metromode - Features

FilterD

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Spoiler alert: the baby really is sick. That revelatory scene from David Lynch's Eraserhead will delightfully haunt moviegoers once again at Ann Arbor's State Theatre, where midnight trash cinephiles HOTT LAVA present the 1977 cult classic this Saturday.

In heaven, everything is fine. So are we at FilterD, where you can find the best of what metro Detroit has to offer in the week ahead.

The King Of Detroit Comedy

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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?

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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?

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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"

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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.