North end24

North end

PODCAST: A Block In Detroit's North End Makes A Beautiful Transformation

Today’s podcast checks out a project in Detroit’s North End neighborhood. There is a set of buildings along John R between Kenilworth and Westminster streets that has just had a huge transformation. Four of the businesses along the block were Motor City Re-Store winners and received a matching grant to improve the exterior of the building. The four businesses were Rebound Design Build, R66 Consulting & Publishing, Kan Bookstore, and Transformation Barbershop.  Through th...

North end

Things To Do In Detroit This Weekend: Your City 5 For Nov. 30 - Dec. 2

Greetings and salutations everyone! This weekend is crazy busy. I can’t believe that it is going to be December on Saturday. I swear, I blinked and November came and went. I don’t know about you, but I’m really excited for Noel Night this year. I can’t wait to see some of the new additions that have joined the party. Anyway, let’s get this party started shall we? Detroit Urban Craft Fair  Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? I haven’t even started, but maybe I will pick up a f...

North endWhat to do this weekend in Detroit

Your City 5: Things To Do In Detroit For The Weekend Of February 2-4

It’s hard to believe that February 1st is tomorrow! This weekend is filled with a ton of great events. I’m really excited for most of them. It’s going to be hard to narrow down what I want to do this weekend. Kickoff to Black History Month at the DIA The Detroit Institute of Arts will be celebrating the beginning of Black History Month by having a full day and night of programing. In fact, the DIA is staying open until 2:00 a.m.! There will be a poetry reading by U.S. Poet Laureate Trac...

Milwaukee JunctionNorth end

Your City 5: Things To Do In Detroit For The Weekend Of January 12-14

I hope you all have been having a great week so far. I know that the jump in temperature put me in a much better state of mind. It’s amazing how warm 37 degrees feels when you’ve spent over a week at near negative temperatures. There are a ton of great events going on this weekend. Let’s get into this weeks events! The Royal Tenenbaums at The Redford I don’t know what it is about The Royal Tenenbaums, but it is one of my favorite movies. Maybe it’s because the family is so dysfunctional...

Bike ShareEastern MarketMilwaukee Junction

For Day To Day Usage, MoGo Bike Share Beats The QLINE Hands Down

When it comes to practicality, the QLINE streetcar has been a disappointment. Our team is pretty bike- and walk- friendly, and will take the bus if the timing makes sense. We have contributors who live near the QLINE and the MoGo stations, and others who live near bus lines and use them (in the suburbs, too). When both opened earlier this year, we had multiple debates over which service was going to come out on top. It was evenly split between bike share lovers and believers in the power o...

Eastern MarketNorth end

$27.5 Million In Financing Comes Together For New Housing Developments In Detroit

Development news broke at the Crain’s Homecoming IV event that three entities – The Platform, a development company that’s been very busy as of late, Detroit native Stephen Ross (who owns the Miami Dolphins), and the Ford Foundation have teamed up to put together a total of $27.5 million in investment for developments in the city. The Ford Foundation is putting in $10 million; The Platform $10 million; and Ross $7.5 million. What they’ll do: They’re aiming to bring new affordable and market...

DetroitNorth endQLINE

Signs Seem To Be Pointing To More QLINE Routes In Detroit

It’s not hard to think that there is a concerted push for more QLINE routes, especially in Greater Downtown. It’s important to watch because when they focus, what major funders want they often get in this town and money starts to appear. The latest hint of a new QLINE route would be from downtown to the old Michigan Central Train Station, as Matthew Maroun (the son of Billionaire Matty Maroun) hinted in a long interview interview with Crain’s as part of their coverage for their Homecoming ev...

North end

QUICK TIP: North End Urban Farm Hosting Crop Up Exhibit Party This Saturday Night

I know that I have already written this weekend’s City 5, but I found out about another event happening on Saturday night. The Oakland Avenue Urban Farm is hosting an event called Crop Up. It is being curated by Detroit architecture and design studio Akoaki. The Crop up is an exhibition opening party. It is exploring art, agriculture, and the cultivation of the public commons on the North End of Detroit There will be art, live music and performances, and food. The event is part of the De...

Downtown DetroitNorth endQLINE

New Report Shows QLINE Service Improvements, Ridership On The Rise

A new report from the parent organization of Detroit’s streetcar says that the new QLINE streetcar service is making improvements following several opening glitches, expected growing pains and complaints from riders. M-1 Rail, the QLINE’s operating organization, has been working with the streetcar’s operator, Transdev North America, on service improvements for about a month now. Those have resulted in more riders, shorter waits and better coordination with traffic signals. Ridership on the Q...

Eastern MarketInner Circle GreenwayMilwaukee Junction

Detroit Gets $2 Million Grant To Design The New 26 Mile Inner Circle Greenway

Today comes news that a $2 million grant was given to City of Detroit by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. The grant will be used to fund the design and pre-construction of all uncompleted portions of the Inner Circle Greenway (ICG), including a recently purchased Conrail railroad property, connecting together a  26 mile non-motorized path and greenway. There also will be a planning framework that will be created to incorporate the half-mile corridor to either side of the greenway itself....

Milwaukee JunctionNorth endQLINE

QLINE's Wi-Fi To Be Provided By Local Firm Rocket Fiber

When you ride the Q-LINE streetcar, you’re going to have free access to Wi-Fi at stations and as you ride. It’s going to be provided by Rocket Fiber, a company based in Detroit. The services include network-based technology to incorporate into the QLINE main office at the Penske Technical Center and public Wi-Fi at the stations and trains. Rocket Fiber is doing the design, build, operation and management of the network, including future maintenance and support. Nerds Xpress, a local minority...

Illuminated MuralMilwaukee JunctionNorth end

The Illuminated Mural Will Stay Thanks To Suit Settlement

You can’t miss it if you’re looking east near Woodward and Grand Boulevard. It’s tall at nine stories, colorful, and unmistakable. It’s called the Illuminated Mural, and it has been at the center of a lawsuit between Detroit-based artist Katie Craig who sued developer Princeton Enterprises under the Visual Artists Rights Act last January. Now comes word the two sides have settled Thursday, on the eve of the purchase of the building to The Platform, a development group in the city that’s making...

cultureDetroitKumbuka II

Kumbuka II Will Celebrate And Remember The Beauty Of A Culture

Celebrating Black History Month while growing up was a little lackluster for lifelong Detroiter Kaylan Waterman. Although her parents were very intentional about educating all of their children about the experiences in their African-American heritage, most of the events Waterman attended focused a lot on the pain, sorrow, injustices, and systemic oppression of black history. They lacked a celebratory element. Last year the singer-songwriter of Vespre did something about it and organized Kumbuk...

North end

Mardi Gras En Rouge Is On February 24, Raises Funds For Marche Du Nain Rouge

Detroit and New Orleans. Both used to be under control of the French so why shouldn’t we share a tradition or two? We will. On Friday, February 24, Mardi Gras en Rouge will come to life with music, food and live entertainment with the help of the soon-to-open Creole restaurant, Gabriel Hall, in West Village. That day Detroit’s flavor will come by way of the Big Easy with a chance to drink hurricanes, sample some crawfish pie and hit the dance floor to the sounds of the Gabriel Brass Band. Th...

Dolores BennettFirst PersonGodmother of North End

Saying Goodbye To The Godmother Of The North End

I’d like to give prayers and blessings to Delores Bennett’s family, friends, and supporters after her passing on Tuesday February 7, 2017. Delores Bennett was a Wayne County Commissioner for years. But she will forever live on in the mind of most as the Godmother of the North End. The North End is Detroit’s neighborhood that surrounds what was Detroit’s historic Northern High School bordered by I-75, Highland Park, Woodward Avenue, and the New Center District. Delores Bennett was one of my...

BridgeDetroitM1 Rail

Report: M1 Rail, New Bridge To Canada On Trump's Infrastructure Priority List

Two major projects that have gotten a lot of headlines are getting some more. Last night, interesting news from McClatchy came out. They’re reporting that two projects in Metro Detroit as well as a third in Michigan are on Donald Trump’s short list of infrastructure priorities. These priorities were apparently gathered from Governor’s offices across the country, who were asked to give 3-5 suggestions each. The projects had to fit four criteria, according to the report: * A national security...

DetroitNorth endPurses

PHOTOS: Inside Zarkpa's Purses & Accessories, Celebrating Three Years In Detroit

Three years for any business is an accomplishment, and I never need an additional reason to look at purses, so on Friday I visited Zarkpa’s on Woodward to talk with the owner, Tracy Garley. Zarkpa’s is located on Woodward north of New Center right across the street of the Detroit International Academy For Young Women and the Little Rock Baptist Church. If you’ve driven down Woodward, you have probably passed her store at some point.   Her store is filled with fun stylish purses, acces...

Eastern MarketNorth endSouthwest Detroit

The new Detroit Bike Share launches in April. Here’s how it’s shaping up

Detroit’s bike share system is on track to launch in April under a yet-to-be-determined name, with various membership and payment options, subsidies for low-income users, a mobile app and solar-powered stations that can easily be relocated based on demand. The first phase of the launch will spread 420 bikes between 42 solar-powered stations, with 100,000 trips forecast during the first year, according to Lisa Nuszkowski, executive director of Detroit Bike Share with the Downtown Detroit Partne...