Features

John Brown III and Fletcher Sharpe, co-hosts of The Outer Drive, a podcast about soccer in Detroit

Detroit podcasts you need to be listening to

Aaron Mondry Sunday, January 24, 2016

There's something for everyone in Detroit's exploding podcast scene. Here are a few of our favorite shows to get you started listening local.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

The Michigan Central Railway tunnel under construction in 1910

The 7 man-made wonders of Detroit

Aaron Mondry and Matthew Lewis Sunday, January 24, 2016

Detroit's wonders might not be as obvious as those of other cities, but what they lack in grandeur they make up for in their quality of engineering and the practical advantages they give our region.

Southwest, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

How metro Detroit small businesses can avoid the risks of mobile payment

Lauren Fay Carlson Sunday, January 24, 2016

Convenient and easy-to-use mobile payment technologies are increasing in popularity among metro Detroit's small businesses, but they can pose security risks. Here are a few tips on how small businesses can ensure the security of their customers' and their own financial information.

Downtown

An Offworld Arcade pop-up at Checker Bar

Gaming goes Offworld in Detroit

Don Behm Sunday, January 24, 2016

Don Behm started his vintage arcade business, Offworld, by tinkering with classic games in his garage.

Corktown, Downtown

Thanks to a new tool, it's easier being green in Detroit

Francis Grunow Saturday, January 09, 2016

With a simple keyword search, the Detroit Green Map shows users interested in sustainable practices where to buy solar panels, where to recycle, where to volunteer, and more.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Young Detroit chess players wait to play Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura

Our favorite stories of 2015

Matthew Lewis Saturday, January 09, 2016

A look back on some of Model D's best stories from the last year.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Humbug Marsh, Detroit International Wildlife Refuge

The 7 environmental wonders of southeast Michigan

Dennis Archambault Tuesday, December 15, 2015

We may not have mountains (or even molehills, for that matter), but southeast Michigan is home to unique natural wonders that are being rediscovered and restored in the postindustrial era.

Downtown

Tim Johnson, director of transportation initiatives at NextEnergy

From Motown to Gotown: Detroit can lead the development of smart city tech

Tim Johnson Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Tim Johnson, director of transportation initiatives at NextEnergy, argues that there is no better place to be than Detroit when it comes to developing the technologies that will make our cars, buildings, and cities smarter and more efficient.

Downtown

Dan Carmody, president of Eastern Market Corp.

5 ideas for creating public spaces for everyone in Detroit

Matthew Lewis Sunday, November 29, 2015

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, Model D readers gathered at the Outdoor Adventure Center to discuss what we can learn from welcoming public spaces like the Detroit Riverfront and Eastern Market. Here are some takeaways.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Pushing for inclusive development along Woodward Avenue: Sommer Woods and M-1 Rail

Nicole Rupersburg Monday, November 02, 2015

"Development can be so much more productive if there are more perspectives at the table: people of color, women, older people, younger people, white men," says M-1 Rail's Sommer Woods. "When you have all these people at the table you're guaranteed to have perspective instead of one monolithic project."

Downtown

4 ideas for future-proofing Detroit

Amanda Lewan Monday, October 19, 2015

Between new businesses and residents moving downtown and improvements to city services, there is plenty of opportunity to make the future better for all Detroiters. Here are four ideas for "future-proofing" the city that came out of a panel discussion last week at Bamboo Detroit.

Downtown

Open City celebrates 8 years of building Detroit's small business community

Aaron Mondry Monday, October 19, 2015

Over the last eight years, Open City has helped create an informal community of Detroit entrepreneurs who help each other succeed. The ninth season of Open City kicks off Monday, Oct. 19, at Cliff Bell's.

Downtown

What are metro Detroit's most bike-friendly communities?

Matthew Lewis Monday, October 19, 2015

Who are the contenders and who are the pretenders? And how are we creating a shared vision for a regional network of cycling infrastructure in southeast Michigan?

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Jarrod Bell leads a workout at CrossFit BMW

Detroit gets tough: Fitness culture on the rise in the city

Aaron Mondry Monday, October 05, 2015

In recent years, a handful of gyms have opened in Detroit, each offering a unique style of training while contributing to a growing fitness culture in the city.

Corktown, Midtown, Downtown

Life after elephants: Detroit's entrepreneurial awakening

David Egner Thursday, September 17, 2015

The New Economy Initiative's executive director writes about how NEI helped change economic development in Michigan from hunting "elephants" to building a network of support to foster entrepreneurship, small business growth, and innovation – from grass roots to high-growth.

Midtown, Downtown

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