Illustrations by Gina Hewitt
Lilly Kujawski
Editor
and
Catherine Engstrom-Hadley
Staff Writer
Black History Month
Attend local events. The Ann Arbor District Library is hosting a series of Black History Month events throughout the month of February. Events include concerts, a step show, a trivia meet-up and panel discussions. The full event listing event listing can be viewed via aadl.org/events-feed/33749
Visit a museum. The Detroit Institute of Art, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the Henry Ford Museum are all putting on special exhibits and events for Black History Month. Many of the Black History Month events at the DIA are free and the Charles H. Wright Museum is hosting multiple free admission days during February. General admission tickets for the Black History exhibit at The Henry Ford are $24 along with the cost of regular museum admission. For dates, locations, tickets and specifics, visit: thehenryford.org,
dia.org and thewright.org.
Get outside
Take a winter walk in the woods. Grab a walking partner, bundle up in plenty of layers, put on some warm, durable boots and go for a hike! Check out:
Bird Hills Nature Area at 1850 Newport Rd., Ann Arbor
Leslie Woods Nature Area at 2000 Upland Dr., Ann Arbor
Nichols Arboretum at 1610 Washington Hts., Ann Arbor
Go ice-skating. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, a hockey buff, a figure skater or somewhere in between, you can’t go wrong with this classic and inexpensive winter activity. Bring a friend, date or the family and hit the ice. Check out:
Buhr Park at 2751 Packard St., Ann Arbor
Veteran Memorial Park Pool and Ice Arena at 2150 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor
Admission at both rinks ranges from $4-6 depending on residency and other factors, and skate rentals are only $3. Public skating times vary, so check the “Buhr Park” page or the “Veterans Memorial” page on a2gov.org for details.
Go sledding. You can’t beat good, old-fashioned sled and tabogan fun. Perfect for the adventurous group of friends or keeping younger family members entertained and active. Check out:
Huron Hills Golf Course at 3465 E. Huron River Dr., for some monster hills
Leslie Park off Dhu Varren Rd. near Pontiac Trl. in Ann Arbor for some fun, medium-sized hills
County Farm Park at 2230 Platt Rd., Ann Arbor for some gentle sled action.
Valentine’s Day
Kick it back old school with your sweetie this V-Day and cruise over to the Ford-Wyoming Drive-in Movie Theater. Grab some popcorn, blankets and turn up the heat! In-car heaters are available for moviegoers to use free of charge. The box office opens at 7:30 p.m. and adult tickets are $10.50 each. Every show is a double feature. For showtimes and movie lineup, visit
forddrivein.com.
Stay in and get cozy with your boo with a DIY-date night. It’s too cold to go out anyway. Cook you sweetie’s favorite meal (or enlist their culinary skills), set up candles, blankets and create a makeshift indoor picnic. Alternatively, you could go for a pillow fort, but be wary of those candles if you choose to use them. Bonus: bring out your favorite board games, get creative with an arts and crafts project, or co-write a love poem together.
Celebrate your friends and spread the love! Throw a Leslie Knope-approved Galentine’s party for all your pals. Party on a budget by having friends bring dishes for a potluck-style meal and by making your own decorations. You can also find inexpensive goodies at stores like Target, CVS and Meijer.
For the kids
Visit the Matthaei Botanical Gardens at 1800 N. Dixboro, Ann Arbor. Walk through the warm conservatory and make a game out of it like I-spy, or embark on a scavenger hunt for particular plants. Admission to the gardens is free but donations are welcome.
Enjoy a Family Mew-vie Night with some furry friends at the Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center at 5245 Jackson Rd., Suit A1, Ann Arbor. Family-friendly films are shown on select Fridays. The next show is on Feb. 15 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required and the cost is $10 per person. Find more information on
tinylions.org.
Drop by one of the daily storytime groups held at the various branches of the Ann Arbor District Library. Target ages range depending on each program, but most are intended for pre-school aged children. There are morning and early evening groups, but times vary. For more information, visit aadl.org
