• Small enough to see five friends on the way to the Farmers' Market. 
• Big enough to host world-renowned folks at the University of Michigan. 
• La-di-da enough for mansions and ooh-la-la restaurants. 
• Gritty enough for student slums and spray-painted Graffiti Alley. 
• Funky enough for the Hash Bash, Art Fairs and David Zinn's street art. 
• Suburban enough for PTOs, soccer moms and dads, and minivans—many of them hybrid, of course. 

"Ann Arbor does it up different"

If you're new to the city, know these things:

• Yes, we *are* liberal. And progressive. And proud of it.
• Yes, we *do* wear Birks. Brazenly.
• Yes, we care about being green.
• Yes, we love diversity—in many flavors.
• Yes, we're smart. More people here have graduate degrees than undergrad.
• Something's happening every day and night. Check the city's most comprehensive events calendar.
• Don't plan on going anywhere on football Saturdays. Except during the game. Unless you're *at* the game.
• No, we're not snobby. We're deep in thought.

Local Faves

• Farmers' Market
• The Sunday Artisan Market
• FestiFools and Fool Moon, sponsored by WonderFool Productions
• People's Food Co-op and Cafe Verde
• Summerfest / Top of the Park
• Zingerman's Deli

Music

• The Ark: Live music 300 nights a year. 
• Night Spots: Click on a date to see which bands are playing in Ann Arbor. 
• Kerrytown Concert House: Intimate venue in a historic Victorian home in Kerrytown: concerts, art exhibits, theater. 
• University Musical Society: World class musical performances. 

Museums

• UMMA: The University of Michigan Museum of Art
• A myriad of other museums

Local Secrets

Fairy Doors:

• Urban Fairies website
• Fairy Doors search results on Google, including stories by Atlas Obscura, MLive,  NPR and the Today show.

Parking:

• After 6 p.m., it's free—and all day Sundays and on most major federal holidays. For more info, see Republic Parking A2. The site also gives EV charging locations—because *of course,* it's Ann Arbor—moped parking spots, real-time parking spot availability, and how to pay your meter by phone.

Reduce / Reuse / Recycle / Resources

• Drop-off Station: Here's a recycling guide.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• PTO Thrift Shop: All proceeds from this resale shop go to the Ann Arbor Public Schools.
• ReUse Center: A gazillion great recycled things, including housewares, tools, furniture, artwork, appliances. You gotta go. You can donate your junk, too.
• Salvation Army Thrift Store

Organizations

Peruse the many organizations Ann Arbor hosts, from the Ann Arbor Observer's City Guide.

The University of Michigan Medical Center was recently rated the No. 1 hospital in Michigan and the 18th best in the United States.

Kid Stuff

• Ann Arbor Public Schools
• Ann Arbor Rec & Ed: That's short for recreation and education. Tons of classes, sports, clubs....
• Hands-On Museum: Kids love the interactive science, math and tech exhibits—as do grown-ups.
• Leslie Science & Nature Center: Feed raptors, take hikes, meet critters.
• Neutral Zone: "We are a diverse, youth-driven teen center dedicated to promoting personal growth through artistic expression, community leadership and the exchange of ideas."

Farmers' Market / Foodies / CSA

• Ann Arbor Farmers' Market
• Community Gardens: Here's a story from one of our clients, Katie Whitney, about her first year of tending a community garden plot.
• Community Supported Agriculture: What it is and where it is in Ann Arbor
• SELMA Café

Photo credit of Graffito Alley: maltman23 via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-SA