St. Anne's is in the Old Town section of Bay City on Spruce, one block off First. 

St. Anne's isn't strictly Russian Orthodox, although it was built by Russian immigrants in the late 1800s. An imposing structure, it is a mix of rough-cut stone and tilework in a late-Victorian style with one onion dome over the central nave. As Bay City grew over the next century, the Russian population dispersed to other and often better opportunities across the nation. Now, St. Anne's is nominally Russian Orthodox, but the large message sign on the front grounds identifies it as Episcopalian. Both hold services in the old building, with the Orthodox services in the early morning and the Episcopalian at eleven.

Garik Shayk attends regularly, though not often. The 11-block walk to the church is doable for Garik but he doesn't like attending alone. His aunt Irina battles her own private devils, and she figures she doesn't need any of the religious sort to muddy her life any further. 

The church consumes the entire block with a large educational facility, now mostly unused on worship days but rented during the week to Kickstarting Life, Gerry Mandering's after-school program for wayward youth.

To get to St. Anne's from Garik's house, go north two-and-a-half blocks on Maple, then west eight-and-a-half blocks on Avenue A. The church fronts on Spruce, but you can also enter the facility from Avenue A, Banyon, and Avenue B. Avenue A and Spruce provide the best approaches, as the other streets are fronted by the back side of the educational facility, a chainlink-fenced playyard, and a large parking area with 4-foot stone walls and an automatic gate that is locked nights and weekends, except during service times.

Garik's favorite thing about St. Anne's Church is the wood-planked interior lavishly decorated with religious iconography so similar to the church his parents attended in Russia. That and the smell of the old wood floors. When he steps inside, he is transported to his native Russia, back at home with his parents, even if just in his mind.

We first read about St. Anne's in Book 1 of The Human-Hybrid Project, Shattered by Glass.

The Tower Free Zone isn't an official place in Bay City, but it does have clearly defined borders.

The Zone is centered between Sycamore and The Cliffs to the west, although only a portion of that area. It covers Birch to Cherrywood, and the entire block of streets between First and Ninth, including Stanners Tower and the We Got Junk resale shop, although We Got Junk opens directly to Ninth and the resale shop's business during the Tower Free period was never impeded. Stanners Tower maintained access along Elm from Ninth. The block of Elm from Eighth to Ninth remained outside the Tower Free Zone, as the old money in Stanners wanted nothing to do with the Take the City movement that precipitated the creation of the Tower Free Zone.

When the Tower Free Zone was in operation during the city riots, barricades were set up (several consisting of wrecked cars), and to enter the Zone, you had to sign a document stating that you were a free person and didn't owe allegiance to Corona Tower or Bay City.

The Tower Free Zone was disbanded when order was reestablished in Bay City. The area turned into a trendy hotspot for bohemian nightclubs and boutique hotels, with TFZ (Tower Free Zone) bronze markers in the streets and caps and tee shirts for purchase that say, "I Visited the Tower Free Zone," over a stitched port scene representing Bay City.

We first learn of the Tower Free Zone in Book 5 of The Human-Hybrid Project, The Glass Siege.

The Bay City Fitness Run is a high-profile event each year that starts at the much-loved Old City Hall at First and Sycamore Avenue. While not a building or permanent venue in Bay City, the Fitness Run is held in the same location each year.

The Run always follows a similar course. Construction or traffic occasionally affects the course, but runners can expect to stay on the West Side, heading north for one block on Birch before turning west and following Second nine blocks to The Cliffs, an upscale residential area, then north along Alder for six blocks to Shady Ridge Acres. Another eight long blocks north and northwest, and the Run circles Waldorf's Department Store, one of the most iconic locations in Bay City. Two blocks northeast of Waldorf's, the course connects with Columbus and heads south back towards the Old City Hall nearly twenty blocks away. Columbus turns into Birch when it crosses Ninth and reaches the Old City Hall a double handful of blocks later.

The final leg of the Run is mostly uphill, and being at the end of the course, often defeats all but those in the best shape. Benches are set up along the way for weaker runners to rest, and shuttles are provided for those who cannot continue.

The Run is a great advertising opportunity for local businesses. Corona Tower is always a major sponsor. The Corona Tower logo is emblazoned on water bottles, sunglasses, caps, and more, all free to runners and those who turn out to cheer them on.

A food table is set up with drinks and pizza for anyone in attendance. After the completion of the Run, an award ceremony takes place at two in the afternoon on the Old City Hall lawn.

The Run starts in Bay City's Old Town West Side, but much of the course extends into the Downtown Bayside area. The two areas are separated by Ninth, with older buildings to the south and newer, more upscale construction to the north.

We learn about the Bay City Fitness Run in Book 4 of The Human-Hybrid Project, Reflections of the Silverback.

Stanners Tower is located at Eighth and Elm.

Eighth runs for six blocks from Laurel on the west to Sycamore on the east, then past Sycamore for an additional three blocks to the new City Hall. When City Hall was built, the construction consumed three blocks of Eighth. Past City Hall, Eighth resumes for two blocks before turning into Lilac at Park Avenue.

West of Laurel, going north, the east-west street names jump from Sixth to Washington to Ninth.

Stanners Tower is a rectangular box of a building, nineteen stories, with large balconies on the north side facing the bay. Shady Ridge Acres, an upscale residential area, is just across Ninth. Beyond that, the upper floors of the tower can see Waldorf's Department Store, and more distant, the shore and Cassel Dunes to the west. 

In the Seventies, Stanners Tower was the go-to place for Bay City richies for views, easy downtown access, and address recognition. Now, Corona Tower and the Williams Street Apartments have greater allure. 

While in Old Town on the West Side, Stanners Tower overlooks the trendier Downtown Bayside location that starts one block away. When units in Stanners come on the market, the descriptions always include, "Adjacent to Shady Ridge Acres and the exclusive Bayside area."

Stanners Tower is first mentioned in Book 5 of The Human-Hybrid Project, The Glass Siege.