For those of you who enjoy history with a morbid twist, the AADL now offers Wicked Washtenaw County: Strange Tales of the Grisly and Unexplained. This new collection of short stories from local Ypsilanti historian James Thomas Mann offers up true tales of murder, mystery, grave robbing, scandal, etc. culled from old newspapers of our area. Mann's book is a short, quick read garnished with photos and drawings of the people and places involved. It gives a glimpse into Washtenaw's darker history, like the unsolved 1913 murder of a Chelsea woman who was strangled and found buried under a pile of cornhusks in her barn.

Here's a good book to take along if you're touring Michigan and might enjoy witnessing some of our state history: Michigan's County Courthouses, by John Fedynsky. The author -- a Ferndale lawyer and Michigan assistant attorney general -- wrote about 83 courthouses, plus the Michigan Hall of Justice. On Oct. 5 (Tuesday) from 7-8:30pm, he appears at U-M Hatcher Library, in the University of Michigan Press Author Series.

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Public Policy Polling will release new Michigan election polls at this Thursday's, Sept. 23, appearance at the Pittsfield Branch by nationally-acclaimed pollster Tom Jensen. PPP conducted polls on the race for Governor, SOS, AG, State Legislature, U.S. House and favorability ratings for federal and state elected officials. Jensen got his start right here in Ann Arbor and brings a wealth of knowledge of local and state-level politics that political junkies will appreciate as much as Daily Kos.

Artprize 2010

ArtPrize turns the city of Grand Rapids (Michigan) into an art gallery for two weeks every fall. ArtPrize features over 1,700 pieces of art on display at more than 175 venues in downtown Grand Rapids, including seven main exhibition centers.

This year, the dates are September 22 - October 10. It is an international art contest solely voted on by the general public. Yes - that means YOU!. Here is how to register to vote.

As the world's largest art prize, a total of 449,000 is awarded to the top 10 artists (with $250,000 going to the 1st place winner). New this year are the juried awards.

The winner will be announced Thursday, October 7 (7:00PM EDT) among this year's entries.

Don't feel like making the 133-mile trip on your own and the hassle of parking? Michigan Radio has organized a round-trip bus tour for Sunday, Sept 26, 2010. The bus will leave Ann Arbor at 10am and return at approximately 8pm. For reservations/information: (734) 946-7021 ext. 21, or email junsworth@biancotours.com.

Many of us who have lived in Michigan for a while know the old saying, "If you don't like the weather, just wait 10 minutes and it will change." But do we know how it all happens, Michigan weather? I know I don't, which is why I'm intrigued by the author event coming up 7:30-9 p.m. Sept. 14 (Tuesday) at U-M Hatcher Library. Paul Gross, author of Extreme Michigan Weather: The Wild World of the Great Lakes State will explain our oppressive heat, harsh snowstorms, and fickle tornadoes. Gross is meteorologist and executive producer of weather at the NBC affiliate WDIV-TV in Detroit, and also consults with Michigan lawyers as a meteorology expert. His book was published by University of Michigan Press.

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Bird Hills Nature Area is the 161-acre wooded haven for some of the most beautiful hiking trails in Ann Arbor. It is also a well loved sanctuary for myriad creatures and plants, and it's only a mile north of the downtown area. This place is spectacular in the fall. Dozens of fellow runners and hikers explore these trails every day, though they might not know about the smaller but equally varied terrain of Kuebler Langford Park, which borders Bird Hills to the east of the Beechwood Drive entrance.

Kuebler Langford Nature Area is marked by a creek-cut ravine that runs down the middle of the park, with trails heading up either side. The trails are hard packed dirt with a few picnic areas along the way where cleared out woods make for magical little harbors. On the M-14 side of the park, the soil changes to loose sand and prairie-like vegetation, which provides a wholly different experience just a few hundred feet from the woods. You'll find plenty of hills on your hike, though none too steep to climb with an ordinary pair of running shoes or hiking boots. Enjoy!

Discover some of the other outdoor gems in Ann Arbor by checking out Riverwalks Ann Arbor, Along the Huron, or Footloose in Washtenaw, or see our Events page for the Take A Hike! events through the AADL.

This week there’s an awesome chance for a sneak preview of the fall season of Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea. On Tuesday Aug. 31 from 6-9 p.m. at the Downtown Library, the company will present a concert reading of ‘Best of Friends‘ -- a new world-premiere comedy by Jeff Daniels. Come watch cast members and director Guy Sanville. If you can’t make it, plan to attend 'Best of Friends' at PRT Oct. 14 - Dec. 18. And when you get a minute, check out the All New, All Michigan line-up, including three additional world premiere plays by Michigan playwrights to celebrate the 20th anniversary season of Purple Rose.

Steve Luxenberg, an editor at the Washington Post, wrote a fascinating 2009 book chronicling his search for Annie Cohen, his aunt hidden from family history for years in Eloise mental hospital in Detroit. The book is Annie's Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret. Luxenberg grew up believing his mother was an only child, but after she died in 1999, he pursued the secret of her mildly retarded sister -- through letters, archives, and interviews. Meticulous investigative reporting gives the book spine; Luxenberg's emotional journey gives it heart. His book is dedicated "To Mom and Annie, too late to be set free; to 'the 5,000,' who still might be . . . " meaning other former Eloise residents. This book was named a Michigan Notable Book.

Over the years, some people have called it Michigan’s own Woodstock -- with nicer weather. The Goose Lake International Music Festival burst on the scene Aug. 7-9, 1970, drawing thousands to a spot near Jackson, where performers included Jethro Tull, Rod Stewart, Chicago and many others. This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the wild and controversial outdoor music festival -- Wikipedia has more.

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AdvanceMichigan is your personal chance to discuss and vote on local projects to shape Michigan's future. Urban farming? Affordable housing? After-school activities for urban kids? Tourism? Climate change? Healthier school meals? Be sure to put your ideas on this social media site by June 30, because the people at MSU Extension and Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station want to use them to help solve Michigan's many problems.