Hum & Glow of Winter Brings Art to Beacon Park

This week, Beacon Park welcomed back the art of Michael Polakowski for the season. The park showcased his art in the winter of 2020 as well, but now it is back on display with some fresh new pieces for 2021. The show is called "Hum & Glow of Winter" and it is presented by Playground Detroit along with DTE's Beacon Park. An illustrator and muralist, Polakowski's display depicts "various green-spaces and neighborhoods throughout Detroit through light and energy that can be felt throughout the winter season". You can get a sneak peek of the art that is on display here. 

"Hum & Glow of Winter" is on display now through the end of February. The installation is open to the public and free to view daily during park hours, which are 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Beacon Park is located at 1903 Grand River Ave. in Detroit. To see more art from Polakowski, give him a follow on Facebook and Instagram. 

~C

Drive-In Movies Come to Downtown Detroit

Drive-in movie theatres have definitely made a comeback during the pandemic, and one is about to make its way to Downtown Detroit. The Monroe Street Drive-In will make its debut this Friday night at the intersection of Monroe Street and Farmer Street. They will be kicking things off with an older favorite, the original Jurassic Park from 1993. Next on the lineup for Saturday night is Shrek, followed by Back to the Future on Sunday night. 

After this weekend, the plan is to have movies at the drive-in Thursday through Sunday night. The cost is $20 per vehicle and guests are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets online here. There may be some tickets sold at the gate as well, but it's best to play it safe and buy yours in advance. Each night, the movie is set to start at 7 p.m. The gates will open at 6 p.m. and you have to be in the lot, parked in your assigned spot no later than 15 minutes before the movie starts. Then, tune your FM dial to the designated station, and kick back and watch your favorite flick. 

There will be concessions available at a tent on site during the movie. Or, if you want to make a night of it and do dinner and a movie, you can order delivery from one of your favorite nearby restaurants. Just place an order through Grub Hub, UberEats, DoorDash, or whatever your preferred delivery app is, then put the address as 815 Bates St., Detroit, MI 48226. Make sure you also put your parking stall number in the notes. Once your food arrives, one of the Come Play Detroit ambassadors will bring your delivery right to your vehicle. The theatre does ask that you please make sure to place your orders by 8 p.m. to make sure that you will get your food while the movie is still playing. Outside food is also permitted, but grills will not be allowed. 

The Monroe Street Drive-In expects patrons to practice social distancing while on site and wear a mask when outside of your vehicle. They also ask that if you do plan to visit the concession stand, just send one person from your party to buy your treats. There will also be restroom trailers on site if you need them, but please wear your mask and social distance while there as well. For a full list of rules and for more information on this new drive-in theatre, click here. 

Monroe Street Drive-In is a collaboration between Emagine Theatres and Bedrock Detroit.

~C

Take a Drive and See Some Art Without Getting Out of Your Car

In 2018, a non-profit called Capturing Belief partnered with SAY Detroit Play Center to contribute to their vision to be the premier training center for young people to improve their community and nurture their individual growth. In 2019, they worked with a new group of young people and continued their mission to "use visual storytelling to shatter stereotypes, dismantle biases, and create universal belonging for young people of color". In 2020, they planned to partner with Inside Southwest Detroit and Ford Motor Company to continue and expand their in-person training program, but thanks to COIVD-19 they had to completely rethink everything to pivot their plans for the 2020/21 session. To do this, they took everything 100% virtual and put a big focus on mental health throughout their 15-week program. 

They called this new version of the program the #remoteAllyProject. The goal of these sessions was to create visual art and to help youth to process what they were going through as their school year was abruptly interrupted and they were forced into isolation by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 15 weeks, 19 students from Detroit, Kenya, France, and Italy were encouraged to maintain a positive focus while they worked with 8 different teachers to develop better communication and thinking skills while learning about the art of visual storytelling. 

The fruits of that effort are currently on display in front of the Michigan Central Station at Michigan Avenue and Vernor Hwy. in Corktown. You can drive through to see over 100 photos that the students captured for the project. It is an inside look at how the next generation is processing something that we are all still trying to work through in real-time. It is not only a powerful display, but a nice way to get out of the house to experience art in a year that has been relatively empty of artistic gatherings. 

The photos will be on display through January 31st, so you only have a couple more weeks to take a drive through the display. To learn more about Capturing Belief click here. To learn more about #remoteallyproject and to follow them on Instagram click here.

~S

Hoe Army Wants to Sell You Some Sweets

This Saturday afternoon, head to Outer Limits Lounge in Hamtramck to show your support for Hoe Army! They will be taking over the pop-up window on the patio for a bake sale to raise funds for their organization and their mission. Hoe Army (or 304 Army) is "a group of radical sex positives working to support a culture which advocates for grassroots campaigns and pertinent calls to action." The group will be selling pastries, cake, and all sorts of sweet treats, as well as Hoe Army merch and masks. The sale will take place on Saturday afternoon from 1-4 p.m. outside at OLL. 

If you can't make it out this Saturday, they will also be holding a bake sale on January 30th at Senate Theater. This sale will also take place from 1-4 p.m. and will be held in the concessions area of the theatre. In addition to selling baked goods to-go, you can also purchase Senate Theatre merch while you're there, to help support the historic theatre during these difficult times. 

If you want to show your support for Hoe Army Detroit, but can't make it out to either of these events, you can also make a donation via PayPal at PayPal.me/304Armydetroit. Unfortunately, donations to this organization are not tax deductible.

To learn more about Hoe Army and their initiatives, and to stay in the know about their upcoming events, follow them on Instagram @304armydetroit.

~C

Lost River Celebrates Bowie Month with Bowie Themed Cocktails and Pierogi

On January 8th, the legendary David Bowie would have been 74 years old. Sadly, he passed away five years ago, as of January 10th. In honor of this iconic man, Lost River has declared the entire month of January Bowie Month. The tiki bar is celebrating by offering Bowie themed cocktails to-go all month long. The menu includes:

The Jean Genie
Cynar, Arak, Papas Pilar Blonde, Falernum, Fresh Squeezed Lime, Fresh Squeezed Grapefruit, Hibiscus Cinnamon Syrup

and

Space Oddity
Butterfly pea flower infused Caña Brava, Rum Fire, Fresh Squeezed Lime, Banana Simple Syrup, House Made Coconut Cream and Bitters

These cocktails are served in a sealed 6.8 oz. recyclable glass bottle and are $14 each.

If you want something tasty to eat along with those cocktails, they are also offering the "Life on Mushrooms Pierogi", featuring mushrooms, spinach, Bulgarian cheese, and potato. The pierogi come frozen along with instructions on how to cook them at home, because frozen pierogi wouldn't be very good. (At least we don't think they would be, but who knows?) The Life on Mushrooms Pierogi are available as part of a Bowie Month Pierogi + Cocktail Package, which includes a pierogi dinner and 2 cocktails of your choice. Other than the Bowie Month special cocktails, there are a lot of other cocktails and drinks to-go available, including some specials created by Shannon Mustipher. Check out the full menu here.

Lost River is located at 15421 Mack Ave. in Detroit. The bar is open for to-go orders on Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Remember, the Bowie specials are only available during Bowie Month, a.k.a. January. So, don't wait! Place your order online by visiting LostRiverTiki.com. 

~C

Get Out of Your House and Have Some Safe, Free Fun by Visiting the DIA

Photo from the DIA's Facebook Page

By now, we are all getting a little tired of staying at home. For most of us, it has been months of being in our homes, working from home, and only seeing a few select people from time to time. Sure, jigsaw puzzles, binging shows on Netflix, and going for walks is fun, but we are all itching for something different to do. 

Well, did you know that you can spice up your routine by going to the DIA? The Detroit Institute of Arts is in fact open to the public. Plus, if you are low on cash, it is still free to get in, as long as you live in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb County. Although it is free, reservations are currently required to visit the museum. Capacity is limited, so some days, reservations fill up in advance, especially for the weekend. So, if you're planning to attend, go online ahead of time, pick the date that you are interested in visiting, and make your reservations. If you plan to go during the week, chances are you will be able to make a reservation the day of, but those weekends fill up quickly! 

The DIA is currently open from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. On Wednesday and Friday, the 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. time slot is reserved for high-risk patrons. Face masks are required at all times while visiting the DIA, and your temperature will be checked at the door. Also, the café and coat check are currently closed, no large bags are permitted, and only credit and debit cards are accepted for any purchases that you make. And of course, everyone is expected to practice social distancing while at the DIA. 

To go over the DIA's full COVID-19 protocol, click here. To make your reservation to visit the DIA, click here. Make sure you also head over and follow the DIA on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop on updates and virtual experiences. 

~C

Shop Small or Die Featured Shop: ROUGE Organic Beauty & Eve Organics Beauty

ROUGE ORGANIC BEAUTY & Eve Organics Beauty

23337 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, MI 48220

(248) 439-6012

Facebook: ROUGE Organic Beauty and Eve Organics Beauty

Instagram: @rougemakeupandnails and @eveorganicsbeauty

HID - How would you describe your store to someone who’s never been there before?
Cheryl (Co-founder of ROUGE) - We’re that pretty little shop down the street that you’ve always wondered about. “I just stopped in to see what you do here” is something that we hear frequently, even after 10 years in business! When you come to ROUGE, you’ll see that we are divided into our retail side and our service side. We offer fabulous manicures and pedicures in our ROUGE Nail Studio. We are a fully licensed spa and body art facility to offer expert brow services including microblading, brow shaping, and brow lamination. On our retail side, we offer our very own Eve Organics Beauty, made 100% in-house, our makeup and skincare is organic, vegan, and results driven. We have so much to offer from our little red building on Woodward!

HID - What's the story behind your shop?

ROUGE - You should know that we were founded by 2 sisters, Cheryl & Jeny. Together, we have decades of experience in the beauty industry. When we were planning our shop (over 10 years ago) we knew exactly what we wanted to bring to the market: accessible healthy beauty services and quality products delivered with stellar customer service. Since our very first day, we have simply worked to take the mystery out of beauty. We opened in the summer of 2010. It’s been a decade of learning and growing along with our community. It’s a good thing, because this year has been a year of very big changes! We closed our business in March and opened back up in August due to the pandemic. We spent that “down time” working on revamping our makeup and skincare, and formulating new products that are perfect for now. We’re thrilled with the results. None of this has been easy, but we are very passionate about what we do and we love to share all of it with our loyal clients. Even when we are not “open”, we’re in our studio working on new goodies and surprises for you.

www.rougeorganicbeauty.com

www.eveorganicsbeauty.com

HID - Give us the top three gift ideas from your store this holiday season.

1. FOR MOM:

Our NIGHT & DAY Skincare kit is FABULOUS! It contains our Cleansing

Balm, Rose Day Cream & Night Cream for $75.

https://store.eveorganicsbeauty.com/collections/holiday-shop/products/night-day-skincare-set

2. FOR YOUR NEICE, NEPHEW, KID, BABYSITTER:

Our HOLIDAY BODY BUTTER KIT has 2 limited edition body butter aromas (flavors), Almond Macaron (sparkly) and Peppermint Stick!

https://store.eveorganicsbeauty.com/collections/holiday-shop/products/holiday-body-butter

3. Our third gift idea is an EVE ORGANICS BEAUTY Gift Certificate!

The lucky recipient of an Eve Organics Beauty Gift Certificate can purchase anything that they like from our site and we will pack it up to ship it out, or they can even pick their order up at ROUGE!

https://store.eveorganicsbeauty.com/products/eve-organics-beauty-gift-certificate

HID - Do you have any COVID-19 conscious options in place for your shoppers?

ROUGE - We take COVID-19 precautions very seriously here at ROUGE Organic Beauty. We shut down a full week before we were required to by the state and opened a full month after salons re-opened to ensure safety. We have cut our hours to 3 days a week and our capacity to 40%. You must sign in and get a temperature check upon entering the building. We require masks to be worn over nose and mouth at ALL TIMES when inside our building, including during services. We are not messing around. We want you to have the safest experience possible at ROUGE. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, we cannot allow anyone to accompany clients who are getting services, with the exception of those who require accompaniment such as minors or those with disabilities. A full list of our COVID requirements can be found here: 

https://www.rougeorganicbeauty.com/covid-19-policies

HID - How can shoppers find you and what hours are you open?

ROUGE - Due to the pandemic, we have cut our business hours and the days that we are open.

We’re at 23337 Woodward Ave. Ferndale, MI with FREE PARKING.

We are open Wednesday 11-6, Friday 11-6 and Saturday 10-4.

We suggest that you call ahead at (248) 439-6012 just to make sure that we are open.

Clients can shop our website for retail at www.eveorganicsbeauty.com and we will ship anywhere in the country or you can opt for curbside pickup at ROUGE!

THANK YOU to everyone who is shopping small and local this holiday season.

All of your favorite small businesses really need you this year, more than ever.

For a list of other great places to shop and eat local, check out our Shop Small or Die Guide here.

If you would like your shop to be featured or you want to be added to our guide, email us at hipindetroit@gmail.com.

The Boston-Edison Holiday Home Tour Goes Virtual

Have you ever driven through Boston-Edison and wondered what those beautiful homes look like inside? Well, here is your chance to check them out from the comfort of your own home! 

Every year, the Historic Boston-Edison Association hosts a holiday home tour. The tour is usually limited to 800 guests and sells out very quickly. Well, this year, to keep everyone safe, the non-profit has moved the tour to a virtual platform. The tour will be narrated and will feature five historically significant properties on display, decorated for the holiday season. You will get a chance to "meet" the current owners of these homes, and tour the exterior and interior of the properties. 

The holiday home tour is the largest annual fundraiser for HBEA. Tickets for this year's event are $10 and can be purchase online here. The tour will debut on Sunday, December 13th on the Boston-Edison website and can be viewed anytime through January 1, 2021. You can also help out this great non-profit by purchasing merchandise from their online store here. 

~C

Shop Small or Die Featured Shop: POST

Photos Provided by POST

POST

14500 Kercheval St., Detroit, MI 48215

(313) 939-2172

Facebook

Instagram: @post.detroit.shop and @mutualadorationdetroit

HID - How would you describe your store to someone that has never been there before?
Clare & Wayne (POST Co-founders) - We can always tell when someone walks into POST for the first time. There's usually a "wow", and they stop at the front door to try and take it all in. The outside of our building is a bit understated as it was built by the government as a US Post Office in 1940. The inside of POST is a completely different experience. We've converted the space to a retail store, carrying over 300 independent handmade brands, along with production facilities for 3 small businesses. It's a feast for the eyes.

Everything we carry at POST is handmade, much of it is one-of-a-kind, and some of it is made right here in the building. Mutual Adoration, Tait Design Co, and Scarlet Crane Creations design and make all of their products right here, at POST. Of the other 300 or so brands we carry, 80% are Michigan based companies, and over 90% are women-owned businesses. People can support multiple local small businesses in one place at POST.

HID - What's the story behind your shop?
POST - Clare Fox and Wayne Maki met and founded Mutual Adoration in 2012. Mutual Adoration builds custom furniture, picture frames, and housewares primarily from reclaimed wood sourced in Detroit. In 2017, we founded POST - an open concept retail store and workshop space on Detroit's East Side. Housed in a former US Post Office, built in 1940, POST carries over 300 brands of handmade goods from small independent makers, as well as offering hands-on workshops in contemporary craft.

HID - Give us the top three gift ideas from your store this holiday season. 
POST - I'll attach links to some of our most popular collections. Because so many of our products are one-of-a-kind, it's often easier to link to a group of similar products. :)

Handmade Marbled Picture Frames are built right here in the building, and each one is marbled by hand. They're a unique and fun gift! 

https://www.mutualadoration.com/collections/marbled-frames-1

Valet Trays are always a popular gift this time of year. They're great gifts for guys, and the perfect place to stash your keys, wallets, and all the things that end up in your pockets throughout the day.

https://www.mutualadoration.com/collections/trays-valets

Craft Kits are a super fun way to be creative while you're at home! We have a huge variety of DIY kits.
https://www.mutualadoration.com/collections/crafts-kits-1

HID - Do you have any COVID-19 conscious options in place for your shoppers?
POST - Absolutely! We are currently limiting our capacity to 10 customers at a time, which means you might have a short wait during our busiest hours. Face masks and hand sanitizer are required at all times. We're also offering by-appointment shopping for those that want a more private shopping experience. Appointments are available from 12-7 on Wednesdays, and throughout the week either before we open or after we close. Customers can make a private appointment here:

https://www.mutualadoration.com/apps/book-an-appointment/appointments/new

We also offer curbside pickup or free shipping on orders over $50 through our website.

HID - How can shoppers find you and what hours are you open?
POST - We're always open at https://www.mutualadoration.com or http://www.post-detroit.com. 

We offer free curbside pickups, or free shipping on orders over $50.

You can browse us on social media @post.detroit.shop or @mutualadorationdetroit

Our regular hours are Wednesday: By Appointment (book on our website), Thursday + Friday from 12pm-7pm, Saturday from 10am-5pm, and Sunday from 12pm-5pm.

We're located at 14500 Kercheval, Detroit MI, 48215. Street parking is free and plentiful, on both sides of Kercheval Avenue, right in front of the store.

For a list of other great places to shop and eat local, check out our Shop Small or Die Guide here. 

If you would like your shop to be featured or you want to be added to our guide, email us at hipindetroit@gmail.com.

Shop Small or Die Featured Shop: Youngbloods

Youngbloods
24918 John R, Hazel Park, MI 48030
(248) 629-6626
Facebook
Instagram: @youngbloodsshop

HID - How would you describe your store to someone that has never been there before?
Angie (Co-Owner of Youngbloods) - Most people know Youngbloods as a barbershop and don't realize that we have a full retail shop as well.  For that reason I would describe Youngbloods as a hidden gem.  We not only offer great cuts and shaves but provide a space for a guy to complete his look. Our merchandise is very eclectic, offering anything from amazing sweaters to high end leather jackets to cool graphic tees to premium denim.  Every item is hand selected with these two things in mind; quality and comfort.

Photos from Youngbloods' Social Media

HID - What's the story behind your shop?

Angie - The shop came about as a collaboration with my husband Lyle.  We wanted to combine our years of professional experience in our fields, his being hair and mine being retail and wardrobe styling and create a one stop shop for guys.  The retail store developed into what would be my closet if I were a guy!

HID - Give us the top three gift ideas from your store this holiday season. 
Angie - Can I do 4?

• A Schott NYC sweater or jacket
• A Straight To Hell leather jacket or gloves
• A Thrills graphic tee or button down 
• A 7 Diamonds flannel or something from their Infinity Collection
  
  

HID - Do you have any COVID-19 conscious options in place for your shoppers?

Angie - We are taking all the precautions to keep our staff and customers safe, but understand that some people may not feel comfortable coming in. If that's the case, I'd be more than happy to offer a facetime shopping experience with anyone with curbside pickup or porch drop off. Anyone can call the shop, or send us a message on social media to set this up.

HID - How can shoppers find you and what hours are you open?

Angie - Shoppers can find us in store at 24918 John R in Hazel Park on Tuesdays - Fridays 10am-7pm and Saturdays 9am-4pm or on Facebook and Instagram.

 

For a list of other great places to shop and eat local, check out our Shop Small or Die Guide here. 

If you would like your shop to be featured or you want to be added to our guide, email us at hipindetroit@gmail.com.

Shop Local at Tangent Gallery

Everyone is doing their best to support local businesses and artists this holiday season. Tangent Gallery is making it easier to do this all in on place. Last weekend, they kicked off their holiday market. The market features a vintage shop from A Bazaar Universe, and pieces from local artists, including Michelle Boggess, Janice Park, Evans Tasiopoulos, Robin VanDenbussche, Dave Messy, and Matthew Blake Hutfloetz. After you shop inside, you can even grab a drink from the bar and sip it around the fire outside. 

A Bazaar Universe Holiday Market is open from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., Wednesday thru Sunday until Christmas Eve. The shop will also be open on Christmas Eve from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., for last minute gifts. 

Tangent Gallery/Hastings Street Ballroom is located at 715 E. Milwaukee Street in Detroit. For more information on this event, click here. 

~C

Get Something To-Go and Go See the Holiday Tree at Campus Martius

Last weekend we needed to get out of the house and we wanted to see the new Holiday Tree at Campus Martius. So, during the warmest part of the day, we drove down to Downtown Detroit and had a fun little adventure. We enjoyed it so much that we wanted to share the idea with all of you. 

First, we parked by the Shinola Hotel and got takeout from Twist and MadCap, two of the three takeout window options in the area. Then, we took a stroll from Farmer Street to One Campus Martius and took a few pictures in front of the holiday tree. It was easy to stay socially distanced and we didn't even have to go inside anywhere to get a coffee and something to eat. So, if you don't mind talking a little walk and are looking for something fun to do this December, stop by one of the following to-go windows before or after you take a stroll downtown to see the tree. It's a low-cost, low-risk way to get out and do something different in the era of COVID.

Here are the three windows you need to check out:

Twist: 

Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday

This takeout window only serves three things, but they excel at making these three things. This includes soft pretzels with a variety of dips, a short rib burger and fries, and to-go cocktails in a Capri Sun style bag. You can keep up with their current hours and menu by following their sister space Olin here.

Huddle Broth Serve:

Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Huddle was a great place to grab something to cool you down all summer. Now they have teamed up with Johnny Noodle King to warm you up all winter. The walk-up window is now serving pork, chicken, or vegetarian broth in 12-ounce cups with your choice of mix-in flavors. This includes options like burnt garlic miso and smoked butter.

MadCap Coffee:

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily

This Grand Rapids import serves up a great cup of coffee. Their menu also includes lattes, teas, and a variety of daily snacks. You can take a look at what they are currently offering and preorder everything you want before you get there by clicking here.

~S

The Eastern Market is Hosting Special Holiday Markets

You probably already know that the Eastern Market is open from 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. all year round, but you may not know that they also host a few extra special holiday markets in November and December. I recently stopped by a Tuesday Market to get everything I needed for my Thanksgiving Day meal and was so pleased with my experience that I thought I would share this opportunity with all of you!

These markets are scheduled to help you get your last-minute holiday gifts and food for your holiday meals. The Holiday Markets take place on Tuesdays and Sundays. The Tuesday market is more food-focused, with a few local makers selling gifts. The Sunday Markets are more gift focused with a few food stands. All of the vendors that they feature during these holiday pop-ups are local and have something special to offer, so this is a great way to shop local and a good way to find something that no one else will get.

The Holiday Markets are held inside Shed 5 and strict COVID safety is followed by all. This means that you must wear a mask and keep at least 6 feet of space in between yourself and others. If you need some good gifts or some last-minute food for your holiday dinner, we suggest hitting up this not so crowded market instead of the mall or the grocery store!

My Tuesday before Thanksgiving Day Haul

Holiday Market Dates:

Sunday, December 6

Sunday, December 13

Sunday, December 20

Tuesday, December 22

The Eastern Mart is located at 2934 Russell Street, 48207. All ages are welcome and admission is free.

~S

Here are 3 Ways to Support Detroit Artists this Weekend

Playground Detroit is Hosting an Artists Market On Small Businesses Saturday

This Small business Saturday, Playground Detroit will be opening a new temporary artist market that they have curated to help everyone shop local this season. The pop will feature 25+ artists and makers with limited, exclusive items and gifts! This will include books and magazines, gifts under $20 and $100, original artwork and limited edition prints, as well as apparel, accessories, home goods, baby, textiles, and more. The shop will be open to the public Thursday - Saturday from 12-7 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5p.m. The pop-up shop will be located at 1435 Farmer St., Detroit, MI 48226-2101. Metered parking is free on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, so do not worry about paying, just come shop! You can find out more and keep up with this event here.

Detroit Urban Craft Fair

The Detroit Urban Craft Fair is already in full swing. They have had 2 artists taking over their Instagram every day for a month and a half and the entire experience has been amazing. You can head over to HandmadeDetroit.com anytime and shop 112 makers in the same space. Each maker has a bio, some have discount codes, and they all have something special to offer to shoppers looking for a unique gift. You can learn more and shop here.

Detroit Artists Market

The Detroit Artists Market is not canceled. They have taken everything online this year where you can shop a variety of one of the kind original works that were created by local Detroiters. You can learn more and shop their current selection here.

~S