On Friday afternoon, we stopped at a train diner, meaning model train themed, and they delivered your food order by toy train. Someone really likes this place for lunch so that was sufficient reason to go. Especially since the rest of the day was spent at very kid-uninteresting places like Kohls.
On Saturday, Bridget and I flew to Detroit for the day leaving Chicago at 8 in the morning and returning at 6 in the evening. I hadn't been in downtown Detroit in over 30 years and things have really changed. Some things like air quality is much better now but other are much worse. These buildings are pretty typical in the downtown area where we were at. It didn't feel like a place you want to spend any time. It looked like there was a war. Block after block of collapsing buildings, no windows, and piles of rubble and debris. We were there for a jazz performance by the McNalley School of Music from St. Paul, MN. They performed just a few blocks away at the Detroit Symphony Hall.
The bus had broken down just a mile from their hotel (about 15 miles away) so they arrived a bit late to the venue. But some members of the community jazz band were there and the improvisational performance was pretty nice to sit back and listen to.
The following video is a combination of the Community performers and the College jazz band.
Posted with Blogsy
I heard the other day they are going to be auctioning off abandon homes for as little as $500, I think it was CNN or some thing like that, or it was on NPR can't remember where I heard it. It's a same to see a city in such disrepair and then all of the problems that brings on.
ReplyDeleteI've heard stories but had no idea how bad things have become.
DeleteWhen I was on my midwest sourcing trips I found Detroit a very sad place with all the run down formerly beautiful houses. Industrial areas looked like a post war apocalypse. Property prices were dirt cheap though...
ReplyDeleteThe industrial areas looked really bad. They have the post apocalypse look down pat. Frightening place to hang out in.
DeleteHow cool that you went to the concert in Detroit.
ReplyDeleteBut sad that all those old historic brick building are in that kind of shape.
The concert that almost never happened. Bridget's youngest was in the college group (2nd from the left in the front row) and they sounded even more amazing than the video clips. I forgot to record until near the end.
DeleteFun jazz video- and very impressive!
ReplyDeleteWhat a story Detroit has to tell all of us. Shocking that it happened, shocking that it looks the way it looks, suffers as it suffers and yet life goes on. I'm not sure much good will come of growing up in that environment.
I agree completely about growing up in that environment.
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