Where is the Best Free Wifi in Metro Detroit?

In this age of connectedness we have come to expect free wifi, it’s everywhere these days. However, free wifi and the places that offer them are not created equal. I’m looking to find the best free wifi in metro Detroit. 

So, I’m asking you, my lovely readers, to share your favorite places to take your laptop and get some work done. Some places might be quiet and perfect for solo working and other places might be better for collaborative work. I’m looking for all of the options including coffee & tea shops, restaurants, bars, and the unique.

A few things to consider:

•  It must have fast and free wifi. Also, are power outlets hard to come by or in abundance?
• Amenities. Is the food, coffee, or beer just as good as the wifi?
• Atmosphere. Is there a great view, artwork on the walls, or a cozy couch to get comfy on?

Bonus points if it’s locally owned but I won’t rule out national chains for their convenience and locations.

Share your favorite wifi places in the comments and be sure to include why they are your favorite. I’ll compile a “best wifi in Detroit” list for a future post.

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Today, November 5^th, is Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, and it is mainly celebrated in the UK. It marks the foiled Gunpowder Plot of 1605 where Guy Fawkes and other conspirators tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. 

So, if the husband and I hadn’t moved back here last year we would be headed out to watch the fireworks this weekend to celebrate Bonfire Night. We’re in Detroit now so there won’t be any fireworks displays this weekend but there are many other events to check out.

Weekend Roundup

1. An Evening with Anthony Bourdain - The celebrity chef, who recently spent time in Detroit for his show No Reservations, will be speaking at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. November 7th.

2. Owl Festival - These nocturnal creatures will be celebrated with crafts, presentations, and an owl prowl. Meet live owls! November 7th.

3. Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato - This is exhibit at the Detroit Science Center features 36 accidental mummies on loan from Guanajuato, Mexico. Now through April 11, 2010.

4. J. Chris Newberg - Enjoy the comedic stylings of this native metro Detroiter at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle. November 5-7.

5. British Television Advertising Awards 2009 - Britain's commercials are a bit more cutting edge than those here in the U.S. and this looks to be an entertaining evening. The Detroit Film Theater at the DIA is one of the few American stops on the tour. November 6-8.

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

The Museum Adventure Pass Continues

 Way back when, I told you about the Museum Adventure Pass which was set to end October 24, 2009. Good news, they have continued it through October 24, 2010!

This program offers free admission to 28 cultural institutions in metro Detroit.  Go to your local library and check out a pass as you would a book. The pass is good for 7 days and admits either 2 or 4 people, depending on the organization.

Four new organizations have been added for the third year of the program:

• Paint Creek Center for the Arts 
• Shalom Street 
• Troy Museum & Historic Village 
• University of Michigan Botanical Gardens

Other museums and organizations include the Detroit Institute of Arts, MOCAD, and The Ford Rouge Factory Tour. Click here for a complete list of participating organizations.

So far, we’ve used the Museum Adventure Pass to gain free admission to the Cranbrook Institute of Science, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Birmingham Historical Museum & Park.

Go to your local library and start your adventure!

Update on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 4:08PM by Becks Davis

The Detroit Institute of Arts is no longer participating in the program.

Moxie's First Milestone

I realized over the weekend that my last post was my 100^th post. How the heck did that happen? The first post on Detroit Moxie, Hello Detroit, was in March 2009.

The GM Renaissance Center in Detroit.

Detroit Moxie didn’t actually go live until May. Tigers, Tires, and Twitter was outed by the savvy social media people at Belle Tire.

And that is how this journey began. Otherwise, I might still be talking to myself. 

I’m amazed at the support I have received and how many loyal readers stop by to take a look at what I have to say. In my best Sally Field voice, “you like me, you really like me.”

So, this blog o’ mine has only been live for 6 months and I have great readers, have been mentioned by the The Detroit Blog from Time Magazine, and now people are actually nominating Detroit Moxie for Best Local Blog in the Mashable open web awards.

Don’t worry; I have no delusions that I’ll make the nomination cut. But I’m continually surprised by everything the blogospere has to offer. 

I’m also inspired by Detroit and its people. I look forward to finding more hidden treasures of metro Detroit and sharing them with you.

In the meantime I thought I’d share with you a few of my favorite local blogs:

Sweet Juniper! has been around since 2005 and describes itself as “two more yuppies raising their kids in the most dangerous city in America.” This is a blog you really should check out.

Midwest Guest is a fabulous travel blog focusing on the Midwest. Dominique King is the woman behind the blog and she’s a local metro Detroiter who lives in Royal Oak. 

Tour De Hood is an “urban cycling diary – a chronicle of the most bizarre large city in the United States.” 

Bite Detroit may be the new kid on the block but I’m so jealous that I didn’t think of this first. She’s eating Detroit up, one bite at a time. And she’s doing a Detroit Pizza Tour; sampling and reviewing all the best pizza in the area. Yum!

Mindfuliterations doesn’t promise to be all about Detroit and is also quite new. You might get some coding posts and maybe one about her love of pens and Moleskins. But I loved her most recent post so much, When the Underdog Wins (Or, Why I Love Detroit), that I had to include it.

Be sure to add these blogs to your daily jaunt around the interwebs.

One last bit of news, look what I got!

My fantastic and handsome husband went and got me this today. I find it kind of ironic that I’m taking a picture of it with my point-and-shoot. Hopefully, this means that the pictures I share with you will be improving.

Thank you again for reading. Onward to 200!

Fall Colors are Picture Perfect in the Suburbs

I was a bit restless last Sunday. The husband was planted firmly on the sofa watching the NFL game at Wembley Stadium in London. He wasn’t going anywhere. So, off I went, alone, to try and catch a glimpse of the fiery colors autumn has bestowed on Michigan and metro Detroit.

I didn’t have time to go up north or further afield so I travelled a staggering two miles from my home. The Cranbrook Educational Community, which includes the Science Museum, Art Museum and schools, has beautiful grounds that visitors are free to roam.

In Michigan, and metro Detroit specifically, if you blink you can miss fall. I didn’t want to miss it this year. I wasn’t going to blink. 

Cranbrook has over 40 acres of gardens to explore including an Oriental Garden and a Bog Garden. The vast lawns, fountains, sculptures and a small lake are just a few of the other features to savor. Cranbrook House is the oldest manor home in southeastern Michigan.

Cranbrook, facing south towards Detroit

 The guided tours are over for the season (or will be tomorrow), but there isn’t anything to stop you from taking a long walk or hike through the campus. Or go a bit European and take a loaf of bread and some cheese and have a casual picnic.