The Detroit Ho Ho Ho's

A 'Best Of' list from this holiday season...

Best Place my dad got a leather jacket for $35: Regeneration New and Used Clothes

Best Uhaul Parking Lot in which to read ArtForum magazine in the backseat of a beat-up Nissan with my cousin Travis: 7 mile and Van Dyke.

Best Sunset: Jefferson Avenue, New Year's Eve

Best Inadvertent Sign of Hope for a Colored Girl on a Winter's Day when the Rainbow's Not Enuf:

Best Day to Visit My Maternal Grandmother's House in Order to Collect Seeds from the Trees Uncle Bernie Planted: New Year's Day.

Best New Fashion Trend My Dad is Trying to Spark: Ski Suits when There isn't a Slope in Sight.

Best 40 Ounces of Beer My Great Aunt Cora Chugged: Trader Joe's 2010 Vintage Ale

Best Shot My Mom Took through the Dirty Windshield:

Best Lemon-Lavender Elixer with Brick Oven Baked Veggie Chili and Pear/Gorgonzola Pizza: Motor City Brew Works

Best Place to Buy Small, Home-Brewed Bottles of Perfume Oil Scented to Resemble Designer Brands: The Dollar Store on Mt. Elliot and Jefferson

Best Artichoke Fritters with Potato-Garlic Spread: Pegasus

Best Cappuccino my Dad Has Had Since Paris: Astoria Pastry Shop in Greektown

Best Siracha Chicken Wings to Eat with Some Daily $1 Beer Specials: Cass Cafe

Best Moment of Bonding with My Sister: Fishing the Pork Skin out of the Trash

Best Chicken-Potato Pocket and Artichoke Focaccia with Kombucha on the side: Avalon Bakery

Best Theatre at which to have Black Swan inflicted upon You: The Main Art in Royal Oak

**Thank you to my cousin Suzanne for coming up with the phrase: Detroit ho ho ho...