Ope! Let’s Talk About the Weather, Shall We?
If you live in the midwestern US, the weather fascinating, and it’s something we all have in common. I have lived in the midwest for most of my life, and I am still boggled by the warm/cold whiplash that characterizes the shoulder seasons. The shock of a snowstorm in May?! The thrill of the late-fall “second summer” (does anyone really call it a pastrami summer?)?!
Sigh. The number of jokes about Midwesterners and their talk of the weather, right? You’ve probably heard that Oscar Wilde once said, “Talking about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative.” Well, I beg to differ. If you live in the midwestern US, the weather fascinating, and it’s something we all have in common. I have lived in the midwest for most of my life, and I am still boggled by the warm/cold whiplash that characterizes the shoulder seasons. The shock of a snowstorm in May?! The thrill of the late-fall “second summer” (does anyone really call it a pastrami summer?)?!
Weather has always been enormously important to Michiganders, so let’s just lean into that! The beliefs, stories, and traditions of Native inhabitants of southeast Michigan are closely aligned with the weather and the seasons. (Find out more about the Anishinaabe people of the Great Lakes region.) It’s well established that Native Americans helped the first bedraggled European settlers navigate the challenges of this land, and that certainly included the weather-related challenges - from tornadoes to harsh winters to humid summers. The Farmers Almanac was first published in 1792, during George Washington’s first presidential term. While it doesn’t specifically thank Native Americans for their contributions, it relied heavily on Native knowledge and traditions regarding the weather. To this day, the Old Farmers Almanac (its name has changed, so as not to be confused with a rival almanac published in ) includes reams of information on Native language, traditions, and culture - often with an eye to the weather. If you haven’t looked at a Farmers Almanac recently, we can’t recommend it strongly enough! It is hugely entertaining, highly educational, and eerily accurate in its weather predictions! (Fun fact: In 1950, however, Senator Robert S. Kerr (D-OK) sent letters out to Native American leaders across the country to ask them for weather predictions for the coming winter. This was long after the establishment of the US Weather Bureau - now the National Weather Service.)
Now that we are feeling the first tender moments of spring, and our tiny green things are beginning to peek out from their mulch-y resting places, we at The Newton are getting excited! The historic Newton of Ypsilanti is lovely and cozy in the winter, but its gardens, porches, and courtyard really come alive with the warm weather! We can’t wait to plant our veggie garden and to use those veggies in our cooking! We’re planning a fantastic Mother’s Day event in our courtyard, with food prepared by the inimitable Beara Bakes, mini-photo shoots by Lola Grace Photography, and Yours Truly Events will be in charge of flowers and decor! We’ll soon be hosting festive courtyard community events - the first one will be part of Ypsilanti’s First Fridays kickoff on April 5! Check our events and tickets page for more information! Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram to find out about events as we schedule them.
We Had So Much Fun in 2023!
We’ve been busy putting away decorations and putting The Newton to rights after all the really fun holiday events we hosted. We’ve reminisced about and reflected on 2023, and we’re busily planning for 2024. We were so thrilled with the events we made happen with you - the community get-togethers, the special occasions you shared with us, and getting to know our overnight guests! The Newton of Ypsilanti is not only a boutique inn, it is also a lovely event space and community gathering place. In 2023, we hosted family dinners, milestone birthday celebrations, intimate weddings, art exhibitions, card game nights, musical performances, retirement parties, workshops, cooking classes, and holiday parties. Let’s do it all again in 2024!
Happy 2024! We’ve been busy putting away decorations and putting The Newton to rights after all the really fun holiday events we hosted. We’ve reminisced about and reflected on 2023, and we’re busily planning for 2024. We were so thrilled with the events we made happen with you - the community get-togethers, the special occasions you shared with us, and getting to know our overnight guests! The Newton of Ypsilanti is not only a boutique inn, it is also a lovely event space and community gathering place. Our innkeeper is a talented and creative chef, so the meals are incredible! We have cooked and baked, salted, sauced, and plated to bring fantastic food to you. In 2023, we hosted family dinners, milestone birthday celebrations, intimate weddings, art exhibitions, card game nights, musical performances, retirement parties, workshops, cooking classes, and holiday parties.
We especially enjoy the Whole House rental events… You celebrate with your friends and loved ones, spend the night in our beautiful suites, and wake up to a gorgeous and delicious breakfast created just for you by Chef Allison! These events really make the most of the unique venue that is The Newton!
We love welcoming guests into this beautiful and historical home, and we love serving incredible food to you! We hope that The Newton has been a home away from home for you, and we can’t wait to do more of all of this with you in 2024!
Ho Ho Host Your Holiday at The Newton!
It is time, people, to plan your holiday events and gatherings. We LOVE the holidays, and we’d love to help make your event special and festive and delicious! Soon, The Newton’s halls will be decked, its fireplaces laid with logs, its kitchen bustling with baking and roasting, its porches twinkling, and a gorgeous tree will be filling the front window. Host your event in one of our beautiful spaces, spend a special weekend here, or give the gift of The Newton to someone you love! We’ve got it all covered!
Forgive the cringey title, but it is time, people, to begin planning your holiday events (I mean technically, it’s kind of late, but this is how I operate!). We LOVE the holidays, and we’d love to help make your event special and festive and delicious! Soon, The Newton’s halls will be decked, its fireplaces laid with logs, its kitchen bustling with baking and roasting, its porches twinkling, and a gorgeous tree will be filling the front window. Have your holiday party here, whether its an intimate family dinner, or a big fancy party! We’ve got you covered - Chef Allison and her team can craft a sumptuous meal, complete with special cocktails (or mocktails). Have a cozy party in our historical tavern! It has its own rustic tree and twinkle lights galore and an incredible fireplace!
A cozy holiday scene in our tavern, which was built in the 1800s.
Finally, consider giving someone you love or appreciate the gift of The Newton of Ypsilanti - a gift card can be applied to an overnight stay at this beautiful boutique inn, a special dinner, a cooking class, or one of our workshops or events! You really can’t go wrong, as The Newton has something for everyone. Give us a call or head to our website to find out more about this fantastic option for everyone on your list (maybe not the kids…).
The Ann Arbor Art Fair! Summer Arts in Ypsilanti!
The Ann Arbor Art Fair is the largest juried art fair in the entire country, with 500,000 visitors each year. This year, it runs from Thursday July 20 - Saturday July 22. It is an incredible gathering of talented artists and performers, but parking is no fun! So come stay with us at The Newton and we’ll drive you to and fro, prepare delicious breakfasts to fuel you, and have the courtyard hammock ready and waiting for you to relax after a long day!
Photo Credit Ann Arbor Art Fair
It’s almost here! The Ann Arbor Art Fair is the largest juried art fair in the entire country, and it draws over 500,000 visitors each year. This year, it runs from Thursday July 20, through Saturday July 22. It is an incredible gathering of talented artists and performers, and whether you’re just browsing or shopping for spectacular art, the Art Fair has something for everyone. Technically, the Art Fair is made up of three separate juried fairs, but the logistics are the same for all of them. Parking is no fun, though, so come stay with us at The Newton and we’ll drive you to and fro, prepare delicious breakfasts to fuel you, and have the courtyard hammock ready and waiting for you to relax after a long day!
If three days of Art Fair is too much for you, here is a glimpse of the fantastic arts scene around Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor - check these out and make it a long arts-themed weekend!
The Ann Arbor Art Center is very active in the Art Fair, but all year round it hosts exhibitions, workshops, and classes. The A2AC Murals initiative has sponsored 16 gorgeous murals around downtown Ann Arbor, and one in Ypsilanti; there is a walking tour on the website, and the murals are worth checking out.
The non-profit Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti hosts exhibitions and workshops, along with a twice-monthly Fine Arts Club where local artists can gain exposure and community for their work. There’s also swing dancing every Friday with beginner lessons ahead of the main event.
Several other Ypsilanti galleries feature the work of Michigan-based artists. We love 22 North, The Gallery at Stone and Spoon, and The Michigan Art Gallery.
The Deep End Cafe and Gallery in Ypsilanti is a mission-driven café that features the work of underrepresented artists and writers. They have an artist talk on Thursday July 20 with the current exhibition’s artist, Dillan Steele.
Here at The Newton, we’ve partnered with Aligned Exhibits to feature the work of local artists. We love the intensely creative community we’re in, and being surrounded by the work of these talented people!
(Artist Laila Kujala is one of two artists whose work is displayed at The Newton right now. Studio photograph credit Aligned Exhibits.)
To cap off what’s sure to be an excellent weekend, join us for a Michigan Beer Tasting on Sunday evening (7/23) with long-time beer writer and enthusiast Patti Smith. Patti will walk you through a sampling of eight Michigan beers, and explain the nuances of tasting and judging beer. Chef Allison will be preparing some perfectly paired snacks!
Ypsilanti Bicentennial Historical Homes Tour: Come Celebrate With Us On August 20!
There are so many incredible things to love about Ypsilanti, and one of our favorites is the incredible architecture, and the abundance of spectacular old homes. Imagine the history and the drama that those homes have seen - so many families, so many lives playing out over hundreds of years! After a pandemic hiatus, the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation is bringing back its Historical Homes Tour for the 43rd iteration on August 20, 2023.
Did you know that Ypsilanti has the third-largest historic district in the entire state of Michigan? It’s true! We have more stunning examples of 19th century architecture than your average city! Of course, there are countless homes outside of the historic district that exemplify period-specific architecture, but the historic district reflects Ypsilanti’s appreciation of the importance of preserving and maintaining our architectural gems.
There are so many things to love about Ypsilanti, and one of our favorites is the incredible architecture and the abundance of spectacular old homes. Imagine the history and the drama that those homes have seen - so many families, so many lives playing out over hundreds of years! After a pandemic hiatus, the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation is bringing back its Historical Homes Tour for the 43rd iteration on August 20, 2023. The tour will be part of the extensive lineup of summer events celebrating Ypsilanti’s bicentennial anniversary.
Purchase a VIP ticket to come celebrate with us at The Newton after the historic homes tour! We’ll have delicious food and drinks in the beautiful courtyard.
This year’s tour will include several lovingly maintained homes along North Huron Street, ranging in age from 100 to 200 years old. Tickets will provide access to tour the exterior and interior of the homes, all of which have extensive original features. To make the event even more special, you can purchase a VIP ticket which includes a post-tour celebratory garden party in the stunning courtyard of The Newton of Ypsilanti. You’ll get to enjoy the delicious food and drinks of Chef (and Innkeeper) Allison Anastasio, and the historical expertise of our resident architect (and Innkeeper) Chuck Bultman.
The Newton isn’t part of the YHF Historical Homes Tour this year - access to the interior will be limited as Chef Allison and her team will be hard at work in the kitchen, and our overnight guests deserve some privacy. However, it was featured on the tour in 2001 and 2007, and you can see the lovely interior in the gallery on our website! The house was built in 1870 for Samuel Barnard (vice president of the Peninsular Paper Mill), and was purchased in 1917 by Charles Newton. Charles Newton was one of Henry Ford’s closest assistants and was instrumental in the procurement of many items in the Henry Ford Museum’s collections. Newton did extensive renovations to the house, including the additions of the dramatically columned porch, the courtyard in back, the kitchen, and the garage. He also added one of the inn’s most notable features by installing an incredible 18th century New England tavern in the basement.
The 18th c. tavern in The Newton’s basement
Though the house could technically be described as Neoclassical today, it bears many of the hallmark features of an Italianate structure, and it is built on Victorian bones (come to the party! Ask Chuck more about this!). Determining the building’s history is a forensic exercise in online and in-person research, community networking, and simply staring at the details of the house itself, trying to tease out evidence of long-ago and not-so-long-ago modifications! We love it!
Buy tickets for the house tour here! Stay with us for the Bicentennial Weekend (August 19-20) and immerse yourself in the history of it all - you can book rooms here!
Be sure to also mark your calendar for the 4th of July Parade, Bicentennial community picnic, and time capsule opening on July 4 at Riverside Park. There will be live music, food, and games!
Happy 200th Birthday, Ypsilanti! We are thrilled to be part of the city’s bicentennial celebrations!
Note: There is a free History Stroll along North Huron Street on Saturday August 19 with local historian and naturalist Stefan Szumko, if you would like to learn about many of these buildings from the sidewalk! The YHF Homes Tour on Sunday August 20 requires a ticket and includes access to the interior of the homes - we just don’t want to confuse anyone!
Strawberries: Ode to a Fruit
Is there anything more perfect than an early strawberry, shiny and red, fragrant and sweet? We don’t think so (although we reserve the right to say that about all the foods we love!). A tiny June strawberry, fresh from a field or a farmers’ market, delights all of the senses.
First garden strawberry of 2022 was a beauty!
Is there anything more perfect than an early strawberry, shiny and red, fragrant and sweet? We don’t think so (although we reserve the right to say that about all the foods we love!). A tiny June strawberry, fresh from a field or a farmers’ market, delights all of the senses - smell, taste, sight, touch, and… ok, maybe not hearing. Strawberries belong to the genus Fragaria, and the etymology here is no mystery: the fragrance of strawberries is the stuff of poetry. In the poem Wild Strawberries, Robert Graves describes the “...confounding of taste and scent.” And indeed, the science is in - a strawberry’s taste and scent are inextricably intertwined; the aroma of a strawberry matters more than the sugar content in how we perceive a strawberry’s sweetness!
Wild strawberries were an enormously important food source for the Native people that lived in the Great Lakes area prior to the government “resettlement” policy (the Indian Removal Act of 1830) that forced Native tribes off of their ancestral lands. The Anishinaabeg people were a cultural group that included many tribes in the Great Lakes region, and the largest tribes that inhabited southeast Michigan were the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Odawa (Ottawa), and Potowatami (Bode’wadmi). The tribes were semi-nomadic, migrating with the seasons. When springtime turned to early summer, the tribes would settle along the shores of lakes to catch fish and freshwater fowl, and to forage the woodlands for birch bark and wild berries. They marked the passage of time and seasons by the moon, and the June full moon was named Ode’imini-giizis (the Strawberry Moon). The full Strawberry Moon rises this coming Saturday, June 3!
You can find wild strawberries in the woods, of course, but the strawberries we cultivate now are the result of cross between two wild strawberry varieties (both transported from the Americas to Europe) in France in the 1700s.
It’s almost time for strawberry u-picks to open their doors, and we recommend getting on their waiting lists and checking Facebook sites to be in the know. It’s a fairly short season (mostly in June and early July); strawberries are easy to pick, and incredible when they are fresh from the field! Two local u-picks are:
Rowe’s Produce Farm (Ypsilanti) - strawberries and peas in June/July!
Honey Bee U-Pick (Ann Arbor) - strawberries in June/July!
Some of our other favorite produce items popping up at farmers’ markets right now include asparagus, herbs, peas, potatoes, and rhubarb. If you’re not sure what to do with a farmers’ market haul, get in touch with us, and we can design a cooking class just for you! We’re also happy to share some of our favorite recipes! The Newton of Ypsilanti’s own Chef Allison Anastasio will be doing a cooking demonstration at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market on June 7, 2023 at 11am (that’s a Wednesday market!). She’ll be whipping up a few delicious items that feature the spring/early summer bounty of our local farms.
SUMMER! SUMMER! SUMMER!
OMG OMG IT’S ALMOST HERE, and we are excited! Summer in southeast Michigan is truly special, and we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite things to do. Come stay at The Newton of Ypsilanti and let us help you make the most of summer!
OMG OMG IT’S ALMOST HERE, and we are excited! Summer in southeast Michigan is truly special, and we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite things to do. Come stay at The Newton of Ypsilanti and let us help you make the most of summer! Whether you’re local to the area or just passing through, The Newton is downright idyllic in the summer. The breezes waft through the open windows, the front porch is a great spot to read and have a coffee, and the courtyard is a secret garden - perfect for an afternoon hammock nap!
Summer brings festivals, fairs, and outdoor concerts. Fresh fruit and vegetables await picking - at a u-pick farm or a local farmers’ market. At The Newton, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor with a glass of crisp rosé. We can join you at one of the fabulous local farmers’ markets and design a cooking class just for you! Or Chef Allison can prepare a phenomenal seasonal meal using produce from nearby farms. Michigan’s freshwater resources are an embarrassment of riches - the Great Lakes, the many inland lakes, and the scenic rivers. Ford Lake has so many lovely parks for picnicking or fishing, and the Huron River flows right through Ypsilanti. There are countless ways to enjoy this incredible resource - by kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or inflatable tube! Ypsilanti is celebrating its bicentennial this year, and there is a great lineup of events in the works!
Festivals • Fairs • Outdoor Performances
Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra closes its 2022-23 season with a free concert at Riverside Park on Saturday 5/27.
Ypsi Jazz Fest puts on Saturday evening performances at Riverside and Montibeller Parks beginning July 1, while the John Lawrence Summer Jazz Concert Series begins its Friday concerts on June 30 at Ford Lake Park.
The Ypsi Pride celebration is June 2, 4-10pm.
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival has events most evenings from June 9 through June 25.
The renowned Ann Arbor Art Fair runs from July 20 to July 22.
Shakespeare in the Arb is presenting Much Ado About Nothing during the month of June for an incomparable outdoor theater experience.
There’s nothing like the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow happening on August 12 and 13 this year.
Check out the incredible lineup of events included in Ypsilanti’s Bicentennial Celebration!
Visit YpsiReal to see more event listings!
U-Pick Farms • Farmers’ Markets • Cooking Classes
Asparagus, strawberries, peas, blackberries, raspberries, tomatoes, herbs, flowers - you name it, and there is probably a u-pick farm nearby! We’ll help you find the right one!
The Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays 9am-1pm.
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
Chef Allison can design a cooking class (right here at The Newton!) for you to make a delectable meal or treat using your fresh produce!
Outdoor Adventuring
Let us pack you a picnic and enjoy it at one of the beautiful Ypsilanti parks!
Fish the Huron River right at Riverside Park! Head over to Schultz Outfitters to gather supplies and find out where the fish are biting (and if you want a guide, they can HOOK you up!).
Paddle the beautiful Huron River. The Huron River Water Trail spans 104 miles, and there are so many ways to enjoy it!
There are two distinct approaches to tubing the Huron River: long and lazy, or fast and furious! We think they’re both amazing, and we’ll help you with the logistics!
This is just a small sample of the fantastic activities and events happening this summer - give us a call, or book online to plan your adventure!
The March of the Morels (They’re Almost Here!)
No matter our politics, our beliefs, our values, our faith, there is at least one matter on which we can all agree: WE ALL LOVE MUSHROOMS. Right?! No? Many mushroom lovers really love mushrooms, though, and for an even smaller subset of people, the morel mushroom is just about the most exciting food in existence. The emergence of the morel heralds the coming of spring, and many Michigan foragers guard their morel hunting spots closely. Right around now, they’re beginning to check their secret spots for the first signs of the mushrooms, because once the heads are visible, there is a harvest window of only a few days.
No matter our politics, our beliefs, our values, our faith, there is at least one matter on which we can all agree: WE ALL LOVE MUSHROOMS. Right?! No? Okay, maybe not everyone - mushrooms are actually one of the most polarizing foods we eat, right up there with cilantro, smelly cheese, and olives. In our own cooking adventures, we have marveled at the near-surgical precision mushroom-haters can employ to extract mushrooms from a risotto or a soup. Many mushroom lovers really love mushrooms, though, and for an even smaller subset of people, the morel mushroom is just about the most exciting food in existence. The emergence of the morel heralds the coming of spring, and many Michigan foragers guard their morel hunting spots closely. Right around now, they’re beginning to check their secret spots for the first signs of the mushrooms, because once the heads are visible, there is a harvest window of only a few days. Skilled (and/or lucky) foragers can sell morels to chefs eager to put them on menus, but most morel hunters are just hoping to put morels on their own plates. Morels are notoriously difficult to cultivate, so for the most part, they are only available during their brief growing season (late-April to mid-June in Michigan). More than a few poems have been written about the morel, and they read like Victorian love poetry - morels are elusive, mysterious, shy, bashful, and precious gems whose beauty goes unnoticed by all but the fastidious few.
We are perched on the cusp of morel-hunting season here in southeast Michigan; there was a sighting just south of us earlier this week! If you want to give morel-hunting a try, check out some of the resources we have linked below. Morels are fairly distinctive looking, but there are a few toxic look-alike species which are generally lumped together as “false morels.” And be prepared to channel your inner criminal persona, as one writer described morel hunters thus:
“These are the… people who, if you come upon them in the forest, always look suspicious and paranoid, like someone waiting for a drug deal. They walk slowly through the pines, heads bent. When they see you they try to look casual, like they just happen to be taking a little stroll. Never mind the basket they carry or that funny, curved knife in their hands. They barely offer a wave before scooting off to a quieter part of the forest.”
Should you be so fortuitous as to find a morel or two (or even a patch!), you’ll find countless recipes for cooking them. We think that the best way to prepare them, though, is to simply sauté them with a little butter and salt, and eat them right out of the pan! It’s certainly not a complicated recipe, but it’s a shame to hide this mushroom’s flavor with elaborate preparations. If you do want to get a little fancy, the great chef and food writer J. Kenji López-Alt recommends a sauté with a few more ingredients that highlight the morel’s delicate earthiness. López-Alt’s recipe post also includes some excellent graphics if you’re not sure how to clean and trim your morels.
Let us know if you get lucky!
Resources and reading:
The Great Morel is a blog dedicated exclusively to the morel, and it has a sighting map that tracks the emergence of morels so that hunters can be prepared.
Modern Forager shares a great deal of information on foraging, including burn maps and gear lists. Kristen and Trent Blizzard’s book, Wild Mushrooms: A Cookbook and Foraging Guide, is a great resource!
The Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club shares information with beginners and hosts several public hunts to help hunters get started.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has lots of information on how and where to get started hunting.
The poem Morel Mushrooms by Jane Whitledge is just one of the morel mushroom genre.
Boyne City hosts the National Morel Mushroom Festival, which includes cooking contests, tastings, seminars, morel giveaways, and a competitive hunt. It takes place May 18-21, 2023.
MichiganMorels is a Facebook page where enthusiasts gather, but as previously mentioned, they are not likely to share specific locations.
Tonight! First Fridays Ypsilanti Returns!
Just when you start to wonder if this might be the year that winter sticks around forever, the gray skies start to crack and the sun begins to warm us up. Those determined crocuses and daffodils begin to unfurl, and we start looking through seed catalogs, filled with giddy relief that spring is happening again! Alongside those crocuses, another sure sign of spring in Ypsilanti is the beginning of First Fridays Ypsilanti.
Just when you start to wonder if this might be the year that winter sticks around forever, the gray skies start to crack and the sun begins to warm us up. Those determined crocuses and daffodils begin to unfurl, and we start looking through seed catalogs, filled with giddy relief that spring is happening again! Alongside those crocuses, another sure sign of spring in Ypsilanti is the beginning of First Fridays Ypsilanti. First Fridays is a monthly event (held on the… first Friday of every month!) that strives to connect Ypsi businesses and community members with arts-related events and celebrations. This year marks the program’s 10th anniversary! The overall event runs from 5-10pm, though individual venues set their own hours. Tonight’s theme is Ypsi in Bloom, and the attractions include swing dancing lessons, fairy door supplies, ice cream, art shows, an Easter egg hunt, a makers’ market, and so much more! (See the detailed event listings, as a few events have age restrictions and/or a small fee.) Shake off the winter dust and come on out, Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor neighbors! We’d love to see you there! We’ll be there! Keep your eyes peeled for our Innkeeper, Chef Allison Anastasio, and ask her what she did with this rhubarb that got her so excited! She’s really excited for local fruits and veggies to start showing up in the garden at The Newton, and at local farmers’ markets!