Thursday, July 27, 2006

Fourth Fridays: Round II

The D comes alive this Friday night with the second installment of 4th Fridays with Ford, a new monthly event featuring live concerts, food and drink specials, guided walking tours and a showcase of local art and films.

Sponsored by the Tourism Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) and the Detroit 300 Conservancy, this week's 4th Friday event kicks off at 5 o'clock sharp with an after-work party that's sure to ease the pain of a long work-week and get you ready for the weekend in no time flat.

Take a stroll through the Arts Market near Campus Martius Park (CMP) or one of the area's new retail stores and grab a bite or a cold drink - several local restaurants and bars are offering specials all day and night - or just kick back and relax to the sounds of techno-duo Liz Copeland and Clark Warner, who are set to perform on the Fountain Stage from 5 to 7.

If you're craving something a little more interactive, indulge your Detroit curiosity and join Inside Detroit for its Re-Discover Detroit tour. It leaves CMP at 5:30.



It will definitely be worth your while to stick around late, because from 7:30 - 10:30, Rock and Roll Hall of fame legend Dave Mason is set to take the main stage for a free concert that's not to be missed.

Enjoy the music while taking in the local art along Woodward courtesy of Edgewise, or check out some of Detroit's best clubs and bars with Inside Detroit's exclusive pub-crawl at 9 pm.

At 10, head over to the Biegas Gallery for a the 4th Friday Film Festival, a mini-film fest courtesy of Detroit's Prince Igor Productions. Catch four made-in-Detroit films for only $5. If you're lucky, you might even win a walk-on role in the new independent film, Sleepy Guy.

For more information on 4th Fridays, please click here.

For a 4th Fridays map filled with discounts to use at the event, see this page.

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Posted by Girl in the D at 2:39 AM

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Get creative at (PROOF)

Looking to meet other Metro Detroiters that are gung-ho about the city and its revitalization?

Search no more.

Model D, After 5 and CreateDetroit - three outstanding organizations - are hosting a Thursday evening event that has your name written all over it.



Designed as a follow-up to CreateDetroit's highly-successful Connect Four event held in May, After Ours is the perfect chance to meet and mingle with some of the best and brightest young professionals in the city.

Head down to (PROOF) on Thursday, July 27 between 5:30 and 7:30 to meet new people, share ideas and discuss the city.

(PROOF) is located at 2001 Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit.

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Posted by Girl in the D at 6:11 PM

Monday, July 24, 2006

Happy Birthday, Detroit!

It was 305 years ago today that French-explorer Antoine Laumet de la Mothe Cadillac founded present-day Detroit.

On June 4, 1701, Cadillac - who sought to protect the area around Lake Erie from British invasion - set sail for 'le Détroit' (the strait) with about 100 other men.

Their mission? To build a strategic fort to protect the interests of New France.


Detroit River near GM

Arriving on the Detroit River on July 23, 1701, Cadillac and his crew camped for a night near what is now known as Grosse Ile.

The following day, July 24, the group headed north along the river, scanning the banks for the most strategic location to construct a fort.



Cadillac's spot of choice, a little more than 192 square feet, was located south of present-day Jefferson Avenue, near the current streets of Shelby and Griswold.

The settlement - 'Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit' - was named in honor of the Comte de Ponchartrain, who, at the time, served as Louis XIV's Minister of Marine.


Ambassador Bridge

For more information on early-life in Detroit or history of the city from 1701-2001, please visit History Detroit.

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Posted by Girl in the D at 7:55 AM

Detroit RiverWalk

Haven't been to the Detroit RiverWalk yet?

Here's a peek at what you're missing.

Posted by Girl in the D at 12:36 AM

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Thursday, July 20, 2006

"Cool": Three Detroit projects get a boost

Three Detroit-based development projects got a financial boost yesterday courtesy of the Cool Cities program, an initiative aimed at revitalizing Michigan cities.

On Wednesday, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm announced that projects of the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation (GRDC), Focus: Hope and the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) had been selected as 2006 Cool Cities designees.

The projects - along with four others in Dearborn, Pontiac, Benton Harbor and Flint - get access to select "tool box" resources like first priority to state grant funds and tax credits and Cool Cities Neighborhood in Progress signs. With the exception of the Dearborn project, all of them also get a $100,000 catalyst grant.

-The GRDC plans to use its catalyst grant to continue in-progress street facade improvements in the Grand River commercial district, as well as to repair neighborhood entrances and the site of a proposed neighborhood farmer's market.

-Focus: HOPE will use its $100,000 grant to create a springboard for new housing and retail in its neighborhood. The project also calls for a new outdoor interactive environment in the neighborhood.

-With its Cool Cities Neighborhood in Progress designation, the ACC plans to create Artisana, an art gallery for Arab-American, Chaldean and African-American artists who are currently without a local gallery to showcase their art. The ACC has already demolished a building to make room for the new gallery.

Part of Granholm's plan to maintain jobs and attract new workers and companies to the state, the Cool Cities initiative began in 2004. The Governor will announce the remaining 2006 Cool Cities designees later today in Grand Rapids and Lansing.

For more information on Michigan's Cool Cities Grants and Program, please click here.

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Posted by Girl in the D at 8:02 AM

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Detroit Hospitals Recognized for Excellence

Employees at Harper University and Henry Ford hospitals in Detroit have an extra reason to smile this week; both medical institutions were ranked in “America’s Top Hospitals 2006”, a special U.S. News and World Report (US News) guide scheduled to hit newsstands tomorrow.

Similar in premise to some of the weekly newsmagazine’s other well-known guides – “Best Grad Schools” and “Best Colleges”, for example – U.S. News’ goal for Top Hospitals is to measure and rank medical institutions nationwide for treatment of rare and complex medical conditions across 16 different specialties.



Midtown’s Harper University Hospital, part of the Detroit Medical Center, ranked 34th and 48th, respectively, in the Neurology/Neurosurgery and Cancer specialties, while Henry Ford Hospital, located on West Grand Boulevard near the Lodge freeway, made this year’s list in eight different specialties.

Henry Ford's rankings are as follows:

Neurology/Neuropathy: 21st
Endocrinology: 27th
Digestive disorders: 34th
Respiratory disorders: 34th
Kidney diseases: 36th
Heart/Heart surgery: 37th
Urology: 37th
Cancer: 39th

Using a methodology based on three equally-weighted parts – reputation, mortality and care-related factors – Top Hospitals 2006 evaluated 5189 hospitals. Of these, only 176 scored high enough to qualify for ranking within any specialty. The Top Hospitals list only includes the top 50 institutions in each specialty.

For more information on "America's Best Hospitals 2006", please click here.

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Posted by Girl in the D at 1:34 PM

Friday, July 07, 2006

Classic Rock on the River

Classic rock fans, rejoice!

The RenCen Shops at GM have teamed-up with local music station 94.7-WCSX to bring you one of the best events of the summer: a free classic-rock concert series on the Detroit Riverfront.

Featuring well-known national and regional classic-rock bands, 'Rockin' on the Riverfront' takes place every Friday night from 8 - 10 pm at the GM Riverfront Plaza, located behind the Renaissance Center.

Remaining acts and dates of this year's series, which kicked-off on June 18 wih Grand Funk Railroad, are as follows:

July 14: Alberta Adams
July 21: The Romantics
July 28: John D. Lamb
August 4: Howling Diablos
August 11: Blue Oyster Cult
August 18: Grievous Angels

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets, and boaters are welcome to anchor near the riverfront to enjoy stage-views from the water.

Outside food and beverages are not permitted, but concession stands selling beer, wine and food are available in different areas around the Plaza during the concerts. Net profits from the concert's concession sales will be donated to area charities.

Parking options include the lot at the corner of Atwater and St. Antoine ($10) or any of the public surface lots along Atwater ($3). Valet parking is also available at all entrances of the Renaissance Center (price varies). The PeopleMover is another alternative; just park near any DPM station and ride the rail to the RenCen for just 50 cents each way.

Concert viewing is solely first-come, first-served, so get there early (anytime after 6 pm) for the best view of the stage!

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Posted by Girl in the D at 4:19 PM

Saturday, July 01, 2006

July in Detroit

Sure, summer vacations are great, but if you don't have the opportunity to get away in the next few months, no need to worry; there are plenty of things going on in the D to keep you more than occupied.

Here's a run-down of places to go and things to do this month in Detroit:

Comerica TasteFest: June 30 - July 4.


Comerica Tastefest - Image provided by New Center Council, Inc.

Metro Detroit Youth Day: July 12 at Belle Isle.


Skyline from Belle Isle

Take me out to the Ballgame...and a movie: July 15 at the Fox Theatre and Comerica Park.



Concert of Colors: July 14 -16 at the Max M. Fisher Music Center.

Fourth Street Fair: July 15 (thanks for the heads-up, detroitshawn) at The Lodge and I-94.

APBA Goldcup Races: July 15 and 16 on the Detroit River.

'Can't Forget the Motor City' Reunion: July 19 - 22 in downtown Detroit.

Dixie Chicks: July 21 at Joe Louis Arena.



Afro-American Music Festival: July 21 - 23 at Hart Plaza.

Nickelback: July 22 at Joe Louis Arena.

Arab and Chaldean Festival: July 29 - 30 at Hart Plaza.



For ongoing events and even more stuff to do this month in Detroit, please visit Great Stuff or Get in the Game.

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Posted by Girl in the D at 10:47 PM

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