Featured Stories

"SEMBENE!" is about the life and work of Ousmane Sembene

An interview with the co-director of "SEMBENE!", a movie about "the father of African cinema"

Aaron Mondry Wednesday, June 01, 2016

"SEMBENE!", a movie about the highly influential Senegalese director Ousmane Sembene, will be screened at the Cinetopia Film Festival. Model D spoke with co-director of "SEMBENE!" Jason Silverman about the movie, and what it means to screen it in Detroit.

Arts, Civil liberties, Film, Lifestyle, Sense of Place, Video

Despite few theaters, Detroit's film culture proves resilient

Dennis Archambault Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Detroit doesn't have many options for a night out at the movies. But the selection that does exist is strong and caters to a niche market of loyal customers who love film.

Arts, Building Communities, Film, Lifestyle, Nightlife , Sense of Place

Detroit artist grows awareness of Michigan's invasive plants by making them into paper

Annamarie Sysling Monday, May 23, 2016

Through making paper from Michigan's invasive plants, Meg Heeres is raising awareness about an environmental threat while empowering people to make something beautiful.

Arts, Great Lakes Stewardship, Green, Invasive Species, Sustainability

Detroit Public Schools welcomes blended learning into the classroom

Mark Wedel Monday, May 23, 2016

When blended learning—a mix of online instruction and live teachers—came to the classroom, some feared a battle of high tech versus high touch, a world of kids plugging into computers and the teacher rendered obsolete. But what has evolved at one Detroit school is a system of high tech and high touch.

Building Communities, Education and training, Online Learning

The strong, tolerant women leading Hamtramck

Annamarie Sysling Thursday, May 19, 2016

While Hamtramck is a prominent cultural melting pot, it is also a municipality with strong women at the helm. Annamarie Sysling profiles the city's mayor, police chief, and city manager.

Building Communities, Detroit Talent, Job Creation, Public Policy, Workforce/Talent development

Hamtramck

Landscapes of luxury: A guide to metro Detroit's public gardens

Brian Allnutt Monday, May 16, 2016

Metro Detroit is home to some spectacular gardens and greenspaces—all open to the public. Writer and garden expert Brian Allnutt tells us which to visit this spring and summer.

Blue/Green Infrastructure, Forestry, Greater Lakes, Green, Lifestyle, Placemaking, Sense of Place, Tours

Crowdfunding creatives: House Opera begins buildout after successful fundraising campaign

Aaron Foley Monday, May 16, 2016

Crowdfunding certainly isn’t unique to Detroit, but it’s definitely useful in a city where banks can be reluctant to dole out loans. That's why countless business and nonprofits like the event space House Opera are turning to crowdfunding.

Architecture, Building Communities, Development, Fundraising, Music, Neighborhood Innovation, Social innovation

It's never been easier to eat vegan in Detroit

Jessica Meyer Monday, May 16, 2016

PETA recently named Detroit one of the top vegan-friendly cities in the U.S. While the animal rights group noted the many restaurants that cater to vegans, there's actually a lot of non-vegan restaurants that serve these diners as well. Writer (and vegan) Jessica Meyer tells us her favorites.

Dining, Food and Drink, Food Economy, Lifestyle, Placemaking

Hemlocks line the banks at Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Aliens in the woods: Invasive species pose number one threat to Michigan forests

Mark Wedel Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Despite what Smokey Bear may have told you, fires aren't the number one threat to forest ecosystems (at least not in Michigan). According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, invasive species are what we should be most worried about.

Choosing Michigan, Forestry, Green, Sustainability

Brightmoor, Detroit Futbol League champs in 2011

From the Archives: The inaugural season of the Detroit City Futbol League

Terry Parris Jr. Monday, May 09, 2016

The Detroit City Futbol League has been a mainstay of amateur soccer in the city, and done so with a lot of Detroit flare. We revisit the league's inaugural year, 2010, with a video from the archives.

10 Years of Change, Building Communities, Film, Lifestyle, Neighborhood Innovation, Sports

Aviation Subdivision: A neighborhood in two cities

David Sands Friday, May 06, 2016

A tale of two cities...in one neighborhood. David Sands digs into the mystery of the Aviation Subdivision, a unique community straddling the border of Detroit and Dearborn.

Building Communities, Immigration, Neighborhood Innovation

Mary Aganowski has tended bar at the Two Way Inn since 1981

Detroit's veteran bartenders reflect on over 30 years behind the bar

Mickey Lyons Thursday, May 05, 2016

Most seasoned bartenders will tell you that the more things change, the more they stay the same. But for these tenured tenders, the view from the bar illustrates the story of Detroit’s dynamic transformations.

Aging Together, Building Communities, Detroit, Food and Drink, Lifestyle, Nightlife

Regional transit: DDOT, SMART join forces on express bus service

David Sands, Modeshift Sunday, May 01, 2016

The refleX line will link city and suburbs with express bus service. Some see it as a big step forward for regional transit, others say the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Building Communities, Energy Efficiency, Transit, Woodward Avenue, Woodward Avenue Transit-Oriented Development

Paxahau today (left to right): Sam Fotias, Jason Clark, Chuck Flask, and Jason Huvaere

Constant 'Movement': 10 years managing one of the world's largest electronic music festivals

Walter Wasacz Saturday, April 30, 2016

In 2006, Detroit's renowned electronic music festival nearly disappeared for good. That is, until Paxahau took on the challenge of running it. 10 years later and the festival is as strong as ever.

10 Years of Change, Arts, Detroit, Lifestyle, Music, Nightlife

Downtown Detroit

Meet the Hinterlands, your friendly neighborhood theater revolutionaries

Matthew Piper Thursday, April 28, 2016

The vivid, boundary-stretching productions the Hinterlands creates are wonders to behold that reflect an unusually profound engagement with their subject matter.

Arts, Building Communities, Inspiring Innovation, Lifestyle, Nightlife , Performing Arts

Hamtramck