Kidnapped To Detroit

Rapid Growth's sister publication ModelD was holding its Next Big Thing 300th Issue Anniversary Party in Detroit this past Friday. RG's Managing Editor Juliet Bennett Rylah and Lifestyle Editor Tommy Allen had plans to head to the D for this event, and had 2 extra passes ($35 event).

"C'mon Jeff, come with us." Kidnapped!

Luckily I had my camera in my bag to take with me.

In typical Detroit rogue fashion, this event was being held at the (vacant) David Whitney Building, an 18 story Daniel Burnham designed fortress in the heart of downtown Detroit. Interestingly, Occupy Detroit was camped out (literally, in tents) in the park across the street.

The beautiful terra cotta building is highlighted by a grand 4 story atrium in the center. Despite having no heat and no running water apparently (there were heated outhouses stationed outside the building), the Slow's BBQ and Mac-n-Cheese comfort foods, open bar with specialty drinks and throngs of people kept things warm. Mostly.

**insert heart-thumping house music**

I cared more about the architecture and artistic elements than the crowd, frankly.

The space hosted a variety of "street art," both created for the event (by Street Culture Mash artist Mike Han) and already existing.

What's interesting is that it reminded me strangely of our Nosh Night Sketch Off event last year, in McKay Tower (Grand Rapids):


Being cold and jostled around in a mass of people gets old after a while (we were bored), so Tommy recommended we head over to Cafe D'Mongos, an historic speakeasy about a block away. There we listened to some great live piano jazz, barbecued soul food including collared greens, and got totally absorbed into the overstuffed chairs and overpacked walls.

Look at those lovely hipsters (I mean, my lovely teammates!)

From there Juliet found out that a friend of hers, who is on the legal team for Insane Clown Posse, was hanging out with friends at a karoake bar in Ferndale. I didn't manage to get any pictures, but the night did take a turn for the better, including a really really bad version of Counting Crows' "Round Here" (not by anyone in our party), discussions of an old mining town in Pennsylvania that has had underground fires for over 40 years, and porn star conventions in New Jersey.

Thank you Detroit. I have yet to have a bad time in your grand old city.