Third Thursdays at City Bird!

This Thursday from 5-9pm, visit Canfield and Willis for Third Thursdays!  Third Thursdays is a monthly event in which almost 20 Midtown shops, galleries and eateries offer extended hours, special sales, exhibit openings, book signings, live music, artisanal food and more.

Stop by City Bird to enjoy refreshments while you shop.  20% of our sales during the event will benefit the DIA through its Founders Junior Council.  

 

 

Opening Reception for New Work by David Lewinski

In conjunction with Art Detroit Now's Detroit Gallery Week and the Midtown Gallery Crawl, come to City Bird to check out David Lewinski's new photographs of Detroit architecture printed on aluminum.

"Lost Detroit" Book Release at City Bird

Please join us Thursday, 9/16, to celebrate the release of "Lost Detroit: Stories Behind the Motor City's Majestic Ruins," the new book from the team behind http://www.buildingsofdetroit.com/. This event is in conjunction with Third Thursdays - a new monthly celebration of local art, food, design, fashion, health and more in Midtown’s North Cass neighborhood! Learn about what else is going in the neighborhood that evening by checking out http://www.shop-midtown.com/. It will be an exciting night - we hope to see you then!

Dally in the Alley

We're excited about Dally in the Alley tomorrow!  The annual street fair is always a highlight of Fall in the Cass Corridor.

Featured Vendors at Canfield Street Market Mini Craft Market

We're getting really excited about Friday's Street Market! See the previous post for info on all the participating vendors and activities, but check out the links below for a sneak peek at the featured vendors in our mini craft market!

Wound Menswear

Dear Ear

Four Chamber Forge

Softieville

Ink In Bloom

Ex Libris Anonymous

Canfield Street Market on August 20th!

We had such a blast at the first Canfield Street Market, that we decided to make it a more regular event - please join us for the second Canfield Street Market on Friday, August 20th from 5-9 pm! This Street Market promises to be bigger and better, with more vendors and activities! Additionally, our friends on West Willis are adding to the fun by hosting a fun simultaneous event right around the corner.

Canfield Street Market
The Canfield Lofts, 460 West Canfield Street, between Cass & Second, Detroit
Hosted by Bureau of Urban Living and City Bird. Featuring handmade & vintage goods by guest artists and vendors, including:

• Detroit photography by Marvin Shaouni of Model D at City Bird
• Vintage clothing & accessories from Rachel’s Place in North Corktown
• Custom t-shirts from Midtown’s newest shop, Goods (opening Fall 2010 in the Park Shelton)
• LOVELAND inch sale
• Photobooth by David Lewinski
• Rickshaw rides by Breezecab
• Local brews from Traffic Jam & Snug and Motor City Brewing Works
• Treats from The Pink FlaminGo! Mobile Restaurant
• Organic popcorn by Popcorn Joe
• Music by DJ Big Time America
• Barbeque at Traffic Jam and Snug
• Debut of Elixir fermented wine at Motor City Brewing Works

West Willis Village
West Willis Street, between Cass & Second, Detroit
Hosted by Avalon International Breads, Flo Boutique, Tulani Rose, Source Booksellers and Planned Parenthood. Featuring art, books, food, fashion and gifts, including:

• Sidewalk summer sale and homegrown artists at Flo Boutique
• Book cart at Source Booksellers with summer sale prices starting at $7
• “Detroit Lover” Artisan Bar-b-que at Avalon International Breads. Featuring all natural meats from Corridor Sausage Co. with gourmet fixings on Avalon “313” buns. Sumptuous sausage varieties include: Vietnamese Chicken, Juniper & Garlic Brats and Sage & Apple Sausage. Plus: Michigan Fruit Cobbler and a summer blow-out sale on Avalon’s “Detroit Lover” t-shirts & tanks!
• Music by DJ Andre Royster of Sound Circle

April in the Orange at City Bird!

Stop by City Bird next Saturday to see an acoustic performance by April in the Orange in City Bird's patio garden!  April in the Orange is duo Samantha Linn and Andrew Barrett and they will be performing at 5pm on July 31st.  The 31st is a busy night in Detroit, so swing by to hear them play before heading to Belle Isle to catch the championship game of COPA Detroit and  Cinema BBQ III at the Burton! 

City Bird at Maker Faire!

We're super excited to be participating in Handmade Detroit's Craft Faire within Maker Faire at The Henry Ford July 31st and August 1!  Don't miss it - it's going to be amazing!

This Friday: Canfield Street Market!

Come to West Canfield this Friday for the first ever Canfield Street Market!  It's hosted by City Bird and our friends at Bureau of Urban Living.  In conjunction with the Market, City Bird will be hosting the opening reception for "Land Patterns - New Work by Sarah Burger.  See the image below for more information about the event.  We hope to see you there!

Summer Internships at City Bird!

City Bird is hiring up to two summer interns to learn about and work in all aspects of our small company, studio, store and gallery.   In addition to day-to-day studio production and shop work, each intern will work in one or more of the following areas based on his or her experience and career interest: merchandising, marketing, curating, production, writing, product design, or web design.  Additionally, each intern will be asked to complete a special summer-long project in an area that fits the intern's interest, experience, and career goals.

Ideal candidates should be current students or recent graduates, preferably with a background in art, design (graphic or web), marketing, or writing.

Minimum qualifications:  proficient with Macintosh platform, available to work a minimum of one day per week for 10 weeks, strong verbal and written communication.

Ideal qualifications:  proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, knowledge of Detroit and interest in Detroit development and growth, experience in a broad range of art disciplines.

Duration:  Internship will last for 10 weeks between June and August and interns will be expected to work at least one day per week.

Compensation:  Each intern will receive a stipend of $600.

To apply:  Please submit your resume and cover letter to Emily Linn at emily@ilovecitybird.com by May 28, 2010.  In your cover letter, please describe why you think you would be a good fit at City Bird, what you hope to get from the experience and what you think you could contribute.  Please also outline what art coursework you have completed.  If applicable, please include a link to your website or up to three images of your art or craft work.

Restaurant Week!

There's a lot to love about Restaurant Week!  It's so great to have an opportunity to enjoy some of the city's finer dining options without breaking the bank (all participating restaurants have a $27 prix fixe menu) AND it's great to be reminded of the plethora of fine dining Detroit has to offer.  During the first Restaurant Week last fall we feasted at the Whitney, and last night we visited 24Grille in the new(ish)ly renovated Westin Book Cadillac.  Both were delectable!  We chose the 24Grille this time because it offered one of the the tastier-sounding vegetarian options (Himalayan Cabbage Rolls - mmmmm!), although every restaurant participating in this edition of Restaurant Week included at least one vegetarian option, which we greatly appreciated.  Anyway there are still three nights left, so if you haven't already, check out the menus and make your reservation!

Also, we loved reading about all your favorite things to do in Eastern Market!  Thank you to everyone who commented to be entered to win one of our Detroit Map Totes.  The winner (chosen at random) of this giveaway was Megan who says that "Because cheese and wine are my weaknesses, Cost Plus and R. Hirt serve my needs well!"  We agree on both of those counts!  Megan, please email Emily (emily@ilovecitybird.com) to find out how to claim your prize.  Look for more giveaways soon!

Wednesday Giveaway!

We love shopping at Eastern Market all year long (especially to get cheese from R. Hirt Jr., soup at Russell Street Deli, and McClure's Pickles - yum!) but at this time of year we start getting super excited for leisurely Saturdays riding our bikes there, eating breakfast, buying produce and flowers, and running into everyone we know!

Tell us your favorite thing about the market - leave it in a comment below to be entered in our giveaway to win one of our Detroit Map Totes (perfect for toting home your market haul!). We'll select a winner at random on 4/21.

Kathy Leisen's Paintings and Music

Working in the shop has been an extra pleasure in the last couple weeks because Kathy Leisen's amazing paintings are hanging and her records are in heavy rotation on our turntable. It was great to have such a lovely turnout and see so many of you at the opening. If you weren't able to make it, stop in any time by May 8 to check out work from this talented Detroit artist!

Open City tonight

If you're an aspiring Detroit business owner, have already started a business, or are just interested in small business in Detroit, come to this month's Open City meeting, tonight at Cliff Bell's. We'll be there and Emily will be a part of the panel of new(ish) business owners sharing their experiences, moderated by Liz Blondy of Canine to Five. Here's the scoop:

Tuesday, March 16, 2010
"Detroit Business Owners Talk Shop"
- Melinda Anderson, MeMe Design & Events
- Emily Linn, City Bird
- James Morris, DSE At Grand
- Jen Willemsen, Curl Up & Dye

MONTHLY MEETINGS
Third Tuesdays - 6:30-8:30 PM
Cliff Bell's
2030 Park Avenue, Detroit 48226
www.cliffbells.com

Hope to see you there!

Also, congratulations to Natalie Zebula of Zebula Design who won our giveaway last week! Check out the great purses in her Etsy shop.

Thanks so much for everyone for entering our gift certificate giveaway and for your great comments about Spring in Detroit. Stay tuned - we'll be having regular giveways on the blog soon.

10% off if you ride your bicycle!

Ride your bike to City Bird and Bureau of Urban Living in March and receive 10% off your order!

City Bird Giveaway!

Walks in Woodbridge, biking to Eastern Market, driving around Belle Isle - we love Spring in Detroit and want to hear about your favorite things to do as the weather warms up!  Comment below with your favorite Springtime activity in Detroit by 3/12 and we'll select one winner at random on Saturday 3/13 to receive a $10 gift certificate to City Bird.

Marche du Nain Rouge!

We are SO EXCITED for this neighborhood event! If you aren't familiar with the legend of le Nain Rouge, he's a mischevious little red dwarf who has been spotted rabble rousing throughout Detroit's history ever since Antoine de la mothe Cadillac attacked him in 1701. From the Battle of Bloody Run in 1763 and the great fire of 1805, to the surrender of the city in the War of 1812 and 1967 riots, legend has it the Nain has played a part in brewing trouble in our fair city for a long, long time.

Come down to the Cass Corridor on March 21st to help banish the Nain and to participate in this new tradition of purging the bad and celebrating Spring!

Stay-tuned for fun events before the parade at City Bird, Bureau and other local businesses...

Let's Save Michigan Poster Contest

If you haven't already, check out this poster contest co-sponsored by Let's Save Michigan and the Detroit Institue of Arts. The contest was inspired in part by this great exhibition at the DIA (through March 21st) of around 100 WPA prints from the 1930s. There are a lot of great finalists in the contest and you can vote for your favorites (everyday!) through March 15th. Below is Nikki Desautelle's awesome design. Nikki works with us on Wednesdays, so vote for her poster and then come say hello next week!

The Small Object

We love The Small Object and are so excited to have some of Sarah Neuburger's lovely goods in the shop!  Stop by to check 'em out!

New at City Bird!

We've gotten lots of lovely new things in the shop in the last couple days. Here's a sampling:

Regina Pruss of Chain Chain Chain dropped off a big batch of new jewelry yesterday, including two of these awesome necklaces featuring vintage round lockets ($30) and a pair of these sweet iris and chain earrings ($18).

We also got in an exciting box of goods from Sarah Lapinski of Wound, including these neat ties ($40) and cool limited edition shirts designed by Vaughan Taormina ($30).

Nikki DeSautelle is a talented artist/designer/illustrator who leads workshops at the DIA and also has been masterfully running the store on Wednesdays. This Wednesday she brought in some of her magical stuffed giraffes! ($30)

Our wonderful mail carrier, Kevin, just delivered a package of cozy knit scarves and pins from Jennifer Winchell of Prairie Dog Inc. We've sold out of her sweet Beardie Pins quickly in the past and many people have been asking about them since they last ran out, so get one while they last! ($9)

Ok, that's enough of a sneak peek. Stop by to say hello and see the other great new things in the store!

(And our Valentine cards are quickly disappearing, but we still have a lot of super designs!)

Sweet Valentines at City Bird

We're really excited about the Valentine's Day cards we have in the shop!  Stop by this week (T-Sa 11-7 with extended hours on Friday until 8) to pick up one for your sweetheart or pal.  Here's a sneak peek at some of the cards we have:

This card from Cracked Designs in Milwaukee features a cutout photo of an ax and the inside reads: "I'm falling for you."

This bacon card is another pun-filled Cracked Designs card and the inside reads "I'm achin' for your bacon!"

And here is one of Kate Funk's popular cat greeting cards - this time featuring the kitty as cupid!
We have lots of other super cards and great new gifts - come by and check 'em out!

Detroit Declaration!

I'm excited about the new Detroit Declaration drafted by a group of inspiring Detroiters. Check out the website and their facebook page, sign the declaration, watch the video below, and join this movement for change in our city!

Happy New Year!

Thank you to everyone who has stopped in our new store in our first eight weeks - we have appreciated your incredible support!  Our inaugural holiday season was so wonderful and busy and it was great to meet so many new people.  Now that the holidays have passed we are enjoying the chance to get caught up, restocked and work on some exciting new projects!  We're also excited to get back to blogging, so look for more updates, soon.  In the meantime, check out this blog post which includes us:  Twelve Young Versions of Twenty-Ten.