My wife and I went to Detroit this past weekend. We stayed at the Westin Book, and jumped on the PeopleMover to go to Greektown Saturday afternoon. As we made our clockwise turns, we found a lot with many military vehicles parked. We figured out quickly that it was a staging area for the filming of the remake of 'Red Dawn'. Apparently this crew will be in Detroit for a little bit longer.
Sunday morning was pretty exciting. The Detroit Free Press/Flagstar marathon was taking place on Fort Street and Second. Actually, that was the start and finish line. The actual course winds through the city, crosses into Windsor via the Ambassador Bridge and returns through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. The tunnel is shut down for a few hours to accomodate the event. This is the only international marathon in the world with two border crossings. It also has the only documented 'underwater mile' - as you traverse the tunnel. Word has it that over 19,000 runners participated in all events.
Marathoner and half marathon runners alike use the border crossing. There is a 5K event that stays within the City of Detroit, so for those of us that don't want to train for 13.1 or 26.2 miles can always run, or even walk, the 5K.
The new Doubletree Hotel on Lafayette and First was pretty busy, and runners were in evidence throughout Greektown on Saturday evening. My guess is they were not carbo loading on baklava.
It was a great weekend in the 'D' and it was great to see so many people there.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Mystic Creek Golf Course
I started golfing last year and have not let my relative low skill level stop me from playing some really great courses. Friends told me that the Jackal at Mt. Brighton was too hard for me, I had no business playing the Legend at Shanty Creek - you either know or can guess the drill.
I played them anyway, and I'm glad that I did. Yesterday I played two of the three nine hole courses at Mystic Creek in Milford (actually within the Camp Dearborn property). I paid a three dollar entry fee which was refunded at the Pro Shop. I decided on the Meadows and Woods courses since I figured the Lakes course would be too cool and breezy. Excellent courses, both. Low use at this time of year, so you have no pressure to keep up or speed up your play. The on-cart GPS was great for me since I had never seen the holes before. It gave tips at every tee box which was greatly appreciated.
This course is really great and a good value, too. A few of the greens had been punched as part of the fall maintenance, but overall it was in excellent shape. A small army of groundskeepers were seen darting around doing chores, and I actually played pretty well on the Meadows. That fell apart when I got to the Woods, which is a slightly longer course, and more challenging.
Lately, I'm striking the ball much better. I actually beat my son for the first time last weekend. He wasn't thrilled, but at least I loaded him up with some new golf balls that I found on sale, and that I really like. They're Nike SFT. I found them on sale at Dick's Sporting Goods, a two dozen box for $25. I didn't expect much at a buck a ball, but they seem to play very well for me. I'm not a monster hitter from the tee, a typical drive is 180-200, and a great drive is 220 or so. But these SFT's seem to work better for me than anything else I've tried.
I hope to get in a few more rounds before the snow hits. Not sure what I'll do this winter, other than visit the outdoor but covered and heated tees at Deaton's in Howell. That may give me my golf fix until Spring.
I played them anyway, and I'm glad that I did. Yesterday I played two of the three nine hole courses at Mystic Creek in Milford (actually within the Camp Dearborn property). I paid a three dollar entry fee which was refunded at the Pro Shop. I decided on the Meadows and Woods courses since I figured the Lakes course would be too cool and breezy. Excellent courses, both. Low use at this time of year, so you have no pressure to keep up or speed up your play. The on-cart GPS was great for me since I had never seen the holes before. It gave tips at every tee box which was greatly appreciated.
This course is really great and a good value, too. A few of the greens had been punched as part of the fall maintenance, but overall it was in excellent shape. A small army of groundskeepers were seen darting around doing chores, and I actually played pretty well on the Meadows. That fell apart when I got to the Woods, which is a slightly longer course, and more challenging.
Lately, I'm striking the ball much better. I actually beat my son for the first time last weekend. He wasn't thrilled, but at least I loaded him up with some new golf balls that I found on sale, and that I really like. They're Nike SFT. I found them on sale at Dick's Sporting Goods, a two dozen box for $25. I didn't expect much at a buck a ball, but they seem to play very well for me. I'm not a monster hitter from the tee, a typical drive is 180-200, and a great drive is 220 or so. But these SFT's seem to work better for me than anything else I've tried.
I hope to get in a few more rounds before the snow hits. Not sure what I'll do this winter, other than visit the outdoor but covered and heated tees at Deaton's in Howell. That may give me my golf fix until Spring.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Detroit Events
Detroit gets bashed a lot. Some of it is warranted, some is not. As an Optimist, I like to look at the positive. That doesn't mean that I have my head in the sand, but it does mean that I don't close my eyes to the good things that are around either. And I like to look at more than casinos, Greektown and the sports stadia.
Last year I purchased a subscription to a series of performances at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. A classical music fan, this was like heaven to me. For the record, I like most forms of music - I just prefer to spend most of my listening time with classical or jazz. I also went to a couple of other DSO performances, including the Count Basie Orchestra's Holiday event.
This is the first full year of new music director Leonard Slatkin's tenure and he has put together an exciting list of music that has broad appeal. Classicial, jazz, pop, youth concerts - there's something for everybody. Great parking in the DSO structure and a 37/11 program that lets those aged 37 and under to buy tickets for just $11 - and they're not just the cheap seats, just cheap prices!
The Detroit Science Center has a very interesting display opening tomorrow, October 10th. The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato. If you've never been there, they also feature an IMAX theatre and a planetarium.
The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is working to create a 5+ mile walk along the river, stretching from the Ambassador Bridge almost to the Belle Isle Bridge. The portion behind Joe Louis, Cobo and stretching to east of the Ren Cen is fantastic. The next time you're downtown for something, take time to check it out.
And don't forget about the Detroit Institute of Arts. Their collection includes works by Degas, Picasso, and Rembrandt's 'The Visitation.' But the DIA is more than just pictures and sculptures. Their 'Friday Night Live' series features a program of varied live entertainment, and the venerable Detroit Film Theatre has provided generations with affordable and hard to find movies.
Do you have a different, favorite Detroit spot? Send it along!
Last year I purchased a subscription to a series of performances at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. A classical music fan, this was like heaven to me. For the record, I like most forms of music - I just prefer to spend most of my listening time with classical or jazz. I also went to a couple of other DSO performances, including the Count Basie Orchestra's Holiday event.
This is the first full year of new music director Leonard Slatkin's tenure and he has put together an exciting list of music that has broad appeal. Classicial, jazz, pop, youth concerts - there's something for everybody. Great parking in the DSO structure and a 37/11 program that lets those aged 37 and under to buy tickets for just $11 - and they're not just the cheap seats, just cheap prices!
The Detroit Science Center has a very interesting display opening tomorrow, October 10th. The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato. If you've never been there, they also feature an IMAX theatre and a planetarium.
The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is working to create a 5+ mile walk along the river, stretching from the Ambassador Bridge almost to the Belle Isle Bridge. The portion behind Joe Louis, Cobo and stretching to east of the Ren Cen is fantastic. The next time you're downtown for something, take time to check it out.
And don't forget about the Detroit Institute of Arts. Their collection includes works by Degas, Picasso, and Rembrandt's 'The Visitation.' But the DIA is more than just pictures and sculptures. Their 'Friday Night Live' series features a program of varied live entertainment, and the venerable Detroit Film Theatre has provided generations with affordable and hard to find movies.
Do you have a different, favorite Detroit spot? Send it along!
Livingston County Notes
I went to a meeting of the Brighton Optimist Club at Mt. Brighton early yesterday morning and noticed a lot of activity at the Challis Rd. entrance. Freshly damaged trees, earth that had been moved, equipment lying about. Turns out that the production company filming the remake of the Patrick Swayze movie, 'Red Dawn', was going to film a scene there. They brought in dead trees, planted some and left others lying around. By the time I left, the Brighton Fire Department was there to make sure the 'controlled burn' didn't get out of hand. Pretty exciting. This crew has also set off some pretty spectacular explosions in downtown Detroit to make the movie, too.
Speaking of the Brighton Optimist Club, they have a great fundraiser in progress. They're partnering with Michigan's own Dutchman Farms to sell cut and container-grown Christmas trees and holiday wreaths. Well priced goods with reasonably priced UPS shipping which even allows you to choose the shipping date. I ordered a wreath as a gift and the shipping to Metro Detroit was right around $7. They have a low rate of defective or damaged good and guarantee immediate free shipment of a replacement should you get a bad item. You can check them out at http://www.dutchmantreefarms.com/green2green-fundraiser/overview.html and use code OCBRMI to give the Brighton Optimist Club credit. They ship anywhere in the lower 48 and have a special deal with UPS. The greener of us will consider the container-grown trees that can be planted outside in the Spring.
The Howell Rotary is conducting the popular 'Tour de Livingston' bike ride tomorrow, Saturday, October 10th. Routes of 25-75 miles are available and proceeds go to Livingston County's United Way. All routes start at Mt. Brighton. See http://www.tourdelivingston.org/Default.aspx for more info.
A lot of restaurants seem to be doing fine, even in this poor economy. The new Sagano's Japanese Steak House on Main St in Downtown Brighton is doing well. Stout's Irish Pub on Grand River put in a new patio with bar and stanchion-style gas heaters and a fire pit this year. Well done, comfortable and perhaps the nicest outdoor seating in the area. Next door to Stout's, work continues on the Leaf, Barley & Vine, Brighton's first real wine & cigar bar. They are approved to have an outdoor seating space with a fireplace, too. In recent years, the Stonefire Bistro and Main Street Martini Bar opened on Main Street. There are plenty of choices for different dining experiences in Brighton.
The local Farmer's Markets are still open through the end of the month, too. Catch Brighton's on Saturday mornings, in front of the downtown municipal buildings adjacent to the millpond, and Howell's on Sunday mornings, adjacent to the Historic County Courthouse.
Speaking of the Brighton Optimist Club, they have a great fundraiser in progress. They're partnering with Michigan's own Dutchman Farms to sell cut and container-grown Christmas trees and holiday wreaths. Well priced goods with reasonably priced UPS shipping which even allows you to choose the shipping date. I ordered a wreath as a gift and the shipping to Metro Detroit was right around $7. They have a low rate of defective or damaged good and guarantee immediate free shipment of a replacement should you get a bad item. You can check them out at http://www.dutchmantreefarms.com/green2green-fundraiser/overview.html and use code OCBRMI to give the Brighton Optimist Club credit. They ship anywhere in the lower 48 and have a special deal with UPS. The greener of us will consider the container-grown trees that can be planted outside in the Spring.
The Howell Rotary is conducting the popular 'Tour de Livingston' bike ride tomorrow, Saturday, October 10th. Routes of 25-75 miles are available and proceeds go to Livingston County's United Way. All routes start at Mt. Brighton. See http://www.tourdelivingston.org/Default.aspx for more info.
A lot of restaurants seem to be doing fine, even in this poor economy. The new Sagano's Japanese Steak House on Main St in Downtown Brighton is doing well. Stout's Irish Pub on Grand River put in a new patio with bar and stanchion-style gas heaters and a fire pit this year. Well done, comfortable and perhaps the nicest outdoor seating in the area. Next door to Stout's, work continues on the Leaf, Barley & Vine, Brighton's first real wine & cigar bar. They are approved to have an outdoor seating space with a fireplace, too. In recent years, the Stonefire Bistro and Main Street Martini Bar opened on Main Street. There are plenty of choices for different dining experiences in Brighton.
The local Farmer's Markets are still open through the end of the month, too. Catch Brighton's on Saturday mornings, in front of the downtown municipal buildings adjacent to the millpond, and Howell's on Sunday mornings, adjacent to the Historic County Courthouse.
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