![jow louis fist](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/jow-louis-fist.jpg)
We had some time to kill on Tues, April 5th, before going to a reception for the Rust Belt To Arts Belt conference I was giving a speech at the next day. The party was downtown so we used the opportunity to swing by Detroit’s most famous landmark, The Spirit of Detroit.
![spirit-of-Detroit_5769](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/spirit-of-Detroit_5769.jpg)
This bronze statue, designed by Marshall Fredericks for $40,000 in the 1950’s, sits in front of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Turning a gorgeous aqua over the years, it’s right down the block from Joe Louis‘ fist, made very popular most recently in the Eminem Chrysler commercial.
![joe-louis-fist-chrysler-comm](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joe-louis-fist-chrysler-comm1.jpg)
The 24-foot fist, designed by Robert Graham, was a gift to Detroit by Sports illustrated in 1987.
![Screen-shot-2011-04-21-at-8.43.38-AM](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Screen-shot-2011-04-21-at-8.43.38-AM.jpg)
The fist is on Woodward and Jefferson, the last street before you hit before Canada. That’s Windsor across the water.
![joe-lous-fist_5786](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joe-lous-fist_5786.jpg)
Mark Blackwell, who was videoing me, and I realized that me positioning myself just right as we drove by the fist could make excellent footage for the documentary we were making of my trip. It took a few times driving around Joe’s hand to get it right. The fist didn’t look right protruding from my head.
![IMG_5780 joe louis](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_5780-joe-louis.jpg)
And it didn’t look right shooting out of my nose.
![IMG_5776 joe louis](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_5776-joe-louis.jpg)
I finally just made a fist of my own.
![IMG_5782 joe louis](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_5782-joe-louis.jpg)
I know my hand position should have echoed Joe’s position more but we were about to get a ticket so we moved on. And now we were running late for the reception. Which is too bad as we really wanted to eat at the Ellwood, just a few blocks from the fist:
![IMG_1154](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_1154.jpg)
Or here:
![IMG_5736](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_5736.jpg)
Or here:
![ham-place_5751](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ham-place_5751.jpg)
But we drove straight to the reception, where we were sure there’d be food. There was. Plenty of it, but it was too fancy and I wanted real Detroit, the food I grew up on. So we went back here:
![IMG_6318](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_6318.jpg)
Lafayette Coney Island, home of the crunchiest, most chili-loaded dog in the land.
![IMG_5525](https://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_5525.jpg)
The dogs aren’t all mine but it made for a better photo. Probably not what Joe ate in his prime years but definitely comfort food for my kitsch brain, and a MUST if you hit Detroit.