Founded in 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and Alphonse de Tonty, Detroit is celebrating its 323rd birthday today.
While the weather still seems a bit iffy (there’s a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms), you can join the birthday celebration in the city at a couple events.
Raise the Flag Festival
Free and open to the public, the 11th annual Raise the Flag Festival hosted by Local 4 News and Raise the Flag runs from noon to 6pm today.
Enjoy live music, trivia contest, food, and join others in eating 323 cupcakes at the Spirit of Detroit Plaza in downtown Detroit.
At 3:13pm (for the 313 area code used in Detroit), the City of Detroit flag will be raised.
Whitney Restaurant
The Whitney Restaurant on Woodward Avenue in midtown Detroit is celebrating Detroit’s 323rd birthday with a special $49 Detroit Classics Menu through July 28, 2024.
The special menu includes:
- Whitney’s interpretation of Golden Mushroom soup
- Hudson’s Maurice salad
- Better Made Chip chicken
- Carl’s Chophouse char-grilled Delmonico steak
- Vernors glazed salmon
- A twist on moussaka
I was glad to learn Sander’s Bumpy Cake is one of the items on the dessert menu.
In addition, happy hour today in the Whitney gardens from 5pm to 9pm offers a first-come, first-served meet the author event with Daniel Crawford, author of Detroiter at Heart.
You can purchase a signed copy of Crawford’s novelette for $5 (which usually costs $15 retail).
Enjoy music and dancing to Detroit’s Greatest Hits with DJ Soul Deep.
The first 50 guests will receive a complimentary Detroit-made “Goody Bag” with locally produced snacks. And don’t forget to get your slice of complimentary birthday cake in the garden.
Happy 323rd birthday, Detroit!
