The 522-space parking structure includes 97 metered spaces on the ground level where parkers prepay at one of two meter pay stations.  The rate is $0.60 per hour for up to four hours.  Both hourly and permit parkers can use the other three levels.  Hourly parkers pull a ticket upon entering and can pay when leaving using either a credit card or cash.  A $0.50 hourly rate applies on the upper levels.  Just like with the on-street meters, hourly rates are in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  There is no charge for use at other times.

Open 24 hours, the first level is accessible from the alley that runs between Lake Street and East Eighth Street behind the AT&T store and Brady’s Bar.  The upper levels are accessible off of East Eighth Street. 

The parking structure includes eighteen state of the art car-charging stations for smart cars and bike parking in the form of bike lockers and covered bike racks on the first floor.  Bike lockers may be rented on an hourly or extended period of time through the Auto Parking Services office, located in the Hardy Parking Deck.

Bryan Crough, Executive Director of the DDA, said; “We were pleased to open the parking deck early to help accommodate Traverse City Film Festival patrons.  We will have staff at the Old Town Deck on the 25th and 26th to help parkers get used to the two different pay systems.”  The pay stations on the first level are the first in Traverse City and allow for more efficient management and enforcement.
 

About the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority

The Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is a public agency responsible for economic development in Downtown Traverse City.  The DDA runs the City of Traverse City’s parking system, including the Old Town Deck.

www.downtowntc.com

I love simple summertime meals and sides that can be made quickly from fresh ingredients you can find at local farm markets and roadside stands. Here are a couple of my summertime favorites. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy lunch or a super sidedish to take to the next family BBQ these are fantastic.

You’ll notice that some of the recipes have been enhanced by Fustini’s olive oils and balsamic vinegars. I’ve become a loyal fan of their products ever since they opened a store in downtown Traverse City. Now I’m hooked. I’m including these recipes by request from family and friends, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t include the resources for some of the secret ingredients. I hope you try them and enjoy!

Corn & Blueberry Salad

This recipe comes from Better Homes & Gardens. I’ve made it several times this summer with rave reviews. Serve it as a side salad or with a bowl of tortilla chips for quick dipping. Either way it’s a new family favorite.

• 1 medium tortilla or sandwich wrap
• 1 1/2 cups fresh washed baby spinach
• 1 tsp. olive oil (I like Fustini’s Meyer Lemon olive oil)
• 1 roma tomato, sliced, or 3-4 cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 Tbsp. fresh torn basil
• salt & pepper to taste
• optional ingredients: thin sliced ham or turkey, or fresh cooked corn cut from the cob

Directions

1. In a small bowl toss the spinach with the olive oil to coat. You may want to brush the edges of the tortilla with oil to help prevent burning as well.

2. Evenly spread the spinach leaves on the tortilla. Top with sliced tomatoes, and any optional ingredients, followed by mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with fresh basil, salt & pepper.

3. Cook on an oven-proof sheet under the broiler for 5 minutes on High, or until cheese begins to bubble and brown. Remove from oven, cool and slice in quarters to serve.

Crystal Margaritas

While I am a loyal Michigan wine fan, I have to admit we love to make frozen margaritas for summer parties. After experimenting with similar recipes we created a custom blend for our favorite spot in the summer: Crystal Lake. Sip carefully…brain freeze is not fun, but these margaritas are. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup tequila blanco
• 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (typically 4-5 limes)
• 1 cup triple sec
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup Rose’s blue raspberry cocktail mix
• ice

Directions

1. Add liquid ingredients to the blender. Fill with ice. Pulse on high until desired consistency. Pour into pitcher. Consistency varies; add more ice to mixture and blend again if necessary.

2. Serve with salted rim or crystal blue sugar

Tequila Sangria

For a twist on sangria, a summertime favorite, try this high-octane punch. But beware, the fruit soaks up much of the spirit so consume with caution. It packs a tasty punch. Adjust the time the fruit soaks to control the strength of the drink versus the fruit.

This recipe comes from Viva Margarita, by W. Park Kerr.

Ingredients:

• 2 green apples, cored, cut into wedges and thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges and sliced
• 1 orange, cut into wedges and sliced
• 15 whole cloves
• 1 1/2 cups Tequila
• 1/2 cup Brandy
• 2 oz. triple sec
• 2 oz. lemon juice
• 2 oz. lime juice
• 1 bottle St. Julian sparkling apple cider
• 1 bottle St. Julian sparkling cranberry cider
• 6 cups ice
• handful of raspberries

 Directions:

1. Place sliced fruit in a large bowl or pitcher. Add cloves, tequila, brandy, triple sec, lemon juice and lime juice. Stir and chill up to 12 hours. Stir every few hours

2. When ready to serve add sparking ciders and ice. Serve in large tumbler glasses with ice. Be sure each glass includes some of the fruit. Garnish with fresh raspberries before serving.

* My notes: I use 2 bottles of Michigan sparking cider by St. Julian winery, instead of 2 bottles of apple-cranberry cider. I told you, I like my Michigan wines!

Downtown Traverse City Opens the Olde Town Parking Deck in Time for Film Festival

The City broke ground for the Old Town Deck on October 20, 2009 and planned on it being substantially completed in mid September. They are happy to report that the Old Town Parking Deck will now open just in time for a busy August in Downtown Traverse City. The contractor, Colasanti Construction has come close to completion, approximately seven weeks ahead of schedule, and due to some extraordinary efforts, the first floor is set to open for the 6th Annual Traverse City Film Festival.

“We are pleased to at least have the first floor open for the Traverse City Film Festival. With the Old Town Playhouse and Lars Hockstad Auditorium in close proximity, the Old Town Deck will help take some parking pressure off neighborhood streets," says Rob Bacigalupi, DDA Deputy Director.

CWS Architects are the local Architect and LEED consultant for the project and are pursuing Gold LEED certification. The four level parking deck features a solar panel array on the roof, which will provide all electricity needs for the facility on sunny days. Green roofs are located on the two stair towers and will reduce the volume of storm water entering the sewer system. “We expect that the Old Town Deck will be 40% more energy efficient than a conventional parking deck and are proud of the work that has taken place in the Old Town District,” says Ray Kendra, CWS Architects. The Old Town Deck will also include five car-charging stations and will be able to accommodate up to 20 electrical cars at once. These stations are state-of-the-art and can provide a full charge in two hours.

Planning for the Old Town Deck included parking options for the bike enthusiast. The northwest corner of the building will include eight bike storage lockers and five bikeracks will be located near the southeast corner. Long term or short term rental for the storage lockers are available and will be handled through the Parking Services Department located in the Hardy Parking Deck.

Full occupancy is expected by early August on the 522 space parking deck. Transient (hourly) parking will be provided on all levels. Vehicular entrances can be accessed from Lake and Eight Streets.

For more information, please call the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority at (231) 922-2050 or visit the Downtown website at www.downtowntc.com.
 

Go Behind the Scenes at 2 Lads Winery on a Public Tour

One of the area’s most unique wineries is now opening their production area for tours. 2 Lads Winery on Old Mission Peninsula will conduct regular public tours every Monday, Thursday and Friday at noon and 3:00pm. Booking is on a first come, first served basis and accommodates up to 10 people.

Cost is $20 per person and includes a vineyard tour (weather permitting), cellar tour and a premium wine and food pairing led by one of the 2 Lads crew in the privacy of our gallery.
 

Taking a tour of one our area wineries is a great way to expand your knowledge of wine making, and discover what makes each winery, and the wines they produce, so unique. That’s why taking a Behind the Scenes tour is one of my 50 Ways to Love Your Summer.

Don’t waste a moment of your Up North summer

The 97 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day will fly by before we know it. So I decided to start early and make a list. A list of 50 ways to love my summer. These are some of my favorite ways to enjoy Traverse City and the surrounding area at it’s peak season.

1.  Get a barrel of popcorn drizzled in real butter, stretch out on a lawn chair and watch a drive-in movie at the Cherry Bowl in Honor.

2.  Enjoy a heaping scoop ice cream at Moomers, while watching the cows graze at sunset. Preferably Chocolate Cookie Monster in a chocolate dipped waffle cone to be exact. But Cherries Moobilee is good too.

3.  Attend a student performance at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Collage is a great way to see it all, but I love the high school musicals.

4.  Watch the marine traffic come and go while you sip a cocktail on the deck at Scott’s Harbor Grill. Cloaked in a cool breeze at sunset, or enjoying the sun on your shoulders at lunchtime, Scott’s deck is my favorite.

5.  Savor a simple homebaked snack. Pick-up a loaf of Pleasanton Bakery’s parmesan olive bread and savor it in bite-sized pieces torn from the warm loaf. It’s great plain, but I like mine dipped in Fustini’s olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

6.  Wrap up the week with an evening at Friday Night Live in downtown Traverse City. Buy a balloon, enjoy live music, have your face painted. A perfect place to be a kid again…or bring one.

7.  Discover amazing artists as you tour a local art fair. I never miss the Frankfort art fair in August, but not just for the art. I’m in love with the chicken dinners they cook in the park. Best Chicken EVER!

8.  Visit a vineyard and sip the fruits of Old Mission or Leelanau peninsula on a wine tour. On Old Mission I like to start at 2 Lads Winery and work my way back. On Leelanau you better make two trips!

9.  Fill a basket with fresh picked fruit straight from the orchard. Stop at a U-Pick farm for a hands-on experience or pull up to a roadside stand and select from nature’s best.

10. Cast a line on the Boardman River for trout or reel in a Lake Michigan salmon on a charter fishing trip. Try Hammerhead in Frankfort or Outta Line in Traverse City.

11.  Walk the shores of Lake Michigan and search for petoskey stones and Leland blue stone.

12.  Hop on a boat or a jet ski and ride out to where the deep water lives, clear and blue green as far as the eyes can see…and dive in!

13. Eat your fill of fresh sweet corn. Nobody beats Hall’s farm on North Long Lake Road in Traverse City.

14. Ride the train at the old Clinch Park zoo. Let the whistle fill your ears as you absorb the smiles of young and old around you.

15. Visit a lighthouse for an historic trip back in time. Point Betsie near Frankfort is the most photographed, but I’m looking forward to a trip back to South Manitou Island. That is, if I can brave the spiral stairs again.

16.  Love fudge–watch it made, cooked in copper and turned on a cold marble slab, at Murdick’s Fudge Shoppe. Peanut butter, you’re calling my name.

17.  Take a behind-the-scenes tour. Whether you’re a foodie, a vodka lover or wine geek there’s a tour to be had if you ask. Learn Great Foods will organize one or stop in Grand Traverse Distillery or Bel Lago Winery and they’ll show you the sites.

18.  Spend a day at the beach wireless and free, with a book and your favorite beverage.

19.  Eat cherries everyday! OK, maybe not everyday, but come on this is cherry country people. Check out The Cherry Stop for dozens of ways to quench your cherry cravings.

20.  Make a day trip drive along M-22 from Elberta to Northport and back to Traverse City. Stop to eat, shop and take photos along the way.

21.  Grab an early bird dinner at The Manitou Restaurant. No skimping. Start with the skinny dippers and finish with blueberry raspberry pie.

22.  Watch the sunset sink below the horizon from a beach towel on the sand.

23.  Park and walk a mile to the beach for spectacular Fourth of July fireworks. Come early to dig a pit in the sand for reclined viewing, or bring a cozy chair.

24.  Spend a day at the festival. Which one? Readers choice. There’s Cherry Festival, Film Festival, Jazz Festival and a Microbrew and Music Festival, you can’t go wrong.

25.  Climb the Sleeping Bear Dunes and run down as fast as your feet can carry you. If you’re not scraping sand from your scalp before bed then you didn’t have enough fun.

26.  Dine al fresco on a downtown street and people watch. Umbrella tables at Hanna are popular. If you prefer a water view check out Apache Trout Grill or Knot Just a Bar.

27.  Dance in the rain like nobody’s watching – preferably with a child. They’ll wonder what’s got into you.

28.  Photograph the everyday special places, people and things in your life. It’s not the parties and holidays that spark nostalgia but the details of summer memories past.

29.  Build a bonfire on the beach and make s’mores. Eat until your fingers are sticky, the chocolate is gone and only broken graham crackers remain.

30.  Play a sport on the lawn. Badmitten, croquet, bocce or new favorites like ring toss and bean bag games make fun family competitions a must-do for summer.

31.  Thump your paddle like Hiawatha on the floor of a Riverside canoe as you navigate the Platte River. When you make it to the mouth spend an hour playing in the current.

32.  Make par on a golf course. Mine will have to be mini golf at Pirates Cove, but if you’re up to the challenge of the real deal try Mistwood in Lake Ann. Or help celebrate 25 years at The Bear at the Grand Traverse Resort.

33. Spend a hot day at a cool pool. My kids love the outdoor waterpark at Crystal Mountain. Or you could ride a slide at Fun Country or Pirates Cove.

34. Try a new restaurant – either new to you or new to town. Check out Soul Hole in downtown Traverse City or Mission Table on Old Mission Peninsula.

35.  Shop the farmer’s markets, snack from your purchase as you move vendor to vendor in support of local agriculture.

36.  Drink riesling. OK, it’s my favorite and I suppose you could choose another wine. But before you decide, try a flight at Uncorked and I know you’ll walk away with one you like. Or just buy the t-shirt at Left Foot Charley and support the riesling movement in theory.

37.  Explore the old state hospital grounds inside the Grand Traverse Commons, also known as The Village. Sip wine at Tastes of Black Star Farms, Have an Underground Cheescake on a stick and end up at Stellas for dinner.

38.  Watch a movie at The State Theatre in Traverse City or The Garden in Frankfort. Restored classic theatres where the movies are great, and so are the prices.

39.  Eat a boom chunka cookie on the patio at Cherry Republic on a trip to Glen Arbor. Stop by Art’s Tavern for a delicious burger. Discover the beautiful jewelry at Becky Thatcher Designs. And for a real treat, dinner at Blu. The best fine dining around.

40.  Drink where the locals drink. Grab at pint at Right Brain Brewery among their mug-toting members. Perhaps something with an unusual ingredient like basil or wasabi.

41.  Walk the pier to the Frankfort lighthouse, preferably on a foggy evening when the light streams out in rays, or early morning when the anglers are casting and waiting for the bite to begin.

42.  Take a slow boat ride along the shore. Get a new perspective of the cottages along the lakeshore. Sailboat, paddleboat or pontoon, whatever works. No boat? How about a ride on the Tall Ship or the Nauticat in Traverse City or a Dunes Cruise in Frankfort.

43.  Walk and shop your way through Fishtown in Leland. Pick up some smoked whitefish at Carlsons Fish Market or a pretzel bread sandwich from the Village Cheese Shanty. And for dinner, don’t miss The Bluebird–with my favorite pea & peanut salad.

44.  Spend a rainy day at the bowling alley. Wilderness Crossings is the perfect place to entertain the kiddos when the sun is hiding. Bowling, glow golf, arcades and a restaurant for mom and dad.

45.  Swim in a river. Let the current pull you along as you try to keep you bottom off the bottom. Relax and drift as the water sweeps your cares away.

46.  Bike or walk a beautiful trail. Check out the TART trail in Traverse City or the Betsie Valley Trail that winds from Elberta all the way to Crystal Mountain.

47.  Vintage treasures are waiting. Shop for flea market finds or antiques. From the Cherryland Antique Mall and Red Dresser in Traverse City to the Emporium in Beulah, your shabby chic find awaits.

48.  Leave footprints in the sand. Take off your shoes and feel the grainy wet sand massage your toes with every step.

49.  Read a book on the beach. I look forward to the new Janet Evanovich novel every summer. Need a good local read? Try The Bookstore in Frankfort, Brilliant Books in Suttons Bay or Horizon Books in Traverse City.

50.  Take a nap. Lie in a hammock until you drift off with the breeze, stretch out on a beach towel or nod off in an adorondack chair. Rest and relax. It’s summer.