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Blog Post

Lynch After Dark at The Michigan Theater

by manz

As a tribute to David Lynch and to celebrate the return of Twin Peaks, the Michigan Theater is showing several of Lynch's films on Thursday nights during the month of August for its Lynch After Dark series. It all starts tonight with Eraserhead. Then continues on 8/10 with Dune, on 8/17 with Blue Velvet, on 8/24 with Wild At Heart, and ends on 8/31 with Lost Highway. How cool is that?! The theater has done some really great series over the years, and I'm really excited that they've decided to embrace a little Lynch this summer. His films are even better on the big screen, so check out the line-up with film descriptions and be ready for weird.

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Blog Post

SPRING AWAKENING

by shurand

Spring Awakening today is, for some, what Rent was in the ‘90s. Originally written as a German play by Frank Wedekind in the 19th century (and promptly banned), it resurfaced as a rock musical by Duncan Sheik in 2006. Starring Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff of future Glee fame, the show took home eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score. It was recently revived on Broadway by Deaf West Theater in 2015, receiving an additional three Tony nominations.

The story follows teens under oppressive boarding school and home regimes as they navigate a multitude of difficult topics including sexuality, pregnancy, abortion, suicide, neglect, and abuse – serious stuff! That’s why Ann Arbor in Concert – which is producing the show for one night only on Saturday, July 15th – is working to ensure that prospective patrons learn as much about the musical’s content and topics as they can before deciding if the show is right for them. The Ann Arbor District Library is presenting, Spring Awakening: How a 19th-Century German Play Rocks with Relevance Today,” a talk and discussion led by Corner Health Center Health Educator, Social Worker, and Teen Peer Education Theatre Troupe Leader, Craig VanKempen, MSW, MPH. This event will take place on Monday, July 10, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Library’s Downtown Branch.

The Library offers a plethora of additional resources for community members to educate themselves about Spring Awakening and its topics. Patrons can check out the musical score or soundtrack to hear the incredibly powerful music and decide if the more explicit lyrics are their cup of tea. Frank Wedekind’s Four Major Plays is also available for those interested in reading a translation of the original story.

One of the primary conflicts of the musical is that the adults prioritize avoiding their own discomfort over their children and students’ safety. Today we know that, although uncomfortable at times, understanding and talking about sex, consent, suicide, and bullying reduces shame, promotes accurate information, and enables people to access resources when they need help. How different would the story of Spring Awakening be if Wendla’s mother had talked to her the way that Grandma talks to her grandchild in Anastasia Higginbotham’s book, or if members of the entire community had been about to check out resources like Kate Bornstein’s book from their local library. Today we also have many excellent organizations in our community including Ele’s Place, Ozone House, SafeHouse Center, and Corner Health Center to provide additional support and resources to those who need them.

Spring Awakening is not a show for everyone, and Ann Arbor in Concert has posted a parental advisory to encourage prospective patrons, particularly those with younger family members, to learn more about the show before purchasing tickets.

AADL's Pulp has published a preview about the show.

Ann Arbor in Concert’s one-night-only performance of Spring Awakening will be on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 8 p.m. at the Power Center. Tickets are on sale at www.a2ic.org or at the Michigan Union Ticket Office.

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Crafts

Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire

Saturday June 3, 2017: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby
All Ages.

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Blog Post

Water Treatment Plant Open House

by monkk

Go see how the water flows to your tap on Saturday May 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the City of Ann Arbor's Water Treatment Plant. There will be activities, tours, refreshments and more. All you need to bring is your curiosity! Contact the Water Treatment Plant at (734) 794-6426 if you have any questions, or if you can't make it, schedule a group tour.

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Blog Post

New thriller from the author of The Girl on the Train: Into the Water

by eapearce

British author Paula Hawkins, who wrote the 2015 mega-bestseller The Girl on the Train, has penned another psychological thriller sure to delight readers. Into the Water will hit the shelves on May 2. In the novel, a single mother is found dead at the bottom of a river that runs through an English town. Earlier in the same summer, the body of a young teenage girl was also found at the bottom of the same river. And these are not the only women who have met their fate in this way. The most recent deaths dredge up secrets long kept underwater.

A young girl, whose mother was found dead in the river, is left alone, friendless and in the care of her mysterious aunt in the wake of the summer tragedy. As she and her aunt navigate their own demons, Hawkins unspools a gripping story of how the past can insert itself into the present, and of how deceptive memories can be. We know from The Girl on the Train that Hawkins is a master of demonstrating how slippery the truth is, and fans will certainly not be disappointed to see her do it again in Into the Water.

Best of all, Paula Hawkins will be visiting Ann Arbor on May 17, courtesy of Nicola’s Books! Attend a book discussion of The Girl on the Train prior to her visit at AADL on May 8.

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Blog Post

Celebrate National Poetry Month with Michigan Poets!

by potterbee

April is National Poetry Month! There is a wealth of poetry written by many authors from Michigan offered in AADL's catalog. Some items are available to download from the catalog to be enjoyed instantly! Trumbull Ave. by Michael Lauchlan and Weweni by Margaret Noodin are available to download and also in the traditional paper bound form.

Local book sellers Bookbound and Literati Bookstore have author events still to come this month with poets from Michigan.

On Thursday, April 20 at 7:00 pm award-winning Michigan poets Zilka Joseph and M.L. Liebler will be reading poems at Bookbound.

Ann Arbor author Zilka Joseph has an MFA in Poetry from University of Michigan, and she currently teaches workshops, works as a manuscript coach and editor, and mentors writers in the Ann Arbor community. She has written several books of poetry including her most recent, Sharp Blue Search of Flame

M.L. Liebler is an internationally-known Detroit poet, Wayne State University professor and literary arts activist who founded The National Writer's Voice Project in Detroit and the Springfed Arts: Metro Detroit Writers Literary Arts Organization. He has authored and edited numerous books including I Want to Be Once.

At Literati on April 21st, local poets Keith Taylor, Alison Swan, and Raymond McDaniel will be reading from their various collections, in addition to sharing some of their favorite poems, written by poets of the present and past. If the World Becomes So Bright by Keith Taylor is another instant pdf download available from the AADL catalog.

Search the catalog or the public lists to find more local poetry and enjoy a poem a day all month long!

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Public Event

AADL @ FOOL MOON!

Friday April 7, 2017: 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Downtown @ Ashley & Washington

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Blog Post

FestiFools and AADL: Something New!

by manz

Our fellow robots, the time has come to change things up and we at AADL are retiring our robot suits for something new. We want to help keep things fresh for FestiFools fans! This year AADL is hosting multiple building workshops for ALL AGES to help us make two community puppets, and for you to make your own costumes or instruments for the big FestiFools event on Sunday, April 9.

This year we are bringing a big, bright, yellow sun puppet to join in whatever fun the official FestiFools organizers have planned for Ann Arbor! We’ll accompany our GIANT sun on Main Street with all of us decked out in our brightest sunniest YELLOW costumes as we march to fantastic beats. Onlookers will see so much YELLOW parading down Main Street! (Robots are always welcome at FestiFools, AADL just isn't hosting workshops to make them.)

We will have opportunities to papier–mâché, paint fabric, make a sunshiney costume with capes and masks, make a drum, and more. We are SO excited to have you join us in helping make FestiFools even more foolish and bright this year!

Festifools Workshop: Community Puppet Building Sunday, March 19 from 1:00-3:00
All ages will work together to help make a GIANT sun puppet that we’ll all march down Main St. at the BIG FestiFools event on Sunday, April 9! It will march alongside a mysterious surprise creature that you will help create in bits and pieces. While you won’t be making your own puppet at this workshop, you’ll have a chance to work together to be a part of something BIGGER that all will see.

FestiFools Workshop: Costume Making Sunday, March 26 from 1:00-3:00
Create your own costume to be worn while marching down Main St. at the BIG FestiFools event on Sunday, April 9! We are bringing a GIANT sun puppet to FestiFools and we need you to be the yellow rays to go with it. We’ll have supplies for capes, wings, hats, masks, and more – many golden yellow supplies to help make us into bright glowing orbs.

FestiFools Workshop: Make Instruments with Drummunity Sunday, April 2, 2017 from 1:00-2:00
Lori Fithian of Drummunity will help us make simple percussive instruments.
Meet back up with us on April 9 at the BIG FestiFools event ready to march along playing your instrument while wearing the most yellow sunshiny costume you can come up with. Picture a GIANT yellow sun with many marching alongside beaming with gold and playing music.

FestiFools Workshop: March with Drummunity Sunday, April 2 from 2:15-3:00
Lori Fithian of Drummunity will lead us in making the most of our unique musical instruments, getting us in the FestiFools spirit with a mini march.
Bring your own instrument or come to the instrument-making workshop right before this. Then meet back up with us on April 9 ready to march along in the BIG FestiFools event, playing your instrument while wearing the most foolish yellow costume you can come up with.

Meet Up and March Over to FestiFools! Sunday, April 9 at 3:30pm
Calling all fools! Meet us in the lobby in your most foolish costumes ready to march over to Main Street and join in the FestiFools fun from 4:00 - 5:00 pm. We library fools are all wearing yellow to surround the sun! So dress in yellow, dress in costume, be silly, and bring your instruments! Get ready to make some noise and spread some cheer in downtown Ann Arbor!

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Lectures & Panel Discussions

What is Reggio Emilia All About?

Tuesday June 20, 2017: 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

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Public Event

Nerd Nite Ann Arbor presented by AADL at LIVE 102 S First St.

Thursday June 15, 2017: 7:00pm to 9:30pm
LIVE (102 S 1st Street)
Adults