Chess Strategies and Tips

Sunday December 7, 2008: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Traverwood Branch: Program Room

Improve your chess game in one afternoon! First, chess experts Jennifer Skidmore and Ron Finegold will provide key tips to master the chess board battlefield. Then play some chess with other participants to see how these strategies work!

Motawi Tileworks: Tile Making Workshop

Monday December 8, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Make your own impressed art tile, using Motawi’s clay and tools! Nationally-known sibling duo Karim and Nawai Motawi, co-owners of Ann Arbor’s Motawi Tileworks (the creators of the tiled mural "Boy Reading" at Pittsfield Branch) will share their expertise about art tile and tell the story of the mural. They will also sign their recently released book chronicling the 16-year history of their studio, "Motawi Tileworks: Contemporary Handcrafted Tile in the Arts and Crafts Tradition."

Attendees will make their own impressed tile using supplies provided by Motawi. The tile will be fired, glazed and available for pick up at Motawi Tileworks on December 22. Original tiles make great gifts!

Go!

Saturday December 13, 2008: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Traverwood Branch: Program Room

Learn to play the boardgame Go or test your skills against enthusiasts from the Ann Arbor Go Club. Also known as Baduk or Weiqi, Go is an ancient strategy board game that originated in China two thousand years ago and is now played around the world.

Chesstastic for All Ages

Sunday December 14, 2008: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Traverwood Branch: Program Room

Join us the second Sunday of each month to play one of the world’s most popular sports with players of all ages and abilities. Bring your favorite chess board or use one of ours! Challenge old friends and meet new ones.

Revolution Hero for All Ages

Friday December 19, 2008: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Dance away on our Cobalt Flux DDR pads or play your heart out on Guitar Hero. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each tournament.

AADL-GT Super Smash Double Dash Grand Championships

Saturday December 20, 2008: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

The hottest tournament in town concludes with the Grand Championships – to be televised on CTN. The Grand Prizes will be awarded for Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart Double Dash team and single player events. Visit the AXIS blog at axis.aadl.org for constant updates.

Didn’t qualify for the Grand Championships during the season? Come right at noon for the Wildcard Tournament and one last shot at making it into the big show!

2nd Annual GT Awards and Grudge Banquet

Monday December 22, 2008: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Come for open play, People’s Choice Awards, Hall of Fame inductions and the end-of-season wrap-up. This event will include score-settling match-ups between the players you most want to see battle it out, and will also include token awards for distinctive achievements throughout the season. Refreshments will be served courtesy of Salsarita's Fresh Cantina.

Laughter Blast!

Saturday December 27, 2008: 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Come and laugh for no reason and discover all sorts of good reasons to laugh! This workshop, led by drama teacher Phil Walker and storyteller Badria Jazairi, both Laughter Yoga leaders and Fun Specialists, incorporates exercises based on laughter yoga, creative play and theater games.

Laughter Yoga is a technique that uses a blend of playful, empowering and simple laughter exercises. Laughter Yoga is done as a way to improve health, increase well-being and promote peace in the world through personal transformation.

DS Fest for All Ages!

Monday December 29, 2008: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Bring your Nintendo DS and favorite games for a DS Fest!

We'll have another DS Fest for All Ages at Malletts Creek Branch on Tuesday, December 30, 1:00 – 5:00 pm.

Duct Tape Do-Over

Monday December 29, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

We'll have tape, tape, tape – from camouflage to the elusive plaid and everything in between – for you to get creative! Basic instruction will be provided (if needed), then you do the rest!

DS Fest for All Ages!

Tuesday December 30, 2008: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Bring your nintendo DS and favorite games for a DS Fest!

Game On With The Vault!

Tuesday December 30, 2008: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

We're teaming up with Vault of Midnight, Ann Arbor’s favorite comic and game store! Game experts from the Vault will spend the afternoon teaching and playing popular European-style family games. No experience is necessary. You bring the gang, we’ll bring the games!