This week’s lineup includes everything from drag bingo and cat competitions to Mother’s Day hikes, plant sales, local markets, and a full-on 90’s slumber party-themed ladies night in Saline. Plus a few restaurant and coffee shop updates around Ann Arbor and Dexter worth knowing about.

Let’s get into it!

Another local favorite has quietly closed its doors. Blue Whale Cafe announced it has permanently shut down after being unable to absorb increased rent costs from a new landlord.

Juicy Kitchen fans, the wait is almost over! This beloved breakfast and lunch spot shared that they’re hoping to reopen sometime in June after being closed for months following a fire. No official reopening date yet, but I’ll be first in line for a breakfast burrito when they do (seriously though - their breakfast burritos are BOMB.)

A small new sushi spot has opened in Dexter. Little Tokyo recently opened next to Busch’s in the former Sushi Time space, serving sushi rolls, hibachi, ramen, bento boxes, and more.

After building a loyal following during its residency inside Bløm Mead + Cider, Curious Coffee is opening its own café in the former Mighty Good Coffee space on N. Main - official opening date to be announced!

Bora Bora Smoothie is planning to open in the former Ten Thousand Villages storefront after the longtime gift shop closed earlier this year. The new concept will feature smoothies, acai bowls, sandwiches, coffee, and other grab-and-go options downtown.

Looking for things to do in Ann Arbor, Dexter or Ypsilanti this weekend? Here’s your local event roundup.

Downtown Saline is going full butterfly clips and pajama-core for this year’s Ladies’ Night Out. Expect shopping, friendship bracelets, temporary tattoos, raffles, and enough nostalgia to make you want to dust off your Limited Too catalog.

Bløm Meadworks is celebrating eight years with rhubarb mead releases, drag bingo/shows, artist markets, tamales, ice cream pop-ups, cocktails, and basically an all-day excuse to hang out there from noon to 10pm.

Tons of cats. Multiple judging rings. Tiny cat competitions happening simultaneously. Honestly, I don’t fully understand how cat shows work, but if you’ve ever looked at your cat and thought “you could go pro,” this may be your Super Bowl. Runs 9am–3pm at WCC.

Tea, treats, indoor play, and a mini Mother’s Day photo session with your little one. Sessions run Saturday morning with open play included.

A very wholesome Mother’s Day option at Leslie Science & Nature Center featuring a wildflower hike, box turtles, tea, cookies, and learning how to identify plants like a pro.

More than 40 Ypsilanti makers, artists, food vendors, and small businesses will take over the Freighthouse for this free community market from 10am–4pm. Good spot to grab gifts and pretend you were “just browsing.”

This Mother’s Day 5K fun run supports the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance and welcomes runners, walkers, families, and strollers alike. Registration starts at 8am at Rolling Hills County Park in Ypsilanti.

Looking for live music in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Chelsea or Dexter this week? Here’s the full lineup.

Thursday, May 7th

Bruno Deni & Christian Sese @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (free)
Travis Faber @ Erratic Ale (Dexter) from 6:30-8:30pm (no cover)
No Conflict @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Sami Calamity, Tinn Parrow and the Clapfold Platune @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) | Doors at 7pm ($)
Tribute to Billie Holiday @ Encore Theatre (Dexter) at 7pm ($)
Blou Reed @ Blue Llama Jazz Club | Sets 7pm & 8:30pm ($)
Switchbacks @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 7-10pm ($)
Casa Piano Quartet @ Kerrytown Concert House at 7:30pm ($)
Worn In w/ Lopsider, Swan Upon Leda @ The Blind Pig, Doors 8pm ($14)
Pete Seeger Birthday Concert @ The Ark at 8pm ($29)

Friday, May 8th:
Blou Reed @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Pontiac Trail Blazers ft. Jason Dennie @ North Star Lounge from 7-10pm ($) 
Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club | Sets 7pm & 9pm ($)
Human Skull, Craig Brown Band, Adam Synder @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) | Doors at 7pm ($10/PWYC)
Destroyer @ The Blind Pig, Doors at 7pm ($40)
Blue Space @ The Rumpus Room (Chelsea) at 7:30pm (free)
Xiao Dong Wei, erhu & Yuki Mack @ Kerrytown Concert House at 7:30($)
Iron & Wine w/ Improvement Movement @ Michigan Theater at 8pm ($)
Shindig Machine/Twin Deer/Frost is Rad/Team Cabin @ Ypsi Alehouse at 8pm (no cover)
The RFD Boys @ The Ark at 8pm ($16)
Ferrario @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 8-11pm ($) 
Habitat Jazz Collective @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)

Saturday, May 9th :
Justin Roberts @ The Ark at 11am ($)
Ann Arbor Concert Band @ Michigan Theater at 2pm ($)
Tony Linzmeier @ Ypsi Alehouse at 4:30pm (no cover)
Madcat & Seifert @ North Star Lounge from 6:30-7:45pm ($)
Sins ov Madness w/ Unholy Honor, Daisy Skin @ The Blind Pig, doors at 7pm ($14)
Artemis @ Blue Llama Jazz Club | Sets 7pm & 9pm ($)
The Wildflowers @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Ian Maksin @ The Ypsilanti Performance Space at 7pm ($)
Howley @ The Ark at 8pm ($29)
Tommy Cook Presents Stinking Good Comedy and Music @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) ($) 
Funk Opus @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 8-11pm ($)
Fangs & Twang @ North Star Lounge from 9-10:15pm ($)
Habitat Jazz Collective @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)

Sunday, May 10th :
Nick Masters @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 12pm ($)
Chelsea Chamber Players Spring Family Concert @ Chelsea District Library at 2pm (free)
Ellen Rowe’s Annual Mother’s Day Concert – A Celebration of Women in Jazz @ Kerrytown Concert House at 2pm ($)
Steve Somers and Friends @ Ypsi Alehouse at 2pm (no cover) 
Stout-Hearted String Band @ Erratic Ale (Dexter) from 3-5pm (no cover)
Lucía @ Blue Llama Jazz Club at 4pm ($)
Phil Ogilvie's Rhythm King @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 5-8pm ($)
James Bourland and the Staches Blues Jam @ Water Tower Distilling CO. (Ypsi) from 6-9pm (no cover)
Sunday Jazz @ The Ravens Club from 7-10pm ($)
Vance Gilbert w/ Sam Robbins @ The Ark at 7:30pm ($29)
Sex Mex, Rawhide, Sea Hag @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) at 8pm ($10)

Monday, May 11th :
Community High Jazz @ The Ark at 6pm ($)
Paul Keller Orchestra with Sara D'Angelo @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 7-10pm ($)

Tuesday, May 12th :
Easy Street Jazz Band @ Zal Gaz Grotto Club from 5-7pm ($) 
Little Image w/ McGuire Ellinger @ The Blind Pig | Doors 7pm ($25)
ReGeneration, Rainbow Varmints @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) ($)
Davina and the Vagabonds @ The Ark at 8pm ($29)

Wednesday, May 13th :
Rattner/Kramer/Lee @ Mothfire Brewing from 5-8pm (no cover)
Kat Steih & Friends @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Sound Invaders @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) ($)
Tikimen of Berlin, The Missing Cats, Skinned Knees @ The Blind Pig | Doors 8pm ($14)

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 🙂