Season's Greetings and a Farewell to Blogging!

I hope everyone had a very VERY Happy Thanksgiving.

Although I did not participate in the Turkey Trot this year, and I did not make my way to Detroit to watch the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade live, I did see both in the comfort of my very own living room on our 92 inch projector screen TV. Along with watching the parade, I helped cook the ENTIRE Thanksgiving dinner this year! Who would have thought that the gizzards were what made the gravy so delicious?? The dinner was a success and the day was more than relaxing.

Because I was so relaxed all day, I found the energy to grab my brother and his fiance and took them to Target at midnight with me! I could not believe that Targets across the nation were opening at MIDNIGHT to let crazy Black Friday shoppers into their store (but I guess I could be perceived as one of those crazy shoppers then couldn't I??).

One of my friends from high school actually went to the same Target I went to...but at six o'clock in the evening on THANKSGIVING DAY! I could not believe that he wasted his Thanksgiving night to stand in the cold outside of Target just to get a good deal on a flat screen television. As I said, I participated in going shopping at midnight but I did not show up until 11:30pm to wait in line! But low and behold, as I was standing in what seemed like the back of the line, waiting to be allowed into the store, I looked in through the sliding glass doors and my friend had already bought the huge television and was strolling out of the store at 12:15am. He got his cheap television, but was it worth it to waste the night away like that?

Anyways, Black Friday was not as much of a success story for me. I was looking to find the Kindle Fire on sale (wishful thinking, I know), or at least one of the Wii video games that has been on my wish list for a while, but no such luck. In fact, everything my brother, my brother's fiance, and I set out to buy was NOT on sale. I ended up leaving the store with a J Lo DVD for $3.99 and the book called "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" for less than five bucks.

All in all, it was a fun experience because I have not participated in Black Friday since the 4th grade when my mom and I went to Marshal Fields at 4am to get a great deal on a down feather blanket (that I still use to this day). My brother's fiance and I have decided that we will make a tradition of it each year, but actually plan out better where we want to go and what we want to buy :)

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, Christmas spirit is in full swing. The Christmas tree is up and decorated, Christmas music is playing in every room, Christmas movies are the only thing seen on any of our televisions in the house, and the spirit of giving and love is in full force.

I hope you all have enjoyed learning about different and exciting places to visit in the Metro Detroit area and I hope that each and every one of you has a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Hip Hip, Parade!

If you find yourself near Detroit during the Thanksgiving holiday, going to the Detroit Thanksgiving Parade is an absolute MUST.

The Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade has grow tremendously since its first debut in 1924. In 1924, the parade consisted of four bands, giant heads carried on the shoulders of marchers, ten floats that depicted nursery rhymes, and a few local band high schools. Since 1924, this event has grown beyond the dreams of those who participated in it in 1924, and this year is celebrating its 85th annual Thanksgiving Parade. The hallmark trait of the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade is Santa appearing at the very end and receiving the Key to Detroit.
(Information found at http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=173)

Another fun activity that happens before the parade begins (at approximately 9:05am) is this years 29th annual Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot is a fun run for all those willing to run a couple of miles before the parade begins, and before consuming the endless amounts of Thanksgiving food later that day. The Turkey Trot is fun because many people who run in the race dress up in costumes of all sorts of weird things.

I had the pleasure of experiencing the magic of the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in 2008.

If You Live in Detroit and You Have Yet to Experience the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade, What Better Time to Experience This Nationwide Known Event Than This Holiday Season?

Somerset Collection

In honor of Thanksgiving and Black Friday this week, I thought I would blog about another place to shop.

Somerset Collection is located at Big Beaver Road and Crooks, and is home to over one-hundred and eighty stores and restaurants. The most unique feature about this shopping center is that there are two separate shopping buildings, the North and South, that are connected by a glass enclosed skywalk. The skywalk spans across the six-lane boulevard Big Beaver Road and is one of the first skywalks of its kind in the country.

Image from: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/511423

Image from: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/50281561

Some of my favorite places to visit when I go to Somerset are:

-Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory (where I indulge in dark chocolate caramel bars)
-Urban Outfitters
-Fossil
-Haagen-Dazs (where I indulge in the BEST strawberry banana smoothies)
-Forever
-Vera Bradley (where I obsess over funky patterns for purses, wallets, and travel accessories)
-Eddie Bauer
-Anthropologie

A very popular restaurant that is located in the Somerset Collection center is the Chinese restaurant, PF Changs China Bistro. After a long day of shopping on Black Friday, what could be better than sitting down for a nice relaxing chinese dinner?

Another great place to go out to eat is California Pizza Kitchen. Yes, California Pizza Kitchen makes excellent pizza, but this "pizza" restaurant also makes fabulous pastas as well.

In honor of the theme of my blog, Metro Detroit, another very important store at Somerset Collection to note is the Detroit Shoppe, which is part museum and part retail shop. This museum portion of the shop allows shoppers to explore the moments, memories, and products of the great city of Detroit.

Some of the  products that the Detroit Shoppe offers are: Better Made Snack Foods, Faygo, Verner's, Velvet Peanut Butter, and Sanders. The Detroit Shoppe also includes Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings merchandise.

For the full Somerset Collection directory, please visit The Somerset Collection Homepage

Whether you are looking for Detroit souvenirs, or a great place to shop or dine, Somerset Collection is a great place to visit. 

Library Lovers and Book Nerds

Imagine endless shelves of books filled with stories of medieval times, tropical rain forests, European history, witches and wizards, and anything else your creative mind can think of. Imagine being able to get to these endless shelves of books by traveling through the heart of a thriving city...

The Detroit Public Library can make everything you just imagined come true.

Image from: http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/2011/04/detroit-library-chairs-cost-1092-each/

The Detroit Library opened in March of 1921 and has never had to move its location. The library's wings were opened in June of 1963.

The Detroit Public Library is the largest library system in the state of Michigan. There is a main library and twenty-three neighborhood branches.

The main Detroit Library is located at 5201 Woodward Avenue.

This library system makes the Detroit Public Library one of the most valuable and accessible public institutions in Metro Detroit. The Detroit Public Library consists of a Main Library with ten subject departments and numerous collections, and, as stated above, there are twenty-three branch libraries, as well as a program called LOW (a bookmobile service for the community).

Image from: http://detroit1701.org/DetroitPublicLibrary.htm

Come on, 

Library Lovers and Book Nerds, 

this is an institution that you don't want to miss out on!

Facts and information found at: http://www.detroit.lib.mi.us/index.htm

DIA

I have lived in Metro Detroit my entire life and it took me seventeen years to visit one of Detroit's most inspirational and historic museums: the DIA, otherwise known as the Detroit Institute of Arts. What led me to finally explore the enlightening museum at the age of seventeen? My wonderful Creative Writing high school class during my junior year. My Creative Writing teacher had arranged for her Creative Writing classes to spend a day observing and taking in all the wonderful art that is exhibited at the Detroit Institute of Arts in hopes that we, her students, would be inspired by the art to write a piece for her class.

What about the DIA?


The foundation for the DIA was laid by a scholar and art historian from Berlin, William Valentiner, who was director from 1924-1945. Because Valentiner had extensive contacts back in Europe, along with support from patrons, he was able to attain many important works that now establish the framework of today's collections.

The DIA has been enriching the lives of those living in or near Detroit (or visiting Detroit) who visit the institution since 1885 - for over a century! Since 1885, the museum had grown tremendously, and now covers 658,000 square feet and includes more than one hundred galleries, a 380-seat lecture and recital hall, a 1,150-seat auditorium, and even an art reference library!

Image from: http://www.detroit-travel-guide.com/detroit-institute-of-arts.html

The DIA's collection of art is among the top six in the United States that one would find. The trademark of the DIa is the diversity of the art collection. From the celebrated works of American, European, Modern and Contemporary, and Graphic art, the museum also constitues a significant amount of work of Native America, African, Asian, Islamic, Oceanic, and Ancient art.


The DIA is located at 5200 Woodward Avenue. Available visiting hours are:

Sunday

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Thursday

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Friday

10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

General admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for youth (ages 6-17), $5 for college students (with valid school photo ID), children five years or younger are admitted free into the institution, and Detroit residents get in FREE on Fridays!

For more information on the DIA, please visit DIA

So if you are someone who enjoys meandering your wall through what seems like endless hallways of art, a history lover, or an artist who needs inspiration, the DIA is the place to go!

More Frankenmuth!

What is a trip to Frankenmuth without the Bronner's experience of Christmas cheer?!

When my family took a visit to Frankenmuth for that delicious chicken dinner, we also made at pit-stop at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland!

(It only took a million years for my parents to find the perfect spot for us to take pictures)

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland is the world's  LARGEST Christmas store...open 361 days a year and featuring over 50,000 trims and gifts!!! Bronner's is 5.5 football fields of PURE CHRISTMAS!

Some people feel that the display of Christmas decorations and the radio playing Christmas music before Halloween is a tacky party foul. I, however, find it absolutely WONDERFUL. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I think the sooner Christmas cheer is brought out, the better!

That is exactly why I love Bronner's. I could visit this giant Christmas store in the middle of July and instantly wish that it were December as soon as I walk through the sliding doors. And I must not be the only one because, according to Bronners' website, over two million people visit Bronner's Christmas Wonderland each year.

You can find hundreds of different kinds of ornaments (including personalized), artificial Christmas trees, Christmas lights, Nativity Scenes, decorations, collectables, and more at Bronner's!

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland was founded in 1945 by Wally Bronner to celebrate the joy of Christ's birth. The motto of this massive Christmas store is: "enjoy CHRISTmas, It's HIS birthday; Enjoy Life, It's HIS way."

For more Christmas Wonderland details, please visit Bronner's Christmas Wonderful

Spread the Holiday Cheer and visit Bronner's Christmas Wonderland This Year!

Frankenmuth!

This past weekend, I was given the privilege to spend a beautiful, Autumn, Sunday afternoon meandering through the German town of Frankenmuth with my family.

As a child, my family would make a trip to Frankenmuth at least once a year to have a delicious dinner at the Bavarian Inn. However, I was unable to visit Frankenmuth for the past six years due to busy family schedules; this past Sunday was an exquisit treat!

Image from: http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv15574.php

As I noted, the Bavarian Inn is the main attraction that my family always flocks to when we go to visit Frankenmuth. The Bavarian Inn is famous for their home-cooked, family-style chicken dinners. Their chicken noodle soup and northern-bean salad are two dishes that I especially love before I dig into my chicken and mashed potatoes. To top a great dinner off, the family-style dinners include the BEST vanilla-orange twist ice cream.

What is fun about the Bavarian Inn is that there are several quant shops in the basement of the restaurant. These shops include anything from beer and wine, to toy shops, to souvenir shops.

Take a step outside of the Bavarian Inn and you will find yourself on a pleasantly crowded street of tourists strolling along a street filled with numerous stores that include jewelry, candy, fudge, souvenirs, and much, much more.

What's fun about exploring the streets of Frankenmuth surrounding the Bavarian Inn are the numerous fun "Face Holes" to take pictures in.

The Bavarian Inn is located at 1 Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, MI.
For more details concerning the Bavarian Inn, please visit The Bavarian Inn

If you're looking for a place to have a delicious, all you-can-eat chicken dinner, come to the Bavarian Inn!