Detroit

Moving to the United States at 10 years old, I am all too familiar with having friends and family not living in the same city or even the same country as me. It took a decade for me to adjust and change my perspective about distance. I decided to focus on spending quality time together and making memories to cherish for a lifetime. Travel became a tool that I used to connect.

Why Detroit? Well, it was always on my bucket list because of its affiliation with Motown. I have been a huge fan of Motown for quite some time and I wanted to pay homage to where it all originated. Plus, this was a trip that I took with my partner Marc and his Mom and Dad. Detroit happens to be about midway between us and surprisingly a city that none of us have visited before.

HOME VIBES

Cranbrook House and Gardens

I admit that I am a total sucker for historic homes. If it’s the oldest surviving manor in town and has a gorgeous garden to boot, I’m sold. Historic homes are a great place to learn about design and the story of a city. I usually find that the owners of these epic homes are leaders of industry in that area. For Cranbook Gardens, the Booth family who resided there were involved in the Detroit Evening News publishing empire. On the other hand, the true charm of this home lies in its reverence for the Arts and Crafts movement. It is depicted throughout the architecture and in many elements of its furnishings. Check out the home tour and experience the Cranbrook splendor!

THE UNIQUE

DIA’s Diego Rivera Murals

The Detroit Institute of Art is filled with inspiring works of art from all genres. However, the most captivating to view was none other than Diego Rivera’s frescoes which were commissioned by the DIA and the Ford Motor Company back in 1933. The colors are vibrant and it covers the walls of an entire interior courtyard. Once I stepped inside, I was immediately mesmerized by all the details of every inch of the murals. I could stand for hours just staring at it and attempting to decipher the messages and metaphors he painted into his work.

I have been a fan of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s work for quite some time. I did not think I would be able to see his work on such a massive scale in the United States. It is truly a jewel and must-see for every person visiting Detroit. Furthermore, the DIA has a wonderful theater that screens documentaries and short films highlighting different artists to further enrich your experience. When we visited, we watched Toni Morrison’s “Pieces of Me”, a documentary, which is bittersweet considering she passed away a month after our trip.

THE HISTORY

Hitsville USA- Motown Records Museum

Motown: The Sounds of Young America.

This is the infamous slogan of Motown Records which developed artists that I am betting are somewhere in your music collection. The Temptations, The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder are just a few of the talents that have made music in this humble studio. This was by far my favorite tour of the trip! A small group is guided by one of the trained docents to tell the Motown story from inception and community influence to developing artists’ sounds and style. You can see Berry Gordy’s apartment and the two recording studios where all the Motown hits you have danced to were made. It was overwhelmingly cool to be in the room where it happened and to be able to take a peek at where the “sausage was made”.