Sewing expo in Novi, MI

You should stay at Joy's house, only some ten miles away!

Seriously, Novi is a horrendous "edge city" with nothing to recommend it except about ten different "lifestyle center" malls. Traffic is incredible. No sidewalks, no pedestrian accommodations. It's just a fast-growing suburb connected to two major interstate highways. There's a Big Boy across the street from the expo center (parking was $5 last time I went to an event there) and a mall (surprise!) with Fridays Applebees Wendys Carlos Murphys et al. The malls have all the stores you;d expect in any Taubman shopping center. There is a Jo-Ann's Etc on the other side of the freeway, and it would be either a

15-minute walk or a 20-minute drive from the expo center.

Now Brighton, just ten miles west, is a much nicer place if you like downtowns and sidewalks and interesting places that aren't all pre-fabbed up.

Novi has a bunch of faceless motels with huge parking lots. (Stay at Joy's if she'll have you.) Plan on spending 30 minutes to go ten miles. Flying in? Easy to get to from DTW, about an hour north up I-275 and then just west on I-96.

HTH

--Karen M. city planner (can you tell?) who ditched the Great Satan of metro Deeetroit last year for Grand Rapids

Hi Karen,

Thanks for the reply. I'm glad I've decided to only spend two nights. I'll fly in Friday night, spend Saturday at the show, go to the Gala, then fly home Sunday morning. Sounds like just about every other place one gets sent on business trips. I was so dissappointed when I would fly to somewhere like VA or Long Island and see that same chains--Chili's, TGI Fridays, etc. Seems pointless to travel when it all looks the same.

My mom will be coming with me, so I think a hotel makes more sense. Sounds like a rental car is essential, too.

Thanks for the tips! Juliette

You could stay at my dad's house (10 miles away in a different direction) and see the purple Hawaiian shirt in person (sis wedding pics thread).

--Karen M.

TxMouse wrote:

Cool!

I just took a look at those pictures. I wasn't sure what to think, especially with the rainbow cookies. The grooms looks very nice in a backless dress...

Metro Detroit is the largest urban area lacking decent public transport. Theoretically, you could find an airport shuttle to your hotel, but you'd still need a lift to the expo center.

Tell ya what, there's a running event listing called Great Stuff. It's a link on the Free Press site.

There's probably an interesting art exhibit either downtown, or at Cranbrook, or Ann Arbor. You're not going to find kultchur in Novi (pronounced "no-vy" rhymes with "slow buy") so you may as well see a show. Downtown has the Fox Theatre (see Joy's Rockette thread last year), the Gem, and other stuff.

HTH

--Karen M.

Hey now....don't talk mean about my town while I am busy at the State Fair and not reading the board so diligently (shame on me!!). But...sometimes the truth hurts....bad traffic in that area because too many new subdivisions went in and the demand to commute on the existing (failing) roads is usually always jammed up in Novi. Dining around most malls tends to be less than "original" in all towns....but if you tell me what types of food you like....I can tell you where to find it close by. Sewing friends are always welcome at my house but accommodations may be less than desireable....(but I can try!) And......I do know that the Sewing Expo is innaugurating a brand spankin NEW building.... Yes, they will be the first featured event in the new venue. So, it isn't exactly in the old location!!!!! Surprise-surprise. We have something new to look forward to. Let's go and get lost together....shall we? Anyone want to pick a date and meet? Joy

You don't live in Novi!

--Karen M. who ranks that city's planning department want ad as one of the most frequently-seen in the classifieds (i.e. it's a revolving door)

Joy wrote: ...

Located just a bit further west on Grand River. Same freewayinterchange, same edge city "design" and "services." This website saysthey're having a grand opening in August; the sewing expo won't be thefirst thing to be in it. If that's the first weekend in October, I'll be in the metro anyway. May as well spend some time with Net buddies.

--Karen M.