Whether you’re looking for some cutting edge art, or just to spend some time with the kids, you don’t have to get too far away from home. Take a look at what got us excited.
Natural Dye Workshop
Saturday, November 3, 1pm
Fly Art Center
32 N. Washington
If you're of a crafty mindset, but you're looking for a little extra color, you've got a great opportunity. Fly Art Center and Fresh Cut Textiles are presenting a Natural Dye Workshop for local artisans, teaching you how to use materials all around you to create amazing organic hues for your fabric work. You can find a lot of what you need right in your local supermarket — or even in your backyard. Fiber artists Amanda Cinco-Hoyt and Jenni Makens of Fresh Cut will show you techniques like "hapazome," in which you literally pound the color out of flowers with a rubber mallet. Learners will get to craft a hand-colored linen napkin of their own, which they can take home along with the skills to make many more. $10. Register at www.flyartcenter.org.
Woyzeck
Thursday-Sunday, through November 5
Mix Studio Theater
130 W. Michigan Ave.
The New Theatre Project invites you to a striking experimental theater experience, with Audra Lord’s unique interactive adaptation of German dramatist Georg Buchner’s unfinished masterpiece. It’s a theatrical haunted house, as visitors explore a world of jealousy and menace. 8 and 9:30pm. 734-961-8704. www.thenewtheatreproject.org.
Matisyahu
Thursday, November 8, 6:30pm.
Eastern Michigan University,
Pease Auditorium
West Cross St.
and College Place.
Take a glimpse at one of the most singular musical and spiritual journeys of the era, as the one-man army known as Matisyahu comes to Eastern Michigan University. The man born Matthew Paul Miller has made his mark in the worlds of hip-hop (he once performed as MC Truth!), rock and especially reggae — if you're a casual music fan, you most likely just know him as "that Hasidic reggae dude." And Miller is indeed furiously proud of his Jewish heritage, and has devoted much of his music to it. But these days, he's leery of being pigeonholed, and has shed his trademark beard for a cleaner look. He's promoting his latest release, Spark Seeker, which gives a slightly poppier sheen to his Hebrew-infused songs of spiritual yearning. He's still one of a kind and worth coming out for. $30. www.blindpigmusic.com.
White Elephant Auction
Sunday, November 11, 5pm.
Michigan Firehouse Museum
110 W. Cross St.
You know the saying about "trash" and "treasure." Got some so-called useless junk to unload, and want to do it for a good cause? The Michigan Firehouse Museum presents a White Elephant Auction FUNdraiser, where guests can bid on each other's unique (but unwanted) possessions. Enjoy some hors d'oeuvres and desserts from local vendors, and maybe walk away with a plate of cookies or a stuffed squirrel. Bring your stuff at 5pm, auction starts at 6:30! 734-547-0663.
Starlight Spree and Tree Lighting
Friday, November 30, 6-8pm.
Downtown Ypsilanti
You might not believe it, but it's almost time to kick off the holiday season. Ypsilanti, as always, is going to do it in style, as the Downtown Association presents the Starlight Spree and Tree Lighting. Be ready to get your holiday on — hot chocolate, cookies and all. The Ypsilanti Community Choir will be there to lead you in all the carols you love to hate to love — and rumor has it that Santa will make an appearance. And sure, this town is always a little naughty, but we like to think he knows how nice we are, too. And you'll definitely want to be there when the tree is lit on Library Park Plaza, before you hit some downtown merchants for your early shopping. You always shop early, right? We thought so. www.daypsi.com.
