Every Michigan student should visit Detroit at least once

Your definitive guide to everything that makes the Motor City great

As a Michigan student, I’ve heard a lot of misconceptions about Detroit. Yes, people actually live there. No, you won’t get shot as soon as you cross 8 Mile. In fact, The Motor City actually has a lot to offer. With museums, restaurants, sporting events and more, there are plenty of reasons to take a trip downtown. Here are just a few.

The art

Detroit is famous for having some really impressive art collections, particularly at the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA) which boasts over 60,000 pieces across several floors, including Van Gough’s famous self-portrait — in my opinion the highlight of the museum. The DIA also has an incredible Contemporary/Modern section that includes several Warhols and is constantly changing and bringing in new pieces so you can always see something new, along with visiting special exhibits.

Another can’t-miss feature of the Motor City is Detroit’s street art. Shephard Fairey famously visited over the summer to add a mural to one of Dan Gilbert’s buildings, but that’s honestly just the tip of the iceberg. Around every corner, Detroit is teeming with murals and graffiti that could hang in museums. You can find some of the most famous at Eastern Market, Adelaide, Orleans, and Russell. My favorite is Kobie Solomon’s Chimera mural, which can be seen from I-75 and is located at 1600 Clay St.

And of course it goes without saying that you have to check out the Heidelberg Project. Go during the day and keep photography to a minimum, as its residents don’t like to be bothered, and be sure to check out its rotating exhibits. Heidelberg likes to bring in local artists to display their work, and even allows them to paint entire rooms inside the houses to make the exhibit totally unique. Often on the first couple nights of the display, you can meet the artists and talk to them about their work, which is a really unique experience.

The food

Ah, Detroit cuisine. There’s nothing quite like a city where you can choose between a cow-tongue burger, some freshly caught fish, and a hotdog the size of your forearm.  Ann Arbor may have a pretty decent selection (ok, an amazing one) when it comes to choosing where to grab a bite, but don’t overlook Detroit. To kick things off, you have to start with the classics. Every visit to Detroit should start at the Coney Islands. That’s right, Coney Islands, plural. There are two. Stay with me. In 1903, a Greek immigrant named Gus Keros came to Detroit and started American Coney Island on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Lafayette Blvd. Shortly after, Keros brought his brother over and he founded Lafayette Coney Island NEXT DOOR. Ouch. What followed was a bitter family rivalry that still survives today. Every Detroiter has an opinion about which has the better hotdogs (cough Lafayette cough) and trying one from each is an absolute necessity for any first time visitor.

Next, we have Slow’s Bar BQ, one of the most delicious barbeque places in the state and possibly the world. Think I’m exaggerating? Try it for yourself. Slow’s is famous for their mouth-watering pulled pork sandwiches, piled high with more deliciously caloric toppings than you can fit in one bite, along with their ribs, coleslaw, and macaroni and cheese.

The view from Mercury Burger Bar

If you’re trying to go off the beaten path and avoid some of the touristy restaurants, Detroit has some really unique, delicious places all around the city. Mercury Burger Bar in Corktown has great burgers with a beautiful view of the Central Station, and not far away at Greendot Stables, you can get sandwiches like the Quinoa Burger and the Korean sandwich, along with one of their specialties made with the meat of the week, which has included octopus, cow tongue, kangaroo and llama. Yum. Other foodie hotspots include restaurants at Greektown, Mudgies, Traffic Jam and Snug, Gold Cash Gold, Roast, and so much more. Oh and don’t forget Mexicantown for dessert! La Gloria bakery has the best churros for only a dollar each.

The sports

Yes, ok, there’s the Tigers and the Redwings. And unfortunately also the Pistons and the Lions. But I’m not going to tell you about those teams, because I’m sure you know all about them already. The thing about Detroit is that it has a lot of well kept secrets, and a lot of traditions that make it unique. So, without further ado, I present to you the quintessential Detroit sport: soccer. That’s right, you’re not a true Detroiter until you’ve gone to a Detroit City Football Club (DCFC) match. No other event captures Detroit’s quirky, carefree spirit the way DCFC does.

The summer-league team was started a few years back by a few former pro-soccer players and coaches and quickly drew a cult following from a group of fans now known as the Northern Guard, who will make you care about soccer in ways you never thought you could. The Northern Guard arrive at every game with smokebombs, face paint, profane cheering, noisemakers, and a completely unrivaled spirit and love for the city. Slogans include “No one likes us,” and “We’re ruining football and we don’t care.” Sound like fun? It is. DCFC fans are extremely welcoming, and the games bring together true Detroiters in ways other sports teams can’t. Plus, there’s a family-friendly section on the other side if you’re not into the whole swearing thing, and they bring in Detroit food trucks so you can nibble while you watch.

The shopping

Eastern Market Saturdays are an absolute staple of the Detroit experience. There’s nothing like waking up before 10am, grabbing a wagon, and strolling down the sprawling complexes to see what Detroit’s farmers and artisans have to offer, all the while listening to independent musicians and maybe tossing them a few bucks if they’re good enough. You can buy fresh turnips and a print from a Detroit photographer all in one place!

For whatever reason, not nearly enough people know about John King, my favorite store in Detroit and possibly the entire state of Michigan. John King is a former factory turned bookstore that measures multiple stories high and was recently rated the #2 bookstore in the world. That’s right, THE WORLD. It’s a veritable eighth wonder, and you have to check it out. A fun thing to do is to go in and ask what their oldest book in the store is and take a look. You’d be surprised the kinds of things you can find there.

And of course you have to take a walk along Woodward. Favorite shops there include Moosejaw, Detroit Comics, and especially The Detroit Shop, where you can buy apparel, posters, and items made from local artisans.

The view

And last but not least, go to Detroit because it’s just so damn beautiful. Take a boat ride and watch the sunset over the skyline, explore Bell Isle, stroll down the Riverwalk and marvel at the fact that you can literally see Canada from where you’re standing right now. Drive through Indian Village. Corktown. Midtown. Central Station. Take a look at the architecture, the art, the beauty and history that can be found even in buildings that have been neglected. Notice that some of them are being built back up again, just like the city itself.

Then grab a coney from Lafayette and think about how you can’t wait to come back.

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