Weclome to Grand Circus Park

This Page Is Currently Under Construction

General Attractions

Corktown

Detroit's oldest neighborhood was ravaged by freeway construction in the middle twentieth century, but many of it's Irish residents refused to leave. Visitor's of today's Corktown will find a growing collection of Victorian styled houses, including many originals. Corktown is a short drive west of downtown on Michigan Avenue, with neighborhoods north and south of the avenue in the vicinity of Trumbull and Rosa Parks. Note the towering and ornate, but un-used, Train Depot at Michigan and 16th.

Detroit Zoo



Diamond Jack's River Tours

Eastern Market

If you've eaten a good meal in Detroit, the odds are it's ingredients started out at Eastern Market. This amalgamation of wholesale and retail is the biggest outdoor food market in the state of Michigan and includes a number of popular spots, such as the Cost Plus Wine Shop. The market is just east of dowtown - wander up Gratiot Avenue to Russell Street and head a few blocks north to 2934 Russell to be in the heart of it. Phone them first at 313-833-1560 to make sure its a good day for bargain shopping.

Greektown

Ask suburbanites where they went the last time they were in Detroit - excluding hockey games - and the odds-on favorite is Greektown. This stretch of restaurants, shops, and bars runs along Monroe Street from Randolph to I-375 and always gets visitors touting their Greek heritage, even if its not so well documented. Its all a short walk up Monroe from Campus Martius in the heart of downtown. Call 313-963-3357 for more info.

Mexicantown

Adjacent to Corktown in southwestern Detroit is a massive enclave of Mexican residents who've built an impressive collection of authentic Mexican-themed restaurants and shops, along with numerous other retail and residential offerings. Mexicantown is located at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge (Detroit's above-water gateway to Canada). To get there, drive Michigan Avenue west out of downtown and scamper south toward the riverfront down any number of streets once you cross over the massive freeway grid coming off the bridge (trust us, you'll see it). Take, for example, West Grand Blvd. south to Venor Street and you'll find this well-kept secret.

Riverwalk

The Guardian Building

The Henry Ford and Automotive Hall of Fame

The Majestic Theater Complex/Magic Stick/ Garden Bowl

The People Mover

Tiger Stadium

Annual Events

America's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Comerica Tastefest

Dalley in the Alley

Ethnic Festivals

Fash Bash

International Freedom Festival/Fireworks

Jazz Fest

North American International Auto Show

Techno Fest

Woodward Dream Cruise

Arenas/Athletics

Cobo Hall

Comerica Park

Ford Field

Joe Louis Arena

The Palace of Auburn Hills

Automotive History

Edsel and Eleanor Ford House

The Fisher Building

Detroit's other downtown, the New Center Area, is a couple miles north of the central business district and is home to the most impressive building of 1928 - the Fisher Building. Designed by famed automotive architect Albert Kahn, the Fisher Building was built for the Fisher Brothers, seven of which made a fortune by selling car parts to automakers in the early part of the twentieth century. This place is immaculate and ornate, and definitely worth a visit. Just drive up Woodward out of downtown and turn left (west) at W. Grand Blvd. You'll see it sparking nicely just up the street at 3011 W. Grand Blvd. Call ahead if you like, 313-872-1000.

Fisher Mansion

Originally the home of Lawrence P. Fisher, the founder of Fisher Body (which was sold to General Motors), this Spanish mission-style mansion is now the home of the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center. Take a self-guided tour and admire its ornate stone and marble work, rosewood parquet floors and gold-leaf highlights on the ceilings and moldings, all crafted by more than 200 artisans from all over Europe. The mansion also houses a vegetarian restaurant, Govinda's, that is open the second and fourth Friday of the month for a dinner buffet. Self-guided tours Friday and Saturday 12:30-4:30 pm. US$6 admission to the mansion. 383 Lenox Ave., Detroit. Phone 313-331-6740.

Henry Ford Estate

Meadowbrook Hall

T-Plex Automotive History Center

Woodward Avenue

Woodhouse Day Spa

Bars and Lounges

Bookies

Centaur


2233 Park Avenue 48201
313-963-4040

(Proof) Martini and Tapas Bar

The Old Miami

Town Pump Tavern

100 W. Montcalm
Detroit, Michigan, 48201
United States
phone: (313) 961-1929

Casinos

Greektown Casino

MGM Grand Casino

Motor City Casino

Cultural Attractions/Museums

Charles Wright Museum of African American History

The biggest and best museum of African American history in the nation is located at 315 E. Warren in Detroit's Cultural Center. The building is brand new and an architectural gem, but what gets most visitors is the authentic replica of a slave ship held within the museum's walls. To find out which of the rotating exhibitions is on display when you're visiting, call 313-494-5800.

Cranbrook

The Arts and Crafts movement hit Detroit's well-to-do in a big way; so, some of them decided to build a shrine of learning in the distant forests north of the city. Today, Cranbrook includes art and science museums, one of the nation's leading schools, and the 1908 Booth House which will make you're jaw drop; and, its no longer so secluded. The developing city crept north in time, and now Cranbrook is located at 1221 N. Woodward in the upscale suburb of Birmingham. Stop off at downtown Birmingham on the 20 minute drive north from downtown Detroit and you're unlikely to leave (shops and shops and shops abound). Call Cranbrook at 248-645-3149 to learn more.

Detroit Historical Museum

Cars, music, and twentieth century history have long filled this museum of Detroit history, but the real attraction is older - or at least a replica of older. Check out the museum's Streets of Detroit exhibit for a cobblestone laden trip back in time along Detroit's early streetscape. Its all located in the heart of the Cultural Center at 5401 Woodward (Between Warren and I-94). Call ahead at 313-833-1805.

Detroit Institute of the Arts

Its one of the nation's leading art museums (as in top five), and it benefits from the foresight of well-to-do philanthropists in Detroit's early industry. They collected or helped collect works by Van Gough, Rembrandt, Picasso, Degas, Cezanne, and hundred of other top artists, then they placed them in a building that is itself a work of art. If you go before the end of 2007, you'll find a lot of construction workers visiting the partially closed museum with you - displays are limited during expansion - but you should still be able to see the creme of the collection, including the Diego Rivera murals in the courtyard. Exhibitions that only stop in Detroit while in America are common and are scheduled for the near future, so call 313-833-1805 to learn more; or, stop in at 5200 Woodward Avenue between Warren and Kirby streets in the Cultural Center.

Detroit Public Library

At 5201 Woodward Avenue, in the heart of the Cultural Center (think Midtown, between Warren Ave. on the south and Interstate 94 on the north), you'll find the impressive main branch of Detroit's public library system. Built with money from the booming days of Detroit industry, this place isn't just beautiful, its well-stocked. History buffs will want to check out the Burton Historical Collection while you're there (no fee to enter the library; some fees associated with specific collections). Call ahead for more details at 313-833-1000.

Motown Historical Museum

Yes, it was a house - but sometimes a house makes a darn good recording studio. Anyways, that's what Berry Gordy and his Motown recording artists thought anyways. Learn about the hitmakers and the process behind their innovative and unique sound at the place where it all happened, located at 2648 W. Grand Blvd. Call ahead to plan your visit at 313-875-2264.

New Detroit Science Center

A planetarium, I-Max Theater, and more gadgets than you can shake a stick at make the Detroit Science Center a place for the entire family to enjoy a day in the city. Located in the Cultural Center at 5020 John R. Street, one block east of Woodward at Warren Street, the Science Center is a must see. Call them for more info at 313-577-8400.

Parks

Belle Isle Park

This island park is situated in the Detroit river, a short drive east of downtown. Designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also created Central Park in New York, Belle Isle booasts numerous attractions, including the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (free) and Dossin Great Lakes Museum (nominal entry fee). Take Jefferson Avenue along the riverfront to E. Grand Blvd. and find the MacArthur Bridge on your right. There is no fee to cross the bridge or enter the park.

Campus Martius Park

In the heart of downtown Detroit, at the axis of the city's radial street grid, is Campus Martius Park. Anchored by the Civil War Era Soldiers and Sailors Monument (dedicated in 1872), this urban gem is surrounded by stunning art deco skyscrapers and contains a massive water fountain which alternates between spectactular shows throughout the day. Summer includes concerts and free movies, while winter ushers in ice skating and a massive holiday tree. Au Bon Pain eatery is located on the western edge of the park. See what's happening when at www.campusmartiuspark.org.

Grand Circus Park

A few blocks north of Campus Martius Park is Grand Circus Park, split into eastern and western halves by Woodward Avenue. Each halve contains an ornate fountain and massive seated sculpture, along with more modern works of art. The park provides easy access to a variety of popular venues, including the Foxtown and Harmonie Park Theater Districts, Hockeytown Cafe, Chelli's Chilli, and the Stadium District. To get there, wander up to Woodward Avenue and Adams Street.

Hart Plaza

At the corner of Woodward and Jefferson Avenues, in the heart of Metropolitan Detroit, lies Hart Plaza. The plaza is a mid-twentieth century urban renewal project, complete with modernist art works and scenic views of the Detroit River and city skyline. Hart Plaza provides easy access to the Riverfront Promenade and is host to numerous cultural and ethnic festivals throughout the summer months. Call 313-877-8077 to see what's going on while you're in town.

Shopping

Bagley Optical

Great Lakes Crossing

Henry the Hatter

Hot Sam's Quality Clothes

J.L. Stone and Company

Joe Porter's International

Pewabic Pottery

Pure Detroit

Simmons and Clarke

Somerset

The Broadway

Vera Jane

Theaters

Chene Park

As amphitheater's tucked between a nineteenth century wharehouse district and the Detroit Riverfront go, Chene Park is the best. The open air auditorium hosts a variety of top national acts throughout the year, so call 313-393-0292 to find out who'll be in town when you're in town. The amphitheater is located at 2600 E. Atwater Street, a few blocks south of the intersection of Jefferson and Joseph Campau Streets.

Detroit Opera House

DTE Energy Music Theater

Detroit Film Theater

Detroit Science Center - Imax Dome and Planetarium

Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Max M. Fisher Music Center

Fisher Theater

Gem Theater

Harpo's

Fox Theater

Masonic Temple Building/Theater

Music Hall

St. Andrews Hall

State Theater

The City Theater

The Henry Ford Imax Theater