Fourth Fridays with Ford

Doors Open Detroit
and
Fourth Fridays with Ford

Friday June 23, 2006 @ 11:00 AM

Throughout the day at Campus Martius Park Doors Open Detroit will give local residents a chance to gain discounted prices to the area's finest tourist attractions while enjoying live music and an artist and food market.

Building off the momentum of Super Bowl XL, a new, monthly signature series celebrating downtown Detroit, "Fourth Fridays", will kick off the evening. The warmth of a summer night, with the performance of a national music act and the aroma of al fresco dining will be the feel of this festival. Fourth Fridays will act as a stage for the entire downtown community incorporating nearby restaurants, clubs, and art galleries who will be keeping their "doors open" to the community. The historic streets of downtown will be again be transformed into a party for all.

The Event.

What: 

A kick-off to the first official week of summer for local residents to learn more about tourism attractions in their own backyards.  The event will feature a one-day Attractions Fair offering attraction and restaurant discounts coupled with one-stop-shopping for planning local summer outings.  Also included will be the launch of “Fourth Fridays,” an evening event showcasing the best of downtown Detroit clubs, galleries, films, shopping and dining.

When:  Friday, June 23, 2006

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  – Doors Open Detroit

7 p.m. to Midnight and beyond – Fourth Fridays

Where:  Campus Martius Park, Detroit

How:  A plethora of attractions, restaurants and events will host booths on Woodward Avenue adjacent to Campus Martius Park.  All booths will offer special discounts.

The Partnerships.

Fourth Friday’s is a collaborative effort of the Detroit 300 Conservancy/Campus Martius Park and the Tourism Economic Development Council.

Several local creative organizations are providing significant resources to make the Fourth Friday’s events possible.

  

Detroit Synergy

Detroit Synergy Group is a non-profit, project-based coalition of Detroit and metro-area residents dedicated to working across age, gender, racial, geographic and cultural boundaries to create initiatives that realize a living, working and vibrant Detroit.

www.detroitsynergy.org

 

Edgewise

Bringing art life to the city

www.myspace.com/edgewise_detroit

 

Prince Igor Productions

Bringing the best of independent filmmaking to the Detroit area

www.igorfilms.com

 

Inside Detroit

Guiding the curious to an insider’s appreciation of Detroit’s history, entertainment culture and livability through uniquely designed experiences

www.insidedetroit.org

 

Model D Media

A weekly “e-zine” dedicated to documenting Detroit’s Transformation.  Sign Up Today.

www.modeldmedia.com

 

Current progress on visiting 7 continents

It has been a while since I’ve been traveling and I don’t have defined plans at present. I’d love to get a job that puts me on a plane frequently taking photos around the world. I feel I could handle nomadic life.

Here are some great sites enabling networking of travellers and tracking your progress.
World 66
Virtual Tourist

The map below is courtesy of World66 and shows I’ve been in Europe and South America. Funny I’m looking at that and realize that Turkey isn’t highlighted (where I was at the age of 5).

See more progress on: visit all seven continents

A Night of Poetry

I discovered CAID was scheduled on June 1 hold "A Night of Poetry", readings from local poets that was organized by Christina Kallery, a friend of mine on MySpace. I'm always interested in expanding the type of events that I cover.

In checking into the event I became friends with Norene Cashen, one of the poets reading. She stopped by and we travelled to CAID (which is a bit removed from the Woodward bus corridor). This was definately outside the norm for Norene, she tends to be a quiet person but could sense that I was genuinely interested in the event.

We arrived and I met Nick Sousanis, saw BJ from Real Detroit, and Marty from The Detroit News. I met Christina for the first time as well.

We listened to each poets readings. I stood along a wall and took a few photos of each as they were reading. I probably could have been closer, since the zoom limited me to waist and up photos. I would have liked to capture expressions better. The lighting was a bit stark, as would befit a poetry night. I did take additional photos which appear in the linked article in The Detroiter.

After the readings I talked a bit with Vievee and found that William Copeland is one of her students. I've been fascinated with William's spoken word sessions since seeing him several years ago during an protest march against occupation of Iraq. Then I found William was attending Renaissance Unity and occassionally saw him there. He organized a group called the Longhairz Collective. It was great to meet Vievee and share in knowing what William's been up to.

Norene and I headed back and I extended an invitation to the showing of InZer0 on June 6, which happily she did attend!

This week is BUSY - film time!

A flurry of events ... I sometimes don't know what to post when. I'd rather not overshadow one great event with another.

Tonight is InZer0 episode 2 at the Main Arts Theater in Royal Oak. Anticipating another GREAT night. Many celebrities coming out, newspapers and likely TV covering.


This weekend June 9-11 I'll be busy taking documentary photos during the filming of episode 4 of InZer0. So even though I'm listing these events I won't be attending...

Urban Alchemy

Coming this weekend to the 555 Gallery...

The Game Show Detroit

An exhibition showing "Gaming as a Catalyst for Appreciating Art and Building Community"
June 10 through July 23, 2006
Public Opening Reception June 10 from 6pm until 11pm
Curator: Fred Goodman, Nick Sousanis, and Andy Malone

The Game Show Detroit is an interactive exhibit devoted to the art of games and the game of art. Exhibits include new games designed by artists, familiar games that have been re-imagined, and interactive artworks fusing the idea of games, art, and play. Many of the artworks will be playable by visitors.
Featured artists include: Elizabeth Crank, Mark Dancey, Sergio DeGiusti, Denise Whitebread Fanning, William Girard, Dick Goody, Matthew Hanna, John Hegarty, George Hriczik, Tom Humes, Chido Johnson, Ray Katz, Benjamin Kiehl, Neda Konstantinova, Michael Mikolowski, Jim Nawara, Nancy Patek, Alan Paulson, Mary Potts, Jo Powers, Kathleen Rashid, Clinton Snider, Hugh Timlin, Vito Valdez, Rick Vian, Anthony Williams & Alison Wong
Click here for details