![Sophia Bush and Nia Batts](https://cdn.hourdetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/02/feefeff.jpg)
Most may recognize her as Brooke Davis from the cult-favorite television series One Tree Hill or from her roles in films like John Tucker Must Die, The Hitcher,Μύ΄Η°ω The Narrows. But actress and activist Sophia Bush, recently took on another role as co-founder of Detroit Blows β a beauty salon she opened in October 2017 with her best friend of 10 years and Detroit-based entrepreneur, Nia Batts, along with another co-owner Katy Cockrel.
Detroit Blows, located in downtown Detroit, provides services like blowouts, manicures, and lash extensions, and donates $1 from every blowout service to microgrants that support female entrepreneurs in the city.
Based in California, Bush therefore, finds herself in the city up to three times a year. When sheβs not furthering Detroit Blowsβ philanthropic mission, sheβs looking at other charitable projects in the city, trying new restaurants, or seeing a Pistons game. Here, she shares a typical Saturday with ΒιΆΉ·¬ΊΕ Detroit.
![](https://cdn.hourdetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/02/Apparatus-Room-Bar_cx.jpg)
First Things First
βGenerally, when I land in the city, Iβll head to meet Nia at The Apparatus Room at The Foundation Hotel. Itβs a really central spot where so many of the people that we work with tend to be. So, weβll have a brunch meeting there. That usually will roll into a second meeting, over coffee as we move through [business] things.β
βVirtually every time Iβm [in the city], my trip coincides with a sporting event or a concert.βΜύβ Sophia Bush
Neighborly Love
βNia and I try to prioritize time with organizations that are impacting the community positively. Last time I was in town, we went to visit the team at Empowerment Plan to see what they are doing with their sleeping bag coats. When we visited, we got to tour their warehouse space, learn about employee training and the sewing process, and met a group of the employees. They have such an inspiring story of helping to lift people out of homelessness, provide job and financial training, and focus on employee wellness.β
![](https://cdn.hourdetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/02/05_LSC_GALLERY_cx.jpg)
Getting Artsy
βI always pop in to see whatβs happening at the Library Street Collective. Theyβre the art gallery just down the street from us. Theyβre absolutely fantastic. Iβm also a bit of an architecture nerd, so Iβve been lucky enough to visit the Shinola Hotel since they broke ground on it. The design build there is so gorgeous! I canβt wait to be Eloise and pretend that I live there.β
Into the Night
![](https://cdn.hourdetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/02/D52_8452_cx-204x300.jpg)
βThereβs so much good food in the city! Sometimes we just wind up hanging with friends and eating at our pal JJ Curisβ house. If Nia decides sheβs going to have people over weβll all cook there. Sometimes weβll go out to Standby, as itβs just down The Belt. Thatβs what really fun about the neighborhood where the salon is, thereβs amazing food everywhere. Itβs so hard to name a favorite restaurant. Itβs like if you ask a parent to pick their favorite child.βΜύ
βOne of the things thatβs so much fun about the city is that virtually every time Iβm there, my trip coincides with a sporting event or a concert. Weβll go see the Pistons play. Last time I was in town, Elton John was playing at Little Caesars Arena, so we went to see him. That was just outrageously fun.β
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