Knuckleheads: A New Book for Young Males

Thu, 03/10/2011 - 11:38am by annevm

Author Jeff Kass -- who teaches English at Pioneer High and is Literary Arts Director at The Neutral Zone -- has penned a new collection of stories, Knuckleheads. The book will be released Thursday, March 31, at 7 p.m. at the Neutral Zone. The book should appeal particularly to young males, in the way that books by Junot Diaz and Lewis Robinson appeal strongly to that audience. Kass hopes his book will "go viral" among young males, particularly those in his classes, and "become a kind of Salinger-esque cult classic for them to treasure."

What's a Gator-Raiser, You Ask?

Mon, 03/07/2011 - 11:15am by Beth Manuel

The Red Cross provides Gatorade, water, food and other services for both firefighters and victims in times of emergency. The Washtenaw County Red Cross needs you to join them at Busch’s Fresh Food Market to help with local Disaster Relief from 9:00 AM-2:00 PM on March 12, 2011, at their 3rd annual Gator-Raiser. Please consider donating electrolyte-replenishing beverages this week-end!

One on One Tutor Training

Mon, 03/07/2011 - 8:32am by Beth Manuel

Did you know that 12% of residents in Washtenaw County are affected by illiteracy? It is our hope that by increasing public awareness about this widespread issue that YOU would consider making a difference and become a volunteer tutor for Washtenaw Literacy. Upcoming training takes place for 5 Mondays and Thursdays beginning March 21-April 4th from 6:30-9:30 pm. Call 734-879-1320 for more information or click here. Volunteering looks great on a budding résumé. And it feels good to help someone in need.

Two Pulitzer Prize winners expected at Storymakers Dinner May 12

Sat, 03/05/2011 - 5:14pm by annevm

This year's Storymakers Dinner is coming up May 12 at Zingerman's Roadhouse. Special guest will be acclaimed novelist Richard Ford, editor of "Blue Collar, White Collar, No Collar: Stories of Work," scheduled to come out in April. Ford's Independence Day was the first novel to win both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award. And heads up for another Pulitzer Prize winning author, Jeffrey Eugenides, who also is expected to be at the Storymakers Dinner. The event supports 826 Michigan, a non-profit that helps students improve their writing skills.

Story Collider Comes to A2!

Thu, 03/03/2011 - 7:03pm by StoryLaura

What do a theoretical particle physicist, a children’s librarian, a chemical engineer and a Hopwood award- winning author have in common? They are just a few of the characters who will share twisted tales at Story Collider on March 11 at the Downtown Library at 7:00 pm. If you are a This American Life or Moth Radio Hour fan or just out for a great time, Story Collider is for you!

Nonprofits: NEW helping boards make a difference

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 11:29am by annevm

Check out five (5!) workshops being offered this winter and spring by Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW). On March 9, there is "Board Member Training: Serving on a Nonprofit Board," followed March 17 by "Your Board Members as Ambassadors and Fundraisers." Later in March will be "Nonprofit Training: Building Your Board" and "Spring Into Service: A Board Matching Event for Nonprofit Organizations." Finally in early April, a workshop is scheduled on "Starting Off Right: Board Member Orientation." Details are here. Don't forget AADL also has a collection of nonprofit resources on the second floor of the downtown library.

White Nights: Art that Inspired Literature

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 2:44pm by annevm

The work of artists Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz is spotlighted in the exhibit "White Nights" running through March 16. Hosted by the U-M Institute for the Humanities, the exhibit displays "three-dimensional, magical scenes of alienation, beauty, and dark humor, both photographed and set inside snow globes." The reception is March 16 from 5-7 pm, with a reading by Jonathan Lethem of his story "The Traveler Home," inspired by the works of the artists.

Performance Network: The Piano Lesson

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 11:07am by annevm

The Piano Lesson by August Wilson runs March 3 - April 3 at Performance Network. Set in 1936, the story takes place in the Mississippi home of an African American family. The drama is based on a piano that was once traded for two of the family's slave ancestors.

"Lastingness: The Art of Old Age"

Fri, 02/25/2011 - 8:19pm by hamiltonb

Authors Nicholas Delbanco and Keith Taylor will discuss their book "Lastingness: The Art of Old Age" at the University of Michigan's Hatcher Graduate Library on March 9th, 5:00-7:00pm as part of the University's ongoing Author's Forum.

Library Journal's 2010 review of "Lastingness" describes the book as a "study of geniuses-as they aged-in the fields of literature, music, and the visual arts. Delbanco focuses on the fascinating question of why some people's creative talents flourish with age, while others' fade. He explores and explains our general societal conflict about our elders and the question of when to expect them to step aside. His profiles include Claude Monet, Giuseppe Verdi, W.B. Yeats, and Alice Neal, among others, all of whom lived until 70 or older and remained productive."

Nicholas Delbanco is a Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Michigan. Keith Taylor is a writer and poet and coordinates the undergraduate creative writing program at U of M. The discussion is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a book sale and signing. The event will take place in the Gallery in Room 100 at the Hatcher Graduate Library.

Camp ShoutOut

Fri, 02/25/2011 - 8:51am by StoryLaura

With all the talk about the King’s Speech, it’s very exciting that the first Michigan camp for school-age youth who stutter is opening this summer. Camp Shout Out will be fun and liberating for kids aged 8-16 and an excellent opportunity for clinical training for Speech Language Pathologists, all taking place in a beautiful location.