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Bimbo's on the Hill and other lost Ann Arbor eateries

by amy


Bimbos on the Hill


Click image for larger view.

Anyone remember this restaurant? Check out some of the other names listed under Ann Arbor's Lost Eateries, a section of arborwiki dedicated to restaurants and watering holes from Ann Arbor's past. And if that doesn't fully satisfy your hunger for local history, the image above is taken from a collection of historical signs (mainly from the 1970s) we're currently adding to our gallery of local images. It includes other restaurants from the arborwiki list and many old signs and storefronts from area businesses.

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PreK Bits - Trolls and Wishes

by ryanikoglu

"Trolls and wishes" are in Storytime this week. You can find these tales again. "The Big White Cat" story, and the "Snow Child" can be found in The Fox And The Rooster collection of folk tales. You can find other versions of these two tales, both illustrated by Tomi DePaola in The Little Snowgirl: An Old Russian Tale and Cat On The Dovrefell.

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Princess Grace by Mary Hoffman

by Tahira

Grace is back in a new adventure. This time she is going to be a princess. For as long as Grace can remember she dreamed of becoming a fairytale princess. Grace finds out that real princesses do more than wear frilly clothes and often lead adventurous lives. Mary Hoffman dispels the myth that princesses are just beautiful figureheads in this entertaining book starring one of my favorite characters Grace.

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Family Time at the Film Festival

by iottJen

Looking for some family fun at the upcoming Ann Arbor Film Festival? The Ann Arbor District Library will co-present a program for all ages during the Film Festival on Saturday, March 29 at 3 pm at the Michigan Theater. Present your Ann Arbor District Library card at the box office prior to the screening and get $2 off the regular ticket price of $8. Or, order advance tickets on the Festival website by entering the discount code AADL2008. Click here to check out the films for Kids of All Ages.

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PreK Bits - Whale of a Tale

by ryanikoglu

Blubber, snow, and ice is still around the North Pole. Inuit culture can be seen in the following books. Building An Igloo shows photos of exactly how an igloo is built. Kumak's House and Berry Magic show Inuit lifestyle in stories for young children. If you'd like to adopt Inuit style into your garden, take a look at the stone structures in Make Your Own Inuksuk and build one in your garden.

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Early Detroit Images from DPL's Burton Historical Collection

by amy

Michigan Central Railroad


Michigan Central Railroad Station; Bardwell, Jex, 1824-1902,
Early Detroit Images from the Burton Historical Collection.

In 2005, the Detroit Public Library was awarded the Library of Michigan Digitization for Preservation and Access Grant, providing for the creation of a digital database of 19th century and pre-1922 photographs of Detroit. Formats include glass negatives, lantern-slides, cased images, albumen prints and stereograph cards from the Detroit Public Library's Burton Historical Collection. These images illustrate the social and cultural history of Detroit and document the many historical events that have occurred in the city.

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Finding Your Way Through the Family Tree

by Debbie G.

Looking for new ways to research the family tree? "Learning More at the Library of Michigan," a free annual genealogy seminar set for Saturday, March 29, will focus on utilizing online resources for family history research. The workshop runs from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Michigan Library and Historical Center. Seating is limited, so registration is recommended. Sign up online at www.michigan.gov/familyhistory, by e-mail at librarian@michigan.gov or by phone at (517) 373-1300.

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DIY kidBITS - Basics

by ryanikoglu

Basic skills for Kids (and life) can be found on the NEW BOOK shelves. See if these books inspire a weekend project or school break activity. See And Sew: A Sewing Book For Children provides information and projects for beginners. The Kids' Building Workshop does the same for woodworking projects. "Pass the hammer [and the scissors] to a new generation".

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Kid BITS - Storytimes START

by ryanikoglu

[cover_image]9780060735326|b12999763[/cover_image]

PreSchool STORYTIMES and BABY PlayGROUPS START again this week.
Look forward to 7 WEEKS of Programs with "fresh faces in old places".
The Schedule is the same. The Leaders have changed.
Don't forget to bring "singers","patty-cakes","laughers" and "cozy-laps".
We'll be seeing YOU!

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Join An Online Book Group!

by ErinDurrett

Do you enjoy reading book jackets and covers? Do you have five minutes in your day to enjoy a excerpt from a book in your favorite genre? Well then a Online Book Group is for you!!!

A few months back, I joined 3 online Book Discussion Groups. Each Week (Monday-Friday), you start a new book and read a few pages a day, so by the end of the week you have read a chapter or two of a book that may become one of your favorites. Choose from: Business, Non-fiction, Classics, Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Horror, Teen, Science Fiction, and more!

Readers can comment about book selections several places throughout the site and are encouraged to email Suzanne (the leader of the groups) with any suggestions or questions.

Join a Book Group Today!

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DVD Bits - World War II

by ryanikoglu

Two gripping films of World War II Europe can be found in the Library Collections. Sophie Scholl: Die Letzten Tage is the trial and "final days" of Sophie Scholl, her brother, and another member of the White Rose, who became synonymous with civil courage through their resistance and protest against the Nazi regime. Another is Louis Malle's film Au Revoir Les Enfants based on the director's childhood experience in boarding school during the German occupation of France in World War II. If you would like to read a memoir of the Holocaust, the library has more excellent choices.

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Ann Arbor bids adieu to colorful citizens

by amy

from Dale Leslie

Someone much smarter than I observed, "Life is stranger than fiction." That remark was confirmed in the last few days with the passing of businessman Paul Lohr and his son Fred Lohr, coincidentally within hours of each other, and then later Fred Mammel, former City utilities head for at least two decades, and a fellow Kiwanian of Paul's, died at Arbor Hospice. Adding to the irony of these real-life events, all three final observances were held at approximately the same time on Monday, March 10th.

The Lohrs are pure-bred Ann Arborites. Undoubtedly, you know or know of at least one family member. The working Lohr farm was on Lohr Road near the Ann Arbor Airport where Paul caught the bug for flying. Ann Arbor Implement Company- known to many locals as Ann Arbor Imp-ment- saw the same family ownership over three generations, first by Grandpa Ernest Lohr- then son Paul Lohr-and Grandson Fred Lohr. (It was Fred- fighting illness for many years- who passed away after hearing of his dad's death.) Paul Lohr loved to show anyone the former wine cellars, spreading deep under their store at First Street and Liberty.

His joy was the instruction of pilot dare devils in the art of stunt flying, including Bob Barden, Sr., whose family owns the Ann Arbor Area Credit Bureau. Eddie "The Grip" Green would stand on the wing of Barden's plane high-above the Ann Arbor countryside, after climbing from the back seat of a speeding convertible. Fortunately, Eddie never lost it. His grip, that is!

My favorite story about Fred Mammel occurred when he and his wife Betty Mammel moved to Chelsea. Fred wasn't about to alter his life-long disposition and decline a favor when asked. So, as the village election for Treasurer evolved into a limited field, Fred was persuaded to run as a long-shot, write-in candidate. You guessed it! Fred won- with 18 votes- and served with honor and distinction. He and Betty faced life's toughest challenges when they lost their oldest son, Tom, to an automobile accident. And then Betty fell victim to a protracted illness and Fred was never far from her side. Fred and Betty's most admirable quality were their friendships with people of all ages, all backgrounds, and from every ethnic group imaginable. And their dedication to humanitarian causes which were numerous as you will see below. ~Dale

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Story Bits - Snow

by ryanikoglu

Warm-up winter with these snowy stories. Kumak's House; All You Need For A Snowman; Ezra Jack Keats' classic Snowy Day; and Stranger In The Woods ... perhaps as satisfying as hot cocoa with marshmallows.

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When Harriet Met Sojourner by Catherine Clinton

by Tahira

Find out what might have happened when two of America's most famous women, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth met for the first time in When Harriet met Sojouner. Told in alternate biographical pages Catherine Clinton explores the lives of these great women and the day their lives intercepted.

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Create your own album and upload photos to pictureAnnArbor

by amy

Do you have photographs of Ann Arbor you'd like to share? You can now sign up and submit your photos online to pictureAnnArbor. Just log in to your aadl.org account, fill out this form, and an album will be created for you. Upload as many images as you'd like to your pictureAnnArbor gallery. (There's a delay before your uploaded images will show up in your gallery, usually one business day.)

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Story Bits - Leprechauns

by ryanikoglu

Sure and 'tis time for leprechaun lore. Leprechaun's Never Lie is a favorite of mine. 'Twas not enough? Try for more gold with
Clever Tom And The Leprechaun; Too Many Leprechauns; and Fiona's Luck.

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The Jump At The Sun Treasury (An African American Picture Book Collection)

by Tahira

Celebrate these wonderful stories from African American Heritage, in The Jump at the Sun Treasury. From the calls of street vendors to a tale of a haunted house there is something for everyone in this unique collection.

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Poetry Bits - "I'm Sorry"

by ryanikoglu

This Is To Say: Poems For Apology And Forgiveness is a book full of "sorry" and "forgiveness" poems in haiku, pantoums, snippets, and rhymes. The idea began with a 4th grade group exercise to write a "Sorry" poem to mother....

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African-American Bits - "Kid Book" series

by ryanikoglu

"The "Miami" series grew out of a real need that Pat McKissack saw in children’s books: There weren’t many books about middle-class African American kids." The following title series can fit this need.
Michael Andrew Jackson, 3rd grader, also known as "Miami" stars in Miami Makes The Play; Miami Gets It Straight; and Miami Sees It Through.
Hey Li'l D! Stuck In The Middle stars "Li'l Dobber", aka Bob Lanier, as the kid who is crazy about basketball.
Willimena Thomas, 3rd grader, stars in How To Lose Your Cookie Money; How To Fish For Trouble; and more.
Books by Ann Cameron, have been published for a while and led the way. Look for Gloria, Huey, and Julian in their books, such as Gloria's Way; Julian, Secret Agent; and The Stories Huey Tells.

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Walking and Talking Ann Arbor History

by Debbie G.

The best walking the town brochure, Guide to Ann Arbor Architecture, by the Huron Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, is now the best walking the town Podcast. Twenty different podcasts on the Law Quad, Nickels Arcade, St. Andrew's Church to name a few, are available for your viewing and listening pleasure. After viewing the videos online, load them on your MP3 Player and start rambling.

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Dance Bits - For KIDS

by ryanikoglu

Do you DANCE? There are new dance books for kids to discover in 792.8. Dancing Wheels is the photo story of a dance troup that incorporates the movements of dancers who dance standing up and those who are in wheelchairs. For grade school kids we have new additions in classic ballet training such as Usborne Ballet Treasury; Usborne Starting Ballet; and Ballet School. So tutus or not, stretch your toes, and feel the music.

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Kid Lit - "The Classics"

by ryanikoglu

People ask, "Where are the Classics" for children? Although there is no single list, there are web sites to help lead the way.
Rutger's University suggests "Read or reread some of the titles that have achieved classic status. As you read, consider whether these works are still of interest to and will appeal to today's young people." On the list they provide links wherever possible, to electronic text version of books that are out of print.

Madison Public Library suggests, "The following titles appear on lists of classic children's literature. Most have been issued in several different editions, offering a range of illustration styles from which to choose." The part I like is they also suggest "contemporary" and "future" classics for children and "further information".

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Kid Bits - Adoring Dora ?

by ryanikoglu

For Dora fans, do you know you can find Nick Jr. Dora The Explorer Essential Guide in her non-fiction Dewey address of J 791.457? There is a copy in every Library Branch.

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Parent Bits - What's in Manga and Anime?

by ryanikoglu

No Flying No Tights has something for everyone! The home page presents three options: “sidekicks for kids,” “the original no flying no tights for teens,” and “the lair for teens and adults.” The site helps walk the fine line between teen appeal and more adult content.” The site’s creator, Robin Brenner, is a library student and “comics and graphic novel enthusiast.”

Anime Cafe offers a "Parent's Guide" for finding anime that is suitable for children. Right-up-front you can choose by age groups. I hope this helps.

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Ain't Nothing But a Man: my quest to find the real John Henry by Scott Reynolds Nelson

by Tahira

Was John Henry of the famous song "John Henry" a real person? Did he really beat the steam drill and die with a hammer in his hand? These questions and more are answered in the book Ain't Nothing but a Man by Scott Reynolds Nelson. Reynolds takes the reader on a journey to find the answers and explores the life of Black railroad workers during the Reconstruction Era. An excellent read for Black History Month.

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Baby Bits - Piggies!

by ryanikoglu

PIGGIES get their stage in Baby PlayGroup this week. We'll do a gentle home-grown version of The Three Little Pigs. You can check out Piggies by Audrey Wood, the fingerplay story; or Piggy In The Puddle by Charlotte Pomerantz for a rhythmic romp in the mud. VERY oink!

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DVD Bits - Issues of Race

by ryanikoglu

In honor of African-American History Month, don't forget movies that tell stories of crossing racial barriers in America. Imitation of Life is the same story told twice in films of 1934 and 1959. Both films are on one DVD. A Patch of Blue with Sidney Poitier and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner with Katherin Hepburn and Spencer Tracy; Corrina, Corrina with Whoopi Goldberg and Ray Liotta; and Ruby Bridges who was the first child to integrate her local elementary school in New Orleans.

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Microsoft & Yahoo - Together at last?

by remnil

How can your friendly neighborhood business correspondent pass up a story like this? Microsoft has just made a $44.6 billion bid (yes that's a "b") to buy Yahoo. The move comes following search giant Google reporting pretty sad earnings for the final quarter of last year.

The bid is an aggressive move by Microsoft to gain dominance in an area where they're lagging: online advertising. Google's expertise is search, but they make their money in internet advertising. And they're really good at it. But with its tepid recent earnings and Microsoft's latest move, could the Google juggernaut be in danger of hitting a wall, or at least a bit of molasses? What do you think?

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The R-word

by remnil

The R-word - recession, that is - has been bantered about a lot more recently. With job losses, a pitiful housing market, and the subprime mortgage crisis, its prominence isn't overly surprising, nor is politicians' desire for a bit of economic development. It also is not surprising that people aren't really in a spending mood right now, which further risks bringing about the R-word. In hopes staving off said recession, the House has passed a "stimulus package" that could result in a $600 check appearing in your mailbox. Providing that the Senate agrees, that is.

A $600 check does sound mighty nice. But the question is, will you spend it? The "stimulus" part of the economic stimulus depends on us going right out and buying that new ipod or laptop. Of course, with the economy as rotten as it is, some might want to save it for a rainy day.

So, what if you got a big, fat $600 check in the mail? Would you save it? Spend it? If so, on what? Let's see if Congress' plan is really going to work.

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Sweet, Sweet, Memory by Jacqueline Woodson

by Tahira

Sarah's family gathers at her grandmother's house and share memories of her grandfather. Sarah can't express how she feels until her relatives repeat grandfather's words that once touched her heart, "Everything and Everyone goes on and on." Jacqueline Woodson touches her readers' hearts in this poignant story.