A December slice of life in Downtown Ann Arbor.
Photos from several walks around downtown Ann Arbor with an eye toward Holiday fun and Holiday shopping in downtown Ann Arbor
Walking around, I am struck by the great merchants with deep inventories of specialized products and their inviting and well-stocked stores. Stores like Today Clothing, Literati Books, Vault of Midnight, H.E.H. Human Electric Hybrids, and many others are the best in class in the midwest! We are glad you are here.
I hope you enjoy the pictures, and feel free to send me your comments.
Thanks – Andy Piper
126 N. Main St. Ann Arbor, MI.
Downtown Home and Garden is looking good! Expanded now, with a total kitchen store and lots of Holiday home goods. $1 coffee is excellent too.
Carol Brooks has been selling at the Kerrytown Farmers Market for a long time. In the summer, she brings her snow cone machine, and we know her as the snow cone lady. The kids at Community High have been stopping by to get snow cones from her forever. She has been at our team picnic two times with her machine and made us all happy on a hot summer day. Very kind. She has the biggest “superjumbo” eggs, frozen blueberries (fresh berries in season), caramel corn, and lots of homemade stuff.
Roos Roast, a local coffee roaster at the Kerrytown Farmers Market.
Tiana Body Care at the Kerrytown Farmers Market. Lovely soaps and body products available at lots of area stores including Plum Market, Argus Farm Stop. Check out their website and read their story. Violet says “sharing my love for science, supporting our local community and living a healthy life by creating safe and quality products made with local ingredients – sourcing fresh ingredients from farms/small businesses and using non-toxic ingredients.
Ratterman traditional sourdough bread. Picked up an awesome loaf of multigrain bread from Raterman Bakers. Regulars at the Kerrytown Farmers Market. Why don’t I buy bread here every week?
Fluffy Bottom Farms. Cheese Yagart and spreads from the Conlin family 200-acre farm near Chelsea. At the Kerrytown Farmers Market. https://michiganfarmtofamily.com/fluffy-bottom-farms
Kerrytown Farmers Market in Ann Arbor on a Saturday two weeks before Christmas.
“Found is a creatively curated shop in Ann Arbor’s historic Kerrytown neighborhood.” I agree! I get my Designworks Standard Issue #03 notebooks there. Found has a just-right comforting and homey feel to it. Great finds and a visual delight.Found
Found. In Kerrytown Shops.
Designworks Standard Issue #03 notebooks. I love them because they open flat, great for lefties and they have thick rugged covers. If you want to journal, give these a try.
I haven’t been in Encore records since they moved to Kerrytown from E. Liberty. A little bit smaller but it feels very well curated. I immediately saw a few things I would like to pick up. Nothing like a good Sun Ra record every now and then.
Nathanial at 16 Hands in Kerrytown Shops.
Frita Baditos at 117 W. Washington. Offering patio service and take out orders. Margaritas to go too. On my list for a fun holiday season meal.
Amadeus restaurant, always understated, elegant, and old world. Very quiet right now.
These little animals are handmade by a local Ann Arbor artisan and are at Today Clothing, Ask Eric for the details. https://www.todayclothing.com/ located at 215 S 4th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. I picked up the Kitty for Marty’s birthday which is this week. Lots of Love here!
Detroit Filling Station (https://thelunchrooma2.com/detroit-street-filling-station-1) has a great website, check out their story and menu. The philosophy behind the business is that “work” should be the pursuit of what you love and should reflect your values and interests. A page right out of my book! A beautiful building but very easy to overlook. You can see how it used to be a service station – the historic Staebler Family Oil Company filling station. Very pedestrian-friendly. Let me know if you would like to get some take out from the Filling Station sometime. Hopefully will be able to dine in soon.
Cottage In on E Liberty. “Our dining room may be closed, but you can still enjoy your favorite Original Cottage Inn dishes! Contactless delivery and curbside pickup are available every day from 3pm-9pm. Call us at (734) 663-3379 to place your order!”
Maynard and Liberty parking structure. Very quiet. Three hundred twenty parking spaces are available on Friday at 4 pm. 324 Maynard St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
The Iconic Michigan Theater building is looking good. See all that is being offered virtually this holiday season at https://www.michtheater.org/holiday/ . In normal times, I can decide to go to an 8 pm movie at the Michigan Theater or the State Theater and leave the house at 10 minutes to 8 and still be there on time.
Pretzel Bell Restaurant. Main and Liberty in Downtown Ann Arbor.
Shinola located at N Main and W Liberty.
Jolly Pumpkin. Looking forward to a trip here in the not-too-distant future.
Cherry Republic. If you have been to the Cherry Republic up in Glen Arbor, you know what this place is all about. Great store. I love the cherry ginger ale.
Vault of Midnight. Loaded full of geeky gaming goodness, A comic shop, and much more. 219 S. Main St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Downtown Home and Garden is looking good! Expanded now, with a full kitchen store and lots of Holiday home goods. $1 coffee is great too.
126 N. Main St. Ann Arbor, MI. Always a beautiful sight! Captured in the afternoon sun.
Amadeus restaurant, always understated, elegant, and old world. Very quiet right now.
