Coming to Detroit for Stanley Cup Finals, where to steer clear from? (Hart: work)

[KyussKlitmann]

Hey all, first time here...interesting site!
My gf and I are coming down to Detroit from Canada to see the Pens vs Wings and DEMF(renowned Techno festival) and of all the places we visited in the USA- Detroit is the place we feel the most uncomfortable (New Orleans, some of Philly, Baltimore, some of Texas, some of the southern states too)...
I have heard countless horror stories, racist stories, setting the city on fire, etc
I have only driven through Detroit and well... its dirty, shady, lot of street peoples, where are the white peoples, abandoned homes.

I really want to get to see the Positive side of Detroit!

Please peoples tell me what is really going on and where I should Definetly check out and where I should Definetly stay away from!

*should i not walk in Detroit(as f'd up as that sounds, i dunno!)?
*is my girlfriend safe on her own?
*is DEMF (Hart Plaza) going to be peaceful (normally the techno scene is all about PLUR- Peace Love Unity Respect)?
*is my car safe to park?

Sorry if i am sounding negative, I just want to be safe!

[Paddington]

Well, if you dislike it so much, why don't you stay in Canada? Detroit isn't desperate for your business.

[kimba01]

If you stay in the downtown area and don't wander into the neighborhoods you will be fine. Greektown is a blast. Mexican Village is fun and good eats. Hart Plaza and the Riverfront is also nice. Hard Rock Cafe is a good place to go as are many of the other establishments in the area.

Have fun, we do pub crawls there often and never have a problem!

[cardwellave]

All the places you mentioned are VERY safe, especially when there are lots of people there for events. Don't worry for a second!

Areas to avoid? I've never felt particularly threatened in Detroit. Random acts of violence are a rarity in the first place, and a lot of the city, while not pretty, is not terrible to be in. For what you are going for, it is perfectly safe.

[MICoastieMom]

Hello, KyussKlitmann. Despite Paddingtons negative remarks, may I say welcome. And may I also say thank you. Without CBC and Hockey Night in Canada coming out of Windsor, I would not be able to see any of the games. I am very annoyed with the front office or the league or whomever made the asinine decision to take the games away from Fox Sports and put them on Versus. When people are worried about paying $4.00 a gallon for gas to go to work to make the money to buy the $4.00 gallon of milk to put on the table, it is quite a slap in the face to expect fans to pay for premium cable channels. How moronic was that decision? Well, there's always the Lions!

Sorry! Didn't mean to hijack your thread. Just really needed to vent and get that off my chest. I think if you stay downtown in public places and keep your car in a parking garage, you will be fine. I hope you and gf have a lovely time, and thanks for supporting the Wings!

[MICoastieMom]

Oh, may I make one recommendation? Since you are not familiar with Detroit, you may not know that many of the freeways are currently under construction- those orange barrels are a dead giveaway that Spring has come to Michigan. Before you venture out to Greektown or Mexican Village, please check the MDOT website or ask at the front desk for routes that will detour you around the construction sites.

[kimba01]

Originally Posted by MICoastieMom

Hello, KyussKlitmann. Despite Paddingtons negative remarks, may I say welcome. And may I also say thank you. Without CBC and Hockey Night in Canada coming out of Windsor, I would not be able to see any of the games. I am very annoyed with the front office or the league or whomever made the asinine decision to take the games away from Fox Sports and put them on Versus. When people are worried about paying $4.00 a gallon for gas to go to work to make the money to buy the $4.00 gallon of milk to put on the table, it is quite a slap in the face to expect fans to pay for premium cable channels. How moronic was that decision? Well, there's always the Lions!

Sorry! Didn't mean to hijack your thread. Just really needed to vent and get that off my chest. I think if you stay downtown in public places and keep your car in a parking garage, you will be fine. I hope you and gf have a lovely time, and thanks for supporting the Wings!

I totally agree! Pretty bad when you have to pay to watch your own team play on TV.

[Coldjensens]

If you stay downtown you should be fine. However if you have a spare day you may want to venture down to Green field Villiage and the HenryFord. You will need really good directions, or better yet a GPS because part of the 75 freeway is closed and the detour signs are either terrible or they have been stolen.

There is plenty to do downtown. There was a huge event in the Ren Cen today free hotdogs, soda, ice cream, posters . . . . Some hockey players came as well. It was crammed. (So much for a free hot dog).


It will be busy downtown, but not real crazy. Most o the time it is really really quiet.

You can visit the casinos, Greektown, the art muesum (execellent), Some decent clubs (Seldom Blues, river Rock (I think thats the name). Others will give you more ideas.

thebiggest problem with parking that I know of is that it is hard to find and expensive. I would not park overnight on a secluded street. You do see broken glass on the streets from smashed windows from time to time, but mostly on secluded streets. Best thing, just don't leave anything in your car. This is just common sense in any city. I drive and walk around downtwon all times of day and night on occasion and I have never had a problem bigger then telling a nutty homeless guy to go away. there are some quesiotnable areas within a mile or so of downtown, but you know when you enter a rough area (turn around). Downtown is pretty heavily patrolled, especially lately.

It is neat to eat lunch by the river in front of the wintergarden at the RenCen. There is always something going on there on nice days.

You do need to be concerned if you lack common sense.

[KyussKlitmann]

You guys are so helpful!
Thank You so much!!
This makes me feel alot better...this is gonna be a great weekend(even if we do not have Memorial Day here in Canada).

Yeah that whole thing about Versus is garbage!!
I have satelite and ironically no CBC(even though EVERY Canadian gets CBC for Free!)....and *gasp* I am a PENS fan, but The Wings are cool too(just not as cool as my Pens!)

[cardwellave]

Come back and tell us how you enjoyed your time here!