Observer Editor
Events
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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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Free
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.
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Free
Observer Editor
Gel Plate Printing: Ann Arbor District Library
MoreAdults and teens invited to use AADL paints, textures, and patterns to create one-of-a-kind monoprints. 5–7 p.m., AADL Downtown, Secret Lab. Free. (734) 327–4200.
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Observer Editor
“Sensory Splash Time”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation
MoreThe spray park stays open late tonight exclusively for children with special needs and their families to experience stress-free play time. Concessions open until 7 p.m. 6–8 p.m., Independence Lake County Park Blue Heron Bay Spray Park, 3200 Jennings, Whitmore Lake. $4 (noncounty resident, $5) walk-up or preregistration at washtenaw.org/registerparks (#IL441102), plus $6 (nonresidents, $10) vehicle entry fee. (734) 449–4437, [email protected].
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Free
Observer Editor
“Friday Night Geology Hike: Blueberries & Beavers”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission
MoreWCPARC naturalist Shawn Severance leads a hike to explore the summer forest and the abundance of life that emerges at the complex edge of water and sand created by the meltwaters of the glaciers thousands of years ago. 6–8 p.m., West Lake Nature Preserve, 21520 Waterloo, Chelsea. Free. Preregistration required (#841009) at washtenaw.org/registerparks. [email protected].
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Free
Observer Editor
Pride at the Y Dinner Dance: Ann Arbor YMCA
MoreAll invited to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride with dancing to music spun by a DJ and a buffet dinner. With drag performances, family-friendly arts and crafts, drag bingo, a makeover station, and more. Please, no stiletto heels; the floor is delicate. YMCA membership not required. 6–9 p.m., YMCA gymnasium, 400 W. Washington. Free, but preregistration recommended by Aug. 7 (seating limited) at annarborymca.org/pride2026.
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Observer Editor
D&D Adventurers League: Sylvan Factory
MoreEvery Fri. All invited to play the current official campaign of the popular Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game, using 5th-edition rules. Kids under 13 must have adult accompaniment. 6–10 p.m., 2459 W. Stadium. $10. Space limited, preregistration strongly recommended. (734) 929–5877, sylvanfactory.com.
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Observer Editor
Magic: The Gathering (MTG): Sylvan Factory
MoreEvery Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play both casual and tournament forms of the collectible card game MTG.
Wed. & Sat. (5 p.m.): “Commander.” A drop-in session of the most popular form of the game. Free.
Wed. (6 p.m.): “Pauper.” A fun and fast format for all skill levels, three rounds. $5.
Wed. (6:30 p.m.): “Standard.” Three rounds, with competitive tournament rules, prizes of store credit. $10.
Fri. (6:30 p.m.): “Friday Night Draft.” Cost and format vary.
Various times, 2459 W. Stadium. (734) 929–5877, sylvanfactory.com.
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Free
Observer Editor
“Bone of My Bone”: Booksweet Bookshop Ann Arborville Horror Book Club
MoreAll invited to join a discussion of Johanna van Veen’s 2026 medieval folk-horror novel. 7–8 p.m., Booksweet, Courtyard Shops, 1729 Plymouth Rd. Free. Preregistration requested at shopbooksweet.com.
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Free
Observer Editor
John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz Concert Series
MoreSee 7 Friday. Tonight: a funk-inflected smooth jazz ensemble led by veteran saxophonist Kirk Whalum. 7 p.m.
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Free
Observer Editor
“White Bird”: Jewel Heart Buddhist Center
More1129 Oak Valley Dr. Concessions. Free. (734) 994–3387, jewelheart.org.
Aug. 14: “White Bird” (Marc Forster, 2024). When a boy is struggling to fit in at his new prep school, he is visited by his grandmother and is changed by her story of her attempts to escape Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Helen Mirren, Gillian Anderson. Discussion follows. 7 p.m.
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Free
Observer Editor
Music in the Park: Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce
MoreEvery Fri., Aug. 14–28. Entertainment in downtown Dexter. Food trucks, dancing. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and relax on the grass. Tonight: Depot Town Big Band plays big band swing. Note the start time is 30 minutes later tonight than other concerts in the series. 7–9 p.m., Monument Park gazebo, downtown Dexter. Free. (734) 325–4030, tinyurl.com/dexter-music2026.
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Observer Editor
Zach Peterson: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
MoreAug. 14 & 15. Rising Omaha-based observational comic with a nerdy, off-kilter style delivers his thoughts on everything from vampires to being an uncle to the dangers of $35 hotel rooms. Opening act TBA. 7:15 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 9:45 p.m. (Sat.), 212 S. Fourth Ave. $20 at aacomedy.com & (if available) at the door. (734) 996–9080.
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Observer Editor
“Southern Rapture”: PTD Productions
MoreAug. 13–16 & 19–22. Karrie Waarala directs local actors in Cleveland playwright Eric Coble’s 2009 dark satire exploring art, commerce, and censorship. The plot, based on a 1996 staging of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America in Charlotte, North Carolina, follows a theater company in a major Southern city as it puts on a controversial play featuring foul language, homosexual themes, and 7 minutes of full frontal male nudity. Leading up to the premiere, the city’s mayor brings legal action, locals threaten to burn the theater down, and the terrified actors exchange cans of pepper spray as opening night gifts. “The broad laugh-out-loud humor narrows slowly toward a poignant ending, making a fantasy into a reality,” writes one Charlotte Observer reviewer. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun. & Wed.), Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi. Tickets $20 (students & seniors, $15) in advance at ptdproductions.com & at the door. (734) 483–7345.
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Observer Editor
“New Moon Hike”: Leslie Science & Nature Center
MoreLSNC staff lead a family-friendly hike through Black Pond Woods to enjoy the nighttime darkness and do some science experiments on the trail. Followed by moon-themed stories & poems around a campfire. 7:30 p.m., 1831 Traver. $5 (under age 2, free). Preregistration required at lesliesnc.org or (734) 997–1553.
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Observer Editor
“Emma’s Wedding(s)”: Purple Rose Theatre Company
MoreEvery Wed.–Sun., June 25–Aug. 30. (See review) Kate Thomsen directs longtime Purple Rose resident playwright Carey Crim’s comedy-drama about a group of old friends gathered to celebrate their friend Emma’s fourth wedding. Together, they revisit their memories of each of her previous three weddings to “the one.” Adult language and subject matter. 3 p.m. (Wed., Thurs., & Sat.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.). 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $31.50–$52.50 in advance at purplerosetheatre.org, (734) 433–7673, & (if available) at the door. Discounts available.