DETROIT, MI. (Comerica TasteFest 2006/ www.comericatastefest.com) - One of the most anticipated summertime events in the city - the 18th annual Comerica TasteFest - is just around the corner, bringing a robust line-up of food selections and free music. Recognized as Detroit's premier street festival, the 2006 Comerica TasteFest will be held Friday, June 30 - Tuesday, July 4, on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit's historic New Center neighborhood.
The all-ages food and music festival, held annually during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, will showcase more than 40 of metro Detroit's most popular restaurants serving a diverse international palette of cuisines, along with a stellar line-up of free musical entertainment.
Restaurants making their Comerica TasteFest debut are Sweet Lorraine's Cafe and Bar (Detroit), Asian Village (Detroit), Sticky Fingers (Southfield), Grand City Grille (Detroit), La Pita Fresh (Detroit), Louie's Buscemi's (Harrison Township), Centaur Bar (Detroit), Lola's (Detroit), Louisiana Creole Gumbo (Detroit), Clubhouse Tavern (Detroit) and Au Bon Pain (Detroit). Returning favorites include Coach Insignia (Detroit), Lazybones Smokehouse (Roseville), Beans and Cornbread (Southfield), Under the Eagle (Hamtramck) as well as the "Cold Stone Creamery Dessert District."
And a day at the Comerica TasteFest would not be complete without a tall glass of fresh squeezed lemonade, a tropical fruit smoothie, or an "adult beverage" from The Town Pump Tavern (Detroit). Ravenswood Winery also will be back to share its fine varieties from the Sonoma Valley in its special traveling wine garden.
On the musical side, Comerica TasteFest 2006 will deliver another amazing collection of free national and local acts - nearly 60 in all. This year's headliners on the MotorCity Casino Main Stage (located in the Fisher Building Parking Lot) include 2006 Grammy winner Common, '60s pop star Eric Burdon and The Animals, former leader of The Kinks and prolific songwriter Ray Davies, Southern garage rockers Kings of Leon, alternative vocalist Cat Power & The Memphis Rhythm Band, Vancouver's superstars of indie rock The New Pornographers, power punk pop band The All American Rejects, perennial pop- jazz group Spyro Gyra, legendary gospel singer Mavis Staples, punk-pop group Damone and gospel vocalist J Moss.
More electronic and garage rock acts will appear on the Pure Detroit Stage (at Second Avenue and Lothrop) including Amp Fiddler, The Grand Nationals, John Arnold, Amadou and Mariam, waajeed, Brave Rifles, J DaVey, Free Element, the Breakers and more.
Just down the boulevard, the metroPCS Jazz & Blues Stage (at Grand Boulevard at Cass) will showcase the sounds of Robert Lowe with special guest Cody Black, Howling Diablos, Kevin Mahogany & Red Holloway's Jazz & Blues Summer Party Tour, Dwight Adams Group, Tim Bowman, Seeley & Baldori and Urban Jazz Coalition to name a few.
At New Center Park, the New Center Council Park Stage (Grand Boulevard at Second) will feature a diverse mix of the Detroit area's most brilliant singers/song writers along with budding local talent. Artists include Audra Kubat, Blanche, The Hard Lessons, The Sights, The Paybacks, The Demolition Doll Rods, Cowboy Messiah and Freer.
A complement to the food and musical acts at the 2006 Comerica TasteFest will be The 2nd Avenue Street Market, featuring more than 20 local specialty stores. Burning Bead Studio (Berkley), Ki & Jul's Fashions (Detroit), Nubian Essence (Detroit), and The Style Gallery (Detroit) will make their Comerica TasteFest debut, joining Pure Detroit (Detroit), City Knits (Detroit), The Pampered Chef, Spirit in the Park Gallery (Detroit), Vera Jane (Detroit) and other intriguing retailers.
In addition, this year Detroit's 4731 Gallery will feature a group art show in the 2nd AVE Street Market Gallery, located off 2nd AVE inside the Fisher Building lobby. 4731 Grand River includes seven buildings, two galleries, and 50 artist studios.
The Comerica TasteFest Kid Zone has expanded for 2006, starring Farmer John and his barnyard friends, Radio Disney, Arts & Scraps, and the return of Kevin Collins and his African Drummers. Other activities include demonstrations by the Detroit Derby Girls (flat track roller derby), rock climbing, Detroit Pistons' Shoot-Out, and skateboarding demonstrations in the Youth Zone (a special area for teens and tweens).
In addition to Comerica Incorporated, sponsors of the 2006 Comerica TasteFest include MotorCity Casino, Budweiser, metroPCS, AT&T, Diageo, Windsor Casino, Burt's Bees, Cold Stone Creamery, Ravenswood, Harley Davidson, Pure Detroit, Starbucks, HAP, Detroit Pistons, Henry Ford Health System, AlertnessMatters.com, Stoneyfield Farm, Farbman Group, Trizec Real Estate Services LLC, General Motors Corporation and Orton Development.
Each year more than 500,000 visitors fill the streets for the Comerica TasteFest, held adjacent to the historic Fisher Building on West Grand Boulevard between Woodward Avenue and the Lodge Freeway. Hours this year have been extended, from 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. on June 30 through July 3. The Comerica TasteFest will close at 8 p.m. on July 4. Admission is free, including all concerts. "Taste" food tickets are priced at $6 for 10 tickets. The Comerica TasteFest hotline number is (313) 927-2700.
Comerica TasteFest is produced by New Center Council, Inc., whose proceeds support charitable activities, including an award-winning summer youth program and the yearly maintenance of the New Center's outdoor public spaces.
For more information about Comerica TasteFest 2006, please visit https://www.comericatastefest.com or call (313) 872-0188.
