We had pretty much lost touch with the downtown scene over the past few years, but are slowly getting it back again. We mainly wanted to revisit the restored Book Building, an amazing skyscraper from 1926 that just recently completed a top to bottom restoration. Here is an historic postcard of the building. We visited last Friday.
Detroit Historical Society collection.
It had been abandoned for some time before Dan Gilbert became involved. Now, it looks brand new, with the entire exterior being cleaned, the interior brought back to perfection, and the 476' skyscraper once again holding its head high in downtown Detroit. The tall portion is now apartments, while the broader and lower part is a hotel, with rooftop bar. In the corner area facing us, ground floor, is a very beautiful and fancy French restaurant (my own photo to follow). The lobby has a small cafe/bar, and there is comfortable seating for all, with some great table top books laid out to peruse. After checking out the public areas we sat and had tea at the cafe. Of course the lobby is now decorated for Christmas (with books under the tree, gift wrapped), but it is still stately. Original ceiling bas reliefs are restored, as is the original clock. There is marble everywhere. An unfinished room houses a historical exhibit about the building and the area. Before the stock market crash, the other side was to house an 81 story tower, twice as high as the one standing today. Imagine that! Well, the blueprints are there to see.
Meanwhile, the tallest new skyscraper a few streets over is nearly at its highest, while other new buildings not quite so high seem to have popped up overnight. Of course downtown was busy on a Friday afternoon, and all decked out for Christmas. People were ice skating, and the decorations and lights were pretty much endless, even though we saw them in daytime. Here are some of my photos from inside the Book Building, and of the newest addition to the skyline.
We hope to return next Friday to see a group of avant garde silent films at the DIA with live music. In local movie watching news, there are two to report. Going from most recently watched, Deb's leaving choice this weekend was Star Dust, from 1940 and starring Linda Darnell. How are stars made in Hollywood? Well, talent scouts head out across the nation looking for undiscovered beauty and singing and acting skills. A teenage girl from small town Arkansas is given her big chance, but internal politics get in her way. Darnell shines as the girl next door who wants to make it big. Also starring John Payne and Roland Young, and directed by Walter Lang.
Before that, my films was also leaving soon, from Criterion. It was Mel Brooks' High Anxiety, his spoof of Hitchcock films from 1977. Also starring Cloris Leachman, as a demented nurse at the Psycho-Neurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous, where Mel Brooks will become the new head. While many jokes misfire, since there is at least one a minute viewers don't have to wait long for one to click. A highlight is Mel singing the title song in an impromptu night club performance. There are Hitchcock references everywhere.
We are currently watching Tesla, from 2020. More on that film in the next post.
Mapman Mike
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