Heads Up – Today is Cloud Appreciation Day

Posted on by farlane
Midtown Clouds by Andrew McFarlane

Midtown Clouds by Andrew McFarlane

The good folks at EarthSky inform us that today (September 12, 2025) is International Cloud Appreciation Day. The Cloud Appreciation Society shares that it’s a day when people all around the world look up to appreciate the beauty of the clouds and contribute a photo of their sky to the Memory Cloud Atlas. The Atlas is an enduring and unifying record of people coming together from different locations and cultures in appreciation of our shared world and the most dynamic, evocative, and poetic nature of clouds.

Head over to the Memory Cloud Atlas to view the photos people have shared & share your own. You can also check out photos from 2024, 2023, and 2022!

I took this photo in August in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood looking east over Woodward & Barlum Apartments, about 2 blocks from the Detroit Institute of Arts. If you would like to support me, please feel welcome to do so through Patreon or just sharing this blog with your friends & family!

More clouds on Michigan in Pictures!

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See some Rare Birds at the 2025 Woodward Dream Cruise!

Posted on by farlane
RARE BIRD by pkHyperFocal

RARE BIRD by pkHyperFocal

The Woodward Dream Cruise will be celebrating its 30th year tomorrow (August 16, 2025). It is the largest one-day automotive event in North America, drawing nearly one million people & 40,000 classic cars every year.

pk got this shot of a 1971 Superbird dressed in Sassy Grass at the 2023 Woodward Dream Cruise. Here’s a few they have shared – see more great shots in their Wheels gallery on Flickr!

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Macomb’s Miller mad about Canada’s smoke

Posted on by farlane
Smokey Belle Isle Sunset by Ryan Jake Jakubowski

Smokey Belle Isle Sunset by Ryan Jake Jakubowski

The Detroit News reports that as Michigan has extended its 10th air quality advisory of the season, Macomb County’s Candice Miller is calling on Canada to do more about wildfires that are degrading Michigan’s air quality:

“Breathing in the Canadian wildfires smoke cannot be the new normal,” said Candice Miller, Macomb County public works commissioner.

Since June, wildfires in Canada have caused decreased air quality in bordering states in the U.S., prompting the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to so far issue ten advisories warning against unhealthy breathing conditions. Miller called for U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra to press Canadian officials to increase efforts combating wildfires and improve forestry management.

“Ambassador Hoekstra needs to make some noise,” Miller said. “Smoke from Canada wildfires should not be a regular part or our summers but unfortunately that’s become the norm in our state and others. It’s unacceptable for our friends in Canada to simply say, ‘The fires will burn out’ or ‘Wait until December.’”

…During mid-afternoon on Thursday, the air quality index in central Macomb County was between 140 to 150, a range described as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” “That description misses the mark, in my opinion. Smoke is unhealthy for all groups,” Miller said. At the same time in the Marquette area, the air quality index was 139, a day after measuring 161. In Seney, in the central portion of the Upper Peninsula, the reading was 160 during the morning of July 30, the highest in the state.

Ryan took these photos last night on Belle Isle at sunset. Click the pic above to follow Ryan & see more on Facebook and for sure check out J&C Photography to view & purchase his work and to hire him for photographic services including drone photography & some very cool 360 degree panoramas.

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The last look at Jimmy Hoffa

Posted on by farlane
Last portraits of Jimmy Hoffa by Tony Spina

Last portraits of Jimmy Hoffa by Tony Spina

50 years ago on the morning of July 30th, 1975 Chief Photographer for the Detroit Free Press Tony Spina took what would be the last pictures of former Teamsters president James Riddle Hoffa. Wayne State’s Walter P Reuther Labor Library shares:

Spina was sent to visit Hoffa at his cottage on Square Lake in Lake Orion to take portraits of him for the Free Press and Newsweek. The images were not intended for a specific story; they were meant to update older photo files, which were likely outdated due to Hoffa’s incarceration from 1967 to 1971. At the time, Hoffa was challenging a federal restriction that barred him from holding a leadership position in the Teamsters until 1980, thus making him newsworthy once again.

According to Spina’s account, the backyard photo shoot was almost entirely uneventful. The two were old friends and chatted as they moved around the backyard, chasing the best light. The only notable moment occurred when Hoffa had to step away to take a call about a meeting scheduled for after lunch. It is assumed that this was the meeting held at the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomfield Hills, from which Hoffa never returned. 

Lots more in the Reuther Library and for sure check out photos in the awesome Tony Spina Collection online!

Jimmy Hoffa Negatives Walter P Reuther Library.jpg
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Bridging the Gap between US & Canada … with Bikes!!

Posted on by farlane
Canadian & US Flags on Gordie Howe International Bridge

Canadian & US Flags on Gordie Howe International Bridge

Last week the Gordie Howe International Bridge shared that the Canadian and US flags have found their permanent home at center of the bridge deck, adding “Soon you’ll be able to see the flags for yourself from the multi-use path as you walk or bike across the bridge.” Bike to Canada you say?? Beauty!!

The Gordie Howe Bridge multi-use path will be one lane and will accommodate two-way pedestrian and cyclist traffic. It will be 1.5 miles in length and 11.8 feet wide. The multi-use path will be toll-free & connect to local road and trail networks. In Windsor, there will be connections to the Broadway Street Multi-Path and the Trans Canada Trail. In Detroit, there will be linkages to the Great Lakes Way which provides water & land routes from Lake Erie to Lake Huron and Iron Belle Trail that runs all the way to the far western corner of the Upper Peninsula!

Lots more from Gordie the Bridge! And you can bet I’ll be getting you the info about riding the Bridge just as soon as I have it! More bikes & biking on Michigan in Pictures including (very soon) the scoop on this Iron Belle Bike Trail!

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Detroit’s Hottest Day was also its 233rd birthday!

Posted on by farlane
Trolly to the Tigers, Detroit 1934

Trolly to Navin Field, Detroit 1934 by Corktown Historical Society

Yesterday Model D editor Aaron Foley took a fascinating look at July 24, 1934 which remains the hottest day in the Detroit’s recorded history when the temperature struck 104.6°F at 4:10 PM on Detroit’s 233rd anniversary:

That brutal day came during a nationwide heat wave that swept from the West Coast through the Great Plains and into the Midwest, ultimately settling over the Motor City. More than 700 people died across the country due to the heat. Detroit’s death toll was lower than most. An eight-month old baby named Rosie May died of heat exhaustion and two men drowned swimming while trying to cool down. But low death toll or not, the city felt the heat.

And 105°F isn’t just “hot.” It’s desperate. On Van Dyke, on the city’s east side, a lumber yard fire broke out, engulfing nearly 10 acres. The blaze destroyed nearly 3,000 telephone lines, and claimed five lives

The Corktown Historical Society shares this photo depicts the historic intersection of Michigan & Trumbull aka “The Corner” in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood in 1934, a year the Tigers won the AL pennant. They share “Trolley cars were a popular source of transportation to Tigers games during the 1930s, at least for those who could afford the fare during the Depression. In this photo, hundreds of fans exit a trolley car near Navin Field.”

Click through to their Instagram to see photos of Bennett Park & Briggs Stadium & follow them on Facebook for the latest … or is that earliest? 😉

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Happy 324th Birthday to Detroit!

Posted on by farlane
Friday Night on Woodward by Retta Billy

Woodward on a Friday Night by Retta Billy

The city of Detroit was founded on Sunday July 24, 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac. Throughout the history of the city, Detroit’s industry has been a driving engine of Michigan and the nation, reaching its zenith with the auto industry. To my mind, there’s few things that capture the indomitable spirit of the city like Woodward Avenue. I particularly love that this photo features the new Hudson’s building as a backdrop with one of the auto industry’s more out of the box experiments and a partly people powered pedal pub from Handlebar Detroit.

Enjoy this selection of nighttime scenes of the city from Michigan photographer Coretta Billy that capture that spirit. For sure follow her on Facebook and view her portrait & event photography on her website.

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That big moon is all in your head

Posted on by farlane
moon over Detroit by kare hav

Moon over Detroit by kare hav

The Farmer’s Almanac says that the July Full moon is known as the Buck Moon because that’s when the antlers of male deer are in full-growth mode. It’s officially full today (July 10) at 4:37pm EST, and if you watch it rise you’ll see it appear bigger due to the “Moon Illusion,” a phenomenon that occurs when the moon is close to the horizon.

Go out on the night of the full moon and find a good spot to watch it rise. It can be breathtaking, eliciting an awestruck “Wow!” from any skywatcher. When we observe the Moon near the horizon, it often looks HUGE – whether it’s peeking over the shoulder of a distant mountain, rising out of the sea, hovering behind a cityscape, or looming over a thicket of trees.

But here’s the thing: it’s all in your head. Really. The Moon’s seeming bigness is an actual illusion, rather than an effect of our atmosphere or some other physics.

…Photographers can simulate the Moon illusion by taking pictures of the Moon low on the horizon using a long lens, with buildings, mountains, or trees in the frame. So, remember when you see dazzling photos that feature a giant Moon above the landscape: those images are created by zooming in on distant objects near the ground. In other words, the Moon looks bigger in those photos because it’s a zoomed-in view.

kare hav took this photo of the July full moon rising over the Renaissance Center in Detroit back in 2018. The low blue lights on the right are Comerica Park, and the new Hudson Building would be right about where the moon is! See more in their Detroit gallery on Flickr.

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Milk & Honey & Memory & Making It Rain

Posted on by farlane
A Little Milk and Honey by amndcook

A Little Milk and Honey by Amanda Cook

Michigan in Pictures readers may know that my mother Jill died from Alzheimer’s, a truly awful disease. Every once in a while, you hear an Alzheimer’s related story that brings a smile to your face. That was the case on Friday when Detroiters on the east side were gifted with a blessing from above when $5000 was dropped from a helicopter on the memorial block party of Shine Car Wash owner Darrell “Plant” Thomas in accordance with his last wish.

The Alzheimer’s Association is dedicated to fighting the disease, and the month of June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Health Awareness Month:

Today, there are more than 7 million people age 65 and older in the United States living with Alzheimer’s. Two-thirds of Americans have at least one major potential risk factor for dementia. The brain changes that cause Alzheimer’s are thought to begin 20 years or more before symptoms start, which suggests that there may be a substantial window of time in which to intervene in the progression of the disease.

Experts believe there isn’t a single cause of Alzheimer’s. It’s likely the disease develops as a result of multiple factors. While not a direct cause of Alzheimer’s, the greatest known risk factor is advancing age. Although some risk factors like age can’t be changed, as many as 45% of dementia cases may be attributable to modifiable risk factors, such as high blood pressure and lack of physical activity. Research shows that adopting healthy behaviors — like getting exercise and good quality sleep — can improve your brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

The Independent shared one such story of a woman who has been able to reverse her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, so there is hope as long as we continue to look for solutions. Please encourage your representatives to defend medical research funding!!

Make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Amanda shares that Milk Thistle Honey is known to help with a variety of conditions including digestive and heart health. See more in her Butterflies & Bugs gallery on Flickr!

Step up for your Detroit Tiger All Stars!!

Posted on by farlane
Gleyber Torres on Father's Day by Detroit Tigers

Gleyber Torres on Father’s Day by Detroit Tigers

You have until noon today (Thursday, June 26) to submit your vote for the first round of voting for the MLB All Star Game. With a record of 50-31, the Detroit Tigers are tied with defending champions the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball.

Pictured above is AL leading second baseman Gleyber Torres on Father’s Day. Click the pic below to vote!