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Best Date Ideas For Art Lovers In Detroit

In Detroit, there are tons of exciting possibilities for a great date if you love the arts. From museums to theatres to castles, our area has a rich legacy from its golden era when money flowed freely in this Great Lakes hub. The stars are out in all their splendor this year, and here are some ideas for an arts-filled evening.
Yo-Yo Ma with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Orchestra Hall
3711 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 576-5111
www.dso.org

Date: Apr. 9, 2014

Considered the greatest cellist in the world, Yo-Yo Ma has won 15 Grammy awards, the 2001 National Medal of Arts and the 2011 Presidential Medal of Freedom. On April 9, he performs with his $2.5 million Montagnana cello, accompanied by the Detroit Symphony. The concert will be conducted by Maestro Leonard Slatkin, winner of the 2003 National Medal of Arts.

Meet Rita Moreno Live

The Redford Theatre
17360 Lahser Road
Detroit, MI 48219
(313) 537-2560
www.redfordtheatre.com

Date: Sept. 26-28, 2014

On September 27, Rita Moreno will appear at the Redford Theatre for a special private meet-and-greet event featuring a chocolate fountain, desserts and presentation by the actress. The only Hispanic to win all four major entertainment awards, the Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony, Moreno won the Academy Award for her role as Anita in "West Side Story." Tickets for this event will sell out months in advance, so it is advised to reserve a seat as early as possible. The film "West Side Story" is a modern reiteration of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

Andrew LLoyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz

Detroit Opera House
1526 Broadway
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 237-7464
www.broadwayindetroit.com

Dates: June 17-29, 2014

Webber's wizard takes a new spin on the L. Frank Baum classic, with fresh songs, choreography and staging. The star of the show, Danielle Wade, won the part after competing in a Canadian talent search television show. Although competing against talent from all across the country, Wade is particularly special because she is a local girl to our area (Windsor, Ontario). In addition to the beloved tunes from the 1936 film starring Judy Garland, Webber includes new songs for the theatrical version, such as "Red Shoe Blues," "March of the Winkies" and "Nobody Understands Me."

Related:  Best Permanent Exhibits In The Detroit Area

The Art of the Louvre's Tuileries Garden

Toledo Museum of Art
2445 Monroe St.
Toledo, OH 43620
(419) 255-8000
www.toledomuseum.org

Dates: Now through May 11, 2014

This special exhibit is worth the hour drive to Toledo. It showcases 100 works of art from 17th to the 20th centuries, all having the theme of The Jardin des Tuileries. The gardens were created for the Tuileries Palace in 1564 and served as royal gardens for French kings through Louis XVI. The famed gardens served as an inspiration to Impressionist painters Édouard Manet and Camille Pissarro. On the drive to Toledo, consider listening to a CD in French, such as"Les Feuilles Mortes" by Yves Montand.

Detroit Sons of Norway: Norwegian Bicentennial Celebration

Nordkap Lodge at The Swedish Club
22398 Ruth St.
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
(248) 398-5976
www.detroitnorwegians.com

Date: May 17, 2014

The Honorary Royal Norwegian Consul to Michigan, Sir Dennis Flessland, Order of Merit Knight First Class, invites the public to the Michigan bicentennial celebration of Norway's Constitution. This cultural event features Scandinavian folk musicians, fresh traditional Norwegian waffles and desserts, Norwegian folk arts, colorful hand-embroidered costumes and imported Norwegian products, such as cheese, herring, soups, lefse (potato flatbread), candies and chocolate bars. The annual event celebrates the national holiday of Norway, also called "17th of May" by its citizens.

Related: Walk In The Footsteps Of Detroit's Historical and Important Figures

Romero Anton Montalban-Anderssen is the winner of the 2009 first prize in journalism from the Detroit Working Writers Organization. He has seasonal residency in Detroit Michigan, The Italian Riviera, and Honolulu Hawaii. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
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