Saturday, October 24, 2026Detroit, MI
There You Are
Experience the Pleasures of Looking, Listening & Tasting
I Was Hoping You'd Come
On arrival, you enter a corridor, forty feet of it, lined with work brought in from artists here at home and from further out, each piece a little too honest to hang just anywhere. Every piece gets its own pool of light, just enough to make you lean in and wonder if you're allowed to look as long as you want. Some of it will make you feel like you walked in on something. That's on purpose. Walk slow. There's no reason to hurry toward anything tonight.
Leave the week at the door. The job, the messages waiting on your phone, the version of you that always has somewhere else to be. None of that gets in. Here, you dress for a room that only asks that you arrive as someone worth looking at. No explaining the mask. No apologizing for enjoying it.
There's a reason for tonight, though the reasons were never really the point. Not everyone made this list. You did, and that's worth wondering about. This room was built one name at a time, slowly, deliberately, the way you'd hang a show rather than fill a guest book.
Looking
Get close. The work was made to be looked at, not glanced at.
Listening
Poetry and Comedy that lingers longer than the applause does.
Tasting
Drinks worth pausing for, bites small enough that you never have to.
The Work
Through the Keyhole
You weren't supposed to see this yet, but here you are.
These few frames are the invitation. The work itself stays on the walls, for the people in the room.
The Line Up
The Evening Has Accomplices
The night changes shape a few times. They're why.
Lona
Model
Servant of the Light & Composition
Soulful Syndy
Poet, Spoken Word Artist
Speaking Truth from Soul to Soul
Listening — the room’s sound
Put one on now, and you know what the room sounds like before you arrive.
Tasting — the glass and the table
Two lists, both short on purpose. Read them the way you read the walls.
The Drink List
Kamil's Signatures built for the occasion
Classic Man
Cognac, pear, ginger & cardamom — Smooth, confident and effortlessly seductive, with ripe pear up front, slow-building warmth and a spicy finish that knows how to linger.
Gummi Bears & Tuulips
Vodka, apricot, lychee & elderflower — Juicy, playful and shamelessly flirtatious, with lush fruit, delicate florals and just enough sweetness to invite another taste.
Silver Bush
Cognac, amaretto, coffee & absinthe — Silky, mature and quietly provocative, with dark nutty warmth, a soft touch of coffee and an herbal whisper that teases long after the sip.
Pouring all night
Negroni
Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth
French 75
Gin, lemon, sparkling wine
Old Fashioned
Bourbon, bitters, orange
Amaretto Sour
Something sweet
The Food List
Heavy appetizers all evening, eaten standing, one hand always free for your glass.
Savory, all evening
Crispy Mac& Cheese Balls
Creamy mac & cheese wrapped in a crisp golden crust — Rich, cheesy and irresistibly indulgent, with a crunchy first bite giving way to a warm, velvety center.
Beef Tenderloin Crostini
Tender beef, toasted crostini & savory accents — Rich, tender beef layered over a delicate crunch, finished with just enough savory depth to make each bite feel indulgent.
Shrimp Vietnamese Summer Rolls
Shrimp, crisp vegetables, fresh herbs & rice paper — Cool, delicate and refreshingly light, with tender shrimp, bright herbs and crisp vegetables tucked into every bite.
Crispy Popcorn Chicken
Tender chicken in a seasoned crispy coating — Golden, juicy and perfectly bite-sized, with a savory crunch that makes reaching for just one more almost impossible.
Tomato Basil Bruschetta
Tomato, basil, garlic & toasted bread — Bright, juicy tomatoes and fragrant basil piled over crisp toast, bringing a fresh, garlicky bite that wakes up the palate.
Smoked Salmon Crostini
Smoked salmon, creamy spread, fresh herbs & crostini — Silky, smoky and elegantly savory, with cool creaminess, fresh herbs and a delicate crunch underneath.
Savory Glazed Meatballs
Tender beef meatballs & savory glaze — Juicy, deeply seasoned and coated in a rich glaze, delivering a warm, satisfying bite with just the right touch of sweetness.
Sweet, later on
Banana Pudding Cups
Creamy banana pudding, vanilla wafers & whipped cream — Rich, velvety and unapologetically indulgent, with layers of nostalgic sweetness made for slowly savoring every spoonful.
- Theme
- A masquerade, which is a strange thing to call an evening built around being seen. That is the point. Everyone arrives hidden, and the room finds you anyway.
- Date & Time
- Saturday, October 24, 6pm-10pm, in Ferndale, Michigan.
- Location
- The location is private and will be sent to all guests who have RSVP's on the day of the event. You can use The Ferndale Project building as a close landmark.
- Arrival
- Doors open at 6:00 PM. Come inside the first hour if you can — the corridor is best walked with people in it.
- Hotel
- A discounted block of rooms is held for us at Hotel Royal Oak, ten minutes from the door. Ask for the There You Are Celebration block when you call, or BOOK YOUR ROOM. The rate covers Friday and Saturday nights, October 23 and 24, and holds through Tuesday, September 29.
- Parking
- Free street parking surrounds the venue, shared with the businesses next door. It goes quickly on a Saturday night, so give yourself an extra few minutes. Or take the shuttle and skip the question entirely.
- Shuttle
- The shuttle is free to guests, running between Hotel Royal Oak and the event space from early evening until close. Book a room or not, the seat is yours.
- Gifts
- The best gift is you booking a room at Hotel Royal Oak. Both nights if you desire it, at least Saturday if you do not. It means you stay later, drink easier, and wake up somewhere that is not your own driveway. You can If that doesn’t work for you, there is a travel fund. Johannesburg, eventually.
- After Party
- The evening does not end at the event. The shuttle runs back to Hotel Royal Oak, where the Vinyl Room is ours for the rest of the night. Cash bar, late snacks, a pool table, and enough room to sit down and stop performing. Come for an hour or stay until they turn the lights up.
RSVP
Tell us you are coming and we will keep a place in the room for you.
Saturday, October 24, 2026
The door comes down behind you, the room turns to see who it is, and there you are.