On July 30, multi-nominated Grammy singer-songwriter Chris Isaak will be performing at the University of Michigan’s Hill Auditorium.  Opening for him will be Louisiana native and blues guitarist Marc Broussard, who draws vocal and stylistic influences from the likes of Otis Redding, Brian McKnight, and John Hiatt.

Throughout his career as a musician and actor, Isaak has become best known for his contemporary rockabilly style of music, with classic hits such as “Wicked Game” and “Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing.”  With his Elvis pompadour, sly sense of humor, and raw charisma, audiences at the show are sure to be treated to great songs, an inspired performance, and undoubtedly a few surprises.  It should be a great evening – not to be missed!

For the ultimate comfort and convenience, you should definitely consider spending the evening at the nearby Lamp Post Inn after the show.  The hotel is located just 1 1/2 miles from Hill Auditorium, making it extremely easy to get to the venue and placing you in the heart of Ann Arbor, allowing you the ability to take advantage of all that the cosmopolitan college town has to offer – from fine to casual dining and wold-class shopping in nationally known stores and boutiques with local flair – both before and after the show.  To check for availabilities, or to find out more about the hotel, please go to http://www.lamppostinn.com.

If you are a fan of the performing arts, then this is a great time to consider coming out to   see a show at Ann Arbor’s Performance Network Theater – the area’s only professional theatre, formed in 1981, which continues to provide uncompromising artistic leadership in the region by producing both established and challenging new works that engage, challenge, and inspire audiences.  There are still a few days left to catch Conor McPherson’s play THE SEAFARER, which was extended through July 25th due to its popularity, positive reception by audiences, and huge acclaims — you don’t want to miss your chance to see this show if you’ll be in the area!  And, in just two more weeks, Laine Robertson’s WOMAN BEFORE A GLASS, another one sure to wow audiences, is set to begin.

“Seafarer”, directed by Malcolm Tulip, is about four Irish men who, on Christmas Eve, gather in a sloppy house in a Dublin suburb for an all-night bender of drinking and poker.  But the stakes of their card game rise exponentially and the night takes a dark turn when a mysterious stranger arrives and wants a piece of the action. This rich, earthly tall tale – filled with colorful characters and steeped in Irish myth – is darkly funny and surprisingly inspiring.  Nominated for the 2008 Tony Award for best play, the show has been described by New York Times critic Ben Brantley as “a thinking person’s alternative to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ as a flagon of Christmas cheer.”  Other critics say of the performance: “Seafarer is devilish fun”…“It’s such a well-developed, character-driven dramatic comedy.  That was the initial appeal.  It’s just great storytelling and it really pulled me in.”… “My only complaint is that I couldn’t stay longer!”… “The Seafarer may be seen as a tale of man’s redemption, or merely an example of the power of myth.  But whichever way one chooses to view it, it is definitely what good theater is about.”

“Woman Before a Glass”, also directed by Tulip and set to run from August 5-September 5, is a show which depicts life as a work of art — it describes the life happenings of outspoken, convention-flaunting heiress, Peggy Guggenheim, who collected modern art…and modern artists.  In this Obie-winner, Guggenheim (played by Naz Edwards) tells it all: from her father’s death on the Titanic, to saving art from the Nazi invasion of Paris, to her history of famous lovers, including Miro, Dali, and Picasso.

If you plan to come out to see either of these fabulous shows, you may want to consider spending a night or two in Ann Arbor, for the theater is just one of the many cultural opportunities offered to you in the area. After all, Ann Arbor’s charm lies in the fact that it possesses the best features of a large city, offering various entertainment, dining, shopping, and cultural options, yet still retains the intimacy of a smaller town — and a night out at the Performance Network Theater is just one such example of a way to take advantage of all that the area has to offer.  A great option for  your overnight staying needs is the local, family-run Lamp Post Inn, an Ann Arbor hotel located less than three miles from the Performance Network Theater. Simply go to http://www.lamppostinn.com to make reservations or check for availabilities.

On July 18, acclaimed singer-songwriter John Hiatt will be performing at The Ark, along with his band dubbed The Combo, as part of a current tour in support of his latest album, The Open Road – a classic Hiatt recording that offers sizzling rock songs inspired by the feeling of looking at life through the rear-view mirror.  This is one concert not to be missed, for, as The Ark puts it, it will be “a rare intimate show from an American songwriting master.”  Not only do audiences get to enjoy an amazing, vibrant Hiatt performance, as they do every time he takes the stage, but they are also given the rare opportunity to experience his music like never before at an extremely intimate venue.

Hiatt – who is best known for his hit songs like “Have a Little Faith in Me,”, “Thing Called Love” and “Slow Turning” – has a songwriting career that dates back to the New Wave era and has passed through phases of country, blues, Americana, and more without losing its basic flavor.  He has been nominated for eleven Grammy Awards and has been awarded a variety of other distinctions in the music industry, including the 2000 Nashville Music Awards ‘Artist of the Year’ award and 2008 Americana Music Association ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting.’

You should definitely try to make it out to hear this extremely talented musician perform in such a uniquely relaxed, intimate setting.  And if you do, the Lamp Post Inn, an Ann Arbor hotel located less than 2 miles from The Ark, will offer a special overnight housing discount for individuals attending the event.  Simply enter the hotel’s website, http://www.lamppostinn.com and use the special promo code ARKEVENT in the code box when searching for availability on the evening of the performance to receive a 10% discount on many popular overnight unit types.

Many great athletic sports camps are offered at the University of Michigan each summer, and one such camp being offered this year is Rich Maloney’s Comprehensive Baseball Camp, which will run from July 18-21.  The camp, which is open to boys ages 9-2010 high school seniors, is a great way to hone baseball skills to prepare players to compete at the next level.  It boasts a low camper-to-instructor ratio to insure quality instruction, and places campers into age groups in order to insure the most improvement, challenge, and fun during the camp experience.    

Players will be exposed to the instruction and drills that the University of Michigan uses in the development of college players. With a major emphasis on hitting, players will also receive daily instruction and practice in many other aspects of the game (throwing, baserunning, etc), and will be able to select two areas of specialization which will allow them to get concentrated instruction at favorite positions.

Camp director Rich Maloney is the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines baseball team.  He was named the 2007 and 2008 Big Ten and ABCA Mideast Regional Coach of the Year, and has led the Wolverines to three Big Ten titles, two Big Ten Tournament titles, and the 2007 NCAA Regional title.  At the end of the 2009 season, he ranked 27th on the list of top 50 active NCAA Division I coaches.

For families coming in to drop their kids off at this, or any other of the summer sports camp, or for those planning to stay in the nearby area for the duration of a camp, the Lamp Post Inn, an Ann Arbor hotel, proves a great option for your overnight staying needs.  The hotel is located just 1 1/2 miles from the University athletic fields, offers the best in comfort and affordability, and places you in the heart of Ann Arbor, allowing you the ability to easily explore the picturesque city and all of its unique shops, wonderful sidewalk cafes, and abundant cultural opportunities.  To check for availabilities or make reservations, please go to our hotel website at http://www.lamppostinn.com.

For nearly three years, Michigan Stadium has been a work in progress — you’ve read all about the changes happening at the Big House, and, now, you can finally see them for yourself.  On Wednesday, July 14, University of Michigan officials will open the east side of the Big House to the public from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., allowing fans their first look at the nearly-finished renovations to one of college football’s greatest stadiums.  The only accessible entry point will be on the south side of the stadium through Gate 2 (there will be no access to the east side upper concourse, east side lower concourse, or west side structure), and free parking will be available at Pioneer High School.

As Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said in a recent statement, “the renovation is something our entire athletic department is proud of.  I want to invite the public to see what was envisioned and how it all came together.  It is spectacular.”  And it does, indeed, sound spectacular.  The $226-million renovation project, scheduled to be completed next month, includes improvements such as: wider seats and aisles with handrails on the east side, allowing for better traffic flow in the aisles; elevated concourses with additional restrooms and concessions on both sidelines; a new press box on the west side; and, of course, plenty of additional seating.  With 81 suites and more than 3,000 club seats, stadium seating capacity is expected to top 108,000 – making Michigan Stadium once again the largest college football venue in the country.

This open house is a perfect opportunity for Wolverine fans to come out, get a first-glance at the amazing new venue, and fuel their excitement for the start of the new football season.  If interested in attending, the Lamp Post Inn, an Ann Arbor Hotel, is an ideal option for your overnight staying needs — it is located in the heart of Ann Arbor, just 1 1/2  miles away from the stadium!

Also, don’t forget – the Wolverines season opener (along with the official rededication of the Big House, a historic moment in the history of the stadium) will take place on September 4 against the Connecticut Huskies.  For this, and all future Michigan football games, please consider staying at the conveniently located, and highly affordable, Lamp Post Inn hotel. To check for availability or to make reservations, simply go to http://www.lamppostinn.com.

Go Blue!

Merle Haggard is 73 years old, he’s been making records for nearly 50 years, and he just came out on top in a battle with cancer.  And now, he’s back on tour once again – with a performance at Eastern Michigan University’s Pease Auditorium set for July 17 (along with Noel Lee Haggard and the Malpass Brothers).

The legendary country music singer, guitarist, instrumentalist, and songwriter has, throughout his career, become known as champion of the working man, poet of the common man – largely due to his own relatable rough and tumble history. With a distinctive style all his own and a body of songs that have become classics – with hits ranging from the patriotic (“Okie from Muskogee”) to the defiant (“The Fightin’ Side of Me”) to the tender (“Hungry Eyes”) – Haggard has rightfully established himself as one of the best, and most important, country artists to emerge in the 1960s.  He has influenced countless other artists, had 40 #1 hits, charted scores of Top Ten songs, and won just about every music award imaginable, and in 1994 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

If you are lucky enough to make it out to see the country music icon perform at EMU on July 17, please consider the Lamp Post Inn, An Ann Arbor hotel, for your overnight staying needs.  The hotel is located less than 5 miles from Pease Auditorium and is offering a special 10% discount on all King Bed and Two Queen Bed units for those attending this event.  In order to receive the 10% discount, simply go to http://lamppostinn.com and put the promo code EMUSHOW in the code box when checking for availability or making reservations for the night of July 17.  A separate reservation screen will appear and will include the discounted rates.

From August 13-15, week fifteen of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be taking place at Michigan International Speedway, in Brooklyn, MI.  This action-packed event includes:

– Meijer Pole Day (8/13): Watch all of your favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars during a day of practice and qualifying for Sunday’s main event.
– CARFAX 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series (8/14): See the NASCAR Nationwide Series regulars battle with Sprint Cup stars.
– CARFAX 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (8/15): Watch as the season culminates with this, the main and final event of the weekend.

Dick Raines, president of Carfax says of the event, “We can’t wait to drop the green flag on the Show Me the CARFAX Race Weekend…The staff at Michigan is second-to-none and the fans bring an energy and excitement to this venue that makes it the perfect setting for these races.”  In short, this is a perfect opportunity for race fans to come out and enjoy an exciting and history-making weekend of NASCAR racing with family and friends at one of motorsports’ premier facilities.

For those of you planning to come out to the event and in need of a place to spend a few nights in the area, the Lamp Post Inn, an Ann Arbor hotel, proves an ideal option.  Along with prices being extremely reasonable and accommodations being everything you could hope for, it is also situated in a prime location where you can take advantage of its close proximity to the MIS track (less than 30 miles away!) but also, at the end of the day, spend your time in the heart of Ann Arbor, enjoying the town’s evening ambience and pleasant surroundings.  To find out more about the hotel, or to check for availabilities over this weekend, simply go to http://www.lamppostinn.com.

At this year’s Ann Arbor Summer Festival, the Italian children’s theater company T.P.O. will be performing The Butterfly Garden – a great show for the entire family in which interactive visual dance theater is used to bring nature and magic to life. Performances will run from June 23-27 and will take place in the Rehearsal Room at the Power Center, located on the University of Michigan campus.

The Butterfly Garden takes viewers through the evolution of caterpillar to butterfly, as company dancers simulate the wings of butterflies moving through space, causing beautiful colors, botanical images, and rain forest sounds to continually erupt in real-time response to their graceful movements. The children’s cheering carpet, a ground-breaking device that uses touch sensors, transforms the stage into a mystical landscape and makes it appear as though the butterflies are painting on air with their great wings — a thrill which young ones from the audience can then experience first hand, as they are invited to enter into this magical playground to touch and explore the glowing interactive garden themselves.

Interested in coming to see this stunning multi-media extravaganza? Well, then you’re in luck. The Lamp Post Inn, a local family-run establishment located about 1 1/2 miles from the Power Center, is offering a special housing offer to those individuals attending events at this year’s summer festival. Simply go to http://www.lamppostinn.com and insert the promo code FESTIVAL in the code box when checking for availability on the nights of these events and receive a 10% discount on many popular overnight unit types.

The Miss Michigan USA Pageant will be held in Ann Arbor on September 10 and 11, 2010.

The pageant has been held in Grand Rapids for the last ten years  but a recent articleon the blog  The Annarbor.com it is noted  that the shift of the site to Ann Arbor reflects the organizers desire to take the pageant to an area that is known for it’s young and energetic image. 

The event will be held primarily at the Power Center, located on the University of Michigan campus. 

The Lamp Post Inn, a local hotel, located less than 1 1/2 miles from the Power Center has announced that they will offer a special housing rate to anyone associated with the Miss Michigan  USA Pageant.  Attendees can obtain a  10% price reduction on all two queen bed and king units at the hotel.  For specific availability and pricing go to http://www.lamppostinn.com and insert the promo code POWER9  when checking for availability.

The University of Michigan will host the regional NCAA Softball Championships beginning May 21.  The University of Michigan will play their first game against Wright State.  Notre Dame and Illinois State will be the other contenters in the weekend, double elimination tournament. 

The tournament will be held at Alumni Field at the Wilpon Softball Complex.

The Lamp Post Inn is a local hotel, located less than one and one half miles from the Alumni Field.   Individuals attending the game that make reservations through the Lamp Post Inn website will be given a 10% discount on many of the room rates.  Guests will of course be able to park free and walk to the game if they wish.  For those wanting to make reservations through the Lamp Post Inn go directly to The Lamp Post Inn website (http://www.lamppostin.com) and put in the promo code SOFTBALL.

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