Quick Post
The Roxbury Group is converting the 79 residential apartments at the Hotel David Whitney into condos. This is a rare chance to own in one of Detroit's most iconic buildings.
The 1915 Beaux-Arts landmark, designed by D.H. Burnham and Company, anchors Grand Circus Park and the theater district.
Prices range from $277K one-bedrooms to $1M+ premium units, with three design packages available including one by Patrick Thompson Design.
The project has 68 one-bedroom, nine two-bedrooms, and two three-bedrooms apartments, ranging from 569 to more than 2,000 square feet.
Owners get hotel-style perks: concierge, valet parking, room service, housekeeping, and more. Priority registration is open now, with previews starting soon. [ResidencesatHotelDW.com]
Yet another international retailer has opened up in the city of Detroit, and here’s a first look inside.
FYI, they’re running an opening weekend discount of 30% off of most of their merchandise, from Friday 11/16 through Sunday 11/18.
Most of the merchandise is unisex, and there is a women's section in the back.
The store is open from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 12 - 6 p.m. on Sundays.
I recently visited the renovated museum in the Solanus Casey Center. It is the first complete overhaul since the center opened back in 2002. While this is a Catholic space, the Capuchins priests and brothers welcome people of all backgrounds.
The museum has more photos and information than the previous layout. I appreciate how more open the space feels without having too much going on from all of the informative displays.
Born in 1870, Blessed Solanus is on the path to being canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church, but his life was not a story of celebrity. He was not a military leader, martyr, famous author, or a public intellectual.
Solanus' life was seemingly ordinary. He grew up on a farm, had a chronic illness as a child, faced heartbreak from the woman he wanted to marry, was rejected from a seminary, and was made a "simplex priest" without full responsibilities.
Solanus' road to religious life was riddled with obstacles. His example of humility and turning to God in gratitude for everything in life is a radical model for how to maintain trust and confidence in one's calling or vocation. He passed in 1957.
You can find the Solanus Casey Center at 1780 Mt. Elliott in Detroit.
I had a chance to check out Spritz Bar at San Morello. It's open in the evenings Thursdays through Sundays through Negroni Week (think end of September) on the ground floor of the Shinola Hotel.
The patio is on Woodward and the cityscape views are great. On a nice day, the vibes, as some might say, are immaculate.
If you’ve never had an Aperol Spritz, I suggest you try it.
As I know it, it’s Aperol, Prosecco, and a splash of club soda over ice. Light and refreshing, good warm weather drink. Not too boozy.
As you can guess by the colors, orange flavor is the vibe. But not overly sweet (which I like).
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.
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.
"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.