Heading to Detroit this summer, suggestions of what to see?

As a big Motown fan, going to Detroit is a dream of mine and I finally get my opportunity to go this summer for about a week. I already have a list of places I am going and a few people I am visiting, but if anyone has any suggestions of places I should see or anything at all, let me know, as I want to get as much in as I can and I know I've got to be missing something right now as there's so much history in that city! Thanks to anyone who points something out that I'm missing. I just found out today and have already started planning.

depending on which part of Motown history you want to see I always enjoy seeing if some of the stars homes are still around. Sometimes you may run into a Miracle, Martha Reeves or some from the Ballard family.

I bought Lisa Chapman an ice cream once on Woodward avenue in downtown Detroit. She was real sweet and look a lot like her mother. Lisa has Florences chin.

Roberta

Dennis Coffey playes in the Northern Lounge sometimes. Another non-Motown thing to see in Detroit could be the Heidelberg project:
http://www.heidelberg.org/

Or have a look at the other site of Lowell Boileau:
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/atdasd_headlines.php

Have fun!

The Heidelberg Project is no more, unless they rebuild. A majority of the structure was destroyed by fire within the last few weeks.

Jeff

thomas96...where will you be staying and will you have access to a car?

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Originally Posted by captainjames

depending on which part of Motown history you want to see I always enjoy seeing if some of the stars homes are still around. Sometimes you may run into a Miracle, Martha Reeves or some from the Ballard family.

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Thanks for that suggestion, I hadn't thought of that, but that would be very interesting to do. Any idea where I'd find out who's homes are still around and where they are?

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Originally Posted by 1382hitsville

Dennis Coffey playes in the Northern Lounge sometimes. Another non-Motown thing to see in Detroit could be the Heidelberg project:
http://www.heidelberg.org/

Or have a look at the other site of Lowell Boileau:
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/atdasd_headlines.php

Have fun!

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Thanks I will look into that. I'd love to see Mr Coffey!

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Originally Posted by gary

thomas96...where will you be staying and will you have access to a car?

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As it's still in the planning stage, I am not sure exactly where I'm staying. If you have any suggestions for that, I would appreciate them. I will have access to a car. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by thomas96

Thanks for that suggestion, I hadn't thought of that, but that would be very interesting to do. Any idea where I'd find out who's homes are still around and where they are?

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If you have any idea whose house you would like to see I could email you the address or there is a book called Detroit Famous Homes that one of your libraries may carry.

Bettye LaVette's old house is now boarded up after a crazy man broke in last year[[no one was home). He dove through a large widow and then broke all the windows, all the mirrors, broke the sink off the wall, lit a mattress on fire and threw it out the window. Neighbors called the police, and when they showed up he said he lived there. So much damage, we didn't want to have it fixed. It would have been a bad investment.

Anyway, it is at 662 Trowbridge on the corner of Oakland in the North End. If you face the street[[Trowbridge) from her house, Morris Broadnax lived across the street and to the left.
I believe it was the first house after the vacant lot.

Then, if you drive a few blocks down Oakland you can see Phelps Lounge. The sign was still there a few months back.

I went last May to visit Hitsville on West Grand Blvd, had a look at some of the Motowners former homes [[addresses are easy to find on internet and even on this forum). There is an excellent exhibition now at the Ford Museum about the World Fairs in the 1930-ties. The one century old Ford plant on Piquette is recommended as well.

If you want to have a look at the Brewster projects, former home of a number of Motowners, be quick:
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Car rental is very inexpensive in Detroit [[at least for me, coming from the Netherlands) and petrol is almost for free! [[again: compared to NL prices).

Records stores are heaven, if you are into that. I have address to some nice ones if you like.

Finally, I visited Les Gold's Pawns Shop on 8 Mile [[from the TV series Hardcore Pawn). Big hit on Dutch TV:

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Originally Posted by captainjames

If you have any idea whose house you would like to see I could email you the address or there is a book called Detroit Famous Homes that one of your libraries may carry.

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Thanks. I will look into that book.

Marc, thanks for all that info. I'd love any suggestions of record stores. I know of People's Records and Hello Records and already plan to go to those, so if you have any other suggestions, that'd be great!

Not really Motown related, but you should check out Eastern Market while you’re there. Who knows, you might run into Martha Reeves there as she’s mentioned in interviews she likes to go there.

http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com/

Again Detroit and or Southfield can be pleasurable and exciting .... I am not sure what you wanna see but Detroit Memorial Park East has some famous graves.

Thomas,
People’s Records on Woodward is alway a good place to start; still a lot of vinyl of pre-Motown labels for very reasonable prices. My other favourites are:
Street Corner Music in Oak Park
Melodies & Memories on Gratiot Ave, Eastpointe
Dearborn music on Michigan Ave, Dearborn

Does anyone know if any Motown alumni have studios in Detroit? I know Barrett Strong used to, and Sylvia Moy still does currently. Anyone else?

If you went in September when the weather is nicer you could go to the "R & B Hall of Fame Museum's first induction ceremonies" and related events to see many Artists & Groups, it is at the Detroit Opera House on Septeber 21.
Of course, you'll want to visit the Motown Museum too, aka Hitsville.
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