• Community Listing

    Summer Bash – OPEN HOUSE

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    Explore our classrooms, meet our instructors, and let your child try the same hands-on activities featured in our Fall programs.

    Step inside The Future Innovators Academy and discover what makes learning here different. Every classroom becomes an interactive experience where kids can build, code, design, invent, and create while parents explore our Fall programs.

    🎟️ STEM Passport Challenge

    Every child will receive a STEM Passport at check-in.

    Visit each activity station, collect a stamp, and return your completed passport to Check-In for a chance to win our STEM Swag Raffle!

    No purchase necessary.

    Explore Our Fall Programs

    🤖 LEGO® Robotics

    Build, code, and put your robot through fun engineering challenges.

    🎮 Roblox Game Design

    Create your own interactive game and learn the basics of coding in Roblox Studio.

    ⛏️ Minecraft Engineering & Coding

    Design, solve challenges, and discover how Minecraft becomes a powerful learning tool.

    ⚡ Electronics & Circuits

    Build simple electronic projects and make lights, buzzers, and sensors come to life.

    🖨️ 3D Design & Printing

    Design a custom creation and watch a 3D printer turn it into reality.

    💻 Scratch & Micro:Bit

    Explore beginner-friendly coding through hands-on challenges designed especially for younger innovators.

    🔬 STEAM Explorations

    Try hands-on science and engineering activities that build creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

    🏆 FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics

    Meet our competitive robotics teams, drive a real competition robot, and learn how students can get involved.

    🎨 Face Painting & Balloon Twisting

    Take a break from building and coding to enjoy colorful face painting and custom balloon creations.

    👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Lounge

    Relax with coffee, meet our team, and get answers to your questions about programs, scheduling, enrollment, and finding the right fit for your child.

    Why Attend?

    Kids learn best when they can poke, prod, build, code, experiment, and create in a safe and encouraging space.

    This is your chance to experience FIA the way your child will—while exploring our classrooms, meeting our instructors, and discovering the program that is the best fit for your future innovator.

    🎁 Special Event-Only Perks

    Complete your STEM Passport for a chance to win our STEM Swag Raffle.

    Learn more about our Fall 10-Week Skills Courses, Clubs, Labs, Studios, and No-School Day Camps.

    Enroll during the event and receive up to 10% off select 10-Week Skills Courses.

    Free to attend. RSVP encouraged. We can’t wait to welcome your family!

    Other Things To Know: Adult Participation is required

    Free to attend. RSVP encouraged.
  • Free
    Observer Editor

    Drop-in Knitting: Spun

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    Every Sun.–Thurs. (different times). All invited to work on their knitting, crochet, weaving, and embroidery projects. 1–3 p.m. (Sun.) & 6–8 p.m. (Mon.–Thurs.), 401 N. Fourth Ave. Free. (734) 780–7867. 

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    Shape Note Singing: Ann Arbor Sacred Harp

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    All invited to join an afternoon of shape note, or sacred harp, singing, an early American form of communal hymn singing. Songbooks available, but singers are encouraged to bring their own. 1–4 p.m., the Ark, 316 S. Main. Free. (734) 478–3394, (734) 995–2519, [email protected].

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    “Walking with Whales Tour”: U-M Museum of Natural History

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    Every Sun. Thirty-minute tour that uses the museum’s specimens to tell the story of prehistoric whales and dolphins, who had 4 limbs and walked on land. 1:30 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. Limited capacity. Sign up at the welcome desk. (734) 764–0478. 

  • Observer Editor

    “Steamboat Bill, Jr.”: Michigan Theater

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    Film screenings every day. Tickets $11.75 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 & older, and U.S. veterans, $9.75; Marquee Arts members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. For updated schedule, see marquee-arts.org/calendar. 

    Aug. 9: “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” (Charles Reisner & Buster Keaton, 1928). Silent comedy in which an awkward young man played by Keaton woos a rich young woman against the wishes of both their fathers. It includes one of Keaton’s most famous stunts: the facade of a house falls around him while he stands in the precise location of an open window. With live accompaniment from Michigan Theater organist Stephen Warner. Suggested donation $5 with preregistration at marquee-arts.org/calendar. 1:30 p.m.

  • Observer Editor

    “Emma’s Wedding(s)”: Purple Rose Theatre Company

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    Every 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.

  • Observer Editor

    “Athena”: Theatre Nova

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    Every Fri.–Sun., July 17–Aug. 9. (See review) Shelby R. Seeley directs Gracie Gardner’s play about two competitive teenage girl fencers training for the Junior Olympics. As they spar and navigate a tricky new friendship, each grows in both athletic ability and self-confidence. The New York Times calls it “hugely appealing and stealthily moving.” 3 p.m. (Sat.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.), 410 W. Huron St. Tickets $30 (age 65 & older, $25; students with ID, $15 at the door) in advance at theatrenova.org/season11 & (if available) at the door. (734) 635–8450.

  • Observer Editor

    “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”: Horizon Performing Arts

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    Aug. 6–9. Connor Thomas Rhoades directs local actors in William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s Tony-winning 2004 one-act musical comedy about 6 anxiously overachieving adolescents competing in a spelling bee run by 3 adults who have barely managed to escape childhood themselves. 7 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 1 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 North University. $23 (students & seniors, $21) at horizonpa.yapsody.com & at the door.

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    Sunday Drop-in Tour: U-M Kelsey Museum of Archaeology

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    Aug. 9, 23, & 30. Docent-led tours exploring “Highlights of the Kelsey” (Aug. 9 & 30) and “Favorite Objects and Surprising Stories” (Aug. 23). 2–3 p.m., 434 S. State. Free. (734) 764–9304.

  • Observer Editor

    “Gutenberg! The Musical!”: Penny Seats Theatre

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    Aug. 722. 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 projecta 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.

  • Nightspots

    Steve Somers & Friends

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    Ypsi Alehouse 124 Pearl, #100, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti

    Jazz & blues standards by an ensemble led by WCC jazz guitar instructor Somers.

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    “Megafauna Mystery”: U-M Museum of Natural History Discovery Demos

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    Every Sat. & Sun. Hands-on 20-minute family-oriented demo for kids age 5 & up that uses museum specimens to explore paleontology and what can be learned from giant bones and fossils. 12:30 & 2:30 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org. 

  • Observer Editor

    “Lady Windermere’s Fan”: Loonlight Theatre

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    Aug. 6–9. Darla Hand directs local actors in an outdoor production of Oscar Wilde’s sharp 1892 comedy about the very proper Lady Windermere, who comes to believe her husband is having an affair, leading to gossip, misunderstandings, and drama. The production features live musical accompaniment, and is set in a garden-party atmosphere against the backdrop of the historic Dixboro schoolhouse. 7 p.m. (Thurs.), 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), & 3 p.m. (Sun.), Dixboro Village Green, 5221 Church Rd. Tickets $15 at loonlighttheatre.com & (if available) at the gate. [email protected].

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    “Ypsi Photo Walk”: Dzanc House

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    Photographers of all skill levels with any kind of camera invited to walk together around Ypsi and take pictures. 3–4 p.m., 402 S. Huron St., Ypsi. Free. dzanchouse.org/all-events. 

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    “Drag Bingo”: Ann Arbor District Library

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    All invited to play a fun-filled round of bingo hosted by local drag queen Jadein Black. Prizes. 3–4 p.m., AADL Downtown, 4th fl. Free. (734) 327–4200.  

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    “Underwater Landscape in a Jar”: Ann Arbor District Library

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    Adults & teens invited to hot glue animal figurines, fake plants, sea shells, and other tiny objects to create an underwater scene in a glass jar. 3–4:30 p.m., AADL Downtown, Secret Lab. Free. (734) 327–4200.  

  • Nightspots

    Let’s Pretend

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    Hear.Say Brewing + Theater. 2350 W. Liberty.

    Jazz, country, and pop tunes by this local trio led by bassist Tim Berla and fronted by vocalist Naya Loftus.

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    A2 Summer Streets Music Series: Main Street Area Association

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    Every 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.

  • Observer Editor

    “Only Yesterday”: Fathom Entertainment

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    (734) 973–8424 (Cinemark), (734) 3165500 (Emagine). Tickets $12.50 (except as noted) in advance at fathomentertainment.com/events & at the door. Cinemark (4100 Carpenter, Ypsi) & Emagine (1335 E. Michigan Ave., Saline). 

    Aug. 9 & 11: “Only Yesterday” (Isao Takahata, 1991). Dubbed (Tues.) & subtitled (Thurs.) screenings of this Japanese anime drama about an unmarried workaholic office worker who reminisces about her Tokyo childhood on a trip to the countryside. Tues. 4 & 6:45 p.m. (Cinemark) and 4 & 7 p.m. (Emagine). Thurs. 6:45 p.m. (Cinemark) & 7 p.m. (Emagine).