Detroit is Whatever You Want it to Be

When I first thought about making a tourism campaign for Detroit I was a little apprehensive. I wasn't sure I could think of a reason for someone to visit a city I don't like to spend much time in myself. Then I started thinking about all of the different attitudes people have about the city. Some people absolutely love it, some hate it, and some like it in small doses. This led me to the conclusion that Detroit is what you make it. So my tourism slogan for Detroit would be "Detroit is whatever you want it to be".

For family living in northwest Ohio Detroit (and the surrounding areas) can be full of fun and entertainment. They could spend a whole week here and not run out of things to do. If they are traveling this weekend they can start their trip on Friday by attending the Ribs 'n' R & B Jazz Festival where they can enjoy ribs and other tasty treats while listening to some great music. Saturday they can go to the zoo where they can feed giraffes, see North America's largest polar bear exhibit, or even become a paleontologist and dig for fossils. The Detroit Science Center would be a good choice for Sunday. They can see mummies, dinosaurs, and take a look inside a rocket. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be spent outside. They can keep cool at the Red Oaks Waterpark, visit a farm, and take a boat ride on the Detroit River. When it is time to go they can end their trip on Thursday by touring the Sanders candy shop which is a short drive away in Clinton Township. They will be happy all the way home with their chocolate souvenirs.

Couples wanting a romantic evening out can find that in Detroit. They can have an evening of fun by going to a concert or a play. If they want a quiet night they can have a nice dinner and take a stroll on the Riverwalk.

Men who like sports and the outdoors can definitely have a good time in Detroit. There are four sports teams so they can watch a game any time of year. They can charter a boat and go fishing on the Detroit River. They even go hunting in the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area.

There are so many things to do in Detroit it has something for everyone. If you give Detroit a chance you just might have the time of your life.

Get to Know Your Neighbor

When I think of the communities I belong to I come up with a few like my neighborhood, my daughter's school community, and the church community.

I have lived in my neighborhood for quite a few years now. At first I didn't interact much with my neighbors, but as time has gone on we have begun to speak more often. Seeing each other outside frequently naturally leads to conversation and, in some cases, friendship. This neighborhood is a subdivision with one main entrance so the boundaries are clearly defined. There are smaller divisions within the community based on life stages. People with children, older adults, and young adults tend to form relationships within their own groups. The values of the community are mutual respect of other people and property in the neighborhood and most people are good neighbors. However, there is always that one family in the neighborhood that has the loud cars coming in and the police showing up at their door at least once a month. This family doesn't seem to associate with anyone from our subdivision. Maybe they are holding onto connections in their old neighborhood instead of forming new ones.

The church community is not based on where you live. It is based on which church you go to or maybe even which religion you believe in. I have been a member of the church since the day I was born, but my involvement has wavered over the years. I went to Catholic school for 8 years. This meant that I went to church four days a week every week during that time. The church and school were very close and I spent a lot of my free time with the priests and nuns even when we weren't in church. It was a really wonderful experience. Now that I have moved out of the area and the school has closed I don't go to church as often. It has probably been at least three years since I have set foot in a church. Sometimes I miss it, but even if I did go back to church it can never be the way it was.

This blog post really did make me think about the communities we belong to and wonder if we appreciate them as much as we should. How many people can name five of their neighbors? Do people make an effort to get to know the person next to them at church? With the development of social media sites I worry that people are giving up real human connections for just another fake "friend". I don't think 100 facebook "friends" would equal the warmth and true support of a real friend. We need to take the time and be open to making real friends with people that really matter, the people in our communities.

Art in the city

This was probably the most difficult blog assignment for me so far. Selecting an art project to represent the Detroit area is a difficult task. Choosing the right project could be a great thing for the city, but if the wrong one is chosen it could create more problems for the city.

I considered the use of an object like the cows in Chicago. Then I started to wonder if this could lead to increased gang activity. If one area decides to have lions and another area wants bears this could lead to fights over which one is better. We've all seen how violent the spectators can become with each other at sporting events. So I decided that this wasn't the best idea.

I considered random modern art sculptures designed by residents and professionals that could be placed through the city. I wasn't sure that this would really be much of a benefit to Detroit so I decided against it.

Finally I felt that art can be found in just about anything so the best idea would be to work improving what Detroit already has, buildings. A few blocks of the city could be improved by fixing up the outside and painting murals or bright colors on the buildings. Even the sidewalks could be decorated. Artists could design street lights that would keep the streets looking good and well lit. This interesting area would be a place that people would want to see so it would bring people into the area which would be good for business and the whole area.

An artist that makes art to hang in a museum is fine. Making art to help a community is even better.

My Pick for Most Interesting Blog Post

I was able to read through the blogs of almost everyone in the class, except for one I wasn't able to view. Overall I thought the blogs were well written, though I was surprised by the number of people with missing posts. I had a hard time coming up with just one favorite, but I think my pick for most interesting post would have to be Fedor Andreev's plan for a community in Detroit. It sounds like it would improve the city and encourage successful people to move into the area. I also liked all of the photos used throughout the posts. They added another layer to the blog that I appreciated. Especially the photos of what the building would look like before and after the remodel. I thought it was a great post.

My Imaginary Neighborhood

Many people would like to live in a big city, but they don't because they don't want to deal with the high levels of crime. If I designed a neighborhood within Detroit it would be a safe area with plenty of green space and a feeling of camaraderie between the residents.

The main qualities I want to have in my neighborhood are happiness and safety. So when I was coming up with a design plan for the new neighborhood I took a look at some of the happiest countries in the world. Because if I know what makes people in other countries happy hopefully I will be able to increase happiness within my community. Researchers have found that one thing known to increase happiness is strong social ties. So I would be sure to include things that would bring people together. To get the true neighborhood feel most of the town's residential area would be single family homes. There would also be two small luxury condo developments. The town would have an entertainment area with a bowling alley and skating rink as well as a pool and tennis court. These things would also help to keep people happier by improving fitness. I would try to improve overall health by providing a community garden so they can grow fruits and vegetables together. The entertainment and retail area would be located in the center of the city with the residential area surrounding it. Monthly neighborhood parties will be held there so residents can get to know new people in the neighborhood while spending time with old friends. This should help to build social ties and keep crime to a minimum. I would also have to provide some after school activities for children because kids that are kept busy have less time to get into trouble.

By providing a safe area that is somewhat seperate from the city of Detroit while being inside the city limits I hope to attract people from the suburbs to live in my neighborhood. Some suburbanites would like to live in the city, but they don't because of the crime. So I would keep the crime level low by making it a gated neighborhood with only 4 entrances. Each entry point would be guarded by police and dogs trained to detect drugs and there would be at least one officer patroling the neighborhood at all times. Anyone that wants to live in the area would need to sign a list of rules that will be monitored by the home owners association and any home sold must be occupied by the owner. I would not allow renters. There would be very low tolerance of any type of crime. The first time you violate the neighborhood rules, by committing a crime or possessing drugs, you get a warning. The second time you must leave the neighborhood.

My neighborhood would be a place where good people would like to live because everyone will feel safe and appreciated. One of the reasons Detroit is in such bad shape is because they are not willing to take a strong stance on crime. That mistake would not be made in my neighborhood.

A Tour of Detroit

If I was giving a tour of Detroit I would begin with security. I would charter a bullet proof bus and a couple of large security guards. The people I would be taking on the trip are not used to being in a city like Detroit and I would want them to feel safe.

I have never lived in Detroit so I used tripadvisor.com to help me come up with some of the places on my list. Based on their recommendation I decided to make the Detroit Institute of Arts our first stop. The institute holds over 60,000 works of art from all over the world. We would try to make the visit during a Family Sunday event. Every Sunday the museum features some kind of entertainment like singing, dancing, puppets, or some other art activity for families. I think that the kids in the group would really enjoy it.

It's about time for lunch now so we'll stop at Todoroff's for some coney dogs. They have been in business since 1914 and they are supposed to have the best coney dogs in Michigan.

After lunch we'll stop by Fox Theater for a tour and maybe a concert. The theater was built in the late 1920's and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next we would take a drive through the Boston Edison neighborhood. This area has a rich history and most of the homes were built between 1905 and 1925. Some of the first residents of the neighborhood were amazing people like Henry Ford, James Couzens, and Walter Briggs. It was a lovely neighborhood with quiet streets that offered residents a little bit of nature in the middle of the city. Driving through the neighborhood today you see homes that still look nice on the outside and you might think that it was a nice area. However, many of the homes are run down on the inside and the crime rate in the area is extrememly high. This lowers the value of these once great homes to as low as $9000.

We'll end our day in Greektown. Any area like this is a nice way to learn about the people that built it. The architecture of the church is amazing, it's obvious that religion was important to the early Greek settlers. We'll have dinner at the Pegasus Taverna and then go across the street to the Astoria Pastry Shop for dessert. After a long day we'll head north to one of the safer suburbs to stay in a hotel for the night.

An Ideal City

There is a mini series called The 10th Kingdom that is set in an imaginary land of nine kingdoms. My favorite is Kissing Town. It is a small, beautiful, 18th century city in France. From a distance the green hills and trees that surround the city provide a spectacular backdrop for all of the buildings. As you get closer to the city you see a marketplace full of people shopping and having a good time. Wandering through the streets you see horse drawn carriages, sparkling fairies that tell the future, and butterflies that spread little hearts through the air as they fly. Many of the buildings are pink or white and there are balloons and flowers throughout the city. The atmosphere of the town is fun and romantic. This is the perfect setting for the point they are at in the movie. The leading lady just saved the werewolf man from being prosecuted for a crime he did not commit and she was beginning to have feelings for him.

If this city was real I would love to live in it. Good people, fairies, and beautiful scenery make city sound ideal. It's a peaceful place, but there are still things to do. If there are still cities like this in France then I think it's time to start planning my trip.

It's London Time

It is very difficult for me to pick just one city to visit. My decision changes all the time depending on my mood. When I first looked at the question I thought... London, Sydney, Venice, or Honolulu? I finally decided on London because they speak English, some of my ancestors came from that area, and even though the weather there isn't great they have a lot to offer. I think that traveling to an area where your ancestors come from is important. At least it is for me. I would like to know a little about the kind of lives my ancestors lived and possibly learn why they decided to come to the United States. I would also like to go to London because the shows I have seen about the city on the Travel Channel show have featured museums, theaters, and castles that I would really like to see. I don't get bored often because I always have something to do, but I live in a small city so when I want to take a break and do something fun I don't have a lot of options. So it would be nice to have a larger selection of things to do. London is also in a good location so while I am on vacation I can also go to other European cities like Dublin or Paris.

During my week in London the first things I would want to see are the castles. They are so majestic I almost feel like they're not real. It's hard to believe that people actually live or lived in them and that there may have been battles there. Roaming the halls of a building that is hundreds of years old and has so much history is amazing. From there I would probably take a tour of the zoo and museums. The zoo is the home to 16,000 animals and they were the winners of the "best tourism experience award" from the Visit London publication. It would be easy to spend the whole day here. The newest exhibits are a rainforest where the animals run around free without the burden of being stuck in a cage and a penguin beach which is the largest penguin habitat in England. After seeing the lions and tigers I would wrap up my visit with a trip to butterfly paradise and then head to the British museum. I would begin my museum tour by seeing the museum's exhibit that features 2 million years of world history through 100 objects. These objects range from the 2 million year old stone chopping tool to the solar powered lamp and charger. Next I would look through the galleries of Ancient Egypt, the Americas, Europe, and Ancient Greece and Rome. I would finish exploring the themed exhibits at the museum before leaving to have dinner at a local pub.

I would finish my week by visiting Stonehenge, even though it is a bit of a drive from London, seeing a play, and taking a walk through one of London's beautiful parks. Since this London trip involved so much activity I'll probably be ready for that trip to Hawaii so I can spend a week just relaxing on the beach.

My Detroit Interview

I interviewed Roxy Tedesco, a 27 year old woman that moved with her family to Detroit from a small town in West Virginia ten years ago. Her experiences with Detroit are different from mine because I have never lived in Detroit.

Since I have a relatively low opinion of Detroit I decided to begin the interview by asking Roxy what she likes about living there. Her number one reason for liking Detroit is that there is so much to do.

She says that sports are an important part of life in Detroit and with the Pistons, Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings it seems like there is always something going on. When she gets together with friends they usually either go see a game, go to a club, or to the Motor City Casino. She used to go to the casino about once a month, but she's thinking about cutting back because she hasn't been winning as much lately.

When she feels like she wants to get in touch with nature there are a few options. She can go to the zoo which, according to Roxy, has some nice exhibits, the beach, or the Belle Isle and the Whitcomb Conservatory. She visited the conservatory for the first time recently and she said that it was a lovely area and wandering around all the foliage was a nice escape from the concrete jungle.

She is thrilled with the number of shopping and dining options in Detroit. Coming from an area where the nearest grocery store was half an hour away it is a nice change to have so many shops and restaurants nearby. She really enjoys the variety in the area. You can get food from just about any country you can think of... German, French, English, Greek, and more. She eats out a lot and she is grateful for the opportunity to have something different once in a while.

Roxy also likes Detroit because the housing is cheap. You can get a decent house for only ten thousand dollars. Of course you would have to deal with a high crime rate, but you can spend some of the money you are saving on security features for your home.

From what Roxy has said Detroit actually sounds pretty nice. So I asked if there was anything she didn't like about it. She said her main problem is the crime. There is a lot of it in her area. Her purse was recently stolen as she was leaving a restaurant downtown. So it has made her a little jumpy and she is always on high alert when she goes out. She understands that sometimes you have to make a compromise when you choose a place to live and right now she feels alright about dealing with a high crime rate since she can be near the activity of a city. Though she would like to start a family soon and she says that she wouldn't dream of raising her children in Detroit.

Speaking with Roxy made me wonder why Detroit has so much crime. I have been to other poor areas that do not have the same problems that Detroit has. So I did a little research and I found that one of the poorest cities in the country, Fort Thompson, SD, has an average annual household income that is less than half that of Detroit and a similar unemployment rate. Yet their crime rate is also less than half of Detroit. The main difference between these two cities is the people. Detroit is about 80% African American and Fort Thompson is about 80% Native American. I don't know much about Native American culture except for what I have seen in movies. It seems that they have a respect for life and they seem to think of each other as part of an extended family even if they are not actually related. I think that this may be a part of the reason for the lower crime rate in Fort Thompson. If we can figure out what makes one area more dangerous than another maybe we can reduce crime everywhere.

I did learn quite a bit from my interview with Roxy. I found that Detroit does have some good points like entertainment venues and tasty food. Unfortunately its high crime rate and bad reputation keep many people away. If there is any hope of improving Detroit I think it has to start with the people. Though it seems like they just wish it would get better instead of doing something about it so I don't think that its going to change any time soon.

Detroit is Not the Happiest Place on Earth

My images of Detroit are going to be a little different than most of my
classmates because I have never lived in Detroit. In fact, I have only been there
three times in my life and one of those times was only to go to the airport. So my
idea of Detroit comes from a combination of my limited experience with it and
what I hear on the news. The impression it has left me with is not good.

I don't watch any tv shows or movies about Detroit, but I do occasionally
hear about Detroit in the news. The most common information about Detroit in our newspaper is about people coming to Traverse City from Detroit to deal drugs. I have also seen articles about the worst places to live in the United States. Detroit frequently ranks toward the top of the Forbes list of America's Most Miserable Cities. These things make Detroit seem like a dangerous area that should be avoided.

My first trip to Detroit was in 2004. I thought it would be fun to take a road trip with my daughter and her father to Detroit to visit the museum and the zoo. I grew up in Chicago and my family made frequent trips to the zoos, plays, and museums. These places were always clean and fully stocked with interesting exhibits. Since all I knew of Detroit at that time was that it was a relatively large city I expected to have an experience similar to the ones I had in Chicago. I was sadly mistaken. When we arrived at the zoo the exhibits were small and the animals seemed depressed. If I remember correctly there were no extras like a walk through rainforest area, butterfly house, petting area, or anything else. These were things my daughter and I were used to seeing at other zoos so we were quite disappointed. We left and went to the museum. Again we found a lack of exhibits and entertainment. We were in and out of the museum in less than an hour. I am not sure how things are in Detroit's museum and zoo now because I have not been back. Hopefully they have made some improvements.

My second trip to Detroit was in 2006. I was going to a concert downtown
with a friend. It was dark and we ended up getting lost so we pulled into a gas
station in a deserted area to check a map. That is when we noticed two black
males approaching our car swinging a baseball bat. Luckily we managed to
escape unharmed and made it to the concert on time. Since we had seen enough of the locals and the area we decided to drive home that night instead of staying in a hotel. The feeling that my friend and I were left with is that Detroit seemed like an area of total anarchy. I have been in Chicago downtown at night and never had a problem. I'm sure that it could happen, but I think that Chicago has more of a police presence. I feel relatively safe walking downtown in Chicago, but it is something I would never do in Detroit.

My last trip to Detroit was to the airport. We used mapquest to plan our route and we had problems because so many of the roads were closed. There was trash on the streets everywhere. It looked like people had a total lack of respect for their city. When we finally made it to the airport it was filthy. The floors and chairs were dirty. There were even missing ceiling tiles with clouds of dust bunnies hanging down. It was disgusting. Seeing the airport in such a state of disrepair made me worry about the plane we were about to board. Checking our baggage and getting our boarding passes was quite an experience. The customer service representatives were unbelievably rude. Actually most of the people in the airport were rude. It was the worst experience I have ever had in an airport.

As you can see I am not a fan of Detroit. There are probably some
people who love it. Maybe? Unfortunately I have only had bad experiences
there. The thing that surprised me the most was just how dirty it was. If you live in Michigan and you are looking for a city to visit this summer I would say check out Chicago or even Cleveland, but whatever you do don't go to Detroit.