This is it. Another season has passed, and the Lions have one more opportunity to win at home and avoid setting a horrific NFL record. We'll be tailgating this Sunday with a handful of Lions die-hards and enjoying every second of it.

Speaking of gratuitous media appearances, Detroit Tailgate showed up on Inside the NFL on Showtime on November 26th. We'll get some video of that as soon as we can.

The Thanksgiving tailgate was an international event with guests from Canada, Mexico, and Great Britain! Special shout-outs to Mark and his Canadien Crew, and Favi, our friend from Mexico.

2008 Detroit Tailgate
Chili Champion

Congratulations to Chris Merrill and his Venison Chili for winning the Fourth Annual Detroit Tailgate Chili Cook-Off. Chris is now inducted into the Detroit Tailgate Chili Hall of Flame alongside the previous champs of the chili pot.
HALL OF FLAME >>

Thanksgiving Photos
The photo gallery from the Thanksgiving Day tailgate will be posted soon. We had a great time with new and old friends, including Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of Tailgating. Shout-outs to come.

Next Tailgate
The next home game is December 7th. With three games in two weeks, we're running a little behind at the website. Details on the remaining two tailgates to come.

Only the tailgate remains

As far as we're concerned at Detroit Tailgate, the remaining tailgate parties just happen to coincide with Lions home games. The game is no fun, and the tailgate parties have more entertainment than the Lions could ever provide. And the beer is cheaper, too!

Latest photos
The Nov. 23 photos of the 2008 Detroit Tailgate Chili Cook-Off are in the gallery. The cook-off results will be announced as soon as the web monkeys sober up. LATEST GALLERY >>

The Tubgaters
Special thanks to Denny and The Tubgaters for making the last game so much fun. You can see them in the gallery, or in person at every home game across the street from Vivio's in the southeast corner of Tailgate Lot 1 in the Eastern Market.

When the snow starts to fly and you start worrying about keeping your beer from freezing, it must be time for the Detroit Tailgate Chili Cook-Off! Judging will take place in the center of Lot 1 of the Eastern Market, so bring a bowl over . More >>

Visit the Chili Cook-Off Hall of Flame and see if you have what it takes to be this year's Chili Champion.

Special thanks to Jay the Tailgate Guy for helping us with the contest and for being a part of a great day of tailgating in Detroit.

Matt, Matt, Kim, Eric, John and Gary: Tailgate Champs

Congratulations to The Lions Bus/Beery Sanders Crew for winning the 2008 Best Tailgate Party Contest held on November 9 at the Eastern Market. Winners received a sweet Camp Chef Grill. Thanks to Jay the Tailgate Guy for helping us put this together. Be sure to check out Jay's website for his take on the day, and keep your eye out for the next issue of Tailgater Monthly Magazine. More >>

We have much more info to post about this event, and will have a page dedicated to it soon, including all the contestants, photos, video, and what it took to win the title of the 2008 Best Tailgate Party.

See how to make the Breakfast Grenade

When the snow starts to fly and you start worrying about keeping your beer from freezing, it must be time for the Detroit Tailgate Chili Cook-Off! Judging will take place in the center of Lot 1 of the Eastern Market, so bring a bowl over . More >>

Visit the Chili Cook-Off Hall of Flame and see if you have what it takes to be this year's Chili Champion.

Special thanks to Jay the Tailgate Guy for helping us with the contest and for being a part of a great day of tailgating in Detroit.

The 2008 Halloween Costume Contest video is here, and it's horrifically horrifying. Grab a beer, cover the kids eyes and watch if you dare. Photos and more videos are on their way in the next few days. Watch the video >>

And, we have what you've been waiting for, the Halloween party photo gallery is here! See what we do pregame to take the edge off the Lions pitiful season. Photo gallery >>

We'd like to thank everyone who came out and made our Halloween party and costume contest so much fun. And an extra-special thanks to the greatest Black Sabbath tribute band on, or off, this planet, Banned From E.A.R.T.H.. We have hundreds of photos to post in the next few days, and if you have any, we'd love you to share them!
Send photos here >>

The Quest for 31
We had a chance to meet Hans Steiniger, the man on The Quest for 31, and keeper of NFLFootballStadiums.com. See what Hans has to say about tailgating in Detroit. More >>

The Eastern Market is proud to host the inaugural "King of the Q" Rib Cook-Off on Sunday, Oct. 26th. Click on the buttons to the left for rules and entry form. More >>

First Place: Trophy and $500 cash
Second Place: Trophy and $300 cash
Third Place: Trophy and $200 cash

Please fax the entry form to: (313) 833-9309
For more information: info@detroittailgate.com

MAP

It's getting scary here in Detroit, and the perfect time to throw a Halloween party! We have prizes to give away to the "Best Lions Themed," "Scariest," and the "Best Overall" costumes. Prizes supplied by Lover's Lane and Erebus, the world's largest haunted house. More >>

Music to be provided by the most evil band on Earth, Banned From E.A.R.T.H. This Black Sabbath tribute band is going raise the dead, so bring your crucifixes and chainsaws. In case you drop dead from fright, there will be a hearse and casket at the tailgate to expedite your burial. Just more beer for us! Costume contest begins at 10:30am. More >>

Go to BeerySandersBus.com to register

The Detroit Free Press did an excellent article on Detroit Tailgate and how businesses can benefit by partnering with us. Read the article >>

Free Press Photo Gallery

Visit Al Poe's News Chunks for tons more on this. More >>

Sean Baligian gives props to Detroit Tailgate
Special thanks to Sean Baligian for partying with us and talking about it on his radio show. Hear about the great time he had at the Eastern Market. Listen here >>

Check out the blurb in Sean's blog. Here >>

New photos
Photo gallery from the Oct. 5th tailgate party with Slight Return is here. See photos >>

Thanks to Slight Return and Banned From E.A.R.T.H. for rocking the crowds at the South and North Stages. If you have photos or video of these performances or of a great tailgate party you were at, please send them in, we'd love to see them. Send them here>>

New videos
There are new tailgate videos posted in the video gallery from the Lions home opener. See Gridiron sing the fight song and Helicon performing at the South Stage tailgate party. More >>

During the next home game vs the Bears on October 5th, the Eastern Market will be hosting a Cornhole (Bags) tournament pitting Lions fans vs Bears fans. So, bring your boards and bring your best game.

Team registration details and prizes to be announced soon.

We'd also like to welcome Bert's Marketplace as our latest sponsor in the Detroit Tailgate family. There's always something happening at Berts, so go check out their website. More>>

We finally got the photos from the home opener vs Green Bay up in the gallery. There' s a ton of them, so go get yourself a beer before you check them out. Thanks to Lisa for the pictures. Video to be posted soon. More>>

Helicon
Go to MyFoxDetroit.com and click on the "Entertainment" button to vote for Helicon in the FOX 2 contest for the oppportunity to open for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Better yet, CLICK HERE to vote! Support you local parking lot band, NOW! More>>

Thanks to Helicon for rocking the stage in the face of threatening rain, and thanks to Theo "Gridiron" Spight for stopping by to fire up the fans with the fight song. We freaking love you guys!

And thanks to our new friends at BeerySandersBus.com. Check out their website for more tailgating photos and antics.

Here we go tailgaters... the 2008 season is here! Fill the propane tanks and load the coolers with beer and meet us at the Eastern Market.

2008 Calendar of Events
Click HERE to see the events planned at the Eastern Market all season long. More>>

Helicon is brought to you by our friends at the River Rouge Pawn Shop. Set up your gold party today!

Don't forget to set your TiVo's to record channel 2 between 8:00-9:00 am on Monday, Sept. 8th, as the Detroit Tailgate crew will be schooling a lesson in Tailgating 101: How to Throw a Great Tailgate Party on FOX 2 Morning News.

We'll be demonstrating easy-to-prepare recipes such as, "Motor City Brats," "Ghettoblaster Beer Batter," and "Honolulu GO Juice." See the new recipes here.

Want to know what's going on at the Eastern Market this season? Take a look at the schedule of events. This tailgating season at the market is going to be like no other, with bands on multiple stages, cook-offs, competitions and charity events. If you've never tailgated at the market, you owe it to yourself to see for yourself!

See the events calendar

Real Detroit Weekly
Check out the interview with Detroit Tailgate about the tailgating scene in Detroit. The magazine hit the shelf on Wednesday, Sept. 3rd. Go get one!

Read it online

Detroit Power!

The boys of Slight Return have written a cool new tune for the season. Click the play button to the left and give it a listen. If you like it as much as we do, send the Lions an email telling them they need to be playing this in the stadium!

You can also hear Slight Return play it LIVE at Tailgate Lot 1 of the Eastern Market at our party on October 5th vs the Bears. Rock on!

Email the Lions

Welcome:
Motor City Brewing Works

We'd like to raise our glasses to our newest sponsor, the Motor City Brewing Works. They brew some great beer and have a cool brewery and bar room located just off the Wayne State campus. Stop in any time for the Motor City's finest beer and great company. Also, look for their beer at your favorite beer store, or get to the tailgate party for a taste!

MotorCityBeer.com

The Countdown Begins...

The Lions home opener is looming on the horizon like a glorious sunrise over a new tailgate season. So hose-out the coolers, plan your menus, fill the propane tanks and we'll see you in the lot!

DetroitTailgate.com has officially partnered with the Eastern Market Corporation this season to promote the historic Eastern Market district as "THE" place to tailgate before Lions games. This season is going to be like no other in the market. Here's a glimpse of what to expect:

• Two stages with bands
  North Stage in Tailgate Lot 6/Shed 5
  South Stage in Tailgate Lot 1

• Bands include Helicon, Slight Return, and Banned From E.A.R.T.H.

• Best Tailgate Party Competition*
  Grand Prize: Camp Chef grill

• Fourth Annual
  Detroit Tailgate Chili Cook-off*

• Rib Cook-off*

• Corn Toss Tournament*

• Halloween Costume Party
  w/face painting available

• Special guest appearances
  by local Detroit celebrities

• Plus more cool stuff
  that I can't remember at the moment!

• *Market-wide competition, registration details and contest rules to be announced

We're still putting the finishing touches on the detailed 2008 calendar and will soon post the dates and exact locations of the events in the Eastern Market.

It's going to be a blast, that's for sure, with something for everyone. Bring your friends, family, grill, cooler, your ultimate tailgating rig you've been working on all offseason, and get to where all the action is at; Detroit's Eastern Market.

RIB COOK-OFF
Please note that we have rescheduled the date of the Rib Cook-off. It is no longer scheduled for Sept. 14th and will take place later in the season. Details to come.

And don't forget!
We want to see your tailgate party here at DetroitTailgate.com, so send us your photos, stories and recipes from your legendary tailgate parties in the D. We're all in this together, and we want to show the world that there ain't no tailgate party like a Detroit tailgate party!

Click to email your photos

Al Poe's News Chunks

You may have noticed Al's pretty mug up there at the top of the page. That's big Al's News Chunks button. Press it and stay up-to-date on all the happenings around town, in the locker room and on stage. Al is a news ninja on the net, and has his finger on the pulse of the Motor City. Visit often to see what kind of animal Al has snatched out of cyber space. Read the chunks.

Speaking of animals
There's a cool article about our good friends of Helicon. It's a great read and details their August 8th show at the Majestic. You don't want to miss these masters of the spectacle. Read the article.

Helicon - Down on Up Day video

Guitar shredding awesomeness
Our other "house" band, Slight Return, has recently posted some videos on their MySpace page from their show opening for Robin Trower at the Royal Oak Music Theatre.

Slight Return - Black Magic Woman video

Slight Return - Filthy Rich video

Tailgating news
There's not much we can say right now. We're like that covered trailer going down the highway carrying an ultra-secret Corvette concept car. No one gets a peek until we're ready to burn the rubber off the rims, fill your nose holes with smoke and exhaust, and pin your brain to the back of your cranial bone. We can tell you that the tailgating in Eastern Market is going to be better than ever. From Shed 2 to Shed 5, and A & A Produce to Zeff's Coney Island, prepare to rock.

2008 Preseason Update

The lazy days of summer are upon us and news has been slow to make it's way to the website. That doesn't mean that we haven't been working furiously behind the scenes to get ready for opening day.

DetroitTailgate.com
partners with the Eastern Market Corp.
We're joining forces with the Eastern Market to make the market "THE" place to tailgate in Detroit. Details are being worked out now, but we're developing ways to make your tailgating experience in the market a world-class event.

Detroit's Eastern Market has recognized tailgating as a positive influence in their neighborhood, and are working to expand their recognition in Detroit, improve customer service and give tailgaters what they want.

Have a suggestion to make things better? Send us an email and we'll see what we can do.

Opening Day vs Green Bay
Final details for opening day and the calendar of events for the rest of the season will be published soon. Click here for updates.

Heartland Marketplace
You may have noticed we have a new sponsor on the page. We'd like to welcome Heartland Marketplace to the family. This store is first-class and we wouldn't go anywhere else for our tailgate menu needs. Visit their clean and bright stores in Farmington Hills and Westland.

Become a Detroit Tailgate VIP

Starting in 2008, DetroitTailgate.com is offering VIP passes to all regular members. The pass will include all food, beer and special privileges at a low price. More details will be announced later. Email for details

Awesome new song!
Go visit the Slaughterhouse Live MySpace Page and listen to their kickass new theme song, especially at the 0:48 second mark. Big props to Matt, Brendan and the Slaughterhouse Live crew who will be joining the DetroitTailgate.com roster this season.

2008 Calendar of Events
We have some big plans for this season, and details will be posted soon. For now, we can tell you we have two bands scheduled, a rib cook-off, the chili cook-off, and an awesome new sponsor!

The Dan Rafferty Band
at the Motor City Casino

Ever wonder what our good pal Theo "Gridiron" Spight does when he's not singing at Ford Field? Well, you have the chance to check out his smooth stylings as a member of the Dan Rafferty Band at the Motor City Casino on Wednseday, May 21 at 8:30 pm.

Click here for the band's flyer

2008 Tailgate Season
Planning Party

The 2008 season is rapidly approaching, and we're throwing a house-party on Sunday, May 25th to talk about the logistics of next season. Standard tailgate fare, burgers will be supplied, but we'll need folks to bring some sides (beans, tater salad, chips, etc.).

New and veteran tailgaters will be there, as well as members of HELICON, Slight Return and the Slaughterhouse Live! More info to come.

Send email to get directions

Our good friends of the mighty HELICON are hosting a CD release party for their new album "Kick It" on Friday, May 9th at the Token Lounge in Westland. Great time, awesome band.

Video of HELICON at September 30, 2007 tailgate party

NCAA Midwest Regionals
at Ford Field

This Friday and Sunday Ford Field will host the NCAA men's midwest regionals. We won't be having a tailgate party, but we figured you out-of-towners could use a list of our favorite bars and convenient places to buy beer in Detroit.

Click here for list of Detroit bars

Welcome to the D

The Super Bowl is almost here, and we're still catching up on all the cool things that went down in 2007. CLICK HERE to check out this awesome new video of Slight Return playing the October 21, 2007 tailgate party.

Slight Return opening for Robin Trower
Get your tickets now to see Slight Return open for the legendary Robin Trower at the Royal Oak Music Theater on Saturday, March 29, 2008. Get there and show love for your hometown boys.

www.slightreturn.com

It's Slaughterhouse Live, Baby!

We'd like to announce that we're partnering with the legendary Matt and Brendan, hosts of the mighty "Slaughterhouse Live," the funniest Lions and NFL talk show on the interwebanet, and building our reputation for bringing you the best talent, entertainment and personalities in Detroit. CLICK HERE to see Week 16 of the Slaughterhouse Live featuring DetroitTailgate.com.

Planning for 2008
We're excited about adding the Slaughterhouse Live boys to our tailgating roster. We can't wait for the 2008 season, which is going to be bigger than ever as we collaborate with the Beery Sanders Bus, Gary & Co. and The Tubgaters to bring you the biggest and best tailgate parties Detroit has ever seen, with more bands, beer, contests and the one and only Theo "Gridiron" Spight leading us in singing the Lions fight song! Freaking count it!