Sunday, April 26, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

Intersection redesign and pathways: MDOT said work at Three Mile and US 31 started April 13, with detours for at least five weeks. Skegemog Raptor Center and a Safe Routes trail were approved -- get all the details.

Shift to core services: Traverse City leaders signaled support for extending TIF 97, set to expire in 2027, with a smaller DDA share. Any extension must go to voters, with millions in revenue at stake -- get all the details.

Sweet partnership marks milestone: Grand Traverse Pie Company’s new Fresh Coast Pie with Pure Michigan features Traverse City cherries, Williamsburg apples, and Grand Junction blueberries. Available through September companywide, supporting MI Kids Matter -- see what's inside and when.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Upgrade your lunch plans: When you're craving a legit panini and not just a pressed afterthought, Chubby Unicorn is slinging stacked ciabattas with Great Lakes chips and house-made dill dip, plus all-day breakfast burritos, wraps, and rotating soups. Easy win for a midweek pick-me-up, no spreadsheet required.

Your new East Side hang: Tank Space on 8th is pouring small-batch beers brewed in-house, with a few served side-pull straight from the tanks. Bring over food from Oakwood Proper Burgers or Common Good, snag a social district cup when it’s in season, then settle in for easy neighborhood vibes.

Beer by the tracks: The Filling Station Microbrewery turns a vintage train depot into your weekly ritual, with wood-fired flatbreads, crisp salads, and house-brewed beers that actually taste like someone cared. Cozy, unfussy, and a perfect post-Boardman Lake lap reward... bring friends who don't mind sharing slices.

That patch of scalp that wasn't there a year ago: It's more common than most folks talk about. Especially in your 50s... hormones, stress, and nutrition all start pulling at hair density at once. Nutrafol is a drug-free daily supplement designed to work on those causes together — and in clinical studies, 93% of women said their hair looked healthier after six months. *Take a look →

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

✂ Pruning Workshop @ NW Michigan Horiticultural Research Station | Tuesday (4/28) at 1:00 PM – Think you know your way around a pair of pruners, or tired of those grapevines giving you side-eye? The MSU Extension crew walks you through beginner-friendly spur pruning, plus a cane pruning intro, with hands-on practice in the vineyard at Northwest Horticulture Research Center.

🏃 Fun Run @ The Little Fleet | Wednesday (4/29) at 6:30 PM – If your midweek needs a gentle nudge, the Wednesday Fun Run meets at The Little Fleet for 3 or 5 miles on the TART Trail, all paces welcome and free. Bring reflective gear, traction, and lights, then reward yourself with post-run food, chatter, and satisfaction.

🌸 Spring Floral Frame Workshop @ Breeze Hill Greenhouse | Wednesday (4/29) at 6:30 PM – Trade errands for paper petals and make a 6x6 floral frame that actually stays fresh. They provide the supplies, step-by-step help, and a bonus project, and you bring a friend and a little patience. Light snacks, civilized refreshments, limited spots, zero pressure.

✂ Needlepoint Pop-Up Shop @ The NeedlePoints North Pop-Up Shop | Thursday (4/30) at 12:00 PM – If your thumbs need a break from doomscrolling, pop upstairs on Front Street for a Thursday to Saturday needlepoint pop-up. Fun canvases, premium fibers, and all the fixings for newbies and seasoned stitchers, basically therapy you can frame, and yes, cheaper than a boat.

🎬 Artist Panel: "Advocacy and Storytelling" @ Traverse City Whiskey Co. - The Stillhouse | Thursday (4/30) at 4:00 PM – Head to The Stillhouse for Fresh Coast Film Festival’s artist panel on advocacy and storytelling, a casual Q&A, think less TED Talk, more thoughtful bar chat. Free, first-come seats, a $10 nod to the Making Waves Commitment Grant, and bar service, plus non-alcoholic options.

🎬 Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World @ City Opera House | Friday (5/1) – Swap your usual Saturday scroll for the Michigan premiere gala of Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World, plus a filmmaker Q&A. Sasha Waters chats with Beth Milligan, presented by Keen Technologies Group and Short’s Brewing, so your glass and brain stay full.

🏀 Grand Traverse County Deputy Sheriffs vs. Lions Superstars Basketball @ Traverse City West Senior High School | Saturday (5/2) at 1:00 PM – Bring the crew to TC West for our deputies vs. the Lions Superstars. Halftime means autographs with Lions legends, the family ticket gets eight of you in, and the only thing getting called during the game should be traveling, not 911.

With 151 feet of premier Long Lake frontage, this waterfront gem spans three lots with a sugar sand beach, sunrise views, and an oversized garage with room to grow. An open-concept layout captures the water from every angle, complemented by a sunlit walkout basement. This rare Northern Michigan setting blends recreation, flexibility, and long-term potential.