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Megan Crosbie

The Townie Street Party, Ann Arbor’s annual kick-off event to the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, is back and better than ever. Celebrate all things local with fellow Townies on Monday, July 18th on East Washington Street between Thayer and Fletcher. Townies will be able to enjoy live music, food, drinks and free art activities for the entire family.

Live music performances include Alison Lewis and The String of Ponies, Dick Siegel & the Brandos, and The Ragbirds.

Artwork of local Washtenaw County artists, 1st grade through 8th grade, will be displayed at the Kids’ Art Fair. Just like the  Ann Arbor Art Fairs, artwork displayed at the Kids’ Art Fair is for sale. In addition to purchasing artwork, Townies will have the chance to create their own art to take home with them.

This year the Townie Street Party is featuring a VIP experience at The Terrace to those who become a Townie Friend of the Fair. Townies who purchase a $50 Terrace Ticket will be invited to a private VIP lounge in a covered outdoor setting with premium seating to view and listen to the live music performances. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be provided as well as a private bar with complimentary beverages.

Townie Street Party
Monday, July 18
East Washington Street between Thayer and Fletcher, Ann Arbor
5pm – 9:30pm

Visit the Townie Street Party’s website for more information.




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Megan Crosbie

MSN Real Estate and Bert Sperling of Sperling’s Best Places recently evaluated the most affordable markets within the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas. Factors such as unemployment lower than the national average and short commute times were considered in addition to cultural and recreational activities to determine the list. The areas chosen for the list of livable cities are places with stable economies and lower stress in addition to lower crime rates, healthy neighbors, access to decent medical care and relatively low rates of suicide and divorce.

Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, made the list for a multitude of reasons. Ann Arbor is a growing hub for the life-sciences and information technology sectors. According to Donna Shirilla, Director of Research and Business Information for Ann Arbor Spark, the number of life-science companies has increased to more than 100 and information technology firms have grown to more than 300 in Ann Arbor.

Ann Arbor, a bike-friendly and walk-friendly community, was recently recognized as “Walk Friendly Community” by the Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center. In addition, Ann Arbor was voted one of the healthiest cities in the U.S. by AARP due to the exceptional health care resources in the area as well as the amount of regular exercise by residents. Both of which contributed to Ann Arbor making the list.

For complete list of MSN Real Estate Most Livable Bargain Markets go to msn.com.



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Megan Crosbie

Ann Arbor Restaurant Week, presented by the Main Street Area Association, is a local celebration of dining in our community. Some of Ann Arbor’s finest restaurants offer extraordinary three course dinner menus and exclusive lunch menus all at a fixed rate. Restaurant Week is your chance to experience the eclectic assortment of restaurants downtown Ann Arbor has to offer.

During Restaurant Week, dinner is a fixed price of $25 for a three course meal. Most restaurants are offering a choice of menu items for each course and a limited number of restaurants will be offering a two for the price of one dinner menu. Lunch is an open format in which restaurants offer a $12 menu of special items, some of which are one, two or even three courses. Several restaurants will be offering two for the price of one at lunch.

Participating Restaurants include:

Ann Arbor Restaurant Week is Sunday, June 12 – Friday, June 17. Many restaurants recommend making advanced reservations, so make yours today!

For more information about Ann Arbor Restaurant Week visit their website.




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Megan Crosbie

Sonic Lunch is a free lunchtime music concert series every Thursday, noon – 1:30pm, from June 2 to August 25 (except Art Fair week) in Liberty Plaza.

The fourth season of Bank of Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch kicks off at noon on Thursday, June 2 in Liberty Plaza, at the corner of Division and Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor.

This year’s lunch specials are different than in years past. Weekly restaurant partners will be available with box lunches on site along with beverage partners including coffee and smoothies. This year’s restaurant partners include:

  • June 2 – Conor O’Neills, Mighty Good (coffee)
  • June 9 – Sabor Latino, Smoothie King (smoothies)
  • June 16 – Jamaican Jerk Pit, Sweetwaters Café (coffee)
  • June 23 – Blue Nile, Lab Café (coffee)
  • June 30 – Squares, Biggby (coffee)
  • July 7 – Taste Our Goods, Biggby (coffee)
  • July 14 – Bar Louie, Sweetwaters Café (coffee)
  • July 21 – ART FAIR
  • July 28 – Sava’s, Café Ambrosia (coffee)
  • August 4 – Argerio’s, Mighty Good (coffee)
  • August 11 – Jimma’s BBQ, Lab Café (coffee)
  • August 18 – Pizza House, Smoothie King (smoothies)
  • August 25 – Ashley’s, Café Ambrosia (coffee)

Bands playing at Bank of Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch include local and regional favorites along with several nationally touring acts. View the 2011 schedule of bands below.




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Megan Crosbie

When AnnArbor.com asked where is the best place for live music in Washtenaw County, it wasn’t a surprise that The Art in downtown Ann Arbor was the winner. Kerrytown Concert House, named one of the 150 Top Jazz Venues in the World by DownBeat Magazine in 2011, took second place. The Ann Arbor Summer Festival’s “Top of the Park” received the honorable third place.

The Ark, Ann Arbor’s nonprofit home for acoustic music, is renowned for the quality and diversity of it programming. With 400 seats, The Ark is considered an intimate setting to enjoy live folk and roots music 300 nights a year. As a popular downtown destination, The Ark is a sure win for a memorable evening of enriching entertainment and musical artistry.

This week “Best Of” is looking to find the Best Restaurant for Vegetarians in Washtenaw County. Cast your vote on AnnArbor.com for a chance to win a $50 gift card to The Blue Nile.




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Megan Crosbie

FestiFools, the giant papier-mâché puppet parade in downtown Ann Arbor is wild about their upcoming 5th anniversary. In anticipation of the foolish fun, the masterminds who brought us the beloved FestiFools parade, has expanded to include a brand new event, FoolMoon this Friday, April 1st on Washington Street, outside of Grizzly Peak.

This sublime moonlit event, scheduled from dusk to midnight, will feature an enormous procession of hand-made illuminated sculptures carried by dancing merrymakers making their way downtown to Washington Street. The evening will include live music, delicious treats and craft beer, a series of projected experimental films and a unique street-sized, shimmering, shadow-puppet performance.

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.

Event Details:

FoolMoon
Friday, April 1st
In front of Grizzly Peak on Washington Street, downtown AnnArbor
5:30 pm to 11pm
Cost: Free

Entertainment:

  • Vulf Duo at the 5 o’clock shadow under the tent in front of Grizzly Peak. 5:30pm to at least 6:30pm
  • Juice tribal welcome for the luminaria, 8pm to 9pm
  • Luminary Processionals arrive between 8:30pm and 8:45pm
  • Third Coast Kings for foolishly funky dancin’ in the street, 9pm to 10pm

For more information, visit their website.




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Megan Crosbie

3D Movies are taking over the Michigan Theater this month.

Golden Globe nominated animated adventure, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, is playing in 3D on Sunday, March 7th and Monday, March 8th at 1:30pm at the Michigan Theater. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a story about an Inventor, Flink Lockwood, who creates a machine that makes clouds rain food. When the falling food reaches gigantic proportions, Flint must determine how to put an end to the wild weather before the town is destroyed.

Carmen, the world’s most popular opera, is playing for the first time ever in 3D on Saturday, March 5, Sunday, March 6, Wednesday, March 9 and Sunday, March 20th at the Michigan Theater. Carmen in 3D takes viewers on a magic carpet ride into the heart of the production. Carmen, a musical drama, is an exciting story of love, jealousy and betrayal. It’s truly a musical event to remember!

The Michigan Theater is located at 603 East Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor. For more information about the upcoming 3D films visit michtheater.org.




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Leslie Smith

Featured in the February edition of DownBeat Magazine, the country’s leading Jazz publication, is their list of the top 150 jazz venues in the world. Ann Arbor’s own Kerrytown Concert House made their list!

Kerrytown Concert House, located in the heart of Kerrytown on Fourth Avenue, is known for being a place for the community to enjoy local, national and international jazz musicians. In addition, Kerrytown Concert House features all genres of music, theatre and rotating art exhibits. There is always something new to see, hear, experience and enjoy at Kerrytown Concert House.

For more information about Kerrytown Concert House visit their website.




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Megan Crosbie

The Ann Arbor Bucket List, published in the University of Michigan’s November College of Literature, Science and the Arts print publication, is an inventory of experiences recommended before you kick the bucket. Their list reflects recent changes to the University of Michigan campus and community that every alumnus should return to see.

1. Eat Local: Restaurants like Grange source ingredients from more than a dozen farms, orchards and creameries in southeast Michigan. Zingerman’s opened its BBQ-slinging Roadhouse, which carries produce from Cornman Farms. The Dexter-based brewery, Jolly Pumpkin, opened a restaurant on Main pouring pints crafted by Ron Jefferies.

2. Get Artsy: Built 100 years ago, Alumni Memorial Hall was eventually converted into the Museum of Art. The University of Michigan Museum of Art recently doubled in size with the addition of the Frankel Family Wing, adding 53,000 square feet.

3. See Dead People: The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology’s new Upjohn Wing is less The Sixth Sense and more Indiana Jones. Curators are now able to display Egyptian and Greco-Roman collections, including a mummified child that underwent investigation via CAT scan.

4. Visit The Stadium: The Big House was recently renovated to include a new press box, stone faced and 83 amazing suites with breathtaking views. Game days are even louder and more intimidating than before.

5. Enter The Vault: Comic, graphic novel and collectible lovers flock to Main Street, the enormous new home of the Vault of Midnight. The recent recipient of the prestigious Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retail Award, also stocks DVD, action figures and board games.

6. Get Caffeinated: On average, 30-40% of college students drink coffee. Ann Arbor is home to a wide range of options including Lab Café, Comet Coffee and Mighty Good Coffee.

7. Marvel At North Quad: This modern day castle is the newest edition to the University of Michigan campus, serving as home to dorm rooms, classrooms, a TV production studio, performance space and video-teleconferencing rooms. A walk through the courtyard is a must!

8. Clog Your Arteries: The town’s greasy staples, Fleetwood and Blimpy Burger, haven’t changed over the years, but remain a go to destination. Everyone deserves to go to these Ann Arbor icons to enjoy the delicious greasy fat they offer before they kick the bucket.




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Megan Crosbie
Jeff Daniels, acclaimed actor and local resident, had a vision of creating a professional theater company that would showcase Midwestern actors, directors, designers and playwrights in the Midwest. Despite the fact that critics said he was crazy, Daniels’s vision became a reality. In the heart of downtown Chelsea, celebrating their 20th season, is The Purple Rose Theatre Company, a creative home for local theatre artists, founded by Jeff Daniels.

The first production of this landmark season is the World Premiere of Best of Friends written by Jeff Daniels. The theme of this wicked comedy is friendships, following two married couples as they navigate their way through their friendship. Best of Friends is showing at The Purple Rose through December 18th.

The Purple Rose Theatre Company is one of many downtown Chelsea destinations. For more information about The Purple Rose or Best of Friends visit their website or call (734) 433-7673.



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