travel: detroit

In the week before the accident, Zack & I found ourselves with a few days off, and decided to take a quick trip to Detroit. A few people looked at us like we were crazy when we mentioned Detroit as a get-away destination, but I’ve recently seen so many things about it pop up online that made it seem so fascinating (particularly this post), and we’d already gone almost everywhere within a “short drive’s” distance in every other direction, so off we went! Armed with Design*Sponge’s city guide and recommendations from a dear friend, I was so excited to explore the city–and we were lucky to find out that Joe, our AirBnB host, was a city tour guide! He and his partner Mike couldn’t have been more welcoming or friendly, and totally epitomized the spirit that we felt all around the city, of people who, collectively, have decided to roll up their sleeves and make things better, and who take such pride in their hometown–and we saw so much to be proud of (links & info at the bottom).

michigan building theater parking garage in detroit

michigan building theater parking garage in detroit

michigan building theater parking garage in detroit

avalon bread in detroit

belle isle detroit conservatory

belle isle detroit

detroit packard plant

detroit library mural

detroit Heidelberg project

detroit Heidelberg project

detroit Heidelberg project

guardian building detroit

guardian building detroit

cliff bell's detroit

detroit fist

Photos from: The Michigan Building, which once held the Michigan Theater, and has now been converted into a parking garage; the lighthouse & conservatory on Belle Isle; The Packard Plant, which we did get a bit closer to, but chose not to stop for too many photos, as there was a bit of…police activity going on nearby; the incredible Heidelberg ProjectDetroit Institute of Art, and the John Stephens Coppin mural inside the beautiful library; the Guardian Building; some of the wonderful places we ate & drank, including the gorgeous Cliff Bell’s, Brooklyn Street LocalAvalon International Breads, Mercury Bar, where I had one of the best burger’s I’ve ever had, and we couldn’t resist trying a coney at Lafayette Coney Island  (not pictured: the Grand Trunk Pub, which had great food, and only serves Michigan beer).