Colorful Skates

How much fun are these Color Block Skates from FredFlare?! Such a nice cross between Rainbow Brite and a PG rated Roller Girl. Even if you don’t ever plan on using them, they’re sure to bring instant smiles displayed in your closet.

FredFlare, a New York based Retailer, offers a fantastic selection of apparel and whimsical gifts for all ages. Perfect for last minute ideas, the FredFlare website makes shopping super easy with their navigation categories and creative marketing campaigns. Subscribe to their Blog for the latest features and promotions!

A Very Happy Birthday!

A warm, heartfelt Happy Birthday wish to my Grandmother, Mary Runyon, who turns 100 today. It is amazing to think that she lived through both World Wars. Mary was born into a Polish immigrant family in northern New York State in 1912. Shortly after, the family relocated to Detroit to seek work in the auto industry like so many others did during the period. Mary has long past filled with strong ties to family and friends. She rolled cigars in a local factory during the Great Depression and worked on the sales floor in the original Detroit Hudsons building. Most importantly, she is a loving mother and grandmother to our family.

Cheers to a wonderful birthday celebration filled with Pierogis and Chrusciki! We wish you many more years of Love and Happiness.

Brit Rock Invasion

The Ed Sullivan show offers a Box Set that highlights Rock & Roll Classics recorded during the 23 years when the show dominated late night television. During the PBS donation event last night, supporters were gifted this box set as a Thank You for contributing to the station. Classic highlights were played to peak consumer interest, including the infamous debut of The Beatles singing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and other gems from the whole Brit Rock Invasion.

Two clips caught me off guard, in a good kind of way. The first is the Rolling Stones. I understand why girls were swooning over this performance, crying to get just a glimpse of Mick Jagger. He’s charismatic and delivers on stage. The video below showcases the Stones performing Satisfaction. My favorite part is at second 34 when Jagger shoots a look back to the band of “yeah, we’re actually here and we’re actually doing this” followed by a smirk back to the mic. Melt my heart.



The second clip is The Animals performing House of the Rising Sun. It might be the posh, trimmed suits or the dark, mysterious locks, but something about this performance is fascinating. Eric Burdon has such powerful, soulful notes but is such a young, innocent looking boy-man. Truth be told, if it were 1964 this LP wouldn’t leave my Crosley.

Fresh Flowers

It's hard to think about the warmer days ahead since we are finally experiencing winter but the first spring flowers appeared at the market this weekend. Tulips, daffodils and rhinoculous; the selection was small but the color options were absolutely stunning.

After trimming down the less than perfect parts, undoubtedly from the long journey, these perfectly pink rhinoculous are displayed in a vintage-style Pewabic step vase in our kitchen.

Pewabic is a familiar name for Detroiters. Founded in 1903, Pewabic Pottery is a national historic landmark located in the city. Pewabic vessels, tiles, and architectural ornamentation have been used in public and private installations across the United States (think Historic Buildings, Churches, Libraries). Modern murals still appropriately display the high attention to detail that is linked to the Pewabic name.

3x3" Pewabic tiles make very thoughtful hostess gifts (starting at about $15). Classic styles are always available and new designs are occasionally introduced for collectors at heart.

Decentralized Dance Party - Detroit

Do a search for "detroit" on Kickstarter.com, the world's largest platform for independent project funding, and you'll discover the pitch for the Decentralized Dance Party. Promoting themselves as "a portable, battery-powered Party System" this elaborate concept is the brainchild of Canadian residents, Tom and Gary.



So what exactly is the DDP?

According to the DDP Website, past events have consisted of hundreds of people, boomboxes, and FM transmitters. All boomboxes are tuned into the FM transmitter resulting in a mobile, synchronized system. Creating a new definition of a Pop Up - Party Shop, DDP has a goal to transform 13 citys on their 2012 tour. Keeping their mission in mind to "further the frontiers of Partying, bring joy to millions of people and ensure that Partying is respected, legitimized, and forever enshrined as a spiritual movement of paramount importance" the DPP has an entertaining, time-suck of a website filled with past promotional materials and legendary party footage.

If you're feeling generous and have your eye on the DDP party pack gift set, consider making a donation through kickstarter. If the funding fails, book a trip out to Seattle, NYC, Austin, or any of the many cities that have endorsed a DDP appearance this summer.

The Walkmen

400 lucky fans experienced The Walkmen at the Chicago Metro last weekend when they launched a two-show tour celebrating their 10th anniversary. We were spoiled with 3 hours of music hand selected from every album in the collection. Personal highlights include In The New Year and Lousiana, but we all left with a stronger attachment to one of the best bands of this modern age.

BRUNCH

A new Chicago breakfast spot treated me very well this weekend. Located at 644 N. Orleans (at Erie) BRUNCH offered a wide variety of fun options to feed the soul (and the hangover). Pictured below is a half devoured plate of Roasted Pork Eggs Benedict. The chipotle hollandaise lit up my taste buds and offered a fantastic start to the day.

Thursday Morning Blues

I love Dunkin Donuts coffee and I need about 10 cups to get me going today. It's just one of those kind of days. Really looking forward to the long holiday weekend filled with friends, family, and some R&R! The countdown begins!

(Photo taken from Intern Lauren)

2011 Rock Odyssey

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

This was the best possible thing to start my Thursday morning. The awkward tension between Jack and Colbert is so funny. I can't wait for the next part to air. Enjoy!

Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie

Check out this vintage image of the first modern bikini to hit the market. Making its French debut in 1946, the revealing swimwear was advertised as the world's "smallest bathing suit". The tiny box in the shot indicates just how mini the bikini becomes.

A lot of famous bikini shots have appeared in the media over the decades. Farrah Fawcett and Bridget Bardot are considered top fan favorites. In my opinion, the most notable bikini shot is featured on Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C. You might also remember this image as the classic "cupcake" that Andy Dufresne used to cover up his escape route in the 1994 hit, The Shawshank Redemption. Raquel Welch just rocks this primitive bikini style so naturally!

Hello Summer

It's hard to imagine that this lobster delicacy was once considered to be only fit for low members of society. It was not until well into the twentieth century that the delicious crustacean was thought as more than a low-priced peasant dish.

The photos above were snapped at The Black Pearl, one of New England's top restaurants. Situated on the Newport Harbor, The Black Pearl serves up the best fresh New England clam chowder and steamed 2 1/2 lb lobsters. Grab a seat inside or out and enjoy the beautiful views and salty aromas of Bannister's Wharf. It's the perfect recipe for a sunny afternoon!

Great Movie Moments...

Jennings: Don't write this down, but I find Milton probably as boring as you find Milton. Mrs. Milton found him boring too. He's a little bit long-winded, he doesn't translate very well into our generation, and his jokes are terrible.

[Bell rings, students rise to leave]

Jennings: But that doesn't relieve you of your responsibility for this material. Now I'm waiting for reports from some of you... Listen, I'm not joking. This is my job!

Hello Leo

Meet Leo, a vintage prison laundry truck turned Hot Rod Thread Sled for local retailer DetroitGT. Owner Chris Gorski found the rare 1979 Chevy P10 Step Van through an Indiana CraigsList ad and rolled the dice on the purchase when he skipped a test drive. After making the trek down to pick it up, Leo was given 2 months of restoration love - including his notable black and red paint job.

I had the pleasure of purchasing a vintage style Hamtramck tee from Leo this weekend at the Berkley Art Fair. Printed on an alternative apparel shirt, I'm predicting it will become my favorite top by the end of summer. If you see Leo at art fairs, city events, and Eastern Market this summer - don't be shy, the truck (and owner) are super nice. Make sure to stop over a say "hi"!

A Classic Summer Thriller

If you're looking for a good throwback film for a Friday night, consider Shadow of a Doubt. This Hitchcock thriller staring Teresa Newton and Joseph Cotten debuted in 1943. Classified as film-noir, Shadow of A Doubt tells the story of a young, humble girl, "Young Charlie" who is visited by her sophisticated and esteemed "Uncle Charlie".

The plot takes a twist when two detectives arrive to ask Young Charlie some questions about the possibility of her uncle being a serial killer known as the "Merry Widow Murderer". Refusing to believe the accusations, she keeps the visit a secret but begins to notice strange behavior. Like any Hitchcock thriller, a suspenseful ending ties up all loose ends.

Pay close attention to at the beginning of the movie. Hitchcock, who himself appears in more Hitchcock films than any actor, makes a cameo about 15 minutes into the feature.

Shadow of a Doubt received unanimously positive reviews. New York Times critic Bosley Crowther loved the film, stating that "Hitchcock could raise more goose pimples to the square inch of a customer's flesh than any other director in Hollywood". I couldn't agree more.

Super Score at the Record Store

Scotty Karate picked up this used gem at the record store over the weekend. The Motown Story features 5 albums filled with the greatest hits born in the Motor City. Each song includes a mini intro from a famous song writer and/or producer - think Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves, and Marvin Gaye. It's really fantastic to hear such famous voices casually detailing how each classic was born.

The best part? When Scotty told me about this find, I responded with a comment on how underrated the song Shotgun by Jr. Walker and the All Stars is. He opened his phone to show me a text that he sent to his dad the previous day that detailed the same thought. Out of all of the hits, we both praised the same jam. I guess great minds really do think alike.

National Donut Day

A big coffee "Cheers" to the fine staff at Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts. You brighten our office Fridays by filling our stomachs with goodness. I salute you on this fine National Day of recognition and wish you many more years of success because, let's be honest, not everyone wants a healthy alternative.

Great Piece of Art

Zakk always finds the best images on tumblr. This zinc board is like a little wish list for bliss. I tried to pick out my favorite line but I think they are all fantastic. Maybe the last one is the most powerful. What if goodbyes were only until tomorrow? Would people still invest so much emotion or would they just be a bit happier during the whole event?

If you aren't familiar with tumblr, it's a viral social media site that allows users to share passions through text, photos, quotes, links, music, and more. Short and to the point, its a great way to pass along a good find. Check out this great tumblr on animals in the wild, the colors are really spectacular.

Chop the Locks!

How seductively amazing is this new look on W's Heath and Beauty editor, Christina Han?! I love that she traded in all of her length for a sassy summer do. Celeb stylist Garren worked his magic to take off more than a foot of luscious locks. The article gives a nice play-by-play for the motivation behind the decision.

If you watch the video, you can totally sense the nervous tension in the room! But, the delighted expression at the end delivers a new, confident look. I just love it!

Detroit I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down

Where do stolen car parts end up? I immediately think of the Chop Shop from Adventures in Babysitting but that just seems so 80s. I figured at this day in age I could just Google the item on a local search and it would lead me to the filthy reseller. CraigsList, Ebay, local auction sites? Is there really an underground network still operating in Detroit?

It seems like if you're smart enough to jack a navigation system out of a Denali, you're smart enough to actually be a contributing member of society. Think about it, it's really a much more lucrative career choice.

Soft Lyrics

I just love melody and lyrics to this She & Him song, Sentimental Heart. It's definitely a mellow tune, but sometimes a sad song is just want you need to feel a little bit better during a down swing.

Old habits die hard
When you've got
When you've got a sentimental heart
Piece of the puzzle you're my missing part
Oh, what can you do with a sentimental heart?
Oh, what can you do with a sentimental heart?