Follow artist Janet Kondziela, the creative force behind the “Dearborn Paints - Good Food!”  project as she continues to move around Dearborn with easel, palette and brushes capturing all that’s delicious in local restaurants, markets and bakeries. Follow her to the upcoming locations to see and taste for yourself what each has to offer:

September 10, 2010 (Sept 17 Rain Date) - Cedars Coney Island, 22443 Michigan Ave (in ACO shopping center) 1:00 PM

September 13, 2010 - Kowloon Restaurant, 22905 Michigan Ave, 11:30 AM

September 15, 2010 - Taste of Dearborn East, Habib’s Cuisine, 14316 Michigan Ave, 5:00 PM 

September 23, 2010 - Lile’s Ham Sandwich Shop, 13800 Michigan Ave, 9:30 AM

October 1, 2010 - the Fish Market, 4355 Schaefer Rd, 10:30 AM (hot food)

October 30, 2010 - Westborn Fruit and Flower Market, 21755 Michigan Ave, 10:00 AM  (prepared food)

This is a new and very exciting project and one in which you are invited to participate!  Beginning May 2010, Janet began going into Dearborn restaurants, markets and other places to paint on site.  You’re invited to see her there as she attempts to capture, in paint, their unique dishes or products.  It’s also going to be an opportunity for you to check out some of Dearborn’s fabulous eateries.  

In Septembor of next year (2011), there will be a solo show of these paintings at the Padzieski Gallery in the Ford Performing Arts Center.  Check back here often to see where in the world of Dearborn’s Good Food places she will show up next! 

Also view her website here.

On June 22 and 23, 2010 the EDDDA hosted Artspace who conducted an intense Prefeasibility Visit to provide preliminary feedback about the feasibility of creating a live/work, multi-use or other arts facility development. They explored five areas of consideration: project concept, artist market need, site suitability, potential to fund and sustain a project and local leadership. A public meeting was held to determine community support and inform the public of Artspace’s work. The Prefeasibility Visit is the first step in the process that can lead to an Artspace project.

In order to develop a project that meets the true needs of artists, it is vitally important that we receive feedback from a large cross section of the artists in the community.  The next step of the Artspace project will be to reach out to as many artists and arts organizations as possible with a survey created specifically for this project. The survey will provide us with statistical information including such things as: artist housing needs, affordability ranges, rental vs. ownership preferences, artist studio-only needs, location preferences, design requirements based on household sizes and arts disciplines, and arts organization space needs.

Visit the Artspace website at www.artspace.org.to learn more about the organization and its success in other communities. The scope of this project requires a comprehensive strategy in order to move forward. Community involvement from all sectors: financial, civic, arts and culture are all part of the mix that leads to a successful project!

Stay tuned to our website for updates!

And holiday shopping is easy with a collection of independent retailers that range from the greatest depth in any comic books in town, an independent record store with hard to find labels, to a locally owned music store with instruments to beat the band.

Talk about ethnic foods, you have the world at your door in East Downtown Dearborn. From homemade Italian sausages to fresh cooked fish to-go, you’ll find it all here.

From Middle Eastern to Polish, fine dining to small diners and sandwich shops, East Downtown Dearborn has the best food around.

Culture? The largest Arab Museum in the country resides here, introducing you to the wonders of the Middle East.

All of your service needs can be met here, from accounting and insurance, beauty salons and a large variety of medical services.

It’s where Michigan Avenue meets Schaefer Road, a place where you can see the world in one mile.

Check out our business directory here.

The EDDDA partnered with Smooth Jazz V98.7 HD2 and WWJ Newsradio to present Jazz On The Ave, which will be East Downtown Dearborn’s signature event in summertime for years to come.

The series drew significant attention to the neighborhood, home to eclectic restaurants and retailers, as well as an array of professional services.

For next year’s concert series, the EDDDA is planning additional ways to involve local merchants to assist them in realizing the opportunity for new customers.

Stay tuned to our website for next year’s concert dates!

Special thanks to V98.7 Smooth Jazz HD and WWJ Newsradio, along with series co-sponsors including Oakwood Healthcare, the Dearborn Community Fund, the Times-Herald, Press & Guide and Metro Times newspapers.

So as well as the Jazz On The Ave concert series, this year we’ll be putting on a Taste of Dearborn East event on September 15! View the story on our website here.

Stay tuned here for any updates and always feel free to contact us!

[View with PicLens]

See the video here.

The next Jazz On The Ave concert is Wednesday August 26!

Stop at one of our great local restaurants, grab some dinner and bring it with you over to Dearborn City Hall Park to listen to the sounds of The Brothers Groove from 7-9pm.

Don’t forget to bring a blanket or your lawn chairs!

Free parking right behind City Hall.