When it comes to rock music and cars, few U.S. locales have quite the history harbored in Detroit, Michigan.  Forever known for Motown Records and Marvin Gaye, Ford and General Motors, the Midwest destination has more recently redeveloped its status as the “Paris of the West.”  (Relatively speaking.)

Were someone to ask local Cameron Scott what he does for a living, it would most likely turn into a 20-minute conversation, with Scott citing his ventures as a radio personality and event organizer. Thus, it’s no surprise that he’d be the go-to-person when seeking out Detroit’s hotspots. 

Scott is best known throughout Motor City for spearheading Detroit Fashion Week in 2005, and for being the voice behind 98.3’s (Tower Radio) weekly show, where Scott gives style commentary, and advice, a la Carrie Bradshaw. At 24, Scott defies age barriers with his business sense and flair; he’s on the pulse of Detroit’s burgeoning renaissance from American car capital to cultural mainstay.  So, psychoPEDIA asked:

30 years have passed since Kiss released “Detroit Rock City.”  The city has since produced a number of notorious rock stars – Kid Rock, Eminem and the White Stripes included.  What’s the local music scene like today?
There’s a venue downtown called The Magic Stick that’s this old theater, where The White Stripes have played forever. Before Eminem and Kid Rock became famous, they played there. It’s one of those places where you have to go, like a rite of passage.

Another great place to see local music and up-and-coming rock stars is The Lager House if Jack White hadn't moved out of Detroit you could probably catch him here.

And some of them still live there?
Meg White still lives here. Eminem lives about 2 blocks from me in my neighborhood; his daughter’s elementary school is across the street from my house. And almost every morning, he pulls up in his big Navigator and drops her off. He adores her and it’s cute to see him bring her to school everyday.

Now that Kid Rock and Pam Anderson are married, you see a lot of them around town. They’re often seen at eastside bars in Mt. Clemens, and Kid is well known for grabbin’ a guitar and giving impromptu concerts. 

Any notable new acts?
Greenstreet is a great band from the Detroit area that tours throughout the Midwest, but you can catch them in the Detroit area at 5th Avenue Bar. The band is entirely comprised of Detroit natives, the guys have known each other since high school; they are a great blues-influenced band.

DJ Captn20 is one of my favorite DJ's in the Detroit area. He spins a great mix of hip-hop and dance music infused with ethnic beats. He's probably one of the hardest working DJ's in Detroit, it seems like he has a gig a night!

What’s the restaurant to go to if you want to see the art/fashion scene?
The cool thing about Detroit is that it’s one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country. Downtown, there’s this great Greek restaurant in Greektown, called Mosaic. A friend of mine, Athena, owns it. Her family is a huge part of Greektown - they also own the Greek town Casino. It’s the weirdest mix of food, but it’s all got this underlining Mediterranean feel. It’s gorgeous and cool and young; they have a DJ playing there every night that plays Middle Eastern house music.

Another choice is Oslo, downtown on Merchants Row. It’s an amazing sushi restaurant and underground art scene. Below the restaurant in the basement is a dimly lit, labyrinth of a lounge. Monthly parties like Sass keep Oslo busy and provide one of the most artistic, fashionable, chic crowds in the city.

And any true Detroiter knows you have to go to a Coney Island Diner at 3am for a Coney dog! Coney Island Diners are about as old as Detroit and they are everywhere. It’s the best, drunk food! 

There’s got to be a spot where you can say, ‘Only in Detroit!’…
There’s a neighborhood that’s been around since the 60’s called The Heidelberg Project. The neighborhoods are not in the best shape, so these artists came into this area in the 60’s and created an entire neighborhood of pop art. There’s a field with vacuums sticking up out of the ground! Hundreds of vacuums everywhere! Also, there’s a house that has old stuffed animals covering it. It’s very Warhol in the sense of taking commercial things that are the root to all evil and turning it into art. You feel like you’re on acid when you’re walking through the neighborhood! It’s become this underground, world-renowned pop-art living exhibition. 

What are Detroit’s coolest clothing stores?
Mark England Du Mode. He was the first retailer to go back downtown and re-did Woodward Avenue, the main vein of downtown Detroit. He has this huge store with these beautiful marble columns that carries European and Detroit designers.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s a store called Mother Flecher’s. I’ve gone thrifting and vintage shopping all over New York and this store blows them away! Once I found a 70-year-old Brooks Brothers suit that was NEVER worn. It was so bizarre, it was never hemmed and it had the full vest, jacket.... everything. It’s that awesome ugly brown color. It cost me only $55. Mother Flecher’s also has beautiful hats from the 30’s and prices are reasonable. She has just so much stuff that’s never been worn!

~Jessica McMenamin

Go There:

Mosaic, 501 Monroe Street, Detroit, (313) 962-9366, www.mosaic-detroit.com

Oslo, 1456 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, (313) 963-0300

American Coney Island, 114 West Lafayette, Detroit, (313) 961-7758 americanconeyisland.com

The Heidelberg Project, 3360, Charlevoix, Detroit, (313) 267-1622, www.heidelberg.com

The Magic Stick, 4120-4140 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, (313) 833-9700 x203, www.majesticdetroit.com/stick.asp

The Lager House, 1254 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, (313) 961-4668, www.lagerhousedetroit.com

Mark England De Mode, 1253 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, (313) 961-3991, www.markenglanddemode.com

Mother Flecher’s, 234 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, (248) 398-4816