The heART of Detroit

If you haven't visited the Detroit Institute of Art, plan a special trip. Right now. If you love beautiful, moving paintings, carefully sculpted sculptures and world modern/historical art, plan a special trip. Right now. The first time I visited the DIA, I felt like an Irishman in a bar with 50 imported beers on tap. Needless to say my eyes were soaring like a hawk upon every piece of art the place held. It was a maze, but the kind you would want to get lost in. Every room you found yourself in was more interesting than the next. You almost feel like you’re in a different world. All you need to do is dress the part and a different world it will be. The DIA was actually founded in 1885, but called The Detroit Museum of Art, so it was not always as awesome as it is now. After many updates, the most recent being when it closed down from May 28^th to November 23^rd in 2007 for a very rigorous renovation that actually cost them a total of $158.2 million, it has come a very long way. You can only imagine what type of work could have been done with that much money. The only way to find out is to actually go check it out for yourself. Which I highly suggest you do immediately. New wings were built, square feet were added and different categories of art as well. It is said the DIA’s collection of art is among the top six in the United States with an art collection worth over one billion dollars. They possess art from all over the world, from African American art, European art, Asian art to Islamic art. They don’t just hold paintings and sculptures either, they hold anything from clothing to stained glass. From toys to rugs. From flags to furniture. They hold it all. Not only does the museum stand still and look pretty, but it hold events and exhibitions. Events are listed as Sunday family days with family yoga, dance performances, story-telling and even puppet performances all for the kids! For the grown ups they have a Sunday music bar where local bands play Jazz, pop and swing music. If you visit www.dia.org, you will find everything you are looking for. The entire website is constructed very thoroughly for anyone interested in finding certain art or artists the museum possesses. It also bares a calendar of events. Any day you decide to visit, just visit the website and look up the day, it will list all events and exhibitions held that day! They also have classes and workshops for anyone that is interested in becoming in artist or is just looking for a side hobby. The Detroit Institute of Art is located on 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. You can also call ahead to find out tour dates, if you would like to be guided and educated throughout the place. This is a must check out in the Motor City if you haven’t already. Tickets are only $8! I wouldn’t waste anymore time.  

Night Out in the Motor City

A few weeks ago my girlfriends and I decided to go to Detroit to see one of our favorite bands play, The Used. The Used concerts are cursing, punk rock, scream at the top of your lungs, crowd surfing and mosh pitting until you cannot mosh anymore type of concerts. So, in that case we decided to make a night of it in the city. Iffy about what to expect in a Detroit hotel, we decided to book a room at the Atheneum Suite Hotel on Brush Street right across from the Greektown Casino parking garage. As soon as we pulled up to the hotel, we thought fancy.

The excitement only heightened when we entered the actual building. Gleaming ahead of us were a pair of paintings portraying Gods of some sort, but whatever they were, they added an ambiance of royalty or a sort of classiness, if you will. Yes, we felt classy. 

We picked up our room keys then headed up to the 3 floor, which was surrounded by plant after plant with a balcony overlooking each floor below us. We pulled out the key, inserted it a few times until the red light turned green and beeped. As soon as we entered, we saw a sort of living room space, with 3 couches, a coffee table and flat screen TV. A hotel room with a living room? We didn't reach the height of our excitement until we saw the flight of stairs that led down to the bedroom which also wore a flat screen TV.

As you can see, we were pretty excited about it. Before we could enjoy any of the amenities, we had to fulfill the duty of every female and get ready for the concert. We decided to play the theme of the concert, bandanas, converse, spiked boots, ya know the works. Our first stop was the Old Shillelagh which was right down the street from the hotel. The Old Shillelagh is the oldest Irish pub in Detroit and definitely the most popular. It was opened in 1975 by John Brady, who was a retired Cop born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. For this and many other reasons it became a hot spot in Detroit with its classic Irish feel and 20 beers on tap. This is known as the place to be on St. Patty's Day if you want to green elbow to green elbow with Irish and Non-Irish drinkers screaming with pride and obnoxious cheer. I decided an authentic Irish beer was the perfect beer to have in such an authentic Irish Pub, so I chose a Harp.

 We ate, drank and enjoyed the company of the friendly staff until it was time to finally leave for the concert. The concert was at the Fillmore. Oh, the Fillmore and the many memories I've had with you. The Fillmore is right smack dab in the middle of it all. Across from Comerica Park and right next to the Fox. Such a small place, but such a good one. Nothing like The Palace or The Joe or DTE and its just the way I like it. Small and graced with the presence of many, many bands that are talented, yet underrated. Many bands who have traveled around the world to satisfy and entertain their true die hard fans. Bands who encourage the crowd to partake in the music rather than just watch. The Fillmore is one of my favorite venues and I will cherish every memory I've created there.

What's Fowling?

When people first hear the word "Fowling", 9 out of 10 times their initial reaction is, "What the hell is fowling?" I was one of those 9. Let me start off by saying that I despise bowling. Its never been an activity of choice for me. It's kind of a like "What else is there to do?" last resort type of thing for me. No, I do not dislike it because I'm a sore loser, I scored a turkey the last time I played and ended up winning the game. I still didn't like it. Sitting around waiting for your turn to roll a heavy ball down a shiny path is just as much fun to me as sitting through a 3 hour history lecture. Okay, maybe not that boring, but you catch my drift. Not to mention, the thought of slipping my feet into those hideous clown shoes that have been soiled by thousands of strangers sweaty feet puts a taste of cherry cough syrup in my mouth. Not pleasant. Now imagine bowling without the heavy ball, without the smelly clown shoes. Imagine bowling with an ::drum roll please:: old fashioned pig skin! Imagine throwing a football with all your force across a former warehouse at a set up of pins. As soon as I walked into the warehouse, it was like love at first site. The excitement, the use of athleticism and the challenge this game requires and creates are what draw me to it the most. It takes precision and accuracy and a true love for the game. It has become a weekly activity in my life and not to toot my own horn or anything, but I'm kind of a rock star at this game. Here is a video of the last time I fowled. Sorry for the blur:

Yeah, thats me (dusts shoulders off). If you're interested in playing, visit this site http://whatsfowling.com/blog1/ and check out the location and calendar to figure out how to get there and the best day of the week to go. Wednesday is the day my friends and I always go. Don't be discouraged by the location,  it's in a secluded, yet lit area surrounded by gates with a private parking lot. Its not the scariest of places, but pepper spray wouldn't be a horrible idea. Right before you walk up the stairs into the warehouse, you'll find a tent over a picnic table and a bon fire for smokers to hang out and shoot the shit. The owners like to make newcomers feel right at home. The masterminds (the owners) behind this game actually founded it by accident. Chris (the owner) and his friends were tailgating and they set up a bowling alley outdoors that didn't work out as they had planned. Luckily, someone was throwing a football around accidentally knocking some pins down and WALLAH! Fowling was thus born.  They explain it as a mixture between horse shoes, football and bowling. A match made in Detroit! 

Cheap Sliders and Cheap Beer? I'll Take it!

Hey guys! For my first blog I’d like to talk about the most recent place I checked out in a little secluded spot in good ol’ Detroit. So, if you like unique foods, cheap but good beer and Venison (I mean, we’re from Michigan), then this is definitely a spot you want to give a little attention to.  A couple of weeks ago on a Friday night, my boyfriend decided he wanted to take me out dancing. Yes, you read that correctly, his choice. So, he printed out a list of a few popular clubs downtown. On our drive down I decided to check out some reviews and Delux sounded like a pretty safe first attempt. We pulled up to the most non-seedy looking parking lot we could find and paid our dues. We then regretfully asked the closest person to us where Delux was, did you know there was now a fee for that too? Yeah, me neither. Then suddenly, 5 simple, night shattering words stopped me in my tracks, “Baby, go grab your I.D.” Shit. Never fails. I left my I.D in my car which was parked in front of my boyfriend’s house all the way back in Clinton Township. “You gotta be kidding me…” I wasn’t kidding him. “Did you remember to pee before you left the house sweetie?” I didn’t find that funny at the moment, but it puts a crease in my cheek when I think about it now.  If it was possible, at that moment I would’ve kicked myself, but luckily my boyfriend knows all types of people in all types of places. We decided to go visit one of his friends who had a loft a few minutes away from where we were. We checked out his place and the amazing view he had through his windows that almost completely replaced his walls. “Are you guys hungry? We should check out this little place called Green Dot Stables. 3 dollar beers and the best sliders I’ve ever had!” We didn’t even hesitate. We drove down to a little isolated area on West Lafayette and pulled up to a little green and orange colored restaurant, the exterior was nothing to brag about, but we weren’t there for scenery. We walked in to find the place completely dressed in a horse stable theme with a foosball table in the middle of the restaurant, what? It was a nice cozy place with a foosball table and 3-dollar drinks? So far I was impressed, but I had to check out these “amazing” sliders before I could make my final judgment. We sat down and marveled at the 20 different sliders we had to choose from. They had everything you could imagine or never imagine from Cuban sliders, Tempeh sliders, black bean sliders, fried chicken with maple syrup topping sliders to Venison Coney dog sliders. It doesn’t stop there, they have a mystery meat of the week which can range from reindeer to even duck, Le Poutine fries, the best cucumber appetizer I’ve ever had and a selection of other appetizers and desserts you won’t find anywhere else. With everything on the menu being a la carte (which is heaven for me because I love variety) and only $3 or under, you’re definitely given a lot of wiggle room on exactly what kind of meal you want to create. You are the King or Queen of your own meal masterpiece and I am not opposed to that deal. Now, all this is great but the taste is what truly matters. I ordered the Ham and swiss, the cheeseburger and the black bean. The Ham and swiss was perfection, the cheeseburger was good but nothing too special, and the black bean I won’t be having again (It’s a meatless burger, need I say more?). I should’ve ventured out a little more, but I took a bite out of my boyfriend’s Cuban and it was so good! Overall, I deem this place worthy of my taste buds. I will most definitely be back and I’m almost glad this isn’t a local place because I’d be there all the time. Just another reason for me to visit the Motor City!