13 things Detroiters take for granted because we are spoiled

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 8:57 pm

One thing is true of Detroiters: we complain about our city — a lot. When in fact we are #blessed to live in a city that offers so much and expects so little. From our unique take on hot dog toppings to our beautiful sea scenery, we forget how good we've got it.

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Coney Dogs
Don’t you dare call it a chili dog. You know damn well that a coney dog is on a whole other level and only a city as unique as Detroit is worthy of being the birthplace of this holy concoction which consists of five simple ingredients — a piping hot frankfurter, a fluffy steamed bun, beanless beef-heart chili, chopped white onions, and yellow mustard. Detroit knows how to coney so well that we have our own local rivalries (American vs. Lafayette.)
Photo via MT File

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Our independent, DIY art scene and abundance of public art spaces
Everywhere you look, Detroit artists are showing their stuff. And we’re not just talking about art shows. We’re talking murals and public art spaces and art events like Delectricity. Hell, mosey down the right street and you might just find yourself surrounded by an entire neighborhood that has been converted into a sprawling interactive art space (The Heidelberg Project.) Take a stroll down the Dequindre Cut and soak in the sights of some awe-inspiring murals. And of course, The Detroit Museum of Art happens to have one of the most extensive collections in the world. But we know better than to brag.
Photo of Heidelberg Project by Lee DeVito

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Lack of traffic
OK — so construction may be Michigan’s unofficial fifth season, but when it comes to city traffic, we’ve got it pretty good. According to recent statistics Detroiters spend 6 percent of their time enduring congested traffic whereas Los Angeles residents spend more than twice as long staring at break lights. Credit our wide streets and highways. Now our driving skills, well, that’s another story.
Photo by Anastasia Cheatham.

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World-renowned techno scene
Detroit has many nicknames. But one that we might overlook is that of Techno City. Hailed as the birthplace of techno, Detroit is packed with world-renowned DJ’s, producers, and artists as well as a flourishing indie EDM scene. Thousands of people from all over the world flock to our annual Movement Music Festival every Memorial Day weekend to get their rave on. On any given weekend, though, Detroiters are lucky to have a slew of techno acts to choose from at a number of venues both above and underground.
Photo by Jordan Buzzy

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Detroit Style pizza
You can keep your thin and floppy slices, New York. And Chicago? Well, “Chicago-style” is just another term for “no thanks.” If you were to move away from Detroit, we guarantee you would long for the crisp, thickness of Buddy’s or Jets because Detroit-style is more than a slice, it’s a way of life. This square-shaped delight puts the crust front and center and that’s how we like it.
Photo courtesy of Buddy’s Pizza

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No shortage of places to drink and pray
Whether you need Jesus or just some gin and juice, Detroit is flush with houses of worship and places to drown your demons. According to data compiled by MapDetroit.com every Detroit resident lives within .7 miles of one of the city’s 810 liquor stores or 560 bars. And when searching ChurchAngel.com it appears as though there may upwards of 700+ churches in city limits spanning 35 denominations.
Photo via Wikipedia and Yelp user DeAndre M.

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We have a bridge to another country
Just across the Detroit river is an exoctic and foriegn land. That land is Canada. And we have a bridge that leads to the home of Poutine and high-grade hospitality. The Ambassador Bridge is accessible in Detroit’s Southwest community, so really we have the best of both borders.
Photo via Wikipedia

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Motown music all damn day
As the literal birthplace for the genre that has shaped the music world since its conception, Detroiters might be prone to Motown-fatigue. While Motown’s influence can be heard all around the world, you cannot turn a radio dial in Detroit without encountering the sweet sounds of The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, or The Temptations. We even turned the famous Berry Gordy recording studio into a museum. We often forget that not just any city can go “Dancing in the Street.”
Photo of Motown: The Musical by Joan Morris

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We know how to Pop off
Where does one even begin? Faygo, the brightly colored pop, is a Michigan classic. From black cherry to the original red pop, Faygo has been staining lips for decades and you would be hard-pressed to track down a bottle of this bubbly anywhere else. We totally get why the Juggalos have adopted Faygo as their official family drink. Oh — and don't forget Vernors. Though the ginger ale brand has gone national, the Boston Cooler still remains a beloved Detroit treat. Pop a can of Vernors, add vanilla ice cream and enjoy because everyone else is missing out.
Photo via Instagram, @qualitydairy

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Art Deco architecture
In a sea of postmodernism eyesores, Detroit boasts a ton of beautiful art deco architecture. Ah, yes. All that tile and Indiana limestone. Downtown isn't just all heartless international-style blocks and glass-and-steel towers. And it’s not just giants like the Fisher Building or the Guardian. Art deco has roots in many of Detroit’s oldest neighborhoods, something you’re not promised in metropolitian cities elsewhere.
Photo via Guardian Building, Facebook

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We love weird shit
From our obsession with funding a Robocop statue to Marche du Nain Rouge — an annual parade that seeks to capture a “red devil” all because of some weird ass old folklore, Detroit is strange as hell. Not to mention our general love of all things macabre which is demonstrated by our annual demented celebration Theatre Bizarre.
Photo by Trevor Long for MT

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We are surrounded by fresh water
This is a big one. Imagine not being able to escape to the sandy shores of any number of beaches. Sounds like a nightmare, right? Honestly, calling Michigan the “Great Lakes state” doesn’t do our fresh water situation justice. The Detroit river, which connects Lake St. Claire and Lake Eerie, might be a favorite swim spot but there are nearly 500 lakes within a four hour drive from Detroit and our boating scene is strong. Photo via Wikipedia

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Detroiters
That’s right. Cue the waterworks because we take ourselves for granted. Detroiters are among some of the most passionate, hardworking weirdos around. No matter how different we might be we are mostly totally proud of where we call home and that’s pretty damn cool.
Photo by Douglas Wojciechowski/Paxahau, Fans at Movement Music Festival — from left to right: Saeeda Faridi, Asia Davis, and Shanay Risby.

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