Pewabic Pottery Awarded $13,500 in Grant Funding for Children's Programs!

Pewabic Pottery recently received grants from the PNC Foundation, the CIGNA Foundation and the Junior League of Detroit totaling $13,500 to support its bedside art and youth education programs.

The PNC Foundation awarded Pewabic Pottery a grant of $10,000 to support a 12-week in-school program for low-to-moderate income pre-schoolers in Detroit, focusing on cognitive, social, emotional and psychomotor skill-building through ceramic arts lessons and activities. As part of its “Grow Up Great” initiative, the PNC Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that work to directly improve children's school readiness by providing support in one of the following key areas: social and emotional development, teacher training and arts and culture.

The CIGNA Foundation awarded Pewabic Pottery a grant of $2,500 to support its Bedside Art: Fun With Clay program. The CIGNA Foundation is committed to enhancing the health of individuals and families through the well-being of the communities in which they live and work, and does this in part through financial support of creative and responsive programs and services.

The Junior League of Detroit awarded Pewabic Pottery a grant of $1,000 to support its Bedside Art: Fun With Clay program. The Junior League of Detroit focuses on elevating the lives of children. They use, initiate and participate in community-based collaborative partnerships that work to broaden the educational, cultural, recreational, and health opportunities for children in the city of Detroit.

Pewabic Pottery’s inpatient Bedside Art program currently serves 600 pediatric patients, ages 7-18, annually at Detroit’s Children’s Hospital of Michigan. This year round bedside ceramic arts program is designed to promote wellness by providing creative activity as an outlet for expression, which is beneficial to hospitalized children. This program is unique in that it is the only hospital ceramic art program of its kind currently provided to inpatients in one of Michigan’s largest pediatric hospitals.

Pewabic Pottery is a non-profit arts and cultural organization and National Historic Landmark dedicated to ceramic education and advancing contemporary ceramic arts while honoring Arts & Crafts ideals.

Pewabic Pottery is open to the public year round and offers classes, workshops, lectures and tours to children and adults. Pewabic continues to create tile for architectural and offers galleries that showcase more than 70 ceramic artists and a museum store for purchasing handmade items.

Visitors are welcome, free of charge, during regular business hours Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

To learn more about Pewabic Pottery call (313) 626-2000 or visit our website at www.pewabic.org.

Pewabic Pottery can be found at 10125 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit across the street from Waterworks Park.

Hard Rock Cafe Detroit Named “Top of the Rock” for Increased Sales

It was a hot summer for Hard Rock Cafe Detroit – in sales, that is.  Year-to-date sales at the cafe are up 9.2 percent, earning the restaurant Hard Rock’s “Top of the Rock” award.

“Only a small number of cafes are honored each year with the Top of the Rock award, so this is a proud moment for us,” said Peter Hanna, general manager at Hard Rock Cafe Detroit. “But the credit is really due to our customers, who support us and believe in the city. We love Detroit and see this as a sign of even better things to come.”

Hard Rock Cafe Detroit’s sales are up 13 percent over the prior year’s sales, and the cafe's guest satisfaction ranking is up as well.

The Top of the Rock award is given to 12 cafes each year based on financial performance, unique sales accomplishments and community contributions. For the honor, the Detroit cafe received a custom Gibson guitar to be displayed in the restaurant, featuring a hand-painted design and a chrome grill from the front of a car.

Part of Hard Rock Cafe Detroit’s success is due to its live music events. Most recently the restaurant hosted Atlanta singer-songwriter Sonia Leigh and Nashville country-rock duo Brasher/Bogue during a Kenny Chesney pre-party. This fall, the cafe plans to host the Detroit Lions post-game review show and will continue to set the stage for multiple local artists.

President Obama Is Visiting Detroit This Labor Day, September 5th!

AP

President Barack Obama will travel to Detroit on Sept. 5 to speak at the city's annual Labor Day festivities.

The White House says Obama will speak at a Labor Day event sponsored by the Metro Detroit Central Labor Council.

It will be Obama's second trip to Michigan in a month. Obama visited a battery plant in Holland, Mich., on Aug. 11.

Obama has touted his administration's work to rescue General Motors and Chrysler, which are both headquartered in the Detroit area.

Pick Mi Date is Celebrating Its 1 Yr Anniversary With a Date to Cliff Bell’s!

Pick Mi Date 1 Year Anniversary Date at the Historic Cliff Bell’s

Friday, September 9 at 8:00 pm!!

Details:

• The Winning Couple Will Receive a 3 Course Dinner and Two Round of Drinks from Cliff Bell’s New Menu (we’ve tried it and it’s delicious)!
• After Dinner Entertainment Provided by Grupo Escobor, Detroit’s Very Own 11 Piece Cuban Band! 
• Valet Parking is Available

You Must Sign Up As a Dater By Sunday, September 3rd 2011!

Voting Begins at 9am Monday, September 4th!

Directions To Register:

1. Go to http://pickmidate.com 
2. Click on the “Register To Date” Button
3. Fill Out The Most Hilarious Dating Form Online
4. Click “Submit”

“Mind the Gap” Competition Seeks Best Ideas For “In-Between” Spaces in the City of Detroit

You walk by this space everyday. Maybe it's an alley, or a surface parking lot, or a shadowy nook under an overpass. You think to yourself how great it could be, filled with people and activity instead of sitting there looking all sad and sorry. It wouldn't take much, you figure, to turn this site into a really cool spot.

Architects and planners call these spaces the "missing teeth" in our urban fabric. As buildings are torn down for parking or empty lots, our streetscapes take on a gap-toothed appearance. Sometimes it's the smallest slivers of space that can make the difference between a vibrant, walkable neighborhood and a place that feels uninviting or unsafe.
“Mind the Gap” is a public ideas competition for Detroit Design Festival to generate creative new ideas for these in-between spaces in our city. Alleys, bridges, overpasses, sidewalks, storefronts, surface parking lots, vacant lots – any space that connects two places.

For the sake of this project, we're not looking for major in-fill development ideas. We're looking for small-scale interventions that could have a large impact. We're looking for simple ways to stitch Detroit's urban fabric back together.

For this exercise, we borrow the  motto of Detroit’s Green Garage: “Small is big.”

You need not be an architect or planner to enter this competition. All you need is the ability to describe a site and solution. Supporting images are encouraged, but not required.

Anyone can submit an idea online through the “Mind the Gap” website or in person at Bureau of Urban Living, 460 West Canfield Street, Detroit, MI 48201. Submissions are due Monday, September 12, 2011, 5:00 pm EST.

Submissions will be reviewed by a jury, and a $100 cash prize will be awarded to the best idea. A selection of ideas will be displayed and published during Detroit Design Festival (September 21-28, 2011) presented by the Detroit Creative Corridor Center (DC3).

“Mind the Gap” is organized by the lovely Claire Nelson of Bureau of Urban Living. For more information, email info@bureauliving.com.

Chicago Restaurateur Kleiner Eyes Detroit Spot

Chicago Business

Chicago restaurateur Jerry Kleiner is considering opening a restaurant, tentatively named L's Cheesecake Bistro, in the 8,000-square-foot space that used to be Sweet Georgia Brown on the corner of Monroe and Brush streets in Detroit's Greektown.

Kleiner, known for building opulent restaurants in isolated areas, said he was approached by executives at Greektown Casino-Hotel, which owns the space, about opening a restaurant there.

Kleiner said he wants to open a restaurant in Detroit that fits the personality of the city but is still exploring options, including location.

"I think you have to cater to the needs of the community, and you want to do something for that particular customer base," he said. "You can't go wild, but you want some sizzle."

Kleiner was not ready to say when construction will begin but said the restaurant should be open by spring.

"I feel Detroit is a blank canvas ready to explode," Kleiner said in April, when he first began scoping out locations in the area. "It's on everybody's radar."

Kleiner also said he is looking for a local businessman to help him with the project and is considering La-Van Hawkins, the former majority owner of Sweet Georgia Brown, as well as the former president of Wolverine Pizza LLC, which once owned 80 Pizza Hut franchises in Southeast Michigan.

Click HERE for the full article!

2nd Annual Shimmer on the River Fundraising Gala for the Detroit RiverFront Thurs, Sept 8th!

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy will host its largest fundraising celebration of the year, Shimmer on the River, on Thursday, September 8, 2011 from 6  to 10 p.m.  This magical night, taking place outdoors on the GM Plaza & Promenade, is expected to attract hundreds of guests with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit Conservancy and its continued development of the Detroit Riverfront.

The GM Plaza – situated in the heart of the international riverfront with spectacular views spanning from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle – will be transformed into an intimate party setting providing guests with a night to remember at one of Detroit’s favorite destination spots.  Guests will enjoy a strolling dinner featuring Detroit favorites and Michigan-made products, along with cocktails and dancing on the Detroit RiverWalk with live entertainment by jazz greats the Les Williams Band and One World Island.  In addition, the Conservancy will honor U.S. Senator Carl Levin during a brief ceremony for his decades-long commitment to the transformation of the Detroit Riverfront.

A VIP ticket allows guests admission to an intimate pre-event cocktail reception in the Waterfront Lounge, located in the Renaissance Center, with stunning views of the RiverWalk, and the chance to mingle with the honored guests and sponsors prior to the party. 

“This is an evening for every Detroit Riverfront supporter to come together and not only celebrate what’s been accomplished, but to also play a role in its continued transformation and growth,” said Faye Alexander Nelson, President & CEO, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.  “Being outdoors on the GM Plaza will allow guests to take in the beauty and progress firsthand on the Riverfront.”

A range of tickets are now on sale for this spectacular evening including: VIP Tickets, $250 each, which includes complimentary valet parking and admission at 5 p.m. to the pre-event cocktail reception at the Waterfront Lounge in the Renaissance Center; General Admission, $125 each; Young Professional, $75 each, for ages 34 and under.  Reserved tables of ten can also be purchased for $1,000 and $2,000 for the VIP level. 

Tickets for Shimmer on the River may be purchased at www.detroitriverfront.org or
313-566-8206.

Vivian W. Day & John W. Stroh, III, are serving as this year’s Honorary Co-Chairs. The event is presented by Strategic Staffing Solutions, with additional sponsor support from Quicken Loans, DTE, Securitas, Charter One, General Motors, Display Group, Diamond Hospitality, Harrington Communications, General Linen, lovio george | communications + design, and HOUR Detroit.  

Attention Cyclists & Joggers: Woodward Corridor Lands HUGE Complete Streets Grant

M-Bike

Here’s some exciting news about Woodward that has nothing to do with the Dream Cruise.

Senator Carl Levin’s office and the Federal Highway Administration just announced a $752,880 grant for “developing a Complete Streets plan for Michigan’s 27-mile Woodward Avenue corridor that connects 11 communities and two Southeast Michigan Counties.”

“Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Michigan residents as well as strengthen the state’s economy,” said Secretary [U.S. DOT Secretary Ray] LaHood. “The demand from the states for these funds shows just how critical the need is for infrastructure investment.”

The funding is being awarded to the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) who will be releasing more details soon.

WA3 has been a big supporter of Complete Streets and they are members of the Detroit Complete Streets Workgroup.

Click HERE for the rest of this article!

Huffington Post: Family Vacations Travel Guide in Detroit

Robert Anthony
Huffington Post

Family vacations in Detroit can be rewarding experiences or absolute disasters — it all depends on pre-trip homework. To make planning easier, we've done all the preparation. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on traveling with children, here are recommended attractions for those planning Detroit family vacations.

Henry Ford Museum

Located on the Ford Motor Company's sprawling campus in Dearborn, Mich., the Henry Ford Museum offers a fun and interactive run through the history of the automobile, aviation and other forms of transportation. Sensory overload is easy to come by in a huge, one-floor display space with 40-foot ceilings. The Automobiles in American Life exhibit is closed through December 2011 for a makeover, but other exhibits make the Henry Ford Museum well worth a long visit. The Heroes of the Skies exhibit highlights famous planes, aviators and artifacts — like the chair President Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was assassinated — and automobile enthusiasts will love seeing the collection of presidential limousines exhibited here.

Address: 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124
Phone: 313-982-6001 or 800-835-5237
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
Price: Adults, $15; seniors 62 and over, $14; youth ages 5 to 12, $11; children under 5 years old, free. Members free

Comerica Park

A relatively new jewel in the downtown Detroit skyline, Comerica Park, home of Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers, is a must-see for baseball fans — even when the team is out of town. During the summer, the ballpark offers scheduled tours which include the visitor's clubhouse and dugout, the Ernie Harwell Media Center, the Detroit Tigers Walk of Fame, the party suite and the batting tunnel. zzzthe Tigers play 81 home games per year — even more if the team does well enough to make the American League playoffs.

Address: 2100 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: 313-962-4000
Hours: Tours available June through September at 10 a.m, noon and 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays when no games or other events are scheduled
Price: Adults, $6; children ages 4 to 14, $3; children under 4 years old, free

Motown Museum

A tour of the Motown Museum is fun and informative given the rich history of the former headquarters of the record label. Music legends such as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations and many others launched their careers here and recorded their top hits in the now-famous Studio A. The iconic "Hitsville U.S.A" sign on the front of the modest structure is a Detroit landmark.

Address: 2648 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48208
Phone: 313-875-2264
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
Price: Adults, $10; seniors and children ages 12 and under, $8

Click HERE for the rest of this article!

R. Park Fest Is This Sat, Aug. 20 11am-Midnight in Corktown!

Roosevelt Park Conservancy Presents:

The R. Park Fest'11

- Live Music
- Skate Bomb (Skate elements: Bring your skateboards!)
- Games (Slip n Slide Dodgeball Cornhole +++)
- 30 Craft Beers on Tap
- Food
- Kids Area (2pm to 6pm)

Single Stream Recycling Coming to Detroit

Andrew Nusca
Smart Planet

Residents of the Detroit metropolitan area may no longer have to separate their recyclables before disposing of them.

Waste Management of Michigan announced on Monday plans to construct a single stream recycling facility in the city.

The facility would handle recyclable material for much of southeastern Michigan, where commercial and residential demand for the service is expanding, the company says.

Single stream recycling eliminates the need for customers to separate recyclable materials prior to collection; instead, special equipment handles the task. The facility makes recycling less of a hassle — enough to boost volume by 20 to 30 percent, Waste Management says.

Here’s how it works: customers place recyclables in a single container for pickup. When they arrive at the facility, a series of magnets, screens and optical scanners are used to separate, sort and process the materials. Once processed, the materials are shipped out for reuse.

Waste Management currently operates 35 single stream facilities across the U.S. The facilities allow the company to control a part of its operations it traditionally outsources, important as the value of recycled materials increases. It will also help the company reach its sustainability target of tripling recycling volumes by 2020.