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Events in December 2022
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December 25, 2022
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December 7, 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.
“Pickleball”: Purple Rose Theatre Company.
Every Wed.–Sun., Sept. 30–Dec. 23. Rhiannon Ragland directs the world premiere of actor-playwright (and Purple Rose founder) Jeff Daniels’ comedy about America’s fastest growing sport. Four below-average players try to overcome their own limitations to achieve greatness in a game that has nothing to do with pickles. Cast: Ryan Carlson, Kate Thomsen, Lynch Travis, Jonathan West, and Caitlin Cavannaugh. 3 p.m. (Wed., Thurs., & Sat.), 8 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.). Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $34–$52 in advance at PurpleRoseTheatre.org and by phone, and (if available) at the door. Discounts available for students, seniors, teachers, military personnel, and groups. 433–7673.
“Playgroups for Babies”: AADL.
“The Dark Crystal”: 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. 4 & 7. (Jim Henson & Frank Oz, 1982). Groundbreaking animatronic fantasy about an elf-like creature who embarks on a journey to repair millennium-old damage done to his world. Ann Arbor 20 only. 3 & 7 p.m.
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.
“Preschool ArtStart”: AADL.
“Tiny Tails Storytime”: HSHV.
“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.
“Lessons in Using Evidence in the Fight Against Poverty”: Ann Arbor City Club Lunch and Learn.
Talk by U-M social work professor H. Luke Shaefer, coauthor of $2 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America. 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Ann Arbor City Club, 1830 Washtenaw. $31 (members, $26); includes lunch, preregistration required by noon on Dec. 2. AnnArborCityClub.org, info@annarborcityclub.org, 662–3279, ext. 1.
“From Bad to Worse: U.S.-Russian Relations Against Backdrop of Ukraine Crisis”: U-M Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Noon Lecture.
“Sensing Borderlands: The DMZ, Camptowns, and the Theater of Repetition”: U-M Nam Center for Korean Studies.
Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops.
Tai Chi: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Walking Group: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Chess: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Afternoon Carillon Concert: U-M Music School.
“Language As a War Veteran”: U-M Center for Armenian Studies Interactive Artist Presentation.
Armenian poet, novelist, visual artist, and translator Karén Karslyan performs his long poem exploring the relationship between war and language. He also discusses his recent collection of poems written in the wake of the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, and leads the audience in an interactive creative writing exercise. 4–7 p.m., 555 Weiser Hall, 500 Church. For livestream preregister at myumi.ch/84bqq. Free. 764–1825.
“Full Moon Hike: Cold Moon”: Pittsfield Township Parks & Recreation.
All invited to take a hike in the full moon with a township naturalist at the Lillie Park trail loop to listen for the sounds of owls, foxes, and other animals. A roaring fire and hot cocoa follow. Note: park restrooms are closed until spring. 5–6:30 p.m., Lillie Park South Pavilion 3, 4365 Platt Rd. $15 (Pittsfield residents, $10). Preregistration required at recreation.pittsfield-mi.gov or 822–2120.
Guided Walks: Matthaei Botanical Gardens.
Dec. 4, 7, & 11. All ages invited (children must be accompanied by an adult) to join walks exploring the natural wonder of the grounds as the seasons change. Each walk has a different theme: “Winter Wonders: Noticing Winter’s Stark Beauty” (Dec. 4), “Long Winter Nights” (Dec. 7), & “Winter Wonders: Winter Solstice” (Dec. 11). Closed-toed shoes required. Arrival 15 minutes before start time recommended; canceled in the event of severe weather. 1–2 p.m. (Dec. 4 & 11) & 5:30–6 p.m. (Dec. 7), Matthaei front steps, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Free; metered parking. 647–7600.
Holiday Lights Run: A2 Runners
Join us for an evening run through the Holiday Lights of Ann Arbor.
Kerrytown Market & Shops 407 N 5th Ave · Ann Arbor, MI ,Ann Arbor. Free. meetup.com/a2runners/events/“Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon”: 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. 5-7. (Ben Smallbone, 2022). Documentary about the late country singer’s return to the Christian faith of his upbringing following years of addiction. 7 p.m.
Ann Arbor Bridge Club.
Every Wed., except Dec. 28. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge. Bring a partner if you can, or call in advance or arrive 20 minutes early if you can’t. 7–10:30 p.m., Walden Hills clubhouse, 2114 Pauline east of Maple. (Park in the designated spaces in the lot on the north side of Pauline.) $6 per person. 945–6021.
Hot Club Wednesday: Djangophonique & Erik McIntyre: North Star Lounge
Djangophonique is a virtuosic, instrumentally driven quartet led by guitar player Andrew Brown. A true disciple of the style, Brown has spent countless hours immersing himself in the language of Django Reinhardt’s jazz manouche, and he’s joined on stage by bandmates that match his skill and passion for the material.
Erik McIntyre is a guitarist and bandleader based in Flint, Michigan. He is known for bringing varieties of musicians together with a specialty in music inspired by jazz & blues from the 1920s-30s, emphasizing improvisation and musical interaction. $10 Cover
301 N. Fifth Ave ,Ann Arbor. northstarloungea2@gmail.comKerrytown Crafters.
Latin Jazz Wednesday: Urban Tropical: Blue LLama Jazz Club
Currently doing a monthly residency at the prestigious Blue LLama Club in Ann Arbor, URBAN TROPICAL plays classic salsa, son montuno, mambo, and cha cha cha, reflecting the group’s deep roots in Latino American music. Individually and collectively, group members have played major festivals, concerts, dances, and night clubs nationally and internationally.
314 S. Main St ,Ann Arbor. Pre-Pay Cover at opentable.com $15. hello@bluellamaclub.com bluellamaclub.com 734-372-3200.Meditation & Discussion: Ann Arbor Karma Thegsum Chöling.
Ruth & Max Bloomquist and the Lucky Nows: On the Tracks Singer-Songwriter Showcase.
Double bill. The Bloomquists are a veteran Muskegon husband-and-wife acoustic Americana singer-songwriter duo, and the Lucky Nows are another wife-and-husband duo, veteran Detroit singer-songwriter Jen Cass and singer-guitarist Eric Janetsky. They play a bluesy Americana brand of roots-rock. 7–9 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), Chelsea Depot, 125 Jackson Rd., Chelsea. $20 at the door. Info: onthetrackschelsea.com, or call Annie Capps at 330–5226.
Work-In-Progress Wednesday: All Hands Active.
“Beer Caroling: Holiday Sing-Along”: Ann Arbor Civic Theatre.
Rousing sing-along of Christmas carols and other holiday music. PDF songbooks provided. Food and drink available for purchase. Doors open at 7 p.m. 7:30–9 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.), Wolverine State Brewing Company, 2019 W. Stadium Blvd. $10 suggested donation accepted in advance at a2ct.org & at the door.
“Cold War Warrior: How Lockheed’s Constellation and Her Crews Prevented World War III”: Yankee Air Museum Historic Presentation Night.
Visitors Night: Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club.
“Wednesday Night Swing”: Ann Arbor Swing Dance Association.
Dec. 7 & 14. Lindy hop, East Coast swing, Charleston, and Balboa dancing to music spun by DJs. No partner needed. Wear comfortable low grip shoes. Preceded at 7 p.m. by a free beginner lesson. 8–10 p.m., Michigan League Vandenberg Room (2nd Floor). Mask, full vaccination and boosters required. $5 (free for SAA members). Swingannarbor.com.
University Symphony Orchestra: U-M Music School.
Kenneth Kiesler conducts this music student ensemble in contemporary African American composer Adolphus Hailstork’s “Fanfare on ‘Amazing Grace,’” Australian composer Nigel Westlake’s oboe concerto Spirit of the Wild, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. The program is preceded by a pre-concert discussion, 7:15–7:45 p.m. in the lower lobby. 8 p.m., Hill Auditorium. Free. 615–3204.
