The coronavirus was a killjoy early in the summer, shutting down entertainment venues, festivals, concerts, sports and overseas travel.
But if you love art, science or gardens, there’s still fun to do locally.
Cranbrook has reopened its gardens and next week will welcome visitors to the Cranbrook Art Museum and the Cranbrook Institute of Science, all located in Bloomfield Hills.
“After careful evaluation, we have decided that it is safe at this time to open our public spaces with some modifications,” said Dominic DiMarco, president of Cranbrook Educational Community. “We are delighted to welcome visitors back to campus with new settings to ensure we are doing everything we can for visitor safety.”
Customers are required to wear a mask indoors. Children under 3 years old are exempt from this requirement but are encouraged to stay in a stroller or baby carrier for the duration of their visit.
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Visitors will be asked to maintain six feet of social distancing and each venue will have capacity limits, with tickets/advance reservations required for admission to the Cranbrook Art Museum and Cranbrook Institute of Science.
Other safety measures include hand sanitizer stations, acrylic panels at admissions desks, and staff-enhanced cleaning procedures.
The 40-acre Cranbrook Gardens are now open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with free admission. Yoga in the Garden returns Saturdays from 9-10 a.m. starting July 11.
Advance tickets and/or reservations are required for admission to the Cranbrook Art Museum and Cranbrook Institute of Science.
Membership has its perks. The arts and science facilities offer exclusive access to members from July 15-19 and are open to the general public on July 21 for the science institute and July 22 for the art museum.
The art museum, which opens with the exhibit “Shapeshifters: Transformation in Contemporary Art,” has new hours: noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday and noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Thursday is even better, open from noon to 8 p.m. with free admission all day, but prior registration required.
The Cranbrook Institute of Science will offer free admission to all guests from July 21-26, but also requires online pre-registration for this week. Starting July 28, general admission tickets can be purchased on arrival. The maximum capacity will be limited to 100 people.
The science institute is open Tuesday through Sunday, but has staggered hours for visiting: 10 a.m. to noon, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 10am-12pm, 12.30pm-2.30pm, 3pm-5pm and 6pm-9pm, Friday; and from noon to 2 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Acheson Planetarium, Cranbrook House and Conservatory Greenhouse all remain closed at this time.
For more information or to register in advance, visit science.cranbrook.edu, cranbrookartmuseum.org or housegardens.cranbrook.edu.
Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com or 517-281-2412. Follow her on Twitter @SusanBromley10.
