Where to Go & What to Do

Downtown

“So, I hear downtown is where all the action is.  But, since it is Detroit and since I don’t want to end up in the wrong area at the wrong time, I need some suggestions as to where to go.  Help.  Please?”

Glad to assist.  Fortunately, downtown Detroit is pretty safe, and pretty walkable.  Yeah, you may be approached by a few panhandlers, and some may be very persuasive and demanding.  It’s all part of life in the big city.  Back on track: there’s much to enjoy downtown.  From funky retail and various unique, non-chain dining options to Tigers Baseball and a theatre district that can hold its own – downtown Detroit can surprise and delight.

Dining

Breakfast (or Lunch) – Stella International Café/Rowland Cafe (500 Griswold Street, Detroit). Light cuisine, Illy coffee served in an inspiring setting. Think gothic cathedral blasted by a bomb of art deco, and you get the Guardian Building, home to both Stella and Rowland. Grab a morning paper or prep for meetings.

Lunch (or Dinner) – Caucus Club (150 West Congress Street). The Caucus Club is a three martini lunch sort of place, frequented by attorneys, judges and other downtowners. Enjoy old-school “SamAdams” luncheon items such as seared steaks, seafood (Perch, Walleye or Pickerel: Great Lakes delicacies) or their renowned hamburger steaks. We’ll leave the three martinis at your discretion– but can vouch that they’re good.

Dinner- Roast (1128 Washington Boulevard, Detroit), 24 Grille (1114 Washington Boulevard, Detroit) or Coach Insignia (200 Renaissance Center Detroit). Regardless of your choice, satisfaction awaits. Of note: a few expats from Portland have made Roast their home in Detroit, and offer their mixology skills for all to enjoy. Head there for some good, old world drinks and an amazing happyhour. Head to 24 Grille for organic, al fresco dining or Coach Insignia for superb cuisine and 40 mile views.

Activities

Lounging – Campus Martius Park (800 Woodward Avenue, Detroit). Campus Martius is the perfect place to enjoy city life without much heavy lifting. Sit, relax, listen to some live music, enjoy some coffee or light fare at the bistro. Watch traffic pass, enjoy Detroit’s collection of pre-war architecture, catch up on the latest news. Life is pretty good in the park on a sunny day.

Touring – The Detroit People Mover (various stations downtown). This elevated rail line is a good way to see the downtown district. Each ride is 50 cents, so it won’t break the bank. And, riding it is a good conversation starter. Ask a Detroiter what he or she thinks about the People Mover – most will be glad to share their opinions.

Entertainment – Tigers Baseball (Woodward at Adams). While sports really isn’t our thing here at the Creative Corridor Center, it is hard for us to pass up a Tigers Baseball game on a hot summer night. The prices are right (tickets start at $12), the atmosphere is right, and the Tigers always put on a good show.

Housing City Options – City Living Detroit: Lofts, Co-Ops, Skyrises (throughout Downtown). Downtown has living options to meet everyone’s needs – from skyrise communities to lofts to luxurious condos to various co-operative arrangements.

Midtown

“I’m in the mood for a walkable neighborhood, where I can eat, shop and see some world-class culture.  Where can I find that in Detroit?”

Midtown is your place.  Walkable, welcoming and local: it is home to many small retailers, trendy restaurants and dive bars.  Moreover, it is home to Detroit’s cultural center.  It’s a great place for people watching, strolling and discovering the heart of Detroit. For more information about visiting Midtown, click Here for more information.

Dining

Sunday Brunch – Atlas Global Bistro (3111 Woodward Ave., Detroit) or The Whitney (4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit). Both are nice options for a relaxing brunch: Atlas if your tastes tend towards the contemporary side, and The Whitney if you tend to lean a little more to the baroque.

Lunch – Wasabi (15 E. Kirby, Detroit), Good Girls Go to Paris (15 E. Kirby, Detroit) or Shangri La (4710 Cass Avenue, Detroit). Whether it’s Wasabi for sushi or Korean, Good Girls for made-from-scratch crepes or Shangri La for an authentic dim sum lunch: you’ll be pleased.

Dinner – Traffic Jam and Snug (511 W. Canfield, Detroit), Motor City Brewing Works (470 W. Canfield, Detroit), The Bronx Bar (4476 2nd Ave., Detroit ) or Majestic Café (4120 Woodward Avenue, Detroit). Drop into Traffic Jam for homemade breads, cheeses and beer, served in a 70’s retro décor; Motor City for its Ghettoblaster beer and a wood fired pizza; The Bronx Bar for hipster sighting, a mean burger and a bottle of Blatz or Stroh’s; or the Majestic for fresh cuisine in a trendy environment. Note: in an effort to not appear too trendy or mainstream, The Bronx Bar does not have a website that we can find at this time. It does have a notary of public on site (in the event you need some papers executed by a notary) and an amazing juke box.

Activities

Shopping – West Canfield (Canfield at Second Ave, Detroit). Check out CityBird (460 W. Canfield) for Detroit themed merchandise, most of which is created in an on-site design studio and next door is NEST (460 W. Canfield) for fine housewares; head south on Cass to Curl Up and Dye (4215 Cass Ave) for “Cass Corridor Brand” organic cosmetic products; and then over to W. Willis (Willis and Cass) for Spiral Collective (books, art and crafts), Flo Boutique (well-made clothing), Goodwells Market (organic foods) and Avalon International Breads (organic breads, great coffee).

We suggest parking at a meter on Canfield (free on weekends and after 6 pm), or in a 2-hour free parking spot on Second Ave.

Touring – Cultural Center (Woodward Ave. at Kirby, Detroit). Stroll through the Detroit Public Library (5201 Woodward Ave.), where untouched mid-century architecture is juxtaposed against the beaux arts styling of Cass Gilbert. Cross Woodward to the Detroit Institute of Art (5200 Woodward Ave.), the second largest municipally owned museum in the U.S. Also in the vicinity: the College for Creative Studies, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Walk from West Canfield, up Cass and to Kirby.

Entertainment – Live Music: Get a taste of the garage rock that defines Detroit’s music scene at the Majestic Theatre or the Magic Stick (4120 Woodward Ave.). Need something more refined? The Max M. Fisher Music Center (3711 Woodward Ave.), home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, is across the street and hosts world class jazz and classical concerts.

Diverse Options – Lofts, Apartments, Historic Housing (throughout Midtown). An eclectic mix of students and young professionals, Midtown provides a diverse array of housing options at every price point. Click Here for more information. Many developments in Midtown have model units that are open for tour. See one that seems interesting, drop in and take a tour.

Corktown & Southwest Detroit

“I want to explore somewhere a little different.  I want the mythical Detroit experience I read about in the New York Times or The Guardian: I want to see the good, the bad and the ugly – but don’t want to get too far out of my comfort zone.”

Dining

Southwest Detroit and Corktown include some of Detroit’s oldest neighborhoods.  A rather unlikely mix of Latino and Middle Eastern immigrants, artists, hipsters and boomer retirees make this one of Detroit’s fastest growing neighborhoods.  Scarred by the empty lots that were once home to Tiger Stadium and its associated parking, and in the shadow of the vacant, yet awe-inspiring Michigan Central Station, this neighborhood is a surreal mix of tidy Victorian homes, dingy dive-bars, underground art galleries and design studios, bold barbeque joints, destination grocery stores, taquerias and – if you head far west towards Dearborn – Halaal butchers and mosques. For more information about visiting Corktown and Southwest, click Here for more information.

Breakfast –  Le Petit Zinc (1055 Trumbull Ave., Detroit).  Only in Detroit – a French Oasis in the middle of an industrial park featuring made-from-scratch crepes, charcuterie et pate, and to-die-for ratatouille.

Lunch (or Dinner) – Stop in at Mudgie’s (1300 Porter St., Detroit), an artisan sandwich shop in Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood, serving only the freshest, highest-quality local food. Slows (2138 Michigan Ave., Detroit).  Detroit’s best barbeque and best selection of locally crafted micro-brew.  Our favorite items: The Reason or J.P.’s Revenge.  Be sure to get an order of mac-and-cheese, too. We suggest parking on a side street or on Michigan Ave (meters are free after 6 pm).  Find a seat at the bar and eat there – the wait for the dining room can be lengthy.

Dinner (or Lunch) – El Barzon (3710 Junction Rd. Detroit). Another “Only in Detroit,” where authentic Mexican cuisine meets gourmet Italian cuisine.  While the neighborhood surrounding El Barzon is raw, to say the least, the cuisine and service make this worth the visit. Oh, and those sketchy buildings surrounding the area – they’re actually home to various design studios, such as The Detroit Design Center and The Imagination Station.

Activities

Shopping – Honeybee Market (2443 Bagley Street, Detroit). Yes, we actually are recommending that you visit a grocery store. But this isn’t just any grocery store: it has one of the best hot sauce selections this side of the Rockies. Pick up some homemade chips and guacamole for a light snack. Rachel’s Place (2124 Pine, Detroit) is the perfect spot to located that one of a kind vintage treasure. Located in a renovated house, Rachel selects authentic, high quality resale clothing and accessories for men and women.

Touring – Michigan Central Station (2405 West Vernor Highway, park on the street in Roosevelt Park). Yes, that looming, windowless, soot covered, Beaux-Arts structure looming over Corktown. And, yes, it is vacant and in a state of disrepair. But, it remains awesome in its quiet, ghostly beauty. If you’re into photography or the surreal, park on the street at Roosevelt Park and spend a few hours capturing photos and talking to other folks doing the same.

Touring – Leverette and Bagley Streets. Wind your way back downtown via Leverette or Bagley. Well manicured and recently restored Victorian homes line both streets. See a house or block that interests you: park on street and walk around.

Housing: Lofts, Historic Homes, Fixer Uppers. Want to live near fellow creatives and people making a difference in Detroit? Then Corktown is the place for you. Housing options are diverse, costs low, and neighbors are friendly. Click Here for more information. Since many homes are offered through various listing agents, we suggest anyone interested in moving to Corktown or Southwest keep pen and paper on hand when touring so as to write the name and number of the listing agent selling that perfect house.