Today my dad and I went to Greektown Casino, and handed them our money :-D We went to have a good time, have some Greek food, and that's what we did, so no regrets.
Playing video poker and slots exclusively, we were up, we were down, and then we were busted. Seeing all the people that were there also handing there money to the casino, it's hard to believe that there's a recession going on (Michigan's a recession, baby, not just a "dip" or "downturn"). Unemployment rates are back to where they were when I graduated college, and was looking for my first job - boy, that was tough going.
Anyway, we left the casino and walked down Monroe Street, walking past the Golden Fleece, Astoria 
Bakery, Pizzapapalis, Pegasus, Partheon, Cypress Taverna, Plaka Coney Island - all the old places that haven't really changed too much - with the exception that the menus seemed to be a bit more Americanized than I remember. I was so happy to hear Greek music blasting down the street, that no one had thought it would be a good idea to modernize or Americanize that. I was having a real trip down memory lane, and the Lane suddenly turned into the on-ramp of a superhighway! Think of the scene in Clueless where Cher and Dionne accidentally merge onto the freeway in a convertible BMW with top down, screaming their heads off as a semi rams up their tail pipe. Why is that, you ask? I realized that it was THIRTY YEARS (30!) ago that I was reminiscing over. Somehow I've never really accepted the fact that I'm not in my twenties anymore - that I'm two decades over the 20's, so 30 years ago is a cruel expression.
When I was in junior high and high school, I had a best friend (there were 3-4 of us that were best, best friends) and she was Greek. Her uncle owned restaurants in Detroit, and we spent a lot of time in Greektown, and all over the city. The day I turned 16 (I'd already been driving for 2 years) I had my appointment with the Secretary of State for a driving test. With newly inked license in hand, I headed immediately to Detroit, and went shopping at Hudson's - the one and only Hudson's on Woodward. When they blew it up about 10 years ago to make room for something or other (luxury apartments, I think, which still haven't been built), I was so sad. There'll never be anything else like it.
I found a few sites that are worth visiting - here are the links and an excerpt from each.
If you’re a Detroiter, just because you’ve been living in Detroit all of your life doesn’t mean you know how the city got it’s start. For instance, did you know that Detroit was founded in 1701 by the French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac? Or that Detroit was Michigan’s capitol from 1837 to 1847? How about that Comerica Park had three other “names”: Tiger Stadium, Briggs Stadium and Navin Field?
Detroit is known for one of the most stunning collections of pre-depression architecture in the world. The past two decades have seen several of these treasures sit vacant, waiting for economic revival. On these pages you will find information about the past, present, and future situations of a few of these landmarks. It is my hope that this information helps you gain an appreciation for the importance of both the history and continued survival of these buildings.
You have found the detroitblog. This is about all things Detroit: things to do, places to see, people to know, from the East Side to West Side, and from downtown to the little neighborhoods. I love Detroit, even the old Detroit of blight, waste and emptiness. Hockeytown. Motown. I grew up here, had my best times here. It’s my home.
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