Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

There are tons of cool events going on in Detroit this weekend. I'm a bit biased but I'm really looking forward to the Detroit Moxie Reader Appreciation Party on Sunday, 10.10.10! We’ll be giving away some fantastic prizes, including:

• A weekend night stay at the Westin Book Cadillac.

• A Companion Flex membership to The Henry Ford.

• A goodie basket from The Henry Ford.

• A “Tastes of Michigan” gift basket from Gift Baskets from Michigan.

• Free admission tickets to the Detroit Institute of Arts.

DJ Meph and New Reaction Sound will be spinning the tunes. The People’s Pierogi Collective are providing pierogies! And Better Made are supplying the best potato chips in the world.

The party is in the backyard at The Old Miami on 10.10.10 from 4-8pm. I’m really looking forward to it and hope to see you all there!

The Old Miami.

Weekend Roundup

1. Detroit Harmonie - Young professionals are coming together to celebrate the regions diversity at the Virgil H. Carr Cultural Arts Center. Multi-cultural food and entertainment. October 9th.

2. Street Culture Mash Launch Party - Art, fashion, fixed gear bikes, and a passion for Detroit all fuse together for the launch of this new lifestyle brand and urban art movement. Read more about Mike Han and Street Culture Mash. October 9th.

3. Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary Open House - Tour the five-acre farm that is home to abused, abandoned, and surrendered rabbits. Visit with the bunnies and pot-bellied pigs, entertainment, and other family friendly activities. October 10th.

4. District VII presents Art Meets Technology - This new studio and gallery space celebrates its grand opening with Art meets Technology, a multi-media exhibit of artists and technologists. October 10th.

5. Chill at the Joe - Head to Joe Louis Arena for this family-friendly event that helps women and families overcome domestic violence and sexual abuse. Tour the Red Wing's locker room, skate a few laps around the ice, crafts, games. October 10th.

6. Great Lakes Regional Chili Cook-Off and Motorcycle Bike Show - The cook-off features a traditional red chili, a green chili, and a salsa competition. Samples are available for $1! Also, a bike show, entertainment, and more. October 10th.

7. Zombie Walk Detroit - Dress up like a zombie and walk the streets of Greektown while raising awareness about world hungry and collecting food and funds for Gleaners. October 10th.

8. 8 8 8, I forget what 8 was for... Just kidding, 8 is for the Detroit Moxie Reader Appreciation Party on 10.10.10. See you there! October 10th.

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

Will "Waiting for Superman" Save the Schools?

Gov. Granholm sitting just down the row from me at "Waiting for Superman."I was invited by the United Way for Southeastern Michigan to attend the movie “Waiting for Superman” on Monday night in Royal Oak. The movie, directed by Davis Guggenheim, is about “the current state of public education in the U.S. and how it is affecting our children.”

Yes, I put that last sentence in quotes because it comes directly from their website, it’s how they are marketing the movie, it’s their wording.

“Waiting for Superman” portends that a superhero is not going to swoop down and save our children and our educational system. The movie champions charter schools and the great thinkers of educational reform that run them.

I am not a parent. I am not an educator. And, I’m not a big thinker. I’m just one person who loves Detroit. It doesn’t take a big thinker to know that the Detroit Public School system is failing the community.

However, proclaiming charter schools as the answer is like putting a band-aid on a gushing wound. It’ll stop a few trickles of blood but it’s not going to stop the bleed. I have nothing against charter schools and the ones shown in the movie are amazing but we can’t turn our back on our public schools.

The movie is very well done; it’ll move you to tears and make you angry. You feel for the parents who just want a better life for their children. The children, Daisy, Francisco, Bianca, Emily, and Anthony will make your heart melt and your fists pump. The last chance for these children is a lottery, a one in a million shot, for a better education.

I took my cousin, a first grade teacher in a suburban school district, to see the movie with me to get a teachers perspective. One of the first things she said was, “the kids in the movie, they’re the lucky ones.” And she’s right, the children in the movie have a support system at home; their family wants better for them, so many kids don’t have that.

My cousin is a good teacher, I know this, but as the movie states not all teachers are good. She tells me that at the end of each school year her students are six months to a year ahead of their reading levels. The sad part is that at the end of the following year they remain at those same levels, no improvement, nothing gained.

So, it’s not just the DPS or inner city schools, public school systems everywhere have problems.

The band-aid will help a few students who are lucky enough to win the lottery but it won’t help the community as a whole. Matt Eder from michigandads.com, says in his post about driving through Detroit, “I could not relocate to current-day Detroit for two main reasons, safety and schools.” People won’t move into a city, any city, with failing public schools.

The gushing wound that is our public school system needs to be addressed and fixed.

What do we do? What are the answers? How do we stop the bleed?

I don’t know.

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan got involved because they want to jump-start the conversation. Teachers fighting against administrators fighting against unions fighting against politics is getting us nowhere. 

Get involved in the conversation. Or, do your own thing to make a difference. Just do something!

"Waiting for Superman" opens at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak on Friday.

Have you seen "Waiting for Superman"? What did you think? Do you know how we can improve our public school system? Share it with us!

Fearless Creator: Mike Han & Street Culture Mash

I first met Mike Han, aka icon, of Street Culture Mash while judging the “I Love Detroit” video contest. In fact, he was the first to submit a video. His energy and passion for Detroit and art are infectious. Street Culture Mash is officially launching this Saturday, October 9, 2010 at the 5E Gallery in Corktown.

Mike Han, aka icon, of Street Culture Mash.

Take a few minutes and get to know Mike and Street Culture Mash better. Trust me, you want to know this guy! I know that I'm a better and more positive person just for knowing him.

What is Street Culture Mash?

MH: Street Culture Mash is a lifestyle brand and the streetculturemash is a lifestyle. SCM will offer sustainable art in tangible goods, everything from organic apparel to furniture to fixed gear bikes. The streetculturemash is a holistic lifestyle: mind x body x spirit x community. Streetculturemash uses sustainable art as a catalyst for changing the way we live. It begins here in Detroit and we will impact the world.

What is the difference between Mike Han and icon? How are you different, if at all?

MH: Many of my friends call me "Mike Han". I was a manager for the girl's varsity tennis team my senior year in high school and they'd refer to me as "My Icon" as MikeHan blurred together. 

As an artist, I work under the name icon because an icon is a word or graphic symbol whose form suggests its meaning. Sorry to ramble but the answer is there is no difference, Mike Han is icon if you say it really fast. :)

What kind of artist are you?

MH: I'm a graffiti inspired visual artist. I paint on reclaimed materials, repurpose materials to make sculptures, the prints of my work are done on fabric and you can wear them. It's a new innovation I like to call 'T-Shirt'. Street Culture Mash pairs artwork with sustainable platforms like reclaimed wood and organic fabric. 

Smallest nigiri sushi made by Mike Han. Underneath each piece of fish is 3-4 grains of rice and the tiniest dab of wasabi.

In my former life I was a professional sushi chef and created edible works of art. I've learned that many typical sushi fish are endangered or close to it. That breaks my heart and I no longer make sushi in restaurants. I will open a sustainable sushi spot in Detroit in the future, so keep your eyes peeled for that! I hope to make a great impact on this world by creating passionately while being mindful of my environment.

How is Street Culture Mash different from other apparel lines?

MH: My line I guess could be lumped into the 'streetwear' segment. That being the case, I haven't come across any competitor that exclusively prints on 100% organic American Apparel. In addition to creating art that's accessible, I award grants each month to a talented Detroit artists to do what they do.

How will you choose the aspiring artist that will receive 20% of the profit? 

MH: I meet wonderful artists everyday and I encourage people to post what they do on the streetculturemash facebook page. The online and offline interactions help me understand more about these artists, and the projects that they're working on or want to start. There's no formula or criteria, it's as organic as it can be. If someone makes an impact on me with their work I will support them the best I know how. The artist who is selected is paired with a month, and during that month 20% of all the profit made will be given in a lump sum to said artist. 

What is it about Detroit that inspires you?

MH: I could talk about the architecture, food, events, festivals, etc... but it's the people mentioned above who are at the core. Detroit is the home of fearless creators. The doers here are passionate and talented; naturally, our place is exciting cause we're making it. 

You’re designing the first series of t-shirts. Will you use other designers in the future?

MH: Yeah, I would love to collaborate with other artists and designers in the future. I see Street Culture Mash being a platform for artists to work on and with. Whether it's apparel or furniture, there will be all types of awesome being created through the SCM brand. 

Tell me about Chomp.

ChompMH: Chomp means a lot to me. He's a great white shark which happens to be the bestest animal ever made. It breaks my heart that Chomp and his family are being wiped out of the ocean. Great White sharks are endangered but that doesn't stop people from killing them. They've been demonized and looked at as the bad guy whenever a human is attacked by one in the ocean. That's what sharks do. They eat stuff. If they came on land and started eating people, maybe I'd understand, but come on.

Chomp is a metaphor for living with purpose. Do what you were born to do and don't listen to the noise that tells you ‘you can't’, 'cause you can. No matter what people do, Chomp will always do what he was designed to do, and that is to be completely awesome. Let's be like Chomp and let's be great.

So, he's pretty cool, right? Don't miss the Street Culture Mash launch on 10/9/10 at the 5E Gallery. DJ Sicari will provide live music and there will be awesome art giveaways. And, word on the street is that free Chomp stickers will be given away.

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

I'm a bit exhausted today from TEDxDetroit so my mind isn't functioning properly and I can't be all witty and such. Not that I usually am.

All I'm going to say is that there are so many cool things to do in Detroit that you could never get bored.

Oh, and I found this quote that I liked from SPIN Underground USA, 1997. I'd love to read the context from which it came but couldn't find anything in the Google machine.

When people talk about Detroit, what they really mean is anything east of Ann Arbor...

Weekend Roundup

1. Russell Industrial Center Open House - The RIC houses some of Detroit's most innovative artists; explore their studios, workshops and galleries. October 2nd.

2. Rainbow Blight & Slow's Bar-B-Q 5th Anniversary Party - This big party takes place in front of Michigan Central Station and proceeds will go to building a skate park in Roosevelt Park. Music, over 30 different beers on tap, food from Slow's, cornhole and more! October 3rd.

3. The Facebook Show - The Museum of New Art in Pontiac presents this show on how the digital age is changing art. October 2-30.

4. Detroit Party Marching Band Benefit Show - PJ's Lager House hosts a party for Detroit's guerilla marching band so they can make it to the HONK! Festival in Boston. October 2nd.

5. Fall Farm Festival - Enjoy the season at Kensington Metropark featuring demonstrations of carpentry, beekeeping, and how to make apple cider. Storm, a white German shepherd service dog, will show off his skills too! October 2-3.

6. Marian Call performs at Detroit Comics - This Alaskan singer/songwriter is on a DIY national tour of the other 49 states. The tour is community collaberation with fans requesting the cities and shows. October 3rd.

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

Detroit Moxie Reader Appreciation Party!

Detroit Moxie has grown in the most amazing ways since I first launched the site back in March of 2009. The amount of people who read what I have to say, people who are looking for things to do in Detroit, and who engage either here, on Facebook, or on Twitter truly astounds me.

I didn’t do anything for my “blogaversary” partly because I wanted to do something really special for all of you. And now I am.

The Detroit Moxie Reader Appreciation Party is at The Old Miami in Detroit on 10/10/10. This party is about you; I want to thank you for all your support and kind words over the last year and a half.

The Old Miami

The Old Miami is a place uniquely Detroit. From their website:

Located at 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit, MI, 48201 Established in 1979 as a haven for Vietnam Veterans, the Old Miami has been called "the C.B.G.B's of the midwest" for it's history as a music venue. Almost every notable artist from Detroit has played on its stage as well as many national acts of the punk/modern rock era. "Miami" is an acronym for Missing In Action Michigan and the walls are lined thick with Vietnam and other military mementos, many of which were given to owner Danny Overstreet by fellow veterans. People from all walks of life call the Old Miami a home away from home. Bikers, students, bladers, musicians, lawyers and anarchists are its patrons who gravitate to this easy-going off-campus dive where live music rules.

The Old Miami also has a delightful backyard and that is where the party will take place. Take a look.

I can also announce today that we’ll be giving away some prizes at the party!

First up, The Henry Ford, America's greatest history attraction, has donated a Companion Flex yearlong membership worth $150. This membership allows two members plus two of their guests unlimited admission to both the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village for the year. You can see the full benefits here.

If that isn’t enough, The Henry Ford will also be putting together a basket with some of their signature food items. Included will be some of their beers that are made especially for them by Motor City Brew Works, Hobo Bread, and other goodies!

More surpises to come!

So, head on over to the Facebook page and let me know if you’re coming to the party! If you’re not on Facebook, no worries. Just let me know in the comments if you can make it.

When: 10.10.10 from 4pm - 8pm.

Where: The Old Miami, 3930 Cass Avenue, Detroit.

Why: To thank all of you for your support!

Nonsense: 101010 in binary is 42 in decimal. 42 is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. I’m only turning 41 and don't have the answers.

I’m still looking for more Detroit and Michigan based food & giveaway sponsors for the event. If you or your company are interested in donating contact me at becks@detroitmoxie.com.