NOW!
2
june 2014
/ ecurrent.com
contents Best of Washtenaw County 6
Readers Choice Awards 2013
food: in review 17 Slurping Turtle by William Morrison
June 2014
vol. 24 / no.6
25 film feature
John Sayles, the godfather of bootstrap cinema by Nan Bauer
27 theater
feature
Shakespeare in the Arb: All the forest’s a stage by Stephen Spiess
29 artbeat Sweet Memories by Louise Meldman
32 art feature music feature 21
Interview with Robert Cray by Russell Brakefield
Photo by Jeff Katz
current online exclusives Arbor Opera Theater Celebrates 15 Years of Launching Careers
33 The Ann Arbor Book Festival A glance at new trends in book culture by Russ Brakefield
36 road trip 38 crossword
HIRING
Shawn McDonald, co-founder and artistic director for AOT, discusses the company’s successes and its big-picture goals.
!$6%24)3).' !##/5.4 %8%#54)6%3 s 0!24 4)-% &5,, 4)-%
s "ASE 3ALARY s #OMMISSION s -ILEAGE !LLOWANCE s 0HONE %XPENSE s -ONTHLY "ONUSES Photo by Ri
ck Kallahar
Behind the Scenes with John Sayles
The Cinetopia Symposium honoree reflects on his path, process, and the joys of playing God. The Symposium runs June 4-8 at the Michigan Theater, 603 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
From ceramics to the demolition derby: An interview with Trevor King by Meade Bailey
Exclusive features at www.ecurrent.com
We offer a fast-paced, fun enviroment with high earning potential for motivated individuals. Email your Resume and Info to:
ahornsby@adamsstreetpublishing.com 419.244.9859 ecurrent.com / june 2014 3
4
june 2014
/ ecurrent.com
Adams Street Publishing Co. ^ Opening mid-late June, Blank Slate Creamery ice cream shop comes to the corner of W. Liberty St. and S. First St. Watch the ice cream being made from fresh local ingredients. 734- 218-3242. facebook.com/blankslatecreamery
What are you best at?
Publisher/Editor in Chief
Collette Jacobs (cjacobs@toledocitypaper.com) Best at eating Mexican food
Co-publisher/Chief Financial Officer Mark I. Jacobs (mjacobs@toledocitypaper.com) Mick Jagger impersonation
Editorial
Assignment Editor: Brandon Bye (brandon@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Unabashedly embracing the fact that cats are the new Man’s Best Friend Arts & Entertainment Coordinator: Joseph Schafer (josephs@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Humor black as fair trade coffee
^ Courtesy of local sustainability do-gooders Clean Energy Coalition, 14 new bike-share locations are popping up across Ann Arbor. $65, annual pass/ $20, weekly/ $6, per day. cec-mi.org/mobility/programs ^ June brings the longawaited reopening of Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger at 304 S. Ashley St. (next to The Fleetwood Diner). 734-663-4590. blimpyburger.com
Art Curator: Jan Thomas (jthomas@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Supporting local artists Staff writer: Griffin Messer-Kruse (griffin@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Best homebrew in A2 Molly Winer (molly@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Jimmy john’s sandwich consumption
^ Great Lakes Cycling & Fitness, retail and repair shop pedals into action at its new location, 2270 W. Stadium Blvd. 734-668-6484. greatlakescycling.com
Calendar Editor: Marisa Rubin (mrubin@adamsstreetpublishing.com) best collection of boots Digital Media Specialist: Brandon Doriot (aspcmedia@gmail.com) Pooping on playgrounds and getting away with it... Suckers Contributing Writers: Nan Bauer, William Morrison , Stephen Spiess, Meade Bailey, Taylor Fields, Russell Brakefield
Art/Production
Production Manager: Brittney Koehl (adsin@adamsstretpublishing.com) Abbrevs Senior Designer: Leah Foley (leah@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Toddler slave Graphic Design: Jameson Staneluis (jameson@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Avoider of answering these questions Kyle Iwanicki (kyle@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Best Hair Sara Welborn (production@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Cleaning up after old animals...Dogs: 16 and 15 years old. Cat: almost 20 They keep on ticking and ticking...
^ New Ypsilanti restaurant Got Burger presents an inspired twist on an American classic: healthy hamburgers. Choose the size of your burger and the fat content of your locally sourced beef--and, of course, fresh toppings galore. Check it out at 301 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti. ^ U of M graduates Robert Mayer and Max Steir proudly present Salads Up, a you-pick salad bar of farm-fresh local ingredients for herbivores and omnivores alike. The casual lunching and dining establishment makes its debut at 611 E. Liberty St. (near the Michigan Theater) this summer.
Sales Manager: Aubrey Hornsby (ahornsby@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Best Florida Boy in Ann Arbor
^ The building formerally occupied by the dearly departed Selo/Shevel Gallery at 301 S. Main St. has been purchased by Reza Rahmani, owner of several spaces in town, including the Downtown Starbucks. Plans to fashion offices out of the upper floors and devote the ground-level gallery space to a retail or restaurant venture.
Sales Coordinator: Emily Gibb (egibb@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Best at snarky remarks Customer Service Representative Martha J. Schmitt (martha@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I’m best at making people laugh! Sales Representative Tara A. Patterson (tara@adamsstreetpublishing.com) putting together themed parties
^ As of May 6, MegaBus canceled its services from Ann Arbor to Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh due to underuse, sustaining only the Ann Arbor-Chicago route. megabus.com
Advertising
Classifieds: Rachellyn Marsh (classifieds@toledocitypaper.com) complaining
^ Look for iT… the Briarwood Mall boutique has moved to 330 S. Main St. Formerly home to the Chocolate House, the space now offers items ranging from artwork to home accessories to wedding invitations. 734-213-0212. facebook.com/iT.The. Boutique
Administration
Accounting: Robin Armstrong (rarmstrong@toledocitypaper.com) Best at cooking bubble pizza Distribution: Michele Flanagan (distribution@toledocitypaper.com) Person in the universe, I don’t know?
© 2014 by Adams Street Publishing Co., All rights reserved. 3003 Washtenaw Ave., Suite 3, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, Phone (734) 668-4044, Fax (734) 668-0555. First class subscriptions $30 a year. Distributed throughout Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and neighboring communities. Also publishers of:
Audited by
Member
^ App-based cab services Uber and Lyft launched in Ann Arbor with a free two week trial period. Now they’ve been given a cease and desist order for “unlawful operation” by Ann Arbor City officials. Uber and Lyft maintain they’re in the right and have no plans to stop their services. uber.com ; lyft.com ^ Ginger Deli, a new Vietnamese takeout deli, has opened at 303 S. Division. ecurrent.com / june 2014 5
feature Local non profit Huron Valley Humane Society 3100 Cherry Hill Rd. 734-662-5585 hshv.org
Runner Up: Food Gatherers
Best Charity Food Gatherers 1 Carrot Way 734-761-2796 foodgatherers.org
Runner Up: Neutral Zone
Suburban downtown
Chelsea
city-chelsea.org
THE
e l p Peo
HAVE n!
e k o Sp
You, the readers, have spoken. And we have for the 2014 Best of Washtenaw County Readers Choice Awards. a blend of new and perennial winners, highlighting how this ever-changing community holds strong on a foundation of strong businesses and artists of all varieties.
New Business The Lunch Room
407 N. 5th Ave. 734-224-8859 thelunchrooma2.tumblr.com
One-time food cart, now brick-and-mortar, The Lunch Room plays host to some highend vegan comestibles, charming A2 foodies since last August when the place opened. From their veganized Bhan Mi to their TLT (tempeh, lettuce and tomato), the cooks at The Lunch Room have fun reinventing old standards. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Lunch Room crew aims to “bring you the most interesting, fresh, delicious and diverse food that vegan imaginations can cook up at prices you can afford.” -BB Runner Up: Literati
6 june
2014 / ecurrent.com
Runner Up: Saline
College Course
Dinosaurs and Other Failures Runner Up: Philosophy 359
Green Business
Bgreen, Inc.
2111 Packard St. 734-214-3000 bgreentoday.com Runner Up: People’s Food Co-op Used Furniture/ Consignment
Treasure Mart 529 Detroit St. 734-662-1363 treasuremart.com
Runner Up: Ann Arbor Kiwanis
Continued on pg. 8
feature
ecurrent.com / june 2014 7
feature
Continued from pg. 7
Music Store Wazoo Records 336 S. State St. 734-761-8686
After the dust settled, after Borders and the other big-name record stores shuttered due to the rise of digital music, Wazoo Records remains, still selling new-release CDs and vinyl, and of course old and used tunes, too. The staff is knowledgeable (they probably have Top 5 lists for every conceivable occasion), but not snobbish or inaccessible. -BB Runner Up: Encore
Greenhouse
Lodi Farms
2880 S. Wagner Rd. 734-665-5651 lodifarms.com Runner Up: English Gardens
Home Boutique
Downtown Home & Garden
210 S. Ashley St. 734-662-8122 downtownhomeandgarden. com Runner Up: La Belle Maison
Local Women’s Boutique
Farmer’s Market
415 N. 5th Ave. 734-665-9110 shopv2v.com
315 Detroit St. 734-794-6255 aaband.org
Vintage to Vogue
A2 Farmers Market
Runner Up: Heavenly Metal
Runner Up: Saline Farmers
Local Men’s Clothing
Caterer
Market
Van Boven’s
Zingerman’s
326 S State St 734-665-7228 vanboven.com
422 Detroit St. 734-663-3400 zingermanscatering.com
Runner Up: Renaissance
Runner Up: Juicy Kitchen
Shoes
Place to throw a party
Mast Shoes
2517 Jackson Ave. 734-662-8118 mastshoes.com Runner Up (no pun intended):
Weber’s Inn 3050 Jackson Rd 734-769-2500 webersinn.com
Footprints
Runner Up: Habana
Thrift
Hotel
PTO Thrift
Campus Inn
2280 S. Industrial Hwy. 734-996-9155 a2ptothriftshop.org
615 E Huron St 734-769-2200 campusinn.com
Runner Up: Salvation Army
Runner Up: Weber’s Inn
Natural Food
DJ/Electronica
People’s Food Co-op 216 N. 4th Ave. 734-994-9174 peoplesfood.coop
Runner Up: Whole Foods
Jared Van Eck Runner Up: Nick Ayers
Folk/Country
The Ragbirds Runner Up: Breathe Owl
Breathe
Hip-Hop
Duke Newcomb Runner Up: Man in Charge
8 june
2014 / ecurrent.com
Jazz /Blues
Bugs Beddow Runner Up: Ian Stewart
Rock
Blue Snaggletooth Runner Up: Ben Daniels Band
Open mic
The Ark
316 S. Main St. 734-761-1451 theark.org Runner Up: The Arena
Live music
Blind Pig
208 S. 1st St. 734-996-8555 blindpigmusic.com Runner Up: The Ark
Dance Club
Necto
516 E. Liberty St. 734-994-5436 necto.com Runner Up: Habana
Pick-up Bar
Habana
226 S. Main St. 734-994-2774 cafehabanas.com Runner Up: Necto
Print Journalist
Andrew Nixon
Runner Up: Pete Cunningham
Radio Station
91.7 WVOM
Blog
mgoblog.com Runner Up: Peggy Lampman’s
dinnerFeed.com
Theater Troupe
Spontaneous Art spontaneousart.org
Runner Up: Wild Swan
Dance Company
Ann Arbor Dance Works
1310 N. University Ct., Room 3529 734-647-2289 annarbordanceworks.com Runner Up: Randazzo Dance Company
Film Maker
Davy Rothbart Runner Up: Danny Mooney
Movie Theater
Michigan Theater 603 E. Liberty St. 734-668-8463 michtheater.org
Runner Up: Quality 16
Artist
David Zinn zinnart.com
Runner Up: Lynda Cole
Fine Art Gifts
Washington St. Gallery 306 S. Main St. 734-761-2287 wsg-art.com
Runner Up: 16 Hands
535 W William St., Ste. 110 734-764-9210 michiganradio.org Runner Up: 107.1
feature
Place to Hear Spoken Word
Circus Bar
210 S. 1st St. 734-913-8890 circusannarbor.com Runner Up: Ugly Mug Cafe
Sculptor
Frances Burgos Runner Up: Norma Penchansky-Glasser
Current Writer
Jeff Milo
Runner Up: Molly Schoen
Florist
Tom Thompson
504 S. Main St. 734-665-4222 tomthompsonflowers.com Runner Up: Chelsea Flower Shop
Auto Dealer
Varsity Ford 3480 Jackson Rd. 734-996-2300 varsityford.com Runner Up: Toyota
Auto Repair
Main Street Motors 906 N. Main St. 734-769-3232 mainstreetmotors.net
Runner Up: 1st Stop Auto Care
Bicycle Shop
Wheels in Motion 3400 Washtenaw Ave. 734-971-2121 wheelsinmotion.us
Runner Up: Two Wheel Tango
Continued on pg. 10
Fine Art Photography Nina Hauser ninaehauser.com
Recently featured at WSG Gallery, Nina Hauser’s exhibit with my iPhone and Eye displays her fascinations with symmetry and architecture, using various filters and post-processing apps to tinker with light and color, casting a moody atmosphere over her subjects. Nauer lives in Ann Arbor with her dog Theo and has been taking pictures since childhood. -BB Runner Up: John Lilley
ecurrent.com / june 2014 9
feature
Continued from pg. 9
Used Books
Dawn Treader
514 E. Liberty 734-995-1008 dawntreaderbooks.com Runner Up: West Side Book Shop Comic Store
Vault of Midnight 219 S. Main St. 734-998-1413 aultofmidnight.com
Runner Up: Stadium Comics
Party/Wine Store
Golf Course
Morgan & York 1928 Packard St. 734-662-0798 morganandyork.com
2120 Traver Rd. 734-794-6245 a2gov.org
Leslie Park
Beyond the wide-reaching wine varietals and localto-international selection of liquors, Morgan & York’s deli cases are stocked full of artisanal meats, cheeses, pastries, and breads. After cutting their teeth on specialty food sales at Zingerman’s, Matt Morgan and Tommy York paired up to opened their eponymous shop selling specialty food and spirits and wine. -BB
Runner Up: University of Michigan
Runner Up: A & J Wine Castle
Runner Up: Bivouac
Golf Course
Outdoor Store
REI
970 W. Eisenhower Pkwy. 734-827-1938 rei.com/Ann-Arbor
Doggy Day Care
BreedAbove
Motorcycle Shop
Nicholson’s 4405 Jackson Rd. 734-769-9815 nicholsonfun.com
Runner Up: Cafe Racer
Independent Books
Nicola’s Books 2513 Jackson Ave. 734-662-0600 nicolasbooks.com Runner Up: Literati
2281 W. Liberty St 734-214-3900 breedabove.com Runner Up: Arbor Dog Day Care
Real Estate Agent
Linda Lombardini Trillium Real Estate Braun Ct. N. 4th Ave. 734-302-3011 trilliumrealtors.com
Runner Up: Andrew Goddard
Bank/Credit Union
U of M Credit Union 333 E. William St. 734-662-8200 umcu.org
Runner Up: Bank of Ann Arbor
Ad Agency/Design Firm
Perich Advertising 117 N. 1st St., Ste. 100 734-769-2215 perich.com
Runner Up: Fluency Media
Professor
John Rubadeau UM English Dept.
Runner Up: Joseph Zellemeir
10 june
2014 / ecurrent.com
Lawyer
John Shea 120 N. 4th Ave. 734-995-4646 johnashea.com
Runner Up: James Fink
Optometrist
Dr. Steven Bennett
117 S. Main St. 734-665-5306 bennettoptometry.com Runner Up: Dr. Christine
Curricone
Dentist
Meredith Hall
Progressive Dental 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr. Lobby A 734-930-4022 pdadentists.com Runner Up: Don Wurtzel
Doctor
Dr. Tendai Thomas
IHA Internal Medicine 2090 Commonwealth Blvd. 734-995-0303 ihacares.com
Plastic Surgeon
Ann Arbor Plastic Surgery
feature
2300 Washtenaw Ave., Ste. 100 734913-5100 annarborplasticsurgery. com
Runner Up: Dr. Richard Beil
Veterinarian
Ann Arbor Animal Hospital 2150 W Liberty St 734-662-4474 annarboranimalhospital. com Runner Up: Ann Arbor Cat
Clinic
Alternative Health Care
White Wolf Healing
2311 Shelby, Ste. 105b 734-277-7347 whitewolfhealing.com Runner Up: Huron Valley Naturopathic Clinic
Runner Up: Dr. Arthur Tai
Continued on pg. 12
ecurrent.com / june 2014   11
feature
12 june
2014 / ecurrent.com
Tattoo
Lucky Monkey
308 S. Ashley St. 734-623-8200 luckymonkeytattoo.com Runner Up: Pangea
Middle Eastern
Jerusalem Garden 307 S. 5th Ave. 734-995-5060 jerusalemgarden.net
Runner Up: Haifa Falafel
Tanning
Mexican
2723 Oak Valley Dr. Pittsfield Charter Twp. 734-214-6426 arborfitclub.com
401 E. Liberty St., Ste. 2 734-761-6650 tiosmexicancafe.com
Arbor Fit Club
Runner Up: Brown & DeLine
Salon
feature
Tios Mexican Cafe
Runner Up: La Fiesta Mexicana
Local Farm
Tantre New Restaurant
Aventura
216 E. Washington St. 734-369-3153 aventuraannarbor.com
2510 Hayes Rd. Chelsea, MI 734-475-4323 tantrefarm.com Runner Up: Frog Holler
Runner Up: The Lunch Room
Deli Chinese
Evergreen Restaurant
2771 Plymouth Rd. 734-769-2899 evergreen-restaurant.com Runner Up: Chai Shaing
Japanese
Miki Japanese Restaurant 106 S. 1st St. 734-665-8226
Runner Up: Yotsuba
Korean
Kang’s Korean Restaurant
1327 S. University Ave. 734-761-1327 kangsrestaurant.com
Zingerman’s
422 Detroit St. 734- 663-3354 zingermansdeli.com Runner Up: Sparrow Market
Fine Dining
The Earle
121 W. Washington St. 734-994-0211 theearle.com Runner Up: Logan
Coffee House
Sweetwaters
407 N. 5th Ave. & 123 W. Washington 734-622-0084 sweetwaterscafe.com Runner Up: Mighty Good
Coffee
Runner Up: Arirang
Breakfast Place Thai
Northside Grill
226 N. 4th Ave. 734-213-0808 nothai.com
Runner Up: The Broken Egg
No Thai
Runner Up: Marnee
1015 Broadway St. 734-995-0965 northsidegrill.com Diner
Greek
Fleetwood
341 East Huron Street 734-352-2007 ahmosdeli.com
Runner Up: Bell’s
Ahmo’s Gyros & Deli
300 S. Ashley St. 734-995-5502 thefleetwooddiner.com
Runner Up: Achille’s
Brewpub
Italian
311 S. Main St. 734-913-2730 jollypumpkin.com/annarbor
Gratzi
326 S Main St 888-456-3463 gratzirestaurant.com
Jolly Pumpkin
Runner Up: Arbor Brewing
Company
Runner Up: Paseano
Continued on pg. 14
ecurrent.com / june 2014 13
feature
Continued from pg. 13
Jewelry Store Abracadabra Jewelry / Gem Gallery 205 E. Liberty St. 734-994-4848 abragem.com
Since 1974 Steven and Katherine Lesse have purchased conflict free diamonds and ethically mined colored gemstones, selling their made-from-recycled-eco-metals jewelry to lovers and friends in Washtenaw County and beyond. Specializing in custom jewelry, engagement, wedding, and commitment rings, the Abra crew matches their quality products with their quality service--friendly, informed, and guiding. -BB Runner Up: Lewis
a2 yoga 1 14 june
2014 / ecurrent.com
Food Cart
Burger
Mark’s Carts 211 W. Washington St. markscartsannarbor.com
120 W. Washington St. 734-741-7325 grizzlypeak.net
Hut-K Chaats
Grizzly Peak
Runner Up: Beet Box
Runner Up: Casey’s Tavern
Food Blog
Annual Event
Peggy Lampman’s dinnerFeed dinnerfeed.com
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair
Runner Up: damnarbor.com
721 E. Huron St., Ste. 200 734-994-5260 artfair.org
After Hours Delivery
Runner Up: Top of the Park
Insomnia Cookies 1229 S. University Ave. 877-632-6654 insomniacookies.com Runner Up: Pizza House
Best Dessert
La Dolce Vita
322 S. Main St. 888-456-3463 thechophouseannarbor. com/la-dolce-vita Runner Up: Amadeus
feature
Karaoke
Blue Karaoke 404 W. Liberty St. 734- 302-3673 bluekaraoke.com Runner Up: Circus
Pre Game
Fraser’s Pub 2045 Packard St. 734-665-1955 fraserspubaa.com
Runner Up: Buffalo Wild
Wings
ecurrent.com / june 2014 15
feature
Sports Bar
The Arena
203 E. Washington St. 734-222-9999 thearena-a2.com Runner Up: Cubs’ AC
611 Church St. 734-996-2747 ricksamericancafe.com Runner Up: Necto
315 Braun Ct. 734-994-3677 autbar.com
Street Musician
Runner Up: Necto
Bowling Alley
Colonial Lanes
1950 S. Industrial Hwy. 734-665-4474 coloniallanescubsac. com Runner Up: Belmark
2014 / ecurrent.com
Rick’s
LGBT Bar
\aut\ BAR
16 june
Best place to celebrate your 21st Bday
Violin Monster Runner Up: Mr.
B
New musical Artist/Band
Wild Savages Runner Up: Better Beeves
food
Slurping Turtle
Slurping Turtle The slurp that satisfies by William Morrison
608 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor. 734-887-6868. Dinner hours: 5PM-10PM Sunday-Thursday, 5PM11PM Friday & Saturday
When decorated chef Takashi Yagihashi announced that his Chicago-based restaurant Slurping Turtle would open a second location in Ann Arbor, buzz began to build. Born and raised in Japan, Yagihashi began his career in Chicago but gained national recognition when the James Beard Foundation named him Best Chef in the Midwest for his work at Tribute in Farmington Hills in 2003. He later appeared on the show Iron Chef and earned a Michelin star at his restaurant Takashi in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. After months of anticipation, the Slurping Turtle’s second location opened for business April 21 on the corner of E. Liberty and Maynard streets in the old Borders building. I visited the Slurping Turtle on a Sunday evening trying to avoid the waits I heard could extend up to two hours on a busy night. My date and I waited 45 minutes before being seated, but appreciated being able to check our status through a link we received via text when we placed our name on the list. Slurping Turtle’s interior design is minimalist, with cream walls accented by warm red blocks of paint and glowing orange steel hanging lamps. Japanese anime plays on the lone TV screen, a refreshing reprieve from what might be a Tigers game at other local restaurants. Seating at the bar is separated from a handful of booths by two long communal tables that run through the middle of the restaurant, ending in an open kitchen.
Apps at the bar
We sat at the bar where our waiter brought bottles of Pellegrino that he poured into wine glasses draped with a wedge of lime. We ordered a few appetizers from the Hot and Cold Tapas sections of the menu. The cold Hamachi tacos consisted of fresh yellowtail bathed in truffle-soy sauce and stuffed in a taro root shell, which provided a light crunch that offset the firmness of the fish. Though pleasing, the tacos might have benefited from more red onions and cilantro to balance the saltiness of the shell
and the sauce. The ceviche was similarly tasty, though not outstanding, and the small serving size made it hard for this greedy eater to share with his date. Chef Takashi substitutes yuzu, an East Asian citrus fruit, for the lime common in South American ceviche while grape tomatoes round out the dish’s acidity. Our hot tapas came out next. The nuggets of chicken fried in duck fat gleaming crisply next to a squirt of Sriracha mayo were the true beginning of the meal. Salty, juicy, spicy, though not recognizably Japanese, they were gone in seconds. Topped with strings of fried scallions, the fried Brussels sprouts are at the “comfort food” end of the Japanese food spectrum, disappearing almost as quickly as the fried chicken. We finished appetizing with pork belly and tempura shrimp bao buns. As I chewed, the pork melted into my tongue against the fizz of pickled cucumbers and carrots. I commented, “I hope the ramen is this good.”
When in ramen
It very nearly was. My tonkotsu ramen came in a deep, slightly narrow bowl that forced the pickled mustard greens, green onions, bok choy and mushrooms to crowd around the thick slices of pork, making every bite a medley of Japanese delights, stewed in a creamy pork broth. My date enjoyed a Japanese interpretation of the Provencal classic, bouillabaisse. Mussels, shrimp and clams simmered alongside rice cakes in a deliciously balanced and spicy kimchee miso broth. Slurping ensued. Dessert was a fist-sized coconut cream puff with a crusty exterior and dreamy cream filling that almost did me in. Order one even if you’re so full you have to take it home, and eat it before bed. As Slurping Turtle hits its stride, the lines will get shorter and the already-delicious food will likely improve, no doubt a soon-to-be staple in my Ann Arbor restaurant rotation. ecurrent.com / june 2014 17
food
Deals on Meals: A2 Restaurant Week A Critic’s List
s On June 22, Ann Arbor Restaurant Week return to over 50 of the city’s finest eateries, and you’re probably eying the list, wondering which threecourse $28 dinner specials and two-for-one $15 lunches to order. Broken down by category, here’s what I’ll be going for. Enjoy!
Date Night
Mani Osteria & Bar (wood-fired pizza and Italian inspired cocktails), Isalita (refined Latin standards) Grange Kitchen & Bar (organic and sustainable everything), The Ravens Club (culinary cocktails and farm-to-fork American), Vellum (metropolitan swank meets Midwest comfort).
Day Dining
y), The Lunch Room (vegan and gluten-free friendl Prickly Pear Cafe (plenty of fresh salads and southwest-y options), Silvio’s Organic Pizza (fancy pizza, always a hit).
Just Cuz
Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery (um… BBQ and beer? Just a good idea), Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery (Main Street’s gastropublican hangout), Grizzly Peak (for solid food in a pub-y setting), Frita Batidos (filling, vibey, and of course, boozy milkshakes!). —BB
A2 Restaurant Week, Sunday, June 22 - Friday, June 27. Downtown Ann Arbor. 734-668-7112. For a full list of participating restaurants visit annarborrestaurantweek.com
18
june 2014
/ ecurrent.com
food
ONGOING: Wednesdays
Wednesday Wine Tastings
6-7pm. $25 + gratuity. Paesano, 3411 Washtenaw Ave. 734-971-0484. paesanosannarbor.com
This fun and informal event allows you to sample 5 up and coming Italian wines with tasty appetizers. Ages 21+
Wednesdays & Saturdays
Ann Arbor Farmers Market 7am-3pm. 315 Detroit St. 734-794-6255. a2gov.org
Enjoy a wide variety of products from local farmers and artisans.
1 sunday Taste of Ann Arbor
11am-5pm. $0.50 per taste ticket. Downtown Ann Arbor, 605 S. Main St. 734-668-7112. mainstreetannarbor.org
Ready your taste buds and grab your loose change because June is kicking off with the annual Taste of Ann Arbor culinary community event. For more information, visit pg. 19.
Creamery Tour
2pm. $10. Zingerman’s Creamery, 3723 Plaza Dr. 734-929-0500. zingermanscreamery.com
Join cheese and gelato makers on an hour-long adventure transforming locally produced milk into delicious treats. On the tour, you’ll observe mozzarella stretching and taste fresh gelato and goat cheese. Don’t forget to visit the gift shop.
Zingerman’s Camp Bacon Street Fair
11am-2pm. The Sunday Artisan Market in Kerrytown, 315 Detroit St. 734-794-6255. zingermanscampbacon.com
The Sunday Artisan Market hosts a three-hour street fair with an array of vendors selling, sampling and showcasing all things bacon; a great way to have lunch, sample new bacon bites and have some fun with bacon-based games for kids of all ages.
3 tuesday Tuscany Wine Dinner with “Grace” at Paesano 6:30pm. $65. Paesano, 3411 Washtenaw Ave. 734-971-0484. paesanoannarbor.com
An early summer wine dinner with 5 courses featuring special guest winemaker Tim Grace, co-owner and Winery Director of Il Molino di Grace in Tuscany.
Taste Test
Ready your taste buds and grab your loose change because June is kicking off with the annual Taste of Ann Arbor culinary community event. All are welcome to nosh on some eats from over 40 local restaurants. Admission to the event The event is free, but tickets for the tastings go for 50 cents, and dishes range in price from one to six tickets. Last year’s Taste of Ann Arbor winners (yes, this is a contest) included downtown favorites Black Pearl (Best Entree), Lena (Best Appetizer) and Vellum (Best Desert). Sunday, June 1. 11am-5pm. 605 S. Main St. 734-668-7112. mainstreetannarbor.org—MW The Spice Odyssey
14 saturday
7pm. Zingerman’s Roadhouse 2501 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (734) 663-3663. zingermansroadhouse.com
Big Green Egg Cookout w/ Matt Banks 10am-1pm. Downtown Home & Garden, 210 S. Ashley St. 734-662-8122. downtownhomeandgarden.com
Gary Nabhan, author and activist, teams up with Chef Alex Young for a good meal and a look at the relationship between the spice trade and culinary imperialism.Call for reservations.
In-store chef Matt Banks serves up succulent tastes of smoked brisket and pork while teaching how to get the best from your Big Green Egg Grill and Smoker.
6 friday Vine and Dine
(un)Corked Wine Tasting Event: Fromage et Vin
6pm. $300. Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty St. 734-994-8004. annarborartcenter.org
4-6pm. $20. White Lotus Farms, 7217 W. Liberty St. 734-663-7848. producestation.com
An elegant evening of hors d’oeuvres and champagne followed by dinner with carefully curated wine pairings at Chop House. Also enjoy a live auction, showcasing rare domestic and imported wine lots and unique travel packages. Proceeds benefit the Ann Arbor Art Center. Tax deductible.
A collaboration tasting with the magnificent folks of White Lotus Farms Creamery at their cozy grange. Five spring-oriented, small-production wines will be paired with five of their fresh goat cheeses.
15 sunday
8 sunday
Coffee and Food Pairings
1pm. $30. Zingerman’s Coffee Company, 3723 Plaza Dr. 734-929-6060. zingermanscoffee.com
Grillin’ for Food Gatherers
3-8pm. $50; $60 at door; $10 kids 3-13; Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. 734-7612796. foodgatherers.org
You may be familiar with wine and cheese pairings, so why not a coffee and food pairing? Great for the coffee and food connoisseur who wants to try something different.
A picnic with a purpose. Help raise $250,000 (750,000 meals) for Food Gatherers. Live music, cash bar featuring Michigan microbrews and wines, dinner, silent auction, crafts and face painting for the kids.
13 friday Belleville National Strawberry Festival Opening Day
Noon. Downtown Belleville. 313-383-8920. nationalstrawberryfest.com
Friday through Sunday, enjoy the very best of Michigan’s fresh local strawberry crop. Craft fair and music, animals and carnival rides, and many tasty treats.
17 tuesday Tasting Tuesday: Michigan Breweries
5pm. $15. Beverage Garden, 915 E. Washington St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
Learn about beer and the brewing process in this craft beer sampling at Top of the Park.
18 wednesday Cooking from the Tin w/ Tamar Adler
No more neglecting the cans of sardines in the back of the cupboard. Chef Tamar Adler walks through some
Opa! The Ya’ssoo Greek Festival returns Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8 to the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The three day festival will feature a vast menu of authentic Greek goodies from baklava to tzatziki, dolmades to souvlaki. Traditional music and dance performances, tours of the impressive church, a ticketed raffle with a grand prize trip for two to the Greek Islands. Lots of homemade Mediterraneaninspired dishes await. Friday and Saturday 11am - midnight; Sunday 12pm - 6pm. Admission: $3. Free entry Friday before 4pm and Saturday before 1pm; free entry all day Sunday. Children 12 and under free. A portion of proceeds donated to a local charity. Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church Rd. 734-332-8200. annarborgreekfestival.org —GMK recipes and ideas for making really good food quickly using canned seafood.
Wind Down Wednesday: Italian Wines
5pm. $15. Beverage Garden , 915 E. Washington St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
Italy has overtaken France as the world’s largest wine producer. Discover Italian wines made from organic grapes in a traditional, natural way, including Falangina, Tavernago Ortrugo, Bonarda Frizzante and Gutturnio at Top of the Park.
20 friday Dinner Series: American
1-5pm. $125. BAKE!, 3711 Plaza Dr. 734-761-7255. bakewithzing.com
Learn how to make creamy tomato soup, bake buttery parker house rolls and a sugary batch of Zingerman’s Bakehouse Peanut Butter cookies. Registration required.
21 saturday Summer Solstice Wine Release Party
11am-6pm. $30; Designated drivers eat free. Pioneer Wine Trail Vineyards, Jackson. 517-592-4663. pioneerwinetrail.com/events.html
Celebrate the Summer Solstice and the release of amazing new Michigan wines. Tickets for this self-driven tour with 8 delicious Food & Wine Pairings include tasting up to 6 additional wines at each winery. Sunday tour: Noon-6pm.
22 sunday Brewery Tours
1pm. Wolverine State Brewing Co., 2019 S. Stadium Blvd. 734-369-2990. wolverinebeer.com Free
See how the magic happens at Wolverine State Brewery with an exclusive behind-the-scenes hop-tastic tour.
ecurrent.com/fo
od
24 tuesday Tasting Tuesday: Michigan Breweries
5pm. $15. Beverage Garden, 915 E. Washington St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
Learn about beer and the brewing process in this craft beer sampling at Top of the Park. Sample multiple beers of the evening’s featured Michigan microbrewer: Latitude 42 Brewing from Portage, MI.
25 wednesday Hungarian Home Cooking & Storytelling 6pm. $40. BAKE!, 3711 Plaza Dr. 734-761-7255. bakewithzing.com
Ambassadors to Hungarian cuisine, Carolyn and Gábor Banfalvi share stories and demonstrate how to make childhood favorites: porkolt (stew), lecsó, and sour cherry cake.
26 thursday Hungarian Feast w/ Carolyn & Gábor Banfalvi 6pm. $60. Zingerman’s Deli, 415 N. 4th Ave. 734-663-3400. zingermansdeli.com
Enjoy a selection of Hungarian wines and chilled cherry soup, morels with foie gras, fried Mangalitsa pork chop with handmade pasta, lecsó;, classic cold salads, palacsinta pancakes with mulberry jelly and more.
29 sunday Brewing Methods
1pm. $25. Zingerman’s Coffee Company, 3723 Plaza Dr. 734-929-6060. zingermanscoffee.com
Learn the keys to successful coffee brewing using a wide variety of brewing methods from filter drip to syphon pot. You’ll take a single coffee and brew it 6-8 different ways, each producing a unique taste.
ie
6:30pm. $30. Zingerman’s Deli, 415 N. Fifth Ave. 734-663-3400. zingermansdeli.com
food
My Big Fat Greek Festival
ecurrent.com / june 2014 19
20
june
2014 / ecurrent.com
music New Licks and Old Riffs Robert Cray Brings the Blues to A2 By Russ Brakefield
Robert Cray’s new album In My Soul debuted at #1 on the Blues Roots Music Chart. In Cray’s ever-dynamic way, the album mixes deep reverence for the blues with hints of rock and roll, funk, and R&B as well as digging into sounds from more soulful influences, combining a slew of original music with several covers. Cray is a five-time Grammy winner and the youngest member to be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Robert Cray brings his legendary blues guitar to the Power Center this month as part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival’s mainstage lineup. We caught up with Robert Cray on tour in the UK to talk about his new album, musical influence and touring. The new album features a different Steve Jordan. How did everything come together on In My Soul? This is the third record that we have done with Steve. The first was an album called Take Bluesman Robert Cray knows his Your Shoes Off that came out in 1989. I asked way around the neck. Steve to produce this album because we made Photo by Jeff Katz a couple personnel changes to the band, and he is a great organizer. We added the drummer Les Falconer […] and we hired a keyboard player friend of ours What has it been like collaborating with who was in the band in the 70’s named Dover Weinberg. musicians like Mavis Staples and Eric Clapton, not to mention blues legends like This album really digs into your wide range John Lee Hooker and Albert Collins? of influences and styles. What music were For me it’s been like a dream come true. I’m a fan as you thinking of or listening to while making well as a musician. We grew up listening to a lot of our this album? We didn’t have an idea as to what we were going to do favorites and suddenly we were on the same bill or sharing when we went into the studio. Normally we present our the same stage. Once we got past being freaked out—you songs to one another right before going into the studio, know you stand there and shiver and shake—we’ve had a but Steve and I had been in contact and he threw a few really good time. I think the best thing about it all is that all suggestions at me. One was the Otis Redding “Nobody’s the people we respected and admired over the years have Fault but Mine” and the other was “Your Good Thing Is been really genuine and down-home people. About to End” which Lou Rawls made famous. When we Looking back, how do you feel your own presented our songs to one another as a band, everybody sound or outlook on music has developed or just seemed to be on the same page. We had all this soul changed over the years? music going on. It was just by osmosis really. I find that I still like a lot of the same music that I have been listening to for ages. As we are getting older, I listen How about that great cover of to those same songs differently. I hear different things in “Deep In My Soul?” I came up with that idea while we were in the studio. I those songs. That same process is part and parcel of what the band does these days. It’s more about the song, I’d wanted to pay tribute to Bobby “Blue” Bland. have to say, than it was in the earlier days when it was You are on tour in Europe right now, one about playing a lot of guitar and that type of thing. place where you initially found success as a What can fans look forward to when seeing live performer. What does the band bring to you live this summer in Ann Arbor? live performances? Well, it’s great for us because we have a new record It’s hard to pin it down, but I think people that come to see us live like the style of music that we do, which is out, so we get to add new songs to the list. So we’ll be doa hybrid of all the things we grew up listening to music ing some new stuff, and then we’ll go all the way back to from the 60’s and before and onward. I grew up listening songs on the Bad Influence album from 1983. to everything from The Beatles to Jimi Hendrix, Sam & Saturday, June 28. 8pm. The Power Center, Ann Arbor Dave to Bobby Bland. It’s a mix of all those things that Summer Festival Mainstage. $55/$45 bring people to see. a2sf.org/event/robert-cray-and-mavis-staples/ ecurrent.com / june 2014 21
music CAKE
Photo by Tim Jackson
Sunday, June 15 / Hill Auditorium
With their deadpan delivery and lock-step grooves, the musicians in CAKE aren’t your typical alternative rock superstars. Against all odds, their hip-to-be-square take on funk rhythm has produced several hit singles, such as “The Distance,” and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket.” This California five-piece, once a cornerstone of the nerd-rock scene, has aged into one of modern pop’s most beloved acts (their last album, Showroom of Compassion, debuted at the top of the Billboard charts in 2011). Rockabilly royalty Wanda Jackson will open this show, part of the annual Ann Arbor Summer Fest. 8pm. $40-60. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave. 734-764-2538. a2sf.org—JS
Elvis Costello Friday, June 13 / Michigan Theater
The man in the hat is back, as part of the ongoing Legends of Rock & Roll series. Elvis Costello, in a career spanning five decades, with over 20 original studio albums, has produced an impressive body of work, in quantity and in quality. His latest solo shows have been praised as “remarkable” (Esquire) and “exhilarating” (American Songwriter). 8pm. $60-$115. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. 734-668-8397. michtheater. org—MW
Andrew Bird
Wednesday, July 2 / Power Center
Some musicians just can’t do enough. Take Andrew Bird, for example. This critically beloved folk star came up as a jazz violinist before lending his fiddling skills to the 90’s swing revivalist group The Squirrel Nut Zippers. As a solo artist, he blends rock, blues and jazz Photo by Shervin Lainez with his elastic voice and preternatural whistling ability, creating an inventive and atmospheric sound fitting nicely into today’s genrebending music scene. Beyond his prolific career as a touring musician, he’s leveraged his musical talents into scoring films as well. Bird brings his eclectic and ever-changing style to the Power Center as part of Ann Arbor Summer Fest. 8pm. $35-45. 121 Fletcher St. 734-647-3327. a2sf.org—JS
1 sunday Jazz, blues & R&B B.B. King Michigan Theater
The godfather and (aptly named) King of blues will grace Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater for a night like no other. 7:30pm. $35 /$60.
2 monday Jazz, blues & R&B
Sonic Lunch Preview w/ Martin Bandyke Downtown Library Multi-Purpose
Martin Bandyke will announce the Sonic Lunch Summer Schedule while Laith-Al Saadi plays blues gutiar. 7pm. Free
cont, on page 24
22
june
2014 / ecurrent.com
music 3 tuesday Rock, pop & Hip-hop Shaun Garth Walker Conor O’ Neill’s
Come to the pub and check out this very talented musician who plays a wide variety of music from Johnny Cash to U2. 9:30pm. Free
5 thursday Rock, pop & Hip-hop
The Grand Slambovians The Ark Their music has been described as “hillbilly-Floyd,” “folk-pop,” “alt-country roots rock,” and “surreal Americana.” 7:30pm. $20.
6 friday jazz, blues & R&B
Alberto Nacif Kerrytown Concert House
Aguankó, the ensemble led by percussionist and composer Alberto Nacíf, is a talented group of Michigan-based musicians who are steeped in the tradition of jazz infused Son-Salsa. 8pm. $5 -$30.
7 saturday
Michigan’s Ben Daniels has opened for notable acts such as The Raconteurs and Rusted Root. 9:30pm. $8 / $11.
8 sunday jazz, blues & R&B Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings - Grotto Club
The smooth sounds of big band jazz provided by P.O.R.K. 5pm. Free
9 monday
Rock, pop & Hip-Hop
Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop
A natural poet (often compared to a young Adam Duritz of Counting Crows) Chelsea,
For most of his life, San Francisco has been Chuck Prophet’s drug of choice. This singer-songwriter explores the grittier side of life. 7:30pm. $20.
Ben Daniels Band Blind Pig
Chuck Prophet - The Ark
11 wednesday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop
The Whistle Stop Revue Mash Bar
Good old style and brand new tunes, in a eclectic display of bluegrass, blues, rock, country, jazz, and more. 9pm. Free
12 thursday Jazz, Blues & R&B Creole Du Nord University Hospital Courtyard
Creole du Nord’s has a Louisiana sound mixing Zydeco, Cajun, Creole and more. “Down home sound for sawing or two-steppin’ on a sawdust floor.” 12pm. Free
cont, on page 24
ecurrent.com / june 2014 23
music cont, from page 22
13 friday Jazz, Blues & R&B The Sun Messengers Rackham Stage
Making a triumphant return to Top of the Park, this hardhitting eight-piece, horn-driven R&B party band is a southeast Michigan favorite, rocking the Palace at Auburn Hills as the house band for the Detroit Pistons since 1996. 9:30pm. Free
14 saturday Jazz, Blues & R&B Third Coast Kings Rackham Stage
The Third Coast Kings are Ann Arbor’s proper deep funk and soul outfit inspired by the funk groups of the 60′s and 70′s. 9:30pm. Free
15 sunday rock, pop & hip-hop CAKE - Hill Auditorium
Alternative rock-pop sensation of “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” fame, with a killer bass line and a whole lotta groove, CAKE performs as part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. 8pm. $40 - $60.
17 tuesday acoustic, folk & ethnic Dragon Wagon Rackham Stage
Joyfully combining guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, bass, drums, and harmony vocals into “bluegrass folk-rock with a shot of Irish whiskey,” this six-piece has become one of Michigan’s premiere bluegrass outfits. 7pm. Free
19 thursday Rock, Pop & Hip-Hop Laura Rain & The Cesar’s - Mash Bar
A soulful crew of hardworking musicians, with that unmistakable Detroit sound. 10pm. Free
20 friday acoustic, folk & Ethnic The David C. Bloom Lounge Trio Silvio’s Organic Pizza
The trio performs jazz standards and ballads plus retrolounge classics and mashups. 7pm. Free
24
june
2014 / ecurrent.com
21 saturday jazz, blues & R&B Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes Rackham Stage
Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes is a fierce nine-piece R&B collective whose heartwrenching doo-wop will launch you back to an era of ‘60s glamour. 9:30pm. Free
22 sunday acoustic, folk & ethnic
Judy Collins - The Ark
She has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of folksong interpretations and modern themes. 7pm. $75.
26 thursday rock, pop & hip-hop The Rebel Kind Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room
Welcome local band The Rebel Kind, with a sound veering from bubblegum pop to a bit of rock ‘n roll swagger. 7pm. Free
27 friday rock, pop & hip-hop The Ragbirds Rackham Stage
Led by dynamic, energetic front woman and multi-instrumentalist Erin Zindle, The Ragbirds are a fusion of folk rock and pop hooks over danceable world rhythms stirred with a Celtic fiddler’s bow. 8:30pm. Free
28 saturday jazz, blues & R&B
Robert Cray & Mavis Staples - Power Center
In an astonishing double bill of powerhouse blues and roots, legendary blues guitarist Robert Cray and gospel and R&B icon Mavis Staples share the Power Center stage playing individually and performing together for a special night of musical magic. 8pm. $45 - $55.
29 sunday Acoustic, Folk & Ethnic
Chatham County Line The Ark
The Yep Roc label’s Chatham County Line is a Raleigh, North Carolina quartet that mixes traditional, gather-round-themicrophone bluegrass with a love for the tradition-extending acoustic music of John Hartford and The Band. 7:30pm. $15.
film film
John Sayles Comes to Cinetopia The Godfather of Bootstrap Cinema By Nan Bauer
A mammoth collection of personal and career ephemera affords a rare glimpse at the life and work of indie-film pioneer John Sayles. “My name is Carmen. I am an egg carton. I want to tell you the story of my twelve friends, rest their sulfurous souls.” The word “sulfurous” is crossed out, replaced with “sulphurous.” But there’s a big red “A” at the top of the page, as well as the writer’s name, John Sayles, and the date, Nov. 19, 1963. He was 13. Carmen the Carton, which deals with integration, solidarity and loss, is just one of thousands of pieces in the John Sayles archive, recently acquired by the U of M Screen Arts and Cultures Department. “It’s a living collection,” says Phillip Hallman, the Film Studies Field Librarian at the Hatcher Graduate Library. “Sayles is still alive and making movies, and this is an incredible opportunity to see the artist emerging and still in action.” The collection is part of a John Sayles Symposium, a highlight of this year’s Cinetopia festival.
A history of film
Before mumblecore, before Sundance, before the word “indies” entered the lexicon, John Sayles made independent films. In 1979, he scraped together $40K in order to make his directorial debut, Return of the Secaucus Seven. Some say the reunion flick inspired The Big Chill. Critic John Lingan is a little more direct; he refers to Sayles’ movie as “a secret handshake” and the other as “a selfsatisfied slap on the ass.” Sayles’ movies are about as far from self-congratulatory Oscar-baiting as you can get. Over the course of the 18 features he has written and directed, he and his producing partner Maggie Renzi have collaborated on an extraordinarily diverse body of work. Lianna, a story of a woman who recovers her own identity out of a tattered marriage, followed Secaucus. There’s The Brother from Another Planet, which deals with racism in the form of an extraterrestrial, Eight Men Out with the 1919 Black Sox scandal, and Lone Star, which focuses on corruption in Texas. Men with Guns takes place in an unnamed Latin American country and is almost entirely in Spanish. Throw in an Irish fairy
tale, The Secret of Roan Inish, and a scathing portrait of George W., Silver City—and that’s not even half. His one collaboration with a major studio, Baby, It’s You, resulted in a fight over the final cut. Sayles won, but the experience taught him to insist on the final cut from then on, and to make the movies he wanted to make. “He has one foot in the studios, and another way outside of it,” says Hallman. “That’s the common link with Welles and Altman, the other two filmmakers in the archive. None of them have Michigan ties.” The Symposium will also screen some of the director’s films, including Go for Sisters, with Sayles on hand for panel discussions. Mason Daring, who’s mastered idioms across decades and cultures to create evocative film scores, may also be on hand, along with surprise acting guests and Ms. Renzi. “When I discovered John Sayles,” says Hallman, “I saw him as someone I could be like. That’s no different from 20-somethings today. They can be like him if they follow his model, if they have stories they want to tell.” Cintetopia takes place June 4-8 at various places in Ann Arbor and Detroit; the Symposium will occur on June 5, 10am-5pm and June 6 at 7pm. For details, visit cinetopiafestival.org Look for an interview with John online at eccurent.com
Sayles
ecurrent.com / june 2014 25
film
Ann Arbor Summer Fest Cinema to fill your summer evenings.
Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and director of The Avengers hasn't always had the easiest career—in 2002, he created Firefly, a space opera TV series for Fox. The series told the story of a motley crew of space cowboys making a living on victimless crime after fighting on the losing side of an interplanetary civil war. Melding social commentary, grit and whimsy, the show was absolutely brilliant, garnering a feverish fan base… of course Fox cancelled it after one season. Serenity, Whedon's 2005 sci-fi epic, finishes the Firefly story. It features Oscar-Nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) as the villainous Operative. Do yourself a favor—binge on this cult-classic series on Netflix, and then show up to The State Theater for a Midnight screening that will take you into deep space! Saturday, June 21, Midnight. $7. State Theater, 233 S. State St. 734-761-8667. michtheater.org
1 sunday A Will for the Woods
1pm. $10. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. 734-668-8463. michtheater.org
This award-winning documentary focuses on Ann Arbor psychiatrist Clark Wang as he explores the benefits of natural burials, bodies returning to the earth and fortifying the soil.
6 friday Harold and Maude
7pm. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. 734-327-4555. aadl.org Free
This beloved black comedy is the story of a young man (Bud Cort), prone to endlessly stage fake suicides, and his romance
26
june
with Maude, a 79 year-old woman (Ruth Gordon) who he met at a funeral. Their quirky love affair is the foundation for this delightfully dark film. Part of the Sound & Vision Film Series.
15 sunday Going Blind
2pm. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. 734-327-4555. aadl.org Free
Documentary film director and journalist Joe Lovett has glaucoma, a disease that robs 4.5 million people of their vision worldwide. Going Blind interweaves Joe's story, his mission to do what he can to slow his disease through medication and surgeries, with the stories of others whom he looks to for guidance in a darkening world.
2014 / ecurrent.com
Tuesday 17
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Enter a dystopian future and continue on the journey of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in this second installment of The Hunger Games films. Based on the popular trilogy by author Suzanne Collins.
Wednesday 18
North by Northwest Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint star in this classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller about a hapless New York advertising executive who is mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies.
Thursday 19
The Blues Brothers In this comedy cult classic, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd play Jake and Elwood Blues, two men on a mission with only eleven days to put their band back together and make enough money to save the Catholic home where they were raised.
Sunday 22
Despicable Me 2 Reformed criminal mastermind and curmudgeon Gru thought he had left his
Photo by Myra Klarman
See you, space cowboy
old life behind, but all that changes when a secret Antarctic laboratory is stolen and the Anti-Villain League recruits Gru in the investigation in this animated, adventure comedy.
Tuesday 24
When Harry Met Sally Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan star as two old friends with flawless comedic timing and wit. A classic American romantic comedy written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. This film is rated R.
Thursday 26
Spaceballs Mel Brooks’ hilarious 80’s hit spoofs sci-fi classics like Star Wars, Alien, Star Trek, and Planet of the Apes by making puns and visual gags to new heights.
Sunday 29
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Set in Middle-earth sixty years before The Lord of the Rings, and part one of The Hobbit trilogy, director Peter Jackson brilliantly imagines the beginnings of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic, bringing to life the story of Bilbo Baggins and his unexpected journey.
All events will take place at Rackham Stage, 915 E. Washington St. 10pm. 734-994-5999. Visit a2sf.org for a full list of screenings. Free
theater theater Beatrice Carol Gray and Benedick Graham Atkin
All the Forest’s a Stage As You Like It in the Nichols Arboretum Stephen Spiess
For the fourteenth consecutive year, local actors will take to the trees, hills, and dales of Nichols Arboretum, transforming Ann Arbor’s botanical retreat into the courtly and pastoral dreamscapes of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Especially well-suited for outdoor performances, this late Elizabethan comedy (1598-1601) follows the intrepid Rosalind—one of the playwright’s great protagonists—as she flees her uncle’s despotic court to seek asylum and reconciliation in the forests of Arden. Traversing such seemingly divergent landscapes, the play invites consideration of how our urban and rustic worlds interrelate, as well as how one’s social, familial and erotic bonds might be reconfigured through a temporary suspension of everyday rules. These include, of course, gender roles and expectations, and the play derives much of its energy from Rosalind’s adoption of male attire. Disguised as ‘Ganymede,’ a boy famously beloved by men and women alike in classical mythology, Rosalind’s forest persona excites a vast spectrum of desires. Here and elsewhere—including the play’s most memorable set-piece, Jaques’s famed lament that “all the world’s a stage, / and all the men and women merely players”— As You Like It encourages audiences to examine parallels between theatre and “reality,” between identity and performance. To what extent can we escape our daily lives, identities or problems? What new insights are possible through such playful exploration—and how might theatre encourage us to rethink or reshape our environment? For director Katie Mendeloff, who has led ‘Shakespeare in the Arb’ since the program’s inception in 2001, As You Like It appears tailor-made for the “immersive” theatrical experience of the Nichols Arboretum. Drawing upon this unique locale, Mendeloff hopes to construct “a 360 degree reality” for playgoers. Such an approach can prove challenging for actors, however, whether novice or experienced, who “have to stay in character” throughout the entirety of each performance. Lacking an offstage space, cast members – including undergraduates, faculty, alumni, and members of the community – must maintain their theatrical persona for the duration, further extending the boundaries of Shakespeare’s imagined world.
Courtesy Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum
The surrounding world does, at times, rudely intrude. Yet while productions are occasionally “interrupted by helicopters and trains and joggers,” Mendeloff embraces these disruptions as part and parcel of the theatrical experiment. Given the potential for disruption, it is all the more “important that we maintain the illusion of being in that Elizabethan world. That’s the fun for me,” she says, “trying to make it as real as possible, and to people the world with shepherds,” And lovers and rustics and fools, courtiers and wrestlers and goddesses, poets and melancholics and musicians. Indeed, where local musicians have long been a staple of Mendeloff’s productions, often accompanying audiences as they transition between scenes, As You Like It affords an especially prominent place for the vocal and instrumental arts: with five scripted songs in the original playtext, it is a uniquely musical drama in Shakespeare’s canon. Mendeloff hopes to draw upon and add to such musical set pieces, a move that will incorporate “more actors into the performance,” but also highlight how music can function as a medium for personal reflection and social restoration. What, playgoers might ask, do these various songs accomplish? What is their purpose, and how do they relate to the larger questions of disorder, division, and reconciliation at stake in the play? Incessantly traversing across perceived boundaries—urban and rural, male and female, aristocratic and rustic—As You Like It appears ideally suited for performance at Nichols Arboretum. It is, Mendeloff notes, “a play that works beautifully in the Arb, because it’s a play about escaping the autocratic and tyrannical world of the court… and going to the world of the forest, where you have a chance to start over, where people have a sort of harmony with nature, and are free to try on a different sort of persona.” Weather permitting, As You Like It will be performed every Thursday-Sunday, June 5th through the 22nd. Performances start at 6:30 pm, but audiences are encouraged to arrive early. The box office, located at the 1610 Washington Heights entrance, opens at 5 pm. For further information, please visit lsa.umich.edu, or ‘Like’ Shakespeare in the Arb on Facebook. ecurrent.com / june 2014 27
theater 3 tuesday
12 thursday
Sylvia
7pm. Runs through Sunday, June 15. $15/$12, students and seniors/$9 for MainStage patrons. Sponberg Theatre in the Quirk Dramatic Arts Building Eastern Michigan University Campus, Ypsilanti. 419-487-1849. umich.edu/emutheatre
Eastern Michigan University Theatre closes their 2013-2014 Mainstage season with Sylvia, an endearing comedy about a man, his wife, and his dog, by A.R. Gurney. Nominated for a Drama Desk Award this outstanding play is sure to offer audiences a howling good time.
5 thursday Little Shop of Horrors
8pm. 2pm matinees Saturday and Sunday. Runs through Sunday June 8. UM’s Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 N. University St. $25/ $22, seniors/ $13, students. 734-971-2228. 734-971-0605. a2ct.org
In this off-beat musical by the award-winning team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, a down-and-out skid row floral assistant, Seymour, becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood.
Fallen Angels
8pm. 2Pm matinees Wednesdays and Sundays. Wednesdays through Sundays. Runs through Sunday, June 21. $18 general, $12 for students and seniors. The Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsilanti. 734-483-7345. riversideartscenter.com
20th anniversary season continues with Noel Coward’s Fallen Angels - an exuberant, hilarious comedy in three acts, which originally premiered in 1925 starring Tallulah Bankhead.
The Last Romance
Wednesday through Saturday 8pm. Wednesday and Saturday matinee 3pm, Sunday matinee 2pm. $22-42. Purple Rose Theater, 137 Park St., Chelsea. 734-733-7673. purplerosetheatre.org
A crush can make anyone feel young again – even a widower named Ralph, who on an ordinary day in a routine life, decides to take a different path on his daily walk – one that leads him to an unexpected second chance at love. Despite the misgivings of family and the initial reluctance of the object of his affections, Ralph embarks on the trip of a lifetime and regains a happiness that seemed all but lost.
Photo by Greg Gorman
Laugh with Lily
Classic comedian, actress (I Heart Huckabees, Desperate Housewives) and the voice of Ms. Frizzle in the smash hit PBS cartoon The Magic School Bus, Detroit native Lily Tomlin takes to the stage for an unforgettable night of comedy as part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. New stand-up, old clips, and a special Q&A round out the night. Saturday, June 14. 8pm. $35-$55. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
28
june
2014 / ecurrent.com
14 saturday An Evening of Comedy with Lily Tomlin
8pm. $35-$55. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
Classic comedian, actress (I Heart Huckabees, Desperate Housewives) and, incredulously, the voice of Ms. Frizzle in the smash hit 90’s cartoon The Magic School Bus, Detroit native Lily Tomlin takes to the stage for an unforgettable night of comedy as part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.
15 sunday Royal Shakespeare Company Live in HD: Henry IV – Part 1.
7pm. $22. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. 734-668-8463. UMS.org
Royal Shakespeare Company’s Henry IV Part 1 comes alive on the screen as a king in worsening health tries to squelch rebellion and groom his son for succession. michtheater.org
18 wednesday Performance: Annie Sullivan Speaks
7pm. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. 734-327-4555. aadl.org Free
Anne (Annie) Sullivan Macy, presenting an historical and philosophical overview of America’s most famous teacher/student duo.
20 friday Or
8pm and 2pm matinee Sunday. Runs through Sunday, June 22. Only matinee Sunday. $12. Ann Arbor Civic Theatre Studio, 322 W. Ann St. 734-971-2228. a2ct.org
Based on the life of the first female playwright, Aphra Behn, this neo-restoration comedy embraces a counter-culture of free love, cross dressing, and pastoral lyricism that feels as much like the 1960’s as the 1660’s
21 saturday MOMIX: Botanica
8pm. Also Sunday, June 22. $45-$55/ $15 kids 12 and under. Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
For 20 years, MOMIX has been celebrated for its ability to conjure up surrealistic worlds through breathtaking imagery, athletic dance, elaborate costumes, projections, and riveting musical scores. See more below.
Veteran educator, award-winning actress, and motivational speaker Collette Cullen will portray Helen Keller’s teacher,
Fantasia Meets Cirque du Soleil
Photo by Max Pucciariello
Springtime comes alive as MOMIX presents dance theater at its finest: Botanica. Watch in wonder as human form takes shape in celebration of nature, with dancers blossoming into flora and miming the movements of animals, some seemingly not of this world. MOMIX has been presenting fantastical theater for 20 years and promises two spectacular nights at this year’s Ann Arbor Summer Festival. Saturday, June 21 & Sunday, June 22. 8pm. $45-$55/ $15 kids 12 and under. Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
artbeat Sweet Memories By Louis Meldman
The Empire
Through June 29, The University of Michigan Museum of Art features another one of its nonpareil exhibitions that is as interesting to historians as it is to art lovers: “An Eye On the Empire.” The Empire, of course, was the British Empire, over which the sun never set. The jewel in the Empire’s crown, was India. This show is devoted to the photographic documentation of the British experience in India and Egypt in the late 19th century, an era that witnessed both the epitome of Victorian grandeur and the emergence of photography, its technical and artistic aspects. The land and culture of India has always seduced its conquerors. For two centuries the Moguls, descendents of Genghis Kahn, lived in devotion to art and luxury, which became central to Indian consciousness, producing such marvels as the Taj Mahal. In the middle of the 18th century the British arrived, were hypnotized by what they found, and were no less amazed after subduing the entire continent within a few years. By the late 1800s – the years in which the exhibit is set – India was crisscrossed by railroads, governed by a Victorian civil service right out of
R.I.P. Gary Grimshaw
Not long ago Gary Grimshaw died, at 67, after a protracted illness. He was one of America’s most successful and beloved psychedelic rock poster and album cover artists, flourishing in the mid-to-late 1960s and 70s. His work is enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in the memories of a generation. The Detroit Free Press named him one of “Michigan’s 100 Greatest Artists of the 20th Century.” Grimshaw grew up in downriver Detroit and was best high school buds with Rob Tyner and Wayne Kramer who would form the MC5 – remember them? After a Navy gig in Vietnam he stopped in San Francisco and took in the psychedelic scene and aesthetic at the Fillmore Theater and Avalon Ballroom. Detroit’s answer to that scene was the Grande Ballroom. It had the MC5 as house band and Grimshaw as house poster (and light show) artist. He did posters for the likes of Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Canned Heat – all the biggies. I was at the Canned Heat show and one other one. I can’t remember who it was because I spent the night puking in the filthy men’s room after the guys who drove had me chug a bottle of Robitussin cough syrup to get “high.” Ah, misspent youth! The MC5’s manager was John Sinclair. He formed the
, Boorhaupore - From . Francis Frith, Musjid 9–70,t, University of Frith Series, circa 185 Art Michigan Museum of
Statue by morial Well, The Marble m of Art seu Samuel Bourne, The Me Mu an hig Mic iversity of Marochetti, 1864, Un
artart
Downton Abbey, and swarming with nouveau riche tourists hungry for a glimpse of living, breathing exotica. And where there are tourists there are photographers. But the photographers were soon overwhelmed by the native architecture, flora, fauna and humanity and they set about capturing it with equipment and techniques that had existed for less than a decade. The results, as you will see, are dazzling. For me, it’s not the Taj and other classics that we’ve seen a hundred times, but the more ancient Hindu structures that I never knew existed.
The Photographers
Two of the photographers featured in the show are Francis Frith and Samuel Bourne, each of whom established studios in England that are functioning to this day. Frith, who died in 1898, was most noted for his visual documentation of the Nile Valley. Bourne is most remembered for nearly 2,200 precise images of the terrain and architecture in India and the Himalayas taken from 1863 to 1870. They make our Civil War-era photos from the same years look rather pathetic. Bourne lived until 1912, just missing the Great War that led to the demise of his beloved Empire and way of life. White Panther Party, based in Ann Arbor, with Grimshaw as the Minister of Art. In 1971 Sinclair was caught with two joints and sentenced to ten years in prison. Grimshaw did the iconic poster for the John Sinclair Freedom Rally at Crisler Arena. The lineup included John Lennon – remember him? – and caterwauling Yoko Ono, Phil Ochs, “Little Stevie” Wonder, and Bob Seger. Speakers included were poet Allen Ginsberg, Black Panthers founder, Bobby Seale, “Yippie” anti-Vietnam War agitator, Jerry Rubin, and Students for a Democratic Society organizer Rennie Davis, one of the “Chicago Seven.” Sinclair was released almost immediately. Rest in peace, Grimshaw. And don’t forget to kick out the jams. ecurrent.com / june 2014 29
art
Beloved Beasts
From the Chauvet caves of Southern France to the anthropomorphization of dogs in C.M. Coolidge’s Dogs Playing Poker (originally commissioned by ad-men in 1903 to sell cigars), a fascination with animals has always been reflected in art. And for that fascination, curator and sculptor Marcia Polenberg has named Clay Gallery's spring show For the Love of Animals. Ten Michigan artists were invited to interpret creatures from the animal kingdom using various media. The results create a diverse and thought-provoking show that features large scale installations. Paintings depicting animals hang throughout the gallery. Runs through Monday, June 16. Gallery hours: Monday-Thursday 12-8pm | Friday-Saturday 12-9pm | Sunday 12-5pm. Clay Gallery, 335 S. Main St.(734) 662-7927. claygallery.org—JMT
6 friday Opening ReceptionRevelations: An Artist Interpretation 5-7pm. Riverside Arts Center Gallery , 76 N. Huron St., Ypsilanti. 734-478-5416. riversidearts.org
Iron and Wine Tribute
1 sunday Engaging with Art Tours
1-2pm.UMMA, 525 S. State St. 734-764-0395. umma.umich.edu Free
This breathtaking feminist exhibit is presented by the Women’s Caucus for the Arts. Runs through Saturday, June 28.
7 saturday
Each Sunday, UMMA visitors enjoy a docent-guided tour through museum exhibits for added insight to each artist’s work. Through June 29.
Opening ReceptionGreenfield Village: Up Close
Sarah Clark Davis Artist Talk
Katherine Downie explores Henry Ford’s amazing outdoor museum through close-up images of the Village’s hidden treasures. A mix of photographs and watercolor, the show pulls viewers in to look at small details often passed over. Runs through Monday, June 30.
2-3pm. Dancing Dog Gallery, 302 E. Liberty St. 734-531-6565. dancingdoggallery.biz
Founding member of Dancing Dog Gallery, painter Sara Clark Davis discusses her new exhibit Drop the Plum.
30
june
2-4pm. My Favorite Café, 101 S. Ann Arbor St., Saline. 734-944-2787. twotwelvearts.org
2014 / ecurrent.com
8 sunday
18 wednesday
Go Green: Buy Handmade
Spontaneous Art at Top of the Park
Featuring artists who reduce, reuse and recycle, view and purchase some incredible “green” art by incredible local artists.
Hear talking flowers tell surrealist, Wonderland-like stories. Play hilarious games with alien robots. Ann Arbor’s urban intervention specialists Spontaneous Art create interactive performances that bring bystanders together for moments of communal laughter, social connectivity and flashes of creativity.
11am-4pm. The Sunday Artisan Market, 315 Detroit St. 734-913-9622. artisanmarket.org
13 friday David Zinn
5pm. South Ingalls Mall , 915 E. Washington St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org Free
David Zinn’s clever work is known around the world and can be found in book illustrations and educational cartoons. Watch David create original works of trompe l’oeil at various times on the streets and sidewalks around Top of the Park at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.
6pm. South Ingalls Mall, 915 E. Washington St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org Free
Lights.Up: Myra Klarman Exhibit 7pm. Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org Free
One of Ann Arbor’s most celebrated portrait photographers, Klarman’s new exhibition, Lights.Up, offers a visually arresting look at the faces, places, and special moments that make up the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.
Architects of Air: Miracoco
2:30-9pm. $10. Palmer Field, Washtenaw Ave. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
Miracoco is a glorious amalgam of engineering, technology, science, and art. Bring the whole family to experience this visual wonder, a walk-through inflatable luminarium where visitors of all abilities can encounter light and color in their phenomenal beauty. 2:30-9pm through June 21. Sunday, June 22: 1-7pm.
25 wednesday Spontaneous Art at Top of the Park
6pm. South Ingalls Mall, 915 E. Washington St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org Free
Hear talking flowers tell surrealist, Wonderland-like stories. Play hilarious games with alien robots. Ann Arbor’s urban intervention specialists Spontaneous Art create interactive performances that bring bystanders together for moments of communal laughter, social connectivity and flashes of creativity.
Ongoing:
Robots Are People: Found Object Assemblage
University Hospital Main Corridor: Floor 2, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr. 734-936-2787. med.umich.edu/goa Free
Robots are not people but they are pieces of metal and kitchen appliances sculpted into being
by mastermind artist Cre Fuller. Through Monday, June 9.
Michigan Ridges & Valleys: Acrylic on Canvas
University Hospital Main Lobby: Floor 1, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr. 734-936-2787. med.umich.edu/ goa Free
Landscape paintings by artist and art teacher Rachel Van Dyke, interpreting the Michigan countryside with harsh lines, organic shapes and thoughtful strokes of color. Through Monday, June 9.
K-12 Group Show
Taubman Health Center: North & South Lobbies Floor 1, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr. 734-936-2787. med.umich.edu/goa Free
Ann Arbor Public Schools present 2-D and 3-D mixed media art by K-12 students. Through Monday, June 9.
Francesc Burgos
WSG Gallery, 306 S. Main St. 734-761-2287. wsg-art.com Free
Attend the solo show featuring renowned artist, Francesc Burgos’s clean architectural ceramic work. Through Saturday, June 14.
The Print
Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 734-994-8004. annarborartcenter.org Free
This exhibition, 32 years in the making, explores how printmaking has evolved showcasing traditional to contemporary media asking the questionwhat is print today?Through Sunday, June 22.
An Eye on the Empire: Photographs of Colonial India and Egypt
UMMA, 525 S. State St. 734.764.0395. umma.umich.edu Free
Colonial conceptions of Egypt and India, are preserved. In this exhibition, a selection of works by leading photographers of the era. Through Sunday, June 29. See more on pg 28.
Blue World/Green World: Fiber Art
Comprehensive Cancer Center: Floor 1, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr. 734-936-2787. med.umich.edu/goa Free
Members of the Fiber Arts Association display surrealistic visions in fiber art that reflect the world in which we live. Through Monday, August 11.
For the Love of Animals
Houses, Landscapes, Flowers & Dreams: Painting & Poetry
Everyone loves animals. See this mixed-media show of ten seasoned artist’s interpretations of the animal kingdom. Through Monday, June 16.
Paintings are poetry on canvas and poems are spoken art. Combining the two reflects a
Clay Gallery, 335 S. Main St. 734-665-2621. claygallery.org Free
University Hospital Main Corridor: Floor 2, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr. 734-936-2787. med.umich.edu/goa Free
art greater union, of nature and humanity. Through Monday, August 11.
My Healing Art: Ink Drawings
Taubman Health Center: North Lobby Floor 1, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr. 734-936-2787. med.umich.edu/goa Free
During her recovery from thyroid cancer, Zahrah Resh began drawing circular abstracts, finding it calming, as well as healing. She now shares these personal works of art. Through Monday, August 11.
Firenation: An Odyssey in Cast & Blown Glass
Taubman Health Center: North Lobby Floor 1, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr.,34-936-2787. umich.edu/goa Free
Beautifully hand-crafted glass abstracts by Ohio/Michigan artist Matthew J. Paskiet. Through Monday, August 11.
Moments of Clarity: Oil On Board Taubman Health Center: South Lobby Floor 1, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr. 734-994-5999. med.umich.edu/goa Free
Influences in Impressionism, German Expressionism and Cubism, bring ordinary objects to life in vibrant oil works. Through Monday, August 11.
ecurrent.com / june 2014 31
art art
Trevor King’s Fine Art
From Ceramics to the Demolition Derby Interview with Trevor King
By Meade Bailey Trevor King is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative practice is fundamentally grounded in sculpture. A son of the Pennsylvania rust belt, King’s work delves into themes of identity, the passage of time, and personal narrative. Meade Bailey: Why don't we begin by you telling me why you came to Ann Arbor, and what you found appealing here as an artist over other parts of the U.S.? Trevor King: I came to Ann Arbor for the MFA program at the University of Michigan. I was looking for an interdisciplinary program where I would be able to work in a variety of mediums and processes. This school has a lot of great resources, facilities, and equipment to work with. And this might seem like a small comment, but since I've been working here I have found it to be a really great place to make a lot of different kinds of work, there are a lot of helpful fabricators around, like Plastic Tech for example, who I've worked with a bit. How do you think your work has changed as a result of being here? I feel like I’ve been able to experiment with scale. The program has supported me in a way where I could really invest in something, and not have to worry about risk/failure, and I think both of those things can teach you a lot. That’s an interesting perspective, and I think one of the reasons I wanted to speak with you. I recently heard about a performance you did where you entered the demolition derby. Could you tell me a little bit more about this project? Certainly. The goal of the project was to make a sculpture of a demolition derby car, and rather than clay or bronze another traditional sculpting material, I decided to use a 1980 Ford Fairmont as the material, and the derby as the process. I think the work can be understood in several ways, at least I hope. In some ways I feel like it raises questions about conventions in art making. From another really direct perspective, I was fascinated with deconstructing the meaning of the demolition derby itself. I see them as events where machismo, violence, fragility and mortality are all
32
june
2014 / ecurrent.com
conflated, in both physical and metaphorical means. I like these paradoxical relationships. At the center of the work was the transformation for the car. I think what I was looking at was just how we are affected by time. And how did you do? Did you win? Hahaha, no. I lost big time. My attitude going in was that if you have an old car, you could make only the most necessary changes to it, and run it in a derby to give it a valiant death. That was not how the competition approached the event. Folks around here take derbying seriously. Do you take the derby seriously? Or are you outside the event? I take it seriously, but I was naive. One thing about this work was that I decided, if I was going to do something that is considered a performance piece, I wanted it to be on the terms of the everyday. In that way I wanted it to involve real hope, and real risk. I am not a seasoned gearhead, but I was severely disappointed in my performance. This became important later in the video documentation, which is a part of the way I exhibit the work. The film is a two channel projection, a view inside the car, and a spectators view from the stands. It can be seen as a modern day flight of Icarus. So, will you compete again? I haven’t decided yet. The car still runs, and it’s been parked behind my studio. I hear it whispering to me, but I’m not sure. I don’t know what that would mean for the work. Hmmm. I think I understand. What other opportunities do you you think you’ve received as a result of being in Ann Arbor? My formal training is in ceramics, and I’ve found that there is a great clay culture here. There are always provocative thinkers coming through Ann Arbor. Last week I met Heman Chong, a great curator and artist. Last fall I had dinner with Antony Gormley, one of my art heroes, and now I’m get preparing to go work for him this summer in London. Are there many students like yourself working in clay in addition to more large scale performances? Are most of your classmates, as you say, interdisciplinary? There are students working in a variety of mediums and academic disciplines. One of my colleagues is heavily invested in both painting and law. Wow! That’s very unusual. Do you imagine you will stay in Washtenaw county after you complete your degree? It seems like it has been good to you. It has been good to me, but in the life of an artist nothing is ever fixed. We’ll see what opportunities arise. I certainly would not mind spending more time here. Look for the full interview online at eccurent.com
current reads The Ann Arbor Book Festival
This year’s festival offers a glimpse at new trends in book culture in Ann Arbor. By Russ Brakefield
The demise of Borders is not a new story, nor is the recent revitalization of independent book culture in Ann Arbor and across the country. According to the American Booksellers Association, over forty-one independent bookstores opened nationally last year, while larger chain stores continued to close. Three of those stores opened in Washtenaw County: Bookbound and Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor and Blackstone Bookstore in Ypsilanti. Through all the changes, the Ann Arbor Book Festival continues to play an important role in the literary community. Their struggles and triumphs over the last ten years mirror the changes, and perhaps the future, of book culture in Ann Arbor. This year’s festival takes place June 18, 19 and 20. In addition to the annual writing conference, the festival will feature a moonlight book crawl and a public street fair.
Reinvention
“For a long time the festival had a lot of support from the University, Shaman Drum, Borders, and the Ann Arbor News,” said Jamie Vander Broek, AABF board member. “And things changed with all of those organizations really fast, all at once, so the festival really had to reinvent itself.” Vander Broek attributes the recent success of the festival to the inventiveness of the programming and to the awareness of the changes in the demands of the community. “We’re experimenting with new ideas like the moonlight book crawl, and we discovering that these ideas are reaching a larger audience.” Last year’s book crawl saw writers read their work at local venues across town including Bill’s Beer Garden and Nicola’s Books. “We had a good-sized crowd,” said Scott Beal, Pushcart Prize-winning poet who read outside at Babo Market. “At one point someone walking by on the street stopped and interrupted, but then he hung around and listened before heading on his way.” For the organizers, one of their goals for the festival is to reach people where they already are. “I think the informality and pop-up nature of those experiences really does mirror what is happening in town,” said Vander Broek. “For bigger chains the bottom fell out, and these newer things are popping up in their place.” This year’s book crawl will take place on Friday night with readings and performances from fiction writers as
Sedariously.
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and get to Literati Bookstore; mastermind of social satire, David Sedaris is coming. Known for his essays in The New Yorker, his presence on This American Life and his collection of pseudo-autobiographical books, Sedaris is one of the most talented contemporary humorists around and an inspiration to self-involved writers everywhere. Buy a copy of his latest paperback, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, on June 3 at Literati, and you’ll get a ticket to his reading there on June 11. An open-to-thepublic book signing will follow the ticketed reading. Wednesday, June 11. 5pm. Literati Bookstore, 124 E. Washington St. 734-585-5567. literatibookstore.com—MW
well as award-winning poets. Attendees can look forward to hearing live performances in a number of places around town including Seva, Vault of Midnight, and Arbor Brewing Company.
Expanding the Audience
Organizers have reintroduced a public street fair for years a staple of the festival, on Saturday from 1-3pm on William St. between Fourth and Fifth Ave. featuring local vendors, readings and spoken word performances providing one-on-one experiences with local authors, booksellers, and small presses. “We are doing a lot of thinking about what we want of our literary culture,” said Vander Broek. For those interested in developing their own writing skills, the AABF’s writer’s conference, the centerpiece to the two-day event, takes place all day Saturday in the Hatcher Graduate Library. The conference includes lunch and a keynote address by Mardi Jo Link, author of the memoir Bootsrapper: from Broke to Badass on a Northern Michigan Farm. From her farm in Traverse City, Link expressed her excitement for the festival. “For the keynote I’ll probably talk about the ridiculous way I got published,” said Link, whose memoir was released in paperback in April. “Every writer who has some success has an ‘it’s nuts’ story and I’d like to tell mine. It’s a story that I would have liked to have heard from someone when I was trying to get published.” Link will also lead a workshop on memoir writing. “I want to talk about what it is about someone’s personal story that makes it interesting to a complete stranger” said Link. “Anne Lamott talks about everyone having their one personal acre. I could write for the rest of my life about my one acre, my one environment here in Michigan,” said Link, when asked about what it means to be a writer in Michigan. As the literary culture in Ann Arbor shades slowly back towards its own little acre, new opportunities arise, new audiences present themselves, and new voices emerge. This year’s Ann Arbor Book Festival offers a way for readers and writers to embrace the rich literary community here in southeast Michigan. “If everyone could do that,” added Link “it might go a long way towards our appreciation of what Michigan means, what our geography really offers us.” Ann Arbor Book Fair, June 19-21, Events details at aabookfestival.org.
Who’s your daddy?
You've got to love a good story, and in Ann Arbor, The Moth StorySLAM is one of the best places to get one… or ten. Popularized by NPR, The Moth offers people a platform to tell exciting, touching and insightful true stories. Moth events frequently feature published authors, so expect the local literati to show up in full force. This month’s StorySLAM's theme is Fathers—show up with your own story related to the theme, and put your name in the hat. Ten lucky storytellers will have five minutes apiece to wow the audience and judges with a true story riffing on the theme. Tuesday, June 17. 6pm. $8. Circus, 210 S. First St. 734-913-8890. themoth.org—JS
ecurrent.com / june 2014 33
current reads Local Reads
Tuesday 3
Reed Farrel Coleman Book Signing
7pm. Aunt Agatha’s , 213 S. Fourth Ave. 734-769-1114. auntagathas.com Free
Meet award winning private eye author, Reed Farrel Coleman when he signs his latest (and final) Moe Prager mystery, The Hollow Girl.
wednesday 4 Lani Kwon
5:30pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tearoom, 114 S. Main St. 734-665-2757. crazywisdom.net Free
7pm. Literati Bookstore , 124 E. Washington St. 734-585-5567. literatibookstore.com Free
MAIL YOUR CHECK AND WORK TO:
Fiction & Poetry Contest/Adams Street Publishing 3003 Washtenaw Ave. Suite #3 Ann Arbor, MI 48103
SUBMIT DIGITAL ENTRIES,
including contact information, to Brandon Bye at brandon@adamsstreetpublishing.com. Checks mailed separately.
ALL ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JULY 11, 2014
First and second place winners of Current’s Poetry and Fiction Contest will be published in the September 2014 issue and published online at www.ecurrent.com A panel of the local literati will judge submissions in each category.
34
june
2014 / ecurrent.com
Richard Sheridan Reading & Book Signing
7pm. Literati Bookstore, 124 E. Washington St. 734-585-5567. literatibookstore.com Free
7pm. Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave. 734-662-0600. nicolasbooks.com Free
Leslie Stainton Reading
SUBMIT A $10 ENTRY FEE WITH EACH STORY OR POEM.
monday 16
Book Club- Noir at the Bar
monday 9
(entries not following the guidelines will not be considered) Writers may submit up to but no more than two unpublished poems (must fit on a single page, approx. 32 lines) and one unpublished story (word count: 2,000). Mailed-in submissions should be printed in 12-point font with the title on each page. Judges from last year’s contest are not eligible to enter this year’s contest. Employees of Adams Street Publishing are not eligible to enter the contest. Fill in your name and contact information on the entry form above and submit with your piece.
A poetry workshop hosted by Joe Kelty, Ed Morin, and Dave Jibson. All writers welcome to share— bring six copies of pieces to be reviewed.
Joy, Inc. offers readers an inside look at Sheridan’s belief system about making healthier, happier office atmospheres while fostering dignity and respect.
Crime novel, The Rage, by Gene Kerrigan, will keep you on the edge of your seat with discussion topics ready at the tip of your tongue. Registration required.
Name: _______________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Email: _______________________________________________ Phone: ______________________________________________ Type of submission: ________________________________ Title of entry: _______________________________________ GUIDELINES:
7pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tearoom, 114 S. Main St. 734-665-2757. crazywisdom.net Free
Book signing and talk with Lani Kwon, author of The Creating CoPOWERment Workbook: Embracing the Power of Positive Psychology, Healing Stories and Explorations to Create the Life You Want. 6:30pm. The Quarter Bistro, 300 S. Maple St. 734-662-0600. nicolasbooks.com Free
SUBMIT ENTRIES OF POETRY AND FICTION FOR A CHANCE TO SEE YOUR NAME ON THE BYLINE.
An Evening of Poetry and Written Word
Local author Leslie Stainton reads from and discusses her most recent work, Staging Ground: An American Theater and Its Ghosts.
tuesday 10
Ann Arbor author Bethany Neal
7pm. Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave. 734-662-0600. nicolasbooks.com Free
Ann Arbor author Bethany Neal will launch her debut young adult novel, My Last Kiss. Cassidy Haines’ last kiss—the one she shared with someone at her seventeenth birthday party on the night she died—is a blur.
wednesday 11
David Sedaris Reading & Book Signing
5pm. Literati Bookstore, 124 E. Washington St. 734-585-5567. literatibookstore.com
Purchase Sedaris’s new book June 3 for a chance at a ticket to the reading; signing open to public. Humorist David Sedairs shares a bit about the world the world in which we live. See pg 33 for more.
tuesday 17
Washtenaw Literacy
Washtenaw Literacy will be holding an orientation meeting for anyone interested in becoming a tutor for adults who have difficulty with reading and writing. No experience is required and training will be provided. Katherine B. Soper
7pm. Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave. 734-662-0600. nicolasbooks.com Free
Local author Katherine B. Soper will be discussing and signing her book Steps Out of Time: One Woman’s Journey on the Camino. Katherine Soper left behind her busy professional life, her cell phone, and her family to walk five hundred miles across northern Spain.
friday 20
Joelle Charbonneau
7pm. Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave. 734-662-0600. nicolasbooks.com Free
Young adult author Joelle Charbonneau will be at Nicola’s Books with Graduation Day, book three of the Testing trilogy.
saturday 21 Karen Dionne
2pm. Aunt Agatha’s , 213 S. Fourth Ave. 734-769-1114. auntagathas.com Free
Author Karen Dionne launches her original novel, The Killing: Uncommon Denominator, based on the AMC series and set 10 months before the series begins. Cake will be served in celebration.
everything else Peace and Love 2014
L.A. Cafe / Saturday, June 7 & Sunday, June 8
Celebrate creativity, love and acceptance with art, friends, music and food? Yes please. For two days, enjoy a serene atmosphere with a variety of activities and events at The 6th Annual PeaceFest Art, Music and Food Truck Festival. The food truck lineup: Jaques Tacos, Shimmy Shack, Rollin Stone Wood Fired Pizza and Treat Dreams. This year’s featured artist Jim Hendin, famous for his Motown photography and prints, will be on site and ready to talk about the good ‘ol days of soul and rock n’roll. Saturday June 7, 11am & Sunday, June 8, ending at 3. L.A. Cafe, 5815 & 1/2 Dixie Highway, Waterford. 248-623-1648. Visit on Facebook at PEACEFEST Art and Music & Food Truck Festival 2014.
The Running Rainbow Saturday, June 21 / Riverside Park
The Color Run, “The Happiest 5k on the Planet,” makes its vibrant return to Ypsilanti for another explosion of color and celebration. The race caters to runners of all levels- from couch potatoes to seasoned athletes. Historically, more than half of the participants are first-time 5K runners. Come dressed in all white and hop, skip or dance your way through 5 kilometers of color zones (literal explosions of paint) toward the Finish Festival, presenting music, dancing, more color blasts, and eventually, cleaning stations. Registration required. Individual runner, $50/Team of 4+ runners, $45. 8am. Riverside Park, 515 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti. 855-MOCOLOR. thecolorrun.com —MLR
ONGOING: Wednesdays Music Trivia
8:30pm. Conor O’Neill’s, 318 S. Main St. 734-665-2968. conoroneills.com
Not your average trivia night, Conor O’Neill’s quizzes you on all things music.
Thursdays
Pittsfield Township Farmers Market
3-7pm. Pittsfield Township Farmers Market, 6201 W. Michigan Ave. 734-822-3152.
A weekly summer market that features local and regional food and agricultural businesses, artisans and entertainers. Fun for the whole family.
Sundays
Sunday for the Sunset
The Yellow Barn , 416 W. Huron St. ouryellowbarn.com Free
Come for the sunset. Bring your instruments and pot luck food. This event honors community, music, art, food and friendship.
Kempf House Museum Guided Tours
1-4pm. Kempf House Museum, 312 S. Division St. 734-994-4898. kempfhousemuseum.org Free
Visit this 1853 Greek Revival home of German-American musicians Reuben and Pauline Kempf. See Victorian period furnishings, including an 1877 Steinway piano, the first grand in Ann Arbor.
1 sunday Fly Fishing Lessons
8:30am-5pm. $25-$40. Gallup Park, 3172 Gallup Park Rd. hrwc.org
Experienced instructors teach casting, knot tying, fly identifi-
cation and entomology. Rods, flies, instruction books and snacks provided. Bring a pair of polarized sunglasses and a folding lawn chair, then sit back and enjoy. Two sessions: 8:30am-Noon and 1-5pm. Registration required.
Translplant Center 50th Anniversary Celebration
1-5pm. Crisler Arena, 333 E. Stadium Blvd. 734-232-0594. umofmhealth.org Free
Join the 50th anniversary celebration of the first life-saving transplant at U of M hospital. Patients, medical providers, families and community members gather to hear speakers and celebrate life- with ice cream.
2 monday Stromatolites Exhibit Opening
9am-5pm. Museum of Natural History, 1109 Geddes Ave. 734-764-0478. lsa.umich.edu/ummnh Free
Pond scum: gross or fascinating? For over two billion years, cyanobacteria colonies, called stromatolites, were the dominant form of life on Earth. A new display, Michigan: Cradle of Life, features the work of Prof. Nathan Sheldon and his fossil stromatolite specimens.
5 thursday Take a Hike
7-8:30pm. Parking lot north of Argo Canoe Livery, Longshore Dr. 734327-8301. aadl.org Free
For World Environment Day, take a gorgeous hike at Argo Nature Area, a 22-acre park on the east side of the Huron River.
7 saturday Bird Walk
7:30-9:30am. Gallup Park: Paddleboat Dock, Gallup Park Rd. 734-794-6627. a2gov.org/NAP Free
Join City Ornithologist Dea Armstrong on a morning bird walk for all ages.
African American Downtown Festival
9am-9pm. Kerrytown, N. Fourth and Ann St. 734-858-9121
Crafts, merchandise, food, kids’ activities, musical, theatrical and dance performances in celebration of African American arts & culture in the Ann Arbor community.
Ann Arbor Derby Dimes
5pm. $12-15/ Free for kids 12 and under. Buhr Park, 2751 Packard Rd. 734-747-1785. a2derbydimes.org
Head over to beautiful Buhr Park and see fast paced, full contact roller derby action from your local league, Ann Arbor Derby Dimes.
8 sunday 2 Million Dogs Puppy Up Fundraiser
11am. Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Road. puppyupannarbor.kintera.org
Register yourself or your team to walk in support of canine cancer research. Bring your pup and enjoy the day.
10 tuesday Stewards’ Circle: Pollinators and Ecological Restoration
7:30-8:30am. Bruegger’s Bagels, 709 N. University Ave. stewardshipnetwork.org Free
There are simple steps that can be taken to provide
valuable nesting sites for pollinators and other insects essential to Michigan’s natural ecosystems. Join the Stewardship Network’s Huron Arbor cluster for an informal discussion about Pollinators and Ecological Restoration.
13 friday Green Fair
6-9pm. Downtown Ann Arbor. a2gov. org
Exhibits promoting local environmental groups, products and concerns. Clean Energy Expo, alternative fuel vehicles, live music, organic fare and great activities for children.
18 wednesday Backyard Beauties
10am-Noon. $5. U of M Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1600 Washington Heights. lsa.umich.edu/mbg
Kids, parents and insect lovers of all ages take a bug safari to learn about some of the insect pollinators you might find in your own back yard.
Washtenaw Wanderers Monthly Meeting
7pm. REI, 970 W. Eisenhower Pkwy. ava.org Free
Washtenaw Wanderers Walking Club hosts its monthly meeting for walking enthusiasts. Join for fun, fitness and friendship.
cont, on page 36
ts More event online a m .co ecurrent
ecurrent.com / june 2014 35
everything else
road trip Women Who Rock
The Henry Ford / May 17 - August 17
Aretha demanded some RE-S-P-E-C-T. Joan Jett didn’t give a damn about her “Bad Reputation.” Even the Spice Girls climbed up on their platform shoes and declared girl power. Experience the groundbreaking history of Women Who Rock with this collection of over 250 rock icons, from Joan Jett’s black leather jacket to Chrissie Hynde’s (The Pretenders) blue Fender, Carol King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” sheet music, handwritten lyrics by Janis Joplin and Lady Gaga’s meat dress. 9:30am-5pm. $17; $15 seniors; $12.50 kids. Free for members and kids 4 and under. Runs through August 17. The Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn. 313982-6001. thehenryford.org
Jeff Tweedy
The Jack White Theatre / Thursday, June 5
Well-known Wilco frontman, veteran of the Ann Arbor Folk Festival and modern legend Jeff Tweedy comes to Detroit to perform at The Jack White Theatre, formerly known as the Masonic Temple. An intimate and acoustic affair, the show presents Tweedy in all his glory, telling stories between songs, “trying to break your heart” with a blend of Wilco tunes and solo ditties. 8pm. $35-$70. The Jack White Theatre, 2nd Blvd. & Temple Ave., Detroit. 313-638-2764. ticketmaster.com
cont. from page 35
19 thursday Fundamentals of Starting a Business & Writing a Business Plan 6-8pm. Cleary University, 3601 Plymouth Rd. 734-929-9091. annarborscore.com
Business plans are important to help you set goals, determine resources needed to carry out your plan and foresee problems. Learn the fundamentals: Executive Summary, Business Description, Marketing, Operations, Management, Sales and Financials. Free
21 saturday Monarch Butterfly Conservation Kickoff 1-3pm. $10/ $38 per family. Leslie Science & Nature Center, 1831 Traver Rd. lesliesnc.org
best of wash. party 36 june 2014 / ecurrent.com
Be there at the beginning to prepare for raising Monarch caterpillars, the first step toward the spectacular Monarch Butterfly Migration Festival in September. Games and activities, fun for all ages. Registration required.
Women’s Leadership Day 8am. $90. U of M Ross School of Business, 701 Tappan Ave. abwamaia.org
Senator Rebekah Warren speaks at this fundraising event for the American Business Women’s Association promoting the personal and professional success of women in the Ann Arbor community. Lunch included.
28 saturday Video Interviews: Lights, Camera, Action! 11am-4pm. Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room, 343 S. 5th Ave.734-327-4555. aadl.org Free
A veritable show and tell, talk about your favorite book, movie, magazine or science tool from the library on film and get a chance to see your video on aadl.org. All ages welcome.
Great American Backyard Campout
4pm-10am. $50 campsite. Leslie Science & Nature Center, 1831 Traver Rd. lesliesnc.org
Pitch your tent with LSNC’s resident raptors and critters. Be part of a nationwide event featuring nature-based programs, campfires, breakfast & dinner and more. All ages. Registration required.
health events 3 tuesday
22 sunday
7:30-9pm. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center: Exhibition Room, 5305 Elliott Dr., Ypsilanti. 734-485-8725. teensusingdrugs.org Free
5pm. Power Center Lawn, 121 Fletcher St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org Free
Teens Using Drugs: What To Know
Informational session on understanding substance abuse problems and how to recognize when a young person may be harmfully involved with alcohol or other drugs. Also on May 10. Quit Tobacco Program
11am-Noon. 2025 Traverwood Dr., Ste. A3. 734-998-6222. mhealthy. umich.edu/tobacco Free
Day one of this six-week tobacco treatment group, offered by U of M covers preparing to quit, how quitting affects your body, tobacco treatment medications, setting a quit date, how to live free of tobacco, and relapse prevention. Registration required. Raw Foods: Traveling in the Raw
7-8:30pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tearoom, 114 S. Main St. 734-2120010. peoplesfood.coop Free
Ellen Livingston will share tips for staying raw and healthy on the road and away from home. Regitration required.
17 tuesday
Herbal Wisdom: Women’s Cycles and the Transition to Menopause
7-8:30pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tearoom, 114 S. Main St. 734-1210010. peoplesfood.coop Free
Linda Diane Feldt believes nourishing herbs can address problematic symptoms and help your body stay strong, healthy and balanced through the transition into menopause. Using infusions, tinctures, food and more you can start with remedies that are safe, inexpensive, common and simple. Relapse Prevention
7:30-9pm. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center, 5305 Elliott Dr., Ypsilanti. 734-485-8725. dawnfarm.org/ programs/education-series Free
This program discusses the dynamics of relapse, signs that may forewarn of relapse, how to develop a relapse prevention plan and strategies to handle high-risk situations.
18 wednesday
Community Vinyasa Yoga 3:30-5pm. Traverwood Branch Library: Program Room, 3333 Traverwood Dr. 734-327-8301. aadl.org Free
Yoga is a fun way to gain strength, flexibility and balance, while decreasing stress and tension. Come learn some of the basics of the Vinyasa style of yoga, which integrates breath with movement. Also on May 21, 10:30am-noon.
everything else health
Retreat: Hula Hoop Fitness with Diva Hoops
Learn foundational moves, increase your balance, open your upper back and torso and get a great cardio workout with hula hooper Tonji Zimmerman of Diva Hoops.
24 tuesday
The Physiology of Addiction
7:30-9pm. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center, 5305 Elliott Dr., Ypsilanti. 734-485-8725. dawnfarm.org/ programs/education-series Free
Explore the differences in neurochemistry between the addicted brain and the normal brain, the progression of physiological changes that occur in chemically dependent individuals, the mechanisms of physiologic tolerance and withdrawal and the effects of treatment on the addicted brain.
25 wednesday
The Caregiver Sandwich
6-7pm. Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor, 2010 Hogback Rd. 734-975-2500. cancersupportannarbor.org Free
Feeling squeezed by caring for multiple family members at the same time? Join comedian and motivational speaker Breeda Miller for this dynamic and inspiring program.
Spring In Your Step
Exercise, education and exquisite spring flora await you at the 24th Annual Ann Arbor Garden Walk. Explore water features, flowers and trees, with a peak at seven private gardens around town. $15 tickets with proceeds benefitting the Leslie Science and Nature Center and Edible Avalon, a non-profit organization that supports and develops community gardens. Follow the signs on Devonshire Rd. for garden locations. Purchase tickets at Dixboro General Store, Downtown Home & Garden, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nicola’s Books, and online. Saturday, June 14. 10am-4pm. $15. 734-330-8521. For more information go to: annarborfarmandgarden.org—MW
27 friday
Retreat: Aikido Yoshokai 5pm. Power Center Lawn, 121 Fletcher St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org Free
Partner up and learn Japanese martial arts techniques for finding harmony in motion. Led by instructors of the Aikido Yoshokai Association of North America.
28 saturday
Retreat: West African Dance with World Dance Workout 5pm. Power Center Lawn, 121 Fletcher St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
Dance to West African and world beats in this fast paced and fun class led by Sandy Pierani of World Dance Workout.
29 sunday
Retreat: Yoga Adventure with Natalie Berry 5pm. Power Center Lawn, 915 E. Washington St. 734-994-5999. a2sf.org
Enjoy a playful session of yoga taught by Natalie Berry, performance artist with Spontaneous Art and A2 Yoga trained yogini. Make sure to bring your yoga mat and be ready for yoga fun.
ecurrent.com / june 2014 37
crossword
Across 1. “I’ve never heard of that person” 4. “Only You” new wave duo, as known in the U.K. 9. Alec Baldwin’s former affiliation 14. Geologist’s unit 15. Heaters 16. Garlic sauce in Guy Fieri’s unfortunate “Tex Wasabi’s Fish Tacos” 17. Caustic stuff 18. Huge fan of spells, conjuring, and anything and everything broom-related? 20. Bolivian city named by conquistadors 22. Driver on “Girls” 23. Sushi seaweed 24. Important considerations in Cy Young Award voting 26. Joint production? 28. What happened, perhaps, after “Tower Heist” failed to be nominated for Best Picture? 34. Time ___ 35. Bond villain named Julius 36. Rakim’s partner in old-school hip-hop 39. Devoured 42. PIN pad device 43. What’s in the room 44. Name used while pointing a cane 45. Matches 47. Fish in Guy Fieri’s unfortunate “Tex Wasabi’s Fish Tacos” 48. Task in the pit after a blowout? 52. Sit or rom follower 53. Coin with the same name as a dynasty 54. Obey Bob Barker, in a way 57. Manner 61. Michigan International Speedway facility 64. Blown-up, make-believe sous-chef? 67. Prohibition 68. It might give you a gut feeling 69. All-male nude thing, perhaps 70. “Go, Ronaldinho!” 71. Classy gals 72. Put on the books 73. Domain name ending available to pornographic sites Down 1. It might get pumped 2. Patrick Ewing or Patrick Ewing, Jr., in college 3. Occupy Wall Street target 4. “Holy cow!” 5. Mp4 relative 6. Sixth Greek letter, though it seems like it might be the last 7. How fewer and fewer albums are released 8. Org. that investigated SeaWorld 9. Burning ___ 10. Instruction next to an X 11. Bringing a bottle of water through security, e.g. 12. Damon Albarn band 13. Bank based in New York 19. Apple-on-the-desk option 21. Abstract artist Jean 25. Barrett who played on the only great Pink Floyd album [*ducks*] 27. Sanctuary for bikes or rakes 28. Tragic war stat 29. In the direction of, formally 30. Tries to seem big 31. Trailing behind
38
june
2014 / ecurrent.com
32. Rourke’s “The Wrestler” costar 33. Classic Samberg-Timberlake “SNL” song 37. Masked scavenger 38. “Master and Commander”-era boat 40. Hobby vehicle for Donald Rumsfeld (seriously) 41. Fire obsessive, casually 46. “Babe” location 49. Palindromic plus-sized model 50. Scallopini piece 51. Response to a dad joke, say 54. WCBN guide, e.g., briefly 55. Typewriting type size
56. One of trillions in a single human body 58. Subject heading abbr. 59. Genesis venue 60. PBS show with episodes about tornadoes and catacombs and the like 62. Powdery mineral residue 63. Lego competitor 65. Word on a towel for couples who I guess couldn’t find different colored towels 66. Jean-___ Picard
for crossword answers, go to ecurrent.com
Scratch that
classifieds PAYMENT Payment must be received before an ad can be placed. We accept checks, cash, money orders, and credit cards (MasterCard, American Express, or Visa) Sorry, no refunds. Misprint results in credit toward next ad.
FREE CLASSIFIED ADS One (1) free 20-word classified ad per issue. Free ads include noncommercial concerns, free services, products being sold for less than $150. Line Classifieds $20 for 20 words or less. 40¢ per each additional word. Box Classifieds $25 per column inch. One column = 1.4519" Photos can be placed in box or line ads for an additional $5 per photo.
DEADLINES Ad copy must be received at NOON on the 15th of the month prior to publication.
CONTACT INFORMATION Mail: Current Classifieds. 1120 Adams Street, Toledo, Ohio 43604. Phone: 419-244-9859. Fax: 419-244-9871. Email to: classifieds@ecurrent.com
-------------------------------------
HELP WANTED ------------------------------------We’re looking for a freelance writer and a freelance photographer. Paid gigs for Current & Ann Arbor Family magazines. E-mail us at aspcmedia@gmail.com
------------------------------------Massage Therapist: Currently Hiring Therapists to work at RelaxStation in downtown Ann Arbor. Free Parking, Flexible Hours, great team! 734-623-1951
-------------------------------------
Give Hope. Become a Foster Parent. Attend a free training today to learn more!For more information: www.judsoncenter.org or 313-255-8272.
-------------------------------------
SERIOUS MOMS WANTED. We need serious & motivated people for expanding health and wellness industry. High speed internet/phone essential. Free online training. www.iworkforfreedom.com
-------------------------------------
Services
-------------------------------------
Massage: Walk-in Appointments Available. Free Parking. Make some time for yourself! Come in stressed leave refreshed. RelaxStation. 734623-1951
-------------------------------------
Eve & Mother Earths organization’s mission is to recycle. Join us in the celebration! Erase carbon footprints. Visit eveandme. org
-------------------------------------
Need some editing, proofreading, or other writing help? Need direction on where to go with your essay? Check out http:// www.angelwritercreations.com.
------------------------------------
EDUCATION
-------------------------------------
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FROM HOME. 6 - 8 weeks. ACCREDITED. Get a Diploma. Get a Job! No Computer Needed. Free Brochure 1-800-264-8330 Benjamin Franklin HS www. diplomafromhome.com
-------------------------------------
Are your children interested in Astronomy? Do they like observing the moon, planets and stars? GO TO: www.youngastronomer.org
------------------------------------
EVENTS
------------------------------------
Stargazing Peach Mountain Observatory Ann Arbor June 21, 28 Directions: http://www.umich. edu/~lowbrows/calendar/regular. html Observatory Opens at Sunset, Free admission and parking -------------------------------------
HEALTH & WELLNESS -------------------------------------
ACTIVE BODY CHALLENGE starts Jun 2nd - 8 Week Fitness & Nutrition Program, Cash prizes in 4 categories www.nutritionbychoice. com or 734-707-7697 -------------------------------------
FOR SALE
------------------------------------Tantric six how to have fantastic six $1.99 e-book at Amazon.com by Bartholomew Bronson ------------------------------------Queen Size solid oak bed w/side rails, foot board and headboard, a matching 3 drawer side table; An old printers desk, Jasper co, large, as is; Refinished dresser by Northern Furniture co, Antique w/copper pulls, red mahogany color - well made tongue and groove craftsmanship. Call Kelli 734 265-6749 ------------------------------------DELL LAPTOP Computer. Extremely fast, professional grade model. Excellent condition. Windows 7, Premium software bundle. Perfect for home, school or business. Six month warranty. $399. 717-653-6314
call
RACHELLYN at
419.244.9859
to sell your stuff today
ecurrent.com / june 2014 39