How about adding a little sustainability to your happy hour? Once a month green-minded folks gather in an Ypsi pub or Ann Arbor bar to unwind with drinks and talk eco policy and business. The event is called Green Drinks and it's part of a worldwide social trend.
The Sidetrack Bar and Grill is taking on an ambitious expansion and renovation project that could make Ypsilanti's Depot Town an even more enticing stop for the restaurant and nightlife crowds. Last month, Sidetrack purchased a 6,000-square-foot building at 52 E. Cross St. from the owners of Bird Brain, which relocated elsewhere. "We were looking outside of the area because it made sense, with the economic times here, instead of doing new construction, to just buy another place..[but]we wanted to keep investing in the city of Ypsilanti," says Linda French, owner of Sidetrack. The building adjoins Sidetrack and Frenchie's http://www.sidetrackbarandgrill.com/frenchies/ at 54-56 E. Cross St. It has been completely restored and still has its wall-to-wall brick interior. French says it will house a new kitchen and bathroom facilities for Sidetrack. Moreover, Sidetrack will be moving upward into its three-story premises. The 5,000-square-foot second floor will be used for catering events and larger parties. Sidetrack will be putting the proceeds of a $15,000 rehabilitation grant from the Ypsilanti DDA towards window replacement and tuck pointing on the second and third floors. French would like to turn the third story into apartments. The projects are currently in the planning, design, and licensing phases. A completion date is unknown at this time, according to French. She plans to add 30 jobs as a result of the expansions. "We [have] one of the last remaining buildings in Depot Town that hasn't [been restored]," French says. "It's a big deal to get this corner redone." Source: Linda French, owner of Sidetrack Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
As Michigan gained dominance in the new-car market in the mid-19th century, leading architects were also designing of-the-moment housing. The decades spanning 1940-1970 spawned Modernism - a spare, clean style which abounds in Ann Arbor, where renowned architects and professors of architecture - think Eero Saarinen, George Brigham, and Alden B. Dow - designed many of the iconic Modern homes still standing today. "There was a lot happening in Ann Arbor - the college was moving from the Beaux Arts style to Modern, there was a large influx of new students after the war, more faculty, and the need to build. The faculty were doing cutting-edge research and were really open to a new and different way of living," explains Nancy Deromedi, co-founder of A2 Modern, an educational group and promoter of Ann Arbor's collection of Modern architecture. Although no firm count of Modern properties in Ann Arbor has been completed yet, A2 Modern, together with U-M's College of Architecture, has developed a walking-tour map highlighting 86 sites around the city. Many can be found in Ann Arbor Hills, Barton Hills, near Spring Street, and along E. Huron River Drive. "I think what is interesting to see is if you start in the Geddes-Arb area, you can see the changing styles of what was Modern, starting with the home George Brigham designed for two families...It is on Oswego, [made of] concrete block and has more of an International Modern feel. And then you can work your way over a few blocks to see what Alden Dow did for his sister in 1932, which is a fabulous low-ground hugging structure on Berkshire; then go a few blocks further and see an example of Bauhaus with the home William Muschenheim designed for himself on Heatherway. So, it is really a fascinating collection of ideas and influences," Deromedi says. Modern fans and the merely curious can meet at 7 p.m. on October 9 at the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor, where A2 Modern will host state historic preservation officer Brian Conway, who will be discussing Michigan's role in the Modern movement. To obtain walking tour maps and for more information on upcoming programming from A2 Modern, click here. Source: Nancy Deromedi, co-founder of A2 Modern Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
The sun may be lower on the horizon now, but solar activity is rising, beginning with the National Solar Tour in October. Nine installations in Ypsilanti, along with one each in Saline and Ann Arbor, will be open to visitors interested in seeing solar. Eight of those sites are within approximately one mile of each other in and near downtown Ypsilanti. The Ypsi Food Co-op and River Street Bakery at 312 North River Street sport three installations. Other hotspots are: Krzyzanski Apts A,B,C at 403 Huron Street; Ypsi City Hall at 1 South Huron Street; Adams School at 503 East Oak Street; Frog Island Park at 600 Marketplace; and the Corner Brewery at 720 Norris Street. Power Panel, the provider of the large installation at the Corner Brewery, will be presenting at the brewery at 12 and 2 p.m. And local solar installer John Wakeman will be speaking about the "25% by '25" legislation, an initiative to require that Michigan utilities obtain 25% of their energy from renewable sources by 2025 (the current requirement is 10% by 2015), will be speaking there at 1 p.m. "We have [panels] on roofs, things on awnings on the side of buildings. We have micro-inverters, regular inverters...it's a lot of examples in a short distance," says Dave Strenski, volunteer coordinator of Solar Ypsi, points out. Strenski will be at City Hall throughout the day to answer questions, and Solar Ypsi volunteers will staff some of the other spots. Other displays within driving distance will be at the Graf residence at 6232 Munger Road in Ypsilanti and the Bredernitz residence at 2114 Windmill Way in Saline. All sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Also in conjunction with the National Solar Tour, Novi, Michigan-based Srinergy will host a bus tour of residential and commercial solar installations that day. Ann Arbor's AMMA Center will be a featured stop. Click here for more information and to register. Both tours take place on Saturday, October 6. Sources: Dave Strenski, volunteer coordinator of Solar Ypsi; Srinergy Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
The remaking of Washtenaw Avenue, the busiest throughway in Washtenaw County in terms of traffic volume, has begun. Reimagine Washtenaw, a coalition of representatives from the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti and Pittsfield and Ypsilanti townships, and other organizations, is using a portion of the county's $3 million HUD Community Challenge Planning grant to hire consultants to study and recommend options to make the corridor friendlier to all transportation forms and improve the efficiency of public transit. "Part of the challenge right now is there are so many bus stops along the route," says Nathan Voght, project manager for Reimagine Washtenaw. "Because of the corridor lacking sidewalks, you have to have more bus stops to let people get to those stops. And if we can consolidate those by working with the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, it actually makes the service more efficient." Smith Group JJR and Parsons Brinkerhoff will be doing a right of way study, designing AATA bus stops, and recommending locations for additional bike lanes, sidewalks, and other non-motorized facilities, including possibly mid-block crossings, according to Nathan Voght, project manager for Reimagine Washtenaw. The study will wrap up in September of 2013. Meanwhile, MDOT's addition of sidewalks on both sides of Washtenaw underneath the U.S. 23 overpass is expected to be complete by November, Voght says. And the construction of Arbor Hills Crossing, a 90,000-square-foot office and retail center across from Whole Foods is under way. "What's great about that is that [the city of] Ann Arbor modified some of their zoning regulations to help push the vision for the corridor," making it better-suited for alternative transportation methods, says Voght. "They for example required parking to be not in the front yard – so it would be in the side yard, or the rear yard – and required the buildings to have a maximum setback from the street instead of the traditional minimum setback." The city has an easement for a wide sidewalk and an AATA transit stop in front of the center. "That's the irony of these corridors, is we built them thinking they're so great, you can get in your car and get to any of these businesses, but it's gotten to the point where you tolerate the corridor instead of experience it in a positive way. We can change that," Voght says. Source: Nathan Voght, project manager for Reimagine Washtenaw Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
Garlic lovers now have oodles more alternatives to the heaping bin of single-selection generic white garlic bulbs at most grocery stores. Dick and Diana Dyer, owners of Dyer Family Organic Farm (aka Dick's Pretty Good Garlic), grow 40 varieties on their Superior Township farm. "A lot of people think garlic is garlic until they taste the differences between these varieties and then they think, well, there's kind of a range of flavors," Dick Dyer says. "Actually that garlic in the big commodity grocery stores is typically up to 10 months old by the time it gets on the shelf and 80% of it comes from China...by the time it gets to the market it's lost a lot of the quality of fresher garlic," he adds. Each year the Dyers, who are finishing their third season of commercial growing, plant garlic on a half-acre plot – enough for 20,000 plants. Dyer estimates they've sold 15,000 heads of garlic so far this year, with 2,000 remaining. "The other 3,000 will serve as seed stock for growing the 20,000 heads we have to plant in October." The Dyers supply area restaurants, including The Grange, Ravens Club, Zingerman's Deli, Zingerman's Roadhouse, among others. They also usually have about 10 varieties on hand at area farmers' markets -- the downtown Ypsilanti market on Tuesdays; the Kerrytown market on Wednesdays; Ann Arbor's Westside Farmer's Market on Thursdays; and the Dixboro market on Fridays. However, "this is the last week we'll be selling at all four farmers markets. We're just about sold out for this year," says Dick Dyer. They will continue sales at the Dixboro market until the rest of the crop is gone. The couple are the sole employees of the farm, which also offers seasonal items: vinegar flavored with garlic scapes and chive blossoms, honey from their bee hives, and other vegetables including baby pumpkins and zucchini. And they eat what they sow. Personally, the Dyers use garlic in just about every dish. They've even got a recipe for your snack shelf: garlic brittle. Source: Dick Dyer, co-owner, Dyer Family Organic Farm Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
Care for a little Higgs boson with your pint of stout? Once a month U-M's Museum of Natural History plays host to the Science Cafe at Conor O'Neil's. Mixing libations with inspiration, this highbrow happy hour introduces locals to university researchers while addressing the latest scientific hot topic. Think of it as a way to strengthen and lose brain cells at the same time.
Those looking for a respite from Ann Arbor's go-go entrepreneurial and test-cramming culture have a new spa to look forward to with the planned opening of Jessica's Skin & Body Care Apothecary at 301 N. Fifth Avenue next month. Owner and esthetician Jessica Elkins will be relocating from a room in the A2 Yoga Building. "Currently my location is open for services by appointment only so it will be wonderful to have a store that is open to the public. Our current clients will no longer have to book an appointment to pick up products," Elkins says in an email. The 1,200 square-foot, two-story building is to have new floors and custom cabinetry in its two facial rooms, massage room, and retail area. Mineral makeup, body scrubs, and made-to-order organic body oils and body scrubs will be for sale. Besides Elkins, the spa and apothecary will have seven to eight employees, including four estheticians, a trio of massage therapists, and one or two receptionists. Elkins is planning a grand opening event on Saturday, October 20, with appointments available the next day. The opening is subject to city permit approvals, but the build is on schedule, she says. Source: Jessica Elkins, owner, Jessica's Skin & Body Care Apothecary Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
Uncap your growlers! The long-awaited Chelsea Alehouse Brewery is nearing its debut in the Clocktower Complex in downtown Chelsea. Owner Chris Martinson expects to open Chelsea's first brewery in 28 years in late fall. Martinson, who has been home brewing for nine years, liked that particular location because "it was a one-story factory building with cement floors and high metal ceilings, so it lent itself nicely to being used as a brewery." The building's original industrial features, such as cement floors and overhead trusses, will be left intact. Martinson has salvaged some large old industrial windows; Robin Adair of Adair Restoration will re-glaze and mount the windows, which will look right into the brewery. McKinley, Inc., owner of the Clocktower Complex, is completing the build-out. An associate brewer is beginning work shortly, and Martinson anticipates adding about 10 pub tenders and kitchen staffers. In addition to opening with a selection of 6-8 beers, he plans to serve a "deli-type" self-service menu of sandwiches, appetizers, and meat and cheese platters. The 4,000-square-foot space will have live music in a 2,500-square-foot pub area with seating for 75. Martinson also plans to add a large outdoor seating area and beer garden. The exact size is still being determined, but Martinson says, "it'll be the largest outdoor seating area in downtown Chelsea." Source: Chris Martinson, owner and head brewer, Chelsea Alehouse Brewery Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
After the fall of many of Southeast Michigan's urban trees to the emerald ash borer and other misfortunes, a group of sustainability-minded individuals were left standing. Concentrate talks with Urbanwood, a partnership that's now a national model of recycling trees into green products.
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