
Ann Arbor District Library's LGBTQ+ Walking Tour

The Ann Arbor District Library’s LGBTQ+ Walking Tour documents historical locations important to the queer community, pulling from interviews with community members in podcasts like AADL’S Gayest Generation, LGBTQ+ Washtenaw oral histories, and other archival collections. We heard from community members about their favorite hangouts over the decades, including bars, bookstores, and sites of political advancement for LGBTQ+ rights. This tour walks you through important locations, some of which have changed over the years and may no longer exist.


AADL Talks To: Marcel Shobey and Ruth Natalie Kellogg about the Legacy of Musicians Armando and Norman Shobey, aka the Shobey Brothers
In this episode, AADL Talks To Marcel Shobey, joined by his mother, Ruth Natalie Kellogg. Marcel shares memories of growing up on Ashley Street on the Old West Side and he and his mother discuss some of the changes they've seen in Ann Arbor over the years. They also take a deep dive into the music career of the Shobey Brothers -- Marcel's father, Armando Shobey, and uncle, Norman Shobey. The Shobeys were hand percussionists discovered in the Bronx as children. They toured with Bobby Orton's Teen Aces and then went on to play in a variety of music ensembles of some renown both nationally and in several European countries for many years before settling in Ann Arbor at the invitation of musician Rick Burgess. Here they formed -- or joined -- a variety of music ensembles that played throughout the Midwest region. Their story is further documented in photos and flyers in the Marcel Shobey Collection.

'Miss Ann Arbor' Contestants at the Rubaiyat, 1982 Photographer: Peter Yates

Year:
1982
- Read more about 'Miss Ann Arbor' Contestants at the Rubaiyat, 1982
- Log in or register to post comments
The Restaurant That Just Kept Growing

- Read more about The Restaurant That Just Kept Growing
- Log in or register to post comments
Rubaiyat Continental Dining

- Read more about Rubaiyat Continental Dining
- Log in or register to post comments
Ann Arbor Fire Department Believes Fire At Rubaiyat Restaurant Began Here, January 1963 Photographer: Duane Scheel

Year:
1963
Ann Arbor News, January 7, 1963
Caption:
Restaurant Fire: These pictures show the interior of the Rubaiyat Restaurant, 341 S. Main St., where a fire of undetermined origin caused more than $20,000 damage last night. The upper picture [this photo] shows the entrance to a waitress's room where Ann Arbor firemen believe the blaze began. The lower picture reveals the ruined interior of the main dining area in the restaurant building. An investigation by the Fire Department is now under way to determine the cause of the blaze.
Damaged Dining Room Following Fire At Rubaiyat Restaurant, January 1963 Photographer: Duane Scheel

Year:
1963
Ann Arbor News, January 7, 1963
Caption:
Restaurant Fire: These pictures show the interior of the Rubaiyat Restaurant, 341 S. Main St., where a fire of undetermined origin caused more than $20,000 damage last night. The upper picture shows the entrance to a waitress's room where Ann Arbor firemen believe the blaze began. The lower picture [this photo] reveals the ruined interior of the main dining area in the restaurant building. An investigation by the Fire Department is now under way to determine the cause of the blaze.
Scorched Interior After Fire at Rubaiyat Restaurant, January 1963 Photographer: Duane Scheel

Year:
1963
Blaze Damages Interior Of Rubaiyat Restaurant

- Read more about Blaze Damages Interior Of Rubaiyat Restaurant
- Log in or register to post comments
Move To Fire Krasny, Pear Fails; No Disruption Occurs

- Read more about Move To Fire Krasny, Pear Fails; No Disruption Occurs
- Log in or register to post comments