Musicians have bars and nightclubs. Writers have salons and workshops. Poets have readings and slams. Where do local filmmakers go to show their work? The Mitten Movie Project. Since 2005 this monthly event has been bringing together movie makers of every stripe, showcasing their work at Royal Oak's Main Art and providing an informal networking scene.
"It's family friendly if you have the right type of friendly!" Local burlesque shows are attracting an enthusiastic mix of daytime professionals and night-time hipsters. More tease than strip, the metro Detroit scene boasts everything from aerial acrobatics to vintage clown erotica.
From metal culture to metal creations, Speedcult brings together a trifecta of Detroit values: do-it-yourself ingenuity, risky engineering, and a need for speed. Metromode's Nicole Rupersburg watches (and imbibes) as National Geographic shoots an episode of Mad Scientists in the team's backyard "abusement park".
Being fabulous doesn't just happen. It takes a lot of hard work. Nicole Rupresburg looks at how Ferndale became metro Detroit's go-to community for gay inclusion, and the impact that choice has had on downtown revitalization.
Much has been made of Dearborn's Arab American melting pot. But it's only one part of Metro Detroit's ever growing immigrant story. Our region now boasts the highest concentration of Middle Eastern Americans in the nation, and percentage-wise Sterling Heights tops the list of cities with a population of 100,000 or more.
James Brown once sang that "This is a man's, man's, man's world" ...and that couldn't be truer when it comes to executive chefs. Which is why Nicole Rupersburg looks at the women who are helming high-profile Metro Detroit kitchens, proving that "...it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman."
It ain't called Fabulous Ferndale for nothing. With a "sure, why not?" attitude and a dedication to urban vitality, this inner ring burb is quickly becoming the region's go-to community for DIY innovation and entrepreneurship. So, what's that got to do with food carts? More than you might think.
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.
Craft beers, heirloom produce, artisanal breads - not all foods are created equal. Now a network of local cafes are looking to get Metro Detroiters to reconsider that most sacred of beverages - the cup of Joe. Unconvinced? Consider this: Wine has 750 flavor profiles; coffee has 1500.
It's not a GLBT-friendly community without the drag queens. Though Ferndale is singled out for its pink and lavender street cred, Royal Oak is home to Five 15, a cafe, gift shop, art gallery, and party venue that unabashedly embraces queer culture. And it's found incredible crossover success with its sold-out-weeks-in-advance Drag Queen Bingo.
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