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POST-DATE POST

No Skin For A Skinflint

Cool $#*! This January

By Harry Kirsbaum

et one of your New Year's resolutions be to get out of your
typical orbit in 2011; let Red Thread help that along by
suggesting a few of the cooler things going on in Detroit
this month. From a Park City, Utah-inspired evening in Ann
Arbor to the concept cars of tomorrow, it's going to be a great
year, Detroit!

'-, he Post-Date Post credo: It's either a good date or a great story. This month, Red Thread proudly offers an
expanded version of PDP on its website, redthreadmagazine.com . Go online to read more.

When I worked at a hospital
as a medical assistant, there
were a couple of doctors who
wanted to take me out, but I
usually rejected them for one
simple reason: I never mixed
work with pleasure.
But one [doctor] was more
determined and persistent
than the other candidates.
When "Keith" asked me out for
a third time, I relented.
"OK, fine," I said, smiling.
"Let's meet first for coffee in
Royal Oak, and we'll go from
there." It happened to be Valen-
tine's Day, and we met at a cozy
little coffee shop that I nick-
named Sweet Paradise because
of the wonderful desserts.
When I arrived, Keith greeted
me with a big bear hug and smile, and we took our
place in line. We grabbed two cappuccinos, a slice of
Black Forest cake and a piece of cheesecake.
On the way back to our table, he said, "Hey, Anna,
would you pay for this? I drove here a long way just to
see you and spent too much on gas."
I said, "OK;' but my mind said, "Oh, my God, I hope
he is joking!'

While we enjoyed sweets and
coffee, and having a conversation,
he happened to mention a second
time about how much gas he spent
just to drive to see me. I guess it was
his way of expressing his fondness
for me, even though I sprung for the
food and drink.
Just when I thought we were go-
ing somewhere else to continue our
date, he asked me if I could leave my
car in Royal Oak to stay overnight in
his house. He wanted me to be his
"Valentine."
I paid the bill, stood up and told
him, "Listen Mr. Doctor, I have to go.
Enjoy your Valentine's Day:'
I left the place feeling offended,
hurt and angry. At that moment I
could not wait to go back home and
watch a "chick flick" movie - and
simply to be left alone. ru Z ir

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L

WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

On Thursday, Jan. 6 (and one night every month, there-
after), Cliff Bell's, a resurrected 1930s-era Detroit jazz club
originally designed by architect Charles N. Agree and housed
in an Albert Kahn-designed building, hosts the Detroit Moth
Story Slam, the local arm of the Moth, a New York City-based
nonprofit organization that conducts live storytelling events
around the country. Every month presents a different theme
(lost love, on-the-job training and winter tales to name some
recent ones), and some of the best tales make it onto NPR's
Moth Radio Hour.
Entry is $5; doors open at 4 p.m., and the show starts at 7
p.m. (Get there early if you want to get a word in - sign-up
starts at 6 p.m., and spots fill up fast.) 2030 Park, Detroit. (313)
961-2543; cliffbells.com or themoth.org .

WHAT WE SAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DETROIT

The Motor City's first "DIY" Internet-based talk show, The
Steve Barman Show, will follow up on its stripped-down pilot
episode (watch it here: thestevebarmanshow.com ) when it
begins shooting bi-weekly, half-hour episodes in front of a
live audience at the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit on
Sunday, Jan. 9. Through the show, local music blogger Barman
(MotorCityRocks.com ) hopes to counter the bleak national
view of Detroit by letting the city show off its creative, resilient
and humorous sides through homegrown talent. 5141 Rosa
Parks Boulevard, Detroit. thecaid.org/the-steve-barman-show.

LET THE SUNDANCE IN ...

Park City, Utah, not on your travel agenda this year? No
worries. The Michigan Theater brings a piece of the Sundance
Film Festival (which runs Jan. 20-30) to Ann Arbor, one of just
nine cities nationwide to receive such a treat. On Thursday,
Jan. 27, Sundance Film Festival USA will dispatch an official
Sundance selection to Ann Arbor, along with the chosen film's

MAN ON THE STREET

director, who will be available for questions and conversation.

The film will be preceded by a short video that will feature

Movin' On Up?!

As the eyes of the world turn to Detroit this month, we ask whether the Big
Three - and the city's showcase auto event - are restoring lost luster.

here are two weeks every January where the city of Detroit and the industry synonymous with its name come
together to woo the press and public alike - the North American International Auto Show.
Running this year from Jan. 15-23 at Cobo Center, Red Thread decided to take two new tacks: we chose a singular
event to seek people's opinion, crashing the venerated Akiva Hebrew Day School Chinese Auction, and (for good
measure) we threw in an extra-credit question, too. Here's what we asked and what we heard ...

T

Question No. 1:
Question No. 2:

Question No. 3:
Question No. 4:

Do you think the federal bailout of General Motors was in the country's best interest?
Do you think the domestic Big Three (GM, Ford and Chrysler) are finally in a position to recapture
lost market share?
Is the North American International Auto Show still a critical asset to the region?
Do you drive a domestic nameplate automobile?

Dr. David Berris, 67,
West Bloomfield; dentist
1.Yes
2. They have a chance and are in a
better position now than [a few]
years ago.
3. Yes; it creates interest and
employs people. Anything that
showcases the industry is important.
4. Yes, I drive two [domestic].

Becky Eizen, 45, Southfield;
principal, promotional items
company
1. Yes.
2.They're moving in that direction,
but I don't think they're there yet.
3. No.
4. Yes [domestic]; my husband
wouldn't let me drive anything but!

Ari Fischman, 31, Southfield;
insurance and financial products
broker
1. Yes; the government will get most
of their money back and they [the
government] needed to stop the
bleeding.
2. Absolutely - especially with the
downfall of Toyota.
3. Absolutely - the auto industry,
without question, is still our biggest
regional strength to the economy.
4. Yes [domestic].

6 January 2011 I

Km THREAD

Ezra Drissman, 29, Oak Park; ac-
count executive
1. No
2. No
3. Yes
4. No [foreign]

Sheryl Zuroff, 41, Southfield;
Housewife
1.Yes
2. Yes, as Toyota seems to be
slipping.
3. No; the money could be used in
better places.
4. Yes [domestic], we have two.

Zoya Rice, 27, Oak Park; teacher
1. No
2.1 have no idea.
3. Yes; it's a big thing, and people
come from all over the world to see
the show.
4. If it's built here, isn't that American
enough?

Stuart Lebenbaum, 48, Southfield;
attorney
1. Yes, but it shouldn't be viewed as
an isolated incident.
2.1 don't know, but I do think they're
in a position to be profitable.
3. Absolutely - it's an international
show.
4. Yes [domestic].

highlights from the festival, narrated by founder Robert Red-
ford. Film and time will be announced in early January on the
website www.michtheater.org .Tickets are $15 and available at
ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. (800) 745-3000.

CHOP, CHOP

Too cold, or costly, to herd the group out to a
restaurant? Grab some friends for a girls' (or
boys') night out and head to the Chop Shop
in Birmingham; whip up enough gourmet
dinners to last almost two blustery weeks.
Select from a menu of 12 family entrees (or
divide them in half for two smaller portions).
January's recipes includes Rocco's Flank
Steak, Quinoa Stuffed Peppers, Arroz con
Polio and more. Just bring your cooler, and
Chop Shop will provide the rest. A make 'n'take
session of 10 meals is $215; a six-meal session is
$150. 2221 Cole St., Birmingham. (248) 594-2210;
chopshopkitchens.com .

MOTORING THROUGH MOTOWN

Maureen Kearns and Jeanette Pierce believe that the more
people know Detroit, the more they love it. So they started
Inside Detroit Tours to showcase the city's gems - many
hidden deep - from an insider's perspective.
The nonprofit's city tours include the Woodward Corridor
Bus Tour (visit one-of-a-kind shops like the Bureau of Urban
Living, the Motown Museum and the historic Woodbridge
Neighborhood), the Inside Southwest Detroit Tour (Clark Park,
Hubbard Farms neighborhood and creative initiatives like
Imagination Station) and others, which make stops like the
Heidelberg Project, the Guardian Building, Pewabic Pottery
and more.
Group tours: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday; $25. Bar Tour
times and prices vary. Meet at Inside Detroit's Welcome
Center, 1253 Woodward, in Detroit. (313) 962-4590;
insidedetroit.org .

AUTO SHOW, AUTO SHOW, AUTO SHOW
If it's January in Detroit, it's time for the annual North

American International Auto Show at Cobo Center. The city
gets giddy as the glitterati and hoi polloi rub elbows with
one another - and some fantastic concept cars. And, as the
economy improves, the show will surely reflect participating
automakers' renewed confidence through more elaborate dis-
plays. The show runs Saturday, Jan. 15, through Saturday, Jan.
22, from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 23, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Tickets: adults, $12; seniors 65 and up and children ages 7-12,
$6; kids 6 and under, free. 1 Washington Boulevard, Detroit.
(248) 643-0250; naias.com or cobocenter.com .

- By Lynne Konstantin

www.redthreadmagazine.com