There is a certain charm beyond the college town Ann Arbor, Michigan. A flare of a great relaxed lifestyle , wonderful dining and a beautiful four season changing scenery.
There’s life to Downtown Ann Arbor and it adds a trendy feeling to the famous college student ambiance. For those who are just visiting, taking a walk to this place gives the impression of a city that has a small town appeal, somewhat artistic and bohemian ambiance. Bookshops, thrift stores, art galleries, architectural buildings, and some of the best restaurants hide between the traffic and the art galleries. mid 30′ s and 40’s young entrepreneurs have opened a space of creativity for business and an emerging economy away from the automotive culture that reined there a few decades ago.
Microbrews:
A new emerging industry in Ann Arbor are the local Microbreweries like Bigalora, Arbor Brewing Company, The Chelsea Alehouse, Grizzly Peak, Wolverine, Original Gravity and Jolly Pumpkin . This industry in growth is among one of the trendiest, newest moneymakers of the area. Also the Ugly Dog Distillery is a great local Gin producer and their vodka has won the gold medal at the Micro Distillers Liquor Award. The growing industry has also given space to entrepreneurs and other areas of the beer and liquor business, for example at Hopster Farm just in north of Chelsea the young owner plans to become the hops supplier for all the local microbreweries.
Their football Stadium at the University of Michigan, locally nicknamed the “Big House” is a landmark icon that stands out in greatness and architecture and has a massive seating capacity of 110,000 approximately.
Wining and Dining:
One of the best experiences is to explore the local restaurants where you can find almost anything from a modern futuristic gourmet meal to a classic and home style with a Spanish, Mediterranean, Cuban , French, Asian or Italian flare.
Some of the recommended restaurants are:
Vinology -a wine bar that offers over 100 varieties of wines located near main street in Ann Arbor Their bubble room with artistic hand blown glass is a perfect venue for a private event , gathering or small wedding. Their food is very gourmet and artistic inspired.
Mezzevino– Nice cozy ambiance, relaxed and wonderful food describes this restaurant. The chef Brent Courson creates a variety of Mediterranean, Spanish, French, Italian Cuisine.
Frita Batidos – It gives some multicultural flare to the Ann Arbor area, the owners spend a lot of time in Miami, Florida and brought with them the idea of a restaurant featuring batidos ( shakes) and fritas (Fried finger foods) – although they are not Cuban or Spanish, the Cuban flavor comes through in the food, could be that Miami influence.
Vin Bar– It is a wine bar, a great spot for an afternoon drink or business gathering.
Aventura- It offers a variety of amazing, tasty classic and contemporary Spanish traditional comfort food in a modern environment, their sangria and wines are a great selection.
Gratzzi- It is a fine dining experience that specializes in northern Italian Cuisine. A plate of home made gnocchi is to die for. This restaurant is part of Main street Ventures , a group that develops upscale restaurants in downtown areas.
Cofee Shops:
Ayse’s cafe- Middle Eastern Turkish cuisine with great coffee and tea, the owner operated business is a great familiar , welcoming environment where any guest is pampered to taste amazing homemade like dishes.
Museums:
One of the most impressive experiences in Ann arbor is the Willow Run Bomber Plant, the aviation museum under construction and the Yankee Air Museum that offers the opportunity to take a flight into the past aboard a B-17 , one of the two only working WWII aircrafts in the world.
The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology has over 100000 items on exhibit from ancient cultures of Greece, Egypt and Rome. and Natural History
The Leslie Science and Nature Center is an oasis of nature conservation in the area. A hike through the woods can be very oxygenating and relaxing. They have programs to teach kids about nature and conservation and host an eagle as a learning mascot for special presentations. They have a birds of prey collection and a great black pond woods walk. Highly recommended for nature lovers.
Children Museum– The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum presents the wonders of science, technology, engineering, art, and math to the younger hands by letting them learn in an interactive experience. It is catered to kids of pre-K through 8th graders, and receives over 290,000 visitors in the last year. It opened 33 years ago in an historic firehouse in downtown Ann Arbor and quickly became the cornerstone of informal science education in the community. The interactive exhibits are designed to promote science discovery and literacy. The museum has programs to make sure children are welcomed, regardless of ability to pay admission charges.
Music and Art
The Ark:
The Ark is Michigan’s home for folk and roots music. It is a charming environment relaxed and ready to promote upcoming artists wich they do with funds raised for the arts and a great team of volunteers. This place has been considered one of the top music clubs in the world and renowned for the quality of its programming. With an intimate 400-seat club presents classic performers and also promotes the young up-and-comers They have over 300 shows a year with live music. The place is filled with memorabilia of American folk singers and their signatures overflow the dressing room walls.
You must be logged in to post a comment.