Things to Do in Troy
Recommended Things to Do by Groupon Customers
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.
Since 2002, the instructors at Hazel Park Learn to Skate have honed hockey-skating abilities and figure-skating techniques throughout the year, regardless of outdoor temperatures. They hold court inside the Hazel Park Municipal Viking Arena, allowing students of all ages to get acquainted with a full-size, well-maintained surface. Figure-skating sessions follow the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills curriculum, whereas the hockey curriculum focuses on speed and agility, allowing athletes to win the referee's favor without learning how to care for his orchid patch. Basic-skills courses provide beginners with fundamentals required for progressing into specialized skating areas. For preschool-aged skaters, Snowplow Sam sessions help develop the basic coordination and strength necessary to maneuver on the ice.
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.
Compassion is the mantra at Yoga Oasis, a mind-body haven lined with glowing candles and shimmering golden curtains. Here, a teaching team draws on a combined 50 years of experience to guide students through ancient poses and breathing exercises that infuse consciousness with a sense of peace. The studio makes yoga accessible to all manner of student, from those who have never touched a sticky mat to those who can perform a headstand on a flying carpet. Yogis even travel to the Great Lakes Cancer Institute, where they help members of the Swan for Life Cancer Foundation find peace and strength through meditation and graceful movement.
Beginners downward-dog into Back to Basics sessions to master hatha poses such as Warrior 1, which forms the foundation for faster-paced classes such as Vinyasa and Flow. In these classes, clear cues and alignment adjustments engage the entire body, bolstering strength, balance, and flexibility. In the Therapeutic & Yoga with Ease class, deep breaths propel students into calming poses that can be modified with props such as blocks, straps, and Shakespearean stage armor.
The Bogey Golf Tour grants golfers a chance to take to the links and compete against fellow amateurs in tournaments scheduled at some of the finest courses in the London, Windsor, Detroit, and Kitchener/Waterloo areas. At each event, scratch golfers compete in the Birdie division, 0–15 handicaps square off in the Par division, and 16+ handicappers trade pinpoint approaches and sequined divot tools in the Bogey division. The top five finishers in each division receive prize money—which can be paid out in gift certificates or cash—and the Tour also holds prize competitions for longest drive, closest to the pin, and 3-iron jousting. The Tour publishes the results from each tournament in local newspapers, and players can chart the peaks and valleys of their careers on the Tour Members list, which compiles all of their tournament results. Along with providing an outlet for amateur golfers to exercise their long-suppressed competitive side, the Tour and its sponsors have raised $74,000 for various area charities since 2003.
