Continue northwest to reach the Cultural Center district, which is
flanked on the west by Wayne State University, where the local
organization Preservation Wayne conducts walking tours of the
neighborhood (also of the theater district, African-American historic
sites, Eastern Market, the auto barons' mansions, and other important
Detroit areas). The district's top draw is the Detroit Institute of Arts, whose central foyer contains spectacular Depression-era frescoes
by Diego Rivera. DIA is in the midst of a major expansion and
renovation, to be completed in 2007, and so parts of the facility are
closed until then. But there are several important exhibits slated for
late 2006, including one on photographer Annie Leibovitz, and another on
the printmaking of Durer, Picasso, and Rembrandt. DIA is also home to
the Detroit Film Theatre, which screens new, independent, and sometimes
gay-themed films. Just north is the Detroit Historical Museum, a
highlight of which is the Costume History Collection, which contains
some 30,000 garments and accessories. The Motown Historical Museum is
another area must-see, where you can learn about everybody from Marvin
Gaye and Diana Ross to the Jackson 5 and the Four Tops.
A funky eatery on the edge of the Cultural Center, the Majestic Cafe
scores high marks for its art exhibits and eclectic food, such as
grilled lime-peanut chicken or mustard-and-cornmeal-crusted catfish.
There's also a charming accommodation nearby, the historic Inn at Cork
Street, which comprises four meticulously renovated Queen Anne homes
plus a pair of Victorian carriage houses. The 40 luxurious rooms are
done with tasteful, understated furnishings and have cable TV and Wi-Fi.
Within Detroit's city limits, you'll find a handful of gay nightspots.
Downtown are the leather-and-Levi's-oriented Eagle and the convivial,
low-keyed Woodward Video Bar and Grill, which has served the community
for about 60 years. Other good bets that are slightly farther afield
include Menjo's, a glittery dance, video, and piano bar where a young
Madonna (who hails from nearby Rochester Hills) used to come and party
with one of her gay dance instructors, and the cruisy Male Box, known
for its strippers, easy pick-up scene, and such titillating special
events as lube wrestling. There's also Gigi's, a favorite destination
for its wild and wooly drag shows, strippers, and cabaret.
Venturing Up the Woodward Corridor
To get a full sense of everything metro Detroit has to offer, plan to
spend some time venturing out of Detroit proper, as many worthy
attractions - as well as the heart of the gay scene - lie outside
downtown. The first town you reach heading northwest along Woodward
Avenue is Ferndale, a formerly working-class community that has
developed cachet among young, forward-thinking professionals and artists
in recent years, including quite a few gay folks. Its main drag, West
Nine Mile Road, has a bounty of cool boutiques, vintage clothiers, and
home-furnishing shops. Here you might dine at Christine's Cuisine, known
for its funky ambience and delicious down-home comfort food, or head to
the longtime gay favorite Como's, a good bet for tasty pizzas, hearty
Italian food, and strong cocktails. Ferndale is home to one of greater
Detroit's coolest gay nightclubs, Q Ferndale, and the nearby lounge,
SOHO, both of which draw an eclectic bunch of women and men of all ages.
Xhedos Cafe is a nifty little coffeehouse in the neighborhood that also
serves tasty vegetarian fare. Continue to page
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The Hunk
