Hey friends, Jer here.

I love the art of classic car design as much as the next Detroit-born guy. But sitting for hours bumper-to-bumper on Woodward listening to revving engines just isn't quite my vibe.

So if you're like me and looking for some great local spots to hit up around Metro Detroit, here's a solid lineup of things happening across the city and surrounding areas.

Before we get started, a final reminder that our Studio Summer Open House & Detroit Community Coffee is Saturday morning.

We’re opening up the studio for a summer open house and community coffee this Saturday, August 15 from 10a to 1p.

Whether you want to chat about local stories, check out where our podcast comes together, or just grab a cup of coffee and connect with fellow listeners and Detroiters, we’d love to see you there.

Just a few slots are left! Please RSVP so we know how much coffee and donuts to pick up. [Eventbrite]

🏖️ All Weekend Long

Northville Art House Market: Downtown Northville is turning into an open-air art market all weekend long. It’s a great walk-around spot if you want to browse local art, craft goods, and take in the small town downtown atmosphere. Hours run Friday 3p to 8p, Saturday 10a to 8p, and Sunday 10a to 3p. [Northville Art House]

Magic & Music on Monroe Street: Greektown is keeping the Monroe Street Summer Series rolling Friday through Sunday from 6p to 10p with Magic & Music on Monroe. It’s set up for outdoor dining, strolling, and entertainment each night.

Strolling magician Just Joe brings interactive magic on Friday, the Dancing Mirror Man performs Saturday during family-friendly night, and Sunday wraps up with live music. [Greektown Neighborhood Partnership]

🍝 The "Just A Little Shady" podcast by Hailie Jade is popping up at Mom's Spaghetti in downtown Detroit when it opens tomorrow (Friday) at 11a. They're celebrating the start of their 5th season, with the first episode dropping that afternoon.

Hailie and her podcast crew will be meeting and greeting listeners and have a merch truck. [Instagram]

🗓️ Saturday & Sunday Picks

Incredible Insects and Friends at the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center: Kyle Kandilian, commercial entomologist and owner of Roach Crossing, will bring a selection of live invertebrates for guests to view up close, learn and ask questions about, and in some cases even hold! Much to the joy of my gothic-inspired nephew, specimens may include large millipedes, beetles, isopods and roaches. Saturday, 10:30a - 12:30p or 1:30p - 3:30p. [Facebook]

Detroit Bass Day: Think music at the Motown Museum, not fishing. Detroit Bass Day is back this Saturday from 12p-4p, and this year’s theme is psychedelic. It’s a celebration honoring Motown bass icon James Jamerson and the legacy of Detroit bass players right at the Esther Gordy Edwards Centre for Excellence. [Motown Museum]

Saturday Socials at the Belle Isle Commons: From 12p to 6p on Belle Isle, the Saturday Social kickback is happening at the White House across from the Belle Isle Aquarium. It’s an all-ages summer chill event with drinks, music, and games. Keep in mind minors need to be accompanied by an adult (21+) and you’ll need a Recreation Passport for vehicular access to the island.

Rose’s Fine Food One-Year Anniversary: The award-winning spot on East Jefferson in Detroit is celebrating one year as a Polish-forward concept with a Saturday party starting at noon. Stop by for kielbasa, coffee from Alba, local produce, bread from Lillian, tarot readings, and local pop-up vendors selling vintage rugs, glassware, and polish scrunchies. [More]

"Luminaries of Detroit" Opening at The Congregation: The Congregation is hosting an opening reception for a new art exhibit painted by Timothy Orikri and curated by Dr. Chanel Beebe. Stop by 9321 Rosa Parks on Saturday from 3p - 5p. [Eventbrite]

Detroit City FC "Youth Night" at Keyworth Stadium: Le Rouge is back at home this Saturday night against Loudoun United! Kick-off is 7p, but pre-game events start early for Youth Night featuring face painting, balloon art, and a book swap with Mr. D Reads. Plus, the first 500 fans through the gate grab a limited Faygo x Friendly tote bag. [Tickets]

Hospitality Included Festival: Entering its fifth year with its biggest footprint yet, the Hospitality Included Festival brings together more than 50 of Metro Detroit’s top restaurants and bars on Sunday from noon to 9p. It'll happen at the Detroit People's Food Co-Op in the city's North End.

Partnering with local community development groups and food organizations, this family-friendly festival features music, activities, and food from spots like Waka, Mabel Gray, Vecino, Street Beet, Leila, and Dutch Girl Doughnuts. [More]

Detroit in Context: Downtown Walking Tour (Sunday afternoon): If you want to dive deeper into the history, architecture, and evolution of the city center, consider taking a 2.5 hour guided walk through downtown. [Tickets]

BONUS: Two New Spots Open In One at Street Beet

The vegan spot Street Beet is launching two new concepts out of their 1800 Michigan Avenue home in Corktown.

☕️ Inside at the main counter, they’ve opened Pour Decisions, a neighborhood coffee and pastry bar serving espresso drinks, matcha, fresh pastries, and breakfast sandwiches from 8a to 3p Thursday through Sunday.

🍦 Meanwhile, at their walk-up window, they’re previewing Soft Spot. It's a 100% plant-based soft serve with dirty sodas, slushes, and soft floats. It's running limited preview hours this weekend, Thursday through Sunday from noon until sellout each day.

🎨 While you're out and about, head over to Eastern Market to check out a new mural by Detroit Eastside artist Tony Whlgn in partnership with Marrow.

The artwork pays tribute to Moses "Mose" Primus Sr. — the first known Black butcher at Gratiot Central Market — celebrating the craft and the people in the community who shaped the market's history.

The dog was a nice extra touch and made me smile.

👓 Elsewhere: Here's a great guide to downtown Detroit's best rooftop spots. [Detroit News]

🎧 Need a friendly voice while you're driving around town?

In our latest podcast episodes, Norris and I dig into the data center fight across Southeast Michigan, Ryan Southen shares what it’s like walking the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, and Lori Singleton breaks down Greektown’s people-first streetscape transformation.

Plus, filmmaker Larry J. Sanders joins us to discuss why the three-time champion Detroit Shock deserve way more credit in WNBA history.

You can listen to all of them on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your shows.

That's it for today. Our work is made possible thanks to our members.

Thanks to Steve, Trace, and Addison for joining us! You can too, for as little as $3.13 a month on Patreon. Keep this coverage happening in the heart of the 313.

Thanks to Big Lucci for helping out behind the scenes to put this list together.

Remember that you are somebody and see you on Saturday,

-Jer

Hey friends, Jer here. Hope you had a good weekend!

Just a couple hours after their official opening, I had the chance to try the newest Detroit-style pizza joint in town, Unc's.

It's in a beautifully redone building on the edge of Capitol Park at 1133 Griswold. The place looks like a big city joint, which befits the view out the window of the Stott Building and other tall towers.

As someone who remembers a world before everything turned greige, I so appreciate that this interior is not afraid of color. You're in a place that looks like a nice pizza joint, not an Apple store.

It felt like I was grabbing a quick dinner on vacation. On to the food.

First, the Brick Sticks. They're among the biggest cheese sticks I've ever seen. Sometimes this kind of "oversized" dish can go off the rails, but it wasn't greasy. It was a warm hug of fried goodness.

Unc's menu is creative, and has some dish names those of a certain generation will remember right away. As someone who grew up watching "Perfect Strangers," the "Cousin Balki" made me laugh. There's other movie and pop culture references scattered throughout I'll leave you to find.

On the recommendation of a friend of the podcast, I tried the Italian Beef. Shaved ribeye, giardiniera (pickled vegetables like bell peppers), shaved Parmesan, and beef au jus. Very good, and the crust is significantly lighter than some of the other Detroit-style options around town.

At six slices a pie, you're going to be full splitting it between two — especially if you get an appetizer. It makes this a pretty strong value for money choice, too.

So why the name "Unc's?"

Named after co-owner Larry Kahn's Uncle Paul, affectionately known simply as "Unc," the restaurant pays tribute to the kind of person who made everyone feel like family.

A decorated World War II veteran and longtime Detroit Edison employee, Uncle Paul embodied the warmth, generosity and neighborly spirit that inspired the concept.

Born from a partnership between Larry Kahn, Ann-Marie Murphy and Jeff Alexander, the ownership team behind Dime Store, and Tony Sacco of Mootz Pizzeria + Bar, Unc's Pizza celebrates the relatives, friends, neighbors and chosen family who always seemed to know everyone and pull up another chair.

I'll be back. Open Sundays - Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to midnight.

More coverage: [Detroit News] [WXYZ]

Greektown has been one of the most vibrant, "city-feeling" anchors of downtown Detroit for generations.

But if you’ve walked down Monroe Street lately, you know a massive shift is underway to make the district far more flexible, pedestrian-first, and ready for the future.

Norris Howard and I sat down with SmithGroup's Lori Singleton to get the story behind the new streetscape.

This quote from Lori really stuck with me:

I really think about public realm design as creating an environment where life can unfold.

We dive into why sacrificing a bit of on-street parking opened up huge possibilities for outdoor dining and curbless, flexible plazas.

Plus, we talk shop on the hidden urban design magic you can't see. One of my favorites are "Silva Cells," an underground column framework that lets tree roots thrive beneath pavement without destroying sidewalks or drowning in heavy rain.

It's a fascinating look at how smart, intentional public space changes are reshaping how we experience our city.

I personally love walking down the redone block, and getting a chance to learn about how it came together was a lot of fun. Listen wherever you get podcasts, including our website.

🍾 Congrats to Bar IX Detroit who hit their fundraising goal of $150,000 for their own brick and mortar bar and social space dedicated to women’s sports! They hope to announce their location soon, and pop-up events resume in the fall. [Bar IX]

⛹🏽‍♀️ Before a new WNBA franchise tips off in Detroit in 2029, we have to talk about the city's original basketball powerhouse: the three-time champion Detroit Shock.

Filmmaker Larry J. Sanders joined us to break down his upcoming documentary Shockwave and why their story deserves way more credit in WNBA history.

Catch the full conversation on our website, Apple Podcasts, or stream it on Spotify,

⛳️ It looks like it's the end of the line for the LIV Golf team championship in Metro Detroit, with local officials left in the dark. [WXYZ]

There have been signs pointing to a cancellation, including reportedly no setup work at The Resort at St. John's. [Crain's]

The league was mostly funded with more than $5 billion since 2022 from the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Earlier this year, they said it would stop financing the league because the scale of ongoing investment no longer fits their strategy and broader economic priorities.

🗓️ Spots are going fast for our Summer Studio Open House is this Saturday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Free coffee, free donuts, free conversation. Getting together in our community is more important than ever, so we'd love to see you. [RSVP on Eventbrite]

That's all for tonight's edition of the newsmagazine. Thanks to our members on Patreon for keeping the lights on. We have a new $3.13 tier to support our work produced in the heart of the 313.

Until next time, remember that you are somebody — and I'll see you around Detroit.

-Jer

Greektown has been a staple of downtown Detroit for generations. I have so many great memories over the years. It's one of the most "city-feeling" areas of Detroit, and has a litany of great restaurants, bars, and more.

Now, a major transformation has made Monroe Street more flexible, pedestrian-friendly, and vibrant for the future.

Norris Howard and I sat down with Lori Singleton, landscape architect and design director at SmithGroup, to break down the vision behind the new Greektown streetscape.

We dive into:

• The Shift to Pedestrian-First Design and why sacrificing some on-street parking allowed for expanded outdoor dining, curbless walkways, and flexible plaza spaces.
• How clever systems and underground engineering keep street trees healthy without destroying sidewalks or drowning roots.
• And how incremental public space improvements — from the Dequindre Cut, to Beacon Park, to Capitol Park, to Grand Circus Park — are reshaping how people experience downtown Detroit.

We have a full transcript of the episode below.

Remember that our Summer Studio Open House is SATURDAY MORNING! It's free, but please RSVP on Eventbrite so we know how much coffee and donuts to get. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995592904096?aff=oddtdtcreator

Make sure to follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

Thanks to our members on Patreon! We have our new $3.13 tier to keep local media alive in the 313.

Transcript

This transcript was lightly edited. Please refer to original audio before quoting.

Transforming Greektown: Designing Detroit’s New Streetscape

Jer Staes: Hello everyone, I am Jer Staes. Joining me at the table is none other than the Prince of Brightmoor himself, Norris Howard. How are you?

Norris Howard: Back once again, Westside in the house! But today, we are talking about downtown.

Jer: Your neighborhood, in fact, my friend!

Norris: That is correct. It’s like the Sultan of Oman that lives in Zanzibar—I now am downtown, even though I am still the Prince of Brightmoor.

Jer: Here’s the thing that’s amazing about downtown: not only is it your neighborhood, but in a lot of ways, it’s the region’s neighborhood and the city’s neighborhood.

To talk about one of the most exciting developments happening—the new streetscape in Greektown, plus a few other things—Lori Singleton joins us. She is a landscape architect and design director at SmithGroup. Welcome to Daily Detroit, thank you for joining us.

Lori: I am so happy to be here.

Jer: Glad to have you. Let’s start with the biggest thing first: this new Greektown streetscape project. We did a social media video about it, and people were crazy about it. People have not seen this kind of investment in that area, and it also has a bold vision for the future.

From the landscape and design perspective, walk us through the process a bit. How do we get from where we started to here?

Lori: As most Detroiters know, Greektown was the place to be in downtown Detroit for decades, even throughout much of the city’s decline. It was a steady staple of destination spaces and a place that always felt safe and familiar to the larger community.

Now that so much has changed throughout the city and downtown—with so much investment—it was time to re-establish its role within that larger network of downtown public spaces. A lot of this came out of the 2019 neighborhood framework plan that the city put forward, which started looking at everything from mixed-use development to future development opportunities and improvements to the public realm. Monroe Street and the Randolph Plaza at the corner of Gratiot and Randolph were key public realm improvements coming out of that plan. So that’s really where we started.

Jer: When we talk about the way that it is now, it’s a place that has an expansive walkway and the ability to flex between having cars and no cars using a curbless design. What were some of the thoughts behind that, and how did that come through in the process?

Lori: Monroe Street has always been a one-way street. It used to have parking on both sides, then got reduced to parking on one side, and the street cafe zone was quite narrow—especially during COVID when the desire to dine outside was growing.

The restaurants and business owners realized they wanted more space for people to gather. There are hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout this district—even per day during the summer—so reshuffling the balance of what space is dedicated to cars versus pedestrians was key.

We also wanted to create a comfortable, materially rich, and vibrant environment. That includes adding street trees in a way that they can endure and sustain over time, and making the street so flexible that you could close it down into a pedestrian plaza or open it up with clear legibility for vehicles to safely move through.

It was a lot of maneuvering within a small space—only 50 feet wide from building to building. We studied many scenarios, and the willingness to sacrifice on-street parking and loading—moving those to adjacent streets—was key to reclaiming space for pedestrians.

Norris: What was the relationship like with the business owners during this process? Through the design and construction phases, what has their feedback been now that it’s partially complete?

Lori: A big shoutout to the Greektown Neighborhood Partnership, which is strongly committed to the success of the businesses and shepherd them through a process to address real concerns. A project like this is completely reconstructing everything from light poles to trees—it takes time and impacts businesses.

Providing access to storefronts during construction was huge. This project required give-and-take. You can’t have a massive cafe space and also have pull-up loading right in front when space is limited. Part of our role was making those tradeoffs clear.

Seeing the first waves of outdoor cafes on the street right now with big planted buffers is gorgeous. Feeling like you can walk down the middle of the street when it’s closed makes losing some immediate car access worth it. The partnership and business owners have been adaptable, and it has paid off.

Norris: I got a chance to check it out yesterday, and the curbless design makes getting around seamless. Considering the bars and taverns around there, those of us who partake will appreciate it—I’ve seen many a twisted ankle on those old curbs on Monroe!

When we talk about these large downtown projects—like Capitol Park or Beacon Park—transforming our public green space, where else downtown do you see room for potential improvement?

Lori: There are always projects on the board across the city. We did a master plan for Grand Circus Park that leaves core elements like the fountains and mature trees intact, but reorganizes circulation to make it feel much more welcoming and flexible for programming. That park is an incredible oasis in the middle of the city that is underutilized, and I’d love to see funding come together to realize that vision.

We’ve done a good job improving walkability and street edges downtown. Small mini-parks like Capitol Park, Randolph Plaza, and Campus Martius are transformative. Personally, I’m always eager for more access to nature and landscape. We’ve done an incredible job on the riverfront; how can we pull more of that into the core of downtown or along edges like Cass Park and greenway corridors?

Detroit’s transformation over the last 20 to 25 years highlights the magic of incremental impact. It doesn’t always have to be one massive project; these block-by-block, street-by-street improvements truly transform a place. Having started my career in Detroit in 1998, seeing this transformation is incredible.

Jer: It’s funny you mention 1998, because that’s when I started my career downtown as a floor manager at Channel 4 News. Back then, people thought I was crazy for walking from the TV station to Greektown for lunch! Seeing that transformation firsthand is amazing.

Because downtown has roots going back hundreds of years, every project seems to peel back layers of unexpected history and infrastructure. What infrastructure challenges did you face with this project, especially regarding the new trees?

Lori: That is a piece of the puzzle you can only plan for so much! Early in my career, you’d ask about utility maps and someone who had been there for decades just knew where everything was from memory. Downtown infrastructure goes back forever, and much of it isn't documented on modern plans. You always encounter surprises with building vaults or utility lines during demolition.

For the trees, we implemented a system called Silva Cells. These are underground support structures for the pavement that allow tree roots space to grow in uncompacted soil without damaging the sidewalk above. It acts like a mini column structure supporting the pavement while leaving open soil beneath.

Because space underground is tight, you can maneuver these cells around existing utility lines. We also installed under-drains connected to storm systems so the tree pits don't over-saturate and drown the roots during heavy rain.

Jer: How do you approach designing these spaces to encourage people to gather safely, inclusively, and comfortably?

Lori: We aim to create a canvas where outdoor life can naturally unfold. It’s less about adding a single massive attraction and more about creating an environment that feels familiar, timeless, and flexible for everyone.

On Monroe Street, using granite paving offers a beautiful, enduring look. In other areas, simple adjustments like adding lawn space where nothing existed before make a difference.

We’ve worked on greenways across the city, like the Dequindre Cut and the Joe Louis Greenway. At a community meeting once, a resident thanked us because the Dequindre Cut was the only safe place she had to teach her grandson how to ride a bike. That kind of real-world impact is the true reward of this work.

Jer: My partner is actually walking on the Dequindre Cut right now as we record! It offers a level of freedom and connectivity that makes it a vital gathering space for residents.

Lori: Absolutely. Places like Milliken State Park or Beacon Park give Detroiters safe, intentional access to nature, community events, and diverse public spaces—all free and accessible.

Jer: Lori Singleton, landscape architect and design director at SmithGroup, thank you so much for chatting with us today.

Lori: It was so much fun, thank you for having me!

Writer and director Larry J. Sanders joins the show to discuss his upcoming documentary, Shockwave, which explores the legacy of the three-time champion Detroit Shock.

We dig into why one of the WNBA's most dominant early dynasties seemed to abruptly vanish from the city — and why their story deserves way more credit in league history.

Plus, with a new WNBA franchise set to arrive in Detroit in 2029, we break down what it takes to honor the past while building the future of local sports.

You can check out the teaser here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEXSRJ44hDo

More information: https://bio.site/shockwavefilm

Our Summer Studio Open House is Saturday, August 15! Come join us for free coffee, donuts and conversation: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995592904096?aff=oddtdtcreator

Transcript

This has been lightly edited for clarity. Please refer to the original audio before quoting.

Joining myself and Norris Howard on the line is Larry J. Sanders, writer and director of Shockwave. I'm excited to talk about this as a Detroit sports fan. Larry, welcome to Daily Detroit.

Larry J. Sanders: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Jer Staes: All right, so what was the idea behind putting together this sort of film for fans of the Shock? Because it's called Shockwave, so I'm assuming this is about the Detroit Shock.

Larry J. Sanders: Yes, yes. Lifelong fan, lifelong Detroit sports fan. Grew up on the West Side of Detroit, 6 Mile and Hubbell. Basketball junkie—I feel like basketball is probably the first thing I remember loving with a deep intensity. The Shock came when I was turning six, I want to say, so in a lot of ways it was the very first sports team that I had a real affinity for.

We can talk about the Lions' many failures over the years. The Pistons weren't necessarily at the top of their peak at that time. So I feel like the Shock was definitely the first team that I fell in love with from the city. Their story is incredible. They went from worst to first, that led to them winning three championships, and then in 2009 it seemed like it all just abruptly disappeared. As a 16-year-old—about to turn 17 years old—it felt very abrupt. It felt like those of us who were fans of the team didn't really get closure about what happened to the team and why they left the market.

Fast forward a few years later. Working in journalism now, wanting to do the story as an oral history—specifically because when the W was celebrating its 25th anniversary, it kind of felt like the Shock were conspicuously absent from any sort of celebrations they were having around the league and its history. Again, having won three titles in the first 12 years of the league—that's 25% of the league championships—it felt like a dynasty by any definition. It felt like they should be celebrated more than they were. So I initially wanted to do this project five years ago when the league was celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Fast forward a few years. I work at Howard University as a speechwriter to the president. Started doing their film program sort of as a way to pass the time, to be very honest, and fell in love with it—fell in love with the process of filmmaking. Was thinking about what I would want to do for a thesis project, and circled back to this as both a love letter to the city, but also I felt like I wanted to help be part of bringing a W team back to Detroit.

This predates even the team getting announced as coming back. But now that a team has been announced as coming back in 2029, I think it's important to talk about the history of the Shock and bring that closure before a new team comes back.

Norris Howard: Yeah, and you know, I'm also a fellow West Sider. Grew up on Schoolcraft and Hubbell, so right around the corner from me. But I was a person that also followed the Detroit Shock very, very closely. As a fan of basketball and as a fan of just women's sports in general, I was actually at The Palace during that first championship run and got to see some of those players.

As you're very early on in this project, what is the feedback that you've gotten from people that you've talked to in terms of their memories of the Detroit Shock?

Larry J. Sanders: Everybody seems to have very fond memories of it. Just from talking to people about wanting to do the project, they think it's one that merits doing, simply because of the sort of mystery aspect of it. Like, what happened to this championship team?

The W, especially in that era, had a history of teams either folding or relocating—namely the Houston Comets, who were also a championship team, who are also returning to the W next year, I want to say. But aside from the Shock and the Comets, the majority of teams that folded or relocated either didn't have the market support or they didn't have the winning success on the court.

Norris Howard: Yeah, and that was not the case in Detroit. They were selling out at The Palace, and those postseason runs were incredible. So for me as a fan, I'm really excited about not just this project, but the return of the team.

So my next question is: what actually goes into the information gathering and making a sports documentary? Over the past few years, we've seen some incredible sports documentaries—one of the best, I think, was the Michael Jordan documentary, The Last Dance, that five-part series. What goes into that in terms of what type of people do you reach out to talk to? Who do you try to get to sit down and give you information about what happened with the team?

Larry J. Sanders: I think the answer there is two-fold: it's research and relationship building.

Just for me, casting a wide net of all the principals—all the folks I think were integral to that run. So we're talking about the players: the Deanna Nolans, the Swin Cashes, the Katie Smiths—the players who made the dynasty. And then we're thinking about the Bill Laimbeers, the Cheryl Reeve who's now an iconic coach in Minnesota, the folks who were in the front office and coaching the teams like Rick Mahorn. The sort of—I don't want to call them ancillary players because they were also integral to the team becoming what it was—the Plenette Pearsons, the Elaine Powells. Was trying to get in contact with Kara Braxton before she passed—rest in peace to her.

Just casting the broadest net possible to figure out who can give the most comprehensive story. The owner of the team, Karen Davidson, before she sold—trying to get in contact with her. So definitely trying to be as thorough as possible with outreach.

But then also, there's been a lesson in relationship building that maybe I wasn't as attuned to when I went out to do this project to start. Again, this is my thesis project for Howard University. Some of my classmates and peers who finished the program this year wrote original scripts that they could just go out and cast people for. In my own mind, the story already exists, the people already exist, I just have to go out and put a camera in front of them and get them to tell their story.

What I've come to realize over the last year and a half to two years getting this project off the ground is that it's actually gaining people's trust. Why should they let you be the one to tell the story? Building that over the last few months specifically, but definitely over the last year or so—in addition to the outreach—is making sure that they know I have good intentions and that I'm someone who has a good perspective on a story that deserves to be told.

Jer Staes: What surprised you most about this documentary process and what you've learned so far?

Larry J. Sanders: I think definitely just the getting it off the ground part. Naively, again, I just kind of thought it would be something where I could reach out to people and they'd be willing to do it. But there's been a larger effort of making sure people know I have good intentions and that I don't have ill intent. This is a story that I think deserves to be told and I'm the right person to tell it.

More on a micro level, in doing archival research and pulling stuff, I didn't realize that the team almost got relocated the year before they won the 2003 championship. I always sort of thought Detroit was a stable market for the WNBA and for the Shock specifically. But in reminiscing on how the team was floundering in that era—they finished with the worst record in the league in 2002—I was pulling archival stuff over the winter and came to find out that, yeah, they almost got sold ahead of the 2003 season.

In the retelling of it in the Free Press and stuff like that, Bill Laimbeer was able to convince Mr. Davidson to keep the team in the market for one more year, and then the rest is history. They went on to win titles and become one of the defining franchises of the 2000s, if not in league history. But the team almost left the market well before they could have even reached those heights.

Jer Staes: Now, one thing that I hear from people out there—and I don't share this view, but I wanted to see what you thought of it—there are a lot of people thinking, "Why now with the WNBA?" It didn't work before. What's changed in the world and in the community to support this, whereas before, as you said, it almost went away and then did go away to Tulsa for a while there?

Larry J. Sanders: I think instructionally the league is in a much better place. We see tangibly that salaries have gone up, attendance is at an all-time peak. News just came out that the WNBA All-Star Game exceeded the NBA All-Star Game in attendance this year, which—if we're talking about numbers—is eye-popping to see that there were more eyeballs, at least in the building, to watch the WNBA All-Star Game than the men's.

I think that you can see that the numbers themselves have improved. One of the mysteries in the documentary that we want to get at is: what exactly happened with the team leaving the market? I think the company line or the stock answer was that the Great Recession hit Detroit and the Michigan area, and so it just wasn't tenable to keep the team in market anymore.

I kind of want to interrogate why there was no interrogation of that in real time. It kind of seemed like, to be frank, there were male journalists who were eager to write that this team wasn't going to work in Detroit anymore. So I want to interrogate whether there was misogynoir at foot, or if there was an eagerness to dismiss the team as a failure, rather than looking at other factors at play that maybe could have kept them in market.

Norris Howard: I think that's a really interesting point because I do remember there not being much fanfare around the team actually leaving. I remember a couple of stories that came out, but ultimately it felt like the Detroit sports world didn't necessarily properly mourn the loss of a winning franchise. In Ann Arbor, it was called Five Championship Drive or Six Championship Drive—those championships were counted alongside the Pistons' championships.

And on top of that, when we look at the overall sports landscape of 2026, not only has women's sports become more viable through Title IX, but also looking at what the Women's World Cup and the US Women's National Team has done for the growth of that sport, and the growth of the WNBA with stars like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and A'ja Wilson.

I also want to talk to you directly: you're saying that the project is a work in progress. It's something that you're currently working on, and you want to get this across the line and out to the people. Tell us more about where the production is and how people can help.

Larry J. Sanders: Currently, we're in something of a pre-production heading into production stage. We shot our trailer/sizzle reel, which is available on our website,shockwavefilm.com. It's a three-and-a-half-minute trailer getting into the history of the team and the goals that I have for the film, getting it out ahead of next summer or summer 2027.

Right now we're still doing outreach to folks. We have a few players confirmed to participate: Deanna Nolan said she's down to participate, I've been in contact with Cheryl Ford who's down to participate, and Katie Smith has expressed interest. Still reaching out to other players and coaches, but there's been general interest in getting this story out there.

Anybody can check out the project atshockwavefilm.com. Right now we're doing fundraising for our first round of production. We're treating this almost like a basketball game—we're heading into the first quarter, and we're thinking we might have a four-quarter game. Once we get this through, we'll figure out what the next three quarters will require.

We want this to go international, not even just national. Like I said, I want this to be a love letter to Detroit, and I also want this to be a reminder to the world about the greatness that comes out of this city. Sometimes we get overlooked for reasons that make me mad and sad at the same time. We have so much greatness coming out of the city and so many stories that get overlooked for terrible reasons, and I want to be part of the change I want to see.

Jer Staes: I do believe there's a generational change happening in Detroit and with sports. Go see the sizzle reel—I'm a former Directors Guild of America member and I can tell you it's good. You want to go check it out on their website; I'll have links to everything in the show notes.

Larry J. Sanders, writer and director of Shockwave, thank you so much for your time on Daily Detroit. Keep us updated, will you?

Larry J. Sanders: Yes, I will. Thank you all for having me.

In this episode, we sit down with parent Brandi "BrandiTheeMillennialManager" McGill and sociologist Dr. Aya Waller‑Bey — along with regular co-host Norris Howard — to talk about what started when one parent trying to get a soccer program at Denby that has snowballed into a saga that has started a lot of conversations around the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

We dig into class, charter flight, black flight to the suburbs, exam schools versus neighborhood schools, and much more. It's one of the most important conversations to be had in the city of Detroit, as it's going to be very difficult to make Detroit's comeback stick without open conversations about the schools.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District has undoubtedly made progress. For instance, a recent Chalkbeat Detroit report says DPSCD's high school graduation rate of 83% is now almost on par with the state average, and the highest since 2008.

But a number of parents feel frustrated with what they see: a lack of equity of programs, facilities, and outcomes across the district's schools.

Complicating all of this? Less than half of Detroit's children go to the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

According to a Detroit PEER report in 2025, a group out of Wayne State University, only about 78,000 of the 106,000 public school students who live in Detroit (about 73%) go to school in the city.

Of those, about 48,000 attend school in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and about 30,000 attend a Detroit charter school.

The remaining 29,000 students or so (that's about 27%) go to school outside of the city, attending either a traditional public school in the suburbs through inter-district choice or a charter school located in the suburbs.

There's a lot of talk about Detroit's comeback, but in order to make it stick, schools are crucial.

This real conversation also includes Norris sharing his own experience with Detroit schools as a graduate, and what he's seen as an adult.

We also get into the upcoming DPSCD school board election and candidates, upcoming meetings, and how showing up in person can change the direction of the district.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211.

Make sure to follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Amy!

I'm in today for Jer. I hope you're having a good weekend.

Coriander Kitchen and Farm, one of the east side’s most vibrant, unique dining experiences, has opened a new bar within its canal-side restaurant.

Canal Bar is a first come, first serve spot next to Coriander’s main dining area (look for the blue and white striped umbrellas!) with its own separate cocktail and snack menu.

Guests can wait for their table, hang out while Coriander is closed between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., or skip the main dining experience altogether for a more informal hang on the water.

Cocktails and snacks are served out of trailers tucked right in the space. 

Drink choices are easy and recognizable – wine is listed as simply Patio Red, Patio White, and Patio Pink, beer choices include Oberon and Stroh’s.

Cocktails are light, mildly carbonated, and chock full of ingredients from Coriander’s farm. 

Two of the most eye-catching are the Canal Marg, with mint-infused rum, beets and lime, and the Canal Negroni, made with Hawthorne gin, Long Road red amaro, and orange-infused sweet vermouth. Both are full of bright flavors and soft edges, the kind that encourage an afternoon lounging in the sun. 

Snack items include a green garlic dip with pickled chilis and rosemary oil, and smothered tortilla chips with poblano-salsa verde, black beans, and warm queso. 

It’s a casual take on an already casual space. Coriander offers guests the opportunity to dine on seaside fare while looking out on Detroit’s canals.

Overflowing with knick knacks, flowers from their farm, and people kicking back, their website describes the atmosphere as “drunk grandma.”

Canal Bar patrons also enjoy a front row seat to an array of animals passing through the canal on the way to the Detroit River. Beavers, herons, muskrats, even a pair of bald eagles who use the canal as a highway, are frequently sighted, Coriander director of operations and co-owner Amy Haimerl said. 

Humans, of course, pass by too. On boats, kayaks, and jet skis. You can even dock right at the bar. 

Canal Bar opens at 1 p.m. on weekends and 3 p.m. weekdays, and closes around 8 p.m. on Sundays and 9 p.m. the rest of the week. It’s closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, along with the rest of Coriander.

SPONSORED

TechTown continues their First Thursdays & Coworking Concert Series on August 6!

5:15 p.m. | Registration Opens
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Networking, connecting, and spontaneous collisions
7:30 – 9:00 p.m. | Live music 

There will be refreshments, light bites and a ton of fun. The event is free and open to all.

Learn more

🗓️ You're invited to the Daily Detroit studio open house and community coffee on Saturday, August 15 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Free coffee, free donuts, and we'd love to meet and hear from you. Let's talk all things Detroit!

Please RSVP as physical space is limited and we want to get an idea of how many treats to pick up.

📬 If this is your first time here, be sure to sign up for future email notes. They're free and keep you in the loop on what to know and where to go around Metro Detroit.

🎧 If you're like me and into podcasts, there's more than 1900 episodes of the award-winning Daily Detroit podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever shows are found.

In case you were wondering, a couple of other podcasts I also really like are "Ologies with Alie Ward" as well as "What If We Get It Right?" hosted by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.

💪 This work is supported by our members on Patreon! Local media needs local support to survive and thrive, so join today.

Until next time,

-Amy

I’ve been watching Michigan politics for a long time, and this Abdul El-Sayed vs. Haley Stevens primary feels like the front line of a bigger national reckoning.

With Norris Howard and Devon O’Reilly, we unpack the pissed-off electorate, Whitmer’s data-center problem, and how PAC money and billionaire money are backfiring with voters. 

Many think that Michigan is a purple state, full of moderate ideas; and we talk about how voters are more angry than anything else.

In the episode embedded in the player above, we talk about Trump’s underwater numbers, Mike Rogers’ vulnerability, and why running against the Democratic establishment might be the only way Democrats win in November.

If you’re trying to read the Petoskey stones on where this race goes next, we end the show with our coffee bets on who will win and by how much.

Follow the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

What are the top trends in food in Metro Detroit? What are the keys to success for restaurants today? And on the entertainment side, how are music venues doing in 2026?

Detroit News restaurant critic Melody Baetens joins us at the Daily Detroit studio to talk about the city's post‑COVID dining boom, why consistency is key to winning, and what's driving all the new global flavors around town.

I have so much respect for her talent and experience, so I'm glad she made the time to stop by the podcast. The audio is embedded above, and you'll find a full transcript below.

We get into a recent piece she did on the Greater Detroit Music Census, how local venues are struggling to keep live shows on the calendar, and what it would take for Detroit to lean into being a music city for working musicians and locales.

You can read all of her stuff on the Detroit News here.

Thanks also to Norris Howard for joining in this conversation.

Follow us on Apple Podcasts!

Transcript

This transcript was lightly edited for clarity. Please refer to the original podcast audio before quoting.

Jer Staes: And we're going to talk with somebody who I'm so excited—I have followed their work for longer than I care to admit. I am very excited. Across the table from us is none other than Melody Baetens, the restaurant critic and reporter for the Detroit News. I think of anyone in this town, you have some of the best perspective—and longest perspective. You understand what's been happening in this place for a while now.

Melody Baetens: Thanks, Jer. Yeah, I feel like I have a master's degree in what's around here.

Jer: Where to go to get...

Norris Howard: What's going on?

Jer: What is happening out there? So, you know, we'll get into some nitty-gritty and some things that are happening on the ground, but you know, since you're here, what are some of the biggest changes that you've seen over, you know, the last years? I'd say, you know, your career spans, I think, 27 years. But really in the last 10 years, 15 years, what are some of the biggest changes in things in Detroit and Metro Detroit when it comes to dining and venues?

Melody Baetens: Yeah, I would say nothing surprises me anymore as far as things closing. Since COVID, there's a couple closings where I'm just like, "Well, if that's going to close, then who knows?" You know, like, just anything can happen. You know, it's hard to keep a restaurant open, it's hard to keep a venue open. But I also see on the other side of that, anything can happen. Michelin can come here, we can get James Beard Awards, we can have the biggest New York restaurant guy come here and open a restaurant. So I see those things happen kind of every other day. It's kind of one or the other. So yeah, there's a lot of—a lot of "anything can happen" type of feeling over the last couple years, I would say.

Jer: You've talked to a lot of people. Looking at COVID as kind of that marker, what do you think has permanently changed that's kind of changed the market and created both of those situations?

Melody Baetens: Probably service, and just the leaning towards... I think there's a lot more fast-casual. I'm seeing a lot of kiosks. Like, literally just this week, where it's like instead of going up to the counter and ordering, or going up to a host stand, you go up to a screen. And you either say, "I'm here, and I want to sit down," or "I'm here, and this is what I want to order, here's my money." So I'm seeing a lot of automation, I'm seeing a lot of fast-casual. And I don't think it's because people, you know, don't want to do that job or they can't find people to do that job. I think that the people working in restaurants have enough to do, and this is making them—you know, their job a little easier.

Jer: Really? That's an interesting perspective, because a lot of times, you know, you'll hear the technologists and the anti-technologists, and they'll be at each other's throats. But you're really coming to it from a very practical perspective.

Melody Baetens: Yeah, I mean, I think that people that work in restaurants like it, they want to be paid fairly and they, you know, they want... A lot of people did exit the industry during COVID, for sure. But there's so much to do, always. I think in anyone's job there's so much to do, and I think those technologies maybe just help support the staff that already exists. But I do hear a lot from restaurant owners: staffing is difficult.

Norris: Mmm, interesting. Now, my question is, obviously, we are starting to see—you mentioned Michelin coming here, and James Beard Awards being given to some of our restaurateurs. You know, for me, I want to ask: when there's a place that you, as somebody who does this for a living, what would you say are some of the quintessential places that, you know, our listeners need to try? Like, where is the place like, "eat here before you die"?

Melody Baetens: Oh! There's a lot. I mean, just—I'm thinking like, just physically near us, like Baobab Fare, Chartreuse, Supino. I mean, there's so many places. LC's Vape Shop is another good one. Just in this little area right here. It goes on and on. I think that, you know, you have to give more of a pocket, like which places in this area, or which places with this cuisine, because we are so fortunate to have so much good things to eat, and so much—you know, so much more coming. But yeah, when people say, "Where does my friend from out of town go to eat?" I'm like, "I need more specifics!"

Norris: I need—I need you to help me! I need you to help me! Yeah, and you know, I think for me, because a lot of folks, I get the same questions, right? We do this show daily, so, "You must know every restaurant in the whole region!" It's not possible.

Jer: I think she knows more than me.

Norris: She knows more than both of us combined, I'm sure! But I think when you're talking about more things coming, what excites you about the future of the food landscape of the city of Detroit?

Melody Baetens: I'm really hoping that there's going to be more opportunity for people that have like been cooking in Detroit. Like you see it with the Motor City Match program, I think that's very useful, and we're seeing a lot of places actually open up. You know, like Little Liberia. You know, Chef Amina has been working her tail off for years, and she finally got that restaurant open, and it's gorgeous, and I think she's doing well. The food's amazing, people are excited about it. So I want to see more of these stories, like, you know, the people who have really been slugging it out get a little bit of the spotlight, and, you know, get a space, get funding, get help, get what they need. Detroit Shipping Company is another one. You see a lot of chefs in there that are, you know, that have been doing pop-ups or have been doing catering. Kan-Jam is open in there now. You know, there's Chef Genevieve in there, she's got a couple concepts. Just a great spot where people can, you know, they have a home, and they have like kind of support. It's not just them paying all the bills and doing everything, and rent all on their own.

Jer: That's one thing I've noticed a lot, is that restaurants and hospitality is like a really hard business to make it work. It's astounding when people do.

Melody Baetens: Yeah! And it's also like a real estate game. Like a lot of places can't afford to just buy the building, and if you don't, then you're, you know, you're renting and you're at the mercy of whatever the landlord wants to do. And that's, I think, how a lot of places, you know, closed that didn't want to close. It's like, "I didn't own the building, so I couldn't decide," or, "You know, I had to go move somewhere else."

Jer: Is it true that sometimes landlords see a successful place, and then, you know, I'll hear that maybe they turn up the rent or something? Does that happen?

Melody Baetens: I think so, yeah. I mean, definitely if the market calls for it, and they know they can get more. I mean, they're in business, so, yeah, I would say so, for sure.

Jer: So what are some of the trends that you're seeing here in 2026 out there?

Melody Baetens: I'm seeing a lot more global flavors, you know, some things we haven't seen before. Like Chef Omar from Saffron De Twah just opened Nomad Rotisserie, and he's doing like Palestinian flavors, Iraqi, Greek, a bunch of different flavors, but using the same rotisserie chicken base, kind of. Korean... He's got a bunch of stuff going on there with the flavors and the seasonings. He's just getting started there, and that is in 3rd Street. And that's like another thing we were saying, like he's inside 3rd Street Saloon, so he's kind of like—you know, the customers that the bar can order from him, and his customers can get a drink from the bar. So there's kind of that synergy, and I think that's going to be—that's a key to success, is having kind of, in our community, you know, something to lean on.

Norris: Yeah, and for those who may not be familiar, the new Street Beat that was on—that is on Michigan Avenue in the old Bobcat Bonnie's got one of their big starts in the same spot in 3rd Street Bar, so it can be done.

Jer: Well, and you know what might date me, is I remember when Dangerously Delicious Pies...

Norris: Yes! The pies!

Jer: I still miss the pies!

Norris: Let me tell you something, when you was already a... a few drinks in, and you knew that maybe I should, uh, chalk it up, the pies hit exactly the way they were supposed to. But I want to shift gears right quick and talk about something that was really interesting to me, and that is going to be the Greater Detroit Music Census. Your part in it was talking about venues, and, you know, what is sort of the ecosystem of music venues in metro Detroit?

And I want to talk about this because as somebody who loves our music scene—I love all genres of music, there's even a few country jams that I really enjoy—but what was the biggest thing that surprised you from this particular census? Because Detroit is known as a music city, but it feels like not so much anymore, maybe.

Melody Baetens: I think you're right. I think it's a music city in its heart and in its culture, but is it a music city as an industry? I don't think anyone's making money. I don't think there's musicians that are coming here to make a living playing music. And that's what, you know, the people that put the census together, that's kind of what they found, is a lot of the musicians that were polled—which I think they got like 2,200, 2,500 people that answered the survey, which is a good amount of people—you know, they want to stay here, but they might not be able to stay here if they want to be full-time, you know, professional musicians.

And also the venues don't have as many live shows compared to like, you know, other cities like Nashville, which—that's a big comparison. But they said we're more in the market of like a Wichita, Kansas. And I don't know if maybe that's just...

Jer: That hurts.

Melody Baetens: Yeah, I mean, the numbers...

Jer: I mean, I believe it, but it hurts, right? And I think that's part of the intersection of identity and entertainment that I think is so interesting to sit in.

Melody Baetens: And maybe that was polling... the census just being, you know, hard to read or, you know, this is the first year they've done it. But yeah, they said that there's a low number of average shows per venue. But I don't know what kind of venues all answered the survey, and you've got to think, you know, there's still like—we do a lot of local showcases in our festivals. Like Jazz Fest, you know, Labor Day weekend alone showcases all kinds of different local music. And that's also the best bet, I think, for local musicians getting paid. But those don't happen every weekend.

Norris: Yeah.

Jer: Do you have any idea on what these venues need, or solutions? You know, I always try to look at things in a way of like, "Okay, here is the problem," and I'm definitely good with calling that out. But also, I think there's so much more we could do to embrace our musical culture. You know, I've traveled places—like, I don't understand why we don't have more Motown statues, or we don't have more activities. Like, the Motown Museum is great, and the expansion is going to be great, but I feel like, you know, we need our own walk, or different things. I saw a Black Music Walk of Fame in Cincinnati, which I thought was really cool. When I was in Memphis, I saw lots of statuary. I don't know what our take on that is, but if we want this to be a thing, I feel like we should invest in it.

Melody Baetens: Yeah, absolutely. I think to answer your question about the venues, there's a couple things they can do. One of them, which I think festivals do, is sponsorships. And I think back in the day, you would go to, you know, St. Andrew's Hall or—you go to some venue and it'd be like, "Oh, they only have Budweiser products." It's like, well, guess what? Budweiser's probably footing the bill for half the music. Or Camel cigarettes. You know, these kind of sponsorships don't really happen as much anymore because I think everyone's tightening the belt. But that is one way.

And then the other way is, you know, because people don't drink as much—whether it's people our age drinking less or the younger generation just not drinking as much to begin with—Darren from Ghost Light had a point. I told him, like, "You sell one thing, which is alcohol. How do you remedy this when people aren't buying it?" And he said, "We have to change the narrative that we're also selling artists a chance to make a living." So when you pay a $10 cover, or you pay, you know, maybe you pay $20 a cover, but because you're not buying so many drinks, half of that is, you know, you think of it as cover charge, but really it's to give the musicians a chance.

Norris: Yeah, and you know, how fun and interesting you talk about it, because as somebody who used to be in St. Andrew's or at, you know, The Shelter underneath, like every weekend somebody was performing or there was something that was going on, you kind of went in understanding like, "Okay, this is kind of a house show, so we're going to be paying a little bit of money to go in here," or if they gave you some Camel Crushes, like back in the day or something...

Melody Baetens: Yep!

Norris: ...you're like, "Oh, okay, they were able to get some sponsorship in here. They must be having some little buzz!" Like, it was fun discovering kind of new local artists. And then really over the—I don't want to say, I was about to say the pandemic—over the bankruptcy, it felt like a lot of that consolidated, and now the only way you could discover new music was through like parties, or somebody's random pop-up. And those opportunities, as you say, for somebody to perform at Old Miami, or St. Andrew's, or what have you, seem to be much, much less frequent, even just anecdotally in my experience.

Melody Baetens: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And you still can go out and see local music, but I think you have to try one step harder. Like, I think you can't just open your phone and hope that it's going to scroll by. Like, you really have to dig for it. And I know people that are obsessed with local music, you know, they're big fans like you, and they know where to go. But, yeah, I feel like there used to be, you know, the Metro Times—which there still is the Metro Times, but, you know, people don't go—maybe they don't go to happy hour on Wednesdays as much anymore to read it, you know?

Jer: Can I be nostalgic?

Melody Baetens: Yeah, please.

Jer: All right. So, when you mention the newspapers like that, I think about, of course, the Metro Times, and what you do at the Detroit News, things like that. I remember, it would be a Thursday, I'd be at a coffee shop or something, and I would crack it open, and I would sit there with my coffee. And there was that physical—there was that ability to see all these listings. And I know a lot of it's online, I know it is. But it doesn't feel the same. It doesn't feel like there's the same discovery of like, "Oh, well, maybe I'll do this," or, "Here's that," or, "Here's this wild classified at the back of the paper that'll make me laugh," right?

And I think that maybe it's just me being old, but I think we're missing something in that. Like, we need to almost find a new way of discovery, because so much of it is on-demand. It's like algorithms give us exactly what they think we'll be interested in, but it's not winding off of that—that path, you know? I guess maybe I feel like that's part of the equation, too.

Melody Baetens: Right. And where venues used to put money into marketing and print media, and traditional publicists, now they put it all into social media. But you've got that blockade where it's like, well, what is the social media going to let the business, you know, filter into everyone's newsfeed? You know, if they can charge you for it, they will. And then there's just a ton of competition. There's Netflix, there's TikTok, there's... there's just other things people look at versus then, you know, what's going up, you know, what's happening at Old Miami this weekend.

Norris: Yeah, and you know, for me, Jer, going back to, you know, "What's the alternative?" You know, on the weekends I do crack open like my Resident Advisor guide app, you know, RA guide, to see like, "Okay, who's performing this weekend, what's going on?" But like you said, that's an extra step. I had to go and know what that is, and then download it, and then scroll through to see who is performing where over this weekend. And having that all exist kind of in one place is difficult. And then now it's bifurcated by genre, and so on and so forth. And so I can see how venues struggle with this, for sure.

Jer: I feel it important to mention here, though, I have seen a lot of good shows at the Old Miami!

Melody Baetens: Yeah! For sure!

Norris: I've seen some shows at the Old Miami. Indoor and outdoor! At the Old Miami, at the Magic Stick, at the Majestic Next Door, at so many places just even within the city of Detroit itself, not even talking about the greater metro, 'cause one of the best concerts I've ever been to was watching Snoop Dogg show up three hours late at the Royal Oak Music Theatre... and not getting home till like 3:00 AM. But I digress.

I think when we're talking about venues, 'cause, you know, that was where you really focused on, not just how can they do things to make this better and make this easier for local artists and performers, but what can some of these venues do to kind of get more people in the door? Because ultimately, that's what everybody's trying to achieve. The artists want booties in the seats, the venue wants the same thing. You know, what are you seeing that can make this easier?

Melody Baetens: I think the venues that are being successful have cultivated a community of people that—they've focused on a genre, and kind of stuck to it, so that they know their customers, and they can get, you know, a lot of the same people. People know that they can come to The Ark in Ann Arbor, for example. Like, it's $25 on a really affordable night there. But if you try to charge $25 to see five local bands at The Lager House, people would balk at that.

Norris: Yeah.

Melody Baetens: You know, so it's—it's the venues that have really cultivated and understood their audience, and understood their artists, and have worked with them to promote and pay them well, and, you know, treat the audience well and offer them something that they want to keep going back to. And it's not easy to do. It's easy for me to say that, but like, it is—it is hard, and the venues... That's what I see the venues that are successful, that's what I see them doing.

Jer: You know, along those same lines, what are some of the things that you see that are successful among the food places, the restaurants, and things like that, that are themes that you're seeing with kind of what's working? And maybe some examples.

Melody Baetens: Consistency. Consistency!

Jer: You know, that's so—You know what for me, can I just say? That's a big deal, though! And hours—for me, oh my gosh, my biggest pet peeve is hours that fly all over the place. Anyway, sorry, I...

Norris: No, but consistency is something that I think is very important, because again, I don't go to this place very often, but when I do, I always say this about it, is when I go to Freya, and I see that the same people have been working at Freya for like four years, I'm like, that's important. Every dish I got is incredibly different, but it's all delicious. And so, you know, the wine list is always expertly paired with what I got going on on my plate. And so that consistency of not just the menu, not just the drinks, not just the staff, not just the decor—it is the entire package all together in a way it's never changed, but it's always different. And that's what's so incredible about that place. So I'm glad that you said consistency, because when I go to my—I mean, I got my regular places. Baobab, I go to Baobab for happy hour at least once a week. Consistency.

Melody Baetens: You're spot on about Freya. Like, the menu might change every week, but the expertise is the same, the hospitality is the same, and, you know, the high level of experience is the same. And hours, too, you know, a lot of places they struggle to just get open and stay open and keep regular hours.

Jer: I would almost argue a place should be open less, but more consistently. It's more important than being all over the place. I remember—I won't name the name, 'cause I don't think they're with us anymore—but I was going to this place on the East Side, and who knew? It was rolling the dice.

Norris: It was rolling the dice if they was open or not!

Jer: Who knew? It was just, you know, on God.

Norris: It was on God! But we put it in... It's by the grace of Jesus that this place'll be open or not!

Jer: If there was cheese involved, is it Cheeses?

Norris: Yeah! Oh my god, here we go with the puns! In the stream! In the stream!

Jer: So, what's something that people—that you've wanted to talk about, or something that maybe hasn't fit the pages, or maybe something you want to talk about in the future that like, in the food or the venue scene, that you want to share with folks?

Melody Baetens: I'm just always excited about what's coming next, and, you know, I don't know what I don't know, so I am excited about any new restaurant that opens this year. You know, we got a couple coming down the pike. In West Village, they're doing Agnes from the Selden Standard folks. Waka is going to open, hopefully soon, in Eastern Market. We've been waiting for them for a while, and I think that's going to be great when they open. You know, there's going to be more pizza, more tacos.

I'm really excited later this month for the Hospitality Included Festival, which has gone on for a couple years, and that is really like... everybody. I mean, and everybody! I see people I haven't seen in years, I see people who I've never seen at restaurants, you know, hanging out and trying food. Every chef is in town, in the mix, from like Dutch Girl Donuts to, you know, Mabel Gray, Chartreuse, Freya, Vicino, like all the, you know, the high-end finer dining places. It's just a really good mix. The organizers know what they're doing, and it's a community festival, it's free to get in, but you can buy community tickets to make sure it stays free, and that's right around here on the North End, I think on August 16th.

Norris: Yeah, next month.

Jer: Isn't that in—I want to say I remember last year was in the Crain lot?

Melody Baetens: It was three years ago over there, and then last year it was kind of right around there, like around the corner from there.

Jer: Okay, so same area.

Melody Baetens: It's so cool! No long lines, not very expensive, like... I think it's—it's right in that sweet spot, like the first couple years. Like, maybe it'll get too big and it won't be as sweet, but I think even the parking was free. Like, it was just like, I'm like, "I love this food festival!"

Norris: Nah, it's peak. It's a festival a lot of people will enjoy, and it is one of our lesser-known festivals, but people should definitely check it out, 'cause if you're somebody who's deep into food and the restaurant scene here in metro Detroit, you should absolutely check it out.

Jer: So, I guess maybe I'll end on this: if somebody's coming and they want to, you know... People work real hard for their money. I get the sense that it's not always about like the cheapest, it's about value for money, right? Making sure that they get stuff. When you go to a place, what is the thing that you look for or see? Is there something you notice where you're like, "This place is going to be good"? Is there some stuff where it's like, look for X or Y when you're looking for some place to eat?

Melody Baetens: Yeah, flavor! Just like, make the food taste good, flavor it, season it. I think Tacos Woohoo in Southwest Detroit is doing a great job. This week is their one-year anniversary, they're doing a special menu. They just won the Taco Showdown in Eastern Market. I think they're having a great time, and I think more people should check them out. They're right across the street from La Hacienda, and...

Jer: Yeah, yeah, yeah! We've had the chef on the show before!

Melody Baetens: Great margaritas there, great snacks there, too. So you can get two-for: you can have a snack and a drink over there, do some shopping, then go across the street and have some birria tacos.

Jer: Norris Howard, it's clear we need to hang out with her more often.

Norris: That is what I'm hearing!

Melody Baetens: I'll bring food next time!

Norris: That is what I'm hearing, yes!

Jer: Well, Melody Baetens, the restaurant critic and reporter at the Detroit News... I assume you can go to the Detroit News and check out everything that you're doing. Anywhere else you want people to follow you?

Melody Baetens:detroitnews.com/restaurantswill get you to all my latest reporting.

Jer: Awesome. Thank you so much, and see you around town!

Melody Baetens: Thank you.

Jer: Thank you so much for listening! If you've got feedback, dailydetroit@gmail.com, or 313-789-3211. Remember, we've got our studio summer open house Saturday, August 15th, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Check out the event on Eventbrite, I will put a link in the show notes. Until next time, I'm Jer Staes. Remember that you are somebody, and we'll see you around Detroit.

In this episode, I sit down with Transportation Riders United executive director Megan Owens to unpack Wayne County’s transit millage and what it could mean for riders in Detroit and the suburbs.

We get into how countywide service could end “opt‑out” communities, bring buses and microtransit to places like Livonia, Canton and Plymouth, and better connect rural townships to trunk lines.

I also talk with Megan about a new $25 million BUILD grant for Gratiot, Macomb County’s renewal interest in SMART, and how to actually find the transit question at the bottom of your ballot.

You can find a full transcript of the conversation below.

More on TRU: https://www.detroittransit.org/

Our studio open house on Saturday, August 15: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995592904096?aff=oddtdtcreator

Make sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

Episode Transcription

This has been lightly edited for clarity. Please refer to the original audio before quoting.

Wayne County Transit Millage

Jer: First up, the newest news: there is a millage on the ballot in Wayne County coming up on August 4th. Some listeners may have already voted, but it’s important to touch on it because it’s such a big topic. What’s on the table for August 4th?

Megan: Wayne County‑wide expansion is on the ballot. Everyone in Wayne County will have a chance to vote on expanding transit throughout the entire county.

For communities that have long had SMART bus service — Dearborn, Grosse Pointe, Inkster, Westland — this is purely a renewal. They’ve been voting on this every few years.

The exciting part is expansion into new areas, places like Livonia, Canton, Plymouth — places with thousands of jobs, school opportunities, and shopping — where, right now, if you don’t drive, you just can’t get there. Expanding into those areas is a major piece.

Detroitors will be part of it for the first time, and there are some interesting ideas for how DDOT could improve and expand service with the additional revenue this could provide.

Jer: So this would eliminate the concept of opt‑out communities. Wayne County was unique regionally and nationally in a lot of ways, where communities could decide to be in or out of transit.

Megan: It seems really absurd. Each town doesn’t get to decide whether they’ll have a highway or be part of other services, but for decades a few people on a township board or city council could decide, “We’re just not going to do transit,” and voters didn’t even have the choice to be part of a regional system.

Now we’re potentially days away from the entire tri‑county area having at least some level of public transit. This isn’t going to be world‑class rapid transit, but it’s a critical baseline to make sure no one in our county is left behind.

Just because your car breaks down, your whole life shouldn’t have to break down. You should have options regardless of where in the tri‑county area you are.

Benefits for Areas like Livonia, Plymouth, and other current opt-out communities

Jer: What are some of the benefits for those out‑county areas? When I say out‑county, I mean the areas that aren’t the city of Detroit.

Megan: SMART has released some ideas for the types of services they could provide. They’ll do more detailed planning as they get closer, but they’re looking at extending a lot of the routes — Fort Street, Michigan Avenue, Ford — that already have transit but currently stop at awkward locations.

They’re also looking at new routes downriver and on Telegraph, Warren, Middlebelt, 7 Mile, Haggerty. That could mean new bus service connecting to thousands of jobs, schools, and shopping opportunities, as well as expanded paratransit and senior shuttles.

Right now, each town has some level of senior shuttles, but a lot of them are very limited. If you’re in Plymouth and you’re a senior, you might only be able to get a ride between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and only within Plymouth. That’s all you can do.

Jer: I was recently in downtown Plymouth. That’s an area that currently does not have connection to county‑wide transit, but it would under this millage.

Megan: Exactly. Downtown Plymouth is great. Even if you don’t drive, you should be able to get out there and enjoy it. They’ve got so many cool events happening, and it’s super walkable with lots of shops. You should be able to get there.

Rural Wayne County and Microtransit

Jer: What about the more rural or open‑space parts of Wayne County? Metro Detroit has this geographic quirk: the county seat in Wayne County — Detroit — is in the upper right corner, and our population center is spread across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb.

That means all these counties, including Wayne, have sizable rural or less populated areas. How could this benefit them?

Megan: A lot of people don’t realize there are three more townships after Romulus when you go southwest. Every one of Wayne County’s 43 communities has transit needs, but they’re not the same. What works in one place won’t necessarily work in another.

SMART has been piloting flex service for a couple of years. It’s an on‑demand microtransit, similar to an Uber‑style service. You can use an app or call in — which is important for seniors or others who don’t want to use an app — and within 30 to 45 minutes a ride will pick you up and take you within a couple of miles in that zone.

It won’t take you all the way across town, but it will either take you directly to your destination if it’s within a couple of miles, or to a main transit route so you can be better connected.

Microtransit tends to use more vans. You might be the only passenger, or they might pick up one or two other people. It’s a service that works much better in low‑density areas.

Every community has seniors, people with disabilities, people who don’t drive but still have places to go. We need to figure out ways to serve them.

Jer: It’s important to connect to trunk lines, because research shows microtransit works best when it ties into a strong spine or main route.

Megan: Exactly. People still need connections. It might not be exact door‑to‑door service, because transit has to figure out the most efficient way to move as many people as possible.

There’s a balancing act between ensuring everyone has some service — no one is left behind — and moving people efficiently. Flex service has proved to be an effective way to do that.

Maybe you’ll get picked up down in Huron Township, and they’ll take you up to Michigan Avenue so that route can take you the rest of the way.

Jer: I’m always stunned at how big this region is geographically. Our coverage area is Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, and sometimes Ann Arbor when it ties in, and you realize how far that is.

Megan: It really is a large region.

What This Means for Detroit

Jer: Let’s talk about the city of Detroit, because that would be a new addition to this millage.

Megan: Every one of Wayne County’s 43 communities is different. Detroit has long invested in its own transit service, and this millage wouldn’t change that. It would be a supplement on top of that.

Detroitors would be able to get to jobs and stores in places like Livonia and Canton, which have long been an absurd barrier for people without cars.

The plan is for dollars raised in the city to be invested in improving DDOT services. Detroiters would get a win‑win: more connections and better service.

We’ve been asking the DDOT director what that would mean. Over the last couple of weeks, he’s held public meetings and talked about improvements like better bus stops, but they’re also looking to pilot the same kind of microtransit used in deep Southwest Wayne County in parts of Detroit.

There are swaths of Detroit that are quite low‑density. Those four grandmas who’ve been in a neighborhood for 75 years still have places to go, but it may not be effective to have one bus once an hour serving them. On‑demand service could make more sense in certain pockets where the need is greatest.

Jer: An on‑demand service could be useful. It’s easy to go downtown, but if I wanted to go in another direction, maybe diagonally, on‑demand might be more helpful. If I only need to go a mile or two, it might be easier than trying to catch two different buses to get to someplace like Indian Village.

Megan: If you’re on the far east side or far west side, flex service might not take you all the way to your final destination, but it could take you directly to a shop within a couple of miles.

If you’re going downtown or to the airport, it might take you to Gratiot or Michigan Avenue or another major corridor, and DDOT can focus on running those major routes every 10 minutes.

The idea is to provide the best type of service for each area. It’ll be interesting to see how this works.

DDOT has struggled to get enough buses. It takes two or three years from the time you order a bus to get it delivered, so they don’t have the extra vehicles to expand fixed‑route service significantly. But they can expand microtransit, pilot it, and figure out how to make on‑demand service work in the areas that need it most.

Jer: We’re used to a very digital world, but when it comes to buses and transit, it’s very physical. There are real constraints.

I didn’t know it took so long to get buses. It feels like there are buses everywhere, but that makes sense.

Megan: Between Buy America requirements, there are only two major bus manufacturers. Demand is for a few thousand buses a year, not millions, so there’s a backlog.

Jer: Only two manufacturers you can go to.

Megan: Sadly.

Jer: That seems crazy.

Megan: It gets into broader issues. That’s my personal opinion, but it does seem crazy.

“Empty Bus” Critique

Jer: I have to ask a question I get a lot, especially about suburban transit. What do you say to someone who drives down a road, sees a bus with only a few people, and feels like not enough people are using it? How do you make the case that it’s worth investing in, or even increasing investment, especially in communities not used to seeing buses on their streets?

Megan: I’d ask: have you ever been the only car on a road? I certainly have, but no one says we should narrow that road because occasionally there aren’t other cars.

At one point in time — maybe on the outer edges of a route or at 2:00 in the afternoon — there might only be one or two people on a bus. That same bus at 5:00 p.m. downtown might have 18 people on it.

It’s more efficient to run the same bus through the whole route. SMART is figuring out where it makes sense to use smaller, 30‑foot buses instead of 40‑ or 60‑foot ones, but in most cases, that “empty bus” is just a moment in time.

At other times or spots on the route, it may be quite crowded.

Jer: And that route running consistently creates certainty for everyone using it.

Megan: Absolutely. It’s a system. Not every road is packed even at 5:00 p.m., and it’s good to have some cushion in the system.

Transit agencies are always trying to get the most out of every dollar and looking for ways to adjust service to maximize ridership without leaving people out.

That bus you see with a few riders is probably crowded later or at a different point on the route.

How to Find the Wayne County Millage on Your Ballot

Jer: If someone’s looking at their ballot in Wayne County, what are they looking for?

Megan: First, turn the ballot over. This millage will be one of the last items. Don’t just stop at the top races; go all the way to the end.

One of the last pieces will be the Wayne County public transit millage. It doesn’t have a particular number, but the language is essentially “Wayne County Public Transit Millage.”

If you believe we should have transit options everywhere in the county, I’d encourage your listeners to vote yes.

Macomb County Transit Updates

Jer: There are a few other things happening around town we need to know about.

Megan: Sometimes when we talk transit, our friends in Macomb County get a bad rap. They haven’t always been enthusiastic about expanding transit into new places, but we’ve had two pieces of great news on Macomb County transit in the last couple of weeks.

First, related to elections: the Macomb Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to put the millage that would renew SMART service across Macomb County on the November ballot.

Oakland County voters approved a longer‑term millage in 2022. Wayne County has this August vote, and then in November Macomb County voters will decide on renewing transit across the county.

Previously, there was conflict between different parts of Macomb, but the entire board unanimously agreed to put this renewal on the ballot. Voters will have the chance to keep SMART rolling.

SMART also secured a big new federal grant. There aren’t many great federal dollars for transit projects these days, but SMART received a BUILD grant — “Building and Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation offers relatively large grants to a few big projects each year. I’m pretty sure Michigan hasn’t gotten one since funding for QLine construction, but this is a $25 million grant to improve transit along Gratiot.

It will make bus service safer, faster, and more accessible along the 23‑mile Gratiot corridor — from downtown to 23 Mile Road — with upgraded amenities, real‑time information, and safer crossings on a corridor we know can be dangerous.

It’s not rapid transit, but it will create a much better experience for riders along Gratiot. Detroit and Macomb County will both see improvements.

These changes aren’t immediate; it’ll take a couple of years. But it’s a real plus — there are still federal investments coming in to improve the system.

Jer: I desperately need a new bus shelter at Gratiot and Grand Boulevard. There’s a new bench at Warren and Grand Boulevard because it’s a three‑way intersection up there, but we desperately need new shelters after the repaving and everything else is done.

Megan: I’ll let you know. I assume there will be opportunities for public input as they finalize details, and we’ll make sure we get that ask in.

Supporting Transportation Riders United

Jer: Megan, I really appreciate you. For listeners who want to support or follow the work of Transportation Riders United, what can they do?

Megan: Our website and social media are at detroittransit.org. You can follow us on most major social channels.

We’ve been posting some fun videos about the Wayne County millage and about the big “round the mitten” transit tour and other efforts. Follow us on socials.

If you haven’t gotten your lawn sign, we have some available — go to the website for that. We’re a nonprofit organization, so please consider becoming a member and supporting TRU.

We’ve been advocating for almost 25 years for more and better transit for all of Metro Detroit, and member support helps us continue that work.

Jer: Megan Owens, thank you so much for catching us up. I’m sure we’ll talk again soon.

Megan: Absolutely. Thanks so much.

Outro

Jer: That’s it for today. Feedback is always welcome at dailydetroit@gmail.com, or leave a voicemail at 313‑789‑3211.

Norris Howard will be joining me tomorrow; I’m looking forward to it. Until then, I’m Jer Staes. Remember that you are somebody, and we’ll see you around Detroit.

Hey friends, Jer here.

Over the weekend, I made a run out to downtown Plymouth to check out Fourgrounds, the new coffeeshop concept by WDIV-TV 4 — and why I think this kind of thing could matter for local media in 2026.

If you're not familiar, Plymouth itself is cute. It has the vibe of a walkable northern resort spot while serving as a well-located suburb sitting between the two economic centers of Detroit and Ann Arbor.

The Coffee Shop

The coffeeshop is in a former florist at West Ann Arbor Trail and South Harvey, with a small set of steps down to the main ordering area and an accessible entrance off the parking lot.

Huge windows pull daylight into the two-story space and really bring the outside in.

Retro Channel 4 branding runs throughout, from the old “Go 4 It!” slogan to photos on the wall showing both the glorious days of yesteryear and the nearby neighborhood.

As customary when I go someplace opening week, I’m pretty gentle on my opinions of service, and I had no real issues.

If you like Great Lakes Coffee with some twists on TV news–related names like “Field Notes” and “Deadline,” this’ll be for you. There are coffee drinks, pour-overs, matcha, teas, and baked goods from Bittersweet Bakehouse, with most drinks a relatively affordable $4–$7.

After you order, you pass a merch wall and a bump-out that was originally a greenhouse but now serves as a bright seating area.

Toward the back are the stairs, with a large feature wall of historic station-inspired icons and historic pictures of Plymouth and the station along the stairwell.

Upstairs you’ll find more seating, including a conversation area in front of a TV (which at times had Channel 4 on it) and more traditional tables.

My favorite spot is a row where you can sit and work while plugged in; the plugs conveniently have regular AC, USB-A, and USB-C, and you get a bit of a street view while you lock into what you’re doing

If there’s one thing I don’t like, it’s the chairs in most of the space. They seem to be in every restaurant now, are easily replaceable, and look decent — but my burning hatred for sitting in them remains.

If I could, I’d personally drive around Southeast Michigan with a U-Haul, load up as many of them as I could from as many places as possible, and yeet them into one of those car crushing machines at a junk yard.

Other than that, it was a good experience.

The Local Media Play

Years ago, broadcast TV stations controlled their own distribution. Between sports, sitcoms, and the news, they were one of just a few choices in town for entertainment, with a direct connection to viewers and no one in between besides a giant tower and an FCC license.

Now, tech companies sit in the middle. Google (Search and News), Meta (Instagram, Facebook, Threads), X, TikTok and more take almost all the money and, through algorithms, control attention. Social media doesn’t pay enough to be worth the effort (especially if you want to be thoughtful), and there’s always someone else lining up to make more stuff for free.

What you need to do is rebuild that direct connection and habit of taking in local news. One way to do that, as media outlets in Detroit and across the country have done, is through in-person experiences.

To me, this is smart marketing. Even if the coffeeshop only breaks even, it’s a storefront on a pair of busy roads and a place where thousands of people interact with the brand every day.

And why Plymouth? As hard as it is for this Detroit city-booster to write, business is business. The city of Detroit is the center of cool, culture, and creativity, but there’s a reason you’re seeing Detroit-based brands expand to tourist spots like Lexington and across the region.

The median household income in the city of Detroit is somewhere near $39k a year; in Plymouth, it’s about $111k — almost three times as much. Depending on how you cut it, only around 15% of the region lives in Detroit now.

Unless you’re making a destination that’s so special it’s worth driving 25 minutes for, you go where the customers are and build brand presence where they already live.

As our region has become truly polycentric — many little hubs instead of one big one — I could see a few of these coffeeshops happening if this first one is successful. Imagine a live stream or broadcast that throws it from city to city, location to location, giving the whole thing a stronger sense of place.

I don't know how they're measuring success for this project, but I'm not betting against it.

I'm curious what you all think about it. Lemme know, dailydetroit@gmail.com or on our contact form.

🗓️ I may be doing it wrong, but I’ve got free coffee and donuts for you at our summer studio open house on the morning of Saturday, August 15.

Come by, say hi, and let’s talk — whether it’s things we’ve covered here in the newsletter and podcast or your own ideas. We just spent a bunch of time on why in-person matters, and we’ve been living that on a smaller scale with this community for years.

That’s it for today, and thanks for reading. If you got something valuable out of this note, share it with a friend.

Big thanks to our supporters on Patreon. We couldn't do it without you.

Until next time, remember that you are somebody, and I’ll see you around Detroit.

-Jer

On today's Daily Detroit I kick things off in "prime Negroni season," and on the heels of a new zero proof gin debate with Devon whether zero-proof gin and spirits are actually a thing we need or just marketing chasing vibes without the buzz.

Then we dive into how different wings of the Demcoratic party actuall agree on about 88% of things, and how junk polls and click-chasing headlines warp our sense of what's really at stake, or who feels what way. Plus, turnout in the city and what it would take for under-40 Detroiters to actually flex the power they have instead of letting politics stay a 60-plus sport.

We close on the RenCen and riverfront remake, breaking down the impending double tower demolition, and why losing some concrete might finally mean gaining the riverfront Detroit deserves.

Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get shows - and be plugged into Detroit's best conversation!

Hey friends, Jer here.

Hope you're enjoying the cooler, cleaner air. I made sure to get outside for awhile yesterday as this is my definition of epic weather.

If this is your first time here, be sure to sign up for future notes for free.

💵 After the non-partisan Citizens Research Council of Michigan shared analysis yesterday morning showing a possible large gap in the state's budget to the tune of $600-$900 million, it turns out the Governor and legislative officials had something up their sleeves they hadn't told us yet.

They're draining the $450 million of remaining money from the SOAR business attraction fund to bridge the gap. [Crain's Detroit] [Bridge Michigan]

But here's the kicker: That's a one-time fix, so that no one has to make hard choices in an election year.

Whoever is elected governor (and controls the legislature) in November is likely going to have to deal with budget cuts next year as Michigan's economy continues to struggle, hampering any agenda.

📰 Speaking of the economy, this piece in New York Times Opinion is ostensibly about the primary Senate race between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed... but the answers inside are some deep real talk about Michigan's financial future. [NYT Gift Link]

The local experts talked about how our economy hasn't adapted, the challenges of keeping and attracting young talent, and a lack of knowledge that the country is passing us by.

Independent pollster Richard Czuba said:

Michigan’s economy over the past 25 years has become calcified in its nostalgia for manufacturing. I do focus groups with voters regularly, and not much stuns me, but the conversations that do are when voters say, “No, no, no, we don’t want those high-tech knowledge jobs. We’re a manufacturing state. We build things.” And that is, at the very core, what has caused Michigan’s economy to just stagnate. We have got to change. We have got to adapt. We did this survey and we asked voters: Where does Michigan rank among the 50 states? And we asked them to give us a number, and it was right in the middle. They think we’re perfectly average. Michigan voters have no idea the rest of the country is blowing by them right now on the economy.

Go read the rest of the voices, and I'll love to know what do you think for a future edition.

🗳️ Detroit’s Department of Elections is kicking off early voting with a “Get Out to Vote” block party this Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. outside its West Grand Boulevard headquarters.

The event lines up with the first day of in-person early voting for the primary, an option expanded under a 2022 Michigan constitutional amendment.

City voters can cast ballots, register, and get information about eight early voting sites citywide, while enjoying live entertainment, family activities, and giveaways. [Detroit Votes]

Did you know that in 2025, for every 10 votes by people over 60 in the city of Detroit, there's just one vote cast by someone under 30? [Bridge Detroit]

🗺️ Oakland and Wayne counties just cleared a path to put a museum funding millage on the November ballot. The proposed 0.2-mill tax would support the Wright Museum and Detroit Historical Society, pending state approval and voters. [Detroit News]

🎂 In related news, the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum are celebrating birthdays this weekend.

On Friday, July 24 from 10 a.m – 8 p.m., the Detroit Historical Museum marks its 75th anniversary with a free block party with museum admission and guided tours, plus a classic car show, food trucks, music/DJs/karaoke, family activities, and a birthday toast and cake cutting. [Register Here]

Then on Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Dossin Great Lakes Museum celebrates its 65th anniversary with a free Dock Party on Belle Isle spotlighting Great Lakes maritime history.

Expect guided tours, radio contolled boats on the cove, live music, family activities, food trucks, waterfront photo ops, ice cream, and a community mural-painting moment.

Both events are free. I'm hoping to get to both.

🐲 Also this Saturday is the second annual Detroit Chinatown Block Party. [Detroit Chinatown Vision Committee]

It kicks off at noon near Cass & Peterboro, celebrating the neighborhood’s history and future as a Pan-Asian business district. Last year more than 4,000 people came out.

Earlier this year, I talked on the podcast about the vision for the area going forward.

🐧 Have you ever wondered how the animals at the Detroit Zoo were doing with the recent wildfire smoke? Or how they manage through extreme weather? Waddle on over to Planet Detroit.

🚑 I'm always fascinated when people make hard turns in their careers. I think reinventing oneself is a good thing, and I personally know all to well how hard it is to eat in the media world today, especially when you deeply value facts and truth.

So this essay by paused journalist Malachi Barrett who traded in his reporter's notebook for EMT training caught my eye. An excerpt:

I relied too much on the validation of strangers. I understood that success shouldn’t be measured by clicks or retweets, but I watched the numbers anyway, telling myself that reporting no one sees isn’t worth much either. Attention is currency.

Unfortunately, two things are true: Platforms optimized for emotional manipulation don’t reward an incremental effort to build civic engagement, and landing a hit tweet feels dangerously good. I became conflicted about whether to stay focused on city politics or seek “bigger” stories.

Read the rest on his Substack.

🍕 One of the most unique pizzas you will find is at Amar in Hamtramck. Infused with Bangladeshi heritage and flavors, you won't want to miss it. Above you'll find a video from Independent Lens about it.

But to be clear, my co-host Norris Howard already called it out as one his favorites in a recent episode of the podcast.

✏️ A reminder that if you're not already signed up for our email list, be sure to beat the algorithm and get these notes for free.

🗣️ If you got value out of this edition of Daily Detroit, be sure to share it with a friend! Word of mouth is the best way to grow the project.

🤝 And if you want to help keep thoughtful local conversations going, join us as a member on Patreon.

Until next time — remember that you are somebody, and I'll see you around Detroit.

-Jer

In today's episode, Norris and I hit pause on the doomscroll and talk about simple joys and summer adventures around Detroit.

We talk about everything from Belle Isle walks and Southwest soccer nights to Chinatown block parties, rooftop bars, and getting lost on the scenic route instead of the freeway.

Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows!

If you've got feedback, including what you plan on doing this summer, let us know - dailydetroit@gmail.com or 313-789-3211

Today, I sit down with communications pro Matt Friedman to talk about what happens when the basic stuff in media breaks — from lettuce recalls and weather alerts to non-partisan, important voting information.

We get into algorithms, broken trust, and why it's harder than ever to get simple, accurate information. And that information is crucial for a stronger local Detroit community.

If you care about how you actually find out what matters, this one's worth a listen. There's a full transcript below.

Matt Friedman's latest post: https://tannerfriedman.com/blog/ive-done-food-recall-crisis-communications-the-parasite-situation-is-a-mess/

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Podcast Transcript

This was lightly edited for posting. Please refer to the original audio before quoting.

Jer: Today's episode is going to be pretty interesting. Recently, on a lot of levels, it feels like we've lost a lot of cabin pressure when it comes to our discourse. Things have gotten wild, people are missing really important information, and discussions are going off the rails.

When I don’t understand what’s happening with media and communications, there’s one person I talk to, and that’s Matt Friedman. He is the co‑founder of Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications.

Matt, am I crazy?

Matt: Not at all, Jer. Not at all.

From mass media to personal media

Jer: Welcome back.

Matt: Thank you. It’s great to be back. I always enjoy coming in here. There’s something about being in this studio and having these conversations.

I think we’re in a situation now that a lot of us saw coming, and now it’s happening in real life. We’re surrounded by opinions, but we’re lacking in our day‑to‑day lives all of this basic, fundamental information we used to need in order to form opinions. Now the opinions come first, depending on who we align with and how we get information, and it affects us in so many ways.

Unless you’re somebody who’s just in love with your own opinions, if you actually like to be informed and try to know what’s going on and make up your mind, it’s really hard right now. You have to sift through a lot.

Jer: With this media mix, it does make it very difficult because algorithms show you what they think you might be interested in to keep you on the platform. It’s not about what you need to know.

That works fine for dog or pheasant videos, but when you’re talking about important information — food recalls, weather alerts, voting — there’s so much fundamental stuff that even five or ten years ago was easy to follow.

Now I’m answering so many simple questions compared to when I started this project. It feels like the greater audience — not directly Daily Detroit people, because if you’re choosing to be here, I appreciate you — is missing the core information that used to be so fundamental.

Matt: When I first started in the PR business after I left broadcast news, what we were doing fundamentally was connecting audiences with information. Of course, that included messaging and perspective, but at the core it was about information.

We had news outlets in this community, mirrored all over the country, that commanded such a large audience that fundamental information could get communicated and get through. Between TV news, radio news, newspapers, and the early internet news sites, it was very much information‑oriented and they reached mass audiences.

What’s happened in the last 25 or so years is that we’ve been transformed as a society. We really don’t have mass media anymore; it’s all personal media. We watch what we want, when we want, how we want, for as long as we want. The customer generally likes that, but at the same time, you get a news story like the recent parasite situation where we literally don’t know what’s safe to eat.

That shows a deficiency in society. I don’t know what to do about it other than wanting to know if I can have a salad today. As a practical matter, it’s frustrating, and we all have examples like that.

Food recalls and broken systems

Jer: So what’s gone sideways, do you think? I’ll link to your blog post about this, but what do you think has gone sideways with this specific food communication issue?

Matt: I think there are a few things happening. Number one: we had a system in this country for how food recalls and food issues were supposed to be communicated to the public, with the public interest front and center. I’ve experienced this firsthand working with clients, and that system appears to have fallen apart — most likely at the federal government level.

Let’s say even if the federal government was compliant and actually interested in tracing this outbreak and preventing it from happening, which doesn’t seem like the case so far, how could that information be disseminated? There’s no easy way to do it anymore.

Putting a press release on PR Newswire and letting everybody pick it up — language we used to use — isn’t going to work anymore. We’re so splintered and scattered as a society that even something simple like “Is the lettuce safe to eat?” is a tough question to answer now.

Jer: And it keeps going through everybody’s partisan lens because trust has broken down.

Matt: Yes, and on top of that, the first thing on Google that comes up now is an AI interpretation of what’s out there. We have to contend with that as consumers too.

Weather, notifications, and real‑time breakdowns

Jer: This ties into something I saw online from a number of really good meteorologists around Michigan. There was a pop‑up storm in Macomb County — I want to say by Blake Farms — and a lot of people felt like they got caught off guard with damage to their stuff.

I’ve seen it over and over this summer: “How did this storm appear out of nowhere?” But the meteorologists are saying, “We gave you hours of notice. We see these things happening. You’re just not getting the message.”

That worries me because we’re in a deluge of notifications. We probably all get a ton of notifications on our phones constantly — some we want, some we don’t. Knowing what the weather is seems pretty important, and we have professionals doing the job and sharing the information, but it’s still not getting out there.

Matt: Part of that is that the way we consume information is so different from person to person and generation to generation. So many of us rely on apps for weather. Those apps are powered by AI; weather apps were really pioneers of AI. They didn’t have forecasters in your zip code — they relied on technology to deliver that to you.

At the same time, people in TV stations are physically there, looking at weather in our market, trying to forecast and communicate it. We have an entire generation of consumers, probably under 35, who don’t watch those TV stations and don’t really know how to watch them.

In my own family, during a tornado situation a few months ago, I had to stay up in the middle of the night to watch TV and text a family member what I was seeing because she doesn’t have access to it.

That’s part of the splintering of media I’m talking about. If you have to get a message out, how do you get it out to the masses? You can’t anymore.

Jer: And real time is very broken.

You go on social media — and I know from the data on our own posts — it takes two or three days for something to disseminate through feeds. At the very least, half a day for it to reach its maximum audience. That changes what you write and produce, but it also means if you have an update that’s really important in the next two hours, you’re likely sunk.

That’s not the consumer’s fault. Some of it is the algorithm. On social media, what comes up first can be something from six days ago because the algorithm thinks you’d be interested in it. That’s fine for art or cute videos, but when it comes to important information, it breaks down.

Elections, media theory, and what actually reaches voters

Jer: So what do we do about this? How much do we care? What catastrophe is it going to take to come up with some sort of notification system that doesn’t cost any money, like what we used to have when everybody watched TV and listened to the radio?

I don’t know what that is. I don’t want to pretend to be a futurist other than to say that on a day‑to‑day basis, as somebody whose job is to connect audiences with information and messages, it’s really hard now because it’s so different, even within a household.

Off air, we were talking about how this election might be a bellwether for what’s effective and what’s not in getting a message out there. This isn’t about an individual campaign or tactic, but about strategy.

Matt: I think what we’re seeing in this election, and in others, is a giant question mark as to how you reach voters with either a message, information, or name awareness.

You see a lot of money spent on traditional media, particularly TV, because the core TV news audience tends to vote — generally people over 65. A lot of money gets raised and spent there. How much does that affect the actual election?

In 2024, there’s an argument that commercials during the NFL — the closest thing we have to mass media — maybe did move votes in swing states.

Then there’s social media. If certain platforms and algorithms were your only source of information for a day, you’d get a very skewed perspective about politics, this election, and certain campaigns.

How much does social media really matter? X, or Twitter as I still call it, at its peak was only used by about 10% of the population. Ninety percent aren’t on there.

Jer: It has an oversized impact on news coverage. I can tell you that.

Matt: You look at cable news, never mind local news where so much advertising money is spent, and cable news is a niche product — a small percentage of the country. But it has an outsized influence on politics, who’s famous, who gets quoted, and who’s well‑known.

Everything seems out of whack now. For every response as to what’s really important, there’s a valid response that it’s not really that important. In some ways, it’s a microcosm of what we’re dealing with in communications overall.

Algorithms, validation, and media literacy

Jer: I hope more people who are consumers of media sometimes take a step back and question their assumptions. I see a lot of things get shared immediately that don’t have sources, or if you’ve been following for a while you know they’re wildly out of whack.

I see polls that are 10 or 12 points off, but they feel good. The thing to realize about algorithms is that what gets shared is what feels good or gets people emotional, not necessarily what matters.

You need a certain amount of volume to do that. Circling back to weather, there are only so many people in Macomb County with a storm brewing. You get shouted out by the rest of the state and country — everyone competing for very limited slots in your algorithm.

Matt: One of the questions I have to discuss with clients when we’re trying to get information out to the public is: how do we make people care about this when people seem to care most about validation above everything else?

What they like and share on social media is what makes them feel validated. What they engage with — that amorphous term “engagement” — is often what validates their point of view. What might challenge their point of view, they feel like they need to argue with on social media.

If we’re just trying to get people to understand something basic and fundamental to their lives, it’s harder than ever before.

Voting in Detroit: fundamentals and options

Jer: One of those basic, fundamental things I want to talk to you about is voting. Let’s talk about the situation this year. I know you work with a non‑partisan nonprofit around that information.

Matt: Yes, I work with Detroit Votes. We’ve been at this since 2020 to make sure that Detroiters understand their options in particular, but also understand the process and trust this professionally run, very important process of voting in the city.

A lot of the fundamentals apply elsewhere, but Detroit is by far the biggest city in the region. It has many more places and precincts for Election Day voting, many more early vote centers for early voting, and many more dropboxes around the city to put your absentee ballots in so they don’t have to go in the mail.

Getting Detroiters to understand the enormity of the footprint and all the options is really important. I’ve had people ask me — including some other clients — why you need a campaign to do this, why the campaign needs a spokesperson, and why you partner with the clerk’s office.

It’s really about providing information in an environment where information can be hard to come by.

Jer: What are a few of the key things people should know, especially city residents?

Matt: Number one: an absentee vote counts the same as an in‑person vote. There have been myths that there’s something wrong with absentee voting, and there have been question marks around it since 2020.

It’s in the state constitution. We all have the right to vote absentee with no excuses that we have to share with anybody.

The other really important thing is understanding early voting, which was enshrined in the state constitution after the 2022 election, when voters in the state passed it by a two‑thirds majority. It’s very popular in theory.

In practice, it allows you to go into an early vote center — whether you live in the city or the suburbs — before Election Day. This year, it starts on Saturday, the 25th, from 9:00 to 5:00. You can go in and cast an in‑person ballot and vote.

Of course, if you want to wait until Election Day, and a lot of people enjoy voting then, all of those options are available to you. Not everybody understands that, partly because it’s new and partly because there’s been misinformation around this since 2020.

Various groups, for their reasons, play the game of not just convincing you to vote for someone, but sometimes muddying the waters so that you stay home or don’t vote at all.

Jer: There is an active effort to make sure some people don’t trust the process, and they should.

Matt: I can tell you as somebody who’s worked closely with deeply committed professionals in this city and elsewhere, they make sure the election happens the way citizens expect and deserve, with accuracy and professionalism every step of the way.

I’m looking forward to voting early on Saturday.

Jer: I think there’s actually going to be a vote‑early party.

Matt: There is, for voters in the city. Everybody, no matter what neighborhood you live in, can come down to West Grand Boulevard between 2nd and 3rd on Saturday. That’s just steps from the studio.

You can have some fun, enjoy live music and other entertainment, and vote at the same time.

Closing thoughts

Jer: That sounds like a good time. You know what else is a good time? Matt Friedman. I know you always keep it honest, and I also feel a little bit better about the world when you come through.

Matt: Thank you. I wish I could say the same, but I think what we’re trying to do — what good communicators should try to do — is cut through with fundamentals.

The world communicates differently than it used to, and differently now than it will in 10, 20, or 30 years, but the fundamentals won’t change. We have to be clear, we have to be honest, and we have to try to get to audiences in ways they want us to.

Let’s hope this audience — your audience, Jer — and others still want facts and information above all. If that’s the case, we’ll be okay.

Jer: I believe in Daily Detroit listeners.

Matt: I do too. That’s why I’m here.

Jer: Matt Friedman, co‑founder of Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications, thanks for stopping by the studio at Tech Town.

Matt: Anytime.

Hey friends, it's Jer.

It’s only Monday night and there’s already a lot to cover. Summer used to slow down; this year it definitely isn’t. So let’s jump right in.

What's Happening

🇨🇦 President Trump just signed orders for a 50% tariff on a wide range of Canadian exports, from wine and dairy to hockey sticks and furniture. He's claiming Canada is discriminating against U.S. cars, cheese and alcohol. [New York Times]

The move uses a legally untested, obscure Great Depression–era law and is expected to reignite a trade fight with one of America’s closest partners, with certain fallout for cross-border trade through Detroit–Windsor.

Trade fights like this have already hurt Southeast Michigan’s economy, costing thousands of jobs and shrinking profit‑sharing checks. The Detroit Regional Chamber says more than 234,000 jobs in our area are tied to trade with Canada.

All this is happening just as the new Gordie Howe International Bridge is supposed to open July 27. [Canada]

🥬 The Food and Drug Administration says a Taylor Farms lettuce sample that tested positive for cyclospora was actually a false positive.

This is as the outbreak grows to more than 6,100 cases and 102 hospitalizations in Michigan alone.

There are still zero confirmed positive product samples for the parasite, but the recall stands. Taylor Farms is keeping its central Mexico iceberg lettuce off shelves “out of an abundance of caution,” and Taco Bell has already pulled the product from its restaurants in Michigan and four other states

The public messaging around all of this has been a mess, and a local crisis-comms pro says it shouldn't be this way.

🧱 We now have more confirmed detail on the RenCen timeline. The Free Press reports Bedrock is aiming to have demolition of the two riverfront towers closest to the water underway by summer 2027. [Detroit Free Press]

🎭 For more than 30 years, Planet Ant in Hamtramck has been a home for the arts, from stage shows to comedy and more. I've had a ton of good times visiting friends and seeing a vital part of the region's creative scene.

Like many inclusive, creative spaces right now, they’re feeling the impact of mass disinvestment in the arts through cuts to grants and support, and they’re staring at a $50k budget hole. They’re looking to the community for help. [FB Post] [Planet Ant]

🏀 Mitch Albom’s SAY Detroit is launching a $12‑million‑plus project to transform the historic St. Cecilia School and Gym on the west side into its second youth academic and recreation center, backed by a $5 million gift from Steve Ballmer. [Crain's Detroit]

There's been a waitlist at their first location for years.

🎧 Can Highland Park roar back? Shamayim “Mama Shu” Harris says yes.

Today on the Daily Detroit podcast, I sat down with the Highland Park mayoral candidate and Avalon Village founder.

She’s one of the most persevering people I’ve ever met — turning tragedy into a torrent of warm energy. It’s a reminder that a lot of people who carry themselves with positive energy aren’t naive; they’ve just seen how dark it can get.

We get into how she turned one of the city’s most notorious blocks into a grassroots hub with streetlights, a homework house, basketball courts, and shipping‑container retail.

We also talk about what that work taught her about transforming blight into beauty, rebuilding housing and neighborhood businesses, and why she believes Highland Park can stand strong as its own city.

Listen free wherever you get shows. [Apple Podcasts] [Daily Detroit]

News Bites

☕️ Washed Up Coffee is expanding with a second location inside Stadt Garten in Midtown.

The team tells me they’re building a “stunning” bar setup with indoor and outdoor garden seating, aiming for an intentional, higher‑end coffee program without losing the laid‑back, fun personality that’s made their first spot on Kercheval in Detroit’s West Village a hit.

Almost every time I go, it's busy. They're expecting to open at Alexandrine and Second within the next month. [Washed Up]

🍝 A new Italian restaurant is headed to one of downtown Detroit’s most visually interesting spaces.

Prime Concepts Detroit plans to open Aurora Italiana Detroit later this year inside the historic former Michigan Oriental Theater at Grand Circus Park — the former home of PAO.

If they hit the promise of their renderings (I’ve included three here), it’ll be visually stunning. The concept is modeled after a traditional Italian trattoria, pairing a rustic, hospitality‑forward vibe with the ornate architecture that earned the space a “most beautiful restaurant in America” nod in 2024.

The restaurant is expected to seat around 110 guests across two floors, with an open kitchen and a menu focused on house‑made pastas, breads, and sauces. They’re also promising a seed‑oil‑free kitchen, if you’re into that sort of thing.

There’s no opening date yet. The project is part of a broader shift for the building, with plans in the works to convert the adjacent Briggs Houze property into a Hyatt hotel.

🛑 After more than a decade, the Time Out Bar and Grill in Livonia has run out of time... and is closing at the end of the month. [Instagram]

🛑 Lincoln Yard in Birmingham is closing. It had been open just two years. [Detroit News]

That's it for tonight. If you've got feedback, hit up our contact form.

Later this week I'll share my reading list. There's some great longer form pieces I'd love for you to check out. Hopefully tomorrow.

Thanks to our members on Patreon for keeping the lights on. Join us!

And if you haven't told a friend about Daily Detroit, TELL SOMEONE! Word of mouth is the best way to grow the newsletter and the show.

Remember that you are somebody,

-Jer