A trip through Detroit's east side

[snowbeard]

wow, great shots! bike looks great, really sharp! I recognize it from it's debut here :wink:

my father grew up, from what it sounds like, near you, only 20 years earlier I suspect. he's 62 now if that tells you anything. went to wayne state for part of his schooling, and moved back there to work after school with my mother.

they moved to the sticks from Woodward Ave in '70 when the gunshots came too close and halfway houses became the new neighbors. I wonder if he'd recognize that building or any of your shots...

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[bronzeback]

Nice...I could shoot many similar shots here in Richmond. Some of the old stuff that's had weeds growing over it since the yankees took over and what not... Also similarities more current, like what was nice when I was a kid looks like **** now. Great thread I enjoyed reading, bike looks sweet too!

 

[mark]

Very interesting. Good writing too. Thanks.

 

[t3rmin]

One of the best looking bikes on the forum. Love the pics.

 

[Boondocks]

When the movie Eight Mile came out a great many of my friends and I were pretty amused. I technically live south of Eight Mile, and I have several friends that live/have lived in the areas portrayed in the film.

To people that never venture near the city Eight Mile might seem like a mile marker not to be crossed, in real life it is much more complicated than that. There really isn't much difference between one side and the other in my opinion, it's all kind of a gray zone of fun/sadness.

I actually travel the road often, it is a major artery between the east side and the west side. It's the first stretch of road that I took this bike down, and if you read the thread about it breaking down last week, that took place on the 'wrong side' of eight mile.

I lived in Grosse Pointe City at 837 Fisher Rd. from 1980-1985. I drove to work every day down Eight Mile to my job as Division Controller of the Industrial Power Transmission Division of Dana Corp.. The division offices were above Formsprag, one of our plants on Hoover Rd. in Warren, MI. Eight Mile Rd. meant nothing to me but a main thoroughfare, and I suppose I worked on the "wrong" side of it in an industrial area. I've never seen the movie, and have no interest in Eminem.

Grosse Pointe was a great place to live, and my wife loved it. It was sort of a "Preppy" capitol, but I was a motorcycle riding "Anti-Preppy" wearing blue jeans & running shoes (instead of the requisite Chinos and Dockers) with a folding hunter knife on my belt. Detroit was close, but the enormous change from Grosse Pointe seemed like a border crossing. I rarely went into Detroit, but would likely be packing a gun if I did.

You didn't mention Indian Village, which in my time there was sort of a protected enclave of older well maintained homes in Detroit. Is it still viable?

 

[Boondocks]

Detroit's Indian Village Neighborhood

Detroit's Indian Village Neighborhood

I answered my own question. Indian Village is alive and well. This is an east side Detroit neighborhood with beautiful and diverse homes. It was designated a historic district in 1972. The link has a lot of pictures of Indian Village homes. This would have been a great place to live as well.

 

[beergood]

I good friend of mine bought a house in Indian Village two years ago. The house is large and mostly restored, and the neighborhood is beautiful. There are some problems, he's had his garage busted into once, and some kids threw an Everfresh juice bottle through his living room window last month, but the area is fairly well policed.

He plants about 50 jalape?o plants every year, and at the end of the summer we host 'Jalape?o Fest', which is one of the social events of the year. It's an all day/night affair, tons of people show up, and there are dozens of dishes, all containing jalape?os.

My buddies and I are in charge of manning the 4 grills, 2 smokers, and the deep fryer. Last year we served such dishes as jalape?o stuffed pork loin, jalape?o burgers, jalape?o kielbasa (made special by a friendly local butcher), jalape?o stuffed smoked turkey, bacon wrapped jalape?os stuffed with shrimp...you get the idea. A friend of ours that owns a polish restaurant has the old ladies that make the pirogies make several batches of jalapeno cheese and potato, those have to be tasted to be believed.

Everyone gets pretty drunk, and to up the ante, two years ago we began to hire a mariachi band to play for a couple of hours during the main surge. The first year with the band was great, there were four middle aged guys, they showed up in a white mini-van, and only the front man spoke any english. They kept going back to their van, which was in the alley, which was also where those of us cooking would take drink breaks. We figured out that they were going to the van to sneak drinks. They were having a good time, but were scared that we would be mad if we knew. After we figured it out , we demanded that they drink with us, and not hide in a van. After all, this ain't no Chi-chi's gig, this is Jalape?o Fest. They ended up staying several extra hours, and getting blitzed with the rest of us.

I realize that I have drifted off point, which is, yeah, Indian Village is doing great.

Thanks to everyone for the interest and feedback, the weather is breaking (again), and I might file an update/addendum to this thread.

 

[Guest]

The Jalapeno Fest sounds like a great way to party!

 

[MissFabulous]

beergood... great write ups, and if you can, come to my rally in June. You're totally someone who sounds like a lot of fun to hang out with.

Keep documenting the riding and other adventures and rants... very interesting reads!

 

[beergood]

I would like to, I read the thread about it. Unfortunately, those dates overlap with a muscular dystrophy summer camp that I volunteer at.

http://www.beergood.com/camp/

Sounds like a good time though. With a little luck I will cruise that side of Erie this year though.

 

[JOE BIO]

Cool story and pictures . I have driven through Grosse Point Farms and then into Detroit many times myself but never on a bike . I actually discovered the area by accident , after being detoured off I 94 by Selfridge Airforce Base.I was always amazed at the contrast between wealth and poverty so close together .I have never taken my GS1000 but maybe I will this summer. I live in Corunna Ontario and take the Ferry over to Marine City Michigan.Maybe you can take me on a tour sometime . Joe

 

[beergood]

Let me know when you are riding by.

I always wondered what goes through people's minds when they get detoured of the freeway (Michigan has two seasons, winter and road construction) and find themselves in the ghetto without warning. If your not prepared and familiar with the area it can be quite a shocker.

 

[SteveN]

Wow, cool pics of Detroit! My wife and i went there for vacation last summer, and had a blast! Our friends live about 40 min south, and hadn't been into Detroit proper in a long time. They said it's a lot cleaner now than it was a year ago. A big highlight for us was The Heidelberg Project, a guy who turns abandoned houses into art (http://www.heidelberg.org/)., And of course Greektown, and Flaming Cheese!
Can't wait to go back

 

[beergood]

Wow, cool pics of Detroit! My wife and i went there for vacation last summer, and had a blast! Our friends live about 40 min south, and hadn't been into Detroit proper in a long time. They said it's a lot cleaner now than it was a year ago. A big highlight for us was The Heidelberg Project, a guy who turns abandoned houses into art (http://www.heidelberg.org/)., And of course Greektown, and Flaming Cheese!
Can't wait to go back

Vacationing in Detroit, I like your style.

I first found the original Heidelberg Project when I was in high school. A friend and I went there for an assignment for his photography class. At the time, it was still mostly unheard of. I think that one got demolished a little while later, then he started another.

The stuff is kind of interesting, if you like junk art (not meaning that the art is junk, just the medium). Tyree Guyton is kind of a controversial figure in the Detroit community. Like a lot of artists, he is also a shameless self-promoter, and he has actually stirred and created much of the controversy that surrounds his projects. Some of his stuff I like a lot, and I think other stuff is crap.

However, he did start the trend of painting colorful circles on abandoned, decrepit structures (of which there is no shortage), and it has pervaded all corners of the city. Few artists can claim to start a movement like that within their lifetime.

There are actually tons of 'art houses' around the city. In an urban area where you can buy land and a house for less than $35,000 it is easy for a couple of creative people to purchase a house and make it over into their own playground. I found an interesting one while I was driving through the west side last week. I was bummed to not have my camera, or time to explore it.

side note: I truly appreciate your avatar, truth is stranger than fiction. In light of recent events, I think Boston might need a new nickname.

[SIZE=-1]Opah![/SIZE]

 

[rustybronco]

I have never taken my GS1000 but maybe I will this summer. I live in Corunna Ontario and take the Ferry over to Marine City Michigan.Maybe you can take me on a tour sometime . Joe

Let me know when you are riding by.

let me know if and when, sounds like a ride... can we stop for perogi in hamtramick?
as long as you don't mind riding with an antique...

 

[78550Detroit]

Great post

Great post

I live on the southwest side of detroit in what is a decent neighborhood but is steadily decaying due to gang activity increasing in the neighborhood. I sort of grew up on the eastside when I was in gradeschool right by the city airport. My Dad worked nights, and since my parents were divorced, I stayed at my grandma's house during the week after school. Not even a month after my grandma sold that house there was like 5 crack houses on that block. Yes Detroit has a lot of problems but I still like it here and there are a lot of good things about it too. If you look at any major city in the US there are going to be the same type of neighborhoods and problems with crime. Detroit just happens to make it into the media more often then others hence the bad reputation we have gained.

 

[Mazeppa]

Love the photo journal Beergood. The pictures of your bike motivates me to start looking for that 1100E project bike.

I grew up in Northville in Oakland county. I too haven't seen the 8 mile movie. Matter of fact though, the house I lived on was between the new 8 Mile Road bypass and the old 8 Mile Road which was called Baseline Road because it was on the Oakland/Wayne County boundary.

Some of the pictures are somewhat sad, because I remember a Detroit that was vibrant and full of cool things to do. Like shop in the J.L. Hudson Department Store or watch a ball game at Tigers Stadium with Ernie Harwell calling the plays.

But in my teens I was fortunate to have experienced the waning days of that great pastime of American youth. That 12 mile strip from the Premier Drive-In at the north end, near Pontiac, to the Dari Burger at the south near the Detroit City Limits in Royal Oak. (I Think) Cruisin' the Strip, Woodward Avenue. What a great time it was. All manner of muscle car could be seen. Super Bee, GTO, SS Malibu and my own 409, Dual-Quad powered 56 Chevy. Oh ya, I was the nut doing burnouts in front of the Big Boy Drive-In in preparation to do battle with the mid-engined 327 Corvair. Yep, carried the left front wheel all the way across 12 Mile and raised the ire of the local constabulary. [-X
Unfortunately, the Cruisn' scene was shifting down to Telegraph Road, from I-94 down to south limits of Taylor where a new crop of Drive-Ins were built. God, that was great fun while it lasted. \\/

Thanks again for the memory jogger Beergood, keep em' comin'.

 

[78550Detroit]

Mezzapa you should come back for the cruise

Mezzapa you should come back for the cruise

You should come back for the Woodward Cruise held annually every year in August it is a great time. Over a million people show up every year and it goes from downtown Pontiac all the way to the State Fairgrounds. Lots of media coverage,family activities, I will say it would not be like you rember since it is very well policed cause of the large number of people, if you get caught doing a burnout they will heavily fine you and possibly impound your ride. But, all in all a great time.

 

[beergood]

I spent a couple years working on Woodward. In the beginning the dream cruise was cool. It took place on a Sunday, and you would see a lot of cool cars. Then it slowly started to bleed into the rest of the week. People start cruising their cars up and down Woodward the Sunday before it officially starts and spectators camp out on shoulder of the road in lawn chairs and blankets.

Seems kinda cool, unless you work there. Then it is a huge pain. I can appreciate a nicely restored car, but sitting behind a partially 'restored' 78 Firebird crammed with 5 dudes for 20 minutes so that I can get the last two blocks to my office is quite irritating.

A friend of mine used to own a tattoo shop right in the heart of the cruise area (he has since moved). He and his crew are, for lack of a better description, rocker hot rodders. Lots of people in this circle own old cars, but the aesthetic is a little different. Anyway, he would host a BBQ party at his shop the Sunday before the actual dream cruise. It was dubbed the Broken Dream Cruise. We still have it, but it has been moved to his home. And it is a very good time.

All that aside, I would recommend the dream cruise to any classic car lover, just please limit it to the weekend.

Rustybronco: My cousin just bought a house in Marysville. I am trying to find a time to head up there on the bike and check it out.

As for perogi, my friend's family owns the Polish Village Cafe, and I never need much of an excuse to go there for dinner.

http://www.motorcityhotrod.com/BDC2004.html

 

[78550Detroit]

I think I know what tatt shop your talking about

I think I know what tatt shop your talking about

I spent a couple years working on Woodward. In the beginning the dream cruise was cool. It took place on a Sunday, and you would see a lot of cool cars. Then it slowly started to bleed into the rest of the week. People start cruising their cars up and down Woodward the Sunday before it officially starts and spectators camp out on shoulder of the road in lawn chairs and blankets.

Seems kinda cool, unless you work there. Then it is a huge pain. I can appreciate a nicely restored car, but sitting behind a partially 'restored' 78 Firebird crammed with 5 dudes for 20 minutes so that I can get the last two blocks to my office is quite irritating.

A friend of mine used to own a tattoo shop right in the heart of the cruise area (he has since moved). He and his crew are, for lack of a better description, rocker hot rodders. Lots of people in this circle own old cars, but the aesthetic is a little different. Anyway, he would host a BBQ party at his shop the Sunday before the actual dream cruise. It was dubbed the Broken Dream Cruise. We still have it, but it has been moved to his home. And it is a very good time.

All that aside, I would recommend the dream cruise to any classic car lover, just please limit it to the weekend.

Rustybronco: My cousin just bought a house in Marysville. I am trying to find a time to head up there on the bike and check it out.

As for perogi, my friend's family owns the Polish Village Cafe, and I never need much of an excuse to go there for dinner.

http://www.motorcityhotrod.com/BDC2004.html

Was it down by I wanna say somewhere between 12 & 13. Did he use to have a lot of the old 50's style cars there in the flat black primer with like the saucer rims? If its the shop I am thinking of a friend of my use to help him do some posters for like band shows and stuff on the side.