Hygrade Deli

 3640 Michigan Ave

Detroit, MI 48216

(313) 894-6620

http://www.yelp.com/biz/hygrade-deli-detroit

Hygrade's Facebook Page

Hygrade's Deli is about 1 mile west of Slow's BBQ on Michigan Ave. in Detroit's Corktown area.  Don't judge Hygrade's by it's exterior appearance.  Hygrade's serves up an outstanding array of deli food.  So far, I have sampled their Pastrami Special and Salami sandwiches.  Both sandwiches were on the large size, especially the Pastrami Special and I highly recommend them.  Hygrade's features a very dense great tasting Rye bread.  The one time my oldest daughter went with me, she ordered the hot Roast Beef sandwich she fully enjoyed.

Hygrade's offers standard fountain drinks as well as Dr. Brown's Soda which is a NYC Deli staple.  Both times I visited Hygrade's I was impressed by the friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff.  They know they serve great products and are very proud of it.  

Keep an eye out for this deli in the upcoming 'Batman vs. Superman' movie.  The Hygrade building will be featured in the movie, although its name will be changed. Since I took the above photo, Hygrade's have updated their exterior with a new sign and paint....Looks Great.

I recommend that one visit Hygrade's during the day for lunch.   

Motown Museum

 2648 West Grand Boulevard
Detroit, Michigan 48208
(313) 875-2264

http://www.motownmuseum.org/

 My '01 Bullitt and Arkansas Mike's '67 Bullitt Replica

These two houses were the home to the Motown Sound from 1959 to 1972.  Berry Gordy ran Motown like a automotive production line and subsequently created a steady stream of hits through the '60's and '70's.  Between 1961 and 1971, Motown had 110 Top 10 hit records.

Visiting this museum, one will appreciate the effort that the Motown group put forth to generate their vast succession of hits.  The infamous 'Garage Band' label from the '90's does not hold water in Detroit.  Motown was recording in the garage of the house on the right since 1959.

If one wanted a Motown audition, you had to work the front office of Motown Records first and acts were subjected to a 'Finishing' school.

The museum is open from Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The Motown Museum is a nice visit on a Saturday afternoon.  One will appreciate what Motown did to generate their hit's in the '60's and early '70's.

Nancy Whiskey Pub

2644 Harrison Street

Detroit, MI

313-962-4247

http://www.nancywhiskeydetroit.com/

Nancy Whiskey's is located on the far North side of Corktown.  It's North of I-75 which one would think that it is not in the Corktown area, but apparently it is.

Nancy Whiskey was first open as a bar in 1902.  It was also was a Speakeasy during Prohibition and had a significant fire in 2009.  

I have visited NW twice over the last 9 months; just for drinks.  It is a classic neighborhood bar albeit it's patrons are not local but from around the Detroit area.  They have a good selection of domestic and local microbrews as well as a Guinness tap which is a requirement for an Irish Pub.  I have found that the bartenders and waitstaff are outstanding.

I have not sampled their Fish Fry on Friday's yet, but they are significant enough to be featured in a Long John Silver's commercial :).  On Saturday's they feature live music.  I have not had the opportunity to witness the music, but I imagine the bands feature a mouth organ or a sax or both.

Since Whiskey Nancy is North of the central Corktown area of Detroit, I was told it was a good place to hang out during the St. Patrick's Day Parade festivities; crowded, but manageable.

Whiskey Nancy's is yet another Detroit bar that has well over a 100 year history.  Give it a try, just be aware that it is located on a residential street and subsequently there are not any other commercial establishments in the general area.

Ste. Anne de Detroit

Catholic Church

1000 Ste. Anne Street

Detroit, MI  48216

 313-496-1701

http://www.ste-anne.org/

Located on the southern edge of Mexicantown near the Ambassador Bridge, Ste. Anne de Detroit is the oldest Catholic parish east of the Mississippi and the second oldest Catholic parish in the United States.  Ste Anne was the first structure built in Detroit with construction starting on July 26, 1701 on Ste. Annes Feast Day by the first Detroit settlers led by Antoine Cadillac.  The current church is the 8th Ste. Anne's and was built in 1886. 

Like most Detroit church's built during the 1880's, Ste. Anne's has a very elaborate interior.  The stained glass windows feature several saints.  Each stain glass has a plaque which identifies the donator.  Famous Detroit names like Beaubian and Vernor are featured.

St. Guillaume with his foot on Satan's neck - One Tough Dude

Ste. Anne has a 5:00 PM Mass on Saturday as well as two masses on Sunday; 8:30 AM & 10:00 AM.  The 10:00 AM Mass is in Spanish.  Like most historic Catholic churches in Detroit, the Saturday masses are lightly attended.  Don't be surprised if Ste. Anne's priest gives you a warm welcome.

 

If you are in Mexicantown to enjoy the various Mexican restaurants and bakeries, cruise over to Ste. Anne's and check out the early history of Detroit.

Whiskey in the Jar

 2741 Yemans St

 Hamtramck, MI 48212

http://www.yelp.com/biz/whiskey-in-the-jar-hamtramck 

 

The Whiskey in the Jar is a classic corner bar located in Hamtramck, MI a half block west of Jos. Campau Street on Yemens Street.  The Whiskey is a Hipster bar and features a wide selection of beers and spirits.  Although it is a hipster hangout, the group I was with included 20 somethings as well as individuals that are in the senior stages of life and we were very well accepted by the staff and clientele. 

Whiskey in the Jar features several Polish beers either on tap or in bottles, plus a good variety of craft beers including ones locally produced.  They also serve Crabbie's Ginger Beer, if you have a chance, sample it...Crabbie's taste like Vernor's with an alcohol kick. Other beers that they offer are hipster favorites like PBR, Hamm's and Carling's Black Label.

The Whiskey in the Jar also has a standard bar pool table and an internet juke box that was never silent when we were there.  Nothing better then drinking a few adult beverages and listening to Motown.

The group I was with went to Whiskey in the Jar after attending Saturday afternoon mass at St. Florian's and before dinner at the Polonia restaurant.  When talking to the bartender, she indicated that stopping by the WITJ either before or after a local event in Hamtramck was a popular event.  

We were very impressed with this classic dive bar establishment and will add it to our visit itinerary whenever we visit Hamtramck.

St. Florian Polish Catholic Church

 2626 Poland Street

 Hamtramck, MI 48212

http://www.stflorianparish.org/en

St. Florian is a Polish Catholic church located in Hamtramck, MI.  The initial parish was founded in 1905 by the Archdiocese of Detroit to serve the Polish immigrants who were working at the Ford, Dodge & Packard auto plants in the local area.  

The current church was built in 1929 and was designed by Ralph Adams Cram using Gothic Revival architecture themes.  

Not unlike Sweetest Heart of Mary in Detroit, St. Florian has a very beautiful interior which is a tribute to the blue collar Polish immigrants who collected the $500,000 to build it in the mid 1920's.  Like most Polish Catholic churches in the Detroit area, St. Florian has an area dedicated to the Divine Mercy.  The Divine Mercy painting, shown above, also includes John Paul II.

On Saturday's and Sunday's, St. Florian celebrates mass at 4:00 PM (Saturday) and 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 6:30 PM (Sunday).  The 10:00 PM and 6:30 PM masses are celebrated in Polish.

St. Florian is one of the classic churches of Detroit and if you are in the Hamtramck area to visit one of the local restaurants, stores or bars, drop by St. Florian for an architectural treat.

Ottava Via

 1400 Michigan Ave.

Detroit, MI 48226

 313-962-5600

https://www.facebook.com/Ottavaviadetroit 

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ottava-via-detroit 

Ottava Via is located on 8th Street (Ottava Via is Italian for 8th Street) and Michigan Avenue directly across 8th from Nemo's.  Ottava has been open since the summer of '13 and is one of the newer restaurants in Corktown.  It is located in a building that used to be the Dime Bank and still features the bank's Loan sign.  

Ottava Via features moderately priced Italian fare including individual pizzas.  They also offer a good variety of craft and imported beers and wines.  I have sampled their Italian pizza, calamari appetizer and Carbonara entree and really enjoyed them all.

The inside features remnants from the bank as well as traditional Italian and modern decor.  It has a lot of open space and a high ceiling so it can get loud.  The two times that I have visited, it was very busy and we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table.  I found that the waitresses were very good and accommodating.

Ottava Via is yet another go to establishment that is part of the expanding Corktown scene.