Detroit, Michigan — Activities
Detroit Culture
Detroit has always had a thriving music culture, from the birth of Motown through to the current techno revival. However, Detroit’s art scene also thrives, with the most theater seats in the country bar New York, and regular music and dance performances.
The cornerstone of Detroit arts is the Fox Theater, 2211 Woodward Avenue (tel: (313) 471 3200; website: www.olympiaentertainment.com), the second largest theater in the US. The Fisher Theater, 3011 West Grand Boulevard (tel: (313) 872 1000; website: www.nederlanderdetroit.com), plays host to New York comedies and Broadway productions. Another excellent cultural institution is the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway (tel: (313) 961 3500; website: www.motopera.org), which hosts opera, dance and musicals from the Michigan Opera Theater and beyond.
Detroit has a plethora of cinemas, but the finest may well be the AMC Star Southfield, 25333 West 12 Mile Road (tel: (248) 368 1802; website: www.amctheaters.com), which has a Motown-themed lobby and stadium-style seating for a unique experience. For art house cinema, try the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue, (313) 833 7900; website: www.dia.org).
Detroit Tours
Walking Tours
Preservation Wayne (tel: (313) 577 3559; website: www.preservationwayne.org), Detroit’s oldest architectural preservation organization, arranges Detroit heritage walking tours every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning with themes such as Detroit’s car industry heritage, the Downtown area, the cultural center, the Eastern market and Midtown. Tours run from May through September. Detroit Tour Connection (tel: (313) 283 4332; www.detroittourconnections.com) offers a series of Wednesday evening walks that include several unique Downtown tours on a rotating schedule.
Bus Tours
Detroit Tour Connection (tel: (313) 283 4332) can be contacted for guided bus tours for groups.
Other Tours
Diamond Jack’s River Tours (tel: (313) 843 9376; website: www.diamondjack.com) offers a two-hour narrated cruise of the Detroit River from on-board a 27m (90ft) ship. Sights include the Detroit skyline and Belle Isle. The tour departs from the Hart Plaza in the city center.
