Danger in the City??

I would've posed with of-the-period style fisticuffs a-blazin', but the hat demanded something more refined.

My friend Jessie & I made it out to Columbus last week to surprise her friend Brittany, who turned 27 and had a rather inviting 20s-themed box social at The Drawing Room on High St. We arrived at around 11:30pm, but found on-the-street parking to be in short supply, so we turned down 5th Avenue to pulled to the curb.

I turned the car off, and handed Jessie her keys, which she put in her purse. Looking over her shoulder, she saw 3 burly-sized individuals sort of loafing around outside the car, standing closer than comfortable to her door. It didn't dawn on me what they could be doing, but with their oversized hoodies pulled high in deference to their exaggeratedly poor posture, J was wise to their game.

So, she handed the keys back, we locked the doors, and pulled out of their lickity-split, found safer parking, and had a roaring-good time. Until a gentleman at the event remarked on how "unsafe" he always feels whenever he visits Detroit.

I won't elaborate too long on Jessie's and my subtle and irreverent take-down of said man's protestations, suffice it to say he apologized. When asked "where do you visit," he replied "downtown, by Comerica Park and the Fox."

What does it say that the most populous and safest part of the city could strike fear and discomfort in the heart of this Columbus-dweller? A reflection of the city, or a reflection of the heart of this man? I shall submit my experience - on my first visit to C-bus, I dare add - almost getting jumped as a prime rebuttal.

All cities can be dangerous. But that doesn't mean you write them all off. Detroit is no different.