Passports to Wines of the World
Detroit Tigers player Curtis Granderson plans to wine and dine guests at his fund-raiser and bachelor auction at Big Rock Chop House Thursday night alongside Jeff Dye, the third-place finisher in Season 6 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, who will perform a comedy set and serve as the auctioneer.
Benefiting his Grand Kids Foundation, a non-profit organization built in 2008 that helps establish baseball programs and gives school supplies to needy kids, one of the highlights of the event – besides sampling some 300 wines from around the globe – is the auction of a private dinner for two with Granderson or his teammates Edwin Jackson or Ryan Perry to the highest bidder.
“This is going to be a great event,” Granderson said in a statement. “We are bringing people together to learn about the wines of the world and raise a lot of money for my foundation. This will be the perfect event for Tigers fans and wine enthusiasts alike to interact with some of their favorite players as summer winds down and we get ready for the stretch run of the baseball season.”
The night will also include a silent auction with sports memorabilia and entertainment packages.
Tickets can be purchased at www.grandkidsfoundation.org/passport. Members of the Detroit Wine Organization will get a $10 discount. VIP tickets include entry into a VIP reception at 6:30 p.m., access to VIP wines and a souvenir wine glass to take home.
7 p.m. Thursday, Big Rock Chop House, 245 S. Eton, Birmingham, 248.647.7774. $85. $135 VIP.
The Black Affair 4
How do you turn a fairly hedonistic party with the same promoters targeting the same crowds into a somewhat stylish affair? Just change the name.
That’s what promoters DL Drew and Neiman Williams are doing this year with the Black Affair 4 this Friday at MBarGo.
“Well, this party actually used to be called ‘The Freaks Come out at Night’ party for the past three years, but because the venue is more corporate owned, it has restrictions and limits to how it can and wants to be portrayed,” says Drew.
The Freaks parties brought out “the wild sides of people” with go go dancers wearing next to nothing and performers who were simply there for shock value. This year, Drew and Williams, among others, decided to go for a more subtle kind of sexy.
“Novi itself is a great up-and-coming hot spot for entertainment and nightlife, and I feel like MBarGo is one of the premier spots to gather and party in the area,” Drew says. “It definitely prides itself on its upscale and attractive party-goers that flood the venue consistently week after week.”
Body Kandi will be giving away $600 in apparel like club wear, lingerie and bathing suits, says Williams, and “you add Tom keeling and Bruce Cobb into the fold and it only makes it that much easier to party the night away.”
9 p.m. Friday, MBarGo, Fountain Walk, 44325 12 Mile Rd., Novi, 248.374.3420. $10.
Coyote Ugly
The beauties of the Playhouse Dolls will get a little ugly this Friday at the Dirty Martini to introduce a new service available to clients.
“We want to start offering choreographed routines for theme parties utilizing our models, and this will be a good way to showcase the new offering from our company,” says Barbie, owner of the Playhouse Dolls modeling and entertainment company. “The Coyote Ugly party series will go on for a couple months and will be one of our offerings to bars for theme parties. We will also offer choreographed routines from our go-go dancers.”
The weekly series will feature a midnight routine on the bar, sounds by DJ Donovan Tate and Tone on percussions. Ty-Ku drink specials will be available all night. There will also be a live performance by Detroit recording artist Kelley Jean.
10 p.m. Friday, the Dirty Martini, 42705 Grand River Ave., Novi, 877.347.8907. $10.
Skin '09
Short Michigan summers almost necessitate that we show it off while it can -- skin that is – while basking in the warmth of the sun. But George Stager III warns that while it might seem natural to throw on that bathing suit and worship the sun, showing skin may have a price.
For the second year in a row, Stager, a 25-year-old skin cancer survivor, is throwing a Skin event to raise awareness and money for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
“A recent skin cancer victim myself, I was inspired to give back to the Karmanos Institute for those with more serious cases of this disease.”
Last year’s event at Via Nove drew about 350 people. This year, Stager hopes to have an even larger crowd at Chen Chow Brasserie. “Melanoma represents the most common type of cancer in American women ages 25-29 and the most common type of cancer in men ages 25-44 who live in the state of Michigan. This year we hope to double our profits for this cause and raise additional awareness of this disease.”
Saturday will feature a silent auction, an 11:30 p.m. fashion show by Prodigy in Royal Oak, live music, free food, drinks and more.
9 p.m. Saturday, Chen Chow Brasserie, 260 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 248-594-2469. $15.
Alumni Reunion Block Party
The Whitney will become even more unstuffed this weekend as alums from area colleges turn the restaurant and its gardens into a picnic block party Saturday. The pre-event takes place at Belle Isle at 11 a.m. near the lighthouse.
“The post-picnic block party (at the Whitney) is the climax to an incredible reunion weekend,” says promoter Shed Amin. “We have fond college memories, and this reunion weekend is our way of reconnecting with lost friends and making new ones.”
Graduates from Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Wayne State University, Oakland, Central and more, are expected to participate. Tents, loungers and an outdoor grill will be provided at the Whitney along with live music and sounds by DJ Polo. Last year’s event was held at Harmonie Park.
“The block party is an event that only happens once a year,” Amin says. “You will reunite with friends both old and new. You will relive your college days and party like you did when you were on somebody’s college campus. You can attend a weekly party anytime, but the energy from the Alumni Weekend Block Party makes it the event of choice hands down.”
There’s also a kick-off party at Angelina Italian Bistro in Detroit at 9 p.m. Friday.
8 p.m. Saturday, the Whitney, 4421 Woodward, Detroit. 313-932-5700. $10.
