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Category Archives: Detroit
Ancient Written Language Discovered in Detroit
Detroit can’t afford curbside recycling, so every few weeks I head down to Recycle Here, in an oddly majestic old warehouse on Holden Avenue. At the front is a lectern where you add to a tally of visitors per zip code: It turns out … Continue reading
Chainguards
All these bikes have something in common. The first is from 1889(?) – I saw it in the late lamented R. Hirt, the cheese & basket & general store at Eastern market since 1887, just closed due to some kind … Continue reading
OCD makerspace
A makerspace is a place where people build things & share tools, materials, space & most especially ideas. Woodworking, welding, bike mechanics, electronics, plastics & pottery, whatever – from very high tech to ancient artisan skills. OmniCorpDetroit, better known by … Continue reading
David Blair Sings Emily Dickinson
The late great David Blair performed his rendition of Emily Dickinson’s Farewell at the Detroit Institute of Art. It’s breathtaking. He was an influential poet, musician & activist who is sorely missed. Blair puts Emily Dickinson’s “Farewell” to Music at … Continue reading
Back Alley Bikes
Back Alley Bikes is a neighborhood bike repair / salvage / school / hangout / workshop, associated with The Hub of Detroit, not unlike San Francisco’s Bike Kitchen. A couple of days a week they have a 3 hour “Earn-A-Bike” … Continue reading
Brick Is Still Beautiful
You know why I think brick buildings are so beautiful? Because they are. Above is on the Wayne State University campus; below is near the end of the Riverwalk, at the end of Mt. Elliot.
Posted in architecture, art, Detroit
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Love & Hate for Detroit
Approximately 20% of the readers of this blog (namely, Lyn & Pancho) both pointed me to this New York Times article by Mark Bittman about Detroit’s renewal via urban gardens. Not a new idea, but Bittman describes it well, even … Continue reading
Place 13: Detroit Repertory Theater
Friday night I went to the Detroit Repertory Theater to see William Missouri Downs’ Forgiving John Lennon, a kind of a socio-political soap opera tragidramedy. Let’s unpack that sentence. The Detroit Repertory Theatre is the oldest alternative professional theatre in Michigan. Last March … Continue reading
Place 11: 2nd Ave & Wayne State University
Errands had me bicycling down 2nd Ave. Why are all the other numbered streets streets, but 2nd is an avenue?
Posted in architecture, Detroit
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Place 10: Cadillac Place & the Fisher Building
I pedaled down to the old GM building Cadillac Place to get a driver’s license & take some haphazard photos. The building is a Neo-Classical orgasm of marble, granite & limestone, which would surely be considered its architect’s signature masterpiece … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, Detroit
Tagged Albert Kahn, Fisher Building, Joseph Nathaniel French
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So how about this? 