pop up - Detroit Book Fest

Char’latte Coffee Company: Two Metro Detroit sisters are bringing their Mobile Coffee Cart to Detroit Bookfest

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)

The Michigan Science Center will be doing a STEM pop-up at Detroit Bookfest!

Michigan Science Center Detroit

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) is one of the underappreciated interests of many Detroiters. This fun factoid does not get enough acknowledgement.

Originally coined by the NSF in 2001, STEM is a now-familiar acronym. However, one group has been keeping it on the map daily for decades.

Located in Detroit’s bustling Midtown cultural center district, the Michigan Science Center is a wonderful resource for all ages. It is a wellspring of creativity, innovation, and divergent thinking.

This 3-story, 110,000-square-foot hands-on science museum features a stunning variety of exhibits, theaters, galleries, programs, and a STEM-themed science store.

Michigan Science Center Detroit (photo courtesy of Mi-Sci)

The Michigan Science Center opened in 2012. Mi-Sci is a 501c3 non-profit organization, a Smithsonian Affiliate, and a hub for all things STEAM.

Visitors can immerse themselves in a world of 220+ interactive exhibits, live science demonstrations, the Toyota Engineering 4D Theater, IMAX, Planetarium, and more.

We are beyond thrilled to announce that the Michigan Science Center will be doing a STEM-themed pop-up at Detroit Bookfest.

Camera Stevens is kindly chatting with me on one of her short breaks from the hustle bustle. As the Outreach Programs Manager, Camera adheres to a busy schedule and spearheads several cool and important initiatives for Mi-Sci. Okay, enough Ryanbabble. Let’s hear the inside scoop from Camera.

Camera Stevens is the Outreach Programs Manager for Michigan Science Center in Detroit (photo courtesy of Mi-Sci)

Camera Stevens:

“I grew up in the Southern Ohio/ West Virginia area, graduated Alma College in the middle of the mitten (20 minutes south of Mount Pleasant), spent six years as a naturalist, one year as a National Park Ranger at Sleeping Bear Dunes, and now I’m doing outreach for Mi-Sci.”

“The two main traveling programs we offer are Aramco Traveling Science and ECHO Distance Learning. My role is to take these programs outside the building to all counties in Michigan, along with portions of Ohio and Indiana. Aramco is in-person hands-on, whereas ECHO is a multi-country online platform.”

Michigan Science Center STEM Store Detroit (photo courtesy of Mi-Sci)

“Mi-Sci’s STEM pop-up at Detroit Bookfest will have three main components: Invisible Ink, Six Bricks, and a variety of books from our Science Store.”

“Invisible Ink is a live science demonstration where we look at how oxygen reacts with vitamin C and lemon juice. When we add heat, it will oxidize, and their name or message will come through the paper. Six Bricks is a fun brain activity using LEGO’s Duplo blocks courtesy of our partners at the LEGO Playful Learning Museum Network. This activity incorporates learning through play and fosters community building because you and a partner must work together on it.”

“Some of the books from the Science Store will feature titles for all ages centering around STEM topics including Science Fiction, diverse characters in STEM fields, and authors from a variety of backgrounds. We also carry some titles in Spanish such as, Maybe I’ll Be An Architect/ Tal Vez Sere Una Arquitecta and Maybe I’ll Be An Engineer/ Tal Vez Sere Una Ingeniera.”

“I love working at Mi-Sci. Guests should definitely check out the Science Hall. Our current temporary exhibition, called Above and Beyond, highlights innovation and ideas around the aerodynamics of spaceflight and aviation. And our stage shows are always a fun time. We offer live interactive demonstrations daily (10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm).”

Michigan Science Center Detroit rocket (photo courtesy of Mi-Sci)

“Fun fact about our museum. There is an easter egg (hidden feature) that a lot of people don’t realize we have. In our Space Gallery, one of the rockets was too tall, so it actually continues up above the ceiling. Look beyond the solar panels for the top of the rocket!”

“Mi-Sci is fun for all ages. We also have 21+ events. And we host lots of field trips across all grades from kindergarten to high school groups.”

“Memberships with Mi-Sci, on top of being amazing and worthwhile in general, can also get you discounted rates and free entry at many other museums across the country.”

Thank you, Camera! Come check out Mi-Sci’s STEM pop-up at Detroit Bookfest. And be sure to visit the museum while you’re in town.