Summer in the City
FOOD + BEVERAGE
ANN ARBOR’S BEST BREWS
LIFE + CULTURE
THE REBIRTH OF BLIMPY
ARTS + CULTURE
A2'S ICONIC SUMMER FEST
The Start of Summer
There’s just something about it. Whether you’re a kid trying to make it through those final, seemingly unending days of school, or an adult eyeing a getaway while looking forward to dinners outside with friends. It’s the nights by the fire that stay with us. The longer days. The warmer air. Grills going, cold beers and lemonades in hand, time by the water, and yes, the ice cream (always the ice cream).
There’s something undeniably magical about the start of summer here. And in our community, there’s no shortage of ways to make the most of every minute.
We kick things off by chatting with the new ownership team behind Blimpy Burger, a longtime Ann Arbor institution and rite of passage known for its smash burgers and famously unforgiving ordering line. Led by members of the local business and creative community, they are stepping in to protect its one-of-akind counterculture spirit, preserving the edge that has defined it for generations while thoughtfully evolving it for the future.
We then head to the northwest corner of Ann Arbor to chat with Barton Hills’ Golf Pro Eric Emmel, who shares the simple adjustments that can transform your game. From August 20–23, the course will host the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship, bringing 120 of the world’s top women golfers to Ann Arbor.
For many of us, the warmer days and longer nights mean grabbing a beer, and Ann Arbor’s brewery scene feels especially alive this time of year. We catch up with the brewers behind some of Ann Arbor’s most distinctive spots, from HOMES and Mothfire to Bløm Mead + Cider, Arbor Brewing Company, and Grizzly Peak.
Our nonprofit feature highlights a summer tradition, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, running June 12–28. With headliners like Ira Glass and The Avett Brothers, along with the nightly Top of the Park events on Ingalls Mall, it’s one of those moments when the city truly comes together and lights up the night in the best possible way. Finally, we round out this issue by chatting with Jon Paul Morosi, an MLB Network sportscaster and local dad. When he’s not traveling the world covering baseball, he’s right back where it matters most. For him, that’s Ocker Field for field hockey or the sidelines coaching his daughter’s Rec & Ed soccer team. Summer in Ann Arbor is here. And the most magical part? It’s just the beginning!
MARIA KARPIEL, PUBLISHER @ANNARBORCITYLIFESTYLE
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Maria Karpiel | maria.karpiel@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Rebecca Voigt | rebecca.voigt@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Emily Klimas, Jon Morosi
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Stacy Anderson, Doug Coombe, Evan Schiller
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
Proverbs 3:5-6
inside the issue
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Photography:
JUNE 2026
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Pete Levin of Joe's Pizza Ann Arbor and Bo's Bagels with Head Coach Dusty May after U-M won its second-ever NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. 2: FestiFools, a larger-than-life, monumental moving art display, took over Main Street on April 12 3: Michigan Basketball registered dietitian Hannah Champine on the court after the National Championship victory. 4: Revelers light up Ann Arbor's streets during FoolMoon. 5: Cakes by Rubina celebrates Michigan Basketball’s National Championship. 6: Celebrating the 64th Ann Arbor Film Festival at the Michigan Theater. 7: Cold Truth kicked off a seven-month residency at BLØM Mead + Cider with flavors like UBE.
JAMIE FELDMAN
JAMIE FELDMAN
business monthly
Michigan Progressive Health Celebrates 10 Years with Anniversary Open House
Join Michigan Progressive Health on June 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. as it celebrates a decade of pioneering mental health care with a 10-Year Anniversary Open House at its Royal Oak clinic (1010 N. Campbell St.). As a physician-led ketamine, Spravato®, and mental health clinic, MPH has helped transform care for those seeking new paths to healing from treatment-resistant depression and other complex conditions. Guests can meet the clinical team, tour the clinic, and enjoy light refreshments. Learn more at michiganprogressivehealth.com
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A Night of Conversation and Inspiration with Dr. Jill Biden
Join the Michigan Theater and official bookseller Literati Bookstore as they welcome Dr. Jill Biden to Ann Arbor on June 16 for an inspiring night of conversation. To mark the release of her new book, View from the East Wing, Dr. Biden will share a candid, behind-the-scenes look at life in the White House. Her hard-won lessons in leading with purpose and insights on navigating life’s challenges with grace will resonate long after the conversation ends. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.
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Ann Arbor’s Showcase of Homes Returns June 27 & 28
Visit finely crafted custom homes, spectacular remodels, beautiful outdoor living spaces, and new construction models at the 2026 BRAG Ann Arbor Showcase of Homes on June 27 & 28. Tour homes, meet leading design-build experts, and gather inspiration for your next project while exploring new neighborhoods across Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Saline, and Whitmore Lake. Homes are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 (16 & under free), valid both days. See maps, photos, and details at showcaseofhomes.net.
Scan to read more
Photography courtesy of the author
Photography by Jim Haefner
Riemco Design + Build
12005 Jerusalem Road, Chelsea
M/I Homes - Heritage Farms
516 Heritage Farms Blvd., Chelsea
Guenther Homes - Hillside Acres
11600 Hillside Drive, Dexter
Riemco Design + Build 5095 Dexter Pinckney Road, Dexter
Chestnut Homes - Chestnut Village 362 Jubilee Drive, Whitmore Lake
Architectural Resource and Adaptive Building Solutions 4567 Boyden Drive, Ann Arbor
KLA Development
4702 Whitman Circle, Ann Arbor
Toll Brothers - Geddes Vista - Preserve 2977 Simi Way, Ann Arbor
Toll Brothers - Geddes Vista - Towns 5440 Poppydrew Lane, Ann Arbor
Guenther Homes - Saline Valley Farms 10660 Valley View Drive, Saline
M/I Homes - Andelina Farms 2767 Silo Drive, Saline
Visit the
Meadowlark Design+Build 2041 S. 7th Street, Ann Arbor
Lotus Gardenscapes 2325 Hollow Oak Drive, Ann Arbor
Method Home Renovations 3077 Hilltop Drive, Ann Arbor
Dexter Builders 1109 Stag’s Leap, Ann Arbor
Forward Design Build Remodel 3688 Lamplighter Drive, Ann Arbor
Blue Zone Spaces 11347 Pleasant View Drive, Hamburg Twp.
in any order. Your ticket is valid for entry to all homes on both days.
Photo courtesy of Lotus Gardenscapes, Inc.
Build the Home YOU Believe In
When your values guide your decisions, your home becomes something more. Adaptive Building Solutions creates custom,
Located in the heart of Burns Park on Packard
ARTICLE BY MARIA KARPIEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY STACY ANDERSON
The team behind Blimpy’s next chapter is preserving its spirit while ensuring it thrives in Ann Arbor for generations to come
The Culture
Keepers
It’s a rare feat when a business becomes a true cultural experience. The kind of place you want a T-shirt from not because it’s fashionable, but because it represents something far better — a kind of counterculture, a badge of having been there. It’s not something you can set out to create. It must be earned, organically, over time.
In Ann Arbor, a place like that has to strike a very specific balance. It has to be just weird enough, just authentic enough, unwelcoming and completely irresistible all at once. And if you’ve spent any time here, you already know the place. Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger.
The team leading Blimpy Burger into the future: Pete Levin, Noah Kaplan, Doug Botsford, and Ethan Kaplan.
For generations, Blimpy hasn’t just been a place to eat. It’s been a rite of passage. And for the first time in decades, it’s entering a new chapter.
Founded in 1953, Blimpy Burger has always existed slightly outside the norm. It never tried to be polished. It didn’t need to be. What made it iconic wasn’t just the food. It was the experience. The personality. The consistency. The sense that, no matter how much the city changed around it, Blimpy’s spirit defiantly stayed the same.
That identity was shaped by longtime owner Rich Magner, who first left his mark as the artist behind Blimpy’s original T-shirt and hand-drawn menu before taking ownership with his wife, Cindy, in 1992 and carrying that legacy forward.
Following Magner’s passing, the future of Blimpy felt uncertain. Because places like this don’t just operate. They carry something.
They carry culture.
Enter our conversation with Noah Kaplan and Pete Levin. At first glance, they might seem exactly like what you’d expect. Two successful operators, the kind who move from one project to the next. But look closer, and you realize they are exactly who this moment calls for.
Kaplan may be the owner behind Ann Arborbased ventures like Leon Speakers, Mothfire Brewing, and York Food & Drink, but he identifies first as an artist and musician, someone who spent years in this city playing gigs and immersed in the creative scene. Levin may be the operator who brought New York’s iconic Joe’s Pizza to Ann Arbor, followed by Bo’s Bagels, but he’s also someone who left a successful career in New York, working on Saturday Night Live and running a thriving NYC bar, to build his life in a city he has loved since his college days. Joined by Kaplan’s brother and business partner, Ethan Kaplan, and operating partner and fourth-generation Ann Arborite, Doug Botsford, this is a team with deep roots in the community and an even deeper affection for the Blimpy legacy.
“WE’RE NOT COMING TO CHANGE IT. WE’RE COMING TO CARRY IT,” NOAH KAPLAN SAYS.
This isn’t about expansion. It’s about connection.
For all of them, Blimpy was never just a business. It was part of their Ann Arbor story long before it became part of their portfolio. Levin admits he wasn’t initially looking to take on something new. Time is limited. The demands are real. But when Blimpy entered the conversation, everything shifted.
“It’s such a special place,” he says. “That changes everything.”
So what does it mean to take something like that on?
For Kaplan, the answer is rooted in a simple idea: the best businesses are an extension of the people who created them. They carry a point of view. A character. A consistency that people come to rely on.
That’s what Blimpy has always been. And that’s exactly what they intend to protect. “We’re not coming to change it,” Kaplan says. “We’re coming to carry it.”
Of course, carrying something forward doesn’t mean freezing it in time. The reality is that even institutions must evolve to survive.
“You look at the longest touring bands,” Kaplan says. “They’re always redefining and rewriting, but the core sound has to remain the same.”
Behind the scenes, there will be changes: operational improvements, updated infrastructure, and a shift toward digital ordering to meet how today’s customers, especially college students, engage.
There are also thoughtful additions designed to extend, not redefine, the experience. The team plans to introduce beer in partnership with Mothfire Brewing, extend hours past midnight, and bring Blimpy into the broader community through local events like Top of the Park.
But step inside, and the core will remain.
The ordering ritual. The quality. The edge. The snowbears.
“There’s a balance,” Levin says. “You have to keep the charm and the grit, but make it work operationally.”
The opportunity now is to widen the circle without losing what made it special in the first place. To let more people in on the experience while still preserving the feeling that made it iconic.
Upstairs, Kaplan is already imagining what comes next — a creative space, a listening lounge, something that expands the world of Blimpy without altering its core. Downstairs, the line will still move the way it always has. A little fast. A little loud. A little unforgiving.
Exactly as it should be.
Because the truth is, places like Blimpy don’t survive by accident.
They survive because someone chooses to step in. To take responsibility. To understand that what they’re holding isn’t just a business, it’s a piece of a community’s identity.
Learn more at blimpyburger.com
ARTICLE BY MARIA KARPIEL
BY EVAN SCHILLER
Barton Hills’ Golf Pro Eric Emmel on the simple adjustments that can transform your game
PLAY THE GAME SMARTER
Tucked just minutes from downtown, but somehow feeling miles away, is Barton Hills Country Club, home to one of Ann Arbor’s most iconic and storied golf courses. Designed by legendary architect Donald Ross and shaped by more than a century of play, it’s a course that demands thoughtful strategy and rewards precision at every turn.
From August 20-23, that same course will take center stage as it hosts the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, bringing 120 of the world’s top women golfers aged 50 and over to Ann Arbor for a rare USGA major championship. It’s the kind of moment that does not come often, and one that puts a national spotlight on a course many in the community have long admired.
We sat down with Barton Hills’ head golf professional, Eric Emmel, to talk about the simple adjustments that can make a meaningful difference in your golf game. Whether you’re playing Barton Hills for the first time or simply looking to improve your score, his perspective is grounded, practical, and refreshingly straightforward.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T PLAYED IT, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE OF GOLF AT BARTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB, AND HOW DOES ITS DONALD ROSS DESIGN INFLUENCE STRATEGY THROUGHOUT THE ROUND?
We have a tremendous Donald Ross golf course at Barton Hills that’s been here for more than 100 years. It presents a great challenge to all players, which is demonstrated by the club having hosted three USGA major championships, including the upcoming U.S. Senior Women’s Championship this August. Donald Ross courses are highly regarded around the country and require thoughtful shots throughout the round. For Barton Hills in particular, some characteristics that stand out are strategic bunkering and undulating green surfaces, which provide a challenge to all levels of golfers.
To score well, golfers need to position their ball well off the tee in hopes of setting up scoring opportunities into green complexes that have plenty of movement. I would say overly aggressive approach shots have a tendency to roll off our pushed-up green complexes, and when you miss the greens and short-side yourself, it can create very difficult up and downs. Some advice we share with golfers playing for the first time is to play to the front of the greens to try to minimize risk.
IF A GOLFER COULD FOCUS ON IMPROVING ONLY ONE PART OF THEIR GAME THIS SEASON, WHAT WOULD DELIVER THE FASTEST, MOST NOTICEABLE RESULTS?
I would say the way golfers approach course management and how they think around the golf course. Over the course of a round, we all find ourselves out of position at some point,
and sometimes it’s best to, in a sense, “take your medicine” and play the safe shot to avoid bigger numbers, which is key to having lower scores.
DRIVER OR PUTTER — WHICH MATTERS MORE, AND WHY?
It depends on the player, more experienced versus more inexperienced, but in general, I would tell you putter. Consistently making
BARTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB TO HOST U.S. SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN
When: August 20-23, 2026
Where: Barton Hills Country Club
What to Expect: 120 of the world’s top women golfers, age 50+
Why It’s Special: A rare USGA major championship in Ann Arbor with some of the world’s best professional and amateur players competing for the most coveted championship in senior women’s golf.
Plan Ahead: Tickets available at usga.org
shorter putts around the green will be the easiest way to save the most amount of strokes.
ONE CLUB AMATEURS SHOULD PRACTICE WITH MORE?
I think drivers will always be a club amateurs love to hit. That won’t change. It’s important to start a hole with confidence, right? But I’d say a basic greenside chip is essential. It builds confidence around the green and carries through the rest of your round. So, if there’s one thing to practice more, it’s those greenside chips.
IF YOU COULD GIVE EVERY GOLFER ONE PIECE OF ADVICE BEFORE THEY TEE OFF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Just to have fun. You know, golf’s a game that we love and hate all at once — but enjoying your time on the course and the social aspect of the game, that’s really what it’s all about. Try not to be too hard on yourself and take in the moments you get to spend outside playing this “game of a lifetime,” as we call it.
Ann Arbor has Personality on Tap
GET TO KNOW THE BREWERS AT THE HEART OF THE CITY’S VIBRANT BREWING CULTURE
ARTICLE BY REBECCA VOIGT
HOMES Brewpub
Owner and Co-Founder Tommy Kennedy
Ann Arbor has one of Michigan’s most vibrant craft beer scenes, where hopheads, lager lovers, and curious newcomers all find a seat at the bar. Each brewery tells a different story about this town: its creativity, its community, and its insistence on doing things well. Pull up a stool and get to know the brewers at the heart of this dynamic scene.
WHAT DOES THE ANN ARBOR COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOUR OPERATION?
HOMES exists because of Ann Arbor. This community values creativity, quality, and authenticity — and it shows up for the people and places that reflect that. There’s a rare mix here of intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurial energy, and a real appreciation for craft. It’s a place where you can push boundaries, and people are excited to go on the journey with you.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BREWING PHILOSOPHY — WHAT PRINCIPLES GUIDE EVERY BATCH YOU MAKE?
Our head brewer since day one, Nick Panchame, has led this. At its core, it’s a progression of culinary expression intended to surprise our guests. The goal is to constantly raise the bar while staying grounded in drinkability.
WHAT’S ONE BEER ON YOUR CURRENT MENU THAT YOU’RE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF, AND WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND IT?
It has to be Same Same Different IPA. It was the first beer we ever brewed and is still our most popular. We’ve used it as a platform to evolve our processes and ingredients over time, while always keeping the same three hops — Citra, Simcoe, and Mosaic. After nine years of serving it exclusively in-house, we’re finally launching distribution across Michigan this spring. We’re excited to get it into more people’s hands.
WHAT DO YOU THINK SETS YOUR BREWERY APART?
We think about the experience holistically. The beer matters, but so does the food, the service, the design, the energy of the space, and how people feel when they’re there. We want it to feel like a place you can come for anything — a casual drink, a celebration, a creative meeting, or just a reset after a long day. It’s less about being a brewery and more about being a place to gather in community.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE A FIRSTTIME VISITOR WALKS AWAY FEELING AFTER THEIR VISIT?
Seen, welcomed, and pleasantly surprised. If someone leaves excited to come back and recommend us to others, we’ve done our job.
Mothfire Brewing Co.
Head Brewer Alexis Jorgensen
ARE THERE ANY LOCAL OR REGIONAL INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE THEIR WAY INTO YOUR BEERS? HOW DOES THE PLACE SHOW UP IN THE PINT?
Being a part of the Michigan beer scene is something special. Michigan has so much to offer. We grow some of the best hops and we have excellent grain. One of the special parts of Mothfire is that we want to create a social bonfire. We want to be part of the community, give back, and draw the community to us. That encompasses using local ingredients. We get malt from Great Lakes Malting based out of Traverse City, and we get hops from Top Hops
Farm in Goodrich. It’s amazing to curate relationships with these businesses. In the last year, I was able to visit and check out both facilities and see the hard work that goes into producing the top-notch ingredients that we use in our beers.
WHAT DOES THE ANN ARBOR COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOUR OPERATION?
I am truly fortunate to be a part of Mothfire, and Mothfire is truly fortunate to be part of Ann Arbor. To have a brewery here, that can give back to the community, is amazing.
Co-owner Lauren Bloom
WHAT PRINCIPLES GUIDE EVERY BATCH YOU MAKE?
The seasons, the soil, the farmers. Rather than coming up with recipes and then going out to order those ingredients, we flip the process. We reach out to farmers and find out what’s growing well this year and build our recipes from that information. We focus on dry, carbonated, refreshing ciders and meads, where the fruit and other ingredients really shine through.
WHAT’S ONE BREW THAT YOU’RE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF?
Our small batch Paw Paw Sour Mead. The Paw Paw is a native fruit that has an incredibly tropical flavor — almost like a cross between a mango and a banana. That mead is a great segue to talk about the Michigan ingredients we use to achieve some unique flavors.
Bløm Mead + Cider Arbor Brewing Company
Head Brewer Chris Davies
WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO BREWING?
It’s a pretty classic answer, but after a rookie season of homebrewing I was hooked. Taking beer’s raw ingredients and turning them into something delicious, refreshing, and new — it was very exciting.
WHAT’S THE ONE BEER YOU ALWAYS RECOMMEND TO SOMEONE WHO WALKS IN AND SAYS THEY “DON’T USUALLY LIKE BEER”?
Our Strawberry Blonde often works for that customer. It has a rich malt character, not a lot of bitterness; it has fruit, but we don’t let it steal the show. To top it off, the beer is 7 percent ABV, so it has a little more oomph, too.
Grizzly Peak
Head Brewer Duncan Williams
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BREWING PHILOSOPHY?
My personal philosophy is simple: very traditional. English style beers on hand pull, traditional European lagers — I make what I like to call “beer-flavored beer.”
WHAT’S ONE BEER ON YOUR CURRENT MENU THAT YOU’RE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF?
We just opened a new concept called The Ranch. Sort of a country bar honky-tonk. The owners wanted to make a light beer that we could sell. It was kind of fun coming up with the recipe for Blue Collar and getting it just right. A little challenging brewing something with a very light flavor, which is kind of the opposite of what we do here.
A SUMMER OF SURPRISE AND DELIGHT
THE A2SF IS A LIVING, BREATHING MANIFESTATION OF THE CITY’S UNIQUE CULTURE
ARTICLE BY EMILY KLIMAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOUG COOMBE
In Michigan, we put a lot of expectations on our summers, eager to take advantage of every activity before the fleeting season slips away. And on a warm June evening in Ann Arbor, that urgency transforms into something distinctly communal. As golden hour settles over the city, something special begins to stir — a vibrant tapestry of sound and light that seems to rise from the pavement itself. For the uninitiated wandering toward Ingalls Mall, the sight of thousands gathered under the open sky often sparks a wide-eyed curiosity, leaving many to wonder: “What exactly am I looking at?”
That something special is the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, a two-week celebration running June 12-28.
“It’s the best expression of our community,” says Michael Michelon, the festival’s executive director. It’s a place where, on any given night, the stage becomes a bridge between the familiar and the global. At seven o’clock, you might find a local student group or a neighborhood fan-favorite setting the tone for the evening. But just 90 minutes later, that same stage welcomes an internationally touring ensemble. This deliberate interplay between friends and neighbors and world-class talent creates a balance that is rare to find elsewhere. The result: a multi-generational experience that serves as a living, breathing manifestation of the city’s unique culture.
The festival’s current vibrant identity is the result of a decades-long evolution from its founding vision. Founded in 1984, the original vision, shared by university and city officials, was for a major national, destination festival designed to bring life to the campus during the “summer doldrums.” In those early days, organizers looked to prestigious models like the Stratford Festival. They imagined a program deeply connected to the University of Michigan’s professional theater department, utilizing the Power Center, a premier space that typically sat dark during those warmer months.
A main catalyst for the organization’s evolution was a physical one: moving from a parking structure to the green space of Ingalls Mall. As regional tastes shifted toward more diverse, accessible arts, this move allowed the festival to expand, transforming Top of the Park — the festival’s free outdoor program of nightly music, movies, and community gathering — from a smaller accompaniment into a core piece of cultural infrastructure. What began as an effort to fill a seasonal gap has since become a defining part of Ann Arbor’s summer, a
place people don’t just visit, but one they feel they helped create.
“It’s less about circling something in the calendar as much as ‘look at this special place that exists’,” Michelon says.
While many large-scale festivals anchor themselves to a pre-planned concept, A2SF takes a more organic approach. Michelon notes that while there isn’t a static, overarching theme in any specific year, every season eventually reveals its own unique personality. The theme of the festival is cultivated in real-time, appearing only once the people are on-site and performances begin. It’s a collective experience where the audience brings the theme with them, and the organization discovers the true spirit of that year’s event only after the final curtain falls. This truly allows the festival to breathe and take on a life of its own.
Among the highly anticipated features for the 2026 season is Summer Break by Flip Fabrique, a world-class contemporary circus company from Canada. Performing in, out of, and even off a bus that rolls right onto the site, the troupe embodies the “strolling up and seeing something amazing” energy that defines A2SF.
While the circus takes over the streets, some familiar favorites take the stage. On June 19, The CONTINUED
The festival, Michelon says, is “an enduring treasure that creates community through shared arts experiences.”
Avett Brothers join forces with Mike Patton, legendary frontman of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle, for AVTT/PTTN at Hill Auditorium. The next night, June 20, Ira Glass brings his new show, Stories for a Saturday Night, to the festival — a performance that leans into the intimate, world-class storytelling local audiences have come to expect from the legendary host.
Looking toward the future, the festival is focused on becoming “core cultural infrastructure” for the region. A primary goal is restoring the festival to its full 21-day season. To support this growth, the organization is embarking on a five-year plan to invest in physical infrastructure that can withstand Michigan’s increasingly variable weather. This includes the vision for a covered stage and audience areas that are flexible and resilient, ensuring that it remains a vibrant gathering place reflecting the very best of Ann Arbor.
One of Michelon’s biggest dreams is for A2SF to extend its magic beyond the month of June. Michelon highlights the success of out-of-season projects like Monuments — the hauntingly beautiful installation by artist Craig Walsh that projected living portraits of community leaders into the canopy of trees at Wheeler Park — as a blueprint for the future. By creating these one-off opportunities throughout the year, the festival aims to remain a constant, vibrant thread in the community.
Whether through large-scale visual art in the fall or a three-week marathon in the summer, the future of A2SF remains anchored in that same “surprise and delight” that’s defined it for more than 40 years.
The festival, Michelon says, is “an enduring treasure that creates community through shared arts experiences.”
Learn more at a2sf.org
TOP THREE TIPS FOR A PERFECT NIGHT AT TOP OF THE PARK
• Leave the Schedule Behind: Don’t worry about what’s on the calendar — just show up. Some of the best moments at Top of the Park are the ones that are completely unplanned.
• The Golden Hour at The Grove: Start your evening at The Grove. The 5-7 p.m. happy-hour sets are about as good as an Ann Arbor summer evening gets.
• Create a Core Memory: Bring a blanket and a friend who’s never been. You’ll blow their mind — and create a lasting memory in the process.
AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST
Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short
Creative Director: Jen Birn
Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill
Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX
MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.
After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.
Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”
THE QUIET STANDARD:
MIKE JOHNSON
“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson
Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?
A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”
Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?
A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”
This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.
MIKE JOHNSON
events
JUNE 6TH
Ann Arbor African American Downtown Festival
Downtown Ann Arbor | 9:00 AM
Come to downtown Ann Arbor for a vibrant celebration of African American culture, including live performances, delicious, local artists, kids’ activities, and more. The event takes place in downtown Ann Arbor on E. Ann Street between 4th Avenue and Main Street, the area formerly known as the Historical Black Business District. Free entry for all ages. facebook.com/AnnArborAADF
JUNE 6TH
Nucleate Beer Festival
Veterans Memorial Park | 1:00 PM
Join HOMES Brewery for the annual Nucleate Beer Festival, featuring some of the best breweries from around the world pouring beer on Ann Arbor’s west side. Enjoy live DJs, food trucks, yard games, an Underberg experience tent and more, with proceeds from ticket sales benefitting Habitat for Humanity Huron Valley. homesbrewery.com/nucleate-2026
JUNE 13TH
33rd Annual Ann Arbor Garden Walk
Ann Arbor Area | 10:00 AM
Join Ann Arbor Farm & Garden for the 33rd Annual Ann Arbor Garden Walk, a tour of several uniquely beautiful private gardens throughout the city. This year’s event also includes “What You May Not Know About Trees,” a special presentation with Rachel Hoskins, ISA Certified Arborist with Guardian Tree Experts. annarborfarmandgarden.org
JUNE 18TH
Event on Main
Main Street | 5:30 PM
Join The Woodson Fund for summer’s most stunning evening in support of the Little Victors at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Come in your best cocktail attire and dance the night away to dazzling entertainment while chefs from Main Street Ventures serve up their specialties. eventonmain.org
JUNE 21ST
Make Music Day
AADL Downtown Library | 10:00 AM
Make Music Day is a live, free musical celebration open to anyone who wants to take part. Every kind of musician — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion — is invited to share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers. This year’s events at the Ann Arbor District Library include a Musical Petting Zoo, Folk Song Jam Along, Intro to Recording with David Fienup, and DJ Workshop. aadl.org/makemusic
JUNE 25TH - 27TH
Yes, Ann Improv Fest
Michigan Theater
Yes, Ann Improv Fest arrives this June with three packed days of nationally recognized headliners and standout rising performers at the historic Michigan Theater. Expect spontaneous magic, daring performances, and the kind of live comedy moments that only happen once. This inaugural festival sets the stage for a new annual tradition in Ann Arbor. yesannfest.com
STUNNING, CONFIDENT SMILES
REFRESHED LOOK WITH INVISALIGN & BOTOX
CONTINUED
JUNE 25TH - AUGUST 30TH
Emma’s Wedding(s)
The Purple Rose Theatre, Chelsea The Purple Rose Theater Company presents Emma’s Wedding(s), a world premiere by Carey Crim and directed by Kate Thomsen. Emma is getting married — again. For the fourth time. But she’s determined that this will be the one. Revisit each of Emma’s previous weddings with a hilarious romp through the decades, complete with ’80s hair, dial-up internet, Boone’s Farm wine, and the enduring power of friendship. purplerosetheatre.org
JUNE 27TH
Big Play Day
Nichols Arboretum | 10:00 AM
Get ready for fun as Nichols Arboretum transforms into an open-air playground where kids and grown-ups can explore, create, and play at their own pace. At this free, drop-in event, let curiosity lead the way with a blend of open-ended nature play and handson exploration. Whether you’re weaving a bird’s nest, pounding a drum, or turning sticks into sculptures, every activity invites playful discovery. mbgna.umich.edu/big-play-day
JUNE 27TH - 28TH
Showcase of New & Remodeled Homes
and Outdoor Living
Ann Arbor Area
Join BRAG Ann Arbor for a tour of spectacular homes throughout the city. From new custom homes, model homes, and remodeled projects to stunning outdoor spaces, the 2026 showcase features the work of the area’s top builders, architects, designers, and landscapers, including Riemco Design Build, Architectural Resource, Inc., Meadowlark Design+Build, and more. Admission is $10 per person, cash or check only at the door. bragannarbor.net/parade-of-homes
Photo credit: Neil Weaver
Dr. Kathryn Chilton
ARTICLE BY JON MOROSI
Home Run
GET TO KNOW MLB NETWORK SPORTSCASTER
JON MOROSI’S LOCAL ROOTS AND GLOBAL STORYTELLING
Golden Memories
My family heritage traces back to a village of 3,000 people outside Milan, so the 2026 Winter Olympics were “hometown” Games for us. My wife, Alexis, and I brought our three daughters to Italy for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in a place that is dear in our hearts.
A Coach, Improbably
I didn’t play soccer beyond elementary school, yet I’m in my third year of coaching my youngest daughter’s Rec & Ed team. (I don’t usually wear a suit!) We have so much fun. The only statistic I track is whether kids enjoy the sport and team environment enough that they return for the next season.
Storytelling in 9 Innings
I’m fortunate that baseball has provided me opportunities to travel to Asia and Latin America, along with big and small towns in our country. A favorite question of mine is to ask players why they’ve chosen to play baseball. Their answers often provide insights into cultural nuances and family histories.
Important Cause
Mental health is an important topic for me, and I’m grateful to live in a community with leaders like my friends Kristen and Jeff Roberts. They co-founded the Miles Jeffrey Roberts Foundation for youth suicide prevention. They are saving lives through education, empowerment, and empathy.
Field Hockey Dad
Ocker Field — home of the Michigan field hockey team — is our family’s favorite sports venue in town. Our daughters train there with the Fer De Lance Field Hockey Club, and then we watch U-M games on fall weekends. Michigan’s student-athletes are tremendous role models and generously share their knowledge of the game with kids in the community.
Photo by Tommy Koide
Photo by Alexis Lopez
Photo by Lon Horwedel
ARCHITECTS PHOTOGRAPHY:
A LEGACY BUILT ON CRAFTSMANSHIP
“If you find a place you love, but the house just doesn’t feel right, don’t worry, that’s where we come in. We can take what’s there and make it what you want. Whether that means opening it up, adding on, or completely reworking the inside until it feels like home to you.” — Jake Johnson
ARCHITECT: ANGELINI & ASSOCIATES
JEFF GARLAND