Truly Detroit is not a “go to” urban vacation destination and the economy has certainly been rough on this Midwest town. In addition, years of political corruption did not help the city brace for such an economic downturn. Detroit is the gateway to the Great Lakes region and many travelers go through the city to get to stunning northern Michigan locations. It also has become an attractive location for business conventions due to steals in convention and hotel pricing. Efforts over the years have helped restore attractions to the downtown area, however, entertainment and attractions are still dispersed around the town and suburbs. If one finds themselves looking for attractions and activities, with a bit of driving and touring, though the city has had its share of pain, it still offers a great variety in food and culture.
Greek Town
A two block area in downtown Detroit houses a handful of Greek eateries, bakeries, and shops. This was once a bustling commercial area in the early 1900s. Once the commerce vacated, the Greek population remained and it has continued to be a desirable area for entertainment and dining. Most of the restaurants offer true Greek cuisine and not to be missed is saganaki, flaming cheese. Say, “opa” when the mozzarella drenched in brandy and lemon juice takes to a match. The latest addition to the area is the Greek Town Casino. If gambling is not one’s entertainment of choice, check out the very unGreek bar, The Old Shillelah, 349 Monroe Street for some Irish sing along and a Guinness. It always attracts a lively crowd after a strong Greek coffee.
Mexican Town
Detroit (or Michigan) does not have the reputation of having a strong Latin presence. For locals looking to get a true south of the boarder taste, they frequent this concentrated area near the Ambassador Bridge, on the Southeast side of downtown (Bagley Street at Fisher Hwy). A few popular choices for dining include the Mexican Town, Mexican Village, and Xochimilco restaurants. These eateries are sure to please as they are authentic, inexpensive, and all pour a healthy margarita. To add to the culture setting, one will find beautiful architecture in the concentration of catholic churches. Saint Anne of Detroit is one of the bilingual congregations worth viewing.
The Middle Eastern Scene
Many sources, including Psychiatric News (January 21, 2005,Volume 40 Number 2), cite that Michigan has the largest Arabic population outside the Middle East, after Paris France. Over a quarter million live in Southeast Detroit including Lebanese, Iraqi and Palestinian Americans. This Middle Eastern diversity brings an abundance in volume and variety of Arabian delicacies beyond hummus and falafel. There are so many to choose from but a few favorites can be found in the suburbs of Detroit, especially Dearborn, which hosts a large part of the population. Dearborn is about a 15 minute drive from downtown Detroit. If one is in the area over the weekend (Thursday through Sunday), the Adonis Restaurant and Night Club (4853 Schaefer Road) gets great reviews. It seems kind of hokey and gimmicky, but the menu does serve the real thing, plus you can dance the evening away to Arabic or Salsa albeit, not so Middle Eastern, but still festive tunes.
For a change of scenery, the posh suburb of Birmingham offers a lovely area for a stroll, shopping, and dining, and is about a 20 minute drive from downtown Detroit. The casual yet lovely atmosphere of the Pita Café (237 Old Woodward Ave) does not seem to match its high-end retail surroundings in Birmingham. The menu is vast including standards such as kebabs, shawarma, and the vegetarian options such as baba ganoush. If you want to the true Middle Eastern flavor, try the raw kibby/kibbeh (minced lamb, bulgur and spices) and eat it on a slice of pita with onion and olive oil.
Detroit Institute of Arts
The beautiful campus and buildings of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) houses classical master pieces, socially impactful murals of Diego Rivera, and one of the largest collections of middle age armory in the country. The museum has a collection of over 60,000 pieces. The genres range from European, Asian, American and Indigenous works. The European collection includes paintings from masters, including Rembrandt, Seurat, Cézanne. One of the flagship pieces that should not be missed is Diego Rivera’s Fresco,” Detroit Industry”. The Mexican muralist was commissioned to paint this during the height of his career and communist activism. The painting is colorful, captures the scene truthfully, but also is also iconic to Detroit and as it is seen regularly in Detroit literature and imagery.
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village delivers a tour of American history with an incredible collection, also found in the suburb Dearborn. Its key exhibition is the evolution of the automobile from the Model-T to snazzy models of modern times. The museum also houses historical relics such as the chair President Lincoln was in at the Ford’s Theater and a replica of the Wright Brother’s Flyer. Greenfield Village is part of the museum campus open seasonally, so closed in the winter. It offers a walking tour of restored and maintained buildings of early turn of the century. The original buildings that housed Thomas Edison’s laboratory and the Wright brothers’ workshop are part of the display. The Village is staffed with people in period dress and with minimal phoniness is able to make one feel like they are touring a main street of this era. Plan accordingly and you can end your cultural tour with dining at the Adonis, just a short drive away.
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