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Today's all-local daily podcast is in three parts:
First, we spent the morning at the Automate conference in Downtown Detroit. Bringing thousands to the city, the conference touches on the best in industrial and machine
Hey Detroit! We are back in our TechTown studio for your Daily Detroit, and on this Thursday, May 15th, 2025, the city is absolutely buzzing with news – from delicious new spots, to political shifts, to
The next Mayor of Detroit, whoever they are, will have some really big challenges from their budget to figuring out how to continue to draw investment, to trying to rebuild the city's middle class.
Anika
An eagle-eyed listener sent word that on the first floor of the south side of Somerset Collection a Cartier location is set to open in Winter of 2026.
Cartier is a highly sought-after brand in the region, and the "Buffs" sunglasses are part of Detroit's culture (and lately, the University of Michigan football team).
Cartier at Somerset 📸 Shianne Nocerini
The closest official store location until now has been Chicago, though various boutiques and stores have them available locally like Optica (also in Somerset).
There are 30 boutique locations nationally listed on the Cartier website, not including Metro Detroit.
My two cents? It might just be me, but in my mind Black Detroiters made Cartier the big deal it is here. They even recently did a serious of partnerships with Detroit influencers. This should store should have been in the new Hudson's Detroit across from Gucci, or hear me out — on the Avenue of Fashion on Livernois. But I'm sure it'll do well at Somerset.
The historic Scott Memorial Fountain will undergo $6 million in renovations starting this summer, paid for by federal relief money.
The 18-month project will close the fountain until May 2027, but promises to preserve this 100-year-old treasure for future generations.
"Two years ago, results of the concrete core samples taken from the lower bowl showed the basin structure needed to be addressed," said Thomas Bissett, urban district supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. "Although the project will have an impact on visitors, we're grateful that ARPA dollars were available for this project to strengthen and protect fountain structure and operation for future generations."
Per press materials:
To ensure the basin's structural integrity and protect the underlying mechanical room, the renovation project will involve installing new concrete beams and replacing the underlying fountain plumbing. Additionally, a watertight seal and marble elements around the lower bowl will help prevent water infiltration to subgrade operational space.
A bummer for this and next summer, but the work is way overdue and there just hasn’t been the money to do more than spot repairs for decades.
In honor of the Tigers being one of the best teams in baseball, Jer and Fletcher get into it on the Tigers.
Why they're doing well, what to look for to feel even more confident,
Today, we're diving into a world of capes and incredible local talent. The Detroit Historical Museum has just opened a brand new, year-long exhibit called "Heroes vs. Villains: The Art of the Comic Book," and
Last Saturday, I was in the outer reaches of our coverage area and thought I’d swing by Waycaster Tiki on my way home. I’ve wanted to visit since it opened back in December, and I finally got the chance to go to South Lyon.
From the outside, only the sign and a few tiki decorations hint at what's inside the nondescript building.
The interior tells a different story.
Stepping in the door, you’ll need a few seconds for your eyes to adjust. The lighting is very low and designed to give chill and intimate vibes.
Once I could see... I was blown away!
The well-decorated interior seats 40 people, divided into several cozy sections designed for small groups rather than centered around a main area.
Each unique seating area offers something different – one separated by vine curtains, another featuring a bar counter with paired stools.
As I was alone, I chose one of the four stools at the bar.
Behind the bar was the usual array of backlit bottles, but crowning the back bar were two shelves that held a variety tiki mugs in various shapes.
The tiki mugs on display at Waycaster Tiki
The menu was small, but on point.
Each page held an image and a description of a single drink — some with the expected rum, some with gin, and some with tequila. There was even a giant shareable cocktail on the menu. Beer was available, as were nonalcoholic drinks.
I sampled three cocktails: a Tradewinds, Singapore Sling and Jungle Bird. Each drink was delicious and very different from each other.
There is also a “Rations” section of the menu that has dried fruits and nuts, cheeses, and cured meats.
My Palm Plate included mango ginger cheese, brie, honey, dried fruit and pita crisps. It was a great snack to pair with my drinks.
When I got there in the late afternoon, the bar had a sparse crowd and the friendly staff were happy to chat with me.
As day turned into night, things started to pick up as reservation holders arrived. The tiki music that plays all the time could still be heard, but various conversations blended together to make the place sound lively.
I definitely plan to return to Waycaster Tiki! Next time, with friends.
You will find it at 228 S Lafayette Street in South Lyon.
Check out their website at https://www.waycastertiki.com for hours and to make a reservation.
Detroit is like the weather. Wait fifteen minutes, and something new will happen. Well, in Detroit's case, stuff will happen.
Part of what's awesome about following this town. Norris Howard joins Jer to talk about:
Today, Norris Howard joins us to talk about the hot stories of the day and your big feedback about rental housing in Detroit and Metro Detroit.
01:02 - Six Mile or McNichols?
03:12
Today: University of Michigan president Santa Ono is unexpectedly leaving for the University of Florida. We talk about it.
Plus, Javier Báez' play rebounds this season as the Tigers soar to the top of the
On today's all-local Daily Detroit (with Norris Howard):
00:40 - What car should Norris buy next?
03:07 - Detroit's new apartments are among the smallest apartments in America, even smaller than Manhattan
05:
Today's episode Producer Shianne and Devon O'Reilly join Jer to talk about things around town.
- We're going back to the Mackinac Policy Conference this year. We talk about why we do it and how we've
Mark your calendars: Ferndale Pride is in downtown Ferndale on Saturday, May 31st, 2025. The party kicks off with an opening ceremony at 12:30p, vendors and stages open at 1p, and the energy
"Cozy' and "neighborly" are two words that popped into my head when I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new café and plant shop in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood today.
Having had the idea for a couple years, co-owners Alan Alexander and Adam Cichy opened last November but waited until warmer weather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Key in making this happen was a $70,000 Motor City Match grant to help with construction, equipment, and furniture.
I enjoyed light snacks made by Alan, and I sipped a warm, honey vanilla latte.
With training at the Culinary Institute of America and an eye for design, the owners created a space that made me want to return.
On the menu you'll find coffee and tea, plus lunch items like chicken salad sandwiches, and smoke salmon carpaccio.
Plus, there's unique home goods, and you will be given care guidance if you purchase a plant.
Alcohol may be in the future as Alan and Adam are working on obtaining a liquor license.
dose. detroit is located at 3706 4th Street. It is open every day except for Monday.
I was headed down Oakland Avenue over the weekend and saw some big construction work happening on what will become a mixed-use building with retail spaces, apartments and a parking lot out back.
Built in 1925, the commercial block was on the city's demo list until the non-profit Stafford House put the project forward.
It'll have four ground-floor commercial spaces at about 1,000 square foot each. Last I could find, there'd be a coffee shop, training center, retail and offices for an engineering company.
The second floor will have 10 affordable apartments.
The project aims to be complete by the end of this year.
Detroit is getting ready for a pivotal election! Residents will choose the next mayor in 2025. This is important because the mayor leads the city and helps solve problems for the next four years.
Daily Detroit wants to help you learn about the people who want to be mayor. There are 10 people running, and we are talking to them one by one. So far, we've shared talks with 3 of them.
In these talks, you can hear about who the candidates are and what they plan to do for Detroit. It's a good way to understand their ideas before you vote.
Here are links to the three conversations we have so far:
Fred Durhal III
Jer Staes
Saunteel Jenkins
Jer Staes
Mary Sheffield
Jer Staes
We plan on talking to more people running for mayor soon, so keep listening to Daily Detroit!
Remember these important dates for the election:
- Primary on August 5, 2025: A vote to pick fewer people to run.
- General on November 4, 2025: The final vote to choose the mayor.
If you're a candidate and would like to join us (for mayor or city council), get in touch.
Fletcher Sharpe and Jer Staes hit some of the stories you might have missed and talk about the heartbreaking loss by the Detroit Pistons on Sunday afternoon.
The rundown:
01:00 - Detroit Basketball playoffs
Yes, Detroit Can
In the third in our series of conversations with candidates for Mayor of the City of Detroit, I sit down with current Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield on a number of issues from entrepreneurship
On this edition of your Daily Detroit, Fletcher and Jer talk Detroit stuff:
02:06 - Fletcher and Jer discuss Mayor Mike Duggan's recent comment about courting Tesla at the auto show. More: https: