1. Big night [videodisc] by Rysher Entertainment presents a Timpano production:
Determined to drum up business and foil his Little Italy rival, Secondo concocts a rumor that bandleader Louis Prima will dine at his restaurant that very night, sending chef Primo into a frenzy. Will it be the finest night of his career, or will it be a financial disaster? Will Louis Prima actually come to dine? With wonderful performances by Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub, it's worth viewing this film just to see the dinner's masterpiece timpano.

2. Toast [videodisc] by W2 Media Inc, BBC, and Screen WM present ; produced by Faye Ward ; written by Lee Hall ; directed by SJ Clarkson:
England's reputation for terrible food may be deserved if this film, based on food writer Nigel Slater's memoirs, can be believed. Nigel's mum may have served meals from boiled tin, but he and his dad adored her. When she dies and her place in his father's affections is threatened by their gastronomically adept cleaning lady, Nigel enters into an unofficial culinary contest with his late mother's rival.

This Special Collection was created as Detroit prepared to celebrate its 300th birthday, a year-long event that was marked by a host of festivities and events. The history of the city is broad enough and rich enough, though, to warrant a continual presence and periodic updating as one of the library's special online resource collections. As we celebrate the city's 312th birthday, check the books, websites and other materials listed here to discover more about the Motor City and its colorful past.

History of Detroit

Celebrating 300 Years of Detroit Cooking, 1701 to 2001 edited by Marguerite J. Humes: A "historical cookbook" presenting information about Detroit's social setting and cooking history from 1701 to 2001. Includes original recipes handed down by Native Americans and immigrants alike, as well as some developed by native Detroiters.

Detroit, 1860-1899 by David Lee Poremba: Venture back in time to Detroit in the mid to late 19th century with this fascinating book.

Detroit: A Motor City History by David Lee Poremba: A concise and highly readable history by the acting manager of the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library.

Detroit: Across Three Centuries by Richard Bak: Bak introduces readers to some of the epic names and events from the city's past.

Enslaved by ducks by Bob Tarte

The amphibians and reptiles of Michigan: a Quaternary and Recent faunal adventure by J. Alan Holman

Birds of Detroit by Chris C. Fisher, Allen T. Chartier

Michigan turtles and lizards: a field guide and pocket reference by James H. Harding and J. Alan Holman ; photography and illustrations by James H. Harding, except where otherwise credited

Fish of Michign field guide by David Bosanko

The wolves of Isle Royale: a broken balance by Rolf O. Peterson

Fowl weather by Bob Tarte

The burning of Rachael Hayes by Doug Allyn

Company man: a novel by Joseph Finder

Eden Springs: a novella by Laura Kasischke

Freshwater boys by Adam Schuitema

The river swimmer: novellas by Jim Harrison

Ford Road by Amy Kenyon

Say nice things about Detroit by Scott Lasser

Looking for Przybylski by K.C. Frederick

Detroit breakdown by D.E. Johnson

Say nice things about Detroit by Scott Lasser

Grand River and Joy by Susan Messer

Trigger man: more tales of the Motor City by Jim Ray Daniels

See what I see by Gloria Whelan

Sparks by Laura Bickle

The dollmaker by Harriette Arnow

Beyond the windswept dunes: the story of maritime Muskegon by Elizabeth B. Sherman

Deadly voyage: the S.S. Daniel J. Morrell tragedy by Andrew Kantar

Gales of November: the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Robert J. Hemming

Many a midnight ship: true stories of Great Lakes shipwrecks by Mark Bourrie

Mighty Fitz: the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Michael Schumacher

Ships and men of the Great Lakes by Dwight Boyer

Ships gone missing: the Great Lakes storm of 1913 by Robert J. Hemming

Michigan by David Lee Poremba

Bold women in Michigan history by Virginia Law Burns

State of war: Michigan in World War II by Alan Clive

Bath massacre: America's first school bombing by Arnie Bernstein

Lives and legends of the Christmas tree ships by Fred Neuschel

Eyes on fire: witnesses to the Detroit Riot of 1967 by edited by Heather Buchanan, Sharon Stanford, Teresa Kimble

The Way-Back Room: A Memoir of a Detroit Childhood by Minock, Mary

A desira