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7 Places Around Detroit With Mob Stories

Walking casually past many of the buildings and sites in Detroit, you’d never know they hold a violent past. However, many of the city’s iconic landmarks and attractions have had their own brush with organized crime. The Mafia and its rivals, notably the Purple Gang, had their favorite haunts and places where they committed terrible crimes. Fortunately, time has largely removed the traces left behind by the criminals, and the collective memory has forgotten the sites’ negative associations. Ho...

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Detroit Zen: A Couple Of Minutes With The Koi On Belle Isle

The Aquarium on Belle Isle, originally opened in 1904 and at one point was America’s oldest-running aquarium (it was shut down for a few years starting in 2005 due to budget issues), has a very cool koi pond next door between it and the Whitcomb Conservatory. The Aquarium was designed by none other than the godfather of Detroit architecture, Albert Kahn. The pond houses nearly 300 fish, with some estimated at being 80 years old – and they like to take an interest in people staring at them –...

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Belle Isle Art Fair Debuts August 6 & 7

Ready to see the beauty of Belle Isle accented by unique artwork from local and regional artists? Plan to attend the first ever Belle Isle Art Fair on August 6 and 7. The fair will take place next to the Scott Fountain near the Southern tip of the park and is a great outing for families, art connoisseurs, or people who just want to get out and enjoy the sunshine. “This is one of the most beautiful locations you can imagine to view artwork – or the city skyline We’re so thrilled to be part of...

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Check Out 11 Postcards From Belle Isle's Past

One of the fun things about the Internet is finding things that give you a window that lets you see in on the past. One of those windows are postcards. These samples are from the Detroit Publishing Company and are, according to the New York Public Library, now public domain. Digitized just last year, there’s a plethora of great images from Detroit that we’re going to share in the coming weeks. Belle Isle is one of Detroit’s jewels. Whether it’s kayaking around it, enjoying the canals in it,...

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Alpaca Ranch Could Come To Belle Isle, Put Abandoned Golf Course Back To Use

At first, it’s easy to brush the idea of an Alpaca Ranch on Belle Isle off as completely absurd. While the thought of such a move may seem strange, a Detroit couple believes that this is one new idea that deserves a chance. Detroiter David Shock, the creator of the idea of “Alpaca Land Detroit,” thinks Detroit needs more cute. The concept was a response to the family’s personal love of Detroit and alpacas. Shock is no stranger to rehab projects. He and his wife recently purchased an old fact...

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What To Do This Weekend In Detroit For December 11-13, 2015

We’ve entered the heart of the holiday season, the time when folks start to feel the pressure of months of shopping procrastination. If you’re like me, you’ve been holding out until now to dive into the grueling world of holiday shopping, and it’s finally time to scrape what’s left of the shelves and make your best attempt at manipulating wrapping paper and tape to get your mediocre gifts into proper form for giving. That’s why this week’s list is almost all about shopping. One fantastic...

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WATCH: Beautiful Footage Of Belle Isle From Above

Detroit has seen its fair share of drone stardom during the last few years, and it’s not over yet. Check out this short video that focuses on Detroit’s one of a kind gem, Belle Isle State Park, which has seen significant development throughout the last several years. With help from the Belle Isle Conservancy, The State of Michigan, and lots of volunteer hours,  the beautification  efforts are helping to restore the island to it’s once immaculate condition, as well as amplifying it’s reputati...

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Here's The History Behind The Names Of 10 Detroit Area Places

Names that might make out-of-towners do a double take are part of Detroiters’ everyday vocabulary. We’re used to the neighborhoods, streets, and cities that makes up Metro Detroit. However, we don’t often stop to think about how these places got their names and who the people (and sometimes places) are behind them. 1. Hamtramck Like much of Detroit’s history, Hamtramck can trace its name back to the French. It was named after Colonel Jean Francois Hamtramck, a Quebec native who joined...

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10 Things You Think When You Move To Detroit

I’m a native Houstonian, and I moved from the Greater Houston Area to the Metro Detroit area last August. I knew that things would be different – the winters would be colder, for one. However, there were some things that I didn’t anticipate. Take a glimpse into a non-Detroiter’s mind and find out some of the things we think upon moving to the city. 1. Why Can’t I Turn Left? Fortunately, the Michigan left hasn’t caught on in the rest of the nation. However, that means that people who ha...

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Things To Do In Detroit: Your City 5 For August 7-9, 2015

What’s up Detroit, we’re back once again for the weekend rundown with your City 5. We’ve crossed into the last month of summer, which means winter is poking her icy claw at our sacred tropical bubble. Soon enough we’ll be talking about ice skating at Campus Martius, so slip on your flip flops and let’s enjoy what’s left of this magical summer window. Detroit Improv Festival – Friday-Sunday – Detroit, Ferndale If summer time festivals are your thing, then this week’s list is for you....

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More Racing Coming To Belle Isle: Red Bull Global Rallycross Hits Detroit This July

There’s going to be even more racing at Belle Isle State Park, this time with a partially dirt track and a heart-stopping 70 foot jump. We’re getting word that the Red Bull Global Rallycross series will race July 25 and 26 on Belle Isle in Detroit. There’s drifting, high contact between cars, and much more. Check out the GoPro reel from last year – this isn’t a place where if there’s a tap of the fender the car is out of the race. They just keep going. This is the same site as the Indycar...

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2015 Belle Isle Grand Prix Defies Weather, Brings in High TV Ratings

Despite the less than ideal weather last weekend, the Grand Prix managed to produce solid returns for 2015. Notable attention came through television ratings, viewership, and social media. It appears, however, that Detroiters would rather leave the rain to the ducks. Attendance at the event was estimated at 65,000, down from previous years because of the stubborn rain. Though the rain may have lessened the number of attendees, it heightened the excitement. Fans at home eagerly watched the ca...

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Historic Belle Isle Shelter Renovated, Pedicab And Carriage Service To Start

Belle Isle’s historic bus stop shelter at the southeast corner of Inselruhe and Loiter Way has been renovated, just in time for summer. It will serve as a stop for Pedicabs and horse-drawn-carriages on the island. The Department of Natural Resources, the State Historic Preservation Office, and the Detroit Training Institute of Technology and its students worked together to give the shelter some much-needed TLC. The Detroit Training Institute of Technology is a trades school that combines tra...

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Your Quick Guide To Enjoying The Detroit Grand Prix On Belle Isle This Weekend

The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix returns to the Motor City Friday-Sunday, May 29-31, 2015. Here’s what you need to know to get the most from the event. The Grand Prix will feature the cars of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the Pirelli World Challenge Series and the trucks of the SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road Presented by TRAXXAS. The weekend collectively is referred to as the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix and it will feature the Chevro...

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Grand Prix Street Fest Offers Free Glimpse Of Grand Prix Weekend, Including Slow Roll Appearance

Grand Prix fans will get a free taste of this weekend’s Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix in downtown Detroit tomorrow evening. (Wednesday, May 27). The Quicken Loans Grand Prix Street Fest powered by Chevrolet will take place at Campus Martius from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There is no admission cost, and fans of all ages are encouraged to join the festivities. Drivers competing in the Grand Prix will be present to sign autographs and meet fans. Drivers expected at the Street Fest include:...

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VID, PICS: Belle Isle Bridge Aglow With New LED Lights

Thanks to a $50,000 donation by Platinum Equity (owned by Tom Gores who is known locally for owning the Detroit Pistons), more than 300 new bulbs were replaced on the Belle Isle Bridge with LED lights as well as the large lagoon by the Scott Fountain, just in time for the Fireworks and the Grand Prix. The results are stunning. They shot a video which we embedded above, but also we hit the bridge after dark to get some close-ups and different views, and we’ve included them below. The bridge t...

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10 Family Things To Do In Metro Detroit Now That It's Warm Out

The outdoor season has finally started! The sun is out. The birds are back. The days are gorgeous, and the kids are getting restless. Entertain your precious balls of energy by taking them out and about the city this Spring and Summer. Rediscover Detroit and create wonderful family memories. Here are 10 fun family things to do in Detroit to get you started. Visit the Detroit Zoo Kick off the season with a roar at the Detroit Zoo. The zoo offers plenty of neat opportunities for kids and a...

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Detroit Boat Club On Belle Isle Gets New Lease On Life Thanks To Friends Of Detroit Rowing

Friends of Detroit Rowing, a nonprofit organization that offers rowing classes and programs, signed a 30-year lease with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, DBusiness reports. “We have been working diligently with the state of Michigan and the DNR to bring this lease to fruition and open the Belle Isle Boat House to the public,” says Julie Dinan, president of Friends of Detroit Rowing. “The state has been a very dedicated partner in the process, and we look forward to renting the fac...