Motor City in January!

http://www.thehenryford.org/rouge/index.aspx

January 2007 - State # 22 - Michigan

When it came time to visit Michigan, everyone, and I mean everyone recommended the Upper Peninsula.  But Guy had always wanted to see the Detroit Auto Show.  Since I love my husband and he hardly ever directs our travels, I honored his request and we visited Detroit the second week of January for Opening Day of the North American International Auto Show. 

(Why in the world do they hold it in January?) 

http://naias.com/

We arrived in Detroit as the city was preparing for an ice storm (my dream come true) and proceeded to car rental pickup.  For the Motor City, we found this process strangely casual.  I had reserved a SUV (in case we needed 4-wheel drive in the snow) and at the counter, the guys actually took their feet off the desk and informed us that "no Explorers" were available.  They pointed to the parking area and instructed us to pick one.  We literally chose whatever car we wanted for the price of a compact!

http://www.innonferrystreet.com/

With the nicest car we could find, we set out for our hotel...The Inn on Ferry Street.  This inn is a relaxing change of pace from the standard business hotel.  Four restored Victorian homes and two carriage houses abound in sophisticated luxury.

http://www.innonferrystreet.com/05//accomodat_roehm.php?msub=4

Although the inn itself was lovely, the neighborhood was one of those areas we try to avoid in our travels.  You know what I mean; even the travel guides admonish you to steer clear!  These 4 beautiful Victorian homes on a street with burned-out hulks of homes from earlier eras and numerous vacant lots.  For that reason alone, we cannot recommend this hotel.

http://www.thehenryford.org/

The next morning we drove to The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.  My husband loves a museum and this one was devoted to cars (his dream come true!)

We had reservations for Detroit's #1 Automotive Attraction...the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. 

The only Detroit automotive plant tour available to the public begins at The Henry Ford Museum.   A 15-minute bus ride takes you through one of the world's largest automotive complexes. 

This factory was designed to build automobiles "from raw ore to final assembly" with everything done on site.

The tour is a self-guided five-part experience that included:

Legacy Theatre
A media presentation about the triumphs and tragedies surrounding the Rouge, much of it told through rare, never-before-seen historic footage.


Art of Manufacturing Theatre
A multi-sensory theater experience including a 360-degree look at how automobiles are made.  This was awesome!  You feel the heat of the blast furnace and the pounding of the stamp presses...even the mist of the paint sprayers (don't worry...it's water).


Observation Deck Tour
View the world’s largest living roof from an 80-foot-high Observation Deck.  The Living Roof is a milestone in environmental design and the largest of its kind in the world.


Assembly Plant Walking Tour
From the elevated walkway you’ll see the trim line for final assembly which includes: 5 trim lines; 1 box build line; 1 door build line and the final inspection area. You’ll see the F-150 come into the plant as an empty shell and leave as a complete truck.


Legacy Gallery
View five historic vehicles made at the Rouge including the 20,000,000th Ford and hop in a new F-150.

http://www.thehenryford.org/rouge/legacygallery.aspx

Back at the museum, we started with the first of many "Must-See" exhibits:


This is a photo of Guy with the limousine in which President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, November 22, 1963.

For the trivia experts -

**Who was the last President to use this car?

Although other presidential parade cars were built in 1968 and 1972, this one was used occasionally by:

 **Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter.**

The X-100, so named by the Secret Service, remained in service until early 1977.

We were amazed (and a little freaked out) that other Presidents had used this vehicle.

This is a photo of Ronald Reagan's limousine.

http://www.thehenryford.org/museum/limousines.aspx



On March 30, 1981, Ronald Reagan took refuge in this limousine's interior to escape would-be assassin John Hinkley's gunfire.  Going into service under President Nixon, it is also the car in which President Ford was riding when an attempt was made on his life.

This is the last presidential limousine that will be preserved.  All presidential cars are now destroyed by the Secret Service for security reasons.

We spent the entire day here admiring this incredible collection devoted to Americana, specifically inventions and great historical moments.



For example, we saw the restored Cleveland Avenue bus that Rosa Parks rode on December 1, 1955.  You won't believe how small this vehicle is and you will be moved by the entire exhibit on civil rights.

There are 2 dining options inside the museum:

We sampled regional cuisine from around the Great Lakes with fun-filled cafeteria dining representing the diversity of Michigan people, products and places at the Michigan Cafe.



And while we are on the subject of food...a trip to Detroit is not complete without a visit to Greektown.  You will hear shouts of "OPA" from numerous Greek restaurants as waiters ignite saganaki (flaming cheese appetizers).  This is delicious and so much fun!  Be prepared for the servers to choose what you will eat - they claim to know just by looking at you.  We enjoyed dinners at both:

Mosaic

http://www.mosaic-detroit.com/

and

Pegasus Taverna

http://www.pegasustavernas.com/index2.html

The main attraction occurred the next morning where fortunately, our inn provided a van to drive us the 5  miles to COBO Center. 

(We got lost the night before and ended up in "Eight Mile"...YIKES!)  

http://www.cobocenter.com/

 
Our timing was impeccable!  The NAIAS 2007 celebrated the centennial of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association's (DADA) successful association with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).  Since its inception in 1907, the show has grown from a regional event featuring 17 exhibitors to an internationally-sanctioned show with over 90 exhibitors. 

We have discovered that this was the last truly huge auto show in Detroit. 

In the years since, fewer and fewer auto companies have exhibited here.

This was an amazing show!  As you can see from our photos, these companies spared no expense to garner the attention of the industry and thousands of spectators.  We were most impressed by:

• Mercedes Benz - had an ice floor.  The cars seemed to be sitting on diamonds!
• Jeep - besides the Jeep climbing the wall - waterfalls spelling out words!
• Lexus - I learned how to install my ipod in my car.  And introducing the LFA!
• Toyota - an all-American exhibit.  They want to sell trucks made in the USA!
• Chevrolet - introducing the Volt!
• Jaguar - the moving stage to unveil the new XK!

Obviously, we spent the entire day in COBO Center covering all 90 exhibits. 
But it was warm! 

The hotel van delivered us to our restaurant in time for dinner. 
Just down the street from the Joe Louis Fist.

   

http://www.robertgraham-artist.com/civic_monuments/joe_louis.html

And so ended our visit to State # 22 - Michigan

Before I end this post, just one unique fact about Detroit. 
It is the only major American city where you can stand in downtown and look south to Canada!

Did you notice we only have 17 States to Go?

Next time...

North Carolina - State # 33


 

"Fraternal" TWIN CITIES

http://garden.walkerart.org/artwork.wac

With their downtowns just 8 miles apart, the moniker "Twin Cities" certainly fits, but Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota are definitely fraternal twins.  You will have no trouble telling the two apart.  Busy Minneapolis with skyscrapers and modern architecture is the more cosmopolitan of the two, while the conservative St. Paul, with its winding streets and downtown parks exudes quaint charm.  Indeed, these two cities have a friendly sibling rivalry.

May 2007 - State # 23 - Minnesota

This one and only trip, we flew Air Tran to Minneapolis.  (Enough said.)  We drove back across the Mississippi River to our hotel...The St. Paul

http://www.saintpaulhotel.com/

One of Scott's friends, Carlin, recommended this hotel after she stayed here on a college tour with her daughter.  (She also recommended our Boston hotel - which was wonderful.)  Now, we also recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to the Twin Cities.

While the lobby and our room were lovely here, my favorite part was the hotel garden...

I discovered two new plants here that I have since added to my own garden.  The service here was amazing, as well.  From the hotel gardener to the front desk staff...all were "You Betcha" friendly! 

When you stay here, be sure to dine at the St. Paul Grill inside the hotel.  Guy enjoyed a tasty Bacon Cheeseburger, while I tried their Beer Battered Walleye...what in the world?

Walleye was on every menu in Minnesota.  Totally new food experience for us.  Walleye is a freshwater fish that is reportedly exciting to catch and delicious to eat.  With Minnesota being the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" - (locals told us it was really 12,000) - it is no wonder we found Walleye on every menu in the Twin Cities.

http://www.guthrietheater.org/

After checking into our hotel and having an early dinner at the St. Paul Grill, we had tickets to the renowned Guthrie Theater.  Called "a 21st century dream factory" by Time Magazine, the new Guthrie boasts three stages, a full-service restaurant, pre-show dining, numerous bars and some of the best views of Minneapolis to be found in the city.   The design of the building was influenced by the size, scale and history of the historic mills adjacent to the site.  (This town was built on "Flour"...Pillsbury, General Mills, Gold Medal, etc.)

We saw "Major Barbara"  on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.


 

Barbara is a Major in the Salvation Army - and also the daughter of Andrew Undershaft, a man who made millions profiting from the sale of war munitions.  The real war exists in the struggle between a domineering father and an independent daughter as they wrestle with the question: does salvation come through faith or finance?

What happens when father and daughter clash is the magic of this delightfully smart, funny and timely play by the always witty and thought-provoking George Bernard Shaw.

We thoroughly enjoyed this production ...especially because of the venue!  Before the play, we saw a group touring along the Mississippi River on Segways.  A preview of our morning activity!

http://humanonastick.com/

This is unquestionably the BEST  tour we have ever experienced in our travels.  (If you doubt me...just look at the name of the website.)  After a 20 minute video and training session, we donned helmets, grabbed a scooter and set out to practice on the pavement and guess who was chosen to go first?

Five minutes after this photo, I wanted to buy one as a souvenir!

After all 7 of our group were confident, we set out on a 2 1/2 hour Magical History Tour along the Mississippi Riverfront.

This was the highlight of our trip!  We learned about the history of Minneapolis and how to ride the Segway.

If you ever have the opportunity to take one of these tours, JUST DO IT!

This tour includes a stop at the Mill City Museum for refreshments.

After our tour, we had lunch at Vic's...on their street front deck along the Mississippi River, with a view of the Guthrie Theater and the Stone Arch Bridge.  And we ate Walleye...what else!

http://vicsdining.com/

After lunch, we headed to the Walker Art Center to see what is considered to be Minneapolis' most recognizable icon...The Spoon Bridge and Cherry.  (Pictured above in the first photo of this post.)  You may recall the gigantic shuttlecocks at the Nelson-Atkins museum in KC-MO...the same artists are responsible for this enormous spoon with a cherry on top.

http://www.walkerart.org/

On a personal note - we do not normally seek out museums filled with modern art.  You see, Guy and I see some works of so-called "art" as crap.  Our usual comments sound like this, "Somewhere the artist is laughing his a** off while depositing a check for tens of thousands of dollars for this piece of junk."

In fact, after entering this museum we spotted a large pane of glass that was shattered in a beautiful spiderweb-like pattern.  Guy turned to ask a nearby docent about it...

"Excuse me..."

"NOT ART...Bullet," was his reply! 

Evidently Guy was not the first person to ask - he didn't even wait for the question.  And this shattered glass was probably the loveliest piece we saw in the entire museum. 

The Sculpture Garden was an entirely different matter though...

 http://garden.walkerart.org/index.wac

Of course, we had to visit the country's largest mall (I'm not sure why).  I guess because it is big...really big!  It has its own zip code.  It could hold 7 Yankee stadiums or 32 Boeing 747's.  It is the most popular tourist destination in Minnesota.  Mall of America is a huge Midwestern city-unto-itself; it even has its own wedding chapel!  When you arrive, grab a map (if you ever hope to return to your car) and set off.

http://mallofamerica.com/home/ 

After you can no longer tolerate the visual onslaught, return to the Nordstrom store and take several deep breaths.  Find the Cafe and order a nice salad (topped with Walleye...of course) and a glass of tea and your "chi" will return to normal.

Full disclosure - I suppose all my years of working in retail have made shopping one of my least favorite things in the world.  Actually, I hate it - but I am very good at "hard-target" acquiring-of-goods...just ask my husband!

http://minnesotahistorycenter.org/ 

I am fond of saying "Everything happens for a reason," and this accidental visit to the Minnesota History Museum is a perfect example.  We got lost trying to get back to our hotel and ended up here.  This was an incredible space with fascinating exhibits.  Beginning with a 1960's basement where we endured a Midwestern tornado. Seriously, this is as close as I ever want to be to a tornado!

And while we were in the museum, several of the employees invited us to The Centennial Celebration for the St. Paul Cathedral that very afternoon.

An ice cream social, with church members in period costume followed by Mass...how could we possibly refuse?

This was a spectacular holy building!  And the costumed parishioners were charming, portraying the early church members and architects.

http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/

Inside the Cathedral, the Shrines of the Nations are testament to the important roles that immigrant communities have played in the history of the Cathedral. These shrines surrounding the sanctuary honor saints who were important to the many different ethnic communities that helped to build the Cathedral.  The Shrine for France includes a relic from the prison cell where Joan of Arc was held.  Guy, of course, just had to touch it!

We enjoyed three "Dining Destinations" while we were in the Twin Cities.  Here's a short review along with a link:

Bellanotte - hip twists on classic Italian recipes

**This restaurant closed in 2010**

Pazzaluna - authentic Italian in an energetic urban space

http://www.pazzaluna.com/

La Belle Vie 

http://www.labellevie.us/index.html

La Belle Vie is one of the Twin Cities most lauded restaurants, earning Awards of Excellence by both Zagat and Wine Spectator Magazine.  Located in the 510 Groveland building in Minneapolis, La Belle Vie provides an atmosphere of elegance and sophistication from the dining room to the lounge.

As you can see from the framed menu (signed by chef Tim McKee) we enjoyed a superb eight course tasting menu.  Our favorite course was:

Grilled Poussin with Morel Mushrooms and Wild Baby Leeks

served with

Louis LaTour, Marsannay, Cote de Beaune, France 2003



On our final full day in State # 23, we drove to the small town of Wayzata.  This tiny village on the shores of  Lake Minnetonka was home to Guy's French grandparents and mother when Genevieve was a teenager.  Of the 10,000 (or 12,000) lakes in Minnesota, this is the only one we saw!  We arrived in town in time for our lunch reservations at a lakeside restaurant called...North Coast.

http://www.northcoastwayzata.com/

Out on the patio, we enjoyed a lovely lunch while watching the sailboats glide by.  Guy had the best choice - Asiago Encrusted Walleye.  Thankfully we saved room for dessert.  Baked Minnesota was delectable!  (It is the same recipe for Baked Alaska but using peanut butter cup ice cream instead of vanilla - YUM!)

After lunch, we took a boat tour of Lake Minnetonka on the Steamboat Minniehaha to the town of Excelsior.  For many years we had heard stories about the Big Island Amusement Park at Excelsior, where Guy's mother spent many of her younger days.  Now beautiful condos occupy that property.

http://www.steamboatminnehaha.org/

This is the boats story:

• Built in 1906 - from a streetcar.
• Sunk in 1926 - as people drove their own cars instead of riding the boats.
• Raised in 1980 - a diver, Jerry Provost, finds the boats in 1979.
• Restoration Begins in 1990 - six years of hard work to restore Minniehaha.
• First Public Cruise in 1996 - still cruising today.

It was a beautiful day for a lake cruise and we called my mother-in-law to tell her.  She asked if the Pillsbury estate was still there...it was.  And she told us about attending a party there as a young woman!

On our return to St. Paul ,we took a small detour to Edina as they were holding their annual art fair.  We had a wonderful time browsing and listening to "Minnesota" accents.  (And we acquired a few treasures.)

                

http://www.edinaartfair.com/

The next morning we took a detour on our way to the airport to see if the apartment building where Guy's grandparents and mother first lived in America was still standing...

Still standing and still an apartment building!

And with that history lesson, we returned home from Minnesota.

Next time...

Motor City - in January!