MOCAD is a great little spot located off Woodward in Detroit…read more It is quaint & the time to get through the museum is quicker than most museums. The set up is perfect for the featured artists. There are discounts for veterans also. There is a cafe located at the end of the tour. This is also an event space!

Here's another gem in the city. I've visited this museum on several occasions as well. The first…read moretime was to see the artwork on display. They were featuring a local artist from Detroit at the time. The museum is big on the outside but inside there isn't many pieces of art. It's contemporary which I enjoy. The other portion of the museum is used for shows/events. I went a few weeks ago to see Terri Lyne Carrington and Mickalene Thomas do a collaboration. It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! I would definitely recommend visiting when there's an event taking place.

I recently had the chance to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts. The museum is a great balance…read morebetween being expansive and still manageable. You can easily spend a few hours here without feeling overwhelmed. What stood out most was the diversity of the collection. From classic European paintings to modern and contemporary works, there's something for every kind of art lover. The layout of the museum is intuitive, and I appreciated how easy it was to move between galleries without getting lost. Staff were friendly and helpful without being intrusive, and the overall atmosphere felt relaxed rather than stuffy. Overall, I'd highly recommend the Detroit Institute of Arts to anyone visiting Detroit or even locals who haven't been in a while. It's a thoughtfully curated, enriching experience that feels both accessible and inspiring.

As a lifelong dilettante of the arts, I have long held the DIA in the highest esteem. I revere the…read morecathedral hush of the galleries, the grandeur of lunching beneath the vaulted glass of the Kresge Court, the solemn historical weight of Rivera's murals, and the operatic extravagance of The Officer of the Hussars, whose horse appears perpetually moments from stealing the entire painting. I am, in short, a woman of superb taste. And then, of course, there are The Nut Gatherers. Now, it is a little-known fact that William-Adolphe Bouguereau's renowned oil painting, The Nut Gatherers, was originally conceived with adult women as its subjects. I happen to know this for a fact because, for a very brief and professionally ill-advised moment, I was one of those women. Allow me to share my personal contretemps. This was during the period in which I was actively exploring new employment opportunities following my regrettable trist with Greenfield Village, a chapter that may or may not have included an order of protection against a certain biotch ex-coworker from the tinsmith shop whose pathological lying was rivaled only by her raging case of oral herpes (see my previous review for further details). The job description for "nut gatherer" was as Delphic as they come, not to mention entirely en français. It promised "live modeling for a classical composition," "physical stamina," and "comfort with prolonged, natural poses." Experience preferred. Discretion required. Wardrobe, it noted coyly, would be "minimal and historically faithful." "Nut gatherer" was not a title I was accustomed to, but I assumed this was simply the romance of translation at work. Surely this was the literal phrasing from the French. Besides, the industry has always found new and creative ways to sanitize its nomenclature: exotic dancer, adult entertainer, webcam model, etc. My curriculum vitae was already extensively "fluffy," shall we say, so I entered the interview supremely confident in my qualifications. I reclined slightly on the wide leather casting couch, crossed one leg with intention, and cleared my throat in preparation for what I assumed would be a frank but professional discussion. Although I studied French for many years, I confess that my fluency had deteriorated into a cocktail of menu-deciphering, shampoo-label translation, and occasional Québécois profanity shouted at ice rinks. Still, I came prepared with questions. How many nuts require gathering? What is the varietal? Are they fleshy? What is the circumference of said nuts? Will I be gathering one at a time or two at a time? Will they be husked or au naturel? Should I be prepared for any crème de noisette clean-up? There was a pause. A long one. Then a polite but visibly alarmed gentleman slid a portfolio across the table. Inside were charcoal studies of hands, baskets, fabric folds, and several extremely wholesome agricultural diagrams. No bodies. No boudoir. No anything remotely resembling what I had been preparing to offer. It was at this moment, I regret to inform you, that I attempted to clarify my enthusiasm. The precise phrasing is not something I will be memorializing in print, but I will say this: it began as an inquiry about whether "full commitment to the role" was encouraged, an anxious sense that I was in danger of losing the part for not adequately demonstrating my range, and ended with a sentence that began with, "Here, it's easier if I just show you..." immediately followed by an all-out yet borderline desperate demonstration of "flexibility." The silence that followed was immediate, total, and devastating. I was escorted out with the efficiency typically reserved for museum patrons who touch the artwork. My termination was not so much delivered as performed, in the hushed, mortified tone one uses when explaining to someone that they have catastrophically misunderstood the assignment. In the end, the artist decided to use children instead of adults for the final painting. The finished work was revered by the masses. Let me tell you some other things that are revered by the masses: Marvel origin stories, compulsory monogamy, "Live, Laugh, Love" decor, and Bud Light. In my learned opinion, the end result was saccharine, jejune even, no more original than a palimpsest and twice as eager to be liked, the visual equivalent of a museum gift shop postcard that reassures rather than challenges. In other words: not fucking sexy. At all. And yet...le sigh. I will still return to the DIA. I will still linger beneath Rivera's murals. I will still lunch in the Kresge Court like a minor European despot fallen on Midwestern times. I will still bring out-of-towners and speak in reverent tones about brushwork and composition, because even when it rejects me, this institution remains magnificent.

Wow, what an museum!!! I don't mean to sound elitist, but…read moreone doesn't think Toledo, Ohio when it comes to world class art. This place is on another level of awesome! As is the glass museum across the street, this museum is free to visit. The exhibits here are world class and include a massive array of art over a 4,000+ year time frame. We also enjoyed the sculpture works outside the museum. I mean, who the hell doesn't want to get on a huge tire swing, play musical instruments or lay on a hammock made of glass?! Just blown away amazed with this place! Thank you!!!

I wish things were open :( the staff were nice however, there was only two sections open and then…read morethe outside area. I'd wait until the museum is done with reservations before going. 3.5/5

For all you Christmas decoration lovers, I found a hidden gem that has 235 Christmas trees and…read moreother decorations in a very large wooden Cabin. I have lived in the area for more than 20 years and never knew this place existed. There is a staging area, where you park and pay, the cost wasn't to bad. As you wait in this building (sorry can't remember the name, belongs to a small newspaper) there is the Museum of Off Road Adventures. They numerous vehicles from the 1950's and forward. It is enough to keep you busy until the bus shows up to take you to the house. There isn't enough parking at the house to accommodate all the cars. The bus ride takes less than 10 minutes, the house is 3 miles away. Once we arrived, the bus drops us off in a small driveway. The bus has to back up in order to turn around. The walk way to the house is covered in straw to help keep the dirty snow from getting inside the house. Once inside the house, you wear these small booties that go over your shoes. Once inside there are three levels of decorations, there is also a pool area and the garage. Be careful in the pool area, there is water in the pool. The garage had two small cities built with small decorations from around the world. All three floors had some of the most incredible tree decorations I have ever seen. If the decorations don't impress you the house surely will. Truly a work of art, if you can find the history of the house read it. I think it was on the second floor near the stairs.

This was our first time doing the Christmas tree walk. It was a lovely experience. I feel that the…read moreprice is a bit high at $15.00 per person, but the home was beautiful and all those trees put you in a festive mood. It's nice that they shuttle you to the location too. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Christmas and decorating.

As a lifelong Barbie fan and collector, I was thrilled to explore the creative and alternative…read moreBarbies I had never encountered before. The displays showcased styles ranging from modern to eclectic, making this collection truly sensational. I felt both impressed and overwhelmed, just like any little girl or grown woman would be with such important memorabilia. To my delight, my very first Barbie was included in this hidden gem of a collection! After this amazing experience, I ventured upstairs to the music room, where I admired the early instruments this town has preserved. It's fascinating to learn how these artifacts contributed to the town's history, alongside chicory--a coffee substitute--historically significant due to a shipwreck that involved 273 passengers. This wreck was attributed to a treacherous storm on the Great Lakes. Additionally, I've always wanted to know the names of the moving parts on Port Huron's Abt Bascule Bridge, and I was pleased to find those answers provided on a diagram. Unfortunately, I ran out of time in the music room and didn't get to finish my tour, but I am definitely planning to return for another lesson in this town's rich history!

When I visited, the museum was free to enter, which was probably for the best as it was a tired old…read morebuilding actively undergoing some changes (though not necessarily the renovations it could use). The few scattered exhibits that were there included some local art and artifacts (notably an actual iron lung). A handful of brochures gave some information on the area, but it was not the most detailed or the most useful museum I've ever seen. There seemed to be some interesting artifacts in the boxes that were strewn around the basement, and perhaps the museum has better days ahead.

I attended an evening reception at the museum. I had not been inside the museum since my undergrad…read moredays. A lot has changed including new additions that were not in existence when I was a student. For a small university museum, there is a wonderful Asian art collection and Picasso paintings. If you are a student or a visitor to the U of M campus, the museum is worth a visit.

A wide variety of exhibits are on view. "Unsettling Histories: Legacies of Slavery and…read moreColonialism" is particularly powerful and a must see.

We were forbidden entry because we had a bottle of breast milk for our baby. The owner said, "You…read morecould just be saying it's breast milk, how do I know what it is?!" Besides leaving our other kids pretty disappointed, this man was also extremely creepy, unhinged and aggressive. This sort of person doesn't belong around children.

We planned to visit the museum during a family vacation to Sarnia. Sadly, the owner began to yell…read moreat us the door to dump our closed baby's bottle of breast milk in order to enter. They have a no food policy. I explained even in the airports they allow breast milk through security. They used to say it takes a village to raise a child- sadly, nowadays it's hard to even take a baby into a museum. His anger was uncalled for and petty especially given the current shortages of formula our babies are facing. I wish we were treated with kindness instead of aggressiveness.

This is a huge museum with so many items. Cars, trains, planes, buses, steam engines, furniture &…read moremore. My favorite thing to see in this museum was the ACTUAL bus that Rosa Parks rode in & was able to sit in the spot she sat in. We saw some of the cars that the presidents drove in. So many different innovations.

I'm a bit surprised it has taken me this long to review this museum; it is one of my favorite…read moreplaces in Michigan. I also bring out-of-town guests here, sharing the numerous exhibits with pride. American innovation is the focus of this museum, and the number of exhibits clearly demonstrates the cleverness and ingenuity of Americans. Of course, in Michigan, hundreds of vehicles were on display - from stable coaches, to the first Fords (and other nameplates), to the race cars of today. However, innovation was not limited to "things on wheels". Today, I saw the futuristic Dymaxion home designed by Buckminster Fuller. It was conceived for factory production (after WWII) and included modern kitchen appliances such as a dishwasher. What impressed me was how he designed a system to collect and then recycle rainwater for non-potable uses (washing clothes). Other home-related innovations, outside of the Dymaxion home, were home entertainment. There was also a display of chairs - I honestly don't know how they relate to innovation. I was here specifically to see the Da Vinci exhibit, the inventions from his codex, imagined in wood. Some displays (but not all) allowed guests to take a hands-on approach. It is incredible to see not only the diversity of his thinking but also how it has influenced products today. After seeing just a fraction of his thinking, I am inspired to continue reading Walter Isaacson's biography, which I really should have completed before coming here. Another exhibit of note is Mathematica, an interactive math display designed by Charles and Ray Eames (yes, those Eames). I love math, so I loved their explanation of "random walk", probability/ bell curve, and even the multiplication tables. This time, I did not spend that much time on the aircrafts nor the train - I got to save something for my next visit. Based on the throngs of people here today, I am not the only one who enjoys seeing the treasures at this museum.

This is an eye-opening museum and worth a trip from other areas of the Detroit metropolis…read more The museum and connected Academy of Art has a distinguished alumni, as well as a fascinating rotation of exhibits. I visited here over a Thanksgiving holiday many moons ago. My wife Kelly is a native of the Detroit Metropolis and introduced me to this gem. In turn, I introduce it to you and give you my fullest recommendation to visit as soon as you possibly can.

I visited this museum during Black History Month and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of…read moreAfrican American artists featured. Mostly large canvases, masterfully created by local artists. The museum is very well curated. Small and intimate. I was extremely impressed. I'm looking forward to visiting during the summer months as well as on Fridays (when they allow you to tour the archival collection).

Great place to visit on the St. Clair River to see what Algonac and the surrounding areas looked…read morelike in the good old days. Maybe you can find your old high school picture!