DTW managed to open its new terminal today without any sort of the shambolism we saw during what's bound to be 2008's most notorious airport meltdown.

So what's the early word on the new facility? Overall, people posting stuff on the web are pretty impressed--though it's not hard to top the old Smith Terminal.

Related Stories:
· "I'm glad they had their game on for Day One" [Detroit F-P]
· "I am thrilled the new DTW terminal is here...the old part of the airport has been around forever and is such a dump." [Twitter]
· "I didn't even know about the dumpy part of DTW until we took American last year. What a sad terminal." [Twitter]
· "Smith Terminal finally replaced at DTW - GO, DETROIT, GO!" [Twitter]
· "Power outlets don't seem especially plentiful" [USA Today]

[Photo: Wikimedia]]]> pbb 2008-09-17T17:45:58-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/17/124327/320

Spirit Air Flight 788 pulled up to Detroit Metro at 5:15 am this morning, making it the first flight to use the brand new North Terminal at DTW. And it's getting rave reviews already! Says one local:

It looks like Detroit is finally coming into the 21st century. I was tired of my friends flying in here and talking about how bad we are. I was kind of ashamed of our airport.

We were too! The new $431-million building has replaced the Berry and Smith Terminals nearby, so the change affects passengers not flying on Northwest or other SkyTeam carriers.

There have been rumors of fun activities today, but we're a little suspicious of how "fun" a new terminal can really be. At the very least, Southwest is handing out energy drinks, so, uh, there's that.

Related Stories:
· First Flight Greeted at Terminal [Detroit F-P]
· Ben Mutzabaugh Is Live Blogging from DTW [USA Today]
· Happy Hour in DTW [Jaunted]

[Photo: Southwest Airlines]]]> pbb 2008-09-17T12:45:30-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/5/114317/2990

You know how you can always tell the tourists headed to warmer climes when you walk through the airport? They're always the ones wearing goofy print shirts and short shorts even though it's bound to be frigid on the plane.

Jaunted member JetSetCD sent us this funny snapshot, along with a bit of an explanation:

I mean, it may be the Motor City and all, but really? Gotta love the guy in the tropical shirt at the bar; the flights around it were headed to various parts of Mexico.

Have your own travel snapshots? Drop 'em in our Flickr pool.

Related Stories:
· Travel Snapshots coverage [Jaunted]
· Tourists coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-08-05T11:46:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/18/225459/369

Looking to kick off Memorial Day weekend with some beats? Head to Detroit for Movement 08, an annual electronic music festival set in the city's downtown Hart Plaza.

You'll have your pick of four stages and awesome acts like Moby, Cobblestone Jazz, Rex Sepulveda and Peanut Butter Wolf from May 24-26. Most shows begin around noon and continue till midnight each day. After the music, the after-parties: There are plenty to choose from each night where you can mingle with the 20,000 other electronic music lovers.

A weekend pass is available for purchase online for $40 ahead of time, and if you're inclined to go all out buy the $175 VIP pass and get private check-in, access to an area above and behind the stage, access to a private bar and 15 drink tickets, private bathrooms and a T-shirt.

Related Stories:
· Movement 08 [Myspace]
· Datebook: Detroit [NYT]
· Music Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: harpomarx42]]]> sedona 2008-05-19T09:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/4/15455/19383

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Our acquaintance with the city of Detroit has been a bit tarnished by improbable and tedious layovers (grr, Northwest!), but we're turning over a new leaf in 2008. If only we had been paying attention, we could have been making a love connection by an overhead bin! And what better way to enliven a city that had been dead to you than to meet your true love (or true-love-for-now) there?

Just don't write her a crazy poem. This list should give you a head start:

The Magic Bag -- Whether you favor concerts like the New Year's Eve's Mega '80s party, or $2 "Brew and View" movie nights, it's a great place to meet "awesome people to kiss on a more permanent basis." 22920 Woodward Ave., in Ferndale

Redcoat Tavern -- This dark and cozy restaurant famed for its onion rings is perfect for sneaking glances at family dinners. 31542 Woodward Ave., in Royal Oak

Compari's on the Park -- This Italian restaurant covers your pastas, your pizzas and your beautiful blondes. 350 S. Main St., in Plymouth

Related Stories:
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]
· Detroit Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Detroit Hotels [HotelChatter]

[Photo: I Am Jacques Strappe]]]> egw 2008-01-04T16:00:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/11/19/17639/598

Poor St. Louis. What a short year it must've been at the top of the rankings of the United States' most dangerous cities. Detroit, it was announced Sunday, is back on top as the most crime-riddled metropolis in the country. Oakland showed up in the number four slot.

While a lot of people--in Motor City and beyond--don't find that very good news, we say go with what you know. Lots of dangerous places lure visitors looking for a thrill. And, hey, that can still include a visit to the Arch--St. Louis dropped from number one to number two on the list.

Related Stories:
· Detroit Declared Most Dangerous US City [AP, via Google]
· Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau [Official Site]
· St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission [Official Site]
· Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau [Official Site]
· St. Louis Is the Most Dangerous City in the US [Jaunted]

[Photo: paparutzi]]]> pbb 2007-11-19T17:15:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/5/10/142055/259

Who said raves were dead? Certainly not the thousands of people who will pack into the Hart Plaza at The Riverfront in Detroit on May 26, 27, and 28 for Movement 07, Detroit's electronic music festival. The lineup includes Detroit's own Moodymann, Juan Atkins and Jeff Mills.

Where To Stay:
Various bed & breakfasts like the Corktown Inn and the Windsor Street Inn might not appreciate you stumbling through the doors at 4 a.m., covered in fluorescent paint and glitter. Stick with the affordable Milner Hotel or the Shorecrest Motor Inn.

Where To Eat:
Greektown, of course. Head to the strip of restaurants on Monroe Street, behind the casino. Though some of the buildings have seen better days, anyplace that has Parthenon or Pegasus in the name is sure to satiate your hunger for a quick souvlaki. On Monroe St., you can also stop by the Second Baptist Church to repent for your earlier sins. It's one of the more aesthetically pleasing buildings in the area.

Where To Lose Your Money:
If the MotorCity or Greektown casinos doesn't get every cent, cross the Detroit River to Canada on the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry. Play a few rounds of blackjack at Casino Windsor while still feeling the drug-induced delusions of grandeur. We're only saying you can do this, not that you should.

Related Stories:
·   Detroit Travel Stories [Jaunted]
·   Hotels in Detroit [HotelChatter] ]]> ced138 2007-05-10T14:21:46-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/