Visiting Detroit

[Kali Durga]

With the opening of TMR Cass Corridor, folks are going to need to know where to eat and stay and what to do. Seems there's a heck of a lot of good stuff. Here's some of what I've found &/or been told about so far, please add more.

Coney Dogs: I've been told Lafayette >> American. I've only tried Lafayette so far and they're addictive. The two shops are right next to each other, so decide for yourself. And apparently there are lots of other lesser-known great Coney places.

Polish food: Polish Village in Hamtramck is the place that's been most recommended to me. After eating there twice, I gotta say that it's good, but not quite as good as my mom used to make (though maybe that's because we're Hungarian). I've been told Polonia is also good and, like the two rival Coney places, it's right next door to Polish Village.

Hotels relatively close to TMR: Motor City Casino on Grand River and Hotel St. Regis on West Grand

Sites to see, stuff to do:
- Detroit Institute of the Arts. Spectacular museum.
- Detroit Historical Society
- Michigan Science Center
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Fisher Building
- Guardian Building
- tour the Masonic Temple building
- Campus Martius Park
- Hart Plaza
- Belle Isle & Belle Isle Aquarium
- UFO Factory social club
- Motown Museum
- Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers
- weekly Slow Roll bike ride

Oh, and I almost forgot Paczki Day! Since we're all pros at standing in line in all sorts of weather, there's the tradition of standing in line on Fat Tuesday for paczki, a truly sinful-sounding Polish pastry. There's apparently a parade in Hamtramck and everything.

[Jamie]

Can we include a list of historically significant sites to see from the White Stripes / Jack history? Things like the fire station where they shot the cover to the first album, or the bowling alley where they met Conan and from the Bricks performance etc.

[Kali Durga]

I would think people would definitely want to be able to visit those spots. Hotel Yorba can't be missed, it's right smack along the highway. And Garden Bowl, or what it's become, is just a couple blocks from TMR Cass.

[cwja]

Childhood home- 1203 Ferdinand St

Gold Dollar - 3129 Cass Ave

House where GBMS was recorded - 1731 Seminole

Firehouse where S/T cover was shot - 1625 W Lafayette

Hotel Yorba - 4020 Lafayette Blvd

Keep in mind that some of these are not in the greatest of areas and extensive gawking or picture taking might not be the best idea.

[Kali Durga]

Keep in mind that some of these are not in the greatest of areas and extensive gawking or picture taking might not be the best idea.

I touched on this in the New Detroit Branch thread. To me, one of the important things to keep in mind when "playing tourist" in those neighborhoods is that people live there. Even in the most blighted areas of Detroit (or any city, for that matter), people live there. Be mindful of your own safety, but also be respectful of the fact that folks are living and working there and don't treat it like a tourist attraction.

[rsimms3]

Yes. The firehouse is in a working class neighborhood with quite a bit of traffic in the morning and evening. If you don't know the address you'll drive by it every time.

Garden Bowl/Majestic/former Magic Stick


Spirit of Detroit

[Kali Durga]

Spirit of Detroit

Oooh, where's that located?

[arewhyehen]

Does anyone know what is left of The Heidelberg Project??

I know a lot of the houses were burnt down by arsonists a few years ago,but I think it's still a cool area???

[Kali Durga]

^^ I need to make sure to put that on my list.

Here's something I definitely want to do, might even try to organize a TMR fan participation thing next summer: The Detroit Slow Roll bike ride-- http://www.slate.com/articles/video/vid ... troit.html I participate in a similar monthly ride in Baltimore and it's a great way to get to know a city, and is a blast, to boot. Who else would be interested?

[arewhyehen]

Making the trip down to the detroit shop next week for the first time. Been to detroit many times but usually drive through as quick as possible. Going to try and check out as many of these things as possible.

[Kali Durga]

Ah, thanks for bumping this. Jack mentioned in Duly's Place Vault chat a few days ago, and I remembered that Anthony Bourdain also gave the Coneys there a recent plug-- http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/i ... lys_t.html

[organicbrewer]

For Detroit style pizza I'd recommend Nikki's in Greektown or Loui's Pizza in the burbs.

[mangry]

Ah, thanks for bumping this. Jack mentioned in Duly's Place Vault chat a few days ago, and I remembered that Anthony Bourdain also gave the Coneys there a recent plug-- http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/i ... lys_t.html

I wanna go to Detroit to do this! And I guess I could stop by Cass Corridor while I am there.

[Kali Durga]

Holy crap, look at the Belle Isle Aquarium-- https://roadtrippers.com/stories/americ ... .72762&z=5

[EricAndrewD]

Hey Kali, The Spirit of Detroit is at the foot of Woodward, by the Joe Louis fist, across Jefferson from Hart Plaza. https://goo.gl/maps/duwUyyV3wE72