Belle Isle: Part One

Now that it's more than two degrees above freezing (and now I'm 90% sure that the winter's last snow is behind us), Belle Isle is quickly becoming my favorite kid-friendly Detroit spot to enjoy the spring sunshine. In addition to the beautiful skyline, the fountain (which has colored light and water shows beginning at dusk after Memorial Day), and the nature center, the giant playground in the middle is well worth a trip over to the island.


Actually, there are many playgrounds on Belle Isle, ranging from modern to old and creepy. But the best one is the big, new one right in the middle of the island. It has play structures that are appropriate for new walkers to pre-teens, and I love the soft, rubber surface underneath everything. It also has some unique play equipment that I haven't seen on many other playgrounds and that is difficult to describe: giant, round swings that remind me of tire swings without the hole to fall through, slides that have tiny rolling logs and look like conveyor belts, and a big, boat like structure that you can rock and pretend you're stuck at sea in the middle of a storm. It also has all of the traditional equipment that every playground should have: baby swings, big-kid swings, and plenty of slides, bridges, and monkey bars. Our daughter loves this playground so much that she calls Belle Isle: "Playground Island."

Earth Day Gardening

In support and celebration of Earth Day, the small but mighty pro-detroit-parenting organization called Detroiters Dream for Children, will plant the seeds (oh, how i love a good double entendre!) for their community vegetable and flower garden, located in the backyard of the Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Corporation. Ripe tomatoes, crunchy veg and hearty greens will feed Detroiters Dream families and children of the Cass Corridor. And a small plot of land, on a strip of street once representing the height of urban decay, will be transformed into a blossoming source of beauty and inspiration.

One of the founding members of the group, Jackie Victor, once told me that she believes, with a lot of hard work and passion, Detroit can be one of the best cities in the country to raise a family. I think she's right. Especially with munificent, community-minded events like this as ammunition.

So support the good cause; bring your kids and gardening tools. Everyone welcome. There will be a brief meeting at the onset (childcare provided), but the majority of time will be spent working in the dirt with your kids.

Kids love dirt. And there's a positive civic lesson to boot. Really, it doesn't get much better than this.

Details: Sunday, April 15, 2-4pm, 3535 Cass Avenue

Pre-School Storytime at the DPL

Unfortunately, the spring festival storytime series is smack in the middle of my son's morning nap. And he's not quite one yet anyway.

But for those who have kiddies 1-5 years old: stories, music and finger plays Friday mornings at the Detroit Public Library through April 27th, 10:15-11am.

Ivory D. Williams, whose name sounds lovelier than a plate of finger sandwiches, is the guest storyteller. Apparently, this is very exciting. Ivory, who goes by the "D," is a professional, traveling storyteller with his own website and an affection for stuffed animals. This strikes me as either creepy or cute, depending on my mood.

Belle Isle Easter Egg Hunt

Everyone loves Belle Isle. And Easter egg hunts. So it follows that tomorrow's Easter Fun Fest will be a smashing good time.

Despite the unseasonal blizzard in the forecast. And an ambitious, yet strangely vague, roster of events, according to the city's press release, that includes crafts, games, a parade and inflatable thingamabobs.

But the fun fest is free, so there will be tons of kids. Not counting the excellent excuse to eat gobs of Peeps, that's the most exciting part of the event anyway: lots of squealing kids, running around the park, enjoying one of the most beautiful and under-served green spaces in the city.

April 7, 11am-3pm, Belle Isle band shell

New Children's Bookstore in Detroit

This is not a typo.

Ladels is the new, adorable children's bookstore opening next to the original Eph McNally's in Corktown. The store's name, across the glass in purple script, has been taunting me for what seems like a year, but the shades are always drawn, the windows dark. While I was trying to prevent my 11-month-old from eating fistfuls of mulch at the park the other day, I spotted activity inside and immediately went knocking for info.

Here's what the owner--a delightful mother of a 5-year-old--had to say: "We should be opening in the next two weeks. I hope. Eventually, once we get everything in, we'll have vintage and wooden toys and both classic and new non-commercial books--none of that Dora or Diego stuff."

I nearly cried tears of joy.

She'll also be hosting two storytimes every day--one for the stay-at-home set in the a.m.; another, more advanced afternoon session for school-aged kids.

We'll let you know once it opens, so you can support Detroit's first children's bookstore.