Friday, July 27, 2018

Learn more about the Core Spaces proposal this Sunday

Gentle readers, friend of Damn Arbor and DDA Board Member, Jessica A. S. Letaw, asked me to share a cool event with you. On Sunday from 12-2 there is going to be a Pop-up Party on the Library Lot. It's an opportunity for the public to learn more about the proposed project at the site. There will be kid-friendly activities, a pop-up art installation, and a full-scale mockup of the building's floor plan! So if you like playing with model buildings, or want to learn more about the Library Lot proposal, stop by.

Friday, July 20, 2018

Best of Craigslist: Barrel of Hair Edition

Do you need a 55 gallon drum filled with human hair? Not just scalp hair, but all types? If so, have I got a deal for you. This add is perfect. First the make/manufacture is listed as "barrel" and the model name/number is listed as "hair." Also I like where the seller specifies that they want to do the handoff in public, because there are some weirdos on Craigslist. From the ad:

Yo ho ho and a barrel of hair. I've been collecting strands of hair for a minute now, and my landlord says I can't bring it in the house. I'm just tryna unload this on anyone that will use it. Some is scalp hair, some is body hair. I didn't separate the types of hair, cuz then theyre would be 2 barrells. Eamil me back to arrange for pick-up. Preferably at a public spot, since craigslist casual encounters can be sketch.
H/T to Redditor /u/fwally who posted this on /r/annarbor.

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Art Fair Bingo, classic edition

Damn Arbor reader, Lisa Nichols, sent in these Art Fair Bingo cards from 2005. Lisa was a contributor that year and did the illustrations for "Your Ex-Lover" and "Birkies w/Socks" as well as some of the other squares. The whole project was a group effort that was coordinated online. The precise names of all the contributors have been lost to the sands of time.

Honestly, I think these might be the best Art Fair Bingo cards I have seen. Most of the squares are pretty timeless, except for "Profiteering Kids." Two dollars for a bottle of water isn't exactly outrageous these days.

Thanks for sending these in Lisa. If anyone has any other Art Fair Bingo Cards lying around, please send them in.

Previously:

Art Fair or Art Fear, 2018 edition

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Art Fair or Art Fear, 2018 edition

Gentle reader, the Art Fairs start Thursday. Are you ready? Here's last year's Art Fair Bingo card:

Made by Umich grad, RJ Cron, this Art Fair Bingo game has tons of great updates for the modern era: double man buns, Jim Harbaugh, and Clinton Kane campaign buttons. It also still has the classics that make Art Fair Bingo great: art on a stick, pan flute musicians, etc. If you're ready for a deep dive, you can check out these classic Art Fair Bingo cards from yesteryear:

First card via osric.com/bingo/

Second via Katy McGrady

Monday, July 16, 2018

Ann Arbor City Council Preview, July 16, 2018

The site for the proposed Cottages at Barton Green. The site plan is the subject of PH-6 and DB-1.

Today is the last #a2council meeting before the August 7th Primary Election. Gentle reader, this means you can expect some fireworks in Council Chambers. Here's the agenda. There are a couple of items on the agenda that are particularly spicy. PH-2/B-2 and PH-3/B-3 are part of the ZORO (Zoning Ordinance ReOrganization) project, which is essentially a cleaning up of the zoning code. This is the second reading of these ordinance changes.

PH-1/B-1 is the second reading of an ordinance change that would modify how fraternities and sororities are defined in the zoning code. When this ordinance has been before council previously there has been a lot of pushback from members of the fraternity and sorority community.

The final spicy item on the agenda is PH-6/DB-1 the site plan and wetland usage permit for the Cottages at Barton Green development. This would be a 225 unit apartment community with 716 bedrooms.

In other parts of the agenda there are a couple of rezonings of township islands. The consent agenda is pretty light with only 10 items. The only street closing is for student move in on Aug. 29th - Aug. 31st.

Gentle reader, what are you most looking forward to at tonight's #a2council meeting? We are well into campaign season so there may be some political fireworks. Make sure you tune in tonight at 7 to watch CTN's live stream and follow the blow-by-blow action on #a2council hashtag on Twitter.

Friday, July 13, 2018

July First Friday tonight in Ypsi

Tonight is the July First Friday in Ypsi. I know it's not the real first Friday of July, but the powers that be decided to move the event because of last week's holiday. You should totally check out the event. I've especially enjoyed the the exhibits they have had at the Riverside Arts Center at the recent First Fridays.

Friday, July 6, 2018

Make sure you're registered to vote

Gentle reader, is your voter registration up to date? You can verify your voter information on the Michigan Secretary of State's website to be sure. If your registration is not up to date, you have until the end of the day on Monday, July 9th to update your information if you want to vote in the August Primary Election. And of course you want to vote in the August Primary Election, it is, after all the most important election for most seats in Washtenaw County. This is especially true for Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti municipal races. So take some time today or Monday to make sure things are all squared away for August 7th.

Monday, July 2, 2018

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: July 2, 2018

There is a #a2council meeting in less than 2 hours. Here's a quick preview.

The most exciting item on the agenda is a proposal make mayoral and city council elections nonpartisan (DC-2). Ann Arbor (along with Ypsilanti) is anomalous in Michigan in having partisan mayoral and council races. This proposal is cosponsored by councilperson Lumm (With Eaton and Bannister). Notably, Lumm is the only non-Democrat on council. Now that council has switched from 2 year terms to 4 year terms, it is unlikely that Lumm will be able to win now that she will be running in even years instead of off year elections.

There is another spicy item on the agenda. DC-5 adds clarifying language to the ballot initiative to put a park on the Library Lot. Considering CMs Bannister and Kailasapathy are currently suing the city over the sale of the Library Lot, you can bet the debate about this will be pretty spicy.

Finally, the dumb plan to make it illegal to use the city flag and seal without permission is getting a public hearing and second reading. Does anyone know why the city is doing this? I missed any debate and discussion of this at the last council meeting.

Gentle reader, what are you most looking forward to at tonight's #a2council meeting? We are well into campaign season so there may be some political fireworks. Make sure you tune in tonight at 7 to watch CTN's live stream and follow the blow-by-blow action on #a2council hashtag on Twitter.