You’ve heard all about the new restaurants and bars serving up fresh, locally sourced food and one of a kind craft cocktails, but what else are you missing out on? What other awesomeness is out there patiently waiting for you to explore? Where is everyone hanging out without you? The FOMO (fear of missing out) must be unbearable. But don’t worry I’m here to help ease all of your FOMO woes and fill you in. Here are 10 awesome new ways you can #PlayDetroit.
1. Detroit Dart Club
New Center | 1600 Clay St. | www.detroitdartclub.com
All those years of tireless Nurf gun training have finally come in handy, despite everything our moms told us (boo-yah, mom). Detroit Dart Club brings the Nurf Gun battlefield from your living room to a 4,000 sq. ft. space inside the historic Russell Industrial Center. Gather up your team, load your darts and fulfill all of your wildest childhood dreams.
2. Feather Bowling
East English Village | 4300 Cadieux | www.cadieuxcafe.com
Featherbowling emigrated in the 1920’s from Belgium to the Cadieux Cafe, a Detroit Prohibition-era speakeasy that has been a social sub for metro Detroit’s Belgian population. And there the game as remained for nearly 80 years alongside other Belgian favorites such as steamed mussels and Belgian beer. What in the devil is featherbowling? I’m glad you asked. Featherbowling is a sport that fuses the concepts of shuffleboard, bowling and boccee ball. Two teams roll a flattened wooden wheel down a 60-foot-long, dirt-covered alley to get as close as possible to the pigeon feather at the end of the lane. Just to make things a tad more tricky the alley is curved like a ditch to make the wheel spin unpredictably. I’m not trying to brag, but I landed on the feather the first time I played. So if you’re up for a little competition, it’s on the Donkey Kong.
3. DIME
Downtown | 1265 Griswold | www.dime-detroit.com
Music education is a four letter word. DIME – Detroit Institute of Music Education. If you’re ready to take your Rock Band/Guitar Hero skills to the next level DIME is the place you need to be. In the heart of Motown DIME is a music college like no other – custom built for serious musicians who desire a long term, professional career in modern music. The courses are designed to build strong musical foundations, that will lead to long and sustained careers in the music industry alongside gaining academic qualifications and learning the ins and outs of really rocking out.
4. Fowling Warehouse
Hamtramck | 3901 Christopher St. | www.whatsfowling.com
Football + Bowling = Fowling (pronounced foe-ling). At the Fowling Warehouse in Hamtramck you and your buds get together and throw a football at bowling pins on one of their 20 lanes. To make the Fowling Warehouse even more awesome, while enjoying a beautiful baby fusion of football and bowling, you can enjoy sips from the full service or wait for your tun at a seat in beer garden.
5. Signal Return
Eastern Market | 1345 Division St. Suite 102 | www.signalreturnpress.org
Nearly three years ago an empty storefront on Division street was transformed, one of the first signs in the Eastern Market that real change was underway. Signal-Return letterpress studio opened and reintroduced the authentic craft of handset printmaking to Detroit and serving as serious inspiration for the artistic community. Signal-Return’s mission is to teach, advance, and preserve the tradition, craft, and art of letterpress printing and, as its name suggests, serve as a beacon for the community. At their studio you can check out a wide range of free and open to the public workshops, poetry readings, book release parties, and exhibitions. Pro tip: this February you can make your sweetie a custom Valentine at their workshop on Saturday, February 7th.
6. Drive Table Tennis Social Club
Downtown | 645 Griswold | www.drive-detroit.com
Do you like hanging out, laughing, chatting, making the world awesome with your awesomeness and playing the timeless game of ping pong? Drive Table Tennis Social Club is the spot you need to be. Since the day the doors opened in 2012 Drive has lived by one code; Enjoy life, Play Ping Pong, Be Happy. Stop in to show off your skills and do just that.
7. Detroit Fly House
Eastern Market | 1321 Watson | www.detroitflyhouse.com
Established in 2008, the Detroit Flyhouse class schedule is always a sold out show. Have you been dreaming leaving town and running away to join the circus? The Detroit Flyhouse Circus School makes it easy to join without leaving home! Fly House offers training for children and adults in traditional circus arts like aerial silks, trapeze, aerial ring, partner acrobatics, fire performance, and more. Here you can try some thing new and improve your coordination, balance, strength, conditioning, and overall fitness in a non-competitive, supportive, fun, and positive environment.
8. Red Bull House of Art
Eastern Market | 1551 Winder St. | www.redbullhouseofart.com
Red Bull House of Art breaks down the barriers between artists and their next greatest body of work by removing financial and institutional constraints and presenting the tools, space and wings necessary to unleash their utmost creative side to the world. As part artist incubator, part gallery and part cultural curator, House of Art’s impact ripples across the cultural waves of the world, bringing critical acclaim to the artists involved. House of Art was born in Brazil in 2010 and is currently reinvented with every new set of creatives in Detroit. Plus, they show more than just Detroit artists. They also showcase national artists from across the country in a special artist-in-residency program, giving them opportunities to showcase their work to a whole new audience, and bringing a truly national art stage to the Motor City. The work is incredible and
9. Sugar Hill Clay Studio
Midtown | 71 Garfield St. | www.sugarhillclay.com
Sugar Hill Clay is a community based ceramic studio in Midtown Detroit promoting access to the ceramic arts though educational programming and professional workshops. They offer a variety of classes and workshops in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where no one will judge you for obnoxiously reenacting scenes from Ghost with your gal pals.
10. Detroit Derby Girls
Midtown | 500 Temple | www.detroitderbygirls.com
Detroit Derby Girls are the truth. With five home teams, three travel teams and over 120 skaters Detroit Derby Girls show the true athleticism, passion and excitement of their unique sport. Each team has a distinct personality and style of play. Who will you root for? This is roller derby in Detroit. It is real. It is fueled by smart, tough, talented people. It is exciting and growing. Just like the city we so proudly play in and represent. So come on down and see Hitsville redefined.