r/Detroit • u/Sorry-Detective-7049 • 2d ago
Talk Detroit Moved from France, looking for suggestions to feel at home here
I recently moved to Detroit’s suburbs from Paris (France), and I’m still trying to adjust. I’m feeling a bit homesick / isolated and would love to get to know the city better.
What are some good areas to walk around that are pedestrian-friendly or have a lively atmosphere? Any recommendations for great food spots or fun activities to do, or things that could help me feel more integrated here? Thank you for reading!
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u/Revolutionary-Two457 2d ago
Eastern Market, Riverfront, Campus Martias
Give it about 6 weeks and this city will explode with foot traffic and things to do
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u/SemperFudge123 2d ago
If you are a woman, you might want to check in with the Birmingham Bloomfield Newcomers Club. It’s open to women from anywhere in the Metro region and was originally started to help newly arrived women connect with each other and get acquainted with the area. We live in that area and there are quite a few French ex-pats here, relatively speaking. Our neighbors are here from France and when our daughters were in elementary school they had a bunch of French kids in their classes each year (along with a lot of Germans and some Brits and Swedes). I always see the Newcomers Club out at local events in Birmingham so they must be doing something.
If you’re a guy, maybe they can at least point you in the right direction?
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u/PsiPoweredYouth 2d ago
Bienvenue! I spent a few months living in southern France a few years back and when I had to come home, I missed France a lot. I highly recommend Campus Martius as the weather gets nicer. For downtowns away from the city, Royal Oak, Wyandotte and Birmingham are good trips not far from the city that each offer a different vibe. Birmingham in particular can be pricey, but in my opinion has a good atmosphere. Be sure to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts as well- it is world class and free for you to go to as a resident of Wayne County.
Definitely check out the Dequindre Cut, the Belt Alley and Eastern Market.
Tomorrow is opening day for the Detroit Tigers, so downtown will be very fun and busy- it'll be a good time to get out there and have some fun!
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u/TheBimpo 2d ago
The walkable suburbs include: Royal Oak, Ferndale, Berkley, Oak Park, Clawson and Grosse Pointe. Areas of the city of Detroit are also great for walk ability.
What is it you like to do? Odds are it can be found.
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u/SrirachaPants 2d ago
Also Plymouth! Idk if we’re a suburb but close to Detroit and walkable.
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u/phylum_sinter 2d ago
Plymouth is a beautiful, cozy city. Spent some of the best years of my life in old town. a 2 bedroom apartment with a nice patio overlooking Hines Park for $750 (in 1999)... Walking to Penn theater every day was a gift i'll never forget.
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u/JodyBird 1d ago
Those are around $1100-1800 now, if I'm reading this right.
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u/phylum_sinter 17h ago
That's a little bit lower than I would've guessed. At ~$1800, I'd still want to live there, enough to sacrifice my food budget a little bit.
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u/BlondieBtch117 1d ago
Don't forget Mount Clemens for walkable suburbs! Great downtown area and also right off the river. It's lovely. I miss living there so much. Just don't walk into the very north side past where Gratiot curves haha.
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u/WolverineMan016 2d ago
If you ever have some days off, take a drive to Montreal and Quebec City!
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u/OhioHard 2d ago
If you're ever in the Troy/Birmingham area, I highly recommend a coffee shop called Attard Lumiere. It's run by a lovely French couple and the coffee and tea is great. The Birmingham Cannelle Patisserie is also very close, and they have amazing pastries. There's a few Cannelle locations around the Detroit area too.
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u/standinginmoonlight 2d ago
Was going to suggest Attard Lumiere as well! Magda and her family are so welcoming and would have great suggestions for French newcomers.
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u/giddycat50 2d ago
Walk on the Riverwalk. While maybe not the Seine River, its still very nice down there.
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u/spartacutor 2d ago edited 2d ago
Bienvenue à Détroit! Chez Pierre et Geneviève à Bloomfield Hills est une bonne boulangerie avec des bonnes pâtisseries et du pain qui ont le même goût qu'en France. Par contre niveau prix ça va sûrement te choquer mais bon pour une petite friandise de temps en temps on s'y fait. Ils vendent aussi quelques produits importés de France qui font plaisir quand on a le manque du pays.
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u/Existing-Floor-4512 1d ago
+1 pour ça, j'ai mis trop de temps a les découvrir mais ça fait tellement du bien de manger un paris Brest ou un éclair et peu importe le prix. Surtout quand tu compares au surgelé de chez Canelle 🤢 OP si tu veux rencontrer dautre francophone il y a aussi l'alliance française et la chambre de commerce française qui organise des évènements
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u/steedandpeelship 2d ago
The streets Charlevoix, Cadieux, Livernois, and Gratiot all welcome you.... to Detroit. (There may be more but right off the bat those are the first that come to mind.)
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u/CountOff 2d ago
Fun fact - downtown Detroit was originally designed off of Paris
Might be fun to take a stroll by campus Martius and the river walk nearby
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u/Damnatus_Terrae 2d ago
I think the downtown was actually designed based on the plan of Washington, D.C. (But guess what the plan for Washington was based on).
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u/PureResolve649 2d ago
You should download the app Meetup. You pick a ton of things you’re interested in and it will match you with events happening.
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u/macck_attack 2d ago
First thing I would recommend is volunteering. It’s a great way to make yourself feel like a part of the city and you will always meet great, like-minded people. I’m not sure what your interests are but here’s a few things I like to do in the city:
- Lowkey Cinema - film screenings every Thursday with industry talks afterward sometimes
- Detroit City Football Club - closest atmosphere you will get to European soccer in the midwest
- Detroit Symphony Orchestra shows
Detroit Zine Fest is this weekend.
If you search this sub you’ll find a ton of great restaurant suggestions so I’ll simply say that if you’re homesick for French pastries, visit any of the Canelle locations.
I have family and have spent a ton of time in Paris (and Strausburg). I hope you enjoy your time here!
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u/Detroiter4Ever Rivertown 2d ago
Welcome to Detroit! Please visit us downtown. Fun spots include the Riverwalk, Midtown, downtown, Campus Martius, Eastern Market, Woodward Avenue. Hit me up and I'd be happy to meet for coffee or wine.
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u/Specialist_Swing_916 2d ago
Birmingham is really nice to walk around in! Specifically Quarton Lake, there’s a path around the lake and it’s very peaceful and serene with all the ducks and geese and nature. The houses there are beautiful as well.
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u/Specialist_Swing_916 1d ago
Also not sure if you like malls (I usually don’t) but Somerset mall is wonderful. I’m from out of state, and was shocked at how large and nice the mall is. It’s in Troy! I also really love Tous Les Jours bakery that’s near Somerset as well. Perhaps the croissants are not up to par with patisserie in France, but a lot of the baked goods and cakes are really nice.
Also, I have family in Groslay so I am somewhat familiar with the Paris suburbs! It must be a very big adjustment for you. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you enjoy the area!
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u/Gapingasthetic71 1d ago
Downtown in the summer is popping, I'd be surprised if you didn't find something to do, but once the weather starts warming up belle isle is great, there is French inspired art everwhere
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u/SexOnABurningPlanet 1d ago
Remind everyone you meet of the correct pronouncetion of Detroit and insist you're here to reclaim the city for France. Things are so bad right now people might hear you out.
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u/monochromepurple 2d ago
Welcome to Michigan! I have a few suggestions!
Warda Patisserie (70 W Alexandrine St) and Canelle (45 W Grand River Ave in Detroit, but they have other locations in Farmington and Birmingham) both have amazing French pastries and baked goods, to help with the homesickness.
As far as walkable neighborhoods go, Birmingham, Royal Oak, and Ferndale have the most pedestrian friendly walking and shopping districts. Rochester Hills is a little further out but the downtown (right around the library) is a great walking area and has big parks on either end. All three also have great public libraries which might be a good starting point for finding out about local events or meetups. Birmingham is right next door to Cranbrook, which has an art museum and grad art school, and the art museum hosts fun free events pretty regularly. The campus is open to the public and cool to walk around if you're interested in 1930s architecture.
I don't know the name of the group, sadly, but there is a French conversation club that meets on the weekends at JavaHutt in Ferndale - I bet if you stopped by and asked the owners they'd be able to tell you more. The club members aren't native speakers of course, but I bet they'd be thrilled to meet you and might be able to help you connect with other expats in the area. (They might be listed on Meetup.com?)
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u/OvertlyPetulantCat 2d ago
Head out to Belle Isle! The weekends are very busy and you might make a friend or two. Also the aquarium is delightful (check hours before you go).
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u/driftwood14 2d ago
I knew a guy, he is retired now and I don’t have his contact information, but he was involved with a local French group. I think it was a group of industrial professionals who would meet up and work at networking specifically for the French community. So you might try searching for that group.
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u/handknitliz 2d ago
If you're in the suburbs, this shop on Telegraph is amazing! And everyone, patrons included, are speaking French whenever I'm there. Maybe it feels a little like home? https://maps.app.goo.gl/ubdMSkKmWat481vg6
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u/Violainejane 1d ago
I take classes at the Alliance française de Détroit. In addition to French classes, they host and organize events like, cinema nights, painting classes (en francais), conversation groups, wine tastings, lectures, crepe picnics, and other fun stuff. There is also a lending library. https://www.afdetroit.org/cultural-events/french-cultural-events/#/
Sorry if this is weird but I could really use some help learning the language. Any tips?
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u/warewolf23 1d ago
I can't really add anything to the great suggestions everyone has posted, but if it makes you feel more at home, I don't think anybody would bat an eye if you pronounced it "day-twah." I'm only French-Canadian and do it all the time! Welcome to MI!
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u/Fun_Particular_4515 2d ago
Eastern Market on a Saturday, explore the Detroit Institute of Arts and then stroll around midtown (Canfield Street is nice), Campus Martius, Capitol Park. Once the weather gets a little warmer, the riverfront behind the Renaissance Center will be lively.
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u/ClownTownJanitor 1d ago
Some great suggestions here. Didn't see it mentioned but I would add downtown Ann Arbor to the list.
Dense downtown, albeit at a smaller scale from a major city, but packed with cafes, bars & restaurants of all types and unique stores. Plus the energy of a major university town. It even has some high quality parks and cultural institutions that are no or low cost through U of M.
Lastly, there's a direct bus line from downtown Detroit to downtown Ann Arbor, the D2A2, that is affordable, clean and has regular hours.
Welcome to Michigan! I've lived here my whole life and enjoy it. I hope you're able to find some things that bring you joy. I also hope you get to spend some time this summer along our coasts and up north to get to experience more of our great state!
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u/dutch_emdub 1d ago
Sign up for a Detroit History Tour! They offer lots of different tours - I did a boat tour on the river once and a Halloween tour. Even if you're not really into history, they're amazing and tell great stories, and you get to spend some time with other people. I have to admit that most of my fellow tour members were old people but they were nice to hang out with for a bit! (They had some cool stories to share about Detroit back in the day too ;-))
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u/kparis 1d ago
Welcome! Having a bike in the summer is a fun way to get around. Eastern market on Saturdays, many concert venues (Majestic, Magic stick, Filmore, Fox theatre, El Club, St Andrews, The shelter, LCA), lots of free and social summer events happening
It may be a bit of a culture shock but once you find your groove I think the possibilities are endless here
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u/ImpossibleLaw552 1d ago
DIA, tour Meadowbrook Hall, Cranbrook (art and science museum)-just off the top of my head.
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u/AppearanceAutomatic1 1d ago
For starters, check out the Congregation! Feel free to PM me for more suggestions or let me know what your interested are. I’m happy to make more specific suggestions.
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u/Suspicious_Way_3603 1d ago
Omg the Dequindre Cut and Detroit Riverwalk. With spring almost here there will be a ton of group bicycle rides too!
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u/jakecovert Woodward Corridor 1d ago
Welcome!!
We hope you fine some cool unique people and places as you explore.
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u/Extension_Ad4962 1d ago
You can walk around Grosse Pointe and listen to all the locals mispronounce the streets named for the original French settlers
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u/SanJuanMountains 1d ago
Maybe try this meetup group.
Check out Cultural Events - Alliance Française de Detroit on Meetup https://www.meetup.com/Events-Alliance-Francaise-de-Detroit
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u/bluelinka27 8h ago
Welcome! Outdoors: Dequindre cut River walk Belle isle Bars to meet people: Bumbos Bronx Cafes: Kitab The congregation La ventana Clubs to hear music: Spotlite Spkrbox
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u/phylum_sinter 2d ago
What kind of music do you like? Detroit has great jazz, blues, techno, idm, punk, a few flavors of noise. Lots of international cuisine (i highly recommend going to Mexicantown and Corktown).
In warmer months (maybe next week or 2), the city's downtown center (Campus Martius) is quite lively. All along Woodward Avenue Starting downtown and heading north you pass through the theater district (I recommend the detroit symphony orchestra, or if you are more into jazz check out Cliff Bell's, one of my favorite spots.
Also right there - at the heart of the city - you'll see a recently renewed riverwalk, lots of music festivals in the warmer months there at Hart Plaza, and yeah, hundreds of small businesses constantly adding to the flavor and variety of the city.
I wish I had the resources to be a city guide, but i'm currently at the edge of the Metro area and no car at the moment. Feel free to drop in my messages if you like, and welcome to Detroit!
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u/BaconGivesMeALardon 2d ago
Where at from France, have family and many culinary ties to France. My family is mainly from Le Havre.
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u/Sorry-Detective-7049 2d ago
So many answers, you all are the best ! Thank you for all the suggestions !