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Interesting article with some interesting insights into how blacks and whites interact.

Racial Shift in a Progressive City Spurs Talks

Yesterday a new Mexican restaurant had its grand opening in the neighborhood business district right near our house downtown Muskegon. We've been in Muskegon five years now and while noone can claim to have a real pulse on a community, we've been trying, and it's been a growing experience.

The interesting thing about the opening is that our neighborhood has some extremely fractured groups all sharing the same space and time. And when this small piece of real estate opened up again after years of being vacant, it was like all sides poured in eager to "claim it". Corner boys, racial healers, do gooders, small time investors, politicians, historic preservationists, welfare moms etc.

Usually, if these groups interact at all, it is from a distance and in passing. So it was interesting to see different groups at tables next to eachother, eyeing eachother, and not quite sure what to make of the new space.

That image came back to me today when I read the following blog posts from friends from a similar context in grand Rapids.

Lighthouse Dave
for original context of this blog entry read here

Livingston Steve

For me, everyday something comes up that reminds me of these divides that tear apart our, and I'm guessing all, communities. I'm pretty sure these feelings will never go away, but maybe there are things we can pick up that will allow us to possibly get better at sharing this time and space.

Finally got around to seeing this movie that I put in the Netflix queue in February about the time of the Muskegon Film Fest, when I led a session about screen writing and the guest and the audience had a love-in over Diablo Cody and her most recent movie Juno. And after watching it, we were in love, so much so that we promptly watched the movie again the next day. Characters are real, issues are real, and just done all around with a lot of class and style. And to top it off, I discovered in the credits on the second time through that an old family friend, Brad Van Arragon was one of the co-producers. How cool is that!! Check Juno out, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Had a nice run on beautiful day yesterday in Grand Rapids at the River Bank Run. Was worried my knees would be screaming the second half of the race, but that never materialized and I was able to pick up speed through the second half of the run, finishing in 2:06, averaging 8:04 miles. Now it's on to prepping for the Chicago Marathon, October 12!

Kind of a sad day. Demolition on the old Muskegon Hotel located at 593 W. Western Avenue apparently started yesterday, though I just noticed it today. It wasn't really a surprise as the city of Muskegon had opened bids to have it demolished prior to Muskegon Summer Celebration, if the property owner didn't do it himself. The demolition that is taking place is being done by the property owner. I was headed down to Heritage Landing when I saw it taking place and went home to grab our camera and snap some pictures and a video as well. A sad day.

Flickr Photoset of demolition

YouTube video of demolition

Original video file of demolition
(26 MB)

Article from Muskegon Chronicle about the opening of the Muskegon Hotel in 1914

We once had fugu while living in Japan, and also we lived quite close to the town spotlighted in this interesting NYTimes article on the future of fatality-free fugu. I think that they might be right that there is more entertainment in eating a potentially poisonous fish, even if the pate created from fugu liver is the culinary equivalent to foie gras.

If the Fish Can’t Kill You, Is It Really a Delicacy?