What is Detroit100 Project:
DMJStudio presents DETROIT100 Community Art Projects; a series of art-based projects creatively depicting people, places and experiences of Metro-Detroit.  The story of Detroit is best told by its residents. This project’s gives Metro-Detroiters a platform to tell their stories in varous creative manner while giving the world a clearer and more balanced portrayal of the city.

This is Detroit100’s 2nd year and it has expanded the project three mini-projects to seven:
  • Sketchbook Project: Participants are asked to share experiences and personal stories of Detroit through sketches, words and collage.
  • Poster Project:  Contributors can create posters based on stories archived on-line at www.detroitstoriesproject.com.
  • Letter to Detroit Project: Pick up a favorite writing utensil and a piece of paper and tell Detroit how you feel about it. Be open, be honest, and be creative.
  • Photo Project (New): This themed-based project gives participants the opportunity to take and share creative photos about the Detroit experience.
  • Portrait Project (New): Get to know the faces of Detroit. Participants can submit sketches or photograph of themselves to become a part of a larger collage of faces of Metro-Detroit.
  • D-Shirt Project (New): Detroiters love their t-shirts. The D-shirt project gives participants a chance to share their favorite Detroit T-shirt and to learn about different locations to purchase the best Detroit T-shirts in the city.
  • Film Detroit (New): Participants can pick up their camera and create a 3 – 10 minute film based on several Detroit themes and subject.
Detroit100 is open to all Metro-Detroit residents, native Detroiters who currently live in other parts of the world and to our Canadian neighbors in Ontario who have a close relationship and connection to Detroit.  Educators are strongly encouraged to use these projects in their classrooms as a fun way to learn about and discuss the city of Detroit.

All submissions will become part of the online exhibit and will be displayed in several community pop up art events. 100 of the most outstanding submissions to these project series will be chosen and curated into a traveling exhibit entitled “100 Ways to Love Detroit.”
Detroit Venture Partners (DVP), Grand Circus, the new cutting-edge technology training institute, Bedrock Real Estate Services and Bizdom, along with Google, announced a groundbreaking new partnership that will further cement Detroit’s “The M@dison Block” as one of the most desirable hotbeds of technology entrepreneurship in the country.


As part of this alliance, Grand Circus, located on The M@dison Block in downtown Detroit, has been added to the brand new Google for Entrepreneurs Tech Hub Network, a program designed to grow Detroit-based technology start-ups.

Comprised of seven hubs throughout North America, the Google for Entrepreneurs Tech Hub Network will support entrepreneurs in Detroit through greater access to Google experts and products. In addition, The M@dison Block entreprenuers will be invited to participate in a number of specialized Google events each year. Most important, Grand Circus will partner and exchange best practices with the other hubs in the network.

Google for Entrepreneurs Tech Hub Network is the first formal network of this kind in the world.

“Detroit has quickly become the destination for emerging technology companies looking to grow their business and at the same time make a positive impact on the community,” said Dan Gilbert, Founder and Chairman of Rock Ventures. “Yesterday’s announcement by Google is the latest piece of exciting news about the explosive high-tech corridor taking shape downtown. Google’s investment is another example of a high-profile technology company seizing on the opportunities in Detroit.”

The M@dison Block refers to the entire block of buildings near Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit bordered by Woodward Avenue on the west, Broadway on the east, Witherell on the north, and John R. on the south. This area has quickly become ground zero for entrepreneurship in the region. The block is anchored by the well-known M@dison Theatre Building, home to DVP and 24 tech start-up businesses. The M@dison Block also includes four other tech-centric buildings located on Woodward Avenue.

· Grand Circus - 1570 Woodward, Broderick Tower, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floors

· Bizdom, DVP portfolio company Stik.com - 1528 Woodward, 3rd and 4th Floors

· Sachse (builder of the state-of-the-art tech office space on The M@dison Block) – 1528 Woodward, 6th Floor

· Detroit Labs - 1520 Woodward, 5th and 6th Floors

· Avalon Films/Hudson Editorial - 1500 Woodward, 5th and 6th Floors

· Neumann/Smith (design firm of many of the spaces on The M@dison Block) – 1500 Woodward, 3rd Floor

“Google heard consistently from tech hubs that they wanted to be part of a larger network, to learn from each other and collaborate on ideas. We are happy to facilitate that,” said John Lyman, head of partnerships for Google for Entrepreneurs. “Our team has been incredibly impressed with the great work these hubs have done in their cities, and are excited to partner with them to do even more.”

Grand Circus, DVP and Bizdom are helping start-ups capitalize on this development by providing tools, mentorship and capital for entrepreneurs who are chasing their dreams, educational opportunities for talented developers, and a vibrant community for innovative start-ups.

The M@dison Block, Detroit’s newest entrepreneurial corridor, will be unveiled at a media event on Monday, September 30 at 5 p.m. at Grand Circus’ office located on the 4th floor in the Broderick Tower.

Google for Entrepreneurs is committed to empowering entrepreneurs around the world through programs, partnerships, and products. The other six hubs in the network include: CoCo in Minneapolis, MN; 1871 in Chicago, IL; Communitech in Waterloo, Ontario; Nashville Entrepreneur Center in Nashville, TN; American Underground in Durham, NC; and Galvanize in Denver, CO.
Google-tech-hubs




Google is adopting a number of tech hubs across North America, and the locations may surprise you.

As part of the company's two-year-old Google for Entrepreneurs effort to empower startups and their founders worldwide, Google announced a new Tech Hub Network on Wednesday in an effort to connect entrepreneurs across the continent. A tech hub is a physical space where entrepreneurs gather to build their companies, explained John Lyman, head of partnerships for Google for Entrepreneurs.

The new network will include seven initial partners, none of which operate in traditional tech hotspots like San Francisco, New York or Austin, Texas. Instead, the founding members of Google's new Tech Hub Network include 1871 (Chicago, Ill.), American Underground (Durham, N.C.), Coco (Minneapolis, Minn.), Communitech (Waterloo, Ontario), Galvanize (Denver, Colo.), Grand Circus (Detroit, Mich.) and Nashville Entrepreneur Center (Nashville, Tenn.).

"We think entrepreneurship has really changed in the last four or five years," Lyman said. " People are coming together now more collectively as they start companies. People are coming together now more collectively as they start companies. Instead of going off in a garage and starting a company with a few people, you go to a co-working space or a tech hub or an accelerator where you're with a larger community. We really want to help support that."

Click HERE for the full article! 
turningart.com

I'm a life long New Yorker, born and bred in Brooklyn. My precious vacation time is usually spent relaxing on a Cape Cod beach, or exploring foreign destinations.

But this year, I responded to a different siren song: I went to Detroit.

Yes. Detroit, Michigan, USA. That Detroit.

I have followed news of Detroit and its trials and tribulations for decades, with the same horrified fascination of many Americans.

With this summers' declaration of bankruptcy, Detroit was once again in the headlines. The city had descended into bankruptcy and an Emergency Manager had been appointed. The mayor of Boston actually suggested blowing up the place. Christie's Auction House was called in to appraise the collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) as courts decided if the art could be sold. Commentators said that only billionaires, Russian oligarchs or maybe princes from the United Arab Emirates, could afford these treasures.

If I wanted to see these art works before they were dispersed, I had to visit right away. I wanted to go for other reasons as well. I was searching for the mythical Detroit as much as anything else: the Motor City to the soundtrack of Motown.

I had been raised in the tough and gritty Brooklyn of years back. I had seen the decaying streets my youth restored to sparkling splendor, blue-collar areas transformed into playgrounds for the rich. Years of decay and danger had been no fun but gentrification meant that the poor were driven out of parts of Brooklyn. Detroit's problem was just the opposite: most of the people left there are the poor. The population has gone from a mid-20th century high of nearly two million, to about 700,000 with a median household income of about $25,000 -- half the national average.

While Brooklyn was experiencing rebirth, Detroit was being returned to nature. Detroit's mayor has been trying to demolish some 70,000 abandoned buildings, spread over the 138 square miles. Detroit has been shrinking, replaced by some experiments in urban farming. That also interested me -- I've been involved with urban gardening for years.

So last month, a friend who lives in Ohio picked me up at the Cleveland airport and we headed to Detroit, about a 2.5-hour drive.

We'd been warned that actually staying in the city was dangerous, except for the upscale downtown hotels. I must admit I was tempted by the "tallest hotel in the western hemisphere" -- the 73-story Detroit Marriott. But we are $80 a-night-kind of travelers (two friends traveling together with a need for two beds, a clean room and plenty of towels) and the Marriott would have been over $200. So we stayed in a chain motel with good online reviews in a suburb chosen because it was an easy 15-minute drive from the DIA.

Now please, dear Detroit, let me say at the outset that I totally fell in love with you. I wish only good things for you. My love is pure, but like a mother's love, it comes with some critical feedback. For your own good. You've been knocked around and pushed around. You've been duped by your own elected officials. Now you've lost fundamental political rights to an Emergency Manager. So what's a little critical feedback from a doting tourist?

Click HERE to read the full article! 
Best Use of Instagram

(Presented by Olapic)
A brand Instagram account with high engagement that raises awareness around a specific project or objective.
  
Finalists #cookiethis/#cremethis (Oreo)  
Wieden+Kennedy, Portland  

Ben & Jerry's – Capture Euphoria  
Haworth Marketing + Media  

Weber Shandwick/Pure Michigan

Click HERE for the full list of finalists! 





Creatives, galleries, entrepreneurs and makers will open their doors to the public for the second annual Eastern Market After Dark on Sept 19. This evening is free and open to all ages for exploring.

#EMAFTERDARK

Artist Studios and Galleries

· CAN Art Handworks (2264 Wilkins St)

· Cyberoptix Tie Lab + Bethany Shorb's Design Studio (1440 Gratiot Ave, 2nd floor)

· Inner State Gallery (1410 Gratiot Ave)

· NNII International Gallery (1440 Gratiot Ave)

· OmniCorpDetroit (1501 E Division St)

· Red Bull House of Art (1551 Winder St)

· Trinosophes (1464 Gratiot Ave)

Food and Beverage

· Bert’s Marketplace (2727 Russell St)

· Cost Plus Wine (2448 Market St)

· Cutters (2638 Orleans)

· DeVries & Co 1887 (2468 Market St)

· Frontera (1428 Gratiot Ave) $69

· Germack (2517 Russell)

· Guns + Butter (1406 Gratiot 2nd floor)

· Mootown Creamery (2461 Russell St)

· Roma Cafe ( 3401 Riopelle St)

· Sala Thai (3400 Russell St)

· Supino Pizzeria (2457 Russell St)

· Trinosophes (1464 Gratiot Ave)

 Print and Letter Press

· Aptemal Printing (1353 Division St)

· Salt & Cedar (2448 Riopelle St)

· Signal-Return (1345 Division St, #102)

 Retail 

· 3 Dogs 1 Cat (2472 Riopelle St)

· Aria Urban Artifacts (2463 Riopelle St)

· Detroit Mercantile Co (3434 Russell St)

· Division Street Boutique (1353 Division St)

· Downtown Detroit Bike Shop (1420 Fisher Fwy)

· Michigan Artisans (1400 E Fisher Fwy)

· Savvy Chic (2712 Riopelle St)

 Other 

· Detroit Kung Fu Academy (1353 Fisher Fwy)

· First Container (Shed 5, Russell St)

· Light up your bicycle and ride (@detroitbikecity)

· Shuttles by Detroit Bus Co (Various Locations) - AIA Membership party (Shed 3)

 Murals and Public Art 

· Bethany Shorb’s LED Arrows (1551 Winder)

· Couture Chandelier (Shed 4)

· Waste Paper Lanterns Installation (Service Street)

· What is that? Projection on Busy Bee (1401 Gratiot)

· Survive and 7th Letter Mural Service Drive and Winder St

· The Weird Mural Series: Gratiot and Russell Orleans and Division Riopelle and Winder Russell and Adelaide

· Winder St between Riopelle and Orleans Cannon Dill and Brett Flannigan GATS Malt SCORE TRAV
Pedaling Forward: Revitalization Through Cycling




Biking is good for the economy, small business and your health. It's also a great alternative to car or bus transportation (two things Detroit actually has very little of). Get in on the discussion and help shape the future of Detroit's cycling infrastructure.

Join Mode Shift: Move Together for a panel discussion about how Detroit is becoming a more bike-friendly city, and the role bicycling culture and infrastructure should play the city's revitalization.

Recent years have witnessed an explosion of organizations, businesses and events focused on bicycling in Detroit. How can we more effectively work together to accelerate the positive changes we're seeing take place for a common goal? And what should Detroit's biking infrastructure look like for the future?

We'll have an honest discussion about where we are and where we need to go, and why, and how you can get involved. Panelists will be announced shortly. Stay tuned!

Get inspired...Check out this article in The Atlantic Cities for a few Brilliant Examples of Bike Infrastructure: http://bit.ly/13GI405

Pedaling Forward: Revitalization Through Cycling
Thursday, September 26 at 6PM-7:30PM
Trinosophes, 1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit 48207

We ask for a small donation to secure your ticket: $1, $5, $25; whatever you can afford.


Andre Agassi, Bobby Turner and other leaders of the Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund (CACSFF) joined students, educators and community leaders today to celebrate the opening of Southwest Detroit Lighthouse Charter Academy, a new school in the Chadsey-Condon neighborhood dedicated to preparing underserved students to succeed in college.

Southwest Detroit Lighthouse Charter Academy currently serves 300 students from kindergarten through fifth grade in a new, ground-up construction facility at 4001 29th Street. The school is anticipated to grow to 475 students by 2017. CACSFF acquired the 5.6-acre site, constructed the new 41,000 square-foot school with 26 classrooms, and is leasing the property to Lighthouse Academies, a network of 20 high-performing charter schools in six states and the District of Columbia.

This is the first investment in Detroit for CACSFF, an innovative real estate fund that provides much-needed capital to enable operators of best-in-class charter schools to secure permanent, high-quality school facilities. CACSFF has partnered with Lighthouse Academies once before to open North Point Lighthouse Charter School, a pre-K – 4th grade school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“Successful charter schools have the potential to create better educational opportunities for children across the United States. We are committed to increasing the growth of proven academic performers by providing easier access to school facilities and bridging the gap to ownership,” said Bobby Turner, CACSFF Co-Managing Partner and Chairman and CEO of Canyon Capital Realty Advisors. “We are pleased to team up for a second time with Lighthouse Academies, which has an excellent track record of innovation and achievement. We are confident that Southwest Detroit Lighthouse Charter School will deliver terrific results for its new students.”

The only fund of its kind in the United States, CACSFF was created in 2011 as a joint venture between Canyon Capital Realty Advisors (CCRA) and Agassi Ventures (AV) to facilitate the development of school sites in urban communities across the United States. The partnership combines CCRA’s and AV’s substantial resources, development expertise and passion for educational excellence to assist the charter school community in securing academically friendly, environmentally sustainable school facilities for students and teachers. The number of charter schools across the country is continuing to grow year-over-year, and operators routinely cite securing suitable learning facilities as one of their greatest challenges.

“I believe that we must do everything we can to support strong schools in underserved communities. Our goal is to provide top-tier charter school operators with access to great facilities, and let them focus on what they do best: educating children,” said Andre Agassi, CACSFF Co-Managing Partner, CEO of Agassi Ventures and founder of the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy. “The Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund is enabling charter school operators like Lighthouse Academies to realize their full potential and expand their reach in communities where their expertise is so desperately needed.”

Founded in 2003, Lighthouse Academies is a growing network of charter schools that uses an arts-infused, K-12 college prep program to generate superior academic results. Its goal is to offer a replicable school model relying only on funding provided by law that closes the educational achievement gap and sends 100 percent of graduates on to college. The first Lighthouse Academies school opened in the Bronx, New York in 2004; with the addition of Southwest Detroit Lighthouse Charter Academy, the Lighthouse network includes 20 schools, serving more than 7,200 students in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

“Lighthouse Academies is thrilled to partner with the Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund for a second time to expand our reach into a new community, Detroit,” said Michael Ronan, Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Academies. “CACSFF is a unique program, and one of the best structures I’ve come across in 15 years of working with charter schools. In this time of intense financial challenges, the support of entities like CACSFF is more important than ever to ensure Detroit's students have a pathway to college and rewarding careers.”

Over the next several years, CACSFF aims to facilitate the development of more than 75 urban school sites for best-in-class charter school operators, creating new seats for up to 50,000 students. The fund’s previous investments were KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy in Philadelphia, North Point Lighthouse Charter School in Milwaukee, and the EAGLE College Preparatory Schools’ Harmony Campus in Phoenix.

The fund has the backing of a world-class group of institutional investors who share CACSFF’s commitment to effecting positive societal change while pursuing positive financial returns.

In addition to providing high-performing charter school operators such as Lighthouse Academies with high-quality facilities at affordable lease rates, the fund provides charter school operators the opportunity to purchase their schools once they reach full occupancy. To this end, CACSFF will help operators obtain permanent financing to purchase their properties using New Market Tax Credits, tax-exempt bond offerings, or funding from the U.S. Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

“The ability to secure adequate facilities is the greatest impediment to charter school growth, and CACSFF is uniquely positioned to provide long-term facilities to high-quality charter operators so they can provide the best education possible for their students,” said CACSFF CEO Glenn Pierce. “As we continue investing across the country, more charter operators are recognizing the value of this sustainable and market-driven fund, and are calling on CACSFF to help expand their reach. We look forward to opening many more schools in the near future.”

About Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund

The Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund is the nation’s first market-driven real estate fund designed to accelerate growth of high-performing charter schools and provide educational opportunities for 40,000-50,000 underserved students while simultaneously targeting market-rate financial returns for socially responsible investors. The Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund is managed by Canyon-Agassi Realty Advisors, and is a partnership between an affiliate of Canyon Capital Realty Advisors LLC and Agassi Ventures, LLC. For more information, visit www.canyonagassi.com.
 http://www.tedxdetroit.com/images/bannerBig1.jpg

TEDxDetroit is pleased to announce its confirmed speakers for the local, self-organized event that will bring people together to share a TED-like experience on Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., at the new Grand Ballroom in Cobo Center overlooking the Detroit River. More than 1,000 attendees are expected to attend TEDxDetroit, an event that will offer deep discussion and connection in an intimate setting.

 Here is a list of a few diverse speakers who will share positive ideas for the world from Detroit:

· Les Gold, business owner, reality TV star of “Hardcore Pawn”
· Kevin Krease, Founder & Director, X Games Detroit
· Jason Hall, Co-Founder, Detroit Bike City & Slow Roll Detroit
· Dr. Partha Nandi, Physician & Talk Show Host
· Nathan Hughes, Co-Founder and MC, Detroit Labs
· Jackie Victor, Owner, Avalon International Breads
· Any Kaherl & Elizabeth Garlow, Detroit Soup, Kiva
· Ryan Landau, Co-Founder, Chalkfly.com
· Jaclyn Trop, Journalist, New York Times
· Greg Gage, Co-Founder, Backyard Brains
· Angela Kilgore, Student, Community Organizer
· Rich Sheridan, CEO, Menlo Innovations
· John Bacon, Author, “Fourth and Long”
· Jacques Panis, director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Shinola
· Stephen Roginson, Owner, Founder, Batch Brewing Company
· John Capp, Director of Global Active Safety Electronics & Innovation, General Motors
· Ishita Gupta, Founder, Fear.less Magazine
· Matthew Naimi, Director of Operations, Recycle Here
· Mary Lore, Founder & CEO, Managing Thought, LLC
· Frank Watson, Student, Community Activist

“Each year, we seek out speakers and performers who have a direct connection to Detroit or to the state of Michigan,” said Charlie Wollborg, curator of TEDxDetroit and Chief Troublemaker of Curve Idea Accelerator. “And this year is no exception, as we’ve selected a group of people who will speak of change and inspiration for the city.”

TEDxDetroit will release speaker bios and more information daily through its Tumblr page, www.tedxdetroit.tumblr.com, Facebook page, www.facebook.com/tedxdetroit, and Twitter page, www.twitter.com/tedxdetroit.

People interested in attending the event are invited to submit an application on www.TEDxDetroit.com due to limited seating. Invitations to attend will be e-mailed directly to applicants.

TEDxDetroit is not only meant to create dialogue and action, it also serves as a platform for Michigan social entrepreneurs to share their thoughts, actively apply ideas and ultimately bring positive change to Detroit. TEDxDetroit is proudly sponsored by Buick, OnStar, Plex Systems, Start Garden, Bizdom, Curve Detroit, Airfoil, Mindfield, EEI Global, PowerStream, Motor City Connect and LA2M.

To learn more about the conference, please visit www.tedxdetroit.com.



“Detroit is a blank canvas.” I cringe every time I hear this phrase, even though it’s used by people who mean well.

To say something that references “emptiness” regarding a city founded in 1701 is both unfair and inaccurate, as it implies that there’s nothing here—or worse—that there’s nothing worth talking about here.

By suggesting this, the speaker disregards momentum building around the Detroit 2.0 movement, which is in full swing. Dan Gilbert, my partner in Detroit Venture Partners, has purchased nearly four million square feet of commercial real estate, setting off a trigger reaction for private investment downtown, where sports, business, technology, and the arts converge. Over the next few years, we’ll witness the positive effects of our city’s revitalization from within, as fallout from this tipping point of innovation.

Rather than refer to Detroit as a blank canvas, perhaps it makes more sense to call it an unfinished one. There are already splatters of paint on the board demonstrating promise, as well as blunders that need to be fixed. However, there is still enough white space left for someone to come in and make a mark, which will leave a lasting impression on the painting. People innovating and using creativity to win are making some of the most impactful brush strokes; the end result is a more beautiful painting for us all to enjoy.

Entrepreneurship requires you to hunker down and get started. It’s true that the landscape in Detroit is more worn than others you might find. That being said, there’s a strong case to be made for starting a business here, stemming precisely from these long-standing challenges and problems. The following elements are like buckets of paint, a toolkit of brushes, or even a paint-by-number guide: they make it easier for someone to add to the canvas.

Talent: This area is chock full of people who are hungry for an opportunity. New graduates make up the first camp—those born and bred in the region are educated in a local network of world-class universities, leaving ready to enter the business world. The current market has forced many of these graduates to launch their careers elsewhere, causing a “brain drain,” but this trend can be stopped by providing jobs locally. Unfortunately for the economy, there’s a large group of professionals who are out of work. Engineers, laborers, techies, sales associates, managers, consultants, and a whole host of others now need jobs, many of whom have years of business experience under their belt. For a savvy business owner, this second group provides a capable workforce. Why pay more to fight over average talent elsewhere when you could have your choice of hirable, less expensive A-listers in Detroit?

Click HERE to read the full article! 




Roosevelt Park Conservancy today announced its plans for the fourth annual R. Park Fest and Detroit Cornhole Championship on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in Corktown’s Roosevelt Park.

The daylong event, which draws more than 1,500 attendees annually, will feature live music, food, art and, of course, cornhole.

Teams of two can register for the annual bean bag toss tournament at detroitcornhole.eventbrite.com.

Registration is $50/team

 This year's festival will also feature some new activities including: 


  • Roller skating in front of Michigan Central Depot, hosted by Soul Skate (rentals available for $5)
  • Firefighter cook-off between Detroit firehouses ($5 taste samples)
  • Kids' art zone, hosted by 555 Gallery
  • Music from Detroit's best DJs 
The proceeds raised at the event go towards the participating firehouses and Roosevelt Park.





Home


The Tour de Troit is a bike ride that explores some of the city’s historic areas, takes in many of its most breathtaking sights, and provides bicyclists a unique opportunity to legally “take over” the streets of the Motor City. The 2012 TdT attracted a record number of cyclists — over 5,000!


The 2013 ride will be on September 21, 2013.

Registration is available at tdt2013.eventbrite.com.


  • EARLY BIRD – Through May 31 – $40/$35 (student) w/t-shirt 
  • June 1 to September 3 – $45/$40 w/t-shirt
  • Sept. 4 to Sept. 13 – $55/50 w/t-shirt
  • ONSITE (if available) $65 w/t-shirt (size not guaranteed). Because this event may sell out, on-site registration may not be available.


The TdT raises awareness of biking as a mode of transportation; publicizes the growing greenways network in the City of Detroit and all of Southeastern Michigan; and raises funds for greenway development in Detroit, including the Southwest Detroit Greenlink and the GREEN Taskforce Vision for Greenways on Detroit’s Lower Eastside. The Tour de Troit offers several rides to choose from. The first — and primary — is a leisurely ride of 30 miles with police escort on a closed route with sweeper- and SAG support.

For extremely experienced cyclists, the Tour de Troit offers a metric century (62 miles) option that does not include police escort. Riders should be able to ride approx. 15MPH and be comfortable on city streets following the Rules of the Road. This ride is sweeper- and SAG-supported but intersections are not closed to traffic. The metric century ride is capped at 500.

The main ride will take off at 9 a.m. Registration will open at 7:00 a.m. The metric century riders can leave Roosevelt Park anytime between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. but must be responsible to keep a pace that will have them off the road and back to the park by 1:00 p.m. (15MPH pace; leave by 7:15 a.m. / 18MPH pace; leave by 7:45 a.m. / 20MPH pace; leave by 8:15 a.m.) There will be pacers at these three speeds, but metric riders should be prepared to follow the map and route markings on their own.

After the ride, all particpants will enjoy a meal provided by local restaurants and a couple of icy cold beverages as well as some music! There's a really festival-like atmosphere at Roosevelt Park, so plan on sticking around for a couple of hours!


These days, the message screens above the main ticket desk at the Detroit Institute of Arts regularly flash the phrase “Thank You Voters.” Unusual as it may seem among announcements about exhibitions and events at this world-class museum, it belongs there. On Aug. 7, 2012, the citizens of the three counties that contain and surround Detroit — Wayne, Oakland and Macomb — voted in favor of a 10-year commitment to a small increase in real estate taxes that would guarantee the institute $23 million a year, roughly two-thirds of its annual operating budget.

Because of these voters, a museum whose building and collection were created and sustained by a patchwork of money controlled by city and state officials — as well as donations from loyal patrons with names like Ford, Dodge, Scripps and Firestone — will be primarily and more directly supported by its public. The vote, an unusual display of public support, has given the Detroit Institute of Arts a greater financial stability than it has enjoyed in years.

So it is all the sadder that in late May the Detroit Institute began to be cruelly undermined as the city, once an epicenter of American industry and industriousness, hit bottom after years of mismanagement and shrinking population.

In that ever-lengthening narrative titled When Bad Things Happen to Good Museums, few developments are as deeply alarming and as cluelessly self-destructive as the recent suggestion that the City of Detroit, which owns the institute’s building and its collection, should sell some of the art to help cover about $18 billion of municipal debts. Were this to happen, it would be a betrayal of public trust and donors’ bequests and a violation of the museum’s nonprofit status. It also makes no economic sense. The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the few remaining jewels in Detroit’s tattered identity, and is essential to the city’s recovery.

Detroit finally applied for bankruptcy in July. But even before that, Kevyn Orr, the city’s state-appointed emergency manager, raised the idea of selling works, as if the institute were a goose whose golden eggs included art by Rembrandt, van Gogh, Caravaggio, van Eyck and Breughel.

Bill Schuette, Michigan’s attorney general, issued a statement that such a sale would not be legal. Nonetheless, citing the city’s responsibility to appraise all its “assets,” Mr. Orr enlisted the auction house Christie’s to appraise its holdings for a reported fee of $200,000, a process, barely begun, that will take weeks.

Of course, Christie’s is doing what it is built to do, but that doesn’t eliminate the smell of amoral opportunism. Perhaps the time will soon come when financially troubled cities and states will call upon it for appraisals of things like Central Park, or Faneuil Hall in Boston. 

Click HERE for the full article! 

Click HERE for the full story!
Photo via The Hungry Dudes


Michigan

With a nod to Greektown, Motor City Brewing Works' "Mary Did Have" pizza is a dazzling combination of olive oil, ground lamb, garlic, mint, tomato, pine nuts, baptized with feta, labne (a Middle Eastern yogurt cheese), cucumbers and zatar spices. Tucked away in the back of a parking lot, John Linardos' Detroit brewpub is the kind of cool scene you wish for in your neighborhood.

470 W. Canfield St
313-832-2700
motorcitybeer.com

Recommended by Jaye Beeler, arbutuspress.com

Click HERE for the full article!

Best Metros for Recent College Grads
Rank Metro LQ for Jobs Estimated 2013 Job Openings Median Hourly Earnings
1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1.55 9,927 $47.27
2 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1.36 39,259 $40.46
3 Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH 1.34 29,156 $36.19
4 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1.27 20,320 $36.73
5 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 1.24 19,981 $40.69
6 Raleigh-Cary, NC 1.19 6,672 $30.42
7 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 1.18 9,960 $31.87
8 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 1.17 5,039 $32.45
9 Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI 1.16 12,653 $30.81
9 Baltimore-Towson, MD 1.16 14,228 $32.15
 
Excerpt:

The remainder of the top ten are more interesting. Rounding out the bunch are Hartford, Connecticut, as well as hard-hit Detroit, Michigan, and Baltimore, Maryland. It is especially encouraging to see Detroit among the nation's leaders in job openings for talented young people. This suggests that efforts from the local business community to remake its downtown may have real legs. Philadelphia, Richmond, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Kansas City all number among the top twenty best metros for recent college grads seeking work, using proportional levels of job availability as a metric.

Several places that rank highly in terms of the absolute number of job openings for college grads now fall much lower on the list. New York ranks 23rd (with an LQ of 1.06), while Los Angeles is 33rd (with an LQ of just 1.01). Chicago is 38th (with an LQ of .98). Sunbelt boomtowns fall lower on the list as well. Dallas and Houston tie for 28th, Atlanta is 31st and Phoenix ties L.A. for 33rd.

The metros where recent college grads are less likely to find work (based on the concentration of skilled jobs in growing fields) are largely centered in the West and the Sunbelt. At the very bottom of the list is Las Vegas (with an LQ of 0.68), with its large concentration of low-skilled service work. Following Vegas are Riverside, California (0.80); Memphis (0.87); New Orleans (0.89); San Antonio (0.91); and Orlando (0.91).

Click HERE for the full article! 





The Dally in the Alley festival celebrates its 36th anniversary Saturday, September 7, 2013. Held in Detroit’s storied Cass Corridor, the annual event attracts thousands of attendees to the live music, DJs, art, vendors, food, reunions with old friends, and the making new friends, too. The festival-goers, a colorful and diverse cross-section of Detroiters, experience a unique party that has become one of the most-loved festivals in Detroit.

Since it began as an inner city art fair in 1977, the Dally has evolved into a culturally significant affair. In 1982, the fair moved a few blocks to the alley between Forest Ave. and Hancock, Third and Second and evolved into a performing arts festival. While the celebration has expanded in both size and attendance, the Dally in the Alley remains a one day festival that is not to be missed. Four music stages (including the return of the successful electronic music stage), a new community stage, art installations, more than 120 local food and retail vendors provide attendees with activities and entertainment all day long.

The festival, a fundraiser for the North Cass Community Union, prides itself in staying true to its core mission of celebrating the area that it takes place in. Most recently in a poll among MetroMix readers, Dally in the Alley was awarded with the honor of “Best Festival in Detroit”.

This year's event features several key elements that will make it better than ever, including:

Ann Kennedy Community Stage: Dedicated to long-time Dally in the Alley supporters Ann Kennedy and Dylan Bailey, this new fifth stage is an eclectic interactive performance space that pays homage to Dally's community roots. It will feature soapbox forums, performances, contests and other activities. Mayoral candidates Mike Duggan & Benny Napoleon will speak, as well as District 6 City Council candidates.

For complete programming please visit the Dally website.

Expanded Kids Fair: In addition to games, crafts and face painting, Torri Ashford of PuppetArt will be leading puppet-making workshops at this year at Dally Kids Fair. And along with the Gabriel Brass Band, Ashford will lead a parade through the festival, showcasing all the puppet creations.

Increased focus on environmental impact: The North Cass Community Union is working with Recycle Here to make the Dally in the Alley the greenest festival in Detroit. In 2011 Dally begin its greening efforts by implementing a recycling and composting program. By requiring all food and drink to be served in compostable wares and staffing green stations with volunteers to ensure the right waste gets into the right can, Dally has reduced the amount of garbage by over 60 yards. In 2012 Dally had less than five cubic yards of garbage. This year, Dally has implemented a color-coded system; green for compost, blue for recycling, and black for garbage.

Dally In The Alley Installation Project: Continuing the tradition of showcasing cutting edge art, Dally Art Director Andy Durkas has put together an exciting presentation featuring art installations by local artists, including Nick Pizana and Jimmy Murphy. Installations will be in various locations throughout the festival.

Poster Artist: Nicole Macdonald. This year’s poster artist has created a truly unique representation of Dally in the Alley. Nicole Macdonald makes documentary films, paints landscapes, and makes collages, mostly about the city of Detroit. She has been involved with the Detroit Film Center, Detroit Film & Television, Prison Creative Arts Project, and a number of galleries and visual arts groups in the city. She paints to make a historical record, working from direct observation to a more stylized rendering, blending fictitious elements and combining perspectives. There is a similar approach in her collages, with an intention to depict reality, altered for viewer accessibility. Additionally, she makes stencils, aiming to project a social message that will stimulate criticism of the status quo, and examine issues affecting Detroit.

Dally in the Alley takes place in Detroit's North Cass neighborhood, between Forest and Hancock, Second and Third on Saturday, September 7, 2013 (rain date is Sunday, September 8, 2013). 

The event runs from 11AM to 11PM. 

Please visit www.dallyinthealley.com for map, music lineup and additional information.


OpenCo, a unique "inside-out" business conference, has selected Detroit as their next global destination for a celebration of open-style business. The event offers networkers, investors, marketers, job seekers and curious neighbors direct access to Detroit's most innovative companies to hear firsthand how they are changing Detroit and the world.

To attend, visit det.openco.us to register and follow us on Twitter @OpenCoDET.


Participating companies have been curated because they demonstrate and embrace a set of values surrounding the concept of openness: Open collaboration, Open communication, and Open community.

On Thursday, September 12 from 9am to 5:30pm over 65 Detroit based companies will open their doors and deliver presentations to OpenCo registrants.

The event is FREE!

Firms like Shinola, Detroit Soup, WDET, Crain Communications, Model D, UpTo, Curbed Detroit/Eater Detroit, Quicken Loans and Detroit Labs have been selected to present as Detroit HostCos. The day will conclude at MOCAD with drinks and music.

"I knew Detroit was a perfect choice for OpenCo after I visited the city last autumn and saw all of these amazing companies doing innovative work,” said John Battelle, co-founder of OpenCo Festivals.



Rebel Nell creates defiant jewelry with a purpose. Using abundant local materials like graffiti, Rebel Nell's focus is to employ, educate, and empower disadvantaged women in Detroit.

WHO IS REBEL NELL

Rebel Nell evolved from two proud Detroiters with a passion for making and designing jewelry. We love the Motor City and the people who live here. We created Rebel Nell as an opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to us. Our mission is to employ disadvantaged women in Detroit to make jewelry, educate them on business and life management skills, and empower them to transition to an independent life. We will use the money we raise during this campaign to hire our first round of women, rent the workspace, and purchase materials. We are so excited for this endeavour and we would love for you to be a part of the journey. Thank you for your encouragement and support!

OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL

We have set out to raise $25,000. Reaching this goal will enable us to hire four (4) women and provide them with a monthly salary of $1500 a month for three (3) months. We will use the remaining $6,500 for materials, tools, training and rent. We plan to be sustainable not long after our initial fundraising campaign so that we can hire more women and continue to grow at a healthy pace.

We have an array of giving levels for every interest. Regardless of your giving level, your contribution is a siginficant step forward in the future of Rebel Nell. Your generosity will help get Rebel Nell off the ground and change the lives of women ready for a transitional opportunity, one that will take them out of the shelters once and for all.

Your contribution can really make a difference.

Click HERE to learn more about Rebel Nell and donate to their cause! 



The second annual City Social, which benefits Born and Raised Detroit, will be held Friday, September 6, 2013, at the Detroit Yacht Club on Belle Isle. Born and Raised hosts fundraising events in order to raise money and awareness for various Detroit-based charities.

"We are so glad to be hosting City Social for the second year in a row," said Anne Strickland, co-founder and board member of Born and Raised Detroit. "We are confident guests will enjoy the music, food and ambiance of the DYC while also learning how their donation can make a significant difference to various charities throughout the city."

"Our events like City Social support so many great local organizations, and we are thrilled to be growing throughout the United States and support Detroit as the city gets back on its feet," said Patrick Thornton, co-founder and board member of Born and Raised Detroit.

Sponsors of the event include TMV Group, Port Manufacturing, Fleur Detroit, Great Expressions Dental Centers and Faygo. Past charities given financial support from Born and Raised Detroit include Camp Casey, RacquetUp Detroit, Ruth Ellis Center, Detroit Achievement Academy and more.

Tickets are $85 and include open bar and a strolling dinner. The event starts at 8 pm and will feature live music by the Dan Rafferty Band.

Tickets may be purchased at http://bit.ly/2ndCitySocial.





This fall will see the grand opening of The Untitled Bottega, an open gallery and studio dedicated to giving new and upcoming creators a place to learn, build, and exhibit. Work of local artists, filmmakers, designers, and musicians will be on display from 9pm to midnight on September 21st in the newly-renovated gallery space at 314 E Baltimore St.

Founded by local artist, Flaco Shalom in June 2011 out of his Iron Street loft, the community arts space was created as reaction to rejection by local art galleries that his work wasn’t “good enough.” Instead of sticking to the traditional curated gallery format, Flaco and the Bottega began to host events of all kinds, talent, and experience in the genres of hip-hop, fashion, art, poetry, and everything in-between. The Bottega quickly outgrew its location and in August of 2012, they were already searching for new space to exhibit.

Flaco, a 2012 Heidelberg Emerging Artist, seeks to provide a space dedicated to “Yes.” “Someone is always going to need their first chance,” says Flaco. “There’s a lot of no’s out there and a few yeses and I want to be the constant yes in the community.”

The opening gala will also preview the next part of the Untitled community, the Untitled Campus: an expanded workplace with dedicated outdoor performance, exhibition, and open studio space for long-term artists-in-residence. The opening will take place as part of the 3rd Annual Detroit Design Festival, a showcase of design and creative innovation across the city. Any individual interested in arts, design, and performance is invited to attend the free night of live performance and collected works by Bottega members.

For more information call (313) 229-1317 or visit www.untitledbottega.com




Detroit, September 3rd, 2013– D:hive announces today that they’ve graduated 200 entrepreneurs from the D:hive BUILD program. Fall registration is now open for the Fall BUILD classes which will begin in early October.

D:hive’s BUILD program began in 2012 in response to a growing interest in social, cultural, and economic entrepreneurship in Detroit. BUILD guides participants through the process of developing a business plan in a collaborative environment, with the insight of community experts and an emphasis on fundamentals and sustainability.

“Coming into BUILD, I was passionate about an idea but had never run a business before. Reading and researching about how to run a small business can only get you so far,” said Kurt Spieles, Founder of SpielHaus Toys. “Build helped me put into perspective all of the necessary steps to see my vision through. The camaraderie, brainstorming, and support you receive from BUILD classmates and instructors is very helpful and inspiring.”

D:hive BUILD grads have consistently placed in the finals of the Hatch Detroit retail contest including SpielHaus Toys, and Detroit Vegan Soul, a vegan restaurant expected to open soon.

“BUILD classes are a great way to explore the feasibility of an idea,” said April Boyle, Director of Small Business Initiatives. “We are seeing so many more projects and businesses getting off the ground with the vital information, resources, connections and support they receive through the BUILD program."

Fall sessions are now open for registration. Participants can sign up by visiting http://dhivedetroit.org/build. Classes are offered in the afternoons, evenings and weekends to accommodate busy schedules. The cost of the eight week class is based on annual household income and family size ranging from $100-300. Classes will continue to run throughout the year on a seasonal basis.



Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy will host its largest fundraising event of the year, Shimmer on the River, at the brand new Grand Ballroom at Cobo Center on Thursday, September 12 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight. With gorgeous views of Detroit’s vibrant riverfront, the event will bring together hundreds of business and community leaders to raise funds for the non-profit Conservancy and to enjoy an eclectic evening of music, food and entertainment.

During this year’s festivities, the Conservancy will host a brief ceremony to honor Marlene and John Boll for their significant support of the riverfront and their longtime commitment of philanthropy in the community through the John A. and Marlene L. Boll Foundation, which has enriched the lives of thousands of families.

Shimmer on the River, which has received major support from Strategic Staffing Solutions and Tooles Contracting Group, LLC, will be one of the first events to take place in the new Grand Ballroom inside the renovated Cobo Center. Guests will have the opportunity to experience Detroit’s newest banquet and event space, which will be transformed into an urban oasis. The glass enclosed ballroom also features an open-air terrace for guests to take in spectacular views of the Detroit River. A VIP reception will kick off the event from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

“The Detroit riverfront is truly one of our city’s and region’s greatest assets and the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy’s public-private partnership is a shining example of what a community can accomplish when working together,” said Roy Roberts, Honorary Co-Chair of Shimmer on the River, along with his wife Maureen Roberts.

“This year’s Shimmer on the River celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and will help raise funds which allow for the continued development and ongoing maintenance of the riverfront,” said Sandy Pierce, chairman and CEO of FirstMerit Michigan and Honorary Co-Chair of Shimmer on the River, along with her husband Tom Pierce.

Delicious food stations will offer guests a variety of hors d’oeuvres and small plates, including made to order homemade ice cream. Shimmer guests will also have the opportunity to watch a live painting by artist Fel3000ft, presented by Street Culture Mash, during the event and have a chance to purchase the unique piece of artwork during a silent auction.

Tickets are now available for this spectacular evening and include: VIP, $350 each, allowing admission to cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m.; General Admission, $200 each, allowing admission at 6:30 p.m.; and new this year, Young Professional tickets for those 35 and under, $100 each, allowing admission at 6:30 p.m. All guests receive complimentary valet parking. Tickets for Shimmer on the River may be purchased by calling 313.566.8206 or online at www.ShimmerOnTheRiver.com.


About The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy 

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is a non-profit organization founded in 2003 with the mission to develop public access to Detroit’s riverfront and serve as an anchor for economic development. As the permanent stewards of the riverfront public space, which includes the RiverWalk and the Dequindre Cut, the Conservancy is responsible for raising the funds needed for the construction, operation, maintenance, security and programming of these public spaces. The Conservancy’s ultimate vision is to develop five-and-a-half miles of riverfront from the Ambassador Bridge on the west to Gabriel Richard Park, just east of the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle.

The first phase of the project, three-and-a-half miles along the east riverfront, is 80 percent complete and spans from Joe Louis Arena to Gabriel Richard Park, with the remaining 20 percent currently under construction. In the summer of 2012, the Conservancy launched the final construction phases needed to complete the east riverfront development project and connect the RiverWalk and its associated green spaces, plazas and parks. In the spring of 2013, the Conservancy launched construction at a 20-acre parcel along West Jefferson, the first phase of development that will bring public access to the west riverfront. Visit www.detroitriverfront.org for more information.
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