Next monday, 2/4, at 5:30 PM at the Hatcher Graduate Library, The UM University Library presents The Future of the Book: A Conversation with Newsweek's Steven Levy. Steven Levy is the author of The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture, and Coolness and wrote the recent Newsweek cover storyThe Future of Reading that accompanied the launch of Amazon's Kindle reading device. He was also the guest editor of The Best of Technology Writing 2007. This event is free and open to the public, so show up to join the conversation!

woody

Local celeb Woody the Woodchuck will give us her annual Groundhog Day weather prediction this Saturday, Feb. 2nd, at the Howell Nature Center promptly at 8:15 a.m. Woody boasts a 7 out of 9 record on predicting whether the weather will stay wintery for six more weeks. Come for Woody and stay for the pancake breakfast and celeb photo op with Woody. We know Jamie will be there!

The Play Ground

Did you know that the Guarneri String Quartet is retiring at the completion of the 2008-09 season after a remarkable 45 years? So, it is quite exciting that Ann Arbor is on their schedule as they collaborate for the first time with the Johannes Quartet, an ensemble comprised of top-notch orchestra musicians who carve out time from their busy careers for chamber music. Both the Guarneri and Johannes String Quartets have roots in Vermont's legendary Marlboro Music Festival. The program includes a performance of Mendelssohn’s beloved String Octet, as well as a UMS co-commission by U-M composer William Bolcom. February 9, Rackham Auditorium, 8 pm

Charles Baxter has a new novel out and is headed here, where he lived for years before moving to Minneapolis. His new book is The Soul Thief and it sounds eerily intriguing: When Nathaniel Mason meets Jerome Coolberg in graduate school, their identities become mysteriously, maddeningly mixed. I just placed my hold. For information about Baxter’s Feb. 13 local appearance check out Shaman Drum.

atomic art

What’s better than an art opening? One that benefits an environmental organization, of course! This Saturday, February 2nd the Atomic Art Co-op will present Genesis, a benefit for Recycle Ann Arbor’s Environmental House. The Environmental House is committed to promoting awareness of green building technologies like those used at AADL’s Malletts Creek, Pittsfield and Traverwood branches. The event boasts live music until 4 am and is supported by the People’s Food Coop, Arbor Brewing Company and Arts Alliance.

short story

It's All Write! officially begins today. Don't worry if you haven't thought of an idea for a short story, you have until the end of the day on March 21st to turn in your finished product. If you're looking for inspiration you might try, Black Juice, Firebirds Rising an anthology of original science fiction and fantasy, 145th Street, or Leaving Home stories about letting go of what's familiar.
You can submit finished stories (minimum of 4 pages/maximum of 10) to allwrite@aadl.org
Good Luck! Questions? please call 327-8301

The Play Ground

You know, the best bakeries are ethnic in nature. Mmmm, Italian, Middle Eastern, Indian, Jewish and so on. Sunday afternoon you can partake of some of the best that the Jewish bakeries have to offer. Hadassah Bakes: Challah, Kugel and Mandel Bread. To celebrate the addition of digital versions of beloved cookbooks "Like Mama Used to Make" and "Like Mama Used to Make ... And More" on the new Ann Arbor Cooks website, Hadassah of Ann Arbor bakers will demonstrate the techniques of these traditional recipes. The audience will have the added pleasure of tasting the results! Cosponsored by Hadassah of Ann Arbor. Sunday January 27, 2008: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch:

Mozart turns 252 this month, and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra is celebrating with a special concert featuring Orien Weiss on the piano.

Mozart's Birthday Bash will be January 26th at 8 pm at the Michigan Theater and will feature Mozart's Symphony No. 41, Piano Concerto No. 21, and the Overture to The Magic Flute.

Trying to avoid the cold until then? Check out our many biographies of Mozart. How many books about you will be in the library on your 252nd birthday?

The Play Ground

Lately, we have been watching that wacky show on BBC America, BARGAIN HUNT, and dreaming about spring and a return to the Ann Arbor Antiques Market so that we can do our own bargain hunting and up popped the Saline Area Historical Society's one day show this Saturday. This is the 21st annual show and it draws at least 50 juried dealers from throughout the Midwest who offer a wide variety of quality antiques. You might want to read up before you go: Passion For Antiques by Barbara Milo Ohrbach. Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. Admission $3. 429-3164, 944-0713 Saturday, January 19, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Michigan Theater presents another in the Great Director Series. This time up: Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. To quote Bergman, “Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.”

The following films will be shown at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor: Wild Strawberries (1957) on January 14, Through a Glass Darkly (1961) on January 21, and Fanny & Alexander (1982) on January 29. See the theater’s website for film details and schedule. (The first film shown in the series, The Seventh Seal, was shown on January 7.)