Showing posts with label Brighton Optimist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brighton Optimist. Show all posts

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!

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.