When was the last time you picked up and read a comic book? Well, on May 2nd you can get reacquainted with your favorite comic book for free.

It is all part of Free Comic Book Day, when more than 2 million comic books will be given away by participating stores, as a way to introduce as many people as possible to the wonders of comic books.

Dearborn’s Green Brain Comics on Michigan Avenue will be one of thousands of comic book shops around the world celebrating the comic book art form on Saturday, May 2nd.

“The wide array of comic books being published today ensures that readers of all ages — children, teens and adults — can find something appropriate that will stir their imaginations,” said Dan Merritt, co-owner of Green Brain Comics.

Now in its eighth year, Free Comic Book Day has proven to be a big success, spreading the word, Merritt says, that comics can be good reading.

“We at Green Brain Comics want to spread the word that comics are perfect for today’s times,” Merritt said. “Comic books and graphic novels are considered hip, hot and smart.”

Comic Books have propelled to the front ranks of pop culture, many being adapted into movies. Wolverine hits the big screen on May 1st, the day before Free Comic Book Day. So the first weekend of May is going to be a big day in the comic book world.

Regular updates, information about comic books, and a list of participating publishers and their free comics are all online at  www.FreeComicBookDay.com

Free Comic Book Day kicks off at 10 am on May 2nd and runs until 8 pm at Green Brain Comics, 13210 Michigan Ave.  For more information call 313-582-9444 for more information.

The Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA) will once again bring its popular annual culture showcase, “Splendor of the East 2009,” to the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 1.

The Splendor of the East variety show gives the audience the opportunity to experience the song and dance of the Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean cultures.

This year’s theme for the show is “Coming to America – a Cultural Collage”, and will present Asian-Pacific heritages as well as American cultural influences on immigrants.

The show is said to be a choreographic masterpiece- entertaining and educational event for all ages. Tickets are available at the CAPA website www.capa-mi.org , under the “Splendor of the East” link.

For ticket information by phone, please contact Mai Xiong at 586-722-4527.

For more information on the event, please contact Angela Wang at 248-885-0968.

CAPA strives to unite Asian Pacific Americans and the community at large through culture, education, and community service. May has been the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month since 1999.

Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., helps celebrate the grand opening of Deliziosa To Go. Pictured here are (from left): Marlene Lemire from the Dearborn Chamber, Council members George Darany and Nancy Hubbard; owner Hassane Awada; Mayor O’Reilly and the Dearborn Chamber's Peggy Richard, Renee Aloe, Jennifer Giering and Larry Stock.

Among the restaurants that make our short list of favorites in Dearborn is Deliziosa, which consistently serves up some of the best food in town and always with great service.

Now you can get that same Mediterranean and Italian food delivered, thanks to the addition of a second restaurant, Deliziosa to Go, 13241 Warren, which just last week had its official ribbon-cutting ceremony with Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr.

The original Deliziosa at 22439 Michigan Ave., just west of Military, opened back in 2005.

But for those who don’t have time for a sit down meal or are looking for fast delivery (if you’re in the delivery range, that is) late at night, there now is Deliziosa to Go, on Warren between Jonathon and Schaefer.

Think of it as gourmet-food to go, courtesy of owner Hassane Awada, who studied culinary arts in Lebanon and then combined his love of Mediterranean food with Italian favorites to create his fantastic menu.

For more information about Deliziosa to Go, call 584-8554. For the original Deliziosa, call 277-4990.

If you’re looking for a slightly different place to dine in Dearborn, you might want to consider dropping in on Henry Ford Community College’s Fifty-One O One restaurant.

Located in the Student & Culinary Arts Center on HFCC’s main campus at 5101 Evergreen Road in Dearborn, the restaurant is run by students in the college’s culinary arts program who get practical experience in the kitchen, preparing food for dinners, waiting tables and also take classes in sanitation, food preparation, nutrition, baking, food purchasing and cost control.

Students in the HFCC program can earn an associate’s degrees in culinary arts or hotel-restaurant management or receive certification in a different culinary, baking or hospitality areas. And these two year degrees can be applied towards a bachelor’s degree at other institutions without losing credits.

Dearborn Councilman George Darany takes a closer look at the Fifty-One O One restaurant in this video interview done by the CDTV team.

The restaurant is open for lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Wednesdays, Fifty-One O One also is open for dinner. To dine at Fifty-One O One, reservations are recommended. For reservations, please call (313) 206-5101.

Dearborn has a rich history of stories about immigrant families who have come to our city and established small restaurants to feed the neighborhood and workers at Ford Motor Co.

The Rugiero family are one of those great success stories. And this year their restaurant, the Roman Village, marks its 45th anniversary in the south side of Dearborn at 9924 Dix, east of Miller Road.

Enrica Rugiero and her husband Antonio came to America in 1962 and two years later borrowed $2,000 to open a small pizzeria and Roman Village was born. Antonia recently passed away but Enrica and her son, Antonio Rugiero Jr., continue the tradition of serving some of the best Italian food in Metro Detroit.

Today the family has four restaurants — the original Roman Village Cucina Italiana plus Antonio’s Cucina Italianas in Dearborn Heights, Canton and Farmington Hills.

In this interview with Dearborn Councilwoman Nancy Hubbard, Enrica Rugiero and her son, Antonio Rugiero Jr., talk about the secrets of their success.

As part of their 45th anniversary celebration, the family through April 17 is offering patrons a meal for 45 cents when you purchase the first one at regular price. Throughout the remainder of the year, the restaurant will continue to offers specials as part of its anniversary. As Antonio Rugiero Jr. says, “my father always said that it is very important to give back to those who have been there to support you in the last 45 years.”

If you haven’t had a chance to visit Roman Village, we strongly recommend you do. It is one of those hidden gems in Dearborn. For more information you can call the restaurant at 313-842-2100 or get directions by clicking HERE

The Dearborn Inn is playing host to the entire CBS television crew, in town this weekend to bring millions of TV viewers the NCAA basketball tournament from Detroit.

While the Final Four college basketball tournament is bringing big business to Detroit, there seems to be a good amount of business coming Dearborn’s way, too. The Henry Ford is expecting to see a slight pickup in business on Sunday for fans looking for something to do ahead of Monday’s championship game, where we are betting Michigan State will be again.

Fans from both North Carolina and Connecticut have filled the Dearborn Inn, along with the CBS team. We also spotted some Michigan State fans there, which was a good thing to help keep those pesky University of Connecticut Husky fans in check.

“Any big event in Detroit always brings us business,” said one employee. “Given the state of the economy, we’ll take it.”

Just three weeks ago, the Dearborn Inn was the site of filming for the upcoming Hilary Swank movie, “Betty Anne Waters”.  The Ten Eyck Tavern was used to film a scene in the movie that takes place in Boston. The décor of the restaurant brought that Boston atmosphere to Dearborn for the crew without having to film in Boston.

Hilary Swank and actress Minnie Driver and crew stayed at the Dearborn Inn during filming for the movie, which is based on a true story in which a single mother goes to law school to defend her brother, who has been wrongly convicted of murder. The movie was shot in Southeast Michigan for several months and wrapped up in April.

The Players Guild of Dearborn in Dearborn, Michigan, in cooperation withvthe Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute of Detroit, MI, will be hosting Gala for Guido, a benefit for pancreatic cancer research in the name of the late Mayor of Dearborn, Michael A. Guido, on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.

The evening will feature hors d’oeuvres, champagne and wine beginning at 6pm. At 7:15 pm there will be a special performance of Fiddler on the Roof.  Coffee and dessert will be served during intermission.

Always an ardent supporter and friend of the arts in Dearborn, Mayor Guido was also an honorary lifetime member of the Players Guild, where he appeared on stage in many productions. The Players Guild is thrilled to honor his memory, and concurrently, raise money for pancreatic cancer research in his name.

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer of the pancreas is diagnosed in more than 29,000 people every year in the United States. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer death, yet research continues to advance and help those diagnosed with a better quality of life. The Players Guild of Dearborn is excited to join with the community to raise awareness and funding to help find a cure for this disease.

The Players Guild of Dearborn Theatre is located at 21730 Madison in Dearborn, southwest of the intersection of Monroe Street and Outer Drive. The theatre is handicap accessible.

Tickets are $50 each. All gross proceeds will be donated to the Michael A. Guido Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. A portion is tax-deductible. To order tickets or for more information, visit the Guild website at www.playersguildofdearborn.org or call their ticket line at 313-561-TKTS.

The Players Guild of Dearborn is a non-profit, all-volunteer corporation. In existence since 1927, it is one of Michigan’s oldest community theatres.

Tickets are now available for the Museum Guild of Dearborn’s second annual tea and garden party. It will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27.

It will be held on the grounds of the Dearborn Historical Museum’s McFadden-Ross House, 915 Brady Street. Fine teas, delicate finger sandwiches and sweets will be served. The honorary chairperson of the event is the First Lady of Dearborn Chris O’Reilly, wife of Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr.

Fine teas, delicate finger sandwiches and sweets will be served.

Tickets are $35 per person. Checks should be made payable to The Museum Guild of Dearborn. The event has limited seating, and seats are offered either for individuals or for groups of four or six.

For tickets and information, call the Dearborn Historical Museum at 313.565.3000 or Mary Olson at 313.561¬.2410.

The Dearborn Historical Museum is offering a free public banjo concert on Friday, April 24.

The Great Lakes International Banjoes will be performing on the back porch of the Museum’s Commandant’s Quarters from 12:30 to 1:30p.m. that day. The Commandant’s Quarters is located at 21950 Michigan Avenue (corner of Monroe).

In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held at the Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Avenue.

For more information call (313) 565-3000.