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Gorgeous weather, waterfront action and plenty of eye candy...
The very best of Detroit celebrated the city in style
Crush
It’s not just in wine country where you get to experience the joys of turning grapes to wine with your bare feet. This Thursday, in celebration of Vinotecca’s fourth anniversary, you’ll not only get to crush your own grapes but taste up to 30 wines and sample food and Bastone’s own craft-brewed beers.
“This celebration is not only to honor our birthday but also to honor our customers because they are the reason we are still here and going strong,” says Assistant Manager Bronwen Nikora. "To miss Crush this year would mean missing our best value tasting of the year. At $25 a person (in advance) and 30 wines to taste, that's less than a $1 a wine, along with the beer, food and activities.”
This award-winning wine bar will also have a cooking demonstration by Chef Casaundra White Thursday night, a competition to see who can fill a glass the fastest by stomping grapes with their feet and an extended happy hour from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
Over this next year, expect Vinotecca to undergo “a small face lift" which will include the cellar downstairs, says Nikora.
7-9 p.m. Thursday, Vinotecca, 417 South Main Street, Royal Oak, 248.544.6250. $25 in advance or $35 at the door.
Best of Detroit Party
The name says it all. This Thursday, the star-studded fourth annual Best of Detroit Party will be held at the MGM Grand Detroit to celebrate all the best food, music and more Detroit has to offer. The event will feature more than 30 restaurants including Andiamo, Beans & Cornbread, Big Rock Chophouse, Dirty Dog Jazz Café and Slows Bar BQ. Entertainment will be provided by Boogie Dynomite, the Mega 80s, DJ Powderblu and the Killer Flamingos with proceeds benefiting the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
7 p.m.-midnight, Thursday, MGM Grand Detroit, 1777 Detroit, 313-465-1777. $85.
Philly Freeze
For the last few weeks, suburbanites Vanessa Beard and Natalie Laginess have been bringing a doo-wop vibe to Slows Bar BQ in Detroit.
“It's a ‘50s/’60s doo-wop, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll dance party” Laginess says.
As the Del Hopettes, the girls realized after a long winter that their cold-weather hobby of collecting 45s had turned into “a pretty good collection of songs,” and Philly Freeze was born, Beard says.
“We don’t get funky with it. This is just really early gritty music. We don’t use iPods or computers – so it’s pretty raw.”
The summer party, which Beard and Laginess says draws a diverse crowd, began in May and is held every other Thursday on Slows' patio.
11 p.m. Thursday, Slows Bar BQ, 2138 Michigan, Detroit, 313-962-9828. Free.
Hottiefest
One of summer’s most anticipated bashes is back, and this year, expect the heat to be turned up on Hottiefest.
Last year’s get-together was held at the Roostertail, but this year, the soirée will be held at the Beach Grill -- and with a new location comes a new feel.
“Last year was the she-she vibe,” says Hottiefest host John Schoenith, who has been trying to book the waterfront locale for Hottiefest for the last four or five years. “This year is down and dirty. This year is no frills; it’s just like get down to it. We’re not doing anything fancy.”
One thing that’s sure to remain the same, however, is there will be some serious hotties in the house. Last year’s event featured dozens of models whose outfits could give the Victoria Secret girls a run for their money.
DJ Mike Anthony and Warren party band Room 13 will handle the entertainment.
9 p.m. Friday, the Beach Grill, 24420 Jefferson Ave., St. Claire Shores, 586.771.4455. $15, $30 VIP.
Ultimate Skyline White Party
It wouldn't officially be summer without a white party or two, and this year, the Ultimate White Party rises to new heights.
“We are going up on top of the Glass House’s vast parking structure and transforming it into a spectacular outdoor nightclub,” says Charles Hicks, one of several promoters involved.
Held at Chene Park for the last two years, White Party patrons will gather at the Glass House on Broadway near the Opera House for an “experience (that) will begin when the elevator doors open to unveil a pinnacle of 4,500 urban chic Detroiters dancing, sipping and strolling under the evening stars draped in the latest white couture,” says Hicks, who estimates that about 4,000 people attended the event the last two years. “We moved the venue because after two years being at Chene Park, we had to give our patrons another new and unique place. The parking structure of the Glass House will transform into a swanky and sizzling outdoor nightclub for one night only.”
Rapper, songwriter and producer Jermaine Dupri is expected to host the 2009 Ultimate White Party, Roca Wear will be passing out swag bags and Grey Goose will be stirring up Tip Top Signature Cocktails all evening.
5 p.m. Sunday, Detroit Glasshouse, 1426 Broadway, Detroit. $30. $50 VIP.
Rock the Bells after party
If you didn’t get your fill of hip hop and R&B from the international Rock the Bells concert at the DTE Energy Music Theatre, then the after party at Capital Square may be just want the doctor ordered.
“You already know what to expect at a Public event,” says Jeremy Deputat, creative director of Public Media Group LLC, which has been responsible for bringing artists like Oakland-based rapper Too $hort and Talib Kweli to local clubs. “This is the official joint, and you can bet all the artists on the Rock the Bells tour will be in the house.”
While that may be up for debate, one thing for sure is that Nas, Supernatural and Phat Kat will be rockin’ the mic until the club shuts down. ?uestlove will be doing his thing on the decks for three or four hours after DJ Graffiti kicks off the night. San Diego artist Pryslezz will also be in the house.
The after party at the former Plan B also serves as a release party for the Frank Book Chapter 36: Erotica, which Deputat describes as a lifestyle and art publication. The New York-based magazine will focus this month on erotica and will feature photography from Mark Baptiste and Estevan Oriol.
9 p.m. Sunday, Capital Square (formerly Plan B), 205 W. Congress, Detroit, 313.226.1200. $15 in advance. Tickets available at groovetickets.com and Burn Rubber in Royal Oak.
