Definitley not. At least not according to Glamour magazine. But hey, its not a Don’t either!

While snowed in this weekend, I decided to take some quality time with some hot cocoa and my glossy guilty pleasures. Of course, Glamour covered the United States looking for their oh-so-famous Do and Don’t photos, and forgot to stop in Detroit. It got me thinking and I don’t recall ANY type of “Best of the USA’s…” type event making a stop in the D. While it may not be the fashion/music/art/insert-other-hobby-here capital of the world, we’ve still got some good stuff to show. Come on mainstream media, stop ignoring us over here, stop on by to see what Detroit has to offer!

the fact that you have taken the time to read,comment and/or post on this blog (i think) means you have some sort of pride or concern for the city of Detroit so here’s what i propose: each one of you that reads this should take some of those precious few remaining ” last minute dollars” and get a gift that directly supports this area that we live in. buy someone a product that is based locally like a new Carhartt jacket or for you hotshots out there i’m sure you know someone that wouldn’t mind finding a new Corvette under the tree. since we all know someone who eats occasionally (some more than others) gift cards for local, independent restaurants are a swell idea or maybe just pay more attention to the place you’re shopping and make sure it’s not a giant retail chain that really doesn’t need your thirty bucks to help pay the phone bill. supporting local business really does make a difference and i think we all forget that sometimes, i try my hardest to direct my money very specifically but even i stray once in a while…i’ll admit that i occasionally gas up the ol’ Daewoo at the Mobil station and run over to the Outback steakhouse for a Bloomin’ Onion!

Entrance to GM World Headquarters in downtown Detroit

We haven’t had very many Grinch of the Year nominations, so I’m extending the nominating period until this Friday, December 21, at midnight.

Clueless as to what I’m talking about? Click here, read, and then nominate someone.

go see the Hifi Handgrenades tonight (Saturday the 15th) at the Magic Stick on Woodward. they’re a rad, new local punk-ish band and even though they’ve only been together for less than a year they have already played the Warped Tour and been on the road with the Foo Fighters. yesterday i wrote up a whole story about how great they are and included all sorts of links to various articles about the members of the band and whatnot then when i tried to post it this Tandy computer of mine flaked out and shut the whole thing down. i don’t really have the time to re-do the indepth coverage but still wanted to get the word out. and if you really need to know more just Google the name John Speck.

Fishbones in Greektown is a restaurant I have always walked over but never had a chance to experience until last night. If you ever park in the Greektown Casino lot and take the walk-way over you will have noticed the enormous stories tall water feature which originates from Fishbones below. I was lucky enough to dine on my sushi at the base of the fountain. The architectural chaos of the upper floors visible from this angle is reason enough to dine here. The sushi was great and the offerings of the restaurant range from Greek to Japanese to New Orleans cuisine. I look forward to going back.

Thanks to David Markland of Metroblogging Los Angeles for posting a call for LA’s Grinch of the Year, and giving me the idea to do the same thing for the Detroit region.

So, here goes … we at Metroblogging Detroit want your nominations for the Detroit-area’s Grinch of the Year. The ideal candidate is an individual or group who has impacted either a portion of Detroit/metro Detroit or the region in a negative way. This person or group should epitomize Grinch or Scrooge. Some early ideas include several Detroit City Council members for being … well, slow and unproductive to say the least; Agnes Nixon, the woman behind the Detroit School Board grape-throwing incident; and DPS school board president-Jimmy Womack, for, among other things, calling grape-thrower Nixon a “social terrorist” while DPS continues climbing the list of one of the worst-performing large school districts in the country.

To make a nomination, leave a comment below by midnight on Wednesday, December 19 with the name of the individual or group and a brief explanation of why he/she/they deserve this dishonor. Then, Metroblogging Detroit authors will narrow the pool down and allow readers to vote for their favorite Grinch o’ the Year beginning Friday, December 21th. I’ll announce the Grinchy winner on Friday, December 28.

Remember that neighborhood spying that I mentioned in my intro post? Well, this weekend you can do it on the up-and-up!

This coming Sunday, December 16, is the annual Boston Edison Holiday Home Tour. Here’s your chance to take a peek inside some fantastic homes in the neighborhood that once housed all of the freeways in Detroit. Or, at least the people that they were named after. James Couzens, Charles Fisher, and of course Henry Ford once called this neighborhood home. The architecture of these homes is just breathtaking, and, as my gramma would say “they just don’t make ‘em like that anymore”. Tickets are $20 and include transportation around the houses on display and refreshments at the end of the tour. Head to the neighborhood’s website, Boston Edison, for more details.

Palmer Woods, home of the famous Bishop’s Residence isn’t holding it’s annual home tour this year, but is instead hosting a monthly concert series beginning in December.

(Dalai Lama = Awesome dude!)

It has just been announced that the Dalai Lama will deliver a lecture on Sustainability at Ann Arbor’s Crisler Arena on April 28, 2008. Wolverines can pick up free tickets on March 4 and the general public can get them on March 5 at the Michigan Union Ticket Office. Two per person. The lecture will coincide with Earth Week.

There should be lots of other environmental events in Ann Arbor around the time of the Lama’s visit. Check out this website for more info and buzz.

I’d like to note that that I’ve categorized this little post as “FUN,” because any kind of self-realization that doesn’t involved hell, fire, and brimstone is usually pretty enjoyable, or at least a little bit of a hoot.

As one of the new voices joining Metroblogging Detroit, I’d like to offer a short introduction before I dive into posting.

I’ve always been a native of metro Detroit, save for a brief stint as a Spartan, and have always been in love with the goings-on in the City. I’ll always try and stay positive about the happenings in our town, even if it something doesn’t always seem rosy. It’s people’s perceptions that make a place what it is, and I strive to change the stereotypical perceptions of Detroit. We live in a beautiful place, and I’ll defend it to the death!

That said, I’ll give you a glimpse into “my” Detroit. The bulk of the day is spent in Midtown, because that’s where the bills get paid, and the rest of the day is spent nearby. There’s coffee and Beans and Bytes, some dynamite pad thai at Bangkok Express, and the best artichoke and cheese sandwich that you will ever find at the Cass Cafe. In my Detroit, there is an awful lot of good food. The brand new Sole Sisters on Canfield will get you a gorgeous pair of shoes (and when you just *need* some kitchy pink heels, Chernins will get you those). In my Detroit, it’s not always trendy and fancy, because my inner cheapskate just wont allow it. On a Saturday afternoon, there are leisurely drives spying on the other-half in those fabulous sprawling brick structures in Palmer Woods and Indian Village. Spending hours with a coffee at Barnes and Noble is cozy, but the real treat is perusing the Main Library. In my Detroit, modern is good, but it lives in harmony with the old.

I’ve got lots of other haunts to share and stories to tell, but I’ve got plenty of time for all of that. Thanks for letting me on board here, I look forward to sharing with all of you!