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Alright, alright. So I’m on vacation right now and the blogs are kinda weak– ie, link regurgitation. But hey. Currently, I’m driving– passenger side– through northern Alabama. Just had some food at a Waffle House. Louie’s is still better.

Got caught up laying in a hotel bed reading reading this article discussing the arts in Detroit. It’s not your average run-of-the-mill, fly by approach to discussing Detroit. There’s some really genuine observations made about the city that ring quite true. Lots of great people discussed. Read the article here.

Next, Jerry Paffendorf talked with Model D. What resulted was a really great look back at LOVELAND’s efforts in Detroit. Jerry’s got a pretty fascinating vision for this city. It’s full of surprises, springboards, unconventional steps and growth possibility. His efforts along with Mary and Larry are pretty original and inspiring. See the Model D interview here.

I’d continue by talking about the recent development that Dennis Leary has stepped in as Executive Producer (ie, funder) on ‘Burn’– the documentary discussing the heroic acts of the DFD, but my head is sorta spinning from looking at my Smart phone. So read the article here.

Claire Nelson’s shop the Bureau of Urban Living will be passing on the torch to the Linn siblings next door who currently own and operate City Bird. Yep. The doors are closed at Bureau as we speak but new beginnings are already setting foot. Nest, the Linn siblings’ expansion of the City Bird empire, will take Bureau’s place and sell housewares and such in similar fashion. So there’s much t look forward to. And let’s be honest, Claire, the mind behind Open City and Shop Midtown, probably has all kinds of exciting tricks up her sleeve.

Separately, home prices in metro-Detroit rose 2.7% in August. Only two cities in the country demonstrated these growth figures, so there’s something to celebrate. The Freep reports more here.

The Detroit Design Festival is shaping up to be something interesting. It’s kind of like Chapter Two to Art X, the festival put on by Kresge that showcased the artists that have been the recipients of their fellowships in the past few years. DDF goes well beyond the pool of roughly 40 Kresge Fellows and takes a broader look at the region’s creative culture. This is increasingly relevant as we look to the creative sector to propel the city forward.

Over the course of the eight day festival there will be lectures, exhibitions, fashion shows, interactive installations, art battles, studio tours, and performances. There is no charge to attend most happenings, but some do have fees. All of the ‘design happenings’ were developed by, and will be executed by, designers and creative people from across the Metro Detroit area as a showcase of our talent.

In general, I think it’s an important step in encouraging Detroit to forge an identity around its creative capacity, because whichever way you look at it– it’s a part of what we do. Though the automobile industry wasn’t the work of what we know as a traditional artist, it was very much so a creative solution to manufacturing that revolutioned the world. And that bled in to the development of Motown, of techo, or in other areas that have come to define us, like furniture making, which happens to also be one of our fortes.

Tonight the launch of the festival is happening at New Center Park (2990 W Grand Blvd) from 6 to 9pm. Pick-up the official Detroit Design Festival guide, enjoy music by Sean Blackman and DJ Amy Dreamcatcher, relax in the Quicken Loans Lounge & Design Experience, check out the art installations and even see a fashion show. Not bad for a Wednesday night.

Other notable highlights that are part of the festival as the week rolls on:

Thursday night 5-8pm: Mind the Gap (Info)
Friday night at 9pm: Detroit by Design Fashion Show and Homeslice Label Launch (Info)
Saturday all day: D’s Creatures (Info)
Sunday at 6:30pm: Detroit SOUP (info)

Chatter is circulating about the approach of the 2011 Detroit City Futbol League season. I know, you’re saying there’s 18 inches of snow on the ground, stop talking about soccer. But it’s impossible. In case you missed out on the action last year, the league consisted of teams represented by neighborhoods throughout the city of Detroit. Teams battled it out over a nine game season with a finale championship Copa Detroit. The crowning victor last year was the Villages, a conglomerate neighborhood on the east side.

That being said, 2010 League Champions and Copa Detroit runner-ups, Woodbridge have already started an off-season training schedule in the frigid cold with a tire circuit and light calisthenics regiment. Teammates gather four times a week at 5:30am for practice. Says AO “Bowling Ball” Wood, star right winger well known for his 18 inch bicep circumference and the ability to complete the tire circuit bare-footed in the winter cold, “It’s what needs to be done.” No further commentary was offered.

Sean Mann, League Commissioner and founder, recently reported discussions with the mayor’s office about getting more teams participating from all corners of the city. Given the amazing turnout last season, it seems as though the excitement level surrounding the league will only increase. Stay tuned to the DCFL website for more details.

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