Lafayette Coney Island featured in ‘Hung’

We’ve all heard about the state tax incentives that have led Hollywood types to come to Michigan to film their projects. Knowing that, I wasn’t too surprised a few weeks ago when I rode through downtown Detroit and saw a mob of people and at least a dozen huge trailers outside of Lafayette Coney Island.

I didn’t stop to ask what was taping, but I could see inside one of the trailers and noticed racks and racks of wardrobe accessories, so I knew they were filming something. (I wish I had gotten a picture.) Anyway, it turns out, what I probably saw was the taping of a scene for the HBO show “Hung”. I read the other day that the show (known more for the cameo G-Money made when a scene was taped at Portofino’s in Wyandotte) was going to feature a scene at Lafayette’s.

A quick note about Lafayette Coney Island: The next time you’re in there, it would be worth it to use the bathroom. The building has been there for probably 100 years. To get to the bathroom, there’s a very narrow staircase that leads down to an even tighter hallway in the basement. It’s so cramped down there, it feels like you’re squirming around below deck on a submarine. A little eerie, but kind of cool.

Explore Sindbad's and discover something special

Until now, I've kept these wanderings to bars, parks and other places right in downtown Detroit. I guess I figure that, working down there, I might stumble across something that some of you might want to visit on those nights when you're in the mood to go exploring.

Today I'm in the mood to roam away from downtown, east on Jefferson a bit. There's a reason.

A few years ago, I had heard ads on the radio for a place out near the Belle Isle bridge, a restaurant on the river called Sindbad's. So Jen and I decided to try something new. You've probably heard of Sindbad's, maybe even been there. If not, the dining room is nice but not too formal; upscale-casual, I guess you'd call it. The steaks are thick, the beer is cold, and if you're lucky, the view out over the river is awesome. Most important, they serve lobster. Personally, I never let the stuff get within three feet of my mouth, but Jen loves it.

I think I've been back to Sindbad's once since that night Jen and I went out exploring. But I'm planning to get back there. Real soon. As soon as Jen gets better. I want a big, thick steak, and I want a tall, cold beer. But more than anything, I want to see Jen sitting next to me eating lobster. I don't even care how close she gets.

A tree grows in Detroit

Make that, “on” Detroit. City officials have made no secret about their attempts to improve Detroit’s greenspace areas in recent years, and Campus Martius and the RiverWalk are two examples of their success.

Then there’s this little chunk of nature springing up. Atop the Lafayette Building – that huge, hulking wreck of concrete that towers over Lafayette Coney Island – saplings have popped up to further brighten a building already decorated by some of the finest graffiti stylings this side of a CSX rail car.

From everything I’ve read and heard, the Lafayette Building, unlike the Book Cadillac and Fort Shelby hotels, is considered beyond repair, and will meet up with the wrecking ball sometime in the near future. In the meantime, the sidewalk at its base has been blocked, shielding innocent pedestrians from falling hunks of things that would, presumably, hurt really bad. It’s nice to know the city’s looking out for us!

All of this raises at least one question, not the least of which is: Why are we always reading about storms that up-root trees with 24-inch trunks, and yet these little saplings are somehow rooted deep enough in roofing tar that they’ve been able to handle any storm whipping in off the river? Just wondering…

Detroit team 'Spirit' is a cool sports tradition

My apologies to Wings' fans for rekindling memories of that Pittsburgh series a couple months ago, but I thought this shot of the Spirit of Detroit was worth checking out.

Just when it looked like the Detroit City Council was going to screw up again and charge teams a small fortune to slap a jersey on the Spirit, they reversed course and decided that about $5,000 was enough to cover the maintenance costs that are incurred. Seems fair. I think Zetterberg makes that much before the Red Wings leave Traverse City.

An interesting note about the Spirit: When it was installed in 1955, it was the largest bronze statue cast since the Renaissance. Just one question: What size does that thing wear? I'm feeling the need for an Olde English D jersey in a few weeks!