AADL Talks To: Sylvia Nolasco-Rivers, owner of Pilar's Tamales and Founder of Pilar's Foundation

Thu, 11/14/2024 - 8:02pm

In this episode, AADL Talks to Sylvia Nolasco-Rivers. Sylvia tells us about her early experiences in Ann Arbor, and how she convinced her entire family to move here. She shares stories of her work as a caterer and eventual restaurant owner, and tells us about fundraising efforts in the early 2000s, which led to the creation of her nonprofit Pilar’s Foundation in 2019.

AADL Talks To: Art Fare

Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:01am

In this episode David Friedo, Mary Bleyaert, Paul Wiener, Mary Dolan, and Barbara Torretti talk about the 1970s magazine Art Fare. The group discusses David's initial inspiration for the magazine, which was first published in 1973, how it came about, and its reception from the public. Each recount their roles in the production of the magazine, and reflect on the changes in the Ann Arbor art community and beyond.

AADL Talks To: Geoff Larcom, Former Sports Editor and Columnist for the Ann Arbor News, and Media Relations Director for Eastern Michigan University

Tue, 11/05/2024 - 3:25pm

Geoff Larcom was born and raised in Ann Arbor. He followed in his parents’ footsteps to pursue a career in journalism, working for his high school yearbook, then the Michigan Daily while a student at the University of Michigan. He then spent 25 years working for The Ann Arbor News, initially as a copy editor, then, after three years in sports at The Detroit News, he served for 12 years as Ann Arbor News sports editor.  He spent his last 10 years with the News as a metro reporter and columnist. After the News closed in 2009, he became  Executive Director of Media Relations at Eastern Michigan University. Geoff talks with us about his career; his memories of The Ann Arbor News during many changes within the industry; and about the life and career of his father, Guy C. Larcom, who holds the distinction of serving as Ann Arbor’s first City Administrator, and his mother, Taffy Larcom, who was a professor of journalism at EMU. 

AADL Talks To: Eve Silberman, Former Profiles Editor & Writer for the Ann Arbor Observer

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 4:45pm

In this episode, AADL talks to Eve Silberman. Eve has written for the Ann Arbor Observer for over four decades. As profile writer and editor Eve oversaw the Ann Arborites section, which highlights community members. In addition, she has covered and written features on local politics, social services, the city's history, and more.

AADL Talks To: Steve Gilzow, Ann Arbor Observer Cover Artist

Tue, 10/08/2024 - 4:52pm

In this episode AADL Talks To Steve Gilzow, a prolific cover artist for the Ann Arbor Observer, retired teacher, and writer. Steve talks about the inspiration behind his art, the people and places captured within his covers, and how his work with the Observer has allowed a deeper understanding of the community.

AADL Talks To: Patricia Garcia and John Hilton, Ann Arbor Observer Co-Owners

Tue, 10/08/2024 - 4:20pm

In this episode AADL Talks To John Hilton and Patricia Garcia. John and Patricia co-own the Ann Arbor Observer, where Patricia is Publisher and John is Editor. John and Patricia talk about how they were selected for ownership, how the community has changed in their almost 40 years of covering it, and how they weathered the changes in the media industry and the pandemic.

Local Movement: Five Decades of Dance in Ann Arbor - Directors' Cut

Sat, 09/21/2024 - 5:06pm

"The national 'dance boom' of the late 1950's through the 1980's expanded audiences and support for dance. Federal grants supported the development of college dance programs and touring dance companies. The University Musical Society brought dance to the University of Michigan’s Power Center for the Performing Arts, built in Ann Arbor in 1971. Both at the University and in the community, Ann Arbor became a destination for dance. Low-cost performance and rehearsal spaces, community support, and grants helped create and nurture a vital dance scene, and Ann Arbor became home to numerous modern and jazz dance companies including Dance Theater 2, Hydra, Whitley Setrakian’s People Dancing, The J. Parker Copley Dance Company, Jazz Dance Theater, and The Peter Sparling Dance Company. Recurring community dance showcases, such as Spring Dances, Fall Dances, Dancing in Summer, and others took place throughout the year, allowing many choreographers to share their work. The film Local Movement, by Aimee McDonald and Terri Sarris, explores modern dance in Ann Arbor from the 1970's through today." - Terri Sarris

This is the directors' cut of Sarris and McDonald's 24-minute original created for Ann Arbor 200.

Local Movement: Five Decades of Dance in Ann Arbor

Sat, 09/21/2024 - 4:34pm

"The national 'dance boom' of the late 1950's through the 1980's expanded audiences and support for dance. Federal grants supported the development of college dance programs and touring dance companies. The University Musical Society brought dance to the University of Michigan’s Power Center for the Performing Arts, built in Ann Arbor in 1971. Both at the University and in the community, Ann Arbor became a destination for dance. Low-cost performance and rehearsal spaces, community support, and grants helped create and nurture a vital dance scene, and Ann Arbor became home to numerous modern and jazz dance companies including Dance Theater 2, Hydra, Whitley Setrakian’s People Dancing, The J. Parker Copley Dance Company, Jazz Dance Theater, and The Peter Sparling Dance Company. Recurring community dance showcases, such as Spring Dances, Fall Dances, Dancing in Summer, and others took place throughout the year, allowing many choreographers to share their work. The film Local Movement, by Aimee McDonald and Terri Sarris, explores modern dance in Ann Arbor from the 1970's through today." - Terri Sarris

And for more stories from the film, check out the 46-minute directors' cut.

AADL Talks To: Liz Brater, 58th Mayor of Ann Arbor (1991-1993)

Mon, 09/16/2024 - 6:36pm

Elizabeth S. Brater is Ann Arbor's first female mayor, serving as a Democrat from 1991 to 1993. Prior to 1991, she was a member of Ann Arbor City Council. As both council member and mayor, Liz focused on housing and environmental issues, causes she continued at the state level when serving as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1995 to 2000, and in the Michigan Senate, where she represented the 18th district from 2003 to 2010. Brater talks with us about her time in office, its many challenges, and some of her initiatives and accomplishments, notably her campaign to start the Michigan Recovery Facility (MRF).