Ann Arbor Photographic Arts
A Staircase of Creative Expression
For years Greek communities in Michigan have hosted Greek Independence Day events centered on a parade in Greektown, Detroit. Ann Arbor Photographic Arts has covered this cultural tradition for folks of Greek backgrounds and those Philhellenes interested in the draw of Greece. Of recent note was the passing of Olga Loizon in 2019. She was the founder of Olga’s Kitchen and photographed at a 2017 banquet when the Detroit Greek Independence Day Committee awarded Loizon the Greektown Preservation Society Award. Please share comments in the guestbook with your stories about these photos. Efharisto.
A2photographic.com covered the 18th Annual Greek Independence Day Parade in Detroit’s historic Greektown with two video cameras and Maria’s awesome street photography. There was a spectacular rain that drenched those walking, making for a “one of a kind” experience. Click on our youtube.com videos for the sounds and sights of the day! Then click on the slideshow to go to our Greek Heritage photo galleries and comment in our guestbook. OPA to the Greeks and their fight for freedom! Great Greek food at the Golden Fleece afterwards, too. Efharisto!
This is a family photo story nearly a century old as Jim Koukios was the first of his Greek family to come to the United States in 1920. After settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he then brought over his nephews Sam, Thales, and Gus Koukios to sell “Red Hots” in his chili hot dog style restaurant at 131 Michigan Ave NW. It has been a three generation livelihood with the secret chili recipe at the core of its lore.
Today’s happening was the family getting together in a nostalgic celebration of the successful retirement of a branch of this story, as the Red Hot Inn at the corner of the Belt Line and Leonard St. cashed out after 35 years in business at that location. Gus’ Original pizza restaurant closed as well after 7 years, as both brothers, Jim and Matt, felt it was time to move on. All this, however, happened while stories of the home land, the mountain village of Dikastro in Greece, were still being told. Thanks Uncle Jim for the century of stories.
Click the button below for the full gallery of photos.
Evans Koukios, Ann Arbor Photographic Arts, June 22, 2019
This year, Easters fell one week apart on the two different Christian calendars. On April 21, 2019, the Easter service at the Ann Arbor First United Methodist Church was video recorded in 4K by a2photographic, while the Resurrection Vigil and Holy Pascha Divine Liturgy was streamed live and recorded from Saint Mark’s Greek Orthodox Church in Boca Raton, Florida, April 28, 2019.
Both were uploaded to youtube servers and now shared from a2photographic.com, informing us of the changes in civilization for communicating photographic and video arts today, connected by the new internet infrastructure. People around the world can visit Ann Arbor and hear the messages of pastors Nancy Lynn, Nick Berlanga and Tim Kobler. They can hear the choirs, bells and brass directed by Dr. Ann Marie Koukios. Likewise, the ambitious live streaming in Florida gives us access to Rev. Father Mark Leondis , the chanters, choirs, parishioners and pageantry in an Orthodox church steeped in historical tradition.
So we can now live in a virtual world. We have upped the way of interacting with each other. Christos Anesti!
This year marks the 18th Annual Greek Independence Day Parade in Detroit’s Historic Greektown District that Ann Arbor Photographic Arts has covered for years.
Click to see our youtube photoshows from 2012 and 2016 and get into the Greek spirit. This is “OPA” coverage that gets you dancing and up to speed with the festivities to come. Visit the parade committee website for more information at greekparades.com.
The committee’s schedule includes (times are p.m.):
- 1:00 Dignitary Reception at Atheneum Suite Hotel
- 2:00 Doxology Service at Annunciation Church
- 3:00 Parade travels on Monroe St. to Greektown Hotel
- 4:00 Post Parade ceremony, dancing and street festival
a2photographic.com loves covering this local tradition for folks of Greek backgrounds and Philhellenes touched by the draw of Greece; and we’ll SEE you with our cameras at this year’s parade. Also, click below to visit our Greek Heritage Photo Galleries, share comments in the guestbook and find a picture of yourself! Efharisto.
Click below to play our youtube recordings of 1) Hispanic and 2) Arab parts of the evening's concert 3) the dinner speakers on immigration and 4) Rev. Paul Perez delivering his sermon message "Blessing or Curse".
Each year the First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor plans activities around global awareness and this year’s theme was “Joy in Diversity & Grace Through Immigration – A Celebration of Arab and Hispanic Cultures.
On Feb 9, 2019 dinner was provided by Chela’s Mexican restaurant and Oasis Mediterranean Cuisine. Speakers were 18th District State Senator Jeff Irwin; Sonja Luna, Methodist Missionary for Hispanic Ministries; and Victoria Booker, Justice for Our Neighbors & Immigrant Hospitality.
The evening concert featured the Chancel Choir under the Direction of Dr. Ann Marie Koukios, included music of Hispanic and Arab cultures and Michael Ibrahim of the National Arab Orchestra. Sunday morning, Rev. Paul Perez of the UMC Conference gave the sermon message on diversity and immigration, “Blessing or Curse”.