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Events in September 2023
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September 21, 2023
2023 Changemakers Fall Fundraiser: The Ecology Center
An in-person outdoor celebration — We gather to honor and celebrate environmental leaders and connect through community and conversation on environmental justice.
Don't wait, get your tickets now! Tickets are $75 per person, and include (1) meal ticket and (1) drink ticket.
“Fall Migration in Nichols Arboretum”: Washtenaw Audubon Society
Beginning Line Dance: Pittsfield Township Senior Center
“Learning and Teaching by Gardening”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission
Every Thurs. All invited to join WCPARC horticulturalist Mary Robinson to learn gardening skills by doing some gardening in the park. Bring a water bottle. Snacks, water, and gloves provided. 9:30–11:30 a.m., County Farm Park, 2230 Platt Rd. Free. Preregistration required at parksonline.ewashtenaw.org (activity #VOL852400) or email bertrandm@washtenaw.org.
“Earthfest”: U-M School for the Environment and Sustainability
“The Rise of China as a Global Superpower”: U-M Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Thursday Morning Lecture Series
Every Thurs., Sept. 14–Oct. 19. Series of 6 weekly talks. Sept. 14: MIT Chinese history professor Tristan G. Brown on “The Influence of China’s Historical Evolution on U.S.-China Relations.” Sept. 21: National Defense University (Washington, DC) research fellow Joel Wuthnow on “China's Military Transformation Under Xi Jinping.” Sept. 28: University of Pennsylvania economics professor Hanming Fang on “Chinese Economy: Where Is It Headed?” Oct. 5: U-M law professor Nicholas Howson on “The Chinese Political Legal System from 3,000 Years Ago to Yesterday.” Oct. 12: University of California-San Diego political science professor Susan Shirk on “Overreach: How China Derailed Its Peaceful Rise.” Oct. 19: U-M political science professor Mary Gallagher on “U.S.-China Relations: Now What?” 10–11:30 a.m., WCC Morris Lawrence Bldg. Towsley Auditorium, 4800 E. Huron River Dr. Free. Preregistration required at olli-umich.org. $85 (members, $60) for the 6-lecture series. $12 per lecture for members. Membership, $25 a year. (734) 998–9351.
Country Fair: Wiard’s Orchards
Every Sat. & Sun., Sept. 9–Oct. 29 and Wed.–Fri., Sept. 20–Oct. 27. A carnival atmosphere with a variety of family-oriented fall activities on this family farm. Wagon rides, a petting farm, a corn maze, and more. An apple cannon, paintball, apple or pumpkin picking, and other activities available Sat. & Sun. for an extra charge. Cider and donuts available. No pets. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.) and 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (Wed.–Fri.), Wiard’s Orchards, 5565 Merritt Rd. (east of Carpenter), Ypsilanti. Weekend admission: $23.50 (babies under 2, free). Weekday admission: $17.50 (babies, free) online only at wiards.com. (734) 482–7744.
Mah-jongg: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program
Multilevel Line Dance: Pittsfield Township Senior Center
“Little Paws Story Time”: HSHV
Every Thurs. (10:30–11:30 a.m.): Stories, crafts, finger plays, and interaction with adoptable cats and dogs. Also, a chance to make a toy or treat for the animals. For kids ages 2–5, accompanied by an adult. HSHV. $5 (babies under age 1, free). humaneed@hshv.org. Preregistration required at tickettailor.com/events/hshv, humaneed@hshv.org, (734) 661–3575.
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Museum of Natural History
Preschool Storytimes: AADL
U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater
Daily (except Sept. 4). Three different audiovisual planetarium shows suitable for all ages. We Are Stars (11:30 a.m.) explores the secrets of our cosmic chemistry and our explosive origins, connecting life on Earth to the evolution of the universe. The Sky Tonight (12:30 & 2:30 p.m.) is an exploration of the current night sky, with tips on how to find the cardinal directions, constellations, and planets on your own. Tales of the Maya Skies (1:30 p.m.) immerses viewers in the wonders of Mayan science, examining how Mayan scholars developed a sophisticated understanding of astronomy, architecture, and mathematics that enabled them to predict solstices, solar eclipses, weather patterns, and planetary movements. Various times, U-M MNH, 1105 North University. $8 at the door. Limited capacity. lsa.umich.edu/ummnh, (734) 764–0478.
Gifts of Art Concert Series: U-M Hospitals
Sept. 7 & 21. Performances by area musicians. Sept. 7: Jazz standards by the Nathan Flanders Duo, which is pianist Flanders and bassist Johnathan Hammonds. Sept. 28: Sing-alongs, folk songs from around the world, and upbeat originals about life’s simple pleasures by Gemily, the veteran local acoustic duo Gemini with twin brothers Sandor and Laszlo Slomovits and Sandor’s violinist daughter Emily. Noon–1 p.m., U-M Hospital Main Lobby, first fl., 1500 E. Medical Center Dr. Free. (734) 936–ARTS.
Just Between Friends Sale
Sept. 20–24. Show and sale of used maternity items, baby and children’s clothes, toys, and baby gear. Prices drop Sat. at 6 p.m. Doors shut 30 minutes (1 hour on Thurs.) before closing. 4–9 p.m. (Wed., preregistration required), noon–9 p.m. (Thurs.), 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Fri.), 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. & 4–8 p.m. (Sat.), & 9 a.m.–noon (Sun.), Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor–Saline Rd. Free, but a $5–$25 “priority pass” allows you early bird access. To preregister see tinyurl.com/4fp3ufkx.
Sanctioned Bridge: Ann Arbor Senior Center
“Women in Athletics. We Aren’t Done Yet!”: Daughters of the American Revolution
"Wise Guys: Conversations For Men": U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program
Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club
Every Fri., Tues., & Thurs. All invited to play a 499er game (Thurs.) for players with no more than 499 ACBL master points or ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge (Fri. & Tues.). 1–4 p.m. or so (arrive by 12:45 p.m.), City Club, 1830 Washtenaw Ave. $6 per person. If you plan to come without a partner, email kahanae@yahoo.net or ronmeade@comcast.net beforehand.
Fall Open House: International Neighbors
Area women invited to join women from more than 80 countries to learn about and sign up for various activities throughout the year, including beginning and advanced English conversation, foreign language discussion groups, tea groups, and special interest groups such as hiking, quilting, and cooking. International Neighbors is a 65-year-old group of local women who welcome women from other countries during their stays in Ann Arbor. Light refreshments. Kids welcome. 1–2:30 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 1501 W. Liberty. Free. info@international-neighbors.org.
Ikebana International
All invited to learn about and practice this Japanese style of flower arranging. Floral materials provided, bring your own container and tools. 1–2:30 p.m., U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. $20. Space limited; preregistration required at a2ikebana@gmail.com. Metered parking. More info at ikebanaannarbor.org.
Landscapes in Watercolor: Pittsfield Township Senior Center
After School Art Classes: Doodles Academy
Calling all young artists! Join Doodles Academy on an extraordinary art adventure. Throughout this series of lessons, let your imagination soar as you explore storytelling through art. Learn exciting marker techniques and use vibrant colors to not only bring your favorite toy to life but also illustrate the amazing places it can go! Come enjoy a variety of fun and creative activities that'll spark your imagination and bring out your artistic flair.
8-week class. $249.
$249
emerson@doodles-academy.org
https://doodles-academy.org/ann-arbor-mi/
“Grist Mill Tour”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission
“We Are Each Other”: U-M Stamps School of Art & Design Penny Stamps Speaker Series
Artist and educator Sonya Clark discusses her community-centered, participatory artworks currently on display in the Cranbrook Art Museum. Focusing on textiles and hair in a celebration of Black culture and history, the works on display include the Hair Craft Project, a collaboration with a dozen hairstylists, and Finding Freedom, a 1,500-square-foot canopy created by imprisoned people. 5:30 p.m., Michigan Theater. Free. (734) 936–0671.
Barley, BBQ & Beats: Arbor Hospice Fundraiser
Hand-crafted cocktails from local distilleries, BBQ from local eateries, and giant lawn games. Also, dancing to live music by George Bedard and the Kingpins, the durably popular local rockabilly, blues, rock ’n’ roll, and honky-tonk band fronted by guitar genius Bedard, and by Lady Sunshine and the X Band, the popular local gospel-flavored blues band led by Lady Sunshine, a fiery, rich-voiced singer whose style blends elements of Aretha Franklin, Koko Taylor, and Denise LaSalle. 5:30-9:30 p.m., The Valley, 7650 Scio Church Rd. $50 in advance at arborhospice.org/bbb or $75 at the door includes 3 servings of BBQ and 3 cocktails. arborhospice.org/bbb, (888) 992-2273.
Liz Moore: U-M English Department Zell Visiting Writers Series
This Philadelphia-based novelist reads from and discusses her work. Her 2020 bestseller Long Bright River, a thriller about 2 sisters in a Philadelphia neighborhood ravaged by opioid addiction, was praised by one New York Times reviewer for its “careful balance of the hard-bitten with the heartfelt.” Followed by a Q&A. Also, tomorrow Moore gives a free talk on “Setting as Character: Building an Immersive World in Fiction” (10–11 a.m., 3222 Angell Hall). 5:30–6:30 p.m., UMMA Stern Auditorium, 525 S. State. Livestream available for both programs at tinyurl.com/zellwriters. Free. asbates@umich.edu.
“A Night for the Books”: Children’s Literacy Network Fundraiser
Live music by Plymouth pop-folk singer-songwriter & pianist Kylee Phillips. Local children’s book writers and illustrators sign books. Hors d’oeuvres, & a wine pull. Age 21 & over only. 6–8 p.m., Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard. Tickets $80 ($150 pair; teacher or librarian $40) in advance only at childrensliteracynetwork.org/events.
“Changemakers’ Fall Fundraiser”: Ecology Center
Food trucks, local craft beer, and live music by the veteran Chelsea-based wife-and-husband folk-rock duo Annie and Rod Capps to raise funds for the Ecology Center. Also, Detroit-based environmental justice activist Donele Wilkins discusses how to create sustainable communities from the ground up. 6 p.m., Homes Campus, 112 Jackson Plaza. $75 in advance only at bit.ly/2023ecocenterfundraiser. (734) 369–9268.
“Clean Up of the Fox River and Green Bay: Lessons For Michigan”: Washtenaw League of Women Voters
“Repairsday Thursday”: All Hands Active
Every Thurs. All invited to drop in with broken electronics, furniture, toys, and any other item for AHA members to try to repair and offer advice. Repairs not guaranteed. 6–8 p.m., All Hands Active, basement of 255 E. Liberty, ste. 225. Livestream available at meetup.com/allhandsactive/events. Free; donations welcome. info@allhandsactive.org.
“The Architecture of the ‘Blue Dream’ House”: U-M Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Panel discussion about the complex design process behind an extraordinary recent example of avant-garde modern organic architecture in East Hampton (NY). With architects Charles Renfro and Holly Deichmann from the project’s design firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) and architecture critic Paul Goldberger, author of a brand-new book about the house. 6–7:30 p.m., Walgreen Drama Center, Stamps Auditorium, 1226 Murfin, North Campus. Free.
Ann Arbor Group Runs: Fleet Feet
Every Sat., Mon., & Thurs. Runners of all abilities invited to join a run of 3–5 miles along varying routes from different Fleet Feet locations. Rain or shine. 8 a.m. (Sat.), 6 p.m. (Thurs.), 5700 Jackson Rd., & 6 p.m. (Mon.), 123 E. Liberty. Free. (734) 929–9022 (Sat. & Thurs.), (734) 769–5016 (Mon.).
Dirt Rides: Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society
Group Runs: Ann Arbor Running Company
Every Sat., Mon., Tues., & Thurs. (different AARC locations). Runners of all abilities invited to join an advanced or beginner group run (Sat.), a 5K mapped route (Mon. & Thurs.), or an interval-based training run (Tues.). 7 a.m. (Sat.) & 6 p.m. (Tues.), AARC Downtown, 209 S. Ashley; 6 p.m. (Mon.), Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti; and 6 p.m. (Thurs.), AARC Colonnade, 901 W. Eisenhower. Free. annarborrunningcompany.com.
Bob Sweet Quartet: Blue LLama Jazz Club
Bob Sweet grew up in Detroit and immersed himself in the city’s jazz, blues, rock, and soul scene. Bob is also the author of two books chronicling CMS’s legendary history.
314 S. Main St. ,Ann Arbor. https://bluellamaclub.com/event/bob-sweet-quartet/ $15 cover, $35 cocktail table, $85 dinner and a show. hello@bluellamaclub.com https://bluellamaclub.com/event/bob-sweet-quartet/ 7343723200.Infertilities, A Curation Book Launch: Wayne State University Press & The ART of Infertility
Join Wayne State University Press in celebrating the launch of Infertilities, A Curation edited by Elizabeth Horn, Maria Novotny, and Robin Silbergleid.
The ART of Infertility will have numerous pieces of artwork, as showcased in Infertilities, on display. Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event, courtesy of Booksweet. A book signing will also take place during the event.
"This daring collection harnesses the power of the arts to dismantle isolation and stigma, letting the light shine through to reveal hidden layers of the infertility experience. With its diverse voices and vignettes, Infertilities, A Curation deepens our understanding of infertility’s profound and complex reverberations."
—Laura Seftel, LMHC, ATR-BC, art therapist, author of Grief Unseen: Healing Pregnancy Loss through the Arts, and founder of The Secret Club Project: Artists on Pregnancy Loss
1946 Packard St ,Ann Arbor. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/infertilities-a-curation-book-launch-tickets-699161068577?aff=oddtdtcreator Free. kelsey.giffin@wayne.edu“Shaky Shivers”: Fathom Events
(734) 973–8424 (Ann Arbor 20), (734) 316–5500 (Emagine). Tickets $12.50 (except as noted) in advance at fathomevents.com/events and at the door. Ann Arbor 20 (4100 Carpenter) & Emagine (1335 E. Michigan Ave., Saline), various times.
Sept. 21: “Shaky Shivers” (Sung Kang, 2022). Comedy sendup of 80s horror about 2 young women at an abandoned camp in the woods who find themselves with a book of magical spells and surrounded by classic monsters. 7 p.m. Ann Arbor 20 only.
In Concert: Foundry Town Survivors/Necto
They’ve traveled around the world, but they’ve never forgotten where they came from. Former Townies and members of the late 70’s group Vantage Point!, Mark Tomorsky and Tommy Johnsmiller burst out of the Ann Arbor music scene with performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival and The Olympics. As Foundry Town Survivors, they return to their roots with a rare Michigan concert appearance this year at the Necto on September 21.
Necto, 516 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI necto.com ,Ann Arbor. fts@foundrytownsurvivors.com https://foundrytownsurvivors.com 734.635.4357.Mir veln zey iberlebn (We will outlive them): Klezmer Resistance: Residential College
Ann Arbor-based Klezmer band Klezmephonic plays and sings the story of the revival of Eastern European Jewish musicians. Violinist Henrik Karapetyan, clarinettist Eric Schweizer, vocalist Jennifer Goltz, bassist Dave Sharp, and percussionist Mike List perform and narrate Klezmer classics, nostalgic Yiddish ballads, and the kind of high energy dance tunes one audience member called “bright orange music.” 7-9 p.m., Keene Theater, 701 E. University Ave. Tickets TBA.
Weekly Trivia: Bløm Meadworks
Free live trivia every Thursday with Sporcle Live! Two one-hour-long games, every Thursday (7pm & 8pm) with a $15 gift card for first place and a $10 gift card for second place. No limit to group size - come by yourself or with a team! Great tunes, awesome host + lots of seasonal meads, ciders and beers.
Bløm, 100 S. Fourth Ave. ,Ann Arbor. Free admission. 734-548-9729.“Ghost in the Shell”: State Theatre
Film screenings every Tues. & Thurs.–Sun. Tickets $10.50 (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 & older, & U.S. veterans, $8.50; MTF members, $8; matinee $7.50) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. For updated schedule, see michtheater.org.
Sept. 15 & 21: “Ghost in the Shell” (Mamoru Oshii, 1995). Cult Japanese adult animated cyberpunk sci-fi thriller that follows a cyborg public-security agent who hunts a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. Japanese, subtitles. 9:30 p.m. (Fri.) & 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.).
“Little Shop of Horrors’”: The Encore Musical Theatre Company
Every Thurs.–Sun., Sept. 7–24. Dan Cooney and Anna Dreslinski co-direct this local professional theater company in Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s 1982 musical, a wryly humorous, oddly tender hearted black comedy, adapted from the 1960 Roger Corman B-movie, about a carnivorous plant that grows to ferocious proportions. Adopted by a nerdy store clerk who fondly names it “Audrey” after the object of his unrequited affections, it initially seems to bring him good fortune—but as the plant thrives, it grows increasingly bloodthirsty, driving its owner to murder. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), Encore, 3126 Broad St., Dexter. Tickets $41.50-$57.50 (youth 12 and under $31.50) in advance at theencoretheatre.org and at the door. (734) 268–6200.
“Mlima’s Tale”: Theatre Nova
Every Thurs.–Sun., Sept. 1–24. Lynch Travis directs the Michigan premiere of Pulitzer-winning playwright Lynn Nottage’s 2018 tale of plunder and commerce in which the ghost of a murdered elephant haunts all who profit from its death. It’s a world in which we’re all unsettlingly connected and unconditional virtue is nonexistent. The New York Times reviewer called it a “visually inventive” and “transfixing” work that “never feels sensational, on the one hand, or pious, on the other.” 8 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Theatre Nova, 410 W. Huron St. Mask required on opening night and for all Thurs. and Sun. performances. Tickets $22 in advance at theatre-nova.ticketleap.com and (if available) at the door. (734) 635–8450.
