Edition No. 86
Arts and Culture
Motown Museum unveils its new expansion project aiming to refresh a Detroit legacy.
Community and Family
Sidewalk shopping, sales and Greek tradition planned for Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores!
Stars and dignitaries kicked off celebrations for the first expansion phase of Detroit’s Motown Museum
Smokey Robinson, the Temptations’ Otis Williams, the Four Tops’ Duke Fakir, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and both of Michigan’s U.S. senators — Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters — were present on Monday, Aug. 8 at the Motown Museum's unveiling of its completed opening stages. The $55 million expansion project was initially announced in 2016.
The event was a celebratory, music-filled evening at the West Grand Boulevard site, where Motown favorites, politicians, donors and more gathered on the just-finished granite plaza. Guests learned that the paved outdoor space will be formally named Rocket Plaza, which museum CEO and chairwoman Robin Terry called the “new front porch to Motown.” It follows a $5 million gift from Dan Gilbert’s Rocket Companies and Gilbert Family Foundation, revealed during Monday's event.
The Gilbert donation brings the fundraising total to $43 million, with $12 million left to go as the Motown Museum targets 2024 to consummate the third, final and most eye-catching phase of its expansion: a large building with new exhibit space behind the iconic Hitsville, U.S.A., house.
The museum unveiling comes amid an exciting Motown week in Detroit as it’s also the hometown opening of the Temptations' Broadway musical, "Ain't Too Proud," which will run through Aug. 28 at the Detroit Opera House.
The Motown Museum’s expansion isn’t just about new construction — it also aims to refresh a Detroit legacy. Monday’s guests received a first look inside Hitsville Next, a project that has renovated and connected three homes adjacent to the main Motown house. The new complex contains the museum’s youth education and creative collaboration facilities.
Read Detroit Free Press writer Brian McCollum’s full article on the museum and its reopening plans at the button below.
It’s a “sale-ebration,” Greekfest bring community together
Sidewalk shopping, sales, Greek tradition planned for Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores.
The sidewalk sale-ebration isn’t your ordinary sidewalk. It’s a weekend full of streetside sale-ebrations, shopping at your favorite village spots and more. This year Main Street Grosse Pointe has created a summer event sure to appeal to everyone!
It will be held on a new date this year, Aug. 19 and 20. The event is from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 19 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 20. In addition to Village retailers and restaurants hitting the streets along Kercheval between Cadieux and Neff, the event will also feature food trucks, vendors, music, games and activities for all ages.
More summer fun awaits! Greekfest is back at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores Aug. 18-21. Folks can “be Greek for a day” at the festival which offers Greek food, dancing, music, taverna and more. The grand raffle drawing is Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. First prize is $10,000, second prize is a David Yurman bracelet, and third prize is $500.
Regular admission is $2, and children younger than 12 are admitted free of charge. Free parking and shuttle service are available. Proceeds will benefit Assumption community programs, International Orthodox Christian Charities Ukraine Children’s Fund and Cass Community Social Services.
For hours and more, check out more at assumptionfestival.com.
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