Let's Get Along

   When people ask me where I'm from, I say Detroit. But well, I grew up in Ann Arbor. Then they ask me where I live, and I say Corktown. They nod and say how much they love Slows. I think I may have had more street cred when I lived in Grosse Pointe Park on Barrington, one street outside of Detroit. Then I could say I lived near Jefferson and Alter. After living in Detroit for almost two years, I have fallen in love with the city but I can hardly call myself a seasoned Detroiter.

   I have been reading Detroit: A Biography by Scott Martelle. Which hardly makes me an expert, but a certain theme continues to pop up throughout the history and disintegration of this city: Racism. In the 40s and 50s when a black family moved to a neighborhood, the value of all the houses went down. You know someone has to decide the value of those houses right? It doesn't just happen that they devalue. So white people moved to other neighborhoods. They formed bands of roving mobs to punish the blacks for moving in on their turf. They formed “neighborhood coalitions” to dictate who could and could not move into their hood. If you think that young black boys in gangs originated turf wars, think again.

   Who was it that said “Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Well, I have an idea on how we can save Detroit. Lets forget the racism. And classism. Lets forget whose neighborhood this or that is, and lets all just get along. Why can't we all just get along?

I was really saddened by this article in Curbed Detroit (http://tinyurl.com/clx2mhk) not because I don't agree that it is sad that the Imagination Station burned, but because it was written as if this is somehow worse than all of the house fires ever before in Detroit. Thank God no one was hurt. Like in this story from just a few days ago (http://tinyurl.com/bt3b76r) or in March of this year (http://tinyurl.com/bnyo83o). Or how about in December last year when two people had to jump out of a window? (http://tinyurl.com/7tmrvlv) ?? The comments on the page of the Curbed article got ugly and defensive, and racist.

   Why can't we improve on the city without suppressing others? During the Fireworks this year almost 300 youths were arrested and detained for violating a curfew that many of them did not know about. Sometimes it's hard to get the news if you don't have a paper, or an iphone, or a TV, or a computer. Was that really necessary? Why do we have to arrest young Detroiters in order to make it safe enough for out-of-towners to enjoy the fireworks? I'm sure there is a better way.

   So how about this? Veteran Detroiters, why don't you join Mr. Mongo of Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy when he corrects his friend who said “These white kids, takin' over the city.” Mongo told him “Naw, they fill in the gaps. They left first, we filled in gaps. Then we left for the suburbs, now they fillin' the gaps.” And you, New Detroit Hipster Crackers (I'm definitely a cracker, I don't know how hipster) why don't you stop using the fact that you live in Detroit like a badge of honor? And don't get so defensive when someone questions your understanding of the city's pain. Maybe if you sit and listen, you will learn something and become a better person.

   All in all, my point is that when you live in Detroit. There is bound to be some losses. I had two bikes and a car stolen in less that two months. And nearly 300 youths were arrested on fireworks night for being out and about. And Jerry Paffendorf's Imagination Station burned. And someone's brother was shot and killed. And... So let's not compare our losses. But why don't we share in the dream of Detroit?  

Tourist in Detroit #2

Well, this weekend was another successful Detroit ho-hum good time.  Last week was Carl's and his intern's first week of Motown Mission Experience 2012!  75 youth and counselors came from as far as North Dakota to live and work in Detroit for a week.  They managed to work hard in the Cody/Rouge neighborhood in Detroit and no major mishaps.  Although he did send all of them to the record breaking Tigers game where the Rockies scored 8 runs in the top of the 10th inning.  Seriously Detroit, what is going on?  Didn't we put out a record breaking contract for Prince Fielder?  Where are those results?

Strange sign to have in a Photography Gallery

But while those kids were at the game we had a leisurely evening at the DIA Friday Night Live event.  There was Solanye Caignet y Sergio Medina from Mexico which felt extremely appropriate to be listening to in the Diego Rivera court.  Also there is a fun photography exhibit by Patti Smith right now.
  I can't wait until July 15th when the Picasso and Matisse show opens.  And when we were walking around Carl said aloud "We are members here?"  It is hard to believe especially since he was still wearing his clothes from a long day on the job and I was wearing camouflage shorts.  Maybe next time we will dress the part a little more.  What an amazing place we have right here in Detroit.
Then on Saturday during the day Carl and I diverged, he went to Ohio to see Lakeside and the Ohio Conference's "Youth Annual Conference" of the United Methodist Church and I attended my cousin's graduation party in Vicksburg, MI.

In the evening it was a Detroit sports evening.  We volunteered at the Detroit City Futbal Club game shagging balls, and then Carl and his soccer team Cass Corridor United (CCU) were the half-time show shooting Jorts (jean-shorts) into the stands and waving their "Suck It" flag.  "Suck it" has become CCU's official team motto.  After that we walked across Cass Park to the Masonic Temple where the Detroit Derby Girls Championship was taking place.  And the Detroit Pistoffs took the title for the second year in a row.  After our trip to Portland and visit with their Derby Girl bout we figured we should go see the girls who are featured in the film Whip-It!  What a funny group of folks we have here!  It was a blast.

Cool Venue for a sporting event!

Then for a nightcap we stopped at Motor City Brewing Works, had a pizza and some beer and met a nice woman named Shawn.  She was super fun and also asked us to pray for us because she is still struggling from the loss of her mother.  We could relate to that, and agreed to keep her in our thoughts and prayers.  We also ran into our friend Devin Hanson.  What a fun city to live in.  You get the experiences of a big city (Major league sports, big concert venues, lots of restaurants) but every time you go out you run into someone you know and it feels like a small town.  I love this city.
Sunday for Father's Day we went up to PoHu (Port Huron) for Rev. David Gladstone's last sermon before retirement and then spent the afternoon of father's day at the Henry Ford touring the Titanic Exhibit.  Carl and David perished in the sinking of the ship, but the ladies managed to survive.  "Woman and Children First!"  What a somber exhibit it was.
All in all, it was a productive and eventful weekend!

A tourist in your own town...

After our awesome trip to Portland, seeing all of the sights, it struck us, our town is pretty awesome, too.  It's funny how you take things for granted when you live there.  So I made it a goal to be a tourist in my own town.  Here is Day 1 of Tourism in Your Own Town from Last week:

As the kickoff to summer, Memorial Day weekend opened with an awesome Tigers Game W (we listened to it on the radio, but we went to a game last week, does that count?)  While they were playing, we too were playing with our favorite four and six year olds Casey and Sam at Zap Zone!  We got some awesome prizes due to our joint effort in the Deal or No Deal game (1007 tickets, what what??)  It was great to be included as part of the family outing for Sam's Big 4.

Saturday Morning was started with a trip over to Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes.  Even though it was the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure, the line wasn't too long.  I love the taste of Crepes in the morning:)

After that I popped over to the Eastern Market, which was crazytown.  But that is okay, I like it when all those awesome folks come in from the burbs:)  But the new Devries & Co., however NOT Hirts it may be, have made a few improvements.  And I am glad I could return my Calder Dairy Bottles there.  Makes me feel more authentic to buy Milk in a glass jug.  Then it was on to the Detroit City Futball Club game at Cass Tech.  But wait, it was pouring rain.  Too bad, that didn't stop the fans from showing up.  And they pulled off a stunning 3-0 win against the Erie Admirals.  Way to go Le Rouge!!!

This week was also an exciting time of Tourism in our own town.  It started on Saturday after getting back from a week of camp.  I had learned the dance for the proposed flash mob in support of the Ruth Ellis Center.  It was to be done at Motor City Pride.  But it literally rained on our gay pride parade.  Boo.  So no flash mob, maybe next year?  But the Ruth Ellis center does really cool stuff and I was excited to participate.  I rode my bike from Hart Plaza to Metropolitan UMC which was quite the sociology experiment.  I left from the GLBT Pride event, then drove past the Tigers fans during a rain delay, then up to Midtown where the DSO was about to start (fancy, Meh), and then through New Center which is pretty shut down during the evening.  It showed me all the different people that belong to this city.  Pretty neat.

Monday night I went to my first ever Magic Stick concert.  But first we attended Happy Hour at Roast's Bar...very reasonable!  And what a burger for $4! Then we saw the Punch Brothers!  They were awesome.  And if you don't know them, check um out.  They are the new rendition of Chris Thile's (of Nickel Creek) band.  It was very fun.

Tuesday brought us to Detroit City Futball League's game night.  My mom came in for the game and wanted a hot dog....so I took her to Lafayette Coney Island, which was actually my first time.  I still have not done the challenge (compare Lafayette to American) but now I can at least say I've eaten at the original.  And let me tell you, they are not popular because of their service (NO) but it was quite an experience nonetheless.  Sorry to say, Cass United Lost but not in spirit!  The afterparty at Nancy Whiskey was fun and we even got a visit from Detroit Pleasure Society, one of our local Party Marching Bands.  Here is a quick clip (doesn't do the energy justice):



And on Wednesday Laura McLaughlin and Jamie Delp came in to join us for a Tigers Game (no W this time).  We went to Seva Detroit, sat on the patio and they have quite a nice Happy Hour as well:)