Detroit: Rust, Rain, and Really Weird Vibes
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. the timestamp thing - 1255744 and 1356648808 - it just… stuck with me. like a really persistent mosquito. and the weather? jesus. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 14.09 degrees, feels like 13.23, pressure 1019, humidity 64. feels like i’m breathing through a damp sponge. seriously.
Detroit. it’s… a lot. i’d been chasing this feeling, you know? the one where you stumble onto something genuinely raw. and honestly, it’s not pretty. it’s not polished. it’s like a really intense, slightly broken sculpture. i’m talking crumbling brick, graffiti that’s actually art (sometimes), and a whole lotta stories etched into the pavement.
I’m staying in a converted auto shop - seriously, it’s a garage. but a cool garage. it’s got exposed pipes, a massive workbench, and a surprisingly decent sound system. my gear list is basically just my camera, a notebook that’s already falling apart, and a healthy dose of cynicism.
Let’s talk about the people. the neighbors are… intense. if you get bored, *Ann Arbor is just a short drive away, apparently. I overheard a guy at the bar - he was wearing a Led Zeppelin t-shirt and nursing a whiskey - telling me that the whole city is basically one giant, extended art project. ‘It’s a reclamation,’ he slurred, ‘a second chance.’ Someone told me that the best place to get a decent pastrami is at Manny’s Deli, but I’m taking that with a mountain of salt. I heard that the Detroit Institute of Arts has a seriously impressive collection, though. check it out: https://www.dia.org/.
I spent yesterday wandering around the Eastern Market. it’s insane. like, a total sensory overload. vendors hawking everything from fresh produce to vintage clothing to weird, hand-carved trinkets. I snagged a ridiculously oversized scarf - it’s probably going to take up half my suitcase, but it’s perfect.
Then there’s the music scene. it’s… thriving. underground, gritty, and unapologetically Detroit. I caught a show at the Magic Stick - a tiny, dive bar with a surprisingly energetic crowd. the band was playing some kind of industrial-tinged noise rock. it was… a lot.
I’m trying to capture the feeling, you know? the juxtaposition of decay and creativity. the sadness and the hope. it’s hard to describe. it’s like trying to bottle lightning. I’m also trying to avoid getting completely lost.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I’ve been up to:
*Photography: Mostly just wandering and shooting. trying to find the light, you know?
*Food: Pastrami at Manny’s (maybe), some surprisingly good tacos from a food truck downtown.
*Music: The Magic Stick, a few smaller venues in the warehouse district.
*General Chaos:* Getting lost, arguing with my GPS, questioning all my life choices.
Seriously, check out Yelp for some local eats: https://www.yelp.com/. And TripAdvisor for the museums: https://www.tripadvisor.com/.
I’m heading out to explore the Heidelberg Project tonight. apparently, it’s a massive outdoor art installation created by Tyree Guyton. someone told me it’s a testament to the resilience of the community. I’m hoping it’s as wild as the rumors suggest.
Honestly, this place is a mess. a beautiful, complicated, heartbreaking mess. and i wouldn’t have it any other way.
Oh, and one last thing: if you’re looking for a decent coffee shop, try Slow Point. they make a mean pour-over. https://slowpointcoffee.com/
Okay, I need more coffee. And maybe a nap.
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