By Georgetta L. Morque
That particular weekend, downtown was hopping. Swarms of tweens took to the streets awaiting Taylor Swift’s performance at Ford Field, the first stadium show on her Red Tour. The Detroit Red Wings skated to the playoffs at the Joe Louis Arena. Holding court at the historic and elegant Detroit Athletic Club was the Pro Squash Tour World Championship (the reason for my visit). There’s no question: Detroit is a happening city.
On Friday, I strolled over to the Detroit RiverWalk, which features 3.5 miles of riverfront pathways for walking, biking, and enjoying parks, gardens, and more. Thanks to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the RiverWalk will extend even further in a phase-two plan. Meanwhile, the area is alive with arts, music, and cultural events. And for dog owners, there’s a Riverfront Canine Club.
While wandering downtown, I luckily stumbled upon Campus Martius Park, an area of restaurants, office buildings, and shops, where the first of a series of noontime spring and summer concerts was underway. A country rock band entertained a lunchtime crowd who soaked up the sun, sipped lattes, and dined at outdoor cafes while the Detroit Pistons cheer team high-kicked on a second stage.
Another treat during my stay was the 127-year-old Detroit Institute of Art (DIA), which has been continually restored and expanded, with the last phase as recently as 2007. Rodin’s bronze, The Thinker, greets you at the front of the museum, which has three floors housing its permanent collection of 60,000 works from classic to contemporary.
At the heart of the DIA are the famous Detroit Industry murals by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, a tribute to the city’s manufacturing and labor force in the 1930s. Panels depicting factory workers and machinery, along with imagery of the ancient gods, are considered the finest example of Mexican mural art in the country. Among the special exhibits was a small one on Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles on loan from Musée d’Orsay; “Motor City Muse”, photographs of Detroit Then and Now; and videos and photography by Iranian-born artist Shirin Neshat.
What’s also great about Detroit are its people. They are welcoming and friendly and truly want visitors to enjoy their stay. Take a yoga class and everyone in the room will greet you, ask you your name, and offer suggestions on what to see in their city.
The Detroit Visitors Bureau tag line is “America’s Great Comeback City.” For more information, check out www.visitdetroit.com.
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