Planet Rock 101

Friday February 26, 2010: 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm @ Planet Rock @ 82 Aprill Drive

Teens in Grades 6-12 have you tried rock climbing yet? Whether you've never tried it or you're an advanced climber, meet us at Planet Rock, 82 Aprill Dr. (off Jackson Road) for an afternoon of climbing fun! Beginners and beyond are welcome! This is a great thing to do while you're on break from school! NOTE: Parents must sign a waiver before you climb (available electronically or when you arrive at Planet Rock). REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Register online, in person at any AADL location, or call 327.8301.

valentine

Valentine's Day is coming up again, and with it, the chance to show all your friends and loved ones how much you appreciate them.

Some of you have undoubtedly purchased your boxed sets of Valentines already, but remember, nothing says "love" like that special, homemade touch. Come on down to Mallett's Creek Branch this Saturday, Feb. 13 from 2-4 to make a creative Valentine or two for those you love!

Hopefully you have read the books by Rick Riordan and are ready to see the movie based on the first book in the series, The lightning thief, that hits theaters on Friday, February 12. Come dressed as your favorite Olympian, and be ready to play some games, test your knowledge of Greek Mythology and the books. We'll have prizes and CUPCAKES from the Cupcake Station for snacks! If you haven't already be sure to read the rest of the books in the series The sea of monsters, The titan's curse, The battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian.

Kids and Teens in GRADES 4-8 are invited on Thursday, February 11, 7:00-8:30 PM at the Traverwood Branch. This event is FREE, and does not require registration.

Pioneer Theater Guild presents its mid-winter musical -- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee -- Feb. 12-21 in The Little Theater. This is a one act musical comedy about a spelling bee at Putnam Valley Middle School, where six quirky adolescents compete in a bee organized by three odd adults. Sounds fun. The web page says the show "features spontaneous and hilarious audience participation!" Sounds like even more fun. Check out our CD of the original 2005 Broadway cast recording. The show also is being performed this month at Encore Theatre in Dexter.

work

The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living continues their career development workshop series with Unspoken Rules of Work. Land the job & survive the first 90 days! A lot goes on in the workplace. Workplace culture and dynamics are tricky to navigate, and the “unspoken rules of work” can make or break you. In this workshop, learn what it takes to get ahead and stay ahead, so that you can be your most successful self! This is a 2-Part workshop on Monday, Februrary 8 & Wednesday, Februrary 10 at 10 am to 12 pm each day. To register, email Julia Plaggemeyer at jplaggemeyer@aacil.org or call 734-971-0277, ext. 21.

cool coffee

Some special events will be happening down at AXIS Coffeehouse during the next two weeks, so be sure to save the date!

This Friday, @ Malletts Creek on February 5th, from 6:30-8, AXIS Coffeehouse will get a visit from poet, educator and freelance writer Scott Beal. Scott will certainly have a fresh outlook on writing, so check it out!

Next Friday, @ Malletts Creek on February 12th, from 6:30-8, AXIS Coffeehouse will be recording its very first podcast for the library website. Brush up that poem you've been writing and come on down for a shot at library fame. (Remember: You will need to bring a signed permission slip if you want to be recorded.)

Like always, we will have snacks, & good company PLUS $5 fine forgiveness coupons for teens who read aloud at the mic.

The Huron Players and Huron Music Department are gearing up to perform Aida, the version with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the classic opera by Verdi, chronicling the forbidden love between an Egyptian soldier and an exiled princess. The show runs Feb. 11-14, and ticket information is here.

"I came of age before ethnic was cool," Bich Minh Nguyen writes in her memoir, Stealing Buddha's Dinner. On Feb. 10 from 5:30-6 p.m., U-M English Professor Peter Ho Davies will be in U-M Hatcher Graduate Library talking with Nguyen in a live two-way webcast from West Lafayette, Indiana, discussing writing, family, and American junk food. Davies will draw on his own background (he was born in England to Welsh and Chinese parents). Nguyen's memoir -- the 2009-2010 Michigan Humanities Council Great Michigan Read Book -- chronicles her migration from Vietnam in 1975 and her coming of age in Grand Rapids in the '80s. This discussion is sponsored by the Author's Forum, a collaboration between University Library, U-M Institute for the Humanities, Great Lakes Literary Arts Center, and the Ann Arbor Book Festival.

Do LOLcats & FAILBLOG.org give you five minutes of awesome happiness everyday? Then you must join us for an evening with Internet content connoisseur Ben Huh at the Downtown Library on Fri., Feb. 5 at 7 PM. I Can Has Cheezburger? (aka LOLcats) and FAIL Blog are two popular blog sites in Ben's company, Pet Holdings, Inc., one of the largest blog networks in the world. We expect a crowd for this event so be sure to arrive a bit early. No registration is required and this event is free of charge.

Ben Huh | Friday, February 5 | 7 PM | Downtown Library

lolcats

14th C. CE Greek Bible Service book The Special Collections Library at the University of Michigan is presenting the written history of the Bible, A History of the Bible from Ancient Papyri to King James. This exhibit includes ancient Egyptian manuscripts on papyrus, Medieval manuscripts, and early printed versions such as the 1611 King James Bible.

The exhibit is located on the first floor of the Hatcher Graduate Library, in the Audubon Room. It will run until March 31. The hours are Mon-Fri 8:30am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1-7pm; with shorter spring break hours beginning 2-27.

UM Library Audubon Room.

Additionally, on February 21, at 2PM, join curator Kathryn Beam, who has for two decades presented the Bible exhibit, for a talk about the history of the exhibit and her personal experiences preparing and presenting it each year.

This talk will be at the Hatcher Graduate Library, Room 100, the Gallery.