Hear Say, A New Microbrewery And Improv Theater, Opens At Old Townies Brewery Location

Morning, Ann Arbor! Or should I say “Morning, 3rd Most Peaceful Place To Live In The US”?

I could also say “Morning, Most Expensive Place To Live In Michigan”, but that’s far less fun.

Let’s stick with the classic, “Morning, Ann Arbor!”

Read Time: 3 minutes

Reader Count: 1,791 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 1.49%

ANN ARBORITES SHOULD KNOW

🍺 Hear.Say Brewing + Theater: Tony DeRose and Jason Tomalia are transforming the old Townies Brewery site (2350 W. Liberty St.) into Hear.Say Brewing + Theater, a new venue for craft beer lovers and improv comedy fans. Alongside “upscale carnival food”, Hear.Say will feature a seven-barrel brewhouse, an event space, a food truck, and a biergarten. Starting today (February 26), Hear.Say will begin offering improv comedy classes that build to a March 21 debut show. To keep up with Hear.Say Brewing + Theater, here’s their Instagram, Facebook, and website.

🚔 New Police Chief: Last week, Andre Anderson was sworn in as Ann Arbor’s new police chief. Anderson, a US Army Veteran and ex-professional boxer, previously served as the assistant police chief of Tempe, Arizona, the executive deputy chief in Rochester, New York, and a commander in Glendale, Arizona. While in Glendale, Anderson stepped into the national spotlight by serving as the interim chief of the Ferguson Police Department after an officer of the police department fatally shot Michael Brown, an unarmed, 18-year-old. After two interim police chiefs, Anderson will be the city’s first permanent police chief since Michael Cox stepped down in 2022.

🏠 Seventh Street House Explosion: Early Monday morning, a house exploded on S. Seventh Street and Princeton Avenue, leaving the structure completely destroyed and one individual hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities believe two 20 lb propane tanks were the source of the explosion. As the home’s natural gas line had been shut off for several years, propane was being used to heat the house. The Ann Arbor Fire Department emphasized the dangers of indoor propane use and has closed its investigation.

📚 Test-Optional Admissions: Starting in the winter 2025 term, U of M has officially adopted a “test-optional” admissions policy for undergraduate applicants, allowing applicants to choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. This decision follows a "test-flexible" approach initiated in fall 2020 due to COVID-19, accommodating students unable to take standardized tests. A comprehensive review by university faculty and staff supported this move to enhance access and fairness, addressing concerns over standardized tests' bias towards those who can afford test-prep resources.

MICHIGANDERS SHOULD KNOW

☀️ Upcoming Solar Eclipse: Whatever your plans are for April 8, cancel them and stare (safely) at the sky. For the first time in 7 years and for the last time in 20 years, there will be a total solar eclipse in the U.S. and Michigan is in the path of totality (shoutout to Monroe County for sneaking in). The eclipse will start around 1:58 PM, reach maximum coverage (98 or 99% for most of SE Michigan) around 3:14 PM, and conclude around 4:27 PM. For what it’s worth, this author has heard getting into the path of a total solar eclipse is worth the drive and fortunately, Monroe County is only 34 miles away.

🪪 Updated State Licenses: To comply with federal security laws, Michigan’s new driver’s licenses and state IDs are rolling out a new design that replaces the Mackinac Bridge with the state’s emblem. Existing IDs will be valid until they expire.

♠️  Online Gambling: If online gambling were a sport, Michigan would be national champs. With a record $1.92 billion wagered in 2023, Michiganders gambled online more than any other state. The state’s online wagers brought in over $354 million in tax revenue for the state, far more than the predicted $30-$40 million in revenue that was initially expected.

ON THE MARKET

1 Bed | 1 Bath | 701 Sqft | $359,000

3 Bed | 3 Bath | 1,620 Sqft | $429,000

4 Bed | 3 Bath | 1,900 Sqft | $725,000

ADOPTABLE HUMANE SOCIETY PETS

Greta | 2 years | Retriever, Lab Mix

Pumpkin | 7 years | Domestic Shorthair

That's all for now! Have a great week in Tree Town!

- Andrew

P. P. S. - Detroit Cookie Company’s Ann Arbor location (609 E. William St.) closed this month.

P. P. P. S. - Last Saturday’s Winterfest broomball tournament raised more than $225,000 for charity. Respect.

P. P. P. P. S. - If you’re into $5 million castles in Kalamazoo, buckle up.