Great Lakes & Upper South in the News: "Potawatomi Casino announces plans for hotel" from the JSOnline

Potawatomi Bingo Casino, which has grown to 2,500 employees from its modest launch as a bingo hall in 1991, would add another 230 jobs at a proposed 20-story hotel, while helping Milwaukee draw more overnight tourists, casino officials said Tuesday in announcing their plans.


In addition to generating about 1,000 construction jobs, its estimated $97.5 million cost would make the 382-room hotel Milwaukee's largest current development project.


The hotel, its employees and guests would generate $9.7 million in annual state and local government revenue, including sales, property, income and hotel room taxes, according to a study commissioned by the Forest County Potawatomi Community, which owns the casino, 1721 W. Canal St.


The hotel also would expand the casino's customer draw from what's now a 25-mile radius to a roughly 100-mile radius, said Mike Goodrich, casino general manager.


Link:
http://www.jsonline.com/business/potawatomi-casino-announces-plans-for-hotel-r13r764-137546993.html

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Great Lakes & Upper South in the News: "Lansing casino proposed (w/ promo video)" from the Lansing State Journal

LANSING -- Mayor Virg Bernero today announced a plan to bring a $245 million tribal casino to downtown Lansing.


Joined by Joe Eitrem, chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and Mark Alley, former Lansing police chief and currently a public affairs spokesman at Emergent BioSolutions' Lansing site, to discuss the project.


The casino would be adjacent to the Lansing Center near Cedar Street and Michigan Avenue.


Link:
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120123/NEWS01/301230007

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Destination: Detroit for the Greektown Casino

Detroit's three and Windsor's one casino are more than happy to take your money!  Greektown Casino is the most city-integrated of the casinos, with its own People Mover Station, frontage to the street, and surrounded by restaurants and bars. MGM Grand is located in the northwestern corner of downtown and feels somewhat isolated.  MotorCities is located only about a half mile from downtown in North Corktown in an area not yet touched by gentrification.   


Greektown Casino 
www.greektowncasino.com/
555 E Lafayette Blvd
Detroit, Michigan

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Great Lakes & Upper South in the News: "One 'Magic Room' That Links Generations of Brides" from the Wall Street Journal

"A half-century ago, long before the word "bridezilla" was part of our lexicon, saleswomen at Becker's Bridal had a secret language they used to cope with unpleasant brides.


If they liked a bride, they'd refer to her as "girlie." They'd say, "Girlie, that gown looks beautiful on you!" If a bride was difficult, they'd call her "sweetheart." That was a code between co-workers. "Would you help this sweetheart find a veil?" one saleswoman would say to another."


Link:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204124204577152830608878786.html

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Destination: Detroit for the Henry Ford Museum

Detroit's downtown and Midtown areas offer days worth of activities. But, if you do not mind driving to the nearby suburb of Dearborn, one of Michigan's largest museums awaits you.  The Henry Ford Museum's collection of artifacts detailing car culture and U.S. history is not to be missed.  Attractions include: Rosa Parks bus, the Lincoln chair, a Dymaxion House, and new this year-Automobile in American Life (see link below).  


Link to Article:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120118/METRO/201180359/1409/metro/Henry-Ford-exhibit-takes-fresh-look-autos-culture


Address:
The Henry Ford
http://www.hfmgv.org/
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48124-5029

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Destination: Detroit for Ford Field Tours

Maybe not the most conveniently scheduled tours (January-August on Mondays and Fridays), but hey, just another excuse to take an extra day off!  Tours cost $7 for adults, $5 for children and seniors.  The field itself is one of the better designed newer stadiums and a hugh improvement over the former field in the suburbs.  Check out some of the nearby bars and restaurants for some great food and locally brewed beer.  


Link:
http://www.detroitlions.com/ford-field/ford-field-tours.html

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Destination: Detroit for Ice Skating at Campus Martius

Destination: Detroit
Activity: Ice Skating at Campus Martius


Located in the heart of downtown is Campus Martius.  Now until 4 March the park offers ice skating daily (M-Thurs: 11a-10p, F: 11a-12a, Sat: 10a-12a, Sun: 12p-8p).  Admission and skate rental only costs $10 per person!  


Link:
http://www.campusmartiuspark.org

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Destination: Detroit

Destination: Detroit


Gearheads unite!  The North American International Auto Show returns to Detroit's Cobo Center.  The show, running from January 14-22, showcases the best in automotive technology.  Regardless if you are planning a day trip or a long weekend, Detroit offers plenty of activities for the well-prepared CTer.  


Link:
http://www.naias.com 

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Great Lakes & Upper South in the News: "New challenges for Detroit- Longtime residents feel they are getting pushed out by newcomers moving to the city" from the Detroit News

"At a recent Midtown preview of a documentary about Detroit to be shown in Germany and France, longtime city resident and artist Olayami Dabls sat in "amazement," he said.

"I have not seen so many people of African descent and people of color in any other documentary about Detroit," said Dabls, who is featured in the film.

That's saying something because Detroit, whose population is 82 percent black, has been the focus of many documentaries with more on the way. Perhaps half of the people interviewed in the documentary featuring Dabls are African-American.

The film focuses on the same theme many boosters, investors and new online media sites cast about Detroit — a new city emerging from its post-industrial ruins. But a growing number of Detroiters say they often feel left out of that positive story. Though Detroit is on the verge of bankruptcy, it is starting to deal with issues of gentrification, where some people are getting pushed out.

Many potential home buyers in Corktown, Midtown and downtown often get outbid, many real estate agents said. It's a combination of not enough high-quality inventory and stiff competition."

Link:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/BIZ/201050332/New-challenges-Detroit?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

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Great Lakes & Upper South in the News: "Science Center cash woes push Detroit Children's Museum to close" from the Detroit News

"The Detroit Children's Museum, which opened in 1917, has closed its doors — another casualty of the difficulties affecting its parent organization, the Detroit Science Center.


Money woes forced the Science Center to close in late September. Officials have since said they need to raise $5 million to reopen.


The Children's Museum, however, had limited federal funding that allowed it to remain open through December. Science Center board member Shelly Otenbaker confirmed in an email exchange today it closed just before New Year's, and that the Museum, like the Science Center, will remain closed until officials can raise the requisite money to reopen"


Link:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/ENT01/201050466/Science-Center-cash-woes-push-Detroit-Children-s-Museum-close?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

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Great Lakes & Upper South in the News: "No Train for the Motor City" from WSJ

"DETROIT—After kicking the tires on a shiny new train system, the Motor City has decided to take the cheaper bus instead.


This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Mayor Dave Bing suddenly abandoned a roughly $600 million plan to build a light-rail line along a key corridor that supporters had insisted would attract new residents and jump-start economic growth. Instead, they proposed a less-expensive plan for a network of express buses to deliver workers from the city to the job-rich suburbs.


Even the express-bus system would require a level of regional cooperation on transit that has long eluded Detroit and its suburbs. The impoverished city is struggling to maintain its existing transit network, including a rickety, heavily subsidized bus system and a lonely elevated train that courses through downtown...."


Link:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204844504577100660265044228.html


Editor's Note: While not visible in the article's image, the line includes a segment to the international airport, a big plus for Detroit-bound CTers!

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Great Lakes & Upper South Events: Thanksgiving Day Parades

Looking for some fun on Thanksgiving Day?  Try some of these holiday classics:


Detroit-America's Thanksgiving Parade: 
Web Site: http://www.theparade.org
Kickoff: Thursday, 9:05 am ET


Chicago-McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade: 
Web Site: http://www.chicagofestivals.org/
Kickoff: Thursday, 8:05 am CT


Saint Louis-Ameren Missouri Thanksgiving Day Parade
Web Site: http://www.christmasinstlouis.org/parade
Kickoff: Thursday, 8:45 am CT


Not on Thursday, but still fun.....
Pittsburgh-My Macy's Holiday Parade
Web Site: http://www.wpxi.com/pittsburghparade/index.html
Kickoff: Saturday, 9:05 am ET

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