Features

Managing Director Katie Doral at The Purple Rose Theatre Company

Arts and Culture

As arts coverage fades, how will local arts organizations attract audiences?

Jenn McKeeWednesday, March 2, 2016

After years of ever-dwindling local news coverage, MLive Ann Arbor laid off its only remaining arts and entertainment reporter, Jenn McKee. Their loss is our gain. But how will Ann Arbor-area arts organizations reach new audiences?

Healthy Communities

The Backstory: The evolution of U-M football

Patti SmithWednesday, March 2, 2016

Once upon a time U-M football coaches wore top-hats and protective padding was for wimps. In celebration of the Michigan History Project's latest book release, Patti Smith takes a peek at how the Wolverines and their fans have evolved over the last 90 years.

Building Communities

How to make a walkable neighborhood more walkable

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Source: Mode Shift

Not all walkable neighborhoods are created equal. Liz Callin, a policy associate at the Michigan Environmental Council, offers up five ways walkable neighborhoods can be made more walkable.

Economic Development

Retailer a2vintage upcycles into storefront in downtown Ypsilanti

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Source: Concentrate

A2vintage upcycles forgotten junk into vintage furniture and art. Now they're upcycling into a storefront in downtown Ypsilanti.

Economic Development

Pure Barre opens second location in downtown Ann Arbor

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Source: Concentrate

Pure Barre is the largest barre franchise in North America. The mother-daughter team of Vicky Gordon and Anna Locke are looking to open their second location in downtown Ann Arbor

Economic Development

Seat Side Service expands smartphone software to pay for event concessions

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Source: Concentrate

Ann Arbor-based Seat Side has seen a big expansion of their mobile concession software, allowing spectators at athletic events to order and pay for food and beverages through their smartphone.

Economic Development

3.7 Designs grows via word-of-mouth referrals, adds new partner

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Source: Concentrate

3.7 Designs got its start 10 years ago building digital presences for local companies. Today it has established itself as a staple in Ann Arbor’s growing tech community.

Annalisa Esposito Bluhm with a Cadillac ELR Engineering Mule for Maven car sharing technology

Economic Development

The future of car technology isn't in Detroit or Silicon Valley. It's in Ann Arbor.

Natalie BurgWednesday, February 17, 2016

Detroit may be the Motor City, but Ann Arbor is becoming ground zero for the industry-disrupting wireless and autonomous innovations that will usher in the next generation of automobiles.

Community Development

The Backstory: Ice Skating in Ann Arbor

Patti SmithWednesday, February 17, 2016

After a hiatus that stretched for decades, seasonal ice skating rinks have returned to Ann Arbor parks. Concentrate's Patti Smith digs into city's longstanding relationship with a sport the 1893 Argus proclaimed to be “one of the most exhilarating of all pastimes.”

Economic Development

Are urban planners ready for driverless cars? No.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Source: CityLab

A University of Pennsylvania researcher perused the plans of the 25 largest metro planning organizations and found that 24 don't even mention self-driving cars in their future.

Arts and Culture

Arbor Brewing Co debuts "gastro street fare" in renovated brewpub

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Source: Concentrate

Arbor Brewing Co is not only showing off its newly renovated space in downtown Ann Arbor, but also an eclectic new menu to go with it. Rene Greff, who co-owns Arbor Brewing Co with her husband Matt Greff, describes the new menu as "gastro street fare."

Kids and Education

U-M Jewish Resource Center readies major expansion and renovation

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Source: Concentrate

The Jewish Resource Center has grown significantly since opening five years ago. In order to accommodate that growth, it will replace the rear addition and build out the basement of its Hill St. Victorian house.

Vince Chmielewski at VC Web's offices in downtown Ypsilanti

Economic Development

Visual Compass expands into mobile app development

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Source: Concentrate

Talk about patience. Visual Compass started as 17-year long side project, emerged from Ann Arbor SPARK's East Incubator, and has now taken up residence in Ypsilanti's Depot Town.

Economic Development

Growth spike pushes Portal Architects to release new software

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Source: Concentrate

Ann Arbor-based Portal Architects have enjoyed a 357 percent revenue growth over the last year. They now have nearly 2,000 clients and recently hired 16 people, mainly software professionals, to grow their staff to 27. We'd call that success by any measure.

Bryan Foley at Delux Rental with water collected for Flint

Community Development

How Washtenaw County is responding to Flint's water crisis

Patrick DunnWednesday, February 10, 2016

From water bottle drives to political protests to questions about the integrity of our own water system, Concentrate looks at the way our community is responding to the Flint Water crisis.

Economic Development

Could one of these metro Detroit food startups be the next Garden Fresh?

Patrick DunnWednesday, February 10, 2016

Ferndale salsa maker Garden Fresh recently sold to Campbell's Soup Co. for $231 million. Could The Brinery be the next big story out of metro Detroit's food economy?

Healthy Communities

Football helmet designed at U-M may decrease head injuries

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Source: U-M Michigan News

Concussions and other head injuries are a major concern for football players. Researchers at U-M are responding with the development of a more shock-absorbing helmet system.

Technology and Innovation

U-M researchers are developing injectable radios

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Source: IEEE Spectrum

U-M researchers are developing implantable radios. That could mean big advances in medical devices like pacemakers and health monitoring sensors.

Healthy Communities

Wolverine State Brewing Co expands, doubles barrel production

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Source: Concentrate

Wolverine State Brewing Co. is going big this year. The Ann Arbor-based craft brewery is in the midst of wrapping up an expansion project that includes an expanded kitchen space, additional brewing space, and a larger cooler.