Monday, September 19, 2016

The Detroit News


Just got back from Detroit safe and sound. It was a wonderful trip -- just what the doctor (and my heart) ordered. Bill has a big day Thursday when they take tests to see if his cancer treatment is helping. If how he is feeling is any indication, it is indeed. The only way this trip could have been more perfect is if our brother Terence and sister Jenn could have come along. Here are some of my favorite memories from some of our old haunts. xo


Visiting the house where I was born in Madison Heights


At the Yates Cider Mill in Rochester Hills ...


No Madonna sightings ...


Billy and Mom kept their date for doughnuts and cider ...


We celebrated Gary's birthday in his hometown of Warren ...


And got together with Ted and Shirley and friend Liane for pizza at Buddy's. (Detroit-style, natch. Just like Emily Squared is copying in Brooklyn.)


Ted and Shirley were my mom and dad's upstairs neighbors in their first house in Ferndale, where they relocated after leaving D.C. when my brother Kevin died and Pottsville (Pa.) after my dad lost yet another job. Dad and Ted became friends when they worked together at General Motors, but when Dad had his brain injury, my stepfather and Ted became good friends too. We used to go to their big house on the lake in Utica to swim or toboggan when we were kids. Ted keeps promising home movies, which I would kill to see! 


My NYC friends Craig and Frank are now three years into living back in the Detroit area. We stayed one night at their beautiful home in Pleasant Ridge, then got together in Ferndale for dinner at Public House ...


Frank took us to Slows BBQ in Corktown on our first night, as well as Treat Dreams (Ferndale), Pronto (Royal Oak) and Menjos (Detroit). 


Walking Woodward ...

When Craig got back into town, we hit the DIY Ferndale Festival, The Whistle Stop (Pleasant Ridge). Soho (Ferndale) and Pronto again over the course of the weekend. (My childhood friend JR also joined us at Soho and Pronto on Saturday night, although Nina couldn't make it in from Chicago as planned because her car crapped out.)


Family time at the hotel ...


Detroit is down, but its "Spirit" is still kicking ... 


My mom's third place in Ferndale -- and the first house Bill remembers -- where my brother Terence came home from Martin Place Hospital in Madison Heights back in 1965 ...


We stopped by my brother Jacqueline's wife's childhood home in Grosse Pointe Park (she lived there for three years in elementary school) then headed over for dessert at the nearby Sanders. (You haven't lived until you've tried their Bumpy Cake!)


Drama Queens: Re-enacting the time my brother Terence was stung by a bee on his ear when he was a little boy when my parents took us to the exciting and glamorous new International House of Pancakes in Berkley!


This is the inside of what used to be Village Racquet Club, where I spent a huge amount of my Michigan youth playing tennis. 


Willow Hill: The townhouse on 13 Mile Road in Madison Heights my mom and Gary bought around the time my sister Jennifer was born ...


Hiller Bums: This was our second elementary school, having gone to Roosevelt when we lived off Lincoln between Dequindre and John R. Bill quickly moved to John Page Junior High, but that didn't stop him from writing the infamous "Shape Up, Hiller!" op-ed that got The Hiller News shut down by my principal! 


Bill and his wife, Jacqueline. Our entire family is so grateful she is by Bill's side during this difficult time. Even if she weren't his wife, there's truly no one I can think of who I'd rather have as his advocate -- she's knows her stuff.


Belle Isle is looking gorgeous again -- the fountain got a major face-lift -- and you can't beat its spectacular view of downtown, the Ambassador Bridge and Windsor ...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to hear the GOOD NEWS for Bill....Glad that he is feeling well....

Frank Anthony Polito said...

So enjoyed having you guys visit! Wish you were here more often.