# It's Been A While: Michigan Dopefest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 11, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858 "2009-12-11T14:25:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/61 "2009-12-25T00:35:35Z")
Is anyone going from Ann Arbor? ---
**Author:** ![Heller\_Highwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@Heller\_Highwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heller_Highwater)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/62 "2009-12-25T00:38:46Z")
I’m coming from Lansing, but I’m happy to swing by if people need rides. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/63 "2009-12-25T01:11:14Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Is anyone going from Ann Arbor? Let me know if you need a ride. I’m in Canton, which is pretty close to Ann Arbor. The same goes for other Dopers as well. PM me and we’ll get stuff squared away. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/64 "2009-12-25T02:28:50Z")
I’m in Sterling Heights, I can offer a ride as well for anyone out this way. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/65 "2009-12-26T19:58:42Z")
Le bump. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/66 "2009-12-27T03:59:38Z")
It appears that we might come with another guest. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/67 "2009-12-28T03:45:27Z")
Most excellent, the more the merrier. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/68 "2009-12-29T19:34:13Z")
Big night tomorrow… Need me to bring anything? Drinks? Food? Ancient Weaponry? (I was thinking of supplying some beer?) Also, **QT,** can you send me your address in a PM? Alas, my recollection of your street has faded with time. ---
**Author:** ![little\_bit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@little\_bit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_bit)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/69 "2009-12-29T19:47:36Z")
I’ve never been to a Dopefest, and it appears I won’t be at this one either. If you guys get bored (or brave) there is 18 & older roller skating at Skate World of Troy. I’d skip it, but I planned it. 😃 Not that the party won’t be tons of fun… I just thought I’d throw the skating out there. I’m an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/70 "2009-12-29T19:54:17Z")
Hmmm… perhaps we should start earlier, get liquored up and hop on over to Troy. 😉 I know the rink well, grew up around 16 & Dequindre. I think I took my first date there, and boogied to the likes of Salt & Peppa and M.C. Hammer. ---
**Author:** ![little\_bit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@little\_bit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_bit)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/71 "2009-12-29T21:15:57Z")
I grew up around 16 & Livernois, which means we were high school adversaries. (Go Troy Colts!) The adult skates are every Wednesday 8:30-11:00 & every Sunday 7:30-10:30. Perhaps you guys would be interested in having a skate party for the next SE MI dopefest. There’s no booze there (due to balance & liability issues) but no one said a liquid warm-up with dinner is out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/72 "2009-12-29T21:35:15Z")
(Go Stallions!) Skating might be fun next time. We’ve talked about Feather Bowling too in the past. You gotta come out and join us next time. We have a blast. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/73 "2009-12-30T06:13:38Z")
Sorry you can’t make it, **little\*bit**. Hopefully next time. Skating sounds…dangerous. Egads, I don’t think I’ve been on skates in at least 20 years, it’d be quicker just to trip me in the parking lot and call the ambulance from there. 😛 **cmyk** PM sent, and I’ve got Labatts, Mikes and Guinness, will those do? ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/74 "2009-12-30T14:19:33Z")
What on earth is feather bowling? I’m intrigued. I think we all gotta try [whirlyball](http://www.whirlyballwest.com/)sometime. ---
**Author:** ![little\_bit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@little\_bit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_bit)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/75 "2009-12-30T15:21:26Z")
[Feather Bowling](http://www.cadieuxcafe.com/featherbowling/) is hard to describe, but I’ll try (but it’s probably best if you read the description from the link). It’s a strange mix of bowling, bocci ball and horse shoes. There is a long dirt lane that is concave with a feather stuck in the ground on each end. You take a “ball” which looks like a wheel of cheese (or a curling stone with out the handle) and roll it down the lane trying to get it as close to the feather as possible. Each teams gets 6 balls and throws all 6 before their opponents go. You want to get as many balls as close to the feather as possible while using your remaining balls to block your opponents balls. The team with the ball closest to the feather gets points. How many depends on how many balls are closer to the feather than the opposing teams closest ball. First team to 10 points wins. (Confused yet?) ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/76 "2009-12-30T15:48:51Z")
We did whirlyball for a friend’s bachelor party. Someone puked on the court. Feather bowling sounds like snape hunting. It’s an urban legend and doesn’t actually exist. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/77 "2009-12-30T16:46:12Z")
Feather Bowling exists as an idealized abstract concept only to be conjured in the minds of the intellectually enlightened. One must transcend their mundane earthly concepts and focus on the perfect Platonic shapes and music of the spheres to reach this higher plane of pure thought. Only then can you achieve the ancient state of being that is _Feather Bowling._\* \*may cause vomiting as well. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/78 "2009-12-30T21:12:34Z")
> [@little\_bit](#): > > [Feather Bowling](http://www.cadieuxcafe.com/featherbowling/) is hard to describe, but I’ll try (but it’s probably best if you read the description from the link). > > It’s a strange mix of bowling, bocci ball and horse shoes. There is a long dirt lane that is concave with a feather stuck in the ground on each end. You take a “ball” which looks like a wheel of cheese (or a curling stone with out the handle) and roll it down the lane trying to get it as close to the feather as possible. Each teams gets 6 balls and throws all 6 before their opponents go. You want to get as many balls as close to the feather as possible while using your remaining balls to block your opponents balls. The team with the ball closest to the feather gets points. How many depends on how many balls are closer to the feather than the opposing teams closest ball. First team to 10 points wins. > (Confused yet?) Anthony Bourdain showed feather bowling on his Rust Belt episode. I hope you guys have fun tonight. I have social issues so I won’t be there. 😃 I avoid parties even when I know everyone already. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/79 "2009-12-30T21:18:33Z")
> **[Cadieux Cafe: The place to go in Detroit.](http://www.cadieuxcafe.com/)** > > Cadieux Cafe Detroit: home to Belgian food, beer, and feather bowling; it is also one of Detroit’s top live music venues. About half way down the page there’s a couple vids of the Anthony Bourdain ep. with feather bowling. My creaky old work computer stalled out so I can’t give you the time at which the bowling appears. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858/80 "2009-12-30T21:53:53Z")
> [@maladroit](#): > > Anthony Bourdain showed feather bowling on his Rust Belt episode. > I hope you guys have fun tonight. I have social issues so I won’t be there. 😃 > I avoid parties even when I know everyone already. You know, even if you hopped in for 5 minutes, had some junk food and scampered off, nobody would be offended. My girlfriend made some really good apple crisp for tonight! But seriously, though. The group of people that we have are good folks, believe it or not. Round out your Dope experience if you happen to be out and about at that particular time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-michigan-dopefest/520858.md?page=5)