Detroit’s Fix-It Men: In Their Own Words
Joanne Muller
Forbes

When we made the unorthodox decision to feature Detroit on the cover of Forbes’ list of the Best Places for Business, we knew there’d be some snickering and catcalls. This is a city, after all, that’s been beaten down for so long we’ve come to expect the insults.

But anybody who takes a moment to stop spewing outdated cliches about the city would see that Detroit right now really is a land of opportunity. The barriers to entry for business are fairly low, and getting lower. Real estate is cheap, there’s an abundance of skilled workers seeking jobs, and the business tax structure has improved dramatically under new Gov. Rick Snyder.

Tim Bryan, chief executive of GalaxE Solutions, a New Jersey health care software company that’s opening a 500-person outpost here, told me he thinks Detroit is “the most affordable city in America.” Dan Gilbert, chairman of online mortgage company Quicken Loans, is so bullish on the city he not only moved his company’s headquarters downtown from the suburbs, he’s buying up downtown office buildings left and right and filling them with new tenants with the aim of creating a digital hub in downtown Detroit. “There’s the smell of something special happening,” Gilbert told me. “Detroit’s going to be a big story here in the next several years for America, and I think (businesses should) want to be part of it.”

Boosterism aside, Detroit is still facing some really serious problems: failing schools, high unemployment, urban blight. And Mayor Dave Bing has his hands full trying to revitalize the city while saddled with a $185 million budget deficit and a shriveling tax base resulting from the exodus of 25% of the city’s population over the past decade.

Click HERE for the rest of the article and to watch videos with Bill Ford, Jr., Mayor Bing, Roy Roberts, and more!
Detroit-based Franco Public Relations Group (Franco)  received a Detroit Renaissance Award of Honor from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for its social media efforts on behalf of Panera Bread’s Day-End “Doughnation” program.

Franco’s Jim Miller, account manager, and Joe Ferlito, account executive, created a video about the Panera program to share with the WXYZ-TV #backchannel hashtag on Twitter.  Franco tweeted Stephen Clark, WXYZ anchor and #backchannel producer, and worked with him to reproduce the video for a WXYZ news segment that aired during the “Detroit 20/20” program.

"I get pitched a lot of stories and a huge percentage of them go unnoticed," said Clark. "But when Joe of Franco PR hit me up on twitter with the idea for a story on Panera Bread donating the daily leftovers to the homeless and hungry I was all over it.”

The Day-End Doughnation program donates unsold bakery products to local food banks and charities at the end of each day. Annually, Panera Bread bakery-cafes collectively donate a retail value of more than $50 million worth of bread and baked goods.

“Panera is very passionate about the Day-End Doughnation program; it is a core ingredient of what makes Panera a neighborhood bakery-cafe. We believe in giving back to the community and do this every evening by donating our leftover baked goods to non-profit organizations,” said Kirsten Collins, marketing manager for Panera Bread. “Franco was able to capture our passion and deliver information about our program in their backchannel pitch through video and interviews conducted with our Panera team members.”

 Established in 1964 in Detroit, Franco is Michigan’s oldest independent public relations firm. Its services include traditional and social media relations, crisis management, community relations, event planning and branding. Franco represents clients in manufacturing, retail, technology, nonprofit, professional services, entertainment and health care.

For more information, visit www.franco.com.

Pick Mi Date Will Get your Motor Running By Sea With the Detroit APBAGold Cup Races and by land with Andiamo Restaurant!!!


Pick Mi Date is Sending Two Lucky Winners to Detroit APBA Gold Cup Hydroplane Races on the Detroit River Saturday, July 9th!!!
Details:
  • Winners Receive Two VIP Tickets to APBA Club Gold Cup!
  • BBQ Catered Gold Cup Lunch and Open Bar!
  • Parking Passes!
  • Cold Pit Passes (see all the action happen)!
  • Air Conditioned Seating!


You Must Sign Up As a Dater By Sunday, July 3rd 2011!
 Voting Begins at 9am Monday, July 4th!
 
Directions To Register:
1. Go to http://pickmidate.com
2. Click on the “Register To Date” Button
3. Fill Out The Most Hilarious Dating Form Online
4. Click “Submit”
Photo: John Manno
Vogue Magazine

You can take it with you. . . .

What: The Perfect Picnic, a brand-new boutique company delivers locally sourced picnics anywhere in the city, whether you’re planning a night at the Met Opera in the Park, spending the day on Governors Island (they will meet you at the ferry), or simply dining al fresco on your roof deck. They can also provide a perfect platter of artisanal cheeses and cured meats for a pre-dinner party hors d’oeuvre, or put together a delightful Hamptons hostess-gift basket.
  • Where: 9 Clinton Street, Lower East Side
  • When: Available now
  • Details: Gift baskets from $50, 212.228.2884; perfectpicnicnyc.com



For the full list, click HERE!

City Dubs June 23 Buddy’s Pizza Day in Detroit!

A Detroit original celebrates 65 years with Motor City Pizza Collection, customer appreciation deals and Kid Rock specialty pizza.

Buddy’s Pizza has long been a Detroit original. After 65 years in business, the restaurant that created the first square deep dish has a day to call it’s own.

June 23 is Buddy’s Pizza Day in Detroit. Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh made it official by presenting a resolution to Robert Jacobs, owner of Buddy’s Pizza, at the restaurant’s original location.

“Today is a celebration of our history, our city and our longstanding support of Detroit’s arts and culture,” said Jacobs. “We’re so proud to call this Buddy’s Pizza Day in Detroit.”

The mayor’s office issued a proclamation supporting the day, signed by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. Then, Buddy’s Pizza presented some news of their own. Jacobs unveiled the Motor City Pizza Collection, four new pizzas on the Buddy’s menu which are each associated with and benefiting a non-profit cultural institution in the metro Detroit area.

Each pizza features the original Buddy’s crust and a Motor City Cheese Blend of Fontinella, Asiago and brick cheeses. They include:

·         The Detroit Institute of Arts – Topped with spinach and artichoke blend, capers, roasted tomatoes, parmesan and served with a fresh lemon wedge.

·         The Henry Ford – Topped with red onion, seasoned ground beef, smoked bacon, bleu cheese, tomato basil sauce and parmesan.

·         The Parade Company – Topped with fresh carrots, sliced grape tomatoes, tomato basil sauce and parmesan

·         The Detroit Zoo – Topped with fresh basil, pine nuts and tomato basil sauce.

When customers purchase any of these pizzas from the menu, Buddy’s will donate $1 will to the non-profit institution throughout 2011. To show their collective support of the Motor City Pizza Collection, Director Ron Kagan of the Detroit Zoo; Annmarie Erickson, executive vice president of planning and administration at the DIA; Christian Overland, executive vice president of The Henry Ford and President and CEO Tony Michaels of Parade Company, which produces America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade were on hand June 23 to celebrate Buddy’s Pizza Day in Detroit.

“We recognize that there is a strong and growing need for support of the arts in our community,” said Jacobs. “This was just another way for us to collaborate with and reach out to organizations we believe in, and partner with already. We hope in some small way it helps to raise awareness of the fine art and cultural offerings we have here, and inspires our customers to protect them.”

Buddy’s Pizza is always willing to experiment with new recipes. That was the case when the original 6 Mile location began selling Kid Rock’s American Badass beer. Not only will you find the lager behind the bar, you can taste it incorporated into the famous crust of Buddy’s own Kid Rock’s Badass Detroiter pizza. A true celebration of Detroit in time for the restaurant’s 65th anniversary, the rocker was kind enough to lend his name and beer to the new menu offering.

“It doesn’t get much more Detroit than Kid Rock, and that was the pure inspiration behind the Kid Rock’s Badass Detroiter pizza,” said Jacobs. “We’re so pleased to know he’s a fan of Buddy’s and we’re so proud of his success. We certainly share an immense amount of Detroit pride.”

Buddy’s Pizza intends to share that pride with their customers throughout this, its 65th anniversary year. The restaurant is offering customer cards with monthly deals. Once a month through December 15 cardholders can purchase an 8-square cheese pizza for $6.50 and add extra toppings for 65 cents each.

Charge Those Phones, Cameras, Laptops and iPads! 


This year’s theme is Detroit Rock City!

We’ll celebrate all things Social Media while focusing on everything great about the Motor City.  There’ll be special guest DJ’s funky-ing up the joint, a tweeting Ford Fiesta (featuring the new Livio Car Internet Radio app), oh and the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers Social Media crews will be stopping by along with Special Celebrity Skype-Ins!

Only 1,000 tickets are available! Last year’s event sold out early and this year’s is on its way!
Details:
  • Each Winner Receives Their Very Own Hotel Room At the MotorCity Casino Hotel!
You Must Sign Up As a Dater By Sunday,  June 26th 2011!

Voting Begins at 9am Monday, June 27th!

Directions To Register:

1. Go to http://pickmidate.com
2. Click on the “Register To Date” Button
3. Fill Out The Most Hilarious Dating Form Online
4. Click “Submit”

Presented by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, the 5th Annual River Days is a one-of-a-kind festival taking place along the Detroit Riverfront – from the new Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority Terminal Dock, just west of the GM Renaissance Center, to Rivard Plaza and the William G. Milliken State Park. The festival takes place Thursday, June 23- Sunday, June 26, 2011. River Days is a celebration of Detroit’s RiverWalk with activities on land and water. Experience all the RiverWalk has to offer, from the tall ships, jet-ski demos and riverboat tours to live music, sand sculptures, bike tours, kids activities, delicious eats and much more!

Admission to River Days is $3 to support the non-profit Conservancy, but everyone has an opportunity to take advantage of the Ambassador Bridge Company's Free Friday promotion. Admission to the festival is also free on Thursday. Click HERE to learn more.

Event Map Available for Download HERE


The Atlantic
By Kaid Benfield

We're often told that Detroit has been abandoned—but the metro area is stable, and addressing sprawl is still a challenge.

At the bottom of this post are two short videos about Detroit, both featuring architect and planner Mark Nickita, principal of the city's Archive Design Studio and a lifelong Detroit resident. In a very refreshing change from the mind-numbing negativity one usually hears about the city, Nickita is upbeat and hopeful. His point of view, emphasizing revitalization, is much closer to my own than much of what I read, which effectively takes the approach that the city has somehow been abandoned beyond redemption, leaving the only question how to manage its more-or-less permanent shrinkage.

But it's not that simple.

There has indeed been a decline in part of the region. In 1970, 1,670,144 people lived within the city limits of Detroit. By 2010, that number had declined to 713,777, an astounding apparent loss of some 57 percent of the 1970 population. Recently, much has been made the 25 percent population decline over the last decade, from 2000 (951,270) to 2010.

But the extent to which Detroit is such a tragically "shrinking city" depends on your definition of "city." The population of metropolitan Detroit—the jurisdictional inner city and its immediate suburbs—did decline from 1970 to 2010, but only from 4,490,902 to 4,296,250, a loss of only 4 percent. Big difference.



Do the math: What that means is that, while the inner city's population was declining so drastically, its suburbs added some 761,000 people, growing at the handsome rate of 27 percent. (In the most recent decade of 2000-2010, the suburbs added some 91,000 people, or between 2 and 3 percent.) Patrick Cooper-McCann writes on his blog Rethink Detroit that, far from shrinking, the physical size of metro Detroit grew by 50 percent in those 40 years. As I've written before, neither the economy nor the environment pay attention to jurisdictional lines; neither should analysts.

Click HERE to read the rest of this article!

Detroit Coney Dogs, Faygo, and Strohs Invade LA

Los AngelesTimes

In search of a Coney Island hot dog taste-a-like on the West Coast, continuous disappointment drove a group of hungry, Coney dog fiend-ing ex-Detroiters to bring their treasured, childhood staple to L.A. (In case you haven't figured it out, Coney Dogs are a beloved mainstay in Michigan and especially the Detroit area.)

Coney Dog opens today on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood and we'll be frank: these people are serious about their chili dogs. Steamed buns, anyone? Customers will be relieved to know that what makes up these dogs is no mystery. 80% pure ground beef and 20% pork, the Coney dogs contain no added fats, parts, fillers or thickeners. The chili is custom made and shipped from Detroit unless you prefer vegetarian which is homemade daily.

8873 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-854-1172, coneydogla.com
New York Post
By Nicole Rupersburg

In most cities, the opening of a youth hostel might not be all that big a deal. But Detroit isn't most cities, and in an era when most of the news is bad, new things, positive things — well, the locals pay attention.

A lot of it was about being in the right place at the right time. Hostel Detroit (it sounds like the title of an upcoming Eli Roth movie, but it's really not) made its debut this spring in Corktown, Detroit's oldest neighborhood. Once a bastion of traditional Irish-American culture, Corktown has become a place to see Detroit at its coolest.

In this historic section of the city, settled nearly 200 years ago, you can see a Detroit that is on the verge not just of renewal, but also in the process of forging a whole new identity. In a town that most people identify with the old lunchpail, punch in, punch out mentality, an explosion of DIY is leading Corktown (and the city at large) into the future.

Here, you can now see artists working to re-appropriate forgotten spaces as public art. You have urban farmers making productive use of vacant land, taking the idea of eating local to the extreme. You have the city's most talked-about restaurant (an excellent barbecue joint), a record store, a Martiniquais (by way of Paris, Brazil and Brooklyn) making crepes, a cool little vintage boutique, two brothers selling freshly-made bagels out of their apartment, a sustainable food truck and, soon, a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge and a third-wave coffee bar.

And then there’s the occasional energetic redhead, brimming with enthusiasm, who decides to open a youth hostel.

“I was hosting a lot of couch surfers,” says Emily Doerr, a neighborhood resident who dreamed up the hostel idea and made it a reality. “I had 100 strangers coming in and out and thought, you know what?”

Doerr found a building, on a desolate (or quiet, depending whom you ask) block of North Corktown. She worked with business advocates, city inspectors and hordes of tireless volunteers (who are all honored on a plaque at the hostel’s entrance) to formed the nonprofit’s board of directors. It opened its doors within six months.

“There’s a lot of for-profit hostels but I didn’t want to be for-profit,” she explains. “I wanted it to serve the community and be of the community, that way everybody knows I’m not making a dime off this. This is very much a thing we’re doing to help Detroit and show people what there is here.”

They provide affordable private-room and dorm-style lodging with easy access to public buses. They will also offer ambassador programs for out-of-town guests.

Kristyn Koth of the Pink FlaminGO is no stranger to the do-it-yourself concept either. Last summer when the US Social Forum had its summit in Detroit, hundreds of hungry campers were sleeping outside in vacant lots by her home. She already had the retro shiny silver Airstream, so she started serving food and never stopped.

Click HERE for the full article!
American Institute of Architects

Symposiums and Exhibits To Highlight Themes of Transportation, Urban Centers and Urban Agriculture

The American Institute of Architects Detroit’s Urban Priorities Committee (AIA-UPC) announced that it is hosting a series of exhibits and discussions focusing on transportation, urban centers and urban agriculture at the Detroit Public Library.

Called “Detroit By Design” and sponsored by the AIA National office in Washington, D.C., this three-month event seeks to assist the city with its efforts to reorganize by helping with the Detroit Works Project (DWP) while bringing together architects, community and business leaders, public officials, allied professionals and other key stakeholders in the region.

In each of the three symposiums in April (Transportation), May (Urban Centers) and June (Urban Agriculture), participants will discuss the specific theme as it relates to the Detroit’s current status, its historic efforts, and the Detroit Works Project. Through this collaborative public event, the UPC, a group of volunteer architects, seeks to bring design awareness to the communities and promote sustainable communities in the city and region through collaboration.

All exhibits and symposiums are free and open to public (except architects’ seeking continuing education credits). For more information, please contact the AIA UPC at UPC@aiadetroit.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or go to AIA Detroit. You also can catch up with the latest activities at the UPC blog or on facebook.

Urban Agriculture + Landscape Symposium and Exhibit

Exhibit: Adam Strohm Hall

Symposium: Wednesday, June 22nd


1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Community Workshop (Explorer’s Conference Room) Speakers will discuss the role of urban agriculture and landscape in the design and planning of sustainable communities and regions. Participants will bring a larger view of urban landscape that includes urban agriculture to the discussion. We seek to broaden the discussion of urban agriculture to include productive landscapes of various types that may provide alternative ways to address Detroit’s vacant land. Participants will discuss the projects in the Urban Agriculture exhibit, as they pertain to Detroit. The attendees will discuss key lessons, and explore how they can be beneficial to the City and the Detroit Works Project (DWP). The workshop will be moderated by the Urban Priorities Committee (UPC) members and Marja Winters.

Moderator: Marja Winters: Co-Project Director, Detroit Works Project / Deputy Director, Planning & Development Department,

Participants:
Andre L. Brumfield, Principal, Director of Urban Design + Planning, AECOM, Chicago
Dr. MaryCarol Hunter, Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan
Jeff Klein, Classic Landscape, LTD., Detroit
Edwin Marty, Executive Director of the Hampstead Institute, Birmingham, Alabama
Chris Reed, Principal, Stoss Landscape Urbanism, Adjunct Assoc. Professor of Landscape Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Stephen Vogel, FAIA, Professor, School of Architecture, University of Detroit Mercy
John Wisniewski, Penrose Gardens, Detroit
Gary Wozniak, Chief Development Officer, SHAR Foundation, Inc./RecoveryPark

5:00 PM - 5:50 PM Keynote Address (Friends Auditorium)

Edwin Marty, Executive Director of the Hampstead Institute, Birmingham, Alabama

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Panel Discussion (Friends Auditorium)

Panelists will have a discussion on the outcomes of the community workshop and the keynote presentation, explore how the City and the DWP can benefit from the ideas and proposals generated from the afternoon sessions, make recommendations for Detroit, and wrap up the Urban Agriculture + Landscape symposium.

Moderator: Marja Winters: Co-Project Director, Detroit Works Project / Deputy Director, Planning & Development Department,

Panelists:
Andre L. Brumfield, Principal, Director of Urban Design + Planning, AECOM, Chicago
Dr. MaryCarol Hunter, Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan
Jeff Klein, Classic Landscape, Ltd.
Edwin Marty, Executive Director of the Hampstead Institute, Birmingham, Alabama
Chris Reed, Principal, Stoss Landscape Urbanism, Adjunct Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Stephen Vogel, FAIA, Professor, School of Architecture, University of Detroit Mercy
John Wisniewski, Penrose Gardens, Detroit
Gary Wozniak, Chief Development Officer, SHAR Foundation, Inc.

The event is free and open to the public. For architects that wish to receive AIA Continuing Education credits there is a $25 fee and a total of 5 HSW Credits available for the day. (3 credits for Community Workshop, 1 credit each for Keynote Address and Panel Discussion)

All events will take place at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library, 5201 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202

For more information, please visit our website at www.aiadetroit.com or send email to UPC@aiadetroit.com
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


Children from all over Metro Detroit will have lemonade stands for Lemonade Day Detroit June 12, a free, community-wide program dedicated to teaching children how to start, own and operate their own business through the simple and time-honored act of building and running a lemonade stand.

Through the program, the youth of Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties will learn real life skills that teach them experiential learning by starting, owning and operating their own business, which gives them the opportunity to “spend a little, save a little and share a little,” donating a portion of their profits to a local charity of choice. After covering their expenses and paying back their investors, children are encouraged to open a youth savings account.

Below is a list of local stands . All times are for Sunday, June 12.



Clawson

AwesomeAde Depot


10 a.m.-5 p.m.
1161 Shenandoah Drive (Maple and Crooks)

Proprietors: Christopher (4) and Madison (13)                       

Detroit
Jayla’s Stand

12 p.m.
16883 Wyoming

Proprietor: Jayla (5)

Compuware Building (Seven stands, including Lemonade for Literacy)

11 a.m.-2 p.m.
1 Campus Martius

Proprietors: Communities in Schools (ages 7-17)

Royal Oak

Oliver and Sammy’s Stand

12 p.m.-4:30 p.m
426 E. Sixth St. (corner of Sixth and Knowles)

Art Van – individual stand

2-5 p.m.
32301 North Woodward

Proprietor: Vivian Sapienza (7)

Vivian is doing an interpretation of fortune cookies: Each person who purchases lemonade will have a fortune on their cup!

Shelby Township

Citrus Shark Lemonade Tank

Proprietors: Zach (12), Carson (9) & Caden (5)

12 p.m.-4 p.m.
55178 Van Dyke Avenue

Southfield

The Grantling Family

25230 Grand Concourse

Waterford

Art Van – individual stand

11a.m.-6 p.m.
5053 Dixie Highway

Proprietor: Tyrea Tillman (16)

Tyrea has a Hawaiian theme

Wyandotte
 
Shoppers Valley Market



Biddle and St. Johns
Proprietors: Two business-savvy 9 year olds


World renowned skateboarder, Tony Alva will make an appearance at Modern Skate Park in Royal Oak on Sunday, June 12 at 4 p.m. The Vans sponsored tour also features Bill Danforth. This free event will feature live local bands, barbecue and other special surprises. There is a $10 and a canned good donation for admission for those who want to skate at the park with Alva. Gleaners Food Bank will be taking donations of canned goods.


Alva, 53, is the world’s first professional skateboarding champion. He won the title in 1977. Alva is also the first professional skateboarder to successfully market himself as a brand name. He owns and operates Alva Skateboard Company in Oceanside, Calif. Alva was featured in the award-winning documentary, “Dogtown and the Z-Boys.” He also served as a consultant and stunt coordinator for the movie, “Lords of Dogtown” which is based on his life. Alva is considered to be the originator of vertical skateboarding. He continues to develop new technology to advance the sport he loves.

 Danforth, 41, is a Detroit native. He started skating in 1976. Alva was one of his idols when he was growing up. Danforth became a member of the infamous “Alva Posse” in the late 1980s. His first skate deck was released in 1986. Younger skaters look up to Danforth and call him “Old Man Danforth.”

 Modern Skate & Surf started with one shop in Royal Oak in 1979. The company now operates three locations, Royal Oak, Grand Rapids and Lansing. Modern Skate & Surf also has skate parks in Royal Oak and Grand Rapids. The Royal Oak skate park is 80,000 square feet and is the sixth largest skate park in the U.S. It’s so big that it’s both in Royal Oak and Madison Heights. It was designed and built by world class X-Games ramp builders, Team Pain, in 2008. The skate park features a $70,000 wood bowl.

 Click HERE for more information about the Modern Skate Park event featuring Tony Alva and Bill Danforth.
The Detroit Foundation, a new non-profit organization aiming to restore the creative spirit and passion for the city with fellow Michiganders and pro-Detroiters, launches its inaugural granting campaign, “Fuel Detroit” today. The month-long campaign calls on Metro Detroiters to submit grant proposals via its website for projects which benefit the city and help grow the local creative economy.

“I grew up around Detroit and was proud to call it home," said Adarsh Pandit, the foundation's chair. "It has been upsetting to see what has happened to such a great city over the last few years, as political scandals and the suffering economy have worn it down. I wanted to do something that could really make a difference, and I know there are other passionate people out there, like me, who want to contribute to the city's social and economic success. Harnessing that desire and power could be a gamechanger
for the city I love."

The Detroit Foundation was founded in 2010 along with Ranvir Gujral and Zaahir Syed, all of whom grew up in Michigan. The foundation now has a following of 350 members to date and growing quickly, driven by the
Detroit natives throughout the nation interested in helping the city. The foundation aims to bring together the pro-Detroit community to support inspiring projects through grants and pro-bono professional services in
order to help the city recover from recent downturns in the manufacturing and housing markets.

“In the past year or two, we have seen passionate and creative entrepreneurs flood into the city, driven by cheap housing and operating costs, but also to be part of a vibrant and growing community of creative people living in the next big cool city,” said co-founder Ranvir Gujral. “The Detroit Foundation is designed to help those people do great things.”

“Our goal is to do something awesome for Detroit, regardless of what shape it takes, and build a like-minded community to get together and do more great things,” said co-founder Zaahir Syed. “It could be a new company, non-profit, mentoring service, web training center, startup conference, comic book company, start-up incubator, ice cream truck, mural, squash tournament, web app, short film, t-shirt, or playground. As
long as itʼs inspiring and does something positive for Detroit and itʼs creative economy.”

Pledged donations of professional services, especially legal and accounting work, is welcome from interested volunteers. Also donations of any amount are welcome via Paypal at give@detroitfoundation.org, with voting memberships start at $99. For more information on The Detroit Foundation, visit www.detroitfoundation.org or on Facebook (facebook.com/detroitfoundation) and Twitter (twitter.com/dfoundation).
National Trust for Historic Preservation

For decades Fireman's Fund and National Trust Insurance Services, as part of the National Trust, have insured historic properties from the Newport Mansions to the restored Victorian in your town. Together we are sponsoring the This Place Matters campaign to highlight the important role that historic buildings and properties play in preserving our national heritage as well as in preserving our environment.

There is no better way to protect places that matter than with proper insurance coverage.

Hurry!  Voting Ends June 30th! 

Click HERE to Vote for the Detroit Waldorf School (blue button in the upper right hand corner)!

The Detroit Waldorf School

The Detroit Waldorf School is a place that matters because we are committed to using our historic building as a gathering place to bring people of all different backgrounds and ages together to learn, play, and revitalize our community.
The main entrance to the Detroit Waldorf School, located in the section of the building that dates to 1923.

We embrace an educational methodology that draws tremendously from the natural world and an appreciation of beautiful surroundings, making this inviting structure the perfect "home" for our school.  Visitors frequently comment on the warmth and love one feels upon entering the building. This is due "in great part" to Kahn's efforts to design a school suited to the smaller scale of young children and a design aesthetic that evokes the warmth of a residence.  There is important synergy between the inviting nature of the building and Detroit Waldorf School's intent to be accessible to as many people, from as many diverse walks of life, as possible. Interestingly, our building and the Waldorf educational system were being designed at roughly the same time. While not intentionally built to house a Waldorf school, the building nevertheless is suited perfectly for use as a Waldorf school.

The Detroit Waldorf School is one of only two schools among the mostly residential properties that comprise the Indian Village Historic District. During the early 20th century, it was accessible to families who were building magnificent homes in the area.  Throughout more difficult decades in Detroit's history the school has been a literal "anchor" for the Indian Village community, ensuring that the neighborhood has continued to be a desirable place to live for more than 350 households.

While building was originally designed to serve the children of some of Detroit's wealthiest families, today the school seeks to serve the broadest possible audiences.  Sixty percent of our students receive tuition aid and our school's families include people of all colors and religious backgrounds from both urban and suburban neighborhoods.

Through a full range of public programs, our school is increasingly relevant in the context of revitalization efforts in Detroit's East Village neighborhoods.  We are an active partner in broader community efforts using even our own school fundraising events to draw attention to and benefit other local nonprofits that serve the hungry and homeless in our area.   And, an annual roster of outreach programs reaches over 700 adult and youth participants from around metropolitan Detroit with film screenings, lectures, hands-on workshops, parent-child classes, community service activities, and other offerings that support lifelong learning and a sense of community.

The Detroit Waldorf School is a place that matters because it connects our school and neighborhood to local history and generates optimism for the future among the broader Detroit community.

Click HERE to Vote for the Detroit Waldorf School (blue button in the upper right hand corner)!

Cure Your Single (Ale)ment With Junetoberfest

BURGERS, WINGS, AND BEER. OH MY!
Pick Mi Date Is Sending Two Lucky Winners To BRU 2011
Details:
  • Winners Receive Two Tickets to BRU 2011 on Saturday, June 18th 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm at The Royal Oak Farmer’s Market Saturday, June 18th 2011!
  • Ticket includes 10 tokens for 10 (5 oz.) beers, Bagger Dave’s Burgers, Wings From Buffalo Wild Wings, and Desserts from Treat Dreams!
Featuring 13 Premium Craft Beers from Bell’s Brewery
Bell’s Amber Ale • Third Coast Beer • Bell’s Pale Ale • Two Hearted Ale • Bell’s Porter • Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout • Bell’s Lager Beer • Bell’s Oberon Ale • Bell’s Batch 9000 • Bell’s Batch 10000 • Bell’s Cherry Stout • Bell’s Consecrator Doppelbock

You Must Sign Up As a Dater By 5 p.m EST Sunday, June 12 2011!

Voting Begins at 9am Monday, June 13th!

Directions To Register:

1. Go to PickMiDate.com
2. Click on the “Register To Date” Button
3. Fill Out The Most Hilarious Dating Form Online
4. Click “Submit”


Yelp is hosting a great party to connect community-minded locals with Detroit Area non-profit organizations. Sixteen local charities will be featured at the Yelp Helps! event taking place Wednesday June 15th, 2011 from 7-9pm at Café Cortina in Farmington Hills:

It’s free to attend (with an RSVP) and guests will have a chance to learn more about each non-profit, along with how to volunteer or offer support. And in true Yelp fashion, there will be wine and appetizers for all guests as well as a drawing for special prizes from the likes of The Cupcake Station, Detroit International Jazz Festival, Sweet Lorraine's, Zingerman's and many other wonderful local businesses (full list below).

What: Mingle with amazing Detroit charities who need help from local volunteers and supporters while enjoying complementary wine and appetizers (21+ only).

Wednesday, June 15th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

 Café Cortina

30715 W 10 Mile Rd

Farmington Hills, MI 48332


Charitable Detroit area yelpers looking to find a good fit for their good will and 16 (and counting!) SW Michigan non-profits (full list below).

RSVP: http://www.yelp.com/events/farmington-hills-yelp-helps

List of participating non-profits, to-date:
826 Michigan
ACCESS
Access Arts Detroit
Alternatives for Girls
Boys Hope Girls Hope
Community Records
Friends of the Dearborn Animal Shelter
Gleaners Community Food Bank 
Kronk Gym Foundation
Orchards Children's Services
Real Church
Slow Food Detroit
The Adrian Tonon Project
The Peace Project
The Yuinon
Vista Maria


Prize Drawing Sponsors:
Arab American National Museum
Brufest
City Bird
The Crofoot
The Cupcake Station
Detroit International Jazz Festival
Orbit Hair Design & Massage
The Redford Theatre
Sweet Lorraine's
Taste Love Cupcakes
Vault of Midnight
Zingerman's
Exceprt from "10 Cutest Cars in America"
Fortune

You know them: They're the cars you want to drive and hug at the same time. Here's our list of vehicles that make you go, 'Awww.'


Hall of Fame: Chrysler PT Cruiser

Launched on an unsuspecting public in 1999, the PT Cruiser was immediately dubbed "the car too cool to categorize." Depending on whom you talked to, its utterly original design was inspired by either a Chrysler Airflow, a getaway car for 1930s movie gangsters, or a Model A hot rod. Based on a Neon platform, the five-door Cruiser was both eminently practical and very profitable. As late as its fifth year on the market, Chrysler still sold 130,000 of them. The design would prove so iconic that Chrysler was unable to successfully update it, and production was ended in 2010.

 

Fiat 500

The current contender for the title of cutest car on the market, the 500 scores a rare triple in cuteness: It's small, curvy and friendly-faced. The 500 is even cuter if you use its Italian nickname "Cinquecento." A modern interpretation of Italy's beloved Topolino built between 1957 and 1975, it was reintroduced in its home market in 2007 and became a cult hit. Every Italian looks stylish in a 500. If Americans find it drives half as well as it looks, Fiat will have a winner. Still to be determined is whether the 500 will look as cute in Rochester as it does in Rome.

For the full list of cars, click HERE!

 MLS

As expected, the US national team’s hopes of returning to the Confederations Cup run right through their neighbors – but a little earlier than expected, and with a twist.

Tuesday’s announcement of the draw for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup sees the US kick off their campaign to recapture the regional championship against their neighbors to the north – vs. Canada on June 7 at Detroit’s Ford Field, a stone’s throw from the Canadian Border.

Canada will get a chance to avenge their controversial last meeting with the US in the semis of the 2007 Gold Cup, in which the Canucks saw a late equalizer by Atiba Hutchinson waved offside. Bob Bradley's squad barely held on for a 2-1 victory and went on to hoist their fourth CONCACAF title. The US hold a 12-8-9 all-time record against Canada.

Joining the US and Canada in Group C of the Gold Cup are Panama and Guadeloupe. The US will face Panama on June 11 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium and will conclude group-stage play on June 14 against Guadeloupe at Sporting Kansas City’s new stadium, LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

Defending Gold Cup champions Mexico, meanwhile, were drawn into a rough Group A alongside Costa Rica, El Salvador and Cuba. El Tri open group play against the Salvadorans on the first day of the tournament, June 5 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Mexico will then face Cuba on June 9 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., and wrap up group play three days later against Costa Rica at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Honduras headline Group B, which also features Guatemala, Jamaica and Grenada. The 2010 World Cup participants will open group play against the Guatemalans on June 6 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

This summer’s Gold Cup will be played in 13 venues across the US, including four MLS stadiums. The quarterfinals will be held at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., and Washington’s RFK Stadium on June 18 and 19. The semis will be in Houston’s Reliant Stadium on June 22 before the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on June 25.

“We are extremely excited for this year's Gold Cup and are completely confident that it will be the best ever,” CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer said in a statement. "We are bringing our fans the region's best football in fantastic venues – with a lot on the line. It is truly a can't-miss event."

Eight-time winners Mexico won the last edition of the Gold Cup in 2009 with a 5-0 victory over the US in the final. Mexico and the US have met four times in the final, with the Mexicans holding a 3-1 edge.

The winner of this summer’s edition books a spot in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil. Thanks to their ’07 title, the US were CONCACAF’s representative at the last Confederations Cup in South Africa in 2009, when they went on a spirited run to the final, where they fell to Brazil.

Pre-sale of tickets go on sale on Wednesday for one week only through local stadium box offices or local MLS teams. Tickets go on sale to the general public on March 16 through www.goldcup.org.

For the full schedule of games, click HERE
Pair use Facebook, Twitter in their contest to find best new retail idea for Detroit
By Daniel Duggan
Crain's Detroit

Can people on Facebook and Twitter pick a Detroit retailer?

Nick Gorga and Ted Balowski think so.

The two are in the early stages of Hatch Detroit, a contest for the best new Detroit retail idea.

After taking submissions this summer, a winning idea will be selected through a multistage process, largely voting marketed through social media. The winner will get $50,000 and — the men hope — a lot of attention.

"The reason to do this is that we think everyone who has a stake and cares about the city needs to do their part to revitalize the region and draw people in," Gorga said. "We see this as a way for us to do our part."

Gorga said that while there are many incubator programs, Hatch Detroit is different because it is geared toward retail in the city and will be a grassroots movement.

Balowski uses the term "crowd entrepreneurialism." He said they plan to harness the close-knit community of people in metro Detroit to feed new business in the city.

"From a grassroots perspective, we wanted to look at how we can engage the community as a whole," Balowski said. "But I also wanted to look at this from the entrepreneur's perspective. How can we help?"

The Hatch Detroit team plans to start a marketing blitz in the coming weeks.

Starting July 1, they will begin accepting submissions for contestants through hatchdetroit.com. They are limiting the entries to businesses that involve selling something to consumers. Art galleries, coffee shops and retail shops are examples of the types of businesses they want included.

Click HERE to read the rest of this story!
The Producers of The Biggest Loser have a new daytime talk show for ABC that will help you shed the weight and get your life back!

They are looking for inspirational and relatable WOMEN who are ready to drop the weight and regain control of their lives. On this show, we will provide you with a trainer and nutrition plan to help you lose the weight within your own environment.

  • Have career, family, life situation or kids taken control of your weight?
  • Have you overcome challenging circumstances that have caused you to gain the weight?
  • Are you constantly giving to others or just neglecting yourself?
  • Is it finally time to lose that extra weight?

If you answered yes to any of these, then this is your chance to turn it all around! Since you’ve been focusing on others, finally, here’s a show that is focusing on you!

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO FIND OUT HOW TO AUDITION:

http://www.3ballproductions.com/revcasting.html

When sending an e-mail please put your City/State as the subject line.

3 Ball Productions / Eyeworks USA, the producer behind some of television’s most transformational programs is producing this new health and fitness talk show for women with 50-100lbs to lose. If selected, they will provide you with an experienced trainer, nutrition plan and the tools necessary to help you succeed.

Associated Press

Michigan's only urban state park is planning to turn half of a more than century-old manufacturing site into something far removed from its ship engine-building heyday: an adventure and discovery center with rock climbing, zip lining and other outdoor activities.

The transformation of the vacant Globe Trading Company complex is the jewel in the crown of a plan to expand and enhance the William G. Milliken State Park & Harbor across the street and turn the Detroit riverfront park into a launching pad of sorts for Michigan's nearly 100 state parks. The plans are backed by more than $34 million in grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, which collects royalties paid by oil and gas companies that lease state-owned mineral rights.

The grants, approved in December and authorized by the state Legislature in March, also will be used to acquire several pieces of property around the park and public-use easements along the Detroit RiverWalk. State officials say stalled commercial redevelopment plans for vacant land and buildings in the area led to a deal for the Globe and are helping as they negotiate for other properties.

"Ultimately the economy that has slowed down development in so many areas has actually worked to our advantage," said Vicki Anthes, planning section chief for the Department of Natural Resources' Parks and Recreation Division.

"Nothing was happening with the Globe, and we saw it as such a pivotal point for a state park development," she said. "The $9 million grant (for the Globe) was proof we were serious."

Anthes said the DNR is aiming to open the activity center in the fall of 2012, and it's working with the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. and the developer, Troy-based Labor Management Fund Advisors. The developer is seeking at least one more occupant for the remainder of the building, and is working out financing for the balance of the project.

Besides the rock-climbing wall and zip lines, planners also envision an interpretive forest, archery range and classroom space in the gutted but structurally sound building. Anthes said they also are considering a kayak simulation ride as a rider might have on the river across the street.

Anthes said they haven't found anything quite like it nationally, and it makes sense to create such a center in the largest city of the Great Lakes State.

"The purpose is to introduce our public to the natural resources and state parks of Michigan," she said. "If you like that experience, why don't you go check out Hartwick Pines or one of the dunes parks on Lake Michigan?"

The plans dovetail with the RiverWalk as well as the Dequindre Cut Greenway, a pedestrian and bike pathway built on an abandoned rail line that runs alongside the Globe.

The neglected industrial complex began life in the late 1860s as the Dry Dock Engine Works, which had employed a young Henry Ford as an apprentice and at the turn of the 20th century was absorbed by the Detroit Shipbuilding Co., according to records compiled by the National Park Service. When that company dissolved in the late 1920s, the former engine building plant now part of the state park's plans was used by a stove manufacturer, the Detroit Edison Co., for appliance repair and finally the Globe Trading Co., which had been a machinery wholesale firm.

John Mogk, a law professor at Wayne State University, said the park's plans sound like a "wise policy decision" in an area where manufacturing has all but vanished and private plans for waterfront redevelopment, including numerous retail and residential projects, have been shelved.

Mogk said there is a tremendous amount of vacant buildings and land in the city, and "it is all lying unused in today's world of market demand."

"Just about everything that is going to be converted for private economic use is going to require significant public subsidies," he said. "To put it into some kind of productive use even though it won't have the same kind of economic impact that private use might have is ... of value to the community. It may have a ripple effect on the area."
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