Art-inspired activities dominate the weekend

Local weather forecasters are calling for record temperatures this weekend, but I'm sure that won't stop thousands of metro Detroiters from getting outside and enjoying some of the cool activities that will take place in the D this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

First up is the 22nd annual Detroit Festival of the Arts, the Motor City's free premier arts and entertainment extravaganza featuring world-renowned artists and performers. Located in the D's Midtown area, this annual outdoor fete will feature more than 100 international, regional and local artists, 10 stages with more than 100 performances, and an Arts and Crafts market. Organized by the UCCA and Wayne State University, the Detroit Festival of the Arts runs from June 6 - 8. Click here for a complete schedule of performances, directions, hours and more.

After you take in the art in Midtown, head over to Detroit's historic Pewabic Pottery for the organization's House & Garden Benefit Show. Celebrating its 18th year, this event will showcase the works of more than 70 ceramic artists. The annual fundraiser -- which is open to the public and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 -- will also feature exhibitions, museum tours and demonstrations. Pewabic is located at 10125 East Jefferson Avenue.

Also on the agenda this weekend is the Indian Village Historic Home and Garden Tour, which marks its 35th year anniversary on Saturday, June 7. Running from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., the tour will showcase a geenrous handful of IV's glorious homes, including the Dodge and Buhl Mansions, as well as a beautiful Queen Anne at 853 Iroquois and the restored beauty located at 776 Seminole. While you're toruing, be sure to check out the Art Lot, featuring the works of 20 Detroit artists, and the historic neighborhood's Community Garden. Tour tickets are $20 each and are available at Iroquois Avenue Christ Lutheran Church, the Waldorf School on Burns, and Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church.

For more art-inspired events this weekend in Detroit, visit thedetroiter.com's comprehensive and up-to-date arts calendar here.

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Great art, great prices

Looking to update your home's look for spring, or add something to those bare walls? Now is the perfect time to do it. The Student Exhibition at CCS is right around the corner, and it is a fantastic way to buy high-quality, original artwork and at lower prices than typical galleries.

Ashley Cook, "Thank You I Love You"

Running from May 16 - 30, this year's event will showcase more than 3,500 student works of art, ranging from ceramics, furniture and sculpture to jewelry, paintings and photography.

The 2008 exhibition begins with a special Collectors' Preview and Private Reception, which runs from 5:30 - 10 p.m on Friday, May 16. Tickets are $350 each and give attendees the opportunity to select and buy student artwork first. Ticket purchase also provides access to the exclusive Collectors’ Preview Private Reception.

If $350 is more than you'd like to spend on a ticket, but you'd still like to be among the first to see the artwork and make a purchase or two, consider purchasing a $50 ticket to the General Exhibition Opening and Sale, which runs on May 16 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Lee Ann Foshee, "Latch Hook Lizzie", Fiber

If you want to attend but don't want to pay for a ticket, the Student Exhibition continues May 17 - 30 for public viewing and sales, and admission is free. Daily hours during this time period are as follows:

Saturday - Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday and Friday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

CCS is a private four-year college offering 11 Bachelors of Fine Arts degrees in 11 majors, and Masters of Fine Arts degrees in 2 majors. The campus is located at 201 East Kirby in Midtown.

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Zaccaro's Market Now Open in Brush Park

After hearing over two dozen people oooh and ahhh about the new Zaccaro's Market in Brush Park, I finally had a chance to check out Detroit's newest gourmet grocery store for myself a few weeks ago.

And gourmet it is.

Located at Woodward and Watson, in the bottom of the new Crystal Lofts, Zaccaro's is a fresh and airy specialty market featuring deli meats, cheeses, wine, prepared meals, seafood, spices, spreads, ethnic foods and more. As this Detroit News article states, the store also offers "an in-house bakery and pastry shop", as well as a coffee bar and a wine bar. In addition, Zaccaro's currently offers nine varieties of hot sandwiches/paninis ($7.95 each or $9.75 for the sandwich, chips and a drink) including 'The Green Acre' -- grilled eggplant, roasted peppers, artichoke spread, hummus and smoked mozzarella -- and 'The 313' -- corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese and 1000 Island on rye. There is also a small area at the back of the store featuring a table and chairs and a few arm chairs for you and a few friends to hang out if you so desire.

Though you will find some staples for your fridge and cupboards -- milk, yogurt, bread, fruit -- Zaccaro's prices are high and product selection is slim unless you're looking for artisan cheeses and gourmet coffee, so don't go giving up your regular grocery store just yet. (To give you an idea of pricing, a package of 6 Boca Burgers was $5.95; a pint of Soy Dream ice cream was $4.50; and the prepared lasagna bolognese my husband purchased was $8.95/pound.)

Zaccaro's reminded me a little bit of Trader Joe's -- I usually shop there for specialty foods like veggie burgers and Indian food -- with the nice part being that Zaccaro's is a lot closer to my house, and it is within city limits.

Bottom line: I am pleased that Detroiters have another food shopping option, and will definitely go back to Zaccaro's for health and ethnic food, and for items like artisan cheeses and pastries for entertaining.

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Bureau gets busy

Girl in the D was delighted to sit down with Claire Nelson, half of the duo behind Midtown's Bureau of Urban Living, on Wednesday evening.

Along with discussing the positive response she and husband-Francis Grunow have received since opening their modern home goods store in April 2007, Nelson filled me in on some of the cool new products on tap for the holidays and talked about two upcoming public events that Bureau is partaking in.

The first, Yard Sale in a Loft, takes place on Saturday, October 6 from 11 am to 4 pm at the Stuber-Stone Lofts. Along with urban homegoods and unique gifts from Nelson's Bureau of Urban Living, event attendees will find modern furniture from Mezzanine; fashions from Wound Menswear; edgy womenswear from Birmingham-based Michelle Rachelle; graphic tees from Superior Belly's Zack Ostrowski; art from CPOP; and sterling silver jewelry from Vault 17.

The Stuber-Stone building is located at 4221 Cass in Midtown.

On Wednesday, October 10, from 5 - 9 pm, Bureau invites you to drop in for the launch party of Pop Art Monkey's new textile line. Meet the creator of the fun popartmonkey products, Carl Oxley III, and check out the newest popartmonkey pillows and coin purses. New paintings from Carl will also be available for purchase.

Can't make it to either of these events? Visit Bureau when it's convenient for you. Detroit's newest modern home goods and gift store is open Tuesday - Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm.

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Antique chairs and sideboards and tubs -- oh my!

Gail Geer appreciates the unique architectural elements that characterize many of Detroit's older homes and buildings - and she knows that other people in the area do, too.

So when she and members of her development company, Renevatio, realized they couldn't reincorporate all of the original features inside the El Moore, their current restoration project, Geer came up with an idea: hold an auction.

Scheduled for Saturday, April 28 from 1 to 3 pm, the auction will feature a number of items from 1890 - 1920, including solid oak paneling and doors; claw foot tubs; oak fireplace mantles; sideboards; mirrors and more. Photos and measurements of some of the pieces up for grabs can be viewed here, but other items -- wrought iron fencing, radiators, hardware and fireplaces -- are being kept under wraps until auction day.

Besides being a cool event for local antiques-lovers, proceeds from Renevatio's auction will benefit Affirmations and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, two local non-profit organizations.

Interested in attending? Prospective bidders should arrive at the El Moore Condominiums located at 624 Alexandrine in Detroit's Midtown area (Google map) by 1 pm to preview items; the auction begins at 1:30. No RSVP is required, and the auction is open to the public.

Need more information? Click here or call 248.398.7105, extension 27.

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And ... Action!

Looking for your 15 minutes - or seconds - of fame?

Here's your chance: this Saturday, Redline Cinema is casting for Lightning, Iron and Mantis, a new feature film set to be shot in 2007 in Detroit, and Linkage, a short.

The casting call is free and will take place at Midtown's Beans & Bytes, a happenin' cybercafe near Wayne State, on December 9 from 2 - 4 pm. Speaking parts and extras are needed for both projects (click here for information on specific roles). Actors, you'll need to bring a resume and a headshot. Extras, just bring yourself.

And, hey, even if you don't land a part, there's still a chance you may end up on the screen - the little screen, that is; producers from the new reality TV show, "I too want to be a star", are scheduled to attend the casting call.

For more information, please visit Redline Cinema on the web.

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Detroit's CCS Recognized as Top Design School

Creative types and locals have long known the College for Creative Studies is one of the nation's top design schools. But now the private design school in Midtown, known around here simply as CCS, is garnering worldwide attention.

Last week, Business Week published its first annual Top Design Schools list, a compilation of the best design schools across the globe. Along with prestigious D-schools like Bocconi University in Milan and the Rhode Island School of Design, Detroit's CCS was named to the list.

Kudos to CCS for a well-deserved acknowledgement!

For the complete list, please click here.

For information on Detroit's award-winning design school, please visit CCS on the web.

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Indoor Activities in Detroit

After another long, grueling workweek, you're probably itching to get out and do something recreational and fun this weekend.

Today's dreary weather has likely put a damper on your outdoor plans, but cool temps and rain don't have to mean a weekend spent in front of the tube. Instead, grab a poncho or umbrella and head to one of Detroit's award-winning museums.

Here are two of my top picks for museums to visit this weekend in Detroit:

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History:

Opened just two days ago, "Lasting Foundations: The Art of Architecture in Africa" is a new exhibit designed to acquaint museum-goers with African architecture from the country's east, west, central and southern areas. Composed of more than 100 photographs and artifacts from 13 countries, the exhibit runs through December 13, 2006.

Other exhibits of interest include "And Still We Rise", a permanent exhibit located in the DaimlerChrysler Hall, and "A is for Africa", an interactive exhibit designed for children in preschool through the fourth grade.

Admission to the Charles H. Wright Museum is $8 for adults and $5 or children. Tomorrow, October 1, is a Target Free First Sunday at the Wright Museum, so admission is free for all.

Detroit Historical Museum:

Following an $800,000 restoration, the Detroit Historical Museum (DHM) re-opened to the public yesterday and promises to be better than ever. An added bonus is that admission to the museum is free all weekend!

Interesting new exhibits at the DHM include "Digital Dress: Women About Town", a display tracing the evolution of this popular piece of women's clothing from the 1900s through today, and "Treasures of the Collection", a compilation of more than 100 rare artifacts from the museum's extensive collection.

The DHM also has several permanent exhibits, including the popular Glancy Trains, The Streets of Old Detroit and Frontiers to Factories. The museum is located at 5401 Woodward Avenue in Detroit's Cultural Center area.

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