Long time, no newsletter. January got a little… January-ish and the world’s been pretty sad and scary lately. BUT I’m back in your inbox with fresh local finds & some fun things that might help you get out of the house!

📍 322 S. Main St.
🕐 11am–10pm daily | Late-night menu Fri & Sat

Downtown Ann Arbor has a new late-night Thai option. Eat Thai opened on South Main with a menu curated specifically for Ann Arbor tastes — plus they’re open until 4am on Fridays & Saturdays for the youngins who still stay up that late 👀

They’re currently in a soft opening phase and planning a full launch once their liquor license is approved, with hopes of becoming a staple in Ann Arbor’s nighttime food scene.

📍 404 W. Huron St.
🕐 Thurs–Mon, 8am–3pm

Espy Cafe is officially open on West Huron — and this one has a pretty cool story. Built almost entirely by hand by friends, Espy is a worker-owned, democratically run café focused on community, thoughtful food, and globally sourced coffee.

The menu goes beyond pastries, with a full kitchen offering things like sourdough pancakes and white bean soup. Community dinners and expanded hours are planned for the future.

Looking for things to do in Ann Arbor, Dexter, Ypsi & beyond this weekend?

Friday, Feb 6 | 6–9pm | Robin Hills Farm
Line dancing lessons, sunset views, and a bar onsite. Beginner-friendly, boots encouraged, pay at the door.

Saturday, Feb 7 | Independence Lake County Park
Fish on ice, win prizes, eat lunch, repeat. Adult + kids divisions — don’t forget your fishing license.

Saturday, Feb 7 | Downtown Ann Arbor
Grab your friends, shop small, collect passport stickers, and enter to win a giant gift basket.

Saturday, Feb 7 | 12:15pm | Buhr Park Outdoor Rink
Beer-league hockey for a good cause. Come skate, spectate, or just show up for the post-game hang.

Saturday, Feb 7 | Downtown Chelsea
Chocolate demos, cocoa crawl mugs, vendors, giveaways — basically a town-wide dessert tour.

Saturday, Feb 7 | 9am–9pm
Ice cream for breakfast, anyone? $8 gets you four scoops in your own clean wide-mouth tumbler (48 oz or less) at Washtenaw Dairy.

Saturday, Feb 7 | 1–5pm | Westgate Shopping Center
Make valentines, spin the prize wheel, and enjoy all the sweet treats.

Sunday, Feb 8 | 10am–5pm | Downtown Library
Knitting, weaving, macramé, demos, vendors, and hands-on fiber fun.

Sunday, Feb 8 | Ann Arbor
A feel-good brunch supporting The Mamas Network. Come hungry + support a great non-profit!

(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, February 5th
Alex Wand & Michael Gould @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Bob Seger Tribute Concert @ Encore Musical Theatre Co. (Dexter) @ 7pm ($)
McLaughlin's Alley@ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Ron Brooks Quintet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club, Sets 7pm & 8:30pm ($)
The Social District @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 7-10pm ($)
Telegraph Quartet – From the Heart @ Kerrytown Concert House @ 7:30pm ($)
Desmond Jones & Mark Lavengood @ The Blind Pig, doors at 8pm ($20)
Ye Vagabonds @ The Ark at 8pm ($29)
Nobody’s Business @ Mash (Ann Arbor) from 9pm-1am (no cover)

Friday, February 6th:
Mary Ann Kirt @ Ypsi Alehouse at 4:30pm (no cover)
organissimo @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 5pm ($)
My Salamander @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Bob Seger Tribute Concert @ Encore Musical Theatre Co. (Dexter) @ 7pm ($)
Steve Somers and Friends @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Pontiac Trail Blazers ft. Grant Flick @ North Star Lounge from 7-10pm ($) 
Tariq Gardner & Evening Star @ Blue Llama Jazz Club, Sets 7pm & 9pm ($)
Laith Al-Saadi @ The Rumpus Room (Chelsea) at 7:30pm ($20)
Wynton Marsalis’s “The Jungle” @ U-M Hill Auditorium at 7:30pm ($)
DJ Cuvee @ Mash (Ypsi) at 8pm (no cover)
Mild Pulp w/ Nellie Bly, TV Blackout, Mind Riot @ The Blind Pig, doors at 8pm ($15)
Ronnie Baker Brooks @ The Ark at 8pm ($35)
Salmagundi @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 8-11pm ($) 
Tiffany Gridiron & The Habitat Jazz Collective @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)

Saturday, February 7th:
The Acoustic Alchemists @ Ypsi Alehouse at 4:30pm (no cover)
Warren & Flick @ North Star Lounge from 6:00-7:15pm
Olivia Van Goor Quartet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club, Sets 7pm & 9pm ($)
Bob Seger Tribute Concert @ Encore Musical Theatre Co. (Dexter) @ 7pm ($)
Sansabelt @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Freeze Fest VII @ The Blind Pig, doors at 7pm ($20)
Mustard’s Retreat @ The Ark at 7:30pm ($29)
Jay Fry @ Mash (Ypsi) at 8pm (no cover)
Switchbacks @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 8-11pm ($)
Ani Mari, Corazon Szell, Maddy Ringo @ North Star Lounge from 8:30-10pm ($)
The Habitat Jazz Collective @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)
Cetan Clawson @ Mash (Ann Arbor) from 10pm-2am (no cover)

Sunday, February 8th:
Nicola Benedetti & Friends @ U-M Rackham Auditorium at 2pm ($)
Bob Seger Tribute Concert @ Encore Musical Theatre Co. (Dexter) @ 2pm ($)
Steve Somers and Friends @ Ypsi Alehouse at 2pm (no cover) 
Stout Hearted String Band @ Erratic Ale (Dexter) from 3-5pm (no cover)
An Evening with Bob Mervak @ Blue Llama Jazz Club, Sets 6pm & 7:30pm ($)
Sunday Jazz @ The Ravens Club from 7-10pm (no cover)

Monday, February 9th:
Paul Keller Orchestra @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 7-10pm ($)

Wednesday, February 11th
Deveaux Gauger @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Great Lakes Brass @ Blue Llama Jazz Club, Sets 7pm & 8:30pm ($) 
Dog Latin @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Dave Simonett @ The Ark at 8pm ($35)
Summer Salt w/ Boyscott, Wabie @ The Blind Pig, doors at 7pm ($35)

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! 

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 🙂