Back to the Bricks in Flint Kicks Off Today

Here are some of my photos from last year and a complete schedule of Back to the Bricks Events

Tuesday

Bricks Flicks 5:00pm US23 Drive-in

FREE Tuesday Night Kickoff Party and Drive-in movie - Presented by HAP and CARS108
Display of Special Interest cars, Manufacturers Displays & more

Feature Movie: The World's Fastest Indian

Wednesday

Rolling Cruise Grand Blanc to Downtown Flint 5:00 -10:00pm

KIX BAND Main Stage Downtown Flint6:00-10:00pm

Mega Site #1 Hemphill and Saginaw (my hubby will be here with a dunk tank set up with his company)

Buick Club Car Display
Sprint Cars from “Must See Racing” Circuit
Dragsters & Funny Cars
Military Vehicles
Unique Sports Car Display
Manufacturers Displays
DJ Bob Steel 5:00-9:00pm

Mega Site # 2 Grand Mall (Grand Blanc)

Sidewalk Sale
Collector Car Clubs
Special Dealer Displays
Remote controlled car races
DJ Aileen England 5:00-9:00pm

Thursday
Rolling Cruise Grand Blanc to Downtown Flint 5:00 -10:00pm

NOMADS Main Stage Downtown Flint5:00-7:00pm

STONE COLD Main Stage Downtown Flint

7:00-9:00pm

Mega Site #1 Hemphill and Saginaw

Buick Club Car Display
Sprint Cars from “Must See Racing” Circuit
Dragsters & Funny Cars
Military Vehicles
Unique Sports Car Display
Manufacturers Displays
DJ Bob Steel 5:00-9:00pm

Mega Site # 2 Grand Mall (Grand Blanc)

Sidewalk Sale
Collector Car Clubs
Special Dealer Displays
Remote controlled car races
DJ Aileen England 5:00-9:00pm

Applewood Estates Open 10:00am-5:00PM



Friday

FREE Pancake Breakfast U of M-Flint Parking Lot from 7:00 - 10:00am
Duke's Annual Kick Off Party!

Free hot dogs, popcorn, & water to all cruisers Dort Hwy. location from 11:00am-3:00pm

Friday Night Cruise-In

SCRUFFY DOG Main Stage Downtown Flint 4:30-6:30pm

The Flint Symphony Orchestra presents: Flash Cadillac - FREE Classic Rock' n Roll Concert - Saginaw Street Stage 6:30-8:30pm

Fairlanes Main Stage Downtown Flint8:30-10:00pm

Shirley Muldowney Autographs sponsored by Diplomat Pharmacy 5:00-10:00pm Center Lot Downtown Flint


Saturday

Show from 8:00am to 8:00pm
DJ Bob Steel
Continuous Live Entertainment

FREE! NSRA Safety Inspection

Shirley Muldowney Autographs sponsored by Diplomat Pharmacy 8:00am-8:00pm Center Lot Downtown Flint

Fire Truck Round-Up

Women’s Marketplace

Door Prizes

At UofM-Flint

Kids Flix 2:00PM Featuring: CARS

On Main Stage:

DJ Bob Steel 8:00-11:00am

Blue Hawaiians 11:00am-1:00pm

DJ Bob Steel 1:00-5:00pm

Radio Flyers 5:00-7:00pm

DJ Bob Steel 7:00-8:00pm

At McFarlan Park:

Cal Roberts & Wayne 1:30-4:30pm

At Saginaw & 3rd Street

J.D. WINEGARDEN, JR. 2:00-4:30pm

Downtown Center Lot

Dragster Blasts 10:00am – 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Flint, Michigan

To kick off Michigan month I thought I'd show you a little of Flint, Michigan which is my hometown. I live on the outskirts of Flint- outside the city in what used to farm country. Some of it still is the rest is suburban.

But I grew up going to places in downtown Flint, many of which are now gone like Autoworld. I also attended college at UM-Flint and partied at the (dismal) downtown club/bar scene in the mid 90s (I miss you Metropolis).

Flint is called Vehicle City which many assume is because of the auto manufacturing companies that were started here or took up residence here but it was actually nicknamed Vehicle City long before a car ever hit the bricks in Flint (possibly before there were bricks to drive on).

Flint was called Vehicle City thanks to 3 carriage companies that were here in Flint in the 1800s. Odd that there were 3 carriage companies then 3 car companies. Hmmm. It's always been the Big 3 here. Well- at least until the car big 3 started doing us dirty in the 80s. It's been going downhill ever since.

But enough of that.

One unique feature of downtown Flint is the beautiful Vehicle City arches that were erected in 1899 (see top photo). I am not sure when the originals were taken down. I read somewhere possibly during the war when all metal was scrapped for making weapons, tanks and all that.

In 2003 replicas of the original arches were put up as part of the downtown Flint revitalization project and honestly they look great. At night they light up- really dressing up the downtown area.

I took these photos below at last year's Back to the Bricks.

Back to the Bricks is a fun family event. If you love cars it is a must go. If you want a fun, family day out it is also a must go. It gets bigger and better every year.

My family went last year and it was a blast. The cars to see are phenomenal. Check out some of these photos.

This is the door of a Flint fire truck. My hubby used to be a firefighter so the firetrucks were the first place we stopped.

And he's a truck guy so I think we took photos of every truck there.



This year Back to the Bricks is August 17-21.

I'll be there. If you are a car person and can make it please do because it is going to be great. Everything from rolling cruises to old fashioned drive in movie events- this is going to Flint's biggest event of the year.

Another place to check out if you ever visit Flint is the Farmer's Market- fresh produce, a restaurant, a wine cellar and so much more in one of few remaining gems of downtown Flint.

In fact the annual Vampire Ball hosted by Vertigo Theatrics benefits the Flint Farmer's Market.

This year's Vampire Ball is Saturday October 16th- love to see you there.

So Flint is bad at times but there's still a rich and fantastic culture here that I haven't seen anywhere else.

Plus for me it's home.

Michigan is home...and there's no place like home.

So I hope you will join me all month long as I highlight some of the places around Michigan that I love and introduce to you some fabulous Michigan authors.