Blogs are a funny thing.  I always wonder if I should start off where I left off or if I should just start babbling about something new and random.  The way my mind works is like a drama – not a sitcom.  Most sitcoms don't flow with storylines that play off of the week before – or the previous episode, whenever that was.  Dramas on the other hand - like everyone's guilty secret, "Gossip Girl" – have to pick up where they left off.  Not to say I think my life in Downtown Detroit is so dramatic and suspenseful, but it's just the way my organized mind thinks.  And so as I begin this blog, I will again revert to picking up where I left off… 

So, my last blog ended with me saying that next up on my calendar was sleep!  I did manage to get a lot of rest last week and weekend, but I didn't stay in and watch the world go by completely.  Friday night was a quiet night in for the most part.  I know – what do you care about that???  Well, as always there is bound to be some humor, excitement or drama when you live downtown.  Tonight was no different.  Fortunately it was just a little humor – not enough to disrupt my chill.  As I'm nice and relaxed, sprawled on the couch I begin to hear some shouting outside.  Of course, I have to make my way over to the window to take a peek – guess I'm just nosy.  Call me neighborhood watch!  Anyway, I discovered that when times are tough, people get really creative trying to make ends meet.  I look out and see this guy using the free street-side parking as his own personal parking lot – like he's the attendee.  He's shouting at cars and guiding them to empty spaces as other cars pull out.  Then when the occupants get out of the car, he tries to get paid!!!!!  Of course, most people just brushed him off and he moved on to the next space to open up and tried again.  This went on for a while, until at what point I can only guess he moved on to another street where there was more turnover.  I think the people who tipped him were probably afraid he would mess up their car if they didn't.  If you've been one of these drivers, let me assure you that he didn't harm one car out there!!  Watching this guy I could only laugh at his hustle.  Detroit is no different than any other big city – which is not much different than a 24-7 stage play.  There are all types of characters.  I actually enjoy these experiences as much as those of sitting in a neighborhood bar, meeting another Downtown resident and learning about what makes them passionate about Detroit.

On Saturday, some of my girlfriends drove down to my place where we all met up and headed for Windsor.  Our main purpose for heading over there was to check out the Carousal on the River Festival.  It's a multi-cultural festival with foods from all different ethnicities and music.  We didn't know what to expect, but why not???  I think that most people who grew up here don't think much about having Canada right there – almost like it's just another suburb of Detroit that's just a pain to get to.  I have a different perspective in that I've only lived here for just over a year.  First, living Downtown makes it seem so easy to get there.  Just two minutes to the tunnel and you're on your way.  I guess if you have to drive a ways to get to Detroit and then get over to Windsor it may be a different story.  In reality though, the process of getting over there's not really that big of a pain.  You can still get over and back with just a driver's license.  Usually, it's a bigger pain getting back.  For example, don't try to get back an hour before a Lions, Tigers or Red Wings game.  There are lots of Canadians who come over for these events and being stuck in the tunnel behind them all is no walk in the park – especially if you're claustrophobic!  Let me tell you why living so close to Windsor is a cool thing.  From leaving my place, I can be across the border and through the checkpoint in twenty minutes if there's no traffic.  This was the case last weekend.  Once we got there, we decided to explore before going to the festival.  Well – we wanted a pedicure, which forced us to explore to find a location.  We ended up at the Devonshire Mall.  Several hours later we had perfect toes and purchases from stores that none of the U.S. malls carry.  The rate of exchange now is 1 to 1, so it was easy.  It may just be Windsor, but think about it - it's still a foreign country, with different currency, different retail and different rules.  That's pretty cool that we have this opportunity to escape our realities – if only for a day – and be a foreigner in someone's land.  Granted it's not like going to Paris or even Montreal, but it's something that most Americans can't do just because they're bored and want to spend the day in another country.  Anyway, we did finally get to the festival.  It was nice and laid back – kind of like Canada itself.  I love the view of Detroit from Windsor's riverfront.  Every time I go there I just spend a lot of time – oddly enough – soaking Detroit in!!!  I always imagine what it would be like if I lived on the river in Windsor and looked out of my high rise apartment window to see Detroit every day.  It's such an impressive skyline with the river shining in front of it.  I try to see it how others might.

The last thing we did on our Windsor adventure was go in to Caesars Windsor.  Because it was right there we decided to walk in and check it out.  I have to say it was really impressive – but in a different way than the casinos in Detroit.  Right in the middle of the front area was a wide-open, raised up bar and lounge with a small stage above (and behind) it.  There was a really good band putting out classic party music.  Not a bad spot to stop by for cocktails next time you're in Windsor.  Supposedly they have a few different bands that go through there and they're all supposed to be hot.  The main entrance was so grand!  They have a huge lineup of great acts coming to their theatre, so I know we'll be back.  One of the security people told us the Chris Rock show sold out in 20 minutes!  I think this place will be jumping after the official grand opening.  Best part about Caesars Windsor - it was so refreshing to walk out of a casino and not smell like smoke!!

Aside from my day in Windsor, I really didn't do anything other than relax for days on end last week.  It was definitely a challenge to hear all of the people and cars outside, knowing how much fun there was to be had, but a girl's gotta rest!  Stay tuned to my next blog to hear about my shopping spree at Studio Couture Downtown on Woodward Ave and my Wine Tasting Experience (and first visit) at The Whitney on Woodward.     

-Heather

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