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Since 1988, when I was 7 years old, I've followed the Detroit Lions. Very quickly there after I became a big fan of the Tigers and Red Wings as well. Suffice to say, since my young years, I've had a bit of an unnatural interest and obsession with Detroit, which might puzzle some of you since I'm from Glasgow, Scotland !
That interest has increased ten fold over the past few years, to the point that I have become massive lurker on this forum, and have just about read every single thread there is to read, on this particular sub forum. To the point that I have discussed ways of getting into America with my girlfriend in a semi jokey/serious fashion, and have 'bored' her with hours of chat about anything from the lakes, to the Broderick Towers development, to the upswing of the Lions this year etc etc.
In fact, only a couple of months ago, I was in a traditional public house in the West End of Glasgow, famous for its whiskies, when I got talking to a couple from 'Detroit'. I put inverted commas, because I'm pretty sure they were most likely from another city in the general area. Anyway, it became apparent pretty quickly, that I knew far more about the city of Detroit than they did. They were pretty amazed when I launched into tens of questions about various areas, developments etc, and they had no idea what I was talking about !!
To cut a long story semi short, I will be visiting the city for the first time on a sport/dive bar drinking/cultural trip around early July. I'd hoped to come around May to try and catch a Red Wings AND Tigers game, but alas, it hasn't quite turned out. I guess, like most that come on here, I'm looking for a bit of help with stuff to do. To be honest, I've done an insane amount of preparation and investigative work already, but I thought it was about time I joined up on here and picked you guys brains ! Couple of questions I have...........
What restaurants in MexicanTown would you guys recommend for some good Mexican fare ?
What bars are more Tiger orientated and the best ones to go to, before and after the game, for a lively and rowdy atmosphere ?
Anybody know what car rental places have the best deals ? I'm gonna be travelling in by public transport from Chicago ( I've got relatives there ), and hopping around on the people mover etc for the main part, but I'd like to maybe hire a car for a day or two, so I can get about and see Palmer Woods, Indian Village, Grosse Points and other nice areas/areas of interest
What downtown/midtown nightclubs have the best atmosphere, in your opinion ?
Some questions for just now, but I'll probably think of a lot more.
I think Glasgow and Detroit have quite a few things in common - proper seasons, cold winters with snow, and both cities that have plenty of lovely areas, surrounded by areas of destitution and crime that you wouldn't venture into at night, or even day. To that effect, I'm pretty city savvy and have had to deal with crime problems and knowing where not to go, for all of my life, so I'm not feeling too apprehensive.
I say apprehensive, because some of the scare stories on this forum, and this is purely my own personal judgement, perhaps seem to come from people that have lived in tree lined, crime free, suburbs most of their lives and don't really know what living in a normal city is like !
Lastly, film is kind of my profession, and I had been very interested in the possibility of coming over to see if it was viable to do a documentary on urban farming, but it seems like someone beat me to it :-( as I saw an article on a film that is up for some awards this year.
Apologies for the huge ramble, just wanted to get involved, after so many hours of just reading, and I'll most likely think of many more questions to ask in due course !
What restaurants in MexicanTown would you guys recommend for some good Mexican fare ?
It depends on the style of Mexican food that you like. Everyone has their favorites. The names of the restuarunts identify the regoin that they are from and the style of food. Just drive around and choose one. I cannot help you with the names/regions/style. I ahd a guide (Mexican friend from California) when I learned this. It is kind of hit and miss. The best one that I have eaten at looked kind of grody, outside on the sidewalk they were cooking food on Barbques made out of 55 gallon droms cut in half the long way. We went inside, it was all families very friendly and the food was fabulous.
Xomiocos (not sure of spelling prounounce So ko me Oh ko s - sort of) is one of the more popular. Their food is ok to me, but I would not go to Mexican town just to eat there. I like other places better.
What bars are more Tiger orientated and the best ones to go to, before and after the game, for a lively and rowdy atmosphere ?
Bars near the stadium. Slows (you have to eat at Slows). Slows is over by where old tiger staium was (Corktown). Otherwise, just follow the crowds near the stadium.
Anybody know what car rental places have the best deals ? I'm gonna be travelling in by public transport from Chicago ( I've got relatives there ), and hopping around on the people mover etc for the main part, but I'd like to maybe hire a car for a day or two, so I can get about and see Palmer Woods, Indian Village, Grosse Points and other nice areas/areas of interest
I assume you will take the train from Chicago? It stops in Dearborn (nicer) and in Detroit. You will have to arrange a pick up by a car rentla place or take a cab from there. Cabs in Detroit are pretty awful. THe major car rental places are mostly cllustered around the airport. Enterprise has some more scattered offices. Car rental companies vary. They are all similar in price, but different ones have different specials at different times and it can make a huge difference. Research on the internet. Since I rarely rent a car in Detroit, I am not sure what all companies we have, but check the following:
Budget
Enterprise
Dollar
Fox
Avis
Hertz
That is all I can think of. I find Avis and Hertz to often have higher prices than the others, but it depends on what specials they have.
There are also some companies that rent used cars, I am not sure if they have them here. Usually they do not save you much, they are more for people who do nto qualify to rent from the major companies.
What downtown/midtown nightclubs have the best atmosphere, in your opinion ?
Cannot help you much there. I am past the clubbing days. I can point at some places in Royal Oak that are fun and have lots of nice looking girls in them on Friday or Saturday night. There are soem clubs in Hamtrammack that I really like, partly becasue they were there during my time as a punker when Hamtrammack was the place for punks (middle 80s). I do not know the names. I do know from hard learned lessons that there are nightclubs in Detroit that you should stay away from. Someone else can give you names.
I'm definitely gonna check out Slow's. I had meant to anyway, but didn't realise it was also a good location for some pre Tiger game atmosphere, so that fits quite well. I'd also wanted to check out the old Tiger Stadium site, so can kill two birds with one stone.
I'm definitely go and get some drinking done in all/some the following bars....
The Baltimore
The Anchor Bar
The Dakota Inn
The Post ( wish I was there for a Red Wings game )
Detroiter
Ol' Shillelagh
Comet
Any other recommendations by anybody are welcome !
Yeah I'll be getting the train in from Chicago. Presumably to Detroit as I'm most likely going to stay in a hotel in Greektown so I'm in the thick of the action, and that station is a lot closer than Dearborn will be, I'm guessing ?
To be honest, the driving thing is a slight concern to me as I'll have only had my licence for around 10 months, by the time I get there, and have never driven on the right hand side of the road, since us crazy Brits drive on the left.
I've heard that the roads are really wide and pretty quiet in terms of traffic though, so perhaps Detroit will be a good place for me to cut my teeth in with regards to right hand side driving ?
I've considered venturing out to Royal Oak, but I'm only going to be in town for maybe 4-5 days, so haven't fully decided on it yet. Definitely into the idea of some partying though, and I've heard that the area is quite lively !
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Cabs in Detroit are pretty awful
Is that because they are unreliable and scant in number, or because they are expensive ?
The roads in Detroit area are some of the nicest roads anywhere, or at least they were. They are now in terrible shape as far as the driving surface, but they are wide, have nice meadians in many places and are genrally well laid out in a basic grid pattern. Downtown can be a little challenging, but not as bad as Boston or New York City. If there is snow or ice, it can be awful. You can get used to driving on the right very quickly. Remember the steering wheel is on the left side here, so it reminds you constantly. I had no problem driving in England when I visited there. Whether ten months experience is enough depends on how much you drive. By the time my son had driven for ten months, he had thousands of miles behind the wheel. His older sister however avoids driving like the plague. I woudl be surpised if she has even driven a thousand miles ever.
Cabs are mostly old, dirty (some are disgusting), many are broken in one or more ways. Drivers can be nice or nasty even downright angry and aggressive. In many locations you have to call for a cab and wait. . . and wait. . . wait... . . .. . . wait. . . . wait. . . . . . .. call again. . . wait some more. . . Some of them will take you on a circuituous route to jack up the charges. Some of the drivers are terrific, but none of the cabs are. I almost want to bring a towel to sit on when I have to use a Detroit cab.
Bus service is spotty now. Some routes can be very uncomfrotable or even scary (partiularly if you are white).
Greektown probably has a shuttle that you can arrange to have pick you up at the train station. Trains are usually anywhere from 1/2 hour to two or three hours late. The shuttle is your best bet. If you tip the driver well the first time ($10-$20), he will likely be very helpful on the rest of your visit. Make sure he will be working the days that you are likely to need shuttle service.
Most places that are lively are lively on Friday and Saturday. Some on thursday as well. On a Tuesday, you will be hard pressed to find a bar with twenty people in it unless there is an event.
Look online or ask here and find out what events are where during the time you plan to come.
If you like the Casino scene, the MGM is nicer but I think Greektown is more fun. I have not been in Motorcity, but i have heard that it is not very nice. Greektown is nice (the area not casino), but it is a small area. If you take the people mover watch which direction it is going. If you have to go all the way around, it is faster to walk. Thus, from Greektown, you would take the PM to the Ren Cen, but walk back to Greektown.
Some other neat bars:
Jaocbys (tiny German oriented)
Sweetwater tavern
Forans (may have changed its name - Irish, lots of corned beef sandwiches).
Tom's Oyster Bar (older crowd, quieter).
Not really sports bars, but you will find Tiger fans everywhere you go on a game day.
Also go up to Coach Insignia at the top of the Ren Cen for a drink. The view is awesome. I would not bother with dinner, the food is bad).
I say apprehensive, because some of the scare stories on this forum, and this is purely my own personal judgement, perhaps seem to come from people that have lived in tree lined, crime free, suburbs most of their lives and don't really know what living in a normal city is like !
Euan, I've lived in several normal cities. Detroit is not a normal city in any sense of the word. That being said, enjoy your trip, and for the love of God, stay safe.
I'm driving every day basically, and also am already driving vans around every day as well ( I have a part time job involving driving vans at the same time as my own film stuff and wedding film business I'm currently setting up ). I'd also done a hell of a lot of driving before I got my license, so I'd basically say I'm extremely experienced for only 10 odd months of having my license. I have also driven in thick snow/ice before as well.
Yeah, I hadn't even considered buses, as I was aware they are pretty sparse and ****.
I think GreekTown may be the hotel for me - great location and not as expensive as the MGM
Nice one, CJ, I'll add those pubs to the list and do a bit of online digging as well.
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Euan, I've lived in several normal cities. Detroit is not a normal city in any sense of the word. That being said, enjoy your trip, and for the love of God, stay safe.
Oh of course not man, I didn't mean to imply that. I'm coming from the point of view that Glasgow is seen as the heroin capital of Europe, and also as the murder capital of Western Europe, with religious violence ( Catholic/Protestant ) that echoes some of the racial ones in Detroit. In the grand scheme of cities, it is not fully normal either. There are areas where outsiders simply shouldn't go in day or night. I'm basically used to traversing a city and avoiding/being watchful of certain areas of danger, not indulging in foolish behaviour ( flashing cash, expensive equipment etc ) that is liable to get you robbed, and also blending quietly in when I am in dodgier areas.
Don't worry, I have no desire to venture into areas such as Gratoit, Highland Park, Delray or certain areas of 7mile/8 mile and am under no illusions that even the downtown/midtown area isn't without its problems, and caution should be exercised !
Only thing that makes me slightly nervous is that I am not used to the presence, or potential presence of, guns as there is no gun culture over here. Worst you will get held up with here in Glasgow is knives ( also apparent knife capital of Europe, we are the capital of many things, that visiting Americans probably aren't aware of !!), or quite often you hear about swords, machetes etc being used. Guns are reserved only for gangster violence occurring between each other.
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Coach Insignia
Is that the bar which is briefly shown in Detroit 187 ?
I drove through a portion of Glasgow's West End (~ 1Km West of the centre) that reminded me a lot of Detroit. You should be fine. Glaswegians I've known tended to be street smart. Cheers.
Don't want to doubt what you say, but maybe it was 1km east of the city centre ? To the east, are areas of general urban decay, closed businesses, tracts of waste ground and destitution - Parkhead, Bridgeton etc are not nice areas to visit. To the West, from the city centre, are a lot of really nice areas, some of the nicest and oldest areas in the entire area, but maybe you went slightly NorthWest through some parts of Maryhill ?
Please anyone that has any info on nightclubs, or any info in general, don't be shy !!
Part of Detroit 187 was filmed in Atlanta Georgia. It makes a poor tour guide. Look through these threads. There are two younginsh guys who live downtown one of whom posted a terrifc guide to downtown places to go or see. It includes clubs. There is a wealth of information for you here if you can make the search function work well (I get too many results, but you can probably hone it down with experimentation).
Detroit has high crime particularly in certain areas. Mostly it is bad guys beating or killing bad guys and/or family disputes (domestic violence). Stay out of obviously bad areas, don not buy drugs or hire hookers, do not be stupid (like leaving valuables in view in your car, or wearing a rolex while walking in questionable areas), do not be confrontational and you are 90 % of the way to staying safe. I do nto know what percentage of tourists experience crime in Detroit, but I would bet it is tiny. Eliminate the ones that occurred due to pure stupidity and the number will be even smaller.
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