Summer in Detroit has a way of turning an ordinary evening into a reason to get out of the house. In Greektown, that can mean heading down to Monroe Street, grabbing something to eat, finding some music, and seeing what the night brings.
The Greektown Summer Series is giving Detroiters plenty of reasons to make that trip this summer, with free programming, live entertainment, outdoor dining, and activities scheduled through the summer.
The series has brought several different flavors to the neighborhood. July featured Motown on Monroe, soccer programming, a Greek Heritage Festival and a weekend built around Greek music, dancing and culture. The Heritage Festival included a street-side lamb roast, live Greek music, traditional dancers, food, vendors and family activities.
August keeps the programming going.
Last week, Magic and Music on Monroe brought a strolling magician, family-friendly entertainment, and live music to the district. Friday night features interactive magic by Just Joe. Saturday brings the Dancing Mirror Man, with Sunday closing the weekend with live music and outdoor dining along Monroe Street. Programming runs from 6 to 10 p.m. each night.
Then comes a weekend for music lovers.
Music on Monroe starts Friday, Aug. 21, with Fritts & Chips performing live. Visitors can also check out the weekly vendor market while enjoying dinner outdoors. Saturday night continues with a performance by Drew Machak. Sunday, Aug. 23, turns Monroe Street into a community art project, with The Coloring Museum leading an interactive coloring mural.
That gives people plenty of ways to spend a summer evening without needing a complicated plan. Walk Monroe Street. Listen to some music. Grab dinner. Check out a vendor. Bring the kids. Stay for the entertainment.
Greektown sits in the heart of downtown Detroit, with Monroe Street serving as the neighborhood’s main gathering place. Its restaurants, bars, shops, and Greek cultural traditions give visitors plenty to explore before or after the evening’s scheduled activities.
The summer calendar continues Aug. 28-30 with The Longest Dinner Table and additional Greektown programming. The signature event on Aug. 28 will bring people together around one long table for an evening centered on food, community, and celebration. The following two nights will feature outdoor dining and live entertainment.
There is more on the calendar after August, too. Labor Day weekend brings Jazz & Culture Weekend, followed by Detroit Sports Weekend in September. Art & Music on Monroe is scheduled for Sept. 18-20.
For now, though, the focus is on summer.
The Greektown Summer Series is the kind of programming that gives people a reason to linger on Monroe Street. There is food, music, art, and entertainment waiting around the next corner, with something different on the calendar each weekend.
Sometimes a Detroit summer evening does not need much planning. Good food, live music and a place to spend a few hours can be enough.
In Greektown, Monroe Street is ready for it.
