The City (what does all this mean?)

The Vanity Ballroom

I heard that many are critical of people like me who focus on the old instead of the new.....but really what is new and exciting in Detroit? Someone please show me where.
I love the nostalgia of these old buildings even though they are falling down wrecks.
The Vanity was built in the '20 and was a hopping venue for dances, big bands and later a rock club. From Tommy Dorsey in the 40's to the Stooges in the 70's, they all played here.
I was so lucky to have a good look around in the 80's. My friend's boyfriend was in a metal band called "Ugly But Proud" and they played the ballroom on several occasions. The poor building is in much worse shape now and that is saying something as back then it wasn't pristine that's for sure. It was in good enough shape to envision what it must have been like in it's heyday. The broad staircase leading up to the ballroom was impressive and I could picture couples buying their tickets and ascending up the stairway. The ball room floor "floats" on springs, I guess so you could get more bounce when doing the Lindy Hop. The floor was surrounded by tables and two huge bars. Wish I would have had my camera. I can close my eyes and see so clearly the coat check rooms. All the hangers were still there, each with a tag and number. Despite the dirt and dust, I caught a glimpse of what the Vanity had held.

More Heidelberg!

Heidelberg Project

In 1990, my daughter and I went to see the Heidelberg Project. It was summer and we spent about an hour walking the neighborhood. I was fascinated with the art work everywhere: on the sidewalks, in the street and even in the trees in the boulevard. However, after much controversy, the city of Detroit bulldozed the whole project in the late 90's.

Of course, Tyree Guyton was not to be stopped and began again. Tyree uses once new and useful objects that have been discarded and re purposes them into his art form.(this includes houses) His artwork, in many forms, is displayed in galleries around the world. Even if you disagree if this is "art", you will have to admit that it is interesting and entertaining.

It was a bitter cold the day that we were there so all my photos are taken from the car. I had Mike driving around and around again because there was so much to see....all the details, such fun but also sadness. There is a lot of irony in it all.

Click on my links to the right for more on the artist.

Highland Park Ford Plant

The Highland Park Ford Plant was built in 1910 and set precedent for future production plants because of it's size and design. It is an impressive building even today because it is so huge. We could tell that it was still in use because it has been kept in decent repair. Normally a building like this would not have a window left. According to Wikipedia the building is still use by Ford for storage of documents and by the Henry Ford Museum for artifact storage.

Highland Park

Highland Park sits right in the middle of Detroit. The city has had it's issues in recent years. In 2001 it's municipal building and fire department (which were built in 1917) were abandoned. There is an excellent website with pictures, old and new. detroiturbex.com.

Carnival on W. State Fair Street

This collection of carnival memorabilia is really bizarre. Located just east of Woodward it is directly across from the State Fair grounds. All of this stuff is in some one's back yard! Most of the houses in the neighborhood are abandoned and dilapidated. I suppose it is pretty cool on Halloween. On this grey and gloomy day the effect was definitely eerie. That's what makes Detroit so interesting and only in a city of this size, where no one really cares about the neighborhood could you get away with this.