Jer here.
Hello from La Ventana in Detroit's Eastern Market! It's a modern-feeling coffeeshop on Gratiot that's become a hub for creatives and caffeine lovers.
Fortunately, it's open later than a lot of places — until 7p. So if you need a waystation between meetings, or a place to catch up with a friend, it's a great spot.
Time is short for me today, so let's get right into it with stories you should know about around town.
💰 Just treading water while the federal government is drowning you is a major challenge when it comes to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's final state budget. [The Balanced Sheet]
One of the best pieces of advice I got from a mentor is to "know where your sidewalk ends," meaning, know what you're best at.
So I'm going to quote a post from an expert on government finance, Steve Watson. He's in private practice now, but is a former Budget Director & Deputy CFO for the city of Detroit. He's also been a guest on our Daily Detroit podcast.
The Governor proposes several tax increases to help balance the budget and offset reductions in federal funding for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacted by Congress last summer. She also relies on a $400 million draw from the State’s Rainy Day Fund and various State department efficiencies and cost savings.
The debate in Lansing around the $88.1 billion budget starts now.
🇨🇦 The number of Canadians traveling to Michigan and the United States fell by more than 15% last year. [WXYZ]
🧖 If you've ever wanted to escape the Midwest winter without leaving the city, Detroit's newest outdoor destination might be exactly what you're looking for.
Islandview Sauna Club just opened on the city's east side, tucked into a wooded lot at 1000 Beaufait, between Lafayette and St. Paul.
It's the kind of place that shouldn't exist in an industrial corridor — and that's exactly what makes it interesting. It’s a slice of Northern Michigan vibes right around the corner.
The setup is simple but intentional. Three wood-fired saunas of different intensity, a cold plunge tub (with a larger communal plunge coming soon), and a canvas tent that doubles as a changing area and hangout space.
Unlike indoor facilities, Islandview keeps you outside between sessions—embracing winter rather than hiding from it. Think bonfire breaks and brisk air instead of climate-controlled lobbies.
The saunas themselves were built in Minneapolis after co-owners Jacques and Christine Driscoll (of Green Dot Stables, Johnny Noodle King, Kiesling Detroit, and Yellow Light Coffee and Donuts fame) spent time researching the Midwest's growing sauna culture and its Nordic origins.
Right now, Islandview is open Friday evenings (4p–8p) and weekends (1p–5p). Sessions cost $25 per hour and require advance booking through their website. Space is limited, so you'll want to plan ahead.
Bring a bathing suit, towel, flip-flops, and water bottle. A sauna hat is optional but recommended. After your session, you're welcome to hang out by the fire or in the basecamp tent.
Expect Islandview's hours and amenities to expand over time, with updates shared on Instagram.
It's a small operation with big ambitions... and a reminder that sometimes the best escapes are hiding in plain sight, even in the middle of February.
Pączki Season Hits High Gear with the Return of Detroit City Distillery’s Beloved Pączki Day Party on Saturday, Feb. 14
Ah, Pączki Season in metro Detroit — a time of freezing temperatures, intermittent snow, and delightfully buttery, crispy-creamy pastries known as pączki. Detroit City Distillery, known for its cult-favorite Pączki Day Vodka — a limited-release spirit distilled with real pączki sourced from Hamtramck — will once again host its annual Pączki Day Party on Saturday, February 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This year’s celebration will be bigger than ever, featuring expanded activities and vendors made possible by the move to the distillery’s brand-new event space, 100 Proof, located at 1000 Gratiot Avenue in Detroit. Admission is free and open to the public.
Note: Guests must be 21 or older to purchase or consume alcohol.
Party highlights include:
- Live music by Crampton Brothers (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
- Polish ice luge
- Ice carving
- Shotski
- Pączki Day Spirits for Sale – Original Raspberry, Orange Cream, Poland X Detroit, Polish Daisy Bottled Cocktail and Jeżynówka Bourbon
- New Pączki Day merchandise
- Appearances by Mr. Pączki Head
- Food by Srodek's Campau Quality Sausage Co. and other Polish favorites
How Pączki Day Vodka Is Made
Pączki Day Vodka is created by distilling pączki in a blend of 100 percent Michigan and Polish potato vodka, using a 500-gallon copper pot still. The result is a crystal-clear, one-of-a-kind spirit that is smooth, buttery, and finishes with unmistakable pączki character.
Free of artificial ingredients, flavors, or sweeteners, PDV is designed to showcase the authentic taste of handmade, glazed raspberry pączki from Hamtramck. It can be enjoyed chilled, over ice, mixed into cocktails, or as a traditional pączki chaser.
📊 Mayor Sheffield named Winnie Liao as Detroit's new Chief Operating Officer.
Liao's mission is to reimagine how residents and businesses interact with city government, from basic services to permits and licensing.
According to a news release, she's previously transformed Michigan's Secretary of State offices, turning long wait times into streamlined experiences across 131 branches statewide. More recently, she was at Mastercard leading enterprise operations.
Liao will oversee 17 city departments and is taking a large pay cut from her Mastercard role to do this work.
The Mayor wants Liao to initiate a "City-wide Operations Improvement Plan" during the first quarter of this year, with a focus on service departments. She starts February 16.
🧱 Southwest Detroit’s Bagley–West Vernor corridor, long the commercial heart of Mexicantown, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. [Outlier Media]
🎥 Check out the livestream replay of our Daily Detroit podcast! Norris Howard is in and we hit a ton of chat topics that didn't make it on the main show. Where our show is set up to be 20-25 minutes long for drivetime, this is the uncut version that sits. The conversation is always lively, and you can join in on Tuesday afternoons on YouTube.
That's it for today. Thanks so much to our newest members! Alex, Soona, and Laura. Will you step up to support all-local coverage? Join our Patreon!
Remember that you are somebody,
-Jer
