Anjana Schroeder / Crain's Detroit Business

The crew putting in new sod works Thursday at Comerica Park less than two weeks before opening day.

Workers began installing 103,000 square feet of Kentucky bluegrass at Comerica Park today, the first full re-sod of the Detroit Tigers ballpark since 2007.

After scraping away snow and ice from the barren playing surface the old grass was removed late last year so a temporary ice rink could be built on the infield the ground was prepped to receive the grass from Fort Morgan, Colo.-based Graff's Turf Farm. The turf was shipped in several trucks, and is expected to be ready for Opening Day on March 31, when the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals.

New natural grass fields at major league ballparks range in price from $100,000 to $250,000. The National Hockey League agreed to pick up replacement grass costs at Comerica Park as part of the deal it swung with Red Wings and Tigers owner Mike Ilitch to host its Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium instead of Comerica Park.

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If you enjoy the content on the Crain's Detroit Business Web site and want to see more, try 8 issues of our print edition risk-free. If you wish to continue, you will receive 44 more issues (for a total of 52 in all), including the annual Book of Lists for just $59. That's over 55% off the cover price. If you decide Crain's is not for you, just write "Cancel" on the invoice, return it and owe nothing. The 8 issues are yours to keep with no further obligation to us. Sign up below.

Continued here:
Blade brigade: Field of green laid for Tigers' Opening Day

DUBAI: Anyone walking through the main entrance of the Madinat Jumeira conference center nowadays must run a gauntlet of thigh-high marsh grass. A miniature meadow of the stuff has been planted in the foyer, in a few dozen small flowerpots, and arranged in thick rows on either side of the twin doors.By Tuesday evening the day before the eighth edition of Art Dubai opened to the public several of the pots had already been knocked over and the grass trampled underfoot by the fairs patrons, who may not have realized they were walking though a piece of installation art.

That seems to have been the intention behind The Desired Path, a two-stage work by New York-based Lebanese artist Youmna Chlala.

The title The Desired Path is an architectural term, Chlala explained. Whenever theres a concrete footpath through a green space, you always see another one that pedestrians take across the grass. Its more-or-less parallel to the official pathway but less direct, and thats the one people want to take.

The works second stage is located a few hundred meters north of the first, beyond the far side of the Madinat Jumeira, at the base of a set of outdoor stairs leading to the Mina al-Salam hotel the venue of Art Dubai Modern and the fairs Global Art Forum.

Here, art buyers dont find pots of marsh grass, but strips of sod the sort of weed-free grass cultivated in nurseries, cut from the soil like a scalp from the skull and sold to impatient and wealthy homeowners that has been arranged into a square. If you raise one of the once-green strips and peer beneath, as the public is encouraged to do, you see the sod has been laid on a bed of sterile sand.

For me, Chlala said, this piece is all about time.

The most-obvious temporal element is the degradation of the plants over the course of Art Dubai from green to a shade of gray-beige. For the artist, the work is also meant to evoke sensory memory in the public recollected encounters with greenery that are accentuated by the pieces incongruity within the meticulously manicured space.

The two different types of flora used in The Desired Path juxtapose the way in which this patch of turf may once have looked (when it was still called Chicago Beach) with what it has become since being transformed into the upscale hotel district of Jumeirah.

There is also a performative aspect not simply the publics tramping through and over the grasses, but in their maintenance. The plants are being watered daily, with a spray bottle.

If The Desired Path has a weakness, its less in the work itself than its spatial deployment. The two stages are so far from each other that preoccupied art-market aficionados may have trouble keeping both in mind at once, or even noticing that they are both facets of the same artwork, rather than the detritus of some grounds-maintenance project at the hotel complex.

Read more here:
A thoughtful walk through Art Dubai

Pistoriuss uncle, Arnold Pistorius, who has become the familys spokesman, said in a statement yesterday that the family would not be commenting on any more stories in the media. The focus is now entirely on a very serious trial that is set to start this Monday, he said. We love Oscar, and believe in him, and will be standing by him throughout the coming trial.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has called Pistorius a man willing and ready to fire and kill as the state charged him with the premeditated murder of Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius gives a totally different story, saying he was terrified in the mistaken belief that there was a dangerous intruder in his home. I knew I had to protect Reeva and myself, Pistorius said in an 11-page affidavit, his only testimony so far.

The attention that the case has attracted has drawn the criticism that Pistorius is facing trial by media. He is, in fact, facing trial by Judge Thokozile Masipa. But it is not overly sensationalist to say that it is the South African justice system that will face trial by media.

Judge Masipa, only the second black woman to sit on the Transvaal High Court when she was called in 1998, understands this better than anyone. Under apartheid she worked as a crime reporter and did not pass her bar exams until the age of 43. She has a strong history of tough sentences for crimes against women. On handing down life sentences to two rapists she argued that the crime was on the rise to such an extent that it was undermining the fabric of society.

Judge Masipa will be assisted by two assessors, legal experts who can come from varying backgrounds, often solicitors. There will be no jurors. Trial by jury was abolished in South Africa under apartheid in 1969.

See the article here:
Oscar Pistorius trial: No jury for athlete, just a female judge and 24-hour news

Honolulu, HI (PRWEB) March 20, 2014

The best part: Aston works with each couple to bring all that legendary surf, sun and sand together under any budget, and with plenty of aloha.

Visit AstonHotels.com/destinationweddings or call (866) 774-2924 for details. Special group rates are available.

About Aston Hotels & Resorts Aston Hotels & Resorts operates a diverse range of condominium resorts and hotels with accommodations from hotel rooms and condominium suites, to villas and cottages that suit any lifestyle, taste or budget. Based in Honolulu, the company manages over 4,100 units in 27 properties on the four major Hawaiian Islands, South Lake Tahoe, California, Lake Las Vegas, Nevada, and Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit http://www.AstonHotels.com or call toll free 866-774-2924.

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An Exceptional Destination Wedding at Any Budget: Aston Hotels & Resorts Has the Ingredients for a Perfect Celebration

Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) March 20, 2014

Cedar Wood Structures Inc. (http://www.CedarWoodStructures.ca), the Greater Toronto Areas leading provider of custom outdoor living structures, custom cabanas, and residential renovation and condominium improvements, is announcing the top benefits of building a custom backyard cabana.

After the long, harsh winter that has blanketed the Greater Toronto Area, everyone is looking forward to warmer spring weather and a hot summer. Unfortunately, summers never seem to last long enough, says Val Dumitriu, owner of Cedar Wood Structures Inc. Often associated with vacation resorts, a custom cabana is the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon and is also ideal for hosting pool or backyard parties during the summer.

Dumitriu explains that homeowners do not need a large backyard pool or lakefront view to enjoy the benefits of a custom cabana. Whether theyre looking for a place to get out of the sun or change out of a wet bathing suit, a sheltered barbeque area, sinks, bars, or an enclosed room, homeowners should consider building a backyard cabana.

As the top provider of outdoor pool cabanas in the GTA, Cedar Wood Structures has a wide selection of cabana designs to choose from, or homeowners can have one custom designed to their specifications, Dumitriu adds. At Cedar Woods Structures, we know what winters are like in Southern Ontario; thats why we build outdoor cabanas to last, using only the finest, most durable materials that will stand up to Southern Ontarios extreme weather conditions.

Dumitriu notes that summers in the Greater Toronto Area can also feel too short, which makes the construction schedule of a cabana that much more important. Cedar Woods Structures offers a variety of standard and prefabricated outdoor pool cabanas. The company has prefabricated, ready-to-go stucco finish walls; even customized cabana walls are prefabricated and preassembled for a fast and efficient on-site installation.

Whether its a place to relax, host parties, or extend the living area by creating a home office, a backyard pool cabana gives the feeling of escape without actually having to get awayand a great way to enhance a property without making any changes to the home, Dumitriu concludes.

Cedar Wood Structures Inc. specializes in designing, building, and delivering quality custom pool cabanas, gazebos, garden sheds, studios, outdoor bars and kitchens, pergolas and trellises, custom decks, and other outdoor living structures, such as landscaping and pools. Cedar Wood Structures Inc. also specializes in residential renovation, condominium improvements, and general contracting. With over 20 years of construction experience, company owner/operator Val Dumitriu holds a masters degree in civil engineering and is a certified building inspector. Cedar Wood Structures Inc. serves the Greater Toronto Area, including Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Vaughan, Markham, Newmarket, Aurora, Oakville, Burlington, Milton Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa. To learn more about Cedar Wood Structures Inc. visit the companys web site at http://www.cedarwoodstructures.ca or call 1-888-993-8855.

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Cedar Wood Structures Inc, Torontos Leading Provider of Custom Pools and Outdoor Living Structures, Releases Top ...

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 20, 2014

Dusty pictures of grandparents, dirty laundry, piles of books and magazines none of it exactly ignites the spark that leads to a night of unbridled passion. Dr. Kat, sexologist and couples therapist, recommends basic Feng Shui techniques to turn the bedroom into a love nest. Feng Shui is an approach to design that creates positive flows of energy, called chi, through the placement of items in homes and businesses.

Dr. Kat offers seven basic Feng Shui tips to get you started:

1. Get rid of clutter - literally and figuratively. Only keep things in the bedroom that have a purpose or meaning everything else should be purged or organized neatly (and preferably out of sight). The bedroom is not the ideal place for pictures of extended family. Having the in-laws hover while making love, or rolling over onto games or stuffed animals doesnt usually elicit a sense of romance. Make the bedroom a sanctuary.

2. Make the bed the focal point. The bed should not be placed directly under a window, and it should not be crowded into a corner. These positions tend to create sensations of oppression and lack of security. If possible, arrange it in the middle of the room, with space to walk around three sides of the bed. Also, storing things under the bed is a big "no-no," because it can bind up chi the space beneath the bed is not for storage!

3. Remove negativity. Electronics broadcast negative chi, called sha, and they also emit electro-magnetic fields. It is best to keep electronic clocks and gadgets at least a couple of feet away from the bed, and if possible out of view. Either dont put a TV in the bedroom or keep it and stereo equipment behind an armoire. Laptops? Same drill, and don't bring the gadget into bed with you!

4. Create a relationship shrine. The far right corner of the home is the relationship point of the house. Keeping this area intimate and cozy is important. Some choose to put a relationship shrine in this area, a place to feature things that represent beauty and positivity - favorite books, love poems, flowers, crystals, etc. The key - decorating the shrine with intention. This is not a spot for random knick-knacks.

5.Make sensuality a priority. Pay attention to the artwork in the bedroom. Replace images of lone figures with images of couples, or items in pairs. Include artifacts that boost happiness with every glance. Generally, warm colors are best for bedrooms. Indulge in sensual bedding. It doesnt have to be silky or frilly just sensual (whatever that means for you). High thread counts in warm colors are good.

Leveraging principles of Feng Shui can lead to better sleep, an energized sex life, and a more positive frame of mind. You have nothing to lose but a little clutter!

About Dr. Kat: Dr. Kat Van Kirk received her doctorate in Human Sexuality/Clinical Sexology from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco. She runs the website: http://www.drkat.com and is the resident expert for Adam and Eve. She also is an associate professor at the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco and an adjunct professor at Akamai University in Hilo, Hawaii.

Read more:
Five Spring Feng Shui Fixes To Liven Up Your Sex Life

MIAMI -

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for the Wynwood Gateway Complex. It is the area's first development community and now a competition is underway to design the park inside the complex.

You could say Wynwood wears its art on its sleeve. The bohemian barrio is a vibrant up-and-coming neighborhood that developers are digging.

"Something about this place has the right feng shui," said Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff. "It always seems to be facing the right direction."

Wednesday at Northwest 29th Street and Second Avenue, a development called Wynwood Gateway touted its newest tenant: Ducati motorcycles.

"It is the first time that an international brand comes to Wynwood and that is a game changer," said Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

But some say the changes are coming faster than these high-speed motor bikes.

Colorful Wynwood will soon be getting its first hotel; an eight-story luxury boutique hotel will be built on an empty lot.

Wynwood Central is one of many rental and condo projects that includes retail and office space, but one project that has been proposed has more than 250 units and many say that's too many too fast.

Sarnoff said Wynwwood needs a building height limit of six stories.

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Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for Wynwood Gateway Complex

Skip J. Williams: Swing For The Fences
Wake Up Call Video By America #39;s Next Level Strategist Skip J. Williams - Swing For The Fences You don #39;t have to be a baseball player to swing for the fences....

By: Skip J. Williams

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Skip J. Williams: Swing For The Fences - Video

Victims, charged barbed wire fences, ashes of atrocity victims at concentration...HD Stock Footage
Link to order this clip: http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675037236_German-concentration-camps_electrically-charged-barbed-wire-fencing_prisoners_human-as...

By: CriticalPast

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Victims, charged barbed wire fences, ashes of atrocity victims at concentration...HD Stock Footage - Video

OCEANO, Calif. -

Just in time for windy season, there's a large mediation project at the Oceano dunes recreation area.

State Parks is putting up fences to reduce sand blowing into Oceano and Nipomo neighborhoods.

During the last couple months planning the project, international desert and dune scientists were brought in to help design a solution.

15 acres of these fences in the dune's riding area are expected to slow wind flow in its main path into Oceano and Nipomo.

It's a one million dollar project that State Parks believes will make a big difference.

The fences will be taken down around July when the windy season ends.

Nipomo residents News Channel 3 spoke with have differing opinions; while some are doubtful and think the fences will just blow over, others are looking forward to the results.

State parks say they'll install air and wind monitors around the project to track the progress.

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Sand Fences to Stop Pollution From Oceano Dunes