Happy Darwin Day, Valentine's History and Winter Blast 2010

Thanks to Wikipedia for the Darwin photo!

Today is the 201st birthday of Charles Darwin, the famous English scientist and explorer who came up with the theory of evolution after his exploration and study of the animal inhabitants of the Galapagos Islands, turtles especially. Through what Darwin called "natural selection" he theorized that living things evolve in order to survive, which explains the diversity of species.

In honor of Darwin there are many informal gathering and educational events that go on today around the world that are collectively part of "Darwin Day." The closest event to Detroit will take place in Madison, Wisconsin. Titled the Darwin Day Symposium, three speakers will address the U-W Madison crowd, answer questions and display exhibits on Saturday, February 13th.

History of Valentine's Day

Although Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th Saint Valentine's Day in 496 AD the history of the actual day(s) goes back to Ancient Rome. It was the Ancient Romans who celebrated the marriage of Zeus and Hera (Greek gods) between January and February. In Rome they actually had a fertility festival, called Lupercalia, in the city February 13-15th. All over Ancient Rome it is said that the festival Juno Februa ( Juno the purifier) was celebrated February 13-14th. Once the Catholic Church came along the festivals were prohibited and Saint Valentine was installed to persuade pagan people to follow the church.

Winter Blast 2010

However you decide to celebrate Lupercalia. If you are in the Detroit area then you should get downtown to the Winter Blast. It's a huge festival that started in 2005 to get people out and about in downtown for the Superbowl. It has survived and continued as a way for people to enjoy downtown outside, even in the frigid cold that is a Michigan winter.

Activities include free ice skating, wine tasting, and plenty of live music with three stages. I also saw that there will be ice sculptures and sledding hills with snow made by Shanty Creek. Too cold for you? Get inside one of the warming tents or stations for marshmallow roasting or warm your belly Saturday night with the downtown bar blast, a 13 bar pub crawl with transportation by The Night Move.

Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe and Junior Brown

The Midtown area of Detroit will be gaining a new grocery store this year in Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe. It will offer high end meats and other gourmet products as well as everyday grocery and home needs at prices that compete with suburban grocery stores. The business will occupy the former home of Zaccaro's Market, that went out of business one year ago after only one year. Shoppers complained of high prices. The brothers Solaka, Michael and Peter, have decided to revive Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe, a popular market their father started in the 1970's and 80's in Lafayette Park.

Here is another chance for us to support a local business! I think this sounds like a destination grocery store that I will head out to at least to experience it. But probably will not be an every week shopping destination. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of specialty meats or cheeses they might offer. If they offer products I can't get anywhere else I will definitely make this a shop stop.

Junior with his custom made guit-steel, Big Red

Because I live in Ferndale I always check out what is going on at the Magic Bag Theater when looking for concerts. They always have some pretty good acts going on and tonight is no different. Tonight at 8pm fans of country, rock, soul or just music in general will have the chance to enjoy the unique experience that is Junior Brown.

Brown is a country musician, singer, songwriter and producer that invented his own "guit-steel" instrument allowing him to play electric guitar and lap steel guitar at the same time. His deep voice is reminiscent of a young Johnny Cash and his original material is classic country. His love of Ernest Tubb and his father's piano propelled him from the backwoods of Indiana to the success he is having right now as a country artist that has mass appeal in the genre bending town of Austin, TX. Enjoy the Junior Brown original "Highway Patrol" below.

100 posts!

Just a fun fact for those of you who follow rad-aholic. I now have 101 posts! Will this put me on the radar and propel me to success in the blogosphere? Keep following because you never know. You could be that person who knew about it before it got big!