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Archive for July, 2008

Jul 31 2008

Detroit Staycation: The Detroit Zoo

Published by waterprise2 under Detroit Zoo, Tiger Stadium Edit This

When was the last time you visited our Detroit Zoo? 
Did you know that the Zoo is celebrating its 80th Anniversary this weekend?

Precursors to the Detroit Zoo included a circus at Michigan and Trumbull in 1883, across from what the site of Tiger Stadium. But it went broke, and the site was converted to a horse auction building. The Detroit Zoological Society began in 1911, working on acquiring land. Twice land was purchased, but was sold to commercial interests at a profit before a new zoo could be built. Finally in 1916, the Society purchases 125 acres of land along Ten Mile Road in Royal Oak just west of Woodward. Development of the land and purchasing of animals was financed by loans from Detroit Zoo Society members. The official opening of the present Detroit Zoo finally occurred on August 1 1928.

From its beginning the Detroit Zoo has been one of only a few zoos in the county with barrier-free animal exhibits. Today, our Detroit Zoo also has free-flight aviaries for the birds, and has maintained the architecturally significant buildings and exceptional grounds.

The mission of the Zoo is to have a healthy and enriching place for the animals, and educational as well as entertaining for the human visitors which number over one million every year. There are lots of activities for all ages at the Zoo going on this weekend for the 80th Anniversary celebration, as well as fun things to do all summer.

It is up to us to help keep the Detroit Zoo the excellent Detroit attraction that it has been for 80 years. This Tuesday, August 5, there is a 0.1-mill proposal on the ballot for Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. This is a 10-year millage request which would cost the average homeowner just $10.00/year. If can read this blog, you can definitely afford $10/year. Please support our Zoo by voting “Yes” on the millage this Tuesday, August 5th; and I’ll see you at the Zoo!

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Jul 30 2008

Theme Updates: Tags and Categories for All

Published by nick under Uncategorized Edit This

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Jul 30 2008

Night Brings Completion!

Published by VH under Uncategorized Edit This


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Jul 30 2008

Op-Ed: 12-Step Program for Detroit Step Four

Published by waterprise2 under ARISE Detroit, Detroit, Detroit Riverwalk, Luther Keith Edit This

Every Wednesday, there is an Op-Ed piece about Detroit, and I am working on a series about a “12-Step” Program for Detroit. Not about our city’s “leadership”, but about the regular people who live and work in Detroit. Detroit and Detroiters are more and better than the current crop of “leaders”; and it is up to us to help to make Detroit what it can and should be.

In the the first post of this series, I asked if Detroit needed “emergency surgery”. As the weeks have gone on, issues “up top” have actually gotten worse. So, each week we examine ourselves and how we can be the ones we have been waiting for.

Step Four involves taking a ” moral inventory of ourselves”…so this is a good time to take an inventory of Detroit, the City. What is right and good about the city? What has gone wrong? We can we do to fix what’s wrong and improve upon what’s right? Sometimes it’s good to step back, take a deep breath, take a walk on the Detroit Riverwalk, and just do a mental exercise.

Often people say: there’s so much to do, there are so many different groups doing different things, and I’m only one person, I just don’t know where to start!

One place to start is with a group that works to bring together all of the diverse organizations in Detroit: ARISE Detroit! ARISE is an acronym that stand for “Activating” “Resources” and “Inspiring” “Service” and “Empowerment”.

The goals of ARISE Detroit include helping citizens to become aware of the network of community organizations and services and getting people involved in making Detroit and its neighborhoods and communities to work better.
This Saturday, August 2 2008, is the annual Neighborhoods Day for ARISE Detroit; over 100 different activities will be taking place all day in every part of the City, including Highland Park, and even reaching out to Southfield and West Bloomfield.
Luther Keith, the Executive Director of ARISE Detroit, has a vision about Detroit that correlates with the purpose of the current Wednesday Series on this blog: that Detroit can be a city where children and families are safe, healthy, and strong; and that the City and everyone who lives and works here has a spirit of hope, gets involved in community service, and realizes that we are the true leaders in Detroit.
For a excellent way to take inventory of Detroit and to find organizations where you can be of assistance, attend the ARISE Detroit activities near you this Saturday. You will be sure to find a way to get involved. See you on Saturday; and I look forward to your comments here.
Shameless Plug: please read my husband’s blog The “D” Spot…
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Jul 29 2008

No Bike Licenses Needed in Detroit!

Published by waterprise2 under Detroit City Council, Detroit Police Department, bicycles Edit This

As I posted a few weeks ago, the Detroit Police Department was going to start enforcing a 45-year-old ordinance requiring pedestrian bikers to have licenses. The purpose, said Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings after a protest was scheduled, was to help retrieve stolen bikes.

However, at this time of economic tightness, many people thought that fining someone $55.00 because they didn’t have a $1 license was just a money grab by the Detroit Police Department.

Today, however, the Detroit City Council voted to repeal that unpopular and controversial ordinance. So cyclists in Detroit are safe from being ticketed by the police, but probably shouldn’t call them if their bike is stolen.

Shameless Plug: please read my husband’s blog…The “D” Spot…

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Jul 29 2008

I really, really love this bird.

Published by VH under Uncategorized Edit This


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Jul 29 2008

Shopping in Detroit: Zaccaro’s Market

Published by waterprise2 under Detroit Cultural Center, Midtown, Squidoo, Zaccaros, shopping Edit This

See my Squidoo version of this article here…

In many urban areas, it is difficult to find high quality grocery stores in the neighborhoods. In Detroit, however, there are several grocery stores that are filling that need. It is not necessary to go to the ‘burbs for the freshest food selections, although there are wonderful stores all over the Detroit Metroplex.

Located on Woodward in Midtown Detroit just north of Mack Avenue, Zaccaro’s Market, owned by Northpointe Food Ventures, brings to Detroit a new shopping venue for wholesome, locally produced

fresh food and deli items.

Zaccaro’s has several departments within its store, including bakery items, fresh seafood and meats, imported cheeses, and local and imported wines. There is a large selection of natural and organic foods as well.

The interior of Zaccaro’s reflects the historic building in which it is located, and the location right on Woodward makes the store accessible by both private and public transporation, as well as within walking distance of everyone in Midtown. There is a parking lot in the back of the store.

Catering is available, and as a part of its mission to be an integral part of the community, Zaccaro’s Market also has various events thoughout the year.

Yes, right here in Detroit, you can shop in a beautiful grocery store for the freshest food items and a full delicatessen!

Detroit’s Specialty Food Market and Cafe’
3100 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 832-3400 Fax (313) 832-3401
Open M-Th - 8-8 pm, Fr-Sa - 8-9 pm, Su - 10-5 pm

Shameless Plug, please read my husband’s blog: The “D” Spot…

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Jul 28 2008

After Noon

Published by VH under Uncategorized Edit This


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Jul 28 2008

Detroit Neighborhoods: Urban Living at its Best in Midtown

Published by waterprise2 under Charles H. Wright, Concerts, Detroit Cultural Center, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Max M. Fisher Music Center, Midtown Edit This

The Midtown Neighborhood in Detroit, which includes the University Cultural Center, boasts a rich history, and is a shining example of the exciting redevelopment efforts in the past several years. If you are looking for a disverse and walkable community that is both old and new, it would behoove you to think about locating to Midtown Detroit.

Midtown is a large area in, naturally, the middle of Detroit, bordered roughly by the John C Lodge Freeway on the west, the I-75 Freeway curving around on the south and east, and the I-94 Freeway on the north. Within the 2-square-mile radius of Midtown, there are two radio stations, three historic inns, eleven art galleries, thirty-five restaurants and internet cafes, six museums, nine theatres, a hardware store, a dry cleaners, grocery stores, specialty shops, and bookstores, a world-class medical center, a major university, and lofts, townhomes, and apartments.

In the early 20th century, the Midtown Area was centered around the automobile industry, and was filled with auto dealerships; especially on Cass Avenue.

Beginning in the late 1800s, many of the libraries and museums of Detroit were built in the area, ostensibly to be close to what was then the original Detroit Central High School (built in 1858 as the first public high school in Detroit and Michigan) and what became Wayne State University, Michigan’s only urban research university.

The Cultural Center is aptly named because of the concentration of many of the city’s museums and art galleries. The Main Detroit Public Library is located on Woodward, and is right across the street from the Detroit Institute of Arts. Also in the Cultural Center: the Detroit Historical Museum–which has the very popular “Old Detroit” exhibition, the Children’s Museum School, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, the Center for Creative Studies, the Friends of First Living Museum–featuring a live reactment of the Underground Railroad, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), and the Detroit Science Center. There are also over a dozen theater and performing arts venues and other educational institutions, including the Max M. Fisher Music Center–home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the IMAX Dome Theatre, and the Detroit School of the Arts.

Today, Midtown is exploding with both commercial and residential properties both for purchase and lease. Lofts rebuilt from historial commercial buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries, new condominum townhomes, updated carriage houses, and refurbished mansions in the Brush Park Historic District are all available.

 
For more information, visit the website of the University Cultural Center Association.
Shameless Plug: read my husband’s blog, The “D” Spot.

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Jul 27 2008

Sold Out! Jill Scott in Detroit at Chene Park

Published by waterprise2 under Chene Park, Detroit River, Jill Scott Edit This

We took a long walk around the park after dark…we found a place for Detroit jazz/fusion lovers to spark…

On Sunday July 27, Chene Park was packed and rockin’ for the Jill Scott Concert!

Just about every paid seat was filled; people were in their lawn chairs in the spacious and meticulously maintained green spaces, and lots of lucky boaters parked their watercraft on the Detroit River.

The night was perfect; the weather was perfect; the venue was perfect; Jill was perfect! Major props to North Philly!

Opening for Jill was an awesome musician named Bilal Sayeed Oliver–also from Philly–we could have listened to more of him.

You can get Jill Scott’s latest album, The Real Thing, here; and Bilal’s wonderful jazz/soul/fusion album, Soul Sista here.

Check out the remaining artists slated for Chene Park, and have some wonderful staycations right here in the “D”!

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