Festivals And Fireworks In Metro Detroit

There is so much going on in Detroit this week, so many festivals and fireworks to choose from. I’m excited to celebrate Fourth of July in the States with my husband for the first time. It’s kind of funny though; we’re celebrating independence from his country.

I remember my first Fourth of July in the UK. I begged my husband to let me have a traditional American BBQ. His friends and family were very sweet, no one complained about the irony. Our neighbor let us borrow his American flag, he is a big fan of the States, and other friends brought various American paraphernalia. I wore my “Everybody loves an American Girl” t-shirt. I even decorated one of the cakes with the St. George's Cross, which is the English flag, to appease the masses and show my appreciation.

So, I’m looking forward to this week. Now, it’s just going to be hard to decided which festivals and fireworks to catch.

Here's a smattering of a few of the festivals going on in Metro Detroit this week:

• Comerica Cityfest is Michigan's largest neighborhood festival; July 1-5.
• The Henry Ford presents Salute to America at Greenfield Village; July 1-4.
• Ann Arbor Summer Festival; through July 5.
• Fenton Freedom Festival; July 2-4.
• Annual Beach Bash at Camp Dearborn in Milford, July 4th.
• Westland Summer Festival, July 1-5.

Oh, what about the fireworks? Michigan Fireworks is currently listing 401 firework displays throughout Michigan. Just put in your city or a date and it'll give you the details.

So, how are you going to celebrate Independence Day? (I appologize to my UK and other global readers, I know you won't be celebrating!) If I've left off one of your favorite festivals that is happening this week, let me know.

The Belle Isle Ice Tree

I know it’s summer but this was one of the most fascinating things I’ve seen since moving back to Metro Detroit. And, hey, it’s supposed to be really hot today so this may cool you down a bit.

The Belle Isle Ice Tree has apparently been a tradition for years, some say since the 1960’s. It’s basically Christmas trees piled up with a pipe running through it. The top of the pipe has a spout that is constantly spraying water. The constant spray, coupled with the cold weather, adds layers upon layers of ice to this organic sculpture.

The Belle Isle Ice TreeWhen I was first walking out to it, everything was fine, crunchy ice under foot. I kept walking and then stopped. Whoa! I had walked a bit too close and was on rather dangerous ice. Slowly, I inched my way back. Did I mention that it was freezing cold? My fingers were numb.

Two girls were ice skating at a nearby pond while I was there. As I was snapping pictures, one of the girls started exploring the Ice Tree. If you have on proper footwear, ice skates or crampons, you can actually go into these minature ice caves.

Girl coming out of one of the caverns in the Ice Tree.In this Detroit News article about Detroit's worst snow storms you can see an early version of the Belle Isle Ice Tree. Actually, that article has a picture of 3 trees. Belle Isle, however, isn't the only Detroit appearance of such a sculpture. There was a similar ice tree on Washington Blvd. in front of the Cadillac Hotel, now the Book-Cadillac. And this picture, from Wayne State University, is an earlier incarnation of the Belle Isle Ice Tree.

I think the Ice Tree looks a bit like a Transformer or a lovable monster.So, I do apologize, but you're going to have to wait a good 6 or 7 months to see this yourself. And, I highly recommend seeing this in person. It is on the east side of Belle Isle and you can see it as you're driving on the bridge.

The Loop: Detroit's New Green Shuttle

Photo by Joe GallLast week I told you about The Night Move, metro Detroit’s green public transit fueled by biodiesel, which takes passengers from Royal Oak to Ferndale to Detroit. Well, this week it even gets better! This Friday, June 26th, The Night Move launches a new service called The Loop.

The Loop is launching just in time for the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival (DWIFF) and will shuttle passengers to different downtown points of interest on Friday and Saturday nights between 6pm and 3am.

 Night Move owner Chris Ramos on the new service:
"I think we’re more excited about the Loop than we were about launching our original route. It’s the perfect complement, and we’re hoping it will provide a viable gateway to the city for suburbanites."

The Loop will circle Detroit with the following stops:

• Foxtown: Town Pump Tavern/Centuar (Montcalm St & Park Ave)
• Bookies Bar & Grille (Washington Blvd & State ST)
• Greektown (Brush St & Monroe St)
• Midtown: Majestic Theater, Union Street (Woodward Ave & E Alexandrine St)
• North Wayne State (Anthony Wayne Dr & Williams Mall)
• Traffic Jam and Snug (Canfield & 2nd St)
• MGM Grand Casino (Lodge Fwy & Abbott St)
• Additional stops will be added for special events

To kick off the new service Ramos is offering free rides on both The Night Move and the Loop on Friday, June 26th. Ramos and company are also having a launch party at the Town Pump Tavern on that night, starting at 7pm. There will be drink specials and free “Sliders for Riders,” provided by the Town Pump.

After the launch, if you purchase a ticket for the Night Move you will also enjoy free service on the Loop. If you’re looking to only ride the Loop it will cost $5 per night (credit card only). Eventually, with increased sponsorship and ad sales, Ramos hopes to be able to run the Loop for free for all passengers.

I think the Loop is a fabulous addition to the Night Move service and I look forward to taking a ride.

Paris Is Always A Good Idea

There is a funny phenomenom that seems to follow expats around, nobody comes to visit you until you announce that you’re moving back to the States. I lived in the UK for 5 years and we didn’t have any houseguests until the last 8 months. In those last few months we flew my mom out to visit, a friend came down from Milton Keynes (a few hours north of us in England), another friend came in from Spain, and my brother and sister-in-law visited.

One of the many benefits of living in the UK is that it’s pretty easy and inexpensive to travel elsewhere in Europe. While my brother and sister-in-law were visiting, we added a short side trip to Paris.

Arc de Triomphe close up.Arc de Triomphe with flags waving.A church in Paris.I will get back to Paris at some point, even though my husband isn't that fond of it. I'll go without him if I have to! But right now we have so many places in the States that we want to explore. There are all these road trips swimming in our heads but we haven't put the plans in place.

So, in the meantime, I'm quite happy to be exploring our immediate area. It might not be Paris but Metro Detroit is bustling with places to visit and things to do. And hey, it was founded by a Frenchman!

Free admission to Michigan State Parks

I’ve told you all about the Museum Adventure Pass a while back, but not everyone is all cultured and such. What about the outdoorsy types? For those of you that want to get outside and enjoy the Michigan State Parks, I give you the “Park & Read” program.

From the Department of Natural Resources website:

Park & Read allows library-card holders the ability to "check-out" a one-day pass into any Michigan state park or recreation area in lieu of the resident daily motor vehicle permit. This is a $6 savings and free access to the more than 500 events taking place in local parks this summer.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Library of Michigan, Macy’s, and the Hammock Company sponsor this program.

How does it work?

• Check out a Park & Read pass when you check out a book at your local library.
• The pass can be used as a one-day pass at any of Michigan’s 98 state park and recreation areas.
• The pass is valid for 7 days after you check out a book.
• The program runs through September 25th, 2009.

Some of the parks will have hammocks available for Park & Read participants, subject to availability. A summer day in Michigan, a book, a park, and a hammock; how can you beat that?

My library, Bloomfield Township, isn’t participating in the program, yet. However, new libraries are still being added to the list. Check to see if your library is participating in the Park & Read program.

We haven't checked out any of the state park and recreation areas yet, but I'm sure we will soon. Summer weather is coming, right?