THIS WEEKEND: 9th Annual Ice Carving Show & 9th Annual Fire & Ice Chili Cook-Off Pub Crawl Fundraiser Heats Up Downtown Mount Clemens

 

 

 

9^th Annual Fire & Ice Chili Cook-Off Pub Crawl Fundraiser Heats Up Competition Between 

Downtown Mount Clemens Establishments

Todd Seeburger of Seeburger's Cheeseburgers is preparing to defend his crown at the Ninth Annual Downtown Mount Clemens Fire and Ice Chili Cook-Off Pub Crawl Fundraiser to be held January 30, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

 

Last year, Seeburger's Cheeseburgers took their first ever win and title, as they were named the city's "Best Chili of 2013". 

 

The competition is already heating up between participating downtown restaurants and bars, as they strategize and perfect their culinary creations in pursuit of the highly coveted title and winners crown.

 

Each year, Fire and Ice Chili Cook-Off Pub Crawl attendees score each chili, and the winner is ultimately selected by popular vote.  Scoring runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the pub crawl continuing later into the night.  Attendees must score at least six of the eleven entries for their scorecard to be counted.

 

The Anton Art Center will also hold their "Art Raffle" during the chili cook-off.  Each of the participating establishments will feature a different piece of unique artwork to be raffled off.  Art Raffle tickets are only $1 each, with all proceeds benefitting the Anton Art Center.  Just think, you could take home a beautiful work of art for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.

 

Tickets for the Fire and Ice Chili Cook-Off Pub Crawl Fundraiser are a $15 donation for one, or $25 for two.  Each participant receives a wristband good for a taster-sized chili at each establishment.  The first 350 registrants will also receive free souvenir chili pepper party beads.  Tickets are now available at the participating establishments. 

All eleven participating establishments are located in the heart of historic Downtown Mount Clemens:  Bath City Bistro, Buffalo Wild Wings, Detroit Pub, John Barleycorn's, The Mitt, Madison's Pub, Orleans Sports Café, The Rec Bowl, Three Blind Mice, Seeburger's Cheeseburgers, and Your Mother's. 

 

All Fire and Ice Chili Cook-Off Pub Crawl proceeds will be equally divided between two wonderful area charities, The Anton Art Center, and the Mount Clemens Goodfellows.  Last year's event raised $3,150, and helped these two groups continue to serve the local community.

 

The Fire and Ice Chili Cook-Off Pub Crawl originates back to 2006, when Mount Clemens hosted several Super City activities as part of Super Bowl XL in Detroit.  Since then, this local favorite event has raised over $25,000 for its beneficiaries, and continues to serve as the kick off for the Downtown Mount Clemens annual Ice Carving Show festivities.

 

The Ninth Annual Mount Clemens Ice Carving Show opens on Friday, January 31 at Noon, and runs through Sunday, February 2.  Unique to other ice shows, the Mount Clemens Ice Carving Show features carving throughout the entire event.  The show also includes an ice sculpture putt-putt golf course, Doc McStuffins Warming Station, and various warming and sipping stations located around the downtown.

www.DowntownMountClemens.com

 

Downtown Mount Clemens Prepares For Cool Family Fun at

9^th Annual Ice Carving Show Featuring Live Carving Throughout

 

A wintertime family tradition, the Mount Clemens Ice Carving Show returns to beautiful historic Downtown Mount Clemens on Friday, January 31, and runs through Sunday, February 2, 2014. 

 

Now in its ninth year, the Mount Clemens Ice Carving Show is unique with the focus on observing live carving throughout the entire weekend event, rather than just viewing static placed displays. 

 

Live ice carving demonstrations take place at the Fountain Stage on Macomb Place on Friday, January 31 at Noon until 6 p.m.  Demonstrations continue on Saturday, February 1 from Noon until 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, February 2 from Noon until 2:00 p.m.  All demonstrations are weather permitting.

 

Chef Jeff Wolf, a Culinary Arts instructor at the Macomb Community College Culinary Institute and owner of Finesse Cuisine, is coordinating all of the event's ice sculpting.  All street sculptures will be the work of Chef Wolf and his team of professional ice carvers. 

 

Sculptures will be located at the Fountain Stage on Macomb Place, Cherry Street Mall area, and on Macomb Place. 

 

An event favorite, the nine-hole ice sculpture putt-putt golf course returns to the Cherry Street Mall.  For a modest fee, adults and children alike can partake in this fun outdoor activity, playing miniature golf in and around ice sculptures.  Cost for this activity is $1 for children, $3 for adults.  Putt-putt hours will be:

Friday, January 31 – 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 1 – Noon – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 2 – Noon – 3:00 p.m.

 

Children will also enjoy taking a break from the cold at the Doc McStuffins Warming Station featuring a Doc McStuffins animal clinic inside of ABC Magic Store located at 69 North Walnut Street.  Bring your stuffed animal for a check up and receive a check up certificate.  Other activities include puppet shows, crafts, and more.  Hours are: Saturday, February 1 from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, February 2 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at ABC Magic located at 69 North Walnut. 

 

Many downtown businesses are rolling out their welcome mats to attendees by hosting both Warming and Sipping Stations.  These businesses are open throughout the festival offering a place to warm up, relax indoors; and purchase warm drinks at the Sipping Stations.

 

Ice Sculptures are sponsored by various businesses, organizations, and individuals.  Sponsoring an ice sculpture at the event is a great, affordable way to market a business, celebrate a special anniversary or birthday, or memorialize a loved one.  Interested sponsors should contact the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority office for more information. 

 

Event sponsorship provided by ABC Magic, Finesse Cuisine, Jawor's Golf Center of Roseville, The Macomb Daily, Theut Products of Chesterfield Township, the City of Mount Clemens, and the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority.

 

UPCOMING: Bellydance SHOWCASE / WORKSHOP Event March 1st 2014

Unveiled Dance Company Presents

Rayna Renee March 1st, 2014

Two exciting 2.5 hour workshops, a 3 hour Master Class, and then join us for an evening showcase featuring Ranya Renee, Unveiled Dance, and some of the area's best bellydance entertainers!

For more information or to register, please visit

http://www.unveiledbellydance.com/annarbor/workshops/ranya.html 

UPDATE: Detroit Institute of Arts to raise $100 Million toward Detroit's Revitalization

Detroit Institute of Arts to raise $100 Million toward Detroit's Revitalization

 

January 29, 2014 (Detroit)—As an anchor and investor in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood, an educational resource for students and residents of Detroit, the tri-county area and all of Michigan and a provider of creative programs for numerous social service and community organizations in the City of Detroit and beyond, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is pleased to confirm its participation in the plan being facilitated by Judge Gerald Rosen, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, to help bring an end to the City's bankruptcy, expand support for Detroit's pensioners and protect the museum's collection for the public in perpetuity.

 

Today, the DIA's Board of Directors approved a commitment by the DIA to raise $100 million from corporate and individual donors toward these efforts. The DIA joins the foundation community ($370 million) and the State of Michigan ($350 million) in support of Chief Judge Rosen's plan to benefit the people of Detroit and the State.

 

"The DIA's management and volunteer leadership forthrightly agreed to accept this challenge, despite its difficulty and the many other fundraising commitments the museum manages annually," said Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr., chairman of the DIA Board of Directors. "We are hopeful this agreement will allow Detroit's bankruptcy to move forward smoothly as we all work toward a brighter and better future for Detroit."

 

None of the funds raised by the DIA will directly benefit the DIA. The funds will be directed to a third party, which will disburse the funds for pension payments. As part of the agreement, the City of Detroit will transfer to the DIA free and clear legal title to the museum building, the art collection and all related assets. The DIA will continue to operate the museum with funds raised from its current donor base and from the tri-county millage.

 

"It's important to note that the DIA is not in bankruptcy, in fact it is functioning extraordinarily well. And, while this new challenge will stretch our fundraising abilities to their capacity, the DIA will continue to provide the residents of Detroit and Michigan with amazing art and exciting programs," Gargaro said. "The DIA has consistently met its financial challenges and goals and will meet this challenge with enthusiasm and confidence."

 

The DIA will focus its initial fundraising efforts on Detroit's corporate community. DIA leadership has compiled a list of initial prospects, finalized support materials, and held several preliminary conversations with interested donors. Details of the overall agreement are still in negotiation, but the DIA is moving forward with fundraising as those talks continue.

 

"The mediators are deeply appreciative of the DIA's decision to step forward in such a significant way as a partner in this effort to help protect pensions of Detroit's retirees and safeguard for our City, region and State the DIA's treasured art collection," said Chief Judge Rosen. "We all recognize the magnitude of this great undertaking and appreciate the depth of the DIA's commitment to the City of Detroit and its retirees. As the mediation team continues to work toward a complete, fair and balanced agreed-upon Plan of Adjustment, the DIA's significant undertaking will play an important role in our efforts."

 

###

 

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21^st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA's collection is known for its quality, range, and depth. The DIA's mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art.

 

Programs are made possible with support from residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

Show Review: St. Lucia at the Magic Stick 1/24

 

 

Friday night at the Magic Stick brought a much-needed burst of tropical energy in the form of New York neon-pop artist St. Lucia.  A near capacity crowd packed the former pool hall for a glimpse of something warm, bright and fun to contrast the oppressive arctic funk that has settled over the city.  "This is the coldest day ever." remarked front man Jean-Philip Grobler, contrasting the record-low temperatures outside with those of his balmy home town of Johannesburg, South Africa. A statement he's sure to reprise on his next stops in Chicago and Minneapolis. (Just sayin.)  But just as he praised the Detroit crowd for their amazing warmth and energy, Jean-Philip and his crew are also to be celebrated for their brilliant, shimmering performance.

 

 

For just their first headlining tour, this band has the polish of a vintage Vegas show. A note perfect performance of mostly songs from last year's full-length When The Night was complimented and Elevated (see what I did there?) by a spectacular light show. Little time was wasted on stage and the crowd stayed engaged and energized through every twist and bounce of the setlist. For about an hour, the Magic Stick turned into a Carribean disco filled with 80s synths and infectious polyrhythms, and the crowd ate up every minute.

 

 

Perhaps the only misfire on a nearly flawless night was a slightly tacky drum solo that earned a tepid reaction from the crowd before returning to the jams at hand. But as a whole, Grobler and his partner in crime Patricia Beranek brought a positive vibe and genuine humility that really connected with the crowd. This was one of those nights where the band could have played for 3 hours and no one would have noticed. After the closing notes of the closing numer, "When The Night," the crowd barely dispersed, not wanting the party to end.

(photo courtesy of St. Lucia's Facebook page)

 

But not to fear, you can catch St. Lucia again in May as they accompany Foster the People on tour with a stop at the Fillmore. However, this may have been the last chance to catch them on the small stage of the Stick, as bigger and better things appear to be on the sun-drenched horizon for this band.

 

 

Check out more St. Lucia right here.

 

PHOTOS: Jameson Bartenders Ball Detroit

The Jameson Bartenders Ball, a seriously playful night were bartending is celebrated with great cocktails, music and more.  

This year's party was at St. Andrew's Hall where everyone got to sample, and keep sampling, with info from Jameson reps all the way from Ireland and great swag all night long.  Keep an eye out for some of your front of the house favorites in the photos. 

Set Review: Odesza, Crofoot Jan 25 2013

Usually when I review a show I give the lowdown on each act hitting on what made them memorable, good or bad. For this show, which also featured Emancipator Ensemble and Real Magic, I’m going to bypass that to single out, Odesza,  the one act that really dazzled the crowd last Saturday night at the Crofoot. Odesza is an electronic music duo from Seattle that laid down a set of heavy hip hop inspired electronic mayhem that sent the crowd to near hysteric levels.

Pulling from their ep “My Friends Never Die” and various other beats and tracks the songs melded together in a seamless set. Behind the table, each DJ had an identical set of gear they operated while dancing. From above I could see them manipulate various lighted buttons, move levers and twirl knobs but distinguishing out who was doing what was near impossible. What I could sort out was these guys were stealing the show and it won’t be long until they are headlining their own. You can catch more of what Odesza has to offer on their recently released mixtape No.Sleep Mix.03.

Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog






Wild At Heart


For most people it will be too late, but Antiques Roadshow is running three episodes that were filmed down at Cobo Center last summer starting tonight at 8PM. However, the other 2 episodes will run on Feb 3rd and 10th so make sure to check those out. Other 5,000 people brought in items for appraisal including a signed Andy Warhol poster, a 20th Century collection of Pewabic Pottery and a working script of the "Wizard Of Oz" used by Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion). This should be a fun show and highlight a lot of Detroit history.

Speaking of Detroit, I would like to thank you for sending Jim Schwartz to upstate NY to be our defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills along with quarterbacks coach Todd Browning. After losing Mike Pettine to Cleveland, I was worried that all he did for our defense would go backwards and while I am not sure if Schwartz is head coach material, I think he is a good defensive coordinator and look forward to his continuing the work to keep out top 10 defense improving.

Lastly, what about those Grammys last night. I never watch in real time but catch the results and videos of the performances the next day. Still digesting the Lang Lang/Metallica performance but loved seeing Daft Punk rock out with Stevie Wonder. That was amazingly cool. I also thought Carole King/Sara Bareilles was a good melding of the vintage and new female singer songwriters. Carole King after years of absence from the big stage has really been getting around with her awesome tour with James Taylor, the Gershwin Award (the first time a woman has received it) and the recent Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a whole new generation of music fans are getting to see one of the great songwriters in America. And I can't forget to mention Cyndi introduced them. You know I am a fanatic for Cyndi Lauper so I was super excited that she finally got her 2nd Grammy after getting that best new artist award in 1985. After a few years of different musical styles and nominations in the dance, instrumental and blues categories, out of left field, just like her, comes a Grammy for best musical theatre album for "Kinky Boots".

I'm still wondering why all the ruckus about Taylor's head-banging because she looked hot (maybe they should have put her with Metallica) and we now know Pink can work at Cirque du Soleil if she ever wants to get out of singing. I love Miranda Lambert, but she was no substitute for Norah Jones. Nine Inch Nails and Lindsay Buckingham was inspired and while I loved the look of Goth Girl for Katy Perry, I'm not sure about that song. It was like War Horse meets Battle Angel Alita. Sexy yet keep it colorful next time. Also Gary Clark Jr can really rock and Keith Urban is not so bad either. I also think getting Miley Cyrus with Chicago might have been more interesting. I love vintage Chicago, but they haven't aged as well as Carole. Miley might have given them heart attacks.

I mostly like to see how many of the winning artists I have seen in concert. While I cannot count any of the really big categories, my concert going activities saw 20 Grammys, 3 by Paul McCartney (best music film, surround sound album and rock song with Nirvana members) and 2 by Jay Z (although they were both collaborative). I love having that musical diversity which includes Jazz Vocalist Gregory Porter, reggae star Ziggy Marley, bluegrass favorites Del McCoury Band, the lively zydeco of Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, world music gurus Ladysmith Black Mambazo, alt music rockers Imagine Dragons and Vampire Weekend, blues great Charlie Musselwhite (and Ben Harper), rock gods Black Sabbath and cornered the Americana awards with Edie Brickell, Steve Martin and Emmylou Harris. I can also add Adele, Rihanna and Darius Rucker to that list.

While I cannot give you a Grammy experience, with the exception of Darius at EMU, there are some good shows this week, esp the Ann Arbor Folk Festival so check some of this out and stay warm this week.

Thursday (1/30) - Silverstein @ Dominion House Tavern (Windsor), Saving Abel @ All Around Bar (Taylor)

Friday (1/31) - Ann Arbor Folk Festival featuring Wynton Marsalis w/Iron And Wine and Neko Case @ Hill Auditorium, Samantha Fish @ Callahans, Lez Zeppelin @ Magic Bag, Darius Rucker @ EMU Convocation Center

Saturday (2/01) - Ann Arbor Folk Festival featuring Ingrid Michaelson and Jeff Daniels @ Hill Auditorium, Passion Pit DJ Set @ Crofoot, Umphreys McGee @ the Fillmore, Howling Diablos @ Callahans, Switchfoot and Third Day @ EMU Convocation Center, Amino Acids and 11 other bands @ Smalls

I'll leave you with Detroits own Stevie Wonder with Daft Punk. Despite not really liking the song, I love what Stevie brings and how he improves it.

THIS SAT: Detroit Subgenius Thing feat legendary Amino Acids @ Small's

2014 DETROIT SUBGENIUS THING

Small's

10339 Conant | Hamsammich, MI

Saturday, February 1st

$10 - 9p.m. - all ages

Rapid-fire 12 band, 3 stage, 20 minute set show for the sonic praising of "Bob." 

9:20 - Brag of the SubGenius / Boron Nuzzle (side stage) 

9:40 - Nameless (rear stage) 

10:00 - Cockhorse (main stage) 

10:20 - Caveman Woodman (side) 

10:40 - All The Wild Children (rear) 

11:00 - Reptilian Brain (main) 

11:20 - Carjack (side) 

11:40 - Kalashnikovs (rear) 

12:00 - Year of the Pig (main) 

12:20 - Man Inc. (side) 

12:40 - Disinformants (rear) 

1:00 - Amino Acids (main) 

THIS SUNDAY: Chinese New Year Lion Dance @ DIA

Family Performance

Chinese New Year Lion Dance 

Sunday, 2 Feb 2014, at Noon & 3 p.m.

Detroit Institute of Arts

5200 Woodward Ave | Detroit MI

In honor of the 2014 Chinese New Year, the Asian Martial Arts Studio will present a Classical Southern Style Lion Dance performance complemented by gongs, drums and cymbals, followed by a demonstration of various Kung Fu forms. Kick off the Year of the Horse at the DIA! Great Hall, 2nd level

Homage To Monk & Santamaria With Chembo Corniel / Jan 31- Feb 1/ Jazz Cafe

                            

 

 

(Detroit) Jazz Cafe welcomes back the Grammy Nominated Latin Percussionist, Chembo Corniel for two hot and spicy nights that pay homage to two very important pioneers who helped shape the music of their respective genres: Thelonius Monk and Mongo Santamaria on, Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 01, 2014 in the cozy confines of the Jazz Cafe-  at 8pm & 10pm

 

Chembo brings a phenomenal ensemble featuring current masters of Afro Cuban: Ivan Renta: tenor & soprano sax, Elio Villafranca: piano, Carlo De Rosa: acoustic bass, and Vince Cherico: drums.

 

Born in Manhattan and Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Corniel learned his percussive craft from master drummers Tommy López, Patato, Little Ray Romero, and Cachete Maldonado. After a long stint in the 1980s with Bobby Rodriguez & La Compañia, Corniel performed with virtually everyone, including Tito Puente, Machito, Hilton Ruiz, Willie Colón, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Chucho Valdes, Grady Tate, Buddy Montgomery, Jane Bunnett, Angela Bofill, Dave Valentin and Larry Harlow.

 

Chembo honed his skills at The Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts in New York, and also the prestigious La Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana Cuba under the direction of the legendary Chucho Valdes. Corniel currently teaches percussion at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music

 

Corniel blends the rich textures and kinetic energy of Latin Jazz with rich Afro-Caribbean traditions to create a breathtaking hybrid of Jazz, Latin and Caribbean flavors that still touch on Post Bop and even funk.

Last seen at Jazz Café in 201, after  garnering a 2010 Grammy Nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album, "Things I Wanted To Do", Chembo is also a first call percussionist for many front line band leaders in many genres throughout the Jazz idiom.

 

His other credits include an appearance on The Bill Cosby Show, and a recurring soundtrack gig for the hugely popular Nickelodeon children's show, Dora The Explorer.

Corniel formed hi own Latin Hybrid band, "Grupo Chaworo" and also started his record company "Chemboro Records, Inc." in 2004.

 

www.chembocorniel.com

 

ADVANCE TICKETS: $30   DOOR $40

 

Jazz Café @

Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

350 Madison Avenue

Detroit, MI   48226

www.musichall.org

www.jazzcafedetroit.com

T: (313) 887-8532 F: (313) 962-0243

FREE TICKETS: DARK STAR ORCHESTRA - CONTINUING THE GRATEFUL DEAD EXPERIENCE - Majestic Theatre Detroit - Monday, February 3, 2014

Feeling the chill today?  Well how about we warm things up a bit and toss out a pair of tickets to the upcoming Dark Star Orchestra show next Monday... email motorcityblog@earthlink.net for your chance to win and stay warm!


DARK STAR ORCHESTRA

CONTINUING THE GRATEFUL DEAD EXPERIENCE
Monday, February 3, 2014 
8:00 PM | Majestic Theatre






Performing to critical acclaim worldwide for nearly 15 years and over 2000 shows, Dark Star Orchestra continues the Grateful Dead concert experience. Their shows are built off the Dead’s extensive catalog and the talent of these 7 fine musicians. On any given night the band will perform a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead's 30 years of extensive touring or use their catalog to program a unique set list for the show. This allows fans both young and old to share in the experience. By recreating set lists from the past, and by developing their own sets of Dead songs, Dark Star Orchestra offers a continually evolving artistic outlet within this musical canon. Honoring both the band and the fans, Dark Star Orchestra’s members seek out the unique style and sound of each era while simultaneously offering their own informed improvisations.

$22 Advance / $25 Day of | All Ages

Get your tickets here now

Unlimited Head / ODD HOURS - show this friday at Small's hamtramck

 

Unlimited Head **Odd Hours ** The Audionics **Talking Dolls (Anastasia Gold)

FRIDAY JANUARY 31st

Small's - Hamtramck

Doors 8pm

Tickets $6 (21up) or $10 (18-20)

event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/486165198167662/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

UPCOMING: Shiver on the River @ Belle Isle, 1 Feb 2014

Friends of the Detroit River presents

Shiver on the River

February 1, 2014 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Belle Isle, Detroit

This is a free event!

The Belle Isle Aquarium, Belle Isle Conservatory, Belle Isle Nature Zoo, Belle Isle Boat Club, Coast Guard Station, and Dossin Museum will be open from 10 am to 3 pm. Don’t miss family entertainment and environmental exhibits at the Casino and an ice rescue demonstration at 2 pm at the Coast Guard Station.