Oak Park based MJR Digital Cinemas announced today that they, in conjunction with the acclaimed Star Wars:  Episode 1 the Phantom Menace movie in 3-D will host the Great Lakes Garrison, the Michigan chapter of the 501^st Legion in the theatre lobby at their newest venue, the Westland Grand Digital Cinema 16 located at 6800 N. Wayne Rd. Westland, MI 48185.

The various Star Wars characters will be in their lobby on Saturday, Feb. 11^th from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in full garb.  BRING YOUR CAMERA! You can have your picture taken with your favorite character.  This is Free of Charge to all patrons, but donations will be accepted with all proceeds going to the Make a Wish Foundation.

The Legion consists of volunteers most of which hold full time jobs outside of the Legion activities.

WATERFORD DIGITAL CINEMA · 16 7501 Highland Rd. Waterford, MI 48327   BRIGHTON TOWNE SQUARE DIGITAL CINEMA · 20 8200 Murphy Dr.                                                   Brighton, MI 48116                                                                                                                                       CHESTERFIELD CROSSING DIGITAL CINEMA · 16 50675 Gratiot Ave. Chesterfield, MI 48051

WESTLAND GRAND DIGITAL CINEMA ● 16

6800 N. Wayne Rd.

Westland, MI 48185

MARKETPLACE STERLING HEIGHTS DIGITAL

CINEMA · 20

35400 Van Dyke

Sterling Heights, MI 48312

Partridge Creek DIGITAL Cinema ▪14

17400 Hall Rd.

Clinton Twp., 48038

SOUTHGATE DIGITAL CINEMA · 20

15651 Trenton Rd.

Southgate, MI 48195

WATERFORD DIGITAL CINEMA · 16

7501 Highland Rd.

Waterford, MI 48327

BRIGHTON TOWNE SQUARE DIGITAL CINEMA · 20

8200 Murphy Dr.                                                  

Brighton, MI 48116                                                      

CHESTERFIELD CROSSING DIGITAL CINEMA · 16

50675 Gratiot Ave.

Chesterfield, MI 48051

Looking for something fun to do with the whole family? Then you won’t want to miss out on the Quilt Art: International Expressions exhibit at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House. Explore this exhibit, featuring 40 amazing quilts, and revel in the colors, imagination, and beauty of this unique form of artistic expression. The upcoming exhibit will display quilts created by 22 different artists from eight countries, beginning on January 28 and ending on March 25, 2012.

In addition to the chance to view these vibrant, diverse pieces and see quilts in a whole new light, you will have the opportunity to attend lectures and participate in captivating workshops, including one your kids will love. On March 10, from 10 AM to 12 PM, the Quilting for Children workshop will provide a fun learning experience for your children. They’ll get to sew a make-and-take project of their very own while learning more about the art of quilting. Afterwards? Break bread together at the delicious Cotswold Cafe.

Where:

The Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
1100 Lake Shore Road,
Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan 48236

How Much:

The exhibit is free of charge. The cost for the Quilting for Children workshop is just $10 per child.

Mark your calendars!  On January 16th, most children will be off from school and the Henry Ford will be offering FREE admission.

Thanks to Target, you can join in for fun and  live music, dramatic presentations, make and take activities and much more in Henry Ford Museum. Visitors will also enjoy the “Liberty & Justice For All“, a groundbreaking new exhibit that explores the proud and often painful evolution of American freedom: from the Revolutionary War through the struggle for civil rights. See and hear the past trials, tribulations and triumphs of the enduring spirit of Freedom.

The 39th annual Noel Night will take place on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011, from 5:00pm-9:30pm in Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center Area.

Over 60 Midtown venues, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Detroit Public Library, amongst many others, open their doors to the public FREE of CHARGE during this Cultural Center-wide holiday “open house.”

Activities include horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday shopping, family craft activities and performances by over 120 area music, theatre, and dance groups. Special performances by The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Tartan Terrors, Melvin Davis and The United Sound, and Breathe Owl Breathe. The evening’s festivities culminate with a community sing-along on Woodward Avenue led by the Salvation Army Band—a long-standing Noel Night tradition.

Noel Night activities take place in and around Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center institutions, primarily between Cass and John R and Kirby and Willis. Free shuttle service is offered between participating venues. Convenient parking is available in area lots. Noel Night is produced by Midtown Detroit, Inc., a nonprofit community development organization that supports economic growth in Detroit’s Midtown district.

For more information, contact Midtown Detroit, Inc. at 313.420.6000.

Teens & Tweens are invited to the Canton Public Library for some fun & creativity at 1:00 PM on December 17th.  Program participants will design a hair clip from recycled soda cans – stylish and eco-friendly!

All supplies will be provided by the Canton Public Library. Pre-registration is required and open starting December 3, 2011.  For more information, please visit the Canton Public Library website.

Greenfield Village will once again be hosting the annual Holiday Nights programming on select evenings in December.

Visitors will step into a Christmas card from the past complete with candle-lit paths, live entertainment, costumed presenters, horse-drawn wagon and Model T rides, delightful holiday shops, Santa and live reindeer, ice skating, a spectacular fireworks display and more.

Some of the program highlights will include:

• 4 performance stages with nonstop events
• 6 delightful holiday shops
• 7 food stops
• Live musical performances including: the Christie Street Carolers, the Main Street Carolers, the Dodworth Saxhorn Band, the Festival Singers, Neil Woodward, Picks & Sticks Stringband, Ranka Mulkern, the Livonia Civic Chorus, the Greenfield Carolers, and the 1st Michigan Colonial Fife & Drum Corps
• 6 enchanting holiday vignettes including a great photo-op
• Strolling costumed presenters
• Horse-drawn wagon and Model T rides
• Skilled artisan demonstrations
• Visit Santa with his live reindeer at the Robert Frost House
• Bonfires
• A real ice rink: Skates will be available for loan
• Fabulous fireworks finale and sing-along

This event will take place from 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM on December 2-3, 9-10, 16-23 and 26-27, 2011.  For more information and pricing, please visit the Greenfield Village Museum website.

Radio Disney AM 910 is making it easy for Detroit area kids and families to give back this holiday season with “Festival of Giving” at Westland Shopping Centeron Saturday, December 3 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.).  Radio Disney stations in over 30 markets will bring multiple charities together in their local communities to create a convenient way for kids and families to help others this holiday season.  Westland Veteran’s Association, Michigan Humane Society, Toys for Tots and Forgotten Harvest will all be on site to take donations.   

Radio Disney, the #1 radio network for kids, tweens and families, will launch its first annual “FESTIVAL OF GIVING” on DECEMBER 3 AND 4.  The hope is that this project will inspire families to spend time together in an effort to make a lasting, positive change at home, in their community and the world at large.

“We know our audience of kids and families is passionate about giving back,” said Sean Cocchia, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Radio Disney. He added, “With the busy holiday season upon us, ‘Festival of Giving’ will make it easy and fun for families to donate to local philanthropic organizations in their communities.”

Each event will be hosted by Radio Disney’s local stations and will feature music, interactive entertainment and prizes.

The Detroit Opera House is hosting it’s Annual Family Fun day this Saturday, November 5th from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

During this event, families will get a behind the scenes tours and demonstrations including the costume shop, rehearsal studio, dance studio, dressing rooms and more.  This fun and educational event is completely FREE and will also include complimentary parking.

Please call 313-961-3500, ext. 0, to make reservations.

I love this annual event!  Last year I missed out on getting tickets – not this year, I already ordered mine.   This event is full of local history and wonderful architecture. The event this year is being held on Sunday, December 11^th.

A ticket gets you a tour of five historic homes in the Boston-Edison Historic, District near downtownDetroit.  They are all beautifully decked out for the holidays – these homes are those of some of the movers and shakers from back in the day.  I have gone on the tour several times and have never been disappointed.  The tour begins at the Sacred Heart Seminary, which is magnificent in itself.  From there you board a bus that takes you around to the tour homes.

If you would like to attend the tour make sure you order your tickets early.  For more information or for ticket ordering information please visit:   http://www.historicbostonedison.org/

It’s almost that time of year when the circus rolls into town. This year happens to mark P.T. Barnum’s 200th birthday. In celebration of the occasion and show – BARNUM 200^SM- there will be a cupcake challenge at the GM Renaissance Center.  This event is free and the public is welcome.
When:                        November 9^th from 10:00 a.m. until noon

Where:           Inside the Wintergarden atDetroit’s GM Renaissance Center

Local cupcake bakers will assemble their monuments to the circus out of 200 pre-baked cupcakes. Judging begins at 11:30 a.m.  These Local bakers will be competing to be the guest ringmaster for The Greatest Show On Earth^® . Their creations will be judged by local media and celebrities, based on original design, attention to detail, taste and connectivity to the circus.

The event puts the icing on top of BARNUM 200^SM, the BIGGEST Birthday Bash in Circus History, coming Nov. 9-13, 2011, to the Palace of Auburn Hills.  BARNUM 200^SM celebrates P.T. Barnum’s 200^th birthday. Those attending the Birthday Cupcake Bash, prior to the show’s opening night, will have a chance to enjoy sweet treats, receive free show vouchers and more.

Contestants include representatives from Butterfly Bake Shoppe , Cupcakes and More, The Cupcake Station and Flower to Flour .

For details on the performance schedule or more about the show please visit: www.Ringling.com