Section B December 2-8, 2009
Hamilton fulfills
dream, opens
model train shop
As a young boy, Rainy Hamilton Jr.’s dreams were
filled with model trains, intricate winding tracks and
the lifelike scenery that surrounded it all. The passion
that continues to fuel his love for model trains also
an all-DEtRoit cast of dancers ages 4 to 34 rehearse for serves as the driving force behind recently opening of
the Continuing the Legacy…Tribute to Michael Jackson taking
his very own hobby shop - Rainy Day Hobbies.
place Dec. 13 in the Music Hall. – Carlos Foster photos
Located at 22961 Woodward Ave. (in downtown Fern-
dale), the 2,000 sq. ft. store will serve as a retreat for
Dream keepers
“kids of all ages,” featuring merchandise to cater to both
the veteran hobbyist or those just entering the exciting
world of mod-
Detroit performers continue the legacy
eling, a time
in Hamilton’s
in ‘Tribute to Michael Jackson’
own life that
will not soon
By Valerie D. Lockhart
African dance steps.
be forgotten.
“My father,
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
“There are plenty of artists
in Detroit that need an outlet
Rainy Hamil-
ton Sr., started
“In a world filled with de-
for their crafts in a profession-
my interest in
spair, we must still dare to
al environment,” explained
model trains
dream. And in a world filled
McCall, a native Detroiter who
one Christmas,
with distrust, we must still
performed on Broadway for 20
and from that
dare to believe.” – Michael
years. “I want to give people
moment, I was
Jackson
an opportunity to perform on
a professional level. We have
hooked,” said Hamilton, a founding principal architect
With trembling hands a
youth coming up that need
at Detroit-based Hamilton Anderson Associates. “I
young boy slowly raises a black
to be trained to compete. I’ve
looked for every opportunity to earn a little extra allow-
hat towards the sky and then
dedicated myself to training
ance, and as soon as it was in my pocket, I jumped on
places it upon his head. Child-
youth and to make them stage
my bike and rode straight to the hobby shop.”
like imagination becomes re-
ready.” Those trips to the hobby shop gave Hamilton time to
alization, as the boy’s belief in
dream about the day he’d walk into his own hobby shop
his dream grows stronger and
An all-Detroit cast of per-
- a place where he would be able to share his love of all
he is instantly transformed
formers and set designers
things steam and diesel with the community.
into one of the world’s great-
promise to be stage ready
Rainy Hamilton JR. sees the world of models as having the po-
est performers: Michael Jack-
when curtains open at the “My vision for Rainy Day Hobbies is to create a get-
tential to open up the imaginations of generations, both young and
son.
Music Hall. away for those who revel in model building and model old.
railroading, which is ‘the world’s greatest hobby,’” said
Daring to believe in Detroit’s
“You have to be on task,”
Hamilton. The space also contains a multi-purpose ergized by the bright walls, splashed with primary colors that pop
youth and aspiring perform-
says 17-year-old Deja Potts of
gathering area that can be used for socializing, as well against the light wood floors. Racks of wooden puzzles and books
ers, Lisa McCall is making un-
Consortium College Prepara-
troit.
as workshops, training sessions, viewing videos and are nestled in the front of the store, surrounded by wood trains, cars
likely dreams come true with
tory High School in De
“Even when you want to quit,
even holding birthday parties. and planes, perfect for children as young as 2 years old.
the Broadway-level production
of “The Legacy Continues...A
you can’t. I’m encouraged and Hamilton added that people generally still enjoy The store’s long walls are lined with the latest in HO train cars
Tribute to Michael Jackson”
inspired by working with Lisa building things with their hands. and locomotives, including those in both O- and N-scale. A massive
to take place Dec. 13, at 7:30
and learning about Michael
“People still enjoy
model schooner is perched
p.m.. in the Music Hall Center
Jackson. I’ve learned to never
using their imagina-
atop one of the store’s tall
of Performing Arts.
give up on my dreams.”
tions to create model
shelves, and mounted on the
The musical tribute that
Other young performers trains and planes,” he
wall is a clock that welcomes
was produced, directed and
said that they were also in- said. “The whole thing
each new hour with a train
choreographed by McCall
spired by McCall and Michael is about the hands
whistle and trip around its
brings together over 60 area
Jackson to persevere in pur- on, and imagination is
clock face by a bustling loco-
youth performing beside pro-
suit of their dreams. really what the store is
motive.
fessional dancers, musicians
“It’s a lot of hard work, but
about.” Rainy Day Hobbies aims
and stage crew, including a
I’m ready,” boasts 15-year-old He noted that items
to be a one-stop shop for all
special guest dancer from the
Jabari Jones, a sophomore found in his shop would
hobbyists, and while the ma-
Alvin Ailey American Dance
at Renaissance High School. make great stocking
jority of the merchandise will
Theatre. Signature choreogra-
“Dancing is something that stuffers.
pertain to building model
phy taken from popular Jack-
I love to do. I’m inspired by
trains, the store also will
son videos is combined with
Michael Jackson, because he
“We’re finding that carry supplies for those who
hip hop, modern, ballet and
parents are buying their enjoy building model planes,
See Dream keepers page B-2
children these products boats, submarines and cars.
and the children are
holding on to them for
In addition, there will be
their children,” Hamil-
many options for children,
ton said. “(Models) en-
including Melissa and Doug
courage problem solving
products – a line of educa-
and that’s really what
tional toys specifically geared
we should be consider-
towards children ages 2 and
ing in this economy.”
up – and a variety of Atlas and
Life-Like train sets, each one accompanied by instructions for begin-
Hamilton encourages parents and children to stop ning and building a set. Experienced sales staff will be on hand for
by. “I would encourage people to come out and see what assistance in putting together a more customized first set.
we have,” Hamilton said. “We’re going to cater to what
our customers want. Within the next month we’re going
In a world where most children – and even adults – interact through
to have more rockets and radio controlled planes, cars
various means of technology, Rainy Day Hobbies offers a chance for
and helicopters. They’ve been a big hit.”
customers to test-run and even touch a product before purchase. Its
Upon entering the shop, patrons will become en-
See Rainy Day Hobbies page B-2
‘Barack Like Me:
The ‘PoP’-ular View

The Chocolate Covered Truth’
By Cornelius A. Fortune
and fun enough to hold the attention.
CHRONICLE ASSOCIATE EDITOR
“Avatar” (Dec. 18) and Peter Jackson’s “The
Lovely Bones” (from the critically acclaimed novel
By Deanna Dunham
Hard to believe the year 2009 is almost gone,
by Alice Sebold) will soon be out and that’s great;
and the snow (like it not) shouldn’t be too far
in fact, long overdue. “Avatar” represents the type
First impression of David
behind. Such is the transition from fall to winter;
of innovative filmmaking one expects from direc-
Alan Grier’s accounts about
the pace of life quickens with its last remnants,
tor James Cameron (director of “Terminator” and
his life in “Barack Like Me:
leaves scattering, giving way to grayer days and
“Titanic”). A few years
The Chocolate Covered Truth”
colder nights. And you’re left wondering, as you
back I downloaded
when it landed across my desk-
ring in the New Year, where did it all go?
one of Cameron’s
— that it
rough drafts for the
was nothing
December means last minute shopping and
script and what I have
more than a
a mad scramble to get those vacation (and sick)
seen in the trailers
lackluster,
days in before
surpasses anything I
humorously
changing the
could have imagined
– Cornelius Fortune photo
dry disaster
calendars on
in my head. “The
a ViEW of the Falls from Ontario.
parallel to
our walls. It also
Lovely Bones,” a ghost story of sorts, is expected
his short-
means a slew
titles under $10 and it’s a good gift idea or if you
to be Jackson’s comeback from the disappoint-
lived sa-
of Oscar hope-
want to expand your DVD library. The good news
ing (though visually arresting) “King Kong.”
tirical, fake
fuls coming to
is Blu-ray is backwards compatible so all those
news show,
the multiplex,
Speaking of visually arresting…
bargain DVDs you purchased can still be viewed
“Chocolate
and the Sci-Fi
on your new Blu-ray player.
News.” It’s
David Alan Grier
Channel (sorry, The influx of
cliché, but never judge a book
His career on the other
that’s SyFY) comic book movies
by its cover or a comedian by
hand, is a whole other topic.
will present has slowed till next
their cancelled show.
its miniseries summer, so it’s
While the Detroit native event, “Alice,”
always a good idea
The recently divorced
opens the gateway reiterat- a re-imagining
to take a trip to the
father whose most controver-
ing Ray Charles’s motto, “the of the Lewis
local comic book
sial appearance was on “Danc-
secret to life is timing,” re- Carroll classic,
shop, as most of the
ing with the Stars (DWTS”) in
grettably, he, himself took a “Alice in Won-
titles released this
an urgent response to remain
less than humble approach derland.”
month carry a holiday
in the spotlight after Comedy
on some of his career choices
Central yanked his show last
including almost missing out
An interesting move considering Tim Burton’s
theme.
year, is unlike most comedi-
on an opportunity of a life
own “Alice in Wonderland” will be released later My personal fa-
ans who depend on their life’s
time after repeatedly refusing
next year. There won’t be room for a comparison vorite is DC Comics’
childhood tragedies, adult-
to join the cast of “In Living
by the time most people get around to seeing it.
– Cornelius Fortune photo
annual holiday spe-
hood disappointments, drug
Color.”
SyFy’s “Alice” (premiering on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 9 cials. Lushly illus-
habits and cursing to make
p.m., and concluding on Monday), is an intriguing
Niagara Falls, Ontario is truly a natural wonder.
trated and just plain
tHiS yEaR’S DC
their audiences relate and
Grier debuted his own show, exercise in revisionist storytelling, using an adult
Though the exchange rate is nothing to speak of
fun, I’m just a sucker
laugh.
“Chocolate News” two years Alice in a grittier, meaner Wonderland.
(for all intents and purposes there is very little to
Comics Holiday Spe-
for seeing my favorite
after Dave Chapelle walked
exchange since it’s all equal), my stay was nice.
Rather, Grier has had a
away from his groundbreak-
Though I anticipate strong ratings for the
characters like Super-
cial issue.
It was great getting away for a while, breathing
good life peppered with ri-
ing self-titled sketch show.
miniseries, chances are once Burton’s highly
man, Batman, Wonder Woman spread a little holi-
the air of another city, pounding the pavement,
diculous blunders and a few
Reminiscent of “In Living
anticipated film hits theaters, most folk are likely
day cheer.
watching the world go by.
key generational stories that
Color” but certainly not racial-
to forget the television “Alice.” I’ve watched the ’Tis the season, I guess.
helped develop the man we af-
first part and though it is not as ambitious as “Tin
The holidays are a great time to purchase
fectionately known as D.A.G.
See Grier page B-2 Man” (a re-imagining of “The Wizard of Oz”) or
DVDs as Blu-ray is doing its best to edge out the
Read Cornelius A. Fortune’s blog “Pop Cul-
“Dune Messiah,” it is, at best, a nice diversion
current champion of home video. You’ll find many
ture Saturation” at www.michronicleonline.com.
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