Always, lots going on in the arts including openings this week at Susanne Hilberry, WSU: Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, and more. Check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

We've also brought back specific Lit listings and Theater listings, in their respective sections.

Gallery Talk by Remi Esordi
Detroit Artists Market Elements Gallery
SATURDAY JANUARY 27, 2007 2:00-3:00PM

9TH ANNUAL U-M DETROIT DESIGN WORKSHOP

5PM, MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2007
THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Four teams of professional and U-M faculty and student urban designers, architects, urban planners, and landscape architects will present visions and designs for a strategic plan to re-develop downtown Detroit.

You are invited to a reception, exhibit, and presentation of the results from this intensive four-day design workshop.

For more information, check back at this page, send an email to 5-d@umich.edu or call (734) 764-1300

Gem Theatre
333 Madison Avenue at Brush Street
www.gemtheatre.com
(313) 963-9800

4-5 pm: Preview reception
5-7 pm: Presentations

More info here: http://www.tcaup.umich.edu/5-d/

Always, lots going on in the arts including openings this week at Paint Creek Center for the Arts and CCS. Check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

We've also brought back specific Lit listings and Theater listings, in their respective sections.

January Third Thursday @ Signature Bar

Riverfront Condominiums (as the name implies) lies smack on the Detroit River just west of the Lodge Freeway...maybe stop by for a drink before or after a visit to the auto show???

Third Thursday Happy Hour
We'll have an area of the bar reserved for DSG, free appetizers and drink specials.
Date: Thursday, January 18th
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:30pm
Location: Signature Grille & Bar | Riverfront Condominiums | 250 Riverfront (between the 200 and 300 tower)
Map: http://www.riverfrontcondominiums.com/

Parking: Riverfront has a gatehouse, so please check in with the guard and let them know you are with Detroit Synergy to be directed to the appropriate parking area
Contact: Paula pr@detroitsynergy.org

INSIDEOUT Poetry Reading at DAM
Friday, January 19th
7PM - 9PM
Poets and writers who serve as writers-in-residence for InsideOut Literary Arts Project will read from their work. These readings are free and open to all; come out to hear some great writing and support InsideOut.

LIST OF READERS
Sara DiMaggio
Kim Hunter
Randa Jarrar
Steve Johnson
Jullia Putnam

InsideOut was founded in 1995 to place professional poets and fiction writers in Detroit Schools to encourage young people's imaginative writing and promote self-confidence and awareness through publicizing and celebrating their work. InsideOut is a founding member of WITSA (Writers in the Schools Alliance) a national group of literary arts organizations incorporated in 2005 to support the work of placing professional writers in long-term residencies in public schools and other community settings. InsideOut is unique among similar organizations across the country in that professionally printed literary magazines are created each year from each school InsideOut serves. These publications, which display students' writing and art in beautiful books with full-color covers, develop student initiative and provide opportunities to celebrate students' creativity in schools and communities.

InsideOut was founded by Dr.Terry Blackhawk, an award-winning teacher of Creative Writing, and author of four volumes of poetry. In its early stages, InsideOut placed writers in five Detroit high schools. Today it conducts year-long programs through Detroit Public Schools, annually serving over 2,400 students, grades 1 through 12, in twenty-four schools.

For more information, visit www.insideoutdetroit.org or call 313.965.5332
Detroit Artists Market
email: info@detroitartistsmarket.org
phone: 313.832.8540

BOHEMIAN NATIONAL HOME

Friday, January 19th: The Vizitors
Ancient to the Future free jazz and sounds of interplanetary soul will mark this first landing of The Vizitors at Bohemian National Home. The Vizitors "... feel an obligation to counter the nefarious conditions of our community being fueled by commercial music. We labor to share with our listeners the vibrations of music that bring strength and an enthusiasm for life."

This Detroit/Chicago incarnation features Kenneth Green (piano), Dushun
Mosley (percussion), Skeeter Shelton (saxophones), Teresa Mora (vocals).
Doors at 8:30 pm; $10 suggested, $5 min. donation. This show will be
no-smoking in the library; smoking will be allowed in the gallery.

Saturday, Jan 20th: Joe Lally and Capillary Action
The bassist of Fugazi returns with his stripped-down, topical songs on bass and the sparse accompaniment of drums and shruti-box. His new release, There to Here, is out on Dischord Records. He brings with him Capillary Action, who take a genre hopping approach ala Naked City. Some great DIY music at the price of yester-year. Doors at 9pm; $5.

Story and Photos
by
William Eric Graham

Over the past two weeks, there have been numerous auto show parties, functions, and previews, mostly intended for the rich and famous and the well connected – all of whom aren’t depending on the auto industry for their existence. For the auto executives who weren’t worried about their futures, it made for an interesting, if not totally relaxing atmosphere. They were there, for the most part, trying to have a good time and trying to forget about the climate of the industry, if only for a little while. But for the worker, the ordinary person who depends on the factories to keep the lights on and the heat going at home, there was plenty of trepidation and nervousness. I spoke to more than a few folks who were impressed with the new looks but as usual stated that most of the new cars were priced out of the average worker’s range. There have been plenty of photos of all the new vehicles, from the daring concept cars that seemed to usher in a new wave of design to some of the more practical cars and trucks that the average working adult might more reasonably afford.

The mainstream media have talked ad nauseam about the state of the industry so you won’t read it here. Instead enjoy these few photos of some of the best cars at the show, some of which were concepts and some that can be purchased now. Maybe one day some of these will be made available to you and me at a reasonable cost. Number 1 is GM’s electric concept car the Chevrolet Volt, the first car that can be plugged in. While it boasts a small gasoline engine in addition to the electric motor, the gas powered engine’s only purpose is to charge the batteries when the electric charge drops to a low level. Very cool indeed. The star of the show, as it was last year, was the redesigned Camaro. This year saw a convertible model as opposed to last year’s concept hardtop. It should be in the showrooms soon, if GM officials don’t sit on their hands and they deliver what the public wants. Next up are four vehicles, three of which are concepts, that come from the guys at Ford, and include one out-of-sight version of the Mustang.

Starting with the concepts, the Ford Interceptor is a huge muscle car, which seems to go against all the modern shifts in the current industry. With a 400-horsepower racing engine it’s built for pure speed and power although it runs on E85 ethanol. The futuristic looking Ford Airstream, a new look for the old recreational vehicle, was the most out of this world looking van in the exhibit. It has a plug-in electric powertrain that recharges the batteries so you can trip out on the spaced out colors of the interior, which include a psychedelic orb in the center, all without worrying about gas usage. From the Lincoln division of Ford comes the exotic looking concept called the Lincoln MKR. The front grill has a low to the ground effect that reminds one of the front end of a 1941 Continental. Full of promise; expect many of the features shown on this concept to find their way into the Lincolns being produced in the near future. For something that can be had now, there is the exciting Lincoln MKX, the sister of the popular Ford Edge. With its gleaming front and stylish lines and interior, it would be safe to say that you will soon be seeing plenty of these fantastic crossovers on the road soon. It’s got to be a sure-fire hit. Finally there’s a special stylized version of the Mustang brought to you by the design team of Giorgetto & Fabrizio Giugiaro. With its winged doors and glass roof, this 2007 model is what every Mustang owner wishes for his own car. With an intercooled supercharged 4.6 liter V8, it has the necessary power to run with anything on the streets and the look to turn heads wherever it goes. A fine blending of talents between an independent designer and Ford.

All of the cars and vans discussed here are domestics. Although there were many fine foreign vehicles displayed, including some made here on U.S. soil, it is our intention to highlight the cars that will have a significant positive impact on the lives of the people and workers here in this region, Metro Detroit. The importance of buying American can’t be stated enough. If a few of the cars highlighted in this story become huge sellers it will have a tremendous boost to an area of the country that desperately needs a home run where it has been for too long settling for less meaningful singles.

William Eric Graham is a local freelance writer and the author of the novel Palmer Park. He’s written for ihedetroiter.com, The Metro Business Information Guide and The Highland Park Journal. He can be reached at WEGPUBLISHINGLLC@AOL.COM.

The arts season swings into high gear, with Telegraph Arts at Oakland University, Remi Esordi shows his photos of his Adventura del Amazonia at DAM (first featured in our travelblog section!), DAM turns 75!, UM openings galore, Monte at Zeitgeist, and much more - check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

Frank Pahl Performs:
thursday, january 11
little bang theory will perform music for theater, dance and film on toy instruments @ the kreft center black box theater downstairs from the kreft center gallery which will be hosting katie kahn's galaxy of complications (theme hint: little bang=galaxy)gallery reception is from 7-9 little bang performs @ 8:30p.m. FREE
@ concordia university, ann arbor
concordia is located on geddes road just west of us 23
in a2 (off exit 39) for info call 734-995-4612

saturday, january 13In conjunction with Automation ‘07
The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit
Proudly presents
Scavenger Trio
8pm doors
8:30pm show time
Free. Donations will be appreciated.
[the galleries will be open during this event for viewing of Automation ‘07]

The Scavenger Trio features Frank Pahl on farfisa, strings automatics and voice; Joel Peterson on bass, foot percussion, siren, and vocals; and Marko Novachcoff on reeds and strings. For 10 years frank led the avant folk group only a mother (of which Marko was a member). When the group disbanded frank began writing music for theater, film and dance. to date he has received over 70 commissions ranging from mtv and Chinese fruit juice commercials to avant garde theater and dance. He is currently a member of scavenger quartet and the toypop band Little Bang Theory. Marko Novachcoff can play just about anything and has with only a mother, immigrant suns, Odu Afrobeat Orchestra and major dents. Joel is the heart and brains behind Bohemian National Home and currently plays with Scavenger Quartet, Odu Afrobeat Orchestra and Immigrant Suns. All three have played with Eugene Chadbourne, Luc Houtkamp and countless national and international improvisers.
e-mail: info@thecaid.org

Theater, lots going on in Theater around town.

Detroit Repertory Theatre:
Between Men and Cattle by Richard Kalinosky- January 11 to March 18 2007

The Fisher Theatre:
Cirque Dreams – January 19- February 3
I Can’t Stop Loving You – February 16-March 4

The Fox Theatre:
Larry the Cable Guy – January 19 & 20
Rock Star: Supernova – February 5
Sesame Street Live – February 10, 17, 18, 24
Sisters in Spirit – March 1

The Gem Theatre:
Respect: A Musical Journey of Women – evey Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May

The Matrix Theatre:
Some Girl(s) – February 8-March 4
Jesus in the Hood – March 23-April 3

The Meadowbrook Theatre:
Same Time Next Year- January 10-February 4
On Golden Pond- February 14-Marc 11

The Performance Network:
Language Lessons by Joseph Zettelmaier- January 18-February 25

Planet Ant Theater:
Big Time: The Improvised Rock Musical – Thursdays at 11:30
A Number by Carl Churchill- February 2-March 3

The Purple Rose Theatre:
Escanaba in Love- now through January 20
The Subject was Roses – February 8-March 17

The Second City:
Currently in previews- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Bonstelle Theatre:
The Women by Clare Boothe Luce – January 26,27 and 28; February 2, 3 and 4
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson – March 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11

Wayne State University Theatre:
Amadeus
Opens January 12 2007

Attention Music Aficionados

If you like great music, you will love what the Detroit Public Library has to offer you this winter. Break away from that ordinary lunchtime routine and relax to the soothing sounds of the free Noontime Concert Series, sponsored by the Compuware Corporation. The concert series takes place at the Detroit Public Library’s Skillman branch, located in downtown Detroit, right behind the Compuware building and is free and open to the public.

The Noontime concert on January 17, 2007 features The Lyrical Librarians; five Detroit Public Library librarians, whose sultry sound allows them to sing beautiful, enchanting harmonies that they love to share with the world. Their music is light, lively and lyrically divine. They convey their love for the music by capturing crowds with hypnotic rhythms and delicate melodies that you have to hear to believe.

So bring your lunch and enjoy local artists that represent a full range of musical genres.

Noontime Concert January 2007
Detroit Public Library- Skillman Branch
121 Gratiot, at Library Street
(313) 628-2750

The arts season kicks off with a bang - check out openings in our comprehensive and always up-to-date arts calendar here.

Look for more events listings for the week wednesday late night right here.