Detroit: Day of the Dead

Our weekly visit to Detroit had a different twist to it today.  Each year on Nov. 1st we have a  little ritual which we enact.  We begin at the Detroit Institute of Arts with a visit to the Offrenda exhibit, now an annual highlight of the museum's exhibition calendar.  This year's show was bigger and better than ever.  Here are a few photos showing some of the Spanish/Mexican/American Offrendas on display.

Several of the Offrendas on display at the DIA.

  

Also at the DIA, and visiting from the Musee D'Orsay

in Paris is Monet's Water Lilies!  Photography was

allowed!  It is a remarkable painting; very meditative.

Delius (English composer who lived in France) had

a similar garden, and his music often seems related in

mood and spirit.

     After visiting the museum, we always head up to Woodlawn Cemetery, one of the major Detroit cemeteries.  A stroll through Woodlawn is an adventure in marble.  It is beautifully landscaped and very fun to visit...

Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit

Deb on the main "street."

Some of the tombs.

Stained glass on back wall of tomb.

The Dodge Mausoleum.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit

     After a very chilly, breezy walk through part of the cemetery (it is huge), we went to nearby Ferndale for lunch, to Woodward Avenue Brewery.  This is also part of the tradition, as this time of year they usually have some yummy dark beers.  They also have many vegan options on their menu.

Today's beer menu at WAB

My pint of Maple Brown Ale.  Yum (*** stars)!

The bar at WAB.  There was also a movie crew in here 

today, filming (not shown).

Intersection of Woodward Ave. and 9 Mile Rd.

This is a very fun area, with bars, restaurants, 

independent shops, cafes, book and comic stores, etc

This is the view from the brewpub windows.

Our vegan pizza at WAB!

     We also have an Offrenda at home during this season.  Here are a few images of ours.  Our new tablecloth is courtesy of my cousin, Cathy.  The shot glass is from the memorial service for her late husband, Moreno.  Last night it had Laphroig Whiskey in it.

Our in-house Offrenda this year.

Offrenda.

Part of our Offrenda.

     Tune in next week, when I hope to attend Brew-Ha-Ha at Fort Street Brewery!

Mapman.