Kalamazoo Candle Blazes On
Indo-Americans Share Their Culture
November 2023
The Nomadic Life
The drive to live life on the road
Calendar Moments to Remember
Meet Sowmya Krishnamurthy
Southwest Michigan’s Magazine
2 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
ENCORE EDITOR'S NOTE
From the Editor W
hen the leaves have flown and the cold winds are moving in, it is tempting to think about going somewhere else for a little while. This month we take a look at people who have done that — permanently. Our cover story is about nomads — the growing number of people who are foregoing living in a house and instead hitting the road, living out of vans, campers or RVs or in other unique living arrangements, or crossing the seas to become global nomads. Writer Robert M. Weir, who was a nomad himself for three years, explores this lifestyle, the people doing it and how they make it happen. But just in case you can't be a cross-country or globetrotting nomad, we've got a story in this issue that will let you explore another culture without venturing down I-94. It’s about local Indo-American residents who, through their involvement with the Indo American Cultural Center & Temple in Portage, keep their native culture alive in their adopted home. The IACCT is a place for them not only to preserve, observe and honor Indian culture and traditions, but also to educate others from the community about these as well. You can also meet a young Indo-American music journalist from Kalamazoo who has established herself as an expert on hiphop music and fashion. In our Back Story profile, learn how Sowmya Krishnamurthy went from MTV watcher to freelance music journalist to penning the book Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion, which was released in October. Finally, as part of Encore's ongoing celebration of its 50th year, we take a look at a story from our past and provide an update on it. This month our Update feature looks at Adam McFarlin and his Kalamazoo Candle Co., which has gone great blazes since we first wrote about it in 2014. So, let those gales of November come early! It gives you one more reason to snuggle in, light a candle and enjoy this month's Encore.
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Kalamazoo Candle Blazes On
Indo-Americans Share Their Culture
Calendar Moments to Remember
November 2023
Meet Sowmya Krishnamurthy
Southwest Michigan’s Magazine
The Nomadic Life
The drive to live life on the road
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Encore Magazine is published 12 times yearly. Copyright 2023, Encore Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to:
www.encorekalamazoo.com 117 W. Cedar St. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Telephone: (269) 383–4433 Fax: (269) 383–9767 Email: Publisher@encorekalamazoo.com The staff at Encore welcomes written comments from readers, and articles and poems for submission with no obligation to print or return them. To learn more about us or to comment, visit encorekalamazoo.com. Encore subscription rates: one year $36, two years $70. Current single issue and newsstand $4, $10 by mail. Back issues $6, $12 by mail. Advertising rates on request. Closing date for space is 28 days prior to publication date. Final date for print–ready copy is 21 days prior to publication date.
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ENCORE CONTRIBUTORS
Kalloli Bhatt
Kalloli says she found a lot of inspiration in doing the Back Story interview with Sowmya Krishnamurthy. "As an IndianAmerican journalist, or at least one in training, it was beneficial to see someone from Kalamazoo who is living the life you want to attain," she says. "In talking with Sowmya, I learned more about her inspiring journey and achievements." Kalloli is a digital media and journalism and creative writing major at Western Michigan University. She served as an Encore intern until September.
Robert M. Weir
The travel bug that has bitten Encore contributor Robert M. Weir has led to two stories this month: our cover story on nomadic living and a profile on Kalamazoo's Indo-American community. Robert's own experiences helped to inform his cover feature; he lived in a travel trailer for three years, visiting most of the Lower Forty-Eight where he met and interacted wirh others who live a houseless lifestyle. Robert also has extensive experience with Indian culture, having spent 10 months in India over a total of four trips. He learned about the India Association of Kalamazoo and the Indo American Cultural Center & Temple by attending yoga and meditation classes at the temple, where he has also enjoyed dining on traditional Indian food. He has spoken about his travels and the various religions of India at The Sambodh Society ashram.
Jarret Whitenack
Jarret wrote an Update story on Kalamazoo Candle Company, a local business that recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. During the interview with owner Adam McFarlin, Jarret was impressed with McFarlin’s ethical business philosophy that has driven the company’s success. “A business that has stayed focused on sustainability and high-quality handmade products even as it grows is hard to find,” Jarret says. “That is something a community should take pride in.” An intern at Encore, Jarret hails from Oregon, where he recently graduated from Portland State University with a degree in history. This is his first story for the magazine.
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10/13/23 3:02 PM
CONTENTS
N O V E M B E R 2023
FEATURE
Modern-Day Nomads 18
Whether they call themselves van lifers, rubber tramps or glomads, they are living a 'houseless' life on the road
DEPARTMENTS 3 From the Editor 5 Contributors 8 First Things A round–up of happenings in SW Michigan 10 Five Faves
Best images from decades of Portage Printing calendars
12
Update
Kalamazoo Candle Co. — Only a decade old, this company is a shining example of small business success
15 Good Works
Holding on to Their Heritage — Indo-Americans preserve, practice and share their traditions
34 Back Story
Meet Sowmya Krishnamurthy — When it comes to hip hop fashion, this Kalamazoo native has written the book
T heArts
On the cover: Robert M. Weir spent three years living as a nomad, traveling the U.S. and working from his travel trailer. Photo by Brian K. Powers
22 Theater 23 Literature 23 Dance 24 Music 25 Comedy 26 Visual Arts 27 Events of Note
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FIRST THINGS ENCORE
First Things Something Good
Concert benefits Loaves & Fishes From barbershop to bluegrass, six acts will be featured
during the annual Loaves & Fishes Benefit Concert organized by the K’zoo Folklife Organization. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 504 S. Westnedge Ave. The performers include pianist Shirley Kime, rock cover band His Boy Elroy, folk/country singer Carrie McFerrin with Mike List, barbershop quartet Four Got To Shave, singer/songwriter Bob Rowe and the Green Valley Boys with Luke Lenhart, and the Schlitz Creek Bluegrass Band. Admission is free, but donations of non-perishable food and of money to Loaves & Fishes, a local food pantry, are requested. For more information, visit kzoofolklife.org.
Bob Rowe and the Green Valley Boys
Carrie McFerrin
Schlitz Creek Bluegrass Band
Shirley Kime
Something Historical
Library spotlights Civil War history
Something Bluesy
Buddy Guy stops in Kalamazoo Blues legend Buddy Guy will be stopping at the Kalamazoo
State Theatre on his Damn Right Farewell Tour. The Grammywinning artist will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17. The 87-year-old Guy, who has been making music since he was 13, has become noted for his slashing electric guitar riffs and passionate vocals. He is one of the faces of Chicago blues. Tickets are $59.50–$99.50. For more information or to buy tickets, go to kazoostate.com.
8 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
Two Civil War history events will be featured at the Portage District Library this month. The first event, Meet Abraham Lincoln: Celebrating the 160th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, is set for 2–4 p.m. Nov. 11. It will feature historian Norma Clack sharing the story of her family’s Civil War flag, followed by professional Lincoln reenactor Kevin Wood reciting the famous speech. The second event, Blades of the American Civil War, set for 6:30– 8:30 p.m. Nov. 15, will feature Jerry Berg from the Swordsmanship Museum and Academy discussing swords from the Civil War era. Local historian Steve Rossio will also be on hand to discuss muskets and provide a live musket demonstration outside. Registration is required, since only 35 spots are available for this event. For more information or to register, visit portagelibrary.info.
Something Mexican Mariachi band performs at State Theatre
The Grammy-nominated group Mariachi Herencia de México will perform at the Kalamazoo State Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18. Mariachi music traces its origins back to the 18th century in places like Guadalajara and Mexico City. Mariachi Herencia de México has been around since 2017 and has put out five albums that have topped the Latin streaming charts. The group’s bilingual repertoire blends genres like bolero, cumbia, tango and swing with lyrics that speak of the Latino and immigrant experience. Tickets are $29–$49 in advance and $34–$54 on the day of the show. For more information or to buy tickets, visit kazoostate.com.
Something Local
Michigan-made items at Kalamatopia You can enjoy the crisp fall weather while
shopping in an outdoor marketplace if you go to Kalamatopia, set for 5–8 p.m. Nov. 3 in the 100 block of North Kalamazoo Mall. Showcasing more than 30 vendors with goods ranging from jewelry and pet accessories to food and candles, the market will feature products made by artisans and sellers from Kalamazoo County and other parts of Michigan. For more information, visit kalamatopia.com. w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 9
FIVE FAVES ENCORE
Five Faves
Calendar moments to remember BY LYNN HOUGHTON
I
f there is one holiday tradition area residents have been able to count on since 1988, it has been the opportunity to get a free Portage Printing calendar courtesy of owner Craig Vestal. The calendars, first made in 1988, originally showcased the printing work the company did. But in 2013 Vestal began featuring historical photographs from both the Portage District Library and the WMU Archives and Regional History Collection. These images never fail to bring up memories and stories from calendar recipients. A highlight of the annual calendar is Vestal's comments on photos with which he has some connection (of which there are many). From the more than 150 images the Regional History Collection has contributed to the calendar, here are my favorites:
Kalamazoo Municipal Airport, 1955 Believe it or not, this is the Kalamazoo airport almost 70 years ago. Called the Kalamazoo Municipal Airport, it later became the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport. More than 300 people watched the arrival of the first Detroit-toChicago flight, with a stop in Kalamazoo, by North Central Airlines on May 1, 1955. It took 18 years for the city of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce to get this eastwest service established here. The crew of the airplane was greeted by local dignitaries and received flowers to commemorate the occasion, and 20 Michigan newspapers and two radio stations covered the event.
Ingersoll Steel Co. Summer Picnic, 1943 Picnics held by various local companies
in the summer were special events with activities for all ages. Even though these children of employees of what was then the Ingersoll Steel plant in Kalamazoo are not identified, nor can any information be found in the Kalamazoo Gazette describing the location and date of this picnic, the happy smiles and expressions on their faces are contagious. Their laughter somehow might be related to their eating what appear to be crackers in their hands. Ingersoll Steel began producing furnaces and automobile parts in 1937, later producing tanks and amphibious vehicles during World War II.
YWCA Teen Dance, 1949 The accordion in this photograph resonates with me, bringing back memories of my time playing the instrument. In the 1940s and 50s, the YWCA in Kalamazoo sponsored many programs, including Y-Teen clubs for local eighth- and ninth-graders, at what was then its building on South Rose Street, across from Bronson Park. Weekly events were held for teens, including dances, referred to as Coke Dances, so everyone knew what would be served, with dance lessons provided if needed. Other activities and events included ping-pong and talent shows, which may be why this young man has his accordion ready. The accordion was a very popular instrument during these years. Multiple local studios offered lessons, and a band made up of 40 accordionists performed concerts. About the Author Lynn Houghton is the regional history curator of the Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collection. She leads the Gazelle Sports Historic Walks, a series of free architectural and historic walks at various locations in Kalamazoo County that happen during summer and fall, and she is the co-author of Kalamazoo Lost and Found, a book on Kalamazoo history and architecture. She also participated in the PBS documentary series 10 That Changed America, about the history of architecture and urban planning. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from WMU and a master’s in library and information science from Wayne State University. 10 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
Muggs, H.J. Cooper Auto Dealership, 1941
Directional Sign, Western Michigan College, circa 1952 This sign at the intersection of Stadium and Oakland drives captured the rapid changes happening at Western Michigan College after World War II as the campus spread to the west. Then-president Paul Sangren realized the need to expand and purchased the land west of the railroad tracks in 1944. It wasn’t long before there were the same number of college buildings on either side of campus, although the number eventually shifted as more were built to the west. The exact date of this photograph is unknown, but the time of year is easy to identify by what these women are wearing on their heads. During these post-war years, freshmen wore beanies from the beginning of the fall semester until homecoming.
A lion living in a Kalamazoo automobile dealership? Preposterous but true. Muggs, purchased from a circus by local car dealer Howard J. Cooper in 1939, took up residence in Cooper's dealership, which was on the southwest corner of South Park Street and West Michigan Avenue. The lion would lie on desks, sit in chairs and take downtown walks on a leash with Cooper. During World War II, civilian automobile production ceased, so not many people entered the dealership to purchase a car. After the war, that changed, and Muggs left for the South Bend (Indiana) Zoo. He is remembered in photographs and in the memories of those who still talk about the lion that lived in Kalamazoo.
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Distributing assets through a Will subjects your assets to probate A: court. Wills become public documents when going through the probate process, and the process is costly and time intensive. A Will that directs and distributes assets outright to listed beneficiaries provides no asset protection for its beneficiaries.
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UPDATE ENCORE
10 Years in a Flash
After a decade, Kalamazoo Candle Co. continues to shine
Brian K. Powers
BY JARRET WHITENACK
F
or a business that started in a crockpot 10 years ago, Kalamazoo Candle Co.‘s growth has been anything but a slow burn. Adam McFarlin’s business venture has been a glowing success — from producing his first candle in a slow cooker in the single room he rented in 2013 to now having four storefronts, selling his products in large grocery stores around the Midwest such as Whole Foods, and making custom candles for customers that include Papa John’s (garlic sauce candle, anyone?). McFarlin, who in 2016 quit a day job working for a nonprofit to run the candle company full time, says his time working in nonprofits prepared him for the world of small business. “I would actually say the thing that helped me the most from the nonprofit world is the fact 12 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
that nonprofits and small businesses are basically the same, because there was no profit in this company for a while,” he says, laughing. Kalamazoo Candle Co. has become a staple of downtown Kalamazoo over the last decade. After selling candles in a handful of stores and at farmers markets, McFarlin moved production to a studio in the Park Trades Center. As he began to experience success, the candle-making company expanded to include additional employees. “We moved to two other spaces in the Park Trades Center. At the last one, we ended up having to add storage next to the loading dock just because we just kept needing more and more space,” McFarlin says. In 2018, Kalamazoo Candle Co. moved production again, this time to a 5,700-square-foot warehouse elsewhere in Kalamazoo.
ENCORE UPDATE
But for McFarlin the thought of leaving downtown Kalamazoo was bittersweet. “I realized I was going to miss the connection to downtown and the vibrancy of Kalamazoo,” he says, “but I never wanted to have a retail store. I kind of actually fought that idea because it was suggested over and over and over to me that I should have a store.” McFarlin opened his brick-and-mortar storefront at 166 S. Kalamazoo Mall in July 2018, the first of what has become four storefronts — the others are in South Haven, Portage and Byron Center. His downtown location also expanded over the years to
Left: Owner and founder Adam McFarlin poses inside the Kalamazoo Candle Co.'s storefront in downtown Kalamazoo. Inset: A variety of the products offered by the company. Above: Employees Katey Conklin, left, and Meagan Casterline make custom candles in the store.
When the Kalamazooo Candle Co. was first in Encore In honor of Encore’s 50th anniversary, we are revisiting stories from past issues and providing updates. Encore first featured Adam McFarlin and Kalamazoo Candle Co. in our December 2014 issue, when the company was just McFarlin making candles on his own in a studio in the Park Trades Center. Read the original story at encorekalamazoo.com/light-em-up. sell other goods like body soap, car fresheners and accessories and to offer the popular Make Your Own Candle experience, in which customers choose their own scent and pour their own personalized candles. There’s a children’s version too, using granulated wax rather than hot, melted wax to create a candle. Earlier this year Kalamazoo Candle Co. grew again. It moved into an even larger warehouse in Portage and bought 42 Naturals, a company that sells handcrafted bath and body products at stores in South Haven, Saugatuck and St. Joseph. Like Kalamazoo Candle Co., 42 Naturals offers a make-your-own experience with scents and soaps. McFarlin says the two companies’ South Haven stores will combine into one at 335 Center St. that will carry the full range of
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both businesses' products, while the other Kalamazoo Candle Co. and 42 Naturals stores will stay separate but sell the other’s product lines. All the stores will have the make-yourown experience for customers. “We're hoping to unify those processes so that you can walk into any of these locations, make a candle, make a bar of soap, make a body butter, and have this whole holistic experience that's really easy,” says McFarlin. “We're going to offer more customization so, say, for a wedding or a corporate gift, people can come into the store and create their own specific fragrance with a custom label.” Custom product offerings are key to Kalamazoo Candle Co.’s business. It has produced unique candles for many companies, including the Berkeley Bowl and Fresh Thyme grocery stores, Big Moods Stickers, the hat and apparel company Stormy Kromer, and the pizza chain Papa John’s, as well as for nonprofit organizations such as Alliance for the Great Lakes and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
14 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
McFarlin says Papa John’s requested a candle that smells like its signature Garlic Butter Sauce. Making custom scents is a long process and takes many tries, he says. It took making more than 40 batches before the Papa John’s candle measured up to Kalamazoo Candle Co.’s standards for scent. “Our fragrances are honest and true. Like when somebody smells a magnolia candle, they're like, ‘Yeah, that smells exactly like magnolia.’ It doesn't smell fake,” says McFarlin. “A lot of candles out there, you can smell — I can't even qualify it in words — but it's just fake.” Despite the growth, McFarlin says the company continues to handcraft each candle, avoiding using machinery that would replace the human touch. “We still make everything by hand. If you came into our warehouse, we'd be putting labels on by hand, we'd be doing everything by hand, so our prices are higher than the mass-produced conveyor-belt candles,” says McFarlin. “I have to be upfront and point
Brian K. Powers
UPDATE ENCORE
Above: Hand-poured candles with custom-designed 3D-printed wick holders dry in the company's new warehouse and production facility in Portage.
out that's the difference. Our prices are higher because you're employing people in Michigan, in Kalamazoo, to make these things.” As the company’s footprint expands, McFarlin says, he is unable to separate it from Kalamazoo, and not just because it’s part of his company’s name. “I think that I owe all the success of Kalamazoo Candle to this community and the support that we get,” he says. “Without all the support that we've gotten over the years, none of this would be possible. It'd still be just me in the Park Trades Center.”
ENCORE GOOD WORKS
Holding on to Their Heritage
Indo-Americans preserve, practice and share their traditions BY ROBERT M. WEIR
R
oughly 2 percent of Kalamazoo County's population is Asian Indian, but when it comes to preserving, practicing and sharing their culture with their adopted community, this small group is quite mighty. From Diwali festivals to religious observances to classes, the hub of this activity is the Indo American Cultural Center & Temple (IACCT), at 2002 Ramona Ave., in Portage. The organization serves as a religious and cultural center for 600 families and for 450 university students from India and Nepal who are living in the Kalamazoo area and is also a principal gathering place for three other related organizations: The India Association of Kalamazoo (IAK), The Kalamazoo Satsang Mandal and the Gujarati Cultural Association of Kalamazoo. IACCT is a nonprofit organization supported by the community it serves, according to its board officers. Its purpose is to establish and maintain a place of worship for people who have religious persuasions of Asian Indian origin and to promote and preserve the rich social and cultural traditions of India. It also presents Indo-American cultural identity to non-Indians by opening religious ceremonies and festivals to the public, offering yoga and meditation classes, fundraising for humanitarian causes, and opening the temple facility, including the kitchen and dining hall, to the public. “We are part of America. We are Americans too now,” says Sujatha Krishnamurthy, outreach coordinator for the IACCT. Temple board President Brij Bhargava, who came to the U.S. in 1971 at the age of 26, says each word of the Indo American Cultural Center & Temple name is significant, reflecting its various goals: “To include the American part for our kids who are born here, … to have cultural identity with our homeland, … and to have a temple for religious needs.” IACCT members, clockwise from top left, Brij Bhargava, Vijay Mehta, Vijay Sood and Sujatha Krishnamurthy, pose outside the temple in Portage.
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Other Indo-American Organizations in the Area The Sambodh Society Inc., located at the Sambodh Center for Human Excellence, 6363 N. 24th St., is a religious and spiritual organization founded in 1998 to share the vision of His Holiness Swami Bodhananda, who resides there and teaches the Indian philosophical systems of Vedanta, yoga and meditation. Brahmachari Advait Chaitnanya, the resident archaya (religious teacher), offers online and in-person classes. For information, visit sambodh.com. The Gujarati Cultural Association of Kalamazoo (GCA) stems from the Indian state of Gujarat and is affiliated with the Gujarati Cultural Association of North America (GCANA), whose mission is to teach the next generations about Indian culture and heritage. In Kalamazoo, GCA hosts free lunches and dinners at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center to which all are welcome. It also holds events and classes at the Indo-American temple. For information, contact the Indo American Cultural Center & Temple at 324-8224. Kalamazoo Satsang Mandal is a charitable, Hindu-based organization affiliated with the International Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal, which has temples and centers throughout the United States. Members actively support people in need, such as refugees from wartorn countries. Each Sunday several dozen members of the local group host programs, classes and meals at the Indo-American temple. For more information, contact the IACCT at 324-8224. Sokukoji Buddhist Temple Monastery, 33 Anderson Court, Battle Creek, offers daily meditation sessions both in person and online. Members also meet for sitting meditation at People’s Church, 1758 N. 10th St., Oshtemo Township, on Monday evenings. Founded by abbot Kyoun Sakuzan, this organization identifies itself as a spiritual meditation community that works with people in drug rehabilitation centers and prisons, extending support to whoever needs it, regardless of background or religious affiliation. For information, visit sokukoji.org. Gurdwara Singh Sabha of Kalamazoo, 5828 Cheshire Street, in Portage, is a place of worship (a gurdwara) for people who practice Sikhism. For more information, visit facebook.com/Gurudwarakalamazoo. Another Sikh gurdwara is located at 3180 Beckley Road, Battle Creek. For information, visit bcgurdwara.org.
16 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
Above: Statues of the 12 Hindu deities, with Lord Ganesh, "The Elephant God," in the foreground, can be seen in the prayer room at the IACCT. Right: A Diwali celebration of the IACCT.
For the most part, the organization's celebrations and rituals relate to Hindu traditions, but Indo-Americans also honor other religions that originated in India: Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. “I get joy in keeping connected with my traditions and cultural values, but when I came here from India at age 24, in 1969 (before the temple), I didn’t have a place to keep those cultural connections, especially for our children, our future generations," says Vijay Sood, IACCT board chair. "I asked, ‘How are we going to fulfill their religious needs?’” Sood taught her children at home, “but it was not the same as celebrating together at a common place,” she says. Teaching youth is a mission carried out throughout the organization. “I take pride in teaching Bal Vikas (Sanskrit for “Blossoming of the Child”), which is like Sunday school, with an emphasis on scriptures and bhajans (hymns)," says Krishnamurthy, who emigrated to the U.S. from India in 1984. "Others teach classical dance, music, and languages such as Hindi and Telugu.” This emphasis on youth also extends to many international students from India in the Kalamazoo area, most of whom attend Western Michigan University. “We are blessed when students who are out of their homeland come to the temple to participate, socialize and possibly make some friends,” says Bhargava. For several years, IACCT has also taken Indo-American culture to local schools, presenting Indian religion and traditions to students at WMU, Kalamazoo College and Gull Lake High School and participating in Cultural Day at Moorsbridge Elementary in Portage. Of course, food is also a central way of sharing the culture as well. At the temple, food is usually a principal component of celebrations. “It’s a part of our Indian culture,” Sood says. “It is our way to say thanks to God for providing us with all these opportunities, and it is a time to socialize and meet new people.” The temple's facility manager, Vijay Mehta, is a pillar among Indo-Americans in this area. Mehta left India in 1960, at age 19, to study in London and in 1965 came to the Kalamazoo area, where he was employed for 30 years as a superintendent at the Vicksburg paper mill.
Brian K. Powers
ENCORE GOOD WORKS For more than 50 years, he has served in various positions within the Indo-American community, including as president of the India Association of Kalamazoo (IAK). The IAK was formed in 1968 to provide social and cultural events for Indo-Americans and met at various places on the WMU campus for movies, art exhibits and concerts. “There were no Indian restaurants then. We used to have a Diwali festival (a festival of lights) at the Kalamazoo Expo Center, and we would invite the public," Mehta says of the IAK's early years. "Several hundred people came, (including) Americans came who had never tasted Indian food before.” The creation of the IAACT came about in the 1990s because many members of the IAK saw "that our families wanted a place to celebrate the religious festivals that are celebrated in India,” says Bhargava. Some people hosted gatherings in their homes, but, he says, “They were asking, ‘Why can’t we have a temple where we can celebrate all these festivals together?’” Thus inspired, a search began for property on which to build a temple with the architectural design of traditional Indian temples. “We worked out the details — what it should look like, how big it should be,” says Bhargava. “We looked at different localities and lands all over the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek area, and we estimated the cost to build to be about $1 million.” The community decided, based on its size then, that they could not raise that much money. Instead, they searched for an existing structure and in 1996 took ownership of the First Missionary Baptist Church on Ramona Avenue. During renovations that included painting murals of Hindu deities, the temple was open for prayer a half hour each day. As the group's financial support grew, they purchased marble statues from India that were installed in the prayer room during a week-long celebration in 2001. A major addition in 2008 expanded the structure by 3,300 square feet, providing space for an entrance foyer, elevator, updated kitchen and dining area, a classroom and a multi-purpose activity room. The building's brass sikhara tower, crafted in India, was installed in 2009, replacing the
Visiting the Temple Interested in visiting the Indo-American Cultural Center & Temple? Learn what you might experience in our exclusive online story at encorekalamazoo.com.
former church's steeple, which was donated to a church in Three Rivers. Sood explains that the membership of both the IACCT and the IAK are basically the same people. “The IACCT serves as a place of prayer and worship that meets the religious and spiritual needs, whereas the IAK focus is on social, entertainment and cultural activities,” says Sood. Traditionally, IACCT celebrates poojas (prayer and worship ceremonies) on the days designated by the Hindu lunar calendar, while IAK hosts major events primarily on weekends. All these events are open to the public. For example, this month IACCT will celebrate Diwali — the Festival of Light —
which symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance — with a ceremony at the temple on Nov. 12. The pooja will start at 6 p.m. and will last about 45 minutes. IAK will celebrate Diwali with a dance recital performed by Indo-American children and adults dressed in colorful saris (women’s outer garments that are draped around the body), salwar kameez (a combination of trousers that narrow at the ankle and a long tunic), and kurtas (loose, collarless shirts or tunics) from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Chenery Auditorium. Admission is $10 for non-members ages 12 and up and $5 for members. Approximately 500 people attended this event in 2022. Regardless of the distinctions between IAK and IACCT, the two organizations complement and synchronize with each other. “We are all one Indo-American community,” says Krishnamurthy.
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MODERN-DAY NOMADS
Attracted to the adventure of a 'houseless' life on the road BY ROBERT M. WEIR
In 2022, it was estimated that more 3 million people in the United States lived on the road. One-third of these traveled in a motor home or travel trailer, while the majority — including 5 percent of U.S. retirees — were dwelling in a car, van, hatchback or converted bus. As the cost of living rises across the United States, so too does the number of people who dwell in their vehicles. Whether you call it van living, rubber tramping or a glomad lifestyle, the decision to “go nomad” is up to the individual. Some travel the country to look for work, while others, who discovered remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic, have determined they need never set foot in an office again to make a living. And sometimes the choice is a result of limited options and undesirable alternatives. Betsy (last name withheld at request) had a career of helping others through a non-governmental organization (NGO), from which she received a small salary. Faced with a debilitating immune disease in her 60s, she could choose between living in a tiny apartment she
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couldn’t afford or a home for low-income senior citizens. Instead, she says she went on the road “in whatever direction my heart pleases.” At age 72, her home is a 2013 minivan with 180,000 miles on it. She’s been traveling for seven years. Her spirit is soothed, and she is off her meds. She blogs and is writing a memoir, titled Driving Through a Rainbow. Bob (last name withheld at request), also in his 70s, lives in a converted 12-passenger bus — a “skoolie.” In 2015, he sold his home in New York. “I was traveling six months of each year anyway,” he says. “At home, I spent most of my time repairing the house and preparing for my next adventure.” Now he enjoys meeting people and caravanning with Betsy. Teaching others to travel These men and women are a miniscule sample of those who choose to live as modern-day nomads.
In 2010, Wells organized Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR), an event held each January in a baseball field in Quartzsite, Arizona. It drew 45 nomads its first year and now draws 10,000 annually. The world’s largest gathering of “rubber tramps”— people who live in vehicles with rubber tires — it is free and lasts two weeks. Organized segments include presentations on subjects such as camp etiquette, road safety, basic vehicle maintenance and the philosophy of nomadic living. The first week is Women’s RTR, during which women network and develop skills that make nomadic life possible. “I’m in the hope-providing business," Wells has said. "Our society bases success on accumulating possessions and power. (But) you can live small and be happier and healthier than ever before. That’s a message some people really need to hear.”
An aerial view of the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, an annual gathering near Quartzsite, Arizona, for people who live in vehicles with rubber tires — a.k.a. nomads — that draws thousands of participants in vehicles of all types.
The de facto guru of the nomadic lifestyle is Bob Wells, a YouTuber, author and advocate of minimalistic, nomadic van dwelling, who doesn’t like to be called a guru. In 1995, he experienced a difficult divorce. He had two children and financial constraints. With his last $1,500, he purchased and lived in a box van. In 2005, after seeing a mother and her three children sleeping in a car, Wells created the website CheapRVLiving. com to provide tips, resources and strategies for living in a vehicle, with howto videos, interviews with van dwellers, and philosophies by noted authors and thinkers. It has racked up more than 50 million views.
Drawbacks and benefits Too often today, nomads are viewed as inferior or unstable by more stationary folks who need to know the shortest route to the nearest grocery store, movie theater and fitness gym. As more and more people are taking to living in RVs parked on the streets of large cities like Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles, the stigma has gotten worse. But nomads counter, “We are not homeless; we are houseless.” In early 2023, Janet Douglas, founder of the Facebook pages Senior Nomads and Nomads Helping Nomads, posted that “a positive spin on Nomads is so important.” An article on the Nomadic News website in 2021, titled “Nomads Get a Bad Rap by Most of America,” outlines the pros and cons of being a nomad. The pros: It’s great fun, or at least not boring. It forces a person to downsize and can be a great way to practice minimalism and conserve resources. “Road schooling” is an excellent form of education. The cons: Depending on the size of your rig and where you camp, living nomadically can be expensive (which is why low-income nomads live in cheap vehicles and boondock
on national land). It can be lonely, especially for solo travelers (which is why nomads create their own communities). Vehicles depreciate while brick-and-mortar homes generally don’t (but there’s no guarantee the housing market won’t collapse either). The article also examines why nomads get a bad rap. It says nomadic living, or nomadicity, was the primary way of life for our ancient ancestors: hunters and gatherers or pastoral nomads who moved with the changing seasons to find food or shepherd their animals. Other nomads were traders, such as those on the ancient Silk Road, between China and the Mediterranean Sea. With the advent of agriculture, people put down roots, planted and harvested. These changes led to land ownership, deeds and titles, rents and leases, fences, territories and boundaries not to be crossed. People not of the local village were “outsiders” who were not to be trusted. Those who continued to travel were labeled gypsies, troublemakers, thieves in the night. Even the American cowboy, now treated as a hero in Western literature, was once despised as a shiftless drifter. Digital nomads Yet nomads are not an endangered species. The New World Encyclopedia estimates that 30 million to 40 million nomads roam the world today, about 10 percent of them traveling the U.S. And despite the perception that modern nomads are retired snowbird types, nomadic life isn't limited to people of retirement age. According to the website Statista, the number of nomads in the U.S. increased by more than 130 percent from 2019 to mid-2022, partially driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. Most are younger people, some with children, and tech-savvy. Generally living in an RV outfitted with a computer and internet connections, these are “digital nomads,” a spinoff from “work at home” or “remote office” employees. They tend to be freelancers within a niche trade rather than tied to a particular company.
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Kristy Halverson is a digital nomad, mentor, coach, published author and speaker. In 2017, she sold her house and belongings and set out to wander purely by instinct. Her home is an Airstream trailer, which, she says, “is usually located deep in nature” as she “migrates with the seasons.” “Work and fun now intermingle through conversations and connections. A common thread is helping people find the simplicity to live their dreams and realize success in their own special style without sacrificing happiness along the way,” Halverson says. Halverson’s theme word is "coddiwomple," which means “to travel in a purposeful manner toward a vague destination” and which she interprets as “to live in wonder, embrace the unknown, and trust life while waking up to complete freedom.” Global nomads Nomadic life isn't just limited to traveling the interstates and backroads of your home country. “Global nomads,” aka “glomads,” are people who vacate their homes to live and travel abroad long-term, generally not in hotels or with planned itineraries. Many glomads choose a work experience as part of their travels, such as volunteering with Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), an international grassroots organization that has paired agricultural volunteers with host farmers since 1971. Called WWOOFers, these volunteers work four to six hours a day up to six days per week in exchange for room and board, thus receiving a close-up view of people, food and cultures in foreign lands. Numerous websites offer other overseas volunteer opportunities such as to aid the environment, teach or work in a medical field or social endeavor, although these tend to be well-planned and for shorter durations.
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Michiganders Josie Schneider, 69, and Conrad Knutsen, 82, for example, rent out their condo in Ann Arbor while they serve as international housesitters, staying in any one location from three months to a year. Their first step into this lifestyle began in 2008. While at a B&B in Australia, the host told them, “I’m not the owner. I’m just housesitting for them.” “We immediately knew that was for us,” Schneider says, explaining that international housesitting “is based on trust. No money changes hands. Homeowners gain peace of mind knowing their home and often pets are looked after, and travelers have free lodging.” For Schneider and Knutsen, the benefits include “finding admirable homeowners, many of whom have become lifelong friends”; living in a variety of residences, from “a remote, offthe-grid home in Southern Spain to a multimillion-dollar home near the sexy Sydney, Australia, beaches”; and “generous neighbors whose kindness, local knowledge and cultural lessons we will remember always.” True glomads travel for months or years at a time, generally moving about the planet aboard planes, trains and ships. Kim O'Leary and Paul Blaha, in their mid60s, left their home in Lansing in January 2021 and took a cruise ship to Sydney, Australia. Kim says that on land they travel by train because it’s “more relaxing. We can see the scenery, walk around and not worry about the weight of our luggage.”
They have spent multiple weeks in Lisbon, London, Paris, Helsinki, Seattle and various cities in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. Kim says they “love being in cities.” She says they stay in apartments even though they are “at the mercy of the furniture or the kitchen supplies or space constraints.” Lynda and Robb Kinney, formerly of Detroit, say they are “slomads” because they “normally spend a month or longer in each country.” They also downsized slowly: from a 3,000-square-foot home in 2014 to a two-bedroom apartment and then to a onebedroom apartment. They hit the road in 2019. “We sold everything except a few precious things that are now in storage,” Lynda, 62, says. In their five years of travel, they have not owned
Views from the road: Clockwise from top left: Kristy Halverson, left, has a creekside conversation with a fellow traveler; glomads Lynda and Robb Kinney in Peru; the author's "rig" in Arizona; Kim O'Leary, left, and Paul Blaha outside the Lansing airport before they embarked on their nomadic travels; and van dwellers circle up at the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous.
a car and have lived in numerous nations around the globe. Nomadic logistics The logistics of moving about are challenging. In most states, it is impossible to get a driver’s license, register a vehicle, apply for auto or medical insurance, open a bank account, pay taxes, and register to vote without a physical address in that state. Most states, including Michigan, require that a person live in that state at least 183 days of a tax year in order to be considered a resident. Some states allow people to establish an address if they are registered in an RV campground for a shorter duration, such as one month. South Dakota is a lenient state. There, residency can be established with a stay of only 24 hours, vehicles can be registered by mail from anywhere in the country, a South Dakota driver’s license is good for five years, vehicle insurance rates are low, and there is no income tax. Some nomads establish a legal address with friends or family members who also agree to receive their mail. They vote via absentee ballot.
Some U.S. post offices will accept “general delivery” packages to be picked up by the recipient at a service counter. Mail can be forwarded to an RV park. Amazon will ship to Amazon lockers. Walmart and other large retailers have ship-to-store service. For a monthly fee, commercial mailforwarding companies will provide a postal address, accept mail delivery, open letters confidentially, scan the contents, and send electronic files to a nomad’s email address. The values of nomadicity From April 2019 to October 2022, I was a nomad. I lived in a travel trailer and visited most of the Lower Forty-Eight states. I camped in traditional RV parks and national and state parks and boondocked for free on federal land, where I met and interacted with people who live as nomads. In regard to travel, I see two kinds of people: those who are rooted and those who have wings. Both are valuable. The winged
ones bring stories from afar to those who are rooted, and the rooted ones provide a place for the winged ones to roost. I am some of both. Having traveled extensively, primarily to India with a backpack and without a fully planned itinerary, I appreciate the “travel angels” who have taken me under their wings. I’m also grateful to have often returned to Kalamazoo, where I have many friends and strong connections. I treasure the wisdom of a friend in Spain who told me, “A tourist goes with a fully planned itinerary, while a traveler goes with a destination from which he or she might not return.” I’ve come to believe that nomadicity involves a certain mental state as much as a physical presence in various places. Nomadicity involves being fluid and open. It requires accepting others for who they are, regardless of where they came from or what they look like. Nomadicity increases our neural plasticity, that magnificent capability of our brain and nervous system to modify, functionally and structurally, in response to new experiences. The New World Encyclopedia concurs: “Those who live this (nomadic) way often have knowledge and traditions that are of value to humankind as a whole.” Business Coverage
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TheArts
Playhouse Creatures Nov. 2–5 Festival Playhouse
A Christmas Carol Nov. 17–Dec. 22 New Vic Theatre
Kalamazoo College's Festival Playhouse provides a moving and often comic account of a historic time in English history when theater was making a comeback after 17 years of suppression and when the first English actresses appeared on stage. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2–4 and 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at Nelda K. Balch Playhouse, 129 Thompson St. Tickets cost $25. For more information or to buy tickets, visit festivalplayhouse.kzoo.edu.
Barbecue The Sound of Music Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre will present two very different productions about family this month. The first, Barbecue, is a dark comedy that delves into the life of the O’Mallery siblings and their barbecue that turns into an intervention for their drug-addicted sister. A show for mature audiences, the play addresses family dynamics, addiction and race. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10–11 and 17–18 and 2 p.m. Nov. 12 and 19 at the Parish Theatre, 426 S. Park St. The second production is the iconic musical The Sound of Music, which follows the von Trapp family as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24–25 and 2 p.m. Nov 26 at the Civic Auditorium, 329 S. Park St. Tickets for each production are $30, with discounts for students, children and seniors. For more information or to buy tickets, visit kazoocivic.com.
Matilda Jr.
Nov. 3–5 Center Stage Theatre The beloved Roald Dahl story of a little girl who discovers she has special powers to deal with the negative adults in her life is being brought to life on stage this month. Comstock's Center Stage Theatre will present Matilda Jr., a musical that tells the story of Matilda (played by Norah Wallace), whose life is plagued by her cruel and unloving parents and the evil headmistress of her school. Show times are 7 p.m. Nov. 3–4 and 2 p.m. Nov. 4–5 at the Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St. Tickets are $15. For more information or to buy tickets, visit kzoocst.com or call 343-2727. 22 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
THEATER
You know the holiday season is just around the corner when the New Vic stages its annual production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The classic tale, adapted for the stage by the late New Vic cofounder Ted Kistler, will be staged at 8 p.m. Nov. 17,18, 24 and 30; Dec. 1, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22; and at 2 p.m. Nov. 25–26 and Dec. 3, 10 and 17. The theater is located at 134 E. Vine St. Tickets are $30. For more information or to buy tickets, call 381-3328 or visit thenewvictheatre.org
Clue
Nov. 10–19 WMU Theatre The ever-popular murder-mystery board game Clue is also a play, which WMU Theatre will stage this month. The whodunit follows six dinner guests as they figure out who murdered the host of the party, where everyone is a suspect, everything a murder weapon, and every room is a crime scene. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10–11 and Nov. 17–18 and 2 p.m. Nov. 12 and 19 at Shaw Theatre. Tickets cost $21. For more information or to buy tickets, visit wmich.edu/theatre.
Zorro and the Treacherous Plot Nov. 18 All Ears Theatre
Local playwright Daryl McCullough's take on famous swordfighting vigilante Zorro will be performed in an all-audio telling by All Ears Theatre at 6 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Center, 315 W. Michigan Ave. Admission is free to watch the performance, which will be recorded for later broadcast.
Ongoing Productions
Whose Life is it Anyway? Nov. 3–5, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Addy & Uno, Nov. 4–5, Farmers Alley Theatre Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Nov. 2–5, WMU Theatre
LITERATURE
Author Talks
Online or in-person Various locations
Viola Shipman a.k.a. Wade Rouse
The Kalamazoo Public Library will host several talks this month by authors of fiction and nonfiction works:
Ebony LaDelle
• Actor John Stamos (Full House) will discuss his memoir, If You Would Have Told Me, in an online talk from 8–9 p.m. Nov. 1. • Tiffany Aliche will give an online talk about her book Get Good with Money and Reach Your Financial Goals, from 2–3 p.m. Nov. 9. • Ebony LaDelle, author of Love Radio, will give an in-person talk from 6:30–8 p.m. Nov. 9 at the library's Eastwood Branch, 1112 Gayle Ave. • Joy Harjo will give an online talk about her book, Catching the Light, from 4–5 p.m. Nov. 16. • Naomi Alderman will present an online talk from 3–4 p.m. Nov. 30 on women in science fiction and writing about dystopian worlds in her new book, The Future. In addition, the library is hosting the 46th Annual Mary Calletto Rife Youth Literature Seminar as an online event from 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Nov. 10. It will feature authors Kelly Starling Lyons, Ebony LaDelle and Raul the Third. Registration is required for all online events. To register or for more information, visit kpl.gov.
Throughline: Fall Concert of Dance
DANCE
Nov. 17–19 Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers The premiere of a solo dance choreographed by Wellspring's associate artist director, Marisa Bianan, will launch the modern dance company's 2023–24 season. The program will also include a variety of past choreographic works created by Cori Terry and Bianan. Show times are 8 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18 and 2 p.m. Nov. 19 at Wellspring Theater, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 204. Tickets are $12–$30. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit wellspringdance.org.
Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Nov. 18 Miller Auditorium
Ballet Arts Ensemble joins forces with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Kalamazoo Children's Chorus to present this beloved holiday tale of sugar-plum fairies and nutcracker princes. The full orchestra and choir will join the youth dancers and guest dancers to stage the production. Tickets are $5–$50 and available at online at kalamazoosymphony.com.
Nov. 1 First Presbyterian Church, Richland
Wade Rouse, the internationally bestselling author of 13 books who also writes under the pen name Viola Shipman, will talk about his craft and the inspiration for his pen name from 6–7 p.m. Rouse has written four memoirs and nine novels. His books have been selected multiple times as must-reads by NBC’s Today Show, featured in the Washington Post and USA Today, and chosen three times as Indie Next Picks by the nation’s independent booksellers. He currently splits his time between Saugatuck and California. Sponsored by the Richland Community Library, his talk will be held at the local church, 8047 Church St., Richland. For more information, visit the library's website, richlandlibrary.org.
Dennis Hinrichsen Khaled Mattawa
Nov. 11 Kalamazoo Book Arts Center These two poets will read from their works at 7 p.m. as part of the KBAC’s Poets in Print series. Hinrichsen is the author of 10 books of poetry, including Flesh-Plastique. He has received the Third Coast Poetry Prize and a Hinrichsen Best of the Net Award. He lives in Lansing, where he was the Poet Laureate of the Greater Lansing Area from 2017–2019. Mattawa teaches in the graduate creative writing program at the University of Michigan and is the author of five books of poetry and a critical study of the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. He has co-edited two anthologies of Arab American literature and translated several volumes of contemporary Arabic poetry. His awards include an Academy of American Poets Fellowship, a PEN Award for Poetry in Mattawa Translation, and a MacArthur Fellowship. For more information, visit kalbookarts.org.
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TheArts
WMU School of Music Performances Throughout the month Various venues
Unless noted, Western Michigan University's School of Music performances will be in the university's Dalton Center Recital Hall and are free. Scheduled this month are: • Western Winds — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1, $5–$15. •Gold Company Sneak Preview — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, $5–$15. •Chuck Owens Ensemble — Featuring the renowned jazz composer, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, $5–$15. •Rebecca Johnson & Magie Beck — Perform on flute and clarinet, respectively, 5 p.m., Dalton Center Lecture Hall. • L’Elisir d’Amore by Gaetano Donizetti — Presented by WMU Opera, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11, $5–$15. •University Symphony Orchestra — 3 p.m. Nov. 12. •Wesley Ferreira — Clarinetist, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13. • 9th Annual Midfest — University Concert Band performs with Middle School Honor Band, 7 p.m. Nov. 14, Miller Auditorium. • Best of MAT — Works by WMU’s multimedia arts technology students, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14. • Nick Zoulek — Saxophonist, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16. • Big Band Swing Tribute — University Jazz Orchestra and University Jazz Lab Band perform, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, $5–$15. • University Percussion Ensemble — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18. •University Wind Symphony & Symphonic Band — 3 p.m. Nov. 19, Miller Auditorium. • Multimedia Concert — Performed by WMU faculty and guest artists, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21. • Jazz Combo Showcase — 5 p.m. Nov. 27. • Birds on a Wire — New music ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28. • WMU String Day Artists — Featuring MingHuan Xu, violin; Roger Chase, viola; Paul York, cello; Dale Anderson, double bass; and Winston Choi, piano, 7:30 Nov. 29, $5–$15. • David Holland — Bassist, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30, $5–$15. To purchase tickets for ticketed events, go to wmich.edu/music/events. 24 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
Ben Gulley & Peter Dugan Nov. 5 Fontana Chamber Arts
Tenor Ben Gulley and pianist Peter Dugan, host of NPR's From the Top, will present a musical journey across genres, in this 3 p.m. concert at WMU’s Dalton Center Recital Hall. Gulley is a versatile vocal artist whose recent work has Gulley included featured roles in opera, solo engagements, concerts, film work, touring and appearances abroad. Dugan, in addition to hosting his weekly show on NPR, has played piano as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician across North America and Europe. Tickets are $15–$30 and available online at fontanamusic.org or by calling 250-6984.
Connecting Chords Music Festival Throughout the month Various venues
The festival, which began in October, continues this month with these performances: • Tres Souls, featuring songs stylized during the golden era of Mexican cinema, 4 p.m. Nov. 5, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St. • The String Queens, with a repertoire spanning from baroque to pop, 7 p.m. Nov. 7, Comstock Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St. • Messiah Sing, with professional orchestra and soloists, 4 p.m. Nov. 26, First Congregational United Church of Christ, 345 W. Michigan Ave. Tickets for the first two events are $5–$20 and can be purchased online at ccmusicfest.com or at the door.
New Beginnings
Nov. 5 Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra This youth orchestra will give a concert at 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave. The program will include pieces by Aaron Copland, Claude Debussy, Franz List, Ethel Smyth and Stanislaw Moniuszko. Tickets are $5–$15 and available at kjso.org or by calling 349-7557.
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony Nov. 11 Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Zitoun
Young cellist Amelia Zitoun, the Stulberg International String Competition’s 2023 gold medalist, will join the KSO in this 7:30 p.m. concert at Miller Auditorium. The concert will start with the orchestra performing Jonathan Bailey Holland’s The Party Starter, followed by Zitoun's performance of Haydn's Cello Concerto in D Major. The concert will conclude with the KSO’s performance of Beethoven's thundering Fifth Symphony. Tickets are $5–$68 and available online at kalamazoosymphony.org or by calling 250-6984.
Dugan
COMEDY
MUSIC In the Bloom of Youth
Kalamazoo Improv Festival
A program of music by composers who died young is on tap for this orchestra's first concert of the season, set for 3 p.m. in Kalamazoo College’s Dalton Theatre, in the Light Fine Arts Building. The Philharmonia will perform works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Lili Boulanger and Vasily Kalinnikov, who all attained success but died before the age of 40. Tickets are $3–$7 and will be available at the door. For more information, visit philharmonia.kzoo.edu.
The funniest festival in Kalamazoo returns this month to Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, 315 W. Michigan Ave. More than 10 teams are expected to perform during the threeday event. Find the performance schedule and purchase tickets at crawlspacecomedy.com.
Nov. 12 Kalamazoo Philharmonia
Nov. 2–4 Crawlspace Comedy Theatre
Remembering Tony Bennett
Nov. 30 Blendings Vocal Ensemble
The late Tony Bennett's illustrious singing career will be memorialized by this choir, accompanied by a live jazz trio. The concert will include Bennett standards such as "The Shadow of Your Smile" and "My Romance" and holiday favorites including "Sleigh Ride," "Snowfall" and "Santa Baby." The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at KNAC/First Baptist Church, 315 W. Michigan Ave. Admission is $15. For more information, visit facebook.com/ BlendingsEnsemble.kalamazoosymphony.com.
More Improv Performances
Throughout the month Various venues A number of improv acts are performing around town this month. Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, at 315 W. Michigan Ave., will host three of them: • Riddled With English, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, $10. • Blunder Bus, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18, $10. • Crawlspace Eviction, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 and 25, $15. For more information on the three shows, visit crawlspacecomedy.com The improv troupe Canned Champagne will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit dormousetheatre.com.
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TheArts
VISUAL ARTS
Intertwined
Nov. 3–29 Black Arts & Cultural Center Works created by artists Arielle Simmons, Jennifer Hodges and Gee's Bend Quilters using textiles and fabrics will be on display at the center's gallery, at 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 202. An opening reception will begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 3. The exhibition can also be seen during regular BACC hours of 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays–Fridays. For more information, visit blackartskalamazoo.org.
Art Hop
Nov. 3 Downtown Kalamazoo With a theme of “The Future Looks Bright,” this month’s Art Hop has a focus on educators and students. This free event, organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, runs from 5–8 p.m. The Arts Council has an app that provides a guide and maps of Art Hop sites, information about participating artists, and walking directions. For more information or to access the app, visit kalamazooarts.org.
Erica Spitzer Rasmussen: Books Abound Nov. 3–Jan. 12 Kalamazoo Book Arts Center
One-of-a-kind hand-bound books created with unconventional materials by artist and educator Erica Spitzer Rasmussen will be on display at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave, Suite 103A. In addition, Rasmussen will speak about her work at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at Western Michigan University's Richmond Center for Visual Arts. The exhibition will open Nov. 3 with a reception from 5–8 p.m. It can also be viewed during regular KBAC gallery hours of 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. Monday–Friday. For more information, visit kalbookarts.org.
Ongoing Exhibitions Kalamazoo Institute of Arts A Bridge Between Two Worlds: Works by Wu Jian’an, through Dec. 31 Unveiling American Genius, through Dec. 31
TIME TESTED. TENACIOUS. TRUSTED.
C.C. Wang: Lines of Abstraction, through Dec. 31 Celebrate! through Jan. 14 Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Review, through Jan. 28
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Richmond Center for Visual Arts, WMU Photosynthesis II, through Nov. 18, Albertine Monroe-Brown Gallery In Its Place, through Nov. 18, Netzorg & Kerr Gallery
ENCORE EVENTS
PERFORMING ARTS THEATER Plays
Playhouse Creatures — Kalamazoo College’s Festival Playhouse presents this account of theater’s resurgence during the Restoration period & the first appearance of English actresses on stage, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2–4, 2 p.m. Nov. 5, Balch Playhouse, 129 Thompson St., festivalplayhouse. kzoo.edu. Whose Life is it Anyway? — The Civic's Senior Class Reader’s Theatre presents this play about a sculptor left paralyzed from a car accident who invokes the law of habeas corpus 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3–4, 2 p.m. Nov. 5, Carver Center Studio, 426 South Park St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com. Barbecue — The O'Mallery family gathers to confront their youngest sister, who is an addict, in this comedic play, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10–11 & 17–18, 2 p.m. Nov. 12 & 19, Parish Theatre, 405 W. Lovell St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com; adult content. Clue — A whodunit inspired by the board game, presented by WMU Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10–11 & 17–18, 2 p.m. Nov. 12 & 19, Shaw Theatre, Gilmore Theatre Complex, WMU, 387-6222, wmich.edu/ theatre. Every Brilliant Thing — A coming-of-age story about paying attention to life’s smallest joys & each other, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30–Dec. 2, 7–9 & 14–16, 2 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 & 17, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343–2727, farmersalleytheatre.com. Next Stop, Broadway — Cabaret featuring WMU theater seniors & guest Lauren Worsham, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30–Dec. 1, 2 p.m. Dec. 2, Williams Theater, Gilmore Theatre Complex, 387-6222, wmich.edu/theatre. Musicals Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 — An electropop opera based on a slice of Leo Tolstoy’s War & Peace, presented by WMU Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2–4, 2 p.m. Nov. 5, Williams Theater, WMU, 387-6222, wmich.edu/theatre. Matilda Jr. — The story of a girl who dreams of a better life while battling a mean headmistress & unloving parents, 7 p.m. Nov. 3–5, 2 p.m. Nov. 4 (sensory-friendly), Center Stage Theatre, Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St., kzoocst.com. Peppa Pig: Sing-Along Party — Peppa Pig's family throws a sing-along party, 2 p.m. Nov. 4, Miller Auditorium, WMU, millerauditorium.com. Addy & Uno — A child with autism competes in his school’s math competition in this puppet production, 11 a.m. Nov. 4, 2 p.m. Nov. 4–5, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343–2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: King for a Day — Musical based on the PBS kids’ TV show, 3 p.m. Nov. 12, Miller Auditorium, WMU, millerauditorium. com. A Christmas Carol — The classic tale by Charles Dickens, 8 p.m. Nov. 17–18, 24, 30, Dec. 1, 8–9, 13–15, 20–22, 2 p.m. Nov. 25–26, Dec. 3, 10 & 17, New Vic Theatre, 134 E. Vine St., 381-3328, thenewvictheatre.org. The Sound of Music — The story of a musical governess & her charges, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24–25, Dec. 1–2, 8–9 & 15, 2 p.m. Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 16–17, Civic Theatre, 329 S. Park St., 343–1313, kazoocivic.com; adult content. Other Zorro — An all-audio theater production about how a rich rancher became El Zorro the Fox, 6 p.m. Nov. 18, Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan, allearstheatre.org. DANCE Throughline: Fall Concert of Dance — Presented by Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, 8 p.m. Nov. 17–18, 2 p.m. Nov. 19, Wellspring Theatre, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 204, wellspringdance.org. Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker — Ballet Arts Ensemble, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra & Kalamazoo Children's Chorus join together for this classic Christmas tale, 7 p.m. Nov. 18, Miller Auditorium, WMU, kalamazoosymphony.com. MUSIC Bands & Solo Artists Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — Zoso, Nov. 3; The Ladybug Transistor, Nov. 11; Barbaro, Nov. 16; all shows begin at 8 p.m., 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382–2332, bellsbeer.com. Gary Allen — Country music, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, wingseventcenter.com/events. Buddy Guy — Blues musician, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St., kazoostate.com. Mariachi Herencia De México — Mariachi music, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18, State Theatre, kazoostate.com. Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More Western Winds —7:30 p.m. Nov. 1, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/music/events. Gold Company Sneak Preview — WMU’s vocal jazz ensembles perform, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events. Chuck Owens Ensemble — Performs as part of WMU’s Guest Artist Series, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events. Ben Gulley & Peter Dugan — Tenor & pianist perform opera, Broadway & jazz tunes, 3 p.m. Nov. 5, Dalton Center Recital Hall, fontanamusic.org. Tres Souls — Sound of Latin Bolero, presented by Connecting Chords Music Festival, 4 p.m. Nov. 5, Dormouse Theatre,1030 Portage St., connectingchordsfestival.com. New Beginnings — Performance by the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, 4 p.m. Nov. 5, Chenery
Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., 349–7557, kjso.org. Rebecca Johnson — The flutist conducts a master class at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5 & a recital at 5 p.m. Nov. 5, Dalton Center Lecture Hall, wmich.edu/music/ events. The String Queens — A string trio performing music from baroque to current hits, 7 p.m. Nov. 7, Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St., connectingchordsfestival.com. Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra — Performs at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at The Dock at Bayview, 12504 E. D Ave., Richland, call 731-4911 for reservations.
L’Elisir d’Amore by Gaetano Donizetti — Presented by WMU Opera, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 & 11, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/ events. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony — The KSO performs with Stulberg International String Competition 2023 Gold Medalist Amelia Zitoun, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11, Miller Auditorium, kalamazoosymphony.org. Joshua Tree – Acoustic folk quartet, 2 p.m. Nov. 12, Parchment Community Library, 401 S. Riverview Dr., 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org. University Symphony Orchestra — 3 p.m. Nov. 12, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/ events.
In the Bloom of Youth — Kalamazoo Philharmonia performs, 3 p.m. Nov. 12, Dalton Theatre, Light Fine Arts Building, Kalamazoo College, philharmonia. kzoo.edu. Wesley Ferreira — The clarinetist conducts a master class at 1 p.m., Dalton Center Room 1116, and a recital at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events. 9th Annual Midfest — University Concert Band performs with Middle School Honor Band, 7 p.m. Nov. 14, Miller Auditorium, wmich.edu/music/ events. Best of MAT — Studio recital of works by WMU’s Multimedia Arts Technology students, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/ music/events. Nick Zoulek — The saxophonist performs, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich. edu/music/events. Big Band Swing Concert — University Jazz Orchestra & University Jazz Lab Band, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/ music/events. University Percussion Ensemble — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/ events. University Wind Symphony & Symphonic Band — 3 p.m. Nov. 19, Miller Auditorium, wmich.edu/ music/events. Guest & Faculty Recital —Multimedia program, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.
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EVENTS ENCORE Messiah Sing — Connecting Chords presents a sing-along of Handel’s Messiah with orchestra & soloists, 4 p.m. Nov. 26, First Congregational United Church of Christ, 345 W. Michigan Ave., connectingchordsfestival.com.
Canned Champagne — Improv comedy, 7:30–9:30 p.m. Nov. 18, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage Road, dormousetheatre.com.
Jazz Combo Showcase — 5 p.m. Nov. 27, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.
Crawlspace Eviction — Local improv troupe, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24–25, Crawlspace Theatre, crawlspacecomedy.com.
WMU String Day Artists — MingHuan Xu, violin; Roger Chase, viola; Paul York, cello; Dale Anderson, double bass; & Winston Choi, piano, present a master class at 2 p.m. & performance at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29, Dalton Center Recital Hall, with preconcert talk at 7 p.m., wmich.edu/music/events.
Remembering Tony Bennett — The late crooner's songs presented by Blendings Vocal Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30, KNAC, 315 W. Michigan Ave., facebook.com/BlendingsEnsemble. David Holland — The bassist performs, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/ music/events. COMEDY Kalamazoo Improv Festival — More than 10 teams compete, Nov. 2–4, Crawlspace Theatre, 315 W. Michigan Ave., crawlspacecomedy.com. Lewis Black — Comedian, 8 p.m. Nov. 10, State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St., kazoostate.com. Riddled with English — Local improv troupe, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Crawlspace Theatre, crawlspacecomedy.com.
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Blunder Bus — Local improv team, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18, Crawlspace Theatre, crawlspacecomedy.com.
VISUAL ARTS Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park St., 349-7775, kiarts.org Exhibitions
A Bridge Between Two Worlds: Works by Wu Jian’an — Cut paper, painting & sculpture, through Dec. 31. C.C. Wang: Lines of Abstraction — An exhibition of the late artist’s Chinese ink painting & American postwar abstraction, through Dec. 31. Unveiling American Genius — Abstract & contemporary works emphasizing stories told by African American, Latino & other artists, through Dec. 31. Celebrate! — Images of joyful events & environments, through Jan. 14. Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Review — Biennial exhibition showcasing 40-plus Southwest Michigan artists, through Jan. 28.
Events Dia de los Muertos Celebration — Celebration of the Mexican holiday with an ofrenda (community memorial altar) & making a memento honoring a loved one, 5–8 p.m. Nov. 3. To contribute a photo of a loved one to a memorial slideshow that will play in the auditorium, fill out a form on the KIA website by 5 p.m. Nov. 2. Richmond Center for Visual Arts Western Michigan University, 387-2436, wmich.edu/art Exhibitions
Photosynthesis II — A 17-person exhibition curated by Ninth Wave Studio, through Nov. 18, Albertine Monroe-Brown Gallery. In Its Place — Print media artist Nichole Maury’s examination of the concept of home, through Nov. 18, Netzorg & Kerr Gallery. Radical Jewelry Makeover Midwest — Students display their work, Nov. 14–17, DeVries Student Gallery. Jessalyn Kline & Sophia Pfeifer — Students display their work, Nov. 28–Dec. 1, DeVries Student Gallery. Events
Photosynthesis II Artist Panel — With Anna Z. Ill, Honore Lee & Linda Rzoska, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 2, Room 2008.
ENCORE EVENTS Erica Spitzer Rasmussen — Speaker from Kalamazoo Book Arts Center & WMU Special Collections Library, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2, Room 2008 (see her KBAC exhibition below).
Photosynthesis II Poetry Reading — Elizabeth Kerlikowske & Lynn Pattison, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16, Albertine Monroe-Brown Gallery. Other Venues Art Hop — Displays of art at various locations, with the theme “The Future Looks Bright” focusing on educators & students, 5–8 p.m. Nov. 3, downtown Kalamazoo, 342–5059, kalamazooarts.org. Intertwined — Textiles & fabrics, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays–Fridays, Nov. 3–29; opening night reception, 5 p.m. Nov. 3, Black Arts & Cultural Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 202, blackartskalamazoo.org. Erica Spitzer Rasmussen: Books Abound — Sculptural objects & hand-bound books, Nov. 3–Jan. 12, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave, Suite 103A, with an artist’s reception 5–8 p.m. Nov. 3, 373–4938, kalbookarts.org. LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS Antwerp Sunshine Branch Library 24283 Front St., Mattawan, 668-2534, vbdl.org Charcuterie Boards — Lesson from Laura Day, 5:30–7 p.m. Nov. 7. Niagara Falls — A celebration of the falls, with crafts & snacks, 5–6:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Sunshine Readers’ Book Club — 5:30–6:45 p.m. Nov. 15. What’s Cooking Book Club — 5:30–7 p.m. Nov. 20. Kalamazoo Public Library 553-7800, kpl.gov KPL Mobile Library — 11 a.m.–noon Nov. 1, Ecumenical Senior Center, 702 N. Burdick St.; 3:30–
WHAT’S
NEW
5 p.m. Nov. 6, New Village Park/Heather Gardens, 2400 Albans Way; 3–4 p.m. Nov. 28, Maple Grove Village, 735 Summit Ave.
Music & Memories — Songs & discussion on how music brings up memories, 10:45 a.m. Nov. 13, Oshtemo Branch.
Can Poetry Be Funny? — Area writers & celebrities read short, funny poems, 6–7 p.m. Nov. 1, Central Library, 315 S. Rose St.
Page Turners Book Club — Discussion of Adele Myers’ The Tobacco Wives, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Nov. 13, Oshtemo Branch & online; registration required.
John Stamos — The actor discusses his memoir If You Would Have Told Me in an online talk, 8–9 p.m. Nov. 1; registration required.
Reading Race Group — Discussion of Wanda Morris’ Anywhere You Run, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14, Boardroom, Central Library.
KPL Tech Days — Personal session to learn technology & the internet, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Nov. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27, Central Library; sessions are first-come, first-served.
The Great North American Eclipse – Kalamazoo Astronomical Society President Richard Bell explains why eclipses occur & how to view them safely, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14, Oshtemo Branch.
First Saturday of the Month — Visit with community organizations, create crafts & do activities, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Nov. 4, Alma Powell Branch, 1000 W. Paterson St.
Classics Revisited — Discussion of Anton Chekhov’s Selected Stories, 2:30–4 p.m. Nov. 16, Central Library; online option available.
Coffee Talk — Discussion of Parag Khanna’s video Where on Earth Will People Live in the Future?, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Nov. 8, Oshtemo Branch, 7265 W. Main St. Cafe Reads — Discussion of Ebony LaDelle’s Love Radio, 4:30–5:30 p.m. Nov. 8, Oshtemo Branch, for ages 15 & up; registration required. Tiffany Aliche— Online talk by author of Get Good with Money & Reach Your Financial Goals, 2–3 p.m. Nov. 9; registration required. Ebony LaDelle — Presentation by Michigan Notable Author of Love Radio, 6:30–8 p.m. Nov. 9, Eastwood Branch, 1112 Gayle Ave. Mary Calletto Rife Youth Literature Seminar — Online event featuring authors Kelly Starling Lyons, Ebony LaDelle & Raul the Third, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Nov. 10; registration required. Rose Street Poetry Club — A group for adults, with reading & writing of poetry, 10–11 a.m. Nov. 11, Central Library.
Joy Harjo — An online talk about her most recent book, Catching the Light, 4–5 p.m. Nov. 16, kpl. gov/live; registration required. Senior Citizens’ Breakfast — A hot breakfast & opportunity to ask health care questions, 10:30– noon Nov. 17, Eastwood Branch.
Tizoc — A screening of the 1957 drama, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Nov. 18, Washington Square Branch, 1244 Portage St. Bujo & Chill for Teens & Adults — A morning of lofi hip-hop music & bullet journaling, 10:30 a.m.– noon Nov. 25, Oshtemo Branch. Books That Go Bump in the Night — A discussion of author Shirley Jackson, 6–7:15 p.m. Nov. 28, Central Library; registration required. Naomi Alderman — An online talk about women in science fiction & her book, The Future, 3–4 p.m. Nov. 30, kpl.gov/live; registration required. Dungeons & Dragons Game Night — Beginner & experienced tables, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Nov. 30, Central Library; registration required.
SAVE THE DATE TO CELEBRATE OUR 2023 COMMUNITY ARTS AWARD RECIPIENTS! Please join us for our community celebration to honor this year’s award recipients! The event is free, but reservations are required.
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 7:00 pm Gull Lake Center for the Fine Arts There are 3 ways to RSVP: 1) SCAN: This handy QR Code > 2) EMAIL: info@kalamazooarts.org 3) CALL: 269.342.5059
Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo
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EVENTS ENCORE Parchment Community Library 401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org Make a Tile Coaster – Led by Alta Herman, all supplies provided, 6 p.m. Nov. 6; registration required. Big Furry Friends – Meet therapy dogs, 4:30–6:30 p.m. Nov. 7, 14 & 21. Parchment Book Group – Discussion of Diane Chamberlain's The Last House on the Street, 6 p.m. Nov. 13. Mystery Book Club – Discussion of SJ Bennett's All the King’s Men, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Friends of the Library Book Sale – Downstairs at the library, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Nov. 18, early bird admission 8–9 a.m. for $2. Portage District Library 300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info Muffins & the Market — A discussion of market trends, 9 a.m. Nov. 2 & 16. International Mystery Book Club — Discussion of Amy McCulloch’s Breathless, 7 p.m. Nov. 9. Documentary & Donuts — Viewing of the film Lead Me Home, about homeless people living on the West Coast, 10–11:30 a.m. Nov. 10.
Meet Abraham Lincoln: Celebrating the 160th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address —Norma
Clack shares the story of her family’s Civil War flag, followed by professional Lincoln reenactor Kevin Wood reciting the famous speech, 2–4 p.m. Nov. 11.
environmentally friendly landscaping, 7 p.m. Nov. 22.
The Politics of Star Trek — A discussion on the political message in the Star Trek series, 7–8 p.m. Nov. 14.
Bridge Club — Noon Tuesdays.
Brain Revolution Workshop: Gearing Up for the Holidays — Cymantha White on brain health during difficult seasons, 9–11 a.m. Nov. 15. Heartwarming Reads Book Club — Discussion of T.J. Klune’s In the Lives of Puppets, 2 p.m. Nov. 15. Family Game Night — Play board & card games, 6–8 p.m. Nov. 15; registration required. Blades of the American Civil War — Jerry Berg, from the Swordmanship Museum & Academy, discusses the blades used during the Civil War, 6:30–8 p.m. Nov. 15; registration required. Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group — Help with Macintosh programs & accessories, 9 a.m.–noon Nov. 18. Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society — Open to those interested in genealogy, 7 p.m. Nov. 20. Plots & Pages: A Local Writers Group — Author Mark Love discusses the craft of writing, 6 p.m. Nov. 21. Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones: On the Brink of Local Extinction — A monthly program on
Richland Community Library 8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org Richland Area Writer’s Group — 10 a.m.–noon Nov. 11. RCL Film Club — Discussion of Persepolis, 6 p.m. Nov. 15. Richland Genealogy Group — Roundtable discussion group, 10 a.m.–noon Nov. 16, in person & online. RCL Book Club — Discussion of Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures, 6 p.m. Nov. 16. Adult Dungeons & Dragons Level 1 — Play a live game with other adults, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Nov. 18; registration required. Team Trivia — 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29; registration required. Vicksburg District Library 215 S. Michigan Ave., 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org Book Club for Adults — 9:30–10:30 a.m. Nov. 2. Writers’ Motivational Group — Report progress, set goals, share resources & brainstorm projects, Nov. 8. Movie Club — Watch 12 Angry Men, 1–3:30 p.m. Nov. 27. Birdwatchers & Nature Group — Learn & share information with fellow bird & nature watchers, 1–2 p.m. Nov. 30. Other Venues Meet Michigan Author: Viola Shipman — Wade Rouse speaks on his story of inspiration & his Shipman pen name, 6–7 p.m. Nov. 1, First Presbyterian Church, 8047 Church St., Richland. NaNoWriMo Write-in — Participate in National Novel Writing Month, a challenge to write a 50,000-word novel in the month of November, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Nov. 6, 9, 16, 19, 26 & 30, Comstock Township Library, 6130 King Highway, 345-0136, comstocklibrary.org. Reginald Dwayne Betts — Presentation by the executive director of Freedom Reads, a nonprofit organization installing libraries in prisons across the country, , 7 p.m. Nov. 9, 2452 Knauss Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/events. Dennis Hinrichsen & Khaled Mattawa — The poets read from their works, 7 p.m., Nov. 11, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A, 373-4938, kalbookarts.org. MUSEUMS
Evaluation & Care of Trees and Shrubs Kalamazoo, MI • 269-381-5412 • www.arboristserviceskzoo.com 30 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N. Rose St., 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org
Wonder Media: Ask the Questions! — Test your media literacy skills & learn to discern misinformation & disinformation in the media, through Dec. 31.
ENCORE EVENTS SPLAT! The Buzz About Flyswatters — A collection of 3,300-plus fly swatters, through Jan. 7.
Birds & Coffee Chat Online — Discussion on owls, 10 a.m. Nov. 8; registration required.
Off the Shelves: Exploring the KVM's Furniture Collection — A collection that spans over 200 years from one-of-a-kind items, massproduced pieces by local manufacturers, through Jan. 21. Other Venues Winter Wonderland — An outdoor driving tour with lights, music & decorations, 5–9 p.m. Nov. 24–Dec. 30, Thursdays–Sundays, except Christmas Day, Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671-5089,gilmorecarmuseum. org. NATURE Kalamazoo Nature Center 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574, naturecenter.org Discovering Trees & Forests — Learn about local ecology, 5:30–7 p.m. Nov. 1. Creative Wilderness: Artists & Authors — Art-making techniques with guest artists, 1–3 p.m. Nov. 9. Candlelight Night Hike — 6:30–9 p.m. Nov. 10; registration required. Returning & Reskilling Series: Indian Corn Soup — Learn skills needed to live with the land, 10 a.m.–noon Nov. 25, DeLano Homestead, 555 West E Ave.; registration required. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu Fall Migration Celebration — Experts available to answer questions & identify waterfowl, live birds of prey, crafts & activities, 1–4 p.m. Nov. 5.
Nature Hike: Spooky Secrets Bog Walk — Take a twilight hike in a bog, 5:30–7 p.m. Nov. 2, South Westnedge Park, 9010 S. Westnedge Ave.; bring waterproof boots, weather-appropriate gear & flashlight; portagemi.gov.
Other Venues
Kalamazoo Astronomical Society — Sun, Moon, Earth: Solar Eclipses from Omens to Awe, 7–9:15 p.m. Nov. 3, Kalamazoo Math & Science Center, 600 W. Vine St., online option available, kasonline.org. Beginning Birding Walk — Led by an experienced birder, 9–11 a.m. Nov. 4; meet at second parking lot at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, 34270 County Road 652, Mattawan, kalamazooaudubon.org. Online Viewing Session — Utilizing the KAS's remote telescope in Arizona, 8:30-10-30 p.m. Nov. 11 (cloud date, Nov. 12) online; register at kasonline.org. Astrophotography: How to Photograph the Eclipse — Reviewing minimal to complex camera techniques to capture astral images, 8–9:15 p.m. Nov. 17 online; register at kasonline.org. MISCELLANEOUS First Friday — Extended shopping hours, live music & food, 5–9 p.m. Nov. 3, downtown Kalamazoo, downtownkalamazoo.org.
Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth — An experiential extension of the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St., kazoostate.com. Kalamazoo Farmers Market — 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturdays, through Nov. 18, 1204 Bank St., pfcmarkets.com.
KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS
Harvest Market — More than 100 vendor booths, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Nov. 4, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., 903–5820. Kalamazoo Numismatic Club Annual Fall Coin Show — Buy, sell & trade coins, paper money & memorabilia, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Nov. 4, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, North Room, 491-0962. Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo — Reptiles, amphibians, small mammals & other exotic pets, plus supplies & food, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Nov. 4, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, kalamazooreptileexpo.com. West Michigan Harvest Cluster Dog Show — More than 140 AKC-recognized breeds compete, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Nov. 9–13, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616–490–5227. The Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee — Team competition benefiting the Ready To Read children’s book program, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15, Fetzer Center, 2251 Business Court, WMU, kpl.gov/ children/ready-to-read. Holiday Craft Show — 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Nov. 18, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Nov. 19, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 903–5820. Makers Tour: A Walking Tour of a Downtown Kalamazoo Winery, Distillery & Brewery — Spotlighting craft beverage makers, noon–4 p.m. Nov. 18, beginning at Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill, 100 W. Michigan Ave., 350–4598, westmibeertours.com. Tree Lighting Ceremony — Festivities planned for 5–7 p.m., lighting at 6 p.m. Nov. 24, Bronson Park, kzooparks.org. Kalamazoo Antique Toy Show — Antique, vintage & collectible toys, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Nov. 25, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 366–1314.
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Thursday, November 16, 5-8 PM Members Night Friday, November 17, 5-8 PM Saturday, November 18, 9 AM - 3 PM 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 | 269.349.7775 | www.kiarts.org
Artwork image credit: Amelia Falk, blue pendant Amy Hudson, ceramic houses Deb Flook, bracelet
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Le wis Re e d & A llen P .C . a t t orn eys Front row, center: Richard D. Reed Middle Row (L-R): Owen D. Ramey, Staci L. Salisbury, Wesley J. Todd, Jennifer Wu, Michael A. Dombos, Vernon Bennett III, Lana M. Escamilla, James M. Marquardt Back Row (L-R): Stephen M. Denenfeld, Jonathan J. Vander Horst, Joseph W. Vander Horst, Ronald W. Ryan, Thomas C. Richardson, David A. Lewis, Michael A. Shields, Kimberly L. Swinehart 136 east michigan avenue suite 800 | kalamazoo | michigan | 49007-3947
phone: 269.388.7600 | fax: 269.349.3831 www.lewisreedallen.com
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Sowmya Krishnamurthy (continued from page 34) see someone from Kalamazoo who was so successful at the top of his game. It really showed possibilities.” When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I think I always gravitated towards public speaking and English. I love to read and write. I loved reading the dictionary and learning big words. When I was really young, I wanted to be a teacher. I remember having my stuffed animals sitting around, and I would tell them things. I’m not sure what I was teaching them, but I kind of liked this idea of having a platform. The idea of getting into the music business probably came when I was 13. I grew up in the ’90s and was definitely a kid that would run home after school and flip between MTV, BET and VH1. As the internet became an important platform, I would go on message boards and Yahoo chatrooms to talk about music. I knew I wanted to move to New York. Why did you choose to write a book about hip-hop fashion? There had been occasional fashion books before, but oftentimes with hip-hop fashion it becomes distilled into the most basic thing, like, ‘This is a book about baggy jeans or clothing with logos.’ But to me, it’s deeper than that. I set out to dive into the history, politics, economic conditions and psychology of hip-hop fashion, not just what artists are wearing, but why, and looking at it from a larger perspective. Before we can talk about logos, you’ve got to talk about Dapper Dan (the moniker for Daniel Day, a Harlem, New York, fashion designer whose designs are iconic in hip-hop music). Before we talk about Dapper Dan, we have to go back to Harlem, really going deeper than just ‘these are the artists and these are some of the brands that they wear.’ What is something you didn’t anticipate while writing your book? That book writing is a marathon. When writing an article for online or print, I can turn around 2,000 to 3,000 words very quickly. But a book is 80,000 words. I think every chapter had approximately 40 to 50 references, so you really have to become immersed in the
ENCORE BACK STORY subject matter. I thought going into this, ‘Yeah, I know about this,’ but there were things I didn’t know about or only knew part of the story. That research was quite interesting — I’m reading books, watching documentaries and old music videos, interviewing artists and listening to podcasts. With a book, you do all this research and feel like you’re just scratching the surface. What were you surprised to learn? An interesting tidbit was the contributions of women. Often when people talk about hip-hop and fashion, it’s told through the lens of men and their contributions, whether it’s artists, designers, even models. But behind the scenes, there were so many integral women, from magazine editors to stylists, just people who were there and made important contributions. You look at somebody like April Walker — her story as a streetwear pioneer is often forgotten because you hear the names of her contemporaries, but she was right there. She was dressing Biggie, Tupac, and Treach from Naughty By Nature and was very much a young female entrepreneur. What has been your experience as an Indian American journalist? When I was growing up, there was not a lot of Indian American representation in journalism or otherwise. The earliest example I remember was Sanjay Gupta (chief medical correspondent for CNN). Because there was nobody to compare myself to, I was able to forge my own path and figure out the blueprint because I was the blueprint. Anytime you’re doing something nontraditional or off the beaten path, you have to have a lot of confidence in yourself, be your biggest cheerleader, fan and advocate, because often you don’t get that from the people around you. What’s great now is you are seeing more Indian American representation, whether it be on television, in film or in politics. I really hope that my story and other people’s stories do inspire the next generation. — Interview by Kalloli Bhatt, edited for length and clarity
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BACK STORY ENCORE
Sowmya Krishnamurthy
David Noles
Freelance music journalist
Kalamazoo resident Sowmya Krishnamurthy really loves hip-hop
and hip-hop fashion, as evidenced by her new book, Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion, which was released last month by Simon & Schuster. A self-described ’90s kid who had a steady diet of music television and internet music platforms, she says she always had an “inner knowing” that she would be involved in the music industry. She is now a freelance music journalist living in New York City. “I didn’t know how I was going to get from Kalamazoo to the music business, but I knew it was going to happen,” says the 39-year-old, a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and the University of Michigan. 34 | ENCORE NOVEMBER 2023
While at U of M studying marketing and management, Krishnamurthy had a number of internships, from writing for The Michigan Daily, the university’s student paper, and reporting for CNN to working for the music label Bad Boy Records. She started freelancing for New York Magazine and Rolling Stone, writing reviews for shows and concerts and decided to become a full-time freelance journalist. But the one thing Krishnamurthy has taken away from her career experience thus far is how “you can be from a small town, have big dreams and ambitions, and follow those dreams.” “I would always think of Derek Jeter because he was the biggest celebrity from Kalamazoo,” she says. “For me, it was really inspiring to (continued on page 33)
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