Things to Do in Novi

At Sea the World Scuba Center, divers emerge with the tools needed to explore underwater alcoves ranging from shipwrecks to quarries to ocean reefs. The business's clientele matches the diversity of these diving locations, with athletes, retirees, and aspiring marine biologists all walking through its doors, brought there by their love for scuba diving.

To foster this passion, Sea the World Scuba Center employs a team of certified instructors who follow the PADI curriculum to turn novices into expert scuba divers. In addition to open-water certification, they teach more specialized courses on the skills needed to rescue dive or turn professional and start a career cleaning the fish tanks of wealthy giants.

At their shop, Sea the World Scuba Center's staff also sell the gear required to traverse underwater landscapes. Described by manager James Mott as "the most heavily stocked scuba center out there," the shop brims with items from brands such as Oceanic and Aqua Lung.

Birmingham’s Uptown Film Festival honors area filmmakers reaping the benefits of the Michigan Film Incentive, which—since it was passed in 2008—has stepped to the forefront of the film industry with the creation of more than 11,000 jobs. Comedies, dramas, and documentaries from the Mitten and beyond squeeze into the projector’s cylindrical glow at the Birmingham 8 and Birmingham Palladium 12 theaters, where several films will be debuting their Michigan premieres. Festive galas and postshow parties allow cinephiles to drop spec scripts in the drinks of their favorite filmmakers, each of whom longs for an award from a discerning crew of local professionals and film critics.

A steel-encased solar system of gun ranges, firearms retail, and educational classrooms stands within the 10,000-square-foot indoor facility of Action Impact Range. In the range, safety officers enforce the rules and regulations while assisting shooters, who lock and load in one of 14 computerized firing lanes and unleash a hailstorm of ammo from the retail store on paper targets. Every 60 seconds, a military-grade ventilation system sweeps through the firestorm to completely exchange the range's air, ridding it of contaminants discharged from guns and softly whispered one-liners from Schwarzenegger films.

Action Impact Range is the domain of Bill Kucyk, an NRA–certified and law-degree-toting former lawman who spent 29 years commanding a detective bureau, conducting special investigations, and serving on the SWAT team. His years of expertise lend a wealth of knowledge to both classes on carrying concealed weapons and online educational videos, which offer safe, legal guidance to gun enthusiasts.

At Five15's weekend bingo matches, players don't come to win a jackpot or to appease their grandmothers. They come for the drag queen hostesses and their good-natured abuse, adult humor, and vivacity. A rotating roster of queens includes Hershae Chocolatae of America's Got Talent fame, Mr. Joan Rivers, and the acerbic comedienne Queen of Mean. Clustered around round tables, sipping smoothies or chai lattes from the full coffee bar, the patrons of Drag Queen Bingo defy categorization—gay, straight, men, women, and even the occasional 90-year-old, according to the Detroit Free Press. Each patron is fair game for the hosts' humorous darts, especially when they pick up their prizes. Historically, adult-themed prizes have included mugs, T-shirts, and clippings from the Wall Street Journal. Detroit Free Press quotes a patron as observing, "It's not my mother's bingo. It's nobody's mother's bingo.

Groupon Celebrates Pride Month 

Over the last 50 years, the gay rights movement in America has overcome tremendous obstacles to become a powerful voice for inclusion and diversity. Even as it has grown, the movement—like Groupon—is local at heart, and we applaud the commitment to real change that improves everyday lives. 

At Groupon, we are happy to add our voices to those celebrating PRIDE, their achievements as a social movement and a continued march to equality for the LGBT community. Plus, we love a chance to dig that rainbow wig out of storage. 

This month—and throughout the year—we salute our merchants and customers who support PRIDE and all efforts that promote dignity, respect and equal opportunity. We're highlighting these merchants' deals with a special badge to show Groupon's pride in working with people who share our values.

Modern Skate & Surf’s skate park and alternative-sports shop was founded in 1979 and has since hosted events frequented by Olympic and professional athletes—including superstar Tony Hawk—as well as earned a feature as Best Snowboard Shop in 2012 from Real Detroit Weekly. In Modern Skate & Surf’s world-class, 60,000-square-foot Royal Oak skate park—one of the largest facilities of its kind in the US—skateboards grind across rails or glide over jumps, and inline skaters whiz over obstacles and BMX bikes hang in midair. Customers can build on their extreme-sports skills in clinics and lessons or rent out the facility for parties or high-speed chases. Committed to supporting the next generation of extreme athletes, Modern Skate & Surf offers discounts to students who bring in report cards sporting A’s and B’s.

In addition to the skate park, Modern Skate & Surf also maintains a Lansing store that stocks snowboarding, skateboarding, wakeboarding, skating, and protective gear to facilitate exciting adventures.