Welcome To The Hill District
By: Tom Hendrickson, 11/18/2009
Located on a small bluff is Grosse Pointe's Hill District, a welcome slice of walkable pie, where you can find everything from boutiques to bistros, espresso to jazz. Why not take a three minute tour with
Metromode's ace videographer Tom Hendrickson.
B Nektar
By: Tom Hendrickson, 11/5/2009
Mead, it's not just for renaissance fest geeks anymore. Proof? B. Nektar in hipper-than-thou Ferndale, where honey, apples and all sorts of fermentable goodness are crafted into a damn fine brew.
Solidica
By: Keith Jefferies, 10/29/2009
We have officially entered the realm of sci-fi style technology. Ann Arbor's Solidica makes wireless sensors that can not only communicate the status of distant vehicles and machinery, but also predict where systems might fail. It's a brave new world after all.
A2 Mech Shop
By: Keith Jefferies, 10/22/2009
It's all about playing nice together.
Concentrate has reported on
everything from food co-ops, to co-living communities to co-working facilities.
It only seems fair to throw a little love to the A2Mech Shop, a shared technical
space for entrepreneurial engineers and innovative mech heads.
Ann Arbor's Veggie Fueled Party Bus
By: Keith Jefferies, 10/15/2009
Ann Arbor's B2B Party Bus is everything sustainable new urbanist hipsters ever dreamed
of: An entrepreneurial enterprise that runs small scale private transit on
secondhand cooking oil in order to transport young party-goers around downtown.
Accuri Cytometers
By: Keith Jefferies, 10/8/2009
From co-founder Collin Rich's kitchen table to the offices of U-M's Tech
Transfer office to shipping high tech cytometers to labs all over the world,
Accuri Cytometers is the model for Ann Arbor startup know-how.
Wyandotte Gets The Arts
By: Tom Hendrickson, 9/24/2009
Funding for the arts is taking a beating all around, but especially in Michigan. Wyandotte, however, sees a real value in having a resource for local creatives. Exit an old rundown Masonic Hall, enter the new Wynandotte Arts Center.
ARKITEKTURA
By: Tom Hendrickson, 9/10/2009
Birmingham's Rail District is quickly becoming ground zero for designers and consumer creatives, bringing SoHo-style aesthetics to Metro Detroit. Case in point: Arkitektura, a Cranbrook-born, SF-partnered showroom that boasts the latest in uban design and furnishings.
Ann Arbor's Robot Repair Superstore (and Really Cool Non-profit)
By: Keith Jefferies, 8/13/2009
Robots. Creative writing. Dave Eggers. Kids. 826Michigan is the hippest non-profit organization in Ann Arbor. Offering writing workshops and tutoring to kids for free, and channeling the energy and enthusiasm of nearly 200 voluteers, author Dave Egger's brainchild changes both minds and lives.
Toast
By: Jim Toscano, 7/23/2009
From Ferndale to Birmingham the Toast empire expands. If you haven't been to this one-of-a-kind... well, now two-of-a-kind eatery you really should. Who'd imagine that a place with Taco Tuesdays could be tres chic? That's the delicious conundrum that is Toast. Cool decor, surprising accoutrements and, always, yummy food.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Palmer House
By: Keith Jefferies, 7/16/2009
Built in the early 1950s, the Palmer House in Ann Arbor has been referred to as the "Michelangelo" of Frank Lloyd Wright's residential masterpieces. And now you can spend a night, a week, or even a month in this home with no right angles.
Dearborn's Arab-American Festival
By: Jim Toscano, 7/9/2009
How do you fit quarter of a million people onto 14 blocks of Warren Avenue? Ask the organizers of Dearborn's Arab American Festival, the nation's largest Middle Eastern gathering... and a shining reflection of the city's unique and growing diversity.
The Crofoot
By: Jim Toscano, 6/16/2009
Cool events. World class sound. Redeveloped historic downtown building. Hip crowd. In a better world every city would have their own Crofoot. Check out this one-of-kind Pontiac music venue.
Flexsys Knows Which Way The Wind Blows
By: Keith Jefferies, 6/11/2009
It's all about efficiency - lighter, stronger, more flexible. Flexsys is taking U-M born innovations into the marketplace (that's called tech transfer for you newbies) to improve wind turbine and aerospace technologies... and, of course, grow our high tech economy.
Millenials Matter
By: Tom Hendrickson, 6/4/2009
Communities work hard to accomodate the needs of seniors and children. But what about young professionals? If Metro Detroit wants to combat the loss of young talent to other states it needs to rethink its approach to this vital demographic. The Millenial Mayors Congress hopes to help bridge that gap, paving the way for tomorrow's leaders.
Incognito In Royal Oak
By: Jim Toscano, 5/28/2009
If it's good enough for George Clinton, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The White Stripes, it's good enough for you. Incognito is a longtime local fave known for its funky footwear, clothing and accessories
Oak Street Fair
By: Jim Toscano, 5/20/2009
The Oak Street program aims to put some pride back in these neighborhoods by offering educational and staff resources to help communities preserve historic character while moving forward with sustainable growth and investment.
House Of Chants
By: Jim Toscano, 5/14/2009
House Of Chants could care less about the masses. They want
you to look fabulous. Upscale urban, locally minded and absolutely authentic, this 20s era storefront is SoHo meets Motown. Yup, just another example of downtown Ferndale's renaissance.
Mizudo Academy: Community, Diveristy, Martial Arts
By: Tom Hendrickson, 4/30/2009
There are plenty of martial arts schools in Metro Detroit and no doubt many of them are excellent. Mizudo Academy in Dearborn, however, really takes diversity and their involvement with the community seriously.
LLamasoft
By: Keith Jefferies, 4/23/2009
How does a company efficiently get its stuff from the manufacturer to the warehouse to store shelves? What if the store is in Berlin? Or Singapore? What if it's hurricane season? These are just a few of the questions companies ask themselves when it comes to supply chain logistics. And Ann Arbor's LLamasoft helps them figure it all out.
Naka, Naka (Who's There?)
By: Tom Hendrickson, 4/16/2009
Buy local doesn't just mean food, dontcha know. Naka boutique in Ferndale features hand-crafted clothing, soaps and gifts from Metro Detroit creatives and designers. And owner Kelly Pettibone Lapointe doesn't just
sell local, she moved back from New York City to
be local.
The Flute House
By: Tom Hendrickson, 4/2/2009
It's residential. It's commercial. It's two very cool tastes in one. Proving that Royal Oak's urban development has still got it going ah-on, the Flute House will be an innovative addition to Main Street. No ordinary live/work space is this. Instead it's a cherry red gateway to downtown's new economy identity.
PALAZZO di BOCCE
By: Jim Toscano, 3/19/2009
Where's the best Boccedrome in the world? If you said Italy you're only off by about 4000 miles. Palazzo di Bocce in SE Michigan is mecca for all things lawn bowling. Yeah, it's a bit outside the metro area but we'd be remiss not to point to you toward this one-of-a-kind sports venue. Drink, bocce and be merry.
Can You say "Pecha Kucha"?
By: Tom Hendrickson, 3/5/2009
From Istanbul to Indianapolis, Dresden to Detroit, Pecha Kucha is spreading. No, it's not a fungus. It's Show n' Tell for smart people. Designers, artists, architects, filmmakers and all species of creatives get roughly 7 minutes and 20 slides to strut their stuff. Innovation is a must. Mileage may vary.
The Loving Touch
By: Tom Hendrickson, 2/19/2009
It's a pool hall. It's a philosophy. Chris Johnston has helped shape downtown Ferndale's renaissance with The Emory, Woodward Avenue Brewers and now, The Loving Touch, a former massage parlor turned billiard nirvana.
Fixing Detroit's Rock: Koontz Guitar Repair
By: Tom Hendrickson, 2/16/2009
There's no disputing Metro Detroit's contributions to rock and roll. We are
the innovators. Good thing we've got Mike Koontz of Ferndale to keep the music alive. Think of him as the repairman to the guitar rock gods.
Pinwheel Bakery
By: Tom Hendrickson, 2/5/2009
Keep it local, baby. Pinwheel Bakery in Ferndale is the epitome of a neighborhood joint. Funky, kid-friendly and oh-so-yummy, it does more than make delicious cupcakes, cakes and cookies - it helps build community.
Underground Dinner Clubs
By: Tom Hendrickson, 1/22/2009
The DIY trend doesn't just mean knit socks and electronic doo-dads. Amateur chefs and ambitious foodies are skipping the restaurant middle man to create gourmet experiences for friends and colleagues. Popular on the coasts for years, underground supper clubs are starting to spring up around Metro Detroit.