Earth Day in Ann Arbor

Mon, 04/20/2009 - 10:11am by amy

Wednesday, April 22, is Earth Day in Tree Town. Catch the Recycled Materials Art Show at the ReUse Center or drink a toast to Project Grow at Arbor Brewing Company.

The Leslie Science and Nature Center will celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 26, with educational displays, hands-on activities, live animal presentations, storytelling and sing-alongs. Join the All Species Parade dressed as your favorite endangered plant or animal. Call 997-1553 or visit the Leslie Science Center's website for more information.

El día los ninos/El día de los libros

Sat, 04/18/2009 - 2:35pm by StoryLaura

Dance to Tumbao Bravo’s awesome Cuban jazz beat. Check out Ypsilanti District Library’s fantastic collection of books in Spanish. Snack on tortilla chips, make sunbursts to hang in the window, bracelets, and flags from your favorite country. El Día is for the whole familia to enjoy together! It all begins at 1:30 pm at the Whittaker Branch of YDL on Sunday, April 26th. Vamanos!!

Homebrew time!

Fri, 04/17/2009 - 2:21pm by Liberry Shortstack

Saturday at 2pm in the Malletts Creek program room, Ann Arbor Brewers' Guild member Jeff Renner will be presenting a variety of basic homebrew tips, as well as advice for experienced brewers. In case you'd like to do a little reading on your own, either before or after Jeff's presentation, check out the Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charlie Papazian, a book referred to by many homebrewers as the "Homebrew Bible." Since summer is one of the best possible seasons (in my opinion) to enjoy a pale ale, you might want to learn how to make your own. Terry Foster's Pale ale: History, brewing techniques, recipes can help guide you through your first batch. And if you're a first timer for whom this all seems like a whole lot of mess, John Palmer's How to brew: Everything you need to know to brew beer right the first time might help you demystify the process. Cheers! Here's to your health!

Chesstastic this Sunday at Traverwood

Fri, 04/17/2009 - 1:56pm by Bertha

Chesstastic is Back!

Whether you are a beginner or a top-notch player drop by Traverwood for a game or two of chess. Brush up with moves and strategies from Big Book of Chess or watch Searching for Bobby Fischer on DVD to inspire you beforehand.

April 19 | 1-4:00 PM | Traverwood Branch | All Ages

Learning is a Family Thing: Reading Together

Fri, 04/17/2009 - 10:29am by monkk

The first in a series of four interactive sessions is focused on Reading Together and will be held at the Downtown AADL on Sun., Apr. 19, 2-4 PM. Get some tips on reading to your children and learn how you can help them succeed at school. This event features sessions for parents, activities for kids 3 & up, refreshments and a book to take home for your family library! Upcoming sessions include family health, finances and workplace literacy skills.

Jerzy Drozd Presents: Why Superheroes Communicate to Us

Thu, 04/16/2009 - 11:25am by Caser

On Saturday, April 25th at 4pm in the Downtown library, Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd, author of The Front: Rebirth and other graphic novels, will deliver a dynamic presentation aimed at adult audiences on the greater significance that superheroes have in our world.

From the author: Superheroes have been an integral part of American culture since the late 1930s. Almost everyone knows what effect Kryptonite has on Superman, why Batman has a disdain for guns, or how Spider-Man learned "with great power comes great responsibility". But are these cultural icons merely a power fantasy for young people, or do they speak to wider human experiences and struggles? And why have they until only recently been a genre exclusive to comic books?

Join cartoonist and teaching artist Jerzy Drozd for an interactive discussion about the role of superheroes in fiction as well as the parallels that can be found when one compares them to characters found in mythology and fables.

April Gaming Weekend

Wed, 04/15/2009 - 8:39pm by dubaym

Spring is here and the next tournament season is just around the corner. This weekend we have Guitar Hero Friday night 4/17, Teen Open Play Saturday afternoon 4/18, and The Retro Octathlon Sunday Afternoon 4/19.

First off, we've got a Revolution Hero Tournament for All Ages on Friday Night 4/17 6 - 8:30PM at the Downtown Library. Dance away on DDR pads or shred your fingers to the bone on Guitar Hero. Prizes awarded to the top three finishers in each tournament. Target Gift Cards 1st - $30, 2nd - $20, 3rd - $10

Then, Saturday 4/18 come Downtown from 12 - 5 PM for Teen Open Play. There will be games rated T, so no young ones please. We will have 8 open stations, DDR and Guitar Hero.

And then, The Retro Octathlon. This tournament is an all ages event Downtown from 1 - 4pm
Play eight fantastic pre-1990 videogames for all ages in our open play/high score tournament. The top players will be in the finals to face a series of surprising retro games. Prizes awarded to the top finishers. Target Gift Cards 1st - $40, 2nd - $30, 3rd - $20

Get out of the house and come to the library! It may be a basement but it's not your parent's basement

Baby Barn Dance @ Pittsfield

Wed, 04/15/2009 - 1:35pm by ryanikoglu

For Preschoolers under the age of 5 .... SWING YOUR PARENTS at the Square Dance @ Pittsfield Branch Library on Saturday April 18, 11:00 - 11:45 am. Swing your partners at home with music from:
Passin' It On: Pickin' and Grinnin' and Singin' Tehm Old Time Tunes with David Grover.
21 #1 Hits: Teh Ultimate Collection of Buck Owens
Country Goes Raffi
Cotton Blossum: 19th Century Banjo hits

The Story Of The Boll Weevil Jass Band

Wed, 04/15/2009 - 10:43am by shannon riffe

Travel back in time to the late 1950’s when a new jazz band made up of a motley crew of residents and students was formed in Ann Arbor. Known as the Boll Weevil Jass Band (aka The Weevils) they played gigs at fraternity and sorority houses and staged several public concerts. On Sunday, April 19, 3pm - 4:30pm at Malletts Creek Branch, music expert (and co-founder of the Weevils) Mike Montgomery will discuss Dixieland Jazz in Ann Arbor and play excerpts from Weevil recordings to illustrate the various musical conventions used, such as breaks, stop-time, after beats, double-time and changing keys.

The Ann Arbor Brewers Guild Discusses Better Beer through Homebrewing

Wed, 04/15/2009 - 10:29am by shannon riffe

Ever wondered what the difference is between an ale and a lager? Or a Pilsner and an India Pale Ale? At the Malletts Creek Branch on Saturday, April 18, 2pm to 3:30pm, local homebrewer Jeff Renner will describe the many different kinds of beer and how you can make them yourself at home. He will also demonstrate basic and advanced brewing techniques.