YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT

Sunny and warm to start, storms possibly Friday through Saturday, then mostly sunny and cooler next week.

Farmington Hills Heads to the Polls August 4

Farmington Hills voters will cast ballots in the state primary on Tuesday, August 4, with Election Day polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early voting continues at the Costick Activities Center through Sunday, August 2, with varying daily hours. Residents can check registration, sample ballots and assigned polling locations through the Michigan Voter Information Center.

$81 Million Water-Main Project Targets 14 Mile Reliability

The Great Lakes Water Authority plans a major upgrade along 14 Mile Road after repeated regional service interruptions. Phase One will replace three miles of 48-inch pipe—from west of Haggerty Road to east of Farmington Road—with 54-inch steel pipe beginning in mid-November 2026 and continuing into early 2028. Traffic impacts are expected, but GLWA anticipates little to no interruption to household and business water service.

Retail LAB Gives Small Shops a Downtown Test Run

Downtown Farmington’s new Retail LAB lets selected entrepreneurs test a storefront through a 90-day lease before making a long-term commitment. The first participant, vintage clothing and accessories shop The Lowry Estate, is operating at 23607 Farmington Road through mid-September and will host a Summer Soiree from 5–7 p.m. Saturday, August 1. Applications are being accepted for 2027.

Quote Of The Day

"The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today." - H. Jackson Brown Jr.

What's happening around town?

Wednesday, July 29 • noon — Lunch Beats: Those Brilliant Corner Boys

Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park, downtown Farmington; free outdoor lunchtime music.

Thursday, July 30 • 6–8 p.m. — Dinan Park Music Series

Dinan Park in downtown Farmington; free neighborhood concert.

Saturday, August 1 • 9 a.m.–2 p.m. — Farmington Farmers Market Ice Cream Social

Sundquist Pavilion, 33113 Grand River Ave.; market music by Full Tilt Boogie Blues from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Saturday, August 1 • 5–7 p.m. — The Lowry Estate Summer Soiree

23607 Farmington Road; special event at the Retail LAB’s first storefront participant.

Tuesday, August 4 • 7 a.m.–8 p.m. — State Primary Election

Farmington Hills voters should use their assigned polling place.

Wednesday, August 5 • noon — Lunch Beats: The Fox & The Fiddle

Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park, downtown Farmington.

The Lowry Estate Opens a Limited Downtown Residency

Vintage modern designer clothing and accessories shop The Lowry Estate is the first business selected for Downtown Farmington’s Retail LAB. Owner Corliss Elizabeth Williams is using the 90-day storefront residency to build visibility and test brick-and-mortar operations at 23607 Farmington Road. The current residency runs through mid-September; this is a temporary incubator placement, not a confirmed permanent opening.

Farmington Hills Welcomes Two New Food-and-Drink Stops

The City of Farmington Hills recently welcomed Shawarma Taj on Orchard Lake Road and a new Starbucks on Grand River. Both are presented as new local additions; readers should check each business’s official listing for exact address, hours and service availability before visiting.

Local Deal of the Week

July 29–August 5, 2026

Stretch your summer budget with these worthwhile specials around Farmington and Farmington Hills:

🍔 Peterlin’s Midweek Specials
Peterlin’s Restaurant & Bar offers Kids Eat Free and half-price bottles of house wine on Wednesdays. On Thursdays, enjoy a $12 Peterlin’s Burger with a $3 Bud Light. Find Peterlin’s at 22004 Farmington Road. View the weekly specials.

🥂 Daily Happy Hour at Sidecar
Stop by Sidecar Slider Bar in Downtown Farmington from 3–6 p.m. daily for $7 shareable appetizers, $5 canned cocktails, and $4 draft beers. Located at 32720 Grand River Avenue. See Sidecar’s current offer.

🎶 Happy Hour and Good Vibes at Kola Lounge
Kola Lounge in Farmington Hills features happy hour from 5–8 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, with $3 beers, $5 wines and cocktails, and $7 appetizers. Thursday also brings music during “Good Vibes Thursdays.” Located at 32523 Northwestern Highway. Check Kola’s latest events.

🎟️ Turn Your Library Card Into a Summer Pass
Farmington Community Library cardholders can reserve Michigan Activity Passes for free or discounted admission to museums, parks, aquariums, and other attractions. Qualified Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb County residents may also request free roundtrip transportation for themselves and a companion through September. Transportation must be scheduled at least seven days ahead. Learn how to claim the benefit.

🎬 Bonus Deal: Save That Movie Ticket Stub
After seeing a movie at the Farmington Civic Theater, show your ticket stub at participating Downtown Farmington restaurants. Current posted offers include $1 off a deluxe sandwich at Dagwood’s Deli and 10% off the bill at Basement Burger Bar. See the theater’s promotions.

Community Learning Spotlight: t.Lab Helps Students Aim Higher

The Garden City-based learning organization combines academic tutoring, technology, mentorship and parent participation to help students reach ambitious educational goals.

Families searching for additional academic support may be interested in t.Lab, a Michigan nonprofit learning organization serving students from pre-kindergarten through the undergraduate level.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Garden City, t.Lab describes itself as a high-performance learning laboratory focused on helping students become independent learners, strong leaders and competitive candidates for college and future careers.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

A central part of t.Lab’s approach is teaching students “how to learn.” Tutors, mentors and learning facilitators work with students to build academic skills while encouraging discipline, confidence, independence and personal responsibility.

Students may participate through face-to-face or virtual tutoring sessions, making the program accessible to families beyond its Garden City headquarters.

Parents and guardians also have an active role. Through a program called Parent University, families receive guidance in areas including academic development, college selection, scholarships, career preparation and tracking student progress.

Results Reported by t.Lab

According to figures published by the organization for fiscal year 2024, t.Lab students achieved an average ACT score of 30.5. The organization also reports that its students have earned approximately $23 million in scholarships since 2007.

Learn more: www.tlab-global.org
Location: 1751 Radcliff Street, Garden City, MI 48135
Phone: 888-327-3387

Your Quick Voting Checklist

Michigan Voter Information Center: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/

Farmington Hills absentee voting details: https://www.fhgov.com/government-business/news-information/latest-news/city-of-farmington-hills-clerk-s-office-ramps-up-for-aug-4-election/

7 Prompt Mistakes That Weaken Your ChatGPT Results:

Improve your prompts by following these tips and tricks☺️

A Welcome That Began in 1824

On March 8, 1824, Quaker settler Arthur Power arrived by sled in what is now Farmington and helped begin the community that would grow around the crossroads. The city traces its welcoming identity to those early Quaker roots and today highlights its historic district, early homes and downtown landmarks as a living connection between Farmington’s past and present.

STAY CONNECTED

Have a local story, event, opening or neighbor worth celebrating? Send it to The Farmington Beat for consideration in an upcoming edition.
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Joke Of The Day😆

Why did the tomato blush at the farmers market? 

It saw the salad dressing!