My improbable conversion to a Poke-Mom was foretold a decade ago, when both Pokemon and our son Michael were born. My conversion was completed the week after Christmas 2006, following full immersion in the music, color and magic of the four-day holiday Pokemon tournament led by Eli, a near god in the eyes of Poke-moms, dads and kids.

Eli was managing library technology, while acting as tournament commentator for crowds of kids and parents at the downtown library: “Rayquaza’s Hyper Beam attack was a powerful hit against Swampert . . . Ohhhhhh! Swampert fainted!” Eli’s dramatic, deep-voice Poke-narration sealed my status as a Poke-mom of Great Conviction. I wasn’t there for the whole tournament, but I definitely saw and heard enough to absorb the spirit. For my full report, click on read more below.

T-Shirt Pillow

Come to the Pittsfield branch on Thursday, January 4 from 2-3 PM to create your own t-shirt pillow. Bring an old t-shirt and make it into a stylish pillow to decorate your room for the New Year. We’ll provide the decorations. For age 8 and up.

One Piece

Who will be the first to find the Pirate King's lost treasure? Join us as we discuss the adventures of the Straw Hat Priates in Eiichiro Oda's One Piece Manga. We'll make our own pirate flag and come up with our pirate names. As always Pocky and other snacks and drinks will be provided! See you from 7:00-8:30 at the Downtown Library...

If you're thinking about starting a home-based business, you might wish to sign up for the 'Starting Your Home-Based Business: What You Need to Know' workshop being offered by the Washtenaw County office of the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center. The workshop will provide a step-by-step approach to planning, opening and growing a new home-based business. Call the MI-SBTDC office at (734)547-9170 to preregister [there is a small registration fee]. The program will be held at the MI-SBTDC office at 301 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 101, Ypsilanti, on January 31, 2007 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In the meantime you can also prepare using some of the library's home-based business books.

Have you seen jewelry made from old computer parts? A combination of art and tech, it's sleek, one-of-a-kind wearable art--especially when you make it yourself! Learn how at the hands-on workshop for teens and adults, Wired & Inspired, at the downtown Library on Wed., Jan. 3 from 7 - 8:30 pm. We'll have the parts, you bring some needle nose pliers, if you have them!

In the mood for a cozy, crazy family storytime this holiday season? Join us on Wednesday, December 27 at 10:00 am in the Downtown Youth Story Corner for silly stories for all ages. Sing along in an old favorite from the Appalachian Mountains and a dancing folktale from Panama that has lots of opportunities for audience participation.

nintendo ds

Bored during school vacation? Come to the first every DS Fest at the Downtown Library Multipurpose room on December 26, 27, and 28 from 5-8 PM. Bring your Nintendo DS and any game you want to play like Star Fox Command, Advance Wars DS, New Super Mario Bros, or Big Brain Academy for an impromptu tournament among friends. Eight gaming stations and DDR will also be set up for drop-in open play.

Looking for something to do when you are out of school? Bring your Game Boy Advance and your copy of Pokemon FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald, and battle it out among your friends.

Join us in the Downtown Library Multipurpose room for four days of Poke-mayhem starting Tuesday, December 26 to Friday, December 29 from 1-4 PM. Come at 1 PM to register for the tournament. Prizes will be given out daily. Program is for age 6 and up.

snowflake

Discover the science of cold at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum December 26 through December 31. Make ice cream, try on blubber gloves and watch liquid nitrogen demonstrations (12, 2, and 4 PM), as well as enjoy other games and activities. All activities are free with museum admission.

Also check out these special days:
Dec. 27 Artic Artifacts (1 and 3 PM)
Experience Artic culture while viewing artifacts from the Toledo Zoo

Dec. 28 Cold Blooded Encounters (1-3 PM)
See live reptiles you can touch with Brian Cressman

Dec. 31 IceScapes (1-3 PM)
Free ice cream treats from IceScapes

Stop in to see the small collection of wonderful Nutcrackers in the youth department glass display at the downtown library. A friendly elf was kind enough to share these colorful characters for the holiday season. There is a bohemian artist, a pirate and other surprises!