Michigan

A really good guide to Michigans upper peninsula here.

Halo is an offshoot of the former Kewpee burger chain.   There are now over a dozen locations in the state and are delicious.  Home of the Olive Burger, in other words, a burger with olives.  Mostly around the Flint area.

Detroit

 

The Weekly Alternative for Detroit is the Metrotimes. Also peek at Detroit blog.

If you are going to Detroit in the first week of September, check out the “Dally in the Alley“, a big street fair.  Pre-event there are also benefit shows as well.  Saturday after labor day.

Regional Food thing-A chili dog here is called a “Coney”.  Two places near each other are Layfayette Coney Island at 118 W Lafayette Blvd and American Coney Island at 115 Michigan Ave.
Or you could get sliders.  Lots around at Telway Diner, 6820 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI  313-843-2146 , Open Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on every day but Christmas. Hamburgers 60 cents each or 4 for $2 to go. Or at greene’s, at 10 mile and orchard lake road, or with a giant donkey out front in Westland is Bray’s, on Ford Rd. just west of Wayne Rd

The Ferndale neighborhood is a relatively new hipster enclave filled with vintage clothing stores and streetware.

Museums-

Detroit Institute of the Arts-5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

Motown Museum-2648 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, Michigan 48208

Seafoam Palace of Arts and Amusements -Address: 6460 Kercheval Ave, Detroit, MI 48207

Outside the City in Dearborn is the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village, a hybrid indoor/outdoor museum on the beginning of the industrial revolution

Bars
The Bronx Bar 4476 Second Ave., Detroit 313-832-8464-voted “best jukebox”.  Burgers are supposed to be good too.

Nemos-1384 Michigan Ave., Detroit MI 48226 -313-965-3180-lunch til 2:30 with burgers (including veggie burger) and “famous chili”.  Only burgers after 2:30.  Order drinks in one place, food in another, pay at the bar when done.
Old Miami -3930 Cass, Detroit, Michigan; Tel. 313.831.3830
must see neighborhood dive bar established in 1975 as a place for Vietnam Veterans. Military memorabilia, fireplace, couches, and a backyard with a stage for mostly punk bands.
ST. ANDREW’S HALL-431 E. Congress-Detroit-313-961-8137 and the Shelter club located below.
Smalls Bar and Grill -10339 Conant at: Cannif and Conant, Hamtramck-tel: (313)873-1117-Take the Holbrook/Cannif Exit East to Conant. Older more rock like crowd.

Food-
Cafe 1923-2287 Holbrook St Hamtramck MI 48212, cafe, art gallery, some live music.  Rarely have I found a joint that has inspired love in so many.  Google it and you will find many online tributes.
The Flytrap-22950 Woodward Ave. Ferndale, MI 48220, great for breakfast and gourmet diner food, featured on Diners, drive ins and dives.
Russell Street Deli-2465 Russell St.  Detroit, MI   (313) 567-2900-Great Breakfast/Diner place in a wholesale market area
Bangkok Cafe 323 W. 9 Mile Road  Ferndale MI (248)548-5373 -Great and cheap thai.
Cass Cafe-4620 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 313-831-1400-cool college hangout/techno kid joint.

Motz’s Burgers -7208 W Fort St, Detroit, MI 48209 (313) 843-9186 There are sliders and then there are SLIDERS. This place occupies the building of a former chain but has delicious sliders with sweet grilled onions. The building has been serving burgers since 1929

Telway Hamburgers – 6820 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48210(313) 843-2146 Open 24 hours-More sliders, great coffee, coney dogs, super cheap.

Hunter House Hamburgers -35075 Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI 48009 (248) 646-7121 Landmark sliders in a Detroit Suburb.

Red Hots Coney Island– 12 Victor St, Highland Park, MI 48203: (313) 868-0766-Since 1921, currently closed Sunday and Monday and serving Lunch only

Mike’s Famous Ham Place- 3700 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216-Since 1974, Diner with thick ham dishes.

Band venues-
Outer Limits Lounge ?-5507 Caniff St, Hamtramck, MI 48212  (313) 204-8044 Great booking at this joint.  Fleshtones, Gino and the Goons have all played here.
Paycheck’s Lounge-2932 Caniff Street, Hamtramck-tel: (313) 874-0909
The Majestic Theatre -4140 Woodward Avenue -Detroit-313.833.9700  Newer on the scene and part of the same complex with awesome shows is the magic stick.
ST. ANDREW’S HALL-431 E. Congress-Detroit-313-961-8137
The Magick Stick
The Magic Bag-22920 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, MI 48220 -Home of the “view and brew” a movie for two bucks.
PJs Lager House– 1254 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226 / 313-961-4668

Painted Lady Lounge-2930 Jacob St, Hamtramck, MI 48212

Trixie’s-2656 Carpenter Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212 (313) 316-5376-Bar with Occasional live music.

UFO Factory– 2110 Trumbull Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

Trumbullplex – housing collective and showspace in the Woodbridge neighborhood of Detroit,  4210 Trumbull Ave, Detroit, MI 48208

Detroit area Record Stores-

Third Man Records Cass Corridor– 441 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201
Flat Black Circular, 541 E. Grand River, East Lansing, MI 48823
Melodies & Memories- 23013 Gratiot Ave, Eastpointe, MI, 586-774-8480
Peoples Records-1464 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48207
Paramita Sound·1417 Van Dyke St, Detroit, Michigan 48214
Detroit Threads-10022 Joseph Campau St, Hamtramck, MI, 313-872-1777-Record store/clothing place

Hotels-
Shorecrest Motor Inn.  1316 E. Jefferson Aven 800-992-9616-In the greektown area.  Sleazy but central and safe.

You can find some good local listings on the website for the major paper in town-The Detroit Free Press.

Some pretty complete city listings here from Metro Times Website.

Farmington Hills, MI
Attraction-Outside of Detroit, Marvins Marvelous Mechanical Museum has a huge collection of Antique arcade games of both the fun and freaky variety.  31005 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334   248-626-5020

 

Allegan, MI

Parties-
The Bang-Said to be the best party in town

Live Music-
Blind Pig -208 S. First Street
Ann Arbor MI 734.996.8555

Fleetwood Diner -Home of “hippie hash” 24/7. -300 S Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 995-5502

Birch Run, MI (Near Saginaw)
Eats-Tonys I-75-8781 Main St,   Birch Run, MI 48415: (989) 624-5860, diner famous for their steak sandwiches and ginormous BLTs with over a pound of bacon.  Finish with a huuuge Banana split.

Coldwater, MI

Drive In Theater-
Capri Drive-in, 119 W. Chicago Road, Coldwater, MI  48888

Eats-

Short’s Root Beer Stand – 378 W Chicago St, Coldwater, MI 49036 (517) 279-9048-supercool looking drive in with dining room and awesome looking mascot for photo ops.

Frankenmuth, MI (not far from Saginaw)

Lots of great stuff in this area, lots of Bavarian Style architecture
Two restaurants compete on their “broasted chicken dinners”

Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn-1 Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, MI 48734-
(989) 652-7200
http://www.bavarianinn.com/

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, Zehnder’s Splash Village indoor Water Park and Hotel Featuring a 25000 square foot indoor waterpark-950 Flint Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734-1802 (989) 652-0307
http://www.zehnders.com/

Frankenmuth, MI
Worlds Largest Xmas store, Bronners, between Flint and Saginaw, just off I-75. Take northbound exit 136 or southbound exit 144, open year round

Mr. Burger is a mini chain of sit down restaurants, all very different decor wise.   They have a regional specialty, the olive burger.which is just green olives on a burger.

Live Music-Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill -760 Butterworth St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504(616) 272-3910

Founders Brewing Co : 235 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 open til–2AM

East Grand Rapids Events

Another event-
Every Friday is
Friday Night at GRAM (Grand Rapids art musuem), cash bar, live music, Galleries Open All Evening from 5:00 – 9:00pm
http://www.gramonline.org/

Record Store-
Vertigo Music 1, 71 South Division Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Eats-

Choo Choo Grill-1209 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-Cool old train depot restaurant. Closed Weekends and only open til 3.

Cottage Bar- 80-year old bar with good burgers. -18 La Grave Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 454-9088
The Grand Coney, 809 Michigan St. NE  Grand Rapids,MI 49503  – a diner (featuring hot dogs) with an awesome retro setting, 24 hours – except one night a week they close for cleaning – cheap food, big portions, great service, Hours:
Mon-Wed; 5:30 to 11pm , Thurs-Sun; Open 24 hours
The 76 Coffeehouse, 1507 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI – Independently owned, beans roasted in their lower level, best coffee in town. 24 hours, very attractive staff, featuring “french sodas” a refreshing combination of flavored syrup and club soda or seltzer water mixed in a cup of ice with  half-and-half or milk. located adjacent to
Yesterdog, 1505 weathly SE (eastown)- world famous hotdog spot  open six days a week, cozy atmosphere.  Their Ultradog has chili, chopped pickles, shredded cheese and mustard

Hall of Fame Burgers-655 Eastern Ave SE Ste A Grand Rapids, MI 49503-Good burgers and onion rings.

Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger -551 South Division Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Donkey Taqueria-665 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-Normally Trashy Travel sticks to regional food, but this joint has a sandwich, the TORTA DE JAMON has
roasted ham, pork confit, queso chihuahua, refried pinto beans, guacamole, pickled serrano-onion relish, chipotle-caper mayo, and chopped romaine lettuce for cheap.  (featured on Cheap Eats).

Stellas Lounge-53 Commerce Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 bar with arcade and well known burgers.

Jonny B’z Dogs and More – 701 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503(616) 551-1108. So many Dog and burger joints in this town.  This place has good looking burgers and amazing looking chili dogs

Venues-

The Intersection

Orbit Room located on the corner of 28th St. and the East Beltline in Grand Rapids Mi
Skelletones-133 S. Division, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Hamtramck, MI (Detroit Suburb)

Home of the Annual Hamtramck music festival in early March

Eats-Polonia-2934 Yemans St, Hamtramck, MI 48212-Polish restaurant circa 1940s famous for Dill Pickle soup and “City Chicken”-pork and veal on a stick.

Polish Village Cafe -Restaurant under an old hotel.  They also have Dill Pickle Soup: 2990 Yemans St, Hamtramck, MI 48212

Motor City Sports Bar-9122 Joseph Campau St, Hamtramck, MI 48212 (313) 875-4710 Great classic Burger

Harrison Township, MI

Eats-

Eddie’s Drive-In, 36111 Jefferson Ave , Harrison Township, MI 48045
(586) 469-2345

Houghton, MI

Eats-Ambassador Restaurant , 126 Shelden Ave, Houghton, MI 49931 (906) 482-5054 Wayyyy in the upper peninsula of MI, this bar has a hundred year old fresco and all the original furnishings…

Roy’s Pasties & Bakery-305 W Lakeshore Dr, Houghton, MI 49931

Ishpeming, MI (Upper Penninsula)

Eats-Ralph’s Italian Delicatessen- 601 Palms Ave, Ishpeming, MI 49849 (906) 485-4557 Specializes in Cudighi, a sweet italian sausage that is a regional specialty.  Also a good italian sub..

Sadness:  Vanished Kalamazoo has photos of all the cool gone stuff..

DIY shows here.

Bars-

Louie’s Trophy House Grill –  Louie’s Trophy House grill is the oldest bar in Kalamazoo. 440 East North Street  Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 385-9359

 

Papa Pete’s-502 South Burdick Street  Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 388-2196 pizza joint with live music

Record Stores

Corner Record shop-1710 West Main Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 Recently opened Vinyl shop
Greenlight Music-4717 West KL Ave., Kalamazoo, MI, 49006  269.372.8560

 Bell’s Eccentric Cafe -joint offering local craft beer, eclectic pub grub & live music some nights. 355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 382-2332

Eats-

The Root Beer Stand-4400 S. Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 (269) 345-4418 and one other location.  Old drive in with super cheap chili dogs and something called “hot fluffed ham”

Lansing, MI

Live Music-

Avenue Cafe -2021 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 492-7403

 Livonia, MI

Eats-

Daly Drive-In -burgers,  coney dogs & other diner stuffs since 1959. : 31500 Plymouth Rd, Livonia, MI 48150- most days til 8 pm : (734) 427-4474

Marquette, MI(Upper Peninsula)

Eats-

Lawry’s Pasty Shop-2164 US-41, Marquette, MI 49855  906-226-5040-home of one of the best versions of the regional favorite the cudighi sandwich,  pork sausage with a blend of spices and herbs on a giant Italian roll with their pizza sauce slathered in cheese.  Also of course, pastys, the sweet filled or meat filled pies popular historically with miners or factory workers.

Thill’s Fish House-250 E Main St, Marquette, MI 49855 -906-226-9851-not  a restaurant but a smoked fish purveyer.

Togo’s Marquette’s Original Submarine Sandwich-1000 N 3rd St, Marquette, MI 49855
50 year old plus sub place in a bavarian style building

Jean Kay’s Pasties & Subs-1635 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, MI 49855: (906) 228-5310

Manistique, MI (Upper Peninsula)

Eats-Clyde’s Restaurant-201 Chippewa Ave , Manistique, MI 49854  (906) 341-6021-Least charming of the 3 Clydes drive ins on the Upper Peninsula, but this one has the same tasty burgers.

Marshall, MI (Battle Creek)

Eats-

 Schuler’s Restaurant & Pub -Century-old, family-owned restaurant in a former hotel.
115 S Eagle St, Marshall, MI 49068 (269) 781-0600-Mmm Roast beef.

Midland, MI

Eats-

Boulevard Lounge– 316 S Saginaw Rd, Midland, MI 48640 : (989) 832-5387-Bar with good burgers.  Open til 2am.

Monroe, MI

Eats-

Vince’s West Elm Drive Inn: 1305 W Elm Ave, Monroe, MI 48162   (734) 241-0282-great super sloppy chili dogs.

Monroe’s Original Hot Dog, 1111 W Front St, Monroe, MI 48161 (734) 241-1612 Sloppy chili dogs and charming sign at this drive in restaurant.  Seems they don’t have a fryer? Chips and root beer.

Louies Trophy House-629 Walbridge St
Kalamazoo, Michigan (269) 385-9359

Muskegon, MI

Amusement Park-
Michigans Adventure-this park has Shivering Timbers, a favorite ride of Rollercoaster Enthusiasts everywhere.

Potterville, MI
Eats-
Joes Gizzard City-Fried Chicken Gizzards, 120 W Main St.
Potterville, MI 48876  Served in Many different flavors, cajun, garlic and more.  Plus deep fried burgers, dogs and oreos and twinkies.

Royal Oak, MI (Greater Detroit)

Bars-

Gusoline Alley -Vintage garage signs & a wall-mounted car decorate this dive bar. 309 S Center St, Royal Oak, MI 48067

Redcoat Tavern-31542 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48073  (248) 549-0300-Dark leather boothed bar with good burgers.  Onion rings and other fried stuff look super oiley though.

Saint Claire Shores, MI (Greater Detroit)

Eats-

Travis Coffee Shop-23500 Greater Mack Ave, St Clair Shores, MI 48080 1 586-778-0101-24/7 (Closed for cleaning Sunday Night at 10 PM) with great burgers and sliders

Saint Ignace, MI

Eats-Clyde’s Drive-In, 906 US Highway 2 W, Saint Ignace, MI 49781 (906) 643-8303 Cool drive in with tasty burgers on the very South end of the Upper Peninsula.

Sault St. Marie, MI

Eats-

Clyde’s Drive-In-1425 Riverside Dr, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 (906) 632-2581-burger joint in what looks to be an old roast beef chain store on a ferry dock.  A few others in the Upper Peninsula.

West Pier Drive-In-849 W Pier Dr, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 (906) 632-0444-Amazing burgers

Sterling Heights (Greater Detroit)

Eats-

Ventimiglia Italian Foods- 35197 Dodge Park Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48312-80 plus year old italian grocery with great sandwiches.

Traverse City, MI

Eats-Don’s Drive In– 1958 burger and shake joint.  Real drive in or great dining room- 2030 U.S. 31 N, Traverse City, MI 49686  (231) 938-1860

Sleder’s Family Tavern ?-Oldest bar in Michigan since 1888- 717 Randolph St, Traverse City, MI 49684  (231) 947-9213

Live Music-Studio Anatomy ?-Recording studio/All ages music venue in Traverse City,  140 E Front St #14, Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 409-7946-Shows are usually Friday Only and will be mostly Highschool age people.

Waterford, MI

Eats-Walt’s Original Coney Island -3425 Highland Rd ,Waterford, MI 48328 (248) 933-1411-Coney/Burger Joint with cool decor.  Recommended.  No AC/Cash Only

Waterford Twp, MI

Highlander Coney ?-4355 Dixie Hwy, Waterford Twp, MI 48329 (248) 674-4879-Coney Dog joint thats been there forever.

Ypsilanti, MI (greater Detroit)

Eats-

Chick Inn Drive-In -501 Holmes Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 (734) 483-3639-Great Coneys, Grilled Cheese and Paul Bunyon burgers.  Messy Chili cheese fries.

Bill’s Drive-In -1292 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198  (734) 485-2831-Amazing mustard colored building.

Roy’s Squeeze Inn-1315 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198(734) 485-3999
Right near Bills the Original location of this two store burger, cheesesteak joint has a cool round mimo building.