Wayne ROCKS!  I love Wayne – The City of the Week with WCSX! I stopped by city hall and visited one of my favorite mayors, John Rhaesa (Ray-see).  Mayor Rhaesa is a super cool guy who loves his city.  The Mayor was kind enough (along with Lisa Kubany, Director of Marketing and Events) to take me around Wayne (pictures below).

Every time I visit Wayne I find something new.  This time, I found out the history of US-12 Bar and Grill.  Back in the day, US-12 was called The Rock and Roll Farm. A TON of bands played there: Bob Seeger (typo is there for a reason lol), Aerosmith, and Iggy Pop (well almost) to name a few.  According to Lisa, “Chef Mona Weekly specials:  hand-tossed pizza, battered fish and chicken dinners, and of course every Thursday is POLISH FOOD NIGHT:  Chicken and Dumplins and City Chicken are to die for!”  Lisa was extra serious about those chicken and dumplings.  I met John Goci.  His family has owned the place (and/or the place next door) since the ’80s.  His mom is Mona and she still comes in every day to prep food and make sure it’s the way she likes it.  I love that. John gave me the rock and roll history lesson on The Rock and Roll Farm days. The Bob Seger photos were taken by Ken Settle when he was a teenager!

The History of  The Rock and Roll Farm / US-12

We also stopped by two stores in one: Makers Market and Flowers in the Mitten. Rachel runs them and she’s super nice and creative.  The Makers Market hosts 20 local artists!  They’re hosting a Sip and Shop Mother’s Day Event on May 7th (more info in the photo gallery).

The State Wayne (Phoenix) Theatre has the biggest marquee in the state of Michigan! The theater holds live performances of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, hosted by the Michigan Rocky Horror Preservation Society.  The HUGE mural on the side of the theater tells the history of Wayne and showcases some famous residents including Pat Sheridan who played for the Detroit Tigers and The Kansas City Royals.

We also stopped by some restaurants!  Wayne is holding their first-ever Restaurant Week April 24th-30th! Look for specials at many of Wayne’s restaurants (more info in the photos below).

Wayne is also has a fundraiser on Friday, April 28th called Uncorked and On Tap that’s raising money for schools.

Check out our pics for more info and come visit Wayne!  Huge thanks to Mayor John Rhaesa and Lisa Kubany for being wonderful hosts!

Wayne – City of the Week Gallery

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  Wayne City Hall and we're hanging with the mayor! Mayor Rhaesa has been the mayor of Wayne for more than 5 years now and he's still super passionate about making Wayne the best it can be.

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  I asked Mayor Rhaesa if I could take a picture making it look like I was going to hit him with the gavel... he's a cool guy, but he took a hard pass on that request. lol

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  The signature sign of US-12
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  Doni and John Goci at US-12 Bar and Grill

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  Iggy was here, man.

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  Bob Seeger... so funny. This is the actual bill from the concert... typo and all!
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  The Bob Seger mural is made up from pictures of the concert Bob performed there.

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  Bob Seger hanging at The Rock and Roll Farm 1974 - The Lady on the left is part of the mural at US-12!

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  Bob Seger at Rock and Roll Farm in Wayne July 1974
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  Bob Seger at Rock and Roll Farm in Wayne February 1974

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  The wall art at US-12 includes actual bills from concerts back in the days of The Rock and Roll Farm.

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  Bob Seger hanging at The Rock and Roll Farm 1974 - The Lady on the left is part of the mural at US-12!
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  Wayne Events

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  The Avenue American Bistro on Elizabeth St: great food and ambiance

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  The Avenue American Bistro on Elizabeth St. has wallpaper that's actually a map!
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  An up-close view: The Avenue American Bistro on Elizabeth St. has wallpaper that's actually a map!

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  Mustang! Avenue American Bistro brings you dishes like our 14-hour smoked Korean Brisket Taco, their hand-crafted White BBQ Brisket Sliders, and hickory kissed Firecracker Shrimp with sweet chili glaze.

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  Restaurant Week in Wayne
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  Lisa knows a lot about the restaurants of Wayne and loves the food at Brookie's Cafe.

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  The Wayne State (Phoenix_ Theatre's massive marquee!

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  The mural depicts Wayne through four categories: People, Pride and Progress / Industrial Growth / Community Life / A Road Runs Through It
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  The mural panels are painted in shades of the creme brick color to create the illusion that they are ornamental carvings used in art-deco architecture. This painting style is called trompe-l'œil.

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  You can even get a shirt with Puff!

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  The Wayne State (Phoenix) Theatre is also known for their giant Puff the Dragon located in one of the theatres.
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  The mural at The Wayne State (Phoenix) Theatre has info blocks that explain the mural.

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  In 1991, the city of Wayne stepped in and, using over $500,000 in downtown development authority funds, purchased and restored the State Wayne. The city divided the theater into three screens and a live stage, and operated the theater until 2012.

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  Playing hooky! Doni, Lisa Kubany, and Mayor Rhaesa take a break for popcorn and a movie!
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  The Theatre was the first to offer Relax and Recline with heated seats.

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  Rocky Horror Picture Show Coming to the Fisher Theater

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  Derby's Alley is a nod to Wayne's past... before it was Wayne, it was called Derby's Corners.
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  Mother's Day Event in Wayne

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  Doni, Rachel, and Mayor Rhaesa showing some Wayne love!

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  Offering local commerce a place to put their products up for sale locally.
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  Makers Market offers tons of handcrafted items from local artists and shops.

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  Tons of Michigan themed items at Wayne's Makers Market.

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  These magnets of Wayne landmarks were made with a 3D printer by a Wayne resident.
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  Doni and Rachel photo-opping in front of the Flowers in the Mitten arch.

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  I love the name of this shop and Rachael is super creative in her flower arrangements.

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  Doni and Rachel Botu, the owner of Flowers in the Mitten.
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  I had to take a pic... I LOVE gnomes and stone pieces. - Doni

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  Restaurant Week in Wayne

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  city of the week Wayne
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  Taste the Smoke!

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  Taste The Smoke grand opening: Councilman Eric Cleereman, Councilman Alfred Brock, Mayor John Rhaesa, Chef Curtis, Michael Sloan, Councilman Kevin Dowd, Councilwoman Deb Wass, Community Development and DDA Director, Lori Gouin, Building and Engineering Director, Mike Buiten, and Planning Commissioner Don Quarles

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  You know Wayne has it going on when you see this many Pokestops... yes, I still play.
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  City of the Week is in Wayne! Mayor John Rhaesa shows Doni around town!

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