Wednesday 28 May 2014

DETROIT: Downtown Motown

Downtown Detroit Downtown Detroit Downtown Detroit Downtown Detroit Downtown Detroit Downtown Detroit Downtown Detroit

Sometimes I never know what to write when it comes to trying to annotate Detroit photo posts. Many people already have their perceptions, assumptions whether right or wrong about the city, some people won't even click on the post because Detroit is in the title. That's the roll of the dice. From the off I never wanted to go down the ruin porn photograph route when it comes to the city, there's enough of that already - just search ruin porn into Google and most of what comes up will be from Detroit. If you were to ever read reviews about restaurants or places to visit, things to do that I feature, the horror reviews would have you running for you life, sadly too many people in the suburbs believe said tales and never venture south of eight mile.

Sad but true.

Like when the in laws came to visit from Pittsburgh, we didn't hide them away in the suburbs like so many would.

I know Detroit has issues, I see it, I've driven down neighbours with only a couple of houses still occupied to entire stretches of nothing, just overgrown land. Detroit has issues that go back decades (racism, white flight, state/local politics), I guess if you live outside the US you might not be truly aware of them, maybe I'll explain them one day. I feel far more comfortable mentioning Detroit these days - whether it's things to see do or places to eat on my blog lately, I'm throwing caution to the wind and I truly hope you enjoy reading what I share, perhaps to see another side of the Motor City, just to balance things out a little.

On a side note, the eagle eyed locals among you might notice that the "Outsource to Detroit" banner still attached to the 1001 Woodward building in these photographs. They were taken just a couple of days before the 10 story, 130 foot banner split in two and flew its way through downtown due to the heavy winds we experienced in April. While to many it was a bit of an eye sore, it certainly caught your attention when you were heading south along Woodward.

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16 comments:

  1. Being a Michigander I understand the struggles of mentioning Detroit.. I have to let to know though.. I do enjoy your Detroit posts...I've learned things I didn't even know!

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    1. Thank you! I know with both myself and the husband growing up outside of Michigan, the Detroit verses the rest of the state is a huge eye opening, and the amount of people living in the suburbs that never venture into the city just amazes me.

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  2. Really fabulous pictures!

    Stephanie
    http://missstephanieusher.blogspot.co.uk/
    http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3436251
    xxxx

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  3. I find your Detroit posts very interesting, too. Chicago is another midwestern city that strikes fear into the hearts of country folk and even a lot of surburbanites who are friend of mine (I live in a Chicago suburb). They think I'm nuts to want to go into the city every chance I get, but the city is a lot more interesting and vibrant than the 'burbs to me.

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    1. I find so many of the suburbs (my city included) to be rather sleepy and just full of too many chain restaurants. Plus there's the whole us and them relationship/divide between if you live north or south of 8 mile. I hate that kind of attitude.

      Sigh.

      We honeymooned in Chicago, seemed a very fun and exciting city to explore!

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  4. I love seeing your Detroit pictures! I don't really have any memories of being there because we moved when I was young, but certainly feel drawn to them since that's the city I was born in. I'll go back one day, but for now I'll just live vicariously through your pictures :)

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    1. There is something about Detroit that draws people in. Hopefully you'll get to come back and explore some day!

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  5. Being an outsider, I don't know too much about Detroit so I just enjoy your photos and your stories. I can never seen to make cars look good in a photo, but I like how they look in the mist here.

    Bring on the Detroit photos!

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    1. Cars are a pain in photographs, luckily traffic doesn't go too fast downtown so they don't come out too blurry!

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  6. I love Detroit...my family took a few trips there growing up and i loved the city and the rich history!

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  7. Hi! I just discovered your blog! And I liked a lot your post about your town.
    I'm from France, and fRench TV spoke a few weeks ago from Detroit. They spoke about the ruins, empty houses and people leaving the city. But what I remember more (I don't know if it's the reality) was that a few people are trying to make the city bouncing back. They're mainly local artist, and they talked about their work. It was really great!

    I'd love to see more pictures and posts about Detroit :)

    Mathilde
    http://influenceinspiration.com

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    1. If you ever get chance, there's a documentary called Detropia which features the ideas and work of artists in the city (alongside others living in the city). There is a bit art movement, artists, writers and especially young people moving into the city bringing in new life but at the same time, you get news features just focusing on the bankruptcy, or the crime it's never a balance. I think if we had a bit more house buying and house refurbishment experience we'd of been more tempted to by a house in the city - maybe in the future though!

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  8. Being from Scotland and never even visiting the US at all I know very little aout Detroit so I definitely like seeing you photos and learning a bit more about the place - the good and the bad.
    Debi x

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    1. Thank you! I remember first hearing about the city in GSCE (or it might of been A Level, I forget) about Henry Ford and his Model T, I didn't imagine that 10/13 years later i'd be living near the place the automotive was born!

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  9. Those are some very cool pictures. I'm glad that you avoid ruin porn.

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    1. Thank you - there's too much of that ruin porn stuff out there, anything different is always welcome with me!

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