Blogs from Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America - page 5

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North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit August 21st 2011

Here I am, finally! In Detroit... For more than a year I have had a dream of exploring this city. Throughout my Amtrak travels, for every community meal I have had in the dinner wagon, I have had to explain to yet another white middle class, middle aged couple, why Detroit. Why this dangerous and empty city? My interest derives from some of the same issues as my love for Eastern Europe. I am deeply fascinated by industrial cities in decay. Cities that no longer can survive on their main production industries. This interest is manifold. Firstly, it is visual. There is a particular rawness to half empty houses and ruined buildings. Secondly, it is sociologically fascinating to meet the people that stay, and discover their extend of hospitality. Thirdly, a place such as Detroit or ... read more
Gas station
Thirsty?
Empty?

North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit August 7th 2011

So we went out to a karaoke bar with Saf-T and Melissa last night. They had $1 Amberbocks so it didn't take long before we were all singing the songs and having a great time. Next morning we regrouped and made our way to Gross Pointe, along Lake St. Claire, to see where Detroit's rich people live. The crazy part is that next to these mansions is ones of Detroit's toughest neighborhoods... literally across the street. So as we're cruising, I see the lights of 2 cop cars in the rearview and I knew why. Bryon didn't wear his helmet today, because he was told that like Ohio and Pennsylvania Michigan had repealed the helmet law. The Police officer corrected him by telling him that it hadn't passed the state Senate yet. Luckily, after trying ... read more
Almost busted
Rollin' in the dough
Motown

North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit August 6th 2011

Well, we didn't end up going out with Bill. His car took too long to get repaired, and he had to be up early in the morning. Dan and I rode up to Cleveland (Dan, with his new rear tire installed) with the plans to get a cheap hotel and grab a beer or two. When we got to Cleveland, a guy on a motorcycle informed us that there was a Porto Rican fest later that night down by Browns stadium,, and that we should show up. We then began our search for a hotel... nothing cheaper than $200 after taxes and parking. With the wind out of our sails we decided to check out this Porto Rican fest. We parked our bikes and took Leche with us and checked out the field nearby to see ... read more
Dan and Bill
Bryon and Bill
Fort Wayne

North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit July 21st 2011

Geo: 42.3316, -83.0478... read more

North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit July 7th 2011

Geo: 42.3316, -83.0478I think the term surreal is incredibly overused; however, it's the only word that I can think of that really applies to the way we both feel. Packing was definitely a collaborative effort and probably a great idea. In the end, I left some things out and I'm sure we forgot a few things but we remembered the important ones....passports, money, rain ponchos and each other!A special shout-out to Jenni O'Neil for driving us to the airport and to Shari Beeker for riding shotgun to share the experience! Checking in was a breeze (and let's hope an omen of things to come). Security was quick and painless although most of you know, I never mind a good pat down!As we sit here, at National Coney, eating our last American meal for 2 weeks, we ... read more

North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit June 2nd 2011

Geo: 42.3316, -83.0478... read more

North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit May 31st 2011

Today is my last day in Detroit. I used to explore more of the city’s artistic legacy. First, I headed deep into an eastern neighborhood. This is the Detroit of the popular imagination; all vacant lots (residents call them “urban prairies”), boarded up houses, old business buildings with ancient “For Rent” signs on them, and stoplights that have been turned off because there are no cars to use them. My goal was Heidelberg Street. On this street a group of artists has turned the urban devastation into amazing works of art. They call it the Heidelberg Project. Heidelberg Project The Heidelberg Project is a massive folk art installation, coveri... read more
Urban Prairie brought to life
Polka Dot House
Oil Drum Art

North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit May 30th 2011

Today, I woke up in pain. My lower back was twisted in severe knots. I finally figured out what had happened. Remember that Hart Plaza is mostly concrete (see ). Dancing on concrete is different to dancing on most floors because the hard surface sends shocks straight up the legs. Those shocks had ultimately injured my lower back. I wasn’t going anywhere for a while. The one nice thing is that it gave me time to catch up on paper work, between back soaks. By evening, I was finally feeling better. I had time to catch the last few festival acts. It was not a lot, but it was something. It turned out they included two of the better acts of the weekend. The first of the acts was Green Velvet. They play a variant of ... read more
Movement
Movement crowd
Movement

North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit May 29th 2011

Detroit Architecture Today is the second day of Movement. I got up rather late, for reasons that are hopefully obvious. After grabbing some food, I headed downtown. My first goal for today was architecture. In the 1920s, Detroit was a boomtown. Developers of all kinds built skyscrapers for newly rich companies. Most of them were designed in the newest style, Art Deco. Detroit ultimately had the third largest collection of Art Deco office buildings in the country. The long economic slump since World War II meant that nobody could afford to replace them with new buildings, so many of them still exist. I wanted to explore what I could. Walking through downtown Detroit is a surreal experience. The city core feels like the ghost of a city rather than the real thing. With a few noble ... read more
Guardian Building
Typical downtown Detroit
The fist

North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit May 28th 2011

Today is the first official day of Movement. The sky is threatening rain, which has me worried. According to the website, the festival goes in any weather short of a major thunderstorm. Detroit Institute of the Arts Before heading downtown, I squeezed in one of Detroit’s most important cultural institutions. As noted yesterday, Detroit used to be one of the most important industrial cities in the US. Like the bankers of Charlotte, (see ) Detroit’s industrial tycoons wanted cultural cache to go with their financial success. One of the biggest beneficiaries of their largess was the Detroit Institute of the Arts, which is now one of the ten largest art museums in the country. They are one of the few big museums that allow patrons to post pictures of the collection online, hence their appearance in ... read more
Detroit Institute of the Arts
Henri Matisse, "The Window"
James McNeil Whistler, "Nocturne in Black and Gold, the Falling Rocket"




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