Detroit

Detroit is slowly becoming one of my favorite cities.  I've only been there like three times though. haha.  It is listed as number 1 most dangerous city in the United States (Forbes article from 2012).  I don't ever feel like I am in danger... maybe cause i'm from the mean streets of LA (which wasn't on the list?). I try to bring Clif Bars to give out (I don't carry much cash) to the homeless.

This is kind of a guide when we have visitors?

Breakfast: New Center Eatery

When my family came to visit last fall, we went to New Center Eatery for breakfast.  Since they were coming in from the west coast, the best thing to do to get rid of jet lag is eat foods at the time of your destination.  They arrive early 5:30am and waited for me at the airport.  Our first stop was breakfast at New Center Eatery.  When I yelped them, a reviewer wrote, "better than Roscoes."  It's true.  They were really nice there and gave us a discount because it was my mom's birthday and my brothers wedding anniversary.  It was awesome.  The place is pretty clean and the customers were all locals (equals the place to eat!).

Museum: DIA



Okay, so I have yet to go to the DIA but it has been on my To Do forever.  It has the famous WPA Diego Rivera mural which is considered his best works and was recently named a national landmark!

Coffee: Astro Coffee

I have been coming to Astro Coffee every Detroit trip.  It is a little hipster but Michigan version so they are nice and friendly.  The coffee is delicious and the pastries are really good.  A nice place to take a break.  It is in a neighborhood called Corktown which is starting to have a revival due to Astros and our next place Slows.

Dinner:  Slows BBQ


Slows is not your neighborhood BBQ joint.  It is clean and a large beer selection and just a few doors down from Astros.  I am not a BBQ connoisseur I can't tell you what to get.  There are a few sampler platters you can share and a large assortment of sides.  Sooo good. So I get some BBQ from here and pick up an espresso and pastry from Astro's  for the drive home.

credenza

we've been looking forever for a credenza/media storage.  we need it to be long enough to fit our tv and turntable.  finding lots of inspiration on pinterest.

images 1, 2, 3

Mount Pleasant with my family

Adam teaches a class and one of their assignments is to build a cardboard boat.  This year, Adam decided to participate.

Adam and his students (both Adam and the girl are wearing my shorts- very baggy :( ).

Omigod, watching him race was hilarious.  He didn't do as well as everyone imagined. Also, the boat was shaking so hard.  It was really funny.  Better luck next year.

Detroit Tour with my Family

My family took a redeye from Los Angeles to Detroit, arriving at 5:45am.  I live two and a half hours from the airport, making my departure time 3:15am.  My brother suggested I drive out a little later and they would wait for me at the airport for a few hours.  

First thing we did when I picked them up from the airport was breakfast!  They weren't hungry because of the lag but I heard the best thing for it is to eat your meals in the current time zone.

We drove about ten miles to New Center Eatery (Detroit has traffic!).  When looking for a brunch spot, I saw a yelp review saying that this place was better than Roscoes.  I was sold on the spot.  Anyway, when we placed our order, sister Elena mentioned it was their one year wedding anniversary and my mom's birthday this weekend, the manager gave us a discount (a nice one).  It was pretty awesome.  The fried chicken was moist and tender, and the meal wasn't too heavy.

Next, we walked around downtown Detroit, the first stop being the Gaurdian Building.  It was built in 1928 and completed in 1929 (the year of the market crash). It took a million bricks to built and sister Elena was a really great and informative tour guide.

We walked a block and stumbled on the site of the Coney Wars.  We were all confused because we thought it was set in New York?  We shared a chili dog with all the fixin's (thirty minutes after our fried chicken and waffles) at Lafayette Coney Island.  I think we made the right choice.

We did a museum (a little dull) and a cool coffee shop with eames chairs! ... Then drove to Slows BBQ for a late lunch/early dinner in a area called Corktown.   Slows is a classy BBQ joint.  I read that Slows is responsible for revitalizing this area.  It was really good.  The meat was tender and also not heavy as one would expect.  I wish we could have tried some of their alcohol drinks.  We were all too tired from the early morning.

Next to Slows is Astro Coffee.  I wanted to go to Astros forever.  We are always in the area on Mondays (when they are closed) and we miss it.  The coffeeshop is hip and people are nice there.  I think it surpasses Comet in Ann Arbor as my favorite Michigan coffee place.

So Friday with my family was very eventful and lots of fun.  Come on visitors, come on over.

snow is here

we got our first snow storm last night.  it went from no snow on the ground to winter wonderland overnight. 

i'm looking for winter boots for adam.. does anyone know of any cool ones i can get him?

back to michigan

We got back to Michigan a few days ago from family/relax time in Mexico and family/friend time in California. I forgot about the weird desert climate in LA (warm days/cold nights).  it was pretty funny when people are dressed in winter garb and we are just in a cardigan (have we acclimated to Michigan weather?). 

It is good to be home.   Although the weather is acting up here in Michigan.  No snow on the ground. This is really rare for January (everyone is freaking out).  I'm hoping snow just won't make it here until next year. :)