Happy Tuesday, Traverse City. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let TC Brief serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Outgoing city manager nets hefty payout, mental health crisis center opens around the clock, and outdoor acoustic concerts feature Grammy winners and Americana stars — catch up here.
State-level stories: Michigan’s broader deer season access, smart dumpsters repurposing trash into energy, and an eighty year old widower’s handmade flyers seeking new love — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Ford is recalling over 850000 cars with fuel pump flaws, NASA’s probe delivered closest Sun shots, and BlackRock plans private investments in 401k portfolios — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Join a scenic hike to The Ridge
- Transform septic fields into vibrant native gardens
- Join monthly meeting to plan library programs
- Kids cook healthy snacks at library
- Tour new conservation hub and goat barn
- Compare home equity loans for free
- Save $300 on Endurance auto repair coverage
🫶 We got your back
Culture: From art galleries and sculptures to history and oddly specific niches, these must-visit museums are a great excuse to put on real pants and explore the city.
Drink: Whether you’re into barrel-aged beauties that make you slow down and savor or crisp IPAs that high-five your taste buds on the way down, Traverse City is full of breweries pouring personality by the pint. Check out our favorites here.
Home: Finding a reliable plumber before your bathroom turns into a swimming pool is key. Our shortlist of trusted plumbing pros makes it easy to connect with the best of the best, whether you need ’em yesterday … or six months from now.
Money: Energy bills hitting harder than an afternoon shot of esperesso? A few simple tweaks, draft stoppers, LED swaps and the like can actually make a dent in your monthly statements. Get more energy-saving hacks here.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
Own or manage a local business? Thousands of your future fans read our emails — advertising your products, services, listings, and events with us is easy.
You can advertise with us or submit an event for free.
📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
🧘 Yoga on the Nauti-Cat @ Yen Yoga & Fitness | Wednesday (7/16) at 7:30am – Nothing says ‘rise and align’ like balancing in downward dog on a boat trampoline, sun nudging your shoulder, and a gentle sea breeze for company. Leslie leads every sun-salutation, where wobbling above West Bay is part of the charm, so bring layers, water, and sunnies.
🎨 Glen Lake Woman’s Club Art Fair @ Glen Arbor Township Hall | Wednesday (7/16) at 10:00am – If you’ve been staring at that blank wall and pretending it’s modern art, swing by Glen Arbor’s 53rd annual art fair where potters, painters, and jewelers hawk one-of-a-kind treasures. Wander indoors and out, because your coffee mug deserves some competition.
🎤 Ashley McBryde @ Kresge Auditorium | Thursday (7/17) at 7:30pm – Clear your weekend for an evening at Interlochen Arts Festival with Ashley McBryde, that Arkansas songstress who swapped biker bars for Grammy stages. Expect raw, heartfelt, twangy country tunes that feel like swapping stories over cold beers, minus the neon haze.
🚴 Tour de TART @ Leelanau Trail | Friday (7/18) at 4:00pm – That evening spin from Traverse City to Suttons Bay is a party on wheels, with waterfront views, two trailside snack stops, and a dinner at North Park featuring Michigan brews, local wine, and treats. Then you kick back on the bus ride home.
🎶 Drew Hale Live @ Rove Winery | Friday (7/18) at 5:30pm – Kick your usual couch routine aside and catch Drew Hale’s live set over wine, charcuterie, and that sunset vista you brag about. It’s like happy hour with an acoustic twist, local charm, and just enough fancy to make you feel worldly.
😂 The Future of Comedy Show @ Union Street Station | Friday (7/18) at 7:30pm – Our hometown fave Mike Ball’s Future of Comedy Show rolls into Union Street Station with Detroit’s J Bell, Steve Kaz, and Jacob Readdy tagging in for sharp punchlines. No cherry pit jokes here, just fresh Midwest wit and a pour of laughs.
This weekend
🖌️ Gene Rantz Memorial Plein Air Paint Out @ Northport Arts Association Village Arts Building | Saturday (7/19) at 6:00pm – The Northport Arts Association is rolling out fresh, wet-off-the-easel paintings at the Gene Rantz Plein Air opening reception on July 19. Wander fifty artists’ takes on local landscapes, sip wine at the cash bar, and snag a piece that fills that awkward empty wall.
🛼 TC Roller Derby July 19th Home Bout @ Grand Traverse County Civic Center | Saturday (7/19) at 7:00pm – If you need a break from maintenance, head to the Civic Center on July 19th for chaos on wheels. Our B team is ready to earn bruises, skate hard, and keep you guessing until the final whistle. Ten bucks in advance, twelve at the door.
🎼 Jader Bignamini Conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra @ Kresge Auditorium | Saturday (7/19) at 7:30pm – Think your playlist has more drama than this town’s HOA meetings? Skip fighting over the remote. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra returns to Interlochen under Jader Bignamini’s baton with Giddens and Abels’ Omar overture, Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade for three stirring works.
🎭 Bar Time Stories Summer Comedy Tour @ City Opera House | Saturday (7/19) at 7:30pm – Whether you’re still nursing last weekend’s festival hangover or craving a midweek pick-me-up, Bar Time Stories rolls into town with Michigan’s best (and funniest) stand-ups, plus a few surprise guests from out of state. Cheap tickets, big laughs, and zero road trips required.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 7/16 Luke Woltanski @ Dune Bird Winery – 3 pm
- 7/16 Archipelago @ The Little Fleet – 5:30 pm
- 7/16 Benzie Community Band Concert @ Benzie Area Historical Society – 7 pm
- 7/17 Jesse Jefferson @ French Valley – 4 pm
- 7/17 Solstice Ensemble @ Oliver Art Center – 7 pm
- 7/17 Ashley McBryde @ Kresge Auditorium – 7:30 pm
- 7/17 Landsharks (Jimmy Buffett tribute) @ City Opera House – 7:30 pm
- 7/18 The Future of Comedy Show @ Union Street Station – 7 pm
- 7/18 NMC Summer Band @ Milliken Auditorium – 7:30 pm
- 7/18 Gemini Moon @ Old Mission Distilling – 7:30 pm
This house is wild
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Thomas Corbett (REMAX Bayshore – W Bay Shore Dr TC)
Perched on a quiet Silver Lake cove, this five-bedroom retreat serves up sandy-bottom swimming, a generous dock, and a hot tub that’s practically begging for sunset soaks. The fire pit and balcony off the kitchen set the stage for lazy evenings, while on-site boat storage keeps your paddleboards and kayaks at the ready.
Inside, two roomy living areas mean there’s space for movie marathons and rainy day board games. The open kitchen is bright and social, and the lower level’s sauna, wet bar, and light workout zone keep things fun year-round. Traverse City’s downtown is just a quick drive away.
