Yesterday I was driving down Woodward and saw the snowflake adornments for the lampposts for the first time this season.  I was hoping I was not to late in regards to seeing the tree lighting; I was happy to see that the tree was just being assembled.  However, as I was driving down Woodward this evening, my heart sank to see that the tree was lit.  Every year I want to make the tree lighting and it looked like it was too late.  I must have just seen a trial because the official lighting takes place on the 21^st of this month.

Happy Canada Day. 

I look forward to crossing the Ambassador Bridge to go celebrate on Canadian soil.  The waterfront fair has been calling my name for the past couple of weeks.  I want to get on the Ferris wheel in Windsor and see Detroit sparkle across the river. 

I have been sharing my pleasure with the Weight Watchers program on this blog from time to time, especially since HAP covers this program as part of its heath insurance package.  I am happy to report that there is now a branch at the Harbortown plaza.  I have now reached my weight goal and am very scared I am going to put all the weight back on.  So, I decided to do something good for my mental and philanthropic state.  I got rid of all my big clothes as well as all the ridiculously small ones that I thought I would “fit into one day”.  The Salvation Army Store at Fort Street and 6^th Street is a favourite haunt of mine.  I love VHS, buying old CDs I couldn’t afford in my youth, and finding tattered old books.  Sunday the store is closed, but it accepts donations.  Just pull up to the loading dock off Fort Street, ring the bell, and hand your stuff up to the attendant.  I was so excited to make some space in my closet that I didn’t ask about getting a receipt.  The website has all the tax deduction info.  

Zaccaro’s Market, a gourmet grocer of the Whole Food/Trader Joe type, opens today at its Midtown location at Woodward and Watson. Providing fresh and locally grown organic foods, fine wines and liquors, and an excellent variety of pre-prepared, healthy foods, the market is a welcome addition and is sure to be at capacity level from open to close for some time.

Happy gourmandizing, Detroit!

The Woodhouse Day Spa is located on Woodward at Merchants Row.  This location is actually a franchise with the happy coincidence of sharing its root with its street name.  This fancy subterranean spa was a delightful escape, as any spa should be; however, it had the additional bonus of making you forget that you dropped a good sum on its services. 

Getting in was a little difficult as the buzzer was acting up; however, on my way out a second receptionist was posted on ground level.  I was whisked down under Woodward where I was greeted by serene dark wood floors and an overwhelming amount of attention from the receptionist.

I was instructed to lock all my belongings in a wooden cabinet and slipped into a cushy robe and some not so fancy but ergonomic slippers.  I was then taken to the “Quiet Room” where the receptionist introduced the tea she picked out for me – a fragrant peach in case you were wondering.  The “Quiet Room” was lovely with its overstuffed, oversized, damask furniture set on faded Persian rugs.  An Asian influence also ran through the dimly lit room.  There was a selection of magazines; however, Hour Detroit was not included in the collection even though the magazine had named the Woodhouse best spa.  My technician found me wandering the halls – quite embarrassing as she was supposed to fetch me from the Quiet Room – as my inability to relax caused me to be the ridiculous person who wanders after what seemed like too long. 

The entire experience was wonderful, including fetching my car from the complimentary valet at the structure with a car lift next door.  A week after my visit I received a Thank You card with an offer of 10% off my next visit for me and a guest.  I am about to book my next visit.   

While thousands of Michiganders are celebrating wedding anniversaries today, someone - or something else — is celebrating its own anniversary this Valentine’s Day: Metroblogging San Jose. Happy first birthday, San Jose! We in Detroit wish you another year of growth and success!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Detroit! We at Metroblogging Detroit hope you have a fabulous, fun- and love-filled day.

My husband and I are going, for the first time, to the Whitney for dinner this evening. I cannot wait and will give a full report on the experience and the food in a few days. What are your special Valentine’s plans?

Detroit is number #1 - thanks to Forbes - topping the Most Miserable City chart.

Misery Index = unemployment rate + inflation rate
Misery Score = corporate + personal + employer + sales taxes

“But aren’t there other things that cause Americans misery? Of course. So we decided to expand on the Misery Index and the Misery Score to create our very own Forbes Misery Measure. We’re sticking with unemployment and personal tax rates, but we are adding four more factors that can make people miserable: commute times, weather, crime and that toxic waste dump in your backyard.”

The Forbes Misery Measure is unscientific and biased. Did Forbes take into account the commuters who are commuting to their dream jobs? Did they take into account those who love experiencing the four seasons in all their glory? Did they take into account violent vs. non-violent crimes?

“Misery is defined as a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress.”

I am rather happy and wasn’t emotionally distressed until I read this article. Forbes, if you need story ideas we have plenty of positive and scientifically sound ideas for you. We don’t need to be number one on any of your lists, but we do want to be judged fairly.

Happy MLK day from all of us at Metroblogging Detroit! The Free Press has put together a compilation of MLK events around Metro Detroit today, such as the fifth annual Martin Luther King Day Rally and March, scheduled at noon, at Central United Methodist Church, and Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ ninth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which lasts from 5 to 8 p.m. Click here for more.

My office is back at full staff, after operating with a skeleton crew for most of the past few weeks. Today we all welcomed each other back, discussed our holiday breaks, and began a rousing debate over a holiday card that many a city resident received in the mail - from Kwame Kilpatrick. Some said the card was beautiful, and a welcome personal touch from the mayor. Some thought that it was an empty attempt at putting on a happy face, or a waste of city money. Then, of course, there were those who said a couple things that weren’t very MetroBlogging-friendly…

So, Detroiters, did you get “the card”? What did you think of it?