10 Places to Take Your Kids This Week

The kids are off of school here in metro Detroit for another week and so are some adults. What do you do to entertain them, and maybe yourselves, for another week?

Now, as you may have figured out, I’m not a mom. However, my husband and I are just really big kids. So, I have some suggestions on great places in Detroit that will be fun for all ages.

Skaters at Campus Martius

Energy to Burn

1. Planet Rock Climbing Gym, with locations in both Ann Arbor and Pontiac, is a place where the kids can, literally, climb the walls. They have extended hours this week.

2. Let the little ones jump and bounce to their hearts content at BounceU, an inflatable wonderland. They have open bounce sessions scheduled all week and a Family Bounce Night. 

3. Get your skates on mate, and head downtown to The Rink at Campus Martius. Take a few laps around the rink and try your best at a double axel or hockey stop. Or, maybe just try not to fall down! Is your kid the next Dorothy Hamill or Steve Yzerman?

4. Joe Dumars’ Fieldhouse is known for its basketball and volleyball courts and roller hockey arenas. But did you know that the Fieldhouse also contains the Bayou Adventure Entertainment Center? The entertainment center features miniature golf, laser tag, a bungee trampoline, a high ropes course, a climbing wall, a slotcar raceway, and an arcade. 

5. Take to the slopes and hit one the four ski hills in the area: Pine Knob, Mt. Holly, Alpine Valley, and Mt. Brighton. All are within driving distance of metro Detroit and offer skiing and snowboarding.

Inspire and Learn

6. Life-size dinosaurs invade Cobo Arena in Walking with Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular from December 29^th through January 3^rd. Ten species of dinosaurs are represented in this show that is so large it can only play arenas. 

7. Delve into the wonders of science, math and technology at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Check out The Big Build! which is going on all week and they are even open New Years Day.

8. I know I have harped on about the Museum Adventure Pass before and added an update. It’s such a great program that enables you to enjoy many of Detroit’s museums and cultural institutions for free. Just check for black out dates.

9. & 10. Speaking of harping, take the time this week to take the kiddies on a free tour of the GM Renaissance Center and/or The Guardian Building. The tours only run during the week so take advantage of them while the kids are on Christmas break.

If nothing else, and weather permitting, pry your kids and yourselves away from your computers and Wii consoles and go sledding or make snow angels. Just spend good quality time with the family; it’s the perfect way to usher in the new decade.

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Santa has come and gone for most of you. We are still waiting for all the members of the family to wake up before we open our presents. Well, cats do sleep for like 23 hours a day! Come on, Frankie! Wake up! 

 

Enjoy your weekend! 

 

Weekend Roundup 

1. Cirque Dreams Holidaze - A holiday musical filled with spectacle, acrobats, and aerialists. December 26-27. 

 

2. Detroit Historical Museum - The museum is offering free admission and extended hours during the holiday season. Now through January 3rd. 

 

3. Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - The Thundering Herd of Marshall take on the Ohio Bobcats in what will now be dubbed the Pizza Pizza Bowl. December 26. 

 

4. LEGO Castle Adventure - This exhibit at The Henry Ford features large-scale versions of LEGO bricks. It looks like fun for both the young and young at heart. Now through January 3rd. 

 

5. Wild Wonderful Winter: A Season's Tale - The Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor explains why we have winter here in Michigan and what the Winter Solstice means. December 26-27. 

 

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 Holidays from Detroit Moxie

Ok, this is my first video post so don't judge. On camera is not my best side!

Happy Holidays from my family to yours! 

Bad Things Happen Everywhere

I had already planned on what today’s post was going to be about. We have been in Detroit for just over a year now, we arrived December 9^th of last year.  So I was going to do a rundown of our highs and lows during our first year in Detroit.

I was going to talk about all the fabulous places we’ve been in and around metro Detroit and all the cool events we’ve attended. I would have probably mentioned meeting Gordie Howe and Ronnie James Dio, going to the Tigers game, and the horrible weather and outcome of the U of M game we attended.

We have also had many trials and tribulations since our arrival. Months and months and months of unemployment did not help our emotional well-being or bank account. We knew what we were getting into, moving to Detroit in December of 2008, but it still took its toll.

My biggest trial has been sharing a car with my husband. The husband and I share our fabulous 2001 mini-van. And by share, I mean that my husband uses it all the time and I get dropped off and picked up like a teenager. It truly sucks. Not only do I get stranded at home quite often but also I miss out on social situations and covering events for Detroit Moxie. This needs to be fixed.

Anyway, I decided not to talk about all that today.

Saturday night after attending the awesome Mayer Hawthorne gig at the Magic Stick we found our car had been broken into. The passenger side window was smashed to bits and glass was everywhere. 

The thieving rats only took our GPS, $60 of goods we just bought, and our bag of quarters that we keep in the glove box to feed those pesky meters. 

My stupid husband had most of his tools in the car. His tools are his livelihood. He dotes on them. They are a part of his soul. And they didn’t get stolen. We are very fortunate.

I shiver just thinking about all the whinging I’d be hearing if they took his blessed tools.

But no, the post isn’t about that either. What is it about then? The comments and the Detroit bashing I’ve heard since the break-in pissed me off, you know, “well, you WERE in Detroit.” Ugg!

Yes, my car got broken into while we were in Detroit. People, cars get broken into everywhere! My friend Beverly Cornell recently had her laptop stolen from her car, ON HER DRIVEWAY, in Madison Heights. Miraculously, she got it back due to an angel. Seriously, if it happened today we'd be calling it a Christmas miracle.

Crime happens everywhere and more so in big cities.

While living in Chicago, my apartment got broken into two days before Christmas. I was in the apartment at the time, sleeping off a hangover from the Christmas party the night before. It took me awhile to realize what was happening but I scared the intruder away. He did, oddly, get away with my plunger. 

Also in Chicago, my car got broken into. Same situation as here, the passenger side window was smashed. Luckily, there was nothing in it to steal. 

Oh, and Milwaukee, have I got stories about Milwaukee! 

My college sweetheart had a soft top Jeep. It didn’t even have door locks; this Jeep didn’t even have keyholes! People would bend back the plastic windows to get in the car. Or, they’d cut through the soft top. Just open the door, ya freaks! It’s open! But no, they were so stupid that they had to cause damage to get into the vehicle.

The big winner was the person who knew they could just open the door. They also figured out they could pop the hood. We found a Danish sitting on the engine one day. It was quite a nice looking Danish too! No, we didn’t eat it.

Did I mention that I lived a few blocks away from the psycho Jeffrey Dahmer while he was cannibalizing young men in Milwaukee? Yep, it’s true.

Bad things happen everywhere. This was a small inconvenience.

Am I going to stop going into Detroit? Hell no! I’m going to keep on embracing this city, just like I have been doing. Things happen. We move on. We get back up.

You want to know what I’m most annoyed about? I only had that damn Garmin lady out of my life for one day. She was replaced today, an early Christmas present for the husband. 

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Only 8 shopping days till Christmas! I’m sure many of you are done shopping and can enjoy the weekend. Me? I haven’t started, haven’t bought one present yet. However, I still plan on going to see Mayer Hawthorne on Saturday. Shopping is more festive on Christmas Eve anyway. Right?

Weekend Roundup

1. Mayer Hawthorne at the Magic Stick - I already gushed about this soulful singer this week but this is where I'll be on Saturday. December 19.

2. A Christmas Story at the Redford Theatre - Watch as Ralphie tries to convince everyone that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect Christmas present. This classic movie house still has its original pipe organ. December 18-19.

3. Stroll Through the Conservatory - The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle will be lighted and decorated for the season. A unique opportunity to experience the Conservatory at night. December 18.

4. Target Family Sundays at the DIA - Storyteller Judy Sima shares Hanukah stories plus kids can create their own luminaries and pencil drawings. December 20.

5. Meadow Brook Hall Holiday Walk - Journey back in time and wander through the estate including the Ballroom and Great Hall. Through December 23.

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