A Day in the Life of The Big D

[chidrummer]

Well fellow SDF'ers, it's travelogue time again. Today's destination was inspired by all of you here. I finally did some daytrippin', yesterday, to the great city of Detroit!!

Flew into town, grabbed a rental ride and headed straight for....
That's right!! The site of old Tiger's Stadium! [[what did you expect? I'm a rabid baseball fan)

[chidrummer]

Of course with baseball, comes food. Only the best will do. You'll find it here

[chidrummer]

Then on to the new field. Man, those Tigers are intimidating [[the statues, not the ball club)

[chidrummer]

Seems to me this land used to be the old Donavan building I'd heard so much about. So that means that right across the street is...yeah, there it is, The Fillmore, I mean The Fox Theater!

[chidrummer]

Since I'm already on Woodward Av. I might as well get some of that famous Detroit culture.

[chidrummer]

Jeez, I made a left turn somewhere and ended up in the parking lot of a funeral home. Imagine my surprise to find this

[chidrummer]

Well heck, this looks like a place I ought to explore. It even has it's own plaque and walk up window.

[chidrummer]

There seems to be a lot a folks taking their picture in front of the place. I'll ask this stranger to take mine. Just in case it means something.

[chidrummer]

Did y'all know that around the corner and down the street a bit is a certified launching pad for something called The Mothership. Seems the folk who piloted this Mothership lived right across the street while they were making it. The pad is little worse for wear these days though.

[chidrummer]

I know you've heard of Golden World and Motown Studio B? Well today it's.....well, I don't know.

[chidrummer]

So, on to a place I do know. The famous Baker's Keyboard Lounge. The oldest jazz club in the world [[they say so themselves). I got lucky here. I met the owner, John Colbert and we talked music for quite a while. I even invited him to this site.

[chidrummer]

Being a drummer, I had to checkout at least one drum shop. They tell me JC Drummin is the best. They had some great vintage drums, a very knowledgeable staff and a sign that says it all.

[chidrummer]

All n All it was a fabulous day in the Motor City. I should have done it a long time ago. Of course, now I can say I've been there and got the t-shirts.

[mrclemma]

I'm glad you had a good time, Chidrummer.

[marv2]

Ah, wonderful, wonderful pictures ChiDrummer! I was just there last week for my birthday. I miss the old Tiger Stadium. I don't understand why they had to tear it down. I never understand tearing down a solid structure unless there is a need for the land or a plan to build on the site. You got to Lafayettes? Yum! I didn't get to go there, but I did get to Rudy's hot dog down in Toledo where I first visited it when I was 9 years old! Did you get to any of the casinos?

[marv2]

Btw, that Funeral Home has been there since forever! It was there in the 60's.

[ralpht]

Chris,
Glad you had a good time in the D. I'm heading that way next month.

[chidrummer]

Hey Ralph,

I sent you some other pictures I took there and a long diatribe, but I forgot about your email problem. If you didn't get it, I'll resend to your new addy.

[chidrummer]

marv2,

I'm only in casinos when they pay me to be there. I'm really bad at losing

[paladin]

Great photos Chris, dam you did a lot in a day. ! You really did Detroit proud.

[ralpht]

Much appreciated, Chris.

[hollywood_h]

Great photos Chi. I gotta get up there [[to Detroit) one day. Thanks for sharing.

[daddyacey]

Thanks for sharing the pictures. A nice trip!!!

[chidrummer]

Dummy me, Marv. I should have shot the funeral home. In fact, they were having a funeral as I was leaving Hitsville, but I didn't realize it was THAT funeral home until I was already headed to my next destination.

[gary]

Chi Drummer...it looks like you covered more of Detroit in one day than I cover in a month. Glad you enjoyed your visit.

The funeral home you guys are talking about is Cole Funeral Home, one of the oldest Black owned funeral homes in the country. It's also the place where the Funk Bros. used to take their occasional [[ahem) "coffee breaks" between sets in Studio A.