What are you waiting for?? Go visit the library of dreams! This big beautiful library can never…read moredisappoint, even if you just go in and explore for a while. When you go in, I recommend going all the way to the left where they have a room that features a few walls of interesting books. They're always rotating so you get an amazing mixture of everything-- spirituality, history, economics, politics, religion... I think that's kind of the theme of that area. That's my favorite. They also have several different sort of resource centers. The most amazing thing is the upstairs, it's like a museum. It has art all over the ceilings that transport you to Europe. It's a nice place to study, there's huge rooms to do so, one with a view outside to the art museum. You can usually have an entire huge table to yourself! I won't say too much more, go look for yourself!

Across from the Institute of Art is the main branch he Detroit Public Library. This is the 2nd…read morelargest library system in the U.S. by volumes held & the 12th-largest public library system in the country. This Main Library is part of Detroit's Cultural Center Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This marble Italian Renaissance building is over 100 years old. A lot of history has been made here. In 1970 Clara Stanton Jones became the 1st African American and 1st woman to serve as director of a major library system in America, as director of the Detroit Public Library.

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.

The English Department is dreadfully inadequate. I just received my degree in English in December…read moreof 2025 and my experience with the professors and Chair of the English department could only be described as dreadful. A full third of my professors had no business teaching reading to second graders let alone being a professor at the University level. Disorganized, poor to non-existent teaching skills, gross ignorance and a propensity to teach Gender, Sexuality, and women's studies class instead of an English class. Furthermore, I was told by the Chair of the English Department, Jaime Goodrich, that it was acceptable for a Wayne State professor to ascribe to flat earth ideology as long as they weren't teaching science. Overall, the quality of the English Department is subpar and a disgrace to the entire concept of education.

Some of the most frustrating "customer service" I've ever experienced. If you're a student on…read morefinancial aid be prepared to spend a lot of time in that office sorting your affairs every.single.semester. Some great professors, wonderful library resources, and a nice gym available to students and faculty. Parking is expensive and a lesson in frustration.

Decent work spaces, spotty collections, great staff…read more Considered the "grad library" - this branch of the WSU library system caters to all readers / researchers. The main floor, with pod-like computer stations, plenty of windows, stern but spacious seating, and general level of quiet make it a good work space. There's also a window-lit newspaper collection on the first floor if you're trying to catch up on national or foreign news. Getting in and using the space is free - I'm not sure about non-students checking out books, but as WSU is a public university there should be a way for non-students to access resources here (i'll double check and edit this later). Their book catalogue itself is kind of a mess. They're just missing so much that should be standard university material (certainly a $ issue), and things that they DO have are often missing or misshelved - this is a recurring problem and not something i've experienced only once or twice. On the other hand, they do have possessions that seem surprising and unlikely. Some of their poetry holdings, for example, are great and curated by someone who really knew what they were doing (they have a large sample of the Broadside Books output, if you're familiar with Detroit-based, African American publishing histories... BB is a national treasure). Also, trying to work on any of the floors above the main level is persistently unsatisfying... dingy, vault like feeling. Unless you're someone who works best by feeling the MOST uncomfortable, these upper level spaces will disappoint (if not creep you out). The librarians and staff here are fantastic, brimming with knowledges and patience of all kinds...

Don't expect any books here. This place is a bookless library. It took a quick moment to get over…read morethere aren't any books here. It's really a spot if you need to come study. I guess each floor has its own noise level for your preference. If you need it real quiet so you can concentrate, then head straight up to the third floor

As a major university library, there is not anything special to expect. The first floor is supposed…read moreto be "Silent Study", the second floor is a madhouse with students playing video games and screwing around, and the third floor is another quiet floor. If you are studying with a group of people, you should reserve a study room online- most have whiteboards and TV hookups to display things from your laptop. I always bring Clorox wipes here- they do not clean the desks off enough- they are always disgusting.

Located on Woodward just outside of the cultural district, the Detroit Institute for Children finds…read moretheir home. They have been providing specialized medical and rehabilitative care to children with physical, developmental, and neurological disabilities since 1950. This phenomenal organization offers over 25 services that overseen by nurses, social workers, physicians, therapists, psychologists, and more! Some of the outpatient services they provide include speech pathology, physical therapy, psychiatry care and more. For more information and testimonials about how truly wonderful this local gem hop over to their website.

I went to this place in the past and I got to say, the care for kids old and young is top notch…read more Every staff member really cares about the well being of the kids and becomes part of your family over the years. They have unique ideas when it comes to offering physical therapy. This is not your cookie cutter place! I recommend this place to anyone who has a child in need of care for a disability, hands down! As far as atmosphere goes, its 100% kiddie friendly from the colorful decor to the cartoons being played in the waiting rooms. Its not the creepy medical place your little one is going to want to run away from the moment they enter the door. The appointments are easy to schedule and the staff is always on time. The building offers enough parking in the back, it is accessible by public transportation and close to the highway. It is not as huge as Children's Hospital by any means but, the staff is the best I have ever dealt with.

I highly recommend you organize a tour with the James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture…read moreCommunity Leadership Center if you are interested in community building, social justice, & organizing! I was in Detroit for a conference and I was lucky enough to join a group on this tour with Boggs Center for some of us itching to get out into the city, learn about the challenges & innovation, and to learn about history from the locals. The Center is named after Grace Lee & Jim Boggs who were powerful thought-leaders and organizers. You'll learn their stories (but I suggest you not wait and google them now)! The tour was about 3 hrs but they are flexible. Our guide, Shea Howell, and was so informative and friendly. We organized our own shuttle since we had a bigger group but she was willing to jump in and give directions to our driver. We started in the Center to hear the history & then went to 4 other sites around the city where there were speakers who met us at a couple of the sites. The Center has a bathroom, offered us tea, & you can buy shirts, sweatshirts & so many good books (just bring cash since that's easier for them). The Center does about 2-3 tours every week, just call ahead of time to organize it. You will not regret it! It was my highlight of my entire time in Detroit.