Welcome to Detroit!

As the local arrangement chair for the 2011 North American Meeting of the North American Catalysis Society, let me be the first to welcome you to the great city of Detroit!  During your stay, your focus will most likely be on the exciting and stimulating technical program and exhibition.  However, while you are in the city, it is my hope that you will also have a chance to experience the best of what the city of Detroit and southeast Michigan has to offer.  So, I am writing this guide to help you--and any guests that may be attending the conference with you--get the most out of your visit.  For those attendees that will be traveling with a spouse, family, or other visitors, please feel free to visit the Spouse Room, located in the Raphael Room on Level 4 of the Detroit Marriott Hotel.  Coffee and potential sightseeing itineraries will be provided along with the chance to network and coordinate with other conference guests.  For a detailed Google Map of each area described below, simply click on the heading of each section.

For a printable PDF file summarizing the recommended site-seeing activities and restaurants mentioned below, including the Detroit "Must List" and maps, please click here.

 

Traveling to Downtown Detroit

Most conference attendees will arrive via the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), located 21 miles to the west of downtown Detroit.  The Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center does not offer shuttle service, but there are several other travel options.  Detroit Metro Airport offers a wide array of rental car options. To get to the conference site at the Detroit Marriott Hotel, follow I-94 East for 17 miles and exit at the Lodge Freeway (M10) South (Exit 215A). After 3.5 miles, the Lodge Freeway becomes eastbound Jefferson Avenue, and the GM Renaissance Center will be clearly visible just a few hundred feet on the right.  To park, turn right on Beaubien just past the GM Renaissance Center building. We have arranged for a discounted parking rate at both the Beaubien and Port Atwater garages on Beaubien Street of $8/day for weekdays and $4/day on Saturday and Sunday. The discount flyers (for the Beaubien garage) and discount chaser cards (for the Port Atwater garage) will be available at both the NAM registration desk and at the hotel front desk.  A new flyer or chaser card will be required each time you exit the garage.  For Valet Parking, continue down Beaubien and turn right on Atwater. Then, turn right at Renaissance Drive W. The hotel entrance is on the right. Additional self parking is also available in the Miller garage located across from the hotel main entrance on Renaissance Drive W, as well as in several nearby garages such as the Ford Underground Garage, Millennium Garage, Cobo Arena Garage, and Cobo Roof Deck.  If you would prefer not to rent a car, taxi fare from the airport to downtown is approximately $40 one way.  For larger groups, reservations for 10-20 person passenger vans can be made through Royal Transportation (313-331-8700), Trinity Transportation (734-941-7777), or Enjoi Transportation (313-758-1000). 

 

The Renaissance Center

As mentioned above, the conference itself will be held at the Detroit Marriott Hotel located inside the GM Renaissance Center in the heart of downtown Detroit.  The “RenCen” complex is home to the General Motors global headquarters and contains a wide variety of shopping, entertainment, and dining options, all under the same roof as the conference hotel.  Unique souvenirs from your visit can be purchased at the Pure Detroit store located in Tower 400.  Explore a collection of GM vehicles and specialty cars in the GM Showroom or catch a movie at the Ren Cen 4 Theatre.   If you need to grab a quick lunch, head down to the food court on the lower level.  If you are in the mood for a more formal meal, check out 42 degrees north adjacent to the hotel lobby or Andiamo in the GM Wintergarden.  For a special treat after 5 PM, ride the glass elevator to the top of the hotel to the Coach Insignia and experience fine dining while enjoying a panoramic view of downtown Detroit, the Detroit River, and the city of Windsor, Ontario.

 

Detroit Princess Riverboat

As I mentioned above, the conference location this year is located mere feet away from the Detroit River.  A great way to get a beautiful view of both the cities of Detroit and Windsor is to take a ride on the Detroit Princess Riverboat, docked just a short walk downriver from the Renaissance Center.  The Detroit Princess has regularly scheduled two to two and a half hour lunch and dinner cruises on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of NAM week which include a meal, live Motown entertainment, and a cash bar.  Cruises on the weekend before and after the conference are also available.  The NAM Organizing Committee has secured a 25% discount to all NAM attendees who use the promotion code “NAM22DET” when ordering tickets either online or over the phone at (877) 338-2628.  Tickets can be purchased the day of the cruise, but purchasing a day or so in advance is recommended.

 

Detroit Riverfront

If you prefer to enjoy the river on foot, the Renaissance Center is also located directly on the Detroit Riverwalk, a 5.5 mile, 62 ft wide promenade located directly on the Detroit River.  The Riverwalk is perfect for a morning jog or afternoon stroll.  A separate lane is also available for skates or bicycles (which also can be rented at the Rivard Plaza, just a short walk upriver from the Renaissance Center).  Other points of interest on the Riverwalk include the Cullen Family Carousel, Diamond Jack’s River Tours, and the Riverwalk Café (all located at the Rivard Plaza), the Milliken State Park and Harbor, the Dequindre Cut Greenway (another great place for a bike ride), and Chene Park.  A little farther upriver on the Riverwalk is the Stroh River Place, which is home to another fine Detroit restaurant, the Rattlesnake Club (open Tuesday through Saturday).  A few blocks away you will find an example of one of Michigan's many microbreweries, the Atwater Block Brewery, which is open Wednesday through Saturday after 4 PM.  Both locations are also easily accessible by car or taxi.

 

Jefferson and Woodward Avenues

A few blocks away from the Renaissance Center are a few other notable points of interests that should not be missed.  Hart Plaza, just a few hundred feet down river of the RenCen features several public works of art, including the famous “Fist of Joe Louis” sculpture located at the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward Ave.  Just across Jefferson Ave is the Spirit of Detroit statue, an important symbol of community to the city.  The Spirit has been known to don a Detroit Red Wings jersey if the team (who plays just a few thousand feet to the west at Joe Louis Arena) has a strong finish to their season. 

 

Just a block north on Woodward is the Guardian Building, an Art Deco-inspired skyscraper, with a lavishly decorated lobby that cannot be missed.  The Guardian Building also contains a branch of the Pure Detroit store where local souvenirs can be purchased.  While you are in the area, cross back over to east side of Woodward and have an olive burger and a Michigan microbrew at Foran’s Grand Trunk Irish Pub (one of my personal favorites).  For vegetarian and vegan fare before 3 PM, try Lunchtime Global, located just up Woodward in the First National Building.  In the mood for a Detroit-style Coney Island hot dog?  The best in town are located at Lafayette Coney Island, on Lafayette Blvd.

 

The People Mover

Many of Downtown Detroit’s other must-see points of interest can also be reached on foot, but the Detroit People Mover is often a much faster and more convenient option.  The People Mover is a 2.9 mile elevator train loop with 13 stations serving Downtown Detroit.  The People Mover currently runs in the clockwise direction and completes a full loop in approximately 13 minutes.  Each ride on the People Mover costs 50 cents.  One of the 13 People Mover Stations is conveniently located on the north side of the RenCen. 

 

Grand Circus Park Area (Comerica Park and Ford Field)

A 7 minute ride on the People Mover from the RenCen will bring you to the Grand Circus Park area of Downtown (about 11 blocks by foot).  This area features Comerica Park (home of the Detroit Tigers) and Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions).  The Tigers are unfortunately out of town for much of the week, but do start a four-game series with the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, June 9^th.  The area also contains several entertainment venues including the Detroit Opera House, the Gem and Century Theatres, the Music Hall Center, the City Theatre, the Fillmore Detroit, and the historic Fox Theatre.  The area also includes a wide array of places to eat, drink, and be merry.  For sports fans, I recommend the Hockeytown Café or Cheli’s Chili Bar.  For cocktails lovers or beer connoisseurs, I recommend the jazz bar Cliff Bell’s, the Park Bar and Bucharest Grill, and another one of Detroit’s microbreweries, Detroit Beer Co.  For fine dining, try the Angelina Italian Bistro or the DaEdoardo Foxtown Grille, located in the Fox Theatre Building.  Please note, however, that many of the restaurants in the Grand Circus Park area are closed on Mondays.

 

 

Greektown

From the Grand Circus Park area, an additional 3-minute ride on the People Mover will bring you to perhaps the most famous block in downtown Detroit: Greektown.  For those who enjoy gambling, the Greektown Casino offers hours of entertainment.  However, any visit to Detroit can’t be complete without sampling an order of Saganaki at one of the many Greek restaurants on Monroe street.  Pegasus Taverna and the New Parthenon are two of my favorites. Opa!  While you are there, make sure to grab dessert or a snack at the Astoria Pastry Shop.  Not in the mood for Greek food?  Food with a Cajun flair can be found at Fishbone’s.  For fine dining, try Mosaic on the corner of Monroe and Brush.  Once you are finished with your lunch or dinner in Greektown, the People Mover will return you to the RenCen in just 2-3 minutes. 

 

Other Downtown Fine Dining Options

In addition to the options listed above, several other fine dining options are available near the RenCen.  Opus One is an excellent option located just two blocks north of the RenCen on Larned between Beaubien and St. Antoine.  Another delicious option is Michael Symon's Roast, located in the Book Cadillac Detroit Hotel, just a block from the Michigan Avenue People Mover stop.  The MGM Grand Casino also offers several excellent options such as Bourbon Steak, Saltwater, and the Wolfgang Puck Grille.  The MGM Grand can best be accessed via a short taxi ride from the RenCen.

 

Jefferson Avenue (Pewabic Pottery and the Edsel and Elenor Ford House)

While there is plenty to see and do downtown, Detroit is the Motor City.  So, as you might expect, many of the city's other main attractions are more easily accessible by car.  From the Renaissance Center, turn right and follow Jefferson Avenue to the northeast for 2.2 miles to the McArthur Park Bridge, which will take you to Belle Isle, located in the middle of the Detroit River.  It is home to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the Detroit Yacht Club, the Detroit Boat Club, James Scott Memorial Fountain, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a Coast Guard station, and a municipal golf course. The city maintains a Nature Center where visitors are able to traverse wooded trails and view wildlife natural habitats. The island also includes a half-mile swimming beach.

 

Following Jefferson Avenue for three and a half miles to the east will bring you to Pewabic Pottery, which has been producing handcrafted tiles and pottery in Detroit since 1903 (Open Monday to Friday 10AM to 4PM, free of charge).  Many of the tiles decorating the Guardian Building and various People Mover Stations are Pewabic Tiles. Visit the tile showroom and select a truly unique Detroit souvenir (a limited number of which are also available at the Pure Detroit Stores).  While you are there, take the free tour of the pottery museum and fabrication studio, all located inside the building, which is designated as a National Historic Landmark.  You may even recognize some of the fabrication techniques from the synthesis of catalyst supports!

 

Follow Jefferson Ave an additional 5 miles or so and the road becomes Lake Shore Drive.  An additional scenic 5 mile drive on the banks of Lake St. Clair will bring you to the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, a mansion and estate built by the Ford family and inspired by cottages in the English countryside.  Tours of the house, gardens, and grounds are available Tuesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM for $12.   While visiting, enjoy lunch on the grounds at the Cotswold Café.  Pewabic Pottery is easily accessible via taxi, while the Edsel Ford House will likely require a rental car.

 

Midtown (Detroit Institute of Arts and Cultural Center)

 

Following historic Woodward Avenue to the north will bring you to the Midtown neighborhood of Detroit and the area known as the Cultural Center.  The Cultural Center is home to several outstanding museums including the Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Science Center (great for kids!), and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD).  However, the crown jewel of the Cultural Center is the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA).  The DIA’s collection is among the top six in the US and is best known for the Diego Rivera fresco cycle entitled “Detroit Industry.”  The DIA (and the other museums) are closed on Monday and Tuesday, but open from 10 AM to 4 PM (or later) the rest of the week for an admission of $8. 

 

Several lunch and dinner options are located 5-6 blocks south of the DIA.  For a casual lunch, I recommend Union Street Saloon, the brewpub Traffic Jam & Snug, or the Cass Cafe (both of which also offers several vegetarian options).  Another great option for Michigan Beer is across the street from Traffic Jam at Motor City Brewing Works.  If you would like to try an example of some of the city's original French influences, try lunch at Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes, which also has several vegetarian options. Want an amazing afternoon snack? Check out my favorite bakery, Avalon, located on Willis.  You won’t be sorry!  For fine dining in the area, try the Whitney or drive back down Woodward to the Atlas Global Bistro.  Want more laid-back entertainment? How about bowling at America’s oldest active bowling center, the Garden Bowl?  Midtown is easily accessible from the RenCen via both taxi and rental car.  Street parking and several surface lots are available near the DIA.

 

New Center (Motown Historical Museum, AKA Hitsville, U.S.A.)

Continuing north on Woodward Avenue from Midtown will bring you to an area of the city known as the New Center.  This area is best known for the beautiful Fisher Building, an ornately designed Art Deco skyscraper and theatre.  The third location of the Pure Detroit store is located inside the Fisher Building.  Located about a mile west of the Fisher Building is the Motown Historical Museum, otherwise known as “Hitsville U.S.A,” the original home of legendary Motown Records.  The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 6:00 PM for an admission of $10.  While in the New Center area, an excellent fine dining option is Cuisine, near the Fisher Building.

 

The Detroit Zoo

Interested in taking a walk on the wild side?  Located ten miles north of the New Center Area just north of I-696 is the Detroit Zoo (admission for adults is $12).  The Zoo is currently home to almost 7,000 creatures and features the Arctic Ring of Life, North America’s largest polar bear exhibit.  Make sure to also check out the Australian Outback, Asian forest, American grasslands, and the African forest exhibits.  You may even get a chance to feed the giraffes at the African grasslands exhibit or to feed the penguins at the Penguinarium.  While in the area, make sure to explore some of Detroit’s best brewpubs including Woodward Avenue Brewers in Ferndale, Bastone Brewery (famous for its Belgian style beers), Royal Oak Brewery, and Lily's Seafood Grill and Brewery, all located in nearby Royal Oak.  Have a preference for wine?  Check out Vinotecca, also in Royal Oak.  If you want to try Detroit’s best microbrewery (in this local arrangements chairperson’s humble opinion) drive 10 miles to the east of the Zoo on I-696 and check out Dragonmead.  Create your own sampler out of a selection of their over 40 beers on top.  Erik the Red and Final Absolution Belgian Trippel can’t be missed.

 

 

Corktown (Slow’s BBQ)

Located about 2 and half miles to the west of the RenCen on Michigan Ave is perhaps my favorite place in eat in the city of Detroit.  Slow’s BBQ opened a few years ago near the site of the now demolished Tiger’s Stadium and has rapidly become one of the city’s worst kept secrets.  If better barbeque exists north of the Mason-Dixon Line, I would love to try it.  During peak times, the wait for a table can be well over an hour, but the macaroni and cheese sides alone are well worth it.  While you wait for a table, have a Michigan microbrew at the bar.  You’ll thank me later.

 

 

Greenfield Village

For the 22^nd NAM opening reception, you will be able to tour the world famous Henry Ford Museum.  While you are sure to be impressed by the indoor portion of the museum, perhaps the most impressive portion of the Henry Ford is Greenfield Village, a 240-acre complex of over 100 historical buildings which were moved to the property from their original locations with the intent of capturing how Americans lived and worked over the last 300 years.  Notable buildings include Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory, the Wright brothers' bicycle shop, and Henry Ford's prototype garage.  The Village is open seven days a week from 9:30 AM to 5 PM for an admission of $22.  While visiting the Village, also make sure to take the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, which departs from the Henry Ford Museum.  Tours cost $15 and run every 20 minutes from 9:20 AM to 3 PM Monday through Saturday.  While visiting Dearborn, make sure to take advantage of some of the best Middle Eastern food in the Midwest, such as Amani's Lebanese Restaurant on Michigan Avenue.  If you are just in the mood for a burger, try Miller's Bar, voted the best hamburger in the Detroit area.

 

Frankenmuth

If you have time for a day trip and want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, consider a drive to the lovely rural village of Frankenmuth, Michigan’s Little Bavaria, located 90 miles to the north of Downtown.  Take a stroll or a horse-drawn carriage ride down the quant village streets.  Enjoy a family-style chicken dinner at Zehnder’s.  Find the perfect souvenir at one of the many unique shops. You can even try another local beer at the Frankenmuth Brewery.  While in the area, make sure to stop at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, the self proclaimed World’s Largest Christmas Store, and browse through over 7 acres of Holiday merchandise.  If you saved some additional space in your suitcase, stop by the Birch Run Premium Outlets (Michigan's largest outlet mall) and shop ‘til you drop at the collection of 145 stores. 

 

The Somerset Collection

For those visitors who are interested in a more refined shopping experience, you may want to explore The Somerset Collection, located in Troy, MI, 21 miles north of Ren Cen, just off I-75.  The Somerset Collection contains over 180 stores including Nordstrom's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Barneys Co-op, and Crate and Barrel spread over three stories of shopping bliss. 

 

Windsor, Ontario

If you brought your passport, you may want to consider exploring Windsor, Ontario, Detroit’s sister city across the Detroit River.  Detroit is the only city in the US where you must travel south in order to enter Canada.  There are two ways to enter Windsor from Detroit.  Located immediately to the west of the Ren Cen is the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and located about a mile to the east is the Ambassador Bridge.  Once in Windsor, explore the many parks and gardens located on the waterfront, including the Odette Sculpture Park, Dieppe Gardens, and Coventry Gardens which features the Charles Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain.  Gambling enthusiasts may also enjoy Caesars Windsor Casino, also located on the waterfront.  Other points of interest include the Art Gallery of Windsor and the Queen Elizabeth II Sunken Garden located at Jackson Park.

While the majority of the fine dining options in the area are on the Detroit side of the river, Windsor does offer inexpensive and authentic Chinese and Thai food at May Wah Inn Chinese Cuisine and the Basil Court Restaurant, both located near the Riverfront.  Sir Cedric's Fish & Chips and Spago Trattoria E Pizzeria also offer great seafood and authentic Italian food, respectively.

 

Well, that about does it.  I hope this guide will help make your stay in Detroit a week to remember.  Safe travels and I look forward to meeting you in “the D"!

 

Paul T Fanson

NAM22 Local Arrangements Chairman

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