At Royal Oak Antique Garage Sale what’s old is new again
Posted by scasola | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, Arts & Culture, Cool People, Detroit MI, Ferndale MI, Royal Oak, Royal Oak MI, Urbane, art, events, life, trends
I’m sure any therapist could have a field day with this statement but – I blame my mother.
She’s the sort who - while loving and nurturing as can be – just couldn’t wait to get rid of our old toys and anything she deemed out-of-date. She’s not a saver, you see. Not in the least. Maybe that’s why I’m fascinated by estate sales, garage sales and the ocassional quaint antique shop.
So early Sunday morning I wandered my way from my Ferndale apartment over to downtown Royal Oak. I grabbed tea and scone from Bean & Leaf and headed straight to the annual Royal Oak Antique Garage Sale nestled among the many floors of the Lafayette parking garage. Treasures galore were stacked upon tables and racks. From record bins to vintage clothes, toys I hadn’t seen since age 2 to sweet little aprons, I was browser’s paradise.
By far my favorite booth - and the one I sought out – was by Reware Vintage. Owner Bethany Nixon didn’t disappoint. She had a full display of classic DVDs (Wonder Woman, anyone?), vintage tour tee shirts, clothing and accessories. We also had a great chat about our mutual adoration of Strawberry Shortcake – a childhood trend we think may have led to an adult fixation on dessert-scented lotions and potions.
Bethany – I’m still on the lookout for a great Duran Duran tee (Seven and the Ragged Tiger-era perhaps?) and that old elusive Journey Atari game.
What vintage finds are among your most coveted at home? We’d love to hear about them.
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and theUrbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter @UrbaneLife.
Tags: antiques, Bean & Leaf, Bethany Nixon, Downtown Royal Oak, Duran Duran, Ferndale apartment, garage sales, Journey, Reware Vintage, Royal Oak Antique Garage Sale, shopping, Urbane, urbane apartments, Urbane Life, vintage, Wonder Woman
We’re giving away up to $550 in Pink Pump prizes at Hot on our Heels July 15
Posted by scasola | 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, Royal Oak, Royal Oak MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, drinks, events, fashion, food, life, marketing, music, people, trends
We’ve been up to something over here at headquarters. We’ve been reaching out to hotspots like Royal Oak’s Pink Pump shoe boutique and Blackfinn American Saloon for our monthly party. Urbane’s Summer Swarm continues Thursday July 15 when Urbane residents and the public are encouraged to gather at the Urbane Underground, 310 Sixth Street in downtown Royal Oak, for Hot on our Heels Contest.
The sizzling summer contest calls for all interested contestants to strut in – between 6-8 p.m. – wearing their highest or most fabulous heels for a chance to enter to win one of three fabulous prizes. Our photographer will snap you in your best Carrie Bradshaw-inspired pose. Sponsor vitaminwater will be on hand to keep us hydrated. Just be sure to check in at Urbane Underground on your smart phone. We’re going for a Swarm badge here, those bees are just too cute for words.
From there, the party moves promptly down Sixth Street to Blackfinn American Saloon. All you have to do is show proof of your Urbane Underground check-in or Swarm badge and you’ll get VIP access, free appetizers and $3 drink specials. The Urbane staff will be on hand, along with a great BlackFinn crowd – to present and judge the winners of the Hot on our Heels competition. Must be present to win.
Winners will receive a gift card to Royal Oak’s Pink Pump worth $550 (first place), $300 (second place) or $150 (third place) respectively and we’ll randomly draw a winner for a fabulous Pink Pump swag bag worth $100 in merchandise. The party is open to everyone - high heeled contestants and those who just plan to cheer them on. Just don’t forget your smart phone.
Join us, won’t you?
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and theUrbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter @UrbaneLife.
Tags: Blackfinn American Saloon, contest, Foursquare, high heels, Hot on our Heels, Pink Pump, Royal Oak, Summer Swarm, Swarm Badge, Urbane, urbane apartments, Urbane Life, Urbane Underground
New business-The blackmailing misstress?
Posted by Monica | Filed under life, people, trends, uncategorized
Jessie James, Tiger Woods, David Boreanaz what do they all have in common? Well for starter’s they are all alleged CHEATER cheater pumpkin eaters. That’s not the only thing they have in common, however, it appears the new wave of entrepreneurship is the era of Mistress- money- makers that are bribing either their men whom they were involved with, or the tabloids who seem to have a frenzy with this topic.
More and more mistress’s are coming out of the woodwork and having a “change of heart” about being so public regarding details of their affairs; of course there is a price attached to this juicy information.
On the top of the hot seat right now is the Jessie James / Sandra Bullock saga, and as time went on 1 Mistress became 2, 2 became 3, and so on. Michelle McGee, the main woman in question,who was with Jessie James for over a year secretly, has been reported to earn over $20,000 to out her story with James to just one source. Pretty lucrative if you ask me.
Another marriage mishap under the spotlight is David Boreanaz of Bones , and his wife. Apparently one (that’s right more than one) of his mistress’s now turns out to be the same woman who had an affair with Tiger Wood’s and is notorious for putting these men on the spot to give her hush money.
Ironically enough, The celebs and their parties feel unnerved by these women (haha um seriously? How do you think these poor wives feel) trying to bribe their celeb lovers by keeping quiet. REALLY!?!?!?… a recent article I read commented on one of the celebrity’s attorney’s complaining how he is
outraged at what he perceives as the growing trend of extortion of public figures by people who threaten to expose their affair
My take?….
How about you don’t have the affair and keep your vows, and if you can’t then you shouldn’t be married! furthermore you shouldn’t be surprised when it comes back to bite you in the booty! That’s called karma!
Seriously!?! what has our world come to that we place such a high value on the personal problems of the entertainment world, don’t we have enough going on outside of hollywood-land??? I know that I do. I do feel bad for the wives of these men however, and how public it all becomes because they are married to people in the public eye, but that’s the double edged sword of marrying a celeb!
Is it wrong to cheat- YES! Is it wrong to make a business out of telling the truth about the affair? What do you think?
Does ‘Sex and the City 2′ dazzle in Abu Dhabi?
Posted by scasola | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, Birmingham MI, Clawson Neighborhood, Detroit MI, Ferndale MI, Royal Oak, Royal Oak MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, events, movies, trends, uncategorized
Sex and the City’s six beloved seasons came to a close on HBO in February of 2004. Fans hung on to see how their four favorite ladies would weather stormy on-again-off-again relationships, marriage, motherhood and even cancer.
But the saga continued with the release of the first full-length feature film and now – six years since the series finale – we’re still scurrying to theaters in our best Manolo’s to celebrate the friendship between Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha.
Sex and The City 2 opens May 27 in area theaters and aims to dazzle and shine like only these fashionistas can. We meet the girls in the grandeur of New York City of course - which shines like it’s coated in diamonds as the theme music cues up.
A much-talked-about flashback sequence reminds us of how Carrie met her best friends – and show us just what they all looked like in the ’80s. There’s plenty of Flashdance and Madonna-inspired garb for Carrie. Samantha was channeling Debbie Harry. And it’s hard not to feel sorry about Miranda’s mushroom ‘do.
But the flashbacks are gone in a flash and we’re whisked off to a wedding. A gay wedding. I won’t say who but it doesn’t disappoint. Think a whitewash of elegance, a boy’s choir and swans. Spoiler alert: Liza Minnelli makes an appearance and dares to sing Beyonce’s Single Ladies in a cringe-inducing scene. If you can make it through that, though, the rest of the film is quite a fun ride.
Of course the plot – which feels a bit thin and relies too heavily on punny dialogue meant to capitalize on our history with these characters – whisks the girls off to a vacation abroad. We’re supposed to see the stunning sands of Morocco and act convinced that they’ve arrived in Abu Dhabi. It’s that suspension of disbelief that’s required through most of the film’s 2.5 hours.
The prevailing story is Carrie’s marriage to Big. He’d rather grab takeout and watch TV. She’s missing the “sparkle.” At one point she tells him “You always knew I was more Coco Chanel than coq au vin.” Are they in a rut? Will she cheat on him when she runs into Aidan in the middle of the Middle East? I’m not saying a word.
Instead, I’ll say this – when Costume Designer Patricia Field isn’t trying to bring the “Abu Dhabi” landscape home in a series of flowing attire and absurd head dresses, the fashions are still the star of this story.
From a simple white knit dress Carrie sports in the streets of New York to a stunning orange pleated number that leaves her glowing on the beaches of Abu Dhabi, it’s a fashionable feast for the eyes.
There’s a great local connection in the movie as well. Farmington Hills native Janelle Jonna was cast as a belly dancer in a club scene in Abu Dhabi.
Don’t wander into Sex and The City 2 expecting a movie masterpiece. It’s an escape and one worth watching. Fans of the series and first film probably already have tickets-in-hand. It’s the perfect plan for a girls night out, of course. And around here, it’s reason enough to get dolled up and enjoy a night on the town.
Let us know how you like the movie. What were your favorite fashion moments? What draws you back time and again to these characters and their lives?
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and theUrbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter at@UrbaneLife.
Tags: Carrie Bradshaw, HBO, movie review, Sex and the City 2, Urbane, urbane apartments
BravoBravo! blends Detroit fashion, music, food into one memorable night
Posted by scasola | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, 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, art, drinks, events, fashion, food, people, trends
I have a confession to make. I’ve been volunteering for this year’s BravoBravo! fundraising event, which supports the Michigan Opera Theatre. So yes, I’m biased. I discovered this annual see-and-be-seen charity gala years ago as a reporter and I know how important it is to maintaining arts and culture in Detroit.
BravoBravo!, coordinated by the young professionals group of the Michigan Opera Theatre Volunteer Association, brings together the city’s top restaurants, showcases its best live musical acts and draws thousands of revelers all in support of Michigan Opera Theatre.
In its 11th year, BravoBravo!, presented by Bank of America, will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.Friday, June 4, 2010 at the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, in Detroit. Tickets cost $95 through May and $105 in June.
For a party, housed inside the Detroit Opera House, that always manages to sell out, this year’s BravoBravo! offers a passport to fashion. The theme, Destination Fashion, refers to the inspiration that comes from fashion capitals across the globe. Designers like Sarah Lapinski of WOUND Menswear, Emily Thornhill and Fotoula Lambrose of Ferndale’s Femilia Couture and Project Runways’ Joe Faris designing for Made in Detroit are just a few of the stellar names set to showcase their designs at BravoBravo!
The halls of the Detroit Opera House will again be lined with an array of dishes from some of Detroit’s premiere restaurants – including Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine, Bourbon Steak, Saltwater, Slows BBQ, Taste Pizza Bar, Union Street Tavern, Como’s, Crave, D’Amatos and so many more. Hang onto your BravoBravo! passport to receive a 15 percent discount at participating restaurants long after the event ends.
BravoBravo! is the sort of Detroit-centric event that keeps getting better every year. You don’t have to take my word for it. Just check out the killer entertainment lineup – courtesy of The Few Records’ Founder Dominic Arellano and his team – and see for yourself:
Bank of America Main Stage
Will Sessions
9:30-11 p.m. – Will Sessions Funk Big Band with Monica Blaire
11 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. – DJ Captn20 and percussionist Jarred Sykes
Detroit Outdoor Tent sponsored by Real Detroit Weekly
DJs Kevin Saunderson, John Johr and Chuck Flask
Tokyo Room/Cadillac Cafe, sponsored by Metro Times
Silverghost
Silverghost and auto-tune karaoke
7:50-8:30 p.m. – Silverghost
8:30-9:15 p.m. – Karaoke
9:15-9:45 p.m. – Silverghost
9:45-10:30 p.m. – Karaoke
10:30-11 p.m. – Silverghost
11 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. – Karaoke
Miami Room/Lomason Lounge, sponsored by Ambassador magazine
6:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. – DJ X/S
London Room/GDC Lounge sponsored by 944 magazine
8-9:15 p.m. – Ben Sharkey
9:15-10 p.m. – Recorded Music
10-11:20 p.m. – Ben Sharkey
BravoBravo! supports the continued success and daily operation of Michigan Opera Theatre. Last year, BravoBravo! drew a record crowd of over 2,000 young professionals and raised over $180,000 to support MOT. For 2010, organizers aim for a goal of $250,000 to support MOT’s artistic and educational programs. Since its inception, this event has raised more than $833,000 and is considered a critical fundraising effort for Michigan Opera Theatre.
BravoBravo! attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets can be purchased at the Detroit Opera House box office, by phone at (313) 237-SING, or online at www.MichiganOpera.org. As always, the event is expected to sell out so get your tickets before it’s too late.
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and theUrbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter at@UrbaneLife.
Tags: BravoBravo!, Detroit music, Detroit Opera House, FEMILIA Couture, ferndale, fundraiser, Joe Faris, Made in Detroit, Michigan Opera Theatre, Silverghost, Slows BBQ, Urbane, urbane apartments, Will Sessions, WOUND Menswear
Startup Weekend Detroit kicks off tonight at Wayne State
Posted by scasola | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, Cool People, Detroit MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, design, drinks, events, food, life, trends
If you’ve got a big idea, have always dreamt of starting your own business or a new project, you won’t want to miss out on Startup Weekend Detroit. The kickoff is 6 p.m. tonight – at the Marvin I. Danto Engineering Development Center – but there’s still time to grab your ticket and get in on the action.
Startup Weekend is a Seattle-based non-profit run by Marc Nager and Clint Nelson. It was founded in 2007 by Andrew Hyde. Since its inception, the program has been offered in 52 cities and 12 countries. Detroit organizers Brandon Chesnutt and Henry Balanon will bring Startup Weekend back to Detroit this year, with three days chock full of team-building, networking and more, housed on the campus of Wayne State University.
Franck Nouyrigat, director of Startup Weekend, spoke to Metromode about his hopes for the event in Detroit and more. Check it out here. (In the interest of full disclosure, Urbane Apartments and The Urbane Life are sponsors of this year’s Startup Weekend Detroit.)
Nikki Stephan, Startup Weekend Detroit’s official content creator and a past event participant, will be following all the action this weekend and sharing some of the developments here at Urbane Life. She describes the concept behind Startup Weekend best in her own blog, Essential Elements, as follows:
“For those of you not familiar with Startup Weekend, it brings together a hodgepodge of creative and ambitious developers, Web and tech geeks, startup enthusiasts, marketing pros, business developers and jack-of-all-trades. Attendees are charged with building out a business idea in one weekend (essentially 54 hours). The concept of Startup Weekend centers on learning by creating. Quick decisions and non run-of-the-mill thinking are key to Startup Weekend. The goal at the end of the weekend is to be as close to possible as launching a business.”
Startup Weekend Detroit runs 6-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickest are $50 for the weekend, or $40 for students with ID. If you want to make a difference in Detroit, and meet like-minded professionals, don’t miss out on this event.
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and theUrbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter at@UrbaneLife.
Tags: Brandon Chesnutt, Franck Nouyrigat, Henry Balanon, MetroMode, nikki stephan, Startup Weekend Detroit, Urbane, urbane apartments, Urbane Life, Wayne State University
The fashionable flock to Birmingham’s Art Loft for Creative Connection
Posted by scasola | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, Birmingham MI, Cool People, Detroit MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, art, design, food, life, people, trends
Detroit’s fashion-forward are invited to gather at one of Birmingham’s most eclectic and interesting shops tonight. Part art gallery and part home decor boutique, Art Loft at 123 W. Maple in downtown Birmingham will host the Creative Connection at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 13.
The event, sponsored by Fashion Group International of Detroit is free and open to all. It’s a great opportunity to shop, enjoy free appetizers and meet new people. Network with some of the area’s best and brightest professionals, specializing in fashion, interiors, design and related industries. FGI members will receive 15 percent off any purchase.
Fashion Group International was founded in 1928 when Edna Woolman Chase, editor-in-chief of Vogue, gathered a group of 17 women who worked in the fashion industry and shared the belief that fashion needed a forum to increase awareness of women’s roles in the business.
Among those founders were Elizabeth Arden, Eleanor Roosevelt and Edith Head. Membership today is open to anyone with an interest in the fashion industry – from apparel to accessories to beauty and home. The non-profit has 5,000 members worldwide who provide insight on fashion trends in the media and offer a gateway to showcase the influence fashion has on the marketplace.
Since Birmingham’s Art Loft focuses on form, fun and functional works from around the world, it seems the appropriate forum to gather. If you’d like to learn more about FGI, or plan to stop by tonight’s Creative Connection. send an RSVP to FGI.Detroit@gmail.com.
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and theUrbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter at@UrbaneLife.
Tags: Art Loft, beauty, Birmingham, Creative Connection, downtown Birmingham, fashion, Fashion Group International of Detroit, home, MI, Urbane, urbane apartments, UrbaneLife
Grass Anyone???
Posted by Monica | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, drinks, food, trends
I took my first shot of grass this morning. Well wheat grass that is-but it tasted like a sweet grass to be honest haha. As I continue to study more on nutrition I am becoming more an more adventurous with the types of foods I am eating and what the benefits are as opposed to simply how they taste.
Wheat grass has TONS TONS TONS of benefits and I am amazed that this is not something that is mainstream like brushing your teeth!
For anyone and everyone wheatgrass has benefits, especially to those who have blood pressure problems, anemia, heart problems etc. Below are some of the different benefits to Wheatgrass as well as the different forms you can ingest this amazing stuff!
- Wheat grassJuice is one of the best sources of living chlorophyll . Chlorophyll is anti-bacterial and can be used inside and outside the body as a healer.
- wheat grass rebuilds the bloodstream.
- Liquid chlorophyll gets into the tissues, refines them and makes them over.
- Wheatgrass Juice is a superior detoxification agent compared to carrot juice and other fruits and vegetables. Dr Earp-Thomas, associate of Ann Wigmore, says that 15 pounds of Wheatgrass is equal to 350 pounds of carrot, lettuce, celery, and so forth.
- Chlorophyll helps purify the liver and improves blood sugar problems.
- it helps prevents tooth decay. Once held in the mouth for 5 minutes it will help eliminate toothaches by pulling poisons from the gums.
- Wheatgrass Juice keeps the hair from graying.
- it reduces high blood pressure
(whatgrasskits.com)
I am so impressed with all the new information I am finding out about Wheatgrass and have told everyone in my family that they need to get some! With that being said, these are the different ways that I have come across that you can get the grass:
- Grow your own- I have found that most sources say this is the best way
- Fresh wheat Juice (I get mine from smoothy king where I actually see them squeeze the juice from grass )
- Frozen juice
- Pill form
- Powder form
They also have indoor grow your own kits, which I plan on checking out. I hope that after you read this you will check it out and take a sip for yourself to enhance your life! Happy growing!
This post brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and the Urbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on twitter at @UrbaneLife.
Save a life & Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo this weekend
Posted by ericafinley | Filed under Cool People, Detroit MI, Royal Oak, Royal Oak MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, events, life, people, pets, trends
The Sheen family of Sterling Heights adopts Biscuit.
It’s estimated that 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year, according to The Humane Society of the United States. A large portion of these animals are healthy, adoptable pets, but due to overcrowded shelters, irresponsible owners and other factors, they end up a statistic instead of a beloved member of the family.
But the Michigan Humane Society is working to change that — one pet at a time. The Detroit-based organization, along with the Detroit Zoo, will host the 18th annual spring “Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo,” presented by Pedigree, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. Hundreds of adoptable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens will be available for immediate adoption at the largest off-site adoption event in the country. There is no charge for admission to the event or for parking.
Kami Mich of Shelby Township adopts Lucy.
Last year, the spring Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event found homes for 498 animals. Since its inception in 1993, the event has helped more than 16,000 animals find new, loving families.
The participating organizations, in addition to the Michigan Humane Society, include: Adopt-A-Pet, Animal Rescue Connection, Animal Welfare Society, AuSable Valley Animal Shelter, Canine Companions Rescue Center, Closer to Home Animal Advocates (CTHAA), Faerie Tales Cat Rescue, Feline Friends, Greater Hillsdale Humane Society, K-9 Stray Rescue, Last Chance Rescue, Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, Metro Area Animal Adoption Association, Michigan Greyhound Connection, Midwest Small Breed Rescue, Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue, Inc., Oakland County Animal Care Center, Precious Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.), REGAP, Roscommon County Animal Shelter, Tigerlily Cat Rescue and WAG Animal Rescue.
Adoption fees and policies are set by each participating group and not by event sponsors. Animals will be adopted only to qualified homes. Adopters must present a driver’s license or state ID card. All dogs and cats will have received a medical check-up and age-appropriate vaccinations. For health and safety reasons, please leave current companion animals at home.
Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo is presented by Pedigree and sponsored by VCA Animal Hospitals and Magic 105.1. The Detroit Zoo is located at 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak. The event will be held under tents in the front parking lot, beneath the signature water tower.
This post brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and the Urbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on twitter at @UrbaneLife.
Tags: adoptable cats, adoptable dogs, adoptable pets, detroit zoo, humane society, humane society of the united states, magic 105.1, meet your best friend at the zoo, michigan humane society, pedigree, Royal Oak, royal oak events, shelter dogs, vca animal hospitals
Do you text and drive? After July 1 it’s gonna cost you
Posted by scasola | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, Clawson Neighborhood, Detroit MI, Ferndale MI, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Royal Oak MI, UrbaneApts, events, life, people, politics, technology, travel, trends
In a lot of ways, Michigan is just following suit. Twenty-two other states have already made it official and banned texting while driving. Tomorrow, on national television, Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to sign a bill that will ban Michigan drivers from doing the same. As of July 1, texting while driving will be illegal across our state.
The signing – set for 9:30 a.m. at Detroit’s GM Renaissance Center Wintergarden – will be televised for an upcoming Oprah Winfrey special titled No Phone Zone.
What does this mean to drivers who can’t put down a Blackberry while behind the wheel?
If you’re lucky, it will hit your wallet first. Violators can be fined up to $100 for a first offense or up to $200 if caught again. The ticket doesn’t involve points or become part of a driver’s record.
The law prohibits reading, typing and sending text messages on a wireless device while driving. And police officers are going to be on the lookout. They don’t need another reason to pull you over. Dash-mounted navigation systems are still A-OK according to this law, but if you use cell phone navigation features – like I have – you may be at risk.
The law makes a lot of sense. Texting is a serious distraction for drivers. But I can’t say I haven’t done it. At a time when we’ve become so attached to our cell phones, it’s hard not to reach for them when we receive a message. I’ve been known to peek at or return a text while paused at a stoplight.
Have you read or sent text messages while behind the wheel? Have you ever been involved in an accident with someone who was distracted or using a cell phone? What are your thoughts on the ban?
This post brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and the Urbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on twitter at @UrbaneLife.
Tags: Blackberry, Detroit, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, michigan, Michigan law, Oprah Winfrey, texting and driving, texting ban in Michigan, texting while driving, Urbane, urbane apartments, Urbane Lobby, UrbaneLife
Meet Johnny Cupcakes, May 1 in Royal Oak
Posted by scasola | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, Cool People, Detroit MI, Royal Oak, Royal Oak MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, design, events, life, marketing, people, travel, trends
Who is Johnny Cupcakes?
That’s what I wanted to know the second I opened a gift from a friend tagged with the brand. It was a black T-shirt with a pirate logo that featured a cupcake in place of a skull. I fell in love with it in an instant and wanted to know everything about Johnny Cupcakes.
I’ll finally get my chance. At 8 p.m. Saturday, May 1, the Johnny Cupcakes Suitcase Tour: Back to Basics 2010 makes its stop at 323East gallery in Royal Oak. But this is about much more than the sweet stuff. Johnny Cupcakes makes shirts and merchandise, not baked goods. Thankfully local sponsors like Just Baked will be on hand to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Johnny Cupcakes’ story is an inspiring one. Founder Johnny Earle started out with his first T-shirt design around 2001. What began as a joke based on his nickname, caused a sensation. All he had to do was wear the shirt to work to find out he’d stumbled onto something people wanted to wear.
Earle began printing and selling his T-shirts to friends, then strangers. He took them on tour with his band, On Broken Wings, and sold them out of a suitcase. He’d approach boutiques in the cities he visited to see who might carry his brand.
Earle grew Johnny Cupcakes by word-of-mouth. With an eye for something simple that resonated and a method for releasing limited edition T-shirts that kept demand at a premium, Johnny Cupcakes has grown into a beloved brand. The brand is headquartered in Massachusetts and has shoppes stretching from Boston to Los Angeles. In 2008, Earle was voted America’s No. 1 Young Entrepreneur by Business Week magazine. He’s expanded from T’s to a variety of wearable merchandise.
Of his Back to Basics Suitcase Tour, Earle said: “My favorite part about my brand is building a community. Whenever I have an event, release, or opening, many people who share the same passion for this brand come together and meet new best friends and even significant others! It’s a pretty magical thing, if you ask me.
“Throughout the tour, we will be documenting these memories and uploading a video Webisode every single day. All of the extra footage will be turned into a full documentary which will be released at a later date.”
I can’t wait to hear his story first-hand and hopefully add a few new Johnny Cupcakes additions to my wardrobe.
This post brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and the Urbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on twitter at @UrbaneLife.
Tags: 323East, building a brand, community building, cupcakes, John Earle, Johnny Cupcakes, Johnny Cupcakes Suitcase Tour: Back to Basics 2010, Just Baked, Royal Oak, Urbane, urbane apartments
140 Characters Conference: Using the social web to do good
Posted by ericafinley | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI, Cool People, Detroit MI, Urbane, UrbaneApts, events, life, people, technology, travel, trends, uncategorized
I think that one tweet says it all.
The 140 Characters Conference in New York City this past week brought together more than 140 speakers who discussed topics ranging from education to comic books, and everything in between. But all of them shared a common thread: questioning the status quo and pushing entire industries forward using the social web.
A large majority of the sessions opened my eyes to new uses for sites like Twitter, and it was refreshing to see so many people in one room who really want to use social media to do good things.
Take Alon Nir, for example. He founded TheKotel movement, which allows users to direct message prayers to @TheKotel Twitter account, where they are then transferred to a sheet of paper and placed inside the Western Wall in Jerusalem, also known as The Kotel. On a recent trip, Nir visited the Western Wall with 3,812 prayers in a box. He’s changing lives, but his message is simple:
Or how about George Haines, director of technology at Sts. Philip & James School in St. James, New York. Instead of simply reading the book “Animal Farm” and quizzing his students on the major themes, he chose to bring it to life by having them tweet on behalf of characters in the book. By talking about the characters in the first person, the students were able to dig deeper into their motivations and also have fun at the same time. He took a chance on an unconventional project on the social web, and his classroom is better for it. For a clip of their appearance at #140conf, including a parody of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” click here.
How about going digital to revive a California neighborhood that was fading fast? The Social Strip describes itself as a “collection of businesses on the Sunset Strip that are using social media to collaborate and create a new community on the legendary boulevard.” Once thought to be the epicenter of music discovery, residents started to neglect the historic area, seeing it as old and outdated. Businesses regarded their competition as enemies, instead of fellow community members.
Roxy Theatre owner Nic Adler saw the writing on the wall and knew he needed to do something. The theater launched a blog and adopted what they call a “social personality.” Staffers and customers began sharing photos and videos of their experiences, and the theater started offering Twitter contests and focusing on fan outreach. When theater neighbor The Viper Room joined Twitter, The Roxy encouraged its fans to follow them and The Viper Room returned the favor. Soon the Andaz Hotel and Book Soup were joining in and all of the businesses began promoting each other’s shows. They were building a community.
Their most successful collaboration to date is the Tweet Crawl – a night of free entertainment at venues up and down the Strip. A music festival, attended by more than 10,000 people, and a “Strip Joint” followed. The neighborhood has again become a “socially relevant and thriving music community.”
But none of this greatness happened overnight.
And that’s an important thing to keep in mind, especially for us here in the Detroit area. I think Nikki Stephan said it best when she talked about slow and steady progress, or “baby steps,” during the #tweetea discussion before FutureMidwest. Two events that are great examples of such progress. So are #dogup, Positive Detroit, Brand Camp University, Ignite Detroit, Detroit Moxie and all of the other wonderful things we’ve done thus far with the goal of bringing people together and bucking the negative stereotypes about our region.
What’s something else we can do right now? Bring a friend to one of the upcoming events who’s never been before. I met Jerry Paffendorf, a resident of Detroit, during the 140conf, and he didn’t know FutureMidwest had taken place or even what it was. I’m positive our digital community could have benefited from his input and feedback about the event because he’s excited about the city and its possibilities, too.
New people. New ideas. The future looks bright, Detroit!
This post brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Apartments and the Urbane Lobby. We would love to connect with you on twitter at @UrbaneLife
Tags: 140 Characters Conference, 140conf, alon nir, Brand Camp University, dogup, futuremidwest, george haines, ignite detroit, jeff pulver, nic adler, nikki stephan, positive detroit, roxy theatre, social media, social strip, social web, sts. philip & james, the viper room, thekotel
