​Hot summer days and warm summer evenings call for something cool, creamy, and delicious. Something like, say, ice cream!
 
Ice cream soared in popularity during prohibition. History.com tells us that ice cream consumption grew by 40% between 1920 and 1929. The Anti-Saloon League, a powerful lobby for prohibition laws, supported the dairy industry, encouraging ice cream as an alternative to drinking.
 
If you are ready for some Ice Cream, Rick Taylor, Rick Taylor Real Estate, Reinhart Realtors is collaborating with Marie-Ann Fody, Zou Zou's Cafe owner, to help address those cravings. During Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights on July 29, 2021, Taylor is sponsoring "Ice Cream Hour" from 7 p.m. till 8 p.m. at Zou Zou's. The ice cream will be served from a novelty ice cream freezer located just outside at Zou Zou's Cafe. These tasty novelty ice cream treats are sponsored by Rick Taylor and free of charge during Ice Cream Happy Hour while supply lasts.
 
Rick Taylor is going into his 20th year at Charles Reinhart Realtors. Taylor is the #1 Individual Realtor award for the 5th consecutive year; he is the recipient of the Charles Reinhart Realtors President's Award for the 18th successive year and has maintained his ranking among the top 1% of Sales Nationwide. These awards are reflective of Taylor's experience in selling and buying homes for people. Go to his website to learn more www.ricktaylorrealestate.com.
 
Established in 1998, Zou Zou's has become one of Chelsea's premier networking hubs and eatery. It is a family-run and family-loved business. Proud to be part of Chelsea for 23 years! Zou Zou's serves breakfast sandwiches, sweet & savory crepes, premium sandwiches, vegetarian options, salads, desserts, and daily specials. And a variety of hot and cold drinks, including craft beers and wine. Go to their website to learn more www.zouzouscafe.com
 

By: Kitty Golding
When John and Lisa Paul hired us to team up and remodel their master suite, they had a vision in mind of a modern, comfortable and very functional space.  The now renovated suite had been two bedrooms, and a bathroom, and was transformed into a small tv room, walk in closet and master bedroom/bathroom. Their 3000 square foot Burns Park, Ann Arbor home already had some amazing remodeling/additions completed in prior years by Geoff Perkins Construction Company, located in Ann Arbor. The couple was used to living in a construction zone,  but unfortunately Covid hit in the middle of  everything causing some major delays to finishing the work.  That did not let the couple or us be deterred, even with long delays on fabric, and furniture we completed the rest of the project just this past Spring!  John, the former University of Michigan Head Lacrosse Coach, and Lisa, a corporate executive has called Ann Arbor home for a long while. Both attended U of M and John’s dad was a professor at the University as well.   They have worked diligently on their home, making it one of the most spectacular beauties on their historic street.
The design came quickly, and John shared that he felt the most important part of collaboration on a project like this is a shared understanding of the vision. He felt Kitty & Company understood what they were going for and stayed on target throughout.  The master bathroom started with inspiration photos that included a large, combined showering/bathing area.  We took that as the main inspiration and developed the rest of the bathroom plan including a floating custom vanity, a custom cherry wall and barn door, a floor to ceiling medicine cabinet accessed with a pair of sliding doors and a toilet that does everything except sing for you.  The couple stated that the bathroom is exactly what they hoped for, realizing the vision with which they had started.
The master bedroom included a new closet wall, to which we had custom laminated wood grain sliding doors made and then painted the entire wall dark to match it.  The high peaked ceiling is a focal point in the room, as are the views from the many windows, offering  a treehouse like setting. We added a fireplace to the room with absolute black granite surround, black accent lighting, a soft furry wool rug, new bedding, wallpaper and a reading chair. Lisa had a few sentimental antiques including the cedar chest at the end of the bed that brought warmth to the space. This room is not completed with accessories and may eventually have the window seat bench we talked about, but for now, the couple is taking a break from remodeling.
This project also included rebuilding the stairway and redirecting them to the 2nd floor, a new guest bathroom on the 2nd level (in a separate area ) and creating an office studio space for John above the detached alley-way garage.
Lisa and Paul were enthusiastic design cohorts. They possess a fresh take on design, and liked the suggestions for unexpected details – such as the cherry wall/door combination in the bathroom.    We worked on other smaller areas for their home too, and they were ready at one point to go with our suggestion of installing a pod-like swing in a large empty corner of their front entry, but that all changed when they brought home two large new puppies and the space was needed for kennels.
The couple stated that they wanted a clean, modern look that was still comfortable and warm, and  absolutely feel like that’s what they ended up with.

​From: D&B Strategic Marketing
If you haven’t yet seen this year’s Sculptures, you are going to be astounded!  Chelsea Areas Festivals & Events (CAFE) proudly brings you SculptureWalk 2021. Sixteen original sculptures grace the courtyards and streets of Chelsea. The majority of the Artists hail from Michigan, seven of the Artists are returning from the previous year, plus nine artists new to SculptureWalk. The diversity and quality of this contemporary exhibit created by regional Artists enhance Chelsea’s cultural community.
CAFE received a minigrant from Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, administered by Creative Washtenaw, to help with the expanded program. The rotating exhibition provides access to art and is free and accessible to everyone.  This new exhibition of sculptures is the largest show in the 12-year history of SculptureWalk Chelsea.
“Good art causes us to reflect and to engage in a dialogue about how it makes us feel, shared Crystal Scott, Visual Arts Coordinator.
“SculptureWalk Chelsea aims to inspire, delight, and encourage viewers to generously look, wonder, and contemplate,” said Craig Common, CAFE board president. “We are also fortunate to have the support of generous sponsors and the City of Chelsea to create outdoor art of ambitious scale.” 
2021 SculptureWalk Sponsors are - Secret Crisis Comics, Surelutions, Edward Jones - Michael O’Quinn and Diane Kieliszewski, Chelsea State Bank, Jeff Klink and Associates Reinhart Realtors, Chelsea District Library, Ugly Dog Distillery, Silver Maples of Chelsea, D&B Strategic Marketing, Stieper and Brust Orthodontics, Susan Jacobs, CPA, Rick Eder Agency Farm Bureau Insurance, The Common Grill, Hardwood Solutions, and The Grateful Crow. 
This year's exhibit features an exciting variety of mediums used in innovative ways. The exhibition introduces several new processes like woodworking, local fabrication, blacksmithing, functional art, and light production.  All of the sculptures are available for purchase; please contact Crystal Scott at visualarts@chelseafestivals.com.



Gary Munce, CAFE Board member, and musician shared, “We wanted a show that is vibrant, interactive and easily accessible. We have an exciting exhibition to kick off summer with Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights”.
 

Photos courtesy of Crystal Scott, Visual Arts Coordinator.
A display of incredible art that will ignite the imagination! SculptureWalk is a welcoming space for families and friends to enjoy art together. Additional Information about the artists and their sculptures can be found at the SculptureWalk website.

​From: D&B Strategic Marketing
The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) promotes Independents Week beginning with the 4th of July through July 10  to unite local independent businesses “Indie Locals” and citizens in celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit and freedom our local businesses embody.
 
The #shopchelseamich independent merchants will be dressing up their windowfronts in celebration of INDEPENDENTS! And you will have a chance to participate by voting for the storefront that most effectively displays:
 
★      Best use of color
★      Best alignment with the theme (Red, White & Blue)
★      Most imaginative 
 
Voting begins on July 4 and runs through July 10. You can go to the shopchelseamich website to see who is participating and cast your vote! 
 
Chelsea’s Indie Locals are excited for summer to begin in earnest. There are signs of re-opening and a bit of normalcy with the re-emergence of Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights and SculptureWalk. The anticipation is building!
 
You can show local love by purchasing everyday items, clothing, gifts for yourself or someone near and dear to you. Stop for a tasty meal, your favorite coffee brew, or refreshing beverage - Chelsea has a lot to offer. By spending locally, you are investing in Chelsea, helping to maintain a business sector that in turn contributes to the local economy.
 
AMIBA’s Multiplier Effect of Local Independent Businesses, states that on average, 48 percent of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14 percent of purchases at chain stores. As the primary customer, residents are integral to sustaining these independent businesses that help define a community and contribute to its sense of place.

 
True North Jerky became a #shopchelseamich member to increase awareness of their smokehouse, meat shop, and specialty foods store. “We are located east of downtown on Old US 12, with a different traffic pattern than some of the stores located either downtown or south of Old US12, shared co-owner, Courtney Heller.  “We wanted to take advantage of the opportunity for additional visibility and to be part of the #scm team”.
 
 The #shopchelseamich members invite everyone to help celebrate by participating in The Red, White & Blue Window Wars starting July 4 through July 10.
 
Follow us on Facebook @shopchelseamich, Instagram @shopchelseamichigan, and visit our website, www.shopchelseamich.com.