The Ark and The Last Word

The Osborn and Ten Feet Tall

So just when I can't think that the weather or my mood could get any worse, we discover that we have Ark tickets for Saturday night.

Side note:  One cool thing about going to the Folk Music Festival in January, is being exposed to several new groups in one evening-- and discovering a new favorite!  Our pick from this year's festival was the Steel Wheels, and (short story--LONG), we came home and checked out when they would play The Ark-- and bought tickets before they sold out.

I was a little so-so about going out in the cold and dark, but decided I would feel worse if I continued to hibernate at home.  And SURPRISE!  Once we got downtown, we discovered that Ann Arbor was booming!  At 7 PM, our favorite parking lot was starting to fill up, the restaurants were jammed, and there was lots of foot traffic on the streets.


The concert was one of the best we had seen:  a sold-out audience giving standing ovations, and a band that was really bringing it home!  The love-fest between stage and audience was something to behold-- and everyone left in high spirits.

It was even colder and darker when we emerged from our happy music cocoon, but we were in high spirits, and decided to stop in our favorite little hideaway:  The Last Word.  We ducked into the (almost) unmarked door (on Huron, under LIVE!), and our luck continued:  there were 2 seats available, and they were at the bar.  It's the best place for a front row seat of the action!

Negroni

I was also pleased to see that I have an anonymous claim to fame on the drink menu.

A few weeks ago, the fantastic bartenders let me beta test their newest drink, and after enjoying the little bit tart, little bit sweet of it, I named it:

The Breakup

Plum Market

If you haven't gone to Plum Market yet, you're missing out.

Yes....some items are expensive, but it's just what you need to break up these long late winter days.

Buy a bunch of tulips (same price as most grocery stores) and maybe a bottle of wine, (very competitive prices-- and a fabulous selection!) and just wander the store enjoying the beauty of the displays.

Primroses:  a sign of spring!

Retired in Ann Arbor: Valentine's Day at GLCC

 Want to make someone feel special?  Great Lakes Chocolate and Coffee can help you look like you sweated the details.   Fantastic chocolate and the sweetest little flower arrangements, starting at $10.

You can find Great Lakes at 2891 Jackson Road, between Stadium and Wagner, just across from the entrance to I-94.

Retired in Ann Arbor: Amadeus

Beethoven anyone?

 Last weekend we headed to Amadeus for dinner with some of our friends.






It is a perfect winter destination, with cozy European decor, and pianist playing classical music.  We particularly love the chicken paprykash, as well as everything on the Polish plate.




And if you're ever going to have dessert, this is the place.  I had some remorse that I didn't order the Napoleon-- as it was particularly beautiful and delicious!

Parking is easy in the Washington Street deck across the street.

This restaurant has been family-owned and operated for 20 years.  The building dates from 1876, and provides the perfect backdrop for their Polish and Hungarian food.

Retired in Ann Arbor: Folk music festival

One of my favorite things to do in the winter is head to The Ark, to get out of the house and away from the TV!  This year, we kicked the year off right by going to the Ann Arbor Folk Music festival at Hill Auditorium.  This is like seeing 6 or 7 mini-concerts of some fairly diverse music over one evening, and also serves as a fund raiser for The Ark.  Unfortunately, it only happens once a year at the end of January-- but if you missed it this year, you can still see quality performances at The Ark home, at 316 S. Main Street.

If you have never been to The Ark, you are missing an experience that you won't find anywhere else.  They offer live music over 300 nights a year, that mainly falls in the large categories of folk or roots acoustic music.  The Ark is an intimate club-- where you can experience live music, close up and personal.

Check out the February calendar to see the huge selection, from jam band, pop, folk and bluegrass, to comedy and storytelling.  On a budget?  Check out the "take a chance Tuesday" for free!

What a great way to spend an evening.

Retired in Ann Arbor: Happy 2013!

"Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve.  Middle age is when you're forced to."  Bill Vaughn
Talk to you next year!

Retired in Ann Arbor: Christmas is coming!

I have just returned from a Christmas wonderland:  Germany-- so am a little behind on my normal Christmas preparations (and blogging!)

So far December has been pretty exciting-- check out the Wall Street Journal coverage of Ann Arbor and Retired in Ann Arbor!  Nice!

Ann Arbor has such a strong German heritage (just count the Lutheran churches), that it is pretty easy to see the influence that Germany has on our Christmas celebrations and decorations.

Lovely and authentic German decorations at the Caravan in Nichols Arcade

Unfortunately, we missed Kindlefest this year-- (which is one of our favorite Ann Arbor festivities)-- but we visited many Christmas markets in southern Germany.  Check out some photos from the German Christmas markets here.

Tired of bookstore t-shirts?  VanBoven has the classiest Michigan gear in the world.

Babo market: a great place to pick up lunch and food gifts

Caroling in Kerrytown

Checking out the toys at Mud Puddles

Handmade St. Nicolas at Farmer's Market

Ho ho ho!

The dill pickle ornament:  the German tradition that no Germans seem to have heard of.  :)

Retired in Ann Arbor: Late autumn Huron River walk

Rowing club dock

When the sun shines in November, it's time for a walk!

Since we started at 3PM, the shadows were already long, and we knew that dusk wasn't that far off.













We started at Bandemer Park, and followed the eastern shore of the river past Argo park, then followed the mill race to Broadway St.  We headed across the river and turned left on Detroit St. stopping for a couple of minutes at both Treasure Mart, and the new Zingerman's deli addition.  We walked through Kerrytown, and headed back toward the river on 4th St.  Turn right on Main St. for about a block, and cut through the parking lot and across the railroad tracks at Argo dam.  Walk away from Ann Arbor on the nice sidewalk, back to where your car is waiting!

This walk is a little over 4 miles, and it took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes of actual walking.  If it's breakfast or lunch time and you're hungry, stop in at Northside Grill at the half way point-- or just get a cookie or brownie to go, and enjoy on the way back.  Sweetwaters in Kerrytown is also a good spot for a snack or coffee.

Hawk spotted in the Bandemer parking lot

Back to the car, in the nick of time!

Retired in Ann Arbor: Fairy village at the Arb

Many people know about the fairy doors in Ann Arbor, but there is a little fairy village in Nichols Arboretum that is not even on the map.  Last time we visited, no fairies were home, but the cottages all looked a little different from the last time-- so the fairies have been working away.

If you enter the Arb by the Gateway Garden, you can find this little village just past the peony garden, on the right, in a grove of trees.

Are you interested in our fairy geneology?












We've just finished hiking the Kerry Way (in Ireland), where I'm sure our fairies originated-- so if you want to see what the "old country" looks like, click here!

Check out the village next time you head to the Arb-- and if you have a couple of minutes, add a room-- or leave a few pennies.

Retired in Ann Arbor: Chela's

There's a new little Mexican restaurant on Maple at Liberty called Chela's, that we recently tried for lunch after one of our walks.  Maybe that's why we threw caution to the winds and ate with abandon!













I had my usual cheese quesadilla-- and it came out of the kitchen with a couple of nice details to spruce up a normally boring dish:  pickled vegetables with a little kick, and a couple of perfect slices of avocado.






The guacamole was perfect, and I also enjoyed the sweetened hibiscus tea.  We liked the food a lot, and it appeared that  the folks eating around us did as well.

Since you order at the counter and pick up your food, this might become our new carry-out Mexican destination.

Retired in Ann Arbor: Never Dull knife sharpening

I was wandering Farmer's Market on Wednesday morning, and, lo and behold, the knife sharpener was there!

Thanks to AnnArbor.com for this picture

Now I, of course, didn't have my knives with me-- but I was delighted to see that he also sharpens scissors and garden snippers.  Dull cutting utensils are one of the small irritations in my otherwise almost perfect life, so I can't wait to tour the kitchen and garage and collect everything that needs to be sharpened!

Retired in Ann Arbor: Huron River flora/fauna walk

The other day we spent some time in the lovely park by the Argo canoe livery and Argo dam.  This park is often bustling with canoe rental customers, but since it is after Labor Day, the rental facility is only open on weekends--and we had the park to ourselves.

Bright red berries that I'm guessing are poisonous--

nice fungus

You can get to the parking area from Longshore Drive, and if you're there around breakfast or lunch time, stop at the nearby Northside Grill.  This is one of our favorite breakfast restaurants-- and if you go during the week, you can avoid the wait.  The staff is very friendly and efficient, and the food is good quality American diner food.   We recommend the BLT and the oat pancakes-- as well as the breakfast egg sandwiches if you're really hungry!

Praying mantis-- found on the bridge crossing
the river on Broadway

Elderberries, perhaps?

I'm not sure what any of these berries are-- if anyone knows, please leave a comment!  I have eaten wild raspberries and strawberries because they are easy to identify, but am a total chicken to try anything without an expert identification.

Railroad bridge by the Argo dam