ANN ARBOR – Downtown area associations have joined an annual campaign to encourage visitors to continue shopping and dining in the city throughout the month of January. Typically a slow time of year for business, the pandemic has only exacerbated the lack of customers at local establishments. The Main Street Area Association, State Street District, Kerrytown District Association, and South University Area Association have partnered with the getDowntown Program for “Conquer the Cold - Pandemic Edition.”The annual challenge by getDowntown -- in partnership with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide), the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ann Arbor -- is designed to encourage and educate commuters to use alternative modes of transportation during the cold winter months. Many restaurants will be participating in the Comfort Food Challenge, and users can get prizes for dining outdoors, ordering curbside and shopping downtown. “The Downtown Districts are excited to be partnering with GetDowntown for Conquer the Cold this year,” Sandra Andrade, executive director of the Main Street Area Association said in a statement.

In order to bolster support for local eateries and merchants, the Kerrytown District, Main Street Ann Arbor, the State Street District, and the South University Area Association launched on Wednesday the “Show Your Love A2” campaign. “We want to keep the nostalgic charm of Ann Arbor thriving. Help us preserve the personality and spirit of Ann Arbor by showing your love to the community. Please shop, eat, and drink (in) downtown Ann Arbor.”ShowYourLoveA2 is also holding a photo contest. To enter, follow the campaign on Instagram at @ShowYourLoveA2 and share a photo of what you love downtown with the hashtag #ShowYourLoveA2.

ANN ARBOR Its art fair season but with the cancellation of this years Ann Arbor Art Fair due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its difficult to connect with artists. Here are four ways to support artists and the Ann Arbor Art Fair:Connect with artistsConnect directly with artists by browsing the Art Fair artist directories. Browse through beautiful works of art from the State Street District Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair's 2021... Posted by Ann Arbor Art Fair on Thursday, July 9, 2020Donate or sponsor an art fairThe Ann Arbor Art Fair is actually made up of four separate and independently juried nonprofit fairs. Buy an Art Fair T-shirtThe Ann Arbor Art Fair has its own limited edition T-shirt commemorating the 2020 cancellation. Various restaurants, shops and galleries in Ann Arbor, as well as the Ann Arbor Art Center, sell art made by local artists.

ANN ARBOR - Get ready for a new kind of street party. For the first time ever, the South University Area Association will be shutting down South University and Church streets for an evening of live music, dancing, food and drink. "We wanted another event other than Art Fair," said Maggie Ladd, South University Area Association's executive director. The event is free and open to the public and will run from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sept. 14. The South U Block Party is sponsored by:Good Time Charley'sThe Brown JugMavenO&WUnderground PrintingPakmode Media + MarketingAll About Ann Arbor is powered by ClickOnDetroit/WDIV.