looking for cultural attractions that are open Xmas Day

**lafayette** · November-30-09, 03:02 PM

Does anyone know of any non-sports related Detroit cultural venues that are open on Christmas day? The usual suspects are not - DIA, Detroit Science Center, Detroit Historical Museum, Arab American Museum, etc.

**rb336** · November-30-09, 03:06 PM

casino, casino, casino

sorry, that's it

**lafayette** · November-30-09, 03:13 PM

bummer, not interested in sports or casino glitz. guess i'm outta luck.

**bailey** · November-30-09, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by lafayette

bummer, not interested in sports or casino glitz. guess i'm outta luck.

obviously you are just trying to make the baby jesus cry. next thing you'll want is to be able to buy alcohol on christmas eve and christmas day.

**lafayette** · November-30-09, 03:31 PM

i know, jesus was a closet gambler/sports nut. shhhhhhhh......

Stosh · November-30-09, 05:04 PM

You know, a lot of Detroit's cultural venues actually are open on Christmas Day. They are called churches. Visit a few. There's lots to choose from, some on the Historic Register, and they'll be happy to see you. Enjoy....

andybsg · November-30-09, 05:14 PM

Are any movie theatreas open? Old Redford would be cool.

**Gistok** · November-30-09, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by lafayette

Does anyone know of any non-sports related Detroit cultural venues that are open on Christmas day? The usual suspects are not - DIA, Detroit Science Center, Detroit Historical Museum, Arab American Museum, etc.

Lafayette... sorry... but for some reason I have visions of your family spending Christmas like Ralphy and his family in CHRISTMAS STORY... where the Bumpkiss's dogs ran off with the turkey and they ended up in a Chinese restaurant on Christmas day.... [[Ringle Bells... Ringle Bells...)

**Pam** · November-30-09, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Stosh

You know, a lot of Detroit's cultural venues actually are open on Christmas Day. They are called churches. Visit a few. There's lots to choose from, some on the Historic Register, and they'll be happy to see you. Enjoy....

Yes, even if religion is not your thing, the old churches of Detroit have great art and acoustics for music, so visiting them is a cultural experience.

**Kathleen** · November-30-09, 08:27 PM

According to the Belle Isle Botanical Society, the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is open 365 days of the year, 10am to 5pm. It certainly will be decorated for Christmas!! Free admission too!

A spin around the island with an eye towards some of the historical and architectural wonders as well as the natural beauty of the island is an added bonus!

**eriedearie** · November-30-09, 08:35 PM

Those of the homeless culture would appreciate you helping to serve Christmas Day Dinner. Here's a google link to several.

http://www.google.com/search?q=detro...ient=firefox-a

An excellent day to do some giving back work of the Lord.

**French777** · November-30-09, 08:51 PM

Greektown? Maybe do some shopping and eat lunch

**Gistok** · December-01-09, 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by French777

Greektown? Maybe do some shopping and eat lunch

French777... you might be on to something... the Greek Orthodox celebrate Christmas 2 weeks later... is anything in Greektown besides the casino open on Christmas?

Kathleen, thanks for that tidbit on the Conservatory... the flower house will have their Christmas Poinsetta display in full bloom, and there'll be Christmas Cactus in bloom all throughout the Conservatory. And don't forget the Ice Christmas Tree near the beach area... unless El Nino decides to give us another warm Christmas....

**gnome** · December-01-09, 06:44 AM

I would imagine that the Holocaust Museum on Orchard Lake in West Bllomfield is open on Friday the 25th.

**EastsideAl** · December-01-09, 11:52 AM

I think the Campus Martius skating rink may be open on Christmas. I know the Hart Plaza one used to be, as I went skating there on a couple of Christmas afternoons.

Jewish friends of mine always went out for a big Chinese dinner and a movie, usually at the Maple, on Christmas. I went with them once several years ago to see Life is Beautiful [[and the heat stopped working in the middle of the movie!). Of course, movie-going in the Detroit area is almost by definition a suburban experience.

This year would be a little different for observant Jews, since Christmas falls on a Friday and the Jewish sabbath begins on Friday afternoons. I believe the Holocaust Museum that gnome mentions above closes in the early afternoons on Fridays.

**jcole** · December-01-09, 12:08 PM

The Holocaust Museum website says they are closed on legal holidays. I assume that means Christmas.

**Gingellgirl** · December-01-09, 12:34 PM

Oakland County Parks often provides free entry to their many parks on major holidays. Check their website at DestinationOakland.com for holiday updates.

**cman710** · December-01-09, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

French777... you might be on to something... the Greek Orthodox celebrate Christmas 2 weeks later... is anything in Greektown besides the casino open on Christmas?

Gistok, nearly all members of the Greek Orthodox church celebrate Christmas on December 25th. A very small number Orthodox church's use the Julian calendar to determine Christmas' date, which becomes January 7th on the Gregorian calendar, but in America very few Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas according to that calendar [[though the Greek Orthodox church does compute the date of Easter according to the Julian calendar). The Armenian church celebrates Christmas on the day of the Epiphany, which is January 6th. So the Greek Orthodox will mostly be at home celebrating Christmas with their families, like every other Christian.