Corktown

Back to the City: Stylista Piper Carter Sees a Fresh Detroit

Internationally known fashion photog Piper Carter has traveled the world with her camera for almost two decades. Family brought her back to Detroit, but once here she's discovered a city far cooler than she expected.

The Lot in Corktown is Detroit’s latest in public art

Detroit's newest public art exhibit "The Lot" in Corktown could only exist in Detroit, creator Kathy Leisen says.Excerpt:"Kids in the neighborhood always ride by on their bikes and give us the thumbs-up; sometimes they stop and ask questions but sometimes they just yell, 'Yeah, that's the Lot, man!' Leisen says, noting that, because of this project, she's gotten closer to everyone in the neighborhood. "I don't think that what they are saying is, 'Yeah, experimental outdoor art spaces that reclaim unused land are cool!' I think they just like the letters, and that it makes them feel like they're a part of something." Vandalism is a concern, but Leisen is confident that people generally respect what's going on there. She also says the Lot could only exist in Detroit.  "Space is readily available here. We are crawling with empty lots — but what's more important is the attitude here, that's what makes it possible," she says. It's this sentiment that informs the Lot's slogan: We live here for a reason.  "Living in Detroit is very different from living in other cities — we have different expectations," Leisen says. "Just living here is a radical notion to some people, but a concept such as putting art in an empty lot is something that people in Detroit are quicker to embrace." Read the entire article here.

Writer has hard time explaining why he loves Detroit, so he decided to move here

Travel writer David Landsel writes about falling in love with Detroit.Excerpt:How do you tell everyone how wonderful Detroit is, without them assuming you have completely lost your mind? Unable to solve this dilemma, I remember handing in a story that told readers precisely nothing. Nearly a decade later, I find it difficult to communicate just why I love the city. It’s not for lack of trying. Whenever anyone will listen, particularly these days, with Detroit’s troubles all over the news, I chew their ear off. Do they know about the Detroit Institute of Arts, with its stunning Diego Rivera murals? What about the beautiful summers, or Saturdays in the historic Eastern Market district? How about that Michigan beer, that Detroit-style pizza, the annual electronic music festival on the Detroit River. What about the nearby Great Lakes? Yes, the nightlife really is that interesting. And all within an hour’s flight of New York. And did I mention that the locals are half-crazy but mostly harmless, and always amusing to talk to?Read the entire article here.

Kids pitch ideas to save Michigan Central Station to City Council

Even the youngsters of Detroit want to save Michigan Central Station. Excerpt:"They should turn the train station into multiple places since it's about 18 stories," Elkins said. "In the basement they could have a theater or maybe a swimming pool."Marcos Valdez, 12, said he wanted the train station to reopen so it could benefit him in the future. "I was thinking about making it into a military training facility," he said.Timothy McKay, executive director of Greater Corktown Development, said he thinks chances to save the depot may be greater now that people of all ages are involved."We are going to use the ideas as a part of our message to whomever," McKay said. "If they see young people and the community wanting to save the train station, it would help."Read the entire article here.

Vintage clothing shop opens in N. Corktown

Listen up: WDET’s ‘Home Is More Than Our House’ series continues through July

WDET 101.9 FM reporters Rob St. Mary and Zak Rosen continue their coverage this week in their "Home is More Than Our House" series on how Detroiters are facing and fighting the foreclosure crisis. Listen to Detroit Today on WDET this week for their stories. The program airs from 1-3 p.m. weekdays on 101.9 FM. This week, Zak will be talking about the collaborate effort to stabilize Boston-Edison with median-income families, which in turn stabilizes the surrounding areas. Also, check out the great piece he did on Habitat for Hamtramck here. Rob St. Mary offers a story on finding help for the Jewish community in Metro Detroit. For more on the series, check out their blog: wdetmortgagecrisis.com

Tweet of the Week: Do what your mother says

So vacation is behind us and we're back with the Tweet of the Week. So, what do you have to say?You should listen to your mother @miel_dulce, always listen to your mother.@miel_dulce: my mom said to stay in detroit, im totally thinking about it...We don't know where you are, but we wish you were still in Detroit, too. You can always come back.@Bizemisty: I wish I was still in Detroit. I hate this place.Congratulations Earthworks Urban Farm. Keep up the good work. And thanks @AshleySFlintoff for the heads up.@AshleySFlintoff: Congrats to Earthworks Urban Farm - Detroit's 1st Certified Organic Farm! Check out their work at www.cskdetroit.org/earthworksExactly @dlexus2001, don't forget about us, whoever you are.@dlexus2001: dont' forget bout detroitAnd finally, the winner, for our first week back from vacation Tweet of the Week is: @flamingowojack: Just got back from John K. King Used Bookstore in downtown Detroit. I'm there every week, but I find "new" stuff every time I go there...True that, @flamingowojack. True that.Keep reading. Keep tweeting. And see you next week.Follow us on Twitter here.

Microloans Bring Macro-Benefit to Detroit

When the banks won't answer the door, the smallest of small businesses can go knocking on the doors of Detroit's microloan programs, which are changing the face of the city one coffee shop or high tech start up at a time.

fDi Magazine names Detroit a city of the future

fDi Magazine, an investment mag produced by the Financial Times, released their cities of the future list and Detroit fell in at No. 10 for the largest cities of the future. Excerpt:fDi Magazine’s North American Cities of the Future 2009/10 shortlists, which took more than six months to research and involved the data collection of nearly 400 North American cities, ranks San Francisco, California, as the top large city of the future, followed closely by Austin, Texas. Of the large cities surveyed, San Luis Potosí in Mexico ranks top for cost effectiveness, while Charlotte, North Carolina, ranks top for FDI strategy according to the judging panel.Read the entire article here.