Current Magazine - August 2018

RALLY YOUR VOTES!

AUGUST 2018| FREE

See p15

MUSIC | ART | CULTURE

COMMUNITY

POWER STATE BILL WOULD FREE MICHIGANDERS TO GENERATE ENERGY

LOCALLY GROWN Local business owners open up

P6

THE GUN SUMMIT

that Nobody Wants P14

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6 Locally Grown

Area businesses that are all in

12 Creating Energy State efforts for energy freedom

14 opinion: The gun summit that nobody wants

By Nick Roumel

15 food: Main Street is a mainstay 20 music: Grove Studios helps artists grow

By Jeff Milo

25 film: The birth of Basquiat in Boom For Real

By Jennifer Kellow-Fiorini

26 theater: Spinning Dot continues tough conversations with The Mountain

By Emily Slomovits

32 person of interest: Yousef Rabhi Rep. Rabhi readies for 4th term run

By Trilby Becker

36 Smash

Love and sex on the local circuit

By Nina Swift

16 21 28 33

food events music events arts & culture cannabis

Ne Colu w mn!

37 astrology 38 crossword 39 classifieds RALLY YOUR VOTES!

JULY 2018| FREE AUGUST 2018| FREE

| CULTURE MUSIC | ART

e Beer Guid s

Ann Arbor Real Estate is Hot. Who’s Feelin g the Burn? p.16

See p15

MUSIC | ART | CULTURE

COMMUNITY

POWER STATE BILL WOULD FREE MICHIGANDERS TO GENERATE ENERGY

MI Brewer Pour Their Hearts Out p.5

Smash

Love and Sex on the Local Circuit p.44

LOCALLY GROWN Local business owners open up

P6

THE GUN SUMMIT

that Nobody Wants P14

COVER DESIGN: SPECIAL THANKS TO CHARLEY LINDEN FOR OUR JULY AND AUGUST COVERS DESIGNS.

 Bløm Session Mead Ann Arbor’s first meadery and cidery, Blom is located in an airy, newly renovated space on S. 4th in the heart of downtown. The meads, as crisp and bright as the location, are processed so you can see the fermentation in action. The inviting space features board games, film screenings, a performance area and private events. Offerings rely on local ingredients and change with the seasons. drinkblom.com  Momo Sushi Asian fusion food, with a humorous touch (mussels breaker or squid bomb anyone?). This small, family friendly restaurant is earning rave reviews from customers for its fresh take on classic Japanese cuisine. facebook.com/momosushiA2  Teaspressa Teaspressa, a new take on tea, has opened at 414 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor. A national chain, they serve an all-natural blended tea with a dense body that is pulled like an espresso shot. Prepared as traditional espresso drinks, or as a moke pot, aeropress, or pour over. Some varieties contain the same amount of caffeine as coffee. teaspressa.com  Office Evolutions Coming to Ann Arbor A franchise offering co-working space, private office space, virtual offices and essential business services, Office Evolutions is opening a 7,100 square-foot space at 455 E. Eisenhower. The site, the group’s first in Michigan, features 26 offices, a large co-working lounge, a conference room, a multi-purpose training room and an outdoor area with a pond and picnic tables. officeevolution.com/locations/ann-arbor  Dessous Opens on Main Street in Ann Arbor The new restaurant at 312 S. Main St. is the vision of longtime friends, Scott Burk and Jay Mullick, alongside friend and consulting Chef, Eve Aronoff. It combines influences of Indian and French cuisine to create “complex yet harmonious” dishes. See our review on page 15. dessousannarbor.com  Lan City Noodles Opens in Ypsilanti Offering hand-pulled noodles, Lan City opened in early June as a family-owned and operated restaurant serving Chinese/Asian food with no MSG. Offering take-out or dine-in service, the restaurant is located at 2612 Washtenaw Ave. lancitynoodles.com  Hungry Harvest Coming to Ann Arbor Hungry Harvest, a national farm-todoorstep produce delivery service, launched in Detroit and Ann Arbor this summer. The service rescues fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste due to cosmetic imperfections or surpluses, curates weekly customizable harvest boxes and delivers directly to subscribers, area organizations and food pantries assisting the food insecure.

Every Hungry Harvest delivery rescues at least 10 pounds of food from going to waste and supports the work of local hunger-solving organizations. hungryharvest.net ecurrent.com / august 2018 3

green corner Huron River Contaminated with PFAS Chemical Dispute on safe levels for drinking water

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a comprehensive review of the health damages caused by a family of chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The Study, released on June 20th 2018 after being suppressed for six months by the Trump Administration, concludes that PFAS are safe in drinking water at levels of 7 parts per trillion, 10 times lower than the EPA’s maximum safety threshold of 70 parts per trillion. PFAS chemicals were detected at the Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant on March 5th, 2014, at 43 parts per trillion. The source of the PFAS contamination in Ann Arbor’s drinking water is the Huron River, and a study is being conducted by the Department of Environmental Quality to identify how PFAS entered the river. PFAS are not readily absorbed through the skin and pose no threat to bathers. Nanofiltration and reverse osmosis are the most effective methods of removing PFASs from drinking water, with systems that can be purchased for home use. -TB

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Proposal: Ann Arbor Central Park

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Deciding best use for the Library Lot The Ann Arbor Central Park Proposal is headed to November ballot. After years of trying, a citizens group known as Ann Arbor Committee for the Community Commons has garnered the 5,000 signatures required to bypass City Council and allow Ann Arbor residents to decide if the city-owned Library Lot on 5th Ave should be turned into a small park. In April of 2017 City Council sold the lot to Chicago developer Core Spaces for $10 million, but the plan for a 17-story luxury building was deeply unpopular. The city recently re-purchased the lot, but has yet to decide what to do with it. Without a legal mechanism to require developers of private land to build affordable housing, many view the city-owned lot as a rare opportunity to create affordable housing downtown. The Central Park Proposal will allow citizens to vote yes or no to a park. -TB

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letters to the editor PUD's explained

JULY 2018| FREE

I realize that this is a complicated subject, but the details matter.

T | CULTURE MUSIC | AR You began a section of this article with the following, “The 1140 Broadway Lot was originally zoned Beer Guide for a Planned Unit Development (PUD).”

This is not true, and this Smash mistaken chronology profoundly matters.

No site, anywhere, is ever originally a PUD. PUDs, by definition, are highly-tailored, zoning constructs, imposed on a property by the owner of the property, with the approval of the community through the municipal government. In this case, the property owner of 1140 Broadway on October 28th of 2002 requested that the city entertain changing the zoning from C-1, C-3, & O to the very specifically tailored PUD that that owner wanted and delineated. That owner was Kevin McGraw of the Lower Town Development Group, LLC. The request was approved

by Council on October 7th in 2003.

And because this property’s owner in 2003 successfully negotiated a PUD for the property with the city, all future Master Plans reference the PUD; not because the city feels that this is the future they desire for the property, but because this is the only future possible without a further zoning change. Once established the PUD runs with the land. Any change from a PUD must be instigated by the owner, not the municipal government.

The next paragraph begins, “Most developers want to maximize profits and minimize concessions, as concessions generally cost money. Accordingly, Morningside petitioned the Planning Commission to change the zoning to C1A/R, a designation intended for the Downtown Campus Commercial district.” And once again, not true. Morningside petitioned the Planning Commission to change the zoning to C1A/R because they had no other choice. Even if Morningside wanted single family residences on that site they were NOT allowed to build them without changing the zoning.

You wrote: “Most developers, want to maximize profits and minimize concessions, as concessions generally cost money.”

If a developer does not “minimize concessions” just how can they keep costs down? Don’t we all “minimize concessions” in our lives to keep costs down?

Ann Arbor Rea l Estate is Hot. Who’s Feeling the Burn? p.16

MI Brewers Pour Their Hearts Out p.5

Love and Sex on the Local Circ uit p.44

History related Mr. Bultman is correct that the original LowerTown site was comprised of multiple small parcels, mostly zoned commercial, with restaurants, cleaners, and a bank among the occupants of the buildings. A previous developer consolidated ownership of those parcels and rezoned them all to PUD, with a true mixed use site plan that included residential, office, and commercial, along with nice open space by the river. The buildings were demolished, and the development failed in the great recession.

However he is not correct past that. Site plans DO expire, and this one did. The PUD zoning remains; it does not revert back to the prior zoning. So we had a vacant property zoned PUD with no site plan. No one had to build the old site plan, and no one could because it expired. Any new developer would have to start fresh with a new site plan. That could still have been done under PUD zoning, which is what the Master Plan recommended should happen.

The Master Plan was created by the usual lengthy process that included studies and community input, followed by public hearings and formal adoption by the city. I was one of many neighbors who participated in that process. We have a very good and very detailed Master Plan for this area and specifically for this site. Unfortunately, that Master Plan was ignored and the newly approved development consists of 99% residential, but rezoned to an obscure commercial zoning category intended for another part of town in order to game the system. So we are denied our mixed use urban village and stuck with an intensity of development with no commercial amenities to service the 1000 new residents or the existing neighborhoods that had their old shops and restaurants demolished.

Tom Stulberg, Neighbor via email

Charles Bultman, architect via email

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

Send your comments, questions and ractions to: annarboreditor@adamsstreetpublishing.com.

ecurrent.com / august 2018 5

LOcAlly GROWN Independen tly-owned businesses make Wash tenaw Cou nty great with belove d business owners that are “a ll in.” They w o rk here, they live he re, and the y raise their families he re. Read on to learn more abou t how their b u sinesses contribute to our commu nity in ways that b enefit all of us.

Blue Fr0nt Steve Blinder, owner

Does your business have a unique history?

Cosmetics Skin Care

Fragrance Hair Care

BEAUTY

INDIE &

@vosenna

The majority of our products are handcrafted for men & women.

All the brands are made in the USA & not tested on animals. (just a few doors down from Trader Joe’s)

2386 E. STADIUM BLVD. ANN ARBOR

734-929-4356

Vosenna.com • info@vosenna.com 6

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Blue Front has been an Ann Arbor favorite and part of the community since 1927 over 90 years! The store has gone through several phases, though the most exciting are coming over the next couple months. We have just installed a growler filling station with ten rotating taps, we now house over 1000 different beers, we have regular in-store tastings on Tuesdays and Fridays from 5-7. We also have knowledgeable staff who are all Certified Beer Server® trained through the Cicerone program in addition to one Certified Cicerone®.

What is something people might not know about you?

Many locals who have been around for more than a few years may hear the name Blue Front and think it’s still the same spot they knew years and years ago - it’s not! Blue Front has changed dramatically over the last 5 years to become a premier location for craft beer and wine.

What changes have you seen in your industry? The beer industry has grown immensely over the last decade. Every neighborhood in the U.S. has their own local microbrewery (we’re blessed to be so close to the likes of Wolverine, HOMES, Bløm, Arbor, Pileated, and Jolly Pumpkin). We have kept up with burgeoning styles as well as up-and-coming breweries from just down the road to across the country.

VOsenna

Elizabeth Devos, owner Why did you choose Ann Arbor as the home for your business? Ann Arbor

happens to be a great place to launch Vosenna because people here care. They care about the environment, they care about small businesses, they care about diversity and valuing all people, they care about limiting the chemicals the use, they care about not testing on animals in the beauty industry, and they care about being socially conscious.

Vosenna also reflects those values so it made a lot of sense to be in a place that values the ethical foundations of the store.

What is something people might not know about you?

I played hockey as a kid. I originally was a figure skater, but got recruited to a mite team because they needed a defensemen who could skate backwards really well. I was on boys’ teams for most of that time, but my last year, I also did double duty on the first girl’s team in Illinois.

What was the most important lesson you learned from your parents? I lived with my grandparents for the majority of

my childhood and one of the most important things my grandma taught me is the importance of voting.

One of Fodor’s 10 Best U.S. Flea Markets

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

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www.treasuremart.com 529 Detroit Street • Ann Arbor 734-662-1363 • Office 734-662-9887 ecurrent.com / august 2018 7

Fresh FOrage Andrew Sereno, owner Samuel Boyce, owner, chef

Andrew’s answers

Why did you choose Ann Arbor as the home for your business? Where else but the best city in America? I grew up in

the Ann Arbor area (Chelsea), went to University of Michigan, and now live in Ann Arbor with my wife, Rebecca, and my daughter, Vanessa.

What are some of the changes you have seen in Ann Arbor over the years? Ann Arbor has definitely become more

developed yuppie style and less Tree Town hippie over the years.

While Ann Arbor becomes more and more of a destination oasis in Michigan, we can’t lose sight of what made it great in the first place.

Samuel’s answers:

Why did you choose Ann Arbor as the home for your business? Andrew and I are both from the area, and went to

What was the most important lesson you learned from your parents? Work hard and don’t expect anything. You create

school together in Chelsea. We had been discussing the idea for this restaurant concept for several years and knew Ann Arbor was the place for it. Ann Arbor is such a rich and vibrant community that we really believe we can thrive here!

What changes have you seen in your industry?

What are some of the changes you have seen in Ann Arbor over the years?

your own destiny, understand and respect the responsibility that comes with that.

Awareness. Everybody is more aware in every way - whether it’s the source of their food, their own dietary restrictions, or just what they like - people know more and care more.

My business makes an impact because . . . The purpose

of Fresh Forage is to change the relationship between customer, restaurant, and farmer. Our goal is to become full circle sustainable in every way we can and to truly change the food web from the inside out. The restaurant itself is the outward-facing tip of the Fresh Forage iceberg, per se. The purpose is to reinvest in projects that bring us closer to sustainability every step of the way and keep our customers aware of what project they’re helping when they buy a meal - whether it’s setting up a hoophouse, constructing a mushroom house, installing solar panels and/or wind turbines, or simply planting some more fruit trees.

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Over the years I feel like Ann Arbor has been ever expanding and sprawling more towards the more rural surrounding areas. It has been growing and diversifying more as well which brings more richness and culture to its character.

What is the most important lesson you learned from your parents? Treat others how you would want to be treated.

There is so much conflict in the world and in personal relationships that could be mitigated just by living this ideal.

What changes have you seen in your industry? I think

the biggest change is the divergence of food choices. Today there seems to be a split in the types of food offered and readily available to many people. The scale of food production has gotten out of control and unhealthy which has prompted growth of many more healthy options all across the U.S.

YPSI FOOD COOP Corinne Sikorski, Manager

How is a cooperative different from a privately owned business?

A cooperative is a business that has been organized by a group of people to provide goods or services that may not be available in the community, or the pricing for them may be out of reach for the consumers.

The intent of a cooperative is to provide those goods to serve the owners, and not to make profits for the stock holders or owners. Being a cooperative also means that the owners will have an overall mission of what they want the focus of the organization to be. Ours started out as a group of people in Ypsilanti who wanted more wholesome and fresh foods. This was at a time that organic, whole grains and farm fresh products were not readily available in the groceries stores, so member owners of the cooperative pooled their resources, and worked toward obtaining products directly from farmers.

What changes have you seen in your industry? Cooperatives around

the country were a huge part of the push to have food grown and processed organically. As consumers became interested in better food, commercial grocers saw the profits to be had, and they too invested in organic, natural, free range meats, food in

bulk, and just overall better food! So, today we see good food everywhere, which has helped change the food system for the better from what it was in the mid twentieth century.

My business makes an impact because . . . Our mission continues to be

for food that is beneficial for people as eaters, growers and producers and for a sustainable environment. Food cooperatives struggle with the competition around us, but they continue to be leaders in assuring there is integrity in the food system and labeling. Assuring that things like organic growing standards are maintained is still important, as profit can get in the way.

RALLY YOUR VOTES!

2018 Dining Guide Awards Our readers have great taste, so we’re asking you to identify the best bites, drinks, places, and plates in Washtenaw County.

Want to make sure your business receives the props it deserves in Current’s first-ever Dining Guide Awards?

Catch our readers before they vote online.

CALL NOW FOR DETAILS! 734-668-4044 OR E-MAIL SALES@ADAMSSTREETPUBLISHING.COM TO GET THOSE VOTES ROLLING IN.

ecurrent.com ecurrent.com / august 2018 9

Salads Up

What changes have you seen in your industry? The biggest change is

Max Steir, Owner

Why did you choose Ann Arbor as the home for your business? We

began developing Salads UP as seniors at the U of M with the hope to create a healthier, more convenient option on campus. We thought that people would be really into that.

What are your hobbies? For the last two years my hobbies have become limited as my main focus, some might say to an unhealthy extent, has been Salads UP. But, I am an avid Boston sports fan from New York since my father was from Boston and raised me to be a sports nut.

In addition, I am also a huge Michigan fan, and very dedicated throughout the year to the football team and basketball team.

What is something people might not guess about you? I am a dairy

free pescatarian. I also can recite from memory the seeds and teams of the last 10 men’s NCAA tournament sweet 16’s, just a natural accident.

What was the most important lesson you learned from your parents? If you are in tune with

everything about yourself from your anxieties, to your passions, to your weaknesses, and to your strengths, then you are truly in control of your happiness and your success.

people wanting food more quickly and conveniently at an exponentially growing rate. The growth of third party platforms that offer technology and services to enable restaurants to provide delivery and advanced ordering to customers is huge and not going anywhere.

My business makes an impact because . . . We provide so many

people with great job opportunities and in addition give our team and customers healthy and fresh options as well as fast and fun experience that many competitors cannot match.

What do you love most about your job? I love building what many people

would refer to as a restaurant into a fine-tuned organization primed to grow with so many great and talented people.

Salads UP has gone from an idea, to an operation, to a company in just three years, with three stores that employs 70+ people. When I take a step back and look at what has been done, I am proud but never satisfied!

Choose from 5 Healthy & Organic .50

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SilviO’s

What changes have you seen in your industry?

Silvio Medro, Owner Why did you choose Ann Arbor for your business?

I chose Ann Arbor for my business because of the high cultural level of food. People appreciate to eat well here, and I knew they would like it.

What are some of the changes you have seen in Ann Arbor over the years?

Lots of new high rise buildings, less parking, and a harder time finding employees. The city is becoming more multicultural, and more people from around the world are studying and working in town.

What was the most important lesson you learned from your parents? They taught me to

work hard and have integrity.

Most importantly though, they taught me to enjoy what you are doing, or don’t do it at all.

There is more competition with restaurants are opening on every corner. Business has been getting more and more challenging. There is also a lot more diversity and openmindedness in the restaurant industry in regards to food, dishes, and creativity, which I like. We are able to diversify our dishes with the ingredients we get from our farmers.

Place your order online:

jerusalemgarden.net/order-online

Thank You Current Readers for 20 years of support!

314 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI 734.995.5060

My business makes an impact because......

My business makes an impact because we want to work closely with our local producers and farmers, keep our local economy alive and serve the freshest food to our customers.

What do you love most about your job? The

autonomy I have in creating and cooking. I am so lucky to be able to meet the nicest people that come into my restaurant everyday.

Come Say S’UP salads grain bowls crispy wraps smoothies juice

Stop in & enjoy a brew from one of Michigan’s largest craft beer selections!

Check out our weekend specials!!

Seafood Seafood •• Steaks Steaks •• Pasta Pasta Dishes Dishes

611 E Liberty St (734) 368-9385 www.saladsup.com

878 Briarwood Circle (734) 205-9077

Catering done right!

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103 E. MICHIGAN AVE. SALINE

734.429.3159 ecurrent.com / august 2018 11

feature

Energy Freedom legislation introduced in House Rare Bipartisan effort to free Michiganders to generate their own energy

By Mary Gallagher

Yousef Rabhi (D-Ann Arbor) is one of five co-sponsors of a bipartisan bill package that he says is designed to make it easier for individuals to generate energy at their homes. The five bills, together titled the Energy Freedom legislation, were introduced into the Michigan House of Representatives in early May. The legislation would have a wide range of effects: the elimination of the current .5% cap on the number of households that can contribute their own power to the electric system; a community solar garden option, where groups can invest in a solar grid that decreases the monthly bill of each member; and the creation of solar microgrids for neighborhoods and systems like hospitals, that could continue to generate their own energy in the event of a widespread power outage. The bill would also change the framework used to calculate how much individual solar owners are compensated for energy they contribute back to the grid, from net metering to fair value pricing. The bill package is facing opposition from DTE Energy, one of Michigan’s primary utility companies.

Externalizing costs

Camilo Serna, Vice President of Corporate Strategy at DTE, says that DTE opposes the bill because the current framework already overcompensates people who install individual solar panels by paying them the retail rate of the energy they produce. According to Serna, this rate does not include grid maintenance, and is in effect a subsidy for solar owners.

DTE wants to move from net metering to an inflow-outflow billing model, where customers who contribute electricity to the grid are paid less than the retail rate for the energy they produce, but buy energy at the retail rate. Serna says that the difference in those prices will be used for

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Yousef Rabhi, State Representative for Michigan’s 53rd State House District, Ann Arbor.

“There are... benefits of solar that are not included in the current net metering system -- for instance, the economic benefits that come from reduced asthma rates.” ­­­— Yousef Rabhi

infrastructure maintenance.

Rabhi agrees that infrastructure maintenance needs to be part of the calculation, but that even accounting for that, there are still benefits of solar that are not included in the current net metering system -- for instance, the economic benefits that come from reduced asthma rates. That’s why the Energy Freedom legislation’s fair value pricing system accounts for those

external costs and benefits. Serna says that environmental benefits of solar panels has no place in the calculation of price, and that DTE is focused on compensating solar owners fairly for the power they produce, while making sure that they pay their share for grid maintenance.

John Wakeman, owner of SUR Energy, an Ann Arbor-based renewable energy contractor, believes that DTE will oppose any bill that threatens the current energy model, because that model works for them. “They’re a monopoly. Their idea of innovation is manipulating the government, lawyers and accounting, rather than a more traditional idea of business innovation.” Wakeman founded SUR Energy after being laid off from the manufacturing industry fifteen years ago -- he calls the development of SUR “the classic Michigan story.”

Taxation without representation?

Wakeman says that a constantly shifting political landscape is the biggest challenge to Michigan’s renewable energy industries.

The technology is great, but politics can really get in the way or encourage it.” The federal, state, and local policies dealing with renewable energy are difficult to navigate, and can discourage people from investing. Wakeman points out that in Ann Arbor, adding solar panels to your roof is taxed in the same way as a kitchen remodel is taxed, without accounting for the broader benefits of renewable energy.

He adds, “The thing that really frustrates me in Michigan is that the people are saying time and again that they want this.

I really think that our utilities have too much power.”

Wakeman works primarily with private homeowners; others in the state, like Soulardarity in Highland Park, are working to make renewable energy more

John Wakeman, owner of SUR Energy, an Ann Arbor-based renewable energy contractor.

accessible to renters. Soulardarity was founded in 2012 after DTE Energy repossessed over 1000 streetlights in the city.

The nonprofit’s mission is to power Highland Park with solar streetlights, based on its mission statement principle of energy democracy, “the idea that the people most impacted by energy decisions should have the greatest say in shaping them.”

Jackson Koeppel, Executive Director of Soulardarity, a nonprofit promoting renewable community energy systems in Highland Park, says that the Energy Freedom legislation’s community solar gardens might be a step forward for energy equity. “Community solar is one of many great tools for energy democracy. It’s especially powerful because it allows renters who often have the lowest incomes and the highest energy costs compared to income - to participate as owners of clean energy.”

Serna says that DTE offers green options, and cites the voluntary MIGreenPower program, where customers can opt to pay extra on their monthly bill for renewable power, as well as DTE’s overall goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.

Shifting the paradigm

Koeppel calls the renewable options offered by DTE “laughably inadequate,” and says that their methods in Detroit are only increasing energy inequity. “DTE is scooping up public land at firesale prices to build solar, then tagging a premium on to clean energy so that none of neighbors will be able to afford that power.” He adds, “For Michigan to move forward, DTE needs to change. And if they can’t do that, they need to get out of the way.”

Rabhi says that while the bill could improve the current energy model, ultimately, he’d like to see a new model in place. “In my ideal scenario, energy would be produced, regulated, and monitored by the people who consume it.” He indicates either a cooperative model (a company jointly owned by consumers, as in many areas of the Upper Peninsula), or a municipal model (direct voter and taxpayer control of utilities). Those systems, he says, create accountability, and invest money where it’s needed. Rabhi acknowledges that his Republican co-sponsors of the Energy Freedom legislation tend to see a different view of Michigan’s future, with a free market for energy production.

Wakeman, SUR Energy’s owner, agrees that there needs to be a change. “I’d like to see things move forward in a way that’s good for the people of Michigan and good for the planet, and not just Jackson Koeppel, Executive Director good for the utility of Soulardarity, a Highland Park, shareholders.”

MI nonprofit promoting renewable community energy systems.

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opinion

The Gun Summit that Nobody Wants

By Nick Roumel

On December 14, 2012, after the murders at Sandy Hook elementary school, I posted on Facebook:

Hey, NRA! What do you think of your sacred rights now? Add 26 more martyrs to your cause. I’m not talking about gun control.

I’m talking about getting off your asses and taking part in a serious national dialogue to end this senseless violence, including educators, mental health professionals, cops, activists, and elected officials. Your shopworn statements about “one deranged person” and “guns don’t kill” won’t cut it anymore. You’re either with the kindergartners, or the killers.

There’s no in between. Because guns DO kill, NRA. And I for one am f*ing sick of it.

Thus began my quest to organize the Gun Summit that Nobody Wants.

I thought bipartisan reform was possible.

Steve Sanetti, gun rights supporting bigwig as President of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said in February, 2013, “[T]he firearms industry producing safe products for responsible shooters can be part of the solution and we want to be in the dialogue.” Later that year, Guns & Ammo published an unprecedented op-ed entitled “Let’s Talk About Limits.”

I contacted the University of Michigan, advisors to the Governor, wrote to the President, and a Congressman named to a “gun violence prevention task force.”

Surely someone would think a Gun Summit was a good idea. But I was ignored, or passed on. An NRA board member was especially suspicious, writing: “I am happy to talk but must share with you upfront that I support lawful citizens’ constitutional right to possess firearms. This is not

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an area where personally I can support compromise. I do not believe I would be helpful to your program.” I responded, “I too support lawful citizens’ constitutional right to possess firearms. This summit will not recommend violation of that right. The focus is on preventing gun violence while respecting those constitutional rights, and in a bipartisan way.” Her reply was, “The way to prevent gun violence, Nick, is to enforce the laws currently on the books.”

The concept of a Summit was political Kryptonite; and after months of futility, I put the idea aside. Time passed, gun violence worsened, and the NRA became more defiant. (The Guns & Ammo editorial writer? He was fired.) Politicians offer nothing but thoughts, prayers, and suggestion that the blood of innocents is the “price we pay.”

“The concept of a Summit was political Kryptonite; and after months of futility, I put the idea aside. Time passed, gun violence worsened, and the NRA became more defiant.”

Freedom’s appeal

As a lawyer who regularly upholds the Constitution in a variety of ways, I understand the appeal of freedom.

Another attorney, an expert in firearms cases, told me “The Bill of Rights has been destroyed. The First Amendment is riddled with exceptions. The Fourth Amendment (search and seizure), once a mighty oak, is now a twig. Gun advocates will never consent to a process that might lead to a compromise of their rights. It’s the camel’s nose under the tent.”

But in early 2016, I met someone who was enthusiastic about the Gun Summit, and politically connected. We formed a small group and discussed ideas. On paper, it took shape. We had a date: May

16, 2018. We had a place: Michigan State University, James Madison College. We had an agenda: individual panels made up of health professionals, legal experts, educational professionals, faith leaders, sports and recreation advocates, and media.

We even had a keynote speaker, but we had no funds to pay him, or to cover logistics. Our small group of volunteers was overextended with professional and personal commitments. Panelists dropped out. The lawyer and gun expert wrote, “I am no longer interested in the event.

Suggest you find a speaker elsewhere.

Deepest regrets, but I fear it will have a long and devastating effect on my career as an expert witness.” We were not successful in securing any commitments from gubernatorial candidates for the legislative roundtable.

Thus, despite Parkland and Santa Fe, I canceled the Gun Summit – but I hope not permanently. After the Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent issued a strong statement about protecting “our children in Michigan classrooms and schools,” I wrote to see if AAPS would be interested in hosting the Summit, with students serving as volunteer energy. (My communication with the school district continues.)

I may be naïve to believe a “bipartisan” effort will gain traction. Our nation seems more divided than ever regarding firearm ownership and gun violence. Once we get past the proposition that innocent people should not be shot to death, finding common ground proves challenging. But I remain committed to the idea that the Gun Summit deserves a chance to occur so that it may become part of and offer ideas toward a solution.

Nick Roumel is an Ann Arbor lawyer with Nacht & Roumel, a former member of the Ann Arbor School Board, and a long-time contributor to Current.

You can reach him c/o annarboreditor@ adamsstreetpublishing.com

food

Down(stairs) on Main Street

Still a mixture as dessous

The vibe is comfortable with a big city feel. Cool greys and whites in a monochromatic pallet decorate the space. The bar is separate from the dining area, a glass wall of wine dividing the two spaces. Lighting is direct and focused, allowing for shadows and a feeling of intimacy at each table. Varying influences from India and France as well as other cultures blend to create many of the menu offerings.

Bolitos for beginning

We started with the spiced bolitos, tender balls of ground lamb in a spicy tomato and turmeric sauce. The ceviche, served with curried popcorn––a unique twist––presented an assortment of chopped seafood with a fresh taste of lime kefir lime leaf. The sauce, while spicy, was not overpowering, allowing the fresh seafood to take the spotlight. The heirloom tomato salad was plentiful with beautiful tomatoes, chunks of avocado and onion in an olive oil-based marinade. The appetizer menu of small plates is available in the bar at dessous, along with the full menu for those interested in heartier fare in the cocktail area.

Surrounded by several large parties, we reviewed the cocktail and wine lists, both with imaginative offerings. The wine list, while not extensive, boasts an ample selection of different vintages from a variety of producers. We tried the lucky lady grapefruit martini as well as as Blushing Lady, a masterful mix of ruby red grapefruit vodka, vermouth, blood orange, basil and bitters.

creamy but with just enough frost to render it among the city’s premier Italian ice experiences, with an Elderberry twist.

The multi-genre music played throughout the evening represented a few different time epochs and, frankly, was perhaps a bit too varied for dessous’s mood and mellow aesthetic.

Notwithstanding the aural criticism, dessous is a must-stop on your next trip down Main Street.

With designated nights for music and dancing in the adjacent dance floor and continuing interior enhancements with succulents and other plant accoutrements, dessous continues its ascent .

Mains on Main

We moved on to the main course. At dessous, a number of entreé options are available including seafood, steak, chicken, and a vegan flavor explosion. The restaurant offers ‘simple fish’ or ‘simple steak’ options allowing diners to select from a variety of items to be added to the seared protein including chili’s, fresh lime and complements like French baked rice and fresh vegetables.

We ordered the sea bass which arrived seared with a nice crunch accompanied by French baked rice. The rice is plump and enjoyable, while a bit chewy, a rice kernel that puts up a fight.

The sauce for the sea bass, a tropical gastrique, was perhaps a bit overwhelming for the delicate bass, but very pleasing nonetheless.

The shrimp spaccatelli was creamy with tomatoes, shrimp, pasta and garnished fennel fronds. The richness of the dish’s cream sauce was enough, but not too much, and the shrimp were plentiful throughout the serving. The substantial lamb shank, braised in an Indian spiced vegetable stew and served with a dollop of creme fraiche, was fork tender and the veritable stew’s ingredients potato rice onion and peas - were a delicious accompaniment.

Our server Caitlin was knowledgeable and interested in our enjoyment of the restaurant. She explained that the original owners, Scott Burke and Jay Mullick, revamped their previous restaurant in the space, Melange, with the consultation of Ann Arbor culinary star Eve Aronoff. Eve’s influences are evident, with her consultative capacity flavoring both the decor and the menu with upgrades throughout.

We tried the desert. One selection, the chocolate and chiles, enticing by name and description, comprised a flourless French chocolate cake, more like a brownie our server explained, with chili-scented Chantilly cream and was a perfect hit. For those not really turned on by chocolate (yes, an accompanying diner described herself that way) we ordered the Elderberry sorbet, garnished with fresh berries, decidedly house-made, not too

ecurrent.com / august 2018 15

Ongoing Mondays

Bottled Wine Mondays

4pm. Gratzi. gratzirestaurant.com

Gratzi will offer half-off all bottled wine for a limited time!

Bring Your Own Game Night

7pm-10pm. Black Diesel Coffee. blackdieselcoffee.com. Free

Bring Your Own Game (and some pals) for a night of fun and free coffee. 1 game supplied = 1 coffee provided.

Pizza Monday

7:30pm. Beer Grotto. beergrotto.com. Free

Grab a free slice of Domino’s Deep-Dish Pizza while enjoying a wide beer selection, inside or out on the summer patio!

Beer & Board Games

Well, Hot Dog! Sundae Social at Zingerman’s

4pm-7pm. Pointless Brewery & Theatre. pointlessbrew.com. Free

Play board games and sip brewed-on-site craft beer!

Games are provided, but feel free to bring along your own.

Come one, come all! Ice cream lovers of all ages are welcome to attend Zingerman’s Sundae Social and Hot Dog Stand. Build your perfect sundae with signature Zingerman’s items, such as gelato, cookie crumbles, chocolate syrup, peanut brittle, and more! Also, let your creativity run wild on the savory side by constructing the perfect hot dog, dressed with toppings from classic condiments to potato chips and bacon. This is sure to be a delicious weeknight family outing! -AD

Free admission, food for purchase. 4pm-7pm.

Tues., Aug. 7. Zingerman’s Deli, 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor, 48104. zingermansdeli.com/events

Tuesdays

Wine Special

All Day. Bigalora. bigalora.com

Enjoy half-off all wine bottles.

Wednesdays

​Wine Night Wednesdays 4pm-10pm. ​Evans Street Station. evansstreetstation.com

Enjoy 1/2 off bottles of wine from the Evans Street List! Can’t finish the bottle? You can have it corked and wrapped up to take home. Bottles available for retail purchase as well.

Milan Farmers Market

5pm-7pm. Original Gravity Brewing Co. ogbrewing.com. Free

Original Gravity will have an extended happy hour until 7pm, so you can enjoy a pint and grab some fresh fruit, veggies, flowers, and more!

Thursdays

Happy Hour in the Republic!

5pm. Cherry Republic of Ann Arbor. cherryrepublic.com. Free

Come for a $5 full wine tasting and 20% off mix and match wine quartets.

Summer Patio Nights

4pm-12am. Graduate Ann Arbor. graduatehotels.com. Free

Summer weather means patio season every Thursday. Enjoy outdoor games, music, bites, and a specialty cocktail cart.

Fridays

French Toast Fridays

7am-11am. Zingerman’s Delicatessen. zingermans.com. Free

Wake up with fancy French toast every Friday! The delicatessen will offer sweet and savory toppings, house-made whipped cream, seasonal fruit and Michigan maple syrup. Offerings announced weekly.

Drink & Draw

4pm-7pm. Pointless Brewery & Theatre. pointlessbrew.com. Free

Unwind from the workweek and flex your creative muscles while enjoying exclusive Pointless craft beers. There will be writing and drawing prompts, colored pencils and markers provided.

Saturdays

Saline Farmers Market 8am. Saline Farmers Market. cityofsaline.org. Free

Explore a wide variety of local vendors every Saturday in downtown Saline, 1/2 block south of Michigan Ave.

Yoga & Beer

11am. $10. Canton Brew Works. cantonbrewworks.com

Join for Yoga with Katie and take advantage of $1 off a pint after!

Canton Brew Works is known for their unique, quality craft beers.

Sundays

Pancakes in the Park

9am-10:30am. Liberty Plaza. facebook.com/pancakesinthepark. Free

Husband and wife team, Jonathan and Rachel, serve up pancakes along with friends and volunteers every Sunday! This breakfast is complementary for the community. Enjoy hot buttermilk pancakes, sausage, Hyperion coffee, fresh fruit, and eggs to order!

1 Wednesday Food Truck Rally

5pm. Parks and Recreation Facilities. calendar.a2gov.org. Free

Enjoy live music and purchase food from a variety of Michigan food trucks that offer everything from coffee and crepes to ice cream, pizza, sandwiches, salads and more.

Fun Fruit with Keegan Rodgers

7pm. Ann Arbor Pittsfield Branch Library. aadl.org. Free

Keegan C. Rodgers, Head Baker at the People’s Food Co-Op, leads this hands-on and lively workshop. Whether in a pie, compote, naked, or the hundreds of other ways, fruit plays a major role in culinary arts. Explore ways to get the most flavor from a variety of fruits as well as several ways to prepare them for use in both sweet and savory applications.

2 Thursday National IPA Day

11am. HopCat. hopcat.com. Free

Join beer enthusiasts, breweries, and bars across the globe and celebrate IPA Day, a collective toast to one of craft beer’s most iconic styles: the India Pale Ale. Some featured beers will include the Hopmouth from Arcadia Brewing, the Hop Field from Brewery Vivant, and the Crooked Tree from Dark Horse Brewing.

chef-owned & operated since 2004

offering

Thanks for Voting us Best Fine Dining!

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

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Seasonal Summer Dinner

5 Sunday

6:30pm. $95. Cornman Farms. events.zingermanscommunity.com

Enjoy a strolling garden party under the stars with incredible food and beverages. Visit three different stations for a unique dining experience— The Pergola for fresh crudité, charcuterie, cheeses, and bread; The Chef’s Garden for wood-fired pizzas with garden vegetables; and The Smokehouse for smoked meats and savory sides.

3 Friday Burrito Friday

7am-11am. RoosRoast Coffee. roosroast.com. Free

Come to the Rosewood location the first Friday of the month for tasty burritos to go with your morning coffee! Go with a vegetarian egg burrito or pick one with delicious pulled pork.

The Best in American Cheese

6:30pm. $40. Zingerman’s Creamery. events.zingermanscommunity.com

Taste samples from the American Cheese Society Award Winners. See why each cheese is the best in its category and what makes it stand out from the rest. Bread and additional accompaniments provided.

Yoga & Brunch

9am-12pm. The Lunch Room. thelunchrooma2.com. Free

Tiny Buddha Yoga is pairing up with the Lunch Room for a donation-based yoga class followed by brunch! All proceeds will benefit Food Gatherers.

No need to sign up prior to the event. Bring a mat and enjoy!

VegMichigan Summer Fest Go Greens!

The VegFest is a delicious party for the planet. With loads of vegetarian and vegan food options, come enjoy live music, animals, an artisan market, and games. Watch cooking demos, listen to speakers, and meet some of the amazing organizations sheltering animals and defending animal rights in Michigan.

But please don’t bring your pets. -TB

Free admission and parking. 11am-5pm.

Sunday, August 5. Madonna University, 36600 Schoolcraft Rd. Livonia vegmichigan.org

4 Saturday Cold Coffee Concoctions 10:30am. Milk + Honey. ypsilibrary.org Free

Chill out and learn to make versions of iced lattes and frozen coffee at home.

Date Night: Summer in Tuscany

2018 Great Lakes VegBash

Learn how to make your own delicious Italian cuisine by mixing, shaping, and cooking Italian dumplings. The menu will include spinach and ricotta gnudi, hanger steak with marinated sweet peppers, and baked peaches with Amaretti cookies and cream for dessert.

Spend a day enjoying delicious and imaginative vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free food!

This unique festival will have a vegan beer tent, musical entertainment, over 75 artists, crafters and cruelty free vendors, and exhibits from non-profits. There will also be workshops throughout the day as well as children’s entertainers.

7pm-9pm. $85. Sur La Table. surlatable.com

11am. $10-$12. Washtenaw Fairgrounds. vegbash.com

Arbor Brewing Company Ann Arbor Brewpub 23rd Anniversary 4pm. Arbor Brewing Company. arborbrewing.com. Free

Celebrate 23 years of beers in Ann Arbor with beer, food, and live music by ZZvava from 5:15pm-6pm, and Ann Arbor’s own, Chirp from 7pm-11pm! A great day to celebrate Michigan beer and life in general.

Raw Harvest Time

Hot Jazz Sunday Brunch

10am. Detroit Street Filling Station. Free

Enjoy live Jazz over brunch with the Harrington Brown duo!

Brunch will be served from 10am-3pm with music from 11am-2pm.

Comparative Cupping

12pm. $30. Zingerman’s Coffee. events.zingermanscommunity.com

Join for an eye-opening introduction to the world of coffee. Taste and evaluate coffees from Africa, Central and South America, and the Asian Pacific.

Cocktail Class: Feel the Heat

5pm. $45. The Last Word. tammystastings.com

In this hands-on class, learn how to make a variety of cool cocktails that incorporate hot ingredients – from muddled jalapenos to chile powder rims to sweet and spicy chile liqueur.

6 Monday Compassion, Food & Fun

7pm. West Branch Library. aadl.org. Free

Ellen Livingston presents this lecture—with a food tasting— about eating a raw diet. Discover how the macronutrients are provided naturally, and get the education you need to make a raw vegan diet work beautifully for you.

5pm-11pm. Quimby’s Food & Spirits. quimbysfoodandspirits.com. Free

Enjoy food and drink to support The Heart of Hope Too fund which helps pay the medical expenses for children and young adults with catastrophic illnesses in Bedford Township.

CONT’D ON P18

IN BUSINESS SINCE 1975.

LOCALLY OWNED, LOCALLY GROWN

Huge Selection of Craft Beers Including Top Michigan Brands

Locally-Grown Produce Artisan Breads and Pastries & Much More!

ALL SHOPPERS SHOPPERS WELCOME! WELCOME! ALL

312 North River Street | Ypsilanti | (734) 483-1520 | ypsifoodcoop.org ecurrent.com / august 2018 17

7 Tuesday Sundae Social

4pm. Zingerman’s Deli. zingermansdeli.com. Free

Spend an afternoon socializing with a sundae bar and hot dog stand! Make a custom sundae featuring gelato from Zingerman’s Creamery and fabulous toppings like housemade chocolate syrup, cookie crumbles from Zingerman’s Bakehouse, or peanut brittle from Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory. Hotdog condiments will include diced onions, dill relish, spicy mustard, The Brinery sauerkraut, crushed potato chips, bacon and more!

Blues, Brews and BBQ

7pm-9pm. $95. Zingerman’s Roadhouse. events.zingermanscommunity.com

Help raise proceeds in support of the Ann Arbor Blues Festival!

Wolverine State Brewing Co. is collaborating with Zingerman’s for a stellar summer menu including Tellicherry BBQ Brisket, East Texas Hot Links, Central Texas-Style Beef Ribs, and more.

Special musical guest Blair Miller will make this a truly special event!

10 Friday Summer Beer Fest

6:30pm-10:30pm. $15-$20. Royal Oak Farmers Market. royaloakbeerfest.com

Stroll the farmers market to explore over 50 breweries from around the world. Speak with company representatives and the brewers themselves in this celebration of craft beer!

11 Saturday Roaster Showcase Series 11am. Black Diesel Coffee. blackdieselcoffee.com. Free

This Roaster Showcase Series invites roasters to share their knowledge and coffee! This event will feature Craft and Mason.

Save Our Buns Fundraiser 6pm-8pm. Elevation Burger. elevationburger.com. Free

Drop in for a burger (vegan options available too!) from the Elevation Burger on E. Liberty.

25% of proceeds will go directly to the Trans Stellar Film Festival.

12 Sunday Farm-to-Glass Cocktails 5pm. $45. The Last Word. tammystastings.com

This class is all about incorporating wonderful local produce— herbs, cucumbers, berries, tomatoes— into cocktails. Learn all about muddling, infusing, and using shrubs.

13 Monday Miss Kim’s Suckling Pig Party

6:30pm. $50. Miss Kim. zcob.me

Join the second Monday of every month for a special party featuring suckling pig. For the debut, the party will present ssam pig. Ssam means “wrapped” in Korean. Enjoy lettuce and perilla wraps served family-style with melt in your mouth pig.

A Brew How-To with the Hario V60 7pm. $35. Literati Coffee. literatibookstore.com

Literati’s coffee staff will lead a demonstration on brewing coffee using the Hario V60 ceramic coffee dripper! Learn about the variables that affect the brewing process. Cost includes a V60 brewer, coffee filters, and an 8oz bag of Literati coffee.

14 Tuesday Witch’s Hat and Perrin Double Tap-Takeover

5pm. Beer Grotto. beergrotto.com. Free

Five taps from both Witch’s Hat and Perrin, including Traxx and No Rules!

15 Wednesday Cooking for Wellness

4pm-6pm. Cancer Support Community for Greater Ann Arbor. cancersupportannarbor.org. Free

Learn nutritional information to benefit people with cancer while experimenting with new recipes.

The atmosphere is casual and a tasting is included.

Julia Child’s Birthday Celebration 7pm-9pm. $85. Sur La Table. surlatable.com

Celebrate chef Julia Child who inspired a generation of cooks with her classic French cuisine.

This hands-on cooking class will feature Julia’s recipes including pan roasted beef tenderloin, crispy potatoes, and strawberry brioche cake. Plus, take home a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume II.

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16 Thursday SOARing at The Nosh Pit 6pm-10pm. $20. The Nosh Pit, Hamtramck. noshpitdetroit.com

Chef Bee will take over the kitchen at The Nosh Pit to create a one of a kind communitystyle vegan dinner. In addition to the vegan dishes, there will be gluten-free options as well.

The menu will include vegan krispy chicken, gumbo with rice, oysters, sweet potato praline, and more.

17 Friday Beer Tasting with Odd Side 5pm. Blue Front. bluefrontannarbor.com. Free

Enjoy a free tasting of Odd Side Ales!

18 Saturday The Gala: Masquerade 5pm. $75. Ypsilanti Freighthouse. ypsifest.com

Join for the annual Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Gala! This will be a formal masquerade party, so come dressed for the occasion!

The gala includes a spectacular dinner with an open bar, along with a special performance by Ring of Steel.

19 Sunday Creamery Production Tour

11am-12pm. $10. Zingerman’s Creamery. events.zingermanscommunity.com

Embark on an adventure through Zingerman’s creamery and learn how local milk is transformed into delicious cheese and gelato.

Enjoy samples and gain insight about the process from the cheesemakers themselves.

21 Tuesday Bangerz Ball Beer Dinner 7pm. $58.30. HopCat. hopcat.com

Join for the 1st annual Bangerz Ball Beer Dinner! A little different from HopCat’s regular Beer Dinners, three different breweries will be featured alongside six amazing courses put together

by Chef Mark! Dishes include lobster bisque paired with Bell’s Brewery, rosemary and garlic herb encrusted prime rib with Founders Brewing, and sea salt & peanut butter bread pudding with Witch’s Hat Brewing.

22 Wednesday Summer Pantry Essentials Hosted by Grace Singleton 6:30pm. $35. Zingerman’s Deli. zingermansdeli.com

Do you wish you could be prepared to handle surprise drop-in guests at any time or want some new flavor combinations to experiment with? Learn simple, delicious recipes using local ingredients that highlight the summer season. All tastings include a 20% off coupon to shop at Zingerman’s Deli.

High Protein Salads w/Keegan Rodgers

7pm. Ann Arbor Pittsfield Branch Library. aadl.org. Free

Keegan C. Rodgers, Head Baker at the People’s Food Co-Op, leads this hands-on and lively workshop. Whether eggs, chicken, fish, tofu, steak or cheese and nuts, learn a variety of protein-packed and hearty salad recipes. Incorporate more protein into salads also packed with greens, veggies, and fruits!

23 Thursday Summer Wine Dinner

6:30pm-9:30pm. $100. Paesano Restaurant and Wine Bar. paesanosannarbor.com

Gather on the patio for a relaxed dinner and wine pairing. John Cressman of World Wide Wine will give insight on five wines go perfectly with a 5-course dinner.

Reservations are encouraged, as this is Paesano’s biggest wine event of the summer!

Summer Pasta Workshop 7pm-9pm. $75. Sur La Table. surlatable.com

Dive into the world of fresh pasta! In this hands-on class, you’ll be guided step by step to create perfect dough at home.

The menu will include goat cheese tortellini, linguine with shrimp and summer vegetables, and lemon mascarpone gelato.

24 Friday Beer Tasting with Right Brain

5pm-7pm. Blue Front Ann Arbor. bfa2.com. Free

Enjoy free craft beer samples from Traverse City’s Right Brain Brewing Company!

Detroit Sushi Festival

5:30pm-10:30pm. $40-$75. Eastern Market, Detroit. detroitsushifest.com

Taste and sample some of the region’s best sushi! Curated by the finest local Japanese restaurants, this unique event will include live entertainment and exclusive giveaways.

Heirloom Tomato & Cheese Tasting

6:30pm-8:30pm. $45.

Zingerman’s Creamery. events.zingermanscommunity.com

August is the peak of tomato season, and a perfect time to enjoy locally grown heirloom tomatoes paired with delicious cheeses. Taste a variety of summer pairings like the classic Caprese made with house-made mozzarella. Bread and additional accompaniments will be provided.

25 Saturday

28 Tuesday

Roaster Showcase: Great Lakes Coffee

Ask the Doctor Breakfast w/Dr. Cole

Join James Cardarliu of Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company as he shares his knowledge about all things coffee!

A special breakfast where multiple myeloma patients can have a great Zingerman’s breakfast with Dr. Craig Emmet Cole, an expert in the treatments for multiple myeloma. Reservations are needed to attend due to limited space. Call 248-625-0070 or email to micmetro@aol.com for a seat! This breakfast is free to multiple myeloma patients and a guest.

11am. Black Diesel Coffee. blackdieselcoffee.com. Free

26 Sunday Late Summer Celebration 4pm-6pm. $75. Sur La Table. surlatable.com

Transform classic summer ingredients into a delicious meal perfect for the season. Learn simple tips and techniques for grilling, baking, and salad making.

The menu will include apricot, arugula, and goat cheese salad, grilled flank steak, and pecan shortcakes.

27 Monday The Joys of Jewish Preserving

6:30pm-8:30pm. $25.

Zingerman’s Deli Next Door Cafe. events.zingermanscommunity.com

Author Emily Paster will present her newest cookbook, The Joys of Jewish Preserving. Dive into the history of preserved foods in Jewish life and enjoy a few dishes featured in the book.

Books available for purchase.

7am. Zingeman’s Roadhouse. curemultiplemyeloma.org. Free

30 Thursday Perrin’s Breaking the Rules 5pm. HopCat. hopcat.com. Free

Stop in for a Perrin three year vertical tap feature! Beers will include ‘17 No Rules (Vintage BBA Imperial Vietnamese Porter), Passionfruit Gose, Raspberry Blonde, and more.

31 Friday Free Cider Tasting

5pm. Blue Front. bluefrontannarbor.com. Free

Join for a free tasting featuring cider from Farmhaus!

Searchable lists updated daily at

ecurrent.com

RALLY YOUR VOTES!

2018 Dining Guide Awards Our readers have great taste, so we’re asking you to identify the best bites, drinks, places, and plates in Washtenaw County.

Want to make sure your business receives the props it deserves in Current’s first-ever Dining Guide Awards?

Catch our readers before they vote online.

CALL NOW FOR DETAILS! 734-668-4044 OR E-MAIL SALES@ADAMSSTREETPUBLISHING.COM TO GET THOSE VOTES ROLLING IN.

ecurrent.com ecurrent.com / august 2018 19

music

Since 2016, Grove Studios has grown from a rehearsal space into a creative hangout for multi-media collaboration.

Helping Artists Grow Multipurpose arts space where artists can make!

By Jeff Milo

For a long time, we took honeybees for granted, only recently realizing that these seemingly ubiquitous pollinators are crucial to our agricultural structure and crop production. Artists, then, are like the honeybees of our communities, and their metaphorical pollination, their creativity, enriches the cultural development of the region. But just like bees, our artists are not impervious or wholly self-sustaining against the whims or economic shifts in the market. Plus, they need space! Great art can’t blossom indefinitely from a cluttered basement, nor can music progress from inside a garage.

Grove Studios wants to be the conservational keepers of a colony of artists. “We’re working to serve the community that we love; the community of Ypsi and Washtenaw County, and even southeast Michigan,” said local musician, entrepreneur and Grove co-founder Rick Coughlin. “Musicians like us, and other independent creatives, are all trying to make…! We want to help them make!

We, ourselves, make! For Grove, it’s not just providing professional work — and collaborative spaces; it’s also about how we are all learners and we thrive in that collaboration.”

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Space to grow

Grove’s team and advisory board are establishing a comprehensive community space, distinguished by its compound of large individual shipping containers and main office at 884 Railroad St, assuring that artists have dedicated, physical space to work, rehearse or collaborate. “It’s evolved,” said co-founder/musician Erich Friebel, recalling Grove’s 2016 launch.

“And it’s evolved not only into a monthly or hourly rehearsal space for bands and musicians, but also into being a co-op workplace for video, photography and podcast production, social media content creation, private lessons, for curated local artist galleries, or for art and music advocacy organizations like the Music & Arts Guild to meet other like-minded creatives.”

The mission, for the rest of 2018 and the years ahead, is to provide Washtenaw’s artists a hub, not just for incubating their own work, but to network with others on a similar mission.

Beyond that, professionals like Stephanie Belcher of Green Bell Marketing can assist artists in the knottier aspects of a creative career, like understanding the tax code, along with upcoming workshops with practical pointers for navigating the ever-shifting music industry.

Supporting creativity

The necessity for this unique and specific community center has increased over time, said Coughlin. “I can’t tell you how many amazing and talented people I know that have jumped ship from Washtenaw County; how I’ve watched Ypsi itself change, and how Ann Arbor’s

changed to the point where living in either place has become more difficult for artists to flourish because of the cost of living. You know, progress is progress, and it’s necessary to have a diverse economy, but we can’t take for granted the creative community that has always given this area such a big part of its charm. I moved here almost 25 years ago for that charm and I want to make sure that it stays by helping to build music and creative infrastructure.”

The Grove team is growing to include professionals from across the spectrum of arts and cultural fields, as well as advisers in legal/accounting and business. Ta’Te Hinds and the Evolve Creative collective recently got on board with Grove to help get the word out. Friebel emphasized how crucial the contributions of these collaborators, and the community, have been to Grove’s progress.

Coming up, Friebel said, a Grove podcast in partnership with Southfieldbased 1 Shot Radio, along with the activation of an outdoor space in the courtyard, aided by Jo Diaspora (of DIYpsi) and other community members, for small scale events, popup workshops, clinics and seminars. Friebel explains that, while Grove isn’t a performance venue, the courtyard space is meant to give creatives a chance “…to step out of their studio for some fresh air and have a place to unwind for a bit; it’s an extension of the collaborative nature (of Grove).”

Grove Studios, 884 Railroad St, Ypsilanti. 734-985-0838, grovestudios.space

Ongoing

Chris Canas Band

10pm. Mash. mashbar.net. Free

Sundays The Wes Fritzemeier Jazz Experience

Chris Canas will bring his awardwinning blues band to Mash for a night of great local music.

6pm. Chelsea AleHouse. chelseamich.com. Free

End your weekend on the right note! Featuring Jed Fritzemeier, Brian Brill and Wes with the occasional special guest.

Rob Crozier Trio 6:30pm. Weber’s Inn. webersinn.com. Free

Enjoy jazz standards and originals by this area bassist/vocalist, joined by a rotating cast of local professionals.

Brennan Andes & Friends

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

Join bassist/vocalist Brennan Andes and an impressive rotating ensemble of musician.

The Heather Black Project 8pm. Ravens Club. r avensclub.com. Free

The Heather Black Project plays inspired renditions of classic jazz repertoire with rotating special guests. $5 suggested donation.

Mondays Paul Keller Orchestra

7pm. $10. Zal Gaz Grotto. zalgaz.org

The Paul Keller Orchestra performs swingin’ big band jazz!

Open Mic Mondays at the Plymouth Coffee Bean 7:30pm. Plymouth Coffee Bean. plymouthcoffeebean.com. Free

Come to listen or to participate with songwriters and poets.

Jesse Kramer Trio 9pm. Ravens Club. ravensclub.com. Free

Local drummer Jesse Kramer leads his trio featuring bassist Rob Bickley and pianist Rick Roe. $5 suggested donation.

Tuesdays Open Mic Night 7:30pm. Club Above. club-above.com. Free

Musicians, comics, poets, and all other creative arts are welcome to show their talents.

Thursdays Jazz & Cocktails

7pm. Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse. cultivateypsi.com. Free

Enjoy live jazz from local artists and a special cocktail menu.

Open Mic with the Martindales

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

Come to play with others or bring your band. Drums, keyboard, guitar amps, and PA provided. The Martindales open up the night from 9pm-9:30pm.

4 Saturday Dacia Bridges

Sundays in the Garden

Experience a unique summer series featuring the best of Michigan music and beer while supporting a community non-profit. Local to Ann Arbor, Abigail Stauffer has brought her emotionally engaging songs to venues all over the city, including a recent performance at the Ark. Joining for a dynamic double-bill is Kate Peterson, known for her genuine folk storytelling, who has toured throughout the US and Europe. Cultivate has partnered with Bell’s Brewery to benefit Ozone House, a local agency dedicated to serving youth. Wood Fired Up and Go will also be on site to serve up pizza and ice cream during the show. - EC

Sunday, August 19. 6pm-8pm.

Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse. 307 N. River St, Ypsilanti. 734-249-8993. cultivateypsi.com. Free Saturdays Creative Music Workshop

3pm. Riverside Arts Center, Ypsilanti. riversidearts.org. Free

Work on improvisation techniques and writing original music, learn about music technology, and explore music theory. Bring an instrument, your voice, or just yourself!

1 Wednesday Bluegrass Night

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

Join for the best in local bluegrass! Weather permitting, music will be on the patio with food and drink specials throughout the night!

Cindy Scott & Brian Seeger w/Janelle Reichman

8pm. $5-$30. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcethouse.com

Spend an evening enjoying the soulful vocal stylings of Cindy Scott with Brian Seeger on guitar and special guest Janelle Reichman on clarinet and tenor saxophone.

Catwalk

8pm-10pm. Old Town. oldtownaa.com. Free

Hear a tribute to celebrated jazz guitarist, Emily Remler. The band will feature Ingrid Racine on trumpet, Alex Anest on guitar, Eric Nachtrab on bass, and David Alvarez III on drums.

2 Thursday Anderson East

11:30am. Liberty Plaza. soniclunch.com. Free

Experience Sonic Lunch, Ann Arbor’s annual outdoor summer series. The bill features singer/ songwriter Anderson East, playing a fusion of soul, rhythm & blues, gospel, rock, and country, and Phillip Michael Scales

Breadboard Electric Piano 6:30pm-8:30pm. Ann Arbor District Library. aadl.org. Free

Learn how to build an electric piano in this hands-on workshop using the 555 Integrated Circuit.

Finkel

9pm. $10. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

See enchanting pop/electronic duo Finkel along with singer/ songwriter Jacob Sigman and jazz/glitch outfit Saajtak.

3 Friday Marco & Asim

5pm-8pm. People’s Food Co-op. peoplesfood.coop. Free

Come to Cafe Verde in the co-op for an evening of blues with guitarist Marco Bruschtein, bassist Asim Kahn, and percussionist Keith Poncer.

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

Hear the impressive and soulful vocals of singer/songwriter Dacia Bridges in an intimate setting.

Jazz Series

7pm-10pm. Zal Gaz Grotto. zalgaz.org.

Free

Enjoy a night of great jazz with drummer Bob Sweet, pianist Tad Weed, saxophonist Andrew Bishop, and bassist Tim Flood.

Adam Labeaux

8pm. The Session Room. sessionrooma2.com. Free

Join in the beer garden for a night of folk-rock with local singer/songwriter Adam Labeaux!

Billy King Album Fundraiser

9pm. $10. Rancho Tranquilico, Dexter. billykingdom.com

Come for a spectacular show by local singer/songwriter Billy King helping fund the production of his new CD.

5 Sunday Concert in the Park: Matt Watroba 3pm. Burns Park. calendar.a2gov.org. Free

Spend an afternoon in the park enjoying the sounds of singer/ songwriter Matt Watroba as he sings old time folk favorites.

Vishal & Shekhar

5:30pm. $40-$100. Pease Auditorium, Ypsilanti. emich.edu

Bollywood’s Swag Jodi Vishal & Shekhar will play for the first time in Michigan!

ONEFREQ

6pm-8pm. Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse. cultivateypsi.com

Hear the globally-inspired sounds of Detroit ensemble ONEFREQ. $1 of each beer sold benefits We the People Growers Association, a non-profit sustainable farming initiative.

6 Monday Saline Big Band

Lori McKenna

8pm. $25. The Ark. theark.org

Lori McKenna brings her Grammy-winning acclaimed songwriting to the Ark stage.

First Friday Open Jam

7pm. $10. Zal Gaz Grotto Club. zalgaz.org

Come for a night of jazz by the Saline Big Band! The Ellen Rowe Trio will open with a mix of tunes, both old and new.

8pm. Unity Vibration, Ypsilanti. unityvibrationkombucha.com. Free

Bring an instrument or sit back and relax with a glass of kombucha.

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music

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Unforgettable Folk Icon Don’t miss an opportunity to hear the iconic vocals of Judy Collins on the intimate stage at The Ark. The legendary songstress is renowned for her stunning interpretations of music by fellow artists like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Joni Mitchell, along with her own open and vulnerable songs.

Judy’s career has spanned over 50 years with roots in the 60’s Greenwich Village folk scene. She is a prolific recording artist, garnering many accolades including being featured in the Grammy Hall of Fame. At 77, Collins continues to light up stages all over the country. -EC

Friday, August 17. 8pm. $50. The Ark. 316 S. Main St. 734-761-1800. theark.org Young Dubliners

8pm. $25. The Ark. theark.org

Enjoy fresh fusions of Celtic music and rock by the Young Dubliners!

7 Tuesday Gemini

11:30am. Heritage Park, Plymouth.

Canton-mi.org. Free

Enjoy a special afternoon concert at the park with folk-duo Gemini!

Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and a picnic lunch.

The Tannahill Weavers 50th Anniversary Tour 8pm. $21. The Ark. theark.org.

The Tannahill Weavers brings the Scottish musical tradition into the present day with innovative arrangements that highlight classic melodies with modern rhythm.

8 Wednesday Pete Siers Trio

6:30pm. Beer Grotto. beergrotto.com. Free

Drummer Pete Siers will lead his trio featuring James Dapogny on piano and Ray Heitger on clarinet. The band will play New Orleans style jazz and popular pre-40’s American music.

4PEACE4

8pm-10pm. Old Town. oldtownaa.com. Free

This weekly series features a rotating lineup of the best in jazz!

Jazz Manouche Night

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

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Enjoy the swing stylings of the Harrington & Brown Quartet as they play Jazz Manouche and Django music.

9 Thursday Doug Horn Trio

6:30pm. Nagomi Sushi. nagomiannarbor.com Free

Saxophonist Doug Horn is joined

by Cary Kocher on Vibes and Kurt Krahnke on Bass for Jazz Classics from the American Songbook.

Agent Orange w/Fea

9pm. $15. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com.

Agent Orange formed in California at the end of the ‘70s and cemented their reputation as one of the best punk bands around.

10 Friday Rochelle Clark

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

Enjoy the Americana compelling stylings of singer/songwriter Rochelle Clark for the Distilling Company’s Tiny Corner Concert Series.

The RFD Boys

8pm. $10-$11. The Ark. theark.org

Don’t miss these enduring voices of Michigan bluegrass! The RFD Boys have been playing together and delighting Michigan audiences since 1969.

Paul Keller Presents: John Proulx

8pm. $5-$30. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Michigan bassist Paul Keller hosts a new jazz series to showcase pianists from all over.

18 Saturday

11 Saturday

DIYpsi Fest

Guitar Club

10am. YDL-Michigan. ypsilibrary.org. Free

Teach each other songs, listen, collaborate, and learn to play guitars together.

Eric Moore & Shannon Lee 8pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tearoom. crazywisdom.net. Free

Longtime friends and musical partners Eric Moore and Shannon Lee will play sets of intimate folk music.

Daniel Washington with the River Raisin Ragtime Revue 8pm. $35-$50. The Ark. theark.org

Baritone Daniel Washington’s CD release party features spirituals and ragtime era songs. Joining is 13-piece River Raisin Ragtime Revue orchestra!

Adam Kahana Trio

Bringing Back the Blues Ann Arbor has a history with the blues. The city gave life to the world’s first electric blues festival in 1969, playing host to the most celebrated blues musicians of all time (B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, the list goes on…). This year, the spirit of the festival lives on in a 2-day event showcasing a new generation of artists, alongside blues veterans. The lineup includes Shemekia Copeland, John Sinclair with special guest Don Was, and Ana Popovic, among others. In addition to the music, expect to enjoy a wide variety of food vendors and beer on site. Free for kids ages 12 and under. - EC 6pm. Friday, Aug.17-Saturday, Aug. 18. $40-$275.

Washtenaw Farm Council Fairgrounds. 5055 Ann ArborSaline Rd. 734-219-5960. a2bluesfestival.com

8pm-11pm. The Session Room. sessionrooma2.com. Free

Local jazz guitarist Adam Kahana will lead his trio in the Session Room!

Sparta

8pm. $16. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Experience a night of pure punk and rock n’ roll with Sparta, Sound & Shape, and Human Skull.

12 Sunday Concert in the Park: Guy Louis 3pm. Burns Park. calendar.a2gov.org. Free

Guy sing songs from all over the globe and plays instruments authentic to each culture.

From Michigan, With Love

4pm-5:30pm. First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor. firstpresbyterian.org. Free

The Aeolian Chorale will perform the world premiere of “When I Close My Eyes” by Anthony Lai.

Planet D Nonet

6pm-8pm. Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse. cultivateypsi.com

Hear Detroit’s premier swing band and grab a drink from Ascension Brewing, benefiting non-profit, Food Gatherers.

Jan Krist & Jim Bizer

7:30pm. $15. The Ark. theark.org

Join these two fantastic Michigan songwriters for a night of collaborative original music!

13 Monday Saline Big Band

7pm-10pm. $10. Zal Gaz Grotto Club. zalgaz.org

See the Saline Big Band playing a wide range of exciting Jazz arrangements! The Ellen Rowe Trio will open for a night of great local music.

14 Tuesday Nicole Atkins

8pm-10:30pm. $15. The Ark. theark.org

Atkins brings her contemporary sound blending soul, psychedelia, and pop to the Ark stage.

15 Wednesday Nick Collins Trio 8pm-10pm. Old Town. oldtownaa.com. Free

This trio features Nick Collins on drums, Jeff Pedraz on bass, and Randy Napoleon on guitar.

Unknown Crowe 9pm. $5-$8. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Hear this noisy, frenetic, and hard hitting three piece-grunge/garage rock band based out of Southern Michigan. Joining on the bill is Of Ashes, Hyporiun, and AbsOlute.

16 Thursday Caitlyn Smith

11:30am-1:30pm. Liberty Plaza. soniclunch.com. Free

Sonic Lunch presents powerful vocalist Caitlyn Smith, who has written songs for Meghan Trainor, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks, and John Legend.

Joining is The Zingles, Erin and TJ Zindle of the Ragbirds.

Kerrytown Nashbash Music Festival 2018

5pm. Ann Arbor Farmers Market. a2gov.org. Free

This annual music festival features touring Nashville artists and local performers, including Savannah Keyes, Whit Hill and The Postcards, Hoodang, the Whiskey Charmers, and Joe Shields. Wine, beer, and BBQ also available.

11am-8pm. Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery, Ypsilanti. arborbrewing.com. Free

This annual Ypsilanti festival features the best in local music.

Andrew Salgado

8pm. $20-$25. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com Singer/songwriter Andrew Salgado has been featured on WGN, NBC, Fox, CBS, PBS, and ABC. He has collaborated with artists including Carrie Underwood, Clint Black, Toby Keith, and Kasey Musgraves.

Wasted Time

9pm. $7-$10. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Chicago-based rock band Wasted Time will play, along with Temple of Fuzz Witch, Bubak, and Dark Serenity.

19 Sunday

3rd Annual Community Sing

Elvis Sunday

Celebrate with Matt Watroba as he leads the audience into a spontaneous choir.

Elvis will be in the building! Enjoy music by an Elvis impersonator along with Elvis-inspired breakfast specials.

8pm. $5-$10. The Ark. theark.org

Mix Master Mike

10pm. $10. Necto Nightclub. thenecto.com

Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys was named the world’s greatest DJ by USA Today. Don’t miss your chance to see him in Ann Arbor along with DJ Skoob E and DJ Liftoff.

17 Friday Harrington Brown

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

Enjoy the gypsy Jazz stylings of the Harrington Brown duo and a craft cocktail.

9am-2pm. Northside Grill. northsidegrill.com Free

Neil Woodward w/Suzanne & Jim

7:30pm. $15. The Ark. theark.org

Neil, Suzanne, & Jim have been playing traditional music for more than 20 years!

21 Tuesday Shelby Lynne

8pm. $25. The Ark. theark.org

Hear the vocal stylings of Alabama songstress Shelby Lynne! Shelby’s music draws a wide variety of genres including country, pop, R&B, country, and rockabilly.

Judy Collins

22 Wednesday

Folk legend Judy Collins will bring her beautiful interpretations of classic songs along with her inspired originals to The Ark.

Emma Aboukasm Trio

8pm. $50. The Ark. theark.org

Michelle Held & Josh Rose 8pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tearoom. crazywisdom.net. Free

Singer/songwriters Michelle Held and Josh Rose will spend an evening swapping songs with special guests for a concert in the tea room.

Earth Radio, Liquid Thickness, Violet Sol

8pm. Club Above. club-above.com. Free

Spend a night with three heavyhitting bands including Earth Radio, a progressive soul quintet based in Grand Rapids, Ypsilanti’s funk ensemble Liquid Thickness, and Ann Arbor’s soulful music collective, Violet Sol.

8pm-10pm. Old Town. oldtownaa.com. Free

Vocalist Emma Aboukasm leads her jazz trio with Eric Nachtrab on bass and Alex Anest on guitar.

Impuritan

9pm. $10. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Impuritan will bring their unique form of experimental rock along with rock trio Lazy Susan and alternative/shoegaze band Solemn Meant Walks.

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23 Thursday Absofacto

11:30am-1:30pm. Liberty Plaza. soniclunch.com. Free

An outdoor concert with the pop/ art rock/electronic project, along with Katie Lee, who mixes country, blues, folk, and soul.

Freddy Cole Quartet

7pm and 9pm. $10-$35.

Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Don’t miss the legendary pianist in an intimate setting with guitarist Randy Napoleon.

24 Friday Annual Jazz Night

7pm-11pm. Ypsilanti Freighthouse. ypsifreighthouse.org. Free

Join for the Heritage Festival Jazz Fundraiser on the deck of the historic Freighthouse!

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Jory Avner

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

The Tiny Corner Concert Series present Indie artist Jory Avner who blends folk lyricism and guitar with synth/rock soundscapes.

Delta Sleep

8pm. $12-$15. Blind Pig. blindpigmusic.com

Indie rock quartet plays with post-emo band Fallow Land Bad Television, and math rock quartet, the Parker Projection.

City of Lakes

8pm. Unity Vibration, Ypsilanti. unityvibrationkombucha.com. Free

Enjoy some kombucha during this concert in the taproom!

25 Saturday Metal at the Maidstone

8pm. $5. Maidstone Theatre, Ypsilanti. facebook.com/maidstonetheatre

Performances by Pestilent Age, Iron Belly, and Blacktooth Militia.

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George Bedard

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

Legendary guitarist George Bedard will be joined by longtime collaborators Mark “Mr. B” Braun on piano and guitarist Steve Nardella for selections from blues to small band swing.

26 Sunday

28 Tuesday Jazz Night

7:30pm. Haab’s Restaurant. haabsrestaurant.com. Free

Have fun with the Depot Town Big Band as they perform a wide variety of jazz classics.

29 Wednesday

One-String Electric Guitar

Bob Sweet Trio

Build your own one-string guitar, an instrument that has roots in both West Africa and the American South. For adults and teenagers in grades 9 and up.

Drummer Bob Sweet will lead his trio featuring local jazz greats Kurt Krahnke on bass and Tad Weed on piano.

2pm-5pm. Ann Arbor District Library. addl.org. Free

Mustard’s Retreat Trio 3pm. Burns Park. calendar.a2gov.org. Free

Enjoy a concert in the park by David Tamulevich, Michael Hough, and Libby Glover for folk songs with beautiful vocal harmonies and instrumentals.

8pm-10pm. Old Town. oldtownaa.com. Free

30 Thursday Ann Arbor Guitar Trio

8pm. Ypsilanti Freighthouse. annarborguitartrio.com $5 - $10.

The Ann Arbor Guitar Trio will premiere “Never A Rip” by composer Josh Harlow.

PHOTO CREDIT: © BROCK ADLER. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAGNOLIA PICTURES.

film Boom For Real

How anarchy, community, and creativity gave birth to Basquiat

By Jennifer Kellow-Fiorini

At age 17, Jean-Michel Basquiat found himself at the epicenter of an art movement that would become one of the most important of the twentieth century. Director Sara Driver was also a part of that close-knit community of artists. While visiting her friend Alexis Adler (a close friend of Basquiat’s in the late 70’s) she discovered Alexis’ archive of Jean-Michel’s early work: poetry, sketches, and photographs that would inform all of the seminal artist’s later work, and her inspiration for Boom For Real, a documentary that focuses on painter Basquiat’s pre-fame years.

The setting

In 1978, the city of New York was bankrupt. Living downtown cost almost nothing. East Village landlords started setting their buildings on fire to collect insurance money; the murder rate was at an all time high; and the AIDS epidemic was not yet identified.

This environment gave birth to a community of artists with almost unlimited selfexpression. Featuring interviews with artists who were a part of that scene, we get an upclose look at the time, place, and people that shaped Basquiat Some reviewers complained that there isn’t anything in this film about Jean-Michel’s biological family. In spite of its title, this isn’t a literal biography of his teenage years. It’s about Basquiat converging with this implosion of bold, rebellious, DIY artistic expression, including the birth of hip-hop, happening in downtown New York City. Jean-Michel knew instinctively that it was an inspired, combustible, fleeting time, and his sense of immediacy to take it in and get it all down through his work is insightfully conveyed.

Jean-Michel Basquiat in ‘Boom For Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat,’ a Magnolia Pictures release.

When asked why she wanted to make this film, Driver’s response was: “I made this film for the kids. I want young people to break out of the corporate system, form their own communities, get off their iPhones, start making art, and finding their art the way we did. That (downtown) movement was as rich as Café Society in the 1930’s. I feel computer culture separates us from our tribes, our storytelling – which is what we need in order to be human and create great art.”

‘Boom for real’ was a catchphrase Basquiat said when something really wowed him. It’s impossible to believe that anyone seeing this film won’t walk away feeling inspired; the film is a boom, for real.

For more information, visit boomforrealfilm.com

Inside Basquiat

The film’s ability to show Basquiat’s complexity is another of its virtues. He was incredibly sophisticated in his ability to recognize and internalize great art, but he also had a child-like innocence and naiveté to his personality and in the way he took in everything he saw, repurposing it in his own distinct voice.

Seeing this process, as up close as one possibly could without actually being there, captures the essence of inspiration itself.

Searchable lists updated daily at

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theater

The Mountain

Spinning Dot children’s theater company premieres play on immigration

By Emily Slomovits

When performing plays, actors use props, costumes and set pieces to immerse themselves in the story. Spinning Dot Theatre repertory company members Aya Aziz and Forrest Hejkal, who star in the North American premiere of Chelsea Woolley’s two-hander, The Mountain, had extra help preparing to portray children on a playground; they did some of their rehearsing on playground equipment in Spinning Dot’s artistic director Jenny Koppera’s backyard. But despite the playful setting, The Mountain explores fraught situations.

“The Mountain deals with anti-immigrant feelings through the lens of two eight-year-olds, a quiet Canadian boy and a feisty Arab girl, on a Canadian playground,” explains the play’s director Koppera. “Through these beautiful and unique characters, Woolley is able to touch upon the universals of childhood— the need for home, friendship, otherness, and trust.”

Emboldened by personal experience

“This play combines realism, two children on a playground talking, and magic, by using spectacle to enhance the moments of play between these two characters”, says assistant director Tyler Calhoun. “It’s like how a child can have a conversation with a friend, and then be completely consumed by an epic battle with a dragon.”

Aziz identifies strongly with The Mountain’s themes. “Aside from the character and I sharing a name - what are the odds, right? - we also share similar backgrounds”, she says. “I was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, and emigrated to America at the age of twelve. My character Aya was born and raised in Syria, and migrated to Canada at the age of nine. We both endured the aftermath of war, and the difficulties of making friends while bearing the language barriers.”

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Spinning Dot’s newest production focuses on how anti-immigrant sentiments impact two eight-year-olds.

Spinning Dot mission

Spinning Dot Theatre produces global theatre for and with young people. The three tiers of the company (youth, teen and adult repertory) interact often, with all the teaching artists for the youth and teen companies coming from the adult company.

The plays they produce are not what US audiences often expect of theatre for youth, and their commitment to a gestational type of preparation is remarkable; they usually rehearse for several months, allowing for exploration, improvisation and bonding.

This dedication pays off: Spinning Dot was recently nominated for a Wilde Award for their 2017 production of Suzanne Lebeau’s The Ogreling, and have been honored by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education with the 2018 Zeta Phi Eta – Winifred Ward Outstanding New Children’s Theatre Company Award.

The Mountain continues Spinning Dot’s work with heavy themes, as previous plays have dealt with death, gun violence, and xenophobia.

“Theatre for young audiences (TYA) in the US is primarily seen as pure entertainment,” Koppera says. “To introduce young people to plays with difficult topics means that the work of the play necessitates dialogue and unpacking after the play. It can be seen as risky for the adults taking their young people to the theatre. These plays fill out the spectrum of what TYA can be - fun and silly, but also deep and potent. Our young people deserve all those options in their art.”

For more information, please visit spinningdot.org.

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arts & culture Wild Blue Yonder

Thunder Over Michigan Air Show Look to the skies for the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show! This year’s main attractions are the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, Team Oracle led by aviator Sean D. Tucker, and the Quick-Silver P51D aircraft. Each event will dazzle with choreographed routines and exhibit the skills and talents of experienced pilots. Additionally, you can view almost 50 aircraft that will be on display. For the especially adventurous, book an aircraft ride on the show’s website! -AD

New Mural by Teenaged Artist Celebrates Ann Arbor

A mural featuring 25 Ann Arbor-themed references has been installed on the back of the Ann Arbor Art Center (facing the Republic Parking lot). Seventeen year old artist and Art Center intern Olivia Maldonado designed and painted the vibrant mural. The theme of the mural is “people in transit,” and includes local celebrities like Wallace the Cat and favorite places like the Farmers’ Market. The mural was created as part of a partnership with Toyota Motor North America Research and Development commemorating involvement in the 2017 Ann Arbor Art Center exhibition, In Transit. -TB

$40 General Admission per adult (16 and over), Free Admission for children (15 and under), $20 parking at gate. Sat., Aug. 25 and Sun., Aug. 26. 801 Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, 48198. yankeeairmuseum.org/airshow

Ann Arbor Arts Center, 117 W. Liberty Rd. 734-994-8004 annarborartcenter.org

In the Spirit of Monet Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival

Dexter continues its tradition of inviting artists and appreciators of art to enjoy the technique of en plein air painting. The Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival will include a host of events open to the public, including musical entertainment, tours, exhibitions, competitions, and workshops for aspiring artists of all ages!

Spectators can even view artists at work throughout the weeklong festival. -AD

Free admission. Artist and workshop registration fees apply. Mon. thru Sat., Aug. 13-18. Monument Park, 8031 Main St., Dexter, 48130. paintdexter.org

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40th Annual YpsiFest Yp, Yp, Hurray!

Come and celebrate the heritage, arts, and entertainment of Ypsilanti at the 40th annual YpsiFest! Bringing together local artists, food, musicians, and family-friendly activities in the spirit of fun and diversity, this year’s festival includes arts and craft vendors, museum tours, a Rubber Ducky Race, children’s activities like the Light Parade and Movie Night, and much more! -AD

Free admission. Fri. thru Sun., Aug. 24-26. Riverside Park, 1 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti, 48197. ypsifest.com

arts & culture Ongoing Sundays

Fridays

11am. Common Cycle Bicycle Co-Op. commoncycle.org. Free

This weekly swing dance party is beginner friendly! Come for a free lesson on Swing basics from 8pm-9pm Open dancing with two Swing DJs follows at 9pm.

[misc] Community Bicycle Repair

Bring in your bicycle for repair help from volunteers! Resolve maintenance issues or work on personal projects.

Yoga at BLØM [health & wellness]

11am. $20. Bløm Meadworks. drinkblom.com

This is an all levels class open to yogis of all experience and interest levels, ages 21+. One draft pour is included!

Mondays

[misc] Knitting Night at Cultivate

6pm. Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse. cultivateypsi.com. Free

All ages and levels welcome at this weekly craft gathering!

Wednesdays [misc] Trivia Night at Corner

7pm. Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery, Ypsilanti. arborbrewing.com Free

What better way to relax than with trivia and craft beer? Two games, at 7pm and 8pm.

Thursdays Summer Comedy Jamm [comedy]

8pm. $5. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. aacomedy.com

See 12 area comedians, from beginners to comic vets, let loose.

Family owned & operated since 1999.

[dance] Swing Dance Party

8pm. $4-$5. Riverside Arts Center. riversidearts.org

Saturdays [misc] Icebreakers

4pm-7pm. Pointless Brewery & Theatre. pointlessbrew.com. Free

Meet new people over low-key, interactive games and craft beer.

1 Wednesday

Women’s Improv Jam [comedy]

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

If you identify as a woman, trans and/or non-binary person, please join for this short-form improv jam or be a part of the audience!

All experience levels welcome.

Author Lucy Tan [literature]

7pm. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com. Free

Lucy Tan will share her debut novel, What We Were Promised.

Author Lillian Li joins for a postreading discussion.

2 Thursday

[misc] Local Learning: Forage for Mushrooms with Travis Blume of Argus Farmstop 7pm. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com. Free

Michigan Wild Mushroom I.D. Expert Travis Blume will teach where, when and how to identify species with confidence.

Playful Intelligence [literature]

Michigan Shakespeare Festival’s 24th Season [theater]

7:30pm. $16-$40. The Village Theater, Canton. michiganshakespearefestival.com Don’t miss this annual theater festival dedicated to Shakespeare! This year, see The Tempest, Measure for Measure, and Aphra Behn’s The Rover.

Mark Sweeney [comedy]

8pm. $13-$15. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. aacomedy.com

7pm. Nicola’s Books. nicolasbooks.com. Free

Author Dr. Anthony T. DeBenedet will present Playful Intelligence: The Power of Living Lightly in a Serious World, showing adults a way to live lightly while navigating the seriousness of adulthood.

The Hairy Ape: Opening Night [theater]

8pm. $5-$15. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Presented by the Brass Tacks Ensemble, Nobel-prize winning author Eugene O’Neill’s expressionist piece chronicles the journey of individualism in the age of the assembly line.

3 Friday

[health & wellness] Gifts of Art Drop-in Sampler Class 12pm-1pm. University Hospital. med.umich.edu. Free

Drop in the courtyard for a free exercise class with an MHealthy instructor. Learn relaxation techniques and enjoy the outdoors!

No prior experience is required.

Don’t miss the return of Mark Sweeney at the Showcase who has performed on HBO, Comedy Central, and the Comedy Network.

Planet Viewing Party [environment]

9pm-11pm. Pittsfield Branch. aadl.org. Free

Use telescopes to get a good look at Mars’ polar cap and Saturn’s rings, with NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador volunteer, Jennifer German.

Ann Arbor PRIDE 2018 [misc]

9pm. Jim Toy Community Center. annarborpride.com. Free

Join for this annual celebration (8/3-8/5) of LGBTQ and allied communities.

4 Saturday

[misc] Books, Cats and Crafts

11am. Think Outside the Books, Ypsilanti. craftycatrescue.org. Free

Celebrate your love of books, crafts, and cats! Guests include Jessi Gage and JD Barker. All proceeds benefit Crafty Cat Rescue.

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arts & culture ROAD TRIP

8 Wednesday

Full Metal Jokers Presents: Stand Up-Comedy Summer Series [comedy]

7:30pm-9:30pm. $8. Pointless Brewery & Theatre. pointlessbrew.com Enjoy an eclectic mix of local stand-up comedians and national headliners, each with a unique and hilarious perspective on life.

Detroit Improv Festival [comedy] 8pm. $10-$120. Ferndale. detroitimprovfestival.org

Nosh in Detroit: Michigan Jewish Food Festival Come and experience the melding of food, sustainability, and Jewish culture at the third annual Michigan Jewish Food Festival, which features a market with 28 culinary entrepreneurs, ten food vendors, a kid-friendly area, musical performances, and much more. For those seeking a further enriching experience, visit the Ten Minute Tent for discussion, on a wide range of topics. -AD

Free admission. 11am-4pm. Sun., Aug. 26. Eastern Market Corporation, 2934 Russell St., Detroit, 48207. hazon.org/calendar.

Adult Field Day [misc]

Cosmogonic Tattoos [art]

Play old-school classics like tug of war, relay races, obstacle courses, and more, with music, beer, and friendly competition!

Free

12pm-5pm. $20-$25. Lillie Park. milifea2.com

A Night of Stars with Tennessee Williams: Opening Night [theater] 8pm. $20. Theatre NOVA. theatrenova.org

Tennessee and his assistant contemplate his life, guiding the audience through memories of lovers, siblings, and stars. Maxim Vinogradov’s script recently won the Hopwood Award in Drama as well as the Dennis McIntyre Prize.

5 Sunday

[misc] Stunt Falling: High and Low 11am. $25. Ring of Steel Action Theatre and Stunt Troupe. ringofsteel.org

Learn techniques to fall from various heights in stunts used in film. This workshop is perfect for beginners.

Pride Picnic [misc]

12pm. Wheeler Park. annarborpride.com. Free

Celebrate the final day of Ann Arbor Pride with a picnic in the park.

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2pm-3pm. University of Michigan Museum of Art. umma.umich.edu.

Artist and distinguished Stamps School of Art and Design professor Jim Cogswell will create a series of public window installations at the U-M Museum of Art and Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.

6 Monday

[literature] Author Daniel Abbott

7pm. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com. Free

Daniel Abbot will read from his debut novel, The Concrete, a story set in Grand Rapids, MI., that grapples with the effects of childhood trauma on teens, sexuality, and marriage.

7 Tuesday

[misc] Game Night

7pm-8:30pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tearoom. crazywisdom.net Bring friends or meet new people to play at this new monthly game night.

8 Ball Movie Night [film]

8:30pm. 8 Ball Saloon. blindpigmusic.com. Free

Transform with this double feature; Altered States (1980) and the body horror classic starring Jeff Goldblum, The Fly (1986).

2018 / ecurrent.com

The annual Detroit Improv Festival (8/8-8/11) features the best in improv comedy at multiple venues.

9 Thursday

[misc] 13th Annual Lego Contest 9am-9pm. Kensington Hotel. aadl.org. Free

Submit a lego creation or simply come to see all of the amazing original displays at the Kensington Hotel! All ages are welcome to participate.

Gifts of Art Tai Chi & Meditation [health & wellness] 12pm-1pm. University Hospital. med.umich.edu. Free

Join for a drop-in Tai Chi and Meditation workshop presented by an MHealthy instructor. Learn peaceful, low impact body movement great for stress relief. No prior experience is required!

Story Night [misc]

7pm-9pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tearoom. crazywisdom.net. Free The Ann Arbor Storytellers’ Guild continues a community tradition of oral storytelling! Listen to old tales and new as guild members perform for the first hour with an open mic to follow for those with a 5-minute personal story or folktale to share.

10 Friday

[literature] Screwnomics

7pm. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com. Free

Authors Rickey Gard Diamond and Barbara Mhangami will share and discuss the book, Screwnomics: How Our Economy Works Against Women and Real Ways to Make Lasting Change.

Susan Elia MacNeal & Rhys Bowen [literature]

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

MacNeal will share her new book, The Prisoner in the Castle.

Bowen will dicuss her mystery, Four Weddings and Maybe a Funeral.

Mark Knope [comedy]

8pm. $12-$14. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. aacomedy.com

Showcase favorite Mark Knope who has performed on Comedy Central and Fox, as well as at clubs, colleges, and casinos around the country.

11 Saturday

[misc] Low Cost Vaccine Clinic

9am. Humane Society of Huron Valley. hshv.org. Free

Bring your dog or cat for low-cost vaccinations, wellness testing, and prevention products.

Coloring with Cats [art]

7:30pm. $20. Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center. tinylions.org Enjoy cat “zen,” de-stress and help homeless cats from the community. Snacks, soft drinks and coloring supplies provided.

Registration required.

Fight Club [film]

11:59pm. $8. State Theatre. michtheater.org See cult classic Fight Club during

a special midnight screening!

12 Sunday

[comedy] 8 Pointless Minutes: A Long Form Improv Jam

7:30pm-9:30pm. Pointless Brewery & Theatre. pointlessbrew.com. Free Watch or play in a long form improv jam!

13 Monday

[misc] Sweet Stories at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea 8pm. Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea. sweetwaterscafe.com. Free

A featured reader will kick off the open mic.

14 Tuesday

[environment] Stewards’ Circle

7:30am-8:30am. Bruegger’s Bagels. a2gov.org. Free

Join an informal discussion on how to care for Ann Arbor’s natural areas by monitoring ecological restoration.

Eid-al-Adha Greeting Cards and Lantern Making [misc]

7pm-8:45pm. Ann Arbor District Library. aadl.org. Free

Make stylish and modern Eid pop-up greeting cards and 3-D lanterns in a workshop led by crafter and painter Malika Ayubbi.

15 Wednesday

18 Saturday

[art] Gallery Opening

[art] ARTBUS

A new exhibit from painters Kristin Hermanson and Susan Remington on view through September 9.

Take an exclusive bus tour through Midtown Detroit with unexpected surprises and curated art tours.

5pm-7pm. Kerrytown Concert House. kerrytownconcerthouse.com. Free

16 Thursday

[literature] Michigan Mystery Author Trio 7pm. Nicola’s Books. nicolasbooks.com. Free

Hear from Pamela Goissiaux on her book Trusting the Cat Burglar, Darci Hannah and her recent release of Cherry Pies & Deadly Lies, and Greg Jolley’s Malice in a Very Small Town.

Future is Female [misc]

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

Young adult women who work in male-dominated fields including science, math, and engineering, will discuss education opportunities for women.

Drummunity Circle [misc]

7pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tearoom. crazywidsom.net. Free

No experience necessary at this open drum circle. Drums provided!

17 Friday

RINSE/REPEAT Opening [art]

6pm-9pm. Ann Arbor Center. annarborartcenter.org. Free

Celebrate the opening of an all media show exploring the concepts of ritual or routine in creative practice, juried by improvisational dancer Marlee Grace.

Larry D. Sweazy [literature]

7pm. Aunt Agatha’s Bookshop. auntagathas.com. Free

Author Sweazy joins Aunt Agatha’s book club to talk about his latest Marjorie Trumaine novel, See Also Proof.

Monthly Book Discussion [literature]

7:30pm-9pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room. crazywisdom.net. Free Discuss the book Hygge - The Danish Art of Happiness by Ma-

rie Tourell Soderberg, explaining the Scandinavian concept that makes Denmark the “happiest nation on earth.”

Josh Wolf [comedy]

8pm. $15. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. aacomedy.com

Comedian, actor, and writer Josh Wolf has performed and/or written for shows including Last Comic Standing, My Name is Earl, and Raising Hope.

8am-5pm. $100-115. Ann Arbor Art Center. annarborartcenter.org

Yoga at the Big House [health & wellness]

10am-12pm. $14. University of Michigan. umich.edu

Gather for a unique yoga experience on the field! Proceeds benefit the Mental Illness Research Association.

Trivia with Cats [misc]

7:30pm. $15. Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center. tinylions.org

Cuddle up to furry friends, drink an adult beverage, and snack on popcorn while you play trivia at the Tiny Lions cat café. Two tickets for beer and wine will be provided.

19 Sunday

[art] SYOTO Japanese Calligraphy Exhibit: Opening Reception

3pm-5pm. Ann Arbor District Library. aadl.org. Free

Join delegates from Japan’s Shiga Prefecture, representatives from the State of Michigan and AADL staff. Master calligrapher Kozan Kanda will provide a live demonstration 3:30pm-4:30pm.

Attend the workshop Tuesday, August 21.

20 Monday

arts & culture

23 Thursday

[comedy] Ricarlo Flanagan

8pm. $12-$14. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. aacomedy.com

Spend a night laughing with this rising talent who started his comedy career in Ann Arbor on the Showcase stage.

24 Friday

[art] Urban Biographies, Ancient and Modern 9am-4pm. Kelsey Museum of Archaeology. umich.edu. Free

This exhibition explores perceptions of past urban centers that continue to have a powerful hold on modern culture.

Opening Reception: Ann Arbor Wayzgoose & Printing Festival [misc] 6pm-8pm. Ann Arbor Art Center. aadl.org. Free

Celebrate the festival’s opening with a reception and popup exhibit featuring art from Tribune Showprint and Starshaped Press. Enjoy light refreshments, meet the artists, and view the displays!

Euchre Tournament [misc]

6pm-9pm. $10. 242 Community Center Ann Arbor. 242community.com This friendly tournament offers prizes for top finishers! A $10 donation will help to send kids in Haiti to grade school.

[misc] Victorian Era Viewing Night

Pointless Giving [comedy]

This 19th century telescope is in a 19th century building, so you must be able to climb stairs to reach the dome and telescope.

See a comedy show while benefiting Hero Nation.

9pm-10:30pm. Detroit Observatory. lsa.umich.edu. Free

21 Tuesday

Steve Hamilton [literature]

7pm. Ann Arbor District Library Downtown. auntagathas.com. Free Author Steve Hamilton will discuss and sign copies of his new Alex McKnight mystery, Dead Man Running.

22 Wednesday

Hersay IV [misc]

7pm-9pm. $15. Pointless Brewery & Theatre. pointlessbrew.com

Join some of the most talented women from Washtenaw County for an evening of storytelling, singing, comedy, improvisation, and more benefiting the Corner Health Center.

8pm. $15. Pointless Brewery & Theatre. pointlessbrew.com

25 Saturday

[art] Ann Arbor Wayzgoose & Printing Festival

11am-5pm. Ann Arbor District Library. aadl.org. Free Celebrate all forms of printmaking with workshops, demonstrations, a vendor fair and keynote speaker Jennifer Farrell from Starshaped Press.

The Big Lebowski [film]

11:59pm. $8. State Theatre. michtheater.org

Enjoy a midnight screening of cult classic, The Big Lebowski!

26 Sunday

[literature] William Kent Krueger, Lori Rader-Day & Sarah Zettel

2pm. Ann Arbor District Library Downtown. aadl.org. Free

Authors will join Aunt Agatha’s owners Robin & Jamie Agnew to discuss their new books and help say goodbye to Aunt Agatha’s bookshop.

28 Tuesday

[poetry] Poetry Book Club

7pm. Literati Bookstore. literatibookstore.com. Free

Read poems aloud and share reflections on American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin

by Terrance Hayes.

The Secret Life of Water & Plants [misc] 7pm-8:30pm. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tearoom. crazywisdom.net. Free

Learn all about the natural world with David M. Hall, an avid student of horticulture and holistic health.

29 Wednesday

[art] Straight Up! Art Pop-Up: Jeremy Wheeler

7pm. Leon Speakers, Ypsilanti. annarborartcenter.org. Free

This unique traveling art series features local artists, live DJ performances, and art-making workshops led by artists and teachers.

Intro to Floral Design [misc]

7pm-9pm. $50-$60. University Flower Shop. uniflowershop.com Learn the principles of floral design and create a lush table centerpiece with fresh local ingredients.

30 Thursday

[environment] Nature Walk with AADL

6pm-7:30pm. Oakwoods Nature Area. aadl.org. Free

Take a walk through Oakwoods with a wide variety of wading birds and waterfowl. Meet at the park entrance off Dunwoodie.

31 Friday

[comedy] Connie Ettinger

8pm. $12-$14. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. aacomedy.com

Detroit comedy veteran Connie Ettinger is a “recovering lawyer” and presents a sardonic view of the uncertainties of puberty and absurdities of our justice system.

ecurrent.com / august 2018 31

person of interest Yousef Rabhi

Rep. Rabhi runs for his 4th term as Democratic State Representative in Michigan’s 53rd State House District, Ann Arbor.

By Trilby Becker

How did you begin your career in public service?

“I never anticipated being in politics. I attribute my desire to become an activist to my preschool teacher Jean Palms, (founder of the Ann Arbor Forest School). She kept us outside in nature all day. We adopted a creek in Scheffler Park and worked with the Huron River Watershed Council to do insect studies. Jean Palms showed us that what happens in the yards affects what happens in the creek. We started to focus on the upstream issues like fertilizer and pesticides, and decided to go on a door-knocking campaign with signs and dandelions to get people to pledge not put pesticides on our lawns.”

With support from Ms. Palms and others, the children were ultimately able to create the Buhr Park Wet Meadows program, which is now city-wide, to filter runoff water before channeling it back to the river.

Saturday, auguSt 25 th $5 admiSSion (12 & under free)

In this highly divisive political age, how would you characterize your working relationship with your Republican colleagues?

“Everyone is on a spectrum for every issue. I have to look at my Republican colleagues as being on that spectrum, and I never know when there might be a moment for potential agreement and collaboration. Republicans also represent 100k Michiganders and however much I may disagree, they were also elected. We were both sent here by the people to do this work so it’s not useful for me to write someone off because I never know when we may agree on something.”

What legislation are you currently working on?

“I am going to introduce The Bill for Single Payer Universal Healthcare. I don’t think it’s going to pass this year because the Democrats need to do a better job of showing what they believe in. I would rather that we set the goalpost of our vision so we know what direction we’re moving in. With a bold vision of where we should be, we can move the ball down the field in the right direction. I feel strongly about the Single Payer option as an official and a citizen.”

You have committed to introducing the bill every year.

As the conversation progresses, do you think people in the business community will start to listen?

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“The greatest way to lure people to MI is to have healthcare, so companies don’t have to pay for it. Canadian automakers cited public healthcare as a factor that keeps their industry in Canada. There will be higher taxes, but the goal is for businesses to still save money. The average cost of healthcare is $5k per employee, $12k for family, plus premiums.”

Would a single payer system cost more?

“In Canada it takes seconds for doctors to fill in the paper work and send it in to get paid. Here it takes hours to get paid for one procedure. Instead of hiring more people to do paperwork they can hire another medical professional to serve the people.”

You can reach Rep. Rabhi at voterabhi@gmail.com, 734-353-9426 voterabhi.com/about-yousef.html

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Cannabis

Recreational Cannabis Likely to Pass in November Ballot

By Allison Ireton, Huron Valley Law Associates Counsel for Bloom City Club in Ann Arbor

The Mitten may soon have recreational cannabis in hand. The voters in Michigan will have a chance to join nine other states and the District of Columbia by legalizing the recreational or “adultuse” of cannabis in the State this November. If approved by a simple majority of voters on November 6th, within days, many of the protections of the law will take effect. For example, the possession of small amounts of marijuana will become legal for every adult over 21, and adults will be able to grow plants in their home, subject to certain limits and restrictions.

It would likely be many months or a year, however, before the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) would have the recreational licensing framework in place for the sale of cannabis to all adults over the age of 21 without a medical marijuana patient card. Cities and townships will also have the opportunity to choose whether they want to allow adultuse sales of cannabis, just as they had the opportunity to opt-in with medical marijuana sales licensing.

Even though there will be significant challenges before Michigan sees a robust, legal, cannabis industry, there are at least five community benefits that have been realized by communities in the States that have already legalized it.

1

Recreational cannabis will stimulate the Michigan economy, not only in terms of tax revenue collected, but also job growth. Studies

have shown that for every $1.00 spent in the cannabis industry, between $2.13 and $2.40 in economic activity is generated in industries like tourism, banking, food, real estate, construction, and transportation.

2

Legalization protects consumers. When the

government regulates the cannabis supply chain, they can enforce laboratory testing and rules to ensure that marijuana is free of mold, fungus, pesticide residue, and other harmful substances. The Michigan law requires that all cannabis products sold by licensed businesses are tracked from “seed-tosale” so it can be traced to the source in case of recalls or other product issues.

3 4

Legalized cannabis helps reduce black-market activity and protects citizens from the racial profiling

endemic in drug enforcement arrests and convictions.

Law enforcement officers will have more time to address violent and serious crime in their communities.

Cannabis legalization reduces opioid death rates. A recent joint study of the University of

California San Diego and Weill Cornell Medical College “found that statewide medical cannabis legalization…. was associated with close to 30% reductions in Schedule III opioids received by Medicaid enrollees.” The reduction in opioid prescriptions results in lower addiction and overdose rates.

Additionally, cannabis has been shown to be effective in weaning people off of opiates.

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5

Michigan’s recreational cannabis tax rate is reasonable. The Michigan initiative asks consumers

to pay far lower taxes than many states a 10-percent excise tax compared with up to 37 percent elsewhere. Michigan’s tax rate will encourage consumers to obtain their cannabis through legal avenues, which discourages the black market.

The proposed 10% excise tax on recreational cannabis will be allocated for the administration of the marijuana program, and following that, $20 million a year will be used for clinical trials investigating the efficacy of cannabis use for veteran-related health concerns and veteran suicide-prevention. Remaining funds would go to the local communities opting in for recreational cannabis and then to K-12 school funding and roads and bridges maintenance.

Many of the arguments against legalization have been largely overstated or found to be false. Violent crimes and vehicle traffic death rates have fallen in legal states. Most studies have also found that teenage usage rates have not increased in legal states. This fall Michigan voters will have the opportunity to end the long winter of marijuana prohibition. Let your voice be heard November 9th.

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ecurrent.com / august 2018   35

smash

Finding your fit

By Nina Swift I’ve been thinking about masculine strength and why I find it so damn sexy. Essentially, I think what attracts me most is confidence. But what passes for male confidence is often a sham of conceit overlaying a fear of vulnerability, rather than the relaxed way of a man who is not in turmoil over the disparity between what he presents to the world versus what he is experiencing inside. I wonder how many of us know what true masculine strength even looks like. If it looked like sensitivity, could we respect it?

A colleague of mine told me she recently met a gorgeous guy, the first man she had been attracted to since her marriage ended.

She had run into him several times around town and they had a sweet little flirtation going. When they finally sat down to talk, she found him to be a mild and soft-spoken fellow. Her weekslong attraction for Mr. Gorgeous dried up in an instant. She wants a man who is assertive and sex forward, who knows what he wants and is ready to pursue it. I can relate. I want a green eyed Bartolomeo to take me in his big strong arms and ravage me under the Tuscan moon! But outside of the bedroom would he try to prove what a man he is by winning all the arguments and making all the decisions? Sigh… probably.

The ambiguity of gender

I decided to call Jordan, a former co-worker of mine who is transgender, to ask him what he thought of the gender role he was handed as a child, and how his concepts of masculinity and femininity in romantic relationships have evolved since he decided not to play along. Tall, broad shouldered, and a leader on the job, I never doubted Jordan’s manhood. When he told me he was transitioning, I asked him, from what? Sure, Jordan is an animated guy who has lots of opinions about life and relationships.

Now I can see how qualities often perceived as feminine look on a man. Clearly it’s possible for men to lead with their empathic selves and still be seen as masculine. But Jordan is not content to be one of the dudes. “I’m not just a bro. I have ‘feminine’ interests.

Yeah I like physical labor and working with my hands, but I am a very sociable person, very sensitive and sentimental. I’m always the voice of reason in the group. I like planning things and cooking for people.”

So is Jordan masculine, feminine, or Italian? Because a lot of the traits he is describing belong to some very macho giavanottos who cry, sing, and walk arm in arm while talking passionately about each other’s lives. If only I could capture one of these hunks and bring him to Michigan! Although Italian men may have the romance and emotionality I crave, I don’t know if feminism has exactly caught on in Italy. Still, I don’t have much hope for love with men who in no way shape or form remind me of Italians.

Playing the role

Perhaps romantic gestures are seen as outmoded, even condescending, by women who strive for equality with men. Or maybe we are all just too embarrassed about our emotions to be romantic anymore. But sex is so much more exciting when there is polarity and emotional risk. Can we allow ourselves to take off our ill-fitting gender garb and get naked with each other without judgments about how we think we’re supposed to act?

Jordan and his girlfriend have found his transition to be liberating for both of them. They felt an initial sadness about leaving their lesbian identities behind because they enjoyed being part of the lesbian community. But it was also limiting, and as they moved past it they found more authentic versions of themselves coming to the fore. Jordan says that as his girlfriend discovered her attraction to him as a man she came to accept and celebrate her own masculine side, and in that sense, she transitioned too.

And after a period of overplaying the macho role, Jordan has settled into a more laid back kind of masculine strength. “My father is patient and quiet. I don’t see those qualities in many people, male or female. I want to be that kind of man.”

While Jordan’s journey to manhood is unconventional, his thought process around deciding what kind of man he wants to be is sensible and down to earth. He represents a new brand of man that may be uniquely well suited to thrive in 21st century America

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For questions and comments, please contact smash@ecurrent.

AUGUST free will astrology © Copyright 2018 Rob Brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I predict that August will be a Golden Age for you. That’s mostly very good. Golden opportunities will arise, and you’ll come into possession of lead that can be transmuted into gold. But it’s also important to be prudent about your dealings with gold. Consider the fable of the golden goose.

The bird’s owner grew impatient because it laid only one gold egg per day; he foolishly slaughtered his prize animal to get all the gold immediately.

That didn’t work out well. Or consider the fact that to the ancient Aztecs, the word *teocuitlatl* referred to gold, even though its literally translation was “excrement of the gods.” Moral of the story: If handled with care and integrity, gold can be a blessing.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus socialite Stephen Tennant (1906-1987) was such an interesting luminary that three major novelists created fictional characters modeled after him. As a boy, when he was asked what he’d like to be when he grew up, he replied, “I want to be a great beauty.” I’d love to hear those words spill out of your mouth, Taurus. What? You say you’re already all grown up? I doubt it. In my opinion, you’ve still got a lot of stretching and expansion and transformation to accomplish during the coming decades. So yes: I hope you can find it in your wild heart to proclaim, “When I grow up, I want to be a great beauty.” (P.S. Your ability to become increasingly beautiful will be at a peak during the next fourteen months.)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Manage with bread and butter until God sends the honey,” advises a Moroccan proverb. Let’s analyze how this advice might apply to you. First thing I want to know is, have you been managing well with bread and butter? Have you refrained from whining about your simple provisions, resting content and grateful? If you haven’t, I doubt that any honey will arrive, ether from God or any other source. But if you have been celebrating your modest gifts, feeling free of greed and displeasure, then I expect at least some honey will show up soon.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t worry your beautiful head about praying to the gods of luck and fate. I’ll take care of that for you. Your job is to propitiate the gods of fluid discipline and hard but smart work. To win the favor of these divine helpers, act on the assumption that you now have the power and the right to ask for more of their assistance than you have before. Proceed with the understanding that they are willing to provide you with the stamina, persistence, and attention to detail you will need to accomplish your next breakthrough.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I’m not an ascetic who believes all our valuable lessons emerge from suffering. Nor am I a pop-nihilist who sneers at pretty flowers, smiling children, and sunny days. On the contrary: I’m devoted to the hypothesis that life is usually at least 51 percent wonderful. But I dance the rain dance when there’s an emotional drought in my personal life, and I dance the pain dance when it’s time to deal with difficulties I’ve ignored. How about you, Virgo? I suspect that now is one of those times when you need to have compassionate heart-to-heart conversations with your fears, struggles, and aches.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Do you absolutely need orchids, sweet elixirs, dark chocolate, alluring new music, dances on soft grass, sensual massages, nine hours of sleep per night, and a steady stream of soulful conversations? No. Not really. In the coming days, life will be a good ride for you even if you fail to procure those indulgences. But here are further questions and answers: Do you *deserve* the orchids, elixirs, and the rest? My answer is yes, definitely. And would the arrival of these delights spur you to come up with imaginative solutions to your top two riddles? I’m pretty sure it would. So I conclude this horoscope by recommending that you do indeed arrange to revel in your equivalent of the delights I named.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Sometimes, I feel the past and the future pressing so hard on either side that there’s no room for the present at all.”

A character named Julia says that in Evelyn Waugh’s novel *Brideshead Revisited*. I bring it to your attention as an inspiring irritant, as a prod to get you motivated. I hope it will mobilize you to rise up and refuse to allow your past and your future to press so hard on either side that there’s no room for the present. It’s a favorable time for you to fully claim the glory of being right here, right now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Don’t try to steer the river,” writes Deepak Chopra. Most of the time, I agree with that idea. It’s arrogant to think that we have the power to control the forces of nature or the flow of destiny or the song of creation. Our goal should be to get an intuitive read on the crazy-making miracle of life, and adapt ourselves ingeniously to its ever-shifting patterns and rhythms. But wait! Set aside everything I just said. An exception to the usual rule has arrived. Sometimes, when your personal power is extra flexible and robust -- like now, for you -- you may indeed be able to steer the river a bit.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Dear Astrologer: Recently I’ve been weirdly obsessed with wondering how to increase my levels of generosity and compassion. Not just because I know it’s the right thing to do, but also because I know it will make me healthy and honest and unflappable. Do you have any sage advice?

-Ambitious Sagittarius.” Dear Ambitious: I’ve noticed that many Sagittarians are feeling an unprecedented curiosity about how to enhance their lives by boosting the benevolence they express. Here’s a tip from astrologer Chani Nicholas: “Source your sense of self from your integrity in every interaction.” Here’s another tip from Anais Nin: “The worse the state of the world grows, the more intensely I try for inner perfection and power. I fight for a small world of humanity and tenderness.”

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Time does not necessarily heal all wounds. If you wait around passively, hoping that the mere passage of months will magically fix your twists and smooth out your tweaks, you’re shirking your responsibility. The truth is, you need to be fully engaged in the process. You’ve got to feel deeply and think hard about how to diminish your pain, and then take practical action when your wisdom shows you what will actually work. Now is an excellent time to upgrade your commitment to this sacred quest.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The questions you’ve been asking aren’t bad or wrong. But they’re not exactly relevant or helpful, either. That’s why the answers you’ve been receiving aren’t of maximum use. Try these questions instead. 1. What experience or information would you need to heal your divided sense of loyalty? 2. How can you attract an influence that would motivate you to make changes you can’t quite accomplish under your own power? 3. Can you ignore or even dismiss the 95 percent of your fear that’s imaginary so you’ll be able to focus on the five percent that’s truly worth meditating on? 4. If I assured you that you have the intelligence to beautify an ugly part of your world, how would you begin?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A scuffle you’ve been waging turns out to be the wrong scuffle. It has distracted you from giving your full attention to a more winnable and worthwhile tussle. My advice? Don’t waste energy feeling remorse about the energy you’ve wasted. In fact, be grateful for the training you’ve received. The skills you’ve been honing while wrestling with the misleading complication will serve you well when you switch your focus to the more important issue. So are you ready to shift gears? Start mobilizing your crusade to engage with the more winnable and worthwhile tussle.

Homework: What was your last major amazement? What do you predict will be the next one? Testify at Freewillastrology.com.

ecurrent.com / august 2018 37

HOOVER Across 1. “Hmmm...�

7. “Me too!�

14. Like a cappella music 15. Heavy partier 16. Textbook fuck-ups 17. Like a rout 18. Heel 19. Long lunches 21. Univ. period 22. Out on a boat, say 24. Locality 26. Chevy SUV 30. Jam band behind the Curveball festival 32. Some paintings 34. Wearing kicks 36. Lunchtime 37. High energy 38. “2001� nutjob 40. Priced 42. Enormous amount 43. Affirmative vote 44. Friends 45. Sport whose ref is called a gyoji 47. “Life in the Fast Lane� singer 50. Diminutive and playful 53. Hung it up 54. Go overboard with the drugs 56. Graphing calculator function 57. Mormons: Abbr.

59. Make up class?: Abbr.

61. Broncos run for it 62. Of the lungs’ air cells 66. Rucker of country 68. Backward dance move 69. “You bet�

70. BeyoncÊ’s singing sister 71. Children’s story character who bakes a loaf of bread Down 1. Cold topping?

2. Anthrax’s genre 3. Place where a rowdy crowd might be exiled?

4. Money for later: Abbr.

5. Baseballers who’s mascot is Screech, for short

38 

  august

6. ___ Mikaelson (vampire-werewolf on “The Originals�)

7. Sanders, e.g.: Abbr.

8. Poems in some Classics classes 9. Wash off one’s palate?

10. Mannerless sort 11. Metacafe stream, for short 12. Weathervane dir.

13. “I didn’t think ___ be this long�

15. Anchor who has no idea what he’s talking about?

20. About Me words 23. Barbecue pit leftover 25. “The Time Machine� peaceniks 27. What one does in a sack race?

28. Cookie in a sundae 29. “Get Up!� channel 31. Put some goose feathers in a pawn shop?

33. Some superfan gatherings 35. Slay 38. Stevenson alter-ego 39. Unimaginably long stretch 41. Normandy battle town 46. Org. that hopes and prays for an increase in interest post-World Cup 48. Montana’s capital 49. Twelfth word of “Silent Night�

51. Soak with 52. Country legend Willie 55. Bottommost spot 58. Smeltery leftovers 60. ___ Modern (London museum) 62. Mornings, briefly 63. Hull head 64. Spotify setting: Abbr.

65. Drink with a fullbodied and fruity taste 67. Unburden (of)

2018 / ecurrent.com

FOR CROSSWORD ANSWERS, GO TO ECURRENT.COM

Š2018 By Brendan Emmett Quigley (www.brendanemmettquigley.com)

crossword

10:53 AM Wednesday July 11, 2018 10:53 AM Wednesday July 11, 2018

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