ann arbor art fair 2009

It was amazing to see the transformation this quiet town takes on during their beloved Ann Arbor Art Fair. For blocks and blocks lining the beautiful campus streets are closed as local (and sometimes far) vendors set up their goods in white canvas tents. For 4 days only, people flood the streets of the event to look at the art and search for treasures.

Trying on new shades.. :)

Everything feels “arty” here.  Even the fire hydrants are painted differently throughout the area.

Young voices of children running through the crowds filled the air with delight while the vendors quickly chattered about all there precious creations.  Water bottles were sold by girl scouts for charity.  No one has met a stranger here and everything is so homey and quaint.

The streets were lined with not only crafts but loads and loads of FOOD. It’s times like these I think no wonder American’s are so chubby.

But we couldn’t resist the locally owned Stucchi’s for some delicious ice cream and frozen yogurt. I’ve never seen another restaurant with so many options for frozen yogurt that tastes so much like ice cream it’s hard to tell them apart. (I had mint chocolate chip, yum :))

These little locally owned shops are maybe my favorite bit about Michigan and in particular, Ann Arbor.  An unfamiliar array of restaurants, hole in the wall food joints, and creative shops line the streets offering customers an alternative to the chain restaurants that dominate so many cities.   Everything is cleaner and safe and the food is fresher and tastier. There are recycle bins on every corner, an abundance of bike rental shops, and plenty of bike racks all over town.  It’s completely refreshing to see a town that is so safe and clean and lovely in America and I can only hope it will start carrying over in more and more cities soon.