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“Its been a long, long time coming, but I know a change gone come,” as the words from legendary artist Sam Cooke would say. Detroit is in for a change, a change that will reshape and revitalize the once down and out city. Even with the recent news of the city filing bankruptcy, as Michigan Economic Development Corp. President and CEO Michael Finney said, “But folks who are in the know, that are making commitments to the state of Michigan, and to Detroit in particular, seem to be just as positive about the opportunities as they were a couple weeks ago,” (Walsh, Crain’s Detroit Business, 2013).

One portion of this change is new the city council district requirement. On July 25th Church of the Messiah on the corner of Lafayette and E. Grand Blvd. in District five held a forum for the community to meet with the candidates in the running who will represent the constitutes of this new district. Detroiter’s will cast their vote on August 6,2013.

Hart Plaza Showcases A Great Community With Music

Every summer in the city of Detroit, there are multiple festivals that take place in the great area of Hart Plaza. This location is right off the great Detroit River where Woodward Ave. and E. Jefferson St. meet. A nuclear location for entertainment, Hart Plaza this weekend hosted the Detroit Paradise Valley Music Festival.  This is the second year this festival has taken place and they are looking to have a crowd of over 50,000+ attend this year’s event.

Paradise Valley also known as Block Bottom, was the prime location for the African Americans. My Fox 2 Detroit stated, “Not only for its 66 blocks where African Americans lived and worked, this was a time when there was over 350 black own businesses from law offices, drug stores, and Barber shops. Black owned night clubs is were all the greats played Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis Jr, Josephine Baker, all the greats of the day played Detroit and played in Paradise Valley.

Playing It Forward Brings Forth Instruments to Students

On Wednesday, June 26^th the College of Fine, Performing, and Communications Arts Alumni Association (CFPCA) of Wayne State University in collaboration with the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) held its first Playing It Forward instrument drive. This drive will help place instruments in the hands of elementary, middle and high schools students. Instruments of all kinds are sought after (except pianos), however  DPS are in dire need of Baritone Saxophones, Bass Trombone, String Basses, Cello, and Violin’s to name a few.

This two day drive was held at two locations: WSU- Oakland Center and the WSU-Welcome Center. During these two days, 26 instruments were donated. The drive may be over; however, one can still contact the Detroit Public Schools or Joan Smykowski of CFPCA for more information at joansmykowski@gmail.com to get an instrument in the hand of a child.

GM River Days takes over the River walk

Summer can’t officially begin unless the GM River Days has come to town. This event presented by the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, took place over the weekend on June 21-23, 2013. This annual event takes place on the beautiful RiverWalk created by the Detroit River Conservancy. This three day event is packed with boat tours, carnival rides, and foods from numerous vendors within the Metropolitan Detroit area. There were also multiple sound stages featuring local and international acts like George Clinton and the P Funk Allstars. Gates opened at 6am and closed at 10pm each night. Admissions to get in was $5 per person and children three and under free.

Annual Relay For Life Walk Held at Marygrove College

It’s Saturday morning on the campus of Marygrove College on the northwest side of Detroit.  Jacqueline Howard and her team, “The Joy Warriors” are prepared to walk for the second time this year to raise awareness and find a cure for Cancer. Howard, 32, a breast cancer survivor was diagnosed at the age of 30 with stage two breast cancer. With five months of chemotherapy, and two mastectomies, her way of making light of the situation is calling her time as a day at the “Infusion Spa”.

One of her goals “is to increase awareness…if something doesn’t feel right, go to the doctor”.  With a team of 10 members, they have raised $13,000 this year and last year $20,000. Today she is really enjoying her family and friends and she is now done with treatment. Today’s walk brought many different teams to help find a cure. Vendors such as Whole Foods- Detroit and DTE Energy had great giveaways to hand out to the participants.

It states that each year, the Relay For Life movement raises more than $400 million. To help bring awareness by donating or to find out more information you can go to The American Cancer Society.

 

What is marriage? What has it become today? Google’s definition of marriages states this, (Noun) 1. The formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law by which they become husband and wife. 2. A relationship between married people or the period in which it lasts.  In only a decade and a half we see the shift of laws taking place concerning this topic.

On June 24, 2011, New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, signed the Marriage Equality Act into law. This Act states, “[a] marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid regardless of whether the parties to the marriage are of the same sex”, (Dueutsch, pg275). However, fifteen years earlier, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which was signed by President William Clinton stated, “[i]n determining the meaning of any Act of Congress…the word “marriage” means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife, (United States Congress, 1996).

A shift has taken route in the United States.  As time moves forward, this topic or issue as some like to state it will become the norm in this society.

According to Huffington Post, 36 states still ban the union of same sex marriages. Other information about the ban stated this, “The trend follows regional lines. Aggregated data from four 2012 surveys by the Pew Research Center found gay marriage support in New England at 62 percent — those states all allow the unions. In the central south (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas), opposition was 56 percent. Each of those states has a gay marriage ban”.

The wedding industry has seen a shift of actually ceremonies taking place in certain areas. Kirsten Ott Palladino, editor-in-chief of EquallyWed.com had this to say to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “we’re not seeing as many people flying to Massachusetts of New York for their big weddings”.  With the 36 states that still ban same-sex marriages, couples within those states lines choose to postpone their ceremony, hoping that a shift takes place where they reside (Grovum,Huffington Post, 2013).

Brandi Peart of B. Posh Events of Detroit has not coordinated any ceremonies but she has provided a candy table.  Her faith does not shift her thoughts on how people choose to live their lives, “I’m a Christian, however I also do not judge others…I have the right to refuse or turn away business, but same-sex marriage would NOT be one of them.”

State lines play a poignant role when deciding to marry. A couple can live in New Jersey where same sex marriage is banned, yet they cross over into New York and get married. Back in February the New York Times interviewed a couple and they stated, “Marrying in another state would represent surrender and defeat not joy,”(Huffington Post, 5/29/13).

For a young Metro Detroiter Brittney McKinnon, she shares her thoughts on the Marriage Equality Act, “it really doesn’t matter if it’s recognized because I’m so use to it being over looked that its going to take forever for it to go through as far as legal documents”.  She also stated, “Some places here, like the Motor City (Detroit), do have domestic partnership that has the insurance and cover adoption,” for that she is pleased.

On Sunday evenings Oprah airs “Super Soul Sunday” on the OWN network. Just recently the issue was discussed about same-sex marriage. Oprah asked the question “Would you call this a social revolution or a cultural shift?”

The question was also raised in which the heart of the issue, “Is same-sex marriage a threat to the institution of traditional marriage?” Author Elizabeth Lesser, replied with the answer, “… the institution of marriage is already in trouble, long before gays were getting married”.

 

Renee Aaron Events, LLC spoke with two of Detroit’s emerging wedding planners, Brandi Robinson-Peart of B. Posh Events and Cystal Marie of C-MY Style Events. When planning a wedding, couples tend to choose a time of the year where they feel would fit their entire theme. Some couple choose winter, because they’ve could have had a vision of a winter wonderland. Another couple may want an all flowers in bloom wedding.

For a wedding planner, this may cause to have multiple weddings in the same month. For these two women, they seem to handle the calendars very well. Crystal Marie had this to say, “2013 has been a great year for C-MY Style”. She also stated that December and January are slower months. During those time, an actual wedding may not take place, however the planning process continues.

As for Brandi of B. Posh, she had this to say about her busiest months, “Typically, with my clientele I am busier May-October. My slowest months are November thru February”. Brandi also had this to say about how often she meets with her clients leading up to their event, “I work weekly for my brides researching vendors, helping plan out decor, keeping them within budget and on a planning timeline”.

“Coordination services, full service wedding planning, styling or decor…everyone is different,” says Crystal Marie when speaking of what actually intels in the planning process.

Both women are sought out for their services early in advance. Two weddings hired Crystal Marie two years out. For Brandi  she has been hired for a wedding next year. Planning ahead is not a numbers game for just couples but most importantly for the wedding planner.

 

To find more information about B. Posh Events or C-MY Style, click on the links above.

Midtown Detroit, is the home Wayne, State University college campus. The university is known for their excellent programs in the medical, engineering and theater program along with many others. Every winter and spring semester countless undergrads go through the ceremony of walking across the stage becoming graduates and alumni of this illustrious university.

Graduation is a large event. However, so many other events happen every day on campus during the school semesters. Many organizations put together events to engage students in campus life, social causes, and special presentations of speakers.

When it comes to a university of this capacity, there are many guidelines that need to take place. Unfortunately many are not prepared for what is in store to plan and execute as well ran event.

LaShawnda Wrice, special events, program specialist at Wayne State University spoke with us about some of the issues that she has come across when working with clients on their events:

 

• Having small budgets on an elaborate event
• Last minute request for planned event in a couple days, ex: Celebrities or dignitaries.
• How will things get paid for rendered services?
• Not having enough support staff to run the event.

The Office of Special Events and Services has a guideline for anyone with an inquiry to host an event on the campus. It nicely gives a timelines in three categories such as: 16-20 weeks, 20-25 weeks and 1 year or more. It also gives all the needed information on other resources that can and would need to be used.

Often times, one thinks once the location is finalized there isn’t much else needed. However, signage and banners to direct your attendees is needed. The use of microphones, screens and projectors if someone needs to show a PowerPoint presentation; in which audiovisual should be high on the to do list.

Another issue that many smaller events tend to forget is parking. Having adequate parking would help save a long haul across campus to just a walk across the street.

A great way to plan an event is to write all ideas and thoughts down. Once the ideas are written down, then the planning process begins. Having an expertise in the planning business or utilizing the on-site coordinator can cause for a successful event as well.

Getting the needed the requirements for an event is key. May it be a large graduation of 4,000 students and family or a tea for a group of 20, having a solid plan will always lead to successful event.

Hey There!

 

Model D has a great article that we just had to share. We here at Renee Aaron Events, are all about being creative, different and cost effective. Who wants to be traditional anymore? Step out of the box!

Take a gander at the article!

Model D Thoughts on Getting Hitched In The City

When one thinks of a wedding ceremony they think of the church with a steeple. Once the ceremony is over you leave the church to have a grand time at the selected reception venue that the bride and groom have chosen. Well, long gone are the days where that is a must for wedding festivities.

 

Today many couples choose to have one-stop shops for their wedding. Some couples do a ceremony in one location and then in separate room of the same venue have the reception. Many do it because they are cutting down on cost and some do it because they want to remain control of how their special day would unfold.

When I asked Brandi Robison of B Posh Events on her thoughts why more couples are not going with standard norm, she has this to say  “Now of days, I have witnessed more and more couples stray away from the traditional ‘church ceremony’. When asked what the reason from the traditional church ceremony, she stated “most churches require a lot from you to have a ceremony in their church.”

Not only do you couples have to worry about rules from the church they also have to worry about how will they pay for all of this. Robinson had this to say about couples thoughts on their finances, “In today’s economy, people are working hard for their money, making them more budget conscience. If having a wedding ceremony and reception in one location saves them money, most couples choose that option rather they are super religious or not.”

In the end convenience and creative control is what a wedding day is all about. Having great memories and celebrating with you friends and family.