Traverse City

Sailing on Grand Traverse Bay

Nestled between the east and west arms of Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay, artsy, outdoorsy, eco-conscious Traverse City is northwest lower Michigan's largest outpost, known for its pristine waters, rolling landscapes, tart cherries and award-winning wineries. The economy is tied to tourism, including agritourism, recreation, higher education, small businesses, casinos and farming. Downtown booms with upscale shops, galleries and a restaurant scene featuring local foods and getting national attention as a foodie haven -- further enhanced by Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Culinary Institute, which opened in 2003. The cultural scene is sweet, too: Between Front Street's restored 1891 City Opera House and 1916 State Theatre, the Dennos Museum on NMC's campus, Interlochen Center for the Arts and two casino resorts�Turtle Creek and Leelanau Sands -- national acts and programming light up stages year round.

Fustini's offers customers more than just everyday products

Heather Johnson Durocher Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Fustini's Oils & Vinegars isn't your typical store. It's a place where customers are infatuated with the products, and a place where the owners care so much about what they do that they wrote the book on it--quite literally. Second Wave's Heather Johnson Durocher stopped in recently for a taste.

North X Northwest: Every day is for celebrating small businesses

Sam Eggleston Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Local businesses are the lifeblood of a community. Be it the gas station down the road, the mom-and-pop's diner or the painter who advertises via bulletin boards, local entrepreneurs not only work here, they often live here as well. What's even better is that dollars spent at our local businesses stay local, says managing editor Sam Eggleston.

Oneupweb's Lisa Wehr grew business from home-based to more than 50 employees

Sam Eggleston Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Traverse City and Northwest Michigan are full of movers and shakers and innovative entrepreneurs. Lisa Wehr, the founder and owner of Oneupweb, is all of those and more. She has changed the way marketing works in this region, and she's hardly done altering the way the game is played.

Corbin Design makes career out of telling clients where to go

Kim North Shine Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The old Five Man Electrical Band song states that there are "signs, signs, everywhere there's signs." Mark VanderKlipp and the company Corbin Design are sure glad there are, because without them people would be lost everywhere. This is the company behind the scenes making sure that you and everyone else know exactly where they are and where they are headed.

North X Northwest: Region is a foodie paradise

Sam Eggleston Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Welcome to North x Northwest, a new column by managing editor Sam Eggleston which will be featured in each new edition of Northwest Michigan Second Wave. From food to wine to communities, businesses and people, he will discuss a myriad of topics. This week, he notes just how much of a foodie destination this region has become.

Verterra: New wines from old traditions

Michael Schafer Tuesday, January 17, 2012

When the news of another winery opening in Northwest Michigan comes around, you have to ask yourself--do we really need another? Second Wave's Michael Schafer asked that very question to the owners of the newly-opened Verterra winery. The answer? A convincing "yes!"

A look back at 2011, and ahead to 2012

Sam Eggleston Tuesday, December 13, 2011

This time of year, everyone starts to look back at the months that have come and gone and the accomplishments that they, and those around them, have achieved. Here at Northwest Michigan Second Wave, we do the same--we'll be taking a hiatus from publishing over the holidays with a return Jan. 17. We hope that makes you begin to look forward at what Northwest Michigan and our publication will offer in 2012.

The Talent Dividend: How more college grads can add to a Michigan city's bottom line

Tracy Certo Tuesday, December 13, 2011

What's the best thing a city can do to achieve more economic success? Increase its number of college graduates. Read how the Talent Dividend calculates just how much college degrees add to a city's bottom line--think billions--and cities right here in Michigan are some of 57 competing for the $1 million dollar prize to boost college attainment.

The gift of love: Paperworks Studio puts heart into each hand-crafted card

Kim North Shine Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Picking out cards to send for the holidays is never easy. But Paperworks Studios, in Traverse City, makes selecting your cards much easier, because there's no other place you'll be able to get cards that are made with the love and affection of Paperworks' employees. Second Wave's Kim North Shine is feeling it.

Ancient trees hold hope for climate change

Kim Eggleston Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Archangel Ancient Tree Archive collects the oldest tree DNA on Earth, and clones new seedlings from it. If it sounds like Jurassic Park, but with trees, you're halfway right, except it's real, and urgent for the future of our planet. It all happens right down the road in Copemish.

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