Issuu

That'll Do, Boots, That'll Do

My hiking boots broke. It was our first trip out of the country with our kids, and they completely fell apart.

I was devastated.

I bought these boots 17 years ago for my first-ever major hiking trip to Banff National Park. I was so nervous about that first trip, questioning whether I could handle the mountains. But the moment I put those boots on, I instantly felt confidence. I instantly gained a sense of credibility. An immediate longing to get out on the trail. These boots took me to trails in New Zealand, Patagonia, and the Sierra Nevadas. I mean, I got engaged in these boots! Losing them felt like losing an old, adventurous friend with whom you share so many memories.

But as the months have gone by, I’ve realized these boots weren’t what made me adventurous. They simply helped me discover that I already was. They gave me the confidence to take that first step, but they were never the reason I kept going. Exploring had become a part of who I am.

And so begins our “Explore” issue of Ann Arbor City Lifestyle magazine.

It doesn’t feel like summer in Michigan unless you find your way to a lake. We asked Riemco Design + Build to guide us through a few lake homes they’ve created, each thoughtfully designed for family memories, legacy, and becoming the place everyone wants to come back to.

We then hit the streets with sidewalk artist David Zinn, who transforms ordinary sidewalks into fleeting moments of magic and reminds us to look down, look around, and simply be present. David will be at the Ann Arbor Art Fair July 16–18.

We also head outside to explore the Border-to-Border Trail, a 55-mile pathway connecting communities across Washtenaw County through nature. We learn about the best places to start on the trail and the complexity behind completing its final few miles.

If you’re in a season where getting away simply isn’t possible, we asked our friends at Literati Bookstore to share their favorite reads to transport you somewhere new through the pages of a book.

And it wouldn’t be July if we didn’t talk about “up north.” We asked Kelly Wolgamott of Pure Michigan for her thoughts on Michigan’s hidden gems — the places you may not think to visit immediately but absolutely should.

There’s nothing like being outside, nothing like exploring, and nothing like Michigan this time of year. Enjoy every minute (boots optional).

MARIA KARPIEL, PUBLISHER @ANNARBORCITYLIFESTYLE

July 2026

PUBLISHER

Maria Karpiel | maria.karpiel@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Rebecca Voigt | rebecca.voigt@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lindsey Dodge, Kali Kasprzyk, Kelly Wolgamott

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Misty Bergeron, Meg Dula, Janie Jones

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford

LAYOUT DESIGNER Lillian Gibbs

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

Proverbs 3:5-6

inside the issue

Creating

DGY DENTISTRY

OFFICE OF DR. ZERRIN YILMAZ

Artful Renewal + Remarkable Results

DGY Dentistry delivers Ann Arbor’s most elevated cosmetic and comprehensive dental experience through exceptional artistry, precision, and personalized care.

From smile design and veneers to implants and full-service dentistry, every treatment is tailored to achieve refined, natural, and truly remarkable results.

Schedule a consultation today.

Photography:

city scene

1: The silent auction at HouseN2Home's "Welcome Home" Fundraising Event. In 2025 the organization fully furnished 432 homes, serving 45 veterans and providing beds for 431 children. 2: HouseN2Home founder Ruth Ann Logue and Keynote Speaker Martez at the "Welcome Home" Fundraising Event. 3: Attendees at the Ele's Place Derby Day Soiree, including Keynote Speaker Rachel Corrigan (middle). The annual event benefits Ele’s Place and its mission to provide support for grieving children and teens. 4: Steph Dolan and Will Foss at the Derby Day Soiree. 5: Susie Pitt, Steph Dolan, and Charlie Cook of Coriander Financial Group at the Derby Day Soiree. 6: The Esquire Interiors team at the Sip & Style event, the kick-off to the family-owned business' semi-annual sale. 7: Esquire Interiors co-owner Amanda Barron with her daughter Finley at the Sip & Style event.

8: Tommy and CJ Carr with a puppy (their late brother Chad dreamed of being an animal doctor), which was part of the auction at the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Gala. 9: Eighth-annual ChadTough Defeat DIPG Gala co-chairs Anna and Dusty May. 10: Lloyd Carr and Mitch Albom at the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Gala, which raised $2.1 million to fuel critical DIPG and DMG research. 11: A2SO Board Member Patrick Wells-O’Brien, Demetrike Wells-O’Brien, and A2SO Executive Director Sarah Calderini at the Secret Garden Gala. 12: A2SO Executive Director Sarah Calderini, Dr. Gil Omenn, and Honorary Gala Chair Martha Darling at the A2SO Secret Garden Gala. 13: Rupert Tull de Salis, Jody Tull, Ann Schriber, Sajeev Krishnan, Rajani Bhat, and Gala Chair Elizabeth Wells at the Secret Garden Gala. 14: The flower bar at the Esquire Interiors Sip & Style event.

business monthly

Michigan’s Top-Producing Female Loan Officer on Today’s Housing Market

As the summer housing market continues across Ann Arbor, many buyers are trying to make sense of what homeownership looks like amid high home prices, national interest rates, and a fast-moving market. Born and raised in the area, Jeanna Carey of Gold Star Mortgage has become a trusted resource in those conversations. Recognized as the top-producing female loan officer in Michigan, Carey is known for helping buyers understand the full financial picture, from realistic monthly payments to long-term affordability, bringing clarity to one of life’s biggest decisions.

Scan to read more

KC Runciman Landscapes Selected as National Symposium Tour Stop

This July, KC Runciman Landscapes will welcome approximately 150 landscape and horticulture professionals from across the country as an official tour stop for the Perennial Plant Association’s National Symposium. Attendees will experience KC Runciman’s thoughtfully designed display gardens and nursery firsthand, recognizing the 80-year-old firm’s legacy of craftsmanship, naturalistic design, and thoughtfully curated outdoor spaces.

The Evolution of Sustainable Homebuilding in Ann Arbor

As more homeowners throughout Ann Arbor rethink how homes should be built and lived in, interest in creating legacy homes with a sustainable focus continues to grow. Adaptive Building Solutions is helping lead that conversation locally. Led by husband-and-wife team Mike and Andrea Mahon, the firm is known for integrating energy efficiency, healthy materials, and proven building science into beautifully crafted homes, including both Net Zero and LEED-certified projects.

BUILDING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

Create a legacy you can stand behind. Adaptive Building Solutions creates custom, high-performance homes rooted in thoughtful design, environmental responsibility, and a refined approach to green building.

| 734.994.0413

READY TO EXPLORE?

From local favorites to global legends, the UMS 2026/27 season is your invitation to explore world-class live performance. Showcasing legendary jazz, breathtaking theater, and unforgettable dance and musical events, UMS invites you to experience the world’s most incredible artists right here in Ann Arbor.

Write your own adventure. Subscribe today with a series package for ultimate access, or mark your calendar for single ticket sales to all individual events, starting 10 AM on July 28.

Setting Smiles up

The right care at the right time can shape how a smile develops for years to come.

Located in the heart of Burns Park on Packard

Explore the 26/27 Season Today

BUILT FOR LAKE LIFE

Creating a lakefront home is about family, legacy, and building the place everyone wants to come home to

ARTICLE BY LINDSEY DODGE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEG DULA AND

PROVIDED

RIEMCO DESIGN + BUILD

In Michigan, lake living is more than a summer pastime. It’s a homecoming.

It’s the smell of sunscreen and wet towels, the sound of kids running barefoot through the house, the long days that begin on the water and end around a firepit. It is Fourth of July weekends, cousins

“There is a different feel on a lake. It’s more casual, more comfortable, and a place people want to stay and come back to,” says Maria Riemenschneider.

piled into bunk rooms, early morning fishing trips, quiet sunset boat rides, and the unmistakable feeling of turning the corner, seeing the water, and immediately exhaling.

For Rob and Maria Riemenschneider of Riemco Design + Build, that feeling is personal.

Rob grew up spending summers on North Lake, where his family bought a cottage when he was 8 years old. His memories are filled with fishing, sailing, skiing, and the kind of endless summer days that become woven into a family’s identity. Years later, Riemco built a year-round lake home for Rob’s parents after they sold that original cottage.

Maria’s own lake memories began at her mother’s family home on Beetle Lake near Battle Creek, where cousins gathered for entire summers and learned to water ski together. Her family also spent summers in South Haven, giving her both the intimate inland lake experience and the expansive feeling of Michigan’s western Great Lakes shoreline.

That combination of personal history and professional expertise now shapes how Riemco approaches waterfront homes on lakes near Ann Arbor and throughout Southeast Michigan.

Founded in 1988 by Rob’s father, Bob Riemenschneider, the company grew from a background in real estate and a desire to create something more tangible for clients. From the beginning, the business was rooted in smalltown values: taking care of people, building trust, and doing the right thing.

Rob joined the business in his early 20s, learning construction from the ground up. “I started in the field,” he says. “Helping the trim guys, helping the framers, doing drywall repairs, sweeping floors. I had to learn fast.”

Today, Rob serves as president of the company, while Maria leads many of the early client relationships and project conversations. Rob’s son has also joined the business as a project manager, continuing the family tradition of learning the work firsthand.

For Riemco, being family-owned is not simply a descriptor. It shapes the experience clients have from beginning to end.

“As owners, we are very involved in every project, from the initial communication to long after the project is completed,” Maria says.

That same philosophy carries into the homes themselves.

“Truly, it’s all about our clients and building more than their house,” she says. “It’s about building that relationship and an enjoyable experience to ultimately have a home for our clients to live and build memories in — a home that will last through generations of their family.”

Unlike firms known for one signature look, Riemco’s work is deeply customized. Some lake homes lean modern and minimalist. Others evoke the timeless warmth of a classic Michigan cottage.

People often describe a Riemco home as recognizable, but the common thread is not a particular aesthetic, but a sense of quality, longevity, and intentionality.

“I think most people associate us with something timeless,” Rob says. “We’re building for our clients and how they want to live.”

That becomes especially meaningful on the water, where the surroundings shape every design decision and homes are often passed down from generation to generation.

“With so many lakes around us here, and our Michigan summers being short, building homes on these lakes becomes a retreat in our own backyards,” Maria says.

For many families, that retreat is increasingly becoming a year-round home rather than a simple summer cottage.

“People live very differently today than in the past,” Maria explains. “Having that retreat is very important for them.”

As a result, many older lake cottages are being replaced entirely rather than renovated. “Most existing lakefront cottages don’t have the structural integrity to remain,” she says.

Designing on a lakefront property also comes with unique challenges that homeowners may not initially anticipate. Water tables, soil conditions, zoning requirements, lot access, and site limitations can all significantly impact a project before construction even begins.

“Upfront site due diligence is critical,” Rob says.

That is why Riemco encourages clients to begin conversations with a builder as early as possible — even before purchasing a lot.

“The hardest part is when people already own the property and then discover they can’t do what they envisioned,” Rob says.

Regardless of what a client envisions, lakefront design begins with one central priority: the view.

“Anytime we’re building on a lake, it’s all about taking in the views and surroundings,” Rob says. “From the second you walk in the front door, you want that sightline.”

Today’s lake homes are also increasingly designed for gathering. Outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, screened porches, and expansive entertaining areas have become especially popular as families look to maximize Michigan’s fleeting warm-weather months. Many homes also include practical lake-focused features like outdoor showers and lower-level kitchenettes, allowing family and guests to move easily between the house and the water.

Still, despite evolving trends, the emotional goal remains remarkably consistent.

“There is a different feel on a lake,” Maria says. “People want a haven where family and friends want to be. It’s more casual, more comfortable, and a place people want to stay and come back to.”

That sense of ease is something both Rob and Maria recognize in their own lives as well.

“The older we get, the more we appreciate it,” Maria says. “You realize how quickly the seasons go by, so you want to make those memories while you can.”

For Riemco, helping families create those memories begins long before construction. “A good design-build process starts with listening,” Maria says. “Before we ever talk about floor plans or finishes, we want to understand how our clients live, what matters to them, and how they want their home to feel.”

From there, the company guides clients through a highly collaborative process that integrates planning, design, and construction under one roof. “One of the advantages of design-build is that our whole team is solving problems together from the beginning,” Maria explains. “It helps avoid surprises later.”

That integrated approach allows the team to balance beauty, functionality, budget, and constructability simultaneously rather than as separate conversations. “Building or renovating a home is deeply personal,” Maria says. “We never forget that people are trusting us with a huge part of their lives.”

That mindset shapes the construction phase as much as the design itself.

“We want clients to feel informed and cared for, not stressed or left in the dark,” she says.

By the end of a project, the relationship often extends far beyond a professional transaction. In a community like Chelsea and the surrounding lake towns, clients regularly become neighbors and friends. Rob and Maria run into homeowners at coffee shops, school events, restaurants, and community gatherings long after the final walkthrough.

“At the end of a project, our closings are filled with laughter and hugs,” Maria says. “When we become friends and get to enjoy the homes as guests and not just being the builder, that is really an honor.”

At its best, a Michigan lake house is not simply a luxury home or a seasonal escape. It is a gathering place. A backdrop for birthdays and bonfires, coffee on the dock, snowy winter weekends, and generations of memories still waiting to happen.

For Riemco Design + Build, that is the true meaning of building for lake life.

Learn more at riemco.com.

OUR SIDEWALKS, HIS CANVAS

ARTICLE BY MARIA KARPIEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID ZINN AND MISTY BERGERON

DAVID ZINN TRANSFORMS

OVERLOOKED SIDEWALKS INTO FLEETING MOMENTS OF MAGIC, INVITING US TO PAUSE, LOOK DOWN, AND SIMPLY BE PRESENT

Have you ever seen one in person? You’re looking down at your phone, late for a lunch meeting, or maybe you’re grumbling about traffic or parking or your to-do list, and then — you see it. A burst of bright color. A whimsical creature staring back at you from an Ann Arbor sidewalk. You’re not quite sure what you’re looking at, but you love it. The angst you were just feeling subsides, if only for a minute. Suddenly, you’re just there, in the moment, looking at things differently — more curiously, more full of wonder, more full of joy.

That’s a David Zinn sighting, the Ann Arbor sidewalk artist who transforms our streets with his imaginative work.

CONTINUED >

For decades, Zinn has been reimagining overlooked corners of Ann Arbor into something unexpected. His medium: chalk and charcoal. His canvas: our sidewalks. His inspiration: often what we might call a blemish — a crack, a pothole, fragments of the pavement itself, even gum underfoot. Everything is intentionally temporary. The work is ephemeral, often gone with the next rain. And that’s precisely the point.

“Ephemeral art has some very special qualities because it focuses your energy on the process of making the art instead of on

the art that you make,” Zinn says. It’s a kind of liberation. Without the pressure of permanence or judgment — of wondering, “Is this good enough? Where will it go?” — there’s a freedom in it.

Zinn isn’t drawing for others. He creates simply because he wants to. In fact, he assumes most of what he creates may go unseen, by anyone but him or perhaps a single passerby.

“Maybe only one person sees it,” he says. “There’s something special about that…that I might share this piece of art not with thousands of people for hundreds of years, but with one person

"MAYBEONLYONEPERSONSEESIT ,ANDTHERE’

who happened to look down at the same place at the right time, before it’s gone. We may never meet, but we’re the only two people who saw this thing exist while it existed.”

While it’s true a single drawing might be witnessed by just one passerby, it can also be viewed by thousands, thanks to an Instagram post that goes viral. That tension is part of what makes his work so compelling. It isn’t created for an audience, and yet when discovered, it feels almost personally placed, as if you happened upon something meant just for you. It jolts you, or “rattles

you out of your routine,” as Zinn puts it, pulling you into the present, into the moment itself.

Want to see the sidewalk magic unfold in real time? From July 16–18, Zinn will be at the Ann Arbor Art Fair for Chalk the Walk on East Liberty Street, giving Ann Arborites a chance to experience the work as it’s meant to be: in the moment, right at your feet — at least until the inevitable summer storm rolls through and carries it away.

Learn more at zinnart.com.

BOOKS TO TAKE YOU AWAY

Whether you're packing a novel for a cross-country road trip or indulging in armchair travel from the comfort of home, these books curated by the team at Literati are sure to transport you

ARTICLE BY REBECCA VOIGT

COUNTRY PEOPLE

By Daniel Mason (Random House)

Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason dials up the humor in his latest book, Country People, about a family from California relocating to rural Vermont. Hilarity ensues when the husband and father, Miles, on his 12th year attempting to finish his PhD on Russian folktales, gets entangled with the quirky locals. It is an exploration of belonging — within our families, our communities, and as part of humanity. Heartwarming, at times absurd, but ultimately life-affirming, this novel is a summer read that will transport you to rural Vermont and plant you among a goofy, loveable group of characters.

A BITE-SIZED HISTORY OF ITALY

By Danielle Callegari (The New Press)

Long before Italy became a nation, it was a flavor. A Bite-Sized History of Italy traces the peninsula's identity through its food — from ancient Roman delicacies to the heresy of pineapple pizza — revealing how a shared culinary culture quietly unified a people across centuries. Author Danielle Callegari leads a warm, witty journey through kitchens, vineyards, coastal ports, and bustling piazzas, offering an intimate portrait of a place so famous for its food it nearly defies interrogation.

LILY TRIPP: DIARY OF AN ACCIDENTAL TIME TRAVELER

By Amelia Tait (Macmillan Publishers)

The start of a brilliantly funny time-travel trilogy for tweens, Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler is the perfect summer book for readers aged 10 to 14. It’s Back to the Future meets Judy Blume, starring an unforgettable 13-yearold girl who tackles timeslip mishaps, laugh-out-loud embarrassing moments, and one unpredictable adventure after another. Send your kids on their own Eras Tour this summer with this delightful journey through time.

Explore more summer reads at literatibookstore.com

“That's the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”

— JHUMPA LAHIRI

CONNECTION THROUGH NATURE

ARTICLE BY MARIA KARPIEL

HOW THE BORDER-TO-BORDER TRAIL IS BRINGING PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND NATURE TOGETHER ACROSS WASHTENAW COUNTY — AND THE CHALLENGE OF COMPLETING ITS MOST COMPLEX FINAL MILES

Connectivity. It’s a word we use often, and yet, somewhere along the way its meaning has shifted. We think of it in terms of Wi-Fi signals and constant reachability, as if being accessible at all times means we are truly connected.

But we know better.

Real connection doesn’t come from a screen. It comes from time away from it. From stepping outside. From a walk along the river, an impromptu run with a friend, exploring a new place on a bike or pushing a stroller, and simply moving through nature.

Creating more opportunities for that kind of connection — to nature, to each other, and to our communities — is at the heart of the Border-to-Border (B2B) Trail and the public-private partnerships helping bring it to life.

The B2B Trail is a 55-mile, non-motorized paved pathway connecting Stockbridge, Chelsea, Dexter, Ann Arbor, and Ypsilanti. Nearly 43 miles are complete, with just 6 miles remaining along the main east-to-west corridor, bringing the vision of a continuous route across Washtenaw County within reach. Linking parks, trails, and downtowns, it allows people to move seamlessly between communities. Built for people of all ages and abilities, the trail is designed to be used in whatever way fits your day, whether that’s a short walk, a long ride, or something in between.

Bringing a project of this scale to life is no small undertaking. What feels simple and intuitive on the trail is the result of years of coordination, planning, and persistence behind the scenes. The effort is led through a partnership between the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission (WCPARC), which oversees planning, construction, and maintenance of the trail, and the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative (HWPI), a nonprofit focused on accelerating progress through private funding, community engagement, and ongoing coordination.

We spoke with Kiff Hamp, executive director of HWPI, about the ambitious work underway to turn a long-standing vision into something people can experience across the county. His eyes light up when he talks about what’s already been built.

“There are so many ways to experience it,” he says. “It depends on your interests, your time, whether you’re out with your family, training for a marathon, or going for a ride. It’s hard to paint just one picture, because you really want to be able to paint a thousand different ones.”

While there are many places across the county to experience the trail, for those looking to start close to home in Ann Arbor, Hamp recommends the “Ann Arbor Corridor,” beginning at Gallup Park (3000 Fuller Road) or, for a quieter and equally beautiful option, Parker Mill (4650 Geddes Road).

At Gallup Park, you’ll find playgrounds, river access for non-motorized boats, and wide, scenic paths that make it easy to settle into the experience. Continue along the trail, and you’ll reach Parker Mill, a lesser-known stretch where deer move through the trees and wooded paths open into a peaceful marsh, offering a completely different, more secluded feel.

That’s what’s already built. What remains is the hardest part.

The final stretch of the east-to-west connection, roughly three and a half miles along the Huron River between Dexter and Ann Arbor, is where the project becomes most complex. “That’s the real crux of what we’re trying to do now,” Hamp explains, noting that this section is “by far the most expensive, by far the most complicated.” Running alongside the river and the Amtrak line, with limited space and significant environmental considerations, completing it will require not just engineering solutions, but sustained funding, coordination, and community support.

There is a clear desire to connect these two cities in a way that reflects how people want to experience them. Today, many run or bike along Huron River Drive. It’s easy to understand why. The route is beautiful. But it’s also unsafe — for runners, cyclists, and drivers alike. A dedicated pathway through this corridor, separate from the road itself, would change that, creating a safer, more accessible connection between two deeply linked communities.

“We’re building things where they don’t exist,” Hamp says. “A trail over a river, through the woods, by a downtown. It’s a super hard thing to conceptualize, to engineer, to permit, and to fundraise for, even to fully articulate what it is.”

Completing this trail will not be easy, but it will be worth it. Because, in the end, the importance of this work extends far beyond the miles themselves. It’s about what this becomes for the next generation. A place to step outside, to explore, and to connect — with people, with communities beyond their own, and with nature. Away from screens. Closer to each other.

To support the completion of the Border-to-Border Trail, visit hwpi.org. To explore the trail, visit b2btrail.org

“IT’S HARD TO PAINT JUST ONE PICTURE, BECAUSE YOU REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO PAINT A THOUSAND DIFFERENT ONES.”

T$6.25 ICKETS

ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE

The 10% Target Mindset

Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT

Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.

He calls days later.

That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.

The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.

The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.

“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”

FEATURING JEN COHEN

Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.

1 2

MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS

The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.

STACK THE DECK

Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.

DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE

No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.

SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP

Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.

NEVER MISS A MONDAY

The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

JULY 4TH

Ann Arbor Firecracker 5K

Downtown Ann Arbor | 8:00 AM

Kick off your Fourth of July with the Firecracker 5K: Run, Walk, or Ruck! This 3.1-mile course gets underway at the intersection of Liberty and 4th in Ann Arbor. Racers then loop around downtown and come in for a spectacular, star-spangled finish in front of a throng of cheering spectators. annarborfirecracker5k.com

JULY 4TH

Ypsilanti 4th of July Parade

Downtown Ypsilanti | 11:00 AM

Michigan’s longest-running 4th of July parade (now in its 96th year!) kicks off at Oakwood and West Cross Street at 11 a.m. Led by Commander Josh McAllister of American Legion Post 282 and the City of Ypsilanti, this year’s parade will also be a celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. facebook.com/YpsiParade

JULY 10TH

30th Annual Rolling Sculpture Car Show

Downtown Ann Arbor | 2:00 PM

Step into a world where automotive history comes alive. The Rolling Sculpture Car Show is a celebration of timeless design, unparalleled craftsmanship, and the passion for classic cars. Hosted annually in the heart of Ann Arbor, this event brings together car enthusiasts, collectors, and families for a day of admiration and nostalgia. mainstreetannarbor.org/rolling-sculpture

JULY 11TH

Summer Game Spectacular

Veterans Memorial Park | 1:00 PM

Join the Ann Arbor District Library, fellow Summer Game players, and community members for another spectacular celebration of all things Summer Game! Circus performances, lawn games, bubbles, ice cream and more await at AADL’s annual summer celebration. Oh, and of course, you’ll find lots of codes, which means lots and lots of points! aadl.org/play

JULY 14TH

Dart for Art

Downtown Ann Arbor | 5:00 PM

Lace up your shoes and join the excitement of the Dart for Art, an all-inclusive one-mile run/walk in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor. The exciting course runs from S. State to Division, culminating in The Dart pARTy and the Paint the Town Block pARTy from 5-9 p.m. The Dart for Art supports the Ann Arbor Street Fair, The Original, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. dartforart.org

JULY 16TH - 18TH

Ann Arbor Art Fair

Downtown Ann Arbor | 10:00 AM

The Ann Arbor Art Fair captivates nearly half a million visitors over a vibrant three-day extravaganza every July. Renowned as the largest juried art fair nationwide, it showcases the talents of nearly 1,000 artists, spanning an impressive 30-city-block footprint throughout downtown Ann Arbor. theannarborartfair.com

CONTINUED

JULY 17TH - 19TH

Thunder Over Michigan

Willow Run Airport, Van Buren Twp. Nationally recognized performers and historic aircraft take flight over Michigan on July 17-19 at Willow Run Airport. A broad collection of ground displays will be featured, a Kids Zone for young aviation fans, as well as aircraft rides by Michigan Flight Museum – Air Adventures for those wishing to take to the sky and experience authentic aircraft nostalgia. thunderovermichigan.org

JULY 24TH - 25TH

Morgan Wallen: Still the Problem Tour

Michigan Stadium

Attend a concert at the biggest stadium in the country! Nineteen-time Billboard Music Award winner Morgan Wallen headlines at Michigan Stadium on July 24 & July 25. Special guests include Thomas Rhett, HARDY, Hudson Westbrook, and Blake Whiten.Tickets are sold through AXS. app.mgoblue .com/MorganWallen2026

JULY 31ST - AUGUST 2ND

Ann Arbor Taco Fest

Washtenaw County Farm Council Grounds

With more than 30 taco trucks serving up the tastiest tacos in town, this is a taco extravaganza you don't want to miss! Whether you like it hot and spicy or prefer something milder, the choice is all yours. Remember to grab a margarita, tequila sunrise, or Mexican beer to complement those tacos. Enjoy live Latin music and Mexican folk dancing, Lucha Libre Wrestling matches, taco eating and hot pepper eating contests, and fantastic yard games for the whole family. annarbortacofest.com

Dr. James Olsen,

THE BOX TREE MOTH IS HERE

ARTICLE BY KELLY WOLGAMOTT PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY PURE MICHIGAN

Off the Beaten Path

EXPLORING MICHIGAN’S HIDDEN GEMS WITH PURE MICHIGAN VICE PRESIDENT KELLY WOLGAMOTT

Beach Days and Culinary

Excellence

in New Buffalo

Michigan is full of hidden gems, and when it’s time for a summer beach day, the sandy shores of New Buffalo offer a perfect lakeside escape. Stroll the Lake Michigan beaches and browse the chic boutiques in the lively downtown. For dinner, make a reservation at PostBoy to experience the elevated global cuisine of Chef James Galbraith, a 2026 James Beard nominee. End your day on the boardwalk atop the dunes at New Buffalo Beach, where the sunset takes center stage.

Explore Michigan’s Indigenous Culture

Cross the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace to visit the Museum of Ojibwa Culture, a powerful space dedicated to sharing the traditions and stories of the Anishinaabe people. Peruse authentic exhibits and local artistry to learn about Michigan’s Native American heritage and discover how these rich cultures and traditions continue to shape our state today.

Tee Up History on Mackinac Island

If golf is on your agenda, grab your clubs (or a set of vintage hickory sticks) for a tee time at Wawashkamo Golf Club on Mackinac Island. This 9-hole, links-style gem was founded in 1898 and is Michigan’s oldest active golf course. “Wawa,” as it’s affectionately known, was built on the site of an 1814 battlefield in the War of 1812, making it a must-visit for history buffs and golfers alike.

Slowing Down on the Sunrise Side

Experience the slower pace of Michigan’s “Sunrise Side” at Tawas Point State Park, situated on two miles of sandy shoreline on Lake Huron and Tawas Bay with 193 campsites and four cabins just steps from the water. Take in a sunrise on the beach and explore the dunes, trails, and historic lighthouse, or take your time and enjoy the day in this peaceful sanctuary at whatever pace suits you.

Float Above a “Big Spring” in the U.P.

It may not be easy to pronounce, but Kitchiti-kipi – “big cold spring” in Ojibwe – is a natural wonder to behold. Located within Palms Brook State Park, Michigan’s largest freshwater spring spans 200 feet across, with 10,000 gallons of crystal-clear water flowing from the limestone floor every minute. A self-propelled observation raft gives visitors a view of the spring’s emerald depths and the giant trout swimming below.

Explore more hidden gems at michigan.org