2008 COMERICA CITYFEST

The 2008 Comerica Cityfest (formerly the Tastefest), is returning to the New Center area this year for the fourth of July weekend from July 2-July 6. The Cityfest, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, is in essence a collection of food vendors, along with multiple performance stages which line the streets of W. Grand Boulevard between Cass and Third, essentially in front of the old General Motor's headquarters and the Fisher Building.

There will be four performance stages at this year's event, each one taking on its own personality. The stages include, The Motor City Casino Stage (presented by The Detroit News), The Pure Detroit Stage (presented by Real Detroit Weekly), The Grand Boulevard Jazz and Blues Stage (presented by Hour), and the New Center Council Park Stage (presented by Metro Times).

The Motor City Casino Stage will hold some of the most well known headlining acts which include performances by De La Soul, and George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. For a free concert, it's hard to beat De La Soul and George Clinton. De La Soul is a classic hip hop group, and besides the obvious funk pioneer stature of George Clinton, he has a nice Detroit affiliation as well. In 1963, and early in Clinton's career, Clinton and his group Parliament moved to Detroit in hopes of recording for Motown. They ended up landing a contract with independent record label Revilot Records, which released numerous Parliament albums. Clinton also wrote songs for Motown groups, including The Jackson Five and Diana Ross.

Additionally the Pure Detroit Stage will mostly be showcasing Detroit's own best and brightest hip-hop, rock and electronica groups, the Grand Boulevard Jazz and Blues Stage will feature local and national Jazz and Blues acts including Detroit's own Thornetta Davis, and the New Center Council Park stage will show off Detroit's best folk and indie rock banks.

While the event is free, including all of the performances on each of the four stages, food and beverage purchases from the vendors help subsidize the cost. The food line-up is always extremely good and while not finalized yet, past years have included around 50 vendors with a wide range of unbelievable choices from a slew of great restaurants around metro Detroit. Each vendor has its own out door tent at which they offer a selection of some of their favorite dishes. Each item is priced in tickets which they sell at the event. The price is $7 for 11 tickets and while out of context that doesn't mean anything, from my experience, the prices are not too outrageous.

Moreover, this year festival-goers will have more time to experience Comerica Cityfest 2008 with its new extended hours. The festival will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.

If you would like to learn more about Comerica Cityfest 2008 please visit the Newcenter website at: Comerica Cityfest 2008

If you would like to know more about previous Cityfest's, check out the 2007 website which lists performances from last year, as well as food vendors: Comerica Cityfest 2007

Detroit Army

Pure Detroit

Pure Detroit is now somewhat of a veteran in the Detroit apparel world. While a relatively new brand, Pure Detroit's start seemed to coincide with the recent emergence of downtown. Pure Detroit was started by Kevin Borsay and Shawn Santo who opened the first store in 1998. Since the first store opened, it then moved to the corner of W. Congress and Shelby, and is presently located in the lobby of the Guardian Building at 500 Griswold. They have also expanded and now have stores in the Fisher Building lobby at 3011 W. Grand Boulevard and in the Wintergarden of the Renaissance Center. Products are additionally available at Pure Detroit Website: www.puredetroit.com

Pure Detroit carries t-shirts, long sleeve and short, hoodies, hats and belts. The prints on the clothing include phrases such as "Detroit Funk," "Detroit Soul," "Detroit Rock City," "Detroit is for Lovers," "Detroit City," "313" and of course prints that just say "Detroit" in various letter designs. Some of their newer prints include "Enjoy Detroit," and print which they call "Detroit Transit," which is drawing of a bus with Woodward scrawled upon the top.

The shirts are classic and a nice addition to anyone's Detroit collection, but personally I'd like to see newer styles come out more often. Many of the current styles have been around since almost the beginning and an infusion of new designs would add some spice to the ones available. That being said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The prints that are currently available seem to be popular and apparel is one aspect of just one business venture that the entrepreneurs who started this store are behind.

If you want products made in Detroit, Pure Detroit is the place to look. They not only have clothing, but they also carry a multitude of Detroit made products including Pewabic Pottery, historic and contemporary photographs, music, books on Detroit, functional art created from remnant automotive parts and local specialty food products such as Red Pelican Mustard, Detroit Spices Co. products, Faygo glass bottle Rock & Rye, Germack pistachios of Sanders hot fudge.

Pure Detroit is definitely a place to check out if you have not done so. The stores have classic products that all Detroit aficionados should have, in addition to apparel which should be found in all Detroiters' closets. Pure Detroit stores seem to have the right mix of new Detroit culture, in addition to old Detroit flavor. With continued success, Pure Detroit is on its way to turning into a Detroit institution.

Pure Detroit Website: www.puredetroit.com
Pure Detroit Stores are located at:

Guardian Building Lobby
500 Griswold Suite 250
Detroit 48226
313-963-1440

Fisher Building Lobby
3011 W. Grand Blvd Suite 101
Detroit 48202
313-873-PURE

Renaissance Center Wintergarden
Detroit 48226
313-259-5100
Detroit Army