Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

A Triumph parked in front of Hunter House at the Woodward Dream Cruise.You’ve seen the Mustangs, Corvettes and assorted other classic, muscle and custom cars for weeks. Yep, it’s time for the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Residents and business owners are split on their love of this classic car love-fest. Some soak in all the automotive culture and snap hundreds of photos. Others head for the hills—otherwise known as Up North—to avoid the world’s largest traffic jam.

Whether you’re getting out of Dodge or reveling on Woodward, have fun and enjoy Detroit!

Weekend Roundup

1. Open Hack Night - Omnicorps Detroit is calling all makers, hackers, nerds & DIYers to hack. There will also be a demonstration on how to make and can tomato jam. August 16th.

2. Assumption GreekFest 2012 (Facebook link) - Opa! Head to the east side for Greek food and pastries, entertainment, kids activities, a petting zoo and more. August 16—19.

3. African World Festival - The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History plays host to this festival filled with music, dance, crafts and food. August 17—19.

4. Woodward Dream Cruise 2012 - All of your favorite muscle cars and classics—and most certainly a few current model year SUVs—will be cruising down the avenue. August 18th.

5. Motors & Music Experience - Want some music to go along with your custom cars? The parking lot of the Pontiac Silverdome will have both including the Stone Temple Pilots and Mayer Hawthorne. August 18th.

Bonus: Pewabic Pottery Summer Sale

Double Bonus: Michigan Renaissance Festival

Triple Bonus: Downtown Detroit Days

Do you know of a great event going on in Metro Detroit this weekend? Add it to the comments and share it with us!

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Rivera Court at the DIA.This week the millage for the Detroit Institute of Arts passed in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties. Our amazing art museum is essential for the revitalization of Detroit so this is great for the entire region.

However, this probably wasn’t the best week to give away a family four pack of tickets to the DIA as everyone in the tri-county area now get free admission. With that said, congrats Aviva (@AvivaDetroit)! You’ve won the tickets to the DIA! Be sure to check out the Picasso & Matisse exhibit.

Weekend Roundup

1. Detroit Improv Festival - Ferndale is full of laughs as over 30 improv troupes from across North America descend on Nine Mile. August 8—12.

2. Movie Night in the D - Catch Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal and others on the big screen in Campus Martius for a free showing of The Muppets. August 10th.

3. Second Annual #Bustup (Facebook link) - Team up with Motor City Connect, Blight Busters and the Channel 7 #backchannel as they tear down a blighted house in Detroit. More info here from Charlie Wollborg. August 11th.

4. Royal Oak Corn Roast & Country Fair - Royal Oak Farmer's Market is full of old-fashioned fun with fresh roasted corn, hand squeezed lemonade, arts and family-friendly activities. August 11th.

5. Sunday Funday - The final event of the Riviere28 summer series takes place at Gabriel Richard Park and features yoga, food trucks, lawn games and a Bloody Mary & Mimosa bar. (BYOB) August 12th.

Bonus: Rockin' on the Riverfront

Double Bonus: Historic Boston-Edison Attic Sale

Do you know of a great event going on in Metro Detroit this weekend? Add it to the comments and share it with us!

Together again, Picasso & Matisse at the DIA

The Detroit Institute of Arts has stood proudly on Woodward Avenue since 1927 and it is the centerpiece of our cultural center. Whether you dream about knocking down the suits of armor or study industry as you gaze at the Diego Rivera murals, this is one of the coolest places to spend an afternoon in Detroit.

The newest exhibit at the DIA is Picasso and Matisse: The DIA’s Prints and Drawings and it runs through January 6, 2013. The exhibition features over 100 prints and drawings by the artists including Matisse’s The Plumed Hat and Picasso’s The Bather by the Sea. The DIA will also offer educational programming for adult, youth and family audiences to complement the exhibit.

Were Picasso and Matisse, two of the greatest artists of the 20^th century, friends?

Despite perceiving themselves as rivals, Picasso and Matisse began to meet regularly and subject each other’s work to intense scrutiny. Whether they approved or disapproved of what the other was up to, they understood each other as only two titans could. ~John Richardson

This exhibition has been organized by the Detroit Institute of Arts. Support has been provided by Comerica Bank. Additional support has been provided by the City of Detroit.

I’m giving away a family four pack of tickets to one lucky Detroit Moxie reader so that you can explore the DIA and the works of Picasso and Matisse. Just don't knock down the suits of armor!

How to enter:

Add a comment to this post with your favorite artist. You must leave your email address when posting the comment or you won’t be eligible. (It won’t be published, I just need to contact you if you win!)

For an additional entry, tweet the following:

I want to win a family four pack to the @DIADetroit from @becksdavis & Detroit Moxie. http://bit.ly/RNMB79 #MoxieArt

For the additional entry, you must have already left a comment on the post with your favorite artist.

The contest ends on Wednesday, August 8^th at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The winner will be announced on Thursday, August 9, 2012. I will select the winner using random.org.

Since we’re talking about art and the Detroit Institute of Arts, I urge you to vote YES on the art institute authority proposal so that the DIA can continue this fabulous programming. For more information on why you should vote yes, see this Detroit Free Press editorial. The vote is tomorrow, August 7th.

So, who is your favorite artist?

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

I want to call attention to the Super Duper Bonus—Free Art Friday for the DIA. It’s a scavenger hunt with art and if you find the art, you get to keep it! Clues are posted on Facebook and Twitter. This week’s edition lends support to the Detroit Institute of Arts in advance of the vote next week.

Go, find art!

1. Hot Glass Cold Beer - Enjoy live glass blowing demos while sipping on great beer from 5 Michigan breweries and noshing on tasty treats. August 2nd.

2. Mustache Day at the DIA - Is there a better way to celebrate Salvador Dali than by donning a mustache? We think not. Wear a mustache—real or fake—and recieve free admission to the Detroit Institute of Arts. August 3—5.

3. Fairy Tale Festival - We all need a fairy tale once in awhile. Head to the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House for a day of magic and imagination with music, theatre, story telling and activities. August 4th.

4. Buy Michigan Now Festival - Buy local! Downtown Northville is host to sidewalk sales, street vendors, children's activities and more all celebrating Michigan-based businesses. August 3—5.

5. Historic Baseball - The Greenfield Village Lah-De-Dahs Baseball Club play by the rules of 1867 and sport neckties in this gentlemanly game. Play ball! August 4—5.

Bonus: Rockin' on the Riverfront

Super Duper Bonus: Free Art Friday Detroit for the DIA

Do you know of a great event going on in Metro Detroit this weekend? Add it to the comments and share it with us!

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Now in its third year at The Henry Ford, Maker Faire has become one of our favorite events in Detroit. Both adults and kids will enjoy the demonstrations, inventions and hands-on activities.

Highlights of Maker Faire include the Coke and Mentos Guys, a life-size Mousetrap game, a Lego Brick Challenge Game Show and Handmade Detroit and other local crafters. There is something for everyone at Maker Faire!

Win tickets to Maker Faire!

I have two packs of 4 tickets to giveaway. Yes, two winners will each win 4 tickets.

How to enter:

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what invention (crazy or practical) that you'd like to see happen in your lifetime. Make sure you leave your email address when you post the comment so I can get in touch with you if you win. (Your email address will not be published.)

The contest ends on Friday, July 27, 2012 at 11:59 a.m. EDT. The winner will be announced on Friday afternoon.

The contest has ended!

I will select the winner using random.org.

Weekend Roundup

1. Ferndale Pub Crawl - Join 2,000 others on a walking tour of Ferndale's bars, clubs and restaurants. The funds raised will benefit four local charities. July 27th.

2. 2012 Summer Beer Festival - Head to Depot Town in Ypsilanti for the 15th annual event put on by the Michigan Brewers Guild. Enjoy over 450 beers from 60 Michigan brewers plus food and live entertainment. Tickets are only available for July 27th.

3. Maker Faire Detroit - The Henry Ford is the perfect venue for this celebration of makers, creators, inventors, DIYers and innovators. July 28—29.

4. Arab & Chaldean Festival - The largest Arab & Chaldean festival in North America takes place in Hart Plaza this weekend. July 28—29.

5. Concours d'Elegance of America at St. Johns - Classic and rare cars are on show on the beautiful grounds of St. Johns. Events include a vintage car auction and an automotive arts exhibit. July 29th.

Bonus: Rockin' on the Riverfront

Double Bonus: Saturday Camp Hi-Fi

Triple Bonus: CityLoft and Downtown Detroit Days

Do you know of a great event going on in Metro Detroit this weekend? Add it to the comments and share it with us!