Headed to UM for my nieces post grad ceremonies

Any must see's, visits, or eats

Looked up the Tigers but out of town

There this coming Wed-Sun

Thank you in advance and have a wonderful day!

Being Derby weekend, any great spots for derby day?

I lived in Ann Arbor for 5 years in the 80's and still get to the area every other year or so as my wife is from the Detroit area. There are several wonderful things to do and see and the area (except the industrial side of Detroit) is surprisingly beautiful.

Ann Arbor-
!) U of M campus. Park near State St and walk over to the law school (beautiful old buildings with an Ivy League/ Cambridge vibe. Then walk a block north to the "Quad" for a feel of the campus.
2) Outdoors- Visit the Nichols Arboretum and/or Matthael Botanical Gardens -for beautiful forested walks. Also, walk along the Huron River at Fuller Park and feed the ducks.
3) Take a scenic drive along the Huron, just north of town along Huron River Dr.
4) Restaurants- Gandy Dancer- beautiful, old restored train depot housing a fine bar and restaurant- lunch or dinner.

Detroit area-
1) Henry Ford Museum (on Ford HQ campus)- a world class museum highlighting automobiles and the Industrial Revolution in America
2) Greenfield Village- next door to the museum- A CAN'T MISS living, outdoor museum, put together by Henry Ford, who hauled many buildings of historic significance there- including, a fully functional steam-powered machine shop, one of the first Detroit Edison power plants, Edison's lab from Menlo Park, Lincoln's courthouse, the Wright brothers bicycle workshop where they built their airplanes, etc, etc. The park is full of period dressed artisans at work- very interactive. It has a steam locomotive circling the park. This place is amazing! Allow a half day if you have it.
3) Visit downtown Detroit at the "RenCen" (which is GM headquarters) which is along the pedestrian-friendly Detroit River. The area of downtown here is beautiful and safe with nice restaurants and bars.
4) Greektown- Greek bars, restaurants, and a couple of casinos- Think "Little Italy" but Greek.
5) MGM Grand Casino (Detroit's biggest casino). The sports area would be good for the Derby (limited seating during such events- may have to reserve a seat at a price, but can sit at the bar.

Thank you so very much.

Certainly will visit campus and museums.

Discovered UM is playing MSU in east Lansing

Property make the short drive and visit that campus as well and take in the Friday game. Assuming tix are not difficult to come by.

going there this week myself; any any Northgate like area with bars / food options?

Concur with Bones.
UM Law Quad is stunning. Visit the reading room.
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village are amazing and can easily spend a day at each location.
Belle Isle is beautiful (island in the Detroit River). Many things to see and visit on Belle Isle: Belle Isle Conservancy (if it's done with renovation), Oudolf Garden, scenic views of downtown Detroit and Windsor Canada, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, walking trails, etc.
Motown Museum is a small museum in Detroit that is the actual location of Berry Gordy's Motown recoding studio (Hitsville USA). Many famous musicians started their careers at Hitsville. Museum requires guided tours (requires advanced reservation). The tour guides are very knowledgeable of Motown history.

2wealfth Man said:

---

going there this week myself; any any Northgate like area with bars / food options?

---

Along S University Ave and State St, bordering the main campus.

Ashley's is a bar I've stopped in for lunch and afternoon beers a few times and enjoyed. Zingerman's Deli also has amazing sandwiches, or stop by their coffee shop or bakery on the south side of town. We stop by 1 of the 3 each time we are in Ann Arbor. We also enjoyed an afternoon walking through the Botanical Gardens

Went to business school at UM in 2018. In AA, my go to is Grizzly Peak, a brewpub with great beer/food. Conveniently located on the edge of downtown AA. Homes brewery has the best beer in town, but is a couple miles from downtown. I'd highly recommend if you're looking for good beer. (They also have good Korean BBQ). When I visit, I make sure to hit these two spots.

Wolverine state brewing may be a good spot for the derby (always a good game day atmosphere), but the beer isn't as great as Homes. Conor O'Neils- the Irish pub in town-is probably a good place to catch the Derby as well. I used to watch soccer games here and it was a pretty lively atmosphere (also had live music at night). Hopcat, a local chain, is in the middle of downtown, and has a nice variety of beer/food too. The Raven is a nice whiskey bar, if you're looking for something 'classier'. All of the above have less of a college (ie, Northgate) feel. If you're looking for that, stay closer to campus and see the Brown Jug, Garage Bar, scorekeepers, or good time Charley's. Expect everything to be crowded graduation weekend.

FWIW, I think Zingermans Deli is overrated. Prices are high, and I didn't think the food was as good as everyone else thought. It has its charm because it is an AA original. As an alternative, try out Zingermans Next Door Cafe. Get a nice coffee/pastry, but save the headache of the original place.

In Detroit, cork town has some nice watering holes. Nemo's was where I'd go to catch an Aggie game (the owners son, maybe nephew, was in the Corps at A&M, so you'll see an Aggie helmet sitting next to all the Big 10 helmets lol), and the beer and food are solid. Same for Mcshanes Irish Pub- I went here a few times before Tigers games- solid food/drink.

I second the Henry ford museum. Up there with the Smithsonian's IMO. Also, walking along the Detroit river is something I did when I'd visit the city. Weather is, usually, pleasant this time of year and there are enough bars/restaurants close by when you need to stop in.

Ok, so far my niece has had visit/tour campus. Absolutely beautiful architecture. The auditorium in which her ceremony was held was absolutely majestic.

Bars- Ashley's, Regents Bill's Beer Garden and Session Room

Ashley's - The think Dudleys
Regents- old school sports bar old school/architecture vibe
Bill's Beer Garden- bad azz outdoor beer garden, nothing to really compare in Cstat. Could be the fact that Texas weather would not allow this concept to work year around

UM Softball- v Ohio State. Enjoyed and Blue won. SB facilities were nothing special but a rambunctious crowd being it was v. OSU. One cool part, the Alumni UM Band member group played at the game. Think the small bands that play at basketball games. The kept the fans all worked up. The Aggies SB complex is Taj Mahal in comparison to UM.

Visited Tennis Facilities simply because my niece is doing her fellowship for bot mens and women's Tennis teams. The Aggies have some work to do with these facilities.

Headed to Detroit/Greek Town/ MGM casino now. Watching the derby at the sports book. Im liking the Japanese horses if a muddy track and i always bet on the 5 Hole horse.