Part 5 of a Series
Happy days are here again!
Detroit, ‘The Comeback City’ is really coming
back. And with it, some old values, old history, and old sayings are also
coming back. Come along with me and see how an old-timer’s 20th
Century world is influencing the world of the 21st Century.
It's more than water…it's more than
ice…it's creamy like ice cream, but not fatty…it's fruity like sherbet, but
with no milk products…it is frozen like shaved ice, but there is no juice to
run out. It's got no fat…no dairy…and no cholesterol.
What is it? It's Water Ice, an
ancient Italian tradition reminiscent of the 20th century’s
paper-coned ice balls.
Where is it? It’s at THE
DETROIT WATER ICE FACTORY, located at Campus Martius Park in Detroit
Michigan.
Why is it? It’s because a
renowned American author, journalist,
screenwriter, dramatist, broadcaster, and musician simply wanted to
give something back.
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DETROIT WATER ICE FACTORY AT CAMPUS MARTIUS PARK
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In 2006, best selling author and
journalist Mitch Albom (“Tuesdays With Morrie”, “The Five People You Meet In
Heaven”, etc.) founded S.AY. Detroit (Super
All Year), a 100% dollar-in-dollar-out charity.
In partnership with the Detroit Rescue mission, S.A.Y Detroit provides an
“umbrella” of resources serving everyone from newborns, teens, senior citizens,
our honored veterans, and the homeless. 100% of their profits help Detroit’s
neediest citizens through S.A.Y. Detroit.
In 2015, Albom created The Detroit Water
Ice Factory, following the “Newman’s Own” model of philanthropy. Its mission is
to offer a delicious, top-of-the-line food product, with the sole goal of
raising funds to help others. The Water Ice menu includes such fun treats
as the Grape Gatsby, Motown Mint & the Chips, and the Fantastically Frozen
Hot Chocolate.
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| FUN TREATS AT THE DETROIT WATER ICE FACTORY |
Eat up and enjoy. As Water Ice likes
to say: “There’s no calories in doing good.”
THE WHITNEY RESTAURANT AND GHOST BAR is an historic Detroit
landmark. In 1894, The Whitney Mansion became home to the family
of lumber baron, David Whitney Jr., the wealthiest man in Detroit. Today, this iconic turn-of-the-century, Romanesque Revival mansion is a
world-class restaurant (now known as The Whitney) that retains all of its charm
and refinement yet appeals to contemporary tastes. Little wonder that The
Whitney was the romantic restaurant where my husband and I chose to celebrate
our 28th anniversary.
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| 28TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT THE WHITNEY |
The moment I laid eyes upon the pink jasper stone
exterior and the manicured garden, I knew I was in for a special evening.
The interior of the mansion exudes an elegant old-world charm rarely seen
today. The grand staircase is back-dropped by Tiffany windows, and the
dining room features a secret vault behind a movable wall where Mr. Whitney
kept his money and valuables. Legend has it that Mr. Whitney didn’t trust
banks. (Ask your server to show you the vault.)
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| THE RENOWNED WHITNEY RESTAURANT |
Ascend the grand staircase (or take the elevator if
you wish) to The Ghost Bar, an exclusive upscale
lounge where the elite meet to chill with the swanky spirits of
Detroit. The Ghost Bar is known for one of the cities best happy hour
menus, live entertainment and the world famous Witching Hour Martini.
Death in the Afternoon is a Sunday feature at the Ghost Bar.
By
now, you must be wondering: ‘How was the food?’ In one word: Superb!
I began with David’s Martini (with Maker’s Mark 46) and the Hot Appetizer
Platter (with Calamari, Crab Cakes and Eggplant Bruschetta.) I have eaten
Calamari around the world, and this was by far the best ever. A
Peach Spritzer Intermezzo magically appeared to cleanse my palate prior to the
Provimi Veal Osso Buco and a side of Mushroom Saute. Again…Superb!
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| HOT APPETIZER PLATTER |
SHINOLA, the iconic shoe polish brand,
was founded in Rochester New York in 1877 and went out of business in
1960. Shinola was forever immortalized in colloquial
English by the phrase "You don't know **** from Shinola" which first became widely popular
during World War II. The colloquial phrase was used
in the 1979 Steve Martin film comedy “The Jerk” and referred to in the 1992 movie “Basic Instinct”. Dolly Parton wrote the song "Shinola",
which also uses a lyric that plays on the colloquial phrase, for her 2008 Backwoods Barbie album.
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19TH CENTURY SHINOLA BEGAN WITH SHOE POLISH |
In 2001, the name Shinola was acquired
by a venture
capital firm
that wanted to create an American watch-manufacturing brand to rival
Swiss-makers at a lower price point. They chose the name
"Shinola" when an associate used that now-famous World War II era
colloquialism.
Shinola's first watch was released in
March 2013. The 2500 Limited Edition Runwell sold out in one week. The
Wright Brothers Limited Edition watch, the first watch in the Great Americans
Series, was released in conjunction with a limited edition bicycle. Three
models of Shinola bicycles are now assembled at Shinola's flagship retail store
in Detroit. In addition to watches and bicycles, Shinola also makes leather goods such as journals, watchstraps, and a collection of American-made dog beds, toys, leashes and
collars.
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21ST CENTURY SHINOLA DOES IT ALL
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That a lot of business
emanating from a WWII colloquial saying!
JANET STEINBERG is an
award-winning Travel Writer/Editor and International Travel Consultant with THE
TRAVEL AUTHORITY in Mariemont, Ohio
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