Steven Colbert hosting Monroe Public Access

Well. This is kind of magical. Thanks for showing our state some love, Stephen.

On a side note, it looks like Monroe City Council meetings are conveniently uploaded to YouTube. CTN, the ball's in your court.

H/T: Monroe native, Partick Dunn

Yay marriage equality, let's get drunk!

The town is a-buzz with marriage equality happiness. There are plenty of places to celebrate (the Aut Bar and Necto being two of them, obviously!) but we'd be remiss if we didn't at least tell you, dear reader, that Arbor Brewing Company will have happy hour beers all the livelong day.

This is better than that one time that THIS IS BETTER THAN ALL THE TIMES EVER.

Free Sonic Lunch Michelle Chamuel concert relocated to The Ark

I mean, oh no.

As you probably know, Sonic Lunch puts together free lunchtime concerts every Thursday in the summer here in A2. Today's concert is Michelle Chamuel with opener Absofacto. Chamuel was the runner-up on The Voice in 2013, but is better known round these parts, and rightly so, for being the lead vocalist for Ella Riot, formerly known as My Dear Disco. If you're basically a roly poly living under the rocks that live under rocks and don't know what I'm talking about, just know that she's a University of Michigan alumna and her old band is from here.

The concert usually happens right by Liberty Plaza, but due to the possibility of it being rained out, it's been relocated to The Ark. Which, while not as great for folks that want to just walk on by a free concert, is still stupid cool. Because it's The Ark.

Concert starts at 11:30 am!

Thanks to Justin Higuchi for the great pic, which lives with other great pics here.

Ann Arbor Nerd Nite 25 is tomorrow

Gentle readers, it looks like there is a great Nerd Nite instore for us tomorrow night at Live. There will be presentations on Roller Derby, Ypsi History and the Evolution of Science. Thanks to the Ann Arbor District Library, there is no cover! You really have no excuse not to attend this event.

Get ready for #a2council tonight

Tonight's Ann Arbor City Council meeting is packed full of agenda items:

Public hearings on rezoning parts of Huron Street from D1 to D2

Tiny houses at 415 E. Washington

Proposed Ordinance to Amend Sections 3:11, 3:14, 3:15, 3:16, and 3:17 of Chapter 40, Trees and Other Vegetation, of Title III of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor

Of corse my favorite item is CA-4, Resolution to Approve Purchase of Sodium Hypochlorite for Water Treatment Services from JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc. (estimated $105,706.00/yr). Man, that's a lot of bleach. As always, you can follow along with tonight's meeting using the hashtag #a2council on twitter.

Do you want to see a year-round farmers indoor-outdoor farmers market in Ypsi?

There is just one day left to support Growing Hope's Patronicity Campaign. Growing Hope has raised $55,000 of the $65,000 they are seeking. So if you'd like to see a year-round farmers market in Downtown Ypsilanti, consider pitching in.

NPNA Yard Sale is tomorrow

Wasntenaw County's premier yard sale event, the annual Normal Park Neighborhood Association Yard Sale, is tomorrow. As of press time, 103 houses will be hosting sales. It's an amazing event you won't want to miss.

First Friday Art Walk tomorrow in Ypsilanti

Gut ready for a busy weekend in Ypsilanti. Tomorrow there is a First Friday art walk in Downtown and Depot Town Ypsi. There will be 20 venues hosting events and convenient pedi-cab service between galleries. You should totally check it out.

Is Ann Arbor's restaurant scene overrated?

There has been a lot less shade thrown at Ann Arbor's restaurant scene since GastroBoy mothballed their site. Fortunately, for those of you missing judgy writing about the local food scene, Food and Wine Hedonist is here with the first two parts of a three part series on Ann Arbor's Restaurant Scene.

Ann Arbor Restaurant Scene, Part 1: Past Reviews
Ann Arbor Restaurant Scene Part 2: When Prosperity Fails Us

They are definitely worth the read. I especially like his point on how the high rent in Ann Arbor may be preventing more innovative restaurants from taking hold. Gentle readers, what do you think of the dining scene in the Ypsi-Arbor area?

NPNA Yard Sale this Saturday

This Saturday is the annual Normal Park Neighborhood Association Yard Sale. Last year 85 houses participated. I expect this year will be similar. If you want to get your yard sale on, I can think of no better place. EJ and I will be strolling around the our neighborhood checking out the deals, so stop by and say hi.