Know your city, love your city

With finals in full swing, what better time to catch up on political happenings around the city and ignore the towering pile of notes in the corner of my desk? Below are some articles from the past few days that I found particularly interesting.

Regional Transit Plans

Lightrail Plans=Done for

"Detroit's Do-or-Die Moment"

Detroit City Council Rejects 30% Budget Cut

Wayne State ups admission standards

Jane Goodall once said: "Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall we be saved."

Let's get talking. Be informed! Understand. Care. Help. Know your city, love your city.

PEACE.LOVE.DETROIT.
-Amy  

Cliff Bells

Cliff Bells

2030 Parkway Avenue

http://www.cliffbells.com/

It always surprises me when I mention Cliff Bells to someone and I am met with the response of "Cliff Bells? Where's that?" Cliff Bells is right under everyone in the city's nose and they just don't know it. Cliff Bells is within walking distance from place in Detroit that even out-of-staters could recognize. Less than a block from the Fox theater and a short walk from Comerica Park and Ford Field, it always makes me wonder how Cliff Bells has stayed a secret. 

The original Cliff Bells began as a speakeasy opened by John Clifford Bell and bounced around a bit from building to building before finally taking root at it's current Detroit location in 1935. The club closed for a period of about 20 years between 1985 and 2005 before being restored and opening again. 

This place is definitely cool. I love the atmosphere here. Every time I have been I halfway expect Fitzgerald to walk through the door and ask if I've seen Anthony Patch or Gloria recently (a tip of my hat to you if you understood that literary reference). Everything about this place feels authentic 1920s era from the French-accents to the dark mahogany. The bar is huge and the servers are way too nice, neither of which you will hear me complain about. 

While l I love the atmosphere and architecture of the place, the jazz is what people come for. With multiple shows once a week, there's always jazz to catch at Cliff Bells many of which there is no cover charge for. I recommend coming out December 23rd to see the Noah Jackson Quartet. I have known the sax player, Rafael Statin, since middle school and the group is no joke, they are something else.

Whether you're looking to grab a drink after dinner or see a fantastic jazz group, stop by Cliff Bells. It's right where you're not looking.

PEACE.LOVE.DETROIT.

-Amy

Bleu

Morgan Page-Bleu Nightclub

1540 Woodward Ave.

     

     Before going to Bleu, I had never been to a nightclub, I had no idea what to expect here. I'm was very fortunate in having Bleu be my first experience. 

 

     This summer I began to take a liking to dance/progressive/house music. Over the past few months I really got into one particular DJ, Morgan Page. Morgan Page has done mixes for loads of different artists while also doing stuff on his own. (If you're into that sorta thing, check him out. Here's a personal favorite: "Longest Road") Having the wonderful friends I do, a good friend purchased me tickets to see Morgan for my birthday at Bleu.

 

    Bleu is the perfect size for a show like this, for some reason the "Capacity: 409" sign sticks out in my head, most likely because I found humor in seeing that the capacity was 409 persons not 410. While being small, I didn't feel cramped here. The club has a huge dance floors with small tables around the perimeter and a VIP section upstairs (didn't make it up there... haha). The bar is a decent size and I loved the openness of the place. Being small and open, I was able to get right up to the front with limited amount of hassle and dance the whole time. Only downside to the whole experience, coat check was mandatory and $4. Not a bad price at all, but I would have liked to have kept my coat... and my $4.With that being said however, even though my ticket was a gift, I would have gladly paid. Tickets to see a world-famous DJ (2 Grammy nominations and 3 International Dance Music Award nominations) were under $20! Cannot beat that.

    Overall, if you are looking to see a great DJ and dance, dance, dance for a good price Bleu is your place.

PEACE.LOVE.DETROIT

-Amy

Noel Night

 The Detroit Institute of Arts lit up for Noel Night from the steps of the Detroit Library

   

     I'm a bit behind on this post, but I feel like it's important for people to know for next year. Noel Night took place on Saturday December 3rd this year, and if you have never heard of it before, you should. 

       Noel Night is one of Detroit's best kept "secret" events. Noel Night is often referred to as a secret because there is little to no advertising. All the money that would be spent on advertising goes towards running Noel Night events. On Noel Night, usually the first Saturday of December, almost all of the museums in and around midtown are open free of charge. A small section of Woodward between Brush and Warren is closed down and from the Detroit Institute of Arts to the African American museum, everything is completely free! Noel Night however, isn't just museums... 

     This year, I had the opportunity to visit the Science Center, take a quick cut through the Detroit Public Library, visit a number of art booths, check out a fabulous performance by the Cass Tech Marching Band, and hear one of the most amazing middle school choirs (they are headed to Carnegie Hall!) Check out here for more information on the choir's fund raising concerts! I'm very much looking forward to attending one. Never has a middle school choir moved to me to tears.

     One of the most interesting "exhibits", if you want to call it that, from this year is a display done by Michelle Tanguay called 'Pop Up Detroit'. The goal of 'Pop Up' is to take vacant spaces and turn them into art galleries. The one I had the opportunity to scope out was in an old vacant house. Definitely have to check this one out for yourself, I would have taken a few pictures, but I felt a bit rude with one of the artists standing a mere few feet away from me. Check out "Pop Up" Here : http://popupdetroit.com/

    Even though this years Noel Night is over and gone, there's always next year. Noel Night will be turning 40! 

PEACE.LOVE.DETROIT

-Amy 

Joe Louis

Had the privilege of seeing a great Wings game last night at the Joe. Keep on the look-out for my next site post! 

Avalon International Breads

Avalon International Breads:

422 W. Willis

     Eat Well. Do Good. You surely can at Avalon.

     I discovered Avalon about two years ago and feel in love with it the minute I stepped inside. All their flour is 100% organic and a large portion of their produce is local. Avalon's main goals are to be low impact on the environment and support local farmers while still providing their costumers with amazing treats. All the workers are friendly and willing to offer their suggestions on what the best deal for the day is, which is constantly changing. I love sitting at one of the small round tables near the window when the weather is cold, but nothing beats their front patio in the summertime. The place is packed during the day with regulars and new faces alike making the place seem small sometimes but it's more of a coziness and opposed to a cramped. The prices are a bit more than what you would expect to pay for a sandwich or a loaf of bread, but with the quality you get, there are never complaints.

  Personally, I'd recommend their Roma sandwich (mozzarella, basil, tomato, olive oil, on Avalon bread of course!) and sea salt chocolate chip cookies. If you are looking for a quick breakfast after Tai Chi class at the Spiral Collective (more on this in a later post!) Dequindre Cut Trail Mix, delicious and vegan, is a sure win. 

Shortly before close, Avalon gives out products at reduced prices, so if you choose your timing right, you can score a great deal too. 

So there you have it, my first Detroit gemstone. Treat it well fellow readers for it's what she deserves. 

PEACE.LOVE.DETROIT.

-Amy

  

   

Welcome to Detroit Discovery

    Today starts the beginning of a new blogging adventure for me. I've started a few blogs in the past but my topics were never able to hold my interest for more than a few weeks. This blog however, is going to be different. For once I have a true passion for what I plan to write about.

    I'm freshly 21 in the midst of my 4th year living in what I believe to be one of the greatest cities in the world... Detroit. I believe the city, as as well as the people living here have so much to offer but are often overlooked. Sometimes I love the fact the city is overlooked, it makes me feel as if I have some kind of secret, some kind of Pandora's box if you will, that when opened up to the rest of the world will cause this amazing city to lose all it's value. Other days, I want to broadcast to the world about all the amazing things this beautiful city has to offer.

     With Christmas slowly (or not so slowly) creeping up on us, I am feeling generous. I want to share with the rest of the world all that I see that is beautiful and great about Detroit. I plan on updating once or twice a week with a fun place or thing to do in the city. I'm hoping to make the sites places that are often bypassed or underrepresented. Hopefully I can inspire someone, even if it is only ONE person to see the beauty in the place that I know and love to call home. I'm not really sure what direction I'm going to be going with this, but isn't that one of the best parts of life? Not really knowing?

PEACE.LOVE.DETROIT.

-Amy