My Detroit Secret.... Shhhhhh

Well, I'm going to let everyone in on my little secret today. Every time I tell someone that I live in Downtown Detroit they all respond with the same question. "Where do you grocery shop!?" As if Detroit residents just starve. There are a few markets downtown where you can get the basic necessities. As for fruits, vegetables, and meats, I normally do not buy them from the markets. I'll be honest. They look a little iffy. If you can't quite make it to Saturday for Eastern Market then my favorite place to pick up these items is Honeybee Market on Bagley Ave. It's just outside of Downtown located in Mexicantown. The products here are always fresh and the store is bright and clean. Not to mention the free samples....

As soon as you walk in the door you get your choice of guacamole, salsa, or pico de gallo. They are all amazing! Who doesn't love a free sample either?
I am also a huge fan of mexican food and of course everything is authentic. Let's not forget to mention that there are piniata's for sale above the vegetables!


Source: http://www.honeybeemkt.com/

May I also recommend Dollar Stores?! You can get a lot of great things for only a buck. All in all, grocery stores shouldn't be the excuse holding you back from moving to the D. There is a Meijer only 15 minutes away in Allen Park. A Kroger is only 15 minutes away in Grosse Pointe. So stock your kitchen up for a few weeks and enjoy living in Detroit.

What's your excuse for not living in the D?!?!

A Peek Inside My Favorite Detroit Shops

I visited two of my favorite Detroit shops that are listed under Detroit Shops I Love. I went to The Nest which carries housewares and other products. I also visited City Bird where they showcase handmade Detroit products. These stores are right next door to eachother and offer some truely unique products. Here are a few snapshots I grabbed while in the store.

First is The Nest 

This picture is of some plants that they had for sale. The products change with the seasons.

They always have some amazing smelling candles. You can see this up front on the table. In the background you will see more of the houseware items that they sell. 

Next I went to City Bird

The first picture showcases some of the Michigan and Detroit Pride hand made jewelry.

They also sell handmade greeting cards and sketchings of artwork. These pictures are only the beginning of the store. It's a rather small store however they have a wide variety of products. They sell glass bourbon decanters and glasses than can be engraved and make really cool gifts.

Unfortunately people still think that Detroit has nothing to offer. This is only a glimpse into what stores are available in Detroit. Both of these stores are located in Mid Town. Next week I am going to discuss my secret place to get groceries ;)



Experience MidTown from May 14th - 23rd

Everyone is always talking about Downtown Detroit and what it has to offer. I feel like sometimes people don't realize that Detroit has been chopped up and divided into sections. There's Downtown, Midtown, Eastern Market, Corktown and others.

With the social media power of Yelp.com, Midtown is going to be showcasing a different event every day of the week from May 14th to 23rd as well as some great discounts. You can get the full list of everything here.


If you have a yelp app then you can check in at the places to get the discounts or you can just mention passport if you aren't a fan of the checking in option. There is definitely something for everyone. Take a beer tour, check out a free show at the Detroit Institute of Arts or see what clothes you can get with the discounts offered! I'm most excited to go to Sole Sisters to use the 15% off and see what I can get. You can get to their link under the "Detroit Shops I Love" tab above.

Every girl loves a good discount. And I love a girl that shares those discounts! ;)

How to get your own Detroit inspiration

Sometimes Detroit inspiration is right under your nose and you don't even know it. One of the best places to get information about activities is by looking for fliers at different restuarants. Here's a list of just a few hot spots that always have a good selection of fliers and posters with Detroit activites:

• Majestic Cafe
• Bronx Bar
• Biggby Coffee
• Cass Cafe
• Mudgie's Deli

The first on the list is where I found a great flier this week! The Majestic cafe had a flier for the Sugar Hill Clay Studio in Midtown. It's a new community ceramic studio. This would be a great idea for a girls get together or even a unique first date. This could be you...

Hahaha how could I not mention the movie Ghost!?

Anyway, if you go to the web site you can even print out a coupon! They have different classes for people of all ages and experience. I can't wait to go. It sounds like so much fun.

I encourage you to check out the places listed above. Not only for the fliers but because they are some of my favorite restaurants. Each one is different in their own way.

How to have a perfect Saturday in the D

I had such a great ride yesterday. There is no better place

than Eastern Market to get the freshest groceries in town.

Easten Market has been happily selling to Detroiters since

1891. I do my usual loop in the morning and always start off by going to the riverfront to begin with a beautiful view.

Avalon Bakery is the best place to pick up a few loafs of fresh bread. That was my first stop after going through Campus Martius Park. Next I had to get some food in my stomach! Good Girls Goes to Paris Crepes is one of my favorite spots. They used to be the size of a closet with just a walk up window and one person inside making delicious crepes. Congrats to them on purchasing a store front in Midtown and even recently expanding to twice the size and yet it is still a challenge to find a free seat! After having a delicious crepe and perfect latte I was ready to get my groceries.

I don't think people realize all that Eastern Market has to offer until they experience it for themselves. It's not just about the vendors; It's also the shops in the area. The vendors offer fruits, vegetables, and specialty items like kale salad, McClures pickles, herbs and spices, beans, and even popcorn. There are also store fronts that offer even more goods. The list would go on forever if I tried to name everything you can get and not to mention at great bargaining prices. I think many people also believe that Eastern Market is a place for fruits and vegetables but don't realize you can also get fresh cuts of meats. Gratiot Central Market opened in 1915 and is a great spot to find anything from steak to duck to lamb to goat to scallops to chitterlings.

This is the route I go weekly:

 It is a decent ride (about 8 miles) but you are being green and healthy by being on your bike and getting fresh ingredients for your kitchen. Most importantly, don't forget an eco friendly bag to put all your goodies in. Have fun exploring and don't be afraid to bargain.

Where YOU should take your 10 speed

I can't wait to introduce my new ride to the city.  I brought her home on Thursday and spent the day riding around. It was the perfect day since the Tigers were home and there were tons of people out. As I promised, here she is :)

I look way too happy in this picture!

Third Avenue Hardware on none other than Third Street in Midtown has a great selection of bikes. Ask for George and he will take great care of you. He has tons of frames and will gladly put whatever type of handle bars you prefer on your bike. He also put the rack over the back tire on for me at no charge. That is some great business.




What I'm most excited to do is start going on some city bike tours. There are a few different companies that offer bike tours. InsideDetroit which is located on Woodward offers a wide variety of tours that will be starting up soon. Besides biking they have walking, bus, bar hopping, and even segway tours! Find more information HERE

For a great informational and enjoyable bike tour I recommend checking out Wheelhouse Detroit. It's a great place right on the waterfront where you can rent bikes and roam the city yourself or join an organized group tour. Explore topics like public art, architecture, Underground Railroad, Eastern Market, and more.

All this talk about riding bikes.. I just can not wait for summer!!

Say NO to Huffy

No, Huffy is not the newest drug on the street that the kids are doing. It's simply the brand bike that I bought last summer. Sooooo, I guess in Detroit you shouldn't leave your bike unattended and unlocked. Yea, yea, I knew this but it was there for no more than 5 minutes! And it was in the middle of a crowded bike rack outside of my apartment building. You learn the hard way. So I went to Meijer and bought a Huffy (I even made them price match a website and thought I was getting a steal, no pun intended). You have to huff and puff when riding a Huffy in order to keep up with anyone! It's not the best for long distances which is what I love to do downtown. What other city can you go to and joy ride in the streets without having to worry about cars being in the way? I loooove exploring the city on my bike. This is what you're missing out on....

I truly believe that people in the city are brought together with bikes. There are biking events all Summer long and there are always people out and about just riding. This is especially true in the Midtown area. I'll be buying a new bike this week! Can't wait to get out there and ride. Well, when the weather gets better at least. I'll post as soon as I get my new bike. I'm going to be needing some customizing suggestions :)