Some learnin', too.

Patrick at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. We visited here after checking in at the terrific Ferry Street Inn. (That started wonderfully, by the way, with champagne, fresh roses and a lovely box of Godiva Chocolates. Oh, romance!)

At the MOCAD, we toured the other half of the "Shrinking Cities" exhibit that we saw recently at the Cranbrook. The museum itself was a piece of art. If I hadn't seen a picture before, I'm pretty sure I would've thought it was an abandoned building and driven right past it.

The new museum, which had its first exhibit in the fall of '06, is housed in a former auto dealership. The graffiti on the walls outside is part of the art. One of the artists who showed work as part of the inaugural installation, Barry McGee, also did the building facade. It was all very cool and quite close to our inn.

Afterward, we capped the night at Atlas Global Bistro, a restaurant down the street on Woodward Ave. Yum. Yum. Yum. Patrick had an outstanding meat-falling-off-the-bone lamb shank (Braised Colorado Lamb in Pomegranate Reduction with Fried Garlic Chips, Carrot Spatzle and Tied Bean Bundles). I had a delish blonde ravioli filled with goat cheese (Large Ravioli with Roasted Balsamic Figs, Pearl Onions, Fennel, on Hazelnut Brown Butter and Artichoke Crisps). Even my salad was a knock-out success (Mixed Greens with Celery Root Ribbons, Toasted Hazelnuts, Petite Basque Cheese Twirl, Sliced Pear, and Grand Marnier Vinaigrette).

For libations, Patrick had the two-hearted ale (Bell's) and I had a yummy Mas Borras pinot noir. I like the description of berries and cocoa. As for the Atlas, I cannot wait to go back.

Patrick would probably like to return just so he could tell off the fur-coated lady who tried to tell him off because his shuttle didn't pick her up. At least he said, "I don't even work here, lady." She even seemed kind of aggravated at that. Ha!