"The population has expanded but it still has that small town feel," says Chelsea native Christina Overpeck. "Not
like living in a big city where you feel like a grain of sand." Having only achieved formal
recognition as a city in 2004, Chelsea's making it on the map -- thank
continued growth from the Ann Arbor area and the Purple Rose Theater's
national acclaim for this former village's speedy development.
Overpeck works for the Michigan Department of Corrections as a parole agent in Jackson County and says her commute to work is just 20 minutes every day. Ann Arbor and Brighton are also nearby; but enough about neighboring cities. Chelsea's quaint eateries, diverse nightlife and local pride prove, as Overpeck proclaims, "it's not about the size of a city, it's about the people and places you fill it with."
And this little burg offers daily visitors and residents alike with a wealth of individually-owned options. For breakfast, Overpeck recommends the bagel breakfast sandwich at
Main Street Coney Island. For a morning plate with a twist, she suggests you try the home-baked confections at
Pierce's Pastries or
Zou Zou's Café, where diners can check out the selection of Pewabic Pottery for sale.
The Wolverine (where, as the locals say, "come for the food and stay for the taxidermy") is a favorite lunch spot -- Overpeck recommends the hot beef plate. Flavor isn't sacrificed for speed at the nearby
CL's Carry Out, known for their ribs and "home of the best breadsticks in the world."
Ask Overpeck for a dining recommendation,, and
Thompson's Pizzeria immediately comes to her mind. "They've been around for as long as I can remember, it's family owned with good food, a good atmosphere and cocktails," she says. Another locale worth checking out is the south-of-the-border fare from
Las Fuentes, where Overpeck indulges in the chicken chimichanga.
When the weekend comes around, Overpeck is likely to head over to
Inverness Inn in neighboring Gregory for live music and a beer. Another Chelsea hot spot is
Stiver's bar, a dive whose location right off of I-94 attracts a mix of truckers and locals. And for patrons lucky enough to have had the complete Stiver's experience, Overpeck mentions t-shirts exclaiming "I've been Stiverized" are available for purchase. For karaoke, it's off to
Seitz's Tavern, which offers 90+ years of history -- along with particularly tasty bar food.
While downtown Chelsea is home to several eateries and cafes, Overpeck's a big fan of the
New Chelsea Market, a high-end specialty grocer that offers fresh cut meat, cheeses and local wine for home chefs.
As far as outdoor recreation goes, Chelsea boasts a lot of lakes perfect for summer days spent fishing, boating and swimming. Just north of Chelsea, the
Hudson Mills Metropark is great for exercising or a leisurely walk.
"It's kind of like a state park and they have a lot of paved trails perfect for biking or rollerblading. You can also rent kayaks and tubes to take down the Huron River to Ann Arbor," Overpeck says.
In the friendly city of Chelsea, Overpeck says that everyone knows their neighbors and is proud to come together to support the community. Perhaps one of the biggest examples of this is Chelsea's Annual Community Faire which runs for five days and offers 4H agriculture; livestock, baking and vegetable competitions; a demolition derby and a tractor pull. How many cities can say that?
Visit the
Chelsea City Guide.
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