Detroit Essentials

Detroit gets salty

Who knew that Detroit had it's own salt company and salt mine?  Not me.  And one that's family owned with Detroit Pride too.  The Detroit Salt Company claims to be as much a part of Detroit as Vernors or Ford (though apparently their products aren't for sale to the general public--this might explain the lack of publicity).

It's funny when you find out about little things like this that don't really have an impact on your life but are neat to know about, and make sense.  With all the snow and ice we get it seems logical, but who thinks about those things?  Also, did anyone else ever use road salt in 7th grade biology to make ice cream?  Think how much ice cream we could make with those piles of salt...

Random thoughts tonight
~bEckY

The infamous "Michigan Left" Hand Turn

To any of you that recently moved here or are visiting, driving can be an experience unlike in any other major American city.  First of all, we have these things called "Michigan Lefts".  These are intersections from a major road or to a major road in which you either have to first turn right to turn left or pass the intersection and turn around to complete a left turn.  Sounds strange, but it does work at keeping traffic flowing.  Just make sure you accelerate to the pace of traffic after you complete the desired turn.  See the attached .jpg file for reference.

As for highway driving, people here drive quite fast.  The police don't blink an eye if you drive 75 mph and many approach 80 where the speed limit is 70.  The Superbowl may bring out some extra enforcement for the weekend though.

Regardless, don't drink and drive, no matter who wins or how much money you lose on a bet.

- Atul

Will Super Bowl momentum continue?

The Super Bowl is expected to bring $300 million dollars into the city of Detroit.  While this city has been going through a revival for several years, can an event like the Super Bowl sustain the energy and growth in the city?  Can this momentum of new commerce and so-called tourism continue on February 6 and beyond?

I hope so, but the cynic in me thinks that Detroit will continue to be a commuter city.  It'll take a lot more than the Super Bowl to keep the people from the suburbs downtown.  Truthfully, I am ready as the next person to head downtown for the sports, parties, restaurants, work, but I'm not ready to look for an apartment downtown. 

-Jovina

Detroit Artists Market

This Tuesday I am totally going to check out the Detroit Artists Market. Anyone want to join me?  Cause they sound fantastic, self described as an organization that "educated the Detroit Metropolitan Community about the work of emerging and established Detroit and Michigan artists through exhibitions, sales and related programs."

Right now through Feb. 5th they are hosting the "Detroit Design Show" which is a group show, featuring the work of both furniture and fashion designers.  They also promise motorcycles and a live runway for the opening night, but sadly I think I have missed that.  Maybe afterward we can pop on over to Governor Jennifer Granholm's house in Lansing to check out the Governor's residence Michigan Artists Program.  Do you think we can just ring the doorbell and she'll let us in?

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Gallery Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am - 6 pm

The Detroit Project

If you are interested in getting involved in revitalizing the city, doing volunteer work and connecting with the Detroit community, you should check out the student-run service learning organization:   The Detroit Project.

Their mission statement is:

"We, The Detroit Project, exist to unite the University of Michigan and greater community with the Detroit community, to create lasting change, and to maintain fulfilling partnerships by addressing social issues surrounding Detroit through active service learning."

What I think is fantastic about this organization is the variety of volunteer opportunities it offers.  You can do a one-time project (mostly on the weekend or on Fridays) or volunteer for weekly projects such as mentoring or neighborood clean-up.  They do most of their work in the same 2 communities which allows you to build a connection with the people and community with whom you are working, rather than dropping in to a random and less fortunate neighborhood for a day of "good deeds."

The mass meeting in MONDAY, JANUARY 30th in the Michigan Union

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Official website of The Detroit Project

http://www.umich.edu/~thedp/

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Lafayette Coney Island: The first and the best

   

To those unfamiliar with the Detroit area, Coney Island does not refer to a theme park in NYC.  It's essentially a type of dineresque restaurant in the Detroit and mid-Michigan area, more often than not owned by Greeks, serving cheap Greek food and typical American diner food.  The specialty is a Coney Island hot dog, which is a hot dog smothered in chilli.

Two brothers started the first Coney Island in the early 1900's and quickly feel into disagreements about business matters.  They broke the Coney Island in half--one is called the American Coney Island and the other is called Lafayette Coney Island--and both now claim to be the first Coney Island.

The Lafayette Coney Island is a little more pared down, but it's where you'll find an authentic Coney Island experience.  It only sells Coney hotdogs and loose hamburgers (kind of a like a sloppy joe), the waiters yell out orders and deliver them instantaneously (under a minute). It's open 24 hours a day but the best time to go there is late at night after the bars close because everyone knows everyone, and if they don't know you they'll get to know you.  It's one of the few places where people from the suburbs mingle with people from the city (everyone from the fashionistas to the police), whether it's over hot dogs or while waiting in line for the bathroom that's so small you'd be amazed that you can fit in their with the door closed.

Lafayette Coney Island
118 W. Lafayette, Detroit
(313) 964-8198

~bEckY

Welcome to Detroit: it's more than meets the eye

The old, ugly images are the easiest ones to recall, to ridicule, so people do. All we're saying is, plenty has changed, if anyone dares to look. - Bob Wojnowski

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060130/SPORTS08/601300352

Bob Wojnowski made a great point in the Detroit News today.  While parts of Detroit are unappealing (abandoned buildings, broken windows, empty lots) much has changed in this city.  We have a lot to be proud of and shouldn't look at the negative aspects of our city. 

True Detroit does not have the glitz and glamour of Miami or LA, or even the excitement in NYC. But, Detroit has the original blue collar ethic that hard work and effort will lead to rewards.  We've got great sports and great teams who capture the blue collar ethic.  Even the Piston's team motto is "Goin to Work."  The white collar jobs in this city have a blue collar tone too.

The past few years we've seen a new Ford Field, Tiger's Stadium, increase in downtown commerce (Compuware building, Ernst and Young, etc.) new lofts, new restaurants, new retail outlets, new, new, new.....  We were proud to have the Amistad dock it's historic ship on our waters, proud to celebrate 300 years of Detroit, proud to be home to the Big Three, and are proud to host Super Bowl XL. 

I work downtown and I feel change in the air as I walk around the town.  There's a feeling of excitement and revival.  I know it's been a long, slow process, but it's worth the wait.

We have a lot to be proud of Detroit.  And the world may talk about the negatives, but they will for sure see many of the positive. 

-Jovina

Masonic Temple: More than just housing for a secret society

The Masonic Temple in Detroit is not to be missed.  It is unique among the Masonic buildings of the country because all of the various bodies that are housed within the same structure (divided into three major sections: the ritualistic tower, the auditorium and the Shrine Club) make it the largest building of its kind in the world (a whopping twelve million cubic feet!!)

The Venetian Gothic style main theater has a seating capacity of 5000 (!) and hosts some of Detroits hottest musical and theatrical acts.  The family classic "Annie" will be playing February 21 - 26, followed by the new hit musical "Wicked" (I saw Wicked in DC and it was fantastic, if you are in Detroit May 31-June 18th I HIGHLY recommend you getting tickets to see this show). Catch a show or simply stop by to ogle the gorgeous rooms and halls throughout the temple, built using multiple architechtural and design styles.

For those of you who are into wings (cause I know that you go there for the food), on February 5th the Masonic Temple is hosting a Superbowl party in the Fountain and Crystal Ballrooms with a HOOTERS Girls Swimsuit Contest.

If you want to read more about the history of the Freemasons and of how and why they built the temple (believe me, they go into excruciating detail), or find out more about upcoming events at the Masonic Temple, click on this link:

http://themasonic.com/history.html

~bEckY

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Knowing the City: Block by Block

Check out this cool website that has a detailed map of Detroit with all of it's individual neighborhoods and their histories accessed by mousing over different areas of the map.

http://www.cityscapedetroit.org/Detroit_neighborhoods.html

Or check out Map Detroit for some interactive maps that take you around downtown, Belle Isle and Midtown parts of the city--super useful for planning a day trip.

http://www.mapdetroit.com/dev1/main_home.html

~bEckY

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Check out this cool website that has a detailed map of Detroit with all of it's individual neighborhoods and their histories accessed by mousing over different areas of the map.

http://www.cityscapedetroit.org/Detroit_neighborhoods.html

Or check out Map Detroit for some interactive maps that take you around downtown, Belle Isle and Midtown parts of the city--super useful for planning a day trip.

http://www.mapdetroit.com/dev1/main_home.html

~bEckY

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Detroit Historical Museum

Changing gears again.  Our BIT 742 group has decided to collectively use our blogs to promote Detroit, both as a tourist destination and as a great place for young professionals to spend a day or even to move to.

For me it's bye bye corporate social responsibility and hello to the culture and history of Detroit.
Here is my first recommendation to understanding a little bit more about this intriguing city:

The Detroit Historical Museum

This museum is as interesting for what it shows as for what it doesn't show.  Starting with the story of the Native Americans who lived there before European settlers arrived in the early 1700's, it chronicals the birth and maturation of a city from its inception as a trading post through its height as the auto capital of the world.  It has fascinating hands-on exhibits suitable for children and for adults.  What it doesn't address is the racial tension and corrupted government that plagued the city for much of the 20th century (more on this later), something that the city is attempting to keep in the past.

Here is an excerpt from the museum pages:

"Cobblestone streets, 19th Century stores, an auto assembly line, toy trains, a pilot house from a Great Lakes freighter, and a fur trading post from the 1700s are but a few of the wonders to see at the Detroit Historical Museums. For over 70 years, the Museums have chronicled the life and times of the city, safeguarding its rich history."

For more, click on this link: http://www.detroithistorical.org/aboutus/index.asp