Spice-Up Your Covid-Safe Semester!
5 ways you can still get together with friends in Ann Arbor
—By Grace Shulman, Cody Jonaitis, and Alex Vena
Wrapped around the corner of an alley that juts out of Church Street, hundreds of college students press shoulder to shoulder, grasping for any bit of warmth on a bleak Thursday night. They are eager to see where their night will take them in the dark basement of Rick’s. On the other side of campus, students comb the crowded floors of the UGLI in search of an empty table. They spend the night with their friends laughing, eating, and of course studying (wink, wink).
Sadly, that is an Ann Arbor we have not seen in a while. Today, the sidewalks of Church Street lay barren and the seats of the UGLI remain virtually untouched. For many of us, this school year has brought unique isolation. Practicing safe social distancing and quarantining, we have been reduced to our 60×30 inch desks, while our primary source of socialization has been via Zoom. But just because the streets of Ann Arbor do not look how they used to, does not mean there aren’t still ways to have fun. It means we just have to imagine new ways to socialize. Here are 5 COVID-safe activities to do with friends this winter semester!
Bundle up and meet at one of Ann Arbor’s beautiful local trails!
Photo Credit: Grace Shulman
The Virtual Background feature on Zoom may allow you to constantly change your backdrop, but nothing can compare to a real change of scenery on the beautiful trails of Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan Nichols Arboretum, described as one of the “richest landscapes in the region,” provides nearly 3.5 miles of trails. Everything from gardens, to rivers, walks to wooded trails, there is so much to discover and explore in the Arb. Located right on campus, your exploration begins at any of the three entrances. The Geddes Avenue entrance features iron gates and sits on top of the highest point the Arb has to offer. The Washington Heights entrance is located next to the James D. Reader Jr. Urban Environmental Education Center and is home to the largest collection of heirloom peonies in North America. Finally, if you walk downhill to the Huron river, you can follow the signs along the water and enter through Nichols Drive. If you’re looking to travel a little further off campus, we suggest you check out the Border to Border Trail. Developed in partnership with the Huron River Greenway, the Border to Border Trail connects cities, parks, neighborhoods, and trails throughout Washtenaw County. In Ann Arbor, the B2B trail (not to be confused with BTB/Big Ten Burrito) mostly follows the course of the scenic Huron River and takes you past Bandemer Park (home of the docks), train tracks, and Barton Nature Trail. As of today, 40 miles of trail exists, but we suggest you enter the trail close to campus, (don’t worry we wouldn’t take you on a 40-mile walk)! You can enter either through Riverside Park, close to the UofM Medical Center or near Broadway Park, about a 5-minute walk from Zingerman’s! (Bonus if you pick up some Zingerman’s for your walk!)
Grab a bite to eat in a real-life igloo!
Photo Credit: Grace Shulman
With indoor dining being limited right now, the Ann Arbor restaurant scene has had to get pretty creative with their Covid-friendly outdoor seating, in order to accommodate the frigid temperatures outside. Heaters have been purchased, tents and yurts erected, and igloos have made their way out of the Arctic and into the streets of Ann Arbor. Bigalora offers a choice of 23 different types of pizzas and other delicious Italian offerings in their heated igloos! These igloos need to be reserved and can be done so here. Not feeling pizza? Choose from TAQ’s 13 different taco options in their igloo-like casitas (Spanish for little houses)! Keep in mind, TAQ grants seating on a first-come, first-serve basis. You and your pod can explore the Ann Arbor food scene without the danger of exposure to other diners. Additionally, it is important to support local businesses in these unprecedented times, so that your favorite eateries can continue to be here once indoor dining is a safe option again!
Pick up fresh produce at the historic Ann Arbor Farmers Market
Photo Credit: Grace Shulman
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is a great way to explore the greater Ann Arbor area and support the local community. Located just a short walk from campus in the Kerrytown district, the market has been operating since 1919 and is open for onsite shopping every Saturday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Stop by to browse its sizable selection of goods from local vendors offering anything from fruit, vegetables, and pastries to candles, body care products, and masks. The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is entirely open-air and has several COVID safety protocols in place, including mask enforcement, physical distancing, and one-way aisles. The market has also recently implemented a curbside order sales process from several vendors (more information can be found here). Opening later in the spring on April 11th, the Sunday Artisan Market operates in the same location and offers handmade works from artists and crafters in a full range of media. Make it a full trip by taking a stroll through the Kerrytown District and grab a coffee at Sweetwaters Café or a tasty sandwich at Zingerman’s Deli.
Escape to the past at one of Michigan’s top-notch museums
We know it gets cold here in Ann Arbor, so if you don’t feel up to braving the weather, there are several indoor opportunities to explore the University of Michigan’s vast scientific and artistic collections. Just off of the Diag, the University of Michigan Museum of Art is currently accepting admission to students and is one of the largest university art museums in the United States, housing a comprehensive collection of more than 20,000 works of art. Stop in from 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday through Tuesday to see exquisite works from notable artists including Pablo Picasso, Al Loving, and Louise Nevelson.
The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology is located just a short walk away and houses a rich collection of more than 100,000 artifacts from Classical, Egyptian, and Near Eastern cultures. Make a reservation to see its impressive array of Egyptian mummy paraphernalia, ancient coins, and fabulous reproduction wall murals from the Villa of Mysteries in Pompeii. The Kelsey is open 9:00-11:00 am and 12:00-4:00 pm most weekdays and 1:00-4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Stop by to see its current special exhibition, a retrospective of U-M photographer Randal Stegmeyer.
For the more scientifically inclined, consider visiting the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. Open Fridays and Sundays from 12:00 – 4:00 pm, this museum contains a diverse and extensive collection of artifacts from the fields of paleontology, ecology, zoology, and more. The museum’s Mastodon and Prehistoric Whale skeletons are particularly impressive, as well as its research showcase featuring research projects by current U-M students. All three of these locations enforce mask-wearing and physical social distancing as well as require an up-to-date ResponsiBlue certification and MCard upon entry.
Need a sports-watching fix? Head to Palmer Commons and play a pick-up game of basketball or tennis with friends!
On the seemingly rare sunny days during the chilly Ann Arbor winter, getting some fresh air with friends is a great way to connect and embrace nature. The spacious fields, tennis, and basketball courts outside at Palmer Commons provide a safe area for friends to meet up. Have a picnic, play a game of tennis, or just sit 6 feet apart and chat! If the weather drops too low for your liking, lounges and study spaces have opened up with social distancing protocols in place. You can reserve a ‘study seat’ time at Palmer Commons at this link. Make sure to wear a mask and bring your MCard upon arrival, as well as complete the ResponsiBLUE health screening, which requires a negative COVID-19 test result within the week of your study time slot reservation. Check out this link for further information on how you can safely visit Palmer Commons, such as through reserving event space!
As isolating as the COVID-19 pandemic has made life seem, it is important to remain connected with your loved ones. So long as you practice social distancing and mask up when around that outside of your home, safe socializing is possible. Although we may not be able to mosh on the dance floor in Rick’s just yet, safe options to get together are possible, as pre-pandemic get-togethers become slowly in reach. Be sure to refer to the Michigan COVID-19 state guidelines when making plans in order to stay safe and keep those around you safe.
Feature Photo by Brad Switzer on Unsplash.