This Sunday is the Kerrytown Book Festival

Tue, 09/07/2010 - 1:50pm by manz

Attention book lovers: The seventh annual Kerrytown Bookfest is happening all day on Sunday at the Kerrytown market area.

You can… draw with author and illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw (of the Ellie McDoodle books), Deb Diesen will read some of her children’s books, join a Michigan lit discussion with local authors such as Bonnie Jo Campbell and Michael Zadoorian, visit the Paranormal Fiction & Poetry discussion, catch a live interview with Caldecott winner David Small, do a kids craft project or two, get in on some bookmaking worshops, and peruse the aisles of book related vendors. Really, there is way too much great stuff going on to list it all, so be sure check the full schedule. Get your book lovin’ on!

Monthly Book Discussions at Crazy Wisdom

Thu, 09/02/2010 - 10:02am by manz

Looking to read a book and join a discussion on it? Check out Crazy Wisdom’s monthly book discussions, which take place at 7 p.m. at the Crazy Wisdom Community Room. Titles to be discussed in the near future are:

September 10: Pandora’s Seed: The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization by Spencer Wells

October 15: The Idle Parent: Why Laid-Back Parents Raise Happier and Healthier Kids by Tom Hodgkinson, hosted by Bill Zirinksy

November 12: The Death of Religion and the Rebirth of Spirit: A Return to the Intelligence of the Heart by Joseph Chilton Pearce

December 10: The Power of Rest: Why Sleep Alone Isn’t Enough - A 30-Day Plan to Reset Your Body by Matthew Edlund

There is no registration, just show up! Check here for full details, and for more information on each title. AADL owns all four titles! Any spark your interest?

Purple Rose Theatre: All new, all Michigan line-up

Sun, 08/29/2010 - 3:20pm by annevm

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.

The Art Book Today

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 1:53pm by annevm

Anyone with interest in books and art should consider going to the upcoming History of Art 2010 Fall Symposium The Art Book Today: Print Projects in the Digital Age. This fascinating sounding event is coming up Sept. 11 from 1-5 p.m. at the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Knowledgeable panelists will talk about designing, publishing, and distributing art books and books on art when the publishing industry seems to be changing daily. Ways to move forward in this exciting field also will be on the table.

German Park is This Saturday, July 31st!

Thu, 07/29/2010 - 4:57pm by aschling

If you want some real German food traditional German music and dancing and to relax with friends or family outside, then German Park is the place for you! I attended my second German Park last month and had a lot of fun. There is plenty of space with picnic tables and shade. The food is delicious from the Spätzle to the German potato salad, sauerkraut to the sausages.

If you can't get enough German food, here are a few cookbooks here at the library to get you started. Culinaria Germany , The German Cookbook; A Complete Guide To Mastering Authentic German Cooking, Recipes Of The Old German Restaurant : And Other Traditional German Recipes.

Do you want more German folk music? The library has that too! Here are Songs for Oktober Fest and Folksongs from Bavaria to get you started.

German park is the last Saturday of June, July and August. The remaining dates for 2010 are Saturday July 31st and Saturday August 28th. For hours, directions and prices please see the The German Park Website.

The Blank Generation – The Birth of Punk

Mon, 07/26/2010 - 1:55pm by celesteh

In 1970s New York City, Patti Smith Group guitarist Ivan Kral was making home movies of his friends and fellow musicians, never knowing that they would all one day be famous. Bands such as Blondie, The Ramones, and the Talking Heads were all playing sets at the legendary CBGBs while being filmed on black and white 16mm. The Blank Generation was about to be born. When Kral started getting together with filmmaker Amos Poe, they created a special film that's now like a time capsule back to NYC's early punk rock and glam scene. With silent video footage, Kral and Poe added the audio from demos and live recordings separately. Amazingly, the rare video of the bands in the film is often the earliest available footage in existence.

The Blank Generation will be shown at the Michigan Theater this Thursday, July 29 at 7:00 PM, and Ivan Kral himself will be making a special appearance. You can't get this on DVD. This is not one to be missed!

Paws in the Park

Wed, 07/14/2010 - 9:34am by Caser

Attention dog owners and dog lovers: one fun weekend in August (8/28 and 8/29), from 10am to 5pm at Heritage Park in Canton, you can bring your pup to Paws in the Park, a second year event featuring the Pawsitive Vybe Disc Dogs, Rock n' Roll K9's, Ultimate Air Dogs, and much more. This dog owner is especially excited to have his Australian Shepherd try out the 1,000 square foot Agility Course and the Chase It Lure Course. The family friendly event will also have pets in need of a loving home, up for adoption from The Humane Society of Huron Valley.

Can't make it to the event? Check out the books Agility Training and Enjoying Dog Agility for the active breeds, or other dog training books from the AADL for more information on raising the perfect pup.

Spring Awakening Project opens Friday

Tue, 07/13/2010 - 4:37pm by annevm

The New Theatre Project will stage The Spring Awakening Project -- inspired by Frank Wedekind's 1891 play Spring's Awakening -- July 16 through Aug. 2. Wedekind, a German playwright who lived from 1864 to 1918, has been called "the prophet of sexuality in modern drama." The local production is intended for people age 17 and up. Read more here.

Purple Rose Theatrer: Famous French Farce

Fri, 07/09/2010 - 11:17am by annevm

Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea is staging a French farce this summer that sounds like a lot of fun. "Boeing-Boeing" by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Beverley Cross, stars a Parisian guy named Bernard who for some reason tries to juggle three fiancees, all flight attendants. His love life unravels (haha Bernard!) in one crazy night. In 1991, this play apparently was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most performed French play throughout the world.

Huron River Day

Wed, 07/07/2010 - 1:16pm by monkk

The 30th Annual Huron River Day is this Sunday, July 11 at Gallup Park from 12 to 4 pm. There will be lots of great activities for the whole family, including:

•$5 Canoeing & Kayaking
•Children's Activity Tent with National Wildlife Federation
•Storytelling 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. by Tricia Travis
•Butterfly House with LIVE butterflies!
•Fun River Exhibits
•Music & Drumming by Laz of Gemini and Lori of Drummunitiy
•Shakespeare Theater Performances
•Geochaching
•Classic Small Boat Show
•Fly Fishing Demonstrations

Sounds like fun! See you on the river!