May 29, 2009

Flea Markets Aren't Just for Fleas!

Growing up I have fond memories of going to flea markets with mom and dad ~ Spending their hard earned cash on odds n ends, treasures really! Even as an adult I have been known to visit them, I mean com'mon WHO hasn't seen that JUNK featured on the Antiques Roadshow that turns out to be worth a fortune! One man's junk is another's treasure after all...

In this economy too, they are becoming more and more prevalent. In fact I just heard of a local one happening on weekends at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Belleville - I may just have to stop by and check it out!!!

Wayne County Fair Grounds in Belleville
Multi Vendor Flea market
Saturdays & Sundays through September
8am to 4pm
(Quirk Rd. off the North I-94 service drive
Between Belleville and Rawsonville Roads)

May 28, 2009

Taste Of Ann Arbor

The Taste of Ann Arbor is a FREE community event featuring many yummy Ann Arbor area restaurants. There is sure to be a culinary delight for even the most discerning taste bud!

Taste of Ann Arbor
Free Event - Open to the Public
May 31, 2009
11am to 5pm
Tickets for food tastes - $.50 each

Family fun abounds with live entertainment throughout the day ~ Come for old fashioned family outdoor fun with hoolahoops, Chinese jump rope, hopscotch and more. Stop by and check out the Ann Arbor District Library spreading the word about their Local Motion Summer Reading Program too!

Participating Restaurants:

Arbor Brewing Company
bd’s Mongolian BBQ
Blue Nile
Blue Tractor
Buffalo Wild Wings
Café Felix
Café Habana
Carson’s American Bistro
Conor O’Neill’s
Eastern Flame
Gratzi
Grizzly Peak
Jimma’s BBQ
La Dolce Vita
Melange
Palio
Parthenon
The Real Seafood
Rocky Mountain Chocolate
Schakolad
Shalimar
Stucchi’s
The Cupcake Station
Tios

Entertainment Schedule:

Main Stage (Main & Liberty)

11:30am -1:00pm - Tumbao Salsa: 7-piece salsa band and dancing
1:25pm-2:55pm - Dave Sharp Quartet: funk jazz
3:00pm-Judges Choices
3:30pm-5:00pm - Chef Chris and the Rump Shakers: Raucous blues led by BBQ Chef Chris

Liberty Street Kid’s Area

11:30am – 4:00pm - Colors The Clown: Magic, Animals and Balloons!

William Street Stage

12, 2 & 4pm - II-IV-I Orchestra: Big Band swing
1 & 3pm - The Gel-Caps: Close harmony Doo-Wop

Don't miss this opportunity to get a sample of cuisine from restaurants you've been meaning to try!

May 26, 2009

Submit the Work of Your Budding Artist to a Juried Show

Does your family have a budding artist on their hands? Here's their chance to show off...
All kids in grades K-8 are invited to submit art work to be included in a juried Kids Art Fair at the Townie Street Party on July 13. They need to bring samples of their work to the AADL Pittsfield Branch, and be prepared to talk to judges either Thursday 28 from 5-8PM or Sunday 31 from 1-3 PM.

AADL Pittsfield Branch
2359 Oak Valley Dr.
(between Scio Church Rd. and Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.)
734-327-4200

May 18, 2009

Memorial Day Parades and More...

Memorial Day is the long weekend we parents enjoy working in our yard’s, planting, opening our pools, or otherwise enjoying being outdoors. Memorial Day does have a very specific history and should be remembered by the entire family! Check out all of the local memorial Day activities in and around Ann Arbor for next weekend:

Saturday May 23

Ann Arbor: 11 am neighborhood parade for any child who wants decorate his or her bicycle, with the opening of the Forestbrooke Neighborhood pool to the general public. Line up at 2609 Yost St. (at Eli Drive) in Ann Arbor.

Ypsilanti: 2:00 pm,. The Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra featured in the Ypsilanti Pops Concert. This free outdoor concert features patriotic music to start the season. Local vendors will have food and beverages for sale - Bring your lawn chairs! Riverside Park, Ypsilanti. (Rain day May 24)

Saturday through Monday

Military memorabilia display and open house, 10 AM to 5 PM, VFW Graf-O'Hara Post, 3230 S. Wagner Road, Lodi Township. Vintage military items from the Spanish-American War to those in current use, including uniforms, medals, web gear and weapons.

Sunday May 24

Arborcrest Memorial Park Memorial Day ceremony, 2 - 3 PM, 2521 Glazier Way, Ann Arbor. Flag ceremony, color and honor guards, 21-gun salute, Boy Scout trumpeter, and notable speakers. Bring a lawn chair.

Monday May 25

Belleville: Register from 11 AM - 1 PM for the Thunder Rolls in Belleville, a memorial motorcycle ride, at Wayne County Community College off Haggerty Road north of I-94 exit 192. Ride from 1 - 2 PM, followed by service at Belleville Veterans Memorial Park on High Street at about 2 PM Cost is $10 per driver.

Chelsea: 10 AM The American Legion parade begins behind the police station on Middle Street to Main Street Park Street on East Street back to Middle Street to the Oak Grove Cemetery for a ceremony.

Dexter: 10 AM parade on Main Street in downtown Dexter. At the end of the 60th annual parade sponsored by the Dexter American Legion, there will be a memorial service at the village park. The Dexter Legion Post #557 will hold an open house for all military veterans from noon to 4 PM, 8225 Dexter-Chelsea Road.

Plymouth: 7:30 AM, parade starts at Harvey and Wing streets and features the Plymouth-Canton High School marching band and veterans. They will proceed to the new Memorial Park on Main Street downtown.

Saline: 10 AM parade at the fire station on Harris Street at Michigan Avenue. Goes to Monroe Street, then to the Oakwood Cemetery for a 10:30 AM service. There will also an American Legion Memorial Wall rededication at 11:30 AM, followed by a lunch for veterans.

Ypsilanti:

Pancake breakfast and Memorial Day service, 8 - 11 AM, Yankee Air Force Museum, Willow Run Airport. Breakfast is $5 for adults, $3 for children. Includes the Ypsilanti Community Band, astronaut Jack Lousma and Tuskegee Airman, Lt. Col. Washington Ross, at 11 AM, with a flyover. An American Red Cross blood drive is planned until 7 PM.

The Memorial Day Parade begins at 9 AM at Huron Street/Michigan Avenue, to Cross Street, North River Street, and then Highland Cemetery for a ceremony. Includes veterans, Scouts, marching bands, Gold Star Mothers, a 21-gun salute and flyover.

Ypsilanti Township: 1 PM, Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the Ypsilanti Township Civic Center, 7200 Huron River Drive. Includes reading of a letter from a veteran, recognizing a local family and laying of flowers at the memorial.

May 12, 2009

Touch A Truck Event

Stop by the Briarwood Mall on Saturday, May 16th from 1pm-4pm for their "Touch a Truck" event. This FREE Ann Arbor community-wide event provides an opportunity for kids (and big kids-at-heart) to see, touch and learn about dozens of cool vehicles. (Remember what YOU thought about firetrucks and police cars as a kid?) From fire trucks to motorcycles, cement trucks to police cars, to UPS trucks to garbage trucks and everything in between... Let's get touchy Ann Arbor!

All vehicles will be located in the South-side Sears parking lot.

May 9, 2009

Mothers Day Free Omlet for Mom

Stop by at Ann Arbor's Whole Foods on Mother's Day - All Mom's will receive a complimentary, cooked to order omelet in the café from 10am-1pm. Dine at the quaint café tables adorned with tablecloths and flowers and choose tasty sides available for purchase - even a local favorite yummy Cremé Brûleè French Toast!!!

May 7, 2009

Kids Bowl Free All Summer Long...

I ran across a great website this morning that is offering FREE bowling (up to two games per day) for kids all summer long. How awesome is that? I checked the site too, and there a few several bowling alleys in my area that are included - Ann Arbor's Colonial Lanes and Canton's Super Bowl.

Check it out and see which lanes are free in your area...