DETROIT FREE PRESS INTERNATIONAL HALF MARATHON
Detroit, MI
A Foot Race and a Presidential Race
Friday, October 18, 2024
My running tour of the 50 U.S. states wrapped up for 2024 with Michigan, my 19th state. The Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon was my first international race, and my first visit to Detroit. As I was researching how to maximize my time in Motor City, I perused blogs and Reddit threads, and one Redditor planning a trip to Detroit caught my eye with this thread: Experiencing Detroit Like a Local. This request for information was met with plenty of sarcasm by a barrage of locals chiming in to joke about the traffic and crime, and kindly rebutting some of the stereotypes visitors associate with Detroit. Wading through (and laughing at) snarky comments from disgruntled Detroit natives, I found a few comments in particular that spoke to my own desire to experience Detroit like a local.
"What youre gonna want to do is huff some whippets under a bridge, rent a Dodge (Chrysler or Nissan in a pinch) and drive it like an asshole (crash it into a stationary object or not, you decide), then throw a half pint of patron out the window."
No, it wasn't that comment. If you have the thread open right now in another window, keep scrolling. Among the recommendations that resonated with me in the words of the Redditors were: "Definitely go to Eastern Market on Saturday morning," and "I would definitely add the Detroit Institute of Arts to this. It’s well regarded as one of the country’s best art museums."
On another thread, one visitor shared his "perfect day in Detroit" (I can't find it now), where he spent his morning in a charming coffee shop, followed by a visit to Eastern Market where he picked up produce and unique souvenirs, and learned things about the city from some very interesting vendors at the market. After the Eastern Market, this visitor got lost in the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) for hours, then biked over to the Detroit Riverfront to eat a picnic lunch he'd packed (I asked myself when he had time to pack this lunch, and after mulling over the logistics of this, I decided I didn't need the hassle on my Perfect Day in Detroit). This visitor then rounded out his evening with a trip to Hamtramck where he had a meal at the Polish Village Café.
I used Reddit's suggestions as a blueprint for my trip, but it ultimately evolved into something special organically. I found my charming café (two, actually), spent time at the Eastern Market making friends with vendors and listening to their stories, got lost in the DIA and stumbled into a wedding reception, had lunch and dinner at some of the most popular Detroit favorites, met other Detroit Free Press runners everywhere I went, and wrapped up my weekend with one of my favorite half marathon events to date.
Across several other platforms were recommendations for restaurants, some of which I added to my definitely list, and others I added to the in case I have time category. The latter category had everything to do with where these restaurants were geographically in relation to where I would be staying, which was the Cambria Hotel. I chose the Cambria for its proximity to the race start and finish, as always, and everything else was secondary. The Cambria is beautiful by the way, with modern décor and a sophisticated cozy vibe.
I usually decide against renting a car, so I took an Uber or Lyft everywhere I considered unreasonable walking distance. This trip stands out to me rideshare-wise, because every rideshare driver I had that weekend was fantastic, and never more than 5 minutes away. They all went out of their way to educate me on some of the landmarks and history, share their personal stories about living there, and had a great sense of humor. One Uber driver in particular, Willie, conspired with me to return a lost item to a guest who he'd given a ride to right before me and surprise her with the lost item. When he pulled up to the hotel to give the item to the guest, he was met by a crowd on the street who cheered for him and we all had a good laugh.
Friday, October 18th was my first night in town. I had dinner at McShane's Irish Pub and Whiskey Bar, and was impressed by the French Dip. The place was completely empty, despite being one of the more popular spots according to reviews, and I assumed the lack of patronage was because many people were at the Huntington Center for the Detroit Free Press Marathon Health and Fitness Expo, or former President Donald Trump's campaign event, which was being held in the same building (more on that later).
Vice President Kamala Harris was also visiting Michigan that week, with a planned stop in Detroit the following day, Saturday, October 19th. Both presidential candidates were scheduled to make additional stops across the state in a bid to win over the battleground state of Michigan before Election Day. Coincidentally, this was the second instance this year in which former President Trump decided to hold a campaign event in the same state I was racing in — former South Carolina governor and presidential candidate Nikki Haley also was campaigning in South Carolina with President Trump in February at the same time I was visiting — and at that point, I was convinced the presidential candidates were following me around. First, Greenville, South Carolina, and now Detroit. My trips had been planned a year in advance.
In any case, I stayed away from the Huntington Center that evening and decided it would be less chaotic to retrieve my race packet the following morning when I didn't have to worry about navigating Secret Service security protocols. I was there for the foot race, not the presidential race.
The Perfect Detroit Day: Pasta, Pizza, Pancakes, & the DIA
Saturday, October 19, 2024
My first stop on Saturday morning was Avalon Bakery and Café on Woodward for their caramel apple pancakes. I arrived at 7:00 A.M. right at opening, anticipating a long line, and was informed by the cashier the pancakes weren't ready yet. I took a chance and said I'd wait the 20 minutes, ordering a coffee to hold me over, and believed the pancakes would be worth the wait. I was correct. They came loaded with caramel sauce, cinnamon brown butter, apple chunks, and chunks of peanut butter chocolate. The Saturday breakfast crowd started arriving at the same time as my pancakes, and with limited seating in the restaurant, my decision to show up early was validated.
After my pancakes, I walked down the street to Starbucks, picked up an orange juice and bagel with cream cheese to serve as my race day breakfast for the next morning, and then headed down to the Huntington Center for the Health and Fitness Expo. The hours and location of the expo had been adjusted due to the presidential campaign event, with extended hours being offered for Saturday, and relocating the expo within the building to adjust to the added security measures. Here is the added context you were probably looking for — two days before my trip, race participants received the below email regarding the expo:
The Detroit Free Press Marathon has learned that the recently announced presidential campaign event scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18, at the Huntington Center in Detroit will necessitate adjusting plans for the annual Health & Fitness Expo.
The expo will take place from 1-7 p.m. Friday as scheduled, and hours on Saturday, Oct. 19 have been extended from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The campaign event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Friday. Here are key details related to security protocols that will be in effect at Huntington Place on Friday only: The expo is moving from Hall B to Hall A. This will create a more isolated area between the expo and the security perimeter of the campaign event. This moves the expo to the more northern portion of Huntington Center closer to Congress St.
From noon-2 p.m. Fri., the Huntington Center's rooftop deck will be closed. Once the deck reopens, there will be a security checkpoint at the bottom of the helix on Congress St. The Secret Service will check each vehicle wanting to park on the roof deck. Expect delays. We would recommend avoiding the rooftop deck parking on Friday. If attendees elect to park on the roof, they are encouraged to use Towers One or Two to reach the Huntington Center concourse. Using Tower Three will bring attendees into the Secret Service area.
This was the first time in my almost 20 years of running I had to be aware of Secret Service areas and security perimeters when planning my packet pickup, but even more critical to retrieving my race bib was ensuring I had WHTI-compliant documentation, such as my passport, when I showed up at the registration table. The Detroit Free Press Marathon warned participants via multiple forms of communication that if we showed up without our passports at the expo, we would not receive our bibs. I brought my full size passport booklet to the expo, and then during the race, I only carried my passport card, which is another acceptable form of identification.
A frequently asked question is whether or not runners are required to run with their passports on them for the international events, and the answer is it's illegal to cross an international border without proper documentation (unless you are seeking asylum in the country you are entering, and participating in the Detroit Free Press Marathon events obviously wouldn't meet this exception). Border agents did not stop any runners that I was aware of during the event, but our bibs had to be visible at all times. Race organizers also advised against carrying any bags or larger hydration packs, as any bags carried across the U.S. and Canadian border were subject to search.
Picking up my packet was seamless, and I took some time to wander around the incredibly spacious hall with a generous number of featured exhibitors. This was one of the larger expos I'd attended, and I walked away with a few goodies, including a new pair of OOFOS recovery sandals. I browsed the official race merchandise, and of course all of the sweatshirts in my size were already gone. While walking down each aisle I was offered everything from vitamin B12 IV drips, to hair curling, to spinning a prize wheel, to discounted pairs of Brooks running shoes.
I tried on a few pairs of Brooks, and took photos at the Love Runs table in front of their backdrop. Love Runs does work near and dear to my heart — advocating for violent crime survivors — and is an organization that was established to help stop human trafficking in the Detroit metro area.
When I felt I'd wandered sufficiently around the expo, it was time for lunch at Pie Sci Pizza. Pie Sci is where pizza and science intersect, and they are best known for some of the most unique specialty pizzas that transcend what you believed your imagination was capable of. Each pizza is a gastronomical experiment in flavor chemistry that challenges what you previously assumed did or did not go together. They have a core menu that features some of their staples, categorized in tiers reflective of progressive educational degrees, such as Primary, Secondary, Collegiate, Graduate, and Doctoral. In addition to their regular menu, Pie Sci has a weekly rotating specialty pie, and a brunch menu on Sundays. My pizza of choice was in the Secondary category, the "Hawaii 5-0."
The restaurant was extremely limited in seating, and it was a 20 minute wait for pizza, but it was worth the wait. It seemed Pie Sci was most popular in the carry-out department given their proximity to the Wayne State University Campus, and I noticed most guests came in, picked up their pizza, and did not stick around to eat inside, so the limited seating in the small space was never really an issue. I managed to snag a high top counter seat in the corner of the restaurant, and enjoyed my phenomenal Detroit pizza. I have a goal of trying pizza in every state I visit, however, my goal is not as ambitious as some others who travel around the country sampling pizza.
Pie Sci is one of nearly 2,000 pizza joints across the country that received a One Bite Pizza Review from Dave Portnoy, founder and owner of Barstool Sports. Dave's One Bite Pizza Reviews channel is dedicated to his goal of reviewing one pizza place a day until he tries them all. As of today, Dave is at an impressive 1,762 reviews. I first discovered Dave's pizza reviews after having lunch at Goodfellas Pizzeria at the James E. Pepper Distillery during my trip to Lexington, Kentucky earlier this year. I was shocked to learn Dave gave the restaurant a score of 0.0 during his first visit in 2018. He has since revised his score to 7.7 after a redemption visit.
In Dave's 2021 review of Pie Sci, he first reminded us it was "cold as hell" in Detroit, before taking his signature chomp out of his Detroit-style pizza. His first observation upon opening the box was it was on the cheesier side, and while Dave approved of its "good crunch," he wished for more sauce. After some theatrics, Dave revealed his final score of Pie Sci as 7.2. Personally, I think Dave might have given Pie Sci a higher score if he'd had a slice of the pizza I ordered, because my pie had a perfect cheese-to-sauce ratio.
After lunch I headed over to the Eastern Market, which has been part of Detroit's community and wellness framework for over 125 years. During the market's busiest season, up to 40,000 visitors spend time socializing with over 225 local market vendors and buying hand-crafted products, produce, gourmet treats, apparel, and antiques. Everything was made with such care and pride, I couldn't help but feel love and compassion for these people who come together every year to make this happen for their neighbors.
I loved chatting with the small business owners and learning about their products and their stories, and I really felt the heart of the city when I connected with them. They lit up when they realized I was genuinely interested in listening. During the time I've spent traveling to each state thus far, my favorite thing about this journey has been meeting people and reevaluating any preconceived notions or biases I had about a particular state or city, and learning new things every day from people who are no longer strangers. What I learned about the people of Detroit is they are fiercely protective of each other, and proud of their home. I met one gentleman who was selling snarky political T-shirts, and during our conversation, he said it best: "No one comes here, into my home, trash-talking my city, thinking I'm going to listen to anything they have to say."
After spending some time with the outdoor vendors, I visited DeVries & Co 1887, which is a three-story wonderland of cheese, Michigan-themed home decor, indoor and outdoor furniture, clothing, souvenirs, dried fruit, pickled vegetables, jams, snacks, produce, and other grocery items. Each floor of the building was a surprise, with the exception of the ground floor, which was the cheese shop and grocery store. My Eastern Market trip also afforded me the chance to see the Unity Bell, a legendary part of Detroit's history. The bell weighs in at an impressive 7,670 pounds, and used to be a fixture atop the largest clock tower in the United States when it was first constructed. Today it represents the diversity of the city and Detroit's commitment to making everyone in the community feel welcome, safe, and included.
The Detroit Institute of Arts was my final stop on Saturday afternoon before dinner. When I say I got lost in the museum, I really did get lost. There came a certain point between exhibits where I knew what floor I was on, but I had no idea where I was in relation to the stairs or exit, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was the best kind of being lost I'd ever experienced since visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art growing up. I am a museum nerd, easily fascinated by a bowl or teacup that dates back thousands of years, and I can sit there and stare at it for hours and lose track of time. I understand that's not everyone's cup of tea (sorry, but this idiom fits perfectly here).
Thankfully, I got to see plenty of bowls and cups, because the DIA is featuring their Middle Eastern exhibit, "The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World," until January 5, 2025. The exhibit celebrates preparing, serving, and enjoying food, all things I'm passionate about, so you can imagine how much of a thrill I got out of this section. I entered the museum from Farnsworth Street, beginning with the Native American exhibit, and working my way around the first floor to the Ancient Middle East, Egyptian, African, Islamic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian and Southeast Asian, and Buddhist exhibits.
On the second floor, I explored the African American, American, and European (Medieval and Renaissance) exhibits. At some point between the European and Italian exhibits, I got lost, and didn't even bother looking at my visitor map because I was so fascinated with what was around me at every turn, from the gorgeous paintings and sculptures to the incredible murals and architecture of the building. For fun, I took a selfie in a mirror that was dated 1820, amused by the fact that I was looking at my reflection in the present through a mirror that was over 200 years old. Because, again, I'm a nerd.
I was working my way through a section of the American exhibit featuring colonial American furniture when I rounded a corner and next thing I knew there was a wedding reception, a real wedding reception in this century. Museum staff were rolling carts filled with glasses and plates and silverware, and the Great Hall was decked out for a wedding reception gala. Wedding guests were beginning to arrive in their ballgowns and black ties, and it was at that point I decided I was underdressed, and needed to see my way back to the 1700s. I hurried away to the American exhibit where I left off, just as security began roping off sections of the museum and alerting guests the museum was closing in 10 minutes. I didn't want to be featured in the next installment of Night at the Museum, so I found my way to the exit.
Once outside, I saw a bride and groom taking their wedding photos across the street, and it occurred to me there were two weddings happening that evening, and the museum seemed to be a popular wedding venue. Congratulations to both happy couples! In total, I'd spent at least two hours in the DIA, and I hadn't even explored half of it — and next thing I knew, the museum was closing. Some people shut down bars, hanging out until bar close. I shut down museums.
The timing worked out though, because getting kicked out of the museum when I did meant I was able to beat the worst of the downtown Detroit dinner rush. I headed over to La Lanterna, which was packed with Detroit Free Press Marathon runners. The wait was about 30 minutes, and I managed to snag a seat at the bar (which was first come, first serve). Sitting on either side of me were two amazing women who I'm thankful I got to meet — Kate and Lea — and both of them were also running the 50 states. We exchanged running stories and recommendations for races in different states, and our bartender kept us entertained with bubbles and theatrics as he made each specialty cocktail. I got my perfect plate of pre-race dinner pasta, and it was the perfect end to my perfect day in Detroit.
Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon Recap
Race Day: Sunday, October 20, 2024
"The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming." — Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight (2008)
Race morning was immediately memorable from the moment I stepped off the elevator at the Cambria Hotel and joined hundreds of other runners on the block making their way down West Lafayette Street, while helicopters circled above and intermittently bathed us in the glow of their spotlights. Police and ambulance sirens blared in tandem with the whirring of the helicopters. All we were missing was the Bat-Signal. In the popular media, Detroit has often been compared to Gotham City, home of Batman, and consists of at least 10 filming locations of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). As I stood at the intersection of Fort and Shelby where my race corral entrance was located, in a parallel universe, Superman’s battle with General Zod was destroying the Wayne Financial Building, and Batman was leaving his vehicle at that same intersection of Fort and Shelby to run towards the chaos.
The streets of downtown were extremely well lit that morning for the events, which felt like a change from the slightly foggy, ominous pre-dawn and evening darkness of the streets of downtown that I’d gotten used to the past couple of days in Detroit. It was 45° F out with no wind, about 80% humidity, and perfect running weather on the Detroit side of the river. I anticipated getting chilly later in the morning while running along the water on the Canadian side, so I paired a long sleeve shirt with my T-shirt and shorts out of an abundance of caution. Clusters of runners wearing space blankets and pajamas over their running clothes passed by in droves, making me second guess the shorts.
Volunteers began instructing everyone to enter the corrals as we were about 30 minutes away from the official start time, and our numbers grew to thousands as we packed shoulder to shoulder into the corrals to the tune of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” playing over the noise of the helicopters and crowds while the announcer amped us up for what would be one of the most exciting races I’ve run thus far. After a 30-minute continuous forward shuffle to the official start line timing mat, we were released into the streets of downtown as thousands of spectators and volunteers lined either side of the street and cheered for us.
The enthusiasm and energy of the volunteers at each aid station – and the people of Detroit – was nonstop and contagious, the entire race. It was hands down the best spectator turnout and volunteer support I’ve ever seen at any larger race, with the exception possibly being the Garry Bjorklund Half. Detroit spectators not only shouted words of encouragement, but they used our names as they read every passing race bib, and we truly felt the love of this very special city.
Our 13.1 international journey – for those of us completing the two international events – included a trip across the Ambassador Bridge and entry into Canada, views along the Detroit River from the Canadian side, re-entering the United States via the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and a stunning city route through Downtown and Midtown Detroit. The opportunities for landmark viewing during this race surpassed any satisfaction I could have had from a guided tour, and by the end, I felt like I’d sufficiently explored Detroit, and yet I was left wanting more. The first mile took us down Fort Street and around the fringe of Mexicantown, which was to the north of the course. After a nice loop around, Mile 3 began the trek across the Ambassador Bridge.
As we closed in on the bridge, we passed street signs announcing the border crossing, and groups of border patrol agents on the United States side of the border lining either side of the road. They smiled and greeted each of us as we passed, some of them cheering us on by name, and we thanked them in return for being there with us. The exchanges were friendly and uplifting, and some runners even stopped to take selfies with the agents. The sun began cresting above the bridge, which created opportunities for some pretty spectacular sunrise photos.
As I began the ascent up the bridge and crested the steep incline, feeling every muscle fiber in my hamstrings and calves begin to protest, I was unexpectedly filled with emotion as Canadians lined the bridge and cheered for us. Many of us were in tears when we officially crossed the border about half a mile onto the bridge, and we began seeing the first few Canadian spectators holding signs up to welcome us. My first Canadian border crossing could not have been more perfect – we had this incredible vantage point on foot from atop the Ambassador Bridge, and saw the Detroit River separating the urban views of America and the colorful fall foliage of Canada in all their majesty while the sun came up.
We ran under the giant Canadian flag adorning the bridge, and truckers on the Canadian side sounded their horns as thousands of American runners entered their country to visit. Canada Border Services Agency officers stood by and smiled and greeted us. Miles 3.5 through 7 were spent in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. I spent anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes in Canada – for simplicity’s sake let’s say 40 minutes – and it was my favorite 40 minutes of the event. After crossing the Ambassador Bridge, we ran on Riverside Drive along the Detroit River through a residential area of Windsor.
The Canadian flag hung on every flagpole and was proudly draped from balconies and hung in windows all throughout the neighborhood. When I spotted my first Canadian flag and saw speed limit signs posted in kilometers per hour, the reality hit me that I was really in Canada. I had crossed into another country. I had needed a passport for this. I was so excited and in awe, and appreciative of my 40-minute visit across the river. I later learned at the end of my trip that while Mile 5 of the race was filled with joy for many, tragedy was also occurring at the same time, and a 57-year-old gentleman completing the marathon distance collapsed on the Canadian side of the course. I had already passed Mile 5 when this occurred, but he was taken to the hospital after his collapse and pronounced dead. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family.
Instead of Detroit police officers, intersections were manned by officers of the Windsor Police Auxiliary. I was half hoping to see the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, however I learned later that they’re the Canadian equivalent of the FBI in the United States, and it would be a tall order to expect the FBI to show up during a marathon weekend unless something had gone terribly wrong. Regardless, when I visit Canada again someday, I still would love to see a Mountie... because I'm such a tourist. The Canadians were genuinely happy to greet us when we ran past their homes, and they were some of the friendliest, most polite spectators one could ever imagine.
We had at least 3 aid stations along the course in Canada, and the volunteers were a mix of American and Canadian. They continued the hype and enthusiasm we experienced on the Detroit side, until finally around Mile 7 we reached the entrance of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. The portion of the course through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel is affectionately known in the running community as “the World’s Only Underwater Mile.” As we waved at and thanked the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the tunnel entrance, they nodded curtly back and greeted us with words of encouragement.
One overzealous runner reached up to give a border agent a high five, and she responded with a polite, “No, thank you,” and immediately stepped back, a reminder to runners that even while overwhelmed with excitement, we probably should not attempt to make physical contact with the agents. When we entered into the tunnel, we were relieved to feel the sudden blast of much cooler air. It felt at least 15 degrees colder in the tunnel compared to outside, and collectively we all began commenting on how good the air felt. In most instances where I’ve run part of a race through a tunnel, I’ve usually felt a bit of claustrophobia, though I didn’t find this to be the case and this tunnel was plenty spacious for all of us. The tunnel was a gentle downhill slope most of the way, which gave me a sudden burst of energy.
Approximately a half a mile into the tunnel, we officially crossed back into the United States, as indicated by a black painted dividing line on one side of the tunnel wall, separating the American and Canadian flags on either side of the line. This “border” sign was a great photo op, and many of us began bumping into each other unexpectedly as clusters of runners abruptly stopped with no warning to take selfies and photos of the sign. When the tunnel exit came into view, and we could see the sunlight on the American side, we all began making “light at the end of the tunnel” jokes.
This was the last border checkpoint, and also officially Mile 8 of the race. I wasn't expecting another wave of emotion, but when we were greeted by Americans on the other side of the border welcoming us home, I swelled with patriotism and teared up all over again seeing all the volunteers and crowds cheering as we came back into America. What an emotional rollercoaster! The last 5 miles of the race were spent in Detroit, and while Canada was definitely the star of the show for the first half of the race, the beauty of downtown Detroit really shined in the second half.
We ran through a section of Detroit's Financial District and passed Campus Martius Park, plus other notable landmarks such as Comerica Park, Ford Field, Greektown Casino, and Little Caesars Arena. We continued north west all the way up through Midtown, and looped back south on Cass Avenue, which marked Mile 11. The last 2.1 miles took us back downtown, where we careened through the finish corral to the tune of thousands of spectators on either side cheering, and hundreds of those complete strangers reading our bibs and shouting each of our names in encouragement as we crossed the finish line. It was one of the most incredible phenomena — literally hundreds of people making each of us individually feel like we were famous and deserving of celebrity recognition for finishing the race.
I got so caught up in the celebration that I forgot to stop my Garmin on time. Myself and the group of runners who finished with me moved forward in the corral, looking straight ahead for the volunteers issuing medals, and there were none in sight as we passed boxes of bananas, heaps of snacks, chocolate milk, and bottled water. As we passed through, volunteers draped mylar space blankets around our shoulders. It felt like we were exiting the corral forever, still without our medals, and I suddenly had a sinking feeling and a flashback to the Greenville Half Marathon in South Carolina earlier in the year, where they'd run out of finisher medals at the finish, due to the theft of a box of medals the night before. Thankfully, after what seemed like forever, we were greeted by the medal-bearing volunteers, and I finally allowed myself to feel celebratory and happy.
In the finish area, a line of hundreds of runners and supporters snaked halfway down the block at Campus Martius Park. I'd planned on taking a finish photo under the Detroit arch in the park, and decided against waiting in line. Instead, I headed back to my hotel to jump in the shower and change. My post-race brunch was an incredible Belgian waffle with peaches from Dime Store, which is billed as "Detroit's best all-day brunch." The restaurant is located inside one of Detroit's oldest skyscrapers — the Chrysler House, also known as the Dime Building — in the heart of Detroit's Financial District.
The Dime Building was formerly home to the Dime Savings Bank of Detroit, which was founded in 1884. The Dime Savings Bank quickly grew in popularity due to the ease in which anyone could open a savings account at the institution, quite literally with only a dime. In 2012, the Chrysler Group moved into the building, and because Chrysler has always been an integral part of Detroit's legacy, Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert christened the building with the "Chrysler House" name.
The Dime Store restaurant pays homage to the building's roots with its name, and has two locations, one in downtown Detroit, and another location in Rochester Hills. I browsed the menu prior to my visit and honestly wished I could try one of everything. My decision was finalized when the waitress said the Peach Waffle was their special that morning, and I also added a side of eggs and bacon for protein. I say this in almost every single blog entry when I visit a truly phenomenal restaurant, but if I'm ever back in Detroit, Dime Store is at the top of my list to visit again.
My last dinner in Detroit was at Leila, an upscale Lebanese restaurant downtown. My friend Megan, who I'd reunited with after 15 years, is a Detroit native, and she told me it would be a mistake to leave Detroit and not try some of the best Middle Eastern cuisine in the country. Leila was inspired by the mother of the restaurant's owner, Samy Eid, who wanted to capture the welcoming feel of family Sunday lunches in the style of a traditional Lebanese feast. I ordered the Shish Kebab with a side of the Lebanese rice, leaving no room for dessert unfortunately.
Yet another reason to visit Detroit again: I need to come back to try Leila's dessert, and my dinner was so amazing. Having grown up on the East Coast in New York and New Jersey, around some of the best traditional Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine available, Leila lived up to its promise and made me feel like I was at home. Before heading back to my actual home, I spent Monday morning in Campus Martius Park, taking my photos I'd wanted to take on race day but didn't want to wait in line for. My final impression of Detroit's food scene was a lasting one, and I said goodbye to the Motor City with a latte and the Very Berry Stuffed French Toast from Hudson Cafe. Enamored by my French toast, I sent a text to my husband that read something along the lines of, "I think I really like Detroit."
LODGING RECOMMENDATION:
Cambria Hotel Detroit Downtown
600 W Lafayette
Detroit, MI 48226
Happy running and safe travels,
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