The month of July is not only filled with holiday fun but with a variety of activities for you and yours! Independence Day is not the only exciting event this month. Check out a concert or two. Are you a car enthusiast? Mid-month you can embellish your affinity at the local car show. Take a look at the myriad of artistry at the art fair. Enjoy shopping for antiques? Well, don’t go far because Ann Arbor is bringing antique shopping to a local level this month! There is so much to do throughout the entire month of July! Don’t forget to let me know how you enjoy your experiences!
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7/4/2009

ANN ARBOR SUMMER FESTIVAL: THE CAPITOL STEPS

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival presents: The Capitol Steps, the only group in America that attempts to be funnier than the politicians. The Capitol Steps is a troupe of current and former Congressional staffers who satirize the very people and places that once employed them. Since they began over 20 years ago, Capitol Steps has become a Washington, DC institution for providing a tasteful blend of musical and political comedy.  Join us for the festival’s Fourth of July tradition as the company lampoons the new administration.

Power Center
121 Fletcher Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 764-2538

Hours: 5:00pm and 8:00pm
Cost: $30-$45
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7/6/2009

FEUFOLLET

In Louisiana Cajun folklore, “feufollet” is the word for the will-o-the-wisp, the mysterious light that can be seen hovering near the ground, usually in dark swamplands or marshes. The feufollet, or “dancing fire,” guides travelers to safety in many folktales, or at least back to the road through the wilderness. For the members of La Bande Feufollet, who have been performing Louisiana music since they were kids, Cajun songs are not unlike these alluring lights, enchanting their audiences. Cajun music for these young people is a way to have fun and play and sing, but also a way to understand and fathom the roots of their culture and heritage.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $15
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7/7/2009

DAVE ALVIN AND THE GUILTY WOMEN

As guitarist in legendary bands like the Blasters and later X, Dave Alvin was one of the key creators of Americana music, and his recordings over the last two decades, many with his band the Guilty Men, have contributed numerous classics to the genre. Now he’s taking to the road with his latest ensemble, the Guilty Women. This all-virtuosa group features guitarist Cindy Cashdollar and Nina Gerber, vocalist Christy McWilson, violinists Laurie Lewis and Amy Farris, bassist (and former Ann Arborite) Sarah Brown, and drummer Lisa Pankratz.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00 PM
Cost: $20
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7/9/2009

LITTLE MISSY HIGGINS

Little Miss Higgins is Jolene Higgins, born in Alberta, raised in Independence, Kansas, and now a resident of Nokomis, Saskatchewan. The folks up at Summerfolk in Ontario call her “a pocket-sized powerhouse who mixes originals with 1930s Memphis blues standards.” And, says Stacy Jeffress of Blues Revue: “Not Since Laura Ingalls Wilder has there been a woman so eager to share stories of life on the prairie. But for Jolene ‘Little Miss’ Higgins, the prairie is in central Canada and the stories are told through compelling country blues songs.” With influences in her songwriting ranging from Memphis Minnie and Big Bill Broonzy to Joni Mitchell, Little Miss Higgins is an artist who makes the blues into something fresh, gutsy, and personal.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $15
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7/10/2009

THE ROLLING SCULPTURE CAR SHOW

The Rolling Sculpture Car Show features more than 400 exotic, antique, classic and concept cars.

Downtown Ann Arbor
Main, Liberty, Fourth and Washington
Map/Driving Directions

Hours: 2:00PM-10:00PM
Cost: FREE!
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7/11/2009

THE JOHN JORGENSON QUINTET

Country and rock guitar veteran John Jorgenson brings all his musical creativity and experience to bear in the John Jorgenson Quintet, and the result is an exciting evening of fresh gypsy-style jazz. John is a former member of the Desert Rose Band, the Hellecasters, and Elton John’s band, and has recorded and performed with such luminaries as Sting, Bonnie Raitt, and Luciano Pavarotti. A master of gypsy jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt, John’s work has appeared in many prominent guitar magazines. He was asked to recreate Django’s music for the feature films “Gattica,” and “Head in the Clouds,” in which he portrayed the legendary guitarist opposite stars Charlize Theron and Penelope Cruz.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $20
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7/12/2009

SARAH GUTHRIE & JOHNY IRION

Sarah Lee Guthrie (daughter of Arlo, granddaughter of Woody) and guitarist Johnny Irion (EYE-ree-on) met in Los Angeles (they were introduced by Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes), married two years later, and moved to Irion’s hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. Sarah Lee has inherited a good chunk of both the family charm and the ambitious songwriting bent of her famous ancestors, and Johnny adds a jolt of Southern blues to the mix. Comparisons to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings just seem to pop up when they sing harmony. Sarah Lee and Johnny have toured with Arlo Guthrie and were most recently seen locally as part of Pete Seeger’s joyous accompanying group at the 2009 Ann Arbor Folk Festival. We’re enthusiastic about welcoming another Guthrie generation back to the Ark stage! Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion come to Michigan with a great new two-disc live release, “Folksong.”

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 7:30PM
Cost: $15
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7/15/2009-7/18/2009

THE ANN ARBOR ART FAIRS

This July, artists with amazing talents and unsurpassed skills will take over the streeets of Ann Arbor and exhibit their work in the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. They will engage the imaginations of more than 500,000 fairgoers and form an amazing impression of sound, color, mystery, and drama. Combined, these elements will create an intriguing event that will challenge the mind and engage the eyes.

No matter what direction you take, no matter where you look, you’ll discover colors and sights that will energize and captivate and maybe even change your life. That’s the incredible power of art.

This July, the Ann Arbor Art Fairs invite you to meet the artists, enjoy the city, and experience the award-winning Ann Arbor Art Fairs.

The Ann Arbor Art Fairs Are: Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair; The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original (celebrating its 50th year); The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, and the State Street Area Art Fair.
For more information, including parking and shuttle information, click here.

Downtown Ann Arbor
State Street from South University to William and Main Street from William to Huron
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: 1-800-888-9487

Hours: Wednesday-Friday from 10:00AM–9:00pm and Saturday 10:00AM–6:00PM
Cost: FREE!
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6/18/2009-6/19/2009

ANN ARBOR ANTIQUES MARKET

A great way to shop for antiques! Extensive vendors and antiques from which to choose.

Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds
5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 429-1131

Hours: 8:00AM-4:00PM
Cost: $6
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7/20/2009

ADRIAN BELEW POWER TRIO

Kentucky-born Adrian Belew joined King Crimson in 1981, and for many rock fans that’s the band his name brings to mind. But his unique guitar sounds have helped stretch the thinking of several other great rock acts he worked with as a session musician, including Frank Zappa, the Talking Heads, David Bowie, and Nine Inch Nails. Belew has released four solo albums that are perfect mixes of pop and experimental thinking. He’s been compared with David Byrne of the Talking Heads, and he’s been called the twang bar czar. Adrian Belew is coming to The Ark with a power trio, so you can settle in for a musical adventure and then come up with your own description!

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $25
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7/21/2009

JAY WEBBER
Frankfort, MI-raised songwriter Jay Webber has a percussive acoustic guitar style that adds urgency and power to his music. His shows are much more rhythmic than most other singer-songwriter concerts, with jazz, blues, folk, Latin, and boogie sounds all married to thought-provoking lyrics, a voice a lot like James Taylor’s, and lots of onstage energy. Jay Webber, says Martin Kohn of the Detroit Free Press, is “too jazzy to be folk, too folk to be jazz, too folk and jazzy to be pop or rock.” We just call it good music! After Jay released his “Live at the Ark” album a couple of years ago, word spread about his talents, and over the last year he’s divided his time among Michigan, Texas, a creativity-recharging float down the Platte River, and Sarasota, Florida, where he has worked with Latin percussionist El Chino.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $15
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7/23/2009

GRIEVOUS ANGEL

Ferndale, Michigan’s Grievous Angel revs up at the crossroads where folk, rockabilly, blues, and alt-country were born, and they burn rubber through the backwoods and bayous of the American South. They rumble across the length and breadth of American music with a lot of downhome grease and not a bit of reverence. A soul strut is as likely to wind up in the gas tank as a Fort Worth shuffle, all while keeping musical instruments rather than electric power front and center. Grievous Angel has won Detroit Music Awards as outstanding folk group and outstanding acoustic group. Pastoral folk excursions, cosmic jamming, retro rock and roadhouse boogie all spill over into a sound with soaring harmonies and turn-on-a-dime musicianship.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $13.50
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7/24/2009

SONNY LANDRETH

Louisiana’s Sonny Landreth is a mesmerizing master of the slide guitar. He can do it all–think three-finger left-hand chords with a bottleneck on the left little finger, and a whole battery of effects coming from the right hand. And he puts all his technique at the service of insightful original songs that show a unique appreciation of Lousiana and its culture. Sonny was the first white member of Clifton Chenier’s Red Hot Louisiana Band, and other musicians he’s worked with include John Hiatt, John Mayall, Zachary Richard, Beausoleil, Junior Wells, Mark Knopfler, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Allen Toussaint, and Steve Riley. Eric Clapton calls Sonny “probably the most underestimated musician on the planet.” For years he’s been the go-to guy for Southern slide guitar, and his solo work will blow you away.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $25
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7/25/2009

BLACK JANE AND THE CARNIES

Ypsilanti’s Black Jake & the Carnies set fierce murder ballads and cautionary tales to the beat of an old-time string band. This octet offers a unique blend of Americana, bluegrass, and punk. Steve Leggett of the All Music Guide writes that Black Jake plays “a kind of raucous acoustic Americana that tosses post modern Appalachian murder ballads, Irish drinking songs, skewed, twisted love songs and general cautionary tales into a stylistic blender that has them sounding like nothing so much as a maverick, hopped-up punk polka band in full 21st-century everything-fits jug band mode”–and that just about covers it–except that you may well find yourself throwing rubber balls at the band . . . and having them thrown back at you. Tonight’s opener is the visionary Lake Orion, Michigan band Frontier Ruckus. They’ve released a new album, “Way Upstate & The Crippled Summer, Vol. 1.”

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $15
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7/27/2009

SCYTHIAN

Scythian calls their music an Immigrant Road Show, and the Washington Post dubbed them “one of D.C.’s most energetic and eclectic bands.” This Alexandria, Virginia group plays Celtic music with an edge–a very sharp edge. Raging young fiddlers Alexander Fedoryka and Josef Crosby define the sound of a four-man band, trained in classical music or jazz, and drawing on Eastern European or Middle Eastern ancestries to flavor their Celtic sound. Their high-energy, adrenaline-peddling, interactive brand of music has one goal in mind–to get the crowd involved and dancing. In the Post’s words, “the band’s enthusiasm is contagious, and shows seem to end with everyone dancing, jumping around or hoisting glasses.” Scythian has recently opened for the Punch Brothers, and their “Immigrant Road Show” CD was named Album of the Year by the Homegrown Music Network.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $12.50
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7/28/2009

RED SEA PEDESTRIANS

The Red Sea Pedestrians are a melting pot, bringing together six distinctive multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters to investigate klezmer music and a host of other styles. Their live shows and their CD, “A Lesson in Cartography,” have built up a buzz that’s extended across Michigan from their home base in Kalamazoo. The Red Sea Pedestrians call themselves “a one-of-a-kind, full-blown, instrument-swapping fusion between tradition and the here-and-now. We’re talkin’ high-energy neo-Klezmer, hypnotic laments from the earth, songs of celebration and wonder . . .a warped and beautiful blend of cultures and eras.” Check it out for yourself–tonight’s show is absolutely free!

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: FREE!
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7/29/2009

DAVID LINDLEY

Multi-instrumentalist David Lindley performs music that redefines the word “eclectic.” Well known for his many years as the featured accompanist with Jackson Browne, as a collaborator with the similarly inclined Ry Cooder, and as leader of his own band El Rayo-X, he performs a unique brand of electro-acoustic roots rock woven together with sounds from blues, bluegrass, folk, African, Arabic, Asian, Celtic, Malagasy, and Turkish musical sources. The incredible array of stringed instruments he brings on stage is something to see in itself, and when you add in eye-popping clothing, uncanny vocal mimicry, and a somewhat demented sense of humor, you are ready for the one-of-a-kind Mr. Dave experience.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $17.50
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7/30/2009

HARDLINE DRIVE

Lake Orion, Michigan’s Hardline Drive is putting a whole new twist on bluegrass music in the Midwest, with their own unique mix of traditional and contemporary sounds. The high-powered two-part female harmonies of songwriter Toni Erskine and mandolinist Danielle Smith are addictive, and banjoist David Russell, guitarist Greg Fuson, and bassist Davin Jeffers work like a well-oiled engine. Most of Hardline Drive’s music is original, and they’ve brought their fresh take on bluegrass to venues as diverse as the Detroit Festival of the Arts, the Flat Rock Eagles Club, Kalamazoo’s The Strutt, Toledo’s Glass City Opry, the Oakland Community College bluegrass series, and Hell Creek Ranch. Opening are the Deadstring Brothers, who describe themselves as “country toughs from the Motor City”; their music blends blues and country in the relaxed and ragged manner of the early-1970s Rolling Stones.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $12.50
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Above was a sampling of the activities occurring in our community during the month of July.  There are many interesting events from car shows to antique shows, conferences and open houses 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.

To view the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,
click here and choose your own criteria and dates.
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Click here to search all Ann Arbor area Michigan homes
and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!

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Ann Arbor, Michigan is known for many things, including its budding art scene. In fact, the American Style Magazine has named the city of Ann Arbor the 9th best art destination town in the country for 2009 in the mid size category.

This is such exciting news! American Style magazine is one of the leading bi-monthly art and craft magazines in the country and this latest readership poll which put to vote the top art cities in the country shows that Ann Arbor has a great art scene. This vote is held every year with many cities fighting to get on the list.

Here is the list in full:

MID-SIZE CITIES
1. Buffalo, N.Y.
2. Chattanooga, Tenn.
3. Pittsburgh, Pa.
4. Scottsdale, Ariz.
5. New Orleans, La.
6. Charleston, S.C.
7. Savannah, Ga.
8. Cleveland, Ohio
9. Ann Arbor, Mich.
10. Minneapolis, Minn.
11. Alexandria, Va.
12. Miami, Fla.
13. Tacoma, Wash.
14. St. Louis, Mo.
15. Athens, Ga.
16. Kansas City, Mo.
17. Colorado Springs,Colo.
18. Providence, R.I.
19. Salt Lake City, Utah
20. Honolulu, Hawaii
21. Rochester, N.Y.
22. St. Petersburg, Fla.
23. Cincinnati, Ohio
24. Raleigh, N.C.
25. Tampa, Fla.

If you are thinking, where is a good place to see art when I am in Ann Arbor? Well, the University of Michigan’s museum of art is a great start! Or perhaps the Ann Arbor Art Center? This award comes after Ann Arbor was ranked in 2008 as one of the best places to raise children in the country!

Ann Arbor really is a special place, if you are considering relocating to the area then please, click here to search Ann Arbor Real Estate using our complimentary Ann Arbor Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Kathy Toth and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Ann Arbor Real Estate needs.

www.KathyToth.com
Keller Williams Realty

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The summer season is upon us! “Fun” is the name of the game and Ann Arbor has loads of opportunities for you to experience local activities both indoors and out! Start your summer off with a comedy show or live music event. Enjoy a casual barbecue with friends and loved ones. Organize a group and head to the art center for a day of games, refreshments and laughter. Taste test the day away at a food festival. Take your youngsters to a superhero event where dreaming becomes a reality. Grab your favorite book and head to a reading expo where you can discover new authors and genres or bask in the literature you adore. There are plenty of opportunities for everyone! Take a look at the list below and discover the arts and entertainment Ann Arbor has to offer this month! Oh, and don’t forget to let me know how you enjoy your experiences!
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6/4/2009 – 6/6/2009
JOHN HEFFRON “SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT”
John grew up in nearby South Lyon and started his comedy career as a student at Eastern Michigan University, skipping night classes to perform stand-up comedy. He got his first gig as an emcee right here at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase.  Since then, his comedy has evolved in a unique and creative fashion as he has grown from a fun-loving college student to a bewildered newlywed.

Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
314 E. Liberty
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 996-9080

Hours: Thursday 8:00PM, Friday 8:00PM, 10:30PM, Saturday 8:00PM, 10:30PM
Cost: $18-$23
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6/5/2009
FINVARRA’S WREN
Celebrate the coming of summer with the Irish, Scottish, English, and Celtic-American folk music of Finvarra’s Wren! This Detroit-based ensemble is multigenerational–”kids are always a full part of the sound,” says guitarist and vocalist Jim Perkins, whom Matt Watroba has called “simply one of the finest and most versatile musicians in the state.”

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $15
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6/7/2009
CANDYE KANE
Candye Kane delights audiences with brash, beautiful, blues songs like “200 Lbs. of Fun” and “Hey Mister (She Was My Baby Last Night).” Her life story is as inspiring as her music.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 7:30PM
Cost: $15
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6/9/2009
HAYES CARLL
Texan songwriter Hayes Carll was hit it big last year with “She Left Me for Jesus,” a funny, churlish tune that won the Americana Music Association’s Song of the Year award and that Don Imus called the greatest country song ever written.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 763-TKTS

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $15
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6/12/2009
BBQ WITH THE BOYS
Join the Michigan Football team on Friday June 12 from 3 - 6 pm as they raise money to support the new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital by participating in the 2009 WTKA Radio-a-thon and BBQ with the Boys! The BBQ will end the 4th annual radio-a-thon on WTKA, which begins on Thursday June 11.  Celebrate the radio-a-thon, join the team for a BBQ, enjoy autographs and pictures with players and coaches, games on the practice field, and tour Schembechler Hall. Tickets are very limited so purchase your tickets before they run out!

Schembechler Hall
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 615-5379

Hours: 3:00PM-6:00PM
Cost: $250 entrance for 4 people
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6/12/2009
WHAT’S ALL THE HOOPLA ABOUT?
What is all the Hoopla about will include games, contests, art-making activities, wheel-throwing demos, live music by the Harris Basement Jazz Collective, dancing, refreshments and more!

Ann Arbor Art Center
117 W. Liberty
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 994-8004 x 101

Hours: 6:30PM - 10:00PM
Cost: FREE!
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6/13/2009-6/19/2009
ANN ARBOR RESTAURANT WEEK
Modeled after many highly successful restaurant weeks throughout the country, Ann Arbor’s Main Street Area Association presents its Inaugural Restaurant Week June 14–19, 2009.

Restaurant Week offers food lovers the opportunity to try many fabulous restaurants in downtown Ann Arbor at a fixed price: participating restaurants will offer two- to three-course dinners for $25. Lunch will be an open format with each restaurant creating a special set of menu offerings for $12. Watch for two for one specials at lunch.

Twenty of downtown Ann Arbor’s finest and funkiest restaurants are scheduled to participate. For a complete list of participating establishments, visit www.mainstreetannarbor.org. Restaurant Week menus will be available online at www.mainstreetannarbor.org by the end of April.

Ann Arbor Restaurant Week is a chance for food lovers to experience everything from great pub food to elegant dining at affordable prices. The Main Street Area Association advises patrons to plan ahead, make reservations early and enjoy what will surely be a spectacular week in downtown Ann Arbor.

Downtown Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 668-7112

Cost: $12-$15
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6/14/2009
SUPERHERO NIGHT
Relive your favorite childhood or adult memories by joining us for an evening of fun and fantasy filled with Superheros and Villains. From Batman to Superman, Wonder Woman to the Green Goblin, Ingalls Mall will be temporarily transformed into a special place somewhere between Metropolis, Gotham City, and Apokolips.

Ingalls Mall
915 E. Washington
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions

Hours: 5:00PM - 11:30PM
Cost: FREE!
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6/16/2009
ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY SUMMER READING KICKOFF FEATURING GEMINI
The Ann Arbor District Library kicks off its summer reading program at the Ark, and local musicians are on hand to help out. Each year the library staff identifies books for all ages to share, and they organize a musical party to get things rolling. This year’s kickoff brings the much-loved children’s music of Gemini, the much-loved duo of Hungarian-born twin brothers Laszlo and Sandor Slomovits.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 7:00PM
Cost: FREE!
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6/18/2009
ANN ARBOR SUMMER FESTIVAL: NEAL MEDLYN - THE NEAL MEDLYN EXPERIENCE LIVE
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival presents: The Neal Medlyn Experience Live!,  a faithful re-creation of Beyonce’s 2007 hit concert DVD, The Beyonce Experience Live!, featuring sexy back-up dancers, Destiny’s Child impersonators, birthday cake, and a box fan to blow Neal’s hair.  Known as the Paris Hilton of performance art, Medlyn is his own kind of bootylicious diva who struts and seduces the crowd with his wonky ways, working his newfound fans (and all the single ladies) into a ridiculous frenzy.

UMMA
525 South State Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $15
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6/19/2009
ANN ARBOR SUMMER FESTIVAL: LOS LOBOS
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival presents: Los Angeles legends Los Lobos, a triple Grammy-winning group whose expert combination of rock ‘n’ roll, Tex-Mex, country, R&B, folk, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music has won them longstanding acclaim and adulation. Recognized as one of the world’s foremost contemporary roots-rock bands, the group has continued to redefine and expand its unique sound.

Power Center
121 Fletcher Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 764-2538

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $30-$45
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6/20/2009-6/21/2009
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE
The 24 hour event is filled with healthy and fun activities for the whole family. It’s a great opportunity for a camping trip with the kids without leaving the city! At night, the field is lit with luminaria – the lights of hope – to honor the memory of those lost to cancer and to encourage those who are fighting.

Concordia
Geddes Road
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 930-3980

Hours: 10:00AM
Cost: Donation
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6/24/2009
ANN ARBOR SUMMER FESTIVAL: TANGO CONNECTION
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival presents: Tango Connection. Sensual and sophisticated, Tango Connection is the new 13-member ensemble founded by world-renowned dancer Mariela Franganillo. Her newest show, which was a sold-out hit at last year’s New York Tango Festival, smolders with emotion as it celebrates tango from its early roots to classic and modern interpretations.  Franganillo, who performed in Broadway’s Forever Tango, brings inspiration and innovation to this romantic and evocative art form with her company of leading Argentine musicians and dancers.

Power Center
121 Fletcher Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 764-2538

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $30-$45
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6/25/2009
AMY SPEACE
Amy Speace lives with two tickhounds, June and Maybelle, in Jersey City, New Jersey, across from the Statue of Liberty. Her tough, complex lyrics, combined with absolutely infectious country-flavored tunes, have made her a New York City phenomenon and gained her a grass-roots fan base around the country.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $15
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6/26/2009
THE GLENGARRY BHOYS AT THE ARK
The Glengarry Bhoys are a Celtic group with a difference! They come from a unique and fascinating part of the world: Ontario’s far eastern end, where Scots highland and French Canadian cultures have blended for nearly two centuries.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 8:00PM
Cost: $17.50
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6/27/2009
ANN ARBOR SUMMER FESTIVAL: WHO’S LIVE ANYWAY?
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival presents: Whose Live is it Anyway? Direct from the hit TV show, Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Chip Esten, and Jeff Davis work off-the-cuff to create a night of hilarious improvisational comedy with some of your favorite Whose Line Is It Anyway? games , skits, and songs.  Audience participation is the key to the show, so bring your suggestions and you might be asked to join the cast onstage.  Get your tickets soon for a night of unforgettable fun and interactive comedy.

Power Center
121 Fletcher Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 764-2538

Hours: 5:00PM & 8:00PM
Cost: $40-$55
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6/28/2009
ANN ARBOR SUMMER FESTIVAL: CIRCO COMEDIA
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival presents: Circo Comedia, a mix of unpredictable thrills, sidesplitting comedy, and daredevil stunts that are the signature style of this dynamic circus duo from Montreal.  Jean Saucier and Patrick Côté team up to present a blend of dizzying acrobatic feats and crazy clown antics for the whole family.  For the past decade, Circo Comedia has presented its own distinct humor at international children’s festivals, fairs, and cabarets across the globe.

Power Center
121 Fletcher Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 764-2538

Hours: 4:00PM
Cost: $10-$25
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6/28/2009
LAZY LESTER WITH STUDEBAKER JOHN & THE HAWKS
His colorful sobriquet (supplied by south Louisiana producer J.D. Miller) to the contrary, Louisiana blues harmonica player and guitarist Lazy Lester swears he never was all that lethargic–and the relentless pace of his 1960s Excello Records swamp blues classics “I’m a Lover Not a Fighter” and “I Hear You Knockin’” tends to back him up.

The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Map/Driving Directions
Phone: (734) 761-1451

Hours: 7:30PM
Cost: $15
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Above was a sampling of the activities occurring in our community during the month of March.  More than 95 events are planned in the Ann Arbor area this month.  There are many interesting events from cooking and wine classes to galas, conferences and open houses 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.

To view the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,
click here and choose your own criteria and dates.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Click here to search all Ann Arbor area Michigan homes
and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!

Listen to this post

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.

See website for a list of specific times and events related to the book festival

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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.

_{The Ark
316 S. Main Street
(734) 761-1451
Map/Driving Directions}

Cost: This is a free event.
Begins at: 8:00pm
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

To view the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,
click here and choose your own criteria and dates.

^{Click Here to search all Ann Arbor area Michigan homes
and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!}

^{Kathy Toth and Team
www.KathyToth.com
Keller Williams Realty}

 

Listen to this post

March…In like a Lion - Out like a Lamb… Will spring be sprung by the end of this month?  If you  can’t wait to get out and are feeling a little cooped up by the long winter, here are a few suggestions to get you and your family out of the house.  Go to a cooking class, learn about “natural wine making”, attend the annual Ann Arbor film festival, go to a barn dance, anything just get out and experience all that our wonderful community has to offer.  Below, find highlights for a few of the events that I found interesting for the month of March. Try something new and exciting, then let me know how it was!

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3/5/2009
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOURS
For over 20 years, Leadership Ann Arbor has annually organized a nine month, in-depth leadership study of the Ann Arbor area. One of the most popular elements of this program has been the introductory bus tour which overviews Ann Arbor’s rich economic, historical and cultural environments.

Ends At Zingermans Deli Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (800) 300-5151

Hours: 11:00am-1:00pm
Cost: $60/guest

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3/6/2009
EGGSPERIMENTING WITH EGGS
Do you love creme brulee, angel food cake or creme anglaise but you’re afraid to try them at home? In this class we’ll cover the basics of using eggs in your baking and teach you how to make them work their magic. Join us for a tasty experiment!

Zingerman’s Bakehouse 3711 Plaza Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)761-7255

Hours: 1:00-5:00PM
Cost: $100

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3/6/2009
LECTURE: THE BODIES OF ANGELS
What would it feel like to an angel? To soar weightlessly, to merge oneself freely with other spirits, even with the divine? This is one of the great fantasies of humankind. The multi-voiced polyphony of the Renaissance produces this effect, though ideological clashes in the later 16th century sought to bring music back down to earth.

Rackham Assembly Hall 915 E Washinton Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Hours: 5:00pm
Cost: FREE

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3/8/2009
BIRTHDAY CAKE DECORATING WORKSHOP
In celebration of its 100th birthday, the Ann Arbor Art Center will be holding a cardboard cake decorating workshop.

Ann Arbor Art Center 117 W. Liberty Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)994-8004

Hours: 12:00pm-3:00pm
Cost: FREE

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3/12/2009
GUERRILLA GIRLS ON TOUR
Guerilla Girls On Tour will bring to the EMU campus Feminists Are Funny, a live performance that addresses the lack of opportunities for women and people of color and explores the combination of performance and visual art.

Sponberg Theatre, Quirk Hall E. Circle Drive Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)487-0465

Hours: 7:00pm
Cost: FREE

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3/12/2009 (Ann Arbor Art Center)
ORGANIC, BIODYNAMIC, SULFITES, HISTAMINES? WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
What is “natural winemaking” and how does it affect taste? If you’re looking to learn more about organic and biodynamic wines because of health and/or environmental reasons, this class is for you.

Ann Arbor Art Center 117 W. Liberty Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)994-8004

Hours: 6:30- 8:30pm
Cost: $23-$25 plus $15 lab fee

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3/14/2009
PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS OF AFRICAN DESCENT’S 23RD ANNUAL MINORITY HEALTH CONFERENCE
Public Health Students of African Descent (PHSAD) is a student organization committed to creating and fostering a sense of community and collective responsibility primarily among students of African descent in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan. As part of the agenda, we aim to bring in public health organizations engaged in a range of activities, but especially focused on community work, in conjunction with this year’s theme. Registration details on website.

School of Public Health 109 Observatory St Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Map/Driving Directions

For more information, click here

Hours: 9:00am-6:00pm
Cost: $10-$30

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3/19/2009
LEGACY OF TRUST GALA
The Washtenaw Land Trust will be holding the “Legacy of Trust Gala, with the event speaker being Rand Wentsworth, President of the Land Trust Alliance. The event will also mark the official unveiling of the Land Trust’s new name and logo.

Cobblestone Farm Museum 2781 Parckard Road Ann Arbor, MI 4819 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)302-5263

Hours: 6:00pm
Cost: $100

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3/21/2009
BARN DANCE FUNDRAISER
A great opportunity to experience America’s rich dance heritage in the reconstructed barn at Cobblestone Farm.

Cobblestone Farm Museum 2781 Parckard Road Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)994-2928

Hours: 8-11:30pm
Cost: $7 donation at the door

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3/22/2009
THE PLANETS
Bring your light sabre and droids! This is the music of outer space by way of Hollywood. First, relive the granddaddy of all space films, Star Wars. A2SO will also play the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey and selections from Holst’s The Planets, which was used in The Right Stuff. UM has themed 2009 “The Universe: Yours to Discover”. Watch amazing photos from UM’s Cassini-Huygens Project and Astronomy Department!

Michigan Theater 603 E. Liberty St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734) 994-4801 Fax: (734) 994-3949 For more information, click here E-mail: A2SO@a2so.com

Hours: 4-5:30 pm
Cost: Children $5, Adults $12

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3/23/2009
UM SCHOOL OF INFORMATION NETWORKING FAIR
Start your day at the Networking Fair with your own table space to present to master’s students from all of SI’s specializations.Gather resumes and meet students who want to learn about you! After networking fair, stay for the exposition, our annual showcase of student talent.

Michigan League 911 N. University Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)615-8294

Hours: 10:00am-2:00pm
Cost: FREE

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3/28/2009
ANNUAL ANN ARBOR ROWING CLUB OPEN HOUSE
Have you ever imagined yourself rowing in harmony with seven other people, oars slicing through the water, nature all around you? The Ann Arbor Rowing Club offers a full spectrum of rowing programs and classes for people of all ages. There’s a perfect level for you.

Bandermer Park 1325 Lakeshore Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)930-6462

Hours: 12:00pm-3:00pm
Cost: FREE

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3/28/2009
SPRING CRAFT SHOW
Over 135 Craft booths concessions, bake sale and raffle.

Saline Middle School 7190 North Maple Road Saline, MI 48176 Map/Driving Directions

For more information, click here

Hours: 8am-3:30pm
Cost: $2

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3/7/2009 - 3/8/2009
22CD ANNUAL STORY TELLING FESTIVAL
Each year The Ark brings audiences along on a jounrey to the land of the mind’s eye with our Storytelling Festival, featuring tailspinners from far and wide.

The Ark 316 South Main St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)761-1451 For more information, click here

Hours: Sat. 7:30 pm - Sun. 1:00pm
Cost: Sat. $20 - Sun. $10

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3/28/2009 - 3/29/2009
GRAND 24 HOUR COMMUNITY REOPENING
It’s time to celebrate! After years of planning, fundraising, construction, and installation, it’s time to unveil the gloriously expanded and restored UMMA.

University of Michigan Museum of Art 525 South State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)764-0395

Hours: 6:00pm Saturday - 6:00pm Sunday
Cost: FREE

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3/24/2009 - 3/29/2009
47TH ANNUAL ANN ARBOR FILM FESTIVAL
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is the original North American independent film festival. Founded in 1963, the AAFF was independent before “independent film,” serving as a critical forum for filmmakers to show their creative work outside of the studio film industry. Today the festival continues its strongly independent spirit as a premier showcase for bold, visionary, experimental and high-caliber films.

Michigan Theater 603 East Liberty Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

For more information, click here

Hours: TBA
Cost: TBA

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Above was a sampling of the activities occurring in our community during the month of March.  More than 95 events are planned in the Ann Arbor area this month.  There are many interesting events from cooking and wine classes to galas, conferences and open houses 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.

To view the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,
click here and choose your own criteria and dates.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Click here to search all Ann Arbor area Michigan homes
and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!

Listen to this post

It is hard to believe that January is already behind us and although there will be six more weeks of winter, we can all feel change in the air. Ann Arbor is an amazing place to be, there is so much diversity in the culture, restaurants, arts and entertainment.  Do you feel as though you are “stuck in a rut”?  Doing the same things, going to the same events and eating at the same restaurants.  Are you looking for new and different experiences?  Below, find highlights for a few of the events that I found interesting for the month of February. Try something new and exciting, then let me know how it was!

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1/23/2009 - 3/28/2009
MAMBO ITALIANO - ITALIAN BREADS BAKING CLASS WITH ZINGERMANS
Did you know you can travel from Puglia to Genoa to Sicily without leaving Ann Arbor? In Mambo Italiano, we’ll take you on a bread-baking tour across Italy and you’ll return home with loads of ciabatta, focaccia, and sesame semolina and the skills to make them any time you want to satisfy the craving for an Italian holiday. This is a full day of Italian baking from the poolish to the brushing of olive oil (with a little lunch mid-day, but no napping)! While our loaves are rising we’ll sneak into the Bakehouse to see it done on a much bigger scale.

Zingerman’s Bakehouse 3711 Plaza Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)761-7255

Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm
Cost: $250

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2/5/2009 - 2/14/2009 (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays)
A2CT Studio Series–EARTH AND SKY
This exciting thriller examines the seedy urban underworld where murder leads to an indistinct demarcation between law enforcement and law infringement.

A2CT Studio Theatre 322 W. Ann St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734) 971-2228 Fax: (734) 971-2769 For more information, click here E-mail: manager@a2ct.org

Hours: Fri. & Sat. @ 8pm, Sun @ 2pm
Cost: $15 Reserved Seating; $10 General Seating

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2/5/2009
LADIES NIGHT OUT
Downtown Saline is rolling out the red carpet for ladies again! Gather up your mom, sister, daughter, best gal-pals, co-workers and cohorts and enjoy special treatment up and down the streets. Our retail stores will have trinkets, specials and drawings for goodies and our restaurants will have food and drink specials. What more could a gal want: shopping, food, drinks, and friends!

Downtown Saline Michigan Avenue Saline, MI 48176 Map/Driving Directions

Hours: 3:00pm-8:00pm
Cost: FREE

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2/6/2009
A REVOLUTION IN PLANETARY SCIENCE: THE THREE ZONED SOLAR SYSTEM
Science’s view of our planetary system was fundamentally restructured by the 1990’s discovery of the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune and the recent discoveries of numerous Pluto-sized bodies in the Kuiper Belt. S. Alan Stern, former Associate Administrator for Space Science, will be speaking.

Dow Chemistry Building 930 N. University Ave, 1800 of Dow Chemisty Building Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Hours: 7:30pm
Cost: FREE

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2/12/2009 (The Ark)
MY FOLKY VALENTINE
What better time than Valentine’s Day to explore how married couples make music together? “My Folky Valentine” is an annual celebration of romance!

The Ark 316 South Main St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)761-1451 For more information, click here

Hours: 8:00pm
Cost: $15

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2/14/2009 (Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce)
A CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA IN DOWNTOWN CHELSEA
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and there’s no better way to express your love than CHOCOLATE. Bring a loved one to downtown Chelsea on Saturday, February 14th for the ultimate chocolate experience. Participating stores will be marked with red hearts and will offer free chocolate tasting, sales on chocolate-themed merchandise, door prizes, and various activities from noon - 5 pm.

Downtown Chelsea, MI Downtown Chelsea Chelsea, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: 734-475-3539 For more information, click here

Hours: 12PM-5PM
Cost: Free

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2/14/2009
GRAND TRADITIONS VALENTINE’S BALL
The Romantic Event of the Season! Enjoy dancing to popular music from 1900 to the 1920’s. All levels of dancers are welcome. The pre-ball workshops will get you ready to enjoy the evening.

Pittsfield Grange Hall 3337 Ann-Arbor Saline Road Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)769-0041

Hours: 8:00-11:00pm
Cost: $25/person

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2/14/2009
VALENTINE’S DAY STAR PARTY
Come as a pair or come on your own to a special Star Party with the University Lowbrow Astronomers. They will bring telescopes and set up for guided viewing of the night sky. Advance reservations required.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens 1800 N. Dixboro Rd Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)647-7600

Hours: 7:00-8:30pm
Cost: $5

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2/15/2009 (Huron Valley Railroad Historical Society)
39TH ANNUAL TRAIN SHOW AND SALE
The Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club is having their annual train show. The show will include over 400 tables, operating layouts, and much more.

The Saline Middle School 7190 N. Maple Rd Saline, MI 48176 Map/Driving Directions

Hours: 10am-4pm
Cost: $6

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2/19/2009
WHO YOU CALLING A CREAMPUFF?
Ever wonder how to make those tender hollow little cream puff shells? Well join us to find out! Learn the history and basic techniques of creating sweet and savory pastries from pate a choux (pot-a-shoo) dough. You will make your own dough and create éclairs, cream puffs, and savory creations to take home. We’ll also make pastry cream, whipped cream, and chocolate ganache in class to fill your puffs.

Zingerman’s Bakehouse 3711 Plaza Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)761-7255

Hours: 5:30pm-9:30pm
Cost: $100

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2/20/2009
ARTINI MARTINI CRAWL 2009
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the Ann Arbor Art Center has invited the city’s most creative restaurants to develop commemorative martinis.

Ann Arbor Art Center 117 W. Liberty Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

For more information, click here

Hours: 6:00pm
Cost: $35 early bird, $40 after February 6

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2/24/2009
ROYAL CELEBRATION AND CASINO BALL BENEFIT
The Quarter Bistro and Tavern will host its First Annual Royal Celebration to benefit Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary. The Quarter will transform into Ann Arbor’s own French Quarter with live blues music, festive masks, beads and a speak easy casino.

Quarter Bistro and Tavern 300 S. Maple Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Phone: (734)929-9200

Hours: 4:00pm-Midnight
Cost: TBA

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1/31/2009 - 7/5/2009
TRAVELING EXHIBITION FROM NASA
This multi-media, interactive travling exhibition from NASA explores the extraordinary discoveries made by the Hubble Space Telescope, which will be 19 years old in April 2009.

Exhibit Museum of Natural History 1109 Geddes Ave Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map/Driving Directions

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9:00am-5:00pm, Sun 12:00pm-5:00pm
Cost: FREE

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Above was a sampling of the activities occurring in our community during the month of February.  More than 100 events are planned in the Ann Arbor area this month.  There are many interesting events from science exhibits for adults and children alike, to cooking classes and musical theatre.   Please be sure to check out one of the many Valentine’s Day events being held next week and show your sweetie a good time.

To view the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,
click here and choose your own criteria and dates.

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Nothing beats University of Michigan court side action in Ann Arbor.  Every time the ball was thrown my direction I was glad the players stepped in and caught the ball, because they throw hard and fast.  Some pictures uploaded are from my Storm  phone and more will follow, but until they get uploaded, here is the video rehash.  I wish you could have been in my seat.  What fun to see them score 76 - 59. Some great 3 pointers were scored.

Michigan Beats Florida Gulf Coast in video recap here.

It was great to take a break from the Ann Arbor Real Estate Market for some good old-fashioned fun with the 6 of us in the family.  The kids are home from college so it is nice to spend some time with them – doing things with them.  OK, back to getting ready for the New Year.

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The Purple Rose Theatre was alive last night with a Jeff Daniels tradition.  He plays his original songs on guitar. This year he invited his daughter, son Ben, and wife Kathleen on stage to participate.  Since many of the songs are written from real life events, their participation was very special.  Jeff said he wept openly when Ben Daniels declared he wanted to be a musician.  Ben’s song “Fake Your Smile,” performed as a duo with his dad Jeff, was quite good.

My favorite replay this year was “The RV Song.” A couple new ones to me were ”Happy Birthday to Kathleen” and “Tiny Shoes.”  Again, the personalization is hard to imagine but understanding the song’s birth is part of what makes the experience so special.  Apparently, the kids had friends over to change clothes for a prom and friend Billy Hayes’ shoes ended up in Jeff’s closet and then his suitcase.  So for a black tie awards affair on the red carpet in Spain, out came Billy’s size 9.5 shoes to be worn in concert with the tux they brought for the special occasion.  Jeff wears a size 12 shoe so he stuffed his poor feet into the tiny shoes and walked on stage to receive the award.

The proceeds from 11 Holiday performances are donated back to the Purple Rose. CD’s are available in the lobby at $20 non-autographed and $30.00 with autographs.  For tickets, call (734) 433-ROSE.

 

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I have been to the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum with countless field trips, it is one of my favorite places to visit. Thanks to the awesome adventures such as those found at the museum and our great schools, Ann Arbor was ranked one of the best places to raise children in 2008. The museum’s mission is to “inspire people to discover the wonder of science, math and technology.” and “to be the leader in imaginative and interactive learning experiences”.

This Ann Arbor museum was founded in 1978 by a group of talented and dedicated volunteers. Today over 100 volunteers still give their energy and support to keep the museum going. Visitors have access to more than 250 exhibits all meant to bring physics, math, geology and music to life. A few of the regular exhibits include:

• How Things Work - generate tornadoes or pump water with an Archimedes Screw
• Preschool Gallery - a place for kids under 4 to explore water and play in a mini fire engine.
• All About You - See a full-size interactive Huron Valley Ambulance
• Michigan Nature Room - See a representation of Michigan in Fall
• Lights and Optics - Strum a stringless harp
• Recollections - YOU become the exhibit on an interactive video screen
• MediaWorks - Kids see themselves as news anchors working at CTN Television.

This is one of the coolest things you can do in Ann Arbor! I just love to watch the bees exit the building and build their hive right in front of me.

This Christmas, The Ann Arbor Hands on Museum is giving the gift of discovery! Purchase a membership anytime before December 31st and you’ll receive a $25 gift coupon for the hands-on store with your membership!

Take a look at the local story!

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Graphic artist Jonathan Wright has been living with fairy doors in his Ann Arbor home since the mid- 1990s, when the kids in his wife’s day-care discovered one under the stairway.

When the precisely detailed 6-8 inch tall doors started showing up in downtown Ann Arbor businesses, Wright (who deftly sidesteps questions about any personal connection to the doors) decided to study this teeny, tiny real estate phenomenon. He planted journals in fairy-friendly establishments, gathered the observations and artwork of the masses and put together a book, “Who’s Behind the Fairy Doors?”

Since that first tiny door appeared under the stairs, others have shown up in the kitchen and living room of Wright’s home, in his wife’s kindergarten classroom, and at Sweetwater’s Cafe, Peaceable Kingdom, Selo/Shevel Gallery, The Ark, Red Shoes, the Ann Arbor District Library, Google, and Nicola’s Books. Other doors have appeared and disappeared from the Jefferson Market and Ann Arbor Framing.

Wright also documented the phenomenon of “fairy droppings” - which aren’t what you may think. It turns out visitors sometimes leave things for the fairies - pennies, paper clips, notes, and buttons. “One little girl told me she left some pennies for the fairies to show them that not all people are mean,” Wright said. Because fairies have no idea what to do with money, he says, they donate their loose change to local charities.

Wright now has a website devoted to the urban fairies, and they’ve gotten press in the Ann Arbor News, the Ann Arbor Observer, Metro Parent, the Toledo Blade and even the Washington Post. The site includes information about the doors, fairy door-related merchandise and a printable Fairy Door walking tour map.

In the wake of all the attention, some establishments have started selling install-it-yourself fairy doors. They come in a variety of colors, but lack the distinctive detail of the original Ann Arbor fairy doors.

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