Welcome! I decided to start a new blog, one that lends itself to easier daily writing. Let it never be said that when I present myself with a challenge, I will find a way to half-ass it.
So here's how it works. I've always loved the book/movie High Fidelity. I've always felt that I was an amalgamation 0f the three men who work in the record store. One of my favorite things to do when talking to people is to do Top 5 lists. It's a great way to learn more about people. I thought it would be a fun excercise to try and put together a different top 5 list every day. Some will be inspired by something going on in my life and some will seem to come from nowhere. Please submit your suggestions as I'm going to keep a running list that I can go to when I'm drawing a blank. So here goes.
I was talking with a friend today and I was talking about having just returned home from a long weekend in Detroit. Since getting engaged, it seems that every holiday weekend that we have is used as an opportunity to head home and accomplish something for the wedding. I always love going home and I'm getting more and more excited to move back after the wedding and start contributing to the renaissance in Detroit. My friend asked me, beyond my family, what I love so much about Detroit. I decided that would make a great first list.
Top 5 Things I Love About Detroit
1. The Food
Detroit has some great local cuisine. I always wind up gaining weight when I'm home because I have so many places I want to hit up so I wind up eating an extra meal or a big snack everyday. I've gotten it pretty under control though. Some foods just feel like home. This weekend I was at the local fruit market getting some stuff for a dinner for my mom and being saturday, they had tons of samples and one was Coney Dogs made with a National Coney Island kit. I had one bit and thought to myself "That almost makes me want to walk away from my lease."
2. The spirit of resilience
Detroit has clearly had more than it's share of problems for years now. I've always admired that "Never say die" attitude of the people of Detroit. They just keep living and trying to make their city great even when everyone else has written it off.
3. The Art Scene
There's so much unappreciated art in the city. Everyone knows about the music scene thanks to the White Stripes, The Von Bondies, and others, but there's even more great art in Detroit. Theatre, Music, Comedy, Dance, etc. are all there, although many are greatly underrepresented. Take theatre for example. I studied acting in Detroit and there is still a small (but wonderful) collective of small theatres doing really great and interesting things. I'm really excited to get back there.
4. It's Home.
I'm a firm believer that home is where the people you love is. Chicago is home for me currently cause it's where I am and it's where my future wife is. But Detroit, that's really home. It's a place that's been drawing me back more and more every time I visit.
5. Kroger!
You guys, this place has the best Shells and Cheddar macaroni and cheese you've ever had. I rarely return from a trip home without 3-4 boxes in my suitcase. I can't wait for Kroger to be my grocery store again.
