Ann Arbor's Smallest Inhabitants

Small doors are scattered throughout the city of Ann Arbor. There are approximately thirteen doors in total and they belong to some very small people... also referred to as the Urban Fairies of Ann Arbor. These doors will magically appear over night in new places, generally stores, restaurants, and even in the Downtown library. These doors are said to lead into the homes of the urban fairies who have decided to live among us and according to Jonathan B. Wright, the man known around Ann Arbor for being the first to find these doors (and also rumored to be the creator, though there is no proof to back these statements up), "Because Urban Fairies are as fickle as any Woodland or Flower Fairy, the locations change with whims. At any given time, there may or may NOT be a door when you look." Not only do the doors exist but there are also windows (where often a light inside is on at night) and many of the fairy doors open to reveal a glimpse into the interior of the fairies' homes. Sometimes things show up on the front step such as a miniature trash bag on trash-day, a package addressed to the fairies (it appears that the fairies ordered a cake!) or little presents left by those who visit the fairies. The above pictures were taken in SweetWaters Café (my favorite café in town) and Jefferson Market & Cakery. Unfortunately, many of these fairy doors have been damaged by some overly enthusiastic spectators and thankfully the fairies appear to be very understanding and the doors are repaired soon after (though some have been moved or even removed if the damage is too frequent). It is often fun to take both children and adults on a hunt throughout Ann Arbor in search of these doors. To check out the many different locations of the doors click here. So, keep your eyes peeled for fairy doors next time you are in town. You never know when one will show up! Have a great week, everyone!

To learn more about the Urband Fairies visit Jonathan Wright's site.