Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Before I tell you about all the fabulous events happening in and around Detroit this weekend I need to announce the winner of the pair of tickets to Drink Michigan's A Sip of Michigan event.

Congrats to Brianna (@reillybr)! She was lucky entry #22 and this is what she had to say about her favorite Michigan-based drinks, "I love Leelanau Cellars Winter White or Witches Brew. Yum! Also, Milkshake Stout from Rochester Mills."

Enjoy the party Brianna!

Weekend Roundup

1. Rockin' on the Riverfront - The 2011 free concert series kicks off with Three Dog Night. Bring a crowd because "One is the lonliest number that you'll ever do." July 8th

2. Festival Epicure - You'll have to cross the border to attend this festival of food, wine and music in Windsor. Just think of it as South Detroit. Don't forget you'll need an enhanced drivers license or passport. July 8—10.

3. Michigan Elvisfest 2011 - It's time to get "All Shook Up" in Depot Town! Billed as the best & longest tribute concert in North America, this festival has everything from impersonators to memorabilia to a gospel hour and more. July 8—9. (Warning: music auto-plays when you visit this site.)

4. Pride of Baltimore II - The topsail schooner sails into Detroit to dock for two days and will be open for public tours. Read more about the schooner over at The Night Train. July 7—8.

5. Plymouth Art in the Park - The second largest art fair in the state features over 400 artists from all over the country. The picture-perfect setting in downtown Plymouth is worth a visit in itself. July 8—10.

6. 31st Annual American Polish Festival - Celebrate Polish culture, food and entertainment. I'm particularly intriguied by the pierogi eating contest and the Polish Taco. Na zdrowie! July 8—10.

And if that's not enough...

7. Criterium Detroit City is an awesome new bicycle race in downtown Detroit. Read all about the high-energy closed circuit street race in yesterdays post. July 9th.

8. Detroit APBA Gold Cup Hydroplane Races will be rocking the Detroit River. More information about the FREE day at the hyroplane races on Friday and more. July 8—10.

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

Hydroplane races rock the Detroit River

If racing on two wheels isn’t your thing, head to the Detroit Riverfront this weekend for the Detroit APBA Gold Cup Hydroplane Races! The hydroplanes will be zooming down the Detroit River this weekend, July 8-10, and can reach speeds up to 200 MPH.

The Gold Cup is a 95-year tradition in Detroit and it’s the oldest active trophy in motorsports. The APBA Gold Cup, also known as the APBA Challenge Cup, was first awarded in 1904.

The 2011 Detroit APBA Gold Cup races are presented by the Detroit Yacht Club and offers fun and excitement for all ages. Besides the fast and furious hydroplane races, the weekend also features skateboard & BMX bike demonstrations, Navy & biplane flyovers, entertainment and more.

“We always aim to make each year bigger and better than the last. With the increased racing heats and the addition of an air show, there will be something for everyone all day, everyday,” said Tom Bertolini, DRRA President.

On Friday, July 8^th admission is free for the races. Ticket prices for the rest of the weekend start at $15 for general admission for all 3 days. The course is right in front of Belle Isle and can be viewed from Memorial Annex Park and Henderson Park. Check out the course map to get the lay of the land. 

The Detroit APBA Gold Cup Hydroplane Races are a sponsor of Detroit Moxie. This post is not a part of that agreement and the words are my own.

Photos courtesy of Detroit APBA Gold Cup.

Criterium Detroit City takes to the streets

There’s a new bike race in town, folks! Criterium Detroit City takes to the city streets this Saturday, July 9, 2011 and promises all the excitement of NASCAR with the finesse of Tour de France. There hasn’t been a USA Cycling sanctioned bike race in downtown Detroit in over 20 years but this inaugural event will change that.

What is a Criterium?

: a bicycle race of a specified number of laps on a closed course over public roads closed to normal traffic.

The closed circuit racecourse allows spectators to be right in the middle of the action while the cyclists are pedaling at up to 40 MPH. The short course means that you can see the race from start to finish.

Criterium Detroit City offers a range of races from beginners to professionals. There will also be a Boll Family YMCA children’s race led by one of Detroit’s favorite celebrities, PAWS from the Detroit Tiger’s. Plus, the Detroit City Futbol League will participate in a relay race, which is sure to delight.

The Marketplace will feature over 30 businesses that will be set up in the parking lot of the Detroit Opera House. Local artists, designers and merchants will be displaying their wares as well as bike shops and bike dealers.

Detroit Moxie will be in the Marketplace too! Stop by to say hi and pick up a t-shirt if you haven’t already grabbed one online.

The start and finish line will be in front of the Boll Family YMCA. Food and drink will be available from Small Plates, Detroit Beer Co., Bert’s on Broadway, 1515 Broadway and the Cadillac Opera Café.

This event emphasizes one of the things I love about Detroit. Erika Fulk saw the need for an organized and high-energy bicycle race in downtown Detroit—and with the help of others—she made it happen.

Show your support of biking, Detroit and the entrepreneurial spirit by heading down to the races this weekend.

Do you want to race? Save $10 by registering before midnight on July 7^th. You can also register at the event.

Drink local at A Sip of Michigan

Drink Michigan is turning 1 year old and they’re celebrating with a big birthday bash. The second A Sip of Michigan event is Friday, July 15^th at the Rattlesnake Club in Detroit and will feature Michigan wine, beer and spirits along with food pairing stations and live entertainment.

Drink Michigan’s first Sip of Michigan event was a rousing success and I highly recommend getting your tickets early for their birthday bash.

Many of Michigan’s finest breweries, wineries and distilleries will be on hand for you to sip including:

• L. Mawby

• Chateau Chantal

• Valentine Vodka

• Arcadia Ales

• Atwater Block Brewing

• New Holland

• Short’s Brewing

Tickets are $35 and include 35 tasting tickets plus food and entertainment. 1 ticket per tasting or 3 for a full pour. Additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase. You must be 21 years of age to attend this event.

The event is a benefit for Homefront Hugs, a national non-profit based in Ann Arbor that takes care of our troops overseas, the wounded heroes and military families.

But wait, there’s more! Win a pair of tickets!

This has been the summer of giving on Detroit Moxie with giveaways galore and we’ve got one last contest for you. We’re giving one lucky reader a pair of tickets to the Sip of Michigan Birthday Bash!

How to enter:

Add a comment to this post with your favorite Michigan-based adult beverage. 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 tickets to @DrinkMichigan’s Birthday Bash from @becksdavis & Detroit Moxie http://bit.ly/mdCS4e #sipmoxie

For the additional entry, you must have posted a comment.

The contest ends on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at noon, EDT. The winner will be selected at random using random.org. The winner must be 21 years of age.

So, what’s your made-in-Michigan drink of choice?

4th of July in England

Brunch with Becks is an ongoing weekend series where I wax poetic on tales from my life starting with the 9 Truths. Yes, I too can’t comprehend that all these odd occurrences have happened to me.

I was disturbed when I walked into the kitchen and heard a few of our friends trying to figure out who sang the song that was playing. I could name that tune in 3 or 4 notes easily and know all the lyrics! How could there be a discussion about this singer’s signature song? I mean, what?

The song was the "Piano Man."

I rolled my eyes in disgust as I blurted out, “Billy Joel! How can you not know that?”

I shouldn’t have been so rude. Twenty subjects of the English realm showed up to my party—mainly humoring me—to celebrate the United States independence from the British monarchy.

Obviously, they don’t celebrate the 4^th of July in the United Kingdom or any other country. Their big day for fireworks and bonfires is the 5^th of November.

They were all very kind and wore whatever Americana they had on hand. Our English neighbor lent us his American flag and only seemed slightly put off when I refused his Confederate version.

I had only moved to England a few months earlier and this was my first Fourth of July in my new country. When I asked my husband—and subsequently his friends—if I could throw a BBQ in my homelands honor they were all very supportive.

My soon to be Mother-in-law took me grocery shopping, I didn’t drive while living across the pond, and we picked up a couple hundred pounds of food and serving ware. I was a bit puzzled that she suggesting cooking the chicken first, before putting it on the grill. But she offered to do this and it was one less thing for me to worry about.

There were a few things that I HAD to have for the party that weren’t available in British stores. I found an American food supply company online and quickly placed orders for Ranch Dressing, Jello, graham crackers and the like.

As a thank you to my new friends and country, I decorated the cheesecake with the Cross of St. George, the patron saint of England. I also made Jello shots in the shapes of stars and stripes.

The day before the party the weather turned very British and the rain was threatening. Andy quickly ran to the store to pick up a canopy so we could still entertain in our backyard.

Everybody was wonderful and helped me get through my homesickness on my first American holiday away from home. We didn’t sing the Star Spangled Banner or anything but the spirit of “the land of the free and home of the brave” were firmly embedded in my heart.

I guess Billy Joel just isn’t very popular in good ol’ Blighty.