Looking back at 2009 we found certain topics rising to the top of our
story pile: Michigan's emerging film industry, young entrepreneurs, the
rise of the local culinary class, and good ideas imported from cities
outside the state. From education to industry to development
, the past year has been all about evolving our region's economy and culture.
Metromode takes you on a whirlwind tour of this year's standout stories.
FILMScoring Michigan's New Film IndustryWith Michigan's new film incentives, everyone's talking about Hollywood actors and production crews. But what about the guys and gals behind the scenes, the ones who create all those memorable movie soundtracks? Three local composers weigh in on where they see the state's burgeoning film industry is headed.
A New Business Genre For Michigan
Only 18 months old, the state's film production tax incentive has begun to redefine start-up culture in SE Michigan. Beyond the hit-and-run productions that breeze in and out of the region, a real industry is starting to take root.
Metromode sits down with Genre Film Partners, a company intending to shoot 8-10 movies here over the next four years.
FOOD
Metro Detroit's Crepe ExpectationsNew Orleans has gumbo and po'boys. Chicago has deep dish pizza. Phillie has the cheesesteak. Detroit has... crepes? Our Franco-Canadian origins aside, the Metro region is hardly a hotbed of French cuisine. And yet, Creperies are popping up like dandelions. Foodie blogger Nicole Rupersburg investigates le mystere.
A Healing MenuForget that sad little bowl of green Jello. Chef and restaurateur Matt Prentice is out to remake hospital cuisine. No, that's not a contradiction in terms. Henry Ford West Bloomfield hospital has tasked Prentice with creating a menu that not only tastes good but aids in patient healing.
The Russians Are Coming... To Harper WoodsIt's a Russian Orthodox Monastery. It's a gourmet restaurant. It's home to incredible works of art and history. And, yup, it's in Harper Woods. Welcome to the neighborhood St. Sabbas and The Royal Eagle.
THE NEXT GENERATION OF METRO DETROITEREthical EntrepreneursMaking good and making a buck are not necessarily contradictory ideas.
Metromode introduces you to a quartet of green collar companies who are trying to do right by both Michigan's economy an
d the environment.
Young Guns In Metro Politics
They're under 35 and they got elected. Meet a trio of young Metro
Detroit politicians, all determined to bring new ideas and new
perspectives to their communities. Can they facilitate the changes SE
Michigan so desperately needs?
The Next Generation In InventionMeet the wunderkinds behind Titanium Expo Robotics, a company created by three high school kids from Royal Oak. Their land mine-sniffing robot not only took top awards at Lawrence Tech's Robofest, it heralds a potentially game-changing industry for Southeast Michigan, while prompting deep ethical questions about where our technological innovations are headed.
Solid Dudes In The KitchenWelcome to the Bro-tisserie. It was only a matter of time before Millennials put their profane stamp on the whole cooking show craze. Meet Dave Graw and Derek Swanson, Metro Detroit's potty-mouthed answer to Ted Allen and Alton Brown. Could these web series upstarts be the answer to culinary GenX'ers and food-obsessed Boomers? Adult supervision recommended.
GOOD IDEAS FROM OTHER PLACESFrontier Spirit, Urban IdeasSplitting her time between the Motor City suburbs and the Mile High City,
Metromode's Tanya Muzumdar sees ideas and innovations ripe for importation. Maybe instead of going it alone, Metro Detroit should consider going West for some urban inspiration.
Building An Economy From The Ground Up: Community EnterpriseMetro Detroit might want to look to the Basque region of Spain or Bologna, Italy for ideas on how to rejuvenate our local economy. Both communities have turned community-based enterprise into impressive long term successes.
The Rail Thing, Is Metro Detroit On Track?If you've never heard of transit-oriented development, it really needs a spot on your hot list. With a transit center planned for Birmingham and Troy, Metro Detroit is back to workin' on the railroad. But maybe the new D Train could take a lesson from the Santa Fe Express.
ISSUES, EDUCATION & IDEASMaking Water Work For Metro DetroitSometimes abundance rather than necessity is the mother of invention. With our incredible water resources and critical mass of world class engineers, Michigan is poised to become the center for innovations in hydro engineering and water management.
A Better Set Of Building BlocksInfrastructure. It's not exactly a sexy word, but with the Obama administration's focus on rebuilding our nation's roads and bridges, innovation is in demand.
Enter Lawrence Technological University, where new infrastructure inventions are an everyday way of life.
Preservation vs DemolitionDilapidated eyesore or historic keystone to downtown redevelopment? It's an argument that's repeated over and over in Metro Detroit communities. Lincoln Park's Mellus Newspapers building is only the latest flashpoint. Jon Zemke gives you the lay of the land and gets some insight from downtowns that have fought this fight and won.
Can Immigration Loosen Our Rustbelt?Fifty percent of the start-ups in Silicon Valley were founded by foreign-born entrepreneurs. Though it's the third rail for most political and community leaders, a new view of immigration may be exactly what Michigan needs to reinvent its economy.
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