Get (April) Foolish at Festifools in Ann Arbor

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

tibihxE deeF toN oD esaelP

tibihxE deeF toN oD esaelP, photo by jenny murray.

This Sunday (April 3, 2011) is the Festifools parade in Ann Arbor. It’s annual street festival of “HUGE PUPPETS and random acts of April Foolishness”. New this year is FoolMoon – April 1 from dusk to midnight. It’s a FREE event that invites you to bring your luminary (or kazoo / chicken suit / saxophone / what have you) to one of their three “Constellation Stations” and join fellow frolickers for the Foolish stroll! More updates about this Foolish weekend on Facebook!

If you’re not already familiar with FestiFools, you can get a sense of what we’re about by watching some videos on the YouTube FestiFools channel and at photographer Myra Klarman’s blog that includes a neat look behind the scenes at Festifools!

Jenny says that this was Anorexicsaurus or TyrAnorexicsaurus … from the Starvaceous Period. Check it out big as a bulemiasaur and in her Festifools slideshow.

There’s a ton more foolishness to be found in the flickr FestiFools group!

49th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival ~ March 22-27, 2011

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Untitled, photo by Ann Arbor Film Festival.

The Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF) is the longest-running independent film festival in North America. The 6 day festival brings filmmakers and guests from all over the country and the world along with 188 films, videos and live performances in 40 programs, including more than 20 premieres of new work from China, England, Spain, France, Japan, Finland, Croatia, Chile, Netherlands, Korea and throughout North America. Complete details, schedules and trailers on the 49th Ann Arbor Film Festival website.

With a focus on independent cinema, the AAFF has showcased early work from filmmakers & artists including Kenneth Anger, Agnes Varda, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Gus Van Sant, Barbara Hammer, Lawrence Kasdan, Devo and George Lucas. Their history page says that:

The Ann Arbor Film Festival was started in 1963 by University of Michigan School of Art filmmaker/artist George Manupelli. The 1960s sparked rapid changes in cinema, thus challenging the art world to accept fresh ideas and talent. Manupelli took advantage of this shift and envisioned a festival that would serve experimental and pioneering filmmakers with the exposure, feedback and competition they desired. He designed his festival to be open to anyone who saw filmmaking as art.

From a casual group of fascinated students, filmmakers and film enthusiasts crowded into the smoke-filled Lorch Hall auditorium, to the thousands of filmmakers, artists and spectators hosted in the grand Michigan Theater, the Ann Arbor Film Festival has grown to be an internationally celebrated institution. Since 1980, it has been independent of the University of Michigan as an independent non-profit arts organization. In the fall of 2003 the festival broadened its scope to include video and digital formats for competition.

Dive into the AAFF website for much more!

The 48th AAFF Highlights slideshow from the Ann Arbor Film Festival shows one of the coolest things about the AAFF, the up-close access to filmmakers that you get through Q&As and panel discussions. Lots more including opening reception, after parties, fashion and (of course) Giant Animal Badminton.

Yashica: Ford Lake

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Yashica: Ford Lake

Yashica: Ford Lake, photo by Matt Callow.

The details: Yashica Mat 124G, expired Tmax 100.

View it bigger, see more of Matt’s shots from Ford Lake or dive into his slideshow.

Biggest Hockey Game Ever: The Big Chill at the Big House

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The Big Chill

The Big Chill, photo by andykee.

On Saturday, December 11 2010 the University of Michigan Wolverines met the Michigan State University Spartans in The Big Chill at the Big House (Wikipedia entry). AnnArbor.com pegs the crowd at a world-record smashing 113,411 who saw the Wolverines pummel the Spartans 5-0.

It’s not the first time UM/MSU have set the record. In October of 2001, the 2 programs met at Spartan Stadium in The Cold War which drew almost 75,000 who saw the teams skate to a 3-3 tie. Check out this video of the record-setting crowd and here’s the highlight reel from the game.

See the photo bigger in Andy’s slideshow and check out AnnArbor.com’s slideshow from the event.

Ann Arbor Farmers Market and the Ann Arbor HomeGrown Festival

Posted on by farlane

squashes for sale at the farmer's market
squashes for sale at the farmer’s market, photo by msdeena

Deena took this at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market (many more photos from the market on Real Time Farms). They are a producers-only market, which means everything there is grown, baked or crafted by the vendors who sell them. This Saturday (Sept 11) they are celebrating local food at the annual Ann Arbor HomeGrown Festival! On Absolute Michigan we wrote:

The Ann Arbor HomeGrown Festival is hoping you’ll help them raise a ruckus in the historic Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market pavilion this Saturday (September 11) from 6-11 PM. They’re celebrating food, farms and community with great eats and cool beverages, live music and fun for the whole family!

Entry to the Festival is FREE, and food and drink are available to purchase. A bevy of chefs are working with nearby farms to create affordable tasting portions of the best of the region’s harvest. They’ll have dozens of local libations (beer, wine, mead and hard cider) for grown-ups to enjoy. Project Grow will be back with their astounding heirloom tomato tasting – over 50 varieties to try! Lots of kids’ activities (mural arts, music-making), a huge silent auction, a “Know Your Farmer” farmstand, dozens of artisan vendors, and a fantastic lineup of music for shaking your tailfeathers. They’re on Facebook too!

Be sure to check this out big as a pumpkin and also see her massive farmer’s markets set (slideshow).

Wakeboard Jump

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Untitled, photo by spacelola.

Check this out bigger in her Ann Arbor slideshow!

Hope summer is making you jump for joy – there’s lots more Michigan jumping on Michigan in Pictures!

President Obama delivers the commencement address at University of Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

sjw.NEW.ObamaGrad.05-01-101391

sjw.NEW.ObamaGrad.05-01-101391, photo by Michigan Daily.

On Saturday, Absolute Michigan sent writer Jacob Wheeler to the University of Michigan for the commencement address to the class of 2010 at the University of Michigan. Be sure to read his engaging account at Obama brings full house to the Big House (includes full video of the graduation speech).

When looking for a photo to blog, I came across this great series of photos by Sam Wolson of the Michigan Daily. Check out President Barack Obama Speaks at Commencement and definitely view the slideshow – it’s great!

Congratulations, UM graduates and to all of the State of Michigan’s Class of 2010!

some dudes, up to no good

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

some dudes, up to no good

some dudes, up to no good, photo by jenny murray.

Have a great weekend and do your best to be up to some good.

Check this triple (?) exposure shot out bigger and in Jenny’s slideshow.

Speaking of up to some good, Michigan’s Smoke Free Air Law takes effect tomorrow night and bans smoking in all Michigan restaurants, bars and businesses (including hotels and motels).

More photos from jenny murray on Michigan in Pictures.

Ann Arbor’s Annual Festifools

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The Cellist

The Cellist, photo by beautyredefined.

Every year in April, the good people of Ann Arbor hold a street festival called FestiFools. The event takes place on April 11, 2010 from 4-5 PM and features “huge puppets and random acts of foolishness”. The event began when UM art teacher Mark Tucker, then Art Director for the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade, traveled to Viareggio, Italy to learn the fine art of carta pesta (papier-mâché) from their amazing float builders (must-click!).

Click through to festifools.org for much, much more including how you can help them build puppets!

Check this out bigger or in Kristin’s Ann Arbor slideshow.

If that’s not enough, how about the FestiFools YouTube channel, the FestiFools Flickr group or everyone’s Festifools photos.

The Game: University of Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio State Buckeyes

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Michigan vs Penn State Wide-Angle

Michigan vs Penn State Wide-Angle, photo by AdamJacobsPhotos.

One week from today on Saturday, November 21, 2009 UM and Ohio State square off at the Big House in Ann Arbor at 12 noon.

The Game: Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes on Absolute Michigan has all kinds of information about this historic rivalry.

Michigan won the first meeting in 1897 (sweet photo of the teams!) and Ohio State didn’t notch a victory until 1919. At the Official Opening of Michigan Stadium in 1927 (click through for a photo) Michigan blanked the Buckeyes 21-0. While Michigan leads 57-42-6, OSU has won the last 5 meetings and is the favorite this year as well.

Be sure to check this out bigger in Adam’s slideshow!