 
Motorcitymayor2026
Member
Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 543
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 71.10.63.140
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 3:00 pm: |    |
Excuse my rant, but my love the city was re-affirmed last night, and I need to share my observations 
With the Monster Jams at Ford Field, Autorama at Cobo, the tattoo fest at the Ren Cen, and shows at the Fox and Gem theatres, Detroit was the busiest I have seen it since Super Bowl weekend.
The People Mover was standing room only. All 13 stops were being used, not the usual where everyone piles off at the Joe or at Cobo. I had never seen the people mover so busy, on a non Wings night, except for the Super Bowl. And this time the entire circuit was being utilized.
Jefferson, Monroe, and Randolph streets were deadlocked as I drove around between 7-11pm. Campus Martius Park was filled with dozens of skaters and onlookers, and nearby restuarants/bars/clubs seemed busy.
Lights were on all around downtown, with 8 or 10 spotlights radiating off of the top of the Fox Theatre. Taxis and limos seemed to be turning up more than usual. Looking from the top of the Compuware Parking Garage (10th floor) you could see hundreds of pedestrians, traffic, and full parking lots and garages.
I saw everyone in Downtown Detroit last night. City residents and suburbanites, blacks and whites, old and young. Parents with their strollers walking through the streets. Rich and fancy folk in their suits and fur coats walking through Greektown and on the people mover, next to those tattoo-filled, long hair, jeanwearing people, car-buffs, even tourists.
Outside of the Ponchartrain Hotel and the Courtyard Marriot at the Millender Center, buses were being unloaded as people were checking in, and taxis were surrounding the entrances. More than usual on a random saturday night, especially noticeable at the Ponch.
All of this going on without a Wings/Tigers/Lions game enticing people downtown. This time, downtown was enticing people downtown.
Driving through the neighborhoods next to the abandoned burned out, trash filled lots, I was able to see new+ developments, and single homes being restored. More traffic than usual on these streets it seemed.
Around 1030 on Bell Isle there were dozens of cars driving around, and many stopped to take a look out at the beautiful night skyline.
Wasnt ever approached by the homeless last night, a pretty rare occassion for myself.
After becoming down on Detroit a little bit, after seeing how this region so poorly handled the Zoo fiasco, last night was needed. Today, I read in the paper that Detroit is turning back after the SB, trash and graffitti are reappearing, stores are closing etc. That's not the Detroit I saw last night. Interestingly enough, the next page of the paper talks about Core City and how successful it has been, and shows photos of the brand new Detroit homes. Of course, the front page shows the trash and grafitti in color.
I needed to see Detroit last night, and I am glad I did. My passion and love for detroit was restored. I love Detroit. I am more determined to try and make a difference now than I have ever been before. I cannot wait to move to the city.
Detroit has its many problems, but boy, last night you wouldn't have known. My hopes and dreams now are to make last night the usual for all residents of Detroit and the state of michigan, and anyone else in town.
again, sorry for the rant! I know many of you feel the same way as I do about the city, and I thank those of you that have helped me develop my passion. |
Broken_main
Member
Username: Broken_main
Post Number: 849
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 69.222.11.226
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 3:22 pm: | |
Well, thats wonderful Motorcity. After my most recent rant about the city after SBXL I didn't bother to even check downtown out this weekend. I am planning on going to check out M'dea at the RenCen tonight with my family. I would love to walk from my house to the DPM...but my newly pregnant wife won't be walking anywhere until October |
Motorcitymayor2026
Member
Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 546
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 71.10.63.140
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 3:26 pm: | |
Congrats to you and your wife on her pregnancy! |
Broken_main
Member
Username: Broken_main
Post Number: 851
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 69.222.11.226
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 3:33 pm: | |
Well thanks. When I read that you were from Brighton, I just remembered in my youth I camped in Bright for 2 years. It was actually a City of detroit sponsored program way back in the 70's.
By the way, next time you are downtown, maybe we can hook up for lunch, maybe at Slows or your favorite eatery. |
Motorcitymayor2026
Member
Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 549
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 71.10.63.140
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 3:46 pm: | |
Hmm.. Would it by chance have been at the Brighton Recreation Park? I would guess it was either there or at Bishop lake perhaps. Thats very interesting, I am sure Brighton was nothing like it is today back then. Now it is becoming another Novi, as a huge new mall is being built.
I'm all for meeting up oneday, and *gasp* I have yet to try Slow's out lol so that would be a great place. But, in case you didnt know I am one of the youngins on here, still a senior on high school. Wouldnt be able to throw down some cold ones with you ;) but I would love to talk to you about Detroit, it can be rather hard to find someone out here with knowledge and passion of the city. Just let me know if youd still be interested. Email is nickq2o2o2 at yahoo dot com |
Broken_main
Member
Username: Broken_main
Post Number: 858
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 69.222.11.226
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 3:54 pm: | |
All I remember was that it had a Lake, dead smack in the middle of it and they used to have us trying to get greased watermelons out of it...how funny when I think back.
Always a pleasure to share Detroit. I am trying to get my oldest son involved with being active in his city. trying to assure that he is a part of the answer and not the problem that we see so often in this sometimes troubled city.
I know of your age...I am always encourage with your responses. might I add that I find it very "different" that someone so young has the type of passion for Detroit that you do. |
Mind_field
Member
Username: Mind_field
Post Number: 501
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 209.240.205.61
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 4:23 pm: | |
thanks for the very reaffirming post, MCM. I've been down on Detroit too, wayyyy down. It just seems like an avalanche of negative news coming from the city since the superbowl, with the zoo issue and it's associated ridiculous political circus being a major stumbling block for me. I haven't been to Detroit in one month, compared to at least bi-weekly visits during the frenetic build up to superbowl weekend. It also seems there is so little good news to balance out the negative news too.
I have a friend who lives in Virginia Beach and she told me she is "mad" at Detroit during a recent conversation. This is someone who has no interest in political or urban issues. I asked her why she was mad and she said it was because of the possible zoo closing and how this region has handled it. I thought, we must seem like such a joke, a rotting wasteland to the rest of the nation. We get excited over a mediocre 10 story office building being constructed downtown that might not even fill up, while Chicago is busy constructing MULTIPLE condo towers over 1,000 ft. in height. Even St. Louis, with it's urban decay and blight comparable to Detroits, is proposing and building numerous towers, one as tall as 600 ft.!
While we have a CVS to get excited about......come on!
Ok, enough of my cynicism, but sometimes it's very hard to stay positive living here. It's great to hear that they kept the spotlights at the Fox, it would be kick ass if they kept the spotlights on top of the Ren cen too, those were the best ones. |
Frank_c
Member
Username: Frank_c
Post Number: 434
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 4:34 pm: | |
Nice, got to compile many days and nights like this to really turn things around. |
Broken_main
Member
Username: Broken_main
Post Number: 863
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 69.222.11.226
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 4:38 pm: | |
Note to self...get off the computer and go have some fun downtown so you can come back and tell of its goodness!!! |
Royce
Member
Username: Royce
Post Number: 1495
Registered: 07-2004
Posted From: 70.227.207.76
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 5:31 pm: | |
If you read the Detroit News/Free Press today, you'd think it was doom and gloom for downtown Detroit. Something like if you were away from the Greektown area, the rest of downtown was like a ghost town. Anything to sell papers and grab your attention. However, it is such irresponsible journalism.
Great to hear from someone who was actually downtown and saw things first hand, and proved that the article is a bunch of rubbish. Too bad I missed the nice evening.
BTW, Motorcitymayor2026, I hope you didn't drive four straight hours around downtown. I know when I'm driving down there I eventually have to get out and walk. Can't catch the fever of the moment if you're not walking around at some point. Again, Motorcitymayor2026, great to hear that you had a nice time. Contrary to rumor, there are times when it truly is, "a great time to be in Detroit."
(Message edited by royce on March 05, 2006) |
Smogboy
Member
Username: Smogboy
Post Number: 1893
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 69.47.101.255
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 5:55 pm: | |
Sometimes I think all the newspapers want to do is report on the negative aspects of the City. There are a myriad of things that are amazingly good happening before and after the Super Bowl. It's nice to see someone giving first hand account of the REAL pulse of Detroit first hand. Thanks you, Motorcitymayor2026. |
Motorcitymayor2026
Member
Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 552
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 71.10.63.140
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 5:58 pm: | |
Royce, i got out and walked. Walked around Belle Isle, went ice skating at Campus Martius, went to dinner, walked Greektown and Woodward, but while I was in the car arricing at 7 and leaving around 11 the traffic was heavy |
Mackinaw
Member
Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 1227
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 141.213.173.94
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 5:59 pm: | |
You're looking at the bright side like I always do, MCM.
You're post reaffirms the positive direction of the city. Look at the Detroit News (metro section) today, nitpicking everything negative about Detroit one month after the Super Bowl high point. We are awash in negativity. |
Motorcitymayor2026
Member
Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 553
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 71.10.63.140
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 6:05 pm: | |
Mind_field,
come back downtown. The media reports really dont give us a good view of whats actually going on. Downtown looks just as nice last night as it did leading up to the Super Bowl festivites, if not better. You can see the progress at the One Kennedy Square Building, work being done on the Vinton, all of the cranes going up at MGM, and work still being done on various buildings. The Days Inn on Jefferson is getting a complete brick makeover and looks great. Chicago may be getting 1000 footers, but Detroit needs to improve the infrastructure, demolish or renovate existing structures before the massive buildings are being built. And that is what detroit is doing.
And, even through that new buildings are being built. 15 story Compuware, 10 story One Kennedy Square, the 15 story GM East Riverfront tower, and 3 hotels from 15-18 stories in height...
So it isnt all doomg and gloom like it may sound. Detroit, especially downtown, is improving EVERY DAY and hasnt look this great in decades |
Royce
Member
Username: Royce
Post Number: 1497
Registered: 07-2004
Posted From: 70.227.207.76
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 6:42 pm: | |
One thing about that news article that really ticked me off was the picture of the graffiti and talk of graffiti on buildings that had removed graffiti. These graffiti artists ought to be shot. I know there was another thread that asked if Detroit has a graffiti problem. I have to say that we most definitely do, and it's getting out of hand. Just the other day I saw graffiti on a U.S. mailbox.
What happened to only marking up abandoned buildings with graffiti? Are there so few abandon buildings in Detroit now that these assholes are running out of canvas. Clearly, that's not their problem. The fact is, they shouldn't be spray-painting anything, unless commissioned to do so.
Therefore, let me make myself clear, "I hate graffiti artists." They are as low as the scum who think Detroit is their garbage can. Off with their heads. Off with their heads. |
Canuckr
Member
Username: Canuckr
Post Number: 16
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 192.217.231.204
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 7:08 pm: | |
I shared the same exact obersavtions last night, walking around downtown after Autorama. Went for another great walk again around downtown today and took a bunch of pictures. The skating rink was backed today around 2.
Congrats to Broken Main your wife on her pregnancy..
<-Who will be moving downtown in a month and can not wait! |
Super_d
Member
Username: Super_d
Post Number: 745
Registered: 08-2005
Posted From: 205.188.116.137
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 8:44 pm: | |
'Motorcitymayor2026'....sooooo you're the person that shined the lights on me and my friend around 10 or so last-night at Belle Isle! darn it you!
Yes, downtown was popp'n last night! Next weekend the weather is suppose to be great! Low 60's__ should be popp'n again__ can't wait!
super d(motordetroit) |
220hendrie1910
Member
Username: 220hendrie1910
Post Number: 3
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 64.26.170.229
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 10:12 pm: | |
Re Royce: "Just the other day I saw graffiti on a U.S. mailbox."
That made me giggle a bit because where I live, mailboxes are the first things to get tagged. They've taken to putting pretty maple-leaf decals on the sides to make them less attractive targets.
Spray cans with legs. All cities have 'em. At least in the U.S. you have the will to prosecute.
Tagged out in Ottawa. |
Adamjab19
Member
Username: Adamjab19
Post Number: 627
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 24.192.148.148
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 11:13 pm: | |
I was downtown last night too. Parked in that lot on Broadway, went to cock n' bull which was alright. That place is very hit and miss but the prices are good. Not very crowded so we walked to the Detroiter which was full as well as Greektown streets.
If you heard anyone yelling about a free guiness hat... it was me.... |
Illwill
Member
Username: Illwill
Post Number: 62
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 71.201.70.200
| | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 2:37 am: | |
How come no one mentions all of the graffiti and trash that Chicago, New York and Philly has? Detroit is an urban city just as those mentioned above and graffity will always be around. What are poeple really expecting? |
Broken_main
Member
Username: Broken_main
Post Number: 872
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 69.222.11.226
| | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 3:47 am: | |
Canuckr...thanks a lot.
I spent Sunday evening downtown with my family. It was alive and well and clean. I will return later with how my night went.( I am at work and need to prevent broken_mains...hehehehe) |
Motorcitymayor2026
Member
Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 556
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 68.251.25.41
| | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 4:51 pm: | |
Broken....
got your email, sent one back. Hope it worked! good ole CoD technology!! |
Tomoh
Member
Username: Tomoh
Post Number: 93
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.40.205.183
| | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 11:30 pm: | |
Last Saturday was indeed a good time in Detroit. I knew something was going on at Cobo but didn't know about everything else so I thought all the people just came down just to come down! It'd be nice if there were four conventions happening downtown every weekend... at the same time, I am glad they all happened at the same time rather than being spread out because it gave the people who came for each thing without realizing what else was going on, it gave them the impression that downtown Detroit was hoppin'. Anyways, there were many limos and limobusses escorting girls from club to club to parties in lofts in Corktown! All this with "competition" from the the Blowout in Hamtramck.
We need more of us going down and "being the crowd" rather than staying home on the internet being depressed about what we heard it wasn't! Forego the $10 surface parking lots and add some extra foot traffic.
And Friday night at Vicente's on Library, I listened in on some local entrepreneurs who had just met who were somehow involved with the Vinton building, and some well-heeled women from Brighton.. it was only my first time there but I'm getting the impression that it's the place where local movers and shakers go to eat, drink, dance, and meet! |
Ray
Member
Username: Ray
Post Number: 635
Registered: 06-2004
Posted From: 68.41.174.244
| | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 11:46 pm: | |
Downtown was great on saturday. I saw the Monster Jam with my 5 year old. Boy, was it loud. |
Mind_field
Member
Username: Mind_field
Post Number: 503
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 209.240.205.61
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 10:47 am: | |
MCM,
I'll be back downtown many times in the future. I've just been a little busy and am trying to save a lot of money so I'm really just cutting down on unneccesary trips and frivolous spending. It's not that I've "given up on Detroit". I'm compiling a list of things that I'll need to get at the downtown CVS that I would have bought at Meijers a couple miles from my house. The rare occasion that I want something from Borders, I always check to see if the downtown location has it first before I have to go to that clusterfuck called Novi. And if I can help it, I'll drag whoever is going to the movies with me to the Rencen theater before I will patronize the Waterford MJR theater. I also can't wait to rollerblade for miles along the riverfront when the weather gets warmer.
What will really be impressive though is when downtown Detroit is bustling on weeknights and weekends when there are NO special events, games or conventions going on. |
Nip
Member
Username: Nip
Post Number: 60
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 68.74.7.156
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 11:10 am: | |
I too was downtown for a couple of hours on Saturday. I was surprised to see Jefferson backed-up all the way to the Lodge at 4PM (I was caught in it). It was also surprising to see all of the activity taking place, despite the fact that it wasn't all that warm. I was aware of Autorama, but had no idea of the other events. Glad to see a lively Detroit. |
Gumby
Member
Username: Gumby
Post Number: 915
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 204.39.224.82
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 11:18 am: | |
Saturday was great. I came down with some suburbanite friends to celebrate my friends 32nd b-day at the Hard Rock. Afterwards we hit up the Well for some drinks sat on the porch screaming about beernoculars. We watched as all the people walked their children through the streets on their way back to their cars after monster jam (we kinda joked about them because lets just say not all appeared to come from a deep gene pool). I think I saw Skulker at the Well but I am not sure because he was with people so i didn't want to go and bother him. Was it you Skulker?
All in all a great time. I will be down tonight for the Wings game as well. |
Supersport
Member
Username: Supersport
Post Number: 9928
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 64.118.137.226
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 11:31 am: | |
Boy, the shooting didn't keep you away long did it? Glad to have ya back Gumby. You definately got "Detroit Love" kickin'. |
Gumby
Member
Username: Gumby
Post Number: 916
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 204.39.224.82
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 11:41 am: | |
you know it Supersport. I was actually back the weekend after the shooting for the Carlin show at the Opera House. Man that place is beautiful. |
Bob
Member
Username: Bob
Post Number: 796
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 11:50 am: | |
I was downtown a couple Fridays ago for an early dinner at Small Plates, the place was packed and the only thing going on downtown was the Boat Show. We walked over to Borders to do some shopping after dinner and there was a nice line waiting to check out. It is nice to see and hear of these stories about downtown life when there is not a large event going on. |
Broken_main
Member
Username: Broken_main
Post Number: 904
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 69.222.11.226
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 11:48 am: | |
So...coming from work last night to stop at Lafayette Coney Island. Nice crowd last night at about midnight. lots of walkers and couples being romantic. Washington Blvd area was packed. I love the new streetscape but I think those lamps are a little too bright.
Maybe i am just used to it being dark down there. |