Detroit

What I did:
Heidelberg Project-
The Heidelberg Project is part politcial protest and part art project. After the riots in Detroit in 1967, parts of Detroit resembled a war zone. Also, Detroit has been hit hard economically in recent years, causing many people to try to burn their houses for the insurance money or just abandon them in search of a better life somewhere else. The Heidelberg Project makes art out of this rubble. It is very interesting, thought provoking, and worth checking when in Detroit.

Henry Ford Museum-
The Ford Motor was started by Michigan native Henry Ford in Detroit.  The museum that bears his name contains many interesting historical items such as John F. Kennedy's presidential limousine, a record breaking race car, the first plane to fly over the north pole, and a Dymaxion House.

Greenfield Village-
Greenfield Village is located next to the Henry Ford museum. Henry Ford had the idea of bringing various buildings of historical significance to Detroit. Some of the buildings now in Greenfield Village are the Wright Brothers (inventors of the airplane) house and workshop, Harvey Firestone's (Firestone Tires) house, Noah Webster's home, and a replica of Thomas Edison's laboratory.

Explored downtown-
Downtown Detroit has a number of things worth exploring.  There are already four major professional sports teams located downtown, and rumors of a fifth coming soon.  There are various monuments, impressive buildings, and other interesting things to see and do downtown.  There is also a great riverfront area.

Where I ate:
Slows BBQ-
Slows is a great barbecue place located in the Corktown area of Detroit.  It is definitely worth checking out when visiting Detroit.

The Sugar House-
The Sugar House is a nice cocktail bar also located in Corktown.  They have a nice selection of Absinthes as well, including some locally made in Detroit.

Green Dot Stables-
Green Dot sells a variety of different sliders (miniature hamburgers).  They have very unique types of burgers.  My favorite burger there had a peanut butter and kimchi topping.

Astoria Pastry Shop-
Astoria is a great place to go when you want to indulge a sweet tooth.  There are a variety of tasty, albeit unhealthy, options to choose from.

Atwater Brewery-
Atwater is a local, quality brewery in downtown Detroit.  They offer flights of their brews, and also offer food.

Great Lakes Coffee-
Great Lakes Coffee Company is a great place to grab a cup of coffee.  Their nitro cold brew is excellent.  They also have good quality food options.

American Coney Island-
American Coney Island, along with rival Lafayette, are two of the most famous places to eat in Detroit.  I thought the coney was good, but because it is not very healthy, it is not good enough to get me to have another anytime soon.  It is still worth trying though.

Dime Store-
Dime Store is a great breakfast spot.  Unfortunately their nitro coffee was not working while I was there, but the food was excellent.

Parks & Rec Diner-
Parks & Rec is a great diner in the old Parks & Recreation building.  The building itself is very cool, and the food is great.  I had smoked salmon with pickled vegetables and a duck egg.  Since the place is so good, you may need to wait a bit for a table.

Cafe D'Mongo's-
Cafe D'Mongo's is a local Detroit place that has been frequented by various celebrities.  Although celebrities will stop by, it is much more of a "homey" place and not a fancy place.  The drinks were good (and relatively cheap) and their famous grilled cheese was the best thing I ate in Detroit.

Where I stayed and how I got around:
I stayed with family in nearby Livonia. I was able to travel around with them while in the Detroit area.

My favorite thing:
My favorite thing about Detroit is the potential they have and the direction they are moving. They are coming back as a city and have good food, multiple sports teams, and some cool things to see and do.

My least favorite thing:
While Detroit is making a strong comeback, they still have some growing left to do. Also, while I was there the weather was very good, but it can be brutal for much of the year.

For next time:
Next time in Detroit I would like to spend some time at the Eastern Market, and I would like to get some barbecue from Greedy Greg’s Sold Food.