Create Cohort Blog

Category: Detroit

  • Elmwood Historic Cemetery

    Elmwood Historic Cemetery

    “In October any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible.”

    – Elizabeth George Speare

    A beautiful Sunday off during my absolute favorite, and, simultaneously busiest month of the year? Gallivanting about, dressed like vampires in Detroit’s oldest (and rumored to be haunted, because of course it is) cemetery? On a quintessential, fall as fuck day? How wonderfully unexpected!

    Mostly because we had gone out the night before, after working all day, and stayed up way too late like the feral freaks we are.

    We had dressed as vampires for Creepy Cheapy, a super-fun Halloween event in Pontiac, MI. It was too dark to take decent photos, and when we finally arrived we found our friends and immediately became complete menaces. Needless to say, we had a good time.

    Waking up the next morning and finding the motivation to put our entire costumes back on and document it? Wonderfully unexpected, indeed.

    Behold! The Elmwood Historic Cemetery:

    Established in 1846, Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit is one of Michigan’s most important historic cemeteries. Located in Detroit’s Eastside Historic Cemetery District, Elmwood is the oldest, continuously operating, non-denominational cemetery in Michigan.

    Elmwood is approximately eighty-six(ish) acres, a certified arboretum, and recognized as a significant site for the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, by the National Parks Service of the United States Department of the Interior. There are several famous and well-regarded humans buried in Elmwood’s grounds, rumored ghosts, and ghostly markers with interesting history, but most importantly, IMO, it is gorgeous as hell.

    The design and layout of the park was created to preserve and enhance the natural land; groves, hills, beautiful trees, vegetation, and, a historic creek: The Bloody Run.

    “On July 31, 1763, in an incident during the Pontiac uprising against the British, the creek was renamed Bloody Run after the Native American massacre of Captain Dalzell and his men“. Can’t imagine why it’s claimed to be haunted.

    Elmwood Cemetery contains the only part of the creek that is open and visible, and most likely where all the ghosts like to hang.

    Many thanks to Frederick Law Olmsted: landscape architect! (RIP)

    Dave and I had made plans last October to visit Elmwood, however, our schedules rudely prevented it. I was elated to finally get to see it in all of its glory, although I would like to make a return visit on a gloomy day. You know, for the “mood” and all.

    Speaking of, it could have been the beautiful weather, the fun of taking photos, the confusion on the two different tourist groups faces at the sight of a couple of idiots dressed as vampires, but, Elmwood did not feel haunted. I have only ever felt unwelcome at one cemetery, The Ganong Cemetery in Westland, MI. All of the other cemeteries that I have visited have actually felt very calming, and welcoming. Or, my ghost spidey-sense is broken.

    Elmwood is also very close to our home, so, we are basically neighbors. I fully plan to make return visits, and I will keep y’all posted on any ghostly happenings.

    Until next post, XO

    “It’s not a phase, Mom!”

    đź“ŤDetroit, MI.

    Sara Bellum

  • Kerch Market

    Kerch Market

    Local vintage, food, music, jewelry, and drinks in Detroit on a beautiful, unseasonably warm spring day? Heard!

    Kerch Market is a pop-up event hosted by Two Birds, Huddle, and The Velvet Tower, featuring an abundance of local vendors offering a variety of goods and treats.

    Located in West Village, Two Birds is family-run neighborhood bar, and seasonal custard shop (Huddle) nestled in an old house located in Detroit’s West Village. Dangerous as it is, I say that only because they are located within walking distance of Dave’s house in Islandview, and they are open seven days a week. Not only do they have fantastic house cocktails, and a decent selection of beer and wine, they also host local food vendors, DJs, and even art exhibits. You can see how vast the temptations are-and so close! Needless to say, we have walked here quite often and indulged ourselves once or thirty times.

    The Velvet Tower is a vintage clothing and retail shop, also located in an old house that shares the porch with Two Birds and Huddle. Also, dangerous because if anyone knows me (and for those who don’t) I am a whore for clothes, especially of the vintage variety. One of my current favorite items; a 90’s baby blue vest I picked up from the International Women’s Day Market pop-up at Batch Brewing back in March, was from The Velvet Tower and have been in the shop a few times since. I am not going to lie, the place is a T.A.R.D.I.S, the rooms just keep going. Much like their neighbors, The Velvet Tower often has local artists on deck. Hair stylists, and seamstresses are hosted weekly, but wait, there’s more! %10 percent off for Service Industry kids.

    I had popped in the Winter Kerch Market back in February, but had only taken a bit of video with my Sony ZV-1F, while also trying to carry a coffee, and a phone. As your neighborhood accident-prone twink, I wasn’t able to take many photos. For this event, Dave was kind enough to let me man-handle his Canon, a Mark II 7D, as well as taking a few pics of his own, so that I could write up the blog post you are (hopefully) currently reading.

    Not only are there a variety of really cool vendors, the market might as well be nicknamed Street Fashion on Parade. Everyone showed up looking incredible! We did get a few shots of some very kind kids who were sweet enough to allow us to photograph them, however, it was difficult to keep our A.D.H.D brains on task with all of the people-watching to be had.

    We ended up staying long after the event was over, chatting with the new friends we made and having a pretty decent time enjoying ourselves.

    Jealous you missed out? Fear not, there is another Kerch Market event this Sunday, and the vendor list is packed so you should absolutely go check it out.

    Kerch Market, 8131 Kercheval. Sunday, May 18th, 12 noon to 5pm.

    Until next post, xo

    đź“ŤWest Village, MI

    Sara Bellum

  • All Things Detroit Day 2025

    All Things Detroit Day 2025

    This past weekend we both attended an event in Eastern Market that neither of us have ever experienced before; All Things Detroit: Holiday shopping Experience & Food Truck Rally.

    All Things Detroit events are a curated shopping experience that features over 200 small business vendors. Each year the event is held the Sunday before Easter and in November at Eastern Market in sheds 3, 4 & 5.

    The event starts 2 hours prior to the market opening to the public, but we wandered in a little later in the morning. I really enjoyed seeing a variety of businesses ranging from clothing, photography, hand-crafted art, jewelry, to homemade popcorns and teas. There were several food trucks also participating throughout the sheds, and as the afternoon approached, it became full rather quickly.

    As someone who is a huge advocate for supporting small businesses and communities, I absolutely loved seeing an event curated for just that. A space created specifically to support, and bring attention to those who need it. The choice of hosting All Things Detroit in Eastern Market just puts a cherry on top, as it is one of the districts that means so much to me.

    As it is, I am currently writing this post from Tocororo, surprise-surprise.

    After perusing the event, Dave and I decided to visit a couple of our friends in the market. We stopped by to visit, and give hugs, to our friend Lisa, owner of Motor City Franks. She was just setting up for the day, but ended up selling out completely (fuck yeah, Lisa!). We then went over to visit our friend Jamie, the brewer and one of the owners of Lagerhaus No. 5 and enjoyed a couple of ciders before heading out for some adventures in Hamtramck.

    I really love that events like this also bring attention to the businesses in the market. Eastern Market is known for its Saturday market, however, there are so many businesses that exist in the district that are open to the public on weekdays, and evenings. Everything from unique shops and boutiques, to breweries, restaurants, coffee shops-even a meat market that is open 6 days a week.

    So the next time you are in Eastern Market, or, if you have never been, I fully encourage taking a walkabout and checking a few of these places out.

    More information on All Things Detroit can be found on their website.

    đź“ŤEastern Market, Detroit

    Sara Bellum

    Create Cohort Blog