 
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 4066
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 10:02 am: |    |
Last night we went to the 6th Annual Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Extravaganza. I wasn't quite ready for Christmas until last night. But downtown is just BEAUTIFUL this year! The nutcracker was playing next door at the Fox, there seemed to be people everywhere, despite the cold temperatures. One guy who was down from Lansing to see BSO commented to me how he hadn't been to Detroit in quite a while, and couldn't believe how different it looked. The city has Christmas lights all over the place, the tree at Campus Martius is huge and fantastic. Afterwards we headed over to The Pegasus for my favorite meal of stuffed grape leaves (with the lemon sauce!). Greektown was really hopping. The new parking structure is handy, it was free to park, and I could get all the way to Pegasus via the Casino without freezing my butt off. Inside the walkway there was a Motown quartet singing, they were great!
Detroit sucked all the grinch out of me this year, what a great night! Can't wait to get some ice skating in soon. |
Mackinaw
Member
Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 4121
Registered: 02-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 12:35 pm: | |
Good deal.
I think the lights in downtown, especially Grand Circus Park to Jefferson along the Civic Center and CMP are really spectacular, along with all the red and green spotlights on some of the buildings.
As Woodward corridor development continues, the next step for future years is lights from midtown to downtown.
I really get put into the spirit by seeing a concert at Orchestra Hall, or the Nutcrakcer (usually at the Opera House).
The culmination is Midnight Mass in the city. |
Mdoyle
Member
Username: Mdoyle
Post Number: 277
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 3:55 pm: | |
I always thought it'd be nice if midtown had a tree in front of the DIA. Since all of the fountains are shut off during the winter it would be a nice attraction. Otherwise the area in front of the DIA looks like a wasteland of concrete. |
Missmich
Member
Username: Missmich
Post Number: 10
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 4:53 pm: | |
BSO is in Petoskey tonight |
Neilr
Member
Username: Neilr
Post Number: 613
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 6:53 pm: | |
This afternoon I attended the annual Indian Village Christmas Tour, which I much prefer to the regular yearly tour in June. The attendees visit the houses in groups of 30-40 people. The owners are in their homes and offer refreshments to the guests.
Again this year, a particular house on Seminole was on the tour. The phrases "beyond extravagant, " and "spared no expense," and "over the top" do not begin to describe the breadth, depth, and extreme good taste of the Christmas decor in this home. They begin the decorating in September in order to have it completed by December. The first two floors were decorated and open.
This event, to me, is a good way to start off the Christmas season. |
Mackinaw
Member
Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 4127
Registered: 02-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 7:33 pm: | |
Is it the house on the east side of the street near Agnes with the really prominent outdoor lights?
I totally believe what you say about the extravagence. My conclusions from various tours of IV is that there is much more wealth there than you'd expect. |
Neilr
Member
Username: Neilr
Post Number: 614
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 7:59 pm: | |
I don't think it's the same house. The one I visited is on the west side of the street. They have some tasteful exterior lighting; but it's the interior that is really decorated. |
Smogboy
Member
Username: Smogboy
Post Number: 6616
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 - 10:30 pm: | |
As an adult, the holiday season starts off with Noel Night in the Cultural Center. Seeing all of the people carolling and just having a good time just inspires me and let's me know it's the holidays fast approaching. Great time to get some shoppng done as well.
As a kid, the reindeer & sleigh atop Topinka's Country House in NW Detroit was the sign that it was the holidays. |
Reddog289
Member
Username: Reddog289
Post Number: 122
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 3:26 am: | |
the reindeer&sleigh on top of topinka,s is one of my favorite christmas memories, i did cry when it burned in the 70,s but i was just a little kid. downtown to me is on it,s way back hope to get down there during christmas |
The_rock
Member
Username: The_rock
Post Number: 2037
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 1:10 pm: | |
Shopping during your noon hour lunch downtown "back then" was awesome. Hudson's, Demery's, Crowleys, Kerns, T.B. Rayls, all within a ten minute walk from the downtown office buildings. Each store was decked out in its Christmas finest, and then you took a stroll up Woodward to Grinnell's to hear holiday favorites sung by the different choirs performing on the main floor.
Downtown was truly vibrant. No other word for it. Suddenly, your "hour lunch break" ran into an hour and a half, but the boss didn't seem to mind.
Now it's hop in your car and hustle to the mall, or get on the computer and order online.
No comparison. Downtown Christmas shopping beat it all. A memory never to be forgotten, and always cherished. |
Bobj
Member
Username: Bobj
Post Number: 3255
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 1:31 pm: | |
Rock
I have vague memories of Downtown being like that when I was a kid. My Mom worked at Hudson's Downtown and we went there a lot. But after the riots, my Mom worked more at Eastland and we went Downtown less and less. We would go for Christmas and for certain stores.
I think there are at least a coupe generations with no memory of Downtown like you described or they just never went there except for Cobo or other sporting events and then left |
The_rock
Member
Username: The_rock
Post Number: 2038
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 8:04 pm: | |
Right you are, Bobj. The riots sure contributed to the demise of downtown shopping.
The convenience of both working and shopping downtown went hand in hand. And if you ask any old-time Detroiter, there are very few who could not answer the #1 trivia question of downtown shoppers:
On what floor of Hudson's was the toy department located?
And especially at Christmas time, it was just spectacular!! |