News
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Ann Arbor’s Reading Challenge
Can the school district’s new curriculum and training programs lift sagging test scores?
Encouraging Health Trends
Washtenaw County reports improvements on three public health crises. Health Department officials aren’t resting.
Seeking a Check on U-M’s Expansion
Lawmakers confront the university over its land and construction plans.
Tough Break Hotel
After scathing reviews, Blue Suede’s Exhibit A2 has left the building.
Residents Fight the Power—and Win
Activist campaign prompts Consumers Energy to abandon plans for a gas-fired plant in Lima Twp.Community
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Scouts Honored
All five of Ann Arbor’s first female BSA Scouts have earned their Eagle rank.
Pomonapalooza Rocks On
An old-school block party with a big heart.
Scott Beal
A poet who found his rhythm in teaching.
Chasing the Sky Disc
HAC Ultimate carries on the spirit of the game.
All Rise for a Notoriously Tough Boss
On the anniversary of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s August 1993 Supreme Court appointment, we share stories from four Ann Arborites who clerked for the legendary judge.
Fifty Years of Observing Ann Arbor
Celebrating a milestone anniversary with some of the people who helped us get here.Fun Stuff
Latest
Barton Dam
Minor Landmarks | August 2026
Roadwork Blues
Uomonuovo
Fake Ad Update | August 2026
Liberty Plaza Mural
I Spy Update | August 2026
Art Fair Bingo Board
Good to the Last Crumb
I Spy Update | July 2026
The 8 Ball Saloon
Minor Landmarks | July 2026
Bespoke K9 Tayloring
Fake Ad Update | July 2026Business
Latest
Faster, Higher, Stranger
High-rises and luxury student apartments are transforming Ann Arbor’s skyline, and the streets and neighborhoods below.Tough Break Hotel
After scathing reviews, Blue Suede’s Exhibit A2 has left the building.
Starry-Eyed
Local chefs hope to draw the Michelin Guide to Ann Arbor
This Year’s Big Health Scare
The public fight between Michigan Medicine and Blue Cross Blue Shield is tormenting the patients and families who depend on them both.
Downtown Dead Zone
Four years ago, S. Main’s 100 block seemed poised for a comeback. What went wrong?
Innovation District?
Unravelling the mystery of the signs on Plymouth and Traverwood roads.
Data Center Traffic
A massive influx of tractor-trailers has residents asking what's being done to keep the road safe.
Changing the Station
WEMU's music director Michael Jewett and news director David Fair will retire in June.Marketplace
Latest
Juicy Kitchen Rises From the Ashes
Ten months after a disastrous fire, the Maple Rd. eatery is reopening.Faster, Higher, Stranger
High-rises and luxury student apartments are transforming Ann Arbor’s skyline, and the streets and neighborhoods below.
Sewing Studio Reinforces the Social Fabric
Marengo favors natural fibers, inclusive patterns, and a community vibe.
There’s a New Shroom Shop Among Us
Psilly and its playful name celebrate Ann Arbor’s openness to entheogens.
The Concordia Curveball
U-M reassures critics after its latest land purchase leaves city officials feeling blindsided.
Beyond Roommates
Washtenaw Housing Alliance revives a shared-living program that connects seniors with home seekers.
Veteran Leadership at New Dispensary
Midnight Green fills a void in a campus business corridor.Starry-Eyed
Local chefs hope to draw the Michelin Guide to Ann ArborCulture
Latest
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.
Country Love for the Bard
Preview: Shakespeare in the Arb’s Love’s Labor’s Lost
Jazz in Ann Arbor: A Vibe Check
How artists view the city’s diverse venues and audiences
“The Whole Show Is Made Up”
Friday Night Improv with 11 Non-Blondes
Author Camille Pagán
Writing life’s what-ifs
Murder Most Charming
Purple Rose’s Murder on the Links brings humor to Agatha ChristieSince 1976
The Ann Arbor Observer has been putting readers in touch with our town. Packed with concise and insightful news of people, politics, education, shopping, dining, and entertainment, our newsprint magazine has a monthly circulation of 53,000.
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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.