Finding Historical Charm at the Eleanor & Edsel Ford House in Grosse Pointe

Last week I visited the Eleanor & Edsel Ford House in Grosse Pointe with the lady I can always count on doing historical/cultural things with me: my mother.

Let me just start off by saying this place is a mecca of cool I didn't even know existed until my company started doing work with them a few years back. After hearing my colleagues describe the place to media (this is not my client), I decided this should be on my "things to do in the Detroit area" list.

History? Check. Fab Detroitness? Check. Charming place to eat? Check. What more could a gal want?

Prior to the tour, we checked out Macy's adventure passes so we were able to tour FOR FREE. (If you're unfamiliar, see here: it's a fantastic program made possible with the help of local libraries). Had we not gotten in for free, it would have cost $10 for me and $9 for my mom (a senior) and it would have been worth every single penny.

We started our time on the grounds watching a short film about the lives and family of Eleanor and Edsel. This was a fantastic way to start, as it really laid the groundwork of what the family was about - each other, arts/culture/history and philanthrophy. Through the film, I really gained a respect for the family (Edsel is the only son of Henry, the entreprenuer behind Ford Motor Co.) and their passion for Detroit.

After the film, we were driven in a mini-bus to the home where we were greeted by a tour guide, who was an adorable and knowledgeable older lady. She walked us through a chunk of the home, stopping to tell stories about the family along the way. One of my favorite rooms showcased the wedding dresses of some of the Ford women. They were beautiful (and tiny!).

The house was truly a masterpiece. It was really interesting to hear about the history of each item that adorned the walls - from 16th century wood brought over from England to pieces of art by some of my fave French artists such as Degas, Cezanne and Van Gogh and even pieces from the Han Dynasty and Ming Dynasty (super-de-duperly old). The dining room was really neat and we learned the family dined there every night by candlelight (there were no lights in the room).

I felt like I was friends with Eleanor after the tour, as I and greatly admired her passion for the arts in Detroit. One neat thing I learned was that the family kept the Detroit Institute of the Arts open during the depression by paying for the salaries of the employees. For that, us Detroiters should be forever grateful.

After we walked through the house, we toured the grounds, including seeing the Ford's amazing pool, Josephine Ford's playhouse version of the house (pictured below) and a beautiful rose garden that made us feel like we were in Europe.

After the tour, we stopped for lunch at the newly opened Cotswold Cafe. At the cafe, we ordered quiche and a Maurice Salad (my favorite item from J.L. Hudson, Eleanor's uncle), which were pretty yummy, but the best part was the dessert - a pear and cranberry cobbler that was absolutely delish.

If you're fascinated by Detroit history, art and culture or even need an impressive place for a date, check this historical gem out. Plus, it's a great excuse to drive down Lake Shore Drive and admire the beautiful historical homes that have put Grosse Pointe on the map. Can't wait to go back for the additional tours available...and one day, take my little girl there to see our history trapped in time.

Sunday Song(s): Songs About Detroit

Check out this sweet Wikipedia entry of songs that were written about Detroit. I had no idea our fair city was so popular!

**Wiki entry on songs about Detroit**

There's your standard Detroiters on the list - Eminem, Kid Rock and a pleuthora of Detroit-area bands, but there's also a whole slew of other random artists as well.

Glad the city provides inspiration to some rockin' musicians! I feel a new playlist coming on...

Sunday Song: "Renaissance State of Mind" by Ro Spit and Monica Blaire

I am really digging this Detroit rendition of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" fittingly called "Renaissance State of Mind." Be sure to listen to the lyrics - great mentions of some of metro Detroit's finest land marks. Plus, this girl Monica can SING. Holy cow, these homegrown talents are going somewhere...watch out world, Detroit's about to takeover!

Yippee! Norman Rockwell's Art Coming to the Detroit Institute of Arts

"I paint life as I would like it to be." - Norman Rockwell

When I was a kid, we had two huge built-in bookcases in our house. The shelves were filled with encyclopedias, books about amphibians and apes, and of course, tons of children's books. I remember spending rainy Saturday afternoons plopped down on the floor admiring the pages of books filled with information I had yet to fully comprehend. One book I constantly looked through (besides the 'D' encyclopedia -- D for dogs -- I loved to look at the pics), was a book about Norman Rockwell and his artwork.

Rockwell was one of the first artists I learned of as a kid. My grandpa was an oil painter, so I've always assumed my "artsy" genes came from him and fueled my fascination with a book about art at a young age.

Rockwell, to me, is the one of the best artists ever (although snobby art-lovers might turn their nose up at that notion). He painted what he saw...many times things that were invisible to the naked eye, and many times seeing right through to the heart of the matter. He painted about controversy -- war and civil rights, but also painted what people knew and understood -- love, humor and everyday America.

The painting shown above is my absolute favorite of his. I have a print of it hanging in our guest bedroom. I remember reading somewhere that the painting (from 1961) was a depiction of how Rockwell saw the world and how he wished the world would be. To me, it represents world peace and that's absolutely beautiful, especially considering the time in which it was painted (during Vietnam).

I was ecstatic today when I heard on the news that some of Norman Rockwell's collection is coming to the Detroit Institute of Arts starting on Sunday. I'm excited to have the opportunity to see some of his work in person, right in my own backyard.

"American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell," will be at the DIA March 8–May 31, 2009. The exhibit includes 44 paintings and 323 original Saturday Evening Post covers.

I began with a quote, and now I leave you with a quote:

"The secret to so many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure. So, you see, they're always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back." - Norman Rockwell

Diving into the Detroit River for a Great Reason! Special Olympics MI

This month I am trying to raise funds for Special Olympics Michigan's Polar Plunge. The Plunge, held at various locations around the state, is an annual fundraiser open to individuals willing to plunge into freezing cold water to raise funds needed to support the year-round athletic training of more than 16,000 athletes across the state.

As you may have read in a post last year, I feel compelled to give back to an organization that has taught me so much about myself. I am excited because two of my girlfriends will be making the plunge with me -- dressed according to our team name, Happily Ever After. (I'll post some photos afterward!)

Feel free to come watch us plunge on Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Roostertail in Detroit. And, if you're feeling generous and want to donate, visit my page here. If you can't, feel free to cheer me on -- I'll need the support (and some liquid courage)!

Who's Your Tiger? Mine is absolutely GRAND

I have a confession to make: I have a crush on Curtis Granderson, the rockin' center fielder for the Detroit Tigers.

Do I really care about baseball? Nope, not really.

But Grandy is such a winner when it comes to knocking life outta the park, it's hard not to feel the pitter-patter of love when you learn his story.

I became fascinated with Granderson last year when I randomly came across his blog on ESPN.com. It was there that I learned he is not only a great writer, but he also graduated with a degree in business marketing/managing. And boy does he know how to market himself!

He's a good baseball player. He's very media-friendly. But most importantly, he does what many sports players do not do enough of: he gives back to the community. More specifically, he gives back to my community.

In his short time as a MLB player, he has donated time, money and memorabilia to tons of charitable causes not only in the Detroit area, but throughout the entire nation.

Both of Granderson's parents were teachers in Chicago, therefore the importance of education has become the focal point in Granderson's message to area youth, as he is one of only a handful of MLB players with a college degree.

His foundation, the Grand Kids Foundation was established last year to help our local public schools purchase school supplies for needy families and buy books and supplies for schools that don't receive the funds they are always in dire need of.

He's even established numerous baseball programs in some of Michigan's inner cities and is currently working on creating a scholarship program for high school graduates.

Annnd, he's only 27 years old, folks.

Grandy, I'll be rooting for you this season. Not because I love baseball, but because I love how you connect with the community. Keep up the good work and keep making Detroit proud!

Greatest Detroit Hit: Coney Island Restaurants

There's tons of great products made in Detroit, but nothing tops the straight-up DEEETROIT category quite as much as Coney Island restaurants.

Many Detroiters consider themselves coney connoisseurs...Between Kerby's, Leo's, National and hundreds of other great family-owned joints -- Detroit-area Coney Island restaurants all are so similar and amazingly cheap. I like to jokingly blame my Greek roots for my weekend cravings, but I really think it's just me feeling incestuous about my love for Michigan-made products.

The typical Detroit-area Coney Island provides the perfect menu for all to nosh on: classic coney islands, Greek salads, spinach pie, Gyros, baklava and my personal fave non-traditional classic - chicken hanis. Besides the variety of menu choices, I'd have to say my favorite part of my coney visits is that although you may go to different places, the food always gets to you super fast and it generally tastes the same. It's a beautiful thing.

As all Greek families have, my great-grandpa once had a restaurant in Detroit at the intersection of Woodward and Peterboro. I would give my eye teeth to see that place in action nowadays. I'm not really sure why it ever went out of business, but I'm surely glad that at least the iconic Detroit anchors American and Layfayette Coney Islands have survived in the D for so long.

The history of the coney in Detroit is quite fascinating... American Coney Island came first -- established by immigrant Gust Keros in 1917. The restaurant was first started by Keros and his brother, who got into an argument soon after and split their restaurant into two parts -- the present day American and Lafayette Coney Islands which are next door to each other, and who to this day jokingly argue about which is the "original."

So, I guess you could say once again my Greek roots pushed me to experiment -- which one really is better? A few colleagues and I decided to take a rainy Friday to challenge ourselves to determine which takes the prize for being the top Coney Island in the city.

We started at American. After being beckoned inside by an older waiter with a thick Greek accent, we were seated and quickly received exactly what we all wanted -- an original coney with all the fixing's. We were impressed. A snappy Dearborn Sausage dog with chili with a slight kick tasted pretty good going down.

The owner, who called himself "Dan-Dan the hot dog man," told us a bit about the history of the two restaurants and claimed American was the best because it was the Detroit original. Before leaving, we got a pic with him (of course, he's the guy with the American flag-inspired hat!).

From there, we walked next door to Layfayette and were greeted by classic 50s mint green tile walls and another older Greek gentleman waiter. The coney, of course, arrived quickly. The Winters Sausage hot dog was a little softer than American's and the chili had a bit more of a kick -- possibly from extra spices used in the recipe.

As mentioned above, most Coney Islands generally have the same fare with the same taste. But, we unanimously decided that American's dog was our favorite. The snappy casing on the hot dog, the passionate owner and the good old fashioned Americana theme was what sold us.

But really, in the end, both were extremely similar. Some picky points: both could have used more mustard (or at least had it on the table) and both gave me a mild case of heartburn.

Go out and take the coney challenge yourself. And be sure to frequent your local coney joint. It's a Detroit classic not to be missed!

A Beautiful Saturday in Detroit

My mom and I spent Saturday doing all things Detroit. I was finally able to hit up some of the cultural hot spots I can never find time for and it was amazing.

We started off the day with omelettes from Toast, a Ferndale diner (OK, everything else in the post is Detroit), as recommended many times by my dear friend Nikki. It was delish! We had a "20 minute" wait, which really turned out to be 5 minutes and were greeted by friendly and fast-working staff. I'll definitely go back!

From there, we went to explore artist Tyree Guyton's Heidelberg Project, a housing project on the eastside of the city that has had many question what art really means. While driving through the dilapidated neighborhood surrounding the project, my only thought was "how sad." Once we entered Heidelberg street and saw the randomness that makes up the art-filled streets and homes, my only thought was, "Man this is weird. But at least it's not sad anymore, it's just...interesting." I mean, who literally staples hundreds of stuffed animals to a house? Art is in the eye of the beerholder I suppose! Nonetheless, it was fascinating and beautiful in its own way.

After taking some photos of the houses, we headed over to Eastern Market -- a place I've been dying to go to since I moved closer to the area a few years ago. It was AWESOME! I could have walked up and down the rows of produce for hours -- it was like a candy store to me. There was just something so great feeling about buying items from local farmers and entrepreneurs. And the prices! I don't know a single store that can beat 'em! I walked out with grapes, tomatoes, raspberries and strawberries all for just $4.50. And with fall in full bloom, you couldn't beat the prices for mums and the other flowers that decorated the rows either.

From Eastern Market, we went to Pewabic Pottery, the famed Detroit historical landmark on Jefferson. This was another spot I could have stayed for hours. I have always loved ceramics and find such beauty in their uniqueness. It took me nearly an hour to pick out the perfect, reasonably priced piece -- a simple, circular, "Pewabic green" flower that was fired in the Detroit studio. My mom and I also wandered around the current exhibit - "Texting: Print and Clay" and admired the intricate and modern pieces and learned a little about Pewabic's 105-year history.

On the way back toward home, we drove around Belle Isle Park, which was huge and very beautiful (I've never seen so much grass in Detroit!) then we hit up the Good Girls Go to Paris Creperie, a new stand hidden on John R, a block off of Woodward. I had the Mollika (cherries, chocolate and whipped cream), while my mom had the Cora (strawberries, blueberries and whip). Very cool concept and I'm happy the adorable owner decided to set-up shop in downtown.

Overall, it was a perfect day and I have the city of Detroit (and my mom) to thank.

Detroit Firefighter: My Brother, My Hero

I have so many heroes and wonderful people in my life. As many of my posts indicate, I get inspired by people. A lot.

One person who inspires me immensely is my own brother, Derek, who has been a Detroit firefighter for the past eight years. (Photos posted are of him!)

He works on average 48 hours a week. He is awoken in the middle of the night (interrupting REM sleep patterns constantly) just to learn the fire called in was a false alarm. He's seen run down buildings and crack houses burnt to the ground. He's helped to rescue tons of people -- including children and the elderly from burning buildings. He drives the fire engine (don't get me started for people on the road not parting ways....) And he has a heart of gold.

He cares for his family, including his wife and my two nephews, Nicholas (8) and Kyle (4). Along with his exhausting job as a firefighter, he also works all sorts of side jobs to keep afloat (i.e. cutting elderly neighbors lawns, always helping friends, etc.). I am so proud of him. He worked so hard to get where he is and he honestly LOVES his job, unlike many people in this world. Just wanted to post to say how special he is to me!

My brother Todd is also a hard-working American hero and a recent new daddy to baby Owen! But more on that to come in a future post...

For now, here's a little tribute to Derek:

A Fireman's Life

A fireman's life is one big surprise,

Usually he laughs, sometimes he cries.

There's always stress, toil and strife,

Hoping he's good enough to save just one life.

His wife understands, when he misses dinner,

If he runs out of church, don't think he's a sinner.

Answering a call, is tops on his list,

Regretting each one he's ever missed.

He tries and tries, but can't make us see,

The happiest men, still work for free.

Jumping from bed, fighting the cold,

Knowing what to do, without being told.

He rushes to the station, jumps on a truck.

Depending on skill, never on luck.

Putting his life on the line, for an unknown friend,

Hoping and praying, it won't be the end.

"The Bravest Men in the World", the title is fitting,

They all do their best, never come close to quitting.

Next time you see them, all their lights blinking,

Take just a minute, to think what they're thinking.

It's a hard job, so show them you care,

And help them out, with a little prayer.

-- Daniel S. Driscoll. --

Summer's Approaching... Gear Up for Free Concerts in the D!

I am sure I will be posting all kinds of information about the awesome events that will be taking place in/around the D this summer, but I wanted to let you all know first-hand that I am finally able to spill the beans on who will be performing at the 8-week Friday concert series, Rockin' on the Riverfront!

Here's the sweet lineup:

• Pat Benatar – June 27 I can't wait to hear Love is a Battlefield live!
• Mark Farner and Mitch Ryder – July 11
• Starship – July 18 We built this city on rock and roll...
• Rick Derringer and Classic Rock All Stars featuring original members of Sugarloaf, Rare Earth, Iron Butterfly, Blues Image and Cannibal & the Headhunters – July 25
• The Guess Who – August 1 My personal fave band in the lineup!
• Kansas – August 8
• Blue Oyster Cult – August 15 More cowbell anyone?
• Foreigner – August 22 HOT BLOODED, baby!

If you haven't checked out the revitalized Detroit riverfront, you are missing out -- it's beautiful and provides the perfect backdrop for summer concerts!

As some of you may know, I've been on the PR-side of this series for the past two years and have loved every second of it. What better thing to promote than music -- well, FREE classic rock -- in downtown? Life is good. If you can make one of these concerts, give me a shout -- I'll even buy you a drink! Or, if you know the bands, but can't remember which songs they sing, let me know and I'll make you a mix CD. Anything to bring you downtown to see them live!

Win A "Detroit Date Adventure" From Metromix

Want a romantic night out around the D but don't have the cash? Check out this great opportunity from the recently-launched Metromix Detroit Web site:

If you're an adventurous dater and always looking for cool and unique things to do, then you're an ideal candidate for Metromix's Detroit Date Night Adventure. Go out, have fun, eat well and we'll compensate you and your date up to $100. Interested? Well, we do need a little something from you:

- You must have a digital camera (5 megapixel or higher required). You'll be taking tons of shots.
- You need to hit at least three places during the date. One must be a restaurant. Your other choices should encourage your sense of adventure and be different from our previous date nights (which we're just starting out so the sky is the limit).
- You need to be willing to write about your night. You don't have to be Shakespeare. Basically you just have to describe what you did during the night by writing a short caption for each photo you submit.

Still interested?
Then send MMX an email at bjhammerstein@metromix.com with what you have planned for your night out, and we'll contact you if we think people will wanna learn more about your experiences.

WHAT?!? Detroit//my honey//food//fun//writing and possible cash? Sounds like a dream come true. Count me in. I'll keep ya'll posted with how the night goes...

Tuesday Find: Detroit's City Bird

I came across this cool story in Model D about a cute pair of siblings that started their own Detroit-based company called City Bird to sell handmade things inspired by life in the city.

Check out their site: http://www.ilovecitybird.com/

Thanks for keeping the spirit of Detroit alive, Andy and Emily!

P.S. I'm in love with that clock made out of a vinyl record.

Go Detroit Tigers!

I just have to give a shout out to my beloved Detroit Tigers!

It's opening day and the city will be a-bustlin' I'm sure.

Go get em boys! Make us proud of our city!

Detroit: The Untold Stories of the First 300 Years

"Detroit: Anywhere in the world that name conjures up images of the assembly line and the Motown sound. But beneath the surface lies an unbelievable past that has been swept away from the eyes of the world. We have set out on a mission to cultivate some of this lost history while we create a living documentary of this great city."

-- DETROIT. THE DOCUMENTARY

If you have 10 minutes to spare and you're a fan of Detroit, watch this video -- Detroit Documentary. It discusses a bit of the history on the city and features interviews with Detroit natives Lilly Tomlin and Keegan Michael Key (from "Mad TV") and former Detroit mayor, Dennis Archer (come back, Dennis!).

Watching the vid conjures up images of my great-grandparents who first settled in Detroit around 150 years ago -- coming over from Greece, Ireland and Germany on "the boat." There's something eerie, yet comforting about seeing all the images from the past and hearing people talk about Detroit as it was years ago. Very cool.

Downtown Hoedown Invades Motown May 9-11

I don't know about you, but I am PUMPED for summer concerts series' around the D to start up! After all, there's nothing like great, free music in a kick booty environment.

My dear friend estrellabella10 did a rockin' blog post on the Downtown Hoedown, coming to Motown May 9-11 and got me all excited for the sunny concert season to arrive. The Hoedown is a fabulous event put on by country station, WYCD and is sure to be a yee-haw of a good reason to spend some time soaking up the ambiance of downtown Detroit. And who knows, maybe the giant Red Wing boot will make an appearance yet again!

Nikki, Elizabeth and I ready to square dance in Hart Plaza @ last year's Hoedown!

It's going to be a fantastic line-up (if you enjoy country music, that is), so get git yer cowboy/girl boots and head downtown!

Some of the superstars of this year's event include:
Friday, May 9th
Jason Michael Carroll
Jewel
Josh Gracin

Saturday, May 10th
Little Big Town
Chris Cagle
Trisha Yearwood

Sunday, May 11th
Lonestar
Billy Currington
Gretchen Wilson

Check out WYCD's Web site for the entire line-up. And get ready for more posts about the other hot (and FREE) Detroit summer concerts to come (Rockin' on the Riverfront, Electronic Music Fest, Tastefest, Jazz Fest, OH MY!)

Ya'll better come to Detroit now, ya hear?

Town Tour -- Laboring Over the Stove: A Working Definition of Detroit Cuisine

If I had $675 to spare, believe me, I would be the first to register for the American Table Culinary Tour of Detroit. After all, what better way to enjoy a couple of days than learning about a combo of food, history and Detroit?

The tour, which is coming to Detroit June 26-28, will focus on the culinary wonders that surround the city and America's Auto Industry. Some highlights of the 2-day tour include:

• A coney dog showdown hosted by UAW V.P. Jimmy Settles;
• Discussion of dugout eats by Curtis Granderson (my FAVORITE Tiger!);
• "Houses of Worship" tour led by Detroit Free Press columnist/co-editor of The Detroit Almanac Bill McGraw (samples of pierogies, burrma and baklava will be noshed along the way);
• Tour of the historic Germack Pistachio Company;
• A presentation by Ari Weinzweig -- founder of Ann Arbor's famous Zingerman's Deli;
• A shopping trip to Eastern Market led by Lois Johnson and Margaret Thomas, authors of Detroit's Eastern Market: A Farmers Market Shopping and Cooking Guide;
• A breakfast at Avalon Bakery;
• Picnic on Belle Isle;
• Baking lessons where tourgoers can learn the art of making Mexican cakes, Middle Eastern pastries or Southern sweet potato pies;
• Festivities will conclude at Cadieux Café, a featherbowling bar.

To view the itinerary (and drool over the mouth-watering descriptions), click onto this site: http://www.tabletours.org/itinerary.html

Hope some foodie reporters out there cover this event hardcore so I can live vicariously through them. I can't wait to see what wonderful stories are written about what everyone is able to experience -- all in the yummy, cultural city of Detroit.

Thanks for choosing Detroit, American Table. Annnd, in 40=/- years when I retire, feel free to come back to Detroit so I can take the tour myself.

Last Day to Vote for Children's Hospital!

Please go vote here. We are just behind Houston. Let's show those Texans Detroit can show the love like no other!