard, dons the suit, tells the stories. By Al Parker | Dec. 15, 2018 Jeffery Schatzer isn’t Santa Claus. At least, for most of the year he isn’t. He’s a clean-shaven writer who now makes Bellaire his home after working in Indianapolis and Midland. But as the days shorten, the beard starts to grow, and by the time December rolls around, Schatzer is in full ho-ho-ho mode. The whole thing started with a joke.
The Great Flu Pandemic of 1918
The Great Flu Pandemic of 1918 Two northern Michigan counties and the bitter battle to protect their own. Imagine driving north from Traverse City, attempting to head into Leelanau County through Greilickville, but at the Grand Traverse County line, police have put up a blockade. Leelanau County has been quarantined, and you face a choice: Turn back, or get arrested.
An Audacious Goal for Leelanau County
An Audacious Goal for Leelanau County A local group plans to power the entire county with 100 percent renewable energy — within 10 years. Northport Energy was founded a decade ago with a singular mission: to make the tip of Leelanau County completely green. The group hasn’t gotten there yet, but it’s had some significant achievements. Members have helped establish one of the first “net zero” golf courses in the country.
The Escape Artist
The Escape Artist Why Paul King ditched Royal Oak for an Up North trout stream and got back to his drawing board. Paul King has always had an interest in art. So it’s probably not a surprise that he’s drawn caricatures of popular musicians, from Dave Brubeck to Stephen Tyler. What is a surprise is how he got there — and here, meaning his riverside abode and studio outside Beulah. “I was pre-med at MSU. I wanted to be a thoracic surgeon,” said King.
New Super App for Seniors
New Super App for Seniors Like Skype, but even easier Sharon has multiple sclerosis and it’s difficult for her to attend regular church services. Ninety-two-year-old Mavis gave up her car, which meant giving up her beloved volunteer work at a grade school. Gladys, who lives in a senior housing facility, enjoys making video calls to her daughter in Sweden and to her granddaughter who serves in the Peace Corps.
How Does it End?
How Does it End? Crossed Scott’s Statement What a story we are, evolving as bipedal mammals with opposable thumbs, rising to extraordinary biological “success” on the benefits of brains capable of language and cooperation. We are often critical of ourselves as a species — focusing on our violence, selfishness, and reckless deployment of technologies. Grim views of humanity exist because we compare ourselves to visions of what we could be, but we are always resetting the scale.
Quirk It, Girl!
Quirk It, Girl! Kalkaska entrepreneur proves big things come from little (monthly) packages For self-described “quirky girl” Rochelle Nevedal, it was a case of need meeting opportunity. She needed a job, and she didn’t see any subscription boxes that were designed with someone like her in mind: fun-loving, colorful, eclectic. So she created one, and Quirky Crate was born. “I was working a corporate job and was not happy with the lifestyle.
Mumford and Sons - Delta - Glassnote
Mumford and Sons – Delta – Glassnote FourScore Of course critics are going to be stomping around about Mumford and crew’s latest: How dare an established, successful band attempt to evolve? But thankfully, the band deftly does its own thing here, combining its earlier acoustic sensibilities and third album’s pop turn for an appealing, if more serious, melange of both styles.
Charli XCX Pops Into a Rockumentary
Charli XCX Pops Into a Rockumentary Modern Rock Charlotte Aitchison, aka Charli XCX, is the latest singer featured in a new radio rock documentary from the BBC. The doc follows Charli on both her own recent tour, Pop 2, and went along with her as she served as opening act for Taylor Swift’s Reputation stadium tour.
Michigan: A Land of Opportunity in the Uncertain Times Ahead
Michigan: A Land of Opportunity in the Uncertain Times Ahead Guest Column On the Friday after Thanksgiving, the White House released the National Climate Assessment, a quadrennial report mandated by Congress to be prepared by 13 government agencies on climate science. This report details the coming risks, costs, and interconnected impacts that will cascade through our natural, built and social systems.
North Arm Noir
North Arm Noir Bottoms Up Used to be that wine lovers and makers alike sneered at reds made of hybrid grapes; high quality red wines, it was thought, could come only from tried and true vinifera grapes — like cabernet francs and sauvignons. That’s been steadily changing in the north-central reaches of lower Michigan.
Hop Lot's Chicken Tacos
Hop Lot's Chicken Tacos Tastemaker On a cold winters day when you question whether the sun has abandoned the skies of Northern Michigan, never fear! There is a place in the woods where the party continues in any season. And like any good party, it has tacos. (As if you needed another reason to go.) Hoplot — home of the heated igloos, S'mores kids roast over an open fire, and tacos that make you forget about any gloomy atmospheric conditions.
I’m Dreaming of a Trite Christmas
I’m Dreaming of a Trite Christmas The best of the worst made-for-TV holiday movies, now streaming The start of the holiday season is signaled by many different traditions. For some, it’s putting up a tree or decorating cookies. For others, singing Christmas carols.
California Mesmerizes Wolf Alice
California Mesmerizes Wolf Alice Modern Rock London indie-rock band Wolf Alice has been named the 2018 Mercury Music Prize winner for its second album effort, the critically and fan-acclaimed Visions of a Life. The band recorded the album throughout 2017, having transplanted themselves temporarily to Los Angeles, California, for the project.
Aaron’s Tree
There’s a particularly picturesque tree in Boyne City that, having withstood decades of harsh wind and weather, many people recognize. A recent storm, however, reminded many what this weeping willow still stands for. One of the most picturesque trees in Boyne City is a willow in Sunset Park overlooking Lake Charlevoix. It’s grown there for more than 40 years, ever since being planted in memory of 14-year-old Aaron MacNaughton in 1974.
The Art of the Flesh
Ancient Egyptians were among the first known humans to get tatted up, and those trendsetters started something that stuck. Today, 40 percent of Americans rock at least one tattoo. Since this booming form of self-expression has been captivating us since Pharaoh times, we decided to get up close and personal with some of the most notable men and women on Traverse City’s thriving tattoo scene.
R.E.M. Get All Boxed Up
The ’80s/’90s musical icons from Athens, Georgia, will release a big box set this week called R.E.M. at the BBC. Eight CDs and one DVD, the set will include a variety of live sessions that the band recorded for the BBC, plus a short stack of live concerts that the band performed in the UK, and the band’s documentary Accelerating Backwards. Abbreviated two-CD and two vinyl record versions of the set will be available as well, with everything out on Oct.
Colin James - Miles to Go - Stony Plain Records
Canadian bluesman James dug pretty deep for this collection, stretching his own songwriting abilities on several new originals, and also going well beyond clichés to point a spotlight at some much-lesser known blues covers by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Blind Willie Johnson.
Thrift-O-Rama!
Thrift stores, consignment boutiques, and resale shops, while always useful, seem to cycle around as far as popularity or trendiness is concerned. Generally, in tough times, they thrive: There are more buyers looking for cheaper goods and more sellers hoping to offload what they have for cash or discounts. But these days, the economy is strong, unemployment is down, and resale shops — well, it looks like they’re as popular as ever. What’s their particular brand of magic?
Get Your Boots On
There is an old adage sometimes credited to Washington Irving, other times to Mark Twain, but no one is sure: “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its boot on.” This has been assumed to signify the power of a lie rather than the speed at which it travels. People confuse it with Vladimir Lenin’s assertion: “A lie told often enough becomes the truth.” Lenin’s contemporary followers have taken his tenet as a marching order.
Three Reasons to Vote
Things were going so well. The candidates for federal and statewide office were playing nice, and even their television ads were mostly positive, often clunky, but issue-oriented and at least marginally informative. That has now changed, and the ugliness we loathe but have come to expect is upon us. If we believe all the negative rubbish, all the candidates are bums: This one is a left-wing radical, and that one is a right-wing radical.
Kid's Extracurricular Activities
The school year is now in high gear, and with it, an all-new season of extracurricular sports and activities is underway. Like most communities, northern Michigan has lots of options, both school-affiliated and independent, to keep kids involved, active, and challenged. To get a better sense of what’s available — and how several popular activities vary in terms of cost, time commitment, challenges, and benefits — we reached out to coaches and mentors running six different extracurricular programs.
Son, Can You Play Us a Memory
After sales of millions of albums, after working with the cream of jazz musicians for the last 50 years in virtually every setting, after jetting around the world for performances in front of enthusiastic fans alongside Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Nathan East, Harvey Mason, Kirk Whalum and the late Chuck Loeb in the band Fourplay, there isn’t anything left for Bob James to prove. Or is there?
Life is Beautiful
The concern rises in Bernadette Oesterling’s voice as she talks about her husband Gene’s medical dilemma. “We’re trying to get people’s attention,” she said. “I’m searching for a way and a place to begin about a very personal and intimate request. My husband is in need of a kidney transplant very soon. We are not sure what caused this declining kidney issue, as he led a very clean life.
6 Must See Activities During Frankfort-Elberta Beer Week
Let it be said that little Frankfort, Michigan is a community that loves their lager. Visit October 8-13 and you’ll find yourself joining in their passion for the frothy brew during the 5th annual Frankfort-Elberta Beer Week. Throughout the week and you will find art, community, foodie-worthy grub, and most importantly, some really good beer. Check out Frankfort’s Pub Scene Go to Stormcloud Monday, October 8 and be one of the first to taste their seasonal Harvest Ale.
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