Night 9 - Blow. It. Out. (Special Event!)

Is this another damned music post? I mean, does the dumbass writing this really have anything else to say?  I need to write a sternly worded note to him...

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Save it.  Know this about Michigan.  We can build cars.  We can build furniture.  We love the outdoors.  And we love to Rock with a capital R.  So suck it up.  We got 1000 nights to cover here.  At least 15% of those should involve music of some sort.  It makes you 34% happier. 

Tons of cities have historically put together big music festivals. Some are in parks or in the woods or all over a downtown. Michigan has them all and all over the State.  But the biggest and best is probably the Metrotimes Blowout in Hamtramck. You get yourself a wristband for $20, which gets you into all the venues for every band you want to see, plus shuttle buses between the venues.  [Wait a second?  Did he just say $20] You bet I did! Over 200 bands, four nights, free shuttles, $20.  It is a haven for local music.  Lots of good rock and punk, but there is probably something for everyone.  Best value in Michigan.  

Now, there is plenty of awsomeness to go around, but if there is one problem with The Blowout, it is that the big bands get the late night spots.  And often, some amazing bands play at the same time.  So you have to make a choice.  Do I want to see the Detroit Cobras at the Gates of Columbus Hall or am I in a Hard Lesssons mood at the New Dodge Lounge.  Not to mention the other 11 bands that are probably going to be playing at the same time!  But really, is that a problem?  I mean, you can just check out the other bands out and about in The D, right?  That just highlights the amazing feat that Blowout is.  They get scores upon scores of great local bands to all play together and create an amazing event.  

If you are still looking for reason to go, here's my last pitch.  There is a punk band called Kommie Kilpatrick playing.  If that isn't a reason to go, then I don't know what is.

The Metrotimes Blowout is March 3-6 all over Hamtramck. Wristbands are $20 and will get you into all the venues.  Ticket information is available through their website. 

Night 8 - Detroit Rock City

Detroit is known for a lot of things.  Some good, some not so good. I suppose everyone has a story and a special place in their heart for The D. But when a major rock and roll band writes a song proclaiming you The Rock City, then you know that the music scene is nothing to frown upon.  And Detroit does not disappoint. From warehouses for techno and trance to grungy clubs, if you are a band in the area and can't find a place to play, you aren't trying very hard.

But if you are going out on the town, you sometimes miss some of the more obvious places.  Of course, you probably know about some of the bigger venues and events (which we will get to), but when there is so much indie awesomeness, the big 'chain' places get ignored.  Which shouldn't always be the case.  So maybe you are a suburbanite who hasn't been downtown for a long, long time. The Hard Rock Cafe is a great place to start seeing Detroit and music again. Look, they have only been there since 2003.  And they are in a big corporate behemoth of a building that is owned by a company that hired The Hip Hop Mayor after he was deposed from office.  But if there is good music, would you go?  Of course you would.  The real question is, did you know The 313 Hard Rock has music?

I would normally stay away from the touristy things.  But if you are a Detroit music fan, it is probably worth checking out.  The normal, somewhat kitschy memorabilia is on the walls and throughout, but with a D slant.  They even have one of The Nuge's guitars!  Is the food a little overpriced?  Yeah, a little, but it is good.  But when you go to the Hard Rock, you go for the atmosphere.  And if you happen to check the schedule, you might see a very, very intimate acoustic set with a great band.  Had a nice dinner there whilst dealing with some serious issues and saw a band I would normally never think to see, live, about five feet from me.  And they ended the night by climbing on the bar and doing their finale.  And for about an hour there, life was all right.  

With the Hard Rock, you know what you are getting, so it will probably be a good time.  Then maybe you can check out some other events in some different venues.  And really see what The D has to offer. 

Night 7 - George and Gracie Couldn't Have Said It Better

The bar scene in Metro Detroit generally has something for everyone.  There are plenty of places to dance and be seen.  There are quite a few 'authentic' irish pubs mixed in with the old school irish pubs that have been there for years.  Wine bars have become more popular.  And there are even a couple of microbrewers in the region that pour an excellent pint.  From a hole in the wall to a 500 person behemoth, the bar scene in The D has something for just about everyone. 

But what is you are looking to go out with someone and have a quiet night, or a serious conversation, or just a drink without the bumping bass?  Let me suggest Goodnight Gracie's. They have three locations, although I have only been to the Royal Oak one, so YMMV at the other two.  Ferndale appears to be a little more like a traditional bar and the Ann Arbor version has jazz and a dance club upstairs.  

Gracie's in Royal Oak is a borderline hole in the wall on Sherman Street.  It is a pretty narrow place, with a fairly limited amount of seating.  Later in the night, they get pretty packed.  But they serve a great martini.  And often times, they have live music.  In fact, on occasion, 93.9 The River has acoustic sets there with bands that are coming to town to play a full set.  They are connected to D'Amato's, which is a pretty good restaurant if you are looking for a bigger meal. But that also allows you to order off their menu from Gracie's.  So you can get your cozy little seat in the window, your pomegranate martini, and order some calamari.  Which was pretty good as I recall.

So enjoy Gracie's.  Quiet little place among the hustle and bustle of the Detroit Metro.  Maybe you'll get lucky and be there on a night with a sweet band.  Or maybe you'll just get lucky.  Either way, should be a good night.

Night 6 - A Rose By Any Other Name

The State of Michigan is a pretty amazing place.  We have sand dunes and ski hills.  We put America on the road.  We've got a long history with cereal, furniture, cherries, and a ton of other things. The things that Michiganians have done over the years could fill up multiple leather bound books.  It's a great state and I'm glad I moved here.

One of my favorite parts of the State is the dichotomy between the big cities and the small towns.  The D is a sprawling metropolis of rebirth and decay, architecture and opportunity.  Grand Rapids is the greenest city in America that took amazing chance on democratizing the concept of a juried art show.  But in between these anchors, and throughout the State, there are amazing little towns that each have their own place in Maslow's Heirarchy of Michigan Cities.  Some are one stoplight towns and some have a bustling downtown.

Chelsea falls into the second list.  There are some cool shops and restaurants in Chelsea.  They have an outdoor juried art show going on right now (A Sculpture Walk!).  But one of the highlights of Chelsea, I would posit, is The Purple Rose Theater.  Jeff Daniels decided that there was no reason that the midwest couldn't have an amazing theater company.  So he founded one in the town he grew up in.  The Purple Rose gives aspiring actors and playwrights (actually, anyone in theater) a place to work on their craft.  And they do a great job.  Ticket prices are affordable and there are usually four different productions a year.  I saw The Poetry of Pizza there in 2008.  It was the world premiere and it was a very good show.  The theater is intimate, but still modern and seats 160ish.  And it is right in the downtown, contributing to the vibrancy of this wonderful small town.  Well worth checking out.  Excellent date night, when combined with dinner at one of the nearby dinners.  And you are supporting one of the more unique endeavors someone has undertaken in Michigan.  And that, is Pure Michigan...

Night 5 - Partying During the Day (Special Event!)

1,000 nights is, admittedly, a lot of going out at night.  Sometimes, you just get tired.  You just want to hang out at home.  And curl up and watch a movie...after you have spent the day doing something really, really unique.  So why not throw out an idea for a day event?  Something that nearly anyone in the State can support.  Something that everyone likes.  Chocolate.

Once a year, for a few hours, The Kellogg Center in East Lansing turns into the center of the Michigan foodie universe.  Or at least it seems like it should.  They host a fundraiser for the Michigan State University museum.  Which, in and of itself, isn't a big deal.  What is a big deal, is the type of fundraiser.  For the past twenty years, the MSU Museum's main fundraiser for the year has been The Chocolate Party. Which might combine two of the best words in the English language.  It is a culinary extravaganza of chocolate. There are cooking demonstrations, but most people are there to see the competition pieces and to sample the wares.  They estimate that they give out upwards of 10,000 samples each year. That is a lot of sugary chocolate goodness.  Fountains of chocolate.  Sculptures of chocolate.  Chocolate in every form and size.  Just looking at the pictures makes me hungry. It is a fun and delicious way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. And once you get your sugar coma good and broken in, you can go home with your favorite friend and 'sleep' it off.

So if you are in the mid-Michigan area in February, I would encourage you to check out The Chocolate Party.  Good food for a good cause.  Always a good pairing.  And it is likely that you will see me there.

This year, The Chocolate Party is February 21st (this weekend!).  Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.

Night 4 - Free Your Mind (Special Event!)

I would say that I have had an interesting life thus far.  But a few events stand out when compared to the rest.  This night in Michigan is one of those events.  I really wanted to save this event for later on in the life of this blog.  And I am sure I will write about it a couple of times, because one blog posting really won't capture all that needs to be said.  But the event has crept up on me this year on the calendar and I really want to spread the word so if you are interested, you can plan to head down to The D.

Once a year, hordes of people descend on the Eastern Market in downtown Detroit, after dark.  This year, the event has been stretched to a total of eight days and will host thousands of people.  A far cry from its humble beginnings.  The event?

The Dirty Show - Not even remotely safe for work.  Sorry.

If you aren't comfortable with nudity, please, dear lord, don't go to Dirty.  You are going to have a horrible time.  But for those of you that are cool with the naked human form, Dirty is amazing.  It is half erotic art show, half performance art show, and half people watching show.  Okay, maybe I made that last part up.  But the people watching really is part of what makes Dirty so interesting. If you go to the show, odds are you want to be seen.  And some of the outfits, if you can call them that, are intended to be seen.  Men, women, and everything in between.  But lets talk about the show itself.   

The art is very adult oriented, obviously.  It threw me a little the first time.  But you get used to it quick.  You probably won't 'get' it all or even think some of it could be considered art.  But among the brazen nudity and odd photography, there are some amazing pieces of art.  I would say photography is the largest segment, but there are generally some great sculptures and some excellent abstract pieces.  None of it is cheap.  There were multiple times that I stopped, really had a connection to a piece of art, thought about buying it, then looked at the tag.  They do a great job of mixing it up every year and getting new, unique pieces and artists. It is juried and pretty well respected, so it has the feel of a more mainstream art show.  And it really attracts a varied audience. You clearly get the alternative lifestyle crowd (you will see a number of 'collared' people and their master/mistresses), but there are plenty of everyday normal people there.  In fact, I ran into a coworker. Slightly awkward.

Now, here is where I would probably offer to go with you, because I absolutely love it.  It really is a fun night out with someone with you can have a good time with.  But me and The Dirty Show are probably over.  Something about me being in the same zip code as one of the artists, probably a really, really bad idea.  So you are on your own.  Find a friend.  Enjoy it.  Buy some art.  And be prepared to tell some stories about it afterwards to help spread the word.

Dirty Show 11 started last night, February 12th, and runs until February 20th, at Bert's Warehouse Theater, 2739 Russell Street, Detroit.  You can get tickets at the door, but you should buy them in advance.  Bring your ID and pasties. 

Night 3 - Behind Enemy Lines

I am an alumnus of The Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.  One of the most picturesque campuses in the Midwest, many people would say.  I did my undergraduate work there and absolutely loved it.  But once undergrad ended, I had to make a decision: grad school or real world.  Being the discerning twenty-something that I was, I obviously chose more school...at The Ohio State University.  So yeah, I am a Buckeye.  I didn't really like OSU, but I got a good (and free) education there.  Columbus is a pretty good town, but this is a blog about Michigan, not Ohio.  So let's move along this song, and try to find the plot.

Although supporting the Buckeyes is something like a hereditary disease in Ohio, disliking The University of Michigan is a state supported religion.  I have only been to Ann Arbor to get gas and only because I was afraid I couldn't make it any further. So naturally, I move to Michigan and became fast friends with a life long Ann Arborite.  But still hadn't really visited town.  Until recently.  When I got to meet one of my friend's friends...from Ann Arbor.  Clearly, it was inevitable that I was going to visit this town. So I went down to visit my new friend one weekday night after work.  I had no idea of where to go/what to see and I was hungry.  First off was a little sight seeing while we thought about where to eat.  She finally chose a restaurant after we circled the downtown forever to find a free parking space.  Something about the principle of the thing.

So where did this fine young lady take me?  Arbor Brewing Company.  And I gotta say, it was good.  First off, they are smoke free.  Not that I care if you smoke, but I really don't feel like smelling like an ash tray after a nice night out.  Naturally, they brew their own beer.  And not being able to decide on what to drink, we just got a flight of everything!  Actually, since the taps rotate regularly, this isn't the worst idea in the world if you want to try out a bunch of their beers, but also be able to walk out the front door when you are done.  The menu is interesting.  They pride themselves on buying locally and sustainably, working with local farmers and producers.  And they are dumping high fructose corn syrup and other processed things anywhere they can.  There were a lot of interesting options with local ingredients.  And since we are talking Ann Arbor here, there are plenty of vegetarian options...some of which even looked appealing to me.  We had a roasted garlic appetizer plate that was fun to eat.  Plus, if both people are eating it, you don't have to worry about bad breath, right?

So yeah, Ann Arbor apparently isn't just a 'lady of the night.'  It is a pretty cool town.  I am sure that I will be back, spreading my love of Ohio throughout the land of my mortal enemy.  As long as they keep feeding me well and producing interesting people, I guess I can call a truce. 

Night 2 - Right In Your Backyard

When I first moved to Michigan, I bought a condo in Waterford.  It is probably best classified as a suburb of Pontiac, but by now, everything in Oakland County is just one big suburb of Detroit.  Something along the lines of Neptune in relation to the Sun.  I.e, it is pretty far away from The D.  But each of the 'levels' of suburbs have built up their own little identities.  Hole in the wall bars, very nice restaurants, fun events.  Each of them trying to create their own place in the world and separate identity, somehow, maybe, orbiting out of the shadow of The D.

In the seven years I lived in Waterford, checked out some of these cool places and events.  But, and I am ashamed to say it, I/we tended to end up at the chains more often than the local joints.  It really pains me to say it, but you have to admit you have a problem before you can confront it, right?  Waterford didn't have a ton of these interesting little joints, which is part of the problem, so you have to travel to the nearby burbs.  Slowly but surely, I visited some interesting places.  But undoubtedly, one of my favorites was pretty much right in my backyard.  Not in Waterford, of course.

Exit 91 on Interstate 75 will take you to Clarkston, Michigan.  One of the 'small towns' that are slowly being swallowed by urban sprawl in the surrounding townships.  People have worked hard to maintain Clarkston's downtown and businesses generally do pretty well there.  Head towards downtown; the south end of it specifically; and you will see the Clarkston Union (of course, they don't have a website).  Parking might be a little tight right at the restaurant, but feel free to park throughout downtown and walk around.  But I firmly believe that this is one of the best places to go for a date in Northern Oakland County.

Now that is admittedly a pretty big statement, but here's why I say it.  The seating in the restaurant (which was originally built as a Church) is family style, with big tables throughout and people sitting pretty close together...on pews.  Not elbow to elbow, but close.   Which is totally takes the pressure off of trying to constantly keep up a conversation.  Because it is a little loud.  But you can really relax, have a good time, and enjoy the food.  Which leads to the other factor of why it rules for a date spot.  The food is inventive, but isn't scary.  Their signature dish is the mac and cheese...and it is outstanding.  And you can get it with jalapenos and/or lobster or just straight up.  The portabello gratin is also well worth a try.  They have a good list of rotating beers from all over, heavy on the micros.  Some oddball ones and some well known.  All in all, well worth a night out.  Outdoor seating for the summer and apparently a basement bar type area that was described to me by a 'slightly' inebriated gentlemen as a 'f#cking grotto man!'  Although I am guessing there are no playboy bunnies down there.

Although I won't guarantee a good date, you could certainly do worse than The Union.  And if you turn out not to like it, there are a couple other good restaurants within walking distance.  Or you could check out the grotto...

Night 1 - Go With What You Know

I have never written a blog before.  In fact, I don't write much at all.  I had a tenth grade teacher once tell me that, and I quote, I have "the unique talent of wrecking the English language with my eloquence."  I have always taken that as a compliment for some reason.  But I have always wanted to write more.  I feel like I am a pretty good storyteller.  And I do have a lot to say...

But a blog takes a certain amount of work.  Specifically, it appears as though I need time and ideas.  I have the time all the sudden.  And I have plenty of ideas.  But how do you start something like this?  I laid out the premise yesterday, intending to keep it a little quiet for a while, fleshing out a few of the first posts.  I had talked to my buddy Jeff a few times about the idea over past few months, how to do it, what to say, etc.  So I emailed him today that I was doing this.  And Jeff's reaction, as with any new/interesting/fun idea he runs across, was to tweet and faceypage it.  Dude is really plugged in.  But I still didn't know where to go first.

So over a beer tonight, it dawned on me to just write about what I know.  Cliche, yes.  Easy, sort of.  Good way to get the creative juices flowing, hell yeah.  So Night 1 in our travels throughout Michigan takes us to Beggar's Banquet in East Lansing.  Which is where I was having a beer...

Beggar's is one of the longest operating restaurants in East Lansing ("Gimme Eat since 1973!") and has long been known for its wine selection and an eclectic menu.  They definitely don't attract the typical college crowd, but they are certainly welcome.  It really is the perfect blend of town and gown, with a solid, but not overly expensive menu, and good beer/wine mixed amongst more accessible labels.  Wednesdays are the legendary 1/2 off night for bottles of wine.  And their beer selection has come a long, long way and is now one of the best in the area.  They haven't really changed much (including a relatively 70's-ish interior), but that is what works.  It feels comfortable.  Even if it is your first time.  I am sure it feels even better for someone coming back to town for a ten, twenty, or even thirty year reunion.  If you are new to town, it is definitely one of the places I would suggest you check out.  They are just north of MSU's campus, on Abbot Road, and parking is around back, in the City lot. 

So there you go.  Enjoy Beggar's if you get a chance.  Check back here for new fun-ness on a regular basis (hopefully at least thrice a week).  I have some interesting places to throw out that I think more people need to know about. Send me your idea of fun too.  I always need more good ideas.  I think this thing has legs, so strap in, this might be a good long road trip.

The 1000 Nights Premise

I am always looking for interesting ideas.  And they always seem to hit me in the most random places and at the most random times.  So when I went to some training for work, I didn't exactly expect to be struck with a lightning bolt of amazement.  I mean, I love my job and all, but training is usually a little dry.  But Dan Gilmartin, Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League, gave an opening speech about the idea of '1000 Nights of Fun'.  Allow me to give you the short version:

• Most people are getting married later in life and having children later in life. On average, about 10 years later than previous generations did.
• In those 10 years, they need to have a good time.  Or they might get married and have babies because they get bored. 
• These folks try to get out and about around 100 nights a year.  Which, if you think about it, is every Friday and Saturday in a whole year.  Which is the pace I am on in 2010...
• So the quick math there...lemme find the calculator...there are about 1000 nights of entertainment that people can take in. 

As Executive Director of MML, Mr. Gilmartin was clearly pointing out that Michigan communities can capitalize on this trend and we should be investing in our communities more and working more on place making and downtowns.  And the politicians have pretty well ignored communities this decade.  But I digress.  I spent the training session letting my mind wander a little bit.  This was a concept that I had never really hought about before.  What could I do with a 1000 nights?  Where would I go?  Who would I take?  What would I feel like the next day?

I eventually turned the idea into a presentation at Ignite Lansing 1.0, focusing on the Michigan Avenue corridor between East Lansing and Lansing.  I only had five minutes, so I wasn't going to be able to cover 1000 nights  that quickly.  But it planted the seed in my mind.  I thought about everything that I did in the last year and thought about all the things I wanted to do.  I didn't really have the time to do them all (I was married), but I started thinking about doing a blog.  This was a great concept and I was really excited when the MML started trying to push the idea.  Started a faceypage and everything.  And they haven't posted since July of 2009.   Really guys?  Something about being in downtown Lansing... 

So I am picking up the torch and running with it.  I am going to try and turn this crazy demographic concept into a mini travel blog of sorts.  Show off some cool things to do and places to go in this wonderfully crazy State that I call home.  And trust me, there are a lot of things to do. I'll get to do more and see more than I have in the seven years I have lived up here.  And hopefully the world will read this thing.

But before you go, really think about the concept for a minute.  Think about everything that you did last year in Michigan.  Think about everywhere you went, all the festivals you attended, sporting events, and just plain fun times.  What would you do with 1000 nights?  What have you done?  Feel free to pass along suggestions.  I am always down for a road trip.