Category: Traverse City (Page 3 of 8)

March 11, 2023 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

With the recent news of the possible addition of over 500 more acres to the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, I got to thinking about all the new trails that such a large addition could make. I have a yearly list of “new to me” trails, and I still have many more trails to explore since moving here less than three years ago. But enough about new trails, this post is about the existing trails at BBQA.

My favorite time of year to hike the BBQA and the Boardman Valley Trail is autumn. The views from the bluffs are amazing. But any time of year is a good time to hike this area south of Traverse City just north of Kingsley.

Sunshine through trees

The problem with winter hiking is ice. Unless you’re out after a fresh snow, the melt-freeze cycle often leads to slippery walks. Mine started at the Brown Bridge Road parking lot south of the river where I headed east into the woods. Narrow, uneven trails required careful steps to avoid a downhill tumble, but I’m happy to report that no hikers were harmed during this walk.

The trail turned north and then west and crossed the Boardman River. The remaining trail followed the river as it wound its way downstream, mostly exposed to open sky. That sunshine also meant better footing as I returned to my car.

Bridge over the Boardman

Brown Bridge / Boardman Valley Trail is a popular trail, though not as busy as the trails closer to town such as Pelizzari and The Commons. It is worth the drive out of town to enjoy the views.

Brown Bridge Quiet Area

Bridge work starts Monday

January 30, 2023 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

Today, on Monday, January 30th, it begins again. Yes, more bridge work here in Traverse City. Both the north Cass Street bridge (between Grandview Parkway and Front Street) and the south Union Street bridge (between State Street and Sixth Street) will have their decking replaced, sidewalks expanded, and other improvements, work that will not be completed until June.

The first concreate bridge over Union Street was constructed in 1931. Union was originally US 31, so it was an important route through town. Thankfully, the highway was moved west to Division. Can you imagine how terrible it would be if the highway going through Old Towne? The bridge is a little rough, especially the crumbling decorative balustrades.

Union Street bridge

Union Street bridge balustrades

The Cass Street bridge is far younger, built in 1960. It doesn’t look as bad, but it apparently needed to have work done, and the city got a discount for doing two bridges at the same time.

Cass Street bridge

BTW, Cass Street was named after Lewis Cass, the territorial governor of Michigan, senator, Secretary of War under Andrew Jackson, and presidential nominee who was defeated by Zachary Taylor.

Though it will be a big pain in the butt for residents (like the recent south Cass Street, Park Street, and Eighth Street bridges were in the past few years), it’s work that needs to get done, so we’ll just have to deal with it for a few months.

Happy Hour at The Flying Noodle

January 28, 2023 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

Always on the prowl for a good deal in the ever-increasing price of eating out, Andrea and I discovered an excellent Happy Hour at The Flying Noodle on Front Street. I mean, look at this menu:

Happy Hour menu

I can say that the fried mozzarella was quite tasty, as was the calamari. The one-topping pizza was excellent and splitting those three appetizers (with a couple of glasses of wine to round out the experience) was filling enough for the two of us. Just make sure you get there a spot at the bar because Happy Hour is early – 3:00 to 5:00.

Behold the Wienermobile!

January 22, 2023 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

It was a very exciting week in Traverse City as the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile paid a visit to town. Not wanting this not-quite once-in-a-lifetime experience to pass me by, I visited Tom’s West Bay store to get a look at incredible combination of automotive technology and processed meat.

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile

What beautiful lines on that vehicle!

And just when I thought the excitement was finished, look! A second siting, this as it turned onto Division from Fourteenth Street.

Wienermobile on Fourteenth Street

If these photos have moved you to want to drive the Wienermobile, then you have the opportunity to drive this slick vehicle – just apply on the Oscar Mayer site.

Nachos at Hopscotch

January 17, 2023 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

This is not a food blog, nor do I intend for it to become one. However, we do have lots of good places to eat, and once in a while, I’ll share my experiences. I am also a nacho guy, with a weekly family Nacho Night (complete with movie and popcorn) at a day of the week that varies based on whether or not it’s volleyball season.

Hopscotch is someplace we don’t go often because we are West Bay people and don’t get to the East Bay often. Which is odd because it’s not like the area is THAT far away. It is a pain in the butt to get to, though, especially with summertime traffic and the plethora of lights between here and there. Still, we made our way over to those visit the east siders. And their food.

Hopscotch Nachos

And there they are! The nachos of Hopscotch. Not a huge plate, but enough for one person. They got a smidge to close to the edge of the oven, but a little char builds characters. The pulled pork was tasty and overall they were pretty good, though the green sauce was too sour for my taste. Sans-sauce would have made the nachos better. And I know nachos.

One criticism I have is the 3% surcharge that restaurants (like Hopscotch) charge for credit card purchases. One of the (many) reasons people hate TicketMaster is that they add 30% to their tickets after you are already paying a bunch of money. Now, 3% is not 30%, but some of us (read: me) do get irritated when we have to pay even more money for various things. If you want to charge more, add a quarter onto the price on the menu and call it good. Restaurants that do things like add extra fees are less likely for a repeat visit.

Thus ends the Public Service Announcement.

Wednesday deal at The Parlor

December 7, 2022 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

If wine is your thing, The Parlor has half-off wine on Wednesdays, in addition to happy hour (half-off all drinks). Though the food isn’t half off, they have a list of interesting sounding pizzas, so you should be able to find something that suits you.

The Parlor

In past lives, the building that The Parlor now inhabits was a train station and a cherry warehouse. But they cleaned it up since those days. Drinks, food and live music – good things are happening there.

TC Beer Week is Here

November 17, 2022 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

Yes, it is that time of year again. We are in the middle of TC Beer Week where you drink beer for prizes! For me, it’s an excuse to visit a bunch of places with the goal of getting a T-shirt that tells everyone how much I drink. I have one from last year, as well as a TC Uncorked shirt, so my closet is well-represented with Northwest Michigan’s drinking establishments. If you haven’t started your exploration of Traverse City restaurants and breweries, now is the time.

Almost Christmas?

November 9, 2022 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

I often walk along the Boardman River downtown, a route I took when living on Eighth Street. Those were good days, with no house responsibilities, though paying Air B&B prices was a bit crippling financially. But as I took my evening walk, what should I see across the river but a sign of the season to come:

Boardman Christmas tree

I love Christmas, true, but it’s only November 8th. A smidge early, but to each their own.

Being November, most of the trees have lost their leaves, but near Cass were a few that were stubbornly holding on, and which made quite a nice picture with the reflection off the river.

Autumn trees

Out of the lane, people

November 4, 2022 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

Just a note about proper etiquette. When possible, stay out of the westbound right-turn lane on Fourteenth Street unless you are actually turning right. Don’t be that person that holds up an entire line of traffic because you’re clueless or selfish. Yes, the arrow says you can go straight, and you legally can. But you can also legally be a jerk, but how about not being one?

Fourteenth Street

Cousin Jenny is on the move

October 25, 2022 / scottstoecker / 0 Comments

As The Ticker mentioned, Cousin Jenny’s is moving from the corner of State and Union to further east on State, I had not visited its current locations in at least 15 years, so I decided to stop in and take a look.

Cousin Jenny's

They do have more than just pasties, but honestly, I don’t care – I go to a pastie place for the pasties. (By the way, if you don’t know what a pastie is, then you’re not from Michigan. They are pastry-wrapped bundles of goodness with various ingredients, but the traditional pastie include beef, rutabagas, and potatoes. They were brought over by Cornish miners as they worked deep underground in the Upper Peninsula.)

I was tempted by some of the specialized pasties (the French looked particularly good, and the German also looked tasty), but having not had a pastie in quite a while, I went with the traditional. I had tried to get one in Mackinaw City over the summer, but my favorite pastie location there, Cunningham’s, had closed, leaving me sad and empty for a few seconds until that was replaced by hunger and we went someplace else.

A pastie!

And there it is, the big pastie! There are also small pasties, but for the extra buck, I went big. No fountain pop, so you’re one and done there. I did like that they brought gravy and sour cream to the table. I had never heard of sour cream on pasties, but to each their own. And the decor! I’m a fan of England, so seeing the Union Jack brought warmth to my heart. No bizarrely colored flags, just the classics. When they move to their new location, I’ll give one of their other great looking pasties a try. If you do want to experience one of their pastie in the original location, do it fast – their last day there is tomorrow.