Observer Editor
Events
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Free
Observer Editor
“Salty Summer Sounds Live Music Series”: Saline Main Street
MoreSee 6 Thursday. Tonight: Atomic BombCatz, a local high-octane neo-rockabilly quartet. 7–9 p.m.
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Free
Observer Editor
“Nerd Nite”: Ann Arbor District Library
MoreAdults age 21 & up invited to this popular monthly event featuring three speakers TBA (at annarbor.nerdnite.com) who give fun yet informative 20-minute talks about things that interest them, anything from how a trumpet works to a dissection of romance novel tropes. 7–9 p.m., Live, 102 S. First St. Free. (734) 327–4200.
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Free
Observer Editor
Live Trivia: Bløm Mead + Cider
MoreEvery Thurs. Bløm staffers lead 2 rounds of trivia. Teams or single players welcome. Prizes. 7 & 8 p.m., 100 S. Fourth Ave. Free, but purchase of food & drink encouraged. (734) 548–9729, drinkblom.com/events.
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Observer Editor
“Gutenberg! The Musical!”: Penny Seats Theatre
MoreAug. 7–22. Emily Wilson-Tobin directs local actors in Anthony King and Scott Brown’s 2-man musical about a pair of aspiring playwrights who perform all the parts in a run-through for potential backers of their new, hilariously ill-advised project—a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johannes Gutenberg. Adult themes. 8 p.m. (Thurs., Fri., & Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Cahoots, 206 E. Huron St. Tickets $28 (seniors, $25 & students, $20) in advance at pennyseats.org & (if available) at the door.
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Observer Editor
Michigan Playwrights Festival: Theatre Nova
MoreAug. 13–16. Readings of new full-length plays by Michigan playwrights followed by audience talkback sessions. Tonight: Ann E. Eskridge’s The Sanctuary, in which a young boy grieving his father’s death befriends an eccentric neighbor who has built a sanctuary from discarded objects. 8 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), 410 W. Huron St. Tickets $10 (festival pass, $30) in advance at theatrenova.org & (if available) at the door. (734) 635–8450.
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Observer Editor
“Pop-Up Comedy”: Don’t Tell Comedy Show
MoreBoth the lineup of stand-up comics and the location are not revealed until the day of the show. Age 21+. Drinks for sale. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. 8 p.m., Lowertown outdoor location. Tickets $30 in advance only at donttellcomedy.com/cities/ann-arbor.
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Nightspots
Observer Editor
Spiraling Suns
MoreLocal band that plays heavy, melodic guitar-driven rock spiced with progressive and metal elements. Openers: Media Panic, a Detroit-area old-school punk band formerly known as The DDTs, and the local rock band Tin Guns.
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Observer Editor
Dressage Shows: Waterloo Hunt Club
MoreJuly 31–Aug. 2 & Aug. 13–16. Equine competition combining artistry and technical abilities highlighted by graceful freestyle routines set to music. No pets. Concessions. 8 a.m.–5 p.m., 11500 Glenn at Katz (west off Mount Hope Rd. from I-94 exit 150), Grass Lake. Free. [email protected].
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Free
Observer Editor
“Joe’s Breakfast Club”: Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society
MoreEvery Fri. Moderate-paced ride, 20 miles or more, to Dexter and beyond. Pack a lunch or stop in Dexter. See aabts.org for weather cancelations or delays. 9 a.m. sharp, meet at Delhi Metro Park parking lot (left of the tollbooth), E. Delhi off Huron River Dr. Free. [email protected].
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Free
Observer Editor
“Olson Park Gravel Ride”: Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society
MoreEvery Fri. Slow/moderate-paced 18-mile gravel road ride with a rest stop at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. See aabts.org for weather cancelations or delays. 9 a.m. sharp, meet at Olson Park, 1515 Dhu Varren. Free. (412) 302–9960.
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Observer Editor
“Annual Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival”
MoreAug. 14 & 15. A 2-day exhibit and sale of works by local and visiting artists who have been painting outdoors throughout Dexter since Aug. 10. Also, art workshops for kids and adults (see paintdexter.com). Today’s special events: “Quick Draw Competition” (9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) among participating artists, an art sale (2–9 p.m.), a meet-the-artists beer & wine reception (2 p.m.), and an awards ceremony (5 p.m.). Also, live music by the Dexter Dulcimers (2 p.m.) and the Depot Town Big Band (7–9 p.m.). 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m. (Fri.) & 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (Sat.), Monument Park, Dexter. Free admission. (734) 580–2229,, [email protected], paintdexter.com.
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Free
Observer Editor
“Nature Lab”: U-M Museum of Natural History
MoreEvery Tues.–Sun. All age 6 & up invited into the museum’s labs to use scientific tools and museum specimens. The newest program lets participants try out simulated snake senses to experience the world as if they were a snake. No live snakes. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org.
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Observer Editor
Foodie Fridays: Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation
MoreEvery Friday. Local food truck rally. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. (or until sold out), County Farm Park, 2230 Platt.
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Free
Observer Editor
Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops
MoreEvery Sat., Fri., & Wed. 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. 10:30–11 a.m. (Sat.) & noon–12:30 p.m. (Wed. & Fri.). Free. [email protected].
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Observer Editor
“Recipe Swap”: Spice and Tea Merchants of Ann Arbor
MoreEvery Friday. All invited to bring one copy of a favorite recipe and take home one that someone else has brought. Noon-3 p.m., 407 N. Fifth. spicemerchants.biz.
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Observer Editor
“Midday Morsel Drop-in Tour”: U-M Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
MoreThirty-minute docent-led tour of ancient Mediterranean artifacts in the museum collection. 12:30 p.m., 434 S. State (meet at the Maynard entrance). Free. (734) 764–9304.
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Observer Editor
Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club
MoreEvery Tues., Thurs., & Fri. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge (Tues. & Fri.) and a 499er game (Thurs.) for players with no more than 499 ACBL master points. 1–4 p.m. (arrive by 12:45 p.m.), 1830 Washtenaw Ave. $9 per person. If you plan to come without a partner, email [email protected].
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Free
Observer Editor
A2 Summer Streets Music Series: Main Street Area Association
MoreEvery Thurs.–Sun., June 4–Sept. 28. Local musicians TBA perform at several locations along Main downtown. Rain cancels. 4 p.m. Thurs.–Sun., S. Main between E. Washington & W. William. For the complete lineup, go to mainstreetannarbor.org/a2-summer-streets. Free.
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Observer Editor
U-M Men’s Soccer
MoreExhibition match vs. Cleveland State. The U-M has another exhibition match this month against Saginaw Valley (Aug. 14, 4 p.m.) and regular home season games against Loyola Marymount (Aug. 20, 6 p.m.), Niagara (Aug. 27, 4 p.m.), and Southern Illinois–Edwardsville (Aug. 30, 2 p.m.). 4 p.m., U-M Soccer Stadium, 2250 S. State. $6 & $8 (groups of 10 or more, $3 each; kids 5 & under, free). (734) 764–0247, mgoblue.com.
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Free
Observer Editor
“Pioneer Day at Sharon Mills”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission
MoreA chance to learn what life was like for early settlers of Sharon Hollow in the 1830s. Activities for all ages. 4–7 p.m., Sharon Mills Preserve, 5701 Sharon Hollow, Manchester. Free. tinyurl.com/wcparc-summer2026.