Detroit Visit - Pleasantly surprised (Grand Rapids, Lansing: hotel, home, layoffs)

[The GreenVillain]

I lived in Metro Detroit from '87-'99 and since leaving have always followed the comings and goings of the Motor City. My last visit was in 2004.

My visit this time included a Tigers game at Comerica Park (the Tigers lost but the stadium was full of fans), a couple of excellent dining experiences, and a drive through the area. I was pleasantly surprised. First, I did not hear any "self-loathing" that I've heard that Detroiters and Michiganians are doing these days. Second, I found downtown Detroit (specifically Campus Martius area) to be improving and thirdly, I found the suburbs as lively and vibrant as ever.

I did notice that rush hour traffic on I-275 and I-96 was less than I remember. Back in '98 and '99 these freeways were jammed at 4:30 in the afternoon.

The Book-Cadillac Hotel downtown has been impressively renovated and should be key anchor to Washington Blvd. However, Woodward Avenue south of Grand Circus Park is still dead. Downtown Detroit is chock full of impressive early 20th century buildings - most awaiting a rebirth.

My visit convinced me that Detroit still has a future. I'm planning on a return visit next year and looking forward to seeing more progress. Perhaps the Tigers will win the next time I attend a game.

[michsnowlvr]

Glad you had a great time....and its nice to see an out-of-towner see firsthand how exaggerated things get on these boards! There are problems for sure, but its not as bad as some on here make its sound. Very few signs of the recession in most suburbs, and downtown Detroit is doing good. I work in the public, the only "self-loathing" I hear on a daily basis is whenever I choose to visit this board! Tigers games are a blast, too bad they lost when you went as they have had an excellent home record this year (though they are 3-4 in games Ive attended this year lol).

[deslok]

Detroit is the real heart of Michigan. I think it is great when people can appreciate what the city has. Also refreshing to read some positive news, it gets tiresome seeing the only cheerleaders in the state residing on the judgemental Grand Rapids side.

[The GreenVillain]

I forgot to mention that I did spend a few days in West Michigan but prefer Metro Detroit when visiting the state. Detroit IS the heart of Michigan and, unlike GR, Lansing, and K-Zoo, has real character.

[chiroptera]

Nice to hear good things about Detroit!
I'm a relative newcomer to MI (2001) and while I'm not THAT impressed with Detroit (wouldn't live there), it's got some absolute gems. The Eastern Market is fabulous. And the Corktown area has a nice, gritty feel...DIA is a world-class art museum too.

[Wingnatic]

Detroit just finished hosting a large group of travel writers last week , I think they were here for almost a week and they interviewed some of them on the news (1st time visitors) and they had the exact same reaction .
Good press is always a good thing for sure , but is anyone else getting weary of having to prove ourselves time after time ? Didn't these people watch the Superbowl , World Series , Final Four , numerous Stanley Cups and Playoffs to name a few things lol

[Vicman]

Keep in mind that the Downtown, Corktown, and Greektown area is a small fraction of Detroit; most of Detroit has had problems with unoccupied land, taggers, lack of police response, etc.

However the Detroit Blog, found here: detroitblog shows that there are good things, interesting things, and cool things found in this otherwise tragic city. Take a look to see what restaurants, shops, and oddball places you can find throughout the rest of the city.

[chiroptera]

Neat blog, Vicman! I really need to get to know more about Detroit since I'm only an hour or so away. It doesn't seem right to form an opinion about a city I haven't spent much time in yet...I have met too many Michiganders who dismiss it as an awful and scary place - but really know nothing about it. Except it's poor, crime-ridden and filled with scary (black) people. Which is sort of true I guess, but a lot of non-scary people seem to live there too....

Although one thing I have noticed, even visiting Greektown and the Mexican area and around the university - there's not much of a pedestrian culture. I don't mean in the ghetto-ey parts, I mean in the areas I just mentioned. And I thought Greektown was kind of lame.

I did have one of the better meals I've had in Michigan at a place called Slows Barbeque...that was really awesome and I want to go eat there again! Any other ideas for interesting Detroit places I'm all ears. I have been to the park where the aquarium used to be (can't recall the name right now) and thought it was great, with the big empty fountains and views. But not a place I'd visit after dark...

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Vicman

Keep in mind that the Downtown, Corktown, and Greektown area is a small fraction of Detroit; most of Detroit has had problems with unoccupied land, taggers, lack of police response, etc.

However the Detroit Blog, found here: detroitblog shows that there are good things, interesting things, and cool things found in this otherwise tragic city. Take a look to see what restaurants, shops, and oddball places you can find throughout the rest of the city.

Here's another cool website about the city of Detroit that people could check out too: Model D - Detroit News

[The GreenVillain]

Originally Posted by chiroptera

Neat blog, Vicman! I really need to get to know more about Detroit since I'm only an hour or so away. It doesn't seem right to form an opinion about a city I haven't spent much time in yet...I have met too many Michiganders who dismiss it as an awful and scary place - but really know nothing about it. Except it's poor, crime-ridden and filled with scary (black) people. Which is sort of true I guess, but a lot of non-scary people seem to live there too....

Although one thing I have noticed, even visiting Greektown and the Mexican area and around the university - there's not much of a pedestrian culture. I don't mean in the ghetto-ey parts, I mean in the areas I just mentioned. And I thought Greektown was kind of lame.

I did have one of the better meals I've had in Michigan at a place called Slows Barbeque...that was really awesome and I want to go eat there again! Any other ideas for interesting Detroit places I'm all ears. I have been to the park where the aquarium used to be (can't recall the name right now) and thought it was great, with the big empty fountains and views. But not a place I'd visit after dark...

I had dinner at Slows!