Downtown Stroll Highlights The Good and the Fixable
It's The Right Time to Fix Those Downtown Clocks
May 1, 2005
By: O. J. Cunningham
It's always 9:13 on the clock on the former Kresge Building
It's always 8:06 on the clock on the Phoenix Building.
I was walking the streets of Downtown Bay City back in April. You remember "Back in April" . . . when it seemed that spring had actually sprung.
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I was strolling Center Avenue . . . out taking pictures of the new Rotary sponsored Micro Park that is a beautiful addition to the landscape on the southwest corner of Center Avenue at Saginaw Street.
It was a beautiful day . . . temperature approaching 80 degrees . . . light breeze from the south . . . sunshine and nary a cloud in the sky.
I got to thinking about all the great things I love about Downtown Bay City. I started making one of those David Letterman "Top 10" kind of lists in my mind . . .
And then it hit me . . . I could never make a "Top 10" list of things I like about Downtown Bay City because I would surely leave out something important. I would fail badly at political correctness. I would inadvertently offend some local store owner. In the end, I decided it was just a bad idea . . .
So I decided to make a list of things
I don't like about Downtown Bay City. My Reasoning: Why make everyone angry . . . when you can focus on just three (3)
Here's my short list of three(3).
Numbers one and two are a package deal since they both have to do with the same issue . . . and they're both at the same intersection -- Center and Washington -- The Clocks!It's time to get the clocks on the corner of Center and Washington working and set to the right time. I'm sure something as simple as this (getting a clock to work) must just be an oversight.
There are so many wonderful things being accomplished in Downtown Bay City, I'm sure there must be a couple of bucks to get the time right.
Too many times I've heard the bad (cheap shot) joke . . . "At least those clocks are right twice a day . . ." -- Yuk, Yuk, Yuk!
Let's call the Clock Doctor and put the Tic Toc back into Downtown Bay City.
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Number three on the list: The Big Red Mill-End Letters Have To Go - I have to tell you . . . I have mixed emotions about the Mill-End Store. I have fond memories of the old Mill-End. I've bought lots of great fishing stuff in Mill-End over the years.
But I have to admit I was very happy to find out that the "old girl" was recently sold and is scheduled for a face lift. In recent years, the Mill-End sign on the side of the building has gotten shabbier with the passing of each year. I am looking forward to the scheduled re-modeling.
This Corner (Center at Water) is a prime location. The Planetarium and the Band Shell are perfectly matched at this intersection. The re-modeled Mill-End location will certainly fit better with the surroundings.
With that said . . . here's a short list (can't stop myself) of things I love in Downtown Bay City (no particular order).
The Red Grange Club Sandwich at Gatzby's
The Planetarium - You just gotta love little kids' faces after a Planetarium Show
Music at Night at the Band Shell - Family Entertainment
The Appledore - Parked Dockside at the Band Shell
Let's not forget the Tall Ships - Due Back in town (2006)
The New Library - It's gonna be awesome
Breakfast at Cracked Egg Omelette Shop
The Multi-colored Awnings up and down the Washington Avenue corridor
Antique Stores - They're everywhere!
The New Micro Park on the corner of Center and Saginaw
The Deck (in the summer) at the Kingfish Restaurant - Tiki Lounge
The mixed smell of chocolate and peanuts inside St. Laurent's Brothers (I still think their web site address should have been - nuts-since-1904.com)
Restaurants - Mulligan's, The Atrium, Café Appareil, State Lunch & Stock Pot
The "Mom and Pop" shops that dot our Downtown streets - What a glorious array of shopping delight!
Coffee Shops and Deli Shops - One in every block.
Corabelle's Ice Cream Shop and The Sweet Boutique
The State Theatre - I love old movies
The Grilled (Blackened) Chicken Caesar at Old City Hall - The best Chicken Caesar on the Planet
That's quite a list . . .
After naming all of these wonderful things about Downtown, it now seems a bit "nit-picky" to point to the clocks and the Mill-End sign as negatives.
But as the saying goes . . . "When all your big problems are solved, your little problems become your new big problems."
Did I mention how safe it is in Downtown Bay City? (Let's add that to my bullet list.)
Now I actually feel guilty pointing out the clocks and picking on the Mill-End sign. I think I'll walk over to Old City Hall and have a Blackened Chicken Caesar.
The Mill-End Store -- Downtown Bay City, Michigan
I'm glad the big red letters are going to go away.
