EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Construction of Marrow in Eastern Market
Plus, a new development in District Detroit
Plus, a new development in District Detroit
The Joe Louis Greenway has gotten a lot of buzz locally and nationally. But what's the bigger vision? What's ahead? How will this integrate with the communities it serves? Joe Louis Greenway Partnership Executive Director Leona Medley joins us to discus the formation and goals of the newly formed nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Joe Louis Greenway project in Detroit. The partnership focuses on community engagement, ongoing beautification, programming, and maintaining the greenway to ensur...
Meet Aerial_Knight, behind "We Never Yield"
Welcome to the Friday edition of your Daily Detroit, sharing what to know and where to go in Southeast Michigan. Have a watch: Today: We talk about a visit to the Shankar Distillery, making the Varchas brand, a new spot blending Indian and American whiskey traditions. Learn about their unique offerings, including a Reserve 102 bourbon whiskey and the cultural significance behind their eagle branding. Jer and Devon discuss his favorite twist on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail, featuring me...
Crime and safety, blight and vacancy, housing affordability are the top 3 issues, say Detroiters
As long as we’ve done this show, growing Michigan, and getting it into gear to be competitive against the rest of the country has been a topic. Honestly, it sometimes feels like I'm screaming down into the void as someone who is usually pushing for things to be better. Because as much as we love our city, region and state, there's much to be proud of… There is work to do. There has been for years. After all, Michigan is second to last in the nation for attracting people from other states. Mix...
"If you want to watch, to listen, to read something that has value to you, be prepared to pay for it." - Matt Friedman
(now, let's think even bigger)
There's a bunch of new spots opening in Detroit ahead of the NFL Draft, and one of the latest - and capturing the most buzz - is Adelina on Woodward Avenue. Across from the massive Hudson's site tower and a block from Campus Martius Park, it's location is second to none. But also adding to the mix is celebrity chef Fabio Viviani, who you might know from Top Chef or his many other restaurants. In a special conversation in the restaurant, Jer sat down with Fabio and Chefs Marco Dalla Fontana and...
Black Tech Saturdays is making quite the splash in bridging digital divides and being a platform to lift up Detroit in technology. Plus, it’s a total vibe. Far different (in a good way) than what you’re used to for “tech events.” Joining me on the show is Alex and Johnnie Turnage, co-founders – as well as Ethan Lloyd, Social Media Manager for the city of Detroit and he runs the city of Detroit’s social media accounts that have been growing quickly and engaging residents. It’s cheesy to...
Four Daily Detroit contributors around one table? The dream is realized at the new studio in TechTown. Norris Howard, Shianne Nocerini, Devon O’Reilly and Jer talk three of today’s stories that impact Metro Detroit. 00:51 – There’s a hotel proposed for the top of the Michigan Central project in Corktown on the old train station. Is that the best use? Will it be a great way to show off the city? 06:32 – We wax nostalgic about Olga’s, who abruptly closed their Westland location after more...
Although a lot of attention is paid to buses and transit in the city of Detroit, the reality is the vast majority of people in Metro Detroit do not live within the city limits. Although some do, many of their trips to get around don’t involve the city at all. They’re served by SMART – The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation – and any conversation about transit and linking southeast Michigan together involves their work. In this conversation with Tiffany Gunter, Depu...
What does it take to run a bar and restaurant? When Owen Burke and his business partner Tony Piraino first ran a bar called Pulse in 2005, the building they were leasing got demolished by the city for future progress. So they changed concepts, got a hold of a historic building in Greektown, and opened Firebird Tavern in 2013. A decade in one concept is quite the accomplishment in their industry. And recently, they expanded with a second location in Troy, Michigan. In this honest con...
The first wireless electric charging road in the United States – where, with the right equipment, you can drive on it and charge while moving – has opened in Detroit’s Corktown. Using technology by Electreon and deployed at Michigan Central, it seems only appropriate for this first quarter mile to be here. Me and Norris Howard discuss the technology, the implications, the possibilities, the challenges and more in this single-topic episode of your Daily Detroit. We’re not sure if this w...
Our deep-dive conversation is with Brian Mulloy. He’s doing small-scale development in the city of Detroit through his Ballet Real Estate, but with a focus on building restoration and urban spaces. His transformation of a building at Bagley and Trumbull (and subsequent development of a property few thought could be built on it behind it) not only has caught attention for its looks but the amount of hassle he had to go through to get it done. So how can Detroit support smaller devel...
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is coming to Sterling Heights. The new location will open on Thursday. This is the second Dickey’s location for owners Ed and Carrie Wenzel. Their first location is in Macomb Township. They also hope to add a third location in Auburn Hills in the future. “We are excited to offer delicious Texas-style barbecue to these communities,” Carrie says. “We believe in Dickey’s family-owned brand and look forward to expanding our family business with it.” There will be loads of...
Those in the millenial generation are taking a good look at Detroit when it comes to searching for a job. LinkedIn released today a list of 5 surprising cities that are rapidly attracting millenial job seekers. In case you didn’t know, demographers and researchers often use the range from the early 1980s to the early 2000s to define them by age. Number three on the list – and number three in their results – was Detroit. One of the reasons this data is interesting is that it is from LinkedIn,...
Before the chill of autumn falls too heavy on Michigan there is Walkable Warren – a way for everyone who wants to get around this part of the Motor City sans the motor. From September 22-24, the busy two-block stretch on Warren between Woodward and Second Avenues will be reduced to two lanes instead of three. The third lane will be converted into a protected bike lane. Wayne will show off the improvements that make this area more pedestrian and bike friendly such as painted bike lanes, pedes...
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, this means that there will be numerous events and fundraisers happening throughout metro Detroit. On Saturday, October 8 The Pink Fund will be holding the 4th Annual Dancing With The Survivors event. There will be great food, and the drinks will be plentiful. The highlight of the evening is the dance performances from breast cancer survivors. The dancers have been practicing ballroom dancing at Fred Astaire studios to get prepared for their performance...
EVENT LISTING: This month for “In Transit” we’ll feature Detroit’s funkiest rhythm section with the sounds and aesthetics of the Arab world. It’s all set in the spirit and celebration of our diverse Detroit and how we can shine a light on inclusion through the performing arts. Each month, we select the most talented international artists that are now living in Metro Detroit and integrate them with Detroit’s finest mainstream musicians. This cross-cultural approach makes it more accessible to...
Detroit is a city full of historic beauties, some better kept than others. From the Brush Park neighborhood of Detroit to Wyandotte, there are houses that are worth a visit. Though they all started as private residences, today they serve a variety of uses. Some are museums. Some are left vacant, and some remain in use as homes. Take a trip back in time and marvel at these gorgeous historic Metro Detroit homes. 1. Baker House The Henry W. Baker House at 233 South Main Street in Plymouth...
Water features, a splash park, native plantings and a natural amphitheater for outdoor concerts are among the ambitious ideas Ferndale officials will be considering as part of a planned makeover of Martin Road Park, the city’s largest green space. The proposals are still in the conceptual stage and have yet to be reviewed by members of the city’s planning commission. They are outlined in a series of renderings prepared by Detroit-based Hamilton Anderson Associates. They’ll be discussed offic...
The Flint water crisis is a boondoggle of historic proportions. Multiple levels of our government failed the people of Flint – and the people of Michigan more broadly. Here’s the latest. The Freep outlines the scenario that occurred days after Flint Mayor Karen Weaver threatened to sue the state: Though Flint has not been under a state-appointed emergency manager since April 2015, the state still exerts partial control over the city through a five-member Receivership Transition Advisory Boar...
Uber set the internet abuzz last week with the rollout of their new autonomous vehicles that are now serving the Pittsburgh area. Well, it looks like Metro Detroit’s going to get some investment from Uber around self-driving cars. The Automotive News and the Wall Street Journal are reporting that Uber is going to open a facility in Metro Detroit to increase collaboration with the automakers. And depending on how the state regulations shake out, we also could be home to a fleet of self-drivin...
Can’t leave the house for your Starbucks PSL? This guy might have the answer of the future. This video is of Austin Coon sending a drone through a drive-thru at a local area Starbucks (he happened to get a caramel mocha with soy and extra whip). “Hey, I just placed a mobile order. Yeah. I know this might sound crazy – can I pick it up with my drone. Yeah? Awesome. I’ll meet you outside,” Coon says on the video. The drive-thru (he got permission ahead of time) at Ford and Lotz roads in Canton...
Michigan’s largest Catholic university that has roots back to 1877 as The Detroit College, has a new logo look and “brand positioning strategy” (that’s marketing talk for shaping how they’re perceived by the public and the how they’re going to make that happen). One of those steps is a new logo. University of Detroit Mercy as it’s known today was created a little more than a quarter century ago in 1990 out of the merger of the University of Detroit (that’s the one with roots back to 1877) and...
When I think about solar panel arrays, I usually think of them in more remote places. Miles of panels in straight lines soaking up the rays of the sun in a field or in the desert. Or a few on the roof of a house. But, Detroit is about to get one of the largest urban solar arrays in the country. Work has begun at O’Shea Park located at Greenfield and Interstate 96 to transform 10 acres of vacant land into 10 acres of solar panels. That’s more than 6,500 solar panels. The panels will generate en...
One of the most colorful corners of Detroit – if you peek in their warehouse, or notice splashes of color of items left outside in the open air – is the corner of Canton and East Lafayette on the near east side. That’s where you’re going to find Caribbean Mardi Gras Productions. Headed by Ralph Taylor, an immigrant from Trinidad, he’s been a part of this Detroit neighborhood since 1973. They make Trinidadian carnival-style costumes for events around the world, right here in the D. In a 201...
There were a lot of great events happening this weekend. I have a feeling that people will find something that they will enjoy to do. All I can say is get outside and enjoy this beautiful late summer weather. DIY Street Fair – Ferndale Come out to Ferndale on Saturday or Sunday for the DIY Street Fair. This event is a ton of fun, and is filled with 125 artists and vendors selling their wares. There will also be 65 bands performing over the two days. You can find the line up here. What...
A nice night on the river as jazz fills the air … and all for free. What a calm and enjoyable way to spend a night in September. That day dream will be a reality as Jefferson East Inc. (JEI) once again puts on its annual Jazzin’ on the River on Saturday, September 17. You can catch the hep-cat tunes at Ford Park, 100 Lakewood St. on the Detroit River in Jefferson-Chalmers, from noon-8 p.m. “This is such an important event for our residents, and it also highlights the riverfront and canal c...
Although Wayne State has been making a large number of physical improvements to their campus as of late, their actual enrollment has actually gone down each of the last seven years. That trend has stopped for this school year, with enrollment rising just a bit – 0.4 percent, or 104 students — this fall. Current enrollment is now 27,326. Their goal is to get to 30,000 students by 2020. When it comes to those living on campus, they now have 7,346 new students — the most in recent years and a...
We all know how in Oakland County I-75 is pretty much the center of the suburban traffic universe. Most everyone out that way seems to use it for everything at one point, as it runs right through the middle of the county. But, Oakland County, your Bae (before anyone else) needs a break this weekend. Five miles of the I-75 freeway, from Crooks to M-59, will be closed to demo the bridge at Squirrel Road. So go out with that friend they don’t like that much. Listen to Monica and realize this week...
Once every four years, little girls around the country are captivated by the United States women’s gymnastics team. Unfortunately, for many of the girls who live in underserved areas, dreams of becoming an Olympic gymnast won’t ever have the chance to get off the ground because of a lack of affordable, quality gymnastics programs. In Detroit, that’s about to change. The Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF), a non-profit organization that offers free and low-cost gymnastics for inner-cit...