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Blog Post

AADL @ the 13th Annual Mayor's Green Fair

by yugure

Did you know that many of our branches have environmentally friendly features? Malletts Creek has a vegetated roof and bioswales in the parking lot, the harvested ash trees from the building site of Traverwood were used in the construction of that branch, and Pittsfield's building design incorporates the natural wetlands of the area, helping to capture and filter storm water.

Interested in learning more?

This week Ann Arbor is celebrating all things GREEN with the 13th Annual Mayor's Green Fair, held on Friday, June 14th from 6-9pm. Come visit the Ann Arbor District Library at our booth on Main Street! You can learn more about our environmental features, plus information about our upcoming summer programs and events. We'll also have a craft for the kids!

GO GREEN!

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Blog Post

It's Bike to Work Week!

by prlhw

This week is Bike to Work Week, and this Friday May 17th is Bike to Work Day!

Celebrate with Ann Arbor by riding your bike to work and logging it in the commuter challenge. On your way home from work, stop in the library and check out a book about bicycle repair, building your own bicycle, staying safe while bicycling, the joy of bicycling, or a story about bikes to read to a child!

Ann Arbor's Get Downtown program also has a lot of helpful resources for the local biker, such as tips for commuting, maps of bicycle trails and places to park your bike.

For those of you who prefer to celebrate Bike to Work Week outside of downtown Ann Arbor, the library has plenty of books featuring maps of bike trails throughout southeast Michigan and Washtenaw county.

Welcome to the Ann Arbor Summer Festival Archive

Marcel Marceau on Stage

After five years of planning, the joint City of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan project launched its inaugural season as the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in 1984.

AASF Flags Originally envisioned as a drama festival to take place annually during the summer doldrums and to bring visitors and entertainment dollars to the City, it was the brainchild of UM’s James R. Packard and local (and former UM Regent) philanthropist Eugene B. Power. The governance was by a 12-member Board of Directors, appointed by the City Council and the University, with pledges of financial support from local businesses and community leaders.

In 1983, when Marcel Marceau agreed to open for the Festival and to establish his North American mime school in conjunction with the University of Michigan School of Music, the cornerstone was laid.

In 2013, the Festival celebrates its 30th season. Over the years, venues have been added, Top of the Park finds a new home, programming has taken new directions, but for three weeks each summer, we are guaranteed great performances, free entertainment and activities for all ages, and a renewed sense of community.

The Ann Arbor District Library is pleased to work with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in capturing its history by digitizing Ann Arbor News articles, 30 years of Festival Guides and publications, photographs of artists and performances, and of people having fun. Be sure to let us know if you see yourself in any of them.

Also listen to our interviews with past and present festival organizers and volunteers as they give us the behind-the-scenes tour of the Festival.

For more information, visit the Ann Arbor Summer Festival's official website.

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Blog Post

Wild Swan Theater Presents Charlotte's Web

by annevm

Balcony seats are still available for Saturday April 27 and Sunday April 28 to see Charlotte's Web staged by Wild Swan Theater. The show is for grades K-5. Location is Towsley Auditorium. From the Wild Swan website: "Charlotte’s Web is possibly the best loved of all American stories for children. Set in the rural Midwest, it tells the touching story of a rare friendship between a little pig, Wilbur, and Charlotte, a most uncommon spider. The magical words that Charlotte spins in her web not only earn Wilbur a county fair blue ribbon and save his life, but inspire all of us to value what we can share with each other." More information is here.

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Blog Post

Huron Players Present Shakespeare's Macbeth

by annevm

The Huron Players present Shakespeare's Macbeth April 26 & 27 and May 3 & 4 at 7:30pm in the New Theater. Here is a description of the play from their website: “Fair is foul and foul is fair” and nothing is as it seems. The victorious Macbeth chances upon three mysterious witches who offer an intriguing prophesy, tempting him with the promise of becoming King. Upon hearing the news, Lady Macbeth urges her husband into murderous action, and what follows is a wild and maddening descent into war, insanity and demons." Ticket information is here.

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Blog Post

Purple Rose Theatre: 33 Variations

by annevm

Here's a potential spring outing: The Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea is presenting 33 Variations by Moises Kaufman through June 1. The director of this production is Guy Sanville. Featured artist is Richard McWilliams, who portrays the role of Ludwig van Beethoven. From the PR website: "In 19th century Austria, Ludwig van Beethoven works obsessively on a commission he cannot complete. In present day, musicologist Katherine Brandt struggles to solve the mystery behind her professional passion: Beethoven’s oft overlooked Diabelli Variations. As she races against time, Katherine not only discovers the true nature of Beethoven’s work, but gains insight into the other mystery in her life: her daughter. Moving between the past and the present, 33 Variations illustrates how the very passions that threaten to overwhelm us can also save us. Contains adult language and content." Tickets are available here.

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Blog Post

Skyline High Presents Aida

by annevm

From April 26-28 Skyline High School will present Aida, Elton John and Tim Rice's pop-rock musical. The story is based on the Verdi opera about the forbidden love between an Egyptian soldier and an enslaved princess. Those working on the Skyline show promise stirring ballads and rousing choral numbers. Times are 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 2:30 p.m. (Sun.), Tickets $10 (students & seniors, $6; VIP tickets, $25) in advance at showtix4u.com, $12 (students & seniors, $8) and at the door. For more information, call 994-6515.

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Blog Post

Pioneer Theatre Guild Presents Shrek: The Musical

by annevm

Pioneer High School Theatre Guild will present Shrek: The Musical April 27 through May 5. The show is based on William Steig's 1990 book Shrek! and the 2001 DreamWorks film Shrek. Should be a fun show for both kids and adults. More information about the production and tickets is here.

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Blog Post

Ann Arbor's First Ever "Veg Week"

by theshhlady

VegMichigan and US VegWeek have partnered together to start Ann Arbor's first Veg Week, starting Monday, April 21. Many other cities across the country have been hosting Veg Weeks since 2011. The goal is to reduce the impact of factory farming on the environment, reduce animal suffering, and improve health. Residents are encouraged to take a week long pledge and eat only vegetarian or vegan food. There will be restaurant specials, film screenings, talks by health experts, grocery store tours, and other events going on in the city. Most events are free of charge.

A list of events and participating restaurants can be found on the Ann Arbor Veg Week website. To get started, the library has a collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks. There will also be a viewing and discussion of the film "Vegucated" on Tuesday, April 23 at the downtown library.

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Blog Post

Did somebody say "veg out"?!

by manz

It's Veg Week! Ann Arbor Veg Week 2013 is brought to you by VegMichigan, the state’s largest vegetarian organization promoting awareness of the health, environmental, and ethical benefits of a plant-based diet. The campaign encourages people to take the 7-day pledge and eat vegan or vegetarian for a week, and features a variety of events around the community.

Things kick off tonight at Downtown Home & Garden with special guests John Salley & Ann Arbor Mayor John Heiftje. There are special events happening every day this week, including a viewing of the Award-Winning Documentary Vegucated at the Downtown Library on Tuesday. Local restaurants are also featuring special vegan dishes this week! Be sure to check the schedule to see what's happening where. It’s a great week for seasoned vegans and vegetarians and for those who are pondering a plant-based diet to give it a whirl and ask questions.

And to cap it all off, the library has a ton of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks to entice you with yummy recipes beyond this week.