Magic in Motor City
Somehow, despite being born and raised in Michigan, a big fan of museums and Motown, I have never spent any real time in Detroit. Lucky for me, my little sister Cindy lives in Ann Arbor while attending University of Michigan, and it is just a quick hop away from Motor City. There is so much to see and do in this revitalized city, it’d be a shame to wait as long as I did to go spend some quality time there. I was only able to spend a few hours, so this is a brief blog, but I saw so many wonderful things that required recommendations.
The number one destination on my wishlist for our sister field trip was the Detroit Institute of Art. Cindy and I are both massive fans, and the Van Gogh in America exhibit is NOT to be missed. Somehow my beloved Starry Night over the Rhone was on loan when I went to see it at Musee D’Orsay, and I tried to see it at the Tate when we arrived in London, but they had just packed it up to send it back! It made me deliriously happy to watch the stars twinkle and the couple promenade along the bank. I realize that most impressionist paintings look and feel a bit different depending upon the angle and distance you view them from, but this one felt alive. We discovered watercolors, sketches, and studies that bowled us over. I knew we were in for a treat when a beautiful Calder greeted us at the entrance, and we passed through a massive Rivera mural room. Their permanent collection is pretty extensive and worth a visit on their own, but if you can make it there before 1/22/23, you’re in for a treat.
The Motown Museum was the other must see on my itinerary. It was thrilling to stand in the spot where The Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson recorded iconic cultural touchstones was such a treat. They let you sing into the echo chamber, see the drum set Marvin Gaye used on Please Mr. Postman and Dancing in the Streets, and learn the Temptations shuffle to My Girl in the room where it happened.There is a candy machine with coins left on top that Stevie Wonder used to swipe to get himself his favorite treats as a young neighborhood kid. The control room floor is nearly punched through from decades of foot stomping. The spirit of the space will make your heart dance even if the music doesn’t. It’s a required stop for any music fan.
Even if you’re just passing through, there is plenty to see on a quick walk through downtown Detroit. The Shinola Flagship store and hotel are impressive. I couldn’t get enough of the murals and street art in the trendy revitalized alley called The Belt. Sportball fans will find plenty of fun at Ford Field and Comerica Park, and there are bars and restaurants and music venues to fill your belly and your itinerary. It really is a remarkable place to explore.
My time in Detroit was limited, so i’ll have to come back to finish up my wishlist. The Henry Ford Museum of Innovation is home to the bus Rosa Parks made history in at the With Liberty and Just For All exhibit on freedom, and the Presidential Vehicle exhibit looks pretty cool too. The impressive collection of Murals in the Market also looks like a great way to spend a day.
Ann Arbor is such a vibrant college town. I had the best time crashing my sister’s midnight radio show and playing in the stacks of vinyl. But if you aren’t there to visit any college students, there are excellent bookstores, coffee shops, quirky boutiques, great restaurants, and the campus free museum is incredibly impressive. Beyond the Monet, Degas, interesting contemporary art, their Louis Comfort Tiffany collection is terrific.
Visits to Michigan for me are mainly about visiting family and friends. It’s always nice to play tourist when I find myself back in town. I did a quick tour of my favorite Michigan vacation destinations here last summer. I know Michigan will never be a top sightseeing destination, but there is SO much to see and do. I hope you’ll make some time to check out some of their unique treasures, they are totally worth the time.
