Lansing's oldest neighbourhood, roughly a mile north of the capitol, holds up better than downtown for an afternoon on foot. Grand River Avenue and Turner Street are the main drags — a mix of art galleries, antique dealers, coffee shops, and independent restaurants that have made a go of it where chains haven't followed.
Burchard Park and Turner Park anchor the district and host a regular calendar of outdoor markets, live music, and seasonal festivals. The Old Town Commercial Association coordinates much of this and keeps an updated events calendar. If you're in Lansing on a First Friday, the galleries do simultaneous openings and the street comes alive.