Autumn has fallen on the State Fair neighborhood, but instead of hosting the crimsons and golds that stain the leaves of Michigan’s trees each year, leaves on the invasive trees in this area tend to bleach out into jaundice yellows and pale mustards. Fitting, it seems, for a neighborhood as grimy as this. Why bring loveliness in to ruin things?

And so the neighborhood begins its long slumber. The grassy prairies have been cut by the city – finally – in preparation for winter, though the trees and shrubs still freely jostle for dominance. Winter’s crisp chill arrived early this year, driving the street dwellers indoors, leaving only the hardiest of residents – the hookers and drug dealers – on the corners. Believe me, I tried in earnest to get interviews with representatives from both groups.

I’ve had my eye on a certain hooker for a while, so to speak; she had the right combination of emaciation and haggardness, but she proved elusive, until I found her last week splayed atop a police car, being frisked. She’s on employment hiatus right now. So much for that interview. Others were rudely dismissive of my requests for interviews, let alone photographs.

The drug dealers were even less polite. One promising prospect introduced himself by saying “You need some of that weed, Chief?” but got angry real quick and rode off on his bike when I told him who I was and what I wanted, and that my weed needs were few that day. Reactions from others went downhill from there.

The lack of frequent posts here recently is due not only to having a life and other usual distractions, but also because wandering the State Fair neighborhood on foot by yourself takes time and effort, and successful interviews prove hard to come upon as the warmth drains from the air.

I’ll get a couple more State Fair interviews soon, though, if only because the area remains fascinating. Nothing introduces you to a neighborhood better than walking around blocks, or spending an evening on someone’s porch just waiting to see what happens next. And something always does.