Charlevoix, MI

For a truly entertaining dining experience, look no further than Small Batch at the Cupola in Harbor Springs. A combination catering biz, bakery, and full-service cafe, Small Batch is the brainchild of proprietress and full-blown foodie, Lauretta Reiss. A former designer-turned-artistic chef, Reiss has a flair for style that truly sets her space — and culinary creations — apart. “For me, it means that every aspect of dining and baking tells a story,” she tells Northern Express. “That’s what makes the restaurant really unique.” Now in its seventh year of service, Small Batch changes its offerings with the season and features local produce whenever possible. The real summer catch right now: the Superior sandwich. It starts with a house-made bun and Lake Superior whitefish that’s caught and delivered three times per week, then cooked up crispy yet tender. From there, this towering sammie is stacked with garden-fresh leaf lettuce and tomato and finished with remoulade and a scratch-made bread-and-butter pickle. Drooling yet? Pile some thick-cut fries on your plate, and you’ve got lunch fit for a discriminating local. Head up to Harbor Springs and reel in your own for $17. Find Small Batch at the Cupola at 340 State St., in Harbor Springs, Michigan. (231) 242-4686, www.smallbatchharborsprings.com.

Since its inception in 2004, Short’s Brewing Company has prided itself on its cutting-edge mastery of craft beer. So when chief innovation officer Tony Hansen discovered an untapped passion for cider in his staff, a new drink endeavor was a no-brainer. Enter Starcut Ciders. Founded in 2014, Starcut combines the expertise of Shorts’s seasoned brewers with the abundance of local Michigan produce — not to mention the occasional dash of mad science — for a line of truly defining hard ciders. Featuring three core pours for general distribution, plus a litany of rotating seasonal draughts, Starcut has a cider to please every palate, from cider connoisseur to the casual drinker. For our taste, Mosa is the real MVP. A refreshingly fizzy combination of Starcut’s dry-fermented Pulsar cider and acid-cutting orange juice, this lower-ABV option packs all the pop of a Mimosa, but with none of the prep. Available year-round in single- or mixed-variety six-packs, Mosa’s got your next brunch bagged. Suggested pricing: $10.99 per Mosa sixpack. Find it at your local grocer or at Short’s Bellaire Pub at 121 N. Bridge St., in Bellaire. (231) 498-2300, www.starcutciders.com.

BOYNE FALLS, MI - Most people familiar with Boyne Mountain know about its winter ski runs and slopeside amenities. And in the summer, its guests run the adventure-seeking gamut from mountain bikers who love challenging trails to zipliners seeking downhill thrill rides. But this time of year, it has also...

Now over, it is apparent to many in the Charlevoix community that this year’s Venetian Festival was made all the more precious by its absence last year. The pause caused by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 resulted in a special appreciation for this year’s annual festivities, according to festival president Dan Barron.

Have you lost a friend or loved one during the Covid-19 pandemic? You may be interested in the Memorial Tree that the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society (OMPHS) is planting on the grounds of Peninsula Community Library. A special Covid Memorial Tree planting will take place on Saturday, August 28,...

PETOSKEY — A longstanding local club is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year while looking back at its many accomplishments and long-time members. The Petoskey Rotary Club — chartered on Nov. 4, 1921 — has served the greater Petoskey area in many community projects including improvements to the Winter Sports Park, creating Curtis Field and the original Northmen Stadium and offering its STRIVE scholarship to local high school students.

It’s been a run of history making seasons for the Charlevoix football team. In 2019, the Rayders earned their first-ever playoff victory. Last season, they made it two playoff wins and advanced further than they ever have in the postseason. The two years combined also brought the second most wins...

PETOSKEY — Petoskey City Council members will be the next group to hear from proponents of a proposed “Emmet Transit Authority” to oversee a public bus system throughout the county. That new plan was previously presented to Emmet County commissioners a month ago, but the concept, if approved, would require...

A feathery friend from across Lake Michigan has been making her home here in northern Michigan. A loon originally hatched on Langley Lake in Wisconsin in 2006 and was found nesting in Antrim County in 2015, more than 200 miles away. The loon had to be rescued Tuesday from a...