Kicking off a lively August in the city, Detroit's University District, one of the metro area's most popular communities, will welcome visitors to its Home & Garden Tour on Sunday, August 1, 2010, rain or shine, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.       

For one day only, five luxurious homes and two eye-catching private gardens will be open for public viewing.  The houses selected for the 2010 Tour reflect the University District's European-influenced architectural variety, ranging from Italian Renaissance to English Tudor to French eclectic.  The owners of these homes have preserved the integrity of exterior detail that gives the neighborhood its prestigious ambiance, while updating rear yards and interiors to the highest contemporary levels of comfort, convenience and style. 

This year's tour also features the newly established Gloryland Community Garden and the recently renovated North American headquarters of the Vatican's Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, also the site of refreshments and music.  Visitors will have an opportunity to appreciate the PIME fathers' renewed commitment to the City of Detroit and, as a bonus, their intriguing collection of Asian and African art and artifacts. A welcome center, ticket booth ($15 in advance, $18 the day of the tour) and free parking will be available on Birchcrest Avenue north of McNichols Road.  Again this year, the Wyandotte Trolley will operate a convenient circle route through the neighborhood.  Trolley tickets are included with Home & Garden Tour tickets or can be purchased separately for $5 each.