Tonight is Day 15 of Top of the Park, the popular, free (donations welcome) outdoor happening featuring music, movies, kicking back, running into friends, and a variety of other attractions.
Each day in cooperation with theAnn Arbor Summer Festival—which presents Top of the Park as well as main-stage ticketed events—AnnArbor.com is publishing a rundown of the night's happenings. Here's an overview of tonight's schedule, followed by a more detailed look at the events and attractions:
Ariel & Zoey & Eli Too - 4:30 p.m.
Ann Arbor's own Ariel, Zoey and Eli Engelbert perform a family musical variety show in support of their nationally syndicated television show "Ariel & Zoey & Eli, Too." Identical twins Ariel & Zoey Engelbert (12) and little brother Eli (9) share their bright talents and positive messages about growing up in America.
Home base: Ann Arbor - The Center of the Universe.
Style of music: pop-rock.
Members: Their band, Sugar Station, has four members and includes Ann Arbor native Steve Fentriss .
Backstory behind the band's name: Ariel, Zoey and Eli were given at birth... (Sugar Station - The kids like sugar...)
Day jobs: Cast of the nationally syndicated television show, "Ariel & Zoey & Eli, Too."
Favorite road food: Pizza.
Favorite stage outfit: Ariel prefers pink. Zoey prefers blue. Eli, well, we just hope it doesn't have a stain...
Musical hero: Ariel - Lady A, Zoey - Taylor Swift, Eli - 30 Seconds to Mars.
Past AnnArbor.com coverage of Ariel & Zoey & Eli Too
Recess Monkey - 6 p.m.
Seattle’s celebrated band of teacher-rockers - Recess Monkey - will bring their special brand of “undeniably hip, yet also kid-accessible” music and humor to their first show in Michigan. In high-energy, dance-driven sets, Recess Monkey will play old favorites and debut an array of songs from their new album, "Flying!" As always, Recess Monkey’s hand puppet band manager, Mayor Monkey, will be in tow.
Home base: Seattle.
Style of music: Rock and Pop for families - kindierock.
Members: Jack Forman -bass and vocals; Drew Holloway -guitar and lead vocals; and Daron Henry -drums and vocals.
Backstory behind the band's name: We make music inspired by things that make kids laugh. As elementary school teachers we love puns and word play. We also love recess!
Day jobs: We are all elementary school teachers.
Favorite road food: Daron- the Amphora Veggie burger in Vienna, Va; Jack- fruit! Drew-Pizza please!
Favorite stage outfit: our silver disco pants.
Musical hero: Daron- Radiohead; Jack- Elliott Smith; Drew-XTC.
The Ultrasounds - 8 p.m.
Ann Arbor natives The Ultrasounds deftly blend cerebral art-rock with psychedelic indie-pop in a musical concoction that's been winning over fans since they got started at Community High School in 2003. Their second full-length LP, "Give Up The Fight," was released in 2010. Though they may have relocated to Chicago, The Ultrasounds remain a local favorite.
Performing since: 2003 (current lineup since 2005).
Home base: Chicago by way of Ann Arbor.
Style of music: Indie; art rock.
Members: Patrick Conway - guitar; Christopher Gilbert - piano, bass, vocals; Sara Kay - drums, vocals. Backstory behind the band's name: We thought it sounded all right in high school, and we haven't bothered to change it since then.
Day jobs: Chris and Patrick both work for a music retail website, Sara is a barista at a cafe.
Favorite road food: Patrick: burritos; Chris: Funyuns! Sara: monster energy (the blue one).
Favorite stage outfit: Patrick: suit + tie; Chris: tie + vest; Sara: a vintage red dress.
Musical hero: Patrick: Neil Young, Albert Hammond Jr; Chris: Elliott Smith, Bill Evans, David King; Sara: Animal!
Movie: "Megamind" - 10 p.m.
2010, PG, 95 minutes: This animated action-comedy brings the super-villain genre to life, as the notorious Metro City villain Megamind becomes an unlikely savior to the troubled metropolis after defeating beloved do-gooder Metro Man and creating a new opponent who refuses to play by the rules. Genuinely fun and loaded with visual and vocal wit, "Megamind" boasts an all-star cast including Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, David Cross and Ben Stiller .
Retreat: MIddle Eastern dance - 5-6 p.m.
A series of mind-body sessions at Top of the Park, the "Retreat" alternative happy hour lets you enjoy a relaxing late afternoon workout with classes in Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Gyrokinesis, Capoeira, Middle Eastern Dance, and dance fitness. Led by experienced practitioners, all sessions are free, and take place each weekend in the gardens and courtyards surrounding Ingalls Mall. Today: An introduction to basic belly dance, and instruction in a short choreography, with Unveiled Dance instructor Trisha Miah.
KidZone - 5-8 p.m.
As described by the festival, "An interactive area for our youngest concert-goers, the Kidzone tent provides a fun and safe area for children and their parents to discover and explore a wide variety of hands-on activities with different community partners. From getting temporary tattoos, creating homemade instruments, or jamming out rock band style, KidZone offers different nightly activities for families at Top of the Park. Open nightly ‘til 8:00 pm."
Detroit Fire Guild - 6 p.m.
Founded in 2008 by fire and circus artists, the Detroit Fire Guild uses dramatic visual performance, costuming and music to delight audiences. One of four appearances of the Detroit Fire Guild at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, this performance features hoop dancing (with a customized hula hoop), contact juggling (balls are rolled over the body rather than tossed in the air), stilt walking, and poi spinning (traditional MÄori performance art, involving balls with streamers or flags attached that are suspended from a cord or chain and swung in circular patterns to music).
Special note — free wifi:
New this year, AnnArbor.com in partnership with20/20 Communicationsis providing free public WiFi access utilizing WiMax services broadcast from the top of Tower Plaza at Top of the Park for the duration of the 2011 Summer Festival. Look for the AnnArbor.com Public WiFi SSID and get connected!
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