By: Larry Sternberg, a typical Detroit sports fan

The Tigers are still breathing in the American-League Central. After an awful start, the Tigers have picked themselves up off the mat. The Tigers are over .500 for the first time of the season. The question is how?

The Tigers pitching is still very thin. Jeremy Bonderman is out for the season, and Justin Verlander is hardly a Cy Young candidate. People are stepping up. Guys like Bonine and Galarraga are eating innings and keeping the Tigers in the game. Zumaya and Rodney are back in the bullpen and getting better. The bats are starting to come around as well.

What does it all mean?

The Tigers are still 5 games behind the White Sox. They still have some major flaws in the starting rotation. Ordonez is out for a couple weeks and that will hurt. The good news is that the season is relevant. The Tigers are in the hunt this summer. What this means for the fans is that Comerica Park should have meaningful games throughout the summer – and a chance is really all we need. Unfortunately, the hole that they dug in April and May just be too deep.

I've been curious to check out Jack's Waterfront Restaurant ever since finding out the obscenity-wielding chef Gordon Ramsay remade it earlier this year. The word on the street is that Ramsay's changes didn't stick, but we won't know for sure until the episode of Kitchen Nightmares airs in the fall. In the meantime, check out my review.

The concerts and shows listing is updated to reflect everything coming to the Metro Detroit area this summer, including concerts at Freedom Hill Amphitheatre. As might be expected, DTE (Pine Knob to most of us) is rockin' almost every night with such names as Anita Baker, Survivor and Rod Stewart. Meadowbrook is another outside venue bringing in big names, such as Manhattan Transfer and Chris Isaak. It's all good.

Target 2007 Fireworks
Photo © Bob Oren / www.detroit-photos.com


With July 4th just around the corner, the firework displays in the Metro Detroit area are getting started. A professional display is a little bit more awe inspiring than the sparklers, snakes, smoke bombs and ground-based fireworks Michigan allows the average resident. The fireworks season runs from about the end of June to the beginning of August. Check out the list of firework displays scheduled in and around the Metro Detroit area.