Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Just outside of the Grand Rapids city limits lies Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

This destination features a tropical conservatory and sculpture park in an indoor/outdoor setting. This is one of most comprehensive collections of sculptures around. The botanical gardens are housed in a conservatory, while the outdoor sculpture park is 139 acres built for exploration--- definitely enough to keep visitors occupied for an entire day.

There’s actually so much to see that the museum has created a tool that highlights various aspects of the gardens during different seasons! Guests can figure out their perfect day, based on what they’re into. Choose from a self-guided tour that highlights art, plants--- or an adventure perfect for the family. There's even a list of hot spots for those who want to hit all the important sights.

Work from renown artists is located in different areas on the premises. Six sculptures created by Marshall Fredericks are on display. Many of his commissioned pieces can be found throughout the Detroit area including Belle Isle, the Henry Ford Estate and the Detroit Zoo.

​Other features include a labyrinth, children’s garden, treehouse and butterfly maze. There’s also a zen garden, teahouse and even a series of waterfalls. Like I said, you’ll definitely find enough to keep you busy. 

                  Photo ©Faye Webster for Lil Yachty 

Lil Yachty caught my eye when he appeared on a Tee Grizzley track, ‘From the D to the A.’ Since then, he’s popping up everywhere. He’s done collabs with everyone from Diplo and Young Thug to Macklemore and T-Pain.

He came onto the scene where nowadays every rapper worth knowing comes outta- the ATL.

He kicked off ‘The Teenage Tour’ in Dallas earlier this month. He’ll be hitting Detroit Metro on Monday at Royal Oak Music Theatre. 

This weekend, he showed up in NYC in an unconventional way— at a pizza joint. In a marketing move reminiscent of 2 Chainz Pink Trap House, Yachty did a takeover of a Soho pizzeria, transforming Famous Ben’s into Yachty’s Pizzeria for a couple of days.

Check him out when he rolls through town tomorrow. Grab tickets here. 

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​Artist Robert Sestok knows how to throw a party. He invited the public to view his finished work at the 2nd Annual ‘Party in the Park.’  Last night’s main event featured a one-two punch of art and music, held in the glorious little enclave known as “City Sculpture.’

City Sculpture is a park teeming with artwork and trees, both of which tower over attendees. The sculpture park opened in the summer of 2015, spearheaded by Sestok himself. He purchased the land with the intent of finding homes for pieces that he has been fabricating for decades. Sestok himself has been an integral part of the Detroit art scene since the sixties.

The stars of the show- the sculptures, are welded together in the artist’s studio down the street in Cass Corridor. The finished pieces end up in the park on Alexandrine, on view for everyone to enjoy.

Back to the party: The soundtrack for the evening shifted as different groups of musicians played their instruments and sang their songs. There was a little bit of country, and a whole lotta rock & roll, with some EDM thrown in.

​As the crescent moon rose over the park, people danced under the canopy of trees, swinging and swaying to the music that filled the night air. It was a magical evening filled with sparkling conversation and community and art that told stories without even saying a word.

City Sculpture 
955 W. Alexandrine 
Detroit, MI 48201

As usual, I did A LOT of rippin’ & runnin’ this weekend. 

After an informal vote, the major crowd pleaser turned out to be time spent at a PEZ Convention. Y’all heard me right, the frontrunner was a convention. And I did A TON of stuff. 

Want to know why I think it was the greatest hit? The people behind the Pez. Yup, the vendors catapulted the event into my heart. I'm a  lifer now. As in PEZ4LYFE.

Here’s a breakdown of this unusual and intriguing event:

The convention was held at an Embassy Suites Hotel in Troy. Nothing weird about that, nope. However, the convention took place inside individual suites, as in rooms of the vendors. I found that odd and I actually was like: I think we should leave. I’m gonna be real: It felt not right. But I pushed past the strange feeling and entered a room.

The displays were rad and I asked the vendors questions as we checked out all the displays. The individual set-ups were awesome, and there was a ton of unique artifacts from Pez collections around the globe.

As we meandered through about 20 suites, I spoke to a ton of collectors and learned a massive amount about Pez. It was kinda like a history of Pez lesson and the vendors were clearly into their craft. And although my sister was the Pez collector growing up, and I’m solely into Pez simply from a spectator point of view- I found it to be a supremely interesting event.

We all picked out our favorites and the collectors were so friendly, it turned out to be one of the most fun events we attended all day- a day which included hunting for mastodon bones, a party in the park at City Sculpture and some time spent poolside.

​I saw three ships a-sailing.

I saw one!
​
That's the common refrain you hear when attending a stargazing party.

We're at the Meteor & S'mores event, hosted by the Bald Mountain State Park. It's a viewing party- when the star player is just that--- a star. A shooting star. 

The Perseids meteor shower is an annual event that lights up the night sky in early August. The peak is on August 10, through the 13. This phenomenon features up to 60 meteors an hour— shining through the night sky. The meteors are bright enough that are visible without a telescope. And this year  is going to be even better!

The park rangers serve up s'mores campfire-style. Just like you remember. This event takes place around twilight by the lake, under a glittery summer sky.

And the crowd goes wild! Everyone in attendance shouts "Aaaahhhhh" when one streaks across the sky. This last one had a tail-- like a fiery dragon shooting through the night sky.

With each shooting star that did its dance through the atmosphere, people screeched with unbridled JOY, and laughter filled the night until there was no one left and the beach was empty. ​

True North is a newly constructed band of Quonset houses in Detroit city.

Nine huts are positioned within shouting distance of one another to create an intimate community that isn’t too close for comfort. Some of the buildings serve as work spaces, while the rest are residential units.

​Each one is spacious in a newly-defined way of thinking. The living space is oh so modern, paired with community greenspace where everyone can gather.

Recently I went to visit, and there were crowds of people everywhere- inside and out. It didn’t feel cramped at all, which is pretty unbelievable!

The sides of the structures let diffused light in from both sides, and in some- the entire wall opens to let the summer sunshine in. There are porches and balconies. 

Most of the structures are two stories; only two are one level. Constructed of corrugated metal fabricated by a company called SteelMaster, it’s been said that you can actually build one single-handedly— so the legend goes. (really- if you order one, it comes with instructions)!