Community Calendar

Hines’ Lines features artworks inspired by American road pioneer Edward N. Hines (1870–1938). Among Hines' contributions are (1) the concept of painting a centerline on roads, 2) the establishment of an extensive parkway system, and (3) the paving of the first full mile of concrete road in the world. Also, on view the artwork of teen emerging artist Max Uptergrove. Join us for the free opening reception on Friday, September 5, 5 – 8 pm. Learn more at www.northvillearthouse.org/hines-lines/.

Don’t miss an intimate night of acoustic music with Colorado-based Americana/Blues singer-songwriter David Starr, performing alongside fellow singer-songwriter Bill Edwards.

The Arkansas native has honed his decades-long career touring internationally, sharing the stage and collaborating with esteemed artists such as John Oates (Hall & Oates), John McEuen, Steve Cropper, Jim Lauderdale, and Wild Ponies, as well as opening for acts like America, Karla Bonoff, Jim Messina, Survivor, and more. He has been a showcasing artist at Folk Alliance International, Americana Fest, and Southwest Regional Folk Alliance.

In 2024, Starr melded his Blues background—growing up playing electric guitar and drums in Southern Arkansas clubs—with his time spent in Nashville exploring Americana and Folk. After receiving rave reviews and recognition for his Blues-leaning singles from editorial playlists on Spotify such as “Got Blues,” it was clear he was striking a nerve. GRAMMY®-winning label Quarto Valley Records agreed and signed Starr to a record deal for a full-length project. What he arrived at was his own brand of “Bluesicana”—a melding of Americana and Blues—for his critically acclaimed project Must Be Blue, out April 25, 2025.

He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Northwest Arkansas Musicians Hall of Fame and is a member of the Blues Foundation, The Colorado Blues Society, and the Pikes Peak Blues Society. Starr’s prestige extends beyond the stage, having launched Starr’s Guitars in Little Rock before relocating to Cedaredge, CO in 2001, where it is now a beloved institution. Starr is also a founding member of the board for the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center in Cedaredge, an intimate event space aimed at attracting musicians and visual artists to Colorado’s Western Slope. In 2024, he produced the sold-out inaugural Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival, which brought 15 songwriters to Cedaredge to perform over 50 shows across five venues, and which just celebrated its second year.

FIM Flint Repertory Theatre opens its 2025–26 season with a fresh staging of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Joshua Morgan. It will run September 19 – October 5, 2025, at the University of Michigan-Flint Theatre.

In the steamy streets of New Orleans, where the air hums with jazz and the scent of magnolias, faded Southern belle Blanche DuBois arrives unannounced at her sister Stella’s cramped apartment. Her delicate manners and crumbling illusions clash violently with the raw, animal world of Stella’s husband, Stanley Kowalski. As tensions simmer and desires erupt, reality and fantasy blur into a fever dream of power, lust and survival. Featuring some of the most famous lines in all of theatre history, including “Stella!” and “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,” Flint Rep’s production will update Williams’ timeless masterpiece through the addition of original and arranged music by sound designer Katie Hopgood.

“The world of New Orleans is something we’re really leaning into for this production,” exclaims Nicole Samsel, Flint Rep Interim Artistic Director and Managing Director. “Music is such an integral part of that atmosphere, so it was important to really embrace that element for our Streetcar. This is a play that should be on everyone’s bucket list, and we can’t wait to give our audience the chance to discover (or revisit) this American classic.”

The 2025–26 Flint Repertory Theatre season will still deliver an exceptional line-up of productions, even as performances temporarily relocate to University of Michigan-Flint Theatre during the renovation of FIM Bower Theatre.

The cast features Sarab Kamoo as Blanche DuBois, Kevin O’Callaghan as Stanley Kowalski, June Schreiner as Stella, and Mike Labbadia as Mitch, and includes Nate Becker, Emir Garcia, Leslie Hull, Ash Moran, Bello Paolo Pizzimenti, Madelyn Porter, Toni Rae Salmi and Matthew Van Gessell.

A Streetcar Named Desire is directed by Joshua Morgan with scenic and lighting design by Mike Billings, costume design by Matt Snellgrove, sound design and original music by Katie Hopgood. It is stage-managed by Melissa A. Nathan.

Sarab Kamoo (Blanche Dubois) is excited to be back at Flint Rep, having last been seen there in Death of a Salesman. She also recently performed in the solo show, Baba, at Williamston Theater and English at Tipping Point Theater. Kamoo is a resident artist at The Purple Rose Theatre and was last seen there in What Springs Forth as well as playing Irene Adler in three original Sherlock Holmes plays. Other recent credits include Be Here Now and Heather Raffo’s one-woman show, 9 Parts of Desire. Kamoo also directed Arabic to English at Theater Nova. Select film credits: “Stone,” “Happiest Season,” “Rose for her Grave,” “Conviction” and TV episodes of “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago PD.” Kamoo is also a school social worker in the Rochester School District.

Kevin O’Callaghan (Stanley Kowalski) is an award-winning theatre maker. Flint Rep: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Nick), Death of a Salesman (Happy) and the world premiere play ‘Rain on Fire (Chuck). O’Callaghan was also featured in three of Flint Rep’s New Works Festivals and is a champion of new plays. Regional: Rubin in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (40th William Inge Theatre Festival, Kansas); Bernard in Boeing Boeing (Hope Rep); Mister/Ossifer in Passover (Theatre NOVA, Wilde Award); George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (Tipping Point). NYC: Mad Dog Theatre Company (2012 NY Innovative Theatre Award), Tectonic Theatre Project, The Attic Theatre and Theatre East. O’Callaghan trained at Western Michigan University (BA) and Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory (MFA). He teaches acting and theatre appreciation at Mott Community College in Flint. Proudly union.

Joshua Morgan (Director) is an actor and director based in New York City. Before moving to NY, he founded and ran the first dual-city theater company that was based out of Washington DC and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which won the Helen Hayes for “outstanding emerging theater company” in its first year. Before that, he directed the first-ever children’s web series that was incorporated into student curriculum throughout the southeast. Some personal favorite projects he has helmed include the regional premieres of Andrew Hinderaker’s Suicide, Incorporated, Madhuri Shekar’s In Love and Warcraft (Helen Hayes Nomination for outstanding direction) and Toni Press-Coffman’s Touch. Proud UNCSA alum.

A Streetcar Named Desire will be performed at University of Michigan-Flint Theatre. Tickets are available at www.tickets.thefim.org, at FIM Ticket Center box offices at FIM Whiting Auditorium and FIM Capitol Theatre, or by calling (810) 237-7333. Genesee County residents receive a 30 percent discount as a benefit of the Genesee County Arts Education and Cultural Enrichment Millage. Your tax dollars are at work.

Run time is 2 hours 40 minutes with a 10-minute intermission.

Production dates:
Fri, Sept 19 at 7:30pm (Opening Night)
Sat, Sept 20 at 7:30pm
Sun, Sept 21 at 2pm
Thurs, Sept 25 at 10am
Fri, Sept 26 at 7:30pm (College Night)
Sat, Sept 27 at 7:30pm
Sun, Sept 28 at 2pm (ASL Interpreted Performance)
Thurs, Oct 2 at 10am
Fri, Oct 3 at 7:30pm
Sat, Oct 4 at 7:30pm
Sun, Oct 5 at 2pm

Kool & The Gang, officially formed in 1969, has been performing longer than any R&B group in history, and their bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled R&B band of all time. Thanks to iconic songs like “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness,” and “Open Sesame,” they've earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top-10 R&B hits, nine Top-10 Pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums.

In 1964, Ronald "Khalis" Bell and his brother, Robert “Kool” Bell, joined neighborhood friends Robert “Spike” Mickens, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create a unique musical blend of jazz, soul and funk. At first calling themselves the Jazziacs, the band went through various names – The New Dimensions, The Soul Town Band, Kool & the Flames – before settling on their famous moniker. Over the next several years they solidified their musical chemistry on the rough-and-tumble East Coast music scene. Their self-titled 1969 debut album introduced their signature instrumental sound and fierce horn arrangements.

In 1969, Kool & The Gang released their self-titled debut album, followed by at least one album per year until 1984, when their output slowed a bit. The band’s stellar reputation grew with each album, but 1973’s Wild & Peaceful took Kool & The Gang to another level spurred by the immortal party anthems “Funky Stuff,” “Hollywood Swinging,” and the platinum smash “Jungle Boogie.” In 1979, Kool & The Gang unveiled a smooth new sound with Ladies Night, which became their first platinum album. The 1980s would see the group continue to dominate the mainstream, starting with the double platinum-selling album Celebrate – driven by the international monster hit “Celebration,” which spent six weeks atop the R&B chart and became a No. 1 Pop single.

With the explosion of hip-hop in the 90’s, Kool & The Gang’s incredible catalog of grooves made them DJ favorites. Today, the group enjoys global fame and recognition and a following that spans generations. The group continues to delight fans around the globe with their timeless hits and amazing live performances.

What if you could step into a world where people simply lived together — enjoying coffee, ice cream, love, and laughter — without the barriers that so often divide us? That’s the quiet beauty of Utopia, a new version of a play by Charles L. Mee. 

Climate Week
September 27 - October 5, 2025

Climate action can’t wait. 🚨Join us this fall for the first-ever University of Michigan Climate Week (#UMCW25), a series of engaging and innovative events focused on collaboration, engagement and collective action aimed at building momentum and hope for the future.

View the full lineup of events here🌎: https://climateweek.umich.edu/

Now through October 31, families are invited to enjoy the Story Walk Trail at Hidden Lake Gardens! This 0.4-mile trail, full of twists, turns, gentle hills, and scenic views, is located near the Picnic Area, just west of the conservatory. Along the way, little ones can follow signs that bring a delightful children’s story to life.
This year’s featured book is Sip, Pick, and Pack by Michigan author Polly Cheney. Through playful rhymes and vibrant illustrations, this educational tale introduces children to seeds, plants, and pollinators in a fun and engaging way. Copies of the book are available for purchase in the Daffodil Gift Shop.

The Shelby Farmers Market returns to the Packard Proving Grounds from May 17 to October 18, 2025, running Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM. Shop fresh produce, baked goods, handcrafted items, and so much more while supporting local farmers, artisans, and small businesses.

This year, the Humane Society of Macomb will attend on the third Saturday of each month, bringing adoptable animals in search of loving homes. (weather permitting) As a high-save shelter, their mission is to find homes for 100% of adoptable animals in their care.

Join us each week at 49965 Van Dyke Ave, Shelby Township, MI to shop local, connect with the community, and make a difference. For more details or vendor inquiries, visit packardprovinggrounds.org/farmersmarket or contact Mary Anne Demo, Executive Director of the Packard Proving Grounds, at 586-739-4800.

This is a Weekly Recurring Event
Runs from May 17, 2025 to Oct 18, 2025 and happens every:
Saturdays: 9:00am - 2:00pm Timezone: EDT

The Michigan Art Gallery at Schmidt's Antiques proudly announces the opening of a major retrospective exhibition featuring over fifty never-before-seen European and American landscape paintings as well as portraits by renowned Ann Arbor artist Leon Makielski (1885–1974).
The European works were painted during Makielski’s early years studying and traveling across the continent, primarily in Paris. The American works include atmospheric scenes from Vermont, painted during travels to New England around the time Makielski met poet Robert Frost, and landscapes from Virginia, drawn from visits to his family in Appalachia.
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 6th, 2025 / 3PM-7PM
Public Exhibition & Sale: Open every Saturday until October 11th / 9AM-5PM
Works will be available for purchase in the gallery and online at www.michiganartgallery.com.
*Please note: This sale is on the third floor of our gallery, which is a converted 1910s barn without elevator access. Please email info@schmidtsantiques.com or call 734-434-2660 with any inquiries regarding access.
To learn more about The Michigan Art Gallery, please contact:
The Michigan Art Gallery at Schmidt's Antiques 5138 W. Michigan Avenue Ypsilanti, MI 48197 @michiganartgallery @schmidtsantiquesinc (T) 734-434-2660 (E) info@schmidtsantiques.com

Consistently rated the best local scavenger hunt since 2016!

Puzzling Adventures are a cross between a scavenger hunt, an adventure race, and an informative self-guided walking tour. Each adventure consists of a series of locations that you are guided to where you are required to answer a question or solve a puzzle to receive your next instruction. Compete as a group, individually or create multiple teams and race each other. Almost all of our adventures are designed to be wheelchair and stroller friendly and all are carefully crafted to be entertaining and informative with something to appeal to all ages. Complete the adventure as quickly as possible to win first place or take your time and enjoy the journey. Price is per team, not per person. Groups can be any size, but small groups are recommended for the best experience.

Enter the code EVENTPASS on the payment page for a $10 discount!

Most locations are available daylight hours every day.