EAST LAnsing

[fflo]

Hunh. Kind of a stretch, that subject line. Oh well. Tonight squirrelykat and I hit the other big university town in this here state. Did you know you can drive, more or less, from Detroit to Chicago on Grand River Blvd? (Or Ave or Whatever It Is?) I am actually kind of into that. Time was I woulda been so into it I'd not be going to work later today cuz I'd be moving toward the east end of the big path to start the trek at dawn. I've mellowed, no doubt. (Well, and there's that unfortunate question of mood disorder, too, but let's not go there.)

ANYway, we had dinner at El Aztec-O. Mountain of Salad: good. Peas! Mmmm. Then we walked around a bit. And had a lovely drive there and back, too.

Last time I was there, c.1998, was to (a) check out the city to see how livable it seemed and (b) see if we couldn't meet with the kick-ass feminist philosopher Marilyn Frye, who teaches there (but she wasn't in).

I like doing some drive-away thing on a school night. It's almost defiant, or something like that. "WhatEVah, O Weeknightédness!" it sez. "I'm cutting out anyway. And I'm gonna drink a large Polar Mocha at nigh on 9 p.m., t'boot!"

Comments

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to "El Az" in many moons. In fact, it was back in my drinkin' days so at least ten years ago. Sheesh!

Are you looking to move?

[fflo.livejournal.com]

Nah... kinda stuck here for at least a while longer. Not sure I want to go, anyway, or where I would go if I did. That city audition was years ago.

[sprig5.livejournal.com]

was that when you first came to MI? No? How long have you been in AnnA?

[fflo.livejournal.com]

That was before we went to Kansas. I guess I've been in A² a little over, uh, 4 years. I think that's right. Yeah---I'll have been in this job for 4 years in a coupla months.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Actually, if you want to go to Chigago, you get on Michigan Ave. The original Michigan Ave is kind of broken up--it's also called Old US 12, and more or less runs along I-94. There are michigan avenues all along I-94 that more or less parallel it. Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti turns into US 12 at US 23, and if you want a backroads journey to Chicago, that's the way to go. Runs through all sorts of small towns, including the Irish Hills, and old resort area this side of Jackson, featuring the Mystery Spot, Prehistoric Forest, and, of course, miniature golf. A ways further down the line is Michigan International Speedway, which you want to avoid on race days, but where the Jackson rocket club holds launches and then just a whole lot of small towns. Eventually it takes you to Three Oaks, at the far southwest corner of the state, where another club holds their high-power rocket launches in november after the corn is harvested, and in April, before the corn is planted. I haven't taken it past the point where it crosses I-94 at exit 4, as that's about my limit for inefficient country drives.

By the way, they have a nice planetarium at MSU.

[squirrelykat.livejournal.com]

yeah, Peter is right, it's michigan ave. that goes all the way to chicago.
Grand River goes a long way, just not as far.....on Mich Ave past Jackson there are TONS of great antique stores. the Irish Hills are a total blast
from the past.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

The other day, I was listening to a radio documentary on the legendary Route 66. They mentioned its eastern terminus was at the corner of something and Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

WHich means that in the old days, you could hop on Michigan Avenue, take one left in Chigago (or maybe it just picked up without a turn--anybody got a pre-interstate map?) and you were on the way to the West Coast.

Ever drive a road to the end, not knowing how far it would take you?

[fflo.livejournal.com]

I've done a good bit of 66ing---or 66-remnanting and what-replaced-66-ing. Yeah, I've got some old maps, too.

Hmmm... gonna get on this road and drive 'til it ends. Good idea.

[fflo.livejournal.com]

Aw, darn. I mean, the Mich Ave thing might be cool, but I like the idea of a road that took some big crazy loop of a route through the sticks of the middle of the state.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

I've done roads like Geddes, Carpenter, Platt, Liberty, huron river dr.

Also there are geographical curiosity trips--the four corners of Washtenaw county, the place where you can stand in Michigan, indiana, and Ohio all at once (bring a long tape measure to find the exact spot from the marker).

[(Anonymous)]

Ahh East Lansing. I miss it every day. A visit there sans the peanut barrel is a visit wasted.

[fflo.livejournal.com]

Hello, Anon. We walked by the Peanut Barrel. I was surprised such a business keeps up such a thriving clientele through the years just serving peanuts. It's remarkable!

arr arrr