Ann Arbor Civic Band: Wednesday night concerts

There are many fun and free things to do on a summer evening in Ann Arbor, and this week we discovered a new one!

The Ann Arbor Civic Band is performing six Wednesday evenings at the band shell in West Park.  What a perfect way to spend an hour on a beautiful summer night.  We brought our camping chairs and joined the crowd on the hill, including families, little kids, some older kids riding scooters and bikes, and a couple of dogs out for an evening walk.

Get in the mood for Independance Day at the Tribute to the USA concert, take your little tykes to the children's concert, and don't miss the Sousa-style concert--Check out their schedule here.

If you are trying to get a young person interested in playing an instrument, this is your venue:  real people playing music outside, for a manageable length (45 minutes) concert of nice music--for an appreciative audience.

Weber's happy hour at Habitat

I've just discovered a new favorite destination for Happy Hour at the Habitat bar in Weber's.





















I took at Memoir Writing class from Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI) this spring, and after the class was over, the members decided that we enjoyed each other's company so much, that we would continue meeting over the summer for a monthly happy hour.




Our first meeting at Weber's was suggested by one of our oyster-loving members, and endorsed as the best oyster happy hour in Ann Arbor-- so we were in!  I'm not a huge oyster fan, but I love shrimp and calamari, and was very happy with both.

If you love oysters and seafood, Monday is your day-- for burgers, check out Wednesday, but there are good specials all week long, and there are also free snacks available if you don't choose to order from the menu.


So here's the question:  Was I the only Ann-Arborite who didn't know about this wonderful venue!?   Where else can you join such a throng of happiness on Monday afternoon?

Way to go Webers!!

Peony garden

The peonies are in full bloom-- and the Arb is beautiful! Did you know that we have a world-famous peony garden?   

There are 27 beds, and about 800 bushes.  This is the largest collection of antique and heirloom peonies in North America.  The garden was donated to the Arb in 1922, with a gift from Dr. W. E. Upjohn, (of the Upjohn Corporation in Kalamazoo), who was an 1875 graduate of the University of Michigan medical school.

    

I love the iridescence of this type

When you are done enjoying the peonies, walk further into the arb-- and enjoy a little piece of Appalachian spring.

Mountain Laurel

And don't forget Shakespeare in the Arb for the next couple of weekends.

Shakespeare in the Arb