Registration is now open for the IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan Triathlon scheduled for Sept. 21 in Frankfort, Michigan. In December 2020, it was announced that the Traverse City area location will serve as a multi-year host venue for the 70.3-mile swim, bike and run event.
Traverse City hosted the 70.3 triathlon in 2019 and, according to the announcement, relocating the race to nearby Frankfort — on the coast of Lake Michigan — offered “the perfect setting” for 2021.
“Following in the success of the event in Traverse City a couple years ago, we’ve seen an incredible interest from athletes to visit and race in northern Michigan,” Keats McGonigal, of The IRONMAN Group., said in supplied material. “We are excited to continue to host an event in this beautiful region and … we feel that Frankfort and the surrounding areas will deliver an unparalleled race week experience while being the perfect destination for both athletes and their families alike.”
The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan triathlon will consist of a 1.2-mile swim in the protected water of the Frankfort Harbor. Once out of the water, athletes will transition to the bike for a 56-mile ride on sections of the M-22 scenic highway. Concluding their IRONMAN 70.3 journey, athletes will run 13.1 miles in Frankfort and surrounding areas. (Additional course details will be shared as soon as they are available at ironman.com/im703-michigan.)
General registration for IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan opened in December 2020. And athletes and spectators can find lodging opportunities at traversecity.com/ironman. For more information on Traverse City area attractions, visit traversecity.com, as well as ironman.com for details on the global event series.
“We can’t wait to welcome IRONMAN 70.3 back to northern Michigan,” Trevor Tkach, of Traverse City Tourism, which also represents Frankfort, said is supplied material. “Our organization is honored to continue to support the race and the athletes who train for this incredible feat. The new course will be an exciting change for athletes, and spectators will be able to enjoy exploring the beautiful town of Frankfort in addition to the surrounding Traverse City region.”
Dennos Museum Center will be hosting Facebook live concerts. (Dennos Museum)
The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College, along with local artists, performers, and partners, is shifting gears in light of recent global developments. In an effort to continue providing top-notch educational and entertainment value to the greater Grand Traverse region and beyond, the Museum presents several new and updated programs. In addition, they remain in conversation with artists and arts organizations throughout Michigan to further develop programs and support initiatives.
The Live & Local Concert Series is presented by the Dennos Museum Center and Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology to bring some much needed musical entertainment to residents’ living room. They believe strongly in supporting local musicians, and invite you to join on Facebook Live to do the same. Featuring local singer-songwriters, this could be the beginning of an ongoing series, so stay tuned. You can also visit crosshatch.org/emergency to support their local artist relief fund.
Tune in on the Dennos Museum Facebook page, performers’ pages, or on the event page to watch Facebook Live concerts.
Performances by date:
May Erlewine – Monday, April 6 at 7 p.m.
Blake Elliot – Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m.
Jack M. Senff – Thursday, April 9 at 7 p.m.
E-Minor – Saturday, April 11 at noon
DRAW NoMI
Ongoing
Now in its sixth year, DRAW NoMI is a collaborative event that brings together arts organizations from all over Northern Michigan to present programming for our communities. During this time of staying home and being together only virtually, DRAW NoMI’s partners are all working hard to connect you and your family with the arts on social media and the web. Make sure to check the list below to learn how you can support them today.
The Dennos Museum Center recently began publishing twice-weekly videos with fantastic how-to-draw demos that are fun for the whole family. Narrated and drawn by Jason Dake, Curator of Education, these videos offer brief demonstrations and tips on a variety of drawing topics. They are posted to the Dennos Museum Center’s YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts on Mondays and Thursdays for the time being. Everyone is encouraged to share their creations on the Dennos Facebook page.
As we head into the first full week of 2020, Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma compiled the top WKTV Journal stories of 2019. Those vying for the number one spot were all stories about raising awareness on a variety of subjects, child abuse and neglect, autism, Multiple Sclerosis, and helping those in need. We salute all who have worked to make the world a better place.
Mel Trotter Ministries hosts its annual Thanksgiving event. (Supplied)
As of Jan. 1, Heartside Ministry and Mel Trotter Ministries have merged. Reducing operating costs, eliminating potential duplication of services, and creating a greater impact for the populations the agencies both serve were the driving forces for the merger, according to organization officials. Services will not be immediately impacted as officials said the two organizations will need most of 2020 to work through the details of the merger.
Fun Fact: Pie Fight
Once, a long time ago, a northern Michigan city decided it needed a “claim to fame” so the residents of Charlevoix made the world’s largest pie at 17,420 pounds. Well, Charlevoix’s city to the south, Traverse City, was not to be outdone. In 1987, the city made a pie weighing in at 28,350 pounds and to prove it was the world’s largest pie, had officials form the Guinness Book of World’s Records certify it. Of course, that called for a “Who can make the biggest pie” challenge with a town in Canada — Oliver — taking over the title in 1998 with a pie that weighed 39,386 pounds. A monument to the pie wars still remains in Traverse City at 3424 Cass Road where the original cherry pie tin stands along with a marker as the World’s Largest Pie…in 1987 that is.
The National Writers Series of Traverse City, a pre-eminent year-round book festival, is excited to announce its Amazing Women’s Weekend, Oct. 20-22. Coming up are:
Amy Goldstein, whose book Janesville: An American Story tells the tale of a Wisconsin town’s resiliency at a time of cataclysmic economic stress. It hit the 2017 best book lists of the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Business Insider, and The Economist.
Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage, an instant New York Times bestselling novel and a top book pick by both Oprah and former President Barack Obama.
Alice Walker, the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, The Color Purple. This legendary author will be here to talk about her new book of poetry.
Interlochen Public Radio is producing the show.
SEASON TICKETS
All events take place at the City Opera House, downtown Traverse City
6pm – Reception with cash bar, live music, and Morsels
7pm – The author/guest host interview is followed by a Q and A and book signing.
Purchase tickets online at cityoperahouse.org, calling 231-941-8082, ext. 201, or in-person at The City Opera House. Ticket fees vary by method of purchase.
An Evening with Amy Goldstein
Janesville: An American Story
Oct. 20, 2018
Amy Goldstein
TICKETS
$15 – Reserved
$25 – Premium Reserved
$5 – Students (K-12 and College)
How does a heartland city pick itself up after the oldest General Motors plant in the country is shuttered during the Great Recession of 2008?
The plant, located in Janesville, Wisconsin, is also home to U.S. Representative Paul Ryan. Using the city as a microcosm of a larger national struggle, Goldstein brings fresh insights and possibilities to the discouraging story of the struggles of the working classes.
Goldstein has been a staff writer for 30 years at The Washington Post, where much of her work has focused on social policy. Among her many awards, she shared the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. She has been a fellow at Harvard University at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Janesville: An American Story is her first book. She lives in Washington, DC.
Guest host: Shannon Henry Kleiber, a producer for To the Best of Our Knowledge, a public radio show from Wisconsin Public Radio and PRX. She is a seven-year veteran of The Washington Post, where she wrote for just about every section of the paper. Shannon is the author of The Dinner Club: How the Masters of the Internet Universe Rode the Rise and Fall of the Greatest Boom in History and On My Honor: Real Life Lessons From America’s First Girl Scout. Shannon lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
An Evening with Tayari Jones
An American Marriage
Oct. 21, 2018
Tayari Jones
TICKETS
$15 – Reserved
$25 – Premium Reserved
$5 – Students (K-12 and College)
Tayari Jones’s new novel, An American Marriage, tells the compelling story of a couple at the crossroads of love and injustice. An instant New York Times bestseller and a 2018 Oprah’s Book Club selection, it tells of newlyweds Celestial and Roy arriving in Atlanta to start their lives together. They appear to be on a straight track to success in their respective careers and domestic bliss. But all their hard work and right decisions are put on hold when Roy, a young executive, is found guilty of rape, a crime both he and Celeste know he did not commit. He is sentenced to twelve years of prison, forcing the couple to reconcile their relationship with a broken criminal justice system.
The author of four novels including The Silver Sparrow, Jones’s books exhibit a deep understanding of human struggles large and small. Her powers of observation will make this a night of insight and inspiration that is not to be missed.
Guest host, Aaron Stander has worked in the literary vineyards for more than five decades. He has been a college English professor, educational consultant, and teacher trainer. He has published numerous articles, stories, reviews, and ten crime novels. Aaron is also the host/producer of Interlochen Public Radio’s longstanding program, Michigan Writers on the Air.
An Evening with Alice Walker
Arrow Out of the Heart
Oct. 22, 2018
TICKETS
$30 – Reserved
$40 – Premium Reserved
$5 – Students (K-12 and College)
While Walker hardly requires an introduction, her genius bears repeating. One of America’s most cherished writers, she has brought us novels, poems, and nonfiction works of the utmost artistic and social importance. In 1983 Walker received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Color Purple, becoming the first African-American woman to receive the honor.The book has since been adapted into an Academy-Award nominated film and a Broadway musical.
Her staggering capacity for truth and warmth feature centrally in her work. Her latest book of collected poetry, Arrow Out of the Heart, is no exception. Presented in both English and Spanish and comprising almost 70 poems, each lush and lucid word brims with passion and power. The collection proves, once again, the tendency of Walker’s wisdom to sear into readers’ hearts, leaving its mark far beyond the last page.
Guest host Rochelle Riley, who always works with two phones, is a columnist for the Detroit Free Press, where she has been a leading voice for children, education, competent government and race since 2000. She is the author of The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery (Wayne State University Press, 2018). She makes frequent television and radio appearances, including on National Public Radio and local television. She has won numerous national, state and local honors, including a National Headliner Award for local column writing.
About the National Writers Series
The Writers Series of Traverse City (NWS) is a nonprofit dedicated to holding great conversations with today’s best authors and building the writing and reading skills of youth. NWS believes in the power of storytelling to enrich and transform lives and whole communities. NWS is made possible by our generous donors, as well as our major sponsors Cordia and West Shore Bank. We are also generously supported by grantors Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Each NWS event is taped and broadcast to a wide and enthusiastic audience by Land Information Access Association’s Community Media Center and Interlochen Public Radio.
For more information on the National Writers Series, visit www.nationalwritersseries.org, contact NWS Executive Director Anne Stanton, or call the National Writers Series at (231) 631-1551.
Winter is hanging on in West Michigan so there are still plenty of cold weather things to do in the West Michigan area.
Recently, Courtney Sheffer, marketing director for the West Michigan Tourist Association stopped by the WKTV Journal to offer a few more ideas on some winter fun in northern West Michigan.
Shanty Creek Resorts
Traverse City
For those looking to learn to ski or snowboard, there is still time as Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire offer the Super Sunday deal until March 18. The deal is $29 per person and includes lift ticket, rental equipment, and staton-by-statin group lessons.
“I’ve done the lessons as Shanty Creek and they do a really great job breaking it down, even for beginners who never touched a board,” Sheffer said. “They make it easy to understand and it is great place to learn.”
Shanty Creek Resorts also other activities such as alpine tubing and in the summer, golfing. For more about Shanty Creek, visit its website, shantycreek.com.
Sweet treats at Kilwin’s
Petoskey
Another favorite winter spot is Petoskey, which Sheffer noted “has a lot of outdoor gems as well. A lot of outdoor trails, a lot of hiking paths, lots of beaches right there.”
But for those looking for more of an indoor-type activity check out the Kilwin’s Chocolate Kitchen, Sheffer said.
Petoskey is actually Kilwin’s home base and the store at 1050 Bay View Rd. does have free tours Monday through Friday with samples. It is advisable, according to the Kilwin’s website, to make a reservation for a tour. For more information, visit kilwins.com.
Maple Moon Sugarbush and Winery
Since we are on a sweet theme, another popular Petoskey spot —especially as Michigan turns to spring — is the Maple Moon Sugarbush and Winery, 4454 Atkins Rd., Petoskey. The family-owned business offers tours seasonally on the maple sap being transformed into maple syrup. Tours are available at 4 p.m. every Saturday.
“And if you are looking for anything maple theme, they have it there,” Sheffer said. “They have maple wine, maple foods, maple candy.”
Right near Petoskey is Lyric Theatre in Harbor Springs. Sheffer said this is a fun place to visit as every Saturday the theater, located at 275 E. Main St., features family favorites with tickets at 25 cents. She noted that it harkens back to the days when the theater first opened and today provides a great budget-friendly adventure to anyone.
For more budget friendly ideas on things to do in and around West Michigan, whether it be winter, spring, summer and fall, pick up a West Michigan Carefree Travel Guide available at the WKTV station, 5261 Clyde Park Ave. or visit wmta.org.
With its miles of hiking, cycling and skiing trails, Traverse City is already well-known among outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
But even some of Traverse City’s most enthusiastic fans don’t know that the area includes an iconic stretch of the nation’s newest (and longest) hiking pathway — the 4,600-mile North Country Trail (NCT), which runs through seven states and 12 national forests from New York to North Dakota.
“It’s some remarkably fine hiking” said outdoor writer Jim DuFresne, who has spent the last four years mapping more than 200 hiking and biking trails across Michigan. “I think people are just beginning to realize that it’s there.”
That’s not an overstatement. To date, fewer than a dozen people have hiked the North Country Trail from end to end, compared to the 1,800 a year who walk the more famous Appalachian Trail — even though the NCT has the advantage of being located within a day’s drive of 40 percent of the U.S. population and is closer to major cities and towns (Cincinnati, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, Albany and Fargo, to name a few) for easier access to food and lodging.
With 1,150 miles of North Country Trail, Michigan has the longest stretch of trail in the entire system. It’s also the state that has been most welcoming to mountain bikers on its section of the NCT; although some segments are closed to cyclists for ecological and user-conflict reasons, many trail sections are bike-friendly.
Created by Congress in 1980, the NCT has grown slowly over the decades — built almost entirely by volunteers. One reason for the lack of end-to-end trail hikes may be that many people don’t realize it’s been completed; 3,100 miles are along off-road trails and another 1,500 miles are “road walk” paths along the sides of rural roads.
But the 100-mile stretch of the trail that passes through the Traverse City area contains some of the region’s best forest scenery: the Sand Lakes and Brown Bridge Quiet Areas, the Muncie Lakes Pathway and miles of steep bluffs above the Manistee River, including the High Rollways. There’s even a spur trail connecting the main pathway to Traverse City’s famed Vasa Trail. And visitors are gradually getting used to seeing the NCT’s characteristic “North Star” trailhead signs and sky-blue blazes on trees.
Most people who use the Traverse City portion of the trail are like their counterparts along the rest of its length; rather than travel the entire 4,600 miles in a single season, they pick out smaller segments for adventures of a few weeks, days or even hours. One result is the appearance of semi-official “trail towns” located near the pathway, where trail users can replenish their supplies and enjoy a few civilized comforts before returning to the woods.
Ten of the 16 trail towns on the NCT are in Michigan. One is the village of Fife Lake, a resort community at the southeast corner of Grand Traverse County, about 30 minutes from Traverse City. A former lumbering settlement, Fife Lake is a perfect example of what trail promoters like to call “Red Plaid Nation” — the network of North Woods residents who built the NCT and now spend their time maintaining trails and performing random acts of kindness for weary hikers.
The village even has its own section of the trail — the 21-mile Fife Lake Loop, which includes two state forest campgrounds and a newly-made pathway above the Manistee River. Like most of the NCT, it was built by Red Plaid Nation volunteers — in this case, the 150-member Grand Traverse Hiking Club, which has official responsibility for developing, maintaining, protecting and promoting their 100-mile section. (Administration is carried out by the National Park Service.)
There is so much to do in West Michigan to kick off the Halloween fun! This three part series will dive into different Fall and Halloween activities all throughout the West side of this Marvelous State. Northern West Michigan finishes the series. If you missed part one or part two on Southern Michigan and Central Michigan, be sure not to let it Fall to the wayside!
As Halloween approaches, all the little ghouls and goblins have one thing on their minds: Trick-or-Treating! To keep the kids’ minds off candy just a bit longer, kick off your Halloween fun early in West Michigan! Whether it’s family fun at the corn maze, or Halloween-themed pub crawls for the grown up ghouls, there are plenty of Halloween activities for all ages around West Michigan to get you in a Halloween mood!
Northern Halloween Fun in West Michigan
Chateau Chantal’s Naughty Apple Hard Cider
For those adults looking to pair their Halloween fun with a seasonal brew, you’ll want to check out Chateau Chantal’s Naughty Apple Hard Cider. Their brand new & wonderfully tantalizing Naughty Apple Hard Cider is fermented from a duo of Michigan Golden Delicious & Gala apples. Slightly sweet, serve chilled. Purchase in their tasting room or online at the Chateau Chantal web store.
While you’re visiting Chateau Chantal, enjoy a beautiful & elegant 7-course meal perfectly paired alongside a Chateau Chantal wine & created by the talented in-house chef. Learn from their knowledgeable staff about food & wine pairings while savoring exquisite creations & making new friends. Bring an eager palate, an inquisitive mind & an empty stomach! Your experience begins with an informative winery tour at 6pm with dinner seating in the winery’s beautiful dining room, with panoramic views of both bays, at 6:30pm. Seating is limited so book yours before it’s too late! Reservations & payment are required at least a day in advance. Reserve online here or call (231) 223-4110.
Short’s Brewing Company
Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire is hosting a Halloween Party on October 31st. The Private Stache bottle release will start at 11:00 am with other events like the costume contest taking place in the evening. You’ll also get to enjoy Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers play live on the pub stage (beginning at 9:00 pm), spooky food specials, a costume contest, Halloween themed draft beer, and a Bourbon Evil Urges Private Stache bottle release.
St. Ignace
St. Ignace puts a unique spin on Halloween fun at the annual St. Ignace Trunk or Treat on October 24, 2015. Parents decorate their ghoulish vehicles and dispense candy to those in costume directly from the trunk of the car. It’s tailgating for Halloween! Afterward, ride the hay wagon to the Haunted Woods and take a tour if you’re brave enough, or simply enjoy games and music. It all starts at the lot behind the Quality Inn. Prizes awarded for best costume, scariest costume and most original costume. Everyone’s invited!
Crystal Mountain Spooktacular Saturdays
Take in the autumn air during Spooktacular Saturdays on October 24th at Crystal Mountain. The whole family is sure to have a good time with activities for all ages to enjoy. Take advantage of specialty Fun Pass prices that provide a bundle of activities at a discounted rate. Participate in apple bobbing, wagon rides, face painting, and unlimited marshmallows at the campfire! Take in the leaves from the chairlift, or carve pumpkins to get into the Halloween mood. Bring your best costume for the Costume Parade at 5pm, with free entry and candy for all participants! If you’re feeling brave, head over to the Haunted Forest at the end of the night (recommended for ages nine and up).
Downtown Traverse City
October closes with a parade of little ghosts and goblins as Downtown Traverse City hosts costume clad children and their parents to trick or treat at participating stores throughout the Downtown area on Halloween. The event kicks off at 3:30 until 5 pm. For more information call (231) 922-2050 or visit www.downtowntc.com. While you’re there, watch out for running zombies, as the Zombie Run takes place that morning!
Mackinac Island
Haunts of Mackinac
In the Celtic world, Samhain marks the end of summer and the beginning of the new year and a time to commemorate the souls of the blessed dead. With the rise of Christianity, it was changed to Halloween and remains a joyous time of family reunion.
On Mackinac Island, they celebrate both traditions with their Halloween Weekend October 23rd through 25th. Have fun with the kids Trick or Treating downtown, take the Haunts of Mackinac Tour and then gear up for some great grown up Halloween parties at the downtown pubs. This is also the time of year that the Island shops work hard to clear out their inventory with great discounts and sales. Be sure to browse on Main Street, Market Street and at the shops at Grand Hotel. This makes a perfect weekend to skip out on Black Friday and get a head start on holiday shopping.
For up to the day room availability, just call the Tourism Bureau 906.847.3783, and they hope to see you join in their tradition to pull out all the stops and celebrate the end of the Island’s main season.
