Detroit Renaissance wants to know what you think and where you live - if you are creative.  They have asked New Economy Strategies LLC to conduct a survey to gauge obstacles to build a creative environment and Crain’s Detroit to survey the community to create a map of all the creative sector businesses in our Metro area.

For the Creative Business Climate survey (which they will email you the results of) click here.

For the asset map survey (which they won’t send you results of), you can read Mary Kramer’s intro to the survey, or jump to the survey.  If you even remotely suspect that you or someone you may work with can loosely be defined as creative - take this survey.  This survey is aimed at business, not individual, so fill it out for your company, even if you are a company of one!

There are few options (1) if you are in the music industry, and there may be others that are not completely represented.  Go ahead and pick the ‘other’ checkbox - don’t be intimidated to explain how you don’t fit into any of the pigeon holes!  What is most important is to stand up and be counted!

Another celebration of urban living is happening again this Friday at Willy’s Lofts, 444 West Willis in Midtown. Illuminate highlights recent urban residential developments in Detroit. Starts at 7, lasts till at least Midnight, and showcases food, music and art - what more do you need?

Making it happen: Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Slow’s BBQ, Majestic Cafe, R. Hirt Jr., Cost Plus wines and music courtesy of Detour Magazine.

$10 at the door helps StandUp for Kids and CAID. If you can’t afford the ten bucks, volunteer - Detroit Synergy can still use help on the day of the event.

Rumor from DetroitCity.com is that St. Andrews Hall, famous for Eminem’s rap battles featured in the movie 8 Mile, is a purchase target for the rapper/future real estate magnate.  No comment from Eminem’s camp on the discussions with Live Nation, formerly Clearchannel Communications, on what is going on.  You can read more about it from Rap Basement, here.  Thanks to DetroitCity and Rap Basement!

Come to FD Lofts from 7pm to 2am to experience the ‘D’s eye candy. ‘LAUNCH’, an event created by Sabra Sanzotta, Sarah Lurtz and Sarah Lapinski focusing on hot new Detroit fashion, concept cars, artwork, music - and of course food! This Creative Class Party will provide a celebration of Detroit’s fashion, music, urban loft living, and people connecting across regional boundaries. Talent not only from Detroit, but also from Toronto & Chicago will be strutting to a DJ in 10,000 sq. feet of party space.

Click the links above for additional information on the event, or click below to purchase your tickets.

Location: FD Lofts, 3434 Russell St, Detroit 48207 - in the Eastern Market.  Advance tickets $25 here

A new style of home store opens next week in the ‘D’, called Bureau of Urban Living. Located at 460 West Canfield in Midtown, they are conveniently located for many midtowners. Owners Claire Nelson and Francis Grunow are stocking with the loft dweller in mind, whether it be modern or historic. Check the website for more info, or just stroll by next week to see when they open the doors for the general public. For more info, click here.

Come out December 8th and Celebrate the Grand Opening of the Lofts at 55 West Canfield. One more in a long line of success stories for the city! Don’t miss your chance to bump elbows with lots of other fans of the ‘D’, including our Mayor!

LaSalle Bank and The Hubbell Group are springing for the appetizers and libations, so don’t be shy!!

Party starts at 5:30, ribbon cutting at 6:30, Valet Parking Available, DJ.

And if the beer and wine don’t cut it for you, there is a cash Martini Bar!

See you there!

I was planning on visiting downtown to capture all of the “developments” taking shape…the casinos rising, condo conversions, the continued work of Campus Martius Park as it extends down Woodward and Cadillac Square…but what I found was far more interesting.

What I found were “Signs of Life”. These are pictures of the renewed since of beauty downtown, flowers, gardens, trees, life.

Enjoy

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On Tuesday, the Michigan Gaming Control Board unanimously approved Greektown Casino’s plans for a permanent home. Yesterday’s decision gives Greektown Casino - which has operated in the downtown Detroit-neighborhood known as Greektown since November 2000 - the go-ahead to move forward with plans for a $200 million permanent home.

The permanent plans call for 25,000 additional square-feet of gaming space, a 400-room hotel and a 3100-space parking structure. A city-owned parking structure at St. Antoine and Monroe was demolished last week to make way for Greektown’s new parking structure. Greektown Casino is the only 100 percent Michigan-owned casino in Detroit and is the first tribal-owned casino in the United States to open on non-tribal land.

The casino, located at 555 East Lafayette, currently has 2400 slot machines and more than 80 gaming tables. Greektown’s permanent casino complex is set to open in September 2008.

Published from Girl-In-The-D