Ann Arbor Insider

Your weekly Washtenaw county update on all the local happenings

Happy Thursday Friends!

The snow is melting and it looks like we might actually get some sunshine this weekend ☀️

My toddler seeing her snowman this AM: “Oh no! Stop it, snowman. Stop melting!”

As I continue to expand this newsletter and include new things, I’d LOVE to hear your feedback! Seriously… please reach out and let me know what you’re enjoying, what you wish I would include, or something new you checked out because of it! 

With that said, let’s jump right in…

There’s plenty going on this week throughout Washtenaw County!

📰  What’s Happening?

  • Downtown Plymouth Ice Festival | February 2nd-4th

    • Ice sculptures, tubing run, petting farm, ice bar & more

    • Main event is this weekend, but sculptures will stay up after the event for viewing weather permitting

  • Chelsea Winter Carnival | February 3rd-5th 

    • Ice fishing derby (weather permitting), Euchre tournament, live music & more

    • 📍American Legion in Chelsea

  • Base Camp Himalayan Restaurant | Grand Opening February 7th

    • New Ann Arbor restaurant opens next week & aims to provide authentic Himalayan flavors

    • 📍5060 Jackson Rd. Ann Arbor

💃  More Fun Events

1 thing to do this week that’s free: 
🍷 Try out some new wines at at Venue Market & Cafe’s free wine tasting at 5pm!

2 things to do this week with kids: 
❤️ Make Valentine’s Day Cards at the Ann Arbor District Library (downtown) on Feb 1st from 5:30-7:30pm (open to all ages | free)
📚 Check out “Kerrytales” Mother Goose Story Time at Kerrytown Market on Sunday, February 4th from 2-2:30pm (free)

1 outdoor activity to do this week: 
🐦‍⬛ Go for a birding walk at the Arb this Saturday, February 3rd from 9-11am to get some fresh air and experience nature’s beauty! Free & open to everyone, even if you know nothing about birds and simply want to get out and meet some new people! (they even have extra binoculars)

1 indoor activity to do this week:
🎨 Explore the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) and check out some of the new exhibitions on display this month!

🎵  Live Music Lowdown

(All events are in Ann Arbor/Ypsi unless otherwise noted & those marked with ($) charge a cover or require a ticket to the best of my knowledge)

Thursday, February 1st:
Date Night ft. Ellen Rowe Trio @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 6:30pm ($)
The Dartmoors, The Third Degree, The Nuts @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($)
Kruger Brothers @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
DJ Batz house music for all dance party @ Elks Lodge from 8pm-12am ($5)
Amy Grace @ Erratic Ale at 6:30pm | Dexter (free)
K Michael Joseph @ El Limon at 6:30pm (free)
U of M Faculty Showcase @ Britton Recital Hall at 7:30pm (free)
Virid and Friends with James Koo @ Oz’s Music at 8pm (free)
Nobody’s Business @ Mash Bar at 8pm (free)
The Eleventh Hour @ Ziggy’s at 8:30pm ($)
The Pherotones @ The Last Word at 9pm (free)

Friday, February 2nd:
Tony Pinnell @ Argus Farm Stop Packard from 5-7pm (free)
Djangophonique @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 5pm ($)
Rodney Whitaker Quintet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 6:30pm ($)
“Geezer” Happy Hour with Randy Tessier & Jive Colossus @ LIVE from 6:30-9pm (free)
The Regenerate! Orchestra @ Hands on Museum at 7pm ($ pay what you like at the door)
Freeze Fest V @ The Blind Pig at 7pm ($)
Model Living, Jim Cherewick, Premium Rat @ Ziggy’s at 8pm ($)
Mustard’s Retreat @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
Andrew Brown, Katie Smith & Rob Crozier @ The Habitat Lounge at 9pm (free)
DJ Batz house music for all dance party @ Lo-fi 10pm-2am (free)
The Cloudhoppers @ Mash Bar at 10pm (free)

Saturday, February 3rd:
Bob Sweet Quartet @ Ypsi District Library Superior at 2pm (free)
Eric Head @ Britton Recital Hall at 3pm (free)
Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 6pm ($)
Dave & Kristi @ North Star Lounge at 6:30pm ($)
Lee Foss with DJ Top Gun @ The Blind Pig at 7pm ($)
Appalachian Roadshow @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
Long Square, Raw Honey, DJ Agent 99, Congress @ Ziggy’s at 8pm ($)
Listeso String Quartet Candlelight Concert @ Polo Fields Golf & Country Club at 6:30pm or 8:45pm ($)
Andrew Brown, Katie Smith & Rob Crozier @ The Habitat Lounge at 9pm (free)
Killer Diller @ Ann Arbor District Library Downtown at 9pm (free)
DJ Array @ Lo-fi 10pm-2am (free)
The Corzo Effect at Mash Bar at 10pm (free)
Nick Collins Sextet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 10:30pm ($)

Sunday, February 4th:
Pearl Street String Band @ Erratic Ale at 3pm | Dexter (free)
Bil Lepp @ The Ark at 7:30pm ($)

Monday, February 5th:
Eric Johanson @ The Ark at 8pm ($)

Tuesday, February 6th:
anees @ The Blind Pig at 7pm ($)
Jazz Jam session @ Ziggy’s at 8pm ($)
Jacob Warren & Friends @ The Ark at 8pm ($)

Wednesday, February 7th:
Gwenyth Hayes Quartet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club ($)
Wild Party with Cousin Simple, Landon Conrath @ The Blind Pig at 7pm ($)
The Heard @ Ziggy’s at 7pm ($)
“Weird Wednesday” Improvisational Instrumental @ Oz’s Music at 8pm (free)
Willi Carlisle and special guest, Golden Shoals @ The Ark at 8pm ($)

And if you haven’t already… make sure you join our NEW Ann Arbor Insiders Facebook group & follow me on Instagram to get more updates & ideas of things to do and see in the area! 

👋🏻 Who Am I?

Hi! I’m Bailey Walsh. 🤗 I’m a Realtor in the area & a lover of all things local.

There are so many awesome things happening in our area every week, but I know it can be hard to keep track of it all… which is why I created this newsletter!

My hope is that it helps you explore some new places, make some new connections, and have a little more fun!

And last but not least, if you or someone you know is thinking about buying or selling in Ann Arbor (or anywhere in the surrounding areas)… I’d love to help!

💙 THANK YOU!

Thanks for reading the AA Insider this week!

I’d love to hear what you enjoyed, what events you plan to check out, or what you’d like to see more of (you can reply directly to this email anytime to get in touch with me!)

And if you enjoyed it enough to share it with someone else, that would make me super happy too 🙂 

See you next week!