Visit Detroit

Detroit – is a place for lovers, friends, sisters and bothers, uncles and cousins, family, growth, change, acceptance, fear, style, class, fun, amusement, music, dance, bars, restaurants, bikes, cars, the future and the past.

I like to start with a random train of thought and then play off of it.  For today’s blog I want to write about Detroit. Not unlike what I do most days, but today I want to write about the city and the people that come here.  Working in the Welcome Center I meet new people every day, people who come to Detroit because they’ve heard good things, or bad things, and want to check them out.  In the Welcome Center in just over a year, we’ve had all of these people come in to see us

How great is that?! And of course that isn’t everyone, those are just the people that we’ve remembered to ask to put a pin in the map (sometimes I forget to ask, since the map isn’t facing the store anymore).  Point of the picture is to show you that people from all over are showing up and stopping into Detroit. They are asking questions, learning things and just generally curious about what it’s like in the city.  I just spent the past 20 minutes helping 2 German tourists find some pretty cool things to do in while they stay in Detroit for 2 more days.  Pretty exciting stuff!

I also, thanks to some pretty outgoing friends of mine, had the pleasure to meet Darren who is doing a Baseball Biking Tour.  He is 144 days into a bike tour of all the Major League Stadiums in the country. He came to Detroit the day before yesterday from Toronto, and stayed with some friends of mine.  He then needed a place closer to Tigers Stadium to crash for the night.  I gladly excepted before checking with any of my roommates, I love meeting new people and love even more when they have something to do with biking.   So yesterday Darren and my friend Dave stopped into the Welcome Center, Darren wanted to leave his packs somewhere while they went out to tour around Detroit and during the Tigers Game.  Darren unloaded his very minimally packed saddle bags, and Dave unlocked my bike.  Dave, having never ridden a fixed gear bike, wanted to show Darren around.  Their plan was to check out the Riverwalk, then head out to Mudgies Deli for an amazing lunch, then to stop by and check out old Tigers Stadium, where Dave is very happy and proud to be a part (maybe a leader) of the constant clean up crew that helps keep that space clean.   Then they came back to the Welcome Center, so Dave could go to the dentist and Darren could go and get some work done.  I sent Darren to Volt where he could have a beer while surfing the web.

And then they were gone.  I was a little sad to see my bike back after having an adventure without me…  It was weird to think that while I was sitting here my bike was out there touring Detroit with a man who’s touring all over the country and then some.  But as always my adventure continued, I spent the next few hours helping some Italians try and find a hotel, I sold one of my favorite photographs to a man who said he was “tired of seeing it on our wall and not his” and just working on a newsletter to send out to you today.

But then at 6pm, I logged myself out of the computer, left my backpack with Darren’s stuff headed home really quick to eat a bit more and then head back to the Tigers game with Martin.  Before I even knew that Darren was coming to Detroit, I had made plans with my brother to go to the game with him.  His best friend left today to go study abroad in Argentina for four months, and this was his going away party. So we met my brother and 8 of  his friends at the game, went in, had the $8 beer and $6.50 nacho’s with jalapeno’s (my favorite reason to go to sporting events!). We watched the game and eventually Dave and JD (his girlfriend, one of my best friends and an amazing designer) showed up, Darren was being interviewed by Fox Sports and they wanted to give him some space, so they came and hung out with us.  Even though the Tigers lost, it was a pretty amazing night.  The weather was great, the company superb, even the kids screaming behind us when the marquee said “Make some noise”  were really cute.

Then after the game we waited by the giant Tiger Statue, meet up with Dave, JD and Darren, said goodbye to my brother and his friends, unlocked our bikes and headed to the Welcome Center to pick up Darren’s bags.  It was a surprisingly nice night to ride a bike home, normally I hate trying to avoid motorists leaving Tigers Stadium, but it wasn’t that bad last night. A few times I had to go around cars on the sidewalk, but nothing to terrible.  We made it home and ended up talking about traveling, Martin and Darren talked about fresh powder, to which I could not chime in as I am still a newbie when it comes to snow sports. We talked for a while about just random things.  One of my roommates is currently touring on his bike up around the thumb area of Michigan, so we talked about riding and touring, and Darren’s lack of ‘stuff’ for being 144 days into a bike road trip.  He didn’t need much, sleeps on concrete when it’s convenient, sleeps in motels and with friends when concrete isn’t around.  Just a pair of street clothes, riding clothes, rain clothes and when it’s right he can also pull out his hammock.  I’ve seen seasoned backpackers carry more than Darren did.  Really impressive. We eventually all decided to go to bed, we had all had enough fun for the day.

This morning Martin got up so he could go train on his bike, Darren ate a Cliff Bar so he could start his trip to Chicago, I forgot to eat my bagel which is currently still sitting in the toaster oven.  We chatted, had a friend take a photo of the 3 of us, a tradition that Darren has after crashing at someone’s place. Then both boys took their bikes and left, leaving my dog Jake and I to sit on the stoop in our little house in Woodbridge and contemplate what just happened.  Jake looked like he was contemplating more than I was, I sometimes get distracted by shiny objects.

With a little luck and some really good friends, we were just a part of history.  The history of biking, of Detroit, of The Tigers, of Major League Baseball, of the many amazing couch surfers we’ve had stay with us.

Detroit does that to you, one day you’ll find that you are just hanging out, thinking you’re doing nothing special, and the next day you’ll realize that you were a part of history.

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Scavenge Detroit – Press Release!

ScavengeDetroitPressRelease

Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser Wants You to Find What You’ve Been Missing in Detroit

DETROIT (August 26, 2011) – Think you know Detroit? Inside Detroit wants you to prove it. On October 1^st they will be hosting a large-scale scavenger hunt that will let you test your Detroit knowledge and enhance it at the same time.

Scavenge Detroit  (Scavenge [skav-inj]: To search for valuable material among that which has been discarded) is about finding value in Detroit though many have discarded it. Teams of 4 will ditch the cars and hit the streets of Downtown Detroit to answer clues about Detroit’s assets: from small businesses to big landmarks and everything in between.

This 50-clue scavenger hunt will be unlike any other scavenger hunt around! You won’t be solving math problems. You won’t have to tie a bow on a chair with your teeth. Instead, you and your friends will scour Downtown to find answers that relate to Detroit’s history, culture and community. You’ll use your knowledge of the city to get to as many clues as possible in 2 hours. It’s more than a scavenger hunt; it’s a two-hour deep dive into Detroit details that you’ve probably never noticed.

The registration fee for a team of 4 is $100 before September 15^th and $120 after.  Registration includes souvenir drawstring backpack full of goodies, food and entertainment at the After Party at Hard Rock Café and a chance to win $500 in gift certificates to Detroit’s best restaurants and shops. The Hunt begins at 3 p.m. outside of the Hard Rock Café in Detroit followed by an after-party at 5 p.m. For more information visit InsideDetroit.org.

“Whether you’ve been in Detroit a day or a lifetime, this event will have you discovering the city in a whole new way,” said Maureen Kearns, co-founder and director at Inside Detroit. “Not only will everyone have fun but they’ll find a new appreciation for what’s in their own backyard.”

The fundraiser will benefit Inside Detroit and their Downtown Welcome Center. As the only Welcome Center downtown, it has over 1,000 visitors each month and features locally-made products from Detroit entrepreneurs. The event is made possible by the generous contributions from Quicken Loans, Hard Rock Café, Text Ripple, Detroit 2020 WXYZ Channel 7, The Metro Times and the Detroit People Mover.

Inside Detroit is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to utilize an insider’s perspective and passion to educate the public about Detroit’s history, culture, community and livability, in order to spur economic development.

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Security Excercises on the Detroit Riverfront Aug 22-23!

MEDIA ADVISORY

CITY OF DETROIT AND U.S. COAST GUARD TO HOLD ANNOUNCEMENT AUG. 22 REGARDING INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EXERCISE ON DETROIT RIVER

More than 60 U. S. and Canadian agencies at the federal, state, and local levels will take part in a full-scale international security exercise on August 23-24 along the Detroit River from Trenton to Detroit and Windsor.
WHAT:  Detroit River Readiness 2011 Full-Scale Exercise Announcement
WHEN:  Monday, August 22, 3 p.m.
WHO:  Daryl Lundy, City of Detroit Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director
Captain Jeff Ogden, U.S. Coast Guard

WHERE:  Milliken State Park, located at Atwater at Riopelle
For more information, contact Pam Shivers, City of Detroit Homeland Security Public Information Officer, at (313) 596-1646, or Lt. Justin Westmiller, USCG Exercise Public Information Officer, at (313) 701-6016.

THE CITY OF DETROIT AND U.S. COAST GUARD TO HOLD
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EXERCISE ALONG DETROIT RIVER AUGUST 23-24

The City of Detroit and the U.S. Coast Guard will work with more than 60 U.S. and Canadian agencies to stage an exercise on August 23-24 involving an explosion on the Detroit Princess boat, evacuation of passengers and an oil spill on the Detroit River.
The full-scale exercise involves U.S. and Canadian agencies at the federal, state, and local levels and will test and measure the Area Maritime Security Plan, contingency plans of participating agencies, and public information outreach.  Detroit River Readiness 2011 will take place along the Detroit River Corridor from Trenton to Detroit and Windsor.
The exercise begins around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 23, with an actual, controlled explosion and smoke coming from the Detroit Princess boat.

Passengers will be evacuated from the boat and transported to an emergency medical facility located at Milliken State Park.  The exercise will continue on August 24 as crews respond to an oil spill on the Detroit River.

Exercise organizers are asking media outlets to inform area residents about the exercise to minimize concerns about the explosion and subsequent smoke. Individuals with questions or concerns are encouraged to call (313) 567-3007.

Interagency coordination and communication will play key roles in the exercise’s success, as well as enhance readiness for future incidents. This exercise culminates from three years of planning to prepare the area maritime security committee members and surrounding communities to respond to all threats and hazards that may arise at anytime.
This exercise is NOT open to the public; however, media is invited to attend. Reporters will be able to cover the exercise from two locations:

• · At the scene of the incident with a viewing area set up in Milliken State Park, located at Atwater at Riopelle
• · From outside of the Port Authority Complex, located at 130 Atwater at Bates

For more information, contact Pam Shivers, City of Detroit Homeland Security Public Information Officer, at (313) 596-1646, or Lt. Justin Westmiller, USCG Exercise Public Information Officer, at (313) 701-6016.

THE CITY OF DETROIT AND U.S. COAST GUARD TO HOLD
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EXERCISE ALONG DETROIT RIVER AUGUST 23-24

The City of Detroit and the U.S. Coast Guard will work with more than 60 U.S. and Canadian agencies to stage an exercise on August 23-24 involving an explosion on the Detroit Princess boat, evacuation of passengers and an oil spill on the Detroit River.

The full-scale exercise involves U.S. and Canadian agencies at the federal, state, and local levels and will test and measure the Area Maritime Security Plan, contingency plans of participating agencies, and public information outreach.  Detroit River Readiness 2011 will take place along the Detroit River Corridor from Trenton to Detroit and Windsor.

The exercise begins around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 23, with an actual, controlled explosion and smoke coming from the Detroit Princess boat.  Passengers will be evacuated from the boat and transported to an emergency medical facility located at Milliken State Park.  The exercise will continue on August 24 as crews respond to an oil spill on the Detroit River.

Exercise organizers are asking media outlets to inform area residents about the exercise to minimize concerns about the explosion and subsequent smoke. Individuals with questions or concerns are encouraged to call (313) 567-3007.

Interagency coordination and communication will play key roles in the exercise’s success, as well as enhance readiness for future incidents. This exercise culminates from three years of planning to prepare the area maritime security committee members and surrounding communities to respond to all threats and hazards that may arise at anytime.

This exercise is NOT open to the public; however, media is invited to attend. Reporters will be able to cover the exercise from two locations:

• At the scene of the incident with a viewing area set up in Milliken State Park, located at Atwater at Riopelle
• From outside of the Port Authority Complex, located at 130 Atwater at Bates

For more information, contact Pam Shivers, City of Detroit Homeland Security Public Information Officer, at (313) 596-1646, or Lt. Justin Westmiller, USCG Exercise Public Information Officer, at (313) 701-6016.

Get to know Tour Guide Jon

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Detroit River Octopus

So I work at the Welcome Center Monday from 11am-6pm. It’s great, don’t get me wrong. I love meeting new people, telling them about great things to do in the city. But most of the time when I leave work, I’m fairly drained. I just want to go home and relax, the same with most people, I’m sure. But today was different. I went home and made myself go back out. I rode my bike down to the RiverWalk and met up with a friend. We talked about getting ice cream, but in the end decided not to, it’s just not the healthiest snack, and while I’m not really all about eating healthy, I did want to make my bike ride count.

So we continued down the river walk, to where the sculpture of the metal man is. I love that part of the RiverWalk, where the Dequindre Cut meets the river, where new meets old, where wetlands meet the city. It’s a beautiful mixture of past meets present meets our unlimited potential.

So, even under threat of rain, we parked our bikes and pulled out a box of chalk.

Just 4 sticks of yellow chalk and unlimited potential. So what did we do? We drew the Detroit River Octopus. 8 tentacles coming out of the water, crawling up on the land and bringing with it treasures from the deep. This octopus brought with it a sign that said “Detroit or Bust”.

He brought with him his teddy bear, no one should leave home without it.

He brought his fixed gear bike, a beautiful 1988 Cinelli Supercorsa Pista.

He brought a flower in case he found any really pretty Detroit gals.

He brought a can of PBR, so let’s face it, he belongs here.

And he brought with him something that no one should leave behind when coming to Detroit – he brought a little love. The love he plans to leave behind when he leaves this place, he’ll probably leave tonight since he’s not a big fan of the rain (I know, how weird that an octopus wouldn’t like the rain, but hey, he doesn’t. It’s his story, I’m just telling it).

If you happen to be on the RiverWalk in the next week or two and find some wild flowers, a teddy bear, or some love I hope you remember the time when you saw the Detroit River Octopus. If you find a bike or a PBR, make sure it doesn’t already have an owner. If it does, share with them the story of the Detroit River Octopus.

The Octopus who came from far away waters, because he heard stories of how amazing Detroit is. The Octopus who wanted to see what few have seen and tell others about it. He came to meet the people in Detroit who are making things happen, and did he meet some!

Vanessa and I told him about life and love in Detroit.  Why we came here, why we stayed.  We told him about friends and boyfriends found while riding bikes or while drinking some of Detroit’s freshest micro brew.  Mentors and leaders found next door.  I told him about living in Woodbridge and in Hubbard Farms.  Vanessa told him about living in Lafayette Park vs. living in the suburbs. We told him about all the amazing people who saw voids in this city and instead of just talking filled them.  The void of a Welcome Center in a city that desperately needed to welcome people. The void of a national cycling race – filled. The void of art spaces, local businesses, the empty corners that are now filled with gardens.  The city that was in need of a little love and the people who stepped up and loved it first.  The store owners who never left and thrive today.  The new businesses that see the unlimited potential and are moving down here to get prime space.  The restaurants built out of a passion and a dream.  The small brands that become national.

“What do you see yourself doing here in Detroit?” we asked.

He sat there and thought and thought and thought…

And then he said, “Do I have to give you an answer?”

“No, I guess not,” I replied, a little confused as to why he wouldn’t.

After a lot of awkward staring he finally answered with, “Well, you just said that Detroit is a place with endless possibilities, and if I give you an answer, I might get stuck with it.”

Heads tilt and eyes squint.

“I want to do everything and anything, I want to create, foster and realize whatever dreams I come up with. I want to wake up, remember the wildest parts of it, and make it in real life. I want to start a business, run a restaurant, build a house, clean a park and walk my dog, I mean I have 8 arms, I can do a lot of things at once. I want to wave at my neighbors, start a food truck, open a florist, help with a community garden, take a tour, ride in Critical Mass, see an idea pop up during a conference and see a press release about it being national news a few months later. I want to start a business with funding from a large company that only wants me to succeed, I want to be interviewed on the radio for doing something I believe in, I want to do it all!

You said there was no limit to what I can do here, so I don’t want to answer you with just one answer, I want to experience it all.”

Listening to his answer it felt to me like I was watching one of those Visit California ads, ski, hike, bike, swim, see movie stars. But it was all about Detroit. It was all about the things I’ve seen, done and also things I’ve dreamed. Somehow hearing it come from the Detroit River Octopus made me happy, made me wonder why I struggle to leave the house after a seven hour day. I live in an amazing city, full of potential, possibilities are endless, and the friends are plentiful.

So, I hope that you saw the Detroit River Octopus, but if you didn’t I hope you can still feel his love, see his flowers and find teddy bear shapes in the clouds… The feelings that he felt are real, they are all around you if you are in Detroit. They abound in this city, more than any city I’ve ever been in. The PBR’s are always cold and people are always riding their bikes. I hope that you’ve found part of the Detroit River Octopus, and if not, don’t stop looking. He’s around… And he’s worth finding.

See you soon Detroit River Octopus,

Erika Fulk
Inside Detroit Social Media / Marketing Coordinator