Take a walk on the wild side at the Detroit Zoo. Now IS the perfect time to go on a family field trip! Perfect for all ages- stroll the babies and let those toddlers toddle- there's plenty of room for them to explore. 

Filled with over 3,000+ animals- there's a chance for everyone to catch a glimpse of their favorite at the Detroit Zoo. Kids will love petting a "real" giraffe skin (it is real, but not actually on the giraffe) seeing the polar bears in their icy abode and watching the otters and their shenanigans. 

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to get the full scoop...         ↓↓↓

We are so excited to have been asked to showcase the new designs from our Fall Collection at the Creative Runway Show in Petoskey, Michigan! The event was coordinated + held at the Crooked Tree Arts Center. It was an awesome event that was filled with really talented designers from Detroit.

Monkeys & Mayhem was honored to share the stage with Detroit Denim, Inga Lenz Designs, Cyberoptix Tie Lab, The Smith Shop, Peninsulas, Lilacpop Studio, Trybe + Detroit Urban Design Studio. Definitely check out everyone's apparel and jewelry for unique pieces that will make you look amazing! 

The models in the show wearing Monkeys & Mayhem designs were unbelievable! The babies were darling in their buntings and I think they slept during their big debut! (a true testament to the buntings they were being held in, wink, wink.) The toddlers were beyond sweet, and did an outstanding job in their Monkeys & Mayhem apparel. And of course, the hot moms strutting their stuff down the runway made it all go down without a hitch!

                  The Presidential Entourage, Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI 

In a Tale of Two Cities, Presidential-style, let's explore the differences between two towns as the President of the United States of America pays each a visit. The first photo collection is some photos I shot of the Presidential Visit to Henry Ford Museum outside of Detroit, Michigan. 

A helicopter flew around beginning approximately ten minutes prior to The Big Arrival. It hovered around, presumably surveying the scene, perhaps even with some snipers on board. There were snipers located on the rooftops surrounding the location. Look! There were even protesters, protesting something. Pretty majah, right. 

Whoa! And here comes the entourage! Check out those numbers- I think I counted thirty+ There's the President! And the windows of the surrounding vehicles were cracked open, probably with some type of weapon within reach. [pure speculation] 

Now, on to the next one. Another Presidential Visit- this time to Joe Biden's beloved Scranton. Please note that the vice-president did not accompany President Obama to Metro Detroit.

                                    Presidential Visit, Scranton, PA

We were on 81 after visiting Seven Tubs in Wilkes-Barre and pulled into the city because there were cops stationed at intervals on the highway. And MILES  of standstill traffic. It looked like the expressway was shut down.   

My mother instructed me to take a detour, so I pulled into the city- to avoid traffic, which turned out to be "Presidential Traffic." There was a traffic cop who stopped two cars in front of us while the President was rolling thru...  Now we understood the strategically placed police cars along the interstate.

This "bus tour" had little of the fanfare the Prez exhibits at other locales- at least not anything at all like the flashing light circus and endless entourage of secret service agents that accompanied him on his stop at the Henry Ford Museum the year before. 

There was a helicopter for that one. And he repelled down through the roof like that cat-burglar did into the Everhart Museum that one time. Just kidding. About the repelling. I can neither confirm nor deny how he entered the Henry Ford that day. 

As you can see, the Electric City version is low-key. President Obama paid the town a visit, with his trusty side-kick, the Vice-President, along for the ride. You can count the entourage; there's no comparison to the Michigan visit. Maybe because I caught the Presidential visit to Scranton on the back end + it was a different campaign. 

It's pretty cool that the kids have seen a Presidential entourage Comin' at ya Live! in two cities. Please note in the Scranton image set- the Coney Island restaurant. I thought all you Detroiters would appreciate that. The last photo is of The Glider Diner- Scranton's answer to our Coney Islands. The President actually ate here during one of his campaigns. Oddly enough, we had just eaten breakfast [I had Disco Fries + Corned Beef- yes, for bfast @9 a.m.- I'm an early riser] here that same morning the President was in town. Unbelievable but true. [actually- I ate bfast here three days in a row, so it's actually not that odd] 

And I would tell you what I thought about my breakfast at the Glider, but I'm not looking to start a Midwest vs. Northeast battle over breakfast. [but here's a hint as to which place is the 'champine' in this scenario] You remember the outcome of the music industry version of that. And we still have that ongoing family feud between Lafayette and American to contend with. 

Nobody 'round these parts likes bananas- myself included, but everyone loves banana bread. This is the best recipe and is a healthy treat for the dreaded elementary school 'snack day.'  

Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas [or whatever amount is sitting around in the kitchen]
1/4 cup applesauce- any flavor, mango-peach is awesome
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 egg
Pinch of salt
Dash of cinnamon + allspice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix bananas and butter into mixing bowl with sugar, egg, applesauce and vanilla. Kids can help with this. Use handheld beaters or a spoon to blend ingredients. Add baking soda, salt + spices. Add flour a little at a time, constantly stirring. Pour into a 4x8" loaf pan or muffin tins. Bake the loaf for 50 minutes to an hour and muffins for 20-25 minutes. Serve with a pat of unsalted butter or cream cheese. 

*RockStar Tip* Throw some figurines or decorations onto muffins before hauling them to the classroom- the kids will instantly think they taste better. The glow-in-the-dark wildlife silhouettes we chose came in a super inexpensive package. [there were also dinosaurs] Later, we used the extras to create a zoo adventure in the sandbox. 

Went to the pumpkin patch this weekend. 

There was on old woman of skin and bones- oooooh, ooooooh, oooooh, ooh. 
She lived down by the old graveyard-  oooooh, ooooooh, oooooh, ooh. 
One day she thought she'd take a walk- oooooh, ooooooh, oooooh, ooh. 
She walked down by the old graveyard- oooooh, ooooooh, oooooh, ooh. 
She saw some bones a'laying around- oooooh, ooooooh, oooooh, ooh. 
She went to the closet to get a broom oooooh, ooooooh, oooooh, ooh. 
She opened the door and... BOO!  

Create a spooky batch of cookies- it takes about three seconds and requires no baking. Awesome for Halloween parties or to snack on while watching scary movies. 

Ingredients:
1 Box of Nutter Butter Cookies
8 ounces White Chocolate Chips 
Miniature Chocolate Chips <or> any candy that is tiny and round

Melt the white chocolate in the stove or microwave- whichever method you use, stir constantly to avoid scalding the chocolate. Dip the cookies into the melted chocolate or spread using a knife. Press two chocolate chips into the chocolate- these are the eyes. Done!

 

Step onto the ferry in Brooklyn or Manhattan, it will transport you to a land filled with the enchanting sights and sounds of Fete Paradiso, an antique Parisian carnival that is stationed on New York's Governor's Island from mid-July until the end of September. The entire journey was like a dream, from beginning to end. 

This is the first time that the rides have left France, ever. The rides themselves were rescued from two private collections in France, then painstakingly restored by a family of artisans who specialize in meticulous workmanship. 

Fete Paradiso is an extravaganza of wonderment for children and adults. The twinkling melodies filled the air with a sound that instantly took the uber-modernized crowd back into another century, while the stunning display of rare amusement rides will have you thinking perhaps you really did take a step into a time machine and landed in another world. 

Experience the carnival like never before through the whirling of the Chaise Volante or while holding on for dear life as you enjoy the unique thrill of the Dragon Carousel as it propels forward, and then backyards, all the while daring you to not fly off. There are also the much more tame, but still awesome sailing ships, gliding to and fro in a flying journey through the sky. A toddler favorite, but older kids will want a chance to ride too.

Taking a spin on the speeding bicycle carousel is a must. There are only two of this type made in the entire world.This unique thrill ride was made in 1897 and is beyond amazing to see in action. A belt rolls the carousel into action while riders pedal furiously around and around. On this ride, everyone laughs. The suave attendant in the iconic black and white striped shirt joins in the fun, intermittently shouting commands in french and singing tunes into a bull horn to keep the peddlers riled up.

If the stunning display of vintage rides were not enough, there is a biergarten- fashioned from a bumper car pavilion from 1900, and food- crafted by Le Gamin, a French bistro in the city. The selections are fit for gourmands who will relish every bite of salad Niçoise or Croque Monsieur. Step right up and get a wand of flavored cotton candy- orange is the best, or taste one of the authentic crepes offered, then sit under the charming chandeliers and watch the rides spin and swirl as the carefree days of summer seem to pass by a little more slowly while on the island.

Games such as the Ball Guzzler will keep everyone entertained, as valiant attempts are made to land a ball into the mouths of celebs from the 1930s. This nostalgic game features likenesses of Josephine Baker, Charlie Chaplin and more iconic figures from that era. Get five balls in, and score a drink on the house- for real. 

A children's carousel from the 1930s was transformed into a concert hall, where musicians and performers will entertain and delight the listeners. Soul Clap performed during the Parisian Ball event, while a host of other musicians took to the stage throughout the summer to entice revelers into a melodic daydream of old Parisian street music. 

Much more can be said about this festival, but the absolute best way to experience it, is to check it out for yourself- you will be in awe. 

The Roosevelt Park Fest 2013 featured all the things that make a festival great. DJS spinning live music, crafts from 555 Gallery & Studios, Firefighter Chili Cookoff!, killer cornhole tournament, a bounce house and beer. Did I forget to mention the most awesome thing ever... Roller Skating!!!! Because WHO doesn't LOVE skating? The Grinch perhaps. 

The festival was held under the stoic watch of Michigan Central Station, our massive treasure that will most likely be restored soon (call it a hunch) Anyway- what better way to spend the first day of fall than at a neighborhood picnic... roller skating! 

Skaters raced around a oval-shaped track. (aka: the street) Some were total pros, performing tricks and stunts that definitely were the result of some hardcore practice, while others were on skates for the first time ever. Groups formed when a bangin' song came on- think Stevie Wonder, Snoop, Hall & Oates and swayed to the beat with moves that cannot be replicated by yours truly, nor will any attempt be made. Ever.  

It was an excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends and family all chillin' at the park. Friends were made & fun was had by all.