“The Simpsons Movie” opens up on July 27th and it’s about time. I find it hard to believe that it took this long to make a movie about the longest running animated series on TV. Homer is the MAN! “D’oooooh!” To that end if you ever wanted to see what you would look like in their world, now you can. That’s me “simpsonized” above and it was hilarious to create. Now if I they can figure out how I can go to Moes in Sringfield and drink some Duff beer. The Simpson Movie page has all kinds of fun stuff to do but making yourself in their image, so to speak, is the best. Check it out.

so…i was driving down Gratiot a while ago and found myself in front of the East District police department. as i was looking around at what a complete mess the surrounding area is with all the abandoned houses and whatnot something stood out that i think could symbolize how a lot of residents view the job the police are doing. just around the corner from the front entrance to the station, within full view of the station someone had left a giant pile of illegally dumped rubbish, like a garage had been torn down then left there. there were some trash bags and furniture in the mix, as well…all right next door to the people that are supposed to make sure that sort of thing doesn’t happen. i still feel that if the city employees were required to live in the city that they might care a little more about it. could you imagine asking one of those cops to live on that street next door to a pile of garbage, a crack house and a couple hundred rats? having gotten my own taste of the lack of response and concern out of those on duty to protect & serve me it came as no real suprize to see that.

The Downtown Development Authority, (DDA), has approved a design change for the garage being built next to the Book Caddilac which is under construction also. They have authorized two more stories to the parking deck. The Griswold, as it is called, will accomodate 80 condominiums priced between $175,000 and $800, 000. Add that to the new 400 room hotel with 67 uber-condo’s on top and we will have a magnificent addition to the central business district when they are finished next year.

In another development, Quicken Loans which owns the Cleavland Cavaliers and it’s offshoot Rock Financial is coming downtown. The deal isn’t signed yet but it’s a given among those in the loop. I have wondered about its new location. Would they build new or occupy a vacant building? Now it appears they will choose new construction. The DEGC is promoting two sites. The first is the Primier Garage on Woodward. Hudsons once stood at this location and when they built the garage they installed footings for an office building to be built above it of eight stories or less. The second site, and my pick, is the larger site where the Statler Hilton once stood. That would make a fine addition to Grand Circus Park and be great for the business’s surrounding it.

This summer, Memphis Smoke, 89X and 93.9 The River bring music and a good cause together with Club Red, a summer concert series that benefits the Southeastern Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross.

With summer half over (sniffle, sniffle) the 2007 season of Club Red is near its midpoint, but if you’re interested in taking in some live blues and helping a good cause, you’ve got until September 12 to do so.

Hazel Park’s Garden of Souls and the recently-crowned winners of Mountain Rockfest’s Battle of the Bands, Hide from Cleo, are scheduled
to play this Wednesday, July 18.

More after the jump …
(more…)

This past week the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) national conference was in town, and this weekend I had the privilege of attending the National Organization for Women (NOW) conference being held in Dearborn. Wayne State University’s Women’s Studies Department sent 30 of their students to this event to represent the University. The experience was eye-opening. We were shown a documentary of Michigan’s contribution to the Women’s Movement. About twenty odd years ago women had to enter the Detroit Athletic Club (DAC) through the side door and were not permitted to enter the club in which many of the city’s business deals went down. The women of the city gathered a truckload of high-heel shoes and dumped them to block the front entrance of the DAC after the DAC refused to admit women. Today, it appears that men and women share equal rights. It also appears that race is no longer a barrier. This simply is not the case. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the 1967 Detroit riots. We are still recovering. NOW and the NAACP remain relevant because the rights of human beings remain relevant. While huge battles have been won by past generations, there is much left to do for this and future generations. See what challenges still face these groups which include immigration, education, the media, etc.

Haven’t been across the border in quite a long time. Last time was just before SBXL so that’s a while, eh? :) Got a good reason today though. The 2007 Windsor Bluesfest is happening all weekend long. This is the 13th anniversary of North America’s 12th largeest blues and roots festival. Artists with awards such as the Grammy, Juno and WC Handy’s as well as some Rock & Roll Hall of Famers will be performing at the Riverfront Festival Plaza near Casino Windsor. Although jazz has been in my life since highschool, the blues has always been first so you can imagine my disappointment at missing Robrert Cray who appeared last night. (Sniff, sniff). Tonight Collin James and Toronto’s Pat Travers will be on stage and I will be there or be square. Tickets are $50 for the three day event.

Although I admit I had bit of trepidation before walking into the Old Miami Wednesday night, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. Not only were the regulars and staff downright friendly, they also introduced my friend and I to the “backyard”. The backyard which in staying true to its name was simply a large backyard made complete with lawn furniture, grass and grill. There was even a resident dog making himself comfortable amongst the crowd. Overall the Old Miami is everything that is right about Detroit bars.

Like fast boats.? The 103rd APBA Gold Cup races return to Belle Ile this weekend. I went for the first time three years ago and I have to say, after watching one of these magnificent unlimited hydroplanes almost flip and tear off it’s starboard sponson, I was hooked. The huge rooster tails, the roar of the engines as they race by the fans on both sides of the river is captivating. I’ll admit it. I’m a whimp. I don’t like to go fast on the water. Off-shore’s always scare me. Can you imagine what it takes to be inside, (and I mean inside cuz’ they are sealed in like a jet pilot) one of these boats at over 100mph? Ah, no thanks! I’ll be the one watching from shore, enjoying adult beverages with friends at the DYC.

Although you can watch the races from many locations both from the city side and Belle Ile, the best view by far has always been from the Rooster Tail located at 100 Marquette about a mile from Grosse Pointe. Tickets go from $50 to $150 for the two day event. For more information, call 313-822-1234.

one of the purposes of a blog like this is for the authors to offer up suggestions on various businesses, services and events around the city and turn on the readers to things they might otherwise pass by or overlook simply because they’re unfamiliar with it. it’s what kept me coming back here before i possesed the mighty power to post for myself. had it not been for one of the other authors i’d have never stepped into Cliff Bells, for example. it’s now my turn to direct you all to the type of place a lot of you won’t need but for those of you that are ready to take the first leap or to those that want to add to your collections i’ll direct you out to 2743 Coolidge Hwy. in Berkley where you will find Wholeshot Tattoos. it’s listed as an “art gallery and custom tattoo studio” and is owned and operated by the incredible Jeff Shea. not only is he an incredible artist (with a paint brush as well as the needle) but a few years ago one of the local entertainment papers voted him tattooist of the year. Jeff is also known in the kustom car world for his amazing pin striping abilities. each of the four artists there are really good and as someone with my share of ink under my skin i know the importance of referring people to a good shop. if i didn’t believe in their skills i wouldn’t send people there. i also think it’s funny when i recommend a tattoo shop or when someone asks about my work and they ask about the price…i wouldn’t shop for discounts on a tattoo no more than i would look for a bargain rate surgeon. cheap usually isn’t good and it’s gonna be with you for the rest of your life.

I went out to pick up some chicken fried rice for lunch today and pulled out onto the I-96 service drive (at Farmington). Holy moly!

Apparently, there was a huge water main burst on the I-96 service drive at Middlebelt. It completely flooded the expressway and traffic is a giant mess through Livonia today. Cars are stuck in the flood and they haven’t sealed the burst yet. There’s a live feed on clickondetroit.com