“Take Me to the Pilot”
Story Behind the Name
Show number one of a series is always the pilot episode. In our very first episode, we look back on an ancient Elton John song to ingeniously inject the word PILOT into the title of the show. This also sets the tone for odd titles that, on many occasions, only mean something to the crew. Sometimes it’s only known to Jim why he named a show a particular way… These “Story behind the name” features will let you peek in Jim’s head.
Royal Oak
In the 70s it was a tired, forgotten town, but ingenious Michigan entrepreneurs with a vision turned it into what it is today, ‘the’ place to be. If you’re looking for unique, funky local shops, cool eclectic restaurants, hip nightspots, a great place to spend a weekend or an even better place to live, put your foot on the brake, because you’re in Royal Oak, Michigan. Let’s face it, when friends come in from out of town, Royal Oak is where you take them. It’s a small town that’s got a really big metropolitan feel. There are great downtown condos and loft living, beautiful neighborhoods and a great diversity of people to bump elbows with.
Royal Oak is known for many great things, but my favorite is its incredible range of restaurants. Whatever your dining pleasure, it’s there. So in this chapter, we have a “dine-amic-duo” for you.
You’ve heard the old saying, “If you want something fast, cheap and good… you’ll have to pick two.” Well, here are two casual Royal Oak eateries where you can get all three and leave laughing like a pirate.
Detroit
Say you’re in downtown Detroit and suddenly your right brain gets a craving for some culture. Head straight for the creative, cultural and educational center of the city, Midtown Detroit.
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo is an awesome city that’s big enough to have that urban feel, but still small enough to be totally walkable. In 1959 Kalamazoo opened the first walking mall in America right downtown. Now it’s a collection of cool businesses, shops and great restaurants. K’zoo also has some incredibly beautiful and historic neighborhoods that are very welcoming. What give the city its intellectual energy are Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College. The city is also covered with some of the coolest and most creative building murals I’ve ever seen. They give the city a funky urban soul and a really inviting sense of place.