A FACEBOOK FRIEND doubles as taxi driver!
About two weeks ago, I received a Facebook invitation from a man I had never met, offering to pick us up at Detroit Metro on the 4th. After such a grueling change of planes and rain delay, it was a pleasure to know we wouldn’t have to fight the cab lanes Our host was Al Tushman, a charming Detroit native, who was gracious enough to be waiting at the carousal with a cart (for which he had no need because our luggage missed the transfer to American Eagle). They don’t make ‘em like that anymore – a total stranger, to say the least. He even called my cell phone to say he knew I was going to be late but that he would be waiting. It was a delightful forty five minute drive to the hotel and we got to know more about Al, the Detroit crew and among other things, a fascinating historic fact.
As we approached the hotel and the adjacent waterway, we saw Caesar’s across the water and was told it was only a boat ride away (not that we, coming from Vegas needed another casino). However, only those who remembered to bring their visas for ID (rather than driver’s license) could cross the river which happened to be the southernmost tip of Ontario and believe it or not, this part of Detroit lies above (North) of it. This Facebook fella was a terrific guide and we hope to see him later in the week when he returns from Chicago and comes down to kibitz.
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Hi Judy,
What a nice introduction to Detroit! Hope you do get over to Windsor and win lots of Canadian $$$ at Caesar’s.
Although Windsor might like to be the southernmost tip of Ontario, it loses out to Pelee Island, Ontario, which is the southernmost point in Canada, the southern limit of which lies on just about the same parallel as the northern border of California.
Best of luck to Bobby in the Senior Trials! Canada’s Senior team in The Netherlands will be Boris Baran, Michael Schoenborn, Dan Jacob, Jurek Czyzowicz, Fred Hoffer, and Don Piafsky.
Paul
Detoirt is my hometown. Besides my family what I miss the most is the food I cannot get anywhere else. If you want the best Coney Island Hot Dog anywhere, get over to the corner of Michigan Ave and Lafayette. Actually, there are two restaurants next door to each other, Lafayette and American. Access is from either street. The coneys are equally great at either place, but I think only one offers fries. Good luck at the trials.
I was born in Detroit, too. See if you can get some Strohs ICE CREAM for a local treat. They a;so brew beer.
Try going to Greektown and having some flaming cheese.
Both Coney Island places were on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food network with Guy Fierri.
Pizza is best from Shields or Buddy’s.
Hi Guys:
Thanks for all those great tips on where to go for Detroit’s goodies; however, not on this trip.
The Senior Trials is like a merry-go-round (very disorganized this first day — held on two different levels). The hotel, for those who have not been there and seen the convention quarters — it has unending circular corridors and no place to sit until your team is finished playing. Everyone congregates in the hallway until their buddies are done. Security is very tight (which is good) and the guards escort you to the bathroom and wait for you – perishing the thought of your discussing a board you just played (or as a kibitzer just witnessed). It is like being sequestered. I am so exhausted from this first day at the circus, I am having a scooter delivered so I can weather the storm the rest of the week. Just too much for these weary bones.
And, being a SENIOR EVENT, I would have imagined the spacing been not so spread out and have to have endured the rigor of playing on two different floors. Just getting kvetchy in my old age (and I wasn’t the only one bitching). Hope tomorrow will be less strenuous and more enjoyable.
Nighty-night!