News
Latest
Signs of Spring—in Fall
Scientists have a name and a theory for those untimely blooms.
Literacy Challenges Follow Students to College
Covid, screens, and AI complicate efforts to develop better readers and writers.
School Board Voter Guide
Hear from a dozen candidates vying for five seats in November's election.
A Life in Theater in Southeast Michigan
Professional Ann Arbor actors are finding roles close to home.
Doors Open at the Big House of Dorms
What will Wolverine Village mean for the city’s housing market?
Defying Density
Opponents of a Glazier Way townhouse project say it plainly: Not in our backyard.Community
Latest
A Better Way to Disagree
Braver Angels movement calls for more productive dialogue across the political divide.
Don’t Just Stand There
A U-M club gets involved in improving transit for passengers, before they board.
How Slippery Rock Scored a Place in Big House Tradition
A longtime PA announcer stumbled upon a Pennsylvania college with a funny name, and turned it into a surefire crowd pleaser. (Boo Shippensburg!)
A Tireless Advocate for Saline’s Children
Life’s challenges propel a career serving teens, foster kids, and students with special needs.
A Family and Farm that Grew Together
From a modest plot of “unimproved pasture,” the Schlosses developed Washtenaw Meats and strong ties to Dexter.
Crafting a Life in Chelsea
A family splits their time between a home in the secluded woods and a close-knit community on Main St.Fun Stuff
Latest
Hub William Mural
I Spy Update | November 2026
Cork Run
Fake Ad Update | October 2026
The York Sign
Minor Landmarks | October 2026
Making It
Spirit of Ann Arbor
I Spy Update | October 2026
“Walkable City?” (a true story)
The Cube
Minor Landmarks | September 2026
Pinball Pete’s Sign
I Spy Update | September 2026Business
Latest
Doors Open at the Big House of Dorms
What will Wolverine Village mean for the city’s housing market?Defying Density
Opponents of a Glazier Way townhouse project say it plainly: Not in our backyard.
On the Ballot in November: A New Power Structure
Ann Arbor voters will decide whether to create a municipal electric utility that would ultimately replace DTE.
Fueling Up With Fried Chicken
Blazin Coop stands out for its location and Halal offerings.
The List Is a Launchpad
The resource connects local businesses to the people who need them.
Trading Card Rewards
Stories fuel passion for collectors and dealers.
A New Bridge Between Ann Arbor and Detroit
U-M leads an innovation strategy to help stem the region's brain drain.
Faster, Higher, Stranger
High-rises and luxury student apartments are transforming Ann Arbor’s skyline, and the streets and neighborhoods below.Marketplace
Latest
Ziggi’s Coffee
A chance remark inspires a drive- thru coffee shop.
Golden Pancake Cafe
Breakfast place adds to a family’s west side empire.
Concrete Chelsea Boardshop
A father-and-son skateboard shop keeps the town shredding
JDs Stage Bistro
Dinner and a show (and pizza), courtesy of Jeff Daniels
The Arboretum Music Venue
A tribute to Tree Town, featuring live acts, refreshments, and plant life.
The Enchanted Depot
A historic building becomes a book store.
For Clothes That Deserve a Second Chance
Sister-brother team envisions Purgatory Exchange as a judgment-free resale shop.Fueling Up With Fried Chicken
Blazin Coop stands out for its location and Halal offerings.Culture
Latest
New Tricks at the Creature Conservancy
Armadillos, rainforest animals, & tortoise yoga
The Artist as Historian
We Hold These Truths … at UMMA
K-Culture Meets Classical Music at Hill Auditorium
SeAH Korean Art Song Gala
Touché, My Friend
Athena at Theatre Nova
A Fourth Attempt at Forever
Emma’s Wedding(s) at the Purple Rose
Follow the Balloons!
Gallery Night in Kerrytown
Questions Worth Asking
Encore Theatre’s Fiddler on the Roof
People Come and Go, but the Piano’s Always Grand
A monthly jam has been bringing together musicians for a generation.Since 1976
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Ann Arbor Observer City Guides
Guide to Ann Arbor shopping, dining, senior services, health care, and schools. Mailed free to Ann Arbor residents, with a bonus circulation of 500 for retail, real estate offices, and U-M.