In the News

Belly dancing shakes its way to Birmingham

Birmingham Eccentric Friday, August 10, 2007

Belly dancing will be allowed at Elie's Mediterranean Bistro in Birmingham, a city that typically does not allow liquor to be sold in places where there is entertainment of any kind.

Excerpt:

"This form of entertainment is a culture, it�s an art," Commissioner Julie Plotnik said.

Read the entire article here.

Birmingham to celebrate Lebanese culture July 25

Birmingham Eccentric Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Birmingham will celebrate Lebanese culture with a festival, also known as a MAHRAJAN, on July 25 in Shain Park.

Excerpt:

The Baalbeck-style live concert on the Paramount Bank Stage will present "An Evening of Lebanese Stars" under the Birmingham skies, with a special appearance by Detroit superstar Karen Newman from the Detroit Red Wings singing the U.S. national anthem, and feature Jimmy A & his Rat Pack Rollers, the international folk dance Troupe Layalina, Detroit Bellydance featuring Lana, Zeffa, Inc, teenage singing sensations Lance Attalla and Ashley Peters, Lebanese crooner Usama Baalbaki, who will delight the audience with a medley of Lebanese patriotic songs. Headlining the evening will be Lebanese diva Amalia Kaddo and her Mediterranean Music Ensemble.

Read the entire article here.

Woodward Avenue's 200th birthday celebrations kicks off July 19

Woodward 200 Tuesday, July 17, 2007

This year marks Woodward's 200th birthday -- and the party starts July 19 at Detroit Historical Museum at 10 am.

More events can be found at Woodward Avenue Action Association's website.

metromode publisher Brian Boyle talks about retaining the region's talent in the Detroit News

Detroit News Thursday, June 28, 2007

Brian Boyle, metromode's founder and co-publisher, talks about Detroit Renaissance's efforts to retain the region's creative talent in the Detroit News.

Excerpt:

Unfortunately, our creative community is scattered in pockets throughout the region, making it difficult to showcase the true depth of talent and "energy" evident dense creative hubs like Brooklyn, Austin or Seattle.

With creative density as a driving theme, the Road to Renaissance task force will work with the creative community to document and interactively map all creative-related assets in the region.

Visually showing the world the depth of advertising agencies, music venues, video production facilities, architectural wonders and more is an important tool in substantiating our claim as a creative hub.

Read the entire piece here.

"Dump the pump!" on June 21

PublicTransportation.org Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Thursday, June 21 is the second annual "Dump the Pump" day that calls for the parking of cars and the riding of public transit as a way of calling attention to the environmental and economic benefits of using public transit.

A transit fact:

From 1995 through 2006, public transportation ridership increased by 30 percent, a growth rate higher than the 12 percent increase in US population and higher than the 24 percent growth in use of the nation's highways over the same period.

Find out more here.

Oakland Land Conservancy hosts native plant sale

Oaklnad Land Conservancy Thursday, May 31, 2007

The Oakland Land Conservancy will host its annual native plant sale on June 3 in Auburn Hills and in Oxford.

A special purchase is a 32-plant balanced butterfly and bird garden, which is available as a package for $64.

Find out more at oaklandlandconservancy.org

Detroit area to see AT&T U-Verse TV, voice and data service

Great Lakes IT Report Wednesday, May 23, 2007

AT&T has announced an IP-based TV, voice and data service to launch in the Detroit area, the first of its kind.

Excerpt:

"It's an IP network for the home, and on that IP network wlll be a variety of applications, one of which is television," said Jennifer Jones, AT&T vice president and general manager for Michigan.

Jones also assured GLITR that the service will provide local cable access channels to schools and communities -- although those schools and communities must take the initiative to send their content to AT&T for display on TV channels.

Read the entire article here.

Michigan tourism website busiest in nation

Great Lakes IT Report Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Michigan's tourism website, Michigan.org, was the busiest in the nation in April, according to web trackers at Hitwise.

Excerpt:

"We view this as a clear and important signal that people are looking to Michigan for their leisure travel," said George Zimmermann, vice president of Travel Michigan. "We know from independent research that 65 percent of consumers who use Michigan.org for tourism information, then travel to and within Michigan. So more web traffic means more business at Michigan destinations. We believe our efforts inside and outside of Michigan are making a substantial difference."

Read the entire article here.

MDOT offers public chance to review its transportation plan

MDOT Tuesday, May 01, 2007

The Michigan Department of Transportation has released a draft version of its long-range transportation plan for the state and is requesting public input.

A link to the plan and to the questionnaire can be found here.

Oakland County luncheon to talk job forecasts

Detroit Free Press Thursday, April 26, 2007

Today, the 22nd Annual Oakland County Economic Outlook will feature University of Michigan economists George Fulton and Donald Grimes discussing the county's job prospects for the coming years.

Excerpt:

Last year, the pair predicted that Oakland would add 14,000 jobs through 2008.

Their forecasts in the last six years, however, have been overly optimistic for Oakland County as the auto industry has shrunk.

The county lost 53,000 jobs during 2000-04, led by significant losses in the automotive industry, but gained 1,900 jobs in 2006.

Read the entire article here.

Birmingham ranked in top 100 of American cities for relocation

Birmingham Eccentric Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Relocate-America.com ranks Birmingham in its top 100 places to live in 2007.

Excerpt:

Here's what the list has to say about Birmingham:

"For people in Michigan, the name 'Birmingham' conjures up images of a vital, growing, and rather exclusive enclave, one where people from other communities come to enjoy all the wonderful activities that are available."

Read the entire article here.

Oakland County's 8th community bank in 2 years scheduled to open in September

Oakland Business Review Friday, April 13, 2007

Level One community bank is scheduled to open in Farmington Hills in September. The bank is one of a growing number of community banks in Oakland County filling niche markets.

Excerpt:

The investment group, which has retained the Grosse Pointe investment banking firm of Donnelly Penman & Partners Inc., plans to open Level One at Northwestern Highway and 14 Mile Road in Farmington Hills.

The site has some 7,700 businesses within a three-mile radius and 14,000 within five miles.

"We're certainly not focused on a niche," [investor Patrick] Fehring said. "We're going to be a full-service bank for growth throughout the region."

Level One could lend up to $2 million-$3 million to small- and medium-sized businesses, Fehring said, though a lending limit has not been established.

Read the entire article here.

Cranbrook Institute of Science receives $7M donation

Birmingham Eccentric Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Susan E. Cooper has made a $7 million donation to The Campaign for Cranbrook that will be used to support its Institute of Science.

Excerpt:

"Cranbrook Institute of Science and its dedicated people play a large role in teaching the wonders of the natural world to learners of all ages all over Michigan," said Cooper, who is also a Cranbrook Institute of Science Governor and a graduate of Cranbrook�s Kingswood School. "I believe it is essential for all children to be exposed to science in order to fall in love with it. I want to help make that possible."

Read the entire article here.

Environmentalists call for expansion of bottle deposit law

Detroit News Thursday, March 29, 2007

Environmentalists are calling for an expansion of Michigan's bottle deposit law to account for water and juice containers.

Excerpt:

By most measurements, Michigan's law has been an unqualified success. Folks return more than 97 percent of the 4.3 billion bottles and cans of carbonated beverages sold here each year, according to state records. That tops the return rate of all other states and ranks Michigan's as America's No. 1 bottle recycling program.

Read the entire article here.

State launches first-ever tourism industry plan

Crain's Detroit Business Wednesday, March 28, 2007

A team working on behalf of the 9,000 businesses, attractions and groups that comprise Michigan's tourism industry have devised a strategic plan.

Excerpt:

The plan's recommendations include:

Marketing the state nationally with a $30 million tourism promotion budget.
Boosting relationships with policymakers.
Promoting collaboration.
Expanding tourism-related research.
Improving hospitality training.

Read the entire article here.

Birmingham : In the News