FOODIE REVIEW: THE EAGLE 9.5/10

 The Eagle was a sleeper and one of the only places I didn't eat last year.  It is in the heat of downtown Detroit, just minutes from Comerica Park and Ford Field.  

According to their website, they are famous for their fried chicken, and that is no empty boast.   They also serve everything on their menu ala carte.  I ordered the fried chicken legs, spoonbread (the best cornbread I ever had) and burnt tips as an appetizer.

The verdict:

Fried chicken:  Definitely top 10 chicken I ever had.  Nice sized drumsticks, fried and seasoned to near perfection.  Next time I will order the half chicken.  9.1

Burnt tips:  For an appetizer, this nearly filled me up.  9.1

Spoonbread:  This is cornbread served in a black frying pan.  Much larger than the average slice of corn bread and The Eagle makes theirs much tastier.  Sweet, moist and easily the best corn bread I ever had from a restaurant.  10.

Overall:  9.5

FOOD ALLERGIES

I hope people follow this link and read the article.

I suffer from numerous food allergies, including most of what the author's son has.  People barely seem to  care about the "major" food allergies like eggs, milk, nuts and shellfish.  Folks forget that a person can be allergic to anything.  A close friend is allergic to raw seafood, but can eat it cooked.  She was married to someone who couldn't eat any shellfish.  I had a supervisor who could eat peanuts but was highly allergic to Brazilian nuts, which fall under tree nuts.  I also have two friends who can't eat fish.

I encourage people to just be aware.  Today, you can go to a restaurant and get pasta made from chickpeas, which could be deadly if you have an allergy to legumes.

I thank the author for sharing.

https://www.myallergykitchen.com/living-with-legume-allergy-pea-peril-and-banned-beans/

FOODIE REVIEW: URBAN SOUL 9.2 out 10

My second FOODIE spot in Detroit was Urban Soul, a soul food restaurant near Lafayette Street .  Unlike Joe Louis Soul Kitchen and the Eagle, Urban Soul doesn't get points for being fancy looking, playing classic, local artists or having the Detroit teams on the television.  Urban Soul is more of a local neighborhood spot (sort of), just outside of downtown Detroit.  The closest I can describe it is it looks like a cafeteria.  This is not a bad thing.  The food is more than worth it.  

In the video, I had chicken, macaroni and cheese and potato salad.

 Fried Chicken:  Four pieces of golden brown, well cooked and seasoned chicken.  9.2

Potato Salad:  Well mixed and well flavored.  A lot of restaurants get potato salad wrong but not Urban Soul.  9

Macaroni and cheese:  Creamy and cheesy and without a hint of mozzarella cheese (which I detest).  9.2

Overall:  9.2/10

FOODIE REVIEW: JOE LOUIS SOUTHERN KITCHEN (9.6 out of 10)

Next to Buffalo/Niagara Falls, Detroit has quietly grown to be one of my favorite vacation spots.  This makes visit number five and I have never regretted trying out the Motor City.  It has its warts (like other large cities), but there are plenty of things to do here. 

I lucked upon Joe Louis Southern Kitchen during my first visit.  Around the corner from the hotel I was staying at and two blocks from AMTRAK, I was just curious (and hungry).  I would sooner call this a breakfast spot as it is open between 8-4.

Joe Louis' is a small restaurant, but with a warm atmosphere.  It highlights the career of the former champ and also plays music from Detroit's famous.

Click the link below to see my plate.  If you listen carefully, you will hear the music. 

Breakfast biscuit-9.2  Well baked biscuit (touch of honey), with bacon, scrambled egg and American cheese
Cheesy grits-8.8 Well cooked, but I prefer plain grits with no cheese.  Cheddar cheese can be bitter.  I didn't see an option for plain grits.
Chicken wings-9 Well seasoned and they were regular sized wings.

(Just added) Fried catfish-9.5  I went back and ordered the catfish and it was near perfectly prepared

Atmosphere-10  Joe Louis' is a small restaurant, but they play non-stop Detroit music and show Joe Louis highlights on the monitor.

Service-9

Overall grade-9.3

🎥 Cruise Ship GHETTO CHAOS EXPOSED 🚢💥 | The Dark Truth Behind Carnival C...

I was OK until the video host started bringing up liberals and conservatives, then I realized that she was one of "those" right wing...people.....who resort to name calling.  Nonetheless, I agree with 90% of what this person says.  Except for the mini-cruise that goes up the Hudson River, I have never been on a cruise (personal reasons).   I would not want to see fighting if I did go on one.  And while the video host goes out of her way to over-emphasis the behavior of some Black people, I do see the behavior in my neighborhood and on the streets in general (a lot by Blacks but also done by some Spanish and Caucasians).  I call it "the normalizing of bad behavior).  So, if I hate people playing their speakers loudly in public, I wouldn't want to deal with it on a cruise I spent over a thousand dollars for.

I've seen other videos with Blacks defending Carnival Cruise Lines for changing rules to board, so I don't think this is a fake story.  As for Carmen Chase, the host for this video, despite eventually falling into the conservative trap of insulting, I see her point and I ultimately agree with Carnival.

QUICK REVIEW: SUPERMAN......9.8

 Most people who know me know that I hated Superman in the Synderverse.  They were great action films that happened to have a super powered guy in them. I called them "Superman for Millennials and Gen Z" because from my dealings, that era doesn't understand that the character Superman does not kill.  There were other abominations in that Man of Steel and Justice League so I never bought the DVDs. Or the bootlegs.

James Gunn took over the DC Universe in 2022 and immediately revamped Superman and the fans got to see the product July 11.  I saw it July 18.  

This is by far the BEST Superman movie I ever watched.  James Gunn brought out elements from all of the popular past films and updated them and best yet, he kept the character in tact.  For two hours I got to watch Superman and what made his unique, and it is not his super powers.

Gunn also incorporated other DC super heroes, which made sense, and managed to capture all of the personalities and characteristics and make it interesting and entertaining.

Since Margot Kidder portrayed Lois Lane in 1978, the chemistry was missing between her and Clark Kent.  James Gunn captured that here.

And for those who just care about action and violence, there is enough of that and it is not messy or obnoxious.

And I loved the dog.

Superman (Legacy) has already made my top 5 DC live action films.

I rated it 9.8.  I challenge anyone who says otherwise

BLOG ENTRY #39 Why is "socialist" a dirty word ?(short)

 In a few weeks I will no longer be a registered Democrat.  Not joining the "dark side", but for the past ten years the Democratic party has disappointed me and even pissed me off.

The results from the mayoral election will decide a lot for me.

I still "like" most of the candidates.  

Mamdani appears to be a nice man with wonderful ideas I actually agree with on the most part.  But he is not the right fix for New York's issues, for now.

Offering a rent freeze and a free fare is nice, but that comes with consequences. The least of them is the tag "socialist".  Once you talk about really helping people you get labeled a "socialist".

I personally have nothing against what Mamdani is proposing, however it won't solve the problem.

Home repairs cost money.  So do taxes and insurance.  Freeze rent completely and you handcuff landlords.  Ok, so your rent is affordable (relatively speaking), but you won't get repairs for your stove or your hallway.  You really have to complain about heat in your unit because the rent freeze won't help pay for that.  At the same time it is not necessarily socialism to care about affordability for human beings.  Capitalism shouldn't reign supreme like that.

To be honest, if Donald Trump wasn't the president of the United States, I would give Mr. Mamdani a try.  But with so much a state, I can't afford to vote for someone  who will possibly be a distraction.  A distraction in Washington and a distraction in Albany.  Strategically, not a good move.

And even though "Democratic Socialist" is not a dirty term to me, and I like their position with health care, for example, I am less than thrilled with how they deal with crime.  I don't feel safe with bail reform.  There are too many violent incidents happening in the city and it is distressing to learn that some of the acts are done by repeat offenders.  But I guess you can't go ala-carte when it comes to this.

BLOB ENTRY #38 SHORT....prediction

I think there will be a strong third party in politics within the next twenty years and I think it will involve anti-Trump Republicans and moderate Democrats.  I don't think it will involve Elon Musk.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/12/america-party-elon-musk

BLOG ENTRY #37 OBSCURE FACT ABOUT ME...having kids

 Recently, my cousin, who is close to my age, asked me if I ever regretted not having children.  I told her "no".

Years ago, when I was in my late teens through early twenties, I thought it would be cool to have a son or two.  I figured it would be interesting when I turned 50 to have a son who was 25.

Obviously, things didn't work out that way.  In my 20s I was still struggling for work and I was living with my parents after I lived in California for three years.  I never wanted to have kids if I wasn't financially ready.  I never found a woman I thought would be suitable to settle down with and have children. I knew a few guys who got together with a woman and had kids, only to separate or divorce and have to fight to even see their child.

Ultimately, I am happy not having kids.  It would have been nice seeing my parents as grandparents, but I never took the chance.  Then other factors came to play.

I like to tease and say that my kids would have been "millennials" or worse, "Gen-Z".  Seriously, I would have to complete with sagging pants and an era that doesn't share my values.  I know a few people under age 40 who have some traditional values, but far too many don't understand the value of hard work.  Too many feel entitled like they are owed something.  And the guys like to show their dirty underwear.  I am glad I didn't have to compete with any of that.

I would like to think that I would have been a tough but fair parent.  IN the early part of child raising, I would have been big on them following rules and instructions.  "Do as you are told".  As I got older , I found that kids think they can negotiate with their parents.  That doesn't fly with me.  But...as the kids get older, between 12-15, my rules are based mostly on trust.  And trust means unconditional trust.  I am more offended by a liar than a rule breaker.  When I was about 17, I broke a window while playing stickball.  The pitcher ran away.  I stood their and waited for the home owner to come out.  There was no drama.  We went to my mother and the window was paid for.  My mother understood the window wasn't broken on purpose.  We also agreed that I should find a better spot to play stickball.  The point is I told my mother the truth and even though she foot the cash, I accepted responsibility.  I would like to have instilled that same sense of responsibility in my kids.  I may be annoyed they screwed up, but I'd rather know.  Trust.  I would have given my kids near free reign  after age 16 as long as they followed that rule of trust.  

I still don't regret not having kids.  Not in this day and age.

NIAGARA FALLS JULY 4, 2025 PART 2

 The best view of Niagara Falls comes from Canada.  For a few reasons, I did not walk across Rainbow Bridge so I could take the best video.  On my next visit I will.

NIAGARA FALLS JULY 4, 2025

 This is my fourth or fifth time visiting Niagara Falls.  In 2022, I took some pretty good pictures and posted them on the old blog (see link).  This year, I left my Nikon camera home so I could manage my new Minolta camcorder.

The Falls is not only breath taking but it is therapeutic.

BLOG ENTRY #36 OBSCURE FACTS ABOUT ME-TELEVISION

I grew up in the 1970s. Millennials and Gen Z kids will never know the pain of only having network television, plus public broadcasting.  In New York City, we had channels 2 (CBS), 4 (NBC), 5 (Independent network but soon to be a local FOX affiliate), 7 (ABC), 9 (pre-UPN), 11 (PIX), 13, 21, 25, 31 (all public broadcasting).   No HBO, no USA Network, etc.

Growing up during the 70s meant I got to watch a lot of reruns pre-1970.  Most of those shows were trash.  Nothing was worse than coming home from school and only being able to choose between Gilligan's Island, the Mike Douglass Show or Sesame Street.

Among the shows I despised growing up:

Gilligan's Island-Lead character was lame and often bullied.

Abbott and Costello-Another show where the lead got bullied

Leave it to Beaver-Boring

Father Knows Best-Boring

The Honeymooners-I only liked two scenes from two different episodes

I Love Lucy-I am the minority in this but I never found the show funny and I hated the male dominance overtones.

It should be noted that none of the aforementioned programs had any people of color on them.

I did like a few programs from yesteryear.  Bewitched was cool, as was I Dream of Jeannie.  I preferred Bewitched.

Television didn't really get interesting until the first run episodes during the 1970s.  All in the Family, WKRP in Cincinnati, Taxi, Mary Tyler Moore, Sanford and Son and Soap.