Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week it’s a little light on the art events as we welcome in the new year.

COMING UP:

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Friday, December 28th: Detroit Guerrillas Celebrate NYEx4

It’s New Year’s Eve Eve…Eve…Eve! Celebrate with your friends at the Detroit Guerrillas! Join them Friday night, December 28th, at 9:00pm sharp as they send 2007 the hell out of here at Enoteca in Campus Martius.

Enoteca is downtown Detroit’s newest (and only?) wine bar brought to you by the same folks behind the former Intermezzo and Taboo.

Only open two weeks, this space has marble floors, a marble bar and antique chandeliers. It’s designed to be an intimate space where people can meet (and maybe more) over a glass of wine and nibble on artisan cheeses, caviars and handmade chocolates. The wine list features more than 100 different labels, with servings available in several pour sizes.

So come out and have several drinks with the Guerrillas while appreciating a great view of the huge Christmas tree (and have a giggle at the ice skaters falling on their asses).

Enoteca is located on the ground floor of the First National Bank building at the southeast corner of Campus Martius. Parking is available on the street or try parking in the Compuware deck across the street. Hope to see you there!

Where: Enoteca, Detroit
When: 9:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.detroitguerrillas.com

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Friday, December 28th: Industry Reunion–Mange la Mode

The infamous nightclub and Detroit legend Industry is having a little reunion, and it’s bringing back all your old favorites! (Seriously, this was one of the coolest clubs in its day, and it put City Club to shame.) This event will be taking place at the former Industry Nightclub, where you will hear your favorite industrial and techno tracks spun by old faves Urban Kris and Mike Scroggs; and also at the adjacent Crofoot Ballroom, with DJ Tom, Dianna, Cristina and Charles English spinning the best of “homesick” and alternative. This event also features the Mange la Mode fashion show: for the first time in over 10 years, designer Benson will be displayed in a showcase of fashion, featuring a retrospective of his designs and presenting the U.S. premiere of the Swarovski Crystal collection! 50 models will be on-stage for the midnight fashion show in the Industry building with a coordinating lighting production by Eye Cue.

Remember how Detroit is called the birthplace of techno? This is part of the reason. Industry, welcome back. It’s been too long.

Where: At the former Industry Nightclub and the adjacent Crofoot Ballroom, Pontiac
When: 9:00PM
Tix: $15.00 in advance, $20.00 at the door
www.industrypontiac.com

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Friday, December 28th: Last Funk Night of the Year

Check out the CAID for the last Funk Night of 2007. The monthly deep funk celebration starts at midnight on the last Friday of every month with DJ R-O-Z
spinning FUNK, SOUL and rare 45’s all night long.

The second floor gallery will be open for a members-exclusive holiday party with food, drinks, movies and more. Membership with CAID is $20 per year for the Basic level and $45 for Premium. To purchase a membership online and learn more about the benefits of becoming a member with CAID go to: www.thecaid.org.

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: Midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $3.00 non-members, members free
www.thecaid.org

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Saturday, December 29th: Motor City Ska Fest

I’m still shocked over the continued existence of ska music. I’m not saying it’s bad, just…surprising. Perhaps that’s why I choose to include it here. This year’s Motor City Ska Fest includes: Mustard Plug * Gangster Fun * The Exceptions * Deals Gone Bad * Soapbox Paradox * Matt Wixson *.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: 6:30PM
Tix: $12.00-$14.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Monday, December 31st: New Year’s Eve Champagne Feast at Shiraz

Welcome the New Year with a Bang! Indulge in a decadent five-course dinner in the intimate dining room at Shiraz. We’ve partnered this most festive occasion with our annual Champagne Feast. Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon will offer an optional sparkling wine package showcasing stunning French Champagnes & fabulous international bubbles.

New Year’s Eve Dinner Menu

$65 per Person

Decadent Hors d’Oeuvres
Butter Poached Lobster with Ginger & Carrot
Sevruga Caviar on Buckwheat Blini with Crème Fraiche
Fried Oyster with Béarnaise & Root Vegetables
Oven-Dried Tomato on Corn Chip
~
Dueling Foie Gras
Seared Foie on Griddled Brioche with Mission Fig & Port Syrup
Foie Gras Torchon with Poached Pear & Sauternes
~
Big Eye Tuna Tartare
Cucumber, Tobiko, Wasabi Vinaigrette & Smoked Paprika Oil
~
Seared Diver Scallop
Brown Butter, Parsnip & Watercress
~
Roasted Veal Strip Loin
Butternut Risotto, Honey Truffle Beets & Haricots Verts
~
Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
Dipped in Bittersweet Chocolate

New Year’s Eve Champagne Package

$35 per person

Brundlmayer Sekt, Kamptal (Austria)
Canals Nadals Cava Brut “Cupada Brut Seleccio” (Spain)
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne “Demi-Sec” (France)
Henriot Brut Souverain Champagne, Côte des Blancs (France)
Jacquesson “Cuvée 730” Champagne, Vallée de la Marne (France)
Henri Billiot Brut Rosé Champagne, Montagne de Reims (France)

Where: Shiraz, Bingham Farms
When: 6:00PM-1:00AM (seatings at 6:00PM and 9:00PM)
Tix: $65.00-$100.00 per person (with or without champagne package) plus tax & gratuity
www.mattprenticeorg.com

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Monday, December 31st: Electric Six

Looking for an alternative to loud, crowed NYE celebrations full of overdressed people and cheap champagne? Sing it with me: “I wanna take you to the GAY BAR!” Okay, for clarification, the Majestic Theatre is NOT a gay bar. But check out Detroit’s favorite alternative to alternative band, Electric Six, and join in the singalong with gays and straights alike.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $25.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Monday, December 31st: Cabaret Style New Year’s Eve at the Rep

New Year’s Eve at the Rep is now in its thirtieth year. Nothing lasts that long unless there is a considerable amount of satisfaction. Folks come back year after year to enjoy their unusual, elegant, and friendly New Year’s Eve Party. Some come from out-of-town.

What is it about New Year’s Eve at the Rep? Intimacy is the key. You go lively but gently into the new year. The lobby and its 30 foot cocktail bar is small enough for camaraderie but large enough for comfort, small enough to give everyone a sense of privacy but large enough to meet new and interesting people. But most of all NYE at the Rep is sharing, the sharing of an intimate theatre experience.

What amazes most people is the Rep’s affordable price and this New Year’s Eve is no exception. The cost for unlimited champagne, hors d’oeuvres that are a meal unto themselves, performance, celebration and buffet supper is just $75.00 per person. The evening begins at 8:00 P.M. with Champagne and Appetizers followed at 9:00 P.M. with a performance of the Pulitzer Prize and Broadway Award winning play, Doubt — a fierce struggle between faith, doubt, and certainty. After the show comes conviviality, spirited conversation, dance music from our superb sound system, and the cast joins revelers for a grand celebration of the New Year.

The comes the climax of the evening…a buffet supper prepared under the direction of resident chef, Dee Andrus:

Appetizers

~Celery Root Soup with Assorted Crackers
~Fresh Fruit Platter
~Lebanese Chicken Tenders
~Crudites with Garlic Dip, Spinach Dip & Creamy Horseradish Dip

Entrée

~Chicken Picante Baked in Butter, Lemon & Mushroom Sauce
~Cavatappi Pasta
~Dry Sautéed Green Beans
~Marinated Vegetable Salad
~Rosemary Oregano Bread
~Sweet Pickled Beets & Mild Peppers

Dessert

~Sweet Potato Cake with Brown Sugar Icing

New Year’s Eve reservations are limited to the first 100 celebrants to make reservations. TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE.

Where: Detroit Repertory Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $75.00 in advance
www.detroitreptheatre.com

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Monday, December 31st: New Year’s Eve at the Hard Rock Cafe

Party like a rock star and ring in the new year with the Hard Rock Café. Featuring a debut set by Abbe & J…, DJ Buckwild (hip hop, top 40, ethnic), and DJ Jenna Brown (electronica, house). The celebration includes a four-hour open bar from 10:00PM-2:00AM, passed hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast at midnight, valet parking, and a bottle of premium liquor for groups of 10! Live broadcast of this celebration in Times Square! Presented by the newly-relaunched 313rd.com, your ultimate directory of over 10,000 places to eat and drink in over 150 cities across Southeastern Michigan. This is a 21+ event; the dress code is mature, trendy & chic. This event is almost sold out; get your tickets now!

Where: The Hard Rock Café, Detroit
When: 9:00PM-4:00AM
Tix: $100.00 all-inclusive; $20.00 admission after 2:00AM.
www.313rd.com

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Monday, December 31st: Cherry Poppin’ Daddies at the MGM Grand

As the sun sets on 2007, the heat rises in the Grand Ballroom of the all new MGM Grand Detroit. Join us as we swing in the New Year with the toe-tapping kick of the Swing Revival, Zoot-Suited Stars, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. Grab your baby and dance the night away while enjoying an open bar, strolling dinner and New Year’s toast on Monday December 31, 2007. Doors open at 9:00pm. This event is 21+.

Sample Menu:

 Prime Rib Carving Station
 Seafood Extravaganza featuring Alaskan King Crab and Maine Lobster
 Mediterranean Tapas Display
 Pasta Station
 “Death by Chocolate” Dessert Station
 New Year’s Eve Champagne Toast

Where: MGM Grand Ballroom, Detroit
When: 9:00PM
Tix: $200.00
www.mgmgranddetroit.com

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Monday, December 31st: NYE @ [Proof]

Are you tired of breaking the bank in a desperate attempt to ring the new year in year after year, only to be disappointed by mediocre food, uninteresting people, bad music, and watered-down drinks from the “open bar”? Are you tired of all the planning and preparation that never quite lives up to its own expectation? Do you hate the idea of paying $100.00 to get into a bar that is normally free, and STILL having to pay for booze on top of that, JUST BECAUSE it’s December 31st?

The people at [Proof] are too. Which is why there is NO COVER on NYE. And the drinks will be the same price (and potency) as always.

So you can pay your $100.00 to get into Cliff Bells and hear some jazz (otherwise known as $5.00 any other night) and STILL have to pay for drinks…you can pay $50.00+ just to get INSIDE all the clubs downtown…you can do that, if you think that means you will enjoy yourself more. Me and my crew? We’ll be at [Proof], ‘cuz free is how we roll.

Where: [Proof], Detroit
When: Whenever you feel like it
Tix: FREE FREE FREE

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week it’s a little light on the art events, but you can catch Wyandotte events, STAG at Russell Industrial Center, and check out the DIA on Saturday for a demonstration by Andy Malone!

COMING UP:

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Friday, December 21st: Holiday Bazaar and Trunk Show

Fused glass jewelry artist Kathleen Porter, metal work by Juanita Bitonti, weaving demonstration by Michael Daitch, original drawings by Leo Kuschel, one-of-a-kind handbags by Michele Kramp aka The Magic Bag Lady. All of these artists will be at Biddle Gallery, Friday, December 21, 6:00-9:00PM to demonstrate, draw, and discuss their work.

Where: Biddle Gallery, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-9:00PM
Tix: Free admission
http://www.biddlegallery.com/

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Friday, December 21st: Holiday Wine Dinner

Music Provided by Shelia Landis and Rick Mantle. Menu & Wine Selections:
~Taste of Michigan Salad
Field Greens, Toasted Walnuts, Bleu Cheese, Dried Cherries, Red Onion, Grape Tomato, Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette
Wine: Paul Zinck, Crémant d’Alsace – Alsace,France

~Chipotle/Sweet Potato Soup
With Sour Cream & Fresh Chive
Wine: Peirano Estate Vineyards, Viognier – Lodi, California

~Entrée Duo
“Positive Vibration” Poached Salmon
Parsley & Herb Tartar, Lemon Zest, Bed of Fresh Spinach Greens
Wine: Commanderie de la Bargemone Rosé – Provence, France
&
“Bounty Hunter” Roast Pork Tenderloin
Herbs de Provence, Black Pepper, Red Wine & Wild Mushroom Sauce, Wild Rice, Fresh Baked Bread
Wine: Valle dell a’Cate, Frappato – Sicilia, Italy

Dessert
~House Prepared Mince Tart
Wine: Chateau Montus “Brumaire” - Parcherenc du Vic Bilh, France

Where: Positive Vibrations Wine Bar, Lake Orion Twp.
When: 6:30PM-8:30PM
Tix: $75.00 per person/$140.00 per couple
www.positivevibrationwinebar.com

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Friday, December 21st: Zoos of Berlin, Child Bite

Zoos of Berlin brings thoughtful arrangements to post-rock instrumental music, without falling into the genre’s pitfalls of tedium or cool remoteness. Child Bite keep it catchy, fuzzy and angular, with vocals dripping desperation.

Where: The Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: 9:00PM
Tix: $6.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, December 21st-Saturday, December 22nd: Jazz Masters Club presents Jim Rotondi Quintet featuring Joe Locke

Jazz trumpetist Jim Rotondi is partnering up with vibraphonist and composer Joe Locke for this very special holiday installment of the Music Hall’s Jazz Café. I say “holiday” only because it is so close to the holiday, not because there is anything overtly holiday-themed about the performances. Please do not put words in my mouth as I would be loathe to disappoint.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 2 shows each night, 10:00PM & Midnight
Tix: $14.00, $9.00 in advance
www.ticketmaster.com

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Sunday, December 23rd: Holiday in the Sun IV

Café 1923 and Paris ’68 present Holiday in the Sun IV (and American Dream RIP), a Sunday Brunch Musique.

If I had more info, I would put it here, I swear.

Where: 2287 Holbrook Ave., Hamtramck
When: noon-4:00PM
Tix: Free (I think)

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Tuesday, December 25th: Christmas!

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s all been leading up to this…it’s Christmas! Enjoy your holidays and good luck with the family! From here on out there’s nothing to look forward to except warm weather 6 months from now…oh, and the end of this miserable year 2007. Enjoy!

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Friday, December 28th: Industry Reunion–Mange la Mode

The infamous nightclub and Detroit legend Industry is having a little reunion, and it’s bringing back all your old favorites! (Seriously, this was one of the coolest clubs in its day, and it put City Club to shame.) This event will be taking place at the former Industry Nightclub, where you will hear your favorite industrial and techno tracks spun by old faves Urban Kris and Mike Scroggs; and also at the adjacent Crofoot Ballroom, with DJ Tom, Dianna, Cristina and Charles English spinning the best of “homesick” and alternative. This event also features the Mange la Mode fashion show: for the first time in over 10 years, designer Benson will be displayed in a showcase of fashion, featuring a retrospective of his designs and presenting the U.S. premiere of the Swarovski Crystal collection! 50 models will be on-stage for the midnight fashion show in the Industry building with a coordinating lighting production by Eye Cue.

Remember how Detroit is called the birthplace of techno? This is part of the reason. Industry, welcome back. It’s been too long.

Where: At the former Industry Nightclub and the adjacent Crofoot Ballroom, Pontiac
When: 9:00PM
Tix: $15.00 in advance, $20.00 at the door
www.industrypontiac.com

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Saturday, December 29th: Motor City Ska Fest

I’m still shocked over the continued existence of ska music. I’m not saying it’s bad, just…surprising. Perhaps that’s why I choose to include it here. This year’s Motor City Ska Fest includes: Mustard Plug * Gangster Fun * The Exceptions * Deals Gone Bad * Soapbox Paradox * Matt Wixson *.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: 6:30PM
Tix: $12.00-$14.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week it’s a barrelful of monkeys, with monkey day at Biddle Friday, and Carl Oxley and the Pop Art Monkey machine all over Hamtramck on Saturday. There’s more from Design .99 to Studio 601, and 555 too. Do the math, count your monkeys, and check it out this weekend.

COMING UP:
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Thursday, December 13th-Sunday, December 16th: Home for the Holidays

Ring in the season with one of Detroit’s and the DSO’s favorite holiday traditions. This year come “Home for the Holidays” and enjoy a concert of carols, sing-alongs and a visit from Jolly Ole’ St. Nick. Bring your all your family and friends!

Where: The Max M. Fisher Music Center, Detroit
When: Showtimes vary
Tix: $22.50-$105.50
www.detroitsymphony.com

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Friday, December 14th: LocoGnosis Showcase

13 bands, 7 bucks. Can you say, ridiculous? Featuring: Pinkeye, The Oscillating Fan Club, The Looms, Duende!, Scotch Bonnet, The Basements, Brothers Cortez, RED CHINA vs. WILDCATTING, Kindle, Woodman, XD Wei, Old Hat

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $7.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Saturday, December 15th: Comcast ON DEMAND Filming with James and the Rainbros

Come be on TV! ‘Cuz that’s likely. James and The Rainbros With special guests: SIMPLY SICK, AngE Smiley, JGRAVES, Safer Than Sleep, Crashing Cairo, Self Reason, Broken Man, Awake and Lifeless and Silence On The Horizon.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: Doors at 5:00PM
Tix: $10.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Monday, December 17th: (the) giants of gender

This Youngstown-based trio performs improvised music on reeds, violin and percussion- with a fair amount of vibraphone. The sound is mostly spartan, but also occasionally play-full, as you would expect from the next generation of young improvisers.

Where: The Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Tuesday, December 18th: Holiday Baar Bazaar

Handmade items include ornaments, games, jewelry, plushies, bags and wallets, bath and body products, T shirts, wall art, ceramics, greeting cards, candles, blown glass, notebooks, bookmarks, clothing and scarves! There will also be vendors selling vintage bicycles, books, records, comic books, concert posters, CDs, nostalgic candy and vintage clothing! The Detroit Derby Girls will also be joining the festivities, selling merchandise!

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: N/A
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Tuesday, December 18th: Frode Gjerstad Trio plus Aram Shelton (solo)

Norwegian woodwind and trumpet player Frode Gjerstad was dropped on the international improvising scene by the late John Stevens. He has gone on to work with luminaries such as Evan Parker and Peter Brotzmann. The Frode Gjertad Trio is the core of his larger ensemble, The Circulasione Totale Orchestra, and features Øyvind Storesund on bass and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums, who recently performed at The Bohemian with The Thing. Bay Area transplant by of Chicago, Aram Shelton (woodwinds with Keefe Jackson’s Fast Citizens, Dragons 1976) kicks things off with a solo performance.

Where: The Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $5.00-$10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Thursday, December 20th: Third Thursday Happy Hour with Detroit Synergy

Join DSG for Happy Hour. Share a drink. Share a gift. Share a meal. Meet DSG at Motor City Brewing Works for drinks and great food and stop by next door at the Bureau of Urban Living for some last minute gift shopping. Their charity partner this month is the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Please consider bringing a few healthy non-perishable food items or a few dollars to share.

Where: Motor City Brewing Works, Detroit
When: 6:30PM-8:00PM
Tix: Free admission, but a donation is requested
www.detroitsynergy.org

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Thursday, December 20th: A Wine Dinner to Celebrate the Holidays

Positive Vibration Wine Bar Presents A Wine Dinner to celebrate the Holidays! Enjoy a 4 course gourmet dinner with your family and friends or make new ones!
Reservations required, seating is limited.

Where: Positive Vibration Wine Bar, Orion Twp.
When: 7:00PM-10:00PM
Tix: $75.00/$140.00 couple

—————————————————
Friday, December 21st: Zoos of Berlin, Child Bite

Zoos of Berlin brings thoughtful arrangements to post-rock instrumental music, without falling into the genre’s pitfalls of tedium or cool remoteness. Child Bite keep it catchy, fuzzy and angular, with vocals dripping desperation.

Where: The Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: 9:00PM
Tix: $6.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

————————————————–
Friday, December 21st-Saturday, December 22nd: Jazz Masters Club presents Jim Rotondi Quintet featuring Joe Locke

Jazz trumpetist Jim Rotondi is partnering up with vibraphonist and composer Joe Locke for this very special holiday installment of the Music Hall’s Jazz Café. I say “holiday” only because it is so close to the holiday, not because there is anything overtly holiday-themed about the performances. Please do not put words in my mouth as I would be loathe to disappoint.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 2 shows each night, 10:00PM & Midnight
Tix: $14.00, $9.00 in advance
www.ticketmaster.com

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. Check it out.

COMING UP:
————————————————–
Thursday, December 6th: Gallery Talk with Jonathan Flatley; “Art and Melancholia, or, Why Dwelling on Loss is Not Necessarily Depressing”

Jonathan Flatley is Assistant Professor of English at Wayne State University in Detroit. He was previously a faculty member at the University of Virginia, where he was director of the Modern Studies Program. He is author of Affective Mapping: Melancholia and the Politics of Modernism, co-editor of Pop Out: Queer Warhol and editor of the forthcoming Warhol in Moscow: Essays on Art and Mass Culture.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Thursday, December 6th: Detroit Film Theatre presents The Page Turner

(France—2006—directed by Denis Dercourt)
A young girl named Mélanie is a bundle of anxiety as she waits to audition for her entrance to a prestigious musical conservatory. Without revealing here what happens during her examination, the film next jumps forward through the years to show us the grown Mélanie (in a stunning performance by Déborah François) taking a job as a file clerk at a law firm, and not at all by chance. Mélanie’s full motives are gradually exposed by director Dercourt with the calm, icy precision of an Alfred Hitchcock, a feat which could only be achieved with such an astounding degree of control by a filmmaker of confidence, skill, restraint and remarkably sophisticated – if sardonic – wit. The Page Turner perfectly combines elements of mystery, melodrama and suspense into an elegant and visually intoxicating portrait of an obsession that knows no bounds. Cannes, Toronto and Telluride Film Festivals. (85 min.)

Where: The Detroit Film Theatre, inside the DIA, Detroit
When: 7:30PM
Tix: $7.50; members, students & seniors $5.00
www.dia.org/dft

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Thursday, December 6th: Spoiled Brat Party

Presented by DJ Donovan Tate and “guest-hosted” by models with Tony Aria Photography, Spoiled Brat Thursday is all about the ladies with no cover all night for ladies and a complimentary bottle for groups of 10 or more females. Also featuring DJ William Novah and Jared Sykes.

Where: The Dirty Martini, Novi
When: 9:00PM-2:00AM
Tix: Ladies free all night! Guys gotta pay, though.

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Friday, December 7th: Stay & Play Social Club Happy Hour at Boogie Fever

Single people, take heed—Stay & Play Social Club is hosting another happy hour. $10.00 gets you a bunch of drinks and, if you’re lucky, a bunch of phone numbers to go with them.

Where: Boogie Fever, Ferndale
When: 6:00PM-9:30PM
Tix: $10.00 (which includes 4 Miller Lite bottles or 4 Stoli Vodka Cocktails)
www.spscdetroit.com

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Friday, December 7th: German Wine Tasting with Live Motown Music

Rieslings and the Righteous Brothers? Why not.

Where: Silky’s Martini & Music Café, Dearborn
When: 6:00PM-9:00PM
Tix: $30.00

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Friday, December 7th-Sunday, December 16th: “Black Nativity”

The musical by Langston Hughes will be featured at the Bonstelle Theatre in December. “Black Nativity” is the retelling of the classic Nativity story with an entirely black cast, complete with traditional Christmas carols sung Gospel style.

Where: Bonstelle Theatre, Detroit
When: Fridays & Saturdays 8:00PM, Sundays 2:00PM
Tix: Regular $20.00, discount tickets $15.00
http://www.theatre.wayne.edu/bonstelle.php
www.myspace.com/bonstelletheatre

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Friday, December 7th: Music at MoCAD featuring Tony Conrad

Tony Conrad will perform live in collaboration with M.V. Carbon (formerly of Chicago’s Metalux) along with internationally acclaimed, Dearborn-based, ambient “space rock” minimalists, Windy & Carl, and Detroit/Ann Arbor-based, international compositional-noise-rock icons Wolf Eyes.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $16.00 ($23.00 weekend passes also available for both Tony Conrad events)
www.mocadetroit.org

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Friday, December 7th: EON

Or, Edge of Night. EON parties are held afterhours at Bittersweet Coffee House every First Friday of the month. The brainchild of Ed Gardiner (of InZero and Edgewise fame), EON is the place for Detroit nightprowlers to experience art and see performances by local musicians, fashion shows, burlesque and film. A little something for everyone with an appreciation for the edge.

Where: Bittersweet Coffee House, Detroit
When: Midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/eondetroit

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Saturday, December 8th: Tony Conrad Films and Discussion

Tony Conrad will screen and discuss a 2.5-hour retrospective program of his films. Tony Conrad is the quintessential cult figure; resident outsider; rebel angel; Tony Conrad’s got the kind of immaculate credibility that can’t be bought and can’t be sold – and how else, otherwise, could he have persevered? Rumbling under the cultural radar since the Kennedy Era, Conrad is at once first cause and last laugh, a covert operative who can stand as a primary influence over succeeding generations.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $9.00 ($23.00 weekend passes also available for both Tony Conrad events)
www.mocadetroit.org
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Saturday, December 8th: The Cetan Clawson Revolution

This is for really real a genuine, bonafide Detroit garage rock band. And what better place for a genuine, bonafide Detroit garage rock band to be seen in than the genuine, bonafide longtime-loved punk-inspired hole-in-the-wall Jacoby’s?

Where: Jacoby’s, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: Probably only a few bucks, but that info is N/A
www.myspace.com/cetanclawsonrevolution

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Monday, December 10th: Four “Carmens”

The popular Dance Film Series continues with the passion and drama from four classic “Carmens.”

Carmen
Company: Bolshoi Ballet with Maya Plisetskaya
Choreographer: Alberto Alonso

Carmen
Company: Ballet National de Marseille with Mikail Barishnikov
Choreographer: Roland Petit

Carmen
Company: Cullberg Ballet with Ana Laguna Choreographer: Mats Ek

Matthew Bourne’s The Car-Man,
This Carmen takes place in an auto repair shop.

Where: The Detroit Opera House Chrysler Theatre, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $10.00 (includes refreshments)
www.motopera.org

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Tuesday, December 11th: Champagne Tasting at Mon Jin Lau

Join Mon Jin Lau and Plum Market for our champagne tasting. Passed hors d’oeuvres. Champagnes included are Dom Perignon, Veuve Cliquot, Krug, Piere Joulet, Moet Chandon and many others.

Where: Mon Jin Lau, Troy
When: 7:00PM-9:00PM
Tix: $49.00 all-inclusive

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Wednesday, December 12th: FREE Pre-Christmas Wine Tasting & Wine Sale

Nectars Wine Bar invites you to an ABSOLUTELY FREE wine tasting and wine sale, where they will also be providing all wine connoisseurs with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and deals on fantastic wines that cannot be beat. Certified Sommelier Tara Easton will be featuring 20 wines for $20.00 and under, all of which having received 90 points or better in top wine magazines. All wines will be sold at only 10% above cost (13% if a credit card is used). Below is a list of wines being featured:

Sparkling
Taltarni Brut Tache, Moonambil, Australia NV
90 points-WA
Codorniu Pinot Noir Brut Cava, Penendes, Spain NV
90 points- TIW

White
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 2007
90 points-WE
Tramin Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige, Italy 2006
91 points-WA
Maculan Dindarello, Veneto, Italy 2006 (375ml)
90 points-WA
Tablas Creek Cotes de Tablas Blanc, Paso Robles, California 2005
90 points-WA
Hope Chardonnay, Hunter Valley, Australia 2005
91 points-WA
MacRostie Chardonnay, Carneros, California 2005
90 points-WE

Red
Clos De Los Siete, Mendoza, Argentina 2006
91 points-TIW
Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre(Baby Amarone)Veneto, Italy 2004
90 points-WA
Tablas Creek Cotes de Tablas Rouge, Paso Robles, California 2004
90 points-WA
Domaine De Nizas Coteaux du Languedoc Rouge, Languedoc, France 2002
92 points-WE
Hope “The Ripper” Shiraz, Western Australia 2004
90 points-WE
Shingleback Shiraz, Mclaren Vale, Australia 2004
91 points-WS
3 Rings Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia 2004
91 points-WS/ 96 points-WA
Santa Rita Madalla Real Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile 2003
90 points-WA
Santa Rita Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile 2005
91 points-WE
Cono Sur 20 Barrels Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile 2005
92 points-WSW
Taltarni “Three Monks” Cabernet-Merlot Blend, Moonambil, Australia 2004
90 points-WE
Warres Otima Tawny Porto 10 Year, Portugal NV
90 points-WS

Space is limited and the bar is small, so get there early to enjoy great wine at great savings!

Where: Nectars Wine Bar, Orchard Lake
When: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Tix: Free admission

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Wednesday, December 12th: Dave Koz and Friends

Catch the Dave Koz and friends 10th Anniversary Smooth Jazz Christmas Tour as it hits the Motor City. With special guests Jonathan Butler, Wayman Tisdale, and Kimberly Locke. Yes, from American Idol.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $35.00-$45.00
www.ticketmaster.com

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Thursday, December 13th: Home for the Holidays

Ring in the season with one of Detroit’s and the DSO’s favorite holiday traditions. This year come “Home for the Holidays” and enjoy a concert of carols, sing-alongs and a visit from Jolly Ole’ St. Nick. Bring your all your family and friends!

Where: The Max M. Fisher Music Center, Detroit
When: Showtimes vary
Tix: $22.50-$105.50
www.detroitsymphony.com

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Thursday, December 13th: An Evening with Friends Holiday Wine Tasting

The holidays are just around the corner and “An Evening With Friends” invites you to their annual holiday tasting featuring wonderful wines from around the world.
The host is the hip new Garden Court Condominiums located in downtown Detroit.

Where: Garden Court Condominiums, Detroit
When: 6:30PM-10:00PM
Tix: $20.00 in advance, $25.00 at the door
www.aneveningwithfriends.com

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Saturday, December 15th: Comcast ON DEMAND Filming with James and the Rainbros

Come be on TV! ‘Cuz that’s likely. James and The Rainbros With special guests: SIMPLY SICK, AngE Smiley, JGRAVES, Safer Than Sleep, Crashing Cairo, Self Reason, Broken Man, Awake and Lifeless and Silence On The Horizon.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: Doors at 5:00PM
Tix: $10.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Thursday, December 20th: Third Thursday Happy Hour with Detroit Synergy

Join DSG for Happy Hour. Share a drink. Share a gift. Share a meal. Meet DSG at Motor City Brewing Works for drinks and great food and stop by next door at the Bureau of Urban Living for some last minute gift shopping. Their charity partner this month is the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Please consider bringing a few healthy non-perishable food items or a few dollars to share.

Where: Motor City Brewing Works, Detroit
When: 6:30PM-8:00PM
Tix: Free admission, but a donation is requested
www.detroitsynergy.org

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Thursday, December 20th: A Wine Dinner to Celebrate the Holidays

Positive Vibration Wine Bar Presents A Wine Dinner to celebrate the Holidays! Enjoy a 4 course gourmet dinner with your family and friends or make new ones!
Reservations required, seating is limited.

Where: Positive Vibration Wine Bar, Orion Twp.
When: 7:00PM-10:00PM
Tix: $75.00/$140.00 couple

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Friday, December 21st-Saturday, December 22nd: Jazz Masters Club presents Jim Rotondi Quintet featuring Joe Locke

Jazz trumpetist Jim Rotondi is partnering up with vibraphonist and composer Joe Locke for this very special holiday installment of the Music Hall’s Jazz Café. I say “holiday” only because it is so close to the holiday, not because there is anything overtly holiday-themed about the performances. Please do not put words in my mouth as I would be loathe to disappoint.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 2 shows each night, 10:00PM & Midnight
Tix: $14.00, $9.00 in advance
www.ticketmaster.com

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Monday, December 31st: Electric Six

Looking for an alternative to loud, crowed NYE celebrations full of overdressed people and cheap champagne? Sing it with me: “I wanna take you to the GAY BAR!” Okay, for clarification, the Majestic Theatre is NOT a gay bar. But check out Detroit’s favorite alternative to alternative band, Electric Six, and join in the singalong with gays and straights alike.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $25.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Monday, December 31st: Cabaret Style New Year’s Eve at the Rep

New Year’s Eve at the Rep is now in its thirtieth year. Nothing lasts that long unless there is a considerable amount of satisfaction. Folks come back year after year to enjoy their unusual, elegant, and friendly New Year’s Eve Party. Some come from out-of-town.

What is it about New Year’s Eve at the Rep? Intimacy is the key. You go lively but gently into the new year. The lobby and its 30 foot cocktail bar is small enough for camaraderie but large enough for comfort, small enough to give everyone a sense of privacy but large enough to meet new and interesting people. But most of all NYE at the Rep is sharing, the sharing of an intimate theatre experience.

What amazes most people is the Rep’s affordable price and this New Year’s Eve is no exception. The cost for unlimited champagne, hors d’oeuvres that are a meal unto themselves, performance, celebration and buffet supper is just $75.00 per person. The evening begins at 8:00 P.M. with Champagne and Appetizers followed at 9:00 P.M. with a performance of the Pulitzer Prize and Broadway Award winning play, Doubt — a fierce struggle between faith, doubt, and certainty. After the show comes conviviality, spirited conversation, dance music from our superb sound system, and the cast joins revelers for a grand celebration of the New Year.

The comes the climax of the evening…a buffet supper prepared under the direction of resident chef, Dee Andrus:

Appetizers

~Celery Root Soup with Assorted Crackers
~Fresh Fruit Platter
~Lebanese Chicken Tenders
~Crudites with Garlic Dip, Spinach Dip & Creamy Horseradish Dip

Entrée

~Chicken Picante Baked in Butter, Lemon & Mushroom Sauce
~Cavatappi Pasta
~Dry Sautéed Green Beans
~Marinated Vegetable Salad
~Rosemary Oregano Bread
~Sweet Pickled Beets & Mild Peppers

Dessert

~Sweet Potato Cake with Brown Sugar Icing

New Year’s Eve reservations are limited to the first 100 celebrants to make reservations. TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE.

Where: Detroit Repertory Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $75.00 in advance
www.detroitreptheatre.com

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Saturday, January 19th-Sunday, January 20th: African Footprint

African Footprint, South Africa’s longest-running show, brings its vibrant, high-energy act that has wowed audiences and critics around the world to the Detroit Opera House over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, January 19-20, 2008 as part of the first African Footprint U.S. tour. African Footprint narrates the history of South Africa through a breathtaking blend of Afro- and Euro-centric music and dance, communicating the show’s positive messages of tolerance, pride, self-discovery and empowerment.

“African Footprint is unlike any dance production we have ever had at the Detroit Opera House, and we are delighted to host such a unique and culturally enriching show,” says Detroit Opera House General Director Dr. David DiChiera.

Having performed for over 250 million viewers in over 3,500 shows throughout Europe, Australia, China, Israel and India, African Footprint makes the Detroit Opera House one of its first stops on its maiden U.S. tour. With a young company of over 30 members, African Footprint has received wide acclaim all over the globe, prompting critics to dub African Footprint “The Riverdance of South Africa.” The 90-minute dance and song spectacle melds hypnotic heartbeats of the African drum with the soulful saxophone and the haunting pennywhistle, creating an exhilarating series of numbers that features a myriad of traditional and contemporary dances: the Kwela-jive, traditional gumboot, tap, contemporary ballet and hip-hop pantsula.

African Footprint’s vibrant and moving music and dance are structured around the poetry of Don Mattera, South Africa’s foremost poet, and a leader in the movement against apartheid in South Africa. The groundbreaking show is choreographed by in-demand choreographer David Matamela with music by South African musician and composer Dave Pollecutt.

African Footprint got its start from the vision of South African performer and producer Richard Loring, when in 1998, Loring started a school for disadvantaged South African youth interested in performance. Soon after, on New Year’s Eve 1999, Loring’s troupe was invited to perform from the prison cell where Nelson Mandela had been held at Robben Island for a special CNN Millennial Festivities broadcast. The performance, broadcast around the world, became the launching pad for African Footprint. Since its splashy conception, African Footprint has played for seven years in South Africa, 2 ½ years in Europe, and numerous engagements throughout Australia, China, Israel and India. The company has been invited to perform before such luminaries as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, HRH Prince Charles and Nelson Mandela.

Where: Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 4:00PM
Tix: $15.00-$75.00
www.motopera.org

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Saturday, February 18th: B.B. King

Blues legend, B.B. King, will return to the fabulous Fox Theatre for an extraordinary evening of music.

For more than half a century, the “King of the Blues” and his guitar “Lucille” have thrilled audiences with countless hits. His innovative style has influenced generations of blues and rock guitarists, and helped give the blues its special place in the American musical tradition. Classic tunes, including “Payin’ The Cost To Be The Boss,” “The Thrill Is Gone,” “How Blue Can You Get,” “Everyday I Have The Blues” and “Why I Sing The Blues” have made B.B. King a living legend.

Where: The Fox Theatre, Detroit
When: 7:30PM
Tix: $32.50-$65.00

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ONGOING:

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Thursday, November 1st-Sunday, December 30th: Doubt

Doubt is a play for all people of faith, religious or secular. Doubt deals with the moral integrity of a priest but the real struggle in the play is between faith, certainty and doubt, a struggle that pertains to any religious faith and to anything we hold to be true and worthy, be it science, peace, justice, freedom, marriage or love. This is a play for believers whatever they believe in.

The play will charge audiences and talk will fill the night and days afterward. That is why Doubt won the Pulitzer Prize and a ton of New York Awards. That is why the play ran for two years on Broadway, rare for a non-musical. Issue plays are what the Detroit Repertory Theatre is all about and Doubt is a perfect fit

The play is about the clash between Father Flynn, a charismatic priest, whose presence in an old Catholic school is an invigorating change and Sister Aloysius, a veteran nun and no fan of what she sees as loosening standards. Inevitably, the two face off and the situation is shocking. Donald Muller, a troubled boy and the only African-American student in the school, may have been sexually abused — and Sister is absolutely certain that Father Flynn is the molester.

Doubt is alternately funny, absorbing and troubling as the bitter confrontation between the popular priest and the hard nosed nun fiercely unfolds.

The Repertory Production features Ray Schultz as the likeable Father Flynn and Barbara Busby as the stern, self righteous Sister Aloysius. The two form a formidable and experienced acting team. Ray’s acting connection to the Repertory dates back to 1996 and his performance in The Stillborn Lover. Barbara, who was featured in that same play is one of the Repertory founders and has been acting and directing at the Rep since the Theatre’s inception. To round out the cast. Jenny Burleson portrays the young nun, Sister James, and Janee Ann Smith portrays the mother of the young boy in question, Mrs. Muller. The director of Doubt is Charlotte Leisinger. She directed the acclaimed Lapses last season.

Doubt will be the centerpiece in two major Detroit Rep events. The play will be performed at the Theatre’s Golden Anniversary Black Tie Benefit on Saturday evening November 10, 2007 and as a part of the Theatre’s Cabaret style New Year’s Eve celebration.

Where: Detroit Repertory Theatre, Detroit
When: Every Thursday through Sunday. Thursdays & Fridays, 8:30PM. Saturdays, 3:00PM & 8:30PM. Sundays 2:00PM & 7:30PM.
Tix: $17.00 in advance, $20.00 at the door
www.detroitreptheatre.com

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Thursday, November 29th-Sunday, January 6th: The Lion King

Broadway’s Tony Award-Winning Best Musical returns to Detroit for a limited 6-week engagement. Experience Julie Taymor’s stunning visuals firsthand as her vision of the theatrical experience of Pride Rock and Simba’s homeland is brought breathtakingly to life in the only-slightly scaled-down tour version of the Broadway masterpiece. A mixture of elaborate costumes and expert puppeteering, The Lion King is an experience that can be enjoyed by wonder-filled children and theatre aficionados alike.

Where: The Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: Showtimes vary
Tix: $17.00-$130.00
www.motopera.org
www.lionkingtour.com

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Friday, November 30th-Sunday, December 23rd: Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village

Step into a Christmas card from the past. Don’t miss the most popular holiday event in the area! Travel through time on lantern-lit paths to the holidays of long ago as you take a stroll through Christmas in Greenfield Village!
Schedule of events:
* 4 performance stages with nonstop events
* 6 delightful holiday shops
* 7 food stops
* Live musical performances including: the Christie Street Carolers, the Main Street Carolers, the Dodworth Saxhorn Band, the Festival Singers, Neil Woodward, Picks & Sticks Stringband, Ranka Mulkern, the Livonia Civic Chorus, the Greenfield Carolers, and the 1st Michigan Colonial Fife & Drum Corps
* 6 enchanting holiday vignettes including a great photo-op
* Strolling costumed presenters
* Carriage and Model T rides
* Skilled artisan demonstrations
* Visit Santa. Santa will spend all 12 evenings of Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village with his live reindeer at the Robert Frost House. Santa will also appear daily in Henry Ford Museum, November 23-December 23
* Bonfires
* A real ice rink - Skates will be available for loan
* Fabulous fireworks finale and sing-along

Where: Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn
When: 6:30PM-10:00PM showtime on nights of performances
Tix: Adults $12.75 (member), $15.00 (non-member); children $8.50 (member), $10.00 (non-member)

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Friday, November 30th-Sunday, December 16th: Puppet Scrooge

Money for Western High School students? Bah! Humbug. Love, family, and togetherness? Bah! Humbug. Scrooge is against it all at the start of Matrix Theatre Company’s Puppet Scrooge, but by the end she has transformed into the warm-hearted and compassionate person she used to be.

Committed to using the original structure of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, Matrix’s Writers’ Circle brings the story here, home to Detroit , to inspire positive change and understanding in its own community. Bec Young, Matrix’s Community Puppets Manager, says it’s the possibility for transformation that drove them to adapt A Christmas Carol. “We’re not one way or the other,” she says, “and we can change.”

The possibility for change is clear when looking at the list of performers. Young says audiences will experience the diversity theatre has to offer through hand-puppets, rod-puppets, masks, and actors

The transformations in Puppet Scrooge, on-stage and off, recall Dickens’ original message of generosity and kindness.

Where: Matrix Theatre Company, Detroit
When: Fridays 8:00PM, Saturdays 4:00PM & 8:00PM, Sundays 4:00PM
Tix: $15.00 adults, $10.00 students & seniors, $5.00 children 5 & under
www.matrixtheatre.org

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week a multitude of arts events from openings Friday at J Rainey and Paint Creek and others, to Noel Night festivities that sees the DIA, MOCAD, DAM and all the downtown galleries from CAID to the Scarab Club to Work : Detroit open Saturday night, and much to do all over town. The Russell Industrial Center also gets in the act with studio openings, and much more. Check it out.

COMING UP:

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Thursday, November 29th-Sunday, January 6th: The Lion King

Broadway’s Tony Award-Winning Best Musical returns to Detroit for a limited 6-week engagement. Experience Julie Taymor’s stunning visuals firsthand as her vision of the theatrical experience of Pride Rock and Simba’s homeland is brought breathtakingly to life in the only-slightly scaled-down tour version of the Broadway masterpiece. A mixture of elaborate costumes and expert puppeteering, The Lion King is an experience that can be enjoyed by wonder-filled children and theatre aficionados alike.

Where: The Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: Showtimes vary
Tix: $17.00-$130.00
www.motopera.org
www.lionkingtour.com

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Thursday, November 29th: Michigan Festival Shorts

Local fans of independent cinema will have a chance to see short films from six Michigan filmmakers from Detroit, Ferndale, Troy and Grand Rapids, whose work
has made the cut to become Official Selections at a variety of recent local and national film festivals. These notable home-grown films will be presented as Michigan Festival Shorts at the Main Art Theatre on Thursday, November 29, at 7:30 pm.

The evening’s 90-minute program includes four dramas, one comedy and one documentary that range from nine to twenty-one minutes in length. There are even a few award-winners in the bunch.

Participating Michigan filmmakers include Cate Caldwell of Ferndale (“Snapshot”), Mark Einhaus of Ferndale (“John ‘Skippy’ Kolar” johnskippykolar.com), A.E. Griffin of Grand Rapids (“Red Seven” unsafefilmoffice.com), Mike Madigan of Troy (“Demeter: Surrender” fivecloverfilms.com), Rola Nashef of Detroit (“Detroit Unleaded” detroitunleaded.com), and Maggie Patton of Ferndale (“Shooters. Get the Picture” shootersfilm.net).

With the economic accessibility of digital film production for filmmakers, the number of cinematic offerings being produced each year has skyrocketed. Consequently, the competition for screen time at film festivals - the premiere public showcase for such works of art - is daunting. Often, hundreds, if not thousands, of films vie for a small number of presentation slots within a festival’s program. Films that cross that barrier earn an enviable badge of honor, namely the right to add the stately Official Selection laurel leaves to their promotional materials.

Michigan Festival Shorts seeks to promote the region’s growing low-budget, independent film community by showcasing some of the latest notable offerings that feature the works of local artists, actors and technicians. The filmmakers contributing to Michigan Festival Shorts will be on hand at the November 29th screening to answer questions after the event.

Where: The Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak
When: 7:30PM
Tix: N/A

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Thursday, November 29th: Capillary Action, Wildcatting

The first time at Bohemian National Home, Capillary Action backed-up Fugazi’s Joe Lally with understated accompaniment. Now they return to do a full set of their own material, full of unexpected changes and genre-hopping. Detroit’s Wildcatting keep their instrumental music more firmly rooted in great guitar-rock, but with plenty of surprising tricks of their own.

Where: The Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Thursday, November 29th-Saturday, December 1st: Detroit Film Center presents The Bothersome Man

(Norway—2006—directed by Jens Lien)
Forty-year-old Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvåg) arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He’s soon given a new house and an accounting job, and even meets a beautiful woman who quickly grows very attracted to him. But a small series of compounding mysteries – like the fact that food has no taste – begin to convince our uneasy hero that something is very much wrong with all of this. And when at last he simply attempts to leave the city – but finds he’s unable to – Andreas’s paranoia reaches an alarmingly spectacular pinnacle. Funny, disturbing, and tough to shake off, The Bothersome Man suggests a really good Twilight Zone episode by way of Franz Kafka, at times reaching the heady surrealism of a live-action Looney Tune. Winner, Best Picture, Hamptons Film Festival. In Norwegian with English subtitles. (95 min.)

Where: The Detroit Film Theatre, inside the DIA, Detroit
When: 9:30PM Thurs. & Sat.
Tix: $7.50; members, students & seniors $5.00
www.dia.org/dft

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Friday, November 30th-Sunday, November 2nd: Detroit Film Theatre presents 12:08 East of Bucharest

(Romania—2006—directed by Corneliu Porumboiu)
Sixteen years after the revolution that freed Romania from Communist rule, debate still rages about whether it delivered all that was promised. This wry and exceptionally sharp new comedy – one of the best of a recent flood of exciting films from Romania – tries to settle the question in the form of a you’ve-got-to-see-it-to-believe-it small-town TV debate about whether the revolution actually took place in their town, or somewhere else. The burning question – did protesters rally there before 12:08, the moment when the president fled his palace, or only afterward – is debated on camera by a lonely, aging, amateur Santa and a history teacher whose ferocious hangover has left him with a complete blackout of the previous night. Also weighing in are outraged TV viewers, who phone in to offer their “absolutely reliable” memories. This sly meditation on the eternal struggle between history and remembrance won the coveted Camera d’Or Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. In Romanian with English subtitles. (89 min.)

Where: The Detroit Film Theatre, inside the DIA, Detroit
When: Fri. & Sat. 7:00PM, Sun. 4:00PM & 7:00PM
Tix: $7.50; members, students & seniors $5.00
www.dia.org/dft

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Friday, November 30th: Last Friday Funk and Soul Night

They stole the DJs from the CAID and made up their own party. It’s the final Friday of the month and it’s time for another Funk Night, also featuring the “Modern Room!” 21 and over only.

Where: The Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, November 30th: Funk Night at the CAID

They lost their old DJs to the Bohemian National Home (quite a scandal, actually), and even lost their claim over final Fridays. But you gotta give ‘em credit—they’re still trying! AND they’ve reduced ticket prices!

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: Midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $3.00, free for members
www.thecaid.org

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Saturday, December 1st: Shop Detroit 4th Annual Holiday Event

There are holiday treasures to be found in Detroit at the fourth annual Shop Detroit extravaganza! This urban shopping experience with unique stores, no long lines, great eateries and convenient parking shouldn’t be missed! Spread the word!

JOIN US
Saturday, December 1st, 2007 | 10am - 5pm

CHECK-IN
Compuware Atrium at One Campus Martius

FEATURING
More than 80 Downtown and New Center retailers
Special discounts and promotions
Other special activities
Free shuttle service between Compuware and the Fisher Building all day
Coupons and a map/directory of participating stores
Validated parking in the Compuware visitors’ parking deck
Free People Mover 1-day pass
Entry into the “The Ultimate Night Out” giveaway, worth more than $500

AND MORE
Bring nonperishable food items to benefit Forgotten Harvest

Detroit Synergy is a vehicle for metro-Detroit residents to develop and implement their ideas for a thriving, vibrant city. As a grassroots, volunteer-driven organization, it strives to mobilize community participation and empower Detroiters to discover and enhance all that the city has to offer. Since being incorporated as a 501©3 non-profit organization in 2002, Detroit Synergy has conceptualized and realized projects that have contributed to improving the economic, social, and physical quality of Detroit.

Where: Details above
When: 10:00AM-5:00PM
Tix: Free to join the shoppers but bring some money to shop with!
www.detroitsynergy.org

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Saturday, December 1st-Sunday, December 2nd: The Nutcracker

Tchaikovsky’s holiday favorite is back for one weekend at the Max.

Where: The Max M. Fisher Music Center, Detroit
When: 11:00AM & 3:00PM Sat., 3:00PM Sun.
Tix: $13.50 general admission
www.detroitsymphony.com

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Saturday, December 1st: 35th Annual Noel Night

The 35th Annual Noel Night will take place on Saturday, December 1st from 5:00pm to 9:30pm in Midtown Detroit’s University Cultural Center Area. Over 30 institutions, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Science Center, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History open their doors to the public free of charge during this Cultural Center-wide holiday “open house.” Activities include horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday shopping, family craft activities and performances by over 90 area music and dance groups, including Thornetta Davis, Tartan Terrors, and Tom Chapin & The Chapin Sisters. The evening’s festivities culminate with a community sing-along on Woodward Avenue led by the Salvation Army Band – a long-standing Noel Night tradition.

Noel Night activities take place in and around Midtown Detroit’s University Cultural Center institutions, primarily between Cass and John R and Kirby and Willis. Free shuttle services is offered between participating venues. Convenient parking is available in area lots.

2007 Participating Noel Night Venues:
Bureau of Urban Living
Cass Cafe
Cathedral Church of St. Paul
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
College for Creative Studies
Detroit Artist’s Market
Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs
Detroit Historical Museum
Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit Public Library
Detroit Science Center
First Congregational Church
First Unitarian Universalist Church
International Institute
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAD)
Park Shelton Condominiums
Plymouth United Church of Christ
The Inn on Ferry Street
The Scarab Club
West Canfield Historic District
Wayne State University:
Barnes & Noble College Bookstore
Community Arts Gallery
Elaine L. Jacob Gallery
Hilberry Theatre
Maggie Allesee Studio Theatre
Museum of Anthropology
Old Main
Planetarium
Schaver Music Recital Hall

West Willis Village:

Avalon International Breads
Goodwells Natural Food Market & Deli
Flo Boutique
Spiral Collective/Dell Pryor Gallery
Work : Detroit

Where: Midtown Detroit
When: 5:00PM-9:30PM
Tix: Free admission EVERYWHERE
www.detroitmidtown.com

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Saturday, December 1st: American Mars

Detroit alt-country act American Mars performs two free sets on MOCAD’s second Noel Night. Featuring members of Blanche, and Saturday Looks Good To Me, American Mars’ cool, lyrical indie-rock has garnered them critical praise and slots with other similarly informed purveyors of breezy Americana, like Bright Eyes, and Richard Buckner.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 6:00PM, 8:00PM (2 shows)
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Saturday, December 1st: Public Reception for “Actual Size” and Unveiling of Ladybug Studios
There was some delay in construction for Ladybug Studios, but now they are ready for the public, and are celebrating their grand opening in tandem with the CAID’s “Actual Size” exhibition’s second public reception. “Actual Size,” Curator: Aaron Timlin—A biennial exhibition featuring works in all media from Detroit based artists. Over 200 emerging and established artists will exhibit artwork with at least one dimension being 8 ½ inches by 11 inches, the actual size of the exhibition announcement. This exhibition will be on display at the CAID and also at CAID’s new Ladybug Gallery in Southwest Detroit in the Whitdell Artist’s Affordable Housing Development.
Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit & Ladybug Studios, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-11:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.thecaid.org

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Wednesday, December 5th: Wretched Excess Wednesday Wine Bar

Matt Prentice Group’s yearly Wretched Excess Wine Bar will feature the very best wines of the year, as well as a spread of fabulous hors d’oeuvres from host venue Shiraz. Of all the monthly wine bars presented by the Prentice Group, this is the one not to be missed.

Where: Shiraz, Bingham Farms
When: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Tix: $65.00

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Thursday, December 6th: Gallery Talk with Jonathan Flatley; “Art and Melancholia, or, Why Dwelling on Loss is Not Necessarily Depressing”

Jonathan Flatley is Assistant Professor of English at Wayne State University in Detroit. He was previously a faculty member at the University of Virginia, where he was director of the Modern Studies Program. He is author of Affective Mapping: Melancholia and the Politics of Modernism, co-editor of Pop Out: Queer Warhol and editor of the forthcoming Warhol in Moscow: Essays on Art and Mass Culture.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Thursday, December 6th: Detroit Film Theatre presents The Page Turner

(France—2006—directed by Denis Dercourt)
A young girl named Mélanie is a bundle of anxiety as she waits to audition for her entrance to a prestigious musical conservatory. Without revealing here what happens during her examination, the film next jumps forward through the years to show us the grown Mélanie (in a stunning performance by Déborah François) taking a job as a file clerk at a law firm, and not at all by chance. Mélanie’s full motives are gradually exposed by director Dercourt with the calm, icy precision of an Alfred Hitchcock, a feat which could only be achieved with such an astounding degree of control by a filmmaker of confidence, skill, restraint and remarkably sophisticated – if sardonic – wit. The Page Turner perfectly combines elements of mystery, melodrama and suspense into an elegant and visually intoxicating portrait of an obsession that knows no bounds. Cannes, Toronto and Telluride Film Festivals. (85 min.)

Where: The Detroit Film Theatre, inside the DIA, Detroit
When: 7:30PM
Tix: $7.50; members, students & seniors $5.00
www.dia.org/dft

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Thursday, December 6th: Spoiled Brat Party

Presented by DJ Donovan Tate and “guest-hosted” by models with Tony Aria Photography, Spoiled Brat Thursday is all about the ladies with no cover all night for ladies and a complimentary bottle for groups of 10 or more females. Also featuring DJ William Novah and Jared Sykes.

Where: The Dirty Martini, Novi
When: 9:00PM-2:00AM
Tix: Ladies free all night! Guys gotta pay, though.

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Friday, December 7th-Sunday, December 16th: “Black Nativity”

The musical by Langston Hughes will be featured at the Bonstelle Theatre in December. “Black Nativity” is the retelling of the classic Nativity story with an entirely black cast, complete with traditional Christmas carols sung Gospel style.

Where: Bonstelle Theatre, Detroit
When: Fridays & Saturdays 8:00PM, Sundays 2:00PM
Tix: Regular $20.00, discount tickets $15.00
http://www.theatre.wayne.edu/bonstelle.php
www.myspace.com/bonstelletheatre

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Friday, December 7th: Music at MoCAD featuring Tony Conrad

Tony Conrad will perform live in collaboration with M.V. Carbon (formerly of Chicago’s Metalux) along with internationally acclaimed, Dearborn-based, ambient “space rock” minimalists, Windy & Carl, and Detroit/Ann Arbor-based, international compositional-noise-rock icons Wolf Eyes.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $16.00 ($23.00 weekend passes also available for both Tony Conrad events)
www.mocadetroit.org

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Friday, December 7th: EON

Or, Edge of Night. EON parties are held afterhours at Bittersweet Coffee House every First Friday of the month. The brainchild of Ed Gardiner (of InZero and Edgewise fame), EON is the place for Detroit nightprowlers to experience art and see performances by local musicians, fashion shows, burlesque and film. A little something for everyone with an appreciation for the edge.

Where: Bittersweet Coffee House, Detroit
When: Midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/eondetroit

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week a multitude of arts openings and talks including more of the DIA’s rollout, WHY at Work : Detroit, CPOP, “Thinking in Color” at Lemberg, Paulkotulaprojects, Robert Kidd, Bagley Housing, words and music at MOCAD, and much more.

COMING UP:

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Wednesday, November 14th-Sunday, November 18th: Walking With Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs have returned to earth in WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Live Experience, based on the award-winning BBC Television series. After playing 10 sold-out weeks in Australia, where it was seen by over 300,000 people, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Live Experience is now roaming the arenas of America, and will perform at Detroit’s Legendary Cobo Arena November 14-18!

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Live Experience is a dazzling arena spectacle of unprecedented size and quality. Through the eyes and narration of a Paleontologist, you will experience the birth of dinosaurs and follow their evolution through the various eras of their existence on earth. This dramatic theatrical production will entertain, educate and captivate audiences of all ages!

Where: Cobo Arena, Detroit
When: Wed. 7:00PM (other dates not on sale)
Tix: $38.50-$72.50
www.ticketmaster.com

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Friday, November 16th: Detroit’s Annual Tree Lighting at Campus Martius Park

Ice skating, caroling, carriage rides, and a 60-foot Christmas tree is surely enough to put even the grumpiest of Grinches in the holiday spirit. Join in the festivities at Campus Martius Park—get there early to get a seat on the bleachers!

Where: Campus Martius Park, Detroit
When: 5:00PM-midnight
Tix: Free admission; preferred seating tickets available at Au Bon Pain for $10.00
http://www.campusmartiuspark.org/

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Friday, November 16th: The Game Feast at Shiraz

Corporate Chef for the Matt Prentice Group Eric Ward is a real outdoorsman! And he just loves preparing wild game dishes on camping trips. So they’re cutting him loose in an indoor kitchen to show what he can do with Venison, Quail and Duck along with maybe some Elk or Buffalo…

Wild Smoked Mountain Trout
~
Grilled Quail
Petite Greens, Goat Cheese, Pickled Beets,
Pancetta & Balsamic Vinaigrette
~
Bison Tenderloin Carpaccio
Dijon Mustard, Capers, Red Onion & Brioche
~
Seared Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast
Butternut Gnocchi, Roasted Garlic, Cippolini Onions & Swiss Chard
~
Axis Venison Duo
Grilled Venison Rib Chop & Seared Venison Tenderloin
Sweet Potato, Parsnips & Carrots
~
Pumpkin Praline Tart

Playful & Outrageous Wine Packages will be offered

Where: Shiraz, Bingham Farms
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $65.00
For reservations call Shiraz at 248 -645 -5289

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Friday, November 16th: A NIGHT OF ART & THE SOUND OF DESIGN DJ KREEMY (a.k.a. KARIM RASHID) w/ JEREMY “AYRO” ELLIS

Rashid is a leading figure in the fields of product, interior, fashion, furniture, lighting design and art. He is best known for bringing his democratic design sensibility to the masses. Designing for an impressive array of clients from Alessi to Dirt Devil, Umbra to Prada, Miyake to Method, with his 2,500 products Rashid is radically changing the aesthetics of product design and the very nature of the consumer culture.

Playful, bold, unforgettable in personality and design, DJ Kreemy spins a set at Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Also performing live, Jeremy “Ayro” Ellis.

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 9:00PM-midnight
Tix: No cover, cash bar
www.mocadetroit.org

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Friday, November 16th: Breezee One

Art Fag Inc. is hosting this event at the CAID, with DJs The Count of Montenegro, Dave the Bookkeeper, Lemmy Caution, and Jim Carroll.

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: Midnight
Tix: $3.00
www.thecaid.org

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Saturday, November 17th: Springfed Arts Metro Detroit Writers Second Annual Townhall Festival at The Scarab Club

The second-annual grassroots fundraiser event for Springfed Arts Metro Detroit Writers is being held at the historic Scarab Club. Come out for a great evening of poetry, fun, food and fundraising!

SA-MDW Fundraiser Schedule

4:30 Silent Auction starts
(NEW THIS YEAR YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN!)
4:30 Music by John D. Lamb
4:50 Ten Minute Tag-Team Poetry (Poets TBA)
5:00 George Dila
5:15 First Live Auction!
5:50 Wardell Montgomery
6:00 Matthew Olzmann
6:15 Second Live Auction!
7:00 FEATURE OF THE EVE:
$5 OPEN MIC !! Featuring SA- MDW MEMBERS!
7:30 Silent Auction Ends (Open Mic continues!)
(7:30 to 8:00 Silent Auction results tallied)
8:00 Closing Remarks

This Year’s Exciting Auction Items (Partial list!) :

* Hand Knit Scarves by Karin Hoffecker
* Jewelry by Olga Klekner
* Earrings from Robert G. Taylor Designs
* Gift Basket from George Dila
* Art Objects from Maxwell’s Art & Treasures
* Publicity (or other) Photo Session from Melissa Wilson
* Cook Book/Wine Basket from Chris Rhein & Carol Was
* Subscription to the MacGuffin Literary Journal
* One Hour Massage from Nate Kearns
* Art Items from The Print Gallery and Diane DeCillis
* An Altered Book Picture Frame from Linda Sienkiewicz
* Pottery from Anca Vlasopolos
* Handmade necklace from Lisa Rutledge
* Boutique Items from Gigi’s Mode Boutique
* Framed Fine Art Photograph from Artful Photography by Melissa Wilson
* Original Artwork from Professional Artist Reka Zoltan
* 90 Minute Personal Yoga Instruction from Steven Rydman
* One Hour Handyman Service from Joel Wilson of Structure Home Improvement
*5 Poem Personal Critique from Jack Myers
* 5 Poem Personal Critique from Jim Daniels
* 5 Poem Personal Critique from M.L. Liebler
* 5 Poem Personal Critique from Mary Ann Wehler
* 3 Poem Personal Critique from Keith Taylor
* 5 Poem Personal Critique from Vievee Francis

* Concert Evening in Your Home with John D. Lamb

Where: The Scarab Club, Detroit
When: 4:30PM-8:00PM
Tix: Admission is free but auction prices vary

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Saturday, November 17th: “Why” @ Work: Detroit Opening Reception

What compels artists and designers to create, often in the face of staggering obstacles? Where does that drive come from? Why do we do what we do?

On November 17, 2007 find out “Why,” as artist and designers from Detroit and faculty from the University of Michigan School of Art & Design offer their individual diverse responses to questions about the source of their creative work. The resulting variety of perspectives in work and in words offers an educational and insightful exploration of the origins of creativity. A selection of work from each artist/designer is supplemented by the transcribed text of his/her responses to the question “why”, as well as a video of all the responses. For viewers, the show features an interactive component that allows visitors to record their responses to this central question about the nature of creativity.

As a complement to this exhibition, some of the responses by artists and viewers may also be developed as a series of shorts that will run on PLAY TV (Michigan Television and the Michigan Channel) and also be available on playgallery.org.

Featured exhibitors include: Shiva Ahmadi, Lynne Avadenka, David Barr, Adnan Charara, Jim Cogswell, Larry Cressman, Topher Crowder, DMC, Denise Fanning, Beverly Fishman, Phoebe Gloeckner, Adrian Hatfield, Sadashi Inuzuka, Charles McGee, Anne Mondro, Janie Paul, Ted Ramsay, Kathy Rashid, Stephen Schudlich, Sintex, Gilda Snowden, Nick Tobier, Ed West, and Elizabeth Youngblood.

About Work : Detroit
With the establishment of the UM Detroit Center in the cultural center of Detroit, the University of Michigan has returned to its roots and renewed its commitment to the people and the city of Detroit. To further cultivate this engagement with the community, the School of Art & Design is bringing together the creative communities of Detroit and Ann Arbor with a new shared space for creative work and dialogue — Work : Detroit, the School of Art & Design’s newest gallery.

Through its exhibitions and related programming, this first of its kind gallery promises to serve as an intersection for the convergence of people and creative work from Detroit to Ann Arbor and beyond. It is in this fertile terrain that ideas collide and new perspectives to help us all face a rapidly changing future bloom.

This exhibition will be open from November 17th – January 26th. Regular gallery hours are 10:00AM-5:00PM Tuesday-Saturday.

Where: Work: Detroit Gallery, Detroit
When: Opening reception 6:00PM-9:00PM
Tix: Free admission
http://www.art-design.umich.edu/workdetroit/
Exhibition Website: http://www.whyproject.blogspot.com

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Saturday, November 17th: AFG Fall Theatre Fundraiser featuring “Doubt”

The performance of this Pulitzer Prize-winning play by John Patrick Shanley is also a benefit for Alternatives for Girls. “Doubt” tells the timely story of a charismatic priest in conflict with a veteran nun who suspects he may have molested a troubled boy. There will be a champagne reception prior to the performance at the Detroit Repertory Theatre (which is celebrating its 50th anniversary); a suggested donation applies but it is asked that you donate whatever you can afford. All proceeds go to benefit Alternatives for Girls.

Where: The Detroit Repertory Theatre, Detroit
When: Champagne reception at 7:30PM, curtains at 8:30PM
Tix: Originally $40.00, now suggested $20.00 donation or whatever you can afford
www.alternativesforgirls.org

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Saturday, November 17th: Fashion Face Off

If there is one thing I have come to fully understand and appreciate in a very short span of time, it is that anyone who claims Detroit doesn’t have a fashion scene is wrong, wrong, wrong. This Face Off focuses on the unique designs of original Detroit designers including De Yang, Myonne for House of Myonne, Heather Golden, and Lajuana Crawford. Come watch the models strut their stuff in designs that have been featured in local fashion week events.

Where: Capo Lounge, Hamtramck
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $10.00 before 11:00PM

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Sunday, November 18th: Marick Press, MoCAD, Wayne State University Press, Past Tents Press, and Mayapple Press Present Fall 2007 Author Readings

Marick Press, MOCAD, and WSU Press are building on their successful individual readings to form a collaborative reading highlighting local writers and artists. This collaboration is extended to all small presses in the area. Come and support small presses and their authors, artists and musicians at the MOCAD!

Melba Joyce Boyd is the author of six books of poetry: Cat Eyes and Dead Wood, Song for Maya, Thirteen Frozen Flamingoes, The Inventory of Black Roses, Letters to Che and Me, The Province of Literary Cats (2001). She is the co-editor of Abandon Automobile: Detroit City Poetry 2001 (Wayne Sate University Press, 2001). In 1994, Wayne State University Press published her bio-critical study of a nineteenth century poet-activist, Discarded Legacy: Politics and Poetics in the Life of Frances E. W. Harper, 1825-1911 which has been widely reviewed and acclaimed. In 1996, Boyd completed a documentary film, The Black Unicorn: Dudley Randall and Broadside Press.

Her poetry, which has been translated into German, Italian and currently into Spanish, and her essays, which deal with the complexity of identity in the African American experience, have appeared in academic and cultural journals, as well as in anthologies in the U.S. and Europe. She served as the Assistant Editor at Broadside Press (1972-77) and she has also published over 20 articles on African American literature, film, and the discipline of African American Studies. In the 1983-84 academic year, she was a Senior Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Bremen in Germany.

She is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Africana Studies at Wayne State University and an Adjunct Professor for the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan, where she teaches film. She is the co-editor for the African American Life Series of the Wayne State University Press, where she also serves on the Advisory Board.

Judith Kerman is the author of eight books and chapbooks of poetry, most recently Galvanic Response (March Street Press 2005). Her prose-poem, Mothering, on which the hypertext Mothering is based, won Honorable Mention in Poetry in the New Writers Award of the Great Lakes Colleges Association. She is reading from her current poetry manuscript, Star-Nosed Mole, as well as a book of translations of Dominican women poets forthcoming from BOA Editions. She is publisher of Mayapple Press and teaches English at Saginaw Valley State University.

Jack Ridl : Made in Michigan Writers Series
Broken Symmetry is a collection drawn from the experiences of daily life and organized through the context of mathematics. Poet Jack Ridl uses remarkably clear and precise language to express a singular awareness of the world around us. Some of the poems in this volume deal with the universal human experience of loss, others discover a fresh perspective on what is easily overlooked, and many seek the goodness and joy that remain in a challenging world. Poems are grouped into chapters by mathematical themes, suggesting a commonality in these two separate worlds that is often overlooked. The straightforward language and universal subject matter make Broken Symmetry a profound collection of poetry that will appeal to readers of all backgrounds.

The publication of this book was supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Writers will have books available through MOCAD for signing. Parking available and refreshments will be provided.

Come and celebrate this new initiative! These five non-profit organizations are dedicated to introducing visionary and groundbreaking books of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and art to the city of Detroit.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 3:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Wednesday, November 21st: Lee Marvin Computer Arm, Terrible Twos

The Bohemian National Home has not updated their info for this show yet, so I don’t have much to say here except idle speculation and a promise to get the deets for next week.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Probably 8-ish?
Tix: Probably $5.00-10.00?
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Thursday, November 22nd: Thanksgiving

The pilgrims did not make peace with the Indians. This is a lie. Get over it. Enjoy your turkey!

Triptophan!!!!!!!! (Seinfeld? Anyone?)

Where: Homes across America
When: All day and all night
Tix: Only the price of spending a day with your family

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Friday, November 23rd: Black Friday

At least, this is how it is known in the retail industry. All stores open ridiculously early, everywhere has ridiculous sales, and this day is consistently the highest volume day of the year for pretty much every retailer. Join the masses as they rise at 4:00AM and camp out in the parking lots of shopping malls across America, reciting the old TJ Maxx “Open, open, open” chant.

Incidentally, G by Guess in Fairlane Mall will be open at 6:00AM, offering 20% off to all guests on all purchases until noon. Yours truly will be there for the duration.

Where: You can’t avoid it.
When: The earlier the better.
Tix: The cost of your own sanity for sale prices.

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Friday, November 23rd: DIA Public Re-Opening

Come one, come all! Beginning on November 23 the new DIA officially opens its doors to the public with a weekend of activities and a new museum that will be the talk of the town. Mark your calendars and be sure to not only see the new museum for yourself, but show it off to your out-of-town guests. Admission is free and there will be something for everyone — from families to night owls, including some special late-night features.

Where: The Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit
When: TBA
Tix: Free admission
www.dia.org

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Saturday, November 24th: Lewis Black

America’s foremost commentator on everything, comedian Lewis Black will bring his brand of humor to the Fox Theatre. No matter the stupidity, the illogic or the injustice, Lewis Black, the most indignant, exasperated man in America, will find it and tell audiences about it. It’s all in the telling, and Black, who basks in his “Back in Black” spotlight on “The Daily Show” as the most acerbic of commentators, is a great storyteller.

Where: The Fox Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $37.50-$70.00
www.olympiaentertainment.com

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Thursday, November 29th: Michigan Festival Shorts

Local fans of independent cinema will have a chance to see short films from six Michigan filmmakers from Detroit, Ferndale, Troy and Grand Rapids, whose work
has made the cut to become Official Selections at a variety of recent local and national film festivals. These notable home-grown films will be presented as Michigan Festival Shorts at the Main Art Theatre on Thursday, November 29, at 7:30 pm.

The evening’s 90-minute program includes four dramas, one comedy and one documentary that range from nine to twenty-one minutes in length. There are even a few award-winners in the bunch.

Participating Michigan filmmakers include Cate Caldwell of Ferndale (“Snapshot”), Mark Einhaus of Ferndale (“John ‘Skippy’ Kolar” johnskippykolar.com), A.E. Griffin of Grand Rapids (“Red Seven” unsafefilmoffice.com), Mike Madigan of Troy (“Demeter: Surrender” fivecloverfilms.com), Rola Nashef of Detroit (“Detroit Unleaded” detroitunleaded.com), and Maggie Patton of Ferndale (“Shooters. Get the Picture” shootersfilm.net).

With the economic accessibility of digital film production for filmmakers, the number of cinematic offerings being produced each year has skyrocketed. Consequently, the competition for screen time at film festivals - the premiere public showcase for such works of art - is daunting. Often, hundreds, if not thousands, of films vie for a small number of presentation slots within a festival’s program. Films that cross that barrier earn an enviable badge of honor, namely the right to add the stately Official Selection laurel leaves to their promotional materials.

Michigan Festival Shorts seeks to promote the region’s growing low-budget, independent film community by showcasing some of the latest notable offerings that feature the works of local artists, actors and technicians. The filmmakers contributing to Michigan Festival Shorts will be on hand at the November 29th screening to answer questions after the event.

Where: The Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak
When: 7:30PM
Tix: N/A

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Saturday, December 1st: Shop Detroit 4th Annual Holiday Event

There are holiday treasures to be found in Detroit at the fourth annual Shop Detroit extravaganza! This urban shopping experience with unique stores, no long lines, great eateries and convenient parking shouldn’t be missed! Spread the word!

JOIN US
Saturday, December 1st, 2007 | 10am - 5pm

CHECK-IN
Compuware Atrium at One Campus Martius

FEATURING
More than 80 Downtown and New Center retailers
Special discounts and promotions
Other special activities
Free shuttle service between Compuware and the Fisher Building all day
Coupons and a map/directory of participating stores
Validated parking in the Compuware visitors’ parking deck
Free People Mover 1-day pass
Entry into the “The Ultimate Night Out” giveaway, worth more than $500

AND MORE
Bring nonperishable food items to benefit Forgotten Harvest

Detroit Synergy is a vehicle for metro-Detroit residents to develop and implement their ideas for a thriving, vibrant city. As a grassroots, volunteer-driven organization, it strives to mobilize community participation and empower Detroiters to discover and enhance all that the city has to offer. Since being incorporated as a 501©3 non-profit organization in 2002, Detroit Synergy has conceptualized and realized projects that have contributed to improving the economic, social, and physical quality of Detroit.

Where: Details above
When: 10:00AM-5:00PM
Tix: Free to join the shoppers but bring some money to shop with!
www.detroitsynergy.org

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Wednesday, December 5th: Wretched Excess Wednesday Wine Bar

Matt Prentice Group’s yearly Wretched Excess Wine Bar will feature the very best wines of the year, as well as a spread of fabulous hors d’oeuvres from host venue Shiraz. Of all the monthly wine bars presented by the Prentice Group, this is the one not to be missed.

Where: Shiraz, Bingham Farms
When: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Tix: $65.00

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Friday, December 7th-Sunday, December 16th: “Black Nativity”

The musical by Langston Hughes will be featured at the Bonstelle Theatre in December. “Black Nativity” is the retelling of the classic Nativity story with an entirely black cast, complete with traditional Christmas carols sung Gospel style.

Where: Bonstelle Theatre, Detroit
When: Fridays & Saturdays 8:00PM, Sundays 2:00PM
Tix: Regular $20.00, discount tickets $15.00
http://www.theatre.wayne.edu/bonstelle.php
www.myspace.com/bonstelletheatre

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Saturday, December 8th: The Cetan Clawson Revolution
This is for really real a genuine, bonafide Detroit garage rock band. And what better place for a genuine, bonafide Detroit garage rock band to be seen in than the genuine, bonafide longtime-loved punk-inspired hole-in-the-wall Jacoby’s?

Where: Jacoby’s, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: Probably only a few bucks, but that info is N/A
www.myspace.com/cetanclawsonrevolution

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Saturday, February 18th: B.B. King

Blues legend, B.B. King, will return to the fabulous Fox Theatre for an extraordinary evening of music.

For more than half a century, the “King of the Blues” and his guitar “Lucille” have thrilled audiences with countless hits. His innovative style has influenced generations of blues and rock guitarists, and helped give the blues its special place in the American musical tradition. Classic tunes, including “Payin’ The Cost To Be The Boss,” “The Thrill Is Gone,” “How Blue Can You Get,” “Everyday I Have The Blues” and “Why I Sing The Blues” have made B.B. King a living legend.

Where: The Fox Theatre, Detroit
When: 7:30PM
Tix: $32.50-$65.00

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Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week a multitude of arts openings and talks including G.R. N’Namdi’s collaboration with Music Hall, MaryGrove, Charles McGee’s Penny Stamps Lecture, Tyler Green at CCS, Gallery Project, 555, and more.

COMING UP:

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Thursday, October 25th: Celebrate Detroit Books

Join Wayne State University Press for their annual fall benefit at The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD). Celebrate Detroit with our books:

• Amos Walker’s Detroit
text by Loren D. Estleman, photographs by Monte Nagler
• Connecting the Dots: Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project
• Life with Mae: A Detroit Family Memoir
by Neal Shine
• Sonny Sez! Legends, Yarns & Downright Truths
text by Sonny Eliot, illustrations by Draper Hill, edited by Stanley D. Williams
• American City: Detroit Architecture, 1845-2005
text by Robert Sharoff, photographs by William Zbaren
• Talking Shops: Detroit Commercial Folk Art
photographs by David Clements

Tour the museum and its new exhibition “Words Fail Me.” Mingle with authors while they sign and discuss their books. Enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts from some of our favorite local restaurants. Meet journalist Jack Lessenberry, master of ceremonies for the evening.

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 6:00PM
Tix: $20.00, $15.00 for WSU students, faculty, staff and alumni and MoCAD members
www.wsupress.wayne.edu/celebratedetroit/

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Thursday, October 25th: I, Crime, Casey Neil and The Norway Rats, Scarlet Oaks

Bohemian residents I, Crime use their home-court advantage against a mob of hungry contenders. Their catchy hooks and great vocal performances puts just the right amount of finish on their amped-up, roots rock and roll minimalism. Casey Neil counts Jello Biafra and Pete Seeger as fans; he delivers a mixture of Americana and Celtic roots music in a rock package that owes something to Joe Strummer and the Pogues. Detroit’s Scarlet Oakes put a more acoustic spin on things, completing the country element with a smattering of pedal steel.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM
Tix: $6.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, October 26th-Saturday, October 27th: National Ballet of China

National Ballet of China was founded in December 1959. It is the only ballet-performing troupe at the state level in China. The troupe holds the fine tradition of the classical ballets in high esteem and has mastered dozens of such works, such as “Don Quixote,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Meanwhile, the troupe attaches great importance to new ballet works created by contemporary artists of different styles and schools. By using ballet as a foreign art form, the troupe has succeeded in depicting Chinese life and culture. Senior artists like Dai Ailian, Zhao Feng, Li Chengxiang and Jiang Zuhui have contributed many ground-breaking artistic innovations by choreographing such well-received, new ballets as “The Red Detachment of Women,” “The New Year Sacrifice” and “Lin Daiyu.” Under the leadership of current president Zhao Ruheng, the troupe has created and introduced a new batch of well-received productions.

All troupe dancers come from the Beijing Dance Academy and boast both solid and comprehensive basic skills and exquisite and vivid techniques. Generations of excellent dancers have contributed tremendously to the development of this foreign art form in China with their hard work and wisdom. In recent years, famous young dancers headed by Zhu Yan, Zhang Jian and Sun Jie won many distinguished awards at national and international competitions, receiving high praise from their foreign counterparts.

The troupe also has its own symphony orchestra that has cooperated with some famous foreign ballet troupes and holds special, independent classical concerts, as well. The troupe’s stage production department is very well equipped with complete stage sets and costumes for dance operas.

To promote international cultural exchange and enhance the development of the ballet in China, the troupe has toured more than 20 countries in Asia, Europe, America and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Their 1986 tour to the United States, the UK and Russia, and 1990 tour to Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria was a great success and helped boost the troupe’s international prestige. The troupe also attaches much importance to propelling the communication of ballet as an art form among countries and continuously invites ballet directors and masters with international experience to work in China. Like the troupe, the government has always attached much importance to such endeavors. In the era of reform and opening-up, the troupe has received much support from people of all fields. The troupe hopes to appear with a brand-new image on the international ballet stage.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 8:00PM both nights
Tix: $27.00-$47.00
www.ticketmaster.com

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Friday, October 26th: Illuminate Detroit 2007

After a two-year hiatus, Illuminate Detroit is back, and this year’s event promises to be the best yet! On Friday, October 26, Illuminate, along with Detroit Synergy Group, invites you to share with 700 of your closest friends in a night of art, music, food and fashion that is all unabashedly Detroit. Presented by the DeMattia Group and Midtown Developments, this year’s festivities will be held at Willy’s Overland Lofts, on Willis between Cass and 2nd. They will be opening their doors to the public at 8:00PM for this charity event benefiting StandUp For Kids - Detroit and the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID).

“I am thrilled to be organizing this event again,” says Elizabeth Tintinalli, creator and organizer of Illuminate. “I really feel that this is a great way for people to experience true Detroit culture, while also benefiting organizations that, in very different ways, help to enrich and impact that culture.”

For casual fun-seekers and passionate Detroit-lovers alike, this is an event which caters to all. Guests can expect:

• An assorted collection of artwork from various mediums, created by local artists
• A film screening and digital art
• A showcase of local music featuring Lull Tucker, The Decks and The Prime Ministers
• A fashion show featuring local models and fashion providers like Bad Kitty and FLO
• A variety of hors d’oeuvres provided by local restaurant and food sponsors including Goodwells Natural Foods, Majestic Café, Motor City Brewing Works, Slows Bar BQ, Twingo’s and R.Hirt Jr. Co.
• A full bar, with one complimentary drink ticket per person, including Michigan beers and wines provided by establishments such as Pulse, Atwater Block Brewery, Cost Plus Wine and Barefoot Wine
• A multitude of local Detroit businesses and groups including Canine To Five, Mezzanine, Bureau of Urban Living, Inside Detroit, Michigan Greensafe Products and Detour-mag

Presenting sponsors will also be offering tours of this new loft development throughout the night, and the CAID will be hosting a free afterglow for all attendees in conjunction with their popular monthly “Funk Night.”

“I actually attended the first Illuminate event in 2003. I had so much fun, and have been a devoted Illuminater ever since!” raves Jessica Newman from StandUp For Kids. “When Liz [the organizer] contacted me about partnering with us as a benefiting sponsor, I was so thankful and so excited! An event this large will do a lot of good for every organization involved. And it’s so much fun!”

Illuminate Detroit seeks to bring people down to the city and celebrate its rich arts and cultural community while highlighting Detroit-based businesses, showcasing Detroit as a vibrant and creative center not only for art, but as a place to live. Illuminate Detroit also strives towards raising community awareness through partnerships with area non-profits and the donation of all event proceeds to these charitable organizations.

Illuminate ’07: Where art, music, cuisine and drink illuminate the image of Detroit as a great place to live.

StandUp For Kids – Detroit is the local chapter of a non-profit organization devoted to helping homeless, street & at-risk youth through both preventative and outreach programs. Learn more at www.standupforkids.org.

The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID) is a community based non-profit organization. CAID fosters and promotes the essential link between contemporary arts and contemporary society through its exhibitions, performances, critical and public discourse and the funding of contemporary arts and art related activities, www.thecaid.org

Detroit Synergy is a 501© 3 non-profit organization. Its mission is to generate positive perceptions and opinions about Detroit by bringing together a diverse community and building upon the City’s strengths and resources to realize a common vision for a greater Detroit. Please visit www.detroitsynergy.org for more information about the group.

Where: Willy’s Overland Lofts, Detroit
When: 8:00PM-midnight, after party midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $10.00 (includes admission to the after party)
www.illuminatedetroit.com
www.detroitsynergy.org
www.thecaid.org
www.standupforkids.org

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Friday, October 26th: Designer Showcase Series featuring Maisha Davis
Join Detroit Fashion Pages in a preview of Maisha Davis’s edgy & chic Spring 2008 line. DFP observes industry standards, and an RSVP reserves you:

*Fashion Show & Afterglo
*Valet Parking
*Martinis
*Food
*Gift Bags
***ALL FOR FREE***

Pretty. Cool. Stuff.

Where: Grand Atrium of the Penobscott Building, Detroit
When: 8:00PM-midnight
Tix: Free, but RSVP ASAP as spaces will fill quickly: RSVP@detroitfashionpages.com
www.detroitfashionpages.com

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Friday, October 26th-Saturday, November 3rd: Night of the Living Dead, the Musical

ABREACT’S own “Night of the Living Dead THE MUSICAL” is back after a one year break. This year the Zombie Musical hits the Majestic Theatre stage for only five (5) shows, Oct. 26th, 27th, and 31st and Nov. 2nd and 3rd ! Since 2001, the original, collaborative work of Abreact’s co-founder, Thomas Hoagland and original member and present Artistic Director, Chad Kushuba has been seen on various stages in Detroit and New York.

This updated version returns to Detroit with the assistance of its original producer and Abreact co-founder Chuck Reynolds and promises to be this Halloween’s biggest treat in the candy bag.

Written and Directed by Hoagland, Night of the Living Dead infuses the Zombie style apocalypse with the Detroit Rock and Roll style apocalypse to make a hilarious stage version of a classic horror story. Full of the walking dead and the incompetent living,
the audience finds it self unsure who to cheer for, the drooling, near catatonic Barbara (Kelly Rossi) or the legally blind Zombie, fumbling for human flesh. Whomever you root for, you are sure to have a ridiculously fun time. The script is rife with comedy bits as well as a good dose of contemporary political commentary. Returning this year to rock the graveyard is NotLD’s original band “Necro-Mulligan” led by Musical Director Chad Kushuba, with Andrew Lindblom, Wes David and J. As impossible as it is not to sing along with the Title song, it is just as difficult to
keep from laughing to the sounds of the audience favorite “Scared Shitless". Theatergoers are encouraged to come dressed in costume, especially on Halloween, of course.

This Horror Holiday season’s show is full of new faces as well as some old favorites. Spooky names like Katie Galazka (lead singer from the band Hellen), Kelly Rossi (Sweeney Todd and co-founder of Boxfest), Sean McGettigan (Desperate Losers), Mike McGettigan writer/director Desperate Losers and the Wilde Award winning writer of Space F*ckers and Whackjob), Joel Mitchell (Pillowman), Peter Prouty (Metamora) Sam Richardson (Sweeney Todd), Molly McMahon (Sweeney Todd), Lisa Rubin, Adam Barnowski, Dave Schoen, Sarah Galloway.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: Doors at 7:30PM, show at 8:00PM
Tix: $15.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Friday, October 26th: The Vizitors

The Vizitors are one of Detroit’s great Free Jazz ensembles. Lead by pianist Kenneth Green and the AACM’s Dushun Mosley on percussion, The Vizitors explore the intersection of fire music, funk and the type of space-soul chants that The Arkestra’s June Tyson typified. Also featuring ex-Griot Galaxy member Anthony Holland (Reeds) Teresa Mora (Voice) Belinda Reid & April Green (Dance).

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM
Tix: $5.00-10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Saturday, October 27th: Detroit Bikes! Haunted Detroit Bike Tour

Join Bikes! for its 3rd Annual Haunted Detroit ride on October 27th @ 10am. Meet at the Original Home of Detroit Bikes!, Millennium Bell in Grand Circus Park (near the SW corner of Comerica Park), and enjoy the following sites: the Majestic Theater, Orchestra Hall, the Masonic Temple, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, Wayne State University, The Bonstelle Theatre, The Fox Theatre, Grace/Harper Hospital, and more. Complete your pre-Halloween weekend with a bike tour of Detroit Bikes! Haunted Detroit tour.

Where: Meet in Grand Circus Park at the Millennium Bell, Detroit
When: 10:00AM-2:15PM
Tix: Free to ride, but you must have a helmet and reflectors
www.detroitsynergy.org

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Saturday, October 27th: For Sale: Detroit

Want to own your own home or building?

Do you own your own home or building and need help funding renovations?

Want to clean up your credit?

Mark your calendars! October 27 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM at Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID).

The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID) with Southwest Solutions Housing Opportunity Center presents a free 2 hour seminar on Saturday, October 27th at CAID. Artists, musicians, designers and others are invited to attend this important event to learn how to purchase a home, credit basics, the lending process, and much more. Register now to reserve your seat and to be added to the mailing list for future notices on similar opportunities and programs for home ownership, credit repair and financing including federal assistance with down payments and more. Become a stakeholder in Detroit by learning the ins and outs of purchasing a building or home, fixing your credit, financing a loan or renovations for your current home or building, and much more.

Please contact Aaron Timlin at CAID to reserve your seat or with any questions or concerns regarding this unique event or other programs at CAID or Southwest Housing Solutions: aaron@thecaid.org.

Information on CAID and Southwest Housing Solutions:

Southwest Housing Solutions
The mission of Southwest Housing Solutions (SWHS) is to lead community revitalization in Southwest Detroit by developing and managing innovative projects and services which are an asset to the community, advance opportunities for a rich mix of populations, enhance economic potential and offer a special focus on affordable and supportive housing; all embodied in a collaborative spirit which acts as a catalyst for a broad-based community revitalization. Southwest Solutions Housing Opportunity Center is part of Southwest Housing Solutions, a subsidiary of Southwest Solutions, a nationally recognized non-profit mental health and housing agency. Established in the 1970s, Southwest Solutions has been a leader in the revitalization of Southwest Detroit, a community of 100,000 people including a large Hispanic and other minority populations. Southwest Solutions has restored old, abandoned buildings into more than 350 units of beautiful housing, eliminated blight, and turned vacant storefronts into thriving businesses for a total investment of over $40 million. Based on the success of its integrated approach to community development, Southwest Solutions was named “Best Managed Nonprofit (with budget over $3 Million)” in 2005 by Crain’s Detroit Business.

The Southwest Housing Solutions’ Housing Opportunity Center provides a variety of services for first time homebuyers such as comprehensive one-on-one pre-purchase counseling, post purchase education, mortgage default counseling minor home repair loans/grants and down payment assistance. Last year alone, we provided one on one counseling to 530 individuals, 72 of those individuals purchased homes. We have an additional 178 individuals currently in our pipeline working to resolve credit issues in order to purchase their first home. Since the inception of our aggressive homeownership outreach and programming, $6 million in homeowner mortgages has been secured. This represents not only a significant increase in homeownership rates, it represents individual spared from the travesties of high-cost and rising cost predatory loans and scams.

Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit
The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit is a community based non-profit organization. CAID fosters and promotes the essential link between contemporary arts and contemporary society through its exhibitions, performances, critical and public discourse and the funding of contemporary arts and art related activities. CAID is a 501©(3) certified non-profit organization.

Where: Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: 2:00-4:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.thecaid.org
www.swsol.org

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Saturday, October 27th: 26th Annual Detroit International Wine Auction

The Detroit International Wine Auction (DIWA) is the primary fundraising event for the College for Creative Studies (CCS), a private college of art and design with a mission of nurturing creativity and educating visual artists and designers for significant roles in the creative professions that shape society. The 2006 event was the most successful ever, raising over $1.6 million for student scholarships and youth art programs at the College.

The Wine Auction features both silent and live auction items. The auction lots are typically wine, although many non-wine lots such as dinners, travel packages, unique experiences and original works of art are also available. The silent auction begins at 6 p.m. and closes in segments until 9 p.m. Dinner courses will be accompanied by wines selected by the Featured Vintners.

Where: GM Renaissance Center and Wintergarden
When: 6:00PM-9:00PM (auction)
Tix: $350.00+
www.ccscad.edu/diwa

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Saturday, October 27th: Tori Amos

Another month, another odd, off-beat female performer at The Fox. This time it’s Tori Amos. Now, I feel that in a lot of ways Tori has lost a bit of her edge from her Under the Pink heydays. Sure, she’s released some good records, but they all seem to miss the mark of the glory of her first three albums. That being said, a live Tori Amos show is nonetheless worth seeing (her now-famous piano-bench-humping is simply something that cannot be captured in an audio recording), and this one is no exception. Purportedly Tori will perform her songs in a variety of “costumes,” playing out the characters she adopted for herself with her latest release American Doll Posse. Apparently this also means she will not be at her piano the entire time—which some fans might find to be a fun way to mix it up, something new and fresh, and others might feel is the complete rejection of everything that Tori is as an artist. I’m still not sure which camp I fall in yet, but something like this is probably worth seeing.

Where: The Fox Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $35.00-$45.00
www.olympiaentertainment.com

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Saturday, October 27th: Zombie Dance Party

Looking for a cool way to celebrate Halloween weekend but don’t want to pay a ton of money to go to an overcrowded, overtrendy club? Look no further! The Magic Stick is once again throwing their yearly Zombie Dance Party, and all you club-weary ghouls and goblins are invited! (Okay, that was kind of cheesy.) Dress like a zombie and dance your undead butt off for one of the best Halloween-themed celebrations in the D! More details to follow as the event approaches.

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: 9:00PM
Tix: TBA
This is an 18+ event
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Saturday, October 27th: Static Records presents the 12th Annual Big ‘80s Flashback Bash

Featuring Bruce Bryson, Red September, The Walkin Talkin Toxins, Popsicle Shiv and Apartment 4 all performing a musical tribute to the ‘80s!

Where: Paychecks Lounge, Hamtramck
When: 9:00PM
Tix: $6.00
www.staticrecords.com

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Saturday, October 27th: Halloween Party featuring Yellow Swans, BMG and Ryan Jewell Quartet

A night of haunting sounds that culminates in dance floor madness! Opening the show is Ryan Jewell (At the Drive-In, Rejuvination Trio) Quartet, including Ben Hall, Hans Beutow, and Chris Riggs. Check out Ryan’s incredible transformation from hard-core drum hero to free improviser, supported by some of Detroit’s most ghoulish musicians. Next up is psychedelic improv on electronics and guitar from the Portland, OR based Yellow Swans. They’ll electrify the spirits already raised by Jewell’s incantations. Ritual dance completes the ceremony, provided by Detroit’s dance floor magician, BMG.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00 before 10:00PM, $8.00 after
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Saturday, October 27th: Black Magic Masquerade Ball

Presented by Beau Monde and Blake & Bobby and sponsored by Bacardi, the 2nd Annual Black Magic Halloween Masquerade Ball promises to be another night of costumed revelry (pictures from last year’s event are available on the website, and it looks like a good time was had by all). Fashionable costume attire required. Music by DJ Slopoke.

Where: Grand Central Lounge, Detroit
When: 9:00PM-2:00AM
Tix: N/A
www.halloweenmasqueradeball.com/blackmagic
For more information email info@halloweenmasqueradeball.com

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Saturday, October 27th: Woodbridge Halloween Party

Costumes Mandatory!!! 21 and over. Location: 5001 Grand River at Warren, Detroit. Liver performances by Anco Tozy, Peoplemover, Kevin Reynolds, Rob Barrett/Milieu, DJ-Tag, Josh Dahlberg, Blankartists, Jared Wilson, and more. Minimum $10.00 donation benefits the Woodbridge Neighborhood Development Corp.

Where: 5001 Grand River, Woodbridge Neighborhood, Detroit
When: 9:00PM
Tix: Minimum $10.00 donation
www.myspace.com/gm313

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Saturday, October 27th: Triple Threat Costume Ball

The Fi-Nite Gallery hosts the Triple Threat Costume Ball, a decadent techo-industrial-fest just in time to celebrate the greatest of pagan holidays. Live performances by Cozmic Spore, Cignal to Noise, Jesse James, Latondrez, Module 8, Process 42, and Sonic Disturbance, with DJs Rob Rage, DMOND, ACO, Gary G, Wafflestomper, Damselfly, and Dr. Whipple spinning. More to be announced as the date approaches.Video games by 313 Family; visuals by Shane P. Designs. Presented by The D.E.V.I.L., Moto, 313 Family, R.U.G., and Hardcore 313.

Where: Fi-Nite Gallery, Detroit
When: 9:00PM-dawn
Tix: $10.00 with a costume, $15.00 without
This is an 18+ event
www.detroitluv.com
www.myspace.com/finitegallery

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Sunday, October 28th: 12 Girls Band

12 Girls Band is the latest musical phenomenon from the People’s Republic of China. It is an ensemble of twelve young women, all graduates from elite music academies and veterans of top orchestras in China. They take 1500 years of Chinese music tradition and make it contemporary. By playing modern arrangements on traditional Chinese instruments, they have created something entirely unique in world music. Having sold millions of records across Asia, 12 Girls Band emerges as the most successful act on the international stage. This year marks the 5th anniversary of 12 Girls Band.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $27.00-$47.00
www.ticketmaster.com

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Monday, October 29th: Mammal, Sic Alps, Cadaver in Drag, Apple Circus

Mammal’s been hiding out for a while, reputably in exile recording his latest release. Word is that it’s a much more guitar-driven, rock-oriented record. We’ll see when he surfaces here shortly. Sic Alps do stripped down psyche-garage that’s more punk than ‘60s. Cadaver in Drag and Apple Circus up the noisy ante.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Tuesday, October 30th: Devil’s Night in Detroit, Disco Bloodbath

Featuring Questlove (4-hour set): Questlove is the unmistakable heartbeat of The Roots, Philadelphia’s most influential hip-hop band. Beyond that, this Grammy award-winning musician’s undisputable reputation has landed him musical directing positions with everyone from D’Angelo to Eminem to Jay-Z. He boasts production credits for Erykah Badu, Joss Stone, Justin Timberlake and D’Angelo, among many others. Questlove’s insatiable love of music has led him on a worldwide crate-digging journey. He has amassed a vinyl collection of more than 50,000 records that are shelved in a floor to ceiling, climate controlled library room in his personal studio. What to do with all those records? DJ, of course. Questlove has rocked parties to sold out crowds worldwide. With such a diverse collection, he is able to deliver an eclectic variety of sets. Whether it’s hip-hop, house, 80’s, rare grooves or a mix of everything in between, he commands people to the dance floor to get loose and get down. Questlove is the modern day mayor of soul music. No matter what the style, when Questlove gets behind the decks, people dance until the lights come on. And even then, they don’t want to go home.

Also featuring Phat Kat (on the mic): “Every time I step in the booth, I’m tryna make some classic shit,” promises Phat Kat, a pioneer of the Detroit hip-hop scene who was putting it down for the underground long before anyone ever heard of Eminem, Proof, D12, Slum Village, Natas, or Royce the 5′9.” And while rap from “the D” has come into the national limelight in recent years, few of Detroit’s current crop of MCs boast a track record or reputation as credible as Phat Kat. With his mix of original, streetwise rhymes that fall somewhere in-between gangsta, conscious, and backpack, grooves that can take you from the gutter to the VIP and back, and production that innovates rather than imitates, his new album, Carte Blanche is like no Detroit album you’ve ever heard before. It maintains the standard for excellence set by Phat Kat’s cohorts Dilla and Slum Village, but with a much more hardcore thrust. Asked what the album’s title means to him, Phat Kat says with a laugh, “Absolute authority. Full power,” adding, “It’s a good thing.”

Where: Confidential Lounge, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM, drinks only $2.00 from 9:00-10:00PM
Tix: $10.00 in advance at www.groovetickets.com

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Wednesday, October 31st-Saturday, November 3rd: The Haunted Theatre

The Matrix Theatre Company brings you the Mysterious World of the Unknown. Enjoy 4 nights of “exotic creatures from around the world…and beyond!”

Where: Matrix Theatre Company, Detroit
When: 7:00PM-9:30PM (every half hour)
Tix: $10.00, reservations recommended. Call 313-967-0999

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Thursday, November 1st: First Thursdays for TRU at Bureau of Urban Living

Detroit’s popular modern home goods store Bureau of Urban Living is offering extended hours & proceeds to benefit Transportation Riders United (TRU) on their first “First Thursdays,” a special monthly event at their storefront location in the Canfield Lofts on West Canfield Street in Midtown Detroit.

First Thursdays feature:
• Extended store hours: 11:00AM – 9:00PM
• Special offers on featured products
• Percent of proceeds to benefit Detroit’s public realm

The beneficiary on Thursday, Nov. 1 is Transportation Riders United (TRU), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving transportation access and mobility in Greater Detroit. TRU’s mission is to inform and educate the public about the importance of public transportation, as well as to work towards a regional rapid transit system.

Owners Claire Nelson and Francis Grunow are excited to showcase TRU’s important advocacy work. The store will donate 25% of sales on Thursday, Nov. 1 to support their mission and programs. Information on TRU will also be available.

Says Nelson, “Quality of life isn’t just about having nice stuff. It’s about improving our environment, inside and out. A rapid transit system is one of the essential ingredients of a healthy, vibrant metropolis – something we are deeply passionate about. Supporting TRU’s work is part of Bureau’s own mission to celebrate the joys of city life and help make downtown Detroit a vital and viable place to live.”

December’s First Thursday event on Thursday, December 6 will benefit The Greening of Detroit (www.greeningofdetroit.com).

Bureau of Urban Living is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11:00AM – 7:00PM in the Canfield Lofts at 460 W. Canfield Street in Midtown Detroit. A modern-day general store for city dwellers, Bureau offers modern home goods and gifts, from everyday basics to unique designer wares. For more information, visit www.bureauliving.com.

Where: Bureau of Urban Living, Detroit
When: 11:00AM-9:00PM
Tix: Free admission, but isn’t buying something the point?
www.bureauliving.com

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Thursday, November 1st-Sunday, November 4th: Dia de los Muertos Walking Tour in Mexicantown

The South American Day of the Dead celebration, falling immediately after our Halloween and on the Christian (mostly Catholic) All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively. The celebration of these three days share a common origin point rooted in the spiritual celebration of the passing of the soul, dating back at least to pagan rituals and possibly earlier…eh, screw it. You guys aren’t interested in a history lesson here. HEY, BIG BIG PARTY!!!!

Welcome back.

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos in Mexicantown, our little Mexico away from home. Enjoy the 5th Annual “Day of the Dead” Walking Tour, a wonderful and unique cultural event for all ages. Includes a tour of public ofrendas in the Mexicantown district, a culinary walking tour on Saturday, educational workshops, authentic Mexican crafts, imports, jewelry, Dia de Muertos items & more!

And there is likely to be lots o’ celebratory drinking afterwards. But check out the official info from the website:

The 13th Annual “Dia de Muertos” Fiesta and 6th Annual Walking Tour will take place from Thursday, Nov. 1st thru Sunday, Nov. 4th, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., at the Mexicantown Mercado & Ford Plaza, located on 2826 Bagley Avenue & 21st street in Detroit, Michigan 48216.

School groups are welcome with reservation on Thursday, Nov. 1st & Friday, Nov. 2nd, between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. This year we are already expecting more 200 students per hour! For reservations please contact Isela Patiño, Business Manager, patino@mexicantown.org or (313) 967.9898, extension 1000.

Shuttle buses will offer Mexicantown tours every hour from the Mercado, driving to the most important “Ofrendas” (Altar pieces) installed at different organizations, businesses, and churches. These include VISTAS NUEVAS HEADSTART, STE. ANNE CHURCH, HOLY REDEEMER PARISH, MEXICANTOWN CENTER/EL CENTRAL NEWSPAPER, and many more!

An Educational Lecture will take place every thirty minutes explaining the significance of Day of the Dead and the elements of our main Ofrenda dedicated to director Ernesto Alonso.

A community area will showcase community Ofrendas: HOMAGE TO ROSA MARTINEZ, CANCER SURVIVORS by KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE, among many others.

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Detroit (MOCAD, www.mocadetroit.org) will be providing craft workshops: sugar skulls, chocolate skulls, papier mache skeletons, collage/coloring books…

Local artist Hector Perez will showcase his work and provide art demonstrations with the very first art installation/Ofrenda at the GENERAL MOTORS GALERIA, located inside the Mexicantown Mercado. This Ofrenda will be dedicated to Angel Garcia. Hector Perez is the recent recipient of the 2007 Hispanic Leadership Award from the Michigan Senate.

The cost for each activity (lecture, crafts workshop, bus tour) is just $3.00 per student, teachers get free admission. THE MEXICANTOWN MERCADO, OFRENDAS AND GENERAL MOTORS GALERIA WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT NO COST.

Additionally, our FIRST CULINARY WALKING TOUR will take place on Saturday Nov. 3rd, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., starting at the Mexicantown Mercado. Maria Elena Rodriguez, Mexicantown CDC President, will give an overview of Mexico’s cuisine and the significant dishes prepared for Day of the Dead. Then you will visit La Jalisciense Tortilla Factory, Algo Especial Store and Honey Bee/La Colmena Supermarket.
The cost is $20 per person; includes a gift bag, food glossary, recipes, and authentic Mexican refreshments and appetizers. RSVP: (313) 967.9898, extension 1008 or gmaciasg@mexicantown.org

And of course, we’ll have the Mercado stores open and many vendors offering great authentic Day of the Dead crafts, jewelry, gifts and Mexican food:
- CAFE CON LECHE/COFFEE HOUSE
- FELICIDADES GIFT SHOP
- JEWELRY CENTER
- MAYA’S JEWELRY
- MEX-I-CANDLE

Where: Mexicantown Mercado & Plaza, Detroit
When: 9:00AM-7:00PM all four days
Tix: Free admission, cost of activities varies
www.mexicantown.org

When Elizabeth Tintinalli first came up with the idea for Illuminate Detroit in 2003, she had no idea what she was getting herself into–or how big of an event it would become.

“It started out as an idea to get people more involved with all of the great things going on in the city, supporting local businesses and real estate developments, that sort of thing,” says Tintinalli. “I just wanted to throw a huge party to get people excited about Detroit!”

And they did. Since Illuminate Detroit began in 2003 as the brainchild of real estate agent Tintinalli along with Metro Times, the event has grown tremendously to draw in crowds up to 800–and this year’s event is expected to be even bigger than ever. With the added entertainment of a complete fashion show featuring area models and local designers such as Bad Kitty Wear and FLO Boutique (among others), there is an additional component of special interest highlighting even more of what involved Detroiters are creating right here in the city.

The working concept behind Illuminate Detroit is to bring people, art, and businesses together to celebrate all of the many great things the city has to offer. Illuminate Detroit seeks to bring people down to the city and celebrate its rich artistic and cultural community while highlighting Detroit-based businesses, showcasing Detroit as a vibrant and creative center not only for art, but as a place to live. Illuminate Detroit also strives towards raising community awareness through partnerships with area non-profits and the donation of all event proceeds to these charitable organizations.

In short, Illuminate Detroit was born to bring people together to create a synergy in the city. Perhaps it is best phrased in the event’s tagline: “Where art, music, cuisine and drink illuminate the image of Detroit as a great place to live.”

Illuminate Detroit 2007 is bringing together real estate developers the DeMattia Group (who built Willy’s Overland Lofts, where the event is being held) and Midtown Developments to benefit StandUp for Kids - Detroit and the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID). Given the synergistic nature of the event, Detroit Synergy Group is also involved, as is Canine to Five, Mezzanine, Bureau of Urban Living, and Detour Magazine, among others. Participating food vendors include Slows, the Majestic Cafe, Twingo’s, and Motor City Brewing Works, and a variety of Michigan wines and beers are being provided by Atwater Block Brewery and Barefoot Wine Cellars.

Illuminate Detroit is a celebration of all things Detroit, and serves as yet one more major event organized in a grassroots fashion that strives to create a positive perception of the city and awaken people to all of the many artistic and cultural contributions the people of the city make. In the face of naysayers who claim that Detroit is a wasteland, that there is “nothing” here, Illuminate brings to light art, music, food, drink, retail, fashion, and
development. There is no better name for an event that truly does “illuminate” all of the many thriving independent entities from a variety of different arenas all within the city.

But Liz Tintinalli is very humble about her involvement in the rejuvenation of the image of Detroit: “I don’t see myself as fronting a movement to rebuild the city. I see myself as someone who has a real passion for this city, and wants to share that passion with others who might not be aware of all of the great things going on here.”

And if it weren’t for the countless number of people in the city who share Liz’s passion and work tirelessly for others to see and share it, then all of these “great things” that were mentioned might not even exist.

Illuminate Detroit 2007 is your opportunity to see and share in all of the many exciting things happening in the city right now, and to revel in your Detroit pride and passion with others. An event like this helps to shape the new Detroit, and it is proof positive that a city’s strength is in its people. And our people could play touch football with mountains.

Friday October 27, 2007.
Willy’s Overland Lofts
444 W. Willis St. (On Willis between Cass and Second)
Detroit

Doors at 8:00PM, bands begin at 9:00, fashion show at 10:00.
Tickets are $10.00 each and include one free drink coupon.
Food is complimentary as is all entertainment.
More info here: http://www.detroitsynergy.org/projects/development/illuminatewill

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week a multitude of arts events including Actual Size at CAID, Matt Hannah at the Bohemian House, CCS Center Galleries, ArtRages, and many more.

COMING UP:

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Friday, October 19th: Trevor Watts and Jamie Harris

Trevor Watts is best known as an early free improviser and founder of Spontaneous Music Ensemble, but he’s a versatile musician whose interest in pan-global music is evident in his duo with percussionist Jamie Harris. Their music is distinctly rhythmic and modal, following parameters more closely than the non-idiomatic playing that Watts is best known for. Harris utilizes a variety of hand-percussion from the Middle East and Africa to supply the drive beneath Watts’ saxophone excursions.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 5:30PM, show at 6:00PM
Tix: $5.00-10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, October 19th: New Music Detroit—Contemporary Classical Music

This innovative group, featuring members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, returns to MOCAD with a new show. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this live performance.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $8.00
www.mocadetroit.org

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Saturday, October 20th: Collector’s Ed at Mezzanine

Join the Founders Junior Council of the Detroit Institute of the Arts for an evening of modern design with a major dose of downtown hip at the ultra-chic store Mezzanine. For nearly 10 years now, Mezzanine has been one of Detroit’s best resources for modern furniture and contemporary living accessories. Representing some of the most renowned designers from around the world, Mezzanine’s minimalist showroom in Harmonie Park is not just a store, but a design destination all its own! Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and specialty cocktails; valet parking is available.

Where: Mezzanine, Detroit
When: 8:00PM-11:00PM
Tix: $40.00
Purchase tickets in advance at 313-833-3737

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Saturday, October 20th: Jam for Sudan

Bands rock for a great cause at the Majestic Theatre in an effort to raise money for Darfur relief. This all star Detroit line up include: The Sisters Lucas, Sweet Japonic, Zoos of Berlin, The Beggars, The Muldoons, The Hentchmen, and The Go.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: Doors at 7:00PM
Tix: $15.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Saturday, October 20th: Johnny Corn Dawg, Cakes of Light

Johnny Corn Dawg is known to crack people up with his country songs about vegetarians that chain up their dogs and college girls spending Dad’s money on cocaine, all delivered in his earnest, off-kilter vocal style. Cakes of Light, named for Crowley’s favorite Eucharist, play catchy indie-folk reminiscent of Will Oldham and String Builder, but with lyrics that almost sound like non-sequitars. They in fact deal with subjects like talking to magicians or upgrading your body.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Sunday, October 21st: Classical Concert with Xiao Dong Wei and Yuki Mack

Detroiters, Japanese born pianist Yuki Mack and Chinese born erhu player Xiao Dong Wei will be performing a special classical concert on Sunday, October 21st at 3:00PM in Farmington Hills. Concert takes place at the North Congregational Church located at 36520 W. 12 Mile Rd. (between Drake and Halsted Rds).

Xiao Dong Wei is a Chinese-born classically erhu player (a two-stringed Chinese violin) and graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She has performed throughout China, Japan and the US. In 2004 she released a CD with the Central National Orchestra of China. Xiao Dong moved to the Detroit from Beijing in 2005. Since then, she has continued to perform classically on erhu, guzheng and piano, recently performing as soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in February 2007. Xiao Dong also performs with the popular avant-garde world music quartet called ‘XD WEI’, where she plays erhu and sings in English and Mandarin.

Yuki Mack is a Japanese-born pianist who arrived in the US as a child and eventually relocated to the Detroit area studying at University of Michigan, Oakland University and with Brazilian pianist, Flavio Varani. Yuki has performed and won awards in competitions worldwide, including ones in Japan, Sweden, Poland and the US. She also performs works for two pianos with her sister Tomoko and they have released three highly acclaimed CDs (Rhapsody, American Mosaic and Fantasy) with a fourth
due this year. Yuki and Tomoko were also recently selected as “Steinway Roster Artists".

Where: North Congregational Church, Farmington Hills
When: 3:00PM
Tix: $10.00 advance, $12.00 at the door
For tickets calls 248-672-6508 or 586-776-4346

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Monday, October 22nd: An Evening with Schramsberg Vineyards

RUGBY GRILLE WELCOMES YOU TO AN EVENING WITH SCHRAMSBERG VINEYARDS ON MONDAY OCTOBER 22ND 2007 7:00PM.

Join them in the posh environs of Birmingham to experience the Rugby Grille’s contemporary cuisine (with a touch of French flare) embrace California’s finest bubbles. Hugh Davies, Schramsberg Vineyards Proprietor, will be here to host this exciting dinner along with Michigan favorite Executive Chef Jim Barnett and The Rugby Grille’s own Chef David Gilbert.

HORS D’OEUVRES
GOURGERES
Stuffed with Jumbo Lump Crab Salad
PEKING DUCK CROSTINI
Served with Olive Tapanade and Tomato Confit
CHESTNUT AGNOLOTTI
Served with Black Truffle
Paired with Schramsberg “Mirabelle” Brut, North Coast N.V.
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First Course
SEARED DAY BOAT HAWAIIAN TUNA SASHIMI
Served over Crisp Flatbread, Olive Tapenade, Sweet Garlic and Lemon Aioli,
Spanish Boucarones, Tomato Confit and Wild Arugula Salad
Paired with Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc Brut, CA 2004
…………………………………………§…………………………………………
Second Course
MAINE LOBSTER RISOTTO AND WHITE TRUFFLE
With Italian White Truffles, Mascarpone and Fresh Herbs
Finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano
Paired with Schramsberg Brut Rosé, CA 2004
…………………………………………§…………………………………………
Third Course
BLANQUETTE DE VEAU AVEC RIS DE VEAU
Served Over House Made Paperdelle, Crisp Sweetbreads, Baby Root Vegetable,
Finished with Wild Morel Mushrooms
Paired with Schramsberg “J Schram” Brut, CA 1999
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Fourth Course
MORBIER
A French Triple Cream Cheese Served with
Haricot Vert and Almond Salad
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Fifth Course
“DESSERT TRIO”
Vanilla Pear Mousse on Cinnamon Genoise, Fresh Fruit Tart with Bavarian Crème
and Chocolate Carmel Caprice
Paired with Schramsberg “Crémant” Demi-Sec, Napa Valley 2004

Where: The Rugby Grille, inside the Townsend Hotel, Birmingham
When: 7:00PM-10:00PM
Tix: $140.00 plus tax and gratuity
www.townsendhotel.com
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Tuesday, October 23rd: TRU Fall Meeting

Are you new to TRU and interested in learning about Detroit transit issues? Been around a while and want to test your transit knowledge? Interested in improving your arguments for transit? Join TRU’s fall meeting, with highlights of:
- Detroit’s proud transit history and downfall
- Rapid transit benefits and the best messages for building support
- Steps needed for a major rapid transit line
- Current rapid transit projects and next steps
- And much more!

Where: Lower mezzanine of the Guardian Building, Detroit
When: 6:30PM
Tix: Donations for members $5.00, non-members $10.00 are requested. Dinner will be provided.
www.detroittransit.org

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Wednesday, October 24th: Les Nubians

Les Nubians is an “Afropean” R&B Grammy-nominated duo composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Bordeaux, France (where they were born) and Chad (where they lived for several years during their childhood). Despite receiving a lukewarm reception in their native France, they have become one of the most successful French-language musical groups in the U.S. Apart from their two albums, they have also made appearances on songs by Youssou N’Dour, the Black Eyed Peas, Talib Kweli, DJ Krush, and Yerba Buena. To see them live is to experience a variety of different cultures merging in music.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $22.00 general admission
www.ticketmaster.com

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Wednesday, October 24th: Gregorian Masters of Chant

ONE NIGHT ONLY! Gregorian Masters of Chant come to the Majestic Theatre with their extremely rare live show that is not to be missed. This will be a seated show with a limited amount of standing room only. Seated Tickets are priced at $75 & $35 and standing room at $25. Dinner Packages are available.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $25.00-75.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Wednesday, October 24th: usaisamonster

These guys have the same kind of talent for mixing carefully restrained rock and arty-progressive music that Devo had. But this is no robot knock-off band; you can even substitute a little bit of long-hair vibe for the futuristic de-evolution element. At times, they get down right sludgey, but without gratuitous guitar solos or overbearing drumming.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Thursday, October 25th: Celebrate Detroit Books

Join Wayne State University Press for their annual fall benefit at The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD). Celebrate Detroit with our books:

• Amos Walker’s Detroit
text by Loren D. Estleman, photographs by Monte Nagler
• Connecting the Dots: Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project
• Life with Mae: A Detroit Family Memoir
by Neal Shine
• Sonny Sez! Legends, Yarns & Downright Truths
text by Sonny Eliot, illustrations by Draper Hill, edited by Stanley D. Williams
• American City: Detroit Architecture, 1845-2005
text by Robert Sharoff, photographs by William Zbaren
• Talking Shops: Detroit Commercial Folk Art
photographs by David Clements

Tour the museum and its new exhibition “Words Fail Me.” Mingle with authors while they sign and discuss their books. Enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts from some of our favorite local restaurants. Meet journalist Jack Lessenberry, master of ceremonies for the evening.

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 6:00PM
Tix: $20.00, $15.00 for WSU students, faculty, staff and alumni and MoCAD members
www.wsupress.wayne.edu/celebratedetroit/

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Thursday, October 25th: I, Crime, Casey Neil and The Norway Rats, Scarlet Oaks

Bohemian residents I, Crime use their home-court advantage against a mob of hungry contenders. Their catchy hooks and great vocal performances puts just the right amount of finish on their amped-up, roots rock and roll minimalism. Casey Neil counts Jello Biafra and Pete Seeger as fans; he delivers a mixture of Americana and Celtic roots music in a rock package that owes something to Joe Strummer and the Pogues. Detroit’s Scarlet Oakes put a more acoustic spin on things, completing the country element with a smattering of pedal steel.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM
Tix: $6.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, October 26th-Saturday, October 27th: National Ballet of China

National Ballet of China was founded in December 1959. It is the only ballet-performing troupe at the state level in China. The troupe holds the fine tradition of the classical ballets in high esteem and has mastered dozens of such works, such as “Don Quixote,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Meanwhile, the troupe attaches great importance to new ballet works created by contemporary artists of different styles and schools. By using ballet as a foreign art form, the troupe has succeeded in depicting Chinese life and culture. Senior artists like Dai Ailian, Zhao Feng, Li Chengxiang and Jiang Zuhui have contributed many ground-breaking artistic innovations by choreographing such well-received, new ballets as “The Red Detachment of Women,” “The New Year Sacrifice” and “Lin Daiyu.” Under the leadership of current president Zhao Ruheng, the troupe has created and introduced a new batch of well-received productions.

All troupe dancers come from the Beijing Dance Academy and boast both solid and comprehensive basic skills and exquisite and vivid techniques. Generations of excellent dancers have contributed tremendously to the development of this foreign art form in China with their hard work and wisdom. In recent years, famous young dancers headed by Zhu Yan, Zhang Jian and Sun Jie won many distinguished awards at national and international competitions, receiving high praise from their foreign counterparts.

The troupe also has its own symphony orchestra that has cooperated with some famous foreign ballet troupes and holds special, independent classical concerts, as well. The troupe’s stage production department is very well equipped with complete stage sets and costumes for dance operas.

To promote international cultural exchange and enhance the development of the ballet in China, the troupe has toured more than 20 countries in Asia, Europe, America and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Their 1986 tour to the United States, the UK and Russia, and 1990 tour to Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria was a great success and helped boost the troupe’s international prestige. The troupe also attaches much importance to propelling the communication of ballet as an art form among countries and continuously invites ballet directors and masters with international experience to work in China. Like the troupe, the government has always attached much importance to such endeavors. In the era of reform and opening-up, the troupe has received much support from people of all fields. The troupe hopes to appear with a brand-new image on the international ballet stage.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 8:00PM both nights
Tix: $27.00-$47.00
www.ticketmaster.com

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Friday, October 26th [RESCHEDULED]: Illuminate Detroit

After a two-year hiatus, Illuminate Detroit is back, and this year’s event promises to be the best yet! On Friday, October 26, Illuminate, along with Detroit Synergy Group, invites you to share with 700 of your closest friends in a night of art, music, food and fashion that is all unabashedly Detroit. Presented by the DeMattia Group and Midtown Developments, this year’s festivities will be held at Willy’s Overland Lofts, on Willis between Cass and 2nd. They will be opening their doors to the public at 8:00PM for this charity event benefiting StandUp For Kids - Detroit and the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID).

“I am thrilled to be organizing this event again,” says Elizabeth Tintinalli, creator and organizer of Illuminate. “I really feel that this is a great way for people to experience true Detroit culture, while also benefiting organizations that, in very different ways, help to enrich and impact that culture.”

For casual fun-seekers and passionate Detroit-lovers alike, this is an event which caters to all. Guests can expect:

• An assorted collection of artwork from various mediums, created by local artists,
• A film screening and digital art,
• A showcase of local music of various genres, from indie rock to ambient,
• A fashion show featuring prominent Detroit-based designers and local models,
• A variety of hors d’oeuvres provided by local restaurant sponsors,
• A full bar including Michigan beers and wines, with one complimentary drink ticket per person.

Presenting sponsors will also be offering tours of this new loft development throughout the night, and the CAID will be hosting a free afterglow for all attendees in conjunction with their popular monthly “Funk Night.”

“I actually attended the first Illuminate event in 2003. I had so much fun, and have been a devoted Illuminater ever since!” raves Jessica Newman from StandUp For Kids. “When Liz [the organizer] contacted me about partnering with us as a benefiting sponsor, I was so thankful and so excited! An event this large will do a lot of good for every organization involved. And it’s so much fun!”

Illuminate Detroit seeks to bring people down to the city and celebrate its rich arts and cultural community while highlighting Detroit-based businesses, showcasing Detroit as a vibrant and creative center not only for art, but as a place to live. Illuminate Detroit also strives towards raising community awareness through partnerships with area non-profits and the donation of all event proceeds to these charitable organizations.

Illuminate ’07: Where art, music, cuisine and drink illuminate the image of Detroit as a great place to live.

StandUp For Kids – Detroit is the local chapter of a non-profit organization devoted to helping homeless, street & at-risk youth through both preventative and outreach programs. Learn more at www.standupforkids.org.

The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID) is a community based non-profit organization. CAID fosters and promotes the essential link between contemporary arts and contemporary society through its exhibitions, performances, critical and public discourse and the funding of contemporary arts and art related activities, www.thecaid.org

Detroit Synergy is a 501© 3 non-profit organization. Its mission is to generate positive perceptions and opinions about Detroit by bringing together a diverse community and building upon the City’s strengths and resources to realize a common vision for a greater Detroit. Please visit www.detroitsynergy.org for more information about the group.

Where: Willy’s Overland Lofts, Detroit
When: 8:00PM-midnight, after party midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $10.00 (includes admission to the after party)
www.illuminatedetroit.com
www.detroitsynergy.org
www.thecaid.org
www.standupforkids.org

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Friday, October 26th: Designer Showcase Series featuring Maisha Davis

Join Detroit Fashion Pages in a preview of Maisha Davis’s edgy & chic Spring 2008 line. DFP observes industry standards, and an RSVP reserves you:

*Fashion Show & Afterglo
*Valet Parking
*Martinis
*Food
*Gift Bags
***ALL FOR FREE***

Pretty. Cool. Stuff.

Where: Grand Atrium of the Penobscott Building, Detroit
When: 8:00PM-midnight
Tix: Free, but RSVP ASAP as spaces will fill quickly: RSVP@detroitfashionpages.com
www.detroitfashionpages.com

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Friday, October 26th-Saturday, November 3rd: Night of the Living Dead, the Musical

ABREACT’S own “Night of the Living Dead THE MUSICAL” is back after a one year break. This year the Zombie Musical hits the Majestic Theatre stage for only five
(5) shows, Oct. 26th, 27th, and 31st and Nov. 2nd and 3rd ! Since 2001, the original, collaborative work of Abreact’s co-founder, Thomas Hoagland and original
member and present Artistic Director, Chad Kushuba has been seen on various stages in Detroit and New York.

This updated version returns to Detroit with the assistance of its original producer and Abreact co-founder Chuck Reynolds and promises to be this Halloween’s biggest treat in the candy bag.

Written and Directed by Hoagland, Night of the Living Dead infuses the Zombie style apocalypse with the Detroit Rock and Roll style apocalypse to make a hilarious stage version of a classic horror story. Full of the walking dead and the incompetent living,
the audience finds it self unsure who to cheer for, the drooling, near catatonic Barbara (Kelly Rossi) or the legally blind Zombie, fumbling for human flesh. Whomever you root for, you are sure to have a ridiculously fun time. The script is rife with comedy bits as well as a good dose of contemporary political commentary. Returning this year to rock the graveyard is NotLD’s original band “Necro-Mulligan” led by Musical Director Chad Kushuba, with Andrew Lindblom, Wes David and J. As impossible as it is not to sing along with the Title song, it is just as difficult to
keep from laughing to the sounds of the audience favorite “Scared Shitless". Theatergoers are encouraged to come dressed in costume, especially on
Halloween, of course.

This Horror Holiday season’s show is full of new faces as well as some old favorites. Spooky names like Katie Galazka (lead singer from the band Hellen), Kelly Rossi (Sweeney Todd and co-founder of Boxfest), Sean McGettigan (Desperate Losers), Mike McGettigan writer/director Desperate Losers and the Wilde Award winning writer of Space F*ckers and Whackjob), Joel Mitchell (Pillowman), Peter Prouty (Metamora) Sam Richardson (Sweeney Todd), Molly McMahon (Sweeney Todd), Lisa Rubin, Adam Barnowski, Dave Schoen, Sarah Galloway.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: Doors at 7:30PM, show at 8:00PM
Tix: $15.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Friday, October 26th: The Vizitors

The Vizitors are one of Detroit’s great Free Jazz ensembles. Lead by pianist Kenneth Green and the AACM’s Dushun Mosley on percussion, The Vizitors explore the intersection of fire music, funk and the type of space-soul chants that The Arkestra’s June Tyson typified. Also featuring ex-Griot Galaxy member Anthony Holland (Reeds) Teresa Mora (Voice) Belinda Reid & April Green (Dance).

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM
Tix: $5.00-10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Saturday, October 27th: Detroit Bikes! Haunted Detroit Bike Tour

Join Bikes! for its 3rd Annual Haunted Detroit ride on October 27th @ 10am. Meet at the Original Home of Detroit Bikes!, Millennium Bell in Grand Circus Park (near the SW corner of Comerica Park), and enjoy the following sites: the Majestic Theater, Orchestra Hall, the Masonic Temple, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, Wayne State University, The Bonstelle Theatre, The Fox Theatre, Grace/Harper Hospital, and more. Complete your pre-Halloween weekend with a bike tour of Detroit Bikes! Haunted Detroit tour.

Where: Meet in Grand Circus Park at the Millennium Bell, Detroit
When: 10:00AM-2:15PM
Tix: Free to ride, but you must have a helmet and reflectors
www.detroitsynergy.org

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On Friday, October 5, the Kirby Street Neighborhood Association will host a free, public screening of Fritz Lang’s expressionistic 1924 film Die Nibelungen: Siegfreid, to be performed with a live, original rock score by new Detroit band, Darling Imperial.

As part of the ongoing Walk-In Movies series, the film night will be held outdoors in Peck Park, on the corner of Beaubien and Kirby, in Detroit’s Midtown Cultural district. This Walk-In Movie event is made possible by the University Cultural Center Association, Planet Ant Theater, and Amsterdam Espresso. Free popcorn will be provided, and coffee and cider will be available for purchase that evening.

The film Siegfried is the first segment of auteur Fritz Lang’s retelling of the German 13th Century epic poem Die Nibelungenlied. Lang, who also directed the canonic Metropolis, created a stunning fantasy of Siegfried’s journey, as the character travels through a mysterious wood, confronts ogres and dwarfs, battles a fearsome fire-breathing dragon, and struggles to win the hand of the beautiful Kriemhild. Employing light and shadow, and groundbreaking cinematography, this black and white, silent film has been billed as a proto-Lord of the Rings.

Darling Imperial, for their first ever live performance, will be performing their original music for the duration of the screening. Comprised of seven Detroit area musicians, they are former and current members of such bands as Anadonia, Capitol Cities, Troy Gregory and the Stepsisters and the Bonaventures. Their unique sound boasts six singers, combines layers of electric guitars, musical bells, and raucous percussion, and promises a truly memorable rock score for this epic film.

The Walk-In Movie screening of Siegfried will last 96 minutes, and seating is open in the park on a first come, first serve basis. The screening will begin approximately at dusk. For more information, please contact Scott Dillon at scott@ideabarndesign.com or Elizabeth Isakson at liz@cubegallery.com or visit www.myspace.com/kirbystreet.

Bohemian House

Friday, Oct 5th: Cleons Down, Bahamut, Watson, Just Ask
Reunion show featuring members of roosevelt’s inaugural parade,king for a day and the suicide machines. You remember, from back in the day! Doors at 9 pm; $5.

Sat. Oct 6th: Scavenger Quartet, The All Static Band (Zoos of Berlin)
Detroit’s long-running and up and coming instrumental groups join forces for a night of beautiful, unusual music. Scavenger Quartet makes one of it’s only appearances this year, with automotons filling in as the fourth member of the quartet for drummer Doug Gourlay. Frank and Joel also cover percussion responsibilities with their two-man-one-man-band set-up, one of the most unique instrumentations you’re likely to see all year. The All Static Band is a more improvised version of Zoos of Berlin, minus one member. Clever arrangements, strong hooks and more ideas than a dozen bands have all year- all in one night!
Doors at 9 pm; sliding scale $5-10.

10/8 Rempis Percussion Quartet, Eric Hall
Although this is the first visit by this outstanding ensemble, all of the members have played the Bohemian before in such groups as The Vandermark 5, Keefe Jackson’s Fast Citizens, Exploding Star Sextet, Wrack etc. Lead by Dave Rempis’ brilliant alto playing and anchored by the steady bass of Anton Hatwich, the group lives up to its name by featuring two of Chicago’s best young drummers, Tim Daisy and Frank Rosaly. Opening the show is Eric Hall from St. Louis, who creates electronic music in a wide variety of contexts. Doors at 8 pm; $5-10 sliding scale.

10/9 Damo Suzuki with Detroit Sound Carriers, Tyvek
The former lead singer of seminal Kraut-Rock band Can returns to the US for the first time in 5 years.
He ended his last US tour in Detroit and he’s starting his new one here too. Eschewing the normal rock tour, Damo travels the world constantly, playing with noted locals in every city he stops at. In Detroit, his band will feature Mick Collins, Matt Smith, Joel Peterson, Mark Sawasky, Marko Novachcoff and Thollem McDonas. This is a very similar line-up to his last show, which made Damo proclaim “Detroit is the most important place for music in the US.” Opening the show is Tyvek, who- after several months absence- return to reclaim their tittle as the band that has played The Bohemian the most. We knew they were cool before all the good press!
Doors at 9 pm; $10.

Bohemian National Home
3009 Tillman, Detroit 48216
313 737 6606

COMING UP:

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Friday, October 5th-Saturday, November 3rd: Dr. Seward’s Dracula

Planet Ant Theatre begins its 11th season with the world premiere of “Dr. Seward’s Dracula,” a vampire thriller by award winning Michigan playwright Joseph Zettelmaier and directed by Shannon Ferrante

In the wake of the “Dracula incident” Dr. Seward has hidden himself away in a flat overlooking his old home at the asylum with only morphine and his deceased love, Emily, to comfort him. Enter Bram Stoker hoping to find the subject of his next novel in Dr. Seward’s journals of the events. Suddenly the murders begin again. As they come closer to Dr. Seward the exact history of the events becomes uncertain. For every question there is another secret in this chilling, mind-bending thriller.

Written by-Joseph Zettelmaier
Directed by-Shannon Ferrante
Stage Manager-Andrea Cannon
Dramturge-Alison Christy
Fight Choreographer- Joe Zettelmaier

Dr. Seward-Rob McFadyen
Emily Covington- Sarah Korson
Bram Stoker- Lee Stille
Inspector Louis Carsyle- Keith Kalinowski
The Strange Man-Jacob Hodgson

Designers
Scenic-Tommy Leroy
Costumes-Katie Orr
Lighting-Josh Fisher

Joseph Zettelmaier is a playwright and teacher native to Michigan. Some of his productions include: Language Lessons at the Performance Network. All Childish Things^, Planet Ant Theatre, Night Blooming, Blackbird Theatre, The Stillness Between Breaths+*, Performance Network, Point Of Origin***, Fireside Festival of New Works, Fever Dreams and Science Friction, both at the Treetown Festival.

+-Selected to be part of The National New Play Networks Festival of New
Plays, held at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
**-Winner-Best New Script of 2005, The Oakland Press Theatre Awards
***-Winner-Best Locally Created Show of 2002-Ann Arbor News
^-Nominee for the American Theatre Critics Associate Award

OTHER
2006-Present: Adjunct Professor, Dramatic Composition: Eastern Michigan University
2000-2001: Playmaker Playwright, The Purple Rose Theatre

Shannon Ferrante is and actress and director who is a native to the Detroit area. She received her BFA from Wayne State and trained in Moscow, Russia at the Moscow Art Theatre. Since 06 she has served a producer and Artistic Director of BoxFest, a festival of female directors, which takes place at Planet Ant every year. She was the Assistant Director on All Childish Things at Planet Ant Theatre and Language Lessons at Performance Network Theatre. She is also a member of the Board at Planet Ant Theatre.

Where: Planet Ant Theatre, Hamtranck
When: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 8:00PM; Sundays 2:00PM; special performance on Wednesday, October 31st.
Tix: $15.00 general admission, $10.00 students and seniors. Thursdays are 2-for-1. Free coffee and donuts on Sundays.
www.planetant.com

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Saturday, October 6th: Detoberfest

I was told I could invite some friends, and so I am—all of you! Detoberfest is a yearly gathering of Detroit-lovers and beer-lovers on party-friendly Belle Isle. It’s BYOB, but there’s a catch—all attendees must bring a 6-pack to share, and there is a “banned beer” list to ensure that all beers brought will be new and unique. Basically, if you can buy it in a Meijer, don’t bring it to Belle Isle. We will meet in Pavilion 2 with unique micro-brews in-hand. This is a great chance to meet and mingle, so get 4 or 5 of your closest friends and come celebrate Oktoberfest in the D!

Where: Belle Isle Pavilion 2, Detroit
When: 11:00AM-3:30PM
Tix: Free admission, but a 6-pack per person is required

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Saturday, October 6th: Blue October (with Yellowcard, Shiny Toy Guns, and Ozma)

Indie (-ish) alterna-rock bands unite with headliner Blue October in the ever-appropriate month of October.

Where: The Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak
When: Doors at 6:30PM, show starts at 7:00PM
Tix: $37.00 general admission ($40.00 day of show)
www.royaloakmusictheatre.com
www.tickets.com

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Saturday, October 6th: Scavenger Quartet & The All Static Band (Zoos of Berlin)

Detroit’s long-running and up and coming instrumental groups join forces for a night of beautiful, unusual music. Scavenger Quartet makes one of it’s only appearances this year, with automotons filling in as the fourth member of the quartet for drummer Doug Gourlay. Frank and Joel also cover percussion responsibilities with their two-man-one-man-band set-up, which ensures one of the most unique instrumentations you’re likely to see all year. The All Static Band is a more improvised version of Zoos of Berlin, minus one member. Clever arrangements, strong hooks and more ideas than a dozen bands have all year–all in one night!

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00-10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Saturday, October 6th: Kevin Saunderson @ Fi-Nite Gallery

If you are a techno lover, then you should not miss this opportunity to see one of Detroit’s premiere techno artist Kevin Saunderson at the Fi-Nite Gallery. He will be joined by Rick Wilhite, Jerome Derradji, and Cordell. Remember what rave was like? This will be a good reminder.

Where: Fi-Nite Gallery, Detroit
When: midnight-6:00AM
Tix: $10.00 before 2:00AM, $15.00 after
www.myspace.com/finitegallery

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Sunday, October 7th: Romanian Music at MoCAD

Join MoCAD for a special afternoon of Classical Music, and a Lecture on Romanian Modern Art, in celebration of the American Romanian Festival.

Dinu Lipatti: ‘Fantesie op. 8′
Ling-Ju Lai (piano)

Cornel Taranu: ‘Prolegomene’
Cornel Taranu (conductor), Kyoko Kashiwagi (violin), Marian Tanau (violin),
Eva Stern (viola), Paul Wingert (cello), and Joel Schoenhals (piano)
.
Lecture-presentation:
Romanian Modern and Contemporary Art
Maria Hunicag

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 1:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Monday, October 8th: Pastors Cooking for Kids Dinner & Silent Auction

Fine food, shopping, and networking all in one location – it doesn’t get any better than this! Guests are invited to indulge in 20+ dishes while relaxing to jazz music & networking in a charming yet sophisticated atmosphere. Running concurrently with dinner is a fabulous Silent Auction. Cash-bar and Valet Parking available. This is a non-denominational charity event. The proceeds from this event will help support Mayor’s Time and its activities.
Mayor’s Time is a registered non-profit organization under Section 501 ©(3) of the ISR Code; donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.
Where: Seldom Blues Restaurant and Jazz Supper Club, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-9:00PM
Tix: $60.00
www.mayorstime.com

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Monday, October 8th: Rempis Percussion Quartet, Eric Hall

Although this is the first visit by this outstanding ensemble, all of the members have played the Bohemian before in such groups as The Vandermark 5, Keefe Jackson’s Fast Citizens, Exploding Star Sextet, Wrack etc. Lead by Dave Rempis’ brilliant alto playing and anchored by the steady bass of Anton Hatwich, the group lives up to its name by featuring two of Chicago’s best young drummers, Tim Daisy and Frank Rosaly. Opening the show is Eric Hall from St. Louis, who creates electronic music in a wide variety of contexts.

Where: The Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM
Tix: $5-10 sliding scale.
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Tuesday, October 9th: Two Hands Wine Dinner

Jeremy Restaurant is offering a four-course dinner with matching wines. Two Hands Wines of the famed Barossa Valley in Australia will be featured. Vince Falzone will be the keynote speaker.

Opening course
Warm Pumpkin Arugula Salad, Two Hands ‘Brilliant Diguise’ Moscato

Second Course
Pan-Seared Trout with Pancetta, Fennel & Roasted Grape Bread Pudding
Two Hands Angel Share Shiraz

Entree
Oxtail Strudel with Mushrooms, Root Vegetables & Whole Grain Rice Pilaf and Red Wine Sauce
Two Hand’s Bella’s Garden Shiraz

Dessert
Spiced Autum Pound Cake with Apples, Cranberries & Creme Fraiche
Two Hands for Love or Money ‘Cane Cut’ Semmillon

Where: Jeremy Restaurant and Bar, Keego Harbor
When: 6:30PM-10:00PM
Tix: $85.00
www.jeremyrestaurantandbar.com

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Tuesday, October 9th: Damo Suzuki with Detroit Sound Carriers, Tyvek

The former lead singer of seminal Kraut-Rock band Can returns to the US for the first time in 5 years. He ended his last US tour in Detroit and he’s starting his new one here too. Eschewing the normal rock tour, Damo travels the world constantly, playing with noted locals in every city he stops at. In Detroit, his band will feature Mick Collins, Matt Smith, Joel Peterson, Mark Sawasky, Marko Novachcoff and Thollem McDonas. This is a very similar line-up to his last show, which made Damo proclaim “Detroit is the most important place for music in the US.” Opening the show is Tyvek, who- after several months absence- return to reclaim their title as the band that has played The Bohemian the most.

Where: The Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Thursday, October 11th: Wine Tasting to Benefit HAVEN

Enjoy exotic wines and delicious hors’d'oeuvres at the Rivercrest Banquet Center in Rochester Hills.
Proceeds will benefit HAVEN, Oakland County’s center for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention.
Where: Rivercrest Banquet Center, Rochester Hills
When: 7:00PM-10:00PM
Tix: $100.00 benefactor, $50.00 individual, $80.00 couple
Please RSVP by October 4th to Holly Thomas at 248-334-1284, ext. 341 or by email at hthomas@haven-oakland.org.
www.haven-oakland.org

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Friday, October 12th: Michigan Opera Theatre Opera Ball

All preceding Cyrano festivities are leading up to the highly-anticipated World Premiere Festival Weekend, as the world premiere of Cyrano will include an entire weekend of celebrations for the work of Cyrano composer and Michigan Opera Theatre general director David DiChiera, the cast and creative team. Beginning Friday, October 12, 2007 with the 21st annual Michigan Opera Theatre Opera Ball, guests in black-tie apparel will enjoy dancing, mingling and fine food and drink presented in a grand tent on the grounds of the Detroit Opera House.

Where: The Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: N/A
www.motopera.org

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Saturday, October 13th: Cyrano World Premiere and Michigan Opera Theatre Black-Tie Gala Suuper

The Michigan Opera Theatre is pleased to present Cyrano, a world premiere opera by Company Founder and General Director, David DiChiera, and director/librettist Bernard Uzan, at the Detroit Opera House. This three-act opera, DiChiera’s first-ever major opera, is based on Edmond Rostand’s celebrated play of 1897, Cyrano de Bergerac, a romantic tragedy.

Over eight years in the making, Cyrano represents DiChiera in his debut as an opera composer, reuniting him with long-time colleague Uzan and a host of creative team members. For more than 36 years, DiChiera has produced opera and musical theatre productions, in addition to salvaging the Detroit Music Hall in 1971, founding Michigan Opera Theatre, and establishing the Detroit Opera House in 1996. His enormous and well-documented contributions to the cultural life of Detroit, in addition to founding Opera Pacific in Orange County and providing artistic vision for Dayton Opera, have earned him a special place within the rarified world of the performing arts.

In a grand celebration befitting of this momentous world premiere of David DiChiera’s Cyrano in Detroit, the Detroit Opera House is hosting a celebratory evening feast immediately following the opening night world premiere. This event will be attended by Cyrano artists and the creative team.

Where: The Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: 9:30PM (world premiere at 6:00PM)
Tix: N/A
www.motopera.org

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Sunday, October 14th: Darwin

Using L.E.D. lit-costumes on a completely black stage, performance group Darwin takes audiences on a tour of evolution, from dinosaurs to mankind. The costumes and lighting are amazing, and the performers’ abilities to manipulate their shapes and body movements to convey the dawns and deaths of now-extinct creatures is nothing short of fascinating.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 4:00PM
Tix: $17.00, $7.00 for students
www.ticketmaster.com

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Tuesday, October 16th: Exotic Wines and Foods of Portugal

Join the Matt Prentice Group at Coach Insignia for a special walk-around Iberian tasting dinner. You’ll tour the country with four guest winemakers as your guides! Enjoy a delicious station feast of Portuguese food and wine.

You’ll sip your way through the aromatic whites of the Minho province to the dense, chewy reds of the Douro, finishing up with Port, of course. Impress your friends with your insider’s knowledge of this emerging region.

Where: Coach Insignia, Detroit
When: 6:30PM
Tix: $60.00
www.mattprenticerg.com

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Wednesday, October 17th: Detroit Synergy Supper Club at the Majestic Café

The Majestic Theatre Complex has been a Detroit staple for over 60 years now. The Zainea family has worked hard to preserve the beautiful theatre as well as the Garden Bowl bowling alley—the oldest in the country—and have also succeeded in creating a space that has become both a hub of indie rock and haven for local artists. The Majestic Café is an eclectic bistro featuring Mediterranean and American cuisines in a relaxed, loft-like environment—exposed brickwork covered in an ever-changing palette of vibrant artwork from local artists, floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows looking out on Woodward, and vaulted ceilings with a very open feel gives this place a flair of big-city style right here in the D. And the Majestic Café’s menu makes it a hidden gem. Typically not considered to be among the “fine-dining hotspots” in Detroit, the Majestic Café can hold its own with many of the more “hoighty-toighty” places around town, and does so with a laissez-fare attitude and artistic aplomb. The Majestic Café invites you to experience fine dining Detroit-style, in an atmosphere that is all Detroit—and feel free to wear jeans!

Menu:

Appetizers

Firecracker Chicken Fingers
Steamed Mussels
Baked Brie with an Assortment of Crackers
All served family-style by table

First Course

Garden Salad with choice of dressing: Hazelnut Vinaigrette, Honey Vinaigrette, Feta Oregano, Basil Vinaigrette, Blue Cheese, Caesar, Ranch

Entrée

Choice of
• Herb-encrusted prime rib served with port demi glace sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, and sautéed French green beans
• Hazelnut-encrusted whitefish, served with basil aioli, roasted red peppers, rice pilaf, and sautéed vegetable medley
• Chicken Carbonara—sautéed chicken with shallots, wild mushrooms, garlic, and prosciutto in a white wine peppered cream sauce served over basil fettuccini
• (Vegetarian) Gimelli Pasta—fresh oregano and garlic olive oil tossed with shallots, parsley, broccoli and mixed vegetables, served with a wedge of marinated grilled feta cheese
Selections to be made at registration, at least one day prior to event

Dessert

Choice of
• Chocolate Mousse
• Cheesecake

Where: The Majestic Café, Detroit
When: 6:30PM
Tix: $30.00 at the door; RSVP with supperclub@detroitsynergy.org
www.detroitsynergy.org

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Wednesday, October 17th: Poetry at the Zeitgeist

Poetry @ the Zeitgeist’s October reading features the author of a highly inventive book of verse on the Holocaust, and two widely published award winning poets whose work is Michigan focused. Carly Sachs’ the steam sequence has garnered praise and attention from the Chicago Tribune and noted poet Lyn Hejinian. The book features a stunning series of poems that revolve around the imagery of steam and ghost evoking intensity and loss. Jeff Vande Zande’s work has been selected for publication by no less a poet than US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. Ken Meisel brings the unique perspective of a psychotherapist to his work which has appeared in over 60 national journals.

Who:
Carly Sachs
teaches creative writing at George Washington University. With Reb Livingston, she curates the Burlesque Poetry Hour at Bar Rouge in Washington, D.C. Her poems have been published in Alimentum, Another Chicago Magazine, Beltway Quarterly Review, Coconut, Ekphrasis, Runes Review, poemmemoirstory, Goodfoot, No Tell Motel, Wicked Alice, and anthologized in Best American Poetry 2004, Regrets Only (Little Pear Press) and Literary Lunch (Knoxville Writer’s Guild). Her latest book of verse, the steam sequence, (Washington Writers’ Publishing House 2006) is an innovative and well imagined group of poems on the Holocaust that has won high praise from the likes of Lyn Hejinian and Laurie Sheck. Sachs received her MFA from The New School.

Jeff Vande Zande
lives in Midland where he teaches at Delta College. His poetry and short stories have appeared in over fifty small press periocals including College English, Passages North, Rattle, Adirondack Review, Iron Horse Literary Review, and Fugue. Two of his poems were nominated for the 1999 Pushcart Prize, and poet Jim Daniels nominated his work for a 2003 Pushcart. In 2006, poet laureate Ted Kooser chose Vande Zande’s work to appear in American Life in Poetry. Vande Zande’s most recent work, the novel Into the Desperate Country, was nominated for a Michigan Notable Book Award.

Ken Meisel
is a poet & psychotherapist. His work appears in over 60 journals including Cream City Review, Spillway, Lake Effect, Bryant Literary Review, Concho River Review, Soundings and the Sulphur River Literary Review. He has authored Sometimes the Wind (2002, March Street Press), Before Exiting (2006, Pure Heart Press) and Just Listening (2007, Pure Heart Press). The chapbook version of Just Listening won the 2006 Swan Duckling contest. Meisel also received honorable mention in the 2006 Rattle poetry contest and his work was included in Rattle’s 2006 “Best Of” collection. The summer 2007 edition of River Oak Review contains a comprehensive review of his first three poetry collections. Meisel is a member of the Michigan Writers Voice.

Where: The Zeitgeist Gallery, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.zeitgeistdetroit.org

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Sunday, October 21st: Classical Concert with Xiao Dong Wei and Yuki Mack

Detroiters, Japanese born pianist Yuki Mack and Chinese born erhu player Xiao Dong Wei will be performing a special classical concert on Sunday, October 21st at 3:00PM in Farmington Hills. Concert takes place at the North Congregational Church located at 36520 W. 12 Mile Rd. (between Drake and Halsted Rds).

Xiao Dong Wei is a Chinese-born classically erhu player (a two-stringed Chinese violin) and graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She has performed throughout China, Japan and the US. In 2004 she released a CD with the Central National Orchestra of China. Xiao Dong moved to the Detroit from Beijing in 2005. Since then, she has continued to perform classically on erhu, guzheng and piano, recently performing as soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in February 2007. Xiao Dong also performs with the popular avant-garde world music quartet called ‘XD WEI’, where she plays erhu and sings in English and Mandarin.

Yuki Mack is a Japanese-born pianist who arrived in the US as a child and eventually relocated to the Detroit area studying at University of Michigan, Oakland University and with Brazilian pianist, Flavio Varani. Yuki has performed and won awards in competitions worldwide, including ones in Japan, Sweden, Poland and the US. She also performs works for two pianos with her sister Tomoko and they have released three highly acclaimed CDs (Rhapsody, American Mosaic and Fantasy) with a fourth
due this year. Yuki and Tomoko were also recently selected as “Steinway Roster Artists".

Where: North Congregational Church, Farmington Hills
When: 3:00PM
Tix: $10.00 advance, $12.00 at the door
For tickets calls 248-672-6508 or 586-776-4346

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week events galore at G.R. N’Namdi, Lemberg, PaulKotulaProjects, Tyree Guyton at Elaine L. Jacob, 555, and many more.

COMING UP:

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Friday, September 28th: The Final 4th Fridays With Ford of 2007

Sad times. One of the major outdoor events highlighted here on these pages is coming to end, and it is the last of its kind. Say goodbye to summer—officially—by bidding adieu to 4th Fridays With Ford, the popular outdoor music and film festival held every 4th Friday through summer in Campus Martius Park. This Friday is Detroit’s Rockin’ Country Fest, headlined by Keith Anderson and featuring Sarah Lenore, the Hummingbirds, Redhill and the Forbes Brothers, all followed by the Cinema D! film festival, highlighting local films (dramatic shorts is the selection du jour on this last hoorah). Also enjoy discounts at local stores, restaurants and bars all day long! Meet, eat, and move your feet in the D!

Where: Campus Martius Park, Detroit
When: 11:30AM-11:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.4thFridaysDetroit.com
www.theworldiscoming.com

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Friday, September 28th-Friday, December 14th: Street Sense: Celebrating 20 Years of the Heidelberg Project Opening Event and Exhibit

Wayne State University’s Elaine L. Jacob Gallery is pleased to present Street Sense: Celebrating 20 Years of The Heidelberg Project from September 28 through December 14, 2007. This special exhibition will document and commemorate the 20-year history of the provocative and internationally recognized neighborhood art project known as the Heidelberg Project, created by Detroit African-American artist, Tyree Guyton. Included in the show are Guyton’s preliminary sketches for Heidelberg installations, historical and contemporary photographs of the project, works of art by Guyton which reflect the free-spirited energy of the Heidelberg Project, and sculptural works from the Project itself, on special temporary loan for this exhibition.

This exhibition, a symposium and related activities, and a significant portion a newly created sculpture by Tyree Guyton, are made possible by generous funding from The Joyce Foundation, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. “We are thrilled to be a recipient of a Joyce Award to support Midwest cultural organizations to commission new works by artists of color. This prestigious award is a very positive reflection on the strengths of the artists in Detroit, and WSU is proud to present programs which help showcase the work of our city’s artists,” said Sharon Vasquez, Dean, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, WSU.

For 20 years, the Heidelberg Project has been an engaging presence on Detroit’s east side. This signature work by artist Tyree Guyton is a symbol of hope and an object of praise, as well as a locus of controversy. Guyton has received awards from the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan; and yet, on more than one occasion, the city government has demolished large segments of the project with little advance warning. Through its tumultuous 20-year history, the Heidelberg Project has remained a thought-provoking and stimulating presence.

In 1986, responding to the deterioration and decay of a once-vibrant Detroit and his own neighborhood, artist Tyree Guyton became inspired to use art to change the world. Since then, Guyton has worked on his Heidelberg Project – a colorful and energetic environmental art project meant to transform the deteriorated neighborhood where the artist grew up into a place with an atmosphere of hope and possibility, with its brightly colored sculptures in vacant lots, and painted abandoned houses adorned with discarded objects from the inner city. Guyton’s vision is centered on using art to transform an environment by stemming urban decay, displacing crime, and rebuilding the dignity and hope of a community.

Street Sense will be the first major exhibition focusing on the Heidelberg Project’s 20-year history, creating a fresh opportunity to examine and interpret the many facets of Guyton’s urban art, and to reconsider its ability to transform environment and encourage multicultural dialogue.

The exhibition opening event will be on Friday, September 28th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery. The event is free and open to the public.

Where: Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, Wayne State University, Detroit
When: 5:00PM-8:00PM (Opening Reception); Tues & Thurs 10:00AM-6:00PM, Fri 10:00AM-7:00PM (Exhibit)
Tix: Free to public

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Friday, September 28th: 2007 Detroit Uncorked

The Detroit Wine Organization hosts the Fourth Annual Detroit Uncorked benefit event, presented by Ford Motor Company. This benefit is in support of The Children’s Hospital of Detroit, and will feature hundreds of wines from around the world, light hors d’ oeuvres, live entertainment, and a silent auction.

Where: Ford Field, Detroit
When: 6:30PM-9:00PM
Tix: $80.00
http://detroituncorked.com

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Friday, September 28th-Saturday, September 29th: Fall Harvest Feast

The Matt Prentice Restaurant Group presents the Fall Harvest Feast at Shiraz. And here’s the menu to make your mouth water:

Buttermilk Fried P.E.I. Oyster
Béarnaise Sauce & Root Vegetable Hash
~
Seared Sea Scallop
Pumpkin Butternut Squash, Watercress & Brown Butter
~
Roasted Beet Salad
Cucumber, Feta, Gaeta Olives & Balsamic Vinaigrette
~
White Peking Duck Breast & Savory Sweet Potato Tart
Swiss Chard, Macintosh Apple & Cherry Gastrique
~
“Kobe Style” Wagyu Beef Short Rib
Rutabaga, Parsnip, Celery Root &
Horseradish Yukon Smashed Potatoes
~
Warm Apple Caramel Bread Pudding
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
~
$49.95 Prix Fixe per person (not inclusive of tax or gratuity). Wine packages are offered at an additional cost.

Where: Shiraz, Bingham Farms
When: 7:00PM (both nights)
Tix: $49.95 + tax, gratuity, and alcohol
www.mattprenticerg.com

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Friday, September 28th: Detroit Guerrilla Queer Bar Faux Pas Party

Your friends at the Detroit Guerrilla Queer Bar invite you to join them in breaking fashion’s cardinal rule: wear white after Labor Day! And while I’m sure that won’t be the ONLY sin that is committed this evening, it will be the most visible! That’s right, it’s a faux-pas party. Break out those white linen pants for one last go-round before 2008, and join the DGQB for another night of not-so-hostile-takeover fun!

Where: The Town Pump Tavern, Detroit
When: 9:00PM-when the gays go home
Tix: Free admission
www.detroitguerrillas.com

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Friday, September 28th: Nautical Almanac & Demons

With ties to Detroit, New Orleans and Baltimore, this bill will feature the noisy, outsider experimentation you’d expect to be brewing in America’s under-dog cities. Using a variety of home-made instruments, Baltimore’s Nautical Almanac moves from abrasive walls of sound to minimalist introspection to industrial catastrophe, never pausing for too long before changing the aural environment. Opening the show is Demons, the duo of Nate Young (Wolf Eyes) and Steve Kenney (Pterodactyls). Demon’s sonic brew is made from a cauldron of wounded and dying circuitry inside
second-hand synths, drum machines and mixers.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, September 28th-Saturday, October 20th: Desperate Losers: NSFW (Not Safe for Work)

The Abreact proudly presents the first show of their seventh season: Desperate Losers: NSFW (Not Safe For Work), written and directed by “Wilde Award Winner” Mike McGettigan.

An original comedy set in the year 2012, Desperate Losers tells the story of A Detroit native working in the auto industry who struggles to balance his dreams of fame with the reality of his work, girlfriend, landlord and love of goofing off, all as America heads closer and closer to a dictatorship.

Desperate Losers: NSFW, is part one of the complete story (part two will open in June of ‘08).

This show features the acting talents of Sarah Switanowski, Molly McMahon, Chad Kushuba, Patrick O’Connor Cronin, Sean McGettigan, Dax Anderson and The Abreact’s own award-winning Chuck Reynolds as Malcolm.

Writer/Director, Mike McGettigan, has won awards for the other original shows originally produced at The Abreact: Space F*ckers and last year’s successful Whackjob. Please come join in his latest joint venture and come ready to laugh!

Reservations can be made at reservations@theabreact.com or by calling 313.247.5270.

Where: Zeitgeist Gallery, Detroit
When: Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 20 at 8:00PM, Sunday October 14 at 4:00PM
Tix: $10.00 (additional donations accepted and appreciated)
www.theabreact.com
http://zeitgeistdetroit.org

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Friday, September 28th: Funk Night at the CAID

It’s the end of the month—time to bring the funk! Head over to the CAID for another late night of funky-fresh revelry. Doors don’t even open until midnight—now THAT’S a party!

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $3.00, free for members
www.thecaid.org

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Saturday, September 29th: Street Sense: Celebrating 20 Years of the Heidelberg Project Public Symposium

In celebration of their new exhibit highlighting 20 years of the Heidelberg Project, the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery at Wayne State University, the exhibit organizers invite the general public to a free public symposium to hear the perspectives of scholars, community leaders, college students, and the artist about the Heidelberg Project and its implications for understanding the role of art in society. Attendees will also have an opportunity to respond, ask questions, and lend their comments.

The symposium will be moderated by Dr. Marion Jackson, Professor of Art History, Wayne State University. Symposium panelists will include: Artist Tyree Guyton; Dr. John Beardsley, Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University; Ms. Phyllis Lovette, Principal, Ralph J. Bunche School; Dr. Mysoon Rizk, Associate Professor of Art History, University of Toledo; Ms. Jenenne Whitfield, Executive Director, The Heidelberg Project; Stephanie Lynnette Zambo and Jeffrey Gill, students, Wayne State University.

Immediately following the symposium, attendees will be given an opportunity to visit the Heidelberg Project via shuttle bus provided free of charge, and attend an hors d’oerves reception. At this event, the newly released book Connecting the Dots: Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project, published by Wayne State University Press, will be available for purchase.

Where: The Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, Wayne State University, Detroit, & The Heidelberg Project, Detroit
When: 2:00PM-4:30PM
Tix: Free admission

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Saturday, September 29th: The 13th Annual Triangle Foundation Dinner Event

Join the Triangle Foundation at the high-tech and sleek Ford Conference and Event Center in Dearborn Michigan. This fabulous event begins at 5:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception in the gallery presented by Paramount Bank.

This year, the Silent Auction is filled with everything from gift certificates to original artwork by local artists to huge trips around the country! At 7:00PM, guests will move into the Great Hall where dinner, catered by internationally renowned Opus One of Detroit, will be served. Following dinner, the program will begin with the presentation of the 2007 Catalyst Awards, concluding with a Keynote Address by the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

Where: Ford Conference and Event Center, Dearborn
When: 5:00PM
Tix: $150.00
www.tri.org

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Saturday, September 29th: Curare II at the CAID

An indoor and outdoor music festival featuring (in order of appearance): The Killing Floor (Detroit), Spanish Castles (Detroit), Prussia (Detroit), The Fascists (Bay City), Horse To Water (Chicago), The Looms (Detroit), PINKEYE (Detroit), Rootbear (Detroit), Wildcatting (Detroit), and Puffy Areolas (Toledo). Also appearing will be DJ Carjack, Lightshow Bob, Handmade Detroit…and a BBQ!

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: Doors at 5:00PM, show starts at 6:00PM and runs until 2-ish
Tix: $8.00
www.thecaid.org

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Saturday, September 29th: Scarab Centennial Ball

The Historic Scarab Club Presents: Celebrating 100 years—An Egyptian-Themed Costume Ball. A Fundraiser for the Preservation of the Historic Scarab Clubhouse.
Costume party with the option of black tie apparel.

6:30pm-8:00pm: Cocktails with music by Joe Lucido
8:00pm-9:30pm: Strolling Supper, House Caterer: Union Street
8:00pm-12:00am: Mike Zelenak Orchestra in the First Floor Gallery
10:00pm-2am: DJ JKenobi, DJ Rock n Roll Scientist, DJ Milieu in the Second Floor Lounge
Midnight: Pizza
10:30pm and 12:00am: Fashion Show in the Second Floor Lounge

Designers: Kate Bennett, Samantha Bullock, Super Deformed Robot, Valerie Keiser, Blair Grinn, and Eugenia Paul. Hair by: Alicia Howell and Makeup by: Shalonda A.
Egyptian Murals will decorate the First Floor Gallery

Mural Artists: Taurus Burns, Jamie Alexander, Floyd Binns, Agnes Gira, Howard Dombrowski, Bill Harper, Rosemary Bu, George Booth, Carol Taft, Francine Kachman, Mitch Scheidel and The Art of Walter and Jerbear.

Poster Artwork by: Mark Heggie

Where: Scarab Clubhouse, Detroit
When: 6:30PM-2:00AM
Tix: $100.00 for the full event, $25.00 for 10:00PM and on ($35.00 at the door)
www.scarabclub.org

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Saturday, September 29th: Comedy Explosion

FM 98 WJLB & MIX 92.3 present headliners Bruce Brice, Sheryl Underwood, and Don “D.C.” Curry, with Dominique and John Witherspoon, in a Comedy Explosion at the Fox!

Where: The Fox Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $51.50-$78.00
www.ticketmaster.com

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Sunday, September 30th: Healing Power of the Arts Exhibit Opening & VIP Event

The Art Experience, Inc. and the Orion Art Center present the 2nd annual traveling art exhibit of the Healing Power of the Arts. The exhibit will be presented at The Art Experience, Inc., in Summit Place Mall at 315 N. Telegraph, Waterford , Mich. (1st entrance N. of Kohl’s). The VIP event will be on Sunday, September 30th, 2007 from 4:00- 7:00PM.

The program, beginning at 5:30PM, will include a live dance performance by members of the professional modern dance company, the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. Light refreshments will be served. The art exhibit will continue on display at The Art Experience, Inc. from September 30th through November 3rd.

The exhibit, now in its second year, is a collaborative effort of two nonprofit agencies –The Art Experience, Inc. and the Orion Art Center . It was created to bring attention to the important role that art and creativity play in the healing process.

The exhibit will represent many instances of using art as a healing tool in the lives people these non-profit agencies - in conjunction with two other participating non-profit organizations, Common Ground Sanctuary and Paint a Miracle - serve. There will be over 50 pieces of art on display, including paintings and sculpture - as well as work of featured artists.

The featured artist at the opening will be Laurie Eisenhower, artistic director, of Eisenhower Dance Ensemble in Rochester , Mich. Eisenhower is a talented, creative choreographer whose choreography has been set on dancers across the country. She has found that choreography helps with the healing process, while grieving the loss of her husband to cancer in February, 2006. She created “Tom’s Songs,” a suite of eight dances to eight of her husband’s favorite rock and folk songs. This dance premiered in April, 2007. A part of the suite will be performed at the opening by members of the professional modern dance company, the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. Don’t miss the excitement of being so close to a live dance performance from this premier modern dance company, and the poignant choreography of Laurie Eisenhower.

In addition, a number of art pieces from Susan Teague, a nationally exhibiting and award-winning professional Michigan artist, located in Kalamazoo , will be featured. Teague was the featured artist at the Orion Art Center ’s opening of the exhibit, in August, 2007. Teague has found art to be an integral part of her healing process in many different life situations

In many instances, the artwork included in this exhibit is a result of therapeutic processes. Artists’ experiences of physical injury, cancer, emotional conflict, mental illness and various other clinical diagnoses have become tangible through art. Still, some artists employ creative processes as a tool for everyday healthy living.

Medical and mental health care providers often use creative processes to gain valuable insight into their patient’s progress toward healing. Art therapy can help clients cope with their illness and express their deep feelings.

About The Art Experience, Inc. (TAE)
The Art Experience, Inc., is a non-profit community art studio founded in 1995 by six art therapists. Located in Waterford , in Summit Place Mall, the organization’s mission is to provide creative and therapeutic arts experiences for a diverse Oakland County community. TAE is a recognized effective educational and therapeutic arts resource that cultivates creativity as essential to the quality of people’s lives. TAE fosters a unique community wherein artists, both with and without disabilities, work “side-by-side” creating art. TAE is a volunteer organization supported by donations, contracts, local grants and an annual fundraiser. For more information, visit http://www.theartexperience.org.

About the Orion Art Center
The Orion Art Center , a non-profit community arts organization, has been serving the north Oakland County areas for more than 27 years by bringing art, in all forms, to the community. The organization strives to bring out the artist in everyone through classes, camps, exhibits, demonstrations, concerts, special events and specific interest groups. Orion Art Center collaborates with other groups to help drive the vision of a vibrant, healthy, culturally rich community. It is funded by membership, grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), corporate and private donations and sponsorships. For more information, visit http://www.orionartcenter.org.

Where: The Art Experience (inside Summit Place Mall), Pontiac
When: 4:00PM-7:00PM
Tix: $20.00

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Sunday, September 30th: Deerhoof

A rare Midwest appearance: By turns cuddly and chaotic, San Francisco’s Deerhoof mixes noise, sugary melodies, and an experimental spirit into sweetly challenging and utterly distinctive music. With Frank Pahl’s Little Bang Theory: Frank Pahl and friends making quirky avant pop sounds with a table full of little instruments. Opening is Mountain Ocean Sun, a new drone outfit from the His Name is Alive camp.

Where: The Crofoot Ballroom (a new venue!), Pontiac
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $12.00

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Monday, October 1st: The Flaming Lips

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is probably the best record the “oughts” has thus far seen. For that reason alone, this is a show that should not be missed.

Where: Clutch Cargo’s, Pontiac
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $25.00 general admission
www.ticketmaster.com

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Wednesday, October 3rd: Creative Capital Foundation Grant Information Session

MOCAD will host a free grant information session for artists with Kemi Ilesanmi of Creative Capital Foundation. Creative Capital Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that supports artists pursuing adventurous and imaginative work in the performing and visual arts, film/video, innovative literature, and emerging fields. In 2008, Creative Capital will be considering proposals in the performing arts, innovative literature, and emerging fields.

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 11:30AM-1:00PM
Tix: Free Admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Wednesday, October 3rd: Wednesday Wine Bar, The World of Second Labels

Are you hip to the “second wines” of many of the world’s best wineries? The skill, terroir and reputation of great wineries without the expense of the original!
Join Madeline Triffon and her Wine Team as we show off the quality and value of wines that didn’t get included in the “Top Wine’s” final blend. At least 10 wines will be tasted, along with a sumptuous hors d’oeuvres spread only the No. VI could prepare!

Where: No. VI Chophouse & Lobster Bar, Novi
When: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Tix: $40.00
www.mattprenticerg.com

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Wednesday, October 3rd: Magik Markers & Forest People

The Magik Markers are a guitar and drums duo who have little to do with garage rock, despite what the rock journals say. Guitarist Elisa Ambrogio applies some Art Brute technique to her instrument; she’s raw and angular and not afraid to employ a few foreign objects to the strings. Her swirling, improvisatory-feeling maelstrom is supported by the more traditionally skilled, but equally creative drumming of ex-Detroiter Pete Nolan. Last time here, they started slow and built the set into a
testimony to beauty of unschooled creativity.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00-7:00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, October 5th: The Marick Press House presents Poets Follies

Poets Follies – a reading, discussion and performance gathering of and about local poetry and prose authors and musicians – will be held at the Marick Press House on 15120 Kercheval Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park.

Featured readers include Ilya Kaminsky and Garth Greenwell.

Ilya Kaminsky was born in Odessa , former Soviet Union in 1977, and arrived to the United States in 1993, when his family was granted asylum by the American government. Ilya is the author of Dancing In Odessa (Tupelo Press, 2004) which won the Whiting Writer’s Award, the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Metcalf Award, the Dorset Prize, the Ruth Lilly Fellowship given annually by Poetry magazine.Dancing In Odessa was also named Best Poetry Book of the Year 2004 by ForeWord Magazine.

In addition, Ilya writes poetry in Russian. His work in that language was chosen for “Bunker Poetico” at Venice Bienial Festival in Italy . In late 1990s, he co-founded Poets For Peace, an organization which sponsors poetry readings in the United States and abroad with a goal of supporting such relief organizations as Doctors Without Borders and Survivors International.

Ilya has served as a Writer In Residence at Phillips Exeter Academy and has taught poetry at numerous literary centers. Since Fall 2006, he teaches in the graduate writing program at San Diego State University . Ilya has also worked as a Law Clerk at the National Immigration Law Center , and more recently at Bay Area Legal Aid, helping impovershed and homeless in solving their legal difficulties. He currently lives in Berkeley , California with his beautiful wife, Katie Farris.

Garth Greenwell is a Mellon Fellow at Harvard University , where he studies English and American literature. He has new poems in Salmagundi, Boston Review, Pleiades, and elsewhere; his criticism appears in Harvard Review, American Book Review, West Branch, and is forthcoming in Parnassus . An earlier version of “Ekstasis” was published by Slope.

Where: The Marick Press House, Grosse Pointe Park
When: 6:30PM-9:30PM
Tix: $5.00

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Friday, October 5th: Kirby Street Neighborhood Association presents Die Nibelungen

On Friday, October 5, the Kirby Street Neighborhood Association will host a free, public screening of Fritz Lang’s expressionistic 1924 film Die Nibelungen: Siegfreid, to be performed with a live, original rock score by new Detroit band, Darling Imperial.

As part of the ongoing Walk-In Movies series, the film night will be held outdoors in Peck Park, on the corner of Beaubien and Kirby, in Detroit’s Midtown Cultural district.

This Walk-In Movie event is made possible by the University Cultural Center Association, Planet Ant Theater, and Amsterdam Espresso. Free popcorn will be provided, and coffee and cider will be available for purchase that evening.

The film Siegfried is the first segment of auteur Fritz Lang’s retelling of the German 13th Century epic poem Die Nibelungenlied. Lang, who also directed the canonic Metropolis, created a stunning fantasy of Siegfried’s journey, as the character travels through a mysterious wood, confronts ogres and dwarfs, battles a fearsome fire-breathing dragon, and struggles to win the hand of the beautiful Kriemhild. Employing light and shadow, and groundbreaking cinematography, this black and white, silent film has been billed as a proto-Lord of the Rings.

Darling Imperial, for their first ever live performance, will be performing their original music for the duration of the screening. Comprised of seven Detroit area musicians, they are former and current members of such bands as Anadonia, Capitol Cities, Troy Gregory and the Stepsisters and the Bonaventures. Their unique sound boasts six singers, combines layers of electric guitars, musical bells, and raucous percussion, and promises a truly memorable rock score for this epic film.

The Walk-In Movie screening of Siegfried will last 96 minutes, and seating is open in the park on a first come, first serve basis. The screening will begin approximately at dusk.

Where: Peck Park, Detroit
When: Approx. 7:00PM
Tix: Free admission

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Friday, October 5th: Starry Nights, a Benefit for the Hospices of Henry Ford

Not much info available on this, and if I didn’t feel it was a worthy cause to keep on here I would remove it. Seriously, who doesn’t utilize the Internet? WHO???? Stupid, stupid, stupid. But APPARENTLY, if you want any information about this, you need to contact Lynn Moore-Pischke at (248) 588-2402. Even though the phone is SOOOO over.

Where: The Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit
When: 6:30PM-10:00PM
Tix: Information not yet available
www.henryfordhealth.org

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Friday, October 5th: Cleons Down, Bahamut, Watson, Just Ask

Reunion show featuring members of Roosevelt’s inaugural Parade King for a Day and the Suicide Machines. You remember, from back in the day!

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Saturday, October 6th: Detoberfest

I was told I could invite some friends, and so I am—all of you! Detoberfest is a yearly gathering of Detroit-lovers and beer-lovers on party-friendly Belle Isle. It’s BYOB, but there’s a catch—all attendees must bring a 6-pack to share, and there is a “banned beer” list to ensure that all beers brought will be new and unique. Basically, if you can buy it in a Meijer, don’t bring it to Belle Isle. We will meet in Pavilion 2 with unique micro-brews in-hand. This is a great chance to meet and mingle, so get 4 or 5 of your closest friends and come celebrate Oktoberfest in the D!

Where: Belle Isle Pavilion 2, Detroit
When: 11:00AM-3:30PM
Tix: Free admission, but a 6-pack per person is required

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Saturday, October 6th: Blue October (with Yellowcard, Shiny Toy Guns, and Ozma)

Indie (-ish) alterna-rock bands unite with headliner Blue October in the ever-appropriate month of October.

Where: The Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak
When: Doors at 6:30PM, show starts at 7:00PM
Tix: $37.00 general admission ($40.00 day of show)
www.royaloakmusictheatre.com
www.tickets.com

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Saturday, October 6th: Scavenger Quartet & The All Static Band (Zoos of Berlin)

Detroit’s long-running and up and coming instrumental groups join forces for a night of beautiful, unusual music. Scavenger Quartet makes one of it’s only appearances this year, with automotons filling in as the fourth member of the quartet for drummer Doug Gourlay. Frank and Joel also cover percussion responsibilities with their two-man-one-man-band set-up, which ensures one of the most unique instrumentations you’re likely to see all year. The All Static Band is a more improvised version of Zoos of Berlin, minus one member. Clever arrangements, strong hooks and more ideas than a dozen bands have all year–all in one night!

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00-10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week - the fall season continues to build with a host of arts goings-on including “Intersection” at Work : Detroit, a really long-named show at Zeitgeist, Paint Creek Arts Center, Jerry Vile at the Bohemian House, and many more.

COMING UP:

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Thursday, September 20th: Crain’s Detroit House Party

Presented by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, that little local business publication known as Crain’s Detroit Business (which recently named our very own Nick Sousanis one of their “40 Under 40”) is hosting a house party and is inviting all Detroit Metro area residents interested in learning more about Detroit living to attend!

Choose from Detroit-area architecture tours of historic buildings, new construction, lofts, renovation projects, or a selection of the offerings in the Ferndale/Royal Oak areas. Touring sites are on a first-come basis, so register early to ensure you receive the touring site you desire.

House visits and cocktail parties will be from 5:00-6:30PM, followed by the after-glow event from 7:00-9:30 (the location will be disclosed during your house visit).

For more information or to register, please visit www.crainsdetroit.com. Registration ends Wednesday, September 12th at 5:00PM.

Where: Locations based on touring site, afterglow event to be announced during tour
When: 5:00PM-9:30PM
Tix: $65.00 (includes one year subscription to Crain’s Detroit Business)
www.crainsdetroit.com

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Thursday, September 20th: A Detroit Thing Movie Premiere

“I’m not saying all this is true, but it is the way I remember it . . .” proclaims Anthony Brancaleone (writer/director) as he takes his audience through the real life fairytale of working bands in the blue-collar decadence of Detroit. The film follows the parallel lives of several musicians, including Kid Rock and Tino (Howling Diablos), as they gig their way to the top of the local rock scene. Using the romantic grit of the city streets, Brancaleone explores the difficulties of pursuing rock and roll dreams while considering what these impassioned artists stand to lose by following them. When the “labels” come looking for “the next big thing” they bring with them not only the answer to these dreams but a reminder: For every band that gets “signed” there are a thousand that won’t. From the street to the dotted line, it ain’t nothin’ but A DETROIT THING.

Where: The Detroit Film Theatre (inside the DIA), Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $10.00
www.dia.org/dft

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Thursday, September 20th: Evening of Fine French Wines, Delectable Cheeses and Decadent Desserts

The Opera League of Detroit also invites guests to celebrate Cyrano with a feast for the palate! Everyone is invited to meet composer David DiChiera and librettist Bernard Uzan during the Opera League of Detroit’s “Evening of Fine French Wines, Delectable Cheeses and Decadent Desserts.” Guests can enjoy scrumptious food and beverage stations, with a Cyrano presentation and discussion by the composer and librettist in the Detroit Opera House auditorium.

Where: The Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $50.00
www.motopera.org

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Thursday, September 20th-Saturday, September 22nd: Detour Launch Party

Detroit’s newest online rag/mag that celebrates all things indie is celebrating its launch at the Motor City mainstay the Magic Stick. The weekend’s lineup includes baile funk Brazilian dance act Bonde de Role, Detroit’s own semi-famous The Hard Lessons, Bulldog, Ko and the Knockouts, and Freer.

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM all 3 nights
Tix: $15.00 in advance, $20.00 weekend pass
www.majesticdetroit.com
www.detour-mag.com

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Friday, September 21st: Jack Rose/ Glenn Jones/ Windy and Carl/Nick Schillace (with Joel Peterson)

Ex-Pelt guitarist and finger-picking great Jack Rose returns to Bohemian National Home, once again bringing one of his cohorts in the school of American Primitive guitar, Glenn Jones. Jones is probably best known for leading avant-rock instrumental group Cul de sac, but he also was a latter-day collaborator with the grand-daddy of the American Primitive style, John Fahey. Add the local great in the genre, Nick Schillace, and you have a night of rootsy folk traditions colliding with open-eared experimentation. Just to break it up a bit, there will also be a rare local performance by Windy and Carl, who use guitar to ambient, minimalist ends. The layered approach used to get them the “space rock” moniker, but they actually deal more in slowly evolving soundscapes.

Where: The Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 9:00PM
Tix: $10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Sunday, September 23rd-Sunday, December 16th: Marick Press, MoCAD, and Wayne State University Press Introduce Fall 2007 Author Readings

Marick Press, MoCAD, and WSU Press are building on their successful individual readings to form a collaborative reading highlighting local writers and artists. “Collaborations, like this one, are of critical importance to MoCAD. As a cultural center our goal is to bring our community together to build a knowledgeable audience for all the arts,” said Marsha Miro, Director of MoCAD. The readings will take place on the third Sunday of September, October, November and December starting with September 23, 2007. The readings will complement MoCAD’s current shows.

Authors for Sunday, September 23rd

Representing Marick Press is Alexander Suczek. In addition to his longtime service to Pro Musica Detroit, Alexander Suczek’s involvement in classical music and the arts began while a student at Harvard University as a company member of the Brattle Theater. Since then, Suczek has performed as a classical guitarist and folk and art singer and headed a summer concert series for 25 years. For the past several years, he has authored a weekly column in the Grosse Pointe News, “State of the Arts.” In 2006, he was decorated by the Austrian government for promoting that country’s image in arts and music in the United States. Now retired, he was a writer and executive for Campbell-Ewald. He now spends his time at his homes in Grosse Pointe Farms and South Padre Island, Texas. The Witness of Music is his first book.

MoCAD is pleased to welcome Gregory Kiewiet. Kiewiet received his M. A. in English (with an emphasis in Creative Writing) in 2001 from Wayne State University and his B. A. in Art History and English from Oakland University in 1995. Most recently, a scene from his play “A Day In the Hour” appeared in the publication Box. In 2004 some of his translations from the Dutch Poet Coert Poort appeared in Dispatch Detroit volume seven. His other work has appeared in Marks: An On-line Arts Journal, Dispatch Detroit volume two, Graffite Rag, and Wooward Magazine. His play “Gun For Hire” was a finalist in the Lois Heck-Rabi Dramatic Writing Competition in 2001.

Wayne State University is proud to introduce Jim Daniels. Daniels is an award-winning poet and Thomas Stockham Baker Professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University. He is author of Punching Out (Wayne State University Press, 1990), Revolt of the Crash-Test Dummies, Street, and Show and Tell: New and Selected Poems, among other books and screenplays.

All writers will have books available through MOCAD for signing.
Writers for Fall 2007 are: Alexander Suczek, Sean Thomas Dougherty, Peter Conners, Gregory Kiewet and many more. Parking available and refreshments will be provided.

Come and celebrate this new initiative with us! These three non-profit organizations are dedicated to introducing visionary and groundbreaking books of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and art to the city of Detroit and its surrounds.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 3:00PM-5:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Monday, September 24th: Savor the Bubbly at Morton’s

Morton’s The Steakhouse in Southfield presents “Savor the Bubbly” to benefit CORE-WiSH, a partner with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Guests will enjoy a tasting of several Domaine Chandon Champagnes and Sparkling Wines along with an array of Morton’s signature hors d’oeuvres. This is the perfect event to learn more about champagnes and sparking wines from the experts at Morton’s and Domaine Chandon.

Where: Morton’s the Steakhouse, Southfield
When: 6:00PM-7:30PM
Tix: $50.00
248-354-6006 for reservations

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Monday, September 24th: The Beastie Boys

The B-Boys are back and they are bringing their unique brand of electronic-pop-funk-hip hop to the D, at the newly renovated Fillmore (formerly the State Theatre). The Beastie Boys have a legacy that no other musical group in their genre can touch (and please—can anyone even name one other group who are doing/have done the same as the Beasties?), and they’ve been doing it for some 25 years now. See the show that will be off da’ hook!

Where: The Fillmore Detroit, Detroit
When: 6:30PM
Tix: $50.00-$65.00
www.ticketmaster.com

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Wednesday, September 26th: Mothers, Daughters, Sisters and Friends Luncheon

Henry Ford is pleased to present Dr. Jerri Nielsen, author of Ice Bound: A Doctor’s Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole, at the Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Friends Luncheon. The annual fund raiser returns Wednesday, September 26, at 11:00 a.m., at Shenandoah Country Club, 5600 Walnut Lake Road, in West Bloomfield. A private, patron-only reception with Dr. Nielsen will be held the night before the luncheon.

Tickets begin at $100, with boutique shopping and valet parking included. Patron level tickets begin at $600. Proceeds from the luncheon benefit the future Francee & Benson Ford Jr. Breast Care & Wellness Center at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.

Seating is limited. For tickets or more information, call (248) 661-7194.

Where: Shenandoah Country Club, West Bloomfield
When: 9:30AM-2:30PM
Tix: $100.00+
www.henryfordhealth.org

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By Christine Stinson

Thursday September 20th, 2007, from 5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m., Alternatives For Girls (AFG) will be holding their 20th Anniversary Celebration at the Masonic Temple. AFG came about as a way to address the problem of girls and young women on the streets of Detroit. They’ve sought to provide for girls who are not in foster homes, who are in need of help, and many who require a push in a positive direction. While still in its formative days, one girl, in need of help and guidance, was taken in and given the opportunity to change her life. By the following week five more girls needed the help of what would become AFG. Presently AFG has room for thirty-five girls/young women, not in foster care, to stay in their shelter.

And so the non-profit Alternatives For Girls was established as an outreach program to reduce the number of girls and young women, mostly ages 15-21, in choosing a more appropriate and healthier route in life. The current shelter, located in Southwest Detroit, provides a roof over girls’ heads until they can get their feet on the ground. They offer food, blankets, and certain forms of birth control to those in need. Most importantly AFG is a support system that offers many girls the confidence and self-esteem that they deserve. AFG helps many girls to revive their dreams and strengthen their faith in the future.

Between the educators, the outreach programs, mentors, and the many other women involved in this incredible organization, AFG has addressed the problem of trying to keep these girls and young women off the streets and they continue to expand in their success through Detroit. As a non-profit organization, AFG is always in need of volunteers, donations, and contributions toward their Wish List.

An extended deadline of Wednesday September 19th, 2007 has been issued to R.S.V.P. to AFG 20th Celebration at the Masonic Temple. Come and join AFG at their event and help to guarantee another twenty years of success in positively changing the lives of these girls. At the event, girls and young women aided by AFG will share their stories of their past and how the organization changed their lives. “This is going to be a wonderful celebration of twenty years of accomplishing improbable revolutions,” stated Amy Good, CEO of Alternatives for Girls. Admission for this event is free, and there will be a buffet of food and drinks provided. For more information you can contact Alternatives for Girls at (313)361-4000, or check it out online www.alternativesforgirls.org.

Intern Christine Stinson makes her thedetroiter.com debut with this story.

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week - the fall season continues to build with a host of arts goings-on including “Words Fail Me” at MOCAD, the People’s Art Festival at the Russell Industrial Center, the Detroit Artists Market, Detroit Industrial Projects, just to name a few!!

COMING UP:

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Thursday, September 13th: Mon Jin Lau’s Wine & Wok Series
Join Mon Jin Lau for a special six course dinner paired with seven wines featuring producers Louis Roderer, Domaine Schlumberger, Dominus, and Ramos Pintos.

Where: Mon Jin Lau, Troy
When: 6:30PM-8:30PM
Tix: $79.00 per person + tax and gratuity
For tickets call 248-689-2332 and ask for Bryan or Sharon. Limited seating. All ticket sales are final.
www.monjinlau.com

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Friday, September 14th: Ballet Folklorico de Mexico Meet and Greet

This is a once in a lifetime chance to meet Mexico’s most illustrious dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernandez, along with the 65 dancers and musicians that comprise Amalia’s legacy, the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico.

Where: The new Mexicantown Plaza, Mexicantown, Detroit
When: 5:30PM-7:30PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mexicantown.org

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Friday, September 14th: Stay & Play Social Club Happy Hour

Join Detroit’s Stay & Play Social Club—a social club for adults that creates sports leagues, hosts happy hours, and plans exotic trips so you can make new friends, meet new people, and network—for this month’s happy hour event at Boogie Fever!

Where: Boogie Fever, Ferndale
When: 6:30PM-9:30PM
Tix: $10.00, includes (4) Miller Lites or (3) cocktails
www.spscdetroit.com

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Saturday, September 15th: FIVE15 Launch

FIVE15 (http://www.FIVE15.net/), is a new independent book, music, movie and gift store with a Left Bank feel. The store, located at FIVE15 Washington Street in downtown Royal Oak, is being launched in September 15 and will disprove the much parroted line that indie bookstores are DOA in the 21st century. The address might say Washington Ave., but the vibe is more Greenwich Village or Haight-Ashbury wired for today’s generation.

This store will saturate itself in the liberating impulses of the ‘60s yet surround patrons with the innovations of our generation. Interesting things are happening in the arts and popular culture right now and the store will be a reflection of these modern thinking sensibilities while its state of the art technologies will be geared for today’s pulse.

FIVE15 will have the most eye-popping and thought-provoking merchandise around - literature, music, movies and gifts that people don’t see at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon.com. The store will go to great lengths to bring both the east and west coasts to the area. Indeed, Metro Detroit has needed a place like this for a long time.

“Metro Detroit really needs a place like FIVE15, especially in Royal Oak where the recent explosion of chain stores and a “food court” mentality threatens to turn a unique community into just another generic suburban neighborhood. By brining together so many different elements–books, music, and a continually changing calendar of cultural happenings, FIVE15 promises to be a fitting addition to the hip part of Motown I call home,” states the arts & culture critic Vince Carducci.

The Metro Detroit arts and popular culture scene will be galvanized by this new indie store with avant-garde roots. FIVE15 has the potential of becoming the most exciting commercial space in Metro Detroit – where a real scene can emerge and come together. “We want this place to work as a hub for artists, a creative clubhouse where people can see and feel our aesthetic,” Judith Slotkin of The Slotkin Agency, publicist for FIVE15, said.

Where: FIVE15 Bookstore, Royal Oak
When: All day
Tix: No tix to worry about, but do try to make a purchase while you’re there!
www.FIVE15.net

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Saturday, September 15th: Tour de Troit

“The Tour de Troit” is a leisurely 40-mile ride through the streets of Detroit. It explores the city’s historic areas, takes in many of its most breathtaking sights, and provides bicyclists a unique opportunity to legally “take over” the streets of Motown. The ride will begin and end at Roosevelt Park in the shadow of the magnificent Michigan Central Depot, located in the revitalizing neighborhood of Corktown.

The ride will focus on the eastside of Detroit. Sites will include Downtown, Brush Park, Eastern Market, Lafayette Park, Elmwood Cemetery, Indian Village, Belle Isle (site of rest stop) and Berry Subdivision. Motorcycle police escorts will be provided by the Detroit Police Department Tactical Operations Section, allowing riders to tool safely around the streets of the city. The ride will proceed at a pace of 10 - 12 MPH. A SAG van will be available, and additional support will be provided by a “Sweeper Squad” of experienced cyclists. Helmets are required!

Greater Corktown Development Corporation sponsors the Tour de Troit to raise awareness of biking as a mode of transportation, to publicize the growing greenways network in the City of Detroit and all of Southeastern Michigan, and to raise funds for Corktown-Mexicantown Greenlink. The Corktown-Mexicantown Greenlink is a proposed series of bikelanes and off-road pathways intended to connect the neighborhoods of Corktown and Mexicantown to each other and to the Detroit River.

After the ride, enjoy food, drink, & music in the park! Food from Slow’s Bar-B-Q, The Buzz Bar & Pizza Joint, Shield’s Pizza, Foran’s Irish Pub, Eph McNally’s Deli, and more!

This event is sponsored by Miller Canfield, Canine to Five Detroit Dog Daycare, O’Connor Realty, Burst LLC, Vitamin Water, Bureau of Urban Living, The Buzz Bar, Shield’s Pizza, Recy-clean, Michigan Green-Safe, J&B Development, New Center Council, Beat The Train, Detroit Bikes!, Slow’s Bar B Q, Detroit Synergy, Foran’s Irish Pub, Rouge Roastery, Kem 3D, Rock and Roll Science, Back Alley Bikes

Where: Begin at Roosevelt Park, located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue & 14th Street
When: On-site registration & check-in is from 9:00AM-10:00AM
Tix: Reg. Adult registering prior to Sept. 7th $25.00 (T-shirt included); Reg. Student registering prior to Sept. 7th $15.00 (T-shirt included); Reg. Adult registering btw. Sept. 7th & Sept. 14th $25.00 (no T-shirt included); online registration closes at 5:00PM Friday. Sept. 14th.

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Saturday, September 15th: The People’s Arts Festival at the Russell Industrial Center

What does a world-renowned poster artist, a hospital pathologist, an underground novelist, a Detroit City Council woman, a former police officer, a sword and guillotine maker and the author of a best-selling business book have in common? They are part of an estimated 150 plus visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and other performance artists already on board to exhibit and perform at the Inaugural Peoples’ Arts Festival on September 15, 2001 at The Russell Industrial Center located at 1600 Clay Avenue off I-75.

The Peoples’s Arts Festival is unique in several ways: Participating artists aren’t being asked to pay a fee or hand over a commission on any sales. A music merchandising area will be set up for all participating bands with all sales being retained by the performers. Exhibit space, public lighting, sound systems, stages and security are all being provided at no cost to participants by the management of The Russell Industrial Center, or “The Russell” as it’s referred to by the 80 artists, writers, musicians, furniture makers, photographers, glass, metal and wood workers, craftspersons, and designers who operate 120 studios and businesses in the 92 year old complex designed by Albert Kahn . Kahn, the foremost American industrial architect of his day , is sometimes called The Architect of Detroit.

The People’s Arts Festival is also expected to be the largest free-to-artists festival ever held in the City of Detroit. “We hope to accomplish several things through our sponsorship of the Festival., “said Dennis Kefallinos, the owner of Russell Industrial Center. “First of all, it’s our way of saying, “Thank You to the artists and other creative people who have chosen to locate their studios and businesses with us. It’s also a way of giving back to Detroit and proving that there’s still a lot of positive energy in this city. Finally, it’s a way for us to showcase this unbelievable campus. We have seven buildings here and over 2.2 million square feet. so there’s still plenty of room for people who are interested in joining our community.”

“To me, the exciting thing about this festival is that it has been planned by artists, it’s free to artists and that the guidelines we established as artists have been honored by the Russell management,” said Mark Aerminski, a globally-renowned painter and poster maker and one of the three members of the Festival’s Visual Art Committee. “We’ve also been fortunate to secure the sponsorship of Real Detroit magazine which has become an active partner in moving the festival forward. You really can’t say enough about the artists and other members of the Russell Family who have generously contributed so much time and talent to the planning and ongoing organization of this event.”

Among the dozens of visual artists joining Arminski will be legendary Detroit poster Gary Grimshaw, Pete Traskal, Megan Hones, Ryann Mathew, Amy Memminger, Mike Kelley, Steven Dunn, Audry Pongrcz, Jeff White, Tobert Stewart, Julie Fournier, Lislotte Gilcrest, Marc Nishan, Matt Feazell, Emily Slade, Andy Kem and Sarah Lipinski.

Confirmed musical acts include (among others): Jill Jack, Audra Kubat, The Loftees w/ Johnny Chrome, The Cetan Clawson Revolution, NOMAN, Circus Boy Detroit, Imperial Empire, and thtx.

NooMoon and Causing a Scene are among the scheduled performance artists.

Filmakers (from Ed) are scheduled to present a series of short films.

Food and beverage service will be offered by Niki’s Pizza and Loco’s Mexican cuisine.

Where: Russell Industrial Center, Detroit
When: 11:00AM-midnight
Tix: Free admission
www.ricdetroit.org

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Saturday, September 15th-Sunday, September 16th: All in the Timing

All in the Timing, a series of one-act comedies by David Ives, will be playing this weekend at the Trinity House Theatre in Livonia. Tickets are cheaper than a movie, and this show promises to be full of laughs!

Where: Trinity House Theatre, Livonia
When: Sat. 4:00PM & 8:00PM, Sun. 4:00PM
Tix: $8.00

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Saturday, September 15th-Sunday, September 16th: Ballet Folklórico de México

Just in time for Mexican Independence Day, the Ballet Folklórico de México will be performing for a limited two-night engagement at the Detroit Opera House. One of Mexico’s largest and most revered artistic treasures, Ballet Folklórico makes its Detroit debut on the Detroit Opera House’s extensive stage over Mexican Independence Day weekend. Sixty-five dancers and musicians will present a cultural celebration that extols colorful ethnic traditions from pre-Hispanic to modern times. Dancers will perform against backdrops that feature scenes such as a Mexican plaza, a lush tropical setting or an Aztec sun as they stomp, twirl and leap across the stage. Adding to the Mexican Independence Day festivities, mariachi bands will entertain guests before each performance, and patrons will enjoy Authentic Hispanic food and beverages in the Cadillac Café at the Detroit Opera House.

NOTE: Anyone interested in Mexican folk dance is invited to participate in a dance master class led by members of Ballet Folklórico on Saturday, September 15th at 11:00AM. Tuition for the master class is $15.00 and will be held at the Detroit Opera House’s Ford Center for Arts and Learning in the 5th floor dance studio. For more information on the Ballet Folklórico master class or to register, please contact Kamilah Levens at (313) 237-3251.

Where: The Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM
Tix: $28.00-$75.00
www.michiganopera.org

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Saturday, September 15th: Meet the Artist Reception—Srdjan Segan

The next Detroit Industrial Projects gallery will be presenting works on paper and canvas by Srdjan Segan at the Russell Industrial Center. Srdjan Segan is an artist who immigrated to Toronto, Ontario from Croatia in 2000. Using a mix of charcoal, coffee and dyes, Srdjan creates large scale works on paper, which are up to 30 feet in length. The paintings roll like long, narrow runners stretching from ceiling to floor and beyond with some pieces displayed hanging from the sides of buildings. At times the drawings depict the human figure and at other times, animal type figures with human characteristics. Many of the pieces hint of an influence of his previous medical studies and display the insides of the body in a manner that serves to create curiosity; a testament to an artist’s imagination and experiences.

Srdjan studied in Belgrade and Ontario and is the recipient of numerous awards and grants. He has exhibited his work in Europe, Canada and New York. This exhibit will be on display from September 15th-October 20th, but be sure to catch the opening night reception so you can have a chance to meet the man behind the art.

Where: Russell Industrial Center, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-9:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.myspace.com/russellindustrialcenter

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Saturday, September 15th: Words Fail Me Opening Reception

Curated by Matthew Higgs, Opening Reception with reading by John Giorno followed by music by Little Claw, Pink Reason, Michael Yonkers.

Words Fail Me opens on September 15 with a special preview from 7-11 pm. At 8pm the poet John Giorno will give a reading. Music by Little Claw from their new album, Pink Reason and Michael Yonkers begins at 9:30. There will be a cash bar.

Artists in the show will include: Lisa Anne Auerbach, Tauba Auerbach, Anne-Lise Coste, Martin Creed, Jeremy Deller, Sam Durant, Peter Fischli, Ryan Gander, Siobhan Liddell, Jonathan Monk, Philippe Parreno, Jack Pierson, Carl Pope, Kay Rosen, Ron Terada, Rirkrit Tiravanija, David Weiss, and Jennifer West.

Words Fail Me is an exhibition that explores visual art’s ongoing engagement and entanglement - with language. Language is labyrinthine, its permutations endless: This is partly the pleasure of words. The complexity of language, its ability to both inform and confound us, is no doubt part of its continuing appeal to artists. Words Fail Me considers highly idiosyncratic manifestations of language in recent contemporary art produced by an international and intergenerational group of artists. Throughout the exhibition language is denied its interpretive, explicatory, or narrative function. Instead the works in the exhibition embrace language’s more permeable state: its elasticity, its penchant for questions, subtexts and double meanings. Exploring language’s limits and limitations the works in Words Fail Me are often highly emotive and occasionally melancholic, collectively they embrace questions of politics, mortality, identity, idealism, and alienation. Prevailing throughout is a nagging sense of ambivalence that reflects upon - and perhaps even amplifies the uncertainties of our present social landscape.

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 7:00PM-11:00PM
Tix: $8.00, free for MoCAD members
www.mocadetroit.org

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Saturday, September 15th: Putting the Wood in WOODward—Detroit Synergy’s and thedetroiter.com’s 5th Anniversary Bar Crawl

It’s a go! Detroit Synergy Group, in conjunction with thedetroiter.com, is happy to bring you a joint 5th-Year Anniversary Pub Crawl! Why? Because Synergy was born in a bar and has been celebrating ever since, and because thedetroiter.com wants you to enjoy all the vibrancy of the D. Participating bars include Hard Rock Café, The Pit Stop, [Proof], Pulse, The Well, Baltimore Lunch, Centaur, The Town Pump, and the Arcade Bar. There will be T-Shirts with funny “wood” puns on them (why wood? Because wood is the traditional gift for a 5th anniversary!) There will be prizes at the end for whoever drank the most—to be determined by our state-of-the-art system of having bartenders stamp your Synergy shirt! The crawl begins at the Hard Rock Café, and from there people are free to roam for themselves, so long as they end up at the Pit Stop at 10:00PM for the final tally.

Where: Woodward Ave. Business District, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-10:00PM, registration begins at 4:30PM in the Hard Rock Cafe
Tix: $15.00 in advance, $20.00 at the door
www.detroitsynergy.org
www.thedetroiter.com

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Saturday, September 15th: The Guild of Calamitous Intent’s Super Party
Another big, bad party at the CAID. The bands: Providence Steamroller, Esc Ctrl, Greg Dean; the DJ: Matt Pritula; the artists on the walls: Pete DeAngelo, Mark Bowlus, Jeremy King.

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.thecaid.org

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Sunday, September 16th: Driving Detroit: Discovering the D (4D) Scavenger Hunt benefiting Alternatives for Girls

Detroit-based non-profit Alternatives for Girls helps homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation, and helps them to explore and access the support, resources and opportunities necessary to be safe, to grow strong and to make positive choices in their lives. So buckle up and Drive Detroit for a good cause!

4D is a city-wide scavenger hunt by car. To get started, form a team (max. 5 people), and together start raising money for AFG. Each team has a goal set for $300.00, and also receives lunch in MexicanTown and an Awards Ceremony at Traffic Jam and Snug. Teams are offered incentives for meeting various fundraising goals, with the top team winning a private four-course dinner at Café Muse in Royal Oak.

Where: Begin at Alternatives for Girls, Detroit
When: Check-in and lunch, 12:00PM-1:30PM; Scavenger Hunt, 1:30PM-5:00PM; Awards Ceremony, 5:00PM
Tix: This is a fundraising event with team goals set at $300.00

For more information, visit http://alternativesforgirls.org.
To register teams, visit http://www.firstgiving.com/afg.

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Sunday, September 16th: Golden Dragon Acrobats

The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time-honored tradition that began more than twenty seven centuries ago. Direct from Hebei, China, the company has traveled around the world to all 50 states and to over 65 countries on five continents, including performances at prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Caesar’s Palace in Atlantic City, just to name a few.

With performers trained in the rigorous art of acrobatics since early youth, the troupe has garnered international acclaim, having been presented with several major awards over our company’s history including the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) Entertainer of the Year Award and the Campus Activities Today’s Performer of the Year Award.

The ancient art of Chinese Acrobatics began over 2,000 years ago and has evolved into one of the most popular art forms with the Chinese people. The citizens of China continue to present their acrobatic art to the world today, hoping to portray the hard working nature of their people and the rich traditions of the Chinese culture.

Where: Music Hall Center, Detroit
When: 1:00PM, 5:00PM
Tix: $17.00-$37.00
www.ticketmaster.com

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Sunday, September 16th: Screening of Memory Bucket followed by a conversation between Matthew Higgs and Jeremy Deller

Join MoCAD as guest curator Matthew Higgs and artist Jeremy Deller discuss Deller’s celebrated film, Memory Bucket.

Jeremy Deller (b. 1966 London, England) received the Turner Prize in 2004. He also was chosen to be an international artist in residence at Artpace in San Antonio, Texas. Jeremy exhibited in the very prominent 54th annual Carnegie International. He was recently included in the Prague Biennale 3. He has had solo exhibitions at The Modern Institute in Glasgow, Scotland; The Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, and the Tate Modern in London, England.

Matthew Higgs is a curator, critic and artist currently living and working in New York. Since the early 1990s he has sought to develop a practice that considers the intersections and overlaps between these disciplines. Higgs is currently the Director and Chief Curator of White Columns, New York’s oldest non-profit art space.

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 3:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Saturday, September 16th: The Detroit Erotica Ball

Silent Partners and 101.1 The WRIF present the Detroit Erotica Ball: A Night of Erroneousness Fun! With Erotic Art Exhibits, Side Shows, Vendors and Live Entertainment all night long, The Detroit Erotica Ball is the end of the Summer Blast! A Night to Remember with an After Party that will be the talk of the town for months to come! Fetish Erotic dress encouraged but not required. Featuring performances by Crud, MT-TV, Overloaded, Broadzilla, Fat Bottom Girls, and more.

Where: BERT’s Warehouse Theater, Detroit
When: Doors at 7:00PM, Show 8:00PM-5:00AM
Tix: $20.00 in advance, $25.00 at the door, $10.00 for VIP after party beginning at 2:00AM
Order advance tickets through www.ticketalternative.com
www.detroiteroticaball.com

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Monday, September 17th: Halfway Day

That’s right, folks—it’s halfway to St. Patrick’s Day! I have no specifics on any goings-on as of yet, but I can guarantee any and all Irish pubs will have a little sumthin’ sumthin’ special going on in honor of the 6-month remaining prep time for St. Patrick’s Day 2008…mark your calendars, kids! (I will certainly be keeping an eye on the Old Shillelagh, O’Halloran’s, Foran’s, and the Gaelic League.)

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Tuesday, September 18th: Celebrity Wheelchair Basketball

The Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan and University of Detroit Mercy present the 2007 Celebrity Wheelchair Basketball Game at Calihan Hall on the UDM campus. All proceeds from the event support RIM’s SportsAbility program which provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to participate in competitive and recreational sports.

I would tell you more, but UDM being the wonderfully organized place that it is, there is nought so much as a mention on their website (though you can find out all about the same event in 2005). I can say this because I went there. You can’t. Unless you did.

Where: Calihan Hall (on the University of Detroit Mercy McNichols Campus), Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $8.00 general admission, $5.00 for children 12 & under, $100.00 VIP tickets
www.ticketmaster.com

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Wednesday, September 19th: Afternoon Tea and Etiquette from Cyrano to Modern Times

Continuing the celebration of Cyrano in Detroit, the Opera League of Detroit presents an “Afternoon Tea and Etiquette from Cyrano to Modern Times” with guest speaker Patricia Rodzik. The afternoon tea will invite guests to learn about the role of manners and customs in the 17th century while composer David DiChiera reveals details about the opera.

Where: Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Grosse Pointe Shores
When: 3:00PM
Tix: $30.00
www.motopera.org

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Wednesday, September 19th: Zeitgeist Fall Reading Series Kick-Off

“Poetry at the Zeitgeist’s” fall season opens with poets who have won awards for work that stretches genres and boundaries. Carla Harryman, author of the book-length poem Open Box (Belladonna 2007) and the novel Gardener of Stars (Atelos, 2001); Catherine Taylor, Emmy award-winning filmmaker and senior editor of /nor magazine; and Stephen Cope, who has edited and been published in numerous journals such as The Review of Contemporary Fiction and Denver Quarterly are the featured readers for this season’s kick-off reading event.

Meet the Artists:
Carla Harryman
Since the late 1970’s, Carla Harryman has been known for her genre-disrupting prose, poetry, and performance. Her most recent publications include the book-length poem Open Box (Belladonna 2007), the novel Gardener of Stars (Atelos, 2001) and Baby (Adventures in Poetry, 2005. Adorno’s Noise, a collection of conceptual essays, is forthcoming from Essay Press. Harryman is co-editor of Lust for Life: On the Writings of Kathy Acker (Verso, 2006) and a participant in the multi-authored experiment in autobiography, The Grand Piano. A recipient of the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (2004-05) award in poetry, she is on the faculty of Wayne State University and the Milton Avery School of the Arts at Bard College.

Catherine Taylor
Catherine Taylor is a writer and filmmaker interested in experimental documentary work. Her essays, poetry, and reviews have recently appeared or are forthcoming in Typo, Xantippe, Postmodern Culture, and The Colorado Review. She was Associate Producer of the Emmy Award-winning documentary, The Exiles, and was a founding producer of The Human Rights Watch Film Festival. She is Senior Editor of /nor magazine and is a Founding Editor of Essay Press (www.essaypress.org), a small press dedicated to publishing innovative essays. Taylor is currently writing a hybrid genre book about South Africa. She is on the faculty at Ohio University.

Stephen Cope
Stephen Cope’s poems, essays, and reviews have appeared or are forthcoming in XCP: Cross-Cultural Poetics, Mirage: A Period(ical), Denver Quarterly, Shark, The Germ, and elsewhere. In Spring 2001, he served as guest editor of The Review of Contemporary Fiction’s special issue on the work of David Antin. Later this year, University of California Press will publish Cope’s edition of George Oppen: Selected Prose, Daybooks, and Papers, a collection of the previously unpublished writings the Pulitzer-Prize winning poet. He has taught at University of California, San Diego, Drake University, Ohio University, and Bard College.

Where: Zeitgeist Gallery, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.zeitgeistdetroit.org

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Thursday, September 20th: Crain’s Detroit House Party

Presented by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, that little local business publication known as Crain’s Detroit Business (which recently named our very own Nick Sousanis one of their “40 Under 40”) is hosting a house party and is inviting all Detroit Metro area residents interested in learning more about Detroit living to attend!

Choose from Detroit-area architecture tours of historic buildings, new construction, lofts, renovation projects, or a selection of the offerings in the Ferndale/Royal Oak areas. Touring sites are on a first-come basis, so register early to ensure you receive the touring site you desire.

House visits and cocktail parties will be from 5:00-6:30PM, followed by the after-glow event from 7:00-9:30 (the location will be disclosed during your house visit).

For more information or to register, please visit www.crainsdetroit.com. Registration ends Wednesday, September 12th at 5:00PM.

Where: Locations based on touring site, afterglow event to be announced during tour
When: 5:00PM-9:30PM
Tix: $65.00 (includes one year subscription to Crain’s Detroit Business)
www.crainsdetroit.com

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Thursday, September 20th: Evening of Fine French Wines, Delectable Cheeses and Decadent Desserts

The Opera League of Detroit also invites guests to celebrate Cyrano with a feast for the palate! Everyone is invited to meet composer David DiChiera and librettist Bernard Uzan during the Opera League of Detroit’s “Evening of Fine French Wines, Delectable Cheeses and Decadent Desserts.” Guests can enjoy scrumptious food and beverage stations, with a Cyrano presentation and discussion by the composer and librettist in the Detroit Opera House auditorium.

Where: The Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $50.00
www.motopera.org

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Thursday, September 20th-Saturday, September 22nd: Detour Launch Party

Detroit’s newest online rag/mag that celebrates all things indie is celebrating its launch at the Motor City mainstay the Magic Stick. The weekend’s lineup includes baile funk Brazilian dance act Bonde de Role, Detroit’s own semi-famous The Hard Lessons, Bulldog, Ko and the Knockouts, and Freer.

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM all 3 nights
Tix: $15.00 in advance, $20.00 weekend pass
www.majesticdetroit.com
www.detour-mag.com

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Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

And don’t miss our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here. This week - the fall season debuts with a host of openings from John Hegarty at the Scarab Club, Paramount Bank, Oakland University, ArtCite, Studio 601, Johansen Charles, CCS, Pitmann Puckett, and many more, whew!!

COMING UP:

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Thursday, September 6th: Arab American Book Award Gala

Winners of the inaugural Arab American National Museum Book Award will be honored at an invitation-only gala at the Arab American National Museum, with entertainment by Arab American composer and violinist Riad Abdel-Gawad. Award recipients include: Adult Non-Fiction—The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood by Rashid Khalidi (Beacon Press); Adult Fiction—In the Country of Men ny Hisham Matar (The Dial Press); Children or Young Adult—One Green Apple by Eve Bunting and Ted Lewin, illustrator (Clarion Books).

For more information on the September 6th Book Award Gala, contact Angelita Espino at aespino@accesscommunity.org or 313.624.0224.

Where: Arab American Museum, Dearborn
When: N/A
Tix: By invitation only—serious inquiries contact the above point person
www.arabamericanmuseum.org

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Thursday, September 6th: Royal Oak Music Theater Reinvented Open House

The Royal Oak Music Theater is newly renovated, and they are celebrating with this free concert featuring The Go, The Singles, Zoos of Berlin, and Citizen Smile. Doors don’t open for the public until 7:00PM.

Where: Royal Oak Music Theater, Royal Oak
When: 7:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.royaloakmusictheater.com

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Thursday, September 6th: Eye Contact

Time to give the New Yorkers some! Eye Contact is composed of Matt Heyner (electric and acoustic basses), Matt Lavelle (trumpet, bass clarinet, cuica, flugelhorn) and Ryan Sawyer (drums). Although the sound might loosely be termed free jazz, he reality is far more complex, as a typical performance finds them drawing on elements of free improv, Latin music, metal, drone and psychedelia. Matt Lavelle is best known as a member of William Parker’s Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra. His discography also includes work with Sabir Mateen, Assif Tsahar, Steve Swell, Ras Moshe and Daniel Carter. Matt Heyner is one of the most in-demand bass players in New York City. He has toured internationally with the legendary improv unit NoNeck
Blues Band, and is also well-known for his work in TEST with Daniel Carter, Sabir Mateen and Tom Bruno. His current working groups include those of Sabir Mateen, Ras Moshe and Steve Swell, and he has had previous work with Thurston Moore, Chris Corsano, Paul Flaherty, Okkyung Lee and Samara Lubelski. Ryan Sawyer was among the founding members of mythic Texas punkers At The Drive-In. He moved to New York, studied with Bobby Previte, played with Tony Malaby and Bruce Eisenbeil and is now a member of indie rockers Tall Firs and improv orchestra Stars Like Fleas.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM
Tix: $5.00-$10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Thursday, September 6th: Thursday Night Brew & View presents Knocked Up

For those of you who find unplanned pregnancy funny.

Where: The Magic Bag, Ferndale
When: Doors at 8:00PM, film at 9:30PM
Tix: $2.00
www.themagicbag.com

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Friday, September 7th: Harbor Nights—Josephine Ford Cancer Center’s 10th Anniversary Celebration

Harbor Nights is the theme for a spectacular event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Josephine Ford Cancer Center. Proceeds from the event help fund research and clinical programs aimed at treating and improving the lives of cancer patients.

Josephine Ford’s legendary love of the East Coast and fun-loving personality are the inspiration for this special evening. Surrounded by the picturesque atmosphere of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, guests will enjoy fun poolside activities and dance to popular music selections performed by one of the country’s best dance orchestras, The Bob Hardwick Sound. The evening will feature delicious New England cuisine and a select offering of exceptional live auction items.

Josephine Ford Cancer Center at Henry Ford is an international leader in the research, detection and treatment of cancer. The multidisciplinary program provides a full continuum of care that spans prevention, early diagnosis and support programs, including palliative care.

Where: Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Grosse Pointe Shores
When: 6:30PM-11:00PM
Tix: Information not yet available, stay tuned for details
www.henryfordhealth.org

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Friday, September 7th-Sunday, September 9th: DFT presents Killer of Sheep

(USA—1977—directed by Charles Burnett)

In the Los Angeles ghetto of Watts in the md-1970s, a sensitive dreamer named Stan (Henry Gayle Sanders) begins to grow numb and detached from the daily psychic toll that his job in a slaughterhouse is causing. Frustrated by money worries, Stan manages to find relief where he can, whether it be a quiet dance with his wife or the simple joy of holding his daughter. Filmed in 1977 on a budget of just $10,000, Charles Burnett’s magnificent Killer of Sheep was beset by distribution woes for years, and is just now receiving the national theatrical release it richly deserves. Acted by a largely non-professional cast, the film can be seen as the American equivalent of neo-realist classics like The Bicycle Thief and Shoeshine, yet it remains one the cinema’s most original – and profoundly affecting – modern masterworks. Declared a National Treasure by the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry in 1990, and named in 2002 as one of the 100 essential films of all time by the National Society of Film Critics. (80 min.)

Where: Detroit Film Theatre (inside the DIA), Detroit
When: Friday 7:00PM, Saturday 7:00PM & 9:30PM, Sunday 4:00PM & 7:00PM
Tix: $7.50 non-members, $5.00 members, seniors and students
www.dia.org/dft

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Friday, September 7th-Sunday, September 30th: Real Women Have Curves

“Real women taking life by its curves.” Mah-Dey Theatre and Matrix Theatre Companies present “Real Women Have Curves,” directed by Maria L. Serratos. This story of a young Mexican-American woman was made popular by a 2002 film based on the original play by Josefina Lopez, which the Matrix Theatre Company is here reproducing. The story is an uplifting one, even if it is a little saccharine. About the struggle of cultural preservation in the face of familial pressure and also the pressures of being a woman, the message is positive (female empowerment) and there is a great deal of general crowd-pleasing appeal. This show will be running Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through September at the Matrix Theatre Company. Group discounts are available.

Where: Matrix Theatre Company, Detroit
When: Fridays & Saturdays 8:00PM, Sundays 4:00PM
Tix: $15.00
www.matrixtheatre.org

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Friday, September 7th: Fi-Nite & 555 Gallery Crawl

In support of their joint effort “The September Project,” Fi-Nite Gallery and 555 Gallery will together be hosting a gallery crawl event. An exhibition of artists representing regional Artist-Run organizations, groups and collectives, including:
Astronaut Collective, Atomic Art Co, Bankle Studios, Detroit Artists Market, Detroit by Design, Dirty Brothers, Dopest Ethiopians, Dreamland Theatre, The Feminist Art Project, Fi-nite Gallery, Grosse Pointe Art Center and Women’s Caucus for Art.
Where: Fi Nite & 555 Galleries, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-midnight
Tix: N/A
www.myspace.com/finitegallery
www.555arts.org

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Saturday, September 8th: Dally in the Alley

North Cass Community Union is the proud sponsor of Detroit’s Dally in the Alley street fair held annually the Saturday after Labor Day in the alley and streets bounded by Forest, Hancock, Second and Third streets. For the 2007 event, the theme is “Recycling.” Scheduled performers include Adjust, Big Black Cloud, Broadside Press Poets with Diamondancer, Dutch Pink, Jazz Loft Showcase, Jeff Jablonski, Miz Korona, Paris ’68, Silent Violet and Audra Kubat w/guests, Torch with a Twist, and many more.

Where: North Cass Community (see streets above)
When: 11:00AM-11:00PM (rain date Sept. 9th)
Tix: Free admission
www.dallyinthealley.com

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Saturday, September 8th: Detroit Paranormal Society presents Fusion III

I know what you’re thinking. “Detroit has a paranormal society?” I know this because I thought the same thing. But apparently this is just yet another one of the many hidden secrets of Detroit, and apparently they like parties.

Just kidding, kids! The D.P.S. is actually part of the Detroit Techno Militia…and yes, they do like parties. Fusion III, the “Autumn Equinox Edition,” will feature two floors of explosive sound, visual projections by Kero & Disassembly, special lighting and atmosphere by DSEFX, and, of course, lots of techno and electronica. Performers include Careless Memory, DJ ESP & Woody McBride, Teste aka Himadri, Ultradyne, Scan 7, Suburban Knight, and many more. Visit www.detroitluv.com for tickets (under “The Loop” section, click on “One-Offs”). For more information on the performers and event, visit www.thecaid.org.

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: 9:00PM-late
Tix: $5.00 for first 250 pre-sale; $10.00 in advance, $15.00 at the door (before midnight)
www.thecaid.org
www.detroitluv.com

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Saturday, September 8th: DJ AM at Plan B/Confidential

Monochrome presents DJ AM (aka Adam Goldstein, aka Nicole Richie’s ex-fiancé) live in concert. Check out the DJ to the stars here in the D!

Where: Plan B/Confidential, Detroit
When: 10:00PM
Tix: $20.00/$30.00 VIP
www.ticketmaster.com

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Monday, September 10th-Monday, September 24th: Discussing Differences September Sessions

Detroit Synergy’s popular Discussing Differences Sessions are about to begin for September. In this well-received dialogue series, participants from a variety of backgrounds come together to discuss relevant social topics and try to understand how others may view the same issue in a much different way.

The group will be meeting on the following three Mondays—September 10th, 17th and 24th, beginning at 5:45PM and ending at 9:00PM. All three sessions will be conducted at the same location.

If you are interested in participating in this upcoming series, you must e-mail Christyn, Sonya or Jen at discussingdifferences@detroitsynergy.org no later than Sunday, September 9th.

Please keep in mind that you must confirm for ALL THREE DATES in order to participate in the series. Location of sessions will be given once your participation has been confirmed. Also note that due to the small size of the group (no more than 20), we cannot guarantee a spot in this group of sessions. You will, however, be added to the list to participate in a future group of sessions. If you have any questions, please feel free to email the group leaders or visit http://www.detroitsynergy.org/projects/dpcg for more info.

Where: TBD
When: Monday Sept. 10th, 17th, and 24th from 5:45PM-9:00PM
Tix: Free to participate but you must register in advance
www.detroitsynergy.org

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Monday, September 10th-Monday, October 1st: Cyrano Film Series at the Detroit Opera House

In celebration of the world premiere of David DiChiera’s opera Cyrano right here in Detroit, the Detroit Opera House is hosting a number of different activities and events leading up to opening night. The Cyrano film series will feature 3 major films based on Edmund Rostand’s play Cyrano de Bergerac, including both the 1950s and ‘90s versions of the same name, as well as the more light-hearted Roxanne starring Steve Martin.

The series begins with Cyrano de Bergerac starring Jose Ferer.

Where: Chrysler “Black Box” Theatre at the Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: 7:00PM Sept. 10th, 17th, and Oct. 1st (see schedule for films)
Tix: $5.00
www.motopera.org

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Monday, September 10th: Blonde Redhead

Blonde Redhead comprise Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amadeo Pace. They’re that rarest of things: a band whose voice has grown stronger, clearer and more distinctive with every record that they have made. Their reward for this has been an audience whose numbers have quietly grown over the course of their career, almost entirely by word of mouth. The trio’s gently mournful economy of style is adorned by a cinematic breadth of instrumentation. The rich depth of the arrangements create a striking and convincing unity of purpose. Nothing is straightforward or unfiltered by imagination - Kazu and Amedeo’s wonderfully nuanced singing allow the emotion in the songs to slip out surreptitiously, almost secretly, while Simone’s drumming is a parade of deft inflections throughout.

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $16.00 in advance, $18.00 day of
This is an all-ages show
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Tuesday, September 11th: Cyrano and a Nose for Design

In the continued celebration of all things Cyrano, the Michigan Opera Theatre in cooperation with Haberman Fabrics in Royal Oak presents a very special evening with Cyrano composer David DiChiera and Michigan Opera Theatre Costume Director Suzanne Hanna. This exclusive sneak-peek will showcase some of the over 150 lavish costumes made in Detroit for the world premiere, and will include a discussion on the creation of Cyrano, light refreshments, and a chance to win tickets to Cyrano and a backstage tour.

Where: Haberman Fabrics, Royal Oak
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $10.00 in advance, $15.00 at the door
www.motopera.org
www.habermanfabrics.com

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Tuesday, September 11th: Björk

Iceland’s odd, off-beat chanteuse returns to Detroit in support of her latest album, Volta—an album described by the Washington Post as “enthralling, frenetic and fresh” and heralded by the New York Post as “2007’s first must-hear album.” Additionally, Spin says it ” dispels any doubts about the strength of her arty instincts” and Rolling Stone affirms it as a “good argument for Björk to keep doing whatever she pleases.”

I’ve never seen Björk live, so I really don’t know what one could expect. Except that maybe one should not expect anything, and instead just allow the experience to happen. Either way, it’s assuredly a show worth seeing.

Where: The Fox Theatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $39.50-$89.50
www.olympiaentertainment.com

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Saturday, September 15th: FIVE15 Launch

FIVE15 (http://www.FIVE15.net/), is a new independent book, music, movie and gift store with a Left Bank feel. The store, located at FIVE15 Washington Street in downtown Royal Oak, is being launched in September 15 and will disprove the much parroted line that indie bookstores are DOA in the 21st century. The address might say Washington Ave., but the vibe is more Greenwich Village or Haight-Ashbury wired for today’s generation.

This store will saturate itself in the liberating impulses of the ‘60s yet surround patrons with the innovations of our generation. Interesting things are happening in the arts and popular culture right now and the store will be a reflection of these modern thinking sensibilities while its state of the art technologies will be geared for today’s pulse.

FIVE15 will have the most eye-popping and thought-provoking merchandise around - literature, music, movies and gifts that people don’t see at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon.com. The store will go to great lengths to bring both the east and west coasts to the area. Indeed, Metro Detroit has needed a place like this for a long time.

“Metro Detroit really needs a place like FIVE15, especially in Royal Oak where the recent explosion of chain stores and a “food court” mentality threatens to turn a unique community into just another generic suburban neighborhood. By brining together so many different elements–books, music, and a continually changing calendar of cultural happenings, FIVE15 promises to be a fitting addition to the hip part of Motown I call home,” states the arts & culture critic Vince Carducci.

The Metro Detroit arts and popular culture scene will be galvanized by this new indie store with avant-garde roots. FIVE15 has the potential of becoming the most exciting commercial space in Metro Detroit – where a real scene can emerge and come together. “We want this place to work as a hub for artists, a creative clubhouse where people can see and feel our aesthetic,” Judith Slotkin of The Slotkin Agency, publicist for FIVE15, said.

Where: FIVE15 Bookstore, Royal Oak
When: All day
Tix: No tix to worry about, but do try to make a purchase while you’re there!
www.FIVE15.net

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Saturday, September 15th: Tour de Troit

“The Tour de Troit” is a leisurely 40-mile ride through the streets of Detroit. It explores the city’s historic areas, takes in many of its most breathtaking sights, and provides bicyclists a unique opportunity to legally “take over” the streets of Motown. The ride will begin and end at Roosevelt Park in the shadow of the magnificent Michigan Central Depot, located in the revitalizing neighborhood of Corktown.

The ride will focus on the eastside of Detroit. Sites will include Downtown, Brush Park, Eastern Market, Lafayette Park, Elmwood Cemetery, Indian Village, Belle Isle (site of rest stop) and Berry Subdivision. Motorcycle police escorts will be provided by the Detroit Police Department Tactical Operations Section, allowing riders to tool safely around the streets of the city. The ride will proceed at a pace of 10 - 12 MPH. A SAG van will be available, and additional support will be provided by a “Sweeper Squad” of experienced cyclists. Helmets are required!

Greater Corktown Development Corporation sponsors the Tour de Troit to raise awareness of biking as a mode of transportation, to publicize the growing greenways network in the City of Detroit and all of Southeastern Michigan, and to raise funds for Corktown-Mexicantown Greenlink. The Corktown-Mexicantown Greenlink is a proposed series of bikelanes and off-road pathways intended to connect the neighborhoods of Corktown and Mexicantown to each other and to the Detroit River.

After the ride, enjoy food, drink, & music in the park! Food from Slow’s Bar-B-Q, The Buzz Bar & Pizza Joint, Shield’s Pizza, Foran’s Irish Pub, Eph McNally’s Deli, and more!

This event is sponsored by Miller Canfield, Canine to Five Detroit Dog Daycare, O’Connor Realty, Burst LLC, Vitamin Water, Bureau of Urban Living, The Buzz Bar, Shield’s Pizza, Recy-clean, Michigan Green-Safe, J&B Development, New Center Council, Beat The Train, Detroit Bikes!, Slow’s Bar B Q, Detroit Synergy, Foran’s Irish Pub, Rouge Roastery, Kem 3D, Rock and Roll Science, Back Alley Bikes

Where: Begin at Roosevelt Park, located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue & 14th Street
When: On-site registration & check-in is from 9:00AM-10:00AM
Tix: Reg. Adult registering prior to Sept. 7th $25.00 (T-shirt included); Reg. Student registering prior to Sept. 7th $15.00 (T-shirt included); Reg. Adult registering btw. Sept. 7th & Sept. 14th $25.00 (no T-shirt included); online registration closes at 5:00PM Friday. Sept. 14th.

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Saturday, September 15th: The People’s Arts Festival at the Russell Industrial Center

What does a world-renowned poster artist, a hospital pathologist, an underground novelist, a Detroit City Council woman, a former police officer, a sword and guillotine maker and the author of a best-selling business book have in common? They are part of an estimated 150 plus visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and other performance artists already on board to exhibit and perform at the Inaugural Peoples’ Arts Festival on September 15, 2001 at The Russell Industrial Center located at 1600 Clay Avenue off I-75.

The Peoples’s Arts Festival is unique in several ways: Participating artists aren’t being asked to pay a fee or hand over a commission on any sales. A music merchandising area will be set up for all participating bands with all sales being retained by the performers. Exhibit space, public lighting, sound systems, stages and security are all being provided at no cost to participants by the management of The Russell Industrial Center, or “The Russell” as it’s referred to by the 80 artists, writers, musicians, furniture makers, photographers, glass, metal and wood workers, craftspersons, and designers who operate 120 studios and businesses in the 92 year old complex designed by Albert Kahn . Kahn, the foremost American industrial architect of his day , is sometimes called The Architect of Detroit.

The People’s Arts Festival is also expected to be the largest free-to-artists festival ever held in the City of Detroit. “We hope to accomplish several things through our sponsorship of the Festival., “said Dennis Kefallinos, the owner of Russell Industrial Center. “First of all, it’s our way of saying, “Thank You to the artists and other creative people who have chosen to locate their studios and businesses with us. It’s also a way of giving back to Detroit and proving that there’s still a lot of positive energy in this city. Finally, it’s a way for us to showcase this unbelievable campus. We have seven buildings here and over 2.2 million square feet. so there’s still plenty of room for people who are interested in joining our community.”

“To me, the exciting thing about this festival is that it has been planned by artists, it’s free to artists and that the guidelines we established as artists have been honored by the Russell management,” said Mark Aerminski, a globally-renowned painter and poster maker and one of the three members of the Festival’s Visual Art Committee. “We’ve also been fortunate to secure the sponsorship of Real Detroit magazine which has become an active partner in moving the festival forward. You really can’t say enough about the artists and other members of the Russell Family who have generously contributed so much time and talent to the planning and ongoing organization of this event.”

Among the dozens of visual artists joining Arminski will be legendary Detroit poster Gary Grimshaw, Pete Traskal, Megan Hones, Ryann Mathew, Amy Memminger, Mike Kelley, Steven Dunn, Audry Pongrcz, Jeff White, Tobert Stewart, Julie Fournier, Lislotte Gilcrest, Marc Nishan, Matt Feazell, Emily Slade, Andy Kem and Sarah Lipinski.

Confirmed musical acts include (among others): Jill Jack, Audra Kubat, The Loftees w/ Johnny Chrome, The Cetan Clawson Revolution, NOMAN, Circus Boy Detroit, Imperial Empire, and thtx.

NooMoon and Causing a Scene are among the scheduled performance artists.

Filmakers (from Ed) are scheduled to present a series of short films.

Food and beverage service will be offered by Niki’s Pizza and Loco’s Mexican cuisine.

Where: Russell Industrial Center, Detroit
When: 11:00AM-midnight
Tix: Free admission
www.ricdetroit.org

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Saturday, September 15th-Sunday, September 16th: Ballet Folklórico de México

Just in time for Mexican Independence Day, the Ballet Folklórico de México will be performing for a limited two-night engagement at the Detroit Opera House. One of Mexico’s largest and most revered artistic treasures, Ballet Folklórico makes its Detroit debut on the Detroit Opera House’s extensive stage over Mexican Independence Day weekend. Sixty-five dancers and musicians will present a cultural celebration that extols colorful ethnic traditions from pre-Hispanic to modern times. Dancers will perform against backdrops that feature scenes such as a Mexican plaza, a lush tropical setting or an Aztec sun as they stomp, twirl and leap across the stage. Adding to the Mexican Independence Day festivities, mariachi bands will entertain guests before each performance, and patrons will enjoy Authentic Hispanic food and beverages in the Cadillac Café at the Detroit Opera House.

NOTE: Anyone interested in Mexican folk dance is invited to participate in a dance master class led by members of Ballet Folklórico on Saturday, September 15th at 11:00AM. Tuition for the master class is $15.00 and will be held at the Detroit Opera House’s Ford Center for Arts and Learning in the 5th floor dance studio. For more information on the Ballet Folklórico master class or to register, please contact Kamilah Levens at (313) 237-3251.

Where: The Detroit Opera House, Detroit
When: Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM
Tix: $28.00-$75.00
www.michiganopera.org

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Saturday, September 15th: Meet the Artist Reception—Srdjan Segan

The next Detroit Industrial Projects gallery will be presenting works on paper and canvas by Srdjan Segan at the Russell Industrial Center. Srdjan Segan is an artist who immigrated to Toronto, Ontario from Croatia in 2000. Using a mix of charcoal, coffee and dyes, Srdjan creates large scale works on paper, which are up to 30 feet in length. The paintings roll like long, narrow runners stretching from ceiling to floor and beyond with some pieces displayed hanging from the sides of buildings. At times the drawings depict the human figure and at other times, animal type figures with human characteristics. Many of the pieces hint of an influence of his previous medical studies and display the insides of the body in a manner that serves to create curiosity; a testament to an artist’s imagination and experiences.

Srdjan studied in Belgrade and Ontario and is the recipient of numerous awards and grants. He has exhibited his work in Europe, Canada and New York. This exhibit will be on display from September 15th-October 20th, but be sure to catch the opening night reception so you can have a chance to meet the man behind the art.

Where: Russell Industrial Center, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-9:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.myspace.com/russellindustrialcenter

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Saturday, September 15th: Words Fail Me Opening Reception

Curated by Matthew Higgs, Opening Reception with reading by John Giorno followed by music by Little Claw, Pink Reason, Michael Yonkers.

Words Fail Me opens on September 15 with a special preview from 7-11 pm. At 8pm the poet John Giorno will give a reading. Music by Little Claw from their new album, Pink Reason and Michael Yonkers begins at 9:30. There will be a cash bar.

Artists in the show will include: Lisa Anne Auerbach, Tauba Auerbach, Anne-Lise Coste, Martin Creed, Jeremy Deller, Sam Durant, Peter Fischli, Ryan Gander, Siobhan Liddell, Jonathan Monk, Philippe Parreno, Jack Pierson, Carl Pope, Kay Rosen, Ron Terada, Rirkrit Tiravanija, David Weiss, and Jennifer West.

Words Fail Me is an exhibition that explores visual art’s ongoing engagement and entanglement - with language. Language is labyrinthine, its permutations endless: This is partly the pleasure of words. The complexity of language, its ability to both inform and confound us, is no doubt part of its continuing appeal to artists. Words Fail Me considers highly idiosyncratic manifestations of language in recent contemporary art produced by an international and intergenerational group of artists. Throughout the exhibition language is denied its interpretive, explicatory, or narrative function. Instead the works in the exhibition embrace language’s more permeable state: its elasticity, its penchant for questions, subtexts and double meanings. Exploring language’s limits and limitations the works in Words Fail Me are often highly emotive and occasionally melancholic, collectively they embrace questions of politics, mortality, identity, idealism, and alienation. Prevailing throughout is a nagging sense of ambivalence that reflects upon - and perhaps even amplifies the uncertainties of our present social landscape.

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 7:00PM-11:00PM
Tix: $8.00, free for MoCAD members
www.mocadetroit.org

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Saturday, September 15th: Putting the Wood in WOODward—Detroit Synergy’s and thedetroiter.com’s 5th Anniversary Bar Crawl

It’s a go! Detroit Synergy Group, in conjunction with thedetroiter.com, is happy to bring you a joint 5th-Year Anniversary Pub Crawl! Why? Because Synergy was born in a bar and has been celebrating ever since, and because thedetroiter.com wants you to enjoy all the vibrancy of the D. Participating bars include Hard Rock Café, The Pit Stop, [Proof], Pulse, The Well, Baltimore Lunch, Centaur, The Town Pump, and the Arcade Bar. There will be T-Shirts with funny “wood” puns on them (why wood? Because wood is the traditional gift for a 5th anniversary!) There will be prizes at the end for whoever drank the most—to be determined by our state-of-the-art system of having bartenders stamp your Synergy shirt! The crawl begins at the Hard Rock Café, and from there people are free to roam for themselves, so long as they end up at the Pit Stop at 10:00PM for the final tally.

Where: Woodward Ave. Business District, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-10:00PM, registration begins at 4:30PM in the Hard Rock Cafe
Tix: $15.00 in advance, $20.00 at the door
www.detroitsynergy.org
www.thedetroiter.com

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EVERY SATURDAY MAY-SEPTEMBER: Preservation Wayne’s Midtown Tours

Explore a Detroit neighborhood that has seen it all—from rural settlement to boomtown, charming neighborhood, funky artists’ hangout, Skid Row, and Piety Hill. This guided walking tour begins with coffee at Detroit’s famous Avalon Bakery and continues on to brew pubs, boutiques, loft developments, fire stations, and several 19th century Victorian homes.

Tours usually last between two and three hours. Tours depart rain or shine, so please check ahead and dress appropriately. Tour group size is limited and space is available on a first come first served basis. For tour groups of 10 or more, reservations are required. Call us at (313) 577-7674 for more information.

Where: Tour meets at the Avalon Bakery. Avalon Bakery is located at 422 West Willis Street, just west of Cass Avenue, two blocks west of Woodward.
When: 10:00AM
Tix: $10.00, $8.00 for members
NOTE: This tour is September’s tour of the month…rumor has it tickets will be reduced to $5.00. Call us (313) 577-7674 for more information.
www.preservationwayne.org

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Saturday, July 21st-Saturday, September 15th: Leah Keller’s “Dancing the Line” Exhibit at the Biegas Gallery
Closing Reception with the artist in attendance Friday, September 14th, 6-9pm.

Biegas Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of recent paintings by New York artist Leah Keller. All paintings in this exhibition will have their Detroit debut following an acclaimed exhibition this past spring at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The exhibition features large-scale abstract painting on a variety of supports including mylar, Plexiglass and canvas. Through the work on Plexiglass in particular, Keller pushes the boundary between two and three dimensions by layering transparent supports in front of each other, projecting her thrown forms into space and introducing depth to the visual experience. Viewers are encouraged to walk 360 degrees around each of the layered Plexiglass works to experience the full range of relationships between color and line as they change from every vantage point.

The title of the exhibition refers to Keller’s process, which is literally a dance. As The Detroiter‘s very own Nick Sousanis describes in the exhibition essay, “Leah Keller’s paintings are a preservation of performance – a record of actions and emotions, not representational, but captured – grooves in vinyl, tracks in snow, fingerprints at the scene of a crime. We can’t see the wind, but we can see its effects on smoke, on jet trails brushed across the sky. And so with a graceful curve or the fury of a slasher film splatter, she gives joy, anger, love, solid form.”

Leah Keller was born in 1976 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. After earning degrees in Psychology (B.A., 1998) and English Literature (M.A., 2001), she studied painting under Peter Williams at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Keller currently lives and works in New York City, where she is preparing for a solo exhibition at Galerie Daniel Besseiche in Paris, France.

Where: Biegas Gallery, Detroit
www.biegas.com

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Saturday, August 18th-Sunday, September 30th: The 2007 Michigan Renaissance Festival

Pop quiz: where in Michigan can you find men in traditional kilts, women in corsets, actors feigning British accents from the Middle Ages, patrons more into character than the actors, and you can buy anything from genuine swords and rapiers to an entire wardrobe made of crushed velvet? Why, the Michigan Renaissance Festival, naturally! This yearly event is always a fun outing for everyone. See jousting tournaments, jugglers, glass-blowers, and comedic performances; eat turkey legs, cheddar soup in a bread bowl, and a variety of sweets; drink a variety of beers in the beer tent and sample the honey mead…no matter what your tastes are, there is sure to be something for you to enjoy here! Every weekend brings a different theme, from the Arabian Nights theme the Festival is being launched with, the very popular Highland Fling weekend (Scottish-themed), and the yearly Chocolate Festival that ends this Renaissance revival every year.

Where: Holly, MI
When: Every Saturday and Sunday and Labor Day, 10:00AM-7:00PM
Tix: $17.95 for adults, $8.95 for children; season pass $69.95 for adults, $34.95 for children
www.michrenfest.com

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Wednesday, August 22nd- Sunday, September 2nd: 2007 Michigan State Fair

The historic Michigan State Fair, now in its 159th year, is an end of summer favorite for both children and adults. Not only do you get to experience all of your favorite midway rides and fair foods (mmm…Elephant Ears and corn dogs!), but there is also a petting zoo, baton and dance competitions, a hog-calling contest, a husband and wife calling contest (!), arts & crafts exhibits, and concert performances by Air Supply, Alice Cooper, Marques Houston, Shinedown, The Spinners & The Platters, and more. But more than anything else, the Michigan State Fair is a celebration of Michigan’s bountiful agriculture and livestock industry and its rich heritage, and there will be plenty of traditional livestock exhibits, educational displays, wildlife exhibits and fishing ponds, and fresh Michigan produce for each and every guest to truly experience what being a Michigander is all about!

Where: State Fairgrounds, Detroit
When: See schedule for details
Tix: One-day ticket: Adults, $10.00; children & seniors, $5.00. Season pass: Adults, $35.00; children & seniors, $10.00. (Additional charges for special events apply.)
www.michigan.gov/mistatefair

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“Just Make a Left at the Buffet Line”

Review by Nicole Rupersburg

Iridescence, inside the Motor City Casino, is one of the more-highly-ranked fine dining establishments in the city of Detroit. A “AAA-Four Diamond Award” restaurant and recipient of the 2007 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, Iridescence has largely flown under the radar with the locals. While local foodies love to drop names like Opus One, The Whitney, and (God help me for saying it) Mario’s, Iridescence has succeeded in remaining something of a secret.

Perhaps it’s because of its location. This isn’t Vegas, it’s the D, and here we don’t necessarily equate top-tier dining with a casino-based location (currently The Alley Grille in the Greektown Casino is the only other example of our casinos attempting to break into the fine dining market; MGM currently has plans in the works to introduce its own high-end establishments). So perhaps diners are initially biased against it because of its affiliation with the casino. (I would love to see how that kind of mentality would do in Las Vegas, where world-renowned chefs such as Alain Ducasse; Thomas Keller—whose Bouchon is considered one of the top restaurants in the country; and Takashi Yagihashi, formerly of Michigan’s own Tribute in Farmington Hills, are opening up highly acclaimed restaurants all located within casino walls that are successfully putting Las Vegas on the map as one of the epicenters of fine dining in the country, second only to New York and L.A.)

It might also have to do with the restaurant’s location within the casino itself. This is a 4-star restaurant that patrons arrive at only by walking past a series of buffets and a food court. Perhaps not the best impression for a person to have when entering the restaurant to enjoy a fine meal, though immediately forgettable upon entrance. (Word has it that once the hotel tower is complete, the restaurant will be relocated to the top floor—a very smart move on their part, I think. Plus the view will be amazing, provided the restaurant will be facing downtown.)

Iridescence is a quiet oasis amidst the raucousness of the casino floor. A large, open dining space filled with plush half-moon booths and mahogany tables with modern wingback chairs, Iridescence offers diners a very comfortable environment with a soothing ambiance to dine in. Other decorative accents include single peach roses on each table, and glass sculptures lit from underneath with color-changing L.E.D. lights. What they lack in location they certainly make up for in atmosphere.

And then there is the food. Iridescence has a nice mix of offerings on their menu, but they are at heart a steakhouse. Serving only the highest grade of beef, U.S.D.A. prime corn-fed, and serving every cut of beef with a rich cognac sauce, Iridescence has certainly “steaked” its claim to a high-end chophouse (despite offering only 4 different cuts). But unlike many other chophouses where the focus is all beef all the time, Iridescence offers diners a number of different well-thought-out alternatives to King Cow.

You’ll begin your meal with the standard bread course, though there is nothing standard about these breads. Jalapeño cornbread, sourdough raisin bread, crispy fried breadsticks, and large wafery-crackers that tasted like fried wonton, all served with a partitioned plate of dipping choices—olive oil with balsamic vinegar, a roasted olive tapenade, unsalted sweet cream butter and butter infused with parmesan (cheese! I love cheese!). Next you’ll receive your amuse-bouche (“happy mouth”), a small bite prepared by the chef to stimulate your palette before you begin your meal. Our amuse-bouche was a smoked salmon tartare with a spinach chip, a combination of flavors that worked well though the salmon was perhaps a bit too rich to simply warm your palette.

For the first course, there is a wide variety of options to choose, from Asian-inspired protein dishes to straightforward seafood. We sampled the Spicy Beef-Filled Asian Straws, served with ponzu dipping sauce and a drizzle sesame sauce. These “Asian Straws,” which are basically longer, thinner versions of a beef spring roll, were very flavorful without being overly spicy, and the accompanying sauces went far to enhance the flavor without drowning it (though I will note, the “ponzu” sauce both tasted like and had the consistency of peanut sauce, with perhaps only a hint of the citrusy flavor real ponzu is used for). The second course is strictly salads, which for the most part exhibit fairly common combinations, though the Spring Vegetable Salad with shaved carrot, parsnip, fennel, and celery root with a blood orange vinaigrette and golden beet chips offers a road-less-traveled combination of ingredients, perfect for those who like to go a little more adventurous with their greens.

At this point diners will take another small break in their meal to enjoy a palate cleanser, which is not something that you will typically find in most fine-dining establishments, and is likely extremely rare to see in a steakhouse. We were presented with a Chardonnay gelée in a short champagne flute, with a single large, plump raspberry suspended within. The gelée was phenomenal, capturing the effervescent tartness of what was surely a crisp, clean Chardonnay, likely not aged in oak and absent the buttery heaviness that characterizes so many Chardonnays. The ripe raspberry was a perfect compliment to the gelée, providing an extra measure of tart sweetness to the cleansing quality of this interlude.

For those of you who choose to opt out of steak for your entrée, Iridescence certainly has a selection that will suit your tastebuds in lieu of tenderloin. They do offer a 10-oz. Jumbo Western Australian Lobster Tail, which looks impressive but due to its size and the difficulty in cooking a lobster tail that large, it is more than likely to be a bit tough and rubbery, despite how much vanilla butter you might slather on it—therefore, I recommend you stray from ordering this. The simple Beef Short Ribs “Rossini” offers a classic combination of flavors with a slightly more refined twist: braised beef rib au jus atop a pile of garlic mashed potatoes with a delicate piece of foie gras and a brioche crouton on top. Pity the people of Chicago who can no longer experience foie gras (something about animal cruelty, blah blah), because this small slice of goose liver is explosive with flavor, and adds a prominent kick to the already flavorful and juicy short ribs. The Halibut is also a nice substitute for steak, served atop a bed of prosciutto with chick peas, fried lemon, and chilled virgin olive oil cream. The halibut itself was nicely seasoned with a flavorful crust of spices, and was firm yet moist on the inside, having been perfectly prepared. The halibut paired extremely well with the salty, rich prosciutto, and the occasional hint of lemon was welcomed. Be sure to cast the actual fried lemon itself off to the side, lest you enjoy what tastes like a mouthful of Pledge. The chilled virgin olive oil cream, though interesting, was completely unnecessary to the dish. Served as almost a scoop of ice cream on top of the halibut, the cream, which was mostly solid, melted off the fish and plopped to the side of the plate, where it stayed for the duration of my meal. I tried incorporating it into the dish, but found that the flavor of the cream itself was, well, just cream, and in no way added to or complimented the other flavors on the plate. So there was a big goopy melty mess on my plate for really no good reason. Dear Chef: In the future, this is a great dish, but leave the ice cream scoop to the desserts.

And ah, the desserts. Iridescence has long been touted as having the best desserts in the Metro Detroit area. And though I personally might not make a claim for “best,” I would certainly argue that they offer a fantastic selection of unique and classic cakes and confections. Crème brûlée is prepared in the traditional way and served with fresh fruit and a sable cookie; raspberry crêpes are prepared tableside and served with vanilla-scented ice cream. Their signature dessert is a Bolivian chocolate mousse, and they offer a trio of house-made sorbets on a brandy snap tuille with fresh fruit. In the face of all of these tempting creations, we opted for the MotorCity Casino “Meltdown” (a classic chocolate lava cake with raspberry sauce and house-made praline ice cream) and the soufflé of the evening—strawberry. The “Meltdown” was terrific, as lava cake usually is, this one being no exception. The raspberry sauce was strong and needed to be sampled in small amounts to compliment the rich dark chocolate liquid center. The soufflé was divine; light, fluffy, with just the right amount of crispiness to the outer edges and a rich liquid filling of smooth strawberry sauce. I had my hesitation about ordering any soufflé that didn’t have chocolate or coffee flavors featured, but this light and airy strawberry creation was a perfect summertime end note.

And then there is the award-winning wine list, full of remarkably priced finds (notably a 1998 Penfolds Grange Shiraz for $280, which could just as easily be listed at $400). The usual concentration of California is here, though several hidden gems from South America, Italy, and Spain are notable picks (Scala Dei Priorat comes to mind). As mentioned, ’98 Grange is less than $300, ’98 Ornellaia is $170, and recent vintages of Tignanello are priced below $100. This is sticker shock in its best form; an opportunity to indulge in break-the-bank wines by merely bruising the bank instead (an added benefit after having to shed the stink of curly fries and Philly Steaks upon entering).

One thing I have not yet addressed is service, which for me in terms of overall dining experience is just as significant as the food. I have refrained from discussing the service up to this point because I would like to believe that the service we received is not in any way indicative of the service in general at Iridescence, but is really just the fault of one server. Due to an extremely overcrowded parking structure, we did not arrive to the restaurant until about 10:30—still ample time before they closed, however, with plenty of other patrons in the dining area. Our server was very polite throughout, though he clearly was not at all interested in establishing any kind of rapport, arriving simply to take our orders and deliver our plates. We could not help but feel as though we were being rushed, with each course being brought out on the heels of the one before it, with hardly any regard for timing or pacing. Another part of the reason why I hesitated in ordering the soufflé was because I knew full well how long that takes to prepare (at least 20 minutes), and at that point the server had made it pretty clear that he wanted to get us the hell out. I decided “Screw it, it’s my night too,” and ordered the soufflé. The server concealed his chagrin rather well, never losing the smile on his face as he noted, “You know that will take a little while to prepare?” Wouldn’t you know, we did not see this server for the rest of the evening, and were left in the care of the remaining bussers and food runners who twice tried to take away my soufflé before I was done eating. Again, I am willing to give the establishment the benefit of the doubt on this one, being aware as I am of the time and of our particular server’s anxiousness to leave. I do not count this as a strike against the restaurant, but I will say to those of you reading this: try to get there before 9:00.

Overall, the experience at Iridescence is a good one, with a nice selection of uniquely constructed dishes and a variety of tastes for patrons to enjoy. The wine list is superb and the atmosphere soothing. I personally think their relocation will do wonders for them, but as it stands right now, I would certainly continue to rank Iridescence on the short list of top restaurants in Detroit.

Iridescence, inside The MotorCity Casino. 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 313.237.6732
Prices: Appetizers/salads: $6.00-$17.00, Entrees: $29.00-$64.00, Desserts: $8.00-$12.00
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 5:00PM-midnight

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Nicole Rupersburg is the Events Editor, Marketing Director and occasional author for thedetroiter.com. And a discerning diner.

By Nicole Rupersburg

What is Detroit Synergy Group? This is a question I hear all the time, and have probably (albeit incorrectly) described it differently in each situation. I’ve heard it described as an ambassador to the city on behalf of suburbanites, as a social network akin to various meet-up groups, and as a volunteer-based non-profit with interest in Detroit-based philanthropic work, among other things. The truth is, all of the above descriptions are essentially correct. Detroit Synergy Group is, at its heart, “a vehicle for enhancing metropolitan Detroit through volunteer-driven projects, to generate positive perceptions and opinions about the city and build upon the city’s strengths and resources.”

DSG has been actively encouraging Detroit dwellers and suburbanites alike to patronize and socialize in the city for five whole years now, and that’s no small accomplishment. Throughout its existence, the group has remained a grassroots organization that is supported and run by volunteer-based individuals with a passion for the often-overlooked and discredited city of Detroit. People who take part in Detroit Synergy projects and functions are people who truly care about the city of Detroit and see it as the diamond in the rough, the downtrodden gem, the socially and culturally vibrant entity crackling with a life force all its own.

One of Detroit Synergy’s primary objectives is to “synergize” with community organizations and in-place efforts to foster new exchanges, create new connections and empower new ideas. Over its history, Detroit Synergy has overseen some 60+ projects to date that have involved hundreds of sponsors and thousands of volunteers and participants, and has proudly partnered up in a myriad number of ways with over 100 different metro-Detroit organizations and businesses. And all projects are conceptualized, coordinated, implemented and supported by its 4,500 members, who all have an equal voice.

Do you have an interest in the city of Detroit, and want to do something to help but have no idea what or with whom? Detroit Synergy Group is here to help. Every second Thursday of every month, DSG holds its general membership meeting at various locations in the city. This is where upcoming and previous projects are discussed, networking happens, friends are made, ideas are shared, and you become a part of Detroit Synergy’s mission.

Detroit Synergy Group projects fall into three major categories: Discovery—educating people about Detroit and what it has to offer, Dialogue—bringing individuals together to foster an exchange of thoughts and ideas about current events, experiences, policies, etc., and Development—improving the city and community either physically and/or commercially. Past and current projects include Monthly Community Service Happy Hours (“Third Thursdays”), Shop Detroit, Detroit Bikes!, Project Clean, Monthly Coffee Talks, Discussing Differences, Arts in the City, supper clubs and various pub crawls. If you have an idea for a project, no matter how big or small, or simply a passion to participate, be sure to attend this month’s very special anniversary meeting at the Detroit Opera House on Thursday, September 13th from 6:30PM-8:00PM, and stick around for the after glow event!

To celebrate their 5th Anniversary, in keeping with their share-and-share-alike “synergistic” mentality, Detroit Synergy Group has partnered up with thedetroiter.com, also celebrating our 5th anniversary(!), to bring you a large-scale pub crawl event, featuring eight different bars located in the Woodward Business District. This event is on Saturday, September 15th, from 4:30PM-10:00PM. Register online early for only $15.00 at www.DSGStore.com. For more details, check out their press release below or this week’s events section!

Detroit Synergy is a 501© 3 non-profit organization, since September 2002. Its mission is to generate positive perceptions and opinions about Detroit by bringing together a diverse community and building upon the City’s strengths and resources to realize a common vision for a greater Detroit. Please visit www.detroitsynergy.org for more information about the group.

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Nicole Rupersburg is the Events Editor, Marketing Director and occasional author for thedetroiter.com.

DSG IS PUTTING THE “WOOD” IN WOODWARD WITH THEIR WOODEN ANNIVERSARY!

This month Detroit Synergy Group is celebrating their 5th anniversary (the “wooden” anniversary), and to help make this momentous occasion even more special, DSG is hosting a large-scale pub crawl in Detroit’s Central Business District with Woodward as the focal point on Saturday, September 15 beginning at 4:30PM!

“It’s only appropriate that we are celebrating our 5th anniversary with a pub crawl,” explains Frank Nemecek of Detroit Synergy Group and co-organizer of this event. “The idea for DSG was first brainstormed in a bar, and we’ve been celebrating with bar crawls and happy hour events ever since!”

For this event, a number of popular bars along and nearby Woodward have agreed to participate, offering a variety of drink and food specials to all DSG pub-crawlers:

• Arcade Bar
• Centaur
• Foran’s
• Hard Rock Café
• The Pit Stop
• Pulse
• Ted’s (The Baltimore Lunch)
• Town Pump Tavern
• The Well

Since this is the big 5th anniversary party, we wanted to make this one a bit different from past pub crawls. All participants will be identified with a DSG Anniversary T-shirt, which they will receive at registration. The names of all bars will be written on the back, so as crawlers travel from bar to bar, bartenders will be checking off their bars in marker—and will probably be writing in some commentary of their own! There will be prizes at the end for whoever hits the most bars and has the most specials (write-ins welcome!).

“We’re very excited about this pub crawl,” states Kimberly Lorence, another DSG member who aided in the planning of this event. “It is definitely much different than other crawls we’ve hosted in the past, and it is on a much larger scale. I can’t wait to see the turnout!”

Registration begins at 4:30PM in Hard Rock Café. Free parking is available in the Compuware parking structure, courtesy of Hard Rock. Free appetizers and FREE FIRST ROUNDS will be provided as everyone gets registered and gets their T-shirts. At 6:00PM, participants will be released to their next bar of choice. This is a free-for-all pub crawl, so participants are allowed to travel from bar to bar at their own pace and in their own groups. At 10:00PM, the group will reconvene to award prizes at the Pit Stop. And as an added bonus for those up for a late night, the Park Bar will be staying open extra late to provide much-needed falafels and fries to hungry pub crawlers.

In conjunction with Detroit Synergy, thedetroiter.com is also celebrating its landmark 5th anniversary—5 years of continuous arts coverage in the city of Detroit! thedetroiter.com is marking this occasion by partnering up with DSG on the pub crawl, and encouraging city dwellers as well as suburbanites to spend time and socialize in the city and see for themselves what a vibrant and lively city we all share.

Tickets for the joint pub crawl are $15.00 in advance, $20.00 at the door. Register and pay in advance online at www.DSGstore.com.

Detroit Synergy is a 501© 3 non-profit organization. Its mission is to generate positive perceptions and opinions about Detroit by bringing together a diverse community and building upon the City’s strengths and resources to realize a common vision for a greater Detroit. Please visit www.detroitsynergy.org for more information about the group.

thedetroiter.com is a centralized online source for coverage of the arts and culture in Detroit, providing original content that is unique, authentic, and original. thedetroiter.com seeks to capture the everyday experiences of life in Detroit, building cultural capital in a city with a vibrant social and artistic scene that is all-too-often overlooked.

Plenty of art happenings this weekend including the official debut of Design .99, Arts, Beats, and Eats in Pontiac, and more. Check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

COMING UP:

Friday, August 31st-Sunday, September 2nd: Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

Featuring the cars of the American Le Mans Series and the IndyCar Series, the weekend is collectively referred to as the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. Saturday’s American Le Mans Series race is the Detroit Sports Car Challenge presented by Bosch; Sunday’s IndyCar race is the Detroit Indy Grand Prix presented by Firestone. This year marks the first Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix in 6 years; with a generous partnership with a subsidiary of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, the Detroit Grand Prix is aiding in the rejuvenation of the once-beautiful Belle Isle. All proceeds will go to the preservation and renovation of Belle Isle, with a number of major improvements already completed for the race. All that, and really fast cars.

Where: Belle Isle, Detroit
When: See schedule for complete details
Tix: $30.00-$150.00 (ticket pricing based on number of days attended and seating section)
www.detroitgp.com

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Friday, August 31st-Monday, September 3rd: Detroit International Jazz Festival

Founded in 1980, the Detroit International Jazz Festival has become a Labor Day Weekend tradition in Detroit, and this year’s lineup is sure to please. With several well-known young performers being featured on the Here & Now stage, Jam Sessions on the top of the Pontchartrain Hotel every evening from 11:00PM-1:00AM, Salsa dancing on the top of the Pontch early Sunday evening, and daily second line parades performed by the Charlie Gabriel New Orleans Traditional Jazz Ensemble tracing Charlie’s very own steps from New Orleans to Detroit (they won’t be traveling quite that far this weekend, though—look for them between Hart Plaza and Campus Martius), this year’s International Jazz Festival is full of special offerings for festival goers in a broad range from jazz, blues, Gospel, Motown, and more. A smooth way to end a summer.

Where: Hart Plaza and the Pontchartrain Hotel, Detroit
When: See schedule for details
Tix: Free admission
www.detroitjazzfest.com

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Friday, August 31st-Monday, September 3rd: Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats 2007

50 restaurants, 200 music performers, and 155 art exhibitors. This is where it all ends, folks. The last major free festival of the year that celebrates art, music, food, culture and people occurs every Labor Day weekend in Pontiac, and it is consistently among the best of the year (second only to CityFest). New this year is the International Block Party—a presentation of flags from around the world, a music stage all its own showcasing international acts, and food representing cultures from all over the globe. This year’s entertainment lineup will definitely not disappoint, with such national acts as the Gin Blossoms, Brian McKnight, Chevelle, and Jill Jack, and local acts like the Paper Street Saints, Hotness, the Sights, Thornetta Davis, Dutch Pink, Broadzilla, and Ray Street Park. There will also be kid-friendly performances with clowns, jugglers and magicians; and jazz and classical music for kids and adults alike. Whoever you are, whatever you like, there is something for you here.

Where: Downtown Pontiac
When: Fri 4:00PM-11:00PM, Sat & Sun 11:00AM-11:00PM, Mon 11:00AM-8:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.artsbeatseats.com

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Friday, August 31st: Masul with Arrivistes and Ray Bertsch

Electronics/synth player Paul Giallorenzo has worked with many Chicago improvisers, including Jeb Bishop, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Dave Rempis, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten, Tim Daisy, Frank Rosaly, Mike Reed, Josh Berman, Jason Ajemian, Jason Stein, and many others. Thomas Mejer, a contrabass saxophonist/composer from Luzern, Switzerland spent 4 months in Chicago in 2004, where he met Giallorenzo and formed the collaboration Masul, which has mostly performed in Chicago and Luzern. He also works with the 774th St. Quartet, a saxophone quartet with Aram Shelton, Guillermo Gregorio, and Keefe Jackson. This will be their first appearance in the region. Joining them is Arrivistes, an improv/experimental group, and Ray Bertsch, who does beautiful songs in the rock/folk vein.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM
Tix: $5.00-$10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, August 31st: Bass Force

Head to the Corktown Tavern, the hub of THE music scene in Detroit, for Bass Force 2007. Check out B. Calloway, Body Mechanic, Wagner, Benji Hayes, Jase One, Geoff Johnson, Jeff Comer, Revolt, and Creek/Creek, and experience…bass. Lots and lots of bass.

Where: Corktown Tavern, Detroit
When: 9:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.corktowntavern.com

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Friday, August 31st: Detroit Guerrilla Queer Bar August Event

Host and planner Eddie Edwards is being as elusive as usual, but word is this one might be at the Bronx Bar. If you want to know, check the website!

Where: Unknown (Bronx Bar?)
When: 9:30PM-2:00AM
Tix: Free to come in, but drinks are on you!
www.detroitguerrillas.com

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Friday, August 31st: Funk Night at the CAID

It’s the end of the month, and you know what that means? It’s time for another Funk Night at the CAID!

The CAID’s monthly Funk Night parties are becoming legendary in their own right; local scenesters, artists, and party-lovers all come out of the bars and into the CAID for a night of revelry that lasts AT LEAST until dawn. Funk Night is a celebration of deep funk from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Join CAID for member benefits such as the VIP Lounge and other free perks.

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $5.00
www.thecaid.org

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Friday, August 31st-Saturday, September 1st: Midnight Madness presents Brazil

From Terry Gilliam, the man that brought you Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, and 12 Monkeys, Brazil is a futuristic dystopic dramedy, for lack of better explanation, about an office worker who dreams of escaping his inefficient and convoluted totalitarian society and be with the woman of his literal dreams (and who gets pinned as a terrorist in the meantime).

Where: The Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak
When: Midnight
Tix: Standard movie admission rates apply
www.ticketmaster.com

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Saturday, September 1st-Monday, September 3rd: 3 Days in the D

Okay, so this is not actually an event unto itself. “3 Days in the D” is essentially the Detroit Visitor’s Bureau’s pitch to get people to visit “The D” over this Labor Day weekend. Events such as Chrysler’s Arts Beats & Eats in Pontiac, the Belle Isle Grand Prix, the Detroit Jazz Festival, the Michigan State Fair and the Michigan Renaissance Festival, there is no shortage of things to do in D-Town on this particular weekend. For more information about all of these events, visit www.3daysinthed.com.

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Saturday, September 1st: The Detroit Cobras

These Magic Stick faves return after touring for their latest, TIED AND TRUE. From their Bloodshot bio: “The Detroit Cobras whip out ass-shaking anthems to good times, wild times, and the high and lows of L-U-V; you best believe it and you best not mess with it. Singer Rachel Nagy and guitarist Mary Ramirez are the bad girls by the exit doors at the school dance, all leather and heels, sneaking smokes and passing the flask. They have no time for dewy-eyed love songs or girl group decorum; they’ll take care of business themselves with a bat of the eye or an elbow to the kidney. Rachel’s “warm as the bourbon under the seat of your car” voice can boom to the back pews (Did we say “pews?” We meant “barstools") and Mary’s riffs let you know that love and good times can be found in the tilt of a hip or at the end of a fist.”

Editor’s note: I freakin’ LOVE this band. This is garage rock at its finest. And I always like to support ma’girls. Do go check them out.

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: 9:00PM
Tix: $10.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Saturday, September 1st: Strange Beautiful Music

Electronica and Classical music merge during New Music Detroit’s 12 hour marathon: STRANGE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. STRANGE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC presents works by iconic composers such as Philip Glass and John Cage, as well as the premieres of works by featured composers Alexandra DuBois and Nico Muhly. Limited ticket sales, available through CAID. VIP electronica afterparty for ticket holders and featured artists begins at 2:00AM.

Classical music is sometimes perceived synonymously with old musty concert halls and formalities that predate modern life. A group of Detroit’s young professionals seeks to change that: New Music Detroit is a contemporary music collective made up of the area’s highly accomplished and versatile musicians. And on September 1st, New Music Detroit’s first major project will come to fruition: STRANGE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, a 12 hour contemporary music marathon hosted by the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit.

“This concert blurs the line between art, music, and contemporary culture,” says Adrienne Rönmark of New Music Detroit. “We’re going outside the boundaries of cautious programming, and presenting music that needs to be heard.” STRANGE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC has something for everyone: from the minimalist sounds of composers Philip Glass and Steve Reich, to the avant-garde works of Gyorgy Ligeti and Luciano Beriofrom the solo instrumental voice to the power of a percussion ensemble and the familiarity of electronic music, all forms of contemporary music will be represented. A complete program listing is available at New Music Detroit’s website: www.newmusicdetroit.com.

Joining New Music Detroit from New York City will be composers Alexandra du Bois and Nico Muhly. At just 26 years of age, both have appeared at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center (NYC). DuBois and Muhly will be present to speak about their works that New Music Detroit will perform. Also joining will be the NYC-based group Project, and Detroit guitarist Robert Tye and Friends.

STRANGE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC is hosted by the CAID, at 5141 Rosa Parks Boulevard. (313.899.CAID) CAID fosters and promotes the essential link between contemporary arts and contemporary society through its exhibitions, performances, critical and public discourse and the funding of contemporary arts and art related activities.

Founded in 2007, New Music Detroit is dedicated to performing challenging and dynamic works from the late twentieth century to the present day—from seminal new music ‘classics’ to the innovative and genre defying works written by today’s emerging composers.

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: 2:00PM-2:00AM
Tix: $10.00
www.thecaid.org
www.newmusicdetroit.com

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Tuesday, September 4th: The Mitten Movie Project/InZer0 Marathon

For the first time in one night, all 12 episodes of the InZer0 series will be shown on the big screen as part of the Mitten Movie Project. The InZer0 marathon lets the audience see the story unfold as well as follow the progression of the filmmakers as they set out to create 12 episodes in 12 months.

What began as an experiment in filmmaking in March 2006, the series quickly grew into a community of creative professionals, bringing together filmmakers, actors, photographers, musicians, graphic designers, prop fabricators, and costume designers to film enthusiasts eager to learn the ins and outs of film production. The InZer0 marathon features almost six hours of ground-breaking material – all shot in Detroit on a shoestring budget.

InZer0 is the story of an ambitious courier with a hidden past that must weave his way through a dangerous city populated by magic users, aliens, and warring aristocrats, all of whom want what he has to deliver – hope. Created by Jamie Sonderman, InZer0 stars Jonny Victor as Thames , Mare Costello as Marilee, Sonja Ribicki, Caleb Gilbert, Scott Norman, PJ Jacokes, David A. Durham, Connie Cowper, Stevie Robinson, Jeffry W. Stetson, Jim Lewis, Vince Rasnick, Rio Scafone, Angela Roberts, and Jeff Berndt.

“It was an amazing experience to be part of InZer0 for so long,” says Jonny Victor, star of the InZer0 series. Victor further states, “To be able to watch our team not only become seasoned professionals along the way, but to be able to have practiced my craft for so long as one character and to be able to explore Thames as deeply has been a real blessing. I’m truly grateful and lucky to be able to share the excitement and momentum that has fueled us all on this awesomely original project.”

Many familiar locations are featured, including the Belle Isle Aquarium and Conservatory, Wayne State ’s Manoogian Hall and Old Main, Russell Industrial Center, Hastings Street Ballroom, Tangent Gallery, Heidelberg Project, People Mover, Burst Sound, Spirit of Hope Church, Woodlawn Cemetary, and private homes in Indian Village , Palmer Woods, Woodbridge , and Corktown.

Well known Detroiters appear in the series, including Mick Collins of The Dirtbombs, Danny Methric of The Muggs and The Paybacks, Tony DeNardo of The Muggs, Keith Thompson of Johnny Headband, Steven Tuthill of The Beggars, songstresses Queen Bee, Audra Kubat, and Mary Abraham, radio personality Quinn Klinefelter, art critics Bryant Tillman and James Dozier, and Popartmonkey artist Carl Oxley III.

Local musicians were anxious for the opportunity to match their music to the story. Audra Kubat’s sultry voice backed the theme song of InZer0 and other talented Detroit musicians lent their songs to the soundtrack: Ben Cyllus, Tone & Niche, RAI, Dendura, Beth Stalker, Ganon, Coldwater, Chiasm, The Mind’s Eye, Caelum Bliss, and Ether Aura.

Thought Collide will present the InZer0 marathon on Tuesday, September 4th at 7:00 p.m. during the Mitten Movie Project at the Main Art Theatre ( 118 N. Main Street , Royal Oak , MI 48067 ). A 15-minute intermission will occur at approximately 9:30 p.m. after Episode 6 is screened. After the screening, an afterglow party will be held at Bastone ( 419 S. Main Street – four blocks south of the Main Art Theatre ). 21+ welcome.

September 4th also marks the release date of the long-awaited third and final DVD in the InZer0 Series DVD collection. Volume III includes Episodes 10-12 of InZer0 and can be purchased at the Main Art Theatre the night of the screening and afterwards at www.thebrokenfuture.com.

The Mitten Movie Project is a festival based in Detroit that is dedicated to exhibiting the work of filmmakers in Michigan and beyond with monthly screenings on the first Tuesday of each month.

Where: The Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $10.00 in advance, $11.00 day of the show
www.landmarktheatres.com
www.myspace.com/inzero

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Wednesday, September 5th: Wednesday Wine Bar presents “The New Greece”

Move over Retsina! The winemakers of Greece are tromping onto the world stage in a major way. Matt Prentice Group’s resident Greek Madeline Triffon, Master Sommelier, will cheerfully assist with pronunciations.

The first Wednesday of every month, Matt Prentice Group hosts a “Wednesday Wine Bar” at one of their fine dining establishments. This month Shiraz in Bingham Farms is the host, presenting “The New Greece,” which will feature at least 10 Greek-made selections and a sumptuous hors d’ouevres spread.

Where: Shiraz, Bingham Farms (Southfield Rd.)
When: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Tix: $40.00
www.mattprenticerg.com

Plenty of art happenings this weekend including Franklin Jonas at Janice Charach Epstein, Robert Kidd Gallery, and more. Check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

COMING UP:

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Wednesday, August 22nd- Sunday, September 2nd: 2007 Michigan State Fair

The historic Michigan State Fair, now in its 159th year, is an end of summer favorite for both children and adults. Not only do you get to experience all of your favorite midway rides and fair foods (mmm…Elephant Ears and corn dogs!), but there is also a petting zoo, baton and dance competitions, a hog-calling contest, a husband and wife calling contest (!), arts & crafts exhibits, and concert performances by Air Supply, Alice Cooper, Marques Houston, Shinedown, The Spinners & The Platters, and more. But more than anything else, the Michigan State Fair is a celebration of Michigan’s bountiful agriculture and livestock industry and its rich heritage, and there will be plenty of traditional livestock exhibits, educational displays, wildlife exhibits and fishing ponds, and fresh Michigan produce for each and every guest to truly experience what being a Michigander is all about!

Where: State Fairgrounds, Detroit
When: See schedule for details
Tix: One-day ticket: Adults, $10.00; children & seniors, $5.00. Season pass: Adults, $35.00; children & seniors, $10.00. (Additional charges for special events apply.)
www.michigan.gov/mistatefair

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Wednesday, August 22nd: Wednesday Night Brew & View presents Blades of Glory

Napoleon Dynamite and Ricky Bobby together on ice skates? Game on.

Where: The Magic Bag, Ferndale
When: Doors at 8:00PM, film at 9:30PM
Tix: $2.00
www.themagicbag.com

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Thursday, August 23rd-Saturday, August 25th: Dave Coulier

Otherwise known as the guy that Alanis Morissette wrote “You Oughta Know” about. Yeah, it seemed strange to me too.

Dave is perhaps best known for his work on the long running hit ABC television series, “Full House", which aired for eight seasons (1987-1995).

Dave followed this success by hosting his second prime time hit series, “America’s Funniest People” (1991-1994). He also hosted ABC’s “The World’s Funniest Videos” and “Out of Control” for Nickelodeon.

Dave can currently be seen hosting Animal Planet’s TV series Animal Kidding. In the fall of 2005, Dave starred with Bo Derek in “I Can’t Believe I Wore That” on the WE network. In 2006 fans watched Dave on the series “Skating with Celebrities” on the Fox Network.

Although he’s been selling out clubs and theatres across the country with his hilarious and clean (PG 16) stand up comedy act for many years, last year Dave embarked on his first college stand up comedy tour. He was described by everyone as “the most down to earth celebrity we’ve ever met” and “the perfect entertainment for students, faculty, and staff”.

Where: Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Royal Oak
When: Thurs. 8:00PM, Fri. 8:00PM & 10:30PM, Sat. 8:00PM & 10:30PM
Tix: Thurs. $15.00, Fri. $20.00, Sat. $25.00
www.comedycastle.com

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Friday, August 24th-Sunday, August 26th: Festival of India

The Festival of India is brought to you exclusively by United South Asian Promotions, a non-profit organization, staffed with a house of volunteers from throughout the Indian community. This organization’s leadership has had over 50 combined years experience in bringing cultural events to the South Asian community. In addition, this team’s efforts to revive this Historic Festival is further endorsed by the original Festival founders and leaders, as well as the former Festival of Queens.

The 1st Festival of India was held in 1974 alongside other festivals. By 1976, it moved to the huge Amphitheater known as Hart Plaza. The festival founders, Jaydevi & Bharat Sanghvi, found their niche in building a template for a huge three-day event, involving fabulous dances, music, food, and art.

The Festival of India in Hart Plaza was at it’s grandest point in the hands of Jaydevi and Bharat Sanghvi. Until the 1990’s, many young Indians spent the whole summer in rehearsal for the Festival, some traveling thousands of miles to attend and participate. The momentum having reached its height, the Sanghvis chose to phase out their participation, passing it on to the next generation of eager leaders. Unfortunately, the curtains closed in the mid-90’s.

Now, the youth of that time, have gathered their memories of the dynamic festival, noting new currents of ideas to bring to the tradition, and are most respectfully channeling their energies to return the glory of the Indian community’s representation at the Riverfront. So come join them in reviving the glory of the Festival of India this year!

Some events include: Miss/Mr. India of Michigan pageants, a number of vocal and musical competitions, a painting competition, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, a fashion show, concerts, a Bhangra on the Plaza competition, more dancing and music extravaganzas, authentic jewelry and clothing for purchase, and lots of delicious, spicy (and healthy) Indian food!

Where: Hart Plaza, Detroit
When: Friday 7:00PM-midnight, Saturday 11:00AM-midnight, Sunday 11:00AM-8:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.festivalofindiadetroit.com

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Friday, August 24th: Stay & Play Social Club Happy Hour

Detroit’s Stay & Play Social Club, an organization dedicated to bringing together adult Metro-Detroiters in a variety of activities including sports teams, volunteer work, social activities and even exotic vacations, is having another happy hour, this time at Camp Ticonderoga in Troy. The happy hours are always a hit—meet new people and make new friends! And while you’re at it, enjoy the drink specials: $10.00 gets you four Miller Lite bottles OR three Absolut Ruby Reds OR three Absolut cocktails.

Where: Camp Ticonderoga, Troy
When: 6:00PM-8:30PM
Tix: $10.00
www.spscdetroit.com

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Friday, August 24th: The Green Party at The Whitney

Summer’s ending and there’s no better way to celebrate than the highly anticipated event that brings together the best in food, wine, and world-class music. The Whitney Executive Management Team along with The Counter Intelligence Group (CIG) are once again transforming The Whitney mansion’s garden for the second installment of the Green Party. Guests of The Green Party will enjoy thoughtful selections of music, food, and wine. DJ Rich Medina will be in from NYC and he’ll be bringing the heat…the Whitney Kitchen does it proper once again with the gourmet BBQ.

Where: The Whitney, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-1:00AM
Tix: $20.00
www.myspace.com/counterintelligencegroup

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Friday, August 24th: 4th Fridays with Ford

4th Fridays with Ford is a monthly signature evening series celebrating downtown Detroit highlighted by a major free concert at Campus Martius Park. 4th Friday programs showcase the best of downtown Detroit’s clubs, galleries, films, shopping and dining. In addition, participating restaurants, pubs and clubs offer special 4th Friday discounts. 4th Fridays with Ford is sponsored by Ford Motor Company and is a collaborative effort of the Detroit 300 Conservancy/Campus Martius Park, Tourism Economic Development Council, Greektown Casino and Ernst & Young.

This Friday check out performances by Universal Expression, Children of the Revolution, Orquestra la Inspiracion, a Salsa Competition, and Cinema D! Local Indie & Short Features.

Where: Campus Martius Park, Detroit
When: 11:30AM-1:00AM (see schedule for times)
Tix: Free admission
www.theworldiscoming.com

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Friday, August 24th: Popsicle Shiv at Jacoby’s

This Friday, none other than POPSICLE SHIV (Andre’, Tim and Russ) will be performing along with friends…WOODMAN…"a family sometimes in tune, together” and Tom Budday, Echo Verse Detroit National Slam Poet at 313.jac/Jacoby’s.

I don’t know what this means. It all sounds like gibberish. I think perhaps the writer of this needs a quality proofreader, because this sounds like it was written in autism. Hence the copy-and-paste. From what I gather, it’s a poetry slam thing. Eh.

Where: Jacoby’s, Detroit
When: Doors at 10:00PM, performance at 11:00PM
Tix: $5.00 cover charge

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Friday, August 24th-Saturday, August 25th: Midnight Madness presents Serenity

Joss Whedon’s underrated and underappreciated short-lived series Firefly continues on the big screen with the final installment. All those questions about River are finally answered, and fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

Where: The Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak
When: Midnight
Tix: Standard movie admission rates apply
www.landmarktheatres.com

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Saturday, August 25th: Detroit Bikes! Cruise in Detroit Tour 2

This Saturday, Detroit Bikes! With Detroit Synergy wants to see you at Palmer Park to celebrate Woodward Avenue. Our region’s most important avenue is turning 200 years old in 2007 and Detroit Bikes! wants to celebrate Woodward Heritage Days throughout July and August by hosting their own version of the “Cruise".

The free tour of Detroit’s Automotive and Cultural Timeline, Woodward Avenue, will focus on many of the automotive landmarks that populate the upper Woodward Corridor of the “Motor City.” Take in fabulous views of Detroit’s neighborhoods, destinations, and districts that have transformed Woodward Avenue including these sites: Palmer Park, Merrill Fountain, Highland Park, Boston Edison, Virginia Park, New Center, T-Plex, Arden Park, the former site of Chrysler Headquarters in Highland Park, and the Ford Highland Park Plant which revolutionized Mass Production, the first concrete mile in the United States, and the home of the first State Fair in the Country. The end of the tour will lead you back to Lake Frances (Palmer Park Pond). This will conclude the “Cruise” tour series.

Where: Palmer Park—at the Lighthouse on Lake Frances at the park’s Pond. Palmer Park is located just west of Woodward Avenue between 6 Mile and 7 Mile Roads. The lighthouse and pond are located in the middle of the park, accessible by parking lots, and is just north of Merrill Plaisance Street, between the Second and Third Street intersections).
When: 10:00AM
Tix: Free, but be sure to bring a helmet and you will be signing a liability waiver
www.detroitsynergy.org

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Saturday, August 25th: Vin Voyage, benefiting the Henry Ford Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute

Food and wine aficionados from across the state are invited to attend Vin Voyage, an experience of extraordinary food, wine and airplanes. Proceeds from this event will benefit Henry Ford Heart & Vascular Institute and help to advance research programs and develop leading-edge treatments for cardiovascular disease.

Michigan’s three Master Sommeliers, Ron Edwards, Madeline Triffon and Claudia Tyagi, will hand-select wines for the evening and collaborate with metro Detroit’s renowned Matt Prentice Restaurant Group, who will provide exquisite culinary dishes at created solely with organic and locally-grown Michigan products and produce.

Henry Ford Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI) has earned international recognition for creating a world-class program of research, education and clinical care. Ranked as one of the nation’s Top 50 cardiology programs by U.S. News & World Report, HVI is a leader in the detection and treatment of heart and vascular disease.

Where: Oakland Air at McInerney Center, Oakland County International Airport, Waterford
When: 7:00PM-11:00PM
Tix: $150 & up
http://www.henryfordhealth.org/vinvoyage

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Saturday, August 25th: Beyond Mod Opening Reception

Fi-Nite Gallery presents the Beyond Mod exhibit, featuring minimalist, pop, and contemporary works with digital tiny stories. The exhibit runs through September 20th.

Where: Fi-Nite Gallery, Detroit
When: 6:00PM-10:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.myspace.com/finitegallery

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Saturday, August 25th: Detroit in Focus: Short Films and Videos

Don’t miss the last screening of summer! A dynamic collection of experimental, documentary, and narrative short films from Detroit area filmmakers. Curated by DFC Co-Director Brandon Walley.

Where: Detroit Film Center, Detroit
When: Doors at 7:00PM, screening at 8:00PM
Tix: $5.00, $3.00 for DFC members
www.detroitfilm.org

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Saturday, August 25th: Planet 313

3 floors of sound in the Fi-Nite Gallery. A party that WILL go on past dawn. And who said rave was dead? Performances by: Aco, TS1, Sonar, Wataru, Avex Axiom, Paranormal.Tek, Dmond, Latongris, Blue Legoon, Hammer Brothers, Jesse James, Cignal to Noise, Mustafa Avdic, Archetype, Erggot, Casey Phear, Wax, Twizzler, and The Disciple.

Where: Fi-Nite Gallery, Detroit
When: 10:00PM ‘til dawn (see website for performance schedule)
Tix: $5.00 before midnight, $10.00 after
This show is 18+
www.detroitluv.com

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Sunday, August 26th: Detroit Petanque Doubles Tournament

So what exactly is Petanque? Some quirky little French version of bocce ball. Twenty doublette teams from Michigan, Canada, Chicago, Philadelphia, Alabama, Kentucky and Ohio will meet in Detroit’s Cadillac Square and compete for medals and Hard Rock Café prizes. Following will be a celebratory dinner gathering at the
Hard Rock Café.

Tournament consists of 4 games in the morning, a break for lunch, then the top tier teams play 4 games and the bottom tier teams play 4 games in a Consolante (minimum 8 games for everyone!). Each tier’s top 2 teams will have a Final match deciding the Top Tier Winners and the Consolante Winners. Top Tier Doublette Winners & Consolante Doublette Winners will all be given their $25 registrations back! Then hasten to the Hard Rock Café for the included dinner, where the various medals and prizes will be awarded. Non-Tournament Participants can enjoy the celebratory dinner for $20.

Where: Cadillac Square, Detroit
When: 10:00AM
Tix: $25.00
To reserve your spot, email Jeffrey@detroitpetanque.com

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Sunday, August 26th: 5th Annual Original Metro Bride Tasting

Not only is the 5th Annual Original Metro Bridal Tasting a great gourmet getaway for a Sunday afternoon, the bridal taste feast actually plates up the perfect wedding planning wonderland drizzled with outstanding attractions.

Brides and grooms-to-be agree, especially, that the search for the most exceptional wedding reception is over, thanks largely in part to restaurants who continue to set new standards in the creative cuisine served at this ‘waterfront brunch’ event. From rich giveaways from number one cookware brands like KitchenAid and Cuisinart, to cooking instructions for the soon to be wed-culinary enthusiasts, taught by top local chefs – the show is rare, though there’s nothing undercooked or minimalist about it.

The GM presented Metro Bridal Tasting will again immerse its guests in exceptional fare and fun, from its picturesque downtown location, along the shores of the Detroit River and indoors at the Omni Detroit Hotel at River Place.

Each year, the remarkable show harvests the highest quality of wedding planning experts and specialties and piles it high for brides, grooms, bridal parties, family, friends and foodies to enjoy. Featured restaurants providing delicious samples of their top-notch food are The Rattlesnake Club, Seldom Blues, and The Melting Pot.

The deliciously uncommon waterfront wedding extravaganza is seasoned with a few spectacular surprises too – Speed Dating for the bridesmaids and groomsmen, ‘Longest Kiss’ contests, Salsa Lessons, a Cigar Bar for the bachelors and of course a sensational runway drenched in stilettos and couture frocks, hosted by WDIV Local 4’s Rhonda Walker.

Based on past year’s aromas and hundreds of satisfied guests, this ultimate event and dining experience promises quality and delivers it in a beautiful bouquet of plenty. Expect, musical entertainment, floral and cake contests, photographers, expert planners, plus, thousands of dollars in prizes.

Where: The Omni Detroit Hotel, Detroit
When: 11:00AM-5:00PM
Tix: $20.00 per person
www.metrobridaltasting.com

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Sunday, August 26th: Be Funny Advanced Screening

You’re invited special advanced screening of Be Funny, which tells the story of comedian Mike Green and his relationship with his manager, Mark Ridley, and with his comedian friends and collegues, who range from a 17-year-old performing at his high school for the first time to a 70-year-old former TV star attempting a comedy comeback.

A great combination of hilarious stand-up material and a no-holds-barred behind-the- scenes look at the treacherous, but always entertaining, world of comedy.

Where: Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Royal Oak
When: Doors 6:00PM, screening at 7:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.comedycastle.com

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Sunday, August 26th: Crave the Sunset

The summer’s hottest party series continues with an “I Love New York” theme. Experience Crave’s superior sushi and the bumping techno beats on the patio, and enjoy the sights of Detroit’s most beautiful people gettin’ down. Reservations are recommended for dinner and there is a $30.00 per person minimum; otherwise, just show up to dance with all the pretty people ‘til dawn (well…technically they close at 2:00AM, but it’s still pretty late for a Sunday).

Where: Crave Lounge, Dearborn
When: 5:00PM-2:00AM
Tix: $20.00
www.cravethesunset.com

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Wednesday, August 29th: Wednesday Night Brew & View presents Knocked Up

For all of you who find unplanned pregnancy funny.

Where: The Magic Bag, Ferndale
When: Doors at 8:00PM, film at 9:30PM
Tix: $2.00
www.themagicbag.com

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Thursday, August 30th: A Love Supreme—A Tribute to John Coltrane & Thomas V. Silvia

The Book Beat presents “A Love Supreme,” a memorial tribute to John Coltrane and Tomas V. Silvia. Poets & Musicians John Sinclair, James Semark, Farouk Z. Bey and M.L. Liebler will present a selection of works inspired by Coltrane.

This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the death of John Coltrane who died July 17, 1967. A revolutionary musician and composer who brought spirituality, unity and expansion to the field of sound. In his 1965 album Meditations, Coltrane wrote about uplifting people, “…To inspire them to realize more and more of their capacities for living meaningful lives. Because there certainly is meaning to life.”

Thomas V. Silvia was an Ann Arbor attorney dedicated to the arts and the rights of artists. He represented many of those in our community who could not afford legal services. He was essential to the planning of the 40th anniversary of the Detroit Artists Workshop in 2002, and was himself an avid musician and performer. Much of his time was dedicated and given to the peace movement. He died on August 3rd, 2007.

About the performers:

John Sinclair is the founder of the Detroit Artists Workshop, x-manager of the MC5, Blues Scholar, and full time bard who spends much of his time traveling and performing across Europe and the USA. He will be reading from his book Meditations, first published in 1967 and newly reissued by the Book Beat. His classic book of counter culture essays, Guitar Army, has been recently reissued. He is also the subject of a soon to be released film on DVD, Twenty to Life. Subscribe and read his wild and wooly travelogue at: On the Road with John Sinclair.

M.L. Liebler is a professor of English at Wayne State University and director of the Springfed Literary Arts of Metro Detroit. A major performance poet and arts activist in the Motor city and beyond, Liebler is also the founder of the marvelous “Magic Poetry Band.” His works are widely published and recorded on CD. Visit his website at: M.L. LIEBLER.COM

James Semark is a poet, musician and founding member of the Detroit Artists Workshop. He was a major organizer of the 40th reunion of the DAW, and he’s agreed to perform his classic “Rhythm Ballad for John Coltrane” at the event. Semark maintains the DAW website at: Detroit Artists Workshop.ORG

Faruq Z. Bey is the founder of the seminal creative Detroit based jazz ensemble “GRIOT GALAXY". Their cd OPUS CRAMPUS on the sound aspects label earned them international acclaim. Faruq is also a published poet and is currently a member of the Detroit based ensemble “SPEAKING IN TONGUES". He has worked with the Northwoods Improvisers on and off since the fall of 2000. Faruq will read some of his poetry on Coltrane and perform “Deliver Me/ A Love Supreme” with his longtime collaborator M.L. Liebler.

Where: The Book Beat, Oak Park
When: 7:00PM-8:30PM
Tix: Free admission
www.thebookbeat.com
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Until then, enjoy the rain and sun, and the chaotic, turbulent shifts between those two states….

Story and Photos
by Christopher Thompson

How often do we stop to think about how much time and work went in to getting the fresh produce on grocery store shelves? To most of us it’s as if it appears by magic, but those who grow produce know how just much work goes into farming. An understanding of all that goes into it helps us all appreciate our food that much more. The volunteers and staff of Earth Works Garden, an urban farm in Detroit, enjoy working intimately with the Earth to produce healthy, fresh foods.

In 1998, a Capuchin friar by the name of Brother Rick Samyn started Earth Works in order to help give the community a better understanding of food. He was concerned that people were wasteful because they were unaware of the time and labor put into growing food. Brother Rick shared the food with a local soup kitchen to help reconnect the people with the food. And that’s why the Capuchin soup kitchen is a part of the Earth Works organization and sits across the street from the garden. Program Manager Rod Toneye says that the Capuchin soup kitchen provides about 2200 meals a day, and some of that food comes from the Earth Works gardens.

Because of a lack of supermarkets in Detroit, Toney believes that these urban gardens are essential for Detroit. Hedescribes Detroit as a “food desert” (see website below), that is a place devoid of healthy foods and outlets to procure them. Negative perceptions about Detroit contribute to a lack of supermarkets and other grocers, which hurts Detroit not just financially, but nutritionally. Despite a great deal of poverty in Detroit, Toneye notes, there is paradoxically high amount of obesity. This is because Detroiters have limited choices and access to healthy foods. What they do have are inexpensive fast food joints or corner stores with junk food and what little produce they might have, having sat on the shelves for weeks. What choices do impoverished Detroiters have? Toneye says that there is a market nearby with good fresh produce, but even he can’t buy any of it – it’s too upscale. Why should healthy food only be for the wealthy?

Toneye takes the issue of health and community to heart because of his involvement with the community. He says, “If people are involved in the community, they have more pride in it. They don’t like the crack houses.”

Earth Works is doing a lot to help the community as Patrick Crouch, Greenhouse and Field Production Coordinator explains. It provides gardeners with over 40,000 transplants, which fills about 600 flats. These flats contain partially grown plants that farmers can purchase for a very low price. All in all, the amount Earth Works provides is enough to serve about 150 community gardens plus 120 home gardens. Some of their produce goes to local markets, where vouchers are given away for free through a program called Project Fresh and used to purchase Michigan-grown food. Along with those services and more, Earth Works provides plenty of educational resources for people of all ages. Every week they have two classes where children can work in the gardens and later make a meal with the vegetables they grow. There are other youth programs that work more closely with businesses and setting up stands to sell fresh veggies. Apiaries, or bee hives, sit near the gardens and are an aid in learning about the importance of bees in the ecosystem.

For those looking to contribute and learn a bit about gardening, there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers to come and help out. The volunteer gardening schedule follows the growing season – from March until the first frost in Fall. Of course, the schedule varies depending on the weather, but there is usually a lot of work, so volunteers are always welcome. Days working there are very busy. For example, when this writer spent the day with them, on Wednesday in early August, the gardens were weeded and then prepared for Fall planting. Many vegetables were harvested, including beets, turnips, and radishes. Workers laid compost across empty gardens to prepare for planting more crops. At the end of the morning, when volunteers were dirty, they got to take home a share of the harvested veggies. Overall, it’s a very intimate, friendly setting.

The volunteers enjoy the intimacy, and there are many reasons they help out:

Altruism: Rosemary Spatafora, who volunteers with her husband, Dennis, says, “It’s good for my soul.” She also remarks, “It benefits other people and is good stress relief. There are good people here.”

Environmental: Will Ahee, who is 19 and just graduated from high school, likes working in the city. He says, “In Detroit, there’s lots of vacant land, and gardening provides a better connection to the land.”

Religious: Steph Maxson wants to one day become a pastor, and she is looking for her “niche.” She says, “I want to take this [experience] into a church. It would be nice to have a community garden in a church.”

Educational: Jonathon Simmons, 12, who has volunteered for the past few weeks with his mom, says, “I feel happy. I’m learning stuff I never saw before. I’m learning different things every time I come.”

It’s easy and fun to get involved with Earth Works. Volunteer days are every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 am to noon. It’s as easy as showing up at the Capuchin soup kitchen and saying that you want to help out in the garden. If working with the Earth and gardening is your passion then Urban Farm Worker Lisa Richter’s words should be an inspiration: “If you have a passion, you have to get involved.”

If gardening is your passion, then what are you waiting for?

To learn more about the organization, find contact information, and join the e-mail list, then visit the website at http://www.earth-works.org/. For more information on Food Deserts in Detroit, visit http://www.marigallagher.com/.

Chris Thompson is a tireless intern for thedetroiter.com and a proud volunteer at Earth Works Garden.

Lots of art happenings this weekend including the debut of the Carriage House Gallery, Russell Industrial Center, Wyandotte Galleries, and more. Check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

COMING UP:
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FEATURED EVENTS

Friday, August 17th-Sunday, August 19th: African World Festival

The African World Festival (AWF) is the Charles H. Wright’s Museum of African American History’s largest and most exciting educational outreach program of the year. This program celebrates the richness, diversity and worldwide influence of African culture through performances, cuisine and exhibitions. It has become one of the most dynamic family-oriented festivals in the metropolitan area. With over 23 years of family entertainment, foods, arts and crafts, it just keeps getting better!

Where: Hart Plaza, Detroit
When: 12:00PM-11:30PM, all three days
Tix: Free admission
www.maah-detroit.org

Saturday, August 18th: 555 Family Fun Day

Children’s Activities with the Boy & Girl Scouts; Art and Craft Stations; Games; Food; Live Entertainment; Fire Spinners, Eaters, and Breathers; Music; Dancing And So Much More! Special guests include Strings of Fire, Grace Detroit, and Fire Fabulon.

Family Fun Day is a fundraiser event to expand 555’s children’s education workshops and classes, to further diversify their programs for the community as well as start new ones. Programming includes 555’s Artist Residency Program, which began in 2006. Coinciding with Woodbridge Neighborhood Summer Festival, the fundraising event will also bring together neighbors from this thriving cultural community including St. Leo’s Church, the George Crockett Academy, U.S. Auto Supply, Magnet Radiator Works, Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit, New Detroit Restoration, 4731, and 555.

Where: 555 Gallery, Detroit
When: 12:00PM-8:00PM
Tix: N/A
www.555arts.org

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Saturday, August 18th: Preservation Wayne’s Annual Movie Palace Tour

Go behind the scenes again (or for the first time) for an exclusive look inside seven historic venues that comprise one of America ’s most important collections of early 20th Century theaters. As Preservation Wayne’s biggest walking tour of the year, the annual Theater District tour showcases the amazing architecture of downtown theaters in Detroit ’s premier entertainment district.

Now in its 19th year, the tour has helped promote the entertainment district and has seen six theaters, including the Fox and the Century, restored since it began. Led by theater history buffs who enjoy sharing their knowledge of the buildings, business and anecdotes, the tour illuminates the importance of preserving our historic architecture. While the Madison, the Adams and the United Artists are no longer accessible to the public, the remnants of the magnificent Michigan Theatre are still visible above the 3-story parking deck where scenes from movies like “8 Mile” and “The Island” were filmed.

Registration and tours begin in the lobby of the State Theater on Woodward Avenue, one block south of the Fox. Parking is available at the Fox Garage, located just north of the Fox Theater, on Montcalm, directly west of Hockeytown Café. This show is always sold out, so get your tickets today, online for a limited time. Tickets include a boxed lunch at the Detroit Opera House. Reservations are required. Tours usually last between four and four and one half hours. Tours depart rain or shine, so please check ahead and dress appropriately.

Where: Detroit’s theatre district, Midtown-area
When: Tours begin at 9:00AM, 9:30AM, 10:30AM, 11:00AM, 11:30AM (10:00AM is SOLD OUT)
Tix: $40.00
www.preservationwayne.org

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Sunday, August 19th: Hands Along Woodward

Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) is encouraging metro Detroiters, businesses and religious organizations to register for “Hands Along Woodward,” a human chain that will run along sidewalks on the west side of Woodward Avenue 27 miles from the Detroit River to Pontiac on Sunday, August 19 at 2p.m. The event is free to all participants is a part of the WA3’s activities to celebrate Woodward Avenue’s 200th Birthday. “Woodward Avenue connects our region so we decided to create an unprecedented event that demonstrates our partnership, strength, heritage, diversity and pride,” said Harriet Saperstein, WA3 Chairperson.
Hands Along Woodward is also part of the WA3’s partnership with Gleaners Community Food Bank to host a month-long food drive to raise 200,000 pounds of food for metro Detroit.

Where: Woodward Avenue, from the Detroit River to Pontiac
When: 2:00PM
Tix: Free to participate
EDITOR’S NOTE: Volunteers were required to register and attend a training on August 9th. Please be aware that volunteers are not permitted on a walk-up basis.

Lots of info on how to participate here: http://www.woodwardavenue.org/img/HAW%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.pdf and here.

Friday, August 17th: The 2nd Annual Ferndale Fast Friday VIP Party benefiting the Boys & Girls Club

Head to Buffalo Wild Wings in Ferndale, on 9 Mile Rd. just west of Woodward, for the 2nd Annual Fast Friday VIP Party! Dreaming about a great Friday night cruise party? Quit spinning your wheels and head to B-Dubs for the best bash anywhere on the strip! Featuring live entertainment by The Tones, door prizes, a raffle, and great food all for a great cause! Proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of South Oakland County, “a place where kids feel safe.”

The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of America is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. A Boys & Girls Club provides a safe place to learn and grow, ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals, life-enhancing programs and character development experiences, hope and opportunity.

Where: Buffalo Wild Wings, Ferndale
When: 6:00PM-10:00PM
Tix: $10.00
www.ferndaledreamcruise.com
www.bcga.org

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Friday, August 17th: Ekoostic Hookah

One of the most original and energetic acts around today, ekoostik hookah is the nucleus of a family drawn to its lucid, improvisational treatment of psychedelic rock ’n’ roll, blues, funk, jazz and bluegrass layered with rich harmonies. Born early in 1991 in a smoky basement bar, the band has been continually evolving, cultivating a sound that has perked the ears of contemporaries and attracted fans who travel miles to hear them play. With BACK 40.

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $17.00
This is an 18+ show.
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Friday, August 17th: Existence Runway Fashion Show

Iced Crystal’s & Jelly’s World Entertainment presents EXISTENCE: “Fashion Lives in Detroit.” Time to elevate your style sense; Existence is about illustrating true fashion to all that are concerned.

Existence will capture the true essence and flavor of Detroit. This event provides a runway for some of the areas hottest talents in fashion design, modeling, style, and art to demonstrate proficiency in their region of expertise. Followed by an after glow called “The After Mingle,” which will be the premier social gathering for the upscale individual held at the elegant Lot 1210 Restaurant & Lounge. The “Existence” Runway Fashion Show & “The After Mingle” challenges you to heighten your expectations of the Detroit fashion and night life scene.

Designs by: Mira B , OSM (One Style Mode), Flamingo, Shimmer Jeans, Denim, District 81, Game 7 Apparel, AYV Clothing Company, YUBE, Game 7 Clothing, Inkslinger’s, Flamboyant Pompous Apparel, 2 CIDZ, Urban Glamour Design, and Rocawear Assesories.

Where: Cobo Hall Portside Ballroom, Detroit
When: 10:00PM-1:00AM
Tix: $20.00, $30.00 VIP
www.neptix.com

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Friday, August 17th-Saturday, August 18th: Midnight Madness presents A Clockwork Orange

Got milk? Stanley Kubrick’s bizarro masterpiece (I guess) on the big-screen? Now, I don’t support drug use, but…there must be something out there that would make this movie make sense.

Where: Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak
When: midnight
Tix: Standard movie admission applies
www.landmarktheatres.com

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Saturday, August 18th-Sunday, September 30th: The 2007 Michigan Renaissance Festival

Pop quiz: where in Michigan can you find men in traditional kilts, women in corsets, actors feigning British accents from the Middle Ages, patrons more into character than the actors, and you can buy anything from genuine swords and rapiers to an entire wardrobe made of crushed velvet? Why, the Michigan Renaissance Festival, naturally! This yearly event is always a fun outing for everyone. See jousting tournaments, jugglers, glass-blowers, and comedic performances; eat turkey legs, cheddar soup in a bread bowl, and a variety of sweets; drink a variety of beers in the beer tent and sample the honey mead…no matter what your tastes are, there is sure to be something for you to enjoy here! Every weekend brings a different theme, from the Arabian Nights theme the Festival is being launched with, the very popular Highland Fling weekend (Scottish-themed), and the yearly Chocolate Festival that ends the Renaissance revival every year.

Where: Holly, MI
When: Every Saturday and Sunday and Labor Day, 10:00AM-7:00PM
Tix: $17.95 for adults, $8.95 for children; season pass $69.95 for adults, $34.95 for children
www.michrenfest.com

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Saturday, August 18th: The 13th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise

The one day a year metro-Detroiters actually welcome sitting in traffic. This year Woodward Avenue is celebrating its 200th anniversary, and the 13th Annual Dream Cruise is the pinnacle of all its birthday celebrations.

The Woodward Dream Cruise, the world’s largest one-day celebration of car culture, attracts more than 1 million visitors and more than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles. This summer classic celebrates the heydays of the 50’s and 60’s when Woodward was the heart and soul of American cruising in the city that put America on wheels. Combined with the music and fashions of the era, the Woodward Dream Cruise celebrates the nostalgia of bygone days in the cars that made them so special.

Cruisers and spectators will be driving along a 16-mile route of nine communities including Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac and Royal Oak.

EDITOR’S NOTE: All participating communities have their own series of tie-in events related to the cruise, running from Thursday, August 16th-Sunday, August 19th. Lots of bands, DJs, kids’ activities, car shows, and more in every city—but pay special attention to Ferndale and Pontiac! To find out more details, visit the “Local Events” page for the Dream Cruise at www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/allevents.

Where: Woodward Avenue, everywhere but Detroit
When: 9:00AM-9:00PM
Tix: Free to watch but get your spot early!
www.woodwarddreamcruise.com

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Saturday, August 18th: Comcast Summer Film Series presents Dreamgirls

In the final installment of the 2007 Comcast Summer Film Series, come see a live performance from Bamm Davis followed by a screening of last year’s mega-hit Dreamgirls, starring Beyonce Knowles and that girl from “American Idol.”

Where: Campus Martius Park, Detroit
When: 8:00PM, film starts at dusk
Tix: Free admission
www.comcastfilmseries.com

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Saturday, August 18th: The Rentals

The Rentals, with special guests Copeland and Goldenboy. After their triumphant return to concert stages in the US, Japan and Europe in 2006, The Rentals announce the release of their first new material in over 8 years alongside a comprehensive headlining tour of the US in the summer of 2007. The Last Little Life E.P. (Boompa Records) was born while the band was writing and rehearsing new songs for their yet to be recorded, but highly anticipated third full length album, expected early ’08. The Last Little Life E.P. stays true to the band’s trademark infectious and catchy pop songs while also branching out into new musical territory. The three new songs “Last Romantic Day”, “Little Bit Of You In Everything”, “Life Without A Brain” were mixed by the producer / engineer Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, White Stripes). The four songs cycle concludes with a new arrangement of their classic “Sweetness And Tenderness” (mixed by Rich Hauser).

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $15.00
This is an all ages show
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Saturday, August 18th: The Dirtbombs

This must be one of those last-minute deals, because information for this show is not posted anywhere on the Magic Stick’s website. But I have it confirmed that the Dirtbombs (featuring Jack White’s nephew—I hate myself for saying it like that but that is how many people know of them), a Detroit rock-n-roll staple for 15 years now (give or take), will indeed be playing that evening.

The Dirtbombs aren’t your “standard Detroit garage band”—with two bassists and two drummers, and a lead singer who actually sings, this band is probably best described as being rock–n-roll soul (they even have an album that is entirely soul covers). This is one of those bands who constantly seem to be on the verge of breaking out into the mainstream, but whose roots remain very much here in the D. Definitely worth checking out if you haven’t before.

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: I’m gonna say 9-ish
Tix: Supposedly $10.00, but that’s probably in advance
www.majesticdetroit.com (not that it will help you)

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Sunday, August 19th: Hands Along Woodward

Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) is encouraging metro Detroiters, businesses and religious organizations to register for “Hands Along Woodward,” a human chain that will run along sidewalks on the west side of Woodward Avenue 27 miles from the Detroit River to Pontiac on Sunday, August 19 at 2p.m. The event is free to all participants is a part of the WA3’s activities to celebrate Woodward Avenue’s 200th Birthday. “Woodward Avenue connects our region so we decided to create an unprecedented event that demonstrates our partnership, strength, heritage, diversity and pride,” said Harriet Saperstein, WA3 Chairperson.
Hands Along Woodward is also part of the WA3’s partnership with Gleaners Community Food Bank to host a month-long food drive to raise 200,000 pounds of food for metro Detroit.

Where: Woodward Avenue, from the Detroit River to Pontiac
When: 2:00PM
Tix: Free to participate
EDITOR’S NOTE: Volunteers were required to register and attend a training on August 9th. Please be aware that volunteers are not permitted on a walk-up basis.
www.woodwardavenue.org

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Sunday, August 19th: Bitter:Sweet

Trip-Hop Eletro-Pop duo Bitter:Sweet bring their brand of sexy beats and sultry vocals to The Magic Sick for this ALL AGES show.

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: Call the Magic Stick at (313) 833-9700 ext. 202
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Tuesday, August 21st: Coalesce

Coalesce’s trademarked sonic onslaught is completely without remorse, but thoughtful and methodical in its delivery. Their music is filled with punishing metallic riffs, coupled with crazed technical runs that throw the proceedings into utter chaos, and is anchored by an utterly distorted bass, peculiar guitar noise and more time changes, tempo shifts and stop-start parts than one can possibly keep up with. Serving as a perfect complement to the music’s irresistible malevolence, Sean Ingram’s challenging lyrics are delivered with such bile and power that their vehemence may never be replicated. With Daughters and See You Next Thursday.

Where: The Magic Stick, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $12.00
www.majesticdetroit.com

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Wednesday, August 22nd- Sunday, September 2nd: 2007 Michigan State Fair

The historic Michigan State Fair, now in its 159th year, is an end of summer favorite for both children and adults. Not only do you get to experience all of your favorite midway rides and fair foods (mmm…Elephant Ears and corn dogs!), but there is also a petting zoo, baton and dance competitions, a hog-calling contest, a husband and wife calling contest (!), arts & crafts exhibits, and concert performances by Air Supply, Alice Cooper, Marques Houston, Shinedown, The Spinners & The Platters, and more. But more than anything else, the Michigan State Fair is a celebration of Michigan’s bountiful agriculture and livestock industry and its rich heritage, and there will be plenty of traditional livestock exhibits, educational displays, wildlife exhibits and fishing ponds, and fresh Michigan produce for each and every guest to truly experience what being a Michigander is all about!

Where: State Fairgrounds, Detroit
When: See schedule for details
Tix: One-day ticket: Adults, $10.00; children & seniors, $5.00. Season pass: Adults, $35.00; children & seniors, $10.00. (Additional charges for special events apply.)
www.michigan.gov/mistatefair

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Wednesday, August 22nd: Wednesday Night Brew & View presents Blades of Glory

Napoleon Dynamite and Ricky Bobby together on ice skates? Game on.

Where: The Magic Bag, Ferndale
When: Doors at 8:00PM, film at 9:30PM
Tix: $2.00
www.themagicbag.com

Lots of art happenings this weekend including Russell Industrial Center, Design.99, MONA, and more. Check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

COMING UP:
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Thursday, August 9th-Sunday, August 12th: Boxfest 2007

The focus of BoxFest is to promote female directors while giving local female artists an opportunity to expand their artistic horizons by trying something new such as play writing, acting, stage management, etc. Each day will be filled with an array of shows focusing (of course!) on the directors, but also highlighting female playwrights, actresses, improve troupes, stage managers, musicians and fine artists. At the end of BoxFest, three participants will be given awards to promote their growth in theatre.

BOXFEST SCHEDULE

Thursday - BoxFest will kick off at 7pm with a cocktail hour until 8pm. At 8pm staged readings of two new plays written by local playwrights Kelly Rossi and Meagan Evanoff. After the staged reading the evening will conclude with the official BoxFest Kick Off Party, with music by Strange Currency.

Friday - The evening will begin with a cocktail hour at 6pm and continue with a set by the all female improv troop, Vixens of the Cloth. At 8pm, One-Act plays, all directed by local females, will begin. The evening will conclude with the music styling of Bricktown Station.

Saturday - The BoxFest 10-minute shorts will start off the day at 2pm. This 2 hour show, featuring 8 directors, will play twice; at 2pm and 5pm. At 7pm, the improv troop Tiger Ride will perform a set and set the stage for the Artistic Directors presentations, featuring Margret Edwartowski (Artistic Director of Planet Ant Improv Troop), Courtney Burkett (Artistic Director of Breathe Art Theatre) and Nancy Kammer (Former Artistic Director of the Boars Head Theatre). The evening will conclude with music by Loretta Lucas.

Sunday - What better to start off the day than a cocktail hour to chase the Saturday night hang over away? Cocktail hour will last from 2pm until 3pm, and the day will continue with a second chance to see the One-Act plays of Friday, moving into the music of Annie Palmer. The day (and the festival) will conclude with the presentation of the BoxFest ‘07 awards.

BoxFest ‘07 Award Program-In order to “put our money where our mouth is” the following awards will be granted to 3 lucky females participating in this years BoxFest:
• A Late Night slot with Planet Ant Theatre, will be granted to a director of a 10-Minute play, and chosen by an audience vote.
• Two Weekends to direct a show produced by Abreact Theatre, will be granted to a director of a One Act play, and chosen by audience vote.
• A Financial Gift (amount to be determined by proceeds), granted to any female involved (director, actress, playwright, etc.) to be used to fund education or a show production.

The Art
To complete the set for BoxFest, several local female artists have donated pieces to BoxFest for the weekend. They can be seen during the hours of BoxFest and most will be available to purchase. Cash or Money Order only please!

The Directors
This year’s fantastic directors are: Megan Buckley, Alison Christy, Frannie Shepherd-Bates, Lauren Bickers, Shannon Ferrante, Jen House, Lisa Hodge-Kander, Jessica Lake, Wolanda Lewis, LoriGoe Perez, Heidi Philipsen, Chelsea Sadler and Tamam Tayeh

BoxFest ‘07 Produced by:
Shannon Ferrante - Artistic Director
Megan Buckley - Managing Director
Kelly Rossi - Executive Director
Tamam Tayeh - Production Director
Molly McMahon - Art Liaison
Katie Galazka - Band Liaison

Where: Planet Ant Theatre, Hamtramck
When: See schedule for complete details
Tix: $10.00 at the door, pre-sale weekend passes available for $30.00
www.planetant.com
www.myspace.com/boxfestdetroit

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Friday, August 10th-Sunday, August 12th: 2007 Carival—Caribbean International Festival & Parade

Carival is a celebration, and it occurs annually as Detroit’s Caribbean International Festival. View the colorful costumes of Trinidad & Tobago in the carnival-style parade, the music of La Trinity (voted Best Group in the Parade Group competition), family entertainment, food, and more.

Where: Hart Plaza, Detroit
When: See schedule for full details
Tix: Free admission
http://www.myccco.com/

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Friday, August 10th: Rockin’ on the Riverfront featuring .38 Special

This is the final week for GM’s Rockin’ on the Riverfront summer concert series, and they’re going out with a bang with .38 Special! After more than two decades together, .38 Special is still playing more than 100 shows per year. And at every one of them, thousands of audience members are completely blindsided by the power and muscle of the band’s performance.

While most associate .38 Special with its arena rock ’80s pop smashes, these days the band’s harder edge is what is immediately noticeable.

Among .38 Special’s best-known songs are “Caught Up in You” and “If I’d Been the One” and “Second Chance,” all #1 hits on Billboard charts. Other hit singles include “Hold on Loosely” and “Back Where You Belong.’’

The current lineup is comprised of guitarist and lead singer Don Barnes, vocalist Donnie Van Zant, guitarist Danny Chauncey, bassist Larry Junstrom, keyboardist Bobby Capps, and drummer Gary Moffatt.

In 2006, .38 Special was voted the 3rd best “Southern Rock Band of All-time” by the listeners of 105.3FM in Birmingham.

Where: Riverfront Plaza, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.gmrencen.com

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Friday, August 10th: Gallery Night Super Disco at the CAID

The CAID is known for its late-night super-parties, and this is yet another one. The Super Disco, which occurs every second Friday of the month, is yet another opportunity for fun-seekers to get their groove on and party past dawn. Hit up your favorite local bars, then head to the CAID at midnight, when doors officially open. The party really gets going around 2:00AM, and will go full-swing at least until 5:00AM. This week, check out performances by disco acts Rahaan, Relaxer, and Greenskyy.

Where: The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: midnight-5:00AM
Tix: $5.00
www.thecaid.org

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Friday, August 10th-Saturday, August 11th: Midnight Madness presents Creature from the Black Lagoon

This camp-horror classic is being presented in 3-D!

Where: Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak
When: Midnight
Tix: Standard movie admission applies
www.landmarktheatres.com

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Saturday, August 11th: Comcast Summer Film Series presents Freedom Writers

Inspired by a true story and the diaries of real Long Beach teenagers after the LA riots, Freedom Writers tells the story of a teacher with a passion (Hillary Swank) and the students who finally feel what it’s like to receive respect from an authority figure. See also Dangerous Minds and Higher Learning. And probably dozens more. Live performance before the move from the Triumph Jazz Team.

Where: Campus Martius Park, Detroit
When: 8:00PM, film starts at dusk
Tix: Free admission
www.comcastfilmseries.com

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Saturday, August 11th: Best of PXL interactive workshop and video program

Gerry Fialka, Director of the PXL THIS festival, presents a program on the Fisher-Price PXL-2000 toy video camera. He cross references its relations to the percepts of Marshall McLuhan and cultural icons George Seaurat, Salvador Dali, James Joyce, Marcel Duchamp, John Cage & more. Most uniquely, the PXL-2000 records picture and sound directly onto audio cassettes, which creates its grainy look. The “in your face” attitude restores a certain human vitality to the overpowering sensory overload that bombards us daily. It illustrates Marshall McLuhan’s percept that television is tactile - you can practically touch the dots, all 2,000 of them (as opposed to the 150,000 you normally see on TV). Orson Welles said that a movie studio is “the biggest electric train set a kid ever had.” On the other end of the spectrum, the PXL-2000 video camera is the cheesiest failed toy ever – a train crashes in the playpen. Yet, in the hands of visionary video-makers, it has become an essential tool of cutting-edge creativity.

Where: The Detroit Film Center, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $5.00 general admission, $3.00 DFC members
www.detroitfilm.org

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Saturday, August 11th: KEM and friends with Chaka Khan

Renowned Motown Soul vocalist and pianist is coming to Chene Park in support of his new album, Album II. And he’s brining Chaka Khan!

Where: Chene Park Amphitheatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $22.00-$125.00
www.fineartsdetroit.com/chenepark

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Monday, August 13th-Saturday, August 18th: Big Rock Chophouse Celebrates Their 10-Year Anniversary

Join them for their special week-long festivities including: Happy Hours 4:00PM-7:00PM Monday, August 13th ($10.00), including appetizers and samplings of beer; Tuesday, August 14th ($10.00), including appetizers and samplings of wine, and Wednesday, August 15th ($10.00), including appetizers and 2 drink tickets.

Other events include:
Monday, August 13th: Wine Dinner, 7:00PM-10:00PM. $125.00 inclusive of tax and tip. Featuring Gary Farrell Wines.

Tuesday, August 14th: Beer Dinner, 7:00PM-10:00PM. $65.00 inclusive of tax and tip. Guest Speaker Rex Halfpenny.

Thursday, August 16th: Birthday Bash beginning at 10:00PM in Got Rocks Ultra Lounge. $10.00 includes entertainment.

Friday, August 17th & Saturday, August 18th: Receive 10% off entire bill for lunch and dinner.

Where: Big Rock Chophouse, Birmingham
When: Visit website for complete schedule
Tix: $10.00-$125.00, depending on the event. Reservations are required for most events. Call 248-647-7774 or visit the website.
www.bigrockchophouse.com

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Thursday, August 16th: SCREAMFEST 2007

SCREAMFEST ‘07 will heat up Detroit as it brings T.I., Ciara, T Pain, Lloyd and Yung Joc to Joe Louis Arena Thursday, Aug. 16th.

After dominating record sales in 2006, T.I. is gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated fifth studio album entitled T.I. vs. T.I.P. which will be released on July 3. As for Ciara, after receiving numerous awards including a Grammy, AMA, Billboard and others, her certified platinum second album Ciara: The Evolution was released on December 5, 2006 and debuted at number one selling more than 338,000 copies in its first week.

Where: The Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: $29.50-$69.50
www.olympiaentertainment.com
www.ticketmaster.com

Lots of art happenings this weekend including Gallery Project, the Bohemian House, Paramount Bank, and more. Check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

COMING UP:

HATCH Events:
Friday, August 3, 7:00 pm -9:00 pm

Critique: Show and Tell Night Cafe 1923, 2287 Holbrook, Hamtramck.

Slated for August’s critique: everybody! All are invited to bring
something they wish to to the group. Finished pieces, works in
progress, favorite books/art supplies/instruments, resources,
inspirations… just bring something you want to talk about with
other artists. The sky’s the limit! It’s like Kindergarten, only with
coffee.

Saturday, August 4, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Workshop: How to Make a Mini-Comic, People’s Community Services
Building, 8625 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck

Participants will learn the secret of how to make an 8-page,
pocket-size comic book out of one sheet of paper. Requirements are:
an interest in cartooning and a willingness to draw. All materials
provided.

To register, visit http://www.hatchart.org/education/index.html

CAID - Fashion frenzy - Friday August 3
Check it out, www.thecaid.org.
DETROIT BIKES

2nd Annual Detroit Bikes! Tour de Dearborn is This Saturday, August 4th

Join Detroit Bikes! in our 2nd Annual tour of the cultural landmarks that make up one of Metro Detroit’s most valued auto-heritage cities and landscapes, the City of Dearborn. Starting from the East End of F! ord Field (in Dearborn) near Brady Street, our Tour de Dearborn begins @ 10am sharp, on Saturday, August 4th and should conclude around 2:30pm. Meet at the Ford Field (in Dearborn) to celebrate the Dearborn Homecoming Festival. Detroit Bikes! is looking to show Metro Detroit that two wheels are better than four, and what better way to exclaim this than what is considered the birthplace of Henry Ford.

Tour will start @ 10am PROMPTLY at the East End of Ford Field (in Dearborn) near Brady Street to help begin a Saturday morning at the Dearborn Homecoming Festival. Our tours are beginners’ level cycling speeds and we obey all traffic laws.

Our free tour of Dearborn’s landmarks will focus on many of the Ford destinations as well as city heritage sites. Take in fabulous views of Dearborn and its surrounding neighborhoods and districts including these sites: Greenfield Village, Westborn, Dearborn Country Club, Dearborn’s Ford Field, Dearborn City Hall, East Dearborn, Ford World Headquarters, the Ford Rouge Complex, and more! The end of our tour will lead us back to Ford Field to celebrate the Dearborn Homecoming Festival.

*Bike, bike helmet and signed liability waiver (at event location) are required! Personal money for event activities (i.e. bakery stop or eats afterward), bike light, and bike lock suggested, but not mandatory.

*Parking fees and sites vary due to events, however free street parking is available in around the west downtown area and there are several parking lots at the local trail-head or University of Michigan - Dearborn Campus nearby. Parking is at owner’s expense. Ride a bike!

For a quick preview of our projected route check out this web link:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1185504

NEIGHBORHOODS DAY@ the MEXICANTOWN PLAZA
Saturday, August 4th, 2007
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Great giveaways, FREE & open to the public

www.mexicantown.org

Events at the Museum of African American History

Saturday, August 4, 2007
Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People • 12:00 p.m.
Directed by Sut Jhally and featuring author Dr. Jack Shaheen, the film explores a long line of degrading images of Arabs–from Bedouin bandits and submissive maidens to sinister sheikhs and gun-wielding “terrorists"–along the way offering devastating insights into the origin of these stereotypic images, their development at key points in US history, and why they matter so much today. The Arab American National Museum partners with the Wright Museum in presenting this film. (Media Education Foundation/2006/50 minutes)

Quilombo Country • 2:00 p.m.
The Wright Museum will partner with the Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies of Wayne State University to present the documentary, Quilombo Country. Shot in digital video, the film provides a portrait of rural communities in Brazil that were either founded by runaway slaves or begun from abandoned plantations. This type of community is known as a “quilombo” from an Angolan word that means “encampment.” Chuck D, the legendary poet, media commentator and leader of the iconic hip-hop band, Public Enemy narrates this film. (1984/73 minutes)

Spike Night Film Discussions • 6:00 p.m.
Spike Night will examine excerpts from films directed by writer, producer, and filmmaker Spike Lee. After the viewing, facilitators will lead discussion on such topics as colorism, cultural stereotypes, and interracial dating to stimulate thought provoking conversations with distinguished panelists Njia Kai, Marji Winter, and Rev. Horace L. Sheffield, III, among others. Edward Foxworth, of the Foxworth Report, will serve as the moderator. The films School Daze, Jungle Fever and Bamboozled will be discussed. Black Star Bookstore, Cinema Cafe, Shrine of the Black Madonna, NAACP, the Dionne Webster Show, Detroit Public Library, Streetvision and Nsoroma Institute have partnered with the Museum in presenting this event. (Please note: the Race exhibition will close at 6:00 p.m.)

Lots of art happenings this weekend including the Artists Market, 555, Detroit Industrial Projects, and more. Check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

COMING UP:
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Wednesday, July 25th: Wine Tour de France

Tour de France, the world’s most famous bike race, is currently winding its way through Europe — for the Detroit Wine Organization, it is the perfect excuse to use their July 25th Wine Down Wednesday to celebrate the many French wine regions it passes through!

This 22-day race makes a 3,550-kilometer journey from London to Paris, traversing through some of the world’s best wine regions like Champagne (the world’s top sparkling wine), Burgundy (Chablis, Pinot Noir and Beaujolais), Cotes de Provence (Rosé), Languedoc-Roussillon (peppy red blends), the Loire Valley (Sauvignon Blanc- based whites like Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre, as well as Chinon and Rosé D’Anjou), and Cognac (the world’s finest Brandy).

Join the DWO in taking a “Wine Tour de France” at Vinotecca in Royal Oak, one of the area’s coolest wine bars, which will be preparing hors d’oeuvres to match.

Where: Vinotecca, Royal Oak
When: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Tix: $35.00 (members), $40.00 (non-members)
www.detroitwine.org

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Thursday, July 26th: Talk of the Nation live national broadcast from Detroit

WDET - Detroit Public Radio and Michigan Radio are pleased to be hosting a live nationwide broadcast of the popular NPR news program Talk of the Nation with Neal Conan, on Thursday, July 26, from 2-4 pm at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.

This live broadcast will focus on the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Detroit riots. Panelists will discuss the social and economic factors that led up to the riots, and what, if any, changes have come about because of them. Additionally, the program will examine the current state of Detroit’s once-booming automotive industry, as it embarks on one of the most important labor negotiations in its history.

You are invited to be part of the audience for this live broadcast. Admission is free, but space is limited and advance reservations are required. If you’d like to attend, e-mail your name, e-mail address and number of tickets requested. There is a limit of 2 tickets per person. You should plan to arrive at the Charles Wright Museum by 1:30pm on Thursday, July 26.

To attend a FREE live broadcast of Talk of the Nation visit wdetfm.org.

Preceding the Talk of the Nation program is “Moving the D Forward,” a candid panel discussion with young leaders on the legacy of 1967 and its impact on the future of Detroit. This discussion will take place at the Wayne State University Law School in the Spencer Patrich Auditorium.

Where: Wayne State University & Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit
When: Continental breakfast at 8:30AM; “Moving the D Forward” program 9:00AM-11:00AM; Talk of the Nation program 2:00PM-4:00PM
Tix: Both programs are free but require advance registration
www.wdetfm.org

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Thursday, July 26th: DFT Summer Film Festival presents Brand Upon the Brain!

And what a way to conclude the successful summer film series!

(Canada—2006—directed by Guy Maddin)

Winnipeg wunderkind Guy Maddin (The Saddest Music in the World) is back with his most spectacularly outrageous and purely enjoyable epic to date. With a hilariously labyrinthine plot that defies description (we can reveal that it contains a crazed mother who wants to restore her youth, a mysterious orphanage, a mad scientist, a Romania-shaped birthmark and an anxiety-ridden hero named Guy) Brand Upon the Brain! is equal parts childhood reminiscence, expressionist horror movie and teen detective serial, all orchestrated by one of the world’s most original and visionary filmmakers. Featuring a remarkable orchestral score and a narration by Isabella Rossellini, Brand Upon the Brain! – one of the year’s most subversively funny films as well as one of the most improbably touching – received a standing ovation before sold-out houses at the Toronto and New York Film Festivals. (95 min.)

Where: Detroit Film Theatre (inside the DIA), Detroit
When: Thurs. 7:00PM, Sat. 7:00PM & 9:30PM, Sun. 4:00PM & 7:00PM
Tix: $7.50 general admission, $5.00 DIA members, students & seniors
www.dia.org/dft

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Thursday, July 26th: MoCAD Film Night, featuring Models of Avant-Garde Film, Program IV—Myth

Featuring E. Elias Merhige’s Begotten (1990).

Another form of magic, close to surrealism and the work of Maya Deren, is the exploration of myth and origins, and this is the central preoccupation of Merhige’s still extraordinary film Begotten, which Susan Sontag characterized as one of the ten most important films of all time.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Thursday, July 26th: The Gay Moralist at Wayne State University

Wayne State University professor and Between the Lines columnist Dr. John Corvino will be presenting the anniversary edition of his nationally recognized speech “What’s Morally Wrong With Homosexuality?” for video production.

Where: Wayne State University, General Lectures building/room 100, Detroit
When: 7:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.gaymoralist.com

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Thursday, July 26th: Kenny G.

Yes. THE Kenny G. The sax. That hair. See it live.

Where: Chene Park Amphitheatre, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $35 pavillion, $17 lawn
www.fineartsdetroit.com/chenepark

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CANCELLED!!!!! Thursday, July 26th: Digital Primitives (Cooper Moore, Assif Tsahar, Chad Taylor)

Due to scheduling problems, the band has cancelled this show. Not to worry fans; they promise to make it back out to the D soon! Please visit the Bohemian National Home’s website for schedule updates.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, July 27th: DJs Brad Hales, Frank Raines and special guest Odu Afrobeat Orchestra

The monthly rare funk series continues with Brad and Frank behind the tables, playing the platters that matter. This month features special guests Odu Afrobeat Orchestra playing on their home turf. A night of dance music not to be missed.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors open at 12:00PM (but I suspect that is an error—it would make more sense if it were 12:00AM)
Tix: $5.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Friday, July 27th: Poets Follies reading, discussion, and performance gathering

Poets Follies—a reading, discussion and performance gathering of and about local poetry and prose authors and musicians—will be held at the Grosse Pointe Artists Association Art Center from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, July 27, before GPAA move to its new location.

Featured readers include Andrew Trahan, Marsha Carter and Andy Mozina.

Andrew Trahan resides in Madison Heights and works as a substitute teacher, barista, and speech coach. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Oakland University in 2006, and plans to attend graduate school in 2009. In his free time he enjoys hearty conversation, reading, music, and film. Andrew’s poetry has appeared on the detroiter.com’s website.

Marsha Carter returns to the Poets Follies with Londell Thomas (AKA HiStory) and Thomas Budday, all of whom are part of 2007 Detroit Slam Team which will be representing the Motor City and competing in the National Poetry Slam in Austin, Texas, in August. Carter, of Detroit , transforms personal life experiences into poetry to bring people closer to God. In 2006, she independently produced her first CD, “Broccoli Don’t Taste Like Peach Cobbler” and served as resident host of Unrestricted Soul. Detroit resident Thomas is the producer of Fly Tongue Poetry and is noted for weaving faith and truth into his spoken word. Budday, also of Detroit , is the team coach and alternate. When he’s not writing poetry, he’s nurturing youth to appreciate and love the art of spoken word. His poetry ranges from the witty and delirious to the simple and sublime.

Andy Mozina is author of The Women Were Leaving the Men (Wayne State University Press, 2007) and Joseph Conrad and the Art of Sacrifice. He is associate professor of English at Kalamazoo College and author of Joseph Conrad and the Art of Sacrifice. His short stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines including Tin House, the Massachusetts Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Fence, West Branch, Beloit Fiction Journal, and the Florida Review. His short fiction collection The Women Were Leaving the Men was a finalist for the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction, and his short story bearing the same title received special mention in The Pushcart Prize, 2006 edition and was named a distinguished story in The Best American Short Stories 2005.

Where: Grosse Pointe Artists Association Center, Grosse Pointe Park
When: 6:30PM-9:00PM
Tix: $5.00
For more information call 313-821-1848

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Friday, July 27th: 4th Fridays With Ford

4th Fridays with Ford is a monthly signature evening series celebrating downtown Detroit highlighted by a major free concert at Campus Martius Park. 4th Friday programs showcase the best of downtown Detroit’s clubs, galleries, films, shopping and dining. In addition, participating restaurants, pubs and clubs offer special 4th Friday discounts. The festival continues July 27th with International Jazz Festival Camp, The Detroit News Sonic Summer Battle of the Bands, Lola Morales, Maxi Priest, Black Bottom Collective, and Cinema D! Local Indie Shorts & Features. For a complete schedule visit www.theworldiscoming.com.

Where: Campus Martius Park, Detroit
When: 11:30AM-1:00AM (see website for complete schedule)
Tix: Free admission
www.theworldiscoming.com

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Friday, July 27th: DFT’s Friday Evening Concert featuring The James Carter Quintet

Saxophonist James Carter returns to his hometown of Detroit to play this special performance with his quintet, featuring Dwight Adams (trumpet), Ralphe Armstrong (bass), Gerard Gibbs (piano), and Leonard King (drums). Since his move to New York city in 1990, his career has taken off with recordings and performances with jazz legends Buddy Tate, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Hamiet Bluiette, Betty Carter, Lester Bowie, and the Marsalis Big Band at Lincoln Center. In 2002 he gave the premiere performance of the Concerto for Saxophones by Roberto Sierra, with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His 2005 release Gold Sounds offered top-flight jazz interpretations of off-beat rock songs by the band Pavement.

Where: Detroit Film Theatre (inside the DIA), Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: $20.00 general admission; $16.50 DIA members, students, and seniors
www.dia.org/dft

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Friday, July 27th: Rockin’ on the Riverfront with the Romantics

The GM-sponsored weekly event continues with the Motor City’s own Romantics. GM, along with 94.7 WCSX, presents “Rockin’ on the Riverfront,” an all-star lineup of classic rock headliners performing at the Riverfront Plaza for one of the summer’s hottest ongoing free concert series. The Romantics cut their teeth on the Detroit sound characterized by the MC5, the Stooges, Bob Seger and the Last Heard, the Detroit Wheels, the Rationals, SRC, the Underdogs, and infused it with their own sincerity, irony, spontaneity and, of course, volume. They favored short hair, short songs and popularized red leather suits. Their hit “What I Like About You” found cross-generational popularity, and what we like about them is the fact that they’re still donning those red leather suits.

Where: Riverfront Plaza, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.gmrencen.com

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Friday, July 27th: Satori Circus

Described as “a singularly uncanny theatre-going experience that’s a little bit Performance Art and a little bit “Rock Opera” Satori Circus combines music, song, costumes, sound & lights, movement, film, cabaret and enlightenment to obscure your perception of what performance art is or what it could be.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 8:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Friday, July 27th: Funk Night at the CAID

This Friday and every last Friday of the month, the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit presents Funk Night, a Detroit tradition for over 7 years! Funk Night is a deep funk celebration featuring DJ R-O-Z spinning rare funk from the late ‘60s to the mid-‘70s. DJ R-O-Z spins the artists other classic funk artists sample. Check it out!

Check out the Real Detroit article on Funk Night—this is the place to be after the bars close and the amateurs go home! http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/article_2927.shtml

Where: Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit
When: Doors open at midnight
Tix: Free admission in July!
www.thecaid.org

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Saturday, July 28th: Project Clean and U-SNAP-BAC/East Warren Business United Clean Up

U-SNAP-BAC/East Warren Business United Commercial District received a grant from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization (ONCR) and are a part of their Next Detroit Initiative. The purpose of this program is to implement several strategies, such as a commercial district clean and safe program and aiding in the improvement of the districts buildings, to improve the East Warren business district from Cadieux to Devonshire. Detroit Synergy and Project Clean will also be doing a Habitat for Humanity work day in September in the same neighborhood.

So in a joint effort to put the grant to use and to prepare for the Habitat work day, Project Clean and U-SNAP-BAC will be working together, along with local businesses and residents, to improve the neighborhood’s commercial district by picking up trash, sweeping sidewalks, etc. Volunteers do not have to bring their own tools or gloves, but they should wear something they don’t mind getting dirty. Tennis shoes or work shoes are recommended. Volunteers should also bring their own snacks. Water will be provided.

Where: East Warren Avenue from Devonshire to Cadieux
When: 9:00AM-12:00PM
Tix: This is a volunteer project, so it’s free for you to work!
www.detroitsynergy.org

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Saturday, July 28th: DFT Saturday Creature Double Feature Matinee featuring First Men in the Moon & Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah

(England—1964—directed by Nathan Juran)

And you thought Neil Armstrong was first. No way! As this playful, exciting, lushly mounted H.G. Wells science-fiction fantasy would have it, an offbeat inventor (the wonderfully comedic Lionel Jeffries) and some friends found a way – in 1899, no less – to fly from their peaceful British Victorian homes all the way to the moon, where they discover a vast, underground lunar civilization, complete with an insect-like supreme ruler who has severe misgivings about his terrestrial visitors. Ray Harryhausen’s elegant special effects shine in this witty and briskly paced adventure, which is unusually faithful to Wells’ original story. PLUS: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (Japan, 1991, directed by Kazuki Amori), in which time travelers from the 23rd century return to 1992 Japan to present a way to rid Earth of the mutated Godzilla. Much to everyone’s dismay, the plan instead results in the creation of a new monster, the fearsome three-headed King Ghidorah! (double feature runs 206 min.)

Where: The Detroit Film Theatre (inside the DIA), Detroit
When: 2:00PM
Tix: $5.00
www.dia.org/dft

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Saturday, July 28th-Saturday, August 11th: Detroit Industrial Projects presents an Art Installation by Oakland University and Alternatives for Girls

Curated by CamieLee Frasher. Special thanks to Marion Bunt Foundation. Join the Russell Industrial Center on Saturday, July 28th for the opening reception from 6:00PM-9:00PM, and show your support for the valuable prevention programs that Alternatives for Girls offers. Alternatives for Girls helps homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation, and helps them to explore and access the support resources and opportunities necessary to be safe, to grow strong and to make positive choices in their lives. To learn more, visit http://alternativesforgirls.org.

Where: The Russell Industrial Center, Detroit
When: Opening Reception, July 28th 6:00PM-9:00PM; Hours of Operation 1:00PM-5:00PM Saturdays, or call 248-250-0330 for an appointment.
Tix: Free admission
http://alternativesforgirls.org
www.ricdetroit.org

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Saturday, July 28th: Comcast Summer Film Series featuring Charlotte’s Web

Campus Martius Park hosts fun family entertainment every Saturday night throughout the summer, with special guest performances, free giveaways, and activities prior to the feature film. This Saturday enjoy a live performance by Al MacKenzie, followed by a presentation of the live-action children’s classic Charlotte’s Web.

Where: Campus Martius Park, Detroit
When: 8:00PM (film begins at dusk)
Tix: Free admission
www.comcastfilmseries.com

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Saturday, July 28th: MoCAD Drive-in Movie Nights on Woodward: The Lost Avant-Garde [MAKE-UP EVENT]

What better way to celebrate the summer than a drive-in movie in the heart of the Motor City! In conjunction with their regular film series focusing on early Avant-Garde films, MoCAD presents Dr. Chicago, a uniquely personal, unconventional and absurdly provocative film trilogy. Each frame is composed like an exquisite still photograph - looks like Antonioni but plays like Woody Allen. Its verve derives from an active collaboration of multiple talents kept in focus by director George Manupelli’s offbeat vision of a strangely sympathetic scumbag in pursuit of his impossible American dream. MoCAD will screen Dr. Chicago (1968), and Cry Dr. Chicago (1971).

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 9:30PM
Tix: $5.00 per person/$10.00 per car
www.mocadetroit.org

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Saturday, July 28th: Lost Films

This touring film project is a humorous and politcally astute survey of the films and video footage that is suppressed from reaching the general public. Footage of demonstrations, politicians showing their true faces etc. and lots more to laugh at and fear.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors open at 12:00 midnight
Tix: $6.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Sunday, July 29th: Rejuvenation Trio

The under-recognized elder Hasan Andur-Razzaq leads this great trio that features free-music stalwart Tom Abbs on bass and up and coming drummer Ryan Jewel. Abdur-Razzaq came out of the 60’s scene in Cleveland, where he was pals with the Ayler brothers. Don’t miss this rare performance from a super hot trio.

Where: Bohemian National Home, Detroit
When: Doors at 8:00PM
Tix: Sliding scale $5.00-$10.00
www.myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome

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Monday. July 30th-Sunday, August 5th: Motor City Fashion Week

Join the KeatonCross Fashion Design Group as they bring you “7 Days of Fabulous.” Tired of New York and LA having all the fashion fun, Dana Keaton and Sharryl Cross banded together to bring to the Motor City that same sense of feminine fabulous. The Fashion Art Exhibit runs all week, with industry-themed workshops running Tuesday-Thursday, Runway Shows Friday and Saturday at 8:00PM (and the official after-party on Saturday), and a Designer Trunk Show Free to the public Sunday noon-5:00PM. For a complete schedule of events and a list of presenting designers, visit www.motorcityfashionweek.com.

Where: Ford Model T-Plex, Detroit
When: See complete schedule online
Tix: Student Designer Show, $15/$50 VIP; Independent Designer Show, $25/$75 VIP. Workshops are $50 per class. To reserve tickets, please visit MCFW online.
www.motorcityfashionweek.com

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Wednesday, August 1st: Breathe Art’s Evening of Theatre and Summer Reception

Breathe Art Theatre Project gears up for its exciting 2007-2008 Open Border Season with its 3rd annual Evening of Theatre and Summer Reception at the Furniture Factory.

The evening will feature a collection of one-act comedies as Breathe Art announces its 2007-2008 show selection and casting. The wine reception is open to the public and media.

Breathe Art’s Mission: Committed to the principle of contemporary programming through the collaboration of Detroit/Windsor actors, directors and designers, Breathe Art Theatre Project’s mission is to advance the spirit of contemporary social theatre in its community by nurturing and supporting artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships, and offering a skilled environment to showcase the talents of established and developing artists from the Detroit/Windsor community. Breathe Art is an artist-run collective, dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect within our community and across our border.

Where: The Furniture Factory, Detroit
When: Doors at 7:00PM, performance begins at 8:00PM
Tix: Free admission (donations accepted)
www.breathearttheatre.com

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Wednesday, August 1st: DSO Uncorked, A Wine Tasting & Auction

Tastings of selected wines, paired with hearty hors d’oeuvres chosen to provide flavors to complement the wines; silent auction of wine and wine-related items; and a brief performance by DSO musicians.

Where: The Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit
When: 6:30-9:30PM
Tix: $95.00-$175.00
www.detroitsymphony.com

Lots of art happenings this weekend including Leah Keller at Biegas Gallery, Rivers Edge, Biddle Gallery, and more. Check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

Events editor Nicole Rupersburg brings you the scoop on what to do and where to be, each and every week, in the D.

COMING UP:
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Wednesday, July 18th: Perspectives on Collecting

What is it that moves people from the realm of viewer to that of collector? This event will feature discussions with several local collectors to learn how they make decisions on their art, their patterns and perspectives on art collecting.

Presenters will include: Marc Schwartz, Burt Aaron, George N’Namdi, and Sharon Zimmerman. Moderated by Dick Goody.

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit
When: 6:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.mocadetroit.org

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Wednesday, July 18th: Wed. Night Brew & View featuring 300

I’ve said it before and I will say it again. This movie kicks more ass than Chuck Norris and Jack Bauer combined. Plus there’s enough man flesh to turn a straight man gay. YUM!

Where: The Magic Bag, Ferndale
When: Doors at 8:00PM, film starts at 9:30PM
Tix: $2.00
www.themagicbag.com

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Wednesday, July 18th-Saturday, July 21st: 47th Annual Ann Arbor Street Art Fair

Admittedly, it’s a bit of a hike for most Metro-Detroiters to make out to Ann Arbor for the Annual Art Fair. However, for the arts and culture enthusiast this event is worth the trip. This is one of the most elaborate and extensive art fairs in the country, shutting down the majority of the downtown area for 4 days and offering a seemingly endless assortment of various artists, truly the culminating arts event of the summer. Established in 1960, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is the original of the now four award-winning art fairs, together attracting over 500,000 attendees from across the nation. Among the many accolades received by the Fair is the Number One Art Fair rating in the country (October 2004) and Top Ten Art Fair (October 2005 and 2006) by the AmericanStyle readers survey.

Where: Downtown Ann Arbor
When: Wed.-Fri., 10:00AM-9:00PM, Sat. 10:00AM-6:00PM
Tix: Free admission
www.artfair.org

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Thursday, July 19th: Detroit Synergy’s Third Thursday Happy Hour

Come and join Detroit Synergy at the Old Miami for the July Third Thursday! The Old Miami has a gorgeous “backyard” that is truly an oasis in the Cass Corridor. It’s a casual meet up for anyone and everyone. Find out more about Detroit Synergy, meet the people involved, and come a little early so you can find out how you can turn your idea into a project.

For our Community Component this month, we will be accepting donations of various clothing and household items to support Alternatives for Girls. Examples of donatable items include plus-sized women’s summer clothing, twin-sized bedding, blankets, various standard hygiene products, wash cloths and towels, and children’s toys. For more ideas regarding donatable items or to find out more about the mission of visit their website at http://alternativesforgirls.org.

Alternatives For Girls (AFG) is a 501 © (3) nonprofit organization located in southwest Detroit, Michigan, serving homeless and high-risk girls and young women. Since 1987, AFG has provided critical services to program participants, including safe shelter, educational support, vocational guidance, mentoring and counseling. The goal is to empower girls and y