U!S!A!
Detroit City Football Club, Opportunity Detroit, Fathead, and the Downtown Detroit Partnership threw their second FIFA World Cup viewing party last Tuesday, and the crowds packed in to watch Team USA battle Belgium in a do-or-die match of the 16th round. While Belgium beat our boys, 2-1, the crowd inside Cadillac Square was still serving up a heaping helping of patriotism. The crowd was decked out in American flag bandanas and face paint, and Old Glory could even been seen draped over shoulders throughout the crowd. Just days before Uncle Sam celebrated his 238th birthday, the show of support for both our team and our country was truly heartwarming.
Oh, say, can you see?
DDAYS had a sudden moment of clarity this Fourth of July: As we stood on the beach of Clear Lake, up North in Montmorency County, around 10:30 p.m., reveling in the fireworks display of small-town Atlanta (pop. 757), we thought life was pretty good. We thought maybe — maybe! — everyone was right, that the U.S.A. really is the best damn nation in the world.
And then some hobbyist launched his cheap drone above the lake, and the smooth hum from its motor slowly set in. All was well.
Hoping for a swift recovery
DDAYS wishes to express our condolences to WXYZ-TV chief meteorologist Dave Rexroth, who was seriously injured last weekend during a fireworks accident while vacationing with his family in Iowa. Details of the accident are scarce, though the Fourth of July accident “caused Dave to lose sight in his left eye.” Rexroth is currently receiving care at a hospital in Iowa City and is expected to undergo surgery this week, after which he’ll begin the process of finding a prosthetic eye.
Strawberry Dreams
Rock City Eatery paired up with Mary Ann’s Sodas on Saturday for a kickoff party for the artisanal soda company’s launch of their strawberry soda flavor. The place was packed — it usually is, as RCE’s brussels sprouts, pies, and poutine have won over many a new diner — and the buzz about the fledgling soda company only helped matters. There also happened to be the first fireworks display in 30 years in Hamtramck that evening — the city was one of two winners out of 2,500 submissions to USAToday’s “Red, White and You” contest celebrating community pride — and it couldn’t have coincided any better with Mary Ann’s strawberry soda launch. Rubbing elbows with us at the party were Mike Moore, Robyn Barnsdale, Christina Himmelspach, Heather Franklin and tons more — all with a strawberry soda cocktail in hand, of course.
Far from nightmarish
The Magic Stick was home to one of Detroit’s top musical performances of the year Saturday night, as Nightmares on Wax infiltrated Detroit with a dance party the likes of which we here at DDAYS don’t get to see at a smaller venue too often. The crowd was packed as Erno the Inferno laid down the grooves early, warming the packed house up for George Evelyn and his triumvirate of touring musicians to work the venue into a frenzy. Playing hit after hit — from “Flip Ya Lid” to “Be, I Do” — the multitalented Brit kept the melting pot of concertgoers on the dance floor, jiving and shaking to his unique mix of trip hop, electronica, soul, and reggae.
And Many More
DDAYS wishes Detroit-based artist Tony Roko, DJ Tom T, 7 Stone founder Janel Stone, and Detroit Dolly Rocker Cara Lundgren very, very happy birthdays this week.
