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Elks Neighborhood Kitchen is soul comfort p.

Fun and Fearless

The Moxie Strings mix chops with heart

11

p. 16

Changing of the Guard

The Performance Network explores the heart of Mark Rothko p.

30

2

may

2012 / ecurrent.com

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Lansing

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4/18/12 5:59 PM

From the Better Business Bureau Serving NW Ohio & SE Michigan

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ecurrent.com / may 2012 3

MAY FILM SCHEDULE

DAILY FILM PROGRAM SPONSORED BY

KEEPING THE SPIRIT OF SUNDANCE ALIVE ALL YEAR ROUND

OPENS FRIDAY, APRIL 27

THE KID WITH A BIKE

MORE THAN 30 FILMS IN 4 DAYS

A moving film about a troubled boy and his unlikely ally, the town hairdresser. Winner of the >I8E; ALIP GI@Q< at :8EE<J =@CD =<JK@M8C. 87 minutes. Not rated.

French with subtitles.

OPENS FRIDAY, APRIL 27

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Kevin’s mother (K@C;8 JN@EKFE) struggles to love her strange child, despite his increasingly vicious behavior as he grows up. 112 minutes. Rated R.

MICHIGAN THEATER STATE THEATER UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Hipsters

OPENS FRIDAY, MAY 4

MONSIEUR LAZHAR

A poignant story about a Montreal middle school class shaken by the death of their well-liked teacher, and the new teacher who helps them heal. 94 minutes. Rated PG-13.

French with subtitles.

OPENS FRIDAY, MAY 4

WE HAVE A POPE

The Michigan Theater proudly presents the first-ever Cinetopia International Film Festival, featuring acclaimed contemporary comedies, documentaries and dramas alongside the best in silent film and 3D film.

The humorous story about the relationship between the reluctantly elected new Pope and the therapist assigned to help him. 102 minutes. Not rated. Italian with subtitles.

Hugo in 3D

OPENS FRIDAY, MAY 11

FOOTNOTE

The tale of a great rivalry between a father and son - both eccentric Talmudic Studies professors dedicated to their work.

103 minutes. Rated PG. Hebrew with subtitles.

GREAT FILM HAPPENS HERE.

OPENS FRIDAY, MAY 18

Cane Toads: The Conquest in 3D

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

British retirees (JUDI DENCH, D8>>@< JD@K?) travel to a newly restored hotel in India that turns out to be less luxurious than advertised. Slowly, they are charmed in unexpected ways. 87 minutes. Rated PG-13.

PLAYS FRIDAY, MAY 18 - SUNDAY, MAY 20

KEYHOLE

From director >LP D8;;@E, the story of a gangster and deadbeat dad, who embarks on an unusual journey through his home. Starring @J89<CC8 IFJJ<C@E@, A8JFE G8KI@:, and UDO KIER. 93 minutes. Rated R.

MAY 31–JUNE 3 MORE INFO & TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MICHTHEATER.ORG/CINETOPIA

PLAYS FRIDAY, MAY 18 - SUNDAY, MAY 20

BOY

Set in New Zealand in the year 1984, Boy, an 11-year-old kid and devout Michael Jackson fan gets a chance to know his father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago. 87 minutes. Not rated.

PLAYS TUESDAY, MAY 22 - THURSDAY MAY 24

THE ISLAND PRESIDENT

The film follows GI<J@;<EK DF?8D<; E8J?<<; of the Maldives, who confronts a problem greater than any other world leader has ever faced—survival of his country and everyone in it. 101 minutes. Rated PG. PLAYS FRIDAY, MAY 25 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 30

DELICACY

A bereaved widow’s zest for life is rekindled by an unlikely source - her seemingly drab coworker. 112 minutes. Rated R. French and Swedish with subtitles.

SPECIAL FILM EVENTS PLAYS SUNDAY, APRIL 29 - THURSDAY, MAY 3

THE LENORE MARWIL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

This annual event celebrates film and the influence which Jewish culture has on today’s movies and filmmakers.

For more information, go to www.jccannarbor.org.

PLAYS SUNDAY, MAY 20

The Family-Friendly Film Series presents:

HOOK

Presented by the Benard L. Maas Foundation and Toyota.

Sponsored by Emerson School. Free for kids 12 & under!

JK<M<E JG@<C9<I>’s film stars IF9@E N@CC@8DJ, ;LJK@E HOFFMAN and ALC@8 IF9<IKJ. 1991. 142 minutes. Rated PG.

)+$?FLI @E=F C@E< .*+ --/$K@D< FI NNN%D@:?K?<8K<I%FI> -'* <% C@9<IKP JK% 4

may

2012 / ecurrent.com

fyi 6

A head full of steam

green corner 6

DIAL-A-GARDEN

2012 Patio Guide 8

Dine Outside. Drink Outside. Be Outside.

by Jennie Barker

curent cooks 11

Elks Neighborhood Kitchen

by Nick Roumel

food: in review 13 Samosa House

by Joe Saul and Lisa Leutheuser

music feature 16

The Moxie Strings

by Sandor Slomovits

perspective: folk 25 May flowers

by Twila Price

contents

may 2012

vol. 24 / no.5

30 theater: Changing

of the guard

The Performance Network celebrates painter Mark Rothko

by San Slomovits

33 artbeat

Summer starts early

by Louis Meldman

35 everything else 38 crossword 18 perspective: rock

Spring Mix Tape. It’s May. School’s out for summer

by Jeff Milo

22 perspective: blues A square root of the blues

by Jerry Mack

Name: Address: Phone: Email: Type of Submission: Title of Entry:

Poetry

Fiction

GUIDELINES:

(entries not following guidelines will not be considered)

GET PUBLISHED! submit entries of fiction or poetry and you just might see your name in print!

• Each writer may submit up to but no more than two unpublished poems (which may not exceed a combined total of three 8.5” x 11” pages) and one unpublished story (not to exceed 2,500 words).

• Each entry should be printed in a 12-point font with only the title on each page.

• Do not include your name or contact information on any of the copies.

• Judges from last year’s contest are not eligible to enter in this year’s contest.

• Employees of Adams Street Publishing and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter the contest.

• Fill in your name & contact information on the entry form above.

• Attach one separate entry form to four copies of each submitted piece.

• A $7 entry fee must accompany each story or poem.

• Mail your check and work to: Fiction & Poetry Contest Adams Street Publishing 1120 Adams Street Toledo, OH 43604 • You may also email entries to Scott Recker at scott@ecurrent.com.

Checks can be mailed separately.

• All entries must be postmarked by Friday, June 1, 2012.

• First and second place winners of Current’s Fiction and Poetry Contest will be printed in the August 2012 Current Magazine and displayed on the web at www.ecurrent.com • Winners in each category will receive prizes or gift certificates from Ann Arbor area merchants.

• A panel of local literary experts judge work in each category.

ecurrent.com / may 2012 5

fyi

Collette Jacobs cjacobs@ecurrent.com Publisher / Editor in Chief Mark Jacobs mjacobs@ecurrent.com Co-publisher / Chief Financial Officer

A head full of steam

The 2012 World Steam Expo, held on Memorial Day Weekend (May 25—28), at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn, in the Fairlane Town Center, is one of the area’s largest and newest conventions. If you’ve ever been curious about the phenomenon known as “steampunk”, here is where you can get your steam, corset, and/or goggles on. If you’ve been oblivious to the genre, a short definition is: a setting which uses steam power to run its gadgets, usually set in an alternate Victorian-influenced era.

More commonly, particularly in the Author Gail Carriger is one of convention-going set, is an aesthetic several guest authors this year of costume and do-it-yourself that evokes a “world-that-never-was-but-should-have-been”. This year, guests include several authors, including Gail Carriger of the very fun “Parasol Protectorate” series, and a lineup of bands. Premiere among them is the Seattle-based Abney Park, headed by vocalist Captain Robert Brown.

Convention programming is not set, but if last year’s con was any indication, there will be plenty of it, for any/every taste. $60 for a 4-day pass. 600 Town Center Dr., Dearborn. 313-593-1234. www.worldsteamexpo.com. —TP

green corner

EDITORIAL Scott Recker scott@ecurrent.com Arts & Entertainment Coordinator Matt Desmond mattd@ecurrent.com Staff Writer Julian Garcia calendar@ecurrent.com Calendar Editor ADVERTISING Aubrey Hornsby ahornsby@adamsstreetpublishing.com Sales Manager Ryan White ryan@ecurrent.com Sales Representative Heather Sekerak heather@ecurrent.com Sales Representative Susan Hayden sales@adamsstreetpublishing.com Sales Coordinator Chase Murphy classifieds@ecurrent.com Classified and Display Advertising ART & PRODUCTION Kristi Polus kristi@adamsstreetpublishing.com Art Director Sarah Baird production@adamsstreetpublishing.com Graphic Designer Alex Beat abeat@adamsstreetpublishing.com Graphic Designer Brittney Koehl adsin@ecurrent.com Graphic Designer William Mellon william@adamsstreetpublishing.com Graphic Designer ADMINISTRATION Robin Armstrong rarmstrong@ecurrent.com Accounting Daniel Light distribution@ecurrent.com Distribution INTERNS Marisa Rubin mrubin@adamsstreetpublishing.com Jennie Barker intern@ecurrent.com

DIAL-A-GARDEN

Springtime is here and it's time to head outside and get your garden ready. But not everybody has a green thumb. That's why Washtenaw County has teamed up with the Michigan State University Extension to offer the DIAL-A-GARDEN service.

Helpful gardening tips are just a call away. The public can call in and listen to a Garden Message by Bob Bricault, Extension Educator for Horticultural and Natural Resources. Everything from crab grass control to soil testing is covered. The topics vary from month to month.

To contact DIAL-A-GARDEN call 734-971-1129 and select a topic.

To see a list of the month’s topics go to the Horticultural and Natural Resources department at www.ewashtenaw.org.—JG

6

may

2012 / ecurrent.com

© 2012 by Adams Street Publishing Co., All rights reserved. 3003 Washtenaw Ave., Suite 3, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, Phone (734) 668-4044, Fax (734) 668-0555.

First class subscriptions $28 a year. Distributed throughout Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and neighboring towns.

Printed on recycled paper

Also publishers of:

Minding our Bizz The spring and summer is all about getting out, going somewhere new and shaking off those coldweather blues — even though, to be fair, this winter was super mild. Anyway, there are some new things brewing downtown, which means more opportunities to explore.

Here are three very different businesses — that are new or reformed — you should check out on one of your strolls around town.

The Wednesday Evening Farmers Market, located at 315 Detroit St. in the Kerrytown District, begins again for the season on May 2. Running from 4:30 - 8:30pm, featuring later evening hours with the same vendors from the daytime market, the evening market focuses on agriculture-related products, allowing daytime workers to pick up some fresh midweek produce or a

n

delicious snack or meal from one of the food carts.

The season runs through Wednesday, September 26.

The popular fondue chain The Melting Pot has re-opened its downtown location, 309 Main St. The location boasts a rooftop patio — overlooking one of busiest sections of town — where patrons can enjoy the summer months while relaxing next to the Melting Pot's waterfall.

For more information, call 734-622-0055.

n

The Tecumseh-based gift shop Rock Paper Scissors is opening a new location on 216. S. Main St. The store, which will open by June 1, carries unique items, letting customers to quickly shop for someone special or pick up an item they have always wanted for themselves. From wine glasses to personalized invitations of all kinds to quirky decor, the shop has something for everyone.

n

ecurrent.com / may 2012 7

feature Summer Itch

Start Here!

Dine outside.

Drink outside.

Be outside.

Current’s eight favorite patios to spend a sunny afternoon by Jennie Barker The summer itch is starting. That undeniable feeling where work seems like solitary confinement, and about midday, when the streets are gold with sun and happy chatter floods the air, excuses for leaving start creeping around your mind. Simple solution: when your work day is done, don’t waste time inside — play outside, work out outside, and, above all, eat, drink and be merry outside. These eight patios can help.

Savor a delicious sandwich

Move Ahead 7

Seva

314 East Liberty St. 734.662.1111 www.sevarestaurant.com While the idea of vegan cake may seem less appealing to some, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it at Seva. The restaurant’s Chocolate Raspberry Mousse dessert doesn’t use real butter, but with other fresh and flavorful ingredients, it isn’t needed.

Pair it with a healthy concoctions such as ‘Kermits Lagoon’ from the juice bar while seated on the gorgeous, patio deck complete with colorful umbrellas and matching flower arrangements for a healthy treat. This vegetarian eatery also boasts a comprehensive list of entrees that will be palatable to even the most stubborn carnivore— the Portabello burger, for instance, is hearty, juicy and surprisingly filling, and the popular yam fries are crispy with just the right amount of sweetness.

Tio’s

401 East Liberty St. 734.761.6650 www.tiosmexicancafe.com Tio’s Mexican Cafe has a little bit of everything, just ask Foodie Adam Richman. He attempted the Mt. Nacheesmo food challenge when his show “Man Vs. Food” filmed in town last year. Whether you’re consuming five pounds worth of food for the challenge or sipping on one of their perfect margaritas, enjoy the day on the shaded, street-level patio area — perfect for a chill afternoon of peoplewatching or post-shopping munchies.

Tio’s menu is known for buzz-worthy nachos, a spanish cheese plate and a hearty world-famous burrito, as well as home-made sangria. And, if you’re down for a little experimenting, they offer more than 100 different salsas and sauces.

Margaritas, perfect!

8

may

2012 / ecurrent.com

Walk to the Next Spot

Dominick’s

Jolly Pumpkin

812 Monroe St. 734.662.5414

311 South Main St. 734.913.2730 www.jollypumpkin.com The Jolly Pumpkin knows beer. Dozens of varieties are brewed regularly with a selection that changes with the season. And what better way to enjoy the light, hoppy taste of spring and summer than being seated amidst the bustling activity on Main Street in front of the restaurant.

Or, if you’re in the mood for some privacy, enjoy a more secluded view from the rooftop patio. Can’t decide on just one beer? The knowledgeable staff can assist with sampler flights with up to five brews. And don’t forget to save room for some delicious food; the stylish eatery serves up creative dishes such as truffle fries, red chile tofu and south pacific pizza.

This enchanting bar is closed during the colder months of the year but is extremely popular when its doors open in the spring. Customers can lounge in the courtyard, sipping drinks in mason jars and enjoying scenic views complimented by a large fountain. The spacious patio has sizeable picnic tables that are ideal for large groups.

However, it’s often packed on nice days, so arrive early if you want a seat. Though many come for the drinks (especially the Sangria), Dominick’s offers classic Italian-style food, ranging from pastas to pizzas.

Lounge in the courtyard.

Bonus Points!

Onto the roof top.

Chill For One Turn

Zingerman’s

Fleetwood Diner

Don’t mind the occasional long lines. Zingerman’s is definitely worth the wait. The deli serves up a huge assortment of sandwiches in generous-sized portions, ranging from Reubens, BLT’s and a wealth of vegetarian-friendly options. And the best way to savor one is on the sun-soaked patio, lounging at a comfortable, colorful picnic table.

Whether it’s three o’clock in the morning or in the afternoon, hungry customers can expect classic diner food like the ‘Hippie Hash’ and ‘Fleetwood Club’ at affordable prices (many entrees are around $10). The Fleetwood’s interior can get a bit cramped, especially during peak hours, which is why opting to sit outside isn’t such a bad idea, especially considering the establishment’s historic roots and old-school, pleasantly gritty feel. When the eatery opened in 1949, original owner Donald Reid positioned a few tables and chairs outside the building, making it Ann Arbor’s first sidewalk cafe. cont. on pg. 10

422 Detroit St. 888.636.8162 www.zingermans.com

Zingerman’s crafts each mouthwatering creation using only the freshest, high-quality meats and breads, which is why Oprah named ‘Lisa C.’s Boisterous Brisket’ one of her favorite sandwiches. In addition to the main fare, the deli sells a wide range of specialty foods with samples offered from the top-notch staff.

300 South Ashley St. 734.794.1430 Find us on Facebook

ecurrent.com / may 2012 9

feature Prickly Pear

328 South Main St. 734.930.0047 www.pricklypearcafe.com Upon entering, it feels like you’ve been transported out of Ann Arbor thanks to the desert-themed décor; most notably the beautiful, hand-painted ceiling. During the summer months, restaurant seating doubles when the additional outdoor area opens. Nestled behind the building and accessible only through the kitchen, this aesthetically pleasing garden makes for a prime spot to enjoy a meal. The ‘Pear’ cooks up some tasty southwest fare, including heaping portions of shrimp and scallop quesadilla as well as butternut squash soup.

You Win!

Summer Time Enjoyed Palio

347 South Main St. 734.930.6156 www.paliorestaurant.com Depending on the season, this Italian-themed eatery can offer two unique dining experiences. The street level interior provides a decorative wine station in the middle of the dining area as guests feast on decadent specialties like Linguine Pescatore and Pollo Parmigiana. In the summertime, patrons can opt to eat on the largest rooftop patio in Ann Arbor - ‘Patio Del Sole’ features a separate menu from the lower level restaurant. After sundown, experience breathtaking views of downtown Ann Arbor complete with an array of colorful lights.

10

may

2012 / ecurrent.com

food

current cooks Under-promise and over-deliver

by Nick Roumel

Ann Arbor’s historic Elks Club is no longer keeping its soul food to itself. The torch has been passed, and it is smokin’ hot.

For a long time the kitchen was low-key. Elks’ brothers Sam Perry and James Wesley would start spareribs and chicken on the outdoor smoker on Friday nights, for feeding club members on Saturdays.

In recent years, the Elks Club has been increasingly accessible. From their popular weekend dance parties (including the monthly “Funky Kingston” reggae events), to the live jazz series from Thursdays – Saturdays, the Club is now serving it up to the public.

Chef Kelli Harden, assisted by Kevin Cook, continues the spareribs and chicken, but has turned everything else up a notch. They’ve ditched the canned beans and white bread for fried chicken, homemade macaroni and cheese, savory black eyed peas and collard greens, and fresh baked corn muffins. “We want to take it to a different level,” says Kevin.

Kelli adds, “People don’t expect anything special out of this kitchen. A wise man once said, ‘under-promise, and over-deliver.’ Some of my most memorable meals were unexpected.” Guests from the South have praised Kelli, telling her it was among the best soul food they’d ever had.

One said, “This is Mississippi good!”

Kelli got her start cooking at home (“No baking!

Ever!”), and found it an outlet for anxiety and stress relief.

“I also liked to feed my dad,” she said. At the University of Michigan, where she had initially intended to follow the academic lifestyle of “class, research, teaching, thesis,” she found herself cooking to pay the rent. She got sucked into the adrenaline rush of restaurant work, “If you’re not going to race cars, you’ve got to be a line cook!”

Academics exhausted her. Cooking rejuvenated her.

After work on the line at the Gandy Dancer, Kelli would come home, pour a glass of wine, put on music, and cook some more – for stress relief. Her friend Jenna Parks recalls, “One night we got back from the bar and wanted salsa and chips. Kelli made a roasted corn salsa, with fresh tomatoes and homemade corn chips — I don’t think we ate until 5am."

Her roommates were mad it was so late — but it was the best salsa they’d ever had.”

After the Gandy Dancer, Kelli worked stints with Eve Aronoff at eve the restaurant and Frita Batidos. Michael Henry, then the Elks’ Exalted Ruler, “kept bugging me to

Nothing says “soul food” like the ribs, peas, greens, mac ‘n cheese, cole slaw and a corn muffin that Chef Kelli Harden and Kevin Cook are serving up at the historic Elks Club

come work in the kitchen, and finally I came.” She brought Kevin, who had worked with her at the Gandy Dancer and Frita’s. Their personal favorite is the crispy fried chicken, with a 24-hour buttermilk marinade, coated in a “secret ingredient.”

“Soul food is the coolest food there is,” says Kelli. “Just come try it.”

Elks Neighborhood Kitchen is located at 220 Sunset Road.

Hours are Thursday and Friday 5-10pm and Saturday 4-10pm. For more information, call 734-761-7172 or visit www.facebook.com/ElksKitchen. ecurrent.com / may 2012 11

food 2 wednesday Meet Katherine Yung and Joe Grimm

7pm. Nicolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave. 734-662-0600. www.nicolasbooks.com

Take a delicious look at the traditions of the Coney dog from coast to coast, with of course emphasis on the Michigan coneys. Katherine Yung and Joe Grimm, authors of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coney Detroitâ&#x20AC;? introduce and celebrate the families and individuals that created and continue to proudly serve Detroitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite food.

Health Starts Here 28-Day Challenge!

5-6:30pm. $35. Whole Foods Market, 990 West Eisenhower Parkway.

734-997-7507. www.wholefoods.com

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just getting started on a healthy eating path or have been on the road to wellness for years, join Whole Foods for this exciting, life-changing challenge that encompasses healthy food, cooking classes and wellness presentations. Every Wednesday until May 30. Register early as space is limited.

Wednesday Evening Farmers Market

4:30-8:30pm. Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St. 734-794-6255. www.a2gov.org/market

Every Wednesday until September, this unique farmers market experience offers you the chance to shop, sip, dine, and be merry! There will be live music, food carts, a non-profit sponsored beer and wine garden, as well as educational food demos throughout the season.

3 thursday More than Morels: Michigan Seasonal Mushrooms

7-8pm. Free. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 South Fifth Ave. 734-327-4200. www.aadl.org

Phil Tedeschi, President of the Michigan Mushroom Hunterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club, will discuss popular Michigan mushrooms and

Traditional Tuscan

Experience an authentic Tuscan meal that will leave you salivating for more. Join established culinary expert and Tuscan cook Peggy Markel at Zingermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roadhouse on May 15th as she brings her favorite Italian selections to Ann Arbor. Markel and awardwinning Roadhouse chef Alex Young collaborated on an elegant menu that pairs enticing main courses with appetizers and desserts. Side dishes include delicatelyroasted potatoes with rosemary and 100 percent sheepâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s milk cheese from Pienza. A selection of wines will also be a main staple of the evening. Among the offerings, enjoy the Vin Santo di Cappezzana, a dessert wine, crafted in traditional Tuscan style from a historic estate. $60 per person for food and $30 per person for wine pairings. 7-9 pm. Call to reserve a spot. Zingermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Road., Ann Arbor.

734-663-3663. www.zingermansroadhouse.com/ â&#x20AC;&#x201D;JB share his ideas on Michigan mushrooming at this informative program.

5 saturday Easy As Pie

9am-1pm. $65. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Rd. 734-645-1030. www.annarborcooks.com

Come and learn how easy it is to make an all-American dessert -- with tips and tricks for the best crust ever, and trouble-shooting for any home mishaps! Learn to make All-American Apple Pie, Lemon-Blueberry Meringue Pie and Raspberry-Rhubarb Streusel Pie.

Traditional German Kaffeeklatsch

2:30pm. $10. Kempf House Museum, 312 S. Division St. 734-994-4898. www.kempfhousemuseum.org

Enjoy a traditional German Kaffeeklatsch in the historic Kempf House. This fundraising event in the former home of German-American musicians offers a chance to chat (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Klatschâ&#x20AC;?) with friends while enjoying tasty homemade German coffeecakes, good coffee, and piano music.

7 monday Compassionate Confections

6-10pm. $65. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Rd. 734-645-1030.

www.annarborcooks.com

Vegan desserts can not only taste amazing, but can also actually be good for you.

Learn about new ingredients used in the baking world and great new recipes to please a crowd. Learn to make Chocolate Orange Ginger Cupcakes, Peach Raspberry Crumble, Citrus Berry Cheesecake and Apricot Almond Quinoa Chews.

8 tuesday The Raw Fooderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garden with Ellen Livingston 7-8:30pm. Free. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room, 114 South Main St. 734-994-4589. www.peoplesfood.coop

Learn to plan a garden for a raw food diet and get the most for the least effort.

9 wednesday 17th Annual Dining for Dollars

6pm. $125. Zingermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave. 734-572-9355. www.hivaidsresource.org

Enjoy dinner, silent auction and strolling raffle to benefit the HIV/AIDS Resource Center.

Gluten-Free Gourmet

6:30-9:30pm. $65. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Rd. 734-645-1030. www.annarborcooks.com

Are you living with a gluten allergy or intolerance? Are you trying to navigate the glutenfree world and feel a little overwhelmed in the kitchen?

These classes are designed to help you out with education and plenty of new ideas!

10 thursday The Bakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pantry: Sweeteners 101

7-8:30pm. Free. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room 114 South Main St. 734-994-4589. www.peoplesfood.coop

Learn everything you wanted to know about sugar but were too overwhelmed to ask. PFCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expert baker in residence, Keegan Rodgers, will share the history and chemistry behind all types of sweeteners used in baking; different types of sugars, honey, maple syrup, and others, as well as their qualities and applications for various recipes.

12 saturday Buy Local and Meet the Local Producers

11am-7pm. Free. Whole Foods Market, 3135 Washtenaw Ave. 734-975-4500. www.wholefoods.com

Today meet some local entrepreneur vendors and learn their stories. Taste the delicious products they produce locally.

cont. on page 14

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food

Samosa House

in review Samosa House

Somali food, with a twist

Joe Saul and Lisa Leutheuser It’s rare that we get to welcome a completely new cuisine to our area, but this is one of those occasions: Samosa House, in the old Red Sea space on Washtenaw, is our first Somali restaurant. Owned by sisters Amina and Hawa Hassan, Samosa House showcases Somalia’s cuisine, demonstrating its culinary influences from India, the Middle East, and Italy.

It also demonstrates the Hassan family’s creativity and resilience. One item, the Minato –sauced ground beef, vegetables, and a sprinkling of cheese baked inside a bread bun – was invented by their parents to serve at the family’s original restaurant in Mogadishu in the 90s. (The restaurant itself was an adaptation to circumstances. The family perfume store was destroyed by the militias and they took advantage of their grandfather’s food distribution company to open a restaurant.) The streets of Mogadishu weren’t safe for women, so the women in the family did the cooking, sending the food to the restaurant in the morning. Unfortunately, that meant that they couldn’t serve sandwiches, which would need to be prepared fresh. So they re-invented the calzone, naming it based on the Somali word “min,” for bomb, after a conversation in which a customer hefted one and said “this is really heavy” and was jokingly told “that’s because it has a bomb in it!”

(We’re told it’s now a popular Mogadishu item, but not well known elsewhere in Somalia or the Somali diaspora.)

Having grown up in the family business – the Hassans owned several restaurants after coming to the United States in 1996, and used to supply samosas to local stores – it was natural that Amina and Hawa would open a restaurant. And since Amina already had a reputation for making samosas for school fundraisers, the name was inevitable. (It’s also somewhat confusing; they regularly get Indian patrons who assume it’s an Indian restaurant.)

The Hassans have adapted their dishes and offerings to meet their customers’ demands, offering versions of Somalian dishes that wouldn’t be found in Somalia such as more vegetarian and chicken dishes. They’re also planning to add more selections as time goes on. If you’re familiar with other Somali restaurants, you may see some differences here (though to be honest, you’ll see plenty of differences between any two Somali restaurants, both due to regional cuisine and individual style).

Appetizers

1785 Washtenaw Rd Ypsilanti, MI 48197 (734) 340-6121 Mon-Sat: 10a-10p (they hope to add breakfast soon) Sun: 11a-8p

Samosas: With a name like “Samosa House,” these had better be good. And they are — huge, folded fresh for each order, with a crisp shell and fillings spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, and crushed pepper. In Somalia, they’re a special occasion food, most closely associated with evening meals during Ramadan. They’re also always meat-filled; a vegetarian samosa in Somalia would be considered “cheap,” and many Somalis won’t eat them.

Fortunately, the Hassans aren’t bound by that convention.

The veggie version has a hint of sweetness from the cinnamon and cardamom. The delicate (but not bland) flavor of the vegetables and the spices shine through. (It was the favorite of some of our group.) The meat versions have more savory undertones of their respective meats; the lamb is Joe’s favorite, while the beef ones were particularly nice with the tamarind chutney. Two or three of these could make a meal.

Falafel: different from Middle Eastern chick pea-based recipes, theirs is a mix of six different beans plus carrots, with a fluffy texture somewhat reminiscent of hush puppies. Well worth trying.

Spicy Potatoes: curried mashed potatoes, fried in an egg-shaped patty. They sound heavy, but they’re actually quite light. This is one of the spicier dishes, though the heat grows gradually.

Sandwiches

Steak sandwich: sounds boring, but it’s out of this world! “Seriously awesome” as one of our group put it.

Thin slices of crispy fried beef folded in one of their flaky chapattis with tomato, lettuce, onion, fried potato and a sweet-smoky barbecue sauce, sprinkled with a hint of cheese. (They have a similar sandwich in Somalia, but made with pita and including hard-boiled egg.) There’s also a chicken version.

Minato: discussed above, this tasty “bomb” is made with ground beef, a mix of carrots, onions, potatoes, hardboiled egg, and a bit of parmesan, wrapped in a bread shell and baked. Kind of like a sloppy joe, but somewhat drier and much less “sloppy.” One of them could even be lunch, especially if paired with falafel or a samosa. cont. on pg. 14 ecurrent.com / may 2012 13

food

Main Dishes

Main dishes come with a choice of breads or rice.

All are delicious. The rice is spiced with cumin, black pepper, and cardamom, and is delicious. Of the breads, chapatti is the most familiar; it’s the same as Indian chapatti. Anjeero is the Somali equivalent of Ethiopian injera, a soft, stretchy, slightly spongy flatbread, in this case made from wheat flour and with a touch of sweetness which contrasts well with the slightly sour sukhaar stews.

Muufo, thick bread patties made from white cornmeal and wheat flour, have the same slight sweetness with a soft but dense chewy texture. You can pay a little extra and try more than one.

If you’ve had prior contact with Somali food, you may know that, traditionally, Somalis like a banana along with their meal to cut up over the rice. Samosa House doesn’t serve bananas automatically, but they do have them and they’re happy to bring you one if you ask.

Sukhar: a mainstay of Somali cuisine, these stews vary regionally. In Mogadishu it’s usually a cubed meat in a tomato-based sauce, while in other parts of the country it may be a drier dish with caramelized onions and peppers.

The Hassans wanted to do something different, so they transformed the Mogadishu regional variant into a creamy version with a little bit of dairy as their base. We’ve tried both the lamb and the beef on different occasions, and prefer the lamb. The curry has both sour and sweet flavors, with a mix of vegetables, and tender chunks of meat. It’s not especially photogenic, but it is very, very tasty. (Note: if you’re sensitive to MSG, you may want to be careful with this one.)

Fried Tilapia: Spiced and dry-fried, this perfectly cooked fish is flavorful and wonderful. Goes fabulously with their rice. Expect to see more seafood dishes on the menu as the Hassans expand their offerings, as seafood is very popular in coastal Mogadishu.

Spaghetti: obviously a legacy of Italian colonial rule, this is now what many Somalis eat after Friday prayer.

Like samosas, it’s a special occasion dish. Samosa House’s version is a large plate of spaghetti topped with a slightly spicy tomato sauce and slices of your choice of crisp-fried beef (similar to a Mexican milanesa) or chicken. We tried

14

may

2012 / ecurrent.com

it with the beef, which is the same delicious thinly sliced beef that is used on the sandwich.

As a relatively new restaurant, Samosa House is a work in progress. They plan to expand the menu, and they’ve also got some dishes they can do on request which aren’t on it (yet), such as Goat Sukhar, so it’s worth asking about other options, especially if you’re familiar with the cuisine. Also be aware that it’s a small restaurant with limited staff, so call ahead if you’re bringing a big group.

Despite the fact that they make everything fresh, they’re actually pretty fast, especially with items like the samosas and sandwiches. They’re rapidly becoming a favorite for us.

Lisa and Joe have been blogging about food in the Ann Arbor area (and points beyond) since 2004.

Check them out at www.kitchenchick.com.

cont. from pg. 12 Consider the importance of buying locally produced products to build local economy.

The shorter distance between producer and your table also has a positive environmental impact.

13 sunday Mother’s Day Omelet “On Us” Brunch

10am-1pm. Whole Foods Market, 3135 Washtenaw Ave. 734-975-4500. www.wholefoods.com

All Moms will receive a complimentary, cooked to order omelet in the café during special Mothers Day brunch hours.

All other family members may purchase custom Omelets, priced by the pound.

16 wednesday The Art Of The Souffle

6:30-9:30pm. $65. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Rd. 734-645-1030. www.annarborcooks.com

Sweet or savory, souffles are a sure way to impress your guests. It’s all about technique for this one! So join Ann Arbor Cooks for an evening mastering the process and you’ll see just how easy this crowd pleaser can be.

17 thursday Corner Brewery Brew Release Fundraiser 6:30-9:30pm. Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti. www.ypsipride.org

The Corner Brewery will be releasing a special brew again for Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. Day. They will donate $1 to P.R.I.D.E. for every glass sold of the special brew.

18 friday (un)Corked Wine Tasting: Rosé Revelry 7-9pm. $35. The Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty. 734-663-7848. www.producestation.com

It is not just the usual wine aficionados that are partaking of the rosé craze; this new found acceptance of pink wines is taking over because these wines are dry, refreshing, and plenty fruity, without breaking the bank. These wines are not just porch quaffers as people consider them. These are versatile wines that could easily pair with a variety of food and cuisines. Expect to have rosés from everywhere in France, Italy, Spain, California, maybe Austria, and of course

Highbrow Camping

Aficionados and novices alike can enjoy a day full of wine and beer fit for Dionysus at the Great Lakes Wine Fest at the Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, May 19. Camping goes upscale with fancy food, wine and craft beers provided by over 40 regional wineries and brewing companies. Vineyard owners from Traverse City to Kalamazoo will convene for the festival to give

beautiful Michigan bottlings.

Fee includes tasting portions of over 30 wines and appetizers! Purchase tickets in advance, no ticket sales at the door.

19 saturday Annual Herbfest

9am-3pm. Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 North Dixboro Rd. 734-647-7600. www.mbgna.umich.edu

Vistors will learn all about herbs and can participate in a cooking demo and tastings.

All Herbfest proceeds help support the Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden at Matthaei.

Chef’s Table

7-10pm. $55. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Rd. 734-645-1030. www.annarborcooks.com

Instead of making your usual weekend restaurant reservations, join Ann Arbor Cooks for a different experience -an interactive evening where AAC does the cooking right in front of you with the area’s finest local ingredients – sourced from our local farms and markets. Throughout the evening you will be at arms length with the chef. Interaction is highly encouraged! You will receive

a recipe packet to take home with you detailing the evening’s entire menu. Register early as space is limited. You are welcome to bring wine to enjoy with your meal!

21 monday Fresh Mozzarella Workshop

6-9:30pm. $65. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Rd. 734-645-1030. www.annarborcooks.com

Get ready for the incoming summer produce! Learn how to make fresh mozzarella by hand by stretching curd and then use it in these delicious summer dishes!

22 tuesday Vegetarian Cooking 101 with VegMichigan

7-8:15pm. $10. Whole Foods Market, 990 West Eisenhower Parkway.

734-977-7500. www.wholefoods.com

VegMichigan is the state’s largest vegetarian organization, and we are thrilled to host them in our Lifestyle Center.

This month, join Paul and Susan as they demonstrate Neatballs in Sweet Sour Sauce, Chick-it of the Sea Salad and Ambrosia Fruit Salad. Space is limited register early.

revelers a wine-pairing menu fit for any highbrow foodie. Pairing sessions are an additional $10 a piece and often sell out, so plan to buy ahead of time. The event is hosted by the Jackson County Convention and Visitor’s Club and will have non-electric and electric sites on the Graves Farms Campground available to reserve for $35 and $50, respectively.

12-9pm. $25. Michigan International Speedway, 12626 US Highway 12, Brooklyn, MI. 1-800-354-1010. www.mispeedway.com —AO

24 saturday Springtime In Paris!

6:30-9:30pm. $75. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Rd. 734-645-1030. www.annarborcooks.com

There is nothing quite like the Spring in Paris! If Paris isn’t in the cards for you this Spring -join Ann Arbor Cooks for an engaging and delicious evening and be transported, even if it’s just for a little while! Learn to make Spring Vegetable Garbure, Spring Chicken with Fresh Morels and Cream, Potatoes Anna, Asparagus and Tarte au Citron.

29 tuesday From Tiny To Mighty: The History, Uses, And Cultural Relevance Of The Strawberry

7-8:30pm. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. 734-327-4555. www.aadl.org

Join Ecology by Design as it kicks off Strawberry Week with an exploration of one of the world’s most amazing fruits.

With his unique sense of humor and palpable love of all things botanical, Ecology by Design owner William Kirst will trace the strawberry from ancient Rome, through extensive

breeding over 3 continents and hundreds of years, over wild berry patches to manicured gardens, bringing an understanding and appreciation of the strawberry.

30 wednesday Strawberry Week Presents: Beer Night 5pm. Wolverine State Brewing 2019 Stadium Blvd. 734-972-4798. www.a2ecology.com

Strawberry week continues with a stunning combination of two of America’s favorite pastimes; strawberries and beer!

Wolverine is brewing a special strawberry lager for this event.

Wolverine State brewers Oliver and Karl will discuss their techniques for brewing with fruit, give a tour of the where the magic happens.

31 thursday Introduction to HomeBrewed Kombucha

7-8:30pm. $5 PFC Members/ $10 Non-Members.Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room, 114 South Main St. 734-994-4589. www.peoplesfood.coop

Learn the basics of safely and successfully brewing your own kombucha, a fermented tea used by people for centuries for its health benefits and refreshing taste.

ecurrent.com / may 2012 15

music

Those girls have moxie The Moxie Strings drop an album at Wolverine State Brewing Company

by Sandor Slomovits The Encarta World English Dictionary defines moxie as courage combined with inventiveness. That definition applies aptly to The Moxie Strings, the duo of fiddler Diana Ladio and cellist Alison Lynn. The pair, under their previous name, String Cheese, has been playing their unique blend of Celtic-influenced, rock-inflected music throughout Michigan and beyond for several years now, and will be releasing their first full length recording with an album release party on May 19 at the Wolverine State Brewing Company, beginning at 6:30pm.

Both Ladio and Lynn are classically trained. The years of lessons and the countless hours of practicing are immediately evident in the sureness of their sound. Few musicians develop serious chops like theirs without that kind of training, but classical schooling doesn’t always provide adequate preparation for performance chops, i.e.: the visually exciting stage presence we more frequently associate with rock and pop music shows, or the freedom and abandon we often enjoy in folk and ethnic music concerts. The Moxie Strings’ gift is to blend all these elements into a seamless stage show. Forget any static image you might have of a seated cellist and a violinist rooted to one spot on the stage. Lynn hangs her electric cello with a strap around her neck, allowing her to play standing up, and both she and Ladio roam, constantly swaying, bending and twisting. Their movements echo and mimic each other

16

may

2012 / ecurrent.com

and their music, reinforcing and elaborating on the intricate conversations of their instruments. Lynn is a master of the contemporary cello techniques that have freed and transformed the instrument from its traditionally limited melodic and harmonic roles, exploring its rhythmic and percussive possibilities. Ladio contributes the glorious tone that is the hallmark of the classical style, but also the fiery bowings and intricate ornamentation that is Celtic music’s contribution to contemporary world music.

On their CD and in many of their live shows, The Moxie Strings have been adding percussionist Fritz Mcgirr to their sound. Mcgirr, a member, along with Ladio, of the bluegrass/folk rock group Dragon Wagon, has a similar background to the two women. Also an alumnus of a classical music conservatory, he is adept at the typical drum kit, but also on the Irish bodhran, the Latin cajon and the African djembe. His eclectic array of hand percussion instruments and techniques further emphasizes the propulsive rhythms of The Moxie Strings. Ladio and Lynn not only draw on the rich heritage of the various styles they have absorbed, they are also passing along those skills.

They teach their special fusion of classical, contemporary and world music to students and music teachers at schools throughout the Midwest. The future of music could not be in better hands.

Check them out at www.themoxiestrings.com.

music

The Tony Rice Unit The Ark / Wednesday, May 2

Tony Rice may no longer sing, but he's as dynamic as ever; still mesmerizing crowds with wicked acoustic guitar skills that shift from ambient folk to blazing bluegrass in the blink of an eye. The 60-year-old Rice has a legendary career under his belt, always an integral part of the who's-who-of-bluegrass collaborations — pairing with the likes of Jerry Garcia, Ricky Skaggs and Dave Grisman over the years. He has always been no less than a pure virtuoso, but the contemporary, instrumentally-focused Rice is as airtight and explosive as ever — an adjustment, or maybe more accurately: an evolution, that shows exactly how wildly talented this guy is. $25. 8pm. 316 S. Main St. 734-761-1818. www.theark.com —SR

1 tuesday Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer - The Ark

Dave’s consoling, velvety baritone voice, reminiscent of Greg Brown, and Mandy’s soaring and subtly powerful vocal approach, likened to that of Patty Griffin, polish on the finely crafted body of songs they have generated together.

8pm. Free.

2 wednesday Country & Bluegrass

Dragon Wagon Circus Bar & Billiards

This band brings experimental roots music to audiences all over Michigan. By the end of this concert you will want nothing but to roll in your sweet baby’s arms! 10:30pm. $5 under 21.

Jazz, Blues & R&B Jake Reichbart The Earle Restaurant

Reichbart is an Ann Arbor jazz institution, delighting audiences for almost 20 years, every Wednesday. 7pm.

Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

The Tony Rice Unit The Ark

Guitarist Tony Rice spans the range of acoustic music, from straight-ahead bluegrass to jazz-influenced new acoustic music, to songwriter-oriented folk. 8pm. $25.

3 thursday Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

For Pete’s Sake - The Ark

To mark the awe-inspiring 93rd birthday of folk legend Pete Seeger, a group of local performers come together to present “For Pete’s Sake” -- an all-star, in-the-round, anythinggoes Pete Seeger celebration!

8pm. $10.

4 friday Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

5 saturday

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Silvio’s Organic Pizza

Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop

Lynn Del Fuego, Antonio Crowfoot, and Barefoot Johnny Ducati weave a tangled web of Americana with strands of folk, rock, and the blues. 7-9:30pm.

Free.

Wilson - Woodruff’s

A brutal rhythm section and fret-board wizardry bring the best parts of metal into their hook heavy straight up rock n’ roll. 10pm. $5.

Katie Dahl Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room

Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

Jazz, Blues & R&B

Josh White Jr. describes himself as a secular, folk/blues, pop, jazz vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, actor, adult and children’s concert performer and recording artist, teacher, and social activist. 8pm. $20.

Josh White Jr. - The Ark

She is known for the easy humor of her live performances, the depth and power of her alto voice, and the poignant candor of her original music.

8:30-10:30pm. Free.

Cairn to Cairn - The Ark

Don White Green Wood Coffee House

This can rock out a bit, play northern sounds from Canada, adapt music of Native Americans, travel to the further reaches of Scotland, dig deep into the blues, or jam in a fashion not unlike the best jazz musicians. 8pm. $15.

Don White combines heartfelt, serious lyrics with side-splitting laughs to provide an evening not to be forgotten. 8pm. $17.

Patti Ecker and Louise Brodie - Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room

Salmagundi - Mark’s Carts “Top of the Park” favorite Salmagundi performs hornoriented rock and R&B dance music. 7-9pm.

Patti Ecker and Louise Brodie are a Chicago-based duo that delivers acoustic folk, swing, Celtic and original songs with an entertaining and funky jazzblues style. Patti and Louise pull off this eclectic range of styles with panache and high energy. 8:30pm. Free.

Etienne Charles Kerrytown Concert House

The musical roots of trumpeter Etienne Charles run deep through four generations of Caribbean heritage. He stands at the vanguard of a new generation of musicians who are from the Caribbean but are not totally of it, in terms of a fresh and broad-ranging artistic vision, and in the myriad influences encompassed in their soundscape. 8pm. $10-$30

6 sunday Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

Garnet Rogers- The Ark

One of a pair of brothers who spearheaded a tremendous renaissance in Canadian songwriting in the 1970s and 1980s, Garnet Rogers tells detailed stories of people from all walks of life and their small, everyday victories. 7:30pm. $15.

Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Killer Flamingos Millennium Club

An infectious blend of pop, rock, and electronica, Killer Flamingos produce a sound that is turning heads and capturing listeners everywhere. 10pm. $5/$10 under 2.

Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop The Spring Standards Blind Pig

This powerful folk trio was one of the audience’s favorites (and ours!) at the 2011 Ann Arbor Folk Festival. Their shows are filled with three-part harmonies and a surprising display of talent as each member regularly switches instruments.

9pm. $10.

Don White Green Wood Coffee House

Don White combines heartfelt, serious lyrics with side-splitting laughs to provide an evening not to be forgotten. 8pm. $17.

cont. on page 19

We’ve been

recycling years!

52

for

Ann Arbor’s oldest consignment shop

The Treasure Mart 529 DETROIT STREET c ANN ARBOR

Mon–Sat 9AM–5:30PM

734.662.9887

c

www.treasuremart.com

ecurrent.com / may 2012 17

music

perspective: rock Spring Mix Tape: It’s May. School’s out for summer…

by Jeff Milo

Hereupon the fifth month of the year, I sat down to make a “Top 5” favorite local rock songs – so far – of 2012. With the death of CD’s, it seems like the MixTape is undoubtedly back to being on actual tape. Actually, some of the songs listed here are available only in the cassette format.

1.

Chit Chat – “Cruisin” – This Ypsi trio are exactly what I want a band to sound like if I hear the prefaced descriptor: pop/punk - they’re like spinning tops’ ricocheting from guttural noise, to hazy indie-rock grooves, to elbow-scraped jostles, to daydream-sunshine struts, all of it glistened with that surfy reverb guitar shimmying over a buzzy low end pipeline. One song is chaos, the other is jangly, and “Cruisin’” is a lovely driving sunset ballad that soars for its first two acts and then revs up into a sweet squall of riffs.

2. Matt

Jones & the Reconstruction – “Special Forces” – Josh Malerman (of the High Strung) sat beside me as Jones performed this song (aided by Chris Bathgate on mandolin) inside Jim Roll’s studio. As the hushed acoustic guitar jittered and jigged towards the rushing, cello-sawed poignancy of the chorus, I nudged Malerman and whispered with dorky enthusiasm that this’ll be the song to make Jones famous. Compared to his usual fare — elegant/eerie, sweet/supernatural chamber-pop — this is practically a pop song.

4.

Secret Twins – “Hands Up (Arms Down) – Drummer Tim Thomas still calls Ann Arbor home, even if his “twin,” singer/guitarist Dina Bankole, recently settled east in Hamtramck. They released this song at the end of November: not-even-2-minutes worth of a jangled, jogging, stomp and slide ditty – Bankole’s crooning-cooing-belt harmoniously sweetening what’s just two shades sunnier from being a punk-rock punch-out.

5. Nightlife – “Radio” – Going off, similarly, of

dulcet voiced lead-female vocals – this Ann Arbor duo is coolly rollicking in the darkly beautiful seas of new-

18

may

2012 / ecurrent.com

wave-bedazzled, dance-pop – the hazy, dreamy vocals winding their way through finely composed layers of buzzy synths sawing and chiming like a synthetic orchestra.

6.

Bad Indians – “The Other Side” – Okay, back to punk…well, punk-esque? Psychedelic-rock? I’m cheating here, since this song is part of an EP that won’t be out for a month (even if you can stream this single, now, on the band’s bandcamp-site). This band’s always open to experimentation (and copious reverb), but sometimes they can settle in for 3-minute shambled-up jams where the quavering organs dazzle your ears, the snaky guitars put the hook in you and the drums keep kicking you forward.

And then… my “top 5” quickly broke down and opened up to further entries…

Photographer Kenny Corbin just bent my ears toward a new-ish Ann Arbor band (with two albums out) called Pity Sex (check out “When You’re Around”) who are quenching nostalgic thirsts for the intricate, knotty-guitarslung avalanches of more eclectic 90’s-indie-rock. And then there was the post-hardcore shreds and guttural guitar grinds from a band called All The Wild Children (a group made up of most of the now-defunct Sharky & the Habit) – but whose faces, voices and instrumental stylings are likely already familiar to Ypsi rock crowds (check out “Breaker Breaker.”) They play at Woodruff’s in Ypsi on May 5th. An eighth song for my list would be from a Detroit-based collective with some Ypsi-ties: Infinity People is a staggering (super) group made up of more than a dozen avant-garde, psychedelic/noise/performance-art-leaning rock provocateurs – They’re double album In Love With The Light came out last month on Fred Thomas’ label LifeLike. And while I’m on the subject of singer/songwriter Thomas, one of his most revered projects, Saturday Looks Good To Me, reassembled last month and recorded their first proper album in five years, which is coming out this summer on Polyvinyl.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve been listening to, so far.

of modern sound, Violet Void have left people wanting more, from their psychotic behavior on stage to lyrics that keep your attention and music that drags you into the darkest part of your soul. 9pm. $15.

cont. from pg 17

7 monday Classical & Spiritual

Jazz, Blues & R&B Jake Reichbart The Earle Restaurant

Cambridge Piano Quartet Kerrytown Concert House

Enjoy an evening of music presented by the Cambridge Piano Quartet, currently in residence at the Cambridge International String Academy. 8pm. $5-$25.

Jazz, Blues & R&B

Multi-instrumentalist David Lindley performs a unique brand of electro-acoustic roots rock woven together with sounds from blues, bluegrass, folk, African, Arabic, Asian, Celtic, Malagasy, and Turkish musical sources. 8pm. $20

Every Monday come out and swing to this 15 piece big band. 8:15pm. $10.

8 tuesday Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

Country & Bluegrass

Toting a stack of vintage instruments and a sound that brings listeners back to the days of old-time radio, Lansing’s Steppin’ In It pounds out its own distinct combination of old-time country, swing and blues. 8pm. $15.

9 wednesday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Violet Void - Blind Pig

Influenced by 90’s goth and industrial, along with a little bit

Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

David Lindley - The Ark

Paul Keller Orchestra Grotto Club

Steppin’ In It - The Ark

Reichbart is an Ann Arbor jazz institution, delighting audiences for almost 20 years, every Wednesday. 7pm.

Lonesome Country Circus Bar & Billiards

Hard drivin’ in your face traditional bluegrass is these long time players specialty.

10:30pm. $5 under 21.

10 thursday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Amy Ray - Blind Pig

Most know her from the band Indigo Girls. Where the Indigo Girls were stripped-down Amy’s music is urgent, loud and defiant. 9pm. $15.

music

11 friday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop The Breakers Mark’s Carts

The Breakers perform classic rock dance music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. 7-9pm.

Bliss Silvio’s Organic Pizza

Bliss is characterized by creative arrangements and spirited harmonies. They play an eclectic blend of songs from the Beatles to Marley, as well as originals. 7-9:30pm. Free.

Charlie Slick - Blind Pig

The area’s favorite beat boy will get the party rollin’ at the Derby Dimes 2nd B-Day Bash!

9:30pm. $7 under 21/ $10.

Breakin’ Curfew Power Center

Blending spoken word, dance, rock-and-roll, hip-hop, classical music, jazz, and much more for a single blowout extravaganza of thought-provoking musical, lyrical, and visual art. 8pm. $12-$18.

Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

Jazz, Blues & R&B

Dave Sharp and the Secret Seven Kerrytown Concert House

Dave Sharp’s Secret Seven is world jazz for the jazz world, transcending musical, national and ethnic boundaries by reinterpreting, not fusing, influences from Africa, Asia, the Latin world, Blue Note Jazz and that other planet, New Orleans.

8pm. $5-$25.

12 saturday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop

Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Competition Kerrytown Concert House

Promising high school vocalists from around the region will perform songs from Broadway, Hollywood musicals and the Tin Pan Alley era, competing for a chance to sing in NYC with Michael Feinstein himself.

7pm. $10-$30.

The Muggs - Woodruff’s

Matt Watroba Green Wood Coffee House

Matt Watroba brings a very special set of talents to the stage whenever he appears as a folk musician. His excellent guitar playing, mellow voice, friendship with his audience, and knowledge of his presentations is impressive. 8pm. $15.

These guys are a three piece blues rock band that is sure to bring the house down.

10pm. $7.

cont. on pg 24

Pops in the Park Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy a FREE outdoor concert sponsored by the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission.

Bebn!D/!Sjddjoup-!Nvtjd!Ejsfdups

Riverside Park, Ypsilanti 05/27/12 Rain Date Parking available at Depot Town and at the south end of Riverside Park

5–26 2012 2:00 P.M.

ecurrent.com / may 2012 19

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music

perspective: blues A-square root of the blues

by Jerry Mack

The blues is no stranger to Ann Arbor. The inverse is also true. In fact our town is in the history books as the host of some of the most important blues events ever, including the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festivals of the early 1970’s and between 1992 and 2006. In addition to the notoriety the festivals brought, many downtown and campus clubs and coffee houses featured blues, roots and jazz acts regularly through the decades. Included are the Blind Pig, Rick’s Café, Canterbury House, The Chance, Mr. Flood’s Party, Del Rio, Bird of Paradise,… so what happened? It would take more than the space I’ve been allotted here to delve into that part of our cultural transformation. Let’s just say that if you’re a fan of the blues and/or live music today, go out and support it. That is the only assurance that it will continue. You’ll be glad you did.

The Ark, the only still-participating club of that glorious era, celebrates Cinco De Mayo with a performance by folk and blues legend Josh White Jr. on the 5th. His father’s pioneering efforts in the realm of folk blues with a political edge, set the stage for Josh Jr.’s sojourn into the performing arts and social activism. He wears many hats and fulfills the responsibilities those roles command, as do his compelling and sincere performances. He has met many great historical movers and shakers of our culture and has the stories to that go with those meetings. All this blends into his genuine down-home style with which he plays folk and blues music. Marcia Ball rolls into town with her entourage of musical and cultural gumbo, Louisiana style, on the 26th. Not only is she on tour to promote her 12th CD, release, Roadside Attractions, but she is channeling her energies to help preserve the New Orleans heritage which is still struggling in the aftermath of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster. Aside from her knock-out show featuring blues, boogie, and ballads, she is one of the touring ambassadors for the relief of New Orleans musicians. She might even swap some tried and true ‘Nawlins food recipes with the audience.

Guy Hollerin’s Local Blues & Brews Pub in the Holiday Inn near UM’s campus will help put spring in

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The Ark welcomes folk and blues legend Josh White Jr. and his down-home style on the 5th

your step with their spacious music room and dance floor.

Guitarist Bobby Murray helps celebrate the 5th with swingin’ jump blues and urban blues. Murray’s straight-ahead approach to the blues was honed from two decades of leading the Etta James band. His uncomplicated guitar style is a favorite among true blues fans.

From the center of Michigan comes the rhythm & blues of Root Doctor on the 12th. Vocalist and founding member, Freddie Cunningham is the soul of the band writing and arranging an award winning blend of blues, R&B, and soulful dance tunes. He always maintains and directs a top-notch group of musicians that set the mood for a real blues party.

Harper and His Midwest Kind return on the 19th. Harper’s love of American roots music and world rhythms move him to create funky R&B based grooves overlaid with wailing harmonica riffs and an occasional solo on the aboriginal didgeridoo. His observance of a troubled world is utilized to express sensible survival themes in his original line up of songs.

The club will be closed in observance of Memorial Day weekend.

The new “Live” club, formerly Live at PJ’s, has re-instated Happy Hour every Friday from 6 to 9pm, featuring a host of local bands, and a huge dance floor with no cover. Fubar stirs it up with popular soul, country and rock favorites and originals on the 4th. Drivin’ Sideways draws deep from the well of country music and popular rock covers on the 11th. The Breakers deliver a major dose of classic rock on the 18th. The Vibratrons shake it for you with contemporary sounding vintage rock on the 25th.

Catch guitar wizard Laith al-Saadi every Monday at Woodruff’s in Depot Town Ypsialnti for some great classic rock and blues covers as well as originals. Dave Boutette hosts an energetic acoustic open mic night there on Tuesdays.

The Tap Room In Ypsilanti hosts an open-mic jam with the Martindales every Thursday.

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ecurrent.com / may 2012 23

music

Kina Grannis

The Blind Pig / Thursday, May 3

Kina Grannis is a darling singer/songwriter

from California, and has amassed a huge following on the internet thanks to her highly successful string of YouTube videos. Grannis's YouTube presence has reached over 75 million views and rising! Her video for the song "In Your Arms" is inventive, using hundreds of thousands of jelly beans and stop motion animation (Check it out with the QR Code!). Her music is sunny and sentimental reminiscent of the breezy female artists of the 70's. But don't let that fool you, her web following and continuously sold out shows prove she is a force to be reckoned with. 8pm. $15 adv./$17 door/$20 meet & greet VIP.

cont. from pg 19 Country & Bluegrass

Hoodang - Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room Drawing inspiration from the tradition of English murder ballads, hardcore American country music, and carefulyou’ll-cut-yourself electric blues, the band plays a shapeshifting amalgam of original American roots music. 8:3010:30pm. Free.

Jazz, Blues & R&B Shekinah Errington Café 704

Local vocalist Shekinah Errington will assemble an eclectic mix of music styles, originals & covers. She brings her heart and soul to enchanted, earthy, and playful performances, and will be joined by her band members: Isosceles, Griffi’s Hippie Ypsi Gypsys and special guest David Bell. 8pm.

Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

The Hackwells Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room

The trio has an eclectic style - a sound that ignites a good time, while also presenting beautiful and rich original ballads inspired by the trio’s love of acoustic folk, pop/rock, retro-style country music and Americana.

8:30-10:30pm. Free.

13 sunday

16 wednesday

Jazz, Blues & R&B

Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Ellen Rowe Trio as they present a special Mother’s Daythemed concert celebrating Mary Lou Williams and Marian McPartland! 2pm. $5-$25.

This old school rocker from A2, Michigan, is a prolific guitarist, singer and songwriter currently based in Sydney, Australia. His career in music, grounded in late-60’s Detroit rock, extends through several decades and across continents. 10pm. $5.

Ellen Rowe Trio Kerrytown Concert House

14 monday Country & Bluegrass

Hank 3 - Blind Pig

The career of Shelton Hank Williams III (aka Hank3) has doubled as a sort of crusade in which he breaks all the rules of country music while somehow managing to honor its traditions at the same time. 8pm. $20 adv./ $25 door.

Jazz, Blues & R&B Paul Keller Orchestra Grotto Club

Every Monday come out and swing to this 15 piece big band. 8:15pm. $10.

15 tuesday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Tyler Hilton - Blind Pig

Compared to Howie Day and Elton John both vocally and musically, Hilton has big shoes to fill, especially since he played Elvis Presley in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. 8pm. $10 adv./ $12 door.

Deniz Tek - Woodruff’s

Jazz, Blues & R&B Jake Reichbart The Earle Restaurant

Reichbart is an Ann Arbor jazz institution, delighting audiences for almost 20 years, every Wednesday. 7pm.

Country & Bluegrass

Whistle Pigs Circus Bar & Billiards

Country and bluegrass from Illinois, Whistle Pigs will take the stage so don’t miss ‘em!

10:30pm. $5 under 21.

18 friday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Daedalus - Blind Pig

Daedalus is an Italian progressive metal band that fuses rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, classical music, jazz, electronic music, and ambient music for far out soundscapes.

9pm. $15.

VINEYARD

Adventure

Check out our sophisticated, 21-and-up Vineyard Adventure. Enjoy a delectable mix of wine-tasting, hors d'oeuvres, live music and socializing, all in the remarkable location of your Zoo after hours. Bring your friends for a fun evening, or make it a romantic couple's night out. You deserve it!

June 1 7pm to 9pm Tembo Trail and Hippoquarium® – Funky Fusion To order tickets, visit toledozoo.org call 419.385.5721, ext.6001

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The Wingmen Mark’s Carts

Catch the premier performance of high-energy pop-rock college ensemble The Wingmen. They will make you believe in love again, or your money back.

7-9pm.

Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

The Potter’s Field Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room

They are known for their poetic, gritty lyrics, driving instrumental style (including acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, harmonica, typical and non-typical percussion elements and the occasional kazoo), powerful vocal harmonies and an easy stage presence. 8:30-10:30pm.

Free.

Jazz, Blues & R&B

Dobbins/Krahnke/ Weed Trio Kerrytown Concert House

The trio welcomes jazz master and celebrated bassist Rodney Whitaker for the annual Jazz Masters Series. Guests will enjoy an evening of jazz accompanied by informal dialogue, receiving a rare glimpse into the artists’ musical lives in jazz.

8pm. $5-$30.

Sel de Terre Silvio’s Organic Pizza

This group will get you up dancing for sure. Sel de Terre plays traditional Cajun music, driving 2-steps, beautiful waltzes and some bluesy Creole songs. 7-9pm.

cont. on pg 26

Catch the duo of Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer on “Take a Chance Tuesday” — admission is free in exchange for a nonperishable food donation for Food

music

perspective: folk May flowers

by Twila Price

After my sabbatical, I find that there is almost too much folk music to talk about! But I’ll try to get a handle on it and share the coolest bits of May’s abundance of riches with you.

As always, shows at the Ark begin at 8pm unless otherwise noted; the doors open at 7:30.

Tickets can usually be bought in advance.

May opens with a “Take a Chance Tuesday” at The Ark, featuring the duo of Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer. Admission is provided in exchange for a nonperishable food donation for Food Gatherers. McGraw and Fer remind me, with their western origins (Arizona) and folksy Americana style, of the late Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer.

I believe that it’s the stories embedded in the evocative lyrics more than any other element. Since Fer plays electric guitar and McGraw plays acoustic, they rock out on some of the songs from their debut album, Seed of a Pine. I’d definitely recommend taking a chance on them – they are really entertaining and the price is definitely right.

On Thursday, May 3, The Ark is hosting For Pete’s Sake: Celebration of Pete Seeger’s 93rd birthday – and, man, some fine celebrating will be going on. A gaggle of local folk musicians will be taking the stage to share the love of music with the audience and each other. Let’s see – the inimitable Gemini (twins San and Laz Slomovitz with San’s daughter Emily), Chris Buhalis, Sally Potter, Dick Siegel, Paul Tinkerhess, Erin Zindel, and my favorite local band of all, Mustard’s Retreat. What a lineup! Tickets are a wildly inexpensive: $10, and all profits go to The Ark. On Sunday, May 6, Garnet Rogers appears at The Ark. The show starts at 7:30 pm; tickets are $15. Long-time Canadian singer-songwriter Rogers is always a wonderful performer, whether he’s singing his own creations in his amazing baritone or telling often-bawdy stories that make his audiences double over with laughter (it’s true – I have seen people collapse in their chairs after some of his tales!). I have followed his career ever since he first began touring on his own following the death of his brother and former performance partner,Stan, and the man just gets better and better. I can’t recommend his shows highly enough.

The month boasts other delights at the Ark, but there are some gems at the Green Wood Coffee House Series as well.

On Friday, May 11, local folk-radio legend and singer-songwriter Matt Watroba will be giving his usual fine performance of his own compositions and covers mixed with his story-telling (more restrained than that of Garnet Rogers, but mellow and informative) at the Green Wood. This would be a fantastic performance for children to attend, as Matt tends to compassionate, humorous and just plain fun songs. $15. 8pm.

Don White returns after his last sold-out show for a two-night stand, featuring his signature brand of mixing serious lyrics with poignant humor, on Friday May, 4 and Saturday May 5. $17. 8pm. ecurrent.com / may 2012 25

music

Joe Pug

Photo by Amber Meairs

Blind Pig / Friday, May 25

cont. from pg 24

19 saturday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Kurt Vile - Blind Pig

Saturday Looks Good To Me brought together the jubilant fun of Motown and Northern soul with a decidedly indie approach. 8pm. $15.

21 monday

After leaving the rising band War On Drugs, Philly singer/ songwriter Vile pumps out his own brand of psychedelic folk.

9pm. $15.

Jazz, Blues & R&B

Killer Flamingos Millennium Club

Every Monday come out and swing to this 15 piece big band. 8:15pm. $10.

An infectious blend of pop, rock, and electronica, Killer Flamingos produce a sound that is turning heads and capturing listeners everywhere. 10pm. $5/$10 under 21.

Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic

Indian Tabla Music with John Churchville Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room

Local tabla player John Churchville hosts an evening of Indian classical, light classical, fusion, and folk music in the wonderful Crazy Wisdom Tea Room. Come hear the sounds of a musical tradition that dates back over 2000 years.

20 sunday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Saturday Looks Good To Me - Woodruff’s

Born as a basement recording project in the year 2000,

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Paul Keller Orchestra Grotto Club

23 wednesday Country & Bluegrass

Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys Circus Bar & Billiards

This bunch is giving a nod to American traditional music, while boldy taking their own songs in new directions.

Distinct vocals, tight harmonies, instrumental expertise, and creative arrangements are all essential characteristics of their unique sound. 10:30pm. $5 under 21.

25 friday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Charlie Slick Mark’s Carts

Come out for electronic popdance music by the ultimate showman Charlie Slick. 7-9pm.

2012 / ecurrent.com

After opening for the late Americana legend Levon Helm at the Michigan Theater two months ago, Joe Pug has a lot of buzz circulating in Ann Arbor (and, basically, everywhere else). And he should; for the last half decade the 20-something Chicago-based country/folk songsmith has been on the grind, touring non-stop and even sneaking into recording studios' cancelled slots in the early years. He brings a stinging breeze of desperation into a world that desperate men used to dominate, bridging the gap between the past and future of the American storyteller. $13 advance, $15 door. 9pm. 208 S. 1st St. 734-996-8555. www.blindpigmusic.com —SR

Jazz, Blues & R&B

The Dorkestra Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room

Categorizing themselves as “American Dork Jazz,” The Dorkestra is a diverse group of musicians who have combined their study of Jazz, African, Latin, Middle Eastern, Salsa, Country and Funk into a unique eclectic repertoire to help you shake your booty and stomp your feet. 8:30-10:30pm. Free.

26 saturday Jazz, Blues & R&B Universal Xpression Blind Pig

This band uplifts and captivates its audiences with Caribbean rhythms such as reggae, soca, zouk, and dance hall music, with an undertone of African, Latin and American rhythms.

9pm. $10.

21 monday Jazz, Blues & R&B Paul Keller Orchestra Grotto Club

Every Monday come out and swing to this 15 piece big band. 8:15pm. $10.

29 tuesday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Ron Pope - Blind Pig

Pope is a hugely talented New York based singer, gifted guitarist and prolific songwriter with an incredible bluesy voice.

He’s also an Internet sensation whose achievements of recent years are almost a preview of the music business of the future: viral, organic and hypefree. 9pm. $12 adv./$15 door.

Country & Bluegrass

Henhouse Prowlers Circus Bar & Billiards

The Henhouse Prowlers center their sound on that of the formative years of bluegrass, while keeping their pulse on today by covering contemporary topics in a largely original repertoire.

10:30pm. $5 under 21.

30 wednesday Jazz, Blues & R&B Jake Reichbart The Earle Restaurant

Reichbart is an Ann Arbor jazz institution, delighting audiences for almost 20 years, every Wednesday. 7pm.

ecurrent.com / may 2012â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 27

film

1 tuesday

The Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival

$10 per screening or $80 for a festival pass for JCC members/$85 for non-members. Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty St. 734-668-8463. http://www.jccannarbor.org.

The Jewish Film Festival is an annual event celebrating film and the impact and influence which Jewish culture has played on current movies and filmmakers of today. It also provides a forum for discussion about films from around the world that illuminate Jewish issues and principles.

Through May 3.

The Kid with a Bike

$10. Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty St. 734-668-8463. http://www.michtheater.org.

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and a Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, the deeply moving new film by the Dardenne brothers (L’enfant, Rosetta) delves into the emotional life of troubled 11-year-old Cyril (newcomer Thomas Doret).

When his father (Jérémie Renier) abandons him, Cyril obsessively searches for his bicycle – placing his last bit of hope in this symbol of their relationship. Through May 3.

4 friday Blood in the Mobile

Free. 7pm. The Ann Arbor Community Center, 625 N. Main St. 734-662-3128. www.annarbor-communitycenter.org.

The intrepid Frank Poulsen, a Danish version of Michael Moore, travels to DR Congo to see the illegal mine industry with his own eyes. By purchasing these so-called “conflict minerals” the west (Nokia) is financing a civil war that, according to human rights organizations has been the bloodiest since WWII.

9 wednesday Allegro non Troppo

Free. 8:30 pm. Arbor Brewing, 114 East Washington St. 734-213-1393. www.arborbrewing.com.

An enthusiastic filmmaker thinks he’s come up with a totally original idea: animation set to classical music! When he is informed that some American named “Prisney” (or something) has already done it, he decides to do his own version, using an orchestra comprising mostly old ladies and an animator he’s kept locked in a dungeon. Several different classical pieces are animated, while the animator plots his escape.

11 friday I Am Fishead

Free. 7pm. The Ann Arbor Community Center, 625 N. Main St. 734-662-3128. www.annarbor-communitycenter.org.

This excellent film, narrated

by Peter Coyote, exposes the pyramid structure of our society, the very few at the top creating conditions for the majority below.

Who are the very few? Can we blame them for the problems our society faces? Guided by the saying, “A fish rots from the head” the film follows the fishy odor and finds out that people at the top are more likely to be psychopaths than the rest of us.

18 friday Houston We Have A Problem

Free. 7pm. The Ann Arbor Community Center, 625 N. Main St. 734-662-3128. www.annarbor-communitycenter.org.

Challenging, humorous, and never boring. Meet the oil barons, wildcatters, and roughnecks and their long struggle to feed American’s ferocious oil appetite.

Step inside the oil culture to understand just how the US became so addicted and why Houston believes we must go “Green” for a secure domestic energy future. The Texas straight talking and sense of humor make the film interesting to watch.

20 sunday Delia Ephron

3pm. Free. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 South Fifth Ave. 734-327-4200. www.aadl.org.

Bestselling author, screenwriter and playwright Delia Ephron makes a special appearance at the Library to discuss her career as well as her delightful new

A film for the ages

The truly magical thing about E.T.: the Extra Terrestrial is that it's a film you grew up with, but, unlike a slew of other whimsical kid-magnet flicks, you can continue to appreciate it as an adult for non-nostalgic reasons. In the Spielberg classic — screening at the State Theater as a midnight showing on May 5 — there are enough imaginationfueled light-hearted moments for a pre-teen to watch it 52 times a year, but also substance to make you think: Are we, as a society, too afraid of things we don't understand? And do we slowly lose basic levels of compassion and acceptance as we age and conform with the world? $10. 11:59pm.

State Theater, 233 South State St. 734-761-8667. www.michtheater.com —SR novel ‘The Lion Is In.’ The event includes a book signing with books for sale. Delia Ephron’s screenwriting credits include the hit movies ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,’ ‘Bewitched,’ ‘You’ve Got Mail,’ ‘Hanging Up’ (based on her novel), and ‘Michael.’ She was also the producer of the timeless comedy ‘Sleepless In Seattle.’

Hook

1:30 pm. $10. Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty St. 734-668-8463. www.michtheater.org.

Steven Spielberg filters J. M. Barrie‘s Peter Pan through a distinctly 1990s sensibility in Hook. Peter Pan has become Peter Banning (Robin Williams), a 40-year-old mergers and acquisitions lawyer with a permanent scowl on his face and a cellular phone in his belt. Banning has lost any memory of being Peter Pan, and he is also in danger of

losing his wife Moira (Caroline Goodall) and two children.

German Film Institute

2-10pm. North Quad Space 2435. 734764-0147. www.lsa.umich.edu.

An institute devoted to “The Cinema of Crisis: German Film, 1929-1936.” Meeting for the 14th time, and for the fourth time at Michigan, the week-long Institute comprises a series of screenings (archival prints and DVD copies of rare films) as well as a daily, three-hour seminar.

The seminar is generally open only to admitted applicants who have publishing records in the field of German film studies, but the screenings, by contrast are open to the public, who are invited to benefit from the opportunity to see rare films from the crucial period in German cinema that involves the transition to sound, the financial / political crises of the late Weimar Republic, and the rise of Nazism.

25 friday One Dude’s Quest To Save Democracy

Movie heaven

The Michigan Theater has contemplated having an international film festival (other than the experimental gem Ann Arbor Film Festival of course) for several years, and now it’s a reality. On May 31 - June 3, Cinetopia will show 30 to 40 feature films, documentaries and new and old 3D pictures — similar to

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Toronto, Cannes or Cleveland. The inaugural selections include works that premiered at Sundance and other world-renowned festivals, including the films of silent-era star Henry Lloyd. Compared to the AAFF, Cinetopia will show more popularized films than obscure ones. The festival hopes to expand in coming years, with the goal of expanding to 11 days. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. 734-6688463. www.michtheater.org. —SR

7pm. Free. The Ann Arbor Community Center, 625 N. Main St. 734-662-3128. www.annarbor-communitycenter.org.

Nagging doubts about the legitimacy of the 2004 election force John Ennis to get off his sofa and investigate Ohio leading up to the 2006 elections. He meets with journalists, politicians, election officials, attorneys, activists, and everyday Ohioans in a search for truth. Along his journey, Ennis uncovers a web of schemes that swung the U.S. election.

ecurrent.com / may 2012â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 29

theater

Changing of the guard The Performance Network celebrates painter Mark Rothko

by Sandor Slomovits

The Performance Network’s next production is Red by John Logan. The play is about the prominent modern painter, Mark Rothko, and focuses on the period in Rothko’s career when he was working on his gigantic Four Seasons restaurant murals. The play won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Play. Its Ann Arbor run, April 19 – May 27, is directed by Carla Milarch, the Network’s Executive Director.

Tell us about the play.

Milarch: This play juxtaposes the work that Rothko and his assistant do as they create the painting—you see them prepping the canvas, putting the base coat on; there’s this wonderful scene where they’re doing almost a balletic piece as they’re painting the canvas together—and you hear them talking about the ideas behind the art. There’s also the added layer of music. Rothko favored Schubert and Mozart to paint to, so there’s a record player on stage and we hear these pieces throughout the course of the play.

Rothko says in the play, "There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend: One day the black will swallow the red."

Rothko used a lot of red and black in his painting, and his later works were black. But if you look at a Rothko painting at the distance that he suggested, eighteen inches away, there’s obviously much more to them than just black.

Carla Milarch, PN’s Rothko committed suicide, and his famiExecutive Director, ly and people close to him were all really directs Red mystified as to why he did that. I think that whole black swallowing red is the playwright’s way of trying to puzzle out what it was that led him to that.

It’s a two-person play. How is directing something small different from directing a large cast?

I’ve done the big musicals at Network for the past five years and I was starting to get scared I wasn’t going to be able to do these intimate, detailed, nuanced pieces. So I was very excited and a little bit nervous.

I’m really looking forward to finding the human element in the play. They talk a lot about art, but there’s a whole sub-textual level that’s about two men struggling for status. Rothko’s assistant is a younger guy, a contemporary of Warhol, Lichtenstein — that next generation that was coming in to replace Rothko.

The two men develop almost a father/son relationship, destroying each other, supporting each other.

That’s the level that I’m most excited about, because it’s the most hidden. We’re looking for that.

Your actors will be creating a painting on stage?

Every night there is a huge new canvas. They’ll have new white T-shirts, and they’ll get covered with paint.

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1 tuesday A Concert Reading Of Jeff Daniels’ New Play, The Meaning of Almost Everything

Free. 6:30 pm. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 South Fifth Ave. 734-327-4200. www.aadl.org.

Join The Purple Rose Theatre Company for a concert reading of Jeff Daniels’ new play, “The Meaning of Almost Everything,” which is scheduled for its World Premiere at the Purple Rose Theatre for the 2012-2013 season. Artistic Director Guy Sanville will lead an audience talk-back session after the reading. Two men exist in nothingness. One wants to remain.

The other is isn’t so sure. Jeff Daniels’ newest play explores the questions, the fear and the joy of being alive in a thoughtprovoking and theatrical way.

3 thursday The Cricket in Times Square

10am. Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building, 4800 E. Huron River Dr. 734-677-5033. www.wildswantheater.org.

Based on the heartwarming George Selden classic adapted by Wild Swan resident playwright Jeff Duncan, this is a delightful tale of life in New York City in the 1930’s. It is told through the eyes of Mario, who works at his family’s newsstand in the subway station under Times Square and three improbable friends — a cat, a mouse and a cricket — who bring music and wonder into the lives of thousands of commuters.

Through May 6.

4 friday Give Me 1 Reason

$20-$25. 8pm. Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 N. University Ave.

734-763-3333. www.ums.org.

The dream of every mother is for her son to follow his father’s footsteps. Except Theresa’s dream is a nightmare and his father’s footsteps are leading straight to the grave. How do you fight against the truth you’ve denied for so long? Who has the strength to forgive adultery and conquer addiction?

West Side Story

$15. 7:30 pm. Pioneer High School, 601 W. Stadium Blvd.734-994-2120. www.a2pioneer.org. 734-994-2120.

Following the story of two rival gangs, The Jets and the Sharks, in a time where racial tension is high, the struggle to find stability in life as a teenager is excruciatingly difficult. Amidst all of the hatred and animosity, two young people from opposing sides, Tony and Maria, fall in love against all odds and at the most inopportune time, defying the disapproval of their respective sides. Through May 5.

theater Fools

$8. 7:30 pm. Huron High School, 2727 Fuller Rd. 734-994-2095. www.aaps. k12.mi.us/huron.huron_players.

Huron Players present Neil Simon’s Fools, a story about a young Russian man who finds himself in a city that has been cursed with stupidity.

6 Sunday

Nate the Great

$15. 1:30 pm. Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty St. 734-668-8463. www.michtheater.org.

Introducing the latest crimesolving detective… Nate the Great! Nate is a master at finding lost things, but he faces his toughest case when asked to help locate his neighbor’s missing painting.

cont. on page 32

ecurrent.com / may 2012 31

theater Photo by Caleb Newman

Coming back to Michigan

Matt Steward, Kathleen Beardmore, Nick Boyer and Dena Denha in Leaving Iowa

The Ann Arbor Civic Theatre is bringing back a play which made it's world premier at the Purple Rose Theatre. Leaving Iowa, by Tom Clue and Spike Manton, is a story of reconciliation as middle-aged writer Don Browning goes on a journey through Iowa to find a place to spread his father's ashes. He has to come to terms with his father's passing, his own history and his future course for his future. This production is directed by Michael Schacherbauer and runs May 3-6. Thursday-Saturday, 8pm;Sunday, 2pm. $8-$20. Arthur Miller Theatre, 1226 Murfin Ave. 734-971-0605. www.a2ct.orgâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;JG

cont. from page 31

7 monday Purple Rose Auditions

10am - 5pm. Purple Rose Theater, 137 Park St., Chelsea. 734-433-7673. www.purplerosetheatre.org

The Purple Rose Theatre Company will hold general auditions, for males and females over 21, for roles in their 2012 / 2013 season on Monday, May 7 and Tuesday, May 8 from 10am-5pm. Everyone will be asked to perform a one-minute comic monologue and should bring a current headshot and resume to the audition.

11 thursday Macbeth

A comedy-drama centered around a new married couple, One Big Mess is about a young naive women who struggles with faith, love and acccepting the truth.Â

31 thursday

tinian maestro, Mariano Riera.

Proof

$18. 8pm. Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsilanti. 734-480-2787. www.redbudproductions.com.

Redbud Productions presents this Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Auburn. A troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father (Tim Grimes), a famous mathematician. Now, she must deal with her own emotions.Â

7pm. $5. Whitmore Lake High School, 7430 Whitmore Lake Rd., Whitmore Lake 734-449-4461 www.wlps.net/~hs/index.html

Shakespeareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark reflection on the struggle for power and the evils that come with it. Macbeth is filled with murder and deceit; mass slaying and evil magic turn lives upside down, causing the downfall of many.

26 saturday One Big Mess

7pm. Morris Lawrence Building, WCC, 4800 E. Huron River Dr. 734973-3300. www.wccnet.edu.

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art

artbeat Summer starts early

by Louis Meldman

America’s greatest summer celebration of art and entertainment, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, opens early this year, with Bonnie Raitt at Hill Auditorium on Friday, May 25. This is the 31st incarnation of the Fest and somehow it keeps getting better, thanks to Festival Director extraordinaire, maestrowith-the-magic-touch, Robb Wolfe. I asked him for an upcoming sleeper show that might not get the local press it deserves. Answer: Feist at the Power Center on Tuesday, June 5.

The mononomial Feist has so many facets that I think of her act as performance art, including an innovative use of video projections and multi-media flourishes. The 36 year-old Canadian has chalked up enough awards, plum appearances and record sales for several careers. Her first three albums sold a total of 2.5 million copies. At the 2008 Juno Awards (Canada’s Grammys) she was top winner, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. Her current tour is promoting Metals, which was released last September and earned another Artist of the Year, Adult Alternative Album of the Year and Music DVD of the Year.

She’s played with artists from The Ramones to Radiohead, and Beck to Wilco, but her music is beyond simple description. I find it fierce, tight and passionate, young Patti Smith meets early Sheryl Crow. She’s appeared on Letterman, SNL and A Colbert Christmas. Even on Sesame Street with a cameo on last year’s movie The Muppets. She’s been lionized by Time magazine, the New York Times and Vanity Fair (photo by Annie Leibovitz). She can be heard on movie soundtracks and bigbudget ad campaigns. And she’s just as hot in Europe. This may be your last chance for an intimate, up close look at Feist before she ascends, inexorably to living legendhood.

And you can check out Official Summer Festival Photographer, Myra Klarman’s giant blow-up prints of last

Performance artist Feist hits the Power Center on June 5, part of this year’s Ann Arbor Summer Festival. Don’t miss Mark Bertrand’s amazing photographs of fruits and vegetables, above, at The Main Art Theater in Royal Oak

year’s Fest on the Power Center walls. Who knows, you just might catch a glimpse of yourself in one of Klarman’s evocative shots. (Or am I the only one who looks for himself?) Annarborsummerfestival.org.

Photo Royal

Landmark Theaters is the oldest and best art and indie movie chain in the United States. The only Landmark in Southeast Michigan is The Main Art Theater in rollicking Royal Oak, a forty-five minute drive from Ann Arbor.

Opening in its lobby alcove on Friday, May 4, and running through the month, is a remarkable exhibition of photographs of fruits and vegetables by Mark Bertrand. Mr. Bertrand lives and works in Royal Oak and hasn’t quit his day job as physical therapist at William Beaumont Hospital. But his consuming passion is photography. He has a fine arts degree from Oakland Community College, where he spent all his free time in the photo lab (he eschews digital). His photographs are dazzling, transfixing works of art, the product of patient, meticulous technique and a sensitive, loving eye. I’m not the only one who thinks so. Previous exhibition venues include the Washington Street Gallery in nearby Ferndale, the most important art gallery in metropolitan Detroit. (Inside scoop: if you’re a beer drinker, don’t miss the Royal Oak Brewery, two blocks from the Main Art, whose brewmaster, Tim Selewski, is known as the best in America.) Google Landmarktheaters for easy directions. Cheers, Mark! ecurrent.com / may 2012 33

Photo courtesy Cristin Tierney Gallery

art

Peter Campus, Kiva, 1971, video installation, Edition 2/3

Peter Campus helped stretch the minimalist movement into the next frontier, pioneering live video art that incorporates the viewer and twists the room into an almost dreamlike, man-made mirage. Starting May 5, The University of Michigan Museum of Art will display Campus' 1971 innovation Kiva, a live-video feed that turns the camera on the viewer. Through moving suspended mirrors the image continuously alters itself — multiplying, fragmenting and shifting what's on the screen. UMMA, 525 S. State St. 734-764-0395. www.umma.umich.edu —SR

symbols that make up each traditional image. The exhibit consists of 25 of the children’s thangka paintings.

New Exhibits

2012 Kids Art Fair Submissions

2 wednesday

5pm. Ann Arbor District Library Pittsfield Branch, 2539 Oak Valley Dr. 734-327-4200. www.aadl.org

Tibetan Children Thangka Paintings

Ann Arbor District Library Downtown, 343 S. 5th Ave. 734-327-4265. www.aadl.org.

Stretching perception

Tibetan Home of Hope, an orphanage and a school, is providing a home, education, and a better future for about one hundred abandoned and orphaned children. Educating them in their native land and giving the children a chance to become independent adults with an appreciation of their disappearing heritage. The children in the artisan program learn the correct proportions, stance, hand positions and

The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original will be accepting artwork from young artists in 3rd – 8th grade to be juried for the 2012 Kids’ Art Fair (to be held at the Townie Street Party on the evening of Monday, July 16). The Kids’ Art Fair provides young artists from Washtenaw County with the unique opportunity to learn how to showcase and sell their original artwork in an art fair setting. Jurors from the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original will score the work.

Artists will have ample

FOR THE

Ann Arbor Art Center

Fabulous FOOD

Delectable DRINK

Adventurous ART

Please join us for our annual fundraising soirée now in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor

DATE

Saturday May 12, 2012

6:00 pm

LOCATION Ann Arbor Art Center 117 West Liberty Street Ann Arbor, Michigan

For more info and to make your reservation please go to www.annarborartcenter.org/events

34

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2012 / ecurrent.com

opportunity to show and discuss their art work with each juror.

Mixed Media Paintings

by Chrisa Craig

Ann Arbor District Library Malletts Creek Branch, 3090 E. Eisenhower Pkwy. 734-327-4265. www.aadl.org

Dr. Craig is a professor emeritus of art education with BA and MA degrees from the University of Michigan, and an Ed.D in Art from New York University. As a working artist, Prof. Craig has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, and her art has taken many forms over her lengthy career as a visual artist.

Mark Rothko & “Red”

Free. 7pm. The Performance Network Theatre, 120 East Huron St. 734-327-4200. www.aadl.org.

Performance Network Theatre and the Ann Arbor District Library present and enlightening evening focusing on Mark Rothko, the famous abstract painter and the subject of the Tony Award-Winning play “Red” (now showing through May 27 at the Performance Network). UM History of Art Department PhD student Grant W. Mandarino leads the discussion on Rothko’s life and work. (See pg. 30)

12 saturday Paint the Town

6pm. Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty St. 734-994-8004. www.annnarborartcenter.org.

The Ann Arbor Art Center’s annual fundraising soiree, now in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor. The evening will begin with a tour of the Ann Arbor Art Center’s galleries, shop and studios. See artists in action and enjoy live music while you feast on fabulous hors d’oeuvres and an eclectic selection of wines, spirits and craft beers. The soiree continues in a giant tent pitched in the Art Center’s “backyard” parking lot.

20 sunday Lecture: Motivated by the Challenge to Live and Create Authentically Detroit Institute of Art, 5200 Woodward Ave.,Detroit.

313-833-7900. www.dia.org.

For more than three decades,

visual and performing artist Joyce Scott has created objects of exceptional skill and beauty. Much of her work is politically or socially oriented, as in beaded figurative sculptures that focus on issues of racism, domestic violence, and cultural imperialism. In other work, she pursues aesthetic satisfaction, the joy of experimentation, and growth in creativity. Sponsored by Friends of African and African American Art.

ongoing

117 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor.

The Ann Arbor Art Center’s annual exhibition The Print invites artists to showcase experimental print techniques encompassing contemporary standards as well as time honored traditions. This exhibition is open to any artist who is a current resident of Michigan.

This year’s juror is Norm Stewart, artist, masterprinter and owner of the printing and publishing company of fine art prints, Stewart & Stewart.

Through June 10.

Brighter Michigan: Photography

734-936-4000. www.med.umich.edu/ goa. Gifts of Art Gallery - Taubman Health Center South Lobby. 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor.

Founded in 2006 on Flickr, EXPOSURE.Detroit is metro Detroit’s largest photography group. The 2100+ membership is comprised of photographers of all levels, from amateur to professional. Through June 11.

Ann Arbor Public Schools Annual Student Art Exhibit 734-327-4265. www.aadl.org.

Downtown Library.

343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor.

Each year, the Ann Arbor Public Schools showcase the work of their students The AADL. Once again, the developing talents of students from across the city will be shown in the Downtown Library.

Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art in many mediums will fill the display cases and cover the walls.

Come and enjoy the wonderfully creative projects of the students from kindergarten through fifth grade art classes.

Through May 29.

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everything else

1 tuesday Meet Baseball Great Jim Abbott

7pm. Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave. 734-662-0600. www.nicolasbooks.com

Meet baseball great Jim Abbott for a discussion and signing of his new memoir, ‘Imperfect: An Improbable Life.’ Despite being born without a right hand, Jim Abbott went on to be a star pitcher for the University of Michigan, win a gold medal at the Olympics and pitch a no-hitter on the mound for the New York Yankees.

Volunteer At the Huron River Watershed Council Independence Lake County Park/ Saturday, May 12

Do you enjoy working outdoors, helping the environment and meeting lots of new people?

Volunteers are needed to assess grasslands, forests, aquatic habitats and wetlands for the spring, summer and fall. A minimum commitment to three assessments throughout the season (each lasts about 4 hours) is required. Training will be provided on May 12 at Independence Lake County Park in Whitmore Lake. Participants will learn valuable skills to aid them in identifying important natural areas for protection. The program has allowed for more than 200 properties in Ann Arbor and surrounding areas to be surveyed in the interest of promoting and preserving the Huron River. Field Assessment Training, 10am to 3pm. Independence Lake County Park, Whitmore Lake. 734-769-5123. www.hrwc.org—JB

2 wednesday Ann Arbor Grub Crawl 2012

6-9pm. $5 kids under 12/$20 adults.

Main St., Downtown Ann Arbor.

734-214-0105. www.annarborchamber.org

Patrons have the oppotunity to sample specialties from delicious area restaurants and to make it hassle free, Golden Limousine International will be providing a trolley for guests to easily navigate. Registration required.

John Farah And Nelson Williams Discuss Running, Health And Wellness 7-8:30pm. Downtown Library, 343 South Fifth Ave. 734-327-4200. www.aadl.org

John and Nelson have been active in marathons for years.

Their new book, “Let’s Pick It Up A Bit: A Guide To A Running Lifestyle” is more than a collection of tips for runners - it is about creating a strong foundation to keep active, fit and healthy, not just physically but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. The challenge of life is to learn how to keep growing to keep getting better!

3 thursday Take a Hike!

7-8:30pm. Free. Bird Hills Nature Area, Newport Rd., North of M-14.

734-327-4200. www.aadl.org

The City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation staff leads a hike in one of Ann Arbor’s most beloved parks, Bird Hills.

Covering 147 acres, it is the largest park in Ann Arbor. Learn about ecological restoration and responsible use of public lands.

Opportunities for wildlife viewing are plentiful. Dress comfortably to walk and enjoy nature.

4 friday Midnight Madness

7-9pm. Main St., Downtown Ann Arbor. 734-668-7112. www.mainstreetannarbor.org

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2011 / ecurrent.com

Kick off Cinco de Mayo weekend on Friday night with the Main Street Area Association Midnight Madness, Cinco de Mayo Style. Enjoy music and entertainment on the sidewalks as participating businesses will be staying open late, offering specials and sales throughout the day.

Log On to the Humanities: How New Technologies Expand the Humanities and How They Don’t Fri., 6-9pm;Sat., 9am-4pm. $200-$225.

UM Institute for the Humanities, 202 S. Thayer St. 734-936-3518. www.lsa.umich.edu

Each spring the University of Michigan Institute for the Humanities gathers together friends and alumni to explore a topic through a humanities-andarts lens. During this seminar consider how the humanities are being recast, learn how new visual and algorithmic methods have opened up entirely new digital art forms, tour the current vanguard of “human-machine” writing, examine the history of the book and its current reincarnation as a digital object and explore the U-M Digital Media Commons, one of the finest technical spaces in the country. Visit the website for the full schedule.

5 saturday 2012 Ann Arbor Juggling Arts Festival

10am-5pm. WideWorld Sports Center, 2140 Oak Valley Dr. 248-990-8084

Jugglers and non-jugglers alike are invited to the 2012 Ann Arbor Juggling Arts Festival!

Guests will enjoy juggling workshops, games, lessons and prop vendors.

6 sunday Annual Fairy Door Walk

10am-1pm. Free. The Tea Haus, 204 N. Fourth Ave. www.washtenaw-wanderersblogspot.com

Urban Fairy Doors, Dragons and Trolls with the Washtenaw Wanderers Walking Club. Take a 5 or 10K stroll to view the downtown Ann Arbor fairy doors. All ages and abilities are welcome.

9 wednesday Smart Meters, Dirty Electricity and Your Health 7-9pm. Free. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room, 114 S. Main.

734-277-0098. www.crazywisdom.net

Hear documented facts exposing how electricity is changed in your home to a dangerous carcinogen by smart meters and other devices like cell phones, antennae, and appliances. The World Health Organization says smart meter electromagnetic frequencies are a class 2b carcinogen equal to lead and DDT. Ann Arbor houses are now being installed with them. Also learn about Dirty Electricity and how it affects your health (one epidemiologist says it’s the number one cause of cancer), a subject well documented since WW2. Presentation is by Dr. Darren Schmidt, Nutritional Healing Center of Ann Arbor.

everything else

social studies The Michigan Theater rolls out the red carpet for the Opening Reception of the Ann Arbor Film Festival on March 27.

Left: Sally Volkmann and Katt Qian Top Left: Milton Curry, Peter Bailey and Marty Fischhoff Above: Jonathan Tipton, Zack Zavisa, Ashley Willett, Kristen Pearce and Jeff Paquin from the Raven’s Club

Title IX at 40: Progress and Promise, Equity for All 5pm. $75 for students/$100 general.

Rackham Amphitheatre, 915 East Washington St. www.irwg.research.umich.edu

This conference will celebrate the federal legislation that enabled women and girls to become high school and college athletes. Laila Ali, world champion boxer and president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, will deliver the keynote address. The conference will explore the consequences of the legislation, including political, social, historical, economic and health-related effects.

11 friday Author Event: Saloma Furlong

7-8:30pm. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. 734-327-4555. www.aadl.com

Furlong, who was recently featured in February’s PBS American Experience program, The Amish, will appear at the Library to discuss her memoir, Why I Left the Amish, her life and how & why she made this difficult break. Books will be on sale and the event will include a book signing.

17 thursday The Presidents Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity

7:30-9pm. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, 1000 Beal Ave. 734-205-0555. www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov

Michael Duffy, executive editor and the Washington bureau chief of Time, discusses his new book on the private relationships among the last 13 presidents. He explores backroom deals, rescue missions, secret alliances and bitter rivalries of the men who served as commander in chief. There is open seating, book sales and signing and a reception following the program.

19 saturday Mayfly

6-9pm. The Leslie Science and Nature Center, 1831 Traver Rd. 734-997-1553. www.lesliesnc.org

This May, the nature center will receive a new resident – a snowy owl. Join this year’s Mayfly event to help ensure the continued success of the center. Guests will mingle with friends through the beautiful grounds as they enjoy cocktails, live jazz music, and a savory catered meal. This year, is the first-ever silent auction featuring a variety of items including a weeklong stay at a beautiful lakefront home in northern Michigan.

Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. Day

9am-2pm. Downtown Ypsilanti.

734-665-4433. www.ypsipride.org

This a community-wide clean-up event sponsored by the A2Y Chamber Foundation and intended to foster community pride and encourage local business growth by creating a clean and welcoming environment. Over 500 volunteers spend the morning picking up litter, planting flowers, and otherwise beautifying the Ypsilanti community. This year, the post-event party will be taking place at North Bay Park from 12-2pm, and will include the Ann Arbor YMCA Youth Health Day, as well as live music

by Soultivity!

Live Green Fair & Green Home Show

Sat.,10am-7pm;Sun.,12-5pm. Chelsea Fairgrounds, 20501 West Old US-12 Highway, Chelsea.

Informative speakers will give you all you need to know to live green. Over 50 booths will have free organic food tastings, tips on organic lawn care, energy savings devices and more. Also, sign up for an home energy audit and learn more about solar, wind and geothermal power generation.

21 monday An Evening With Dan Rather

7-8:30pm. Free. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. 734-327-4555. www.aadl.org

The Ann Arbor District Library is honored to host an evening with Journalist Dan Rather as he discusses his new memoir Rather Outspoken: My Life In The News. Given his distinguished record and his long exposure on television around the globe, Dan Rather may be the best-known journalist in the world. Books will be on sale at the event, which will include a booksigning.

24 thursday A Voyage To The Edge Of The Universe

7-8:30pm. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. 734-327-4555. www.aadl.org

Author Terence Dickinson begins with the stars and constellations seen on a clear night from his backyard in rural Ontario, then reveals the grandeur of the universe through telescopes and space probes. The program includes tips on how to find and view planets, stars, constellations, northern lights and advice on buying your own telescope.

Includes a booksigning and held in conjunction with AADL’s new telescope lending program!

ecurrent.com / march 2011 37

crossword Train Connections Across 1. Passionate appeal 7. Club ___ (resort chain) 10. 1961 space chimp 14. Simba’s mother 15. Datum for a bouncer 16. Hip-hop impresario Knight 17. They often point toward Mecca 19. Farmer’s unit 20. Fires off, as an email 21. Court cry 23. Tre + tre 24. Kentucky college integrated since its founding in 1855 25. Pothook shape 26. Indicate 29. ___ good example 31. They deliver for you 32. Sherpa’s fear, perhaps 34. Some kebab eaters 37. Inedible fruit parts 39. Stick out like ___ thumb 42. Ready, for short 43. Bell’s brew 45. Deal breaker?

47. Stat for Halladay or Sabathia 48. Offer a counterargument 51. Some coverage providers 53. Digital camera type 55. Final two words in a Joyce Kilmer ode 57. Fond du ___, Wisconsin 58. When the Ann Arbor Farmers Market is open

60. How one has to win in ping-pong 63. Zilch 64. Academic publication process 66. Third-century year of Philip the Arab’s birth 67. An end to sex?

68. Cactus ring 69. Clog, e.g.

70. One day ___ time 71. Vessel-opening tubes Down 1. DS alternatives 2. River of Switzerland 3. Device mentioned in “Brown-Eyed Girl” 4. Panettiere of cinema 5. Big problem?

6. Sean Connery title 7. Shade for Prince 8. “What Is the What” author Dave 9. One-named R&B singer with “Feel So High” 10. Jacob grasped at his heel during birth 11. Major physics event 12. Some humanoids of myth 13. Start to produce?

18. Some actual humanoids

22. California glam band with “Round and Round” 26. Dad 27. Words in passing?

28. Crazy Wisdom beverage 30. “Yo” 33. Particle that may bond 35. “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” composer Jerome 36. Resort amenities 38. Bring action against 40. Containing some sex, say 41. Flub 44. Chairlift alternative 46. “Truthiness” coiner

49. Ideal location 50. Most straight, as wheels 52. Second H.S. squad 53. Connects, as software on two separate devices 54. Robin of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” 56. Cleaning method for which you might buy a pre-packaged kit 59. Event in a warehouse, say 61. Getting hit with a BB might leave you with one 62. Hasn’t yet settled 65. ___ Tafari kitchen brand

for crossword answers, go to ecurrent.com

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2011 / ecurrent.com

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Meet the Midwives! An open forum to ask questions about the midwives at New Moon Midwifery, home birth, waterbirth, doula support or options in childbirth.

6:30-7:30pm at the Center for Childbearing Year ~ 722 Brooks St., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Free. For more info call 734-424-0220 or www.newmoonmidwifery.com

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