Photo of the Week: The Girl with the D Earring

black wall of tall building displays mural of woman wearing pink Old English D earring.

The stunning 8,000-square-foot mural is impossible to miss as you travel eastbound on Grand Boulevard from Woodward Avenue into the Milwaukee Junction area of Detroit, Michigan near the New Center.

Painted by local artist Sydney James, The Girl with the D Earring mural stands nine stories tall on the west wall of the 107-year-old Chroma building, recently renovated by The Platform development company.

James is well known in Detroit for her murals across the city, including Our Issue and Black List (which I highlighted a few years ago on this blog) as part of Murals in the Market at Eastern Market. Continue reading Photo of the Week: The Girl with the D Earring

Photo of the Week: Fairy Doors at Belle Isle State Park

Brown fairy door labeled Jurassic Park is surrounded by colorful miniature dinosaurs on the wood mulch ground

The fairies landed at Belle Isle State Park in Detroit, Michigan this month.

Created by the Belle Isle Conservancy, the self-guided fairy doors scavenger hunt is a welcome outdoor exhibit at one of my favorite state parks.

I visit Belle Isle several times a month for birding—it’s one of the best birding locations in the state.

But this weekend I spent time exploring the grounds of Belle Isle Aquarium and the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory in search of the 17 fairy doors hidden on the grounds. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Fairy Doors at Belle Isle State Park

TEDxDetroit 2020: A Different Look, Same Inspiring Messages

Timothy Orikri stands next to his inspirational painting of Detroit

This year’s TEDxDetroit 2020 event kicked off this morning with the same enthusiasm, excitement, and inspirational messages as prior TEDxDetroit events.

While COVID-19 didn’t allow TEDxDetroit 2020 to be an in-person event this year, it didn’t deter the organizers who adapted and moved the event online.

With negative politics and the pandemic news headlining the news and social media, I was thrilled to hear the hopeful messages from speakers. Continue reading TEDxDetroit 2020: A Different Look, Same Inspiring Messages