Forgotten Detroit II

Empty lots (and lots of them). Hidden houses. And whole areas of the
city that never got plowed! Why? Why some streets and not others?

Lost Detroit I

There are many wonderful places in and around Detroit, Belle Isle, the DIA, the Renaissance Center, Greenfield Village, Cranbrook, the Metroparks, The Zoo, The Symphony, the Opera, etc. There is also poverty and hopelessness. Last time I showed the less pretty side of Detroit, several people objected, but I am going to show a few unhappy sights anyway in the service of truth and fairness.

Yesterday I went for a walk. What you see here are all within easy walking distance of my house. They are all one one street, and three of them are next door to each other. People get foreclosed, the house goes up for sale,and before it sells, someone torches it. My favorite old laundromat just got torched recently. I was very sad. While these are all on one street, there are many others as well. So much of Detroit burnt during the race riots that there are huge open spaces in the city. Note how the vinyl siding melted in the heat.

These houses represent sad situations, people with very little money losing what little they had to begin with. In some cases, landlords are also losing money and neighborhoods are deteriorating because they sit like this for years and squatters move in. There but for fortune go you or I. Click images to view larger.

Old Stables on Belle Isle, Day and Night

The architecture of the building on Belle Isle is wonderful, but
unfortunately, many of the buildings are being left to disintegrate
slowly. Very sad. Click images to view larger.

Other cool (beautiful) shots by another photographer here and here.

The Detroit Film Theater and Persepolis

Yesterday, we went to the DIA yet again, and walked around Wayne State University yet again, and took more pictures, some of which I will surely show you at some point soon.

We also went to the Detroit Film Theater which is located at the DIA. It was my first ever trip to the Detroit Film Theater--remember--I am new in town--and I loved it. It is a beautiful old-fashioned theater all fancy and done up in gold. The first picture I took hand-held inside a partially darkened theater--it was very dark for pictures. Click image to view larger.

The movie we saw was Persepolis, which got a golden globe for the foreign language film. It was in French with English subtitles and about a fiesty Iranian woman Marjane. It's an animated film based on her graphic novel. I haven't read the book (BB has), and was pleasantly surprised. I loved the movie. I highly recommend it. The second and third shots are not mine, obviously, but from the promotional materials from the movie.

Now I want to read the book. The movie was really really good.

Belle Isle Contrasts

We went to Belle Isle again yesterday. We walked through the
conservatory and then took a walk outside. I thought I'd post the
picture of the Detroit River with the city skyline next to the picture
of the cyclamens in the conservatory for contrast. It snowed the
whole time we were walking, a light fine snow, the same snow that is
falling outside my window now.

The Kresge-Ford Arts Building, Wayne State

Wayne State University, The DIA and The Science museum, along with the
Scarab Club and other important sites are all contiguous in the
Cultural District of Detroit.

The sculpture is in the courtyard of the arts building. The last shot
is behind the building and the parking structure at twilight.

I just got in from shoveling the driveway for 20 minutes and didn't
finish, but my hands were painfully cold and I had to warm up.

The Detroit Science Museum

We were unable to take pictures inside. It's kitty corner across from
the DIA. They have real human bodies inside that are dissected on
various ways to show the different systems. Click image to view
larger.

I'm way behind on commenting because of my projects. I apologize to
anyone still hanging in. Besides the adoption, I am working on three
children's books. One is about dreams.

The Best of the Best at the DIA

One guard said I could take pictures as long as I didn't use flash but
shortly later, another guard said I could not, so the Picasso is one
of the best of the best at the DIA, but the Casatt is not (I took that
later in another gallery.)

More Diego Rivera at DIA

The first picture gives and idea of scale of the murals of Diego
Rivera. After that, there are three details.

I am sorry my projects must take precedent over blogging and commenting.

More DIA

We went back again to the "New" Detroit Institute of Arts. We had a
great time, but still saw only a fraction of what was there.

1,2; Two views of the new DIA (neither is main entrance--it was too
cold to walk around to the front as we left our coats in the car.)
3. YES, the murals by Diego Rivera are still there! (YAY!)
4. Penelope.

I took a zillion more pix, of course, so I may show more of them.

Click images to view larger.

I apologize for being behind commenting--I am in the midst of an
urgent and important project attempting to adopt my son. It turns out
to be very complex and complciated (and annoying!)(and time
consuming). We have new snow so I have to shovel, too. Etc. (AK!)

Cranbrook Sports Art

Another cold day, but not quite as cold as yesterday. Biker Buddy had
the Holiday off and we went up to Cranbrook, which is about 30 miles
north and west of us. We hiked around the trails there in the snow.

Yesterday, we went to the DIA (Detroit institute of Arts) again, so I
have more DIA pix as well as more Cranbrook pix.

Cranbrook is full of sculptures. The ones shown here are at the sports complex. Click images to view larger (including maps).

Wandering Belle Isle in Winter

We took a long walk at Belle Isle yesterday. Everything was frozen
solid and it was uncomfortably cold even with long johns and
snow pants. I apologize for being so far behind on commenting.

1,2: Livingston Lighthouse, the only marble lighthouse in the country.
3. Blue Heron Lagoon. No Blue Herons today!
4. Detroit River Edge
5. Another Lagoon, I forget which one. If I remember, I'll come back
and let you know. Click images to view larger.

No Longer a lighthouse

This used to be a lighthouse but was made into a restaurant. This is
up at St. John Marsh, north a little from Detroit.

Wayne State

Dunno the name of this building at Wayne State but if I find out, I
will add it later. I like the lines and repeating shapes.

I am deep in the midst of an adoption project so forgive my lapses. I
will catch up when I can.