Art & Around for the period Sept. 14-23

ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN/GARDEN TOURS:

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Summertime Behind the Scenes tours include “Staff Life on the Estate,” “The Secrets Behind the Paintings” and “Cotswold Architecture”; plus Special Interest Tours “Modernism on the Cutting Edge” and “A Great Modern American Landscape.” Open Tue.-Sun. $10 fee applies to these tours; reservations required. Grosse Pointe Shores: 313-884-4222. http://www.fordhouse.org

ART, HISTORICAL & SCIENCE MUSEUMS:

Cranbrook Art Museum Exhibits include: “Think Again! The Presence of the Past in Contemporary Art” (through Oct. 15); “Critical Mass: Metalsmithing at Cranbrook under Gary Griffin” (through Nov. 26); and “Treasures of Cranbrook Museum: Selections from the Permanent Collection” (Sept. 9-Jan. 21, 2007). Open Wed.-Sun. Free with $6 museum admission. Bloomfield Hills: 248-645-3314. http://www.cranbrook.edu/museum

Cranbrook Institute of Science Exhibits include “Sea Monsters” (through Sept. 24). Open daily. Free with $7 museum admission. 248-645-3200. http://science.cranbrook.edu

Detroit Historical Museum Closed through Sept. 28 for museum makeover. Detroit: 313-833-1805. http://www.detroithistorical.org.

Detroit Institute of Arts Take a guided tour of the newly reopened DIA! Open Wed.-Sun. $6. Detroit: 313-833-4005. http://www.dia.org

Detroit Science Center Exhibit: “Robots: The Interactive Exhibition” (through Sep. 17). Open daily. $11/adults; $10/children (includes general museum admission). Detroit: 313-577-8400. http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org

Flint Institute of Arts Museum closed till late Sept. for renovations. Flint: 810-234-1695. http://www.flintarts.org

Longway Planetarium Half-priced weekend shows include “The Sky Above Mister Roger’s Neighborhood,” “Celebration of Flight Laser Show” and “Black Holes and Star Signs” (through Sept. 24). $2.50/adults, $2/children. Flint: 810-237-3400. http://www.longway.org

Michigan State University Museum Exhibits include: “Siyazama, Traditional Arts, Education and AIDS in South Africa” (extended through Jan. 7, 2007). Open daily. 517-355-2370. http://www.museum.msu.edu

University of Michigan Museum of Art Exhibits include: “Gregory Barsamian: Time and Transformation” (through Sept. 17). Open Tue.-Sun. at its temporary UMMA Off/Site location at 1301 South University Avenue. Ann Arbor: 734-763-UMMA. http://www.umma.umich.edu

ART GALLERIES:

Ambient Gallery Exhibit: “History,” a solo exhibition featuring the new works of sculptor, Stephen Kosinski (opens Sept. 16). Tue.-Sun. Grosse Pointe: 313-882-8888. http://www.ambientgallery.com

Ann Arbor Art Center Exhibits include: “Real/Surreal,” which contrasts reality with the bizarre; and “05/06,” two and three-dimensional work by Center instructors. Through Oct. 8. Open 7 days. Ann Arbor: 734-994-8004, ext. 110. http://www.annarborartcenter.org

Biddle Gallery Exhibit: “Horse Power,” an equine theme featuring photography, sculpture, tile and paintings by various artists. Through Oct. 4. Open Mon.-Sat. Wyandotte: 734-281-4779. http://www.biddlegallery.com

Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center Exhibits include: “John Glick Looking Back/Making Now 42 Years in Clay” and “Kindred Spirits.” Through Sept. 29. Free admission. Birmingham: 248-644-0866. http://www.bbartcenter.org

Farmington/Farmington Hills City Hall Exhibit: “Celebrating Nature’s Beauty,” showcasing more than 50 color photos of scenic vistas by Don McKercher. Through Oct. 20. Open during regular business hours. Farmington Hills: 248-473-1856.

Gallery Project Exhibits include: “Nature Reperceived.” Through Oct. 22. Open Tue.-Sun. Ann Arbor: 734-997-7012. http://www.thegalleryproject.com

Heritage Park Nature Discovery Center Exhibit: The nature-related photos of local photographer Jacob Nothstine. Through Sept. 25. Farmington Hills: 248-477-1135.

Lawrence Street Gallery Exhibit: Plein Air – Paintings by Sarah Schrift. Through Sept. 30. Open Tue.-Sat. Ferndale: 248-544-0394. http://www.lawrencestreetgallery.com

Saugatuck Center for the Arts Events include: “RedBall Project,” a 26-piece photography exhibition. Through Sept. 30. Saugatuck: 269-857-2399. http://www.sc4a.org

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts Exhibits include: “The Red Thread Exhibition” (through Oct. 15); “Installation and Kinetic Works” (through Oct. 13); and “Intra-Terrestrial Surroundings” (through Oct. 13). Open Tue.-Sun. Grand Rapids: 616 454 3994. http://www.uica.org

DANCE, MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS:

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Events include: “Verdi’s “Requiem,” which opens the 2006/07 season Sept. 16 at Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor ($23-$43). 734-994-4801. http://www.a2so.com

Bringin’ Down the House Famous tenors Cook, Dixon and Young present an evening of music. Detroit Opera House, Detroit. Fri.-Sat., Sept. 22-23. $68-$350. 248-645-6666. http://www.ticketmaster.com

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Classical Series features “Scheherazade Triple Play,” in which the DSO plays all three compositions inspired by “1,001 Arabian Nights.” Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center, Detroit. Thu.-Sat., Sept. 21-23. $19-$69. 313-576-5111. http://www.detroitsymphony.com

MSU School of Music Events include: Yale Percussion Quarter (Sept. 16 at the Music Building Auditorium) and the MSU Symphony Orchestra (Sept. 16 at Cobb Great Hall at Wharton Center). $8 517-355-5340. http://www.music.msu.edu

Rackham Symphony Choir New season starts off with “Jump, Jive, Swing & Sing: A tribute to the Swing Era.” Birmingham Unitarian Church, Bloomfield Hills. Sun., Sept. 17. $25. 313-272-0334. http://www.rackhamchoir.org

Spotlight Detroit A weekly talent show and competition held every Wednesday for all genres of entertainment, including vocalists, instrumentalists, poets, rappers, dancers and comedians. 20/20 Entertainment at 1515 Broadway, Detroit. 248-890-8188. http://www.spotlightdet.com

University Musical Society Season kicks off with Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, a celebrated troupe with a repertory that represents the many different cultures and civilizations that are a part of our southern neighbor. UMS at Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor. Thu., Sept. 21. $10-$44. 734-764-2538. http://www.ums.org

FILM & VIDEO:

Detroit Film Theatre Celebrating 30 years as one of America’s most comprehensive, popular acclaimed showcases of contemporary and classic world cinema. DFT at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit. New season begins Sep. 8. $7.50. 313-833-3237. http://www.dia.org/dft

FIA Theater Quality avant-garde, independent and international films that otherwise would not be seen in the Flint area. FIA Theater at the Flint Institute of Arts, Flint. Every weekend, Fri-Sun. (Closed through late September for renovations.) $6/non-members. 810-234-1695. http://www.flintarts.org

Michigan Theater Ann Arbor’s daily selection of specialty cinema, including documentaries, independent, foreign, and classic films. Plus, 25 films from the Sundance Film Festival will be screened through Nov. 5. $8.50. 734-668-TIME. http://www.michtheater.org

The Mitten Movie Project A filmmaking collective that exhibits the work of filmmakers in Michigan on the first Tuesday of every month. Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak. $10. 248-346-8449. http://www.thoughtcollide.com

Red Barn Theater Lakeshore Arts Alliance presents a new film studies program hosted by William Muzzillo that covers a variety of film genres. Meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month through Dec. 12. $5. 269-857-5300.

Redford Theatre An historic 1928 movie house in northwest Detroit with an original Barton Theatre Pipe Organ that presents classic film series, organ concerts and special events in a beautifully restored setting. $4/regular tickets; $5/special movie tickets. 313-537-2560. http://www.redfordtheatre.com

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts West Michigan’s “best alternative film theater” presents cutting edge movies in Grand Rapids seven days a week. $4-$7. 616 454 3994 . http://www.uica.org

THE WRITTEN/SPOKEN WORD:

Shaman Drum Bookshop Events in Ann Arbor for young and old; call for details. 734-662-7407.

A Window to the Soul: Poetry and Prose of the High Holy Days Rabbi Aaron Starr kicks off the Sisterhood’s 2007-07 program with a talk about the Jewish High Holy Days. Congregation Shir Tikvah, Troy. Thu., Sept. 14. $5. 248-649-4418.

UICA Writers’ Studio A weekly gathering that provides criticism and inspiration to those whose passion is writing. Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids. Every Wed. beginning at 6:30 p.m. 616-454-7000. http://www.uica.org

V.I.B.E. Open Mic Poetry Series A unique and comfortable entertainment experience that serves as a new platform for artists, musicians and poets to gather, reflect and be inspired in a loft setting. Element, on the third floor of the Clark Lofts building in downtown Detroit. Every Sunday. $7. 313-963-6034. http://www.clarklofts.com/element