Made In Michigan: Downtown Detroit

Today is the first post for my Made in Michigan posts that will run on Thursdays throughout 2013. I'm starting with Detroit. Just saying the word evokes all kinds of images, instantly. Mostly they are bad but people forget about what made Detroit the Paris of the West as D.E. Johnson puts it in his books about Detroit in turn of the century when dozens of companies were building cars.

Pregame show before Little Caesar's Bowl

While some of that glitz and glamour is gone, the energy is still there. Last week we were in downtown to watch the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl with Central Michigan University playing Western Kentucky. We walked around down town from our hotel by the Renaissance Center to Ford Field where the game was played. We saw lots of people ice skating on an outdoor rink lite with Christmas lights.

It is hard to see skaters on right side.

There were lots of people downtown for a variety of events including wrestling and the Greek Town casinos. It was fun and safe. It can be dangerous in Detroit like any city people prey on the weak but we weren't stupid advertising to be robbed and I never felt vulnerable like I have in some cities.

If you are looking for a stay-cation or a quick weekend trip, check out downtown Detroit. It has so much to offer!

Thursdays in 2013 Feature Michigan Gems

Today is the last Thursday of 2012. I’ve been thinking about doing something on my blog that doesn’t necessarily have to do with writing books but talks about what is important to me.  I’ve decided that on each Thursday of 2013, I will put something on my blog about Michigan.

I write my Mitch Malone Mystery Series about crime beat reporter Mitch Malone who lives in Grand River, Michigan, which is laid out very similarly to Grand Rapids, Michigan. I’ve lived and visited in other places, but Michigan is always home. It has so much to offer.

Michigan is also going through a rebirth if you will. It was hit hard by the recession because the state has always relied heavily on the auto industry to provide great jobs for their workers. Many of those jobs and companies are gone. We are coming back but not fast enough. 

When people think of Michigan, they think of Detroit which is a life force for the state but is having its own struggles. I just spent the last 24 hours in Detroit and it has so much to offer which I will talk about in later posts. 

However, Michigan is much more than Detroit. It is white sand beaches. It is national forests. It is eagles’ majestic flights. It’s cool cities and fun times.  Stay tuned and see what we have to offer!