First Fridays May: Mental Health Awareness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and First Fridays is kicking off the month with events centered around wellness and mental health! 

22 North Gallery
22 N. Huron St.
5:00pm-9:00pm

Women’s Caucus for Art Michigan: Seeds of Change Resilience
21 women artists living and working in Michigan reflect on the nature of of resilience and offer answers for nurturing its practice.

Betty Green Salon
25 N. Washington St
6:00pm-8:00pm

Containers of Love: The Ceramic Arts of Jenn Cooper
Join one of Betty Green’s newest talented stylists, Randall Stephan, as she hosts the lovingly made functional ceramic arts of Jenn Cooper. We are so excited to have Jenn in our space for Mental Health Awareness month as each piece of pottery is designed for everyday use and appreciation. You can find calm and comfort by running your fingers over the altered rim of a soup bowl or feeling the textured dots on the outside of a mug. There is something special about holding a handmade object and knowing that someone put time, effort and care into making it just right for you. Hor d’oeuvres and beverages will be available.

Bridge Community Cafe
217 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
6:00pm-10:00pm

Poets for GEO
Poets4 is a monthly fundraising event hosted around poetry readings by local performers and arts vendors. Poets for GEO [P4G] responds in solidarity to the latest labor demands from U-M’s Graduate Student Employees’ Organization and aims to raise donations for the GEO Strike Fund. While not required for entry, donations to the cause are highly encouraged at a recommended donation of $10. Doors to the event open at 6 pm, and the reading will start at 7 pm. Poets4 is organized by daniela crespo-miró, and parties interested in participating can contact them at @blas.flema [IG] or email [dcrespom@umich.edu].

Corner Health Center
47 N Huron
5:00pm-6:30pm

Paint at the Corner
Stop by the Corner for some free popcorn and painting. Learn about our programs while you create your own masterpiece! As always, the clinic will also be open for walk-in vaccines and std/pregnancy testing, if needed.

Evenstar’s Chalice
36 N. Huron St.
5:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Larraine U’Ren of Raingems Designs
Larraine is a local Ypsilanti jewelry make who has beautiful handcrafted semi-precious & gemstone jewelry. She’s a real “stone whisperer” and works with the properties and energetic qualities of the stones & crystals – making aesthetically beautiful, powerful and supportive pieces. She regularly vends at local Farmer & Artisan Markets and will have her booth in Evenstar’s for the day.

First United Methodist Church Ypsilanti
209 Washtenaw Ave
5:00pm-8:00pm

Small World Shop Open House
“The Small World Shop displays art work, jewelry, clothing, coffee, chocolate and other products at a fair and just price from SERRV International and Equal Exchange. Meaningful and unique items can be found for every occasion. Buying fair trade products helps artisans and farmers from third world countries sustain their business and support their families. It supports equal rights for women, combats child labor and encourages childhood education.
In addition, out beautiful and historic sanctuary will be open for all to enjoy. “

Hinton Real Estate Group
36 N Washington St
5:00pm-7:00pm

Free Raffle Giveaway
Stop in for a quick hello, and enter the free raffle for amazing gift baskets and cool prizes

Keystone Bar and Arcade
200 w. Michigan ave
8:00pm-11:59pm

Friday Night Karaoke
DJ Big Booty is at keystone bar and arcade from 8pm-12am to play the songs you love to sing!

MAÍZ Mexican Cantina
36 E Cross St. Ypsi 48198
11:00am-11:59pm

Cinco de Mayo
“Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo @ MAÍZ Mexican Cantina!

We will be offering the following specials ALL DAY:

$8 House Grande
(including strawberry frozen or on the rocks)

$10 Avion Grande Margarita

$4 Tall Modelo Especial and Dos XX Ambar

$3 Corona, Corona Light, Negra Modelo, Tecate Cans & Modelo Especial Bottles

$5 Tostaditas
(2 mini tostadas, Protein Choices: De Papas, Avocado, Tinga, or Carnitas, no mixing protein )

$9 Taco Meals:
Two tacos and Rice and Beans (Refried or Black)
ONLY Protein Choices, No mix: De Papa, Carnitas, Tinga and American Beef.

$10 Shot of MAIZ Reserve tequila

Happy Hour ONLY 10pm-Midnight”

The Mix Studios
306 N River St. Suite C
4:30pm-6:30pm

Mixn’ with a Purpose
“Join us for a fun Ypsi First Friday party!
We’ll have a Rock Your Pride painting party for all ages and mini 15-minute Mix classes. We’ll also be offering mini 15 minute classes with all donations being made to support Ypsilanti Pride! Movement is essential to mental heath. Come see how fun The Mix can make it and how much benefit you gain from even a short workout! Classes Offered:
Suggested donation $5 per class
Try 1 or all 4 of our Mixn’ with a Purpose series:
4:30 Pilates
5:00 Queer Strength
5:30 Mix Total Body
6:00 Intro to Bounce”

Riverside Arts Center
76 N Huron St, Ypsilanti MI 48197
8:00pm-11:00pm

Riverside Swings Learn to swing dance!
Every Friday at Riverside Arts Center in the 2nd floor dance studio. FREE beginner lesson 8-9pm, open dancing 9-11! The dance is $5, but FREE on First Fridays!

Riverside Park
2 E. Cross st. toward the south end of the park
6:00pm-9:00pm

Putt in the Park
Come out and enjoy the spring weather with Grit & Grace Ladies Disc Golf Club and Ypsi Dubs Putting League for our first disc golf putting course in Riverside Park! We’ll have a short 6 hole putting course that is fun for beginners and pros! Never disc golfed before? No problem! Club members with be there to show you how it’s done!

Stone & Spoon
110 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
5:00pm-8:00pm

Spring Artisan Maker’s Market
Join us for our Spring Artisan Maker’s Market in The Gallery at Stone & Spoon! This Spring Market will feature the works of five local artists: Asha Candle Co., The Fancy Philodendron, Anusree Sattaluri, Wonderful Art & Designs, & Bird Dog Bakery. This market is the perfect opportunity to purchase the unique and handmade goods you’ve been looking for to gift the ones you love for Mother’s Day! This event is free to attend and products are offered on a first come, first serve basis.

This, That & the ODDer things
50 E. Cross st. Ypsilanti, MI 48198
5:00pm-9:00pm

MACRAMANIA!!!
“Dawn Matyzius has developed her skills with colorful cord, wool roving and yarn over the years and has recently fallen back in love with her craft. Her busy life as a nurse has found Peace; working on her macrame plant and wall hangings and even hanging furniture is a wonderful creative outlet for her.
Perfect for Mother’s day gifts or sprucing up your house for the new springtime season in Michigan.”

Triple Goddess Tasting Room
93 Ecorse Road
7:00pm-10:00pm

Paint Your Own Mandala Sun Catcher
Color Your Own Stained Glass Mandala Window Cling! 1 Free per person! Drink some UV Kombucha Beer or Tea and relax with friends in the coolest vibe in town!

Unicorn Feed & Supply
114 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
5:00pm-8:00pm

“More Drag Queens, Less Guns” Pop-Up & Fundraiser with EmbyTees
Join us for a very special pop-up & fundraiser event with EmbyTees on Friday, May 5th at 5-8pm at Unicorn Feed & Supply! Shirts, stickers, and tote bags will be available for purchase. First come, first serve. A portion of all sales will be donated to the Tennessee Equality Project.

Washtenaw Community College: Morris Lawrence Building ML 158
4800 E Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
7:30pm-11:30pm

Afro-Latin Fusion Dance Class + Social “Bachata Fusion dance class and social.
$10-15 cash or venmo at the door. All are welcome, including beginners- no partner needed.

WAVE (Washtenaw Alliance for Virtual Education)
301 W Michigan Ave Ste 201 Ypsilanti, MI 48197
5:00pm-7:00pm

Student Project Showcase
WAVE is an alternative public high school of Washtenaw County. We welcome you to come see the amazing things our students have created. Partake in a gallery walk through our lab space to see an incredibly diverse showcase of student work – murals, independent artworks, coding projects, podcasts, creative writing, videos, and more! We hope you’ll bring the whole family and join us for the event.

Wyrd Byrd
9 S. Washington
8:00pm-10:00pm

Wyrd Movie Night – The Wicker Man (1973)
Join us Friday, May 5 at 8 pm as we watch The Wicker Man (1973). We move things around at close and put out chairs. The film begins at 8:15 pm but space is limited so get here on time to get a seat! Bring your own snacks/drinks!

Ypsi Art Supply
76 N. Huron St.
5:00pm-10:00pm

Life is Hard. Art Can Help.
Along with the shop being open with all of its yummy art supplies & artist’s life-related stickers, pins, and prints, I will be hosting a community art project where visitors can add a words to the shop windows in chalk marker that answer the question, “How does art make life more tolerable for you?”

Ypsilanti District Library: Michigan Avenue Library Plaza
229 West Michigan Avenue
5:00pm-6:30pm

First Friday Storytime at YDL!
“Join YDL staff for an all ages storytime to kickoff your evening at First Fridays Ypsilanti. Each month we will do a storytime, an art experience, and music and movement in the Library Plaza. In case of severe weather we will have our event in the Youth Area of the Michigan Avenue branch.

May’s Storytime Theme: Flowers
The saying is April showers bring May… flowers! This month’s craft will be creating a bunch of paper flowers- some with a special surprise in the middle!”

The Ypsilanti Freighthouse
100 Market Place, Ypsilanti MI 48198
5:00pm-9:00pm

Experience Your Core Self: An Artistic Expression of You
Get creative with an all-ages self-care activity with local artist and social worker Morgan Burgard to celebrate mental health awareness. In collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washtenaw County and ScrapBox, this all-ages activity encourages participants to engage in art and dive into self discovery.

The Ypsilanti Freighthouse
100 Market Place
5:00pm-9:00pm

Rest In Peace Self Care Fair & Artisan Market
This May, we’re celebrating First Friday with a focus on mental health, wellness, body positivity, and self-love. This market is free to the public to attend, and features local artists, makers, tarot readings, art activities, and more.

Ypsilanti Performance Space
218 N Adams
6:30pm-9:30pm

Steve Somers and Friends Jazz Band – Cinco de Mayo Event Donations – Pay What You Want.
Steve Somers and Friends Jazz Band includes former and current WCC students along with professional musicians. Latin jazz songs for Cinco de Mayo include Oye Como Va, A Night in Tunisia, The Girl From Ipanema and others. StevenHSomers.com

Ypsilanti Thrift Shop
558 Heritage Drive
1:00pm-8:00pm

Celebration of Moms
“First Fridays Invitation on May 5: Celebration of Moms: Moms come in wonderful varieties! Moms of children, Moms of moms, Moms of pets, and Moms of gardens of Mother Nature ! In the immortal words of James Brown- Does “”Momma need a brand new bag”” !?! Please join us, we’ve saved purses and handbags, AND treasures of pearls and sterling silver for your selection !!