Arctic Cold Can Not Keep Us from #Gadflyin at NAIAS

Last week I braved the Arctic cold and went #Gadflyin at the North American International Auto Show.  We parked in Greektown at one of the churches and took the Detroit People Mover to Cobo Center.  Even though we went first thing in the morning on a weekday we could tell it would be packed as the parking lots were almost full and the People Mover was packed.

Detroit People Mover Cobo Center Station

I know that one of the things we say at The Gadfly Investigations Newspaper is that Detroit and Michigan is more than just cars (and they are.) 

 But Michigan still IS autos, and we LOVE our autos. 

Sign at Cobo Center Detroit Michigan

Looking down to the street entrance of Cobo Center and the statue of a great Detroiter and Heavyweight Champion of the World - Joe Louis.

Joe Louis Statue Cobo Center Detroit Michigan

Looking out at a nice view of the RenCen from Cobo Center.

GM Renaissance Center Detroit Michigan

Wow, all this and I haven't even gotten into the Auto Show yet... 

Impressed with the Impressionists at the DIA

Detroit Institute of Art - Life Is Short Art Is Long

Let me start off by saying I am not really what you would call an 'art lover'.  However; I decided on a #Gadflyin outing to the DIA.  The local Senior Center was offering a bus trip and for $5 you got a bus ride, welcoming cookies and coffee,  and a short guided tour.  The guided tour was of the Impressionists and afterwards you got a little time to explore on your own. 

Detroit Institute of Art - Self Portrait - Vincent van Gogh

This is a short list of what I learned:

• The Impressionism art movement occurred in the late 19th century 
• The Impressionism movement coincided with the development (no pun intended) of the camera
• The Impressionism movement coincided with the invention of the paint tube - making it easier for artists to go outside and paint
• I like Impressionist paintings
• You need more that a couple of hours to view the DIA
• The Detroit Institute of Art is a Detroit treasure

Detroit Institute of Art - Gladioli - Claude Monet

Bottom line - I will be #Gadflyin back and probably taking a full day to go through The Detroit Institute of Art.  I definitely plan on taking the multimedia tour of Detroit Industry the Diego Rivera mural.

Detroit Institute of Art Diego Rivera mural Detroit Industry

Is Michigan the Ice Dance Capital of the World?

Davis and White at Skate America 2013 in Detroit, Michigan

Congratulations to Charlie White and Meryl Davis  who won the US Figure Skating Ice Dance title for a record 6th time.  They will be heading to Sochi to face the 2010 Olympic gold medalists Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir; who incidentally train at the same rink as Davis and White in Canton, Michigan.  In fact all 3 dance teams from the United States and all 3 dance teams from Canada that are heading to Sochi train in Michigan.  3 teams train at the Arctic Figure Skating Club in Canton, Michigan, 2 teams train at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and 1 team trains at the Skating Club of Novi in Novi, Michigan.

 FYI - The University of Michigan will also be well represented in Ice Dancing, as 5 out of the 6 US Ice Dancers are students or graduated from the University of Michigan. 

Additionally, we would like to congratulate Patrick Chan, who won the Canadian Mens title and Jeremy Abbott who won the US Mens title.  Both men will be heading to Sochi to compete for Olympic gold and both men train at the Detroit Skating Club.   

 US Ice Dance team = Charlie White and Meryl Davis - Evan Bates and Madison Chock - Maia & Alex Shibutani
Canadian Ice Dance Team = Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir - Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje - Alexandra Paul and Mitchell Islam

Arctic Vortex? Arctic Ring of Life at the Detroit Zoo

Since we are experiencing an Arctic Vortex I thought I'd post a few pictures that I took when #Gadflyin at the Detroit Zoo.  One of the best habitats at the Detroit Zoo is the Arctic Ring of Life where you can see Arctic Foxes, Seals and of course Polar Bears. No animal pictures today, I want you to enjoy the other features of the Arctic Ring of Life.

Arctic Ring of Life Detroit Zoo

 Beautiful tile work as you enter the Frederick and Barbara Erb Polar Passage

Arctic Ring of Life Detroit Zoo

Arctic Ring of Life Detroit Zoo

Kids of all ages enjoy touching the 'ice wall' as they exit the Polar Passage.  Well, maybe not this week :^)

Arctic Ring of Life Detroit Zoo

If you enter the Exploration Station after exiting the Polar Passage and there is a Docent there then you will get to see some Polar Bear Bio facts like this Polar Bear skull.