March 2019 - Current Magazine by Adams Street Publishing Co.

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MARCH 2019| FREE

BES TO

SEE

DETA

MUSIC | ART | CULTURE

ILS O

N P2

t n e d u t s g crunch

n i s u o h

Women in Charge

Paying the cost to be the boss P6

U-M’s part in the solution to Ann Arbor’s affordable housing dilemma P12

Estar Cohen Living fully in musical moments P20

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contents

March 2019 vol. 29 | no. 03

14 food: Studying Vinology by Jeff Glick and Sonny Forrest

housing crunch U-M’s part of the solution to Ann Arbor’s affordable housing dilemma, P12

19 chef’s corner:

student

Furrokh M. Khan, Once Upon a Grill

Women in Charge

by Sonny Forrest

20 music: Estar Cohen by Jeff Milo

25 art: Contemporary Indigenous Art at the TMA

Business owners speak frankly about being the boss, P6

by Ainsley Davis

26 theater: The Wolves by Emily Slomovitz

28 nvc: Women’s History by Lisa Gottlieb

33 person of interest: Sue Shink by Mary Gallagher

current Love: Pillow Talk by Nina Swift

4 biz buzz 4 green corner 5 fyi 29 arts & culture 34 cannabis 37 astrology 38 crossword 39 classifieds

What Viewers Don’t See

Ann Arbor Film Festival Behind the Scenes, P11

Most Read Online

1. Monticello Van Odom – ‘In My Mind’ 2. UM’s Racial Tension 3. Socioeconomic Diversity And The Future Of Ann Arbor And Ypsilanti 4. 10 Best Venues for Live Music

50th Anniversary 1969-2019

August 16, 17, 18 • Washtenaw Farm Council Fairgrounds

tts e B n a m l l A Band

ner r u T y n n e B vis a D a t t e n r Tho Eliza Neals and the Narcotics

Mindi Aba ir and the Boneshak ers Bernard A llison Lindsay B eaver Harper an d the Midwest K ind ...and mor e

A2BluesFestival.com

ecurrent.com / march 2019 3

biz buzz

green corner

by Ainsley Davis

Blue LLama Jazz Club Set to Open Set to open this month at 314 S. Main Street in Ann Arbor, Blue LLama Jazz Club will whet the appetites of those who love jazz and gourmet food. Former CEO of the software company LLamasoft, Don Hicks wanted to bring an upscale jazz venue to Downtown Ann Arbor. Hicks is working with artistic director Dave Sharp (bassist of Dave Sharp World Quartet) and executive chef Louis Goral, who has worked alongside Iron Chef Jose Garces for years. A few of the notable jazz musicians slated to play at the Blue LLama are Ellen Rowe, Adonis Rose, and Ravi Coltrane. www.bluellamaclub.com

Huntington Bank Closes The Huntingon Bank branch located at 775 S. Grove Street in Ypsilanti has officially closed. Huntington Bank announced plans in the fall of 2018 to close 31 branches in Michigan, approximately ten percent the bank’s Michigan’s branches.

Holistic Boutique Pharmacy Opens Ann Arbor Pharmacy has opened on 2418 E. Stadium Blvd. The pharmacy brings a Middle Eastern and European approach to medicine. Manager Ziad Ghamraoui said he wished to bring a more holistic option to locals. The products sold include high potency vitamins and herbal and homeopathic medications. Ziad notes the short amount of time needed to receive prescriptions and the unique, European interior, which enhances the individualized experience. www.annarborpharmacy.com

Turkish grocer and carryout restaurant Mango Market has opened at 1739 Washtenaw Avenue in Ypsilanti. Mango Market offers a variety of ethnic spices, groceries, and halal poultry. The market also has a traditional Middle Eastern menu consisting of hummus, falafel, moussaka, and various types of shawarma, as well as fresh fruit smoothies. www.mango-market-inc.business.site

Here’s what you can do to help By Trilby Becker

According to a recent survey by Thomas Wood, a postdoc at MSU, half of Michigan’s 12 native bumblebee species have suffered a 50% loss in population. According to the study, bumblebees who fly early in the season fair better because they forage from flowering trees and shrubs, which are more plentiful. Later flying bees struggle to find food because native prairies and woodlands have been developed and bumblebees depend on the herbs and wildflowers that formerly thrived there. Many agricultural species will not produce without pollination, and farmers are renting or purchasing hives to replace the native bee species. Bumblebees are declining for many of the same reasons honeybees are also declining. The major factors are habitat loss and neonicotinoids, a class of agricultural pesticides introduced about 25 years ago that are toxic to pollinators.

What you can do:

Eliminate your use of pesticides containing neonicotinoids.

Plant bee-friendly species. Buildings Demolished for New Condo

Turkish Mango Market Opens in Ypsilanti

Native bumblebee species are plummeting

In late January, demolition of the Ed Monaghan Building, and three rental houses next to it, began to make way for a five-story condo building known as “The Gallery.” Built in 1952, the one-story commercial building was the former home of Family Therapy Associates and considered by some locals as a fixture of the Downtown and Old West Side historic area. The condos will sell for prices ranging $531,000 to $1,000,000. annarborbuilders.com/ gallery

Downtown Home and Garden sells a pollinator blend of seeds in a canister as well as a large selection of organic seeds from local companies such as the Ann Arbor Seed Company and Nature and Nurture seeds.

Become a beekeeper. Several

beekeeping organizations in Washtenaw County offer educational and networking opportunities year-round to help you become an expert beekeeper and bee advocate. Call ahead to register for the Southeast Michigan Beekeepers Association annual conference on Saturday, March 16th at Wayne County Community College, 9555 Haggerty Rd. in Belleville. The Ann Arbor Backyard Beekeepers Bee School offers programs for a fee. A free lecture series at Matthaei Botanical Gardens continues on March 12th, from 6:30-8:30pm, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. For more information, visit bumblebeeconservation.org.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens: mbgna.umich.edu/event/honeybee-nutrition Ann Arbor Backyard Beekeepers: a2b2club.org Southeast Michigan Beekeepers Association: sembabees.org

© 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.

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biz buzz

How will you be celebrating International Women’s Day?

cont.

Publisher/Editor in Chief

Collette Jacobs (cjacobs@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I’LL BE LIVING THE DREAM.

Co-publisher/Chief Financial Officer Mark I. Jacobs (mjacobs@adamsstreetpublishing.com) DOING WHATEVER MY WIFE WANTS ME TO DO.

Editorial

Assignment Editor: Trilby Becker

(annarboreditor@adamsstreetpublishing.com)

GIVING PROPS TO ALL THE BRILLIANT WOMEN I KNOW! Calendar Editor: Heather Mooney

(calendar@current.com)

MAKING A #PLEDGEFORPARITY. Staff Writers: Erin Holden and Athena Cocoves. Contributing Writers: Ainsley Davis, Dan Ackerman, Julia Moss, Lisa Gottlieb, Jeff Glick, Sonny Forrest, Jeff Milo, Emily Slomovits, Jennifer Kellow-Fiorini, Mary Gallagher, Abigail Kennedy, Nina Swift, and Rob Brezsny.

Digital Media

Web Guru: Courtney Probert (digitalmedia@adamsstreetpublishing.com) GET TOGETHER WITH MY GIRLS!

Art/Production

Production Manager: Imani Lateef (imani@adamsstreetpublishing.com) READING THERE ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAN BEYONCE BY MORGAN PARKER. Senior Designer: Leah Foley (leah@adamsstreetpublishing.com) DOING WHAT I WANT BECAUSE I CAN.

Three cutting-edge companies based in Ann Arbor have been selected to participate in SXSW Pitch, a competition for up and coming technology. The competition, comprised of 50 finalists, takes place this month in Austin, Texas with entries from all over the world. The local companies selected include Derq, which aims at “eliminating road accidents and saving lives” by using artificial intelligence and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2X) technology to predict accidents before they happen. Pathware, which provides real-time pathology and biopsy results with more than 96% accuracy, which ultimately reduces the need for patients to have repeat procedures. The third area company is MySideKick, an app that is designed to address sexual assault on college campuses through interfaces that provide education, confidential support, and accurate reporting of incidents. www.en.derq.com, www.pathware.com www.mysidekickapp.io

Designers: Kelli Miller (kmiller@adamsstreetpublishing.com) LISTENING TO ALL FEMALE MUSICIANS.

fyi

Anita Tipton (atipton@adamsstreetpublishing.com) LIVING A WOMAN’S DREAM Norwin Lopez (nlopez@adamsstreetpublishing.com) CELEBRATING THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE.

Advertising

Michigan Attorney General Defends Affordable Care Act

Sales:

Ron Katz (rkatz@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I WILL BE WORKING. Josani Lara (jlara@adamsstreetpublishing.com) CALLING MY MOM. Trilby Becker (tbecker@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Sales Coordinator Jen Leach (sales@adamsstreetpublishing.com WORK - COOK - WORK - CLEAN.

By Trilby Becker

Administration

Accounting: Robin Armstrong (rarmstrong@adamsstreetpublishing.com) WORKING. Distribution: Eddie knight (distribution@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I’LL BE REJOICING IN THE FACT THAT I HAVE WOMEN IN MY LIFE THAT TOLERATE ME Also publishers of: Mature

Member

Three Ann Arbor Companies Competing in SXSW Pitch

In January, Michigan and four other states asked a federal court to allow the state to join a coalition of 17 states, lead by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, to defend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) against a lawsuit filed by Republican Attorneys General. A judge in Texas filed a ruling in December that the ACA is unconstitutional because it can’t stand without the individual mandate penalty, repealed by a Republican-majority Congress in 2018. “The Affordable Care Act provides important protections — including protecting people with pre-existing conditions — for hundreds of thousands of residents in Michigan,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. The ACA has provided insurance coverage for 1.2 million Michiganders. In 2013, the ACA became law, 11% of Michiganders were uninsured, which is down to 5.2% today.

Audited by

ecurrent.com / march 2019 5

Eileen Bristol OWNER

RelaxStation

Women

Main Location: 300 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor. 10am-8pm, daily. Phoenix West Location: 117 N. First, Suite 30. 9am-9pm, daily. 734-623-1951. Relaxstation.com

OWNED BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS WHO EMPOWER

PHOTO CREDIT ERICA PERRY

During the second half of the 20th century, women joined the U.S. workforce en mass, changing America’s economic landscape. While the fight for equality is hardly over, we celebrate the progress that has been made. Meet these local business leaders who honor and admire the women who paved the way for them.

How did you get your start? After

Who is a woman you admire and why? I’m inspired by the many women

business owners and community organizers of Ypsilanti. Our city is full of intelligent, driven,

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How did you get your start?

Andrea Gruber

Working in my parents’ motorcycle shop in Houston. I was pulling a paycheck when I was 9, helping out in the parts department. Our motorcycle shop had customers from all walks of life, all races, professions and income brackets. So I am comfortable with all kinds of people.

Massage Mechanics

What’s the best advice that you have ever received? Cut yourself a

OWNER

7 S. Washington St., Ypsilanti. 734-408-1648. ypsimassagemechanics.com Noon-8pm, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. 1-8pm, Tuesday. 10am-8pm, Thursday-Friday. Noon-6pm, Saturday.

completing a rather eclectic education with my Bachelors of Fine Arts, followed by a massage therapy certification, I worked for several years as a massage therapist. After experiencing a wide range of work environments (some rather negative), I decided to open my own massage therapy business. I felt by running my own business I could treat staff more fairly than I had been treated, and also provide better quality therapeutic work to our clientele. While attending Eastern Michigan University, I fell in love with Ypsilanti, and it felt like the right place to bring my vision to life.

What do you do? I run two businesses, RelaxStation Massage Therapy in Ann Arbor (with the help of a resident manager), and Sahara Lounge in Austin, Texas, where I currently live.

creative, and witty women who make our community vibrant, connected, and constantly evolving. Hopefully, I can inspire others as they’ve inspired me. I feel so lucky to be a part of this community. What’s your professional philosophy? At the end of the day,

it’s all about “treating people like people.” This goes to my clientele— the people who choose to support my business— and to my staff who are on the journey with us. Finding the balance between providing the best possible care for clients, as well as providing my employees with a sustainable career path, living wages, and benefits, is the driving force behind all of my decisions.

little slack, just like you cut your friends some slack.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of women? Working to

harmonize income disparity.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career? Opening two

businesses. Just starting something is a huge risk. You can count on losing money during the first few years.

How has your industry changed for women since you first got your start? Being the business owner,

I haven’t perceived a lot of change, not having someone over me who might not respect me was never a problem.

What’s your professional philosophy? Live by the Golden

Rule— treat others as you would like to be treated.

Kit Lambert VICE PRESIDENT

O&W, Inc.

734-480-4012. Onwbeer.com What do you do? I am the Vice President of O&W, Inc., a beer distributor that sells an array of over 60 suppliers brands of beer to seven counties in southeast Michigan. I am the oldest “kid” in the fifth generation of our family to work at O&W and I oversee the Sales Division. What’s one thing every professional woman should remember? Don’t

be afraid to ask questions. It’s important to find out where, what, who, why and when things occur. It allows you time to get to know people and processes better and think of ways to integrate new solutions to problems and find opportunities to get better. Asking questions will also improve the quality of your work as you better understand the goals you are trying to achieve.

How has your industry changed for women since you first got your start?

The beer business used to be a sea of blue sports coats and polo shirts at industry meetings and events. Men joked about women in casual conversation and talked about what their wives were doing. Commercials were full of busty women in tight clothes serving men beer. Women were not allowed in

and were not privy to the same opportunities to gain the knowledge they needed. Instead of attending a meeting about pricing strategy, I would be tasked with arranging the company picnic. Now things have changed. More suppliers and distributors are realizing that women are an asset to their companies. We are not just as “the girls in the office,” but we are useful in collaborating, generating ideas and making critical decisions. Suppliers are hiring women to be everything from reps to CMO. The new President of Heineken USA is a woman! Now, more than ever, you see major suppliers marketing to people— not just men— but people. They understand that women drink beer too! It’s refreshing to see the shift and be one of the faces to help this shift occur. I have my dad and uncle to thank for trusting me to be part of the change. Cont’d. on p.8

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Dori Edwards

OWNER AND FOUNDER

Bloom City Club

423 Miller Ave., 734-585-0621. Bloomcityclub.com 10am-8pm, Monday-Wednesday. 10am-9pm, Thursday-Saturday. 11am-6pm, Sunday. Blue Sage Alternative Health 421 Miller Ave., 734-585-7063. Bluesagehealth.com 10am-6pm, Monday-Friday. What do you do? I am the founder and owner of Bloom City Club in Ann Arbor and the owner & CEO of Blue Sage Alternative Health. I am the creator of Dori Balm, an analgesic recovery rub, Ayurvanna wellness products, Sensi Slims, Blue Sage CBD products and Cramp Ease. I also facilitate wellness retreats for women, both locally and around the globe. www.thisisdori.com

Sava Farah

How did you get your start? I wanted to live my life on

my own terms from a very young age. I got my start as a business owner in my early 20’s. I started a day-care in my home. From there I owned, directed, choreographed and danced for Like Water Drum & Dance. When the arts funding in Michigan was lossed in the crash of 2008 I pivoted to cannabis and opened Treecity Health Collective and Sticky Ypsi because I fully believed in the efficacy and safety of the incredible cannabis plant.

What’s one thing every professional woman should remember? Professional women should remember that we

can change the work/love paradigm. We are the nurturers and most of the time lead with our hearts. It’s ok to bring that into our work place. It’s ok to feel our way through decisions weighted with our intellect. We can lead by example by paying living wages and offering incentives to employees who participate in fitness classes and wellness activities.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of women? I’m not sure I see

one. I see more and more female teenagers taking on great leadership roles and being quite vocal in government, business, entrepreneurism, civil rights issues, spirituality, mindfulness practices and more. I’m inspired by these young women and think they are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Gift Cards Available!

Values $10 and up, good for any service! E-Gift Cards also available on our website.

Open 10a - 8p 7 Days a Week 300 W. Huron, corner N. First

(734) 623-1951 relaxstation.com •Voted Best Massage 2018 •Walk-ins Welcome •Appointments Available FREE PARKING

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Full Body Massage in Individual Rooms at our Second Location

2019 / ecurrent.com

FOUNDER AND CEO

SavCo Hospitality

734-669-3310. savcohospitality.com What do you do? I’m the

Founder and CEO of SavCo Hospitality, the management company behind Sava’s, Aventura, Wilma’s (aka Fred’s, aka Babo) and the soon-to-be Dixboro House.

How did you get your start? I started bussing tables

at a Greek diner when I was 13-years-old. Clearly, I had found my passion at a young age.

What’s your professional philosophy? We at SavCo

call it “Hospitality and Hustle”— which really means: be good to people and work hard! What is your current top priority? Having received

these interview questions while on maternity leave with my second son, Dominic, who was born on only five weeks ago, my current top priority is introducing him into the world and doing my part to ensure that my family and I are as well adjusted as possible before returning to work. With both of my pregnancies, countless people asked me if I planned on taking maternity leave. I found this question illuminating in the sense that some of our human friends are still setting up these unrealistic

expectations for women and mothers in business. Of course, I’m taking maternity leave and recovering from childbirth while being able to nurture a newborn. I’ve since made it my business to be a good example of women brave enough to give their all to their families and for our human friends who need examples that it is quite possible for working women to be available for their families. Of course, taking a proper maternity leave was a bit scary considering the significant responsibility I have towards my organization and community, but giving myself and my family the time and attention we all need to adjust to a new baby is what seemed natural to me and I had to trust that everything would work out— and it has. What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of women? As more women

move into leadership positions and other positions of power, I am interested to see where we’ll be in 20 years when it comes to the work-life balance for the women who dare to focus on their careers and their families. As a nation, I believe we have a long way to go in supporting our mothers.

Laurie Gross PRESIDENT

Gross Electric

Lighting Showroom & Electrical Supply Counters Ann Arbor, MI: 2232 S. Industrial Hwy., 734-665-8676. Toledo: 2807 N. Reynolds Rd., 419-537-1818. Electrical Supply Counter only: 2521 Woodville Rd., Northwood. 419-698-1818. Grosselectric.com What’s one thing every entrepreneur should ask themselves? “Are you

our showroom. I remember looking at one of the job photos that looks like it could be in Architectural Digest and thinking, “Wow, I did the lighting to make that house look like that!”

How has your industry changed for women since you first got your start? Much more inclusive…although

What’s your professional philosophy? Be positive about every

going to love what you’re doing?”

there are many more women than when I started, there still aren’t that many, at least on the electrical supply end of the business.

How do you stay motivated? I love what I do. Whenever I get overwhelmed, I go out on the showroom floor and spend the day waiting on customers, it reinvigorates me. What has been the most surreal “wow I made it” moment in your career? We take professional pictures of

situation. Do the best you can for your people, your customers and your company. What stereotype about feminine weakness do you think is actually a point of power? Our empathy. It allows

us to see situations from all angles and work for the best solutions rather than just going for the “win.”

What’s one thing every professional woman should remember? You can

have it “all,” just know what your “all” is.

our lighting jobs, which we post around

getting me to piano and ballet lessons! I truly have no idea how she managed to keep it together, but mostly, she did. What’s the best advice that you have ever received? “If you can visual-

ize it, if you can dream it, there’s some way to do it.” A quote from Walt Disney, who happens to share my birthday! What are three secrets to your success? 1. Stay open to fresh new ideas 2.

Stephanie Kosarin FOUNDER AND OWNER

Ballet with Stephanie balletwithstephanie.com

What do you do? I teach beginning

ballet classes to adults and children. I also run weekend arts retreats— low-key explorations of dance and art by day, and fabulous dining by night! Who is a woman you admire and why? The woman I admired the most in

my life was my mother, Jackie. She was elegant, brave and curious. She was a photographer, a writer, and also a gourmet cook, while somehow raising five kids and

Don’t worry about it— relax and laugh a lot 3. Be grateful! I am honored to help the universe in what my own gifts are… music, dance and authentic friendliness. Although I couldn’t cook a meal to save my life, I am good at what I do and am so happy to share this!

What’s an early experience you are most grateful for? When I was

9-years-old, the Bolshoi Ballet Company came to Detroit and they were auditioning little girls, ages 10 and up, to be in a piece. I was technically too young, and actually had never before wore the required pointe shoes, but through true gumption and spirit and, honestly, guts, I auditioned and got into their performances! I did it the next year, as well. It taught me, at such an early age, to fudge the rules and do what I want to with passion and courage. Cont’d. on p.10

ecurrent.com / march 2019 9

a creative outlet from the world of banking in Tecumseh, Michigan in 2011. A year later we opened in Ann Arbor, and the rest is history!

Lisa Mattison roberts

What’s one thing every professional woman should remember? Support

each other! As the self proclaimed most competitive person on the planet, it’s important to remember we’re in this together! When other businesses are successful, we all win. Encourage, support and empower each other. When women support each other, incredible things happen.

OWNER

Rock Paper Scissors

216 S. Main St., 734-531-6264. rockpaperscissorsshop.com 11am-6pm, Sunday-Tuesday. 11am-8pm, Wednesday-Thursday. 10am-10pm, Friday-Saturday. What do you do? I own and operate

Rock Paper Scissors, Rock Paper Scissors Weddings, and Midwest Supply Co., all based in Ann Arbor. Rock Paper Scissors is our home and gift shop specializing in celebrating everything. Rock Paper Scissors Weddings is our custom design and invitation business located in our invitation studio in the back of RPS. Midwest Supply Co. is our in house brand of Michigan and midwest-themed merchandise. We sell direct to customers but also to retailers and have over 125 customers in Michigan alone.

How did you get your start? I grew up in a college football family. We moved every few years to new college towns throughout the country. Each time we landed in a new town, my mom and I would discover the downtown shops and restaurants. Each time, that is where we found the heart of the community and I fell in love with small, local businesses. Fast forward 10-20 years and I was working for major corporations— Target & Bank of America, logging hours on conference calls, as far from the small, local businesses I grew up loving as I could be. I started Rock Paper Scissors as

What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career? Retail is not

for the risk adverse. We take risks every day in retail with the lines and products we buy. Each employee we hire is a risk— will they represent the brand the way you want them to, will they do right by the brand, will they be good people? Throughout the last eight years we’ve taken big risks— we have done two Detroit pop ups, we opened Bed & Butter (a higher end home store across the street in Ann Arbor from RPS), started Midwest Supply Co, and the biggest risk, I left my big corporate job for the unknown of retail.

“Tulle & Drool”Arts Retreats Dancing by day, fine dining by night!

TRAVERSE CITY

ANN ARBOR

NEW ORLEANS

Sept. 19th-22th

Oct. 17th-20th

Nov. 14th-17th

(More towns & dates to be added soon) Each morning there is an hour long dance class, lunch then exploration into another expression of art: water coloring, journaling, fiction writing, ect. Tour about the town, a fabulous dinner out at a top-notch restaurant! (Dinner not included) $960 per person • Double Occupancy • Breakfast & Lunch included

EACH ATTENDEE RECEIVES A BEAUTIFUL CANVAS TOTE BAG!

balletwithstephanie.com • (734) 417-9032 • 1531 Packard St. | Ann Arbor

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feature What Viewers Don’t See Ann Arbor Film Festival - Behind the Scenes Jim Pyke, veteran Michigan Theater projectionist (and a supervisor in the University of Michigan’s largest A/V department) spoke with Current to share his expertise and behind the scenes insight focused on the Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF).

From Film to Digital

The last few decades have ushered forth “a radically different experience in the [projection] booth” according to Jim, as the transition from film to digital encompasses significantly different processes for projectionists. In the early days of the film festival (which started in 1963) all of the submissions were formatted on 16 mm film, requiring multiple staff members, both in the projection booth and on stage, to complete the both physically and mechanically complicated process of screening the films. Over time, Jim says, most all of the physical cans (or boxes) of film, gave way to video tapes, and, currently, nearly 90% of the 2770 submissions are digital video files. AAFF reports that less than 5% of the submissions will be screened at the Festival, as only 143 films will be shown this year in the competition. The switch from film to digital has allowed for longer films, increased submissions and has finally reached more standardization. In the early days of digital, Jim explains, the format was like “the wild west because [projectionists] received 20 different types of files”. Now, most of the work done by projectionists and those arranging the technical aspects of screening the submissions is completed in pre-production by AAFF staff. This pre-production work determines the max file compatibility of the film and puts the films into a playlist for screening on a high-powered computer, operating specialized software on a dual monitor system. Jim likens today’s projectionist experience to operating a control room. Instead of running a film projection booth, that in years past required a good bit of brute force, now, more frequently, only one technician is needed in the booth to oversee the “very straightforward” predominantly digital, projection system.

Artistic Themes, not Aspect Ratios

Unbeknownst to many viewers, the film festival has always structured the program by subject themes, not aspect ratios, which impacts the technical demands and generally increases the work for projectionists. Aspect ratios of an image depict the proportional relationship between its width and its height.There are three main aspect ratios in film, and each have certain technical requirements. The original sound film aspect ratio was 1.33 units wide to 1 unit of height (or 4:3). This is what Hollywood “talkies” started with, and also how old TV sets looked, in the days of 16mm and 35mm film production. Later film aspect ratios expanded into widescreen at 1.85:1, which closely resembles the modern TV aspect of 1.78 to 1 or 16:9. Finally, the widest, most panoramic images are those in the cinema scope ratio of 2.35 to 1, and films submitted in all of these aspect ratios require technical considerations and demands for projectionists to present each of them to the best effect. During the transition years (1990s-2010s) when the AAFF began programming more than only 16mm film, more projectionists were required in the booth to navigate these format changes as seamlessly as possible. Additional staff was also needed on stage to change the size of the screen by adjusting the curtains throughout programs to accommodate the changing aspect ratios. Over time, Jim has found submissions have changed to the widescreen size, mirroring mainstream/Hollywood film industry changes.

Experimental Essence of the Film Festival

While Jim recalls the various technical and industry demands that have changed over time, he notes that the Ann Arbor Film Festival always pays respect to its origins in film underground culture, celebrating the experimental and avant-garde film work that developed from the 1950s to the 1970s. Jim quickly points out that the films are “more than just a movie on a screen and a soundtrack coming out of the speakers”, that, instead, they often offer a fully visceral artistic experience. A prime example of that full experience occurred in the early 1970s, Andy Warhol came and did a show including art and interactive performances alongside his film screening. Selected film festival submissions “stand on the shoulders of giants” embodying the original experimental arts and film culture which the Festival celebrates yearly. More recently, Jim recalls a Finnish filmmaking duo whose 16mm film was shown at the festival. It used film strip projectors with objects held in front of the projection lens that interrupted the light. The prismatic devices created a spread of light that broke the boundaries of the image frame on the screen, a technique that encapsulated and continued the spirit of the Festival’s ingenuity.

A2 Film Culture Synergy

Jim’s work in the Michigan Theater, University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor Film Festival puts him at the very heart of Ann Arbor film culture. He explained the history of how both of his employers, UM and the Michigan Theater, helped support the creation of the film festival. Back in the early 1960s the University of Michigan’s audio visual services and the film department that emerged out of Lorch Hall. At the Michigan Theater, skilled union labor through the national IATSE stagehands’ union has provided projectionists for the AAFF from its earliest days. Today the Michigan Theater retains some of the only unionized projectionists in the state, and is even one of the few theaters nationwide still staffed by IATSE projectionists. Today, the University of Michigan’s School of Music creates some of the most cutting edge experimental music, while the University Musical Society includes experimental artists in it annual programming. Against this institutional background during the 1960’s cultural revolution, the Ann Arbor Film Festival emerged. AAFF is committed, working tirelessly to capture and share the zeitgeist of both Ann Arbor and the film world, to supporting and expanding experimental film/art culture.

ecurrent.com / march 2019 11

feature

The Student Housing Crunch U-M’s part in the solution to Ann Arbor’s affordable housing crisis By Daniel Ackerman, Trilby Becker, and Julia Moss Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan have always had a mutually supportive relationship. As corporations like Borders and Pfizer have surged and disappeared, the University has consistently created jobs and brought lasting wealth to the region. For its part, Ann Arbor is a city with a lot to offer to the talented folks that the University attracts. Great public schools, a walkable and lively downtown, a vibrant cultural scene, and beautiful neighborhoods with abundant parks help to give U-M an edge over other research universities. However, as national wealth inequality and stagnant wages creep into Washtenaw County, housing costs have risen to the point where many students, and middle-class wage earners are feeling the crunch. With housing-seekers spilling over into Ypsilanti looking for affordable options, rents in that city are soaring, segregation is deepening, and certain neighborhoods have become bedroom communities for less-affluent Ann Arborites. The relationship between U-M and Ann Arbor needs to be reevaluated in light of the changing needs of the University and the community at large. How U-M could contribute to the construction of more affordable housing to accommodate growing numbers of students and staff should be on the table as part of that discussion.

Low vacancy, high rent

Housing is defined as “unaffordable” when more than 30% of take-home income is spent on rent or a mortgage. If that’s not news to you, then you’re not alone. According to the 2016 Housing Affordability and Economic Equity study funded by Washtenaw County, nearly everybody in the county making less than $35,000 per year experiences unaffordable housing costs, as did 40% of those making between $35,000 and $50,000 per year. The Department of Housing and Urban Development found, since 2016, that the increase in housing costs has accelerated, while wage growth slowed, worsening the burden on those earning median incomes or less. These changes are the most pronounced in downtown Ann Arbor, where students comprise the majority of the renting population.

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The lack of affordable on-campus student housing perpetuates the very inequality that we expect higher education to help economically disadvantaged students overcome. Despite creating space for one thousand students last year, on-campus housing barely kept up with demand. Less than 2% vacancy rates, paired with rising enrollment, caused campus housing rent to rise almost 4.5% last year alone. The University reports that 32% of students live on campus. The remaining 32,000 students flood Ann Arbor’s housing market, making up 86% of renters in downtown Ann Arbor, according to a market study by 4Ward Planning. The Department of Housing and Urban Development found that a full quarter of renters in Ann Arbor’s housing market (which includes essentially all of Washtenaw County) are students. Additionally, the University and the U-M Hospital employ 48,119 faculty and staff combined, most of whom are middle-class earners. The impact of U-M on the area’s housing market cannot be overstated. When asked about limited housing options, Amir Baghdadchi, Senior Associate Director for U-M’s Housing Department said, “With no requirement to live on campus, many students choose to live off-campus. We, of course, think there is nothing better than a residence hall, but we understand some of the other styles of housing, like the classic house for seven or eight people, or an apartment in a specific neighborhood, can be what students value the most.” When the student body has outgrown the number of beds on campus, and campus housing costs have risen year after year, it’s no wonder that students choose to live elsewhere. One reason that off-campus housing becomes desirable is because it is more affordable. Now, with rents climbing in student neighborhoods, students are running out of affordable places to go.

Small city, big inequality

A few factors set the University of Michigan apart from similarly sized schools. First, the Ann Arbor’s metro area is relatively small compared to University of Michigan’s student body. For example, as with U-M, 68% of Ohio State’s student population lives off-campus. Columbus’s housing market is an order of magnitude larger than Ann Arbor’s, however. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ohio State students comprise a mere 2% of their city’s housing market. Therefore, due to the high student to entire population ratio, every dollar U-M invests in on-campus student housing would have a far greater impact on the local housing market than a similar investment would at Ohio State in Columbus. Ann Arbor is small compared to its local student population and students who are new to the area tend to come from far richer families than those who live in town. Ann Arbor’s median household income barely scrapes $60k per year, according to census data. The New York Times reported in 2017 that the University of Michigan’s median student household income, on the other hand, was $154k in 2015. The difference is stark. U-M students from wealthy families drive up housing costs beyond what local wages can support.

The lives of the not-rich

The housing market has responded to the influx of wealthy students by building luxury student highrises. Financial aid is meant to fill in the affordability gaps, but many students’ coverages

fall short. Federal Student Aid mandates that only students who come from families making less than $25,000 a year can receive full coverage of their housing and tuition. This calculus does not take into consideration the financial burdens that make it impossible for many families earning $25,000 or more to either support their students directly or cosign their loans. These students then need to work and find cheaper rent, often far from campus, to afford attending U-M. Zach Tingley, a senior at U-M, noted that the struggle to keep up with housing costs doesn’t stop when you receive aid. Zach was required to take a full course load in order to accept his financial aid, so the summer after his freshman year, he headed back to his hometown in Ohio to work a full-time summer job in order to save up for a security deposit for the fall. While his well-off classmates sought internships or participated in study abroad programs, Zach worried how he was going to find a place to live. Because the kind of housing that Zach could afford was far from campus and therefore less desirable, he was unable to find a subletter for the summer. He did find an internship, but all of the aid the University provided to support him during the summer went to pay the rent of his off-campus apartment that remained empty.

Just move to Ypsilanti, then

Moving out of town in search of cheaper rent is only a partial solution to the financial burdens of high Ann Arbor rents, and it causes other problems for the environment and the community at large. Ann Arbor’s Climate Action Plan indicates that emissions from commuting vehicles are responsible for nearly one quarter of all pollution in Ann Arbor, and this burden has increased as more people commute from out-of-town. Transportation costs are often the second highest expense for households according to the county’s affordability study, and costs only increase the further you live from your school or employer. Additionally, living off campus and holding down jobs to keep up with expenses comes with a steep opportunity cost in lost study time and lost ability to participate in campus life. It’s no wonder that the New York Times reported that University of Michigan students have been shown to be the least likely in the Big Ten to be economically mobile. The lack of affordable on-campus student housing perpetuates the very inequality that higher education is expected to help economically disadvantaged students overcome. Squeezing lower income households out of Ann Arbor takes inequality to the streets. Receiving priced out people from Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti’s gentrification intensifies, “the

imbalance in income, education, and opportunity...along with the socioeconomic segregation that goes with it will hamper regional economic growth potential in the area” according to Ann Arbor’s Housing Affordability and Equitability Analysis. When Ann Arbor residents move their houses, but not their jobs, to Ypsilanti, they recreate the circumstances that helped to push them out of Ann Arbor: housing prices rise to meet the demand of a population that brings home far more money than those people who both live and work in the city.

What should we expect from our public institutions?

Councilmember Ali Ramwali of Ann Arbor’s Fifth Ward said that the University’s role in the current housing market is overstated. He thinks that Ann Arbor’s high housing costs are a result of nationwide inequality brought on by lending practices which disfavor middle and working-class people, in addition to a lack of investment in affordable housing by the Federal Government. He says that Ann Arbor’s Downtown Development Authority could do more to address the problem. Rather than creating new parking, they could borrow money to build much needed affordable housing. Jennifer Hall, Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, believes the City could float revenue bonds on behalf of the housing commission that would have much lower financing costs than what the City has to pay to a private lender to borrow funds. According to her research, over the course of 30 years, Ann Arbor will be paying $6.5 million dollars in fees and interest for both our construction loans and long-term mortgages that could otherwise pay for supportive services or additional affordable housing. Inclusionary zoning would require developers to include units of affordable housing in new construction projects, but that zoning legislation has to pass at the State level, and is not favored by Republican lawmakers. Across the country, urban housing costs outpace the rate of cost-of-living wage adjustments. Systemic changes need to occur in the way that cities fund and build affordable housing. If we feel that City government and developers should help create a more equitable housing market, why should the region’s largest public institution not also share in this responsibility? For Washtenaw County to realize its potential as a prosperous, equitable, and environmentally sustainable place to live, and for middle-class U-M staff and students to thrive, the University of Michigan needs to consider creating more affordable housing units for its own community.

ecurrent.com / march 2019 13

food Studying Vinology

Food and wine, correctly paired by Jeff Glick and Sonny Forrest Because Ann Arbor’s central Main Street comprises the city’s gastronomical epicenter, the variety of restaurants operating along this corridor garner some level of notoriety based on their location alone. The fierce nature of the restaurant business renders the longevity of a Main Street-addressed establishment like Vinology something of a testament to its balance of consistency and adaptability. Seeking shelter and sustenance on a recent blustery winter afternoon, we ducked off Main Street and into the warmth of Vinology. The venue’s exposed burnt red brick interior emitted a visual temperature lift, a fitting prologue to our meal. Comfortably seated in a booth, we browsed the dinner menu and extensive wine list. Our server carried himself with a self-assured competence, sharing his knowledge in a tastefully exact manner.

Exquisite food preparation

We shared several small plates, also splitting a couple entrees. Helpfully, guests can order entrees in either the full dinner size or a smaller portion, each plated exquisitely. An assortment of Marinated Olives ($8) and spices tinged with citrus included even the tiny members of the olive family that often find themselves overlooked at the grocery store olive bar. Even these size-challenged olives tasted heavenly. (Fellow olive lovers know exactly what I’m referring to.)

Our foray into vegetable-focused dishes began with a crisp Local Green salad ($8) with Gass Farm greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, avocado and sherry-red onion vinaigrette, which arrived in a bowl made from lengthwise slices of cucumber. The Vegan Pierogi ($10) wrapped a mixture of potato, leek, black trumpet mushroom, cashew creme, red cabbage and caraway within a buoyant dough. Our Michigangrown Beet and Burrata salad ($12) starred a plentiful amount of sweet red beets with a sherry vinaigrette and a generous sprinkling of tangy goat cheese. The tender Fried Chicken Thighs ($12)––the tastiest part of the bird–– skewered on four separate wooden sticks served with maple tahini, pickled apricots and chickpeas made this item perfect for sharing with dining companions. The Spanish Octopus ($16) braised in red wine along with patatas bravas, chimichurri, pea tendrils and espelette oil tasted so majestic that we required two orders. The Black Cod ($26/$46) served with cauliflower puree, bok choy, Chinese black rice, and adzuki beans with a dusting of Szechuan peppercorns sang with global

flavor. We savored the half order, which we found almost more than enough. The market-price Charcuterie Board of rotating meats and cheeses, while tasty, struck us as markedly less inventive against the collective panache exhibited by the rest of the dishes we ordered.

A satisfyibg stop

Our sense upon leaving the restaurant after an enjoyable late afternoon demimeal was that we could have ordered any item from the menu and each would have been created with well thought out ingredients possessing remarkable taste. Vinology could have been a place, years ago, prone to the wine-bar-with-food fad. Instead, akin to the extensive list of bottles on the menu, Vinology has ripened over the last decade into one of Ann Arbor’s formidable dining establishments, with ample justification. Vinology 110 S. Main St. Ann Arbor; 734-222-9841. vinologya2.com M-Th 4-11 p.m., F 4 p.m.-12 a.m., Sa 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 4 p.m.- 12 a.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 4- 10 p.m.

Thanks for Voting! Best Fine Dining chef-owned & operated since 2004

Best Place to Celebrate Best Chef

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

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Ongoing Mondays

food

Martini Mondays

6-10pm. Felix Bistro & Bar. felixbistroandbar.com

Sunday Brunch

Tuesdays 5pm. Blue Front Ann Arbor. Bluefrontannarbor.com Free

All are welcome to enjoy healthy love infused food in a community space that strives to live the principles of Bhakti Yoga described by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.

Taco Tuesdays

Winter Blues with Chef Nikolas Bardt

Start your week off right - enjoy $5 martinis all evening.

Free Beer Tastings

Blue Front showcases beer and mead selections from various breweries. 5-10pm. Cantina. cantinaannarbor.com

Eat as many tacos as you like for $2.50 a piece. Also happy hour drinks specials from 5-6pm.

Wednesdays Wine Down Wednesday 5-6pm. Wines On Main, Chelsea. winesonmainchelsea.club Free

Enjoy free one-ounce wine tastings every Wednesday.

Wing Wednesdays

5-9pm. Bona Sera, Ypsilanti. eatypsi.com

Wings and a draft, or a glass of house wine, are just $5 through the end of March.

Thursdays Beer + Yoga

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

Come practice with Divine Power Yoga and Massage in the Barrel Room. Pay the bartender for the class, which includes one Tier 1 pint!

Sangria Specials 11am-11pm. Silvios. silviositalianfood.com

Enjoy 50% off sangria pitchers all day long!

Saturdays Saline Indoor (Winter) Farmers Market

9am-12pm. Liberty School, Saline. cityofsaline.org Free

Shop local every Saturday (except 3/16 for the craft show) for food and handmade items.

Saturday Market

6am-4pm. Eastern Market, Detroit. easternmarket.org Free

An essential Detroit experience with over 225 market vendors, find all the produce and delectables you desire.

Sundays Service Industry All Day Happy Hour 12pm. The Session Room. sessionrooma2.com Free

Celebrate service industry “Friday” with all day happy hour for servers, bartenders, bussers, and the like.

11am-2pm. Harmony Collective, Ypsilanti. theharmonycollective.org Free

1 Friday 12-2pm. $65. Fustini’s. fustinis.com

The flavor of this menu will cheer and warm up any blustery day. Watch and learn the preparation of Preserved Mushroom Pizza, Warm Beet Salad, Confit of Duck with Olive Oil Whipped Potatoes and Apple Cobbler.

Burrito Friday!

7-11am. Roos’ Roast Coffee. roosroast.com

Stop by the Rosewood St. location for the monthly burrito event, while supplies last.

2 Saturday 90s Bar Crawl

3-10pm. $29.95 - $39.95. Pretzel Bell. 90sbarcrawl.com

Relive the glory days with the original 90s Bar Crawl! Registration from 3-5pm and ticket covers entry to 3-10 participating venues with tons of food/drink specials, deals and giveaways.

Cooking with edible WOW at Eastern Market.

11am-1pm. Eastern Market Community Kitchen in Shed 5, Detroit. easternmarket.org Free

Join Chef Phil Jones, from Slow Food Central City, for this months’ public cooking demo.

3 Sunday Last Call Flights

12-5pm. $8. Wines On Main, Chelsea. winesonmainchelsea.club

Wines On Main will choose a wine adventure for you, with their choice of 3 two-ounce pours for $8, no substitutions.

Living in Lenawee Realty 5th Anniversary Celebration

618 Church St, Ann Arbor Open 7 days a week 10:30am-4:00am

Dine In $10.00 OFF Purchase of any two entrees Please present coupon or mention offer to server when ordering • Not valid with any other offer 1 per table • Expires 3/31/2019

Carry Out 12” Cheese Pizza only $8.00

(Toppings and Deep dish style pizzas extra) Online ordering only Enter coupon code 8CURRENT upon checkout Not valid with any other offer • Expires 3/31/2019

Delivery $7.00 OFF any order of $20 or more Online ordering only Enter coupon code 7OFF20 upon checkout Not valid with any other offer • Expires 3/31/2019

Call (734) 995-5095 or Order Online at pizzahouse.com

2-6pm. Black Fire Winery, Tecumseh. lovelivinginlenawee.com Free

Black Fire Winery celebrates their 5th anniversary with an open house. Stop by and enjoy appetizers, cake and a cash bar.

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food Savory Baking

2-5pm. $65. The Lakehouse Bakery, Chelsea. thelakehousebakery.com

Explore savory baking like quiche, pasties, and more. Students will make savory options of some of favorite baked goods. Suitable for people 12 and older with all supplies provided.

Making Matcha Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the increasingly popular matcha green tea, a Japanese creation that is both good for your taste buds and your health. Arbor Teas co-owner Jeremy Lopatin will host this workshop so you can learn about Matcha’s history, its role in Japanese traditions, and its health benefits. After you learn how to make the tea yourself, you get to go home with your own matcha whisk and bowl! —EH $30. 3pm-4pm. Saturday, March 9. Arbor Teas. 1342 N. Main St. Ste. 1. 734-994-7698. arborteas.com.

4 Monday

10am-8pm. American Polish Cultural Center, Troy. americanpolishcenter.com

Celebrate Traditional Paczki Day with delicious paczki available for sale. Paczki also available on 2/28, 3/1, 3/2, 3/3 and on Tuesday 3/5 from 6am till gone. Place your order now!

Herb Seed Giveaway

7pm. Matthaei Botanical Gardens. mbgna.umich.edu Free

Start you summer herbs early. Group President Madolyn Kaminski also offers tips on seed starting. Presented by Herb Study Group.

5 Tuesday Beer Tasting

5pm. Blue Front Ann Arbor. bluefrontannarbor.com Free

Come try Blake’s Cider for this week’s free beer tasting.

PizzaYOLO: How to Make Pizza

6-8pm. $60. PizzaPlex, Detroit. pizzaplex.com

Learn how to make a Vera Pizza Napoletana in the kitchen (while the restaurant is now closed) and take your own home. Plus, taste Campania wines (for those who wish to partake) and some of our favorite Italian cheeses.

6 Wednesday Dosvidanya Release

3-11pm. The Grotto. thegrottobar.com

A tap takeover with Destihl, featuring their legendary Dosvidanya BBA Russian Imperial Stout, the classic Dosvidanya, the Rye BA version, and more Destihl favorites.

7 Thursday The Basics of Cake Decorating with Keegan C. Rodgers

7-8:30pm. Ann Arbor District Library, Traverwood. peoplesfood.coop Free

Keegan Rodgers, owner of The Lakehouse Bakery in Chelsea, will teach the basics of cake decorating! In partnership with the People’s Food Co-Op of Ann Arbor and Lakehouse Bakery.

The History of Hemp with Clinton Zimmerman

7-8:30pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tearoom. crazywisdom.net Free

Clinton will talk about one of the most significant plants for mankind. Explore the history of this dynamic plant, how it has shaped history, and why it is a cash crop for humanity and the future.

Braciola from Abruzzi

6-8:30pm. $29-65. Casa di Francesca. A2schools.org

Join Francesca for this cooking demo class through Rec & Ed (registration required) as she prepares a filled pork tenderloin, sauces with roasted vegetables, chocolate mousse and amaretti cookies.

8 Friday Date Night: Celebrating the French Quarter 6:30pm. $69. Sur la Table. Surlatable.com

Learn the essentials for bringing the flavors of New Orleans home, from creating a roux and cooking grains to handling and cooking shellfish. Plus, you’ll practice flambéing to create the quintessential French Quarter dessert.

9 Saturday

march

Credentialed naturopaths and herbalists will be on hand with an Interactive Tea Design Table & Sampling, a SuperFoods Smoothie Bar Sample Table, Instant Pot demo with veggie soup samples, sample reflexology and Iris Reading Sessions, and Herbal Consults.

1-3pm. $48. Rusted Crow Distillery, Dearborn Heights. rustedcrowspirits.com

6-10pm. $50. Farmington Brewing Company, Farmington. fbcbrewing.com

Paczki Sale for Paczki Day

11am-3pm. Ann Arbor School of Massage, Herbal & Natural Medicine. naturopathicschoolofannarbor.net Free

Detroit Cocktail Camp Session Five: Shrubs, Infusions & More

Mardi Gras Crawfish Boil

Kick off Mardi Gras with an allyou-can-eat crawfish boil! Enjoy crawfish with corn, potatoes, cajun sausage, and a special release of FBC’s Hurricane-style Cider, and King Cakes from Sunflour Bakehaus.

Food Medicine, Herbs & Meeting Your Naturopaths

Vegan Vegetarian

Fresh Ingredients

Farm to Table

Allergen Friendly

Wild Foraged

Healthy Smoothies

Seasonal Menu

Craft Your Own Bowl

Draft Kombucha

Locally Sourced

Local Meats

Locally Owned

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Arbor Teas Matcha Workshop

3pm. $30. Arbor Teas. arborteas.com

Matcha, the powdered green tea from Japan, is wildly popular due to its health benefits and vibrant green color. Come learn how to prepare matcha at home and receive your very own matcha whisk and locally-made matcha bowl!

Get a tour of the distillery then the bartenders at Rusted Crow will teach you how to “Up Your Home Bar Game” by learning some of their tricks for layering flavors, making your own mixers and more. You must be 21 years old (with ID) to participate as you get up to four drinks and a thank you gift.

The Taste of the Irish Hills 10am. $25. Irish Hills, MI. business.irishhills.com

Kick off St. Patrick’s Day with a taste of the Irish Hills. Enjoy a self-guided tour of 19 Irish Hills restaurants, sampling some of their best cuisine over the two days. Also on 3/10.

10 Sunday Blom Meadworks Tour & Tasting 3-4pm.$15. Blom Meadworks. a2schools.org/reced

Learn all about mead— what it is and how it is made, tour a taproom and production area, taste the ingredients, and sample four meads and ciders in this tour and tasting. You must be 21, provide valid ID and register to participate.

Cocktail Class: Ladies Sling the Booze 2-4pm. $45. The Last Word. tammystastings.com

The class includes a combination of history and stories, technique instruction, and hands-on making of cocktails. Plus light snacks and sampling cocktails, of course!

12 Tuesday Growing MicroGreens

6:15-8:15pm. $49. Michigan Folk School. mifolkschool.com

Learn why microgreens are an essential part of the kitchen and how to grow your own. Turn an ordinary meal into something gastronomically delicious with microgreens.

Food Literacy for All

6:30pm. University of Michigan, Angell Hall. sites.lsa.umich.edu Free

Food Literacy for All is a community academic partnership course. U-M students can get course credit and community members can attend for free. Registration for each session opens one week prior. Also on 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9 at 6:30-8pm.

Ypsilanti Indoor Farmers Market 3-7pm. MarketPlace Hall, Ypsilanti. growinghope.net Free

Meet at the heated Robert C. Barnes MarketPlace Hall during January-April for local produce, food and wellness products. Held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month.

13 Wednesday Interactive Cookbook on Jamie Oliver 6-8pm. $65. Fustinis. fustinis.com

Join Chef Nikolas in this hands on experience with a menu inspired by the BBC show “Return of the Naked Chef” with British chef, Jamie Oliver.

Join VegMichigan for their monthly vegan pizza buffet that includes salad, pizza, pop/tea, breadsticks, tax and gratuity. No need to RSVP, just show up!

15 Friday International Sauces

7pm. Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown. peoplesfood.coop Free

Keegan C. Rodgers, owner of the Lakehouse Bakery in Chelsea, leads this lively talk! Learn the basics to conquer a variety of sauces from curry and mother sauces to Mexican mole.

16 Saturday Wobbly Breakfast at the Ypsi Gathering Space 10am. Riverside Arts Center. riversidearts.org Free

Gather with the community during this volunteer-run breakfast that brings food relief to food

Check in with drinks and shots at Bar Louie from 4-6pm for this holiday bar crawl. Crawl continues with free cover to another half dozen bars full of food and drink specials and an after party!

17 Sunday St. Patrick’s Day Brunch 9am-2pm. Northside Grill. northsidegrill.com

Celebrate the holiday by enjoying limited edition speciality dishes like McCann’s Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes, Leprechaun Omelettes and Ulster Fry (a complete Irish breakfast).

Basic Cake Decorating

2-5pm. $65. The Lakehouse Bakery, Chelsea. thelakehousebakery.com

Come learn the basics of cake decorating, like how to make a buttercream frosting, how to fill and use a pastry bag and a bunch more. Each student will go home with the cake they decorate in class plus a packet of recipes.

Cookies for a Cause Can’t close that box of Girl Scout cookies to save your life? We’ve been there. This event gives you the opportunity to indulge in all the flavors you love, but with a twist. Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan arranged for eight chefs and restaurants, including Prickly Pear, Fresh Thyme, and Vinology, to compete in a baking contest using Girl Scout cookies as ingredients. You can’t pass this up! To top it off, all proceeds go to the Girl Scouts’ outreach to low-income, at-risk girls, encouraging them to join the service-oriented organization. —EH $45 per person. $325 per table. 6pm-8pm. Thursday, March 21. The Kensington Hotel. 3500 S. State St. 1-800-497-2688. gshom.org.

Plowed Under: Food Policy Protests and Performance in New Deal America 3pm. Malletts Creek Branch. aadl.org Free

Discover more about food policies during the era of the New Deal in this presentation by Ann Folino White, Associate Professor of Theatre Studies and Directing, Michigan State University.

18 Monday A Taste of Greece 6:30pm. $59. Sur la Table. surlatable.com

Now Serving Eggs From CAGE FREE, VEGETARIAN FED HENS, All natural, Gluten FREE Sausage! No additives, no fillers ra

t in g se

t bin gfor se

6-8pm. $20. Original Cottage Inn. originalcottageinn.com

4pm-Midnight. $5-25. Bar Louie. crawlwithus/annarbor/stpattys

years

Vegan Pizza Buffet

food

14 Thursday

Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Crawl

The film, Monseñor: The Last Journey of Óscar Romero, follows the Archbishop’s tireless work for El Salvador’s people that earned him sainthood. Dinner is available (if you RSVP) from Pilar’s Tamales for $8 (one tamale and sides). Dinner at 6:30pm and the free film screening at 7:00pm.

6:30pm. St. Mary Student Parish. icpj.org

insecure families. There will be vegetarian, vegan, and glutenfree options. All are welcome!

Ce l

Latin America Dinner & a Movie Series

eakf

Best Hangover Cure

Join us and explore flavors from all over the Greek isles. Get plenty of hands-on experience grilling skewers, making tzatziki sauce, baklava, and enhancing pilaf with fresh herbs.

19 Tuesday Bourbon Club with Gary

7-8:30pm. $35. Wines On Main, Chelsea. winesonmainchelsea.club

Bourbon has taken over the wine bar! Tastings includes four tastings of local or unique bourbons, whiskey and scotch. Come join like minded friends and discover new spirits!

Beer Tasting

5pm. Blue Front Ann Arbor. bluefrontannarbor.com Free

Come try Uncle John’s for this week’s free beer tasting.

Cont.’d on p.18

IN WASHTENAW COUNTY 2018

1015 Broadway • 734.995.0965 (at the foot of the Broadway Bridge)

Open 7am-3pm, Seven Days a Week

View the full menu at NorthsideGrill.com ecurrent.com / march 2019 17

food

20 Wednesday Healthy Food Distribution

2-3:30pm. Washtenaw County Human Services Building, Ypsilanti. washtenaw.org Free

Families and individuals with lower incomes are welcome to pick up food including fruit, veggies, dairy products and bread provided by Washtenaw County and Foodgatherers.

21 Thursday Fair Housing Breakfast

8:30am. $75. Weber’s, Ann Arbor. fhcmichigan.org/breakfast

Bell’s Beer Tasting

Blue Front Ann Arbor presents a night of Bell’s Beer tasting. Since 1985, Bell’s has been making high-quality craft beers that are today distributed as far away as California. If you haven’t tried Bell’s yet, or if you’re a fan already and just can’t get enough, mark your calendar for this event. Did we mention that it’s a free tasting? Score. —EH Free. 5pm-7pm. Friday, March 15. Blue Front Ann Arbor. 701 Packard St. 734-929-4618. BFA2.com.

Join the 6th Annual Fair Housing Breakfast, a benefit to support the mission of ending discrimination in housing and public accommodations by promoting accessible, integrated communities.

23 Saturday Beer Yoga

12-1pm. Corner Brew, Ypsilanti. arborbrewing.com Free

Relax and meditate during a yoga session, then relax further with a beer.

Pints & Poses

9am. $15. North Center Brewing Company, Northville. northcenterbrewing.com

Ann Arbor’s premiere craft beer and wine store

734.929.4618

701 Packard St. Ann Arbor

Wine Wednesdays at Blue Front! Every Wednesday, we will be featuring a wine open for tasting ALL DAY. Stop by any time from open to close to try them out. Purchase any two bottles of wine on Wine Wednesdays, & receive 20% OFF of those bottles!

BFA2.com march

24 Sunday Cocktail Class: Spring Break Cocktails 2-4pm. $45. The Last Word. tammystastings.com

The class includes a casual walk-around format conducive to socializing and hands-on making of cocktails. Plus light snacks and sampling, of course!

26 Tuesday Building Business Relationships Breakfast

7:30-9am. $12. Costco, Ann Arbor. salinechamber.org/bbr

A Saline Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored networking breakfast. Shopping for all attendees prior to store opening is offered as well. RSVPs encouraged.

Beer Tasting

5pm. Blue Front Ann Arbor. bluefrontannarbor.com Free

Come try Tapistry at this week’s free beer tasting.

untappd

Enjoy a sweet yoga flow and then reward yourself by enjoying a complimentary post-yoga beer with your new yogi friends! No yoga experience needed. Brunch also available.

2019 / ecurrent.com

27 Wednesday Spring is Almost Here

6-8pm. $65. Fustini’s. fustinis.com

Come join Chef Nikolas for an interactive cooking class using the fresh and bright flavors of spring to make glazed vegetables, mushroom pappardelle, sous vide leg of lamb and warm peach bread pudding a la mode.

SLE Community Dinner

6pm. Oxford Housing Noble Kitchen. events.umich.edu Free

Drop in anytime during this event that starts with local and sustainable food preparation and ends with a meal with members of the Sustainable Living Experience community!

28 Thursday American BBQ

6pm. $69. Sur la Table. surlatable.com

Join us for this 3-hour intensive workshop and master the art of smoking brisket, pulling pork and grilling BBQ chicken. You’ll practice creating three flavorpacked regional sauces, along with baked beans and cornbread muffins. Then, it’s time for taste testing!

30 Saturday A Victorian Tea Celebrating Waynes Sesquicentennial

1pm. $40. Wayne Historical Museum, Wayne. ci.wayne.mi.us

Come for Victorian Tea catered by Victoria’s Tea Salon with two kinds of tea, small sandwiches, cookies, cheesecake bites and more. All are encouraged to dress for tea and wear a fun hat. Celebration includes historical entertainment during tea to fit the period.

Chinese Steamed Buns with Shih-Wen Wu

1:30pm. $150. Zingerman’s Bakehouse. bakewithzing.com

Make this popular street food from start to finish from ShihWen Wu, an instructor for the Confucius Institute at the University of Michigan. Chinese Steamed Buns also known as Baozi or simply known as Bao, are a very popular part of Chinese cuisine.

31 Sunday French Macaron 101

2-5pm. $60. The Lakehouse Bakery, Chelsea. thelakehousebakery.com

Sign up for an afternoon of fun, learning and tasty treats. Working in teams, students will gain hands on experience learning how to make French macarons with ganache and buttercream fillings. Students will leave class with recipes and macarons to share.

chef’s corner Furrokh M. Khan Once Upon A Grill’s multivalent cook and general manager constitutes this desi carryout’s soul by Sonny Forrest

Once Upon A Grill occupies an austere plaza space located at 3148 Packard near Platt. Its interior space is comprised of window stool seating and an order counter behind which is the exposed kitchen. Once Upon A Grill lives as a Westernized variation of a dhaba, a roadside grub stand common in both Pakistan and the Indian region of Punjab. Fronted by cook and general manager Furrokh M. Khan, the low-key eatery represents an outpost for a distinct desi food oeuvre that swells beyond the garden variety selections Westerners expect from subcontinental-inflected eateries. Khan graduated from the U of M with an electrical engineering degree prior to opening his first restaurant in Detroit’s Greektown. In 2007, he opened Eastern Flame (in the spot on Ashley currently occupied by Blimpy Burger ), which remains legendary in certain circles. Current talked with Khan to discuss challenges facing Ann Arbor restaurateurs, Kati Rolls and Once Upon A Grill’s forthcoming outdoor tandoori barbecue. What’s Once Upon A Grill’s Signature dish? We are very well known for our Kati Rolls. It’s a roll-up sandwich. That was also our best selling dish in Downtown Ann Arbor too. And we also sell a lot of Biryanis and Butter Chicken. What does a typical day look like for you? I usually get out of the house by 8:30 a.m. then I go shopping. I usually get my meat and vegetables every other day. It seems I get here late, always. Then I cook the food. Whatever I have to prep, I prep it, but the majority of my food is made fresh. It’s not like any other Indian restaurant where you just have boiled vegetables and three sauces and mix it up and serve it to the people. I make every dish individually. What is a quintessential spice or ingredient that defines Once Upon A Grill’s food? Every dish has a different spice as

a key ingredient. It’s basically Southeast Asian cuisine, which includes Pakistan. The spices are savory but not hot: Garlic, pepper, cumin, coriander. Every dish has a different makeup of spices.

What’s the best dish on your menu that’s underappreciated, in terms of orders placed? It’s Beef Nihari, a beef

curry. It is very popular in North India, Delhi and Pakistan. It’s a very soft meat with a thick curry. It is eaten with the naan. I don’t sell much of it. It’s a great dish though. Why do you think guests aren’t connecting to it? The

majority of the Indian population don’t eat beef. That’s the only beef dish I have on the menu. I have a lot of Indian customers so that might explain it. After people have it though, they always come back for it.

What’s the biggest challenge of being a restaurateur in Ann Arbor? My biggest problem or challenge is having the right

help. Ann Arbor is very challenged for help. I cook myself so I don’t require a chef, but it’s very tough to get regular labor. I don’t think it’s only my problem. I think the majority of the business owners have this problem. Ann Arbor has a unique clientele. It’s a very educated clientele. Customers know what they want, so you’ve got to be good in Ann Arbor.

Paint the picture of your ideal meal. I personally love Biry-

ani, to be frank with you. I can’t picture an ideal dinner setting in this restaurant because I made this restaurant fast-casual, carryout style. But the dream meal would be sitting outside in an open area and having some barbecue. I’m going to do something like that here this summer. I’m going to put some Southeast Asian-style seating out in the front lawn area and then put a barbecue pit out there. That is my ideal meal in that kind of setting. I’m not talking barbecued ribs, I’m talking ethnic barbecue: tandoori kebabs and naan bread.

$5.99

1 TOPPING ORGANIC 10” PIZZA

• Organic • Gluten Free • Homemade Order Online at: silviositalianfood.com 734-214-6666 | 715 N University Ave. | Downtown Ann Arbor

ecurrent.com / march 2019 19

music Estar Cohen

Living Fully in Moments of Music by Jeff Milo

“can’t hold on // I can feel time as it bends…”

ust some lyrics from a composition called “Endings” by award-winning jazz vocalist Estar Cohen; and this propulsive image aptly fits for her music career, as each year since her 2015 graduation from the University of Toledo has gotten busier, faster, more exciting. You can add lyricist, arranger and educator to her resume, as well as award-winner: early in 2018, the ASCAP Foundation, in partnership with the Newport Jazz Festival, honored the Ypsilanti-based artist with the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award. When she isn’t teaching, writing her own solo work, or arranging music for her contemporaries, she also collaborates with A2-based ensemble Talking Ear.

A newport dream

“It was a dream come true,” said Cohen, to not only receive this honor along with an arts grant, but also the invitation to perform, last August, at the Newport Jazz Festival, along with venerated artists like Jon Batiste, Andra Day, George Clinton, and more. “I have expectations for what I want to achieve creatively, but I have

taught myself not to expect any certain recognition. In the case of the ASCAP Foundation award, I had actually applied multiple times previously and faced rejection. But, you just have to keep moving. I think dwelling on what you “think you deserve” can lead to bitterness as an artist. Instead, I try to focus on the work. When I learned I was selected, I was surprised and overjoyed. My advice for any artist; put your work out there. You never know when you might reach someone.” She embraces that philosophy of arcing forward as time continues to bend—not counting on anything, but instead focusing on the current project, the next project, and onward. It wound up being “Endings,” a live recording at Willis Sound, that tipped the scales of the judges toward Cohen.

Multi-genre talent

Cohen has developed and diversified her skills to be able to work with a wide variety of styles, when it comes to composing or collaborating on an arrangement. She is best known in jazz circles, but her creative capacities blur past boundaries of genre categorization. For example, she recently scored the music for an adaptation of Sophocles’ ‘Antigone.’ With her fellow musicians/ composers in Talking Ear, she’s joined a challenge that they’ve assigned themselves through their new podcast, “On Creating,” composing and recording a new original work each month.

Drawn to jazz energy

We asked her about jazz,“I first heard live jazz at Murphy’s Club in Toledo. I was drawn to the energy, but I didn’t understand it. It’s funny to remember not knowing whether I liked what I heard, because it was so unfamiliar to me. But, I had to keep coming back. I believe the more you listen, the more open you become; this is how I fell in love with the art-form.” If you feel like you’re eager to fall in love with jazz, Cohen has a simple bit of advice. “Go out and actually see and experience live jazz! Go to Old Town Tavern on Wednesday nights, they have a wide rotating cast of really phenomenal jazz musicians. There’s Cliff Bell’s in Detroit and Aretha’s Jazz Café in Detroit, as well as Ziggy’s in Ypsilanti. “What’s special about Jazz is that you’re experiencing a unique moment in time. When you hear it in person, you’re a part of that moment.” Cohen recently recorded a single with The Red Shoe Company string quartet that will be released later this year. She is currently working on her next album, and continues to perform and teach throughout the US. http://estarcohenmusic.com/ http://talkingear.net/podcast/

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music

Ongoing Mondays Open Mic Mondays

7:30pm. Plymouth Coffee Bean. plymouthcoffeebean.com Free

Magic Dick & Shun NG

Join a weekly celebration of original songwriters and poets.

6pm. $20-30. The Token Lounge, Westland. thetokenlounge.com

Catch the dynamic duo, Magic Dick from the J Geils Band with award winning guitar virtuoso Shun Ng at The Token Lounge!

Music Monday

7pm. Corner Brew, Ypsilanti. arborbrewing.com Free

Mellow Out with Stephen Bishop

Each week discover a new live music act. Check online for information.

Tuesdays Open Mic Nights

9pm. Club Above. club-above.com Free

Join every Tuesday on the top floor of the Heidelberg Bar (Club Above) for Open Mic Night hosted by SwagRight!

Wednesdays Wines, Rhythm & Brews 8pm. Zou Zou’s Cafe, Chelsea. zouzouscafe.com Free

Join for weekly jazz and R&B series featuring different live music acts each week.

Thursdays Open Mic w/ The Martindales

9pm. Tap Room, Ypsilanti. taproomypsi.com Free

The areas best open mic, running for over twenty years. Bring your guitar, bass, harp or drum sticks and sign up to jam. All styles welcome.

Mix Thursdays

9pm. Necto Night Club. necto.com

Dance to a blend of renowned artists every week. Dress to impress as dress code enforced.

Fridays Tiny Corner Concerts

7-9pm. Ann Arbor Distilling Co. annarbordistilling.com Free

This month’s line up starts with Joanna & the Jaywalkers (1st), Jen Sygit (8th), Monte Pride (15th), Neal Anderson, Jon Hammonds & Cory Tripathy (22nd) and Acoustic Ash (29th).

Sundays Sunday Jazz at the Alehouse 6pm. Chelsea AleHouse. chelseamich.com Free

Enjoy live jazz every Sunday with Brian, Jed and Wes from 6 to 8pm.

Bluegrass or Irish Jam 2-4pm. Ypsi Alehouse. ypsialehouse.com Free

Enjoy live music every 1st, 3rd, 5th Sunday with The Rusty Nails playing bluegrass and originals. On the 2nd and 4th Sundays Celtic Jam coordinates a traditional Irish “open session”.

4 Monday

San Diego guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Stephen Bishop will perform mellow instrumentals and upbeat love anthems at Green Wood Coffee House. Bishop has been performing for over 40 years, beginning in the 60s with his first band the Weeds, and making a name for himself as a solo artist in the 70s when he was discovered by Art Garfunkel. Bishop is known for his songwriting prowess and music that will leave you feeling uplifted and nostalgic. —EH $20. 8pm-10pm. Friday, March 1. Green Wood Coffee House. 1001 Green Rd. 734-665-8558. eventbrite.com

1 Friday

PD9 Sun Band

Chuck Brodsky

8pm. $10-30. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Ranging from poignant to hilarious, his songs are about the lives of everyday people. His strumming and fingerpicking draw from lots of different good old traditional folk stuff.

Coffee House Concert

8pm. $15. Green Wood Coffee House. greenwoodcoffeehouse.org

Aris Chalin Trio

6pm. Dessous. dessousannarbor.com Free

The Aris Chalin Trio features Aris Chalin (keyboard), Jonah Eichner (bass) and Noah Greenberg (drums). Enjoy the trio’s beautiful Jazz standards while you dine or have drinks. Every Friday.

2 Saturday Aaron Carter

8pm. $20-25. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Aaron Carter became an international pop sensation with several multi-platinum albums and lots of chart-topping singles before adulthood. Hear Aaron’s first live album in 15 years.

Blues Lines - Black Fire Winery Series

6pm. Black Fire Winery, Tecumseh. blackfirewinery.com Free

Original Blues and Jazz performed by Blue Lines, delivering truly unique arrangements in a laid-back style. Quiet enough to allow conversation, engaging enough to discourage it.

PD9 Sun Band, a side project from the Planet D Nonet, is a heartfelt musical tribute to Sun Ra, “with a Detroit twist.” The Planet D Nonet is about swing, blues, and space-age jazz.

7pm. Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea Washington St. mercurysalad.com Free

A cozy setting with coffee, tea and dessert, bring a book and chill with us. Mercury Salad Sandwich has a simple approach to music: write tunes that make people groove.

3 Sunday Los Lobos

7pm. $50 - $75. The Ark. theark.org

Legends of Mexican American rock. After celebrating their 40th anniversary with the live album “Disconnected in New York City,” Los Lobos return with “Gates of Gold,” their first studio album since 2010’s “Tin Can Trust.”

Gwilym Simcock: jazz piano 7pm. $10-35. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com

wilym Simcock has carved G out a career as one of the most gifted pianists and imaginative composers on the European scene. He moves effortlessly between jazz and classical music, with a ‘harmonic sophistication and subtle dovetailing of musical traditions’.

Auditions for Sounds & Sights Concert Series

5-8pm. Chelsea First United Methodist Church. Chelseafestivals.com Free

Sounds & Sights, a premier summer concert series, is accepting applications for this summer’s entertainment lineup. Auditions are open to musicians, singer/ songwriters, jugglers, magicians, performers, dance troupes, artists and other street performers. MUST pre-register to audition.

5 Tuesday The High Kings

7:30pm. $25. The Ark. theark.org

Named Ireland’s Folk Band of the Year, The High Kings are Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey, and Darren Holden. The High Kings are continuing to live up to their reputation as a phenomenal live band, serving up laughter, good times, and even the odd sing-along.

Mardi Gras Party!

11am. Stick’s, Ypsilanti. Aubrees.com Free

We are celebrating all things MARDI GRAS! Masks, beads, food, fun, music, cocktails, and costumes! Party ALL day! Starting at 11am downstairs at Aubree’s, then continue the fun on both floors once Stick’s opens at 5pm!

6 Wednesday MIKE DOUGHTY PLAYS SOUL COUGHING’S “RUBY VROOM” 8pm. $20-22. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Mike Doughty, the singer, songwriter, producer, author and founder of seminal 90’s band Soul Coughing will play the debut LP Ruby Vroom in full with a cellist, bassist and guitar player.

Live Music: Thunderwüde 8pm. Chelsea AleHouse. chelseaalehouse.com Free

Wes Fritzemeier, Jason Dennie, and Tommy Reifel take the stage to deliver down-home bluegrass sound. Every Wednesday from 8-10pm.

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music

A2SO: Scottish Fantasy 8pm. $20-72. Michigan Theater. michtheater.org

Presented by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Featuring a 7pm pre-concert lecture!

Dueling Pianos Live

8pm. $12. Karl’s Cabin Restaurant & Bar, Plymouth. karlscabin.com

Join for Supper Club style entertainment with Dinner and Dueling Pianos! Tickets only $7 with purchase of entree. Also on 3/8, 3/22 and 3/23 at 8pm.

Stick Arounds

This Show is Haute Get your dance on to Haute to Death at the Blind Pig, where you’ll hear sounds from post punk to house music and everything in between. The Detroit-based group will kick your night off right with a high energy show. With a motto like, “Instead of fighting, we take it out on the dance floor,” you know that you are in for a wild night. Get amped and head to this show if you are ready to party til you drop. —EH $5. 9pm. Friday, March 15. The Blind Pig A2. 208 S. 1st St. 734-996-8555. ticketweb.com.

7 Thursday Pajamas

10pm. Mash Bar. mashbar.net Free

Pajamas is the Ann Arbor based trio that creates a unique blend of improvisational rock, funk and fusion.

Open Mic Featuring MC Jacob Gibson 8pm. The Rumpus Room, Chelsea. therumpusroomchelsea.com Free

Come any Friday in March to Open Mic nights to share your talents. Sign up online in advance.

West Side Ramblers

Iamdynamite

West Side Ramblers provide entertainment playing Dixieland/ Bluegrass Music at Burger Night. Limited menu from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

See the spirited, anthemic duo of two Michigan high school friends raised on the Seattle sound and 80s pop - anything with a beat that makes them move is an influence.

5:30-8:30pm. Plymouth Ann Arbor Elks Lodge 325, Plymouth. plyaa325.com Free

Frisky Whisky

7pm. $40-65. Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit. saintandrewsdetroit.com

Come for the 2nd annual Frisky Whisky event featuring whiskey, craft beer, live music, art and burlesque by Holly Hock Productions!

8 Friday Choir! Choir! Choir!

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

Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman (AKA “DaBu”) started Choir! Choir! Choir! as a weekly drop-in, no-commitment singing event open to anyone who likes to sing new arrangements of pop songs. C!C!C! boasts a dedicated and passionate membership of inspired singers from in and around Toronto, Canada.

march

8pm. $10. Ziggys, Ypsilanti. ziggysypsi.com

47SOUL in concert wsg Tammy Lakkis

8pm. $10 - $15. Arab American National Museum, Dearborn. arabamericanmuseum.org

On its first North American tour, this Palestinian quartet celebrates its new release – Balfron Promise, fusing dubby synthie sounds with rock elements, hip-hop and pop lyrics in English and Arabic.

9 Saturday 1st Morin Khuur Festival in the USA

9am. Palmer Commons at University of Michigan. mco-michigan.org Free

For those who enjoy listening to live music, playing instruments and are interested in morin khuur at any level. Also on 3/10 at 9am.

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9pm. $10 or less. Maidstone Theatre, Ypsilanti. facebook.com/ maidstonetheatre

Bad-ass rock show featuring four stellar homegrown bands!

10 Sunday Cabaret Night with the Vocal Arts Ensemble: By the Numbers 5pm. $60. The Ark. theark.org

Founded in 1992 as a small chamber group devoted to a cappella singing, the Vocal Arts is one of the premier chamber ensembles in the region.

Franck, Fireflies, and Fortissimos

Full Metal Jokers

7:45-9:45pm. $8-10. Pointless Brewery. pointlessbrew.com

An eclectic mix of stand-up comedians and musicians from all over the country to entertain you. With comedy, music, and beer that’s brewed on site, there’s something for everyone. Doors at 7:00pm.

14 Thursday Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

7:30pm. $23. The Ark. theark.org

One of the finest fiddle players Scotland has ever produced, Alasdair Fraser is joined by the young American cellist Natalie Haas, who attended one of his Valley of the Moon Scottish fiddling camps.

Urban Legend Trio

10pm. Mash Bar. mashbar.net Free

Urban Legend is a Toledo, OH based trio focused on bringing soul back to music, whether it be blues, funk, R&B, or jazz.

15 Friday A Special Evening of Dan Fogelberg Music by Don Campbell

8pm. $20. Green Wood Coffee House. greenwoodcoffeehouse.org

2pm. $10 - $30. First United Methodist Church, Plymouth. michiganphil.org

The Michigan Philharmonic invites you for an afternoon of classic and contemporary tunes.

Don Campbell is a contemporary/ country crossover and folk-rock singer/songwriter whose presentation of music supports the story in the song.

Local H

Sadie Bass Live

Local H is known for their blistering live shows and for pioneering the two-man band set-up.

Come watch Michigan’s very own Sadie Bass and her Band as they Rock the House with their down home country twang! A night of music, food and drink specials it’s sure to be a blast!

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

12 Tuesday Philharmonia Orchestra

7:30pm. $19-85. Hill Auditorium. ums.org

Esa-Pekka Salonen makes his University Musical Society debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra for two different concerts. Also on 3/13 at 7:30pm.

Beat Lab | Music Tools Workshop

6-8pm. Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown. aadl.org Free

Join us in the Beat Lab to use some of the awesome music tools. Samplers, synths, and drum machines available for recording beats. Beginners welcome; staff present to help.

13 Wednesday St. Patrick’s Day Kickoff Party 4-7pm. The Grotto. thegrottobar.com Free

Come get the festivities started a couple of days early with a St. Patrick’s Day themed party and a performance by the Glen Levens Band.

8pm. $15. Arctic Breakaway, Chelsea. arcticbreakaway.net

Steampunk Queer Dance Party

10pm. $5 suggested. Dreamland Theater, Ypsilanti. dreamlandtheater.com Free

Donations from the event will go to the Bail, Legal and Support fund for individuals and families in Washtenaw County who have been impacted by incarceration, arrest, probation, or police violence.

Triptych (Eyes of One on Another)

8pm. $34-60. The Power Center for the Performing Arts. ums.org

Through music and large-scale projection of Robert Mapplethorpe’s images, this unprecedented work allows an audience to peer inside Mapplethorpe’s bold, voracious view of how human beings look, touch, feel, hurt and love one another. Also on 3/16 at 8pm.

music Pokey LaFarge at the Ark Those who attended the 2019 Ann Arbor Folk Festival will be familiar with Pokey LaFarge, whose ragtime, jazz, swing, and country music influences provide a true mix of American genres that is all his own. LaFarge is a musician who has clearly studied the traditions of these genres but is all about expounding on them rather than simply repeating them. You’ll find yourself tapping in to familiar sounds from old time tunes that you love while learning how these music traditions can be transformed into something new with LaFarge’s music. —EH $30. 7:30pm. Friday, March 15. The Ark. 316 S. Main St. 734-761-1818. theark.org.

21 Thursday Sam Feldt

9pm. $15. Necto Nightclub. necto.com

16 Saturday Blues & Books with Bruce Conforth

6pm. Bookbound. bookboundbookstore.com Free

American Roots guitarist Dr. Bruce Conforth plays everything from Delta Blues to Ragtime with some classical chops as well! Also on 3/2 at 6pm.

The Music of Harry Potter: Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 8pm. $30 - $35. Michigan Theater. a2so.com

Come in your Hogwarts uniform and enjoy a muggle cocktail, capture your best selfie with the actors from Ring of Steel recreating Harry Potter memories.

Student Composers’ Concert 7pm. Earl V. Moore Building, McIntosh Theatre. smtd.umich.edu Free

A concert of original works by student composers at U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

17 Sunday Songwriters Workshop Group 7pm. Great Oak Cohousing. Meetup.com Free

This workshop is open mic format where attendees can bring an original song or works in progress to perform and talk about.

John Craigie

7pm. $15. The Ark. theark.org

Musically comparable to John Prine, with the humor and wit of Mitch Hedberg, John Craigie is one of the best singer/songwriters of our time.

18 Monday From Pedals to Strings: An Exploration of the Modern Concert Harp 7pm. $20. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com

Come explore the evolution of the harp through centuries of developments. A collection of beautiful harps will be present for display with a live performance. Please register in advance.

Max Frost

7pm. $15 - $50. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Last year, Max Frost had a creative awakening, come see some of the most inventive songs of his young career.

19 Tuesday Mad about Chamber Music

Amsterdam’s Sam Feldt earned attention in Europe and then worldwide for his melodic house remixes, mixtapes, and collaborations beginning in the mid-2010s.

22 Friday SEAN McCONNELL w/sg Caleb Elliot 8pm. $15. The Ark. theark.org

Songwriter Sean McConnell has a grassroots following in Nashville. His sound is a warm tenor painting vivid stories over acoustic guitar, often cushioned by keys or other strings.

Tom Sharpe

8pm. $10-15. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Drummer for the Grammy Award winning group Mannheim Steamroller, Tom’s current solo performances are in support of his latest release – a symphony titled “Lifting the World”.

8pm. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com Free

Bill Bynum & Co

String Showcase

With songs both traditional and original, and a sound that’s at once as comfortable as old jeans and as fresh as a new blade of grass, Bill Bynum & Co. is a band that’s easy to love and hard to quit.

Select University of Michigan School of Music students perform chamber music in a fun-filled, informal setting. 3pm. Earl V. Moore Building, Britton Recital Hall. smtd.umich.edu Free

A performance featuring the finest among outstanding U of M string students.

20 Wednesday Detroit Street Hot Club

7pm. Detroit Street Filling Station. thelunchrooma2.com Free

Vintage jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt’s 1930s Parisian swing by a local quartet of guitarists. Also on 3/6, 3/20, 3/23 and 3/27.

7pm. $15. Brighton Coffeehouse. brightoncoffeehouse.com

23 Saturday Mathias Eick Quintet

7:30pm and 9:30pm. $30-40. Blue LLama Jazz Club. bluellamaclub.com

Trumpeter, composer and bandleader Mathias Eick has for a long time been named one of the world’s major jazz talents. Doors open with dinner and drinks menu at 5pm or 8:30pm.

George Bedard and the Kingpins

8pm. $7. Guy Hollerin’s. hiannarbor.com

For those that love rhythm and bluesy swing, surf, cheap garage thrill music, blues or rock and roll, this show is for you.

Charlie King & Annie Patterson

7:30pm. $10 - $50. Church of the Good Shepherd. charlie-annie-aa.

An evening of powerful singing with two of North America’s finest activist folk singers: Charlie King and Annie Patterson. Benefit for the Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice.

Jake Riley & The Social Workers

8pm. The Rumpus Room, Chelsea. therumpusroomchelsea.com Free

Described once as “The Georgia Satellites meets Soul Asylum,” the Social Workers combine power pop hooks of Matthew Sweet, 90s twangy rock of Son Volt, and the punk rock ethos of Fugazi.

24 Sunday Harpeth Rising

2pm. $10-35. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Three classically trained musicians playing original music, as a string quartet, wrapped in threepart vocal harmonies reminiscent of both Appalachia and Medieval Europe.

Open Stage

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

Do you play in a band, do improv, write poetry, belly dance, or have some other talent to perform? Sign up online for an eight-minute spot on the open stage.

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music Folk Activism Duo Make it a point to hear the soothing sounds of activist folk singers Charlie King and Annie Patterson as they get political with clever musings about the world’s struggles and what connects all of us to the human experience. Patterson is known for being co-creator of many songbook series, including Rise Up Singing and Rise Again. This benefit concert for the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice is both a chance for people to hear beautiful folk music and to come together in a spirit of hope. $10-$50. 7:30pm-10pm. Saturday, March 23. Church of the Good Shepherd. 2145 Independence Blvd. 734-476-3399. eventbrite.com.

The Third Place Concert Series

7pm. Blom Meadworks. drinkblom.com Free

A contemporary classical music series here in Ann Arbor, Michigan valuing artistic excellence, community, and inclusivity.

25 Monday Chamber Concert: Harp Favorites

1:30-2:30pm. $10. Jewish Community Center. a2so.com

Cat Lung is upbeat, adventures progressive/art rock integrating rock, classical and jazz. The Vicissitones are space age surf and spy music with a hint of lounge sleaze.

30 Saturday

BIG MOOD Mondaze with Silas Green

Keeping passion, intensity, and harmonies on the forefront, Sarah and her guitarists draw from original songs and cover tunes to enchant audiences with both haunting melodies and lyric based rock.

27 Wednesday Gotta Get Over The Hump: Act Casual Monthly Residency 7pm. $5. Otus Supply, Ferndale. otussupply.com

Musical exploration in Yacht Rock this month, featuring three sets by Act Casual.

28 Thursday Alcina

7:30pm. $12-30. Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. smtd.umich.edu

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8pm. The Tap Room, Ypsilanti. taproomypsi.com Free

Sarah Swanson Band Stripped

DJ Silas Green brings his music essentials to life spinning instrumentals, hip-hop classics and more!

march

Cat Lung and the Vicissitones

The finest chamber recital music is played by A2 Symphony Orchestra musicians and guests.

9pm. 734 Brewing Company, Ypsilanti. 734brewing.com Free

29 Friday

An opera by George Frideric Handel, performed by the University Opera Theatre. A moving story of love’s fickleness and faithfulness. Also on 3/29, 3/30 at 8pm and 3/31 at 2pm.

8pm. Zou Zou’s Cafe, Chelsea. zouzouscafe.com Free

The Music of David Bowie 8pm. $24-105. The Cube, Detroit. dso.org/cube

Join conductor Brent Havens and a Full Rock Band on a symphonic musical odyssey that explores the incredible range of David Bowie’s music.

31 Sunday The Subdudes

7pm. $40. The Ark. theark.org

Before “roots rock” there were the Subdudes with their acoustic accordion-flavored and tambourine-spiked musical brew that came out of the warmth and soul of their native New Orleans.

art

Reclaiming Indigenous Identity Historical and Contemporary Indigenous Art at Toledo’s Museum of Art by Ainsley Davis

The “Expanded Views: Native American Art in Focus” exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) runs through April 28. TMA recently acquired several additions to their Native American art collection, which enhance the focus on Indigenous American culture and identity. Rather than having the feel of an anthropological exhibit, as collections with indigenous works often do, the additions to the TMA gallery give a voice to both past and contemporary indigenous artists. The first piece that draws in the viewer is a massive installation by James Lavadour of the Walla Walla tribe. The piece, entitled “Tiichum,” consists of 15 oil-painted panels of striking colors. Lavadour’s technique consists of layering and scraping the paints until he achieves the desired effect. The images that emerge are abstracted canyons and mountains, rivers, and coastlines, reminiscent of a virginal earth, untouched by pollutants and free from land seizure and industrialization. “Four Seasons Series,” by Wendy Red Star of the Apsáalooke Nation, is one of the most compelling pieces in the exhibit. In four archival pigment prints, Red Star depicts the four seasons, out of order, beginning with autumn, followed by winter, then summer, and finally, spring. In each print, the artist features herself in full

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Wendy Red Star (American, Apsáalooke [Crow] Nation, born 1981), Four Seasons Series (Spring). Four archival pigment prints 2006.

traditional regalia amid fabricated, flat scenes of nature that include an inflatable elk, deer cutouts, and photo backdrops. Despite striking different poses for each photograph, Red Star stares into the camera for each print. The effect is that her eyes follow wherever the viewer moves. Marie Watt of the Seneca Nation has two very different pieces included in the exhibit. One is entitled “Companion Species (Repose)” and consists of a glass sculpture of a she-wolf (a motif in Watt’s work) reclining on a western walnut base. The other is a tapestry created from a reclaimed wool blanket, satin binding, thread, and embroidery floss that features an Air Force drone in blue over a red eagle. The exhibit also features pottery from the Southwest, including a few samples of the work of Maria Martinez from the San IldefonsoTewa Nation. Additionally, there are a few rare pieces of historical significance, such as an 1850s embroidered manta (shawl) from the Acoma Pueblo and two ledger drawings of the Apsáalooke from around the 1890s.

Reclamation of Identity and Culture Overshadows Stereotypes

Red Star’s “Four Seasons Series” cuts straight to the point, addressing non-indigenous perceptions of indigenous identity. The purpose of the deeply contrasting elements of her regalia and nature cutouts, according to Red Star, is to highlight the oversimplification of Native Americans and their narratives, as so often portrayed in popular American culture. The simultaneous cynicism and self-awareness that results from placing herself in non-Native environment is punctuated by the way in which her gaze follows the viewer, daring them to view her and her culture as “one-dimensional.” Throughout the exhibit, the viewer is placed in the middle of depictions of indigenous culture. This experience is punctuated by the addition of American artists, like Frederic Remington. Each non-native artwork is paired with a similar piece by an indigenous artist. Those non-native pieces feel completely out of place, reflecting a literal and metaphorical intrusion that forces the viewer to confront stereotypes, like the “noble savage” or “Cherokee princess,” regarding the injury and insult of such stereotypes. Thus, the exhibit causes that reclamation of identity and culture to become tangible to the viewer. So overwhelming are the scale and grandeur of the artworks, that upon leaving the exhibit, one carries an echo of the enduring voice of Indigenous America.

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theater The Wolves A little-known Pulitzer Prize finalist gives voice to strong girls by Emily Slomovitz With the re-energized #MeToo movement still making headlines, and the record number of women elected to positions in government last November, we see many examples of women owning their narratives. Sarah DeLappe’s play, The Wolves, at the Slipstream Theatre Initiative from March 1st through 24th, offers a perspective on feminism that is rarely taken seriously. Current spoke with director Luna Alexander and members of the cast about this take on being a young woman. How did you decide to produce The Wolves? Luna Alexander: When we were trying to figure out what we wanted to do for Season Five, we wanted to tackle exciting new scripts as a break from our usual focus on classic themes. Jen, our Executive Director, and Bailey, our Artistic Director, asked if I’d read The Wolves. I devoured it in a night. I grew up playing soccer in Ann Arbor from the age of 5, and was looking to play through college when rehearsals for shows I was doing started to conflict. I had to choose between my earliest love and my newest one, and theatre won out. To find a script that married those two loves was something I’d never imagined. A script that showcases young women— not teens, or basket cases, or sluts, or drama queens— but girls in all their glorious complexity, is incredibly rare. I fell in love with this script the moment I heard the dialogue— a symphony of competition, affection, and awkward adolescence that we’re all secretly trying to pretend we’ve left behind on a high school bleacher somewhere.

(L-R) Luna Alexander and Claire Jolliffe. The play was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2017, but isn’t widely known outside the theatre community. What are the challenges and rewards of doing a less well-known show? Tiaja Sabrie: It can be incredibly challenging to market a show the public doesn’t know, because you can’t rely on any common knowledge, so you have to be very precise in your marketing. People are coming in without preconceived ideas. It’s refreshing to do something that’s so contemporary— to give a voice to a story that we haven’t heard before. In the current political and social climate, what does it mean to tell a story about strong young women? Alex ‘Cookie’ Isenberg: It’s interesting to do a show where we

show who we are. People assume they know or remember what it’s like, but you’ll never know everyone’s experience. They think, if you know one story, you know all the stories; it’s interesting to do a show about nine girls with nine different lives all tied together by a game. Isabella Weiss: Getting the chance to do a show that’s got a large all-female cast, written by a woman and directed by a woman is such a rare opportunity. It’s unlike any show I’ve ever done before. To do a piece that resonates strongly with women of all ages is fantastic. What do you hope audiences take from the show? Grace Jolliffe: I hope people leave feeling they can view teenage girls in a more legitimate light and examine the way that we’re portrayed in media – so often our problems are trivialized or ignored. I hope this brings in a well-rounded perspective on who young women are. The Wolves runs March 1- 24 at Slipstream Theatre Initiative., 460 Hilton Rd, Ferndale. For more information, please visit www. slipstreamti.com.

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NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION

March 8 is International Women’s Day What are we celebrating? By Lisa Gottlieb Since 1909, March 8th has been the International Day of the Woman. It’s worth looking at what women have actually accomplished during these last 110 years in the U.S., specifically related to pay equity, gender equality, and, as Aretha said, “Respect.” One measurable accomplishment: the right to vote in 1920 (though only for white women). In some states, African American women couldn’t vote until 1960, due to restrictions put in place to specifically deny women of color suffrage. Subsequent gains were a direct result of the female vote, including abortion rights and equal pay.

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As a result of the 1907 Expatriation Act, a woman marrying a foreign-born man would automatically lose her US citizenshipm while the opposite was not true for men. Two years after women got the vote, the Act was repealed. Although oral birth control was approved by the FDA in 1960, only married women had access, and that wasn’t until 1965. It was 1972 before the Supreme Court ruled that birth control pills were available to any woman regardless of her marital status. Until 1974, women were unable to have credit cards in their own names, and it wasn’t until 1985 that women could cite “irreconcilable differences” as a reason to divorce (before that, proof of abuse, abandonment, or infidelity was required). It wasn’t until 1993 that marital rape became illegal in all 50 states. Yes, there are things to celebrate, especially related to recent social changes like the #MeToo movement, which raises

awareness of sexual violence. Also, a record number of women currently serve in the U.S. Congress, which offers a voice for women in the U.S. Through the lens of Nonviolent Communication and a needs-based approach to life, equality, fairness and autonomy are needs that, when met, create more possibilities for fulfilling lives for everyone. After 110 years of celebrating women, there is still much work to be done so that we can live in a world where women (especially women of color) have the same rights as men.

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arts & culture Reel weird

See the best in experimental, avantgarde and bizarre cinema during the 57th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival, the oldest and most prominent experimental film festivals in the world. The six-day festival, held from Tuesday, March 26 through Sunday, March 31, will be judged this year by Bryan Konefsky (founder and director of Experiments in Cinema international film festival and the president of Basement Film), Akosua Adoma Owusu (award-winning Ghanaian-American filmmaker), and Stacey Steers (filmmaker known for her labor-intensive animated features made with works on paper). Learn more about the showtimes, special events, and prices for tickets and passes at aafilmfest.org

Ongoing Mondays [lit] Simply Write

6pm. Cultivate, Ypsilanti. cultivateypsi.com Free

Join this regular meetup.com group every 2nd and 4th Monday to simply write!

Tuesdays

March on

Take equality to the streets and unite area women during the Women March on for Justice on Saturday, March 16th. Held in celebration of Women’s History Month, this inclusive rally and walk is organized to be a peaceful and accessible event with ASL interpreters and an ADA section. Meet at the Diag on the University of Michigan campus at 1:30pm for sign-making, organization info and to sing folk and protest music with others before the 2pm rally. A speaker list is in progress and will be announced prior to the event. For more information, visit facebook.com/ProgressivesUM or facebook.com/womensmarcha2. Free

Saturdays

[misc.] Ypsi Gathering Space

3-8pm. Riverside Arts Center. Riversidearts.org Free

A place to get warm! Provides a safe, respectful, all-inclusive environment for the community where people can support one another in meeting our needs. Also on Mondays 5-8pm and Sundays 3-6pm.

[misc.] GWD Trivia

Sundays

Join Geeks Who Drink Trivia nights - come test your knowledge!

10am. Fjallraven. fjallraven.us Free

8pm. Mash Bar. mashbar.net Free

[misc.] Board Game Nights

5-10pm. Canton Brew Works. cantonbrewworks.com Free

All are welcome, from newbies to aficionados, for casual game sessions each week.

Wednesdays [health] Mindfulness: Deepening Awareness Class

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

Becoming more aware of our thoughts, feelings and sensations through meditation opens the door to understanding the nature of our mind and how it influences our experience.

Sequential Artist

[health] Community Yoga

Join at Fjallraven, where a certified yoga instructors will guide you through a gentle flow. No experience necessary; just bring a calm, positive mind and your mat!

1 Friday

[art] 13th Annual Members’ Art Exhibition - Opening Reception 6-9pm. Northville Art House. northvillearthouse.org Free

This exhibition showcases talents of over 50 current member artists through original works of art. Runs through March 23 Tuesday-Fridays at noon-5pm and Saturdays at 12-4pm.

[theatre] Dispatches from the Dumb Decade

8pm. $7 - $15. Robert C. Barnes Sr. MarketPlace Hall, Ypsilanti. ntgypsi.org

Neighborhood Theatre Group is proud to premiere a new musical for a new millennium, a new president, and a new media. Travel back to the 2000s to laugh, cry and scream in terror at the dawn of fake news, reality TV, strategery, and energy drink cocktails.

[art] Pop Up Resale and Photography Art Sip & Shop

[comedy] Dwayne Kennedy

Check out Full Circle Resale with a sip (wine & cheese) and shop event. Photography by Carolyn McCarthy will be on display showcasing her portraiture. More shopping 3/2 from 11am-6pm.

Dwayne Kennedy started years ago as a stand-up comedian in his native Chicago. He has the uncanny ability to deliver and connect with his audience with a keen and humorous wit that invokes thought, parody and laughter. Also on 3/2 at 7:30pm and 10pm.

6-10pm. Pearl Street Studios, Ypsilanti. cmcphotos.com Free

7:30pm and 10pm. $10 - $16. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. aacomedy.com

Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist tells the story of the legendary cartoonist, writer, and pioneer of the graphic novel best known for The Spirit series. The screening of this film is an opportunity to learn about Eisner’s personal life as well as his contributions to pop culture. 7pm. Tuesday, March 5. Saline District Library. 555 N. Maple Rd., Saline. salinechamber.org. Free

[art] Image Vessels: Blown Glass by Herb Babcock 8am. Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center North Lobby, Floor 1. Free

Sculptor Herb Babcock creates both monumental and humanscale work using metal, glass and stone. Dr. Babcock is Professor Emeritus, College for Creative Studies.

2 Saturday

[comedy] Lewis Black - The Joke’s On US 2018 Tour! 8pm. $39.50. Michigan Theater. michtheater.org

Known as the king of the rant, Lewis Black uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and animated finger-pointing to skewer anything and anyone that gets under his skin. His comedic brilliance lies in his ability to make people laugh at the absurdities of life.

[theatre] The Miss Firecracker Contest by Beth Henley

8pm. $12 - $18. Riverside Arts Center, Ypsilanti. riversidearts.org

Carnelle, a sweet and energetic, if not terribly bright, young woman from Mississippi, tries to overcome her reputation of being loose by entering the local Miss Firecracker beauty contest.

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arts & culture ROAD TRIP CONVERSATION WITH ERIC KRIPKE, MARCH 16 AT TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART Eric Kripke is a television writer, director, and producer who created the series “Supernatural” and wrote and co-produced the 2018 hit feature The House with a Clock in Its Walls. Kripke will talk informally about his creative inspirations growing up in Toledo as well as inside stories about his work in television and the film industry. He will show clips and outtakes from “Supernatural” (challenging audiences to spot the Toledo references) as well as a sneak peek of his forthcoming series “The Boys” for Amazon Studio. -TB Free. Saturday, March 16 at 1pm, Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St. Toledo, OH.

3 Sunday

[film] 8 Ball Sunday Cinema: El Topo and Circle of Iron 7pm. 8 Ball Saloon. blindpigmusic. com/8-ball/ Free

Let’s get Meta-Physical! A deep action double feature with Circle of Iron and El Topo!

[theatre] Never Not Once World Premiere by Carey Crim

2pm. $23 - $47. Purple Rose Theatre, Chelsea. purplerosetheatre.org The Purple Rose Theatre Company continues its 28th season with Never Not Once, a world premiere by Carey Crim. Also on 3/10 at 2pm. Additional shows Wed-Sat through 3/16.

4 Monday

[misc] QUESTIONNAIREY TRIVIA

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

Questionnairey is a survey based game similar to the classic game show Family Feud®. Teams compete to win, based on the popularity of answers. The more popular the answer you guess, the more points you get.

5 Tuesday

[film] [art] Knitting Plus

6pm. Ypsilanti District Library. ypsilibrary.org Free

Open to all, any handcraft welcome. Enjoy “oldie but goodie” films on the first Tuesday of every month. Bring your own supplies. Beginning knitting instruction is available during the first hour.

6 Wednesday

[lit] Author Presentation: Yankee Air Museum, An Extraordinary Story 7:30pm. Yankee Air Museum (east side, Willow Run Airport). yankeeairmuseum.org Free Barry Levine, author of Yankee Air Museum tells the story of

the Yankee Air Museum from its humble beginnings to becoming one of Michigan’s most important aviation museums. Signed books will be available for purchase. Doors at 6:30pm.

[comedy] Women’s Improv Jam

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

If you identify as a woman, trans and/or non-binary, please join us for this short-form improv jam! All experience levels are welcome in this intentionally safe and supportive environment. Admission is pay-what-you-can.

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2019 / ecurrent.com

[art] Local Learning: Calligraphy and Hand-Lettering 7pm. $7 - $25. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com

Learn about the history and practice of lettering and calligraphy from ancient times through now. Work with brush pens and other media to practice your own hand lettering in a modern calligraphy style. Please register in advance.

[dance] Open Dance Party

8pm. $12. The Dance Pavilion, Ypsilanti. thedancepavilion.com

Come dance with us! Dancing, refreshments, friends and fun!

7 Thursday

[comedy] Tony Deyo

7:30pm. $10. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. aacomedy.com

Tony was named one of the year’s best comedians by the New York Post, and can be heard regularly on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Also on 3/8 and 3/9 at 7:30pm and 10pm.

8 Friday

[dance] [theatre] 5th Annual Bollywood Bash

7-11pm. $15-20. Canton Village Theater. cantonvillagetheater.org

A night of performances from different countries around the world presented by different studio artists and dancers from the metro Detroit area. Funds raised go to benefit victims/survivors of human trafficking.

[art] [dance] [theatre] A Story of Woman: MoonSeed Movement Troupe 7pm. $20. Stone Chalet Bed and Breakfast Inn and Event Center. stonechalet.com

The Troupe crafts a fusion of Performance Art and ritual in a tapestry of spoken word, song, dance, and improvisation exploring of the experiences as women. Also on 3/9 at 7pm.

[art] Women’s History Month | Hand-Lettering

7-8:30pm. Ann Arbor District Library, Westgate Branch. aadl.org Free

Join us to hand-letter inspiring quotes from historical and modern voices of women in recognition of International Women’s Day.

9 Saturday

[misc.] Blacksmithing: An Introduction 9am-4pm. $159. Michigan Folk School. mifolkschool.com

An ancient craft, blacksmithing is a fun and productive hobby that allows you to create many tools and products. Each student will make a classic blacksmith product: a forged s-hook.

[film] CatVideoFest 2019

12:30pm, 3pm or 5pm. $7.50-9.50. Detroit Film Theatre. dia.org

CatVideoFest is a hand-selected, curated collection of around 80 minutes’ worth of the most entertaining cat videos of the year. Also on 3/10 at 12:30pm and 3pm.

11 Monday

[lit] Fiction at Literati: Dorene O’Brien 7pm. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com Free

Award-winning author Dorene O’Brien will share her new story collection What It Might Feel Like to Hope. This second collection is a masterful and eclectic mix of stories that considers the infinitely powerful, and equally naive and damning force that is human hope.

12 Tuesday

[misc.] Tarot Workshop: Reading for Yourself

7pm. Ann Arbor District Library, Westgate. aadl.org Free

Tarot cards are used for creative inspiration and insight into dayto-day issues. In this workshop, discuss how to use tarot for daily reflection. Bring a deck or few decks are available.

13 Wednesday

[poetry] An Evening of Poetry and the Written Word

7pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room. crazywisdom.net Free Poetry workshop. All writers welcome to share and discuss their poetry or short fiction. Bring six copies of your work (they will be returned). Also on 3/27.

[comedy] Comedy Jamm

7:30pm. $5. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. aacomedy.com

It’s cut-loose comedy as we present the comedy of 12 of the current rising stars in the Detroit Metro area and beyond each Wednesday this month.

[talks/lectures] Community and the Carceral State

5:30pm. Hatcher Library Gallery. sites.lsa.umich.edu Free

Join this talk and discussion with faculty, students, staff, and community members to interrogate community and mass incarceration, policing, immigration control and criminal justice.

14 Thursday

[lit] Art, Ideas, & Politics Book Club

12pm. University of Michigan Museum of Art. umma.umich.edu Free This club will meet in the exhibition gallery on the 2nd floor of the Museum to discuss the topics and ideas surrounding UMMA’s exhibition Abstraction, Color and Politics in the Early 1970s.

[art] [talks/lectures] “Blind Houses” Opening Reception & Artist Conversation

6pm. U-M Institute for the Humanities. lsa.umich.edu Free

Join for the opening of “Blind House: Utopia and Dystopia in the Age of Radical Transparency,” by collaborative artists Paloma Muñoz and Walter Martin. This exhibition brings into question our ideals of house and home, privacy and safety.

[misc.] Home Maintenance Workshops 6pm. Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley. h4h.org Free

Join us for demonstrations and information about home maintenance. Learn how to repair drywall, how to caulk, when you should call a professional and much more!

[theatre] VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE Performance 7:30pm. $12 - $25. Ann Arbor Civic Theatre. a2ct.org

In this Tony Award-winning play, Vanya and Sonia, middle-aged siblings sharing a house are interrupted by their movie star sister, Masha, when she descends on them with her new boy toy, Spike, in tow. Also on 3/15, 3/16 a 8pm and 3/17 at 2pm.

16 Saturday

[misc.] 2019 Ann Arbor Orchid Society Festival

10am. Matthaei Botanical Gardens. mbgna.umich.edu Free.

Join this popular annual orchid festival. Program includes orchid displays, orchid raffle, orchids, and sales from orchid vendors, presentations and demos on orchid growing. Also on 3/17.

[art] 2019 Doris Sloan Program: The Power of Inuit Art

4pm. University of Michigan Museum of Art. umma.umich.edu Free Collector Philip Power will join Inuit art experts Marion (Mame) Jackson and Patricia Feheley in a conversation about the story of the Inuit collections gifted by Philip and Kathy Power.

[film] Korean Cinema NOW | After My Death

20 Wednesday

1pm. Michigan Theater. events.umich.edu Free

In Korean with English subtitles about a high school girl’s death and the police investigation. It seems like a clear cut case of suicide, but several questions arise about the high-performing student’s deadly act.

17 Sunday

[theatre] Beware the Ives of March

7pm. Keene Theater - East Quadrangle. lsa.umich.edu Free

Seven short farces about language and relationships, all by master comic playwright, David Ives. Directed and acted by students in U-M Residential College drama courses.

[misc.] Michigame Design Lab Playtesting

[art] 24th Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners - Opening Reception

6pm. Duderstadt Center Gallery, North Campus. lsa.umich.edu Free The Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners is one of the largest exhibitions of art by incarcerated artists in the country, featuring hand selected art from individuals in Michigan.

21 Thursday

[talks & lectures] Peter Sellars: Art as Moral Action 5:10pm. Michigan Theater. events.umich.edu Free

MacArthur Genius Fellow Peter Sellars is an American theater director, noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and contemporary operas and plays.

[misc.] Rain Gardens 101

1:30pm. Blom Meadworks. drinkblom.com Free

Michigame Design Lab, a group of board and card game designers, wants you to playtest the future of gaming with them. Whatever your experience, they want to hear feedback from you!

18 Monday

[art] Stitches & Knots: Drop-In Knitting and Crochet 6:30pm. Saline District Library. salinelibrary.org Free

Join us for a drop-in knitting and crochet group. All skill levels welcome - if you want to learn or are experienced and want some company while you create, this is for you.

19 Tuesday

[film] African Women Film Screening L’Arbre sans Fruit (Fruitless Tree) 6pm. Michigan Theater. events.umich.edu Free

University of Michigan’s Afroamerican & African Studies Dept. is pleased to present L’Arbre sans Fruit by Aïcha El Hadj Macky as part of their African Women Film Series.

[lit] Value the Voice: The Shoulders of Giants

7pm. University of Michigan Museum of Art. umma.umich.edu Free

Come explore themes related to campus life, coming of age, and learning and growing, at this Moth Style Storyteller Lounge event. Storytellers include students, faculty, staff, and Voices of Wisdom (alums or community members).

7-8:30pm. $25. Pioneer High School. A2schools.org

Discover how to design and create a rain garden for your yard. Rain gardens are shallow depressions that collect rainwater before it enters the municipal storm water system.

[talks & lectures] Sustainable Ann Arbor Forums Climate Change 201 7pm. Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown. aadl.org Free

Join a University of Michigan professor and a city sustainability analyst who will break down the science of climate change and how it has both local and global implications.

23 Saturday

[misc.] 7th Annual Spring Enlightened Soul Expo

10am. $5 - $16. Skyline High School. enlightenedsoulexpo.com The largest indoor holisticpsychic expo in Michigan! Over 150 vendors, readers, and bodyworkers from around the Midwest. Also on 3/24 at 11am.

[lit] Book Launch Party and Steampunk Mingle 5-8pm. Crazy Wisdom. Crazywisdom.net Free

Come and celebrate the release of Phoebe Darqueling’s novels, Riftmaker and No Rest for the Wicked. Get copies of the books at special launch prices and hear the author read.

ecurrent.com / march 2019 31

arts & culture 24 Sunday

[misc.] The Office Trivia Night 6pm. Corner Brew. arborbrewing.com Free

Compete against others and test your knowledge of The Office sitcom that lasted nine seasons.

26 Tuesday

[dance] Ballet Preljocaj: La Fresque

7:30pm. $12-56. The Power Center for the Performing Arts. events.umich. edu

Based on a traditional and fantastical Chinese tale, La Fresque (The Painting on the Wall) is a ballet that seeks to explore the mysterious relations between representation and reality.

27 Wednesday

to grab a ticket before you show up because spots have been known to sell out! Also on 3/13.

[lit] Feminist Book Club

7pm. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com Free

We strive to foster a fun, thoughtful, and safe environment to discuss The Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli. Mention the book club when you buy the book for a 15% discount.

[misc.] Women/Trans/Femme Winter Workshops 6:30pm. Common Cycle. commoncycle.org Free

Learn and explore a different bike topic each month. All skill levels are welcome--whether your first time, or want to help out or practice--this is a supportive space to do any or all!

[misc.] Euchre Tournament

7-10pm. $6. Canton Brew Works. cantonbrewworks.com

It’s time for Euchre at Canton Brew Works! Come by yourself or bring a friend, but make sure

28 Thursday

[talks & lectures] Meow Wolf: Enter the Multiverse 5:10pm. Michigan Theater. pennystampsevents.org Free

Founded in 2008 as an art collective for DIY artists in Santa Fe, Meow Wolf creates immersive, multimedia experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of storytelling.

[misc.] [art] Do (Something) Ypsilanti

9am. $15 - $55. Riverside Arts Center. dosomethingypsi.com The conference for those who want to, need to, try to, can do such as designers, artists, photographers, developers and entrepreneurs. Stop messing around and do what you’ve always wanted to do.

[comedy] Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias: Beyond the Fluffy World Tour 7pm. $25 - $80. EMU Convocation Center. emich.edu

Stand-up comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias makes a stop in Ypsilanti during his Beyond the Fluffy tour! #BeyondtheFluffy

29 Friday

[art] Dutch Master Class Floral Design Workshop

7-9pm. $80-85. Blom Meadworks. drinkblom.com

Join University Flower Show for their inaugural Dutch Master Class! This introductory course presents the basic techniques, principles, and tools used in modern floral design.

Check out our favorite culinary mavericks exclusively on ecurrent.com

30 Saturday

[misc.] Money Smart Week

10am. Saline District Library. salinelibrary.org Free

Check out our Money Smart Week programs and visit our Money Smart display to learn more about the importance of financial literacy.

[misc.] The In Between: Quest for the Keystone

1-3:30pm. Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown. aadl.org Free

The In Between—a mysterious place that exists in nooks and crannies—is expanding and crashing into our reality and you have to find out why! Interview inhabitants of the In Between, solve puzzles, and help decide the fate of a world!

31 Sunday

[comedy] The Arcade - Improv Jam

7:30-9:30pm. Pointless Brewery. pointlessbrew.com Free

Join us to play short-form improv games! All experience levels welcome. Come to watch or to play. Admission is pay-what-youcan.

[talks & lectures] Sister Simone Campbell Social Justice Program 2pm. $5 - $20. Bethlehem United Church of Christ. results.org

Sister Campbell of Nuns on the Bus headlines a social justice program and gives a talk to raise funds toward ending poverty.

s f e h C city

www.treasuremart.com 529 Detroit Street • Ann Arbor 734-662-1363 • Office 734-662-9887

march

2019 / ecurrent.com

person of interest Sue Shink County Commissioner,

Conservationist, Farmer, Mom By Mary Gallagher

Sue Schink is a newly-elected Commissioner of Washtenaw County, as well as the Chair of the Washtenaw County Agricultural Lands Preservation Advisory Committee (ALPAC), and Chair of the Northfield Township Land Preservation Committee. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and has a master’s degree in Resource Policy from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. What are the issues you are interested in working on as County Commissioner? I’m working on policies to support

open space preservation and farmland preservation, to prevent teen suicide and depression, and working for clean water and opportunities for all of our people. We’re looking at increasing internet access in the county, and we’re working to make sure we get mental health care services to as many people as we can. Why is the county interested in providing mental health services? Providing mental health care is a mandated activity of

the County. A lot of people need help in a particular time in their lives, and if they get that help when they need it, they can go on to be productive… It’s my firm belief that the County is in a good position to help further that conversation. Why do you support farmland preservation? It’s important

to protect the local food shed because it keeps us safe from food shortages, it provides jobs for people -- I should say, it provides meaningful jobs for people. The land protects our drinking water, and it makes Washtenaw County a wonderful place to live, which strengthens our economy.

What are your strategies to protect farmland and open spaces in Washtenaw County? I like conservation easements

as a tool for preserving land because they are contractual and they’re permanent… A purchased easement allows a land owner to gain economic benefit from doing something that’s beneficial to the community, and I’ve heard from landowners who are farmers that they use the money to expand their businesses., thus investing in our agricultural community and economy. For people who don’t already own land but who are interested in starting a farm or having stewardship over an area, are there any options available for them? I think

it’s important to look at equity issues surrounding land preservation, which isn’t to say that we should stop what we’re doing, but I want to see us doing more. Land preservation is a climate change

prevention strategy. Also, because of changing weather patterns, it’s important that we have access to local farmland for food security. That can include smaller spaces in urban areas, where there isn’t so much open land. What are the strategies you’re working on to close the equity gap in Washtenaw County? As a county, we have

an equity policy that was just put in place before I came on as a Commissioner, to look at county policies and make sure that everyone in the county organization is acting in a way so as not to perpetuate systemic racism. I also think that it’s important that the county focus on making sure that the same opportunities are available in communities that have typically been under-resourced. What do you believe is the significance of this moment for women in politics? In this past election cycle many qualified

women ran for office with smart, informed campaigns. We spoke to the people’s need for honest government, investment in our people, environment and infrastructure. I am not surprised we won. And in office, we have gotten straight to work serving our people’s very real needs.

Searchable lists updated daily at

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cannabis The Nuances of Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Product Recalls

“There was a month where the state shut down temporary operators that hadn’t gotten the license yet,” Rosman said. “So [the unlicensed provisioning centers] were shut down and all provisioning centers that were licensed had to test the products.” During this period in January, PSI Labs saw a failure rate of over 70% for medical marijuana products sold under the new state rules. LARA’s publically issued recalls for medical marijuana products already sold by properly licensed provisioning centers fomented fear, uncertainty and doubt. “Based on this public backlash,” Rosman explained, “LARA said that temporary operators can open, which is great, but they can also buy and sell product without it being tested. Right now they’re going with this system where temporary operating centers can sell untested products.”

By Sonny Forrest As Michigan’s medical cannabis odyssey morphs from its loosely regulated Wild West phase into a regulatory era prefacing cannabis’s rec-use incarnation in the state, bumps must be greeted with a flexible approach. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) administers the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act passed by voters in 2008. That the decade-old measure didn’t explicitly include language referencing provisioning centers (commonly referred to as dispensaries) has fostered the proliferation of loosely regulated businesses selling cannabis products grown and/ or manufactured by caregivers, people vested with the authority to supply some of the medical marijuana for Michigan’s patient population. When the state Legislature passed the Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) aimed to tame the industry in December 2016, the proper nomenclature for a legal business previously regarded as a “dispensary” was changed to “provisioning center.” Any pre-existing business with aspirations of continued participation in Michigan’s legal medical (and forthcoming recreational) marijuana industry needed to comply with licensing requirements by December 2018 to remain operational.

Closed, then reopened

The rocky transition of the industry intensified in January 2019 after LARA issued a slew of medical marijuana product recalls for products already sold. That dire situation prompted Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Licensing Board to vote unanimously to allow unlicensed dispensaries to reopen, at least until March 31. This resolution temporarily reopened the doors for as many as 60 previously closed dispensaries. Ben Rosman, CEO and co-founder of cannabis testing center PSI Labs, maintains the view that the spate of product recalls stems from the state’s move to shutter temporary sellers of medical cannabis in December 2018.

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There was a month where the state shut down temporary operators that hadn’t gotten the license yet...

Precautionary testing

Though currently unlicensed provisioning centers that have reopened based on LARA’s January vote aren’t required to test their products, fully compliant dispensaries have been implementing necessary precautions for patient safety. Bloom City Club, a provisioning center operating by the MMFLA rules, works with PSI Labs to identify any potentially contaminated products prior to purchasing them. “We don’t buy products that don’t pass the [lab] test,” a Bloom City Club employee explained. But the medical marijuana product recall has also restricted supply for compliant provisioning centers. “It limits what’s out there for us to buy,” the Bloom employee said. This reality, in turn, limits the product selection available for patients to purchase. As of now, March 31 will signal the end of temporary operators selling untested medical marijuana products. After that date, with state required testing of products originating from growers and processors, future recalls should be scarce. That LARA has allowed provisioning centers to operate in a regulatorily ambiguous manner to ensure adequate supplies of mostly untested medical marijuana products seems to be an effort to smooth Michigan’s transition into regulated cannabis. Unfortunately, this temporary reprieve from the scrutiny promised for marijuana products through forthcoming industry supervision renders patient safety an afterthought.

ecurrent.com / march 2019 35

current love Open Your Mouth Pillow talk, dirty talk, and why they sound so good By Nina Swift I have been talking about how you lovers out there can keep your connection strong by cultivating a habit of sharing your feelings and details of your lives with one another, just as you do with friends. But there are ways we talk to our lovers that are definitely not how we talk to our friends. “Pillow talk” and “dirty talk” are two terms that get mentioned a lot, but what do they really mean, and how do we speak these love languages to each other? With so many couples on different work schedules, added to the demands of family and keeping up with Netflix, time when both of you are lounging in the bedroom and available for pillow talk (and its faithful friend, sex) is increasingly limited. In the bedroom we are often at our most relaxed, when we feel safe, loved, and ourselves. In this space we are willing to reveal things about ourselves, share reflections on our day, and be warm and receptive to one another. This is what I think of as “pillow talk.” Snuggled up in each other’s arms, we may start to feel a current of electricity humming between us, and things get flirty. This is when pillow talk can turn to dirty talk, and foreplay begins. My man thinks of pillow talk as post-coital confessions and intimate revelations, inspired by the flood of love chemicals like oxytocin released during orgasm. While pillow talk is sweet and affectionate, dirty talk is raw and impassioned— and can be as exciting as physical foreplay. He never talked dirty to a woman before me, and I love that he is learning to loosen his tongue to turn me on. My friend M is in the midst of a mad sex tear with a new lover. They are insanely attracted to each other and have barely slept, worked, or left the house in the three weeks since they met. He has been shamed by previous lovers for his kinky inclinations, and is reluctant to talk dirty to her because he does not want to offend her. She is trying to show him in every way that she likes it spicy, and he is sometimes shocked by the things that she wants him to do. Because they rarely leave the bedroom, for now everything is either pillow talk or dirty talk between them. Through pillow talk, M has helped him get over his shame about his kinky ways, and to her delight, he is coming out of his shell and learning to say and do the things they both love.

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My friend L is married to a man who absolutely loves to talk dirty. She is quite shy and reserved in this way, but likes it when he dons his dominant persona with theatrical flair and makes a show out of being a cruel sex master. He is not actually abusive or tyrannical, but the act excites him and he says all sorts of naughty things one would never expect from this laid back, well mannered dude. Dirty talk has allowed this couple to explore a fantasy world together without having to look outside their relationship. A lot of dirty talk is borrowed from pornography, which sounds hot to some and silly to others. “Porn talk is lame,” says my friend K. He likes telling his lovers what he wants from them in no uncertain terms, whispered up close to their ear, “Like a secret.” He thinks that everyone should talk dirty, “but people are insecure, and maybe worse— lazy.” My friend H agrees; “Dirty talk can be great as long as it is authentic.” H says she has been “thinking about this a lot and wanting to get better at my dirty talk” but feels shy because her lover is quiet. “The cart is before the horse if people have a hard time expressing desire,” K says. The folks in my mini-survey believe both pillow talk and dirty talk deepen intimacy. The point continues to be that communication between lovers is key, both in and out of the bedroom (the back porch, the back seat, the family restroom at the airport...). In short, everywhere. WRIT T E N BY CHRIST OPHE R DURANG DIRE CT E D BY CASSIE MANN

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MARCH ARIES (March 21-April 19): South Koreans work too hard. Many are on the job for fourteen hours a day, six days a week. That’s why a new concept in vacations has emerged there. People take sabbaticals by checking into Prison Inside Me, a facility designed like a jail. For a while, they do without cell phones and Internet and important appointments. Freed of normal stresses and stripped of obsessive concerns, they turn inward and recharge their spiritual batteries. I’d love to see you treat yourself to a getaway like this—minus the incarceration theme, of course. You’d benefit from a quiet, spacious, low-pressure escape. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The astrology column you’re reading is published in periodicals in four countries: the U.S., Canada, Italy, and France. In all of these places, women have had a hard time acquiring political power. Neither the U.S. nor Italy has ever had a female head of government. France has had one, Édith Cresson, who served less than a year as Prime Minister. Canada has had one, Kim Campbell, who was in office for 132 days. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the coming months will be a more favorable time than usual to boost feminine authority and enhance women’s ability to shape our shared reality. And you Tauruses of all genders will be in prime position to foster that outcome. Homework: Meditate on specific ways you could contribute, even if just through your personal interactions. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A 19-year-old guy named Anson Lemmer started a job as a pizza delivery man in Glenwood, Colorado. On his second night, he arrived with a hot pizza at a house where an emergency was in progress. A man was lying on the ground in distress. Having been trained in CPR, Lemmer leaped to his rescue and saved his life. I expect that you, too, will perform a heroic act sometime soon, Gemini—maybe not as monumental as Lemmer’s, but nonetheless impressive. And I bet it will have an enduring impact, sending out reverberations that redound to your benefit for quite some time. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Scientist Michael Dillon was shocked when he learned that some bees can buzz around at lofty altitudes where the oxygen is sparse. He and a colleague even found two of them at 29,525 feet—higher than Mt. Everest. How could the bees fly in such thin air? They “didn’t beat their wings faster,” according to a report in *National Geographic*, but rather “swung their wings through a wider arc.” I propose that we regard these high-flying marvels as your soul animals for the coming weeks. Metaphorically speaking, you will have the power and ingenuity and adaptability to go higher than you’ve been in a long time. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do you find it a challenge to commit to an entirely plantbased diet? If so, you might appreciate flexitarianism, which is a less-perfectionist approach that focuses on eating vegetables but doesn’t make you feel guilty if you eat a bit of meat now and then. In general, I recommend you experiment with a similar attitude toward pretty much everything in the coming weeks. Be strong-minded, idealistic, willful, and intent on serving your well-being—but without being a maniacal purist. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): If you gorge on sugary treats and soft drinks, you ingest a lot of empty calories. They have a low nutrient density, and provide you with a scant amount of minerals, vitamins, protein, and other necessities. Since I am committed to helping you treat yourself with utmost respect, I always discourage you from that behavior. But I’m especially hopeful you will avoid it during the next three weeks, both in the literal and metaphorical senses. Please refrain from absorbing barren, vacant stuff into the sacred temple of your mind and body—including images, stories, sounds, and ideas, as well as food and drink.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Until the sixteenth century in much of Europe and the eighteenth century in Britain, the new year was celebrated in March. That made sense given the fact that the weather was growing noticeably warmer and it was time to plant the crops again. In my astrological opinion, the month of March is still the best time of year for you Pisceans to observe your personal new year. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to start fresh in any area of your life. If you formulate a set of New Year’s resolutions, you’re more likely to remain committed to them than if you had made them on January 1.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Charles Grey was the second Earl of Grey, as well as Prime Minister of England from 1830 to 1834. His time in office produced pivotal changes, including the abolition of slavery, reform of child labor laws, and more democracy in the nation’s electoral process. But most people today know nothing of those triumphs. Rather he is immortalized for the Earl Grey tea that he made popular. I suspect that in the coming weeks, one of your fine efforts may also get less attention than a more modest success. But don’t worry about it. Instead, be content with congratulating yourself for your excellent work. I think that’s the key to you ultimately getting proper appreciation for your bigger accomplishment. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): At a young age, budding Scorpio poet Sylvia Plath came to a tough realization: “I can never read all the books I want,” she wrote in her journal. “I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones, and variations of mental and physical experience possible in life.” Judging by current astrological omens, I can imagine you saying something like that right now. I bet your longing for total immersion in life’s pleasures is especially intense and a bit frustrated. But I’m pleased to predict that in the next four weeks, you’ll be able to live and feel more shades, tones, and variations of experience than you have in a long time. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): When Europeans invaded and occupied North America, they displaced many indigenous people from their ancestral lands. There were a few notable exceptions, including five tribes in what’s now Maine and Eastern Canada. They are known as the Wabanaki confederacy: the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Micmac, Maliseet, and Abenaki. Although they had to adjust to and compromise with colonialism, they were never defeated by it. I propose we make them your heroic symbols for the coming weeks. May their resilient determination to remain connected to their roots and origins motivate you to draw ever-fresh power from your own roots and origins. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn javelin thrower Julius Yego won a silver medial at the 2016 Summer Olympics. How did he get so skilled? Not in the typical way. He gained preliminary proficiency while competing for his high school team, but after graduation, he was too poor to keep developing his mastery. So he turned to Youtube, where he studied videos by great javelin throwers to benefit from their training strategies and techniques. Now that you’re in an intense learning phase of your cycle, Capricorn, I suggest that you, too, be ready to draw on sources that may be unexpected or unusual or alternative. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The first edition of *Action Comics*, which launched the story of the fictional character Superman, cost ten cents in 1938. Nowadays it’s worth three million dollars. I’ll make a bold prediction that you, too, will be worth considerably more on December 31, 2019 than you are right now. The increase won’t be as dramatic as that of the Superman comic, but still: I expect a significant boost. And what you do in the next four weeks could have a lot to do with making my prediction come true.

Homework: Write a short essay on “How I Created Something Out of Nothing.” Go to https://RealAstrology.com and click on “Email Rob.”

ecurrent.com / march 2019 37

crossword Across 1. Service provider? 7. ROTC instructor, perhaps 10. They rarely come from losing teams 14. County, in Louisiana 15. Fig. that might get adjusted during a storm 16. Spare, e.g. 17. Band who sang â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rikki, Give the Cops That Numberâ&#x20AC;?? 19. Spot for a barre chord 20. Acceptances 21. Depilatory brand 22. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No ifs, ands, or ___â&#x20AC;? 23. Santanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153; ___ Como Vaâ&#x20AC;? 24. With 36-Across, â&#x20AC;&#x153;So true, Brutus!â&#x20AC;?? 27. Compost heap detritus 29. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Indubitably, monsieur!â&#x20AC;? 30. Ogled 35. B.O. sign 36. See 24-Across 40. Unit of wordplay 41. ___ France (French author) 42. Attends a meeting, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;onâ&#x20AC;? 45. Demagnetize, maybe 49. Grocery store that sells national secrets? 54. Time to come together? 55. Pad spot 56. Convalesce 57. This place 58. Daniel ___ (S.W.A.T. officer in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sawâ&#x20AC;? series) 59. Contemplate how to turn in a friend? 61. Glamour competitor 62. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eat Drink Man Womanâ&#x20AC;? director Lee 63. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got ___â&#x20AC;? 64. Pro votes 65. Cabaret costume piece 66. Faces in the crowd? Down 1. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Strangers and Brothersâ&#x20AC;? author 2. Sister of Michael and Janet 3. Breaks down

38â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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4. Salado, PĂĄnuco, and Tuxpan, por ejamplo 5. Inset feature: Abbr. 6. Durable cloth 7. Publishing and television, e.g. 8. Gauntlet-dropping company? 9. First of 12: Abbr. 10. Jap.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest peak 11. Stellar musicians 12. Billy Joel hit that begins â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to learn to pace yourselfâ&#x20AC;? 13. Collectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal 18. Perrier, e.g. 22. A/C unit 24. Pro votes 25. Abstain from 26. ReuniĂłn de la familia attendee 28. ___ Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 31. Texas city where Frito-Lay is based 32. One in Bonn 33. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cloned during cloning 34. Rep. 36. In a charmingly odd way 37. Straighten, as wires 38. Pieces of land on 18Down 39. Gen ___ (Boomerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s child) 40. Calif. setting 43. All-out attacks 44. Residentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suffix 46. Like always 47. Williams in a court setting 48. Applies, as effort 50. Beast with thick skin 51. Game with 54 wooden blocks 52. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Charterâ&#x20AC;? tree 53. In a class of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own 57. Publisher Henry 58. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Crying Gameâ&#x20AC;? Oscar nominee Stephen 59. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nifty!â&#x20AC;? 60. Citizenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s duty

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ÂŠ2019 By Brendan Emmett Quigley (www.brendanemmettquigley.com)

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