The Detroit News Regional Hub Calendar

4th Fridays in the Park, featuring Detroit Music Awards Jam Fest

6/23/2010 3:39:14 PM

Starting with lunchtime music and ending with a film, June 25 marks the beginning of the4^th Fridays in the Park concert series. A party in the Park, sponsored by the Detroit Music Awards and 94.7 WCSX, will feature the Detroit Music Awards Jam Fest on the Health Plan of Michigan Main Stage, including: Detroit Music Award winner for Outstanding Urban/Funk Artist/Group, Brothers Groove; Outstanding Blues/R&B Vocalist recipient Thornetta Davis; Outstanding Acoustic Artist/Group, Jill Jack; and the rockin, funky, blues jam style of Outstanding R&B Artist/Group, the Howling Diablos.

In addition, the Best of the Detroit-Windsor International Film Festival will be shown immediately following the concert, presented by the Detroit Creative Corridor Center and the Wayne County Film Office.

Other activities featured during the 20104^th Fridays in the Park are Lunch Time Arts with Detroit-area musicians and a variety of performances, starting with Johnnie Bassett on the Detroit People Mover Stage at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 25. A Detroit blues artist, Bassett is the 2010 Detroit Music Awards Outstanding Blues Artist/Group and Outstanding Blues/R&B Instrumentalist.

A Happy Hour DJ Showcase will be presented by Fusicology on the Detroit People Mover Stage as well, kicking off in June with Detroit Music Awards award-winning group Detroit Techno Militia, where visitors will be able to take advantage of food and drink specials in the Park. In addition, films will be shown following each4th Fridays concert, beginning in June with the Best of the Detroit-Windsor International Film Festival, presented by the Detroit Creative Corridor Center and the Wayne County Film Office.

Media contact: BERLINE, Ashli Bobo, 248-593-7436, abobo@berline.com.

About Campus Martius Park
Campus Martius Park, Detroit’s Gathering Place and the centerpiece of revitalization in downtown, is a legacy gift to the city of Detroit from the Detroit 300 Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that has raised over $20 million to design, construct and operate The Park through businesses, foundations, and individual donations. For more information, contact the Detroit 300 Conservancy at 313-962-0101 or visit www.campusmartiuspark.org.

Starting Your Own Business

6/21/2010 12:06:57 PM

Cost: $25.00

Click for more information:
http://www.annarborusaevents.org/events/details?e=10226

At this forum you will learn about personality traits that impact entrepreneurialism, create a marketing plan for your business, learn about legal, accounting, franchises, business plans and financing options. You will receive one on one counseling with a business expert and have an opportunity to get advice from a variety of business experts and organizations that are available to support new ventures.

Agenda
9:00 –             Continental Breakfast & Registration
9:15 –             Welcome, Overview & Participant introductions
9:30 –             How Do Your Motivators Impact Running A Successful Business?
10:15 –            Business Ideas & Product Development
10:45 –            Marketing & Sales
11:15 –            Setting up Your Business – Legal, Accounting & Insurance
12: 15              Lunch
12:30-12:55     Individual Coaching Group A
12:55-1:20       Individual Coaching Group B
1:20-1:45         Individual Coaching Group C
12:30-2:00       Ask the Expert – Service Providers and Community Resources
2:00-2:40         Financing Your Business
2:45-3:15         Business Models & Plans
3:20-3:50         Getting Connected
3:50                 Wrap-up

Participating Companies:

Ann Arbor SPARK
Ann Arbor State Bank
Barton Consulting
Butzel Long
CEED
DesignHub
EnVision Associates
Excellerate Associates
Focus Consulting
Franchoice
Hessenaur & Associates
Hylant
I Sold It on Ebay
Jelic Patent Services
Kapnick Insurance Group
Kleinschmidt Insurance
M2 Strategies
McPherson Capital
Merrill Lynch
Metaspring
New Enterprise Forum
Paychex
Rehmann Accountants
SBTDC
SCORE
Sterling Agency
Trossen HR
Wright, Griffin & Davis

Entrepreneur Education 2.0:

6/21/2010 12:03:41 PM

Cost: $10.00

Click for more information: http://www.annarborusaevents.org/events/details?e=10463

The Entrepreneur Education 2.0 series are programs designed for innovation based entrepreneurs that are in the process of growing their company. Speaker and Topic TBA

Marketing Roundtable - Event Marketing

6/21/2010 11:58:50 AM

Cost: FREE

Click for more information: http://www.annarborusaevents.org/events/details?e=10455

Meeting face-to-face with clients through event and trade show marketing can play a highly important role within your strategic marketing plan. Learn how to increase lead generation, engage your prospects and increase brand awareness toward improving your bottom line. This diverse panel will discuss the importance of setting event expectations, the strategic planning process, and the evaluation of your event ROI. Some topics that will be covered include: Event Planning Partners, Event Technology, Trends & Best Practices. So come with your questions to pose to this panel of experts.

Panelists:

Laila Gislason
Marketing, Design and Sales,
Lindsay Exhibit Group

Jim Hanika
Owner and CEO, Proforma

Jill Tewsley
Promotions and Events Manager,
AnnArbor.com

Diana Farnham
Marketing Events Coordinator,
Workforce Software

About the Moderator

With over 20 years experience in the marketing world, David currently serves as Marketing Director at AnnArbor.com. Over the course of his career, he has had the opportunity to strategize marketing solutions for local, regional, national and international businesses. In both business-to-business and consumer-to-business situations, a broad range of approaches has included event marketing strategies and broadcast, print, interactive and/or non-traditional media opportunities.

AnnArbor.com is an online digital media company serving the people of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, Michigan. AnnArbor.com combines the proud tradition of local journalism with a commitment to fostering an online community that allows citizens to gain, share and create content.

Who Should Attend

Business owners, marketing managers, corporate sales organizations, brand managers, entrepreneurs.

Marketing Roundtable will be streamed live by Magic Coast. http://www.annarborusa.org/events/marketingroundtable/mrt-live/ You can watch the event and ask questions right from your computer if you can't attend the event.

If you were unable to participate in the live webcast, visithttp://www.annarborusa.org/events/video-library/ to view this and all recorded events.

Ann Arbor OpenCoffee

6/21/2010 11:56:50 AM

Cost: FREE

Click for more information: http://www.annarborusaevents.org/events/details?e=10225

This is a networking event for entrepreneurs, investors and those who work with technology & innovation businesses, particularly in IT, cleantech and life sciences.

So far we've kept the agenda open, allowing those who show up to set it as they wish. It's heavy on networking, full of interesting opinions and stories, and has led to several successful business partnerships and gigs.

The agenda is simple:

1. Drink coffee
2. Network
3. Eat bagels
4. Network
5. Drink coffee

If networking is not comfortable for you, no worries! Let us know and we'll shepherd you through the crowd, making introductions. As always, bring your business cards. Mighty Good Coffee will be provided, compliments of SPARK.

Event Website: annarborusa.org

Summer Speaker Series-How to Pick A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for Your Business

6/21/2010 11:55:15 AM

Cost: FREE

Click for more information: http://www.annarborusaevents.org/events/details?e=10446

This presentation will review the various CRM systems available and how to choose the system that is most appropriate for your customer lead tracking.

You had the idea and you’ve developed the product. Now you want to sell it.

How do you keep track of your leads and contacts?
How do you manage all of your pricing proposals and correspondence?
How do you follow up?

The SPARK East Summer Speaker Series is a collection of afternoon seminars in June, July and August designed to educate entrepreneurs on various key topics to help launch and grow innovation based businesses. Each program begins at 3pm, and includes time for a question and answer period, as well as networking.

Event Phone: (734) 527-9171

Event E-mail: shamar@annarborusa.org

Michigan Energy Forum: Cap & Trade

6/21/2010 11:53:21 AM

Cost: FREE

Click for information: http://www.annarborusaevents.org/events/details?e=10224

" Put down the fireworks and BBQ fixings for a little while and join us at the Michigan Energy Forum as we have an in-depth look at Carbon Markets. This topic is rapidly evolving and has the potential for significant growth driven by various energy policies currently in play. Bob German from DTE Energy, Mark Bennett from Miller Canfield, and others will take us through the basics, including: - An overview of carbon markets including policy and the value chain - Types of carbon projects being developed - Typical carbon transaction structures - How can I get involved in the carbon space? These and many other questions will be answered by a highly qualified panel. There will also be plenty of time for key networking. Looking forward to seeing you there – click here to register. "

The mission of the forum is to facilitate collaboration and networking among practitioners, policy makers, investors and talent. We welcome suggestions on topics and speakers for future events.

Michigan Energy Forum will be streamed live by Magic Coast. http://www.annarborusa.org/events/etf-live/ You can watch the event and ask questions right from your computer if you can't attend the event.

If you were unable to participate in the live webcast, visit http://www.annarborusa.org/events/video-library/ to view this and all recorded events.

Panelists:

Robert H. German
Director, Carbon Business Development at DTE Carbon

Mark J. Bennett
Senior Counsel, Miller Canfield

Hot Shots: Career Connections at Melange

6/21/2010 11:51:40 AM

Cost: FREE

Bring your resume, and come and mingle with growing, innovative companies in a fun and relaxed environment! This event is only for talent seeking opportunities for themselves. Recruiters and staffing companies should use other venues to meet with these company representatives. If you would like your company to participate, contact Amy Cell at Amy@AnnArborUSA.org.

Registration for this event will open on Wed., June 23rd.

Companies attending:

Aeroflex
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Production Line Supervisor
- Planning & Procurement Manager

Bebaroo
- Board Advisor
- UX Expert/Web Developer
- PHP/Java Developer

Dataspace
- Account Executive - Part Time

InPore Technologies
- Chemical Engineer

JDM Consulting
- MANAGEMENT
·         Project Manager – Application, Infrastructure, Business Process

- ANALYST
·         Systems Analyst
·         Technical Business Analyst
·         Business Analyst

- QUALITY ASSURANCE
·         Agile Tester
·         Analyst Web Developer

- DEVELOPERS
·         J2EE developer/architect
·         J2EE/JAVA/SOA Architect/Developer
·         .Net Web Developer
·         .Net Software Design Engineer
·         iPhone Developer

- SECURITY
·         Network Security Analyst

- DATA WAREHOUSE
·         OBIEE consultant
·         Oracle DBA/OLAP/SQL

- SPECIALTY DEVELOPER
·         Cognos 8 Report Developer

- DATA MODELING
·         Statistical Modeler/Data Analyst 3
·         Campaign Performance Analyst

NetEnrich
• Inside Sales Representative
• Account Manager
• Channel Sales Mgr
• Customer Service Representatives
• Storage Administrator
• Cisco Network Engineers
• Helpdesk Engineers
• Windows Administrator

Polyergic Informatics, LLC (POLY)

SARC
- Executive Administrative Assistant

Technical Engineering Consultants, Inc.
- Technical positions(job titles coming soon)

Thetford
- Part-time Customer Service Representative

http://www.annarborusaevents.org/events/details?e=10457

Speaker Series- Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs

6/21/2010 11:50:08 AM

Cost: FREE

The interactive presentation will cover the types of intellectual property, the biggest pitfall in patent law, and the biggest misunderstanding in patent law. It will end with a short discussion on what do investors want to hear when they ask about your intellectual property.

The SPARK East Summer Speaker Series is a collection of afternoon seminars in June, July and August designed to educate entrepreneurs on various key topics to help launch and grow innovation based businesses. Each program begins at 3pm, and includes time for a question and answer period, as well as networking.

Event Phone: (734) 527-9171

Event E-mail: shamar@annarborusa.org

http://www.annarborusaevents.org/events/details?e=10445

DETROIT ZOO’S AMPHIBIVILLE LEAPS INTO THE NEXT DECADE

6/18/2010 12:25:46 PM

Amphibiville, home of the National Amphibian Conservation Center (NACC) at the Detroit Zoo, will be hopping on Saturday, June 26, 2010, as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary.

Special activities will be featured from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., including tadpole and bullfrog observations at the outdoor lake as well as talks about the facility’s construction and green building practices. Children’s arts and crafts will take place inside the NACC from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Opened in 2000, Amphibiville is a two-acre wetland village featuring the award-winning state-of-the-art National Amphibian Conservation Center, a leader in amphibian conservation and research. The NACC boasts a spectacular diversity of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians, inspiring The Wall Street Journal to call it “Disneyland for toads”.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through Labor Day (with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the day after Labor Day through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $11 for adults 15 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 14; children under 2 are free. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round; admission is free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.

Summer Speaker Series-Small Business Information Assurance without IT Insurance

6/17/2010 2:17:37 PM

Speaker: Louis Daher

Location:
SPARK East
215 W. Michigan Ave.
Ypsilanti MI 48197

Cost: FREE

In today’s interconnected digital business environment, even micro businesses face rapidly changing Information Assurance needs. A continually evolving information environment creates ongoing technical challenges. Organizations have to constantly make new choices about the best practices to mitigate current and emerging information security vulnerabilities. Small businesses have even more challenging decisions to make about Information Assurance than large organizations because they do not have the resources or resilience to withstand computer security risks, and often do not even have either the expertise or the resources to identify and mitigate those risks.

What information, tools or services can small business enterprises find readily available to help them address some Information Assurance needs. Let’s look at a limited number of security topics that small businesses need to consider, by addressing five common vulnerabilities and threats: malicious code, stolen/lost laptops or mobile devices, spear phishing, unsecured wireless networks, and finally insider threats. Starting from these considerations small businesses will be able to identify basic Information Assurance needs from which to build a solid Information Security platform.

Louis, is a versatile IT professional with a decade and a half of experience managing projects and people working with developers, stake-holders, end users and technical support staff. Despite the best efforts of Microsoft, he has dealt with network security and the information assurance that arise in a calm, level headed manner. These years of experience addressing technical issues have honed relationship building skills through the application of active listening, expectation setting and most importantly negotiation. Louis has outstanding interpersonal communication and computer skills a combination which facilitates comfortable interactions with all levels of management and staff at different technical skill levels. He enjoys sharing the knowledge gained from his well developed ability to learn and assimilate new technologies.

Building Business Relationships Breakfast

6/17/2010 2:12:26 PM

Network! Promote your business and learn about other Chamber Members! Join us for a great networking function!

Cost: $12 for Members with reservation, $15 for Walk-Ins and Prospective Members

Event Phone: 734-429-4494

Event E-mail: office@salinechamber.org

Event URL: http://www.salinechamber.org

Marketing Roundtable - Marketing ROI and Research

5/4/2010 11:46:40 AM

Cost: FREE

The 2010 Marketing Roundtable is a ten-session monthly series featuring regional talent who will discuss practical and cost-effective innovation marketing. Program topics range from brand strategy to social media, and from financial accountability to guerrilla marketing. Event Details TBD.

Who Should Attend
Business owners, executives, marketing communicators and entrepreneurs.

Marketing Roundtable will be streamed live by Magic Coast. http://www.annarborusa.org/events/marketingroundtable/mrt-live/ You can watch the event and ask questions right from your computer if you can't attend the event.

If you were unable to participate in the live webcast, visit http://www.annarborusa.org/events/video-library/ to view this and all recorded events.

Ann Arbor OpenCoffee

5/4/2010 11:44:22 AM

Cost: FREE

This is a networking event for entrepreneurs, investors and those who work with technology & innovation businesses, particularly in IT, cleantech and life sciences.

So far we've kept the agenda open, allowing those who show up to set it as they wish. It's heavy on networking, full of interesting opinions and stories, and has led to several successful business partnerships and gigs.

The agenda is simple:

1. Drink coffee
2. Network
3. Eat bagels
4. Network
5. Drink coffee

Event Website: annarborusa.org

Gas, Diesel, and Hybrid Technology ways for Achieving Cost Effective Fuel Economy

5/4/2010 11:42:13 AM

Speaker: Brett Smith, K. John Holmes,Trevor Jones, Linos Jacovides, Jay Baron, and Gary Rogers

Location:
Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest
1275 S. Huron Street
Ypsilanti MI 48197

Cost: $95.00

Without question, the pathway to sustainable personal transportation entails a collection of solutions to help reduce our impact on the environment and our dependency on foreign oil. Many don't believe that battery electric vehicles will make significant inroads for at least 10 to 15 years, or longer without continued economic stimulus or a technology breakthrough; both risky propositions. This panel is a subgroup of authors working on a National Research Council (NRC) committee that recently released the report, "Assessing Fuel Economy Technologies for Light Duty Vehicles."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) charged the NRC to assess technologies for improving fuel economy that may be used over the next 15 years. The committee provides estimates of fuel consumption benefits and costs for approximately 40 separate technologies that are commercially available and implementable within five years. Other longer-term technologies are also evaluated.

Event Phone: (734) 662-1287

Event E-mail: carregistration@cargroup.org

Event URL: http://www.cargroup.org

New Business Pitch Competition

5/4/2010 11:40:21 AM

Cost: FREE

The Eastside Innovation Campus partners are committed to fostering and supporting entrepreneurship in Eastern Washtenaw County. The EIC First Annual Pitch Competition will showcase five innovation-based entrepreneurs and will provide the winner of the pitch competition a number of gifts and services to support their venture including a one year incubator lease at SPARK East and up to $50,000 in business acceleration services. The pitch competition will be judged by a panel of noted funding and business experts. Applications to be selected to compete in the 1st annual EIC new business pitch competition are due by COB May 14th. Selected competitors will be notified by e-mail or phone by May 21st.

Event schedule:
3:30-4:00 pm - Registration and check-in
4:00-4:30 pm - Pitch Competition
4:30-5:00 pm - Community entrepreneur resource overview (during competition judging)
5:00-5:15 pm - Winner’s announced and pitch critique
5:15-6:30 pm - Networking reception
6:30-midnight - Crossroads Music Festival and First Friday activities in downtown Ypsilanti

Sponsored by:
Ann Arbor SPARK, Eastern Michigan University, MI-SBTDC, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Chamber, PTAC, Washtenaw County, Ypsilanti CVB, Michigan Works!/etcs

http://www.annarborusaevents.org/EventDetails.aspx?e=10416

Michigan Energy Forum

5/4/2010 11:38:16 AM

Cost: FREE

The mission of the forum is to facilitate collaboration and networking among practitioners, policy makers, investors and talent. We welcome suggestions on topics and speakers for future events.

Michigan Energy Forum will be streamed live by Magic Coast. http://www.annarborusa.org/events/etf-live/ You can watch the event and ask questions right from your computer if you can't attend the event.

If you were unable to participate in the live webcast, visit http://www.annarborusa.org/events/video-library/ to view this and all recorded events.

http://www.annarborusaevents.org/EventDetails.aspx?e=10217

Entrepreneur Education 2.0:

5/4/2010 11:36:34 AM

5:00 pm – 5:30 pm Registration/Networking, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Presentation

http://www.annarborusaevents.org/EventDetails.aspx?e=10216

Gray’s Reef Golf Classic

4/1/2010 1:00:03 PM

WHO: Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan

WHAT: Gray’s Reef Golf Classic

WHERE: Indianwood Golf & Country Club
1081 Indianwood Road
Lake Orion, MI 48362

WHEN: June 21, 2010

TIME: 10:30 AM registration; shot-gun start 12:30 PM

Bring your friends and family and hit the links at Gray’s Reef Golf Classic to support Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. The event is scheduled for June 21, 2010 at Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Lake Orion. Participants can enjoy a day of championship golf, food and fun, all the while supporting a great cause. Cost for a foursome of golfers is $1,000. All proceeds will directly benefit Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan and support Michigan patients who are dealing with the challenges of a diagnosis of Leukemia or blood-related disorders.

About Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan

Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan is a statewide agency helping families cope with leukemia, lymphoma and related disorders by providing information, financial assistance and emotional support. In addition, CLF has provided more than $6.5 million in research dollars to Michigan’s comprehensive cancer institutes. Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan is headquartered in Troy, Mich. For more information, call 1-800-825-2536 or visit www.leukemiamichigan.org.

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SUMMER STARTS HERE! DETROIT RIVER DAYS FESTIVAL

2/25/2010 11:10:52 AM

The fourth annual Detroit River Days festival returns to the Detroit International Riverfront June 18 – 21, 2010. The four-day festival, presented by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, will culminate on the first day of summer, Monday, June 21, with The Parade Company-produced 52^nd Annual Target Fireworks.

With all new activities aimed at widening the experience on the riverfront, as well as live concerts, this year’s festival will span the Detroit RiverWalk from the Renaissance Center to the newly opened section of the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, Michigan’s first urban state park.

“River Days is a fantastic way for our community and visitors of all ages to kick off summer on the water in downtown Detroit,” said Faye Alexander Nelson, President & CEO, Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. “With more than three miles of riverfront currently complete, and more to come, we have much to celebrate not only during River Days weekend, but all year round. We think the public will be excited by some of the changes we are making in celebrating our riverfront.”

More information on the festival’s concert line-ups and new wide-ranging activities celebrating Detroit’s river, history and culture will be announced by the Conservancy in the coming months. The public can also find updates on the festival website, www.DetroitRiverDays.com and through the Conservancy’s “Detroit Riverfront” Facebook and Twitter fan pages.

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy was formed as a public-private partnership in early 2003 with the mission of developing public access on the Detroit International Riverfront. The completed project will span five-and-a-half miles of riverfront property, from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park, just east of the Belle Isle Bridge, and will include a continuous RiverWalk along with public parks and green spaces. Currently, more than three miles of East Riverfront is complete and open to the public. The Conservancy, a non-profit organization, is responsible for the construction and permanent operations, maintenance and programming of the Detroit International Riverfront and the Dequindre Cut Greenway. Visit www.DetroitRiverfront.org for more information.

Children's Debkeh Dance Lessons

2/3/2010 1:40:01 PM

Learn the traditional folk dance of the Levant and other Arab World nations - the Debkeh, a dance of community often performed at weddings and other joyous occasions. Lessons will be taught by dancer/choreographer Suha Farhoud, former member of El-Funoun Popular Dance Troupe of Ramallah, Palestine.

Children's Six-Week Session - Ages 8-13
February 24 - March 31, 2010
Wednesdays 5-5:30 p.m. & Sundays 1:30-2 p.m.
$85 registration fee

MINIMUM 10 REGISTRANTS PER SESSION REQUIRED; FEE WILL BE REFUNDED IF MINIMUM IS NOT MET BY SECOND CLASS MEETING - FEB. 28

NO PARTNER REQUIRED; LOOSE CLOTHING AND COMFORTABLE SHOES RECOMMENDED.

For further information and to register call 313.624.0215 or email sahmed@accesscommunity.org

Children's Debkeh Dance Lessons

2/3/2010 1:38:25 PM

Children's Six-Week Session - Ages 8-13
February 24 - March 31, 2010
Wednesdays 5-5:30 p.m. & Sundays 1:30-2 p.m.
$85 registration fee

MINIMUM 10 REGISTRANTS PER SESSION REQUIRED; FEE WILL BE REFUNDED IF MINIMUM IS NOT MET BY SECOND CLASS MEETING - FEB. 28

NO PARTNER REQUIRED; LOOSE CLOTHING AND COMFORTABLE SHOES RECOMMENDED.

For further information and to register call 313.624.0215 or email sahmed@accesscommunity.org

Global Thursdays Presents All About Dad

2/3/2010 1:35:40 PM

Mr. Do is the patriarch of a Vietnamese American family. He believes that to succeed in life one must be Catholic and pursue higher education with the goal of having a stable job. Much to his disappointment, he quickly realizes that every one of his children may not subscribe to his philosophy. As each of his children try to forge their own path in life, we see a poignant and unforgettable tale of a loving father with good intentions - learning what it means to let “nature” takes its course. Vietnamese and English.

- George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award, 2009 San Diego Asian Film Festival

- Special Jury Prize “Best First Feature” Award, 2009 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

*****

Global Thursdays at the Arab American National Museum is a multicultural performance series showcasing the finest in world music, dance, film and performance art. A wide variety of local, national and international acts truly allow you to “see and hear the world, here” at the AANM.

Global Thursdays Winter Spring 2010 Season is made possible in part by Ford Motor Company; Comerica Bank; DTE Energy; MASCO Corporation Foundation; DoubleTree Hotel Dearborn; and www.ArabDetroit.com.

Online ticket sales end at 5 p.m. the day prior to the show. Advance-sale tickets are only available online with debit or credit card and are held for pickup at the ticket table on the night of the performance.