Ypsilanti Citizen Community Lincoln Schools

Volunteers prepare for Ypsi PRIDE Day
By Mark Tower
May. 13, 2010   ·   7:09 a.m.

Volunteers and W.H. Canon employees plant flowers in Depot Town while Ypsilanti resident Mike Labadie repairs the planter's brick work on Ypsi PRIDE Day last year.

Each year, residents in and around the city of Ypsilanti carry on a tradition started by a group of community members enrolled in a city leadership program, a sort...read more

Bicycles zoom as flowers bloom
By Citizen staff
Apr. 30, 2010   ·   2:11 p.m.

Riders from last year's spring ride come in after a long trip. Bike Ypsi’s 2010 Spring Ride and Festival is from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday at Recreation Park (1015 Congress Street).

The weather has turned, the trees are budding and the flowers are popping out of the ground; time for a cruise through town. But don’t be so quick to hop in the...read more

Sheriff Clayton visits Ypsilanti Township
By Mark Tower
Apr. 29, 2010   ·   12:59 p.m.

Ypsilanti Township resident Kathleen Hanadel takes notes as her and other residents attempt to asses WCSO services Tuesday evening at a community forum held at the township's community center.

About 50 Ypsilanti Township residents gave the Washtenaw County Sheriff Office their input about law enforcement in the community Tuesday evening.

The information...read more

Local photographer raising funds for Ypsi Project exhibit
By Adrienne Ziegler
Apr. 20, 2010   ·   2:20 a.m.

Ypsilanti resident Nicholas Beltsos his grandson Demetrios were photographed by Project Ypsi photographer Erica Hampton during a bike ride she took Monday. A former EMU economics professor, Beltsos and his family moved to Ypsi from Dearborn in 1967.

Ypsilanti has many faces, and Erica Hampton wants to share a few of them with you.

Over the past year, Hampton created the The Ypsi Project, a series of portraits...read more

Savoy taking shape as live music venue
By Dan DuChene
Apr. 17, 2010   ·   2:38 p.m.

Local funk band Third Coast Kings play in Ypsilanti's newest live music venue, Savoy, Friday night.

Ypsilanti's newest concert venue is preparing for its grand opening weekend April 23, more than a month after its soft opening March 13.

Formerly Club Divine,...read more

What's going down in Depot Town

Bombadill's

Live music, beer garden add to regular festivities

By Christine Laughren
Aug. 17, 2009    ·    10:58 a.m.


As if there isn’t enough to do at the 2009 Heritage Festival already, the folks organizing events in Depot Town have stepped it up a notch this year.

Live music and a beer garden atmosphere are the crown jewels for organizers, who say they hope to keep the trend going.

“I thought it would be really fun to partner up with the Corner Brewery and Aubree’s and see some of the bands scheduled to play at The Jamboree,” said Merrill Guerra, Depot Town events organizer and founder of Ypsilanti’s RealKidz, Inc.

A large tent next to Aubree’s Saloon will provide shelter from the hot August sun and feature local beer provided by Corner Brewery and Frog Island Brewery. While sipping on a cold drink, people will also be able to enjoy some live music thanks to promotional efforts by folks organizing The Jamboree at Riverside Park.

The Depot Town Jamboree Music Stage, also at the east end of town, will feature live music with bands that are also performing at the September music festival. A dozen bands will be playing over the course of Friday and Saturday including The Blue Rubys, The Latin Love Baskets, Soundhound, The Bearded Ladies and Black Jack on Pluto.

The robotics team typically occupies the space now set up to kick back, relax and enjoy the live music. But that doesn’t mean the robotics competitions and exhibits have to stop. The team hasn’t left Dept Town and has scheduled events Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a tent situated on Cross Street, closer to Riverside Park.

For those hoping to take the train to the 2011 Heritage Festival, the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse will have a Freighthouse Café exhibit throughout the weekend. A “happy hour” from 5 – 10 p.m. Friday will also be available to visitors who wish to sample wine and specialty beer, soak in some live jazz and help raise money for the building’s grand re-opening.

“It’s kind of going back to our roots,” said Linda French, a member of the friends group and owner of Sidetrack Bar and Grill. “We use to have jazz in Depot Town and we’re bringing it back to the Freighthouse.”

If all goes as planned, a light rail system with stops in Detroit, Dearborn, Metro Airport, Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor will be running by October 2010. Visitors can take the train to the 2011 Heritage Festival, get dropped off at the platform - expected to be built near the historic Freighthouse - and never have to worry about the troubles of driving or parking.

Three new businesses in Depot Town will be experiencing their first Heritage Festival this year. Fantasy Attic, Depot Town Tattoo and most recently Café Racer will join mainstays like Apple Annie’s Antiques, Dennis’s Music and Nelson Amos. Another new display this year is Café Racer’s vintage motorcycle exhibit. The newly-opened vintage motorcycle shop at 10 Cross Street will be showcasing bikes all three days of the festival.

For all those early birds, the Saturday Farmers’ Market in Depot Town starts at 7 a.m. Patrons can stock up on locally raised meat, eggs, bread, baked goods and hand made crafts as well as fresh produce and fresh-cut flowers in the market pavilion south of the Freighthouse. Then they take a quick stroll over to the Nightmare Cruise (SEE PAGE #) Saturday afternoon.

Finally, Guerra said new vendors will be mixed in with the old favorites on Cross Street. She said a fresh salsa booth will add some flavor to the mix, while Ypsilanti’s SOS Community Services, a non-profit that provides housing crisis services, homeless family services and homeless children's services for families in Washtenaw County, will continue its Empty Bowls fundraiser.

Visitors can swing by the tent and buy a hand-crafted bowl made by artisans from Rovin Ceramics, the Ann Arbor Potters Guild, the University of Michigan School of Art and Design and the Michigan Ceramic Art Association. All proceeds will benefit the SOS Emergency Food Pantry.

Guerra said she can’t wait to see Cross Street come alive once again for Heritage Festival. “But this time around,” she said, “there’s some added excitement.”

Depot Town Events

Empty Bowls Project SOS Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Farmers’ Market 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday

Fresh Produce, Flowers, Plants and Crafts

Nightmare Cruise (See page #) 1:00 p.m. Saturday

Ugliest Car Contest – Car Crushing

Sponsored by Aachen Auto

Robotics Team Noon Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Competition & Exhibit

Freighthouse Café Exhibit Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Freighthouse Happy Hour 5 – 9 p.m. Friday

Jazz, Wine & Specialty Beer Fundraiser

Vintage Motorcycle Exhibit Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Sponsored by Café Racer



The Depot Town Jamboree Music Stage

Friday

Joe Somebody 6:00 - 6:50

The Blue Rubys 7:15- 8:00

The Latin Love Baskets 8:30- 9:45

Soundhound 10:10- 11

Manhole 11:15-12:00

Saturday

The Bearded Ladies 2:00 -3:00

Dragon Wagon 3:15 - 4:30

Black Jack on Pluto 4:00:00 - 4:50

The October Babies 5:10- 6:00

AM Satchel Jones 6:15- 7:15

Big Slik 7:40 - 8:40

Dragon Wagon 9:00 - 10:30

Dr Awesome 11:00- 12:00

Ypsilanti Historical Society
Aubrees
YAFCU


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