November 2019 - Current Magazine by Adams Street Publishing Co.

NOVEMBER 2019| FREE

MUSIC | ART | CULTURE

You voted, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re serving the winners, P5

Crawling Across Washtenaw Art gallery hops and stops, p15

The Wedding Guide Marital bliss and engagement goals, P18

LOC LOC ALL ALL Y GR Y O OW WNE N S D, INC E 19 75

WINNER JUST IN TIME FOR THANKSGIVING! FRESH LOCAL TURKEYS, FRESHLY MADE PIES, ARTISAN BAKED BREADS.

312 North River Street | Ypsilanti | (734) 483-1520 | ypsifoodcoop.org

N OVEMB ER 1 DI EGO F I GUEI REDO DUO NOV EMBER 2 LOW DOWN BRASS B AND N OVEMBER 6 TOMEKA REI D QUARTET NOVEMBER 12 J ASON MARSALI S N OV E MBER 14 WENDELL HARRI SON QUI NT E T

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If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

contents

November 2019 vol. 29 | no. 11

Publisher/Editor in Chief

Collette Jacobs (cjacobs@adamsstreetpublishing.com) SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS.

Co-publisher/Chief Financial Officer Mark I. Jacobs (mjacobs@adamsstreetpublishing.com) TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE.

Editorial

Assignment Editor: Athena Cocoves

(annarboreditor@adamsstreetpublishing.com)

BAKED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH RICE AND AN ENDLESS GLASS OF MID-RANGE CABERNET. Calendar Editor: Chris Box Taylor

(calendar@current.com)

TACOS.

Staff Writers: Erin Holden and Jeff McGinnis. Contributing Writers: Charmie Gholson, Hilary Nichols, K.A. Letts, Jennifer Kellow-Fiorini, Jeff Milo, Nick Roumel, Kelly Thompson, and Rob Brezsny.

Advertising Sales:

Adam Riccinto (ariccinto@adamsstreetpublishing.com) STEAK. Jack Tackett (jtackett@adamsstreetpublishing.com) JAE YUK BOKUM (SPICY PORK AND KIMCHI STIR FRY).

Digital Media

Courtney Probert (digitalmedia@adamsstreetpublishing.com) BURGER AND FRIES.

Art/Production

Production Manager: Imani Lateef (imani@adamsstreetpublishing.com) MY MOM’S SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE. Senior Designer: Leah Foley (leah@adamsstreetpublishing.com) STEAK SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE. Designers: Kelli Miller (kmiller@adamsstreetpublishing.com) TACOS... THEY ARE SO VERSATILE. Anita Tipton (atipton@adamsstreetpublishing.com) PASTA. Norwin Lopez (nlopez@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I’D RATHER KILL MYSELF!

Administration

Accounting: Robin Armstrong (rarmstrong@adamsstreetpublishing.com) CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE.

© 2019 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 $30 a year. Distributed throughout Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and neighboring communities. Also publishers of: Mature

Member

Audited by

Wedding Guide

2019 Dining Awards

Marital bliss and engagement goals, p18

You voted, now we’re serving up the winners, p5

Guide to the Arts Washtenaw County gallery crawl, p15

23 chef’s corner: Bee Mayhew, owner of beezy’s café

By Nick Roumel

26 music: Liquid Thickness By Jeff Milo

31 theater: Holmes Returns to Purple Rose By Jeff McGinnis

4 fyi 4 biz buzz 4 green corner 35 cannabis 37 free will astrology 38 crossword 39 classifieds

ON THE COVER

Nathan D’Andrea Managing Partner of Wilma’s, winner of Most Instagram-Worthy Plates. See all of the Dining Award winners, pg 5

PHOTO CREDIT: CLAIRE LINDSEY, WILMA’S SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Most Read Online 1. Constant Buzz: Dominick’s boasts a long history (and an even longer menu)

2. Ypsi Converts Building Into Affordable Housing For Seniors 3. A Place to Co-operate 4. Jazzed Up: Joan Belgrave Quartet’s Blue LLama Debut 5. Legalized Recreational Marijuana: Six Fast Facts

ecurrent.com / november 2019 3

fyi

biz buzz • 2 Dandelions Bookshop has

Raising the Bar at Circ

A program aimed at reducing the amount of “sexual and gender-based violence” faced by the University of Michigan students recently finished training the staff of Circ Bar. Raise the Bar— created in 2016 by the University of Michigan’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center— is a program that hosts interactive workshops to educate staff on recognizing and interfering in incidents of predatory behavior which may lead to sexual assault. Circ is the latest of over 25 bars and transportation services around the University of Michigan area to participate in the free workshops. For a full list of businesses that have received training, visit raisethebarmichigan.com.

Celebrating Happy Little Trees at Michigan’s State Parks

No, you’re not seeing things. That is Bob Ross’ face on signs all over Michigan’s state parks, specifically to promote and rebrand the state’s “prison grow” program to plant new trees with the image and catchphrase of the beloved late PBS painter. For the better part of a decade, inmates at the Michigan Department of Correction have raised saplings into young trees that volunteers then replant around the state. The renaming of the program was organized as part of the celebration of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ 100th anniversary. Volunteers, who help in the planting of new trees, will receive a free “Happy Little Trees” t-shirt Interested? Of course, you are! Visit michigan.gov/dnr and search “happy little trees” to register!

opened in downtown Brighton. The independent bookstore, which carries a wide selection for all ages and reading levels, is owned by Jeanne Blazo, a retired kindergarten teacher, and Jeri Kay Thomas, who also teaches at Spencer Elementary. 10am-8pm, Tuesday-Saturday. Noon-5pm, Sunday. 209 W. Main St., Suite 105, Brighton. 810-5225310. facebook.com/2DandelionsBookshop

• The Virginia-based dog care provider

Canine Adventures has entered the Ann Arbor area, offering two-hour Adventure Walks for groups of dogs and one-hour Solo Training Hikes for one dog. Learn more about

their training programs and services by calling 855-364-4453, visiting canineadventure. net, or following them on social media at facebook.com/CanineAdventureAnnArbor.

• Got an axe to grind? Opt for an axe to throw

at Axe Ventura, Ann Arbor’s first axethrowing venue. An opening date has not yet been announced, but the twelve-lane business will accept walk-ins, offer pre-booking options for individuals and parties, and serve beer and wine. 4-11pm, Thursday-Friday. Noon-11pm, Saturday. Noon-8pm, Sunday. 322 Maynard St., 781-354-6884. Axe-ventura.com

green corner U-M Solar Car Team It was another successful year for the University of Michigan Solar Car Team at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, held in the Australian outback this past October. Their entrant, Electrum, completed the 1,800 mile, 5-day race with an impressive third-place finish, becoming the only American team whose car successfully finished the race. Electrum overcame high winds and fierce competition to maintain an average speed of nearly 80 km per hour over the course of the race. This was the 11th time the U-M team had fielded a car for the World Solar Challenge, with their previous entrant, 2017’s Novum, taking second place.

Washtenaw declares a climate emergency The Board of Commissioners of Washtenaw County unanimously passed a declaration of climate emergency on September 18. The resolution calls for efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the area, aiming to end emissions in the county entirely no later than 2035, as well as calling upon the state and federal governments to also declare an emergency. The effort took place just days before the first Global Climate Strike events were held on September 20. Washtenaw County saw another Climate Strike held in March, with a turnout estimated at over 2,000 people. PHOTO CREDIT: BARRY CHATTILLION 1

I help adventurous people blaze new trails and thrive in their time, tasks, and transitions. If you’re ready to change things up and step into your most resilient, organized, productive, and awesome self...let’s chat! NIA SPONGBERG, ACC, COC, CPO (734) 531-9024 niaspongberg.com 1785 W. Stadium Blvd #202 Ann Arbor, MI 48103

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You voted, now we’re serving up the winners. From hidden gems to old school favorites, here are the eateries that Current readers crave the most.

New Restaurant Blue LLama Jazz Club 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200. bluellamaclub.com

PLACES Best Restaurant: Inexpensive

Chow Asian Street Food chowannarbor.com Runner-up: Chela’s Restaurant & Taqueria

Best Restaurant: Overall The Chop House

Thechophouseannarbor.com Runner-up: The Standard Bistro & Larder

Best “Splurge” Restaurant

The Standard Bistro & Larder thestandardbistro.com Runner-up: The Earle

Best View Palio

palioannarbor.com Runner-up: Gandy Dancer

Best Outdoor Patio/ Dining The Sidetrack Bar & Grill sidetrackbarandgrill.com Runner-up: Palio

Is Ann Arbor more of a foodie town or a music town? It’s a tough question and, fortunately, one that you won’t have to answer at Blue LLama. Since its March opening, the jazz club has gained a reputation for pleasing adventurous foodies, music lovers and everyone in between with live music five nights a week, an impressive wine list, a curious cocktail selection and a clever jazz-inspired menu of American shared plates made with locally-sourced ingredients. Runner-up: Hola Seoul

Best Hidden Gem

Fast-Casual Eatery

elharissa.com

Runner-up: Aamani’s Smokehouse

firstbitefoods.com Runner-up: Chow Asian Street Food

Most Beautiful Restaurant

First-Date Restaurant

dessousannarbor.com Runner-up: Gandy Dancer

aventuraannarbor.com Runner-up: Grizzly Peak Brewing Company

El Harissa Market Cafe

Dessous

First Bite

Aventura Ann Arbor

Mom & Pop

Restaurant

The Northside Grill Northsidegrill.com Runner-up: Bomber Restaurant

New Restaurant

Blue LLama Jazz Club Bluellamaclub.com

Runner-up: Hola Seoul CONT’D ON P6

Thanks for Voting Best Restaurant to take a Foodie

Restaurant in Ann Arbor Best Chef - Thad Gillies chef-owned & operated since 2004

offering

chef tasting menu • local farm produce small estate biodynamic wines & craft cocktails Hours: Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm 115 W. Washington Downtown Ann Arbor • 734.327.2312 • logan-restaurant.com ecurrent.com / november 2019 5

Old School Favorite Knight’s Steakhouse Knightsrestaurants.com Runner-up: The Earle

Restaurant You Want to Try Dolores

6 S. Washington St., Ypsilanti. 734-904-9402. Runner-up: Dessous

Restaurant to Take a Foodie Logan Restaurant

Logan-restaurant.com Runner-up: Aventura

Place for a Business Lunch Paesano

Paesanoannarbor.com Runner-up: Mikette Bistro & Bar

Place to Impress The Chop House

Thechophouseannarbor.com Runner-up: Blue LLama Jazz Club

Place to be Seen

Blue LLama Jazz Club Bluellamaclub.com Runner-up: Mani Osteria and Bar

Place for Munchies Pizza House Pizzahouse.com

Runner-up: Ashley’s

College Favorite Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger

Blimpyburger.com Runner-up: BTB Burrito

Best Restaurant: Ann Arbor Vinology

Vinologya2.com

Runner-up: Logan Restaurant

Best Restaurant: Chelsea The Common Grill Commongrill.com Runner-up: Chelsea Alehouse Brewery

Best Restaurant: Dexter

Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery

jollypumpkin.com Runner-up: Fillmore Pub & Grill

Best Restaurant: Ypsilanti

Best Use of Local Ingredients

Maizmexican.com Runner-up: The Sidetrack Bar & Grill

grangekitchenandbar.com Runner-up: Zingerman’s Roadhouse

Restaurant Worth A Drive

Food Truck

MAIZ Mexican Cantina

The Common Grill

Commongrill.com Runner-up: Bridgewater Bank Tavern

Spot for Breakfast Juicy Kitchen

juicykitchen-a2.com Runner-up: Beezy’s Café

Spot for Brunch Sava’s

savasannarbor.com Runner-up: Avalon Cafe and Kitchen Ann Arbor

Spot for Lunch

Afternoon Delight Café

Best Restaurant: Plymouth

afternoondelightcafe.com Runner-up: Dan’s Downtown Tavern

Thesardineroom.com Runner-up: Aqua Fine Dining

Most Creative Menu

Best Restaurant: Saline

spencerannarbor.com Runner-up: Blue LLama Jazz Club

The Sardine Room

Dan’s Downtown Tavern

Spencer Ann Arbor

Grange Kitchen and Bar

Lazy Dogs

facebook.com/lazydogsa2 Runner-up: Shimmy Shack Food Truck

Most Underrated Restaurant Casablanca

casablancaypsilanti.com Runner-up: Pilar’s Tamales

PEOPLE

Best Baristas

Crow Northrup, Ann Arbor West Plum Market Plummarket.com Runner-up: Zingerman’s Coffee Company

Best Bartenders Wolverine State Brewing Co.

wolverinebeer.com Runner-up: The Last Word

CONT’D ON P8

facebook.com/DANSBARS Runner-up: Oscar’s Sports & Grill

Thank You for Voting Us Best Falafel/Gyro!

Thank You Current Readers for 20 Years of Support! 314 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI | 734.995.5060

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PLACE YOUR ORDER ONLINE: JERUSALEMGARDEN.NET/ORDER-ONLINE

OUR CATERING COMES WITH EVERYTHING. EXCEPT LEFTOVERS.

Tailgating Graduations Parties & much more! Monday - Sundays 11am-10pm

(734) 998-0900 857 W. Eisenhower Pkwy. Ann Arbor, MI

MOES.COM MOE MONDAY $6.49 burrito, chips & salsa

KIDS EAT FREE

on Wednesday with adult entree purchase

TACO THURSDAY

$2.49 Tacos all day! chips & salsa ecurrent.com / november 2019 7

Spot for Brunch Sava’s 216 S. State St., Ann Arbor. 734-623-2233. savasannarbor.com

There’s something about a leisurely late-morning mimosa that makes us feel absolutely royal. Although the feeling typically only lasts until after our mid-afternoon nap, we’re glad that Sava’s brunch buffet does everything possible to support our weekly delusion. On Sundays from 10am-2pm, the foodie favorite lays out a fanciful feast featuring a rotating selection of delicious dishes, like frittatas made with farm-fresh eggs, roasted root vegetables, macarons, and other Instagram-worthy favorites. Runner-up: Avalon Cafe and Kitchen Ann Arbor

Best Brewer

Alexis Jorgensen, Wolverine State Brewing Co.

wolverinebeer.com Runner-up: Ron Jeffries, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Best Chef

Eve Aronoff, chef/owner of Frita Batidos fritabatidos.com

Runner-up: Chef Thad

Gillies, Logan Restaurant

Best Overall Staff Zingerman’s

zingermans.com Runner-up: The Lunch Room

Farmers Market Vendor

(M’HARRRG) HabaneroCoriander (Pirate) Sauce

Crowsnestfoods.com | jeffmaharg@ hotmail.com Runner-up: White Lotus Farms

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Local Food Supporter

Argus Farm Stop

argusfarmstop.com Runner-up: By the Pound, Glenn Bourland

Pastry Chef/Baker Kristen Maretti, Pastry Chef at Sava’s savasannarbor.com Runner-up: Marybeth King, head pastry chef at Weber’s Bakeshop/ Restaurant

Restaurateur

Sava Farah, CEO SavCo savcohospitality.com

Runner-up: Eve Aronoff,

chef/owner of Frita Batidos

Coffee Roaster RoosRoast Coffee roosroast.com

Runner-up: Hyperion Coffee Co

POTIONS Bar: Ann Arbor Nightcap

nightcapbara2.com Runner-up: The Last Word

Bar: Saline

Bridgewater Bank Tavern Bridgewaterbanktavern.com Runner-up: Dan’s Downtown Tavern

Bar: Dexter

Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery

jollypumpkin.com Runner-up: Dexter’s Pub

Bar: Chelsea

Chelsea Alehouse Brewery chelseaalehouse.com Runner-up: Cleary’s Pub

Bar: Ypsilanti

The Sidetrack Bar & Grill

Craft Cocktail Selection The Last Word

thelastwordbar.com Runner-up: Ollie Food + Spirits

Local Spirits

Ugly Dog Distillery

uglydogdistillery.com Runner-up: Ann Arbor Distilling Company

Hangover Cure

Afternoon Delight Café

Happy Hour HopCat

Hopcat.com

Runner-up: Haymaker Public House

Locally-Brewed Beer Wolverine State Brewing Co.

Wolverinebeer.com Runner-up: Arbor Brewing Company

Bar: Plymouth

Place to Buy Local Beer

facebook.com/ThePostLocalBistro Runner-up: Hermanns Olde Town Grille

Bar: Brighton

Brighton Bar & Grill brightonbarandgrill.com Runner-up: Bourbons

Best Bar Overall The Ravens Club Theravensclub.com Runner-up: Babs’ Underground

Dive Bar

The Tap Room

taproomypsi.com Runner-up: 8Ball Saloon

Wine List The Earle theearle.com

Runner-up: The Standard Bistro & Larder

Bowls • Bubble Tea • Bao Buns

Afternoondelightcafe.com Runner-up: Elevation Burger

Sidetrackbarandgrill.com Runner-up: Cultivate Coffee & Taphouse

The Post Local Bistro

HANDCRAFTED

1st Place: Inexpensive Restaurant 1st Place: Bubble Tea 2nd Place: Fast Casual Eatery

208 W. Liberty (between Ashley St. and 1st St.) 734-369-6942 • www.ChowAnnArbor.com

Blue Front Ann Arbor bfa2.com

Runner-up: Tippins Market

Place to Drink Local Beer Ashley’s

Runner-up: Wolverine State Brewing Company

Bloody Mary

The Sidetrack Bar & Grill Sidetrackbarandgrill.com Runner-up: \aut\ BAR

Margarita

MAIZ Mexican Cantina Maizmexican.com Runner-up: Prickly Pear Southwest Cafe

Martini

Knight’s Steakhouse

Knightsrestaurants.com Runner-up: Ollie Food + Spirits

CONT’D ON P10

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Bubble Tea

Chow Asian Street Food Chowannarbor.com Runner-up: Bubble Island

CHOICE SPEAKEASY-STYLE JOINT FOR AMERICAN AND ASIAN INSPIRED CUISINE. SMALL PLATES & OLD-FASHIONED COCKTAILS.

THE ORIGINAL Hand-pulled Old Fashioned Bourbon, housemade Old Fashioned bitters, sugar GOLD RUSH Peach-infused bourbon, fresh lemon, honey CABIN ON SATURN Old Tom Gin, passionfruit, sage shrub, sod

Juice Bar Wilma’s

wilmasannarbor.com

Runner-up:

Grabbagreen

PLATES

Creative Burger Frita Batidos fritabatidos.com

Runner-up: Got Burger!

Creative Pizzas

Mani Osteria and Bar maniosteria.com Runner-up: Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina

JUDGE HOLDEN Tequila, chili liqueur, guajillo pepper, fresh pineapple, fresh lime

Sandwich

BRAMBLE ON Vodka, elderflower liquor, blackberry purée, fresh lemon, mint

Runner-up:

LIVE EN T ER T A IN MEN T

Maize and Blue Delicatessen maizeandbluedeli.com Zingerman’s Delicatessen

Steak

Knight’s Steakhouse

"Thank you for making us a part of your day!"

Best Overall Staff AND

SUNDAYS WITH HEATHER BLACK PROJECT 8PM

Best Use of Local Ingredients

Sushi

DABU Sushi

Dabusushi.com EVERY MONDAY JUSTIN WALTER’S POE BOYS 8PM

Best Pie

(Zingerman’s Bakehouse)

Knightsrestaurants.com Runner-up: The Earle

TROUBADOUR TUESDAYS WITH CHRIS BUHALIS 6PM

(Zingerman’s Roadhouse)

Runner-up: Biwako Sushi

Falafel/Gyro

Jerusalem Garden jerusalemgarden.net Runner-up: Ahmo’s Gyros & Deli

Mac N’ Cheese

Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery bluetractor.net

Best Baristas

Runner-up: Cuppy’s

(Zingerman’s Coffee Company)

Best Soul Food

Best Sandwich (Zingerman’s Deli)

zcob.me/businesses 10

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2 0 7 S M AIN S T . AN N ARB OR (7 3 4 ) 2 1 4 - 0 4 0 0

CONT’D ON P13

Art by: Jill Wagner

WHO HANDLED YOUR MEAT?

We Did!

734.585.0806 • 108 E Madison St Ann Arbor • Tues-Sat 11am-7pm ecurrent.com / november 2019 11

THANKS FOR VOTING US BEST PLACE FOR MUNCHIES Ann Arbor’s #1 game day destination place. Over 500 Seats - typically shortest wait in town

Plenty of parking across the street in the Forest Street parking structure, then take the shuttle from Pizza House to the Big House! 32 BEERS ON TAP!

- Shuttle runs every 15 min starting 2hrs before game time -

618 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI 734-995-5095 • www.pizzahouse.com 12

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Local Food Supporter Argus Farm Stop 325 W. Liberty., Ann Arbor. 734-213-2200. 1200 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor. 734-997-5448. argusfarmstop.com

If you’re like us, you love hitting the farmers market. And, if you’re really like us, you probably miss it more than you’d like to admit. Luckily, your busy schedule, or desire to sleep in until 2pm, won’t stop you from shopping at Argus Farm Stop, open from 7am-7pm Monday-Friday and 8am-6pm on weekends. Find seasonal produce, meats and dairy from small organic farms within a 50-mile radius of the market, and feel good knowing that your purchases support those farmers, who receive 75% of the selling price of their goods.

SALT, PEPPER VINEGAR & SPICE

Runner-up: By the Pound, Glenn Bourland

Pie

Zingerman’s Bakehouse

Zingermansbakehouse.com Runner-up: Grand Traverse Pie Company

Ribs

WestSide Barbecue

Gluten-Free Options Juicy Kitchen

Juicykitchen-a2.com Runner-up: Vedge Cafe

Vegetarian Options

westsidebarbecue.com Runner-up: Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

Fresh Forage

Tacos

Vegan Options

Chelas.co

thelunchrooma2.com Runner-up: Detroit Street Filling Station

Chela’s Restaurant & Taqueria Runner-up: Isalita

Noodles

Slurping Turtle

Slurpingturtle.com Runner-up: Tomukun Noodle Bar

Pasta Dish Paesano

Paesanoannarbor.com Runner-up: Silvio’s Organic Ristorante e Pizzeria

Killer Salads Salads UP saladsup.com

Runner-up: Wilma’s

Southern Food Satchel’s BBQ

satchelsbbq.com Runner-up: Mo P’s Chicken & Fish

Desserts Sava’s

Savasannarbor.com Runner-up: Go! Ice Cream

freshforage.com

Runner-up: Vedge Cafe

The Lunch Room

Most InstagramWorthy Plates Wilma’s

wilmasannarbor.com Runner-up: eat / catering and carry-out

Comfort Food

Metzger’s German Restaurant metzgers.net

Runner-up: Amadeus

Thank you for voting us Best Restaurant in Saline! and 2nd Place Best Spot for Lunch

Featuring one of Michigan’s largest craft beer selections in the area

Restaurant

Appetizers

The Ravens Club

Theravensclub.com Runner-up: Vinology

Healthy Selections The Lunch Room

thelunchrooma2.com Runner-up: First Bite

Try our new expansive menu featuring Weekends Specials

STEAKS STEAKS •• GREAT GREAT BURGERS BURGERS We do catering right! Call us for more info! 103 E. MICHIGAN AVE. SALINE

734.429.3159

ecurrent.com / november 2019 13

t i ng se

Ce l e

Best Mom & Pop Restaurant

years

t bi n gfor se

a eak f

Open 7am-3pm, 7 Days a Week

Now Serving Eggs From CAGE FREE, VEGETARIAN FED HENS, All natural, Gluten FREE Sausage! No additives, no fillers PRESERVATIVE & NITRATE FREE BACON

1015 BROADWAY • 734.995.0965 View the full menu at NorthsideGrill.com

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2nd Place - BTB Burrito - College Favorite 1st Place - The Last Word - Craft Cocktail Selection 2nd Place - The Last Word - Best Bartenders 2nd Place - The Last Word - Best Bar: Ann Arbor

THANK YOU FOR VOTING FOR US!

Gallery Crawl By K.A. Letts Following my Detroit Gallery Crawl piece in October Current highlighting contemporary art galleries in Detroit, it seems only fair to highlight the visual arts galleries in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Eschewing the 45 minute drive, this list is considerably shorter, reflecting the smaller population of Washtenaw County, but it highlights some gems in the local art scene that are worth a visit.

Ann Arbor WSG Gallery

Kreft Gallery

Concordia University 4090 Geddes Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Tucked into the central campus of Concordia University, the Kreft Gallery is a large exhibition space that annually hosts three professional exhibitions, an annual national juried show and several juried student exhibitions. The gallery recently installed Textures of Detroit, which featured the paintings, fiber arts, sculpture, prints and photography of 6 distinguished Detroit artists. In November, Kreft Gallery will present We’re Here for You, with paintings by Darren Haper, artworks characterized by light-hearted pop-culture forms; they are larded with humor and devoted to subverting clichés. Hours: Noon-4pm, Tuesday-Friday. 1-5pm, Saturday-Sunday.

306 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan

WSG Gallery is a gem of a commercial gallery in the city of Ann Arbor, and due to rising rents and slow sales, there’s no guarantee that the gallery will remain viable indefinitely. The artist-owned and operated venue, which is in its 20th year, hosts both group and solo exhibits, as well as a rotating selection of work by 17 member artists. In November, the gallery will be hosting Salon Show. The exhibition will feature the work of 15 juried artists in a large selection of many smallish pieces covering the gallery walls. Gallery hours are visitor friendly: Noon-6pm, Tuesday-Wednesday. Noon-9pm, Thursday-Saturday. Noon-5pm, Sunday.

Gallery 117

Ann Arbor Art Center 117 West Liberty, Ann Arbor MI

The Ann Arbor Art Center, founded in 1909, offers a broad array of art-related services and education at all levels for the general public. And in case you have noticed the colorful new murals that have recently begun to appear on city streets, the Arts Center is working with artists and patrons to make those happen too. Among its many other projects, the Art Center maintains a full gallery schedule of work by artists throughout the Great Lakes region. Until recently, Gallery 117 provided the venue for these exhibits in a large, two-room space on the second floor of the building. Things seem to be changing, however as The Art Center recently bought the building next door, at 115 Liberty, and is in the process of renovating it to create ground floor gallery space. Gallery Coordinator Mike Wolf says, “We are using this opportunity to try some new things and expand our education offerings. During this phase we will be able to see how our audience responds to a more street facing gallery which will inform how we program the future gallery in 115.” … so stay tuned. Hours: 10am-7pm, Monday-Friday. 10am-6pm, Saturday. Noon-5pm, Sunday.

Sock Puppeteer by Darren Haper, at Kreft Gallery, Concordia University. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.

CONT’D ON P17

ecurrent.com / november 2019 15

by Samuel and Bella Spewack

directed by Barbara Mackey King

October 24-27, 2019, Arthur Miller Theatre

Thur 7:30 Fri-Sat 8:00 Sun 2:00

Click for Tickets/Info or Call: 734-971-2228 Saturday, 6:30pm Tickets available at: MICHIGAN THEATER ANN ARBOR December 14th, 2019 Michtheater.org & Ticketmaster 603 E. Liberty St. • Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Locations in Ann Arbor & Wixom • 248-826-8181 • www.russianclassicalballet.com

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MY THREE ANGELS is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York

Penny Stamps Gallery

201 S. Division Street, Ann Arbor MI 48104

The recently opened Penny Stamps Gallery is, of course, a project defined by its relationship with the Penny Stamps School of Art and Design, and is closely identified with the school. However, unlike the previous iteration of the School’s gallery on State Street, Penny Stamps seems to be headed in a more inclusive and topical direction under its newly-appointed director, Srimoyee Mitra. She describes the mission: “I envision a space that is inclusive, lively and expansive [that] will cultivate and nurture a responsive, experimental and robust program where audiences, community members, and creative practitioners work collaboratively to make real social change.” This month, the gallery offers Border Control, an exhibition of works that are touched or driven by new media, and which consider migration, displacement, and statelessness. Hours: 11am-5pm, Tuesday-Wednesday & Saturday-Sunday. 11am-7pm, Thursday -Friday.

Other UM Art

There are numerous galleries salted throughout the University of Michigan’s campus that schedule first-rate exhibitions, but keep a low profile. They are conceived as amenities for the students and faculty, but many of them are open to the public during business hours (if you know where to look). A few favorites for the adventurous: University of Michigan Institute for the Humanities Gallery (main campus), Duderstadt Gallery (North Campus) and the Rotunda and Connections Galleries (North Campus Research Center, Building 18).

ypsilanti

Frame from graphic novel by Meleko Mokgosi, digital print. PHOTO BY K.IT’SA. LETTS.

University of Michigan Museum of Art 525 S. State Street, Ann Arbor

The Museum, although founded and funded by the University of Michigan, also provides immense cultural value to Ann Arbor’s art lovers. Admission to the museum is free, and many events, lectures and symposia are open to the public. The permanent collection of the museum has been recently and handsomely re-installed, and that’s worth a visit in itself. But UMMA also offers a number of time-limited exhibitions throughout the season. A couple of highlights now on view include Abstraction, Color and Politics and Pan African Pulp, a Commission by Meleko Mokgosi

Riverside Arts Center 76 N.Huron St., Ypsilanti 48197

The Riverside Arts Center provides a venue for visual arts exhibitions from an astonishing array of community stakeholders. The Center continuously grows its multi disciplinary programs, providing studios, dance classes, yoga, and theater events in addition to the large exhibitions that are installed every 6 weeks in its cavernous lower level gallery space. In the month of November, Riverside Arts Center will host Way Opens (Disability Arts and Culture), an exhibition that examines what “disabled” means through both-object based and performance-based art. Hours: 3-8pm, Friday. Noon-5pm, Saturday.

Continental Drift by Peter Sparling, at 22 North Gallery in November. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.

22 North Gallery

22 North Huron, Ypsilanti 48197

This attractive storefront gallery doubles as a performance space, and hours vary. 22 North is reliably open during the monthly Ypsilanti First Friday events from 7-10. Check the website for additional programming and hours. In November, Peter Sparling, American dancer, UM dance professor and Artistic Director of the Ann Arbor-based Peter Sparling Dance Company, will show his videos and paintings. All these art spaces are worth a visit, and since they are close by, you can easily see some world-class art without leaving your hometown.

ecurrent.com / november 2019 17

CURRENT WEDDING GUIDE

Jennabelle & Trent’s

True Love Story Story & Photos by Hilary Nichols www.hilarynichols.com

Cake/sweets: Trent got

coffee from his work to bring and our tea was from Tea Haus. We also made this into our gift. We also had a chai carrot cake and chocolate espresso made by one of our friends (who also decorated the cakes) and a gluten-free, dairy-free, lavender earl grey cake with rose blackberry jam which was our cutting cake and made by Jennabelle. We also had cotton candy where we made orange anise, coffee, and green apple flavored sugars for everyone to enjoy. The bride’s mom and bridesmaid also helped make apple cider pavlovas for our guests to enjoy who came to the open reception.

Wedding venue: We wanted to do West Park where we went on our first date. But after talking with the park office they suggested Island Park. It was great! Very economical choice that was also very lovely. They had all the amenities we needed. Plus, Island park has multiple structures at the same park so we had our ceremony at one location and the party at another one a small walk through the park.

Jennabelle Age: Timeless Occupation: Model and fire performer Three words to describe your partner: Silly. Supportive. Snuggly.

What was your first impression of your partner? Has beautiful eyes If you wore a dress, can you tell us about it? I wore a cream gown, customized corset, and a

“cold shoulder” cape. I also had a beautiful pair of lace Victorian boots to match. Trent bought a lovely threepiece green Herringbone tweed suit for the occasion that has a lovely paisley lining.

Trent Age: 31 Occupation: Coffee roaster/delivery Three words to describe your partner: Talented. Compassionate. Adorable.

What was your first impression of your partner? The way she was smiling at me made my brain stop working temporarily.

Flowers: We made paper flowers, and again, had SO MUCH HELP. We also opted for other plastic flowers from a craft store for small accents in the boutonnieres, corsages, and bouquet so they wouldn’t die and we could re-use some of them for other crafts after the wedding.

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What was it like seeing her walk down the aisle? It was like watching a queen.

CURRENT WEDDING GUIDE

Engagement Goals

Congratulations! You are engaged. What a brilliant time to revel in your adorable new love that feels so undeniable. But will your connection still be this brilliant in 10 years? Are you on the path from this day forward to deepen this heart connection and amplify what works so well right now? This is the time to design that long-lasting love with a beautifully crafted plan in place. If that sounds like work, what I am suggesting is something much more playful. As a wedding and engagement photographer, I have witnessed the beautiful spark of new love from up close for so many years. And I can see the subtle undercurrent at work that may predict the success or struggles for young couples. When I catch that glint in your eye, it almost makes me cry, and a 90-minute photo session might be one of the only fully-focused moments to really capture the artful magic of your deepest connection. Rather than simply a photoshoot, I deepen your engagement session with an interview to hear about some of the most special moments and meaningful nuances of your romance. Retelling the story of how you met and remembering the first places where your new spark foretold of your future, these are important not just so that

we can map out the locations for your posed photos, but as the lyrics of your love song, as you are preparing your vows. Remember this period before ever after is your runway. A time to clear the bumps in the road and recognize all that makes you two so in step. As running mates what are your best assets, special skills, compliments and strengths? Are these in your relationship recipe, written down? If you were in the GREAT RACE, would you two be in pace? As I spent the day on an engagement shoot with recent clients Jennabelle and Trent. we took extra time to document their love story in words as well as pictures. The telling of their first meeting and date was one of the most romantic and fateful ever. We talked about their milestones and their most meaningful moments while they showed me the handcrafted presents and their shared arts and shared animals. There is no doubt that this young couple has what it takes. By deepening their sitting to include their story, I will present not just the images, but their TRUE LOVE STORY Told in Words and Pictures in an album. A recipe of their specific expression, this keepsake will be a lasting resource for all the tools that will keep them connected in heart, soul, and story for a lifetime.

How did you meet? At Amer’s Deli on State St. Our rings have the GPS coordinates of it engraved! After fumbling over his words and leaving only to come back in the pouring rain, Trent started talking with Jennabelle while she was on lunch. He felt like there was more to discover and asked her to get a drink.

Who popped the question, and how? Trent did, and he did more than once. But the time that counts was on Jennabelle’s birthday. Her sister had organized a surprise puppy play party and Trent already had a ring picked out so he took the opportunity. He also had a tag engraved to say “Will you marry me?” Just as Jennabelle started to realize this puppy party was for her Trent scooped a pile of puddly puppy and secured the collar. “Look at his one’s name!” Trent said, and as it hit her, he took a knee with two sets of big eyes looking back at Jenn. Did you have a long engagement? Sure, almost two

years!

ecurrent.com / november 2019 19

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Home Buying 101 Educating Yourself on Home Buying in Depot Town and Beyond By Anthony Zick

Buying a home, can be tricky to navigate. Here are a few local organizations that offer good loan packages and educational seminars for prospective homebuyers.

Home Ready product through Fannie Mae.

Offered by many mortgage lenders, this conventional loan is for homebuyers who make 80% or less than the Area’s Median Income (AMI). For most of Washtenaw County, 80% AMI is $80,960.00. Requiring as low as a 3% downpayment, this program features significantly reduced mortgage insurance (PMI). Interest rates are reduced by .125-.25% compared to other programs. Income limits only apply to the listed borrower, not total household income. Homebuyers must take a homebuyer education course to qualify for this loan.

MSU Extension

On Zeeb Rd. in Ann Arbor, the Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) provides a first-time homebuyer course once a month teaching the basics of buying a home. MSUE is certified by both the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and the US Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD). Each class is six hours. Upcoming dates: 6-9pm; Nov. 12th -19th, 6-9pm. Call MSUE at (734) 222-9595. In-person courses are free. Online courses require a fee.

Level One Bank

Your Honeymoon Headquarters

Bill Smith of Level One Bank provides a seminar for first-time and renewed homebuyers. His seminars include talks on downpayment assistance, negotiating prices on a home, and properly handling funds such as gift-funds and withdrawals from 401k accounts. Seminar dates are TBD. Contact Bill Smith at besmith@levelonebank.com or 734-846-7277 for details.

Hinton Real Estate

The Hinton Real Estate Group holds Renter’s Workshops every third Saturday from 1-2pm for people who currently rent but who want a better understanding of what it takes to be a homeowner. Attendees learn how to set money aside for downpayments, appraisals, inspections, and other costs associated with homebuying to understand individual options and types of loans they may qualify for. Call 734-480-8650 to register, or visit teamhinton.com/wasting-moneyrentersworkshop

Framework Online Course

This $75 online course for first-time and repeat homebuyers is per HUD guidelines and fulfills the homebuyer education requirement for the “Home Ready” loan, as well as other programs. Course topics include personal credit, mortgage loans, real estate agents, the closing process, and more. For more information, visit frameworkhomeownership.org/ get-started/homebuyer-education

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ecurrent.com / november 2019 21

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Brides Project By Erin Holden

Purchasing your wedding gown is a big decision, and it can, more often than not,end up costing you more than what you’d rather spend within your budget. The Brides Project - an organization that sells gently worn gowns donated by brides and even brand new gowns that went unsold from bridal boutiques - provides a beautiful collection of dresses to help you save money without sacrificing your vision of “the dress.” Not only do they sell gowns well below their market value, they also give their proceeds to the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor, an organization that supports kids and adults affected by cancer. To continue the cycle of giving and encouraging eco-friendly gown purchases, brides can donate the dress that they purchased through The Brides Project. You’ll be saving money, doing something great for the environment by cutting down on the waste production that goes along with new clothes, and you’ll be helping families in need. The Brides Project takes what can be a decadent purchase and makes it a way to give back - what says love more than that? The Brides Project, 1677 Plymouth Rd. To donate a dress or make an appointment to shop, call 734-506-8271. thebridesproject.org

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2019 / ecurrent.com

PHOTO CREDIT: LEISA THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY.

chef’s corner A peek into the minds of Ann Arbor’s culinary arbiters and their unique perspective on Washtenaw County’s dining and hospitality culture.

Bee Mayhew Owner of beezy’s café By Nick Roumel

“Mom Steps Away, But the Kid Will Be Fine.”

Eleven years ago, Bee Mayhew, a 30-year-old single mother, opened beezy’s café. She likened it to having another child. Indeed, it bears her name. A marriage and two more human babies later, Bee Roll is stepping away from daily operations. But that brash adolescent beezy was raised well, and she will continue to thrive as Ypsilanti’s local food and general coolness hub— now with Jesse Arehart-Jacobs at the helm. I had the privilege of meeting Bee for a 2009 feature in Current. I learned about her latest plans from an introspective Facebook post, and caught up with her to learn more. What was your vision when you opened beezy’s?

I thought I was setting myself up for the rest of my life— a rootedness that I thought would be the answer to my existential woes, healing through work. I had more strategies lined up for expansion, for developing my crew to try different things... the cafe was where I would build my life and nurture. There’s a lot of power in tenacity combined with naivete, and honestly, I don’t think beezy’s would be what it is without my innocent gumption in 2008, or my fierce desire to make things right by people.

What changed? Getting married and having two more kids wasn’t in my vision! So sharing my kids and myself with every aspect of running the show became the norm, but more behind the scenes in ways I didn’t want to be. I began moving more into working shifts again as the kids entered school, and I love the work of cooking and leadership, but found myself never being wholly present— at home with the kids I’d be tackling work issues and at work I was often wrestling with child-rearing concerns, so the vision began to shift. Part of me wants to throw myself back into the fire of daily operations. I love the pace and in-the-moment problem solving, but I also want to see my kids grow into themselves— something I missed with my elder child because I was immersed in building beezy’s, and trying to make sense of the business growing rapidly as well as radical changes in my personal life.

Why is it time to step away? I built a very successful little

business, and it feels weird to step out of it now, but the last couple years have shifted my perspective and motivations to a point where I keep hitting a proverbial wall— and all the reasons I started it don’t match my current relationship with it; and my own reconciling of life is the core of my beezy’s vision. It’s time to let someone else shepherd it to another level because my personal quest has unlocked internal achievements I never knew possible. I was big on rocks and deep roots, big things 11 years ago; I wanted an anchor. Now I have a lighthouse and it turns out that’s more my style.

What are you most proud of? I’d be hard-pressed not to simply say: it’s survival. A small restaurant in a town that’s often viewed as the ugly stepsister to Ann Arbor during an economic downturn, opened by a high school dropout single mom? I did that! Growing my staff from 8 to 18 over the years, earning their trust and support, and learning how to be better humans while slinging coffee and sammiches. All while raising two small beings and a soon-to-be 20-year-old, Sami, who is also one of the staff! Hey— how about the food? The menu hasn’t changed a lot,

though we’ve tried our hand a few times at expanding offerings, breakfast still surprised me as the breakout star of beezy’s. As it stands our menu is quite small and that gives us the benefit of doing what we do really well because we aren’t trying to do everything. The breakfast burrito, since day one, has been the most popular and my most favorite, but I’m also partial to the egg salad sandwich on our squishy but dense veggie herb bread— the deviled eggs-style seasoning adds zip. It’s so satisfying. And we have a nearly cult following for our soups!

What’s next for Bee? Laying low. Then coming back around full throttle for whatever I put my energy into next. I’m a little afraid of what I’m gonna get myself into once I land on a new idea. beezy’s café 20 N. Washington St., Ypsilanti. 734-485-9625. beezyscafe.com

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An Ann Arbor Original since 1977

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ecurrent.com / november 2019 23

food 1 Friday Begyle Brewing Tasting

5-7pm. Blue Front. BFA2.com Free

Blue Front Ann Arbor invites you to try some of Chicago’s finest craft beer made by Begyle Brewing. Enjoy some of their trademark ales such as Hophazardly or Free Bird at this (fittingly) free event at one of Ann Arbor’s most popular craft beer retailers.

Dinner & Dueling Pianos

8pm. $7-12 cover charge. Karl’s Cabin Restaurant & Bar. karlscabin.com

Do you want the supper club experience without springing for a membership? Come on out to Karl’s for one of their excellent Dinner and Dueling Pianos evenings! VIP tickets are available for parties of four guests. Reservations required. Also on Saturday, Nov. 2, and on Friday & Saturday, Nov. 22 & 23.

2 Saturday Cheese & Charcuterie

3pm. $45. Zingerman’s Creamery. events.zingermanscommunity.com

Learn all about the preparation of cured meats — and sample a fair share yourself — at this delicious presentation and tasting.

Ann Arbor Farmers Market 7am-3pm. Ann Arbor Farmers Market. A2gov.org/market Free

The market continues through December from 7am-3pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Chelsea Winter Farmers Market

10am-2pm. Washington Street Education Center. chelseafarmersmkt.org/ winter-market Free

The Chelsea Farmers Market moves indoors from 10am-2pm on Saturdays in November and December.

Jazz Brunch Performances

11:30am. The Standard Bistro & Larder. thestandardbistro.com Free

Live, acoustic music during select Saturday brunches. Featuring various local artists, proper French omelets and seasonal mimosas!

3 Sunday Cocktail Class: Spanish Selection

2pm. $45. The Last Word. tammystastings.com

november

11:30am-2:30pm. Prices vary. Blue LLama. Bluellamaclub.com

Enjoy a fantastic jazz performance and brunch at Blue LLama on Sundays in November: 3 Divas Jazz Trio (Nov. 3), Bob Sweet Quartet (Nov. 10), Alex Arnest Organ Trio (Nov. 17) and Lunar Octet (Nov. 24).

Service Industry All Day Happy Hour Noon. The Session Room. sessionrooma2.com Free

If Friday means the start of your work-week, rather than the end, head on out to the Session Room on Sunday for an all-day happy hour to unwind from a weekend of dealing with the general public.

4 Monday Building Blocks for the Local Food Entrepreneur: Cottage Food Law

6pm. Robert C Barnes Sr MarketPlace Hall. growinghope.net Free

What is a Cottage Food Law and what does it mean for the smalltime producer looking to grow their business? This edition of Growing Hope’s free Local Food Entrepreneur workshops will see Heather Duncan of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development teach attendees all about it.

5 Tuesday Classic Ann Arbor by the Sidewalk Food Tour 11am. $55. Outside Frita Batidos. bythesidewalk.com

Wanna sample all the delicious culinary options that Kerrytown and Ann Arbor Downtown have to offer? Join up for this tour held every Tuesday through Sunday.

Special Dinner #244: What’s for Dinner America? 5:30pm. $75. Zingerman’s Roadhouse. zingermansroadhouse.com

James Beard award-winning author Molly Stevens returns to Zingerman’s for a special discussion of some of our country’s trademark dishes, and how to best prepare them at home!

6 Wednesday

Take a breath and Wine Down on Wednesdays You’ve made it over the hump and survived through Wednesday. Why not celebrate your triumph with a movie and a lovely glass of vino? Look no further than WineDown Wednesdays at the State Theatre in Ann Arbor. Every Wednesday all wines on sale at State Theatre are priced at 50% off. See such interesting fare as 2017 documentary El Mar La Mar or Michigan-set drama Up There paired with delicious selections from the State Theatre’s wine menu. —JM Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Class

6:30pm. $60. Cornman Farms. events.zingermanscommunity.com

What wines go best with your Thanksgiving favorites? Find out at this special event, where Little Guy Wine Company founder Elisa Weber-Saintin will guide attendees in finding the best combinations to make for the perfect holiday meal!

Perfect Pies and Tarts

7:30pm. Westgate Branch Library. aadl.org Free

Do you love pie? Sure, we all do! Do you rarely make it at home because you can never create a tender and flaky crust as good as the pros can create? Me neither! But don’t worry — this workshop will give you the tips and the expertise to make a delicious pie crust at home!

Wine Night Wednesdays

4-10pm. Evans Street Station, Tecumseh. evansstreetstation.com

Take a country drive to Tecumseh, enjoy ½ off bottles of wine while there (or to go), if you stay late enough, partake in the late-night happy hour after 8pm featuring $1.50 oysters.

7 Thursday Founders Tap Take-Over 5pm. The Rumpus Room. Therumpusroomchelsea.com Free

Sip some of Founders Brewing Co. famous drafts.

2nd Mega Challah Bake

Plant-Based Diets & Health

Join Rochie Pinson, “The Challah Maven,” for an evening in celebration of challah. Create two loaves to take home, share the gift of Shabbat, and unite with other Jewish women from the community.

VegMichigan hosts a discussion of the benefits of a plant-based diet, as well as free food samples, at the Downtown Library’s Multipurpose Room.

6:30-9pm. $36. Palmer Commons. jewmich.com/megachallah.

Think outside the Sangria. This class at the Last Word will teach attendees all about the history and techniques of classic Spanish ingredients used to make cocktails that they love. Ticket price includes light snacks and samples of a variety of delicious cocktails.

Blue LLama’s Jazz Brunches

2019 / ecurrent.com

6:30pm. Ann Arbor District Library Downtown. vegmichigan.org Free

Beer + Yoga

6:30pm. $10. Witch’s Hat Brewing Co. witchshatbrewing.com

Come on. What better way to finish off a refreshing yoga exercise with a doubly-refreshing beer? This class every Thursday will see attendees instructed by Divine Power Yoga and Massage, followed by a delicious Tier 1 pint courtesy of Witch’s Hat.

8 Friday Lord Hobo Tasting

5pm. Blue Front. BFA2.com Free

Sample some of the delicious beers from Lord Hobo Brewing Company out of Massachusetts.

9 Saturday Hard Cider & Hard Seltzer Tap Takeover 11am-close. Haymaker Ann Arbor. Haymakerpublichouse.com Free

At least 12 taps will be dedicated to hard ciders and hard seltzers, with a focus on Michigan brands, during this beerless lineup.

10 Sunday Yerba Mate Tea & Talk

Noon. $30. Zingerman’s Coffee. events.zingermanscommunity.com

It’s said that drinking Yerba Mate is like having the benefits of coffee, tea and chocolate all in one cup. Join Zingerman’s and their tea expert Charles Russman for a class on how to brew and drink this traditional South American beverage!

Cruelty-Free Cuisine Class Who says you have to skimp on the flavor if you’re eating vegetarian? Not the folks at Fustini’s, who will be hosting an interactive class on November 29 about meat-free dishes made with their fine assortment of oils and vinegars. Chef Nikolas Bardt will be guiding attendees through the creation of dishes such as Roasted Beet Hummus, Homemade Tomato Bruschetta Pappardelle and more. Seats are limited, and all attendees will receive a 10% discount on product purchases at the event. $70. 6-8pm. Friday, November 29. 407 N 5th Ave., Ann Arbor. 734-213-1110. fustinis.com —JM

food Soups, Chilis and Chowders with Keegan Rodgers 7pm. Malletts Creek Branch Library. aadl.org Free

This special workshop hosted by Keegan Rodgers will teach attendees a variety of recipes and techniques to make a perfect bowl of goodness, as well as how to best store their creations for long-term keeping.

Trivia Tap Take-Over 7pm. The Rumpus Room. therumpusroomchelsea.com

Test your mettle at some tough trivia while also drinking some of the fine beverages out of Blake’s Hard Cider Co. from Armada and Deschutes Brewery from Bend, Oregon.

Holiday WineFest

5pm. $50. Evans Street Station. evansstreetstation.com

More than 60 different wines from around the world will be available for tasting at Evans Street’s annual event to benefit the Techumseh Carnagie. And hey, retail sales will be available at the event, in case you have a wine lover on your holiday list!

12 Tuesday Cooking at the Market with Cultivate

4-6pm. Ypsilanti Farmers Market. Cultivateypsi.org Free

Join Chef Carlito at the market for unique seasonal recipes and his favorite cooking tips. And, of course, samples to taste.

13 Wednesday Basic Knife Skills

7pm. Downtown Ann Arbor Library. aadl.org Free

Let’s face it — in the kitchen we all could use a little guidance on how to best use our knives and keep them in prime shape. This workshop will see Keegan Rodgers of the Lakehouse Bakery teach attendees these skills, as well as some important tips about knife safety.

15 Friday Great Lakes Brewing Tasting

5-7pm. Blue Front. BFA2.com Free

Try out some of the Ohio and Michigan area’s most beloved craft beers with samples from Great Lakes Brewing Company out of Cleveland.

21 Thursday 17 Sunday Cocktail Class: Classic Martini Lab 2pm. $45. The Last Word. tammystastings.com

Learn how to make some of the most popular mixed drinks, as well as some history and background on the cocktail. Class admission includes snacks and sampling of the drinks made!

19 Tuesday Brew Detroit Tasting

5-7pm. Blue Front. BFA2.com Free

With a wide variety of flavors made right in the heart of Michigan, Brew Detroit has been making a name for itself for over five years. Sample some of this area brewing company’s wares at this free event at Blue Front!

20 Wednesday

Garden Chat

3pm. YDL-Whittaker. ypsilibrary.org Free

Growing your own food? Ask and answer questions with other gardeners of all skill levels. Led by Advanced Master Gardener Carol Brodbeck.

22 Friday Meads & Masterpieces

5:30pm. $25. Blom Meadworks. drinkblom.com

Every fourth Friday of the month sees artist and instructor Payton Cook host a special class at Blom where students drink and paint! This month’s theme is “Punny Watercolor,” so come on down for the fun! Just don’t mix up the cup with your mead and the cup you’re rinsing your brushes in!

23 Saturday Holiday Table Cooking Class

Noon-2pm. $70. Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars. Fustinis.com

Learn to make holiday appetizer favorites, including artichoke spinach dip, braised cabbage, olive oil mashed potatoes, roast local fowl, and balsamic apple cobbler, in this cooking class led by Chef Nikolas Bardt. A demonstration of these recipes will also be offered from noon-2pm on Friday, November 8 for $55 per person. Register in advance.

29 Friday Fustini’s Vegetarian Cooking Class

6-8pm. $70. Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars. Fustinis.com

Learn to make roasted beet hummus, arugula and parmesan salad, homemade tomato bruschetta pappardelle, and pineapple and blackberry granite in this class led by Chef Nikolas Bardt. Register in advance.

30 Saturday Tailgate Party Cooking Demonstration Noon-2pm. $70. Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars. Fustinis.com

Watch, learn and taste as Chef Bardt creates jalapeno poppers, homemade pretzel bites with horseradish dipping sauce, peach balsamic glazed pork ribs, and baked calabaza donuts. Chef Bardt will also lead a cooking class featuring these recipes from noon-2pm on Wednesday, November 6 for $70 per person. Register in advance.

Fall Fusion Cooking Class Noon-2pm. $70. Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars. Fustinis.com

Learn to make sweet potato and black bean wonton cups, Asian sliders, spicy chicken onigirazu, and matcha pancakes in this class led by Chef Nikolas Bardt. Register in advance.

Valentine Distilling Spirits Tasting & Dinner

6pm. $69 (plus tax, tip included). Karl’s Cabin Restaurant & Bar. karlscabin.com

Enjoy a five-course spirit tasting dinner designed by Chef Luis Hernandez, featuring vodkas, gins and bourbons.

ecurrent.com / november 2019 25

music

Liquid Thickness: funk that finds the balance Local ensemble releases debut album on Nov 15 at the Blind Pig by Jeff Milo It’s hard to start this article without asking you, the reader, to repeat that name: Liquid Thickness. It’s evocative of the live experience (and forthcoming recordings) of this Ypsilanti-based funk/soul ensemble, balancing a flexible fluidity with a solid synchronicity. Liquid Thickness are a bright eight-piece beacon of a band amid a luminous community of post-millennial music makers who embrace (without abusing) the pliant and adventurous virtues of improvisational music.

Funk Band basics

“I always wanted it to be a funk band,” admits Liquid Thickness drummer Riley Damon Bean. “The vision was always toward funk, soul, and disco, and anything groove based or danceable; even slow-dancing stuff like Motown.” Original members include Bean and Weber, along with Aidan Cafferty (keys), and Devin Webster (trombone); Tim Martin recently joined on bass, replacing former founding member Ryan King (of Stormy Chromer). Now they’ve locked in with Jordan Smith on guitar, Jacob Lachance on saxophone, and Sam Swanson on trumpet. “We were just getting our chemistry down, for a while, just jamming, but then it moved into compositions, and those compositions started to fill in more within that (funk) context.” Bean has been playing drums his whole life, fitting into the indie-rock realm. Bean, along with Cafferty and Webster, grew up around here, attending Pioneer High School; Weber came over to this scene from Howell. “I knew of Riley, but I didn’t know him yet. He mentioned on Facebook that they wanted to start something up, because they had been jamming for a little while,” that was about three years ago, “...I always wanted to do something like this, but it’s hard to start a band when you’re just a vocalist!”

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Weber, a former theatre major who has been serving as an Emcee for hire (as D’s Entertainment) for years, has facilitated karaoke nights and DJ’ed events. Looking for a band that could fulfill his yearning to substantially connect with every audience. Weber explains, “that way we feed off of a crowd is not a stage act, that’s genuine. Early on, at our shows, I was trying to find a balance of who I would be as a ‘frontman,’ but eventually I just dropped trying to be a character. We just go up there and give back what the crowd is giving us.”

Pleasing the crowd without selling out

“We wanted to create something that was crowd-pleasing, while not selling-out,” said Bean. They’re built for versatility: shows can be tighter, lighter and/or feature more covers for daytime gigs and hired events, while on festival and jam band lineups they’re known to be more untethered to play outside the lines with improvisation. Since the early days, the band’s jam-based sound, incorporating jazz, hip-hop and other genres, has evolved into a composite of pure funk and soul, with ebullient rhythmic arrangements with shimmers of guitar and horns, while Weber, a middle ground between Bradley Nowell-ska and Al Green R&B, pours his smooth vocals over the boogie-able mix. Cool City Light is out on November 15, with a performance at the Blind Pig, with Violet Sol and Pajamas. On balancing seven instrumental components while recording their new album, Bean explains: “Every instrument has its own space so toes aren’t stepped on and the syncopation comes through.” Liquid Thickness’ debut album, Cool City Light, will be available on CD, on Friday, November 15, at the Blind Pig release party, as well as on Spotify, Youtube, and other streaming platforms.

1 Friday Jonathan Edwards

8pm. $20. Greenwood Coffee House. greenwoodcoffeehouse.org

Folk-rock musician Jonathan Edwards performs hits and rarities from his 40+ year career.

Day of the Dead Party

9pm. Ziggy’s. Ziggysypsi.com. Free

Come celebrate the Day of the Dead at Ziggy’s with some funky, reggae ska sounds from the group Hullabaloo. There will also be a costume contest with prizes.

Diego Figueiredo Duo

7pm & 9:30pm. $20. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

Disaster Relief Music with Dr. Peter Larson

8 Friday Shahida Nurullah & Good Company

Disaster Relief is a local jazz-funk fusion project that seeks to provide solace from the harshness and negativity of the world. The group features musical artists, including rising stars of the Detroit, Ann Arbor area jazz scene. Inspired by funky innovators, such as James Brown and Fela Kuti, the group incorporates a dynamic four-piece horn section along with syncopated percussion and tight, yet free, jamming improvisational compositions.

Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo and clarinetist Ken Peplowski perform two sets at the Blue Llama Jazz Club. Diago will be presenting his newest concert arrangements titled “From Classical to Jazz”.

Dr. Peter Larson and his group perform spaced out, swirling rhythmic music based around Larson’s electrified nyatiti, the 8-string Kenyan lyre. Along with Fred Thomas’s ambient guitar, Mike List’s drums and percussion, the listener rides a soul sonic journey. For this performance they will be joined by Dave Sharp on bass and vocalist Kat Steih.

Lean Year

Friday, November 8. $10. The Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

8pm. Lo-Fi Bar. lofiannarbor.com

Virginia based singer Emilie Rex and filmmaker/musician Rick Alverson make up the indie-folk duo Lean Year. Idle Ray opens.

2 Saturday Gayelynn McKinney

6-9pm. Detroit Filling Station. facebook. com/detroitstreetfillingstation Free

The award-winning jazz drummer will be joined by Jonathan Muir Cotten on bass and Alex Anest on guitar.

The Lowdown Brass Band

7pm & 9:30pm. $25-$45. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

The Lowdown Brass band is an all horn band that mixes the sounds of dancehall rhythms and Chicago street beat with reggae, hip-hop and soul. They’ll be performing two sets this evening at the Blue Llama Jazz Club.

The Autumn Uproar

7pm. $10-$12. 18+. The Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

GTS presents The Autumn Uproar. A music event featuring seven acts: YAYO, City 10, Jay Cotter, Kristianna & The DayNites, Katharsis, Kayla Drange, and Abstract Habitat.

3 Sunday 2019 Ann Arbor Music Instrument Swap 10am-4pm. $5. Weber’s. musicinstrumentswap.com

Bring an instrument to sell or trade, or shop vendors, who will be selling new, used and custom instruments.

3 Divas Jazz Trio

11:30am - 2:30pm. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com Free

Enjoy this brunch performance from this swinging trio. They play a mix of contemporary and traditional standards incompacing all genres of music.

4 Monday Westbound Situation 8pm. $15. The Ark. theark.org

The group Westbound Situation plays chamber music mixed with bluegrass. This is their album release show.

Gregory Alan Isakov 7pm. $35. Masonic Temple. gregoryalanisakov.com

Contemporary singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov performs at the Masonic Temple in Detroit. Luke Sital-Singh opens the show.

5 Tuesday Wilco

6:30pm. $35-$55. Hill Auditorium. wilcoworld.net

The Chicago indie pop/country alternative ensemble Wilco brings their Ode to Joy Tour to Ann Arbor in the promotion of the latest release of the same name. With special guest Deep Dea Diver.

6 Wednesday Bob Dylan

7-10pm. $90+. Hill Auditorium. Muto.umich.edu

“Tell Me That It Isn’t True”? Take 2. He’s back.

Tomeka Reid Quartet

7pm & 9:30pm. $15 / $35. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

Cellist and composer Tomeka Reid brings a new and original approach to the cello and jazz with her cutting-edge quartet.

7 Thursday U-M School of Music Showcase

7pm. Suggested Donation. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

The University of Michigan School of Music professors and students present a showcase night of jazz music.

7pm. Suggested Donation. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

Detroit native, jazz singer Shahida Nurullah and her group Good Company perform a wide range of Jazz styles at the Blue Llama Jazz Club.

Windborne

8pm. $15. Greenwood Coffee House. greenwoodcoffeehouse.org

Windborne is a world folk music quartet featuring close harmony singing and sonic storytelling.

9 Saturday Ann Arbor Synth Expo

Noon-4pm. Downtown Library Secret Lab. aadl.org Free

Celebrate and explore all things synth. Watch performers, try out synths, talk to vendors, artists, makers, and more.

Vincent Chandler

7pm. Suggested Donation. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

Trombonist, and crowd pleasing scat singer, Prof. Vincent Chandler premieres his newest original music along with an all-star Detroit ensemble.

Start Making Sense

8pm. $15-$18. 18+. The Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

The 7-piece group faithfully recreates the Talking Heads, including some songs the band never played live. Some have said this is the closest you’ll get to seeing Talking Heads live.

Ki5

6:30-9pm. Detroit Filling Station. facebook.com/ detroitstreetfillingstation Free

The Ann Arbor-based loop station musician that stacks live vocals, beatboxing, harmony and rhythm to create a unique symphony of sound.

Chris Webby

8pm. $20. All Ages. The Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Chris Webby is a mixtape and party rap master. He’ll be bringing his MC skills to the Blind Pig stage along with several other rappers for a night of Hip-Hop. Jaren Benton, Locksmith, Ekoh, Redd, and Tru Klassick are also on the bill.

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Unmaker with Damien Done and Vazum 7pm. $9. The Lo-Fi Bar. lowfiannarbor.com

Lo-Fi Bar is opening this Tuesday evening for a special night of dark post-punk Rock ‘N’ Roll featuring; Unmaker who are on tour from Richmond VA, Ann Arbor’s Damien Done, and Vazum from Detroit.

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10 Sunday Bob Sweet Quartet

11:30am-2:30pm. Suggested Donation. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

Veteran local drummer Bob Sweet, an original member of the Sun Messengers, leads his quartet through a set of jazz standards for this brunch time performance.

11 Monday The Flatliners

8pm. $35. The Ark. theark.org

Texas alt-country group The Flatliners return to the Ark.

Campus Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra 8pm. Hill Auditorium. Free

A night of classic music.

13 Wednesday Aqueous

7pm. $15-$17. 18+. The Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Aqueous plays improvisational yet tight groove rock. The group formed in buffalo in 2006 and since then have gained a reputation as a fiery live act. The band Great Time opens the show.

Brendan James

8pm. $20. The Ark. theark.org

14 Thursday Wendell Harrison Quartet

7pm & 9:30pm. $15-$35. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

Jazz saxophonist and clarinetist Wendell Harrison brings his Quartet to the Blue Llama Jazz Club for two sets of jazz.

Delta Rae

8pm. $35. The Ark. theark.org

Delta Rae is a six-piece folk-rock band that have been described as Mumford & Sons meets Fleetwood Mac. The group is known for its strong harmony singing and honest songwriting.

15 Friday Liquid Thickness

8pm. $10. 18+. The Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

The funky soul-infused, rockin’ disco outfit Liquid Thickness celebrates its debut album release. Improvisational rock group Pajamas and Ann Arbor’s Violet Sol open the show.

Jeremy Horn

8pm. $15. Greenwood Coffee House. greenwoodcoffeehouse.org

Jeremy Horn performs his Christian brand of folky pop rock at the Green Wood Coffee house.

Singer-songwriter Brendan James performs his introspective melodelic songs at the Ark. Pete Muller opens the show.

16 Saturday

Gayelynn McKinney & McKinfolk

Charlie Sutherland (guitar/vocals/ loops), Ingrid Racine (trumpet/ vocals), and Josef Deas (bass/ synthesizers) will perform an unexpected repertoire, ranging from Charles Mingus to Joni Mitchell.

Grammy nominated Detroit native drummer Gayelynn McKinney performs two sets of jazz at the Blue Llama Jazz Club.

6-9pm. Detroit Filling Station. facebook. com/detroitstreetfillingstation Free

NOJO 7

7pm. $45-$65. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

The Grammy Award-winning New Orleans Jazz Orchestra is a 20-piece big band led by artistic director Adonis Rose. The band celebrates New Orleans Jazz in all its various forms.

Deadicated

8pm-midnight. $8. The Rumpus Room. therumpusroomchelsea.com

Be grateful for this Grateful Dead-inspired psychedelic dance party.

17 Sunday Ellen Rowe’s All About the Trio

2pm. $10-$40. Kerrytown Concert House. Kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Come learn about the jazz trio and how each member works together to create music.

Alex Anest Organ Trio

11:30am-2:30pm. Suggested Donation. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

Special brunch time performance by the Alex Anest Organ Trio

18 Monday Nellie McKay

8pm. $20. The Ark. theark.org

Award winning progresive singer-songwriter Nellie McKay performs songs from her critically acclaimed albums at the Ark.

19 Tuesday Holly Macve

8pm. $15. The Ark. hollymacve.com

Country Americana singer Holly Macve performs at the Ark. Her music ranges from emotional ballads to a sort of country noir.

20 Wednesday Elvis Costello and the Imposters

7:30pm. $69 / $350 Michigan Theater. Michtheater.org

Legendary rocker, singer-songwriter Elvis Costello performs with his group the Imposters on a solo headlining tour making a stop at the Michigan Theater.

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2019 / ecurrent.com

21 Thursday

Ingird Racine’s Triangle Project

7pm and 10pm. Suggested Donation. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

Kris Allen

7pm. $22. The Ark the ark.org

American Idol winner Kris Allen takes the stage at the Ark to perform songs from his 10-year career.

22 Friday Mike Mains and the Branches 8pm. $15. 18+. The Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Indie-pop band Mike Mains and the Branches bring their catchy melodies and folksy charm to the Blind Pig stage. The Timbre of Cider and Kimball open the show.

Peter Mayer

8pm. $15. Greenwood Coffee House. greenwoodcoffeehouse.org

Peter Mayer is an accomplished folk musician known for his unique guitar playing and intimate songwriting.

23 Saturday Earthgang

7pm. $20-$22. All Ages. The Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Earthgang is an Atlanta based Southern-style hip-hop duo featuring rappers Olu (aka Johnny Venus) and WowGr8 (aka Doctur Dot). Benji, and Guapdad4000 open the show.

An Evening of Singer-Songwriters

7pm. $10-$12. The Rumpus Room. therumpusroomchelsea.com

Monte Pride, Nicholas James, Isaac Berkowitz of Desmond Jones, and The Rupple Brothers perform.

24 Sunday Lunar Octet

11:30am-2:30pm. Suggested Donation. The Blue Llama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

A special brunch event featuring an all-original Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz group comprised of some of Detroit’s favorite jazz musicians.

Songs of the Angels

2pm. $10-$40. Kerrytown Concert House. Kerrytownconcerthouse.com

A special musical program featuring heavenly duets from the sacred, spiritual, and operatic repertoire.

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25 Monday Youth Jazz Performance 7pm. Zal Gaz Grotto Club. Free

MR. B

8pm. $20. The Ark. theark.org

The boogie-woogie piano player holds his annual Thanksgiving performance at the Ark.

The CMSA2 youth jazz groups perform at the Zal Gaz Grotto Club Hullabaloo with the Paul Keller Orchestra.

26 Tuesday University Choir and Chamber Choir

8pm. $8. The Rumpus Room. therumpusroomchelsea.com

The Michigan-based collective brings its original blend of rhythms.

8pm. Hill Auditorium. Ums.org Free

Ongoing

Nadim Azzam

Mondays Factory Mondays at Necto Nightclub

Classical choir music.

8pm. The Ark. theark.org Free

Ann Arborite Nadim Azzam performs live at The Ark for their Thanksgiving Food Drive with Food Gatherers.

29 Friday Matt Watroba

7:30. $20. The Ark. theark.org

9pm. $1-$3. Necto Nightclub. necto.com

Rave the night away at Necto’s goth and industrial-styled Factory Mondays. The cover charge is $1 before 10pm and $3 after.

Tuesdays Jazz at The Elks

7pm. $10 Donation. The Elks Lodge.

Michigan folk singer-songwriter facebook.com/a2elks Matt Watroba performs at the Ark. Enjoy live Jazz in a comfortable intimate setting. Takes place the last Tuesday of the month.

30 Saturday

Pontiac Trailblazers play Grateful Dead

6-8pm. Detroit Filling Station. facebook. com/detroitstreetfillingstation Free

Wednesdays Hot Jazz & Wine Wednesday

6-9pm. Detroit Street Filling Station. facebook.com/ Be grateful— the Pontiac Trailblaz- detroitstreetfillingstation Free

ers and special guests will perform the Grateful Dead’s 1970 studio albums Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty.

Enjoy wine specials as Andrew Brown’s Djangophonique performs Jazz Manouche and Hot Swing inspired by the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt

Thursdays Westside Ramblers

5:30pm. The Elks Lodge. facebook.com/a2elks. Free

Come enjoy an evening of acoustic oldies provided by the Westside Ramblers. Takes place the first Thursday of the month. Limited menu available until 7pm.

Fridays Pride Fridays at Necto Nightclub

9pm. $5-$10. Necto Nightclub. necto.com

Enjoy Michigan’s premier LGBT club night, including a slew of special events and guests. Free before 11pm for guests with college IDs.

Saturdays Frequency Saturdays at Necto Nightclub 9pm. $5-$10. Necto Nightclub. necto.com

Dance to Top 40, dance and house, spun by DJ Hardy and hosted by MC Yoda. Ladies free until 11pm.

Sundays Jazz Brunches at Blue LLama

11:30am-2:30pm. Prices vary. Blue LLama. Bluellamaclub.com

Sunday Jazz Brunch

11am-3pm. Detroit Street Filling Station. facebook.com/ detroitstreetfillingstation Free

Join Andrew Brown’s Djangophonique trip for some beautiful jazz every Sunday at the Detroit Street Filling Station from 11am-2pm, and while you’re there you may as well enjoy a delicious vegan lunch served from 10am-3pm.

Brennan Andes & Friends

5:30-7:30pm. Ann Arbor Distilling Company. Annarbordistilling.com Free

Grab a drink and enjoy the house band every Sunday.

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2019 / ecurrent.com

theater Holmes Returns to Purple Rose Fallen Souffle continues trilogy of Sherlock tales By Jeff McGinnis

In the spring of 2018, a play entitled Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Wandering Ear opened at the Purple Rose Theatre Company and proved to be a phenomenal success. Its popularity especially pleased the show’s playwright, David MacGregor, whose script was a reimagining and tribute to one of pop culture’s most beloved characters. “Sherlock Holmes is my favorite fictional character,” MacGregor said. “Kind of the ultimate hero. I mean, he’s not the Rambo, Terminator, Achilles-type of warrior hero. He looks at stuff and tries to figure it out. Tries to make sense of the world. And his expertise is pattern-recognition. That’s what makes human beings, human beings. Our ability to control and manipulate our environment.” The success of Wandering Ear led to Purple Rose commissioning MacGregor to write two sequels to the show— the first, Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Fallen Souffle, just opened and is currently running through December 21. “The play is set on the eve of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee,” explains the show’s director Michelle Mountain. “There is mayhem, and possible assassination, and a boxing match, a lots of humor. It’s very funny, it’s lots of fun.”

Stand alone

Though the show is the middle act of a trilogy of plays, both MacGregor and Mountain emphasize that audiences don’t have to have seen the previous play to enjoy Fallen Souffle -- all three shows are constructed to be stand-alone experiences outside of their relationship to each other. “My basic idea was, I want to write a play that has four fictional characters in it, and two historical characters in it,” MacGregor said. “And all three plays have that. They have the same four fictional characters, but they each have two different historical characters in them.” Many of the performers who brought Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic characters to life in Purple Rose’s original Wandering Ear

production have returned for this show. Mountain, who served as the assistant director on Wandering Ear said one of the unique challenges of Fallen Souffle has been encouraging her cast to approach their characters in a new way. “This play is set nine years later than the first one. No one is the same person that they were nine years ago. And the story’s different, their relationships have deepened,” Mountain said. “That was one of the things, to go, ‘Please don’t do what you did last time. This is a new story, with new stakes.’”

Collaborate and listen

MacGregor frequently attended rehearsals as the new show got underway, and Mountain said she viewed him as a total collaborator in the creative process. “He is definitely the playwright, but he was open to any cuts or thoughts I had. We had a lengthy discussion on one character and that person’s development, and he said ‘Oh yeah!’ And he went and re-wrote, and we got a bunch of new pages. He’s great to work with,” she said. “The play on the printed page— that’s not the play. That’s just the blueprint for the play,” MacGregor said. The third part of the trilogy of plays is slated to open the Purple Rose’s 2020-21 season next fall. Mountain said she hopes audiences find an escape in Fallen Souffle’s journey to the world of pop culture’s greatest detective. “I have they hope an intellectually stimulating, hilarious good time. One of the ushers was telling me this morning about a woman who stopped her and said how lovely the production was, and how great it was, and also how important it was to laugh right now, because the world is so scary.” $28-47. Wednesdays and Saturdays, 3pm. Thursdays through Saturdays, 8pm. Sundays, 2pm. Running through December 21. 137 Park St, Chelsea. 734-433-7673. purplerosetheatre.org

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arts & culture

White History Month, Vol. 1

336 S. Ashley St. Ann Arbor, MI

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Affordable Vet Services Dr. Maja Fontichiaro • Dr. Tara Hansen Dr. Paul Glineburg • Dr. Madeleine Erba

One of the most provocative and politically sharp artists currently working, Tylonn J. Sawyer’s latest exhibit is sure to spark discussion among his audiences. Titled White History Month, Vol. 1, Sawyer’s collection utilizes symbols of oppression from throughout American art to examine the controversy surrounding the removal of Confederate monuments. Sawyer’s history of work, aimed directly at questions of American identity and politics, has earned him widespread acclaim, including receiving the Alain Locke Recognition Award at the Detroit Institute of Arts this past February. 9am-5pm. Exhibition open Monday through Friday, November 18 through December 19. Institute for the Humanities Gallery, 202 Thayer St., Ann Arbor. 734-936-3518. events.umich.edu Free —JM

Artist Edel Rodriguez to speak at Michigan Theater From his famous “Meltdown” cover of Time magazine to his contributions to the New York Times op-ed pages, Edel Rodriguez’s works have become some of the most iconic sights of the Trump era. Now, the Cuban American artist comes to the Michigan Theater to speak as part of UM’s Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Speakers series. Themed “On Freedom and Risk,” the speech will give attendees insight on the creative mind of an artist whose brightly colored and minimalistic pieces have been seen the world over. 5:10pm. Thursday, November 21. Michigan Theater, 603 E Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 734-668-8397. michtheater.org Free —JM

Performance art pioneer Suzanne Lacy

2117 West Stadium St. | Ann Arbor 734.926.0114 | affordablevetservices.com

november

2019 / ecurrent.com

Some of the earliest examples of politically pointed and engaging performance art pieces came from the mind of Suzanne Lacy, whose work has engaged viewers with issues of feminism and gender for over 40 years. Lacy will appear on November 14 as part of the University of Michigan’s Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Speakers series. Utilizing her work to challenge audiences about how society can discard and ignore older women, her speech is appropriately entitled “We Are Here.” 5:10pm. Thursday, November 14. Michigan Theater, 603 E Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 734-668-8397. michtheater.org Free —JM

1 Friday

[misc.] Compassionate Feast Featuring Jackson Galaxy

6:30pm. $175 - $500. Michigan League Ballroom. hshv.convio.net

The Humane Society of Huron Valley is hosting its 14th Compassionate Feast fundraiser with special guest Jackson Galaxy, the world-famous “Cat Daddy” from Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell. Attendees will be treated to a delicious vegetarian meal, cocktails, music and more.

[theater] Dr. Seward’s Dracula

8pm. $15. Stone Chalet Bed and Breakfast Inn and Event Center. pennyseats.org

This second installment of the Penny Dreadfuls play series turns the story of Dracula on its head— Bram Stoker contacts Dr. Seward to tell his stories and murders ensue.

2 Saturday

[education] The Art of Voice Over & Performance Capture with Debra Wilson 4pm. Downtown Library. aadl.org Free

Best known for her work on MADtv, Wilson has found her greatest success working as a voice over actress. Learn how she managed to hone her skills and apply them in television, film, and video games.

[theater] FreakShow & Tell

8pm. $19.99 - $39.99. Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex.

Science lecturer and sideshow performer Thom Britton combines these facets into a spellbinding show about his personal journey of learning some of the most iconic freakshow feats and the scientific principles that make them possible.

3 Sunday

[art] Gallery Talk: Mari Katayama

2pm. University of Michigan Museum of Art. uuma.umich.edu/ events Free

Artist Mari Katayama, who had both of her legs amputated at age nine, uses her own body in a multimedia series to explore the vulnerabilities of our physicality. Suggested donation $10.

[art] Sip and Shop

10am. Teaspressa. teaspressa.com Free

Join Teaspressa on the first Sunday of every month for a special event celebrating handmade art made by some of the Ann Arbor area’s most talented vendors.

4 Monday

[misc.] QUESTIONNAIREY TRIVIA

7:30pm. Bobber Down Bar & Grill. bobberdownbarandgrill.com Free

Compete in a Family Feud®-style game of Questionnairey to win a Bobber Down gift certificate. Teams answer questions and get points for the popularity of their answers. You can even use your phone! Also on Nov. 18.

5 Tuesday

[education] Ghetto: The History of a Word 4pm. Frankel Center for Judaic Studies. events.umich.edu Free

George Schwartz from George Washington University explores the origins of the term “ghetto,” reaching back to its Italian origins in the 1500s to the current day.

[theater] The Moth StorySLAM: Gumption 6:30pm. $15. Zingerman’s Greyline. Themoth.org Moments of courage and the peaks and pratfalls of a daring spirit— tell your gutsiest gambles and the mettle that forged them.

6 Wednesday

[film] El Mar La Mar

arts & culture ROAD TRIP IF YOU CAN’T DIY— JUST BUY

Full disclosure: most of my holiday shopping is done in a full-on, Supermarket Sweepstakes-style fugue state during Handmade Toledo’s Maker’s Mart. I never know who I am buying for, but I always see enough cute stuff to know I can satisfy a handful of friends and family with the DIY and handmade goods. Fortunately, the popular semi-annual pop-up indie craft fair is back for its holiday edition on Saturday, November 16. Shop from more than 80 handmade vendors and enjoy Toledo food trucks and local coffee, craft cocktails, and beer during one of the area’s favorite holiday events. $1. 10am-7pm. Saturday, November 16. Handmade Toledo, 1717 Adams St., 419-214-1717. Handmadetoledo.com

9 Friday

[film] [music] The Music of Star Wars

8pm. $10-$35. The Michigan Theater. michtheater.org The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra relives the epic soundtrack by John Williams.

7pm. $10.50, adult. $8.50, students, seniors and military. The State Theatre. Michtheater.org

10 Sunday

[misc.] 4th Annual Sprout Love Celebration

6-9pm. $25-$50. Ypsilanti Freighthouse. cancersupportannarbor.org

Enjoy live music by George Bedard, barbecue from Blue Tractor, local craft brews, a photo booth and a silent auction at this fundraiser to benefit this nonprofit supporting families struggling with cancer.

This documentary takes viewers on an immersive journey through the Sonoran Desert on the U.S.-Mexico border. Presented in partnership with the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

7 Thursday

[theater] FOLLIES IN CONCERT by Stephen Sondheim & James Goldman 8pm. $30. Theatre NOVA. theatrenova.org

Enjoy classic tunes like “Broadway Baby” and “Losing My Mind” in a story centered around a reunion in an almost defunct theatre. Runs until Nov 17.

8 Friday

[film] Metaphysical Movie Night

7pm. $5. Enlightened Soul Center. enlightenedsoulcenter.com Gather round for a movie night that is good for your mind and soul, followed by a discussion.

[theater] Passion & Perseverance: A Naughty & Nice Cabaret 8pm. $50. Gladwin Barn. kickshawtheatre.org

Kickshaw Theatre presents this musical theater show filled with show tunes by local singers. Admission includes wine, beer, non-alcoholic beverages and other light refreshments.

Receive 25% off any 3-pack, 5-pack or 7-pack of massage sessions purchase between Friday, November 29 - Monday, December 2. 4833 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

734-975-9950 | wccfitness.org follow us on facebook

Washtenaw Community College does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other protected status in its programs and activities. The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies, Title IX or ADA/504 inquires: Vice President of Student & Academic Services, SC 247, 734-973-3536. Facility access inquiries: V.P. for Facilities Development & Operations, PO 112, 734-677-5322 *Offer expires 12/2119. Some restrictions may apply. See center for complete details. WOO-1003699 0919

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arts & culture 11 Monday

14 Thursday

[lit] Indelible in the Hippocampus: Writings from the #MeToo Movement

[lit] Celebrating Untold Stories of Liberation and Love

Hear about this collection of essays from black, Latinx, Asian, queer and trans writers contributing to the Me Too movement through their shared experiences. Readers for this event TBA.

Celebrate women of color, creativity, power and vision as authors share readings during the book launch party for the newly released poetry anthology, Love and Other Futures: Poetry From Untold Stories of Liberation and Love, the first anthology of writings of women of color in Michigan.

7pm. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com Free

12 Tuesday

[misc.] 2019 ICPJ Harvest Dinner

5pm. $75. Cobblestone Farm. icpj.org

The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice holds its annual fundraising dinner to celebrate the work of social justice advocates, including 2019 honorees such as Yodit Mesfin Johnson and the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights.

13 Wednesday

[film] Up There

7:30pm. $10.50, adult. $8.50, students, seniors and military. The Michigan Theater. michtheater.org

When a down-on-his-luck journalist is sent to the UP on an assignment, he doesn’t expect a local to help him discover the story that could jump-start his career. Directed by Michael Blaustein and Daniel Weingarten, who will host a post-screening Q+A.

[theater] Full Metal Events

7:45pm. $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Pointless Brewery & Theatre. pointlessbrew.com

Rock and laugh with the unique stylings of Full Metal Jokers.

6-8pm. Ypsilanti Freighthouse. facebook.com/UntoldStoriesof LiberationLoveAnthology Free

[theatre] The Secret Garden preview night 7:30pm. $26. The Encore Musical Theatre Company. theencoretheatre.org

Enjoy this preview night of The Secret Garden musical based on the novel by Frances Hodges Burnett, which will play through December 22.

15 Friday

[education] Pop-up Exhibit: From the Front 10am. William Clements Library. events.umich.edu Free

Observe Veterans Month at The Clements Library for this exhibit, which features ephemera and other materials made by veterans across multiple U.S. wars.

19 Tuesday

[film] Becoming Nobody

7:30pm. $10.50, adult. $8.50, students, seniors and military. The Michigan Theater. Michtheater.org

This documentary follows the life and teachings of Ram Dass, a psychologist, teacher, academic, author, and spiritual pioneer.

[theater] The Moth StorySLAM: Landmarks 6:30pm. $15. Zingerman’s Greyline. Themoth.org

Prepare, or listen to, a five-minute story about the places and points that plot our course.

20 Wednesday

[misc.] Brews & Views

7:30pm. Pointless Brewery & Theatre. pointlessbrew.com Free

This month’s gathering for drink and discussion is hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Mystic Nights at the Grotto

8pm. $10 - $50. Zal Gaz Grotto. mishatuesday.wellattended.com

Hosted by the enigmatic Misha Tuesday, Mystic Nights is a show with magic, hypnosis, mind reading and many facets of the supernatural.

21 Thursday

[lit] Ebony Roberts Book Signing

7-8:30pm. Ann Arbor District Library, downtown branch. literatibookstore.com Free

[film] Stratford Festival on Film: The Tempest

Ebony Roberts shares the story of how she found true love in an unlikely place with her memoir The Love Prison Made and Unmade: My Story as she has a discussion with the director of the Prison Creative Arts Project. Q&A and book signing follow.

See the Stratford Festival’s latest production, recorded live in 2019.

[misc.] 19th Annual Thanks for Giving Benefit Dinner

17 Sunday

2pm. $18, non-member. $16, students, seniors and military. Michigan Theater. Michtheater.org

6pm. $125. Zion Lutheran Church. peaceneighborhoodcenter.org

The 2019 edition of the annual fundraising dinner will feature a full dinner including ribs, whitefish and more, entertainment courtesy the Peace Youth Services Performers and will honor former Peace board president Amy Pachera.

23 Saturday

[education] Flexagon Model Workshop 10am. $105. Hollander’s. hollanders.com

Barbara Brown teaches this class on how to make a flexagon structure and a soft cover pamphlet book to hold it. The sewn text pages include steps to make the flexagon.

24 Sunday

[theater] NT Live: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

7pm. $12-$22. Michigan Theater. michtheater.org

A live performance of Shakespeare’s renowned romantic comedy by the Bridge Theatre in London, featuring includes Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie.

25 Monday

[lit] Meeting: Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing 6:30pm. East Quadrangle. events.umich.edu Free

The Prison Creative Arts Project and the University of Michigan’s collaborate to showcase the talents of writers in Michigan prisons. This publication is seeking readers to help curate the work of the incarcerated writers who range from beginners to experienced.

28 Thursday

[misc.] Thanksgiving at Mash Bar 6pm. Mash Bar. mashbar.net

Don’t have any plans for Thanksgiving night? Have no fear! Mash Bar has whiskey and music for you to celebrate the holiday with family and friends.

29 Friday

[lit] Open Mic Nights

7pm. Peaberry Bean & Beats Cafe. thepeaberrybean.com Free

The Cafe’s monthly open mic night always features talented artists of all kinds - comics, musicians, poets, and many others take to the stage in a wonderful showcase of local artistry.

22 Friday

[film] Free Film and Discussion

7pm. Jewel Heart Tibetan Buddhist Center. jewelheart.org Free

See a free screening of Healing Field: Exploring Energy & Consciousness, a documentary about unconventional approaches to maintaining good health. Concessions also available.

november

2019 / ecurrent.com

Searchable lists updated daily @ eccurent.com

Original - Court 1st copy - Defendant 2nd copy - Prosecuting official

Approved, SCAO

STATE OF MICHIGAN JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDICIAL CIRCUIT ORI MI-

cannabis Expungement Efforts After Legalized Marijuana Prop 1, one year later, 235,000 still waiting to expunge low-level marijuana convictions By Charmie Gholson

Last November, Michigan voters approved Proposal 1, The Taxation and Regulation of Marihuana Act of 2018, making Michigan the tenth US state to legalize marijuana possession and use for any adult, 21 and over. The citizen-led initiative decriminalized most marijuana offenses but stopped short of addressing the reform of Michigan’s cumbersome and inaccessible expungement process. Now, one year later, over 235,000 people are still waiting to have their criminal records cleared of low-level marijuana convictions. Michigan’s current expungement legislation requires petitioning the court, paying $50, fingerprinting, a notarized application, with copies sent to law enforcement, and attending a hearing. A judge has the final say on whether to seal the conviction. Margeaux Bruner is a Detroit native and founding member of the National Expungement Week campaign. She oversaw several clinics in September that helped people apply for expungement. People struggle to navigate the legal system while being prosecuted, and that factor remains when they attempt to clear their criminal records. “This is the most at-risk population,” she told Current. “This policy, Michigan’s expungement process, serves as a web to ensnare people young and old into homelessness, unemployment and food insecurity for undefined periods of time. Criminal records can preclude you from senior and assisted living facilities, and there is a significant percentage of adults advanced in age who need resources.”

Legislative Efforts

A bipartisan group of legislators recently introduced a six-bill reform package (HB4980-4985) to expand the state’s expungement program for all crimes. These bills include automatic expungement, except for cannabis convictions. In response, Senator Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) introduced a stand-alone bill that corrects the weaknesses in the package directly affecting people with marijuana convictions. SB416 eliminates the need to petition the courts and would automatically clear misdemeanors involving low-level marijuana use and possession for those who have long gone without reoffending. CHANGES PROPOSED TO EXPUNGEMENT BY SB416

Ability to apply regardless of the number of marijuana convictions

Relief for any crimes made legal by the 2018 initiative Relief for attempting to follow the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act of 2018

Reduces cost by half-from $50 to $25

3rd copy - Attorney General 4th copy - State Police 5th copy - Return

CASE NO.

APPLICATION TO SET ASIDE CONVICTION

Court address

Police Report No.

Court telephone no.

The State of Michigan

THE PEOPLE OF

Defendant’s name, address,

and telephone no.

v CTN/TCN

SID

Defendant’s attorney, bar no.,

DOB address, and telephone no.

1. On I was convicted of Date . A certified copy of the conviction Offense is attached. 2. I request that the court issue an order to set aside the above conviction as provide record created by MCL 780.623 d by law. I consent to use of to the extent authorized by the nonpublic MCL 780.623. 3. No other application has been filed to set aside this convicti on. OR An application was previously filed to set aside this convicti on on . The application was dispose Date d of as follows: 4.

No other application has been filed to set aside another convicti An application was previou on. OR sly filed in this court the

conviction for

Court to set aside a

, in addition to the convicti

on in item 1. The application

of as follows:

5. At least five years have passed since sentence was imposed or discharge from conviction, whichever is later. imprisonment, 6.

I have not had any convicti

There are no other crimina

ons deferred and dismissed.

was disposed .

probation, or parole for this

I have had the following convicti

on(s) deferred and dismissed:

. There are criminal charges pending against me in the Court, case number 8. I have not been convicte . d of more than one felony and two misdemeanors as defined in MCL 780.621. l charges pending against

me.

Applicant Signature

Subscribed and sworn to before My commission expires:

me on

Date

Signature:

Date

Notary public, State of Michiga

n, County of

MC 227 (6/18)

APPLICATION TO SET ASIDE

CONVICTION

County, Michigan.

Deputy clerk/Notary public

MCL 780.621, MCL 780.622,

MCL 780.772a, MCL 780.827a

“Currently, people can only apply for up to one felony and two misdemeanors,” Irwin told Current. “My bill allows people to seek to set aside their record regardless of how many cannabis misdemeanors or felonies they have.” Another critical aspect of SB416 is reversing the prosecution of state-sanctioned medical marijuana patients and caregivers who were prosecuted and convicted of marijuana crimes even though they registered with the state and have documentation of operating in compliance with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA). “A lot of people have really been put through the wringer since 2008, due to aggressive prosecution and misapplication of the MMMA,” Irwin said. “These are people who attempted to be compliant, who had no criminal intent and were even told by local authorities that they were compliant.” Decreasing marijuana arrests was one expected outcome of the 2008 Medical Marihuana Act, but that number went up not down. Medical marijuana registry participants expected to be protected from police encounters, but not all Michigan law enforcers agreed. Michigan State Police report a 17% increase in arrests for marijuana possession between 2008-2015.

No Longer a Felon

Lansing based attorney Josh Covert’s Cannabis Defender Law Office provided legal advice at several clinics during National Expungement Week, helping attendees complete forms. He tells a poignant story about one of his clients whose felony marijuana conviction was the only thing on his record. “Having his marijuana conviction expunged meant so much to him. After we got his expungement in court he told me, ‘as soon as I leave the court I’m going to my parents grave.’” He was crying. He said, ‘I’m going to visit my parents grave and tell them I’m no longer a felon.” That’s how much it means to some people, and to their parents.”

Were you arrested and prosecuted in Michigan between 2008 and 2019 for marijuana crimes that are now legal? We want to hear from you. Email okisay@yahoo.com for a questionnaire. ecurrent.com / january 2017 35

january

2017 / ecurrent.com

NOVEMBER ARIES (March 21-April 19): Do you have any skill in fulfilling the wishes and answering the prayers of your allies? Have you developed a capacity to tune in to what people want even when they themselves aren’t sure of what they want? Do you sometimes have a knack for offering just the right gesture at the right time to help people do what they haven’t been able to do under their own power? If you possess any of those aptitudes, now is an excellent time to put them in play. More than usual, you are needed as a catalyst, a transformer, an inspirational influence. Homework: Imagine yourself as a kind of fairy godmother, genie, or benefactor. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Author Amy Tan describes the magic moment when her muse appears and takes command: “I sense a subtle shift, a nudge to move over, and everything cracks open, the writing is freed, the language is full, resources are plentiful, ideas pour forth, and to be frank, some of these ideas surprise me. It seems as though the universe is my friend and is helping me write, its hand over mine.” Even if you’re not a creative artist, Taurus, I suspect you’ll be offered intense visitations from a muse or muses in the coming days. If you make yourself alert for and receptive to these potential blessings, you’ll feel like you’re being guided and fueled by higher powers. Homework: Spend some fun fantasy time musing about your muses: what they’re like and what they can do. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): More than a century ago, author Anton Chekhov wrote, “If many remedies are prescribed for an illness, you may be certain that the illness has no cure.” Decades later, I wrote, “If you’re frantically trying to heal yourself with a random flurry of half-assed remedies, you’ll never cure what ails you. But if you sit still in a safe place and ask your inner genius to identify the one or two things you need to do to heal, you will find the cure.” Homework: Picture yourself as a potent healer; imagine what it would be like to possess the power to soothe and restore and rejuvenate yourself. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian artist Marc Chagall (1887– 1985) was a playful visionary and a pioneer of modernism. He appealed to sophisticates despite being described as a dreamy, eccentric outsider who invented his own visual language. In the 1950s, Picasso observed that Chagall was one of the only painters who “understood what color really is.” In 2017, one of Chagall’s paintings sold for $28.5 million. What was the secret to his success? “If I create from the heart, nearly everything works,” he testified. “If from the head, almost nothing.” Your current assignment, Cancerian, is to authorize your heart to rule everything you do. Homework: Make or buy an inspiring image of a heart. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Dead Sea, on the border of Jordan and Israel, is far saltier than the ocean. No fish or frogs live in it. But here and there on the lake’s bottom are springs that exude fresh water. They support large, diverse communities of microbes. It’s hard for divers to get down there and study the life forms, though. The water’s so saline, they tend to float. So they carry 90 pounds of ballast that enables them to sink to the sea floor. I urge you to get inspired by all this, Leo. What would be the metaphorical equivalent for you of descending into the lower depths so as to research unexplored sources of vitality and excitement? Homework: Imagine yourself as a diver, spelunker, or archaeologist. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “We have stripped all things of their mystery and luminosity,” lamented psychologist Carl Jung. “Nothing is holy any longer.” In accordance with current astrological omens, Virgo, your assignment is to rebel against that mournful state of affairs. I hope you will devote some of your fine intelligence to restoring mystery and luminosity to the world in which you dwell. I hope you will find and create holiness that’s worthy of your reverence and awe. Homework: Imagine yourself as a mage, priestess, poet, enchantrix, witch, alchemist, or sacramentalist.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In his novel *Zone One*, Scorpio author Colson Whitehead writes, “A monster is a person who has stopped pretending.” He means it in the worst sense possible: the emergence of the ugly beast who had been hiding behind social niceties. But I’m going to twist his meme for my own purposes. I propose that when you stop pretending and shed fake politeness, you may indeed resemble an ugly monster—but only temporarily. After the suppressed stuff gets free rein to yammer, it will relax and recede—and you will feel so cleansed and relieved that you’ll naturally be able to express more of your monumental beauty.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “One language is never enough,” says a Pashto proverb. How could it be, right? Each language has a specific structure and a finite vocabulary that limit its power to describe and understand the world. I think the same is true for religion: one is never enough. Why confine yourself to a single set of theories about spiritual matters when more will enable you to enlarge and deepen your perspective? With this in mind, Libra, I invite you to regard November as “One Is Never Enough Month” for you. Assume you need more of everything. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I am glad that I paid so little attention to good advice,” testified poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. “Had I abided by it, I might have been saved from some of my most valuable mistakes.” This is excellent advice for you. I suspect you’re in the midst of either committing or learning from a valuable mistake. It’s best if you don’t interrupt yourself! CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Cleopatra was an ancient Egyptian queen who ruled for 21 years. She was probably a Capricorn. All you need to know about her modern reputation is that Kim Kardashian portrayed her as a sultry seductress in a photo spread in a fashion magazine. But the facts are that Cleopatra was a well-educated, multilingual political leader with strategic cunning. Among her many skills were poetry, philosophy, and mathematics. I propose we make the REAL Cleopatra your role model. Now is an excellent time to correct people’s misunderstandings about you—and show people who you truly are. Have maximum fun being your actual authentic self. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Around the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the eleventh sign of the zodiac, Aquarius, will be capable of strenuous feats; will have the power to achieve a success that surpasses past successes; will be authorized to attempt a brave act of transcendence that renders a long-standing limitation irrelevant. As for the eleven days and eleven hours before that magic hour, the eleventh sign of the zodiac will be smart to engage in fierce meditation and thorough preparation for the magic hour. And as for the eleven days and eleven hours afterward, the eleventh sign should expend all possible effort to capitalize on the semi-miraculous breakthrough. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Author Robert Musil made a surprising declaration: “A number of flawed individuals can often add up to a brilliant social unit.” I propose we make that one of your mottoes for the coming months. I think you have the potential to be a flawed but inspiring individual who’ll serve as a dynamic force in assembling and nurturing a brilliant social unit. So let me ask you: what would be your dream-come-true of a brilliant social unit that is a fertile influence on you and everyone else in the unit? Be a ringleader, mastermind, or orchestrator.

ecurrent.com / november 2019 37

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