A 2013 resolution: spend more time in Detroit

I am not a native Michigander. I've lived here for nearly seven years, and there are things about Michigan that I really don't like (I'd put the weather at the top of the list). There are other things, however, that I've fallen in love with. One of those gems (perhaps surprisingly to some of you) is the City of Detroit.  After living here only a few months I fell unabashedly in love with the City. Its mystery, its beauty, and even its fall are all part of what makes it unique.

When my husband and I were first dating we went to Detroit quite frequently for ball games, dinner, or just to hang out. It became more difficult after we got our dog, and these days we get to Detroit much less frequently than either of us would like. Despite that, we are both lovers of the City. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the challenges it faces, but I always feel delighted to work for an organization that will be part of its revitalization.  

My husband and I have maintained a membership to the Detroit Institute of Arts for several years, and we love going to the DIA. Just a few weeks ago we met friends at Green Dot Stables, a fab new eatery on West Lafayette. This place is DELICIOUS. It menu is eclectic, and it gives you the opportunity to mix and match lots of different culinary treats. The mystery meat of the day was kangaroo. Seriously. I ordered three sliders (the Cuban, the Lamb and the Catfish), chili cheese fries and mac 'n cheese (how I roll) AND a Moscow Mule, one of the best cocktails known to man. A trip to Detroit is worth it simply to eat here.

Oh yeah - this happened.
We headed to the DIA to see the Faberge exhibit, and it was amazing. The museum is always a great treat, and the exhibit was everything we could've imagined - intricate, mysterious and haunting. 

As we were leaving we both marveled at how great it was to spend a day in Detroit, and how in this new year we resolve to do it more frequently. Detroit is like a mistress - sexy, mysterious, a little naughty, and something you just keep coming back to. I love watching the city gradually change through all of the grassroots and community efforts. We're 90 miles away, and we don't really get to be part of it in the way we'd like. But we're always pushing for Detroit, and placemaking is spreading across the city like a wildfire. It's a brilliant thing to see, and it's one of the many reasons why we love the D.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tell me About Your Third Nipple

Image
Last summer I had a friend describe me to a new acquaintance as such: he referenced a James Bond movie where Bond is impersonating someone who has a third nipple. Everyone who knew this person well knew about the third nipple, so he had to wear a prosthesis and pull it off. He finished the analogy by saying, "Samantha knows everybody's third nipple." It was one of the best compliments I've received in a while. Maybe ever. My entire life I've prided myself on sincere and purposeful interactions and relationships both in my personal and professional life. Have I always gotten it right? Absolutely not. But I put a lot of work into how I interact with humans. It's the reason I have solid groups of friends and acquaintances. It's the reason I've been able to build a successful consulting business. I put a lot of time and intention into people, and it matters. How do I do it...and why? If you know me you know I don't have a third nipple or  a colon. You
Read more

Can we Stop with the Negative Mom Culture?

Image
  A few months ago someone brought beverages to my house called "Mom Water". I'd never heard of it, and after looking it up (because you know I did not and would not drink it) found out it is fruit infused vodka water. It sounds disgusting.  On the Mom Water website they say they're trying to celebrate moms b ut I immediately jumped to the premise that being a mom is so terrible that we have to create a gross new wine cooler in order to cope. It made me realize I'm really over the negative mom culture.  I get it: being a mom is hard work. I've had late nights and early mornings. I haven't slept through the night in years. I've been thrown up on and given every virus known to humankind (except COVID surprisingly). My son was home for 15 months without childcare during the height of the pandemic. There were some very long days, and you bet I lost my patience. Sometimes I still do.  But it feels like we're in this place where it's trendy to compla
Read more

The COVID Destruction of Habits

Image
I love habits. Habits are my jam. With just a little research one can find tons of books and articles about the importance of habits for success. In February of 2020 my habits were down to a science. I woke up early to work out. I dropped my son off at daycare by 7:30 each morning and was at city hall by 7:45. I worked a full day of meetings before picking my son up (most days) by 5:30 pm. On Mondays I had city council meetings nearly every week. My habits were set in stone because my schedule was so busy. If anything shifted out of place my entire day could be shifted. That was not my jam. By mid-March 2020, when the world shut down, all my habits went out the door. In an instant habits no longer existed. There was no child care. There were no office hours. We were all home together for an extended period for the first time as a family. My husband and I had work to do, but it felt like summer camp. I would go for walks with the dog and my son between meetings. We would ride bikes, and
Read more