Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Last night, I spoke on a panel in front of almost 80 people. And I didn’t self-combust.

Miracles do happen!

You should know that my background is in theater but it’s in technical theater. I’m deathly afraid of being onstage. However, I was made, against my will, to take acting classes. To perform.

I was also IN a play. Oddly or ironically (Alanis Morrisette confuses me as to which one), I was the British schoolmarm. My parents didn’t even recognize me. (Success!) I was in college at the time, by the way.

What’s the moral of the story? (Was that a story? Yes, a very short one.)

Climb mountains. Conquer your fears. Slowly, but surely, it can be done.

I’m climbing a huge mountain in this contest I entered. I think I’ll be amazing in the job. But, I still need your help.

The difficult thing is that I need more than you. YOU are fabulous but I need your people. And I need them now! So, yes, I want and need you to vote. But more importantly, I need your people to vote.

Can we do that? Will you help? Twitter is fabulous, FaceBook works too, but you just may need to email your people. Or sit on them. Force them. Do it! It’ll be fun.

Vote for Becks! *puppy dog eyes* Please!

Weekend Roundup

1. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment  - Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Harlem's Apollo Theater, this Smithsonian exhibit stops off at the Charles H. Wright Museum. Featuring photographs, interviews, artifacts, and film recordings. Through January 2nd.

2. Youmacon Anime Convention - All-night gaming, live action Mario party battle, and a chance to become a Japanese chess piece? Yes, please! October 28-31.

3. Zoo Boo at the Detroit Zoo - A family-friendly Halloween event that promises to be merry instead of scary. Entertainment, games, Haunted Reptile House, and extreme pumpkin carving demonstrations. October 29-31.

4. Dfest gets Haunted (Facebook Link) - 20 Detroit DJ's plus singers, dancers, and video and visual artists to delight you. And because it's Halloween, a haunted house! October 31st.

5. Haunted in the House - This benefit for the Detroit Opera House is a costume party featuring two floors of music, dancing, drinks and the Detroit Circus. October 30th.

6. Museum Mystery Tour at the DIA - Hear tales and secrets about the artists whose work haunts the museum. Spooky yet family-friendly. October 29th.

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

P.S. Scroll back up to the picture of the cute doggy. Imagine those are my eyes. Vote! Yes, I'm shameless.

Photo Credit: Beverly & Pack on Flickr.

I'm Climbing a Mountain & I Need Your Help

I just, and I mean seconds ago, decided to take a leap of faith and apply for a job. The job is being the Good Mood Blogger for SAM-e complete. If I were to get the job I would be posting on their blog five times a week, for six months, about being in and maintaining a good mood.

I can’t do this alone, though. I need you to vote for me. The first phase of the competition is based on votes alone. The second phase is all on me.

So, I’m asking you the big ask. If I have ever shared information that you have found valuable, pulled on your heartstrings, or pissed you off then I’m asking for your vote. I’m starting this competition late in the game and I’m behind, way behind.

Please vote for me and share this with your friends and networks on FaceBook and Twitter. I’ll even ask you to go further than that and email the link to your family, your associates, maybe even that kid from school that you don’t talk to very much.

Why the big ask? What will this do for Detroit Moxie and me?

First, it’ll make me a better writer. Practice makes perfect, right? Five posts a week is a lot of happiness to spread.

Second, it will make Detroit Moxie better because I’ll have more time to spend covering the stories I really want to cover about Detroit. I’d be able to give up the dreaded day job to do what I love and grow Detroit Moxie.

Finally, it comes with a pretty hefty paycheck. $5,000 a month for six months! We’ve been struggling since we moved here and this would allow me to do what I’m passionate about. It will also relieve the stress off of my husband who has started 2 small businesses in the last year.

Again, I can’t do this alone. Heck, I can’t even do it with just my network; I’m going to need yours too. Social Media Club Detroit, Tweetea, TEDxDetroit, 140Conf Detroit, Motor City Connect, Backchannel; I’m in this to win it.

Will you vote for me once a day? (Bookmark the link!) Will you share this your network? Come on, help a Detroit girl out!

Photos from the Theatre Bizarre Grounds

City officials squashed Theatre Bizarre, one of the most anticipated parties of the year. The underground fest that is part carnival, part block party, and all kinds of crazy has been moved from its grounds at West State Fair to The Fillmore.

Back in September, I had the opportunity to tour the Theatre Bizarre grounds as it was putting the finishing touches on this year’s event. The experience will be much different now that the party is moving inside but I still wanted to share these photos with you.

As beautiful and wacky as it is under bright sunlight, the magic really comes alive when darkness hits and the characters show up.

Follow the Theatre Bizarre FaceBook page for updates about tonight's party.

Donate old cell phones to Verizon HopeLine

Do you have an old cell phone lying around your house? In the quest to stay up-to-date in this wild world of technology many of us do. I think we have four old phones sitting around our house right now. Just gathering dust, never to be used again.

Have you or someone you’ve known been affected by domestic violence? The statistics show that nearly one in four women, one in nine men, and over 3 million children have been affected by domestic violence.

So, what do old cell phones and domestic violence have to do with each other?

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Verizon Wireless and their long-running HopeLine program collects wireless phones to be refurbished or recycled.

Verizon then donates wireless phones and airtime to domestic violence survivors, shelters, and prevention centers around the country.

One phone call can save a life or stop abuse. One cell phone can change a woman’s life and get her to a safe place.

HopeLine also keeps the old cell phones and their batteries out of our landfills.

How many old cell phones do you have lying around? What are you waiting for? Donate them to the HopeLine program and your old phones can make a difference in someone's life.

Learn more about how you can donate your old cell phones and the HopeLine program here.

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Don't forget that Dig Downtown Week runs through Sunday, October 24th!

Theatre Bizarre.

Weekend Roundup

1. Theatre Bizarre - This huge underground, over-the-top, block party is one of the most anticipated parties of the year. October 23rd. (See this article from The Detroit News about city officials trying to stop the party. At this point the organizers say the party will go on.)

2. Tweed Ride Detroit - Celebrate the history of the bicycle and explore Detroit on two wheels while wearing tweed. Yep, you read that right, tweed. October 24th.

3. The Haunted Kingdom - The Midwest's largest Halloween extravaganza invades Rock Financial Showplace. Enjoy fortune tellers, entertainment, and tricks & treats. October 23rd.

4. Detroit Fall Beer Festival - More than 40 Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs will be at the festival in Eastern Market. There will be over 200 different beers to sample. October 23rd.

5. Circa 1925 - Spend an evening in the historic Dossin Mansion which features the original Speakeasy basement bar and Michigan-themed Art Deco details. October 22nd.

6. Fashion in Detroit - This two-day fashion event shines a spotlight on Detroit Fashion. October 22-23.

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