My Town in Three Photos - Flint, Michigan

by Krysten Lindsay Hager

 

 

 

I grew up in Grand Blanc, which is a suburb of Flint, Michigan. I attended the University of Michigan-Flint first as an undergrad, and then as a graduate student. It was here I developed my writing skills due to the great professors I had and all their encouragement, so I wanted to share a taste of Flint, Michigan with you!
Flint is known as being “Vehicle City,” because of the GM affiliation and the car plants there as well the big pro golf tournament, “The Buick Open,” which was played in my hometown of Grand Blanc for years. While it’s best known for the cars and the historic Flint sit-down strike of the 30’s, it is also a college town with Kettering University, the University of Michigan-Flint, as well as Baker College and Mott Community College and has a large cultural center for the arts. The Flint Art Walk is not to be missed!

First, is a picture of the University Pavilion (formerly Water Street Pavilion) which is part of the University of Michigan-Flint. It has the campus bookstore, offices, and a bunch of restaurants and it’s where I ate lunch pretty much every day and sometimes twice a day (who could blame me, the food was delicious and the staff at the different eateries were so friendly). It was also where I would go to write. My favorite spot to write was near the windows that faced the street on the far left-hand side of the building. There was something about sitting there and people watching as I worked on story ideas. It’s a beautiful structure inside and out and can I just say how much money I spent in that bookstore? Nothing like being able to grab the latest biography or novel during a break and then finding a great spot to read between classes.

This is a picture of the Thompson library which is the University of Michigan-Flint library. I spent so much time here studying and writing. My favorite writing place was on the first floor at a table right near the windows overlooking the Flint River. It was a beautiful view no matter what the season, but it was especially so in autumn and spring. It was one of my favorite places to go during class breaks to read and write. I was even in a commercial for the school where I was sitting—guess where? At my favorite spot in the library.

And here is a picture of that view—the Flint River. While I viewed it from a side angle and saw the trees, sidewalks with benches, and the bridges, this is an amazing shot from one of the bridges taken by University of Michigan lecturer and artist (as well as being my friend), Tim Kranz. So you can see how this view would inspire me to work and write here.

Thanks for letting me take you on a tour of one of my favorite places and share the “softer side” of Flint, Michigan with you!



(Photos courtesy of Tim Kranz and used with permission. )