Pure Detroit is part store, part museum

Here's an ill-timed tip to help you find the perfect gift for someone on your shopping list. For the person who's a fan of Detroit stuff, you've got to check out Pure Detroit in the Guardian Building. From works of art and books on Detroit's history, to cool t-shirts, belts and hats, Pure Detroit has stuff you won't find anywhere else. 

The books alone are enough to grab you and make you forget that your lunch break is only an hour long. There are photo books on Bob-Lo Island, Detroit's historical theaters, the origins of the auto industry and tons of other topics. The artwork - which is mostly photography - includes great pictures of the old Hudson's store, Tiger Stadium and a bunch of other Detroit landmarks. The store is kind of like a mini-museum, except you're allowed to touch stuff. 

Find Pure Detroit in the Guardian Building's "Retail Promenade". If nothing else, it's a great excuse to check out the Guardian Building itself.

The Guardian Building: a Detroit marvel

It was 15 degrees outside so I ducked into the Guardian Building earlier today to warm up. Good move. In addition to being heated, the Guardian is just an awesome building. I'm not going to try and describe the incredible architecture. I'll let this picture (and others that I'll post in the days and weeks ahead) speak for itself. This shot, incidentally, is of the building's second-floor "Retail Promenade", home to a few little shops and stores including Pure Detroit. (The Guardian, by the way, is also the new home of the Wayne County offices, which you've probably read about in the news lately.) 

Lafayette Building nearing the end

Here's the surest sign that the 'Red Dawn' gang has left town: demolition of the Lafayette Building has begun. For real this time.

In recent weeks, workers have ramped up the process of dismantling the Lafayette, which for what seemed like months was being used to support huge banners hanging over Michigan Avenue for the filming of 'Red Dawn'. Now, Detroit's most famous building-with-trees-on-the-roof is simply an awesome wreck, with huge gouges revealing a building frame that seems just seconds away from tumbling on its own. (I, for one, am going to hold off for awhile before stopping next door for another coney dog.)

When the destruction is complete, I think I'll hop back on the People Mover and take another photo from this same angle, just to see the difference in the skyline. (And I'm standing by my earlier prediction that this site is the future location of a new Quicken Loans headquarters.)

The RenCen: room with a view

This picture looks out from one of the middle rings of the Renaissance Center, through the GM Wintergarden and out over the Detroit River. That's Caesar's Windsor straight ahead. (The Wintergarden seating area is actually one floor below.)