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ryanellisphoto · 5 years

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#152 — Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 — Ryan Ellis Photography - Detroit Street Photography Session #152 — Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 (ca. 1971) - Nikkor 55mm f/1.2 (ca. 1971) - Tokina 60-300mm SZ-X f/4-5.6 (ca. 19??)

Hart Plaza Shredded Flags - Bogeyed and Bug-Eyed - Street Preacher - Sunn Studio Detroit - Cameroonian Vacationers - Hart Plaza Flags - Harper Florist - Detroit Public Library - Detroit Institute of the Arts - Wayne State University Sign - Orange Yarn Mop - Roy R. Rowlands

Arrived @ 8 AM

Departed @ 5 PM

527 photos (and also 7 videos) taken in 9 hours with but 48 “keepers” among them, rendering a self-accepted 9.10% “success” rate at a leadenly 58.56 shots per hour (what I desire to achieve, at the least, as I cover the streets is a 10% “success” rate paired with a pace of 100 shots per hour).

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PREFACE:

A week ago (last Saturday), after my Detroit Street Session ended, I went to meet with my friend, Mr. E.P., to be a guest as he photographed folks in Highland Park at an old stamping factory. Before I knew it, I was informally assisting his efforts at his request by moving things around during the shoot, which was my humble honor. The next morning (last Sunday), at 4 AM, I awoke with the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. My neck (on the right side) felt as secure as a spiderweb thread strung above and across an inferno (my head holder was in the hands of an angry throb). I cried, though I did not cry well (crying is essentially impossible for me nowadays), and I wept like this without any comfort in sight. Ibuprofen helped somewhat in the coming days, and I healed a good bit (though noticeably not fully). I took time off work to heal, and I now face the prospect of quitting my day job on account of this horrific turn in my wellbeing. There was melancholy in imagining how I would hang a camera strap around my neck all day to do as I have done before. Today was my test. Could I keep coming back to seek my passion through the pentaprism? I thanked the Lord that it was Winter still. I thought that the cold might “ice” my wound. I wrapped two scarves tightly around my neck like a neck brace, and I took 400 mg of ibuprofen when I arrived (I could have taken more; I should have taken more; I wanted to see if I could face the pain). I made it nine-hours despite the pain, and I hope my “top ten” shots from the day are not just a point of pride for myself; I hope I still have it in me to make things others might like too.

S.D.G.

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PATH TAKEN:

Greektown - Over the past several weeks, at this juncture, I would have changed into my Carhart bib. It was around 25° F outside with 10 MPH winds in the morning, but yet it did not quite feel cold-enough to justify the extra layer. It ended up reaching around 33° F in the afternoon with the same winds. It was a beautifully live-with-able, climate-wise, day in the city I do not love (but am learning, ever so sluggishly, to appreciate).

Campus Martius Park

The Esplanade on Woodward Avenue - I experimented with my Tokina SZ-X 60-300mm f/4-5.6 lens, using the zoom in video mode to trace the light up signs on one side of Woodward Avenue reflecting on the windows of the building on the other side of the avenue. I also spied a scene with a Detroit firetruck and police cruiser with glorious steam behind them coming up from the manholes. Attempting to satisfactorily-frame a video clip with a 300mm zoom lens forces me to disdain my $20 miniature tripod and wish for a nicer alternative. There is an overpriced camera store an hour from my home that I treat like the last branch I reach for as I fall down a cliff. I suppose I will have to visit that shop soon if I am going to be able to rely on my gear to do more of what I want it to do.

Spirit of Detroit Plaza

Hart Plaza - The other day, I fell asleep with my iPhone plugged into a charger. When I woke up the next morning, both cameras on the phone (as well as the LED light) were no longer functional. As a photographer, this was a left-handed sword stuck into the gut for me, and I yearned to be able to post on my Instagram the continuation of the shredding of the American flags in Hart Plaza. I may email mayor Mike Duggan (Detroit’s seventy-fifth mayor) and a local news organization about this tattered American standard debacle.

Campus Martius Park - Last Saturday, in Highland Park, I met two men that were in the “Art Deco Society” for Detroit. Being a lover of Art Deco myself, I asked them an obvious question: “What is the greatest building in all of Detroit?” They were torn between the Guardian Building (my #1) and the Fisher Building (my #2). I walk by the Guardian Building just about every week, because it is in the heart of Downtown Detroit. The Fisher Building is a number of miles away in what is known as City Center (beyond downtown and even midtown). I decided then to hunt for the Fisher.

Fox Theatre

The LCA (Little Caesars Arena)

MOCAD

The DIA (Detroit Institute of the Arts)

The Detroit Public Library - There was an older gentleman waiting near Woodward Avenue for the library to open up for the day. He and I chatted for a minute, and I shared with him my antipathy regarding the otherwise breathtaking Italian Renaissance-style building that housed the Detroit Public Library. There were names etched into the Vermont marble near the top of the building, visible from Woodward Avenue. They were, from left to right: Aeschylus; Archimedes; Socrates; Plato; Cicero; Caesar; Aristotle; Epictetus. :—:— I was perplexed at the choices as well as the order in which the choices appeared. I do not know much about half of the named men. I do know that Socrates taught Plato, who taught Aristotle, who taught Alexander the Great. I was curious why Cicero and Caesar appeared between Plato and Aristotle. I was also curious why Alexander the Great was omitted from the listing. Certainly, Cicero was one of the greatest minds of the last twenty centuries. It is because of Cicero that I adore Latin (well, Augustine’s adoration of Cicero’s Latin writing is what made me start teaching myself Latin [it is said that to read Cicero in Latin is the closest one can get to hearing music through language]). The ultimate irony is that above the front door to the Detroit Public Library, these words are inscribed: “Knowledge is Power” :—:— I laughed with the man I met outside the library regarding what I thought was a silly disparity. How much did that building cost to erect only to have such a blunder (in my layman’s opinion)? I hope to go inside the library and seek the answer to this one day soon (I fully expect [or at least hope] to hear a sensible explanation to correct my unsatisfactory opinion of the selections and ordering of the names on the front of the library).

The Department of Mortuary Science (for Wayne State University) - It did not smell like anything outside of this building, but then again, it was a 24° F morning! Hahaha. This is as close to the Fisher as I could get. It was then 10 AM, and I had an 11 AM appointment to make with my pal, Roy. I took a photo of the yet-distant Fisher Building with my 300mm lens before releasing it from my sights. I will catch the Fisher another day!

University of Michigan Detroit Center

Mack Avenue

Milano Bakery - Arriving fifteen-minutes early, my security guard pal that looks after the bakery commiserated with me. I told him of my insane week that included the neck injury (much more craziness than what I recounted in this write-up happened, as happens sometimes). He had similar and crazier tales to trade with mine, and he left me with much encouragement. I always feel imbued with apotheosis (pretty good word) by such outright kindness; I dare say such treatment makes me a merry man (and to that, I say, “Let it be!”). Truth be told, Roy did not show much of a tan at all for having spent the previous two-weeks in Florida. He took his truck-mounted camper and Harley to a campsite in the panhandle part of the state. He met with a realtor and scoped a $150K fixer-upper in a $250K “working-class” neighborhood six-miles from the ocean. The area in which he hopes to soon reside is in the middle of several nature preserves and is largely devoid of tourists—for now (it is slowly being converted into a course of tourist traps). He plans to list his Michigan home in April and be gone not long after. I will miss him, and I told him as much a few times. He reverberated in kind in each instant.

Bert’s Market Place Jazz - I hopped in Roy’s red Mercedes, and we parked at Bert’s (I think of Bert, the owner, as the black Willy Wonka of Detroit [he is a man of wonder and universal kindness]). Peckish but picky, the two of us were; we skipped Bert’s and headed to get tea leaves at Rocky’s instead.

Rocky’s Nuts

Dearborn Fresh Supermarket - Roy took me to a favorite supermarket of his in Dearborn after complaining Rocky’s sold their loose leaf black tea for $20 a pound. It was $6 a pound at this place.

Urban Bean Co. - Roy and I had our regular beverages (he had an espresso [double shot]). I had an overpriced ginger drink.

Avalon Cafe and Bakery - I ran into a group of Cameroonian (central-African) vacationers here that were trying to locate B-Dubs. I volunteered to be their temporary tour guide to help them find the Victorian-Era (ca. 1840’s-1870’s) building that housed the largest Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in America.

Buffalo Wild Wings - I photographed the vacationers here before heading back toward my car with the things I bought at Rocky’s. They had spent the day tracing black history through the city of Detroit. I hope their day continued with as much charm and glee as had been described to me by their chaperone.

Greektown - I had loose leaf teas from Rocky’s in a grocery bag clipped to my camera bag that I wanted to drop off at my car before making one last pass through the city. On my path back, a homeless man put a pair of brand new (still in its packaging) winter gloves in my face, offering to sell me them (I was wearing gloves at the time myself). I was disgusted. Someone likely had given those new gloves to him to keep him warm, and he preferred, rather, to make quick cash (possibly for his next score) off them. I had not seen any homeless folks yet in the day. Earlier in the week, to redirect my pain into a noble cause, I bought ten pairs of size 9-12 men’s long black socks from the dollar store that I filled with gospel tracts. “This man would have sold the socks,” I reasoned, and I walked away in sadness and bitterness having not given him anything but a brief scolding for crying wolf, as it were.

Donald “Sunn” Anderson’s art stand - For the first time in 2019, I saw my good friend, Mr. Anderson, with his art stand set up in Greektown. He told me about his brick and mortar studio space / store front and said I should check it out (it was nearby).

Monroe Street - I saw a man walking a bike down the sidewalk, which to me says “bad day” or “flat tire.” He looked familiar—like a homeless man I met last summer on a bridge in Eastern Market (also walking a [different] bike then). I asked him if his bike had a flat. He said no and added that he found the bike left under a bridge for three days and decided to take it as his own. I told him it was not his and that he should return it immediately. He said that a “known drug dealer” he knew claimed it, though the man refused to acquiesce it, since the dealer was mean. I figured the bike was stolen and that the “known” dealer was his dealer. I recalled how this homeless man told me last summer how he had just been released from a long prison sentence for a crime committed in his youth. The world had entered the Digital Age while he was locked up, and, by Providence, he had connected with a homeless service, called “Southpoint,” that provided training in computers, which resulted in his working for Dan Gilbert’s loan company. I hinted at our previous conversation from this past summer. The man claimed no knowledge of “Southpoint” and said he was never given such a job, though he admitted he was the man from last summer. He lied to me before as well as now! Feeling pity for the man, I gave him a pair of the socks I had on me. He snatched them from my hand and forcefully stuffed them into one of his front coat pockets. We parted ways, and my mind split under the weight of my naivety. I have told innumerable homeless folks since that summer meeting about this “Southpoint” resource that was nothing but a druggy’s deception.

Campus Martius Park - A faithful street preacher, named Reuben, was with his little boy plying his professed faith to the people passing his portable P.A. system. I walked up to him and told him I had great pictures of him if he would just send me a message. I handed him one of my business cards, and he smiled and apologized for not getting in touch before. I wanted to capture the man on camera before I left, so I started super close with my Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 lens and finished with my Tokina SZ-X 60-300mm f/4-5.6 lens (as zoomed in as I could muster). :—:— In my passage out I ran into a third “homeless” man with freshly-laundered folded blankets and a large smart phone and plenty of food atop a state-of-the-art walker. Judging by the quality and condition of the items he lugged, he seemed to have a home. Determined not to be fooled again, I rejected his pleas for monetary help and walked on by (albeit with a heavy heart at my coldness toward him).

Capitol Park

David Klein Gallery - I asked the kind folks at the gallery about the latest MetroTimes cover picture. It looked just like the Low Rider style of a recent showing at the gallery. They said they were not in cahoots with the magazine and lamented that fact, since it could have been excellent publicity for their recent Low Rider-themed gallery showing.

Campus Martius Park - I again photographed the street preacher and his young son. I wanted to get a shot of the two near one another with the son imitating his father. The shot in my “top ten” is as close to that goal as I could attain in the time I spent shooting there. I caved and gave the (”third”) homeless man a pair of socks, though when I tossed them at his hand, they fell short and hit the sidewalk, making him pick them up. This was an absolute accident, and I again felt bad (I am all too apologetic; am I becoming Canadian? The Windsor Hum must have buzzed my brains bonkers!).

The Hudson Site

The YMCA - Photographer, though I am, I do not look at everyone around me always. As I was on the lookout for Mr. Anderson’s brick-and-mortar studio space/storefront, a fourth homeless man passing against me in the sidewalk exclaimed at me, “Eastern MarkeT” (emphasizing the final letter in the word “market”). I looked up, startled, and I asked if he worked at Eastern Market too. He glared at me with the wildest eyes a mentally-drained man could manage, and I looked him up and down. He had on a coat that unzipped into a blanket that seems to be the universal winter uniform of Detroit’s homeless. Preoccupied with my goal of finding Mr. Anderson’s spot, I walked away without giving him another word.

Donald “Sunn” Anderson’s brick-and-mortar studio/storefront - I was amazed by Mr. Anderson’s storefront. His window art skills are fantastic.

Greektown - I saw the “fourth” homeless man (from just before) ahead of my planned path back to my car, so I ran up to meet his pace on the sidewalk and asked him what his outburst from before was about. He said I had told him there was work to be found in Eastern Market and that he had sought a job there to no avail. I apologized for his wasted efforts and told him he had done a great thing to get on with finding work for himself. I gave him a pair of socks, and he pocketed them with grace in his front coat pocket. I asked him where he was staying. He said he lived under a certain bridge. Our conversation continued through different topics. He said he had girl problems. Trying to peer-ify him, I joked back (referencing the famous Jay-Z song), “I feel bad for you, son!” The joke was lost on him; he blankly looked forward and kept walking. At right about that time, I reached Mr. Anderson’s stand and broke off to chat with him instead.

Donald “Sunn” Anderson’s art stand - I told Mr. Anderson that every self-respecting business in Detroit needs “Sunn” to shine upon its windows. He laughed. I was serious. There should be a campaign to get his art all over Detroit in this medium.

Greektown - Parting with Mr. Anderson, I caught up again with the “fourth” homeless man. I brought up his girl problems and asked what happened. He replied that a lady he had gotten with “bogeyed” him. Unfamiliar with what this meant, I asked for clarification. He loudly shouted some gibberish at me, at which point I locked eyes with a beat cop that happened at that moment in our walk to be to our right. I gave the policeman a bug-eyed look of pitying confusion about the homeless man’s outburst and walked onward. When out of earshot of the policeman, I told the homeless man that such an explosive response to a level-headed question was not socially proper and added that we were done for the time with our conversation.

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WHAT WENT ON ON THIS DAY OUT IN DETROIT?

I sought to find if I could shoot street photography despite my pain from an injury incurred exactly a week ago. I think I succeeded, though my mobility was limited. :—:— The torn American flags in Hart Plaza were still (and further) torn. Unable to post about them online at the time, I think I should email the mayor and a news organization about this embarrassment. :—:— I fell into four odd interactions with some of the homeless in Detroit today. I want to learn the best advice to pass onto them.

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⋰B⋰U⋰Z⋰Z⋰W⋰O⋰R⋰D⋰S⋰

“Inside baseball” concepts talked about in this Detroit Street Photography Session —

● Carhart Bib - I used to have to seek shelter from the winds and the cold more often when it got “bone-chilling” cold (~15° F) before I started wearing Carhart overalls on colder outings. This “bib” also lets you get low without dirtying your regular clothes underneath (as a tall fellow, I find extra goodness in lower angles).

● Mini Tripod - Get one. Get a good one that stays put when you set it. Learn from my mistake, and buy yourself a steady, sturdy mini tripod. I swear by mine any other time. You will get too much camera shake if you try to steady (by hand) a drooping (cheap, like mine) tripod.

● Art Deco - There are almost a dozen Art Deco buildings / structures in Detroit (The Guardian Building; The Fisher Building; The Penobscot Building; The Livingston Lighthouse; The Rackham Building; The David Scott Tower; The Federal Building; The Detroit Free Press Building; The Macabees Building; The Water Board Building). Art Deco as a style is marked by modernistic aesthetics made with luxurious materials and executed with precise and complex designs. The 1920′s may well be my favorite decade of all time, and so, I am head over heels that Detroit has so many glorious Art Deco remnants yet extant. For any photographer, I would assert, such pretty pieces make for great pictures. :—:— Wherever you find yourself shooting shots, know what is around you and why it is there and why it is important (if at all). To borrow a phrase found atop a not-Art Deco building in Detroit: “Knowledge is Power!”

● Digital Age - We are in the Digital Age (a name for the present era that our offspring may change in a lifetime [or in eight]). To be in the present means you have the past to play off of. The sixteenth-century super-genius, Martin Luther, thought he was beyond spoiled to have press-printed books to use for study (this was a vast improvement in convenience over enormously-expensive and rare hand-copied scrolls and books). We have computers (and who knows what else in coming years?). A great photographer that sells his (and his father’s) prints in Eastern Market gave me great advice when I asked for his best wisdom for pursuing photography. He asked me, “is that a digital camera you are using?” I answered affirmatively. He said, “you basically have unlimited shots, given the memory card’s capacity over and above any film camera roll, so shoot everything you want to shoot, and take multiple shots each time.” We are in the Digital Age. Be retroactive if you like, but know that there are liminal conveniences that may teach you as much or more than dated, sometimes less-convenient approaches.

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If you like what I do, consider supporting me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/seedetroitlikeido

Check out my YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmWGEXMZfJn5tutCOgK_dtg

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https://twitter.com/prayforryan

I have an Instagram that I am proud of. It has neat write-ups for my different works that also appear on my YT versions of the same videos. It also has photos and videos that appear nowhere else:

https://www.instagram.com/rellish3214/

✦ If you ever have any questions, feel free to email me. I am here for you. Email: [email protected]

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tamboradventure · 4 years

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14 Things to See and Do in Detroit

Posted: 7/23/20 | July 23rd, 2020

Since the Coronavirus has halted travel for over four months, I thought I would start to share more posts about destinations here in the United States. True, we shouldn’t be a lot of travel at the moment but you can always use these tips for later! Today, my Creative Director Raimee shares her tips and advice for visiting Detroit, one of the country’s most underrated cities!

Just north of Lake Erie’s western end, Detroit, Michigan, is a sprawling metropolis home to over four million people. Haunted by the echoes of its past, the city is often overlooked or ignored by domestic and international travelers alike.

Having grown up in the Detroit area, I can understand why those unaware of its charm consider Detroit a blighted city, burdened by debt, crime, and a fleeing population. I assure you, though, this preconception couldn’t be more wrong.

The famed “Motor City” has historically been known for its auto manufacturing sector, its contributions to the early music industry, and its beloved sports teams. Today, through its revitalization, Detroit has taken on a new appeal.

From its world-class museums and its incredible assortment of eateries to its culturally-inspired dive bars and eclectic garage-like music scene, Detroit is one of the most exciting cities in America to both explore and be a part of right now. Its population is motivated, its people are proud, and the suburbs’ rekindled interest in downtown has helped open the door to a new era of prosperity and a growing young population.

To help inspire you to plan a trip, here is my curated list of things to see and do I’d recommend to anyone visiting Detroit:

1. Take a Free Walking Tour

Start your visit with a free walking tour. You’ll get an introduction to the city and its past, learn about its evolution and recent developments, and see the main downtown sights. You’ll also get access to an expert local guide who can answer all your questions.

Detroit Experience Factory offers daily free tours (as well as more in-depth paid tours) that will give you a solid introduction. Just make sure to tip your guide at the end!

2. Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts

The Detroit Institute of Arts is a 130-year-old museum located in the heart of Midtown and has something to offer every visitor. There are more than 65,000 works of art here, ranging from classic to more modern and contemporary pieces, spread out over 100 different galleries. It’s a massive space!

While you could easily spend hours here, if you choose your galleries in advance, you can be in and out in two hours without rushing.

5200 Woodward Ave., +1 313-833-7900, dia.org. Open weekdays 9am–4pm (10pm on Fridays) and weekends 10am–5pm. Admission is $14 USD.

3. Relax at Belle Isle

You could easily spend an entire day exploring Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park with a variety of activities and attractions. It’s a popular destination for locals to gather on a sunny day for picnics and barbeques, for hanging out at the beach, or for walking along its various nature trails.

Here are some of my other favorite things to do at Belle Isle:

Wander the conservatory – The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is a peaceful botanical garden stretching over 13 acres, with dozens of walking paths and greenhouses to explore. Admission is free.

Hit the range – Belle Island Golf Range is driving range with practice areas for driving, putting, and chipping. A bucket of balls is just $5.50 USD.

Enjoy the beach – There’s over half a mile of beach where you can swim, lounge, or rent a kayak or paddleboard and soak up the sun.

4. Explore the Eastern Market

The Eastern Market is a huge marketplace with local foods, art, jewelry, artisan crafts, and more. It covers 43 acres and is the largest historic public market district in the United States, dating back over 150 years.

There are three different market days during the week: Saturdays, Sundays, and Tuesdays. It is particularly busy on Saturdays when farmers tend to bring in their poultry, livestock, and fresh produce for sale.

2934 Russell St, +1 313-833-9300, easternmarket.org. Check the website for market days and times. Admission is free.

5. Walk or Bike Along the Dequindre Cut

The Dequindre Cut Greenway is a two-mile urban recreational path that offers a pedestrian link between the East Riverfront, the Eastern Market, and several residential neighborhoods in between. Along the path, you’ll find all kinds of street art, as well as buskers in the summer. It’s a nice place to walk or jog and take in the city.

If you plan on visiting the Eastern Market and the Riverfront (which you should!), consider renting a bike (they’re just $8 USD per day from mogodetroit.com).

6. Check Out One of the Largest Bookstores in the World

Maybe it’s because I love all bookstores, but this is one of my favorite places to explore in Detroit. John K. King Used & Rare Books, located in an old glove factory, is an enchanting host to over one million books.

I love spending time wandering through the rows of strange titles and marveling at the rare editions they have in stock — some are so rare, you have to make an appointment to be allowed to view them.

901 W. Lafayette Blvd., +1 313-961-0622, johnkingbooksdetroit.com. Open Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm.

7. Visit the Fox Theatre

The Fox Theatre is the largest surviving movie palace of the 1920s. Built in 1928, and with over 5,000 seats, it continues to host a variety of live productions and events (like concerts, standup comedy, and children’s performances).

The building is a National Historic Landmark, the highest honor given by the National Park Service, and is open for tours in case you can’t catch a performance during your trip. The interior is absolutely stunning!

2211 Woodward Ave., +1 313-471-7000, foxtheatredetroit.net. Tours take place on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and go on sale two weeks in advance. Tickets are $20 USD for tours; ticket prices for performances vary. Check the website for details.

8. Take a Tour of the Guardian Building

You’ll find many architectural beauties around Detroit, but the most prestigious is the 36-floor Guardian Building downtown, located in the Financial District. Completed in 1929, it is a National Historic Landmark and one of the most important Art Deco skyscrapers in the world!

Detroit Experience Factory offers a few free walking tours, including an Art and Architecture tour that covers the Guardian Building if you want to learn more during your visit.

500 Griswold St., +1 313-963-4567, guardianbuilding.com. Open 24/7. Admission to the building is free.

9. Walk Around Campus Martius Park

After a devastating fire in 1805, Campus Martius was created as the de facto center of Detroit’s rebuilding efforts. Covering just over an acre, the park features outdoor cafés and bars, a mini beach, green space, food trucks galore, monuments, and a host of weekend festivals and activities.

In the winter, you’ll find a giant Christmas tree, an ice-skating rink, and a Christmas market. Every time I visit this area of town, I reflect on how far the city has come in the past ten years.

To visit the park, take the light rail to the Campus Martius station.

10. Snap Photos at The Belt

The Belt, named after its location in the former downtown garment district, is a culturally redefined alley in the heart of Detroit. Public art is the driving force behind the redevelopment of The Belt, which has murals and installations by local, national, and international artists. It is part of Library Street Collective’s continuous effort to ensure that artists have a space to create and engage with the public.

To visit the Belt, take the light rail to Broadway station.

11. See the Motown Museum

Motown Records is an R&B and soul record label based in Detroit credited with advancing the racial integration of pop music in the 1960s and ’70s. Best-selling artists like the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Miracles, the Supremes, and many others were on the Motown label. (Motown is a portmanteau of “motor” and “town” since Detroit is known as Motor City.)

Its main office, named Hitsville U.S.A., was converted into a museum in 1985 to highlight the important contributions of Motown to the greater American music scene. It has all sorts of records, awards, and costumes from famous musicians (including Michael Jackson). You can also see one of the recording studios where many of the label’s classic hits were produced.

2648 W. Grand Blvd., +1 313-875-2264, motownmuseum.org. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–6pm (8pm on Saturdays). Admission is $15 USD.

12. Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

Henry Ford, a Michigan native and founder of the Ford Motor Company (and prominent anti-Semite), was responsible for kick-starting the automobile industry in the US in the early 1900s.

Today, you can tour the company’s massive museum and learn about the history of the automobile and how it evolved from a novelty to a staple of modern society. The museum has numerous cars (including presidential automobiles), as well as exhibitions on trains, power generation, and much more.

Additionally, adjacent to the museum is Greenfield Village, a semi-separate museum that hosts all kinds of science and agriculture exhibitions that Ford collected over his lifetime. It’s a great place to visit with kids, as many of the exhibits are interactive and educational.

20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, +1 313-982-6001, thehenryford.org/visit/henry-ford-museum. Admission is $25 USD.

13. Visit the Museum of African-American History

Opened in 1965, this is the world’s biggest permanent collection of African-American culture. There are over 35,000 items and artifacts highlighting the history and culture of African-Americans throughout the ages. The museum has exhibitions on civil rights, art, film, and much more.

315 E. Warren Ave., +1 313-494-5800, thewright.org. Open Tuesday–Sunday 9am–5pm and Sundays 1pm–5pm. Admission is $10 USD.

14. Take a Food or Brewery Tour

Detroit is fast becoming a foodie destination. There are tons of delicious restaurants and a growing number of breweries here, kickstarting a foodie renaissance that is putting the city on the map. If you’re looking for an introduction into Detroit’s food and drink scene, take a tour. There are plenty of food and brewery tours that will give you a mouthwatering or thirst-quenching introduction to the culinary and microbrewery scenes.

Detroit History Tours and Detroit Foodie Tours both offer excellent and insightful food tours to some of the best restaurants, while Motor City Brew Tours will introduce you to the best beers Detroit has to offer. You’ll get to eat some wonderful food, try tasty drinks, and meet the chefs and restaurateurs making it all possible!

Where to Eat

If you’re looking for some places to grab a bite to eat, here are a few of my favorites:

The Peterboro – Mouth watering and inventive Chinese food paired with craft beer and cocktails

SheWolf – Trendy and upscale Italian cuisine

Selden Standard – Locally grown and seasonal plates

Gold Cash Gold – Local food meets Mediterranean-inspired dishes

Bronx Bar – A classic dive bar with greasy eats

Sugar House – An intimate craft cocktail pub

Brooklyn Street Diner – A cozy diner with local food and lots of vegetarian options

***

Detroit is one of the best up-and-coming cities in the country. With a developing food scene, an affordable cost of living, and more and more things opening each month, I suspect tourism here is only going to continue to grow. Come and visit while you can and beat the crowds. I promise Detroit will surpass your expectations!

Raimee is the creative director for Nomadic Matt and runs the remote work and travel blog, Do It All Abroad. She spent the past 4 years working remotely from cities around the world after leaving a marketing job in her hometown outside of Detroit, Michigan. She now resides in Los Angeles, California where she is social distancing but hopes to someday enjoy all of the comedy shows, live music, beaches, and hikes around the state!

Book Your Trip to the United States: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewher eother than a hotel, use Booking.com, as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel — and I think they will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting the United States? Check out my in-depth destination guide to the United States with more tips on what to see and do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

Photo credit: 2 – David Wilson, 3 – sj carey, 4 – Sean Marshall, 5 – Fox Theatre, 7 – wiredforlego, 8 – Ted Eytan, 9 – Jasperdo, 10 – Chuck Andersen, 11

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aerotrekka · 5 years

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Shanghai – China’s largest city and its principal port, located at the mouth of the Yangtze River delta. Shanghai’s heritage is very mixed given its role as a major trading city, especially as China opened up to international maritime trade in the 18th century onwards. Much of this was forced on the declining Qing Dynasty mostly in the mid-19th century by Western powers via the “Unequal Treaties,” which remain a sensitive point to this day. The expulsion of the various foreign occupiers in the 1949 revolution and subsequent relative isolation of the city through the 1980’s by the victorious Communist regime preserved much of this environment.

Shanghai Business District – East Bank of the Huangpu River

Like many large commercial cities, it’s a fascinating place to visit with plenty to see, and is an excellent base for other China travel. The main issue is that you need to obtain a China entry visa.

Huangpu Neighborhood

Shanghai’s main city area is centered around People’s Square, a large park that also holds some museums, with largely residential districts to the west and the business district to the east. The eastern area is bordered by Shanghai’s famous Bund waterfront on the Huangpu River, with a concentration of unspoiled Art Deco era buildings that is hard to find except in other cities that grew rapidly in the mid-20th century, such as Detroit: https://wp.me/p7Jh3P-nP

The Bund

Shanghai’s layout reflects the two main 19th-20th century foreign settlements – the International Settlement (to the UK and USA) in the east along the riverfront (largely in the eastern part of the Huangpu District); and the French Concession, which runs to the southwest of People’s Square along Huaihai Middle Road and the northern part of the Xuhui District. Just south of the former International Settlement and next to the river is the old city, that was originally a walled city and which remained separate from the International Settlement to the North.

You could easily spend 3-4 days in Shanghai and find plenty to do, especially if you have never visited mainland China before. There are some pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods within the former French Concession area such as the rather upmarket Xintiandi and Tianzifang areas. The old city (start at Yuyuan Garden metro) is south and east of Renmin Road and includes some isolated archaeological remnants and gardens. Here are some ideas of in-town things to do, as well as some area side trips that I’ll write about later.

The Shanghai Museum (People’s Square – south side). If you want an introduction to Chinese history and culture, the Shanghai Museum is equivalent to a national art museum. You can get the various imperial dynasties – going back over 2,000 years – outlined in your head through the extensive watercolor, pottery, currency and other collections. I have always wondered how much of China’s historical artifacts survived the Cultural Revolution in 1966, and notably some of the material came from overseas Chinese collectors. The museum is closed Mondays and has free entry.

There is interesting transitional currency with late 19th/early 20th century bills.

The Bund and Art Deco Shanghai. Manhattan on the Yangtze: Shanghai has a high level of preservation of its buildings from the late 19th through the mid-20th century, and was a major commercial center of East Asia for the first half of the 20th century. You could be downtown in a US city that grew around that time. There are plenty of online offerings for historical tours to understand this – see below, but book ahead. China had been dealing with invasion by Japan since 1931 and Shanghai was attacked by the Japanese in 1932 and then again in 1937, being occupied until 1945.

The main business area is located northeast of People’s Square towards to the Bund, with many of the major buildings lining the Bund. If you want to pick one place to see, the Peace Hotel, originally opened as the Cathay Hotel in 1929, has an impressive Art Deco ground floor area.

Eating Around. Without getting into the usual street food obsession, Shanghai Chinese cooking works very well if you are after something light and casual, and there are plenty of formal restaurants covering the main cooking styles of China. The Shanghainese post-revolution diaspora has meant that many Shanghai specials have worked their way into the Chinese repertoire. A few key types include:

Xiao Long Bao – Soup filled dumplings, usually pork or shrimp, but vegetarian options are common.

Shengjiang Mantou – oh yeah. Soup filled dumplings with a flakier pastry shell, fried around the base.

Hongshao Rou – braised pork belly. A favorite of Chairman Mao apparently, although there are varieties nationwide.

Jiaohua Ji – beggar’s chicken. Stuffed, marinated and roasted in a paper shell.

For the most part, restaurants catering to the local crowd often offer picture menus where the menu is in Chinese. The various city shopping malls usually have a restaurant level – these are usually quite good in Asia as they are clean, bright and air-conditioned, and not at all the usual chain debacle you get in the West. Some that are worth a visit include:

Da Hu Chun (11 Sichuan Street, Huangpu) – full range Shanghai classics.

Di Shui Dong (56 Maoming S Road, Jing’an) – Hunan specialty.

Din Tai Fung ( Jing’an) – actually a Taiwanese chain (whose founder fled China in 1948) featuring Shanghainese specials and known for it’s xiao long bao, but a good entry-level restaurant with a simple menu.

Lao Fan Dian (Fujou and Juixiaocheng Streets, Huangpu) – another Shanghai standard.

Lin Long Fang (10 Jian Guo Dong Lu or SML Center, Huangpu) – great local mini chain.

Nan Ling (1238 Yainan Middle Street, Jing’an) – more formal Shanghai classics.

Shanghai Grandmother (70 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu) – multi-level family style offering.

The French Concession. The French Concession is a more residential, retail and green area, largely north and south of Huaihai Middle Road as it heads southwest from People’s Square, which provides contrast to the more urban/shopping/office focus in the Huangpu/Bund area east of People’s Park. It is also close to the Jing’an temple, which is worth a visit. It has a more relaxed and leafy atmosphere, in part because the French built wider, tree-lined streets. As mentioned earlier, the Xintiandi (aim for the metro station of the same name) and Tianzifang (southwest of the Jianguo West and Sinan Roads intersection) areas are good walking destinations.

Jaywalking on Julu Road

Dance Evening at Xianyang Park

The Jing’an Temple. The Jing’an temple, northwest of the French concession with a metro next to it, is well with a visit, centered around a great hall with a seated Buddha. There has been a temple in the area since 247 CE, and one on the current site since 1216; it burnt down in the 1970’s and was rebuilt in the 1980’s so is quite new, although various artefacts, such as the medieval Hongwu bronze bell, date back a ways. There is a good park just south of the temple to take a break and admire the greenery.

Walking Tours. Shanghai’s sights are well distributed around the neighborhoods and there isn’t a concentration of major points, so a walking tour can be useful. Here are a few and of course Tripadvisor has a selection:

The Shanghai Historical Society focuses on the 19th and 20th century and their walking tours are here: https://www.historic-shanghai.com/events/

Shanghai Walking Tours: http://shanghaiwalkingtour.com/english/walking_tours.html

Culinary Backstreets is food focused: https://culinarybackstreets.com/culinary-walks/shanghai/

Side Trips. There are a few cities in the Yangtze delta that are worth visiting, such as Suzhou and Hangzhou, about 30 and 60 minutes away by rail, respectively. You can always look for a bus or tour service, although rail is good option, connecting into the metro at both cities. Suzhou is a compact medieval city better suited to a day trip, while Hangzhou and it’s famous lake and forested hill park are more for an overnight stay.

Suzhou

Closer in is the canal town of Zhujiajiao, located in the western outskirts of the city facing Lake Dianshan, at the metro stop of the same name.

Logistics. I stayed at the Mansion Hotel (Xinle and Xiangyang Roads, Jing’an) and the Jing’an Campanile (425 Wulumuqi North Road), in the French Concession and Jing’an areas, respectively. Both have proximity to the metro which is worthwhile here. The Mansion Hotel is a one of a set of smaller hotels restoring pre-war Shanghai mansions, here designed by French architects in 1932 for a Shanghai syndicate leader and opened in 2007.

Airports. Shanghai is served by two airports – Pudong (PVG), the newer principal international gateway located east of the city on the coast; and Hongqiao (SHA), the original secondary airport located west of the city. Both have Metro stations and are about 60 and 45 minutes from People’s Square respectively. Pudong is also served by a fast (300 km/h) Maglev line to the Longyang Road Station in the eastern suburbs. This may save you some time although as you will have to change to get to the center it may be simpler to just use the metro.

Metro. The Shanghai Metro is an excellent way to get around the city. You can purchase a range of passes at the airport station or at any of the station customer service centers. Apart from individual tickets, there are 1- and 3-day passes or alternatively you can just buy the Shanghai Public Transportation Card which starts at Y100 and includes a Y20 deposit refundable on return of the card. Note that the metro stations are quite large and also have a security check (including bag x-ray machine). As to cab and ride hailing alternatives, note that Uber does not operate in China – you can try the main Chinese provider, Didi Chuxing, but check online for the latest as far as obtaining an English version of the app. Logistically, note that all metro entrances have a security checkpoint (with baggage x-ray so don’t carry a bag unless necessary) before the ticket barriers.

The Shanghai Metro is Extensive

Rail. China’s high-speed rail system is comfortable, fast, cost-effective and well worth trying. The two main issues you should factor in include the high passenger volume it manages in a country of 1.4 billion people, and the airport-style security requirements at rail stations. This means you need to plan your journey and factor in time beforehand. Many trains are 100% occupied so unless you don’t mind a “standing” ticket, you should book in advance: trip.com is a useful website. Secondly, you will need your passport to buy or pick up your ticket, after which you will go through a security check (including baggage x-ray) where you will present your ticket and passport. The ticket is scanned again when you enter the platform via the boarding gate. If you book for a certain departure time, there will be a specific departure gate that usually open about 15 minutes pre-departure. If you allow 15 minutes to buy or pick up your ticket from the ticket office queue (there are self service machines with only Chinese language access), 15 minutes to enter the station, pass security and navigate to your gate, and then assume you get in line at the gate 15 minutes pre-departure, for your first time I would allow arriving at the station at least 45 minutes pre-departure. At post-journey arrival, at the larger stations you are sent through a separated (from the departures) arrivals level and put out into a pre-security area.

Hongqiao Railway Station Main Departures Hall

Shanghai has four rail stations, the more central Shanghai Rail Station, Hongqiao (out west near the airport), the South and West stations. Note that the ticket office at the central station is in a separate building across from the main entrance. At Hongqiao, the ticket office is post-security in the main departures hall. The ticket offices are typically busy however the lines move quite fast.

Rapidly Moving Ticket Line, Shanghai Train Station

Your Chinese Language Skills. Lack of Mandarin Chinese language skills is not much of an issue; all public signs are bilingual Chinese/English – even the metro ticket vending machines have an “English” button on their touchscreen displays. Since China’s schools have had English language training from about 8 years of age for some time now, English is more commonly spoken to some extent. However, you should still either pick up a basic language guide or go to the many Mandarin Chinese language Youtube offerings in advance of the trip.

Stuck for a Gift? The First Food Hall (720 Nanjing Road East) is worth going to for a one-stop that covers Chinese products. A four-storey supermarket and food court, it has the feel of something from the Communist era and so is worth going to. Nanjing Road East is the main shopping street, pedestrianized east of People’s Square.

Craft Beer. Craft beer has reached China, or at least it’s more expat and overseas travelled populations, and it’s worth trying. Not surprisingly, the main providers are mostly in the French Concession area and you should focus on:

Boxing Cat Brewery (82 Fu Xing Road West and (under refit in July 2019) 521 Fu Xing Middle Road. My favorite I have to say, with the very floral and moderately bitter Sucker Punch pale ale, the very solid TKO west coast IPA and the excellent King Louie imperial stout.

Liquid Laundry (Kwah Centre 2/F, 1028 Huaihai Middle Road). Gastropub owned by Boxing Cat and with a solid beer menu including other beers and their own line. Good pale ales and IPAs.

Shanghai Brewing Company (15 Dongping Road). Decent craft beer selection.

Stone Brewing Tap Room (1107 Yu Yuan Road). Not entirely local as the San Diego area brewery expands globally, but worth supporting.

Shanghai’d Shanghai – China’s largest city and its principal port, located at the mouth of the Yangtze River delta.

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csrgood · 7 years

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From Boston to Birmingham: 25 Historic Main Street Districts Across America Vie for $2 Million in Grants Decided by Public Vote During Partners in Preservation Campaign

NEW YORK, September 25, 2017 /3BL Media/ - American Express and The National Trust for Historic Preservation, in collaboration with Main Street America, announced today that Partners in Preservation is headed to Main Street. Partners in Preservation is a community-based partnership to raise awareness of the importance of preserving historic places and their role in sustaining local communities. This year’s program, Partners in Preservation: Main Streets, will award $2 million in grants to Main Street districts in need of preservation support across America.

The public will determine which sites will receive preservation grants by voting for their favorite main streets today through October 31 at VoteYourMainStreet.org, hosted by National Geographic Travel. On November 2, the sites with the most votes at the end of the voting period will be announced and awarded grants for restoration projects. In addition, the public will also have the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip of their choice to New York, Los Angeles, or Miami, sponsored by this year’s media partner National Geographic.

“Historic preservation and the Shop Small Movement are cornerstones of American Express’ longstanding commitment to serving communities around the world,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation. “This campaign aligns these two commitments. By rallying citizens to learn about and vote for their favorite local historic treasures, we hope to create broad-scale awareness of the connection between preservation and our country’s thriving main streets.”

This year’s campaign coincides with the 40th anniversary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s work to revitalize main streets. Partners in Preservation: Main Streets emphasizes the importance of these districts around the U.S. and their positive impact on local communities and economies.

“From first dates to family dinners and shopping trips to nights on the town, America’s thriving historic main streets are where we come together and share experiences that shape our lives and communities,” said Stephanie K. Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We are delighted to celebrate historic main streets across America through this year’s Partners in Preservation program. These historic downtowns are central to our local and national identity and should be preserved for generations to come.”

According to 2016 data from Main Street America, investments in Main Street districts have a significant impact on local economies – encouraging real estate development as well as the creation of new businesses and jobs. In 2016, $4.65 billion reinvested in Main Street improvement programs resulted in 8,042 building rehabilitations, 5,616 business openings, and 27,462 new jobs. Main Street revitalization efforts also help to make our neighborhoods more interesting and welcoming places to live, work and play.

Since the program’s inception in 2006, Partners in Preservation has awarded over $19 million in support of more than 200 historic sites across the country.

From theaters and museums to plazas and marquees from Seattle to Miami, Partners in Preservation: Main Streets will inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places in Main Street corridors. Each local partner received a grant of $20,000 to increase public awareness of the importance of these historic places and build grassroots support for their Main Street district.

The 25 cities with Main Street districts in contention for Partners in Preservation: Main Streets grants include:

Atlanta, Georgia

Sweet Auburn Works seeks to transform Bryant Graves House into an information center for visitors. This project would help introduce visitors to the local businesses and organizations that define Sweet Auburn.

Birmingham, Alabama

REV Birmingham seeks to install a 42-foot vertical marquee on the Historic Alabama Theatre. This project would restore the façade of the theatre to its original appearance and light-up downtown Birmingham.

Boston, Massachusetts

Upham’s Corner Main Street seeks to transform the Pierce Building into a business incubator and convert the Streetcar Comfort Station into a bike repair store and coffee shop. This project would create a vibrant hub within Dorchester’s Arts and Culture Innovation District.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Old Town Cape, Inc. seeks to revitalize the bandstand and surrounding park landscape in Ivers Square. This project would honor the neighborhood’s history and attract visitors.

Casa Grande, Arizona

Casa Grande Main Street seeks to create a new Vintage Neon Sign Park by salvaging historic neon signs from throughout the community. The park would serve as a vibrant downtown destination for visitors.

Cincinnati, Ohio

The Cincinnati Preservation Association seeks to restore the Woodward Theater’s historic marquee. This project would attract visitors and make the theater a shining beacon in Over-the-Rhine.

Detroit, Michigan

Live6 seeks to transform The Treehouse into a unique gathering and performance space. This project would create a much-needed venue for the Livernois/6 Mile community to come together.

Franklin, Tennessee

The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County seeks to rehabilitate Dr. McPhail Office as a space for local programming and visitor services. This project would share Franklin’s history and highlight the positive impact of preservation on the community.

Greensboro, North Carolina

Downtown Greensboro, Inc. seeks to replace the iconic Carolina Theatre’s worn seats with art deco-style seats that increase capacity and restore historic charm. This project would ensure the theatre remains the “Showplace of the Carolinas” for years to come.

Hyde Park, Illinois

The Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce and Hyde Park Historical Society seek to complete renovations on the Cable Car Building. Through this project, the community would continue to have access to a museum and meeting space.

Las Vegas, New Mexico

Main Street de Las Vegas seeks to restore the E. Romero Hose and Fire Building to serve as a firefighting and acequia system museum. This project would commemorate the stories of the town’s founders and their efforts to protect their community.

Los Angeles, California

The Los Angeles Conservancy seeks to rehabilitate the trolley car of the Formosa Cafe along Route 66. This project would ensure a beloved West Hollywood icon is saved for future generations.

McKinney, Texas

Main Street McKinney seeks to rehabilitate the exterior of the McKinney Performing Arts Center in the Collin County Courthouse. This project would enhance visitors’ experiences for generations to come.

Miami, Florida

The City of Miami seeks to renovate and paint the exterior of the Manuel Artime Theater. This project would ensure the theater continues to be a place where the vibrancy of Little Havana comes alive.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard Merchants and Business Association seeks to restore the façade of Old McCrory’s Store. This project would repurpose the space for retail and nonprofit business use and commemorate the 1960 boycott of discriminatory hiring practices.

New York, New York

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation seeks to rehabilitate the façade and make structural improvements to the Sheffield Farms Bottling Plant in Restoration Plaza. This project would ensure that the plaza remains at the heart of the Bedford-Stuyvesant community.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Downtown OKC Initiatives seeks to restore the Yale Theatre to its original appearance. This project would breathe new life into a key attraction, providing a draw for tourism and new entertainment opportunities to the surrounding area.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Germantown United CDC seeks to rehabilitate the façade and make structural improvements to significant 20th-century African-American landmarks in the Germantown neighborhood, including the Trower Building and Parker Hall. This project would increase visitation to Germantown and community pride.

Richmond, California

The Richmond Main Street Initiative seeks to install a marquee on the Market Street Mall’s Façade. This project would create a bright light illuminating the neighborhood’s charm and welcoming visitors.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Studio Elevn seeks to rehabilitate three historic buildings in the Granary District. This project would provide space for artists, designers and entrepreneurs to gather, work and celebrate.

San Diego, California

North Park Main Street seeks to reveal the original façade of the Stevens-Hartley Annex, which has been hidden behind a wall for decades. This project would further beautify one of San Diego’s most celebrated streets.

Seattle, Washington

Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area seeks to restore disappearing historic signs throughout Seattle’s historic Chinatown-International District. This project would help tell the story of this iconic, diverse neighborhood.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Main Street Steamboat Springs seeks to restore and repurpose a historic caboose as an artist-in-residence studio and gateway to Main Street. This project would serve as a landmark for the city’s Creative District.

Washington, D.C.

Shaw Main Streets seeks to restore the original storefront façade of the James Hughes Building. This project would transform a hidden treasure into a gem for visitors to Shaw.

West Des Moines, Iowa

The Historic Valley Junction Foundation seeks to restore the façade, first-floor storefront and marquee of the Lyric Theater. This project would further emphasize the historic gathering place as an icon of main street.

For more information and to vote daily through October 31, the public is encouraged to visit VoteYourMainStreet.org.

###

About Partners in Preservation

Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awards preservation grants to historic places across the country.

Through this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public's awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America's historic and cultural places. The program also hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities.

About American Express

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com, and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, Plenti rewards program, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, corporate card, business travel, and corporate responsibility.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places: www.savingplaces.org.

About Main Street America

Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. Today it is a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

About National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC, a joint venture between National Geographic Society and 21st Century Fox, combines National Geographic television channels with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic Studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, catalog, licensing and e-commerce businesses. A portion of the proceeds from National Geographic Partners LLC will be used to fund science, exploration, conservation and education through significant ongoing contributions to the work of the National Geographic Society. For more information, visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ and find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About Shop Small®

Shop Small® is a nationwide movement to support small, independent businesses and call attention to the valuable and distinct contributions they make to their communities and the economy. Shop Small celebrates small businesses ranging from retail stores and restaurants to fitness studios and salons, and everything in between. The Shop Small movement was spurred by the widespread participation in Small Business Saturday, a day founded in 2010 by American Express. This national holiday shopping tradition is dedicated to celebrating small businesses and driving more customers through their doors on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. November 25, 2017 marks the eighth annual Small Business Saturday. Learn more and connect with us on ShopSmall.com, instagram.com/shopsmall, facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.

Media Contact Jocelyn F. Seidenfeld, American Express [email protected] (212) 640-0555

Andy Grabel, National Trust For Historic Preservation [email protected] (202) 588-6025 Jacob Taylor, Day One Agency [email protected] (203) 246-5059

source: http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/40407-From-Boston-to-Birmingham-25-Historic-Main-Street-Districts-Across-America-Vie-for-2-Million-in-Grants-Decided-by-Public-Vote-During-Partners-in-Preservation-Campaign?tracking_source=rss

#CSR #corporate social responsibility #social good #philanthropy #employee engagement #workplace givi

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