The Calendar - Recreational Activities

This Week's Events

Recreational Activities
Despite Ann Arbor's "four seasons a day" weather, its numerous parks and sports venues provide ample opportunity to work up a sweat, or just get out and about. The Calendar covers them all.

Highlights this week:

21st Annual Jewish Book Festival: Jewish Community Center.

Tartan & Thistle Scottish Country Dancers.

English Country Dancing: Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance.

Monday
November, 2008

9 a.m.
21st Annual Jewish Book Festival: Jewish Community Center. Nov. 5-7, 9-14, 16, & 17. Display and sale (at retail prices) of more than 2,000 new books by Jewish authors, ranging from cookbooks, expensive gift books, children's books, and reference books to books by local authors and new titles hot off the presses. (Publishers plan their releases for November, which is Jewish Book Month.) The fair also includes a number of talks and performances by various Jewish authors. Today: National Jewish Center president rabbi Brad Hirschfield discusses his You Don't Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism (noon). 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow Dr. (off Stone School Rd. south of Packard). Free. 971-0990. 4|fs|lr FREE STAR! "Back Roads Ramble": Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society. Every Mon. Slow-paced ride, 12-35 miles, along dirt and gravel roads to Independence Lake and other low-traffic destinations. meet at 960 Forest Rd. (off Country Club Dr.), Barton Hills. Free. 761-2885, 663-5060.

7:30-9:30 p.m.
Tartan & Thistle Scottish Country Dancers. Every Mon. Instruction for intermediate-level dancers in a wide range of traditional and contemporary Scottish dances, followed by social dancing. Soft-soled shoes recommended. Refreshments. the barn at Gretchen's House V, 2625 Traver Rd. (off Nixon Rd.). $5. 769-1052, 425-0241.

Tuesday
November, 2008

7-9:30 p.m.
English Country Dancing: Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance. Every Tues. Historical and traditional English dancing. Today: callers Harden and Greg Meisner with music by the Scalar Scalawags. All dances taught. No partner or experience needed. Dress comfortably and bring flat, nonslip shoes (running shoes OK). Chapel Hill Condominium clubhouse, 3350 Green Rd. $7 (students, $4; children age 13 & under, free). 665-7704.

Wednesday
November, 2008

9:30-11 p.m.
Wednesdays @ Michigan Union: Swing Ann Arbor. Every Wed. Swing dancing to prerecorded music. No partner needed. Bring casual or nicer shoes that stay on your feet when you're active. Preceded by intermediate swing (7:30 p.m.) and beginning swing (8:30 p.m.) lessons. Michigan Union Pendleton Room (occasionally Ballroom or U-Club). $5 (includes lessons). 945-8428.

Thursday
November, 2008

7:30-10 p.m.
Israeli Dancing: Jewish Community Center. Every Thurs. except Nov. 27. West Bloomfield dance instructors Cheryl Felt and Amnon Steiner lead a variety of Israeli dancing to recorded music. Easy dances and oldies the first hour followed by intermediate and requests. Beginners welcome. New dances taught each week. Wear sneakers or other flat, comfortable shoes. JCC, 2935 Birch Hollow Dr. (off Stone School Rd. south of Packard). $6 (kids, $3). 971-0990.

Friday
November, 2008

10 a.m.
"Huron River Bike Trail Ride": Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society. Every Fri. Slow-paced ride, 13 miles or more, along the Huron River from Bandemer Park to Parker Mill, along with some alternate routes. meet at Gallup Park Canoe Livery, 3000 Fuller Rd. (west side of Huron Pkwy.). Free. 663-4498.

8:45-11:45 p.m.
Friday Night Swing: Ann Arbor Swing Dance Association. Every Fri. Swing dancing to prerecorded music. No partner needed. Bring hard-soled shoes. Preceded at 8 p.m. by beginning lessons. Dakota Bldg., 1785 W. Stadium. $5 (includes lessons; students, $3). 972-9141, 417-9857.

9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Singles Dance: Parents Without Partners. All singles invited for an evening of dancing and socializing. Recorded 70s to contemporary dance music played by DJ John Brown. Cash bar. Smoking allowed in designated areas. Preceded at 8 p.m. by free dance lessons. All encouraged to come in costume on October 31. Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium. $8 (PWP members, $6). 973-1933.

Saturday
November, 2008

7:33 a.m.
"Sunrise Saturday Ride": Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society. Every Sat. Very slow-paced 22-mile ride to Dexter for breakfast. Begins at sunrise. meet at Wheeler Park, N. Fourth Ave. at Depot St. Free. 665-6327, 913-9851.

10 a.m.
"Dexter Breakfast Ride": Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society. Every Sat. Beginner-friendly slow-paced (22 miles) and moderate/fast-paced (30 to 80 miles) round-trip rides to the Dexter Bakery. A very popular ride. Also, a slow-paced 8-mile prebreakfast ride to Zingerman's for coffee & conversation leaves 842 Greenhills Drive at 9 a.m., with a noon return. Note: Riders should be prepared to take care of themselves on all AABTS rides. Carry a water bottle, a spare tire or tube, a pump, a cell phone or change for a phone call, and snacks. meet at Wheeler Park, N. Fourth Ave. at Depot St., or at Barton Park, Huron River Dr. Free. For information, call 996-4985 (Nov. 1 ride), 662-0205 (Nov. 8), 971-3610 (Nov. 15 & 22), 663-5060 (Nov. 29), & 775-1156 (prebreakfast ride).

Noon.
Draw Doubles: Local 101 Disc Golf Club. Every Sat. All invited to play disc golf at one of Hudson Mills Metropark's 24-hole disc golf courses. Beginners are paired with advanced players to create parity. Prizes. Golf discs available free from the Hudson Mills Metropark office. Hudson Mills Metropark Activity Center, 8801 North Territorial Rd. (between Dexter-Pinckney Rd. & Huron River Dr.), Dexter. $5 per player; free for spectators. $4 vehicle entrance fee. 449-4300.

4th Saturday Contra Dance: Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance. Caller Ed Vincent with music by the Golden Griffon Stringtet. No partner needed. All dances taught. Beginner lessons at 7:30 p.m. Wear a costume or cool, casual clothes, and bring flat, smooth-soled shoes for dancing. 8 p.m., Pittsfield Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. ( 1/2 mile south of I-94). $9 (members, $8; students, $5). 730-6919.

4 p.m.
Ultimate Frisbee: Ann Arbor Ultimate. Every Sat. (tentatively). All invited to join a pickup game of this spirited team sport played with a flying disc. The club also sponsors pickup games Wednesdays (Fuller Field, 6 p.m.) and Sundays (Mitchell Field, 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.). Note: Overly aggressive players are politely asked to leave. Fuller Field. Free. info@a2ultimate.org

8-11 p.m.
International Folk Dancing. Dancing to recorded music. The program begins with a dance lesson. Gretchen's House, 2625 Traver. $3-$5 (students, $1-$3) donation. 995-0011.

Sunday
November, 2008

8:30 a.m.
"A2Sunday Runners": Two Dogs Running. Every Sun. All invited to join informal runs of 5-7 miles along various scenic routes. meet at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, Kerrytown. Free. 657-0214.

9 a.m.
"Late Fall Manchester Breakfast Ride": Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society. Fast/moderate-paced 60-mile ride to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Manchester for an all-you-can eat breakfast provided by the Boy Scouts. Wheeler Park, N. Fourth Ave. at Depot St. Free. 434-3097.

10:15 a.m.
Ultimate Frisbee: H.A.C. Ultimate. Every Sun. All invited to a very relaxed pickup game of this spirited team sport played with a flying disc. Note: Overly competitive players are politely asked to leave. Mitchell Field. Free. 846-9418.

1-3 p.m.
Contact Improv. Every Sun. except Nov. 30. All invited to try this interactive, freeform dance style that involves contact with one or more partners. It can involve improvisational lifts and other experimentations with gravity. You might find yourself upside down, so dress appropriately for easy movement. No partner required; beginners welcome. (The 1st Sunday of each month begins with an hour of formal instruction.) Followed by discussion and socializing. The Mind Body Spirit Academe, 1785 W. Stadium. $5-$10 sliding scale based on ability to pay. 604-4416.

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