Intriguing Night Out In The City

Greetings all,

I currenly have many friends in the metro Detroit area that I have known for some time. Many of them were born in the northern/western suburbs, went to college and stayed or returned to metro Detroit. In my opinion, even with all of the city's faults, spending time in the city lends itself to a wide range of experiences extremely difficult to replicate elsewhere.

To the point however, many of these friends have a stubborn preference for limiting themselves to hanging out in places such as Birmingham, Royal Oak, Ferndale, etc. In turn, I routinely then find myself spending time in the city by myself, which can actually be quite enjoyable. In some instances however, others present could easily enhanced the experience. In a small example, a few months ago I organized an outting for my friends and I to have dinner and relax at Cliff Bell's. Many attended, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I plan to organize a tac crawl when the weather gets nice, but that is not for some time. Its clear that in order to convince my friends to spend leisure time in the city, I have to continue to come up with intriguing event opportunities.

My questions for the board is to kindly provide suggestions for enticing outings in the city proper which I could suggest to friends and which would, [[i) pique their interest and ultimately convince them to attend the outing, and [[ii) increase their personal understanding about what our grand city has to offer.

Vague question, I am aware, but suggestions, ranging from cliches to the abstract would be greatly appreciate.

Thanks All

Go Feather bowling at the Cadieux Cafe. Check out a game at Marges. Join the DYC on Belle Isle and go swimming at their indoor pool. Great prices to join currently.

Check out Eastern Market and Guyton's neighborhood art exhibits.

Do a winter picnic on Belle Isle. Do a tour of the Fischer Mansion. Rent a bus and do a historic tour. Arrange for a tour of Elmwood Cemetary or historic Fort Wayne. Volunteer at the Caputian Monastary Soup Kitchen. Sorry, my suggestions are limited, I am an eastsider so suggestions are area limited.

PS: Have fun!

Some westside treats: Tom's Tavern at 7mi & wyoming for the most authentic & rickety bar in America; a great blues and jazz night at Cafe D'Mongos Speakeasy on Griswold at Clifford [[Friday nights only... try the short ribs or half chicken with collared greens, potato salad, and blackeyed peas); Foran's downtown is one of the coolest train station ticket office buildings in the Midwest turned into a bar, not to mention the amazing Michigan beer selections and great food; the Lager House has great rock shows & a laid-back vibe... in the summer & Fall the grill is fired up; who could pass up the bbq goodness at Slow's, plus the spectacular views of Detroit's one-and-only abandoned train station while scarfing down mac-n-cheese and pulled pork...; try a cult film [[in 35mm!) at the Burton Theater and then head up the street to the Old Miami or Bronx Bar for a classic night in the famed Cass Corridor, or try Motor City Brewing for the best beer in town, plus killer pizzas 'til late...; almost forgot to mention TelWay Hamburgers on Michigan Ave... open 24hrs & the best sliders this side of 8 mile, plus it's ALWAYS a scene there -- don't worry, the cops love it and there is almost always one picking up a 4-pack of greasy ones or a couple taking their break at the counter.

Eastside... I can't recommend enough Eastern Market on a bustling Saturday morning, just explore and you will find surprises at every nook & corner; speaking of which, Roma Cafe is probably my favorite dinner in town, and the authentic Italian mobster vibe still permeates today; Cadieux Cafe for the mussels, feather bowling, great vibe and excellent local music.

For more structured outings that will teach them about the city [[important when you want someone to care about something) check out the historical museum and some of the special tours they offer, as well as the Preservation Wayne tours.

Take them "house hunting" thru Rosedale Park. Seriously, find a realtor who'll open several houses for you. Then drive around and look for the houses with the thatch roofs and the matching garages with a two story chimney, or the wavy brick houses [[there are a few).

Most of these houses beat the shit out of Grosse Point Anywhere. Then make them guess the prices.

http://www.insidedetroit.org/

What is a tac crawl?

It's where you go to different automotive accessory shops and look at tachometers.

We've taken several former Detroiter out-of-town friends on driving tours of Detroit. They are awed by it, as it contradicts so many of the negative vibes. We usually start at the Riverwalk, and for sure go into the Wintergarden just because the place looks great. It's too bad there is nothing to do in there. We go by all the casinos, go by the train station and Slow's and through Corktown. We hit Eastern Market, head down Jefferson to Belle Isle, drive around Belle Isle, go through Indian Village. We head up to Hamtramck. Somewhere along the way we find a place to eat. Might be Slow's, Polonia, Golden Fleece or somewhere else in Greektown that isn't post-casino. I like the suggestion of Foran's for the beer selection. Some of our friends love to try different beers. We have also done the Fisher Mansion which is a real treat for the restored glory combined with the fantastic and colorful Indian art. They also serve great food, but I am not sure they have regular hours any more. Once when we were eating there, a peacock landed on the ledge outside the window right next to one of our friends and sat next to her during dinner. That couldn't happen anywhere else.

The Detroit Institute of Arts Friday Night Live! events are a lot of fun....get there around 6pm to enjoy seeing some of the renovated museum [[remind your friends that it has been totally renovated so it will be a new experience!) and then take in the music in the Diego Rivera Court [[often SRO). Afterwards go to dinner somewhere downtown. Then one of the above suggested places for music and drinks.

Detroit Film Theatre followed by dinner, drinks, and music.

In June, attend the Indian Village House & Garden Tour. For the price of a ticket, you can visit some pretty nice homes, and just spend the day walking through the IV neighborhood checking out the architecture and history of the homes.

In July, Cityfest in the New Center area.

In September, Dally in the Alley in the neighborhood just south of the Wayne State U campus.

Mark your calendar for the first Saturday in December...Noel Night in the Cultural Center. Free entertainment 5-9 at all the cultural institutions and churches in the area.

Now to sell your friends on any of the ideas put forth, check out these events through their websites and know what they have to offer so that you can put whatever spin you need to entice your friends to come into the city for some fun!!!

Take them to the Schvitz Sauna on couples night.

I would also highly recommend an evening at the Dakota Inn Rathskeller. Great German food and beer with lots of music and singing!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RickBeall

Take them to the Schvitz Sauna on couples night.

---

Agreed.Enjoy dinner and drinks in a historical building. Take a steam in the same room Purple Gangsters plotted and schemed.:cool: Mel will be more than happy to give youre significant other a Plaitza leaf broom soapy bath. Chill in the hotub downstairs or out on the patio. Take a swim in a lengthy pool. Check out the movie room and then use one of the massage tables to massage youre special someone. Enjoy live entertainment in the upstairs lounge. Sections of the place could use a little sprucing up and remodeling, but overall it would be a great night for a free spirited couple...:D:)

Schvitz Sauna

Please expound on Schvitz, never heard of that one, sounds intriguing.

Thanks,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by slick

Schvitz Sauna

Please expound on Schvitz, never heard of that one, sounds intriguing.

Thanks,

---

That is clearly a joke. Couples night is an orgy. A friendly one, I grant you, but not for beginners.

This MT article does a pretty good job of describing the going-ons at the Schvitz.

http://www.metrotimes.com/culture/story.asp?id=13821

Quote:

---

couples' night, which really means swingers night

---

Thanks for the article.
Definitly not a place for a first date, that is a joke!