So good! Do many great artists and things to look at! Love…read moregoing with my mom every year!

For a single weekend each June for as long as I can recall, Flint residents are treated to the…read moreFlint Art Fair, sponsored by Flint Institute of Arts and Friends of Modern Art, on the grounds of the cultural center. This two day (occasionally three days, but that's rare) festival of art & crafts is always a special treat for a beleaguered city often plagued by negativity. For that one weekend, the city comes out to enjoy art, music and activities for the kids. It's an eclectic blend of people coming together to support the arts. As a "juried" art festival, every vendor must be approved beforehand by a panel comprised of the FIA/FOMA. In other words, quality arts/crafts, not kitsch, is what the Flint Art Fair is all about. Essentially, everything from oil & acrylic paintings, pen & ink drawings, prints, mixed media, photography, sculpture, pottery/ceramics and blown glass to handmade jewelry, stained glass, clothing, handbags/wallets, leather goods, hammered metal objects, "upcycled" DIY lawn ornaments and everything in between can be found here during any given year. The selection always runs the gamut from traditional to whimsical. This year's event was no exception. I felt that most artistic mediums were well-represented from what I saw at this most recent fair, along the lines of previous years, even if there was perhaps a slight decrease in the number of participating vendors than what I'm used to seeing. In retrospect, I think there were probably 3-5 more booths last year, but it didn't seem to affect the quality of the festival at all. The FAF always has a great turnout in terms of the number and high quality of its vendors each year. The only damper on this year's event was the scorching temperature- the heat index rose to 100 degrees both days, so it was pretty difficult to walk around in such oppressive heat. Sometimes the weather is great and sometimes it isn't, but you can't control Mother Nature. Once again, the cost of admission was $5 per adult. Kids (under 12, I think) get in for free and members of FOMA also receive free admission, but not members of the FIA. I think that isn't fair to strictly FIA members, but the fee goes toward defraying costs of the event, so who cares? Seriously, they haven't raised the price of admission in several years, so who am I to complain? For that mere $5, you get to sample (and have the opportunity to purchase) an array of unique, handmade wares. Literally, a world of art is at your fingertips. Just don't break anything. I'm kidding- sort of. It's always a blast to just trek around the art fair, even if I'm not in a buying mood (who am I kidding, I'm always in a mood to shop and I can't remember the last time I attended and left empty-handed). Alas, I usually buy something, whether it be pottery, photography or jewelry. I just can't help myself. There's just always so much to see and buy. I regret not picking up some Game of Thrones style jewelry I saw. Sigh. It was gorgeous. I think it's a good way to pick up DIY tips or grab a gift that I know I'll use down the line for someone else. A few years ago, I picked up a lawn object d' arte for the garden welded from different metals for my mom''s birthday. She loved it. At this point, I have a house full of artsy finds I've managed to acquire over the years from the FAF alone. Are the prices rock bottom cheap? Not a chance, but they aren't over-the-top exorbitant, either, especially when taking into consideration the fact that you're supporting artisans from around the state (and even a few from out of state) who make their living plying their trade traveling from festival to festival. I personally like the idea of owning some one-of-a-kind, handmade home decor. In my opinion, there's something to suit just about everyone's budget- from $15 hand-crafted bottle stoppers to $800 paintings. It all depends on what you're looking for. Last year, my haul included jewelry, a glass dish and two prints. Every year is a bit different. This year, I picked up a serving tray hammered from recycled aluminum soda cans for $25. That's probably the least I've ever spent at one of these outings. I would have looked around and spent more, but the heat was unbearable. Each year, live musical entertainment is featured all weekend, including decidedly family-friendly acts during the day. However, after the sun goes down and the arts/crafts booths close, it switches to more adult fare, with the beer & food tents still active for a few more hours. Face & chalk painting are always popular activities for the kids and are of nominal cost. There's even a silent auction every single year featuring pieces donated by local artisans, but I've never managed to win anything, despite my few attempts. The items up for grabs are quite nice, particularly the blown glass and jewelry. Proceeds benefit FIA/FOMA programming. All vendors accept credit cards, sans the food/beer tent.

Buckham hosts some of the more unique art shows in town. You know, the type of art with a little…read moremore "flavor" to it. To put it mildly, it's not your Grandma's quilting exhibition. The crowd at Buckham is filled with eccentric, free-spirited, creative types. I've seen the most unusual art shows here, but most have actually been very entertaining. Lots of upcycled "dumpster" art along with more mainstream photography and paintings. It's always surprising. The art is thought-provoking and gets people talking and that's what art is supposed to do- get people discussing it and looking at things in a different light. It's always fun to see everyone crowding around talking about the fusing of art, politics and commerce during art walk with a glass of wine in hand. Admission is free. Patrons may rent the space out for private events, too.

(AKA Buckham Gallery). A pretty interesting art gallery. The space is nice and is located a little…read moreoff the beaten path. Buckham regularly hosts Second Friday Art Walk receptions, along with the other local galleries downtown, like GFAC. Sometimes they host spoken word or poetry readings or, on rare occasion, an interpretive dance recital. It's really a great space for showcasing local art talent and, as one of the city's non-profits, they manage to do a lot with a little- no small feat in this day and age, and particularly in this city. It's a testament to the changing times in Flint and our city's dedication to both promoting and preserving the arts downtown. Whenever I attend one of their Art Walk receptions, I always run into a number of Flint-town regulars that I know from around our colorful downtown landscape. They serve appetizers and beer and wine at their receptions, so donations are always welcome to help defray costs, but it is not something that is pushed. Great art, great scene, great people. Some of the art exhibitions here will often be a bit quirkier than those at GFAC, but it's the ingenuity and independent spirit that drives this gallery. Once, my husband and I saw a Twinkie-themed art installation project here. Now that's entertaining!

This club was started 75 years ago in heart of Detroit. Moved to Holly in 1974. Club is has open…read morehouses every other Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm November thru January. Come see "o" scale trains and landscapes galore.

It's neat, they have talent and passion, but you feel like you are an uninvited guest in some guys…read morebasement. I have been there several times. Once and a while, a nice man who runs the candy train will talk to people. Besides that it is cold unwelcoming stares that say "stay away from my stuff!" Not kid friendly, which is odd to me.

St Paul's Lutheran Church is warm and inviting. Pastor Andrew Johnson and John Kaiser send the…read moremessage and are very approachable. They have a way of keeping everyone involved if you wish to be involved and if not that's ok as well. The church was built in 1964 and has lots of history, charm, and warmth. There's plenty of parking and the church can accommodate up to 500 people every service. Services are held at 8am and 11am every Sunday plus a service on Monday evening at 7pm if you want a smaller service. The church offers a contemporary and traditional Lutheran service which is a nice option for those who need a variety. I've been very happy here and the pastor's have always given great sermons that seem to always transition into some event in my life. I believe if you give St Paul's Lutheran a try you'll be surprised and welcomed like family.

Tough but good college. They really help prepare you for the real world. Made some lifelong friends…read morehere

Kettering University's rec center has everything you need but most equipment is dated. They did…read morerecently get a new pec deck, leg extension, and a stair master. They have also expanded their weight room with an auxiliary weight room which feels very open. The pool is very well maintained but the hot tub closes down frequently. The rec center also has 2 basketball courts and 2 extra courts used for tennis, pickle ball, badminton, and futsal. They also have 2 rachet ball courts and a squash court. There is also a 200m curved indoor track. The rec center will get the job done but nothing is too special.

What a wonderful hidden gem. Tucked away, off the main road through town, this museum is chocked…read morefull of telephone history. Naturally you'll see the candlestick-era phones, but you'll also see more "modern" phones from the 60s, 70s and even later. The volunteer staff is SUPER nice and they have stories about many aspects of the museum. WELL worth a stop!!! They are only open Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, so make sure you plan your trip carefully.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I have been dancing here for years and everyone is so nice! I feel that the…read moreprices are not bad and the classes are awesome. The teaching staff are very qualified and you can tell they love to dance. The staff are always there to help. They have classes for People of all ages and skill levels! Its a studio for the whole family. From the 2s classes all the way to our adult and competitive classes. The shows are a must and are very professional. I recommend to anyone who loves to dance or has always wanted to dance.

Really cute art gallery/shop featuring the works of Flint area artists, among others. They sell a…read morenice assortment of items, from pottery and glassworks to upcycled outlet/switch plate covers, handmade jewelry, photography and paintings, and sculptures. Price points range from very inexpensive (around $7 or less for decorative outlet/switch plate covers) to a few hundred bucks for some paintings. I like the eclectic nature of the merchandise and the fact that most of it is produced by local/Michigan artists. There's nothing cookie cutter about it. Plus, I like the idea of supporting local, independent businesses. The staff is usually pretty helpful when it comes to inquiries about pieces. I've seldom (occasionally, but not often) had to wait to receive an answer. It would be nice if they were open for more hours during the week, but since they are housed in the Flint Farmer's Market, they are only open when the market is.