FilterD
By: metromode, 11/19/2009
The Few Records has been heating up the local music scene this last year with
funky up n' comer Will Sessions, and modern classicists New Music
Detroit. Help celebrate the label's one-year anniversary with
techno legend Carl Craig (pictured) this Saturday at the Majestic.
Get more details inside
FilterD, where you'll find the rest of the best of what Metro Detroit has to offer.
Giving Thanks!
By: Metromode Staff, 11/19/2009
As the French say, "Gratitude is the heart's memory."
Metromode will be taking next week off to celebrate Thanksgiving. We hope our readers enjoy time with their families, friends, football, and good food. Not necessarily in that order. We'll be back December 3rd!
Reinventing Michigan's Economy: A Conversation with Terry Cross
By: Jon Zemke, 11/19/2009
A veteran of both Wall Street and Silicon Valley, Terry Cross is WSU's first Entrepreneurial Executive in Residence.
Metromode sits down with him to get his thoughts on economic reinvention and what lessons Michigan can take from the coasts when it comes to investment and transformation.
Networking 2.0: Drinking with Entrepreneurs
By: Terry Parris Jr., 11/19/2009
Long gone are the business card swap meets at the local Howard Johnson's. Welcome to the new millennium, where entrepreneurs, CEOs, creatives, and climbers Tweetup for drinks. On almost any day of the week you can find young, professional Metro Detroiters getting together to hang out. Cards and ties are optional.
Little Vietnam In Madison Heights
By: Nicole Rupersburg, 11/12/2009
Pho shops and Vietnamese businesses are popping up in Madison Heights like dandelions. What gives?
Metromode looks into why the unlikely stretch between John R and Dequindre is turning into Metro Detroit's
de facto Little Vietnam.
Double Lives: Tom Helland
By: Dennis Archambault, 11/12/2009
Creative director, former engineering student, and esteemed doodler, Tom Helland has merged his professional life and favorite pastime into an unending stream of inspiration. You might even say it's made him the success he is today. Next time the boss thinks your impromptu jots and sketches are a sign of inattention send him this article.
The King Of Detroit Comedy
By: Corey Hall, 11/5/2009
When times get tough people start looking for a reason to laugh. No one knows this better than comedy club veteran Mark Ridley, who's been busting the guts of Metro Detroiters for more than 20 years. And even in though credit is tight and the economy tighter, he's decided to renovate his storied Royal Oak Comedy Castle.
Startups That Stay
By: Terry Parris Jr., 11/5/2009
In Ann Arbor a buyout doesn't always mean a sellout. Even though innovative startups
like Fry, Healthmedia, and T/J Technologies have been snapped up by larger
out-of-state companies, they have decided to stay in the city that birthed them.
A Scary Business
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 10/29/2009
Halloween is a $7 billion annual business in the United States. Every October Hauntrepreneurs Ed and Jim Terebus carve out their own bloody slice of the pie by turning downtown Pontiac into one of the nation's top scare destinations.
Metromode brings back last year's look at Metro D's creepiest entrepreneurs.
Ghastly Plots In Metro Detroit
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 10/29/2009
Happy Horror-ween! Though Metro Detroit is hardly known for our tales of terror (not counting the economy and the Lions, of course),
Metromode digs up a pair of local writers who want nothing more than to give you nightmares.
Model D Speaker Series: Reflecting Detroit in the (New) Media
By: Model D Staff, 10/29/2009
Detroit's been all over the headlines, and no one even had to fake a
balloon ride. Why is the media so fascinated with the city, and all of
a sudden? From
Time Magazine to bloggers, we ask the people doing the telling at
Model D's next Speaker Series, Nov. 12. Sign up to be part of the
conversation.
Hop Aboard: Metro Detroit's Best Microbrews
By: Nicole Rupersburg, 10/22/2009
In celebration of Hoptober,
Metromode takes a tour of Metro Detroit's unsung heroes of microbrew goodness: the off-the-beaten track award winners who make some of the most innovative brews around.
Building An Economy From The Ground Up: Community Enterprise
By: Michelle Martinez, 10/22/2009
Metro Detroit might want to look to the Basque region of Spain or Bologna, Italy for ideas on how to rejuvenate our local economy. Both communities have turned community-based enterprise into impressive long term successes.
A Piece Of Silicon Valley: Q&A with Howard Brown
By: Jon Zemke, 10/15/2009
Howard Brown has gone from Silicon Valley veteran to pure Michigan. As the ultimate trailing spouse, this starter of start-ups and founder of CircleBuilder brings a world of entrepreneurial experience to the region.
Metromode sat down with Brown to discuss the state of our state and where he sees its toughest challenges and best opportunities.
The Best Of Metro Detroit's Rude Food
By: Nicole Rupersburg, 10/15/2009
No soup for you! There's something strangely satisfying about the the culinary war wounds you earn from restaurants that specialize in great food and bad service. Metro Detroit has more than its share of inglorious joints, places where even
Seinfeld's Soup Nazi might feel right at home.
Frontier Spirit, Urban Ideas
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 10/8/2009
Splitting her time between the Motor City suburbs and the Mile High City,
Metromode's Tanya Muzumdar sees ideas and innovations ripe for importation. Maybe instead of going it alone, Metro Detroit should consider going West for some urban inspiration.
Photo Essay: Detroit Fashion Week
By: Marvin Shaouni, 10/8/2009
Haute child in the city! Metro D proves that fashion isn't solely the province of the coasts. Detroit Fashion Week celebrated local couture with stalwarts like Made In Detroit and Carhartt while impressing fashionistas with upstarts like Ferndale's Femilia. Marvin Shaouni got a a backstage pass to photograph the event and chat with well-dressed native son Joe Faris.
The Next Generation Of Affordable Housing
By: Constance Crump, 10/1/2009
Forget traditional notions of affordable housing. If Metro Detroit wants to end the brain drain, attract new economy workers and revitalize its communities it needs to pay better attention to the housing needs of 20 and 30somethings. What does that mean? Affordable rentals, downtown condos and hip, walkable neighborhoods.
An Artistic Vision: The Red River Artists Center
By: Jon Zemke, 9/30/2009
Like many rustbelt communities River Rouge has seen better times. But one man's urban decay is another man's opportunity. Enter urban pioneer Rick Manore, co-founder of the former C-Pop gallery in Detroit. Working with municipal leaders, he's converted the former offices for U.S. Steel into the Red River Artist Center. The goal? To build an arts incubator that helps revive the city's downtown.
Kayak Detroit: Paddling Through East Side Canals
By: Kelli B. Kavanaugh, 9/24/2009
Kayaking the Detroit River and the canals that run through the East Side offers a brush with nature and an up close look at the city's architecture, all in one.
Green Space's Kelli Kavanaugh grabs a paddle and experiences Detroit from the other side of the shore.
Going Green On The Cheap: Low Impact Development
By: Amy Kuras, 9/24/2009
Sometimes it's the little things that count. What might seem like flower gardens or stretches of grass can be valiant guardians of the health of the region's waterways. Low impact development uses native plants to minimize the impact of water overflow into lakes and streams -- and looks pretty doing it.
The State Of Metro Recycling
By: Michelle Martinez, 9/17/2009
Curbside recycling is not a new fangled idea. Communities across the nation have commited themselves to the practice. So, why is most of Metro Detroit lagging behind?
Metromode looks at where we are, where we're going and who's on board.
Metro Detroit's Crepe Expectations
By: Nicole Rupersburg, 9/17/2009
New Orleans has gumbo and po'boys. Chicago has deep dish pizza. Phillie has the cheesesteak. Detroit has... crepes? Our Franco-Canadian origins aside, the Metro region is hardly a hotbed of French cuisine. And yet, Creperies are popping up like dandelions. Foodie blogger Nicole Rupersburg investigates
le mystere.
Solid Dudes In The Kitchen
By: Kirk Vanderbeek, 9/10/2009
Welcome to the Bro-tisserie. It was only a matter of time before Millennials put their profane stamp on the whole cooking show craze. Meet Dave Graw and Derek Swanson, Metro Detroit's potty-mouthed answer to Ted Allen and Alton Brown. Could these web series upstarts be the answer to culinary GenX'ers and food-obsessed Boomers? Adult supervision suggested.
The Rail Thing, Is Metro Detroit On Track?
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 9/10/2009
If you've never heard of transit-oriented development, it really needs a spot on your hot list. With a transit center planned for Birmingham and Troy, Metro Detroit is back to workin' on the railroad. But maybe the new D Train could take a lesson from the Santa Fe Express.
Got Apps?
By: Jon Zemke, 9/3/2009
Over a billion downloads can't be wrong! iPhone apps are the new gold rush of software development, turning backroom start-ups into overnight successes. And Metro Detroit is getting in on the action.
Young Turks On Board
By: Constance Crump, 9/3/2009
Traditionally, non-profit boards were the domain of the... um... more mature. But organizations are discovering the advantages of attracting young professionals into leadership positions. Not only do they bring new ideas and energy, they also ensure the next generation of investment and support.
The High Life
By: Terry Parris Jr., 8/27/2009
You don't have to go to New York City or Chicago to get top-of-the-world views. Urban professionals are rethinking the traditional big house, big yard template of living, and moving into downtown high rises. From Royal Oak to Birmingham to Ann Arbor,
Metromode gives you a sense of what it means to be "movin' on up" in Metro Detroit.
Grace & Wild: A Studio Success Before Hollywood Came Calling
By: Corey Hall, 8/27/2009
With all the talk of film studios moving into Detroit, Pontiac and Allen Park, people seem to forget that SE Michigan has long had a state-of-the-art studio operating in its own backyard. For 25 years, Grace & Wild has been the go-to facility for advertising and film production. And with the state's new film incentives, they see an expanding landscape of opportunities.
Jeff Wattrick: Don't Demo Detroit's Future
By: Jeff Wattrick, 8/20/2009
With all the buzz around the fate of Tiger Stadium and Detroit's Lafayette Building,
Model D asked two outspoken members of the preservation and development communities to share their points of view.
Metromode believes the city's historical identity and legacy are issues that are important to all of Metro Detroit.
A New Business Genre For Michigan
By: Jeff Meyers, 8/20/2009
Only 18 months old, the state's film production tax incentive has begun to redefine start-up culture in SE Michigan. Beyond the hit-and-run productions that breeze in and out of the region, a real industry is starting to take root.
Metromode sits down with Genre Film Partners, a company intending to shoot 8-10 movies here over the next four years.
Welcome To The Velodrome
By: Megan Pennefather, 8/13/2009
There are only 20 of 'em in the world and Rochester's on the list. Seem unlikely? Not when you consider the fact that local resident Dale Hughes is one of the few people in the world who actually gets paid to design Velodromes. Don't get caught "off the back." Read on...
Ethical Entrepreneurs
By: Michelle Martinez, 8/13/2009
Making good and making a buck are not necessarily contradictory ideas.
Metromode introduces you to a quartet of green collar companies who are trying to do right by both Michigan's economy and the environment.
Doctor Meets Screen in "Ocean of Pearls"
By: Ellen Piligian, 8/6/2009
The word medicine stems from the Latin ars medicina, meaning the art of healing. In his examination of the achy U.S. healthcare system, Metro Detroit physician and film director Sarab Neelam finds cultural identity and healing through art with his award-winning feature film debut, Ocean of Pearls.
Metro Detroit Goes Slow And Tastes The Difference
By: Nicole Rupersburg, 8/6/2009
Largely citified Metro Detroit has been lauded for its soul food, and lately, for its slow food. Rooted in locally grown, sustainable, healthy foodstuffs, the national leader in urban gardening is fertile grounds for the slow food supporters cropping up around the region.
METROMODE RADIO: The Energy Gospel According To T. Boone Pickens
By: Chris McCarus, 7/30/2009
July 8 was Energy Independence Day.. according to Texas oil tycoon
T.
Boone Pickens. That's when he began his campaign to wean Americans from foreign oil. He came to Ann Arbor to promote it in October and he came to Michigan again recently, with much less fanfare. Still his message is one the state should heed.
Cheap Ways To Revitalize Your Downtown
By: Jon Zemke, 7/30/2009
From households to businesses to city government, everyone is in belt-tightening mode. But if there's one thing
Metromode believes, it's that necessity is the mother of invention. A few Metro Detroit communities have come up with innovative and inexpensive ways to revitalize their downtowns. Time to take notes!
Michigan Masala
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 7/23/2009
The recent Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire reminds us that the Indian subcontinent, with a population of nearly 1.2 billion, occupies a rather large corner of the world. It also represents a growing demographic in Metro Detroit. South Asian culture as expressed through Bollywood films, dance and specialty foods has moved beyond local enclaves onto Main Street Michigan.
A Soft Landing For Foreign Born Entrepreneurs
By: Michelle Martinez, 7/23/2009
It's a classic American story - immigrants moving to the U.S. and, through hard work and entrepreneurship, transforming both their lives and their adopted community. Some Metro Detroit business leaders are banking on that very same scenario to help evolve SE Michigan's economic landscape.
Necessary Entrepreneurs
By: Jon Zemke, 7/16/2009
Sometimes a pink slip is a ticket to a new and better way of working. Meet three Metro Detroit entrepreneurs who turned economic down-sizing into personal right-sizing, by starting their own companies.
Upscale Markets In A Down-Sized Metro
By: Amy Kuras, 7/16/2009
In a region littered with Krogers, high quality, locally owned food markets are not only holding their own, they're attracting a loyal fanbase of Metro Detroit foodies.
The Amazing Adventures of Metro Detroit's Comic Industry
By: Megan Pennefather, 7/9/2009
Star Wars. Cynicalman. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Mouse Guard. Metro Detroit is home to an ecclectic and fiercely independent group of graphic novelists, cartoonists, and comic book artists. This is their story.
The Evolution Of Metro Community Colleges
By: Terry Parris Jr., 7/9/2009
Metro area community colleges have been remarkably adept at meeting the needs of Michigan's developing knowledge-based economy. From green building to biotechnology to the state's burgeoning film industry, these formerly belittled schools are delivering a timely education at an affordable price. And given their growing enrollment numbers, students are catching on.
The Next Generation In Invention
By: Daniel Johnson, 6/25/2009
Meet the wunderkinds behind Titanium Expo Robotics, a company created by three high school kids from Royal Oak. Their land mine-detecting robot not only took top awards at Lawrence Tech's Robofest, it heralds a potentially game-changing industry for Southeast Michigan, while prompting deep ethical questions about where our technological innovations are headed.
Metromode On Vacation For The 4th Of July
By: Jeff Meyers, 6/25/2009
In celebration of the Fourth, the
Metromode staff will be indulging in some hard-earned R and R. But fear not, we'll be back July 9th with more tales of growth, innovation, sustainability & entrepreneurship from the front lines of the new economy.
Clawson Central
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 6/18/2009
For business owners stymied by city bureaucracy and anti-development ordinances, the "Welcome To..." sign has become "Proceed With Caution". Enter Clawson, a speck of a city that's used progressive downtown strategies and business-friendly policies to become known as Metro Detroit's best-kept secret.
These Detroiters Will Stay If ...
By: Chris McCarus, Marvin Shaouni and Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey, 6/18/2009
Dear Detroiters: Why do you stay? What will keep you here? GLUE (aka the Great Lakes Urban Exchange) asked people to fill in the blank at a recent party kicking off its regional campaign. Will local leaders listen to their answers?
Metro Mass Transit - What It Needs
By: Michelle Martinez, 6/11/2009
Regional cooperation. Which, unfortunately, Metro Detroit doesn't have a very good track record with. If light rail and enhanced express buses are to succeed, suburbanites and city slickers are going to have to learn to sit thigh to thigh - physically and metaphorically.
Virtual Health, Real Success
By: Leia Menlove, 6/11/2009
Michigan could take a lesson from Healthmedia. From it's early struggles to find local investment to its recent purchase by Johnson & Johnson, the innovative software-as-service company has stayed committed to remaining in Ann Arbor.
Ringwald Theatre has its cake, and eats it too
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 6/4/2009
Fringe theater is often viewed as a barometer for a city's hipness.The Ringwald, in downtown Ferndale, has garnered top billing for its campy and unconventional shows, even drawing the city's mayor into the limelight.
Green Up Top
By: Kelli B Kavanaugh, 6/4/2009
It's the urban trend all the kids are talking about! Green roofs are taking root in cities across America, reducing pollution and creating energy efficiency.
Metromode looks at how Metro Detroit can emulate the success of the Ford Rouge Plant and move up from the back of the pack.
Making Water Work For Metro Detroit
By: Dennis Archambault, 5/28/2009
Sometimes abundance rather than necessity is the mother of invention. With our incredible water resources and critical mass of world class engineers, Michigan is poised to become
the center for innovations in hydro engineering and water management.
Rethinking The Cineplex
By: Amy Kuras, 5/28/2009
Most people view multi-screen cineplexes as joyless movie warehouses with only one goal: To get you in and out with as much popcorn grease on your fingers as possible. Local movie chain Emagine is trying to remake the muliplex image by offering its audiences unexpected amenities and local outreach.
METROMODE RADIO: Michigan's Power Grid's Command Central
By: Chris McCarus, 5/21/2009
In February, Governor Granholm formed a wind advisory panel. It's a diverse group from industry, government and academia. The group will tell the Governor that Michigan's power plants are old. They need replacing. But not with coal. Instead go out on the Great Lakes and look for wind.
Michigan Now's Chris McCarus talks with one of the panel members.
Retooling Auto Suppliers For The New Economy: A Q&A with Elizabeth Ardisana
By: Jon Zemke, 5/21/2009
The buzz word for today is: Diversification. Actually, it's been the buzz word for a long time. But saying and doing are two different things. Elizabeth Ardisana of ASG Renaissance thinks it's never too late for a good idea, and she's helping the auto supplier industry get with the program.
The Russians Are Coming... To Harper Woods
By: Chris Handyside, 5/21/2009
It's a Russian Orthodox Monastery. It's a gourmet restaurant. It's home to incredible works of art and history. And, yup, it's in Harper Woods. Welcome to the neighborhood St. Sabbas and The Royal Eagle.
Can Immigration Loosen Our Rustbelt?
By: Terry Parris Jr., 5/14/2009
Fifty percent of the start-ups in Silicon Valley were founded by foreign-born entrepreneurs. Though it's the third rail for most political and community leaders, a new view of immigration may be exactly what Michigan needs to reinvent its economy.
From Scratch: ThinkStretch
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 5/7/2009
Summer break is a plus for students' bodies but a minus for their minds, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. Enter Donna Lasinski, an Ann Arbor entrepreneur and the brains behind ThinkStretch, a summer learning program for public and private elementary school students.
Detroit Prints Its Own Currency
By: Kelli B. Kavanaugh, 5/7/2009
A new currency is making the rounds in Detroit businesses. It's called "Cheers". And it's the ultimate commitment to buying local. Meet the businessmen behind the idea and learn how they hope to stimulate both spending and morale.
John Fetterman's Rust Belt Revival
By: Megan Pennefather, 4/30/2009
John Fetterman is a large, tattooed, Harvard-educated mayor of a tiny town, and his tough brand of civic responsibility may have important lessons for Metro Detroit.
VC In MI: A Conversation With Credit Suisse's Kelly Williams
By: Jon Zemke, 4/29/2009
If Michigan is to transform into a knowledge-based economy it means greater investment in local start-ups. Kelly Williams is a managing director with Credit Suisse, the investment firm that heads up the Venture Michigan Fund.
Metromode sat down with her to discuss the state of our venture capital community and where it's headed.
Smart Cars in Metro Detroit: Still Smart?
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 4/23/2009
Eighteen months ago
Metromode checked out the newly arrived Smart Car as one of several new cool commuter options. So how has this sporty new 'wee'-hicle done in the land of hulking Hummers and SUVs? And more importantly, what do Metro Detroiters think of their micro-mini (but ever-so green) purchase?
METROMODE RADIO: Where Will People Live?
By: Chris McCarus, 4/23/2009
A lot has been written about the collapse of the housing market. So now how can the market pick back up and, more importantly, where? Turns out experts have a prettygood idea where it will NOT be.
Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus gets the low down.
She's Michigan's New Beer Meister
By: Melinda Clynes, 4/16/2009
A cicerone is to beer what a sommelier is to wine. There are only 17 in the U.S., and Annette Bardallis of Allen Park is one of them. In fact, she's the only female cicerone in the nation. How does her husband Michael feel about that? Proud. He's one too.
Downtown and Underground: Parking is an Art in Ann Arbor
By: Jon Zemke, 4/16/2009
Parking in Southeast Michigan usually means surface lots, driveways and the occasional garage. Ann Arbor's leaders are turning local conventional wisdom on its head, choosing to store cars underground and out of sight as a way to grow development, commerce and urban vibrancy.
Scoring Michigan's New Film Industry
By: Dennis Archambault, 4/9/2009
With Michigan's new film incentives, everyone's talking about Hollywood actors and production crews. But what about the guys and gals behind the scenes, the ones who create all those memorable movie soundtracks? Three local composers weigh in on where they see the state's burgeoning film industry is headed.
Metromode Radio: Sustainable Energy In Michigan
By: Chris McCarus, 4/9/2009
The Michigan Sustainable Energy Coalition brought international experts to the state's capital this week to discuss the changing energy landscape. Only a couple of lawmakers attended and
Michigan Now's Chris McCarus was the only reporter there. The event showed how hard it is to shift the focus from the old economy to the new one.
A Better Set Of Building Blocks
By: Terry Parris Jr., 4/9/2009
Infrastructure. It's not exactly a sexy word, but with the Obama administration's focus on rebuilding our nation's roads and bridges, innovation is in demand. Enter Lawrence Technological University, where new infrastructure inventions are an everyday way of life.
Young Guns In Metro Politics
By: Daniel Johnson, 4/2/2009
They're under 35 and they got elected. Meet a trio of young Metro Detroit politicians, all determined to bring new ideas and new perspectives to their communities. Can they facilitate the changes SE Michigan so desperately needs?
Under 30 And Involved
By: Terry Parris Jr., 4/2/2009
Barack Obama's presidency was due, in no small part, to an energized youth movement. And those same post-college professionals are taking their passion and ideas into local governments, earning seats on local boards and commissions.
The New Business Casual: Social Media
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 3/26/2009
Detroit area businesses are all atwitter about social networking websites like Facebook and LinkedIn, which are the interactive pages in the corporate brochure. Metromode links up -- makes friends -- and messages with high-profile denizens of the online scene. The word? Socializing on company time makes good business policy.
Metromode Radio: How Many Parking Spaces Are Enough?
By: Chris McCarus, 3/26/2009
Think about your town in square feet. Not square miles. Calculate each 12 inches square. How much will you need for parking and how much for the buildings themselves? One suburb is trying to balance the two and maximize economic growth.
Preservation vs Demolition
By: Jon Zemke, 3/26/2009
Dilapidated eyesore or historic keystone to downtown redevelopment? It's an argument that's repeated over and over in Metro Detroit communities. Lincoln Park's Mellus Newspapers building is only the latest flashpoint. Jon Zemke gives you the lay of the land and gets some insight from downtowns that have fought this fight and won.
The Metro Detroit Touch
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 3/19/2009
It should be no surprise that tending to the body is a growth industry, and that includes massage. How big? $11-15 billion dollars big. With a respected school in Southfield, local hospitals adding massage therapy to treatment and some businesses providing it as an employee perk, it's good to know our high tech world still values the human touch.
Detroit House: $100. Bold New Ideas for the City: Priceless
By: Walter Wasacz, 3/19/2009
Phones are ringing off the hook. ABC and NPR want the scoop. Artists the world over want in. The hubbub is over what Mitch Cope and Gina Reichert are doing to a few property purchases that totaled roughly $5,000 (including a house for 100 bucks). But you can't put a price tag on their ideas or the potential impact on their corner of Detroit.
Dancing As Fast As They Can
By: Megan Pennefather, 3/12/2009
Agnes de Mille once said "The truest expression of a people is in its dance." For nearly 30 years the Detroit Dance Collective has boasted an intergenerational company of artists dedicated to the truth of modern dance. But even more impressive than their longevity is their ability to attract and keep young talent in Metro Detroit.
A Healing Menu
By: Dennis Archambault, 3/12/2009
Forget that sad little bowl of green Jello. Chef and restaurateur Matt Prentice is out to remake hospital cuisine. No, that's not a contradiction in terms. Henry Ford West Bloomfield hospital has tasked Prentice with creating a menu that not only tastes good but aids in patient healing.
Incubating Change
By: Constance Crump, 3/5/2009
They're where new businesses are hatched. Where start-ups start up. Southeast Michigan's business incubators offer everything from office supplies to professional mentorship,& helping new economy companies to stand on their own two feet.
Metromode Radio: Metro Detroit problems, European Solutions
By: Chris McCarus, 3/5/2009
Europe rebuilt itself after World War II, and America helped out with the Marshall Plan. In January, Warren had almost twice as many foreclosures as any other city in Macomb county. It's on the frontline of the current American meltdown. Ironic then that Europeans could show this suburban community the path to rebirth.
Michigan Now's Chris McCarus reports.
It's Not Easy Being Green
By: Kelli B. Kavanaugh, 3/5/2009
The economy is struggling. Real estate is in a spiral. How do you make the case for green building when businesses are just trying to survive? And what about those who want to go green but can't quite reach LEED standards? Is there any consideration for their eco-friendly choices?
Metromode looks at how the future of sustainability is coping with the challenges of today.
Metromode Radio: Community Conversations
By: Chris McCarus, 2/26/2009
Want to let others know how to fix Michigan? The Center for Michigan is holding community conversations for anyone interested ....and the Michigan Suburbs Alliance is getting local officials to talk with people in their 20's and 30's. As
Michigan Now's Chris McCarus reports, they're starting at the grass roots.
Go Comedy, Go!
By: Kirk Vanderbeek, 2/26/2009
They are the Justice League of improvisational comedy. The Dream Team of yucks. Ferndale's Go Comedy, brings some of the region's funniest performers together under one roof - a former Secretary Of State's office turned laughter emporium. Now that's irony.
Grooming Cooperation: The Michigan Political Leadership Program
By: Jeff Meyers, 2/26/2009
Can't we all just get along? Yes, we can! ...if the Michigan Political Leadership Program has anything to say about it. With the state facing one of the most challenging economies in history and partisanship undermining everything, the MPLP hopes to cultivate good government through its 24 fellows, who come from both sides of the aisle and aspire to hold major leadership positions.
Double Lives: Lisa Lisa
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 2/19/2009
Yo, listen carefully and you'll understand her name isn't a repeat or skip of the record. Detroit DJ Lisa (Lisa) Orlando mixes law and lyrics in a double shift – and has the duplicate names to prove it.
Inside Metro Detroit
By: Jeff Meyers, 2/19/2009
Metro Detroit is big. Really big. And not all scenes are created equal. Finding the right restaurant, the right nightclub, even the right place to buy naughty underthings can be daunting.
Metromode feels your pain. That's why we created our
Insider Guides. Come on in and we'll explain it all to you.
Ann Arbor Represents
By: Amy Whitesall, 2/12/2009
The Information Age mantra has been that you can work from anywhere. Talent agency Fleming Artists is proof positive that even Ann Arbor can compete with the likes of L.A. and New York to attract A-list clients. Representing everyone from Ani DiFranco and folkie Tom Paxton to Jeff Daniels and pop dance rockers My Dear Disco, Fleming has been looking after world-class musicians for almost 30 years.
48 Hours In Northville And Plymouth
By: Constance Crump, 2/12/2009
Norman Rockwell meets urban sophistication. If you want to experience a pair of classic Michigan communities you can't get much more Michigan-y than Plymouth and Northville.And yet these metro Detroit cities are looking forward, adding cafes, condos and galleries to their cozy, walkable downtowns.
Metro Detroit's Middle Management Shifts Gears
By: Constance Crump, 2/5/2009
Sometimes size does matter. Working for a large company like Visteon can be very different than taking a position at a start-up. As Michigan's new economy seeds the ground with small tech firms, transitioning employees must adapt to changing job expectations. Enter Ann Arbor's SPARK with a program to ease the way.
Metromode Radio: Ivoire Guitar
By: Chris McCarus, 2/5/2009
Michigan is not exactly known for its multi-culturalism, but in this Obama age, stereotypes can be broken.
A jazz and pop master from the Ivory Coast is playing Dick Odow’s Pub in Birmingham Friday night. He also played in a 14 year old kid's basement in Birmingham this week.
Michigan Now's Chris McCarus was there.
Light From Above: Divinity Meets Sustainability
By: Daniel Johnson, 2/5/2009
Father Charles of St. Elizabeth's in Wyandotte is on a mission.... er... another mission: To not only lower his own carbon footprint, but that of his church and congregation's. It's part of his belief that we are all stewards of God's green Earth.
Metromode says "Amen."
The Brew It Yourself Culture
By: Ryan Allen, 1/29/2009
Homegrown, homemade, home brewed. Whether it's the faltering economy or a rejection of what prefab corporate America has to offer, Metro Detroit do-it-yourselfers are taking matters into their own hands. And it's good libations all 'round for local beer aficionados, who are learning to handcraft their own buzz.
Metro Detroit's Prime Cut
By: Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey, 1/29/2009
When it comes to eating, lots of Metro Detroiters are going local. But can a woman who likes a side of bacon with her eggs find local, greener sources for her meat? Sorry vegetarians. Love ya, but this one's not for you.
Metromode Radio: Mass Transit Now
By: Chris McCarus, 1/29/2009
Interest in transit for Southeast Michigan is gaining ground but no ground has been broken. Even with plans for easy on and off trains from Detroit to Pontiac and Ann Arbor to Detroit no one seems to be able to close the deal. Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus compares Michigan's lack of action with Boston's investment in rail and its $16 billion big dig.
Photo Essay: 24 Hours In Metro Detroit
By: Martin Veccio, 1/22/2009
For our 100th issue
Metromode serves up an around-the-clock view of Metro Detroit. From Rochester to Mt. Clemens, Ferndale to Ann Arbor, Grosse Pointe to Ypsilanti, we are a unique and vibrant set of communities with more in common than you might think.
Dearborn: An Arsenal Of Diversity?
By: Dennis Archambault, 1/22/2009
Just over 100 years ago, Dearborn, by way of Henry Ford, became the agent of innovation and industry for Michigan. Once again, this storied city has the opportunity to change the face of our state - this time, through the diversity of its people.
Metromode takes a look at how Dearborn could become the model for urban multiculturism.
The Future Of Metro Mass Transit
By: Jon Zemke, 1/22/2009
For generations getting around Metro Detroit meant one thing: four wheels. Local leaders are pushing hard to give Detroiters the option to travel on two rails. The Woodward light rail and Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail lines are tantalizingly close to becoming reality. Metromode takes a look at the viability of these projects and their potential impact 10-20 years from now.
Detroit's Digital Underground: WDET Brings Back the Music
By: Ashley Woods, 1/20/2009
You
won't find it on your FM dial, but WDET has found a home for music --
even local music -- once again. Having an HD radio station means that
even folks without one of those newfangled devices can catch the
programming. All it takes is the Internet and a click.
Sex In The Sprawl
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 1/15/2009
Baby, it's cold outside. Need someone to share that blanket with? Finding soulmates (or even just good company) can be challenging in Metro D's urban sprawl but the singles are out there and
Metromode has a few ideas about how you can find 'em.
The Low Down On Metro's Lowbrow
By: Chris Handyside, 1/15/2009
Oh, Sam Raimi what have you wrought? Metro Detroit sure does love its grindhouse. From DIY horror studios to cult movie distributors, there's a whole other side to SE Michigan's film industry. Leave the Oscars to the tax incentive tourists. We've got another batch of blood and guts to mix up.
Share The Road
By: Jon Zemke, 1/8/2009
Piles of snow. Narrow streets. While cyclists brave subzero winds, motorists grudgingly share the road. Metro Detroit's "car is king" sentiment needs to be dethroned if alternative transportation is to become a reality. Jon Zemke takes a street level view of what local cyclists have to face and why they remain committed to a car-less commute.
From Scratch: 313rd.com
By: Amy Kuras, 1/8/2009
There's a lot going on in Metro Detroit but it's not always easy to find. Raji Bedi wants to solve that problem. Boasting insight that corporate websites can't match and software that gets smarter as users search for their favorite scenes, Bedi's 313rd.com points 20 and 30-somethings to the best of the region's nightlife while offering club owners badly needed tools to schedule and promote their events.
Detroiters Want to Recycle Here
By: Jon Zemke, 1/6/2009
The
nonprofit Recycle Here! center is slammed with Detroiters unloading
their unwanted paper, plastic and glass, but soon many Detroiters will
have a curbside option, too. Green could be very "in" in Detroit in '09.