Charivari Detroit 2017

Charivari Detroit (pronounced 'shahr uh vahr ee') is an annual music festival held in the city of Detroit, Michigan. The festival is mainly based around house and techno music. In previous years the event was hosted on Belle Isle, an island park in the Detroit River, but was relocated to the West Riverfront Park this year. The new venue was an upgrade from the previous location because it was much larger and had an amazing view of the Detroit skyline and the Ambassador Bridge.

West Riverfront Park

The festival took place behind the US Post Office building west of downtown Detroit.

Charivari itself is not your typical music festival with thousands of people and big name artists hitting the stage. Instead, it pulls DJs, artists, and vendors from the Metro Detroit area. Although relatively small, the event had hundreds of people dancing and grooving to the beat of the bass. The festival grounds this year consisted of 3 stages where DJs performed and mixed live. While mainstream music festivals have artists standing on elevated platforms and fenced off from the crowd, Charivari had its DJ booths right next to the crowd. This creates an intimate experience as the music changes with the vibe of the crowd.

Here is the 2017 line-up and some photos of my favorite sets:

The line-up for Charivari 2017

The Ghita Sisters

Twin Cousin

PRGRM

Merachka

Norm Talley

Bruce Bailey

The live music was also accompanied by local Detroit artists and their art work. This was separate tent where festival-goers would be able to take a break from the music and appreciate the talented artists hard at work. Detroit is Dope (DiD) was one of the vendors at this tent. They sold paintings which had been painted during the festival as well as apparel. Their dad hats were unique because they were hand painted with different designs.

Charivari is not your typical music festival. But that shouldn't deter you from attending next year. The music, the people, and the culture are what it make it so unique and so Detroit. The city has had a bad reputation and many people still believe the rumors and negativity. Events like Charivari prove that notion wrong and show us Detroit being alive and doing well. This is what brings the people of Detroit together and is also what makes me proud to call this my city. 

I think that Charivari's slogan says it well:

Let Yourself Go! Shine!

I'm excited to see the continued growth of Charivari and the development of Detroit's downtown. And no matter what people say; Detroit Hustles Harder.

Archer Hotel: The Industrial-Chic Hotel of Garment District

It has been a while since I've been back to New York City after moving to Los Angeles. I was afraid of feeling out of place, but luckily, Archer Hotel helped me feel like I never left. The hotel is located in the heart of The Garment District, with local favorite attractions like The Empire State Building, Time Square, and Bryant Park all within walking distance. From the moment I arrived I was impressed; the hotel has lavish and high-end decor, yet modern making each room feel like a private oasis. Also, the staff is welcoming and warm, making sure that I was comfortable the moment I checked in all the way to when I check out.

Photo Courtesy of Archer Hotel

The bathroom was stocked with high-end shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, and lotion and the room was stocked daily with gourmet Nespresso coffee. The bed and sheets were so comfortable. It was very difficult to get up each morning as I just want to lay there forever. On top of all that, I had an amazing view of the Empire State Building. My room felt very cozy and homey. Each day I was provided with small bottles of Fiji water and treats. Sometimes, it really is the small things that counts and Archer hotel knows how to make their customers feel welcome and appreciated.

The restaurant David Burke fabrick, inside the hotel was very nice and offers an amazing selection of dishes. After dinner, make sure to check out the Spyglass Rooftop Bar as it has the best view of the Empire State Building.
 

I can't say enough good things about the Archer Hotel. The location is amazing, the staff is top notch, and the perks (ask about the joker card) are everything. The hotel made my trip back home a memorable one. The warm atmosphere of the hotel made me want to come back with each visits to New York City.

Hotel Elysée: The Vintage 1920s Hotel

Continuing on part II of my hotel tour of the three unique boutique hotels courtesy of the Library Hotel Collections (you can read the first part here), my next stop was Hotel Elysee.

If you are looking for the perfect weekend gateway trip with a vintage theme, then look no further than this charming hotel. Located in the heart of New York City, this is by far one of the best places in the city when it comes to a weekend escape.

Photo Courtesy of Hotel Elysée

Featuring bagels and hot and cold cereal, the complimentary continental breakfast served each morning includes yogurt, pastries and boiled eggs as well. A complimentary nightly reception with wine and cheese is also available for all guests, as well as complimentary fresh fruit and coffee are available throughout the day.

Hotel Elysée is decorated in a French Country style, the decor choices lend an Old World style to this vintage 1920s hotel which is 2 blocks from 5th Avenue shops, 3 blocks from the Museum of Modern Art and 6 blocks from Central Park. The nearest subway is just 2 blocks away.

Photo Courtesy of Hotel Elysée

Each room has free high-speed WiFi, minibars, flat-screen TVs and iPod docks; some suites have kitchenettes. Large suites are named after famous frequent guests Vaclav Havel, Tennessee Williams and Vladimir Horowitz.

The hotel is home to the famous Monkey Bar which has been featured in countless magazine and tv shows like "Sex and The City" and "Mad Men", is a classic American restaurant with a social buzz.

A stay at the hotel includes a second-floor guest lounge which serves free breakfast, evening wine and all-day snacks. Guest passes are also available to a nearby health club.

Although my stay was a short one, it was a memorable one regardless as the staffs were there to help me with whatever I needed. They were lovely and amazing at their job.. I felt comfortable within minutes of arriving into my suite.

The only bad thing I can say is that I wish I could have stayed longer as the hotel was beautifully designed and decorated. I really felt I was in a different time.

Photo by: HAGUE NYC

The Hotel Giraffe: The Art-Inspired Boutique Hotel

The past week I had the pleasure of touring the Library Hotel Collection in New York City.

The Library Hotel Collection consists of 5 unique boutique hotels in Manhattan: Library Hotel, Hotel Giraffe, Hotel Elysée, Casablanca Hotel and the newest member to this collection is the Aria Hotel in Budapest, Hungary.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Giraffe

The first stop of my hotel tour was Hotel Giraffe.

When I first arrived to the hotel, I arrived with my photographer, Erika Dickstein. We were greeted with warm welcomes by the staff at the front desk. They helped me with my luggage and explained to me the details of the stay. But what I was really excited about was that the hotel offered complimentary continental breakfast and evening wine with cheese events; it’s a great way to mingle with the guests and staff and find out what the hot spots around the area are.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Giraffe

Additional perks include passes to a nearby sports club, meeting and event space, and nightly live music in the lobby. There's also a rooftop garden and a casual restaurant serving Italian food.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Giraffe

Upon entering my room I was greeted by a bottle of wine, compliments of the hotel and the beautiful view of Park Avenue from my balcony.

Each modern room included free WiFi and was styled with modern furniture, unique artwork and working desks with granite tops. iPhone docking stations, stereo systems and spa-inspired bathrooms were also included. Mini-fridges and pillow-top mattresses are available upon request.

Even though my stay was just for one day, I had such a great time and experience! The staff was amazing and so welcoming to all my questions and requests; they made my stay feel like it lasted forever. I look forward to coming back soon.

Photos by Hague NYC