Detroit/Ann Arbor

Hotels:

Range from $109-159. Downtown Detroit would be more central to most of the activities, but also a bit pricier. I got one group price for the Detroit Marriott at the Ren Cen. [link] Their rate was $149/room. They would waive the room rental fee for the prom space if we spend $4000 on food and drink.

The Troy Marriott is used to conventions (it’s where our annual convention is) and our rate for that con is $89/night, but that con is like 500 people and takes up most of the hotel, so I’m not sure they would give us the same rate. Plus, a little out there from most of the attractions.

Ann Arbor would be more difficult to book and quite frankly, it's a cute little college town with stuff to do, but I think we'd have more fun in Detroit.

Public Transport :

If we’re in Downtown Detroit, the public transport is decent. The People Mover (elevated train) goes to most of the major attractions. I’ve not had experience with the buses or taxis down there, but walking is also good.

Eating and Drinking :

Downtown Detroit has Greektown and lots and lots of food everywhere. Also lots of bars and the Best Irish Pub not In Ireland. Downtown Delux, Town Pump, Hockeytown, Chelis Chilli, Old Sheleighleh, Cliff Bells

Shopping :

Not a lot of shopping downtown save some touristy crap.

Other Things:

Sporting Events (some of the best in the world):

Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Tigers
Detroit Lions

Museums:

Det Institute of Art [link]

Det Science Center [link]

Det Historical Museum [link]

Det African Museum [link]

Det Holocaust Museum [link] (sound)

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village [link]

Plus a bunch more in outr lying areas.

Cultural Areas:

Greektown-Downtown
Mexican Town- South West Side
Polish Village- Hamtramck
Arabic Cultural Area- Dearborn
Canada

There are also some wonderful brand new world class casinos Greektown, MGM, Motor City. some spaces for leisure activity Belle Isle, Detroit River Walk.

Airline Prices: Booking early is best, as NorthWest likes to screw people over if it can. Current prices are ranging from $200 - $400.

Weather:

Average high for early May is 72 degress, average low is 50. It's generally pleasant late spring weather - mostly sunny, a few showers.

so would you be point person?

I don't think I could be the full-on point person, as it's a good four-hour drive from here to Ann Arbor, but I could do some assist work with Aimee if she wants.

I will probably want!

UPDATED Midwest F2F City Choices:

City: Madison
Point Person: SailAweigh
Pimpage here: SailAweigh "F2F 4: Too Much Candy, Never Enough Mojitos." Dec 3, 2007 8:07:13 am PST

City: Minneapolis
Point Person: Juliana
Pimpage here: juliana "F2F 4: Too Much Candy, Never Enough Mojitos." Jan 17, 2008 10:05:45 am PST

City: Houston
Point Person: Dana
Pimpage here: Dana "F2F 4: Too Much Candy, Never Enough Mojitos." Jan 18, 2008 8:32:44 am PST

City: Detroit
Point Person: Aimee/Ailleann
Pimpage here: Aimée "F2F 4: Too Much Candy, Never Enough Mojitos." Jan 25, 2008 9:10:19 am PST

where do you live? Seriously, I don't know. We NEED to update our maps, I don't know where anyone is anymore weeps

Dallas until shrift smites it. It's not ideal, but I know where all the cool bits/times of year are. For instance, if anyone wanted to come down for St. Pat's we live a block off the parade route and have a ginormous party every year.

Hey, I tried! Our phones hated each other!

And I highly recommended you!

Texas scares me. There's a lot of bad hair there.

Houston is a lot less stereotypical Texas than some places. It's not Austin, but it's got plenty of funky counter-culture people.

See I find Texas sort of exciting, in a QuintessentialAmericanCliche way. I mean, it's Texas! Where they have cowboy hats! And, presumably, cowboys! Which, from my perspective, is like saying space aliens. Hell, in Houston they also have space ships!

...

...I'm only just taking on board that that is an actual place that (presumably, possibly?) has both cowboys and spacemen!

Wow! It's like Toy Story!

Texas scares me. There's a lot of bad hair there.

Dallas is...well NSM with the bad hair. It wants to be like LA, but without the California "liberal" attitudes. It wants to be cultured like NY, but without being multicultural. It wants to be both cosmopolitan and small town all at the same time.

This all leads to insane behavior and near constant hand wringing over something or other, but it's always a blast to watch. It also makes for quirky little inner city neighborhoods with huge old money mansions backed right up against $350 a month crap apartments.