Local road races

Well, it's almost the end of the summer, and school starts soon. What better way to soak up the last of the summer sun than with outdoor exercise? Road races are fun for all ages, and you don't have to train much to run one; you can even grab a couple of friends and just walk together! Here are a few notable races happening around Michigan that you might be interested in:

Run for the Hills

Date: August 16

Time: 8:30 am

Location: Farmington

Description (from the website):

"Welcome runners, walkers, sponsors, and volunteers to the 5th Annual Run for the Hills, created to offer an awesome even for everyone and generate money for the Special Olympics Athletes of Oakland County."

Sign up: http://farmingtonrunforthehills.com/images/rfth_2014_registration_form.pdf

Run Between the Vines

Date: August 16

Time: 7:30 am

Location: Jackson

Description (from the website):

"Join us in the naturally calming and stunning landscape of Sandhill Crane Vineyards just 20 miles west of Ann Arbor. The half marathon will take you from the vineyard to rolling dirt back roads shaded by a tunnel of trees...the out and back Vineyard to Vineyard 5K is a friendly and fulfilling romp to the woods and back where the wine will be flowing!"

sign up: http://runvines.com/ (the registration for running is full, but you can still volunteer).

Glow in the Park

Date: August 16

Time: 8:50 pm

Location: Milford

Description (from the website): 

"The best way to light up the night! The ultimate party fun run! But most importantly, it's the freakin' awesome foam-pits-fluorescent-colors-blacklights-glowing-warpaint-dance-moves night you'll never forget!"

Sign up: https://endurancecui.active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=5577502

Montrose Blueberry Festival 5k and 8k Road Race

Date: August 17

Time: 7:30 am

Location: Montrose

Sign up: 

http://www.blueberryrace.org/uploads/9/7/3/6/9736435/blueberryregistration2014.pdf

The Crim

Date: August 22

Time: 8:00 am

Location: Flint

Description (from the website): Don't miss out on one of the largest and most beloved races in the country!

Sign up: https://endurancecui.active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=5886153

And just in case you miss the first glow run....

Glow in the Night 5K

Date: August 22

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Detroit

Description (from the website): 

"Come for the 5k, but stay for the glowing after party! Dance the night away under the black lights while getting covered in more glow dust. Enjoy yourself with family & friends as we throw more color in the air every 10 minutes! You won't want this fun one of a kind night to end!"

Sign up: 

 http://nrroadracing.com/races/glow-night-5k-detroit-mi/

A few tips to save money:

1. Volunteer to help at a race! You'll meet great people, have lots of fun, get a free T-Shirt, and it is FREE!

2. Sign up as a team for a discount on your entry fees!

3. Sign up early! There is usually a discount for joining a race in advance.

If you find you are addicted to racing after trying any of these, check out http://www.runmichigan.com for more! There are races all year round.

Happy Running!!

 

by Clarissa

Breakfast/brunch in Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor

If there is one thing I missed while I lived overseas, it was American-style breakfast food! I never realized that breakfast was unique to every country, so now I always encourage visitors to try a type of morning meal they would be unable to get anywhere else.

Here are some great places around town to check out-make sure to get there early if you go on the weekend!

In Ypsilanti:

Beezy's

20 N Washington St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197

(from their website):

"Every day at beezy's, we are making two different soups, whipping up salad dressing, pulling hot, fresh bread out of the oven, taking inventory and comments form guests to further expand and improve...We want you downtown, a part of things, a part of localizing, a part of making a better world-one breakfast, one sandwich, one cup of coffee at a time."

Try the:

French toast

Cafe Ollie

42 E Cross St, Ypsilanti, MI 48198

(from their Facebook page)

"Desserts, Ice cream, Craft beer, fine wine, Baked goods, Local Art, Live music"

Try the:

pancake sandwich, mac 'n cheese

The Bomber Restaurant

306 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198

(from their website):

"The Bomber has a number of popular breakfast entrees including the Nature Lover's pancakes, omelets and the country skillet. But the Bomber Breakfast is a favorite pick for customers with super-sized appetites."

Try the:

Bomber Breakfast

Ann Arbor

Northside Grill

1015 Broadway St, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

(from their website):

"The Northside Grill is a family diner located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that serves breakfast and lunch...The Northside Grill specializes in comfort food and quality service...The establishment attempts to attract new customers to the restaurant, confident that these customers will return and will recommend the food and 

services to others."

Try the:

pancakes, coffee

Songbird Cafe

2707 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

(from their website)

"Lunch, Brunch, and Coffee Bar"

Try the:

sandwiches, tea drinks, daily breakfast specials

Fleetwood Diner

300 S Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

"...if you are looking for that vintage diner feel, make sure you come in to The Fleetwood Diner today."

Try the:

Original Hippie Hash breakfast

There are many more not listed here....do some exploring to find them all!

If you are out of town for the day during the weekend, I highly suggest checking out either of these websites for advice on where to eat!

http://www.yelp.com

This is a great resource to find out what locals think of the restaurants in their area. I always try to check it before I pick a place to eat.

or

http://www.tvfoodmaps.com/

If you love The Food Network or cooking shows in general, check out this site! You can easily find any restaurants you see on TV and map out your route to get to them. 

After you try one of these restaurants, come back and post a picture or a comment! We'd love to hear what you thought of these places. Bon appétit! 

by Clarissa

To see Clarissa's bio, visit www.emich.edu/ois/teamhello. 

Free activities in town

Summer is here and it's finally time to get outside and explore the city! And what better way to do that than for free? Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor are bustling with free events to keep you entertained without breaking your wallet. Here are a few of the highlights:

What: Depot Town Cruise Nights

Classic cars drive through Depot Town while music plays!

When: June 5-September 11, 6-9 pm

Where: Cross Street, Depot Town

For more info: http://visitypsinow.com/events/depot-town-cruise-nights/

What: Ypsilanti Heritage Festival

Music, food, dancing, and entertainment for adults and kids!

When: August 15-17

Where: Riverside Park

For more info: http://www.ypsilantiheritagefestival.com/

What: Ann Arbor Summer Festival

Free movies and music at night!

When: June 13-July 6

Where: Rackham Stage

For more info: http://a2sf.org/desktop/

What: First Fridays Ypsilanti

Free art shows in local restaurants and stores.

When: First Friday of every month

Where: Various restaurants and locations in Ypsilanti

For more info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Fridays-Ypsilanti/552291158134650

What: Ypsilanti District Library

Various programs for children, adults, and families. 

When: Almost every day during the summer

Where: YDL-Whittaker, YDL-Michigan, YDL-Superior

For more info: http://www.ypsilibrary.org/events

There are many more ways to get free things in town. Is your birthday in June, July, or August? If so, you are in luck! There are many opportunities to get free meals or dessert for your birthday! Just check out these websites:

http://localwiki.net/ann-arbor/Birthday_Deals

http://freebirthdaymeals.org/index.php?city=Ypsilanti&state=MI

Or perhaps you have heard of the Color Run? It is a 5K that is run through Ypsilanti, and there are groups of people who throw color at you! Many families and groups of friends run this race together, and it is lots of fun and very popular....and expensive. One easy way to enjoy the Color Run for free is to take some chairs outside and just sit and watch! Or you can even volunteer to help at the race-you get a T-shirt! Take a look at this site:

http://thecolorrun.com/ypsilanti/

You don't have to spend money to have fun here in town! Happy Summer!

by Clarissa