Things to Do: Deer Widows Weekend

Put on your best dress and dancing shoes because after dark, metro Detroit will be geared up to help you let your hair down.

• Downtown Northville’s Girls Night Out: Shopping starts at 5 p.m. with special events, drawings, and discounts at many of Northville’s 50 retail stores. From art galleries to boutiques to home decor and more, there’s something for women of all ages and styles. After you’ve experienced the stores, take the girls to one of over 20 bars and restaurants without ever moving your car.
• Downtown Fenton Ladies Night Out: Deer widows receive a punch card that, when full, can be entered into a drawing to win prizes and gift cards to participating businesses. Some examples of shops that have participated include A Joyful Noise, Guenter Beholz Jeweler, Phoenix Hair Salon, Red Fox Footwear and Yesterday’s Treasures.
• Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Royal Oak: Like to laugh? Mark Ridley’s offers a wide variety of shows from a wide variety of comedians.

Put on your comfortable shoes, fill your wallet full of credit cards with a zero balance and exercise that eye that always finds the best bargains. Metro Detroit has shopping centers and outlet malls with discounts galore. Many of them with special deals and weekend bargains just for deer widows armed with days of independence.

• Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills has more than 180 unique shopping options. Check out fabulous stores like the Talbots Outlet, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Swarovski and many more who all have discounts throughout the season. Visitors from over 50 miles away can each receive a “Passport to Shopping,” full of discounts and special offers from over 100 retailers. Please stop at the Guest Services Desk in District 4 and say you are here for the Passport to Shopping!
• Birch Run Premium Outlets in Birch Run is about a 90-minute drive for metro Detroit, but it’s worth the ride if you have a day to spare. The first weekend of firearms hunting season is the outlets’ annual Deer Widows Weekend. Check in at the information center before you shop and claim your Deer Widow status and shopping guide. Deeper discounts and free gifts.
• Tanger Outlet Center in Howell is just outside of the metro Detroit area, but it is well worth the few extra miles! Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Guess and more are staples at this outdoor center, but there are so many more shops in between.
• The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township has more than 90 stores with an outdoor, open format. Check out the deals running in mid November at several store including Nordstrom, The Gap and at Ski by Journeys.

Other Malls

• Lakeside Mall is Macomb County’s premier indoor shopping destination
• Somerset Collection boasts an upscale shopping experience
• Fairlane Town Center is a Dearborn mainstay featuring all of your favorite shops
• Twelve Oaks Mall is Novi’s biggest destination to stroll and shop
• Ikea. Yes, it’s a single store, but it’s really more like its own mini-mall. Michigan’s only is in Canton

Downtowns and Quirky Shopping Districts

• Downtown Ferndale is a patch of diversity and culture featuring 60 specialty retail stores, novelty shops, wineries and breweries
• Downtown Plymouth is home to many independent retailers and restaurants
• The Nautical Mile is a concentrated area featuring boutiques, gifts and dining options with a waterfront flair
• At Eastern Market, go behind the food, fruit and flowers and you’ll find vintage clothing, Michigan-made goods and handcrafted treasures. Division Street Boutique sells all of your “Detroit Hustles Harder” garb. Or if you are looking to stock up on clothing, gourmet goods and household items, stop by Savvy Chic Trends
• Downtown Rochester has fine dining, breweries, art galleries and shopping
• The Village of Grosse Pointe features upscale shopping and elegant dining.

We’ve got tours of all types: architecture, food and bar and brewery strolls happening the second half of November. Some are guided, others are not. Some you walk, some you take a bus. Not all of them by far, but here’s a few highlights.

• Feet on the Street‘s Eastern Market tour provides strolling and tasting throughout the market.
• Detroit Experience Factory has a free walking tour every Saturday from 2-4 p.m.
• Show Me Detroit Tours offers daily sightseeing tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Detroit Urban Adventures offers downtown walking tours such as The D You Must See or Detroit’s Rise, Fall and Renewal.
• Motor City Brew Tours offers guided bus, bike or walking tours to Michigan breweries.

Holiday Lights Cities all around metro Detroit start stringing up lights and putting up Christmas trees for all to see in mid-November.

• Wayne County Lightfest is a favorite for families and friends alike. Enter on Hines Drive and Merriman Road in Westland.
• Wild Lights in the Detroit Zoo on weekends starts in November.
• Detroit’s tree lighting in Campus Martius Park is in November and includes performances from some of Detroit’s best talents.
• Lagniappe is downtown Rochester’s Big Bright Light Show debuts in November.

Photo credits: Girls Night Out from iStock; Somerset Collection courtesy of Somerset Collection; Eastern Market by Bill Bowen; Big Bright Light Show courtesy of Rochester DDA

D DISCOUNT PASS

The D Discount Pass saves you 20% or more on entrance to Detroit’s best-loved attractions. Get discounts on popular attractions, such as The Henry Ford, Detroit Institute of Arts, Motown Museum and Sea Life Michigan Aquarium, to name a few. What are you waiting for? Sign up!