Community Corner
Weekend Planner: MOT Soloists, Winter Photography Class, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation
Patch tells you what's happening this weekend around Farmington and Farmington Hills.
The weekend is officially here. All week long, we have shared our daily picks for fun and interesting events happening in the area to help you plan your weekend adventures.
Here's a recap:
Find out what's happening in Farmington-Farmington Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Where:
When: Friday from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Find out what's happening in Farmington-Farmington Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Why go: O.C.C. presents its 8th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation on Friday. The assembly will begin with a vocal and dance performance by children from the Detroit School of Arts. At 11 a.m., Dr. Angela D. Dillard, Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan, will speak. The author of Faith in the City: Preaching Radical Social Change in Detroit, she is currently at work on a political biography of civil rights icon James Meredith, who turned conservative Republican. Dillard frequently writes and speaks on issues of race, religion and politics. Interestingly, she does so on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum.
Where:
When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Why go: As part of the Farmington Hills Cultural Arts Concert Series, four Michigan Opera Theater soloists will perform Saturday night. The four-member group is composed of soprano Maria Cimarelli, mezzo soprano Betsy Bronson, tenor Karl Schmidt and tenor-baritone Mark Vondrak. The group will perform a mix of favorite songs from Broadway and the cinema with a little drama and some funny skits. You get a chance to hear the soloists up close and personal in an intimate local setting with wonderful acoustics. You may want to order your tickets in advance, because in the past MOT concerts have sold out at the Players Barn.
Where:
When: Sunday at 3 p.m.
Why go: The Holocaust Memorial Center has invited Dr. Robert Rockaway, a native Detroiter and professor at Tel-Aviv University, to talk about the trials of three men charged with heinous crimes in the generation before World War I. Alfred Dreyfus was charged with treason in France. Mendel Beilis was charged with a ritual murder in Russia, and Leo Frank was charged with the murder of a young girl in the United States. Dr. Rockaway is known for his dynamic, animated talks and this presentation will inform you on how these trials had a lasting impact on Jewish history and on their respective nations.
Where:
When: Saturday at 9 a.m.
Why go: The Michigan winter weather has been a little out of the ordinary, but snow is expected later this week. Why not bundle up in some warm clothes and head to the Nature Discovery Center on Saturday for an outdoor photography class? Professional photographer Jacob Nothstine will lead the class through beautiful as you learn how to make snow look good in pictures and how it can make an ordinary scene extraordinary. Make sure to bring your camera and winter boots, and register in advance.
Where:
When: Sunday at 8 p.m.
Why go: We've made some educational picks for things to do this weekend in the past few days, but this one is purely fun. This adults-only event may bring back some memories as you listen to a little music and get ready to rock out to Van Halen's "Jump," crouch down and shoot the duck, or bring your significant other and enjoy skating together during the "slow skate." You'll be amazed by how familiar it seems to be skating across that wooden floor with the sparkles of the disco ball surrounding you.
