Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Ypsilanti will, as it’s done for the past seven years, play host to the incredible Michigan music festival known as Mittenfest. Following is a short interview I conducted online with organizers Brandon Zwagerman, Jeremy Peters and Amy Sumerton on how Mittenfest got started, how it’s changed over the years, […]
Tag Archives: Amy Sumerton
Reflecting on the origins, accomplishments and future of Mittenfest
Posted in Ann Arbor, Art and Culture, Michigan, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti Also tagged 826, 826Michigan, Arbor Vitae, Beezy's, Brandon Zwagerman, Breezee On, Chickens in Love, Chris Bathgate, Christmas, Corner brewery, creative writing, East Quad Music Co-Op, Fred Thomas, Frontier Ruckus, fundraisers, Growing Hope, Halfass, homesickness, Jeremy Peters, Madison House, Madisonfest, Misty Lyn Bergeron, Mittenfest, New Year's Eve, New York, Nightlife, NYC, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Stepdad, SXSW, West Park, Woodruff's, Ypsilanti Public Schools 15 Comments
Announcing that five Ypsi schools share one librarian, 826 Michigan asks for volunteers to staff libraries so that our children can once again check out books
When I received the above message earlier this afternoon, I didn’t think there was any way that it could possibly be true… I knew, of course, that Ypsi’s schools had suffered severe cuts. Just a few weeks ago, I’d watched Linette design a poster for Fly Children’s Art Center, drawing attention to the fact that […]
Posted in Art and Culture, Education, Ypsilanti Also tagged 826Michigan, Amanda Uhle, Big Bird, books, budget cuts, Bush tax cuts, childhood, deregulation, dismantling of public education, epic rants, FLY Children's Art Center, librarians, libraries, military budget, Mitt Romney, PBS, public education, tax the rich, Wall Street deregulation, Ypsilanti Public Schools 43 Comments
Ypsilanti exit interview: Annie Palmer
A few days ago, when I learned that local musician Annie Palmer had packed her bags and fled Ypsilanti, I decided to send her an email and ask why she’d gone. Following, with her permission, is our exchange. [And, yes, I start every conversation with, “What’s your name?”] MARK: What’s your name? ANNIE: Annie Palmer. […]
Posted in Ann Arbor, Art and Culture, Special Projects, Ypsilanti Also tagged Annie Palmer, authenticity, bike stealing, Chicago, Chris Palmer, creepy Carlos, Eddie Murphy, exit interviews, goats, Johnny Cash, Mom and Not Mom, noise ordinance violations, roommates, Tennessee, Twin Peaks, Ugly Mug, Won't You Let Me, Ypsi Food Co-op, Ypsi/Arbor Exit Interviews 20 Comments