Jolly Pumpkin

A few weekends ago we found ourselves on a spur of the moment day trip to Ann Arbor.  We spent the day visiting with some family and friends and wondering around the city.  Along the way we made a stop at the Jolly Pumpkin to share a pitcher of delicious, locally brewed beer.  It reminded me of the fall color trip we took this past September when stopped in at the Traverse City location of Jolly Pumpkin.  To my surprise Jolly Pumpkin has three locations in total- Traverse City, Ann Arbor, and Dexter.  Be sure to stop by and try their current seasonal flavor- Noel de Calabaza. 

State Theater

 I love little, old theaters.  The State Theater in Ann Arbor has a great old sign that looks awesome surrounded by the modern storefronts.  The State Theater was designed by C. Howard Crane, the same architect that designed the Fox Theater in Detroit.  The theater is used for movie viewing only, but often shows independent and art films.  Make sure to check it out if you are in the area!

A Snowy Weekend

Do you have weekend plans?  We will be laying low and enjoying the fresh fallen snow.

Most likely doing a little bit of this . . . 

A few fun events going on around the state this weekend . . .

The Rochester Fire and Ice Festival . . . fireworks in January, sounds fun!

The Main Street Ice Carving Extravaganza in Ann Arbor.

Wintertime in Frankenmuth sounds beautiful and Zehnder's Snowfest is this weekend.

Want to stay warm?  Check out the Ferndale Blues Festival.

Oh and I wish we could be here this weekend. 

U of M Football

Unfortunately, I have not been able to make it to a college football game this year.  But luckily, my fabulous friend Shelley was able to make it to a game this past weekend.  So this post is from Shelley to you.  Enjoy-- and thanks Shel!

One of my favorite things about fall in Michigan is college football.  The University of Michigan has the biggest stadium of ANY college in the US, holding almost 120,000 people!  

I went to the game this past Saturday and it was FREEZING, we were shivering under layers of clothes, blankets and even hand and feet warmers!  Luckily, it was one of the most exciting games of the season.  We scored a touchdown with just over a minute to go to tie it up, and Michigan ended up winning in triple over time and the whole stadium went crazy! 

Michigan football has such a strong history and Ann Arbor is the perfect college town with awesome tailgating.  Walking down State Street and seeing how excited and spirited everyone is...what a great city!  Only in Michigan would you see a stadium that can seat 120,000 people, FILLED to capacity when it's 35 degrees outside.  Such dedication-- Go Blue!

Pictures from past U of M games.

The Cupcake Station

Last night we went to a going away party at The Cupcake Station in Ann Arbor.  All I can say is- YUM!  I am not sure if it is a good or bad thing that we did not know about this place sooner.  If I had to pick a favorite it would be The Tortoise, but the Hot Chocolate made a close second.  Already looking forward to our next visit to Ann Arbor so we can make another stop at The Cupcake Station!