Events
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FreeObserver Editor
Maya Binyam: U-M English Department Zell Visiting Writers Series
MoreReading by this fiction writer whose award-winning 2023 debut novel Hangman tells the story of an unnamed African man returning home after decades in America to visit his dying brother. When he arrives, he finds that he doesn’t recognize the country or anyone in it. Q&A and signing. Also, tomorrow Binyam gives a free craft lecture (10–11 a.m., Michigan League, Henderson Rm.). 5:30–6:30 p.m., UMMA, Stern Auditorium, 525 S. State. Free. [email protected].
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Observer Editor
Children’s Program: 33rd Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival
MoreNov. 13–15. Three days of subtitled Polish films at the Michigan Theater. Tickets $15 (students & seniors, $10; U-M & MSU students with ID, free) except as noted. annarborpolishfilmfestival.com.
Nov. 14: Children’s Program. Includes a children’s book fair and the AAPFF Contests for Children awards ceremony, followed by a family feature film for kids age 7 & up: Smok Diplodok (The Green Dinosaur) (Wojtek Wawszczyk, 2025). Heartwarming animated adventure about a young diplodocus who teams up with a wizard and 2 scientists to rescue his family. 10 a.m.
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Observer Editor
Holiday Craft Show: The Guardian Guild of Livingston Classical Academy
MoreNov. 14. Crafts by over 50 vendors. An afternoon visit from Santa, concessions. 10 a.m.–3 p.m., 8877 Main, Whitmore Lake. $2 admission (veterans & kids, free). livingstonclassicalacademy.org.
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Observer Editor
Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild Holiday Sale
MoreNov. 14. A juried sale of fiber art, wearable items, yarn, and gifts by local fiber artists. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Zal Gaz Grotto, 2070 W. Stadium. Free admission. annarborfiberarts.org/events/sales-and-exhibits.
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Observer Editor
Spinner’s Flock Fiber Artisan Market
MoreNov. 14. Fiber, yarn, more. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Washington Street Education Center (Senior Center Building), 512 E. Washington, Chelsea. Free admission. (734) 769–1657, spinnersflock.com.
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FreeObserver Editor
Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops
MoreEvery 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. (Wed. & Fri.) & 10:30–11 a.m. (Sat.). Free. [email protected].
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FreeObserver Editor
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Museum of Natural History
MoreEvery Tues.–Sun., except Nov. 26. All age 6 & up invited into the museum’s labs to use scientific tools and museum specimens to answer questions and solve problems. The newest program examines how membranes can help solve water shortages. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org.
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Observer Editor
Critter House Open Hours: Leslie Science & Nature Center
MoreEvery Sat. & Sun. A chance to view LSNC birds of prey and its Critter House animals, which include frogs, turtles, snakes, and other species native to Michigan. Noon–3 p.m., 1831 Traver. $5 suggested donation. (734) 997–1553, lesliesnc.org.
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Observer Editor
“Creature Encounters & Adult Open Hours”: The Creature Conservancy
MoreEvery Sat. & Sun. and Nov. 6 & 20. On Sat. & Sun., staffers show some native Michigan animals, including a cougar, black rat snake, and opossum at 1 & 4 p.m.; and a wild turkey at 2 & 3 p.m. During the Friday Adult Open Hours (age 18+ only), conservancy staffers show all four animals at 7:30 p.m. All tickets include a chance to see the conservancy’s other animals. Noon–5 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.) & 7–9 p.m. (Fri.), 4950 Ann Arbor–Saline Rd. $15 (kids ages 2–12, $13; under age 2, free) cash or credit at the door only. (734) 929–9324, thecreatureconservancy.org.
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FreeObserver Editor
“Marvelous Magnets”: U-M Museum of Natural History Discovery Demos
MoreEvery Sat. & Sun., except Nov. 15, 28, & 29. Hands-on 20-minute family-oriented demo for age 5 & up that explores magnetism, magnetic fields, and what they have to do with everyday life. 12:30 & 2:30 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org.
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Observer Editor
Documentary Program: 33rd Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival
MoreNov. 13–15. Three days of subtitled Polish films at the Michigan Theater. Tickets $15 (students & seniors, $10; U-M & MSU students with ID, free) except as noted. annarborpolishfilmfestival.com.
Nov. 14: Documentary Program. Two documentaries. Cicha Wędrówka (Konrad Borusewicz, 2025). Documentary short about ecological changes in the Tatra Mountains. The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & the Art of Survival (Julie Rubio, 2024). Feature-length documentary about this preeminent Polish Art Deco painter known for her sensual nudes and portraits of high society during the Jazz Age. 1 p.m.
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Observer Editor
“Carmen”: Fathom Entertainment
More(734) 973–8424 (Cinemark), (734) 316–5500 (Emagine). Tickets $12.50 (except as noted) in advance at fathomentertainment.com/events and at the door. Cinemark (4100 Carpenter, Ypsi) & Emagine (1335 E. Michigan Ave., Saline).
Nov. 14: “Carmen.” Rebroadcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2010 production of Bizet’s popular opera, a steamy melodrama set in Seville around 1820, about the fiery Gypsy temptress Carmen. A hot-tempered young army corporal falls victim to her charms, but when she falls for a bullfighter, the corporal’s jealousy takes a violent turn. The score’s famous arias include the “Flower Song,” the “Toreador Song,” and the habanera “Love is a rebellious bird.” 1 p.m.
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Observer Editor
U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater
MoreEvery Fri.–Sun. Three different audiovisual planetarium shows suitable for all ages. Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs? (noon) looks at cosmic collisions across the solar system including the 6-mile-wide asteroid that hit the earth 66 million years ago; The Sky Tonight (1 & 3 p.m.) explores the current night sky, with tips on how to find the cardinal directions, constellations, and planets on your own; and T. Rex (2 p.m.) describes the iconic dinosaur’s scientific and cinematic history (includes scenes of dinosaur violence). Noon, 1, 2, & 3 p.m., 1105 North University. $9 at the gift shop. Limited capacity. (734) 764–0480, ummnh.org.
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FreeObserver Editor
Museum Highlights Tours: U-M Museum of Natural History
MoreEvery Sat., except Nov. 28. Thirty-minute tour of the museum’s exhibits and galleries, as well as an introduction to some current U-M biological sciences research projects. 1:30 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. Limited capacity. Sign up at the welcome desk. (734) 764–0478.
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Observer Editor
“Tree Town Trans Film Festival”: State Theatre
MoreFilm screenings every Wed.–Sun. Tickets $11.75 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 & older, and US veterans, $9.75; Marquee Arts members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. (734) 668–8397. For updated schedule, see marquee-arts.org/calendar.
Nov. 14: “Tree Town Trans Film Festival.” A 3-hour program of films by and for trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people. $16. 1:30 p.m.
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Observer Editor
“Cyrano de Bergerac”: Community High School Ensemble Theatre
MoreNov. 12–15. Emily Wilson-Tobin directs Community High students in Simon Evans and Debris Stevenson’s new translation of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play, a hit on London’s West End this year. The classic tragicomedy about a gallant but ugly swashbuckler who feels unworthy of love gets new life in this adaptation that gambols in the riches of language, blending modern lyrical verse, classic text, and grime poetry. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), CHS Craft Theatre, 401 N. Division. Tickets $22 (students & seniors, $15) in advance at communityensembletheatre.ludus.com, & (if available) at the door (usually sells out). (734) 994–2025, a2cet.org.
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Observer Editor
“Hadestown: Teen Edition”: Pioneer Theatre Guild
MoreNov. 12–15. High school students perform pop-folk singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s musical, which sets the myths of Orpheus & Eurydice and Hades & Persephone in a hellish industrial version of the Greek underworld. The 2019 show won Tonys for best musical and best original score, which draws on American folk music and New Orleans jazz. 7 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), PHS Schreiber Auditorium, 601 W. Stadium. Tickets $20 (students & seniors, $15) in advance at a2ptguild.org & at the door. [email protected].
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Observer Editor
Short Films Program: 33rd Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival
MoreNov. 13–15. Three days of subtitled Polish films at the Michigan Theater. Tickets $15 (students & seniors, $10; U-M & MSU students with ID, free) except as noted. annarborpolishfilmfestival.com.
Nov. 14: Short Films Program. Three 20-minute shorts. Długa Przerwa (Recess) (Jan Saczek, 2025). A young primary school teacher accidentally sends a nude photograph of herself to a student who has a crush on her. Nibylandex (Agata Kapuścińska, 2025). A middle-aged man, living in isolation, sets out to escape from his overprotective father. Patrzę W Niebo (Gaze at the Sky) (Aleksandra Strunin, 2025). Set during the early days of the Russo-Ukrainian War, a music teacher of Ukrainian descent living in Russia faces a moral dilemma when she recognizes her estranged nephew. 3 p.m.
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Observer Editor
“Bastard”: Purple Rose Theatre Company
MoreEvery Wed.–Sun., Sept. 24–Dec. 20. Rhiannon Ragland directs retired Detroit newscaster and playwright Devin Scillian’s family comedy-drama about a conflict between brothers—an aging country rocker and a buttoned-down finance guy—after their mother’s death. Adult language and subject matter. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sun.), & 3 p.m. (Sat. & Wed.). 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $31.50–$52.50 in advance at purplerosetheatre.org, (734) 433–7673, & (if available) at the door. Discounts available.
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Observer Editor
“What Could Possibly Go Wrong?”: Theatre Nova
MoreEvery Fri.–Sun., Nov. 6–15. Diane Hill directs local actors in this ensemble musical comedy, subtitled “A Cabaret of Love, Lies, and Bad Decisions,” a celebration of the funniest, most disastrous productions in Broadway history. Music by Brian Rose. 8 p.m. (Fri.), 7 p.m. (Sat.), 3 p.m. (Sat., except Nov. 7), & 2 p.m. (Sun.). Theatre Nova, 410 W. Huron St. Tickets $35–$100 in advance at theatrenova.org & (if available) at the door. (734) 635–8450.
