Detroit

Thanks, Ken. Very excited about the Selden. And thanks for the link to OTUS. Looks very interesting.

Musical tastes are eclectic, with jazz being the favorite. In my head I was thinking jazz, blues, rock--maybe two of the three with two nights just dedicated to drinking. Thanks for the Baker's recommendation. I had that on a list with Cliff Bell's, Bert's and Café d'Mongos but didn't really know how to decide between them. Was thinking perhaps Raven Lounge for blues. Haven't been to Detroit in years but have fond memories of basic rock music scene at places like Paychecks, Magic Bag, etc. That might be more for people-watching.

Probably won't be going to Ann Arbor. If we go anywhere outside Detroit it will be to Grosse Pointe. I grew up there and so we're doing a bit of a "return to the scene of the crime" thing. Then we'll return to Detroit to drink off the memories.
 
Combine a nice wine list and lots of live local jazz at Motor City Wine on Michigan Avenue in Corktown. Think way laid back, modest prices, with patio, and no cover. And free parking. Might be hard to grasp if you're coming from a big East or West Coast city.
 
From the older list a few years back, it remains hard to go wrong with Supino for pizza or Astro for coffee and a small cafe lunch/breakfast.

I'll thank Ken for the recommendation of checking out Selden Standard. Sounds like you're already planning on coming, which is wonderful to hear. Obviously, I think we do a nice job, but please let me know what you think. We just ran out of all our absurdly low priced older vintages of Bordeaux, but we'll have some other fun stuff. I'll be on my way to the west side of the state when you're here, so don't think me rude when I inevitably don't say hi.

A bit different in style but with a similar local farm influence is Chartreuse Kitchen. They've got a decent wine list these days, good bartenders, etc, but they also have a reasonable corkage.

If Katoi is re-opened (closed for several months from a fire) by the time you get here, you should check that out -- Thai and Laotian style food with a few Midwestern riffs here and there. Wine program is fine, cocktails better. [EDIT 6/27 - SCRATCH THIS... They're saying they'll be open in mid/late July from what I can tell]

I'll second Steve's recommendation of Motor City Wine, especially on nights when they've got some live music.

If you want to hit up southwest Detroit, there are more interesting options now than I've had a chance to visit, but El Asador remains a favorite, and you can bring your own bottle.

If you're on the go and need a coffee or want to take some beans or tea back home, Anthology Coffee is a great stop. Very unassuming, great stuff (we use it at the restaurant), and they also resell Joseph Wesley Teas, which are traditional Chinese teas that a friend of mine selects himself from farmers he knows over there. (Long story, but he spent a lot of time in China and grew infatuated with tea... brings in some great, classic teas.)

Keep your eyes peeled for any shows at Third Man Records. I think people associate it with a record shop, and they've brought some good acts through there with zero lines, etc. Other venues to look at (more for rock or electronic) would be Marble Bar, El Club, and UFO Factory.

You might wander around a bit downtown just to see the transformation that's happened between the Fox Theater and the river. You could grab some wine or food at Wright & Company, a glass or bottle of wine at The Royce (wine bar with a wide ranging selection and a super nice owner), and just see the visual transformation if nothing else. Also downtown... one of the best spots for cocktails, a place called Standby.

If you happen to be in Eastern Market, Cairo Coffee does a good job, and if you wander around a bit, you'll find that most (or at least many) of the buildings have been adorned in some pretty sweet murals from local artists.

SORRY for not including links... I'm rushing through this on my way to a meeting and then off to a wine tasting. Enjoy your trip!
 
Heading to the Detroit area again for the weekend. Mostly for a family thing. But I hope to hit Western Market and Elie’s on Sunday or Monday morning. Any other wine stores in the NW burbs worth visiting these days?
 
Did in fact hit Elie and Western Market yesterday.

Todd, thanks for the warm reception at Elie and the conversation. Still full of treasures. Albeit mostly out of my comfort zone in terms of price now, especially Burgs.

Western Market would definitely be a go-to store for wines in the $15-35 range if I still haunted the Detroit area. Picked up a bottle of 2018 Lauer Senior to leave with my non-geek parents as they like whites with a hint of RS.
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
Did in fact hit Elie and Western Market yesterday.

Todd, thanks for the warm reception at Elie and the conversation. Still full of treasures. Albeit mostly out of my comfort zone in terms of price now, especially Burgs.

Western Market would definitely be a go-to store for wines in the $15-35 range if I still haunted the Detroit area. Picked up a bottle of 2018 Lauer Senior to leave with my non-geek parents as they like whites with a hint of RS.

Thanks for coming by, Jayson. Elie and Todd are the very best.

It's a shame one of our roving wine scouts didn't find you and usher you into the cellar/office. Western Market certainly avoids "money laundering" wine categories, but we keep more $50 bottles than you might guess. Granted, these are relatively focused in the direction of our tastes and preferences; they might look like a strange collection of choices, depending.

I hope the Lauer Senior wasn't too dry. Did they open it yet?
 
originally posted by Putnam Weekley:

Thanks for coming by, Jayson. Elie and Todd are the very best.

It's a shame one of our roving wine scouts didn't find you and usher you into the cellar/office. Western Market certainly avoids "money laundering" wine categories, but we keep more $50 bottles than you might guess. Granted, these are relatively focused in the direction of our tastes and preferences; they might look like a strange collection of choices, depending.

Much to the chagrin of the fine woman who saw me carry the wine carrier toward the cellar when I got home, I had no difficulties breaking the $35 barrier there this past week. Damn the "our tastes and preferences" torpedoes. Full speed ahead.
 
originally posted by Putnam Weekley:
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
Did in fact hit Elie and Western Market yesterday.

Todd, thanks for the warm reception at Elie and the conversation. Still full of treasures. Albeit mostly out of my comfort zone in terms of price now, especially Burgs.

Western Market would definitely be a go-to store for wines in the $15-35 range if I still haunted the Detroit area. Picked up a bottle of 2018 Lauer Senior to leave with my non-geek parents as they like whites with a hint of RS.

I hope the Lauer Senior wasn't too dry. Did they open it yet?

Not yet. I almost got the Schaefer Kab instead.

Maybe one of these times I will stay long enough for a proper Detroit-area Jeebus. Haven’t seen you since I moved back to NY!
 
Will be in Detroit for an entire weekend around Rieslingstudy018.

Any new recommendations?

The event will be at Ladder4 Wine Bar and we are planning on hitting stadt garten and Basan.
 
Fredi the Pizzaman’s pizza looks awesome. It’s on my list to go next time I’m in Detroit. I only didn’t go last time (April) because I brought my son to have his first real Detroit pizza at Buddy’s instead. (Unfortunately I can’t make it for the Riesling study the 18th.)

 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
Fredi the Pizzaman’s pizza looks awesome. It’s on my list to go next time I’m in Detroit. I only didn’t go last time (April) because I brought my son to have his first real Detroit pizza at Buddy’s instead. (Unfortunately I can’t make it for the Riesling study the 18th.)


That looks amazing!
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
Fredi the Pizzaman’s pizza looks awesome. It’s on my list to go next time I’m in Detroit. I only didn’t go last time (April) because I brought my son to have his first real Detroit pizza at Buddy’s instead. (Unfortunately I can’t make it for the Riesling study the 18th.)

Looks pretty mouthwatering, is that a New Haven style?
 
originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
Fredi the Pizzaman’s pizza looks awesome. It’s on my list to go next time I’m in Detroit. I only didn’t go last time (April) because I brought my son to have his first real Detroit pizza at Buddy’s instead. (Unfortunately I can’t make it for the Riesling study the 18th.)

Looks pretty mouthwatering, is that a New Haven style?

I think he has made a bunch of styles but yeah it’s the closest thing I’ve seen to New Haven style west of Wooster St.
 
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