You know you're in Detroit when...

[LCC]

I'm flying into JFK tonight around midnight for a job interview in the morning. My girlfriend is panicing about me driving in the area late at night alone.

I said; "Shut your trap bitch, I grew up in the Detroit 'burbs" She recognized...

[Woodsy]

Originally posted by LCC
I'm flying into JFK tonight around midnight for a job interview in the morning. My girlfriend is panicing about me driving in the area late at night alone.

I said; "Shut your trap bitch, I grew up in the Detroit 'burbs" She recognized...

wahtevah tuffguy we know you pacified her with impending Llama love next week

[LCC]

Am I that transparent?

[The AD]

Originally posted by tonghands
You've thrown up outside St. Andrews.

Not sure, but I've certainly pissed outside St. Andrews several times. Is St. Andrews also what 13 was referring to about the place that's 2/3 empty, but still SRO? It certainly is appropriate. I've seen more concerts in that venue by far than any other place. I'm not even from Detroit.

In response to iceman, I would think the walk from the Ren Cen to Greektown would be pretty safe. Every time I was in that area at night it was a virtual ghost town. Of course that was several years ago, I just assuming it's pretty much the same now.

[iceman]

Hey, I just reported what the guy said, I don't know the area.

[tonghands]

I haven't been back to Detroit for five or six years, but it used to be that you would never walk anywhere if you valued your life.

St. Andrews remains my favorite place to see a band, perfect size, perfect vibe.

Hey, is Leyland City Club still there? That place was great, full on gothic freak show bar in the basement of a Ramada hotel of all places. Great place to get drunk and act like a moron.

[13]

Originally posted by The AD
Is St. Andrews also what 13 was referring to about the place that's 2/3 empty, but still SRO?

Harpo's. Or as the sign reads from 94, "A POS."

Not sure about Leyland City Club, never heard of it.

The walk from RenCen to Greektown is safer now only because there's more police present, but I still wouldn't do it. Remember, there is a such thing as "mass transit" in Detroit -- the people mover.

I haven't yet puked or pissed outside of St. Andrews, but it's on my to-do list.

[The AD]

I'm going to the Mariners vs. Tigers game this Saturday. For once I feel like the Tigs have a good shot at winning. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they swept the Mariners. God are they bad this year.

[13]

I went to the Tigers' game on Memorial Day and they lit up the Royals to the tune of 5 home runs (including an inside-the-parker).

Stiff Daquiris for $1.90 can be had in CoPa.

[13]

I watched 8 Mile again tonight and the more I watch that movie, the more I come to appreciate it. I think growing up in suburban Detroit during some tough times had something to do with it.

My dad worked for GM in Detroit proper, and my doctor's office was right next to the slums, so I spent a fair amount of time in the city. Wiping away the fog of my breath from the windows of my parents' cars, I saw first-hand the disrepair and devastation heaped upon the city due to decades of violent crime and abandonment. For almost 30 years, Detroit spiraled down a drain of despair, pinned to the walls by a powerful centrifuge of crime and sinking from the gravity of hopelessness. It wasn't just violence; the scourge of crack cocaine gutted the underbelly of the city, reducing many people to mindless addicts fixed on getting and staying high, because nothing else in their lives mattered in their semi-conscious haze. Dignity can and did go up in smoke, day or night. There was also the homelessness. People on Jefferson Avenue laying on cold, wet cement shivering beneath a rain-soaked newspaper trying to make it through the night; they didn't even have the "luxury" of a large refrigerator box to sleep in. Let us not forget the rampant arson, especially Devil's night and the tricks pumping the johns (literally) for their hard-earned cash, cash that someone's daddy could have spent on the rent or to put Cheerios in the pantry. Depending on the trick's priorities, the money was spent on her own kids or for a vial of crack.

Everyone in Detroit knows hard times, but they also know hard work, no matter the job. They know it's not a dog-eat-dog world, it's a dog-eat-kitten world, and you had better not be one of the kittens, or you're gonna go from low rung to slipping from the bottom rung. Want proof of the respect for hard work? Just look at who we named our freeways after; labor bosses and automaking pioneers. Forget Jimmy Hoffa; he was one of the kittens. We've got I-96, which is Jeffries Freeway; we've got the Lodge Freeway, the Chrysler Freeway, and I-94 is named after the racist Henry Ford. Yes, everyone works hard, because we all know that through hard work and perseverance, Detroit will one day rebuild the rubble of concrete, rebar, brick, and steel. That'll prove to the rest of the world that if it can survive the hard times and once again grow and prosper, anyplace can.

In a way, I think Eminem's character in 8 Mile represents the soul of Detroit. Bunny Rabbit got beat down, beat down, and kicked while he was down after yet another beating, but he eventually stood up, tenderized and bruised to show everybody what's what and that a tough past can dictate a sweet future.

[powderwhore]

Haven't seen 8 mile yet.

[The AD]

Originally posted by 13
For almost 30 years, Detroit spiraled down a drain of despair, pinned to the walls by a powerful centrifuge of crime and sinking from the gravity of hopelessness.

Just felt like writing a little screed tonight, eh 13?

[dewey]

Hey 13 -
That's a pretty little picture there.
I guess one thing that seems incredibly important when you talk about Detroit is Race. And I don't mean to get all racial and shit and start a big flame up of race stuff.
But, Detroit became what it is because of the racial politics of the 60's, the movement of living-wage manufacturing jobs out of the city and eventually the country, and with that, the movement of tax dollars, white people, and budgets for schools to the preimeter of the metro area. This was white flight in the grandest sense. And it was a result of the Riots more than anything, which was a result of the inherent racism of city politics and its police department, national politics, and slow economic improvements after the promise of the civil rights era.
Now when you say you shouldn't walk from Greektown to the RenCen, I think that's a bit bullshit. That's a 5 block walk. Why is it scary? Because you are the only white person there? I'll admit it makes me feel rather uncomfortable. But I'm still going to walk there. I've done it many times and never had a problem.

Another thing. I like 8 mile, but Rabbit is far from the embodiment of the city's fighting spirit. I prefer to think of Joe Louis' Black Fist just outside of JLA as more a accurate description of the history.

Or maybe our new Pistons. I guess what I really meant to say is Go Pistons.

[A-wreck]

13..........

Ask any construction worker, plumber, electrician, factory worker, truck driver, meat packer, basically any skilled tradesman who's industry provides them with a union if they think James R. Hoffa was a kitten as oppsed to a dog (like you referenced above) and I think they will beat the living shit out of you.

Jimmy Hoffa did more for blue collar workers than anyone who has ever walked this planet and ,in my opinion, anyone who will ever walk this planet in the future. Henry ford his assembly lines and internal cumbustion engines and all, don't have shit on Jimmy Hoffa.

Didn't mean to sound like I was attacking you there but if you are going to name great people whom we've named freeways after here, you should remember the man who liberated blue collar workers everywhere from unfair and low paying employers.

If it wasn't for him we'd all be working in a fucking sweat shop.
________
buy vaporizer

[13]

Cool. I wrote that in a hurry, so I'll hash out a response. It'd be cool if this continued, because there's a lot of Detroit bashing without people knowing a lot of the history.

Dewey - most of the abandonment was "the great white flight" for sure. No doubt race plays a huge role here. The irony of it is that it's one of the most diverse areas and yet the most segregated at the same time, so it makes sense that there's still a lot of latent racism here. I also agree that the fist of Joe Louis has more symbolism, but I think 8 Mile will help a lot of the younger generation relate to the fighting spirit of Detroit than Joe Louis' fist. Most of the kids growing up nowadays won't even go into the city, but they know where and what 8 Mile Road represents.

A-wreck - I deserved that. In my defense, I was pointing out that we hold a lot of respect for labor bosses, Hoffa included. I called him a "kitten," because well, he got whacked, not because of his character. As far as I'm concerned, Henry Ford was a piece of shit.

[motown_fatty]

A-wreck, in what part of Metro-D do you live?

[A-wreck]

MF.............

All over Oakland county...........
I dont have a license so I'm either stuck in one place or constantly moving between rochester, waterford, commerce twp, birmingham, west bloomfield, and a few marinas in detroit on boats if we be too drunk.

My bed is in west bloomfield so I guess thats where I live.
________
volcano vaporizers

[A-wreck]

13..........

I sincerely didn't mean to sound like I was attacking you. That is just the way I talk/write/am.....
so there is no reason for you to say you deserved anything as it was not my intention to dish anything out..............

I tend to get pretty defensive of anything having to do with detroit or it's surrounding areas even when speaking to someone who is from here
________
R26

[A-wreck]

13..............
mf..............

What part of the city are you guys from?
________
easy vape

[Greydon Clark]

Hey pussies, take it down to Cass Avenue.
St. Andrew's is a classic, but, IMO, it is a weak venue for live music. City Club... damn dude, you're showing your age, that place closed years ago.
The D has a lot of good and bad going on. Most of the bad is the result of people not living in the city, vacant lots and buildings breed shadiness. However, those brave souls who have stones to be urban pioneers get cheap rent and cool houses.
Anyway, peeps in The D have two choices 1) Shut the fuck up and improve the city. 2) Leave.

[LCC]

A close family friend of mine is a sniper for Detroit SWAT. He is a shorter guy, so he used to be the guy who went in first. Needless to say, some of the shit he sees day to day makes dealing with Avalanches in the Wasatch seem like a cake walk. But he thinks I'm crazy.

Anyway, his feeling on Detroit: "Burn it down and rebuild"

Now, that is from a guy who sees mostly the bad of the city, not so much good. Parts of Detroit are rebuilding. Take a look at where the new stadiums are going in, there are some seriously high rent condos in the area. I wouldn't want to stray to far down Woodward from the Fox, but it's not all bad.

Much of the problem is a corrupt city government and police force. The police I can sort of understand. They are paid crap to work in law enforcement in one of the most dangerious nonwartime cities in the world, but the governement officials I have a problem with. Many of these people are opertunistic bastards that get into power, then realize that it can benifit them personally. So damn the people, I'm gettin' rich. The communities then suffer.

(note: I have not lived in the Detroit area for 4 years now, so I may be out of the loop)

[Woodsy]

Originally posted by LCC
his feeling on Detroit: "Burn it down and rebuild"

well the Pistons are in the finals, win or lose I bet he gets his wish.

[tonghands]

Originally posted by Greydon Clark
Hey pussies, take it down to Cass Avenue.
City Club... damn dude, you're showing your age, that place closed years ago.

Look like it's still there: http://www.lelandcityclub.com/
Highly recommended, it was always a fun place to hang out.

[Greydon Clark]

When people say Detroit I think downtown and Wayne State/Cass Ave. which are gritty, but enjoyable. However, when you get deep in the city shit gets rough. Anyone ever drive through Highland Park? A newer maggot, Chase Manhattan, has ridden his 10 speed through the sordid little berg. From his account, the locals would have been less surprised if aliens had landed.

City Club... I stand corrected (or mistaken).

[joshbu]

Originally posted by Greydon Clark
Anyway, peeps in The D have two choices 1) Shut the fuck up and improve the city. 2) Leave.

I chose #2.

I started an internet company in 1996. We were doing web application development when everyone else was still thinking about sites selling pet food. We had security components (a clever smart card authentication system, for example) hosting, generic middle tier stuff, the works.

Unfortunatly, we started our little venture in metro Detroit, and not Sillicon Valley. There was no venture capital, very few potential partners (for bandwidth, or design,) and a general "who cares" attitude that made selling services that should have sold themselves nearly impossible.

The lesson is that rebuilding Detroit isn't just about cleaning up the buildings or the crime. Detroit is (was?) a shitty town to do business in. That needs to be fixed as well.