Ann Arbor: actually a small town?

What an amazing week! So much happened and it’s fast approaching Sunday, so I’m not even going to polish this, just blorp it out on the page.

Sunday, November 9: A2 Community Bookfest!

I ran into so many people I know: the author Ann Kim, who signed a copy of her latest book for me; Observer contributors Alex Kourvo and Michelle Yang; Stephen Postema, who gave me a copy of his book; plus a bunch of local authors and artists who I cajoled into considering contributing to the Observer. 

I got to hang out with Designer Tabi, Publisher Patricia, and I Spy Sally, whom I’ve only ever communicated with over email, so that was a treat. A bunch of people bought my books, and it snowed all day! Truly magical. I ended the day watching the Lions at HopCat with my husband.

Then on Wednesday, it was A2Y Leadership Economic Development Day! We started off at the Ypsi Farmers Market Hall, then took TheRide to Michigan Union (holy cow, what a beautiful building), and then walked to Ann Arbor SPARK. All of the day’s talks directly related to Observer stories, which is always a bonus (this job never stops). Oh, and I talked to SO MANY amazing people: Alex, who’s going to Traverse City with his fiancée for an event called the Flapjack & Flannel Festival, Hannah from the Women’s Center of Southeast Michigan who’s also new in her role and who gave me a lot of good advice, Nick from Bank of Ann Arbor who told me crazy stories about living in Seattle, Chloe from the Ann Arbor Community Foundation who was recently working in my home state of Vermont, and Samantha from Ozone House who gave me a recipe for what sounds like an incredible digestive tincture. 

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! On Thursday, I got to take a tour of the AADL warehouse with Andrew and Sara! We talked about some work stuff (you may or may not have heard that the AADL may potentially buy the Observer, yes?), but also about crossword puzzles and when your teenage kids get into the music you liked when you were their age (I’m very well-versed in one of these topics and have absolutely no personal experience with the other). 

MY WEEK DOESN’T STOP THERE!! On Friday, I went to a cool event centered around gratitude. I talked to Dolan about making the leap to full-time freelance creative work, and then introduced myself to Cassie, who works as a massage therapist and was wearing what she called her “time-travel necklace” (it had a tiny hourglass mounted in a tiny gyroscope and yes it was awesome as it sounds). As we were standing in line for the food (everything was locally grown, thoughtfully/lovingly prepared, and unbelievably good), the girl to my left turned to me and said, “Are you Brooke? I’m Shireen!” and my head exploded, because Shireen saw my call for new contributors on Reddit and reached out. I had back-burnered her email (did I mention that production is next week so in addition to all this I’ve ALSO been putting together the new issue of the Observer?), but then all of a sudden here she is at the same event as me! So, look for a story from her in the February issue. 

There were poems and stories and a sharing of community and gratitude, and it was an incredible energetic space and I just had the most fun. Larry gave me a hand-blown glass flower. Morgan invited me to a creative workshop. Corinne invited me for tea! And finally, in another beautiful moment of serendipity, I also ran into Greg, who was featured in a My Neighborhood about Great Oak Cohousing in the 2024 Community Guide, and I was like “OMG say hi to Marta for me!” 

There needs to be a word for the feeling of excitement you get when you meet someone who was previously only a name in your email inbox. 

What better way to cap off such a warm experience than a trip to Tiny Lions? I somehow managed to edit the real estate column, which is written by the incredibly talented Steve Friess and typically only needs like 15 minutes, but it took me an hour because little fuzzes kept climbing all over me and it was the best. 

And finally, I made an appearance at the brand-new Emergency Operations Center, which serves as a hub for emergency weather situations. I found myself chatting with Angela, the director of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original; she told me she plans for the weather for the event using the Farmers Almanac, and it’s never been wrong. Then I spoke for a few minutes with Sydney, the city emergency manager. She says her work is her passion, and I think we’re very lucky that she channeled her passion into something that will serve our community in times of duress. 

Nerd that I am, I was hoping I could meet up with one of the communications folks with the city of Ann Arbor — yet more people I’ve only ever met over email. Alas, I had to take off after like 15 minutes (my to-do list was calling). But as I was leaving, the door to the elevator opened and who walked out but Mayor Christopher Taylor himself. 

“Oh my gosh, you’re Mayor Christopher Taylor!” I literally said. “I’m Brooke Black, the new editor in chief of the Observer.” 

And then THE FREAKIN MAYOR shook my hand and gave me a warm smile and said something about how we should have a coffee sometime. How’s THAT for government communications? 

As I walked back to the van, I shot a quick text message to the one, the only John Hilton, telling him excitedly all about the day’s adventures and ending with a question: 

Ann Arbor: actually a small town? 

P.S. My interview with Dana Denha on CTN is on YouTube! I can imagine no greater humiliation than watching a video of myself talking for 22 minutes, so you’ll just have to watch it for me and tell me what a good job I did.