Perhaps one of the more important questions to ponder on a rainy day: How long has mankind been perpetually throwing objects into the air for a sustained length of time (a.k.a. juggling)? A hundred years? Two hundred? Try 4,000 years. We're talking about Ancient Egyptians here, not only known for their early embalming techniques, but also for their master juggling skills.

If you'd like to become a part of this esteemed legacy, then the 2010 Ann Arbor Juggling Arts Festival this Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Wide World Sports Center is the event for you. Replete with workshops, games, and open juggling, the Festival is open to jugglers of any ability.

Concerned that your handling techniques aren't up to snuff? Across the road from the Sports Center is the AADL Pittsfield Branch, where you can pick up some juggling learning materials, like the DVD, How to Juggle and Other Cheap Tricks, or the book, Pathways in Juggling, or any of the other juggling materials in the library's collection. Place your requests today by logging into My Account, or giving us a call at (734) 327-4219, or coming in to any of our five locations.

The Neutral Zone and UMS present Breakin' Curfew. The event is created, produced, marketed, and performed by local teens. The performances at Breakin' Curfew feature everything from dance, spoken word, jazz, classical music, rock, to hip hop, and much more. The electricity of a teen-centric audience watching a show of teens, produced by teens, is amazing. It is quite the unique showcase of talent. All this fun takes place at the Power Center on Saturday, May 15 at 8pm. See here for ticket info and more. Yes, adults are of course welcome to attend and support these great minds! Breakin Curfew

Thorton Wilder’s acclaimed play Our Town is being staged by Purple Rose Theater Company through May 29. Don’t miss this critically praised production. On Tuesday (today), come see Purple Rose Playwrights Discuss The Playwriting Process And Read From Their New Plays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Downtown Library.

The much loved author Louis Sachar will be in Ann Arbor on Friday, May 14 promoting his new young adult novel, The Cardturner. Sachar has written many youth books, including the Newbery Award winning Holes, the Marvin Redpost series, and the Wayside School series. He will be doing a discussion, Q & A, and book signing. There are “rules” to the signing, check here for details before you head out. The event takes place at Nicola’s Books at 7pm.
Sachar

Botanical Gardens

Over the years local historian Grace Shackman has written about the history of gardens and gardening in Ann Arbor. In May 2001, she covered the history of UM's botanical gardens. She also wrote about the history of garden shows in Ann Arbor from 1926-1941; antique plant specialist, Scott Kunst; and Carl Weinberg's famous Peony Garden.

This weekend Matthaei Botanical Gardens holds their 30th Annual Spring Plant Sale and Fundraiser and next weekend, the Dexter Garden Club will offer plants for sale at the gazebo in Dexter's Monument Park.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Movie will be showing at the Michigan Theater on Sunday, April 25 at 1:30. Part of the Benard L. Maas Family Friendly Film Series, and sponsored by The Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, this event is FREE for kids 12 and under! See it on the big screen with a bucket of popcorn for a Sunday out on the town.

In this Depression-era drama based on the beloved American Girls book series, Kitt tries to solve a home robbery. The all-star cast also includes Abigail Breslin as Kitt, as well as Chris O'Donnell, Joan Cusack, Stanley Tucci, and Jane Krakowski.

If you choose to instead stay home in your PJs on Sunday, it's also available at AADL on DVD and Blu-ray.

Great Lakes, Great Times is a monthly reading series that, according to the host, “showcases the best established and up-and-coming writers working today.” The April reading will take place at 826Michigan, and will feature readings from authors Deb Olin Unferth, Jeff Parker, and Kendra Grant Malone.

Check here to see which authors are up next in the series. So many authors are visiting, and these events have been filling the house!

The monthly event is geared towards adults, admission is FREE, and anyone is welcome. It's all happening Saturday, April 24, 7pm at 826michgan/ The Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair Shop at 115 East Liberty.
826

The fourth installment of Ann Arbor Conversations will be at the Michigan Theater soon, and features author David Sedaris. This new series wishes for audiences to “experience the ultimate in cultural entertainment,” and past evenings in the series featured Kevin Smith, Anthony Bourdain, and Frank Warren.

The last featured guest, David Sedaris, is in the forefront when it comes to contemporary humor writers. Some of the funniest, laugh out loud pieces I’ve ever read are from this man, and though I’m not a huge fan of audio books, I’ll listen to anything Sedaris as written, as he reads his own books in a fabulous fashion. AADL has a slew of Sedaris books needing a reading. If you’re attending this event, have fun!
sedaris

Wednesday, April 14 | 7:30pm | Michigan Theater

Best-selling author Gary Paulsen will be in Ann Arbor on Monday, April 12. He’ll be signing books at Nicola’s Books from 7-8pm promoting his newest novel, Woods Runner. The well loved author has written many books for both children and adults. Hatchet, Brian’s Winter, and Mudshark are stand-outs. paulsen

U-M geophysicist Henry Pollack – who shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore – will join U-M weather and climate scientist Richard Rood in a conversation called A World Without Ice on Wednesday, April 14, from 5:30-7 p.m. at U-M Harlan Hatcher Library. Topics covered will include why ice matters, the delicate geological balance between ice and climate, and the pending crisis of a world without ice. The discussion is being presented by the Author’s Forum, a collaboration between the U-M Institute for the Humanities, University Library, Great Lakes Literary Arts Center, and the Ann Arbor Book Festival.