metromode - Features

FilterD

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Come one, come all this Sunday to help drive Le Nain Rouge (the Red Dwarf) out of Detroit and into the spirit plane for another year. Dress to do battle with the supernatural as you walk from the Third St. Bar to Cass Park.

That's a serious march. Go inside FilterD, for more of the mayhem and merriment metro Detroit has to offer this week.

Birmingham's Second Story

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Downtown Birmingham's buttoned-up rep for professional offices and trendy boutiques only tells part of the story. Amidst the doctors, lawyers and financial consultants, Old Woodward's second story houses a little-seen collection of new economy businesses. From sports agents to "an incubator on steroids" Terry Parris Jr. uncovers the people you might not meet every day.

Burning With Inspiration

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Burning Man.
Maker Faire.
The Ford Rouge Factory.

You might be saying to yourself, "One of those things is not like the others." Not if you're Cynthia Jones. Whether it's her job as manager for The Henry Ford factory tour or her role as a regional contact for the famed desert festival, Jones is one of Metro Detroit's more impassioned creatives.

A Company Of Experts

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

From deli sandwiches to digital advertising, some Metro Detroit companies are reinventing the employer-employee relationship. The result? A happy band of brand experts ...and evangelists.

Building A Start-up City

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Adversity is the mother of invention. Or so they say. And Michigan is proving them true. While the rest of the country has seen a decline in business formation, cities like Ann Arbor are experiencing a start-up spike.

From Paris to the Paris of the Midwest: French Investors See Potential

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Detroit property is cheap. Not just cheap, it's really, really cheap, and abundant. The Euro is stronger than the dollar and that bodes well for foreign investors. They can pick up property along the riverfront or right downtown for the price of a small car.

Sign up for Concentrate's Speaker Series: Downtown Development - A Generational Divide

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Who decides what a downtown looks and feels like? Are we making our downtowns a place where young and talented people want to be? Concentrate will be looking for answers at their very first Speaker Series tonight (March 4th) at the Michigan Theater. Sign up to attend now.

Metro Detroit Is Abuzz

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for a bee's experience
Of clovers and of noon!
-Emily Dickinson

Spring will soon be sprung and local fields will be busy with more bees than ever. Metro Detroit bee keepers are growing their hobby into a honey of an industry.

Sign up for Model D's Speaker Series: This is Young Detroit

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Are we making Detroit a place where young and talented people want to be? The Michigan Front Page, Model D and Fusion are joining forces to get some answers at our Speaker Series this month, Feb. 25

Metro Detroit's Homeprenuers

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As scary as the economy is, some smart and creative people are laughing in the face of fear and launching their own businesses from home. Meet three people who've created enormously cool jobs for themselves.

Back For (and To Do) Good

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

From Detroit to San Francisco and back again, Andrew Basile is rooting himself in Michigan in ways he never imaged. A successful lawyer, he's not only determined to bring Silicon Valley style-companies to the Motor City, he's established an incubator in Troy to make it happen. And as if that weren't enough, Basile has also become involved with evolving the Woodward Avenue corridor into a successful urban hub.

Michigan Politics 2.0

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

With Michigan's debilitating term limits and our current climate of partisan politics it's almost impossible to imagine how anything can get done. Enter the Michigan Political Leadership Program, a fellowship dedicated to teaching aspiring politicos how to play nice... and more importantly, how to serve the needs of the state first, and party second.

Pizza 2.0

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It was only a matter of time before pizza went high-tech. From web tracking to on demand orders from your TiVo, Ann Arbor-based Domino's has created a brave new world of snarfing.

Michigan Hearts Wine

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It's Metro Detroit's turn to wine (rather than whine). With Michigan now ranked 8th in the nation for wine production, wineries and wine bars are popping up around the region. Some are even winning medals. And that has inspired locals to get schooled in tasting and making their own. So, this weekend tip a glass to love... and the Mitten State.

The Making Of An Angel

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Innovative ideas? Check. Enthusiastic management team? Check. Capital? Er... working on it. For all Michigan's talk of developing a new economy, its start-ups still need local investors. More specifically: Angel investors. Now, a few VC-savvy players are trying to encourage a new way of thinking in the state's old world entrepreneurs.

Royal Oak's Second Story

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Walking through Royal Oak's downtown, it's hard not to notice the bars, restaurants and shops that have popped up over the last decade. But do you ever wonder what goes on upstairs? Terry Parris Jr. visits Main Street's second story and discovers a community of new economy creatives. And lots of cereal boxes!

A Tale Of Two Downtowns

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Many believe the key to rejuvenating Metro Detroit entails restoring and evolving our urban core. Metromode's Jon Zemke contrasts the actions of two communities - Lincoln Park and Royal Oak - and how they're developing their downtowns.

Metro Detroit Goes Au Natural

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

After a century of aggressive industrialization, Metro Detroit is seeing the intentional and unintentional benefits of the downturn - the return of nature. From greenways to land conservancy, our region is getting greener and wilder. Metromode's Dennis Archambault explains why that's a good thing.

Y Arts Brings Filmmaking To Metro Detroit Youth

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan's blossoming film industry is expanding its reach in ways no one imagined. Case in point: Metro Detroit's Y Arts Program, which teaches at-risk youth media arts and skills while helping to build the next generation of local creative talent.

Metro Detroit: A Visitor's View

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Long after the high-voltage North American International Auto Show rolls up the red carpet, tourism remains a nearly $5 billion a year economic plug for Metro Detroit. Are visitors mapping out the region's praises or issuing their own travel advisories? Metromode takes a look from their vantage points.

Turn Up The Heat: Salsa Dancing In Metro Detroit

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Oh, the weather outside is frightful... but inside it's sweaty, sexy and shakin'. Welcome to Metro Detroit salsa dancing, a nighttime dance scene that's pulling in locals of every class and color. From clubs to classes to a vibrant web-based community, Metro Detroiters are discovering the fun of becoming a fierce hot mess.

The Armory For Democracy Goes Suburban

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

War is hell. It's also very profitable for some Metro Detroit suburbs. Billions of dollars in defense contracts are pouring into communities like Troy, Sterling Heights, Warren and Ann Arbor, and the companies there are finding new jobs for auto engineers who are willing to adapt.

Regenerating Our Economy With Stem Cells

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Not only does stem cell research offer a lifeline to patients with life-threatening diseases, it may also provide an economic lifeline to Southeast Michigan by growing our life sciences industry.

Metromode: The Year In Review

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Looking back at 2009 we saw certain topics rise to the top of our story pile: Michigan's emerging film industry, young entrepreneurs, the rise of the local culinary class, and good ideas imported from cities outside the state. Metromode takes you on a whirlwind tour of this year's stand out stories.

Metromode Takes A Holiday

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It's that time again... Metromode's staff will be indulging in a little holiday R&R (along with copious amounts of spiked nog). We'll be back January 14th with more tales about the people, places, and businesses dedicated to innovating and evolving Metro Detroit. From Jeff, Jon, Tanya, Kelli, Terry, and Marvin we wish you a joyful holiday and a wonderful New Year.

Turning Metro Green

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With all the talk of going green and clean, just how sustainable is Metro Detroit becoming? Over the last year Metromode has run across a growing number of businesses, leaders, and initiatives that are nudging Michigan's economy and lifestyle toward the green end of the spectrum. This week we round up evidence that our region is putting its money where its mouth is.

Making Time: Mentoring Programs That Attract Young Professionals

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For young professionals struggling to build careers, families, or an adult life for themselves the idea of mentoring probably seems too daunting to consider. But some organizations have discovered it's about quality, not quantity, and have developed convenient and effective programs that make it easier to make a difference.

A Hollywood Education In Metro Detroit

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There's no business like show business. With Michigan's ambitious film incentive package, Hollywood has come calling. But sometimes there aren't enough qualified local crews to answer the call. Cue the production boot camps and film training programs. Metromode looks into what's on offer in SE Michigan, chats with those who know best, and lands some tips for how to make yourself ready to work in the 'biz'.

Giving Thanks!

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As the French say, "Gratitude is the heart's memory."

Metromode will be taking next week off to celebrate Thanksgiving. We hope our readers enjoy time with their families, friends, football, and good food. Not necessarily in that order. We'll be back December 3rd!

Reinventing Michigan's Economy: A Conversation with Terry Cross

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A veteran of both Wall Street and Silicon Valley, Terry Cross is WSU's first Entrepreneurial Executive in Residence. Metromode sits down with him to get his thoughts on economic reinvention and what lessons Michigan can take from the coasts when it comes to investment and transformation.