Calendar

May
23
Thu
Vikki Tobak: Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop When @ AADL Traverwood
May 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:45 pm

The perfect gift for music and photography fans, an inside look at the work of hip-hop photographers told through their most intimate diaries—their contact sheets.

Featuring rare outtakes from over 100 photoshoots alongside interviews and essays from industry legends, Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop takes readers on a chronological journey from old-school to alternative hip-hop and from analog to digital photography. The ultimate companion for music and photography enthusiasts, Contact High is the definitive history of hip-hop’s early days, celebrating the artists that shaped the iconic album covers, t-shirts and posters beloved by hip-hop fans today.  If you will be in LA this year from April to August be sure to check out The Contact High photography exhibit!

With essays from BILL ADLER, RHEA L. COMBS, FAB 5 FREDDY, MICHAEL GONZALES, YOUNG GURU, DJ PREMIER, and RZA 

VIKKI TOBAK is a journalist whose writing has appeared in The FADER, Complex, Mass Appeal, The Undefeated, Paper Magazine, i-D Magazine, The Detroit News, Vibe, and many others. Vikki is also the founding curator of FotoDC’s film program, and served as the art commissioner/curator for the Palo Alto Public Art Commission in Silicon Valley. She has lectured about music photography at American University, VOLTA New York, Photoville, Chicago Cultural Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

This event includes a book signing and books will be on sale.

May
24
Fri
Poetry at Literati: Clayton Eshleman: Pollen Aria @ Literati
May 24 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Literati is honored to welcome back poet Clayton Eshelman who will be reading from his new collection Pollen Aria.

About Pollen Aria:
That Clayton Eshleman has not ceased from exploration over a career spanning more than 60 years is witnessed by the bulk, range, and diversity of his prior work. Now in his 80’s Eshleman presents us with a last collection of his poems-mostly recent, a few older. That he has sought to open up his life and work, to entwine and entangle it with others, through observation and vision, research and scholarship, translation and editing, and collaboration and conversation, all of this reflects Eshleman’s life commitment, indeed a commitment to life in writing poetry.

Clayton Eshleman has had published roughly 100 books and chapbooks of original poetry, translations, and nonfiction writings, and edited seventy issues of magazines and journals, including the ground-breaking Caterpillar and Sulfur. His writings have appeared in over 500 literary magazines and journals around the world and his books and writings have been translated into over a dozen languages. He has won many poetry awards, fellowships, and translation awards for his works through the years. It is undoubtedly unnecessary to observe that he made and has fulfilled a life commitment to poetry. Now in his 80’s he resides with his wife Caryl in Ypsilanti, MI.

May
26
Sun
Ann Arbor Storytellers Guild @ AADL Downtown
May 26 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

All invited to listen to guild members swap stories or bring their own to tell.

 

 

 

 

 

May
29
Wed
Poetry Salon: One Pause Poetry @ Argus Farm Stop
May 29 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

ONE PAUSE POETRY SALON is (literally) a greenhouse for poetry and poets, nurturing an appreciation for written art in all languages and encouraging experiments in creative writing.

We meet every Weds in the greenhouse at Argus Farm Stop on Liberty St. The poems we read each time are unified by form (haiku, sonnet, spoken word), poet, time / place (Tang Dynasty, English Romanticism, New York in the 70s) or theme / mood (springtime, poems with cats, protest poems). We discuss the poems and play writing games together, with time for snacks and socializing in between.

Members are encouraged to share their own poems or poems they like – they may or may not relate to the theme of the evening. This is not primarily a workshop – we may hold special workshop nights, but mostly we listen to and talk about poems for the sake of inspiring new writing.

Whether you are a published poet or encountering poetry for the first time, we invite you to join us!

$5 suggested donation for food, drinks and printing costs.

8-10 p.m., Argus Farm Stop greenhouse, 325 W. Liberty. $5 suggested donation. onepausepoetry.org, 707-1284.

 

 

 

The Moth Storyslam: GrandSLAM Championship @ The Ark
May 29 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

*Tickets for this event are available one week before the show, at 3pm ET.

*Seating is not guaranteed and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the show. Admission is not guaranteed for late arrivals. All sales final.

Media Sponsor: Michigan Radio.

 

Jun
3
Mon
Emerging Writers: Writing Nonfiction @ AADL Westgate
Jun 3 @ 7:00 pm – 8:45 pm

In this workshop, Bethany Neal and Alex Kourvo are joined by Aaron Foley, Chief Storyteller of Detroit and the author of two nonfiction books. We’ll discuss research, strategies for approaching publishers, and how to use literary techniques to make your nonfiction stand out.

This is part of the monthly Emerging Writers Workshops, which offer support, learning, and advice for local authors. Each month, two weeks after the workshop, there is a meet-up where the instructors will read samples of your work and offer advice and assistance in a casual, supportive atmosphere.

Do you have a completed manuscript? Consider submitting it to the library’s imprint Fifth Avenue Press.

 

Jun
4
Tue
The Moth Storyslam: Chemistry @ Greyline
Jun 4 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Open-mic storytelling competitions. Open to anyone with a five-minute story to share on the night’s theme. Come tell a story, or just enjoy the show!

6:30pm Doors Open | 7:30pm Stories Begin

*Tickets for this event are available one week before the show, at 3pm ET.

*Seating is not guaranteed and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the show. Admission is not guaranteed for late arrivals. All sales final.

Media Sponsor: Michigan Radio.

 

Jun
5
Wed
Ted Baxter: Relentless: How a Massive Stroke Changed My Life for the Better @ Nicola's Books
Jun 5 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

In 2005, Ted W. Baxter was at the top of his game. He was a successful, globe-trotting businessman with a resume that would impress the best of the best. In peak physical condition, Ted worked out nearly every day of the week. And then, on April 21, 2005, all that came to an end. Join us as he shares his story.

Ticket Information:

No tickets.

Event Details

Seating at the event will be first-come first-served. This event will be a standing-room crowd, so if you require a seat for medical reasons, please contact us in advance to make arrangements.

About the Book

In 2005, Ted W. Baxter was at the top of his game. He was a successful, globe-trotting businessman with a resume that would impress the best of the best. In peak physical condition, Ted worked out nearly every day of the week. And then, on April 21, 2005, all that came to an end. He had a massive ischemic stroke. Doctors feared he wouldn’t make it, or if he did make it, he would be in a vegetative state in a hospital bed for the rest of his life.

But miraculously, that’s not what happened . . .

In Relentless, Ted W. Baxter describes his remarkable recovery. Not only did he live, but he’s walking and talking again. He moves through life almost as easily as he did before the stroke; only now, his life is better. He’s learned that having a successful career is maybe not the most important thing. He’s learned to appreciate life more. He’s learned that he wants to help people–and that’s what he does. He gives back, volunteering his time and effort to help other stroke victims.

Relentless is a wonderful resource for stroke survivors, caregivers, and their loved ones, but it is also an inspiring and motivating read for anyone who is facing struggles in their own life.

About the Author

Ted lives in Newport Beach, California since January 2010. He was born and grew up in New York. He attended an Executive MBA program, 2 years, at Wharton to get his MBA concentrating on finance and strategy.

After spending 22 years in the financial industry, he is retired as a global CFO with a large hedge investment firm based in Chicago. Prior to that, Ted was a managing director for a global investment bank and he was a Price Waterhouse partner and a consultant concentrated on banks and securities, risk management, financial products, and strategic planning. Internationally, he spent 8 years working and living in Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Ted now volunteers at 2 hospitals in Orange County, leading groups in a stroke-related communication recovery program, and is a member of the Board of Directors at the American Heart and Stroke Association.

Poetry Salon: One Pause Poetry @ Argus Farm Stop
Jun 5 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

ONE PAUSE POETRY SALON is (literally) a greenhouse for poetry and poets, nurturing an appreciation for written art in all languages and encouraging experiments in creative writing.

We meet every Weds in the greenhouse at Argus Farm Stop on Liberty St. The poems we read each time are unified by form (haiku, sonnet, spoken word), poet, time / place (Tang Dynasty, English Romanticism, New York in the 70s) or theme / mood (springtime, poems with cats, protest poems). We discuss the poems and play writing games together, with time for snacks and socializing in between.

Members are encouraged to share their own poems or poems they like – they may or may not relate to the theme of the evening. This is not primarily a workshop – we may hold special workshop nights, but mostly we listen to and talk about poems for the sake of inspiring new writing.

Whether you are a published poet or encountering poetry for the first time, we invite you to join us!

$5 suggested donation for food, drinks and printing costs.

8-10 p.m., Argus Farm Stop greenhouse, 325 W. Liberty. $5 suggested donation. onepausepoetry.org, 707-1284.

 

 

 

Jun
6
Thu
Christina Henriquez: Annual Storymakers Dinner @ Greyline
Jun 6 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

You are cordially invited to join 826michigan and guest of honor, Cristina Henríquez, for our 10th annual Storymakers Dinner – an evening of outstanding stories, fantastic food and amazing company in downtown Ann Arbor.

STORYMAKERS DINNER honors impactful writers and their stories, from nationally known novelists to emerging young authors in our community. Through this annual benefit celebration, 826michigan partners with Zingerman’s Community of Businesses to bring together a noted person of letters and more than one hundred friends committed to supporting the next generation of Storymakers.

GUEST OF HONOR, Cristina Henríquez, will join us on June 6, 2019, to share perspectives on her heartfelt stories of family life, identity and belonging. Recently declared a luminary of fiction, she is the author of The Book of Unknown Americans, which was a New York Times Notable Book of 2014 and one of Amazons 10 Best Books of the Year. It was the Daily Beast Novel of the Year, a Washington Post Notable Book, an NPR Great Read, a Target Book of the Month selection, and was chosen as one of the best books of the year by BookPage, Oprah.com, and School Library Journal. It was also longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Henríquez is also the author The World In Half (a novel), and Come Together, Fall Apart: A Novella and Stories, which was a New York Times Editors Choice selection.

Don’t miss this extraordinary evening showcasing the words, wonder and wit of our students and their work. Let’s make this our biggest fundraiser yet!

Tickets are available at two levels:
$125 (general admission and dinner)
$250 (VIP reception with Cristina Henríquez at 6pm and dinner)

6:00 pm – Reception with Cristina Henríquez for VIP ticket holders
7:00 pm – Doors open for general admission
7:30 pm – Opening Remarks and Dinner
8:00 pm – Storymaker Readings and Student Reflections
8:30 pm – Future Storymakers Paddle Raise
9:00 pm – Closing Remarks
For more information, please email Ken@826michigan.org. For sponsorship opportunities please email Naimah@826michigan.org.
All proceeds support free writing and tutoring programs for school-aged students in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit.

About 826michigan:

734-761-3463
www.826michigan.org
826michigan aims to spark of love for reading and writing for school aged children, while encouraging and fostering their sense of creativity and voice. We believe writing is a process of discovery and engagement, an action that connects us to the world, a means to further personal understanding, and a tool to access power and build a better world. Our small staff mobilizes hundreds of adult volunteers to support more than 3,500 school-aged students with free writing and tutoring programs that take place in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit. We believe that one-on-one attention helps students succeed in school and in life. Last year, adult volunteers contributed more than 16,000 hours in 826michigan programs.

 

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