A2 Summer Streets Returns This Thursday

Morning, Ann Arbor! As you’ll see below, this is one of the best weeks of the year. In the first week of June, Ann Arbor comes alive with a handful of local favorite events. But there is a sad, confusing cloud hanging over this week.

Late Saturday night, the heads of hundreds of peonies were cut at The Arb. It’s a community-wide gut punch as the famous gardens are a source of local pride and regional importance (the gardens bring in 75,000 visitors annually). While the act is still being investigated, early reports indicate it was a part of a pro-Palestine protest.

Tony Kolenic, the Director of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, released a statement on the vandalism:

“What happened here was an act of disregard not just for the garden, but for the community that cherishes it, even for life itself.

And yet, this resilient garden endures. The roots remain strong, and the garden will bloom again. And we will continue to honor this space and all that it means to those who find peace and joy here. Thank you for standing with us.”

Read Time: 3.5 minutes

Reader Count: 3,902 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 3.25%

🎶 Summer Streets: Starting this Thursday and running until the end of August, select streets in downtown Ann Arbor will become pedestrian-only streets where cars are replaced with live music, yard games, and ample outdoor seating. Seems like a fair trade to me.

Streets will close at 4 PM on Thursday and remain closed until Sunday night. Here’s a list of musicians performing this summer.

🍕 Coratti’s Pizzeria: Soon after the 75-year-old Cottage Inn restaurant (512 E William) closed their doors last spring, Coratti’s Pizzeria began renovating the space. A year later, the renovation is complete. Outfit with two bocce ball courts, a grab-and-go market next door, and room for 220 guests inside, the new pizzeria is set to open June 23 and will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

🥪 Ahmo’s Deli Moving: Ahmo’s Gyros & Deli has closed its East Huron Street location and will reopen next month at 215 S. State Street. The new location will serve the same signature gyros, Mediterranean dishes, and sandwiches. Meanwhile, Ahmo’s will keep the 341 E. Huron St. space and reopen it as a “dessert lounge” in six to eight weeks. Details are still under wraps, but Ahmo’s says it’ll be a “surprise for customers and students.”

TODAY’S SPONSOR: Bamboo

💻 Bamboo: Feel stuck working from home? Bamboo is downtown Ann Arbor’s newest coworking space, built to help you focus, connect, and actually enjoy your workday. Whether you need a spot for the day or a long-term setup, Bamboo gives you space to thrive - with fast WiFi, convenient parking, onsite coffee, and a rooftop lounge when you need a break.

For a limited time, Michigander readers can get a free day pass by using the code “Michigander” at checkout.

(Reader note: last time this sponsorship ran, the code wasn’t working. Don’t worry - it works now!)

🎭 Shakespeare in the Arb: Starting this week and continuing every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in June, Shakespeare in the Arb returns for their 23rd season to present The Merry Wives of Windsor. The 3-hour outdoor performances start at 6:30 pm in Nichols Arboretum. All tickets are general admission lawn seating and bringing a chair or blanket to sit on is recommended.

♻️ A2Zero Week: Ann Arbor’s fifth annual A2Zero Week started yesterday. The week is a yearly celebration of the passing of A2Zero, the City’s plan to achieve community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. Some events lined up for the week are: a creative mending workshop, a neighborhood clothing swap, a community cleanup, and an electronics collection. The full calendar of events is here. 

🎸 Sonic Lunch Concert: This Thursday, the outdoor concert series Sonic Lunch returns. Here are the details:

• Musician: Mike Posner

• Style: Pop-rap and R&B

• Popularity: 16.5 million monthly Spotify listeners

• Top Song: “I Took A Pill In Ibiza” with 2,172,000,000 streams (yes, 2 billion)

• Links to Listen: Spotify or Apple Music

• Concert Details: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm on the corner of Liberty and Division in downtown Ann Arbor

ON THE MARKET

3 Bed | 1 Bath | 1 Shed Office | $400,000

4 Bed | 3 Bath | 3,578 Sqft | $819,900

4 Bed | 5 Bath | 5,579 Sqft | $1,095,000

ADOPTABLE HUMANE SOCIETY PETS

Fuchsia | 6 years | Female

Carl | 1 year | Unknown

That's all for now! Have a great week in Tree Town!

- Andrew

P. P. S. - There is a Vintage Market at Lowertown this Saturday morning/afternoon

P. P. P. S. - Congrats to everyone who ran the Dexter-Ann Arbor 5K, 10K, and half marathon yesterday. You can find the results here.

P. P. P. P. S. - Thanks to Bamboo for sponsoring this week’s Michigander.

Interested in advertising in the Michigander? Click here for pricing. Bulk discounting available.