On Sunday (5/7/17), Travis and I attended the All Things Detroit Pre-Mother’s Day Edition. The Detroit-famous shopping extravaganza was held at Eastern Market. It was our second time attending an All Things Detroit event, the first being in March. I was excited to attend this event because I was looking forward to trying some more yummy food (pregnancy cravings, ya know) and viewing the local small business owners’ unique products.

What is All Things Detroit?

All Things Detroit is a Detroit-based trade show which features hundreds of local small businesses and a large variety of food trucks for patrons to enjoy. In March, All Things Detroit “drew more than 10,000 visitors – from nearby and as far as Traverse City, Mich. and Chicago.” The Pre-Mother’s Day Edition was created for visitors to find special gifts for their loved ones. The next All Things Detroit event will be held in November 2017 as part of a holiday shopping experience.

 

Little High Flyers
Little High Flyers – a Detroit-owned small business which features clothing for small children from around the world!

 

What We Loved About the All Things Detroit Pre-Mother’s Day Edition:

  • The Pre-Mother’s Day event featured more than 230 businesses. The plethora of businesses featured at All Things Detroit gave us many options to choose from for our shopping experience. Business owners were on hand for demonstrations of their products and provided personal service to customers. It was an enriching, one-on-one shopping experience which is hard to find at a major retailer.

 

All Things Detroit Pre-Mother's Day Edition
More than 230 businesses were scheduled to attend for the All Things Detroit Pre-Mother’s Day Edition held on Sunday, May 7, 2017.

 

All Things Detroit Pre-Mother's Day Edition
The Pasta Shop

 

  • I also have this thing with food trucks. There were 20 food trucks at All Things Detroit on Sunday. Food heaven! My husband doesn’t get my obsession love for food trucks. He thinks it’s comical that I get excited whenever I see a food truck. But I can’t help it. Who doesn’t love food trucks?! Food trucks feature some of the best food you cannot find at a chain restaurant. The prices are generally reasonable and the food is freshly made to order. And let’s not forget food trucks make very delicious food!

 

Hero vs Villain Detroit
Hero vs Villain served amazing artisan sandwiches at All Things Detroit!

 

All Things Detroit
How cute is the Drifter Coffee trailer?

 

  • Travis loved the concept of housing hundreds of Michigan-based small businesses in one location. He said it reminded him of a bazaar. He loves walking around and viewing the different products small businesses are selling. He also enjoys chatting with the business owners. (He’s such a talker, that one.)
  • We both really love shopping local! We feel you can find better quality products and unique finds that you won’t be able to find in a major retail store.

 

All Things Detroit Pre-Mother's Day Edition
Shoppers had the chance to visit 230 small business all in one place at the All Things Detroit Pre-Mother’s Day Edition on Sunday, May 7, 2017.

 

Ink Detroit
Ink Detroit featured Detroit-themed clothing at the All Things Detroit Pre-Mother’s Day Edition on Sunday, May 7, 2017.

 

All Things Detroit Pre-Mother's Day Edition
Baby moccasins from Little High Flyer.

 

  • All of the All Things Detroit events are very family-friendly! This is a BIG plus for us because we have four children and we like to bring our children along with us when we attend city events. It is stroller-friendly, as well. Other good traits which make All Things Detroit a family-friendly event are bathrooms conveniently located throughout Eastern Market, kid-friendly vendors such as a face painter (my daughter loved this), delicious sweet treats (cotton candy, ice cream, Italian ice, etc.), and a safe environment for children to walk with their parents. Oh, and parking is FREE at Eastern Market and easy to find! 

 

Good Life Detroit
All Things Detroit

 

  • The overall atmosphere at All Things Detroit Pre-Mother’s Day Edition was very welcoming. As we passed each table, business owners smiled brightly at us and other customers. When I asked an owner questions about his/her product(s), they were very eager to talk to me and share information about the merchandise.

 

Jen's Gourmet Salad Dressings
Jen, founder of Jen’s Gourmet Salad Dressings featured her delicious salad dressings at the All Things Detroit Pre-Mother’s Day Edition.

 

All Things Detroit Pre-Mother's Day Edition
Jen’s Gourmet Salad Dressings

 

Meet Jennyfer Crawford, Founder of All Things Detroit

I also had the wonderful opportunity to meet Jennyfer Crawford, the founder of All Things Detroit. Jennyfer is a business consultant and owner of Ask Jennyfer. She created All Things Detroit in 2012  “to give small businesses a platform to build brand awareness and sell their products.” Jennyfer believes All Things Detroit benefits the community because patrons are shopping locally. “A lot of the businesses are right here in the community,” Jennyfer told me. “I think it’s important that we’re bringing all of [the] customers and people to the city of Detroit.”

GLD: What is your favorite part about All Things Detroit?

Jennyfer: “All of the positivity and all the vendors coming together…the atmosphere…I love it! I love being able to work with a wide range of different people, different backgrounds– everything!”

Jennyfer went on to say she loves how the businesses come together and work together. “There’s a lot of networking and that’s what I love about it.” She said All Things Detroit has a “friendly environment” and the “customers are eager to come and shop with the businesses.”

 

All Things Detroit
Jennyfer Crawford, Founder of All Things Detroit

 

How Does All Things Detroit Contribute to Detroit’s Rebirth?

I asked Jennyfer if she feels Detroit is experiencing a rebirth and how is All Things Detroit contributing to Detroit’s rebirth. Jennyfer agrees Detroit is experiencing a rebirth. “People are looking at Detroit in a different way. A lot of different people are moving here that we didn’t see before and I think that it’s really good.”

And Travis and I are part of the rebirth movement of Detroit. We moved to the greater Detroit area in April 2015 and since moving here, we have come to fall in love with Detroit. Attending an event like All Things Detroit gives us the opportunity to meet local businesses and learn more about the city’s culture.

“When you call something (an event) “All Things Detroit”, people are like, ‘ooh! I really want to check it out and see what’s so different and what’s the change,” Jennyfer told me.

I definitely agree with Jennyfer. When I first heard about All Things Detroit, the name alone caught my attention. My immediate reaction was, “What is All Things Detroit?!” I visualized an event which captured the essence of the city of Detroit. All Things Detroit did just that. Still being fairly new to Detroit and Michigan, attending All Things Detroit introduced us to Detroit- and Michigan-based businesses we didn’t know about. We also learned a little bit more about Detroit culture.

Jennyfer Crawford successfully accomplished creating an event which brings the community together and gives small business owners the opportunity to share their business with visitors. We will definitely attend the next All Things Detroit Event (November 2017)!

 

All Things Detroit

 

All Things Detroit Pre-Mother's Day Edition

 

Henna Painting
Henna by Ronnie

 

Fancy My Sweets
Fancy My Sweets makes gourmet cakes and cupcakes in the Metro Detroit area.

 

Fancy My Sweets
The Ultimate Cookie Monster Cake by Fancy My Sweets!

 

Do you enjoy attending shopping festivals in your community?

 

 

Thank you to Jennyfer Crawford and Prologue for inviting Good Life Detroit to the All Things Detroit Pre-Mother’s Day Edition event! For more information about All Things Detroit, visit the official website here.

Want the latest updates on All Things Detroit? You can download the app “All Things Detroit” at the App Store for iPhone and Google Play Store for Android

 

 

 

Written by

Jennifer Hamra

Freelance creative Jennifer Hamra created her blog Good Life Detroit in 2015 after relocating from Tennessee to Southeast Michigan.

Inspired by her love for personal blogging and photography, Jennifer likes to share her favorite Detroit things, from cool places to visit (the hidden gems are her favorite!) to the amazing people she has connected with over the years.

When she's not busy juggling family life and her creative projects, you can find her at an art gallery, community event, farmers market, or spending quiet time at home with a good book and cup of tea.

Jennifer lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Travis and their six children.

Connect with Jennifer on social media @goodlifedetroit on all social media platforms or via email at [email protected].