Detroit Day 2: 24 hours of open eyes

Rise and Shine: 7:13am
Today’s forecast: 89 degrees with A LOT of rain

Fitness/First Stop: Pop Up Yoga

Every time that I am in Detroit, my friend Kerrie, who is a yoga instructor, invites me to different yoga classes in the Metro Detroit area. So far I only attended one of her Hip Hop yoga classes, but when she invited me to Pop Up yoga today, I obliged as it was another activity to add to the 30 Days in Detroit and would count as a fitness activity.

The class was held in a space on Monroe, just north of Greektown. The teacher, Kristina Pruccoli, was very nice and really pushed me, which I liked. The class was basic Hatha and I really enjoyed it. As I am used to doing Bikram, it is difficult for me to get into other types of yoga. I have tried a few and I know that I do not like flow or Vinyasa, but I really liked the class and I fully intend to go every Tuesday at 11:30am while I am here. I hope to see you there.

Pop Up Yoga
123 Monroe Street
Detroit 48226
http://www.popupyoga313.com/
$10 donation

Second Stop: Urban Bean Co.

After yoga, we headed to Urban Bean Co. to do some work and grab some chai tea lattes. I somehow was coerced into buying a Dutch Girl donut, which I was unfamiliar with, but thoroughly enjoyed. Urban Bean Co. reopened for the third time in April. It is a great space with a few seats outside and seating upstairs and there are even turntables! Many of the customers knew each other and the atmosphere is very open and fun so if you are looking for a new coffee shop head on over to Urban Bean Co.

Urban Bean Co.
200 Grand River
Detroit, MI 48226
(313)496-1010
https://www.facebook.com/UrbanBeanCo

Third Stop: Belle Isle

Belle Isle is a beautiful island situated in the Detroit River giving you great views of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Following our coffee shop jaunt, with time to waste, we headed to Belle Isle to just relax and chat by the river. We also took the opportunity to do a little bit of yoga.

Fourth Stop: Fish Express

I did not have breakfast this morning and so by the time 2pm rolled around and Kerrie was taking m back home I knew that I needed to grab some food so I suggested we stop by Fish Express for their “crack wings”. Why do I call them crack wings? Because they are just that good!!! It is impossible to eat just one and they are super cheap. I paid $5.30 for six wings and the amazing fries which accompanied them.

While the chicken is absolutely delicious and hands down the best chicken wings I have ever eaten, it is super unhealthy so I cannot vouch for what it will do to your body if you eat it often, but I think once a year is a nice treat! So I beg you please go and try these chicken wings and let me know if you feel the same way!

Fish Express
12555 Grand River Ave
Detroit, MI 48204
(313) 933-5000

Fifth Stop: St. Andrews

Two weeks ago, a friend of mine informed me that Detroit was on list of cities for the J. Cole Dollar and a Dream tour, the proceeds of which will support the Dreamville Foundation that he started in 2011. Upon hearing this I was excited as I have known J. Cole since undergrad and had yet to see him in concert since his two albums dropped, as I was living overseas.

Somewhere between Urban Bean Co. and Belle Isle, my friend Christian called and told me that they were giving out wristbands for the show. Since no tickets were being sold we headed over to grab our wristbands in order to return later in the evening with a single dollar bill, which
was the price of entry.

We got to the venue around 7:30pm and listened to the radio DJ spin until my friend Adam arrived. The fun thing about seeing J. Cole, Ib, Adam, Mike and the rest of the crew is that I have seen how far they have come and how hard they have worked for the position they have earned! And speaking of earned positions, shortly after Jermaine arrived, a bottle of Ace of Spades came out along with a cake that was sent in celebration of him selling 300,000 units in his first week. Yeezus only passed him by about 30,000 sales! Talk about putting in work and making music that people love.

We chilled backstage a bit before the show then I had the opportunity to watch the show from the front and backstage and I was completely floored. I see interviews and commentary on his music all of the time but to be in a room full of screaming fans singing every lyric, to every song, including the mixtapes from 2009 and 2010 is a surreal experience! Just seeing him go from this young kid from North Carolina freestyling at every open mic on campus to being a bonafide superstar is pretty astonishing.

After the show I got to know more of the crew, including Ron who plays the keys and OG who is putting out some amazing footage from the tour. We shared a lot of laughs and great conversation long into the morning. At 6:30am I finally headed home and laid my head down for two hours after being awake for over 24 hours. Though sleep deprivation sucks, these are those moments that you’ve got to cherish.

Be sure to check out the Dreamvillain blog for all things J. Cole. And of course, if you haven’t yet copped Born Sinner, do yourself a favor and pick that up. And if you are looking for more good music, check out Bas’ mixtape Quarter Water Raise Me Vol. II.

Sixth Stop: Astoria Pastry Shop

Kerrie told OG about the delicious pastries at Astoria, a downtown Detroit longstanding staple, so as a self-proclaimed ambassador for the city, he hopped in my car and we drove the one minute drive between the hotel and the bakery. It was raining! When we arrived there was no parking so I figured I would just double park behind the police who were also double parked and inside ordering pastries.

Once inside I immediately saw my friend Suai who gave us recommendations on what to order. We grabbed a couple cookies, cupcakes and cheesecake and we were on our way. I only tasted the strawberry cheesecake which I strongly recommend, but everyone seemed very satisfied with all of the pastries. The great thing is that they are open until 12am, so if you have a late night sweet tooth you can head over to Astoria.

Astoria Pastry Shop
541 Monroe St.
Detroit, MI 48226
(313)963-9603

Today I spent a total of $37.55 (yoga, chai tea latte with almond milk, donut, chicken wings and fries, gas, J. Cole concert)! Not bad!