If you’ve ever had the pleasure of taking in a show at The Magic Stick, you’ll know why Rolling Stone magazine calls it one of America’s “Best Rock Clubs.” I’ve seen many gigs there myself — Alejandro Escovedo being one of the most memorable – but it’s been some time since I’ve visited the Woodward Avenue mainstay, also a great place for events and parties.
Congratulations and bon voyage to the roughly five thousand of University of Michigan students from the graduating class of 2008 who participated in the school’s first-ever Spring Commencement on the venerable Diag, featuring keynote speaker Bob Woodruff. I wasn’t at the event last Saturday, but wandered through the area briefly on Friday, and enjoyed seeing the impressive setup and backdrop. It brought back memories of my own graduation at Crisler Arena many years earlier — won’t reveal exactly when that was, but the date was April 29, and let’s just say this is one of those “spike” anniversaries — and the untold number of times I dashed through the Diag on the way to class, sometimes barely looking up to enjoy the setting. Caught up recently with a U-M classmate of mine, Julie Yolles, and we both found it hard to believe how long it’s been since we donned cap and gown ourselves.
Since 1988, they’re the folks who have “…worked tirelessly to protect the places that you love and the character that makes the Leelanau Peninsula so unique.” Happy 20th anniversary to the Leelanau Conservancy, which has a full calendar of spring and summer events in 2008, including the Cherry Blossom Tour on May 10. Truly one of the most beautiful parts of the state, perhaps the entire country.
Frequent readers may see what appears a Detroit/Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti slant in these pages, and there’s some truth to that perception, as I run across plenty of information about events going on close to my home. As such, here’s a plea for those of you on the west side of the state, in the northern Lower Peninsula, and in the splendid U.P. to wise me up to people and events making news across Michigan. It’s easy to let me know. Thanks in advance.
Are you an artist? Do you live in Washtenaw County and/or ply your craft there? Visit ArtsCount.org and be counted now, whether your specialty falls into the literary, performing, or visual categories, whether you’re 8 or 80, etc. A terrific project from Ann Arbor’s Arts Alliance, so make sure to add your name by May 17.
…so send ‘em in. I’ll announce the winner of the inaugural award on Monday, May 5. First you’ve heard about this feature on The Pulice Report? Learn more.
Happy Earth Day. Search for events, call your representative or senator, get involved. I’m trying to stay off the grid — and off the road — as much as possible today, although I needed to be online to write this, now didn’t I? A bike ride sounds great right about now.
Kudos to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for their “No Child Left Inside” campaign to get kids out of the house this spring and summer, and throughout the year, especially in light of studies that indicate children spend less than 30 minutes per week outside, one-ninth the time current adults spent outside when they were of the same age. On that note, I encourage you to check out GoCityKids, filled with a range of activities for you and your brood, and searchable by major city.
They’re “a group of local cyclists who like riding bikes and engaging in bike-related activities.” Bike Ypsi began last summer, and connects Ypsilanti residents who enjoy two-wheeling. The group meets for weekly rides on Sunday afternoons, and is hosting its 2008 spring ride and festival on Sunday, May 4. By the way, May is “Curb Your Car Month,” a splendid idea.
My press release on the inaugural “Arresting Site or Blog of the Month” award, which I’ll give out on May 5, ran this morning on PRWeb. Also feel free to read the original post from earlier this week. Let the nominations roll in. UPDATE (11am): Thanks to Andy McFarlane at Absolute Michigan for the extra publicity this morning on his amazing site.
