Featured Stories

Ron Gurdjian has tended bar at Tom's Tavern since "the late 70s"

In praise of the chill bar

Amy Elliott Bragg Monday, October 31, 2016

With the announcement of the closing of St. Cece's, a quintessentially chill bar, Amy Elliott Bragg makes a case for the chill bar and lists her favorites.

Dining, Food and Drink, Lifestyle, Placemaking

Two community benefits ordinances in Detroit set for ballot battle

Nina Ignaczak Monday, October 31, 2016

Two bills on this year's ballot could establish a community benefits ordinance in Detroit. Nina Ignaczak delves into what that might mean for the city and the differences between the two.

Building Communities, Development, Neighborhood Innovation, Public Policy

Comparing the two community benefits ordinances

Monday, October 31, 2016

Lana Rodriguez, owner of Mama Coo's Boutique

Finding resources faster: Detroit's rich and expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem

Patrick Dunn Monday, October 31, 2016

There's an incredible number of resources available for a budding entrepreneur in Detroit. Patrick Dunn surveys our entrepreneurial ecosystem to find out where those resources are and how to access them.

Development, Entrepreneurs, Motor City Match, Small Business

Corktown

The Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood, located on the far east side, is one of the areas most at risk for flooding and heat stress

How Detroit's climate change activists are using science to plan for a warmer city

Nina Ignaczak Monday, October 31, 2016

As Detroit's climate changes, scientists are working to inform policies that will help the city both mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions and increase its resiliency in the face of a warmer, wetter future.

Green, Public Policy, Science of the City, Transformational change

Pamela Lewis

Nicole Rupersburg Friday, October 28, 2016

Pamela Lewis is the Director of the Detroit-based New Economy Initiative, the largest philanthropically led economic development initiative in the United States.

Garlin Gilchrist speaks at the Detroit Design Festival

Detroit Design Festival showcases city's bright design future

Aaron Mondry Monday, October 24, 2016

The Detroit Design Festival wrapped up its third annual summit last month and, as expected, there were in-depth discussions about the power of design. But this year's iteration of the festival had special import.

Architecture, Detroit Talent, Move to Detroit, Public Policy, Speaker Series

Why moving to Detroit from New York was the 'best decision' for SPLT

Melissa Anders Monday, October 24, 2016

SPLT, a startup that seeks to reduce transportation congestion and mobility barriers, has never looked back since relocating from New York to Detroit.

Entrepreneurs, Fundraising, Move to Detroit, Start Up / Scale Up, Venture Capital

Tepfirah Rushdan chows down on red clover heads

From fun to fungus: Detroiters get creative with alternative food

Sarah Rose Sharp Monday, October 24, 2016

The Detroit food economy is growing, in both scale and variety. Sarah Rose Sharp writes about three individuals and businesses involved in food foraging, mushroom harvesting, and bug breeding.

Dining, Food Economy, Green, Life Sciences

Michigan Avenue bustling during Detroit Open Streets

Guest column: Open Streets Detroit proved the value of pedestrian zones

Jessica Meyer Monday, October 24, 2016

Open Streets Detroit closed 3.7 miles of road to vehicular traffic and opened it to people. Jessica Meyer recaps what took place during those two exciting days.

Green, Lifestyle, Neighborhood Innovation, Transit

Southwest Detroit, Corktown

Alexis El-Amin, owner of The Mason Jar: Get Holistically Healed, a food store at 4088 W. McNichols Road. El-Amin recently moved to Detroit from Wilmington, N.C. and opened her store not long after in the University District.

Photo essay: This is Live6

Bree Gant Monday, October 24, 2016

Photographer and Detroit-native Bree Gant captured some of the people and places that make Live6 unique.

Lifestyle, On the Ground, Placemaking

Live 6

KeShon Demps, owner of Ingrid's Bakery & Shon Benson's Candy Creations

Love on Livernois: What Sweetest Day looked like in Live6

Terryn Hall Tuesday, October 18, 2016

On October 15, lovers and those expressing affection across the Midwest celebrated Sweetest Day. On the Ground editor Terryn Hall checked out Live6 businesses to see how owners and patrons were marking the day.

Lifestyle, On the Ground, Small Business

Live 6

Rain gardens to the rescue: How Detroiters are working together to protect water infrastructure

Brian Allnutt Monday, October 17, 2016

Detroiters must deal with a new drainage fee to help pay for water infrastructure. Fortunately, an innovative program will help residents reduce those fees, while also soaking up water on their land and helping their neighbors.

Blue/Green Infrastructure, Energy, Life Sciences, Sustainability

3 regional transit systems Metro Detroit can learn from

Patrick Dunn Monday, October 17, 2016

We checked in with experts in three very different American cities—Cleveland, St. Louis, and Los Angeles—to gather lessons as our own transit system takes shape.

Public Policy, Sustainability, Transit

Karen Guilmette, owner of Natural Red, with three of her children

Detroit's mother entrepreneurs: these women started businesses and ended up with happy families

Melinda Clynes Monday, October 17, 2016

In the first of a three-part series looking at the challenges of being both a mother and entrepreneur, Melinda Clynes writes about women seeking financial independence in business.

Building Communities, Entrepreneurs, Job Creation, Michigan Nightlight