Spring hit us early this year – it’s been unseasonably warm for a couple of weeks. Unbelievably temperate weather, and great news for everyone around here except skiers. Anyway, I decided I was overdue to work the kinks out of my legs and take a jaunt ’round the hood. It was such a short ride, it doesn’t even deserve a map. I basically wanted to get moving again, and see what had changed since last fall.
First up, the most excellent Good Girls Go To Paris has opened a suburban location. It’s half-block from Detroit in Grosse Pointe Park. It’s been open for about four months, but new to me. Here’s one of the great French movie posters that decorate the interior.
English translation: “Magnet of Doom”
It’s on the border of Grosse Pointe Park and Detroit, so I guess it’s Kosher to include it here. Do stop by. I recommend, as usual, the “Good Girls” crepe. (Nutella and Banana).
See how close it is to our fair city?
Note the clean street and sidewalk
Once in Detroit proper, (I was on Charlevoix), I noticed some new (to me) graffiti. I think this guy has been trying to determine his nickname. Otherwise, I’m pretty stumped trying to decipher this:
Lush, You Rant Junk Tweak Ranger?
The next tag I rode by made more sense, I guess, but I’m not sure of the starting date, or whatever the countdown refers to:
Maybe it’s a Mayan Calendar Thing
A bit further along, a nicely-done new (to me) urban garden has been created by the Northeast Guidance center. I’ll try and check on its progress as the year moves along.
Don’t know if vegetables or flowers are in its future
Over on Lycaste, I spotted a wheel cover that both looks new, and newly abandoned. It definitely wasn’t there last fall.
New plastic wheel cover looking for good home
Something that definitely wasn’t there last year was my own “tag” (actually drawn with a piece of mortar I found on the sidewalk) on the former AT&T building on Lycaste and Kercheval.
Non-permanent proof that misterarthur was here
On the way back, I noticed a couple of developments I had either missed before or were new.
This tree (part of the Greening of Detroit project to re-tree Jefferson) seems to be alive, but is missing some sort of ingredient
Meet the tree that has no “G”
When we planted trees along Jefferson, someone specified, purchased, and volunteers planted the wrong species, one that can’t make it through Michigan winters. That’s why there’s a burnt orange dot on this specimen. It has to be re-planted.
This is a defunct tree
Part of the sidewalk along the road has erupted or collapsed over the winter. (Depends if you’re a glass half-full or half-empty kind of person).
Maybe someone was looking for buried treasure
In the same optimist/pessimist mode, the holding lot across the street from Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly was empty, which means that either the Jeeps they’re making there are selling like hotcakes, or they’ve temporarily shut down the line. (I’m hoping for the former). There may be some other reason, of course, as I’ve seen everything from Fords of various types to Volkswagens waiting here to be delivered to dealerships.
A very exciting photo of an empty parking lot
The Redyns Co building has finally given up the ghost. To be honest, I haven’t seen much activity here for a while. Here’s what information I can glean about Redyns online: “Redyns CO in Detroit, MI is a private company categorized under Tonics, Hair. Our records show it was established in 1946 and incorporated in Michigan. Products or Services: Natural Hair Tonic, Kreml Hair Tonic, Black Lily Hair Tonic, Herbal Hair Tonic and Hair Growing Tonic.”
Farewell, maker of hair tonics of all sorts
A couple of blocks further along, a housing auction sign caught my attention, though the “house” in question was a little, uh, “questionable”. Maybe it’ll be of interest to an antique brick collector.
The auction is next Saturday, if you’re interested
Anyway, every Spring, I try to be optimistic, following the lead of Alexander Pope, who wrote: “Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never Is, but always To be blest:”
To that end, I also rode by something more uplifting than falling-down buildings. So I leave you with something that made me feel great. A bunch of young men having a great time playing basketball, shirtless, outside enjoying the marvelous March weather.
March Madness: Playing outside, shirtless, in the middle of March in Michigan
Tour De Hood 