00:00What was once a simple alley with dumpsters now has art on the walls, nightclubs and restaurants and places of
00:10interest.
00:11There's an art museum. The Library Collective created The Belt in Detroit.
00:17We're at The Belt. Or specifically, we're at Mooch Pizza with perfect timing from Miss Bree.
00:26The Beast of Burden, and it's on its own pizza pedestal.
00:30I was very excited about the pizza. I am.
00:32We chose it because of the Rolling Stones connected. It's actually their most popular pizza.
00:37Yes, I've driven by this a hundred times, never made it easier.
00:40This is one piece? Oh my god!
00:42This is kind of what I would call New York-style pizza.
00:46Right. It's kind of thin-crossed pizza.
00:49This is a New York pizza.
00:50How many are you using sugar? Oh my god, no. It's like, listen, it's too big. I can't...
00:57Good. It's hot.
00:59Again, the crust is extremely good. It's like a very light crust. When you bite into it, it's got that
01:05crispiness to it.
01:06It's just really delicious. The meat's only beautiful, and again, this crust.
01:10It's a handmade piece of art that doesn't come off a conveyor belt.
01:15It's like the belt.
01:22So this is very interesting, part of the belt is the post bar.
01:26Joel, you were telling me the location of the post bar has changed.
01:29It used to be right outside of Cobo Hall.
01:33And it was a favorite spot to go before Red Wing games all the time.
01:37And they've moved the sign from its original location and repurposed it right here.
01:42And it's like seeing an old friend.
01:44Right now, Joel and I are standing at the parking structure for the belt in Detroit.
01:49And it could be the most artistic parking structure in all of Detroit.
01:55Look at that. Look at that behind us.
01:56I don't care how pretty something is.
01:58She slapped a mural on it, and we just took it to the next level.
02:00It's prettier than a brick wall.
02:02Yeah, cheers to the belt, man. I think they got a party going on here every night.
02:05On our latest rock and road trip, we explore the outdoor arts around Detroit and beyond.
02:11Probably the OG of murals in Detroit, or at least one of them, has got to be Eastern Market.
02:17Originally, farmers started painting pictures of produce on their stalls to help encourage sales.
02:23Eastern Market's mural scene really exploded with the introduction of murals at the market some years ago.
02:30Murals in the market returns to Eastern Market this September.
02:34The city of Detroit also recently had a project called Arts Alleys,
02:38giving money to places that need some help and are doing art alleys similar to the origins of the belt.
02:46We stopped by the art alley in Redford where some amazing things are happening.
02:49John George from Blightbusters explains the goals for their art alley and their community.
02:5520 years ago, my wife said we need a neighborhood coffee shop.
02:58And at the same time, I met an artist named Chad.
03:00He said we need to paint murals and teach kids.
03:02It was my idea to put it all under one roof and call it the Artists Village.
03:06So, a million dollars later, we are in the process of continuing this effort.
03:10We do art festivals, art shows.
03:12And then, of course, my guys are on Grand River, clearing all of the weeds and trash off of the
03:18curb line.
03:18I've got crews out now cutting down dead trees, putting in new sidewalks, picking up illegal dumping.
03:24We're the good guys.
03:24Our goal is to make this corner just a little bit better than we found it.
03:29I've got to say, Mayor Duggan and Councilman Tate and this particular council and mayor have really learned to work
03:35together with community organizations.
03:37The reason we have all this new concrete and these new murals is because of the mayor and Councilman Tate
03:43and the city.
03:44We also visited the Grand River Alley.
03:46One of the city's most iconic art installations, the Dabbles Beed Museum and Arts Garden are a part of the
03:52Grand River Alley.
03:53Fresh cement, giving it a new look, part of the upgrades from Art's alleys.
03:57The Grand River Alley having art very much in the style of the Heidelberg project.
04:02Here's Joel reporting in from what?
04:04The Grand River Dream Cruise.
04:06And these pieces just scratch the surface of all the outdoor art available in the greater Detroit area.
04:13Whether it's the Stevie Wonder mural or any of the other amazing pieces of outdoor art in Detroit, we love
04:20them all.
04:20To me, the murals say, this place is loved.
04:24It is cared for.
04:25And that is how we make our city better.
04:27For Rockin' Road Trips, I'm Danielle Flynn.
04:29The Weird, The Wild, The Wonderful.
04:31Rockin' Road Trips with 94.7 WCSX.
04:35The Beast of Burden Pizza has mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and shaved Parmesan cheese.
04:45Do you like your Parmesan shaves, Joel?
04:47I don't shave my cheese, darling.
04:50That's barbaric, Joel.
04:51Can you imagine going more than a week without shaving my cheese?
04:53I never picked up the habit of shaving my cheese, darling.
04:57That's good to know.
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