Yes/No Detroit

Somehow we are almost halfway through June. I took off a half day from work yesterday to see The Accidentals, one of my favorite bands, in Ann Arbor, and today I'm taking today off to hang out with an out-of-town friend who is visiting. The Accidentals at Sonic Lunch, Ann Arbor What I've been up to this week: Seeing Taylor Jenkins Reid in Ann Arbor. Last Friday, a friend and I went to Rackham Auditorium (a UM building) to see one of my favorite authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid. Tickets were about $30, which IMO is a bargain since the hardcover copy of her new book is about that price (and a signed hardcover copy was included!). Her new book is called Atmosphere and I've been reading it this week—it's a little different than some of her others but it's very good. The conversation with her (it was a Q&A live on the Rackham stage) was very interesting, too ... this book focuses on NASA and she said how she was able to talk to a head honcho there to get some background...

We are already one week into June, and I need time to slow down a bit ... I'm heading to Ann Arbor with a friend later today to see the author Taylor Jenkins Reid speak at Rackham (UM campus), though, which I'm excited about, since I love her books. Taylor Swift-themed cookies at a friend's birthday party What I've been up to this week: Attending a Taylor Swift-themed birthday party . One of my friends celebrated her birthday this weekend, and everything was Taylor Swift-themed, which was a lot of fun. We started off at her house, and then moved to the Novi library for an artwork hour (the party had both adults and kids there), then back to her house to eat the cookies pictured above. Attendees were encouraged to dress up like the theme—I wore my "Karma is a cat" t-shirt that I wore when I saw Taylor in concert a few years ago, at Ford Field, but others dressed like her album artwork themes, which was fun.  Preparing to move. I bought my condo in Clawson in 20...

This week went by fast (maybe because it was a 4-day work week?) and now it's basically June, and I am not entirely ready ... the spring/summer is going by fast.  Bloom Bar at my friend's bridal shower What I've been up to this week: Bridal shower for a friend . The friend that had the engagement dinner last Thursday had her bridal shower on Saturday, in Marshall, MI (a bit of a drive, about 1.5 hours for me) at The Millhaven, which ended up being a very nice event venue. They had the Greenhouse, where we were situated, and the Pickle Factory, which was more for wedding receptions. My friend is a great party planner and no detail was spared here (the shower was Bridgerton -themed!) which was a lot of fun—I wore a green floral dress which I've had for a few years, and a green fascinator that I bought off Amazon. I was glad to be able to celebrate my friend again, because her wedding is over Labor Day weekend when I will most likely have a one-week-old baby (or, a few wee...

It's been another busy week, and I'm glad for a three-day weekend to hopefully do some relaxing, although I have a bridal shower in Marshall, MI (about a 1.5-hour drive) to go tomorrow, so it'll still be a bit busy. Engagement dinner at Royal Park Hotel, Rochester, MI What I've been up to this week: Engagement dinner at the Royal Park Hotel, Rochester. Last night I attended an engagement dinner for my friend Margarita—I believe we met in line for movie screenings, so probably around 2009-10 or so, and we've been in touch since then. It was a beautiful party—I had never been to the Royal Park Hotel, but I had seen it before, because I have another friend who lives very close by, and it ended up being gorgeous. My friend is hosting a bridal shower tomorrow too, which I'm also attending—I'm glad she's having these events because her wedding is over Labor Day weekend, in Saugatuck, when, ironically, I might *be* in labor (my due date is late August), so unfo...

Wheel of Fortune Live! is stopping by the Fisher Theatre in Detroit for its 2025 tour, and one of my lucky readers will win two tickets to attend.  I have never seen the Live show (just the televised version) so I'm looking forward to hopefully attending.  About the show: Sony Pictures Television and Right Angle Entertainment have announced that Wheel of Fortune LIVE!® will be stopping at Detroit’s Fisher Theatre on Thursday, November 25 at 7:30 p.m. as part of its 60-city national tour. Hosted by a celebrity guest host, Wheel of Fortune LIVE! brings the excitement of everyone’s favorite TV game show to life, giving fans the chance to solve puzzles, win prizes and possibly become a Wheel of Fortune®  TV contestant. Tickets are currently on sale, and will be available online at BroadwayInDetroit.com .  At Wheel of Fortune LIVE!, audience members will be randomly selected to come up on stage to spin the famous Wheel and show their skill by calling consonants, buying ...

All photos courtesy of Disney/Getty Images I saw Disney's Snow White in the theater back in mid-March, and overall enjoyed it. It's now available at digital retailers (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home), and read on below to see how you can win a digital code. Film synopsis: Disney’s Snow White is a vibrant live-action musical reimagining of Walt Disney’s groundbreaking full-length animated classic. Experience the timeless adventure as Snow White (Rachel Zegler) journeys into magical woods to escape her stepmother, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot), and meets the beloved Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, Happy, Dopey, Grumpy and Doc who join her quest to restore the kingdom and bring kindness to the land. Bonus features*: Sing Along with the Movie: Sing along with your favorite songs while watching the movie with onscreen lyrics. Deleted Scenes: o   Anguish and Opportunity o   Danger in the Woods o   Hunt for Snow White Fearless, Fair, Brave, and True: Maki...

I'm in a Cinetopia Film Festival hangover today, meaning I watched six movies this weekend (really like 5.5; you'll see why below) and missing both that and Ann Arbor. I've been attending the festival since 2014 —it was on hiatus from 2020-2023, then came back last year and this year. This was the first year that the festival was only five days, though, from Wednesday through this Sunday. I was in Indianapolis for work through Thursday, and needed a "recovery day" (plus had to work) on Friday, so I went in Saturday morning for it and left yesterday around 5:30pm.  I would say that you will be able to find some of the below on streaming at some point—with festival movies, some I see everywhere afterwards, and some of them I never see again on streaming/etc., which is always interesting. What I watched, and my reviews: The Spin : This was a great movie to start off the festival with—it was an Irish comedy about two friends who own a records store together (and are a...

I am guessing I am probably not the only one in Southeast Michigan who is tired today: tornado sirens went off around 12:15am last night, then abruptly stopped 5-10 minutes later. In addition, our power went out for maybe an hour or so. I just got back from my work trip last night so today will be a busy work day, as well.  Mascots at the Expo What I've been up to this week: Traveling to Indianapolis for Sweets & Snacks Expo . This was the big thing this week, my work trip, since I was there Monday afternoon through Thursday afternoon. I attended the Sweets & Snack Expo, one of the biggest snack/candy industry conferences in the U.S., from Tuesday morning through Thursday early afternoon. This was my third time at the Expo, and it used to be in Chicago; now their schedule is every two years in Indy, and every third in Vegas, so next year it'll be in Vegas. I prefer it being in Indy vs. Chicago because it's a lot more walkable (it was at McCormick Place, so if you we...

This my one technically "free" weekend before I head to Indianapolis for Sweets & Snacks on Monday—by "free" I mean I have my Crohn's infusion tomorrow, and will see my parents and pack for Indy, but it's not a traveling weekend like the last two. I will also work a half day on Monday before heading to DTW. Blue Apron pesto rigatoni with peppers and ricotta What I've been up to this week: Traveling to Cincinnati . As I mentioned in last week's Friday Five, I believe, we drove down to Cincinnati on Friday and came back Sunday, for a friend's dad's memorial on Saturday. We got to hang out with said friend and other friends that came down for it, too, which was nice. On Sunday, we headed to Jungle Jim's, one of my favorite grocery stores (it's like Costco meets Epcot, is how I usually describe it) to buy some tasty cheeses and other things (we definitely brought a cooler with ice for that!), they have a massively huge store with groc...

I saw Drop in the theater last month and really enjoyed it. It's now out on digital, and two of my lucky readers will win a digital code for it! About the movie: From Blumhouse, producers of M3GAN, and Platinum Dunes, producers of A Quiet Place, comes DROP, the action-packed thriller that proves dating can be deadly. The “tightly plotted thrill ride” (IGN) will be available exclusively on digital platforms to own or rent tomorrow, April 29, 2025, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The blood-chilling action also debuts on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on June 10, 2025. Own DROP with never-before-seen bonus content featuring the filmmakers and cast discussing the making of the film, only when you purchase from participating retailers nationwide including Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Microsoft Movies & TV, and Movies Anywhere. First dates can be rough. In this mind-bending action thriller from the director of Happy Death Day, they can also be dea...

This was a busy week and this weekend will also be busy, as we are heading to Cincinnati sometime today for a memorial tomorrow.  Machi Koro 2 game What I've been up to this week: Going to Indiana. Last weekend (Friday through Sunday), my husband and I drove up to Indiana for a birthday get-together, as his birthday, plus my in-laws', are all in April and May. Even though I have a January birthday, I actually received a few gifts as well, including the board game Machi Koro 2, pictured above (Machi Koro, plus the expansions, is one of my favorites!). We also had Dairy Queen ice cream cake, which is another of my favorites—at a job I worked right after college (2009-12), it was a small office, so we'd always celebrate birthdays with that, and it was always delicious. Watching movies. I saw The Accountant 2 at the theater on Wednesday, at the Riviera, and it was good but had a very different vibe from the first one. I rewatched the first one the day before that, and would act...

Today is April 25th so it's not too hot and not too cold—all you need is a light jacket. (bonus points if you know what movie that is from!) April 25th is also my mom's birthday, plus my cousin's, plus his wife's, so it's a memorable day all around. We are headed to Indiana later for the birthday celebration weekend (after I crank this out, and we pack some more stuff), and it should be a fun time. Pizookie Platter at BJ's, Livonia What I've been up to this week: Dining out/getting takeout. Last Friday, my husband and I drove 25 minutes to MOD Pizza Livonia—the Northville location is now permanently closed, and we had $20 in gift cards to use from Christmas last year. On the way there, we also got cheap gas at the Costco across the street (like $2.65 per gallon!) and checked out JoAnn Fabrics—all of their stores are in the midst of permanently closing, so they had some good deals, and I even got some earrings.  On Saturday, he and I and my parents went to BJ...

Captain America: Brave New World is now available on digital platforms, and will make its debut on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on May 13. Read on for my review of the movie, and enter to win a digital code for the film!  Film synopsis In Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World , Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) – who now wields the shield of Captain America after events in “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” – meets with newly elected U.S. president Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) and soon finds himself in the middle of an international incident. In a race against time, Sam must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red. Bonus features: Deleted Scenes: A Heartfelt Thanks The Mission Stick Around Assuming the Mantle Old Scores, New Scars Gag Reel Audio Commentary *Bonus features may vary by product and retailer My review I saw this one in the theater back in February, and overall enjoyed it. The cast was great, ...