Tea and Coffee Service, 1842-43, hard-paste porcelain, porcelain enamel, gold; S èvres Porcelain Manufactory, France. Detroit Institute of Arts
Bitter|Sweet: Coffee, Tea & Chocolate
The DIA's newest special exhibition,  Bitter|Sweet: Coffee, Tea & Chocolate , opens November 20, and residents from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties can take advantage of special offers and programs. Tri-county residents receive a $4 discount on adult tickets and a $2 discount on youth tickets (ages 6 to 17). The DIA also provides tri-county schools with free exhibition admission and transportation when they  reserve a field trip in advance
 
There will be plenty of exciting Coffee, Tea & Chocolate programs at the DIA and at tri-county community and cultural organizations. In anticipation of the exhibition opening, the museum is sending three designer coffee and tea service sets from its collection to locations in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Wayne County residents can see architect Michael Graves' custom set for Italian housewares manufacturer Alessi up close and personal at the Arab American National Museum , located at 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, from November 1 through May 1, 2017. A complete list of community programs will be available soon at culturesource.org/bittersweet.
Check out these upcoming county events:

Wayne County Day, Saturday, Oct. 15
The DIA is providing free bus transportation to and from the museum on Saturday, Oct. 15 for Wayne County residents. The DIA provides this service twice a year for tri-county residents. Round-trip transportation and admission is free, but reservations are required. To reserve a spot and find times and locations, call 313-833-4005 or visit tickets.dia.org .

Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos, Friday, Oct. 21-Sunday, Nov. 6
The DIA, in collaboration with the Mexican Consulate of Detroit, will exhibit 14
ofrenda altars, or offerings, created by local artists from Friday, Oct. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 6 in celebration of the  Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). The exhibition and related programs are free with museum admission and for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.  Learn more here.

Turn your community Inside|Out in 2017 
The DIA is seeking cities to host its popular Inside|Out program next year. Inside|Out, approaching its eighth year, celebrates the richness and diversity of the museum's collection by placing high-quality reproductions of masterpieces around town in a grand, open-air gallery. City representatives, downtown development authorities and arts organizations are asked to submit applications by Monday, Oct. 31. Learn more at dia.org/insideout
 
Senior Thursdays, every Thursday at 1 p.m. 
This DIA program offers tri-county seniors the opportunity to visit the museum and enjoy programs planned exclusively for them, at no cost, every Thursday. The first Thursday of each month features a guided gallery tour; the second a lecture; the third an art-making class; and the fourth a film. During months with five Thursdays, the fifth Thursday will feature a guided gallery tour. All programs will begin at 1 p.m. The October schedule is:
  • October 13: Lecture:  Ordinary People by Extraordinary Artists: Degas, Renoir and Friends
  • October 20: Art-making: Sugar skulls 
  • October 27: Film: The Mystery of Picasso

Advance registration for individuals is preferred, but not required. Call 313-833-4005 to register. Free transportation is available for groups of 25 or more. To book a group, call 313-833-1292. 
  • Belle Isle Park (Aquarium parking lot)
    Saturday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
    900 Inselruhe Ave., Detroit  
The DIA's nearly 700 volunteers served almost 63,000 hours over the last fiscal year. That equates to nearly $1.5 million of in-kind support to the DIA! We're thankful for all the hard work our dedicated volunteers-many of whom are Wayne County residents-provide each and every day.