Observer Editor
Community Listing
Online Event
Creative Washtenaw Event
Free Event
Donation Suggested
Hybrid Event
Events in February 2023
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Looking for live music tonight?
Visit our Nightspots listing.
February 24, 2023
“D & D Adventures”: Sylvan Factory.
“Getting Dressed”: University Musical Society Digital Presentation.
Feb. 13–24: Online presentation for kids in grades preK–2. The U.K. dance company Second Hand Dance presents a series of 5 short, lively dance films in which everyday clothing is transformed into a celebration of individuality. With animations and an 80s-inspired soundtrack. Anytime from Feb. 13 until Feb. 24. For URL, go to ums.org/performance/getting-dressed, or preregister to be reminded. Free. 764–2538.
"Cocaine Bear": State Theatre.
Opens Feb. 24: (Elizabeth Banks, 2023). Black comedy thriller inspired by the true story of an American black bear who ingested a duffel bag full of cocaine in 1985. Ray Liotta, Kerri Russell, Margo Martindale. 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.
Magic: The Gathering: Sylvan Factory.
Every Mon.–Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play various forms of the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. 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. 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. Prizes paid in store credit. Various times. Sylvan Factory, 2459 W. Stadium. info@sylvanfactory.com, 929–5877.
Preschool Storytimes: AADL.
Every Mon.–Fri. Half hour program of stories and songs for kids ages 2–5 (with caregiver). Mon. 10:30 a.m. (Pittsfield), Tues. 11 a.m. (Downtown & Malletts Creek), Wed. 10:30 a.m. (Malletts Creek), Thurs. 11 a.m. (Traverwood & Pittsfield), Fri. 1 p.m. (Westgate), and Tues., Feb. 21, 7-7:30 p.m. (Westgate).
U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater.
Every Fri.–Sun. & Feb. 20. 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. 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. Also, at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 11, Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs? looks at cosmic collisions across the solar system including the 6-mile-wide asteroid that hit the earth 66 million years ago. Various times, MNH, 1105 North University. $8. Limited capacity. 764–0478.
Rise and Shine Exercise: Pittsfield Township Senior Center.
Toddler Time: Launch Trampoline
$15 includes one toddler plus an accompanying adult. Children ages 5 and under only. / / Second Toddler (5 and under) $5
Every Friday from 10:00AM - 12:00PM*
Every Saturday from 9:00am-10:00am*
Toddler Time at Launch in Ann Arbor, MI is a great experience for kids 5 and under. Come jump with Mom or Dad without the big kids around! Improves strength and balance while minimizing strain on growing joints. Age-specific time to enjoy the entire park. Great way to socialize children and teach them how to work well with others.
*Excluding holidays and school vacation weeks
*Launch socks required and not included.
ALL Jumpers MUST wear Launch Safety Grip Socks. These socks may be purchased upon arrival for $3 a pair.
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Natural History Museum.
“Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia”: Pittsfield Township Parks & Recreation.
Talk by an Alzheimer’s Association representative TBA on the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, Alzheimer’s stages and risk factors, current research, and available treatments. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Pittsfield Twp. Community Center, 701 Ellsworth Rd. Free. Preregistration requested at recreation.pittsfield-mi.gov. 822–2120.
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 Thurs., Fri., & Tues. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge (Fri. & Tues.) 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.
U-M Clements Library Tour.
Hour-long docent-led tour of the Clements’s early American history collection featuring Benjamin West’s iconic painting The Death of General Wolfe, the student-curated exhibit Family Secrets: Uncovering Identity in 19th-Century America, and more. 4 p.m., Clements Library, 909 South University. Free, preregistration required at myumi.ch/Aw9Zb. 649–3370.
45th Annual Lenten Fish Fry: Old St. Patrick’s Church.
Every Fri., Feb. 24–Mar. 31. Inside dining or takeout orders include fried Alaskan pollock, salad bar, choice of potato or macaroni & cheese, and beverages. Desserts available for an extra charge. The food is worth the wait. 4:30–7 p.m., Old St. Pat’s parish hall, 5671 Whitmore Lake Rd. $15 (discounts for seniors and children). Stpatricka2.org, 662–8141.
“Lantern Lit Trail”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission.
Self-guided hike along about 1 mile of lantern-lit trail through the winter woods, followed by a campfire, s’mores, and hot cocoa. Dog walkers welcome. 6–8:30 p.m. (check in at the Beach Center Pavilion by 7:30 p.m.), Independence Lake County Park, 3200 Jennings, Whitmore Lake. $10 per household (up to 4 people), plus $6 (nonresidents, $10) vehicle entry fee. Preregistration (one person per household) required at parksonline.ewashtenaw.org. Registration # IL431310.
Morgan’s Organ: Blue LLama Jazz Club
What does a disgraced milkman, an out of work interior designer, and bald barber have in common? The answer: MORGAN’S ORGAN. Tri-founded, by three adult men with too much time on their hands, Morgan’s Organ features Jesse Kramer on drums, Dale Grisa on Hammond B3 organ, and Ralph Tope on guitar.
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.“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 Feb. 22 at facebook.com/EuchreChangeALife, $20 at the door. EuchreChangeALife@gmail.com.
“The Forgotten Iron King of the Great Lakes: Eber Brock Ward, 1811-1875”: Literati Bookstore/Ann Arbor District Library.
West Shore Community College (Scottville, MI) history professor Michael W. Nagle discusses his new biography of the 19th-century steel magnate who became the wealthiest man in Michigan by vertically integrating his business operations decades before other more famous moguls, such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. Signing. 6:30 p.m., AADL Downtown. Free. 585–5567.
"As You Like It": The Jeweler's Players
Feb 24-26. Students of St. Augustine's Homeschool Enrichment Program present Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy centered on a noblewoman who must disguise herself as a man in order to win the world’s respect. With its deft counterpointing of multiple plots, its extravagance of word and wit, and its canny assault upon the various socially sanctioned ways in which people inflict themselves upon one another, "As You Like It" is arguably the greatest comic drama in English. It is certainly one of the most entertaining. 7 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 3 p.m. (Sun.), Whitmore Lake High School Auditorium, 7430 Whitmore Lake Rd. Tickets $8 (students, $5; families, $30) at the door. thejewelersplayers.com
J.B. Ball: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase.
Feb. 23–25. This Tampa-based comic sweetens his edginess with playful, clever charm, bringing out the humor on all sides of topics like mask-wearing, pop stars as role models, and more. Preceded by 2 opening acts. Alcohol is served. 7:15 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 9:45 p.m. (Sat.), 212 S. Fourth Ave. $20 ($15 Thurs.) reserved seating in advance at aacomedy.com before 5 p.m. the night of the show; $22 ($17 Thurs.) general admission at the door. 996–9080.
“Beauty and the Beast”: Burns Park Players.
Feb. 23–26. Burns Park elementary school students, parents, and friends perform this 1994 Disney musical, based on the 1991 animated film adaptation of the classic French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. The story concerns an unkind prince who has been magically transformed into an unsightly creature as punishment for his selfish ways. To revert into his true human form, the Beast must learn to love a bright, beautiful young lady who he has imprisoned in his enchanted castle. The score includes the popular songs “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.” 7:30 p.m. (Thurs. & Fri.) & 2 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), Michigan Theater. Tickets $20–$25 (students, $15) in advance at burnsparkplayers.org & at the door. 763–8587.
“Once on This Island”: The Encore Musical Theatre Company.
Every Thurs.–Sun., Feb. 23–Mar. 12. Natalie Kaye Clater directs this local professional theater company in a production of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s 1990 Calypso-flavored coming-of-age 1-act pop-rock musical about a rich boy and the peasant girl who rescues him from peril. Adapted from Rosa Guy’s 1985 novel My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl, a retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale The Little Mermaid. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 3 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), Encore Maas Main Stage, 7714 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. Tickets $54 (seniors & youth under 18, $52) in advance at theencoretheatre.org and at the door. $20 student rush tickets (if available) an hour before showtime. 268–6200.
“The Language Archive”: Theatre Nova.
Every Fri.–Sun., Feb. 3–26. Carla Milarch directs this Michigan premiere of Julia Cho’s whimsical 2010 romantic comedy about a man obsessed with documenting the dying languages of far-flung cultures even as his own capacity to communicate, along with his marriage, is deteriorating. 2 p.m. (Sun.), 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), & 3 p.m. (Sat.), Theatre Nova, 410 W. Huron St. Mask & proof of vaccination required. Tickets $22 ($10 for kids under 17) in advance at theatre-nova.ticketleap.com and (if available) at the door. 635–8450.
“Human Error”: Purple Rose Theatre Company.
Every Wed.–Sun., Feb. 3–Mar. 18. Lynch Travis directs the Michigan premiere of Ohio-based playwright Eric Pfeffinger’s political comedy about a liberal couple trying to start a family whose fertilized embryo is accidentally implanted in the uterus of a small-government-supporting NRA cardholder. Cast: Henrí Franklin, Alex Leydenfrost, Kristin Shields, Kevin Theis, and Meghan VanArsdalen. 3 p.m. (Wed., Thurs., & Sat.), 8 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat., except Feb. 9), & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $21–$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.
“The Mousetrap”: P.T.D. Productions.
Wed.–Sun., Feb. 23–March 4. Veronica Long directs local actors in Agatha Christie's intricate 1952 murder mystery thriller about newlyweds who transform their inherited English manor house into an inn. On opening day, amid rumors of a murderer at large, the inn's somewhat questionable guests become snowbound, and after an unexpected discovery begin eyeing each other fearfully. "One of the most skillfully written murder mysteries ever produced," notes the New York Times. Cast includes Mei-Lin Wong, Gavin Allen, Sam Johnson, Jan Romans, Larry Rusinsky, Eƶra Korycinski, Avery Koenig, and Russ Schwartz. 8 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun. & Wed.), Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron, Ypsilanti. Tickets $20 (students, seniors, & active military, $15) in advance at ptdproductions.com and at the door. 483–7345.
36th Annual Storytelling Festival: The Ark.
Feb. 24–26 (different programs; the Feb. 26 family show is listed with the Kids events). This year’s festival includes traditional storytelling shows for adults (on Saturday) and families (on Sunday afternoon), but it opens tonight with the Ark’s First Annual Liar’s Contest. Six contestants—Larry Castleberry, Jennifer Otto, Rich Swanson, Jeff Doyle, Genot Picor, and Mike Cox—each tell a well-crafted, entertaining 10-minute story designed to seduce listeners into crediting it as an accounting of fact. The winner gets a $100 bill, a trophy, and bragging rights as the area’s best liar. Emcee is Amir Baghdachi, host of the Moth’s local monthly storytelling shows. Judges are 3 area folks, each with different kinds of experience on the receiving end of fabrications masquerading as fact: Kathleen Daniels (wife of actor Jeff Daniels), retired District Court judge Karl Fink, and Ann Arbor mayor Christopher Taylor. 8 p.m., The Ark, 316 S. Main. Mask required if, per the Washtenaw County Health Department, the county is at a high community level for Covid-19. Tickets $10 on Fri., $30 on Sat., & $15 (kids, $10) on Sun. in advance at the Michigan Union Ticket Office (mutotix.com) & theark.org, and at the door. To charge by phone, call 763–TKTS.
