In the season two finale of Parts Unknown, CNN’s Anthony Bourdain explores the Motor City’s past, present and future as he walks through ruins of the abandoned Packard Plant, helps to mow overgrown city parks, and enjoys food at Detroit’s off the beaten path restaurants.
Anthony Bourdain on Detroit: It’s where nearly everything American and great came from. The things the whole world wanted, made here.
Detroit is THE most fascinating city in America. The weathervane of the nation. I think @Bourdain gets it. Watching @cnn to find out.
— Travis Wright (@TalkinWright) November 11, 2013
Bourdain:
Maybe the worm started to turn here: the Packard Automotive Plant. Opened in 1903, it was considered the most advanced plant of its time. 3.5 million square feet. Now one man lives here: Mr. Al Hill.
“It’s hard to look away from the ruin. To not find beauty in the decay.”-@Bourdain on Detroit’s abandoned Packard Plant #PartsUnknown
— Parts Unknown (@PartsUnknownCNN) November 11, 2013
At one point, the Packard Automotive Plant employed approximately 33,000 people. #PartsUnknown
— Parts Unknown (@PartsUnknownCNN) November 11, 2013
Tony @Bourdain and Al Hill walk through the Packard Automotive ruins #PartsUnknown #Detroit pic.twitter.com/eKtIc3IOj6
— Helen Cho (@HelenCho) November 11, 2013
Al Hill
It takes a whole village to raise an individual, and it takes an entire world to support one city. And when one city is suffering, or when a community is suffering, the entire world should help pitch in and help elevate it, instead of sit there and stare at it.
Packard Automotive Plant #PartsUnknown #Detroit pic.twitter.com/5qV8wCWbrB
— Helen Cho (@HelenCho) November 11, 2013
Why am I watching CNN to learn about this 24-hour Coney Island? Now I want a Coney. Anthony Bourdain #PartsUnknown http://t.co/iXZqmzji1H
— ROCHELLE RILEY ✈🌎 (@rochelleriley) November 11, 2013
Love the ghost gardens of #Detroit. @PartsUnknownCNN #PartsUnknown #findingthebeauty
— Sydney Kearns (@Sydney_Kearns) November 11, 2013
Bordain: “I’ve only seen 1 other city in the world that looks anything like #Detroit: #Chernobyl.” #CNN #PartsUnknown #quotd
— Michael J. Russell (@planetrussell) November 11, 2013
But at this point I’m wondering when #partsunknown goes beyond ruin porn & shows the amazing places & community in #Detroit. #phoenixrising
— Beth (@beths_confusion) November 11, 2013
“The Detroit Fire Department – it’s not a job, it’s a calling.” #PartsUnknown #Detroit
— Deborah Edwards-Onoro (@redcrew) November 11, 2013
Greedy Greg’s menu. #PartsUnknown Detroit pic.twitter.com/xJgA41KwoE
— Parts Unknown (@PartsUnknownCNN) November 11, 2013
Just saw Bourdain sip a Faygo Red Pop on #partsunknown focusing on Detroit. Yup. It is mighty sweet drink.
— Darlene aka D.Ho (@DarleneEats) November 11, 2013
Nice to have #partsunknown spend so long honoring #Detroit fire department. Those guys are awesome.
— David Woodruff (@DavidaWoodruff) November 11, 2013
We are only as strong as our weakest city, America. How do we leave Detroit in this state? #PartsUnknown
— Matt Garcia (@mattjgarcia68) November 11, 2013
#PartsUnknown after seeing the Detroit Fire Dept. Everyone should hug a fire firefighter. Unbelievable Challenges.
— Glennon Martin 🇺🇸 (@GlennonMar) November 11, 2013
What about the entrepreneurs and artists changing the city, one block at a time? You have to start with that Detroit is a great city, and worth saving.
“You have to be an unpatriotic freak to not believe in it” #Detroit #partsunknown
— Sofia (@sof_creative) November 11, 2013
Detroiter a are addicted to their city. We don’t run. We still have hope and pride. #partsunknown
— Tim Ciechorski (@TimCiechorski) November 11, 2013
#PartsUnknown episode about Detroit is incredibly heartbreaking. #CNN
— Patti Summers (@petitjean5567) November 11, 2013
You’re appreciated in Detroit. Guess what? We like good food too. We hear from people all the time that say they’ve moved back to Detroit.
Hey Detroiters: Believe in hope & future-will Happen. Doubters deserve the strip malls anyway. Sending LOVE to the D. #partsunknown
— Dawna Kuhne (@BhamLifer) November 11, 2013
“I hope you’re enjoying our trip into the greatest city in America…#Detroit” –@Bourdain on #PartsUnknown
— Heidelberg Project (@HeidelbergProj) November 11, 2013
In Detroit, police and fire department services are reduced. They turn to each other for help. Detroit has a reputation as a tough town. But they don’t give up.
Meet the Mower Gang
Cleaning up the abandoned parks and playlots in Detroit. When the city announced they were closing 72 parks, Tom Nardone bought a mower and started mowing the lawns at the parks.
And now there’s a Mower Gang that mows the parks.
“With nature taking back the landscape block by block, the urban farm is really the last line of defense.”-@Bourdain pic.twitter.com/R6IJ7HHjrb
— Parts Unknown (@PartsUnknownCNN) November 11, 2013
detroit mower gang #PartsUnknown pic.twitter.com/qNzmplDKEg
— Helen Cho (@HelenCho) November 11, 2013
Urban Agriculture
We can create a more vibrant economically strong community.
#Detroit #Community Market was JUST FEATURED on .@PartsUnknownCNN: D-Town Farm Stand!@Bourdain’s #Detroit episode again@ 11pm&11/16on .@CNN
— Detroit Markets (@DetroitMarkets) November 11, 2013
Thanks @Bourdain for highlighting D-town Farm in tonight’s #PartsUnknown. Doing good works in Detroit.
— Em Brown (@eb26) November 11, 2013
“Nice, but @bourdain wasn’t asking the right questions about the urban farm,”–my urban farmer husband. #partsunknown
— Rachel Webb (@raychwrites) November 11, 2013
What will Detroit look like in 20 years? In 50 years?
That’s not just a Detroit question.
That’s an America question.
What People Thought About Bourdain’s Show on Detroit
Was a good show, but the cool places in downtown and Corktown and Midtown got short shrift –@Bourdain, #PartsUnknown
— Deadline Detroit (@DeadlineDetroit) November 11, 2013
I think @Bourdain‘s #partsunknown season finale has shown how difficult it is to tell #Detroit‘s story in one hour. #hungryformore
— Kevin J. Hardy (@kevinjhardy) November 11, 2013
@Bourdain giving Detroit the respect it deserves #partsunknown
— Debra Walko (@DebraWalko) November 11, 2013
I love @Bourdain & #PartsUnknown, & I have mixed feelings about tonight’s #Detroit episode. So much discussed & so much overlooked. @freep
— Alex Beaton (@alexbeaton) November 11, 2013
