Blog Post
Asparagus! Stalking the American Life
by manz
Think Local First presents a screening of Asparagus! Stalking the American Life tonight at 7:15pm at the Michigan Theater. “For 30 years, Oceana County Michigan has been the Asparagus Capital of the World. Now its spear-struck residents and family farms take on the U.S. War on Drugs, Free Trade and a Fast Food Nation, all to save their beloved roots.” Asparagus’ director Kirsten Kelly will be available for a Q & A session after the film. Proceeds from the screening of this multi-award winning film will benefit Think Local First. Planning on having asparagus for dinner before you go? Check out some of AADL's tasty vegetable cook books.
Blog Post
The Play Ground
by Albert
We noticed that the UMS is bringing Gilgamesh to town this coming weekend. It set our mind to reeling, where had we heard that name before? A simple history check solved this quandary: The Epic of Gilgamesh is a poem from Ancient Mesopotamia and is among the earliest known works of literary fiction. Scholars believe that it originated as a series of Sumerian legends and poems about the mythological hero-king Gilgamesh who might have been a real ruler in the late Early Dynastic II period (ca. 27th century BC). Clarinetist Kinan Azmeh explores this poem through his music and teams with painter Kevork Mourad who spontaneously paints during the performance. Very intriguing. Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24 at 7 & 9 PM at the Biomedical Research Building Auditorium.
Blog Post
Former anti-war activist to speak at U of M
by Maxine
Remember all the hoopla surrounding Obama's supposed relationship with William Ayers who was involved in a bombing during a Vietnam protest by the Weather Underground in the 1960's? Ayers, currently a professor of education at the University of Illinois in Chicago, will be speaking and then reading from the re-publication of his 2001 book, Fugitive Days: Memoirs of an Anti-War Activist, at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at Hatcher Graduate Library Gallery, Room 100. He will be joined by his wife, law professor Bernadine Dohrn. To read some of Ayer's recent thoughts on education and Obama's cabinet picks, check out his blog.
Blog Post
32nd Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival hits town!
by manz
The Folk Festival is a benefit for The Ark and brings the usual festival mix of up and coming artists as well as popular artists in the fields of folk, ethnic and roots music.
Friday night has Jeff Tweedy headlining as well as Old Crow Medicine Show doing their thing. Saturday night will rock the house with Kris Kristofferson and Pete Seeger. Go get your toes tapping and support The Ark! See here for more details, the line-up, and ticket info.
Hill Auditorium Friday, January 30 & Saturday, January 31 | 6:30pm |
Blog Post
The Play Ground
by Albert
This year, which marks the 14th Annual Ford Honors Program, celebrates the partnership between the University Musical Society, the University of Michigan and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The company’s three Ann Arbor residencies (2001, 2003, and 2006) have included nine of Shakespeare’s plays as well as the US premiere of a stage adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children. This Ford Honors Program is unique in that it honors a theater company and Michael Boyd, its artistic director alongside a U-M faculty member, Professor Ralph Williams who is retiring. This year's event will be an exciting multi-media extravaganza. Saturday, January 24th 6pm. Rackham Auditorium
Blog Post
The Thrill Isn't Gone Yet
by Caser
Eight films from director Alfred Hitchcock are featured this month as part of Michigan Theater's Great Directors series, and although most of the films were shown earlier this month, you can still catch three of his best on the big screen. Watch Tippi Hedren duck and cover in The Birds this Friday, January 16 at midnight, or see if Jimmy Stewart can snare his suspicious neighbor in Rear Window next Monday, January 19 at 7p.m. If dark comedy is your style, then watch Barbara Harris swindle the gullible in Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot, playing the following Monday, January 26 at 7p.m. The AADL also owns Psycho, North by Northwest, Vertigo, and The 39 Steps if you missed them at the Michigan Theater this month.
To delve into the director's psyche and his unconventional relationships with the actresses in his films, try the 2008 book, Spellbound by Beauty: Alfred Hitchcock and His Leading Ladies.
Blog Post
Transition Towns
by manz
Last year Boulder, Colorodo was named the first Transition Town in the United States. The movement asks an entire community to address the concern, “how can our community respond to the challenges, and opportunities, of Peak Oil and Climate Change?” in the deepest way possible. At the end of this month Ann Arbor will host the first Transition Town Training session in the Midwest, which will be lead by Michael Brownlee and Lynette Marie Hanthorn of Transition Boulder County. For information on the training, registration and fees, see here. To understand the ins and outs of Transitioning, check out The Transition Handbook: From oil dependency to local self-reliance by Rob Hopkins. (Crazy Wisdom Bookstore is offering a 10% discount on this title for the month of January.) To see how a large community is handling things, check out the wonderful film The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil. (Film’s website here.)
Blog Post
The Play Ground
by Albert
Our favorite local orchestra begins its 9th season with a concert this Sunday.
The Life Sciences Orchestra was founded in the spirit of the U-M to encourage collaboration between academic disciplines in the sciences. The orchestra is made up of members of U-M’s medical, health and life science community and was founded by students and staff. This week's concert will feature 4 pieces: Promenade Overture by John Corigliano, Variations on a Theme by Haydn by Johannes Brahms, Symphony No. 12 in E Major by Joseph Haydn and lastly, Symphony No. 12 in D Minor by Dmitri Shostakovich.
Hill Auditorium on Sunday, Jan. 11, 4pm. Free and open to the public.
Blog Post
The Play Ground
by Albert
We have been trying very hard lately to be local. You know, we go to the Farmers' Market, we shop at bricks and mortar instead of online and we try to support our small town merchants. So, speaking of home-town, who's better to support than our local favs, The Chenille Sisters at The Ark on New Year's Eve? They are described as "a little bit Andrews Sisters, a little bit Supremes, and a little bit Roches, with honeyed harmonies from bygone days and a big dose of modern attitude and humor." This NYE they are teaming up with the Royal Garden Trio for a nice pairing of harmony and jazz. Wednesday, December 31 at 10pm.
Blog Post
Mittenfest of Music to Benefit 826Michigan
by manz
Ypsilanti’s Elbow Room will play host to the 3rd annual Mittenfest. This year’s Mittenfest is three nights of local musicians at one location, where all proceeds will go to 826Michigan. Ann Arbor's 826Michigan is the Michigan chapter of 826National, which was started by Pulitzer nominated author Dave Eggers. 826 is a "non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write." They offer totally free programs, such as tutoring, workshops, drop-in writing and all sorts of other fun things. (And they are housed in a robot store!) Mittenfest is a great way to enjoy quality local bands (such as ) and support a great organization. See here for a list of all the bands.
Elbow Room | 6 South Washington St. Ypsilanti | Dec 26, 27, 28 | Doors open @ 5pm, Music @ 6pm | $5 per night | $12 for 3-day pass