Visiting Detroit this weekend (Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor: rent, mover, neighborhoods) - Michigan (MI) - City-Data Forum

Minneapolitan · 03-22-2012, 12:53 PM

Hi, all. I'm from Minneapolis, in Chicago on business. My plans for the weekend fell through and I have 2 days to kill. I know Chicago almost as well as I know Minneapolis; I want to visit somewhere I've not yet been, so I'm thinking Detroit. I'm 30, gay, interested in architecture, nightlife (doesn't have to be a gay bar), culture (museums of science, local history, art, etc), parks, et al.

Can someone point me in the right direction, and give me some suggestions for sightseeing/learning about Detroit? Someone to show me around, perhaps? I'll have all day tomorrow and Saturday, leaving early Sunday.

Thanks!

Josh

PosterExtraordinaire · 03-22-2012, 01:18 PM

For 150$ and gas money I'll take you up and down Detroit. I'll show you great whole in the wall places to eat and even take you to all the museums if that's your thing. As to nightlife I know of all trendy places as well some cooler, more underground places (you'll be safe because you're with me) depending on music you want and the crowd (if you want a gay club to find a hook up I know of a couple of good ones too).

Hey man, I know that this looks bad but times are tough. Maybe tour guide can be my new job

Anyways, have fun in Detroit whatever you do hit me up with a PM and I can give recommendations on where to go if you don't want to drop 150.

Minneapolitan · 03-22-2012, 02:04 PM

Thank you, but I can't really drop that. Also, not looking to hook up at a bar. Just like to have a good time out on the town. Is Detroit Eastern Market a. open this time of year, and b. worth checking out?

Coldjensens · 03-22-2012, 02:21 PM

Look for the guide of things to do in Dowtnwon Detroit posted earlier on one of these threads. It is excellent and pretty much covers everything. It was posted by one of the guys who lives downtown.

The weather is supposed to be crummy. (50s and rain). You may want to go to Henry Ford/ Greenfield villiage. DIA. We have a very nice zoo. It will not be crowded in the rain. There are some phenominal exhibits and some of them are indoors.

What are your interests?

Hey, either night you can go see Urinetown the Musical at Park Players (North Rosedale Park). - - Shamless plug--

Bring a navigator, Detroit is not a place to get lost in.

PosterExtraordinaire · 03-22-2012, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minneapolitan

Thank you, but I can't really drop that. Also, not looking to hook up at a bar. Just like to have a good time out on the town. Is Detroit Eastern Market a. open this time of year, and b. worth checking out?

Open, I think only Saturdays now. B) I couldn't tell you, I've never been much of a farmer market guy. it's probably all right though, Michigan grows a lot of her own food. It won't be California though.

Now, it's March. We might have had a mild winter, but still it's march. The market ain't going to be what it is towards late summer. It might be nice to stroll anyway if you're into it. Be warned Friday/Saturday are gonna be washouts.

PosterExtraordinaire · 03-22-2012, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Bring a navigator, Detroit is not a place to get lost in.

Lol, I offered. Are you going to be cheaper? How the hell does someone bring the navigator if he doesn't know anyone in the city?

Hey man, check out the motown museum it's on w grand blvd so you can walk to it once your downtown. In fact, if you like walking you could stroll all the way from downtown to royal oak or even birmingham. That would be better than any museum just watching neighborhoods change dramatically.

Don't miss Hamtramck, one of my favorite spots in Detroit.

Coldjensens · 03-22-2012, 02:41 PM

Sorry I did not pay attention. You did post interests.

For nightlife I suggest Hamtrammak, Royal Oak, or Ann Arbor. Downtown has some fun nightlife but it is hard to find and if you do not know where you are going you can end up in trouble.

For architecture, The Guardian Building, the old County Building, Fisher building and theater. You might want to walk around the Ren Cen. Not beautiful architecture, but it is different inside. (outside just a cluster of glass rectangles). For residential Architecture, Boton Edison, or Indian Villiage. Quaint small towns: Birmingham, Northville, Plymouth. Northville has some neat parks. One where they moved in a bunch of historic buildings (kind of like a mini greenfield villiage). Kensington Metropark is one of the nicest developed parks around. It is not like a city park. there are no statutes or cannon or the like. It is huge (5700 acres with a 1200 acre lake). There is a farm, a nature center, a golf course, a boat rental. Of course it is still winter here (despite 85 degree tempratures - wierd) so not much will be open.

Belle Isle is in Detroit. However this time of year, it does nto have a lot of appeal. It is pretty run down and the natrue part is mostly brown. A few trees are budding though and some early flowers are out. (Daffodils and that white death flower I cannot recal the name).

The Detroit Instute of Arts is one of the best art museums in the US. If you are into art, you can easily spend a whole day there. Even if you are not that much into art, you will spend 4 hours at least before wanting to move on to something else.

Eat one meal at Slows. Or eat all your lunches and dinners there.

You need a car. Detroit is not a walking town.

MGM Casino is fancy. Greektown Casino is fun. Greektown as a whole should be fun.

I do not know about Eastern Market. It is technically winter and the booths may not be out on Saturday (normally we would have 20-30 degrees and a foot or two of snow right now).

If you do nto have a car, you could just ride the people mover aoround get off and wanter but not too far).

I do nto knwo what the weekend will be like, but I went for a long walk on the Reiverwalk at lunch today and there were hundreds of people out walking. It does not go to much of anything, but it is a very nice walk along the river and there are some signs telling you about fish and shipping and things once you get into the State park portion.

You could go up to Coach Insignia (bad food great veiws, drinks are ok). However looking at the weather report, it may be a waste of time.

Check the schedule for the Fox, Gem theaters, and Detroit Opera house. We also have a world class orchestra. Detroit Symphony Orchestra. They may have a performance.

If you are planning to take a train and not rent a car, Ann Arbor may be a better place for you to explore. More of a walking town. Or for a shorter trip from Chicago try Grand Rapids.

Coldjensens · 03-22-2012, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PosterExtraordinaire

Lol, I offered. Are you going to be cheaper? How the hell does someone bring the navigator if he doesn't know anyone in the city?

.

A navigator is a computer device that uses GPS satellights and gives you step by step directions to anyplace you want to go. Most people who travel have them built into their smartphones. (Except Iphone, they have one but it is crummy and it does not talk). If not in a phone, there are seperate devices made by Garmin, TomTom and others that you can buy. Yes, they usually cost more than $150, but most people already have one (or so I thought. You are the first person I have encountered this decade who does not know what they are). Once you buy one, you can use it anywhere. Not just in one location for one night. Sorry, your services have been outdated by a computer. (Lots of people hearing that lately).

PosterExtraordinaire · 03-22-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

If you are planning to take a train and not rent a car, Ann Arbor may be a better place for you to explore. More of a walking town. Or for a shorter trip from Chicago try Grand Rapids.

Nah, Ann Arbor is worse because it's so much smaller. There are plenty of nightlife options in DT Detroit compared to Ann Arbor and all of them are either on woodward or 1-2 blocks from woodward. But if that scene is not for him, you got other spots like ferndale/royal oak which is about 10 miles. There are plenty of buses to help him out if he doesn't want to walk that.

Ann Arbor though, you're in Ann Arbor and that's it. Necto is decent in Ann Arbor and its gay night is either friday or saturday so it may turn out good for him. But just saying there are more spots to explore on foot around dt Detroit than Ann Arbor.

PosterExtraordinaire · 03-22-2012, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

A navigator is a computer device that uses GPS satellights and gives you step by step directions to anyplace you want to go. Most people who travel have them built into their smartphones. (Except Iphone, they have one but it is crummy and it does not talk). If not in a phone, there are seperate devices made by Garmin, TomTom and others that you can buy. Yes, they usually cost more than $150, but most people already have one (or so I thought. You are the first person I have encountered this decade who does not know what they are). Once you buy one, you can use it anywhere. Not just in one location for one night. Sorry, your services have been outdated by a computer. (Lots of people hearing that lately).

Never heard someone say navigator for gps. Learn something new on city data everyday

Yea, those smartphones are pretty cool. But you still gotta know what's good and what's not and what to search for. There are plenty of spots I only figured out living here so I haven't been replaced by a comp just yet