DETROIT, AUGUST 11, 2010—A new full-service real estate brokerage founded by Realtor® Austin Black II named City Living Detroit officially opened for business in Detroit’s thriving Midtown neighborhood today.

“I am excited and proud to open my own brokerage in Detroit,” said Black. “My passions for this city run deep. Since returning home after college, I’ve made it a top priority to be involved in the continued growth of Detroit. I believe that by opening my real estate brokerage here I will be able to make a greater impact on our community, one new resident at a time.”

City Living Detroit is a full-service brokerage that focuses in the sales, leasing and project marketing of lofts, condos and historic homes. Agents for City Living Detroit provide their services in communities all across the southeast Michigan region.

Black says that City Living Detroit has already landed agreements to manage or be involved with the sales and marketing of several Detroit developments including: The Mack @Brush Park, Willys Overland Lofts, Brush Park Village North, and Centurion Place.

Black has been in real estate for nearly a decade and has achieved success at all levels. He has won several local and national awards including being recognized this year by Realtor® Magazine as one of the 30 up and coming Realtors under 30 in the nation.

He credits a philosophy he created several years ago called P.I.E for his successes, and says it helped him reach $1.8 million in volume sales last year while working on behalf of another brokerage, so he intends to implement it as common practice at City Living Detroit.

“It’s an approach that is simple but effective,” said Black. “We showcase the passion-points of a community and all it can offer and then by utilizing the latest technological innovations in the real estate industry we are able to educate clients about the best options that are available to them.”

City Living Detroit’s offices are located at 444 West Willis, Ste. 108 inside the Willys Overland Lofts.

About City Living Detroit
City Living Detroit is a client-centered, full-service, boutique-style real estate sales and marketing firm that specializes in urban living, including lofts, condos, historic homes and apartments. The firm is based in Detroit’s historic Midtown near Wayne State University. To view all available listings visit CityLivingDetroit.com. To make an appointment call 313-242-7800 or e-mail austin@citylivingdetroit.com.

• The highly anticipated indie feature Annabelle & Bear
• The Detroit feature premiere of Bilal’s Stand
• The multi-award winning documentary Grown in Detroit: Teen Moms Become Urban Farmers

New to this festival was the joint venture between The DWIFF and Wayne State University’s Moving Media Festival, a venue for college filmmakers to showcase their work on an international platform.  Regional experts working in the film industry, as well as film professors, judged submissions from:

• Madonna University
• University of Windsor
• Lawrence Technological University
• University of Michigan-Dearborn
• Oakland Community College

Also part of The DWIFF was The Tech Fair, where those interested in the film business could learn from industry experts. 

On Sunday, June 27 at WSU’s Community Arts building, The DWIFF premiered works from those who took on The DWIFF Challenge (a.k.a the 48 Hour Film Challenge) with DWIFF’s award ceremony following.

Celebrated as one of America’s leading new film festivals in a state with a booming film industry, The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing the newest and most diverse voices of independent film by featuring works from around the world in a first-class international forum.

About DWIFF
The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is a registered Michigan non-profit organization funded through the generosity of the community—sponsorships, gifts and donations.  For the second consecutive year, The DWIFF is proudly presented by Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano.

The DWIFF celebrates talented voices within the independent film industry that create unique, quality cinema that is both stimulating and entertaining.  The festival, also, invites prominent film industry members to meet, network and share ideas in an urban, educational setting.  Through its sponsors and partners, The DWIFF seeks to raise awareness of the local film industry and give back to the local community to promote growth within the creative community.

Los 32 equipos participantes (ver tabla siguiente) están clasificados en 8 Grupos, con 4 equipos cada uno, que usarán el sistema de clasificación indicado más abajo:

Grupo A       Grupo B     Grupo C     Grupo D     Grupo E     Grupo F     Grupo G     Grupo H

FRA              ARG            ALG            AUS            CMR          ITA             BRA             CHI

MEX            GRE             ENG           GER             DEN          NZL            CIV              HON

RSA             KOR             SVN           GHA            JPN           PAR            PRK             ESP

URU            NGA             USA           SRB             NED          SVK             POR             SUI

Primera Ronda:
Cada equipo de los 32 iniciales compite dentro de su Grupo y sólo pasan a Octavos de Final el primero y el segundo clasificado en cada Grupo.

Octavos de Final, Cuartos de Final, Semifinal y Final:
Los equipos clasificados compiten contra el que les corresponda, pasando a las rondas siguientes por eliminación directa (sistema de clasificación que se usará hasta el fin del Torneo).

Partido por el tercer puesto:
Los dos equipos perdedores en semifinal competirán por el tercer puesto.

Para ver el calendario de partidos:

Español: http://futbol.univision.com/fifacopamundial/calendario

Ingles http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/world-cup-soccer/tv-listings/304188

Autor: Luis Pugliese

Gráfica: Paula Anderanin

I ended up right in front to get a pretty good view of the stage.  As soon as Lloyd Banks appeared and the music exploded,  the crowd just went nuts.  The speakers tore right through me. It was as if I were wrapped up in a blanket of sound.  He opened up with “I’m So Fly.”  Later on, he unleashed other hits such as “Warrior” and “Hands Up.”  When he introduced his DJ, Whoo Kid, I remembered his name for the mixtapes that he’s been behind.

When Ludacris started his set, I took up the same spot.  From the moment that he strutted out, I knew that it would be an experience.  Luda came out and just owned the audience.  Throughout his performance, he alternated between spitfire delivery to a more relaxed flow.  The high point was hearing him perform “Stand Up” off of his 2003 album Chicken-n-Beer. I’m not the type to normally rap along.  However, I couldn’t resist and joined in especially for the choruses.  The hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

His performance was electric.  One of the best parts of him doing “Stand Up” was calling attention to the diversity of his audience and acknowledging his Caucasian, Latino, African-American fans, etc.  It made for a beautiful moment.  Luda also asked the audience to put up their lighters and cellphones to light up Chene Park.  There was almost nothing that the audience wouldn’t have done.

His set covered his entire career.  For someone like me that knows some but not all of his songs, at least not by name, I was absorbed with hearing song after song from “Hos,” “Everybody Drunk,” “Damn,” “Pussy Popping” and “Move.”  In addition to watching Luda tearing it up, the other highpoint was watching his DJ, Jaycee, who is a Detroit native, and also one of his Disturbing Tha Peace artists.  Besides letting loose the usual DJ moves, Jaycee even manipulated the turntables with his nose as if he were some sort of Jimi Hendrix on the steel wheels.

50′s set was the one that I looked forward to the most.  However, as with Banks’ set, it wasn’t one that I was feeling.  In addition to Banks, he also joined by additional G-Unit member, Tony Yayo, onstage.  I was pretty familiar with many of his popular hits such “Magic Stick” and “In Da Club.”  I also ended up hearing “Get Down.”  Mostly, the only songs that I heard were just the older hits.  I was disappointed that I really couldn’t hear 50′s voice through the mix.  I really wanted to savor his slurred, angry delivery.

Hands down, Ludacris had the best of the three sets.  During his whole set, he was brimming with charisma and established a strong connection with the audience.  Of the three, Luda was the only one to literally reach out and touch his audience.  Also, as I said earlier, his set had an ebb and flow to it.  Luda didn’t set out to beat his audience into submission with his harder songs.  All of this considered, my first concert will not be my last.

Author: José A. Rodríguez

I ended up right in front to get a pretty good view of the stage.  As soon as Lloyd Banks appeared and the music exploded,  the crowd just went nuts.  The speakers tore right through me. It was as if I were wrapped up in a blanket of sound.  He opened up with “I’m So Fly.”  Later on, he unleashed other hits such as “Warrior” and “Hands Up.”  When he introduced his DJ, Whoo Kid, I remembered his name for the mixtapes that he’s been behind.

When Ludacris started his set, I took up the same spot.  From the moment that he strutted out, I knew that it would be an experience.  Luda came out and just owned the audience.  Throughout his performance, he alternated between spitfire delivery to a more relaxed flow.  The high point was hearing him perform “Stand Up” off of his 2003 album Chicken-n-Beer. I’m not the type to normally rap along.  However, I couldn’t resist and joined in especially for the choruses.  The hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

His performance was electric.  One of the best parts of him doing “Stand Up” was calling attention to the diversity of his audience and acknowledging his Caucasian, Latino, African-American fans, etc.  It made for a beautiful moment.  Luda also asked the audience to put up their lighters and cellphones to light up Chene Park.  There was almost nothing that the audience wouldn’t have done.

His set covered his entire career.  For someone like me that knows some but not all of his songs, at least not by name, I was absorbed with hearing song after song from “Hos,” “Everybody Drunk,” “Damn,” “Pussy Popping” and “Move.”  In addition to watching Luda tearing it up, the other highpoint was watching his DJ, Jaycee, who is a Detroit native, and also one of his Disturbing Tha Peace artists.  Besides letting loose the usual DJ moves, Jaycee even manipulated the turntables with his nose as if he were some sort of Jimi Hendrix on the steel wheels.

50′s set was the one that I looked forward to the most.  However, as with Banks’ set, it wasn’t one that I was feeling.  In addition to Banks, he also joined by additional G-Unit member, Tony Yayo, onstage.  I was pretty familiar with many of his popular hits such “Magic Stick” and “In Da Club.”  I also ended up hearing “Get Down.”  Mostly, the only songs that I heard were just the older hits.  I was disappointed that I really couldn’t hear 50′s voice through the mix.  I really wanted to savor his slurred, angry delivery.

Hands down, Ludacris had the best of the three sets.  During his whole set, he was brimming with charisma and established a strong connection with the audience.  Of the three, Luda was the only one to literally reach out and touch his audience.  Also, as I said earlier, his set had an ebb and flow to it.  Luda didn’t set out to beat his audience into submission with his harder songs.  All of this considered, my first concert will not be my last.

Author: José A. Rodríguez

The film tells the stories of child migrants’ dreams to get to “the other side” though not without infinite risks and injuries. Take Olga and Freddy. Originally from Honduras, both were on “The Beast” for days with a coyote (Spanish word used to describe someone smuggling illegal immigrants). At nine years old, both want to join their relatives in Minnesota. Halfway into the journey, they make a stop in Central Mexico. Locals offer food, water, medical assistance, and shelter before they continue. The locals are extremely aware of the risks and advise them to return home. Nonetheless, Olga and Freddy remain hopeful and decide to continue. Unfortunately, no one ever sees them again.

José‘s story is just as powerful. He shares his emotional story of being abandoned by coyotes and then ending up at a Mexican detention center for child migrants. Although only ten years old, José‘s story, filled with fear and hopefulness, is one that I could feel as tears were rolling down my cheeks. He seemed so innocent and fragile. Why would a child have to go through such an extremely dangerous experience? Although many children like him live in terrible conditions back in their native country, it is difficult to witness such a strong desire for a better life that they put their lives in the hands of strangers and end up in these situations. However, this is the only hope for them. Fortunately, José gets help at the detention center and is one of the few children to safely return home.

We also see Kevin, a streetwise 14-year-old Honduran and his friend, Filo, who is also the same age. At fourteen, both have always planned to travel on “The Beast” to get a better future and hopefully find a family to adopt them once they reach the United States. Although they make it all the way to the border, they are assaulted by robbers who take what little they have. After such an experience, Filo decides to return and is hopeful that Kevin will do the same. Kevin decides to keep going, since he has already made it that far. In his attempt to cross the border, Kevin makes it into the US, but is detained at the border by immigration, who send him to a detention center for deportation.

Once home, Kevin experiences the same maltreatment by his stepfather that he tried to escape. He feels unwanted and the lack of money makes him decide to try again. Filo shares his feelings and so they start to plan another journey for later in the year.

Watching Which Way Home touched not only my heart but my soul. It brought me back to reality. Most importantly, it reminded me of all the wonderful opportunities that we tend to forget. Which Way Home is definitely a strong documentary and also one that I hope you can check out.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgaPU9rzTHQ&feature=related[/youtube]

Author: Paola Bravo

The Movement Electronic Music Festival or DEMF also celebrated a la grand its 10th year anniversary with an exceptional performance by the three founders of Detroit techno—Juan Atkins (aka Model 500), Kevin Saunderson’s (known for his collaboration Inner City), and Derrick May, who were collectively known as The Belleville Three.  This year’s celebration also included live performances by some of my favorites: Richie Hawtin (aka Plastikman), Paco Osuna, Cassy, Chris Liebing, Stacey Pullen, Marco Carola, Ida Engberg.

DEMF was organized around five different stages.  One of the highlights of the festival had to be the live performance and interactive show Richie Hawtin delivered at the Vitamin Water Main Stage Saturday night.  An audio, visual, and physical performance in which he took us to a totally different level of electronic music.  Hawtin also performed at the Beatport Stage, where he stepped in for Ricardo Villalobos, who was unfortunately not able to make the festival.  His incredible live performance at Beatport Stage wove an electric experience for his dancing, sweaty fans.

Another excellent live performance was by four extraordinary female artists at the Made in Detroit Stage included Jenny Lafemme, Punisher, Jen Xerri, Minx and Magda, in which all five ladies had the crowd pumped for their music that exhibited their talent and skills at the turntables.  It was excellent idea for the organizers to dedicate a full day to four extraordinary female DJs.

An interesting performance by Excision at the Red Bull Music Academy Stage introduced me to the Dubstep genre, which appears to be very popular among younger fans.  Dubstep has its roots in London’s darker garage scene since the 2000s.  Also known as 2-step, it is mostly instrumental and offers elements of drum and bass with a touch of dub-influenced techno.  A kind of weird, spontaneous experience for me, Excision definitely had its followers jamming to the dark dubstep mix he had prepared for the festival.

At Movement Torino Stage, fans truly enjoyed DJ sets performed by popular names like Orlando Voom, Marco Carola, Derrick May, I-Robots and Stefano Fontana among others.  What I truly enjoyed about Movement Torino Stage is the feeling of a clubbing scene held outdoors almost as if at a private backyard party with the most amazing house, dance, and techno global DJs—a fabulously extraordinary experience.

It is not surprise that over 95,000 people attended this year’s DEMF—a 15% increase from last year.  Although it has experienced its ups and downs since its inception in 2000, the DEMF makes it clear about the popularity of today’s electronic music.  It has inspired organizers from all over the world to continue the electronic movement not only in Detroit but also around the globe.

An extravagant celebration of electronic music took place in our wonderful city of Detroit.  It has also marked an incredible 10th anniversary in which every single artist has truly shared their talents and skills with all the organizers and people involved who have made this weekend a reality.

50 will be unleashing his new Black Magic album.  Is it hip-hop or is it Eurodance? Just wait and see.

This tour will also let us check out songs off of Ludas’ new album Battle of The Sexes.  His seventh album has him returning to form with his trademark combination of tongue in cheek humor wrapped up in his booming voice and thumping club beats.

Come and see 50, Lloyd Banks and Ludacris blow the roof off of Chene Park. Saturday, May 29^th at 8pm.  This is the summer concert not to miss.

For more information or for tickets, go to http://www.cheneparkdetroit.com/.

Author: José A. Rodríguez