Showcase D’ Holidays” rocks downtown Detroit with live music and restaurants, Somerset Collection CityLoft shops return, holiday traditions continue
Editor’s Note: Details, dates, and hours are in the “At a Glance” section at the end of the release.
DETROIT, Mich., November 14, 2014 – Downtown Detroit’s 60-foot tall Christmas tree is surrounded by some extra sparkle this year as it illuminates Campus Martius Park. The Quicken Loans Season of Winter Magic kicks off with the official Tree Lighting ceremony on Friday, November 21 presented by DTE Energy Foundation. Winter Magic activities range from ice-skating at The Rink to horse and carriage rides and street performers that will enliven the city’s core. New Winter Magic offerings include:
- Rink Side Bar – heated indoor/outdoor seating area, a bar, and panoramic views of Campus Martius Park.
- “Showcase D’ Holidays” – five consecutive weekends showcasing Detroit restaurants and live music in Cadillac Square.
- “The Snowman Collection presented by Somerset Collection” features 25 ‘designer snowmen’ inside a 30-foot x 18-foot igloo-shaped structure in Cadillac Square.
Downtown Holiday Traditions join the activities at First National Building, 660 Woodward Ave:
- Somerset Collection CityLoft partners with Bedrock Real Estate Services to feature nearly 40 Somerset retailers from Gucci to Gap, transforming the district into a magical holiday shopping destination.
- A special “kids only” store, “Santa’s Wonderland presented by Somerset Collection”
“We are thrilled with this year’s new Winter Magic offerings that will bring the best entertainers, restaurants, and shopping experiences all to one highly-energized location,” said Robert Gregory, President of The Detroit 300 Conservancy, the non-profit organization and affiliate of the Downtown Detroit Partnership that oversees Campus Martius Park. “Showcase D’ Holidays and Somerset Collection’s CityLoft, combined with ice skating, the Christmas Tree, and thousands of downtown twinkling lights will help us deliver the ultimate holiday experience in Metro Detroit.”
Tree Lighting Show and Rink Season Grand Opening Party on November 21 DTE Energy Foundation presents its gift to Detroit, a 60-foot tall, Michigan–grown Norway Spruce with more than 19,000 twinkling energy-efficient LED lights and sparkling ornaments during the 11th annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony and entertainment show at Campus Martius Park, Friday, November 21, 6:30 p.m.
“DTE Energy Foundation is proud to continue its gift-giving tradition by presenting the spectacular 60 foot Christmas Tree to the City of Detroit and the wonderful evening of entertainment and fun for the whole community. The DTE Energy Foundation has a great history of giving back to the city and the community and the Tree Lighting Ceremony is a night that creates lasting memories for all Detroiters young and old,” said Faye Alexander Nelson, Vice President of Public Affairs and President of the DTE Energy Foundation.
- Headliners include American Idol Season 13 runner-up Jena Irene from Farmington Hills, Olympic Gold Medalist skater Ekaterina (Katia) Gordeeva, Detroit’s Second Ebenezer Mass Choir, and the Rhythm Society Orchestra with Paul King.
- Musical entertainment features Corktown Popes, Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences, Michigan Opera Theatre soloist Corey Roberts, Ann Arbor native Laith Al-Saadi with his band, and a performance from Doran Robin, a Make-A-Wish Michigan survivor.
- National and world stars perform on the Campus Martius Rink including Canadian champion Elladj Balde, Greek champion Georgia Glastris, and skaters from the Detroit Skate Club, the Arctic Figure Skating Club, and the Creative Edge Ice Theatre.
Quicken Loans Season of Winter Magic At a Glance:
The Rink at Campus Martius Park Skate rental: $3; Admission: $8, adults; $7, children 12 and under and seniors 50 and up. Open daily Friday, November 21 through Sunday, March 1. Broomball takes place Monday and Tuesday nights in January and February.
- Rink Side BarA cozy indoor/outdoor seating area with heaters, a bar, and panoramic views of Campus Martius Park. Open weekends and holidays.
- Horse-Drawn Carriage RidesSnuggle up and enjoy a ride through the magically decorated streets of downtown Detroit. Weekends, Friday, November 21 through Sunday, December 28, $10 per person.
- Street PerformancesJugglers, stilt walkers, and fine artists will entertain Campus Martius visitors. Weekends, Friday, November 21 through Sunday, December 28.
- Showcase D’ Holidays Restaurant tastings from The Whitney, Ottava Via, Slow’s BBQ, The Rattlesnake Club, Joe Muer’s Seafood, Fountain Bistro, and more, in a heated tent on Cadillac Square complemented by 40 music performances from Detroit acts: Kalido, Thornetta Davis, Hot Sauce, Sean Blackman’s In transit among others. A portion of the proceeds benefit The Salvation Army, Detroit Goodfellows, THAW, Matrix Human Services, and COTS. Friday and Saturday nights, November 21 through December 20, from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Food service: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Somerset Collection CityLoft – First National Building, 660 Woodward Avenue
Nearly 40 Somerset Collection retailers, from Gucci to Gap, will come to downtown Detroit for the holidays. In partnership with Bedrock Real Estate Services, Somerset Collection CityLoft provides a model home for retail downtown. Stores include 7 for All Mankind, Aveda, The Body Shop, The Buckle, Cache, Eddie Bauer, Icing, Lego, Lilly Pulitzer, Lacoste, Paradise Pen, Pottery Barn, and Pottery Barn Kids, Ralph Lauren, Swarovski, The Detroit Shoppe, Thomas Pink, plus live DJs, carolers and more. Open December 3 through December 23, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/somersetcollectioncityloft
- Santa’s Wonderland presented by Somerset Collection – First National Building, 660 Woodward Avenue“Kids only” store. For a $5 donation, children receive five gold coins to buy gifts that can be wrapped on site. While kids shop, adults can get a free coffee or cocoa at Roasting Plant. Merchandise is donated by Somerset Collection retailers. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, November 21 for Tree Lighting and Monday through Saturday, December 3 through December 23, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- The Snowman Collection presented by Somerset Collection – Cadillac Square Igloo
Housed in a 30 x 18-foot igloo-shaped structure on Cadillac Square, 25 designer snowmen will be decked out by Somerset retailers. Sponsored by Quicken Loans and open daily November 21 through December 23, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- The Detroit Shoppe – 1261 Woodward Avenue
Showcasing people, places, and products that have shaped Detroit. All proceeds benefit Detroit charities. https://www.facebook.com/TheDetroitShoppe
Open November 21, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; During Lions home games (December 7 and 14), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. plus a pop-up presence at Somerset Collection CityLoft (December 3 through December 23, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
The Detroit 300 Conservancy and Campus Martius Park are grateful to Quicken Loans for its presentation of the season of Winter Magic 2014, DTE Energy Foundation for its presentation of Our Official City of Detroit Christmas Tree, and the wonderful support from all of our Official Sponsors including Compuware Corporation, WXYZ Channel 7, McDonald’s, IKEA, Meridian Health Plan, WNIC, Ernst & Young, Honigman, Marketing Associates, First Merit Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hines, Bedrock, Absopure Water, Faygo, Atwater Brewery, The Detroit People Mover, Detroit Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, AutoLiv, Anytime Fitness Detroit, ZipCar, GalaxE Solutions, The Michigan Christmas Tree Association, TI Automotive, Clark Hill, City Loft, Westin Book Cadillac Hotel, People’s Transit, good people popcorn, Just Baked Cupcakes, 93.9 The River, Metro Times, Greko Printing, Blumz Florist, Hard Rock Café, and many others.
For more Winter Magic information, please visit www.campusmartiuspark.org.
About Campus Martius Park
Campus Martius Park, Detroit’s Gathering Place and the centerpiece of revitalization in downtown, is a legacy gift to the City of Detroit from the Detroit 300 Conservancy, a nonprofit organization and an affiliate of the Downtown Detroit Partnership that has raised over $20 million to design, construct, and operate the Park through businesses, foundations, and individual donations. The nationally-recognized Campus Martius Park is the recipient of The 2010 Urban Land Institute’s Amanda Burden Open Space Award. Program Planning for the Park was by Project for Public Spaces; the Park’s designer was Rundell Ernstberger Associates, LLC. For more information, contact the Detroit 300 Conservancy at (313) 962-0101 or visit www.campusmartiuspark.org.
About Quicken Loans
Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s second-largest retail home mortgage lender. The company closed a record $80 billion of volume across all 50 states in 2013. Quicken Loans generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland, and Scottsdale, Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among with Primary Mortgage Origination” in the United States by J.D. Power for the past four consecutive years (2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010), and highest in customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers in 2014.
Quicken Loans was named among the top-30 companies on FORTUNE magazine’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the last 11 consecutive years, ranking #5 in 2014. It has been recognized as one of Computerworld magazine’s ’100 Best Places to Work in IT’ the past ten years, ranking No. 1 in 2014, 2013, 2007, 2006, and 2005. The company moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010, and now more than 9,000 of its 11,000-plus team members work in the city’s urban core. For more information about Quicken Loans, please visit QuickenLoans.com, on Twitter at @QLnews, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/QuickenLoans.
About The DTE Energy Foundation
The DTE Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy, continuing the legacy of community support and involvement of its principal operating subsidiaries, Detroit Edison and MichCon. http://www.dteenergy.com/foundation.
