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...

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...

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...

We are headed to Holland this weekend for my hair/makeup trial today and then engagement pictures (yes, again, haha; this time with our actual wedding day photographer). Drinks at Basan, Detroit What I've been up to this week: Dining out/getting takeout.  On Saturday, I had my Crohn's infusion, so I stopped at the combined Kung Fu Tea/TKK Chicken in Southfield after, for takeout, which was delicious although took a while for some reason. On Sunday, my parents and I had Hungry Howie's takeout, and on Tuesday, I stopped by the new Portillo's, in Livonia, since I was there for a movie (I love Portillo's!). On Wednesday, I went to Detroit with a friend (more on that below) and we got to try out Basan, which was excellent, albeit a bit pricey—most of the dishes are small plates so it's tapas/shareable-style. I know they do a happy hour, though, but I am not sure if it's bar-only or in the dining room too. Yesterday, I was in Ann Arbor (more on that below too) and...

This week has seemed busy, so I'm glad it's Friday. I have a few things lined up for the weekend too, though—Walled Lake fireworks, wedding dress alterations, etc. What I've been up to this week: Cinetopia Film Festival, Ann Arbor . This was my SEVENTH (!) time attending this festival, as I started attending it in 2014 and my last time was in 2019, which was the last time it was held; it took a five-year hiatus due to COVID. The film festival goes on for about a week and a half, and this Sunday is the last day, but I only had Saturday and Sunday to experience it, so I stayed overnight in Ann Arbor this past Saturday—my Delta credit card gives me a $150 statement credit if I book through them, so I found a hotel for $175 (aka $25!) which was nice—and saw five films total. You can read my reviews of the films I saw here . Seeing movies . Obviously the film fest ones, but last Friday I saw Tuesday , at my local AMC—it was actually a part of the film fest too, and looked good b...

How is already mid-June? Time is going by super fast. I am headed (back; see below) to Ann Arbor this weekend for the Cinetopia Film Festival , which I'm pretty excited about; I used to go every summer from 2014-19, and this is the first time it's back since the pandemic.  Yo-Yo Ma at Hill Auditorium, Ann Abor (2nd from left) What I've been up to this week: Going to Ann Arbor to see Yo-Yo Ma in concert. This is maybe the 3rd or 4th time I have seen him in concert (or maybe 5th; I've lost track). I didn't know he was playing with a full orchestra, and only playing 1 of the 4 songs, which was a little disappointing, but he's always an amazing performer—the most memorable time I saw him was actually when I was a student at UM, and he did a week-long residency there with the School of Music kids. He had a paid concert, which I attended, but also a workshop with them which was free to the public, and it was really cool to watch. For this week's concert, he played...

This weekend is the first of the three back-to-back wedding weekends, and we are headed to Cincinnati today for wedding #1, at which my fiance is a groomsman. We get back Sunday night and then Monday night I head to Indianapolis for work. HUGE 2-pc. cannoli from Zeoli's, Clawson What I've been up to this week: Dining out/getting takeout . Last Friday night, we were going to cook, but instead got Doordash from Sidecar Slider Bar, in Farmington—they're one of my favorites, but unfortunately they got my fried chicken slider wrong (it's normally drenched in maple syrup and delicious, but they forgot to NOT put hot sauce on so I couldn't eat it, which was a bummer). On Saturday, my fiance, two friends, their daughter, and I went to Highlands, which is the restaurant at the top of the RenCen; they are moving out of state and wanted to experience it. I've been there twice, but the first time was the very last week that Coach Insignia was open (just went for drinks), an...

*Disclosure: I was treated to a 2-night stay at the Kensington Hotel in exchange for this post. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own. This past weekend, I was in Ann Arbor for the Cinetopia Film Festival , which continues this week in both Ann Arbor and Royal Oak, and was fortunate to stay at The Kensington Hotel. The Kensington is located near I-94 and is right near Briarwood Mall, which meant it was a quick 10-minute drive to UM's campus. The hotel has been recently renovated, I believe in 2016, and you can tell: its lobby is bright and modern, and my pictures don't do it justice as to how pretty it is. I arrived in Ann Arbor on a Friday afternoon, after an exhausting 1 hour and 45 minute drive from Clawson—normally it only takes about 50-60 minutes to get to Ann Arbor, but between 4pm rush hour traffic and a few accidents along the way, it took FOREVER. Upon check-in, I was offered water and/or a glass of champagne, which was a thoughtful gestu...

Last weekend, I went to Ann Arbor for 3 days for the Cinetopia Film Fest - I saw so many movies that it felt like a week! (I saw 11, technically 10.5 movies that weekend, as well as 1 more Cinetopia movie this week, in Dearborn) This weekend, I'm here until Saturday night, then I head to JFK (New York) that night and later to Israel, for Birthright, the next day. (related: there will be no Friday Five the next week. First week skipping it, but I'm not bringing my computer with me to Israel. The Friday Five will resume on 6/22!) Ray Meets Helen  director Alan Ruldoph and stars, including Sondra Locke What I've been up to this week: Visiting Ann Arbor for Cinetopia. I drove in on Thursday for the opening night movie ( Eighth Grade , with an appearance by the director, Bo Burnham) and reception. I drove to the Farmington area on Friday AM for a doctor's appointment and to see my parents, then I drove BACK to Ann Arbor on Friday, and stayed at the Red Roof PLU...

Ray Meets Helen Q&A with director Alan Rudolph and stars, including Sondra Locke Year 5 of Cinetopia is in the books! At least for me - Cinetopia technically goes until this Sunday, June 10th, but since I'm leaving Saturday night for NY (and then Sunday morning for Israel), I will not be able to see any more movies this week. I saw 12 movies this year, but technically 11.5: I saw the first 45 minutes of White Rabbit , but wasn't a fan, so I left and went to see Never Goin' Back  instead. Thursday, May 31st: Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor Eighth Grade. This was on my top 10 list so I was excited to see it, and they did a Q&A with the director, Bo Burnham, as well. It reminded me of Ingrid Goes West  in some parts, because the protagonist (an 8th grade girl) is obsessed with social media, and was very good. 4 stars out of 5. Scheduled to be released on July 13th. Friday, June 1st: Ann Arbor Nico, 1988. This was my first introduction to the State...

*Disclosure: Hyatt Place provided me with a one-night stay in exchange for this post. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own. This past Saturday, I went to a friend's wedding in Clarklake, MI, and then was able to spend the night at the new Hyatt Place in Ann Arbor. Clarklake was about an hour and a half drive from my house, but is only 45 minutes from Ann Arbor, so I was definitely grateful to have a hotel room for the night. Hyatt Place opened on October 3rd in Ann Arbor, and it's located on State St. near Briarwood Mall and I-94. I'm very familiar with Ann Arbor as I'm a UM alum, so I was excited to try out the new hotel and also have the chance to hang out in downtown Ann Arbor the next day. The first thing you'll notice as you walk into the hotel is that the lobby is very open. The area pictured above is technically its Gallery, where you can grab a bite 24/7, but you can sit and hang out there even if you're not eating, too. There a...