Forbes

Excerpt:

It all started with a computer chip.

Coined 40 years ago, the term “Silicon Valley” originally referred to the silicon chip manufacturers that helped build the high-tech movement in the San Francisco Bay Area. The region has been a technology hot spot since, but today, it’s evolved from hardware giants into social technology and consumer internet, thanks to companies like Google and Facebook. “Silicon” is no longer literal, but a metonym for the entrepreneurial spirit that’s fueled the region’s growth for decades.

But the Bay Area isn’t this country’s only pocket of innovation, and “Silicon (fill-in-the-blank)” is an increasingly popular shorthand for regions with brewing start-up scenes. With predictions that start-ups will bring the United States out of its recession, entrepreneurs across America are stepping up to the plate. Here’s where the action is happening.

Silicon Mitten (Michigan) 


In the state shaped like a cold-weather accessory, Michigan residents fondly refer to their homeland as “The Mitten State,” and they’re not letting the cold—or the region’s economic decline—keep them down. From Ann Arbor’s clean tech scene to Detroit’s manufacturing-based start-ups, young entrepreneurs and forward-looking investors like Detroit Venture Partners and Ludlow Ventures are taking their state’s future in their own hands. As Texts From Last Night founder Ben Bator explains, “We realize that our dream job doesn’t exist, and so we have to make it.”

One thing Detroit isn’t short on is available real estate, and projects like the revitalization of the Madison Building downtown and Phil Cooley’s Pony Ride property in Corktown will provide much-needed incubator space for Motor City entrepreneurs.

Click HERE to read the rest of this article!


The Best Beer Menus in America In a wine-soaked restaurant world, these ten establishments give hope that the food-and-ale revolution is coming 

Evan S. Benn
Esquire Magazine 

Roast

Detroit

Iron Chef Michael Symon may call Cleveland home, but he's put his best beer menu in Detroit. Symon's Roast boasts a stunning lineup of sour, acidic, and funky ales served in wine-size bottles, with the stated goal of turning wine drinkers on to beer, a project I'm more than willing to get behind. The kitchen's "Beast of the Day" and a bottle of Jolly Pumpkin's Noel de Calabaza, a Michigan-brewed Christmas ale aged in oak barrels, can provide you with all the warmth you need this winter.

 Click HERE for the full list!
 

In its five-decade history, Autoweek has expanded from its origins as a print magazine to creating and delivering content across multiple platforms. Next, Autoweek takes on primetime television with the debut of Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage on Velocity, the network launched by Discovery Channel in October.

Hosted by Courtney Hansen, the show will air on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, 7:30 p.m. Central. The first of 13 episodes premieres on Tuesday, Jan. 3. “Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage is all about our passion for the automobile,” said Autoweek vice president and publisher KC Crain. “It’s 30 minutes of unadulterated car enthusiasm right from Autoweek’s editorial pages – covering everything from design to driving, customization, cooking and cruisin’, travel and technology.”

Named for the storied auto repair shop on Detroit’s legendary Woodward Avenue, Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage gives us a closer look at car culture from all over the country. Before joining Autoweek, host Courtney Hansen worked at Fox Sports and at TLC where she co-hosted the showcar makeover program Overhaulin with Chip Foose. She is currently hosting her seventh season of Spike TV’s “PowerBlock”. Hansen will be joined on screen by various Autoweek editors and special guests from around the country, with Emmy Award-winning, Detroit-based Gary May directing.


Vinsetta Garage opened as a repair shop for carriages and Model Ts almost a century before it’s closing in 2010. Now owned by KC Crain and restaurateur Curt Catallo, this storied part of Detroit’s automotive legacy will live on with its repurposing as a sister restaurant to metro Detroit’s famed Union Woodshop and Clarkston Union. Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage marks a new chapter in the histories of both Vinsetta and Autoweek.

“Passion for the automobile has shaped our culture,” Crain said. “Anyone who loves cars should tune in to see how the American story—past, present and future—is indelibly linked to that of the automobile.”

Viewers can visit www.vinsetta.com to learn more about the show and to view a trailer. Follow Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage on Facebook (facebook.com/VinsettaTV), Twitter (@VinsettaTV), and YouTube (youtube.com/VinsettaTV).


TLC's latest reality show, All-American Muslim, filmed in Dearborn, latest "controversy" is discussed on the Daily Show. Pretty funny stuff. This has become one of my favorite shows. It portrays Detroit and these families in a very positive light. Tune in and check it out!

Bus Rapid Transit: BogotĆ” from Streetfilms on Vimeo.


THIS WEEKEND! Sunday Funday December 11th at Dolce Moda 1p-8p.

DJ Jenny Lafemme will be soothing our Sunday with her soulful house music. FLD is hosting a Trunk show, accompanied by mimosas and exclusive discounts during the event!  

20% Off All New Arrivals!

Join us for a shopping experience you will never forget! Holiday cheers to all our new, our loyal and our wonderful customers ♥



505 S. Main Street
Royal Oak, MI 48067
info@dolcemoda.cominfo@dolcemoda.com
248-399-6200

Read more about FLD
http://fo2la.com/

The Aquarium is a showcase of Pewabic Tiles

The Belle Isle Aquarium needs your vote!  They are in the running for $50,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Project.  Monies will be spent to repoen the aquarium, which has been closed for the past couple of years.

The Belle Isle Aquarium is a valuable piece in the Detroit history puzzle.  It was designed by notable architect Albert Kahn and opened in 1904.  It was considered the finest aquarium in the world by experts.

When it was open, the aquarium had 60 exhibits with a total tank volume of 32,000 U.S. gallons and was home to over 1,500 fish of 146 species. The aquarium largely featured freshwater species native to the Great Lakes region, but also had salt-water species from around the world.

The aquarium made news in 2002 when one of its female white-spotted bamboo sharks gave birth to two young despite not having been near a male in six years in a suspected rare case of parthenogenesis.

Click HERE to vote for the Belle Isle Aquarium.

Vote DAILY through December.   

They need to stay in the top ten in order to receive funding!




Great ribs from Bert at Eastern Market
The Guardian
Max and Liz Haarala Hamilton

Detroit, Michigan, is better known for crime and dereliction than dining, which is why the creative team behind new Boat Magazine wanted to tell a more positive story. In this extract, they track down the best places to eat and drink in the city

Most of us, when we have a lull at work, keep quiet about it, surf the web, catch up on admin, writes online travel editor Isabel Choat. And you'd imagine a couple expecting their first baby to be doubly grateful for a few weeks' calm in the office – a chance to conserve energy. Not Davey and Erin Spens. When the pair, who run a fledgling creative agency in King's Cross, London, realised August was going to be quiet month, they decided they needed a challenge, something that would combine their love of magazines and design and travel

And so they upped sticks and relocated their office and two colleagues to ... Sarajevo, Bosnia, where they set about finding a cast of interesting characters – a war photographer, the author of a cookbook, a film director – who would help them "tell a new story about the city". The result was Boat Magazine, a "nomadic" publication that focuses on one city per issue.

Despite being upstarts in publishing the Spens commissioned an impressive array of writers from Dave Eggers, who introduces the issue with an extract from his short story collection How We Are Hungry, to Scottish writer Sophie Cooke and a host of international names. And of course, as a labour of love by people passionate about design, it looks beautiful - printed on luxurious thick matt paper, clever and smart. You can read Boat online and subscribe to the print version at boat-mag.com.

So where do you go from war-ravaged Sarajevo? Detroit, Michigan, is ravaged in a different way – but is equally unloved and under the radar. Published this week with an introduction by Detroit-born author Jeffrey Eugenides, it features basketball stars, It Girls, city farmers and a film director. Their next move? Sao Paulo, due out in April.

The following is an extract from the current issue – by photographers Liz and Max Haarala Hamilton – on some of the best and most interesting places to eat and drink in Detroit - and the people behind them.

Click HERE to read the rest of this article!

Must See Video of the Day: Keys To Detroit




A Wayne State University School of Medicine student has launched a campaign to renew awareness of HIV and AIDS during the 30th anniversary of the diseases' identification.

Phillip Kucab, a second-year medical student, created World AIDS Day Detroit to call greater attention to the disease. Kucab said that HIV and AIDS, now that they are no longer a certain death sentence, seem to have dropped off the radar of many in the United States.

While over the last decade the media has shined the spotlight on AIDS in Africa, Kucab said, the fact that those with the condition can now live extended lives through drug therapy appears to have diminished the attention paid to AIDS in the United States. To remedy that lack of awareness, Kucab has formed World AIDS Day Detroit, which is set for Dec. 1 and coincides with the 30th anniversary of the identification of AIDS.

Many of the events scheduled for the day will feature Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White, who became a symbol of HIV/AIDS victims and helped break down the social stigmas related to the disease. Ryan, a hemophiliac who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion, was diagnosed in 1984. He put a different face to the disease, which at that time was largely regarded and dismissed as a disease affecting only gay men. His efforts to be accepted by his community and society at large led to friendships with celebrities such as Elton John and Michael Jackson. Ryan died at age 18 in 1990. His mother has continued his legacy of education and compassion for those afflicted with HIV/AIDS and their loved ones.

Kucab, a native of Sterling Heights, also is a hemophiliac. "I have lost a lot of people I know to contaminated blood transfusions," he said. Among those was his cousin, Michael Verb, a hemophiliac who contracted HIV and Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion. Verb died in 1993 at age 17, Kucab said.

While Kucab launched the project, the effort has attracted the support of many School of Medicine students, as well as community agencies and leaders, including AIDS activist Max Fisher, son of AIDS activist Mary Fisher and grandson of Detroit philanthropist and businessman Max M. Fisher. Organizations supporting the project include the Wayne State University School of Medicine and Medical Library, the Michigan Department of Community Health, Affirmations, AIDS Partnership Michigan, the Michigan AIDS Coalition, Community Health Awareness Group, the STITCHES Doll Project and the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan. Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour and WSU School of Medicine Dean Valerie M. Parisi serve on the World AIDS Day Detroit Honorary Host Committee.

The agenda includes a breakfast for mayors of Southeast Michigan sponsored by the School of Medicine and featuring Gilmour, Parisi and White-Ginder. Other events include the Michigan Department of Community Health World AIDS Day Meeting, which includes education sessions and workshops for Detroit area schools and community members; a screening of "Bad Blood," a film that chronicles how HIV entered the blood supply, with the producer, director and cast members at the Fillmore Theater; and a program in the evening featuring a keynote address by White-Ginder.

For more information on World AIDS Day Detroit and how you can participate, visit www.worldaidsdaydetroit.com.
The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) will gather friends and supporters at the MGM Grand Detroit—Grand Ballroom on December 3, 2011 for the 7th Annual Kidney Ball.

The event, which features the theme “Motown Magic” every year, will include a night of live music, great food, cocktails, and an after party, all making it the most fun charity event in metro Detroit. Last year’s Kidney Ball raised over $500,000 for the NKFM’s many programs and services that help more than 900,000 Michigan residents living with chronic kidney disease.

The spectacular evening, which attracts more than 700 of metro Detroit’s givers and shakers, will begin with cocktails at 6 p.m. and a fabulous dinner served at 7:30 p.m. There will also be an exciting live auction along with an expansive and unique silent auction. Guests can also enjoy dancing and listening to the soulful sounds of the Jerry Ross Band after dinner.

Jim Vella, President of the Ford Fund, and Vivian Pickard, President of the GM Foundation, will serve as the Honorary Chairs of the 2011 Kidney Ball. Blanche Mack and Myra Moreland will be this year’s Event Chairs. The evening wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the Kidney Ball Presenting Sponsor, Meijer, as well as the many other sponsors and supporters of the event.

“With so many challenges in our state things are not likely to get easier for people with kidney disease. Supporting the 2011 Kidney Ball can continue to help make their lives better,” said Dan Carney, President and CEO of the NKFM. “We invite everyone to take a step back into the Motown era and support an organization whose mission truly is to make a difference.”

Tickets for the event are $250 per guest and can be purchased by calling the NKFM at 800-482-1455. More information about the event is available at www.kidneyball.org or you can get regular updates from the NKFM (including Kidney Ball updates) at www.facebook.com/KidneyMI.

The NKFM, voted “Best Managed Nonprofit” of 2003 by Crain’s Detroit Business, and rated a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 1955.  Since its inception, the NKFM has led the fight against kidney disease and has increased awareness of the critical need for organ and tissue donations.  The mission of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan is to prevent kidney disease and improve the quality of life for those living with it.  The NKFM is widely known for providing more programs and services to more people than any other region or state.

A VIP reception will take place from 5–6 p.m. at INT ICE on the lower level of the MGM Grand. This is a great opportunity to take pictures of and speak with some of the key people involved in the Kidney Ball.
A new item is now available at local favorite Buddy’s Pizza – and while it’s not edible, it will help provide food for metro Detroiters in need.

Now through Dec. 24, customers at Buddy’s Pizza will have the opportunity to donate $1 to The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit and receive a paper Red Kettle that can be signed and displayed in the store.

Paper Red Kettles can be purchased across metro Detroit at all nine Buddy’s Pizza locations (see below for complete list). Funds raised through the sale of paper kettles will help maintain vital human services such as food and shelter for local children and adults throughout the year.

“With Michigan’s poverty rate now at 16.8 percent, we are grateful partners like Buddy’s have joined together to support The Salvation Army in doing the most good during this time of need,” said Major Mark Anderson, general secretary and metro Detroit area commander. “Each and every dollar makes a real difference in the lives of those in need.”

Buddy’s Pizza has nine convenient locations:

2612 N Squirrel Rd

Auburn Hills, MI 48326


3637 W Maple Rd

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301


22148 Michigan Ave

Dearborn, MI 48124


17125 Conant St

Detroit, MI 48212


31646 Northwestern Hwy

Farmington Hills, MI 4834


19163 Mack Ave

Grosse Pointe, MI 48236


33605 Plymouth Rd

Livonia, MI 48150


32218 Woodward Ave

Royal Oak, MI 48073


8100 Old Thirteen Mile Rd

Warren, MI 48093


It is under a week to go!  The Detroit Titans will honor their former head coach and athletic director—Dick Vitale-- Dec. 5 when they name the newly-constructed floor “Dick Vitale Court” at Calihan Hall in a special pre-game ceremony.  Be sure to be part of history as one of the most recognizable faces, and voices in college basketball, returns to the Motor City for an ESPN2 game against St. John's University.

Vitale will be greeted at a special VIP luncheon at the Detroit Golf Club at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 5.  He will then be ushered to Calihan Hall for the official court dedication ceremony, beginning at 6:15 p.m.  Tip time for the game against the Red Storm is 7:05 p.m.  John Saunders and Fran Fraschilla have the call of the historic night to the nationally-televised audience.

Tickets are going fast for this event.  Contact the Titan ticket office at 313-993-1700 for ticket information or to reserve your spot at the VIP luncheon.  You can also purchase tickets online at www.detroittitans.com/tix or through any TicketMaster outlet.


The first 1,000 fans (floor seating) will receive a commemorative Dick Vitale Court Dedication T-shirt.  The National Anthem will be performed by Detroit Music Hall of Famer Thornetta Davis.

A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the “V Foundation”, in support of Dick Vitale's long-time friend and colleague, Jim Valvano, who lost his battle with cancer in 1993.  The V Foundation has awarded more than $90 million to more than 100 facilities nationwide and proudly awards 100% of direct donations and net event proceeds to cancer research.


Dec. 5, 2011 Dick Vitale Court Dedication-- Detroit vs. St. John's
3:30 pm VIP reception at Detroit Golf Club
5:30 pm Doors open at Calihan Hall
6:15 pm Pre-game dedication ceremony
7:05 pm Tip-off vs. St. John's (ESPN2)

Photo From Model D
Sarah Lapinski, Detroit fashion designer and founder of Wound Menswear, is kicking off her second annual "100 Coats in 10 Days" drive to help keep those in need warm this holiday season.


Drop off locations include:

MOCAD

City Bird

Nest

Universal Images

Spirit of Hope Church

Click HERE to listen to her interview with WDET discussing 100 Coats in 10 Days. 





The Deadline

Apostle partners Denis Leary and Jim Serpico have come aboard as executive producers of Burn, a feature documentary about the city of Detroit seen through the eyes of its firefighters.

The pair behind the FX firefighter drama Rescue Me have launched a campaign on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter to seek finishing financing for the docu, which centers on the struggle of the men and women charged with the task of saving a city many have written off.

Burn will be co-directed by Tom Putnam and Brenna Sanchez and is targeting the 2012 festival season.

“This film will help raise the public’s awareness to the work firefighters around the country do, as well as the sacrifices they make, particularly in these times of severe budget cuts,” Leary said.

The filmmakers are offering products and experiences to entice Kickstarter donors, including a Boardwalk Empire set visit and an autographed helmet signed by the Rescue Me cast. So far, Burn has been funded via grants and donations from the likes of GM and Apple. A portion of the film’s proceeds will go to The Leary Firefighters Foundation to purchase equipment for the Detroit Fire Department.
Achatz Catering and Soup is partnering with The Detroit Lions to Do the Most Good in metro Detroit by helping to collect clean, new and gently used coats in support of the 21st annual Lions Coat Drive, benefiting The Salvation Army, on Thanksgiving Day.

 From now through November 24, collection bins will be at Achatz Catering and Soup, in Casco, MI, as well as eight Achatz Handmade Pie Co. retail locations in Armada, Chesterfield Township, Shelby Township, Oxford, Sterling Heights, Beverly Hills, Ann Arbor and Troy. Bins can also be found at Achatz Burgers in St. Clair Shores, and Achatz Riverview Restaurant in St. Clair, MI. For a listing of addresses, please visit www.achatzpies.com, www.achatzsoup.com, or Achatz Burgers at 24605 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, MI 48080.

For each coat donated at an Achatz Handmade Pie Co. location, participants will receive a free slice of pie; for donations made at Achatz Catering and Soup, participants will receive a free pint of soup. All donations to Achatz Burgers will receive a Free Mini Burger, and all coats donated to Achatz Riverview Restaurant will receive a free homemade cookie.

“Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how much we all have and appreciate the gifts we have been given,” said Steve Achatz, owner of Achatz Catering and Soup. “We are participating in the Lions Coat Drive this year in this spirit of giving and encourage everyone to join with us to help keep our neighbors warm.”

All coats collected will be delivered by Achatz representatives to the Detroit Lions’ 72nd Thanksgiving Day game in a 32-foot Lions Fan Bus.

 This year’s Lions Coat Drive is sponsored by Pepsi in association with The Salvation Army, WXYZ-Channel 7 and 97.1 The Ticket.
Deck the halls, the hearth, and the home with Detroit’s Pewabic Pottery this holiday season. The annual Earthy Treasures holiday show, which is open now through Dec. 30, will showcase the Snowflake Collectible Ornaments series and work from over 100 ceramic artists.

Pewabic also offers other great holiday items such as their hand painted star tiles, pinecone vases, 12 Days of Christmas ornaments and much more.

“This is a perfect exhibit to find one-of-a-kind gifts for loved ones.” said Terese Ireland, executive director of Pewabic Pottery. “We especially have some great gifts for Detroit supporters, near and far.”

 Pewabic will also host a Holiday Shopping Evening on Dec. 14. Guests will enjoy an evening of shopping, refreshments, gift giveaways, new additions to Pewabic’s giftware collection and works by more than 80 ceramic artists. Additional specials for Pewabic Society members will be available.

Metro Detroiters can also pick up Pewabic gifts at the Christmas Wonderfest in Campus Martius Park from Nov. 18-27 and at downtown Rochester’s Kris Kringle Market on Dec. 2-3. A limited selection of Pewabic gifts will be available at both events.

 Pewabic Pottery is a non-profit arts and cultural organization and National Historic Landmark which is dedicated to engaging people of all ages in learning experiences with contemporary ceramic art and artists while preserving its historic legacy.

Pewabic is a historic working pottery which is open to the public year round and offers classes, workshops and tours to children and adults. Pewabic creates giftware, pottery and architectural tile, showcases more than 80 ceramic artists in its galleries, and operates a museum store that features pottery and gift tile made on-site.

Visitors are welcome, free of charge, Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. To learn more about Pewabic Pottery call (313) 626-2000 or visit www.pewabic.org.

Pewabic Pottery is located at 10125 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit across the street from Waterworks Park.
Join Us for our 8th annual pre-Holiday shopping event taking place Saturday, November 26th! in Detroit.  Shop Detroit is an event that encourages shoppers to purchase products, services and gifts at Detroit retail locations.

Detroit Synergy member-volunteers created Shop Detroit eight years ago specifically to promote the often-overlooked retail attractions available to shoppers in Downtown Detroit and surrounding neighborhoods. This event is designed to appeal to shoppers from all over the Metro Detroit area. The project also strives to educate the growing numbers of downtown retailers in how important it is to have a coherent merchant community.

This year, Detroit Synergy is partnering with Small Business Saturday.  Small Business Saturday, which falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is a national movement to drive consumers to shop at local merchants during the heaviest shopping weekend of the year. American Express, the founding sponsor of Small Business Saturday, created the movement in response to small business owners’ most pressing need: more demand for their products and services. Small Business Saturday started in 2010 in response to small business owners most pressing need: more demand for their products and services. There will be giveaways and a lot of fun in the city! Support local and shop small!

Small Business Saturday
You can pre-register to let us know you are joining us here, Shop Detroit pre-registration. Day of registration will take place at the Inside Detroit Welcome Center from 9:30am - 4pm.  Shoppers will receive a full list of retailers, specials and other products that will make this shopping experience a happy one.

 
Participating Merchants

    Avalon International Breads
    B'ana
    Bob's Classic Kicks
    BonBons
    Byblos Cafe & Grill
    Canine to Five
    Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Museum Store
    City Bird
    Curl Up & Dye
    Detroit Artists Market
    Detroit Community Acupuncture
    Detroit Historical Museum Store
    Detroit Institute of Arts
    DJenne African Imports
    Donna D
    Flo Boutique
    Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes
    Good People Popcorn
    Goods
    GoodWells Natural Foods Market
    Hilal Books & Imports
    Hockeytown CafĆ© and Gift Shop
    John King Books
    Jos. A. Banks
    Leopold's Books
    Little Foxes Fine Gifts
    Lolita
    Mantra
    Marian's Market
    Marwil Bookstore
    MOCAD
    Motor City Brewing Works
    Park Shelton
    Peacock Room
    People's Records & Collectibles
    Pure Detroit Downtown
    Pure Detroit GM Collection
    Revolution Books
    Rosa's Fashions
    Scentsations
    Shangri-la
    Showtime Detroit
    Simmons & Clark Jewelers
    Sinful Sweets
    Sole Sisters
    Spectacles
    Spiral Collective/Dell Pryor Gallery
    Spiral Collective/Source Books
    Spiral Collective/Tulani Rose
    The Big Book Store
    The Black Dress
    The Hub of Detroit
    The Majestic Cafe/Sgt. Pepperoni's
    The Max M. Fisher Music Center
    The Nest
    The Runaway (Mark England Showroom)
    The Woodhouse Day Spa
    Traffic Jam & Snug
    Utrecht Art Supplies
    Wasabi
    WSU Bookstore/Cafe/Barnes & Noble

Volunteer Needed
DSG is gearing up for the 2011 Shop Detroit. Shop Detroit gives you the experience of shopping in the city while at the same time supporting city merchants.   If you are interested in volunteering in the development of the 2011 Shop Detroit, please email community@detroitsynergy.org OR dsgsteering@detroitsynergy.org.



   



 
 Sporting News

The fans have spoken and Detroit has been voted the Best Sports City of all time in Sporting News’ fan bracket, with a monstrous victory over Chicago.

Fifth-seeded Detroit did not have an easy path, but it did knock off fourth-seeded Montreal in the quarterfinals in a battle of hockey towns.
Tigers ace Justin Verlander won the Cy Young Award this week and Detroit has been voted the Best Sports City of all-time in the Sporting News' fan bracket.

Then the Motor City pulled the big surprise, upsetting Sporting News’ Best Sports City and the No. 1 seed, New York, before dusting off the Windy City in the final.

The Red Wings are the team Detroit is best known for nowadays, but the city that brought us the Motown sound has much more than just hockey.

The Pistons were a force in the NBA's Eastern Conference in the 1990s and won a title in 2004.

The Tigers made the World Series in 2006 and lost in the American League Championship Series this year. Detroit is also the home to one of the most dominant pitchers in the game today in Justin Verlander, who won the American League Cy Young this week and could possibly win the AL MVP award next week.

The Lions look like an up-and-coming NFL team with the Matthew Stafford-Calvin Johnson duo.

And of course, the Red Wings are perennial contenders.

SN's final Great Sports Debate will be held in December: the all-125th anniversary teams by sport.

Click HERE to see the final results!
The Independent  


Long regarded as a synonym for urban decay, the battered city of Detroit has begun to flex its economic muscles again. But the process of regeneration is only just beginning, reports David Usborne

Anyone who thinks Detroit will never again be anything but a synonym for urban decay need only read the minutes of a recent City Council meeting, where members authorised the repair of 5,000 street lights at a cost of $750,000 (£475,000). There are thousands more such lights in need of repair, yes. But something is underway. The headline practically writes itself: the lights are coming back on in Motor City.

It is crime, often conducted under cover of darkness, that more than anything else has hollowed out Detroit, home of the Model-T and Motown. Between 2000 and 2010 its population fell 25 per cent, according to census numbers. Entire blocks became derelict and strewn with weeds. Add corruption, joblessness and poverty and it seemed there were no depths Detroit could not plumb.

Detroiters are leery of come-back boosterism. Ten years after the 1967 riots that more than any other event set this city on the path to purgatory, they said the building of the shiny Renaissance Centre by the Ford Company on the river front would provide a boost. Hopes rose again when the Super Bowl came here in 2006, but then the Big Three car companies hit a wall only to be saved by a controversial bailout from Washington and new rounds of plant closures and lay-offs.

There are still plenty of frightening statistics. Of the 702,000 now living here – from 2 million in 1950 – a third exist below the poverty line and unemployment runs above 14 per cent. But there are better numbers too, in the economy, changing demographics, even in sports. The car makers are profitable again and in baseball, football and ice hockey, Detroit has had a thrilling few weeks of winning – a big deal because all the major teams play downtown. All of this leads to a spurt in something much harder to measure: spirit.

"Are you kidding? We are in a huge upwards surge and it's because the people really want to support the city exactly because it has been through such hard times," insists Renee Adams Schulte, 57, who recently had dinner with her friend at Roast, a high-end eatery with dƩcor and prices that would not be out of place in Manhattan. A native of the mostly upscale suburb of Grosse Pointe, she has long made a point of coming into Detroit's downtown to support it.

"When I was a kid I used to get on the bus with my friends to go shopping in Detroit," Ms Adams Schulte, who runs a women's rowing club, recalls. "Would I have put my (now grown-up) kids on the bus to downtown? I don't think so! But now new businesses are coming back. There are all the galleries and the stores and the restaurants and it's great."

Some of the new pride was captured in a Chrysler commercial in this year's Super Bowl broadcast. Featuring local rap king Eminem, it was a celebration of the city's grit. "What does a town that has been to Hell and back know about the finer things in life?" the narrator asks. "Well, I will tell ya... it's the hottest fires that make the hardest steel." The tagline read: "Imported from Detroit." A huge banner draped down the side of a downtown building today declares: "Outsource to Detroit". It's a not too subtle message that Detroit won't take it from Japan and Korea any more.

Click HERE the read the rest of this article.



This issue of Boat Magazine found us in Detroit, Michigan. The auto industry collapse and the housing crisis hit Detroit hard. In the last decade 25% of its population has left leaving about 60,000 houses standing empty. These houses are hotbeds for crime, vandalism, and arson, all of which cause the surrounding property values to plummet and the local schools to decline and eventually close which in turn causes more residents to leave the city. It’s a horrible cycle, one that has attracted the media in droves.
The thing is, they’re only telling part of the story.

Click HERE to read more!
Click HERE to purchase (this would look very lovely on your coffee table)!
Click HERE to to read my favorite article!
Click HERE if you are sick of clicking (just kidding)!

Issue Two - See it Through from Boat Studio on Vimeo.
Associated Press

Detroit's Justin Verlander has become the first starting pitcher in a quarter-century to win a Most Valuable Player award, adding it to his Cy Young Award last week.

Verlander earned the American League MVP honor Monday, receiving 13 of 28 first-place votes and 280 points in voting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Boston center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was second with 242 points, followed by Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista with 231 points.

"It was such a relief to get that phone call," Verlander said in an ESPN "SportsCenter" interview minutes after the announcement. "Obviously, I want to say it's a dream come true, but winning the Cy Young was a dream come true."

Verlander went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts to take the AL pitching triple crown. He is the first pitcher to win MVP since Oakland's Dennis Eckerlsley in 1992 and the first starter since Boston's Roger Clemens in 1986.

"(The MVP) means so much, I couldn't have even dreamt of it," he told ESPN.

Wonderfest Begins Tomorrow! Full Schedule Here!

 November 18 | 5 pm until 9 pm
Detroit City Tree Lighting


The tree will be placed in Detroit’s award-winning and internationally-acclaimed Campus Martius Park, at the majestic Woodward Fountain and adjacent to the popular Ice Rink. Continuing what the Detroit Free Press has called a “Great New Detroit Family Tradition,” the tree will be lit in a spectacular ceremony on Nov. 18.

November 18 | 4pm
Grand Opening

Come in and enjoy Detroit's Christmas Wonderfest with over 50 stores a carousel and a ferris wheel.

November 24th | 9 am
America's Thanksgiving Day Parade

For more information about America's Thanksgiving Day Parade go to TheParade.org

Christmas Fest Hours

Friday, November 18- 4pm until 10pm

Saturday, November 19- 10am until 10pm

Sunday, November 20- Noon until 8pm

Monday, November 21 - Noon until 8pm

Tuesday, November 22- Noon until 8pm

Wednesday, November 23- Noon until 8pm

Thursday, November 24- 9am until 1pm

Friday, November 25- 10am until 10pm

Saturday, November 26- 10am until 10pm

Sunday, November 27- Noon until 8pm.


November 18, 2011 |
Santa's Hours

Santa will be visiting with kids and families inside the Compuware lobby, directly north of Campus Martius Park.

Friday, November 18- 5pm until 9pm

Saturday, November 19- Noon until 8 pm

Sunday, November 20- Noon until 6 pm

Monday, November 21- 4pm until 8 pm

Tuesday, November 22- 4pm until 8 pm

Wednesday, November 23- 4pm until 8 pm

Thursday, November 24- Noon until 3pm

Friday, November 25- Noon until 8pm

Saturday, November 26- Noon until 8pm

Sunday, November 27- Noon until 6pm


November 18 |
Ride Hours

RIDE HOURS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON WEATHER CONDITIONS

Friday, November 18- 4pm until 11pm

Saturday, November 19- 11am until 11pm

Sunday, November 20- Noon until 8pm

Monday, November 21- Noon until 8pm

Tuesday, November 22- Noon until 8pm

Wednesday, November 23- Noon until 8pm

Thursday, November 24- 9am until ????

Friday, November 25- 11am until 11pm

Saturday, November 26- 11am until 11pm

Sunday, November 27- Noon until 8pm.
more


November 18, 2011 |
Hofbrau Haus Hours

November 18, Friday: 4pm – 12am

November 19, Saturday:  10am – 12am

November 20, Sunday:  12pm – 12am

November 21, Monday:  12pm – 12am

November 22, Tuesday:  12pm – 12am

November 23, Wednesday:  12pm -12am

November 24, Thursday:  9am – 1 pm

November 25, Friday:  12pm -12am

November 26, Saturday:  10am – 12am

November 27, Sunday:  12pm – 8pm

Holiday Music
November 18-27 | Schedule TBD
Enjoy holiday music live on the Campus Martius Stage throughout the holiday season.

November 17 until March 6 | Varies

Ice skating begins on November 17th and continues through the winter season. Check campusmartiuspark.org for times

Click HERE for more information about Wonderfest!
Toby Barlow
The Huffington Post

 You may know this already, but the one thing I've learned since I moved here is that many, if not most, of the people who identify themselves as being from "Detroit" have really no idea what Detroit is like. That's because they really live in, say, Novi, Warren, even neighboring Redford, and haven't explored downtown in years. Holding onto mythologies perpetuated by a hysterical press over the past quarter century, they cling to the belief that there are no grocery stores in the city (we actually have 115) and still ask me where I get my dry cleaning done (for the last time, I get my dry cleaning done at the dry cleaners.) They've been to the Fox, to Comerica Park, and maybe waited in line at Slows, but they haven't been to MOCAD, Astro Coffee, D'Mongo's, Good Girls Go to Paris, Le Petit Zinc, Supino's Pizza or any of the other places that have popped up over the past half-decade.

People will say, "Oh it's not like it was," they'll say they can't bear what happened to Detroit, but they're simply blind to the possibilities of the present. Nostalgia for an old bygone Detroit is fine, but it's not relevant to what is happening on Michigan Avenue, on Woodward Avenue, and in Eastern Market right now. It's great that you still know the Faygo song, but do you know about the College of Creative Studies' massively incredible new Taubman Center? Who do you want to be? That guy hanging out at Starbucks sporting a Mark Fidrych t-shirt who has no idea where Cliff Bell's, Honest John's or the Russell Street Deli are (that last one's on Russell Street, by the way) or do you want to be really, actually, honestly, 100% from Detroit?

The lack of knowledge comes from a very specific history. The last two or three generations got out of Detroit during the enormous boom years, leaving the city limits for the American dream of a suburban house with two cars in the garage. In their wake, they saw Detroit go through an enormous upheaval of poverty, extreme racial division, and abandonment. The problems seemed too huge and too intractable so, out of frustration, they simply stopped looking. When they turned their back on the city, their children and their grandchildren did the same.

Click HERE to read the rest of this article!

Mentors Needed to Enlighten Detroit’s Future

Bob Hrtanek, mentor. mentee Josh Reece, 17, of De La Salle High School
Recently, the spirit of Detroit has been uplifted with dedicated, vibrant people who work hard on creating a positive change in the city. Young professionals, community builders, entrepreneurs, and artists alike are taking over Motown with their creativity and ambition. One organization, Student Mentor Partners, is searching for these great individuals to be a part of constructing and invigorating the future of the city: by mentoring Detroit’s youth.

They are looking for citizens that are passionate about Detroit, its youth, mentoring and/or education. Their ideal mentor is college educated, in the workforce or retired, and living in the Detroit area. Mentors commit to providing encouragement and guidance to a student for 4 hours a month through their 4 years of high school. Mentors attend free special events throughout the year with their student, such as Red Wings games, Detroit boat tours, Broadway shows, and more!  

For some mentors, like Bob Hrtanek, it is more than the games and shows, but being able to enlighten his student mentee to opportunities. He says, “New experiences, as well as our many one-on-one conversations, have helped him appreciate the need for a good education. I'm just happy I've been able to help give a young person a little bit of a better chance for success and happiness in life.”

At Student Mentor Partners, they serve Detroit area youth who struggle academically, and whose families struggle financially. They provide students with quality adult mentors, throughout their entire high school career. These mentors are a source of affirmative guidance for the youth. In addition, Student Mentor Partners provides tuition assistance for their students to attend private, college prep high schools. They also offer supplemental academic and life skills workshops. Students, who complete the intensive program, graduate high school. 99% of Student Mentor Partners’ graduates have also gone onto college!

This year they will enroll their largest class of new students into the program, so they are in great need of mentors to encourage them. With your help, these students will become strong young men and women. They will be critical in shaping Detroit’s future. Please consider helping to create the next breed of movers and shakers in Detroit. Even passing this mentor recruitment request onto others would be of great help.

For more information, please contact Tyler MacEachran, at tmaceachran@yahoo.com or call him at 586-445-6295. Also, please visit their website at http://www.studentmentorpartners.org.

Student Mentor Partners is a 501(c)3 non-profit that began in 1998. We invest in the future… one student at a time.

Craig McMorris, TV5 Anchor/Reporter
 WNEM

The Michigan Department of Transportation is looking for a consultant or consultant team to complete a high-speed rail plan from Detroit to Chicago.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) is aimed for the services of a qualified and experienced transportation (planning, environmental and engineering services) consultant or team to complete a Service Development Plan and a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Tier-1 Environmental Impact Statement for the corridor.

The FRA issued a Notice of Funding Availability on April 1, 2010, for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program in the Federal Register. In response, MDOT submitted an application, which was selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to receive funding to develop a Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan.

The 304-mile corridor between Chicago and Detroit/Pontiac is part of the Chicago Hub Network and is a federally designated High-Speed Rail Corridor. The existing corridor is also one of several major branches in the hub-and-spoke passenger rail system centered in Chicago, part of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative.

In Chicago, construction started last month on the Englewood Flyover, a $133 million project to eliminate one of the Midwest's worst rail bottlenecks and reduce delays for passenger service. The project, made possible by $126 million in federal funding and $6.6 million in matching state funds, also will make preparations for additional tracks for expanded 110 mph service from Chicago to Detroit, Cleveland and the East Coast.

The deadline for individual firms or teams to submit responses to the RFP is Dec. 12, 2011.

More information about this project is available on the MDOT Web site on the Requests for Proposals page under Transportation Planning.
A pianist tickles the ivories at Cafe D'Mongos, a speak-easy that has reopened… (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

LA Times
Andrew Bender, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Detroit—
"Where you headed?" asked the cheerful driver of the rental-car shuttle at the Detroit airport.

"Detroit!" I answered, equally cheerfully.

"Southfield, Birmingham or Rochester?" he asked, referring to well-to-do northern suburbs.

PHOTOS: Detroit's artistic side

"No, Detroit," I responded.

Silence, then a shrug as if to say, "Suit yourself."

Many Americans — even many Michiganders — see Detroit as a place to be feared: impoverished, decimated and down-and-out depressing. Sure enough, my drive into the city center took me past what a friend calls "desolation porn": eerie shells of onetime factories, warehouses, shops and office buildings, and block after block of overgrown lots that used to be comfortable working-class neighborhoods. During my visit, the local newspaper reported coyote sightings in the city.

Yet Detroit is evolving, not unlike late 1990s downtown Los Angeles. Cheap rents and an urban pioneering spirit are attracting young artists, and new restaurants, nightspots and even urban farms are serving this growing community and its hipster fans. It's still the early days, but change is palpable, even to the casual visitor.

"I tell my colleagues, 'Have your portfolio ready! There's a big spotlight on Detroit!' " said Gilda Snowden, an ebullient painter and professor of fine arts at the city's College for Creative Studies (one of the region's arts incubators, along with Wayne State University and the suburban Cranbrook Academy of Art). She pays $800 a month for a 2,500-square-foot studio with a kitchen and Jacuzzi.

There's plenty of inspiration in the designated Cultural Corridor, in the Midtown neighborhood just north of downtown Detroit. I stayed at the Inn on Ferry Street, a bed-and-breakfast in a cluster of Victorian homes off Woodward Avenue. It's just a couple of blocks to the Detroit Institute of Arts, by my reckoning America's most overlooked major museum: 658,000 square feet (more than 11/2 football fields) founded in 1885 and reopened in 2010 after a five-year renovation. I could have spent an hour ogling Mexican painterDiego Rivera's "Detroit Industry" frescoes (1932-33), but I was glad I made time for the collections of contemporary and African American art, and masterworks such as Pieter Brueghel's "The Wedding Dance" (circa 1566).

Within a few blocks' walk, the College for Creative Studies' student galleries exhibit skillful works of illustration, product and transportation design, photography and more. The campus sculpture park boasts pieces by Richard Serra,Alexander Calder and other 20th century luminaries. The nearby Scarab Club was founded in 1907, dedicated to artistic pursuits. Rivera, Marcel Duchamp and Norman Rockwellvisited its Renaissance Revival building (1928); on my visit, the exhibition "Family Ties" featured intergenerational works by Detroit artist families.

The problem for these artists, said Simone DeSouza, is that "Michigan artists don't sell to Michiganders." Local collectors might visit New York or Los Angeles to buy work made in Detroit. Aiming to change that, DeSouza opened Re:View Contemporary Gallery in 2008 in a loft-style building that could be at home on either coast.

Click HERE to read the rest of this article!

Corktown Gets Its Own Art-House Cinema!

Two years ago, four friends opened an independent art-house cinema in the Cass Corridor called the Burton Theatre on a shoestring budget and a hunch.

The Burton was the only art-house/indie/cult/weird offering the city of Detroit had seen in decades beside the venerable Detroit Film Theatre at the DIA. The effort was met with tremendous community support and a loyal patronage. Despite the group’s success, and perhaps because of a bit of naivety, the Burton was forced to suddenly close its doors due an irreconcilable dispute between landlord and tenant.

Despite this setback, the desire has remained to have the unique voice the Burton provided in metro Detroit’s cinematic landscape. After a summer of programming “in exile” at a variety of spaces from warehouses to art galleries to street corners, the folks from the Burton have found a tremendous partnership with New York developers Scott Griffin and Angel Gambino to reincarnate the Burton Theatre as the Corktown Cinema, in Detroit’s oldest neighborhood.The Corktown Cinema will be the cornerstone of Griffin and Gambino’s larger development of 2051 Rosa Parks Boulevard (just off Michigan Avenue), a 100,000 square foot former brass foundry that is quickly becoming the place of choice for Detroit's most innovative businesses and shops, as well as the Detroit bureaus of the Huffington Post and Curbed.

It is certainly true that the Burton could not have existed at all if it weren’t for our patrons’ tremendous support and faith in our mission. In the genesis of this, our reincarnation, the need for support from the Detroit community is greater than ever. In that spirit, the Corktown Cinema will be launching an online crowd-funding campaign November Ninth with Detroit Big F Deal (detroitbigfdeal.com) to help support the cost of transforming a raw industrial space into a classy cinema. Corktown Cinema is excited to be able to offer contributors a token of our thanks in the form of memberships to the theatre,exclusive merchandise, discounts to local independent businesses and invitations to private events. It remains our honest belief that Detroit deserves the variety of interesting and entertaining work we strive to show, and we can’t wait to be back!


On Thursday, December 1st the NOH8 Campaign will set up our mobile studio at The Filmore Theater in conjunction with World AIDS Day in Detroit.

World AIDS Day is held on December 1st each year, raising awareness for the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS and remembering those who have lost their lives to the virus. Since 1981 60 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and 25 million have died. In the past 30 years we’ve come a long way. We have treatments that keep people alive far longer that many thought possible. In spite of the progress that has spared so many lives, we still have a long way to go.

On December 1st the World will stand together, with one voice, to commemorate World AIDS Day. The theme this year until 2015 is “Getting to Zero.”

ZERO new infections
ZERO AIDS-related deaths
ZERO discrimination

The WORLD AIDS DAY DETROIT Open Photo Shoot on THURSDAY is scheduled to begin at 2:00PM and end at 6:00PM. This photo shoot will also be the very first time the NOH8 Campaign has traveled to Michigan!

You do not need to make reservations to participate in the photo shoot; it's first come, first served! Facebook RSVP's just help us get an idea of the anticipated turn-out. When you arrive, you will receive a numbered model release to fill out, followed by receiving your NOH8 tattoo. We will call numbers throughout the day, and your corresponding release number will signal your time to line up and have your photo taken.

The costs of posing for an official NOH8 portrait break down as follows:


SOLO PORTRAITS .......... $40.00

COUPLE & GROUP PORTRAITS ........... $25.00 per person

The NOH8 Campaign accepts cash, most major credit cards, and checks made out to 'NOH8Campaign'. Fee covers services & processing for one retouched digital print only, made available through www.NOH8Campaign.com.

The lines moves quickly, so don't let the RSVP's intimidate you! We always do our best to make sure that everyone in line by 6:00PM has a chance to pose for their photo - and up to this point, we haven't ever had to turn anyone away! Anyone that would like to join the NOH8 Campaign is asked to wear a plain white shirt to match the look of the signature NOH8 photos.

Celebrity Photographer & NOH8 Co-Founder Adam Bouska will be working around the clock to photograph 5-10 frames for each person that comes through. The final selection he chooses will be retouched and made available to you in about 8 weeks through the website:

www.NOH8Campaign.com

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?
ARRIVE BETWEEN 2:00PM AND 6:00PM

THE FILLMORE THEATER
2115 WOODWARD AVENUE
DETROIT, MI 48201


* COME CAMERA READY *
* WEAR WHITE *
* POSE & MAKE A STATEMENT! *

Once you arrive, the NOH8 Campaign will apply the NOH8 temporary tattoo to your face, and we will also supply you with the silver duct tape for the photo.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? E-mail info@noh8campaign.com with your contact information and make sure to note which shoot you'd like to volunteer for!

 Funds raised by the NOH8 Campaign will be used to continue promoting and raising awareness for marriage equality and anti-discrimination through NOH8’s interactive media campaign. This includes bringing the campaign to other cities around the country, as well as compiling the images for a large-scale media campaign. Under consideration is the expansion of our campaign to other media, including television and
radio broadcast, billboards, and magazines. Contributions are also used to cover the daily operations and maintenance necessary to run this rapidly growing campaign.

The NOH8 Campaign is an approved 501(c)(3), donations will be tax-deductible up to the amount allowable by law.

Modern Skate & Surf is holding a Snowboard Swap Sale at its Royal Oak, Mich location.  Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to get cash or in-store credit for used snowboards and equipment.  Join us at Modern Skate & Surf in Royal Oak on Nov. 11 - 13 for this great sale. 

Modern Skate & Surf is taking used snowboards, boots, bindings, wakeboards, skateboards, in-line skates and more for the Snowboard Swap Sale. When one of our used products sell, we will give 100 percent in-store credit or 75 percent cash to the original owner.  Check-in for the Snowboard Swap Sale begins at 11 a.m. on Thurs, Nov. 10 and ends at 2 p.m. on Sat, Nov. 12.  The Snowboard Swap Sale hours are 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Fri, Nov. 11; 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Sat, Nov. 12; Noon - 6 p.m. on Sun, Nov. 13. 

Modern Skate & Surf in Royal Oak offers only the best in skating, snowboarding and surfing. 

For more information, visit us at Modernskate.com or call us at (248) 546-7275.


Project for Public Spaces
Sarah Goodyear

On the streets of Central Detroit, a sense of place — and possibility — isn’t always easy to come by.
PPS knew that engaging the neighborhood in Placemaking would take more than just a workshop. So, with the support of the Kresge Foundation and working with the Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation (CDC), we decided to do a fun harvest festival that would demonstrate the neighborhood’s potential. It would also be a way to get more Placemaking ideas from people who would be unlikely to show up a community meeting.

And it worked. On October 29, PPS was thrilled to be part of a very successful harvest festival outside the wonderful neighborhood produce market Peaches & Greens, which is celebrating its third anniversary. Although flanked by vacant lots, Peaches & Greens proved to be the right spot for the festival — and the event showed how this could evolve into an even better place for the neighborhood to come together.

(Check out this great CBS News report about Peaches & Greens’ truck delivery service, which brings produce to the doorsteps of Detroiters who otherwise would have no access to fresh food.)

The rain held off and it turned out to be a great day, filled with games, horse-drawn hay rides, marshmallow roasting, and lots of Placemaking suggestions offered in PPS’s “Placemaking in Detroit” tent.

This is a neighborhood with a lot of basic needs. Many residents are out of work. Many don’t own cars, and the public transit system is utterly inadequate. Safety and security are a major concern — the city can’t even keep up with repairing broken streetlights. A lot of houses are abandoned and occupied by squatters.

The term “food desert” has become well known, but this part of Detroit might also be called a “place desert.” As the city’s population has shrunk, neighborhoods like Central Detroit have lost not just people and homes, but places to come together. Still, a lot of assets remain, including some beautiful housing stock and strong community organizations such as CDC. Importantly, the city has designated this as one of the communities where resources are going to be focused in the future.

Click HERE to read the rest of this article!


Julie Alvin
AUTOWEEK



Ned’s TravelBurger

Using a 1946 Spartan Travel Trailer, Ned’s TravelBurger serves up burgers and fries to metro Detroiters. Carl Patron and Scott Steigerwald bought the rig in 2010.

“This trailer is from Peru, Ind., and there is a fellow down there that renovates trailers and leases them out to people,” Patron says. “It’s a little different than an Airstream trailer in that it’s more aggressive looking and polishes up a bit shinier.”


To create more head space for the kitchen exhaust system, Patron raised the trailer by a foot. He added a foot-high tub onto the chassis, lifted the shell off of it and dropped the shell back down. He swapped in tandem axels to accommodate the weight of the kitchen equipment carried inside--a 36-inch griddle, a fryer that holds 45 pounds of oil, a sandwich cooler, storage for burgers, and big commercial fridges, sinks and freezers.

Stored in the fridge and freezer are organic, grass-fed meats from Fowlerville, Mich., fresh buns from Royal Oak’s Holiday Market and produce from local farmers markets. With these prime ingredients, Patron and Steigerwald create portable lunches for customers.

“The White Castle Slider and Lafayette Coney are Midwestern icons. After many travels over the years, our food tastes changed, but not our basic love for dogs and burgers,” Patron says. “Every aspect of our menu is designed with the memory of our foodie experiences. From late-night sliders to ahi-tuna picnics, this is the kind of food that brings back thoughts of travel.”

Whether via an Asian turkey burger with five spice and kimchi or a Baja burger with cilantro corn salsa, Ned’s trailer takes customer’s taste buds on a trip.


mlb.com

Justin Verlander kept repeating a phrase all year when reporters asked: If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't surprise you. The recognition of that greatness, though, might be a surprise for a few people.

As badly as Tigers right-hander might want MVP-type recognition, he couldn't be sure he was going to get it, a question more of precedence than performance. His first chance came from his peers, who decided he was the best player in baseball this year -- not just best pitcher, best player.

As a result, Verlander became the second pitcher to win MLB Player of the Year honors in the annual Players Choice Awards on Thursday. Whether it was a surprise for Verlander, it was clearly meaningful as he talked about it on a conference call with reporters.

Fred Thornhill/Reuters
"Coming from your peers makes it all the more special," said Verlander, who joined Boston's Pedro Martinez (1999) as the only hurlers to win the award. "I think with all the talk about should a pitcher be able to win MVP or a top player award, I think it shows a lot of support for my fellow players to be able to vote me for that. I think it means a lot. When it comes from your peers, the guys you're playing with, the guys you're playing against, it's special."

The Player of the Year Award covers both leagues, and dates back to 1998. Before then, the MLB Players Association had one award for each league's best pitcher, and one for each league's best position player, with no mixing.

Click HERE for the rest of this article!




Already reaching over 3 million subscriptions across its 18 US cities, London and best-of-the-web "Thrillist Nation" editions, leading men’s email lifestyle guide, Thrillist, will kick off its Detroit coverage on Thursday, December 1st.  Edited by local writer Phil Bator, this free weekly subscription email will arm Detroit’s work-hard-play-hard guys with targeted editorial recommendations that sift through the crap to find the best in food, drinks, services, gadgets, gear, sports and travel in their local market. Thrillist's commitment to cover all that’s new, unknown, or inexcusably under-appreciated has made it a must-read for any self-respecting male.

“Detroit is on the rise and we’re really excited that we can be there to publicize and support the chefs artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators who are betting on the city, just as we are,” say co-founders Ben Lerer and Adam Rich.


About Phil Bator: Thrillist Detroit's Phil Bator started giving back to his native city as a young child, when the family car was broken into during the Auto Show and their coats stolen by a brick-throwing kid with a good eye for great deals (four jackets!) and high fashion (aqua Starter jacket, youth size small). He went on to attend University of Detroit Jesuit High School, and majored in advertising at Michigan State University without any minors (in possession). Upon graduation, he moved to the suburb of Royal Oak and can often be found conducting "market research" for his role as editor of the popular website Texts From Last Night. His favorite day is Sunday, he bleeds coffee, and he doesn't ever want to hear you singing the Journey song that references growing up in nonexistent "south" Detroit.


On Saturday, October 29th 2011 The Burton Center for the Arts is pleased to announce that the Burton Theatre will be reopened under new management as the Cass City Cinema for a Halloween Movie Marathon!  The marathon will run from Saturday, October 29th until Monday, October 31st featuring 1950’s Japanese horror films, the cult classic midnight showing of The Night of the Living Dead, and Guy Maddin’s critically acclaimed take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Cass City Cinema is committed to featuring innovative independent films & much-loved classic films and developing a community-gathering space for all community members.  Owner of Burton Center for the Arts, Joel Landy, stated, “We are really excited to be reopening the theatre.  The schedule that we are lining up will have a dynamic broad based program to serve all moviegoers tastes and desires.”  

Cass City Cinema will be featuring several promotions throughout the course of the weekend, please check our Facebook Page for further information.  Moviegoers pay $5.00 for the all-day Halloween weekend movie marathon.  Children under 12 always pay $3.50.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29TH
2:00 p.m.    Spooks Run Wild (United States, 1941)
3:25 p.m.    Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (Japan, 1967)
5:15 p.m.    A Bucket of Blood (United States, 1959)
6:41 p.m.    Dementia 13 (United States, 1963)
8:15 p.m.    Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary (Canada, 2002)
10:00 p.m.    Lady Frankenstein (Italian, 1971)
11:30 p.m.    Night of the Living Dead (United States, 1968)


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30TH
2:00 p.m.    Ghosts on the Loose (United States, 1943)
3:25 p.m.    Gamera vs Zigra (Japan, 1971)
5:15 p.m.    The Terror (United States, 1963)
7:00 p.m.    The Ape Man (United States, 1943)
8:20 p.m.    Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary (Canada, 2002)
10:00 p.m.    Silent Night, Bloody Night (1973)


MONDAY, OCTOBER 31ST
6:00 p.m.    I Bury the Living (United States, 1958)
7:45 p.m.    Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary (Canada, 2002)
9:20 p.m.     Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride (United Kingdom, 1973)


Cass City Cinema is located at the Burton Theater at 3420 Cass, Detroit, Michigan 48201. 
Visit our website at www.casscitycinema.com
top