campus martius park, detroit, michigan, usa
—
society is like a large piece of frozen water;
and skating well is the great art of social life.
– Letitia Elizabeth Landon
Dec8
Tag Archives: detroit
Nov10
remember you are just an extra in everyone else’s play. – franklin d. roosevelt
i love the casting call
for the latest
group of extras
needed
for a film
being shot locally.
though i don’t have the look of
a sketchy male or a crack head ,
i could easily be
a gawker or neighborhood folk.
good to know.
—
The first day for extras on Destined is Wednesday.
The extras rate on Destined will be $65.20/8hrs with OT after 8hrs.
(All must be 18+ with a valid photo ID)
I am looking for 8 “Neighborhood Folk” and 2 “Sketchy Males” on Wednesday.
On Thursday, I’ll need 2 “Gawkers” (Available on the 6th and 25th), a couple of “Crack Heads”, and a few more “Neighborhood Folk”.
A new Availability Form has been posted for the first few days on Destined. Please fill it out if you are 100% available for the dates listed.
And please email—–@gmail.com with current pics (include your name) and “Destined Extras” in the subject. Thank you
—
image credit: oldmagazinearticles.com
Sep24
if you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one. – dolly parton
GOOD NEWS! I-96 reopened 3 weeks early, and morning commutes became easier on Monday morning after 6 months of 7 miles of total road closure. On Sunday afternoon thousands of people came down to a stretch of the reconstructed I-96 to enjoy a Metro Detroit freeway as never before … by walking, on bike and with anything else they could ride – even a marching band showed up. Any and all were invited to join in the celebration. That’s how we roll in the motor city.
if you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.
– lewis carroll
—
credits: dailydetroit. com
Aug23
what do you get for three dollars and seventy five cents?
a ticket
to watch
the detroit lions
play
a
pre-season
football game
the score
has no meaning
like watching
kids run around with a ball
gentle
careful
not to play too hard
no one wants to get hurt
and
a walk outside
after the game
leads to
a free front row seat
right on the curb
best seat in the city
on a warm and breezy
summer night
live music
fills the air
you listen
as our hometown boy
eminem
and his friend
rhianna
sing their hearts out
outside
right across the street
only 50 feet away
where
the detroit tigers
play baseball
fireworks go off
great music booms through the air
clear as a bell
bikes
that light up like magic
glide on by
and
fans of all kinds
music
and
football
and
those who just love detroit
all
together
running
and
dancing
and
talking
and
smiling
in the street
and
happy police
stand by
and
take it all in
a great feeling
fills the street
and overflows
as all paths cross
and
worlds collide
into
a perfect night
—
between two worlds life hovers like a star,
twixt night and morn, upon the horizon’s verge.
– lord byron
Aug18
you must plan to be spontaneous. – david hockney
it came and went
once again
that
special day
the
annual
woodward avenue
dream cruise
in
detroit
the motor city
and
i love
how
on this day
everyone
does things
their own way
most anything goes
as long as
you are
fully enjoying it
and
you are not
hurting anyone
like the group
who moved
their
living room
to the curb
to watch the cruise
in comfort
and the
young man
smiling
on his
mini-bike
a tiny minnow
with a motor
amidst
a great sea
of
classic cars
mobile crime units
pedestrians
traffic lights
and
waves
of happiness
adventure is worthwhile.
– aesop
Jun17
hell yeah, usa !
patrons of third street in detroit go nuts for a world cup goal by the red, white and blue.
—
‘The applause is a celebration not only of the actors but also of the audience.
It constitutes a shared moment of delight.’
John Charles Polanyi
—
photo image: Hell Yeah Detrroit
Mar19
I don’t do well with snakes and I can’t dance. – Robin Williams
i went to this show last night, at our beautifully restored fisher theater, expecting to see a bit of fast-tapping irish dancing. it was created by the producers of riverdance, so i had a certain mind set going in, and was very happy to find it was so much more. the director/creator spoke at the beginning, and talked about how he had worked for three years to assemble this amazing ensemble of dancers and musicians from all around the world, (australia, spain, ireland, england, u.s.a, canada, mexico, and italy), to create this work of performance art.
while there was incredible irish dancing, there was also so much more.
each musician played at least 2 instruments and at times got out on the floor to interact with the dancers.
it was a fascinating blend of afro-cuban, spanish, irish, flamenco, latin, modern and street and classical dance,
all bathed in color and images and music.
at times it was strong and high energy, and then slow and powerfully beautiful.
it was a lovely performance in every way. and i was newly inspired with each dance.
I love tango, and I used to dance when I was young. Pope Francis
—
image credits: broadway in detroit
Jan24
In life as in the dance, grace glides on blistered feet. – Alice Abrams
Without humility there can be no humanity. – John Buchan
as i watched the local news last night, and after taking in all of the stories of war, and violence, and crime, and mayhem, i saw this story – of a man’s love for his children, of family, of survival, of a community, who didn’t judge or turn away, but instead, who reached out and gave what they could to help someone who needed helping. this deeply touched me and reminded me of the innate goodness in people.
According to My Fox Detroit on Jan. 23, an anonymous donor will be paying utility bills for Don Epperson, a 53-year-old father of four who walksDetroit’s mean streets looking for salvage firewood to keep his kids from freezing this winter.
“The same fire that keeps us warm, feeds us,” says Don. The family heats water in buckets to wash dishes in and bathe.
Don has worked as a roofer and a butcher. He’s very willing to work, but there are no jobs. So he does the best he can for his four children, the youngest of whom is just 10. Despite it all, Don’s children are performing very well in school and their current lifestyle hasn’t discouraged them.
After hearing the story, a Good Samaritan stepped forward offering to pay Don’s utility bills. Don was emotional and overjoyed.
I’d just like to say thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart and from my children. We thank you all, we love you for what you’ve done for us. I’ve never had anybody do anything to this magnitude for myself, or even for my children,” Don says.
Thousands have been touched by Don’s story and have asked how to help.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. –C. S. Lewis
Nov28
looking back at the thanksgiving parade as it keeps marching on ahead
back in my advertising days, america’s thanksgiving parade in detroit was one of our clients. as i watch it this morning, i have many memories, both fond, and some, not so much:
– spending all night on thanksgiving eve, in the parade warehouse and in the cold out on woodward avenue as the floats rolled out and news affiliates wanted live shots
– media fighting for best position for the event
– driving golf carts down our usually packed busy roads, no cars allowed during set up, surveying the situation, and getting such a very cool and different view
– chasing a news anchor through a scary neighborhood the night before, as he sped his way towards the scene with his cameraman, drunk and angry he had to work, got a flat tire and i just kept going, local homeless guy kindly helped me with my tire and i jumped out , ran to the street and got the live shot just in time
– having the 4 tops as a float attraction, though only 3 were still alive and hoping no one would notice, then 1 of the 3 went on a bender, was lost somewhere in detroit and pulled up in a limo, in his clothes from the night before, just as the parade was about to begin
– cinderella got the flu just as she was getting in her costume to ride in her carriage, had to have an intern fill in
– giant balloon untethering itself and flying across the border to our friends in canada
– communication source, walkie talkies and radios going out, trying to make decisions based on a ‘best guess’ approach
– volunteers getting ‘fired’ by an ego-driven person at the top, for not being ‘camera-worthy,’ having to put a positive p.r. spin on this
– celebrities, bands, clowns, animals, law enforcement, athletes, characters, charity events, music, lost children, artists, contests, security, parking, coaches, costumes, twirlers, technology, floats, marchers, bad weather, live tv, and the crowd – somehow it all went off no matter what did or didn’t happen behind the scenes. as crazy and sleep depriving and dizzying as it was, i loved it all (now that i am looking back and watching it from the warmth of a living room, drinking coffee, and just taking it all in from a cozy couch.) happy thanksgiving to all.
—
If you’re not in the parade, you watch the parade. That’s life. – Mike Ditka
Aug18
i have a dream cruise.
cruising on woodward avenue as the sun goes down
it was wonderful to have once again attended the annual woodward avenue dream cruise in detroit, the motor city. home to the big 3 automakers. it’s the largest car cruise in all of north america, with cars driving from the river in downtown detroit, all the way to the north end of this historic avenue in pontiac.
there’s no need to know anything about cars or history to enjoy this event. here you’ll see every kind of vehicle imaginable: detroit muscle cars, famous cars, many rare classics, and more that are classics only in the owner’s eyes. all along the road, for many miles, will be people of every age and kind, sharing in the pure enjoyment of the day, with crazy events, creatures in costume, classic car-cruising food, and happiness, all coming together and spilling over onto the avenue.
on this day, differences are set aside and all the cities on the route, tv and radio stations, auto companies, people, and local businesses, work together to celebrate detroit’s heritage and its contributions to the world. even with all of detroit’s struggles, it’s so amazing to see people come together to celebrate each other and their city’s triumphs, and it shows their strength and refusal to give up, even through hard times. t’s always been one of the most open, happy, and pure celebratory events i’ve ever been lucky enough to be a part of, and i’m proud to say i’m from the motor city.
pre-cruise eve, teaching the kids how to play craps at their own mini-event
—————
I know a lot about cars, man. I can look at any car’s headlights and tell you exactly which way it’s coming. – Mitch Hedberg
Never have more children than you have car windows. Erma Bombeck
I didn't have my glasses on.... 