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Featured Stories
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Man does not live by gluten-free vegan cuisine alone. Some might argue that's not living at all. For all the love that's given to the how-green-is-my-garden folks, Metromode's Nicole Rupersburg feels it's time to give a big bloody hug to locals who want to put their incisors to good use.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Metromode continues Nicole Rupersburg's two-part series on the region's new generation of restaurateurs and how they're changing Metro Detroit's dining landscape.
Patrick Dunn
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Architecture can catalyze a neighborhood or change the way we think about our community. It can be inspiring, iconic, or even controversial. So which buildings rate as game-changers in Metro Detroit? We asked a quartet of prominent local architects to select twelve buildings worth paying attention to.
Kim North Shine
Thursday, October 11, 2012
John and Elizabeth Bornoty are on a mission: To change people's opinions about salad. And it seems to be working. As the founders and owners of Grosse Pointe Woods' The Big Salad, the couple is building a fast-growing franchise that puts produce front and center as a healthy meal.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, September 20, 2012
It's an app app app world. Metromode's Jon Zemke quizzes some of Metro Detroit's CEOs on which business apps they can't live without, which apps others should use, and which locally produced apps are worth checking out.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, September 13, 2012
This point cannot be labored enough: The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office affirmed Detroit's growing manufacturing and knowledge economy by opening its first-ever satellite location in Detroit. Metromode examines the U.S.P.T.O's activities in the region, and what its presence means for the area's economy.
Patrick Dunn
Thursday, August 09, 2012
The countdown has begun, summer is winding down. And if you're like us, there's a list of stuff you meant to do while the weather was warm and the days were long. But where to start? Well, we've got some thoughts about that...
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Beer. Bicycles. Two great tastes that taste great together. Or so the slogan goes. With the ever-growing popularity of breweries and cycling, it was inevitable that Metro Detroit (like many other parts of the country) would figure out a way to combine the two.
Patrick Dunn
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The popularity of the drive-in movie theater may have faded but come summertime Metro Detroiters still seem to crave the experience of outdoor cinema. Metromode takes a quick tour of communities offering movie nights in their parks and downtowns.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, June 21, 2012
If you want further evidence that locally sourced food and craft-brewed beverages are becoming the new normal, consider any local festival or fundraiser worth its salt. Michigan-made products have become event necessities, culinary carrots that are dangled in front of enthusiastic attendees.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Metro Detroit's got pickle pride! This humble, homegrown, and oh-so tasty snack has a long history in Motown, and now a new generation of briners and picklers are ready to carry the torch ... or wield the jars, as the case may be. From gherkins to kimchi to sauerkraut and all points between, food fermentation is our new black.
Natalie Burg
Thursday, September 22, 2011
It's where the academic rubber meets the real world road. U-M's "Semester In The D" program places 25 students in Motown for a semester to learn how Detroit defines Michigan's past and its future.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The argument against mass transit in Southeast Michigan has always hinged on the region's lack of density. But that hasn't stopped sprawling metros like Phoenix and Salt Lake City from building highly successful light rail systems. Metromode reruns a story that's as relevant today as it was four years ago.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Craft beers, heirloom produce, artisanal breads - not all foods are created equal. Now a network of local cafes are looking to get Metro Detroiters to reconsider that most sacred of beverages - the cup of Joe. Unconvinced? Consider this: Wine has 750 flavor profiles; coffee has 1500.
Jeff Meyers
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Last winter the Knight Foundation and Gallup released a survey that found that cities do better economically when the people in them want to stick around. So, what do Metro Detroiters value most when it comes to place? Cultural amenities, education, and community openness. Metromode takes a deep dive into the survey's results.
Jeff Meyers
Thursday, December 16, 2010
In the shadow of this past weekend's Big Chill hockey extravaganza, The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition --an American Idol-style contest for start-ups-- was held in Ann Arbor. More important than the $1 million in cash and support handed out was the collaboration exhibited by regional business leaders. Is there a new age of cooperation dawning in SE Michigan?
Jeff Meyers
Thursday, December 16, 2010
If anyone doubts that Metro Detroit is a hotbed of invention, entrepreneurship and creative thinking they just haven't been paying attention. Metromode once again unearthed a treasure trove of people, companies and communities that are evolving our sense of place, building our new economy, and promoting innovation at every turn. As we ring out the year we look back at a baker's dozen of stories that inspired us!
Jon Zemke
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Beer here now! If anyone knows the meaning of those word it's Mike Plesz. The serial brewpreneur has been launching local microbrew pubs since 1994. His latest endeavor --Rochester's Mind Body & Spirits-- is a successful sustainability-oriented restaurant. Plesz talks with Metromode about beer, local food production, green practices, and more beer. Bottoms up!
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, December 02, 2010
To some it's cheap comfort food. To others, a highly nuanced cultural cuisine. Either way barbecue has become the go-to dining trend in Metro D. Whether it's Texas, Carolina, or Louisiana-style, local fans are passionate about their pit, rub, and sauce preferences.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Everyone and their granny has a blog. But how many web-based wordsmiths know how to earn a buck for their efforts? From blog-based record labels to Internet journalists to movie deals for embarrassing text messages, some Metro Detroit bloggers are turning their passions into paychecks.
Walter Wasacz
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Whether you're a techno veteran or a newbie, it's hard not to notice Detroit's notoriety for beat-matching talent. But how to encapsulate a music scene that we export all over the world? Metromode offers an A-Z primer for those who are looking to wrap their heads around the sounds that make us spin round.
Metromode Staff
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Ypsilanti has developed a rep for being the place for local
artists and do-it-yourself creatives. The Shadow Art Fair has played no
small part in making this happen. Concentrate's Speaker Series
has invited the organizers --members of the Michigan Design Militia-- to
talk about their experiences and what their success means for our
region's future. Sign up now for this November 10th event!
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, October 28, 2010
From Berkley to Romeo to Ann Arbor, Metro Detroit is all about All Hallow's Eve. And we're not talking about the commercial scare factories and creepy corn mazes that dot SE Michigan's landscape. These are homegrown, neighborhood efforts that turn quiet residential streets into a free-to-see Halloween hullabaloo.
Julianne Mattera
Thursday, August 26, 2010
It's no surprise that Zingerman's breeds a love of food in its staff, but entrepreneurship? Julianne Mattera talks to a trio of former employees who have taken what they've learned from Ann Arbor's beloved deli and turned it into successful businesses across the country.
Dennis Archambault
Thursday, August 26, 2010
University presses have found a unique niche in the publishing world, producing books by local writers with a decidedly local focus. Dennis Archambault looks at how Wayne State and U-M are evolving their imprints in the age of shrinking higher ed funding and digital innovation.
Metromode Staff
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Whether it's inspiring community conversation, helping to establish a
sense of place, or fueling economic development, Marc Folk believes that
public art matters. As executive director of the Arts Commission of
Greater Toledo, he oversees the oldest Percent For The Arts program east
of the Mississippi. Marc will be talking about why public art is a wise
investment and taking your questions at Concentrate's next Speaker Series event -
Thursday, August 5th.
Dennis Archambault
Thursday, July 29, 2010
"Game changing technologies". "Thinking outside the box". "Bucking the status quo". Business is big on innovative jargon, but what does it really take to remake the economic landscape? Whether it was the automobile a hundred years ago or last year's iPad, disruptive thinking is more than just risk-taking entrepreneurship, it's the business of course-altering creation. And the financial impacts are staggering.
Constance Crump
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
He penned Patti Smith's "Dancing Barefoot," played with Iggy Pop, David Bowie, and Blondie, and thinks Metro Detroit is the perfect place for him to write his music. Rock icon Ivan Kral chats about the region's rock scene, reminisces about the past, and previews his newly remastered punk rock documentary, The Blank Generation.
Dennis Archambault
Thursday, July 01, 2010
For most companies the mantra is: grow big and grow fast. Of course, given the current economy, any growth would be a blessing. But what if slow growth were the long term strategy? With a focus on work/life issues, purpose, and entrepreneurial pride, some Metro Detroit firms have consciously decided they'd rather be the tortoise than the hare.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Metro Detroit's young gun restaurateurs are thriving in an otherwise tough economy. Balancing style, location, and affordability, they've created popular eateries that cater to hip and enthusiastic crowds.
Melinda Clynes
Thursday, May 20, 2010
What's in a name? When it comes to Metro Detroit microbrews a whole heckuva lot. From Bam Biere to Ghettoblaster, Luciernaga to Final Absolution, Melinda Clynes gets the skinny on where the names and wonderful beer labels come from for some of our favorite local libations.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, May 06, 2010
"It's in our DNA to do amazing things," says Harvey Ovshinsky. Metromode's Jon Zemke sits down with the veteran video producer and screenwriter to talk about Michigan's Film Incentives and their potential impact on the state's investment opportunities, job growth, and brain drain.
Leia Menlove
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Shoot the moon! There are over 900 non-profit organizations in Washtenaw
County, and most are headed up by women. Leia Menlove talks to a
quartet of young women about the personal and professional rewards of
non-profit leadership.
Dennis Archambault
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sometimes bigger isn't better. In Ann Arbor the small giant movement is catching on, and it's attracting some Metro Detroit companies as well. Their philosophy? Profit is good but the bottom line should not be the be all / end all of your company's existence.
Kate Rose
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Throw a stone in the air in Ann Arbor and if you miss a student or
professor you're bound to bruise an entrepreneur. Writer Kate Rose decided to seek out a few of the city's young start-up types
to better understand what drives them to succeed and how they turned
obstacles into opportunities.
Michelle Martinez
Thursday, April 01, 2010
It's about innovation and invention, not stealing your credit card info. With a trio of open-source, boundary-pushing hackerspaces opening in the last year, Metro Detroit has joined the international ranks of hackerdom. More than gadget-obsessed misfits, these make-geeks are out to make our world a little bit better... and more interesting.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, March 11, 2010
From deli sandwiches to digital advertising, some Metro Detroit companies are reinventing the employer-employee relationship. The result? A happy band of brand experts ...and evangelists.
Terry Parris Jr.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Adversity is the mother of invention. Or so they say. And Michigan is
proving them true. While the rest of the country has seen a decline in
business formation, cities like Ann Arbor are experiencing a start-up
spike.
Concentrate
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Who decides what a downtown looks and feels like? Are we
making our downtowns a place where young and talented people want to
be? Concentrate will be looking for answers at their very first
Speaker Series tonight (March 4th) at the Michigan Theater. Sign up to attend now.
Terry Parris Jr.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
His labor is a chant, His idleness a tune; Oh, for a bee's experience Of clovers and of noon!-Emily DickinsonSpring will soon be sprung and local fields will be busy with more bees than ever. Metro Detroit bee keepers are growing their hobby into a honey of an industry.
Terry Parris Jr.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
It was only a matter of time before pizza went high-tech. From web
tracking to on demand orders from your TiVo, Ann Arbor-based Domino's
has created a brave new world of snarfing.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Innovative ideas? Check. Enthusiastic management team? Check. Capital? Er... working on it. For all Michigan's talk of developing a new economy, its start-ups still need local investors. More specifically: Angel investors. Now, a few VC-savvy players are trying to encourage a new way of thinking in the state's old world entrepreneurs.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Oh, the weather outside is frightful... but inside it's sweaty, sexy and shakin'. Welcome to Metro Detroit salsa dancing, a nighttime dance scene that's pulling in locals of every class and color. From clubs to classes to a vibrant web-based community, Metro Detroiters are discovering the fun of becoming a fierce hot mess.
Constance Crump
Thursday, January 14, 2010
War is hell. It's also very profitable for some Metro Detroit suburbs. Billions of dollars in defense contracts are pouring into communities like Troy, Sterling Heights, Warren and Ann Arbor, and the companies there are finding new jobs for auto engineers who are willing to adapt.
Dennis Archambault
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Not only does stem cell research offer a lifeline to patients with life-threatening diseases, it may also provide an economic lifeline to Southeast Michigan by growing our life sciences industry.
Metromode Staff
Thursday, December 10, 2009
With all the talk of going green and clean, just how sustainable is Metro Detroit becoming? Over the last year Metromode has run across a growing number of
businesses, leaders, and initiatives that are nudging
Michigan's economy and lifestyle toward the green end of the
spectrum. This week we round up evidence that our region is putting its money where its mouth is.
Terry Parris Jr.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
In Ann Arbor a buyout doesn't always mean a sellout. Even though innovative startups
like Fry, Healthmedia, and T/J Technologies have been snapped up by larger
out-of-state companies, they have decided to stay in the city that birthed them.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, October 15, 2009
No soup for you! There's something strangely satisfying about the the culinary war wounds you earn from restaurants that specialize in great food and bad service. Metro Detroit has more than its share of inglorious joints, places where even Seinfeld's Soup Nazi might feel right at home.
Michelle Martinez
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Curbside recycling is not a new fangled idea. Communities across the nation have commited themselves to the practice. So, why is most of Metro Detroit lagging behind? Metromode looks at where we are, where we're going and who's on board.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Over a billion downloads can't be wrong! iPhone apps are the new gold rush of software development, turning backroom start-ups into overnight successes. And Metro Detroit is getting in on the action.
Terry Parris Jr.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
You don't have to go to New York City or Chicago to get top-of-the-world views. Urban professionals are rethinking the traditional big house, big yard template of living, and moving into downtown high rises. From Royal Oak to Birmingham to Ann Arbor, Metromode gives you a sense of what it means to be "movin' on up" in Metro Detroit.
Michelle Martinez
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Making good and making a buck are not necessarily contradictory ideas. Metromode introduces you to a quartet of green collar companies who are trying to do right by both Michigan's economy and the environment.
Nicole Rupersburg
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Largely citified Metro Detroit has been lauded for its soul food, and lately, for its slow food. Rooted in locally grown, sustainable, healthy foodstuffs, the national leader in urban gardening is fertile grounds for the slow food supporters cropping up around the region.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, July 30, 2009
From households to businesses to city government, everyone is in belt-tightening mode. But if there's one thing Metromode believes, it's that necessity is the mother of invention. A few Metro Detroit communities have come up with innovative and inexpensive ways to revitalize their downtowns. Time to take notes!
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The recent Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire reminds us that the Indian subcontinent, with a population of nearly 1.2 billion, occupies a rather large corner of the world. It also represents a growing demographic in Metro Detroit. South Asian culture as expressed through Bollywood films, dance and specialty foods has moved beyond local enclaves onto Main Street Michigan.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sometimes a pink slip is a ticket to a new and better way of working. Meet three Metro Detroit entrepreneurs who turned economic down-sizing into personal right-sizing, by starting their own companies.
Amy Kuras
Thursday, July 16, 2009
In a region littered with Krogers, high quality, locally owned food markets are not only holding their own, they're attracting a loyal fanbase of Metro Detroit foodies.
Megan Pennefather
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Star Wars. Cynicalman. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Mouse Guard. Metro Detroit is home to an ecclectic and fiercely independent group of graphic novelists, cartoonists, and comic book artists. This is their story.
Daniel Johnson
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Meet the wunderkinds behind Titanium Expo Robotics, a company created by three high school kids from Royal Oak. Their land mine-detecting robot not only took top awards at Lawrence Tech's Robofest, it heralds a potentially game-changing industry for Southeast Michigan, while prompting deep ethical questions about where our technological innovations are headed.
Leia Menlove
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Michigan could take a lesson from Healthmedia. From it's early struggles to find local investment to its recent purchase by Johnson & Johnson, the innovative software-as-service company has stayed committed to remaining in Ann Arbor.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Summer break is a plus for students' bodies but a minus for their minds, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. Enter Donna Lasinski, an Ann Arbor entrepreneur and the brains behind ThinkStretch, a summer learning program for public and private elementary school students.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Parking in Southeast Michigan usually means surface lots, driveways and the occasional garage. Ann Arbor's leaders are turning local conventional wisdom on its head, choosing to store cars underground and out of sight as a way to grow development, commerce and urban vibrancy.
Daniel Johnson
Thursday, April 02, 2009
They're under 35 and they got elected. Meet a trio of young Metro Detroit politicians, all determined to bring new ideas and new perspectives to their communities. Can they facilitate the changes SE Michigan so desperately needs?
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Detroit area businesses are all atwitter about social networking websites like Facebook and LinkedIn, which are the interactive pages in the corporate brochure. Metromode links up -- makes friends -- and messages with high-profile denizens of the online scene. The word? Socializing on company time makes good business policy.
Constance Crump
Thursday, March 05, 2009
They're where new businesses are hatched. Where start-ups start up. Southeast Michigan's business incubators offer everything from office supplies to professional mentorship,& helping new economy companies to stand on their own two feet.
Constance Crump
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Sometimes size does matter. Working for a large company like Visteon can be very different than taking a position at a start-up. As Michigan's new economy seeds the ground with small tech firms, transitioning employees must adapt to changing job expectations. Enter Ann Arbor's SPARK with a program to ease the way.
Ryan Allen
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Homegrown, homemade, home brewed. Whether it's the faltering economy or a rejection of what prefab corporate America has to offer, Metro Detroit do-it-yourselfers are taking matters into their own hands. And it's good libations all 'round for local beer aficionados, who are learning to handcraft their own buzz.
Chris McCarus
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Interest in transit for Southeast Michigan is gaining ground but no ground has been broken. Even with plans for easy on and off trains from Detroit to Pontiac and Ann Arbor to Detroit no one seems to be able to close the deal. Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus compares Michigan's lack of action with Boston's investment in rail and its $16 billion big dig.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, January 22, 2009
For generations getting around Metro Detroit meant one thing: four wheels. Local leaders are pushing hard to give Detroiters the option to travel on two rails. The Woodward light rail and Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail lines are tantalizingly close to becoming reality. Metromode takes a look at the viability of these projects and their potential impact 10-20 years from now.
Terry Parris Jr.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Smoky bars are nothing new in SE Michigan but ones that smell like apple and peach? Hookah culture is becoming more and more popular with young Metro Detroiters, and Dearborn, with its large Middle Eastern population, is ground zero.
Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The race is on! States around the Union are looking into alternative energy strategies big and small. And Michigan is no exception. With all the talk of wind power and alternative fuels, discussions of solar have been pretty absent. Is it our notoriously grey winters? Kelli Kavanaugh checks out who's looking to let the sun shine in in Metro Detroit.
Lucy Ament
Thursday, December 11, 2008
While there's no shortage of big box multiplexes in Metro Detroit, the region also boasts a handful of vintage and offbeat movie houses that make a trip to the theater all the more magical. Not only do these venues offer a wider range of cinema, we at Metromode swear the popcorn tastes better.
Lucy Ament
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Most designers want to make bold statements, to put their signature on high profile projects. Brothers Erik and Israel Nordin of Detroit Design Center have more modest goals. They want to make their mark in the mundane, reinventing the functional design of components in residential and commercial spaces while bringing a new aesthetic to Metro Detroit.
Dennis Archambault
Thursday, November 13, 2008
As corporate radio blands out the airwaves with lowest common denominator programming, local college radio remains the last bastion for original and ecclectic soundscapes. And with the Internet, these student-run shows are finding listeners all over the globe.
Amy Whitesall
Thursday, November 06, 2008
At hockey rinks around Ann Arbor, "You shoot like my mom," is not necessarily an insult. Scores of local women are tossing their figure skates aside, shredding ice and aiming to put their own 'bisquit in the basket.' Alaska's got nothing on SE Michigan when it comes to hockey moms.
Chris McCarus
Thursday, October 02, 2008
In the race to produce cheaper renewable energy, one U-M professor is looking to harness electricity from the Detroit River using experimental cylinders. Chris McCarus has the story on Metromode Radio's latest podcast.
Lucy Ament
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Grosse Pointe really wants a Downtown Development Authority. Three quarters of Metro Detroit's cities already have one. So, what do these governmental organizations do and why does it matter? Metromode takes a look at how Ann Arbor and Royal Oak leverage their DDA's to create a vibrant, healthy urban core.
Ryan Allen
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Everyone is talking about how Michigan's economy needs to evolve, but what about our local businesses? The old model of assigned cubicles and sanctioned coffee breaks is being rejected by the next generation of talent and some high tech companies in Ann Arbor are getting the clue.
Jon Zemke
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Forbes says SE Michigan is among the 5 worst places in the US to find a job. W2 jobs, that is. Not only do 60% of businesses employ 1099 workers, their ranks are quickly growing --particularly in communities like Ann Arbor and Royal Oak. So, how does the state accommodate this new class of highly educated, independent employee?
Scott Paul Dunham
Thursday, August 28, 2008
There's a lot of talk about Tech Transfer but not everyone understands what it is, and what it could mean to Michigan's new economy. Metromode gives you the lowdown along with a snapshot of how U-M, WSU and Lawrence Tech intend to leverage their innovations into marketplace successes.
Ryan Allen
Thursday, August 14, 2008
It wasn't what Gil Scott Heron envisioned, but the revolution just may yet be televised. As YouTube becomes the place to be seen, Metro Detroit's savvier rock bands are using Internet video to create their own scene.
Chris Handyside
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Despite the all-encompassing digital age, vinyl has gotten its groove back, filling a high-end niche that CDs and MP3s just can't seem to scratch. Metromode crunches the numbers, charts the trends and points you toward Metro Detroit's best (and still thriving) LP peddlers.
Constance Crump
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Ann Arbor's one of the brainiest, greenest and most walkable cities in the country. Not to mention a great place for sandwiches, bicycling and getting pregnant. Too bad it's also one of the worst places to find a job. This SE Michigan community sure ends up on a lot of lists. Best of, Worst of, what does it all mean?
Dennis Archambault
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The handwriting is on the wall: SE Michigan's economy needs to develop new industries in order to thrive. Given the power and prestige of our local research universities and the fact that biotech startups are popping up like dandelions, some see the life sciences industry as our next best hope.
Shannon McCarthy
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Jokingly referred to as the 'Michigan Mafia', book printers like Edward Brothers, McNaughton And Gunn, and a veritable bookshelf of other binding, printing and publishing companies bring millions of dollars and well over a thousand jobs to Washtenaw County. Whether it's Harry Potter, college text books, or U-M's partnership with Google's book digitization project, it's clear that the last chapter in Ann Arbor's publishing history has yet to be written.
Leia Menlove
Thursday, May 29, 2008
New economy start-ups need banks that offer new economy know-how. Enter Bank of Ann Arbor's Technology Industry Group, the only program of its kind in Michigan. Modeled after the ground-breaking Silicon Valley Bank, it supports local emerging technologies and entrepreneurs in ways corporate banking giants can't.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Toss that bag of Funyuns. Instead, grow some real onions! Area agriculture gurus offer up some sage advice on how and why Michigan's second largest industry should get its fair share of attention.
Jeff Meyers
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Once upon a time, Detroit's auto industry was founded on the visions of its leaders and the risks investors made supporting them. So, where do promising new local companies go today to raise the funds they need? For 27 years the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium has helped provide an answer. The annual two-day event starts today in Ypsilanti. Could it provide the missing link to Michigan's economic evolution?
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Computer science + design + social science = Innovation. Concentrate checks out the student projects at the University of Michigan's School of Information and witnesses the next evolutionary stage in information technology.
Lucy Ament
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Got nanotech? Southeast Michigan does. Metromode has seen the future even though it's invisible to the naked eye. The next evolution in technology is occurring at the atomic level and it just may usher in a new industrial revolution.
Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Thursday, April 17, 2008
"The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind..." Kelli B. Kavanaugh takes an in-depth look at how Michigan can leverage its engineering and manufacturing assets to become a world leader in wind power technology.
Melinda Clynes
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
No longer content to sup on artisanal wine, bread and cheese, SE Michigan's foodies have extended their quest for the authentic into the realm of desserts. From old world pastries to gourmet chocolates to high-falutin' cupcakes, Metro Detroit's sweet tooth has grown sophisticated. And a few smart cookies are cashing in on their cravings.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Ollie up, folks! Ride Metromode's skateboard to the bowls, ledges, and rails of Farmington Hills' future Riley Skate Park …and then read about Ann Arbor's roll towards building its own skater sanctuary.
Amy Whitesall
Thursday, April 10, 2008
From Halo to Hummer, Ann Arbor-based Ghostly International may be musical tastemakers to the world but founder Sam Valenti IV is really just preserving his legacy as the cool neighborhood record-store guy.
Melinda Clynes
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Black Lotus, Dragonmead, Jolly Pumpkin and Grizzly Peak. They're more than just cool names. Michigan's beer industry accounted for $133 million of the state's economy last year and, despite the current market, business is growing. Melinda Clynes chats with several of the region's microbrewers about what's on tap this season and where things are headed next.
Tracy Certo
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Are you part of the Creative Class? Richard Florida has become the bell of the new urbanist ball, dividing the world into "spiky" mega regions with psychological personalities all their own. Translation: Where the nation's best talent chooses to live says as much about you as it does about them. So how does southeast Michigan stack up?
Jon Zemke
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Some SE Michigan communities are determined to drop their rustbelt in favor of something a bit more au natural. But it's not trendiness that inspires cities like Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Wyandotte to implement the holy trinity of sustainability --wind, solar, conservation-- but rather the greenbacks they'll save by doing so.
Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Thursday, February 28, 2008
After years of lagging behind the west coast of the state, SE Michigan is turning green in leaps and bounds. Climb aboard for a discussion of what the green building standard LEED actually means, and check out some prime examples of its application here in Metro Detroit.
Amy Kuras
Thursday, February 14, 2008
As Generations X and Y reach their childrearing years, they find few family-time options that reflect their desire to swim against the mainstream. From urban to urbane, there's a growing national trend for play spaces and social groups that cater to hip kids.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wunderkind Chris Rizik gives new meaning to the word, "multitasking." From his simultaneous careers as an entrepreneur and financier to the writer and publisher of the most popular soul music website in the country, this Ann Arborite's life has hit one high note after another.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Long intimidated by automotive roadhogs, cyclists are reclaiming their rightful place along the nation's highways and byways. From hilly Seattle to dense beyond dense New York City, bike lanes are becoming the urban standard. Metromode's Tanya Muzumdar looks at how Metro Detroit stacks up.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Basho said, "Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home." Some Metro Detroiters are taking those words to heart and making their house the adventure.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Southeast Michigan is replete with literary talent, drawing from the corridors of its hallowed halls of higher learning, the working class experiences on the shop floors and the rough edges of its gritty inner city.
Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey
Thursday, January 17, 2008
The
'D' brand isn't just about pulling in conventions and tourists. With
the D Brand Summit, branding gurus are showing us how the power of the
'D' can also attract more talent and business to the region.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Looking for a New Year's resolution? Whether it's teaching kids to write or maintaining park trails, volunteerism is changing Metro Detroit for the better. As anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has."
Jon Zemke
Thursday, November 15, 2007
If you view mass transit as merely a means of getting from Point A to Point B or as a social service for those who can't afford to buy a car, think again. Mass transit attracts investment. Big investment. Community changing investment. The kind of investment that could revitalize not only Detroit but most of southeast Michigan.
Kelli B Kavanaugh
Thursday, November 15, 2007
If the thought of plummeting temps and skyrocketing heating costs make you want to bury your head in the sand, maybe you should dig a little deeper and start drilling for energy. Geothermal heating systems have long been touted for their "green" benefits. Who knew its supporters were referring to cold hard cash?
Jon Zemke
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Some say the same top-down mentality that has stymied Michigan's ability to expand and diversify its economy is also preventing local governments from initiating bold new policies, putting the breaks on everything from smoke-free spaces to cable access to green building incentives. How does Michigan encourage its cities to think outside the box if the Capitol keeps a firm hand on the lid?
Lucy Ament
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Whatever your opinion, there's no denying that bloggers are dismantling the wall between the public and the press, creating a virtual underground for ideas and opinions. And SE Michigan has more than its fair share of citizen journalists, armchair politicos, cultural pioneers and cranks just sportin' for a fight.
Jeff Meyers
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Experience SE Michigan through the eyes of its best bloggers.
Nancy Kaffer
Thursday, October 25, 2007
As Gen-Xers become homebuyers and baby boomers become empty nesters, seniors are reconsidering their suburban retirement options and choosing downtown living. These "ruppies" bring more than just money to urban neighborhoods, they also bring a commitment to getting involved.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Once upon a time ketchup was the most exotic spice found in Midwest pantries. No more. Foodie-friendly shops are are popping up all over SE Michigan to satisfy our new found craving for exotic, gourmet and artisan foods. Metromode points you toward a few of the best.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Food, glorious food. What more could you ask for?
Amy Whitesall
Thursday, October 18, 2007
From fresh veggies to healthier neighborhoods; SE Michigan's communities are learning that when it comes to the benefits of community gardens, food is just the beginning.
Kimberly Chou
Thursday, October 18, 2007
They're building up but not knocking down — area developers are choosing to redevelop and retrofit Southeast Michigan's historic buildings, and there are more than just tax incentives behind the trend. A look at why the hottest real estate in metro Detroit involves recycling old spaces and what that means for local communities.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Expecting to slow your physical activity in the chilly season? Keep moving. Southeast Michigan offers a host of stimulating ways for the mind and body to play.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, October 04, 2007
To touch the sky or keep things human size? SE Michigan's revitalized downtowns are struggling with the size of their buildings as young professionals look for a more urban experience, leaders see density as a way to combat sprawl and long-time residents worry their community's unique character is compromised.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Pfizer walks out the door and opportunity comes in through the window. Ann Arbor takes inspiration from another Michigan community's post-Pfizer successes and seeds the ground with start ups, SPARK and state support.
Tanya Muzumdar
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
For more than a century, Michigan's esteemed universities have exported their best and brightest to the rest of the world. But some are asking, why aren't we preparing these future inventors and innovators to set up shop here?
Amy E. Whitesall
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Job, schmob. Location is where it's at. More and more young professionals are settling into communities that match their lifestyle, then finding jobs that complete the picture.
Kimberly Chou
Thursday, August 30, 2007
As Michigan evolves its economy, innovative high-tech companies are successfully planting their flags in uncharted territory. For job seekers, however, it means applying for a position that didn't exist five years ago. Kimberly Chou takes a look at three local companies and the cutting edge jobs they're creating.
Tanya C. Muzumdar
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Forget air conditioned movie theaters and malls. Why not beat the heat and burn a few calories while you're at it? Southeast Michigan is home to three world-class ice skating facilities, training both national champions and Olympic competitors.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Rack 'em, stack 'em and move 'em underground. As southeast Michigan communities build better, more compact downtowns new ideas about parking are being put into place.
Amy Whitesall
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Judy Ravin has helped people speak clearly for 15 years, but her accent reduction business is booming as the world gets smaller and the workforce gets more diverse.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Green spaces are not only good for quality of life, environment and recreation, they can also boost the local economy. Think of them as a way to increase your bottom line while reducing your bottom size.
Alex Dziadosz
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Along with the promise of 1,000 new jobs, Google's Adwords office is embracing Ann Arbor in unexpected ways: assisting local non-profits and even teaching high school.
Alex Dziadosz
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Since the decline of the Big Three, it's become clear Michigan businesses need a new model. As technology firms pop up, and global communications allow small companies to compete internationally like never before, more start-ups are realizing that it pays to be David when you're battling Goliaths.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Southeast Michigan is alive with the sound of music... and the silence of mimes. If you want a barometer of how happening your neighborhood is, check out who's playing on the corner. More than just local color, buskers are a leading indicator of downtown vibrancy. After all, when's the last time you saw a drum circle at the local stripmall?
Alex Dziadosz
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Ready or not here he comes! There are plenty of 20 year-olds who think they can change the world but how many of them have started a lucrative web design and multimedia firm at age thirteen? Meet Chris Mwakasisi, CEO of whiteMAKO.
Dr. Ron Suarez
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Dr. Ron Suarez is our guest blogger this week. Ron is a serial entrepreneur and Arbor City Councilmember and founder of
Promovuz, a company offering digital music promotion, statistics and sales.
Check back here each week day to read Ron's thoughts on media, technology and how to do your own podcast.
Scott Paul Dunham
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Like American Idol, each year local startups strut their stuff at the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, presenting in 'lightning round' pitch sessions for the attention of venture capital managers and angel investors. But support can mean more than just a quick infusion of cash, it can also spell success for Michigan's economy.
Melinda Clynes
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Music takes us out of the actual and whispers to us dim secrets that startle our wonder as to who we are." Clearly the man loved his polka. metromode offers up a Summer Music Festival guide worth singing about.
Maud Lyon
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Our guest blogger for this week is Maud Lyon. Maud is the founding director of the Cultural Alliance, and a consultant for numerous nonprofit organizations.Check back here each week day to read Maud's thoughts on the state of arts and culture in Michigan.
Michael Brennan
Thursday, June 07, 2007
United Way president Michael Brennan examines the importance of continued success over time in the fifth installment of his series on a Community of Progress.
Amy E. Whitesall
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Green and urban. More than a contradiction in terms, they're now a movement. Local architects and developers are starting to adopt 'bioregional' philosophy that asks: What does it take to build a sustainable city?
Kimberly Chou
Thursday, May 31, 2007
When we talk about quality of life issues, who considers the region's sizable teen population? Ann Arbor's Neutral Zone is setting the bar for teen community centers, making use of the latest technologies and trends while nurturing the kind of homegrown talent Michigan desperately needs.
Tracy Koe Wick
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Our guest blogger for this week is Tracy Koe Wick. Tracy is Principal of The Kirkwood Group, a real estate consulting firm that markets and promotes new mid-rise and high-rise condominium and loft communities. Check back here each week day to read Tracy's thoughts on the emerging trend of Live/Work residences in suburban Detroit cities.
Kimberly Chou
Thursday, May 24, 2007
"No, that bib doesn't come in scotch plaid." Fashionable kids clothes really are out there--and Oliebollen, an Ann Arbor online store, helps sartorial young parents find them all in one place.
The United Way
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Mass transit is a hot topic at water coolers throughout southeast Michigan. United Way and Metromode are interested in your thoughts on our region’s transportation options.
Dan Gilmartin
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Dan Gilmartin is our guest blogger this week. He is the youngest executive director in the 108 year history of the Michigan Municipal League. Dan previously served as the League's deputy director and as an advocate in Lansing and in Washington, where he concentrated on transportation, land use and urban redevelopment. Check back here each week day to read Dan's thoughts on regionalism and how we can build the kind of community that attracts knowledge-based workers.
United Way
Thursday, May 17, 2007
While Metro Detroit has been identified as one of the most racially segregated regions in the nation, our growing diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Metromode, United Way, and New Detroit are interested in your thoughts on race relations in this community.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, May 17, 2007
"Conventional Wisdom is often wrong." Whether he's writing about abortion, crack dealers or penalty kicks in soccer, "Freakonomic's" author Steven Levitt raises eyebrows and blood pressures with his findings. After a recent lecture at WSU, the rogue economist trained his sights on the Mitten State.
Todd Palmer
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Todd Palmer is our guest blogger this week. Todd founded Diversified Industrial Staffing, a company that provides staffing for manufacturing, construction and logistics businesses, and Diversified PEOple, a professional employer organization for small businesses. He sits on the board of directors for the Detroit Chapter of Entrepreneur’s Organization, and is a recent graduate of the Birthing of Giants class held at MIT. Check back each week day to read Todd's thoughts on keeping, identifying and attracting talent.
Kimberly Chou
Thursday, May 10, 2007
As the buzz for biofuel grows, Michigan has the opportunity to capitalize on its rural and auto-based communities and emerge as a true innovator. Can a state historically dependent on mineral-based energy play a leading role in the national movement toward alternative fuels?
Brian Balasia
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Brian Balasia is our guest blogger this week. Brian founded
Digerati Solutions while an aerospace engineering student at U of M. He currently sits on the board of directors for the Detroit Regional Chamber, WIRED, and the U of M Alumni Society.
Check back here each week day to read Brian's thoughts on attracting talent to SE Michigan and nurturing innovation.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, May 03, 2007
The time has come for Michigan to make bold choices about how to transform its economy, communities and culture. metromode offers up a trio of initiatives and ideas that challenge conventional thinking and dare the state to think big.
Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Food that travels 1500 miles to reach your table defies anyone's notion of "fresh." Isn't it time we traded in McDonald's for Old MacDonald?
Scott Paul Dunham
Thursday, April 26, 2007
We've come a long way from the days of Pac-Man and Space Invaders. Computer games brought in $14 billion in revenue last year and several Michigan companies are claiming their stake in this ever-expanding technology.
Melissa Gessner
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Armed with only a saute pan and a vision, restauranteurs have become urban pioneers, transforming neighborhoods (even whole communities) one meal at a time.
Alex Dziadosz
Thursday, April 19, 2007
With all the news of companies moving out, two firms have decided to settle in SE Michigan, bringing with them hundreds of high-tech jobs. Spurred on by available engineers, a favorable legal climate, and the "midwest work ethic," they may just represent Michigan's future.
Tanya C. Muzumdar
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Pick a path and pound the pavement. From novice joggers to world-class sprinters, Southeast Michigan has everything you need to maintain a constant level of runner's high.
Roger Gullickson
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Roger Gullickson is our guest blogger this week. Roger is the President and CEO of MVP Collaborative since 1996. He moved to Michigan in 1989 to head FTD's Marketing Group after an international career with Tenneco and Case Corporation.
Check back here each weekday to read Roger's thoughts on Michigan's need for renewal and how it can achieve it.
Tanya C. Muzumdar & Jeff Meyers
Thursday, April 19, 2007
If you've got two good legs, a few hours a week and a whole lot of willpower, SE Michigan has got pretty much everything you need to maintain a constant level of runner's high.
Melissa Gessner
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Michigan's economic forecast may be chilly but a trio of local ad agencies just see it as reason to stoke the furnaces of innovation and flex their creative muscle.
Dennis King
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Dennis King is our guest blogger this week. Dennis is President of American Institute of Architects, Michigan and Chairman and CEO of Harley Ellis Devereaux, an award-winning, full-service archittecture firm. Check back here each weekday to read Dennis' thoughts on National Architecture Week and how design and architecture have a profound impact on quality of life.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, April 12, 2007
In celebration of Architecture Week metromode chats with Royal Oak architect Frank Arvan about how architecture and urban design can improve Metro Detroit.
Michael J. Brennan
Thursday, April 05, 2007
To be a community of progress, the development of next generation civic leadership is a requirement of current leadership, says United Way for Southeastern Michigan president Michael J. Brennan.
Pavan Muzumdar
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Pavan Muzumdar is our guest blogger this week. Pavan is the CEO of MV Software Company and a coach for the Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest business plan competition.Check back here every weekday to read Pavan's thoughts about competing in the global marketplace.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Come and get it! For some, the sit down family meal may sound like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. But prepared gourmet meal services and personal chefs are turning grab-and-run meals into dinner hour adventures.
Walter Wasacz
Thursday, March 29, 2007
From Parliament-Funkadelic to the Stooges to the entire stable of Motown artists to today's techno pioneers, metro Detroit isn't the next anything, it is a musical force of nature. Panelists at a recent MOCAD event waxed poetic about our region's reputation for revolutionary sound.
Jim Townsend
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Jim Townsend is our guest blogger this week. He is the executive director of the
Tourism Economic Development Council, serves on the Board of Directors of the
Michigan Suburbs Alliance, which he founded in 2002, and lives with his family in Royal Oak.
Check back here every weekday to read Jim's thoughts about branding our region.
Michael Hastings
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Could Traverse City or Saugatuck be the next Cannes? As Michigan becomes home to a growing number of film festivals, an enthusiastic band of cineastes are bringing Hollywood to the heart of 'fly-over' country.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Professionals across Metro Detroit are ditching their cubicles and "Office Space" culture for cafes, coffee shops and libraries. All these 21st Century professionals need is a lap top, a Wi-Fi connection and a hot cup of Joe to make their way in Michigan's new knowledge-based economy.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Some neo-realism with your money market account? How about fairy dust with that root canal? Local businesses are partnering with artists to help sculpt an identity that stands out against a landscape littered with cookie-cutter chainstores.
Dennis Archambault
Thursday, March 01, 2007
It's a small world after all. As Southeast Michigan plugs into the global marketplace, it finds a world of investors, partners and corporations interested in setting up shop here.
Kimberly Chou
Thursday, February 22, 2007
This money manager left the Golden State for the Midwest and got a chance to nurture Southeast Michigan's venture capitalist investment community.
Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Metro Detroit has a rep for being more rusty than green around the middle, but sustainable initiatives are taking hold. The real question is not if S.E. Michigan can go green, but just how green it will go.
Kimberly Chou
Thursday, February 08, 2007
In just a few short years, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales has established itself as one of the premiere microbreweries in the nation. A family operation, its award-winning ales may just turn Michigan into the go-to state for hand crafted beers.From Scratch puts the spotlight on individuals and companies in SE Michigan that are building their businesses from the ground up. They are true pioneers in the new economy, reinventing the state's identity and laying the foundation for Michigan's future.
Jon Zemke
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Ann Arbor has become a leading advocate for regional mass transit, lobbying hard for a pair of commuter train lines that could connect key parts of Metro Detroit and be an important part of the region's transformation.
Mahendra Ramsinghani
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Mahendra Ramsinghani, our guest blogger this week asks: "By attracting a few entrepreneurs, a lot of economic challenges could be addressed. But could a bumper sticker attract the right entrepreneurs?" Read his final post to learn the answer.
Ramsinghani is with Plymouth Venture Partners in Ann Arbor. Check back here weekdays for more posts.
Tanya Muzumdar
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Venture capital long has been the province of the Silicon Valley and Boston-area firms. It helps create fertile ground for entrepreneurs — just the folks who hold the keys to Michigan's economy in the long-run.
Lou Glazer
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Here's Post No. 4 from Lou Glazer, the president of Ann Arbor-based Michigan Future Inc., a think-tank that is a resource of ideas for how Michigan can and should reshape its economy. Check back daily for more of Glazer's thoughts.
Ann Schimke
Thursday, January 18, 2007
What drives the economy? The real Big Three — the big universities in Detroit, Ann Arbor and E. Lansing, bringing in hundreds of millions of research dollars, and fostering jobs and start-up companies.
Jeff Meyers
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
The basic tenet of Darwinian evolution is "adapt or die." With today's expanding global market and its ever-shifting demands, the mantra for business survival could easily be "innovate or vanish."
Mike Ramsey
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Ann Arbor needs Detroit. Detroit needs Ann Arbor. As much as these places are their own communities, they need one another more than ever.
Doug Rothwell
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Metromode's guest blogger this week is Doug Rothwell, president of Detroit Renaissance. Here's what he has to say about transforming the region's economy.