Detroit's government is in bankruptcy court but life goes on in the city, much of it operating between the false dichotomy of young downtown professionals and the rotting Packard Plant. We spent the day cruising through the heart of the city--the Woodward Corridor--shooting scenes of people and places in hopes of showing a more nuanced, if still incomplete, look at life in Detroit.
Shoppers flocked to the grand opening of the new Meijer's at the State Fairgrounds.
The local media came along for the ride.
And we were all confused by this vaguely-described "Sandwich Spread." The egg salad, however, looks pretty good.
Just down the road, it was a great day for a round of golf in Palmer Park.
Or a little fishing.
And especially baseball. "Walt Whitman once said, 'I see great things in baseball. It's our game, the American game. It will repair our losses and be a blessing to us.' You could look it up." - Annie Savoy.
All things considered, it wasn't the worst day to wait for a bus either.
Or work on home repairs in Palmer Woods.
Forget Duggan and Napoleon, there's no election like a Teamsters election. Gravel yard on Seven Mile.
Milton, an eastside supplier, celebrates their employees on banners outside what they call their "galactic" headquarters.
They also have a lost flamingo.
iTunes 8, available for download on Seven Mile. iTunes 11 is available for download from your computer.
Few Detroit institutions are as delicious as Dutch Girl Doughnuts.
A little farther south near 6 Mile, the North Woodward Empowerment office could use a little, you know, empowerment. And a new door.
Powerhouse Gym members work on their MMA moves in Highland Park.
Let's hope they don't have a fire, because that doesn't look very effective.
Manicured lawns and tree-lined streets might not be how Highland Park is usually described, but Moss Avenue is lovely.
Books are the doors to wide new ways, according to Highland Parks' McGregor Library facade. Unfortunately, the literal doors to the actual books remain locked tight.
Clogged drains? Dirty carpets? Termites? Seeking salvation? This Woodward Avenue mural-torial is there for all your needs in this life and the next.
Need a windowless retail space? Don't mind if it's been condemned as unfit for human occupancy? We're pretty sure you can pick up the former Worldwide News on the cheap.
Two DDOT 53 buses chasing each other down Woodward. Not pictured: The third DDOT 53 bus that is right behind them. Seriously.
Maybe some of the riders could catch a lift with this ice cream truck.
A happy pup, Monty, enjoying a walk with his owner.
Art in the alley connecting Canfield and Willis.
The Shinola Store because why not? Also, Sue Mosey might hurt us if we didn't throw something Midtownish in a Woodward Corridor photo tour.
Hanging out near the Detroit Rescue Mission, in the part of town that's still the Cass Corridor.
Here's the remarkable thing about all these people waiting for an evening bus on Michigan Avenue. They're literally right across the street from the Rosa Parks Transit Center. So, we built a bus station on Michigan Avenue that can't accommodate Michigan Avenue buses?
We found this guy shadow boxing on Michigan and Washington while watching his reflection in the old Quizno's. Austin may have the X Game but, with all due respect to Austin's boosters, Detroit is way weirder. In the best way possible.
