If you're from Detroit, help.

I got an email from a nice lady from Milwaukee. Sarah is so very bad ass, she vacations in Detroit. Seriously!

She emailed me wondering if I might be able to help her plan her trip. They're coming in January for the North American Auto Show (zzzzzzz.....oh, sorry, I dozed off just thinking about it). Sarah is on the same page as me with the Auto Show, which is why they are coming with another couple. The ladies will have some time during the day to, well, I want to say 'Sight See' but can you sight see in Detroit?

Sarah said in her note she was open to public transportation and it's been a week and I just now stopped laughing at the thought of an out of towner taking public transportation in Detroit. Wait, now that I typed it, I'm laughing again. Let me say it another way, Sarah, if you value your life at all, you are NOT open to public transportation in the city of Detroit.

I know I'm mean, but seriously before you lecture me about how 'It's a great time in Detroit!' tell me if you've taken any form of public transportation in Detroit in the last 6 months.

So Sarah is looking for some places to visit in Detroit or the surrounding areas. I guess the last time they came they stayed in Windsor and had massages. Another time they visited our fancy mall about 25-30 miles outside of the city. So let's try to keep our sightseeing to no further than Troy.

They'd like to stay near Cobo for the ((((snooze))))Auto Show.

Being unfamiliar with the downtown hotel landscape I only feel safe referring her to the Pontchartrain and the Atheneum.

My sister recently saw Scarlett Johansson at the bar at the Atheneum (I think, she'll correct me if I'm wrong). She was in town (Scarlett, not my sister) filming a movie.

As for what to do all day while Sarah's husband browses miles upon miles of cars, ((((yawn)))), So far I've only come up with the DIA or maybe Henry Ford Estate. Or perhaps a visit to Pewabic Pottery. What about the Eastern Market? Is that something a tourist would think worthwhile.

What's a good area to shop in downtown Detroit for two out of towners? I'm just not sure there is such a place. So should they head to Royal Oak for the afternoon or Birmingham? Or am I just being so very suburban?

It seems antiques in Royal Oak could be fun for out of towners. Birmingham offers more in the way of shopping, though it isn't cheap.

Dinner, probably in Detroit. The last time we ate in Detroit was a party at Intermezzo and the food was wonderful, but then it was a catered event. All the reviews I'm reading say the food is decent but the service is horrid. Traffic Jam and Snug comes to mind but we haven't been there in at least a year. Union Street is one of our favorite places to eat and drink.

So who has advice? I'll add my own to the comments as the discussion gets going.

Sarah, please feel free to chime in with any additional information about what you do and don't want to do.

I find it terribly sad that I can't sell Detroit a little better. Kwame, it's time to sell the city a little better and maybe ease up on the ethically questionable behavior?

Comments

[bari]

Cranbrook, Greenfield Village. Seeing anything at the Fox, Fisher, Masonic Temple, Gem Theater. Greektown. Shopping in Ann Arbor, B'ham, Ferndale and Royal Oak. I'm not really framilar with the east side, but I would think that there would be something good shopping/dining on the east side. The Whitney would be a great place for them to go for dinner. Detroit is much better in the summer, winter is just so grey and blah. - Hope that helps.
BTW - my college roomate is moving to Milwalkee (currently in upstate NY) and I could have swore she had gotten a tour of the area when they went out there for her husband's interview from a girl named Sarah...

[max]

I think they should visit Meadowbrook Hall.
http://www.meadowbrookhall.org/

[Firefighting brother]

She would be best suited to kick her husband in the sack, and if he survives let him go to the show with his friend and spend her vacation dollars elsewhere!

[lindsay]

GREEKTOWN for dinner!

it's a must!!

[Shelley]

Now, don't ya know the best thing about Detroit is how close it is to Windsor? Minutes across the border, you have the Art Gallery, the Casino, Mackenzie Hall in Olde Sandwich Towne, Windsor's Community Museum, the Woodcarving Museum, the Walkerville Brewing Company. An hour out, you can stroll for hours through Colasanti's Tropical Gardens, a massive greenhouse complex, or visit the Ontario Transportation Museum. Stateside, Ann Arbor is way cool, Great Lakes Crossing is my favourite shopping destination, and Frankemuth is only an hour or so up the road. And of course, the Detroit casinos are right downtown.

[Shannon T]

I agree with the Hotels. Tom's Oyster Bar is a good place for lunch. Don't forget the casinos. There should be something at the Fox or Fisher.

I have taken public transportation in Detroit. It's not as bad as eveyone makes it out to be. I live in Rochester Hills and my husband and I will spend the night in Detroit when we just want to hang out. We'll go to dinner and the casino and then bar hop for a while. We stay at the Pontchartrain.

Hope that helps.

[norm]

Shelly, Frankemuth is 100 miles from Detroit (literally it is 100 miles). In Det. step into the lobby of the Guardian building and see what is hands down one of the most stunning art deco buildings in the world. Same goes for the Fox theatre, 20th Century Fox's showcase movie house from the 30's. It truly has no peer. Visit Elwood Cafe or better yet, Lafayette Coney Island. Of the many coney islands in Detroit, Lafayette is the best, ask any cop. Bricktown is teeming with fantastic pubs as well. Any car ride through the many neighborhoods ( Rosedale Park, Palmer woods, Boston Edison ) will show what a fantastic architectural history is to be had within the city itself. Sure Detroit's seen better days, But it's getting better all the time in spite of our civic leaders and suburban doom-mongers (present delightful company excepted of course).

[Lisa]

Don't forget Indian Village!

Or the Post Bar.

[viktor]

Am I the only one puerile enough to be bothered by the potential pronunciations of " Pewabic Pottery"?

(Probably. "Lowering the quality of comments on message boards everywhere since 1987." tm)

[leeann]

Ha ha ha. Public transportation. That's a good one.

[grace]

Knowing her interests would be helpful, but off the top of my head I'll second the nods to Greektown and The Whitney for dinner. There's also the new-ish restaurant at the top of the Ren Cen - er, the GM building? If she's already seen Somerset I would imagine that Great Lakes Crossing might be a disappointment. I'm not saying it's not a good place to shop, but there isn't really too much local flavor there. Not sure of the dates, but I believe "Rent" and "The King and I" hit the Detroit stages next month.

[Poppy]

Magic Stick is always fun.

Last time I was in Detroit, my friends - one British - and I cruised around Grosse Pointe. We went to open houses at the fabulous lakefront mansions and pretended that the Brit was shopping for a house for her father the diplomat. That was fun.

Of course, if you friend isn't a total loser, she might not enjoy that activity half as much as we did. It also doesn't work as well unless you have a Brit with you. I'd give you my friend's number, but I think the real estate agents are on to her.

[Sarah]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. We tried Windsor a few years back, but didn't find any of those interesting sounding places. A plus to Windsor, then, was the nice little bus that ferried the husbands across the border to Detroit. This was pre-9/11, is the crossing more difficult now?

A problem I've had in planning is coming to the realization that neither of us wives really like to drive. So I was hoping for a sedate suburb that we could then walk to places, thus allowing the husbands to drive. Or we're stuck staying downtown so thay can take the People Mover and we drive...somewhere.

Grace asked what we like to do. Our agenda would probably include a massage. Otherwise, we are minus the kids, so we may just drink in the hotel all day.

I'll check out the suggestions (I love you Internet and now all of you nice people as well). We ate at Greektown last time--it was great. My friend has a baby two years ago, I had one last year, all (well, not really) to get out of going to the Auto Show. Why Detroit in January? Why!

Thanks again!

[Phil]

Hmmm, the only time I visited Detroit, I was doing an environmental audit of a small tar processing plant. What amazed me about the trip was how clean the river water was right next to the plant. The duckies were very cute. And the tar on the ground patched a couple of holes in my ratty old wing tips that I wore that day.

[jenB]

I always preferred the Mexican part O' town. Cheap drinks and yummy flaming cheese! I was always coming FROM Windsor however, so the shopping was always the best. But the Fox theatre is v. cool.

Now I am totally craving flaming cheese.

[FreshBabe]

I am from Chicago and was just visiting Royal Oak for the weekend! We went to La Dolce Vita in the hood on Woodard somewhere. It is great restaurant tucked away in the middle of nowhere. A good choice in my opinion.

[DetroitNotSoMuch]

The Majestic Cafe, right next door to the Magic Stick, etc. has THE most fantastic food I've ever eaten in Detroit Rock City. I'm a super vegetarian and they cater to my needs fantastically, from the tempeh fajitas to the baked brie. Sig Other swears by their meaty things too. Here's a link to the menu
http://www.majesticdetroit.com/cafe.asp

[DetroitNotSoMuch]

I should have also given a shout out to LaShish-Detroit, Dearborn, etc. Fantastic upscale Lebanese/Middle Eastern foods. Ask for the garlic sauce and some bread...heaven!!!

[psquared]

Hey

Hop in the car, go west to Ann Arbor, head downtown to Leopold Brothers, listen to some live music and dig on the great beer!!!

Honestly, (if they're still open) that is the best beer I've had in the US. (and I've had alot of beer!)

Psquared.
(Peter)

[Debbie]

We were just "in the city" last weekend. We had dinner at Hard Rock Cafe, then went gambling at the Greektown Casino. It was a lot of fun. We drove past the new Campus Martius Park and the outdoor ice skating looked like a lot of fun. More info on the ice rink:

http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0411/30/C01-17963.htm

-Debbie in Brighton, MI

[Poppy]

Oh! Ann Arbor's awesome! It's easier to drive to AA than to navigate greater Detroit. Plan on having lunch at Zingermann's (http://www.zingermans.com). There's also a really cute little massage therapy place in an old gas station called The Rest Stop.

[KatS]

Delurking to comment on coffered ceilings blog. I live in one of those houses in Atlanta! Not from the same builder (my builder is Springdale and the houses actually have a bit more square feet) but they all build similar homes. I live in a Charleston and I LOVE IT! Love my coffered ceilings...

I have no input on Detroit, sorry...

[Phillip]

Greenfield Village is cool if they want to do some walking. If they don't like the Auto Show then I doubt they'll like the Henry Ford Museum.

[joe]

DIA, Charles Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Science Center (if you have kids with you), Detroit Histrorical Museum, Motown Museum, Fox Theater, the Max (DSO), The Opera House, Hillberry Theater, Bonstelle Theater, a trip to Belle Isle, skating at Campus Martius, Mexican Town, the Guardian Building, shopping at the Ren Cen (If you can find your way throughout it), Greektown, Union Street, Majestic, La Dolce Vita, Detroit Beer Company, Niki's, Rattlesnake Club, Coach INsignia, Seldom Blues, Small Plates.

All of these places are withing a 5 dollar cab ride from any downtown hotel (Except La Dolce Vita).

[joe]

Also forgot about the Gem and Century Club, Music Hall, and City Theater

[Sarcastic Journalist]

EIGHT MILE! GO SEE EMINEM!

[elizabeth]

unfortunately if you're going to the motor city, it's best to have a motor, er, car. there are some areas that you drive to then ditch your car for a while, walk, shop, and then climb back in for another drive. ex - AA, Royal Oak & of course, the malls.

FYI - I think Greenfield Village will be closed at that time. Henry Ford Museum will be open though it's not as interesting (to me at least)

How about the DIA?

And don't forget to stock up on your badass Detroit gear. There is the Made in Detroit store in Greektown. Everytime I go home I make my mom or sister drive me to the Fisher Building so I can go to the Real Detroit store just so I can let the people in SF know where i come from and not to mess with me.

[Jason]

Looking for hotels?

A new Hilton garden In just opened in downtown. It has gotten very good reviews. It is about 2 blocks from Greek town and 3 from Campus Martius. Very close to the people mover, so going to cobo would be cake.

The Ramada usually gets bad reviews, that if mostly because it is a old, niche (maybe hippy?) hotel. The Marriots in both the Millender Center and the Ren Cen are great and close.

I've read that the Pontchartrain is getting to be in need of a face lift. But a holiday inn just reopened on Michigan Ave @ Washington Blvd (super close to cobo). That might be worth a shot. There are a number of other hotels in the downtown area, some small, but some chains east on Jefferson as well.

If you are coming to enjoy the city, shall I suggest the Inn at Ferry Street? (http://www.theinnonferrystreet.com/). It is walking distance from the best cultural attractions in the area, and a short bus or cab ride to downtown. There is also some interesting nightlife around Wayne State University if you are into a cheap college bar type places. Best of all, the staff at the Inn are sure to help you find whatever you are looking for and give you very personal service.

I live in Ann Arbor right now, and I'll suggest staying in Detroit. Ann Arbor might be cute and busy, but it is also sterile and boring. If you do go, take the train from Detroit at 7:20, 11, or 5 and come back at 1:20, 6:45, or 11:30. The trip takes an hour, and the cost of gas and parking in Ann Arbor will rival the cost of the tickets. (You can also take some of these trains to the Henry Ford and Greenfield village.)

If you are into buildings and architecture, make sure you check out both the Guardian Building and the Fisher Building. But also check to see if there is a Preservation Wayne tour while you will be here. (http://www.preservationwayne.org/)

If you aren't coming here to specifically to shop, there is enough shopping to make most happy in Detroit. The Fisher building has some great shops, as does the Ren Cen. Regardless, make sure you check out one of the Pure Detroit (http://www.puredetroit.com/) locations for souvenirs.

Other things of interest that you won't here much about:

I've heard great things about the conservatory on Belle Isle in the winter. There is also an interesting aquarium there. This is the best view of the Detroit skyline on US soil. Do a web search for "Belle Island Detroit" and you will find some links. I don't know of one that is any better than the others.

If you are into plays: There are a couple theatres other than the big ones downtown that warrant your attention. The Planet Ant (http://www.planetant.com/) in Hamtramck is always getting great reviews. It is a very intimate atmosphere. The Detroit Repertory Theatre is a little ways from downtown but is also a good bet (http://www.detroitreptheatre.com/).

If you like ethnic food: There is a new Indian Place (Sizz’l-n-Spice) open downtown on Monroe, just NE of Campus Martius. It has gotten great reviews. There are a large number of great taquerias in SW Detroit. Mexican town is close to downtown, but I suggest heading further west on Vernor or going to Senor Lopez’s on Michigan Ave. The food (and the experience) will be more authentic. I’m not going to tell you about Greektown because everybody will tell you about it, but I love Greek food. I suggest looking at the Metrotimes website for restaurant suggestions and reviews. (http://www.metrotimes.com/) Pick up a copy of the paper when you get to town for other suggestions about things to do during that week.

A couple of other little known shopping treasures: Vera Jane, Julian Scott, and the Pure Detroit Design Lab.

I second the suggestion of going to Eastern Market on a Saturday (especially if the weather is decent). Even if it is cold though, there are a lot of shops that you can go into to warm up. Plan on catching a late breakfast at one of the restaurants.

If you are an art fan, by all means check out the DIA, but also check out some of the other art galleries in the area. The MetroTimes might help you find something that will interest you. Unfortunately they don’t maintain a database of galleries like they do for restaurants, but they did have an article that briefed all(?) of the area galleries (http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6744). Look through there to see if anything catches your eye. Many of them are in the Midtown area between the Central Business District and the New Center area (where the Inn at Ferry Street is).

I hope this helps. If you want any information about more specific sorts of things to do, please email me at jsmyers (at) umich_dot_edu. I’ll know where to find the information your are looking for even if I don’t know it.

[Caracao]

HAMTRAMCK!!!

[Keri]

Last time I was in Detroit, I stayed at the Ren Center. Awesome views, great room - but a bit spendy. Dinner was in Greek Town at Pegasus - great food.

[Lil' Sis]

That hotel/bar I saw Ms. Johannson at was the Marriott in the Renaissance center. (I refuse to call it "GM", just as I refuse to call the Cass Corridor "Midtown" and I refuse to call Pine Knob "DTE.") The bar at the top was amazing (if a bit too chichi for my taste) and if you're not terrified of elevators and heights and don't have a cold, the view from the glass elevator at night is beautiful. I, however, cowered in the doorway clinging to the handrail and cried over the insane pressure change squeezing my brain into mush. But I'm sure it's lovely to others... It was private the one time I have gone up- you had to be with the film crew. I don't know if it's usually set up for guests alone, but the place is fabulous, so if you have the means, that's where I would stay if I were you.
I would also recommend checking the Metro Times for interesting events. The new outdoor ice rink in Campus Martius looks great but I haven't been yet. And the Conservatory on Belle Isle is my own personal happy place.
Other than that, I can recommend some good live shows and dive bars, but I bet my taste is so far from most anyone's who reads this... I think The Outer Limits in Hamtramck is only funny to me. And the Old Miami might be downright scary to some (including Melissa) but it's home to me. Better in the summer, tho.
The Magic Stick is remarkably flashy these days, and kind of clean at times, but the Majestic bowling alley is still ghetto-fabulous and the oldest working alley in the US (according to the copy of an old newspaper article taped to the wall there) and the Majestic Cafe does indeed have good food. But don't order the Tofu Todd. It just ain't right.
Traffic Jam is still great, and it's right across from the Motor City Brewery, which makes some of the finest hard cider I've ever had. Be careful, tho. It will kick you in the ass before you realize it. Potent. On Sundays they have an open mic night, and a lot of the good musicians in Detroit (with the notable exception of ME.) try out solo stuff and new ideas there- you can say you "saw them when..."
And shopping for funny Mexican-Christian items like clocks and candles in Mexican Village, then having the best ever cheap lunch (stay away from the menudo...it's not even funny.)in any one of the tiny restaurants in the neighborhood, then catching a show at the Lager House by Old Tiger Stadium is a day in heaven to me.
And you should be shot if you miss the Motown Museum. It's tiny, but it's a must-see for anyone who likes any music whatsoever. Plus the gift shop is the best!
I always take out-of-towners on a car trip on I-75 South towards Toledo. The Downriver area is all factories. By day, it looks like you've gone Beyond Thunderdome with the orangy-yellow smoke from the burning smokestacks and absolutely NOTHING green. But at night it looks like fairys live there. We call it Sparkly Land, and it truly is something to behold. If you can ignore the immense stench, that is...

[SaraV]

I agree wit those who said that a car is really needed.

I'd like to tack on a little warning about Detroit drivers, too. There's a reason that Michigan jacked its speed limit up to 70 as soon as the feds allowed them to... everyone was going to do it anyway....

I grew up in mid-northern Michigan, but my husband is from the Detroit area (Birmingham, to be exact). The first time I drove in metro-Detroit traffic was definitely a learning experience. Nothing like driving 80mph in bumper-to-bumper traffic straight into the setting sun on a bed of slush to get the heart pumping.

I recommend the Ann Arbor excursion for the cool hip side of things. Or Frankenmuth (much closer to where I grew up) for the kitschy side of things. Bronners Christmas Wonderland is defintely something to see.

And there are buses that may even not be scary!

[Jason]

I'd say a car is optional depending on your tolerance for walking, your desire to explore, and the things you want to see or do. You could honestly stay in the Central Business District for a few days and never get bored, and never set foot in a car either. It is only about a mile square, and most of what you'd want to see isn't near the edges. This is also the area with the people mover, which makes the whole thing one small neighborhood really.

If you want to stay north by the Inn at Ferry Street or in New Center, or if you want to go to the DIA or any of the other nor galleries (you do), then walking will be a lot less feasible. It is 3.5 miles from New Center to the River (all of what most people refer to as downtown, though downtown is really only the CBD). I've walked it, but you will likely want to take a cab for more of your longer journeys. There is a lot of bus service in this stretch, but busses are likely to be crowed sometimes of the day and don't run much during others. Belle Island would be such a journey for a cab.

If you want to do much outside of the downtown area, then you will probably want to rent a car.

[SNWEB.ORG]

Take the People Mover,
you get great views of the architecture. Maybe a coney island from Lafayette Coney Island (world famous). A good stop is to the Guardian building and look at the itnerior, they will give you a free tour.

[SNWEB.ORG]

Take the People Mover,
you get great views of the architecture. Maybe a coney island from Lafayette Coney Island (world famous). A good stop is to the Guardian building and look at the interior, they will give you a free tour.

[nikki]

Yes Leopold Brothers is still open in Ann Arbor (to whoever mentioned it), but don't plan on going unless you really dig homemade beer...and honestly you can find much more interesting things to do in the Detroit area than Ann Arbor.

[katie]

She really should just stay in Milwaukee, but try Agave on Woodward - it's great.

[Cyndi]

Besides the Henry Ford Museum (Greenfield Village will be closed), the Detroit Science Center, the Detroit Historical Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts are all within walking distance of each other (if you like walking in the cold).

Also, which weekend do they plan to come, the 15th or 22nd? The first annual Motown Winter Blast, a three day festival, will be held January 21-23 around the Campus Martius Park and environs. Here's the link to the Detroit Free Press article http://www.freep.com/news/locway/blast29e_20041129.htm
Plus, the Masonic Temple will be presenting "Rent" the weekend of the 21st, the Fisher Theatre has "The King and I", Saturday, Jan. 15th, the Fox Theater has B.B. King, and the list goes on.

Detroit is a great city to visit for cultural activities.

But I also cast a vote to visit Frankenmuth if they have time - it's one of my favorite places.

Also, mention to your friends that SUMMER is a great time to visit Detroit - their husbands could hang out at the Woodward Dream Cruise, perhaps!

[Mia]

If you're staying in the city I would suggest the newer Hilton Garden Inn near Ford Field/Comerica Park/ Greektown or one of the Marriots(RenCen or Millender Center) although book soon because they're filling up fast. A definate must for a not so freezing afternoon is to walk a few blocks to the newly built Campus Martius park located on Woodward right across from the Hard Rock Cafe. Have a little lunch at the bustling Au Bon Pain for some great soup, salad, and sandwiches. Then take a whirl around the outdoor ice skating rink. I imagine the Christmas tree will still be up over the fountain. Head over to Greektown for dinner at Pegasus or Pizzapopolis, then indulge your sweettooth at Astoria Bakery. Spend some time in the casino as well. Depending on where you are staying these are all reasonable walks from the hotel. Locos near Greektown has some great Mexican. Ol' Shilelegh(never can spell that right) is a great little pub with amazing food(Go for the Shepards pie)and live music most nights. I've never been but I hear the Belle Isle arb is breathtaking in the winter. Find a show at the Fox, Masonic, Fisher or Opera House. Spend an afternoon in one of the museums. There really is a lot to do right in the city and most of it is a reasonable walk or short trip on the People Mover. I would only suggest leaving the city if you want a heavy duty dose of shopping. Birmingham, Royal Oak, Ann Arbor(MUST TRY ZINGERMANNS) or one of the malls would be fine. Somerset is the nicest and while Great Lakes Crossing is nice, it has an outlet feel to it. If you're up that way head to Canterbury Village for some Christmas spirit. Up in Royal Oak you can visit the Detroit Zoo to see the Artic Ring of Life exhibit. But please don't leave the city without visiting Campus Martius. It really is the sweetest little thing in Detroit.

[AmyinMotown]

I used to do the Preservaton Wayne tours around, yes, we called it Midtown (I DID NOT LIKE THAT) and they run May-Sept., but it wouldn't surprise me if they could hook you up: www.preservationwayne.org. Eastern Market is fun for people watching, and I must agree that Campus Martius is a definite "do." The Detroit Opera House also runs the occasional tour of Detroit development. Intermzezo, I thought, is closed, but I LOVE Small Plates on Broadway and the Detroit Beer Co is next door. Other neighorhood suggestions for house peeping include Palmer Woods and Sherwood Forest--I live on the other sie of the tracks from Sherwood Forest and it's a great "aspirational" neighborhood. If you drive through Rosedale Park, wave to the house I grew up in...sigh....

Also must second votes for Agave, Detroit Artists Market (down the street from Agave), and the general Harmonie Park/stadiums area (an easy cab ride from downtown). U'd also try the Inn at Ferry Street, which puts you right in the Cultural Center. During the auto show weekends, I would actually avoid Greektown because it's all your average clueless suburbanite knows. Being out of the hip young cool club scene, I am always surprised by how much is actually going on downtown!

[downtown brown]

I take public transit all the time in the d....

stop spreading ignorance disguised as experience

[melissaS]

Uh, Mr/Ms Brown, your email is invalid. Charming.

I'm not spreading ignorance, I'm sharing my own experience. I personally feared for my life the several times i traveled via public transport in 'the d...' Perhaps it's changed since I had those life fearing moments.

I'm glad your experience is different than mine and I'm glad you shared another perspective on it.

Of course name calling isn't the best way to share experiences, but then you're a detroiter and detroiters are rude. (Now, that's ignorance!)