We're kicking off September with our ultimate preview of what's happening and what we're keeping our eyes on across Metro Detroit this month.

Norris Howard joins me to talk about the most interesting events on the calendar, including the month-long Detroit Month of Design, Labor Day festival traditions like the Detroit Jazz Fest and much more.

We also break down the major local stories and trends shaping our region heading into the fall, from last-minute possible mail-in voting changes you need to keep an eye on that could impact Michigan... to food safety recalls... to our upcoming look at the RenCen's future and how national economic shifts impact our city and region.

Plus, thank you for making us the number one podcast in Detroit.

You can listen to Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or wherever you get your favorite shows. Feedback as always - dailydetroit@gmail.com or leave a voicemail, 313-789-3211.

While major downtown developments often capture the headlines, neighborhood parks across the city of Detroit's 139 square miles are getting critical investments driven directly by community feedback, with funding support from the philanthropic community.

In this episode, I sit down at our TechTown studio with JJ Vélez, Senior Director of Public Space for the Gilbert Family Foundation.

We dig into how a $1.2 million commitment across neighborhood parks — including Dorais Park, Eliza Howell Park, and Hass Emery Park (currently in the process of being renamed Keith Slappy Park) — is helping bring community-driven visions to life, as well as how they help on the ground with community organizations.

As he says:

"Detroiters just want to be heard... What I've learned in this position is bringing that mentality: underpromise and overdeliver, and just being an opportunity for residents to speak and listen. There's a reason why we have two ears and one mouth. We need to do a lot more listening and a lot less speaking."

Feedback as always by email: dailydetroit@gmail.com or leave a voicemail: 313-789-3211.

Be sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or wherever you listen to shows.

Hey friends, Jer here.

Excellent biscuits are hard to find. So many places haven't perfected the mix of puff, butter, and crisp needed to make it really hit.

One of the best breakfast biscuits you'll find around are at Saturn Coffee.

In fact, they recently celebrated 10,000 biscuits sold since they opened a year ago over at 700 Seward, just north of Detroit's New Center.

I personally enjoy it because it's one of the most "urbanist-vibe" places you'll find in town, located in an apartment block and on a street densely packed with interesting buildings and houses.

🪐 Saturday and Sunday, Saturn Coffee is celebrating its first birthday! The anniversary bash packed with local pop-ups, cake, and plenty of neighborhood friends.

Highlights include a floral bar from We Floral Detroit (opening soon next door to the cafe), small-batch ceramics by Strawberry Milk Ceramics, books from Brooks Book Bike, bagel sandwiches from Daphne's Bagels, live patio jazz by the Harmolodics and an art market from the staff. More details here. [Instagram]

🍺 Also celebrating an anniversary this weekend is Florian East in Hamtramck! Two things there I want to highlight:

🇸🇰 Saturday: Along with the anniversary party, 5 p.m. kicks off the Kôprovâ Slovak Kitchen pop-up, including pierogi (three flavors, including potato/gouda/onion jam, goat cheese/beet jam, and cabbage/horseradish greens/mustard greens), schnitzel sandwiches, and maczanka (Kraków-style pulled-pork sandwiches). [Instagram]

🏡 Sunday: Florian East is among the stops for the inaugural Taste of Hamtramck, an 11 a.m.-2 p.m. walking tasting tour benefiting Detroit Friendship House’s food pantry. Tickets include tastings at participating restaurants and one beer at Florian East for attendees 21 and older. Tickets are required for Sunday's Taste event.

You can find them at 9350 Joseph Campau and online here.

🥃 This weekend, for the first time, Detroit City Distillery’s 100 Proof is opening to the public. The 100-seat bar and event space next to the distillery’s Whiskey Factory in Eastern Market had largely been used for private bookings and special events.

Going forward, 100 Proof will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., plus Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. during its summer schedule.

The venue will also host Lions watch parties for away games and tailgates for home games, with timing still to be announced. Find it at 1000 Gratiot Avenue.

The space will continue to also be available for private bookings.

☕️ Washed Up Coffee has a second location open in time for the weekend, this time in Midtown. It's at 3980 Second Avenue at the corner of West Alexandrine. Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. [Instagram]

It's been a local favorite since they opened up in West Village. The owners, Amélie Boulanger and Emily Potter, were featured on the cover of Barista Magazine this month. Love to see local people get national attention!

🥊 Also officially open this weekend is the downtown location of Joe Louis Southern Kitchen.

The family-owned restaurant’s third outpost brings its Southern-style comfort food to 1528 Woodward Avenue, joining locations in Midtown and Southfield.

This one has some extras: It’s the first Joe Louis Southern Kitchen with a full bar and an open-air patio, plus the archival photos and other tributes to the Detroit boxing legend.

You'll find an all-day Southern comfort-food menu. This includes shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and everything from French toast to fried catfish, Creole gumbo and Cajun-style smoked turkey legs.

The roughly 4,000-square-foot restaurant seats more than 100 and is open daily from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., with Friday and Saturday hours stretching to 1 a.m.

Weekend nights will feature house and R&B DJs — and adds another option before or after events at Comerica Park, Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena.

🎥 Look, it was a heartbreaking week for those of us who loved Dolly Parton, Peter Cullen and Tim Curry. So if you need a little Rocky Horror Picture Show to help you feel better, head to the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre on Friday night.

The riverfront venue is screening the cult classic under the stars on Aug. 28, just days after Curry — the unforgettable Dr. Frank-N-Furter — died at age 80. Costumes are encouraged, there will be eight bars throughout the venue and secure parking on site. Tickets are $20.

It should be an especially fitting chance to do the Time Warp again.

🤘🏻 Hamtramck’s garage-rock faithful are going all out at Small’s on Saturday for the fifth Detroit All-Star Garage Rock Punk Revue.

The stacked bill includes the All-Star Garage Rock Punk Band, Nikki Corvette, White Shag, Smitt E. Smitty & the Fezztones, Cinecyde, Little Billy Lost, Custodians and Rock & Roll Prep School, plus a special DJ set from Danny Kroha.

Jerry Vile and Paul Zimmerman co-host the night, which also promises appearances from a long list of Detroit music-scene regulars.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at Small’s, 10339 Conant St.

Advance tickets are recommended as organizers say it’s expected to sell out.

🗓️ Mark Your Calendars

🎹 TechTown’s First Thursdays & Coworking Concert Series offers a free after-work networking night and live music on Thursday, Sept. 3.

Stop by the entrepreneurship hub from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to meet people, grab refreshments and light bites, then stick around for live music at 7:30 p.m. It’s free and open to everyone, though registration is encouraged.

🥪 Ain't no party like a Detroit Sandwich Party! Carlos Parisi stopped by the podcast to preview what's happening next Sunday, September 6 at Eastern Market.

“One thing I love to see is when people arrive 5 or 10 deep with a game plan… split up to different vendors before meeting back up to share everything. That’s sweet.” — Carlos Parisi

They will have more than 50 vendors serving small-format sandwiches, plus kid-friendly activities and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. This year, it expands beyond Shed 5 into the parking lot after drawing about 7,000 people last year. Listen to the whole conversation here on Apple Podcasts or on our website.

Love this newsletter? Here are two ways to pitch in and help:

1) Tell a friend about Daily Detroit. Word of mouth and people forwarding this around is the best way to grow the thing.

2) Consider becoming a member and supporting the work. Our membership starts at $3.13 a month to help keep our independent work going from the 313.

Have fun out there. Thanks for sharing your inbox with me, and I'll see you around Detroit.

-Jer

It's a packed Wednesday edition of Daily Detroit.

We break down the mounting tensions in the U.S.-Canada trade dispute and respond to political rhetoric proposing to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America."

Plus, we pay tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton.

Then it's a recap of our weekend trip to see Detroit City FC win over Tampa Bay with one of the best keeper saves we've seen in a long time.

In local development news, a long-vacant historic YMCA building in Mexicantown across from Clark Park gets a redevelopment lifeline, Midtown sees progress on West Willis, and local favorite Bev's Bagels sets its sights on Birmingham.

As always, feedback - dailydetroit@gmail.com or 313-789-3211.

And follow Daily Detroit on your favorite podcast app!

The Detroit Sandwich Party is back and bigger than ever, doubling its footprint at Eastern Market on September 6, 2026 with 50+ vendors, kid-friendly games, and even... carbonated pickle juice? (Yes, I learned that's a thing!)

Organizer and sandwich lover Carlos Parisi joins the show to walk us through this year's massive expansion into the Shed 5 parking lot, share pro tips for getting the most out of the event, and we tease some of the top-tier bites on the lineup.

Grab a friend (or a foe, why not), map out your game plan, and get ready for what's become one of the must-see local food events of the summer.

Listen to the episode in the player above, and check out a transcript of our conversation below.

More Sandwich Party: https://www.instagram.com/detroitsandwichparty/?hl=en

Local media needs local support to survive and thrive! Be sure to support our work on Patreon: https://patreon.com/DailyDetroit

Transcript

This has been lightly edited and formatted for web posting. Please refer to original audio before quoting.

Jer Staes: Hello friends, and welcome to Daily Detroit. It is Tuesday, August 25, 2026. I am Jer Staes coming to you from our studio at TechTown. Today, listen: I know the news has not been the most joyful lately, and I am sorry—I do not have control over that. What I do have control over is bringing you friends who are doing amazing things that will fill your belly, put a smile on your face, and ensure you have a very good time.

The number one person I call—veritably, possibly the Prince of Brightmoor, maybe the Prince of Sandwiches himself—Carlos Parisi, welcome back to Daily Detroit!

Carlos Parisi: What's up, Jer? I've never been called a prince of anything, that's awesome. Thanks!

Jer: I am so glad to see you because the Detroit Sandwich Party is coming up at Eastern Market on September 6th. I cannot wait because I love all things between two pieces of bread or whatever else you want to put a sandwich in. I don't judge what you do.

Carlos: You shouldn't judge. It's going to be a blast. This year, we have 50 vendors all doing small-format sandwiches, and once again, it is free to attend so you can come in and out as you please from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

What's nice about it this year is that for the last two years, we've been inside Shed 5 at Eastern Market, and we quickly grew out of that space. We are actually more than doubling the footprint and will be in the parking lot next to Shed 5 as well. If you've ever seen the Fall Beer Festival that the Michigan Brewers Guild does, they have that whole area fenced out. We decided to take a page from that book and do that to make sure everybody has a lot of space.

Why the Sandwich Party Resonates

Jer: Why do you think the Sandwich Party has resonated so much? I stopped in last year, and it was wall-to-wall. I'm so glad that you're expanding. What about it has connected with people?

Carlos: It's sandwiches! Everyone loves them. Why wouldn't you want an event focused on this one thing that is also free? You don't have to pay to get in and then pay a vendor, which is really nice. You can bring everybody out for something fun to do. Knock on wood, the weather usually cooperates too, so everyone can walk around the entire market and have a great day.

Jer: The rest of the market will have things going on as well?

Carlos: Oh yeah, like always. Every Sunday during the summer, you can walk around Eastern Market and find a full market of different vendors—whether it's t-shirts, tchotchkes, or vendors offering things like NaKombucha, Nikki Butter, and all the standards you've grown to love over the last decade at Eastern Market.

Jer: What have you learned that you didn't realize when you started doing this event?

Carlos: A lot of things! I've never thrown a festival before the Detroit Sandwich Party. The closest thing I ever did to a large-scale event was putting together Sandwich Week and the events around that, which grew to a point that blew me away. Now, with Sandwich Party having 7,000 people at the shed last year, to have that many people know about this thing we put together blows me away. I'm thankful for the opportunity to show people something we can all celebrate together. Sandwiches are easy and something everybody loves.

Jer: It really blows my mind. 7,000 people is about as many people as come to a Detroit City FC soccer game. You literally fill a small stadium with people who love sandwiches.

Carlos: When you put it that way, that's sweet!

Event Highlights & New Vendors

Jer: You'll have 50 vendors. What other things are happening this time?

Carlos: We always want to make it kid-friendly, so we're bringing back the "Pin the Bacon on the BLT" game. We have a couple of surprises for the day as well. You can walk around, find things to play with, and check off your opinions on interactive features. We wanted to make it interactive for everybody so there is more to do while walking around.

Jer: You're going to have some beer taps, too. I noticed that on social media.

Carlos: The last couple of years we had cans, but we'll also have non-alcoholic options like Casamara Club and Nyla, which is a carbonated pickle juice.

Jer: Carbonated pickle juice?

Carlos: Yeah, a new company popping up here in Metro Detroit called Nyla—specifically in the city of Detroit. They make carbonated pickle juice, which pairs pretty well with a sandwich.

Jer: I'm so curious now. I've always enjoyed Casamara Club, but carbonated pickle juice is fascinating. Does anyone keep a record of who eats the most sandwiches at the party?

Carlos: That would be a good thing to track! I've never thought about having a way to tally that because I don't like competition-based events. I don't think anybody is better than anyone else, and I like to live by that philosophy in everything I put together. For something like the Sandwich Party, it would be fun if the competition was just "How many sandwiches did you have?" We could try to figure that out.

Jer: That could be a lot of fun. You could even do it as a team sport, like total sandwiches per family or crew, complete with little scorecards like putt-putt golf!

Carlos: We're about a week and a half out, so I don't know if I have the mental capacity to create that right now, but if anybody wants to do that on their own, I'm down!

One thing I love to see is when people arrive 5 or 10 deep with a game plan. We try to release the list of all the vendors and their sandwiches a few days beforehand, along with notes on what is vegan, gluten-free, or vegetarian. When you see groups walk in, call out "Break!", and split up to different vendors before meeting back up to share everything—that's sweet. That's definitely what I would do.

Balkan House and Tall Trees Join the Lineup

Jer: The full list isn't out as we record this, but I hear Balkan House is going to make an appearance. As a person with Eastern European roots, my DNA is singing!

Carlos: Finally! I'm really happy they're able to make it out. Juma is an incredible human. I've known her for a long time and have been a fan of Balkan House. The last couple of years they had conflicts with other events and couldn't make Sandwich Party happen, so having them at Eastern Market is going to be awesome. Even if it's just the standard items you get at Balkan House, it's something phenomenal that we haven't had at the party before.

Jer: I also hear there may be a muffuletta that rivals what you find in New Orleans. As someone who has been to New Orleans, I am picky about this.

Carlos: One of my best friends, Mike Vanceover, owns a shop called Tall Trees in Ferndale. If anybody listening has been fortunate enough to go to Tall Trees, you know their attention to detail, quality of ingredients, and how cool the staff is. Last year he made the muffuletta, and this year they're bringing back that authentic New Orleans grocery store-style muffuletta.

Jer: There is a huge difference. Getting it in Metro Detroit from someone who does it right is the next best option if you can't hop on a plane.

Carlos: It's the closest you can get in Metro Detroit, and he only does it for special occasions like this. I'm excited for it myself—I didn't even get one last year!

Jer: The organizer didn't get one?

Carlos: When you're running the event, you're focused on making sure everything goes well. The first year we did this, I didn't eat anything all day. Last year, everything ran so smoothly thanks to our incredible volunteers that one of them stopped me, put a sandwich in my hand, and said, "You have to eat this right now." That was a great moment.

Pro Tips for Attendees

Jer: Someone telling you to eat is true love. Let's land this with the key details and pro tips for first-time attendees.

Carlos: Definitely come early. We open at 11:00 AM at Eastern Market Shed 5, with the entrance located between Sheds 4 and 5. We line everyone up around the building rather than inside the market. Once it opens, it's off to the races.

Since it runs from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and items will sell out, come with a plan. Check the vendor map and sandwich descriptions beforehand, divide and conquer with your group, and bring Tupperware so you can take extra sandwiches home safely.

Jer: Bringing Tupperware is brilliant.

Carlos: The event is Sunday, September 6th, right before Labor Day, which means you have the next day off to relax and nap off all the food. Because there's no entry fee, you can walk in and out to support the neighboring small businesses around Eastern Market throughout the day as well.

Jer: Labor Day is best paired with a long nap! We are also excited because the Daily Detroit team will be out there saying hi to everyone.

Carlos: That's going to be awesome. We wanted to extend the invite to you because Daily Detroit is such an essential part of the city's heartbeat. I've known members of your team like Devon for years, and it's great to have you all involved.

Jer: I'm honored by your words. Thank you so much for stopping by, Carlos, and for all you do for the community.

Carlos: Thanks for having me, Jer!

The U.S.–Canada trade situation took a wild turn over the weekend. We thought we had an agreement, but now we’re suddenly facing a full-scale trade war with our closest neighbor. 

Glenn Stevens from MICHAuto joined me to break down what went wrong and what this uncertainty actually means on the ground for Michiganders and Michigan companies. 

From auto supply chains, to materials, to local jobs, to healthcare workers and tourism, Michigan has more to lose than most anywhere else in the United States as this may drag on.

Michigan residents have already been impacted by thousands of dollars since the disputes started in 2025, whether it's in increased prices or decreased wages and profit-sharing.

We dig into why unraveling this more than century-long economic partnership makes little sense and why getting both sides back to the table. That yes, friends always have disagreements, but blowing everything up isn't the thing to do.

You'll find a full transcript below.

Give it a listen, and let me know how these potential tariffs are impacting your work or family across the border.

Email us at dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or leave a voicemail, 313-789-3211.

Transcript

This has been lightly edited for web posting. Please be sure to refer to the original audio before quoting.

Jer Staes: Hello friends and welcome to your Daily Detroit for Monday, August 24th, 2026. I am Jer Staes coming to you from our studio at TechTown. Normally, I don't put a timestamp on these things, but because everything is moving very quickly, I want to mention that we are recording this episode at about 12:45 in the afternoon. Joining me to do it is none other than Glenn Stevens, Executive Director of MICHAuto at the Detroit Regional Chamber. We are going to be talking about all of this tariff situation, which—Glenn, first off, welcome back to the show, but second, what on earth is happening?

Glenn Stevens: Great to be here, Jer, on a very tumultuous day in the Canada-U.S. relationship. We thought we had a deal last Friday. In fact, all signals developed to the point where the Canadian Prime Minister asked each of the premiers to put American liquor back on the shelves. That is how far it had developed in a positive way. Then something happened Friday night, and we woke up Saturday morning to find the thing had blown up. We are pretty much in a full-scale trade war at this point on a Monday morning.

Jer Staes: It feels like this is so disconcerting because we have kind of been here before. It went out of the news, but a lot of things changed, and now we are back here again with so much uncertainty. What I do know—what Jer does know—is that all of this has increased prices on Michiganders especially and also hurt Michigan jobs.

Glenn Stevens: Right, and that is because our two countries are intertwined from a trade perspective. Michigan and Ontario—and other parts of Canada, but certainly Ontario—are interdependent. Parts move back and forth daily for the auto industry, but also agriculture, lumber, energy, fertilizer products... it is all traded back and forth. That's $70 billion between Ontario, Canada, and Michigan every year. This is a very difficult situation because it was not that long ago that we had free trade with Canada, about a year and a half ago. Now all kinds of tariffs have layered up. We have been trading for 300 years with that province next to us—before it was a country, before we were a country—and certainly in the automotive industry, we have been trading with them for 125-plus years.

Jer: So what led us up to this situation this time?

Glenn: There are a lot of things going on. There has been a stacking of tariffs through different mechanisms by the administration: steel and aluminum early on, and other policies and trade acts have been used. A lot of it was reversed by the Supreme Court in the spring. We anticipated more tariffs being put in place, and that is what happened about a month ago. The Trump administration used an act from the 1930s that has never been used before, called the Smoot-Hawley Act, to place a 50% tariff on about $20 billion of new Canadian goods. That is what they were really trying to iron out last week to avert this new tariff taking place, and it all leads up to the USMCA, too. It all ties together, but there are separate things going on.

Jer: Now forgive me, I did take some economics classes, and I don't remember my teacher talking fondly about Smoot-Hawley as a concept.

Glenn: No. As I noted a minute ago, it has not been used, and if it were an effective tool that could stand the test of time legally, it would have been deployed more. It is already being challenged by businesses that are impacted by it. But it is at the crux of what has transpired in the past week and what broke down on Friday. That was one step being negotiated, but since it broke down, the Canadians walked away from the table. They have threatened to retaliate on September 8th with their own tariffs, and today, President Trump threatened to raise tariffs that are already in place. It is not de-escalating; it is going in the opposite direction.

Jer: It seemed like there was a deal in place, but I have read multiple reports now that near the end of the negotiating cycle, there were a number of requests by the Trump administration especially around cultural issues that were unrelated specifically to the auto trade. Things like demanding that Canadians stop some of their investment in their own arts, culture, film, and streaming services—a number of things that seemed not connected to what was originally talked about.

Glenn: None of it is fully substantiated, but Prime Minister Carney referred to it. He is pretty sharp, he has been through this, and he is not going to speak out about something that did not happen. There were certainly some cultural questions by our administration, there were automotive changes to tariffs, and I am sure there were things on both sides. But again, last week they stood together—Ambassador Greer and Trade Commissioner LeBlanc from Canada—and said, "We have a deal." Now we don't. In fact, as I said, we are going in the opposite direction.

Jer: How does this uncertainty impact us? We don't know what is actually going to happen as we record this. There are timelines in the future, loud talking right now, heightened percentages, and the theoretical possibility that Canada could put export taxes on things like fuel that we are very dependent on. What does this uncertainty mean on the ground for us here in Michigan and for Michigan companies?

Glenn: Let's stack it up. First of all, from a business perspective, whether it is a small business impacted by tariffs or a large multinational like an OEM automotive company, they are faced with overall general uncertainty. Pulling a lever on a major investment or moving production is not something you are going to do in an unstable environment with that huge uncertainty out there. Secondly, input costs have gone up. Tariffs are taxes; somebody has to pay them. The importer of record, the company bringing that product into a country wherever it comes from, is going to pay a tax on that. A company can do one of two things: absorb that cost or pass it along to the consumer. Input costs are up, and the consumer is feeling it. Ultimately, that could lead a company to decide, "I can't make a go of this," or "I have to cut back." Those are jobs. It is a cascade effect that has really not had much positive outcome at this point.

Jer: There are even disagreements among friends often, right? It is not like there haven't been negotiations between the United States and Canada in the past. But when it comes to this specific situation, I feel like there could be longer-term implications if we don't figure out a way to handle this. This posture worries me because the automotive business is a global market. What I worry about is, as a country, if we do things in a way that is perceived as unreliable, our longtime allies might look for other friends. If we pull out of Canada, there are still a lot of plants left there. What if another automaker from China or somewhere else says, "Hey, we'll employ your people, you just have to sell the cars we build there in Canada." Our automakers could lose market share and profits, ultimately costing jobs here in Michigan as well because this is all tied together. It feels to me like a lot of this conversation pretends we are in a different decade than we are.

Glenn: There is a lot to unpack there. First of all, our countries and our companies here are intertwined, particularly in automotive. You have trucks built in Ontario by Ford and GM where the transmissions come from Ohio, the axles come from Michigan, and the engines come from Windsor. It is a very connected supply chain. If we don't have that in Canada, or if those plants become another type of company, like a Chinese company, there is no windfall for us there. The Canadian market is substantial. It is nowhere near our market, but it is substantial. They are trade partners in automotive design, engineering, and assembly. So, yes, there are longer-term ramifications. We know why the administration did what it did. From January 20th, 2025, when the America First Trade Policy Act came out, the intent was clear: secure the borders, reduce the trade deficit as much as possible, and reindustrialize while building national security. No one would argue with those fundamental goals. It has just been way too bumpy along the way, and now it is not being done together. We should be doing things together. Canada has access to critical minerals among their natural resources that we need. If they walk away from that, we are isolated from it, too.

Jer: In theory, given enough time and investment, could the United States backfill all these gaps over time? Do we have the talent, the people? Is that a reasonable ask?

Glenn: The ambitious goals for reindustrialization would be really difficult to achieve because of talent constraints. You have to have talent, and we need immigration reform. We needed it before the current administration and certainly the one before. We need people. We are not a high growth-rate country, and Michigan is not a high birth-rate or growth state either. There are constraints on people and capital to literally do as much as you would like to do. Certainly, we can grow and expand manufacturing here, but we need trade partners like Canada and Mexico as a trade block to compete, do business, and move components across sectors together.

Jer: There is a term I have heard: "Fortress America." How does that impact our automakers? Does it impact them positively or negatively? What does it change for them in what seems to be a global market for cars?

Glenn: It depends on the company. Remember, it is not just GM, Ford, and Stellantis. There are a lot of other companies building vehicles here: Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Rivian, and Tesla. It impacts them as well. Could we build and increase capacity here? Yes. In fact, we have seen some moves. We have seen product brought back from Mexico, and Ford has indicated they are going to bring some vehicles back from China. We have the capacity to do that, and those are wins. But what we are talking about today is that relationship with Canada where cross-border vehicles and components move back and forth in a supply chain that has worked tariff-free for 125-plus years. That is at jeopardy, and unraveling that does not make sense.

Jer: What are you looking for from your seat? What would you like to see happen going forward, and what should listeners be thinking about?

Glenn: I would like to see some of the goals set forth by the administration when it took office—to grow manufacturing in this country, but also R&D, research, and engineering. That is what we need in Michigan for growth. But we want to do it with Canada, not at the expense of Canada. We see ourselves as a trade block that is stronger together with Canada and Mexico. A strong USMCA agreement can work for all of us and help us compete on a global stage against regions like China.

Jer: What are we looking for next? Is it a waiting game? From your perspective at MICHAuto, what are you and the people you work with thinking about right now?

Glenn: We hope they get back to the table. That flat out is the number one objective: for them to get back to the table, hammer this out, iron these things out, and take that step toward negotiating a stronger USMCA. That is the path we were on, and that is the path we need to get back on. Yes, we are communicating with Lansing and our federal delegation. But this happened over a weekend and blew up rather quickly because a deal was in place. The President posted about it, the trade commissioner stood together, and liquor was going back on the shelves in Canada...

Jer: Really?

Glenn: Prime Minister Carney asked them to make that decision on Thursday—each province makes that decision on its own across the 13 provinces and territories—and here we are in a completely different place.

Jer: Wow. It is interesting because I think about state liquor laws and how many things are similar between the two of us. For me personally, I find it difficult because I know so many family members, friends, and listeners of the show who are across borders. Their families are across borders, and there are marriages across borders. We just opened that beautiful Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Glenn: We did.

Jer: Personally, it feels so nonsensical to be in this place. Following this over the weekend—and I am really glad you made the time to come out, Glenn—it is almost disorienting.

Glenn: It is discouraging because those are not just our trade partners across the river; those are our friends and neighbors. There are thousands of healthcare workers who come across from Windsor every day to work in our hospital systems. We play sports against each other and share mutual entertainment districts. I grew up playing hockey in the UP, went to hockey school in Toronto every year, and played a lot of Ontario hockey. I have friends and relatives there. For us, it is very personal. We are much closer to the action here than people in D.C. or other parts of the country because of the relationships and friendships we have built over so many years.

Jer: I read that Michigan and Maine are the two states that would be most impacted, alongside others like Wisconsin, but Michigan and Maine are really in the crosshairs of all this.

Glenn: There is $900 billion of trade done between the U.S. and Canada every year, and $70 billion of that is between Michigan and Canada. It is an outsized impact. We have four bridges now and two tunnels, and they work every day to move commerce, people, tourism, trade, and travel. By the way, travel has been hurt, too.

Jer: I think I saw a statistic that travel was down about 27%?

Glenn: Having just served on the Travel Commission for four years, that has been a huge topic. We just haven't seen our friends and neighbors here as much as we should. I can't blame them. They are angry right now, very frustrated, and very unified.

Jer: For people listening who are not from Michigan or not as familiar with the region, literally we could take a bus down to the riverfront and chuck a baseball across the river. We are so close. For the rest of the country that doesn't know how integrated we are—sure, we fought a war in 1812! But outside of that, trade, tourism, and development are all interdependent. Think about Canadian lumber—resources and specific types of timber that we don't harvest as much here in the U.S. Why can't it be America and Canada together? I understand using tariffs in certain places, but the way this has rolled out has just been befuddling to me.

Glenn: I can feel that from you, and I think you can feel it from me. We are perplexed, but it is also personal to us right across that border. Think of how many people walked or biked across the new bridge in the last couple of weeks. People are enjoying both sides. We have people biking across from Canada to visit restaurants in Southwest Detroit. That is a beautiful thing, and we want more of that. But when countries are at odds from a leadership perspective, it filters down. From a business standpoint, input costs are up, affecting employment and prices. But for us, it remains deeply personal because it involves our friends and neighbors just across the river.

Jer: My thought is to not underestimate the pushback Canadians can offer, even if their economy is smaller. When a group feels threatened—I keep hearing the hockey term "elbows up"—people will deal with a lot of inconvenience and difficulty if they feel they are being wronged.

Glenn: They do feel like they are being wronged. But I will underscore that it goes both ways; there are trade issues we want worked out from our perspective, too. I read last night that Canadians may be willing to wait the administration out until it is out of office. That is hard to fathom because the economic pain to their economy would be severe, as it is not humming along great right now. As you mentioned earlier, it could force them to seek other trade partners. That doesn't do us any good, and while it might help them long-term, it is a long road to get there. The best outcome is a trading agreement that works well for both sides to increase investment on both sides of the border.

Jer: There are absolutely important things that need to be discussed, and it seemed like progress was being made. Friends often have disagreements, and that is okay. It is when disagreements turn people into enemies—and I don't think we are enemies—that a trade war feels wrong.

Glenn: I am optimistic by nature that they will get back to the table and hammer it out. At the same time, it is causing a lot of angst and divisiveness. A little over a year and a half ago, we had free trade, products moving back and forth, and joint investment talks. Now we are using two words with Canada, our closest trading partner, that I never thought I would hear: "trade war." That is hard to wrap your head around.

Jer: If listeners have questions, let me know: dailydetroit@gmail.com or 313-789-3211. If you have family on either side of the border or work across the border and this concerns you, I want to hear about it. Glenn Stevens, Executive Director of MICHAuto at the Detroit Regional Chamber, thank you so much. It is good to see you, and hopefully next time under better circumstances.

Glenn: I hope so too, Jer. It is always good to be with you. I love your show, and keep up the great work.

We've got a full studio today.

Devon O'Reilly gives us an inside look at what it was actually like inside the Henry Ford Centennial Library during Tuesday night's Dearborn City Council meeting while far-right agitators and local counter-protesters gathered outside.

We talk about how the Dearborn community stood together and stood strong, why hate-driven political stunts ultimately fail to gain traction here, and how local solidarity continues to win out.

Plus, Jer and Norris talk some Michigan politics to analyze Jocelyn Benson's pick of Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks for Lieutenant Governor — and why West Michigan representation and legislative experience matter on the 2026 ticket.

And, if you abandon your longtime political party over one thing, forgetting everything else — did you ever believe in it? Or were you really a one-issue voter the whole time?

Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

As always, be sure to share the show with a friend. Feedback dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or leave a voicemail at 313-789-3211.

Hey friends, Jer here.

Earlier today, a friend of mine posted a picture on social media of a tree starting to turn leaves, and I decided to unfriend them immediately.

(I'm kidding, kind of)

Summer in Metro Detroit is something to enjoy, but what should you do? I have you covered with events this weekend in the city and across three counties.

As always, if you're looking for company and local conversation on your way to work or one of these great events, find our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Friday

The Spelling Bee for Adults: In elementary school, I was eliminated from a spelling bee for spelling "Ax" as "Axe." I've been salty about it (and questioning the systems we live in) ever since.

So maybe relive — or redeem — your own elementary-school glory days at an adult spelling bee at Gordon Park. It’s free, starts at 6:30 p.m., and organizers ask attendees to bring new school supplies to support local students through United Way for Southeastern Michigan. 

Friday, Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m., Gordon Park, 1945 Atkinson St., Detroit. [Partiful]

All Weekend Long

Summer Bliss takes over Tangent Gallery: If your ideal weekend involves house, techno, bass, art installations, DJs, and live painters, this two-day music-and-art festival is built for you. 

Friday, Aug. 21, and Saturday, Aug. 22, Tangent Gallery / Hastings Street Ballroom, Detroit. [Website]

Assumption GreekFest: Go east for a classic Greek festival with lamb, souvlaki, spanakopita, baklava, dancing, church tours, live music, magic shows, and the chance to pick up something at the marketplace.

Bring your appetite and give yourself time to wander. 

Friday, Aug. 21, 4–11 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 22, noon–11 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 23, noon–7 p.m., Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 21800 Marter Rd., St. Clair Shores.

Cloudy Donut lands at Periodicals: New York’s Cloudy Donut Co. pops up at magazine shop Periodicals with Sepia Coffee Detroit in the mix, serving fully plant-based, dairy-free donuts.

Sepia has some great specialty bean juice, and I have a few niche magazines on my shelf thanks to Periodicals. I love the spirit of cross-city collaboration here.

These donuts are supposed to be cloud-like, and the flavors are creative. On their Instagram, they're teasing a menu of Lemon Blueberry Poundcake, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Brûlée Sweet Potato, and Basil Olive Oil.

There's a great backstory, and you can give that a read here.

Now, if a particular flavor is non-negotiable, you're going to want to pre-order ahead. Walk-up orders are limited and available while they last. 

Saturday, Aug. 22, and Sunday, Aug. 23, at Periodicals, 4892 Grand River Ave., Detroit. [Instagram]

Paint the Park in Allen Park: Head west to watch eight muralists turn downtown Allen Park into an open-air gallery right before your eyes. I've been seeing clips on social media and I definitely want to pass through.

This free art fair and festival also includes 50-plus artist and maker booths, live demos, chalk art, hands-on activities, food trucks, and public artworks tucked into local businesses.

Stay after dark for projection shows and light installations that put the new murals to work. 

Plus, on Saturday, there’ll be a Slow Roll Mural Ride that rolls out at 2 p.m. (Try to get there early).

Saturday, Aug. 22, and Sunday, Aug. 23, noon–10 p.m., downtown Allen Park. Free. [Website]

Saturday

Clawson Fest: Head up to Main Street between 14 Mile and Tacoma for a free day of local music, food, shopping, and family-friendly chaos with the General Dogs charity hot dog-eating contest.

More than 130 makers and vendors will take over Main Street, alongside four bands: Zap Toro, The Capri-Suns, The Warped Tourists, and Olivia Dear. There’s also a kids zone, local restaurant fare, a social district, and circus performances throughout the day. 

Saturday, Aug. 22, noon–8 p.m., downtown Clawson. Free.

Detroit City FC hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies: A big one at Keyworth as Le Rouge welcomes the first-place Rowdies in a match with playoff-position implications. 

Saturday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m., Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck. [Detroit City FC]

Sunday

Dog Days of Summer: The DNR Outdoor Adventure Center is hosting a free outdoor playdate for people and well-socialized pups, with frisbee tosses, water games, group hikes, and separate small- and large-dog pools.

Sunday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, 1801 Atwater St., Detroit. Free outdoors. [Details]

Afternoon Jazz at the Dossin: Spend a riverside Sunday afternoon on Belle Isle with Detroit saxophonist Alvin Paige, joined by Kevin Eisenberg on piano, Langston Kitchen on bass, and Louis Jones on drums.

A recent graduate of Michigan State University, Paige has quickly become a standout voice in Detroit's jazz community, earning opportunities to perform alongside acclaimed artists including Charles McPherson, Rodney Whitaker, and Wynton Marsalis. Known for his soulful sound and expressive artistry, Paige brings a fresh perspective rooted in the rich tradition of jazz.

Sunday, Aug. 23, 2–4 p.m., Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 100 Strand Dr., Belle Isle. [Event]

Looking Ahead

Detroit Harvest Fest: Put this one on the calendar for October 3 and 4. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s fall festival returns to Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park, with more than 30 food trucks along West Jefferson, live entertainment, fall activities, full bars, and plenty for kids. [Website]

Enjoyed this rundown? Help keep this project going. Join our Patreon!

And thanks to our members who have joined us at our new $3.13 tier. You're awesome.

Until next time... remember to be curious, not judgmental. And I'll see you around Detroit.

-Jer

On today’s show, Norris and I are diving deep into the high-stakes redevelopment plans for the Renaissance Center and the nearby east riverfront, looking to transform 35 acres that has been sitting mostly quiet for many years.

After going to their preview center and attending the first of a number of weekly CBO meetings, we ask and react honestly the big question on everyone's mind: what do you actually do with a massive waterfront complex that’s currently only 5% occupied? What vibes did we get from the community? And what's next?

You can also learn more about the project here, and give your feedback to them: https://detroit-riverfront.bedrockdetroit.com/

Also as Metro Detroit's one of America's greatest news towns: We also quickly talk through the disturbing Christian nationalist march targeting Dearborn’s Muslim community. We'll dig into it more on the show in a future episode.

Plus, I break down a press event I attended at the Wright Museum outlining a proposed regional millage to keep Wayne and Oakland County’s core historical institutions funded for the next decade.

It’s a packed episode of your Daily Detroit covering the economic, political, and cultural shifts shaping Metro Detroit right now.

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

Just $3.13 keeps this coverage going from the 313: https://patreon.com/DailyDetroit

Today we're digging into the results of our recent Daily Detroit audience survey to see where our community actually stands on key political issues and values.

Using Pew's excellent and long-standing political typology framework of nine groups, I look at the data and break down how our listeners and readers compare to the rest of the country, and what issues where we find a ton of common ground, no matter what party you may have voted for.

Per Pew:

Pew Research Center's political typology sorts the American public into nine political groups based on responses to questions about social and political values. The goal of this long-standing project is to go beyond people's partisan leanings or vote choices to provide a deeper understanding of the American political landscape. This is the ninth version since 1987.

While our audience spans a wide range of perspectives, the data shows a clear shared commitment to respect, local engagement, and smart, solutions-focused debate.

Listen to see where you land in the numbers and how our community fits into the broader national picture.

Thanks to our supporters on Patreon!

If this is your first time, be sure to follow us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

In today's episode, Devon O'Reilly and I dive into some exciting developments across Metro Detroit, starting with my firsthand look at Unc's Detroit-style pizza in Downtown Detroit.

We also talk about our recent visit to Fair Lane Estate for a media preview, where the team is making huge progress restoring Henry Ford's powerhouse, garage, and new welcome center ahead of its full opening.

Plus, we discuss reports that Henry Ford Health is considering redevelopment options for Cadillac Place — the historic former GM World Headquarters in New Center, currently occupied by the State of Michigan.

Finally, with the Detroit Lions kicking off their preseason, Devon shares his thoughts on the upcoming season and what to expect from the Honolulu Blue this year.

On today's show, Norris Howard and I are talking about the massive debate over data centers sweeping Southeast Michigan.

From moratoriums to legal battles to recall efforts, local communities are raising real questions about energy, water, and land use.

We also talk through the University of Michigan selecting an Ypsilanti Township site for a $1.25 billion supercomputer project with Los Alamos National Lab, the response from longtime Rep. Debbie Dingell, and why the city of Detroit's power grid makes hyperscale data centers a tough sell without huge infrastructure investment.

Plus, we address the large amont of listener feedback we received after our recent primary election coverage. We hear you, and we discuss how we're bringing on more guest voices ahead of November to make sure the full range of local viewpoints is represented — as the state of Michigan as a whole voted one way, but Metro Detroit clearly voted another.

Finally, we toast a Detroit journalism legend: WDET News Director Jerome Vaughn, who is retiring after many years of guiding local public radio. Norris shares what Jerome's mentorship meant for his own career.

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

Today on Daily Detroit, photographer and urbanism enthusiast Ryan Southen joins me to share what it's actually like to walk the newly opened Gordie Howe International Bridge.

We admire the architecture, the breathtaking views of the river and skyline, and what the experience is like going from the American side to the Canadian side — and the huge difference between the two.

Plus, Ryan shares a few practical tips on parking near and navigating the span if you're planning to check it out yourself.

Thanks to our members on Patreon for supporting the show! Join our new $3.13 tier to support work in the 313.

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