Teaching Christmas a Lesson

What's the logical thing to do when you're bored at Christmas? Apparently, you trash the outdoor decorations at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in dear old Frankenmuth, where even the 7/11's look like a Bavarian ski lodge.

LaNia Coleman of The Bay City Times reports:

Frankenmuth Police have arrested four Genesee Township men, 17 to 21, in connection with the Christmas Day vandalism that caused about $40,000 worth of damage to 75 statues at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland.

“At this time, all suspects are cooperating with investigators,” said Police Chief Donald Mawer. “It is still unknown as to the motive for this crime.”

Flint Expatriates T-Shirts in Lapis Blue

Due to popular demand, artist Jessica Lynch is making the official Flint Expatriates t-shirt available in a new color — Lapis Blue. (Check out the color to the left with a different design.)

You can only get the original slate gray color in XL at this point.

And, yes, I realize that the official Flint Expatriates t-shirt doesn't actually say "Flint Expatriates" anywhere on the shirt. It's really more of a t-shirt ode to Flint than a branding opportunity.

I don't make any money off these shirts. Jessica covered all the cost for design, labor and materials, so she needs to sell the shirts to make her money back.

Go here to order the shirts.

And go here for more info on how the Flint Expatriates t-shirt came to be.

Even the Abandoned Bars Aren't Safe

The oddly agrarian style of the Bottom Street Bar, abandoned but still standing. (Photo by Thomas Wirt)

Another fire, another unexpected vista. (Photo by Gordon Young)

I had another one of those now-familiar disorienting moments when I drove by the site of Chevy in the Hole earlier this month and discovered that the Bottom Street Bar was gone, along with the nearby bank, both victims of arson. (This used to be the Sundown Lounge, perhaps The Sundowner. Hard to remember.)

You can now stand on the edge of the rubble and see Hurley Hospital across the vast, empty plain bisected by the river.

I never stepped foot in the place, but it holds a prominent spot in my memory of Flint. If you happened to be driving on Chevrolet during a shift change when the traffic backed up, you could come to a stop directly in front of the bar door, which was often propped open during the summer. This was a big thrill for me as a kid. I loved mystery books and I imagined that it was the kind of dark, smokey place where somebody could get murdered. (Perhaps somebody did over the years.) This is how I discovered that it was acceptable to drink at 7 a.m. in Flint.

Me: What are they doing in there?

Mom: Drinking.

Me: In the morning?

Mom: They just got out of work. It's night time for them.







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A Flint Expatriate Christmas

Gordie Young (Flint Powers Class of 1984) and Pat McFarlane Young (Flint Central Class of 1948)

Halo Burger Send Off

An important message via the Halo Burger Lovers Facebook page:

Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 28, is the last day that the Thomas Family will own Halo Burger after over 65 years. The business is being sold to a new owner. FOR THE THOUSANDS OF FLINT FAMILIES THAT THE THOMAS FAMILY HAS HELPED SUPPORT THROUGH JOBS, FINANCIAL AID AND VARIOUS GIFTS, HOW ABOUT WE SEND THEM OUT WITH THEIR SINGLE BIGGEST SALES DAY EVER? EVERYONE TRY TO HAVE LUNCH AT ANY HALO LOCATION ON TUESDAY!!!!!

Flint Photos: W. Paterson Street in 1967

Another gem from the archives of Tom Pohrt.

Flint Photos: Whiting Auditorium at Night

Flint Photos: Interior of House on Dayton Street

Flint Artifacts: Community Presbyterian Church Bulletins

Thanks to Tom Pohrt for these Flint artifacts.

A Tale of Two Bars

Rube's near the corner of Chevrolet and Flushing recently closed.

But the nearby Ambassador Bar survives.