Observer Editor
Community Listing
Online Event
Creative Washtenaw Event
Free Event
Donation Suggested
Hybrid Event
Events in January 2023
Looking for live music tonight?
Visit our Nightspots listing.
January 18, 2023
“Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration”: Chelsea One World One Family.
Jan. 9–21. Two weeks of community service activities. Various locations; for info see owofchelsea.org or email OWOFChelsea@gmail.com after Jan. 2. Free. 748–3564.
“Playgroups for Babies”: AADL.
Every Mon.–Wed. For kids up to 24 months (with caregiver). No older siblings. Mon. 10:30–11:30 a.m. (Malletts Creek), Tues. 11 a.m.–noon (Traverwood), & Wed. 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. (Westgate).
“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.
Every Mon.–Fri. & Jan. 17. 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), Wed. 10:30 a.m. (Malletts Creek), Thurs. 11 a.m. (Traverwood & Pittsfield), Fri. 1 p.m. (Westgate), and Jan. 17, 7-7:30 p.m. (Westgate).
Coffee & Conversation: Pittsfield Township Community Center.
Every Wed. & Fri., Jan. 9- Mar. 31. Free (except as noted) in person weekly activities. Check meeting status before coming. 8:30-10 a.m. (Wed.) & 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Fri.), Pittsfield Township Senior Center, 701 W. Ellsworth Rd.. Free. recreation.pittsfield-mi.gov. 822–2120.
Wednesday Workshops: Ann Arbor Senior Center.
Senior-focused workshops. Topics TBA. Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Free. Preregister at bpatton@a2gov.org or 794–6250.
“Teddy Bear Tea Party”: Pittsfield Township Parks & Recreation.
Pre-k kids, accompanied by an adult, invited for stories, snacks, and activities. Bring a favorite stuffed animal and a blanket to stay warm. Refreshments. 10–11:30 a.m., Pittsfield Twp. Community Center, 701 W. Ellsworth. $25 (Pittsfield Twp. residents, $20). Preregistration required at recreation.pittsfield-mi.gov or at 822–2120.
Mind Matters Brain Games: Ann Arbor Senior Center.
Via Zoom at bit.ly/a2braingame, passcode: 739714. Ann Arbor Senior Center (1320 Baldwin Ave., 794–6250). Free.
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Natural History Museum.
Every Tues.–Sun., except Jan. 1. All age 6 & up invited into the museum’s Nature Lab and Micro Worlds Lab to use scientific tools and museum specimens to answer questions and solve problems. Schedule subject to change. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., MNH, 1105 North University. Free. 764–0478.
Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops.
Every Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play one of 200 songs, with melodies transcribed in numbers, on the 17-bell chime’s numbered keys. Ambitious players can add chords. Kids welcome. Noon–12:30 p.m. (Fri. & Wed.) & 10:30–11 a.m. (Sat.). Kerrytown Market. Free. ofGlobal@aol.com.
Tai Chi: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Events are either in person at 2401 Plymouth Rd., or via Zoom. For Zoom links see calendar at bit.ly/UMTurnerCal. 998–9353. No meetings Nov. 24 & 25.
Today:
Tai Chi (Mon., Wed., & Fri. noon-12:30 p.m.) via Zoom.
“A2Zero Plan for Ann Arbor”: American Association of University Women.
Talk by City of Ann Arbor community engagement specialist Zach Waas. 12:30 p.m. Ann Arbor City Club, 1830 Washtenaw. Free. AnnArbor-MI.aauw.net. (844) 973–6287.
Walking Group: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Events are either in person at 2401 Plymouth Rd., or via Zoom. For Zoom links see calendar at bit.ly/UMTurnerCal. 998–9353.
Today:
Walking Group (Mon., Wed., & Fri. 12:30–1 p.m.) via Zoom.
“A2SC Trivia Live!”: Ann Arbor Senior Center.
Jan. 4 & 18 (1–2 p.m.). All invited to form (or join) a team of 4 or 5 persons to compete in a 2-round online trivia contest. Questions geared towards ages 55 & up, but all ages welcome. Prizes (pickup only). Online at bit.ly/a2seniortrivia, passcode: 194912. Free. bpatton@a2gov.org, 794–6250.
“Fedora”: 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.
Jan. 14 & 18: Live (Sat.) & prerecorded (Wed.) broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Umberto Giordano’s 1898 operatic adaptation of Victorien Sardou’s tragic play about a princess who falls in love with the man who murdered her fiance. 1 p.m.
Bingo: Pittsfield Township Senior Center.
Every Wed., Jan. 9- Mar. 31. Check meeting status before coming. 1-3 p.m., Pittsfield Township Senior Center, 701 W. Ellsworth Rd. $1 per card. recreation.pittsfield-mi.gov. 822–2120.
Chess: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Free. Events are either in person at 2401 Plymouth Rd., or via Zoom. For Zoom links see calendar at bit.ly/UMTurnerCal. 998–9353.
Today:
Chess (Wed. 1–4 p.m.) in person, all levels welcome, call if interested.
“Genocide Prevention in the 21st Century”: U-M Donia Human Rights Center.
Talk by UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu. 4–5:30 p.m., 555 Weiser Hall, 500 Church. Free. 615–8482.
Board Game Night: Bløm Meadworks.
Every Wed. All invited to play popular board games. “Board Game Guru” on hand to answer questions. 5–10 p.m., Bløm, 100 S. Fourth Ave. Free. 548–9729.
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.
"Wellness After Hours": Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce
Starting the new year with health and wellness in mind? Incorporating this in our lives is much more than just adding a few healthy eating choices to the menu. At the Wellness After Hours, there will be a variety of local resources that will help you learn about the many areas of health and wellness. Their wealth of information will help you make the most of your wellness in 2023. There will be a drawing for a door prize, ear wax check, blood pressure check, chair massage, diabetes risk assessment, acupuncture or cupping demo, and more. Stop by the Group Exercise Studio at the Chelsea Wellness Center on January 18th from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM to visit with Health and Wellness experts:
222 South Main Street Ste B, Chelsea. N/A. Free. hello@chelseamich.com. https://chelseamich.com/events/wellness-after-hours/. 7344751145.“Sharon Township: How to Assess, Manage, & Preserve Your Land”: Washtenaw County Conservation District.
Staff from local conservation organizations discuss farmland and natural area preservation. Refreshments. 6–7:30 p.m., Sharon Township Hall, 18010 Pleasant Lake Rd., Manchester. Free. Preregistration requested at washtenawcd.org/events or at the door. 302–8715.
“The Best Lentil Soup Ever!”: The Farm at Trinity Health Ann Arbor.
Trinity Health Education coordinator Laura Meisler demonstrates how to prepare a tasty, nutritious, and warming lentil soup. 6–7:30 p.m., The Farm at Trinity Health Ann Arbor, 5557 McAuley Drive, Ypsilanti. $10. Preregistration required at stjoeshealth.org/classes. laura.meisler@trinity-health.org, 223–4827.
Farm Class: The Best Lentil Soup Ever!: The Farm at Trinity Health Ann Arbor
Ready to eat healthy again after the holidays? Let’s recover by preparing this nutritious and warming lentil soup from the food blog LoveAndLemons in an informal cooking class.
5557 McAuley Drive, Ypsilanti. Register at stjoeshealth.org/classes. $10. laura.meisler@trinity-health.org. stjoesfarm.org. 734-712-4667.Kids Gaming Meetup: Sylvan Factory.
Every Wed. (6–8 p.m.): Kids age 8 & up invited to drop in for casual games of Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, King of Tokyo, and more. Sylvan Factory, 2459 W. Stadium Blvd. $10. info@sylvanfactory.com, 929–5877.
“Arabesques”: Literati Bookstore.
Palestinian-born writer Anton Shammas, a retired U-M comparative literature and Middle East studies professor, discusses his 1986 novel that tells the story of several generations of family life in a rural Palestinian village where different people have both lived together and struggled against each other for centuries. The first Arab novel written in Hebrew, the book proved provocative for both Arab and Jewish readers. 6:30 p.m., Literati, 124 E. Washington. Free. 585–5567.
Neon Social Run: A2 Runners
Neon Social Run!
4.5 miles in bright colors!
Kerrytown Market
https://www.meetup.com/a2runners/events/
“A2 Retro Tech Meetup”: All Hands Active.
All invited to bring your old tech to show off via Zoom. BBSes, Usenet, Apple II, CP/M, MS-DOS, Amiga, C64—it’s all fair game. 7–9 p.m., for URL see meetup.com/allhandsactive/events. Free; donations welcome. info@allhandsactive.org.
“Curious About Quakers?”: Ann Arbor Friends Meeting.
Jan. 4 & 18. A small panel of local Quakers answers questions and discusses the nature of the Quaker faith for those interested in learning more about it. Snacks. 7–8 p.m., Quaker House, 1420 Hill St. Free. AnnArborFriends.org.
Ann Arbor Bridge Club.
Every Wed. 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.
Kerrytown Crafters.
Every Wed. All crocheters, knitters, spinners, weavers, felters, sewers, and other crafters invited to work on their own projects with others. Questions welcome, help available. 7 p.m. or so, for URL join facebook.com/groups/KTCrafters. Free. 926–8863.
Latin Jazz Wednesday: Armando Vega & 313 Orchestra: Blue LLama Jazz Club
Sonero y Conguero ARMANDO VEGA grew up immersed in Latin music and culture in Detroit, Michigan and has since established an enthusiastic following in and beyond Detroit. He received early mentoring from Herman Olivera, famed Grammy nominated singer, and later performed with Olivera before a crowd of 30,000 at the Cleveland Puerto Rican Festival.
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.
Every Wed. All are invited for a dharma discussion. The program begins with a group meditation. 7–8 p.m., 614 Miner (enter through back door). Also livestream; for URL see annarborktc.org. Free. 678–7549.
“Comedy Jamm”: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase.
Every Wed. Performances by up to 12 aspiring area stand-up comics. Alcohol is served. 7:15 p.m., 212 S. Fourth Ave. $5 in advance at etix.com; $6 at the door. 996–9080.
“Bird Migration Research”: Washtenaw Audubon Society.
Kalamazoo Valley Bird Observatory researchers Rich and Brenda Keith discuss the MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System. 7:30 p.m., U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Free admission; metered parking. Also via Zoom, for URL see facebook.com/washtenawaudubon. Free.
“Reducing Your Carbon Footprint: Solar Energy Systems”: Temple Beth Emeth.
TBE Brotherhood president Bill Parkus leads a workshop (via Zoom) featuring talks by local renewable energy experts. 7:30 p.m., for URL preregister at climateherostories.com. Free. info@ClimateHeroStories.com.
Boris Berman: U-M Music School Guest Recital.
This acclaimed, technically polished Russian pianist plays works TBA. 7:30 p.m., U-M Moore Bldg. Britton Recital Hall, 1100 Baits. Free. 615–3204.
Takács Quartet with Jeremy Denk: University Musical Society.
Founded in Hungary in 1975, this world-renowned, Boulder-based ensemble—a UMS crowd favorite—is known for its warmth, eloquence, and discipline, and for the ease with which it masters demanding pieces. Violinists Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes, violist Richard O’Neill, and cellist András Fejér are “four of the best string alchemists on the planet,” writes a Chicago Tribune reviewer. Guest musician Jeremy Denk, a multifaceted pianist who won a 2013 MacArthur Fellowship and was named Musical America’s 2014 Instrumentalist of the Year, joins the quartet in a performance of Schumann’s ebullient Piano Quintet, which features a fiendishly difficult piano part written for his wife Clara, herself a distinguished pianist. Also, Haydn’s String Quartet in F Major and the String Quartet in E-flat major by Fanny Mendelssohn (Felix’s sister). 7:30 p.m., Rackham Auditorium. Mask required if Washtenaw County is in the CDC’s high-risk category. Tickets $30 (students, $12–20), in advance at tickets.ums.org, the Michigan League box office, & by phone, and (if available) at the door. 764–2538.
“Wednesday Night Swing”: Ann Arbor Swing Dance Association.
Every Wed., except Jan. 4. 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 Rm., 2nd fl. Mask, full vaccination, and boosters required. $5 (free for SAA members). Swingannarbor.com.
