• Observer Editor

    Ypsi Flea Market

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    Show and sale of vintage items ranging from the early 1930s to the 90s, featuring clothing, jewelry, furniture, records, and more. Concessions. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Ypsilanti Freighthouse, 100 Market Pl., Ypsi. Free admission & parking. [email protected], facebook.com/ypsifleaswap. 

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    Observer Editor

    H.A.C. Ultimate

    H.A.C. Ultimate
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    Every Sun. All invited to a relaxed pick-up game of this spirited team sport played with a flying disc. Beginners welcome. Play proceeds regardless of the weather. Note: Overly competitive players are politely asked to leave. 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Fuller Park, just west of the pool & parking lot (or occasionally across the street). Free. (734) 846–9418, [email protected].

  • Observer Editor

    “Creature Encounters & Adult Open Hours”: The Creature Conservancy

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    Every 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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    Observer Editor

    Open Board Games: Sylvan Factory

    Open Board Games: Sylvan Factory
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    Every Sun. All invited to play one of a wide variety of board games in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Instruction provided. Also, on Nov. 1, game playtesting with Michigame Design Lab (2 p.m.), during which players are invited to try out new board & card games from local designers Bruce Bielawa & Joe Hopkins and provide feedback. Noon–6 p.m., 2459 W. Stadium. Free. sylvanfactory.com.

  • Observer Editor

    U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater

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    Every 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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    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. Note that this is not the group’s usual second Sunday. 1–4 p.m., the Ark, 316 S. Main. Free. (734) 478–3394, (734) 995–2519, [email protected].

  • Observer Editor

    “Bastard”: Purple Rose Theatre Company

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    Every 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.

  • Observer Editor

    “The Skin of Our Teeth”: U-M Rude Mechanicals

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    Nov. 6–8. This U-M student theater troupe performs Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize–winning 1942 satirical allegory, which he called “a history of mankind in comic strip.” The Antrobus family barely survives the Ice Age only to be plunged into Noah’s Flood and washed up onto a postapocalyptic wasteland. The tragedies are put on hold when the actors break character and poke fun at the notion of a play, and the family’s ditzy maid adds a flirty comic touch, but the sinister, slow evolution of the family’s bratty boy into a mindless, militaristic possible murderer adds considerable darkness to this work that Wilder said “mostly comes alive under conditions of crisis.” 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 North University. Tickets $15 (students & seniors, $10) in advance at muto.umich.edu & at the door. (734) 763–1107, [email protected].

  • Observer Editor

    “What Could Possibly Go Wrong?”: Theatre Nova

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    Every 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.

  • Observer Editor

    “La Rondine (The Swallow)”: U-M Voice & Opera Department

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    November 5–8. U-M opera students, accompanied by the University Symphony Orchestra, perform Puccini’s bittersweet love story about a French courtesan and an idealistic young man who offers an alternative to her life of excess. Sung in Italian, English supertitles. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), and 2 p.m. (Sun.), Power Center. Tickets $29–$35 (students, $16) in advance at smtd.umich.edu & at the door. (734) 615–3204. tickets.smtd.umich.edu/6978/6979

  • Observer Editor

    “Family Pains”: PTD Productions

    “Family Pains”: PTD Productions
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    Nov. 5–8 & 11–14. Marie Jones directs local actors in the premiere of Michigan playwright Erin Osgood’s new family comedy-drama about a young woman who surprises her conservative family by bringing her new Black wife to Thanksgiving dinner. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun. & Wed.), Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi. Tickets $20 (students & seniors, $15; Thurs., pay what you can), in advance at ptdproductions.com, by phone, & at the door. (734) 483–7345.

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    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.

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    Observer Editor

    Campus and University Bands: U-M Music School

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    Richard Frey and John Pasquale lead these student ensembles of nonmusic majors in a wide variety of wind band music. 3 p.m., Hill Auditorium. Free. (734) 764–0583.

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    Observer Editor

    “Podium Favorites”: Dexter Community Band

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    Bill Gourley directs this 85-member volunteer ensemble in a program of band favorites, including a Gershwin medley, selections from Strauss’s comic operetta Die Fledermaus, a spirited arrangement of “Funiculi-Funicula,” and the haunting folksong “Shenandoah.” Trombonist Ben Keller solos in a medley of the “St. Louis Blues,” “Memphis Blues,” and “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans.” 3–5 p.m., Dexter High School, 2200 N. Parker, Dexter. Free. (734) 426–2734, dextercommunityband.org. 

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    Observer Editor

    Fall Concert: One Voice Gospel Choir

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    Jean Wilson directs this ecumenical choir in traditional and contemporary gospel music. 3 p.m., St. Paul United Church of Christ, 122 W. Michigan Ave., Saline. Free, but donations accepted. facebook.com/onevoicegospelchoirmi.

  • Observer Editor

    “Rocky”: Fathom Entertainment

    “Rocky”: Fathom Entertainment
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    (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. 7–11: “Rocky” (John G. Avildsen, 1976). The classic saga of a small-time Philadelphia boxer who enters in a grueling, blood-soaked title fight. Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith. 4 p.m. (Sat. & Sun. only) and 6:40 p.m. Cinemark only.

  • Observer Editor

    Escher Quartet & Guitarist Jason Vieaux: University Musical Society

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    This acclaimed NYC-based string quartet, known for its musical insight and tonal beauty, is joined by master classical guitarist Vieaux for a program of music written for string quartet and guitar. Grammy-winning guitarist Vieaux has been praised for music “brimming with spirit, insight, and reverence for the genre” by Acoustic Guitar. His 2019 album with the Escher Quartet, Dance, “impresses from the outset with its bounding energy” and “immediate and tight” musical bond, according to the Classic Review. Their program today features Prokofiev’s folk-music–influenced String Quartet No. 2 in F Major, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s melodious, serene Guitar Quintet, and Luigi Boccherini’s charming Guitar Quintet in D Major, along with works by Bach, Jorge Morel, Agustín Barrios, and Vieaux himself. 4 p.m. Rackham Auditorium. $36–$73 (students, $15–$20) in advance only at tickets.ums.org or (734) 764–2538.