Found 20 blog entries tagged as ann arbor.

**Updated July 3, 2026

The best u-pick farms in Metro Detroit include Westview Orchards, Verellen Orchards, and Big Red Orchard along the Van Dyke corridor in Washington Township, Blake’s Orchard in Armada, Hazen’s Blueberry Farm in Howell, and HoneyBee U-Pick in Ann Arbor. Every farm in this guide is verified open for the 2026 season, with picking calendars, hours, and prices.

The u-pick farms in Metro Detroit turn an ordinary weekend into strawberry-stained smiles, overflowing apple bags, and the kind of memories kids talk about all winter. From the first June strawberries to the last October pumpkins, Southeast Michigan’s picking season runs nearly five months. And the fruit really does taste better when you pull it off the plant yourself.

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TL;DR

  • Skip the big box for the fun stuff. These are unique, locally owned spots across all five Metro Detroit counties plus Ann Arbor.

  • Oakland County: Book Beat (Oak Park) for kids' & teen books, and Lil' Rascals (downtown Birmingham) for newborn-to-tween clothing & personalized gifts.

  • Wayne County: City Bird & Nest (Midtown Detroit) for Detroit-made apparel, kids' books, toys, and supplies.

  • Washtenaw County: Literati Bookstore (Ann Arbor) for the school reading list, and Mudpuddles (Kerrytown) for toys.

  • Macomb County: HoneyPie Kids (Romeo) for newborn-to-size-16 clothing.

  • Livingston County: 2 Dandelions Bookshop (downtown Brighton), a teacher-owned indie bookstore.

  • For the cool kids: Detroit-made gear from Detroit vs. Everybody,…

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**Updated 03/20/2026

Ann Arbor has always punched above its weight as a food city. For a mid-sized college town of roughly 120,000 people, it carries a dining culture that rivals much larger metros, anchored by decades-old institutions on one side and an energetic wave of new concepts on the other. The result is a food scene that locals brag about, visitors return for, and anyone new to the city quickly comes to rely on.

Part of what makes Ann Arbor's restaurant scene so compelling is its authenticity. This is not a city where chain restaurants define the experience. The places residents love are independently owned, locally rooted, and deeply tied to the character of their neighborhoods, from the buzzing downtown core along State and Main to the…

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Michigan is seeing a rush of new AI-focused data centers, and state lawmakers are now moving to repeal the special tax breaks that helped attract them. The bipartisan push comes amid public outcry over the massive facilities’ impact on local communities, from potential strain on power grids and water supplies to the loss of farmland. Supporters argue these high-tech hubs can bring jobs and infrastructure upgrades, but many Metro Detroit residents and officials are debating whether the promised benefits outweigh the environmental and quality-of-life concerns.

crainsdetroit, instagram

AI Boom Drives a Data Center Rush in Michigan

Michigan may remember 2025 as “the year of the data center.” In the wake of an artificial intelligence (AI) boom, tech…

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Saline Township, MI, In a quiet patch of Washtenaw County farmland just outside Ann Arbor, something big is on the horizon. Not another corn harvest, but a massive high-tech data center that promises to put Michigan at the forefront of the AI revolution. OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, is partnering with software giant Oracle and developer Related Companies’ digital arm to transform 250 acres of rural Saline Township into a 1-gigawatt “hyperscale” computing campus nicknamed “The Barn”. Locals who have driven along Michigan Avenue past the iconic red barn on the property may soon see it standing at the gateway to one of the country’s most advanced artificial intelligence facilities instead of endless rows of crops. The project’s sheer scale and…

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October turns the calendar into a highlight reel of color, culture, and big-ticket entertainment across the region. Whether you are living in Metro Detroit or mapping out a fall weekend, this month lines up arena tours at Little Caesars Arena, legacy acts at the Fox Theatre, and outdoor finales at Pine Knob alongside preseason hockey, early NBA action, and the Detroit Free Press Marathon. Family-friendly staples return in full force, from the Frankenmuth Corn Maze and Scarecrows in Kellogg Park to Youmacon’s fan-packed weekend at Huntington Place and the Detroit Fall Beer Festival at Eastern Market. The schedule is dense, the nights are crisp, and the options range from blockbuster concerts to small-town charm, which makes planning ahead essential…

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Crisp air, peak color, and packed calendars make fall the season to explore Michigan like a local, whether you’re living in Michigan or moving to Michigan. This month-by-month guide for September, October, and November highlights kid-friendly weekends and date-night ideas with practical details that matter to families and savvy locals, including dates, times, addresses, ticket ranges, and official links. You’ll find easy picks near Detroit and Ann Arbor, road-trip options Up North, and smart add-ons like cider mills, scenic drives, Halloween outings, and holiday markets. Skim for quick plans or dive deep to build an itinerary that fits your schedule and budget, with insider tips on parking, crowds, and weather. Use this as your trusted checklist to make…

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Families, weekend explorers, and anyone curious about Michigan’s creative side do not need a ticket to see world-class art. Across big cities and small lakeshore towns, public pieces anchor plazas, brighten alleys, and turn waterfront paths into open-air galleries. From Calder’s towering “La Grande Vitesse” in downtown Grand Rapids to the playful Walk of Art on Elk Rapids’ bayfront trails, these works say as much about their communities as they do about the artists.

This guide is written for how locals actually explore. It sticks to verified, official sources, names each piece precisely, and gives quick pointers on how to see more with a simple loop, stroller in tow, and camera ready.

Southeast Michigan
West Michigan
Mid-Michigan
Northern Michigan
Upper…

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Fall in Metro Detroit isn’t just a season. It’s a ritual built around crisp air, weekend drives, and the holy trinity: cider, donuts, and u-pick apples. This guide maps every major cider mill and orchard across Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw, and Livingston Counties so families and die-hards can plan smart. Expect honest, on-the-ground details that make days easier, crowd patterns, what’s kid-friendly, pet notes, and where to park. Bookmark it, share it, and build your route.

Alber Orchard & Cider Mill LLC, Facebook

Alber Orchard & Cider Mill

Open: September 3, 2025; closing date varies by season
13011 Bethel Church Rd, Manchester, MI 48158
Phone: (734) 428-9310
Website: Alber Orchard & Cider Mill

A heritage-rich spot known for heirloom…

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If you’re a millennial who feels like homeownership is a distant dream, you’re not alone. Across the U.S., younger buyers face high prices and rising interest rates that make buying a home harder than ever. But here’s a Midwest secret: Michigan is emerging as a haven of affordability for millennials looking to put down roots. In a time when many peers in coastal cities are stuck renting tiny apartments, millennials in Michigan are finding they can actually afford spacious homes and a comfortable lifestyle. The Great Lakes State offers an appealing mix of lower home prices, local support programs, and a reasonable cost of living that’s turning frustrated would-be buyers into happy homeowners. Written in the voice of a lifelong Michigander and Metro Detroit…

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