The Runaways’ Cherie Currie tells the tale behind ‘Cherry Bomb’
Posted by s_casola | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, Birmingham MI, Clawson Neighborhood, Cool People, Detroit MI, Ferndale MI, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Urbane, UrbaneApts, events, life, movies, music, people, video
Before The Go-Go’s gave us Vacation and Madonna danced around in a corsets, decades before The Donnas released Turn 21, The Runaways broke new ground as Hollywood’s first all-girl rock band. The year was 1976 and bandmates Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Jackie Fox were on the verge of making rock history – and give us rebellious teen anthems like Cherry Bomb.
In just a few short years The Runaways took over the Sunset Strip, playing clubs they weren’t legally old enough to enter, signed to Mercury Records and toured the world. Their story – or at least a biopic focused on Cherie and Joan – hits metro Detroit movie theaters today.
Despite a cast featuring Twilight sensation Kristen Stewart (as a spot-on Joan Jett) and Dakota Fanning (as Cherie Currie), The Runaways story earns it an R-rating. The band’s disorienting rise to international acclaim, accompanied by rampant drug use, sex and a heavy dose of rock n’ roll, plays out convincingly on screen.
Cherie Currie herself stopped in Detroit on her press tour this week – introducing a movie screening at Ferndale’s Magic Bag on Wednesday and signing copies of her best-selling book Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway Thursday at Birmingham’s Borders Books & Music.
The film is primarily based on Currie’s book, which is a revised version of a young adult book she published in 1989. She was initially approached to share her story while working as counselor for drug-addicted teens and a children’s book illustrator. She never imagined The Runaways would become a film, or that she’d have a second chance to tell the whole story. “This book took everything I had,” said Currie.
As for Fanning’s performance, Currie couldn’t have been happier. “She did such a great job,” said Currie, an actress in her own right, having starred in movies like Foxes.
Currie, now a chainsaw artist living in California, said she has no regrets and she wouldn’t change a thing about her time with The Runaways. She left the band at age 17, after just 2 years – always hoping they’d ask her back. Exhaustion from a non-stop schedule, a looming European tour and fight with bandmate Lita Ford signaled her exit as a Runaway. “I thought they wanted me out,” she said. “I was hoping they would call me but they didn’t. I felt I had given it everything I could.”
When asked if a reunion might be in the works, Currie said without drummer Sandy West, who died in 2006, there couldn’t be a true reunion. But, she added “I’ll never say never. I never thought I would rewrite a book that came out in 1989. Now it’s a Top 10 Best-Seller.”
Overcoming obstacles is a prominent theme throughout The Runaways. For a group of teenage girls to break into the male-dominated rock scene took more than just talent. In the film, Director Floria Sigismondi focuses on eccentric manager Kim Fowley as he puts the girls though their paces to prepare them for the bitterness they’d face on the road. Beer cans were thrown at their heads, instruments and rehearsals were sabotaged and fellow musicians didn’t take them seriously. Their story is one of survival – and it happened long before VH-1’s Behind the Music debuted.
Currie said she caught a few early Runaways videos on YouTube and was amazed to see how they held up. “I thought I couldn’t sing,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it. It was pretty rockin.”
Judge for yourself – do the original Queens of Noise still stack up?
Tags: Birmingham, Cherie Currie, Cherry Bomb, Dakota Fanning, Detroit, ferndale, Joan Jett, Kim Fowley, Kristen Stewart, Madonna, movie, Neon Angel, Queens of Noise, The Donnas, The Go-Go's, The Runaways, Twilight
Thrills & chills tonight in Royal Oak
Posted by s_casola | Filed under Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, Cool People, Detroit MI, Ferndale MI, Royal Oak, Royal Oak MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, UrbaneTV, events, life, movies, people, trends, video
The Motor City’s own Wolfman horror host, “Wolfman” Mac Kelly, is donning the claws more often these days. In addition to his Chiller Drive-In show, which is filmed in Pontiac and airs at 10 p.m. Saturdays on cable’s Retro TV Network, Wolfman Mac is making monthly appearances at Royal Oak’s Main Art Theatre for his Attack of the Killer B’s scary movie screenings.
Tonight he presents the classic William Castle spooktacular House on Haunted Hill, starring Vincent Price. Grab a seat to find out what happens when and eccentric millionaire and his wife invite five strangers to stay at their mysterious mansion, each promised $10,000 if they survive the night.
The film screens at 7 tonight, April 1 – no fooling. Tickets are $5 kids, $7 students and $9 adults. Call (238) 263-2111 for details.
If - like me - you grew up watching horror movie hosts like Count Scary, Sir Graves Ghastly or The Ghoul, you won’t want to miss Wolfman Mac and his cast of creepy, comedic characters on Chiller Drive-In. And on the first Thursday of every month – you’ll get a chance to meet the Wolfman in-the-fur, if you will for his Attack of the Killer B’s screenings.
Not much for horror flicks but a fan of rockabilly music you say? Well check out Mac as he gets back to his DJ roots. Beginning 8:30 p.m. Saturdays Wolfman Mac hosts Rockabilly Weekends at Bo’s Smokehouse BBQ. It’s 21 and over, kids with a $5 cover at the door. Bo’s is located at 51 N. Saginaw in downtown Pontiac.
Tags: Attack of the Killer B's, Bo's Smokehouse BBQ, Count Scary, horror, House on Haunted Hill, Mac Kelly, Main Art Theatre, Rockabilly Saturdays, Sir Graves Ghastly, The Ghoul, Vincent Price, Wolfman Mac
REFRESH EVERYTHING: Pepsi to Shun Super Bowl Ads and Save the World
Posted by Ashley | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Birmingham MI, Cool People, Detroit MI, Ferndale MI, Health Care Reform, Rambalings, Royal Oak, Royal Oak MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, UrbaneTV, art, design, eco, events, fitness, food, life, marketing, music, people, pets, politics, technology, trends, uncategorized, video
Nothing kicks off a new year quite like the countdown to Super Bowl. For non-football fans, the advertising arms race to create the biggest, baddest and boldest TV commercials is an all-consuming media maelstrom. We learn something about America, for better or worse, every year during that Sunday sports spectacular. Super Bowl commercials create inescapable social memes (Budweiser frogs, anyone?), launch household pitchmen (from Wiliam Shatner to the GEICO gecko), and even inspire watershed cultural moments (Madonna’s interracial kiss during the Pepsi “Like a Prayer” ad).
That’s why Pepsi’s new advertising push for Super Bowl XLIV is so big, so bad (as in good), so bold…and so brave. This year, the soda-pop juggernaut’s television advertising budget for Super Bowl is $0. Yep, you read that right. In the biggest showdown between social-media marketing and traditional TV ads to date, Pepsi will give away over $20 Million in advertising dollars to fund “good ideas, big and small, that make the world a better place”–and it’s all happening at their new do-gooding website. The Pepsi Refresh Project will disperse grants in the amounts of 10 5k grants, 10 25k grants, 10 50k grants, and 2 250k grants every month of 2010. The best part? It’s all interactive. Anyone over the age of 13 can submit an idea, along with video, photographs, and anything else to convince voters to click your button.
Wait, voters? It gets even better. Pepsi will accept up to 1000 submissions every month, and host a public vote so we can pick the winners. Remember Mountain Dew’s Dewmocracy campaign? I think the Refresh Project just blew it out of the water. We’ll have to use Facebook, Twitter, Flyers, Foursquare, and whatever else we have at our disposal to win.
Got a great idea? Wanna make things better? I do. It ain’t easy being a Michigander these days. We’re hurt, we’re struggling, and many of us are hungry, out of work, or scared to death. I’m here to propose a challenge to all of you Urbane Blog readers out there. Let’s win this thing for Michigan.
If you’re still reading this blog, it’s because you care about where you live. You love Metro Detroit, and you’re connected enough to think about improving our quality of life, and sustaining our economy. This is our chance. For all those times that you’ve wished you could change your world…now we can. Power to the people.
In the next month, we’ll be using the Urbane Blog as a forum to come up with some great ideas for Pepsi Refresh grants. Stay tuned this week for more information about how to get your ideas to us, and how we’lll vote for our favorites every month. If your idea wins, you’ll have the full-throttle marketing machine of the Urbane Way behind you–logistics, proposal-writing, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, video…if we have it, we’ll help you get the word out, and get our people voting.
Stuck on ideas? Yeah, me too. There are six different categories on the Refresh Everything website: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighborhoods, and Education. Below, you’ll find a few sample ideas for each category to get your brain cells moving. You can also check out the Pepsi Refresh Project Blog for a ton of really cool ideas, plus a toolkit to help you figure out how to put it all together.
Jan 13 is just about two weeks away. Together, we’re so much stronger than we are alone–and this is our chance to do some good. Let’s band together, and make it happen.
Sample ideas:
Health: Obesity is a crucial health problem. Can we help fund an after school fitness program in our community? Or connect local farmers with schools, so cafeterias begin serving organic and fresh food at lunch? What about free phys-ed classes for senior citizens?
Arts & Culture: Every artist needs a place to live and create, and most of them are penniless. We could start a land bank to buy abandoned and foreclosed properties in Detroit and surrounding areas. Then, we could lease the properties for really cheap to artists from around the world. The caveat–they have to sign a 3 year lease, and pledge to clean up, repaint, install new floors…whatever it takes to make that home liveable. What does that create? A community of creatives, a neighborhood reborn, and houses restored uniquely and with care. When the artists are ready to move on, they can be kept in a trust for other creatives, or sold on the open market. Or we could start a movement to build public sculptures all over our downtowns. Create a Heidelberg project in the streets. A community School of Rock program to teach the next generation of rockers, guitars included.
Food & Shelter: There’s plenty of empty buildings in the area, and thousands more men, women and children without homes this winter. We could rent these buildings out and turn them into temporary winter shelters for our local homeless. Or start a Sunday dinner soup kitchen so every hungry person in our community could get a delicious warm meal one night per week.
The Planet:Let’s help Royal Oak go solar! We could request a grant to outfit houses, storefronts, and restaurants with home solar panels or windmills. Or what about starting a massive city-wide recycling project? Or even painting 100 rooftops white to reduce energy costs.
Neighborhoods: Community gardens. We could request the money for tools, buying the land, bulldozing an abandoned building, and seeds. Plant wildflowers, or even a food garden. That food could be donated to a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Or renting space in an empty storefront downtown for a kids’ community center. A greenway connecting Royal Oak, Berkley, Ferndale, Clawson, etc. (like the Dequindre Cut) for bicyclists and pedestrians only. Even safe bike racks in all of our downtown areas.
Education: Operation Kid Equip is just one charity that helps get school supplies to Oakland County kids without the means to get what they need for school–from pencils to backpacks. That’s one cause we could certainly support. Or what about starting our own Big Brothers, Big Sisters chapter with Urbane residents and friends? Or adopting an elementary school in Detroit, and helping them clean up and build a new playground. Is there empty land in Ferndale that could be recreated as a Field of Dreams for local kids?
Start dreaming! And please leave your comments and ideas here. We want to hear all the input, thoughts, inspiration, questions, and directions you can give.
Christmas Tree Lighting and Ice Rink at Campus Martius
Posted by GirlyDrinks | Filed under Detroit MI, events, video
Campus Martius Park Tree Lighting Ceremony
This past Friday, I attended the Campus Martius Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. The event started at 6 pm with different activities, including local acts, a Christmas song from the Bomshel girls, and food galore.
While we missed some of the “before” tree lighting ceremonies, we did stop in to the Hard Rock after the tree lighting for some burgers and beer and were entertained by the Bomshel girls (who apparently have a large Michigan fan base - there were tons of screaming girls standing on the side of the stage).
After dinner we went and rented some skates and went ice skating for the last 2 hours of the event. The rink was packed and was a bit intimidating for someone who hasn’t skated in a few years, but luckily I didn’t fall and had a great time. The best part was that there was a DJ playing the whole time with some funky tunes to try to keep a skating beat to.
The Campus Martius ice skating rink is open until March 14, 2010, with hours until Midnight on Friday and Saturdays and until 10 pm on weekdays. Skate rental plus admission starts at $9 for children and $10 for adults, so it’s a fun, cheap activity for anyone looking for something to do this winter. For those Internet workers out there (like me), you can also make use of the free wi-fi - bear the cold and sit outside (great for those with Macs and good battery power), or sit inside Au Bon Pain and take advantage of the beautiful view of Detroit’s Campus Martius Park.
Campus Martius Tree Lighting Countdown 2009[YouTube Video]
If anyone is ever looking for someone to skate with at Campus Martius this winter, tweet me (@girlydrinks) and I’ll be there!
Tags: bomshel, campus martius, campus martius detroit, outdoor ice skating rink, tree lighting ceremony
URBANE featured on Sharpie’s National Blog!
Posted by Ashley | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Birmingham MI, Cool People, Urbane, UrbaneApts, art, design, drinks, events, fashion, food, life, marketing, music, people, property management, technology, trends, video
Ch-Ch-Check it out!
Urbane’s “Draw on the Walls” party at our new Adams Co-Work Space is the lead article on Sharpie’s blog!!
They included tons of great pics by photographer and Urbane on Thirteen resident Rachel Wade, plus a spotlight on first place winner and Urbane on Crooks South resident Ryan Gardner!
We’re famous! 
Read all about it here. Check out more pictures from the Sharpie Party plus great new pics of our clubhouse here. Watch Eric’s mini-cam video from the “Draw on the Walls” party here. 
Department of Uncommon Sense
Posted by Brandon | Filed under life, people, politics, video
So, Michigan’s Department of Human Services apparently has nothing better to do than to go after moms willing to watch other moms’ kids while they’re waiting for the bus. Lisa Snyder of Middleville recently received a letter from the DHS stating that she either needs to get a license to run a daycare or she must cease watching three neighborhood kids for 15 to 40 minutes, for free, while they wait for the school bus.
To me, this is just a friend helping a friend. –Lisa Snyder to Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today
Check out Snyder’s interview on Today, above. State Representative Brian Calley, R-Portland, also appeared on the show and he indicated that he is sponsoring legislation which would allow Snyder and others to watch a friend’s child for free. Who knew it was illegal?
There are obviously reasons that bona fide, profit-making daycare operations should be licensed and supervised by the state. What is irritating about this story is that some bureaucrats without much common sense are wasting precious state resources which could go to monitoring foster parents, looking into allegations of child abuse, or investigating illegal daycare centers to harass some women who are banding together to protect their children and their jobs.
What do you, dear UrbaneBlog readers, think of this story? Also, feel free to call the Barry County DHS Office to let them know what you think about their policy at (269) 948-3200. It’s particularly ironic that when you visit the DHS website, it features a document that “outlines resources for families struggling to make ends meet.” Why don’t they start by not harassing hard-working Michigan families?
Tags: department of human services, department of uncommon sense, legislation, michigan, nbc, today
Viral: Ann Minch is back . . . and she won!
Posted by Brandon | Filed under people, video
Last week we wrote to you about Ann Minch, who decided to launch a one-woman revolt against Bank of America, who she believed had unfairly raised the interest rate on her credit cards to 30% (see that post here). BOA was a recipient of funds from the government’s bank bailout and Minch claims that she was never late making her payments. The post generated quite a few comments and strong opinions (including one by our friend Matt Dibble who was, shall we way, less than impressed by Minch’s on-camera presence and accuracy).
Minch seems to have gotten the desired response, though. Check out her latest video below. BOA has apparently agreed to reduce the rate on her credit card after one of their executives got in touch with her last Friday.
A few more deets, after the jump . . . Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: ann minch, bailout, bank of america, video, youtube, zeitgeist
Viral: Bank of America, Ann Minch is not gonna take it any more!
Posted by Brandon | Filed under people, video
I’m one of those weird people who pays my credit card off every month. I’ve got a pretty good credit score. Yet, last fall I received a letter from Citibank informing me that it would be raising the interest rate on my account because of “changing market conditions,” just weeks after the Bush Administration had convinced Congress to pass legislation bailing out the banks. Chase sent a letter soon thereafter doing the same. I was supremely annoyed and called and complained. Chase did nothing; Citibank gave me a 0% interest rate for six months in an attempt to mollify me.
Ann Minch of Red Bluff, California *does* carry a balance on her Bank of America credit card — and she has for several years. Apparently, Bluff has diligently paid the minimum balance on her several thousand dollar balance for years, even throwing in an extra $50 - $100 on occasion. And she claims that she has never missed a payment during her 14 years as a BofA customer. However, Bank of America, another recipient of the government’s bank bailout, repeatedly raised her interest rates — up to 30%. Check out Minch’s response below. This clip has gone viral and deservedly so.
How long is it going to take before the government forces these institutions — which are viable only because of huge infusions of tax dollars — to treat their customers with the respect and dignity they deserve? Have your rates been raised by bank bailout recipients? Or, has your bank done something to reward its customers for the federal lifeline, like suspending ATM fees? Let us know in the comments below.
For more, see Debtor’s Revolt @ Huffington Post
Tags: bank of america, chase, citibank, economy, viral
Things To Do; Pure Michigan!
Posted by Eric Brown | Filed under UrbaneApts, UrbaneTV, video
Get out in the upcoming weeks and enjoy our beautiful state, fall only comes once a year!
Tags: Apartment Marketing, Apartment Reviews, Apartment Social Media, apartments, Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak, Eric Brown, Loft Apartments in Royal Oak, Stuff To Do in Birmingham MI, Stuff To Do in Ferndale, Stuff To Do Royal Oak, Things To Do in Birmingham, Things To Do in Ferndale, Things To Do in Royal Oak, Urbane, urbane apartments, Urbane Lab, Urbane Talk, UrbaneApts.com
A Great Cause; Support Affirmations
Posted by Eric Brown | Filed under Cool People, Ferndale MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, UrbaneTV, events, life, people, video
OUR Match - Like our Gays - is Flaming Hot!
Your donation today will be matched dollar for dollar by the HOPE Fund!
Right now, every dollar you give to support Affirmations will be generously matched by the HOPE Fund with a $25,000 challenge grant, which will allow us to continue serving the ever-increasing number of individuals who utilize our services.
We’re halfway to our goal and we need YOUR help to complete this challenge! We’d like to do so by Labor Day, allowing Affirmations to end the summer warmed by the generosity of the HOPE Fund and our community of supporters. Together, we can all play a role in keeping our commitment to metro Detroit’s LGBT and allied community ablaze for years to come.
Tags: Apartment Marketing, Apartment Reviews, Apartment Social Media, apartments, Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak, Eric Brown, everyday, Loft Apartments in Royal Oak, Stuff To Do in Birmingham MI, Stuff To Do in Ferndale, Stuff To Do Royal Oak, Things To Do in Birmingham, Things To Do in Ferndale, Things To Do in Royal Oak, Urbane, urbane apartments, Urbane Lab, Urbane Talk, UrbaneApts.com
Where Is Your Garbage Going?
Posted by Eric Brown | Filed under Urbane, UrbaneApts, UrbaneTV, eco, life, video
Compost Happens
There’s been lots of talk about composting recently, but has anyone really taken the time to break it down for you? (hehe… get it?). Well, that’s what we’re here for… Check out an easy and effective way to stop from sending 4.5 lbs of garbage, per person per day, to the dump.
Compost Happens from Six Minute Men on Vimeo.
Urbane Review: Public Enemies
Posted by Hubert | Filed under video
If you guys learn anything about me, then you’ll come to learn I love all things creative. Music is my first love, especially since it has been the catalyst for my interest in the visual space as well. Movies have to be my second love as some of my favorite films have the coolest music in them. Anything that puts music to greater use is always a bonus to me. Recently, I caught this blog review by Will Menaker on the movie Public Enemies, which I just saw. I figured I could share my thoughts on the movie here and maybe more if the review is well-received. I really enjoy taking in films at the Main Art in Royal Oak and occasionally you might find me at a $4 Super Saver showing (good until September 7th!) at the Marketplace MJR Theatre in Sterling Heights of a major motion picture.
I caught a Super Saver morning showing of the latest Michael Mann-directed Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. Public Enemies is a moment-in-time piece on John Dillinger’s life as he is being pursued by The Feds. While robbing banks and alluding the cops, Dillinger is stricken with the love bug. The virus is a lady by the name of Billie Frechette played by French actress Marion Cotillard - who is definitely on my radar as a brilliant performer.
Usually I prefer to weigh my decision on whether I want to pay money to see a movie in a theater on the story first, director second and the actors third. In this case, I was highly intrigued in seeing two of my favorite contemporary actors in a movie together. I have never really been blown away by any of Mann’s films, but he’s no slouch either. And the story? John Dillinger is only relevant to me because he has been evoked in many verses by wannabe gangsta rappers. You can say that my thought process was actually approached in reverse, which is not uncommon.
Tags: Apartment Marketing, Apartment Social Media, apartments, Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak, Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, Main Art, Marion Cotillard, Michael Mann, MJR, movies, Public Enemies, Urbane, urbane apartments, Urbane Lab, UrbaneApts.com
