Campus revamp

It was a showpiece at last year's MLB All-Star game and during the last Super Bowl, but Campus Martius Park is more than a bright spot in a formerly blighted area of downtown Detroit. The city dumped millions into this gem in the hopes that it'd bring people back to the D. But as history proves, if Campus Martius is not taken full advantage of — or if it loses its luster after a short period of time — the urban playground will not be the oasis it was intended to be, it will instead become another ghostly mirage.

We know that many have discovered the goods, but the following is a series of hypotheticals that might convert the uninitiated:

Is the drone in the cubicle next to you listening to Chris Botti again? Screw that, because every Monday through Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., there's live music from local bands — all types are scheduled to play, including Chris Codish, Death By Accordion and Jere Stormer.

Do you think culture is stuff you get from yogurt? If so, you might need the art marketplace, which features both fine art and handcrafts, every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Are you a fatty with a hangover? Wake up Saturday mornings (9-10:30 a.m.) the healthy way with a Tai Chi or aerobics sessions, courtesy of the Boll Family YMCA.

Is your idea of a Detroit tour the route from I-75 to Joe Louis Arena and back again? Every Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., there is a guided historical, architectural, city living, business and cultural tour of the city.

Miss the drive-in? Every Saturday night from 8 to 10 p.m., Comcast hosts an outdoor movie night. Select features include The Barnyard (July 22), Madea's Family Reunion (July 29) and Grease (Aug. 5).

The kids already bored with summer? Sundays at Campus Martius are filled with kid-friendly activities including youth theater performances (2-4 p.m.), presented by the Skillman Foundation.

Plus, there's oodles of other activities going on throughout the summer months — including Dave Mason (Friday, July 28) and the Detroit International Jazz Festival (Friday-Monday, Sept. 1-4) — but visit campusmartiuspark.org and see for yourself.