Monday, June 30, 2014

Royal Oaker ISO chill bro

Are you a chill bro with sick high school lax stats? Maybe this apartment in Royal Oak is for you:

$800 / 1000ft² - chill bro wanted for roommate in downtown RO apartment (downtown royal oak)

Chill, full-time professional 28 y.o. bro. No allergies, no pets. Looking for a roommate with whom I can grip a cool pad in downtown Royal Oak. Work a lot during the week, but golf, run, and swim on the reg. If you're fat (more than 10 lbs overweight), no thanks. Got kids? Go away. UofM fan? STFU & GTFO. Down to snipe tight broads from the bars on weekends I'm not broing out in some fresh short sleeve button-downs up north. If you go to Woodies, Tequila Blue, or that silly piano bar next to Blackfinn, don't respond. Not into edm or the forest? Not tight. Frat/lax bros with sick flow preferred.

The following are required with submission: (1) high school lax stats; (2) college frat bro references; and (3) at least two photos of you flexing on some smokeshows (taken within the last 60 days).

Please note: if you got a girl, she needs to have tight friends that are down to clown.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Young Michigan Filmmaker Alert: Richard Cameron White


THE ROUGHNECKS Teaser from Richard Cameron White on Vimeo.

It's been a rough back-and-forth for the film industry in Michigan, meaning it has been a tug-of-war on my heart - will they ever redecorate Main Street to look like it's snowing in July? Will I ever hear rumors again about whether or not Jason Segel made out with local lay-deez? Will I ever run into Mindy Kaling as she goes into Old Town again?!

In the midst of all this back and forth are our own homegrown filmmakers, still pluggin' away. One is Richard Cameron White, who was raised up in Traverse City. His film is playing up there tonight at the historic State Theater, and is a documentary about a young football team in Texas. If you're in his neck of the woods, you can still get tickets here, and if you're not, you should at least check out his teaser above. A lot of media coverage has focused on how young Cam is, which is of course remarkable, but if you check out the quality of the teaser (and of the other shtuff he's got on his Vimeo page), his age is just a detail. Dude's got chops.

Dearest Michigan Theater deity - could you please bring this movie downstate? Okay, okay, so I'm a TC native and a little partial to the ole cherry capitol, but man would I be excited to see this thing at the Michigan or State. Yay for Michigan filmmakers!

German Park tonight

Gentle readers, the first German Park of the season is tonight. If you're looking to polka, drink beer and eat wurst, you should check out German Park. You will be glad you did.

The finished beer bucket pyramid.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Prude Boys, Buffalo Coven Party at the Tree Fort


Tomorrow night some very nice people (that everyone should know and be friends with) will be playing a show at the Tree Fort tomorrow night. It has a small cover and I am sure you can make some kind of clever correlation between band names (Prude boys don't look at anyone's see through dresses?).

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Still time to check out YpsiPlanti

This summer's hottest popup garden supply store is Growing Hope's YpsiPlanti. The store is located at 9 S Adams right behind the Michigan Ave YDL Branch. It has everything your garden needs. And come to think of it, couldn't your plants use a summer application of some well rotted manure? Sounds like you should swing by YpsiPlanti and grab a bag of "Dairy Doo." The shop is open Tuesday through Sunday until the end of June and will be open just Tuesday and Friday in July and August.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Maiz Open in Depot Town


Today was the first day that Maiz was open to the public in Depot Town Ypsilanti. This week I recommend catching their happy hour, every weekday from three till six. If you are still sad about Woodruff's leaving you can go gorge yourself on appetizers and margaritas for next to nothing.

Mayoral debate this Wednesday at Literati

Gentle reader, the August Primary election is just around the corner. If you live in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti, this election will likely determine the outcome of your November general election. Currently, there are 4 candidates vying to be Ann Arbor's Democratic Nominee for mayor. If you would like to get to know the candidates a little better, stop by Literati on Wednesday at 7:30. Hillary and Michael will be moderating a debate between Sabra Briere, Stephen Kunselman, Christopher Taylor, and Sally Petersen.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Skatepark grand opening tomorrow

Tomorrow is the grand opening of Ann Arbor's Skatepark. Skateboard legend and videogame star, Tony Hawk, will be at the opening. There will also be music and food and tons of fun. Y'all should check it out.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Zingerman's metamorphosing into beautiful communist butterfly

Via MarkMaynard.com.

Everyone's favorite deli based empire, Zingerman's, has announced plans to become an employee owned cooperative. According to MM, Paul and Ari and their 18 person management team are exploring how to transition the company into a cooperative in which the 600 or so employees share ownership. Pretty cool.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Local juneberries are now ripe

Some call them junberries, others call them serviceberries, shadberries or Saskatoon berries. Personally I call them the fruit of Amalenchier sp. Gentle readers, regardless of what you call these delicious berries, they are approaching peak ripeness. That means you only have a few days to get them before the squirrels do. You can find them in abundance around the chemistry building and many other places in town.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Ragweed pollen, allergies and vacant lots

Gentle readers, have you ever wondered what I do when I'm not blogging? Well, wonder no more. Hot off the Umich News Service press comes: Controlling ragweed pollen in Detroit: A no-mow solution for Motown? The press release covers some of my lab-mate, Dan Katz', research looking at how local abundance of common ragweed plants (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) impacts exposure to allergenic ragweed pollen. And also how different abandoned lot management strategies impact the size and abundance of common ragweed. I helped out on the second part of the project so if you check out the article, you will see some awesome pictures of me doing science.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Tyrone Hayes has a posse

In a year filled with great stickers, this Tyrone Hayes sticker is my favorite to date. Looks like the picture comes from Rachel Aviv's Feb. 10 2014 New Yorker article on Tyrone Hayes. What synergy: street art, ecology, and the New Yorker.

Get ready for juneberries

Gentle readers, the juneberries in town are almost ripe. I'm guessing that they will be pretty good sometime around Wednesday next week. Are you excited? I am.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Leo Sharp in NYTimes

Writing for the Times, Sam Dolnick, has a great long-read on nonagenarian drug mule and daylily breeder, Leo Sharp. If you recall, Sharp was arrested in October 2011 while driving 105 kilos from Michigan City, IN to Detroit for the Sinaloa Cartel.

Day-lily admirers are as intense as boxing fans, arguing passionately about the beauty and staying power of this or that varietal. And Leo Sharp is their Don King — a widely admired hybridizer with nearly 180 officially registered day lilies to his name.

For years, Sharp attended day-lily conventions across the country dressed in either an all-white leisure suit or an all-black one. He traveled with an entourage of Mexican farmhands to help with the hundreds of flowers he would give away, making his admirers swoon.

“The people who do lilies are way cooler than other plant people,” said Nikki Schmith, a gardener in Worden, Ill., who writes a day-lily blog. “He was just a stud. He just had the air. He had 70-year-old swagger.” Schmith has more than a dozen of Sharp’s day lilies in her own garden. She has won Best in Show in a regional contest with his flowers two years in a row.

The article is definitely worth a read.

Top of the Park training video

Top of the Park starts this Friday. The Motor City's Captain Ivory want to know if you're in shape for the summer festival. The band, who will be playing next Tuesday, June 17th, produced this helpful training video to help you get ready for the Summer Festival.

h/t: u/rbolog

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Celebrate the Botanical Garden's blooming agave at Isalita


The Botanical Garden's agave is blooming. The desert plants, which are used to make pulque, mescal and tequila, grow for decades before flowering once before dying. So if you want to see one blooming, and don't want to go south if the border, you should stop by the Botanical Gardens. As a bonus, if you bring your Bot Gardens parking receipt to Isalita by June 15th, you get 10% off your bill and Isalita will donate an equal amount to the Gardens. Botany, discounted margaritas and donating to a great organization: a classic win-win-win situation. 


Monday, June 9, 2014

Argus Farm Stop

I'm pretty excited about the Argus Farm Stop, the new produce market coming in at the former medical marijuana store/gas station on Liberty and Second. Seems like a great addition to the Old West Side.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

NPNA Yard Sale: happening now


The yard sale of the century is happening in Ypsilanti's Normal Park right now. Over 90 houses in the neighborhood are holding sales. 

Once the yard sale is over, there are tons of other things happening in the Ypsi-Arbor area today including the African American Downtown Festival on Fourth and Ann. A roller Derby at Buhr Park and the Greek Fest. 

Friday, June 6, 2014

Ypsilanti Restaurant Dayz


Tonight and tomorrow, if you stroll around Ypsilanti you can take part in Ypsilanti Restaurant Dayz. Similar to Ann Arbor Restaurant Week, but less crowded, you can try delicious foods without worrying about where to park.

Normal Park Neighborhood Association Yard Sale Tomorrow


Gentle readers, are you ready for NPNA's annual yard sale? It's tomorrow from 9-4 and it'll be huge. People are already starting to set things up in their yards. 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Sonic Lunch kicks off today with Stepdad

2014's first Sonic Lunch kicks off in just 15 minutes. So why not head on down to Liberty Plaza, grab yourself a coney and check out Stepdad. They look like such nice boys.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

A view from the Ypsilanti Water Tower

Ypsilantian, Bob Eccles, just uploaded the above video from the Brick Dick's catwalk. It's a great view, but it gives the impression that the area is very flat.

Little Shop of Horrors opens tomorrow


The Ann Arbor Civic Theater's production of Little Shop of Horrors opens tomorrow. That is all. 

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Peony time

We are getting reports that the peonies in the Arb are approaching peak bloom. You may want to check them out.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Greenway Meetup Tomorrow



Come have a beer with the Allen Creek Greenway folks!  

Stop by the Greenway's first monthly Meetup, 6 PM tomorrow at Bill's Beer Garden, located in the parking lot of Downtown Home and Garden (210 S. Ashley).  We will be talking master plan, gathering input (the reel of butcher paper will be at hand for your artistic suggestions), and be adding supporters to our mailing list.  

So stop by, chat, and support the Greenway, our table will have a bouquet of flowers.

We are also accepting email photo submissions of your favorite bits of Ann Arbor; who knows what suggestion might be incorporated in the Greenway trail!
Check out Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy on Facebook and at allencreekgreenway.org

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Taste of Ann Arbor and Camp Bacon TODAY

Credits to Zing
If you are hungover or just hungry you should head to Main st. for Taste of Ann Arbor. Restaurants from the area are sampling 'just enough' food. If you don't want to pay money for ANYTHING, go to the farmers market where Zingermans is handing out the food of the gods.