"The Paris Of The Midwest"
They used to call Detroit that. Gregg and I spent Saturday in Detroit, staying at my favorite place, the Westin right in the airport, and took a little detour while enroute to visit his mom. But, first, here's the parking lot at our hotel:
Next, there's the périphérique, the road on the way into the city (I guess, in Paris, they could have a big croissant):
And here are a few shots in passing from Detroit's Left Bank ("in passing" because we were in a hurry, and because Gregg wouldn't let me get out of the car, lest I get shot). First, here's the decaying Montparnasse train station:
Here's the view along Boulevard St. Germain.
Rue du Bac.
And, finally, a view from Neuilly-sur-Seine, aka Chesterfield Township.
To be fair, Neuilly would be more like Birmingham, where we ended up later for dinner with Elmore and his wife, but I was too cold then to take pictures, so you'll have to make do with Chesterfield's finest miniature golf.
It's a shame to see Detroit so devastated. Michigan is rapidly turning into a third world country from what I can see. I grew up in Walled Lake and I didn't want to leave but was forced to because of the lousy economy. Shame.
JoJo at December 3, 2007 6:20 AM
I know I'm off by half a continent but did the theme from "The Sopranos" start playing on anybody else's brain-o-phone?
martin at December 3, 2007 7:06 AM
Yeah, it's really sad. The economy was super-terrible when Gregg grew up there, and bad when I did. I worked at Channel 4 my senior year in high school, and went to Hudson's downtown (where my grandma sold gloves during The Depression) before they knocked it down. Here it is getting knocked down, from Gregg's friend Lowell Boileau's "Fabulous Ruins Of Detroit" site:
http://www.detroityes.com/home.htm
Amy Alkon at December 3, 2007 7:08 AM
Yes Detroit was Paris. Now it's the asshole of North America. What kind of brainiac goes there anyway? Oh, yeah.
Casca at December 3, 2007 9:21 AM
Heez Baaaa--ack!....
Hey, Casca! Quote a Nicholson film for us! Something cartoonish and backhanded!
Dude, I want the truth!
Crid at December 3, 2007 9:47 AM
A couple times a month, my boyfriend will accompany me to events or parties, even though it's more in his nature to stay home alone in the dark reading about Stalin and listening to Penderecki's "Threnody For Hiroshima." Once or twice a year, I can accompany him to Detroit.
Amy Alkon at December 3, 2007 9:59 AM
Hey Casca, some folks are from there. I imagine that many of them visit, especially those with family or business there. I'm from Michigan too, which recently narrowly averted a complete shutdown of government due to budget issues. Guess what, I visit on occasion, in spite of the fact that the whole state is becoming quite similar to a third world nation.
Now it's the asshole of North America.
No, I think that honor belongs to you.
DuWayne at December 3, 2007 1:04 PM
Good one, DuWayne!
Anyhoo, I may sell my house and retire up there. I should be able to buy a nice condo in an elevator building dirt cheap.
JoJo at December 3, 2007 2:28 PM
Hmmm. Didn't anyone get the jokes? I thought the Gare Montparnasse lookalike was really quite convincing. You had me there for a nanosecond. The big tire along the road? Yes, just like on the cab ride from CdG. And the rue du Bac? Funny!
Working Girl at December 3, 2007 3:07 PM
In fairness, large sections of Paris are no better these days. What with all the “youths” burning cars and firing shotguns at anybody who happens to be…well French, I’d say that Paris is well on its way to becoming the Detroit of Europe.
Mike Stajduhar at December 3, 2007 3:08 PM
Hey. I live there, and I like it a lot. So fuck all y'all.
Amy, I had lunch with a friend in Mexicantown Friday, and we did the train station/Mercury Bar route home. You should have called, but Saturday would have been impossible. You didn't mention the howling snowstorm that night -- the best part of the weekend.
Nance at December 3, 2007 5:10 PM
RE: More Falling OUT of Love = Paris of the Midwest
I just checked out yer blog, (and ordinarily, blogs, i do not prefer),
and just had to be amazed at the synchronicity--
You were writing from DETROIT????
That's my home city (as in, actually, The City),
nexus of both the galaxy, apparently,
and of my sucky sitch, which you so well advised .
I just had to let you know
that you have curiously managed to demonstrate
that the Universe has sensibly conspired to go on. and in my favor.
And that helps it suck less too,
practically magic-potion-like.
Thanks
ps: I promise, you won't get shot. I caught the bus from school fer years
right at that very place at Michigan and Vernor.
mmmmmmmmmm at December 3, 2007 6:49 PM
You should have called, but Saturday would have been impossible.
Wish we'd been in for longer...woulda called you...always a blast...but der Fuhrer had us tightly scheduled since we were only there for one day -- just his mom, my writing, and then dindin with Dutch. Wish you'd get out here one of these days, by the way.
PS Gregg grew up around there...relatively speaking...but seriously, it's a tragedy what's become of Detroit.
Amy Alkon at December 3, 2007 7:25 PM
Nance -
Personally I am very fond of the tri-county area. I have many fond memories of visiting the museums and Greenfield village. I also had a blast at the tour my dad finagled, of the Ford production lines. Lately, well before I moved to Portland a few years ago, I got to do some really sweet remodels. Including a copper roof over a whole house, a grand staircase and a indoor water fall (though that was closer to Ann Arbor than Detroit).
Remarkably, I actually miss the howling Michigan snow storms too. Nothing says fun like the run between Lansing (where I lived) and Farmington hills, driving a huge truck through a blizzard. Especially when you have no phone reception and your partner starts assuming your dead in a ditch, somewhere along the line.
I am really looking forward to our next visit, probably midsummer. We probably won't actually spend much time in Detroit (though we usually fly into Detroit) but we have plans for lots of big fun.
I am also looking forward to an especially exciting job my old employer lined up (the actual point of making the trip). I will be doing a particularly fancy copper job. Fabricating curly q brick molding for the windows and doors, and trim for the whole roof. I will also be fabricating panels that I designed for a job a few years ago, to go on the flat parts. I am giddy with anticipation. The economy may be in serious trouble back home, but there are still some folks doing quite well.
DuWayne at December 3, 2007 8:11 PM
Seriously, WHY would you want to waste the money on a plane ticket to Cannes when you can enjoy the splendor of the French Riviera right in suburban Detroit!
It's yet more proof that jesus like us far more than those dirty frenchies!
What? Hell! I don't have to make sense, I gotta a monster truck! Whoooooooo-haaaaaah!!!
RedPretzel in LA at December 5, 2007 11:44 AM
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