The morning began at around 8:00 a.m. with city, state and company leaders assembling at the GM Promenade. It was pretty hot out even at that early hour so I grabbed a table with the sun at my back (beter for photos). I sat at the table with John Stroh and his son, devouring the fresh fruit and pastries, in good view of the speakers which included the Conservancy’s head officers; Faye Nelson, President & CEO; Matt Cullen, Co-Chair, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy; Derrick Miller, Co-Chair, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy; and David Page, Chairman.

As there is already $250 million raised from Ford, GM, Toyota, Stroh, Kresge etc etc, as expected there were many “thank yous” offered up. But there was a thorough progress report as well, with mention of the conversion of the Dequindre Cut into a safe and usable passage from the city’s center to the riverfront.

Around the buffet table areas were architectural renderings of the various promenades and pavillions built or soon to be completed. [I will post all of my photos HERE (Flickr site)]

The water carousel which is located just at the end of the walkway leading upriver from the Ren-Cen is well underway. I met up with Harriet Saperstein, a longtime riverfront activist, who was equally optimistic about the progress. She said she’s been waiting 40 years for this…

More details about the conservancy’s plans can be found HERE.

Community donations in the form of Inscribed Bricks & Pavers are available – I plan to have my club’s brick ordered soon.

Starting at 1:00 pm at the Ambassador Bridge, they make their way to the finish-line near Windsor’s Dieppe Park. 2,000 horsepower… think about it, makes those sports car engines on the Dream Cruise look like rubberband toys…

Wade captains the MAGNETIC, and since we’ll be playing petanque that Saturday along the river (at the GM Promenade) he’ll pass close by and sound a friendly toot-toot to the members. Good Luck Captain Streeter!

(photos from Boatnerd – thanks!)

A picture says a thousand words – and this trio of hideous but wonderous creatures roamed the festival – to my delight, and my wife, Denise’s horror they grasped my hand and pulled me along with them for a little way. Their long tongues moved suggestively over the unwitting art perusers, dripping what I could only hope was water upon hapless passersby’s legs and hands (including yours truly).

The sandcastle crafters are there as well, creating a Lewis Carroll (Through the Looking Glass) masterpiece in sand while alongside their space, children can create their own sandbox castles…

Give them a try, parking is relatively easy, with Wayne University structures readily available. Oh yes, and bring some money for the FANTASTIC kettle-corn (or is it Kettle-Korn)… I advise the LARGE bag…

Living in what seemed like an eternal darkness for a month, the sky over Detroit has opened up with our friendly orb — The Sun. If you don’t believe me, take a peek outside – and if you’re reading this about 30 minutes too late… well, sorry, but there is a photograph of The Sun (posted below) to console you.

I park my car on Cobo Roof all-year round. Though it’s great that Detroit can host big events like the 2006 Auto Show; the Cobo Superbowl Experience, and the XL-Superbowl — the city needs to plan a bit better. The parking structures of this city do not easily encompass both the regular working people AND event participants & set-up crews. If you want to show the world that you can handle professional events smoothly, then you’ll have to take into consideration not only the event’s location, but how all of the people will get there, park, and then eventually leave in an orderly fashion.

When you consider that for the most part, people who attend these huge Detroit events don’t even LIVE in Detroit, then you need to realize that in the middle of the winter, they’re not going to want to walk 5 miles from available parking, nor do Detroit workers want to wake up at 4 in the morning to honk and jockey and get half-crazed in order to get a parking space.

Have a great New Year’s Eve everyone (especially our Detroit Metro-Bloggers) – and make sure that if you drink, you’ll have someone else do the driving.

This German design company has devised an interesting – but somewhat frightening solution for those of us who have a great apartment – but a lousy view. The mobile space extension for city apartments is basically a device which is supported completely within your apartment, but which can extend a beam out your window, and then you, strapped to a metal chair, slide out – along the beam – for a better view of your surroundings.

Of course… I’m not sure what health/safety codes this will violate (if anyone catches you) – but it’ll sure be an entertaining centerpiece for those drab Holiday-end parties…