Planning your trip to Detroit

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Bright lights, big city: An evening view of downtown Detroit from Woodward Avenue. Think you know the city? Think again. Slip under the radar, and you might be surprised by the secrets you uncover, including a city experiencing a rebirth at the hands of its artists. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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An artist works on a piece inside a studio at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit. At its height in the 1940s, the huge plant produced auto bodies and airplane parts. Now, it’s home to painters, sculptors, photographers, glass blowers, print makers, furniture builders and more. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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A pianist tickles the ivories at Café DMongo’s, a speak-easy that has reopened thanks to downtown Detroit’s growing revitalization. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Musical memorabilia decorates a wall at Café DMongo’s in downtown Detroit. Amid the vintage ‘80s décor, hipsters sip Detroit Browns and other cocktails as they dig into their barbecue dinners. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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A sculptural piece decorates the grounds of Detroit’s College for Creative Studies. The campus sculpture park boasts pieces by Richard Serra, Alexander Calder and other 20th century luminaries. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Art student Kate Daugtherill slides down a fountain outside the Detroit Institute of Arts. Among the treasures in the 658,000-square-foot museum are Diego Rivera‘s “Detroit Industry” frescoes (1932-33) and Pieter Brueghel’s “The Wedding Dance” (circa 1566). (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Shadows add interesting texture to the courtyard of the Detroit Institute of Arts, which was founded in 1885 and reopened in 2010 after a five-year renovation. The place is huge and includes collections of contemporary and African American art. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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A couple enjoys the view at the Detroit Institute of Arts, which is part of the Michigan city’s rebirth as a hub for artists. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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A mural decorates the side of a building in Detroit. Cheap rents and an urban pioneering spirit are attracting young artists, along with new restaurants, nightspots and even urban farms. It’s still the early days, but change is palpable. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Detroit’s Heidelberg Street is dotted with, well, dots. It’s the work of Tyree Guyton, who has turned his childhood neighborhood into a blocklong art installation that attracts more than 300,000 visitors annually. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Stuffed animals seem to have taken over a house on Detroit’s Heidelberg Street, part of artist Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project to revitalize his childhood street. “A lot of people think you have to go to New York to make it,” he said. “I’m saying I can make it right here, and I will. Watch me. I’m just getting started.” (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Teresa Rogers captures Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project for posterity. In addition to the multicolored giant dots festooning a house and cars and the stuffed animal house, clocks hang on trees and repainted advertising posters line old fencing in the Detroit neighborhood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

May 11, 2019 6 PM PT

THE BEST WAY TO DETROITFrom LAX, nonstop service to Detroit is offered on Delta, and connecting service (change of plane) is offered on Southwest, Continental, Delta, United, American, US Airways and Air Tran. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $348.

WHAT TO DO

Butcher’s Daughter Gallery, 22747 Woodward Ave., Suite 201, Ferndale, Mich.; (248) 808-6536, https://www.thebutchersdaughtergallery.com. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays

College for Creative Studies, 201 East Kirby St., (313) 664-7800. https://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/center_galleries. Center Galleries open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.

Detroit Artists Market, 4719 Woodward Ave.; (313) 832-8540, https://www.detroitartistsmarket.org. Free. Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.

Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave.; (313) 833-7900, https://www.dia.org. Admission: $8 for adults and $4 for ages 6 to 17. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

N’Namdi Gallery, 66 E. Forest Ave.; (313) 831-8700, https://www.grnnamdi.com. Open noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.

Re:View Contemporary Gallery, 444 W. Willis Street, Units 111 and 112; (313) 833-9000, https://www.reviewcontemporary.com. Open noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays.

Russell Industrial Center, 1600 Clay St.; (313) 872-4000, https://www.ricdetroit.com

WHERE TO STAY

Inn on Ferry Street, 84 E. Ferry St.; (313) 871-6000, https://www.innonferrystreet.com. Forty rooms in four restored Victorian houses and two carriage houses. Doubles from $129. Complimentary buffet breakfast and shuttle service.

WHERE TO EAT

Atlas Global Bistro, 3111 Woodward Ave.; (313) 831-2241, https://www.atlasglobalbistro.com. Open for lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; open for dinner 4:30-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesdays; 4:30-11p.m. Thursdays; 4:30 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays; and 4:30-9 p.m. Sundays. Sunday brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner entrees from $25.

Bronx Bar, 4476 2nd Ave.; (313) 832-8464. Open 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Mondays-Fridays; noon-2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Entrees from $5.

Cafe D’Mongo’s, 1439 Griswold St.; https://www.cafedmongos.com. Open 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays; 8:30 a.m-1:30 a.m. Saturdays

Cass Café, 4620 Cass Ave.; (313) 831-1400, https://www.casscafe.com. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 5 p.m.-midnight Sundays. (Kitchen closes earlier.) Entrees from $8.

Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes, 15 E. Kirby St. Suite 115; (313) 664-0490, https://www.goodgirlsgotopariscrepes.com. Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. Sweet crepes from $5; savory crepes from $7.

Motor City Brewing Works, 470 W. Canfield Ave.; (313) 832-2700, https://www.motorcitybeer.com. Open 11 a.m.-midnight Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to midnight Sundays. Pizzas from $7, pints from $4.

Russell St. Deli, 2465 Russell St.; (313) 567-2900, https://www.russellstreetdeli.com. Open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. Breakfast served until 10:30 a.m. Breakfast from $4.50; sandwiches $5.25-$8.75.

Slows Bar B Q, 2138 Michigan Ave.; (313) 962-9828, https://www.slowsbarbq.com. Bar open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Kitchen open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays and Mondays; 11 a.m.-11p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; and 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Entrees from $8.95.

TO LEARN MORE

https://www.visitdetroit.com

Planning your trip to Detroit

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