Uptown Coffeehouse, Howell MI
Beginning in 2010 participants in the American Volkssport Association’s (AVA) year-‘round walk in Howell, Michigan may start their walk at the popular Uptown Coffeehouse on the corner of Grand River Avenue and Michigan Avenue. The new start point for the 10-kilometer (6.3 mile) non-competitive walk kicks-off a new route that takes walkers:
- past the renovated nineteenth century Livingston County Courthouse
- through wooded Lakeview Cemetery along the shore of Thompson Lake
- on a loop through Howell City Park
- along a section of the new Howell crosstown trail built with a Walkable Communities grant
- through historic residential neighborhoods
- past the century-old Howell Carnegie District Library
- past the Howell Depot Museum, formerly a depot for the Ann Arbor Railroad
- through a magnificent historic downtown featuring the Howell Opera House, home of the Livingston Arts Council
A five-kilometer (3 mile) option is also available for walkers who prefer a shorter route. A map of the walk is available at the Map My Run website at:
The new start point at 102 E. Grand River Avenue in Howell will give walkers greater access to the walk because the coffee shop is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 6 a.m. –10 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walkers may begin any day and time by picking up a map and directions at the start point.
Walkers will find a new style walk box conveniently located in an end-table near the cozy Uptown fireplace. To save space, Howell Trailmaster Linda Theil replaced the cumbersome file box with a sleek zippered container that contains a three-ring binder for walk instructions; built-in file folders for maps, directions, and envelopes; and pockets for the AVA Howell stamp, stamp pad, and pens; and plenty of room for other walk materials, including fliers about the area. Walkers may walk free, or pay $3 for AVA stamp and walking credit.
The Uptown Coffeehouse is an independent, specialty-coffee retailer owned by Lorna Brennan and Nathan Voght. Voght is head of the Howell Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Director for this beautiful community that was designated a Michigan Cool Cities Main Street in 2005.
"Howell is a treasure-trove of 19th century architecture, and Uptown Coffeehouse, located in the heart of historic Downtown Howell, is happy to be a starting point for this fabulous walking tour program. Come and discover Downtown Howell, surrounding historic neighborhoods, and a great espresso-based drink, frozen drink, or smoothie at Uptown Coffeehouse."
Keep up to date on the Historic Pathwalker’s walking events at: http://historicpathwalkers.blogspot.com/ and http://www.ava.org/clubs/pathwalkers and join the club’s Facebook page at Historic Pathwalkers Volkssporting Walking Club http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120661354904&ref=nf.
For more information about the AVA non-competitive walking program, check the AVA website at: http://www.ava.org/What%20We%20Are%20About/what_we_are_about.htm
