One of the great things about Detroit is the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Growing up, my dad and I would always go the final Sunday it was open. We’d be downtown at 8am to miss the crowds. We’d walk through each exhibit checking out the new car models and collecting brochures. We spend a few hours at the show and then grab some lunch on the way home. Once we got home, we’d sit in front of the TV, usually watching the NFL game that was on, and sort through the handouts we collected. This was our tradition. We did it every year.

I remember being constantly amazed and intrigued with the concept cars on display. The Pontiac Sunfire was the car I wanted most in the world (it was a concept car at the time, and I was about 10). I remember almost flipping over a Suzuki Sidekick when I was 15 (my friend who had come with us thought it was the perfect time to show how light the car was). I remember jumping into every car on the floor and imaging myself driving down 96 in it.

Today, these tickets fell into my lap. They are for the black tie event that officially kicks off the Auto Show. Alexis and I will be there tomorrow night, dressed to the nines, drinking champagne, rocking out to The Romantics and viewing the cars of tomorrow. I just hope it can live up to those Sundays I spent with my dad.