Feed Your Brain Set aside some time to fire up your other synapses
By Ross Boissoneau You know what they say about all work and no play, right? If you agree, consider pulling your nose off the career grindstone and give your brain a little license to relax, learn about something entirely new (or just a bit outside of your wheelhouse), and get creative in other ways. For the overworked, stressed, or otherwise stuck among us, we offer you this roundup of performances, presentations, and classes — both in-person and online — designed to educate and inspire you in ways your work alone probably won’t. MANISTEE Midweek Mornings bring together the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, the Vogue Theatre, and Old Kirke Museum for a series of presentations at 10am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, respectively. “It’s a collaborative effort to increase programming,” said Xavier Verna, executive director of the Ramsdell. “Talks, Tunes and Tours” at the Ramsdell features the likes of Shelly Doyen of the Ideal Kitchen store on entertaining, and Amanda Sewell of Interlochen Public Radio on the life of synthesizer wizard Wendy Carlos. Verna said it is a way to showcase local artists and experts for both local audiences and visitors. The presentations are free and are followed by a brief tour of the facility. The Vogue is showing classic films, such as The Blues Brothers and Raging Bull. Audience
size is limited to 25 percent of capacity per state guidelines. Admission is $2. The Olde Kirke Museum is the site of the oldest existing Danish Lutheran church in the country. Its “First Person Stories and Songs” series features a variety of presenters sharing their stories. Admission to the events, as at the Ramsdell, is free. The Ramsdell has also booked an exclusive documentary series, “Great Art On Screen,” and the art gallery has opened in Hardy Hall with works by Onekama artists Phil and Susan Joseph, who will be part of the Aug. 4 Midweek Morning. (Can’t get there? You can view their work at Ramsdell’s online gallery.) Verna said the series has been going since 2016, but interest and attendance is higher this year than in the past. The Midweek Mornings run through August. Find the complete schedule and details at www.RamsdellTheatre.org. BAY HARBOR The schedule of performances at Great Lakes Center for the Arts venue is ramping up live performances but limiting the number of patrons to 132 (25 percent capacity). The artists below will perform one-hour shows at 5pm and 8:30pm on their event date: Aug. 8: Dan Tyminski (14 Grammyaward-winning bluegrass, country musician) Aug. 15: Tony-award winning Brian Stokes Mitchell Aug. 22: Chris Thile (mandolin virtuouso; of Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek)
22 • aug 03, 2020 • Northern Express Weekly
Top: Josh Hartman: now taking students eager to learn the art of cruising via unicycle. Bottom: Musician Chris Thile will perform live at 5pm and 8pm Aug. 22 at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts in Bay Harbor.
Aug. 29: The Kalichstein-LaredoRobinson Trio Sept. 6: Asleep at the Wheel (Texas Twin Fiddles, Boogie Piano) Performances by Paul Taylor Dance Company, Chris Botti and tribute band Bruce in the USA have been rescheduled for 2021.
ONLINE You want something different? What about flower arranging, unicycle lessons, or even diabolo lessons? And what the heck is a diabolo anyway? First things first. Derek the Bartender, a.k.a. Derek Woodruff, doesn’t mix drinks.
