Karen Moorhead Ann Arbor Area Real Estate

It isn't even spring in Ann Arbor, Michigan and snow is on the ground we are still thinking about summer in the city. Every summer Ann Arbor has a wonderful party for the town. It is the mark that summer is here. Top of the Park! Oh how we love this town party!

There is music every night and movies on a big screen outside. Think of a drive-in without your cars. Everyone brings their blankets and rollings them out on the lawn while the kids watch the movie and the best part of this summer tradition is that it is free!

It doesn't cost anything to attend and its open to the whole community but it costs a lot to produce. One of the fundraisers for Top of the Park is coming up: Tuesday, March 18th, 2008.
6:00pm Champagne reception
6:30pm Seated Dinner

It is located at Zanzibar
216 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Free Parking at Liberty Square Parking Lot

The chefs who attend are remarkable to our town such as: Craig Common, Common Grille from Chelsea, Michigan
Eve Aronoff, eve in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Deb Kastanis, Food Art
Todd Stapnowski, Katherine's Catering
Tom York & Matt Morgan, our very favorite wine store in Ann Arbor, Michigan:

Morgan and York
Duc Tang, Pacific Rim by Kana
Scott & Dianna Huckestein, Schakolad Chocolate Factory
Misty Callies, Zanzibar

Reservations are available if you call the Summer Festival at (734) 994-5999. Seating is limited.

The 18th annual builders home and improvement show is going on at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Saline, Michigan this weekend:

• Friday, March 14 3:00pm to 9:00 pm
• Saturday March 15 10:00am to 8:00 pm
• Sunday March 16 11:00am to 5:00 pm

If you are interested in a coupon you can go to the website and each ticket you purchase can be doubled. The website provides a coupon for two for one entrance.

There are more than 150 exhibitors and the tickets are $5.00 for adults with children under 12 are free.

This might be a nice hello to clients who have used your services in the past or potential new clients.

Hope the weather holds out, although the Farm Council Grounds does have heat if it gets super cold. Hope to see you there.

The Pfizer campus has a potential buyer: Forest City. Forest City has viewed the area and they are considering the 2 million square foot site for future development and it would be necessary for the area to become public-private partnership between Forest City and the University of Michigan.

The University of Michigan is quoted as saying that "yes, Forest City is one of the major companies" that is in consideration. Forest City has done this in the past with ex-Pfizer developments but nothing this large was ever considered before.

Ever since Pfizer left Ann Arbor, the public has been aware that the campus is so large that it will probably take more than one company to occupy the space in the future. We all hope the employers will come and jobs will come with them as well.

The Old West Side of Ann Arbor has some wonderful aspects to it and one of these gems has been the Jefferson Market which has just been sold and the new business is:

Jefferson Market and Cakery

The new owner is Mary Rasmussen from Saline who fell in love with the building and location. It was purchased from the prior business owner and manager Jean Henry. Jefferson Market and Cakery will open with coffee and pastries at 7 a.m. except on Sunday and will also offer an array of lunch sandwiches. She will also handle wedding cake business and catering from Jefferson Market.

There is a suggestion box for the new owners. You know like, "will you still keep my favorite....at the new store?"

All of the Old West Side wants to know if she will get someone to make those wonderful fries that Jefferson Market has been known for and I personally loved the spinach. Yes, we still miss the old chef. But I digress here...we want to welcome to Mary and her new business!!

Welcome Jefferson Market and Cakery

Additional updates on the OPENING DATE will be covered at http://treetowntalk.com

Photos reprinted with permission from Jim Rees.

Top 10 Things We Love in Ann Arbor

10. Going up "North" for vacation
9. Coffee shops
8. Downtown
7. Diversity
6. Parks
5. Art and Art Fair
4. Music
3. Schools
2. Books
1. Michigan Football

Top Things We Hate* in Ann Arbor

10. Cloudy days
9. Art Fair
8. Long drives
7. Drivers who don't look for pedestrians
6. School officials who take jobs, make plans and then run out of town
5. Closing streets...(what do you mean you're considering Main between Stadium & Keech???? Are you crazy?)
4. Clubs that don't allow diversity among members or leaders
3. Potholes
2. Property taxes
1. Ohio State

You can think of this list as things we really dislike and we don't hate OSU graduates...its just a football thing. I'm sure football fans get it.

* That is a strong word, really we just strongly dislike these things (although some

football fans would argue that statement).

Also if you see Art Fair on the list for hate and love...its not a typo. It is an Ann Arbor thing. I'll post about it another time, but many townies agree that "its not art and its not fair". I personally love it. But we do have 500,000 people come into town over 4 days and lets just say it makes it difficult to share our lovely downtown.

Anyway, welcome to Ann Arbor, Michigan and if you have any questions or comments about my top 10 list please be sure to share! Remember football season is only 7 months away!