My Detroit Adventures, 28 - 31 August 2026

Coming Home to Detroit — Friendship, Music, Memories, and Feeling Young Again

August 28–31, 2026 — Detroit, Michigan

Some trips are vacations. Some trips are adventures. And some trips feel like coming home.

My Detroit weekend from August 28 through August 31, 2026 was all three.

Detroit is where my story began. I was born here, grew up here, and no matter how many countries I visit or how many oceans I cross, there is something about returning to Detroit that connects me to an earlier version of myself. The streets, the neighborhoods, the food, the architecture, the people, and even the changing skyline all carry memories.

This particular weekend became even more special because I was sharing it with my best friend, Natalie. We packed four days with music, food, walking, art, laughter, rain, history, and two major concerts. By the end of the weekend, I felt exhausted in the best possible way—and, for a few wonderful moments, about 17 years old again.

Friday, August 28 — Back in My Hometown

My adventure started early Friday morning.

By approximately 6:40 AM, I had already made my way through the airport and was sitting at the gate waiting for my flight. Everything went surprisingly smoothly. There is always a certain energy at the beginning of a trip—the bags are packed, the plans are made, and the entire adventure is still waiting ahead of you.

But this trip felt different. I wasn't simply flying somewhere for the weekend. I was flying back to Detroit.

By around 11:00 AM, I met Natalie at baggage claim at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. It was wonderful seeing her, and almost immediately the weekend began moving at full speed. We collected our luggage, ordered an Uber, and headed into downtown Detroit.

Our home base was the Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Downtown, a great location that put us close to many of the places we wanted to visit.

After checking in, we began settling into the rhythm of downtown Detroit. Every time I return, I notice something different. Detroit continues to evolve. Buildings I remember from years ago stand beside new restaurants, entertainment venues, apartments, public spaces, and businesses. The city carries its history proudly, but it is also clearly looking forward.

RUSH at Little Caesars Arena

Friday evening, Natalie and I headed toward Little Caesars Arena for the RUSH “Fifty Something” concert.

Our seats were in Section 109, Row 9, and I had been looking forward to this evening for weeks.

There was another reason this concert meant something to me: it was my first rock concert since 2018.

Walking toward the arena, surrounded by thousands of other fans, I could feel that familiar excitement building. Concert nights have their own atmosphere. People are smiling, talking about favorite songs, wearing old tour shirts, and sharing memories connected to the music.

Once inside the arena, the lights, sound, crowd, and anticipation brought everything to life.

For a few hours, age seemed almost irrelevant. I wasn't thinking about retirement, schedules, appointments, travel planning, or anything else. I was simply sitting there with one of my closest friends, listening to great music in my hometown.

There are moments in life when you suddenly realize, I am exactly where I want to be. This was one of them.

Leaving Little Caesars Arena afterward, downtown Detroit was still alive with people and energy. Natalie and I walked back toward the hotel talking about the show, the music, and the evening. It was a fantastic beginning to the weekend.

Saturday, August 29 — Eastern Market and Another Concert

Saturday began with one of my favorite things to do in Detroit: simply getting out and exploring.

Natalie and I headed toward Eastern Market, one of the city's most distinctive places.

We walked approximately 1.6 miles, which turned the morning into a combination of sightseeing and exercise. Eastern Market on a Saturday is Detroit at its most colorful and energetic. Farmers, food vendors, artists, shoppers, longtime Detroit residents, suburban visitors, and tourists all move through the market together.

Before really diving into the market, we stopped for breakfast at Farmer Franks. A good breakfast is one of the great pleasures of travel, particularly when you know you have a long day ahead.

After eating, we spent time walking around Eastern Market, looking at the produce, food, merchandise, flowers, and activity. Markets like this tell you something about a city that museums and guidebooks sometimes cannot. You hear conversations, see families shopping, smell food cooking, and watch ordinary life happening around you.

Detroit has always been a city of neighborhoods and people, and Eastern Market continues to represent that spirit. We did some shopping and simply enjoyed being part of the Saturday morning crowd.

Ed Sheeran in Detroit

Saturday evening was Natalie's big night. We attended the Ed Sheeran concert, and the entire evening had a different energy from the RUSH concert the night before.

Two nights. Two major concerts. Two completely different musical experiences. That is exactly the kind of weekend I enjoy.

One of the best things about traveling with a good friend is sharing something that is especially meaningful to them. I had been excited about RUSH. Natalie was especially excited about Ed Sheeran. Watching someone you care about enjoy an experience makes the experience better for you too.

The crowd, production, music, and atmosphere made it another memorable Detroit evening. By the time we returned to the hotel, we had already packed what felt like a week's worth of activity into two days. And somehow, the weekend still wasn't finished.

Sunday, August 30 — A Rainy Detroit Morning

Sunday morning arrived with a completely different personality.

I woke at approximately 7:00 AM, still energized by everything we had done the previous two days. Natalie and I met in the hotel lobby at approximately 8:45 AM.

At around 9:00 AM, our Uber driver, Barbara, picked us up and drove us toward the Detroit Institute of Arts area.

Our first destination was Babo, a beautiful breakfast and brunch restaurant near the museum. This turned out to be one of the culinary highlights of the weekend.

Babo specializes in fresh breakfast and brunch dishes, along with mimosas and specialty drinks. Natalie and I were seated at a wonderful corner/window table, which gave us the perfect setting to slow down after two very active days.

We talked. We ate. We relaxed. And we simply enjoyed being there. Sometimes the best moments of a trip are not the major attractions. They are the quiet conversations over breakfast when nobody is rushing anywhere.

While we were inside Babo, the weather changed. The rain began. Detroit became a rainy Sunday city. But instead of ruining the day, the rain gave everything a slightly different mood. Streets became reflective, umbrellas appeared, and the city seemed quieter. Fortunately, our next destination was indoors.

The Detroit Institute of Arts

After breakfast, Natalie and I made our way to the Detroit Institute of Arts. The DIA remains one of Detroit's great cultural treasures.

I have visited museums throughout the United States and around the world, and one of the things I increasingly appreciate is how much art reveals about the people and time that produced it.

For me, one of the most powerful parts of the Detroit Institute of Arts will always be the Diego Rivera Detroit Industry Murals. They are extraordinary.

Standing inside Rivera Court and looking at those enormous murals is an experience that goes far beyond simply viewing paintings. The murals capture industry, workers, machines, movement, technology, and human labor. They tell a story about Detroit when the automobile industry was transforming America and the world.

Because Detroit is my hometown, those murals carry an additional emotional weight. They are not simply about industry. They are about Detroit. They represent generations of men and women who worked in factories, built automobiles, supported families, and helped create the industrial power of the United States.

As a photographer and visual storyteller, I also find myself looking at art differently now than I did when I was younger. I pay more attention to composition, light, perspective, color, human expression, and storytelling. Art teaches you how to see. Photography taught me the same thing.

Natalie and I spent time exploring the museum, talking about what we saw and enjoying a slower-paced afternoon after the excitement of the concerts.

Sunday Evening in Greektown

By Sunday evening, it was time for another Detroit tradition: food.

We headed to Greektown and had dinner at Pegasus. Detroit's Greektown remains one of those places that carries a strong personality. Restaurants, lights, people, music, and city traffic create a lively atmosphere.

After several days of walking and activity, sitting down for a good Greek meal felt particularly satisfying.

Food is one of the ways I remember trips. I may forget the exact time I arrived somewhere, but I often remember the restaurant, the table, the conversation, and what the evening felt like.

Dinner at Pegasus gave Natalie and me the chance to talk about everything we had done: RUSH, Eastern Market, Ed Sheeran, Babo, the DIA, the rainy Sunday, and simply being together in Detroit. I realized how much we had managed to experience in only a few days.

Monday, August 31 — Heading Home

Monday morning arrived much too quickly. The weekend had been filled with activity from beginning to end, but now it was time to leave Detroit and return home to Fairfax, Virginia.

There is always a strange feeling at the end of a good trip. You are tired. You are ready to sleep in your own bed. But part of you wants another day. Another breakfast. Another walk. Another conversation. Another adventure.

As I headed back toward the airport, I thought about what made the weekend so meaningful. Yes, the concerts were wonderful. Yes, the food was excellent. Yes, Eastern Market and the Detroit Institute of Arts were worth the trip. But the real value of the weekend was something much simpler: friendship.

Natalie and I were able to spend several days simply enjoying life together. We laughed. We talked. We walked. We ate. We listened to music. We explored. We got rained on. And we made new memories in a city already filled with old ones.

Detroit — Where My Story Began

Travel has taken me to extraordinary places. I have stood in Antarctica surrounded by ice. I have visited the Taj Mahal. I have seen African wildlife in the wild. I have walked through ancient cities. I have crossed oceans. I spent 274 days traveling around the world.

Yet Detroit will always occupy a different place in my heart. Detroit does not need to impress me. It already knows me.

This city represents childhood, family, growing up, mistakes, dreams, friendships, beginnings, and the person I eventually became.

Every time I return, I see Detroit through two sets of eyes. One belongs to the boy who grew up here. The other belongs to the man who has traveled around the world and come back. That combination makes returning home fascinating.

Feeling 17 Again

Perhaps my favorite memory from the entire weekend wasn't one particular restaurant, museum, or concert. It was the feeling.

Standing inside a packed arena with Natalie, listening to music and watching thousands of people around us having the time of their lives, I suddenly felt younger.

Not physically younger. My knees still knew exactly how old I was after all the walking. But emotionally? For a little while, I felt about 17 again.

Excited about music. Excited about being out in the city. Excited about what might happen next. That feeling is priceless.

Getting older does not mean life has to become smaller. If anything, I want mine to keep expanding: more travel, more friendships, more photographs, more concerts, more meals, more conversations, more stories, and more moments that make me stop and think, I am really glad I was here.

My Detroit weekend from August 28–31, 2026 gave me plenty of those moments. And once again, Detroit reminded me that sometimes one of the greatest adventures in the world is simply going home.

The journey continues.