Credit: DuMochelles

DETROIT (WWJ) - It’s a photographic history of Detroit entertainment.

Former music promoter, 82-year-old Bob Harris of Southgate, is Friday night auctioning off 450 photographs he’s collected since the 1960′s.

His favorite: a photo taken at Cobo Hall in 1964 following a call from a station manager of the old WKNR.

“He said Bob, come on come on! I want you to meet the Stones. They took me back stage, we met ‘em, we took this photograph,” Harris told WWJ Newsradio 950′s Sandra Mc

It was the Stones first U.S. tour. Harris said he also met Elvis, Frank Sinatra, the Beetles and pretty much “anybody who’s anybody.”

Also on the block, pics of homegrown Motown stars, Mitch Ryder and more. Harris said there’s just something about Detroit and music. “You know what I think? It’s in everybody’s genes — a Michigan thing or something.”

Bidders will find a Mickey Mantle autographed baseball, mementos of others sports stars like Gordie Howe and some signed Ernie Harwell artifacts.

The auction takes place Friday, Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in Detroit.

For more information visit the DuMochelles auction house website at this link.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/11/16/auction-features-detroit-music-sports-artifacts/

WESTLAND (WWJ) - A grand opening ceremony complete with fireworks is being held Thursday night as the kick-off for this year’s Wayne County Lightfest.

The ceremony will be held on Hines Drive in the Westland, Merriman Hollow area, beginning at 6 p.m.

As the Midwest’s largest and longest drive-through light show, Lightfest features more than 45 giant animated holiday themed displays and more than one million lights. The complete Lightfest route is more than four miles of long.

Bring the family to see this spectacular display from 7 to 10 p.m. starting Nov. 15 through Dec 31. (closed on Christmas Day). There is a $5 fee per vehicle.

Dec. 4, 11 and 18 will be Toy Nights. On these three nights, the community is invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy in lieu of the $5 vehicle fee. Wayne County workers will collecting the toys, which will be given as Christmas presents to children who are less fortunate.

When you’ve reached the end of the Lightfest drive, don’t forget to stop for a visit to Santa’s Workshop, at Warrendale Park. Santa will be there starting Thanksgiving Day until Dec. 23. Children can bring their wish lists for Santa and drop them off in the giant mailbox, where Santa’s elves will pick up the letters each night.

Although Lightfest begins at 7 p.m., Hines Drive will be closed to traffic beginning at 5:45 p.m. nightly. Visitors enter Wayne County Lightfest at Hines Drive and Merriman Road in Westland.

For more information, visit www.waynecounty.com or call Wayne County Parks at 734-261-1990.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/11/15/wayne-county-lightfest-2012-opens-thursday/

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) It’s beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving in metro Detroit and that means three things: A meal with family and friends, a Lions game, and a big, big parade.

For all those who can’t wait to line Woodward Avenue to watch the floats, dancers, and other performers, The Parade Company announced its line-up Thursday.

It includes grand marshals Congressman John Dingell and Debbie Dingell — who will lead the beloved parade past some of Detroit’s most historic landmarks including the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park and the Madison Building.

And that’s only the beginning. The parade will step off at Woodward Avenue and Mack at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving and end at Woodward Avenue and Congress in downtown Detroit.

“We are proud to welcome and host an amazing group of celebrities and Olympic athletes for the 86th America’s Thanksgiving Parade,” said Tony Michaels, president & CEO, The Parade Company. “Our all-star and celebrity line-up is an incredible element to the parade and we hope everyone comes together for one of the city’s greatest traditions.”

Included in the line-up are:

2012 USA Olympic Champions
• Alex Morgan-US Women’s National Soccer Team, 2012 Olympic gold medalist
• Nathan Adrian-American swimmer, record holder and three-time Olympic medalist
• Allison Schmitt-American swimmer and six time Olympic medalist
• Tucker Dupree-One of the top blind swimmers in America, gold medalist and record holder
• Peter Vanderkaay-American swimmer and four-time Olympic gold medalist
• Tyler Clary-American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist and Olympic record holder

Parade Celebrities
• Ashanti-Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, actor and author
• Ray Scott-Detroit Pistons great and Michigan Sports Hall of Famer
• Jason Earles-Actor and comedian known for his roles in Disney’s Hanna Montana & Kickin’ It
• Mateen Cleaves-Michigan State University’s only three-time All-American in basketball
• Dave Hester-Reality TV star of A&E’s Storage Wars
• Lomas Brown-Detroit Lions’ great and one of the NFL’s premier offensive tackles
• Miss Michigan America Angela Venditti
• Santa Claus
• Miss Michigan USA Jaclyn Schultz
• Hooper
• Roary
• PAWS
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Clownie
• Despicable Me II Minions

Other highlights of the event include the 30th annual Turkey Trot, Michigan’s largest 10K run paced for record numbers this year with 20,000 participants expected. The race also includes the 7th Annual Strategic Staffing Solutions Stuffing Strut (5K) and 10th Annual Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mashed Potato Mile.

A Day In Paradeland Presented By Art Van – See and experience the larger-than-life floats featured in America’s Thanksgiving Parade and enjoy games, rides and food on Saturday, November 24 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at The Parade Company. Admission is $6 per person.

The Parade Company Studio Tours – Take a magical, behind-the-scenes tour of The Parade Company and discover the city’s most hidden treasure. Tours are offered year around and are available for groups of 10 or more by reservation.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/11/15/thanksgiving-parade-celebrities-events-announced/

DETROIT, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 – Avalon International Breads is nearing completion of a $2.2 million economic growth project that will ultimately mean more jobs and a much-needed boost for the economy of Detroit.

Construction on what will be called Avalon City Ovens is well underway in a semi-vacant industrial neighborhood on Detroit’s East side. An old, dilapidated 50,000 square foot warehouse is now bustling with construction activity - promising a renaissance to the area near the abandoned Packard plant.

Workers are busy erecting walls, painting ceilings and installing utilities. A large artisan deck oven, recently shipped from Italy, is being carefully built by one of a kind journeymen. The new craft bake house will soon produce Avalon’s trademark baked goods, loved by Detroiters and Avalon enthusiasts throughout the region.

“Avalon City Ovens” will service the artisan bakery’s growing wholesale and retail customers. “In July of 2012, we opened our second retail storefront - the “Eat Well, Do Good” cafe inside Henry Ford Hospital’s West Grand Blvd. facility,” said Ann Perrault, co-founder of Avalon International Breads. “The quick success of this store and growing demand for Avalon products in suburban Detroit and Ann Arbor has prompted our expansion. We have supported Detroit since 1997 and we’re thrilled to continue our growth right here in the heart of the city.”

The renovation at 6555 East Forrest (at Bellevue) is the first phase of Avalon’s long-awaited expansion plans and just one piece of a $2.2 million expansion project, funded by a loan that closed in early October. Weathering the
2008 recession, the foreclosure and banking crisis and political upheaval in Detroit, the loan is a major accomplishment not only for Detroit’s favorite bakery, but also for the public and private partners in the project.

“The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) under Mike Finney wanted to jump start economic growth and support businesses dedicated to employing people, particularly from urban communities,” said Don Snider, senior vice president, Urban Economic Development for MEDC.“ Avalon is a great example of how our collaborative resources with local partners can lead to growth that benefits all of metropolitan Detroit. In addition to support from MEDC, Avalon’s other partners in the loan include Invest Detroit, Whole Foods, the Small Business Administration and Main Street Bank.

“Our phenomenal expansion into grocery stores, restaurants, cafes and new retail outlets has far exceeded the capacity of our original 2,000 square foot production and retail flagship store on Willis,” added Perrault. “As the city of Detroit continues its renaissance, Avalon has the unique opportunity to provide a state of the art manufacturing facility for baked goods and create much-needed jobs for the area,”

Avalon City Ovens will continue to concentrate on artisan-prepared baked goods and organic products while staying true to its motto of, “Eat Well, Do Good.” They have successfully grown the business through award-winning artisan baked goods and a commitment to re-spirit Detroit through its three bottom lines: earth, community and employees.