Last week I was fortunate to join The City Institute on a bus tour that visited several iconic and lesser known destinations in Detroit. The tour included stops at Eastern market, West Warren district, Livernois avenue of fashion and Detroit Hispanic Development Corp.
I have worked in Detroit for most of my adult life and I'm still working there til this day. It is amazing what I don't know as I travel my same route to the eastern market and back home. It is refreshing to sit on a bus and see interesting parts of the city and learn and visit other working Detroiters .
Jeanette Pierce is president of The City Institute and runs the tours. Jean was brought up in the West Warren Ave District and we started the tour there. We learned about the many positive changes happening now in the west Village and Indian Village areas. Jeane is very knowledgable and has tremendous amount of historical insight into Detroit and it's past accomplishments and disappointments. We learned about the many positive changes happening now in all different parts of the city
Our next stop was Eastern market to learn about all the new retail and hi tec food businesses that will be coming shortly to the largest outdoor food market in the USA
My favorite stop was the on Livernois near 7 Mile at Good Cakes and Bakes. April Anderson the owner gave a presentation of the trials and tribulations of growing a successful small business in Detroit. I will mention how great the pastries and cookies were at the famous Good Cakes and Bakes.
I would highly encourage you to take one of the upcoming tours on the City Institute web site. April 30th you can attend Detroit Music bus tour with Detroit Sound Conservatory . A behind the scenes tour of Motown Museum is included in this one. Check it out. you will be pleasantly surprised.