Fine Art, Theatre and Dining in Ann Arbor

Art Fairs, Theatre, Restaurants and the Univ. of Michigan

Oct 16, 2009

Even for a good-sized midwestern college town, Ann Arbor Michigan offers a diverse slate of visual & performing arts and dining options, worthy of a much larger city.

From the University of Michigan Museum of Art to the numerous galleries around town, and the annual Ann Arbor Street Art Fair (a summer visual arts extravaganza that consumes the entire town in a frenzy of booths displaying painting, sculpture, mixed media, jewelry and various crafts) to the numerous professional and semi-professional theatrical companies around town, Ann Arbor, Michigan is a community with a rich tradition of artistic expression.

Visual Arts, Galleries and Street Fairs in Ann Arbor

From the expansive University of Michigan Museum of Art, set downtown on the edge of campus, to the galleries, display spaces, and ad hoc exhibits in windows and tucked in corners of businesses all over Ann Arbor it’s clear that this is a town which values visual art. Most of the mid-priced and upscale restaurants display some local or regional artist’s works. This general sense of the visually creative pervades the town and seems to take over at times.

In mid-summer every year, the artists do in fact take over Ann Arbor as the visual arts pour out into the streets in the form of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. Begun in 1960, this art fair is considered one of the top ten arts fairs in the country. The fair attracts over 500,000 visitors per year. Consisting of hundreds of artist’s booths, displays, and exhibitions, the fair is staged on North University Ave. and on the University of Michigan’s Central Campus, taking advantage of the area’s pleasant walking atmosphere and striking architecture, including the landmark Burton Carillon Tower. As amazing as the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is, it speaks volumes bout the city that it is only one of four award winning Ann Arbor art fairs.

Theatres & Performance Spaces

In Ann Arbor the theatrical offerings are not as diverse as the visual arts offerings during the Street Art Fair, but with a half dozen or more professional theatre companies in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities anyone with an interest in performing arts should have no trouble scratching their dramatic itch. Mixing classical and contemporary works and utilizing Broadway caliber talent, Ann Arbor’s theatres deliver thought provoking theatrical experiences with offerings for all ages, price points and points of view.

Ann Arbor is town that seems bent on fostering creativity in all its many forms.

Dining, Cooking and Brewing in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor’s creative expression is not simply limited to stage and canvas. Rather, it exists more as a general social condition. Throughout Ann Arbor, evidence of a lively creative spirit can be found in the breweries and homegrown eateries all over town. They shun the traditional in favor of more inventive menu items.

Started in 1982 in a historic building near what today is the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market, Zingerman’s Deli has grown into a grand pantheon of culinary bliss. By itself, the deli’s towering sandwiches, baked goods and specialty items justify the journey to Ann Arbor. But many of the items in the deli are produced by Zingerman’s other operations. The Zingerman’s universe has expanded to include Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Zingerman’s Creamery (cheese, gelato and more), Zingerman’s Coffee Company, and Zingerman’s Roadhouse (classic American roadhouse fare with a gourmet twist).

With so many dining options, the Zingerman’s has taken on something of a cult following. Evidence of this exists in the copious Zingerman’s flyers, newspapers and booklets perused by Zingerman’s devotees the world over looking for new products events and activities related to this Ann Arbor institution. And for those who want to take the Zingerman’s experience with them after they leave Ann Arbor, there is Zingerman’s Mail Order.

Located in an 1886 train depot, the Gandy Dancer Restaurant is a delightfully charming setting for any meal. But weekend visitors to Ann Arbor are well advised to stop and experience the Sunday (10-2) buffet. The Gandy Dancer buffet is truly special. Every week is unique, but look for dozens of dishes from fresh fish to custom omelets, fresh veggies, an amazing salad bar, and a towering dessert bar.

Additionally, Hollander’s (traditionally known for their collectible stationary and paper goods) has installed a demonstration kitchen and begun offering cooking classes with local chefs. Foodies and book lovers are encouraged to check out this artsy institution.

For those Ann Arbor visitors looking for a white tablecloth dining experience, the fresh bread, garlic infused and Mediterranean influenced creations at Mediterrano are a terrific choice. Additionally, eve (the restaurant), just off the Farmers Market offers award-winning cuisine in an intimate upscale setting.

As with most college towns, Ann Arbor natives like their beer. But in Ann Arbor the result is a host of top quality microbreweries and brewpubs. From Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti, beer lovers can enjoy several dozen quality local brews. Popular Ann Arbor breweries and brewpubs include:

Even with all of the advantages of a modern college town, and a mid-sized city with it’s own industry and businesses, Ann Arbor goes above and beyond. Whether they are looking for arts & crafts, a thought provoking night of theatre, a meal to remember, or a cold draft at the end of the day, visitors to Ann Arbor rarely go way without wanting to return as soon as they can.

The copyright of the article Fine Art, Theatre and Dining in Ann Arbor in Michigan Travel is owned by Glenn Kaufmann. Permission to republish Fine Art, Theatre and Dining in Ann Arbor in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.