![Nicole Curtis](https://cdn.hourdetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/02/Nicole-Curtis.jpg)
Nationally, Nicole Curtis is best known as a motivational speaker, author, and the renovation extraordinaire behind the historic home projects featured on DIY Network and HGTVβs Rehab Addict β some of which are based in Detroit. Locally, however, the Lake Orion native, who splits her time between her homes in Los Angeles and Detroit, as well as being on the road for speaking engagements in cities across the country, is a regular at a number of Detroitβs most beloved attractions. βAnything that is local, outside, and homegrown, thatβs my thing,β Curtis says. She shares a typical Saturday in the city, which often involves biking to her favorite parks, shops, and eateries with her family and Rehab Addict crew.Μύ
![](https://cdn.hourdetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/02/Eastern-Market-Breakfast.jpg)
Breakfast Break
βEastern Market has two waves, the super-early crazy people and the suburbanites that come out around lunchtime. Our sweet spot is 9-10 a.m. On Saturday, we get up and get breakfast over at Russel Street Deli. I love their raisin bread French toast. Itβs also next to Zeffβs Coney Island. We switch off between those two restaurants. If we donβt eat at Zeffβs, my little one has to still go in to say βhelloβ to Ms. Dee, Zeffβs sister. Iβm one of those freaky regulars (laughs).β
![](https://cdn.hourdetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/02/Shed-5.jpg)
Savvy Finds
βI was taken to Eastern Market as a little girl by my grandparents, who have since passed, and itβs a magical place to me. Shed 5 is our favorite spot because of Nasser Salameh with A&H Produce β he is a delight and wooed us with samples many years back. We roam through the rest of the market for a few hours, always peeking into Eastern Market Antiques. I mosey around there with hot tea; I take it to go from breakfast. Anything you see in our shows is sourced locally, and everything I buy goes directly into a house. Weβre never not working, because when you do the kind of work that we do, itβs enjoyable. Our wheels are always spinning, and weβre always plotting a new project.βΜύ
βWeβre never not working, because when you do the kind of work that we do, itβs enjoyable. Our wheels are always spinning, and weβre always plotting a new project.β
βNicole Curtis
![](https://cdn.hourdetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/02/James-Scott-Memorial-Fountain.jpg)
Wonders of Water
βWe leave Eastern Market around 1 p.m. If itβs a sunny, warm day, weβll spend the rest of the afternoon on Belle Isle. The treasure of Detroit has always been the waterfront, and Iβm a water person. Iβve been a member at the Detroit Yacht Club for years β itβs not a status thing β itβs a matter of the pool, and I keep our kayaks there. Itβs been so spectacular to see the transformation on Belle Isle. We are frequent visitors to the nature center and the aquarium, all of which were closed back when we first started coming. The rest of the city has been great, but, for me, Belle Isle has been the most amazing gift. Thatβs where we spend the majority of our time.β
Dining Downtown
βOne of my best friends, Vince Vazquez, owns Vicenteβs Cuban Cuisine downtown. Thatβs our dinner spot. You can go straight from Belle Isle down the riverfront and right to the restaurant, so we typically ride our bikes there. It was my favorite place before I even knew Vince. I love the Pollo Lemon and plantains, but basically, anything on their menu is so delicious. They also make a fabulous sangria and have a patio. Itβs a great place to wind down, children in tow. Then we bike home. Our bikes are decked out in the lights for Monday night Slow Roll [a weekly bike ride group in Detroit].β
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