The coronavirus was a poop for early summer, shutting down entertainment venues, festivals, concerts, sports and overseas travel.
But if you love art, science or gardens, there is always fun to be had 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 currently safe to open our public spaces with some modifications,” said Dominic DiMarco, president of Cranbrook Educational Community. “We are delighted to welcome visitors to campus with new settings to ensure that we are doing everything possible for visitor safety. “
Guests are required to wear a mask indoors. Children under 3 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 site will have capacity limits, with advance tickets / reservations required for admission to the Cranbrook Art Museum and the Cranbrook Institute of Science.
Other safety precautions include hand sanitizer stations, acrylic panels at admissions offices, and improved cleaning procedures by staff.
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 on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. starting July 11.
Advance tickets and / or reservations are required for admission to the Cranbrook Art Museum and the Cranbrook Institute of Science.
Membership has its advantages. The arts and science installations offer exclusive access to members July 15-19, and are open to the general public July 21 for the Institute of Science and July 22 for the Art Museum.
The art museum, which opens with the exhibition “Shapeshifters: Transformation in Contemporary Art” has new hours: noon to 5 pm Friday to Sunday and noon to 8 pm Wednesday. Thursdays are even better, open from noon to 8 p.m. with free admission all day, but prior registration required.
The Cranbrook Institute of Science will be offering free admission to all guests July 21-26, but also requires online pre-registration for that week. From July 28, general admission tickets can be purchased on arrival. The maximum capacity will be limited to 100 people.
The science institute is open from Tuesday to Sunday, but has staggered visiting hours: from 10:00 a.m. to noon, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday; from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Fridays; and from noon to 2 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The Acheson Planetarium, Cranbrook House, and Conservatory Greenhouse all remain closed for the time being.
For more information or to register in advance, visit science.cranbrook.edu, cranbrookartmuseum.org Where housegardens.cranbrook.edu.
Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com or 517-281-2412. Follow her on Twitter @ SusanBromley10.
