A Woman's Town (1991)

Watch Now (Runtime: 00:30:00)

This film, produced in 1991 by Lola Jones of Another Ann Arbor, chronicles the history of African American women in Ann Arbor from the mid-nineteenth century to the late nineteenth century. The film uses interviews with prominent African American women of Ann Arbor and historical photographs to illustrate the complex history of Ann Arbor from the Abolitionist Era to Desegregation.

Another Ann Arbor is an organization founded by Lola Jones and Carol Gibson to document the history of African Americans in Ann Arbor. Through two documentaries, a long-running television series, and a book, Another Ann Arbor has brought the story of African Americans forward and made that story a conscious part of Ann Arbor's identity. Another Ann Arbor continues their work today with their website and work in the community and schools.

Lucinda Scala Quinn, Co-Host of PBS's Everyday Food Discusses Her New Book 'Mad Hungry: Feeding Men And Boys: Recipes, Strategies and Survival Techniques'

This event was held on October 26, 2009 at Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Watch Now (Runtime: 01:00:49)

With three ravenous sons and a husband who loves to eat, Lucinda Scala Quinn has spent much of her life feeding the men in her life and teaching them how to feed themselves. Now she shares winning strategies for how to sate the seemingly insatiable, trade food for talk, and get men to manage in the kitchen in her new cookbook, 'Mad Hungry: Feeding Men And Boys: Recipes, Strategies and Survival Techniques.' She provides recipes for single-skillet meals and dinners that yield fabulous leftovers and that are a cinch to stretch for extra guests.

Scala Quinn is Executive Food Director for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and co-host of PBS's Everyday Food. This special event will include tastings and cooking demos that will make you MAD HUNGRY for more! A book signing will occur and books will be for sale at the event.

Acclaimed Author Rita Mae Brown Discusses Her New Memoir 'Animal Magnetism: My Life With Creatures Great And Small'

This event was held on October 19, 2009 at Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Watch Now (Runtime: 00:52:06)

There's no disputing the fact that Rita Mae Brown has lived a dynamic life full of incredible experiences - she's been a literary icon, groundbreaking feminist, Hollywood darling, and now a working farmer tending thousands of acres in rural Virginia. But throughout it all, one thing she has always been is a passionate lover of animals - from the cat that purred her to sleep in her cradle to the foxhounds and horses that fill her barn, an animal companion has always been by her side. She will share some of the many experiences that she had with animals as she discusses her new memoir Animal Magnetism: My Life With Creatures Great And Small. The event will include a book signing and books will be on sale at the event.

Television and Film Star David Alan Grier Discusses His New Book 'Barack Like Me'

This event was held on October 18, 2009 at Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Watch Now (Runtime: 00:47:24)

Television and film star David Alan Grier will discuss his new book 'Barack Like Me: The Chocolate Covered Truth.' In it, the acclaimed comedian and actor expounds upon what politics, culture, and race mean today, while recalling significant experiences from throughout his life. David Alan Grier is well known as being a principle cast member of the acclaimed television series "In Living Color," where he helped to create some of that show's most memorable characters. Recently, he appeared on the hit tv show "Dancing With the Stars." He is currently working on a stand-up comedy tour that may culminate in a special on Comedy Central about the experiences described in Barack Like Me. This event includes a book signing and books will be on sale courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Concert: The Master Of Horror: Edgar Allan Poe - Reverie and Phantasm With Blue Dahlia

This event was held on October 12, 2009 at Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Watch Now (Runtime: 01:08:07)

This concert will feature Poe's best-known poetry and prose including The Raven, The Tell-tale Heart, and The Bells, in a dramatic musical setting. The father of American horror-fiction, Poe's works have given chills to generations since 1827. bLuE dahlia (bluedahlia.com) is a modern music quintet that specializes in blending the exotic and familiar. Textural guitars and soaring vocal harmonies with ethnic, orchestral percussion and delicate woodwind accents create a dense understory that drenches Poe's gothic flights of fancy with profound emotion. A successful creative venture since 1995, Blue Dahlia continues to expand its musical horizons. The group's body of work includes numerous recordings, live performances of original soundtracks for silent film, commercial sound tracking, artistic collaboration and more.

Hungry Planet/Healthy Schools With Photojournalist Peter Menzel, Co-author of 'Hungry Planet, What The World Eats,' and Kim Eagle, MD, Director of Project Healthy Schools

This event was held on October 7, 2009 at The Ark

Watch Now (Runtime: 01:21:53)

This community symposium will explore cultural/geographical relationships to food and the need for nutrition as a preventative measure against chronic disease. Peter Menzel, photojournalist and co-author of 'Hungry Planet, What The World Eats,' will discuss how globalization, migration, and rising affluence are affecting the diets of communities around the globe. This event will include a book signing and copies of Hungry Planet will be available for purchase, courtesy of Nicola's Books.

Following Peter's talk, Dr. Kim Eagle, Albion Walter Hewlett Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan Health System, will provide an overview of Project Healthy Schools. This unique program is designed to teach middle school students about heart-healthy lifestyles, including the need for nutrition, with hopes of reducing their future risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

This event is made possible through a Partners In Research Program with the National Institute of Health and is co-sponsored by AADL and the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research.

'Townies' Dave DeVarti, Coleman Jewett And Geoff Larcom Discuss Growing Up In Ann Arbor

This event was held on October 6, 2009 at Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Watch Now (Runtime: 01:21:12)

Geoff Larcom, Dave DeVarti and Coleman Jewett all grew up in Ann Arbor and each has intricate personal stories about the city and its residents. Come hear about the city as they knew it and how they view changes in Ann Arbor over the decades. Along with the discussion, the Library will show a sampling from 'Picture Ann Arbor' (aadl.org/pictureAnnArbor), the online collection of local photos. Find out what these 'townies' have to say and gain an intimate look at Ann Arbor.

Detroit Derby Girls Rock!

This event was held on October 1, 2009 at Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Watch Now (Runtime: 01:12:40)

The Detroit Derby Girls, established in early 2005, is an all-female owned and operated flat track roller derby league. Over 60 skaters strong, the Detroit Derby Girls are part of the national rebirth of roller derby. Drew Barrymore's new film 'Whip It' (based on the novel Derby Girl by Shauna Cross) was filmed in Detroit, centers on life on the roller derby track and features several of the actual Detroit Derby Girls! Join us, the evening before the official 'Whip It' nationwide release, as several of the Detroit Derby Girls discuss the rivalries, the spills, and the thrills of life on the rink! The girls will also discuss their part in making this groundbreaking film.

An Evening With White House Press Corps Star Helen Thomas As She Discusses Her New Book 'Listen Up Mr. President: Everything You Always Wanted Your President To Know And Do'

This event was held on November 24, 2009 at Michigan Theater

Watch Now (Runtime: 01:12:12)

Since John F. Kennedy's presidency, Helen Thomas has covered more presidents as a member of the White House Press Corps than any journalist working today. The recipient of more than thirty honorary degrees, she was honored in 1998 with the inaugural Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award, established by the White House Correspondents' Association. From her long and illustrious vantage point, she has seen presidents succeed and fail, and has now collected that knowledge in her new book (co-written with Craig Crawford), 'Listen Up Mr. President: Everything You Always Wanted Your President to Know and Do.'

At this special event, cosponsored by Michigan Radio, Helen shares her candid views about the White House and discusses her new book of Presidential advice. The event, which will include a booksigning, will be held at The Michigan Theater (603 East Liberty, Ann Arbor). Books will be on sale at the event, courtesy of Nicola's Books.

Disaster Survivor Pierette Domenica Simpson Discusses Her Experience On The Andrea Doria and her Book 'Alive on the Andrea Doria: The Greatest Sea Rescue in History'

This event was held on August 17, 2009 at Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Watch Now (Runtime: 01:20:25)

Pierette Domenica Simpson will share her up-close and personal account of surviving the most catastrophic ship collision in history between the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm, in July of 1956, when she was 9 years old. Now an outspoken proponent of safety at sea, she is the only survivor in history to have written a complete shipwreck account, investigating and reporting on both the human and technical aspects that lead to the collision. This event will include a book-signing, books will be on sale courtesy of Nicola’s Books.