La Dolce Vita

If you're in Michigan in the Metro Detroit area, La Dolce Vita may be a great Tuesday spot for you. I went for the first time yesterday and I must admit, it was a lot better than expected.
Located at 6 Mile and Woodward, you pull up to valet on the side of the building. I was greeted by very nice workers and was taken care of quickly for only a $5 charge. La Dolce Vita is an outdoor lounge and indoor Italian restaurant decorated with interesting art. As you walk in the doors, well gates (no cover), to the outer area, the only lighting you'll have will be strategically placed lights around trees, the bar and the occasional security light on the neighboring grass-covered building. Oh, and I can't forget the bright ass green light post in the middle of the floor. I saw a band there and they had a mix of House, Pop and Salsa music throughout the night. I ordered one drink, which was a little pricey at $9, but definitely worth it alcohol content-wise. Our waitress was really nice and chatty and I saw an ample amount of staff working.
There was an extremely mixed crowd. From old to young..er, casual to classy, groups to date to the occasional perv...I mean what bar doesn't? It seems as if no one could go there and feel like they don't belong.
From a frequent attendee, I heard, "Italian food is all the same, you know, chicken parmesan. And how many ways can you make pasta?? But the food here is really good." I don't know about you but I'd take his drunken word for it. Not sure how this place is any other day of the week, but if you've got nothing better to do on a Tuesday I'd make plans to grab a few friends and head down there.

Summer Fun Ideas

With summer approaching, and approaching fast, there's going to be a much bigger need of things to do. And if you're anything like me, doing the same old just won't cut it like it once did. So here's a list of simple, general ideas you can try out that should be available in most places:

• Museums
• Dance lessons
• Find new parks to explore
• Try those little "Mom & Pop" restaurants you've always wondered about
• Research a new hobby and grab some friends to try it out with you
• Plan a trip to somewhere dark and go star gazing
• Go for a walk somewhere new and take in the scenery
• Wake up early to find the best spot to watch the sun rise
• Go to a carnival
• Research different festivals in the area and go enjoy with some friends

Keep an open mind, grab some friends who do the same and start your summer off right with some new fun!

Canada!

Want to try something new and fun?  Tired of the same scenery your city's clubs/bars have to offer? Or do you just need a little getaway?  Well, a place to go to just get away from it all is our neighborly country, Canada.  Windsor, Ontario is a mere 20 minutes away from Detroit.  With easy access via the tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge, the only things between you and Canada are legal citizenship status, proper documents and a couple tolls.
Being of age for the nightlife of  Detroit, I personally feel that it gets old very quick.  I see the same things from club to club and I get tired of it all.  Windsor's nightlife is much more fresh and exciting.  Downtown Windsor is full of clubs, bars, and even strip clubs (for male and female).  Going on a weekend, you will find drink specials, no cover bars, minimal to free cover clubs, and even club promoters that will get you in for free.  How can you beat that?  Just like in the States (get hip, that's what the cool people call the United States), things don't start jumping off until around 11 or 12 o'clock.  But the better thing about that is that the clubs don't close until 3am, for all you party animals out there.
You will meet some of the nicest people while you're out partying.  No worrying about too many fights, anyone pulling a gun/knife/etc, or having to fight someone with a friend because a person got mad they accidentally bumped into them.  The locals will more than happily recommend a tasty food joint for you to hit when everything lets out, and possibly even if there's any after parties going on.  And if partying isn't your cup of tea, you can definitely go out to a nice lounge, the Caesar Windsor casino, or just take in the beautiful view that Detroit's skyline has to offer.
There are quite a few hotels in the downtown area, within walking distance of the restaurants, fast food, convenience stores, and all of the clubs.  From the inexpensive, trusty Travelodge to the pricey but lavish Hilton, there is a hotel on the strip that will accommodate you.

3 Tips To Remember:

1. Take the bridge over.  There's a duty-free (no tax) shop that you can get into if you stay to the right. Unbelievably cheap liqour prices.
2. Don't Drive Drunk. A) It's irresponsible as hell.  B) Officers do random checks on the road.  C) Police headquarters is only minutes away from the main strip.
3. If you're from the States, and more specifically Detroit, you own them with your coolness.

Road Trips!

You've seen it in many movies: a few friends throw a couple suitcases in the trunk, grab some snacks and hit the open road. Good music to play, stories to share and famous landmarks to see. Actually sounds kind of corny, don't it? Minus the cheesy facade of making a cross-country trip to see the one you love at college or a risky trip to get that last little bit of the single life out of you, road trips can actually be very fun and quite a breath of fresh air.
You should go on one with your good friends who you don't mind being in a car with for longer periods of time. Let me tell you, that is one thing that can be easily overlooked because they are fun to see or go out with. But really think about what you're getting yourself into before you commit to a crew. I made the mistake of going on a road trip with a friend I only hang out with on occasion...long story short, someone almost died.............
Your next step is to have a reliable car. Not everyone has had the unfortunate experience of a car breaking down on them in an unpleasant situation. And even if you are with friends, the fact that you are stranded in another state or random city will not be the greatest experience of a road trip. To bluntly put it, it'll be pretty fucked up...
So next up is a destination! I hate when people tell me they're going somewhere and how excited they are. I ask them where they're going, and they tell me the dullest place on the planet -_- I mean, to each his own..But, Really? If you're going to go somewhere, go somewhere worth talking about, worth taking a drive too, somewhere you can take pictures of. Which is another thing to do, take pictures! You've gone on the road trip, best thing right after the road trip are the memories. So don't forget to document the good times.
I myself have been on a few road trips already. Just to name a couple, Chicago and Myrtle Beach. I believe Chicago speaks for itself, although I went when it was cold, so I would say I didn't get the "full experience". And Myrtle Beach....man, that is such a peaceful place. Nicest people ever, great food joints and so much to do. I didn't drink when I went there, so I can tell you based off first-hand experience that there is good, wholesome fun there. And of course if you do drink, there is a lot of fun to be had. A must-go place is club Kryptonite. I'm not too huge of a fan of clubs but that place was bangin, to say the least. Everyone there was just down for a good time, and the beauty of the place only added to a wonderful time.