First of Fall
Orphan Train, Marrow, Vienna Teng, Mercury Morris, Thick Thumb
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. This week’s issue includes the cities where my family lives, a novel about searching for family, a singer/songwriter with three academic degrees, a mercurial running back, and a statue that you shouldn’t thumb your nose at. I hope you like the picks and pics.
This is the final week of baseball’s regular season, and the first week of fall. The Detroit Tigers are in position to make the playoffs for the first time in ten years. And the fall colors are starting to appear. It’s a glorious time of year here in Michigan.
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Fave Five 103: First of Fall
Past and Present (Orphan Train), Bacon Burger (Marrow), Fall Fundraiser (Vienna Teng), Dynamic Dolphin (Mercury Morris), and a Thick Thumb.
Fave Five List: Family Cities
These are the metro areas where our three children and my three siblings currently reside.
Columbus, OH: My sister Ann Olszewski moved here from Cleveland in 2021 to be close to her son Ed and his family.
Los Angeles, CA: My brother David moved here from St. Louis in 1974 to start his career in music, and our daughter Kathy moved here from Northville in 2017.
Minneapolis, MN: My sister Joan moved here from St. Louis in 1976 to get her MA and PhD at the University of Minnesota and ended up teaching there until she retired.
Santa Barbara, CA: Our daughter Tracy moved here from Ann Arbor in 2015 with her future husband Matt Kahlscheuer, who got a job here after earning his PhD from the University of Michigan.
Washington, DC: Our son Roger moved here from Nashville in 2009, switching his career from journalism to teaching and coaching.
Book Best Bet
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
I previously wrote about A Piece of the World. This is another fine work of historical fiction by the same author.
From Amazon: Moving between contemporary Maine and Depression-era Minnesota, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship.
Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?
As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.
Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren't as different as they appear. A Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past.
Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel about the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.
Restaurant Recommendation
Marrow 8044 Kercheval, Suite 1B, Detroit, Michigan 48214
Barb and I, joined by our friends Peggy Najarian (a foodie) and her husband John Bommarito (a music authority), recently ventured to Detroit’s West Village to have lunch at Marrow and dessert next door at Sister Pie (for delicious pies and a great cinnamon roll). Lunch is served only at the bar, where we secured the last four seats and enjoyed great cocktails, food, and service. Barb had the bacon burger, while I ordered two appetizers.
Smash Bacon Burger: two well-done beef & bacon patties, American cheese, local greens, Kerch sauce, chips
Pickled shrimp
The Marrow Mix: one local cheese, one meat, rolls, mustard, jam, pickled items
From the restaurant: We connect people to local and ethically sourced animal products. We are fiercely passionate about our belief that good food should be on everyone’s plate. Our business is simple; we strive to create delicious food and provide access to high quality meat.
As a company proudly based in Detroit, we cultivate relationships with farmers in the Great lakes region to guarantee that you're getting quality food from people we trust. Because we know where and how our animals are raised, we not only promise great taste but also ensure you’re getting meat that is ethically harvested, healthier for you, and better for the planet. Come meet us at our restaurant and butcher shops or join us for a hands-on session at one of our classes. We promise fun, flavorful and meaningful experiences.
Our vision is to build and support a sustainable food system in the Great Lakes region. We are working to bring the food lifecycle back to basics — purchasing directly from farmers, honoring the animals and land, and maintaining a small footprint in sourcing and distribution. Our approach is three-fold: educating about more ethical and sustainable ways to eat, collaborating with industry partners to improve on and reform processes, and innovating to find better solutions and better products. Every. Single. Day.
Our four-time James Beard nominated restaurant, Marrow, bridges Executive Chef Sarah Welch’s (Top Chef Season 19 finalist) creative culinary genius with our local and ethically sourced products. The result is an inventive menu with signature dishes that demonstrate why the origin and farming practices of ingredients create superior flavors, textures, and taste. And promotes zero waste.
What’s for lunch?
Stop by our butcher shop for a casual lunch experience at our 10-seater bar. You’ll see fun paninis, meatballs, salads and, of course, charcuterie, and have access to our full beverage menu to ensure your lunch meeting is as boozy as you need it to be. Take out is available, and we have grab-and-go sandwiches. No reservations required.
What’s for dinner?
We offer both a la carte menu and a five-course chef’s tasting dinner for $90/person. Tasting menu selections change daily and feature signature dishes, as well as some of our Chef’s favorites that are not available on the a la carte menu.
Everything we do is guided by:
Transparency: We know our farmers and have traceable processes that instill a new level of transparency in the industry.
Control: We maintain full visibility into our supply chain and thereby uphold quality standards and solve problems before they arise.
Accountability: We believe in practicing humility and taking responsibility for all of our actions.
Education: We will never stop educating ourselves and those around us.
Access: We believe that everyone should have access to great quality meat and thus work hard to balance affordability for our customers and fair wages for our farmers.
Collaboration: We can only change an industry if we work with our peers and partners to improve practices, standards, and quality.
Marvelous Musician
Barb and I attended The Ark’s Fall Fundraiser on Friday, featuring Vienna Teng. The sold-out concert was superb, and we both loved every minute of it.
I first heard "City Hall" on WUMB and bought Dreaming Through the Noise and became a fan. I have seen her multiple times at The Ark in Ann Arbor, on Cayamo 2009 and 2010, and at Aretha's Jazz Café in Detroit. Vienna writes great songs, has a lovely voice, and plays the piano exquisitely. She is also adept at augmenting her solo performances using electronic gear to produce the sound of a full band with backup vocalists.
Vienna got a BS in Computer Science from Stanford and worked at Cisco Systems for two years as a programmer. Later she attended the University of Michigan, where she received an MBA from the Ross School of Business and an MS from the School of Natural Resources and Environment.
Vienna Teng is her stage name, taken at age 12 to honor the Austrian city that was home to classical composers Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms. and “Teng” in homage to famous Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng. Her musical style incorporates folk, pop, classical piano, and a cappella.
From Wikipedia: Cynthia Yih Shih (born October 3, 1978 in Saratoga, California), better known by her stage name Vienna Teng, is an American pianist and singer-songwriter who lives in Washington, DC. Teng has released five studio albums: Waking Hour (2002), Warm Strangers (2004), Dreaming Through the Noise (2006), Inland Territory (2009) and Aims (2013). She has also released one live album, The Moment Always Vanishing (2009), on which she is double-billed with her percussionist, Alex Wong.
From Wikipedia: Cynthia Yih Shih (born October 3, 1978 in Saratoga, California), better known by her stage name Vienna Teng, is an American pianist and singer-songwriter who was based in Detroit, Michigan. Her musical style incorporates folk, pop, classical piano, and a cappella.
City Hall (on Cayamo 2009)
Harbor
Blue Caravan
Whatever You Want
Antebellum
Level Up
My Playlist
Sports Star
Mercury passed away on Saturday. I recall watching him and the other Miami Dolphins set the standard for excellence, based in large part on a varied and unstoppable running game in the 70s.
From Wikipedia: Eugene Edward "Mercury" Morris (born January 5, 1947 in Pittsburgh, PA; died September 21, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a running back and kick returner. He played for eight years, primarily for the Miami Dolphins, in the American Football League (AFL) as a rookie in 1969 then in the American Football Conference (AFC) following the 1970 merger with the National Football League (NFL).
Morris played in three Super Bowls, winning twice and was selected to three Pro Bowls. He finished in the top five of the NFL in rushing touchdowns twice and total touchdowns once during his eight-year career. His career 5.1 yard per carry average was third all-time among NFL players (1st among half backs) behind just fullbacks Jim Brown and Marion Motley.
Mercury Morris, Elusive Rusher on a Perfect Dolphins Team, Dies at 77 by Alex Traub of The New York Times
Mercury Morris, who gave speed and dexterity to the rushing attack of the Miami Dolphins in the early 1970s, helping to power the team to two Super Bowls victories and the only perfect season in the history of the National Football League, died on Saturday night. He was 77.
At the height of his career, he was part of an unusual three-man rushing rotation alongside the fullback Larry Csonka and another running back, Jim Kiick. Csonka and Kiick were powerful bruisers; Morris, who was born Eugene, gained his nickname from his quicksilver unpredictability on the field.
Mercury Morris Highlights
Picture Pun
I gave this sculpture a big thumbs up.
