Dally in the Alley

Every year around this time, north Cass Street plays host to the annual “Dally in the Alley,” a one-day street fair in Detroit celebrating music and art in the city. The Saturday after Labor Day, September 11, from noon to 11 p.m., local artists and musical groups will take the stage to showcase their talents near one of our city’s most historic neighborhoods.

Sponsored by the North Cass Community Union (NCCU), the event’s goal is to bring together Detroit’s eclectic artists and raise funds to preserve and restore the neighborhoods around the Dally. You can read more about the NCCU’s history and goals here.

The day’s musical lineup includes a plethora of local bands and talent, with four stages to choose from to find the perfect music that fits your mood. Notable bands include the Red Iron Orchestra, Kyle Hall, The Ruggs and Bright Echo.

Just off Wayne State University’s campus, the Dally has been welcoming guests to the Cass Corridor for more than 30 years, originating back in 1977 as a neighborhood art fair and growing to the major metro event it is today.

This year, event organizers are working to make it a more “green” event, focusing on recyclable products and offerings for food and beverages, working with Recycle Here to fulfill their goal.

There’s not a much better way to spend your Saturday than in the D, enjoying some of the best music and art the city has to offer. Fall in the city, we could get used to this.

Eminem returns home, and brings a friend

One of the beautiful things about an outdoor concert is how the sound carries, providing those without tickets outside the venue at least a partial “glimpse” of the show. We imagine plenty of people unable to secure tickets for the sold-out “Home and Home” concert series featuring Michigan native Eminem and Brooklyn son Jay-Z will be lining up outside Comerica Park to hear both artists as they perform. And with the Lofts of Merchants Row a mere 3 blocks from the Park, our residents are within walking distance and earshot from this summer’s biggest concert in the city.

(Sidenote – the home and home designation is a baseball term referencing when two teams play each other, each team hosts the same amount of games over the series.)

Tickets for the show, which went on sale in early June, started at $65 for presale, but that didn’t prevent thousands from snapping up the right to see one of this town’s most memorable performers. The same goes for New Yorkers clamoring to fill the new Yankee Stadium to see the rap mogul headline in his hometown. In fact, tickets for the first show in each city sold so fast, the pair announced second shows for both Detroit and New York. The four concert dates are Thursday, September 2 and Friday, September 3 in Detroit; Monday, September 13 and Tuesday, September 14 in New York.

What makes this show so unique is that both artists are true headliners, each able to draw crowds of 30,000+ on their own, yet, are willing to take a backseat to the other out of respect. The shows, according to both artists, won’t be a competition, and should feature music from across their spectrum, not just new tunes. Although neither will discuss guest appearances or simultaneous performances, rumors swirl about the various collaborators who may touch down in Detroit and New York.

The injection of people downtown for these two shows will be another great boost for our city – economically and otherwise as thousands are sure to flood area restaurants, bars and clubs before and after the show.

So even if you don’t have a ticket, there will be plenty of activity downtown this week and weekend for those looking for some excitement. Stand near the walls of Comerica Park, enjoy the free music and take in the crowds and electricity of downtown Detroit.

Riverfront rocking on the Detroit Princess

This past weekend, passengers packed the Detroit Princess for an evening of music, sightseeing along the Detroit River and dining during the Motown Dinner Cruise. Featuring music by the Prolifics, the boat sailed the evening away to the Motown sounds of yesteryear as it cruised down the river amidst spectacular views of the Windsor and Detroit city skylines.

Beginning life as a riverboat casino in 1993 on the Mississippi River, the Princess has a had a fairly storied history over the course of its 17-year lifespan. Following its stint on the Mississippi, she returned home to Louisiana, where the boat was built, and functioned as a riverboat casino for several years before being stripped of all gambling equipment and sitting idle for three years.

The current operators purchased the boat in 2004 and renovated it for life as a dinner boat, its current function today. So while you may never be able to turn the ace of spades like Mel Gibson in Maverick on today’s Detroit Princess, there is an opportunity to ride and dine in style on one of the area’s newest attractions.

Be sure to check out the Princess’ schedule for September, with plenty of opportunity to explore more of the city from a lesser-seen angle. We know you won’t be disappointed.

Light rail poised to connect city and suburbs once and for all

In the last few weeks, there’s been an increase in discussion, and finally, approval for a light rail system along Woodward Avenue in Detroit, with the plans tentatively having service from downtown to 8 Mile Rd. Several factions, including M-1 Rail and DTOGS

(Detroit Transit Options for Growth Study) have brought forth plans, secured funding and expect construction to begin next year. If all goes as planned, the system would be fully operational by 2016.

The current blueprints, which serve the city of Detroit from downtown to 8 Mile, represent an incredible step forward for a community with a longstanding lack of expansive mass transit options.

Such a system could also help alleviate parking challenges often experienced by those traveling to the city from the suburbs. (Not a problem, by the way for Lofts at Merchants Row residents who enjoy a valet service parking garage). Our highway system has used a park-and-ride system for years, where commuters meet at a central location and carpool to their destination. Why not follow a similar format for light rail? The old fair grounds parking lot at 8 Mile and Woodward, for example, could serve a similar function, where those going downtown for sporting events, casinos or to dinner.

The project, funded privately for now, according to the Detroit News, hopes to attract government funding, with the federal government already pledging to conduct the necessary environmental impact study prior to breaking ground.

With the recent overwhelming passage of the SMART initiative in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, we know the metro area supports the idea of and need for public transportation. Hopefully with a light rail system in place in a few years, they’ll all come out and show that same support.

Beautifying Detroit, one neighborhood at a time.

This past Saturday was ARISE Detroit’s Fourth Annual “Neighborhoods Day,” bringing together local residents and organizations to help clean up Detroit communities. Volunteers worked from dawn to dusk building houses, playgrounds and giving the city a much needed “spit and polish”; demonstrating, in turn, a wonderful, powerful spirit of teamwork and cooperation.

ARISE stands for Activating Resources and Inspiring Services and Empowerment. The group’s mission is to launch a new wave of volunteerism for the many worthwhile programs and activities that are struggling with the issues that trouble our community – illiteracy, high school dropout rates, crime and youth violence, drug abuse

For “Neighborhood Day,” more than 100 initiatives, hundreds of community organizations and several thousand volunteers participated in the happening. Joining forces with ARISE were Habitat for Humanity, Motor City Blight Busters and the YMCA.

ARISE Detroit! Executive Director Luther Keith called the event a “wonderful tradition” that underscored that, despite tough times, people have not given up. Rather, he said in news reports: “People are committed to making this community better…everyday.”

Such positive events keep Detroit moving forward thanks to the collaboration of dedicated individuals and organizations that truly care about our city. It all starts with our neighborhoods and people taking pride in them; seting the tone and the foundation for Detroit at large.

Learn more about ARISE Detroit! here and how you can get involved.

What if the creative canvas is a cement wall?

A few weeks ago, we wrote about famed graffiti artist Banksy’s visit to Detroit and the  artwork he created while here. After his visit, some of the work was destroyed, removed, covered up or otherwise mutilated and no longer exists in its original form.

Now, one of the pieces believed to be a Banksy original is on eBay, with an opening bid of $75,000. Previous Banksy pieces have fetched as much as $400,000, once authenticity was confirmed.

The mural depicts a yellow canary in a cage, seemingly to shadow the coal miner’s canaries of yesteryear, which men would bring with them into the mine shafts where they worked as an indication or air quality. If the bird died, it meant time for the miners to evacuate. Canaries are notoriously sensitive to methane and carbon monoxide gases, offering a cruel but purposeful measure of air quality while underground.

The fact that art is for sale is nothing new, especially in a community as eclectic as metro Detroit. Yet, in this case, here is the conundrum: Banksy created the art. His art is always intended for the “people.” Yet, in this case, his “canvas” was private property and the wall of the old Packard Plant in Detroit. Who, then, owns the artwork and, further, should they be allowed to sell it?

From a straight legal perspective, these questions would are fairly easy to answer. Whoever owns the old Packard Plant(s) where the artwork was found is the clear owner. And, to underscore that fact, they have already removed the 1800-pound, 8 foot by 4 foot section of the wall for online marketing and sale.

From an aesthetic and artistic standpoint, however, it is unfortunate as Banksy’s artistry works best in the environments in which he creates them.

If you’re interested in the auction, there have been no bids on it yet, but can be found here. Someone will buy it (we’ll just have to wait to see who), and if the new owner ultimately chooses to display it in a way that parallels the artist’s original intentions and vision.

Pro basketball back in Detroit?

With the Red Wings and Tigers both plying their trade in the city of Detroit for nearly and over a century, respectively, and the Lions returning downtown in 2002, could it be only a matter of time before the Pistons also migrate to within Motown’s city limits?

Though it’s nowhere near official, and just speculation at this point, Wings and Tigers owner Mike Ilitch has now confirmed his desire to buy the successful NBA franchise and move it downtown.

Forever a supporter of Detroit, Ilitch summed up his wish to buy the Pistons in media reports, saying, “When I read in the paper there was a chance that this great sports town could lose one of its professional sports franchises, I just didn’t see how we could let that happen.”

Imagine the economic potential this has for Detroit, as well as the emotional lift it could provide for our city’s residents.

First, a new stadium would need to be built, one large enough to house the Wings and the Pistons, downtown. This would entail hundreds, if not thousands of jobs during the planning, demolition and construction phases, depending on where the site is located.

Second, increasing foot traffic in the city, before and after games, would lead to increased revenue and a greater familiarity with the city for metro Detroiters. It would mean that 41 times a season, from October to April, an additional 20,000+ residents of southeast Michigan and beyond would flood the city for basketball games. Many would head down before to get dinner, or stay late and patronize the bars in the surrounding area where the stadium is built.

And, factor in added tax revenues – from ticket sales, concession stands and the taxable value of the stadium itself – and the City of Detroit would reap incredible benefits now and for years to come.

Again, even though it’s all speculation, Ilitch’s history typically goes as follows: He sees something he wants, makes it publicly known he wants it, then gets what he wants. So we don’t know whether it will or won’t happen, but there’s reason to believe it’s a likely scenario. What we do know, though, is that he has the support of the general managers of the teams he already owns, and the city shouldn’t be too far behind them.

You decide our future, with your vote

This week, like many Michiganders, we cast our votes in our state’s primary election to decide who our next leaders will be. Whether or not you voted for the winners in either party, one thing is certain – your participation in the voting process is the only way to keep our state and the city of Detroit moving forward.

The Governor's Mansion in Lansing

We’re not trying to get political (though the Lofts of Merchant’s Row office was buzzing with debate) nor suggest who you should or shouldn’t vote for in November or what issues you should focus on. Rather, it’s important to step back and consider that If you’re unhappy with what’s happening in our state, your vote expresses your desire to affect positive change.

A full rundown of the voting outcomes in southeast Michigan can be found here, including the SMART Bus route initiative that passed overwhelmingly, ensuring public transportation remains a reliable resource for those to get to and from work and school in throughout Metro Detroit.

Many other community initiatives, including new and extended millages, helped secure funding for local libraries, schools, municipalities and emergency personnel including law enforcement.

If you’re not sure of your polling location for the general election later this Fall,  Michigan’s Secretary of State has a great application where, using your birth date and drivers’ license number, all information about where and how to vote can be found. You can even look at a sample ballot, election dates and other important voter information.

There are still another two months to register to vote, if you aren’t already, for the November election. We invite you to join us in getting involved, making your voice heard by helping to set the direction of this state on Tuesday, November 2.

A golfer’s vacation in the Detroit

For years, going “Up North” has been the staple of Michigan summer vacations as metro Detroiters head northward along I-75 to getaway points such as Graying, Gaylord and Traverse City in search of sandy beaches and wide open golf courses. What many link enthusiasts may not know, however, is the abundance of outstanding golf courses within the city limits that offer the same competitive experience without the long drive.

Detroit, in fact, is home to seven public courses, ranging from par-3’s to full 18’s and virtually anything a golfer could want on an afternoon or weekend in the city. Courses located in Detroit are the Detroit Golf Club North and South, Rouge Park, Rogell, Belle Isle, Chandler Park and Palmer Park.

Each course offers a unique blend of serenity within the city; a slice of preserved forest and pristine grass just minutes from all Detroit has to offer. What better way to kill some time than hitting the links before an afternoon or evening Tigers game? Or maybe cheer yourself up, depending on your golf game, after the Lions give it another try each Sunday in the fall. As long as the snow holds off, the courses stay open.

And if you’re looking for a deal, (and who’s not?) do a little research and plan your own stay-cation right here in Detroit. Everyone knows about websites like Hotwire and Priceline to find cheap deals on hotels and travel, but check into GolfNow, which provides the same services for golf courses. Tee times at reduced rates often can be booked days or weeks in advance for a spur of the moment weekend getaway downtown. A few minutes online can net you great savings on a full weekend or weekday break from the daily grind.

Golfers, your paradise awaits, as Michigan’s largest city continues to offer something for everyone, no matter your recreational preference.

Preserving a field of dreams

After Comerica Park opened in 2000, there were scores of ideas for what the old Tiger Stadium in Corktown should become – repurpose it for amateur baseball, make it a city park, tear it down for scrap materials (which was its eventual fate) and many more. Efforts to save the bleachers and stadium failed, and last year, the remaining shell was demolished. The field’s playing surface, however, still remains, and over the law few months, neighbors have been working to preserve it.

Just this week, while listening to 89X in the Lofts of Merchants Row office, we heard reports of another group of individuals living in the area who are stepping up to care for the field. They have been fertilizing, picking weeds and cutting the grass and then doing what the field was intended for: playing pick-up baseball where their Detroit baseball heroes of yesteryear once roamed.  Tales from the diamond at Michigan and Trumbull are that police have informed the amateur landscapers they are trespassing on private property, but take no action.

In our eyes, the community is gathering to do the right thing – turn an eyesore of dirt and weeds into something that attempts to preserve history, tradition and a sense of pride.  Neighboring residents are taking something abandoned and adopting it once again as their own. To be sure, the ties that bind are as much physical as emotional.

Kudos to the group or groups taking time out of their schedules to keep this landmark alive.  While locals have been leading the effort, the crew of the HBO series, “Hung,” based and filmed in metro Detroit, also recently lent a hand in cleanup efforts.

What it all comes down to is that though now just an impromptu field, without lights or grandstands, it’s still Tiger Stadium to us, and obviously to the neighbors who grew up with the ballpark in their backyard. We haven’t made the trip yet out there to see the impromptu Sunday games, but we are sure the experience would be a special one – whether with bat and glove, lawnmower and rake or simply a blanket on which to sit and remember.