Observer Editor
Community Listing
Online Event
Creative Washtenaw Event
Free Event
Donation Suggested
Hybrid Event
Events in March 2023
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Looking for live music tonight?
Visit our Nightspots listing.
March 26, 2023
“Gamers for Giving 2023”: Gamers Outreach.
Mar. 25 & 26. Thirty-six-hour video game marathon, with several tournaments. A benefit for Gamers Outreach, a charity that creates portable video game carts for kids at children’s hospitals. 10 a.m. Sat.–11:59 p.m. Sun., EMU Gervin Center, 799 N. Hewitt, Ypsilanti. $45–$300 (spectators, free). Preregistration required at gamersforgiving.org.
“Gamers for Giving 2023”: Gamers Outreach.
Mar. 25 & 26. Thirty-six-hour video game marathon, with several tournaments. A benefit for Gamers Outreach, a charity that creates portable video game carts for kids at children’s hospitals. 10 a.m. Sat.–11:59 p.m. Sun., EMU Gervin Center, 799 N. Hewitt, Ypsilanti. $45–$300 (spectators, free). Preregistration required at gamersforgiving.org.
“Science Forum Demos”: U-M Museum of Natural History.
Every Sat. & Sun. (except Mar. 19). Hands-on 20-minute family-oriented demos for ages 5 & up. “Life: How Do We Find It?” (11 a.m.) features a re-creation of an experiment from the Mars Viking Landers expedition to show how scientists search for life on other planets. “Shedding Light on Magnets” (3 p.m.) explores magnetism, magnetic fields, and what magnets have to do with cell phones. 11 a.m. & 3 p.m., U-M MNH, 1105 North University. Free. 764–0478.
61st Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival.
Mar. 21–26. The oldest and one of the most prestigious avant-garde film festivals in North America, showcasing new experimental and independent films in a wide range of genres. Also, “Off the Screen” round-table discussions, exhibits, and parties (see aaFilmFest.org for full schedule). Tickets: $150 (buy before Mar. 1, $125; members, students, & seniors, $100) for the entire festival; $85 (buy before Mar. 1, $75) for weekend passes, or $60 (buy before Mar. 1, $60) for an online-only pass in advance at aafilmfest.org. $12 (students, seniors, & members, $8) per screening at the door. All feature films eligible for online viewing are available Mar. 21–29. 995–5356. Michigan Theater (except as noted), various times.
Mar. 26: “I have not been afraid of going blind for a long time.” Yannic Mosimann’s competition film, an experimental documentary about the filmmaker’s experience of connection and disconnection from the world. Noon, State Theatre.
“Life/Ritual/Cinema: The Experimental Films of Donald Richie.” A collection of this Japanese-based writer and experimental filmmaker’s strange, dirty, sexy, and funny short films, which he began making in the 1940s. Curated by Markus Nornes and Hannah Glass-Chapman. 12:30 p.m.
“Answering the Sun.” Rainer Kohlberger’s competition film uses overstimulation and deception of the senses with sound, silence, color, and geometry to create a hallucinatory effect. 2:30 p.m.
“Between Resilience and Resistance.” A program of films on the themes of resisting injustice and the capacity to persevere through time. 3 p.m., State Theatre.
“Awards 1.” The announcement of the 61st AAFF Award winners and screening of films. 5 p.m.
“Awards 2.” Screening of more award-winning films. 7 p.m.
U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater.
Every Fri.–Sun. 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. Various times, MNH, 1105 North University. $8 at the door. Limited capacity. 764–0478.
“Weekend Walk for Birds at Nichols Arboretum”: Washtenaw Audubon Society.
Olivia Van Goor Trio: North Star Lounge.
Sunday Brunch: Olivia Van Goor Trio: North Star Lounge
Enjoy an incredible plate of vegan brunch with the Joyful stylings of the Olivia Van Goor Quartet. Price includes brunch plate, coffee & juice, and a concert. Purchase tickets in advance to guarantee your spot. $35
TICKETS 10AM Seating | 12:30PM Seating
North Star Lounge, 301 N. Fifth Ave. ,Ann Arbor. $35. Reservations recommended. nstarlounge.com“49th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Ann Arbor Powwow”: U-M and EMU Native American Student Associations.
Mar. 25 & 26. Gathering of Native Americans from throughout the Great Lakes area with social dancing and demonstrations of different styles of Native American dance, including fancy, traditional, grass dress, and jingle dress. Dance contests in a variety of styles, featuring children and adults accompanied by Native American drumming ensembles. Grand entries on Sat. at noon & 7 p.m. and on Sun. at noon only. Display and sale of traditional crafts and food. 10:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. (Sat.) & 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m. (Sun.), Skyline High School, 2552 N. Maple. $10 (students/ seniors, $7; kids ages 6–12, $5) per day; $15 (students/seniors, $10; kids, $7) weekend pass; kids age 5 & under and U-M students, free; group rates available. Tickets available at the door only. 408–1581. powwow.umich.edu/event-information.
“PlayLab”: Ann Arbor Art Center.
%stMar. 26 (10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.): All kids ages 3–8 (10:30–11:45 a.m.) and 6–10 (1–2:30 p.m.), accompanied by an adult, invited to paint, scratch and decorate their own section of 16mm film, then have it looped and turned into their own experimental film with help from representatives from the Pickle Fort Film Collective (Grand Rapids). In conjunction with the 61st Ann Arbor Film Festival (see Films, p. 000). A2AC, 115 W. Liberty. Free. Preregistration required (space is limited) at annarborartcenter.org or by calling 994–8004.
“Ancient Wisdom. Modern Times”: Jewel Heart Tibetan Buddhist Center Sunday Talks.
Every Sun. Livestream talks by Jewel Heart resident spiritual advisor Demo Rinpoche, followed by discussion. All invited to attend either online or in person to watch together. Once a month, Demo Rinpoche presents a story from the Jataka Tales (300 BC–400 AD) concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. The Mar. 5 topic is “The Great Monkey,” a tale about benefiting others. 11 a.m., Jewel Heart, 1129 Oak Valley Dr. Also via Zoom; for URL preregister at jewelheart.org/jataka-tales. Free. 994–3387.
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Museum of Natural History.
Drag Brunch with Boylesque Michigan: Blue LLama Jazz Club
Blue LLama Jazz Club and BOYLESQUE are teaming up to make a difference for Ozone House! Join us for a fun, energetic Sunday fundraiser via Drag Brunch!
314 S. Main St. ,Ann Arbor. Pre-Pay Brunch & Show at opentable.com $65. hello@bluellamaclub.com bluellamaclub.com 734-372-3200.H.A.C. Ultimate.
65th Annual Flea Market: Ann Arbor City Club.
“Creature Encounters”: The Creature Conservancy.
Every Sat. & Sun. Conservancy staffers show off some animals native to Australia, including the dingo, bearded dragon, and side-necked turtle (2 & 4 p.m.). Also, a zookeeper display of a carpet python (3 p.m.) and a chance to see the conservancy’s other animals, including a reindeer, bald eagle, macaws, and more. 1–5 p.m., Creature Conservancy, 4950 Ann Arbor–Saline Rd. $13 (kids ages 2–12, $11; under age 2, free) at the door; $1 discount for advance purchase at thecreatureconservancy.org. 929–9324.
“D & D Adventures”: Sylvan Factory.
“Don Giovanni”: U-M Music School.
Mar. 23–26. U-M voice students and the music student University Symphony Orchestra perform Mozart’s operatic version of the Don Juan story. The action is an absorbing blend of stark tragedy and high comedy, and the music deftly fuses melodies of exquisite beauty with dark rumblings of damnation. Sung in Italian, with English supertitles. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat), and 1 p.m. (Sun.), Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. Tickets $24 & $30 in advance at the Michigan League Box Office, tickets.smtd.umich.edu, and at the door.
Drag Brunch with Boylesque Michigan: Blue LLama Jazz Club
Blue LLama Jazz Club and BOYLESQUE are teaming up to make a difference for Ozone House! Join us for a fun, energetic Sunday fundraiser via Drag Brunch!
314 S. Main St. ,Ann Arbor. Pre-Pay Brunch & Show at opentable.com $65. hello@bluellamaclub.com bluellamaclub.com 734-372-3200.Museum Highlight Tours: U-M Museum of Natural History.
Every Sat. & Sun. (except Mar. 19) and Mar. 27–31. 30-minute tour of the museum’s exhibits and galleries, as well as an introduction to some current U-M Biological Sciences research projects. 1 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.) & noon (Mar. 27–31), U-M MNH, 1105 North University. Free. Limited capacity. Sign up at the welcome desk. 764–0478.
“The Genealogical Proof Standard: Put the Power of GPS to Work”: Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County.
Livestream talk by genealogist Alice Hoyt Veen, owner of Prairie Roots Research. Followed at 3:15 p.m. by a talk by Kris Rzepczynski, archivist at the Archives of Michigan in Lansing, on “The Buckeye State: Researching Your Ohio Ancestors.” 1:30 p.m., for URL email info@WashtenawGenealogy.org. Free.
“Every Brilliant Thing”: Friends of Ann Arbor Civic Theatre.
Mar. 24–Apr. 2. Kat Walsh directs Duncan McMillan’s 2014 one-person play that The Guardian (UK) reviewer Betsy Reed calls “one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression,” adding that “there is something tough being confronted here—the guilt of not being able to make those we love happy—and it is explored with unflinching honesty.” Stars Stebert Davenport. Proceeds benefit the A2CT. 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) and 2 p.m. (Sun.), A2CT, 322 W. Ann St. $15 online at a2ct.org or at the door up to half an hour before each performance.
“Spiders and Their Kin”: Waterloo Natural History Association.
EMU biology professor Cara Schillington shows off some live spiders, tarantulas, scorpions, and other invertebrates, discussing their habitats and how to avoid being bitten. 2–3 p.m., Eddy Discovery Center, 17030 Bush Rd., Chelsea. $2 (families, $5). Preregistration required by calling 475–3170. $12 Michigan recreation passport ($17 at the gate) required.
“The Mack Sisters: Czech Us Out!”: Kerrytown Concert House.
Michigan-based Japanese sisters Yuki and Tomoko Mack form an award-winning piano duo known for a diverse repertoire that includes a broad range of both four-hand and orchestral music. Tonight they perform music by Smetana, Dvořák, Liszt, and other Slavic composers. 2 p.m., KCH, 415 N. Fourth Ave. $29–$50 (students, $19) in advance at kerrytownconcerthouse.com and at the door. 769–2999.
Ann Arbor Storytellers Guild.
All invited to listen to guild members swap stories or bring their own to tell. 2–4 p.m., AADL Downtown, 3rd-floor meeting room. Mask requested. Also via Zoom; for URL preregister at annarborstorytelling.org. Please check website for possible last-minute changes due to weather or Covid conditions. Free.
“Divas: A Celebration of Women and Song”: The Encore Musical Theatre Company.
Mar. 23–26. An ensemble of Encore singers and musicians performs hits by prominent female singers and songwriters, such as Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Adele, Lady Gaga, Sara Bareilles, and Dolly Parton. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 3 p.m. (Sun.), Encore, 7714 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. Tickets $40 (+$3.80 fee) in advance at theEncoreTheatre.org & at the door. Vaccination or negative Covid PCR test within 72 hours required. 268–6200.
“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.
Passover Sale: Women of Temple Beth Emeth.
Mar. 24, 26, & 31. Sale of Seder plates, matzah plates & covers, afikomen bags, haggadot, kitchen wares, Passover-themed toys, holiday-inspired apparel, including masks, Shabbat & Yahrzeit candles, tallit and other ritual items. Noon–7 p.m. (Fri.) & 3–7 p.m. (Sun.), TBE Gift Shop, 2309 Packard. templebethemeth.org.
Wind Symphony: EMU Music Department.
Mary Schneider directs this music student ensemble in a program featuring music by Carlos Simon, Lili Boulanger, and Charles Ives. Also, EMU grad Nicholas Councilor performs Oscar Navarro’s Clarinet Concerto and the Alumni Reunion Band opens with some classics TBA. 3–5 p.m., EMU Pease Auditorium, 494 College Pl., Ypsilanti. Free. 487–2255.
Pinball Tournament: Pinball Pete’s.
Ann Arbor Morris.
Ballroom Dance Club at the U-M.
“Inside Michigan Basketball”: WTKA (1050 AM)/ WXYT (1270 AM).
Every Sun. Brian Boesch and Terry Mills host a live radio broadcast from inside the Pretzel Bell with popular U-M men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard and U-M women's coach Kim Barnes Arico. 7 p.m., Pretzel Bell, 226 S. Main. Seating limited. Free admission, but must order food & drinks to sit. bit.ly/insideMIbasket.
