What to Do in Detroit This Weekend: April 26-28, 2013

Detroit may have been rainy this week, but this April 26-28 weekend, forecasts as of publication say temperatures should be in the 60s with little to no chance of precipitation. Get out of the house this weekend and take in one of these fun activities around metro Detroit.  The D's signature Funk Fest, murder theatre, slow art, silent movies, vintage hoopball, Alice in Wonderland, Earth Day and more! And why not try a world-food pub crawl, starting with Jacoby's German Biergarten? Try the rahm schitzel--you'll think you've died and gone to Valhalla! Read more

What to Do in Detroit This Weekend: April 19-21, 2013

As Michigan's thermometer inches up, we're seeing signs of spring everywhere, and Earth Day is nearly upon us. Looking for fun activities in and around metro Detroit this April 19-21, 2013, weekend? Read on for events for every taste and age: music, dancing, art, science, nature, theatre, dining and more.   What to Do in Detroit This Weekend: April 19-21, 2013

Metro Detroit's Most Traditional, Authentic Irish Pubs

For many, St. Patrick's Day means drinking green beer, eating corned beef, and sporting emerald-colored shamrocks and leprechauns. If you're looking for that pedestrian St. Paddy's experience in and around Detroit, pubs and parties abound. For the authentic Irish, however, look to these places. With a maiden name of Kinney, I know of what I speak. Oh, and don't miss the St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday, March 10, at 2 p.m. It happens in Corktown, Detroit's oldest neighborhood. The parade route goes up Michigan from Sixth to 14th in Southwest.Metro Detroit's Most Traditional, Authentic Irish Pubs
 

Free Poety Lessons: Spring Nature Poems as Song Lyrics

April is National Poetry Month. Poetry is the perfect venue to express the joy of spring. And spring it the ideal subject for poems. Why not take some of those poems and put them to music? Song lyrics are just poetry with some instruments and singing added. And music is sung poetry. In my years as a Montessori teacher, we explored all forms of poetry with all ages of children. No child is too young to write poetry. Little ones can dictate their writing and illustrate with their wonderful pictures. And no one is too old to write poetry, either! I've had the privilege to teach in senior centers and nursing homes. Creative writing was a new activity for many seniors who had usually been too busy to explore the creative arts. We had great fun exploring poetry! Get outside no matter what the weather. Bring your pen and paper or text-accessible device. You can even just speak your words into a recorder. Maybe you'll catch some birds singing in the background. You might want to add that to your poetry. Test out your verse with some notes. Let your lyrics guide you to melody that suits. Just try it! Free Poety Lessons: Spring Nature Poems

Students Suspended for Harlem Shake Video

At least 30 students at Milford High School in a metro Detroit suburb made the news for being suspended recently, reports the Detroit Free Press. Student suspensions are rarely newsworthy, as they're pretty standard procedure in most schools. So why the uproar over this incident? The reason is somewhat sordid -- male students uploaded racy videos of themselves air-grinding to the uber-popular "Harlem Shake." What's ironic, however, is the timing. A day earlier, Reuters Health reported that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) spoke out against suspensions as a form of school discipline.

A side note: I don't like the Harlem Shake--such a simplistic, repetive dance. Now the Conga, there was an blood pressure raiser! And some of us were pretty darn good at Conga-ing if I do say so myself. But seriously, is anyone seeing anything racier than Elvis, Prince, Michael, Adam Ant, heck the Charleston? Booty-shaking and dirty dancing are nothing new. Even those brain-freezingly tedious line dances get a little too close for comfort. BTW I had to use the word racy because one of my Yahoo! boys, "Nolan" made a point that I hadn't used that word in the piece. Like that's a good thing?! Racy is too good to waste. So here ya go, buddy! I might even throw in lascivious (if I can spell it)! Such nice scintillating descriptors... Detroit-Area Students Suspended for 'Harlem Shake' Video

Music, Activities to Celebrate Purim

Jewish Purim is celebrated Feb. 24-25 in 2013 (14 Adar in the Hebrew calendar).  Hebrews commemorate the courage of Queen Esther and Mordechai during the Persian exile. Here are activities, music, megillah readings from the tanakh and the Bible Book of Esther. Music plays a big part in many religious celebrations and Purim is no exception. Here's a cute Purim song from the Maccabeats. Enjoy klezmer (Perlman style!) and Jewish games with these links. Jews and gentiles alike can explore Purim and embrace the holiday more deeply. Don't forget your graggers! There are free printable crafts to make some from paper. Mazel Tov! Activities to Celebrate Queen Esther and Purim

Edgy, Sensual Love Songs for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is devoted to romance; what better way to initiate a romantic mood than with music? Here's a playlist of edgy, sensual music to warm the soul and ignite passion. These love songs and arias come from an array of genres. You can listen to them on Youtube. * "Memory"--From Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Cats," this song expresses youth and love gone by. Dame Elaine Page or Britain's Got Talent Susan Boyle sing it best.  Romantic Songs for Valentine's Day