Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

The Christmas tree is lit at Campus Martius and people are skating on the ice rink. Holiday parties are scheduled and the shopping has begun. Well, other peoples shopping has begun, mine has yet to be started. Nor have I decorated the tree; it’s still in the attic. Oh, and did I mention, snow has been forecast for the Detroit metropolitan area. Bundle up and enjoy the season! 

Weekend Roundup

1. Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village - Candle-lit paths, carriage and Model T rides, and live entertainment take you back to the holidays of the past. Santa, live reindeer, and fireworks cap off a fantastic evening. December 4-5, 11-12, 18-23, 26-27. December 5th & 12th are sold out.

2. 37th Annual Noel Night - Over 40 institutions, including the DIA and the Detroit Science Center, participate in this holiday open house in Midtown Detroit's Cultural Center. December 5th.

3. The Guy Fieri Roadshow - The Food Network star brings his "Rock n' Roll Culinary Road Show" to Detroit at the Masonic Temple. December 4th.

4. Holiday Baar Bazaar - Vendors selling handmade crafts, records, vintage clothing and more plus live music. Did I mention that the bar is open too? So, have a drink and shop! December 5th.

5. Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade - Michigan's largest Christmas parade will roll down Main Street in downtown Rochester. December 6th.

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

Detroit Holiday Gift Guide

If you have been reading this blog you’ve probably realized two things about me by now:

1. I love Detroit and don’t mind shouting it to the world.

2. I am committed to buying locally and supporting my local community.

So, I’m really excited to give you Detroit Moxie’s Holiday Gift Guide.

Do you have someone in your life that loves Detroit and Michigan as much as I do? Do you want to buy locally this holiday season and support your community? Maybe you’re just looking for cool, unique gifts. Whichever it is, I’ve put together this guide, which highlights local shops and local goods.

Gifts for someone who wears their heart on their sleeve

Detroit themed t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and accessories are a great way to proclaim your love of Detroit. My favorites include Detroit Manufacturing, Made in Detroit, and Pure Detroit. I own a piece from each of these companies and my Little Miss Detroit tee from Detroit Manufacturing always produces smiles.

Wearing your pride on a tee shirt isn’t just for the Lower Peninsula. Check out these fabulous t-shirts by Yooper Steez that feature only the Upper Peninsula. I love them! They are also a great conversation starter for people not familiar with Michigan’s upper half. As an added bonus, there is a 30% off sale until the end of November, which is today. (Use discount code NOV2009)

Upper Peninsula t-shirts from Yooper Steez.

Looking for something a bit more unique?

City Bird just opened up in Midtown in the Canfield Lofts and features homemade and vintage goods. The shop carries their own line of Detroit-themed goods plus the works of over 50 local and regional artists.

 

Also in the Canfield Lofts, and right next door to City Bird, is Bureau of Urban Living. You can find unique designer wares, stationary, and again, Detroit-themed art. They have a fabulous print of the Detroit footprint with each neighborhood named and noted. I wish I had taken a picture of it!

I spotted these amazing skateboard decks by Einfach Skate at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair and immediately swooned. The artwork is amazing! This is the perfect gift for the skateboarder in your life. Don’t have one of those? Me neither, but I could easily see these hanging on a wall or used in another creative way. Bookshelves, perhaps?

Speaking of the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, check out all the vendors that attended for handmade goodness.

Even more art

Art for the Holidays from the Detroit Artists Market offers original art from over 100 local artists. Two other great places for holiday gifts are the DIA and MOCAD gift shops.

Something for the book lover

John K. King Used & Rare Books is a Detroit institution. This is the place to find out of print and rare books, it’s also a great place to browse and see what you find. You could spend hours in this place just looking around at over a million books! 

Leopold’s is the new bookseller on the block and I have yet to visit. However, from reading the reviews on Yelp it looks to be a hit. 

Gifts for the misplaced Michigander

Gift Baskets From Michigan puts together delightful treats from across the state and some are packaged in a crate that is in the mitten shape of the Lower Peninsula. Loved ones who have moved out of state will appreciate the flavors of Michigan.

 

You can also put together your own care package filled with local favorites including Faygo Pop, Better Made Potato Chips, Vernors Ginger Ale, Sanders Hot Fudge, and Germack Pistachios. 

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Parade. Football. Family. Nap. Turkey. Mashed Potatoes. Stuffing. Sweet Potatoes. Parsnips. Gravy. Unbuckle Belt. Pumpkin Pie. Apple Pie. Nap. Look at Black Friday ads.

That pretty much sums up my Thanksgiving Day. The best part? We still have the whole weekend left to play!

Weekend Roundup

1. Star Wars: In Concert -  A multi-media event featuring music from all 6 Star Wars scores, a full orchestra and choir, footage from the movies, and narration by C-3PO himself (Anthony Daniels). November 28.

2. A Day in Paradeland - Go behind the scenes and visit The Parade Company studios. Enjoy games, arts and crafts, entertainment, and get a close up look at the floats featured in America's Thanksgiving Parade. November 28.

3. Dickens Festival in Holly - The quaint village of Holly is transformed in a Victorian wonderland celebrating the characters of Charles Dickens. November 28-29, December 5-6, December 12-13.

4. PuppetART performs Kolobok - This Russian folktale tells the story of a little Butterball named Kolobok who was baked by an elderly couple. You might know the story as The Gingerbread Man. Actors bring the floor puppets to life. November 28.

5. The Big, Bright Light Show - Downtown Rochester will be covered by a million points of light. The light show will debut November 30th at 7pm. November 30th through January 3rd.

Of course, you can always go shopping this weekend and take advantage of the Black Friday deals or go for a skate at The Rink at Campus Martius. 

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

Happy Thanksgiving from Detroit Moxie

Hart Plaza in November.This is my first Thanksgiving living back in Detroit since 2003. I am thankful for my family and friends, and I’m also thankful to be back in this community. A big thank you goes out to you for reading Detroit Moxie and inspiring me.

 Get out and enjoy metro Detroit!

The Weekend Roundup will come out tomorrow, due to the holiday. In the meantime:

• America’s Thanksgiving Parade is happening right now!
• The Detroit Lions take the field today in their annual Thanksgiving Day game. Read here to find out why they always play on Thanksgiving.
• Black Friday sales start at stupid o’clock in the morning tomorrow (or in some cases today).

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving and enjoy your turkey! Also, please remember to help out those that are less fortunate during this holiday season.

America's Thanksgiving Parade: A Sneak Peek

The America’s Thanksgiving Parade began in 1924 in Detroit and was the idea of Charles F. Wendel, the display manager at J.L. Hudson’s. He was inspired by a stunt in Toronto that had Santa arriving at Eaton’s department store.

On a trip to Italy, Wendel experienced the carnivals of Venice and Viareggio that featured giant papier mâché heads. These papier mâché heads figured prominently in the first parade and are still a proud tradition in the Detroit parade.

Rows and rows of papier mâchê heads at The Parade Company.

The parade, now entering its 83^rd year, started the same year as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. This years theme is "Together We Shine."

From The Parade Company’s website:

The theme celebrates The Parade Company bringing a spark of magic and people together to enjoy one of Detroit’s largest and free events where for one special moment, families can be entertained, share a tradition and create a memory. As we celebrate the theme of this year’s Parade, we are asking the metro Detroit community to join together to celebrate this civic event that is so important to our community.

Now, I’ve known for a while that The Parade Company gives behind the scenes tours of their studios all year long. However, when I called them I was told that the tours were for a minimum of 10 people. I didn’t have 10 people.

So, I did what any self-respecting blogger would do, I just showed up. The Brownie troop that was checking in before us was confusing and frustrating the guy at the desk. Maybe that’s why he wouldn’t let my husband and me join one of the other groups.

Hitsville U.S.A float.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed another official looking person. She was dressed brightly, smiling and wearing a nametag. I don’t want to get her in trouble so I’ll just call her D.

D was searching through the crowd trying to fill a few spots to walk in the parade in costume. (As of last Saturday they were still seeking 3 people of medium size and one size small.)

I started chatting to D and asked her if we could join a pre-booked tour. She asked the frustrated guy at the desk and he said they were fully booked for the day. She seemed surprised at this answer, “how can another 2 people matter.”

By this time I was getting a bit ballsy and asked her if we could just take a peek into the studios. She said no.

Then, to my surprise, she said very loudly, “Oh, you want to use the restrooms? They’re over here.” With a wink and a nudge she led us into the warehouse/studio and told us not to go into a specific area and what doors to exit by. And she was gone. 

Artists working on a papier mâché head. It kinda looks like Bill Clinton to me.

We didn’t get to see much or have the benefit of the full tour but we did get a sneak peek. We were also quite lucky that a few of the floats were out front, waiting to be repaired.

Besides the behind-the-scenes tours that are available year round (except this week) D also clued me in on “A Day in Paradeland,” which is this Saturday, November 28^th. There will be games, entertainment, arts and crafts, and a chance to see the floats that will travel down Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving Day.

There is an online coupon for "A Day in Paradeland" that brings the cost down to $5 for adults.

The parade kicks off at 9:20 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning. Whether you're watching from home or from the parade route, enjoy one of the great Detroit traditions.