Wednesday, April 11,2012

Dean of country

Billy Dean plays solo acoustic set in Holt

In a feature last month in Billboard Magazine, Dean announced he is launching a concert series that will spare him a lot of travel time. “Live From Our Living Room” will be set up for fans at the Dean family farm in Center Hill Lake, Tenn.

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Wednesday, April 11,2012

No time to be homesick

Camps offer a variety of summer activities

by Alyssa Firth

With the rise in temperatures comes the rise in children being sent off to Michigan’s numerous summer camps. Parents in almost any area of the state have options to send their child or children for one day, one week or several weeks. Although times have changed, many of yesteryear’s traditions still remain.

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Wednesday, April 11,2012

YMCA camps in Michigan

by Alyssa Firth

Camp Al-Gon-Quian — Ann Arbor YMCA’s overnight camp for campers ages 6 through 16. (734) 661-8051 Camp Copneconic — A year-round camp and retreat center in Fenton. (810) 629-9622

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Wednesday, April 11,2012

Silver screen songs

Singers on the Grand performs music from the movies at Riverwalk

by Adam Ilenich

The 12-member Singers on the Grand performs “Mostly Movies” Saturday and Sunday at Riverwalk Theatre, with the help of a seven-member “Grand Band” and classical dancers Chloe Gonzales and Michael Chan. The program includes solos, duets and close-harmony numbers.

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Wednesday, April 4,2012

Meet the design enforcer

Project Manager Craig Kiner keeps an eye on the Broad Art Museum

by Lawrence Cosentino

Kiner, the museum’s project manager, flew to Lansing from architect Zaha Hadid’s London offices for a few days in March to check on the small army of builders that is pulling Hadid’s dynamic design from the drawing board to the physical world.

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Wednesday, April 4,2012

Advice Goddess

You lite up my life & stare way to heaven

by Amy Alkon

Q: A guy wrote you about a girl he sees at a coffee shop — a girl he suspects is out of his league. You said the way to know for sure is by asking her out. Bad Advice Goddess! This suggests that he should regard all women with whatever she’s got — like if she’s “too beautiful” — as out of his league. That just isn´t right. There’s probably a “too beautiful” woman out there who’d go for him.

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Wednesday, April 4,2012

'Writing well is the best revenge'

Loren D. Estleman is the keynote speaker at this year's Rally of Writers

by Bill Castanier

Estleman still prefers using his 1967 Olympia and his 1923 Underwood to bang out his novels, including his more than 30 books featuring Detroit private eye Amos Walker.

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Wednesday, April 4,2012

Food Finder

by City Pulse

OMI SUSHI — This sushi bar has a wide variety of sushi rolls, including tempura, spicy or vegetarian. Also features appetizers such as lightly salted edamame or miso soup. 210 MAC Ave., East Lansing. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Sunday (517) 337-2222. WB, TO, SF $$

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Wednesday, April 4,2012

A musical with a kick

Love, liquor — and video games? — are blended in unusual 'Usual'

by Mary C. Cusack

The full title of the play is “The Usual: A Musical Love Story.” Williamston’s run of the show is the world premiere of the original work, with book and lyrics by Alan Gordon and music by Mark Sutton-Smith. If that last name sounds familiar, it is because he is the brother of “The Usual” cast member and Williamston Theatre Development Director Emily Sutton-Smith.

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Wednesday, April 4,2012

Still a thrill

Changes have been made, but 'Les Miserables' retains its musical power

by ALLAN I. ROSS

The show plays as a tension of opposites between the flawed altruist Jean Valjean and the letter-of-the-law enforcer Javert, with the latter always threatening to make the show his own. Andrew Valera, who embodies Javert as one charismatic mofo, finally succeeds in that attempt.

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