Calendar of Events
Sunday, November 8, 2009
"A2Sunday Runners": Two Dogs Running.
Every Sun. All invited to join informal runs of 5-7 miles along various scenic routes.
meet at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, Kerrytown. Free. 657-0214.
Sunday Rides: Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society.
Every Sun. Today: "Hills of Ann Arbor Ride," fast-, moderate-, and slow-paced rides, 22-44 miles, over some of the city's toughest hills. Each route is made up of 3 to 5 loops, so you can easily drop out if you get worn out.
meet at Wheeler Park, N. Fourth Ave. at Depot St. Free. 904-6431 unless otherwise noted.
22nd Annual Jewish Book Festival: Jewish Community Center.
Nov. 3-6, 8-13, & 15. Display and sale (at retail prices) of more than 2,000 new books by Jewish authors, ranging from cookbooks, expensive gift books, children's books, and reference books to books by local authors and new titles hot off the presses. (Publishers plan their releases for November, which is Jewish Book Month.) The fair also includes a number of talks and performances by various Jewish authors. Today: American Girl tea (12:15 p.m.) for elementary and middle school boys and girls, who are invited to bring a favorite doll or stuffed animal for a reading from the 1st book in the series set in 1914 New York about the 9-year old Jewish girl Rebecca Rubin. Also, actor Michael Tucker and his wife (and former L.A. Law co-star) Jill Eikenberry discusses Tucker's memoir Family Meals: Coming Together to Care for an Aging Parent. (7:30 p.m.).
Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow Dr. (off Stone School Rd. south of Packard). Lunch available at the daily noon programs for $12 ($10 in advance). Free. 971-0990.
Ann Arbor Unitarian Fellowship.
Nov. 8 & 22 (different programs). Today: Retired Montessori teacher Winifred Wylie discusses Rupert Sheldrake's Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home and Other Unexplained Powers of Animals.
Burns Park Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin. Free. 994-4473.
Ultimate Frisbee: H.A.C. Ultimate.
Every Sun. All invited to a very relaxed pickup game of this spirited team sport. Note: Overly competitive players are politely asked to leave.
Mitchell Field, south side of Fuller Rd. just west of Bonisteel. Free. 846-9418.
Tea Tastings: TeaHaus.
Nov. 6-8. Chicago tea sommelier Sam Ritchey leads tea tastings. Today: "A Closer Look at the World's 'New' Tea Regions" (11 a.m.) and "A Journey Through the World's Tea Gardens" (3 p.m.) featuring tea-inspired treats.
TeaHaus, 204 N. Fourth Ave. $20. Reservations required. 622-0460.
First Singles: First Presbyterian Church.
Every Sun. A weekly program open to all single adults interested in contemporary Christian topics, new ideas, personal growth, and social and physical activities. Today: First Presbyterian minister-in-residence Matthew Nickel discusses "Faith and Imagination."
First Presbyterian Church Curtis Room, 1432 Washtenaw. Free. 662-4466, ext. 43.
U-M Women's Soccer vs. Penn State.
U-M Soccer Field, 2250 S. State. Free. 763-2159.
"Who`s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?": U-M Residential College Players.
November 6-8. RC students present Edward Albee's classic drama about the cruelty spouses are capable of inflicting on each other. A college history professor and his wife invite a younger faculty couple to their house for cocktails. As the evening unfolds, the middle-aged hosts begin to dig at one another, first subtly, then with increasing malevolence, prodding their guests to join them in a vicious game of emotional and intellectual bullying that reaches a shattering conclusion.
RC Keene Theater, East Quad, 701 East University. $3. 763-0176.
"Exploring Quakerism": Ann Arbor Friends Meeting.
Nov. 1 & 8. Three Society of Friends members discuss "Experiencing Quaker Simplicity" (Nov. 1) and "Experiencing Quaker Peace" (Nov. 8). Followed by Q&A and a 15-minute worship service. Lunch.
Ann Arbor Friends Meetinghouse, 1420 Hill. Free. 761-7435.
"The T-Touch: Ann Arbor Companion Bird Club.
Animal therapist Manuela Hejna discusses this touch therapy for animals. Bring your bird.
Animal Kingdom, 4990 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. Free. 662-4582.
"Living Traditions of the Three Fires": U-M Exhibit Museum.
Storyteller Larry Plamondon of the Grand River Bands of the Odawa tells Native American tales at 1, 2, & 3 p.m. Plamondon is also the narrator of a new and expanded version of the planetarium show on Native sky legends Sky Legends of the Three Fires ($5), which is shown at 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. Also, a family concert at 2 p.m. by local Native American singer-songwriter Joe Reilly.
U-M Exhibit Museum, North University at Geddes Ave. Free (unless otherwise noted). 764-0478.
Storytime: Liberty Borders.
Every Sun. A Borders staffer reads stories for kids.
Borders, 612 E. Liberty. Free. 668-7652.
"Chesstastic!": Ann Arbor District Library.
All kids and adults invited to play chess. Sets provided.
AADL Traverwood Branch, 3333 Traverwood at Huron Pkwy. Free. 327-4200.
Ann Arbor Go Club.
Every Sun. & Thurs. except Nov. 26. Players of all skill levels invited to play what's regarded as the world's most difficult board game. No partner necessary. Boards and stones provided.
Espresso Royale, 322 S. State. Free. 417-5547.
Magic: The Gathering Tournament: Get Your Game On.
Every Sun.-Fri., except Nov. 26. All invited to compete in tournaments of this popular collectible card game using standard constructed (Sun. & Thurs.), vintage (Mon.), Elder Dragon Highlander (Tues.), Legacy (Wed.), and booster draft (Fri.) decks. Prizes. Bring your own cards. Sun.-Thurs.
Get Your Game On, 709 Packard. $5. 786-3746.
"Super Science Shows": Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.
Nov. 7, 8, 21, & 22. Museum staff give family-friendly science demos.
Hands-On Museum, 220 E. Ann. $9 regular admission (members & infants, free). 995-5439.
Tour: Kempf House Museum.
Every Sun. Guided tours of this restored 19th-century Greek Revival home, named for the family of German American musicians who occupied it at the turn of the 19th century.
Kempf House, 312 S. Division. Free; donations accepted. 994-4898.
"The New UMMA": U-M Museum of Art.
Every Sat. & Sun. beginning Nov. 7. Docent-led tours of the recently renovated museum.
UMMA, 525 S. State. Free. 764-0395.
"The Little Prince": Ann Arbor Civic Theatre Junior Theatre.
Nov. 5-8. Claudia Wier directs young local actors in E.J. West's adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's delightful tale of a jaded aviator stranded in the Sahara whose outlook on life is changed by a prince who visits our world from his own tiny planet. Appropriate for kids age 4 & over.
WCC Liberal Arts Bldg. College Theatre, 4800 E. Huron River Dr. $5 in advance and at the door. 971-2228.
U-M Exhibit Museum Planetarium.
Every Sat. & Sun. and Nov. 27. Three different audiovisual planetarium shows. The Sky Tonight (1:30 & 3:30 p.m., plus 11:30 a.m. Sat. and Nov. 27 only) explores the current night sky. Stars of the Pharoahs (12:30 p.m. Sat. only) explores the use of science in ancient Egypt to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings. Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope (2:30 p.m. Sat., Sun., & Nov. 27) explores how telescopes work and what they can do
U-M Exhibit Museum, 1109 Geddes at North University. $4.75. 764-0478.
"Mounted Orchids: Fact & Fantasy": Ann Arbor Orchid Society.
California orchid grower Harry Phillips discusses and demonstrates the best way to grow orchids on different mounts. Also, an orchid show-and-tell, orchid sales, a silent auction, raffles, and a chance to ask experts about plant problems. Refreshments.
U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens auditorium, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Free. 663-0756.
"Preserving Traditions": Pittsfield Union Grange.
All invited to try a traditional food preservation technique TBA.
Pittsfield Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. (just south of Oak Valley Dr.). $5 (Grange members, free). Reservations required. 997-8844.
"The Wizard of Oz": Young People's Theater.
Nov. 5-8. Lynn Lammers directs young local actors in Frank Gabrielson's musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic tale about Dorothy's journey to the Emerald City and back.
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 North University. Tickets $15 (students age 18 & under and seniors age 65 and over, $10) in advance at the Michigan Union Ticket Office, Ticketmaster.com, and at the door. 763-TKTS.
Friends of Four-Hand Piano.
Pianists of all abilities invited to bring their music for a casual afternoon of performing duets. An opportunity to meet other pianists and find partners for 4-hand and 2-piano music. Listeners welcome.
location TBA. Free. 971-6261, 485-5007.
Dinosaur Tours: U-M Exhibit Museum.
Every Sat. & Sun. 30-minute docent-led tour of the museum's dinosaur exhibits.
U-M Exhibit Museum, 1109 Geddes at North University. Free, but limited to the first 15 people to sign up for each tour. 764-0478.
"Escanaba": Purple Rose Theatre Company.
Every Wed.-Sun. (except Nov. 26) Sept. 17-Dec. 19. See review. Guy Sanville directs the world premiere of Jeff Daniels' comedy, the third in his deer-hunting Yooper trilogy that includes the hugely successful Escanaba in da Moonlight and Escanaba in Love. This installment reveals the origins of some of the Soady family's time-honored deer camp traditions. Stars Julian Gant, Wayne David Parker, and Tom Whalen.
Purple Rose, 137 Park St., Chelsea. $25 (Sun. eves., Wed. & Thurs.), $33 (Sat. & Sun. matinees), & $38 (Fri. & Sat. eves.) in advance and at the door. 433-7673.
"The Charlatan": Comic Opera Guild.
Nov. 6 & 8. Dana Sadava directs area singers in a concert production of Charles Klein and John Phillip Sousa's operetta that incorporates rollicking Gilbert-and-Sullivan-style dialogue.
Vitosha Guest Haus, 1917 Washtenaw. Tickets $15 (seniors, $12; Thurs., $10) in advance at Ticketmaster.com and at the door. 763-TKTS.
"Oklahoma!": Pioneer High School Theatre Guild.
Nov. 7 & 8 and 13-15. U-M theater student Mary-Michael Patterson directs Pioneer High School students in the landmark Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, a sentimental love story set in the Oklahoma Territory on the eve of statehood. The show's many well-known songs include "I Cain't Say No," "People Will Say We're in Love," "Surrey with the Fringe on Top," and the rousing title chorus.
Pioneer High School Schreiber Auditorium, 601 W. Stadium at Main. Tickets $12 (seniors age 65 & over and students, $9) in advance at Morgan & York (1928 Packard) and at the door. 994-2191.
"From Shore to Shore: Music in the Key of Sea": Ann Arbor Concert Band.
James Nissen directs this local volunteer ensemble in Vaughan Williams' Toccata Marziale and Sea Songs, Malcolm Arnold's English Dances for Band, Dwayne Milburn's American Hymn Song Suite, Francis McBeth's Moby Dick- inspired tone poem Of Sailors and Whales, Robert Sheldon's Metroplex: Three Postcards from Manhattan, and 2 marches, including Sousa's "Manhattan Beach" and William Latham's "Brighton Beach."
Michigan Theater. Tickets $10 (seniors age 65 & over and students, $5; kids age 11 & under, free) in advance at aaband.org and at the door. 434-7876.
Shape Note Singing: Ann Arbor Sacred Harp.
All invited to join an afternoon of shape note, or sacred harp, singing, a form of communal hymn singing that has its roots in colonial America. Songbooks available, but singers encouraged to bring their own.
The Ark, 316 S. Main. Free, but donations accepted for music scholarships. 678-7549, 761-1451.
Forest Hill Cemetery Tour.
Every Sun., Oct. 4-Nov. 8. Ann Arbor's unofficial city historian, Wystan Stevens, who is about to move out of town, has been leading his popular interpretive tour of Ann Arbor's oldest cemetery for almost 30 years. Stevens is an enchanting, wryly humorous raconteur, and he says that "the fall is the prettiest time of year for the graveyard." If you haven't been led around Forest Hill by Wystan, you don't really know Ann Arbor! Canceled in case of heavy rain.
meet inside the gate on Observatory, just north of Geddes. $10 (children with adult, free) by advance reservation and at the gate. 662-5438.
Sharon Fiffer and Libby Fischer Hellmann: Aunt Agatha's.
These 2 Chicago mystery writers discuss their new books. Fiffer's Scary Stuff is the 6th in her series about a California antiques picker who also works for a PI, and Hellmann's Doubleback, the second in her series about Chicago PI Georgia Davis, also features the principal character of Hellmann's other series, industrial video producer Ellie Foreman.
Aunt Agatha's, 213 S. Fourth Ave. Free. 769-1114.
"Reiki for Spiritual Healing": Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room.
Reiki master Brett Bevell discusses his new book. Signing.
Crazy Wisdom, 114 S. Main. Free. 665-2757.
"Long Wait for Home": Ann Arbor District Library.
Screening of Millersville (PA) University communication professor Changfu Chang's award-winning documentary about international adoption of Chinese children. Followed by a discussion led by Chang.
AADL multipurpose room (lower level), 343 S. Fifth Ave. Free. 327-4555.
"What`s New on the Horizon for Roses": Huron Valley Rose Society.
All invited to join club members for a discussion. Refreshments.
U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Free. 277-0112.
"Vegan Thanksgiving Feast": Washtenaw Whole Foods Market.
Cooking demo (with tastings) featuring vegan roast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie cheesecake, and cranberry truffles. Whole Foods also sponsors free talks (preregistration required) at 7 p.m. on "Avoiding Colds and Flu with Nutrition" (Nov. 10), "Female Herbs for Every Age" (Nov. 11), and "Heart and Meridian Test" (Nov. 17).
Whole Foods Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom, 3135 Washtenaw. $10. Preregistration required. 975-4500.
"The Lens of Impressionism": U-M Museum of Art.
Nov. 4, 7, 8, 11, 15, 21, 22, & 29. Docent-led tours of the current exhibit.
UMMA, 525 S. State. Free. 764-0395.
"Working": Community High School Ensemble Theater.
Nov. 6-8. Phil Walker directs Community High students in Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso's 1978 Broadway musical, adapted from Studs Terkel's book, a chronicle of day in the life of 26 typical American workers.
Community High School Craft Theater, 401 N. Division. 9 Parking available in the lot behind the school, N. Fifth Ave. at Detroit St.) Tickets $10 (students & seniors, $7) at the door only. 994-2021.
Faculty Showcase: EMU Music Department
Canceled.
Pease Auditorium, EMU campus, W. Cross at College Place, Ypsilanti. Free. 487-2255.
"Le Nozze di Figaro": Ann Arbor District Library.
Talk (with musical examples) by Ann Arbor District Library music specialist Richard LeSueur, in anticipation of the U-M production of this Mozart opera (see 12 Thursday listing).
AADL Freespace (3rd floor), 343 S. Fifth Ave. Free. 327-4555.
"Mrs. Charles Darwin's Recipe Book": Ann Arbor District Library/Culinary Historians of Ann Arbor.
Writer Weslie Janeway discusses this book he cowrote with Dusha Bateson that updates and illustrates Emma Darwin's recipes with annotations on Victorian diets. Refreshments made with recipes from the book.
AADL Pittsfield Branch, 2359 Oak Valley Dr. between Scio Church Rd. and Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. Free. 327-4200, 769-5911.
"25th Anniversary Exhibition": Clay Gallery.
Well-known area ceramic artist Robert Piepenburg discusses the current exhibit.
Clay Gallery, 335 S. Main. Free. 662-7927.
Children's Puppet Shows: Dreamland Theater.
Nov. 1 & 8. See review. The Dreamland Puppet Troupe presents marionette, rod, and shadow puppet shows for kids.
Dreamland Theater, 26 N. Washington, Ypsilanti. $5 (kids age 3 & under, free). 657-2337.
St. Lawrence String Quartet: University Musical Society.
This acclaimed Canadian quartet has been together for over 20 years, performing with "an almost disturbing intensity," according to a New York Times review. Tonight they play a 2008 John Adams quartet inspired by one of their performances. Also, Haydn's String Quartet in F Major and Ravel's String Quartet in F Major.
Rackham Auditorium. Tickets $20-$42 in advance at the Michigan League Box Office and ums.org, and (if available) at the door. To charge by phone, call 764-2538 or (800) 221-1229.
Booked for Murder Mystery Book Club: Nicola's Books.
All invited to discuss 2 Icelandic novels. Arnaldur Indridason's Silence of the Grave is about a downtrodden detective who looks into Reykjavik's hidden past to solve a crime. Yrsa Sigurdardottir's Last Rituals is about a German student murdered while studying Iceland's witch-hunting history.
Nicola's Books, Westgate shopping center. Free. 769-2149.
Rainbow Book Club.
All invited to discuss Trouble and Her Friends, Melissa Scott's sci-fi novel about lesbian lovers who hack into computer networks to steal industrial secrets.
WRAP office, 325 Braun Ct. Free. 763-4168.
Ann Arbor Morris.
Every Sun. All invited to try this boisterous, jingly English ceremonial dance based on the 15th-century Spanish moresca . Wear athletic shoes.
Gretchen's House VII barn, 1580 Dhu Varren Rd. Free. Email a2morris@umich.edu to confirm. 747-8138.
Paul Renz Quartet: Kerrytown Concert House.
This jazz ensemble, led by Minneapolis guitarist Renz, plays originals from its new CD In My Own Hands. "They take on Renz's songs and go exploring on their own, sometimes collectively, sometimes getting into mini-huddles, and just vibe off each other in a way that makes you want to return to this album over and over," says critic John Book.
KCH, 415 N. Fourth Ave. $15 (students, $10). Reservations recommended. 769-2999.
U-M Ballroom Dancers.
Every Sun. Ballroom dancing to recorded music, including fox-trots, waltzes, cha-chas, rumbas, tangos, swing, and more. No partner necessary. Preceded at 7 p.m. by beginning lessons and practice.
Michigan Union Ballroom. $3. 763-6984.
