The 55th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival, “the oldest avant-garde and experimental film festival in North America,” takes place March 21-26. Zingerman’s is a proud sponsor of the fest, and Ari is especially excited about one film in particular this year: Acts and Intermissions. The reason? The documentary is about Emma Goldman, an American anarchist and political activist whom Ari has written and spoken about extensively—her work has also been very influential to Ari’s ever-evolving business philosophy.

Ari recently interviewed Abigail Child, the director of Acts and Intermissions. You can read that conversation below, and don’t miss Child and Ari’s live Q&A after the showing of the film on Saturday, March 25 at 12:30 pm at the Michigan Theater. Tickets are still available.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Ari: Emma Goldman has had a huge influence on me, my work and my writing, over the years.  I was excited to find someone else today who’s focused on her insights and inspiration.  What prompted you to make a film about her?

Abigail Child: There’s an origin story but rather indirect. I had made a film fictionalizing archival home movies, material shot in Europe between the wars focused on two young sisters: The Future is Behind You. I was speculating on what the “characters” in these movies were doing and thinking and speaking behind/alongside the images. A kind of Jamesean speculative endeavor. Once edited, I realized that this was a wonderful narrative stratagem. Could I tell a story creating imaginary home movies? I then proposed such a film to tell the story of Mary and Percy Shelley. I was awarded a Rome prize for a year in Rome (2009-2010) and shot the film there. Mary and Percy had spent six of their eight years together in Italy so the location was perfect as was the architecture & atmosphere of the place. As I built this film, it became a critique of Romanticism, how ideology fails women. Mary lost four of her five children, ultimately Percy dying young, and Mary herself suffered societal critique in that she had run off with a married man at 16! They were bohemian royalty in a way. While I was editing, it came to me that I could do a trilogy that rewrote women at the center of history: Mary Shelley and 19th century romanticism, Emma Goldman and 20th century anarchism, and a, as yet unnamed, woman and 21st century Science.

Ari: While she’s certainly not a “secret,” Emma is hardly a household word in the US today.  What impact are you hoping that the film will have?

AC: Not surprisingly, the more I researched, the more relevant Emma’s story became. I knew I did not want to stay in the past (as I had to a great extent with the Shelley story). I wanted to bring Emma’s issues, and protests into the present. This was not hard as our political landscape has duplicated the past: in terms of wage injustice, sexual and racial injustice, police brutality, protests and more recently, a repressive federal government. A simple example: I had not realized until my research, that the Espionage act that exiled Emma was used against Debs, Manning and Snowden 100 years later. Amazing!

What impact do I imagine for the film?— that the fight is not over. That we have had to fight for our freedoms in the past and once again. This seems important to me, particularly as a college professor, I saw students were more assumptive about their freedoms and dismissive of history (even among my peers!). Thus, less knowledgeable about politics and how hard earned are our freedoms.

Ari: Clearly Emma Goldman’s work has some particularly relevant messages for our current national situation.  I’m guessing, though, you started this work long before the recent elections?
I started the work in 2014 but the issues above—relating to work, fair pay, and police brutality were/are completely familiar. As well of course, the issues of the right to one’s own body, sexuality and the desire to be “more than a mere woman”.

Ari: Emma in her day was considered one of, if not the, most dangerous minds in the country.  What do you think made her so intimidating to people?

AC:I think she was most intimidating to the FBI! To her friends and often the audience, she was a small passionate woman to whom injustice was anathema. There are many comments to that effect in her autobiography: ie that people were surprised when they met her that she was small and plump and kind and in her private life, had quote unquote “feminine desires”——for flowers, ‘beautiful things’ and love.

Not to minimize the enormity of her ideas. She was a powerful speaker who could move people with her words. Her speeches give you some idea in that though somewhat dated, they remain moving. The only voice recording I found of her was not intimidating, but oddly comic: she had a weird English accent [learning English as her third language I suspect] and she spoke in sports terms: things like “I had my innings”.

Ari: Like all of your work, you’ve created something innovative – a blending of documentary footage, modern day recreations, captioning, etc.  What do you like about this sort of mixing of media methodologies? 

AC:Thank you. I’ve been thinking a lot about a kind of macro montage, a structure that is prismatic, a constellation, rather than all of one thing. It is an attempt on my part to take in the world, to not close out part of the world, to not be “pure” but rather impure, inclusive, “unbound” if you will.

Years ago I read and it could be apocryphal (likely is) that the psychiatrist R. D. Laing who created a psychiatric community project at Kingsley Hall in UK, where patients and therapists lived together, came to New York City and was overwhelmed. He turned around and went back. I was struck that someone who could live with/within mentally ill patients couldn’t “take” a metropolitan city. I wanted to be someone who didn’t need to retreat, didn’t need to go into nature or a monastic existence, but could find some kind of peace/understanding/non-peace in the midst of life/living. A rather idealistic wish for sure but one that has also governed some of my continuing aesthetic choices. Still a wish: to include everything in one’s art.

I know in a world of digressive sampling and instantaneous news and constant web surfing, that inclusion can result in overload, error, nonsense, superficiality, headache. I am trying to make sense of this world, discover how to explore, how to remain open and make sense/or make non-sense sensible….within parameters of cinematic discovery.

Ari: When one studies it in depth, anarchism turns out not to be a political program but rather a belief system about how to live our lives every day and how to present in the world in a positive way.  what are some of the beliefs that Emma’s work inspired in you?

AC:Where I connect to Emma is in the sense that injustice cannot be tolerated. And that we ourselves need to trust ourselves, depend on ourselves and fight the normative ordinary world which wants to hold you down to custom/gender/ bad government etc. Also that “beautiful things” or love/art/books/music are part of the freedoms for which we fight. It is for food and shelter yes, but without the beauty of the world, life would be hollow.

Ari: What lessons or learnings would you hope that viewers will take away from the film?  What do you take away yourself?

AC:That the fight for justice is not over, is unending. That we need examine work, policy, police and justice issues always. And that freedoms can never be assumed, but must be won again and again.

Ari: If I’m reading correctly this is the second film in this series?  The first was about Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft.  Her father, William Godwin, of course, was also an anarchist.  Are there more anarchists coming down the road? 

AC:No, but more Golems! If the first film Unbound looked at 19th Century and Romanticism through the life of Mary Shelley and Acts looks at 20th century Anarchism and protests through the life of Emma Goldman, the last piece examines Science and the 21st century and will explore androids and machine-human relations.

I am interested in transformers, revolutionists, bohemians and those who find a life outside mainstream culture—but indeed the connections between these figures still surprises and enlightens me.

Ari: One of Emma Goldman’s great quotes for me was, “Anarchism is the spirit of youth against outworn tradition.”  I haven’t seen the film yet so I don’t know if that’s in it …Thoughts?

AC: Definitely…the spirit of youth, of revolution, of idealism. I grew up in the crucible of the 60s—civil rights, anti-war protests, women’s rights, back to nature communities, rock and roll amidst repeated assaults and assassinations. It was that idealism and revolt indeed that attracted me to the Shelleys, and then to Emma.

Ari: Emma actually visited Ann Arbor six times to speak. A seventh visit was cancelled by the mayor just shy of a century ago, the year that she was being deported to Russia.  What do you think she might say if she were here to give a talk in town today?

AC: She would be addressing the same issues from 100 years ago (sadly they are not solved/resolved): fair pay, women’s rights, the freedom for women to control their bodies (contraception; abortion), civil and religious rights whatever one’s origins. She would be speaking to the promise of America—the America that is seen worldwide—even strangely to those of us living here who know how hard and cruel this country can be—as a beacon of hope. She loved the land that exiled her, loved it even to the end. I think we all wish it to be the land of promise—that it is only intermittently and even feebly—but the promise that we hold in our heads and hearts is the light we reflect back on the nation.

Purchase tickets for Acts and Intermissions here. You can find Ari’s writings on Emma Goldman in his newest book Zingerman’s Guide to Good Leading, Part 4: A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to the Power of Beliefs in Business.

Chris Roberts-Antieau is an artist and gallery owner based in New Orleans. Ari is a big fan of her work, and it turns out, Chris is a big fan of Ari’s work, too—specifically, his business pamphlets, which she’s been using day to day in her own business. After a recent serendipitous meeting, Chris and Ari are collaborating on a special event, called “The Secret Pamphlets: A Talk with Ari Weinzweig”, at her Royal Street Gallery. If you live nearby, join them for an interesting discussion on Monday, March 13 at 7pm (pssst…there will be cheese!). You can reserve your ticket here. 

Zingerman’s: We love your art and your Artist Statement—your path has been unconventional (much like ours!). Can you share your story and inspirations for your work?

Chris Roberts-Antieau: I really like that you used the word unconventional, because that is exactly how my path has been, especially in the way the gallery started. I’ve been an artist my whole life, and I used to do eight to 10 shows a year all around the country, one of which was Jazz Fest here in New Orleans. My son, Noah, also moved to New Orleans after he graduated college, so I would come down to visit him, too, and I really just fell in love with the city. New Orleans is so supportive of the arts, whether it be food, music, visual arts, etc. and the city itself is so inspiring, in its rich history and beautiful decay.

One year after Jazz Fest, we were driving through the French Quarter on our way back to Michigan, and we
saw a “For Rent” sign on a vacant storefront. My assistant, Chris Redden, convinced me to call the landlord and ask if we could do a month-long pop-up. The landlord said, yes, so we slapped the art we didn’t sell at the show up on the walls and prayed to God it would sell. We were so nervous that one day my assistant went to the cathedral and lit a candle and, wouldn’t you know it, the very next day a man came in and bought $30,000 worth of art and paid our rent for the entire year!

It’s situations like that, that happen time and time again,leaps of faith in the light of improbability, where we
just have to trust we’re doing the right thing and that it will all work out.

Z: Can you tell us a little about your gallery? (The virtual tour is dazzling!)

CRA: Thank you! We’re coming up on our 7 year anniversary this May in the same space where we had our
pop-up back in 2010. Having my own gallery is an amazing format to create anything I can imagine. It’s
such a gift to have as an artist. Not only do I get to make the art, but I get to curate the space with an
all-encompassing vision—the look, the feel, the sound, the fun—so you’re not just looking at art on a wall,
but having a whole sensory experience. I try to keep the work and installations constantly changing, so it is
always fresh and new. My hope is that it elevates and inspires all who enter.

Z: How did you first come across Ari’s pamphlets?

CRA: I first came across Ari’s pamphlets shopping at FOUND in Ann Arbor. I have always admired Ari’s business model. It seemed so powerful and mysterious. I had wanted to attend a ZingTrain workshop or seminar but never got the chance. As soon as I found out about the pamphlets, I immediately bought three. And then I went home and ordered 15 more! I think I have them all now.

Z: You mentioned that you read the pamphlets before heading off to work. Do they speak to you more as a business woman or as an artist?

CRA: I think it’s a combination. It’s all connected, really. What Ari speaks of in the pamphlets is not just business philosophy, it’s a philosophy for life. I love that it’s so ethically based. To me, it speaks to the ethical side of making art, and by that I am really intrigued.

Z: Have you implemented the philosophy into your work as a gallery owner ?

CRA: Yes, slowly but surely. I’m still getting through all the pamphlets now. Some things we already do, which is great because it’s reaffirming that we’re on the right path. I’ve started doing Visions, and I’m very excited about them. There are also a lot of other things I’m intrigued by and looking at introducing. The pamphlets are definitely making an impact. I find them very uplifting. Especially the parts about using all your people to their fullest potential, with a wholehearted belief in what they are doing.

Z: Can you tell us about the event you have planned with Ari on March 13?

CRA: The event in March will be an interview done by an artist (yours truly), interviewing a very successful
business owner (Ari). It will be about Ari’s philosophy in his operation of Zingerman’s, about his identification with “Anarcho-Capitalism” and how that connection manifests itself. The new book will be the central focus along with the pamphlet series. I’m hoping that the very strong connections between creating art and creating a business will become a unique thread for great conversation and insight. It should be a very uplifting, inspiring, and soul-stirring evening!

Reserve your tickets for “The Secret Pamphlets”, March 13 at 7p, at Antieau Gallery, 927 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA. If you’d like to learn more about Ari’s “Secret Pamphlets”, you can see them all here. Special thanks to Chris for allowing us to show her work! 

Four flights, five days, five dairies, about twenty-five different cheeses, some friends, a lot of time in the car, and a dozen very good meals all added up to one very good trip!

At the end of last month, I had a chance to go to Reggio-Emilia to taste test Parmigiano-Reggiano. Grace Singleton, long time managing partner at the Deli and my girlfriend Tammie Gilfoyle packed our suitcases and flew out to northern Italy.  There, we met up with my long time friend and very fine food writer Elizabeth Minchilli (check out her website—her blogging, her books and her food tours are all fantastic!).

We spent most of the week based in the lovely medium-sized town of Reggio-Emilia, headquarters of the Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano. From there, thanks to the good guidance of our Consorzio host, Simone Ficarelli, we spent three days driving back and forth across the province to taste cheese from some of the area’s best Parmigiano-Reggiano producers!  We hope to have some of the results of our travels and tastings in house for you to taste some time next year!  In the mean time here are some photos to whet your appetite!

—Ari

Every year, Ari picks 30 of the most unique, delicious products we sell through our retail shops and mail order catalog (at Zingermans.com) to highlight and share with you! The list includes all the things we love to eat and drink, from artisan breads and olive oil made in Tunisia to Hungarian-style cheeses and our very own cold brew coffee. Chocolate, too!

This month, Ari will host three dates—Dec. 7, 14, and 21—of Ari’s Top Picks 2016 at the Deli. Each will be a fun-filled night of storytelling and yes, lots and lots of samples. You’ll get to taste every single thing on Ari’s list. Plus, you’ll receive a 20% off coupon to use after the tasting.

This event always sells out, so be sure to nab your seat right away. You can sign up with a cashier at the Deli or online. It makes a great early holiday gift.

Ann Arbor is home to many beloved restaurants—students, townies and visitors alike all have their favorites. Co-author Jon Milan and Gail Offen pay homage to the most popular eating hangouts in town (yes, Zingerman’s Deli is included) with their new book Iconic Restaurants of Ann Arbor.

Filled with fantastic photos and interesting snippets about current mainstays and institutions that have shut their doors, the book is broken up into a few fun categories, including “The Legendary and Long Forgotten” (with some spots dating back to the early 1900s), “Local Favorites and Student Standbys”, and “Still Here and Going Strong” among others. The Introduction to the book is written by Zingerman’s Co-Owner and Founding Partner Ari Weinzweig.

“While I do not want to say that any of the iconic restaurants in this book are acts of God, I do not think it’s stretching things too much to say that for those who visited them regularly in their day, these places were akin to a religious, or at least near-religious, experience. They inspire. they provided a sense of security and stability,” writes Ari.

Here’s our interview with the authors:

Q: Why were you motivated to take on this project?

Jon & Gail: So many great memories (and relationships!) are made while in college—and many of those happened in and bars. We all look back wistfully at these places. We looked for a book that captured that. And not finding one, we wrote one. We wanted to rekindle those memories. Ann Arbor is such an idyllic place. And its restaurants are every bit part of that unique quality—they couldn’t be anywhere else. Luckily, we were able to talk to people that can still tell their stories. We also had help from two much-admired local historians with memorabilia collections: Jan Langone and Susan Wineberg. And Ari helped, of course!

Q: What were one or two fun things you discovered during the process?

J&G: 1) Love why Jules from Le Dog won’t sell pop—they refused to deliver to him during the Art Fair in the ’80s, and he said the hell with them and stopped serving pop! 2) The Fleetwood refused to close for visits from both Guy Fieri and President Obama. 3) The Nobel Prize winner for physics in 1960 was Donald Glaser, who taught at U of M. He won for his invention of the bubble chamber, which traced subatomic particles. Local legend says he got his ideas while watching bubbles in a glass of beer at the Pretzel Bell! 4) The incredible interrelationship between restaurant and restaurateurs—how so many of the same individuals have come together, over the years, as partners, friends and advisers. For example, the people who worked together at Maude’s becoming partners at Zingerman’s, and the Gandy Dancer was a training ground for the Main Street Ventures group. 5) The incredible history of restaurants that have occupied certain buildings over a period spanning as many as 150 years. Some locations have hosted as many as five or six—and some, only one. 6) There are more than 500,000 University of Michigan alumni (and we know every one of them will enjoy this book)!

Q: What makes a restaurant iconic in Ann Arbor? Is there a formula?

J&G: Of course, every generation has its icons. Our own experiences were more ’70s and ’80s focused—and we tried to make the book multi-generational. These are places that, when you say you are going to Arbor, you hear, “Is _____ still there? You’ve got to go.” Or a must-stop for out-of-towners on game day—Pizza Bob’s and Krazy Jim’s are two examples. And for locals, ones where you meet your friends. But we also looked at a lot of social media that referenced Ann Arbor, and certain names always rose to the top. When we told people we were writing this book, the three places they always asked about were Drake’s, Pretzel Bell and the Whiffletree. But, in short, an iconic restaurant is one that when you say its name, the other person grins and nods. Then immediately tells you a story about it.

Q: If you could pick one shuttered restaurant to bring back, which would you pick?

G: Drake’s! Drake’s Sandwich Shop (on North University from 1935-1994) brought joy to generations of Arborites, young and old. Comfort food, candy, tea and an upstairs called “The Martian Room.” What can beat that? Would also love to have some Whiffletree fries, Indian Summer pizza, Central Café huevos rancheros, DeLong’s hot trout sandwich and Steve’s Lunch bibimbap!

Q: Are there any new Ann Arbor restaurants that you think will become iconic?

G: Spencer has a fresh and delicious take on food. Slurping Turtle certainly has wowed the locals, as well as Frita Batidos and Mani Osteria. And although I haven’t been to Ricewood BBQ and Cardamom, they have fanatical followings. I look forward to the opening of Miss Kim in Kerrytown. (And although it will never be, I’m addicted to Haifa Falafel on Washtenaw!)

Q: Why did you choose Ari to write the forward?

J: We both agreed that Ari and Paul’s unique approach to quality, service and the restaurant business, in general, is the foundation of a new generation of Ann Arbor restaurants. Ari has written many books, of course, and we’ve always devoured the long-form journalism that is Zingerman’s newsletter (a good read over a good sandwich). So, approaching him seemed like a good choice. To our delight, he provided the introduction to our book, while juggling the time he was investing in completing the fourth book in his Zingerman’s Guide to Good Leading series. We couldn’t have been more pleased and honored by his contribution.

Iconic Restaurants of Ann Arbor will be in stock at Zingerman’s Delicatessen very soon, and you can also purchase it on Arcadia Publishing’s website.