We've already cruised Woodward and toured Gratiot, but this week we spent a day exploring Jefferson Avenue from Alter Road to the Rouge River.
Forget Eight Mile. No street better exemplifies the Detroit-suburb division than Alter Road. Here is Jefferson at Alter facing Grosse Pointe Park.
Side streets between Detroit and Grosse Pointe Park are literally walled off. Like Berlin during the Cold War. Detroit is on the left, Grosse Point is on the right.
The canals off Alter are almost Bayou-like.
Many a teenager has wrecked the Family Truckster's suspension trying to do Dukes of Hazzard jumps over the Ashland Bump.
E. Jefferson candy shop. They told us they were really low on merchandise after Labor Day.
The Manoogian Mansion, where the mayor lives. Benny Napoleon and Mike Duggan should also consider researching landscapers.
Hanging out in a riverfront park near the Berry subdivision.
The Renaissance Center, as seen from the east riverfront.
Jefferson Village, where you can get yourself a little piece of exurban architecture in the heart of a bankrupt city.
Completed vehicles waiting to be shipped at Chrysler's Jefferson East plant.
And the abandoned Continental plant across the street.
As close of a glimpse inside the Water Department facility on E. Jefferson as one can get.
West Villagers hanging out on their front porch.
The greatest Big Boy in the world has a soul food buffet.
Looking toward downtown, from roughly the foot of the MacArthur Bridge.
Does anyone know who the UAW is supporting in the mayoral race?
Say what you will about Slows or Roast or La Dolce Vita, but real Detroiters know the city's best restaurant is the Clique diner. The oatmeal is so good that Sam Riddle almost came to blows with Bankole Thompson over it one time. The eggs are even better.
The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. It's 83-years-old and they still haven't come up with a better name than "Detroit-Windsor Tunnel."
So, here's the weird thing about Jefferson. This is Detroit's most significant east-west thoroughfare and yet once you go under Cobo and past the post office, the road becomes--for a significant stretch--a third world hellscape. There are places where road bed is literally disintegrating down to wood supports. This part is understandably referred to as "Old Jefferson."
The Boblo Boat dock. Hard to believe, but the island amusement has been closed for nearly 20 years.
While the east riverfront has become a residential/recreational section of the city, the west riverfront remains a place for heavy industry.
And if that industry is causing you problems, this law firm will see what they can do about it.
Tug boats are cool.
To paraphrase Banksy: I remember when all this was docks.
Water intake at Zug Island. If you're looking to go swimming, you're probably better off trying the Love Canal.
Zug Island.
It was very important that someone painted over Dennis Archer's name on this sign at a Lighting Department power station on W. Jefferson. Otherwise people might think Archer is still the mayor.
More W. Jefferson industry.
This church is visible from Jefferson near the River Rouge border. However, between industry and abandonment, the path to it from Jefferson is indescribable. We practically drove around in circles to get here.
If you drink metro Detroit tap water today, chances are it's been through this DWSD facility. Or will end up here eventually.
From Grosse Pointe Park to (almost) River Rouge. The bridge is closed because an operator lowered the bridge onto a freighter back in May. The damage can be seen on the upper left.
