Ann Arbor Real Estate Information Provided by Ann Arbor Realtor - Martin Bouma» Ann Arbor Community Events

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair – The Original – Coming July 21-24

annarborrealestateexpert — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:09:26 +0000

With a theme of “51 Years of Originality in 2010,” the 51^st Annual Ann Arbor Street Art Fair will take our city by storm from Wednesday, July 21 through Saturday, July 24. Established in 1960, “The Original Fair” was created “to increase public knowledge and appreciation for contemporary fine arts and crafts by creating opportunities that connect artists and the Ann Arbor community to their mutual benefit.”

The Festival is set on North University Avenue and on the University of Michigan’s Central Campus, amidst elegant Ann Arbor architecture and beautifully landscaped pedestrian walkways. If you’re lucky enough to live near the university campus, you’ll be within walking distance of the fun, which promotes art and puts the spotlight on the city!

In line with tradition, the fair really begins with The Townie Street Party, a celebration of all things local. Give an old T-shirt new life, create a tile, or use recycled materials to make your own journal. When you’re ready to relax, grab a bite of Townie Grub, have a brew at Townie Pub, and enjoy free onstage performances by Danny Kline, Chris Mills, and The Relics. And if you’ve got little ones, be sure to stop by the Kids Art Zone so that they, too, can have some hands-on fun on Monday, July 19 from 5-9:30pm.The fair itself is a juried street art fair which attacts talented artists who work in all media. The artist directory for this year’s fair includes representatives from every corner of the country, including 18 established local artists. The New Art New Artists program features eight “emerging artists” from the University of Michigan, Washtenaw Community College, and the Center for Creative Studies. Media presented include clay, digital, fiber, glass, jewelry, metals, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and wood. There’s virtually something for everyone!

The poster for the fair this year was designed by Featured Artist, Mark Traughber. His unique design will embellish all Street Art Fair souvenirs including t-shirts, bags and ball caps, as well as the official 2010 poster. As you walk along the avenue to view the art on display, you can pick up a tee shirt or cap, sample the offerings from local food vendors, and enjoy roaming street performers. You can make your way to Ingalls Mall Lawn to take in some of the 30+ live performances over the course of the fair or make your own art at The Art Zones. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, you can enjoy the festivities from 10am to 9pm; the party wraps up on Saturday from 10am to 6pm.

There will be two information booths located inside the Fair – one at Main & Liberty and one at State Street & South University. Look for the Official Art Fair Guide produced by the Detroit Free Press, which can be picked up at both information booths.If you are coming to the fair from outside the city, you can learn more about local attractions at the information booth as well. Wheelchairs will be provided on site by Wright & Filippis; you can call (734) 975-6800 to reserve one or get additional information.

The Original Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is just one of four nationally known fairs held annually in the area. If you love art or just the friendly feel of art fairs, why not considering moving closer to the action? Located just a couple blocks from the fari, Martin Bouma – your Ann Arbor neighborhood expert – can meet virtually all of your Ann Arbor real estate needs. Whether you’re buying or selling a home, the Bouma Group can answer any questions you have about real estate in Ann Arbor. Interested in Washtenaw County, Saline, or a specific Ann Arbor neighborhood? Call the Bouma Group today! And don’t forget to check out our Condo Hotline – we’ve got a handle on the Ann Arbor condominium market.

Ann Arbor Recycling Made Easy with Single Stream Program

annarborrealestateexpert — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:16:08 +0000

We’ve mentioned many aspects of green living in Ann Arbor, and it’s important to note that an environmentally conscious lifestyle always begins at home. When you think about recycling, what comes to mind? For many people recycling seems like a daunting prospect; maintaining different bins for glass, plastic, metal, and paper, lugging bins to the end of the driveway, and spending time separating recyclable waste can feel like an overwhelming task!

Beginning yesterday, Ann Arbor residents now have an easy solution. Thanks to a commitment by the city to single stream recycling, and a partnership with RecycleBank, homeowners can put all their recyclable materials in one convenient wheeled recycling cart. As an additional incentive, RecycleBank provides vouchers and coupons to residents based on the amount each household recycles. The new carts will have radio-frequency identification (RFID) cards to electronically track how much households are recycling and award points accordingly. The vouchers and coupons can be used at certain businesses, or donated to charities. The RecycleBank program will begin on September 1.

The combination of the single-stream program with the RecycleBank incentive program will substantially increase the city’s recycling rate, while lowering solid waste costs. The city is spending $3.25 million to upgrade their Materials Recovery Facility and $1.4 million for the new recycling carts. It is anticipated that the program savings will pay back this investment in less than six years.

Ready to get started right now? You can use begin single-stream recycling today by using your old stackable bins. Glass, paper, metal, plastic bottles and plastic tubs can all be placed together in your bins, then later in the carts provided by the city. Carts are scheduled to be delivered over the next six to eight week, beginning July 9. What could be more convenient? Just remember items that will not be accepted: polystyrene (Styrofoam®), PVC plastics, plastic bags, ceramics, porcelain, batteries, used motor oil, and oil filters can’t be placed in the new carts.

Some Ann Arbor complexes make the process even easier. The Georgetown Commons Condominiums, for example, includes recycling pick up as part of their resident association fee. If this sounds like your kind of place, Martin Bouma – your Ann Arbor neighborhood expert – can show you units that are currently for sale and meet virtually all of your Ann Arbor real estate needs. Our Condo Hotline includes Georgetown Commons and many others in the Ann Arbor condominium market. If you’re buying or selling a home or condo, The Bouma Group can answer any questions you have about real estate in Ann Arbor. Interested in Washtenaw County, Saline, or a specific Ann Arbor neighborhood? Call the Bouma Group today!

Ann Arbor Lights Up to Celebrate July 4th

annarborrealestateexpert — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 23:15:44 +0000

While it’s always easy to find fun weekend activities in Ann Arbor, the long holiday celebration of America’s independence promises to be cram-packed with excitement. There are loads of events planned throughout the weekend and, even if you’re not a “fireworks person,” you can make plans now to get out of the house and enjoy the beautiful summer weather. Our community is offering up as much excitement or relaxation as you can handle!

Things kick off on Saturday morning at 10:30am. Take the kids to downtown Ypsilanti, where they can actually participate in the annual Independence Day Parade. Bring along a decorated bike, wagon, or tricycle and lead the library’s bookmobile (the Navigator) in the parade.

Don’t forget the Farmer’s Market in the Kerrytown District, which has been going strong for 91 years. From 7am to 3pm, you can enjoy locally grown food, plants, handcrafts and prepared food items. If you want some fresh corn for dinner or some strawberries to make your famous Fourth of July-themed cake, come on down!

Saturday evening, you’ll want to enjoy the sounds of Big Pinky and the Joint Effort Band from 7-11pm at Hudson Mills Metropark near Dexter. Plan to arrive early; the band will break for the fireworks display at 10pm.

On Sunday morning, lace up your running shoes and head downtown for the Firecracker 5K to get your internal engines revved up for celebration. This family-friendly event begins at 8am, followed by the 100-meter Kids Dash at 9:30am. Whether you participate, or just cheer from the sidelines, stay for the 20th Annual Ann Arbor Jaycees Fourth of July Parade from 11am-1pm.

At 5pm or 8pm, head over to the Power Center to enjoy a tasteful blend of musical and political comedy with Capitol Steps. Billing themselves as “the only group in America that attempts to be funnier than the politicians,” the Capitol Steps is a troupe of current and former Congressional staffers who satirize the very people and places that once employed them. Come on out for an Ann Arbor Summer Festival Fourth of July tradition.

However you choose to enjoy the long holiday weekend, you can plan to enjoy freedom from renting by checking out some great homes or condo currently on the Ann Arbor real estate market. If you’re thinking of relocating to Washtenaw County, Martin Bouma – your Ann Arbor real estate expert – can help you just the right place to declare your own residential independence.

Eat Your Way Around the World in Ann Arbor

annarborrealestateexpert — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:41:08 +0000

In a city like Ann Arbor, with restaurants to satisfy any palate, it is easy to fall into the pattern of frequenting a few favorites while ignoring the rest. Willing to move from your culinary comfort zone? This week, June 20-25, the Main Street Area Association is holding its semi-annual restaurant week, enticing you to sample international cuisine from 33 local restaurants. For a flat rate of $25 for dinner and $12 for lunch, you can literally eat your way around the world this week. The flat rate excludes beverages, tax, and tip, of course; you can order off the menus at any restaurant as well. Some places are offering 2 for 1 deals.

Hard to decide where to start? The 33 participating restaurants include all of the 2010 Taste of Ann Arbor Award winners, so you might want to start by sampling these winners:

BEST OF SHOW: The Black Pearl for their incredible fish tacos…

BEST ENTRÉE: Once again, The Black Pearl for the fish tacos…

BEST APPETIZER: Real Seafood Company for their shrimp and scallop skewer lightly dressed with pineapple and apricot salsa…

BEST DESSERT: Conor O’Neill’s Traditional Irish Pub for their homemade rich and delicious bread pudding…

WEMU TASTER’S CHOICE: Cafe Felix for their melt-in-your mouth mini crab cakes…

If you’re in the mood for a burger, you can enjoy a good one at the Blue Tractor, but remember, Restaurant Week is about diversity. You can enjoy a stay-cation and feel like you have traveled the world.

Do you want to move to a city where there is always a lot happening? Martin Bouma – your Ann Arbor neighborhood expert – can meet virtually all of your Ann Arbor real estate needs. Located just a couple blocks from where Restaurant Week is happening, the Bouma Group can answer any questions you have about real estate in Ann Arbor and show you the finest in downtown – or suburban – living. Whether you’re buying or selling a home, Interested in Washtenaw County, Saline, or a specific Ann Arbor neighborhood, call the Bouma Group today! And don’t forget to check out our Condo Hotline – we’ve got a handle on the Ann Arbor condominium market.

The Earle – award-winning French and Italian country cuisine.
Mahek Indian Cuisine – well seasoned vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian delights. Want to compare this food to other Indian restaurants? Try Shalimar, specializing in North Indian, Tandoori, and Mughlai dishes, or Mercy’s, which offers Burmese fare.
Melange – Eurasian eclectic cuisine served in a casually sophisticated atmosphere that makes it one of the Top Bars in the country in 2008, according to the Editors of Nightclub & Bar Magazine.
The Prickly Pear – southwest and Mexican delights, including their sought-after scallops and buffalo enchiladas. Bandito’s California Style and Sabor Latino offer popular Mexican cuisine too.
Café Habana – award-winning Cuban food. No joke, this restaurant has been winning awards and winning customers since it opened in 2007.
The Chop House – if elegant American cuisine is what you seek, the Chop House excels.
Logan – also features New American cuisine influenced by French. Latin American, European, and Asian cultures and exquisitely executed by Chef Thad Gillies. One of my favorites, Logan has a SoHo feel to it.
Looking for a new hangout? The Arbor Brewing Company or Vinology welcome you with locally brewed beer or a wide selection of wine – and invite you to come back frequently.

The choices abound, with Greek, Italian, Ethiopian, Japanese, Thai, and more rounding out the June 2010 Restaurant Week list. There are many more great restaurants in the city, such as another favorite of mine, the elegant and sophisticated West End Grill, but Restaurant Week will introduce you to a few of them – and perhaps re-introduce you to exciting downtown Ann Arbor.

Ann Arbor Struts Its Cultural Stuff

annarborrealestateexpert — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:58:16 +0000

Summer is the time when Ann Arbor really struts its stuff. Beginning with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, June 18 – July 11, downtown Ann Arbor is particularly welcoming to visitors as the area plays host to over 100 events. This festival centers on music, while the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, which start next month, shift the emphasis to art.

Originally a showcase for classical music and theater, the Summer Festival now features a mix of all styles, from jazz to disco, rock to ethnic genres, plus other family entertainment. Held in the area between Thayer, North University, and Fletcher streets, the festival includes an exciting mix of music, movies, dance, food, and hands-on activities for all. There will be paid-admission indoor performances at Power Center and Hill Auditorium and free outdoor concerts on Ingalls Mall.

This year is the 27^th year for the festival which strives “to present a world-class celebration of arts and entertainment that enriches the cultural, economic, and social vitality of the region.” To this end, the festival appeals to the diverse population of the city and even has theme nights to stress different cultures.

“The Ann Arbor Summer Festival offers an energetic mix of regional, national, and international artists of all disciplines,” according to Executive Director of the Festival Robb Woulfe. He encourages visitors to “Catch a great band, a movie al fresco, dancing in the street, skateboarders flying through the air, fringe performances, fantastic indoor concerts, and a variety of family attractions.”

To experience the flavor of the Ann Arbor cultural scene, plan on being a frequent attendee at the Summer Festival going on now through July 11. Like the area so much you want to settle here? Martin Bouma – your Ann Arbor neighborhood expert – can meet virtually all of your Ann Arbor real estate needs. Whether you’re buying or selling a home, the Bouma Group can answer any questions you have about real estate in Ann Arbor. Interested in Washtenaw County, Saline, or a specific Ann Arbor neighborhood? Call the Bouma Group today! And don’t forget to check out our Condo Hotline – we’ve got a handle on the Ann Arbor condominium market.

P.S. – Events for this weekend represent the full schedule of events:
June 18 — First Friday (Opening Night)

5 p.m.               Kidzone
5 p.m.               Body Masterpiece Extreme Face Painters
5 p.m.               Tokyo Sexwhale
7 p.m.               Mucca Pazza
8:45 p.m.          My Dear Disco
10:30 p.m.        After Dark with DJ Body Rock

June 19 – Salsa Saturday

5 p.m.               Kidzone
5 p.m.               Body Masterpiece Extreme Face Painters
5 p.m.               ReTreat featuring: Rope Yoga (mind/body sessions on the lawn)
5 p.m.               Grassrootz Teen Stage featuring Community High School
6:30 p.m.          Saoco
8 p.m.               “Come Together,” 50 years of The Beatles
8:30 p.m.          Orquesta Sensacional
10:30 p.m.        After Dark with DJ Nick Ayers

June 20

4 p.m.               Acoustic Café Live
5 p.m.               Kidzone
5 p.m.               Body Masterpiece Extreme Face Painters
5 p.m.               Tsars
6:30 p.m.         Jill Jack Band
8:00 p.m.          JJ Grey & Mofro
10 p.m.              ”Star Trek”

Eating Healthy and Well in Ann Arbor

annarborrealestateexpert — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:07:49 +0000

Ann Arbor is a great city for fitness and health. There are many opportunities for walkers and cyclists to work exercise into their daily lives, but nothing completes the picture of healthy living better than fresh foods, grown locally, on your table. Even though modern food processing methods assure us that food will taste almost-fresh picked, there’s nothing like fruits and vegetables right from the vine. That’s why lots of Ann Arbor residents grow a few tomatoes or zucchini for their families, but unless you have lots of land or lots of time, you cannot supply all the fresh produce your family needs, much less your requirements for dairy and meat.

Fortunately, for Ann Arbor residents, the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market is nearby at 315 Detroit St. in Kerrytown. In business for over 90 years, the market is open Saturdays year-round. From May through December, it also serves customers on Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Needless to say, the offerings change with the seasons. Currently, you can find flowers, hosta, herbs, horseradish, spinach, green onions, rhubarb, asparagus, eggs, duck eggs, jam, bread, pastries, and meat at the market. As the summer progresses, the selection of fruits and vegetables will increase. There is also a selection of coffee, honey, crafts, jewelry, art, and apparel.

Managed by the City of Ann Arbor, the Farmer’s Market is adjacent to Kerrytown just north of downtown and west of the Old Fourth Ward, near other shopping in commercial districts on North Fourth Avenue, North Main Street, and Braun Court. Though parking is available, the City actually encourages shoppers to come visit the market on foot or on a bicycle, preferably equipped with a shopping cart or recyclable bags. There is other shopping in the area, so you can fill up your cart with everything you need.

By patronizing the market, you will provide excellent, healthy food to your family while you promote the local sources of sustainably grown food. Unlike a chain grocery store, you can talk with the farmer who grew the products. If you are concerned about whether the food was grown organically or without pesticides, you can ask about his or her growing practices. Your support for the 150 vendors at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market will keep the market alive and prospering, both as your personal grocery store and as a social center.

Wherever you settle in Ann Arbor, there is a market nearby. Aside from the Kerrytown market, the Ann Arbor area is served by farmer’s markets in Saline, Chelsea, Manchester, Ypsilanti, and Howell. Do you want to buy a home in a neighborhood near the Kerrytown market or one of the others? Martin Bouma is your Ann Arbor neighborhood expert. Whether you are buying or selling your home, the Bouma Group can help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor, as well as keep you up to date about Washtenaw County and Ann Arbor neighborhoods. Check out our Condo Hotline to get a handle on the Ann Arbor condo market.