Hi neighbors!

Hope all of you have stayed safe on these slippery roads. Lots of fun holiday festivities happening again this weekend.

And, ICYMI, Pretzel Bell has transformed its basement bar into a scene from one of my personal favorite holiday movies: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — and it looks magical. 

📰  What’s Happening?

🌟 Dexter Light Parade | Saturday, Dec 14th
A parade of lights and festively decorated floats make their way through downtown Dexter starting at 6pm

🎄 Ypsi Holifest | Saturday, Dec 14th
Held the first 3 Saturdays of December, this event in downtown Ypsi will bring carolers, Santa visits to storefronts, gift-wrapping stations and holiday music

🌙 Moonlight Madness (Milan) | Saturday, Dec 14th
A night of late night holiday shopping with special deals, vendors, music & more

⛸️ Holiday On Ice (Chelsea) | Saturday, Dec 14th
Get tickets to see the Chelsea Figure Skating club perform to all your favorite holiday songs

🏃🏻‍♀️ Jolly Jog 5k Fun Run/Walk | Saturday, Dec 14th
A free, festive & untimed 5k at Fleet Feet in downtown Ann Arbor - donations will also be collected for the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

♻️ Neighborhood Swap Day | Saturday, Dec 14th
Have clothing or household items you no longer need, but want them to find a good home? Join the swap to get items you may need or give away those you don’t

❄️ Christmas in the Village (Dexter) | Saturday, Dec 14th
The Historic Webster Village will be decked out with holiday decor & festivities for everyone to enjoy

🎅🏼 Brunch with Santa
Enjoy brunch with a visit from Santa at Venue 4M in Ann Arbor on Saturday or in Dexter on Sunday at the American Legion from 9am-12pm

Holiday Markets: 
🌟 Holiday Makers Market at Ziggy’s & Bloodroot Herb Shop in Ypsi (Saturday)
🌟 Motawi Winter Market at Motawi Tileworks (Saturday)
🌟 Mini Art-Fair, Holiday Sale & Music Show at Dreamland Theater (Saturday)
🌟 Fairly Odd Finds Mini Market at Homes Campus (Sunday)
🌟 Christkindlmarkt at St Thomas Church in Ann Arbor (Sunday)

🎵  Live Music Lineup

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

Thursday, December 12th:
The Davis Triplets @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Keaton Royer and Josef Deas @ Weber’s from 6-9pm (no cover)
Marsha Gayle @ Erratic Ale (Dexter) at 6:30pm-8:30 (no cover) 
Jake Reichbart @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover)
Robert Hurst Trio ft. Orrin Evans & Jeff “Tain” Watts @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 7-8pm & 9:30-10:30pm ($)
Fallout Shelter show @ 734 Brewing Co (Ypsi) from 7:30pm-midnight ($5 suggested donation)
Ypsilanti Community Choir Holiday Concert @ Washtenaw Community College from 7:30-9:30pm (free)
Ebird & Friends Holiday Show @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
Root Station @ Mash (Ann Arbor) @ 8pm (no cover)
Brian Plasticity Ukulele Collective @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 8-11pm ($)
Lyloc w/ Petalwave, Faceless @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($)
Birder, Soccer, Blind Liars, Riot Course @ Ziggy’s at 8pm ($)
House Music For All @ Elks Lodge AA from 8pm-midnight ($5 cover)
The Pherotones @ Last Word from 9pm-midnight (no cover)

Friday, December 13th:
Dave Keeney & Sophia Hanifi @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Songwriters in the Round @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Pontiac Trail Blazers ft. Ryan Michaud @ North Star Lounge from 7-10pm ($) 
Marcus Elliot Quintet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 7-8pm & 9:30-10:30pm ($)
Christmas by Candlelight with R MacKenzie Lewis & Friends @ Kerrytown Concert House at 7:30pm ($)
Washtenaw Community College Band Holiday Concert @ Washtenaw Community College from 7:30-9pm (free)
Steve Pichan and Mike Ward @ Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room from 7:30-9:30pm (free)
Chirp w/ Act Casual, Candid Antics @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($)
Ebird & Friends Holiday Show @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
MusicMix Rick Hicks @ 734 Brewing (Ypsi) from 8pm-midnight (no cover)
Hot Wired @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 8-11pm ($) 
Sara Tea, Dollie Rot, Soft Mesh @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) at 8pm ($)
Erik Ryden & Beanstalk @ Mash (Ypsi) at 8pm (no cover)
Rob Crozier Ensemble @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)
JP & The Energy @ Mash (Ann Arbor) @ 10pm (no cover)
ThrillKill and Danny Fantom @ Alley Bar from 10pm-2am (no cover) 

Saturday, December 14th:
Ebird & Friends Holiday Show @ The Ark at 2pm ($)
Poor Player @ Ypsi Alehouse at 4:30pm (no cover)
Head Full Of Ghosts @ North Star Lounge from 6:30-7:45pm ($)
Aguanko Holiday Show @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 6:30-7:30pm and 9-10pm ($)
KayLyn Pace @ Revel Run (Chelsea) from 7-9pm (no cover)
Ronald Shelton @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover) 
Robert Warren and others @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover)
734 Saturday Hosted by Northern Threat Entertainment @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) at 8pm ($) 
Ebird & Friends Holiday Show @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
The Machine @ Mash (Ypsi) at 8pm (no cover)
Deadicated Shakedown Saturday @ The Rumpus Room (Chelsea) from 8-11:30pm ($)
Joe Hertler (DJ Set) @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($20)
Michelle Held @ North Star Lounge from 9-10:15pm ($)
Rob Crozier Ensemble @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)
Off the Ledge @ Mash (Ann Arbor) at 10pm (no cover)
Jordan Rattner Trio @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 10:30-close ($)

Sunday, December 15th:
William Bennett @ 4M Venue from 11am-2pm (included with brunch) 
Ann Arbor/Ypsi Acoustic Jam @ Ypsi Alehouse at 2pm (no cover) 
Ellen Rowe’s All About the Trio: Jazz Holiday Extravaganza @ Kerrytown Concert House at 2pm ($)
Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra - "Up Close & Personal" @ Lincoln High School & Middle School (Ypsi) at 3:30pm ($)
Ann Arbor Concert Band Holiday Concert @ Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at 4pm ($10)
Vocal Arts Ensemble of Ann Arbor: C'est la VAE - A French Christmas @ The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor at 5pm ($)
Stella Cole @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 6-7pm & 8:30-9:30pm($)

Monday, December 16th:
Keaton Royer and Josef Deas @ Weber’s from  6-9pm (no cover)
Paul Keller Orchestra @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 7-10pm ($)

Tuesday, December 17th:
Easy Street Jazz Band @ Zal Gaz Grotto Club from 5-7pm ($) 
Community High Jazz @ The Ark / at 6pm & 8pm ($5)
Keaton Royer and Josef Deas @ Weber’s from  6-9pm (no cover)
Kalkaska String Quartet - Candlelight: 90s Unplugged on Strings @ Frutig Farms from 6:30-7:45pm ($36)
Jake Reichbart @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover) 
Bastard Ideals @ Ziggy’s at 8pm ($)
Kalkaska String Quartet - Candlelight: Rings and Dragons @ Frutig Farms from 8:45-10pm ($36)

Wednesday, December 18th: 
Ron Leary @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Keaton Royer and Josef Deas @ Weber’s from  6-9pm (no cover)
Kalkaska String Quartet - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings @ Frutig Farms from 6:30-7:45pm ($36)
Erin Zindle @ The Grateful Crow (Chelsea) from 7-9pm (no cover)
Tumbao Bravo @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 7-8pm & 8:45-9:45pm ($) 
Jake Reichbart @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover) 
Deep Steam @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Akio Jeimus + Julian Urrego duo @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) @ 8pm ($)
The Telephone Poles w/ Mercury Switch, Violet Daybed @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($)

And if you haven’t already… make sure you follow me on Instagram to get more updates & ideas of things to do and see in the area! 

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💙 THANK YOU!

Thanks for reading the AA Insider this week!

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