Tonight there is a small Poetry Slam going down at 1515 Broadway, 6:00p.m. It’s not an open mic but rather a performance by a group called the Citywide Poets, high school students from around the D. They’ll be having a book and CD release as well as a small performance. Some of these kids have been in the National Youth Poetry Slam in New York and/or San Francisco, but they’ll all blow you away.

$5.00 at the door, everything goes towards helping the program.

On Tuesday after work, I was given the wonderful opportunity of attending The Ferchill Group‘s Book-Cadillac Hotel Preview Event at the Detroit Athletic Club.

I truly wish that anyone with a love or passion for the city and its revitalization efforts could have been there to experience the positive, pro-Detroit environment that spread throughout the room as John Ferchill – President and CEO of The Ferchill Group, the development company behind the new Book-Cadillac – announced that his company had closed on the deal, and that the redevelopment of the historic building would, indeed, become a reality.

It truly was a memorable moment for the city of Detroit.

Stay tuned for updates about the project’s future progress. Construction on the 455-room hotel with 67 luxury condominiums on the top eight floors is set to begin immediately.

aes-thet-ic

The Fi_nite Gallery
100 Plum Street & Brooklyn Ave (by old Tiger Stadium)
Corktown

11pm until….

Subliminal guidance and rare music production previews by Omar S (FXHE Recordings) and Keith Worthy (100% Pure, Still Music) and special guests.

Please bear with Metblog Detroit over the next few weeks. Many of us are traveling overseas without regular internet access. As a result, fewer authors will be posting during this time.

Heck, I will be one of those MIA authors as I leave for France this evening. “See you all in two weeks!”

The view from the Kales building was halfway decent. If I weren’t looking for a house right now I’d probably move downtown somewhere. I’ve heard good and not-so-good things about various places, but on the whole the life that beats in the downtown area would make it worth it.

Alas, I’m not that young anymore ;)

Hosted by one of Detroits top DJ’s, Green Skyy, Linen Party is the craze of the summer. Make your way out to Rosa Parks and Warren and get your swerve on to old sounds made new. Treat your mind, body and soul this July 15th. You owe it to yourself to get out and check this out!

After a trip to Flint yesterday morning for work, my day was largely consumed by finding a viewing location for the fireworks downtown. I watched from the Book Tower last year, but decided to stay on the ground with the crowds this year. I settled on a hill on the east riverfront, in what is now Tricentennial State Park. The location offered unobstructed views of the river, and the fireworks.

Unfortunately soon after the fireworks started, I realized that the smoke from the fireworks was covering up about half of the display, as it drifted right towards me and my friends. I hadn’t even thought of the wind being a factor when I chose the spot. Oh well, it was still a great experience…it’s just that I didn’t get any good photos this year. There’s always next year….

Leaving the fireworks was something else! It took about an hour and a half to get from my viewing location near Orleans and Atwater to my house about 4 miles away. Next year, I think I’ll find a less populated spot for the show….

Spotted – near the I-75 service drive and Madison Avenue:

I am watching the Freedom Fest fireworks from the comfort of my apartment this year. The view is nice with the fireworks framing the RenCen and my seat is very comfortable.

No photos from me tonight but I am sure photos will surface tomorrow from some of our favorite photogs…. UT, I am looking in your direction.

10:29 add on… i really like the saturn shaped fireworks. A few minutes agao the fireworks got really high and you could hear the kids squeal with excitement. There is a large crowd down on the parking/pool deck.

10:35pm… All done.. what a terrific finale – the windows of my apartment were rattling a bit. And then to hear the neighbors all cheering below. A very enjoyable experience..

So what was your favorite part?

Got plans this weekend? Don’t forget to include a visit to the Comerica TasteFest at the New Center beginning this Friday.

This is a five day celebration of music, food and shops and is the New Center Council Inc’s vison of an ideal city. This year TasteFest includes more than 40 restaurants from across metro Detroit, nearly 60 musical acts on four stages and 24 retailers in an area called 2nd Avenue Street Market.

Debuting are the Asian Village, Centaur Bar, Clubhouse Tavern, Grand City Grille, La Pita Fresh, Lola’s, Louie’s Buscemi’s, Louisiana Creole Gumbo, Sticky Fingers and Sweet Lorraine’s.

The New Center Council Inc. uses the TasteFest proceeds to support retail improvment along Woodward Ave. Since the 1990’s over 130 million has been invested in the New Center neighborhood.

So forget about that diet this weekend and I’ll see you there!
http://www.myspace.com/comericatastefestnewcenterdetroit