“Jimmy had soul way back when people weren't using the word,” observed Ray Charles. Legendary 84-year-old jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott is a male soprano who has influenced Stevie Wonder, Frankie Valli and Lou Reed, to name a few. Scott's singing has a high piercing quality that's the result of a hereditary hormonal deficiency that kept his voice from developing beyond boyhood. "He sings with the melodic concept of an instrument," says Quincy Jones, who was a trumpeter with Lionel Hampton's band when Scott made his debut as a vocalist with Hampton in 1949. "He'd put me on my knees, give me goose bumps." Go get goose bumps yourself. Friday, May 9, 8pm. The Ark, 316 S. Main. Tickets $15.

This Friday, May 2, The Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan will be hosting their seventh annual fundraising event, "Opening Doors," an auction and dinner at the Morris Lawrence Building of Washtenaw Community College. The Women's Center is an agency devoted to helping women acheive personal and economic self-sufficiency through personal and financial counseling, job coaching and support groups. They charge minimal fees so that any woman can take advantage of their services. For more information on the event or their services, call 973-6779.

We have a great collection of books at the library on women's issues that may also be helpful to women going through some life transitions.

Winter is really over now -- it's time to get going on your Commuter Challenge strategizing. Get your team going to by visiting GetDowntown, register and develop a plan to use every sustainable transportation method for getting to work in May. You may just win one of the fabulous prizes! But wait -- there's more -- plenty of Curb Your Car Month events for everyone including a Free Transit Day and a Downtown Main Street Walk.

DTE Energy is offering a free energy efficiency seminar at The Ark in Ann Arbor. You’ll get suggestions and solutions from experts, suppliers and installers on managing energy costs for your new or existing home. As another resource, check out the new book This Cold House: The Simple Science of Energy Efficiency.
Saturday April 12, 2008, 11am. Doors open at 10:30 am. Free.
Make sure you register for the seminar here!

The film The Diary of Anne Frank will be showing at the Michigan Theater April 26th at noon. This is in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Huron Valley Council. This is the last in their series called "Girls Read! A Celebration of Literacy and Film". A discussion will follow the film. All girls are welcome to attend, and you get free popcorn and a soft drink with your ticket!

The improvisational comedy troupe known as The Second City will bring their shenanigans to The Ark in Ann Arbor on April 10 & 11. Second City was founded in Chicago in the late 50s and has been a springboard for much comedic talent, including Bill Murray, Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Rivers, John Belushi, Alan Arkin and many others. Join the troupe for “One Nation, Under Blog,” an evening of improvised and scripted sketch comedy that is current, interactive and gosh darn funny. Feel like reading too? Check out The Second City almanac of improvisation.
Thursday April 10, 8pm & Friday April 11, 7:30pm. Visit The Ark’s website for more info and ticket information.

A friend said Bach's St. Matthew Passion is very dramatic, so I’ll be there Friday at 7:30 p.m. to hear the UMS performance of this great composition depicting the last days of Christ. You can read more about the piece in books including J.S. Bach: a Life in Music.

Local author and reporter James A. Mitchell will be discussing his new (soon-to-be-released) book, It was All Right: Mitch Ryder’s Life in Music, on Wednesday, March 19 at 7:00pm at the Downtown Library. Mitchell will be discussing the life and times of the music legend as presented in the biography. Mitch Ryder has been in the music business most of his life and has had many hit songs, most notably the ones from the 1960s, such as “Devil With a Blue Dress On.”

The music doesn’t stop there! On Saturday, March 22 Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels will be performing live at the Michigan Theater at 8:00pm as part of the Legends of Rock & Roll Series. In lieu of an opening act Ryder will be interviewed by rock journalist Gary Graff. Visit the theater’s website for stats and ticket info. Mitchell's book will be available for purchse at the show.

Looking for a good excuse to dress up and go dancing? A gala fundraiser will be held for the Ann Arbor Community Center on April 11th at the Community Center. This formal evening includes dinner, dancing, and a silent auction. Donations will go towards the Center's summer camp and programs. Call 662-31-3128 for tickets.

The powerful one-man band known as Vinx lands at The Ark on Thursday, March 13 for another masterful drum performance. Vinx is one interesting man. He was an Olympic track hopeful sidelined by a boycott and then a personal injury. He then became a personal trainer to a few celebrities before focusing on his music career, which began in the late 70s. He’s toured and played with world-class musicians around the world for the past thirty years. "Imagine a classic R&B voice like those of Sam Cooke or Al Jarreau singing a capella over a boisterous percussion troupe and you might get a hold on Vinx's magic...It's his yearning voice, alternately full of both anguish and joy, that makes you listen," says Modern Drummer magazine.
March 13, The Ark, 316 S. Main St. 8pm. Check the website for ticket information.

We nearly had yet another president in our midst right here in Ann Arbor. Unlike Michigan native son Gerald Ford, however, Jan Svejnar was running for president of the Czech Republic. Svejnar is an economist and professor at UM's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. He was narrowly defeated in his bid for the Czech presidency. Svejnar will be chatting about his experiences in an upcoming event at the Ford School.

Running for the Czech Presidency
March 12, 2008, 5-6p
Betty Ford Classroom, 1110 Weill Hall
735 South State Street, Ann Arbor

P.S. Weill Hall is the shiny new building on the southwest corner of UM's central campus.

Ann Arbor's TeenCenter, The Neutral Zone, is kicking off their concert series, Weapons of Musical Diversity, with klezmer group, Shtreiml. The all-ages show will be Thursday, March 7th, at 7 pm.

A new take on traditional Eastern-European Jewish and Turkish folk music, the group will be performing free of charge at the Neutral Zone. If you like Shtreiml, check out the Klezmatics and The Klezmer Conservatory Band.

If you didn't already know, there's a great monthly poetry reading at Sweetwater's Cafe on west Washington St. called "Writers Reading at Sweetwaters". On the third Tuesday of each month, there's a featured reader and then an open mike period when anyone who has ever wanted to read their work can do so. Past readers have included Ed Morin, Rick Solomon and Alison Swan. On Tuesday, February 19, Kristin Stelter and Michael Moriarty will be the featured readers. Chris Lord and Esther Hurwitz, esteemed co-creators of these soirees, promise a piece of cookie to each brave soul who ventures forth. It's a casual, friendly evening even if you only want to listen and have a cup of Joe.

"Well look a-yonder comin', Comin' on down the track. Well look a-yonder comin', Comin' on down the track. It's the Orange Blossom Special, Bringin' my baby back." Classic depression era rail & fiddle music written by Ervin T Rouse and Chubby Wise. This weekend you can hum the song as you stroll around the Midwest's largest model railroad flea market at the 38th Annual Show, Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club. Also, display of model train operating layouts. Proceeds used to restore and maintain Dexter's railroad depot. Feb. 16 & 17, Saline Middle School gymnasium, 426-0829. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Looking for a great evening of music? Check out the The Firefly Club this Friday, February 15. Rolandio Matias and the Afro-Rican Ensemble will be performing their distinctive blend of Latin, Salsa rhythmns with jazz, soul and funk. This ten piece ensemble from New York is headed by Matias on percussion plus tenor sax, clarinet, flute, steel drums, trombone and bass. The fun begins at 9 p.m. at 63 7 S. Main. To get reved up, check out some of the Library's Latin music which includes artists Manuel Barrueco and the group, Ozomatli.