Chrystal Kaminski

Ahhh DEMF, my home away from home. Best techno I have ever experienced. Thank you, thank you. I had such a blast at Movement this year…I got two T-shirts to prove it :). Took so many pictures and saw so many talented artists that I don’t even know where to start giving kudos.

I just loved getting up each day and knowing that I was going to see a full day of more artists, would get to dance until I couldn’t anymore and would get to fuck around and talk to some of my closest friends whilst it all happening. Great food, nice staff and a lot of room to move around in the Hart Plaza. There’s even a giant waterfall right in the center. People who brought their kids to the event would bring them there to play when the heat got to be too much. Smart cookies they are.

I know I would love to go back again, but since I’m having a child soon, that will not be possible for at least another year or two. But don’t worry, DEMF…I will grace you with my presence again one day, and together we can make great memories once more.

I went here to attend DEMF, the Detroit Electronic Music Festival. It was absolutely AMAZING, best techno I have ever heard along with many other artists I have seen before and some I never have. Hardfloor was one of my favorites…me and my whole group of friends were going nuts for them, dancing and jumping up and down, it was simply fantastic. It was quite an experience to say the least.

The city of Detroit is a hole though, seriously. It is the dirtiest city I have ever seen. My friend Sue and I were walking around downtown at night and there were all these bums everywhere and shady looking people on the streets and in the back corners of alleys and such. It was kind of scary, if I wasn’t with someone I would have never walked around at night. That city not only is dirty, but NO ONE gives a SHIT what you do. If you want to walk around with bottles of beer and a blunt in your hand, you can. My friends were walking around town with beers and other drinks and cops would just look at us and move on. You can yell and scream and party in the streets and not a damn soul will care. Cars are allowed to park ANYWHERE, and no one ever got a ticket. I remember seeing all these cars parked all along the streets up to the stop sign, on the curbs…even on the sidewalks. That city is seriously a free-for-all. No wonder why they have such high crime. I kept walking around thinking “we would NEVER be able to get away with this in Milwaukee”. We would end up with tickets UP the wazoo and a night in jail for doing the shit we did in Detroit.

The hotels are disgusting, even the nicer ones. I had friends that stayed at the Leiland and then some that stayed at the Holiday Inn Express (I don’t know what makes it ‘express’). The Holiday Inn was much nicer, but it was still a hole. Forget about the Leiland….that place should be a home for bums. We had a good time trashing what wasn’t already trashed though…so it was worth it :P. Us ravers just don’t stop.

The only nice area in Detroit was the Hart plaza where DEMF is held, it’s beautiful and relaxing, even with loud hard music pounding in the distance. Right across from gorgeous Canada…it sits chill along the Belle Isle, the breeze you get off of it was great in the heat. They have wonderful food at DEMF, the vendors had variety for every kind of person…so from greasy pizza to veggie-wraps, you were set to go no matter what your style. I had a great time on the grounds, rarely did I leave them unless it was to get something or someone from a hotel.

Overall the trip was great, I had fun with all my friends and I got to see people I don’t see very often. So though the city is mostly shitty in the looks/class department, it’s still fun to throw down there without a care.

My friends and I went hiking in this canyon..it was my very first time hiking ever really. I have a mild allergy to the sun so I really was at a loss here because there is minimal shade to seek refuge in. I stayed behind at time when my friend wanted to climb very high up.

I did have a great time though, hiking tests your balance, distance calculation and your instincts. I found myself climbing on all fours much faster than I could on two feet, that way I could also be more nimble and balanced. I could also hold on and navigate better. I felt like a mountain lion or something, it was quite funny.

The heat was at times so unbearable though…so I sought out a spot to sit with a tiny piece of shade. It was nice to sit there by myself and just take everything in, the sky and rock formations all around me, the sun and the smells. It was wonderful.