Hi friends!

Of course it’s too early for the warm(ish) weather and sunshine to last, but it’s a glorious feeling after so many gray days. I hope you get a chance to enjoy these fleeting springtime temps before they’re gone! ☀️

There’s a whole lot of Valentine’s/Galentine’s related events going on this next week. And whether you care about this holiday or not, it’s always a good time to treat yourself to some chocolate!

And in case you missed it (or you’re new here!)… I recently created an Ann Arbor Insiders Facebook Group to create a space for people to get more connected and share other events that may not be covered here. Join us!

With that said, let’s jump right into what’s happening this next week…

❤️  Valentine’s Day Related Happenings

• Downtown AA Galentine’s Day Small Business Crawl | February 10th

  • Explore downtown and check out all the small businesses that are participating with special discounts, activities & more

  • Grab a “passport” from any participating business and collect stickers for a chance to win a local giveaway (hours vary by business)
    

• Downtown Dexter Galentine’s Night Celebration | February 13th

  • Open to everyone from 5-7pm with 12 businesses participating

  • Explore some of downtown Dexter’s amazing local shops & get something special from each participating business (light bites/refreshments, special discounts, small gifts, etc.)
    

• Downtown Chelsea Chocolate Extravaganza | February 10th

  • Calling all chocolate lovers! More than 30 businesses throughout Chelsea are participating to offer free chocolate tastings, chocolate-making demos, special sales, drawings, and family-oriented activities
    

• Love Is In The Air Craft Show | February 10th

  • Craft show hosted by Fishville Farms with 50+ booths to shop, food trucks, kids’ activities & crafts, and more

  • Support the diaper drive to collect diapers & baby supplies for babies in foster care

  • Free admission & located at the Chelsea Fairgrounds from 10am-4pm
    

• Make Valentine’s Day Cards at Kerrytown Market | February 11th

  • Make some free Valentine’s Day Cards at Kerrytown Market

  • Open to all ages from 11am-1pm
    

• Valentine’s Day Celebration at Briarwood Mall | February 10th

  • Free & open to all from 12-4pm

  • Valentine’s Day Crafts and selfie station in Center Court plus live music performances from various local artists from 1-5pm in front of JCPenney

💃  More Fun Events

🎵  Live Music Lineup

(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 8th:
Artie Shaw Tribute Show with Chris Tabaczynski @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 6:30pm ($)
Josef Deas and Keaton Royer @ Weber’s from 6-9pm (no cover)
Jake Reichbart @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover)
Mardi Gras Celebration by Alex Belhaj’s City Quartet @ Conor O’Neill’s at 7pm ($)
King-Lymnan-Cheng Trio @ Kerrytown Concert House from 7:30-9:30pm ($) 
David Menzo Band @ Mash Bar (AA) at 8pm (no cover)
Dan Bern @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
Drum Circle with Maruga Booker @ Oz Music at 8pm (donations accepted)
Eric Moore @ Erratic Ale (Dexter) at 6:30pm (no cover)
Nite Bjuti @ Keene Theater at 7pm (free) 
Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers with Au Gres @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($)
The Pherotones @ Last Word at 9:30pm (no cover)
Cirque Du Ypsi Spin Jam @ Unity Vibration’s Triple Goddess Tasting Room from 6-10pm (no cover)
Tinnitrick, Ekanti and DJ Tribewalker @ 734 Brewing Co (Ypsi) from 7:30pm-midnight (no cover)
House Music For All with DJ Batz, DJ Steph_Who? And Mira @ Elks Lodge from 8pm-midnight ($5)
Dr. Pete Larson @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) at 8pm (no cover)
DCaf and Friends @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)

Friday, February 9th:
Adam Snyder @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Sarah D’Angelo Quintet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 6pm ($)
Al Jacquez Band @ LIVE Ann Arbor at 6:30pm (no cover)
Listeso String Quartet @ First Presbyterian Church of AA at 6:30 & 8:45pm ($) 
Pontiac Trail Blazers w/ Dylan Charles @ North Star Lounge from 7-10pm ($10)
Rick Burgess Trio @ The Earle from 7-10pm (no cover) 
Third Coast Swing @ Kerrytown Concert House from 7:30-9:30pm ($) 
Ellis Paul @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
Schmaltz, Act Casual, Plant Life, Me+Mad @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($) 
Rock Jones @ Zal Gaz Grotto Club at 8pm ($)
Johnathon Cryane @ Unity Vibration’s Triple Goddess Tasting Room from 8-10pm (no cover)
Wyatt Forhan Unity Quartet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 8:30pm ($)
I are Citizen, Death Cat, Hounds of Montgomery @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) at 9pm ($)
Beanstalk Live @ Mash Bar 8pm-12am (Ypsi) (no cover)
Andrew Brown, Katie Smith & Rob Crozier @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)
Wilson & Brenner Co @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm & The Vicissitones at 9:30pm (no cover)
Latin Night with Live DJ @ Club Above from 9:30pm-2am ($)
Vernon David Trio @ Mash Bar (AA) at 10pm (no cover)

Saturday, February 10th:
Djangophonique @ Sava’s “Jazzy Brunch” from 11am-2pm (no cover)
Lost Dog Choir @ Ypsi Alehouse at 4:30pm (no cover)
James Bourland @ North Star Lounge from 6:30-7:45pm ($)
Djangophonique @ Venue 4M at 7pm (no cover) 
Rick Burgess Trio @ The Earle from 7-10pm (no cover) 
Kxllswxtch with Kamiyada+ and Fat Nick @ The Blind Pig at 7pm ($)
Nkeiru Okoye @ Hill Auditorium at 7:30pm ($) 
Sons of Mystro @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
Switchback @ Zal Gaz Grotto Club at 8pm ($)
Deadicated @ The Rumpus Room (Chelsea) from 8-11pm ($)
734 Saturday hosted by Northern Threat Entertainment @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) at 8pm ($)
Kimmie Horne Quartet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 6pm & 8:30pm ($)
Schmaltz @ North Star Lounge from 9-10:15pm ($)
Mike May & The Messarounds at Mash Bar (AA) at 10pm (no cover)
Pollux Quartet ft. Rockelle Whitaker @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 10:30pm ($)
She-Bop @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Andrew Brown, Katie Smith & Rob Crozier @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)
Ma Baker @ Mash Bar (Ypsi) at 9:30pm (no cover)
Pride Night with Live DJ @ Club Above from 9:30pm-2am ($)

Sunday, February 11th:
Steve Somers and Friends @ Ypsi Alehouse at 2pm (no cover)
George Gershwin Centennial Celebration Concert @ The Michigan Theater at 4pm (free, but must reserve ticket) 
Michigan Chamber Players Recital @ Britton Recital Hall at 4pm (free) 
Jesse Kramer Trio @ The Ravens Club at 7pm (no cover)

Monday, February 12th:
Paul Keller Orchestra @ Zal Gaz Grotto Club at 7pm ($)

Tuesday, February 13th:
Quick Trio @ Ziggys (Ypsi) at 8pm (no cover)
Easy Street Band @ Zal Gaz Grotto Club at 8pm ($)
Sara Lambert & Friends @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Jake Reichbart @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover)

Wednesday, February 14th:
Sarah Price’s V-Day Quartet @ North Star Lounge from 6:30-9:45pm ($) 
Mike & Cheryl @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Jake Reichbart @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover)
My Folky Valentine Show @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
Barrs of Steel @ Ziggy’s at 8pm ($5 suggested donation)
Loudpunkbad, Theatre Girl, Psycho Death Punk @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($)
V-Day Cabaret @ Kerrytown Concert House at 8:30pm ($)
V-Day Dinner & Show ft. Sean Dobbins Quintet with Isis Damil @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 6pm & 8:30pm ($)

👋🏻 Who Am I?

💙 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!