Detroit

[ChicagoRon]

Ok..maybe Euclid was just a bad sample. I was also there on a weekend. It just felt so dead downtown during the day. Unfortunately, I see the same issues in Cleveland that I've always seen in Detroit. as much as they are trying to add attractions, nobody wants to live downtown.

 

[bdeuce22]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

It was quite the fad in the 1990s to shoot at people or toss cinder blocks and the like at oncoming cars from pedestrian bridges over the freeways. I saw it happen to a nearby car on I-94 by the Chase Road exit. Resulted in a crash but it hit the passenger side, but thankfully there was no one in that seat.

i was too young to remember this, but someone flung a cinder block off an overpass that would have undoubtedly hit the car i was in had my father not swerved to the other lane.

and yes it was on I-94, near mt. elliot.

all in all, i like this area. it is not as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, detroit is somewhat in shambles. the media behind the stupid mayor doesn't help. the area is getting a really bad vibe for the economy as well, probably the worst in the nation. you just have to be smart in the areas you go to, just like every major city (ESPECIALLY TO THE GUY WHO WENT TO BELLE ISLE AT 2AM!!)

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by briancl

You were driving through some of the worst areas of Detroit. Taking an unguided tour of any small, economically depressed city is going to lead to a lot of easy misconceptions. I have never been to Cleveland, so I cannot compare the two, but Detroit is a fine city with beautiful suburbs and a safe, fun, active downtown if you confine yourself to reasonable boundaries. Also, many people talk up Grosse Pointe for being quite wonderful, and it sure is pretty nice, but I prefer the Birmingham, Royal Oak, Berkley area to the east side. Next time you are Detroit... drive around Birmingham (Old Woodward and Maple), and then take Woodward all the way down to Detroit. Sure, you'll pass some pretty disastrous areas south of 8 mile, but you'll also see much more activity down in the heart of the city along Woodward.
Ok, that's a reasonable point. I'll have to Google up a map and see if I can remember the other places I went those few days (the Grosse Point and southerly trip was only one excursion). 'll pull this thread when I am back -- next September, I expect.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

I will admit that I miss Detroit on some levels. Walking into the DIA Rivera courtyard in the middle of winter was always one of my special treats. I miss the Woodbridge, much of Brick Town (although I hear that has changed due to casinos, Greek Town, the Fox, the Hillberry, the Bonaselle. I miss John King used books (Hunt, find them next time you are there, the downtown location. Four story warehouse of used books. I have 19th century, leather bound philosophy texts, as an example, from there). I miss the Great Lakes hugely. I miss pulling up at Sinbads, the Wyandotte Yacht Club, or the Rooster Tail. People have named so many great 'burbs, from Dearborn to Royal Oak. You guys forgot about Grosse Islle (where I lived for a few years). I do not miss people shooting at you from bridges over the freeways. I do not miss the random violence, the pandering politics, the bad roads, and above all, the pollution. Last time I was back, I could not believe the stink. I do not miss watching things like the Ford River Rouge plant rotting, or the Cadillac building falling apart (although I heard it might/did get renovated into a hotel?) I can't speak to Cleveland, having spent little time there, but as bad, rough, and poor as much of Detroit is, there is still some vibrant life to be found and the Cass Corridor is not what the entire MSA is about.
Whoa, did you know I collect books, too?

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

Ok..maybe Euclid was just a bad sample. I was also there on a weekend. It just felt so dead downtown during the day. Unfortunately, I see the same issues in Cleveland that I've always seen in Detroit. as much as they are trying to add attractions, nobody wants to live downtown.
Well, you are probably a closer judge. I have certain affinities for Cleveland that may blind me. Though, I hav eno desire to live downtown, simply because I'm not a downtowner. I'd want to be in one of the first ring of suburbs, in Tower City in < 10 min by car. Would be lovely for me.

Originally Posted by bdeuce22

i was too young to remember this, but someone flung a cinder block off an overpass that would have undoubtedly hit the car i was in had my father not swerved to the other lane. and yes it was on I-94, near mt. elliot. all in all, i like this area. it is not as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, detroit is somewhat in shambles. the media behind the stupid mayor doesn't help. the area is getting a really bad vibe for the economy as well, probably the worst in the nation. you just have to be smart in the areas you go to, just like every major city (ESPECIALLY TO THE GUY WHO WENT TO BELLE ISLE AT 2AM!!)
Yeah, that was me. I like to do photography in cities at night and I used to live in a pretty sketch neighborhood so I know what I'm doing. The Belle Island trip was questionable from the start, but I wanted a good skyline shot without crossing the Ambassador. And frankly you get all the best shots from the sketchy areas of town.

 

[ChicagoRon]

thats a great pic Huntsman

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

Whoa, did you know I collect books, too?

I suspected. We are rather kindred spirits in certain areas

Originally Posted by Huntsman

And frankly you get all the best shots from the sketchy areas of town.

Go to Windsor, Ontario. The town is very safe (except in those areas over run by Detroiters at night, lol). You can get some incredible pictures of Detroit from the Windsor side.

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

thats a great pic Huntsman
Thanks -- the full size image is a three shot stiched pano, from Windsor to North of the GM complex. It's 20 MP and prints beautifully.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

I suspected. We are rather kindred spirits in certain areas

<Laughs> Indeed -- great minds and all...

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Go to Windsor, Ontario. The town is very safe (except in those areas over run by Detroiters at night, lol). You can get some incredible pictures of Detroit from the Windsor side.
OK, will do.

 

[hermes]

with the canadian dollar basically at par with the american dollar, windsor is quite void of detroiters these days ..... but the best view of the detroit skyline is from the windsor side

 

[ChicagoRon]

Actually, the Hyatt in Dearborn has a pretty nice view from the revolving restaurant as well, although not good for photography.

So Huntsman, in your tenure in the D, did you try out any of our suggestions for dining?

I'm especially curious if you made it to
Sala Thai?
Union Street for Rasta Wings?
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