Detroit Reimagined – Renaissance in the Motor City
Renaissance in the Motor City
By Lorie Steiner
If ever there was a city with soul, Detroit, Michigan is it! Motown has re-awakened as a sparkling, vital metropolis getting noticed for all the right reasons! Just a ninety-minute flight from Toronto, today’s Detroit just makes you happy. Everywhere you go – from Hitsville, U.S.A. to the heart of the downtown revival. From food to festivities, art to architecture, sports (Go Lions!), this gorgeous city is five star all the way. Let’s take a tour…
The Motown Museum
Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Michael Jackson – so many famous singers started their careers in Detroit and you get to tour the house and recording studio where it all began. Founded in 1985, the Motown Museum is home to Hitsville U.S.A. and a bevy of Motown artifacts, photographs, apparel and memorabilia. Jive along with a super knowledgeable guide while viewing curated exhibits, the apartment Berry Gordy and his family lived in, original recording equipment and the legendary Studio A, where the magic happened. motownmuseum.org
The Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of America’s top art museums, with more than 65,000 works and rotating exhibits. Housed in a stunning Beaux Arts building in Midtown, the DIA features more than 100 galleries, including the Center for African American Art, one of the first collections devoted to African American art at a major museum. Masterpieces from Van Gogh, Degas, Rembrandt and Renoir along with the captivating Industrial Murals by Diego Rivera are other must-sees. dia.org
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
Past, present, future is all on display at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and, oh, the stories it has to tell. In addition to seeing the chair Lincoln was assassinated in, you can step inside the bus where Rosa Parks made a stand. Explore flight with the Wright brothers or make yourself at home inside Buckminster Fuller’s circular Dymaxion House. Of course, The Henry Ford Museum doesn’t disappoint in sharing the glorious evolution of the automobile. Spend a few hours immersing yourself in the minds of trailblazers and being inspired. thehenryford.org
Let’s eat!
Food has a legacy all its own in Detroit. It’s where Buddy’s deep-dish square pizza was born. Where the Coney Dog was first crowned (with condiments) and where chefs supreme share their culinary creativity.
Buddy’s Detroit-Style Pizza started as an ingenious idea back in 1946 and has become an icon of immense joy. Created in a steel auto pan, the only limit to the toppings on this favourite dish is your imagination. Double cheese, please!
Detroit’s Coney Dog is a true delicacy… a hot dog on a bun slathered with beanless chili, yellow mustard and raw onions. There is an ongoing battle between the two most famous vendors, next-door neighbours Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island, as to who makes the most authentic Coney. It’s a Detroit tradition, you have to do the taste test and decide for yourself.
All are welcomed and embraced at Baobab Fare, an East African restaurant offering food that honours traditional dishes served in Burundi, the birthplace of husband-and-wife owners Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba. I tried Mbuzi – slow-roasted goat shank with fried plantains and coconut rice and it was amazing.
On the cocktail circuit
It’s always fun to get dressed up and go out on the town. For an elevated experience of Asian fusion cuisine, you’ll want to visit PAO – a splendid downtown supper club. Set in the historic Michigan Oriental Theater, the restaurant combines upscale ambiance with a beautiful heritage.
The New York Times called Cliff Bell’s: “The place to be in Detroit!” and they weren’t kidding. Featuring the smooth sounds of live jazz, a palate-pleasing menu, great drinks and an atmosphere reminiscent of a film noir, Cliff Bell’s is the premier club for a night out.
No visit to downtown Detroit is complete without a stop at the Candy Bar at Siren Hotel, dubbed by Architectural Digest as the “most beautifully designed bar” in Michigan. So romantic, this intimate setting is illuminated by a fabulous glass chandelier. Light reflected off a mirror ball scatters across the room, which is accented with shades of pink and red. My cocktail “Hard to Explain” was created with Champagne, a sugar cube and house made rose and cardamom bitters. Sweet!
A delightful eatery at ROOST Detroit in the magnificent Book Tower building, Le Suprême is a Parisian-inspired brasserie offering exceptional French fare, such as seafood towers, moules frites and fresh pastries made in-house. For your added pleasure – a selection of over 300 world-class wines and Champagnes. On the 14th floor of Book Tower, Detroit’s trendy rooftop bar and cocktail lounge called Kamper’s (an homage to the building’s original architect, Louis Kamper) boasts panoramic city views and craft cocktails paired with a festive tapas menu.
Looking up
There’s so much to see when you’re on a downtown Detroit walkabout. Murals, sculptures and a wealth of historic architecture. Stately buildings lighting up the night. Inside and out, these classic 19th and 20th century treasures are being restored and brought back to former glory. Detroit’s renaissance is a testament to the people who believe in the city’s potential.
Case in point: Book Tower is one of the city’s oldest and most beloved architectural landmarks. When it opened in 1926, it was the tallest structure in the city at 38-stories, designed with Roman-influenced intricacies and sparkling interiors that featured fine dining, shopping and offices. Under the guidance of Bedrock – Detroit’s largest real estate developer – Book Tower was meticulously restored over seven years and is now one of the most coveted places to stay, dine and host special events. In June 2023, Method Co. launched ROOST Detroit within Book Tower, a boutique extended-stay concept where I had the pleasure of staying in a wonderfully furnished apartment during my visit. Heavenly! booktowerdetroit.com myroost.com/extended-stay-hotel-detroit-michigan
After only a few days in this remarkable city, I have to say I’m smitten. It’s relaxing, refreshing, fun and absolutely lovely. Only 90 minutes in the air from the GTA, or a few short hours’ drive, you will adore the ‘new Detroit’. Discover it all at visitdetroit.com
