Weekend Planner: Artisan Ales Party, The Trees in Concert

I can hear your giant sigh of relief. It's Friday! The weekend is here. All week long we have been counting down the days to help you plan your weekend with options of events to attend.

Here's a recap:

Where: 

When: Sunday from 3-4 p.m. or 5-6 p.m.

Why go: The Trees are duo Lindsay Tomasic and Jesse Fitzpatrick, along with the 2010 addition of multi-instrumentalist (pedal steel guitar, dobro and ukulele)  Dave Pearlman. The duo are natives from Upper Michigan's Copper Country where they have been crafting songs and acoustic music since the early 1970's. The Trees are known for their soulful sound and intricately woven harmonies. The Library provides an intimate space for audiences of all ages to enjoy.

Where: 

When: Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Why go: Menachem Safrai, the grandson of the renowned Safrai Fine Art Gallery established in Jerusalem in 1935, will bring over 1,500 works of art from over 100 Israeli artists to  this weekend for an exhibition and sale. The art will include original oil paintings, lithographs, etchings and watercolors that include Israeli history and society, Jewish and Biblical themes, and local landscapes. On Friday morning, Menachem Safrai will also be on-hand to speak about his gallery's history, the artists, and the Israeli art scene through a lecture and tour. Saturday night is a special Wine and Cheese Night ($18).

Where: 

When: Saturday at 5 or 8:30 p.m. or Sunday at 2 or 6:30 p.m.

Why go: Playwright Shauna Kanter was left with a mystery regarding her father's passport after his death. She explores this mystery by telling the story of the rescue of a Jewish family out of Germany in 1939. The unconventional play is compassionate and thought-provoking and develops the theme that one person can make a difference no matter what they are faced with. (For students, educational workshops precede the play and they have the opportunity to meet Holocaust survivors.)

Where: 

When: Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Why go: After a long work week, it may be nice to unwind with some locally-made, open fermented, oak barrel-aged, and bottle-conditioned brews from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales on Friday. CRU Winebar is offering a tasting of the entire line of beers available at Jolly Pumpkin Brewery along with pizza and beer snacks. You will be able to try Bam Noire — the dark farmhouse ale, Wizen Bam Biere — the yeast driven esters of banana, spicy clove and nutmeg, or how about La Parcela — the No. 1 pumpkin ale packed with real pumpkins, hints of spice, and a kiss of cacao. There are about a dozen others that beer connoisseurs may try. Chief Liaison for Dexter's Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and founder of the Leelanau Brewing Company, Charles Psenka, will also be on-hand to answer any beer questions you may have.

Where: 

When: Friday or Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Why go: North Farmington High School students have come together to inspire their community by presenting the controversial drama The Laramie Project this weekend. The drama is based off a hate crime that took the life of Matthew Shepard in 1998 and chronicles the life of the town and people of Laramie, WY in the year after the murder. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to Defeat the Label, a non-profit organization that raises awareness of bullying issues among teens.