This is a total and complete biased review. I Love RC! We have been members for 13 years and have…read moreloved every summer. My kids are there all summer and hang with their friends, it is absolutely a "must join" club if you live in or around Ann Arbor Hills. It is super convenient for those of us in AA Hills, you can bike or walk! The staff is great and the coal and ice sundays are not to miss. You bring your meats and they grill it for you! So the reason I am so biased is because we have not joined any other summer swim club since living in Ann Arbor but we have visited them all during swim season. I think RC is the best by far!

4.5 stars- We saw…read moreFrozen in the theatre in January and walked out to it snowing outside- this theater apparently has magic weather powers. ;) We had a lot of fun in this theater, though it was very intimate/ smaller than I thought it would be. I thought it was a little pricey, but I was amazed at the local talent and honestly, if some is going to the actors, I don't mind *as much* supporting local, though it means I'm not always going to bring kids due to price. I thought it was quite good, though I the inside of the theater could have been a little cleaner/ nicer for the price. Definitely will be back!

Came here on a Friday night to See Smokey Joe's Café. The musical review was excellent. All the…read moreactors were great. It was a really good experience, with the exception of the chairs. The seating was a little bit uncomfortable.

I have been dancing here since I was 3, and I've created a second family. Can't imagine my life…read morewithout this place!

My daughter danced here for 3 years working her way to competition, last season she danced 5 days a…read moreweek. She won a scholarship for her outstanding stage performance last year and did beautifully at competition. I was underwhelmed at the choreography (as were the judges) and expressed that I had expected more. My daughter has competed since she was 5 and only changed studios due to our recently move to Ann Arbor. After her well done audition and several emails and mailings regarding the new season this fall, we received a letter stating she was not welcomed back. Not because of her ability or attitude, she always received compliments how good she was to her fellow dancers, but because of her absences. She had 7 absences for the year and was only allowed 6 (4 of which were mandatory school functions). She was supposed to attend make up classes to excuse the absences, but no make up classes were scheduled. We had asked several times when a make up class would be held, no word of it ever happening. The end result is my daughter was shattered. She was no longer allowed to dance with her peers she had spent the last 3 years with. Her confidence is annihilated and she is blaming herself. No communication from the studio during the year with info about being on probation or when she could make up classes, just kicked out, and I paid $4000 for this? They do not realize that parents seek extra circular activities to enhance their child's confidence, not completely strip it away. I would recommend to look elsewhere. The owners are very nice, the teachers have a chip on their shoulder and really do not have an interest in teaching children to dance.

Just a fun homemade- community made festival and parade. We have never been to the Friday night…read morepart of the fest, we attend the Sunday parade. We have been going from time to time since the kids were really little, at least a decade. We have not always made it out here, but we were able to attend this year then take a nice walk around the city. This is a fun little event, nothing fancy, but great for all ages and the kids love the bubbles.

The kickoff to the Ann Arbor festival season and by far one of the funnest gatherings in town…read more Festifools is split up into two events--the original and flagship "Festifools" and a younger twilight party called "FoolMoon." Here's the dish on each. Firstly--Both typically take place on the second weekend of April. FoolMoon goes down on Friday night and Festifools on Sunday. FoolMoon is a night time processional through several streets of Ann Arbor made up of locals who have made luminaries and are dressed up in lovely glowing garb (in the weeks leading up to FoolMoon you can attend luminary workshops to help make your own or buy kits at a few local shops like Downtown Home and Garden). The processionals all end downtown by Washington and Ashley for a nightime block party filled with cool sights, light projects and shows, beer, food, music and merriment. And all those eye popping and impressive luminaries. The party, on a nice weather night, goes until midnight. So it's truly a party. In general FoolMoon is my favorite of the two and is one of my favorite things to do in town. Sadly this year it was raining and I'm just not built for elements like that so I didn't make it down but next year I shall be sure to return. Festifools is what they call "a gigantic public art spectacular, created by members of the community and U of M students." Folks get together in the weeks leading up to the event and make huge papier-mâché puppets (most of which need several people to help control) which they then take to Main Street and march in a parade (along with costumed revelers and marching bands) for folks to enjoy. The puppets typically veer into the silly, the surreal, and maybe a little creepy. This year I saw some Pac Man ghosts (silly), big headed replicas of notable locals (the surreal), and a big fat baby with a phone that said "send nudes" (the creepy). There was also a huge Vincent Van Gogh, little kids dressed up as robots, Chinese dragons, an octopus controlled by about 10 walkers, and so so much more. This event is short, it only runs about an hour (4-5 pm) but they pack in a lot into it. Lots of fun, great for kids, pet friendly (I walked my dog down to watch the processional), and most importantly-- FREE! Great cheap fun for the whole family! Or just curious onlookers on the street! Happy to have such a cool, creative community in town working on this. Hoping they continue this tradition for many many years into the future!

If you are an adult beginning ballet, THIS is the place for you. I started with Alexandra in…read morebeginning ballet in Feb 2018. The adult class started with a handful of beginners, and over three terms, the class grows and grows, because some of us stuck out the year, and new people either return to ballet from prior training, but many start from zero. This makes sense to me, that people are searching for dance and fitness activities outside the gym and in new and engaging ways. I'm nearly 50, fresh off the couch, and am always pleased by the diversity in class in every way. I also expected to be the only male, and that has never been the case from the very start. If you are self-conscious, please know that this is a completely safe, non-judgemental space for all abilities, all sizes, all ages. Was fortunate enough to add another class per week and work with Camilla as well. Both instructors are great. The teaching is clear and compassionate (ballet is super difficult, and they acknowledge that). I appreciate the personal notes they give me, always pushing me to do and be better, but in kind and reasonable measure. The facility and parking off Boardwalk is a saving grace (downtown A2 is a no go for me), the studio is new, bright, huge, airy. With the Aviary across the hall, the people watching and atmosphere in the overall facility is fun. I highly recommend this school. I plan to dance with them for years to come, it's always a pleasure to attend class. Of course, be warned that if you have never danced ballet, expect lots of frustration. But at this school and with these instructors, it will get better.

I've danced here since I was a young child and I have enjoyed every minute! For children, the…read morestudio teaches based off of the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabi; for the adult open classes, it is a mix of Russian, Cechetti, and British methods. Alexandra teaches the younger kids and is great with them. She is friendly, fun, and a great teacher all at the same time! Camilla teaches the teens and adults and has a much more stoic and serious aura, but is equally as friendly and as great of a teacher as Alexandra. There is a range of abilities, ages, and levels; everybody is welcome and can work at their own pace. The instructors are very understanding of the different strengths/weaknesses that different students have and give just the right amount of corrections. For the adult open classes, certain classes have a variety of levels of dancers, and different students are able to dance to the level that they are best challenged. All of the dancers are also very friendly and hard-workers. Please stop by!

Review: A Magical Evening at Hill Auditorium…read more Attended with a meetup group and had my first taste of a live orchestra performed by PhD-level musicians from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance. The concert ran close to two hours with a 15-minute intermission, and every moment was packed with talent and precision. The venue itself--Hill Auditorium--is absolutely magical. It's beautifully maintained, with acoustics that make every note feel immersive. Street parking was manageable, and the location is easy to access. What stood out most was the sheer artistry on display. From the world premiere of a contemporary overture to the grandeur of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, the performance was both intellectually rich and emotionally stirring. It's inspiring to see such high-level musicianship in an academic setting. They host monthly events, so if you're even slightly curious about orchestral music or just want a unique cultural experience, this is a gem worth revisiting.

The positives: Historic concert hall with beyond excellent acoustics and a massive pipe organ…read more Right in the heart of Michigan's central campus. Famous for hosting the best artists, including Segovia, and its annual performances of Handel's Messiah. As a kid I always enjoyed the auditorium with its older style interior and impressive organ pipes lining the backstage. Sure, the original seating leaves a lot to be desired (too narrow, cramped), but it's really about the performance here, especially spectacle and sound. Over the years I attended many renditions of Handel's Messiah, seen numerous shuffling of soloists, such as a boy soprano when I was in middle school, various altos, contraltos, and more recently, a contra tenor. The audience participates during the Hallalujah Chorus, but at some point over the years, free sheet music stopped being handed out. I came to prefer the Sunday afternoon performances. Sometimes the Saturday night opener shows had nerves on display and even faster tempos than the usual time signatures suggest. This recent reacquiantance after years away from Ann Arbor really impressed me. The outstanding musicianship, the conductor, the soloists, and a renewed inspiration for the Baroque orchestrations. Truthfully, I was imagining lifting some of those really fast strings lines and writing melodic heavy meal tunes. Postmodernism at its best.

OMG Clinton Theatre is a delight with homemade shakes,…read moreorganic popcorn, the best previews in the land, and a family atmosphere that makes it a hometown delight for over a century. Support your local community and your inner child. Take yourself, whatever your age to Clinton theater ASAP

Great environment, amazing food, the homemade ice cream sandwiches are the BEST!!! Definitely a…read moreMUST for anyone. With the insanely low price, you can make the drive from just anywhere and it will be worth the trip! Highly HIGHLY recommend. Owners are super nice too!

One of the funnest, hottest burlesque troupes around! I love their playful attitude and they were a…read moredream to work with for Yelp's Greatest Show on Earth! Not only are they a bunch of hot gals but they have such fun numbers like Mermaids and Sailors, Dancing Unicorns, and my favorite--Batman babes. Love the gal in the background throwing up the "POW! BANG! BOOM!" signs and their character appropriate nipple tassels as well! Hilars! If you have the opportunity PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure you go see them perform. I can guarantee you won't regret it.

I was introduced to these charming dames thanks to Annette's skilful organization of Yelp's…read moreGreatest Party on Earth at the Detroit Yacht Club. Tickled Fancy's troupe is made up of lovely, expressive ladies not afraid to strip their clothes off to music in the truest burlesque style, mixing charm and a touch of coy smarm. Laughter is welcome with these delightful dolls. Their routines split between groups and solo performances, covering a gamut of different styles; mermaids and sailors opened our act, with all the posturing, fin-fanning, and peering over giant aviator sunglasses at heaving bosoms an audience could want. A hula-hoop wearing clown stripped down to her striped-sock skivvies, and that girl was adorable. I've never wanted sparkly red glitter-lipstick so badly after seeing the hostess of events shining in the limelight; that's a good thing, right? The piece de resistance was the superhero choreography where villains and heroes of DC Comics squared off on the stage. Robin, Batman, Catwoman (I think) and Poison Ivy duel in a feat of swaying hips, thrown punches, and dangling ornaments from pasties (yes, the bat symbol.). Poison Ivy stole the show on that one for me, though everyone was fantastic; I guess I've got a thing for deadly redheads with voluptuous curves and a killer "POW!" "SMACK!" choreographic sign behind her head. Thoroughly professional and entertaining, the Tickled Fancy company is an awesome troupe who I hope to see again. Thank you, ladies!