Detroit, from the inside

Walking tours highlight culture, community

A cold drizzle did little to dampen the spirits of the 60 or so people who embarked on a whirlwind walking tour of some of Detroit’s hottest downtown bars. Warmed by laughter — and a few cocktails — the roving party hit four places in three hours.

At the helm, and singing drinking songs beneath her umbrella, was Jeanette Pierce, co-founder of Inside Detroit, a nonprofit specializing in connecting people to the history, culture and charm of downtown Detroit. In her role, Pierce wears three hats: ambassador, educator and party professional.

On a typical night, Pierce and her business partner Maureen Kearns lead anywhere from five to 60 people on one of a variety of available tours, including pub crawls, all of which can be customized for specific interests, such as architecture or historic landmarks. The purpose, Pierce said, is to educate clients on all that Detroit has to offer.

Popular stops include the Guardian Building, notable for its architecture; the Lofts at Merchants Row, which show an upscale and urban kind of downtown living; and Greektown, which, Pierce explains, was actually settled by Germans.

Inside Detroit has done so well, Pierce said, that the Detroit Metro and Convention Visitor’s Bureau often sends her VIPs or members of the media who are interested in learning more about the city.

Regular walking tours, which focus on major landmarks and new development, are offered at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 5 p.m. on Mondays. Inside Detroit also offers private tours and can accommodate groups of any size.

Pierce said pub crawls typically attract locals, while the more educational tours tend to have a strong showing of out-of-towners. The crowd is diverse, both in age and occupation, but usually includes a large proportion of young professionals, many of whom have moved downtown because of job opportunities and affordable housing.

Downtown resident Rex Bravo, 27, said he decided to move downtown from Oak Park about six months ago, after he befriended Pierce and went on a pub crawl. He now has an apartment on the corner of Woodward Avenue and Adams Street.

“It’s just a completely different atmosphere than the suburbs,” said Bravo, an engineer with General Motors Corp. “It’s such a tight community where everybody knows everybody.”

A regular stop on the pub crawls is Foran’s Irish Pub on Woodward Avenue, which Smith said is the quintessential example of a successful downtown bar. A primary distinction is that it serves only products made in Michigan, including 15 different draft beers. Its owner, Tim Tharp, is currently adding a facade to the historic property, in addition to an outdoor seating area.

“She’s helping my business, and not just mine, but all businesses down here,” Tharp said. “I get people coming back in all the time who went on a tour.”

Surprisingly, Pierce said, people from other states sometimes know more about Detroit than the people who live there.

“It’s frustrating because people have such low expectations,” she said, noting media coverage of the automaker crisis and the ouster of disgraced former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, “but it’s easy, too, because all you have to do is show them.”

The Thursday, Feb. 26, party started at 24 Grille, inside the Westin Book Cadillac, before moving on to Round Bar in the Doubletree Guest Suites and finally winding down at Roast and The Motor Bar, both also in the Westin.

Among those making the rounds was Ennis McGee, 29, an account coordinator for Birmingham-based marketing firm Brogan & Partners Convergence Marketing. McGee, who’s from the east side of Detroit but now lives downtown, said he has attended several Inside Detroit tours and pub crawls over the past year.

“It gives us a chance to network and, as young professionals, it gives us a chance to represent the company,” he said, pulling a business card from his shirt pocket.

Regarding his hometown, he said, “we have to shed the old image — Detroit as murder capital of the country — for something new. The city’s trying to turn that corner, but it’s not there yet.”

Inside Detroit achieved nonprofit status this past January, which makes it eligible for grants. Previously, Pierce and Kearns ran the operation out-of-pocket, using their own money for promotional materials and paying themselves if money was left over.

Admission to a tour or pub crawl typically costs from $10 to $20 per person. To make reservations or to see a list of current tour offerings, go to insidedetroit.org or call (313) 268-6562.