7.19.11 - From the Forest City to the Motor City

As if hosting last night's screening wasn't enough, Mark and his wife Patti provide us with a delicious breakfast and access to what is no doubt one of the world's nicest showers first thing this morning before they head off to work. We run into our new Tremont friends in the park, the Filmmobile is a hot topic of conversation at Civilization, strangers pop their heads in to ask what's up with the big blue bus while we're sitting inside catching up on emails, and the folks at the Ukrainian Museum-Archives give us a personal tour. Never before have we been so instantly integrated into a community. And the rest of the city is no different: the waiter and the regular at the counter at the Western Market Cafe strike up conversations, the awesome people at Spaces activate the video vault and Rainbow Lightning for us even though they're in the midst of de-installing a show. At the Salvation Army thrift store across from the Agora Theater on Euclid Street, the salesladies couldn't be more patient as I try on every pair of vintage sunglasses on display at the front counter. The whole city is alive with possibility and positive energy.
There's a different kind of energy in Detroit and you feel it as soon as that Motor City USA vat comes into view at the side of the freeway. Driving down wide, wide Woodward Street (five lanes of traffic on each side of the street!) both sides of the American dream are everywhere in evidence, dazzling the eye and boggling the mind. Just outside the city, in Ferndale, live our friends Mike D., Marie and their young daughters. I've known Mike for years and he's always been an ardent supporter of underground and indie music through his massive collection and his radio show Skrockin' Yer Butow on 89.3 WHFR.fm Dearborn/Detroit. The three of us head over to the station where The Here and Now tape a late night interview and acoustic hobo rock set and treat our favorite DJ to dinner afterwards at Famous Hamburger in Dearborn, home of Henry Ford and the largest population of Arab Americans for a city of its size.  Famous Hamburger, originally called Little White Castle, was started in Lebanon after its owner returned from an inspiring trip to the US. In 1989, the man emigrated to Detroit, changed the name to Famous Hamburger and voila! a fast food empire was born. Now that's American!