48 Hours In Berkley & Clawson
By: Melinda Clynes, 12/18/2008
Nestled alongside its more notable neighboring cities, Berkley and Clawson are all-too content to keep their small town charms secret. Their downtowns are compact and have the kind of handmade feel other urban centers strive for and rarely achieve.
Metromode explored every nook and cranny to give you the inside scoop.
Metro Detroit's Hookah Scene
By: Terry Parris Jr., 12/18/2008
Smoky bars are nothing new in SE Michigan but ones that smell like apple and peach?
Hookah culture is becoming more and more popular with young Metro Detroiters, and Dearborn, with its large Middle Eastern population, is ground zero.
The View From Here - Metro Detroit 2008
By: Marvin Shaouni, 12/18/2008
Whether it's high-tech innovation or cultural inspiration,
Metromode's photographer Marvin Shaouni has been there to capture the heart and soul of Metro Detroit. Now, as the clock counts down 2008 we offer a retrospective of his masthead images from the year.
Happy New Year! We'll see you when we return on
January 8th.
Metromode Radio: The Arsenal Of Democracy
By: Chris McCarus, 12/18/2008
The ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY may have only been strong enough for one war 60 years ago. Today, Detroiters are asking Congress to save the arsenal of democracy. But Congress isn’t listening. So what is left of it? Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus looks for answers.
Let The Sun Shine In
By: Kelli B. Kavanaugh, 12/11/2008
The race is on! States around the Union are looking into alternative energy strategies big and small. And Michigan is no exception. With all the talk of wind power and alternative fuels, discussions of solar have been pretty absent. Is it our notoriously grey winters? Kelli Kavanaugh checks out who's looking to let the sun shine in in Metro Detroit.
Metro Detroit's CineMagic
By: Lucy Ament, 12/11/2008
While there's no shortage of big box multiplexes in Metro Detroit, the region also boasts a handful of vintage and offbeat movie houses that make a trip to the theater all the more magical. Not only do these venues offer a wider range of cinema, we at
Metromode swear the popcorn tastes better.
A Secondhand Economy
By: Daniel Johnson, 12/4/2008
Barter is back, resale has embraced upscale, and salvage goes green as Metro Detroit tightens its belt and widens its consumer options. Local businesses are successfully leveraging the Internet and up-to-the-minute trends to revive old tyme economic practices.
Metromode Radio: Mich Bio Life Sciences Conference
By: Chris McCarus, 12/4/2008
Michigan is an up coming leader in bio sciences. That’s the conclusion from a 2 day conference sponsored by the MEDC. The state has the major research universities plus a skilled workforce. It just needs venture capital. Chris McCarus went to the Novi event and spoke with Ann Arbor entrepreneur Rich Farkas.
Metro Detroit's Seven Day Weekend
By: Ryan Allen, 12/4/2008
Thursday is the new Friday. Or was that Tuesday? In Metro Detroit it doesn't really matter. Great local music can be had every night of the week. From punk to pop, electronica to jazz, hip-hop to hard rock,
Metromode offers up seven nights of tried and true sonic scenes.
Makin' Movies: 'American Virgin' Brings Jobs and Dreams to Local Crews
By: Terry Parris Jr., 11/20/2008
Nearly everyone involved in "American Virgin," from hair and makeup to catering and security to the unpaid extras, uses their hand as a map to show where they're from.
This mitten-made movie is making it clear that Michigan is ready for its Hollywood close up.
Retooling SE Michigan's Workforce
By: Lucy Ament, 11/20/2008
Evolve or perish has become the mantra for Michigan's economy. But what to do with generations of workers who flourished under the old system?
To borrow a recent slogan: "We are the change we have been waiting for". Metro Detroit's universities have some ideas about how to make that change.
Reinventing The Mundane: Detroit Design Center
By: Lucy Ament, 11/13/2008
Most designers want to make bold statements, to put their signature on high profile projects. Brothers Erik and Israel Nordin of Detroit Design Center have more modest goals. They want to make their mark in the mundane, reinventing the functional design of components in residential and commercial spaces while bringing a new aesthetic to Metro Detroit.
Metro Detroit's Real Radio
By: Dennis Archambault, 11/13/2008
As corporate radio blands out the airwaves with lowest common denominator programming, local college radio remains the last bastion for original and ecclectic soundscapes. And with the Internet, these student-run shows are finding listeners all over the globe.
Metromode Radio: SE Michigan Vies For Federal Money
By: Chris McCarus, 11/13/2008
The nation’s economy is weak. But the federal government still has money. Washington gives local municipalities $400 billion a year in grants (like for brownfield clean up).
Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus visits with Metro Detroit officials, all of whom are jockeying for federal dollars.
Sign Up: Speaker Series Talks Talent, Innovation and Detroit
By: Metromode Staff, 11/13/2008
Smart, savvy start-ups are proving to be key to keeping the young and the restless in Metro Detroit. Model D's Speaker Series looks at who's building businesses and retaining talent. It'll be on Thursday, Nov. 20. Sign up today.
Chicks With Sticks
By: Amy Whitesall, 11/6/2008
At hockey rinks around Ann Arbor, "You shoot like my mom," is not necessarily an insult. Scores of local women are tossing their figure skates aside, shredding ice and aiming to put their own 'bisquit in the basket.' Alaska's got nothing on SE Michigan when it comes to hockey moms.
U-M Dearborn's Virtual Game Face
By: Erika-Marie Geiss, 11/6/2008
The future is both virtual and digital. With computer gaming quickly becoming the cultural and technological linchpin to modern society (it's a $10 billion business), U-M Dearborn has developed a highly respected program that is turning out the next generation of game coders.
48 Hours In Rochester
By: Melinda Clynes, 10/30/2008
Cider Mills, strolls along the river, Michigan's greenest brew pub and Zwetschgenkuchen. Rochester's 150 year-old downtown offers homey high-brow comfort and a reprieve from the concrete hustle and bustle of nearby surburbs.
Metromode Radio: The Creative Big 3
By: Chris McCarus, 10/30/2008
Thought leaders recently gathered in Detroit for the Creative Cities Summit. Lead by Richard Florida, a trio of provocative speakers inspired attendees to look for creative solutions to Michigan's woes.
Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus was there.
From Scratch: Ring Ring
By: Jordan Miller, 10/23/2008
When opportunity rang Aaron Beals answered. The West Bloomfield 26 year-old realized that not only is there power in numbers, phone numbers specifically, there's money in what those numbers can spell. Thus was born Ring Ring, the place where companies go for their vanity phone number. It's a pity M-e-t-r-o-m-o-d-e has too many letters.
A Room With A View
By: Terry Parris Jr., 10/23/2008
If you stop to think about it, hospitals are a logistical nightmare. You have hundreds of patients with different treatments and schedules. Some have dietary restrictions, others don't speak English. Mistakes can have profound consequences. Dearborn's Oakwood hospital recently became the first facility in Michigan to employ a high-tech digital tracking system that makes sense of the chaos.
From Scratch: Dragon Bleu
By: Amy Kuras, 10/16/2008
It was love at first swallow. When law student Moti Goldring and undergrad pal Jared Rapp discovered that French premium vodka Dragon Bleu wasn't distributed in the U.S. they did what any good entreprenuer would do: decided to sell it themselves. So, what does it take to launch a high-end liquor import business in Michigan?
Metromode's Amy Kuras finds out.
Browsing By Design
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 10/16/2008
Videos, Internet marketing, fine art and Kwame's mug: 323 East in Royal Oak has become one-stop shopping for creative inspiration. Home to the Ohm Creative Group, this storefront firm and art gallery is an ambitious (and successful!) merger of innovative business and unbridled expression.
Speaker Series: More Transit Please
By: Metromode Staff, 10/16/2008
Streetcars like this could drive the Motor City. And what if bike lanes where cyclists wouldn't risk life and limb were the norm? At our next Speaker Series, Oct. 21, we'll feature two people -- John Hertel and Scott Clein -- who are working to make those dreams reality for Detroiters. Sign up today.
Teachable Moments: John Hartig
By: Dennis Archambault, 10/9/2008
As the hyperbole of election season politics hits full swing it's useful to remember that there's still a place for pragmatism. Meet John Hartig, a dedicated conservationist who helped bring govermental, corporate and international interests to the table in order to establish The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
Revisiting Portland, Thinking of Detroit Regionalism
By: Francis Grunow, 10/9/2008
No matter how we view our own community, Detroit's destiny and the region's destiny are one and the same. Francis Grunow's recent visit to Portland, Oregon inspired thoughts about regionalism, begging the question: Why isn't more being done here to emulate the Rose City's successes?
Chris Johnston's Loving Touch
By: Ryan Allen, 10/2/2008
Someday Ferndale will erect a statue to Chris Johnston. Or better yet, replace the police officer in Woodward Avenue's Crow's Nest with his likeness. Entrepreneur, bar owner, restaurateur, rocker and driving force behind downtown's resurgence, only one question remains: When does he sleep?
48 Hours In Dearborn
By: Melinda Clynes, 10/2/2008
Got a friend coming in for the weekend? What other Metro Detroit community can boast that it's got two downtowns?From the morning call to prayer to a picnic at Greenfield Village to a midnight martini at the Double Olive, Dearborn is a destination unto itself.
Metromode Radio: Making Electricity Underwater
By: Chris McCarus, 10/2/2008
In the race to produce cheaper renewable energy, one U-M professor is looking to harness electricity from the Detroit River using experimental cylinders. Chris McCarus has the story on Metromode Radio's latest podcast.
Talent By Design
By: Erika-Marie S. Geiss, 9/25/2008
From advertising to automotive to film, the College for Creative Studies' influence on the design world is far and wide. More importantly, its students exactly represent the kind of creative class professionals Michigan will need to transform its economy.
Reel Insight
By: Dennis Archambault, 9/25/2008
Did Shirley Temple have an oral fixation? Did Luke Skywalker want to sleep with his mother? The Reel Deal is a local film discussion group lead by psychotherapists and psychoanalysts. Along with the audience they examine the unconscious inspiration behind our favorite flicks. Think of it as group therapy with explosions and movie stars.
Metromode Radio: Thomas Friedman - Hot, Flat And Crowded
By: Chris McCarus, 9/25/2008
NY Times Columnist Thomas Friedman popped up in Ypsilanti last week to chat about his new book and talk about alternative energy, green innovation and how Michigan could reinvigorate its economy. Michigan Now's Chris McCarus had a front row seat.
Got DDA?
By: Lucy Ament, 9/18/2008
Grosse Pointe really wants a Downtown Development Authority. Three quarters of Metro Detroit's cities already have one. So, what do these governmental organizations do and why does it matter?
Metromode takes a look at how Ann Arbor and Royal Oak leverage their DDA's to create a vibrant, healthy urban core.
Fine Tuning: The Chamber Music Society Of Detroit
By: Amy Kuras, 9/17/2008
A standard bearer of culture and world class performance for 65 years, the Society may be located in Farmington Hills but it still calls Detroit home. Heck, it's in the name, ain't it? From educational outreach to an uncompromised approach to mission, there's a reason this classical music society thrives even as other cultural institutions struggle.
Speaker Series: How Detroit Can Be Creative Friendly
By: Metromode Staff, 9/17/2008
Model D's Speaker Series takes a field trip Sept. 25 to the Russell Industrial Center for a session on building clusters of creative businesses, which happens to be what the Russell does best. We'll also hear from Pure Detroit's owners about their legacy, 10 years of being one of the city's hippest businesses.
Model D Radio: Hamtramck Zen Buddhist Center
By: Chris McCarus, 9/16/2008
A Buddhist temple in the city of Hamtramck is becoming a model for
community development. They start from the roots. They’ve got a total
package for strengthening minds and bodies, furthering religious
tolerance and even curbside clean up. Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus has
their story.
Russell Bazaar Puts Small-Biz Success in a Big, Big Place
By: Jon Zemke, 9/16/2008
Buzz,
buzz, buzz. Detroit's Russell Industrial is a hive of activity, and now
even more so. The new Russell Bazaar, an eclectic market of independent
artists and unique retailers, is set to open this weekend, doubling the
number of tenants in this former industrial complex.
Model D TV: Film Friendlier Detroit
By: Tom Hendrickson, 9/16/2008
Not just actors, but florists, caterers, hotels and more are cashing in on the mitten state's movie boom. Hear more about it from a recent forum in Detroit that brought Wayne County leaders together to learn about how to make our region more film friendly.
A New Way To Work
By: Ryan Allen, 9/11/2008
Everyone is talking about how Michigan's economy needs to evolve, but what about our local businesses? The old model of assigned cubicles and sanctioned coffee breaks is being rejected by the next generation of talent and some high tech companies in Ann Arbor are getting the clue.
To W2 or 1099? That Is The Question
By: Jon Zemke, 9/10/2008
Forbes says SE Michigan is among the 5 worst places in the US to find a job. W2 jobs, that is. Not only do 60% of businesses employ 1099 workers, their ranks are quickly growing --particularly in communities like Ann Arbor and Royal Oak. So, how does the state accommodate this new class of highly educated, independent employee?
United and Delighted: Dell Pryor's Spiral Collective
By: Rodd Monts, 9/9/2008
Dell
Pryor knows something about the good a little unity can do for Detroit.
The veteran art dealer brought together women entrepreneurs under the
Spiral Collective roof, and in turn made a mark on the Midtown
neighborhood and cultural scene.
Quick on Their Feet, Rollerbladers Come Together on Detroit's Streets
By: Maureen McDonald, 9/9/2008
They
travel in packs and zip through the city streets, only slowing down for
a libation at a skate friendly watering hole. Rollerblading enthusiasts
argue theirs is the best way to take in Detroit, from the smooth
pavement of the nearly finished Dequindre Cut pathway to the bumpier
ride on neighborhood sidestreets.
Model D Radio: St. Albertus Church
By: Chris McCarus, 9/9/2008
Michigan
Now's Chris McCarus takes us inside the beautiful St. Albertus Church
near Eastern Market, just in time for the annual fundraising festival
held to help preservation efforts.
United and Delighted: Dell Pryor's Spiral Collective
By: Rodd Monts, 9/9/2008
Dell
Pryor knows something about the good a little unity can do for Detroit.
The veteran art dealer brought together women entrepreneurs under the
Spiral Collective roof, and in turn made a mark on the Midtown
neighborhood and cultural scene.
Evolving Detroit's Public Television: A Conversation With Rich Homberg
By: Dennis Archambault, 9/4/2008
Rich Homberg wants public television to speak to Detroit's two identities -urban and suburban- while deepening its commitment to local issues, local programming and new media technologies.
Metromode's Dennis Archambault sat down to discuss with him the future of DPTV.
Oakwood's Expanding Cultural Mission
By: Erika-Marie Geiss, 9/4/2008
"Can you show me where it hurts?" A simple question, right? Not if the doctor and patient speak different languages. Harder still if they come from radically different cultures. With one third of Dearborn's population claiming Middle Eastern heritage, Oakwood Hospital has made cultural competence mission critical.
A Wish List for Motor City Transit
By: Terry Parris Jr., 9/2/2008
What
does our transit system lack that other cities have? We look at not
just the obvious big things, like rail, but offer some little changes
that would make getting around without a car easier in Detroit.
Detroit, One Man, One Month, No Car
By: Terry Parris Jr., 9/2/2008
It
wasn't like we asked him to eat exclusively at McDonald's or anything
-- just take a month, leave the car parked in the driveway and ride the
bus (and train and bike). Terry Parris Jr. discovered that the glass is
half empty and half full when it comes to transit options in Detroit.
And somewhere along the way, he found out he liked it.
Tech Transfer: Banking On SE Michigan's Universities
By: Scott Paul Dunham, 8/28/2008
There's a lot of talk about Tech Transfer but not everyone understands what it is, and what it could mean to Michigan's new economy. Metromode gives you the lowdown along with a snapshot of how U-M, WSU and Lawrence Tech intend to leverage their innovations into marketplace successes.
Colin Hubbell's Detroit: A Tribute to a Developer, Champion and Friend
By: Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey, 8/28/2008
Colin Hubbell taught many people how to love Detroit. A father, husband, real estate developer, teacher and avid city biker, he was also a mentor, volunteer, great supporter of local business and inspiration to those who knew him. The city was his home, his office and his playground.
Model D's editor Clare Ramsey offers this tribute to Colin, who died last week at 49.
Hubbell Remembered
By: Kelli B. Kavanaugh, 8/26/2008
From
city officials to local business people, Colin Hubbell touched many
with his warmth, positive energy, passion, and often frank advice. Or
all of the above. Here are some words from people who knew him well and
worked with him over his long career as a city servant, real estate
developer, teacher and mentor.
Metro Detroit On Deck
By: Melinda Clynes, 8/21/2008
Now that the waning days of summer are upon us, the opportunities to sip and sup by moonlight are dwindling.
Metromode points you toward some of Metro Detroit's best patios, decks and balconies for outdoor drinking and dining.
Michigan Green Jobs
By: Kelli B. Kavanaugh, 8/21/2008
Everything's gone green around here. Architects, retailers, entrepreneurs, big buys, little guys -- they are all starting to look like Kermit. But it's no wonder. Companies that embrace green-thinking, make green products and offer green services are bringing in bucks and building jobs in Michigan.
No Biz Like Show Biz: Making Movies Stick in Detroit
By: Kelli B. Kavanaugh, 8/19/2008
How
does Detroit get Hollywood's attention and keep it for the long haul?
Kelli B. Kavanaugh talks with Erik Tungate, who is working to attract
more film business to Detroit, and who is one of the speakers at this
week's Model D Speaker Series.
An Appetite For Atmosphere
By: Lucy Ament, 8/14/2008
It's said that the average American eats 198 meals out a year, spending an average of $855 million per day. So, what makes a restaurant 'hot'? Food, yes. But also its sense of place.
Metromode takes a look at a trio of Metro Detroit eateries that provide a feast for the eyes as well as the belly.
Metro Detroit Rocks YouTube
By: Ryan Allen, 8/14/2008
It wasn't what Gil Scott Heron envisioned, but the revolution just may yet be televised. As YouTube becomes the place to be seen, Metro Detroit's savvier rock bands are using Internet video to create their own scene.
Sign Of The Times
By: Shannon McCarthy, 8/7/2008
They say music is a language common to all humanity. Enter Sean Forbes and D-Pan, his Ferndale-based organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the hearing and deaf world via music videos.
Turning Brownfields Into Greenbacks
By: Jon Zemke, 8/7/2008
The old philosophy was knock it down and build anew. But what do you do with polluted or blighted land no one wants to take responsibility for? Creative economic incentives are transforming these unwanted brownfields into successful (and sometimes unexpected) properties.
Hot Art Starts at Furnace Design Studio
By: Lucy Ament, 8/5/2008
Does
stretching and shaping molten glass into all manner of art and objects
sound cool? Learn how from the masters at Furnace Design Studio,
bringing art, learning and stewardship to a corner of Southwest Detroit.
Metro Detroit Spins
By: Chris Handyside, 7/31/2008
Despite the all-encompassing digital age, vinyl has gotten its groove back, filling a high-end niche that CDs and MP3s just can't seem to scratch.
Metromode crunches the numbers, charts the trends and points you toward Metro Detroit's best (and still thriving) LP peddlers.
Ann Arbor's On The List
By: Constance Crump, 7/31/2008
Ann Arbor's one of the brainiest, greenest and most walkable cities in the country. Not to mention a great place for sandwiches, bicycling and getting pregnant. Too bad it's also one of the worst places to find a job. This SE Michigan community sure ends up on a lot of lists. Best of, Worst of, what does it all mean?
Save Tiger Stadium, Save the World (or at Least a Corner of It)
By: Francis Grunow, 7/29/2008
It's going, going, but not quite gone.
At
a Corner steeped in memories, a smart, creative reuse and scaled back
version of Tiger Stadium would be an incredible victory for the city.
Francis Grunow urges Detroit to act smart, and think outside the box
before it's too late.
Design Democracy: The Next Evolution In Manufacturing?
By: Lucy Ament, 7/24/2008
The inalienable right to have furniture designed the way you want it. That's what Kerry And Bryce Moore are after. But that's not all that's behind their "Design Democracy" movement. The owners of Context Furniture intend to revolutionize Michigan's entire approach to manufacturing.
Could Life Sciences Become Michigan's Core Industry?
By: Dennis Archambault, 7/24/2008
The handwriting is on the wall: SE Michigan's economy needs to develop new industries in order to thrive. Given the power and prestige of our local research universities and the fact that biotech startups are popping up like dandelions, some see the life sciences industry as our next best hope.
Michigan's Blue Bubble
By: Andy Guy & Jeff Meyers, 7/17/2008
Given that The Great Lakes account for 21% of the world's fresh water supply, Michigan's rivers and lakes are its most important and strategic natural resource. Will we ever start acting like it?
Mind, Body & Spirits: A Green Brew Pub
By: Melinda Clynes, 7/17/2008
From its LEED construction to its geothermal heating to its all local, all organic menu, Mike Plesz is a man with a mission: to turn a historic building in downtown Rochester into the greenest brewpub in Michigan.
Drinking beer never felt so responsible.
Rockin' The Suburbs
By: Amy Kuras, 7/10/2008
Come on feel the noize! Detroit's School Of Rock And Pop not only teaches adults to pump up the volume, they help them find bandmates to jam with. Whether it's power chords, bubblegum pop, head banging or groovin' to a funky bass line, think of it as rock and roll night school.
How Historic Preservation Can Help SE Michigan
By: Jon Zemke, 7/10/2008
Everything old is new again. And profitable. Historic preservation is more than just a longing for the old ways. It can be an economic driver for those SE Michigan communities that know how to leverage what they've got with where they're going.
Learn To Earn: Internships Work
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 6/26/2008
University students, no longer content with working yet another McJob, are pursuing internships as their path to a new economy career. While smarter local companies and leaders are getting the hint, there's still a lot more that can be done to keep these top talents in Michigan after graduation.
Regaining our Competitive Edge: A National Blueprint for Prosperity
By: Tracy Certo, 6/26/2008
It's a different world today and yet our federal government is still stuck in the 80's, says Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution. But what if Washington did things smarter? What if they actually planned for our urban future? Katz's national Blueprint for American Prosperity is a call to action for those who care about their cities.
Happy Fourth Of July
By: Metromode, 6/26/2008
We hold these truths to be self-evident: That even the editors and writers of
Metromode deserve a week off to lie around in a hammock or catch up on the latest superhero blockbusters. So, fear not that your email box is empty of our newsletter next week. We'll be back on July 10th with more star-spangled tales of innovation and growth in Metro Detroit.
From Scratch: Aqaba Technologies
By: Amy Kuras, 6/19/2008
Ramsey Sweis was 2.0 before the term was invented. Leaving his engineering job at General Motors behind while the Internet was still in its infancy, he jumped head-first into the wireless world and never looked back. Now, his web-optimization firm Aqaba Technologies is connecting SE Michigan to the rest of the world.
Going Hollywood: How To Make Your Community Film Friendly
By: Melinda Clynes, 6/19/2008
Last year Hollywood only shot two films in Michigan. Then two months ago the legislature passed the most ambitious film tax incentive package in the country and everything changed. At last count, 22 productions are looking to set up shop in the state. So, how do you get Clint Eastwood to bring his production to your community?
Metromode tells you how.
Sign Up For Model D's 3rd Anniversary Party & Speaker Series
By: Model D Staff, 6/19/2008
Model D is celebrating its 3rd year with a special speaker series, music and party on June 20 at the Max -- in conjunction with the DSO's 8 Days in June. Sign up for the free event, now. And as our b-day gift to you: Readers get a discount on that evening's 8 Days in June show.
Ferndale's New Neighbors
By: Dennis Archambault, 6/12/2008
Once upon a time Ferndale was a dying inner ring suburb. Then the gay community moved in. Now it's one of Metro Detroit's fastest developing cities, drawing a hip, young and diverse population to its walkable neighborhoods. How did longtime residents react? They not only embraced the change, they voted in Michigan's first openly gay mayor.
DSO Lets Its Hair Down for 8 Days in June
By: Walter Wasacz, 6/12/2008
The times they-are-a-changin', and 8 Days in June shows that the grand old DSO is still kickin'. The innovative festival is still classy, still quality, but it will challenge your perceptions of what an old guard classical music institution should and can be.
Share The Ride, Share The Pain
By: Amy Kuras, 6/5/2008
If you watched TV in the 70s you probably remember shows depicting happy dads catching their carpool to work. Well, with gas reaching $4 a gallon, happy days may be here again. With few mass transit options at hand, interest in vanpools, zipcars and rideshares is rising in Metro Detroit.
Ready, Set, Print
By: Shannon McCarthy, 6/5/2008
Jokingly referred to as the 'Michigan Mafia', book printers like Edward Brothers, McNaughton And Gunn, and a veritable bookshelf of other binding, printing and publishing companies bring millions of dollars and well over a thousand jobs to Washtenaw County. Whether it's Harry Potter, college text books, or U-M's partnership with Google's book digitization project, it's clear that the last chapter in Ann Arbor's publishing history has yet to be written.
Michigan's Special Ops
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 5/29/2008
Atten-hut! There's no camouflaging it – southeast Michigan is a bustling base of operations for businesses supplying all branches of the armed forces. Meet robot simulators, holographic weapon sights, and a fuel cell innovator on Metromode's first tour of duty.
Tech Banking In SE Michigan
By: Leia Menlove, 5/29/2008
New economy start-ups need banks that offer new economy know-how. Enter Bank of Ann Arbor's Technology Industry Group, the only program of its kind in Michigan. Modeled after the ground-breaking Silicon Valley Bank, it supports local emerging technologies and entrepreneurs in ways corporate banking giants can't.
A Growing Concern
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 5/22/2008
Toss that bag of Funyuns. Instead, grow some real onions! Area agriculture gurus offer up some sage advice on how and why Michigan's second largest industry should get its fair share of attention.
Driven To The Brink
By: David Holthaus, 5/22/2008
A new study finds that while the value of suburban homes is dropping, urban home values are appreciating. CEOs for Cities, which advocates for revitalizing our core urban areas, just released a white paper that links plummeting suburban home values to the spike in gasoline prices. Yet another reason to invest in SE Michigan's downtowns.
The Business Of Giving
By: Lucy Ament, 5/15/2008
For good or bad, the days of no strings attached donations are fading into the sunset. There's a new 'value-added' approach to philanthropy and non-profits who know how to appeal to the needs of corporate donors are yielding the lion's share of financial support.
Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
By: Jeff Meyers, 5/15/2008
Once upon a time, Detroit's auto industry was founded on the visions of its leaders and the risks investors made supporting them. So, where do promising new local companies go today to raise the funds they need? For 27 years the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium has helped provide an answer. The annual two-day event starts today in Ypsilanti. Could it provide the missing link to Michigan's economic evolution?
Hollywood Rentals
By: Jon Zemke, 5/14/2008
The need for quality rental units goes beyond new urbanist ideals. It also means dollars where you least expect them. Michigan just passed one of the most ambitious film incentive packages in the nation. Hollywood's come calling. And guess what they're looking for? Modern rentals in walkable downtown settings.
Cooley Law School's New Campus: A Candid Q&A
By: Jon Zemke, 5/8/2008
Not only is Cooley Law School bringing Oakland and Macomb County (combined pop: 2 million residents) its first law school, it's also created a 'green'-minded campus for its students. Now comes the hard part: convincing its graduating professionals to stay in Michigan. Metromode asks how they intend to do this, and other tough questions.
Information Evolution
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 5/8/2008
Computer science + design + social science = Innovation. Concentrate checks out the student projects at the University of Michigan's School of Information and witnesses the next evolutionary stage in information technology.
RetroGeeks Revitalize Downtown Dearborn
By: Terry Parris, Jr., 5/1/2008
The difference between just selling stuff and building a community is loving what you do and where you work. For the owners of Green Brain Comics and Stormy Records, being a part of Dearborn's downtown is a vital component to their success.
The Power Of The Purse
By: Maureen McDonald, 5/1/2008
As southeast Michigan attracts more and more women into business leadership roles, the focus of corporate sponsorships and charitable fundraising takes on a decidely 'pink' perspective. Case in point: the Women's Power Breakfast, which not only supports community food banks but provides professional women with a unique networking opportunity.
Nanotechnology: SE Michigan's Industrial Revolution
By: Lucy Ament, 4/24/2008
Got nanotech? Southeast Michigan does. Metromode has seen the future even though it's invisible to the naked eye. The next evolution in technology is occurring at the atomic level and it just may usher in a new industrial revolution.
Light Rail Would Mean Big Things For Woodward Corridor
By: Jon Zemke, 4/24/2008
Monday morning's big light rail announcement would mean great things for Metro Detroiters yearning for a transit alternative. If the plan comes to fruition, it would be boom time for the Woodward Corridor.
SE Michigan Wind Power
By: Kelli B. Kavanaugh, 4/17/2008
"The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind..." Kelli B. Kavanaugh takes an in-depth look at how Michigan can leverage its engineering and manufacturing assets to become a world leader in wind power technology.
Boutique Sweets
By: Melinda Clynes, 4/16/2008
No longer content to sup on artisanal wine, bread and cheese, SE Michigan's foodies have extended their quest for the authentic into the realm of desserts. From old world pastries to gourmet chocolates to high-falutin' cupcakes, Metro Detroit's sweet tooth has grown sophisticated. And a few smart cookies are cashing in on their cravings.
SE Michigan Ramps Up
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 4/10/2008
Ollie up, folks! Ride Metromode's skateboard to the bowls, ledges, and rails of Farmington Hills' future Riley Skate Park …and then read about Ann Arbor's roll towards building its own skater sanctuary.
Ghostly International
By: Amy Whitesall, 4/10/2008
From Halo to Hummer, Ann Arbor-based Ghostly International may be musical tastemakers to the world but founder Sam Valenti IV is really just preserving his legacy as the cool neighborhood record-store guy.
Skateboarding Terms And Tips
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 4/10/2008
Like most sports, skateboarding has it's own jargon. Metromode gets a few choice definitions from Rob Woelkers and then offers a quick list of resources for those who are interested in learning more about board culture.
Model D TV: Asian Village on the Detroit RiverWalk
By: Tom Hendrickson, 4/8/2008
From Scratch: Rentlinx
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 4/3/2008
"Rent Me! Please!" Signs and pricey newspaper ads used to be the only options for property owners and renters to connect. Now, Ann Arbor entrepreneur Jeremy Schneider is fast becoming the kingpin of national rental housing searches, via the rise of Rentlinx, a unique multi-list website.
Northville's Emerging Arts Community
By: Aleea Hibbeln, 4/3/2008
Shedding its reputation as Metro Detroit's country mouse, Northville is not only turning its downtown into a vibrant place to live and work, it's actively developing a formidable arts community.
SE Michigan Brews Mean Business
By: Melinda Clynes, 3/27/2008
Black Lotus, Dragonmead, Jolly Pumpkin and Grizzly Peak. They're more than just cool names. Michigan's beer industry accounted for $133 million of the state's economy last year and, despite the current market, business is growing. Melinda Clynes
chats with several of the region's microbrewers about what's on tap this season and where things are headed next.
Who's Your City?: Richard Florida And The Geography Of Talent
By: Tracy Certo, 3/27/2008
Are you part of the Creative Class? Richard Florida has become the bell of the new urbanist ball, dividing the world into "spiky" mega regions with psychological personalities all their own. Translation: Where the nation's best talent chooses to live says as much about you as it does about them. So how does southeast Michigan stack up?
Local Alternative Energy Initiatives
By: Jon Zemke, 3/20/2008
Some SE Michigan communities are determined to drop their rustbelt in favor of something a bit more au natural. But it's not trendiness that inspires cities like Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Wyandotte to implement the holy trinity of sustainability --wind, solar, conservation-- but rather the greenbacks they'll save by doing so.
Retail By Design
By: Lucy Ament, 3/20/2008
We've said it before and we'll say it again: Place matters. And that applies to retail as well. In defiance of the impersonal big box warehouse trend, companies like Borders and Whole Foods look to cultivate an environment that welcomes their customers. Enter Novi-based PPC Design, a firm that creates retail designs for likeminded businesses, large and small.
Why No Respect For Rentals?
By: Dennis Archambault, 3/13/2008
Chicago, San Francisco, and Boston do not thrive on home ownership alone. If you look at most successful cities in the U.S., a robust rental market is necessary for urban health (and attracting young talent). Here, however, rentals are what you end up with when you can't sell. Should we rethink what it means to "live" in Metro Detroit?
Toby Barlow: 'Stop the Loathing'
By: Jennifer Andrews, 3/13/2008
Detroit author and adman Toby Barlow's one-man branding campaign for the city has a catchy slogan and important sentiment: Stop the Loathing.
Model D Speaker Series: Building Green
By: Model D Staff, 3/6/2008
The Model D Speaker Series is going green. "Building a Green City: Sustainable Urbanism in Detroit" will be the topic of the next event — to be held March 19 at the Detroit Yacht Club.
It's free, but you must RSVP.
Defending The Net
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 3/6/2008
With the proliferation of personal info on the Internet today – everything from bank account access to your boyfriend's pet name – life is becoming a paperless open book. Metromode talks with some area experts who are helping to keep some of those pages from prying eyes.
Learning How To Play Nice
By: Jeff Meyers, 3/6/2008
"
If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend."
-Abraham Lincoln.
True leaders understand the need for compromise and cooperation. Unfortunately, the state's term limits tend to encourage partisan opposition. Every year, the
Michigan Political Leadership Program brings together 24 fellows of varying political stripes in order to foster a new generation of solutions-based leadership.
Around The World In 80 Miles
By: Jeff Broder, 2/28/2008
Okay, it's more like 61 miles. Nevertheless, Metro Detroit offers a world of gastromomic pleasures, if you know where to look. Let food writer Jeff Broder act as your compass, pointing the way to a savory quartet of ethnic restaurants.
Got LEED?
By: Kelli B. Kavanaugh, 2/28/2008
After years of lagging behind the west coast of the state, SE Michigan is turning green in leaps and bounds. Climb aboard for a discussion of what the green building standard LEED actually means, and check out some prime examples of its application here in Metro Detroit.
A Cultural Center
By: Lucy Ament, 2/21/2008
Southeast Michigan's community art centers not only offer locals the opportunity to experience and express artistic inspiration but also to score a budding Monet or Picasso at bargain prices.
Ypsi's Wireless Co-op
By: Jon Zemke, 2/21/2008
As various for-profit wireless initiatives push back access dates and struggle to work out their business model, locals in Ypsilanti are taking matters into their own hands to create an ambitious community-based Wi-Fi network that is expanding from the city's downtown to Depot Town.
The Metro Toddler
By: Amy Kuras, 2/14/2008
As Generations X and Y reach their childrearing years, they find few family-time options that reflect their desire to swim against the mainstream. From urban to urbane, there's a growing national trend for play spaces and social groups that cater to hip kids.
Double Lives: Chris Rizik
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 2/14/2008
Wunderkind Chris Rizik gives new meaning to the word, "multitasking." From his simultaneous careers as an entrepreneur and financier to the writer and publisher of the most popular soul music website in the country, this Ann Arborite's life has hit one high note after another.
Two Wheel Revolution
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 2/7/2008
Long intimidated by automotive roadhogs, cyclists are reclaiming their rightful place along the nation's highways and byways. From hilly Seattle to dense beyond dense New York City, bike lanes are becoming the urban standard.
Metromode's Tanya Muzumdar looks at how Metro Detroit stacks up.
MODErn Living
By: Jon Zemke, 2/7/2008
Basho said, "Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home." Some Metro Detroiters are taking those words to heart and making their house the adventure.
Michigan's New Media
By: Kimberly Chou, 1/31/2008
Can they keep up? Traditional media outlets step into the blogosphere and experiment with newfangled web features in an effort to keep up with their successful web-only counterparts (wink, wink). Here's a look at what local print newspapers, TV and radio stations are doing and whether it's actually working.
One Farmington
By: Jon Zemke, 1/31/2008
To most Metro Detroiters the difference between Farmington and Farmington Hills is non-existent. Unless, of course, you live in one or the other. Could the merger of these two communities be a model for municipal cooperation, prompting the rest of the region to rethink its inefficient and redundant ways?
From Scratch: BOARDSPORT
By: Amy Whitesall, 1/24/2008
You call that a rail? White Lake-based BOARDSPORT Terrain Design is raising the bar for snowboard parks in the Midwest. This issue's From Scratch turns the spotlight on one of SE Michigan's newest entrepeneurs.
Hipsilanti
By: Amy Kuras, 1/24/2008
"The Brooklyn to Ann Arbor's Manhattan." No longer content to live in The Deuce's shadow, Ypsilanti is emerging as an affordable alternative for both creative and professional types. Viva La Differance!
"They Say It's Your Birthday..."
By: metromode, 1/24/2008
Before you know it we'll be potty trained. Metromode turns the big 1.0 this week and we look back at some of our favorite features. Take a stroll down memory lane with us, won't you?
The Art Of Community Building
By: Amy Whitesall, 1/17/2008
Albert and Mitsie Scaglione have not only built Park West Gallery into an art-dealing giant, they’ve used the Southfield gallery to promote Metro Detroit and strengthen their community.
Write Where You Know
By: Jon Zemke, 1/17/2008
Southeast Michigan is replete with literary talent, drawing from the corridors of its hallowed halls of higher learning, the working class experiences on the shop floors and the rough edges of its gritty inner city.
The D Brand and You
By: Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey, 1/17/2008
The
'D' brand isn't just about pulling in conventions and tourists. With
the D Brand Summit, branding gurus are showing us how the power of the
'D' can also attract more talent and business to the region.
A Hand Out
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 1/10/2008
Looking for a New Year's resolution? Whether it's teaching kids to write or maintaining park trails, volunteerism is changing Metro Detroit for the better. As anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has."
Hard Truths: Q&A With Rick Weddle
By: Jon Zemke, 1/10/2008
North Carolina's Research Triangle Park is the largest R&D center in the world. It is seen as a model for how universities, government and private industry can work together to fuel a state's economic success. Rick Weddle, president and CEO of RTP has a frank discussion with
metromode about what Michigan needs to do to emulate some of those successes.
Q & A With Rick Weddle, Part 2
By: Jon Zemke, 1/10/2008
Metromode continues its conversation with Rick Weddle, president and CEO of North Carolina's Research Triangle Park.
High Stakes for S.E. Mich
By: Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey, 1/10/2008
There's a $100 million bet out on firing up the new economy in SE Michigan, and Kresge Foundation President Rip Rapson thinks it could be the region's ace in the hole.