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Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Take a spin through Metro Detroit like an auto baron; enjoy seasonal treats



    One-Tank Trip for Nov. 18-17

   (c) By Jim Fox

   DETROIT – You can “spend the holidays like an auto baron” and get a taste of what life was like at a grand estate in the 1920s.
   The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau is sending out an invitation to tour Meadowbrook Hall, an elegant 110-room, Tudor Revival mansion.
   As well, don’t miss the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House adorned in holiday decor and welcoming visitors in from the cold.
An edible Gingerbread Village is among the seasonal decorations at Henry Ford’s historic Dearborn Inn. (Barbara Fox photo)
    The historic Meadowbrook, lavishly decorated for the season, was built by Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of auto pioneer John Dodge, and second husband Alfred Wilson.
   It was constructed between 1926 and 1929 and is especially renowned for its craftsmanship, architectural detailing and grand scale covering 88,000 square-feet.
   Visitors can tour the rooms of the great estate in suburban Rochester and then take the Holiday Walk, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23, down Candy Cane Lane to the land of “Santa & Sweets.” Details: meadowbrookhall.org

   The Ford House Holiday Tours start Nov. 24 and continue until Jan. 7 in Grosse Pointe Shores, along Lake St. Clair.
   Completed in 1927, this auto-baron mansion is “all decked out for Christmas, including gorgeously decorated trees, Eleanor Ford’s custom-made vintage ornaments, glowing candles, and other holiday finery.” Details: fordhouse.org
Visitors can take a spin in an old Ford at Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village. (Jim Fox photo)
   Other seasonal adventures worth the drive are Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village, part of the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn.
   “You’ll feel like you stepped into an old-fashioned holiday card,” organizers say.
   Visitors can take a lantern-lighted journey into a living snow globe filled with live music, skating, fireworks and winter wonder throughout December. thehenryford.org

   Living the auto baron life
   Completing the baron fantasy tour is the Dearborn Inn, the grand hotel Henry Ford had built in 1931 across from his airport (now a Ford test track).
   The National Historic Site is also lavishly and tastefully decorated for the holidays and contains historic automotive photos, artifacts and furnishings.
   Part of the Marriott chain, it also has five replica houses from 1937 in a Colonial Village replicating the abodes of Edgar Allan Poe, Oliver Wolcott, Barbara Fritchie, Walt Whitman and Patrick Henry. dearborninnmarriott.com
Carollers are in the spirit at Greenfield Village’s Holiday Nights. (Barbara Fox photo)
   Did someone mention shopping?
   Americans haven’t celebrated Thanksgiving yet and are already planning for shopping and Christmas.
   Celebrate Detroit style with a trip to America’s Thanksgiving Parade on Nov. 23.
   It’s called “one of the country’s largest most spectacular parades,” a holiday tradition that dates back to 1924.
   Hundreds of thousands of spectators line Woodward Avenue to watch huge floats, colourful helium-filled balloons, thunderous marching bands and specialty acts. theparade.org
   “Black Friday” shopping in The D is always part of a good visit, with “can’t-beat deals around every corner.”
A carousel and kids’ rides offer a break from shopping at the 1,000-seat food court at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. (Jim Fox photo)
    Shop ’til you drop at the Mall at Partridge Creek, Somerset Collection, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets with 185 stores and Fairlane Town Center.
   For a full list of shopping destinations throughout the metro area, accommodation and tourism details, go to visitdetroit.com; or call 1-800-DETROIT (338-7648).
   The “Motor City” also has lions, tigers and lights with holiday entertainment and activities at Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo.
   More than five-million LED lights illuminate trees, buildings and more than 100 animal sculptures throughout the zoo now through Dec. 31. detroitzoo.org
   The holiday classic the Nutcracker heads to the Detroit Opera House on Nov. 25 and 26.
   The show features “amazing scenery,” stage effects and the talented Cincinnati Ballet. michiganopera.org
   See Midtown Detroit sparkle on Dec. 2 for Noel Night as more than 70 institutions feature fun activities.
   This includes horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday shopping, family craft activities and performances by some 200 area music, theatre and dance groups. midtowndetroitinc.com

   Buddy's adds another yummy location

   A Metro Detroit food institution – Buddy’s Pizza – has grown again with its 12th location in Ann Arbor.
   As the originator of the Detroit-style pizza, a Sicilian square deep dish pie, the family-run operation is consistently named one of the best pizzas in the U.S.
Buddy's Margherita and Original Veggie pizza. (Jim Fox photo)
   Buddy’s originated its legendary square pizza in Detroit in 1946 and handcrafts and double-stretches its dough for that light, crunchy crust.
   The Sicilian style of pepperoni under the famous Wisconsin brick cheese and sauce on top makes for a true award-winning Detroit original.
    The Ann Arbor location is at 3153 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. buddyspizza.com; Phone: (734) 792-9130
 
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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca

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