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Lounging at the Annex
Your mission -- should you choose to accept it -- is to shop 'til you drop Thursday at the Annex in Royal Oak.
Hosting their first Parkinson’s fund-raiser event, Annex owners Doug Schwartz and his wife Annie LeBlanc will transform their boutique full of jewelry, accessories and home décor into a one-night-only lounge complete with food, wine and complimentary valet parking. Patrons are encouraged to come out, drink, dine and, most importantly, shop. Twenty percent of the proceeds from Thursday night’s event will go directly to the Michigan Parkinson Foundation.
“My wife’s father has Parkinson’s,” Schwartz explains. “It’s a special foundation for us. We just want people to come in and really purchase.”
The Michigan Parkinson Foundation was founded in 1983 and is dedicated to educating and supporting people with the disease as well as researching Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disease that currently affects 1.5 million Americans, according to the National Parkinson Foundation.
7 p.m.-midnight, Thursday, the Annex, 738 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 248.808.6843.
Give a little, get a little
Angelaseye.com will host its first toy drive at North Brothers Ford this Thursday to provide a Ford Flex full of holiday gifts for 62 children at the Wayne County Family Center.
“It's for a great cause -- to brighten the holidays of the children at the Wayne County Family Center,” says Angela Wisniewski, WDIV-TV Local 4 web producer and host of angelaseye.com. “We get pretty caught up in our own wishes for family and friends and such around this time, so donating to kids we don't necessarily know is something we're excited to do.”
Toys can be dropped off all day, but Wisniewski will be there from 6-9 p.m. with drawings for giveaways, like a makeover from Luigi Bruni Salon, $250 to spend at Caruso Caruso, Detroit Pistons' suite tickets, gift certificates and more. Mudgie's Deli in Detroit will provide sandwiches and the Cupcake Station will take care of your sweet tooth.
Everyone who brings a non gift-wrapped toy (no toy weapons, please) will receive a free oil change coupon from North Brothers. Coupons can be redeemed at both the Westland and Troy locations (1950 W. Maple Rd., Troy).
“Everyone wins here,” Wisniewski says. “You'll make some kids smile, which should make you smile, too.”
Thursday, 33300 Ford Rd., Westland, 800.586.7501.
Beauty battle
If you think you’re finer than the girls on the boob tube, then head to Tonic in Pontiac this Friday to prove that you’re 2Hot4TV.
“Last year was the first year I threw this party,” says Neiman Williams of promotions company N.W. 45. “It was like the first special event I had thrown in six months. I had spent a majority of my time helping out other people on their events until I realized it was time for me to go in my own direction.”
Party man Promo Paul, who left the Detroit scene in March, will be back to help decide which girl will win the $1,000 cash prize for being too hot for TV — based on her looks.
There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres and pizza, and $2 drinks will be available until 11 p.m.
Brilliance, Jay Hussle and Lewd Society will perform, and DJs Ryan Richards, Shortstop, Action Jackson, Ruben X and Matt Camron will handle the beats. Last year’s event drew about 700 people, says Williams.
9 p.m. Friday, Tonic, 29 S. Saginaw, Pontiac. 248-334-7411.
Celebrating Detroit
For four years, Detroit by Design has produced and promoted thought-provoking music, performances and artistic exhibitions. They co-produced the "High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno" Film Premiere with Paxahau Promotions Group and hosted the 2008 Movement festival VIP area that was produced by Paxahau.
This Saturday, the crusade will continue as the promotions and productions company celebrates its anniversary.
“We are fortunate to have dozens of our favorite artists, designers, musicians, sponsors and promotional partners participating in this special occasion,” says founder Rich Rice. “We recognize that our success is a product of these positive community relationships and make it a top priority to provide publicity and personalized value for each of our supporters.”
Butler-style cocktails and canapés will be provided by Four Star Culinaire catering, and a dozen DJs, including Frankie Banks, Gabe Real, DJ Ava, Espleece and Dethlab, will perform in the Detroit By Design and Art In Development galleries. Fashion shows will feature designs by Femilia Street Couture, Camilo Pardo, Cyberoptix Tie Lab, PeaceLoveSpandex and Wound.
A VIP reception will be held from 9-11 p.m.
11 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday, Detroit by Design, 2944 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 313-433-1747.
Happy Birthday Captn20
For six years, Captn20 (Nick Haddad) has entertained the masses in Detroit's nightlife scene with his wide stream of musical styles that is rooted in house music. This Saturday, he rings in his 33rd birthday at MBarGo.
"Who better to spend it with than 1000 of my closest friends," says Haddad who promises, "good times, great music and lots of Patron."
Sounds will be provided by Captn20 and DJs Tom Keeling and Prevu along with Jared Sykes on the percussion tip.
10 p.m. Saturday, MBarGo, 44325 12 Mile, Novi, 248.374.3420.
Stoopid Fresh
This past Tuesday marked the beginning of a new night centered on hip-hop, dance music, funk and electronic at the TV Bar.
Stoopid Fresh, featuring resident DJs Dez (Andres of Slum Village) and K-Fresh of Renaissance Soul Detroit, will be held every Tuesday building off the momentum started on other instrumental hip-hop based Tuesdays throughout the D.
“The name actually came from an inside joke between myself and this girl out in San Francisco when we were in the middle of some witty banter,” say Kelly (K-Fresh) Frazier. “It’s a play off my name, K-Fresh, but it has a bit of a ’90s fun hip-hop, dance party retro feel to it. I just wanted something fun sounding that played a bit off myself.”
The night will center on old and new hip-hop music with elements of soul, funk and electronic, says Frazier. “DJ Dez spins a lot of timeless old school music. That’s much of his repertoire. I like to play stuff of all sorts, but I like to find new forms of hip-hop and dance music that I think people will enjoy. It’s just all about having fun.”
10 p.m. Tuesday, TV Bar, 2554 Grand River, Detroit, 313-965-4789. $5.
Ese Esan's nightlife column the D-scene appears every Thursday in the Detroit Free Press' Play magazine. It goes live on Metromix.com Tuesday night. Email her party invites, after-dark news and club-related notes to eesan@metromix.com.
