Birmingham Restaurant Week Begins Today

Birmingham Restaurant Week begins today and runs for two weeks. Some of the area's finest restaurants will be offering a three-course lunch for $15 and a three-course dinner for $30.

Establishments joining Restaurant Week for the first time are Cameron’s Steakhouse, Commonwealth Café, South, Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro, Toast, and Zazios. In total, 21 casual and fine dining eateries will be taking part in the two-week promotion.

Birmingham Restaurant Week runs January 31 through February 4 and February 7 through February 11. Saturdays are excluded.

Check out the special menus and read more about the event in Birmingham Patch from Alan Stamm. Yes, yours truly happens to be quoted in the article.

Will you head out to Birmingham and take advantage of the Restaurant Week prices? Which restaurants are hoping to check out?

Son of the Belle Isle Ice Tree

As some of you may know, I’ve been patiently anxiously waiting for my precious Belle Isle Ice Tree to appear. Sadly, as of Wednesday, the water still hadn’t been turned on.

I’m starting to feel like I’m waiting for The Great Pumpkin. Will it ever come?

I have photos from past years of the ice tree in full bloom taken the first week in February. I’ll continue to take reconnaissance missions out to Belle Isle to check on the progress or lack of progress, as the case may be.

In the mean time, look at this lovely miniature version found in St. Clair Shores. I’m calling it "Son of the Belle Isle Ice Tree".

It’s much smaller than the Belle Isle version but still beautiful. It’s growing in someone’s backyard at Jefferson and Pleasant St.

I love that the homeowners have built this little bit of fabulousness. They’re even lighting it in the evening.

I was tempted to knock on their door to find out who they are and why they built it but I didn’t want to bother them. The fact that they built it is enough for me. 

Son of the Belle Isle Ice Tree is located at Jefferson Avenue & Pleasant Street, south of Nine Mile Road. It's right across from Fishbones Rhythm Kitchen Cafe. If you go visit this ice sculpture, please be gracious visitors to the neighborhood.

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Yes, I know, it’s cold and snowy outside. Don’t let the cold scare you into hibernation for the winter, though. Ditch the Snuggie and head out and explore all the fabulous things to do in Detroit.

Also, don’t miss today’s Groupon for Roma Café (affiliate link). It’s Detroit’s oldest restaurant and I included it in 41 More Things to Do in Detroit Before You’re Dead.

Weekend Roundup

1. Vodka Vodka - Sample over 10 vodkas and vodka infused food at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Forgotten Harvest. January 28th.

2. Rochester Fire & Ice Fest - Embrace winter! This event features fireworks, ice sculptures, a tastefest, tubing hill, dog sled rides and more. January 28-30.

3. Detroit Derby Girls - Check out the toughest chicks on 8 wheels in this double header at Cobo Arena. After party at Bookies. January 29th.

4. Winter Beer Fest (Facebook link) - Over 50 beers will be on hand and 25 samples are included in the ticket price. Plus live music and food. Benefitting Motor City Blight Busters. Buy tickets here. January 29th.

5. Robert Burns Dinner - Scotland's favorite son and writer of Auld Lang Syne is celebrated with Burns Night around the world. Lily's Seafood is offering a six course Scottish feast to honor him. The menu looks fabulous, except for the haggis. I can't do haggis! January 27th.

6. Detroit Science Center - Enjoy Ford FREE FunDays while helping families stay warm this winter! Extended hours (around the clock) and fun events are planned for the WWJ Newsradio 950 & THAW's (The Heat & Warmth Fund) annual radiothon. January 28-29.

Do you know of a great event going on in Metro Detroit this weekend? Add it to the comments and share it with us!

My little slice of freedom

Yesterday was kind of a big deal for me. I have a car. A brand new car! I know, not earth shattering for most of you. But consider this: I haven’t had a car of my own since I moved to the UK in 2004.

Seven years of being dropped off and picked up like a teenager. Seven years of waiting for rides and sending texts to my husband saying nothing more than, “pick me up.”

The five years without a car in the UK wasn’t difficult. I was afraid to drive there but I did try for a bit. The weird thing about driving on the wrong side of the road isn’t the driving on the wrong side of the road part. Nope, the weird thing is shifting with your left hand (automatics are hard to come by in the UK) and having the entire car on the left side of you.

So, it wasn’t such a hardship in the UK. I took the bus to work and it was incredibly reliable. I could walk to our local stores. Right around the corner from our house sat a complex with two grocery stores, a department store, clothes and record shops, restaurants, etc.

Here in metro Detroit being without a car has proven more difficult but my husband and I have adapted to make it work.

The SMART bus that would connect me to the Woodward Corridor isn’t very reliable so I became dependent on my husband to drive me to and fro. And, sometimes, when my husband wasn’t available my parents would give me a ride, which just made me feel even more like I was fourteen again. Occasionally, I’d borrow my parents or brothers car.

But as of now, I’m moving into the fast lane! I can schedule meetings without consulting anyone else. I can take random trips to other parts of town on a whim. I can do things just for the sake of doing them whether it’s lunch with friends, scheduling interviews downtown or visiting my favorite Ice Tree. I now have the freedom to do all of those things.

I know those things may seem very simple to you, you may take them for granted. For me, it’s life changing.

Freedom comes in many shapes and sizes. My little slice of a freedom is a 2011 Ford Fiesta in Lime Squeeze. It screams MOXIE!

I’m ready to hit the highway! The only problem is that I don’t know what to do first. My world just got bigger and I’m so excited to explore more of Detroit. On my own. In my own car. Listening to what I want to listen to on the radio.

Watch out Motor City! I’ll be on a road near you. 

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Remember my beloved Belle Isle Ice Tree? Well, I’ve been over to check on it a few times with no luck. As of last Sunday, the trees are piled up but the water hasn’t been turned on yet.

Patiently waiting. Until then...

This photo of the Belle Isle Ice Tree was taken February 2, 2010.

Weekend Roundup

1. Plymouth Ice Festival - This festival celebrates winter with over 100 ice sculptures. Also, Dueling Chainsaws Speed Carving show, a scavenger hunt, petting farm, and rail jam demonstrations. Bundle up! January 21-23.

2. Detroit Artists Market 2011 Design Show - This year the focus is "bath" and 22 local designers will not only show their process but also the finished design. Through February 19th.

3. TigerFest 2011 - Who's your Tiger? It's time to get excited for baseball season with autograph sessions with the players, photos, tours and more. January 22nd. (This event is sold out but tickets are available on StubHub!.)

4. Michigan Winter Dog Classic - Michigan's largest dog show will be host to over 6,000 dogs! Educational demonstrations, judging, breed seminars and demonstrations. January 20-23.

5. Drag Queen Bingo - This is not your grandma's bingo! Head to Five15 in Royal Oak for an evening filled with fun and camp. January 22nd. (Ongoing event every Saturday night.)

Also: Ann Arbor Restaurant Week continues through January 21st and the North American International Auto Show runs through January 23rd.

Do you know of a great event going on in Metro Detroit this weekend? Add it to the comments and share it with us!