He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Wild At Heart
Well, it’s getting to that time when the last show is right around the corner. This Saturday (10/02), I will be hosting my final show of Wild At Heart on the airwaves of WXOU 88.3FM (www.wxou.org). I hope everyone can tune in. I don’t really have anything special planned in terms of music, but I might have an interview with RA Mihailoff talking about the new slasher film Hatchett II (to be reviewed here next week).
As my time here in Detroit gets shorter, I am still trying to experience as much of the city as possible. My most recent thing was a tour of the Detroit Yacht Club which is the private marina and sailing club in located on its own island off of Belle Isle in the Detroit River between the MacArthur Bridge and the DTE generating plant. The DYC clubhouse is a beautifully restored 1920s Mediterranean-style villa that holds the distinction of being the largest yacht club in the United States. The origin of the club goes back to the 1870’s, though the current building was built in 1923 by George Mason (the same architect who designed the Grand Hotel, GEM Theatre and Detroit Masonic Temple among other buildings in the area). The facility includes 2 pools (with Pewabic tiles), a large trophy room and a grand ballroom and is open for membership for interested parties and you don’t need a boat. On the tour I went on, they gave us a nice buffet to snack on which included meatballs and some wonderful desserts. If you are looking for a club to join, you can contact Jack Lyon by phone (313-824-1200 x233) or email (membership@dyc.com). At the club, you can even take lessons on how to race a yacht.
Also, mentioning the Grand Hotel, it is time for Part II of my trip to the Upper Peninsula. Day 2 saw me wake up to catch an early morning ferry courtesy of Shepler’s Mackinaw Island Ferry service. The ride going over was a bit bumpy but not that bad as we got up close to the Mackinaw Bridge before heading over. We had a great view of the island including the Grand Hotel and the two light houses in the bay.
Upon landing, I walked around a bit including going through the Biddle House and Mission Church and some local stores before getting on my carriage tour of the island which included stops at the Wings Of Mackinaw Butterfly Conservatory, scenic Arch Rock, Fort Mackinaw and Grand Hotel. The ride itself was around 2 hours and very relaxing as we got puller by teams of 2 and 3 horses. The island itself doesn’t allow cars. The only cars on the island are a police cruiser and fire truck for emergencies. This dates back to 1900 when a vacationer brought his car to the island and caused an accident which killed a couple of horses. Ever since then, you have only horses, bikes and in the winter, snow mobiles. The trip through the State Park includes the local cemetery also. The Park is Michigan’s oldest State Park.
I had lunch at the Grand Hotel which was very expensive but one of those you just have to do. The buffet, priced at $40, includes a variety of salads, lunch meats, you-peel shrimp, carved beef, fish, chicken and a nice dessert bar. While the cost is high, you are paying for the beauty of the surroundings which are extravagant. I had a nice view of the water while dining and afterwards, went out onto the porch which is the longest in the world. The hotel has an on-site art gallery, tons of historic items on the walls and in display cases (including Christopher Reeves hat from the movie “Somewhere In Time” which was filmed there, a carriage museum and some gorgeous gardens. Of historic note, the hotel hosted the first public demonstration of Thomas Edison's phonograph on that very same porch. You just feel rich walking around the place and at over $250 a night, you should.
After dinner, I walked around Fort Mackinaw. It was a military outpost built by the British during the American Revolutionary War to control the strategic Straits of Mackinac between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron (and by extension the fur trade on the Great Lakes). In use from the late 18th century to the late 19th century, it later became the scene of two strategic battles for control of the Great Lakes during the War of 1812. During most of the 19th century, it served as an outpost of the United States Army and eventually closed in 1895. The view from the fort is very nice as it overlooks the town and the lakes. I have been through many forts in my time and the only thing that really separates this from others is the view. The grounds are well kept and they do firing demonstrations at regular interviews and have a nice history of the island in one building. If you enjoy this type of thing, this is a nice fort to tour.
Afterwards, I walked around town until the last boat was ready to leave. I got a quick ice cream and a relaxed downtown atmosphere as things were winding down. Back on the mainland, I stopped by a local pastry shop for a pasties before going to bed and getting ready for day three which will come at a later date along with some cool things I found in Windsor this week as I went on a day trip prior to a Bobby Vinton concert at Caesars.
Here is a list of some upcoming shows this week.
Tuesday (9/28) – Citizen Smile opens for Acorns @ Pike Room
Wednesday (9/29) – blues-harp master Charlie Musselwhite @ Callahans
Friday (10/01) – Fireworks w/The Swellers @ Magic Stick, James @ Royal Oak Music Theatre, Shirock @ Academy Of Sacred Heart (Bloomfield Hills), Broken Social Scene @ Michigan Theatre, Jeffrey Osborne @ Fox Theatre, Savoy Brown @ Magic Bag
Saturday (10/02) – King’s X opens for Accept @ Emerald Theatre, Irish folk rockers Great Big Sea @ Chatham Capitol Theatre, LeAnn Rimes @ Macomb Center For The Performing Arts, Mustard Plug @ Blind Pig, Graham Parker @ Corner Brewery (Ypsilanti)
Sunday (10/03) – Primus @ Fillmore Theatre
Monday (10/04) - punk rockers DOA @ The Loop (Windsor), Ra Ra Riot @ Blind Pig
I hope you enjoy you week. I can’t recommend it enough to tour Mackinaw Island if you get a chance. I hear a nice time to go is when the lilacs are in bloom or during the islands jazzfest.