New York Times article, 36 hours in Detroit, with slideshow

[majohnson]

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/05/08...s-detroit.html

[Gistok]

Thanks for the great article majohnson.

Whenever I bring a bus load of German or other European groups to our city [[usually here on a cultural exchange visit as a dance or choral group housed by suburban German families).. I also include a visit to the Ford House [[along with a picnic lunch on the grounds), drive down Lakeshore Dr., a drive thru some of the very rough lower east side... a drive around Belle Isle.

Next stop, the Guardian Building, Fox Theatre tour, a photo-op in front of one of the tigers at Comerica [[the one swooping his paws down as though to strike)... a ride along the People Mover ride, and a stop at the edge of the Financial Station showing the One Woodward Ave. a prototype for Minuru Yamasaki's World Trade Center... I never leave them anything but impressed about Detroit.

They see some of the bad, as well as much of the good in Detroit. My favorite compliment was from a Chicago guide who asked.... "what the hell did you do to these German people in Detroit... all they did while in Chicago was to talk about how wonderful Detroit was....LOL...."

It depends on what you show them, I thought to myself... don't just take them to the mall.... and it's virtually impossible to surpass the overwhelming impressions left by the Guardian, Fox and Fisher Buildings.

[rjlj]

Great to see N.Y. Times venture outside their comfort zone. Their 36 hours segment usually visits unique places but it is great to see they highlighted the good parts of the city. Way to keep Detroit on the radar outside of Michigan borders.

[lilpup]

Gistok, have you ever tried your tour on people from the east coast e.g. New York or Philly? I occasionally have family visiting from back east and the in-law from Philly seemed disdainful of even being here. I had taken them around Belle Isle & to Dossin, along the Riverwalk, Campus Martius, etc.

[fryar]

Nice mention of the hostel.

[Gistok]

Gistok, have you ever tried your tour on people from the east coast e.g. New York or Philly? I occasionally have family visiting from back east and the in-law from Philly seemed disdainful of even being here. I had taken them around Belle Isle & to Dossin, along the Riverwalk, Campus Martius, etc.

Lilpup, I don't sponsor tours in the way Jeanette Pierce does her Pub Crawl's et al...

The Detroit area German clubs know that I give a great tour for their foreign [[mostly German) visitors [[I can give it in German or English), and I usually get a call from them asking to give another tour. I rarely venture from my itinerary... due to time constraints and why mess with a winning formula. So I wouldn't be getting a call from other [[domestic) groups asking for a tour. ... although I wouldn't mind it. I did help Jeanette's group out once when they had 4 buses worth of conventioneers though....

[mcsdetroitfriend]

where's the ruin porn?

[fryar]

where's the ruin porn?

Yes. It's remarkable coverage.

[Dbest]

Terrific article. I love an article on Detroit that is all positive. The Times is a good newspaper. I think they actually take a humanitarian approach and try and help, not just throw out negative hit pieces...

[rhythmc]

Thanks for the great article majohnson.

Whenever I bring a bus load of German or other European groups to our city [[usually here on a cultural exchange visit as a dance or choral group housed by suburban German families).. I also include a visit to the Ford House [[along with a picnic lunch on the grounds), drive down Lakeshore Dr., a drive thru some of the very rough lower east side... a drive around Belle Isle.

Next stop, the Guardian Building, Fox Theatre tour, a photo-op in front of one of the tigers at Comerica [[the one swooping his paws down as though to strike)... a ride along the People Mover ride, and a stop at the edge of the Financial Station showing the One Woodward Ave. a prototype for Minuru Yamasaki's World Trade Center... I never leave them anything but impressed about Detroit.

They see some of the bad, as well as much of the good in Detroit. My favorite compliment was from a Chicago guide who asked.... "what the hell did you do to these German people in Detroit... all they did while in Chicago was to talk about how wonderful Detroit was....LOL...."

It depends on what you show them, I thought to myself... don't just take them to the mall.... and it's virtually impossible to surpass the overwhelming impressions left by the Guardian, Fox and Fisher Buildings.

This sounds great. Aside from what seems like a more open mind than domestic visitors, is there anything that you could attribute your success to in leaving visitors highly impressed with Detroit? Maybe so others can attempt to replicate it with their personal visitors.

[Steve]

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/05/08...troit.html?hpw