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December 05, 2008

Calendar of Events

Fairs, Shows, and Sales

There's plenty of art and art fairs in Ann Arbor those other 361 days a year. A busy museum and gallery circuit provides many openings and shows to choose from. Each month you'll find antique shows, charity sales, and community festivals.

Thursday

December 2008

Noon-4 p.m. (open 10 a.m.

63rd Annual Greens Market: Ann Arbor Branch of the Women's National Farm and Garden Association.

Sale of fresh greenery wreaths, bundles, swags, and other arrangements for holiday decoration. Also, vendors' handmade gifts and crafts, a bake sale, and a sale of antiques "from the very best attics." Decorative craft demos (1 & 2 p.m.). Afternoon Delight lunch available. All proceeds benefit local educational programs. to members), Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Free admission. Wheelchair-accessible. 428-8445.

Friday

December 2008

9 a.m.-10 p.m.

21st Annual Hometown Holiday: Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dec. 5-7. This popular community celebration features a variety of family activities, including a chance for kids to visit Santa and do craft activities in his workshop, and gingerbread house displays in downtown shop windows. Today's special events: tree lighting ceremony and Santa's arrival (5:45 p.m., Pierce Park), Living Nativity (6:30-7:30 p.m., Palmer Ford), Santa's workshop and storytelling (6:30-8:30 p.m., Chelsea Depot), Chelsea High School Choir Holiday Concert (7-7:45 p.m., Chelsea District Library), and more. downtown Chelsea. Free. 475-1145.

December Craft Show "Moonlight Madness": Saline Community Education.

Juried show and sale of works by more than 135 crafters from around the Midwest. Screenings of The Santa Clause (6 & 8 p.m.), John Pasquin's 1994 family film starring Tim Allen as a man who takes Santa's place after the original's untimely demise. Also, a cookie walk, a gingerbread house contest and display, gingerbread cookie decorating (5 - 9 p.m.), and an appearance by Sheila Pursglove (see 6 Saturday "Kids Club" listing). Silent auction. Child care available until 8 p.m. for kids ages 6 months - 8 years. Concessions, bake sale. 5-11 p.m., Saline Middle School, 7190 N. Maple, Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Saline. $2 (children age 10 & under, free). 429-8020.

6-9 p.m.

Annual Holiday Pottery Sale: Yourist Pottery.

Dec. 5-7. Show and sale of pottery by 14 artists. Also, studio tours and pottery demonstrations. Tonight only: an artists reception with wine and snacks. Yourist Pottery & Design Studio, 1160 Broadway. Free admission. 662-4914.

6 p.m.-midnight.

"Midnight Madness": Kerrytown Shops/Main Street Area Association.

Many merchants are open late tonight with special sales. Also, sidewalk performances by the U-M student a cappella chorus Kopitonez, the U-M Women's Glee Club, and Leim Irish Dance as part of "Festive Friday Holiday Nights" (see below). Kerrytown Shops and Main Street & State Street shopping areas. Free admission. 669-7112.

6-10 p.m.

"Trunk Show": Heavenly Metal.

Dec. 5 & 13 (different programs). Today: Display of jewelry by Sarah Stanton. Heavenly Metal, 207 E. Ann. Free admission. 63-4247.

7-9 p.m.

"Festive Friday Holiday Nights": Main Street Area Association.

Every Fri. through Dec. 19. Local entertainers stroll the sidewalks beneath trees twinkling with 100,000 Christmas lights, with many stores open late. Live entertainment TBA. Also, Santa's Mailbox is accepting letters (postage to North Pole courtesy of the MSAA) Nov. 21-Dec. 19 at 332 S. Ashley (in front of Red Shoes). downtown area bounded by Main, Liberty, Washington, and Fourth Ave. Free. 668-7112.

Saturday

December 2008

9 a.m.-10 p.m.

21st Annual Hometown Holiday: Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dec. 5-7. This popular community celebration features a variety of family activities, including a chance for kids to visit Santa and do craft activities in his workshop, and gingerbread house displays in downtown shop windows. Today's special events: Holiday Art Show (10 a.m.-4 p.m., Chelsea Fairgrounds), Sheila Pursglove reads her The Mouse Ate the House (10:30 a.m.-noon, Chelsea District Library), Common Chords bell choir (2-3 p.m., Chelsea District Library), Hometown Holiday Light Parade (6 p.m., Main St.), After-Parade Party & Community Sing (7-9 p.m., Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory), and more. downtown Chelsea. Free. 475-1145.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Holiday Bazaar: Dexter Area Historical Society.

Sale of handmade gift items and Christmas crafts, including baby blankets, baby bibs, hand-felted ornaments, dried apple rose ornaments, a depression-era inner tube cat, garden stepping stones, and more. Also, a raffle and a sale of homemade breads, cookies, and candies. Santa Claus is on hand from 9:30 a.m. to noon to visit with kids and pose for photos. Proceeds benefit the Dexter Historical Museum. Dexter Museum, 3443 Inverness at Fourth, Dexter. Free admission. 426-2519.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Holiday Bazaar: Dexter Area Girl Scouts.

Show and sale of scout-made knitted hats, door draft stops, heating pads, baked goods and baking mix jars, and holiday decorations and ornaments. St. Andrew's United Church of Christ, 7610 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. Admission 1 can of food. 678-8726.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Holiday Bazaar: Dexter Senior Center.

Show and sale of handmade crafts and the popular "Grandma`s Attic." Also, raffles and a bake sale. Dexter Senior Center, 7720 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. Free admission. 426-8247.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Holiday Gift Bazaar: St. James' Episcopal Church.

Show and sale of ornaments, quilts, jewelry, knitted items, and more. Also, a raffle. SJEC, 3279 Broad St., Dexter. Free admission. 426-8247.

9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Annual Children's Festival and Holiday Bazaar: Rudolf Steiner School.

The entire school is transformed into a children's festival, with puppet shows, musical performances, a raffle, and more. An activity room features kids crafts, and a children-only gift room has goodies priced for wee budgets. Also, an artisans market with handmade crafts by 40 local artists and a toy room. Food available in King Winter's Cafe and the Gingerbread Tea Room. Preceded on Dec. 5 by an adults-only preview night (6:30-10 p.m.), with a silent auction, music, and refreshments. Rudolf Steiner School, 2775 Newport Rd. Free admission (nominal fee for raffle & cakewalk). 995-4141.

9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Holiday Art and Craft Festival: Ann Arbor City Club.

65 crafters show and sell ceramics, textiles, artwork, nature crafts, photography, jewelry, and more. No strollers. Ann Arbor City Club, 1830 Washtenaw. $3 admission. 662-3279.

10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Christmas Party: Downtown Home & Garden.

Santa is on hand to talk to kids, give them a Christmas orange, and take their Christmas lists. Free roasted chestnuts, eggnog, cider, and while they last, smidgens of delicious smoked goose right from the store's Big Green Egg smoker. Downtown Home & Garden, 210 S. Ashley. Free. 662-8122.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

"Himalayan Bazaar in My Garage": Of Global Interest.

Dec. 6 & 20. Show and sale of a range of Nepali gift items, gathered by local adventure tour company owner Heather O'Neal. 120 Eighth St. Free admission. 369-3107.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Holiday Sale: Ann Arbor Potters Guild.

Dec. 6 & 7. A popular annual sale held in a heated tent outdoors. Some 40 local artists offer a large selection of functional and decorative ceramics, in porcelain and both regular and white stoneware clays. Also, a children's corner, with toys, jewelry, and other gifts priced for their budgets. Items go fast - arrive early for the best selection. Potters Guild, 201 Hill. Free admission. 663-4970.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

"Tile Extravaganza": Motawi Tileworks.

Hourly studio tours (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) and demonstrations of press-molding tile (noon & 2 p.m.), glazing (12:15 & 2:15 p.m.), and mounting and grouting tile (12:30 p.m.). Participants can also decorate a 4-by-4-inch tile (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) to be glazed and fired for later pickup or delivery ($5). Karim and Nawal Motawi are on hand to sign copies of Anne O'Donnell's new book Motawi Tileworks: Contemporary Handcrafted Tiles in the Arts & Crafts Tradition. Also, door prizes. 170 Enterprise Dr. (off Jackson Rd. east of Baker). Free. 213-0017.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Annual Holiday Open House: Darwin's Studio.

Show and sale of stained glass, antique slot machines, and more. Refreshments. Chelsea Depot, 125 Jackson, Chelsea. Free admission. 475-0182.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Annual Holiday Book Shop: Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library.

Dec. 6 & 7. For holiday gift shoppers, a wide selection of used books that look new, along with children's books in mint condition and records, DVDs, and CDs. AADL lower level, 343 S. Fifth Ave. at William. Wheelchair-accessible. Free admission. 302-7774.

10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Annual Holiday Pottery Sale: Yourist Pottery.

Dec. 5-7. Show and sale of pottery by 14 artists. Also, studio tours and pottery demonstrations. Yourist Pottery & Design Studio, 1160 Broadway. Free admission. 662-4914.

11 a.m.-5 p.m.

"Wonderful and Unusual Gifts": Nature's Expressions.

Nov. 29 & 30 and Dec. 6 & 7. Show and sale of crystalline mineral specimens, fossils, shells, mounted butterflies and insects, and more. Includes a complete fossil skeleton of a 9-foot, 100,000-year-old cave bear. 3443 Daleview Dr. (off N. Maple Rd. north of Huron River Dr.). Free admission. 994-3048.

Noon-midnight.

Shadow Art Fair: Michigan Design Militia.

Show and sale of glass jewelry, photographs, paintings, handmade bags and scarves, mixed-media artworks, clothing, greeting cards, and more, made by 40 local artists. Live entertainment TBA. Corner Brewery, 720 Norris at Forest (west of River St. north of E. Cross), Ypsilanti. 2¢ admission. 516-1432.

"Christmas on the Farm and at Dewey School": Waterloo Area Farm Museum.

Dec. 6 & 7. This German immigrant family's pioneer homestead comes alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of a rural 1880s Michigan Christmas. Docent-guided tours of 2-story brick farmhouse. Free hot cider in the farm's spartan log cabin, and tours of the one-room Dewey School. Gift shop. Refreshments. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Waterloo Area Farm Museum, 9998 Waterloo Rd. (left off Clear Lake Rd. from I-94 exit 153), Chelsea . $4 admission (seniors $3; children ages 5-17, $2; ages 4 & younger, free). (517) 851-7890.

1-4 p.m.

German Family Christmas: Kempf House Center for Local History.

Dec. 6, 7, 13, & 14. This restored 19th-century Greek Revival home is decked out with a traditional tree and decorations and exhibits reflecting a typical early-20th-century German American celebration of Christmas. Christmas cookies. Kempf House, 312 S. Division. Free; donations welcome. 994-4898.

6:30 p.m.

"Winter Wonderland": 33rd Annual St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Holiday Ball.

Lavishly decorated gala, with a traditional holiday theme. Cocktails and a gourmet dinner (8 p.m.), followed by dancing to music by Intrigue. Black tie. Proceeds benefit the new Patient Towers. EMU Convocation Center, 799 Hewitt Rd. (just south of Rynearson Stadium), Ypsilanti. $1,250 per couple. Reservations required. 712-4040.

Sunday

December 2008

9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Christmas Bazaar: St. Aidan's Episcopal Church/Northside Presbyterian Church.

Show and sale of jewelry, African artifacts, beadwork, quilts, and more by local artists. Refreshments. St. Aidan's/Northside, 1679 Broadway at Baits Dr. Free admission. 663-1670.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Annual Holiday Book Shop: Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Holiday Sale: Ann Arbor Potters Guild.

10 a.m.-noon.

Hanukkah Bazaar: Ann Arbor Jewish Cultural Society.

Dec. 7 & 14. Gifts, toys, Judaica, books, games, crafts, decorations, and more. Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow Dr. (off Stone School Rd. south of Packard). Free admission. 975-9872.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Annual Holiday Pottery Sale: Yourist Pottery.

Dec. 5-7. Show and sale of pottery by 14 artists. Also, studio tours and pottery demonstrations. Yourist Pottery & Design Studio, 1160 Broadway. Free admission. 662-4914.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

"10th Annual Gift-Fest": Ann Arbor Artists' Collective.

Sale of works by 25 local artists in a wide range of media, including clothing, ceramics, jewelry, painting, books, sculpture, and more. Refreshments. Also, raffle of artist-made Christmas ornaments. Pittsfield Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. ( 1/2 mile south of I-94). Free admission. 272-2901.

11 a.m.-5 p.m.

"Wonderful and Unusual Gifts": Nature's Expressions.

11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sunday Artisan Market.

Every Sun. except Dec. 28. Show and sale of fine crafts, jewelry, soaps, furniture, fiber arts, and gift items. Also, live music TBA. Farmers' Market. Free admission. 665-2009.

11 a.m.-6 p.m.

"Nikolaus Day": Ann Arbor-Tuebingen Sister City Club.

A Celtic harpist plays German "winter" music while St. Nikolaus passes out German cookies. Also, hot spiced drinks. A portion of TeaHaus proceeds benefit the Sister City Club. TeaHaus, 204 N. 4th Ave. Free. 622-0460.

Noon-4 p.m.

"Country Christmas": Cobblestone Farm Association.

Re-creation of mid-19th-century Christmases, with period Christmas decorations, cooking on the woodstove, and dulcimer music by the Village Strings. Also, a chance to visit with Father Christmas. Costumed interpreters provide tours of the restored 1844 Ticknor-Campbell farmhouse and its grounds, including a barnyard with live animals. Attendees can dip a candle to take home. Gift shop. Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard (next to Buhr Park). $3 (kids, $1.50; family, $7) suggested donation. 994-2928.

Noon-7 p.m.

21st Annual Hometown Holiday: Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dec. 5-7. This popular community celebration features a variety of family activities, including a chance for kids to visit Santa and do craft activities in his workshop, and gingerbread house displays in downtown shop windows. Today's special events: Chelsea Chamber Players Holiday Concert (3 & 7 p.m., Chelsea Depot) & Holiday Festival of Lessons and Carols (6:30 p.m., Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel) and more. downtown Chelsea. Free. 475-1145.

"Christmas on the Farm and at Dewey School": Waterloo Area Farm Museum.

Dec. 6 & 7. This German immigrant family's pioneer homestead comes alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of a rural 1880s Michigan Christmas. Docent-guided tours of 2-story brick farmhouse. Free hot cider in the farm's spartan log cabin, and tours of the one-room Dewey School. Gift shop. Refreshments. Noon a.m.-4 p.m., Waterloo Area Farm Museum, 9998 Waterloo Rd. (left off Clear Lake Rd. from I-94 exit 153), Chelsea . $4 admission (seniors $3; children ages 5-17, $2; ages 4 & younger, free). (517) 851-7890.

1-4 p.m.

German Family Christmas: Kempf House Center for Local History.

2-6 p.m.

25th Annual Alternative Holiday Fair: Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice.

This popular holiday sale encourages less consumer-oriented ways of celebrating the holidays. It features handmade arts and crafts from Ten Thousand Villages, SERRV, and other local peace and justice organizations selling fairly traded goods and/or items that promote peace and justice. Also, a chance to participate in the highly acclaimed Heifer Project International by helping to pay for farm animals (some on hand and available for petting) for needy overseas farm families. Proceeds benefit local, national, and international peace and justice organizations. First Baptist Church, 512 E. Huron. Free admission. 663-1870.

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