In the News

DIA Millage inspires art groups across the country

Wall Street Journal Thursday, August 23, 2012

Arts organizations around the nation are sitting up and taking notice of how the DIA confronted their financial situation and how they got public buy-in.

Excerpt:

"What to do? Mr. Beal went to the voters, asking the residents of Michigan's Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties to pass a modest 10-year-long dedicated property-tax increase known as a "millage." It would supply up to $23 million in public funding each year for the next decade—91% of the DIA's annual operating budget—thus buying time for Mr. Beal and his colleagues to build up the museum's operating endowment to the point where it can bring in sufficient income to pay the bills.

Sounds great, huh? But how do you get suburban taxpayers to pony up in support of a museum located in the heart of a city on which most of them long ago turned their backs? That's the beauty part: Mr. Beal announced that the residents of every county that passed the millage would be admitted free to the DIA. Otherwise, he said, the museum would be forced to close on weekdays and lock the doors to half of its galleries."

Read the rest here.

Pure Michigan inspires Pure Gotham

YouTube Thursday, August 16, 2012

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We say satire is even more flattering.

"The Gotham Board of Tourism would like you to visit their city and have a trip that is 100% Pure Gotham."

You can watch the video below OR here (and keep watching til after the credits).

Skater / Clothing designer moves from Colorado to Detroit

Examiner.com Thursday, August 16, 2012

Polish ice skating champion Ola Kamieniecki, has made her mark both on the ice and off. As a figure skating clothing designer and the owner Skating Designs, she dresses many of the top skaters in the world. And she's moved her business (and her talents) here.

Excerpt:

""Although the Colorado Springs World Arena Ice Hall has been designated as an Olympic training rink, the conditions don't benefit my daughter since she competes for Poland," said Mrs. Kamieniecki. "Ola has not been allowed to train on the same sessions as the other elite skaters in Colorado Springs, but in Detroit, that is possible. It is necessary to move so she can train in the best conditions as she works towards competing at the 2014"

Read the rest here.

Creativity and entrepreneurship go hand in hand

The Atlantic Cities Thursday, August 16, 2012

Intuitively it's kind of a no-brainer: Creativity begets invention which begets entrepreneurial endeavors. Still, it's nice to see Richard Florida put some numbers to the theory. Good numbers.

Excerpt:

"The size of the creative class is "positively and significantly associated with the total of establishment growth in a region, the number of new opened establishments and the expansion of existing establishments," they find. Furthermore, they write that “regions of all sizes primarily experience growth through the creation of new establishments, and that growth is always, significantly, and positively associated with regional creative employment."

Read the rest here.

NYC foodies tour Metro Detroit eateries

New York Food Journal Thursday, August 16, 2012

What did Big Apple foodies think of the local cuisine? American Coney Island: Yay! Slows Bar-B-Q: Meh. Taqueria Lupita's: Where's the beer? Good Girls Go To Paris: Yay! Al-Ameer Restaurant: Spectacular.

Excerpt:

"A drive out to the Henry Ford Museum gave us the opportunity to sample the excellent Middle Eastern food to be found in Dearborn, Michigan. After some research, we decided to stop at Al-Ameer, a casual and authentic spot with locations in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. We were glad we did."

Read the rest here.

An Economic Case For Public Art

The Atlantic Cities Thursday, August 09, 2012

The argument is all-too familiar - public art is nice but we don't need it and we can't afford it. The Atlantic Cities rebutts this claim with specific examples of how public art has contributed to a community's bottom line.

Excerpt:

"The intangible benefits of public art—aesthetic beauty, cultural interpretation, education, inspiration, and general improvement of the urban environment—are well-known. But because these are considered "soft" benefits, they are sometimes dismissed as a low priority, especially during challenging economic times. However, experiences in Los Angeles show that public art can be a source of publicity and cash income, as well as beauty."

Read the rest here.

Late night eats in metro Detroit

Detroit Free Press Thursday, August 09, 2012

It's midnight Saturday and you're hankering for something other than drive-thru junk food. Where do you go? The Detroit Free Press has put together a list of 13 eateries that offer more than just "fries with that."

Excerpt:

"It's not a comprehensive list but rather a representative sample taking into account a diversity of food, style, price, atmosphere and geography. Here were the parameters: Each place had to serve until at least midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 p.m. on weekdays, though some allowances were made if the kitchen closed a little earlier at the beginning of the week. The availability of alcohol was a must."

Read the rest here.

Maker Faire founder says metro Detroit is embracing DIY

The Huffington Post Thursday, August 09, 2012

For anyone who has attended Detroit Maker faire at the Henry Ford, it's pretty darn clear what a spectacularly innovative and engaging event it is. From robots to flame throwers to the world's biggest game of mousetrap, this festival of eccentric inventors and clever construction is a cornucopia of do-it-yourself innovation. Faire co-creator Dale Dougherty agrees.

Excerpt:

"You don't have to say it's just Detroit vs. the Bay area, but Detroit doesn't necessarily get the visibility of what people are doing there. I thought the purpose of a Maker Faire was to show all the good work that's going on here, and it's as good as anywhere.

We have more tractors here. We have more Model T's here. I think what's special is there is a legacy here of manufacturing and tinkering that I think people have been brought up in, and it's close to them.

And to some degree it feels more real here than in the Bay area."

Read the rest of the interview here.

Playgrounds for adults could be the next big thing

The New York Times Thursday, August 09, 2012

New York City is installing adult playgrounds in various parks around the city. How cool is that? Think metro Detroit should take cue...?

Excerpt:

"Never mind the punishing diets, the gym dates and the doctors’ warnings, the quest to live a healthier, more active lifestyle has come to this: playgrounds for adults.

New York City is testing its first such playground in Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx, and plans to bring as many as two dozen more to neighborhoods across the five boroughs in the next 18 months, park officials said.

The goal is to lure people off their couches and into the outdoors with specially designed playground equipment — in grown-up shades like forest green and beige — that recall the joy of childhood play while tightening up flabby abs, thighs and triceps. "

Read the rest here.

Take a poll on the subject here.

Michigan film industry gasping but still alive

Detroit Free Press Thursday, August 02, 2012

Governor Snyder's opposition and capping of the Mitten's film incentive program all but gutted what was once a growing --albeit expensive-- industry. Still, there are glimmers of hope. The legislature doubleed the capped amount and smaller productions are still popping up. The Freep covers a recently shot indie starring Benicio Del Toro.

Excerpt:

"Although shooting in metro Detroit under the Michigan film incentives has slowed to a trickle, the set was an upbeat place for the local contingent of roughly 20 actors and 75 crew members -- high numbers for an indie that has about the same number of out-of-state actors and about 40 out-of-state crew members.

"Picard" gave the local film community a chance to work on something meaningful -- and, just as critically, to work at all during a year when reduced incentives have led to fewer job opportunities.

The movie was approved for just under $2 million in incentives on an estimated $6.9 million of spending in the state."

Read the rest here.

Art is for Everyone opens HQ in Ferndale

Ferndale115 Thursday, August 02, 2012

The DIA belongs to everyone in Metro Detroit and the organization supporting the multi-county tax that will insure its survival has temporarily opened an office in a burb known for its progressive-leaning values.

Excerpt:

"So far there have been over 4,500 phone calls made from the Ferndale office alone.

“Not robo-calls,” Fritz said. “We’ve got volunteers that come in, and over the next week there will be different groups every evening.”

“Having volunteers is better because they can listen to the people they call and answer any questions.”

The Ferndale office has also sold over 1,000 yard signs at $5 a pop. Former City Councilperson Kate Baker jumped in to help the campaign sell yard signs, raising $415 for the campaign."

Read the rest of the story here.

What does a great walkable city look like?

The Atlantic Cities Thursday, August 02, 2012

Copenhagen provides an example for how walkable (and attractive) a couple of city blocks can be. Notice, in particular, how close shops are to the street, how small but heavily used the public park space is? Instead of thinking in terms of what we do with whole city blocks maybe Ann Arbor can take a lesson and see how many things can be done on a single block.

Excerpt:

"The square itself is anchored by a single tree in the center, surrounded by benches and more cafes. Small Streets says it's only about a half-acre, but it's quite obviously enough to create a sense of place, somewhere we want to be to relax and enjoy a drink, meal and conversation.

This is all rather simple, and Small Streets presents it in a more engaging fashion than I do here. But simplicity is kind of the point. The amount of density and building stock is just enough to entice and relax without creating a feeling of being overwhelmed or crowded. I would love to have more spaces like this in my own city."

Read the rest here.

Or, if you want to dig deeper, read the blog that inspired the piece here.

Coldwell Banker picks 5 metro Detroit cities as hippest in Michigan

Coldwell Banker Real Estate Thursday, July 26, 2012

Coldwell Banker Real Estate has started to enter the "Best Of" game, ranking communities by what they think their customers are seeking. For their first (of five) lists they evaluated the social scene in cities around the country and picked the places they thought were hippest. Nothing in Michigan made the Top 10, but within the Mitten Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Huntington Woods, and Rochester came out as tops.

Check out their list here.

Royal Oak says okay to bikeshaws

WDIV Detroit Thursday, July 26, 2012

With it's vibrant downtown, loft housing options, and ever-growing "sense of place," Royal Oak has been one of metro Detroit's fastest evolving communities. And since it's a mystery as to when rail will ever make it to the Woodward Avenue corridor it was inevitable someone would introduce some alternative transportation. Meet bike taxi service driver Sean Paraventi.

Excerpt:

"From Thursday to Sunday, now until the snow gets in the way, Paraventi plans to be out in Royal Oak with his bikeshaw, offering rides. He already has pedaled his way into the hearts of Royal Oak regulars such as Karen Mchugh.

Bikeshaw in Royal Oak "I think it's really comfortable, much more than I thought it would be," Mchugh said. "Sean seems in tune with the safety and watching out for cars and people as well.""

Read / watch the rest here.

Richard Florida asks: Is Detroit becoming a suburb?

The Atlantic Cities Thursday, July 26, 2012

In a provocative article, the Creative Class guru talks about the distinction between city and suburb today. He compares Motown to Urban-burbs like Ferndale, Royal Oak, Birmingham and Ann Arbor, metro Detrtoit communities that are evolving their urban design to adapt to changing community standards.

Excerpt:

"The old distinctions between "city" and "suburb" do seem to be blurring. Urban neighborhoods are improving safety, upgrading schools, adding parks and bike lanes to their existing urban fabric, while suburban ones are adding density, walkability and mixed-use districts to their existing safe streets and good schools."

Read the rest here.