Heidi McCrary

It’s Swifty Night … kinda.

Yep,” I said as my husband and I watched a woman setting up a merchandise table in front of the music venue that would soon be filling the night sky with “Anti-Hero” and a plethora of tunes I have no familiarity with. “I think tonight is Swift Night.”

While it’s highly unlikely Taylor Swift will ever grace this particular stage, that hasn’t stopped the folks running Warner Vineyards from hiring the next best thing. Cover bands for ABBA, Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, The Bee Gees, the Beatles, and … well, you get the idea, are taking over this venue and the hearts of every 55+ music lover in West Michigan. A win-win for Paw Paw and Warner Vineyards, a winery that is finally stepping out from the shadow of the winery located just down the street.

It turns out, cover bands are the perfect next-best thing for anyone who’s old enough to remember general seating at rock concerts. There are several key advantages to catching a cover band at Warner Vineyards…

It’s insanely easier to snag tickets to see Taylorville than the actual Taylor Swift. And cheaper. Waaaay cheaper.
The cover band performers are often younger and more in tune with how the actual stars sounded in their heyday. And alive. You’re never going to see the entire Fleetwood Mac gang or Bee Gee brothers ever again.
Cover bands only play the hits. They’re never going to make us sit through their new avant-garde album. Or skip their biggest hit because THEY’RE sick of singing it.
They start at seven without a warmup, and we’re all home by ten. This just might be the biggest advantage of all.

Discreetly, my husband and I slide over to a table with our wine as “Taylor” and her backup dancers take the stage for a quick dress rehearsal. Over to the side, a girl, maybe 8-years old, watches wide-eyed, decked out in a shimmering dress with lots of fringe ala’ flapper style, as her mother stands beside her. While thousands of young girls have seen the real Taylor Swift in concert, something tells me that tonight will be just as magical for this little girl. And Mom and daughter will be in bed by 10:00.

I just discovered this in the frozen pizza aisle…

When my Chicago friend insisted that I had to experience Vito & Nick’s

My hairstylist knows what I like… The color, length, and whether I’m feeling bangs or no bangs. She also knows I like visiting new places and trying new things, so it didn’t take long for us to land on what she calls the “Best pizza place in the world.” (My words, not hers, but she was pretty adamant.)

The problem is, this quaint family-owned pizza joint is located on the wrong side of Chicago for me, and I still haven’t gotten there.

And then I saw it. Sitting in the frozen food section in the local grocery store…

Enlisting an elite group of taste-testers, I opened the packaging and was surprised with how good it looked. The sauce-to-cheese ratio just perfect, along with plenty of toppings that covered the pizza.

And we threw it on the grill, which was a great decision. 425 degrees on a pre-heated stone. Be sure to let the pizza cool. Unlike most frozen pizzas, this pizza will drip with wonderful messiness … like a real pizza.

Our grade for Vito & Nick’s Pizza? A+

And yes, I still have to get to that quirky pizzeria on the outskirts of Chicago. I promise, Kathy!

The original Vito & Nick Pizzeria is located at 8433 South Pulaski Road in Chicago, Illinois. And you can also find it in your frozen food aisle at Meijer and other grocery stores.

Relive the Quirky Charm of Northern Exposure with Best Medicine

Thirty-five years ago, a quirky TV show premiered on CBS about a big-city doctor forced to set up his practice in a remote town in Alaska. Northern Exposure was funny and heartfelt, with a cast of characters you fell in love with. ALL of them. The writing was smart, and the actors knew how to play up and underplay the weirdness.

The Salty Breeze food and lodging sign in Port Wenn with a pig walking by.

For those who miss the gang from Cicely Alaska, do yourself a favor, and get to know the colorful folks living in the fictional town of Port Wenn, Maine. Best Medicine, airing on FOX, also centers around a fish-out-of-water doctor surrounded by a colorful cast of characters. Is it a coincidence that Best Medicine ALSO features a nontraditional animal wandering down the street, in front of a restaurant?

Best Medison stars Josh Charles and Abigail Spencer, along with the fabulous Annie Potts. Apparently, this new show is the American reboot of the English TV series, Doc Martin, and for those who enjoyed that show, the reviews have not been kind. While this show may not do justice to the British series, it’s a welcome comfort for those who miss Joel and Maggie, and those lovable quirky characters that can only be found in a small town.

Best Medicine airs Tuesdays on FOX.

Author of Chasing North Star and publishing soon, I’m Your Person.

Heidi McCrary

When the female voice … isn’t

Is it OK for a man to write from a woman’s perspective?

Cozy mysteries are a popular genre in the literary world and provide readers with a quick enjoyable read which is why they continue to grow in huge numbers. Mysteries also often come in sets, allowing the reader to keep up with the protagonist as the hero encounters a never-ending list of quirky suspects and entertaining escapades.

The series format works because readers grow fond of the central character, and if done correctly, each new book grows with help from a captured audience. And with each new book, we get to know the protagonist all the more—as comfortable as reconnecting with siblings when we go home for Christmas.

A beach scene featuring an open book with a red cover and sunglasses resting on a straw mat, accompanied by the text 'I have NEVER said that...'

But what happens when the central character in a book or a series of books is a woman, and the author is male? Does it matter? Should it?

This probably isn’t a yes/no answer. A variant of this question is being asked today in the movie industry, as we ask if it’s art or misogyny for actors to play roles outside of their gender/race/identity.

While reading a book recently, told from the perspective of a female crime solver, I couldn’t help but cringe at the many passages written by this male author. No woman says that, I caught myself thinking more than once as I read the flowery prose, sighing at the numerous sex scenes where our central character basked in the strong arms of her man. Again, and again, and… (Cue the eye roll.)

Of course, many authors write in a voice that differs from their own. Where would we be if authors weren’t allowed to reach beyond their own personal opinions and identity. Authors are in the glorious position of being able to embrace every character—male, female, old, young, angry, timid or brash. Every character within the pages is part of the author, and a good writer embraces the many different nuances, actions and feelings of each role. It’s part of the writing process.

But … is it another thing, when a male author writes from the sole perspective of a woman, in not just one, but in a complete series of books? As a self-described feminist who champions women’s voices, I ask, “Do we need another man telling us how women feel?” It’s an honest question … and I’m listening.

Author of Chasing North Star, and coming January 2027 – I’m Your Person

Heidi McCrary