The Ford Highland Park

 When I did the Woodward Avenue thing a few years ago, there were a few places I didn't stop and this was one of them.

This was Henry Ford's second plant for building the Model T.  It was designed by Albert Kahn in 1908 and was opened in 1910.  Henry Ford took the lessons learned at the Piquette Avenue plant and incorporated them here.  This was the first automobile assembly plant in the world to use a movable assembly line.

Instead of a group of people working on one car in separate stations, the car was built by moving along the line and having certain components assembled in certain places.  This was also where Henry Ford announced the then unheard of wage of $5 per day.  

By the 1920s, the Model T fell out of fashion and Ford opened his Rouge Assembly Plant.  This plant was used for automotive trim and Ford tractors.  During World War II, 1,690 Sherman tanks were built here.  By 2011, it was used for document storage and artifact storage for the Henry Ford museum.  Part of it is also used by Forman Mills.  There is talk of converting it into a museum of sorts.

Just Some Shots of the Livingstone Lighthouse

I also went back to Belle Isle on Sunday.  In between shots of the ships on Saturday and Sunday, I decided to get some shots of the Livingstone Lighthouse.

 It seems like they are letting grass in this area of Belle Isle grow a little more than usual.  That makes it a little more difficult to walk around, but it's not too bad.

 It does make it look a little more like prairie land.

 Combining that with the lighthouse makes for a good picture.  I think.

 I liked the way the path looked because of the curve effect.

 I think I really like this picture.

But I like this one a little more.

Wandering Between the Raindrops in Ann Arbor

I had to help my mom hang a show at Sweetwater's Cafe on Liberty Street.  It was raining at the time but I liked the reflections on the rain soaked streets, so I decided to take a walk while they were deciding what to do for the show.

 Elvis Costello is playing at the Michigan Theater and I wish I had known.  That might be a pretty interesting show.

 Looking up Liberty in the direction of the State Theater.  Like I said, I liked the way the reflections were looking on the streets.  The people with the umbrellas remind me of the picture at the Chicago Institute of Arts of the Paris Streets.

 Just looking up the sidewalk.  I kind of like the way how the lines lead into the picture.

 I decided to head over to State Street next.  There weren't a ton of people on the streets tonight.

 There wasn't too much traffic either.

 A closeup of the Michigan player on the wall.

 I decided to do some pictures in black and white.  Looking down the corridor of Nickels Arcade.

 Hill Auditorium.

 Looking down at Rackham Hall.  I really liked how the colors were coming out with the cloudy skies.

 The Burton Memorial Tower.  I think I have a couple pictures of this.

 Looking towards the Graduate Library.

 Another shot of the library.

 A wet Block M in the Diag.

 This is probably one of my favorite buildings on the Diag.

 Clements Library is another nice looking building.  Apparently, it was Albert Kahn's favorite.

 The President's House.

 The Michigan Union also looks pretty nice.

 Angell Hall.

 I never noticed that there was some nice stained glass in this building.

 There is a spot next to the Michigan Theater with some pretty cool graffiti.

 I kind of like the Bo painting in the middle.

I'm not sure what to make of this one.

Pre-Art Fair Days in Ann Arbor

So I went down to the Townie Party in Ann Arbor tonight.  Apparently it's an event they have prior to the Art Fair and I've never been to it before.  But then again, I try to avoid Ann Arbor when it gets near Art Fair Week but my mom had to be at something.  After dropping her off, I decided to get dinner and go for a walk.

 I ended up parking near South University.  I like the neon signs at Pinball Pete's.

 I ended up going to a sushi restaurant for dinner.  I don't remember what used to be here but it is two doors south of the Chinese Restaurant with Chef Jan.

 The sushi was pretty tasty and love the way it is presented.

 The front of the restaurant.  I would actually recommend it.

Then I basically wandered to my favorite places in the city.  The West Engineering Building.  I love these spires.  I will have to say that Albert Kahn did a good job.

The Graduate Library.  Apparently there was some sort of protest in front of it.  It was broken up as I was passing through the arch.

 The Burton Memorial Tower.  The light was hitting it just about right.

 Rackham Hall.  This would be up there on my list of nice buildings of Michigan's campus.

 Probably my favorite view of the Burton Memorial Tower.

 Like I said, it was Townie Fair (or something like that).  There were tents from various local art groups to say what they are all about.  It was kind of nice.

 Looking down the hallway at Nickels Arcade.  I'm wondering if I should have shot this in black and white.

 The sun was almost hitting the State Theater sign just about right.  I wonder if Captain Fantastic is about Elton John?

Looking up at the Michigan Theater sign.

I kind of like this one because you get the neon and the reflection of the windows.

There were quite a few street musicians out and about tonight.

 Another view of the State Theater.

 Another street musician.

 There was a band at the Townie Fair.  They were playing mostly folk stuff.

 the Burton Memorial Tower.

After all of these years of trying to avoid him, I couldn't avoid him tonight.  Although the suit almost looked like someone played the Noid at one time and pulled it out for tonight.

 the Block M in the Diag.  By the way, this is also a Pokestop, if you play that game.

My favorite building on Michigan's campus is the Law Quad.

I think this used to be the University President's house.  I'm pretty sure it is still used for events though.

And I end the evening with a picture of Clements Library.  I believe that Albert Kahn said that this was his favorite building on Michigan's campus.  I think they just finished restoring it.  It looks pretty nice.  One of these days, I will have to go inside.