Book Board Chat

Yes, Dan, the Penobscot building is still there (or here, since I'm near Detroit). It's gorgeous! The Native American motives are stunning, as in the Guardian Bldg. There are so many beautiful bldgs. in downtown Detroit. It's not all empty lots and/or boarded up stuff. We saw the old mansions, just north of the city, and most were well kept. However, a block or 2 away were houses with holes in their roofs, and real problems. My friends said you could buy one of them for 100-200K, but, then, the cost to fix up would be prohibitive, and there's no real neighborhood around; no groceries, no cleaners, nothing.

Due to budget crunches, the museum and conservatory on Belle Isle are opon only part of the week, and the aquarium closed. The Greektown gallery has been turned into a casino. We didn't go to Mexicantown. However, we stopped at an auction house (arts and antiques) and the estimates were high. Whether this will translate into bids and sales, I have no idea. The quality was medium level, IMHO, but the Oriental rugs were nice - ones you would buy to use, not hang up or put away to appreciate. They had an Andy Warhol with est. of 25K, along with a Giacometti small casting est. at $200-440. The furniture wasn't great, altho if one needed chests of drawers or chairs, this auction would be the place to go. The jewelry seemed high, and really good jade was in line with what it would sell for retail.

My talk went well, thank goodness, and I want to go home (but I always do after a talk). The audience was responsive. There were students who were there for class credits, senior citizens, people from a home for the mentally challenged, & the general public. I had fun. Hope they did.

And, probably the next time you'll hear from me, I'll be back in my beloved Chicago. Have a great day, all!