w f 4 16B - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 18, 2004 Greektown venues offer out-of -town experience By Leah Hangarter Daily Arts Writer If the 2004 summer Olympics inspired dreams of traveling to the land of Zeus and Aphrodite, but you're lack- ing money or time, Detroit's Greektown might be the next best thing. Greek res- taurants, gift shops and a casino make up this lively corner of Detroit. Follow the blue signs with white Parthenon symbols through the maze of downtown Detroit and eventually you will find yourself on the main drag. Be warned that parking in a lot is not cheap. Private lots have on-site attendants col- lecting a flat $10 rate parking fee and even a nearby church charges the same price for parking, so it is advised to find a spot within walking distance. Once out of the car, strains of music slowly become audible. Part outdoor mall, part Athens, the central block of Monroe Street is filled with Greek tunes projected from hidden speakers. Artifi- cial marble statues adorn windows of restaurants, and flashing neon signs reading "Pegasus" or. "Pizza Popou- * lus" decorate restaurant exteriors. It is easy to forget you are in Detroit, but it is harder to determine if you stumbled upon a bit of Greece in Michigan or if you took a wrong turn and wandered into Disneyland. The American sized Sports Utilities Vehicles that would never fit on European streets line the sidewalk and the authenticity of Greek- town is marred by the presence of Alley Grill and several other steak restau- rants. Nevertheless, if one ignores its osten- tatious qualities, Greektown has a lot to offer. More than 20 restaurants, baker- ies and bars line the street. At one end is the Grapevine Cafe, resembling the cafes found on Main Street in Ann Arbor, and at the other end traditional Greek restaurants serve moussaka and spanakopita. In search of a quick snack, decadent pastries and desserts beckon from the display window of the renowned Asto- ria Pastry Shop. If the ornate dessert display was not enough to entice cus- tomers, the steady flow of people in and out of the shop encourages a trip inside. The rule of thumb that if a restaurant is busy it is probably good certainly applies in this situation. Maneuvering through the crowd, the glass case of sweets appears to stretch into infinity. From galaktoburiko (a Greek custard roll) to chocolate truffle baklava to traditional carrot cake, Astoria Pastry Shop has something to satisfy every sweet tooth. The bakery interior exudes an old- world charm: The ceilings are covered in ornate bronze molding, the red cush- ioned booths are full of families enjoy- ing a Sunday afternoon coffee and pastry and the white tile floor leads to large glass windows that create a win- dow into the spacious kitchen. A wall covered in newspaper clippings, includ- ing an article from The New York Times travel section, hails the bakery as one of the highlights of Detroit. The success of Astoria Pastry Shop is refreshing during this time of Detroit's economic struggle. Greektown and the Greektown Casino have been consis- tent forces in Detroit's tourism indus- try and will continue to be important as Detroit begins its waterfront com- munity development. Gambling enthusiasts can test their luck at the casinos, but if you're looking for a wilder time, step around the cor- ner to Bouzuki Exotic Dancing, Food & Drink, housed in a building modeled after the Parthenon. Whether gambling, drinking, eat- ing or shopping, Greektown is worth a visit. Sip on some ouzo, nibble on some baklava, and take a trip back to the sun- bleached steps of the Acropolis. EXCITE ATOMS WITH A CONCENTRATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY. (OR NUKE IT, DEPENDING ON YOUR MAJOR.) t .s s a IT FILLS YOU UP RIGHT. ?CSC Brands, L.P. 2004