After 27 years as a beacon for those in Ann Arbor's and Southeast Michigan's LGBTQ community, Common Language Bookstore will be forced to close its doors one final time at the end of 2018. According to husbands and co-owners Keith Orr and Martin Contreras, this comes after years of market pressures that have made running the store unsustainable.
Contemporary opera composer Jake Heggie said of her mezzo-soprano voice in Gramophone magazine, "The staggering, joyful artistry of Joyce DiDonato reminds us that in any generation there are a few giants ... Those who know [...]
A book club specifically intended for queer women, LezRead meets regularly at the Jim Toy Community Center in Ann Arbor to discuss books on the fourth Saturday of every month. This month's selection is "The Spanish Pearl" by Catherine Friend.
ANN ARBOR – Theatre NOVA is a professional theater in Ann Arbor’s that focuses exclusively on new plays and playwrights, and since mid-October it's been performing “The Stone Witch” by Shem Bitterman. Available to see through Nov. 11, it focuses on Simon Grindberg, "the world's most illustrious children's book writer."
A recurring Thursday event, Terry is Aut Bar's recurring trivia guru who invites patrons to try their hands at answering a slew of varying questions. "Terry is a Yale graduate and an Aut Bar icon. [...]
Inside the Ann Arbor Art Center is the 117 Gallery Shop that features a range of "original, handmade works of art for sale by emerging and established artists," according to shop owners. Visiting the shop's [...]
There’s no Halloween like a Halloween with drag queens, burlesque shows and friendly LGBTQ company. With the season kicking into high gear this weekend, our team at BTL has organized a list of queer-friendly Halloween [...]
The award-winning Aizuri Quartet has been lauded everywhere from Osaka to Ann Arbor and on Friday, Oct. 26, they’ll be back at the University of Michigan's Rackham Auditorium to present what the Philadelphia Inquirer describes as a unique "balance between charisma of the individual and cohesion of the collective."
Hosted by Ypsilanti's Riverside Arts Center, Trans Together is a monthly group that meets on the second Thursday of each month. This week, interested members of the transgender community can visit the arts center on [...]
Due to demand, the LGBTQ-inclusive First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor and Literati Bookstore created a second, earlier event in which author Anne Lamott reads from her latest book "Almost Everything: Notes on Hope." [...]
Queer women looking for an LGBTQ-friendly book club can stop their search with the Jim Toy Community Center's LezRead group. Meeting every fourth Saturday of the month from 4 to 6 p.m., attendees will spend [...]
ANN ARBOR — The Penny Seats Theatre Company offers “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” an adaptation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson story by playwright Jeffrey Hatcher from Oct. 12 through 28 at the College [...]
As summer winds down and the height of the harvest and market seasons pick up into full swing, Zingerman's Delicatessen is hosting an event on Wednesday, Aug. 22, to prepare its customers for any culinary requirement in the coming months.
Ann Arbor's venue The Ark has hosted everyone in Americana from Mary Chapin Carpenter to The Avett Brothers and even The Carolina Chocolate Drops — and that's barely scratching the surface. Now, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 16, is a chance for the community members who enjoy The Ark's sound to contribute their own voices for the 3rd Annual Ark Community Sing.
ANN ARBOR - Although previously scheduled to headline Ann Arbor Pride, Ada Vox will not be able to perform at the event on Saturday, Aug. 4 due to a contractual obligation with talent TV show "American Idol." Pride organizers said that all meet & greet tickets that were purchased may be allowed refund, up to seven days before the event, which is ongoing from Aug. 3 through 5. In Vox's stead, Brian Justin Crum shall headline.
Arbor Opera Theater has announced the appointment of Austin Stewart as Artistic Director. The first under the artistic leadership of Stewart, AOT’s upcoming season will introduce three new productions to Michigan audiences, with performances at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti and the Arthur Miller Theatre in Ann Arbor, as well as new partnerships with ÆPEX Contemporary Performance and the Kerrytown Concert House.
ANN ARBOR — Mayor Christopher Taylor announced just last month the appointment of Travis Radina to serve as the new LGBTQ liaison to the mayor’s office. Radina was appointed to replace former LGBTQ liaison, Brad [...]
This year marks the 35th consecutive Ann Arbor Summer Festival, a longstanding tradition that showcases some of the best of Ann Arbor's art and music scenes — with its fair share of national acts, too. [...]
Like so many in the LGBTQ+ community, Ann Arbor-based artist John Gutoskey didn’t need a personal connection to the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting to validate his profound sense of loss in the [...]
Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor earlier this month announced the appointment of Travis Radina to serve as the new LGBTQ liaison to the mayor's office. Radina was appointed to replace former LGBTQ liaison, Brad O'Furey, [...]
Ypsi Pride is set to host their second annual block party in Downtown Ypsilanti on Friday, June 1. Ypsi Pride, a program of First Fridays Ypsilanti, brings two stages of lively, family-friendly local entertainment, a children’s area, outdoor beer gardens, food trucks, vendors and organizations to the North and Sout Washington Street blocks in Ypsilanti.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Nearly half of Michigan's largest local governments feel they have little staff capacity for land use planning and zoning, according to a survey from University of Michigan researchers.
The tables turn in "Mrs. Fifty Bakes a Pie," a story of abuse, domination, power and baked goods. The play, written by Linda Ramsay-Detherage, will open at Ann Arbor's Theatre Nova on Friday, June 1. [...]
ANN ARBOR, Mich — The Ann Arbor Summer Festival has announced its free outdoor KidZone event series at Top of the Park for the 2018 season. From recycled puppet-making to explorations of light, live insect [...]
Addiction recovery is by no means an easy feat, but understanding that one might need help is one way to get treatment started. Dr. Amy R. Krentzman is hosting a free presentation that focuses on gratitude and how understanding it can aid with one's recovery.
Few LGBTQ activists receive the same amount of recognition as Jim Toy has. Over the past 40 years, he has resolved himself to providing a safe spaces for LGBTQ people across the state of Michigan, [...]
ANN ARBOR, Mich – Ann Arbor’s Theatre Nova has announced an extension of its smash hit “The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith” by Angelo Parra. The show was slated to run through April 22 but has been extended through April 29 due to full houses, glowing audience response and critical acclaim.
Thinking of opera, one might imagine a knight in shining armor, a damsel in distress or Brunnhilde — a woman with a viking helmet and blonde braids belting out some massive vocal power. And, in many ways, opera is still representative of those traditional characters, but it's also an ever-changing medium that is growing with the times.
For many, prom is considered to be a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood, and although greater amounts of LGBTQ people are able to experience it many students still attend schools that don't accommodate same-sex couples at their events.
YPSINLANTI, Mich. — Bingo by itself can be fun, but add drag queens into the mix and it can turn into a party. That's why Boylesque Bitchy Bingo is hosting a fundraiser for this year's Ann Arbor Pride.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Theatre NOVA is Ann Arbor’s professional theatre with an exclusive focus on new plays and playwrights. Now, coming to its stage is “The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith” by Angelo Parra and Miche Braden.
Unafraid to speak her mind, Mary Lambert is proud to say that in her eyes, everyone qualifies as a babe. Conveniently, “Everyone is a Babe” is the name of her tour, where she’ll be showcasing [...]
In preparation for the second annual Ypsi Pride, Ypsi is holding a fundraiser. However, it won't be just a boring evening of donations. Instead, they're putting on a drag show. This show is a bit [...]
Fans of BenDeLaCreme will expect nothing less than her "terminally delightful" outlook when she visits Ann Arbor's Necto Pride Night. For over a decade, "DeLa," as fans call her, has mixed a unique blend of [...]
Going out of one's comfort zone is never easy. Sometimes, it can even be difficult to find a productive way of doing that in daily life, but what is true about the process, is that [...]
Nicole Dennis-Benn's debut novel was lauded as one of the best books of 2016 by NPR, Buzzfeed the New York Times and more, as well as a winner of the Lambda Literary Award for its [...]
Ever since The Ark got its start in Ann Arbor in 1965, it was envisioned as a place for University of Michigan students to be able to gather together in a creative space. Four local [...]
Theatre Nova Presents ‘The Year Without a Panto Claus’ BY ENCORE MICHIGAN STAFF Theatre NOVA presents the world premiere of "The Year Without a Panto Claus" by Carla Milarch and R. MacKenzie Lewis, running now [...]
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote over 200 church cantatas, and the Bach Collegium Japan is intent on performing every one of them — and in fact did so, in chronological order, from 1995 to 2013. The [...]
On her website , Sasha Velour describes herself as a "gender-fluid drag queen and designer currently living in Brooklyn, NY." She is also the creative director of Velour: The Drag Magazine, and produces the critically-acclaimed [...]
BY BTL STAFF photo: S2_CC_Ozone_2545.jpg The Ozone House in Ann Arbor has appointed Krista Girty as new executive director of the community organization that supports youth across Washtenaw County. Girty will start her new role [...]
BY BTL STAFF photo: S2_CC_RockinForHungry_2545.jpg One in seven people in Washtenaw County will have to choose between paying for medicine, gas or electricity and buying food to celebrate the holidays. In an effort to help [...]
The Fall is off to special start for Ozone House. On Sept. 23, they raised over $194,000 during "An Evening with Ozone House" fundraiser presented by Masco Cabinetry and delivered by Domino's. Guests were treated [...]
Input from the LGBTQIA community is needed to help Kate E H Vallerand, a social worker at the University of Michigan Hospital to help countless medical and mental health practitioners provide better service to LGBTQIA [...]
On Oct. 14, a Nationwide Solidarity March for Peace and Justice will be held in Ann Arbor from 12-3 p.m. as part of a nationally coordinated day of more than 30 sister rallies and marches [...]
BY BTL STAFF ANN ARBOR - Ready for a behind-the-scenes look at Hillary Clinton's campaign and the November 2016 loss to Republican Donald Trump for the presidency? The former first lady, U.S. senator, secretary of [...]
On Aug. 21, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Though Ann Arbor isn't in the path of totality (where the moon will completely cover the sun), we'll still [...]
On Sept. 28, visit some of the best downtown Ann Arbor bars and restaurants and taste well-crafted beer and bite pairings to see how different craft beers and foods work together. While enjoying the beer [...]
BY BTL STAFF On Sept. 28, visit some of the best downtown Ann Arbor bars and restaurants and taste well-crafted beer and bite pairings to see how different craft beers and foods work together. While [...]
BY BTL STAFF On Aug. 21, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Though Ann Arbor isn't in the path of totality (where the moon will completely cover the [...]
