American Institute of Architects Huron Valley 2008 Honor Awards Recipients

Now through July 16, 2009 -- Downtown Library: 3rd Floor Exhibit

Good design makes a difference. For 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. As part of its commitment to advancing the contemporary understanding of architecture, the Huron Valley chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Huron Valley) announced the recipients of its 2008 Honor Awards Program at its annual awards ceremony on April 18th, 2008, at the Michigan League.

Fifteen projects, designed by registered architects practicing in the Huron Valley Chapter area (Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties), were submitted for consideration by an independent jury. Four of the projects were selected by the jury to receive a merit-based Honor Award for the demonstration of skill and sensitivity in the resolution of esthetic, functional and technical requirements and/or the advancement of the contemporary understanding of architecture. All submissions will be exhibited at several locations throughout the year.

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original, 50th Anniversary Exhibit

July 5, 2009 through July 19, 2009 -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room Exhibit

To celebrate 50 years of originality, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is exhibiting original posters, art, and photographs spanning its first half-century. Explore the history of the Fair through narrative panels chronicling each decade from its humble beginnings stringing wire across parking meters to hang artwork to its place today as one of the most highly regarded art fairs in North America.

Included in the exhibit is an original retablo by artist Nicario Jiminez depicting the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. Get ready for this year’s historic Ann Arbor Street Art Fair by exploring its past and seeing some of the work that has made it what it is today.

Playgroups

Monday July 6, 2009: 10:30 am to 11:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

This is a time for babies up to 24 months and their grown-ups to gather and play. The Library will provide the space and a variety of toys.

Each playgroup includes 15 minutes of stories, rhymes and songs. Parents/guardians must remain with their children.

No older siblings, please.

World Wide Web Tools

Monday July 6, 2009: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

This class allows participants to become acquainted with the fundamentals of using the World Wide Web. Participants will learn how to using browsing software, search engines and other Internet features. Please call 327-4560 to register.

Michigan Shakespeare Festival's 'The Tempest': Director John Neville-Andrews & Cast Members Discuss And Perform Scenes From Their Upcoming Production

Monday July 6, 2009: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Theater lovers, join us for this event featuring renowned director John Neville-Andrews and members of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival (www.michshakefest.org) as they discuss and perform scenes from their upcoming production of ‘The Tempest.’ Adding a unique twist to this event, Neville-Andrews will encourage the audience to suggest moods and emotions for the actors to bring to these scenes – and will then direct the actors to follow the audience’s suggestions.

The Tempest is undoubtedly one of Shakespeare's most brilliant, multifaceted plays, with its opulent language, blissful music, and delightful comedy, and has been a favorite of audiences for many a decade. This interactive event at the Library will feature Edward Simone as Prospero, Jennifer Drew as Miranda and Mitchell Koory as Ferdinand.

Preschool Storytimes

Tuesday July 7, 2009: 10:00 am to 10:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

Join us for stories and songs for listeners age 2 to 5 years, accompanied by an adult. Siblings are welcome.

Microsoft Word Basics

Tuesday July 7, 2009: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

Participants will be introduced to features such as highlighting, cutting, pasting, spell-check, grammar check, and saving to disk. Basic computer and mouse skills experience is required.

Purple Rose Theatre Presents A Concert Reading And Discussion Of Michael Brian Ogden's New Play, 'Quiet City Boston'

Tuesday July 7, 2009: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

This special theatrical event offers an exciting chance to see a new Purple Rose production at its infancy. Artistic Director Guy Sanville will direct a full cast of Purple Rose performers in a reading of Quiet City Boston- a new dark comedy by Michael Brian Ogden that the Theater is considering for a fully staged production during the 2010-2011 season. View the reading, then stay and offer your opinions on this new work! Purple Rose wants to know what YOU have to say about this play. Do you like it? Should they perform it in the future? What needs to be tweaked?

Quiet City Boston, a dark comedy for mature audiences (which contains some adult language and violence), asks the question: Can a Mafia hit man walk away from “the life” when his partner in crime stands in the way?

Introduction to Firefox Add-ons

Wednesday July 8, 2009: 9:15 am to 11:15 am -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

Add-ons are installable enhancements for the Firefox web browser that allow you to add or augment application features, use themes to your liking, and handle new types of content. They allow you to create shortcuts to web content that you access frequently and can make accessing the internet a much more enjoyable experience. Find out what an add-on is, where to find them, and how to install and use them.

Eggcellent Engineering

Wednesday July 8, 2009: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Engineer a device to keep your egg safe from a big drop. Hope it doesn't break!

Who Wins? NBC's 'The Biggest Loser' Winner Pete Thomas And UM Experts Discuss Overcoming Obesity And Winning At Health

Wednesday July 8, 2009: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

In 2005, Pete Thomas lost an astounding 185 pounds in nine months on NBC’s hit reality TV show The Biggest Loser, resulting in his winning the $100,000 prize. A University of Michigan grad, Pete returns to Ann Arbor to share his amazing story and discuss Obesity issues, research and successes with a panel of medical experts.

Pete will be joined by Charles F. Burant, M.D., Ph.D, (the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Professor of Metabolism and director of the University of Michigan Metabolomics and Obesity Center) and Susan J. Woolford, M.D, M.P.H., (Medical Director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Weight Management Center at the University of Michigan). This event is made possible through a Partners In Research Program with the National Institute of Health and is co-sponsored by the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research and the Ann Arbor YMCA.

The Fastest Woman In The World!! Hillary Will Discusses Her Career As An Internationally-Known Professional Top Fuel Dragster Driver

Thursday July 9, 2009: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room

Professional drag racer Hillary Will, the fastest woman in the world – and “one of the top 10 female racers in the world” – according to Sports Illustrated, will discuss her career in racing and what makes this sport so exciting. Hillary became the fastest woman in the world when she posted a 335-MPH lap down the quarter-mile race track at the first event in the 2008 NHRA season.

This event is co-sponsored by the Main Street Area Association, in conjunction with their annual Rolling Sculpture Car Show, which this year will occur on Friday, July 10, 2 - 10pm. You can meet Hillary in the Ann Arbor District Library’s ‘Local Motion’ booth (which celebrates the Library’s summer reading program) at the Rolling Sculpture Car Show.

Dinosaur Hunting with PaleoJoe

Thursday July 9, 2009: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Michigan paleontologist, author and storyteller Joseph “PaleoJoe” Kchodl will explain how dinosaurs lived and died in the U.S. and how fossils are created – and the wonderful stories that they can tell! The event will include a book signing and PaleoJoe’s books for youth will be on sale.

PaleoJoe has taught fossil programs to schoolchildren throughout the Midwest and has authored several books on fossils and dinosaurs, including A Complete Guide to Michigan Fossils, Hidden Dinosaurs and The Disappearance of Dinosaur Sue. Recently, he worked on a team recovering T- Rex Dinosaur and discovered bones of a Triceratops in Montana and discovered the remains of an associated Camerasaurus – a 60 foot long dinosaur in Utah.

Brenda Ellen Bentley, Author Of 'Riverwalks Ann Arbor', Discusses Walking For Fun, Exercise And Cultural Edification In The Ann Arbor Area

Friday July 10, 2009: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Brenda Ellen Bentley, a lifelong walker and the author of the new book 'Riverwalks Ann Arbor' will share the best – and most scenic – routes for walkers to follow in the area, while providing a bit of history and local color to the routes she discusses. Books will be on sale at the event will and a book signing will follow the presentation.

This event is held in conjunction with the Library’s summer reading program, Local Motion - which encourages the use of local neighborhoods, gyms, recreational facilities and outdoor areas to move and get fit!

Microsoft Word for Mac

Saturday July 11, 2009: 9:15 am to 11:15 am -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

Participants will be introduced to the features offered in the Mac version of Microsoft Word such as highlighting, cutting, pasting, spell-check, grammar check, and saving to disk.

Townie Fair Townie Topper Workshop

Sunday July 12, 2009: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Create a crazy concoction for your cranium at this series of wacky hat designing workshops – come to one session or several! DYI wizards from Modati Clothing will be on hand to help you transform boxes of thrift store treasures into top-of-the-dome masterpieces. No idea is too wild, no vision too cosmic - express what's in your brain on your brain. Then, take your topper to town in the runway show at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair's 5th Ever Townie Street Party, July 13, and you could win an awesome prize! Supplies are provided and no registration is required.

Playgroups

Monday July 13, 2009: 10:30 am to 11:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

This is a time for babies up to 24 months and their grown-ups to gather and play. The Library will provide the space and a variety of toys.

Each playgroup includes 15 minutes of stories, rhymes and songs. Parents/guardians must remain with their children.

No older siblings, please.

Preschool Storytimes

Tuesday July 14, 2009: 10:00 am to 10:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

Join us for stories and songs for listeners age 2 to 5 years, accompanied by an adult. Siblings are welcome.

Preschool Storytimes

Wednesday July 15, 2009: 11:00 am to 11:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

Join us for stories and songs for listeners age 2 to 5 years, accompanied by an adult. Siblings are welcome.

7th Annual Teen Graffiti Art Contest

Friday July 17, 2009: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Staff Parking Lot off William St.

The Ann Arbor District Library will host the seventh edition of its successful teen graffiti contest during Ann Arbor’s Art Fair Weekend. This unique and popular annual event will take place in the Downtown Library’s staff parking lot, located on William Street. Teens who participate will create graffiti art using spray paint on canvas that will be judged by peer teenagers and adults. Spray paint supplies, canvases and easels will be supplied by the Library.

The top three winners will receive gift certificates for art supplies in the amounts of $75, $50 and $25. Many of the finished pieces will be selected to be part of a special summer exhibit in the Downtown Library.