Hello Ann Arbor! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: New music venue, lavender harvest festival, and Cameron Zvara's comedy magic family show + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Major transit upgrade ahead: Ypsilanti City Council approved a $705,000 land sale to AAATA, greenlighting replacement of the cramped 1990s bus hub with a transit center set to more than triple by 2028 -- follow the transit center plan.
New downtown music spot: Ann Arbor Fun House opened downtown, giving bands a stage beneath Slows Bar BQ and Mash Bar. Shows run on Mash’s floor and cover charges go directly to performers -- see the new music venue.
A summer celebration awaits: The Lavender Harvest Festival near Ann Arbor will return July 11 and 12, showcasing peak blooms, live music, and over 100 farm-made natural products, with thousands of visitors expected -- plan the lavender weekend.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Green escape, zero fuss: When you need a quick reset close to home, County Farm Park delivers with shady woods, mellow fitness trails, community gardens, a solid playground, and picnic spots that actually feel chill. This week, try a micro-hike, stroller lap, or pretend your inbox doesn’t exist for 30 minutes.
Native yard glow-up: Feral Flora is Ann Arbor’s native-plant secret weapon, stocking 200+ Michigan-genotype perennials, grasses, sedges and woody plants, plus custom garden kits tailored to your site. Give your pollinators a buffet, calm that soggy corner with a rain garden, and make the neighbors weirdly curious.
Rain-proof retail therapy: Need a quick mood boost that isn’t another screen? Nickels Arcade is your light-filled indoor lane of indie shops where you can wander, window-shop, and snag a coffee-level pick‑me‑up, no matter the weather. Perfect for a mid-errand reset between State Street runs.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎩 Cameron Zvara's Comedy Magic Family Show @ Ann Arbor District Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 2:00 PM – Give the screens a break and take the crew to Cameron Zvara’s Comedy Magic Family Show, a rare unicorn of mind-blowing tricks, squeaky-clean jokes, and gleeful audience shenanigans. You’ll laugh, the kids will volunteer you, and nobody needs a PG-13 debrief.
🛌 Ariel Pajama Party @ Hide and Seek - A Play Boutique | Friday (6/26) at 5:30 PM – If your living room has become a Little Mermaid recital, upgrade to an Ariel pajama party with live songs, mermaid games, and an under-the-sea dance party, plus Hide and Seek playroom access. Tickets $20, babies under 6 months free, pizza available, PJs or fins encouraged.
🔥 Fireside Fun @ Leslie Science & Nature Center | Friday (6/26) at 6:30 PM – If you’ve been waiting for permission to smell like smoke and call it wellness, this free, no-registration fireside hang is it. They bring the blaze and roasting gear, you bring chairs, snacks, friends, and tall tales. Rain or shine, Michigan style, lightning excluded.
🎭 Frozen Jr. @ Arthur Miller Theatre | Friday (6/26) at 7:00 PM – Nothing beats a summer cool down in the Arthur Miller Theatre, with Frozen Jr. serving sister-powered adventure, jokes, and just enough magic to make adults forget parking. Big talent, tiny humans, heartwarming songs, and AC, all for less than a downtown dinner.
🦎 Critters Up Close @ Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Think you know your salamanders from your skinks? On the last Saturday each month, Hands-On Museum hosts live animals from Leslie Science & Nature Center, with up-close encounters, a hands-on activity, and changing themes, free with admission, because the best locals are cold-blooded.
🧺 Pace-Mi Kabayan Picnic 2026 @ Gallup Park - Fast Shelter | Sunday (6/28) at 11:00 AM – If your Tupperware has been sulking in the cupboard, the Kabayan picnic at Gallup Park is its moment. Free, potluck style, just cross the one-lane bridge, find the Fast Shelter by the playground, and enjoy lumpia, laughter, and that cousin you only meet at picnics.
🎪 Ann Arbor Summer Festival @ Ingalls Mall | Sunday (6/28) at 4:00 PM – Think you know this town? Summer Fest brings live music, outdoor performances, interactive art, and premium people-watching that pairs with a picnic blanket. At Top of the Park, your trusty lawn chair, decent shoes, and small-talk stamina finally earn their keep.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Ann Arbor report Weather forecastToday — High: 78°F — Low: 58°F — Precip: 20%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Sunny. High near 78, with temperatures falling to around 75 in the afternoon. South wind 0 to 7 mph. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 79°F — Low: 57°F — Precip: 80%
Showers and thunderstorms before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. West southwest wind 3 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 40%. This house is wildThis landmark Ann Arbor home blends timeless character with polished modern luxury across a beautifully reimagined layout. The chef’s kitchen shines with heated floors, marble and soapstone counters, and vaulted ceilings, while the backyard feels like a private resort with a pool, outdoor shower, and expansive patios. Multiple fireplaces and a spa-worthy primary suite complete the picture.
Take a peek inside → |
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