Our family loves Ann Arbor’s multicultural children’s music duo Gemini so much that we used to delay our summer vacation plans until after their concert at Top of the Park. Another annual favorite worth returning from Thanksgiving early for is Gemini’s annual Ark Thanksgiving benefit concert for Mott Children’s Hospital on Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 28 at 1 p.m., at The Ark Coffeehouse, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor.

This year, San Slomovits will be unable to perform due to a recent surgery (but the Ark’s website reassures, “Don't worry, San is doing great and will be back on his feet in no time - see the Gemini website here for more info.”). Nevertheless, the show will go on with Laz Slomovits, San’s daughter Emily and the Good Mischief Band (Brian Brill on piano, Aron Kaufman on drums, Eric Fithian on bass).

(Afterwards, let's go get a Gemini Rocks the House sandwich at the deli…)

Since 1994, this concert has brought children to their feet singing and dancing “Hello Hello Hello Hi Hi Hi” in a multitude of languages to benefit Mott Children’s Hospital where San’s daughter Emily was born and cared for in the Holden Newborn Intensive Care Unit 16 years ago.

Tickets are available at 734-763-TKTS. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a second-generation Chinese American from California who now divides her time between Ann Arbor and the Big Island of Hawaii. She is editor of IMDiversity.com Asian American Village, lead multicultural contributor for AnnArbor.com and a contributor for New America Media's Ethnoblog. She is a popular speaker on Asian Pacific American and multicultural issues. Check out her website at franceskaihwawang.com, her blog at franceskaihwawang.blogspot.com, and she can be reached at fkwang888@gmail.com.