Detroit

The name Detroit comes from the French word for "the narrows," so it’s no surprise that the city was founded at the slimmest part of the Great Lakes. The city eventually became a major industrial and commercial hub, attracting wave after wave of Irish, Polish, Greek, and other immigrants. Together with African Americans who migrated from the South, these peoples helped Detroit give birth to the US automobile industry a century ago.

Detroit today is one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets. There is a strong, thriving gay community, interesting theater and performing arts, lush green spaces, and some of the friendliest people anywhere. The city has an intensely creative energy, but does require keeping your wits about you when out late at night. For safety, always park within the fenced and guarded parking lots beside many of the nightclubs.

Getting here

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is about 26 miles west of downtown Detroit. It’s a long ride to town in a taxi, about $45 to downtown. Smart bus service to all Metro Detroit areas has departures streetside at the lower level of the North Terminal bulding.

Getting around

This is Motor City, so it’s no surprise that a car is the best way to get around. Parking is costly, though. Consider taking the People Mover, a monorail that runs throughout downtown Detroit. It's cheap and speedy.

Neighborhoods

Many of the bars are on or around main streets to the north of downtown - like McNichols, 7 Mile, 8 Mile or 9 Mile Roads, and along Woodward Avenue. Out this way is Ferndale, an independent and gay-friendly enclave with many shops, cafes, and nightclubs. Royal Oak at the end of Woodward likewise has stores, cafes, and theater to check out.

What to do

Main Art Theatre (118 N Main St) shows the area's best selection of independent film and foreign language cinema on three screens. The Royal Oak Music Theatre (318 W 4th St) is a favorite live music venue. The Stagecrafters Baldwin Theatre (415 S Lafayette Ave) hosts a full season of plays and musicals, old and new.

Local Media

Between the Lines is the local gay community newspaper. Metra is a region-wide glossy magazine with photos and events. Metro Times is the alternative paper with arts events, reviews and listings.


Detroit bars & clubs

Adam's Apple (18931 W Warren) neighborhood bar, mostly men, mixed ages, darts, jukebox.
Backstreet (15606 Joy Rd) venerable gay dance palace, popular on Saturday, cheap drinks Wednesday, 18+ nights.
Club Gold Coast (2971 E 7 Mile) longtime male stripper and drag club, restaurant, dance floor.
Gigi's (16920 W Warren) Monday & Friday go-go boys, female impersonations, dance floor, young crowd.
Hayloft Saloon (8070 Greenfield) men's cruise bar, bear and leather events, darts, pool, juke box.
Ice (11425 Joseph Campau St, Hamtramck) 18+ Saturday gay dancing until 4am, guest entertainers.
Innuendo (744 E Savannah) small but busy club, dancing and drag shows, hip-hop and R&B music.
Menjo's (928 W McNichols) longtime favorite dance club and video bar, drag, go-go dancers, college and bear nights.
Nine in Ferndale (141 W 9 Mile) dance club, big Wednesday night events, women's nights.
Pronto (608 S Washington, Royal Oak) video bar complex, attached to popular restaurant and bakery.
R & R Saloon (7330 Michigan) leather bar, theme nights, food, friendly crowd.
Rainbow Room (6640 E 8 Mile) dance, video and drag bar, 18+ crowd.
Soho (205 W 9 Mile, Ferndale) cocktail and martini lounge, mixed crowd, popular Wednesday karaoke night.
Stingers (19404 Sherwood St) small mixed gay lounge, open after-hours.
Woodward (6426 Woodward) video bar, mixed crowd, dance floor, R&B, hip-hop and house music.
The Detroit Eagle and Diamond Jim's Saloon both closed recently.

Windsor, Ontario (Canada) bars & clubs

The Legends of 2012 (1056 Wyandotte St, E) full menu restaurant & patio, pan-sexual adult entertainment, nude dancers, acrobatics, fire shows, kink, & leather.

Restaurants

AJ's Music Cafe (240 W 9 Mile Rd) Ferndale community coffeehouse, young artists, musicians, & organizers. Vegan menu, free Wi-Fi.
Atlas Global Bistro (3111 Woodward Ave) international cuisine, Sunday brunch.
Como's (22812 Woodward Ave, Ferndale) pasta and pizza until 4am, summer patio, boys night Tuesday, live music Wednesdays, Sunday brunch.
Just 4 Us (211 W 9 Mile, Ferndale) coffee bar, tasty sandwiches.
La Dolce Vita (17546 Woodward Ave) Italian cuisine, dine inside or on patio, elaborate Sunday brunch.
Om (23136 Woodward Ave) highly rated vegetarian, vegan and macrobiotic restaurant.
Pete's Place (1225 Woodward Heights, Ferndale) big-city-style diner and carryout, brunch served all day, every day.
Pronto (608 South Washington, Royal Oak) gay- friendly restaurant, bakery, and neighborhood hangout.

 

Saunas

Body Zone (1617 E McNichols) steam sauna, hot tub, videos, gym, tanning facilities, 18+, open 24 hours.
TNT Health Club (13333 W 8 Mile) always- open men's club, indoor pool, weight room, steam, sauna, whirlpool, videos.

 

Shopping

At the end of Woodward Avenue, the neighborhood of Royal Oak has some great restaurants, an art-house cinema, art galleries and lots of shops. Ferndale, where 9 Mile meets Woodward, is another gay area.
Chosen Books Of Michigan (120 W 4th St) new and used books and magazines.
Just 4 Us (211 West 9 Mile) books, cards, magazines, lube and gay items.

 

Adult shops

24 Hour Video (17438 Woodward Ave) gay, bisexual, transsexual, porn rental and sales, discreet entrance, sponsor of clone-a-willy contests at local bars.
Blue Moon Video/DVD (7041 W 8 Mile) porn video sales and rentals, toys and lubes.
Fifth Wheel (9320 Michigan Ave) adult bookstore, magazines, male video peep shows and DVDs.