Spring is finally here! After a long stretch of chilly days it’s finally time to get out there and enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather! A great way to jump into spring would be to attend an event for the first time or check out an event that you have been looking forward to. Check out a comedy show or jazz concert, attend a film festival, celebrate Mother’s Day with music and a few laughs, get in touch with your inner artist by attending an art fair, or take the book lover in your gang to the Ann Arbor book festival. Take a look at the list below and discover the wonderful activities Ann Arbor has to offer this May! And don’t forget to let me know how you enjoyed it!
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5/3/2009-5/7/2009
The Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival
Established with a generous endowment from Milton Marwil in memory of his wife, Lenore, the film festival (now in its 11th year) provides the community with exclusive cinema selected from the world’s best contemporary films on Jewish themes. It is designed to enhance a strong sense of community and inclusion for a broad range of audience members, both Jewish and non-Jewish.
Michigan Theater
603 E. Liberty
(734) 668-TIME
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $10.00 per screening
Hours: $75.00 festival pass; $65 festival pass for Members ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5/3/2009
John Hammond & Eric Bibb
Tonight’s concert features a pair of artists whose roots extend deep into the history of American music. Eric Bibb is the son of 1960s folk singer Leon Bibb, the nephew of jazz pianist John Lewis, and the godson of the legendary Paul Robeson. But he draws on the legacy of acoustic blues to create something wholly new. Eric has the stylistic range of Taj Mahal and the contemporary songwriter’s sensibility of Keb’ Mo’.
The Ark
316 S. Main Street
(734) 761-1451
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $22.50
Begins at: 7:30pm
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5/4/2009 – 5/5/2009
Toad and the Wet Sprocket
The name came from a Monty Python skit, but the sound of Toad the Wet Sprocket is unique. The band’s guitar rock is mellowed by folky mandolins and guitars, and their songs are paragons of thinking person’s pop.
The Ark
316 S. Main Street
(734) 761-1451
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $45
Begins at: 7:30pm
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5/7/2009 – 5/9/2009
Laurie Kilmartin
Laurie Kilmartin is one of the fastest rising stars in Comedy today. With appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Tough Crowd w/Colin Quinn”, VH1′s “Best Week Ever,” NBC’s “Friday Night,” Comedy Central, A&E, Showtime and more, Laurie creates mass hysteria and leaves crowds wobbly legged with laughter everywhere she performs. What do you get when you mix a tall blonde, a Russian and a pitbull? Great comedy, of course!
Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
314 E. Liberty
(734) 996-9080
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $9-$12
Hours: Thursday 8:00pm, Friday 8:00pm. 10:30pm, Saturday 8:00pm, 10:30pm
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5/9/2009
Our Mothers, Ourselves
On Mother’s Day weekend, KCH creates a gala concert to celebrate Mom. For this evening, singers from Wine, Women & Song (WW&S) invite others to participate with, of course, pianist Jerry DePuit. This will be a free-wheeling, fun variety show — at times hilarious and always moving.
Kerrytown Concert House
415 North Fourth Avenue
(734) 769-2999
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $15-$30
Begins at: 8:00pm
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5/11/2009 – 5/22/2009
Art Exhbition “The Dyning Room”
This art installation explores how cancer envelops our enviornment, incorporating graphic designs through a multi-sensory experience. This show offers a unique blend of collage and craft fused within a three-dimensional house.
IGG Student Gallery
Eastern Michigan Universit
900 Oakwood Street
Ypsilanti
(734) 904-0128
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: This is a free event.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
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5/15/2009 – 5/17/2009
Ann Arbor Book Festival
The Ann Arbor Book Festival returns this May, featuring an extensive slate of Literary-themed events happening from May 15-17.
Friday, May 15 features the annual Writer’s Conference at Palmer Commons on The University of Michigan Central Campus from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. For more details and to register, visit their website.
Friday evening, head over to the Ann Arbor District Library from 6:00-7:30 to meet guest authors and mingle at the Author Reception. After that, catch a preview of upcoming shows from The Blackbird and Performance Network theaters, featuring the performance of a new one-act play starring George Shirley, famed tenor. See the website for full details and ticket information.
The Book Festival continues on Saturday, May 16 with “Breakfast with the Authors” at the Michigan League starting at 8:30 am. Patrons can also sign up for the breakfast and for Saturday morning Writer’s Conference sessions at the Book Festival’s website. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Book Festival activities will continue at the Michigan League and under tents on the adjacent Ingalls Mall featuring author appearances, panel discussions, dance, music, and exhibitor tables. Highlights include an appearance by singer, songwriter and children’s author Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary). Additionally, children’s author Anna Dewdney will read her newest “Llama Llama” book with an accompanying performance by the Ann Arbor Civic Ballet. There will also be an author appearance by Colson Whitehead, a chef event (with free samples!), music based on the Harry Potter book series, and much more.
Saturday’s headliner event is an appearance by Dr. Perri Klass, a pediatrician, writer and National President of the literacy program Reach Out and Read. Dr. Klass will speak about her experiences as a physician, mother, writer, and advocate of early reading. This event will take place at the UM Chemistry Building at 6:30 pm. $5 entrance fee. Sponsorships available. Call (734) 369-3366 for details, or the website.
Events taking place in preparation for the book festival include a fundraiser at the Michigan Theater on Sat., May 2 at 6:30pm. See the presentation of the first LILA Award (Leader in Literary Arts) to John Hilton, editor of the Ann Arbor Observer, and catch a showing of the movie Howl’s Moving Castle. On Thursday May 7, join the Ann Arbor Book Festival for its annual Literary Symposium featuring Michael W. Smith, a leading educator, who will discuss motivating adolescents to read and write. Tickets for the Literary Symposium are $20 before May 1 and $22 after May 1. Sign up at www.aabookfestival.org or call (734) 369-3366.
Further information on all events related to the Ann Arbor Book Festival can be found here.
500 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor
(734) 369-3366
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: This is a free event.
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5/16/2009
Jackson Road Cruise
Show is open to those who wish to exhibit their foreign, domestic, classic, custom, rod, hybrid, or electric cars, and cycles, motorcycles, tractors or trucks.
Jackson Road in Scio Township
(734) 665-2123
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: This is a free event.
Hours: 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
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5/16/2009
Winefest 2009
A wine and food fundraising event benefiting the Ann Arbor Art Center, which is celebrating 100 years of bringing creativity and community together.
Four Points Sheraton
3200 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $180-$200
Begins at: 6:00 pm
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5/23/2009
Storyteller LaRon Williams
Renowned storyteller LaRon Williams bring his unique multi-media storytelling experience, including songs, stories, games and traditional instruments like African drums. Kids love participating in LaRon’s interactive stories as he uses his voice, facial expressions and movements to create special effects like thunder or falling water.
Performance Network
120 E. Huron
(734) 663-0696
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $7/Kids $10/Adults
Begins at: 11:00am
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5/26/2009
Take A Chance Tuesday
Stretching the parameters of acoustic swing, Bridgeport, Connecticut’s Caravan of Thieves has been won immediate praise for their new and unique brand of gypsy-flavored song writing and their high-intensity show. The vocal-harmonizing and acoustic-guitar-spanking husband-and-wife duo of Fuzz and Carrie have now extended their family to include fiery violinist Ben Dean and double bass madman Brian Anderson.
Cost: This is a free event.
Begins at: 8:00pm
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5/29/2009 – 5/30/2009
Steve Burr
Steve Burr is originally from Rochester, NY where he began his stand-up comedy career with a first place finish in the 1998 “Funniest Person in Rochester Contest.” From there he slowly worked his way up the comedy club ladder eventually arriving at his current position as a headlining comic who tours across the country. It doesn’t just end there though…Steve also makes regular trips overseas to entertain US troops stationed in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Italy & Germany.
Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
314 E. Liberty
Ann Arbor
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $8-$10
Hours: Friday 8:00pm, 10:30pm, Saturday 8:00pm, 10:30pm
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5/30/2009
Hands On Local Tech Event
Experience local tech for young and old with a global impact at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.
Hands on Museum
220 East Ann Street
(734) 995-5439
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $10-$25
Hours: 6:00pm-9:00pm
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5/30/2009
The Siegel-Schwall Band
Along with the first-wave British Invasion bands like the Rolling Stones, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and stateside groups like the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Siegel-Schwall Band were key figures in the great blues revival of the 1960s. Harmonica wizard Corky Siegel and guitarist Jim Schwall headed up the house band at Chicago’s famed Pepper’s Lounge, where they earned their spurs backing greats like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Willie Dixon.
The Ark
316 S. Main Street
(734) 761-1451
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: $22.50
Begins at: 8:00pm
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5/31/2009
Taste of Ann Arbor
This community event features restaurants from Ann Arbor and surrounding areas offering visitors bite size culinary delights for $.50 per taste.
Main Street
Downtown Ann Arbor
Map/Driving Directions
Cost: This is a free event.
Hours: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
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Above was a sampling of the activities occurring in our community during the month of May. There are many interesting events including Taste of Ann Arbor, concerts, comedy shows as well as fairs, festivals and fundraisers. Please be sure to check out one of the many musical concerts scheduled this month. There is something for everyone this month so do something new then let me know how it was. Be sure to conatct your Ann ARbor Real Estate experts.
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