Davison, Oakman Blvd, W.Vernor, and the Battle of the Overpass

The weather was kind of odd on Sunday, as if it couldn’t make up its mind whether to be cloudy or not. It was beautiful cycling weather in all other respects. Here’s a Google map of where we went.

Not long into our ride, the first spelling fail reared up.

Everyone makes spelling mistakes, but I think people who paint signs for a living should try to uphold a higher standard. At least run the sentence through a spell check before finalizing the job. Case in point. A clearly professionally painted sign that’s missing a C.

Omputer Diagnostis

We also passed an enthusiastic welder’s shop. Can’t comment on the quality of welding, but you gotta love the sentiments of the owner.

Love for all except materials that aren’t welded together

The Weld Shop is next to a building with an odd door.  The fence I get. But what do you think that door’s for?

The first step’s a doozy

A couple of weeks ago, I passed a deli on Oakland called Greedy’s. Oddly enough, there’s also a restaurant on the East Side called the Greedy Grill. I’m on the lookout for an eatery named for one of the other Capital Sins – the Sloth Cafe, The Lust Restaurant, etc. Anyone have any ideas if anything like that exists in Detroit?  Here’s the Greedy, for your visual pleasure.

All ready to go: Fork ‘n’ Spatula

Time Magazine is doing a full-court press about Detroit, renovating a house and blogging about the city. Most of the news isn’t “news” to us Detroiters, as the grimness of things around here isn’t exactly a secret. That said, our woeful state of affairs was amended on Sunday when the pitiful Detroit Lions broke their 0-for-forever losing streak. Maybe this sign helped.

You’re welcome to look as long as you don’t loiter

Over on Davison, we passed a Motorcycle club with a tough name, but a weird logo. It reminds me of either Pluto eating a hot dog, or a rudimentary graphic of a canine alimentary canal.

The food goes in one end, and out the other

A roofing-home repair place we passed (it appears to be defunct) has a certain peculiar charm to its signage. They do gutters, flashing, and aluminum trim.

Don’t forget the chimney

That said, one of the illustrations on the building appears to be in violation of all OSHA safety regulations:

Working without a net

On the other side of the building, one of the former employees appears to be using a flame thrower on one of his associates.

I think those are fireproof UGGS.

Interesting perspective, too. Reminds me of an urban version of one of Cezanne’s pre-cubist views of L’Estaque, but with squared-off clouds.

Bev’s Backstreet Lounge has girls, girls, girls. The one on the sign has a certain perky allure, and a nice, SFW bathing suit-ish outfit.

The Girls inside are topless. Promise

On the building proper, a much more tempting hint of what you’ll find inside.

Lest you forget: Girls, Girls, Girls

The mood is soured, however, by another large sign at the venue.  This has to be the crabbiest looking stripper in the whole Rust Belt.

Maybe she’s mad because she lost one of her shoes, or that she’s right next to a major misspelling of businessman

Here’s a tighter shot of her displeased expression:

Playing second fiddle to a 1/2 lb. sandwich

You never know when you might need a shopping cart. If you ever find yourself without one, get thee to McNichols and Davison, where you’re sure to find a model to satisfy you.

Kind of like Disney World without the Tea Cup Ride

We passed a motorcycle club that has a much more appropriate logo than that of the Black Dragons. Nothing says M/C like flaming death on two wheels, right?

Do not mess with these guys

If incendiary death isn’t your cup of tea, you might find this laundromat more to your liking. Much like the Gospel Hands Car Wash, here’s a place to get your clothes really, really clean.

Ark-Scented Tide?

Not long after we passed that laundromat, we found ourselves on the Davison Service Drive, whose pavement quality deserves some Federal Stimulus Funding, stat.  The Legal Eagle, attempting to avoid one of its cracks, bumps, potholes, and former cold patch repair holes, ran through a pile of gravel and crashed, filing off the epidermis on his knee and elbow.

After he stanched the bleeding, we rode for a long way along Oakman Blvd., one of Detroit’s nicest streets. Nice houses, beautiful meridian, etc.

Ultimately, Oakman Blvd turns into Miller Road, which skirts the Ford River Rouge plant, at one time (the 1920’s) the largest manufacturing facility in the world. It was also the site of one of the landmarks of US labor history, the fight between Walter Reuther (founder of the UAW) and goons hired by Harry Bennett, a former boxer and head of Ford’s Internal Security, known as the “Battle of the Overpass”.

Here’s that overpass:

The “Battle of the Overpass” Overpass

Heading home on West Vernor, we passed through Detroit’s “Mexican Village”, home of many fine Mexican restaurants, as well as this nifty cross-cultural emporium:

Home of the Original Nickelnut (?)

A tad further along, I-75 has just finished going through a major renovation, which includes our own Santiago Calatrava-ish bridge. Nice, no?

Wow! A brand new bridge

The Legal Eagle wanted to make sure I saw Detroit’s Geodesic Dome house – and wonder of wonder, it’s for sale. If you’ve ever wanted to live in a concrete dome (there are two domes joined together) now’s your chance.  It’s over by the former Train Station if you’re interested.

Luke … I’m your house

Aside from the road-rash incident, it was a great day in the hood. And I like that house.