Detroit Startup Week had a ton of GREAT events for entrepreneurs and business owners. These informative sessions were held throughout the city this week, all  hosted by amazing businesspeople. So many featured valuable insight shared with the crowd learn and it is a really valuable place for meeting like-minded people while networking. ​

                  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

Daktyl, an instrumentalist from the UK-  has it on lock as a soundscape producer. Mad Decent thought so too, picked him up + threw him on the label. Daktyl dropped his new single "Salters" yesterday. 

Daktyl's debut Cyclical LP comes out on Mad Decent, with an April 21st release date, but fans can pre-order starting March 17th. Can't wait. Take a listen for yourself, and see why I'm excited. 

https://soundcloud.com/daktylmusic
https://twitter.com/daktylmusic
https://www.facebook.com/daktylmusic

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!

Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power is an exhaustive exhibition at the Henry Ford Museum that contains  over 250 artifacts from 70 female artists. This stellar exhibit was curated by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

​Get up close and personal to things you would never otherwise have the chance to see. It’ll give you goosebumps.™

The selected pieces range from the extraordinary to the “ordinary.” Highlights include everything from handwritten notes and lyrics to recognizable ensembles from stage performances and album covers. Every musician I've ever dressed up as for Halloween [so far] is represented here! Every. Single. One!
Check out a handwritten to-do list written by Madonna, who reminds herself to buy a birthday gift and call Mike Myers about an SNL appearance. Then there’s Aretha Franklin’s note that was once posted on her dressing room door- telling visitors to slide a record under the door if they need to get her attention.

Notice the intricate detail of a stunning black and white beaded dress, as it hangs in perfect condition behind the glass case. The dress was worn by the Supremes.’  Another notable ensemble is also on view: Cher’s* infamous tribal outfit designed by Bob Mackie, complete with an original sketch and head-to-toe feather headdress. 

One-of-a-kind costumes include Detroit’s own Meg White; see the over-the-top creation from the Icky Thump album cover. The head-to-toe garb is covered with swirls of buttons.

There is a hardcore outfit that allows visitors to witness Rihanna’s spikes up close and personal. And what exhibit would be complete without the well-preserved awards show ensemble Lady Gaga once wore- the infamous meat dress. Now you can see how tiny she is.

The artists are spilling their secrets for everyone to see. Seeing the handwritten words of Stevie Nicks' song “Stand Back” will give you chills. The demo was recorded in a hotel room while she was on her honeymoon, and Prince stood in as a session musician when the time came to record the actual track. 

Then there’s the set list written by Linda Ronstadt* for a 70s tv show and scribbled lyrics from Janelle Monae’s song “57821.”

These pieces and more represent a wide spectrum of musicians that each contributed a piece of history to our culture.

The Women Who Rock exhibit will be on display until August 17, 2014 at the Henry Ford Museum.

*indicates Halloween costume.

                                 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?