A couple weeks ago, my parents drove up from Virginia to visit us for a few days. Thrilled that we’d get to celebrate my dad’s birthday together, I packed an itinerary full of way too many things to see and do, including must-try restaurants, Christmas tree shopping, and an evening at Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village. As someone who’s used to traveling during the holidays, I knew this was my chance to play host for a change and show some of my favorite out-of-towners just how magical Michigan can be at Christmastime.

And then the rain came.

Oh, Michigan, you little trickster.

It’s seasonally unsurprising to get a snowfall (or 12) in metro Detroit this time of year, especially when the air is so chilly. Teetering right on the edge of freezing, however, the weather hit that sweet spot where a steady stream of cold rain and sleet was all we’d see. On the Saturday we were scheduled to visit Holiday Nights (a largely outdoor event), we remained hopeful that the clouds would lift, but ah . . . such is life. Bundled in layers and armed with umbrellas, we arrived in Dearborn excited, yet slightly skeptical of what the night would hold.

Thankfully, the good people at Greenfield Village have done this whole Holiday Nights thing a time or two. While the weather did affect the dynamic a tiny bit, we found that for the most part, our Holiday Nights visit went just as smoothly as we'd experienced in previous years. The Model-T Fords and horse-drawn carriages were still up and running, the carolers and musicians still performed pop-up concerts, and the decor looked as lovely as ever.

Our methods of surviving the rain were kind of obvious, but were way more effective than I expected. Weather-proof coats and boots (we also saw lots of ponchos), made all the difference when layered over thermals and thick sweaters, and I was able to forego an umbrella since my outfit was water-repellant (I just wore my hood up the whole time). In lieu of a purse, I shared my camera backpack with Brad (this one has separate compartments that I use to stow the contents of my purse, plus it comes with a waterproof cover).


A few cons of attending Holiday Nights in the rain? I did notice that the outdoor ice skating rink was closed during our visit (personally, I didn’t mind since I’m a terrible skater and wasn’t in the mood to get knocked over by small children anyway) and the indoor attractions were a little crowded (but even that is typical most nights since visitors like to get out of the cold). On the flipside, I really enjoyed hanging out with my family in some areas of the village we don’t usually spend as much time exploring—we even found a dining hall I’d never been in before! Gathering around the table, listening to live music, and munching on kettle corn ended up being one of our favorite parts of the evening.


Some additional rainy evening favorites of mine were the Herschell-Spillman carousel (it’s over 100 years old and so beautiful!), holiday-decorated homes of early visionaries (the Wright family home is a must-see), watching village artisans at work (if you choose just one, make sure it’s the glass shop), and of course, shopping! From the gift shop outside the village entrance to the Main Street Emporium, there are tons of places to pick up gifts and mementos for yourself and everyone on your Christmas list.

It’s official: The holiday season is in full swing, and although I’m still wondering how we got from August to December so quickly, I’m ready for some Christmas cheer! Last week, the GMRENCEN was kind enough to invite me out to the fourth-annual Holiday Headquarters, a three-week pop-up market in the Renaissance Center that hosts 30 Detroit businesses for a unique holiday shopping experience. Located on level one in Tower 300 (by the AT&T and Verizon kiosks), the Holiday Headquarters pop-up has tripled in size over the past few years and features items that range from handmade art and Detroit apparel to jewelry, desserts, pet merchandise, and more.



What first struck me as I walked into Holiday Headquarters was how welcoming the environment was. In this indoor winter wonderland, your ears will delight in classic Christmas tunes, your eyes will feast on glittering ribbons and candy cane-striped decor, and your heart will warm from conversations with passionate entrepreneurs. The gifts are unique, the vendors are top-notch, and in the center of the store, there’s even a gift wrapping station where a team of friendly helpers will gift wrap your Holiday Headquarters purchases (and purchases made at other stores inside the GMRENCEN) for free! Plus, if your feet are tired from running around all day, there’s even a cozy, little sitting area to rest while you wait for your presents to be wrapped.

My first experience with The Phantom of the Opera goes back to high school, when the film adaptation with Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler brought the production to life for those (myself included) who hadn’t yet experienced the stage version. I remember watching the movie in band class, performing “The Music of the Night” in clarinet quartets, and imitating the Phantom with my sister while we each covered one eye and pretended to jam the musical’s title track on an imaginary organ keyboard. I was really cool back then.

Up until the past few years, I kind of put Phantom on the back burner, knowing it was one of those productions every Broadway lover should see live, but not realizing that the stage version was still going strong in present-day theatreland. Of course, Broadway in Detroit knew better.


Put this one on your holiday wish list: tickets are now on sale for Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, returning to the Detroit Opera House January 24 - February 3, 2019! With newly reinvented staging, stunning scenic design, and a cast and orchestra of 52, this new version of Phantom is currently one of the largest touring productions in North America.