Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s new early literacy program ‘Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront’
The Detroit Festival of Books, set to return to Detroit’s Eastern Market this July, is pleased to announce its collaboration with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy in its efforts to boost literacy in the city. The Conservancy will host a table at this year’s Bookfest.
The Detroit Festival of Books is the largest book festival in the state of Michigan, featuring vendors from all over the United States and Canada. Bookfest is a goodwill effort to generate a deeper love and appreciation of books and culture, and to promote literacy. The free event takes place annually at Detroit’s Eastern Market.
Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront (R3) is the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s unique, interactive early literacy program. With support from General Motors, R3 stretches six weeks throughout the summer (July 6 – August 11, 2023).
The program takes place at Gabriel Richard Park (7130 East Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI) and features readings by local celebrities, as well as business and community leaders.
The program also boasts live and interactive family entertainment, a healthy snack provided by the YMCA and free books provided by General Motors in partnership with the Detroit Public Library’s “Library on Wheels.”
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’
“We are excited to have a presence at this year’s Bookfest,” said Renee Rodriguez, program manager for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. “Literacy is something that is very important to us at the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, so we are supportive of any efforts that promote books and the joy of reading to people throughout the community, especially children.”
“As Bookfest expands its offerings and sees ever greater attendance, we want to do everything possible to boost the organizations devoted to fostering a love of reading,” said Ryan M. Place, Bookfest’s founder and chairman. “So with thousands upon thousands of individuals streaming through Bookfest, why not encourage those book lovers to volunteer their time and funds to support the worthiest of causes?”
The Detroit Festival of Books takes place Sunday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shed 5 in Detroit’s Eastern Market. The event is free. Photos of the 2022 Bookfest are available for download and use via this link.
Detroit Riverwalk (photo by Detroit Riverfront Conservancy)
(CBS DETROIT) – The Detroit Festival of Books is the largest book festival in Michigan, and it is returning in July for the sixth year at Detroit’s Eastern Market.
Ryan M. Place, founder and chairman of Detroit Bookfest, and Lonni Thomas, director of markets at Eastern Market Partnership, sat down with anchor Jeff Skversky inside the studios of CBS News Detroit on Wednesday, June 21st, 2023 to talk about the upcoming event that is scheduled for Sunday, July 16.
The event will include various books (including authors selling & signing their own books), other items, and a ton of fun activities.
Entry to the event is FREE.
Watch the full conversation with Place and Thomas in the video above.
Pong Detroit is an afterhours ping-pong social club, which is located directly across the street from Eastern Market, inside Bert’s Warehouse (2739 Russell Street).
The brainchild of former Honolulu-based radio DJ and pong enthusiast Mal Lang, their slogan is “unplug and play.”
Mal says, “Soccer is # 1 and table tennis is the # 2 participant sport in world. Table tennis is huge in China, India, Europe (especially Sweden & Germany).”
Pong Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Bert’s Warehouse also features a comedy club, kitchen, and bar, so you can drink and pong all night long.
Lessons are available and they will be doing wheelchair table tennis soon. Their other slogan is “Food, drinks, music and pong.”
Fortunately for Bookfest attendees, Mal will be wheeling over some ping-pong tables to Detroit Bookfest, so everyone can enjoy playing some free ping-pong in the streets.
Thank you, Mal!
Michigan shaped ping pong paddle (courtesy of Pong Detroit)
The 6th Annual Detroit Festival of Books (aka: Detroit Bookfest) is a glorious day of BOOKS, vinyl records, comics, creative arts, food, beer, funk music and more!
Please join us at Eastern Market Shed 5 in Detroit on Sunday, July 16, 2023.
Iconic photo of Detroit Bookfest taken by Debbie Maciolek in 2018 (Eastern Market, Shed 5, Detroit)
Native Detroiter, Debbie Maciolek, runs Debography, a local photography company. She expertly photographed some early incarnations of Bookfest for us in the past. And now, thankfully, she’s back!
The quality of her work is superb, and we are immensely fortunate to have her documenting the event.
You will see her running around at Detroit Bookfest taking photos. Please treat her with courtesy and respect.
Debbie Maciolek self-portrait (photo by Debbie Maciolek)
Here’s Debbie:
“I’ve got lots of books to donate. I can’t throw out a book. It goes against everything I believe in.”
“My early years? Wow, well, I grew up on Detroit’s Upper Eastside. I lived on Lansdowne, between Yorkshire and Grayton and attended Guardian Angels at Kelly and Whittier and also Bishop Gallagher.”
“I attended Wayne State University, studying business and have my certificate of Photographic Arts from Macomb Community College.”
“For the past 28 years, my husband Bob and I have lived in Macomb. He’s a Colonel in the National Guard and we’ve owned a software business for 16 years now called Static Line Software.”
Abandoned Detroit building (photo by Debbie Maciolek)
“We have a son and a daughter, Blake and Claire, both finishing up college at Western Michigan and University of Michigan respectively and two furry kids. Our two dogs are Bella – a Lab-Pit mix, and Dexter – a Great Pyrenees-Siberian Husky mix.”
“I come from three generations of Detroit firefighters. My grandfather and father both retired as Chief of the city and my brother is a current Sergeant on the Eastside.”
“When I was young, my dad used to race stock outboard boats all over the state in short courses and marathons. This is actually how I started photography. To this day, I love photographing live sports, especially hockey, and capturing the raw in-the-moment action. Traveling frequently allowed us to camp all over the state. There is nothing like Michigan in the summer, the forests and lakes are incredible.”
“Debography was started November 2016. I was able to leave my job with a software services company and move into being a photographer full-time. I shoot senior photos, lifestyle, off the beaten path type stuff, abandoned buildings, nature photography, events, etc. Not weddings, never weddings.”
Detroit River photo (photo by Debbie Maciolek)
“My camera setup consists of a Canon 5D Mark IV and I use primarily Canon lenses, and Sigma Art lenses. My preferred editing software is Photoshop and I’ve found the absolutely best company for lighting supplies and support – Flashgear.net.”
“My advice for aspiring photographers is to understand the manual settings and remember that lighting is everything, it will always make or break your shots. Take the time to understand how light affects your subject.”
“As for hobbies, I love traveling, seeking out new adventures, experiencing off the beaten path type stuff. I’m an avid reader, mostly mysteries. I belong to a book club that’s…really more of a wine club, but hey, it’s fun. I’ve also been getting back into running, I’ve completed four half marathons and am looking to fit in a fifth one.”
“Michigan is a wonderful state, we love it here; there is always something new to do. My husband and I have a cottage in Gladwin on Secord Lake and have made some fabulous friends up there. I grew up going to Burt Lake and Indian River, which are about a half hour south of Mackinaw City, and will always be one of my favorite spots. The State Park is great and the swimming and hiking can’t be beat. Locally, we love spending time outdoors at Stony Creek Metropark and Dodge Park. Favorite restaurants near our house include Da Francesco’s Ristorante for Italian food and Golden Fleece in Greektown for Greek food.”
“Outside of Michigan, my favorite spot hands down is Ireland. Stunningly beautiful country. I recommend renting a car and driving around southern Ireland, especially the Killarney area. And yes, for some reason, the Guinness really does taste better over there, the rumors are true! It tastes like Irish Magic.”
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