DIA "INSIDE / OUT" ART DISPLAYS HEAD TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS

Six years ago the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) began a community outreach campaign to expand the awareness and appreciation of the museum with local residents.  The DIA placed weather-proof, high-quality reproductions of artistic masterpieces from its collection outdoors in a few select cities within the three counties surrounding Detroit for people to enjoy.  The goal of the displays was to bring the art IN its galleries OUT into communities for people who may not normally visit the downtown Detroit museum to enjoy. These representations were so accurate that police departments in these communities began to receive calls from concerned citizens that stolen artwork from the DIA may have been put up as a prank.  Rave reviews from the public about the displays have made INSIDE/OUT an annual on-going program since its inception.

The INSIDE / OUT program selects several local cities and townships each year to host these art displays. The nice thing about the program is that seven to twelve images are clustered within walking or bike-riding distance so you can have a fun family outing searching for the artwork and exploring the community where it has been placed.  I've gone on an art hunt with my kids in at least one of the INSIDE/OUT communities hosting the displays each year since the program began.  It is nice too that they've rotated the participating cities and townships during the life of the program so the displays aren't always hosted in the same places and new artwork is regularly introduced year to year keeping going on art hunts fun and exciting.  Metro Detroit locations hosting INSIDE/OUT in 2016 include Eastern Market and the Dequindre Cut greenway trail in the City of Detroit, plus the communities of Hamtramck, Ecorse, New Baltimore, Pontiac, and Warren, among other locations.

Because of the popularity of INSIDE/OUT  the displays will also be included over the summer in three northern Michigan towns popular with summer vacationers -- Alpena, Traverse City and Mackinac Island.  If you are planning on going on an Up North Michigan adventure this summer these INSIDE / OUT exhibits will be on display until September.  I hadn't realized that the INSIDE / OUT artwork was going to be on display in Northern Michigan until we stumbled upon one of the portraits during a family trip to Mackinac Island while walking to our hotel.  Because of our family's past art hunts we instantly associated it with being INSIDE/OUT artwork.

 Mackinac Island is known for prohibiting motor vehicles so walking, bike riding and horse drawn carriages are the primary means of getting around while visiting the Michigan state park which is filled with historical buildings, scenic landscapes, and lots of fudge shops and souvenir stands. The INSIDE / OUT artwork is sprinkled throughout the island's downtown and the grounds of the historic Grand Hotel.  Some of the artwork really stands out along the island's thoroughfares while others are a bit more subdued so they are not so easy to discover without looking out for them.  Of course we went on an art hunt to our Mackinac Island activities once we realized the DIA reproductions were there searching for all the INSIDE/OUT displays adding an extra element of fun to our trip.

I've shared a few of the Mackinac Island INSIDE/OUT portraits we discovered.  If you visit can you find them all?  If so let us know!  Plus if you make it to Alpena or Traverse City this summer, have some Pure Michigan fun and go on an art hunt!  Of course we'd enjoy seeing your INSIDE/OUT art hunt photos.  Please share your pictures by tweeting them to @Geekdad248 so we can share in your fun!

If you are planning a Metro Detroit art hunt be aware that they switch up the locations and displays in August with the new exhibit locations staying up through October.  Upcoming locations include Belleville (Wayne County), East English Village (Detroit), Beverly Hills (Oakland County) and Romeo (Macomb County).   For more information, visit www.dia.org.

FUN FALL ACTIVITIES

Just because for many of us the weather begins to get brisk during the Fall season doesn't mean your family can't be outside enjoying itself.  From apple orchard trips to themed 5k runs to visits to haunted houses there are more fun things to do in the Fall than I can try to count.  That being said, I joined with my friends from the Social Fabric Blogger Network to try and list as many fall family friendly activities as we could all come up with taking place across the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.  Enjoy checking out all these great blog posts and if you have a favorite Fall activity or event not mentioned below, feel free to plug it in this post's comment section so we can all learn about it!

USA

Arizona

• East Valley - Experiencing Parenthood
• Phoenix - Meatloaf and Melodrama
• Tucson - Desert Chica

California

• Escalon - The Naptime Reviewer
• Sacramento - Gluesticks
• Santa Clarita - This Talk Ain't Cheap

Connecticut

• Northwestern Connecticut - The Momma Diaries

Florida

• Fort Myers - Flour on my Face
• Pensacola - Just a Little Creativity
• South Florida - Huppie Mama
• Tampa Bay Area - Stacey Homemaker

Georgia

• Atlanta - Married Filing Jointly

Hawaii

• Honolulu - Communikait

Illinois

• Chicago - Kids are a Trip
• Chicago - Tiaras & Tantrums

Indiana

• Northeast Indiana - The Teel House

Iowa

• Central Iowa - A Journey to Thin

Kansas

• Kansas City - Mama Plus One

Kentucky

• Louisville, Lexington & Frankfort - Hobbies on a Budget

Louisiana

• Baton Rouge - The Mama Zone

Massachusetts

• Boston - Feathers and Stripes

Michigan

• Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor with Kids
• Detroit - A Geek Daddy

Minnesota

• Minneapolis - The Real Housewives of Minnesota

Nebraska

• Omaha - Mom on the Side

New Hampshire

• Upper Valley Region - Scrappy Geek

New York

• Albany - Just Another Mom

North Carolina

• Piedmont - It Happens in a Blink

Ohio

• Cleveland - I Need a Playdate
• Columbus - Mission to Save
• Northern Miami Valley - Home & Garden Cafe

Pennsylvania

• Philadelphia Suburbs - A Grande Life
• Philadelphia Suburbs - Mamma Bear's World
• Philadelphia Suburbs - Mama Cheaps
• Pittsburgh - Third Stop on the Right

Rhode Island

• Providence - Tall Mom Tiny Baby
• Providence & Surrounding Areas - Mama Luvs Books

South Carolina

• Jefferson - An Alli Event

Tennessee

• East Tennessee - Creative Southern Home
• Nashville - Family Focus Blog

Texas

• Dallas/Fort Worth - DFW Images
• Dallas/Fort Worth - Julie is Coco and Cocoa
• Dallas/Fort Worth - Momma DJane
• Fort Worth - Mommie....Again
• Northwest Texas - For What It's Worth
• San Antonio - House of Fauci's
• San Antonio - Ramblings of a Marine Wife

Utah

• Salt Lake City - The Ranting Latina

Virginia

• New River Valley - Pursuit of Pink

Washington

• Seattle - Not Just a Mommy

CANADA

London, Ontario - Creative Cynchronicity

Toronto, Ontario - Teddy Out-Ready

 UK

Yorkshire - JuggleMum  

 #Fall4SoFab

5 Great Fall Events for Competitive & Casual Runners Taking Place in Metro Detroit

Fall is a great time for getting out of the house and going for a run.  Autumn temperatures provide some of the year's most comfortable weather for running in Michigan and the region's fall colors can provide great scenery to take in and enjoy during a run.  Whether your are an ultra competitive athlete or a casual jogger here are five great running events taking place this fall in Metro Detroit:

GRAVE DIGGERS DASH / Saturday - October 10 (Pontiac)

Dress up in your Halloween costume and race through the streets of downtown Pontiac which will be lined with ghosts, ghouls, and  zombies to cheer runners and walkers on during this morning event.  The event is sponsored by EREBUS one of the country's premiere haunted attractions during the Halloween season featuring four floors of spooky thrills.  All entrants get a free ticket to the Erebus Haunted House ($28 value) that are good throughout that weekend Friday through Sunday plus the event itself will have a post event party with snacks, refreshments and a costume contest for the best dressed Halloween themed runners.   Participants can also purchase additional Erebus tickets for friends and families for $20 each which is an $8 savings per ticket. Note Erebus is not recommended for children under 13.

There are a variety of Grave Diggers Dash option to choose on so that there is something must everyone can participate in ranging from a 1/4 mile kids run to a 5 KILLometer race and fun walk:

5K Run / Walk
Everyone gets a participation medal and a long sleeve tech shirt who has registered by 10/4/15.

Monster Mash Mile
A shorter course but everyone who registers before 10/4/15 gets the same swag as the 5K.

1/4 Mile Trick or Trot
Children 12 and under can run this special course receiving a finisher's medal and Halloween treats at the finish line.  There will be a Trick-or-Trot fun zone for participants featuring a chance for children to get a photo with monsters, face painting, and other kid focused activities.  Parents can run/walk with registered children for FREE during the Trick or Trot.

COLOR FUN FEST 5K / Saturday - October 10 (Highland Park)

This event combines an electronic music festival with day and night color 5K runs and walks.  Make your way through a vibrant course where you are splattered with brilliant colors - this is definitely not an event where you want to wear any expensive or valued shoes and clothing.  The daytime wave of runners and walkers makes their way through the course beginning at 5pm and the night group's adventure begins during sunset at 7pm.

Color Fun Fest 5K features a massive finish-line festival featuring live DJ's, food, and the monumental EPICOLOR TOSS.  Children under 12 are FREE! If you just want to go enjoy the post-race festival part of the event it costs $10.


How's that for Fall Colors for ya!

THE GREAT AMAZING RACE / Saturday - October 31 (Indian Springs Metro Park)

The Great Amazing Race is a national skills competition, in which teams of two people race through an obstacle course in competition with their peers. Modeled after the TV show, this exciting adventure race has teams completing a one-mile course speckled with up to 8 fun-filled outdoor challenges. Clue cards provided at each stations directs teams to complete a task (obstacle, game, relay, etc.), before advancing to the next challenge station. Teams strive to arrive at the finish line with the fastest overall time to be declared the winners.

How well you work together with your partner (communicate & collaborate) is the most essential skill to winning the race. Waves begin every 10 minutes … kids teams, then adult teams. The top 25 teams from each local race qualify for regional championship race and chance to win $1,500! Reserve your spot now as registration will close once 120 team limit is reached.

Here's some important info to know if you want to compete in THE GREAT AMAZING RACE:

•   The race is for everyone - runners, joggers and walkers - pee wees to grandparents.  
• A team consist of two people - Adult/Adult, Adult/Kid or Kid/Kid.  Kindergarten & Pre-K are allowed only if paired with an adult. 
• Teams compete in 4 race divisions based on grade of the youngest team member. (Grades: K-2 / 3-5 / 6-8 / 9-Adult).
• Each race offers 3 challenging levels ... easy, intermediate & difficult based upon age & fitness level of racers.  Be aware that the difficult course consumes energies equivalent to that of a 5K.

 

KONA Chocolate Run / Sunday - November 15 (Plymouth)

Join Michigan's largest chocolate party which features 10K, 5K, and 1 Mile races.  Here are the details on a really fun event:

• Kona Chocolate Run: 10K/5K/Mile ~  Celebrate upcoming holidays with Cups of Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Guernsey Chocolate Milk & Chocolate Fondue along with music in downtown Plymouth! Heated Warming Tent next to Chocolate Buffet Tents 
• Full Zipper Jacket* - High quality L. Jordan brand "Full zipper jacket with a hoodie, two zipper pockets and embroidered"; Men/Women fitted sizes for entrants; *Jackets guaranteed if registered by 11/8/2015 
• Post Race Chocolate Party: NEW 2 Large Tents with 4 buffet lines.  Panera Bread providing cups of Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Cookies, Guernsey Dairy serving Chocolate Milk and Schakolad Chocolate Factory will provide Chocolate Fountain Fondues with cookies & sliced bagels!  

DETROIT THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE TURKEY TROT /  Detroit
Running this 5K that takes you along the annual Detroit Thanksgiving Day parade route with thousands of spectators watching and cheering you on is something everyone should try at least once as a memory making experience.  For some runners it crosses an item off their bucket list and for others it becomes an annual tradition.

So there you have it - Detroit has these and many other running/walking events for people of all skill levels and ages to enjoy throughout the autumn season.  Whether it is enjoying fall colors, a holiday themed affair, or an amazing race there really is something for everyone to participate in.