Hey friends, Jer here.
You might have noticed something different at the top of this email. It's spring, so we're changing things up. More on that at the bottom!
Also, shout-out to the new Sml Wrld Cafe location in Detroit that I visited for the first time last week. It's a beautiful space, almost like a speakeasy of coffee. But with windows. And not expensive. Check it out if you get a chance at 2220 Gratiot.
🏠Metro Detroit’s air quality just earned another F in the American Lung Association’s latest State of the Air report. [Planet Detroit]
Not great news. I won't go into all the details (the article is excellent for that), but with modern technology and some political will, it doesn't have to be this way.
🛫 TIL: Today I learned that embattled Spirit Airlines was founded in Macomb County. It has roots in a trucking company, founded in 1964. [Simple Flying]
🛬 But in all seriousness, Spirit facing financial issues could be bad news for Detroit Metro Airport, its second largest hub — not to mention flyers, as prices would likely go up without the competition. [Detroit News]
👨‍⚖️ Wayne State University has approved a $46 million plan for a new law school building. Once $30 million in funding is authorized by the state, demolition of the current structure would begin in the fall, and construction is to take three years.
It'll be a 46,600 square foot classroom building to house the university's growing law programs, a little more than half the size of the original project plan. [Crain's Detroit Business]
🗳️ I know readers of this newsletter get excited for new places opening. But to make it happen, that takes resources.
For a number of years, the Hatch Detroit contest has been helping bridge that gap to help open brick and mortar spaces in Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck. The prize this year is $100,000.
A big part of that process is a public vote, and that's where you come in.
The Top 10 semifinalists for the 2026 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by Techtown are:
- Asante’s Hi-Life Library — vinyl, live music, dining, and rotating chef residencies rooted in the African diaspora.
- Sugar & Soul — carryout comfort food and catering inspired by Sunday dinners.
- Detroit Drift Social — indoor electric go-kart racing with a lounge, games, food, and drinks.
- Hobby Factory — maker-focused hobby shop and digital fabrication hub for custom CAD and workshops.
- Kraftologie — hands-on art workshops, self-guided experiences, and take-home creative kits.
- Detroit Movie Theater — community cinema for new releases, indies, and classics, plus performance space.
- Flavorful Creations — gourmet bakery with dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan desserts.
- TeaKit — art-project café pairing tea and baked goods with beginner-friendly activities.
- The Laundry Lounge — modern, clean self-service laundromat focused on convenience and reliability.
- NAVYN HOUS — short guided relaxation sessions with a non-alcoholic bar, grab-and-go food, and retail.
Public voting to narrow the field to four finalists runs through Wednesday, and the Hatch Off finale is on May 13. Vote here!
P.S.: We plan on having the final four on our show so you can get to know them even better.
🍔 The end of the summer will be the end of the line after nearly seven decades for the Daly Restaurant in Livonia. At one time there were 17 locations, and it was a favorite of a couple of our contributors. I'm sure we'll be talking about it on the show tomorrow. [Facebook]
If you've never been, think Daly burgers with onions and steamed buns, or a foot-long Daly dog.
Back in the day, the locations had amazing mid-century modern vibes.
Daly traces back to founder Bill Ihlenfeldt, who opened his first drive‑in restaurant in the summer of 1948 on what was then Jim Daly Road (Dearborn Township, later Dearborn Heights). [Roadside Architecture] [ChevyDetroit]
If you want to get there before it's gone, you can find it open six days a week (closed Sundays) at 31500 Plymouth Road in Livonia. [Detroit News]
Devon shared his family memories of Daly on the podcast here.
📬 If you get value out of these emails, share them with a friend!
🌿 Spring is here! The pheasants are out… and so is ours.
For the season, meet Vernon Lucius Phezzgerald III — our new mascot. Over some seeds, he tells me some call him Phezzy, others call him Vern… depending on who’s asking.
We went with a pheasant because you can spot them just about anywhere in Detroit — and that’s how we try to be, too. He’s fun, friendly, and knows where all the best spots are. And when something’s happening, he knows to be loud about it.
To be clear, he is not AI — A show listener volunteered the artwork.
This is our first real mascot (and first major logo shift) since we started. Our original shield is rooted in Detroit's history back to 1701: founded by the French, claimed by the British, and, of course, an American city.
We still love history and telling those kinds of stories, and we have big plans to share more of them.
But to many, the heraldry-inspired look read as “national news” or a bit stodgy.
So we're trying something new. And although we’ll always touch on the big issues facing our city, region, and state, at heart we’ve always been about fun and community — trying not to take ourselves too seriously.
Feedback welcome, as always. Send me a note to dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com.
Until next time, remember that you are somebody — and I'll see you around Detroit.
-Jer
