London-based Boat magazine issues its 100-page "Detroit issue"

[Carey]

Boat magazine's slogan is "an antidote to lazy journalism." So here comes its industrial-strength take on Detroit. I picked it up today at Leopold's [[8 pounds/$12).

On first glance it looks artsy and wide-ranging, sophisticated and politically correct, city-centric and suburban-aware. There are cool photos from a mainly London-based crew of shooters, including some aerial views, a couple of shirtless Detroit Pistons and only one from the Packard Plant. Top notch author Jeffrey Eugenides and "Sweet Juniper" blogger James Griffoen are two of a number of contributors with local roots, though Eugenides hasn't lived here since he hit the big time, and it shows when he calls the Michigan Central Station the Grand Trunk.

The tone is relentlessly upbeat. As Eugenides writes: "The reason I agreed to contribute these brief thoughts about Detroit for Boat Magazine has to do with the correctness of the editors' attitude. This issue of Boat Magazine seeks to take a stand against ruin porn. It is everything a ghoulish filmmaker wouldn't understand."

Of interest: There are only two ads, both from Ford Motor. And the ubiquitous Toby Barlow gets a "special thanks." Boat's Detroit issue will be read with gusto across Europe and wherever young hipsters roam. I'd like to read the comments of others once they have a chance to see it.