A great place to spend a rainy Wednesday evening in Detroit……………….

What do you do on rainy days?  This past week we had a rainy Wednesday, Leap Day to be exact, so I was thinking lets go see a movie!  That is exactly what we did!  However, it was not our frequented theater.  We decided to head to Detroit and catch the flick, Act of Valor (highly recommended), at the Ren Cen’s theater.  Watching a movie there definitely had some unique moments!  For instance the old school seating (not stadium seating)! 

After the movie it was great to be able to walk around and capture the great architecture and views the building possesses. 

For those of you who do not know much about the Ren Cen I would like to share a little history…………..

Henry Ford II announced construction of the GM Renaissance Center (Ren Cen) in 1971 and in 1976 the first office tower opened.  It is currently five and a half million square feet in size and sits on 14 acres.  The Marriott Detroit inside the Ren Cen is one of the tallest hotels in the world!  The Ren Cen is a one stop shop for eating, shopping, watching movies, working out, and staying over night.  The Ren Cen is not strictly pleasure related either; it is General Motor’s headquarters with 5,000 GM employees and it is also home to 4,000 additional people who work for tenant organizations.  Check out the GM Renaissance Center link for a list of all of their amenities. 

Detroit has a lot of great history and architecture and the Ren Cen is just one great example!  Some other interesting facts about Detroit are:

• Detroit has the second largest theater district in the country with over 13,000 theater seats in a two block radius.  This includes: Fox Theater, Fillmore, Opera House, Music Hall, Gem, and Century.  

• The designer of the World Trade Center, Minoru Yamasaki, got his start in Detroit designing buildings such as One Woodward Avenue.

• The famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park, also designed Belle Isle.

These are just a few facts that make Detroit an interesting place to visit! I would love to hear what you do in Detroit on rainy days and also some interesting facts that you know about Detroit! 

Party for St. Patrick’s Day in Detroit

Everyone knows that Detroiters LOVE to party!  One of the biggest parties of the year is St. Patrick’s Day.  With the holiday falling on a Saturday this year it will be by far the biggest St. Patrick’s Day party yet!  I would like to share with you some of the festivities that take part downtown for St. Patrick’s Day!

The 54^th Annual Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 2:00 pm.  The parade is full of great music and elaborate floats!  It starts on 6^th Street and Michigan Ave and disperses at 14^th Street!

The 30^th Annual Corktown 5K Race.  It starts at 12:00 pm on the day of the race!  It is a great way to get the day started and then settle in to watch the parade!

Detroit is home to many fine pubs that would be a perfect spot to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.   

A few of them are:

Old Shillelagh located on Monroe.  They are known for their HUGE tent party that they have thrown for at least the past 30 years!  Founded by John Brady in 1975 the Old Shillelagh has been a landmark in Detroit’s bar scene ever since.  

Town Pub Tavern located on W. Montcalm on the ground floor of the historic Park Avenue House offers a unique atmosphere and great camaraderie.  Since its inception in 1996 it has remained a downtown hotspot. 

Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub located one block from Campus Martius and Hart Plaza.  The pub captures the history of the building as The Grand Trunk Rail Road’s ticket station and offers an exceptional ambiance, great food, and a great selection of Michigan beer. You can also purchase a six pack to go!

These are just a few stops to make downtown! I would love to hear what you have planned for St. Patrick’s Day!  Please remember to Drink Responsibly………

In honor of this upcoming holiday I would love to support Detroit and raffle off this very festive Made in Detroit t-shirt!  For further details on how to win this T-shirt please visit my KT in the D Facebook Fan Page 

Good Luck!

What is Detroit’s Legacy…………

When you hear Detroit what is the first thing that comes to mind?  For some it may have a negative association, but I believe that Detroit represents more than what people give it credit for.  I would like to list a few (out of the many) examples of what Detroit has to offer and hopefully change some negative perspectives!  So the question is “what is Detroit’s legacy”?

1. Having ultimate sports teams and fans!  The Lions, Tigers, Wings, and Pistons have all had their fair share of some awesome seasons!  Regardless, the fans have stuck through the hard-times! 

2. Having Detroit and its surrounding cities be home to some awesome products!  Such as: Better Made Snacks, Carhartt, Faygo, Kowalski, Sanders, Little Caesars Pizza, Stroh’s, and Kellogg’s.  Check out this link for more info on the above products!

http://voices.yahoo.com/top-10-products-made-detroit-702515.html?cat=46

3. Having Detroit and its surrounding cities be home to many high profile celebrities! Including: Jerry Bruckheimer, Tim Allen, Alice Cooper, Francis Ford Coppola, Jeff Daniels, Eminem, Madonna, Ed McMahon, Jack White, Tom Selleck, Kid Rock, Bob Seger, and many more.   

4. The legacy of Joe Louis, who was originally from Alabama, but moved to Detroit in 1924, was one of the greatest prizefighters of all time!  Joe Louis still holds the merit of having successfully defended his title more times than any other heavyweight in history.  Joe Louis’s fist is now a memorable landmark in Detroit. 

 

5. Pewabic Pottery a National Historic Landmark and is Michigan's only historic pottery.  Founded in 1903 is known across the country for its emblazed pottery.  Pewabic pottery can be found in many great landmarks around Detroit.  

6. The Detroit music scene including Motown Record Corporation based in Detroit founded by Berry Gordy and home to artists such as: The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and Jackson 5.  Also, the Rock Era with legends including: Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Grand Funk Railroad, Glenn Frey of The Eagles, Eminem, Kid Rock, and The White Stripes.  Detroit is also referred to as the birthplace of Techno music.

7. Bringing back the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. 

 

8. Festivities and venues that happen at Hart Plaza.  The largest two being the Downtown Electronic Music Festival (DEMF) and the Hoedown.  These two events draw fans from across the country!

 

9. The great architecture of the city.  With its numerous art deco, neo-classical, and federalist masterpieces it was once referred to as “The Paris of the West”.  

10. Being classified as the “Automotive Capital of the World”.  Enough said.   

Please vote below and list any opinions as well!  Can't wait to hear what you think Detroit's Legacy is!  

Friday Night Live at the DIA

The Detroit Institute of Art (DIA) is home to many timeless pieces from classic artists including Van Gogh, Picasso, and Rembrandt. Some of my favorites! However, last Friday night we went to check out the photo gallery “Detroit Revealed”. It was very moving as artists portrayed life in the Motor City over the past decade. There were great photos capturing the beauty in the now decrepit buildings in Detroit. We also viewed a short 3D film, Reimagining the Packard Plant. It is amazing how artists can bring to life their visions with the use of modern technology. The photo gallery and short film were very uplifting. I would also like to mention that the museum was packed, wall to wall with people, on a Friday night! You can never go wrong with a late night date to the DIA on a Friday (they are open until 10 p.m.)!

After the DIA we headed to Eastern Market to grab a bite to eat. We stopped in at Supino Pizzeria and had an awesome meal (we even ordered a whole pizza to go)! If you love pizza you are sure to enjoy Supino Pizzeria. They use fresh local ingredients and bake the thin crust to perfection. This restaurant was also featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives! Rumor has it they may be expanding in the near future!

After our great meal we headed over to Vivio’s across the street for a night cap! The night was filled with good times, good friends, and great drinks! Check out the slideshow of the night’s events!

I get the distinct impression many more people like me are embracing Detroit’s cultural splendors! I would love to hear all about them as this blog is a forum for engaging discussion about Detroit.

Diners Drive-Ins and Dives in Detroit

The popular show, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, on the Food Network Channel has helped put many local Detroit gems in the national spotlight.  If you have not watched the show I highly recommend it!  Guy Fieri drives across the country looking for unique restaurants and samples one of their famous dishes.  Last Friday night I was in Midtown and decided to stop in at one of the restaurants Fieri visited.  Check out this picture of him pulling up to Traffic Jam & Snug!

Courtesy of Traffic Jam & Snug

Then check out this picture of me strolling up to Traffic Jam & Snug!

Even though this establishment has been around since 1964 it has a modern urban feel to it.  What is awesome about this restaurant is that they have their own roof-top garden, brewery, diary, and bakery.   They also purchase their produce from local vendors.  I highly recommend the zucchini bread to-go and the bread pudding to eat in!  Check out this video that gives a great overview of Traffic Jam & Snug. 

This is one of the many awesome restaurants to check out in Detroit.  Not only is the food awesome, but the ambiance is unique.  I would love to hear of some great restaurants you have visited in Detroit!  From Lafayette Coney Island to The Whitney the possibilities are endless....................

Dinner and Dancing in Detroit

A wedding is a time to celebrate with great friends and family.  Boy……. did we ever on Saturday, January 21^st!  Finding the right location to have a wedding can be a stressful situation.  So why not have a wedding in a city full of history and beautiful architecture?  That is exactly what the bride and groom did!

The ceremony was held at the Masonic Temple.  I was in awe of the beautiful neo-gothic architecture and embellished details in the woodwork and masonry.  The Masonic Temple has been in existence since the 1920s, I can only imagine the lavish events that have taken place in the ballroom, theater, and chapel.  To have your own wedding there and be part of history is quite an experience.  As the wedding party and bride entered to a live bag pipe player I was trying to soak it all in (I cannot imagine what was going through the bride’s mind).  The bride looked beautiful and the ceremony was exceptional. 

Picture Courtesy of City-Data.com

 The night’s festivities had only just begun.  We then headed to the Roosertail for some fine wining, dining, and dancing.  Since the Roostertail’s inception in 1958 it has remained an “icon” in the social scene of Detroit.  This explains why the bride and groom picked the Roostertail for their big day!

Picture courtesy of The Knot's Wedding Channel

The night started upstairs with dinner and drinks.  As the night progressed we moved downstairs to the after party!  It entailed a huge amount of disco balls, desserts, dancing, drinking, and fun!    

Of course the night could not be complete without a visit to the photo booth!

From there guests were shuttled to Motor City Casino Hotel.  Where endless outcomes to the night were possible…………….

I think Detroit is a great location for weddings because it symbolizes many key points in a relationship.  It has a vast history and it has had its ups and downs, but never gives up.  All in all the day was amazing and I wish the bride and groom all the best!  

Please feel free to share your thoughts on other wedding events in Detroit.  Whether it is the wedding itself or engagement pictures, bachelor/bachelorette parties, showers, etc.

They're Coming Home

Detroit has been through some pretty tough times, but one thing that has remained hopeful is Detroit’s sports teams and their loyal fan base.  You have to admit that Detroit has some pretty incredible teams.  Red Wings just set a franchise record for their 15^th consecutive home victory, the Lions made the 2011 playoffs, and the Tigers captured the AL Central division title last year.  This weekend I was fortunate enough to attend the 2012 Detroit Tigers Lead-off Party at Motor City Casino.  What an experience!

Check out this video of some of the players getting introduced!  It was awesome to see them all come home and create anticipation for the 2012 season. 

The event allowed corporate sponsors and suite holders to mingle with many of the players.  I have to admit I was a little bit nervous.  What do you say to some of the greatest players in baseball?  However, I am happy to report that all the players I was in contact with were very down to earth and approachable.  Check out some of the people I met!

Jacob Turner

Doug Fister

Brandon Inge

Jose Valverde

Attending this event as definitely got me pumped for the season to begin.  Not only is this day epic because of the baseball, but also for the city.  It’s amazing to see the diverse fan base that comes together for a common cause…………to see The Detroit Tigers!  Detroit is full of great experiences and Comerica Park is definitely near the top.  What are some of your memorable experiences at Comerica Park?