My friend just saw the film "Roger and Me".... (Detroit: loan, hotel)

[TightButLoose]

And now he wants to take a drive to Flint to "look around." I realize it's a very odd choice of destination, and I'm only really going to keep him company, but is there anything in Flint worth checking out? I read there's a good planetarium there. Anything else? Any good or interesting places to eat?

I realize there are some genuine safety issues in Flint, but if we're going to be in the car most of the time, I'm assuming there's little danger. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Thank you

[M TYPE X]

Kettering (aka GM) University, UM Flint ... uhh ... there's more to do in Frankenmuth than Flint.

Eat lots of chicken flavored with German kitsch

OR

Dodge bullets and potholes

...

That's a 'tuffy.'

[athletesfoot]

I haven't been to Flint in about 10 years, and it was a horrible and pretty scary place back then. With all the school closings and factory closings, I have a hard time imagining that it's gotten any better.

[Blue Grass Fever]

It is definitely a 'depressed' town nonetheless! (i have lived in one of the worst part of Detroit, but Flint is just flat-out weird; it's hard to explain...)

Good luck on your 'morbid tour' of Flint!

[jaynarie]

I was born in Flint and currently live 15 minutes away (actually I am a Davison alum, same as Michael Moore. But, they do not claim him...) Flint has changed drastically since Roger and Me (the crazy rabbit lady was my grandma's neighbor! Icky!). Shops have been demolished, Autoworld has been demolished (and is now parking for UM-Flint). We do have a nice planetarium, and I would recommend going to Crossroads Village (if you are into historical stuff). The planetarium is actually located in the Flint Cultural Center along with a museum (Sloan Museum), the Flint Institute of Arts, and several other things. Downtown is currently being redone, and the arches are beautiful at night. Applewood and Whaley House will help you look into Flint's past (along with the museum). The whole college cultural area is pretty, but nothing to do really. There is some nice architecture in and around Flint. Sadly, much of it is abandonded now. Downtown, buildings are getting rebuilt (many for UofM housing), and several just received new facades for the filming of "Semi-Pro" with Will Farrell. Stepping Stone Falls isn't much, but pretty at night. You can also take a ferry ride around the lake. If you are into the bar/club scene, check out the Machine Shop on Dort Highway. They often have big rock/alternative bands playing. I caught Hinder last year and Daughtry a few months ago. There are a couple of local race tracks that put on a good show. AutoCity speedway is in Clio and runs mostly Saturday nights and Dixie is in Birch Run (they do school bus figure-8's a lot, bunch of fun!) and runs Friday nights.
As for restaurants, Angelo's is Flint's fame. The original location is at Davison Rd and Franklin St. (If you were to come from downtown, go north on Chavez to Davison Rd and take a right. Less than 2 miles). It is a coney island, and it looks pretty gross, but the food is great! Halo Burger is also a Flint tradition. That is a local fast food chain with multiple locations, including downtown on Saginaw St. They're famous for Boston Coolers (sort of a rootbeer float, only with Vernor's [ginger ale]). El Charrito has EXCELLENT Mexican food, and has multiple locations. Latina's has great italian food and stromboli.
We also have tons of festivals all summer in the area, so it depends on when you are coming which ones will be operating.

As for crime, I am a youngish (24) female, and I have no problems with most of Flint, even alone. I went to college downtown for 5 years, and never felt scared, even with night classes. The east side is not the best of areas, but no one will bother you. They are more about going after each other. The west side is fine (actually, this is the nice area), as is the south side. Now, the north side is the part you want to avoid. If you run across MLK (Martin Luther King Ave), Dupont St, Pasadena Ave, Clio Rd, or Pierson Rd east of I-75, this is where you want to turn around and go the other way! Quickly! Flint actually has a low robbery/non-violent crime rate. The crime issue is with violent crimes, but as I said before, the majority of the time it is people who know each other. My grandparents lived in Flint for 60 years and never had a problem (both are now deceased).

If you have an specific questions, need directions, etc... Feel free to PM me. Flint is not as bad as people make it sound. It is actually quite sad. The economy is awful and people are fleeing. But, this is a problem through out Michigan, and is not limited to Flint.

[M TYPE X]

Yeah ... let's drive to Flint and go to Crossroads Village ... or, we could go to Grandma's house and then catch dinner at Applebees.

The latter option is arguably a more entertaining means of wasting a day.

[The_Anonymous_American]

If Flint has a low robbery rate, and I doubt that very much, it's because one must have legally owned possessions before it can be claimed as stolen in a police report. The victim of the robbery, before filing the police report, must also have a clean record and not have a truck load of arrest warrants of their own. The most entertaining column in the Flint Journal is the Saturday police beat columnist writing of all the dopey characters who have been arrested during the week.

[M TYPE X]

"Blues Brothers" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" make me want to visit Chicago. "Roger & Me" never made me want to see Flint, but then again, my hometown in metro Detroit isn't so far away and I don't need to be told about Flint.

Originally Posted by The_Anonymous_American

If Flint has a low robbery rate, and I doubt that very much, it's because one must have legally owned possessions before it can be claimed as stolen in a police report. The victim of the robbery, before filing the police report, must also have a clean record and not have a truck load of arrest warrants of their own. The most entertaining column in the Flint Journal is the Saturday police beat columnist writing of all the dopey characters who have been arrested during the week.

1) That's how the law works (legal protection for legal claims by legit people) and 2) The police beat is the most important section of most municipal newspapers. There's really little else to discuss in Flint ... it's not like new shopping centers open up that often, or anything else good to report.

[jaynarie]

Type / 2004 total / per 100,000 / national per 100,000/ difference per 100,000
Flint Violent Crimes / 2708 / 2260.2 / 554.4/ +1706
Flint Property Crimes /7709 / 6434.1 / 4073.5/ +2361


I am not saying that robberies are LOW overall, but they are actually close to the national average. So, it is about normal for a city of it's size. Violent crimes, however, are more than FOUR TIMES the national average.

Source: Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed

[kaypurdue]

Yep, we are not quite as bad as Roger & Me days... there are some people putting in efforts towards revitilization now. It's a long road and it's not going to happen overnight.

The previous poster's suggestions were excellent ones... the planetarium, FIA, Sloan and Whaley House are all good places to visit. If you insist on taking the "morbid tour," the old Durant Hotel is a good place to start... and you can figure out the rest from there.

If you are into the bar scene and want to be right in the heart of downtown, my two favorite hangouts are The Loft (on Buckham Alley just off Saginaw St.) and Churchill's (right on the main drag). The Torch is right across the alley from The Loft and has good burgers - I usually head there to fill up before a night of drinkin'. Angelo's is open 24/7 and I often find myself there afterwards!

While you are there, be sure to visit my friend's place of business, Flint City T-Shirts, to get your Flint-themed gear. (http://www.flintcitytshirts.com)