Dear Readers,

It has been two wonderful, amazing and rewarding years! If I could, I would buy each and every one of you a pint at Bronx to celebrate.

When I launched Detroit Girls About Town as a little WordPress blog in February of 2010, my biggest concern was whether anyone would find it, let alone read it. Now, at the two year mark, I can honestly say that I understand what happens when you boldly follow your ideas because DGAT was just that in December of 2009.

However, instead it letting it just be an idea, it was an idea that drove me to my computer the very next day to buy a domain name and try out programming on my own for the first time. It was an idea that made me toss and turn at night thinking about what the Website was going to be. And finally, it was an idea that led me to decided to just to do what felt right even though I was totally shooting from the hip.

From the first post to the last, I was – and continue to be – humbled and honored by the support DGAT has received. I have encountered readers while out in Detroit and through my inbox from Detroiters abroad, both go to show how strong and wide reaching the spirit of our city truly is.

Even though this is a joyous day, this will be the last post for a while. DGAT has grown beyond my wildest dreams and, my being one person, I can’t continue to support it alone. Because this site is my baby, it pains me to put it on hiatus, but until I can build the right team and gather the resources to support it, it’s what’s best. I know that Detroit girls (and guys) everywhere will understand.

Again, these two years have been amazing and I would like to thank everyone —  DGAT contributors and writers, you for reading this site and everyone and everything who made something awesome happen in Detroit – because that’s exactly what I started this Website for in the first place.

Even though this is DGAT’s “Goodbye for now,” DGAT will still live on through all the posts on here, Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter. And if you get tired of reading, watch the DGAT family eat Coney Dogs and bowl at the Majestic with Broke Ass Stewart on IFC’s Young Broke and Beautiful.

Stay about town, Detroit girls — it’s your city and you deserve to have fun in it.

Best,
Cambrey

PS- Interested in staying in touch? Email me here.

Douglas Runyon and Anthony Curis (Photo: elguapogrill.com)

Food trucks date back to the late 1800′s with chuck wagons in Texas. For us though, food trucks date back to when ran to the ice cream truck as kids. The mobile restaurants have since made a comeback, and this past summer, Detroit finally got hip to the game.

We literally watched in envy as Korean BBQ and schnitzel trucks took to the streets of New York and Los Angeles, but with diligence and determination, Anthony Curis and Douglas Runyon worked with Detroit to become the first licensed and accepted food truck in the city’s history with El Guapo Grill.

With their constantly changing menu (breakfast! fish tacos! and bacon tacos!) we were intrigued — so we sat down with co-owner Anthony Curis at his new art gallery on Library St. to get the inside scoop on “secret” tacos, dream tacos and what the team eats off the clock.

Q: We know you do tacos now and run Saltwater and Bourbon Steak in MGM Casino downtown, but how did you get into food?

A: I was born and raised in the Grosse Pointe area and worked in my family’s Big Boy franchise restaurants. There was a natural transition into real estate, and that is where I ended up.

Q: Where do you eat when you’re not working on the truck?

A: My wife and I love to eat, so we have tried a lot of the food in Detroit. Some of our favorites are Supino’s Pizza, Roast — the best happy hour, Le Petit Zinc, Wolfgang Puck Grille, and El Barzon.

Q: Does El Guapo have a ‘secret menu’?

A: Yes… one item people can ask for is called The Mess, a burrito essentially with everything and special sauces.

Q:  What was your worst recipe that you ever tried?

A: In an effort to test a recipe for the truck, I decided to grill salmon. It was not a good turnout – that’s all I will say!

Q: Food costs and permits aside, what’s your dream El Guapo menu?

A: Seasoned Kobe Beef burrito with avocado, sauteed onions, porcini mushrooms, queso fresco and guapo sauce on a flour tortilla

Lobster tacos with shredded cabbage, diced red onion, queso fresco and a creamy aioli aauce on a flour a tortilla.

Dreamy indeed! Tell us, are you down with food trucks? And if yes, what’s your favorite?

One, two, three, four, tell me that you love me more (Photo: Izola.com)

Winter, spring, summer and fall. Paul, George, Ringo and John. Fire, water, earth and air.

Four, it seems, is the magic number. And last week, whilst perusing Savvy Chic after loading up on late season watermelon and peaches at Eastern Market, we found an eco-chic and practical reminder of the power of four — Izola Bamboo Toothbrushes. 

These bamboo brushes come in sets of four to last the entire year. The set we picked up is numbered from one to four, but others are printed with the months in groups of three, words to reflect on (contemplate, meditate, rejuvenate, concentrate) and, for a thoughtful hostess, the word “guest.”

While there are no bells and whistles on these, we like that it’s a toothbrush that’s simple and meaningful — which is a great luxury when you think about it. And with their soft bristles and earthy look, these quarterly reminders will definitely get displayed prominently in our medicine cabinet.

Of course, every three months we’ll toss one (or most likely repurpose them for something handy) and then start on the next.

(more via FB)

They call her mellow yellow (Photo: TracyReese.com)

Drop that bagel! Chuck that mimosa! In fact, ditch your Sunday AM brunch plans because you’ve got somewhere to be, pronto — you’ve got to get yourself front row and center at the Tracy Reese S/S 2012 fashion show!

You don’t need a last minute flight to NYC, or even a teleporter because the nice folks at Maybelline and YouTube have set up a live streaming feed of the runway. All you need to do is log on to TracyReese.com at 2pm to see the fabulously feminine designs of our favorite Detroit girl designer.

According to the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring/Summer 2012, TR will be serving up lots of luscious cream golds, blossom pinks and vivid blues (see more color inspiration here).

And according to makeup artist Mally Roncal, all the TR models will be walking with strong brows, matte skin and a pink pout.

Get a sneak peak of the beauty inspiration below and then tell us what pieces you’re coveting after you watch the show here.

Parking Lot of Fun!

Welcome to wknd #35 of 52. Let’s celebrate! Here’s how:

1) 32nd Annual Detroit Jazz Festival at Hart Plaza, Friday Sept. 2- Monday Sept. 5

Get ready to snap your fingers and bob your heads to some sizzling jazz, which will be heating up downtown Detroit all weekend long! DGAT already got the inside scoop on some of the hottest musicians who will be down there performing, so be sure to check them out.

2) Hamtramck Labor Day Festival in Downtown Hamtramk between Caniff and Carpenter, Saturday Sept. 3 – Monday Sept. 5 

Hamtramck will be full of Polish pride with its annual Labor Day Festival. With events such as the Annual Polish Day Parade and Polka Mass, it’ll be hard not to channel your inner Polish spirit. And there will be tons of activities to partake in, like an art fair, musical guests, and the Pub Crawl, which takes people around to the city’s hottest spots. How many times can we say, how cool is that!

3) Arts, Beats, & Eats 2011 in Downtown Royal Oak, Friday Sept. 2 – Monday Sept. 5

As if the Labor Day Weekend couldn’t get any better, Royal Oak is going to be cranking out hot food, crazy music, and tons of fun with its Annual Arts, Beats and Eats festival. There’s something for everyone: if rock n roll is your forte, then be sure to check out Bret Michaels, and bands like Orbis and Dutch Pink, or if you are in to funk, then George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will be shutting the house down.

Hot Club in the summertime

So Hart Plaza has been jammed packed with festivals this summer.

We smacked on some good bbq at the Ribs and Soul Festival, got back to our roots with the African World Festival, but, as always, the Motor City saved the best for last — hot jazz.

The 32^nd Annual Detroit Jazz Festival, taking place this Labor Day Weekend, is going to be filled with talented musicians, both local and national, who will personally be playing their “you know what” off — and all for free!

Now every Detroit girl should appreciate good jazz, especially considering the rich, jazz history the city has. We can claim brilliant musicians like pianist Tommy Flanagan, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, drummer Elvin Jones… and the list goes on.

Regina Carter

Not to mention the young, blossoming talent that is continuously coming out of Detroit such as violinist Regina Carter (who will also be performing at the fest) and saxophonist James Carter. I recently interviewed Detroit jazz historian Jim Gallert and I believe he said it best, “Maybe it really is something in the water.”

DJF, which is the main playing field for musical talent in the city, will be celebrating the world influences on jazz with their “We bring you the World” theme.

So, if you plan on crashing the event this coming weekend, but may not be too familiar with the bands that will be performing, then here are a few musicians to look out for:

Pianist Vijay Iyer

Detroit based trumpeter Rayse Biggs

Local Detroit vocalist Kimmie Horne

Gypsy jazz band Hot Club of Detroit

Pianist Jason Moran & The Bandwagon

Trumpeter Sean Jones’ Quintet

Vibraphonist Warren Wolf and the Wolfpac

Detroit native Regina Carter’s Reverse Thread

More info on the festival here.

James Franco in a wet shirt.

Like nearly all red-blooded, MTV watching twentysomethings, we often find ourselves wondering where James Franco is. And just our luck, he’s in Detroit shooting Oz: The Great And Powerful, a Wizard Of Oz prequel where he plays the wizard.

If you, like us, think about the whereabouts of Mr. Franco, then ponder along with us as we list the places you may find* the multi-hyphned leading man.

Where: The Detroit Library
Why: Frankly, it would be weird to not find James in the stacks here. We trust that he’d shack up in the Burton Collection with a few classics or find a hidden reading room to reread Infinite Jest in.

Where: Rouge Park
Why: After 127 Hours, we think James would want to get in touch with nature in a non-extreme way. That guy walking along the stream? That could be him. More likely, he’ll be volunteering with the Grown In Detroit urban farm on the outskirts of the park.

Where: The Detroit River
Why: Because he’s deep like that. We could totally picture him perched on a low rock, looking at Canada and thinking about life. And when’s is thought all about life, he’d probably use the serene locale to read scripts and sketch in his Moleskine.

Where: John King Books
Why: To find that rare, out of print book that you’ve probably never heard of.

Where: Le Petit Zinc
Why: To bring back café society. And for a coffee, a croissant and an odd cigarette or two.

Where: MOCAD
Why: Because there may or may not be talks of him showing his next installation here. We really don’t know, but we can certainly dream of a Detroit screening of Dicknose in Paris.

Where: Wayne State University
Why: To get another degree… maybe an Associates, Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate. Or maybe a certificate course. Or maybe all of them. And we literally mean all of them, as in all the degrees at Wayne State.

Where: The Heidelberg Project
Why: We think you know why. In fact, we bet he’ll probably add some shoes and baby doll arms to it.

Where: D’ Mongo’s Speakeasy
Why: Because he’s having drinks with Ryan Gosling. Jealous?

Have you spotted him around Detroit?

*James, if you’re reading this, we’re not stalkers… we’re actually busy journalists with day jobs. Take this list as a recommendation of cool things we think you’ll like in Detroit.

One in a million...

Ten years ago today we lost a great talent. We will always remember Aaliyah and the wonderful music she left us with. Celebrate her life today by checking out our favorite Aaliyah videos — and by swooping your hair over your eye, Veronica Lake style.

Hot Like Fire

More Than A Woman

4 Page Letter

At Your Best

We Miss You (Tribute)

What are your favorite Aaliyah songs?

When BK met Better Made. (Photo: Cool Hunting)

For Detroiters, it doesn’t get more real than with a bag of Better Made chips. From the bright yellow metallic bags, to how the crispy chips literally melt on your tongue, eating Better Made’s is like eating the city.

The only thing that could make these homegrown crisps better is the addition of another homegrown flavor — and that’s where McClure’s comes in. The Brooklyn- Detroit based brand leant some of their signature pickle spices to the crinkle cut chips. We haven’t had the pleasure of trying these yet, but we can only guess that they’d taste like the last delicious bits of a Detroit summer — you know, where you’re licking the Better Made grease and crumbs off your hands at a late summer cookout.

Head over to Cool Hunting to learn more. And order a bag to make summer last forever here.

OK, so this isn’t really a music video, but it was just too good to pass up. Close your eyes and listen to this one with the volume up really loud. Your listening pleasure will be greatly multiplied by dancing in your skivvies in front of a mirror with a hairbrush microphone.

We promise it’ll take you back and make you love being a Detroit Girl because these guitar riffs and sweet lyrics were written just for you.

Give it a listen and tell us what you think: