Hey TC

There's a thing that happens in late April up here that nobody who hasn't lived it would believe.

The bay is that deep, clear blue it only gets before the water warms. The cherry trees on Old Mission are just starting to blossom; not yet, but close, you can feel it. You can get into Trattoria Stella on a Friday without a reservation. You can park downtown. You can walk into Farm Club at 10am and actually get a seat by the window.

This is the locals' season. The in-between. The six-week stretch before the Petoskey stone hunters and the winery tour buses arrive and turn everything up a few notches. We love them. We're glad they come. But right now? This is ours.

The good weeks don't announce themselves. You just have to know.

I started Hey TC because I wanted a place to keep track of them; the good weeks, the good spots, the things worth your Saturday. Not a tourism brochure. Not a listicle. Just one friend telling another: here's what's going on, here's what's worth it, here's what we found.

Welcome to Issue No. 1. Glad you're here.

Glen Lake Restaurant Week runs through Sunday. The 12th Annual Glen Lake Restaurant Week is happening all week across the Glen Lake area. If you haven't driven out to Sleeping Bear country for dinner before, this is the excuse. A handful of spots you'd wait an hour for in July are wide open right now. Go this week. Don't wait. Check out the participants here!

Women in Hospitality Tuesday, April 28 • 5–7pm • The Cook's HouseNorthern Michigan's food, bev, and events community is showing up. The Women in Hospitality networking group meets Tuesday at The Cook's House; no formal invite needed, all are welcome. If you work in the industry up here, this is your kind of room.

Healing in a Pinch Thursday, April 30 • Doors 6pm, lecture 6:30pm • Gilchrist Farm Winery, Suttons Bay
Your spice cabinet is doing more than you think. Gilchrist Farm's Dr. Elizabeth Huntoon; former Mayo Clinic physician, now winemaker and farmer; is breaking down how turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, and ginger pull double duty for flavor and your health. Chef Josh Sisco is pairing small bites with each spice throughout the night. $25/ticket, limited to 32 guests, includes food. Cash bar with wine and non-alcoholic options. Grab tickets at mynorthtickets.com.

Flow & Sip Thursday, April 30 • Doors 6pm, class 6:10pm • Lakes and Grapes, downtown TC Also: May 14
Yoga inside a shop you already love. Dharamsala TC is bringing an all-levels flow to the Lakes and Grapes storefront on Front Street — followed by a glass of wine and some private shopping after. It's a Thursday night well spent. Check their Instagrams for tickets: @dharamsalatc / @lakesandgrapes.

The Fresh Coast Film Festival kicks off Thursday. This one is a big deal. The inaugural Fresh Coast Film Festival runs April 30 through May 3 at seven venues across the Boardman Lake District and downtown TC, featuring more than 50 films celebrating the outdoor lifestyle and the Great Lakes. Think conservation docs, Great Lakes stories, birdwatching films; the kind of stuff that makes you want to go outside the second it's over. Opening night is Thursday at ELEV8 Climbing with a free community screening called "Stories of Hope." Friday and Saturday night galas are at the City Opera House. Individual screenings are $10, day passes are $35. Weekend all-access passes are sold out, but day passes are still available.

Free outdoor experiences run alongside the festival all weekend. The outdoor lineup includes a 6am sunrise shoot with photographer Bugsy Sailor at Grand Traverse Bay, a birdwatching walk at Logan's Landing with Nate Crane, a guided FishPass tour at the Union Street Dam, and a group bike ride around Boardman Lake. All free with festival registration, capped at 25 people each. These will fill up; register at tc.freshcoastfilm.com.

All Day Derby Saturday, May 2 · 9am–10pm · Seven Hills, Old Mission Peninsula Kentucky Derby day, TC-style. Seven Hills is going all in; live music, horse racing, mint juleps, wine and beer, cocktails, kids games, crafts, giveaways, and a best dressed contest. Free and open to all ages, all day long. Hat game encouraged.

Mud, Sweat & Beers Saturday, May 2 · Mt. Holiday
TC's unofficial start of bike season is back for its 16th year, and this one has a theme: full 1980s RetroKlunkers. Dust off a pre-'95 ride if you've got one. Races range from the 25-mile Stout to a kid-friendly Root Beer loop, with local brews on tap and a legendary muddy finish chute. Nearly 1,000 riders, all proceeds go to Mt. Holiday. Register at mudsweatandbeers.com.

TART Trails is hosting their Spring Work Bee this weekend. Show up, do something good for the trails you use all summer, and you'll feel great about yourself for at least three days.

Handpicked For You:

TRAVERSE CITY UNCORKED is May 1 through 10. Wine events, winery tours, and the first real excuse of the season to spend a Saturday on the Old Mission Peninsula. Keep an eye on uncorkedtraversecity.com for the schedule.

The bay water is still cold. Doesn't mean you can't sit next to it.

Diversions:

See you on the Bay
Hydrating #m22life
Leland, Mi

Photo: @loverlover