As the 313 Turns 313, Celebrants Look at Detroit’s Positives

By Courtney Bledsoe

The 313 area code officially observed its 313th birthday Thursday, but the celebration of all the things that make Detroit, well, Detroit, will continue throughout the weekend and summer.

If you’re a Detroit insider, you understand there’s nothing like going to a Coney Island restaurant and getting a good Coney dog with a Faygo pop and Better-Made Potato Chips.

More than anyone else, you understand the significance of walking along the riverwalk, picnics on Belle Isle, morning trips to Eastern Market and evening strolls through Greektown and stops at Astoria bakery.

These and other traditions are what keep you coming back to Detroit.

“We have more than 450 programs within this summer series, and this appears to be the largest effort that we can see in recent history here in downtown Detroit,” Nija Kai, programming and special events director with the Detroit 300 Conservancy, told the Detroit Free Press.

One of the goals of the celebration is to rebuild the city’s collective self-esteem, which suffered during the Great Recession, marked by a population drain and the auto industry crisis.

“... We have focused a lot more on our problems and concerns than we have on the tremendous assets we have in this city, including the great people and the great mix of people we have living in this community,” Kai said.

But a new era is dawning in Detroit, and “these activities create an environment for focusing on the positive, for looking for the best and expecting a good time,” Kai said. “This is what we’ve seen over the last 10 years, and that message is being sent out so Detroit, our neighborhoods, the reporters … have a new story to tell about who we are as a community and a people.”

Detroiters have taken to their social media accounts using the hashtag #imsodetroit to celebrate the many memories the city of Detroit has given them over the years.

Here are some ways to celebrate the big birthday:

Paradise Valley Park: Tuesdays and Thursdays are full of great sounds during lunchtime as jazz,R&B, blues and contemporary artist come to entertain Detroiters during lunch from 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.

Grand Circus Park:

Wednesdays in the park include free acoustic concerts from noon-2 p.m. There is also a jazz series at 5:30 p.m.

Capitol Park: Interactive art and free music will be offered Fridays through Aug. 22.

Campus Martius and Cadillac Square Plaza:Free concerts will be taking place at noon- 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will be food trucks , street eats and acoustic performers from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Every Tuesday there will be a free classical music showcase from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays will be a time to meet new people as there are Mix and Mingles every Thursday at  5:30-8:30 p.m. through Aug 14.

This Friday Campus Martius celebrates 10 years of serving the Metro Detroit community. The celebration begins Friday with with bands playing and a party in the park from 5 p.m.-10 p.m.