Photo courtesy of the New Center Council Inc. Corn on the cob is one of the many summer dining favorites visitors will find at Comerica CityFest. Visitors can exchange “taste” tickets for food samples; the cost is $7 for 11 tickets, and they can be purchased throughout the festival.

Comerica CityFest still a treat for eyes, ears and taste buds

By K. Michelle Moran
Arts & Entertainment Editor

The name has changed, but Comerica CityFest, formerly TasteFest, continues to serve a heaping helping of some of the best art, music and dining in metro Detroit.

In its 19th year, the free festival will run July 4-8 in Detroit’s New Center area, home of the Fisher Building; it’s expected to draw about 500,000 visitors.

Comerica CityFest Coordinator Julie Kouloumberis said the name changed to “simply to better reflect what the event itself has evolved into.” The festival — which offers everything from rock climbing and skateboarding to shopping to concerts and an indoor art gallery — has long been more than just a food festival.

Nonetheless, there’s still plenty of food to be sampled by purchasing “taste” tickets. Diners can try an eclectic blend of international cuisine, including vegetable samosa, jerk chicken, pierogi, Cuban sandwiches and chicken schwarma, as well as pizza, roasted sweet corn, ice cream and endless variations on barbeque. Restaurants participating include Mario’s of Detroit, Troy’s Melting Pot, Southfield’s Taste of Ethiopia and Beans & Cornbread, Clinton Township’s Harbor House and Royal Oak’s Zumba Mexican Grille.

Detroit jewelry artist Kathleen Robinson-Young, owner of the former Berkley business Burning Bead Studio, will return with her delicate glass pieces.

“What’s really cool about (CityFest) is that it is business supporting the art community,” she said. “It’s nice that it’s on a holiday weekend, so people can come. (And) it pulls from the neighborhood and surrounding suburbs, as well.”

Other local vendors include Dragonfly Boutique of Ferndale, and Flair Boutique, Modern Skate and Surf, and Noir Leather of Royal Oak.

The festival is known for its mix of established and up-and-coming national musicians, and this year’s lineup reflects that, featuring concerts by Deniece “Niecy” Williams, Spoon, The Wailers, Weird Al Yankovic, Yo La Tengo, Cheap Trick and Bobby “Blue” Bland, among others. But CityFest is also a great place to catch local acts on the rise, such as West Bloomfield jazz chanteuse Jesse Palter, Oakland/Macomb County rockers The Hard Lessons and The GO, gypsy jazz players The Hot Club of Detroit, and St. Clair Shores drummer extraordinaire R.J. Spangler — playing the Detroit Soul and Blues Revue with the Rhythm Rockers, Sir Mack Rice, Alberta Adams and Johnny Bassett.

This year, Kouloumberis said, festival organizers are collaborating with a local company to recycle cardboard and provide food vendors with more earth-friendly containers.

“We are working towards making our festival greener,” she said.

The festival raises money for New Center Council Inc. activities, such as graffiti removal, development and renovations, Kouloumberis said. It’s also a chance for New Center merchants to shine.

They include specialty shops such as City Knits, which recently moved upstairs in the Fisher Building. A favorite among knitters in the know, it offers classes, and fiber and buttons from all over the world. During CityFest, those who visit the shop’s booth can work on blankets for children in need or take part in a knitting circle, explained storeowner Karen Kendrick-Hands of Grosse Pointe Park. Want a unique CityFest souvenir? Kendrick-Hands said that for a small fee, visitors will learn how to make a small fashion accessory in about 10-15 minutes and take it with them.

“We try to have something for everyone and show them that knitting is fun,” she said.

During World Hoop Day at 3 p.m. July 7, Kouloumberis said about 250 hula hoops will be given to children 12 and younger, followed by an on-site demonstration to get youngsters started.

New this year, a free gallery preview party from 8 p.m.-midnight July 3 in the Fisher Theatre lobby will showcase work by leading local artists, including Detroiters Glenn Barr, Leni Sinclair and Niagara, and Julia Cohl of Royal Oak. The jazz band Royal Garden Trio will perform as well.

Comerica CityFest runs 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. July 4-7 and 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. July 8.

For more information, visit www.comericacityfest.com or call (313) 872-0188.