Detroit: A Great Place to Play

Recently while listening to Jay Towers and Bill McAllister's Morning show on Detroit's 97.1 The Ticket sports talk radio station I was inspired to think about what makes Detroit great. For all of you who don't live, work, or play in Detroit let me tell you about the many things that the city has to offer.

Detroit is a great sports city. Detroit is home to teams for all of the major sports, Detroit Tigers (baseball), Detroit Lions (football), Detroit Red Wings (hockey), Detroit Pistons (basketball), and Detroit Shock (womens basketball). As home to all of these teams Detroit has played host in the last several years to many major sporting events. In July 2005 Comerica Park, home to Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers, hosted the 2005 All-Star Game. The Detroit Lions home, Ford Field, hosted Superbowl XL in February 2006. In the fall of 2006 the Detroit Tigers made it to the World Series as what many Detroit fans called a "Team of Destiny." The Detroit Red Wings played in and won the Stanley Cup finals in June of 2008 at Joe Louis Arena. Finally, and most recently, Detroit played host to the NCAA Final Four Championship games and festivities in April 2009.

Visitors to the city during all of these events were able to experience what residents have access to all year long, which are many fine ethnic restaurants, including Greektowns Pegasus for authentic Greek cuisine, and Pizzapapalis for a twist on deep dish pizza. Besides restaurants in Greektown visitors could also experience fine dining at such establishments as Seldom Blues and Andiamos, which are both located in the Renaissance Center which is also home to General Motors as well as the Marriott hotel. The downtown area is also home to the famous American and Lafayette Coney Island restaurants., which both serve chili covered hot dogs called coney dogs. Located just a short drive from the downtown area are more wonderful restaurants, including Slows Barbecue located on Michigan Avenue, Xochimilco, a Mexican restaurant located in Mexicantown along with Mexican Village Restaurant, El Zocalo, and Armando's all located in Southwest Detroit.

Besides great sports and wonderful restaurants Detroit is also home to many fine art and cultural attractions. The DIA, Detroit Institute of Arts, is located in Detroit's Midtown on Woodward Avenue. Also located in Midtown Detroit are the Detroit Science Center, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History. These fine attractions make perfect destinations for families on weekend afternoons, as well as a nice place for a school field trip. Besides the museums and science center Detroit also has many fine concert and cultural venues, among the many offerings within Detroit city limits are the Fox Theatre, the Music Hall, the Gem Theatre, Detroit Opera House, Max M. Fisher Center and Orchestra Hall home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Fisher Theatre where many Broadway shows are performed.

Detroit also offers its residents and visitors a number of bars to choose from, whether you are looking for a quiet Martini bar, a sports bar, or a dance club, the city has you covered. If you are visiting the downtown area, Pulse is your home if you want a small martini bar. Also located downtown are the Detroiter, Hard Rock Cafe, The Detroit Pub, The Well, The Post, Cobo Joe's, Detroit Beer Co. which offers eight house beers on tap at any time, Deluxe, Anchor Bar, The Park Bar, The Town Pump, and Centaur.

If you are looking to shop while in Detroit, visit Eastern Market. At Eastern Market you will find fresh produce, flowers, and other goods for sale in the open air market. You will also find shops such as Rocky Peanut Company, Germack Pistachio, Cost Plus Wine, R. Hirt, Jr. Co, and many others. Rocky Peanut Company attracted me as a child with their vast candy selection which it still boasts today. Stop by on a visit to Eastern Market for a bit of nostalgia.

No matter your reason for being in the city of Detroit, whether it be to live, work, visit or play you will find something that interests you, so stop on by and partake in what Detroit has to offer and find out for yourself why Detroit is great!