This Video Game was Made in — and Inspired by — Detroit
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Two RenCen Towers to be demolished? Inside a new distillery, and more around Metro Detroit
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...
What do Detroiters really think? New survey sheds light on top concerns, voter engagement, and more
Crime and safety, blight and vacancy, housing affordability are the top 3 issues, say Detroiters
What will it take to grow Michigan? (ft. Hilary Doe)
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...
PODCAST: Local TV (and news) is changing a lot. Let's talk about why (ft. Matt Friedman)
"If you want to watch, to listen, to read something that has value to you, be prepared to pay for it." - Matt Friedman
Detroit Can Handle It
(now, let's think even bigger)
Who's next for governor and mayor? Political apathy and more ft. Sam Robinson
Special guest Sam Robinson, reporter for Axios Detroit, joined Norris and Jer at the Daily Detroit studio and we talked about what's going on around town with politics and a little development. The rundown: 02:22 - What do some of these future local and state campaigns look like? For Michigan Governor and for Detroit Mayor? 10:29 - Norris gets into why he thinks Gretchen Whitmer's gubernatorial campaign was successful. 13:03 - Why don't more Black Detroiters vote progressively? 16:47 - Gene...
Inside the new Adelina with Chef Fabio Viviani & friends
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...
Sustainable meat and meals in Metro Detroit (ft. Ping Ho and Sarah Welch of Marrow)
Can sustainable, short food chains work in Metro Detroit, Michigan and America? Many know Marrow as one of Detroit's best restaurants in the city's West Village neighborhood; but owner Ping Ho and Chef Sarah Welch have big plans ahead. They include a sustainable meat market in Eastern Market (as well as a Birmingham location) - and helping build out supply chains and practices that focus on local and quality. In an interesting conversation the the Daily Detroit studio at Techtown, the pair sit...
Black Tech Saturdays and Growing Detroit's Social Media
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...
The Introvert Economy // Michigan Central hotel // Olga's Westland closes
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...
On the future of Metro Detroit's suburban transit (ft. Tiffany Gunter, SMART)
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...
Lessons learned running a bar in Detroit since 2005
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...
In-depth: America's first wireless electric charging road
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...
Putting The "City" Back In The Motor City By Supporting Small Developers w/ Brian Mulloy
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...
The Latest
Your City 5: Things To Do In Detroit For The Week Of August 12-14
This weekend is chock-full of activities, so it might be hard to pick just one. Honestly, I had a hard time narrowing the list down to five, so I’ve thrown in a bonus event as well. Have a great weekend, and try to stay cool. Paddle Board Races – Belle Isle We’ve already covered this event at the beginning of August, but the day has almost arrived to participate in this fun race around Belle Isle. There will also be a fun beach party filled with food, games, vendors, and New Belgium Bee...
Meet The Man Who Shaped The Detroit River
We all want to leave our mark in this world. For some, it’s through academic pursuits. For others, it’s through art or good deeds. For William Livingstone, it was the creation of a critical channel in the Detroit River that would help speed shipping along the Great Lakes. William Livingstone was born in Dundas, Ontario on January 21, 1844. When he was five years old, his family moved to Detroit. In 1865, Livingstone opened his own business with help from his father. Livingstone & Company sta...
Bamboo East Brings Co-Working, Entrepreneurship Hub To Detroit's East Side
The east side of Detroit is often portrayed by the media as empty, but like much of the city, if you take a closer look there are things happening. One of those things is a new co-working and pop-up space connecting entrepreneurs to serve the growing Eastside business community, not only in the city but those from the neighboring suburbs. Bamboo East, an extension of Bamboo Detroit, is expanding to their first neighborhood co-working and pop-up space inside of MASH Detroit. Entrepreneurshi...
Who's Buying The Most Vinyl Records Nowadays? If You Said Millenials, You'd Be Wrong
Although the image of skinny jeans and vinyl shops stereotypically goes together, the data shows that as far as actually buying records it may not be true. It turns out that it might not be the young “hipster” that’s the root of the resurgence of vinyl records, but the reminiscent middle aged person – and a middle aged person who has an introvert streak. Per YouGov out of the U.K.: When compared to the adult population as a whole, those that have purchased a vinyl album recently are mor...
Belle Isle State Park To Get Six Mile Long Perimeter Trail And More
Belle Isle is getting a non-motorized trail that will loop around the island as part of a master plan for the 985 acre island park. That’s what the Department of Natural Resources is saying is the plan, as part of the beginning of the “Iron Belle Trail” that runs from Detroit’s Belle Isle to Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula. There’s a master plan that’s looking for public input at a meeting on August 24 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Flynn Pavilion. The public is welcome to attend and part...
People, S’More Girl Scout Cookies Are Coming To Our Area And They Should Be Amazing
It’s a big day for the Girl Scouts because they just announced a new cookie to celebrate the 100th anniversary of selling Girl Scout cookies. They have combined two of America’s favorite sweet treats – Girl Scout cookies and S’mores. The Girl Scouts know a little something about S’mores. It turns out the first written recipe for the summer time staple was in a Girl Scout book from 1927. But let’s talk about the cookie. There are actually two different types of S’more cookies. The sandwic...
From Bustling Factory To Abandoned Eyesore: The Story Of The Old AMC Headquarters In Detroit
The American Motors Corporation’s former headquarters at 14250 Plymouth Road is in limbo now. The property’s ownership will likely go to the Wayne County Land Bank before the end of the year. County officials have considered potential redevelopment options, but the solution they continue to return to is demolition. The building didn’t always stand desolate, ravaged, and silent. It was designed by Amedeo Leoni and built in 1927 as a new factory and administration building for the Kelvinator Cor...
Interesting Report: Entrepreneurship In Michigan Is Struggling
There has been a lot of talk of entrepreneurship in the last few years, and we often share the stories of those trying to make a go of starting a business in Michigan and specifically, the Detroit area. However, according to a new report and article by Bridge Magazine, in only two counties in the state – none in the Detroit area – have the number of employers (businesses) recovered or gone up compared to 2006 levels. Per county, Oakland lost 4.2% of their businesses, Macomb lost 4.8%, and Wa...
Detroit Police K9 Unit Gets Donation Of Five New Bullet Resistant Vests
The Detroit Police Department received five new bullet resistant vests for the K-9 unit this afternoon. The vests were donated by Strategic Staffing Solutions, a Detroit-based IT, healthcare and finance staffing company. Police departments often have tight budgets and the Detroit Police Department is no exception. This means that police departments are unable to purchase vests for their K-9 unit. This makes the police dogs vulnerable and unprotected while they perform dangerous tasks. “...
The Detroit Improv Festival Will Bring More Than 50 Comedy Troupes From U.S. And Canada
This week Ferndale is going to be hopping for the Detroit Improv Festival. If the most you have seen of improv is the show Whose Line Is It Anyway? then I implore you to come to Ferndale this week to catch one of the many improv shows scheduled. The Festival starts on August 10 and runs through August 14. The Detroit Improv Festival is a four day festival of performances and workshops. Over 50 troupes from around the United States and Canada will be traveling to Detroit to perform in the festi...
Men Steal Three Boxes Of Honey Buns From Detroit Gas Station, Which BTW Are Prison Currency
At 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning on the 8000 block of Woodward near Detroit’s New Center neighborhood police say two men robbed a gas station and stole three boxes of honey buns after the suspect backed off the security guard at gunpoint. The internet news caterpillar that eats a story on one end and spits it out on the other after almost every outlet has had a chance to spin up their own version is in full effect. The headlines wrote themselves today, with basically the same story: “Sticky fin...
Giraffe Born At The Detroit Zoo For Second Time In Two Years
The Detroit Zoo has a new baby addition – a female reticulated giraffe calf, born at 8:21 p.m. on August 6. The mom is 7 year old Kivuli following a 14-month gestation. The father is 8-year-old Jabari. This is the pair’s second offspring in two years. According to Zoo officials, one year old male Mpenzi was born at the Zoo on September 30, 2014. The calf weighs 166 pounds and stands more than 5 feet tall. The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) can reach heights of up to 18 fe...
Team Behind Ferndale Radio Propose ‘An Alternative to Taylor Swift’s Domination Of The Airwaves’
A group of broadcast veterans wants to bring non-commercial community radio to the Rust Belt Market in downtown Ferndale and has launched a crowdfunding drive to help it get on the local airwaves. The group of friends recently launched Ferndale Radio on Indiegogo. They’re aiming to raise $15,000 from backers to construct a tower, antenna, transmitter, and studio and go on the air within the next 12 months. The group recently received a construction permit for a low-power FM station from the...
QUICK TIP: The Belle Isle Art Fair Is This Weekend
There are always a lot of fun things to do on Belle Isle during the summer, but this weekend there is something special happening at the Scott Fountain. The inaugural Belle Isle Art Fair will be held on August 6 and 7. This art fair will have over 100 artists displaying their work. Their work is all forms of artistic expression; painting, drawing, photography, pottery, sculpture, plus much more. There will be more than just art at the fair. You will be able to grab a bite to eat at one of...
Detroit Could Get Another First: Little Free Libraries In Every School In A District
Many of us carry our own little library with us. It’s called a Nook or a Kindle or one of the other e-readers. Mine’s a Nook. When I open it up sayings appear. One of them is a quote from Cicero, “A room without a book is like a body without a soul.” Reading books brings whole new worlds to life and sets the stage for future success. Unfortunately, the reading statistics for many kids in Detroit are dismal – 12 percent can’t read and 33 percent don’t read. Only 11 percent are elite readers....
Group Plans To Build Human Wall Around Rencen For Trump Visit On Monday
Editor’s Note: The Trump speech on Monday has been moved from the Renaissance Center to Cobo Center. Donald Trump (and his presidential campaign adversary Hillary Clinton) are locked in what could be arguably the most divisive presidential race in a long time. That energy is coming to Detroit’s Renaissance Center, where Republican nominee Donald Trump is speaking at a luncheon of the Detroit Economic Club. A Facebook event has popped up from a group called Cockroach Watch – and for a shor...
Your City 5: Things To Do In Detroit For The Week Of August 5-7
It’s hard to believe that yet another week has passed and it is time to make plans for the weekend. But don’t worry, we have you covered. Now on to the things happening in Detroit this weekend. Charivari Detroit 2016 – Belle Isle This weekend music festival on Belle Isle is sure to be a great time. We have already done a post that has a line up of the entire weekend so head over there to read all about the line up and all the additional events happening. Here are the key details, tickets...
Detroit's Best Beats Return To Belle Isle At Charivari This Weekend
Charivari, as we’ve written about before, is one of our favorite festivals of the year. See, if you’re a fan of the Detroit electronic sound – techno, house, all of that – this is probably, as far as a festival goes, the best way to see it. More low key than some of the bigger named fests, Charivari brings back the DJ under a tent with massive, high quality sound that you can’t help but dance to. This year, there are a few changes to the festival which is set over by the lighthouse on the...