Observer Editor
Community Listing
Online Event
Creative Washtenaw Event
Free Event
Donation Suggested
Hybrid Event
Events in December 2022
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 25, 2022
|
Looking for live music tonight?
Visit our Nightspots listing.
December 13, 2022
“Anansi the Spider: Re-Spun”: University Musical Society Digital Presentation.
Dec. 5–23 (all day, online). Three members of the Unicorn Theatre (London)—Afia Abusham, Sapphire Joy, and Juliet Okotie—present classic West African and Caribbean tales using story, song, and dance. A long, long time ago, the cleverest of all the animals in the kingdom was Anansi—trickster, mischief maker, and master spinner of yarns. Recommended for kids from 3 to 9. Streaming available with registration at ums.org/performance/anansi-the-spider. Free. umsyouth@umich.edu, 647–4010.
“Playgroups for Babies”: AADL.
Magic: The Gathering: Sylvan Factory.
Every Fri., Sat., & Mon.–Wed. All invited to play various forms of the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. Fri. 6:30–10 p.m.: Magic rotating draft, cost varies. Sat. noon–3 p.m.: Intro to Magic: The Gathering, free. Sat. 6–10 p.m.: Commander Pods, casual groups of 4 players, free. Mon. 6:30–10 p.m.: Power Cards, $10. Tues. 6–9 p.m.: MTG Pauper, a fun and fast format for all skill levels, $5. Wed. 5–8 p.m.: Casual Commander, the most popular form of the game, free. Prizes paid in store credit. Various times. Sylvan Factory, 2459 W. Stadium. info@sylvanfactory.com, 929–5877.
Preschool Storytimes: AADL.
Santa: Briarwood Mall.
Daily Nov. 23–Dec. 24 (Mon.–Sat. noon–8 p.m. & Sun. noon–6 p.m.). All kids invited to sit with Santa; photos available for purchase. Dec. 11 is “Pet Photo Night” (6–8 p.m.) for 4-legged, leashed, friendly pets that weigh less than 60 lbs. A session for kids with special needs is held before the mall opens on Dec. 4, 9–10:30 a.m. Note: Santa takes breaks 3–4 p.m. Briarwood Von Maur court. Appointments encouraged at simon.com/santa. 769–9610.
U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater.
Daily, except Dec. 5, 12, 19, 23–26, 31, Jan. 1. Three different audiovisual planetarium shows suitable for all ages. Sea Monsters (11:30 a.m.) follows a curious dolichorhynchops (an extinct species of marine reptile) as she travels through the most dangerous oceans in history, meeting long-necked plesiosaurs, giant turtles and fish, sharks, and the most dangerous sea monster of all, the mosasaur. 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. Mars: One Thousand One (1:30 p.m.) tells the story of what humans might face with the first manned journey to Mars. Various times, MNH, 1105 North University. $8. Limited capacity. 764–0478.
“Sunrise Nature Hike”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission.
Naturalist Elle Bogle leads a nature walk to savor the brisk morning and see how the woods and its inhabitants are preparing for winter’s long sleep. Proper winter gear and binoculars recommended. 8:30–10 a.m., Miller-Smith Preserve, 8560 Dexter-Chelsea Rd, Dexter. Free. Preregistration required by emailing boglee@washtenaw.org.
“Archaeology and Heritage along the Nile in the Heartland of Ancient Kush”: U-M Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Distinguished Lecture Series.
Talk by U-M archaeology professor Geoff Emberling. Fourth in a series of 5 monthly lectures. 10–11:30 a.m., WCC Morris Lawrence Bldg. Towsley Auditorium, 4800 E. Huron River Dr. Preregistration required at olli-umich.org. $85 (members, $60) for the 5-lecture series. $10 per lecture for members. Membership, $25 a year. 998–9351.
Online Meditation Drop-In: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Natural History Museum.
Holiday Artist Market: The Guild of Artists & Artisans.
Every Tues.–Sat., Nov. 25–Dec. 22. Juried show & sale of works in various media and styles by over 50 area artists. Featuring jewelry, functional and decorative ceramics, small and large paintings, prints, fiber art, wood carvings, and more. Also, every Fri. & Sat., artist trunk shows. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., The Gutman Gallery, 118 N. Fourth Ave. Free admission. 662–3382.
Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club.
Every Thurs., Fri., & Tues. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge (Fri. & Tues.) or a 499er game (Thurs.). 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.
“Treasures from Our History of Medicine Collections”: U-M Library Special Collections After Hours.
“Christmas Bird Count Begins”: Pittsfield Township Parks & Recreation.
All invited to an information session to learn how you can participate in the nation’s oldest crowd-sourced citizen science project (see 17 Saturday listing). 5–6:30 p.m. Pittsfield Twp. Community Center, 701 Ellsworth. $12 (Pittsfield Twp. residents, $7). Preregistration required at Recreation.Pittsfield-MI.gov or at 822–2120.
“D & D Adventures”: Sylvan Factory.
“Mouse Guard”: Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival/Ann Arbor District Library.
Ann Arbor Group Runs: Fleet Feet.
BattleTech: Classic: Sylvan Factory.
“5,000 Blankets”: Fathom Events.
Fathom Events. 973–8424 (Ann Arbor 20), 316–5500 (Emagine). Tickets $11.50–$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), different times.
Dec. 12 & 13. (Amin Matalqa, 2022). Inspirational drama, based on a true story, about a boy and his mother who, in the wake of the father’s mental breakdown and disappearance, start a movement to give blankets to the homeless. 7 p.m.
“Capture the Flag”: All Hands Active.
Every Tues. All invited to try to capture a virtual flag by solving a computer security problem (or series of problems), ranging from basic computer to some programming. Led by AHA usage members. Beginners welcome. 7 p.m., for URL preregister at meetup.com/AllHandsActive/events. Free, but donations welcome. info@AllHandsActive.org.
“Conan the Barbarian”: Fathom Events.
Fathom Events. 973–8424 (Ann Arbor 20), 316–5500 (Emagine). Tickets $11.50–$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), different times.
Dec. 12 & 13. (John Milius, 1982). Fantasy adventure about a former slave out for revenge against the savage warlord who killed his parents. Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones, Max von Sydow. 7 p.m.
“Movie Night”: Fantasy and Science Fiction/Theory Reading Group: U-M English Department.
Huron Valley Harmonizers Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Every Tues. All male and female singers invited to join the weekly rehearsals of this local barbershop harmony chorus. 7–8:45 p.m., Interfaith Center, 704 Airport Blvd. Masks encouraged, vaccination required to join. Free to visitors (annual dues for those who join). bit.ly/hvharmonizers. info@HVharmonizers.org, 796–7467.
Monthly Meeting: Ann Arbor Backyard Beekeepers.
Q & A with club president Michael Nardelli, master beekeeper Jen Haeger, and U-M German professor Andrew Mills, faculty advisor for the U-M student beekeeping club. 7 p.m., U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro. Also livestream via Zoom link at facebook.com/A2B2club. Free; metered parking.
Pub Sing: Ann Arbor Morris.
Voices in Harmony.
Every Tues. Female singers invited to join the weekly rehearsals of this local 40-member a cappella barbershop harmony chorus. 7–8:30 p.m., UAW Local 898, 8975 Textile Rd., Ypsilanti. Mask policy follows CDC guidelines; proof of vaccination required. Free to visitors ($26 monthly dues for those who join). info@voicesinharmonychorus.org, 765–3611.
“Babes in Toyland”: Comic Opera Guild.
Screening of a filmed performance by this ensemble of area singers and instrumentalists of its 2004 stage production of Victor Herbert’s 1903 fairy tale operetta with a libretto by Glen MacDonough featuring the Christmas-themed adventures of Mother Goose characters. Herbert’s well-known score includes “Put Down Six and Carry Two,” “Toyland,” and “The March of the Wooden Soldiers.” Food and drink available. 7:30 p.m., The Venue, 1919 South Industrial. $10 (ages 18 and under, $5) in advance at a2tix.com and at the door. comicoperaguild.org, 973–3264.
“Tales and Travels”: Huron Valley Sierra Club.
Club members and others invited to share photos from their most adventurous trips. 5–10 minutes per presenter. Also, awards presented to local citizens and groups for environmental advocacy. 7:30–9 p.m., U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro. Free; metered parking. Preregistration required at meetup.com/Sierra-Club-Huron-Valley. Free. 971–1157.
German Conversation.
Every Thurs., and 2nd & 4th Tues. All German speakers, native or non-native, invited for conversation with either or both of 2 long-running groups, the A2 Stammtisch (8 p.m. Thurs.) and the German Speakers Round Table (7:30 p.m. Tues. Dec. 13 & 27). Various times, Grizzly Peak Brewing Company, 120 W. Washington. Free admission. Preregistration for Thurs. A2 Stammtisch requested at heerdeolind@yahoo.com. 812–6375 (Tues.).
