After the reception and a nap, there will be a mellow GARDEN PARTY hosted by Art and Sheila Faja. This will be a dinner party with an eclectic meal of favorite sentimental dishes. All ages are welcome, but please be aware that alcohol will be served into the night.

WHERE: 2075 Belle Vernon, Rochester Hills, MI. 248/375.5795
WHAT TO WEAR: This will be a casual event. Shorts are perfectly fine attire. If you are interested in hot-tubbing, bring a swimsuit (and your own towel if possible).
READ-AROUND: In the tradition of NELP, we are planning to have a Read-Around (probably around 7 PM) "What on earth is a read around?" you ask... Basically anyone interested brings something to read - a passage, a poem, a short selection - original works are always encouraged, but not required. Generally there is a theme, but we will probably be sick of "love" by Saturday night, so your selection need not be romantic. The theme will be: "you pick" - anything you think others might enjoy. Participants take turns listening and reading.
MUSIC: Around 9, we'll have a live electronic performance by local Detroit act Actionbasic. Afterward, don't be surprised if a guest DJ or 2 hit the decks.
DIRECTIONS: From the Birmingham Community House (don't come straight from the reception though!) start out going north on S. Bates Street towards West Merrill Street. Turn right onto West Maple Road (15-mile). Turn left onto North Adams Road - take Adams for ~7 miles. Turn right onto West Hamlin Road. In ~2 miles, turn left onto Crooks Road. In 1 mile, turn right onto West Avon Road. In a quarter-mile, turn left onto Old Perch Road. Just before Belle Vernon, turn left into the parking lot of West Middle School. Park on the side of the parking lot closest to Old Perch Road. Continue on foot: Walk back to Old Perch Road. Turn left onto Old Perch. Turn left onto Belle Vernon. Art and Sheila live 5 houses down Belle Vernon on the left side of the street. Look for the welcome flag.

LUNCH: We will meet at Pronto! in Royal Oak at 11:30 AM
WHERE: 608 S. Washington St., Royal Oak. 248/544.7900
MENU: Pronto! offers Sunday brunch or lunch. For lunch, there are four varieties of sandwiches: vegetarian, fish, beef and poultry that satisfy cravings for everything from old-fashioned deli favorites to new-age creations. It has a small neighborhood café feel with unique house specialties, all-American favorites and out of this world desserts.
PRICES: Lunch sandwiches from $3.50 to $7.50. Dinner entrees from $8.95 to $10.50.
DIRECTIONS: For those staying in the Birmingham/Troy area, head South on Woodward. Cross 11-mile Road. Make a u-turn through the median to go north on Woodward. Turn right onto 11-mile. Turn right onto Washington. Pronto! is on the right side of the street. We usually find street parking, but there is a structure on the corner of 4th and Lafayette (Lafayette is 1 block over from Washington - to the west - closer to Woodward. You will pass 4th on your way to Pronto.)

ART MUSEUM TOUR: Immediately after lunch we'll head to the Detroit Institute of Arts. We expect to arrive around 1:30. You could meet up with us at the museum if you decide to skip lunch. We'll collect ourselves at the main entrance (on Woodward). We plan to give you time to explore the DIA on your own. In addition, a guided hour long "introduction to the museum" tour meets at the Rivera Court at 2:30 and is open to the public. We will plan to do this with anyone who is interested. (if you miss us at the lobby at 1:30, look for us at 2:30 in the Rivera Court.) We expect to stay at the museum until 4.

WHERE: 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. 313/833.7900
ADMISSION: The suggested adult contribution is $4.
DIRECTIONS: From lunch: Take Washington north (left from Pronto!) to 11-mile. Turn right on 11-mile going east (away from Woodward) to the I-75 South on-ramp. Follow signs for I-75 Southbound. Take I-75 South for ~10.5 miles. The exit for Warren Ave. is closed for construction, so you have to go one exit past it to the Mack Ave. exit. From the service road/ramp, turn right onto Mack Ave. eastbound. Turn right onto Woodward Avenue/MI-1. The museum will be on the right side of the street. There is usually plenty of free parking on the side streets around the museum and there is a lot just before the museum (also on the right).
DESCRIPTION: The museum has a wide variety of European and American works ranging from ancient to contemporary. We're partial to the museum's fantastic modern collection, which is well-curated with a historical perspective that provides great context for the art.
The gem of the museum is the Diego Rivera Industry Fresco cycle, commissioned in 1932 by the industrial magnate Edsel Ford. These murals were highly controversial - created by the Mexican communist Rivera - but have become beloved throughout the century by the people of Detroit. They fill the museum's central courtyard and depict the city's industry and its workers.

AT THE BAR: We will be hanging out at the Majestic Theater complex. The Majestic is the site of Harry Houdini's last performance and rumor has it that the 'fatal punch' took place just outside the theater... this is a great place with lots of history and has several parts: the Magic Stick, the Majestic Café, and the Garden Bowl, in addition to the Majestic Theater itself. We'll be hanging out in the Garden Bowl area, America's oldest active bowling center. The traditional fun of bowling is made even better with live DJs spinning party music while you bowl on glowing blue lanes with the lights down low. The Garden Bowl has sixteen lanes, a cheap eats grill menu, and a fully stocked bar. Look for us in the very groovy lounge area between 7:30 and 9:30. If you're running low on cash, don't worry, Sunday night is Swill Night at the Garden Bowl: after 6pm all domestic draft beer is $1.
WHERE: 4120 Woodward Ave. in the Majestic Theater complex - Detroit, MI. 313/833.9850
DIRECTIONS: Take I-75 South to Mack (the exit just south of Warren - where you'd get off for the DIA). Take Mack to Woodward. Turn right onto Woodward. The Majestic/Garden Bowl/Magic Stick will be on the right. We generally do street parking here...