The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s current exhibitions offer a free local outing through October 29. Four shows are listed: Doug Cannell’s Backstories, Kate Donoghue’s Image & Likeness, Meike Rapp-Ullmann’s Blink, and Students of Andrea Tama.

Cannell builds narratives around sculptures using documents and other material. His description suggests a visit that rewards looking, reading and returning to a piece as more of its story becomes clear.

The article proposes bringing a friend, choosing favorites and comparing first impressions. Donoghue’s She and a Cannell installation appear in the accompanying images, drawn from the center’s actual exhibition page.

The BBAC is at 1516 South Cranbrook Road, just north of 14 Mile. Posted gallery hours are Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Friday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, October 17, is a convenient weekend option.

The year-round Gallery Shop offers optional browsing and features work by more than 75 artists, according to the center. Questions about exhibition purchases can be directed to the BBAC during gallery hours.

Arrange the gallery visit before lunch so closing time does not squeeze the afternoon. Call 248-644-0866 for visit questions, send a friend the exhibition page and give your next meal together something interesting and new to discuss.

Cherry Republic is planning a downtown Birmingham store, offering a new shopping prospect for residents who enjoy Michigan cherry products. The company’s location list places it at 243 West Maple Road.

As of October 14, the official Birmingham page still says “Coming Soon,” with a fall 2026 opening planned and hours to be announced. An exact opening date is not confirmed there, so check before making a special trip.

The brand’s Michigan retail network includes Glen Arbor and Traverse City. Its Birmingham announcement describes a downtown stop for sampling cherry products while exploring nearby shops and restaurants.

The general range includes milk-chocolate-covered cherries and Original Cherry Salsa. The salsa combines dried Montmorency tart cherries with a medium-heat, sweet-and-spicy flavor; the company suggests chips or grilled chicken as pairings.

Those products illustrate the brand rather than a confirmed Birmingham opening inventory. The official photographs accompanying the story show products, not the new store’s completed interior.

Once opening day and hours are posted, consider pairing a visit with coffee or a walk along Maple. For a gift, check ingredients and choose something the recipient would enjoy sharing. Send the preview to a cherry-loving friend and keep the first-visit date flexible.

Birmingham’s Parks and Forestry Fall Foliage Hike offers a local Saturday outing on October 17, 10–11:30 a.m. The free guided event is advertised for Manor Park, giving friends and families a reason to get outside without planning a distant color-tour trip.

The city describes Manor Park as an undeveloped nature preserve off Adams Road, south of Big Beaver. Its trees, open space and approximately half-mile wood-chip trail offer a different setting from downtown streets or a playground visit.

The park also has natural-area demonstration plots that test approaches to replacing maintained turf. Those areas provide a useful question to bring to a walk hosted by Parks and Forestry.

Before attending, check the sign-up page for registration, the gathering point and updates. Gravel parking along Shepardbush is mentioned in the park description, but it should not be assumed to be the event’s meeting place.

Choose trail-ready shoes, bring a layer and ask the organizer about route accessibility if needed. Children could look for different leaf shapes while leaving natural material in place.

Consult the city calendar before leaving, then invite someone you keep meaning to see. The advertised morning schedule leaves room for coffee afterward and the rest of Saturday’s plans.