First Trip to the Joe, October 10 2009

[#1WingNutt 0]

Hello ladies and gents,

I was looking for some help and/or for some suggestions. As you can see from the topic I am heading to Detroit with my girlfriend for our first trip to the Joe. We are coming from Toronto and looking to stay the Friday and Saturday nights. Wings are playing the Caps, the saturday night. Just got the tickets the other day when they went on sale and we are both totally stoked for it and its just the end of August! We are stiing in section 212b in row 9. I've been a Wing fan since grade 4 (18 years) and my girlfriend became a Caps fan during 2 years that we had lived in the DC area. I've been trying to find some things to do in the area and a place to stay. I stumbled accross this website but I am not quite sure if these are the best places to stay or not:

http://www.hotels-rates.com/hotels/locatio...gLogId=21347577

I will definately want to hit up Hockeytown Authentics and more than likely Cheli's Chili Bar(i remember reading some stuff about it being good on here before). Not quite sure what else to do in the area. We may also look into staying maybe one night or both nights in Windsor, i believe there is a bus to take accross to Detroit from what I heard?

Anyways if any of you guys can help a fellow Wing fan out with some suggestions it would be greatly appretiated.

Thanks. Go Wings

[wingfan1991 221]

If you're looking for a hotel try the holiday inn 1020 Washington Blvd., Detroit. I'm also fir toronto and have been to the Joe 4x... This hotel is literally down the street from the joe 5 min walk. Hotel is clean and safe when I stayed there last year.

[Lidstrom for Norris 0]

Hello ladies and gents,

I was looking for some help and/or for some suggestions. As you can see from the topic I am heading to Detroit with my girlfriend for our first trip to the Joe. We are coming from Toronto and looking to stay the Friday and Saturday nights. Wings are playing the Caps, the saturday night. Just got the tickets the other day when they went on sale and we are both totally stoked for it and its just the end of August! We are stiing in section 212b in row 9. I've been a Wing fan since grade 4 (18 years) and my girlfriend became a Caps fan during 2 years that we had lived in the DC area. I've been trying to find some things to do in the area and a place to stay. I stumbled accross this website but I am not quite sure if these are the best places to stay or not:

http://www.hotels-rates.com/hotels/locatio...gLogId=21347577

I will definately want to hit up Hockeytown Authentics and more than likely Cheli's Chili Bar(i remember reading some stuff about it being good on here before). Not quite sure what else to do in the area. We may also look into staying maybe one night or both nights in Windsor, i believe there is a bus to take accross to Detroit from what I heard?

Anyways if any of you guys can help a fellow Wing fan out with some suggestions it would be greatly appretiated.

Thanks. Go Wings

There are a couple casinos in town (MGM Grand and Greektown) if you like to gamble, both which have very nice hotels.

Also keep in mind that Hockeytown Authentics is not actually in Detroit, its in Troy on Big Beaver rd. And Cheli's Chili bar has 2 locations for move convenience; one downtown next to Comerica Park and the other in Dearborn.

Also, you and your girlfriend will not get the full Detroit experience until you try a coney dog from Lafayette Coney Island. Its filled with Wings fans on game days, but never overcrowded. Its open 24/7 and its a quick in and out.. extremely convenient as well as delicious! The adress is 118 W Lafayette Blvd Detroit, MI 48226

[TheUkrainian 49]

You should go check out greektown and grab something to eat there too. Good food.

[wings1110 184]

HOCKEYTOWN cafe is perfect for right before the game u eat there great food and great atmosphere then theres a shuttle that will take u straight to the joe from there. very fun and convienient

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

There are a couple casinos in town (MGM Grand and Greektown) if you like to gamble, both which have very nice hotels.

Also keep in mind that Hockeytown Authentics is not actually in Detroit, its in Troy on Big Beaver rd. And Cheli's Chili bar has 2 locations for move convenience; one downtown next to Comerica Park and the other in Dearborn.

Also, you and your girlfriend will not get the full Detroit experience until you try a coney dog from Lafayette Coney Island. Its filled with Wings fans on game days, but never overcrowded. Its open 24/7 and its a quick in and out.. extremely convenient as well as delicious! The adress is 118 W Lafayette Blvd Detroit, MI 48226

Cheli's actually has 3 locations now. Dearborn, Detroit and the Utica/macomb area.

But yeah hes right about Hockeytown authentics, thats a bit of a drive from the joe, but if you want to buy a game used stick or jersey its defiently a cool atmosphere to go to, plus its not to far from the Chelis Chili in the utica/macomb area so you could make a day out of going to Hockeytown authentics and getting lunch/dinner and chelis (although the full experience of Cheli's is really the Detroit location if you ask me). If you are just looking for Wings shirts or something, save the gas money and just go to the HOCKEYTOWN cafe, they have some good cloths if thats what you are looking for, plus they make a pretty good Burger and have a FREE shuttle to the Joe. I would definetly strongly recomend Greektown for some good food. My favorite place is Pegasus (which if you do go, you HAVE to try the saganaki and also the Chicken Gyros...trust me). The casinos have a great atmosphere of Wings fans before and after a game if you are of legal gambling age, and they usually have cheap drinks on those nights too. A Coney dog is definetly a good experience though if you are planning on spending a few days and want to get the full exerience. No matter what you chose to do, i think that you should definetly try to get your girlfriend in a wings jersey for the game, not because she will get attacked by wings fans or anything ( we arent those kinds of fans) but merely just so she doesnt have on a jersey of the losing team for that night and have to wear it in shame (even if it is an Ovechkin jersey and he scored twice that night haha).

Edited September 2, 2009 by Hank Dats 'N Homer

[#1WingNutt 0]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the help, suggestions and addresses. I tried that first hotel thats is close by and unfortunately it is booked that weekend or it is too far in advance right now. I'll definately want to check out Lafayette Coney Island for sure, that sounds like a good time. I didn't realize that Hockeytown Authentics was so far away, i really wanted to go there, it may have to be on another trip. Greektown sounds good as well as hockeytown cafe and hitting a casino is always a good time. I'm not quite sure what the hell a saganaki Chicken Gyro is but if we end up going there we will definately have to try one.

Hopefully there is time to do everything that was suggested, a few days should be enough I would think. Looking forward to it, especially the game! As for the girlfriend wearing one of my wings jerseys, i'm still working on it...haha.

Thanks for you help!

[Esquire 324]

I stay at the Days Inn at the following location:

675 Goyeau Street

Windsor, ON N9A 1H3 CA

Phone: 519-258-8411

Fax: 519-258-6771

Looks like they have availability that night and it'll run ya about $90. From here you can practically spit on the bus stop that takes you across the border and to the Joe. Be warned though, this place is pretty inexpensive and as such, attracts a lot of college kids from both sides of the border.

Oh, and make sure to try the Hockeytown Cafe's pizza. Unreal.

[Zion 93]

I'm jealous.

Have a blast.

[Jwo 7]

Slows BBQ has great reviews for its bbq food. It's in Corktown right off Michigan Ave. Also in in Corktown, take a car ride over to the train station (Only go during day time) to see a once great piece of architecture.

Belle Isle is another great place to visit. Hopefully they have the fountain on. Truly a peaceful thing.

Take a ride through the neighborhoods to see some great homes. Boston-Edison District, Indian Village, East English Village, Palmer Woods.

Edited September 2, 2009 by Jwo

[under_par_00 45]

If youre staying in Windsor then there is a tunnel bus that is perfect for Wings games. You pick it up at the bus station which is right downtown Windsor, $2.75 each way, and it drops you off right at Cobo (2 min walk to the Joe). Then there will be multiple busses waiting for you after the game to take you back.

[hankzet40 233]

I remember my first trip, it was game one of the '08 finals. Probably the most fun I've had at a game. Stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown which was not bad. Chelli's/Hockeytown are must sees. I went to MGM and that was pretty nice.

[deetroit dario 27]

not sure if you're a music fan or not, and its got nothing to do with the wings....but when in detroit, one should at least drive by "hitsville USA", the recording studio/home base of motown records during the glory years. its a little white and blue house at 2648 West Grand Blvd. now known as the motown historical museum. again, possibly not your thing...but i swear when you're nearby, you can feel the ghosts. last time i was there, i could feel (bassist james) jamerson's insistant presence all around me (possibly because i had a flask of cheap whisky on my person).

you know...its a post like this one that makes me homesick more than anything. especially when everyone has replied with positive and thoughtful suggestions as to points of interest, instead of the more common "you're going to DETROIT?!? UNARMED?!?!?"

i'll second the previous suggestion that you take a little time to drive through some of the historical neighborhoods like boston-edison as well. some of the most beautiful homes you'll ever see!

enjoy the d, brother! and give her my love...