Weekend in Detroit

I had a great time with loved ones in Detroit this weekend. My camera's broken so no riveting shots but I do have a few recommendations for anyone wanting to poke around a bit.

First, I headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) with my girl Lauren to catch the Jesper Just and Art Spiegelman exhibits. The museum is free, welcoming and the gift shop has about every sexy art book a girl could ever want. I especially liked the Jesper Just films. A Viscious Undertow was particularly haunting.

Later we drove around the Boston Edison neighborhood to check out the gorgeous houses, one of which was Berry Gordy Jr.'s during the Motown heydays. My grandma also grew up in one of the houses and I was happy to see the area full of life, which is not how I remember as a kid.

Motown Mansion

On Sunday my folks joined me and a few of my EMU HP compatriots for a Detroit River Boat tour with Diamond Jack Tours. The tour was sponsored by the HP Alumni association. The 2 hour trip took us along the river skyline, past Belle Isle, along the parks of Windsor to Fort Wayne and back. The water was as aquamarine as ever and the wind was blowing hot. From the river, the city seemed full of life. People fishing and walking and biking and lying in the sun. A special treat, arranged by Nathan, an HP student and River Boat Guide, came when the mail boat pulled up along side the tour boat and dropped off a postcard Nathan had mailed us earlier in the week. Very cool.

After the tour we headed over to Corktown to Slows BBQ where we feasted on pulled pork and black-eyed peas and okra fritters. A quick peek at the Detroit Central Station rounded out the weekend. Just beautiful, with family, friends, good food and sights, there's nothing better to be had.