Showoff :) (Detroit, Ann Arbor, Livonia: house, neighborhoods, wedding)

[babigyrl5]

What do you like to show your out of town guests when they come to visit? In Cincinnati I take them to Newport on the Levee because its a great spot to catch Bengals and Reds players, and see a comedy show. In Chicago I take them to Hyde Park because it is a cool neighborhood to walk around and shop and eat in.

[Coldjensens]

Greenfield villiage The Henry Ford. Ford River Rouge Plant tour. The Fisher Theater. The view from the Rencen towers. Lake Michigan Beaches and dunes. Taquamenon falls. Steak N Shake. DIA. Ann Arbor. And Just for fun,take them to hell

[Coldjensens]

Or I just stick them in a canoe in my "front yard" and let them explore on their own.

[djmilf]

Add to Coldjensen's list:

Entertainment: the Fox Theater.

Sports: a Tigers' baseball game at Comerica Park, a Red Wings' hockey game at Joe Louis Arena, a Pistons' basketball game at the Palace. A Lions' game at Ford Field is not currently recommended.

One-of-a-kind places: the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills for it's small museums and for its gardens and architechtural gems.

For tours of historical mansions: the Meadowbrook Estate in Rochester Hills, the Henry Ford Estate at Fairlane in Dearborn, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores.

Local 'downtown' neighborhoods for dining, shopping, and people-watching: Greek Town, Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Birmingham. I'm probably missing some of the other neighborhoods that should be included.

Special Seasonal Events: The Freedom Festival Fireworks on the Detroit Riverfront, the Woodward Dream Cruise along 16 miles of Woodward Avenue in Oakland County.

Skip the Steak-and-Shake, though . Go to a Sweet Lorraine's in either Southfield, Detroit, or Livonia. Or the Whitney, located on Woodward Avenue in a former lumber baron's mansion.

[brokerdave]

White castle!

[Bluefly]

I second Cranbrook. People who think they know "Detroit" are always thrown by that one.

[babigyrl5]

Originally Posted by djmilf

gems.

For tours of historical mansions: the Meadowbrook Estate in Rochester Hills, the Henry Ford Estate at Fairlane in Dearborn, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores.

What is the history beind the Siegal Mansion and the Manoogian (sp?) mansion? Are they named after the builders? Why do mansions have names?

[babigyrl5]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Or I just stick them in a canoe in my "front yard" and let them explore on their own.

that sounds so cool...

[yorkee]

I actually take my out-of-town guest to drive around Detroit to see some of the urban ruins.

[Coldjensens]

Cranbrook is great. they have a Planetarium somewhere in there too.

Manoogian Mansion is named after the Manoogian family that built it. That is the family that owns Masco (Delta Faucets, Peerless Faucets, Behr Paint, Craftsmaid cabinets and several other faucet, cabinet and insulation companies). The Manoogians no longer own the maniosn, they donated it to the City to serve as the Mayor's Mansion some time ago. They are undoubtedly not pleased with its recent uses.

Not sure how Cranbrook got its name. A friend of mine had their wedding there, it was magnificent. Cranbrook School is one of the best private schools in the US.

Canoing is really "cool' right now. So "cool" in fact that you would die in minutes if you were to capsize. It is only cool, when it is hot.

If you bring them to Dertoit, take them to Slows for lunch.