Hello MI DU'ers, a Detroit Question

[KatyMan]

I might have to go to Detroit for work as early as next week, spending about 2 weeks there, or possibly up to a month. I'll be doing work for Chrysler, but I don't know where I'm staying, but are there any general Detroit tips you can give me, where to eat, where not to eat, where to go and not go, what to do? I would expect my job will take up a huge amount of time, but hopefully I'll have weekends free to explore some.

Thanks very much!

[notadmblnd]

1. Will you be at the Chrysler building in Auburn Hills or will you be in Detroit proper?

[KatyMan]

2. hmm...don't know yet

I was afraid there would be several locations! Likely I'll be wherever the IT department is, which probably wouldn't be in a downtown building, more likely a campus type facility. Maybe...?? Sorry! This only came up this week, a phone call on Tuesday saying, Hey, if it comes to it can you be in Detroit next week? So I'm kind of in the dark.

Edited for clarity

[notadmblnd]

3. are you the ones taking over for EDS?

I don't believe the IT department is housed in Auburn Hills. I have a friend that was telling me EDS lost their contract and they had people coming in to learn their jobs soon. However, if you do find yourself in Auburn Hills, all the hotels and fast food restaurants are in walking distance. I'm sure your company will be putting up at the hotel of your choice so I won't go into those options. For events.. there's the Palace of AH, a venue for Pistons games, concerts etc,. Shopping, there's Great Lakes Crossing Mall, which I think is totally over rated. Great entertainment (bars) in downtown Pontiac. ah, the Chrysler museum is near the Chrysler building. Oakland University is near and the Dodge Estate is availabe for tours. There's Meadowbrook Theater which is an outdoor venue for concerts and shows. More upscale is Rochester and Rochester Hills, lots of sports bars and affluent types prowling the streets. I haven't worked in Detroit proper in about 10 years, so I imagine a lot has changed and can't tell you much about what's going on down there. What else would you like to know?

[KatyMan]

5. Got it in one ;)

I don't know anything about Detroit except for the sports teams. Is it famous for any sort of food, like Chicago is for pizza, that sort of thing? It's kind of embarassing to know little or nothing about such a prominent city!
I'm looking forward to it, if it all pans out.

[SharonRB]

6. If the weather is good, you could check out our zoo

If you're in Auburn Hills, you might have to rent a car to get anywhere not right near where you're staying, though. Detroit and its environs are pretty spread out and it's hard to get around without a car -- no mass transit. Imagine that! No mass transit in the city where cars are made. Shocking, isn't it?

I live less than a mile from the zoo, which really isn't in Detroit. It borders on Huntington Woods (where I live) and Royal Oak, which is another great spot for nightlife -- lots of restaurants, galleries, antique shops, etc. It's great for people watching and is packed on nice weekend evenings.

[TahitiNut]

7. Food ... coney dogs and Sanders Hot Fudge sundaes.

The area is home to a burgers'n'brewski, meat and potatoes crowd - overweight people driving overweight cars. That said, and while you can get almost any kind of ethnic food if you look hard enough, I'd recommend Greek food at the Laikon Cafe in Greektown, sushi at Noble Fish in Clawson, family-style sit-down chicken dinner in Frankenmuth. Charley's Crab is good for seafood.

As soon as we know where, specifically, you'll be staying and working, we can give you better guidance.

You are particularly WELL-ADVISED to ask residents. Of all the places I've lived and visited in the U.S. over the years this area is PARTICULARLY difficult for tourists finding the 'good places' - it's an INSIDER'S town.

It also ain't called the "Motor City" for nothin'. You MUST have a car. Mass transit is horrible. You ain't goin' nowhere without a car. This is NOT a town for someone on a business trip who expects to find places within walking distance of work/hotel. (It's on another planet from London.)

[PassingFair]

4. Go to Greenfield Village and "The Henry Ford"....

Best tourist spots around for an historical
perspective....

And if you like trains and cars, it's heaven.

[maddogesq]

8. The food we are known for.

There are only 4 left, but try and get to a Sanders Parlor while your here. YUM!

http://www.sanderscandy.com/index.php?main_page=locator

Lafayette Coney Island. I used to take in the dog of all dogs after gigs, but don't anymore because I needed to have a better diet, but ya need to experience the legend:

http://www.metrotimes.com/metropolis/restaurants/review.asp?id=3088

Lots of higher end restaurants here too. A new favorite of mine called Vincente Cuban Cuisine. YOWZA!

http://www.vicente.us/about.htmlhttp://www.metrotimes.com/guide/restaurants/

Nice restaurant guide here:

http://www.metrotimes.com/guide/restaurants/

And, it you get downtown on a nice day, check out the beefed up RiverWalk State Park. By mid-May, there should be lots going on.

http://www.detroitriverfront.org/

Yeah, I guess I am one proud of my state kinda doggy...awe shucks. HAPPY TRIALS!

[Strawman]

9. Hope you enjoy your time here. Here are some places...

Royal Oak/Ferndale is a good area for bars and food and nightlife. Hamtramck is still kicking as well. Lots of bars and live (mostly alternative/indie) music there.

Foxtown/Greektown/Harmonie Park near the football and baseball stadiums is an area for bars/restaurants/nightlife in the city. The Opera House is right around there as well.

The cultural district is on Woodward around Wayne State Univeristy, just north of downtown and Foxtown. The Detroit Institute of the Arts (our art museum) has recently been renovated and is very nice. It's the home of the famous Diego Rivera mural of the Ford Rouge plant that is probably a must see along with Greenfield Village in Dearborn (you can purchase tickets tour an auto plant at GF village?henry Ford Museum as well). The Detroit Film theater is adjacent to the DIA and hosts alot of indie/art films you won't see in the big theater complexes at the malls. Orchestra Hall is also on Woodward, between Foxtown and Wayne State.

There are three casinos in the city if you're into gambling. Also one or two (can't remember how many) in Windsor, Ontario which is right across the border. Windsor is worth a visit to check out.

Ann Arbor is an hour away and als worth a visit. Lots of great places to eat there and very pedestrian friendly. There is a big art fair in later June or early July.

If you're out in Auburn Hills, you're right by the Palace where the Pistons play. If they're still playing when you get here, I would reccommend going to a game. The fan experience at the Palace is top notch as far as professional sports. I haven't been to downtown Pontiac in awhile, but there's a bar district there as well.

There's is also a giant shopping mall, Great Lakes Crossing a few minutes north of Chrysler HQ. Some restaurants there like the rainforest Cafe and a huge movie theater.

Not sure what kind of food you like. You mentioned pizza. Detroit has some great pizza. For Deep Dish that is more unique to Detroit I would recommend Loui's (9 Mile and Dequindre...I love going to Loui's it's a quintessential blue collar Detroit pizza restaurant/bar that is like entering a time warp to Detroit, circa 1978), Buddy's (several locations, one near Chrysler HQ). For Chicago style, Pizzapapalis in Greektown. And for gourmet pizzas, Amicis in Berkley.

Lots of parks, beaches and lakes nearby. If you're into outdoorsy stuff there is "up north."

[SharonRB]

10. Just a couple of comments/corrections

The Ann Arbor Art Fair is typically the third week of July.

The Pistons are deep into the playoffs, and it would probably be very difficult (and expensive) to get tickets for a playoff game.

Other than that, you mentioned a lot of good high points.

[Festivito]

11. If along Plymouth road in Detroit, settle in Dearborn.

If you are in Auburn, it's an hours drive from Plymouth road and Dearborn area. Plenty of places up there, can hardly go wrong. I don't know it well.

But,

If in west Detroit, Dearborn is close, safe, and so pleasant the kids call it still-born. Especially west Dearborn. The Hyatt (older), Ritz (where the doorman refuses to be CEO for fear of the pay cut from losing his tips.). I'm not kidding. The Marriott Dearborn Inn (great high-priced food spot)(Too much for me).

Next level: The Courtyard on Hubbard Drive (all my friends and family like it.), then a Hampton, then a Fairlane something, but it is next to Andiamo's and Kiernan's steak house(a good place to hit).

Continuing: Two stone throws, the old Holiday Inn, now a Double Tree, and the old Residence Inn now I dunno. These in fenced areas since adjacent neighborhoods continue decades of decline.

Meanwhile,

Further south: Holiday Inn Express and a bunch of hotel-in-a-box varieties. Just a little too unnecessarily far for you, and not as restaurant populated.

There is a B&B in Dearborn, never looked for it. Bet it's nice and walking distance to some fun.

Arabic food is plentiful. The bakeries make a great lunch. New Yasmeen on Warren Avenue east of Chase Street. Google map and check the "street view" function. East Dearborn is closer to Chrysler, but is more Arabic than you might want to believe.

Ask your co-horts where to eat when you arrive. They'll know.

As to weekends: "The Henry Ford" google it, if you like historical ventures. Close is "Henry Ford Mansion" for a morning hike and a fun place to have lunch on the satellite campus of UofMichigan.

Downtown is the art museum and other spots nearby. Then greektown. There are brilliant night spots near downtown. You'll have to ask age appropriate persons.

Work will take most of your time. If you really need more, flag us again.

[PassingFair]

12. Let us know when your dates are finalized....

we can plan a meet-up for you!

[SharonRB]

13. You took the words right out of my mouth, PF

We really should have one and this would be a good excuse.

[TahitiNut]

15. Huh? A meet-up? Face-to-face? Horrors!!

:silly:

[SharonRB]

16. One of these days we WILL get you out of the house!

:hi:

[TahitiNut]

17. I'd rather be suspected of being a disgusting, fat, dirty old man ...

... than to show up and prove it. :silly:

[SharonRB]

18. How did you know that's what we all think?

:rofl:

[livvy]

21. Great idea...count me in! n/t

[PassingFair]

22. Hi livvy!

:hi:

[livvy]

24. Hellloooo!

:pals:

[bif]

14. Foodwise

Middle Eastern food in Dearborn. The city has the largest Arabic population outside of the Middle East. Hamtramck is a Polish city within Detroit (although it's not as Polish as it was.) There are some incredible restaurants there--the Polish Village Cafe and Under the Eagle are both good. Greektown, right downtown is good. I'd reccomend the Cyprus Taverna. You have to have a Coney Island at the Lafayette downtown.

One of the coolest sights is the Edsel & Eleanor Ford Estate in Grosse Pointe. If you need more ideas, you can PM me and I'll give you my email address or phone number. Always willing to share my knowledge of the area with out-of-towners.

[bif]

19. Alinosi's Ice Cream!

You can find it here:
http://www.chocolatebar-cafe.com/

[noonwitch]

20. Greektown, WSU area/museums, and so on

Greektown is nice, safe and you can walk to the ballpark from there. I agree with whoever said to try the Laikon cafe-they have window seats, if you are lucky, and a most charming host. The Golden Fleece is good in a greasy-spoon sort of way.
If you drive north from downtown up Woodward, you will hit the Wayne State area. There are a lot of things to do around there-the museums are all right there, for one thing. The Detroit Institute of the Arts has an excellent collection to see, the Detroit Science Center has some cool exhibits, and the Museum of African American History's building alone is a piece of art. If you take Woodward about a mile farther north, you can go west on West Grand BLVD (a "Michigan Left" turn, which is a right, then a left). If you follow that past Henry Ford Hospital, you will see the Motown Museum ("Hitsville") on the south side of the Boulevard. All these places are safe during the day, as is Belle Isle and the Pewabic Tile factory and showroom on the east side.

The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn is worth seeing, especially as they now have the Rosa Parks' bus. Dearborn is a good place to taste Middle Eastern food, too. I suggest Cedarlands on Warren, now that La Shish is no more.

Ferndale and Royal Oak are the hip, young people's hangouts. They are expensive little communities just north of the city, but they have some good restaurants. Ferndale has a good Thai place-May's Bankok Express. Downtown Royal Oak has some good places, too-Monterey's is good mexican (but better can be found down by the Ambassador Bridge), Mr. B's pub (good bar food), and so on. Nutri-foods is an excellent health food store, and the Main Theater always has artsy and independent films showing.

Check out a church with a good choir when you are here-Greater Grace on 7 Mile near Telegraph has an awesome choir-it's the church where Rosa Parks' funeral was held. Perfecting Church on Van Dyke and Nevada (east side) is the Winan family's church. They are building a bigger and better church at Woodward and 7 Mile Road, currently. The UMC church on Woodward, just north of West Grand BLVD is a very diverse congregation and has a beautiful building, the Baptist church in Greektown once was a station on the Underground Railroad and there are lots of other good churches with good choirs around town.

Just one piece of advice-I-696 is our autobahn. If you are not prepared to drive at least 70 mph, stay off it. It's not a good road for talking on your cell phone while you are driving, either. We are crazy drivers in Detroit, and this is our road to drive the craziest. I-94 has lots of blind on-ramps, and I-75 can have people driving as crazy as they do on 696. I-75 is closed at the Ambassador Bridge-the official detour will take you several miles out of your way, depending on where you are heading to. If you are going out for mexican food, take Michigan AVE west to W. Grand BLVD, go south to Bagley (no light, and just south of Vernor). There are several excellent and cheap mexican places-the cops eat down here, so it's safe. Xochimilco is the most crowded, but they have really cool murals on the wall in the bar area. Or go to Armando's on Vernor.

[GreenEyedLefty]

23. Welcome in advance!

Looks like everyone has given some great tips, I have nothing to add.

I **LOVE** my home state and adopted hometown. I hope you enjoy your stay.

:hi: