Since moving into my condo on the riverfront last December, I have been preparing for the masses of fish flies that are notorious for covering the streets – and everything else that gets in the way – when they make their yearly decent into the areas that lie near Lake St. Clair.

I realize that fish flies are the worst in Saint Clair Shores, the Grosse Pointe communities, and Anchor Bay area, but thought I would get at least a smattering of them, since my condo is only about a 100 yards from the Detroit River – and not that far east from the lake.

Instead, I got nothing (my balcony did become a temporary home in June for about 100 japanese beetles every night at dusk, though).

Did I happen to miss the fish flies all together or is the fish fly phenomenon a thing of the past?

I stopped in late Saturday night to make a deposit at Greektown Casino. Being that I am Chippewa Indian it feels a little strange to leave money at the tables knowing that eventually it will make its way into my families pocket. After wandering through the slots and watching the excitment at the craps tables I became thirsty. I remembered Jeremy Paweleks simple comment on “Detroit with New Orleans Flava”. I have walked many times over Fishbones and have never stopped in to eat, or listen. I have only “stole” a couple bars or maybe a song from a few floors up the waterfall. This was the perfect time to check this place out. I have been missing out on a great taste of New Orleans right here in Detroit. We were able to get a quick taste of some food and quench our thirst with some drinks before the band finished their last set. One tune that I caught was a very well done cover of Dave Matthews Jimi Thing. Perfect timing on the cover due to the recent announcement that DMB are coming back to town (thanks Girl.in.the.D). And anyone that is coming to town for the Super Bowl must stop into Greektown to gamble and Fishbones to eat and drink!

I finally had dinner at Slows Bar BQ last night. All I can say is yum! Only open a little over a week, they are still working the kinks out but the food is incredible.
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Last night, I attend an opening party for a soon-to-be reopened restaraunt near WSU. I say soon-to-be as there is still work to be on the place but when it opens it will be amazing! The food alone was incredible – all prepared by the executive chef on a small camp-like stove. I can only imagine he can do on a real stove.

Two years ago, I saw the best concert I have ever seen in my life. It was Dave Matthews Band, and it was at The Palace. Neil Young came out half-way into the show as a surprise guest, and if that wasn’t enough to have me screaming non-stop for five minutes straight, the duo went on to play a 14- or 15-minute rendition of “All Along the Watchtower”. I just kept saying, Is this for real?!

I have seen Dave eight times – both in MI and in other states – and never grow tired of him or his eclectic band. I do have to admit, though – as much as I enjoy the band, I was getting a little ticked off that the South African-native hadn’t made a stop in the Detroit area this year.
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So still wondering what to do tonight? Why not go to the Well for Orange Areola’s first Detroit gig? Time – I think 11pm but not positive…

If I can find the energy, I may even wander over.

Update: Oops.. this is Saturday night at 10:30pm…

I needed to take 96 out of Detroit on Thursday night and I was impressed beyond belief. I had abandoned this highway for 94 at the beginning of the summer because of construction. Normally road construction around here means a few feet of smoothness followed by stretches of untouched road. 96 is now just the opposite. I was gliding along stretches of perfect highway with minute stretches of road that had not been touched. The onramp from 94 was most impressive. Before, you had to balance your vehicle on inches wide strips of road surface to avoid the hundreds of potholes. Aside from nearly drowning in the rain water pools during the downpour, driving was heaven. Smoothness of 96 or Blue Bridges of 94 . . . a really tough decision I have to make tonight :0)

I am hanging around the Orlando airport waiting to return to Detroit. I have quite a bit of time to kill so it is a good thing this place is like a mall. Stores galore! And free wifi!

It is sad how dependent we are on items like laptops and cell phones. At security, the man in front of me simply told the person on the other line “Hold on a minute”, placed his in service cell phone on the belt, and resumed the conversation as soon as the phone came through the belt. I had never seen that before.

I can not wait to return to Detroit. Orlando is nice but I hate humidity. I am looking forward to some nice cool breezes.

I had merely heard rumors that a certain Metroblogger was to appear in the September issue of Hour Detroit. Yesterday as I was waiting in a sales office the issue with Mayoral candidates on the front caught my eye. Amidst the ads I found a page dedicated to Detroit photographers who display their works on Flickr. Congratulations on the mentions MGAL and URBAN TIKI. Your work deserves it. Unfortunately you will have to go find a hard copy of this magazine to read the article but you can find their pictures on Flickr.

While walking to the Renaissance Center, I passed by the riverfront construction activity taking place along Atwater Street (between the GM Promenade and Hart Plaza). These v-e-r-y long piers were recently pulled from the riverbed to be replaced by new ones. The history of these piers, with regard to Detroit is very interesting.

In the early 1800