For Sale: 30 Acres, 12 Bedrooms, One Zamboni

Morning, Ann Arbor! Construction season starts in earnest today, the seasonal bike corrals are back downtown, and downtown just had its busiest weekend of the year. Lots to get into.

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Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 3.71%

🎓 Commencement Weekend Filled Downtown

Ross held its commencement Friday at Crisler. The university-wide ceremony followed Saturday at Michigan Stadium, where about 70,000 grads and guests heard Fab Five legend Jalen Rose deliver the address and accept an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Downtown restaurants were turning tables nonstop, with a few owners saying it was their busiest weekend of the year. The Class of 2026 is officially Forever Go Blue. University Record

🎵 Top of the Park's 2026 lineup is out
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival's 43rd season runs June 12-28 on Ingalls Mall — 17 free nights across two stages. Jazz vocalist April Varner opens, with townie favorite Jess Merritt on the Rackham Stage that same night. Highlights: Salsa Night on June 20, Detroit's My Brightest Diamond, and South Korea's only bluegrass band (yes, really). Bring a blanket. Destination Ann Arbor

🏠 Domino's Founder Relists His Ann Arbor Compound
Tom Monaghan's "Retreat at Turtle Point" is back on the market for $7.96 million, a 9% cut from December. 30 acres, 12 bedrooms, indoor hockey rink with a Zamboni. Because of course. Zillow

🎓 Teachers Vote 1,084 to 4 Against the Contract 
Ann Arbor teachers rejected the district's tentative agreement last week with 99.6% voting no. AAEA President Fred Klein said working without a contract is currently the better option. Teachers have been on "work to rule" since February, and the union says veteran pay sits tens of thousands behind comparable districts. Negotiations resume. CBS Detroit

⛳ Greenhills Grad Wins Third Straight National Title
Mia Melendez, the three-time MHSAA Division 4 state champion from Greenhills, just helped Howard University capture its third straight National Collegiate Championship in Katy, Texas. She tied for ninth as a freshman. Her older sister Amaya was a three-time all-state golfer at Pioneer. The Melendez name on Michigan leaderboards is officially generational. MLive

🥙 Hummus Republic Coming to Downtown on E. Liberty
A 15-state Mediterranean chain is heading to 407 E. Liberty, the corner across from Mani Osteria. Build-your-own pitas, bowls, and wraps. It's their first Michigan location, opening sometime in 2026. Jerusalem Garden has our heart, but more hummus downtown is never a bad thing. Hummus Republic

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🍅 Farmers market season hits full swing
Kerrytown's year-round market goes to summer hours. Saturdays 7 a.m.-3 p.m., with Wednesdays returning May 6. 150+ Michigan vendors at 315 Detroit, plus the Sunday Artisan Market 11-4. The city is launching a 2026 study to redesign the Kerrytown site (staying put, just reimagining it) after the market office came down last summer. A2Gov

🚧 A Wave of Road Closures Starts Today
South Fourth Avenue between William and Liberty fully closes today through November 5 for a complete reconstruction. North University and South Thayer also lose through traffic until late November, with smaller closures on South Forest, Church Street, and East Ann. The Blake Transit Center's bus staging moves to Fifth and East Washington while Fourth is torn up. a2gov.org

🚲 Bike Corrals Are Back 
The DDA put the seasonal bike and scooter corrals back out on the street last week. Four spots downtown: under the Ann & Ashley structure, on Washington across from Echelon, on Liberty next to Pretzel Bell, and on Liberty next to Bill's Beer Garden. They stay out through the fall. Lock up properly, please.

🌲 Pure Michigan Turns 20 
Governor Whitmer made it official on Thursday: May is "Pure Michigan Month." Two decades of Tim Allen's "This is Pure Michigan" voiceovers helped drive 789,000 leisure trips and $1.3 billion in visitor spending in 2024 alone. The campaign launched a new tagline for the milestone: "For Every Season of You." michigan.gov

🩺 Time to Teal 5K returns Mother's Day
The Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance hosts its annual ovarian cancer awareness run Sunday, May 10 at Rolling Hills County Park in Ypsi. Chip-timed 5K plus a one-mile fun run/walk, both stroller-friendly. Free registration for ovarian cancer survivors, awards for top finishers, and the usual swag. It's MIOCA's 15th anniversary, and the tradition was started by co-founder Pam Dahlmann to honor her mom on Mother's Day. Micora.org

On the Market

597 Kuehnle Ave ($444,000) 3 beds | 2 baths | 1,044 sqft A 1935 farmhouse on a fully fenced half-acre on Ann Arbor's west side, 2.5 miles from downtown and feeding into Skyline. Mature trees, established flower beds, three sheds, the kind of yard you'd kill for. Last sold for $403.5K in 2022.

2702 Cranbrook Rd ($534,900) 3 bed | 1 bath | 1,336 sqft A fully renovated ranch on a fenced lot walking distance to Allen Elementary, County Farm Park, and Buhr Park. Reimagined kitchen with quartz counters, finished basement, new roof and paint in 2025, plus a matching She Shed out back with A/C and electric. Last sold for $415K in 2025.

603 Madison Pl ($899,000) 4 bed | 3 bath | 3,571 sqft A 1952 Cape Cod (expanded in 2005) on a quiet Eberwhite cul-de-sac, walking distance to downtown. The backyard is the headline: koi pond with a waterfall, espaliered fruit trees, herb garden, hot tub patio. Bonus: a detached 400 sqft ADU currently renting for $1,400/month. Last sold for $135K in 1988.

Adoptable Humane Society Pets

Arthur — 9 years | Medium Neutered Male | Domestic Shorthair A laid-back senior who wants a warm lap and a quiet house (no other pets, no young kids). Meet Arthur

Akira — 4 years | Medium Spayed Female | Terrier / Pit Bull mix High energy, loves to play, would do best meeting any dog siblings before going home. Meet Akira

Bashful — 3 years | Medium Spayed Female | Domestic Shorthair Shy at first, but a real personality once she settles in. Currently hanging out at Tiny Lions. Meet Bashful

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

— Ryan, James, and the Michigander Team

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P.P.S. - The peonies at the Arb are starting to bud. The free Destination Ann Arbor weekend shuttles for peak bloom run May 23-24, May 30-31, and June 6-7 from the NC78 lot at 1901 Fuller. Plan your visit.

P.P.P.S. - Ladies Night Out takes over downtown Saturday, May 16. Eight wine pours for $20 at Vinology, free champagne at BrightWorks, and deals up and down Main Street. Grab the girls.

P.P.P.P.S. — Iron & Wine plays the Michigan Theater this Friday, May 8, with Improvement Movement opening. Doors 7, show 8. Tickets $54-$101 and a few seats were still up for grabs this morning. Ticketmaster

P.P.P.P.P.S. — Mother's Day is Sunday. The good brunch tables (Zingerman's Roadhouse, Gandy Dancer, Café Zola, Sava's) are already filling up. Book today or grab her some flowers at University Flower Shop.

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