Let the favorites begin! The ballots are in and counted! Ann Arborites have spoken! Thanks to all our readers for telling us what they love most about the Ann Arbor area. From local experts to exciting locations, it’s no wonder we love to call Ann Arbor home!
Let's Eat
Family restaurant
Zingerman’s Roadhouse
2501 Jackson Rd.
734-663-3663
www.zingermansroadhouse.com
Runner up: Grizzly Peak
Healthy kids’ menu
Seva Restaurant
314 E. Liberty St.
734-662-1111
www.sevarestaurant.com
Runner up: Zingerman’s Roadhouse
Fun place for dinner
Bagger Dave’s
859 W. Eisenhower Pkwy.
734-994-3283
www.baggerdaves.com
Runner up: Aubree’s Pizzeria and Tavern
Pizza joint
Pizza House
618 Church St.
734-995-5095
www.pizzahouse.com
Runner up: Hello Faz Pizza
Burger place
Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger
551 S. Division St.
734-663-4590
www.blimpyburger.com
Runner up: Bagger Dave’s
Ice cream shop
Washtenaw Dairy
602 S. Ashley St.
734-662-3244
www.washtenawdairy.com
Runner up: Mickey’s Dairy Twist
Place where kids eat free
Mac’s Acadian Seafood Shack
104 E. Michigan Ave.
Saline
734-944-6227
www.macsinsaline.com
Runner up: Qdoba Mexican Grill
Kid-friendly grocery store
Busch’s Fresh Food Market
For locations visit www.buschs.com
Runner up: Plum Market
Natural food store
Arbor Farms Market
2103 W. Stadium Blvd.
734-996-8111
www.arborfarms.com
Runner up: Plum Market
Consignment for kids
Children’s Orchard
887 W. Eisenhower Pkwy.
734-995-8889
www.childrensorchard.com
This children’s consignment store resells gently used children’s clothing, toys and furniture at its Ann Arbor location. The store, opened in 1990, provides more name brands at discount prices than many other retailers. Children’s Orchard stresses the importance of value when it comes to selecting merchandise and offers additional discounts to members of the store’s M.O.M.S. Club and Birthday Club.
Program for preschoolers/ Best place to buy maternity clothes
My Urban Toddler
7025 E. Michigan Ave.
Saline
734-994-3628
www.myurbantoddler.com
Rosa Lee founded My Urban Toddler in 2006 to establish a place for new parents to immerse themselves and their children in organized, sophisticated conversation and activities. My Urban Toddler provides a wide range of products including strollers, books and gifts, and also offers classes on subjects ranging from childbirth for parents to ballet for little ones. With age-appropriate classes for infants to age five, My Urban Toddler, is a mingling spot for parents and an imagination-driven destination for toddlers.
My Urban toddler also boasts a vast selection of maternity clothing for any stylish expectant mom-to-be.
Tops In Ann Arbor
Local company to work for if you have kids
University of Michigan
Runner up: Children’s Creative Learning Center
Neighborhood to raise kids in
Saline
Runner up: Burn’s Park
Kids Photographer
Myra Klarman
206 S. Main St.
734-330-1251
www.myraklarman.com
Runner up: Kat Foley
Program for preschoolers
My Urban Toddler
7025 E. Michigan Ave.
Saline
734-994-3628
www.myurbantoddler.com
Runner up: Saline Recreation Complex
Summer Day Camp
Summers-Knoll School
2015 Manchester Rd.
734-971-7991
www.summers-knoll.org
Runner up: Emerson School
Family-friendly car dealership
Briarwood Ford
7070 Michigan Ave.
Saline
734-429-5478
www.briarwood-ford.net
Runner up: Dunning Toyota
Teacher
Ms. Bonnie Jacques of Saline Cooperative Preschool
Runner up: Ms. Glenna Ford of Great Lakes Educational Group
Tutoring/ learning center
Great Lakes
Educational Group
152 S. Industrial Dr.
Saline
734-944-5658
www.greatlakeseducationalgroup.com
Runner up: 826 Michigan
Bank/financial institution
Bank of Ann Arbor
For locations visit www.bankofannarbor.com
Runner up: Ann Arbor State Bank
Dentist/orthodontist
Dr. Ray Maturo
Pediatric Dentistry
2074 S. Main St.
734-663-2490
www.annarborpediatricdentistry.com
Runner up: Dr. Santine Anderson DDS of Enspire Dental
Optometrist
Bennett Optometry
117 S. Main St.
734-665-5306
www.bennettoptometry.com
Runner up: Ann Arbor Optometry
Family lawyer
Jim Fink
Fink and Valvo PLLC
320 N. Main St.
734-994-1077
Runner up: Wilson P. Tanner III, PLC
Place to worship
St. Andrew
the Apostle Parish
910 Austin Dr.
Saline
734-429-5210
Runner up: St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Preschool
Saline Cooperative
Preschool
6299 Ann Arbor Rd.
Saline
734-429-0685
www.salinecoop.org
Runner up: Ann Arbor Hills Child Development Center
Daycare
Bemis Farms Childcare and Preschool
For locations visit www.bemisfarmschildcare.com
Runner up: Children’s Creative Learning Center
Drop-in childcare
Ann Arbor YMCA’s
Child Watch
400 W. Washington
734-996-9622
www.annarborymca.org
Runner up: Bemis Farms Childcare and Preschool
Place to give birth
St. Joseph Mercy Health System
501 N. Maple Rd.
734-327-3933
www.stjoeshealth.org
Runner up: University of Michigan Hospital
Pediatric practice
Liberty Pediatrics
3200 W. Liberty Rd.
734-994-5858
www.libertypediatrics.org
Runner up: Child Health Associates
Doctor
Dr. Tanya Rodgers of Ann Arbor Family Practice
3200 W. Liberty Rd.
734-761-2581
www.ihacares.com
Runner up: Dr. Yukt Anand Singh of St. Joseph Mercy Health System
Midwife
Cheryl Bachman of CNM Midwife
4936 W. Clark Rd.
Ypsilanti
734-572-9600
Runner up: East Ann Arbor Midwives
Place to change a diaper
Von Maur
100 Briarwood Circle
734-622-0233
www.vonmaur.com
Runner up: Babies R Us
Place to nurse a baby
Von Maur
100 Briarwood Circle
734-622-0233
www.vonmaur.com
Runner up: My Urban Toddler
Let’s Play
Dance class
Arts in Motion
2841 Boardwalk St.
734-222-6246
www.artsinmotion.net
Runner up: Dance Steps Studio
Art class
Ann Arbor Art Center
117 W. Liberty St.
734-994-8004
www.annarborartcenter.org
Runner up: Two Twelve Arts Center
Music class
Hand in Hand Music
10276 Normonie Ct.
Saline
734-429-3385
www.handinhandmt.com
Runner up: Robinsongs For Kids
Hand in Hand Music offers musical enrichment classes for newborns to five-year-olds. Parents and caregivers are required to attend the classes alongside their children, making music and demonstrating the importance of bonding, movement and, of course, listening. Currently offered at My Urban Toddler and The Saline First United Methodist Church, Hand in Hand Music boasts a collection of teachers with years of experience fostering the musical development in youth.
Activity that’s free
Ann Arbor District Library’s Story Time
For locations visit www.aadl.org
Runner up: Walk in the Arb
Family-friendly fair or festival
Saline Fair
Runner up: Festifools
Live theatre for kids
Wild Swan Theater
410 S. Maple
734-995-0530
www.wildswantheater.org
Runner up: Michigan Theater
Park or playground
Mill Pond Park
565 W. Bennett St.
Saline
www.ci.saline.mi.us
Runner up: Gallup Park
Story hour
Saline District Library
555 N. Maple Rd.
Saline
734-429-5450
www.saline.lib.mi.us
Runner up: Ann Arbor District Library’s Downtown Branch
Rainy day outing
Ann Arbor
Hands-On Museum
220 E. Ann St.
734-995-5439
www.aahom.org
Runner up: My Urban Toddler
Sunny day outing
Rolling Hills Water Park
7660 Stony Creek Rd.
Ypsilanti
734-484-9676
www.ewashtenaw.org
Runner up: Mill Pond Park
Place to swim
Saline Recreation Complex
1866 Woodland Dr.
Saline
734-429-3502
www.ci.saline.mi.us
Runner up: Rolling Hills
Water Park/Indoor water park
Splash Universe Indoor Water Park Resort
100 Whitetail Dr.
Dundee
877-752-7482
www.splashuniverse.com/Dundee
Runner up: Kalahari Resort Waterpark
Vacation on a budget
South Haven
Runner up: Up North
Family-friendly health club
Liberty Athletic Club
2975 W. Liberty Rd.
734-665-3738
www.libertyathletic.net
Runner up: Saline
Recreation Complex/Indoor sports facility
Saline Recreation Complex
1866 Woodland Dr.
Saline
734-429-3502
www.ci.saline.mi.us
Runner up: Ann Arbor YMCA
Gymnastics
Gym America
4611 Platt Rd.
734-971-1667
www.gymamericagymnastics.com
Runner up: Champion Gymnastics
Bowling alley
Colonial Lanes
1950 S. Industrial Hwy.
734-665-4474
www.coloniallanescubsac.com
Runner up: Maplewood Lanes
Place to buy kids’ shoes
Stride Rite
818 Briarwood Circle
734-662-6600
www.striderite.com
Runner up: Von Maur
Consignment for kids
Children’s Orchard
887 W. Eisenhower Pkwy.
734-995-8889
www.childrensorchard.com
Runner up: Once Upon A Child
Place to buy maternity clothes
My Urban Toddler
7025 E. Michigan Ave.
Saline
734-994-3628
www.myurbantoddler.com
Runner up: Once Upon A Child
Place to splurge for the nursery
Elephant Ears
415 N. 5th Ave.
734-622-9580
www.elephantearsonline.com
Runner up: My Urban Toddler
Specialty Toys/Gifts
Learning Express
2465 W. Stadium Blvd.
734-997-0707
annarbor.learningexpress-toys.com
Runner up: Mudpuddles
Place to buy outdoor equipment
Tree Town Toys
2611 Plymouth Rd.
734-929-6545
www.treetowntoys.com
Runner up: REI
Children’s furniture
IKEA
41640 Ford Rd.
Canton
734-981-6300
www.ikea.com
Runner up: Children’s Orchard
Preschool
Saline Cooperative Preschool
6299 Ann Arbor Rd.
Saline
734-429-0685
www.salinecoop.org
Saline Cooperative Preschool, centrally located in Saline since 1957, enlists two parent helpers in each classroom every day. Each parent helper has an assigned set of tasks ranging from arts and crafts to planned activities. Hands-on parental involvement is instrumental in the school’s success, allowing parents to know their child’s teacher and classmates, and to have personal involvement in their child’s success. “It’s a very flexible environment,” says Adrienne Logman, an active parent of a SCP student. “Some people might be apprehensive with the time commitment
tied to entering the classroom, but I’m a working mom and it works,” says Logman.
Birthday Bashes
Entertainer
Jeff Wawrzaszek of A2magic.com
734-99-MAGIC
www.a2magic.com
Runner up: Magic Joe
Place for a birthday party
Jump City
2825 Boardwalk Dr.
734-995-5055
www.jump-city.com
Runner up: Mocha Mountain (formerly Jungle Java)
Place to buy a cake
Baker’s Nook
901 W. Michigan
Saline
734-429-1320
www.thebakersnook.com
Runner up: Manchester Bakery
Inflatable bounce house
Xtreme Bounce Zone
82 Aprill Dr.
734-761-3242
www.xtremebouncezone.com
Runner up: Kelly’s Inflatables
Shop Till You Drop
Kids’ Clothing Store
Elephant Ears
415 N. 5th Ave.
734-622-9580
www.elephantearsonline.com
Runner up: Children’s Orchard
For Parents ONLY
Mom support group
Lamaze Family Center
2500 Packard Rd. Suite 101
734-973-1014
www.lamazefamilycenter.org
Runner up: A2 Babywearers
Mom-friendly play date spot
Mocha Mountain (formerly Jungle Java)
3900 Jackson Rd.
734-786-1340
www.mocha-mountain.com
Runner up: My Urban Toddler
Parent Blog
arborparents.com
To see Arbor Parents
visit www.unixmama.com
Runner up: anadequatemom.wordpress.com
Date Night Restaurant
Café Zola
112 W. Washington St.
734-769-2020
www.cafezola.com
Runner up: Gratzi
Place for mom to be pampered
Bellanina Day Spa and Gift Boutique
201 N. 4th Ave.
734-327-1000
www.bellanina.com
Runner up: Fran Coy’s Salon and Spa
Romantic getaway
Weber’s Inn
3050 Jackson Ave.
734-769-2500
www.webersinn.com
Runner up: The Oasis Hot Tub Garden
Tap into Ann Arbor Family
Reason to love Ann Arbor Family
Great articles
Runner up: Great ideas for family fun
Best Ann Arbor Family column
Food Fight
Runner up: New Kids
Best story idea Ann Arbor Family hasn’t covered
Best private schools
Runner up: Mother/daughter businesses
Reason to visit AnnArborFamily.com
Great articles
Runner up: The online calendar
