Detroit is iconic for so many reasons. It’s the birthplace of techno, Motown, the assembly line, and the Big 3. We’ve got a historic farmers market, a stunning island park, and a zillion coney island restaurants. We’re unique, resilient, and we’re in the middle of a downtown renaissance.

Experiencing the Motor City can’t be summed up in any list — big or small. But, we rounded up a cool 40 things you absolutely must do in Detroit before you die.

1. Explore music history at the Motown Museum The birthplace of a musical genre, the Motown Museum is a true time capsule. Hitsville U.S.A. was once Berry Gordy’s recording studio, and the museum offers an all-encompassing look at the voices that shaped music history. Motown Museum is located at 2648 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-875-2264 Photo via Flickr, quirkyjazz
2. Visit Belle Isle Detroit’s 13-acre island park sits just north of downtown, floating in the Detroit River. Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect of New York City’s Central Park, partially designed this gem. A case could be made that with the enormous fountain, arts and crafts buildings, oldest continually operating public aquarium in the nation, historic boathouse, nature trails, petting zoo, lighthouse, Art Deco monuments, picnic areas, and stunning views the sunset behind downtown Detroit, Belle Isle is Olmsted’s superior work. Photo by Brian Day
3. See a pro sports game downtown There’s arguably never been a better time to be a Detroit sports fan. For the first time since 1974, the Motor City now hosts all four of its professional sports teams within city limits. The Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Pistons play at Little Caesars Arena; 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; olympiaentertainment.com. The Detroit Tigers play at Comerica Park; 2100 Woodward Ave, Detroit; mlb.com/tigers. The Detroit Lions play at Ford Field; located at 2000 Brush St., Detroit; detroitlions.com. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Pistons
4. Hang out at the Majestic Complex The Majestic Complex is your one-stop-shop for fun in Midtown area. Start with paid, guarded parking in the back, then head in for all manner of leisure, from billiards to bowling, from pizza to kebabs, indoors or outdoors, with live music in the massive Majestic Theatre or the also commodious Magic Stick. 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit 313-833-9700 Photo via Flickr, Scott Smithson
5. Check out a jazz band at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge Open since 1934, the historic Baker’s is among the oldest continuously operating jazz venues in the world. Walking inside is like being transported to another era, thanks to the lounge’s slick Art Deco design complete with a bar with a keyboard motif. Baker’s Keyboard Lounge is located at 20510 Livernois Ave, Detroit; 313-345-6300; theofficialbakerskeyboardlounge.com. MT file photo
6. Get lost at the Detroit Institute of Arts No, really — with more than 6,000 works of art on view (and a collection of more than 66,000 works of art in total) and some 658,000 square feet to explore, you’ll never see everything at the DIA. But you can try. The DIA is located at 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org; Admission is $14 for adults, $9 for seniors ages 62+, $8 for students, $6 for ages 6–17, and free for Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb county residents and DIA members. Courtesy photo
7. Enjoy car culture We’re called the Motor City for a reason, and there’s no shortage of events celebrating the automobile here — from the slick prototypes of the future at the North American International Auto Show, the scrappy hot rods of Autorama, and everything in between at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise. The Woodward Dream Cruise is will be held Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. NAIAS is open to the public Jan. 19-27, 2019 at Cobo Center 1 Washington Blvd., Detroit; naias.com. Autorama is expected to be held in March, 2019 at Cobo Center; autorama.com. Photo by Mike Pfeiffer
8. Explore your dark side at Leland City Club For more than 30 years, Leland City Club has served as a favorite haunt for all sorts of creatures of the night thanks to its cheap cover, 4 a.m. closing time, and eclectic soundtrack heavy on industrial, New Wave, and techno. Leather, latex, or lace, there is no dress code as long as it’s black. Leland City Club is located at 400 Bagley Ave., Detroit; 313-962-2300; lelandcityclub.net MT file photo
9. Be titillated at the Dirty Show Dirty Show impresario Jerry Vile’s annual ode to all things erotic features burlesque performers, a Cinerotic Film Festival, along with dozens of photographs, paintings, sculpture, and more. The art is only rivaled by the people-watching — at the Dirty Show, people let it all hang out. The Dirty Show will be held in February, 2019 at the Russell Industrial Center; dirtydetroit.com Photo by Jeannette Fleury
10. Enjoy the last bash inspired by hippies in the old Cass Corridor What began as an informal hippie party on Prentis Street in the late 1960s has become much more organized, but it’s still fondly called by the same name: The Dally in the Alley. The food is better, and the production values are sky-high compared to the old days, and though the festival is better managed, it still doesn’t have the kind of heavy-handed corporate sponsorship other festivals do. And so what was once a street party for artists, radical activists, musicians, and burnouts living in the Cass Corridor has become a party with attendees from all over metro Detroit, a sort of “open house” for what’s now almost universally known as “Midtown.” Dally in the Alley is Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 (rain date Sept. 9) between Second, Third, Hancock and Forest streets, Detroit. MT File photo
11. Explore an American art form at Detroit International Jazz Festival Originally begun in 1980 as the Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival, the programming usually casts a backward glance with retrospectives orbiting around a past great, as well as featuring a few forward-looking stars of the international scene. There’s no better way to appreciate the sonic power of the larger bands than taking in the sound outdoors as it bounces off the ample walls of downtown’s skyscrapers at dusk. The Detroit International Jazz Festival takes place Sept. 2-5, 2018, in downtown Detroit. MT File photo
12. Explore Detroit’s waterways up-close in a canoe or kayak Small watercraft like canoes and kayaks offer all sorts of opportunities for exploration, unusual views of the city, and even a chance to see the return of wildlife to quieter quarters. There’s no better way to see the city’s “canal district” down by Klenk Street is Detroit’s Venice. Every year, Riverside Kayak and Friends of the Rouge sponsor a group paddle up the Rouge River that can afford unusual views of the iconic Detroit factories. The Industrial Rouge River Tour takes place 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018; call 734-285-2925 for more details. MT File photo
13. Sample Belgian beer and food while trying your hand at feather bowling Enter this former Belgian social club and right away you’ll feel you’ve traveled about 4,000 miles to the east as you’re treated to mussels, Belgian sausage, and Westmalle Triple beer. Save a little energy for the Belgian variant of bocce played with a dozen balls and a feather. 4300 Cadieux Rd., Detroit 313-882-8560 MT File Photo
14. Get fat and drunk during Hamtramck’s Paczki Day celebration The annual Hamtramck Fat Tuesday celebration centers on the paczki, a Polish pastry that in the simplest terms can be described as a richer and denser cousin of the jelly donut. But that’s only part of the fun. Hamtramckans go nuts in a Mardi Gras-style bash before everyone gives up their vices for Lent. Tens of thousands of paczkis are consumed. Countless shots of Jezynowka are downed. And exponentially more beers are guzzled. Head to shot-and-beer dive bars like Suzy’s which offer “Polish Girls Gone Wild” or sample Small’s Bar’s paczki bomb a paczki filled with the Polish brandy. Photo via Shutterstock
15. Headbang at Harpo’s Were you at the Slayer and Danzig show in ‘88? How about the first show ever at the legendary rock and metal venue — Mitch Ryder in 1980? Did you see the Beastie Boys? Anthrax? Motorhead? Ramones? The B-52s? James Brown? Were you there the time Meatloaf had his gear stolen outside the venue? How about for Lita Ford? Megadeath? Sepultura? No? Well, don’t miss out on the next great show. Photo by Shane Glenn
16. Get a taste of Latin American flavor in Southwest Detroit The bustling streets of Southwest Detroit are full of things to see and taste: From the whimsical piñatas on sale at Honeybee/La Colmena to the colorful mural on Los Galanes to the creative cakes and cookies at Gloria’s Bakery. But no visit would be complete without trying a taco at any of the joints along Bagley, Vernor, or Dix. Thanks to the abundance of immigrants from Jalisco, the taco al pastor is a specialty. Photo by Tom Perkins
17. Get glazed at Pewabic Pottery You’ll find tiles from Pewabic Pottery — once a linchpin of Detroit’s Arts and Crafts movement — on architectural masterpieces locally and nationally. Among the sites are the Guardian Building, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and Herald Square in New York City. You’ll also spot the 115-year-old ceramic studio’s work locally in Comerica Park, Detroit Medical Center Children’s Hospital, five Detroit People Mover stations, Third Man Records, and QLine stations. Check out its pottery and building, which is on the National Historic Landmark, at 10125 E. Jefferson Ave. MT file photo
18. Take in a night at the theater with a side of social consciousness For 61 years ago, the Detroit Repertory Theatre has persistently pursued its mission of professional community-oriented theater. The only-in-Detroit venue remains a stubborn presence on the disinvested west side, staging lush theatrical productions on its small stage, ranging from wacky farces to compelling dramas of social importance. If you don’t believe that even in this smartphone-addled world, the old magic still works when the lights go down and the curtain goes up, see for yourself. 13103 Woodrow Wilson St., Detroit 313-868-1347 MT File photo
19. Take the best 75-cent tour of downtown Detroit on the People Mover In the 1970s, the federal government intended to help Detroit build a light rail out of all its spoke roads with a monorail joining them together in a hub downtown. The only part to materialize was the hub, known as the People Mover. And despite the fact that Detroit’s elevated train simply goes in a circle, it’s still one of the best ways for a newcomer to see Detroit, especially when the weather is chilly. Photo via Facebook
20. Get drunk on lots of fine Michigan craft brews at the Fall Beer Festival One of the great joys of being a Michigander is the state is one of the top producers of craft beers. There’s no better time to try nearly all of them than at the Fall Beer Festival at Eastern Market. The event showcases over 800 Michigan-made beers from more than 110 local breweries. Detroit Fall Beer Festival is scheduled for Oct. 26-27. Photo by Lindsay Schweickert
21. Watch supercharged watercraft compete for the oldest trophy in motorsports Detroit Hydrofest is a chance to see some of the fastest, most souped-up, tricked-out hydroplanes, capable of speeds faster than 100 miles per hour, compete right before your eyes. The prize is the oldest active trophy in motorsports, the APBA Gold Cup. Detroit Hydrofest takes place Aug. 25-26, 2018, on the Detroit River. MT File photo
22. See Detroit as Cadillac first saw it: from the water What a difference the distance of a couple hundred yards makes! From the river Detroit first obtained its sustenance, its commerce, its very name. Now the waterway provides an excellent vantage point to see the city. Not only is it always 10 degrees cooler on the river, as those who’ve turned into the wind aboard such pleasure crafts as Diamond Jack’s or the grand, three-story Detroit Princess know, it carries a bracing energy all its own. Photo via Flickr, OZinOH
23. Take your bicycle up to high speeds indoors at the Lexus Velodrome The Lexus Velodrome is not Detroit’s only velodrome — the long-abandoned Dorais Velodrome remains at East Outer Drive and Mound Road — but it’s the best. It’s a brand-spanking new indoor arena for cycling, with an oval track that features two steeply banked 180-degree curves, allowing cyclists to reach speeds of 50 miles per hour. This 64,000-square-foot, $4 million facility is a project of the Detroit Fitness Foundation. The Lexus Velodrome is at 601 Mack Ave., Detroit. MT File photo
24. Be a soccer hooligan for an afternoon at Hamtramck’s Keyworth Stadium For years, the future of Keyworth Stadium, a reinforced concrete venue built by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, was in doubt. Then Detroit City FC, the city’s semi-professional soccer club, raised enough money to get the facility back in working order. And there’s no crowd rowdier than a DFCFC crowd. Beginners, take the western bleachers. Feeling rowdy? Head east and get ready to shout. Keyworth Stadium is at 3201 Roosevelt St., Hamtramck. First home game is April 14, 2018. MT File photo
25. Learn the history of African beads at an art space dedicated to African art When he started his museum, Olayami Dabls was an African bead collector and salesman who spent time working at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Today, 22 years later, he runs the best-known low-budget museum in the city, pulling in celebrity visitors eager to learn from the intense, affable host who uses his collection to spin ancient stories. Dabls African Bead Museum is at 6559 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-898-3007. MT file photo
26. Hunt down a rare book at John K. King Books With four stories and nearly 1,000,000 titles, it’s no wonder you need a map to navigate Michigan’s largest used and rare book store. Snag a familiar book or get lost in thought, John K. King Books is a literary treasure hunt. John K King Books is located at 901 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; 313-961-0622 Photo via Flickr, Tom Roche
27. Spend months creating your costume for Theatre Bizarre The freaks come out at night — for two whole weekends at one of the spookiest historical properties in Detroit. Dubbed “The Greatest Masquerade on Earth,” Theatre Bizarre is the underworld reimagined. Ultimately a Halloween celebration, Theatre Bizarre dazzles and disgusts with fire eating, burlesque, and something called the “fistatorium.” Theatre Bizarre takes place during two weekends in October at the Masonic Temple; 500 Temple St., Detroit Photo by Trevor Long,
28. Participate in Detroit folklore with Marche du Nain Rouge Wrangle your crimson garb, the Marche du Nain Rouge is the most devilish time of year. For the ninth year running, a group of Detroiters will gather to chase away Nain (after he performs some quirky stunt and gives a speech, of course) and bar him from casting wicked curses about town. Marche du Nain Rouge 2018 takes place on Sunday, March 25 at noon at the corner of Canfield and Second, parade begins procession toward the Masonic Temple at 1 p.m; event is free Courtesy photo
29. Bundle up and take in the sights of America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Before you get stuffed, trot on down to historic Woodward Avenue and watch America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from the sidelines. Larger than life floats, balloons, as well as performances from marching bands, dancers, and Santa himself promise to ignite the holiday spirit. America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2018 will take place on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018 Photo by John Tavernier.
30. Get lit during Dlectricity The walkable, biannual outdoor Nuit Blanche-style festival of lights launched in Midtown in 2012. In addition to the Light Bike Parade, artists from all over the world present projections, sculptures, and interactive installations that light up the streets. Delectricity takes place every other year in Midtown, Detroit. Details for the 2019 are to be announced. Photo by Joe Gall
31. Dance like no one’s watching at Movement Even if you’re not into techno, Movement is an out-of-this world experience you must take in at least once. The three-day electronic music festival held each year in Hart Plaza during Memorial weekend draws tens of thousands of people from across the globe, along with all of their variant styles and dance moves. Let world-renowned DJs take you on a space odyssey with help from state of the art speakers that bring unparalleled sound quality to Detroit. Descend into the belly of the beast at the underground stage, where the storied raves of the ‘90s come to life. If the thumps aren’t for you, let the sounds of various stages mingle in euphony as you take in Detroit River views on one of Hart Plaza’s grassy knolls. Or enjoy the people watching; ravers are a fascinating breed, and, like snowflakes, no two are alike. Movement takes place Saturday-Monday, May 26-28, 2018 Photo by Dontae Rockymore
32. Get lit(erary) at the Detroit Public Library The main branch of the Detroit Public Library may be one of the most beautiful and least celebrated places in the city of Detroit. This place is home to the Burton Historical Collection, a huge collection of news stories on microfilm, popular novels, children’s books, and more. Plus, the architecture is absolutely stunning. Detroit Public Library is located at 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-481-1300 Photo via Flickr, Jason Mrachina
33.Nerd out at Youmacon Youmacon isn’t your typical comic con. Instead of focusing solely on comic books, it is a celebration of Japanese pop culture and all the exciting fandoms that come along with it. The sprawling convention takes over the GMRenCen AND Cobo Center throughout an entire weekend in November. You’re encouraged to wear your best cosplay costume, play Magic the Gathering into the wee hours of the morning, and dance at themed parties all night long. Youmacon takes place November 1-4, 2018 at Cobo Center and the GMRenCen MT file photo
34. Enjoy the opulence of the Detroit Opera House Whether you’re taking in their annual production of The Nutcracker or enjoying a limited run of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s seminal musical Phantom of the Opera, the Detroit Opera House is the place to see a stunning stage show. Detroit Opera House is located at 1526 Broadway St., Detroit; 313-237-7464 Photo via Flickr, wyliepoon
35. Stroll through Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project Trash or treasure, Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project has become part of Detroit’s iconography. You can stroll through this outdoor art exhibit any time — it’s free and always open to the public. The Heidelberg Project is located at 3600 Heidelberg Detroit; 313-458-8414 Photo copyright Dave Jordano, courtesy The Cultural Landscape Foundation.
36. Enjoy the lush beauty of the Dequindre Cut This urban recreational path opened in 2009, offering a a pedestrian link between the East Riverfront, Eastern Market and several residential neighborhoods in between. In its former life, it served as a Grand Trunk Railroad line. Now, it’s adored with murals, offers bike racks, and has plenty of seating on which to enjoy the mixture of natural and man-made beauty. Dequindre Cut is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Courtesy photo
37. Skate The Rink at Campus Martius Grab your skates and get bundled up — cascading around The Rink at Campus Martius is a wintertime tradition in Detroit. It’s open daily during the winter months. Campus Martius Park is located at 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit. The Rink is open November through March. Courtesy photo
38. Catch a black and white flick at the historic Redford Theatre The Redford Theatre is yet another of Detroit’s under-celebrated gems. This historic theater has been immaculately restored, and shows classic films like Casablanca and hosts The Three Stooges marathons. Plus, concessions are super cheap here. The Redford Theatre is located at 17360 Lahser Rd., Detroit; 313-537-2560 MT file photo
39. Celebrate Oktoberfest at Dakota Inn Rathskeller This authentic German restaurant gets quite lively during the autumnal celebration of Oktoberfest. Raise your stein while wearing a chicken hat and make a prost to all your beer-loving compatriots. Dakota Inn is located at 17324 John R St., Detroit; 313-867-9722 MT file photo
40. Get sprayed with Faygo at Hallowicked Insane Clown Posse’s annual Halloween concert is so much more than a live music event. You can generally expect a lot of clown-inspired costumes, gore-tastic imagery, and intermittent Faygo showers. Hallowicked takes place on Halloween, details to be announced MT file photo

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Since 1980, Metro Times has been Detroit’s premier alternative source for news, arts, culture, music, film, food, fashion and more from a liberal point of view.