Stopped. Watched.

An outdoor concert by Gemini & Friends in the courtyard of Kerrytown Market & Shops is attended by little fairies. [photo] [photo] The Sunday Artisan Market is holding its 4th Annual Fairy Festival.

Ann Arbor parks have their ducks in a row. [photo]

The soccer games have begun! Crowds begin to gather for the block party to celebrate the very big game. [photo 1] [photo 2] [photo 3]

A Fox2 News van is among the media/traffic snarl downtown today. [photo] Main Street is closed and sound checks were underway for Friday afternoon’s International Champions Cup pre-game concert.

About 1/4 to 1/2 mile north of Woodland Drive a helicopter – which  could be University of Michigan Survival Flight based on the blue and yellow markings – has made a landing in a soybean field. [photo 1] [photo 2]

Excavation underway for the new “flatiron-style” building at 544 Detroit. Strong smell of gas as dirt is removed from the former gas station site. [photo]

I counted over 100 goldfish swimming with the ducks. Where did they come from? [photo 1] [photo 2]

Friendly foursome from Madison, Wisc. in town for the  National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) of National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). They are complimentary of Ann Arbor as a town. We received a token of their esteem – a pin for their Local 159. [photo]

Giant billboard at Michigan Stadium being changed in preparation for Aug. 2 Manchester United v. Real Madrid soccer/football game. [photo]

A deer popped out for a visit on Depot Street! Luckily, he quickly turned away and ran back towards Argo Pond area.

What the crap are they building in front of Pioneer High school? On bare dirt, no less! [photo]

Around 6:30 this morning, along with the usual tank-cars and ordinary-looking freight cars, there were number of flat train cars heading south with military equipment including numerous tanks with turrets and various related vehicles, something we have never noticed on this railway line before.

This should perhaps be filed under Stopped.Listened. I wonder if any readers can identify this sound: [.mp3 of a democratic sound]

Pedaling through the intersection of Washington and Third heading into downtown, I noticed a Greyhound bus turning off Huron onto Third Street, then east on Washington past the Y. As I pedaled under the RR bridge, I wondered: How tall is the bus behind me? I stopped on the far side of the bridge. Bus had stopped short of it, backed up, was attempting a turnaround maneuver using 415 W. Washington parking lot. [photo]

Crew from Michigan Theater’s Young Filmmakers Camp set up a shot in front of the theater. [photo]

Patrol car ambulance at the barber in Nickels Arcade. [photo]

Return of the Blimp. [photo]

Cyclist (Jeannine Palms) with campaign sign for Ward 3 council candidate Samuel McMullen affixed to bicycle. [photo]

The sidewalk on the south side of Washington between First and Ashley is finally open. No more detouring around the apartment building construction.

After a year, First Baptist Church finally has its new slate roof and copper cornices, gutters and downspouts completed.  This 1880 building is the church’s third location since its founding in 1827. [photo]

Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority finds a solution all by itself. [Bus with ad wrap: "Solutions" on a tow truck.] [photo]

Table for 12? [Sign indicates: "Reserved Weber's Inn and Restaurant Shuttle Bus. Others will be towed."] [photo]

How do you get to the art fair?

(a) bike?

(b) Beemer?

(c)  the Bentley?

[photo]

Argus Farm Stop gets sign painted. Projector mounted on top of SUV throws image on the wall and Mary Thiefels is painting it. [photo 1] [photo 2] Opening mid-August.

Blank Slate Creamery features chalk-writeable surfaces on tables, walls and counters. Tic-tac-toe [photo] and “I have never been this happy” [photo]. Owner reported that part of the challenge to transitioning from small batch production to larger batches is getting the chemistry right in the recipe. More sugar in larger batches.

Campaign sign for Kathy White, a University of Michigan regent. Her current 8-year term ends this year, as does the term for Julia Darlow. [photo]

Woman walking down the street with a green fur tail, green fur leggings, green hair and cat ears – also green. [photo]

A Schlissel sighting! [new University of Michigan president] [photo]

Building deconstruction. [photo]

Jack’s Hardware sign warns locals that the art fairs “loom.”