Days are getting longer, and my strolls and stops through Ann Arbor reliably unroll a pleasant stream of fun new surprises of the delicious variety.

For example, last week Cherry Republic at the corner of Liberty and Main had a table set up for you to customize a Valentine’s Day package to the likes of your loved ones. Since you can sample much of what the store sells, there wasn’t a lot of guesswork involved. All year long, edible postcards are on hand there, so you can craft quick pickups for out-of-towners.

A Begian waffle shop is set to open up near Nichols Arcade–there’s a new and different taste treat for the mix. And warm days will be greeted by more than one new frozen yogurt enterprise in downtown Ann Arbor.

The always cozy Jefferson Market and Cakery on the Old West Side just added a bookshelf “library” where you can take a book to browse while you sit, sip, and nibble a fresh-baked pastry–and take th book home if it holds your interest. Just leave a book next time you stop in.

Even the smells have been delicious, I’ve noticed. Fresh bread baking at Cottage Inn on William (still a dollar a loaf)… Some righteously intoxicating BBQ sauce coming from Happy’s Pizza at Madison and Main… Homemade caramel corn fumes wafting out of Kilwins on Liberty.

I challenge you to actually burn calories on your spring walks in this town! Give it a try anyway, eh?

Reposted from A2Menu, the Observer’s food blog.