​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

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. ​

Jack White’s smiling face will be featured on a baseball card repping Detroit (it's true- he's really smiling).

A born + raised Detroiter, White catapulted himself to fame while performing as singer and guitarist for The White Stripes, a garage band he founded with bandmate & wife, Meg. 

He sometimes returns back home to perform and last year made a pitstop at Comerica Park to throw out the first pitch at a game. 

That event is now commemorated in all its glory on a Topps baseball card. The Jack White card will be included in the Series I set. 

Now, leeeetttttt's play ball!

So I saw this yesterday & think it's a stellar idea: It's a Tilt campaign to construct a 'Detroit Bait Car.'

Check out the project and if you feel compelled to donate: please do. Plus, it'll be interesting to see what these folks [working in conjunction with the cops) come up with. 

Detroit Bait Car, Tilt Campaign
Donate funds, large or small, to help build a bait car. The car will be outfitted with cameras to catch a thief in the act. The anticipated outcome is to reduce the amount of carjackings around the city. 
Put the pedal to the metal & donate here.

                                 Press Photos ©Nicole Wrona|MLS

On Thursday, June 19 I was honored to attend the exclusive media preview for the photography exhibition Detroit- Bruce Weber featured at the Detroit Institute of Arts. In attendance was the famed photographer himself, Bruce Weber. The event was presented by Conde Nast and Vogue. Other notable guests in attendance were the infamous Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of VOGUE magazine, Patti Smith, musician extraordinaire and Grace Coddington, the illustrious creative director of Vogue.

The exhibit features a collection of portraits shot by Weber on numerous visits to Detroit. The images, mostly shot in black and white depict the different faces that represent the city. 

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to get the full scoop...         ↓↓↓

                                  Photos ©Nicole Wrona|MLS

Over 100,000 people packed into Hart Plaza during the Memorial weekend to dance to the music that filled the expansive venue. The grounds were saturated with techno fans from every country, state and city imaginable- and those living in Detroit repped the city hard. It seemed like everyone was a proud Detroiter during the massive party weekend, a prelude to summer.

Movement, the electronic music festival that takes place in downtown Detroit, has become the standard event to kick-off the summer right since 2000. They got it right this year too. Movement always has been, and continues to be, the biggest underground electronic fest that always has the right mix of acts to keep crowds coming back again and again.

With six stages, finding your vibe was simple. The hard part was deciding who to hear when great acts performed on different stages. That's not really a problem though. Chances are you could hear the beginning of one set on the Moog stage, then hit Beatport to see the end of the set. There were tons of chances to see what you came to hear, and check out music.

The Moog Stage pumped up crowds with artists like Action Bronson, Just Blaze, Riff Raff and Flosstradamus throughout the three-day weekend. Pounding down the Beatport Stage was Claude VonStroke, Heathered Pearls and Tiga.

The Red Bull Music Academy Stage played home to greats such as Carl Craig, John Digweed, Amp Fiddler and Richie Hawtin. The Made in Detroit Stage featured local artists including Stacey Pullen, Kevin Saunderson and Kevin Reynolds.

Notable acts that hit the Underground Stage were Chris Liebing, Robert Hood and Jeffs Mills. A new addition joined Movement this year, the Silent Disco Stage. Performances by Annie Hall and Shawn Michaels were standouts.

The scene around Movement was filled with tons of people wearing over-the-top outfits. Gold lame vests seemed to be the costume of choice for the guys while the best accessory I saw was the artistry of many girls makeup brushes as they transformed their eyes into glorious butterflies and detailed rainbow creations. A gal named Pookie rocked an inflatable inner tube resembling a donut with lighthearted conviction, adding to the free-thinking attitude that makes Movement work.

Aside from Detroit's stoic skyline that has always stood watch over Hart Plaza, art installations were scattered throughout the park to add to the landscape Movement creates. The pieces always add a unique and unexpected element to the festival, and this year, the interactive art stood out. Chess boards were set up and each board was occupied by friends facing off as competitors, while others opted to chill in the treetops and listen as the sounds from the stages rushed in and took over.

Every detail is covered to enhance the overall experience, right down to the picture-perfect weather that was probably ordered in advance for this event. And if the sun didn't shine, Paxahau, the event promoters would have flown in from somewhere. Everyone ready for next year?

                   Ukrainian Egg Exhibit, DHM ©Nicole Wrona|MLS

Right about now I am going to introduce you to my favorite collections- the Ukrainian Egg exhibit! The show itself was once held at the Detroit Historical Museum, and has come and gone, but it remains one of my faves to this day. Since Easter is right around the corner, I thought it would be an awesome time to write about it. And guess what! Even though this particular collection is no longer at the Detroit Historical Museum, you still have a chance to view it at the Ukrainian American Archives and Museum of Detroit! This museum, located a hop, skip + a jump away- in Hamtramck, houses the permanent collection in their building.

The exhibition, 'A Cultural Thread- The Enduring Ukrainian Spirit.' features traditional Ukrainian dress, textiles, photographs and other aspects depicting this rich culture were showcased throughout the gallery. Case after case of intricately decorated Ukrainian Easter Eggs, called Pysanky, were displayed. 

The art of pysanky uses traditional folk designs with wax to create tiny masterpieces where the egg is transformed into a colorful canvas. Now, I must confess to you that I once tried [& failed oh so miserably] at creating pysanky. I think that is why this display is unbelievably rad- you need to be devastatingly talented and extremely patient to pull this off! I believe it would take a mili+ years of practice to achieve these stunning results!

Each egg is a work of art on its own, but when the 1,000 or more decorated eggs were showcased together, it became a comprehensive view of what talented hands are capable of creating.

Ukrainian American Archives and Museum of Detroit is located at:
11756 Charest St. Hamtramck, Michigan 48212
313.366.9764

While in the area, stop by another Ukrainian exhibit, & another personal fave of all time: [It is seriously only steps away from the museum]
Hamtramck DisneyLand! 
be sure to tell Mr. Szylak, "Large Marge sent cha!"
Just kidding. Kind of. 

Riiiiiiiigghht.... NOW.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will be featuring two special guests at an upcoming performance- Steven Spielberg and John Williams. The dynamic duo will take to the stage in this once-in-a-lifetime event, and are graciously donating their time at the fundraiser. Williams will conduct the orchestra through some of his most recognizable work, while Spielberg will make an appearance as host for the second half of the night.

Spielberg is a filmmaker known for directing impossibly awesome films including Indiana Jones, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Lincoln and Jaws. He is a legend in Hollywood, known for his unbelievable talent and distinct eye for the perfect shot. Aside form his multiple Academy Awards and numerous Directors Guild of America triumphs, he also holds the prize for being the top-grossing directors of all time!

John Williams is a prolific artist and has scored all of the aforementioned films, and then some. In addition to his work on Spielberg films, he has also worked on iconic movies such as Star Wars, Superman, Harry Potter, War Horse and The Book Thief. He has been in the industry for sixty years, accomplishing a career rich in breadth and stunning in its creativity. Williams has been nominated for 49 Academy Awards, and is one of only two people who have had the honor of being nominated that many times.

The DSO is an internationally acclaimed orchestra that has performed with accomplished musicians from around the globe, and Detroit born-and-raised artists like Kid Rock and Smokey Robinson. The DSO performs at the Max M. Fisher Music Center.

The benefit concert and gala will be held on June 14, 2014. The proceeds from the event will go toward the orchestra. Tickets went on sale April 14, at 9 a.m., and were gone in record time. Ticket seekers stood in line for hours, while many even camped overnight to score seats to the show.

Most of the people waiting to buy tickets were fans of the infamous films and dressed accordingly. Some wore full regalia consisting of Stormtrooper garb while others donned the more conservative Darth Vader look. For those wondering, yes, Princess Leia was in the mix, showing off her double-buns and legendary ensemble. Luckily, dinosaurs were no where to be found and Jaws wasn't seen hanging around the Detroit River.

For tickets to other performances presented by the DSO, or for additional info, call the box office at 313.576.5111 or check out www.dso.org. Tickets for the Spielberg/Williams event were virtually impossible to get since it sold out within minutes- even E.T. couldn't get through.

In collaboration with Drinks X Design and Airea Studio, Art at Compuware is holding a design exhibition featuring work created by local artists and creatives. 

Thirst Innovation will showcase designs crafted from a single sheet of paper, reworked to create a single drinking vessel. Using imaginatively and skill, artists will use this simple medium and transform it into a completely new element- a cup. 

Designs will be judged by professionals in the industry, across four categories, culminating in an award  for the top entries as chosen by popular vote, and by the design experts.  Yao Fen You, the assistant curator of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts at Detroit Institute of Arts, will be at the closing event, with a presentation about the evolution and ingenuity of tableware design. 

Drinks X Design + Thirst Innovation
February 13 | 5:30-8:00 p.m.
+
Thirst Innovation Closing Reception 
February 20 | 6:00-8:00 p.m. 

RSVP here.