University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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On top of the Fletcher parking structure, a man plays the drums for the crowd at Top of the Park. Ann Arbor community members of all ages attended this Summer Festival event. Y. Granata photo Waiting for the movie Legally Blond to start, a student grabs a bite to eat from the Mexican Cafe. Restaurants showed their support for the annual festival by suing up food kiosks, perhaps in the hopes of drawing repeat customers for the school year. Y, Granata photo .-:. ike many others who lived in and around the Ann Arbor area year round, LSA sophomore Victoria Edwards waited impatiently for N the Ann Arbor Summer Festivals Top of the Park. Celebrating the coming of summer, the event brought live concerts, movies, dance, theater, and food and fun to the area for the past 20 years. Many were attracted to the events free, outdoor movie and music series held on top of the Fletcher parking structure. I found out about Top of the Park during freshman orientation, said Edwards. ! loved it so much. This year, I went every single day. I couldn ' t decide which I liked better: swing dancing to the live bands or watching the movies shown on the big, outdoor screen. Evy Warshawski, the executive director of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, described this year ' s impressive program as she said, We had a total of 56 bands throughout local areas and beyond, playing over 24 nights. The music featured a variety of genres, offering something for everybody. Following the musical performances, the program usually included a movie shown drive-in style against the huge, solid wall on the south side of the rooftop. Titles included classics like American Graffiti and Grease, newer flicks such as My Byj Fat Greek Wedding and Catch A c ifYon Can, and movies for the younger crowd, such as Spy Kids 2:Tlie Island of Lost Dreams and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Adding to the entertainment were food and beverage snack booths from local favorites including Cottage Inn, Zingerman ' s and Stucchi ' s, and even beer gardens adults over the age of 21 . Top of the Park celebrated its 20th birthday with a cake and an old-fashioned hootenanny, a folk music sing-along. The board and staff of the festival felt that we had a great birthday year. We committed to making some improvements, and followed through, fixing the elevator shaft, painting the booths, and drawing two new vendors, Tio ' s and Pizza House. Next year, we are hoping to beef up our marketing to meet our goal ot involving more students, said Warshawski. fend An fa 114 Special Events

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ofthe advantage of attending a large university was the accessibility to a diverse mix of programs and activities geared to appeal to each member of the student body. Year-round, the Ann Arbor campus offered a vast array of special and exciting opportunities, giving students a break from the normal campus routine. Renowned speakers visited to share their experiences and advise students on issues from politics to future career choices. Meanwhile culture shows and dance-off competitions gave students the opportunity to showcase their backgrounds and talents. Campus organizations also gathered students together to work for a noble cause. Regardless of individual interests, the University offered a schedule of activities designed to expose each student to new ideas and cultures, broaden perspectives, expand minds, and leave students with a truly unique college experience. u a fo teww me uw tne t cwtcl ca-wuwa -CU4WMXMOW eauctt fiom ttw n (te fnefcc atuj - Office of Major Events -

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1 f the Ann Arbor Film Festival had a little brother, it would be the Festival of New Works. Held annually since 1999 with the intention of showcasing young talent, the festival attracted young screenwriters, directors, and actors, all with high hopes of breaking into the world of professional film and stage. Sponsored by the Film and Video Department, shows such as The Love List, Broad Strokes, and Dead and Kicking premiered in the Trueblood Theatre, with the assistance of artistic producer John Neville- Andrews and managing director Mary Lou Chlipala. Dead and Kicking, written by Tim Pollock, was performed during the inaugural year of the festival in the Arena Theater, and made a triumphant return for the 2003 season. After each performance was an audience question and answer period intended to grant insight on audience attitudes towards the directing, writing, and overall performance. Many times the discussion addressed the entire creative process, allowing audience members to became privy to why the festival members made certain decisions. One such audience member, engineering senior Sara Grady commented, While I really enjoyed the festival and respect all of its participants, I was genuinely surprised at the lack of student involvement, even in the acting. Although student written and directed shows were performed in the Arena Theatre in the basement of the Freize Building, the most attention was given to performances in the Trueblood. This surprised many students, who considered New Works to be more of a University event rather than a city one. Regardless, the festival was a success, drawing young talent to an audience that could fully appreciate it. -k J xU A n f J r f %fet l L Td k t 44th annual Ann Arbor Art Fair took place in July during four exceptionally hot and humid days. The fair consisted of four separate areas: the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, the State Street Area Art Fair, and the South University Area Art Fair. An estimated half of a million visitors attended the event to submerge themselves in a variety of arts, crafts, music, and food. People who attended the event in prior years may have noticed new changes. The original art fair, called the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, was relocated this summer to North University,Thayer Street, and East Washington Street near Burton Memorial Tower. Another alteration to the Street Art Fair was a new program for emerging artists. Three students from the School of Art and Design were selected to exhibit their work in their own booth, which featured works in fibers, jewelry, and clay. Out of 1,800 applications, 197 artists were selected to take part in the prestigious Art Fair. The artists came from 35 different states, Ontario, and Great Britain to exhibit their work. The variety of art exhibited at the fair was extensive, and included photography, wood- working, clay, jewelry, painting, fibers, glass, and mixed media. Although the fair brought a great deal to the city of Ann Arbor, some students found Art Fair week less than appealing. My landlord neglected to tell me that he rented out our front porch to some art fair vendors, which proved to be more of an inconvenience than a cultural experience, said recent LSA graduate Heidi Leitner. Megan Johnson, an LSA senior, agreed that the fair was a hassle. It was so crowded in Ann Arbor, 1 couldn ' t even give student tours of the campus. On the upside, I did find a cool hat I wish I could have afforded. Although the event created a lot of traffic and some inconveniences, it was a great exhibition of creativity and entertainment on the whole. A jester sculpture stands outside one of the many different vendors ' booths at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. A plethora of artistic works, from paintings to move- ment art, were showcased at this nationally renowned event. Tedjasukmana photo Summer Festivals 115