Shrinking Cities arrives in Detroit

[Jeff_in_Dayton]

There has been some discussion about a conference at Berkley on Shrinking Citys...apparently this is seperate from the Shrinking Cities project I was familiar with, developed by the Germans back in 2002-2005.

The German project has now travelled to the US, as an exhibition at Cranbrook amd MOCA Detroit

Cranbrook

MOCAD

And I will be going!



(this is a good excuse to poke around Detroit a bit more...I was there once before but didn't really get a good enough impression of the place).

Can anyone recommend a good Polish restaurant in Hamtramck? Hamtramck is one of the areas I want to explore a bit more (Cass Corridor is another & Corktown is yet another).

I probably should take a tour of that Saarninen house in Cranbrook, too.

[Michi]

I was planning on checking out Shrinking Cities as well...mostly at MOCAD since it's only a block away from my apt.

I don't know what the best Polish restaurant is in Hamtramck, but here's a quick list (that can be found by a mapquest search).

The Holbrook Cafe
3201 Holbrook
Hamtramck, MI 48212

Krakus Restaurant and Bar
12900 Jos. Campau
Hamtramck, MI 48212
*Best Polish Restaurant In Town
Special Homemade Food
We Cater In Our Facility,
To Banquets, and Parties
Complete Carry Out Service
Saturday Dancing 9pm - 1:30am

Polish Village Cafe
2990 Yemans
Hamtramck, MI 48212
*Finest food west of Warsaw

Polonia-Jaworowka
2934 Yemans
Hamtramck, MI 48212

Under the Eagle
Polish Cusine
9000 Jos. Campau
Hamtramck, MI 48212

Polish Deli and Bakery
12015 Jos. Campau
Hamtramck, MI 48212

(Jos. Campau is the main drag through Hamtramck)

If you're here on the weekend of Feb. 25, there is also Paczki Day Celebration. Bring your fat jeans.

When touring Hamtramck, to experience the stereotypical "Hamtramck neighborhood housing stock", I'd recommend driving up and down the streets of Mitchell, McDougall, and Charest. They are all just east (and parrallel to Jos. Campau) and can be accessed best off of Holbrook Street.

[Jeff_in_Dayton]

Great, thanks! I appreciate the tips.

It seems like they are running shuttle busses between the MOCAD location and Cranbrook, so you can take in both. Im thinking of using that.


I will most likley be staying in downtown Detroit, too, so will be walking around there too, or trying out that peoplemover.

[Michi]

Well, just don't expect the People Mover to take you anywhere you need to go. It's just a touristy way to see the downtown. You can easily just take th e short walk it requires between the different People Mover stations. It's good that you're staying downtown!

Be sure to check out the new riverfront.

[The-New-Tony-Detroit]

Jeff - are you in town now? Feel free to give me a call if you have any questions about le detroit -313-377-1598

[Michi]

I'm going to solicit that telephone number all over the world for everyone to see. Including the Bolivians!

[Exodus]

Interesting areas outside of downtown/cbd to visit includes all the major midtown districts, Newcenter area, Eastern Market, East Jefferson to the Gold Coast, Corktown, Mexicantown, Hamtramck, Highland Park, and check out Arabian Village in East Dearborn. Take West Vernor through the southwest side on your way to Arabian Village. Also do the Grand Blvd. loop if you can. Go to the Detroit River Ralroad tunnel, it's kind of neat watching the trains come in and out of the two tunnel enterences.

[Jeff_in_Dayton]

Hey, thank you all for the continuing suggestions.

Some of these places I did see or drive through on my earlier trip (Grand Blvd and New Center, and a very quick spin through Hamtramck as part of a drive-by of the Ford Highland Park plant), but these additional tips are good. I definetly want to squeeze in a visit to that Eastern Market as I am a fan of these old urban markets, like Western Market in Cleveland and Findlay Market in Cincinnati.

Here's something I found online...

Detroit, A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary

So much to see! I won't be able to do this all as I plan on only three full days, and a part of Sunday will be attending a panel discussion at the Cranbrook site (I will be going in early March).

Also, one of the things I wanted to see, the Saarinen House, won't be open till the late spring, so definetly another trip later in the year.

As for Cranbrook, how long of a drive is that from downtown, on either Woodward or via freeway?

[the pope]

Originally Posted by Jeff_in_Dayton

Hey, thank you all for the continuing suggestions.
Also, one of the things I wanted to see, the Saarinen House, won't be open till the late spring, so definetly another trip later in the year.

As for Cranbrook, how long of a drive is that from downtown, on either Woodward or via freeway?

Its really a shame some of Saarien's best work is at the GM Tech Center, which is pretty much on lock down, and tours are not given (i think)

I would just take woodward to Cranbrook

a) because its a perfectly straight shot (about 25 mins?)
b) some decent distractions along the way if you have time. In terms of architecture one of the more noteable is the National Shrine of the Little Flower, located at 12 mile and Woodward



Also of note, at 9 mile and Woodward is Ferndale, home to Pope's parents.

And driving the whole length you'll get a good feel for "vibe" of detroit and how it completely changes from downtown all the way to Pontiac.