Thoughts on Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown in Detroit?

**NoHeartAnthony** · November-11-13, 12:20 PM

He could have, but what he did show is a more fair representation of Detroit. How he sees Detroit and what he rails against. While the forumers might embrace Eastern Market, there is a great segment of Detroiters that aren't able to enjoy it. Your story doesn't take precedence over theirs.

**nain rouge** · November-11-13, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by dmike76

Maybe he did speak about positive things, but they must have edited them out if he did. All he did was beat a dead horse into the ground.

For us, it's a dead horse. But do you think the rest of the nation pays half as much attention to stories on Detroit as we do? Yes, people know Detroit has bad crime rates and suffers from abandonment, but from what I can tell, a lot of outsiders think it's a really bad Philadelphia or Chicago, when in reality it's on a whole 'nother planet.

Once, when I was walking near Grand Circus Park, a well-dressed lady in business casual asked me where the subway was. When I explained the People Mover to her, she laughed. She wanted to know where the subway was, not that elevated piece of shit that goes 10 mph through downtown.

I'm a bit of a food nerd, so I know through my readings in the Detroit blogosphere that Bourdain did in fact patronize some establishments in Midtown. But he chose to ignore that in his episode, probably because it would almost be too easy to sell the public on a great revitalization in urban or semi-urban setting. They love a feel-good story and tend to run from reality.

You and I know, though, that the story of modern Detroit is the failure of the middle class and epic cost of sprawl and globalization. Detroit today, your suburb tomorrow. And that's the story Bourdain wanted to tell. Sure, Cleveland or Baltimore might be fucked up too, but I raise them Brush Park, which is practically connected to downtown. Fuck with that, Cleveland.

**Spartan** · November-11-13, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Newdetroit

He didn't even show Eastern Market on a weekend with tons of people. If he is interested in the urban farms he can also show vegetables and fruits being sold in Eastern Market. But since it is a vibrant area, it was not shown. Lastly, he could have filmed at the Whitney or some other fine dining place like he does in other cities. Instead, in Detroit, people have to go an illegal papusaria or a roadside stand. Oh, I forgot, there is fine dining restaurant in the back of a garage in some alley.

Why the hell would he go to Eastern Market or the Whitney on a show called PARTS UNKNOWN? Those are arguably two of the most famous places in Detroit.

**dmike76** · November-11-13, 01:10 PM

Because, Spartan, Detroit is virtually unknown to everyone in the country besides the ruin porn that people like Bourdain apparently like to showcase. No one outside of Detroit knows about Eastern Market. They just think that the whole city looks like an excerpt from the Terminator.

**Newdetroit** · November-11-13, 01:17 PM

Watch his piece on Dubai. He went to the most internationally known restaurants in Dubai!

**noise** · November-11-13, 01:18 PM

In his finite show, you mean to tell me he didn't show every part of the city? Next you'll tell me he didn't interview every single Detroit resident! Outlandish!

**Newdetroit** · November-11-13, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by NoHeartAnthony

He could have, but what he did show is a more fair representation of Detroit. How he sees Detroit and what he rails against. While the forumers might embrace Eastern Market, there is a great segment of Detroiters that aren't able to enjoy it. Your story doesn't take precedence over theirs.

I am unsure how the other places he featured are anymore accessible? Please explain?

**dookie joe** · November-11-13, 02:09 PM

For chrissakes, quit whining every time someone says bad things about Detroit. What do you want? Yet another glowing report about Phil Cooley? [[Did you know he used to be a fashion model?) And what about the Whole Foods in Midtown? Yay, Midtown! Yay, hipster .........s!

**dmike76** · November-11-13, 02:15 PM

Nor did I say that my story takes precedence, and that was never my point. The world knows about the negative and the ruin since media broadcasts it ad nauseum. NewDetroit, don't you think that a more positive representation would help everyone in the city? Maybe it will draw some tourists that aren't interested in the train wreck portions of the city and maybe we can get some tax dollars from it. All this show did was keep people away. I'm not saying NOT to show some of the bad stuff, but let's show both sides of the coin. What would the harm have been to show ONE, I'm only asking for ONE part of that show to display some redevelopment or some change.

**DetroitPlanner** · November-11-13, 02:30 PM

I did not see the show but being that I am Detroit born and bred my facebook page was covered with hype about this over the last week. I did look at those links. What I got out of it was that despite Detroit's major issues there is innovation that is happening amongst its ruins.

I think so many people here take issue with his portrayal because you have never been one to live in the areas that are now the ruins. You think you get your street cred from living in a sanitized, nearly gentrified [[compared to where it was 25 years ago) mid-town.

**Wheels** · November-11-13, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Newdetroit

Watch his piece on Dubai. He went to the most internationally known restaurants in Dubai!

Dubai was not a "Parts Unknown" episode. This series is not as food oriented.

**Newdetroit** · November-11-13, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by dmike76

Nor did I say that my story takes precedence, and that was never my point. The world knows about the negative and the ruin since media broadcasts it ad nauseum. NewDetroit, don't you think that a more positive representation would help everyone in the city? Maybe it will draw some tourists that aren't interested in the train wreck portions of the city and maybe we can get some tax dollars from it. All this show did was keep people away. I'm not saying NOT to show some of the bad stuff, but let's show both sides of the coin. What would the harm have been to show ONE, I'm only asking for ONE part of that show to display some redevelopment or some change.

You have me mistaken for someone else. I was saying that he could have showed some nice things about the city...especially Eastern Market where people come to buy vegetables and fruits.

**p69rrh51** · November-11-13, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Newdetroit

He didn't even show Eastern Market on a weekend with tons of people. If he is interested in the urban farms he can also show vegetables and fruits being sold in Eastern Market. But since it is a vibrant area, it was not shown. Lastly, he could have filmed at the Whitney or some other fine dining place like he does in other cities. Instead, in Detroit, people have to go an illegal papusaria or a roadside stand. Oh, I forgot, there is fine dining restaurant in the back of a garage in some alley.

For those interested the roadside stand is on Seymour just west of Chalmers.

**joesmithrocks** · November-11-13, 03:23 PM

I'm sick of hearing people cry "ruin porn." Get over it. Name a Detroit story that is as half as interesting or compelling to the rest of the world as our unique and oddly beautiful ruins. There isn't one. Bourdain did a great job explaining that very fact in his blog. If you're so upset about the media's continued coverage of our massive and ever-present ruins, then get out there and clean them up.

**Spartan** · November-11-13, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by dmike76

Because, Spartan, Detroit is virtually unknown to everyone in the country besides the ruin porn that people like Bourdain apparently like to showcase. No one outside of Detroit knows about Eastern Market. They just think that the whole city looks like an excerpt from the Terminator.

See, that's just BS. Eastern Market 2 million plus visitors every year, and is the largest farmers market in the country. The show is meant to show lesser known parts of the places he visits [[hence the name). Eastern Market, The Whitney, Coach Insignia, etc do not fit that bill in any way. Look at the places he went. I've heard of almost none of them, and I probably know Detroit better than most of my friends that live in the area [[city or burbs). The show is not meant to be a report on popular establishments.

**dmike76** · November-11-13, 03:32 PM

It doesn't have to be Eastern Market. My point is, show one thing, one. thing. that was rehabbed or shows that Detroit is not 'Chernobyl' as he put it. But, whatever....there's nothing we can do about it now and life in the D goes on.

**Al Publican** · November-11-13, 04:30 PM

What is the location of Guns & Butter? Or is it mobile cattery? I couldn't find an address online.

**maverick1** · November-11-13, 05:13 PM

At this point I don't care anymore. I don't care because people overall will not make the effort to understand Detroit. Detroit's problems are worse than other cities. I have no problem with the bad parts getting the most attention. It's here and it's bad. Even when the city was in better shape we still had to deal with this. Frankly, asking mainstream media to show all of Detroit is asking too much. I just want us to make it better. Forget them. I've stopped discussing Detroit with people not from Detroit. It's not worth it. We need to get over this inferiority complex too. At what point do we stop begging for the rest of America to notice it's not all bad here? As long as we are the poster child for deindustrialization, urban sprawl, white flight, and the decline of the working class we will have this problem. If the city is awesome it will speak for itself but begging for the national media to show Sherwood Forest and Rosedale Park when most of Grand River and Linwood is in shambles is asking for too much.

**Scottathew** · November-11-13, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by Cliffy

It was the cold hard truth. Thats what the majority of Detroit looks like.

I thought Bourdain was tough, but honest and fair. A good part of the show was ruin porn, but if you watched it on a good TV it was some of the most artistic ruin porn I've seen.

Bourdain went beyond the ruin porn and went into the good parts of the city too. Bourdain's look at Detroit was broad, but well beyond the surface in the areas he explored.

I thought it was a great piece.

**gvidas** · November-11-13, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by Al Publican

What is the location of Guns & Butter? Or is it mobile cattery? I couldn't find an address online.

Pop-up. I don't think they have much to do with cats.

Send an email to reservations@gbdetroit.com asking to be added to their mailing list.

[[I am not affiliated with them in any way.)

**noise** · November-11-13, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by dmike76

It doesn't have to be Eastern Market. My point is, show one thing, one. thing. that was rehabbed or shows that Detroit is not 'Chernobyl' as he put it. But, whatever....there's nothing we can do about it now and life in the D goes on.

Why? That's not their job.

The only people truly upset are, as usual, the thin-skinned Detroiters. We are a weak bunch. No other city cries as much as we do.

**dmike76** · November-11-13, 08:00 PM

No, it's not their job. This is a discussion and that's my opinion. I don't like the way that they portrayed the city. I always try to change people's perception about Detroit and it just sucks to see something like that.

**finster** · November-11-13, 08:18 PM

Personally, I thought it made Detroit and its people look pretty darn interesting. If it helps any I doubt if it made anyones preconceived notions about the city any worse. He said himself that he didn't want to sugarcoat the whole situation, which I believe gave his whole take on it more validity.

I don't know if it was discussed here but 60 Minutes did a piece on Detroit that was pretty good. If anyones interested it can be accessed from their website.

**Newdetroit** · November-11-13, 09:10 PM

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/23...it-hit-or-miss

**noise** · November-11-13, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by dmike76

No, it's not their job. This is a discussion and that's my opinion. I don't like the way that they portrayed the city. I always try to change people's perception about Detroit and it just sucks to see something like that.

The perception where an international celebrity speaks highly of the city?

Does your change include making outsiders think Detroiters can't handle anything other than overwhelming praise?

Addendum:
I'm being rude, but I don't mean to make this personal. I'm kind of in disbelief over the widespread negative and, frankly, whiny response to an inconsequential television show's not-as-desired portrayal of Detroit. Apologies.