I recently completed an online course and one of my fellow students asked if I had a blog. I replied that yes, indeed I did, but realized how much I've neglected it the past couple of years. I have taken a couple of vacations but haven't travelled as much as I'd like since the world opened up again after Covid. Strange how a couple of years ago, the thought of even crossing the border to Detroit seemed unlikely but I've been over a few times now, most recently, last night.
My sister Jennie and I booked a tour through Windsor Eats known as the D-TOUR: DETROIT PUB CRAWL.
The D-Tour marks a WindsorEats bus tour to venture to Detroit. Hakuna Matata all night long as you travel magic school bus style to some of Detroit’s hidden and not-so-hidden gems. There will be three stops along the way for our guests to imbibe. Did we mention there’s also karaoke on the bus to keep you entertained?
The WindsorEats D-Tour, (get it? detour?) will allow easy access for you to visit some iconic local hangouts in Detroit without the need to drive, allowing you time to focus on a good time.
We arrived early at Windsor Eats so we could get a drink and some food before boarding the bus. Rico Taco has a food truck in the courtyard and serves the most delicious Mexican food. It pairs well with a Margarita flight offered inside Windsor Eats. We opted for the Beef Birria Fries: fresh cut fries with nacho cheese, beef birria, red onions, sour cream, guacamole cream sauce and cilantro. Soon after, our bus pulled up and we hopped on.
We got through customs with no problems and headed to our first dive bar called Jolly Old Timers (or JOT for short). We were greeted by Judy who had us line up for drinks in an orderly fashion. (Judy is in the leopard print outfit in the photo below). Their specialty shot or cocktail is known as the Peanut Butter cookie. This consisted of Peanut Butter Whiskey mixed with Rum Chata. Most of us tried it. It was $5 a shot or $9 for a cocktail. Detroit prices are much cheaper than in Canada! We stayed for about an hour and 20 minutes and then hopped back on the bus to the 2nd stop on the tour.  |
| The peanut butter shot
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The Two Way Inn, established in 1876 is the oldest bar in Detroit, having gone through many reincarnations as village jail and general store, brothel, speakeasy and now a dive bar. It had an old phone booth (captured above with Jennie inside) and an old cigarette machine. You have to be buzzed inside the bar. They have a camera at the door and watch to see who is outside before allowing them in. It's a great atmosphere in a historic setting.
We hopped back on the bus where the karaoke was fired up. Soon, 35+ drunken Windsorites were belting out Sweet Caroline and Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of their lungs. Our poor bus driver! The 3rd and final stop was Abick's bar. This hidden gem has been open since 1908, an old brick building with a cigar lounge in the back. The picture isn't deceiving...they still had all their Christmas decorations up (and Valentines and St. Pat's!). Apparently it's a running joke with the staff.
We got back on the bus and made our way home through the Windsor-Detroit tunnel. This was such a fun experience. I would 100% recommend it. It was a fun group of people and it was interesting to see these gems that Detroit had to offer. I promise my next post won't take 2 more years to write!
~MT
