The Motor City and Thoughts from the Drive

I wrapped up my time in Cleveland yesterday morning by heading to the West Side Market. The building that hosts the market and the market itself have been around since 1912. I quickly scurried off to find a place to get a crêpe. I know what you’re thinking: a banana-Nutella crêpe for breakfast? Seriously? I’ll have you know that it was an exquisite way to start the day and I think crêpes should be more normalized across the US. I mean its arguably France’s greatest gift to the world (I’m dead serious, no funny business). After devouring my crêpe I said my goodbyes and made my way towards Detroit.

It was obvious on the drive that I was starting to hit the midwest. The trees along the highway turned into fields of wheat and corn. I exited at one point to try and take a more scenic route. I was lost within 5 minutes. Take note- don’t get off the highway when you don’t have service.

In Detroit I stayed with an old friend of my mom and dad’s. He and his son joined me to go to a Detroit Tigers-Chicago White Sox game. For those of you who follow baseball you already know this is probably the worst match up you can get. These are two teams that have so many holes in your roster you could almost confuse them with Swiss cheese. The game was not anything extraordinary. The final score was 2-1 Tigers with few dramatics. The one stand out play came in the bottom of the 9th. Paul DeJong had made it to first with only one out. The White Sox decided to go to their bench and pinch hit with former Red Sox, Andrew Benintendi. Benny hit it on a line straight at the center fielder. When I looked back to the infield Paul DeJong was half-way between second and third! He quickly turned and tried to make it back to first base before being tagged up. But Paul had no chance at beating the ball to first and that’s how the game ended. I find it oddly fitting for a game between two bad teams to end due to bad base-running and a lack of baseball fundamentals. People always harp about how good baseball players work endlessly on the fundamentals and the routine plays. In this game I could see why that separates the good from the mediocre.

Unlike the Tigers, Comerica Park is a lively and welcoming setting. I have to knock it some points because just like Cleveland they did not have an organist. What they do have is a carousel and a ferris wheel! This seems like the perfect ballpark to bring your kids. And it would definitely be a blast with a group of friends. There are many good food options all around the infield and they even have a beer garden! But I couldn’t help but be struck about the state of the franchise when I saw they were still selling Scherzer and Porcello jerseys. Neither of these players have been on the Tigers since 2014. It is hard to grapple with how fun the ballpark must be when this team is rolling and the current state of the franchise.

This morning I hit the road by 10am to make the trek to Chicago. On my way I stopped at a wonderful little farmers market in Kerrytown, a district in Ann Arbor. I picked up some apple-cinnamon donuts for breakfast and they were divine. I wish I had carved out more time for Ann Arbor because it seemed like there was so much to explore around there. I will definitely be returning at some point.

Now on my drive to Chicago I may have tried to take the scenic route again. I clearly had not learned my lesson and very quickly found myself lost again. On this detour I wound up in a little town called Marshall, Michigan. At the center of town there was a lovely fountain. The designer had dedicated it to his late father. After departing Marshall I was in the farm country again. I decided to make one or two stops to get some snapshots that are very Americana.

After my detour I got back to the highway and had a fairly smooth drive to Chicago. I was here back in 2019 for Lollapalooza, but coming into the city by car was a very different feeling. Tomorrow my plan is to explore Wrigley and attend a Chicago Cubs- New York Mets game. Watch it on ESPN @7pm ET and you might (probably won’t) find me in the outfield bleachers!