AANM Holiday Fun for All Ages
There’s an abundance of Christmas cheer for the young and young at heart this season at the AANM. At 6 p.m. Thursday, December 13, come to the International Holiday Marketplace & Fashion Show, Global Thursdays' final date for the year. Admission is free; no tickets are needed. We’ll have complimentary food and drink, music and cool shopportunities to shorten your gift-buying list.
Then, from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, December 16, the Big Man in the Red Suit visits Free Craft Sundays at the AANM for a glorious Christmas program of storytelling and photos with Santa Claus, along with crafts including gingerbread houses, ornaments and greeting cards. The party is free for kids ages 6-12; no advance registration necessary.
The Museum Store will be open during both of these events, as well as during regular Museum hours. It's a quick stop with unique gift items -- Arab-inspired homewares, books, jewelry (including Yemeni-crafted silver earrings, necklaces and more), stationery and accessories, plus the new book about the AANM's history and collections, Telling Our Story ($35). Shop online HERE. Museum Members get 10% off all purchases.
Muslim Sitcoms Discussed on AANM Site
Have you seen the two current TV situation comedies focused on Muslim characters? Curious to hear what some are saying about these programs? For a recent column in Detroit’s Metro Times alternative news weekly, veteran TV writer Jim McFarlin assembled a small but diverse group of Muslims at the AANM to view episodes of CBC’s Little Mosque on the Prairie (right) and the CW network’s Aliens in America. Click HERE to visit our Media Room, then click on "Metro Times column" to read about their reactions in an expanded version of the published piece.
AANM Volunteer Honored
She’s a “doer.” That’s Mona Amen (right) of Livonia, Michigan, who was recently honored for her faithful volunteer work at the Arab American National Museum. Amen and former ACCESS board member Stanley Stewart were among the distinguished volunteers cited during the 16th annual National Philanthropy Day gala held earlier this month in Dearborn. Hosted by the Greater Detroit chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the event also saluted leading local philanthropists including Gretchen Valade, who created a foundation to ensure the long-term health of the venerable annual Detroit International Jazz Festival.
Arab American Dinner & Documentary This Sunday
You can be among the first to view a new documentary about Arab Americans by attending a special event this Sunday, December 2 at Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. “Flavors of the Arab World” includes live performances of Arab music and dance, an art display, a lavish meal of Arab cuisine, and the premiere of filmmaker Keith Famie’s Our Arab American Story, a film that tells the story of Arab world immigrants to Detroit by prominently featuring the Arab American National Museum and ACCESS. Tickets for the event, $125 each, are available by calling 248.869.0096. The documentary airs commercial-free at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 15, on WXYZ-TV, Detroit’s Channel 7. View a trailer from the film HERE.
November 29:
Global Thursdays: La Chispa & Company
La Chispa (“The Spark”) & Company explores all aspects of flamenco to create a powerful mixture of complex rhythms and haunting melodies. Led by Mexican-born Valeria Montes, aka La Chispa, this Detroit-based troupe offers a breathtaking performance, with live accompaniment, that transports passionate Spanish dance and music to the stage with trademark vibrancy and intensity. Tickets are $8 for Museum Members and students; $10 in advance at the Museum or by phone with a credit card at 313.582.2266 or 313.624.0215; and $12 at the door.
November 29:
Free Meditation Session
The “Learn to Meditate Series” continues at the AANM at 6:15 p.m. Thursdays until further notice (no session on November 22, Thanksgiving). Come see for yourself why so many people from every culture and walks of life are learning to meditate. Release stress and bring benefits to mind, body and emotions. Become a deeper, brighter person. Look and feel younger. In the Lower Level Classroom. Free and open to the public. Questions? Contact Terry Freel at 248.227.7595 or tlf157@comcast.net.
December 6:
Global Thursdays: Mady Kouyate
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Mady is a descendent of the Kouyate family of Dialolu, oral historians and musicians of Manding traditions, recording the history of West African societies through music and verse. Performing on the 21-string kora, he is a master of the traditional and ancestral heritage of griot. Tickets are $8 for Museum Members and students; $10 in advance at the Museum or by phone with a credit card at 313.582.2266 or 313.624.0215; and $12 at the door.
December 6, 13, 20 & 27:
Free Meditation Sessions
See November 29 item above.
December 13:
Ford Comerica Global Thursdays: Holiday Marketplace FREE ADMISSION
Our popular holiday bazaar returns with fashion, art, crafts and food from around the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to shop, explore and enjoy live music and complimentary refreshments, as our holiday gift to you! Start time is 6 p.m. Admission is free; no ticket necessary. Bring a friend or family member!
Through March 30, 2008:
Silver Speaks:
Traditional Jewelry of the Middle East
Silver Speaks: Traditional Jewelry of the Middle East features selections from the David and Marjorie Ransom Collection. The Ransoms began collecting silver jewelry during their careers as U.S. diplomats in the Middle East, and became amateur preservationists as they investigated smithing techniques and the historical, cultural and social meaning of various jewelry designs. In the Lower Level Gallery. Click HERE to read more about the exhibition.
This exhibition made possible in part by The Wallace Foundation.
Membership
Receive the following membership benefits:
- Free AANM admission plus advance notice and invitations to upcoming events
- Reduced ticket prices for AANM events
- 10% discount at the Museum store
- 10% discount on Museum facility rentals
- Free guest passes
- Ability to borrow books from Museum Library & Resource Center
Call (313) 624-0202 today for your Museum membership or click here
