LIFE IN ANN ARBOR… Whether you are a faculty member or the spouse or partner of a faculty member, you probably have a large role in getting you and your family settled in Ann Arbor. We would like to help you with that task. These are personal opinions based on our experiences. We sincerely hope you find something in this booklet to help. Best wishes, Newcomers Committee Faculty Women’s Club of the University of Michigan Contents Personal Favorites Offered by FWC Members……………...........page 2 Nuts and Bolts…..…………………………………………………………….page 16 Road Trips in Michigan…………………………………………………….page 21
Transcript
LIFE IN ANN ARBOR…
Whether you are a faculty member or the spouse or partner of a faculty member, you probably have a large role in getting you and your family settled in Ann Arbor. We would like to help you with that task. These are personal opinions based on our experiences. We sincerely hope you find something in this booklet to help.
Best wishes, Newcomers Committee Faculty Women’s Club of the University of Michigan
Contents
Personal Favorites Offered by FWC Members……………...........page 2
Nuts and Bolts…..…………………………………………………………….page 16
Road Trips in Michigan…………………………………………………….page 21
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PERSONAL FAVORITES
Some Personal Favorites
Offered by Susan F., FWC Newcomers Committee Member
Public Radio. The area is a regular mecca for this. A few that are easily heard here include:
§ WEMU, 89.1 FM, news, jazz & blues in Ypsilanti (my personal favorite)
§ WUOM, 91.7 FM, talk & news in Ann Arbor § WKAR, 90.5 FM, classical music in East Lansing § WDET, 101.9 FM in Detroit § WGTE, 91.3 FM, classical music in Toledo, Ohio § WRCJ, 90.9 FM, classical and jazz music in Detroit
The stations are commercial free, of course, but it’s nice to contribute during their fund raising campaigns.
Walks, Gardens & Museums A walk through the Arboretum (especially in the fall or in the spring when the peony garden is in bloom), Gallup Park, Matthaei Botanical Gardens, or across any of the campuses can be beautiful. The UM museums are wonderful, too. The Museum of Art (525 S. State St.) is quite a treasure. Also on campus are the Exhibit Museum of Natural History (aka the “Dinosaur Museum” – 1109 Geddes Ave.) and the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology (434 S. State St.). Check out the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, our local children’s museum with displays and activities for all ages (even pre-toddlers).
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Apple Picking Not free, but fun, especially on a crisp fall afternoon! A few of the orchards in this area include Wasem Fruit Farms (6580 Judd Rd. in Milan, 482-2342), Wiard’s Orchard (5565 Merritt Rd. in Ypsilanti, 482-7744), and Alber Orchard and Cider Mill (13011 Bethel Church Rd., near Manchester, 428-9310). Note: Not all orchards are “u-pick.”
Ice Cream Washtenaw Dairy (602 S. Ashley, 662-3244). A true neighborhood ice cream parlor/ice cream shop near downtown. (In case of a power failure, they sell dry ice!)
Bookstores Although Ann Arbor is not a great shopping town, an exception to this is bookstores, both new and used. The largest store is Barnes & Noble (3245 Washtenaw). There are also many small specialty bookstores, including Aunt Agatha’s (mystery and crime – 213 W. 4th Ave.), Literati Bookstore (general – 124 E. Washington St.), Nicola’s Books (general – Jackson Rd. and Maple in Westgate) and Bookbound (general -- 1729 Plymouth Rd. in the Courtyard Shops).
Public Libraries There are five branch libraries in Ann Arbor, each offering a variety of programs for both kids and adults, not to mention a good selection of computer classes. To find out more information about their programs, you can pick up fliers at all locations, listen to an events recording on the main branch number, or check the website, www.aadl.org, and click on “Events.” The Main Branch is located at 343 S. Fifth Ave. Traverwood Branch is at 3333 Traverwood Drive at Huron Pkwy, and West Branch is at 2503 Jackson Road in Westgate Mall. The other two branches are the Malletts Creek Branch at 3090 E. Eisenhower and Pittsfield Branch at 2359 Oak Valley Dr. The telephone number for all locations is 327-4200.
Music The Ark is an acoustic music club in downtown Ann Arbor (316 S. Main St.) presenting folk, jazz, bluegrass, etc. music, as well as storytellers and comedy. Every January the Ark hosts a huge tw0-
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day Ann Arbor Folk Festival at Hill Auditorium with an interesting mix of new and established performers.
Faculty Women’s Club And I’d be remiss if I didn’t put in a plug for Faculty Women’s Club, with its great interest sections (Newcomers, try Campus Explorers, if possible, to become more familiar with the U of M), interesting women, and a fantastic resource! There are many other activities and events in the area.
Some Personal Favorites
Offered by Teri T., FWC Member
Ann Arbor is a small friendly city with so many things going on that you will think you are living in a city many times larger.
A must read is the Ann Arbor Observer. It is free monthly to homeowners and for purchase in some stores. Much of the information in the Observer is on the www.arborweb.com website, but for complete articles see the printed version which includes interesting and in depth articles about people, history, and issues that are pertinent to those living in the Ann Arbor area.
For film buffs there are nightly “indies” movies downtown at the Michigan Theater (on Liberty St.) and at the State Theater (on State St). An extensive listing of programs and concerts from around the world is sponsored by the University Music Society, so check their website for the offerings, www.ums.org. Venues for performances through UMS include Hill Auditorium, Power Center, and the Michigan Theater.
We hope you will make many friends while living here and find many activities to enjoy. Make yourself at home, start meeting your
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neighbors and FWC members, join a section or two and know that your new hometown welcomes you.
Some Personal Favorites
Offered by Kathe W., FWC Newcomers Committee Member
Where to Eat If You Don't Like to Cook I hate to admit it, but I just don't enjoy cooking any more. But like almost everyone else, our family is eating out a bit less and choosing more carefully the restaurants we visit. Instead of going to a restaurant we like and generally looking at the menu, we choose the specific restaurant by what dishes they do well that we would like for that particular meal. We moved here 25 years ago and still remember well how it took a while to learn the "Ins and Outs" of Ann Arbor dining. To provide a starting point for you, here are a few of my family's (and some of our friends') favorites.
§ Pasta and minestrone soup ---Gratzi, Paisano § Breakfast -- Angelo’s, Café Zola, Northside Grill, City Limits Diner
§ German --- Metzger's § Japanese --- Godaiko, Yotsuba § Chinese --- Gourmet Garden, PF Chang’s § Mexican --- Tios, La Fuente (Ypsilanti), Isalita § Indian --- Shalimar § Stir-fry --- Mongolian Barbecue § Coffee House --- Café Felix, Sweetwaters, Expresso Royale,
Starbucks § Fish --- Pacific Rim, Real Seafood, Common Grill (Chelsea) § Vegetarian/Vegan --- Earthen Jar, Seva, Jazzy Veggie § Interesting view --- Gandy Dancer § Thai—Lotus Thai § Salami and Cheese and Gazpacho – Morgan & York
Gluten-free And if you are eating gluten-free for any reason, here are a few of my favorite restaurants with the most options that I like, although most restaurants now have some GF dishes --Paisano, PF Changs, almost any Mexican restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen, Buddy's Pizza (the best, but in Farmington Hills, Livonia -- worth the drive for deep dish).
Ann Arbor has many more great eateries. I know you will have wonderful experiences trying these and finding your own favorites. BON APPETIT!
Some Personal Favorites
Offered by Robin R., FWC Newcomers Committee Member
Northwest Ann Arbor I moved to Ann Arbor six years ago, and I have to say my favorite thing is the Faculty Women’s Club. Through the FWC, in particular the Luncheon Adventures section, I have accumulated a
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nice list of restaurants in my neighborhood northwest of town, including:
§ Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd – best Reuben sandwich ever. § El Harissa Market Cafe, 1516 N. Maple Rd – North African and
Mediterranean—take out or eat in, and wonderful gelato. § Metzger’s, 305 N. Zeeb Rd – everyone calls it the Old German but
that’s not how you Google it; sauerbraten, bratwurst, potato pancakes as a side dish.
§ Seva, 2541 Jackson Ave (in Westgate Shopping Center) – vegetarian, but I’m not, and I like it anyway.
§ Zingerman’s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave – like the deli but you get to sit down and order.
Other gems on this side of town are:
§ Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave (in Westgate Shopping Center), a wonderful independent bookstore. They can order anything and have it for you in two days.
§ Ann Arbor Sewing Center, 5235 Jackson Rd – quilting fabric! Also sewing machines.
§ Pink Castle Fabrics, 1915 Federal Blvd – more fabric, for quilts and for clothing. This place is very hard to find, sandwiched almost invisibly in between Big George (store) and Mastertech (business). Pink Castle has especially cute prints in modern colors if you’re sewing for children.
For more information like this, I recommend joining Luncheon Adventures – we eat all over town, you’ll find good places near you, too, and you’ll build up your own supply of local knowledge, lively discussions, great food, and wonderful friendships.
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Some Personal Favorites
Offered by Liz M., FWC Newcomers Committee Member
The University of Michigan boasts fine sports teams, and not only football and basketball draw first-class athletes to the school. Those tickets come at a premium, but it is also possible to see talented gymnasts, swimmers, tennis players, and others, and really support the teams that attract smaller crowds. There are many first-rate women’s teams, including softball, basketball, and field hockey that can be enjoyed. (FWC has a new section for those interested in supporting women’s sports—the UM Women’s Sports Fan section!)
The University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance is one of the top music schools in the country. Many talented students perform music and drama during the season. Some previous productions include “The Magic Flute” and the musicals ”Crazy for You”, “Brigadoon”, and “Chicago”. Recent theatrical productions included “The Beaux Stratagem”, “Skin of Our Teeth”, “Sunday in the Park with George”, and “Noises Off”. Quite a few graduates from this outstanding program have gone on to successful careers on Broadway and elsewhere. The calendar of events from the School of Music, Theater, and Dance includes musical events almost every week. Many of these are free at the Music School and other venues in town.
Professional performing artists come to Ann Arbor, thanks to the University Musical Society. The University Musical Society now hosts approximately 80 performances and 150 free educational activities each season. UMS also commissions new work, sponsors artist residencies, and organizes collaborative projects with local, national and international partners. Among the performers to visit Ann Arbor have been James Galway, Renee Fleming, Joshua Bell, Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis, and The Royal Shakespeare Company. All have had special relationships with Ann Arbor.
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Other Cultural Venues § A favorite of ours has been the Kerrytown Concert House. It is a
small intimate older house that hosts small musical events and plays.
§ Another favorite venue for enjoying plays is the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, founded by actor Jeff Daniels.
§ There are many fine galleries in the area, such as the River Gallery in Chelsea, that offer the chance to view the work of local and contemporary artists.
There is much to do in Ann Arbor that will appeal to many interests.
Some Personal Favorites
Offered by Judy C., FWC Newcomers Committee Member
Restaurants Ann Arbor has many wonderful restaurants. My favorites include, in no particular order, Pacific Rim, Mani’s, Jerusalem Gardens (delicious falafels and hummus), Cardamon (Indian), Vinology (nice happy hour!), Hopcat, Café Zola, Knight’s and Quarter Bistro. Look for Ann Arbor’s Restaurant Week in January and June to try out new restaurants at special prices.
Events About Town The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is a great way to spend a summer evening (June-July). In addition to bringing in well-known performers to Power Center and Hill Auditorium, the Summer Festival includes “Top of the Park.” Outdoors on the UM campus from mid-June until early-July and on most nights, local performers are scheduled to play. When it gets dark, it’s movie time.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair (annually in July) is overwhelming, but not to be missed. More than 50 years old, the Fair (really four Fairs all
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at one time, in one city) draws perhaps 500,000 fairgoers to browse, buy and enjoy the ambience.
Don’t miss UM School of Music, Theater and Dance performances. UM students and their professors are amazingly talented! Go to UM SMTD website at www.music.umich.edu/performances_events to join their email list and get a list of SMTD offerings each week (some ticketed, many free). Especially popular is their Halloween concert in which student orchestras play “scary” music and everyone on stage is costumed.
Being Active in Ann Arbor For a leisurely stroll, Gallup Park, the Arboretum and Matthei Botanical Gardens all provide good walking trails. Canoeing is fun on the Huron River. You can paddle down the river by renting canoes or kayaks at Argo Canoe Livery (1055 Longshore Drive, 734-794-6241) or Gallup Park Canoe Livery (3000 Fuller, 734-794-6240). Both are run by the City of Ann Arbor. The Ann Arbor Bike Touring Society sponsors bike rides in the Ann Arbor area. The group hosts “One Helluva Ride” each July. 2016 will be the 40th time. Rides are laid out from 15 to 100 miles.
Lastly, a favorite place of mine is the YMCA (400 W Washington St, 734-996-9622). Lots of classes appeal to many interests, ages and fitness levels. And, there’s a swimming pool that’s not cold. A family pool and childcare mean the Y is family-friendly.
Some Personal Favorites
Offered by Maria B., FWC Member
Family Outings A favorite thing we like to do as a family during the summer is to take the children swimming. Many metroparks, county parks, and state parks have a wealth of places for swimming surround Ann
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Arbor. Some of our personal favorites are: The two beaches at Kensington Metropark. We have found them to be clean, scenic, with nice facilities for changing and even a concession stand where you can get food, or if you want you can also cook with the BBQ grills that they have in the surrounding picnic grounds. There are also nice, shady playground structures next to the beach area for children.
We also like the beach at the Washtenaw Independence Lake County Park, which has nice facilities and a beautiful view. This is smaller than Kensington, but it has a nice playground, which the kids really enjoy. Other personal favorites include the beach at the Brighton State Park and the beaches at the Island Lake State Park.
Besides the beaches in the parks, we’ve also found a really fun public water park, Rolling Hills in Ypsilanti. As a county park, the cost is really reasonable. It is a lot of fun as it has water slides, a lazy river where you can float in a tube, an imitation wave area, a nice eating area where you can get food, and well-maintained facilities for changing.
Asian Cuisine Restaurants Ann Arbor is so culturally rich because of the University of Michigan, and we have found that there are many authentic tasting Asian cuisine restaurants, which is my family’s favorite cuisine. On occasion, we enjoy going to all the Asian restaurants around Ann Arbor. § For Chinese food, we like to go to Asia Legend, Asia City, Chia
Shiang, and T.K. Wu’s. § For Japanese food, we’ve found excellent meals at Yotsuba,
Totoro, and Miki’s. § For Thai food, we like the Siam Square, Lotus Thai, and Marnee
Thai. § For Korean food, we’ve enjoyed going to the Seoul Garden, where
you can cook Korean BBQ right at your table, and for more casual meals, we like going to BeWon’s and Tomukun.
§ For Vietnamese food, we enjoy going to Saigon Garden on South University.
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You will find authentic tasting restaurants for all the other types of cuisine as well; that’s the unique part of Ann Arbor, because in other small cities you wouldn’t find so many authentically tasting restaurants of so many cuisines.
Some Personal Favorites
Offered By Jean B., FWC Member
Fun Outings with Children Whether you are a parent needing a change in routine or a grandparent with a day to enjoy, planning a fun outing with children is a delight for all. However, getting a suitable activity started may be simpler if you know what is available. Listed below are several places that have a wide range of activities you can carry out with children. Enjoy.
§ Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor. Making Ann Arbor truly unique, we host a community of Fairies. Discovering the Fairy Doors (the residences of the fairies) scattered in the downtown area will be a delight for both you are your child. You might want to bring a few little trinkets or candy to leave at the door as gifts for the fairies.
§ Jungle Java (3900 Jackson Rd. Ann Arbor 735-926-2990). Java Jungle is a venue that is a cross between a large tree house and a playground. Imagine sitting among friends, enjoying a conversation as you sip a latte while your children play in a clean and safe environment. Most children are delighted with this experience.
§ My Urban Toddler (7025 E Michigan Ave., Saline 734-944-3628). Urban toddler is a delightful experience for young children. The play areas include a train, a dress-up area, an infant park, a firehouse, a kitchen, a theater, a market, and a library.
§ Ann Arbor Hands on Museum (220 E Ann St., Ann Arbor, 734-995-5439).
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§ Briarwood Mall Briarwood is a wonderful large area in which to play, especially in the heart of winter.
§ Xtreme Bounce Zone http://www.xtremebouncezone.com/ is a jumping place.
Other ideas for activities for both children and adults include:
§ Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsi http://www.michiganfirehousemuseum.org/
§ Museum of Natural History (aka: Dinosaur Museum) http://www.lsa.umich.edu/exhibitmuseum
§ Domino's Farm (hayrides and petting zoo) http://www.pettingfarm.com/
§ Chelsea Treehouse (similar to Mocha Mountain, but a little smaller - better for toddlers) in Chelsea, MI http://www.thechelseatreehouse.com/
§ Leslie Science Center http://www.lesliesnc.org/ § Howell Conference and Nature Center is a great place for kids. It
offers school programs, camps, environmental and wildlife education, and much more. http://www.howellnaturecenter.org
§ Vet's Pool or Buhr Park Pools. Both have kids' areas http://www.a2gov.org/government/communityservices/ParksandRecreation/Pools/Pages/default.aspx
§ Goldfish Swim School, 2107 Stadium Blvd., 864-5555 § Gym America is a gymnastics studio that has a Preschool
Playtime where toddlers and preschoolers can play on the equipment - trampolines, rings, bars, etc. Be aware the day and time of the playtime changes depending on the season. http://www.gymamericagymnastics.com/preschool-playtime/
§ Library Playgroups for babies 0-2 http://www.aadl.org/events/list/0/26 and Storytime for preschoolers 2-5 http://www.aadl.org/events/list/0/27 (and lots of events in general for kids and adults of all ages: http://www.aadl.org/events)
§ Lots of pocket parks all over Ann Arbor. According to the Parks and Rec website, there are 157 parks in A2 total (not all of them playground parks). Here's the list of parks http://www.a2gov.org/government/communityservices/Parksan
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dRecreation/parks/locations/Pages/ParkLocationA-B.aspx, each with links to info on what the park has (bathrooms, playground, tennis courts, etc) and I guess you can also buy a map of the parks at their office 100 N. 5th Ave, 6th Floor of City Hall.
§ Public Skating Ann Arbor Ice Cube, 2121 Oak Valley Drive, 213-1600
§ Ann Arbor Recreation and Education Dept., Preschool, Youth, and Adult classes offered for Ann Arbor residents, 1515 South Seventh St., 994-2300, http://www.aareced.com
§ Wide World Sports Center, Soccer and lacrosse youth teams for indoor and outdoor play, 2140 Oak Valley Dr.
Some Personal Favorites
Offered by Dot R., FWC Member
About Chelsea, Michigan We qualify as one of the “outs. ”Chelsea is 15 miles west out of town from Ann Arbor. The population of Chelsea is a little over 4,000, so it surely is a small town and that is why we were proudly presented with the award for having the “Best Small Town Library in America” a few years ago. This is a huge honor. Be sure to visit our McKune Library.
In our town, anyone you pass on the street will smile and say “Hi.” We are so hospitable all the parking meters were removed 24 years ago. The most prominent landmark is the Clock Tower where cars and heating stoves were built long ago. The building was recently renovated and now houses The Sleeping Bear Press, which publishes wonderful books. Just north is a one story building that houses a lovely garden where you can eat lunch and visit the Teddy Bear factory.
The most well known eating place is The Common Grill, named after the owner Craig Common. People come from all over to enjoy the
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fish and seafood here. Across the street is Cleary’s Pub, great for hamburgers and Mexican fare. A half block away is Zou Zous, another casual and delightful place for sandwiches, soup, scones and ice cream. There's also Thompson’s Pizzeria, Mike’s Deli, and the Arctic Breakaway, which is in the Coliseum Ice Rink. The Chelsea Grill is in the strip mall near the Chelsea State Bank and serves a wide variety of good food and drink.
Nearby Pierce Lake has a pretty boardwalk and golf course by the lake. It is a county course and open to the public. You will probably see deer and maybe sand hill cranes while golfing. The Purple Rose Theater, which was created by native son Jeff Daniels, is an intimate excellent theater for live performances. To complement the theater Mr. Daniels also created a theatrical school in town. I must not overlook The Jiffy Mix Company. This business has been a mainstay in Chelsea for at least three generations. Try their mixes---they are wonderful. The Marketplace is a fair trade store with goodies from all over the world, and there is a terrific bakery and an outstanding jewelry store, La Jolla. A very active, important organization in Chelsea is Faith In Action. This is an interfaith facility that provides clothing, some furniture and food for those in need. Just a little north of town is Timbertown, a wonderful playground for kids that was built with community money and effort. A little further north, but still in Chelsea is the Rod and Gun Club. The membership is heavily involved with the community, in scholarships, classes in hunting and gun safety, service to honor our veterans and a couple public dinners each year.
If you want directions or someone to join you for lunch just give me a call (number in FWC Directory)
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NUTS & BOLTS
SHOPPING The Newcomers Committee polled several members of the FWC about their favorite places to “get things done. We’ve listed their responses on the next few pages, making no attempt to rank the responses.
If not otherwise specified, the address refers to Ann Arbor.
GROCERIES
Produce § Alexander’s Farm Market, 6925 Whitmore Lake Rd., Northfield
Twp. (741-1064) § Arbor Farms Natural Foods, 2103 W. Stadium § Costco, 771 Airport Blvd § Farmer’s Market, open-air market at Kerrytown in Ann Arbor,
Wednesday and Saturday mornings § Meijer’s, on Ann Arbor - Saline Rd., near I94, and on Zeeb Rd § Plum Market, 375 N. Maple Rd § Produce Station, 1629 S. State St. § Whole Foods Market, 3135 Washtenaw Avenue at Huron and at
990 West Eisenhower @ Ann Arbor - Saline Rd
Meat § Arbor Farms Natural Foods § Biercamp Artisan Sausage & Jerky, 1643 S. State St § Busch’s Valu Land, 2240 S. Main, and 2020 Green Rd. § Chelsea Market, 125 S. Main, Chelsea § Costco § Knight’s Market, 420 Miller § Sparrow Meat Market, 407 N Fifth (in Kerrytown), all natural
meats, free of chemicals, hormones and antibiotics.
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Fish § Busch’s Valu Land § Chelsea Market § Monahan’s Seafood Market, 407 N. Fifth (in Kerrytown) § Arbor Farms Natural Foods § Whole Foods Market
Wine § A & L Wine Castle, 2424 W. Stadium Blvd. § Busch’s Valu Land § Everyday Wines, 407 N. 5th, at Kerrytown in Ann Arbor § Morgan & York, 1928 Packard § Plum Market § Trader Joe’s, 2398 E. Stadium Blvd. (in Lamppost Plaza),
inexpensive but decent wines. § Stadium Market, 1423 East Stadium Blvd. at Packard Rd (also
catering) § World Market Cost Plus, S. State & Eisenhower
Bagels § Barry's Bagels, 2515 Jackson Rd. (in Westgate Shopping Plaza) § Bruegger’s, various locations § Zingerman’s Deli, 218 N. Fourth
Specialty Food Items § Achatz Handmade Pies Co., Traver Village Shopping Center, 2643
Plymouth Rd § Arbor Farms Natural Foods § Bombay Grocers, 3022 Packard Street at Platt Rd § Busch’s Valu Land § El Harissa Market Café, 1516 N. Maple Rd. § Euro Market, 3108 Packard § Grand Traverse Pie Company, 291 N. Zeeb Rd § Great Harvest Bread Co., 2220 S. Main § Mediterranean Market, 4019 Stone School Road at Ellsworth § Morgan & York § Panera Bread, various locations in Ann Arbor § Peoples Food Co-op, 4th Ave ,near Kerrytown § Plum Market § Produce Station
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§ Trader Joe’s § Tsai Grocery, 3115 Oak Valley Dr., Ann Arbor § Whole Foods § Zingerman’s Deli
pizza) § Cottage Inn (many locations in Ann Arbor) § Jet’s Pizza, various locations. § New York Pizza Depot, 605 E. William, Ann Arbor (great specialty
pizzas) § Pizza House, S. University (deep-dish) § Silvio’s Organic, 715 N. University § Stadium Market, 1423 East Stadium Blvd. @ Packard (gluten
free) § Tony Soccias, W. Eisenhower Pkwy
FURNITURE
A number of tips about furniture shopping came back on our survey. Furniture shops mentioned include:
§ Arhaus Furniture, Arbor Hills Shopping Center, Washtenaw Ave § Art Van Furniture, 425 E. Eisenhower Pkwy § Kings Chosen, 317 S. Main § Ikea, in Canton § Merkel’s Furniture, 209 S. Main, Chelsea (wide selection with a
good show room) § Mitchell Gold at Three Chairs, 208 S. Ashley § Pottery Barn, Briarwood Mall § Three Chairs Company, 215 S. Ashley § Treasure Mart, 529 Detroit St (large used furniture/antique store
with constant turnover in selection. Check it often for a real find.) § Tyner Furniture, 3900 S. State, Ann Arbor (also has a wide
selection with a good show room) § Westside Emporium, 283 S. Zeeb Rd § World Market, 2900 S. State St
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CLOTHES
It was generally agreed that the large department stores at the Briarwood Mall or at the Arborland Mall on the eastern side of Ann Arbor were a necessary stop when looking for clothing. (Anchor stores for Briarwood Mall are: Macy’s, Von Maur, Penney’s and Sears.) There also are clothing shops in Kerrytown Mall in downtown Ann Arbor. Area malls include Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Michigan, Laurel Place Mall (3770 W. Six Mile Rd., Livonia) and Somerset Mall (200 West Big Beaver Rd., Troy).
Also, a number of shops can be found at the Green Oaks Village Place in Brighton, Michigan, off US 23 at Lee Road on exit 58.
Specific mentions by those surveyed about clothing shops included:
§ Ayla & Co. 323 S. Main § Chico’s in the Briarwood Mall near the Von Maur department
store § Harps Lingerie, 265 S Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham (for
personal fittings) § Kohl’s, 3160 Lohr Rd § REI, on Eisenhower St next to Whole Foods § TJ Maxx, Westgate Shopping Center, & on Carpenter Rd § Vogel's and Foster’s 109 S. Main, Chelsea
THRIFT STORES
Shopping in resale/thrift stores can be fun and budget-stretching. Whether you are looking for clothes, furniture, knick-knacks or other household items, there are plenty of stores in the area in which to shop. Make sure to check times they are open, as several listed are non-commercial.
§ Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Store, 2280 S. Industrial, 996-9155 § Ann Arbor Thrift Shop, 3530 Washtenaw, 662-6771 § Grow with Me, 2521 Jackson Ave., 662-0224 (children’s items) § Kiwanis Thrift Sale, Saturday morning only, kiwanissale.com § Klothes Kloset, 2401 S. Industrial, Ann Arbor, 971-6211 § Recycle Ann Arbor, 2420 S. Industrial, 662-6288
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§ Treasure Mart, 529 Detroit St., 662-1363 § Salvation Army, 1621 S. State, 332-3474 § Scrap Box, 581 State Cir. § Top Drawer, 1960 South Industrial (resale for high quality
women’s clothing). § Value World, 345 N. Maple Ave in Maple Village Shopping
Center, 728-4610 § Value Village, 1401 Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti
HARDWARE STORES
§ Ace Barnes, 3352 Washtenaw & 2015 W. Stadium Blvd, 971-4555 § Carpenter Brothers Hardware, 2753 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor,
663-2111 § Home Depot, 3300 Carpenter Rd, Ypsilanti, 975-1029 § Lowe’s, 5900 Jackson Rd, 302-2400, and 3900 Carpenter Rd,
Ypsilanti, 477-5980 § Stadium Hardware, 2177 W Stadium Blvd (especially for those
hard-to-find items)
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ROAD TRIPS IN MICHIGAN Discover Michigan. You can explore places close to Ann Arbor, some further away, and find out what the UP (Michigan’s Upper Peninsula) have to offer.
§ Mackinac Island & Mackinac Bridge § Sleeping Bear Dunes and any of our Great Lakes § Chicken Dinner in Frankenmuth § Greenfield Village & Henry Ford Museum § Detroit Institute of Arts § Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills § Jiffy Mix Tour in Chelsea § Michigan International Speedway § Pictured Rocks near Munising in the Upper Peninsula § Detroit Red Wings Hockey Game § Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton § Ford Motor Company Rouge Plant Tour § Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, MI
Please remember that the contents are offered by individual FWC members. The information is provided solely because they wish to share their own experiences getting the most out of Ann Arbor and the university community. Reference in this booklet to any specific commercial establishment is for the information and convenience of prospective members of the Faculty Women’s Club, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Club.
