MAIN STREET AREA ASSOCIATION

Celebrate summer in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor.

The Taste of Ann Arbor returns with live music, kids activities and plenty of food this June.

Street closures will resume in the downtown area on Thursday.

City Council approved the expansion of the Main Street Ann Arbor Social District earlier this week.

Since the pandemic started, Ann Arbor DDA has supported businesses in the area with several initiatives.

Main Street Ann Arbor is asking community members for their input regarding future road and block closures.

See which businesses are participating in Ann Arbor's new social district.

ANN ARBOR, MI -- Downtown Ann Arbor is making shopping for holiday gifts easy with upcoming events that will see stores staying open late. Midnight Madness and Moonlight Madness, hosted by the Main Street Area Association and State Street District Association, respectively, will feature late-night hours, specials and entertainment on Saturday, Dec. 3, with hours varying by location.

Local businesses will make sure that well wishes, gift lists and holiday cheer get to the jolly man in red at the Northpole.

Here’s where you can have a hauntingly good time around Ann Arbor.

Trick-or-Treating returns to downtown Ann Arbor this year.

ANN ARBOR, MI -- Taste of Ann Arbor has been canceled for the second year in a row, the Main Street Area Association announced this week, citing restaurant staff shortages. Taste of Ann Arbor, originally set for Sept. 19, had street closures approved by the Ann Arbor City Council on Aug. 2. This is the second year in a row Taste of Ann Arbor has been canceled due to effects of the pandemic. Andrade said the Main Street Area Association contemplated restructuring the Taste of Ann Arbor event, but eventually decided against it. Next year’s Taste of Ann Arbor is currently set for Sunday, June 5.

More than 70 municipalities in Michigan have established a social district over the past year.

Organizers of the Taste of Ann Arbor announced it has been canceled this year.

Support local businesses while celebrating U-M's Spring Commencement.

ANN ARBOR – For the third year running, the Main Street Area Association is honoring an individual who is central to its mission and the vitality of the downtown area. This year’s recipient of the organization’s Dennis Serras Award is Lauren Kosowski, an IT professional who has become a passionate advocate for and supporter of the Main Street area. “This year we nominated Lauren Kosowski for the award, someone whose job has nothing to do with downtown,” MSAA executive director Sandra Andrade said in a statement. AdLauren Kosowski is the recipient of the 2020 Dennis Serras Award. It’s people like you, with that love, that will help our businesses survive.”MSAA’s first two awardees were Lucy Ann Lance and A4′s Meredith Bruckner.

Alan and Karen Freedman in their shop Four Directions at 211 S. Main St. on Jan. 20, 2021. A giant amethyst at Four Directions on 211 S. Main Street in Ann Arbor. Colorful stone necklaces hang from a rack at Four Directions on 211 S. Main Street. Splashed copper pieces from Northern Michigan on display at Four Directions on 211 S. Main Street. Therapy stones at Four Directions on 211 S. Main Street.

ANN ARBOR – Downtown area associations have joined an annual campaign to encourage visitors to continue shopping and dining in the city throughout the month of January. Typically a slow time of year for business, the pandemic has only exacerbated the lack of customers at local establishments. The Main Street Area Association, State Street District, Kerrytown District Association, and South University Area Association have partnered with the getDowntown Program for “Conquer the Cold - Pandemic Edition.”The annual challenge by getDowntown -- in partnership with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide), the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ann Arbor -- is designed to encourage and educate commuters to use alternative modes of transportation during the cold winter months. Many restaurants will be participating in the Comfort Food Challenge, and users can get prizes for dining outdoors, ordering curbside and shopping downtown. “The Downtown Districts are excited to be partnering with GetDowntown for Conquer the Cold this year,” Sandra Andrade, executive director of the Main Street Area Association said in a statement.

ANN ARBOR – The Christmas tree on Palio’s rooftop in downtown Ann Arbor aims to bring cheer to all this holiday season -- but how it got there is a different story altogether. “With the closures, there’s so much negativity that comes up in meetings,” said Kimmie Sheldon, director of marketing for the restaurant group. “(In a recent meeting), we all looked at each other and said it just doesn’t feel right not to do it. (Kimberly Sheldon)After several attempts, some bloody knuckles, lots of tree sap and tears from laughter, the tree now stands at its intended spot. Too big for any stand, a contractor who works frequently with Mainstreet Ventures came and built a stand last minute.

In order to bolster support for local eateries and merchants, the Kerrytown District, Main Street Ann Arbor, the State Street District, and the South University Area Association launched on Wednesday the “Show Your Love A2” campaign. “We want to keep the nostalgic charm of Ann Arbor thriving. Help us preserve the personality and spirit of Ann Arbor by showing your love to the community. Please shop, eat, and drink (in) downtown Ann Arbor.”ShowYourLoveA2 is also holding a photo contest. To enter, follow the campaign on Instagram at @ShowYourLoveA2 and share a photo of what you love downtown with the hashtag #ShowYourLoveA2.

ANN ARBOR – Here’s a fun, safe and socially distant activity for your little ones this holiday season. The beloved Santa’s Mailbox will return to Main Street right outside Conor O’Neill’s Irish Pub on Nov. 28 for another year of express postage to the North Pole. Drop your mail any time day or night and local businesses will take care getting the letters to the jolly man in the red suit. Submit your letters through Dec. 14 with a return address and you will receive a reply from Santa. Conor O’Neill’s Irish Pub is at 318 S. Main St.✉ Like what you’re reading?

ANN ARBOR – The Main Street Area Association announced it is canceling its annual downtown trick-or-treat event due to safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic. Each year for the beloved tradition, participating business owners place balloons outside their doors and greet trick-or-treaters and their families. However, it doesn’t mean Halloween is completely canceled downtown. ✉ Like what you’re reading? Sign up for our email newsletter here!

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been hard on local businesses, but it has also impacted Ann Arbor community members. Here are four ways to treat yourself while supporting Ann Arbor businesses:Take a classIf you are refreshed by new knowledge, improve a skill or learn something new with a virtual class. If youre looking for something active, Ann Arbor Rec & Ed, Ann Arbor YMCA and many area gyms and fitness studios offer online classes. Main Street Ann Arbor made a list of Main Street stores that are offering gift cards if you dont know where to start. Related: Here are 4 cider mills near Ann Arbor to put you in the fall spirit

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Main Street Area Association has teamed up with Ann Arbors Underground Printing to launch a T-shirt fundraiser. Proceeds from T-shirt sales will support the associations mission and the organization of annual events, including Midnight Madness and Taste of Ann Arbor. The Main Street Area Association is a membership-based association of businesses, organizations and Ann Arbor individuals committed to the success of the downtown area. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the association transitioned some of its annual events online to promote local businesses and the Main Street area. It worked with the City of Ann Arbor and local businesses to close selected streets downtown so restaurants can extend their patios in order to serve customers while abiding by social gathering restrictions.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. On Tuesday, the Ann Arbor City Council approved a resolution that would allow Ann Arbor restaurants and bars in the downtown area to extend their outdoor patios into closed streets. Andrade said the association gathered input from business owners and residents block-by-block when working with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority on the resolution. Four blocks in the Main Street area will be closed: Main Street between Williams Street and Liberty Street; Main Street from Liberty to Washington Street; Washington Street from Ashley Street to Main Street; and Washington Street from 4th Avenue to 5th Avenue. The resolution was worked on by all four Ann Arbor downtown associations and the DDA. According to Andrade, some streets have been intentionally left open in the downtown area so that restaurants can continue to offer curbside services, which have been vital to many of the downtown restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. From May 29 to 31, the annual Taste of Ann Arbor event this year will be held digitally and in kitchens all around Ann Arbor. Main Street Area Association has moved the celebration of eating and Ann Arbor eateries online with creative contests and restaurant specials. Local foodies are also called to re-create their favorite dish from a downtown Ann Arbor restaurant and post their photos. Although the event is virtual, Ann Arbor eateries are offering real-life deals and curbside specials during the weekend. Find all of the Taste of Ann Arbor deals and curbside menus here.