Detroit is a Great City!

[MotorCityTrikes]

Tell me one thing you've seen or heard lately that made you feel good about being a Detroiter. Don't pick anything from the forum but something out in your everyday life. Negative is easy to find but positive is everywhere too.

[Armin]

This made me feel good.

[piczka]

I don't know where to begin!

[KJ5]

A neighbor by the name of Jose introduced himself to me, apologized for making me swerve out of the way on my bicycle when he opened his car door at an inopportune time a couple weeks before and said I could borrow his lawnmower to tend to the usually wild looking strip of grass next to the mural I've been working on. He also complemented the mural. It felt especially good as I was feeling sad that morning, having just learned a friend had died of a heart attack at the age of 43.

[A2Mike]

Detroiters are far more sartorially minded than I ever expected. In the early fall of last year, I went into Detroit from Ann Arbor to visit the Art Institute. Leaving there I headed to the library's Woodward entrance where a middle-aged lady complimented me on the sweater I was wearing. I thanked her and headed into the building. Later I was was walking up Cass near the Belcrest when a younger gentleman also made a generous remark about said sweater. I am unaccustomed to my apparel getting much notice, and my blue and white cardigan is quite ordinary for a man my age. I used to live in California and bought it over 20 years ago from a British store in BH, but that not would be obvious to strangers. I guess I was just pleasantly surprised that with all the momentous occurrences in the city over so many years people still can take time to engage in the simple pleasantries we no longer take for granted. Such little things can add up in one's estimation of a place.

[sumas]

I have just too many things to share about my great Detroit moments and legacy of gracious concern. Of course serious horrific things happen. For me it is simple things like talking to neighbors, a young black man opening a door, My neighbors calling me miss Sue, or worrying that my walk about might endanger me. I get escorts all the time, un asked for, even from our so called area thugs.

I wish I could write poetry. These are some mean streets and some of the most wonderful people ever.

[Hamtragedy]

I saw someone marveling at Eastern Market, and he was going on and on on his cell-phone telling the person on the other end "I've never seen anything like this", "this is amazing," "you gotta see this" while looking at the crowd, the rafters, and taking it all in.

[rb336]

I've lived a few places, but when I set foot in Detroit I feel "home" like I never feel it anywhere else. When I moved back here from NY, it was almost overwhelming the first time I went to meet friends at Cass Cafe. It is utterly intangible.

[GPCharles]

It might be a Midwestern thing, but the way people nod at you as you pass while walking on the street. It just gives you some sense of community.

[Detroitdave]

In my line of work I constantly meet new people moving into Detroit from around the State,World and the Country and hearing "I LOVE DETROIT " from all of them !
Over the thanksgiving holiday one person had his entire family come out from Iowa , mom, dad, brother ect and they all loved it too, the brother even wants to move here ! Another moved from Traverse City also loves it ,another from Westland, and others from Boston, Florida ,ect all young.
I believe Detroit is finally attracting younger people they would have normally never even given Detroit a though, going right for Chicago ,ect
Another thing that makes Detroit a great city is all the new things happening , every week something new opens ! I used to be able to keep up , now it's all happening so fast :-[[ I liked being able to experience all the new things , now it's happening so fast I can't keep up :-[[
A good problem to have :-)

[MotorCityTrikes]

I wrote you a poem sumas. Hopefully it posts like I wrote it. If not just read it like a regular poem..........

[MotorCityTrikes]

‘The Mean Streets of Detroit’ a poem
The rest of the world looks down on our city,
Our image is bad, so they show us no pity.
“Don’t go to Detroit it’s wicked I hear,
The people who live there, they all live in fear!”

But nobody knows what Detroiters all know,
There’s good people here and each day it shows.
Our neighbors and strangers they help us get by,
Detroiters are like that you cannot deny.

Sure things have been rough, and we’re certainly broke,
But don’t count us out and forget all your jokes.
For a city as great, as Detroit will bounce back,
Just give us some time and cut us some slack.

[Dan Wesson]

Tell me one thing you've seen or heard lately that made you feel good about being a Detroiter. Don't pick anything from the forum but something out in your everyday life. Negative is easy to find but positive is everywhere too.

Some memories.... simple ones like all the fruit trees left over from the early strip farm days that we would raid in the hood.

[Sharnelle]

OK this is dedicated to sumas too:


Yeah, well, we got an epic story,


Now's the time for new glory,


Makin' things happen,


Makin' it in Detroit.






We got the funk,


We got the smarts,


We got the heart,


To make this city our work of art.






Home to heroes, mavericks, contrarians,


Nobody's boring - even the librarians!


You say you dine on raccoon carrion?


Not gonna point, call you barbarian.






All around we got fertile ground,


Growin' wild imagination,


Hustle harder determination,


The nation's DIY destination.






Rising from drivin' machines,


Now see each and every human being,


Makin' dreams happen,


Makin' it in Detroit.






Hands on, heads on, get 'er done,


Makin' it in Maker Town.


Step up, step out, it's all about


Findin' yourself in Detroit.






Hang-tough personality,


Is 313's proud identity,


Character that can't be broken,


When destructive words get spoken.






We got the funk,


We got the spunk,


We got the heart,


To make Detroit city a work of art.






Welcome to the capital of persistence,


Say goodbye to beige existence,


Hack old boundaries and resistance,


Freedom here to go the distance.






Not tryin' to be all pretty,


Like an airbrushed city,


Grit keepin' it real,


Ignites the spirit you feel.






Urban fields, a quirky pace,


But soon be needin' extra space,


Buildin' for a humane race,


'Cause there's no place like this place.






Sugar pie honey bunch,


We make it out of every crunch,


Soon eat other city's lunch,


Got a secret in our punch.






They try to destroy it,


But soul saves Detroit,


Abuse, starve, deny it,


Can't stop this giant.






Street smarts, car parts,


False starts, tough darts,


The D?...Listen to Smokey:


You really got a hold on me.

[MotorCityTrikes]

Sharnelle I take my Tiger cap off to ya'!!! Good one........and all great posts above

[401don]

Back to reality . . . . .http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...text|FRONTPAGE

[Ray1936]

I've always loved to sit at the banks of the Savoyard River. Sigh.

[sumas]

Both poems truly touched me. I get flack for saying I love living here while still acknowledging all its problems. No I am not remotely stupid, I really love living here. It's edgy, smart, funny and even scary occasionally. Scary, I don't like.

My husband might put music to your words. He's a bit lazy, if he does so he'll send you a disk, contacting you both individually via PM. Never pirated a thing in his life. Many thanks Sumas

[Danny]

sweet poetry, Sharnelle

[sumas]

Back to reality . . . . .http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...text|FRONTPAGE

Why do a downer?? These things are a reality but we are trying uber hard to talk about good things.

Manyana, sorry my Spanish is poor, I will be at a distribution center for free turkeys. Wasn't my idea! Three youngish black men in the area want to do this for others in the area in need. If we get there early, like 2 1/2 hrs to stand in line, we figure to be able to deliver 4 turkeys to families in the immediate area. If anyone drives by, I'll be the one with a folding chair, blankets and bundled to the hilt. I really hate being cold!

These are just a few of my precious Detroit moments.

[sumas]

Detroiters are far more sartorially minded than I ever expected. In the early fall of last year, I went into Detroit from Ann Arbor to visit the Art Institute. Leaving there I headed to the library's Woodward entrance where a middle-aged lady complimented me on the sweater I was wearing. I thanked her and headed into the building. Later I was was walking up Cass near the Belcrest when a younger gentleman also made a generous remark about said sweater. I am unaccustomed to my apparel getting much notice, and my blue and white cardigan is quite ordinary for a man my age. I used to live in California and bought it over 20 years ago from a British store in BH, but that not would be obvious to strangers. I guess I was just pleasantly surprised that with all the momentous occurrences in the city over so many years people still can take time to engage in the simple pleasantries we no longer take for granted. Such little things can add up in one's estimation of a place.

I rarely dress up even for church but when I do, I always wear a hat. Men become gentlemen seeing a "lady". It's cute. People pump my gas, open doors, etc. I guess I should take the time to dress up more often, I am kind of a jeans and sweat shirt person.

[Lily]

Gas stations on Telegraph [[redford and detroit side) plymouth to five mile almost always 10 to 15 cents cheaper than plymouth and beech, a mile away.

lily

[Ltdave]

This made me feel good.

ive a very VERY similar shot of this exact subject matter!!!

[Lily]

Sumas,
You shouldn't get flack for being honest. Not right at all. But OTOH, i understand your feelings. I love the city, but chose to leave for the safety of my family. The company i work for has been in detroit for over 90 years and the company is a huge part of my life. It isn't going anywhere. But i too have a problem with the flack i feel here when i post. The fact that i now live>1 mile from city limits, am in the city frequently makes no difference. In my reality everyone who has a reason to care, should be able to feel free to post and expect no flack.

Lily

[Lily]

Another great thing. SLOW'S, The best ribs and other southern food to be found. On Michigan Ave. They also have a small carryout one on campus.

lily