In the News

Magic Mustache 'damages' Birmingham parking garage

YouTube Thursday, May 17, 2012

This just cool. Really cool.

Watch.

The Free Press explains...

"A Birmingham design studio called Pluto released a 45-second video on YouTube that will knock your socks off. Pluto (hellopluto.com) is a media company that creates CGI content for television commercials, websites and other applications. They’ve been in Birmingham for 15 years."

Michigan's profound impact on TV

Detroit Free Press Thursday, May 17, 2012

What do Danny Thomas, David Alan Grier, Elizabeth Berkley, Robin Williams, Lily Tomlin, Mary Lynn Rajskub, George Peppard, Lee Majors, Gillian Anderson, Matthew Lillard, Casey Kasem, and Michael Moriarty have in common? If you said "The MItten" you are correct.

The bigger question is who did they miss (ahem Kristen Bell and Bruce Campbell)?

Excerpt:

"IF YOU PREFER MICHIGANDERS WITH A FLAIR FOR DRAMA: Watch Detroiter Della Reese in "Touched By an Angel," fellow Motown native Tom Skerritt in "Picket Fences," Lansing's Timothy Busfield on "Thirtysomething" and Mary Lynn Rajskub of Trenton on "24." Enjoy a bit of medicine with that drama? Examine Birmingham's Christine Lahti on "Chicago Hope" and Dearborn-raised Chad Everett on "Medical Center." Want some good-guy-versus-bad-guy action? Check out Dearborn High School grad George Peppard in "The A-Team," Grand Rapids-raised Gillian Anderson in "The X-Files," Detroiter Ted Raimi in "SeaQuest DSV" and "Xena: Warrior Princess," Mt. Clemens-born Dean Cain in "Lois & Clark" and Wyandotte's Lee Majors in "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Fall Guy."

Read the rest here.

It's "Ride Your Bike To Work" Week

MyFoxDetroit.com Thursday, May 17, 2012

So, you can look at this week two way: Either you will get a great work out, lower your carbon footprint, and enjoy the virtues of alterernative transportation first hand OR you can experience our current bike routes and lanes and see how much Metro Detroit needs to improve bike accessibility and commit to their success. Win win.

Excerpt:

"n fact, Mike is part of a growing trend. On average, the rate of bike commuters has increased by 39-percent between 2000 and 2010. The national average is about 0.6-percent of the population, but in bicycle friendly communities, the number is much higher. Many are realizing it's good for your body, the environment and your wallet."

Watch and read the rest here.

Rochester company's expansion profiled in NY Times article

The New York Times Thursday, May 10, 2012

A recent NY Times article about how small businesses found success through expansion during the recession uses Rochester-based Bandals as an example for how it's done.

Excerpt:

"Lots of people advise staying aggressive during a difficult economy, but spending money when times are tough can be scary. This small-business guide looks at how Bandals and two other companies managed to do it.

CONSIDER NEW MARKETS When Mr. Sesti decided to focus on increasing revenue, his first thought was to find ways to balance the seasonality of Bandals, which sell best in warm months."

Read the rest of the story here.

DTW ranked 3rd best airport in U.S.

Travel And Leisure Thursday, May 10, 2012

The Detroit metro area frequently ends up on one list or another... and the designations aren't always flattering. This time, however, the word is not only good it's well-deserved. Simply said: Our airport rocks. Now, if only we could get some good public transport to it. Then we'd truly rank as a world class hub.

Excerpt:

"Detroit’s airport is at the top of its game, ranked No. 1 in terminal cleanliness, design, location, lounges, and business centers. It came in third for service and staff communication and fourth in baggage handling. As Delta’s second largest hub and the carrier’s primary gateway for Asia, that’s no mean feat. The airport fell short only when it came to public transportation options—not surprising considering you’ve landed in the Motor City."

Check out which two airports ranked higher here.

Michigan universities excel at developing world-class talent

University Research Corridor Thursday, May 10, 2012

In a benchmark study, the Mitten's universities prove to be world class breeding grounds for new talent, on par or out-competing with tops schools around the nation. Now let's get to work on keeping them here.

Excerpt:

The annual report commissioned by the URC, shows the URC's member institutions – Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University -- remain competitive as research hubs and as economic engines when compared with university consortia across the U.S., said Jeff Mason, executive director for the URC.
...
The report compares the performance of the best-known groups of universities in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania against the URC. Each cluster includes three universities from the same geo graphical area that were selected based upon academic quality, research intensity and size of the institution.

Read the rest of the study here.

Let's make alternative trasportation sexy

The Atlantic Cities Thursday, May 03, 2012

Given Metro Detroit's... ahem... spotty track record with developing alternative transportation, maybe we need to bring up the sex appeal of walking, biking, and rail. Atlantic Cities has a great piece on how transit needs a better branding campaign. Personally I like the idea of fruit-shaped bus shelters.

Excerpt:

"Can we make people look longingly at mass transit? Can we give biking and walking the aura of cool that has long been the province of the automobile? Or are buses doomed to be the butt of jokes, along with the city of Cleveland?

Nordahl has a raft of suggestions, many based on real-world efforts of transit officials and planners to lure people out of their cars. Some are whimsical (like slides in train stations, something they’ve actually tried in the Netherlands, or fruit-shaped bus shelters, which have popped up in Japan). Some are more substantive, such as making transit stations into great civic spaces, as in the case of the Transbay Transit Center, scheduled to open in San Francisco in 2017:"

Read the rest here.

Go Comedy! hosts regional improv smack down

BroadwayWorld.com Thursday, May 03, 2012

Forget baseball, this is where the real competition is. Sixteen teams. 22 minutes. The skills to make an audience laugh so hard they pee their pants. Besides what else are you going to do on a Wednesday night?

Excerpt:

"Bailout Improv Tournament Spectacular (BITS). Sixteen improv teams from across metro Detroit will compete every Wednesday night at 8pm in a single elimination tournament for a $1002 cash prize. Each week, two teams will face off on the Go Comedy! stage with just 22 minutes to impress the audience with their skills. At the end of the hour, the audience will choose by secret ballot the winning team which will continue in the tournament. The audience favorite will be announced each week during the 9pm show that evening."

Read the rest of the story here.

GE to hire 300 employees at Metro Detroit tech center

mlive.com Thursday, May 03, 2012

SE Michigan's march toward more jobs continues. GE is adding positions at its Advanced Manufacturing and Software Technology Center in Van Buren Township.

Excerpt:

"GE, which has more than 3,000 employees and 4,000 retirees in Michigan, operates facilities in Van Buren Township, Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Kentwood, St. Joseph, Livonia and Southfield.

In 2009, GE announced that it would develop the AMSTC and create 1,100 jobs at the site. Since the announcement, GE has hired nearly 850 experienced engineers and IT professionals at the AMSTC – roughly 90 percent of whom are from Michigan."

Read the rest of the story here.

New film to be shot in Metro Detroit

WXYZ.com Thursday, April 26, 2012

The Michigan film tax incentive may be struggling on life support but it's not dead. And new production with local flavor has been approved and will be shooting this summer locally.

Excerpt:

"Beside Still Waters was awarded an incentive of $79,324 on $276,281 of projected in-state expenditures. This is the first approval made utilizing the $25 million allocation for Fiscal Year 2012. The project is expected to hire 34 Michigan workers with a full time equivalent of 1.5 jobs.

In the film, a young romantic named Daniel Thatcher invites a group of estranged high school friends to his summer home in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. They enjoy one last weekend in the home where they spent their childhood summers, rekindling old friendships and creating new memories."

Read the rest of the story here.

NAMM Foundation calls Ferndale "Best Community for Music Education"

FerndalePatch Thursday, April 26, 2012

Troy, Berkley, Bloomfield Hills, Fraser, and Ann Arbor all made the list but Ferndale was selected as the bestest. (yes, we know that's not a word).

Excerpt:

"The district's music program includes a vocal music program that begins in kindergarten, instrumental music beginning in fourth grade, band, orchestra and choir programs for middle and high school, and a State Championship marching band.

What Ferndale offers for music education is especially significant considering the district's small size, Jamison said.

"We're still offering basically everything," he said. "We have most everything that schools two, three or four times our size have.""

Read the rest here.

Metro Detroit businesses go to the dogs

The Republic Thursday, April 26, 2012

Patridge Creek mall in Clinton Township allows dogs. So do Ann Arbor's Google offices. The Farmington Hills' PR firm Marx Layne does too. It's a growing trend. After all, a walk-the-dog break is a lot healthier than a smoke break.

Excerpt:

"People with pets say they are happier when they can take their pet with them, and many shopping areas find customers like a dog-friendly atmosphere.

Biggby Coffee in downtown Birmingham has a bowl of dog treats near its door so customers can grab a coffee and a treat for their pooch.

“Birmingham is a walking community and dogs are an important part of people’s lives,” said owner Rose Glendinning. “The dogs definitely know there are dog treats here.”"

Read the rest of the story here.

Funds to build Woodward light rail almost there

Detroit Free Press Thursday, April 26, 2012

Like the little engine that could, backers of the M-1 rail project are determined to make rail a reality along Woodward. Metromode not only cheers their efforts but wishes our local leaders would put their nose to the grindstone and help make this thing happen... and flourish

Excerpt:

"The M-1 Rail group outlined the details in a report sent to the federal government, making a business case for a streetcar system on 3.3 miles of Woodward, a shortened version of the original plan that called for rail out to 8 Mile Road.

The private investors and philanthropic groups behind the effort said they would commit to paying 80% of the estimated $5.1-million annual cost of operating the rail line through 2025."

Read the rest here.

Welcome to Metro Detroit's tango and foxtrot economy

The Detroit News Thursday, April 26, 2012

Dancing With The Stars has inspired locals to start cutting the rug. the result? Dance studios are growing and expanding.

Excerpt:

"The downtown Royal Oak Arthur Murray studio has seen a slow increase in business since "Dancing With the Stars" started in June 2005, said Jeremiah Childers, manager of the Royal Oak studio. The studio held on "by its fingernails" during the recession, owner and manager Candace McKenzie said, but the student growth and an improving economy led her to decide to expand into a space on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak that is double the size of the original location. The move is scheduled to be made next month."

Read the rest of the story here.

Troy-based CEO is pluckin' talented

Crains Business Detroit Thursday, April 19, 2012

Yeah, business is important but there must also be music. John Smith is president and CEO of Ross Controls Co. and trustee for Lawrence Tech and plays a mean banjo.

Excerpt:

"This is a club where a CEO takes cues from a crane operator. Brian Newsom directs the Ban-Joes of Michigan and is chairman of the North American International Banjo Convention. He spent 42 years as a crane operator, helping build Joe Louis Arena and General Motors Co.'s Poletown plant.

One of the clubs is Canadian. "Hence, we've got the international thing going on," Newsom said."

Read the rest here.