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Events in January 2023
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January 20, 2023
“The Plastic Bag Store”: University Musical Society/U-M Museum of Art/U-M Graham Sustainability Institute.
Jan. 17 and every Wed.–Sun., Jan. 18–Feb. 5. Film and theater director Robin Frohardt’s public art installation and immersive film screening uses humor and a critical lens to question our culture of consumption and convenience, with a focus on the effects of single-use plastic addiction. Shelves are stocked with thousands of original sculptures of everyday goods—produce and meat, dry goods and toiletries—all made from discarded single-use plastics. Several times a day, the “store” is transformed into a film screen that uses puppetry, shadowplay, and handmade sets to tell a darkly comedic story of how what we value least may become our most lasting cultural legacy. The Plastic Bag Store premiered in Times Square in 2020 and has toured across the U.S. 8 p.m. (Tues.), 6 & 8 p.m. (Wed.–Fri.); 2, 4, 6, & 8 p.m. (Sat.); & 2, 5, & 7 p.m. (Sun.), location TBA at tickets.ums.org. Mask required if Washtenaw County is in the CDC’s high-risk category. Tickets $30 (students $12) in advance at tickets.ums.org, at the Michigan League box office, & by phone, and (if available) at the door. 764–2538.
Preschool Storytimes: AADL.
Rise and Shine Exercise: Pittsfield Township Senior Center.
Crafting Social Hour: Pittsfield Township Senior Center.
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Natural History Museum.
Coffee & Conversation: Pittsfield Township Community Center.
Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops.
Tai Chi: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club.
Every Tues., Thurs., & Fri. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge (Tues. & Fri.) or a 499er game for players with no more than 499 ACBL master points (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.
“How Scale Broke the World”: U-M Anthropology Department Roy A. Rappaport Lecture.
U-M anthropology professor Michael Lempert discusses the challenges faced by social scientists studying small-scale social interactions like face-to-face conversations. First in a series of 5 monthly lectures on the history of scale in the social sciences. 3–5 p.m., Rackham Assembly Hall, 915 W. Washington. Free. 764-7274.
"Masterclass in Activism with Angela Harrelson": Hosted by the Center for Racial Justice and co-sponsored by U-M's Democracy & Debate.
The Center for Racial Justice proudly welcomes Angela Harrelson to the Ford School and the University of Michigan as our Winter 2023 Masterclass in Activism speaker. Angela Harrelson is the aunt of George Floyd, as well as the author of Lift Your Voice. Joined in conversation by Dr. Celeste Watkins-Hayes, the Interim Dean of Ford School and Founding Director of the Center for Racial Justice, Ms. Harrelson will share her journey into racial justice activism and the work that she is currently doing in this space. This Masterclass in Activism event is hosted by the Center for Racial Justice and co-sponsored by U-M's Democracy & Debate.
Rackham Auditorium, 915 E Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 ,Ann Arbor. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZHyJ-Her64GDXlc1gs5NvJSJtTlAlKxolplC-XgSSPsTXnA/viewform Free. fspp.racialjustice@umich.edu https://racialjustice.umich.edu/ (734) 615-5345.“How to be Heard but Not Seen: On Caste Concealment in the Music Industry”: U-M Center for South Asian Studies.
“Danish Hygge Cozy Winter”: Ann Arbor District Library.
“Pets and Pajamas Movie Night”: HSHV.
“D & D Adventures”: Sylvan Factory.
Allan Harris Band (NYC): Blue LLama Jazz Club
Ever since he burst on the jazz scene in the latter part of the twentieth century, Harlem-based vocalist, guitarist, bandleader, and composer ALLAN HARRIS has reigned supreme as the most accomplished and exceptional singer of his generation. The ample evidence of Harris’ magisterial artistry can be heard through his critically acclaimed concerts around the world, from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York to the 2012 London Olympics.
314 S. Main St ,Ann Arbor. Pre-Pay Light Fare+Libations or Dinner+Show at opentable.com $35–85. hello@bluellamaclub.com bluellamaclub.com 734-372-3200.Game Night: Sweetwaters Café Downtown.
Jan. 6 & 20. All invited to play any type of tabletop game, including board games, role-playing, and card games. Bring your own game, or use one provided. 6–9 p.m., Sweetwaters back room, 123 W. Washington St. Free, but food & drink purchases required for table use. Preregistration requested at meetup.com/aagame.
“Euchre Change a Life!”
Five-game euchre tournament. Sign up with a partner, or get paired with one by the organizers. Proceeds benefit Haitian children via Haitian Christian Outreach. 6:30–9 p.m., 2|42 Community Center, 648 S. Wagner Rd. $10 donation per player with preregistration by Jan. 18 at facebook.com/EuchreChangeALife, $20 at the door. EuchreChangeALife@gmail.com.
Brittany Cavallaro & Mackenzi Lee: Literati Bookstore.
These 2 young adult writers discuss their new books. Cavallaro’s Manifest, the sequel to her bestselling 2021 novel about an imagined American monarchy, Muse, tells the story of a scheming girl determined to be the spark of revolution. The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks is the 3rd and final installment of Lee’s popular Montague Siblings series about a young 19th-century English nobleman who finds siblings he never knew he had in the course of his high seas adventures. 6:30 p.m., Literati, 124 E. Washington. Free. 585–5567.
Magic: The Gathering: Sylvan Factory.
Every Mon.–Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play various forms of the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. 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. 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. Prizes paid in store credit. Various times. Sylvan Factory, 2459 W. Stadium. info@sylvanfactory.com, 929–5877.
“70th Annual Faculty and Guest Artist Choreography Concert”: EMU Dance Department.
Jan. 20 & 21. EMU dance majors perform a mixed repertoire of new ballet, modern, and contemporary works by EMU dance professor Sherry Wilkinson and other EMU dance faculty TBA, as well as 3 guest choreographers, Ballet Chelsea artistic director Wendi Dubois, Fun Girl (Ypsilanti) contemporary dance company artistic director Chloe Gray, and the Detroit-based dance-theater company BAIRA/MVMNT Philosophy Company. 7–9 p.m., EMU Pease Auditorium, W. Cross at College Place, Ypsilanti. Tickets $10 in advance at EMUtix.com and at the door. 487–2282.
“Other Worlds: A Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club”: Booksweet.
All invited to discuss Binti: The Complete Trilogy, Nigerian-American writer Nnedi Okorafor’s collection of 3 short novellas, the first of which won Hugo and Nebula awards for best novella. The works follow the adventures of a woman empowered by knowledge gained through her Himba ethnic roots. 7 p.m., Booksweet, 1729 Plymouth Rd. Mask policy follows CDC guidelines. Free; preregistration required at bit.ly/binti-1-20-23. 369–4345.
Friend Speed Dating: Vertex Coffee
All invited to make new friends with a speed-dating style rotation game. Conversation starter questions provided. Zero proof cocktails, coffee, gluten-free snacks. 7-8:30 p.m. or 8:30-10 p.m. Vertex Coffee, 1335 S. University. Free. Reservations required at vertex-coffee.com under "Shop."
Dwayne Kennedy: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase.
Jan. 19–21. This Chicago comic is a ubiquitous presence on cable TV known for his piercing, keen-witted takes on a wide range of social, cultural, and geopolitical matters. He has had both a Comedy Central Presents and a Showtime special. Preceded by 2 opening acts. Alcohol is served. 7:15 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 9:45 p.m. (Sat.), 212 S. Fourth Ave. $18 ($13 Thurs.) reserved seating in advance at etix.com before 6 p.m. the night of the show; $20 ($15 Thurs.) general admission at the door. 996–9080.
“Stairway to Heaven: A Tribute to Classic Rock”: The Encore Musical Theatre Company.
Jan. 19-22. Members of this local professional musical theater company, with a band led by composer-pianist R. MacKenzie Lewis, perform songs by rock bands of the 1960s and 70s, including hits by The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen, The Who, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, and more. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 3 p.m. (Sun.), Encore, 7714 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. Tickets $48 in advance at theencoretheatre.org and at the door. 268–6200.
U-M Life Sciences Orchestra.
Yeo Ryeong Ahn, assisted by Luca Antonucci, conducts this ensemble of musicians from the U-M medical and life sciences staff in a program that includes Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 (aka the “Titan” symphony) and two Mozart works, the Ballet Music from Idomeneo, and his Symphony No. 1 in E flat major. 7:30 p.m., Hill Auditorium. Covid protocols TBA at lso.med.umich.edu. Free. 936–ARTS.
“Are we not drawn onward to new erA”: Ontroerend Goed (University Musical Society).
Jan. 20 & 21. This pioneering Belgian theater company presents a conceptually daring view of environmental apocalypse. Awarded the Fringe First prize at the 2019 Edinburgh festival, it is a playful, formally striking theater piece in the shape of a palindrome, with meaning expressed both forwards and backwards, as its title suggests. It begins (and ends?) in the Garden of Eden, describing the progress of human life—and human waste. Time Out called it a “technically dazzling, emotionally devastating show.” The Jan. 20 performance is followed by a post-performance artist Q&A. 8 p.m., Power Center. Mask required if Washtenaw County is in the CDC’s high-risk category. 764–2538. Tickets $30 (students, $12–$20), in advance at tickets.ums.org, at the Michigan League, & by phone, and (if available) at the door.
“Astronomy Night Open House”: U-M Detroit Observatory.
Jan. 6 & 20. The chance to learn about the Observatory’s antique telescopes, hear presentations on astronomical phenomena, and (weather permitting) observe the night sky through telescopes. 8–10:30 p.m., U-M Detroit Observatory, 1398 E. Ann at Observatory. Preregistration required at detroitobservatory.umich.edu. Free. 764–3482.
“We the People … Let’s Get Loud!”: Out Loud Chorus.
Jan. 20 & 21. Saleel Menon directs this chorus for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their friends in a program featuring songs of activism and protest, including a choral medley from Hamilton, Gloria Estefan’s “Let’s Get Loud,” Green Day’s “21 Guns,” Dolly Parton’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” the classic “We Shall Overcome,” and many more. With accompaniment by bassist Edie Herrold, percussionist Tamara Perkuhn, and pianist Casey Baker. 8 p.m., WCC Morris Lawrence Bldg. Towsley Auditorium, 4800 E. Huron River Dr. Tickets $23 (students, seniors, & those in need, $15) in advance at olconline.org/events, $25 at the door. 265–0740.
Angell Hall Observatory Open House: U-M Student Astronomical Society.
Whoa Silent Disco at Bløm Meadworks: Bløm Meadworks
Time for another silent disco in the taproom! We’ll keep the main room open with the lights up and the convo flowing, but the front room will become a silent disco venue hosted by Whoa Silent Disco from 8-10pm! Bring your friends, get in the groove, and dance it out with a set of headphones that has options to click between three different music channels!
100 S 4th Ave Ste 110 ,Ann Arbor. https://www.drinkblom.com/events/silent-disco-jan23 $8 in advance; $10 at the door. hello@drinkblom.com https://www.drinkblom.com/events/ 7345489729.“Metropolis”: State Theatre.
State Theatre. Film screenings every Wed.–Sun. Tickets $10.50 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 & older, & U.S. veterans, $8:50; MTF members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. For updated schedule, see MichTheater.org.
Jan. 20: (Rintaro, 2001). Hallucinatory, intricate, thoughtful animated tale adapted from Osamu Tezuka’s anime about an evil duke’s scheme to use humanoids to take over a dazzling futuristic city. Japanese, subtitles. 9:30 p.m.
