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Pre game Downtown Detroit?


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2 hours ago, LittleSammy said:

So true, I lived in WNY most of my life and had Bills season tickets for 30+ years before moving here to metro Detroit a few years back. The locals here are worried they are about to be overun by the Buffalo version of the Beverly Hillbillies coming to the big city for the first time. Downtown Detroit has really improved. I feel safer going to Ford Field than I did going to a Sabres game at the Aud. Besides, it has been quiet here lately. Only 3 murders last night!

If this game was being moved to downtown Chicago to play at Soldier Field, there would likely be a similar conversation here about how everyone should bring a bullet proof vest and pack heat.

 

You know, because Chicago is the murder capital of the planet.  Which it may actually be! 

 

I have good friends who live in "Little Russia" in Chicago in a very urban area and we visit them a couple times a year...stay for 3 days, and do tons of stuff all over that city.

 

Chicago is one of my favorite spots on Earth.  So much to do...and so SAFE. People are actually polite there with that friendly Midwestern thing going on.  My buddy (who lives there) always jokes about those who know nothing about Chicago think everyone is ducking when they get out of the car for fear of being killed in a drive-by.


In reality, ALL the violence is contained within a small section of the South Side and normal people don't get anywhere near that anyway.  The entire HUGE metro area outside of that is no different than anywhere else.

 

But the media doesn't talk about that, b/c it doesn't sell papers, so to speak.


Kind of like when it was 73 degrees in Buffalo a week ago (?) in November!  No news story on that.

 

Buffalo gets 10 feet of snow in 2 hours?  Headlines across America.

 

 

Edited by Nextmanup
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I went to a lot of music festivals at Hart Plaza (on the riverfront in center city/ downtown) between 2010-2018. Haven't been to Detroit since the Big C broke out. The clean up, development and safety of the city within the 75/375 loop was dramatic in that period. It's very much like the Chicago Loop @Nextmanup noted. The good news is there are a number of very nice hotels, restaurants, lounges and a casino all within that cleaned up area. There was a good cigar place toward the stadiums too.

 

I would recommend the Casino area/ Greektown/ Bricktown and the surrounding areas. Basically Woodward Avenue (a major avenue) or east of it within the loop. Beaubian Blvd and Monroe St is a good center to start from. Monroe St has a lot of cool little places. It is still a large city center, keep aware of your surroundings and be aware, but that can be said for any city. I can't recommend any particular place now since it has been a couple of years and a lot of places have closed since the Big C. Another poster noted Pizzapaplis, that made great deep dish, is no longer open in city center.

 

All of this is within walking distance or a small Uber ride to the Ford Field/ Commerica park complex.

 

Hope this wasn't too late for folks who made it out. Would love a local to confirm since it has been a couple of years, and recommend some places or a Bills Backer bar for folks.

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I first went to Detroit back in Feb of 1994, I had never been there before and the experience was mind blowing. I had seen poverty in big cities in the USA before but seeing all the abandoned houses and torched/smashed cars on the street was unbelievable. Had a great trip to the Mexican town restaurant and had the best Mexican food ever there (even better than Mexico). While waiting for our dinner a brawl broke out between 2 groups of people on nearby tables. It was like a movie fight with multiple people squaring off. Until at least 6 or 7 short stocky Latinos barreled out of the kitchen and pushed them all down the stairs and  out the door. Bizarre experience! I havent been back since then, would love to know if things have improved especially downtown. My barber who has family there tells me its still a dangerous place to get lost in (especially 8mile etc).  Its nice to see that Mexican Town restaurant still exists so if any Bills fans are there tonight check it out!!

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6 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

You know, because Chicago is the murder capital of the planet.  In reality, ALL the violence is contained within a small section of the South Side


The Chicago police crime map seems to disagree with you.

 

For those new to crime maps, red means “watch out!”

 

13-C70-D1-D-CC85-471-F-A2-E0-59-CDD749-E

A16418-F3-6962-4-B4-A-97-CE-5-EA385-F166

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I saw a great Detroit documentary hosted by the guy from MC5.

He’s driving down a 10 lane highway through Detroit, huge abandoned buildings everywhere - he’s the only car on the huge highway, in the middle of the day, and he’s talking.

 

”Rome has ruins, Athens has ruins.  Detroits are bigger”. Lol

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Went to a couple of concerts a few years ago at Little Caesars Arena. Awesome that the 3 stadiums are so close together. Ridiculous that there are not a few hotels right between them. 
 

Had dinner in Greektown before one of them.  Asked server if it would be an okay option to walk to the concert from Greektown. Said walking back after dark would not be a good option. 

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12 hours ago, Einstein said:


The Chicago police crime map seems to disagree with you.

 

For those new to crime maps, red means “watch out!”

 

13-C70-D1-D-CC85-471-F-A2-E0-59-CDD749-E

A16418-F3-6962-4-B4-A-97-CE-5-EA385-F166

Taking a shot at me huh? I'm the ONLY guy on this board who consistently has your back.

 

Maybe you are just an idiot.

 

 

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