Lex and Jazz of Char’latte Coffee Company Detroit (photo by Char’latte)
* The sisters will be located inside Eastern Market’s Shed 5 during Detroit Bookfest. Come check out their amazing coffee! Please bring small bills, especially $1’s and $5’s.
I love coffee. The aroma, flavor tones, nuances, trimethylxanthine, and accelerated association of ideas that results after gulping down a cup or pot of it. So, when I heard that Char’latte Coffee Company is bringing some liquid deliciousness to Detroit Bookfest, I was ecstatic.
Officially opened in February 2022, Char’latte Coffee Company is run by two Metro Detroit sisters and former baristas who saw a need in the market and decided to fill it.
Alexis Hallam (aka: Lex) and Jazzmyne Cansler (aka: Jazz) are very close siblings. Lex is four years older, likes photography, plays the drums, and started working at a coffeehouse. She got her sister, Jazz, who plays the strings, a job at the coffeehouse and they both “fell in love with the Art of Coffee,” says Jazz.
Alexis Hallam (aka: Lex) and Jazzmyne Cansler (aka: Jazz) of Char’latte Coffee Company Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
“After working in different coffeehouses, we decided to pool our talents, love of coffee, and entrepreneurial spirits,” says Lex. “We created our brand and started our own operation. The coffee is sourced from Stumptown Coffee Roasters and all flavored syrups are created in-house.”
Currently, the sisters offer specialty pop-ups, and their operation consists of an 8-foot-long mobile coffee cart.
“We offer drip, pour over, iced, cold brew, espresso, teas, hot chocolate, and lemonade,” says Lex. “We are hoping to add some pastries in the future.”
Some top sellers right now are:
Brown Sugar Lavender Oat Milk Latte
Hot chocolate with whipped cream
And the Madagascar vanilla bean
Char’latte Coffee Company Detroit
“We love the freedom of mobility,” says Jazz. “In the future, we’d like to add a large trailer and our ultimate goal is to eventually open a brick-and-mortar coffeehouse, most likely in the heart of Detroit.”
This is a true family operation. “Our Uncle Shane built the cart for us, outfitted it and he even helps transport it to events in his truck. His wife and kids all help contribute greatly to our success and we are very thankful for their love and support,” says Lex. “And the name Char’latte is in honor of my two-year-old daughter, Charlotte.”
The sister’s coffee cart can be booked for events. “We politely request a minimum of 50 people,” says Jazz. “There is no maximum. We do weddings, office parties, house parties, graduations, corporate events, community events, all sorts of different things.”
The sisters are trying to make this gig full-time. Help them out by booking them for your next event!
Homepage
https://www.charlattecoffeecompany.com/
Email
[email protected]
Phone
(734) 390-4626
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/charlattecoffeeco/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Charlattellc/
TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@charlattecoffeeco
Lex (left) and Jazz (right) of Char’latte Coffee Company Detroit (photo by Char’latte)
In addition to our in-person event on Sunday, we are offering a separate Virtual Detroit Bookfest all weekend long!
This geographically boundless Virtual Bookfest is open to ANYONE ANYWHERE in the world.
This event is FREE to attend. We encourage you to visit the Virtual Bookfest and help support these amazing vendors.
ENTER HERE (click link below)
https://detroitbookfest.com/virtual/
Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/545087720298250
*Big thank you to Bookfest Committee member Louie Meizlish for sourcing and arranging this!*
Arts & Scraps Detroit Scrapmobile (photo by Arts & Scraps)
Arts & Scraps has been an interactive institution on the Eastside for over thirty years.
Founded in 1989 by Peg Upmeyer, Arts & Scraps was originally started to help cash-strapped teachers obtain affordable, creative resources for their students.
Arts & Scraps is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and recycling store which collects donated recycled goods and turns them into art.
They recycle over 28 tons (ie: 56,000 pounds) of industrial materials annually!
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Their East English Village location includes a 5,000-square foot combination store, offices, classroom, and donation intake. Located across Harper Avenue is their 13,000-square foot warehouse where the Scrapmobile is parked and where their creative ‘sticky kits’ are assembled.
Open to the general public, the store features a delightfully whimsical interior, which fondly reminds me of rummaging for treasures at Neisner’s and Jupiter’s on Vernor Hwy many moons ago.
Arts & Scraps community store manager, Stevie Baka, was kind enough to chat with me about their operation.
Arts & Scraps Detroit community store manager, Stevie Baka (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Let’s hear from Stevie directly:
“Arts & Scraps is thrilled to be coming to Detroit Bookfest! Our 26-foot-long bus, the Scrapmobile, will be there. The inside is filled with recycled creative materials, kids can get a bag and make something completely unique. Building their own book, for example.”
“Arts & Scraps is a creative re-use that focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) education by reimagining teaching tools. Our programming is STEM, and the store is art-based.”
“Many businesses generate a ton of ‘waste’ which can easily be donated and used by someone else. You never know what somebody can use or re-use. We also encourage people to recycle what they can at home.”
“The store features things like fabric, yarn stock, rubber stamps, sewing materials, scrapbooking & collage-making materials, heritage crafts, old photos, postcards, magazines, bottles, paint, laces, etc.”
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
“Kids can make some amazing stuff! We encourage kids to focus on imagination, creativity, and open-ended experimentation. We’re experience-driven and encourage people to experiment with their innate creativity. We’re also a field trip program with a target age range of three to pre-teen.”
“If your company is looking for something unique to do, Arts & Scraps engages in corporate volunteering. Companies like Ford, Rocket, BCBS, Motown Mission, etc, have their employees volunteer here.”
“We often receive donations of the contents of entire houses when people’s relatives pass on. There is an energy transference when loved one’s pass away. People feel good knowing that their items are not going into the trash but being loved and re-used by the community.”
“In regard to book donations, we prefer anything kids, educational, old, weird, unusual, etc, because the books will be cup up and collaged, which we know is considered sacrilegious by many book collectors, but it’s still better than old books being pulped and completely destroyed.”
“When donating, we prefer that people please drop off their items to us. You can make an appointment to donate your items to us on our website or by phone.”
Thanks, Stevie!
St. Albertus Rectory (4231 St. Aubin @ Canfield, Detroit) photo by Google
Interesting historical sidenote about Stevie:
They live inside the old St. Albertus Rectory (4231 St. Aubin @ Canfield, Detroit). Open from 1891-1990, the rectory is now in the care of Stevie’s family.
“My family immigrated from Poland and lived near the Rectory in Poletown. My Grandpa went to school there, got married there and my brothers were able to move in and rehab it under the guidance of the Polish American Historical Site Association (PAHSA) who owns the property. We are always looking for volunteers there, as well.”
Arts & Scraps
16135 Harper Ave.
Detroit, MI 48244
Homepage
https://www.artsandscraps.org/
Contact
[email protected]
Donation form (donate your materials here)
https://www.artsandscraps.org/donate-1
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ArtsAndScrapsDetroit/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/artsandscraps/
Arts & Scraps Detroit donations
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
“I’m just tryna add sauce to the world.”-DJ Seven Whales
Detroit Bookfest wouldn’t be Detroit Bookfest without the power of music. It helps transform and enhance the event into something visceral and multi-dimensional.
We especially like the funk, the whole funk and almost nothing but the funk. Our deep love o’ great gobs of funk music was initially inspired by attending Frank Raines monthly Funk Night parties in Detroit where one discovers you can levitate without actually levitating.
For years, DJ Zig-Zag (Jason Ratcliffe) graciously spun for us since the beginning of Bookfest but life has taken him beyond the Motor City. We thank Zig-Zag for his support and will miss his vibes at Bookfest. After his departure, the first great DJ whose named popped into my cabeza was Seven Whales.
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
DJ Seven Whales, real name JR Jones, is a native Detroiter and an eminently creative individual. He is also Market Operations Analyst @ Eastern Market and has been a treasured member of the Detroit Bookfest Committee since our inception.
Born November 30, 1989 on Detroit’s Northwest side, JR graduated Mumford High School (off Wyoming and McNichols) and went on to graduate from Specs Howard School of Media Arts with a degree in graphic design.
But most of all, JR hails from a highly creative family.
The Creative Lineage of Seven Whales
DJ Seven Whales & DJ Sam Morykwas (photo by George Gregory Clothing)
“I’m into all types of music, rock, rap, whatever. I just love music.”
“Growing up, everybody in my family was listening to music all the time. My dad is a big jazz and funk fan. Two of his favorites are Grover Washington Jr. and Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson. My mom loves soul, especially Erykah Badu and Sade.”
“My dad was born in Detroit and played piano when he was younger. My mom is from White Castle, Louisiana near Baton Rouge and was a painter. And me, being a kid growing up in the 90’s, I was influenced by their natural creativity and all the great music coming out at that time.”
Eastern Market: pull out a map and mark it
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
JR started working at Eastern Market Partnership in February 2014.
“Initially, I was working security. We call it CSS, which stands for Customer Support Service. Then I was promoted to Market Operations Analyst.”
“I love the Eastern Market community. Our neighborhood is a great mix of young to old, artists to nutritionists, it’s very diverse. I also just love the art community in Detroit in general.”
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
“I work at the Market with the infamous Lonni Thomas. She’s great, we have a lot of fun together. My favorite Lonni Thomas story is one time we were closing up after a Sunday Holiday Market. We were carrying stuff down to the basement and I fell slowly down the stairs and Lonni just watched me. She did help me up afterward though. It was one of those funny slow-motion can’t stop from falling falls with her just staring at me.” (laughs)
“I love Detroit Bookfest at Eastern Market. It brings out the diversity, everyone, buying amazing books and materials. It’s especially impressive during an age in history where everything is mad digital. It’s also far from what you think of when you think of a typical book event. Reminds me more like an all-inclusive community block party. It makes the concept of reading and collecting books fun, especially for younger people. It’s a one-of-a-kind event, honestly. I look forward to it every year. And now I’m excited to be DJ’ing it.”
“My favorite book is ‘The Tao of Wu’ (2009) by Wu Tang’s RZA. It’s a philosophy book about the many paths to enlightenment. RZA has a unique mind, the way he puts different concepts together is interesting.”
Tao of Wu-RZA
JR Jones becomes DJ Seven Whales
DJ Seven Whales (Photo by Doug @wndrlstmedia)
JR has been DJ’ing since March 2019.
“When I spin, I like to create a vibe. I spin with emotion and energy.”
“I’ve had a lifelong love of music and always wanted to DJ. My uncle took me to Guitar Center one day and showed me a DJ controller and I was hooked.”
“I gotta give a shout out to my man Sam. Sam Morykwas is the senior marketing manager here at Eastern Market and he’s also a great DJ. He taught me a lot about the craft and even gave me some equipment to help get me started.”
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
“Mainly, I’m a house party DJ, spinnin’ the dopeness, but I love DJ’ing all types of events.”
“Don’t have one particular style of music. I try to spin stuff the world would love to hear, whether they know it or not. I’m tryna hit y’all with things you don’t know. The idea is to put you onto good music.”
“My DJ name Seven Whales came from two sources. One is the book ‘The Legend of the Seven Whales of Ngai Tahu Matawhaiti’ (1988). It’s an African legend about a tohunga transforming seven whales into seven hills.”
The Legend of the Seven Whales of Ngai Tahu Matawhaiti
“Another influence was a song in which Sir Michael Rocks talks about saving the whales. We misheard it as seven whales. The song is called ‘What do you Do’.”
“My favorite DJ’s are Kaytranada, Joe K, Detroit’s own PBH (Problematic Black Hottie), and honestly my man Sam Morykwas. My goal is to learn, not copy, but learn from other DJ’s.”
The Fun Stuff
Island Jerk Ribs w/ Guava BBQ Sauce @ Coop Caribbean Fusion Detroit (photo by: Coop)
“Favorite eateries in Detroit? Man, how much time we got? Could be here a while, there’s so many. At this particular moment in time, my top three are:”
Coop Caribbean fusion inside Detroit Shipping Company (474 Peterboro St, Detroit) “this is my guilty pleasure place”
Bash Izakaya (5069 Trumbull, Detroit)
Fat Salmon Sushi (11411 Joseph Campau Ave, Hamtramck)
“When I’m not DJ’ing or exploring the rich culinary scene in Metro Detroit, I’m usually exploring different ways to be creative.”
“Ink drawings, photography, watercolor painting, etc. I also like cruising the city on my bike. You can see me riding my Fuji Absolute around town.”
Upcoming Developments
Wednesday Night Vibes Detroit
“Sam and I spin Wednesday Night Vibes every week on Zoom from 8pm-11pm. You can find the link on IG @djsevenwhales.”
“We also did a commercial for the Detroit Tigers and one for George Gregory Clothing and we have some more things in the works.”
“I’m a sneakerhead, a cool nerdy kid from Detroit. You’ll see me at events. I’m just tryna add sauce to the world.”
Contact
DJ Seven Whales is available for gigs. Book him for your next event!
[email protected]
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/djsevenwhales/
Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/user-627124274
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/seven.whales.73
Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-jones-7799a3bb
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
DJ Seven Whales Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
5th annual Detroit Bookfest 2022
The 5th 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 17, 2022.
The event is FREE for attendees!
Event hours are 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
All the event details are here:
https://detroitbookfest.com/event-details-facts/
Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/682806536217456
Click on this link for a 3-D tour of Shed 5 (courtesy of Eastern Market):
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=NuvpiB1yM6b
Detroit Festival of Books (photo by Debbie Maciolek)
Detroit Bookfest website statistics
Exclusive Interview: JOHN KING, owner of John K. King Used & Rare Books in Detroit, internationally voted one of the World’s Best Bookstores!
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