Arts + Culture

Poetic Paper by Harper Lou

How 12-year-old Harper Lou turned her love of art, writing, and connection into a heartfelt card company Article by Shauna Oliverio | Photography by Jessica Snow Photography In a world that often feels fast-paced and screen-filled, 12-year-old Harper Lou is bringing back the charm of handwritten words and heartfelt connections through her business, Poetic Paper by Harper Lou.  Local to our Rochester community, this young entrepreneur has turned her love for drawing, writing, and spreading joy...

Food + Beverage

Cooler Than You

Because basic popsicles just won't cut it Article by Shauna Oliverio | Photography by Jessica Snow Photography Skip the store-bought stuff, these pops are cooler. With just a freezer mold and a few whole, vibrant ingredients and kids that are ready to be creative and healthy, you can make refreshing treats without the dyes, additives, or mystery stuff to enjoy in the sun. Juicy, colorful, and totally DIY, each one is a little burst of creativity you can taste. It’s all about fresh flavor...

Entertainment

Baseball, Bat Dogs, and Big Dreams

Youth, dogs, and passion drive summer at USPBL Photography by Jessica Snow Photography At the United Shore Professional Baseball League, summer baseball magic goes far beyond the diamond. Whether players chase dreams, parents relive childhood memories, or a bat-retrieving dog sprints across the infield, every night at Jimmy John’s Field delivers what the league proudly calls “Real Baseball. Real Fun.” Local families are the heartbeat of that promise, and it shows in the wide-eyed wonder of...

Sports + Recreation

TreeRunner Rochester

How a Screen-Free Outdoor Adventure Park Is Helping Kids Build Confidence, Conquer Fears, and Connect with Nature Article by Shauna Oliverio | Photography by Jessica Snow Photography Located in the heart of Oakland University's Rochester campus, TreeRunner Adventure Park offers families a screen-free escape into nature that is as thrilling as it is empowering. Created by a team of outdoor enthusiasts, TreeRunner is more than just a high ropes course, it's a haven for young adventurers to...

Education

Wait Until 8th

Article by April Jennings | Photography by Kelly Ohly Let Kids Be Kids  Rochester Parents Join National Movement to Delay Smartphones for Kids A growing grassroots movement of Rochester parents is taking a stand against early smartphone use by pledging to delay giving their children smartphones until at least the end of 8th grade. This local initiative is part of the national Wait Until 8th campaign, a parent-led movement aimed at protecting childhood from the negative effects of early...

Travel

NOMI Hidden Gems

Cozy cabin stays tucked away in Northern Michigan’s quiet corners. Article and Photography by Gina Growing up, my summers were magical. My family spent our days at a family campground in Port Sanilac, Michigan. Our camper, though tight for our family of six, was filled with fun and adventure as we left Metro-Detroit and instead enjoyed the beauty of Lake Huron. Those days left me with cherished memories that I believe helped spark my love of cabins. In Northern Michigan, cabins represent much...

Travel

From A Horse Named Doc

A Dreamy Forest Escape: The Story Behind Stillwater Stables & Stays Article by Rachel Erin | Photography by Jessica Snow Photography The world of travel and tourism has undergone a seismic shift over the last decade. More than just a place to sleep, travelers seek immersive, deeply personal experiences—ideally wrapped in a blanket of wilderness. This growing demand for intimate, design-forward, nature-anchored stays will push the outdoor travel segment into a billion-dollar industry by 2029. ...

Travel

Where the Water Breathes

Discovering Michigan's Kitch-iti-kipi Article by Shauna Oliverio | Photography by Praneeth Koduru & Jackie Kanyolo Crystalline, mysterious, and utterly spellbinding… Kitch-iti-kipi , or “The Big Spring,” is a natural masterpiece tucked within the quiet wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Found inside Palms Book State Park, this untouched treasure feels like a portal to another world, a place where geology, mythology, and serenity converge.   The largest natural freshwater spring in...

Food + Beverage

O'Connor's Public House

The Story of O’Connor’s Public House Article by Shauna Oliverio | Photography by Jessica Snow Photography If you’ve ever stepped through the front door of O’Connor’s Public House on Main Street, you know immediately, this isn’t just another pub with a green neon sign and a Guinness poster on the wall. This is something much more authentic, more soulful. It’s a feeling in the floors, the walls, the air itself. It’s a heartbeat that connects a late-1800s building in Rochester to the rolling...

Food + Beverage

Pub Burger

O'Connors Public House Article by Shauna Oliverio | Photography by Jessica Snow Photography O’Connor’s Pub Burger A true pub classic done right — one half-pound of juicy Angus beef , perfectly cooked and layered with shredded lettuce, fresh tomato, crisp onion , and a generous slather of our house-made secret sauce .   Pub Burger Ingredients:                     •               ½ pound Angus beef patty                   •               Shredded lettuce                  ...