Jer Staes

Gabrielle Coppolafuturismelectric vehicles

The Future of Electric Vehicles and Battery Tech: Where Are We Now? (ft. Gabrielle Coppola)

Where is Michigan (and America) at with electric vehicles and battery technology? Gabrielle Coppola, a journalist at Bloomberg, joins me for a conversation on the Daily Detroit podcast. Coppola wrote a very interesting piece, “America’s long, tortured journey to build EV batteries,” and it caught my eye because A123 systems — a Michigan company — was bought out of bankruptcy by Chinese investors and their cutting edge tech now is used over there. Over here? Americans are left having to lic...

Easy PeasyHudson's siteThe Lone Goat

New British pub // What is Easy Peasy? // Naming the new skyscraper

It’s Friday! Which means a big dose of what to know and where to go in Metro Detroit on the podcast. Devon O’Reilly joins me and we hit a ton of topics: 01:52 – There’s a storefront with window wrapping that says “Easy Peasy” on it. What is it? Devon tells us. 05:36 – Dunkin’ to Downtown Detroit on Woodward 07:19 – A British pub, “The Lone Goat” is coming to downtown Detroit in the Metropolitan Building. 10:35 – Jer stopped in Cred Cafe, owned by a former Detroit Piston 12:08 – A...

Detroit auto showfuturismMove to Detroit

Auto show needs wow factor // People should move to Detroit // Predictions

Norris Howard is back from vacation and we just into talking about local stories around town. 01:39 – There’s talk of moving the Detroit Auto Show again, back to the winter months as recent years haven’t had the luster of before the pandemic. Norris makes the argument it’s not about when, it’s the lack of wow content, futurism and pizazz and that’s what organizers should focus on as the real issue is CES in Las Vegas is about tech and cars are more about tech now.  Whether you agree or n...

Newsletter

January in Detroit doesn’t have to be boring! Here's where you'll find the fun and interesting.

Our monthly guide of things happening around town, plus a rundown of some stories to know

Detroit winterBD's Mongolian GrillFox Theater

January things to do // Why not restaurant week in winter? // BD's Mongolian still exists

From things to do this January 2024 to remembering BD’s Mongolian Grill still exists to answering a listener question to the best of our ability why there were no restaurant weeks in Winter vs. where they moved here from, it’s a fun show. – Posting a complete companion guide later today to all the events in January mentioned around Metro Detroit.  * Jer went to see the amazing John Oliver show and now will never look at the Fox Theater the same again. * Shianne rediscovered a joy of he...

Newsletter

Welcome to 2024 // Chaos in the party // Popular restaurant expansion // Where Michiganders are moving

Plus a new extreme sports park (and more!)

Detroit LionsMichigan FootballDetroit Pistons

Insane football weekend // Prediction: Cade will leave Pistons

Hello 2024! Crazy weekend of football, and the Detroit Pistons finally break their losing streak. From the Daily Detroit studio at Techtown, here’s the rundown: 00:30 – Lions discussion begins, did the Lions get robbed, or did CeeDee Lamb run all over them?  07:18 – The attempt for two points at the end was a gutsy call. Was it the right one? 09:29 – Vikings predictions, chances for Lions to set some records 10:47 – Michigan beats Alabama is a sloppy one, with strong defensive play...

predictions

Predictions for 2024 (and how we did in 2023?)

Devon and Jer recap their 2023 predictions and if they were on point or just how wrong they were, and make new ones for 2024. 02:33 – Recapping 2023 predictions including will there be a new full-line grocery store downtown; the rise of small spaces and retail; and a lot more. 12:54 – Our predictions for 2024, for Metro Detroit, Detroit and Michigan. Includes topics around development, transit, and local/state politics. And there’s one that already partially happened. Feedback as alway...

Detroit LionsDetroit PistonsIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times ...

It's the best of times (Lions) and worst of times (Pistons) in Detroit sports

It’s among the best of time in Detroit sports as the Lions clinch the NFC North, bringing home a division title for the first time in more than three decades. It’s also among the worst, as the listless Detroit Pistons have an NBA-record losing streak and the team just looks defeated. For one of our two New Year episodes, Fletcher and Jer discuss the joy and difficulty; as well as make some predictions for 2024 in sports. Rundown: 00:30 – The Detroit Lions take the NFC North to the chee...

Newsletter

The Weekender: New Dunkin' coming Downtown // What it takes to run a bar in Detroit since 2005 // Refurbished People Mover cars from Toronto? // Riverfront hotel plans

Plus… if you’re looking for something to do, shuffle over to “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” at the Fisher Theatre

Detroit Policy ConferenceGrowing Michigan Together

New riverfront hotel to start construction // Detroit Policy Conference preview

Happy Friday! As a heads up, we’re going to be doing two episodes next week for the holiday break. On today’s show: 02:25 – Where is the good Decaf coffee in town? Whether at shops or for take home? 05:23 – Details of a new hotel that’ll be connected to Huntington Place were announced, we discuss. Can we get a real connected to the riverfront restaurant? 11:28 – Coming up on January 11, 2024 is the Detroit Policy Conference. One of the key focuses is the new Growing Together Michigan r...

Detroit People MoverFestviusBird scooters

Toronto transit cars may come to Detroit // Local Festivus grievances and more

Norris Howard is in and we’re talking… 02:46 – Jer went to “Ain’t too proud to beg” at the Fisher Theatre, and saw the story of the Temptations. Excellent performance, and as a surprise, saw Dr. Otis Williams himself (one of the original Temptations).  06:23 – Norris is off traveling next week 07:19 – Refurbished Toronto transit cars may be coming to Detroit to help bolster the Detroit People Mover. Also, a free ride pilot program starts in January. We discuss it all. 14:24 – Is Bird...

🎧Caribou CafeCass Corridor

The Bobcat and the reflecting pool // Woodward re-opens // Old radio building fate uncertain

Hello Wednesday! Producer Shianne is in studio and we talk about the stories and events of that interest us… plus, Jer shares a yarn his pops told him about his bobcat when he went to Wayne State in the 60s. 01:38 – Shianne brought some of the new Caribou in the studio to try from the new Ferndale location. Do the vibes live up? 07:00 – The Woodward road diet in Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge is finished for the season, and traffic has opened up so we can get a better look at what was built...

Detroit LionsDetroit PistonsComerica Park

Lions return to form // Pistons fans frustrated // New Comerica scoreboard // New Bucharest location

Happy Tuesday! From a new location for a popular shwarma spot to a new scoreboard and Lions talk, we have you covered on this Tuesday with Fletcher Sharpe. 00:23 – Fletcher went and tried the new Bucharest location in Grosse Pointe Woods 04:49 – The Lions return to form as their offensive line heals and runs the Broncos back to Denver 10:02 – Pistons fans are frustrated, with some calling for Gores to get rid of the team. Fletcher doesn’t think we’re at that point. 13:46 – Comerica P...

Mike McFallHazel ParkMI 8th House District

Working across city borders, transit, dealing with change and more w/ State Rep. Mike McFall

Today on the show, my guest is State Representative Mike McFall. The 8th House District he serves spans from Madison Heights, through Hazel Park, and into Detroit down into Midtown. Our conversation is wide-ranging and talks about bridging divides between the city and suburbs, transit, changes in our region in the last couple of decades, and a lot more. Before going to Lansing, Mike served as a councilperson in Hazel Park, with one of his focuses being on improving the downtown district....

Food TrucksFood Truck OrdinanceCambria hotel

Should food trucks be restricted? And how much?

Devon O’Reilly is in for his Friday appearance. We talk about a few things around town, but the big focus of conversation is food trucks. Where should they be allowed? Do they compete with local businesses? Devon has some strong opinions about a proposed ordinance in Dearborn that would put some strong limits on them. The rundown: Where we’ve been: 01:50 – CIBO is open in the Cambria, and it looks amazing 04:27 – Jer went to see Waitress the Musical movie with Sara Bareilles at the B...

Detroit regional chamberGlengarrif Grouppublic policy

Unwrapping a new Michigan poll: Investment over tax cuts; Education worries

A new poll from the Detroit Regional Chamber and Glengariff Group shows that Michigan voters are for investing in infrastructure over tax cuts; that there’s real concerns about our education system making us uncompetitive, and more. Norris Howard is back after a week on the west coast. 00:52 – A few words about Norris’ trip to San Francisco 06:01 – We unpack the most recent Detroit Regional Chamber voter poll. From investing to education to job availability for young people, there are...

Urbanize DetroitCorktownPerfecting Church in Detroit

The Icon of Incompletion // 2023 Big Development Themes // Vacant Tall Buildings Sold

Robin Runyan from Urbanize Detroit joins us today to give a bit of an update on development stories around town and answer a listener question. * Can the Belle Isle Boathouse be saved? We discuss. * We talk about what could be Detroit’s icon of incompletion, the long-stalled Perfecting Church project at Seven Mile and Woodward. There’s a new deal to get it going, but community (and our) skepticism after 20 years of lack of progress is high. * A pair of buildings in Corktown that have sa...