any top spinners in or near Detroit?

[the Earl of Whirl]

We have a big national youth gathering in Detroit during the summer of 2015 and I am wondering about any spinners in the area.  There will be 40,000 people there for big mass gatherings, smaller workshops, service events and more.  It should make a positive impact on the city.  There will also be a giant area of interactive exhibits that people can be involved in during the time we are there.  In the past we have had jugglers, stiltwalkers, diaboloists and more.  Why not some top spinning?   

[the Earl of Whirl]

Interestingly enough, it is over a year later and now I am headed to Detroit for that national youth gathering.  The word on the street is that they did not get 40,000 people as they had hoped.  But they still have 30,000 people headed to Motor City and there should be some interesting sights to see. 

This will be my tenth one of these things that happen every three years.  I remember being introduced to stilt walking at San Antonio in 1988.  I remember seeing a large area filled with juggling balls (colored like the earth to fit in with the theme) and a guy teaching people to juggle in Dallas in 1991.  I remember being asked to lead some interactive circus arts activities in 1994 (juggling balls, rings, clubs, devil's stick and diabolo but no top spinning as I did not know much about it then).  I tried hitting the ceiling of the domed area where the Rams play in St. Louis in 2000 (I was not even close).  I remember carrying clubs and juggling through the streets of Atlanta, San Antonio, and New Orleans (twice) in 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2012.  Sadly, there has been hardly any top spinning.....although I did break away from one youth gathering to visit ta0 in San Antonio (was that 2006?)

I packed a few items that do not take much space like the diabolo and a few tops.  Because of space concerns, I am not bringing any clubs this year.  There is a place called Mexicantown in the southwestern part of Detroit.  Maybe I will get a chance to share some trompo action there?  Maybe I will simply be putting tops in people's hands like ta0 did recently in a San Antonio interactive center?  One way or another, I will attempt to bring back some top spinning stories from an area of the country I seldom get to visit.

[Kirk]

Have a great trip. Praying for a positive impact that is so very needed in that city. Spin a few for me.

[Spunion]

Wow, I just saw this!  I'm in Ann Arbor, 45 min away.  How long are you going to be in town?

[the Earl of Whirl]

Hello Spunion!  We will be here until noon on Sunday.  We were sure near Ann Arbor the other day as we drove through Hell, Michigan.  What a crazy place.

I did some top spinning in Cobo Hall today.  There wasn't much reaction to it but there are some Spanish speaking groups here.  I am going to try to throw near them.