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Michigan Center:  Ford restoration of the Detroit railroad station

out of order but crossing into the city

rooftop parking next to the Renaissance Center

a little walk around before dinner

jazz dinner club

night cap and homeward bound

Nice, very nice!

Great pics, Gary. Thanks for sharing "your city." How far are you from Detroit? I only went through Detroit once, 50+ years ago. I remember the tire from whatever highway I was on.
I'm curious what it was you were eating at the restaurant.

We live 75 miles from downtown.  I lived in the burbs for a very short time but continued to commute to the burbs for 20 years.  Occasional work duties had me downtown and left a very poor impression.  Our photographer friend wanted to do this downtown photo session.  I was against doing it due to my stereotyping.  He finally won out but only if he would MC the whole thing.  My impression has been totally reversed.  Downtown has improved so much...clean, secure, restored parks, buildings with lots of people, sights, and entertainment.  The are lots of busy restaurants.  We had a great experience and will look forward to more visits.

Cliff Bells is an old-time, jazz club billed as the best food and music north of New Orleans.  Of course, featured on the menu is jambalaya...best I've had!

Fabulous pics Gary! I flew to Detroit, rented a car and drove to Milan to buy my Custom from a guy on this forum in July of 2012. It is really nice to put faces to names after 12+ years.A link to the classified ad from then. I was gonna post a pic of me and my wife but having technical issues now...

https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=3455.msg20628#msg20628

I have never been to Detroit yet, but a visit to the Henry Ford Museum, and a tour thru a Ford assembly plant has always been on my "bucket list". Anybody ever done one or both, and do they still do the plant tours? And anybody know how far Detroit/Dearborn MI is from Indianapolis ? Attending the NHRA US Nationals is another bucket list item, be cool if a guy could accomplish both during one vacation.

Distance from Indianapolis is 281 miles, about 4 1/2 hours.
Have done both The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village. Also did the nearby assembly plant tour. Not sure if the plant is still active and giving tours. That would be info available online probably.
The museum and Greenfield are well worth the trip. Allow a day for The Henry Ford though if you are like me...meaning being the guy that few people want to go to a museum with because you read EVERYTHING and look at EVERYTHING. Ditto for Greenfield.   

Hey Rory,
I have done The Henry Ford, Greenfield Village, The Rouge factory, Jack Roush Museum, Henry's home, cruised around Highland Park where they were doing 8,000 Model T's a day, the Packard factory and the highlight was Edsel's home in Grosse Pointe.  So much cool stuff to see and also a lot of misery in empty houses, deteriorating churches, factories etc.
I would go back again and see other museums in the area.

Also Rory, someone is looking for you on the HAMB on a BCCCA blog.

Terry
 

I visited the Henry several times.  The Rouge Tour shuttle leaves and returns to the Henry Ford Museum.  I usually do the tour and museum in one day but I always plan on returning.  If a one time trip, two days to do all three (museum, tour, and village).  The first time on the Rouge tour, I was so excited to visit the old bowels of a 100 year old factory under the famous smokestacks were the first Thunderbirds rolled out.  Instead, the tour is of the modern F150 assembly plant with a Disney like first act.  An excellent experience...it was just way different than what I expected.  This area is so rich in history especially the Big Three roots!  Fairlane Manor is still on my bucket list.  It has been closed for years for restoration but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I worked in the oldest Ford dealership outside of metro Detroit.  I loved the story the owner going to Sunday lunch at Aunt Clara's house...Henry's wife at Fairlane Manor (butlers and all).