Detroit Tech and Design: The Rebirth Of Motor City

The Fueling Station at TechTown © TechTown

Motown. Motor City. But there’s another nickname that suits Detroit's character best of all, these days: Renaissance City. Certainly, the past 50 years haven’t always been kind to this once-mighty industrial capital. But while Detroit’s fortunes have risen and fallen, thanks to a startling new surge in Detroit tech, in the arts, in design and in independent business, the city is now poised at the start of a brilliant period of regeneration. Welcome, ladies and gentleman, to the new Detroit.

Detroit Tech

Michigan’s biggest city has been closely associated with the spirit of innovation for more than a century, and no one person was more influential in shaping its dedication to invention than Henry Ford. The unveiling of his iconic Model T in 1908 was the first major step in cementing Detroit’s status as a capital of progress, and other automotive leaders soon followed Ford’s move. By the 1950s, Detroit was a flourishing boomtown, a symbol of American technological ingenuity and a cultural capital full of Art Deco theatres, sweeping avenues, and grandiose architecture.

Now, that same spirit of technological innovation is helping to foster Detroit’s phoenix-like rebirth. The city’s proliferation of available office spaces and low overhead costs has created welcoming turf for a new generation of start-ups and entrepreneurs. According to recent statistics, Detroit is growing at a faster pace than Silicon Valley – and is currently home to some of the country’s most-watched start-ups.

Nowhere encompasses that spirit better than TechTown: a business accelerator and hub of innovation, it’s at the heart of the Detroit tech start-up boom. Situated in New Center, it has served 1,026 companies and contributed more than 1,000 jobs to the local economy since 2007. Not to mention that the very history of Detroit-brand innovation infuses its on-trend, open-plan office: located within a renovated Albert Kahn building that once housed Chevrolet offices, the Corvette was designed on its third floor.

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Mahogany Jones Hosts The 2nd Annual Denim Day Detroit In Honor Of Sexual Assault Awareness Month

WSJ: Detroit Institute Of Arts Is The World’s Most Visitor-Friendly Museum

A distant view of Diego Rivera (1886-1957) and Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) kissing is an unusual, if apt, photo panel introducing an important exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts; but it also reminds us of the baggage that accompanies us whenever we see shows of artists we think we know. While not an assertive attempt at revisionist art history, “Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit” makes a solid case for Rivera’s stature as a major figure in 20th-century art, even if fashion, feminism and fetishism have conspired in his reputation being posthumously eclipsed by Kahlo’s. And it reveals the artists in a different light, suggesting that, like politics, all art is also (somewhat) local.

Having spent the first two decades of the 20th century in Paris, Rivera painted some respectable cubist paintings and was very much a part of that city’s artistic community. Then, inspired by the promise of radical political changes, he returned to his native Mexico in 1921; he is best known as the primary master of the celebrated mural movement that is still one of that country’s artistic crowning glories. By 1929 there was already an English-language publication celebrating his murals. And in late 1931 New York’s Museum of Modern Art accorded him the honor of its second one-man exhibition (Matisse was the first).

About a year earlier, in December 1930, the DIA’s then-director, William R. Valentiner, had met Rivera in San Francisco and, as recalled in his unpublished memoir, felt that the artist’s “interest in economic and industrial development . . . [was] particularly suited to portray Detroit and its industries.” With funding from Edsel Ford (Henry’s son), Valentiner invited Rivera to paint murals in the interior courtyard of what was then a relatively new museum building. The culture clash appears obvious: An artist known for his involvement with international Communism and for the left-wing political content of his art was commissioned to create a celebration of capitalism (officially “Detroit Industry”) in what was then one of its world hubs, with the tab being picked up by a prominent capitalist. What he delivered, after arriving in Detroit in April 1932, turned out to be a brilliant visual encomium to both the captains of industry and the workers who enabled their triumph.

Happily, the Rivera murals have survived lots of political battles—over both their content and (more recently) their monetary value—remaining among the greatest in situ works of art in our country. The current exhibition sheds light on the careers of both Rivera and Kahlo, who were married in 1929, by bringing together 48 works by the former and 26 by the latter. More importantly, it enlarges our understanding of how the DIA murals were painted, with its special focus on the year (1932-33) the two spent in Detroit.

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Not Only Is Lion's QB Matt Stafford Quick On His Game, He's Quick With The (TMZ) Stalkerazzi

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It's Almost Speedo Weather, Detroit: Penobscot 50 Story Climb With A Certified Trainer Every Friday!

Get ready for some fitness fun! Anytime Fitness Detroit is hosting fun-infused weekly stair climb at the Penobscot Building downtown Detroit at 12 o’clock p.m. every Friday during the Spring and Summer months.

Penobscot Friday Climb will be lead by certified personal trainers and are designed for people of every fitness level. They are open to all adults, not just Anytime Fitness members.

“With the recent news that Penobscot building’s ownership is committed to reopening it’s observation deck–  we hope that Penobscot Friday Climb will give Detroiters a sneak peak of the breathtaking rooftop view. The cost of admission is a 50 story stair climb with a personal trainer!  said Dakota Shayne,  General Manager of Anytime Fitness Detroit. “Sometimes you have to take fitness outside of the gym to keep it fun. Penobscot Friday Climb is a great opportunity to do so.”

WHAT: Penobscot Friday Climb
WHEN: 645 Griswold Street (Meet in Front Lobby of Penobscot Building)
TIME: 12:00 pm
WHO: People of all ages and every fitness level
WHAT TO BRING: Wear comfortable clothing and tennis shoes; bring a water bottle

Techweek Detroit to Host Extensive Lineup of Industry Innovators

Techweek Detroit will kickoff on Monday, April 13, 2015 as it returns for its second year in Detroit.  Offering the insights and wisdom of more than 30 local and national industry leaders, Techweek Detroit will build upon its reputation as the nation’s leading technology conference and festival.

Presented by Quicken Loans, Techweek Detroit is dedicated to bringing together entrepreneurs, visionaries, influencers and thought leaders to make the world a better place through tech entrepreneurship while showcasing, celebrating and enabling emerging innovation ecosystems.  The week long festival will culminate with a two-day conference and expo on April 16-17 at Ford Field where attendees can hear first-hand the importance of innovative technology from those who not only create it but pioneer it.

Many of Detroit’s emerging success-stories across technology, including those in finance, startups, health, e-commerce, fashion, makers and more will be recognized and discussed at Techweek Detroit. It is the mission of Techweek Detroit to provide an open space for all who are passionate about technology to be a part of the conversation.

This year, the event’s conference and expo will feature:

·       High-Profile Speakers: Techweek Detroit will showcase influential leaders in technology who will discuss trends, innovation, growth, action and change both for Detroit and for the tech industry as a whole. Notable names include: Tige Savage, Managing Partner of Revolution Ventures; Michelle Lee, Deputy Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office; Veronika Scott, Founder & CEO of The Empowerment Plan; Chris Rizik, CEO of Renaissance Venture Capital Fund; Jon Rimanelli, Founder & CEO of Detroit Aircraft; Jennifer Guarino, VP, Leather of Shinola; Luis Perez, CFO of Detroit Lions; Carl Erickson, CEO of Atomic Object; Dan Ward, Co-Founder of Detroit Labs; Elaina Farnsworth, CEO of Mobile Comply; Dug Song, CEO of Duo Security; and Chris Thomas, Found & Partner of Fontinalis Partners. A full schedule can be found at: http://www.techweek.com/schedule/detroit.


·       LAUNCH Startup Competition: Pre-qualified startups will compete for cash and sponsor-donated gifts valued at $50,000 from 1-5 p.m. on Thursday, April 16. Each participating startup will pitch its business and will be judged by a panel of top tech and business leaders, who will ultimately decide the winner of the 2015 Techweek Detroit LAUNCH Competition.


·       Hiring Fair: Whether searching for a new, exciting role or looking to bring an idea to fruition, the Hiring Fair is all about matching talented people with the right jobs. The Hiring Fairattracts top businesses, ranging from startups to well-established tech brands. Attendees who bring a resume will be granted complimentary access to the Hiring Fair, which will take place from 12 –5 p.m. on Friday, April 17.

·       Film Screening: Join fellow attendees at the Private Film Screening of Citizenfour. The 2014 documentary, directed by reporter Laura Poitras, tells the story of her clandestine correspondence with then unknown source “Citizenfour.” Five months later, she and reporters Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill flew to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with Edward Snowden. The documentary won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2015 Oscars. The documentary will be shown at the M@dison Building at 1555 Broadway Street on Tuesday, April 14.

For more information, see the schedule at: http://techweek.com/schedule/detroit/

 Fashion & Wearables Runway Show: The latest in wearable technology and e-commerce will bring the intersection of technology and fashion front-and-center at the FashionTECH Runway Show on Friday, April 17 at 7 p.m. The show will feature technology leaders walking the catwalk in the latest styles provided by emerging brands and e-retailers. The show will be preceded by a happy hour from 5:30 – 7 p.m. and will begin shortly thereafter at Ford Field on the Summit Stage.

"Techweek's mission is to build a better world through tech entrepreneurship. In Detroit, we want to bring together the best and brightest in technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation for a week that is jam-packed with events where cutting edge technology is on display, people are inspired and the city's tech revival is showcased -- both locally and nationally,” said Allison Konkel, Chief Strategy Officer of Techweek. “Techweek Detroit 2015 will bring together remarkable ideas, important conversations and an incredible experience to provide a platform on which to unite those who are passionate about technology.”

Top sponsors of Techweek Detroit 2015 include: Quicken Loans, General Motors, Verizon Wireless, Priority Health and Goldman Sachs.

To learn more about Techweek Detroit or to register, visit http://techweek.com/detroit

Fortune: Why Detroit Could Be The Next Silicon Valley

General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, left and Google headquarters in Mountain View, California.Photographs by Getty Images/AP

As manufacturing grows more high tech, software will play a bigger role.

Historically, the economies of Detroit and Silicon Valley couldn't look more different: the Motor City has long been known as a hub for manufacturing and the auto industry, while innovations in technology have dominated Silicon Valley. Despite their differences, these cities are actually more similar than most think.

Increasingly, manufacturing has gone high-tech in Detroit, while the Silicon Valley/San Jose region has seen an uptick in manufacturing. This isn't what we might expect, but to understand this convergence, it helps to look at a recent Brookings report, which lists a group of 50 advanced industries, ranging from automobile manufacturing to software development. Together, they contain our nation’s most competitive and innovative firms. Nationally, these industries have an outsized impact on the economy—just 9% of the workforce, they produce 17% of gross domestic product and, since the end of the recession, advanced industries have created 65% of new jobs.

It would surprise no one that San Jose and Silicon Valley have the highest concentration of advanced industries workers in the country, with 30% of all jobs in the metro area in one of these R&D and STEM-intensive industries. While some might think Facebook  and Twitter  dominate the Valley, manufacturing actually employs nearly half (46.1%) of workers. These 134,000 workers produce everything from semiconductors to computer equipment to aerospace parts and pharmaceuticals.

The reverse dynamic is at play in Detroit. While the automotive industry accounts for over one-third of all advanced industry employment, services still employ almost half. Over 32,000 professionals in the Detroit metro area are employed in the computer systems design sector alone—many of which feed into the larger automotive supply chain.

Still, even this data obscures just how much the business of innovation is changing —and how firms are responding. General Motors remains one of the largest employers in Detroit, mostly within automotive manufacturing. But increasingly, the automaker has also been getting into the software space, according to patenting data, which shows that GM filed 592 software patents over the past five years, accounting for over 15% of their patenting activity.

Similarly, Google, a software company, is rapidly moving into manufacturing. Thirty-nine percent of its patents from 2007-2012 have been in hardware — computer hardware, yes, but also power and energy devices, as well as mechanical hardware—many originating from their ambitious autonomous car project. The very fact that the world’s leading software giant is moving into the automotive sphere (and that one of Detroit’s Big Three automakers invests so much in software R&D) shows just how integrated these two industries have become.


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USA Today: We Will Pay You To Live Here

Campus Martius Park has proved to be a bright spot in downtown Detroit, helping to revitalize its troubled urban core with a skating rink, fountain, gardens and French bistro.(Photo: Nathan Weber)

Excerpt:

Other cities have taken a more aggressive approach to wooing young talent. Some are led by city government, others by corporations looking to attract new employees, others by nonprofits.

Last year, activists in once-bankrupt Detroit launched Write a House in an effort to revitalize a city littered with the abandoned shells of once-glorious houses. Their schtick: to give away a house to a writer who wanted to move to Detroit. In November, Brooklyn poet Casey Rocheteau moved to the city, the first to win a house in the national contest. (There will be another giveaway contest; Write a House will start taking applications on April 27.)

Companies like Quicken Loans and Compuware launched a "Live Downtown" program offering real estate incentives for their employees. New homeowners can receive up to $20,000 in a forgivable loan toward the purchase of a downtown Detroit residence, while renters get a $2,500 in their first year renting. Over the past four years, Quicken has either hired or relocated 12,500 employees to work in the downtown center, where they can take advantage of the company's housing program, according to Josh McManus, director of "assorted and diverse things" at Rock Ventures, the parent company of Quicken Loans. (Yes, that is his actual title.)

"You do need to attract tech talent; a lot of our companies are technology companies that require specific talent. But there's also a clear sense of being part of a bigger mission, to be part of the next phase of a great American city," said McManus, who moved to Detroit five years ago and has taken advantage of his company's housing incentives.

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Coming To Detroit! Bloomberg Philanthropies To Invest $30M in Arts and Culture In 6 Cities

Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the nationwide expansion of the Arts Innovation and Management (AIM) program, formerly known as the Arts Advancement Initiative. The invitation-only program seeks to strengthen nearly 300 small- and mid-sized organizations within six cities: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Through the two-year initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies will offer $30 million of unrestricted general operating support. It will also include arts management training in fundraising, audience development and board member engagement.

“Nonprofit arts groups do so much to help cities thrive, but they often face major funding challenges. Effective management and fundraising practices are absolutely critical for arts organizations, especially those with small budgets,” said Michael R. Bloomberg. “These grants will help arts groups make the most of their resources, reach more people, and have an even bigger impact on their communities.”

Piloted in New York City, Bloomberg Philanthropies supported 245 grantees through AIM from 2011-2013. Participating organizations reported improvements in audience development, board engagement and fundraising over the two-year program:

Audience development: 79% reached new audiences through targeted marketing campaigns and social media.

Board engagement: 95% improved board member engagement by adding new members and/or increasing board giving.

Fundraising: 88% leveraged the grant to secure new contributions from donors.

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Go Vote: 3 Metro Detroit Chefs In the Running For Food & Wine's "Best New Chef: Great Lakes Contenders"

VOTE HERE! 

Photo © Sal Rodriguez

Marc Djozlija

Restaurant: Wright & Co.

Location: Detroit

Why He's Amazing: Because the Wolfgang Puck alumnus now has his own place in downtown Detroit, where he serves excellent, boldly flavored small plates like bay scallops in brandy and dates with almonds and Gorgonzola.

Background: Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group (multiple locations)

Quintessential Dish: Lime-poached shrimp with cilantro-tomato relish and avocado mousse

Advice to Young Cooks: Never stop learning. “What do you do when there’s nothing to do? Don’t be complacent. A lot of the best chefs in the world are just conscientious people who are information sponges and never went to culinary school.”

Photo © Jeff Nguyen of Jefresh

Garrett Lipar

Restaurant: Torino

Location: Ferndale, MI

Why He's Amazing: Because he’s cooking some of the most innovative food that Detroit has ever seen: locally sourced and foraged ingredients presented simply but stunningly, inspired by his time cooking in Sweden.

Background: Boka (Chicago); Public (New York City)

Quintessential Dish: Birch bark flour waffle with porcini mushroom powder and acorn squash gelato

Nordic Influence: Lipar spent time cooking as an intern at Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm and in other restaurants around Scandinavia before taking the reins at Torino.

Photo © David Lewinski

James Rigato

Restaurant: The Root

Location: White Lake, MI

Why He's Amazing: Because, tucked away in a suburban Michigan strip mall, his thoughtfully sourced, farm-to-table cooking is gaining national attention—he was a contestant on Top Chef season 12.

Background: The Rugby Grille at The Townsend Hotel (Birmingham, MI); Shiraz Grille (Grand Rapids, MI)

Quintessential Dish: Crispy braised Michigan pork belly with creamed sweet corn and kimchi

Secret Talent: Karaoke. “I crush karaoke! I want to open a karaoke bar. I love getting up on stage and singing ‘The Beautiful Ones’ or ‘Purple Rain’ by Prince.”

Detroit Bikes Inks Landmark Deal with New Belgium Brewing

Detroit Bikes has announced a deal with New Belgium Brewing to produce 2,415 bikes to promote the beer maker’s Fat Tire Amber Ale.

Detroit Bikes, North America's largest manufacturer of bicycles, will produce the custom-designed bikes at its 50,000 square-foot factory in Detroit. The company expects to add about ten workers to meet the increased demand and to begin shipping the Fat Tire bikes early next year.

Inspired by the iconic bicycle on New Belgium’s Fat Tire Amber Ale label, the new bike will be awarded to New Belgium employees for their one-year anniversaries and used for fundraisers and other giveaways.

“This order is a win-win,” said Zak Pashak, Detroit Bikes founder and president. “New Belgium Brewing gets a quality product that’s made-in-the-USA, and Detroit Bikes is able to partner with an outstanding company that shares our vision of encouraging cycling.”

"While there are quite a few small, custom bike builders in the US, there are very few options for larger volume, production bicycle manufacturers," said New Belgium Brewing bike designer, Ryan McKee.  “New Belgium is responsible for putting more than 2,000 bikes out into the world annually. To double down on such an awesome idea with bicycles made right in Detroit - it's twice as nice.”

“Zak and his team at Detroit Bikes exemplify the cultural renaissance that is currently happening in Detroit,” said McKee. “We appreciate Detroit Bike's love and respect for the bicycle as a sustainable vehicle for change."