Every now and then, avid readers of these pages (there are at least seven of you out there!) send in some interesting Detroit-related fodder that I like to pass along. For example, people are still raving about the before-and-after blurbs that were fueled by photos submitted by GrifsDad. And by "raving" I mean they can kind of recall reading them.
Today's entry comes from the yet-un-nicknamed but hereafter-known-as BigBird (everybody on these pages gets a nickname, for anonymity's sake). BigBird sent in a really cool link to a 360-degree photo taken inside the lobby of the long-abandoned Michigan Central Depot. What a remarkable place. Unfortunately, building owner Matty Maroun, who also owns the Ambassador Bridge, seems content to let the place rot. I, for one, say spruce it up or rip it down, but then again, it's not my money.
Anyway, as it stands, the depot is one of the most-recognized, most-photographed, most-snuck-into condemmed buildings in Detroit, and that's saying something, because there's no shortage of those, although I hope we're doing a fair job here in highlighting the ones that are in the process of being resurrected. If you've missed those highlights, click on the "Detroit buildings" link to the right. Otherwise, click this link to check out the inside of the Michigan Central Depot. And thanks for the link, BB. When I first saw your message, I expected a photo of a homeless guy washing his "stuff" in the fountain.
A day after getting royally hosed of his perfect game, Armando Galarraga was celebrated at Comerica Park from every angle this afternoon. Fans honored him before the game. Somebody gave him a brand new Corvette. And outside the stadium, WDIV set up an enormous card for fans to sign.
One of the not-so-friendly gestures included a man walking around claiming to have "KILL JOYCE!" t-shirts for sale. It turns out he really didn't, but still... Gotta love how Detroit latches on to its athletes!
The Omni Hotel often gets lost in the Detroit hotel shuffle of bigger name digs like the Book-Cadillac, the RenCen Marriott and the casino hotels, which is a shame. From the outside, the Omni is a beaut, located right on the RiverWalk between Chene Park and the Belle Isle Bridge. I've never been inside, but I'm hoping to book a room sometime this summer.
Figuring the old building probably has a pretty cool history, I sent our crack research team looking for info, and found more than I bargained for. (Note: the Michigan Historical Sites website is really cool, if you're into that kind of stuff.) The building, it turns out, was constructed in 1902 as the Parke-Davis Research Laboratory, the leader in pharmacological research in the country. It was the first industrial laboratory devoted exclusively to pharmacological research, and was responsible for, among other things, many of the "wonder drugs" that we take for granted today.
And now it's a hotel, and a National Historic Landmark to boot!
Our relentless digging for marginally insightful information reveals that Fountain Bistro – now occupying the former home of Au Bon Pain in the heart of downtown Detroit – is planning a soft launch for tomorrow, Wednesday, June 2. No word on when the "hard" launch will happen, but it's nice to see there wasn't a long dead period in that space following the closing of Au Bon Pain earlier this year.
Campus Martius Park, you may recall reading recently, was named the No. 1 urban park in the country for the impact its has in helping grow the surrounding areas. I will happily vouch for the fact that it's a better park with a restaurant on site, so I'm looking forward to checking out Fountain Bistro. And for the record, we're pleased with the name change, if no other reason than the previous cafe was an Au Bon Pain in the ass to pronounce.
Every now and then, avid readers of these pages (there are at least seven of you out there!) send in some interesting Detroit-related fodder that I like to pass along. For example, people are still raving about the before-and-after blurbs that were fueled by photos submitted by GrifsDad. And by "raving" I mean they can kind of recall reading them.
