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Events in February 2026
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February 12, 2026
“Biomedical Research & Technology: Creation, Development, and Applications”: U-M Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Thursday Morning Lecture Series
Observer Editor
Every Thurs., Jan. 29–Feb. 26. Series of 5 weekly talks.
Jan. 29: U-M biomedical engineering professor Paul Cederna on “Cyborgs: The Future is Now.”
Feb. 5: U-M neurosurgery professor Maria Castro on “Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy.”
Feb. 12: U-M bioengineering professor Joseph Potkay on “Groundbreaking Advancements in the Robert H. Bartlett Extracorporeal Life Support Laboratory.”
Feb. 19: U-M Institute for Critical Care Research director Kevin Ward on “The Commercialization of Critical Care Technology.”
Feb. 26: U-M biomedical engineering professor Brian Fowlkes on “Tiny Bubbles: Harnessing Their Power in Medicine.”
10–11:30 a.m., Washtenaw Community College Towsley Auditorium (Morris Lawrence Bldg.), 4800 E. Huron River Dr. Preregistration required at olli-umich.org. $105 (members, $70) for the 5-lecture series. $15 per lecture for members. Membership, $35 a year. (734) 998–9351.
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Museum of Natural History
“Division Street Pipes”: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
“Buhr Park Wet Meadows Project—Kids and Neighbors Making a Difference”: Ann Arbor Farm & Garden (AAF&G)
Observer Editor
Buhr Park steward Jeannine Palms discusses this long-running community stormwater & native habitat project. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. 1 p.m., Ann Arbor City Club, 1830 Washtenaw Ave. $5 (AAF&G members, free, or $22 for lunch at noon & program). Preregistration required by Feb. 5 at tinyurl.com/aafg-2-12-26.
Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club
Observer Editor
Every Tues., Thurs., & Fri. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge (Tues. & Fri.) and a 499er game (Thurs.) for players with no more than 499 ACBL master points. 1–4 p.m. or so (arrive by 12:45 p.m.), City Club, 1830 Washtenaw. $9 per person. If you plan to come without a partner, email [email protected].
“Fathers and Sons: Empire, Execution, and Partition in a Revolutionary Age, 1776–1816”: U-M Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies Lecture Series
Observer Editor
Feb. 12 & 26. Talks by visiting scholars.
Feb. 12: “Labor, Spirit, and Sovereignty: Africa’s Great War.” A talk by MSU history professor Michelle Moyd examining how Africa was affected by WWI.
Feb. 26: “Historicizing Transness Otherwise: Asia Narratives and Decolonial Thought.” A talk by University of California–Santa Barbara East Asian languages & cultures professor Howard Chiang on how to understand gender nonconforming figures in Asian history.
4–6 p.m., 1014 Tisch Hall, 435 State. Free. (734) 615–7400.
“A2 Vision: An Ann Arbor Talent Showcase!”: Jewish Community Center
Observer Editor
All invited to watch the premiere of this new performance series, inspired by the popular Eurovision Song Contest, featuring singers, dancers, musicians, actors, and more from the Ann Arbor community. 5:30–8 p.m., JCC, 2935 Birch Hollow. Free, register to attend or sign up to perform at jlive.app/events/14124. [email protected].
“The Alchemy of Puppetry”: U-M Stamps School of Art & Design Penny Stamps Speaker Series
“Where the Hood At? Fifty Years of Change in Black Neighborhoods”: U-M Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning
Observer Editor
U-M urban planning professor Michael Lens discusses how over the 50 years since the Fair Housing Act, substantial gaps in virtually all quality-of-life indicators remain between Black Americans and other racial and ethnic groups. 5:30–7 p.m., Alfred Taubman Wing Commons, 2000 Bonisteel. Also via livestream at tinyurl.com/2-12-26-taubman-hood. Free. (734) 764–1300.
Lena Tuffaha: U-M English Department Zell Visiting Writers Series
Observer Editor
Reading by this Palestinian American poet, translator, and essayist, whose work often focuses on Palestinians and the Palestinian diaspora. Her most recent book of poetry, 2024’s Something About Living, won the National Book Award for poetry. The website Literary Hub called it “as playful as it is piercing,” and “full of impossible cohesions, offering [a] straight-on singularity of body and mind to birds, grammars, and architectures.” Q&A. Also, tomorrow Tuffaha gives a free craft lecture (10–11 a.m., Michigan Union, Anderson Rm.). 5:30–6:30 p.m., UMMA Stern Auditorium, 525 S. State. Free. [email protected].
“Bowerbirds: Optimization, the Evolution of Aesthetics, and Art”: U-M Institute for Data & AI in Society
Observer Editor
U-M art, information, and digital studies professor Sophia Brueckner discusses how the curatorial behavior of Australian bowerbirds, the “artists of the animal world,” has long fascinated evolutionary biologists, recently inspiring a “bowerbot” robot, which uses AI software trained on photographs of bowerbirds’ elaborate creations. 6–7:30 p.m., 1040 Dana Bldg., 440 Church. Free, but preregistration required at midas.umich.edu/news-events/events. [email protected].
“History of Soul Food and Taste Test”: Ann Arbor District Library
“Repairsday Thursday”: All Hands Active
Observer Editor
Every Thurs. All invited to drop in with broken electronics, furniture, toys, or any other item they’d like to try to repair or repurpose with the help and guidance of AHA members. Repairs not guaranteed. 6–8 p.m., AHA, basement of 255 E. Liberty, ste. 225. Livestream available at meetup.com/allhandsactive/events. Free; donations welcome. [email protected].
Bad Decisions Track Club
Observer Editor
Every Thurs. Runners of all abilities invited to join this eclectic group of runners ranging from people training for their first 5K to ultramarathoners. Sessions are typically interval-based track workouts, followed by socializing at a nearby brewery. 6 p.m. Ferry Field, State at Hoover. May meet elsewhere if the weather is bad. Free. See walline.wixsite.com/bdtc to sign up for email updates on each week’s workout.
Group Runs: Ann Arbor Running Company (AARC)
Observer Editor
Every Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Sat. (different AARC locations). Runners of all abilities invited to join a 5K mapped route (Mon. & Thurs.), an interval-based training run (Tues.), or either a beginner or advanced group run (Sat.). 6 p.m. (Mon.), Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsi; 6 p.m. (Tues.) & 7 a.m. (Sat.), AARC Downtown, 209 S. Ashley; and 6 p.m. (Thurs.), AARC Colonnade, 901 W. Eisenhower. Free. annarborrunningcompany.com.
“Valentine’s Wine and Chocolate Tasting”: Zingerman’s Delicatessen
“Nerd Nite”: Ann Arbor District Library
Observer Editor
Adults age 21 & up invited to this popular monthly event featuring three speakers TBA (at annarbor.nerdnite.com) who give fun yet informative 20-minute talks about things that interest them, anything from the lives of viruses to the story of how Margaret Wise Brown helped free kids books from the dungeon of fairy tales. 7–9 p.m., Live, 102 S. First St. Free. (734) 327–4200.
“Singing for Comfort”: Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth
Ann Arbor Trout Unlimited
Observer Editor
Club member Bob Long gives an introduction to tenkara, a traditional Japanese form of fly fishing that uses a very long, lightweight rod without a reel. This fisheries conservation organization’s monthly meeting is preceded at 5:30 p.m. by a social hour. 7 p.m., Jolly Pumpkin, 2319 Bishop Cir. E., Dexter. Free; food and drink available for purchase. annarbortu.org.
Detroit Irish Music Association Seisiún
Observer Editor
Every Thurs. All invited to join members of this local chapter of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for an informal evening playing traditional Irish music on various instruments. Lessons offered. 7–9 p.m., Grace Church, main bldg., 3150 Glazier Way. Free. [email protected], detroitirishmusic.org.
Line Dance with Jay: Chelsea Party Loft
Community Listing
Dust off your boots and get ready to move! Whether you're a seasoned pro or you’ve never heard of a "Grapevine," this is the night for you. We’re turning Chelsea Party Loft into a high-energy dance hall for two hours of non-stop country favorites. Join us for a night of stomping, sliding, and smiling at the Chelsea Party Loft! Alcohol-free & Family-friendly (12+ with parent). All levels welcome! Jay will guide you through every step.
1115 S. Main St. ,Chelsea. https://chelseapartyloft.com/special-events $10. [email protected] www.chelseapartyloft.com 734-562-2022.Thursday Night Improv: Hear.Say Brewing + Theater
Observer Editor
Feb. 5 & 12. Two specially structured improv events. Spectators welcome.
Feb. 5: Draft Line. Improv students are selected to perform a set with one of the house teams.
Feb. 12: Duoplicity. Experienced improvisers are invited to be randomly paired up to perform a 6-minute scene.
7–8 p.m., HSBT, 2350 W. Liberty. $7.50 in advance at heardotsay.com/events and (if available) at the door. [email protected].
Amber Preston: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
Observer Editor
Feb. 12–14. North Dakota–born, Los Angeles–based comic with a brassy, high-energy, playfully obscene act, covering topics from body image to serial killers. Opening act TBA. 7:15 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 9:45 p.m. (Sat.), AACS, 212 S. Fourth Ave. $22 (Thurs., $17) at aacomedy.com and (if available) at the door. (734) 996–9080.
“Doubt: A Parable”: P.T.D. Productions
Observer Editor
Feb. 12–15 & 18–21. Local actors perform John Patrick Shanley’s award-winning 2006 drama, later adapted into a film, about a Mother Superior who must decide whether to trust her instincts when she suspects the school priest of having sexual relations with a student or to believe his claims of innocence. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun. & Wed.), Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi. Tickets $20 (students, seniors, & active military, $15) in advance at ptdproductions.com and at the door. (734) 483–7345.
“The Classic King”: Purple Rose Theatre Company
Observer Editor
Every Wed.–Sun., Jan. 29–Mar. 8. Purple Rose founder Jeff Daniels directs the world premiere of Michigan playwright Richard Johnson’s poignant comedy about three veteran used car salesmen at a Metro Detroit dealership, struggling to cope with a changing industry and customers who are digital natives. When a sharp Gen Z salesman joins the team, he proposes a daring scheme to save the dealership—and its “dinosaur” salesmen—from extinction. Adult language and subject matter. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), & 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.). Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $30–$60 in advance at purplerosetheatre.org & by phone, and (if available) at the door. Discounts available. (734) 433–7673.
Fauré’s Piano Quartets: University Musical Society
Observer Editor
Renowned Canadian violinist James Ehnes is joined by pianist Inon Barnatan, violist Jonathan Vinocour, and cellist Raphael Bell for an all-Fauré program. Among his best-known works, Gabriel Fauré’s two beloved piano quartets are masterpieces of French Romantic chamber music. No. 1, despite its minor key, is full of warmth and optimism, while No. 2 anticipates the later Impressionism of Debussy and Ravel with dreamy, vivid tonal colors, sudden harmonic shifts, and formal elegance. 7:30 p.m., Rackham Auditorium. Tickets $36–$58 (students, $15–$20) in advance at tickets.ums.org, the Michigan League, by phone, and (if available) at the door. (734) 764–2538.
“The Notebook”: Michigan Theater
Observer Editor
Film screenings every day. Tickets $10.50 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 and older, & U.S. veterans, $8.50; Marquee Arts members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. For updated schedule, see marquee-arts.org/calendar.
Feb. 12: “The Notebook” (Nick Cassavetes, 2004). Romantic drama about a couple who fall in love in the 1940s, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel. Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams. 8 p.m.