The Town Pump isn't Bryan Steinetz regular hang out, but he still loves it. "It's my boy's bar, the one in the jersey," says the 32-year-old, as he points toward a guy in a No. 2 State jersey with blonde hair. "I actually haven't been here in a while but I've always liked it." Bryan says he usually hangs out in Hamtramck at Small's, which is on the corner of Conant and Caniff. And if he is downtown he usually spends his time at the Magic Stick but decided to come down her for the game. He sat at the corner with his friend's who were doing Irish car bombs and cheering on State. Unfortunately the boys in green weren't doing so hot. He's a State fan, even though he got his Bachelor's at Walsh College, and of course is hoping they win. If they win, he says, he's going to stay here at the Town Pump and drink with his buds. If they lose, he says, jokingly, "I'm gonna find some couches." Hey, it's just a joke.
Chris Stewart was standing outside of Cheli's buried in his phone feverishly texting his friends. Some of them were inside Ford Field, some of them weren't replying fast enough. "I got here around 8 p.m. and I've just been trying to get in touch with my friends since," the 29-year-old says, standing on the curb in front of Cheli's. "I'm just gonna go in there and hang out with a little bit of friends." It's a bit cold and he says he's a little chilly standing in front of Cheli's Chili, and this makes him laugh. "I’m gonna see what is going on," he says. "But I'll probably stick around here." He didn't make it out for the game on Saturday because of work. He coaches football and track at Olivet Collage, a division three school. He's a State alum, studying athletic administration. If MSU wins, he says, he'll stick around as long as he can, probably at Cheli's. "I can't stay too long, I have work in the morning." But, and let's hope not, if MSU loses he's going to head straight back.
Nick Beechnau is a med student. And for you college basketball fans he'd like to tell you all the he's not a fan of Digger Phelps or Dick Vitale. But, after a few double whiskey and cokes, it comes out a little different and with a few more swear words. Anyway, Nick is a med student at Michigan State. He had an exam this morning, took a nap, and drove up here with three of his buddies to attend the game. Does he think State can win? "Oh hell yeah," he says. "It's college basketball. Anyone can win anytime." Nick and his friends were at the game on Saturday, too. "It was the greatest sporting event I've ever been to," he says. "I kinda wish the place was smaller so we could have felt the place shake." He says State fans out numbered the UConn fans six to one. Not a bad representation. Before Saturday's game they managed to squeeze into Cheli's and, in fact, got to meet the grizzled Red Wing veteran. As for today, Nick and his friends found themselves in Foran's Irish Pub on Woodward. "We were looking for food and booze," he says. "We went into this place that had a pickle on it" – Eph McNally's – "but they only had roast beef sandwiches and no booze. So we came here and they had both." If State wins Nick has to still drive back to Lansing for an exam. "I'd like to stay and party all night," he says. "But I have school."
Sarah Vermiglio lives in Ferndale but spends a good number of her nights in Detroit. The 25-year-old currently goes to Oakland Community College for psychology and is working as with a GM remanufacturing plant. She came out on a Sunday for to check out the music and PJ's Lager House and the Magic Stick. "I wanted to see friends and hear some tunes," she says. "Big Mess" – a local band that played at PJ's earlier in the day – "was amazing." She's been in Detroit all weekend, checking out bars that weren't so attached to the NCAA but had their own flavor. "I went to the Woodbridge Pub on Friday to chill and have some beers with friends," she says. Woodbridge Pub is fairly new, opened this summer in the Woodbridge neighborhood in Detroit near the Wayne State University Campus. On Saturday she went to the Bronx. "It's dark and has a great juke box," she says. "Not many sports fans there." For the big game tomorrow she plans to come back after class. "It's gonna be crazy," she says. "I don't know where I'm going but I'm sure it'll be fun."
Cimbery Van De Keere isn't an out-of-towner. She's an in-towner, and a major one. She's the manager of the Majestic Café for the last three years. And though so much is going on downtown she says she's been busy with the events they've been having here at the Majestic and the Magic Stick upstairs. "I've been stuck here for the last three days," she says. "We've had so much going on here like tonight we have the Motor City Music ReVue." The MCMR showcased eight bands on two stages that included the Muggs, the Friendly Foes, and the Hentchmen. Cimbery said that about 400 showed up for a band that played upstairs while another 400 passed through the doors just for the game. "Yeah, we were pretty busy," she says. And one of those 400 was actor Tim Robbins. "We've had a lot of out-of-towners, a lot of kids from Lansing, and a lot of people from north Carolina," she says of Friday's crowd. "Tomorrow we expect more of the same." "The NCAA has been great for Detroit and for us," she says. And though she's heard the events downtown were great she says hers here at the Majestic haven't been to bad either.
Lucy Moss isn't in Kansas anymore. Well, actually Kansas City, Mo. She flew here for the NCAA. She arrived Friday night and has been out on the town since. And though her team isn't in the final four, she's cheering on Michigan State because, as her friend Willie Yearout put it, "We're sick of the ACC and the Big East. It's about time the rest of the world gets some attention." If you know what he's talking about, please by all means Twitter us an explanation. She says they've hit the casino in Greektown, saw Gavin DeGraw, and went to the game. This morning they grabbed breakfast at Motown Café on Jefferson. She ordered the biscuits and gravy. Willie got the corned beef hash. Lucy and Willie both agreed the food was "awesome." They're at the Anchor bar now but want to check out Fergie on the Riverfront and, they said, will probably just come back here. "This is our kind of place," she said. "It's dark and quiet." Well, at least right now it is. Staff here at the Anchor Bar said it was a madhouse on Saturday evening during the game. This is the first time either of them had been to Detroit. "I've never been before but it's just like any other big city," Lucy says. "I think it gets a bad rep. And I love the People Mover."
Well, well, well. What do we have here? Spencer
Olinek, 23, is cheering on Sparty even though he is a University of
Michigan student. Oh, but here's a twist - he's also a MSU alum as an undergrad. Maybe we can all get along. Spencer has been downtown
since 12:30 this afternoon. But he wasn't hittin' the bars. He was in
class. Spencer is in the urban planning department at U of M and they
were down here working on a design for Campus Martius. However, when
school let out, Spencer stuck around. "We tired to go to Cheli's but it
was full," he says. "Then we tried to go to the (Detroit) Beer Co. and
that was busy. So we just got crepes and ended up at Sweet Waters." The
crepes Spencer is referring to are from Good Girls Go To Paris on John
R, right behind Oslo. "There was a line, about 20 minutes," he says.
"They were really busy but the crepes are so good." Spencer said they
tried to go to several other bars but each one was filled. "This
(event) is good for everybody," he says. At this point, the game is
over, MSU has just beaten UConn, and Spencer and his friends are making
their way to the Riverfront for a stroll. And, as for Monday now that
Sparty is in the final game. "Oh I think I'll be down here," he says.
"Despite class."
Tailgaters filled the parking lot on the corner of Congress and Beaubien. A flat screen TV was bolted to a truck and more than 20 people had surrounded it to watch the game. MSU was up, there was about ten minutes left. "I just got here," says Jason Henry. A friend of his put this particular tailgate party together. "We were over at Cheli's, tailgating over there with some other friends." Jason is drinking a can of Miller Lite, the same as everyone else at this tailgate extravaganza. He drove up here from Trenton and he used to work at the American Axle plant in Hamtramck but was laid off. However, right now, he's more concerned with MSU beating UConn. Jason says that after the game he'll hit up a few places here in Detroit but isn't exactly sure which ones. "They're all great, really," he says. "I have nothing specific picked out." As for the NCAA Final Four weekend so far for Jason: "It's nice to see everyone down here. It's great for the city. And it's good to have a beer and be with friends."
Katie DeMarco's brothers went to State, she didn't but she's a fan. Katie came out today to watch the game at Cheli's Chili but it was packed so she headed on over to Bookies Bar & Grille on Cass Avenue. "Cheli's was crazy," she says. "It's a little less crazy here but we plan on staying here for a while." Katie says she might venture out to other bars after the game for but for the time being she is staying put. "I come out here pretty often and it's a great place," the 25-year-old says. She's familiar with the city as a former student at Wayne State University. "I'd go to Cass Café and those places around campus," she says. However, schools out for her and she's here for the NCAA Final Four weekend. "It's been crazy and fun and exciting so far," she says. "And why would that change?"
Jeanette Pierce
Over a smoky table at Foran's Irish Pub on Woodward, we caught up with Jeanette Pierce who had worked a long day giving back to the city she was born and raised in – Detroit.
She runs Inside Detroit, a non-profit whose mission is to school the public on all things Detroit. From history to culture to bars to working to living, and to playing, Jeanette covers it all with Inside Detroit and the walking tours. "I grew up in Detroit, near Cadieux Cafe," she says. "I love Detroit and I want people to know about Detroit and love it, too."
Since Jeanette is inside Detroit she's a natural pick for being one of our insiders. She likes Foran's because, as she said, "has the trifecta." The trifecta? "Yeah, Foran's is an adapted use space, they support local products, and the owners are one site," she said. "It's a great spot."
She says Avalon International Breads in Midtown is another one of these "trifecta" businesses. Jeanette also says to check out the Anchor Bar, which has been family owned for 80 years. "That's the thing about Detroit, we're not all just neighbors, we're friends, too," she says. "We're Detroit, we talk to everyone."
Jill Jackson
Jill
Jackson bundled in a yellow coat when she sneaked her way closer
to the AT&T Block Party stage.
It could have been warmer, that's for sure,
but it still didn't stop Jill, or anyone waiting for the concerts, from
getting out. "I came out for all these free concerts," she said. I want
to seen Big Sean and Jesse McCartney."
Jill is 20 years old and studies
vocal performance at Wayne State University. She lives in Troy. "The
event is amazing," she says.
As a student of Wayne State she says that
she goes to Cass Cafe a lot and loves it. Cass Cafe serves booze,
though she's too young, and food (they're famous for their lentil
burger, by the way). She says to check out the sushi restaurant in the
RenCen. "I love it there," she says. For a cup of coffee and a muffin
she says she'll check out Au Bon Pain. "I love Campus Martius," she says. "And in the winter you can ice skate there. It's really pretty."
She says she makes it to Detroit for as many events as she can. She was
here for the Red Bull races in the summer and the Tastefest. "Detroit
is picking back up," she says. "I think in 10 years we'll forget about
all this mess and everyone will be living in the city." As far as the
NCAA goes, she says she's not a huge college basketball fan but "This
will be really great for Detroit and the state. Go green!"
Craig Steiner
Craig Steiner doesn't live in Detroit, but he spends his money here.
"Unfortunately I live in Novi, but I try to spend as much time as I can down here." Steiner, 27, says he's a "good" beer connoisseur, as opposed to a bad beer connoisseur, which would make him an average Joe, he says.
He's meeting some friends down here at the Park Bar to "spend more money that I probably should" during the NCAA. Steiner has worked in human resources in the past but is currently between jobs.
So as a beer connoisseur he says that the Park Bar has a great selection of drafts available.
And Foran's Irish Pub is no slouch either. "Detroit is really an untapped resource," he says. "There are so many suburbs so close to the city and a lot of those people have no idea how sweet of a party town it is here."
He attributes that to people not knowing where and what to do sometimes. "You just gotta come down here and check it out," he says. For dinner he says you can go wrong with Small Plates, which is on Broadway. "If you want something a little cheaper try the Bucharest Grill," he says. The Bucharest is connected to the Park Bar.
"I want to check out the Detroit Fish Market over in Harmonie Park but I haven't made it over there yet," he says.