Foraging Identification Walk (Rescheduled)

Take a walk with us at East Creek Reserve to learn about spring edible flora and funga.
When: Thursday, April 25th from 3:00 – 4:30pm
Where: East Creek Reserve. 44.62776, -85.50406. Meet at the parking lot on Mayfield Rd.
Registration: $10. Please click HERE to register. Attendees aged 18+ are welcome to this event.

PINBALL WARS

Every Thursday, starting at 7pm

IFPA sanctioned tournaments: Become a world-ranked pinball player! Beginner and advanced players welcome. No buy-in. No pre-registration required. Just come on in! tcpinball.org

Medalie Park Arbor Day Planting Workbee

Plant native trees and shrubs at Medalie Park! Wet-tolerant species will be hand-planted in lowland areas along the shores of Boardman Lake to help improve stormwater uptake, water quality, and wildlife habitat. Please bring sturdy footwear, work gloves, and your favorite planting shovel if you have one. Extra shovels will be available along with light snacks and water.

When: Friday, April 26 from 9:30am – 12:00pm
Where: Medalie Park
Registration is required. Please click HERE to register.

Our chef-educator, Chris Mushall, will create a wonderfully entertaining and educational afternoon of food and fun. All cooking classes are approximately four hours concluding in a sit-down meal where guests get to enjoy all they have created.

Class begins at 12:30pm, please arrive 10 minutes before the class so we may check everyone in and get started on time. Consider bringing an apron and your favorite knife (we will have extras if needed).

As part of the class, you will receive some “tokens” for wine. Please note you must be over 21-years of age to enjoy any wines. If you’d like to purchase more wine than the standard pours you may do so in the Tasting Room. Wine may be enjoyed while preparing the dishes or after the active part of the class while dining on your creations.

Different Cooking Classes Include:

2/3/2024 French Cuisine – Explore classic French continental cuisine with coq au vin, pôchouse, Beef Bourguignon, and more.

2/24/2024 Spain & North Africa – Experience a delicious blend of Spanish cuisine with North African influences. Explore the mountains and the sea! This menu will feature homemade Sangria and other wine pairings you’re sure to enjoy.

3/2/2024 Coastal Italian – Explore the five fishing villages of the Ligurian coasts by preparing seafood, Cioppino, pestos, and hand-rolled pastas.

3/9/2024 Piedmonte Italy – From the North of Italy, enjoy famous Piedmontese staples of black truffle, risotto Milanese, polenta, and more.

4/13/2024 Hand Made Pasta & Sauces – Learn the classic art of rolling your own fresh pasta, while pairing homemade sauces with a variety of Chateau Chantal wines!

4/27/2024 Piedmonte Italy – From the North of Italy, enjoy famous Piedmontese staples of black truffle, risotto Milanese, polenta, and more.

5/18/2024 Spring Into Summer – This class will dive into the beautiful flavors of the season in Northern Michigan while learning to recreate a meal perfect for any backyard summer gathering.

Our classes are offered January into June. While not required, a stay in our B&B offers a 10% discount on our cooking class.  Check for B&B reservations here: www.chateauchantal.com/reservations

In celebration of Earth Day, please join FLOW (For Love of Water), Michiganders for a Just Farming System (MJFS), Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action (MiCCA) and VegMichigan for a screening of “The Smell of Money” at the Old
Town Playhouse in Traverse City on April 27, 2024 from 6-9 pm.
“The Smell of Money” is a David vs. Goliath tale of one woman’s battle against one of the world’s largest pork companies to reclaim her right to clean air, clean water and to protect her beloved community.
The evening is FREE to attend and will include tabling with local partners, food, a cash bar, and a guest panel discussion led by Carrie La Seur from FLOW after the film.

GET TICKETS NOW! The Music House is proud to welcome three generations of Stargardts in concert. Pianist Steve Stargardt, his daughter Lori Jayne Dear (Stargardt) on flute, and grandson Jack Stargardt on bass, will perform selections from the American Songbook and contemporary artists.

Lori Jayne and Steve have performed at many different venues in classical and jazz settings. Jack Stargardt, grandson, is a junior at Rockford High School. Jack is the principal bass player for the Junior Grand Rapids Orchestra and plays in the Rockford High School Jazz Band. He was recently named “High School Bassist of the Year” in Michigan.

Pianist Steve Stargardt has worked with most local jazz musicians in various settings. He has arranged and directed the band for the TC Rotary Show, the Elk Rapids Rotary Show and Old Town Playhouse Gala fundraisers.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased HERE.

Come out to help plant native plugs at GTRLC’s Mitchell Creek Meadows Nature Preserve! Volunteers will learn about and take an active part in the Conservancy’s ongoing habitat restoration project by assisting with planting plugs grown in our very own greenhouse.

The Basics: 

GTRLC will supply tools and water. We will teach you everything you need to know about how to properly handle and plant plugs in the ground. No prior experience is necessary! This is a moderately light, family-friendly activity, though volunteers should be prepared for digging and kneeling. Bathrooms and drinking water are both available on site.

What will volunteers be doing:

• Learning about our ongoing restoration and greenhouse projects
• Digging and dibble bar usage
• Removing and handling native plugs from their containers 

What should I bring?

• Dress for the weather! Always check the forecast in advance
• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can handle some mud
• Bring a reusable water bottle and some snacks
• Sunscreen and bug spray for your safety and comfort

sign up: 4/20/2024 9:45 am – 12:00 pm
sign up: 4/24/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
sign up: 4/27/2024 9:45 am – 12:00 pm
sign up: 5/1/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
sign up: 5/4/2024 9:45 am – 12:00 pm
sign up: 5/8/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
sign up: 5/11/2024 9:45 am – 12:00 pm
sign up: 5/15/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

🥣🎨 Why is Empty Bowls our favorite event? It’s more than just a gathering—it’s a heartwarming experience that brings our community together in so many ways:
👩‍🎨 Artists: Creative minds come together to craft beautiful bowls, each one a masterpiece filled with love and purpose.
🎶 Entertainers: Our event is not just about food; it’s about creating memories. New this year, inspired by the first Empty Bowls event held by a high school art class in Southeast Michigan over 34 years ago, the Coalition is partnering with area artists to provide live demonstrations and art available for purchase. Local entertainment will be showcased – including a presentation by Michael Sincic, a local watercolor artist who is blind.
🍽️ Restaurateurs: Local restaurants generously donate their delicious soups, showcasing the culinary talent of our community.
💙 Donors and Ticket Holders: Your support keeps our mission alive. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference in the lives of those in need. The cost for the event is $27 in advance or $33 at the door for adults, children 6-13 is $15, and children 5 and under are free.
🙋‍♀️ Volunteers: Dedicated individuals who lend their time and effort to ensure the success of our event and our mission everyday, spreading kindness with every gesture.
🌾 By supporting Empty Bowls, you’re not only helping your neighbors in need – including veterans, seniors, children, and families; but you’re also backing our local farmers. With your support, we’re able to invest in fresh, locally sourced produce and proteins, keeping our funds within the farm community and supporting family farmers.
📅 Mark your calendars for April 28, from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. at Howe Arena and join us for a day filled with compassion, connection, and delicious food. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and continue to spread love throughout our community.
See you there! 🌟

TICKETS HERE

Mindfulness is a powerful tool, helping one develop a different relationship towards stress and the ability to more skillfully navigate through life’s inevitable challenges. This practice of moment to moment awareness and waking up to one’s life with clarity and deeper insight untaps essential inner resource for living a happier and more balanced life… with greater contentment, inner peace and ease.

MBSR or Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is a highly structured, eight-week, evidence-based program that offers secular, intensive mindfulness training to assist people with a host of stress-related physical, emotional and psychological conditions. It is a practical approach, which uses a combination of mindfulness meditation, body awareness, yoga and the exploration of patterns of behavior, thinking, feeling and action. This 8-week structured class and full day mindfulness retreat, along with ongoing practice, trains attention and cultivates awareness, helping us to utilize of our inner resources and providing us with the positive coping tools we need to become strong and resilient in both body and mind.

MBSR was developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in the late 1970s by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and is now offered in medical centers, hospitals, and clinics around the world as the gold standard for mindfulness training. Since its inception, there has been a tremendous amount of research coming out of Harvard, UCLA, Stanford, UW-Madison and many other institutions providing insight into, not only how MBSR is helpful and how MBSR works, but also how it actually can change our brains for the better through positive neuroplasticity. You will find a plethora of this research at the American Mindfulness Research Association or www.goamra.org

Mindfulness as defined by Jon Kabat-Zinn is: Paying attention in a particular way, to what is actually happening in the present moment, on purpose and with an attitude of curiosity, kindness and without judgment.

Reduced Rate Options and Financial Assistance are always available! Classes fill quickly and early registration is recommended to secure a space in the upcoming spring class beginning April 23.

Register online HERE or call 231-342-9634

Ethanology Distillation Spirits Dinner
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 • 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT
The Cooks’ House

Join us as we welcome Ethanology Distillation where we will be presenting five courses paired with their amazing spirits. Geri and Nick will be here to talk about Ethanology’s philosophy, distilling, and the products they produce.

What: Tour de TART
When: Friday, July 19 | 4pm – 10pm
Where: Check in is from 4 – 6:30 at Darrow Park and we ride to North Park in Suttons Bay

Get ready for this pedal-powered adventure! Secure your spot for the upcoming Tour de TART on Friday, July 19. Cruise along a delightful 17-mile journey with scenic views and delicious pit stops along the way. Experience the beauty of the bay with a mouthwatering meal in Suttons Bay and a cash bar featuring local brews and wine, followed by a relaxing bus ride back to Traverse City. Don’t miss out on this unforgettably fun family event!

Riders enjoy two food stops along the 17-mile ride, including the famous luau party hosted by Brick Wheels, waterfront dinner catered by V.I. Grill & Fiddleheads, North Peak brews, Shady Lane Cellar wine, treats from Grand Traverse Pie Company, Milk & Honey, and Northwoods Soda and a relaxing bus ride back to Traverse City. Even more fun details to come…
REGISTER HERE!

Join us at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve to help plant hundreds of trees! Through this event, GTRLC strives to create healthy native habitats, increase species diversity, and reforest degraded ecosystems. If this sounds like something that interests you, please join us and help get some trees in the ground!

The Basics:
GTRLC will provide any materials necessary for the workday. Volunteers will help plant trees in specific locations of the preserve, so come prepared for a moderately strenuous activity with volunteers often bending and kneeling to dig and plant trees. Restrooms and drinking water are available on site.

The Conservancy follows state, federal and CDC guidelines for COVID-19 and may modify or cancel this event at any time. Do not participate in any activity if you were recently exposed (within 10 days) to someone with COVID-19 or have recently (within 10 days) been diagnosed with COVID-19.

What should I bring?

• Dress for the weather! Always check the forecast in advance
• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can handle some mud
• Bring a reusable water bottle and some snacks
• Sunscreen and bug spray for your safety and comfort

Directions: Please meet us at our office off of 3 Mile road, address below. Come down the driveway and park anywhere by the Conservation Center building.

2846 3 Mile Rd. N, Traverse City, MI 49686

Registration is appreciated but is not required. Cancellations due to weather, changing COVID-19 restrictions, or any other reason will be communicated with registered participants via email.

SIGN UP HERE.

Come out to help plant native plugs at GTRLC’s Mitchell Creek Meadows Nature Preserve! Volunteers will learn about and take an active part in the Conservancy’s ongoing habitat restoration project by assisting with planting plugs grown in our very own greenhouse.

The Basics: 

GTRLC will supply tools and water. We will teach you everything you need to know about how to properly handle and plant plugs in the ground. No prior experience is necessary! This is a moderately light, family-friendly activity, though volunteers should be prepared for digging and kneeling. Bathrooms and drinking water are both available on site.

What will volunteers be doing:

• Learning about our ongoing restoration and greenhouse projects
• Digging and dibble bar usage
• Removing and handling native plugs from their containers 

What should I bring?

• Dress for the weather! Always check the forecast in advance
• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can handle some mud
• Bring a reusable water bottle and some snacks
• Sunscreen and bug spray for your safety and comfort

sign up: 4/20/2024 9:45 am – 12:00 pm
sign up: 4/24/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
sign up: 4/27/2024 9:45 am – 12:00 pm
sign up: 5/1/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
sign up: 5/4/2024 9:45 am – 12:00 pm
sign up: 5/8/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
sign up: 5/11/2024 9:45 am – 12:00 pm
sign up: 5/15/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

A Toast to Ten & RYED Beer Release Party at Silver Spruce Brewing Co.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 4:30 PM 6:00 PM
Silver Spruce Brewing Co., 439 E. 8th Street, Traverse City, MI

Join us as we kick off our year-long celebration of a decade of engaging and empowering kids and communities. On hand will be Norte staff, Board members, coaches, and volunteers who shaped our organization through hard work, sweat equity, and plenty of miles on two wheels.

Long-time supporters, Silver Spruce Brewing Co., will release Ryed, a signature brew that marks the arrival of spring in northern Michigan. A dollar from every Ryed pint sold in May will be donated to Norte Youth Cycling.

Ride, walk, or roll to help us celebrate the hundreds of people who have made Norte the community-supported, community-focused organization its become today.

Nature Journaling Series: How to Start a Nature Journal

Connect with the natural world on paper! During this 3-part series, you will slow down and nurture your connection with the outdoors. Each week will focus on a different theme including: how to start your nature journal, sketching observations, mapping and storytelling. Afterward, you will leave with the tools to confidently continue your nature journaling experience!
This first session’s theme is learning how to start a nature journal. Participants can sign up for a single class or the whole series! This program is geared toward an audience of 16+.

When: Wednesday, May 1, 15 and 29 from 6:00 – 8:00pm
Where: Oleson Pavilion behind the Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685
Registration: $25/class or $60 to register for all three classes in the series. All supplies are included. Registration is required. Please click HERE to register.

Supported by the Diana Milock ‘Historical Book’ Conversation Series

The New York Times bestselling author of Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers, Hampton Sides now tells the epic tale of Captain Cook’s last and fatal journey that began in 1776.

In The Wide Wide Sea, we learn of the dramatic and disturbing change in Cook’s personality. Lionized as the greatest explorer in British history, Cook was admired for his peerless seamanship, his humane leadership, and his dedication to science. He treated his crew well and respected Indigenous societies.

Yet on this last journey, something was different. Cook became hot-tempered, resorting to the lash to enforce discipline. He led his two vessels into danger time and again. Uncharacteristically, he ordered violent retaliation for perceived theft on the part of native peoples. This may have had something to do with the pressure he felt from his secret charge to chart and claim lands before his rivals could and to discover the fabled Northwest Passage. In any case, the ultimate effects were catastrophic for Indigenous people around the world. Tensions between Cook’s overt and covert missions came to a head in Hawaii, where his exploitative treatment of the Hawaiians led to the fatal encounter.

At once a ferociously-paced story of adventure on the high seas and a searching examination of the complexities and consequences of the Age of Exploration, The Wide Wide Sea is a major work from one of our finest narrative nonfiction writers.

EVENT INFORMATION

In-Person at the City Opera House, 106 E. Front St., Traverse City, Michigan

Doors open at 6 p.m. with live music and a cash bar. The event begins at 7 p.m. and includes a Q&A and author signing. Each ticket comes with a hardcover copy of “The Wide Wide Sea”  (or opt for a two-ticket package with one book).

Ticket Information:
Tier One:
$57—Includes a $27 single ticket and a copy of the book
$84—Includes two $27 tickets and one copy of the book*

Tier Two:
$47—Includes a $17 single ticket and a copy of the book
$59—Includes two $17 and one copy of the book*

$10 Student Tickets (Does not include a book)

*For this two-ticket/one book package, please call the Box Office at 231-941-8082, ext. 201.

Virtual Tickets
$45—Includes a $15 virtual ticket and a copy of the book

Free to play, teams of up to 6 people. It’s team trivia with an added challenge!

Yoga every THURSDAY at 9:30 am. Drop ins & all levels welcome!

Bored Kids? We Can Fix That.
Keep your kids occupied during early release days with our four-part bike repair program next semester! Our Chief Mechanic, Tyler Wituszunski, will lead in-depth, hands-on repair lessons covering brakes, derailleurs, bearings, and more. Sign up for all 4 sessions by February 28 and we’ll even hit you with a $30 rebate.

Check out all the courses and dates! Open to 6th to 12th graders.

All the deets are HERE.

Generations Exhibition – Father Daughter Works of Art. It’s been said that artistic talent skips a generation, but not in the Truemner family tree! On Thursday, May 2, The City Opera House will open an exhibit that features large-scale paintings from an exceptionally talented father and daughter duo – Traverse City native Mitchell Truemner and Midland resident Katie Truemner Bruessow. This will be part II of their Generations Exhibition – Father Daughter Works of Art series. This reception is free and open to the public. Their works will be on display through the end of June.

Click HERE for more information.

PINBALL WARS

Every Thursday, starting at 7pm

IFPA sanctioned tournaments: Become a world-ranked pinball player! Beginner and advanced players welcome. No buy-in. No pre-registration required. Just come on in! tcpinball.org

If you love goats and hate invasive plant species, consider helping us care for our goat herd at Mitchell Creek Meadows Nature Preserve! The Conservancy has a small herd of goats that eat pesky invasive plants to their hearts’ content all day, every day. Volunteers check on the goats daily to ensure they are healthy, happy and well-fed.

The Basics:
Volunteers will learn everything they need to know to effectively monitor our goats’ health. By the end of the training, you will understand:

• How to operate the mobile electric fence
• Key signs/indicators of goat health and how to respond to any issues
• Essential supplies for the goats and when they are needed
• How to report your hours

The Conservancy follows state, federal and CDC guidelines for COVID-19 and may modify or cancel this event at any time. Do not participate in any activity if you were recently exposed (within 10 days) to someone with COVID-19 or have recently (within 10 days) been diagnosed with COVID-19. 

What should I bring?

• Dress for the weather
• Sunscreen/bug spray
• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can handle some mud
• Long pants
• Bring a reusable water bottle and some snacks if desired

Please meet us at Mitchell Creek Meadows Nature Preserve. You can park by the buildings in any designated space and meet us at the goat barn.
You MUST pre-register to participate in this event – space is limited. Registered participants will be notified of any modifications or cancellation via email.
Thank you for your interest in joining us! If you have any questions, please contact Erica DesJardins at edesjardins@gtrlc.org or 231-929-7911 (ext. 316).

Sign up here: 4/12/2024 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Sign up here: 5/3/2024 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Old Town Playhouse is headed back to the ’80s when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer was the coolest guy in the room! It’s 1985, and rock star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. He’s the life of the party until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a winsome waitress who wins his affection. As luck would have it, Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark, and, unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever.

TICKETS HERE.

Come out and support a great cause – ALL proceeds go to Mt. Holiday Recreation Area and other local non-profit organizations that support kids including VASA Ski Club, Down Syndrome Association of NW MI, GTACS Music Booster, Great North Alpine Ski Team, NMMBA, Hagerty Cycling and more.

And why did we choose Mt. Holiday? Not only is it one of Traverse City’s best-kept secrets (the wood-fired stove in the cozy bar…local beers…great food) but it also helps disadvantaged kids get off their couches and on the ski/snowboard hill. As a 501(c)3, Mt. Holiday provides free lessons, rentals, and more to school-age kids who utilize their school’s free lunch program. It’s a safe, fun place for kids who might not otherwise have anywhere to go during the winter.

LOTS MORE INFO HERE.

Old Town Playhouse is headed back to the ’80s when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer was the coolest guy in the room! It’s 1985, and rock star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. He’s the life of the party until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a winsome waitress who wins his affection. As luck would have it, Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark, and, unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever.

TICKETS HERE.