“Nature Lab”: U-M Museum of Natural History

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Every Tues.–Sun. All age 6 & up invited into the museum’s labs to use scientific tools and museum specimens. The newest program lets participants try out simulated snake senses to experience the world as if they were a snake. No live snakes. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org.

Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops

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Every Sat., Fri., & Wed. All invited to play one of 200 songs, with melodies transcribed in numbers, on the 17-bell chime’s numbered keys. Ambitious players can add chords. Kids welcome. 10:30–11 a.m. (Sat.) & noon–12:30 p.m. (Wed. & Fri.). Free. [email protected].

“Emma’s Wedding(s)”: Purple Rose Theatre Company

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Every Wed.–Sun., June 25–Aug. 30. (See review) Kate Thomsen directs longtime Purple Rose resident playwright Carey Crim’s comedy-drama about a group of old friends gathered to celebrate their friend Emma’s fourth wedding. Together, they revisit their memories of each of her previous three weddings to “the one.” Adult language and subject matter. 3 p.m. (Wed., Thurs., & Sat.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.). 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $31.50–$52.50 in advance at purplerosetheatre.org, (734) 433–7673, & (if available) at the door. Discounts available.

Board Game Night: Argus Farm Stop

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Aug. 12 & 26. All invited to participate in a relaxed evening of board games. If you want, bring a game to share. 4–7 p.m., 1200 Packard. Free; food & drink for sale. (734) 997–5448, argusfarmstop.com.

Magic: The Gathering (MTG): Sylvan Factory

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Every Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play both casual and tournament forms of the collectible card game MTG.

Wed. & Sat. (5 p.m.): “Commander.” A drop-in session of the most popular form of the game. Free.

Wed. (6 p.m.): “Pauper.” A fun and fast format for all skill levels, three rounds. $5.

Wed. (6:30 p.m.): “Standard.” Three rounds, with competitive tournament rules, prizes of store credit. $10.

Fri. (6:30 p.m.): “Friday Night Draft.” Cost and format vary.

Various times, 2459 W. Stadium. (734) 929–5877, sylvanfactory.com.

Game Night: Sylvan Factory

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Every Tues. All invited to play one of a selection of board games, assemble a puzzle, paint miniatures, or try a tabletop role-playing game, all in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Also, at 6 p.m., RPG One Shots, introductory games of different tabletop role-playing games perfect for beginners, finished after one session (see website for this week’s game, preregistration strongly encouraged at sylvanfactory.square.site). 5 p.m., 2459 W. Stadium. Free. (734) 929–5877, sylvanfactory.com.

“West Side Nite Ride”: Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society

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Every Wed. Slow/moderate-paced ride, 10 to 30 miles, along the B2B Trail to Hudson Mills Metropark and/or Dexter-Huron Metropark with a possible visit to the Dexter Dairy Queen. This ride is a favorite with newcomers and casual riders. See aabts.org for weather cancelations or delays. 5 p.m. sharp, meet at Forest Lawn Cemetery parking lot, corner of Broad & Grand, Dexter. Free. (734) 426–5116.

“Summer Bird Pastels”: Ann Arbor District Library

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Adults & teens invited to use vibrantly colored powdered pastel pigments to make portraits of the waterfowl that visit the pond outside the AADL Pittsfield branch. 5–7 p.m., AADL Pittsfield. Free. (734) 327–4200.  

Board Game Night: Bløm Mead + Cider

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Every Wed. All invited to play popular board games. Use provided games or bring your own. 5–10 p.m., 100 S. Fourth Ave. Free, but purchase of food & drink encouraged. (734) 548–9729, drinkblom.com/events.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour

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Get an insider’s view of the incredible historical materials at the Bentley.

There is free parking at the Bentley Historical Library on the south side of the building. The parking lot across from the library is also open to visitors after 5:00 p.m.

Location: Bentley Historical Library, 1150 Beal Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Free

Jordan Smith-Hays

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North Star Lounge 301 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

A mix of mostly instrumental funk, rock, jazz, R&B, and blues covers by this local guitarist. 5:30–6:30 p.m. Free.

“Community Table”: The Washtenaw Food Hub

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Every Wed. Food- and agriculture-related discussions and demos.

Aug. 5: Botanical Bath Bombs.” $5.

Aug. 12: Stitch & Sip.” Bring a textile project to work on. Free.

Aug. 19: Sourdough Basics.” Free.

Aug. 26: Brew’d: Apple & Pear Bug.” Make a wild-fermented brew starter, with samples & recipes. $7.

6–7 p.m., 4175 Whitmore Lake Rd. Cost varies. Preregistration required for all events at tinyurl.com/a2-foodhub. thewashtenawfoodhub.com.

Drop-in Knitting: Spun

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Every Sun.–Thurs. (different times). All invited to work on their knitting, crochet, weaving, and embroidery projects. 1–3 p.m. (Sun.) & 6–8 p.m. (Mon.–Thurs.), 401 N. Fourth Ave. Free. (734) 780–7867. 

“A2 Crokinole Club”: Lowertown Bar & Cafe

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Every Wed. All invited to play this century-old Canadian disc game played on a circular hardwood board. Players flick discs across concentric scoring rings. All skill levels welcome; boards provided. On the patio, weather permitting. 6–8 p.m., 1031 Broadway. Free. lowertowna2.com/events. 

Group Runs: A2 Runners

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Every Mon. & Wed. Runners of all abilities invited to join a beginner or advanced 3- to 5-mile group run, followed by socializing at a downtown coffee shop. 6:30 p.m., meet at the Kerrytown Clock Tower. Preregistration requested at meetup.com/a2runners. Free. [email protected].

Free
Observer Editor

“An Evening of Poetry with Scott Beal and Jennifer Sperry Steinorth”: Schuler Books

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(See Ann Arborite: Scott Beal) These two local poets read from and discuss their new collections. Beal’s Stegosaurus Moon explores heartbreak, divorce, parenthood, and the discovery of new, often unexpected, ways forward. Steinorth’s Boys Behind Glass is a cheeky look at contemporary masculinity through the lens of matchmaking, pop culture, and female gaze. Signing. 6:30 p.m., Westgate Shopping Center. Free; preregistration requested at schulerbooks.com/events-ann-arbor. (734) 662–0600.

Ann Arbor Group Runs: Fleet Feet

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Every Sun., Tues., & Wed. Runners of all abilities invited to join a run of 3–5 miles along varying routes from different locations. Rain or shine. Dozer Coffee (8 a.m. Sun. & 7 a.m. Tues.), 112 Jackson Plz., (734) 929–9022 & Fleet Feet (7 p.m. Wed.), 123 E. Liberty, (734) 769–5016. Free. fleetfeetsemichigan.com.

Free
Observer Editor

“Grammar Night”: The Ark/Michigan Public

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Linguist Anne Curzan, dean of the U-M College of Literature, Science & the Arts, is joined by Rebecca Hector, her cohost for the weekly Michigan Public segment That’s What They Say, to discuss  English grammar & usage, new slang, and language peeves. 7 p.m., the Ark, 316 S. Main. Free; preregistration required at michiganpublic.org/events. (734) 761–1451.

“The Boy and the Heron”: Michigan Theater

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Film screenings every day. Tickets $11.75 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 & older, and U.S. veterans, $9.75; Marquee Arts members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. For updated schedule, see marquee-arts.org/calendar. 

Aug. 12: “The Boy and the Heron” (Hayao Miyazaki, 2023). Japanese anime, set in 1943, in which a young boy mourning the loss of his mother is pestered by a gray heron, who leads him to a mysterious world where the dead and the living meet. Japanese, subtitles. 7 p.m.

Bluegrass Jam Circle: Ann Arbor Senior Center

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Aug. 12 & 26. All musicians invited to bring acoustic instruments to play bluegrass-style music. Vocalists welcome. Inclement weather cancels. Please call by 3 p.m. on the day of the jam with any questions. 7–9 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), 1320 Baldwin. $5. (734) 794–6250, a2blugrass.com.

Dog Latin

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Ypsi Alehouse 124 Pearl, #100, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti

The Stage name of Chris McGorey, a Canton singer-songwriter who plays adventurous folk-rock.

G-Fours

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North Star Lounge 301 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

Eclectic local string quartet that plays everything from Beethoven to the Beatles. 7–9:30 p.m. $10.

Ann Arbor Bridge Club

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Every Wed., except Aug. 26. All invited to play friendly, competitive ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge. Arrive 20 minutes early if coming without a partner. Call before coming to check that the game is being held. 7–10:30 p.m., Walden Hills clubhouse, 2114 Pauline (park in marked spaces in the lot on the north side of Pauline). $6 per person. (734) 945–6021.

Jauron Perry Quartet

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Blue LLama 314 S. Main, Ann Arbor

Jazz ensemble led by up-and-coming Detroit trumpeter Perry.

Observer Editor

“Wednesday Night Swing”: Swing Ann Arbor

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Every Wed. Lindy Hop, East Coast swing, Charleston, and Balboa dancing to recorded music. No partner needed. Wear comfortable low-grip shoes. Preceded at 6:30 p.m. by a free beginner lesson. 7:30–9:30 p.m., Michigan League Vandenberg Rm. (Aug. 5 & 12), Michigan Union Anderson ABCD Rm. (Aug. 19), and outside location TBA at swingannarbor.com (Aug. 26). $5 (free for members and lesson attendees) at the door. 

“Sound Invaders.”

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Ziggy’s 206 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti

Showcase of ambient and electronic music. Hosted by the local synthwave ambient artist Omo.

“Night Hike”: Scio Township Parks Department

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All invited on this naturalist-guided night hike to spot and identify nocturnal animals, from owls and flying squirrels to weasels and invertebrates. Age 16 & under must have adult accompaniment. Dress for the weather. Bring flashlights and mosquito nets, if you have them. 9–10 p.m., West Scio Preserve, 317 Dino. Free, preregistration required (space limited) at bit.ly/4aqGUxe. [email protected].

Final Boss Fight

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Blind Pig 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor

East Lansing rock quartet. Openers: the Warren alt-rock band LoudFoxCult, the Detroit-area indie rock band Hemmingway Lane, and the Oklahoma emo pop-punk duo Sunfo. $14.