Ann Arbor

Pure Michigan June 2013 Events Roundup

May 23, 2013

June means the official start of summer in Pure Michigan! And with school out for the year and warm weather here to stay, it’s the perfect time to experience some of the great things going on around the state.

Below is a roundup of a few of the many events going on around Michigan in June. Please visit michigan.org for a complete listing of things to do across the state.

Week of June 2

Art & Orchard Festival
June 6-June 8, 2013, Washington
Washington’s Art & Orchard Festival will be the second weekend in June, June 6-9, 2013. The event will feature a carnival on Friday, live music, an arts & crafts show, fireworks Saturday night, petting zoo, beer tent and food station.

Cereal City Festival
June 7-8, 2013, Battle Creek
The Cereal City Festival is an event celebrating the Battle Creek community and its rich and varied past. A parade kicks off the festival on Friday, June 8th and the fun continues with the Cereal City Classic 5k/10k run and the World’s Longest Breakfast Table on Saturday morning. Throughout the day enjoy exciting events, bands and activities! Click here for more information.

National Asparagus Festival – Hart
June 7-8, 2013, Hart
Salute the shoots with a parade, 5K run, rodeo and crafts fair in downtown Hart. The National Asparagus Festival is held every year during the second weekend of June. For more information, visit the National Asparagus Festival website or call (800) 874-3982 or (231) 861-8110.

Mackinac Island Lilac Festival
June 7-16, 2013, Mackinac Island
The idea of the festival was to bring people to the island to enjoy a great horse drawn parade amidst the lovely lilacs that fragrance the island in June. Now this ten day festival includes a comedy show, afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel, music, walking tours, hayrides, arts and crafts, 10K run, Lilac Festival Queen, dancing, wine tasting, bingo, lilac strolls and much more. Visit the website for more information.

Leland Wine & Food Festival
June 8, 2013, Leland
Michigan’s oldest wine festival takes place at the Leland Harbor. Everyone has a chance to go see 17 wineries of the Leelanau & Old Mission Peninsulas on Saturday, enjoy great food and music and kick off the summer festival season in style! No need to purchase advance tickets – just show up rain or shine at the big tent in Leland’s picturesque Fishtown district. Admission is $15 and includes an etched wine glass and two tickets for wine tasting. For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at (877) LELAND1 or (231) 256-0079.

Orion Music + More
June 8-9, 2013, Detroit
Make your way to Detroit June 8-9, 2013, for the Orion Music + More concert event. The lineup includes Metallica, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Deftones, Rise Against, The Dillinger Escape Plan. The event includes thirty-plus acts over five stages, a custom car and automotive show, Metallica Museum, and more. Two day passes are $150. For tickets, complete lineup details, and more, visit the website link.

Week of June 9

Ann Arbor Restaurant Week
June 9-14, 2013, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week offers one price dining, one week, several options. Extraordinary three course dinner menus and fixed price fare lunch menus from Ann Arbor’s best restaurants. Experience cuisine that delights your palate and defines the art of dining in Ann Arbor. Now is your chance to discover new restaurants and enjoy favorites at a discounted price. Make reservations early at participating restaurants as tables fill fast during this gastronomically great event. For more information, visit the website link or call (734) 668-7112 ext 22.

Hamburg Family Fun Fest
June 12-15, 2013, Hamburg
The Hamburg Family Fun Fest brings family fun to the park like never before, attracting more than 50,000 attendees. Feature attractions include amusement rides, circus, petting zoo, talent competition, classic car show and arts & crafts just to name a few. A variety of concerts will also be held throughout the weekend on two stages. Click here for more information.

Heritage Coast Grand Prix
June 13-26, 2013, Tawas
Head to the Heritage Coast Grand Prix in Tawas for beautiful beaches, family fun and revved up racing. The event includes four fun-filled and family-oriented days of activities. Check out the boats, meet the drivers and experience the thrill of the races. Visit the website for more information.

Jazzin on Jefferson
June 14-15, 2013, Detroit
Jazzin’ on Jefferson is a free street music festival organized by the Jefferson East Business Association. For a schedule of main stage performances, visit the website link.

Pinconning CheeseTown Festival
June 14-15, 2013, Pinconning
Highlights of the festival include a mac & cheese dinner contest, the ultimate wine & cheese party, the cheesy CheeseTown parade, a teen concert, arts & crafts, fireworks, a beer tent with lots of live music, and in honor of Father’s Day weekend, a CheeseTown dad contest. The event is held at Doc Letchfield Park on M-13 in Pinconning. The event is in conjunction with the 30th Annual CheeseTown Challenge Race (5 mile race, 2 mile fun run/walk, and Little Meeces Race). For more information on this event, call (989) 879-2816.

Week of June 16

Quicken Loans 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
June 16, 2013, Brooklyn
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to the Irish Hills on Father’s Day with the running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400. NASCAR stars, such as former MIS winners Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Jimmy Johnson return to MIS for another action-packed day of side-by-side racing. Forty-three drivers, 200 laps. Call (800) 354-1010 or visit the website for ticket and camping information.

East Jordan Freedom Festival
June 19-23, 2013, East Jordan
The East Jordan Freedom Festival is a family friendly festival with something for everyone including live music, parades, kids games, carnival, block party and fireworks over the south arm of Lake Charlevoix. For more information, call (231) 536-7351 or visit the website link here.

FinnFest USA 2013
June 19-23, 2013, Hancock
Hear the music, feel the summer breezes, smell the birch wood of the kokko and be where every Finn needs to be in June of 2013. For five days the Copper Country will host FinnFest USA 2013 – a festival spread across the region, with a variety of programming sure to interest everyone! Tori market, concerts, performances, dances, exhibits and gallery shows, local tours, sports and games, a parade, midsummer bonfires, street theatre, special guests and VIPs and much, much more! For more information, visit the website or call (906) 487-7205.

Kalamazoo Island Fest
June 20-22, 2013, Kalamazoo
Get ready for some good times with three days and nights of reggae music rocking downtown Kalamazoo. A great variety of quality Jamaican and Caribbean-inspired cuisine will be served. Food, drinks, beer and wine will be available. The live reggae music line-up runs all day and ranges from the top local talent to well-known regional and national headliners presented outdoors throughout the day. For more information visit the website or contact (269) 385-6200.

Summer Solstice Jazz Festival
June 21-22, 2013, East Lansing
This free two day jazz festival in the heart of downtown East Lansing features high-caliber local, regional, and national talent presented by the City of East Lansing, Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, and the Michigan State University College of Music. For additional event information, visit the web link or call (517) 319-6927.

Detroit River Days
June 21-23, 2013, Detroit
The 2013 festival will continue to celebrate Detroit’s maritime, ecological and culinary culture while again featuring many proven crowd-favorite, family-friendly activities and programming elements from previous festivals. Interactive exhibits, large-scale sand sculptures, strolling entertainers, eco-friendly kids’ zones, carnival rides, and live concerts with performances featuring more than 50 local, national and international music acts will be back this year. More information is available online.

Week of June 23

Ford Fireworks
June 24, 2013, Detroit
The Parade Company is excited to pump up the City of Detroit, on June 24th as we produce the 55th Ford Fireworks presented by Target, along the Detroit River. This event attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators for one of the most anticipated summer nights in Detroit and one of the nation’s largest fireworks displays. Visit the website here.

St. Ignace Car Show Weekend
June 26-27, 2013, St. Ignace
This annual event is one of the largest all-make, all-model shows in the country. Hundreds of antique, custom, and celebrity automobiles are on display all day Saturday. Car enthusiasts can examine vehicles up close and see them in action during Kewadin Casino Cruise Night on Thursday evening, and the Down Memory Lane Parade on Friday evening. Contests, exhibits, vendor booths and more make this a fun, family event. For more information call (906) 643-8087 or visit the website.

Michigan Challenge Balloonfest 2013
June 28-30, 2013, Howell
Join us for the state championship of hot-air ballooning, June 28-30 in Howell. It’s a weekend full of high-flying fun for the whole family. Enjoy thrilling skydiving jumps, music, carnival, family entertainment, downtown activities and more. Don’t miss the fun including Play 1st Mobile Gaming, SmashZone and five scheduled balloon launches, Annabelle Road and the fabulous balloon glow on Saturday evening and the MediLodge Fireworks on Friday night. For more information on this event, visit the website link or call us at (517) 546-3920.

Grand Haven Art Festival & Fun Day
June 29-30, 2013, Grand Haven
The work of 150 of the finest artists in the country will be on display and for sale during the 51st Annual Grand Haven Art Festival & Family Fun Day, June 29 – 30, 2013. The festival will take place along Washington Avenue in downtown Grand Haven, transforming the area into an outdoor art gallery. Admission and parking are free and open to the public. Presented by The Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg. (616) 842-4910.

National Cherry Festival 2013
June 29–July 6, 2013, Traverse City
Get your planner out and write down the dates for a great week or family fun when you attend the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City on June 29–July 6. There will be colorful parades, marching bands, music shows, sporting events, amusement rides along with carnival games on the midway and food items, pie eating contests and loads of luscious cherries prepared every way you can think of. For more information, visit the website link or call the Cherry Festival office at (800) 968-3380.

Week of June 30

Log Cabin Days & Antique Car Show
June 30, 2013, Michigamme
Tour the museum and the Dompierre House and walk around to see all the antique cars on display from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information contact (906) 323-9016.

Coast West Music Fest
July 1-6, 2013, Muskegon
This event is a multi-day music festival with three stages, fireworks on July 4, food and refreshments. Acts announced so far: O.A.R., Josh Turner, Leann Rimes, Cheap Trick, Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang, Allen Stone, Chicago and Foghat! For more information visit the website link.

Light up the Lake Fireworks & Parade
July 3-4, 2013, South Haven
At the south pier over Lake Michigan, watch a spectacular fireworks display July 3 and listen to the Light Up The Lake soundtrack LIVE on SuperHits 103.7 COSY-FM! The fireworks shoot off synchronized to the music! Parade will be held July 4 at 11am through downtown featuring local marching bands, pageant winners, patriotic floats, fire trucks, & lots of candy! Questions, call (269) 637-5252 or (800) SO-HAVEN.

Fourth of July Celebration
July 4-6, 2013, Cedarville
Enjoy the spectacular view of fireworks over Cedarville Bay from the Cedarville’s downtown waterfront park or the lawn of the Great Lakes Boat Building School on July 4. Earlier that day, our parade, kids games, hot dogs and burgers, Up in Smoke BBQ, races and contests, and more wind down into early evening with music on the bay by Dance Commander DJ and a Jersey Mud eating contest. For more information, call (906) 484-3935

Cedar Polka Fest
July 4-7 2013, Cedar
The Cedar Polka Fest is held yearly in Cedar, Michigan, under the big tent on the tennis courts. Highlights include a parade on Saturday at noon, softball tournament, a polka mass and polka under the big, big tent with the big names of polka. For more information on this event call (231) 228-3378 or visit the website.

These are just a few of the many events happening next month in Pure Michigan. Please visit michigan.org for a complete listing.

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Ann Arbor: A Clear Choice for Beer City USA 2013

May 9, 2013

in Guest Blogger,Posts by Region

We’ve heard from Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids on why they should get your vote for Beer City USA 2013, and today Ann Arbor makes their case. Read from Maricat Eggenberger of the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau below.

Ann Arbor is pleased to join our friends in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo as one of three Michigan cities in Charlie Papazian’s 2013 BeerCity USA poll. We’re thrilled other cities have discovered craft beer, but Ann Arbor – a town historically full of German immigrants – is unmatched in its long history of celebrating serious suds.

According to Papazian, BeerCity USA is about “[l]ocal support of the final sum, which is the enthusiasm for beer choice, diversity, flavor and accessibility. Most importantly it highlights ‘beer’ as the meeting place.” Ann Arbor excels in all these areas.

Local Support

Ann Arbor supports three brewpubs, two microbreweries (with a third on the way), and a plethora of multitap bars and restaurants committed to serving craft beer.

Although “supports” doesn’t really capture the enthusiasm. Grizzly Peak has been Michigan’s No. 1 selling brewpub for the past five years, according to Michigan Beer Guide. Arbor Brewing serves not only its own award-winning beers but has hosted often-sold-out monthly tastings of beers from around the world for more than 15 years. Both were among Michigan’s first brewpubs when they opened in 1995.

Enthusiasm for Beer Choice, Diversity, Flavor, and Accessibility

Ann Arbor is second to none in embracing beer diversity. For example:

For 30 years beer lovers have found a huge variety at the 72 taps of Ashley’s, recognized as one of America’s best beer bars by DRAFT magazine, Travel & Leisure, Men’s Health, and RateBeer.com.
Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery serves the coveted sour ales brewed just down the road in its newly expanded Dexter facility. Jolly Pumpkin’s Oro de Calabaza was ranked No. 1 in a 2010 New York Times Belgian-style ale tasting. The Ann Arbor café is one of the only places to get special releases, which always sell out in hours.
Wolverine State Brewing is one of the few craft breweries in America to specialize in lagers, and their efforts have resulted not just in medals in competitions like the World Expo of Beer but in multiple expansions since opening in late 2010.

Beer as A Meeting Place

Whether at a 50-year-old neighborhood joint like Fraser’s Pub or the city’s newest hotspot, Bill’s Beer Garden, meeting over beers is just what people do in Ann Arbor. In the summer, sidewalks and rooftops transform into oases of craft brew and lively conversation. Other examples:

The Ann Arbor Brewers Guild has been meeting to exchange homebrew and camaraderie since 1986.
Since 1948 the German Park Club has hosted picnics attracting thousands to its old-fashioned beer garden full of great German brew, music, and food.
The state’s oldest and largest beer fest, the Michigan Summer Beer Festival, brings more than 10,000 enthusiasts to the area every July.

Local beer writer David Bardallis sums up: “For a community atmosphere, people truly knowledgeable about beer, and a ‘beer ethic’ that views our favorite beverage as part of a life well lived, you can’t beat Ann Arbor.”

But don’t just believe me, Bardallis adds. Listen to one-time Ann Arbor resident Larry Bell, who founded his famous brewery with equipment purchased from another Ann Arbor area resident: “I’ve always thought Ann Arbor had a great beer scene.”

The choice is clear: Vote Ann Arbor for Beer City USA!

Maricat Eggenberger is the Communications Manager for the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. She’s a proud Michigander that loves traveling and anything eco-friendly!

We’re proud to see these three Michigan cities in the running. Voting runs through 1:59 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2013. Who’s your pick for Beer City USA?

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Ann Arbor Gets Ready For Festifools

March 26, 2013

in Events,Guest Blogger

Festifools – happening on April 7^th – is Ann Arbor’s homage to April Fools Day: an annual street parade featuring towering papier-mâché creations and various other hijinks. Today, photographer Benjamin Weatherston gives us a sneak peek at what we can expect at this fun event.

There are few experiences like spending time in the Festifools studio. If you’re not gazing up at the giant papier-mâché puppets hanging from the rafters, you’re marveling at the fine details going into the new creations. I quickly noticed that observation was not so simple a task anymore. Where else can you appreciate a panda king wearing golden shackles while standing next to a giraffe guitar? Have you ever seen a Tyranorexicsaurus (from the late Starveaceous Period) or played Where’s Waldo in real life?

It’s amazing to watch dedicated artists bring paper and glue to life. Almost as amazing as watching ordinary people become dedicated artists. But a 7-year tradition (by definition) doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t come about by the work of a single person. I got the wonderfool opportunity to look behind the scenes of how the entire city of Ann Arbor really comes together to cultivate this inspiring public art display known as “Michigan’s Mardi Gras.”

I first heard of FestiFools a few years ago when I saw the most amazing photos by Myra Klarman. She captured something that I had never seen and didn’t know was going on right down the street. I think it’s safe to say that many people learned about it through Myra’s images and Ann Arbor is lucky to have such a talented and well-connected photographer.

Mark Tucker welcomes the students back from winter break while I stand on a staircase overlooking the studio. His students design and build every sort of creation you will find in the studio. History major James Nadel told me, “A lot of the work that I do in class is theoretical. I write long papers that take a lot of time and effort, but rarely is the product anything more tangible than an intricate idea. In Festifools, I am actually creating something physical. What starts as a vague idea will become a monument; something that I can feel, see and experience. It is as though my imagination, my idea, is slowly invading the territory of reality. Seeing that process happen right before my eyes has been remarkable.”

The process isn’t magical or mysterious, it’s the same stuff I did in elementary school art class. Lumps of clay on this table, cardboard scraps over there. Bamboo in this barrell,PVC in that one. The magic is that the studio is an environment where ideas are nurtured and encouraged to grow. But don’t let the whimsy distract you from the craftsmanship taking place. A group of students discuss how to paint skin and another consults Mark on wrist joint construction. While there is an impression of “messy artist studio” it is very well organized considering the dozens of student and volunteer workers that are constantly using it. It’s definitely not a museum, everything is meant to be used.

In the midst of all this color and texture I find some very plain white mini-sculptures. Most Ann Arbor residents instantly recognize them as luminaries. One of the coolest things about Festifools is that it’s not just a single parade and Fool Moon is the dark side of the weekend experience. But don’t let that scare you because the only thing dark about Fool Moon is the night sky. The Friday night before Festifools has quickly become cherished in the hearts of Ann Arbor families as parents watch their children’s faces light up at the sight of hundreds of glowing fish, turtles, and lollipops on display. Families even enjoy spending time together making them with the help of the luminary kits that are sold to help support the event. For $20 you get everything you need to create your own piece of art and join in the twilight festivities including wire, paper, templates, and LED lights. Please check out this video from last year! This year will even include musical performances and might start getting people in the mood for the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.

Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell own Grizzly Peak Brewing Company and are a huge reason why Festifools is possible. As part of their sponsorship Grizzly Peak makes a unique craft beer every year just for the weekend called Fool Brew. I got to meet Greg on a photo shoot in the brewery and was extremely impressed by his quiet and humble support. It was obvious that he loves Ann Arbor and the reward for such generosity in pure Fool form was a drink with Sarah Palin and Salvadore Dali. Greg said, “I am thankful that events like FestiFools and FoolMoon happen in our community. It is so darn cool to see families getting together to be part of these events. They are two of the best Ann Arbor events, and I am already looking forward to making luminaries with my kids. I mean, families love being fools together!” Jon simply said, “I love this event and the craziness of it all!”

The board couldn’t be happier with the partnership said producer Shary Brown. “It’s a fooltabulous partnership which helps the Fools with a lot of the nitty gritty event stuff, food, and FoolBrew which frees us to do the creative and community bits and pieces. It goes back to the beginning when they said, ’We’re in’ before we even got to explain the whole thing. All we could say is, ‘Wow, you really get it.’ Magic!”

When I asked Mark and Shary if I could get a picture of the WonderFool Productions board of directors I was hoping not to get a formal conference room shot. Their response was, “Can you come to the party Saturday night?” Fool House is a donor event that helps connect the philanthropic community members with their inner fool. I was able to get the board members together and was pleasantly surprised to see the likes of Harry Potter and President Obama. To say that FestiFools has community support is an obvious understatement once you spend an evening talking to the attendees at the Fool House fundraising party. The place was packed with people focused on how to help make each year bigger and better than the last.

There are only so many things that a local government can do for a street parade and the city of Ann Arbor with mayor, John Hieftje, has shown that there’s more to regulatory support than just approving permits. I met Mayor Hieftje at the Fool House donor event and knew right away that he believed in the mission of Festifools. He invited me to the next city council meeting for a little foolish display. Every year Mark and the students make a mask of the mayor and include him in the parade. At this particular meeting he wanted to promote the event by inviting the “Mâché-yor” to sit in his place and create a bit of theater.

Clague Middle School is an active participant in Festifools. This year, Ms. Pentzien’s art students are creating papier-mâché puppets for the show and even working on a drum line performance. I immediately noticed a giant owl when I first walked in the room but, again it’s all about the details, I was informed that it was a zombie professor owl. Complete with monocle, top hat, and exposed rib cage. I got to see sketches of designs done weeks earlier sitting next to the piece under construction. The students just don’t start cutting, stapling, and painting. Ms. Pentzien encourages thoughtful planning and collaboration. Out in the hall an extremely large snake is coming together and the kids get to become impromptu engineers as they troubleshoot the rigidity of PVC frames and brainstorm how to carry it while playing their instruments.

For the last two weeks I’ve been watching the entire city of Ann Arbor come together to support this very unique display of public art. But what is most unique is the interactivity and willingness to open it up to everyone. Please visit their website at www.festifools.org for more information.

And if anyone is interested in spreading the foolish good cheer in their hometown, Mark and crew are very eager to share their knowledge and experiences. But before you start slinging paper and glue, make sure you get here April 5th-7th to see it for yourself.

Benjamin Weatherston is a commercial/editorial photographer in Ann Arbor, MI. He is the owner of Photo Studio Group and the photographer and photo editor for The Ann magazine. See his work at www.benjaminweatherston.com.

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Ann Arbor Restaurant Week – Michigan’s Largest Restaurant Week – Starts Sunday

January 18, 2013

in Events,Guest Blogger,Michigan Food

With a record 55 restaurants participating, Ann Arbor’s Restaurant Week is the largest in the state of Michigan, taking place January 20 – 25. This is the prime time to try some new flavors and make the trip to Ann Arbor for some of the great food the area is known for. To prepare, we decided to talk to some of the rock stars of restaurant week in Ann Arbor. See what they had to say below and let us know which restaurant(s) you’ll be visiting next week!

Chef Duc Tang: Pacific Rim by Kana

Cuisine/Cooking style: I would describe our cuisine as ‘contemporary Pan-Asian’. The menu reflects my interpretation of various Asian cuisines that I grew up eating.

Fun Fact: I have a masters degree in theology.

Career highlight: I am proud of our great staff and of the fact that they consider Pacific Rim the best restaurant to work for.

Menu Recommendation: For the winter weather, I recommend our hearty Asian-braised lamb shanks with coconut-sweet potato puree.

Where would you eat for Restaurant Week if you weren’t cooking? Mani Osteria & Bar.

Chef Brandon Johns: The Grange Kitchen & Bar

Cuisine/Cooking style: Straight-forward, seasonal cooking; we are known for our serious and thorough commitment to local sourcing, use of quality products, our whole animal, nose-to-tail cooking approach, and our talented pastry Chef, Melissa Richards.

Fun Fact: The kitchen stays open until 1am on weekends.

Career Highlight: We have won the Edible WOW Local Hero award twice for our dedication and contributions to the local food movement.

Menu Recommendation: The chicken and spicy chicken sausage hash.

Where would you eat for Restaurant Week if you weren’t cooking? Mani Osteria & Bar or Mercy’s Restaurant at the Bell Tower.

Chef Brendan McCall: Isalita (and Mani Osteria & Bar)

Cuisine/Cooking style: I am a flavor first chef. I want flavors to be punchy and upfront while keeping the food approachable. Then we work in a twist or little surprise that adds a layer of discovery to each dish.

Fun Fact: Many of the dishes at Isalita were inspired by a trip that Adam Baru (co-owner) and I took to Mexico City this past summer.

Career Highlight: I’m most proud of the staff culture that we’ve created at Mani Osteria and have continued in Isalita. Creating great food is only one ingredient to a successful restaurant.

Menu Recommendation: We are launching petite enchiladas during restaurant week that will become a permanent part of the Isalita menu from then on. One is a coconut braised chicken in red chili sauce and the other is a shrimp and crab enchilada in roasted salsa verde.

Where would you eat for Restaurant Week if you weren’t cooking? Pacific Rim has been a long time favorite of mine since I moved to Ann Arbor 13 years ago. However, Raven’s Club has recently made major menu changes that, in my opinion, place it at the forefront of the growing restaurant culture in Ann Arbor.

Chef Eve Aronoff: Frita Batidos

Cuisine/Cooking style: My style is full flavored with a lot of textures and contrasts – while still maintaining balance and harmony of the flavors. I am based in French philosophy and technique, but am influenced from cuisines around the world – N. African, W. African, Cuban, and Vietnamese. I’m committed to Slow Food Movement – working with local farmers and purveyors, following the seasons, making food from scratch and encouraging the warmth and conviviality of cooking and dining.

Fun Fact: There are actually a lot of ‘light’ dishes on the menu!

Career Highlight: Being invited to go to the James Beard Foundation to create a multi-course menu for the foundation members, as well as being selected to represent the Huron Valley Slow Food Movement to go to Terra Madre.

Menu Recommendation: I’d recommend trying the ‘Eve’ menu we are creating. This will include some of the favorite dishes from Eve (her previous Ann Arbor restaurant). ‘Inspired Nachos’, Pots de Creme - as well as a dish which was extremely beloved but extremely labor intensive so we made it for special occasions – Seafood and Prosciutto Lasagna.

Where would you eat for Restaurant Week if you weren’t cooking? Mani Osteria & Bar or Pacific Rim.

Chef John Fischer: Gratzi

Cuisine/Cooking style: Our focus is regional Italian cuisine with emphasis on the north.

Fun Fact: We’ve featured different regions of Italy as our culinary focus each month for the past 10 years.

Career Highlights: At Gratzi, we’ve won numerous awards over the years, including ‘Best Italian’ in AnnArbor.com’s reader poll for three out of the four years, as well as Open Table awards for two years running. We also have five wine spectator awards of excellence.

Menu Recommendation: For the first time during restaurant week we are offering regional preparations instead of regular menu items. I hope folks take advantage and try something new.

Where would you eat for Restaurant Week if you weren’t cooking? I’m always way too busy to go out during restaurant week, but Downtown Ann Arbor has so many choices for dining it’s hard not to find something to like.

Set restaurant week prices are $15 for lunch and $28 for dinner (if you’re on a budget, over half of these restaurants offer 2 for 1 deals with at these price points). Peruse the menus at www.annarborrestaurantweek.com, and make your reservations early!

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10 Things to do and see in Ann Arbor

October 18, 2012

in Guest Blogger,Posts by Region

The Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans play each other at the University of Michigan this Saturday, October 20^th. If you’re heading to Ann Arbor for the game, why not make a day (or weekend) trip out of it and check out what the city has to offer outside of the stadium?

Sydney Hawkins, Communications Director for the Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, gives her recommendations on things to do and see in the area.

Are you heading to the game? Let us know in the comments section below, and be sure to share your UofM or MSU pride by downloading and sharing a photo from our Facebook image app.

I’ve lived in (Pure) Michigan my entire life; I grew up in Jackson, spent my undergrad in East Lansing, and moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor just over a year ago. That said, I’ve spent many a weekend ‘Visiting Ann Arbor,’ and a whole year learning about all the things I wish I would’ve known before I lived here.

With the ‘big game’ coming up this weekend, here’s my ‘Top 10’ list of fun fall things to do in Ann Arbor (other than actually going to the game, of course).

The Fairy Doors. If you don’t know about them, odds are, you’d probably walked right by these tiny doors, located throughout downtown Ann Arbor in various storefronts, cafes and galleries. Although going on a ‘fairy door hunt’ in Ann Arbor is a perfect activity for kids, I’ve seen adults just as excited to discover them. Get a fairy door map here.
The Farmers Market. The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 7am – 12pm (with extended hours until 3pm this weekend). If you’re headed to the game, I’d advise that you plan a grab-and-go breakfast at the market. I always get a coffee from Roos Roast, apple donuts from Kapnick Orchards, or an olive twist from Millpond Bakery.
The Dexter Cider Mill. 11 miles southwest of Ann Arbor, the Dexter Cider Mill is the oldest continuously operating cider mill in Michigan. They’re known regionally for their unique cider blend, donuts and other homemade apple goods (open Wed. – Sun., 9am – 5pm).
The Huron River. Probably the best way to view fall scenery (weather permitting), is to rent a canoe or kayak and take a tour down the Huron River. Argo and Gallup Canoe Liveries are open every day from 10am – 7pm through the last week in October.
Fall Colors. For those looking to explore on foot – especially this coming weekend – I have a few favorite places to go: 1) Nichols Arboretum (aka ‘The Arb’ to locals) on UofM’s campus. 2) Gallup Park 3) Scio Woods Preserve 3) Hudson Mills MetroPark in Dexter (5) Waterloo Recreation Area in Chelsea. Bring your camera!
University of Michigan’s Campus. I absolutely love exploring the U of M’s beautiful campus. If you have time while you’re here, stop into the U-M Museum of Art (free, open Mon. – Sat.) or the U-M Museum of Natural History (free, open Mon. – Sun.). If you’re looking for an abbreviated tour, central campus is a good place to start. You can easily see Hill Auditorium, The Michigan Union, Angell hall, Burton Tower, ‘the diag’, the West Hall Arch, the Clements Library and more in about a half hour. If nothing else, you absolutely must go to the ‘Law Quad’ and peek into the Law Library. You won’t be disappointed.
Brew Tour. There are eight breweries in Washtenaw County. Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti always carries my favorite beer (ABC’s Phat Abbot Trippel), Wolverine State Brewing Company’s Tap room is a favorite local hang out, and Original Gravity in Milan is a hidden hoppy gem. Honestly, they’re all amazing. Arbor Brewing Company, Grizzly Peak, Jolly Pumpkin and Blue Tractor are all within walking distance from each other downtown.
Wiard’s Orchard & Haunted Thrill Park. Cider, donuts, a corn maze, hayrides, U-pick pumpkins and apples, mini-golf, childrens’ play areas and more – it’s the quintessential place to for fall family fun in the area. Wiards’ haunted thrill park, Night Terrors, is also popular destination in October (open Friday – Sunday this weekend, 7:30 – 11:30pm).
Don’t have tickets? Not everyone has a ticket to the big game, which is fine because there are plenty of places that are great for game-watching fun. I recommend Banfield’s Westide Grill, Fraser’s Pub, Conor O’Neill’s, The Arena, or Damon’s Sports Bar. Aubree’s in Ypsilanti is a great spot too. Make sure to get there early to claim your spot!
Food. Everyone ALWAYS asks me where to eat in Ann Arbor. I never have a straight answer, mostly because there’s way too much to choose from, and I have way too many favorites. Here’s my short list: the falafel wrap at Pita Kabob. The TLT at Seva. The Chicken Tortilla Soup at Le Dog. The salmon burger at Monahan’s. A slice of veggie pie at NY Pizza Depot. The #24 at Amer’s Deli. And whenever I go to Ayse’s Turkish Cafe, I always let her choose (because I can’t).

Sydney Hawkins is the Communications Director for the Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. You can follow her on Twitter @SydneyHawkins. Also, be sure to follow ‘Visit Ann Arbor’ at @Annarborareacvb and hashtag your visit with #VisitAnnArbor so that Sydney and team can see your favorite pictures/things to do in Ann Arbor.