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Megan Crosbie

Sonic Lunch, downtown Ann Arbor’s free lunchtime music concert series, released their highly anticipated 2012 summer line-up.  Sonic Lunch’s fifth season features returning local favorites Laith Al-Saadi, Jill Jack, and Macpodz. Big names expected to draw a large crowd include Mayer Hawthorne and the County, Mitch Ryder, and Detroit band Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Brought to you by Bank of Ann Arbor, Sonic Lunch concerts take place from 12:00pm to 1:30pm on Thursdays in Liberty Plaza, at the corner of Liberty and Division in downtown Ann Arbor.

Who are you the most excited to see perform this summer at Sonic Lunch?




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Reinhart Realtors

Each week, for 12 weeks, we will write about something fun to do in Chelsea, Michigan.   Located just 15 minutes west of Ann Arbor, Chelsea has a vibrant downtown, with a mix of retail, galleries and restaurants.

  1. See a Live Performance at the Purple Rose Theatre Company

#2. Visit the Chelsea Center for the Arts

Spend an enriching day at the Chelsea Center for the Arts in downtown Chelsea.   The Chelsea Center for the Arts is a non-profit community organization offering classes, workshops, exhibitions and special events throughout the year.   At the Chelsea Center for the Arts, you are encouraged to discover new skills or refine existing ones by participating in diverse music and art programs led by hands-on, experienced instructors.

Music Lessons
Private and group music study, led by highly trained instructors, is available for all ages and abilities, including:

  • Piano
  • Guitar, violin, and cello
  • Voice/singing
  • Clarinet, flute, recorder

Art Classes and Workshops
Creative visual art classes, workshops, and studio time are accessible for all ages, including:

  • Painting
  • Pottery
  • Sculpture
  • Photography
  • Drawing

Center Gallery
Free, and open to the public, the Center Gallery showcases fine art created by instructors, students and local artists.  Artwork on display includes paintings, photography, stoneware, sculpture, jewelry, art, glass, textiles and more.

For more information about the Chelsea Center for the Arts, visit their website.




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Reinhart Realtors

Each week, for 12 weeks, we will write about something fun to do in Chelsea, Michigan.  Located just 15 minutes west of Ann Arbor, Chelsea has a vibrant downtown, with a mix of retail, galleries and restaurants.

#1. See a Live Performance at the Purple Rose Theatre Company

The Purple Rose Theatre Company, founded in 1991 by Jeff Daniels, is a leading American theater dedicated to producing the New American Play as well as creating opportunities for Midwest theatre professionals.  Located in downtown Chelsea, the Purple Rose Theatre Company is a not-for-profit dedicated to serving their audience by providing outstanding entertainment.

The Purple Rose Theatre Company produces four shows a year.  Take a trip to Chelsea to see a live performance.  Onstage now at the Purple Rose Theatre Company is White Buffalo, an award-winning new play that portrays a magical story of forgiveness, hope and belonging.

For more information about the Purple Rose Theatre Company, visit their website.

> Search for Chelsea Homes for Sale




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Megan Crosbie

FoolMoon, the magnificent moonlight event created as a kick-off to FestiFools, returns for another night of foolish fun in downtown Ann Arbor.

An enormous procession of hand-made illuminated sculptures carried by dancing merrymakers will make their way downtown to Washington Street at dusk on Friday, March 30th. The evening will include craft brewed beer, shadow puppet performances, building-sized experimental films and other luminary surprises.

The 6th Annual FestiFools, a giant papier-mâché puppet parade in downtown Ann Arbor, is Sunday, April 1st from 4pm to 5pm.

FestiFools and FoolMoon are part of a planned effort to spotlight Ann Arbor as a vibrant place to create, live, entertain and do business. FestiFools is a non-profit production of the START Project, a University of Michigan Lloyd Hall Scholars Program initiative.

For more information about FoolMoon or FestiFools, visit their website.




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Reinhart Realtors

Each week, for 12 weeks, we will feature one of our top 12 reasons to live in Ann Arbor.

  1. Exceptional Public Schools


#2. Vibrant Local Culture

Ann Arbor has a rich tradition of a vibrant local culture. Downtown Ann Arbor has a variety of places to enjoy music, dance, theater and the arts, including:

Ann Arbor Art Center: For over 100 years, the Ann Arbor Art Center has engaged the community in visual arts through classes, exhibitions, a gallery promoting regional artists and outreach programs for teens, education for children.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum: A non-profit organization, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum offers an interactive, engaging environment for children of all ages to learn and play.

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO): Ann Arbor’s only professional orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra preforms in the historic Michigan Theater under the direction of Arie Lipsky. In addition to performances, the Ann Arbor Symphony provides youth concerts, KinderConcepts, ensemble performances, and “Petting Zoos” where children get to try out child-sized string instruments.

Kerrytown Concert House: Named a top jazz venue in the world, Kerrytown Concert House is an intimate 110 seat venue offering live music, theater, and rotating art exhibits.

Michigan Theater: Considered a “shrine to art,” the Michigan Theater offers two auditoriums: the Historic Theater, which seats 1,700 and the Screening Room, a more intimate setting, seating 200. In additional to showing movies, Michigan Theater, home of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra since 1984, is also a great venue for live events, concerts and special events.

Performance Network Theater: A professional theater, Performance Network Theater produces popular plays, creates imaginative sets and costumes, and performs in their intimate downtown theater. With a wide-range of musicals, comedies, dramas, Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winners, Performance Network Theater performs something for everyone to enjoy.

Selo/Shevel Gallery: Located in downtown Ann Arbor, the gallery features the finest in contemporary American crafts and folk arts from around the world.

The Ark: Ann Arbor’s home for acoustic music, The Ark is considered one of the top music clubs in the world with live performances of the wide-ranging genres of folk and grass roots music. With live music over 300 nights a year, The Ark is an Ann Arbor staple.

University Musical Society (UMS): Focused on music, dance and theater, UMS presents 60-75 performances and over 100 free educational activities each session. While proudly affiliated with the University of Michigan, UMS is a separate not-for-profit organization.

University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA): With a recent 53,000 square foot addition, the restoration of the historic Alumni Memorial Hall and extended hours, UMMA has transformed for the 21st century. UMMA features more than 18,000 artworks, special exhibit spaces, “open storage” galleries and a range of lively education and event spaces.

University of Michigan Museum of Natural History: Offering a wide array of educational programs and exhibits, the museum is known for its displays of dinosaur and mastodon skeletons, pterosaurs, whales and other fossils. In addition, the museum has a planetarium and features Michigan wildlife, anthropology, and geology exhibits.

WSG Gallery: Formerly Washington Street Gallery, WSG Gallery represents contemporary regional artists and features original fine art including paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, and art glass.

> Click here to search for homes for sale in Ann Arbor




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Reinhart Realtors

Reinhart has partnered with Legacy Land Conservancy and Chelsea Center for the Arts to celebrate the achievement of land conservancy and inspire future conservation efforts through art. Selected artists were commissioned to create works about specific local, private and public lands preserved through the conservancy.

Artwork by Nancy McKay

Please join us on Friday, December 2nd at the Chelsea Center for the Arts from 6:00pm to 8:00pm for STAND in the Place Where You Live, a public Artist Reception. Each work of art will be for sale and 30% of all proceeds will be donated to the Chelsea Center for the Arts and Legacy Land Conservancy. Enjoy the beautiful artwork, delicious appetizers and refreshments provided by Sandhill Crane Vineyard and Wolverine State Brewing Company. The STAND in the Place Where You Live Artist Reception is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Lisa Baylis Gonzalez at (734) 433.2787.




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Dawn Foerg

Reinhart’s South Office – 500 East Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 200 – is hosting an Art & Craft Fair on Friday, November 18 from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Proceeds from the Art & Craft Fair will go to the Pat Williams Memorial Fund, a Fund established to care for and support Pat and her family during her terminal illness. “The Fund” has also provided meals and good cheer to south office agents who have found themselves in the hospital, sick, injured or caring for a relative.

The Fund has previously donated to the Caring Bridge Website. The agents of the Reinhart Office have chosen Ele’s Place, a healing center for grieving children, as the recipient of charitable contributions from The Fund in 2012.

The Reinhart South Office Art & Craft Fair will feature glass work; fine art paints; note cards; herbs and spices; jewelry and hair accessories; water colors; crochet pieces; Christmas ornaments and much more. In addition, there will also be a raffle for a Coach purse.

Artwork Copyright Stacey Burmeister 2011

Get a jump-start on your holiday shopping on Friday and support a great cause.




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Megan Crosbie

The Ann Arbor District Library’s Traverwood branch was among WebUrbanist’s list of 14 Marvelous Modern Libraries. The library’s modern structure, completed in 2008, was designed by InFORM Studio. Described as long, low and geometric, the library has rustic natural tree trunk columns, high ceilings, and white paint to make it feel even more spacious.

Other notable libraries to make the list include:

  • Yale University Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

  • Vancouver Public Library, Canada

  • Baton Rouge Downtown Library Concept, Trahan Architects

For the complete list, visit WebUrbanist.com.

Credit: All Photos from WebUrbanist.com.




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Megan Crosbie

The streets of downtown Saline will come alive with an assortment of activities, attractions, and amusement for Saline’s Summerfest. People of all ages are welcome to join in the festivities on Friday, August 5th and Saturday, August 6th.

Summerfest 2011 will feature the traditional family-oriented food, music, and fun of Saline’s annual Picnic in the Park. In addition, Summerfest will also include a juried art and craft show, a trolley tour of Saline’s historical sites, Casino Night, and a 5K run/walk. Activities for the kids include a fishing contest, volleyball tournament, watermelon eating contest, egg toss contest, bean bag toss, face painting, and an inflatable obstacle course.

On Friday, Summerfest runs from 5pm – 11pm and Saturday, from 8am – 11pm.

Additional information and a continually updated schedule of Saline’s Summerfest activities is available at: www.salinesummerfest.org.




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Megan Crosbie

Over 1,100 amazingly talented artists from across the globe travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan in July for one of the nation’s best art fairs. The Ann Arbor Art Fair is comprised of four award-winning independent art fairs – the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original; the State Street Art Fair; the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; and Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair taking place simultaneously throughout downtown Ann Arbor. The art fair is a free event; bringing over 500,000 visitors downtown to experience the art, live performances, delectable food, sidewalk sales and activities for the kids.

Date & Times:
Wednesday, July 20 – Saturday, July 23
Wednesday – Friday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Park & Ride:

  • Park for free at Pioneer High School or Briarwood Mall (near Sears) and ride the AATA’s The Ride. The shuttle fare is $1.50 each way for adults, $0.75 for K-12 students and AATA Fare Deal cardholders, and free for seniors, A-Ride cardholders and children 5 and younger.
  • Trinity Westside will pick up passengers from The Maple Village Shopping Center, where parking is free. Round trip transportation is $3. Children 5 and younger can ride for free.

Getting Around the Fair:
Cool off from the heat in the air-conditioned A2 Art Trolleys, travelling a loop around all four art fairs. A trolley ride is $1 per person per day and children 12 and under ride for free.

Information Booths:
Information booths are located throughout the art fairs and are staffed by trained volunteers who can help answer your questions.

Live Entertainment:

  • Ann Arbor Street Art Fair – The Fountain Stage at Ingalls Mall
  • Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair – The 107.1 Main Stage at Church and Willard
  • The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair – iSpy Performance Stage on Liberty

> Download the Official Ann Arbor Art Fair Map

> Download the complete guide to the 2011 Ann Arbor Art Fair




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