Phill Tran dreams of a Jamba Juice so he can get his Chocolate Mood kick.
And
Craig Hennigan wants to see an innovative, worker-owned restaurant in downtown Detroit.
Congrats to Phil and Craig!
Now get out there and enjoy all the cool things there are to do in Detroit.
Weekend Roundup
1. Maker Faire Detroit - In its second year, this is the best new tradition in Detroit. A lifesize Mousetrap, the Coke and Mentos guys, hackerspaces, robots and more! July 30-31.
2. Ignite Great Lakes - A semi-geek event where presenters show their personal and professional passions in 5 minute talks. Ignite is always a fabulous and fun experience and this time the best of the Midwest will be showcased. July 30th.
3. Canfield Street Market (Facebook link) - Handmade and vintage goods plus sidewalk sales and summer games. July 30th.
4. 71 Pop - The grand opening of a new Detroit pop shop featuring emerging, student and low-income artists. July 30th.
5. Pig & Whiskey (Facebook link) - This Ferndale event features a 15 BBQ joints and 40 whiskeys, bourbons and scotches. Plus a beer tent and live entertainment. July 30th.
Did you know Detroit just celebrated its 310th birthday this past Sunday? Antoine de le Moth Cadillac founded Detroit on July 24, 1701. The Detroit Historical Museum is commemorating the event with free admission and special programs through July 31st. Check out the full schedule.
Mayor Bing officially announced the Live Downtown program yesterday. The initiative is modeled after the popular Live Midtown program. Read more about it in the Detroit Free Press.
Somerset Collection CityLoft celebrates their grand opening this Thursday, July 28th. The upscale suburban mall will be bringing some of their retailers downtown in a pop up shop. The mini-versions of the shops will be open Thursday through Sunday through September. Somerset Collection City Lofts will be located at Merchants Row at 1441 Woodward.
Win a $50 gift card to spend at the CityLoft shops
The summer of giving continues! I have two $50 gift cards to give away to Detroit Moxie readers courtesy of Quicken Loans.
How to enter
Add a comment to this post with what shop you would most like to see in downtown Detroit. You must leave your email address when leaving the comment or you won’t be eligible. (Your email won’t be published; I just need to contact you if you win!)
For an additional entry, tweet the following:
I entered to win a $50 gift card to Somerset Collection CityLoft from @becksdavis & Detroit Moxie. http://bit.ly/puVdPO#moxiecard
For the additional entry, you must have posted a comment.
The contest ends on Wednesday, July 27th at 11:59 p.m. The two winners will be selected at random using random.org and will be announced on Thursday, July 28th.
So, what shop or retailer would you like to see in Detroit?
Until recently, I hadn’t thought of Chrysler—or its sexy Italian brother Fiat—as part of the Big Three. Ford and GM were dominating the scene and my Detroit heart. The “Imported from Detroit” Super Bowl commercial changed that for me and Chrysler started bleeping on my radar again.
So when I got the call to take a Fiat 500 on a road trip to Nashville for the Fiat FreakOut, I was pretty pumped.
Thoughts of my last road trip in a Fiat were quickly washed away. You see, my mom had a Fiat Spider in the late 70’s. My parents packed us into the Fiat for a family road trip to Washington D.C. A family of four! Have you seen the size of the backseat in a Fiat Spider? It’s smaller than a shoebox and had to fit my growing-like-a-bean-sprout brother and myself.
The night before the road trip, my husband and I both took the new—and oh so cute— Fiat 500 for a few spins around the block. I hadn’t driven a stick in about 9 years and my husband hadn’t shifted with his right hand in even longer. (The sticks in England are on the left side.)
The first thing we noticed was that for being a teeny-tiny car, the Fiat 500 is plenty roomy inside. Now, I wouldn’t suggest taking a family of four on a 10-hour road trip with it but it’s perfect for two and a great little run around car.
The Fiat 500 is an adorable, zippy little car that will have the girls swooning. But there is more to this machine than the cute factor. This car is fun to drive! The 500 handles well and a simple push of the “sport” button gives it some added oomph!
Once we pulled into Nashville and joined the Fiat FreakOut we were immediately immersed in the culture of Fiat. The event is organized by the Fiat Lancia Unlimited club members and they are passionate about their cars. These are gear heads—complete car people!
This was a reunion of FLU members old and new and one thing was very apparent, when you buy a Fiat you’re not just buying a car, you become a member of the community and a part of the lifestyle brand.
Meeting people who drove and flew in from all around the country—and world—was quite intoxicating. Gerd Wirlitsch came all the way from Stuttgart, Germany and told me how the community helps each other out when trying to find old parts. He’s made lifelong friends in America through his passion for Fiat.
Bill May from the Raleigh/Durham area brought his young son to the event. The father and son duo didn’t even own a Fiat when they attended last years FreakOut, they simply went to spend time with Bill’s brother, an avid Fiat owner. They now own a Fiat 500. By the end of the weekend we felt like members of the club.
And everywhere we went we were asked about the Fiat 500.
From a man in Cincinnati who waited for us to return to our car in a parking lot to our waitress at Waffle House in Nashville—they all wanted to know what we were driving and where they could get one. The Fiat 500 is a head-turner, that’s for sure!
Bottom line
I have a new understanding of my mom's love for her old Spider. I was born and raised in a Ford family but Chrysler and Fiat are pulling on my heart strings. They’ve certainly entered back into the fray of the Big Three for me. They are doing good things for Detroit and that always rates well with me.
Disclosure: Fiat USA has provided a Fiat 500 for me to use for the trip down to Nashville as well as accommodations, airfare home, gas, and some meals.
The first leg of our Fiat road trip went well and landed us in Cincinnati for the evening. We actually had an entire evening in Cincinnati but it went by real quick—it felt like only 5 minutes.
I never knew where Cincinnati got its name and if someone had told me that Cincinnatus was a Roman general I wouldn’t have believed them. But it’s true! The city was named after The Society of Cincinnati, which was named after Cincinnatus. A statue of Cincinnatus stands in downtown Cincinnati.
We didn’t have time to visit the statue but here’s a snapshot of my top picks of things to do in Cincinnati.
Skyline Chili. As soon as I heard we would be spending time in Cincinnati my taste buds jumped for joy. I have been eating Cincinnati-style chili for over 20 years—and even make my own version—but I had never had the original. Whether you go for a 3-way, 4-way or 5-way you won’t be disappointed. My favorite is a 3-way with a dollop of sour cream.
Carew Tower Observation Deck. My husband is afraid of heights—just buildings, not rollercoasters—so I try to take him to the highest building in every new city we visit. Yeah, I’m just a wee bit evil. The Carew Tower is the shortest we ever visited at 49 floors. You get a 360-degree view and can see Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. It's a deal at only $2!
Jungle Jim’s International Market. This place is bananas! And it’s insanely large. You’ll see singing and talking animatrons, a swinging Campbell’s Soup can and so much more. If you are a foodie this is a must—the international section alone is worth the trip. The only downside is that you’ll be bummed there wasn’t a Jungle Jim’s in your city.
We also went to a Fiat Studio in Cincinnati and learned about all the different ways you can customize a Fiat 500. Stay tuned for more on the Fiat 500 and Fiat FreakOut and adventures from our road trip.
Disclosure: Fiat USA has provided a Fiat 500 for me to use for the trip down to Nashville as well as accommodations, airfare home, gas, and some meals.
Um, it's stupid-crazy-sticky HOT outside. Stay cool in Detroit and keep yourself hydrated. Please check on your neighbors and the elderly. Don't forget about your pets—this weather is difficult for them too.
1. Ann Arbor Art Fair -The original art fair is now a combination of four award winning fairs that bring droves of people every year. July 20—23.
2. Thunder over Michigan - The annual air show in Ypsilanti features the Blue Angels. The average age of the of the Blue Angel pilots is 33 and they can go up to 700 MPH. July 23—24.
3. Rockin' on the Riverfront - The free concert series continues with REO Speedwagon. I'm going to "Keep on Loving You" Detroit! July 22.
4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn - Boldly beat the heat and enjoy this beautiful old theatre complete with pipe organ. July 22-23.
5. Fairy Tale Festival - Escape the real world and head to The Ford House to enjoy the magic of fairy tales expressed through music, theatre and storytelling. July 23rd.
Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 7:30AM | 
Phill Tran dreams of a Jamba Juice so he can get his Chocolate Mood kick.
