A Few of Our Favorite Things in Detroit

One of my favorite things about Detroit is Lafayette Park. Why? Because it really is one of the most successful urban renewal projects in the United States and few people even know it exists. Much less that it was Mies Van Der Rohe’s largest body of work before he died (and the dude made a ton of buildings). Kind of amazing that it’s stuck in the middle of Detroit. How’d that happen?

- Andy Kopietz, Director of Design

(photo source)

I like La Dolce Vita because it’s outside of the ever-popular downtown/midtown area. It’s a great restaurant tucked away in a vine-covered brick building on Woodward and Six Mile near Detroit’s Palmer Park neighborhood. It also has a beautiful courtyard away from the street. It’s one of Detroit’s best-kept secrets.

- Quinn Hamilton, Detroit Experience Coordinator

Once a month Haute to Death and Nothing Elegant put on two of the best dance parties in the city. Haute to Death goes off every third Saturday of the month at Temple Bar, and Nothing Elegant kicks out the hip hop jams every second Saturday at The Old Miami. Wear your fanciest dancin’ shoes to either one of these great events and be prepared to show off your best dance moves. See you on the dance floor!

- Alex Prouhet, Work Resident

(photo: Megan McEwan)

How about ClandesDine- An underground Pop-up supper club that benefits local charities in Detroit!

- April Boyle, Director of Recruitment

Detroit Passport to the Arts.  For $125 total (if you’re under 45) you get tickets to six performances across the city (DFT, Chamber and Winds [performing at the Qube]. MOT, DSO, etc.), with a free afterparty following each performance at a bar or club near the venue.  Can’t beat the deal, the performance variety, or the crowd.  Makes somewhat expensive cultural venues really accessible and affordable.

- Jeff Aronoff, Executive Director

My favorite thing about Detroit is the sports, both as a spectator and as a participant. We have world-class teams play in world-class venues; Tigers in Comerica Park, Lions in Ford Stadium, and the Red Wings in the Joe (with talks of a brand new arena coming soon). As a resident, you can always find some way to get active. Of course you have your typical sports like basketball, football, baseball and soccer. But, Detroit is also gifted with unparalleled bikability, swimming, boxing gyms, auto racing, skating (ice and kick push), sailing clubs, rock climbing, and more.

- Brian Bickley, Build Resident

I love the Detroit Film Theatre. It’s a hidden gem housed in the Detroit Institute of Arts. It plays a wide range of independent and classic films, and has some really unique programming including orchestral concerts and the DFT 101 series, which is FREE to the public. And the theatre itself is stunning. Definitely worth checking out if you are into film!

- Muna Danish, Communications Resident

Fowling! It’s a mixture of football and bowling and can be played at The Fowling Warehouse, located in a revamped old toy factory on the East Side. It’s one of the most unique things in a city of unique things!

- Jeanette Pierce, Director of Community Relations 

(photo source)

My Favorite thing about Detroit is the Riverwalk and Miliken State Park. I love the landscaping, the views, the Rivard Plaza cafe and fountain and the casual atmosphere there. It’s large enough to not often feel crowded but intimate enough to spend lots of time there. I can bring my dog or go alone or with a friend and it’s always makes me feel good. I can’t wait for the expansion of the riverwalk all the way from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle.

- Joshua Smith, Design Resident

I like the Detroit City Futbol League. It’s a really great way to get all of the neighborhoods interacting with each other, to get people outside, and to do something fun that engages the whole city, especially neighborhoods that are sometimes overlooked when it comes to city-wide programming. Plus, it encourages overall pride in Detroit!

- Morgan Fett, D:hive Crew Chief

(photo source)

Having a drink at St Cece’s on sunday night because they have pop ups and I can bring our dog and she sleeps by the fire. 

- Mark Shortt, Engage Resident

The Detroit Riverfront offers so many great amenities. Between the nature trail and the festivals that take place during the summer, the riverfront has something for everyone. I particularly love the serenity and scenic views the riverfront offers! I took my engagement pictures and got married at the Rattlesnake Club! 

- Anita Davis, Work Resident

What’s Your D:hive Story: Kristin and Anna

Anyone who’s moved before knows that embarking on a housing search can be a daunting process. With all the changes happening in Detroit, it can be disorienting for both newcomers and longtime residents alike to find a place to live. That’s why D:hive wants to help! Our online housing resource D:hive Living Connections is great way to scan the newest rentals on the market, advertise for a roommate, or get your questions answered by a community of knowledgeable locals eager
to share advice. 
 
Meet Kristin and Anna, who moved to Detroit this past fall from the suburbs close to Dearborn. After they both found jobs in the city, they decided it was time to finally make the move they had been considering for a while. “We felt ready for a change…after spending every weekend here and seeing the changes happening, it just made sense for us to move.” With the help of D:hive Living Connections, they found their first apartment in Detroit - a two bedroom rental in Detroit Town Apartments. 
 
Sometimes, beginning your search can be the most difficult part. Kristin and Anna started out by checking Craigslist regularly, but after a while and no luck, they looked for other resources and came across D:hive Living Connections. 
 
“We bypassed a lot of apt buildings we saw because of bad reviews or terrible landlord stories. Finally, we saw our current apartment listed on D:hive’s page. I remember thinking “Why haven’t we seen this one before?” says Kristin.
 
Great rental listings can easily fall through the cracks, but D:hive Living Connections is a carefully curated resource that serves not only to spotlight rentals on the market, but as a forum to ask questions and interact with other housing seekers. For first-timers or those new to the city, a good review or positive testimonial of a place can go a long way in helping you make your decision. 
 
Aside from scanning the page for listings, Kristin and Anna found it useful to interact with others and seek insider advice. “We used the page to ask questions, either about a certain building, or what the parking was like on that street. It was great to get that immediate feedback and the community really seemed to want to help us.”

Detroit Town Apartments are located just behind The Leland on the corner of 1^st and Bagley, straddling the border dividing Downtown and Corktown. Being only a short walk or bike ride from both of their workplaces, Kristin and Anna appreciate the relatively stress-free lifestyle they are able to live Downtown: “Living downtown, we get the excitement of living in a city, but without the clusterphobia of being in big downtown like Chicago and Manhattan. There’s both good and bad things about living in the city, but for us it’s exciting to just be here.”
 
Although everyone’s housing search is different, with D:hive’s Living Connections you can join the conversation and explore the many great places Detroit has to offer, without the hassle and worry of doing it all on your own. Are you looking for a place to stay? Do you have advice for housing seekers? Check out D:hive’s Living Connections page today! 

Meet the Residents: Joshua Smith

 Take a quick look at our design resident Joshua Smith and the first thing you notice is how well put together he is. You might guess he’s got an eye for design! A recent graduate of CCS, Josh came to D:hive by way of a class called “Detroit Lab” taught by Megan Deal (our first design director at D:hive). “D:hive was always on my radar…it just seemed to find it’s way to me rather than the other way around,” he explains. 

Josh works on a range of our in-house design including exterior signage and various day-to-day communications needs. He is also contributing his design skills to two wider-reaching projects: a small business resource guide for entrepreneurs, and print collateral for an initiative focused on trying to attract and retain talented STEM professionals in Detroit.“D:hive values design strongly, which is important because it helps us to help others. Projects are always coming up and you have to respond quickly. It helps me keep my skills sharp as a designer.”

Josh grew up in Florida and came to Detroit to study automotive design at CCS. At CCS he quickly realized he was more interested in communications and switched his major to graphic design. Working in Detroit, he is inspired by the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of the city and is currently in the midst of putting down roots in Southwest Detroit!

Josh will also be participating in our 8-week BUILD course for entrepreneurs beginning in mid-April. “I have a lot of ideas…” he begins to explain. These include plans for a menswear retail venture in Detroit and eventually having his own design studio. Sound a little ambitious? Not for Josh! As someone who transitions easily between multiple projects, he thrives in the fast-paced, hands-on work environment at D:hive.

What does he like best about his work? “Just being able to distill and present information to an audience to help them learn something or direct them to a new opportunity.” Directing people to resources in the city is exactly what our mission is at D:hive, so having a design team who understands and helps us facilitate that is fundamental to our work. 

Josh sums it up best: “It’s funny that I ended up at D:hive because once I got here it felt so inevitable. My goal has always been to use my design skills to further social and civic engagement in the city, so D:hive is the perfect place for me to have landed.”

What’s Your D:hive Story? Meet Ohi Ake

Do you want to meet new people in Detroit? Looking to explore Detroit’s nightlife? Our bar tours might be just what you are looking for! Just ask Ohi Ake, who joined us for a night out on the town during our Feb 23ʳᵈ Underground Bar Tour.

Ohi, who relocated to the Detroit area last April from Cleveland, found out about our bar tours through our biweekly email updates. This particular tour included stops at Sky Bar, The Detroiter, 1701 Cigar Bar, as well as a bonus stop at The Anchor Bar for some late-night grub! Exploring different places in Detroit, making new connections, and discovering the variety of nightlife in the city are what our bar tours are all about.

Although every bar tour is different, you can always expect an eclectic mix of people. Ohi, who lives in Belleville but is actively looking to move to Detroit, was lucky enough to encounter a fellow bar hopper who works in real estate. They discussed potential options, including a property he was recently considering: “It’s one thing to see a place online, it’s another thing to hear an insider perspective on whether the property is decent,” he says. He also had a chance to meet an out-of-towner from Toronto, one of his favorite cities to visit, and was surprised to hear him say he wanted to move to Detroit.

Making these new acquaintances and hearing their unique experiences in Detroit made Ohi even more excited about “being a part of its rebirth.” But he was most inspired by his chat with our Community Relations Director (and tour leader!) Jeanette Pierce about new Detroit developments like the Illitch entertainment arena, Dan Gilbert’s properties downtown, and the plans for a light rail system. “Jeanette had an inexhaustible amount of info about the city. It was great to hear some of the stories behind the stories.”

Whether it be our tours, our live, work, and engage resources, or our entrepreneurial programs, D:hive hopes to help inspire great Detroit stories and share them with you. Storytelling, after all, is what a night out in Detroit is all about. Ohi describes his highlight of the night: “Just being able to sit there, taking in the views from the 33rd floor at Sky Bar, talking about the history of this city and where it might
be headed.”

Are you interested in joining us on a bar tour? Check out our brand new Spring/Summer lineup of tours!

Saying Goodbye to D:pop

D:hive’s role as a welcome center and resource hub is to help fulfill unmet needs in Detroit– whether that be connecting people to jobs, housing, ways to engage or building a business.
 
One of our main roles has been to showcase the many talented artists and designers in Detroit through our in-house retail shop D:pop. For over a year, D:pop has provided a space for local retailers and artists to co-exist and promote their Detroit-centric products to an audience hungry for one-of-a-kind keepsakes made in Detroit. Its growth under the direction of social entrepreneur Margarita Barry and her staff has aligned with our mission to support entrepreneurship and the emerging small business economy.

Nevertheless, as retail expands in the Greater Downtown area, retailers with locally made merchandise like Pure Detroit, City Bird, and The Detroit Shoppe on Woodward are seeing success supplementing those needs. The shops in The Park Shelton (The Peacock Room, Goods, and Emerald) as well The Auburn (Hugh and Nora), to name just a few, are indicative of a greater demand for local retail. We think it’s safe to say the Detroit brand is here to stay.

Due to the growing retail environment in the Greater Downtown area, D:pop will be moving out of D:hive to expand, under Margarita’s Detroit Pop LLC brand, into online retail, upcoming pop-up projects (including Bohomodern in midtown), and pop-up retail consulting services throughout Metro Detroit. Stay in the loop with Detroit Pop through Facebook and Twitter.

Although we are nostalgic about D:pop’s departure, we’re also excited about its next iteration beyond D:hive. D:pop’s last day at D:hive will be March 30^th … a storewide discount of 10% begins this week so come on by for your last chance to shop D:pop!

Wondering what’s next? D:hive hopes to support and nurture local entrepreneurs in new and innovative ways. We have some exciting plans in the works for our white-box space, which we look forward to sharing in the near future!

=HEALTH= Detroit Community Acupuncture

I just came back from Detroit Community Acupuncture - and it was great! 

Community acupuncture is a set up where the clients are in the same room, at their own spaces around the room. In addition to keeping costs down, this format avoids the isolation that one might feel alone in a small room. Even though there is no interaction between the clients, this method can have a nice sense of being part of a group and “healing together.” 

For those that have experienced community acupuncture before, DCA has a wonderful set up. They have created what truly feels like a therapeutic space which is utterly calming. 

I have been having issues with my knee and shoulder joints for the past few years, always on the right side. Though I believe the problems will eventually require a deeper cure, I had a feeling that acupuncture would be able to address my symptoms and provide a measure of ‘rebalancing’ my health by directing the healing mechanism of the body in the appropriate way. 

I’ve been recommended to get 3 more treatments over the next 3 weeks - so if anyone is interested in trying, check out the website (http://www.detroitcommunityacupuncture.com/) for more info and join me! The great thing about community acupuncture is being able to join your friends in some good healing. 

Feel free to email me at mark@dhivedetroit.org - I would be happy to to talk more about my experience. 

In health, 

Mark

Posted by dhivedetroit
February 13, 2013
1 note

Meet the Residents: Quinn Hamilton

Meet Quinn Hamilton, D:hive’s Detroit Experience Ambassador. Even before arriving at D:hive, Quinn referred to herself as a ‘Detroit Ambassador,’ so it almost seemed too good to be true when a friend sent her the job description.

Growing up in Detroit and attending Yale University for Women’s and Gender Studies, she always knew she wanted to return: ”It was worth taking the hit on my car insurance” she explains of her move back a couple years ago, settling in the West Village neighborhood.

Quinn’s work at D:hive revolves around arranging and helping lead our extensive tour offeringsincluding bus tours, walking tours and private tours. She explains that D:hive’s tours are for “anybody who doesn’t know everything about Detroit, which is everybody” and she will be the first to admit that even a seasoned Detroiter like herself can learn something new. “I didn’t really know much about Detroit architecture before this job. Did you know that One Woodward (by Yamasaki) was the predecessor to The World Trade Center towers?” Ask her and she’ll dive right into the nitty gritty of the building’s history. 

Quinn’s favorite part about D:hive is the startup culture and work environment. “Coming from healthcare, I was used to working in a cubicle. At D:hive it’s so relaxed and yet we get a lot done everyday. It’s very hands-on.” 

In addition to arranging and giving tours at D:hive, Quinn is a recent graduate of our 8 week BUILD course for entrepreneurs. “I had some ideas I wanted to get off the ground… BUILD helped me to finally start, because after a certain point waiting is just wasted time.” Quinn’s business, Fire Brand Candle, offers Detroit-themed candles inspired by the five ‘spokes’ or main arterial streets of Detroit: Woodward, Michigan Ave., Gratiot, Grand River, and Jefferson. 

As she continues to explore Detroit, Quinn’s latest mission is to find interesting new places to hear live music. Some of her favorites include Slow Jams at Woodbridge Pub, Northern Lights and Cliff Bell’s for jazz, Motor City Wine for DJs and live bands and Baker’s Keyboard Lounge (‘I would go there just for the amazing soul food!”). The list goes on and on. They don’t call her ‘Detroit Ambassador’ for nothing!

Have you tried Couchsurfing?

Looking to foster friendship with locals who can orient you to Detroit?  Detroit has a very active Couchsurfing community; a system by which visitors to the city can find ‘free’ places to stay with current residents who have some space.

The advantages of this type of arrangement are more than cost saving for travelers on a budget, and it’s been my experience that hosts are the best advocates for their hometown. People drawn to this activity are often those who are willing to introduce guests to friends and coworkers and acquaint them with the interesting and important things to see & do. It’s a culture built on the reciprocity between hosts and guests without monetary exchange. 

Couchsurfing is not just about accommodation for a night or two…

I utilized the Couchsurfing network about a year before I relocated here. I was visiting Detroit to do research for my architectural thesis paper about the life of a city. My very first host during this visit was Emily. From our first point of contact, Emily, and an architect called Dan, drastically extended the reach of my project, helping orient me to the city and initiatives as well as putting me in touch with some of my most compelling interviewees. I would never have had this level of experience had I simply made an impersonal hotel booking. Emily later opened the first hostel in Detroit in 20 years, Hostel Detroit inspired by the gap Couchsurfing seemed to be filling. I can definitely say that the people I met during this time influenced my decision to move to Detroit.

Couchsurfing was an instrumental tool in helping me find my own place… 

“Couchhopping,” or making short stays with various hosts around Detroit, was a great means of orienting myself, as interacting and engaging with couchsurfers unfolded into engaging with their neighborhoods & friends.  I met many great locals (and “transplants”) this way, and while I started with short stays, as I made friends I made some longer stays, up to the point where I subleased from a couchsurfer host at a very generous rate, right before getting my own apartment.  In the space of a few months I became very familiar with a constellation of fascinating neighborhoods, having already stayed in Hubbard Farms, Corktown, Eastern Market, Boston Edison, Midtown & West Indian Village.  Creating these local mind maps was very useful in achieving a deeper understanding of the city.

Many hosts help guests in practical ways….

Hosts tend to provide insider tips on places to explore and upcoming events. Some will even provide a bike for their guests. I was very lucky that my first host, the veritable uber-mensch Ben (who later helped found Omnicorp Detroit and the web/print design firm, The Work Department) was kind enough to guide me in putting together my website! Months later I used my minivan to help Ben move house. This is just one example of the reciprocal nature of Couchsurfing, in that it’s an informal trade, based on both identified needs and what time, energy, skills and knowledge you have to offer at a particular moment. 

Consider making a Couchsurfing profile expressing who you are & what you’re seeking to do in the city to connect with likeminded residents; keeping in mind what you can do to be a great guest.  No one knows a place better than its residents.

I view acting as a Couchsurfing host myself nowadays in Detroit as one small way of paying forward the generosity of my forthcoming past hosts, by sharing my enthusiasm for the city with visitors and newcomers. One especially rewarding experience was when I got to host three visitors during the United States Social Forum. One of these people, Laura, was considering moving to Detroit and ended up moving to my neighborhood and developing the wonderful project ‘Listen to Detroit’!

More than just a way to find accommodation, Couchsurfing can be a powerful community-building network.

Are you intrigued? Consider attending a meet-up with travelers and residents alike, or join a Detroit related group for more information.

About the Author: Luke Daenen is D:hive’s Live Resident. A native of England, Luke moved to Detroit three years ago while researching his thesis on Detroit. He loves all things related to architecture, planning and design in the city. 

Drawing in Detroit

Hello!

My name is Mark. I am new to D:hive; I started working here this past January (more about my story here) heading up the ENGAGE program. This program is about pursuing a life outside of work and home, and getting involved with the life of the city. 

To make this process easier, I’ll be sending out information about all of the opportunities for engagement that I come across, and inviting any of you who wish to join me in classes, volunteering, and exploring Detroit. The theme of this week is Drawing in Detroit –my adventures in illustration, painting, and drawing in city. 

So please sign up for the biweekly email newsletter. I look forward to meeting and hearing your stories, your interests, your passions, and the ways in which you Engage.  

Mark

DRAWING IN DETROIT

“Malt” @ 1440 Woodward Avenue

Since arriving in Detroit in October I have been amazed at the creative energy here, the number of people and places that are engaged in making art – particularly painting and drawing.

Why does this city have such a high percentage of skilled artists? I decided to join in to try to find out!

= Sketchbook Battles = 

The other night I was invited to a party at the Kunsthalle gallery, a light and multimedia exhibition space at 5001 Grand River Avenue.  When we arrived there was a sketchbook battle in progress and all were encouraged to participate – it was a time-limited competition where sketches were presented and judged by a panel. I didn’t remember the last time I picked up a paintbrush but it seemed like the right thing to do so I did my best to let it flow. Here is the result:

Floating Tumbler ahead of a Desk Lamp

I did not win. But I did have a great time and enjoyed a party where the central activity was illustration. And someone even told me they liked my painting! For those interested in exhibiting their work, the Boll Family YMCA downtown provides a venue where artists can go to have their art exhibited. You can stop by to inquire, or feel free to email Seth to make arrangements.


= DIA Day with Art of Leadership = 

I also recently met Denise Stein, founder of the Art of Leadership, a mentorship program and foundation whose mission “is to inspire vision and leadership in young people, giving them the skills to succeed in their lives and to be leaders in their communities.” Denise invited me to join in DIA Day, where her program takes kids to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the city’s largest fine arts museum. All of the participants chose and presented on a piece of art that inspired them. I chose this painting:

The Three Skulls – Paul Cezanne

I found it uplifting because it made me feel like I wanted to create something as well. Having studied medicine, I also have an affinity for illustrations of human anatomy. 

It was even more inspiring to watch the kids present their favorite pieces, their excitement for art, and their vision for the future – to see the powerful role that art played in their lives. 

UPCOMING // JOIN ME!

= Volunteering at Art Road: Wednesday 2/13 = 

Experiencing art with these inspiring young people on DIA Day made me want to spend more time with young people and art.  So this week I will be volunteering with Art Road, a “nonprofit in Michigan actively bringing art class back into schools. Art Road’s Mission is that children throughout Southeastern Michigan have access to art instruction.” Moved by The Three Skulls at the DIA, I’m planning on bringing a copy of my favorite anatomy textbook:

Atlas of Human Anatomy – Frank Netter, MD

= Model Drawing at 555 gallery =

And on Thursday, Feb 21^st I’ll be taking the chance to work on my own drawings of living anatomy: Nude Model Drawing at the 555 gallery. 

Come join me!

= Drawing Detroit @ D:hive = 

I loved this book when I came across it:

If you feel like you want to take a break and do something creative, stop by the D:hive Welcome Center (1253 Woodward ave) where we will have a copy of Drawing Detroit available for you to use and draw inspiration from, as well as colored pencils, crayons, and a table to work at. We have these books for sale at our in-house retail space, D:pop.

= The (D:hive Detroit) Sketchbook project = 

Have you heard of the Sketchbook Project? It is “a global, crowd-sourced art project where participants from all walks of life are sent a sketchbook … and return it for inclusion in a traveling exhibition and permanent collection at The Brooklyn Art Library.”The project is open to anyone in the world who would like to participate. 

Last week at D:hive, Josh and I were talking about this project and thought, why not open up a book to the D:hive community? It could be kind of like an illustrated message in a bottle from Detroit, that we send off to a distant art library. The sketchbook will also be a digitally archived so your entries can be viewed and shared online. 

Below is a list of some of the other workshops, volunteer opportunities, and resources. If you have things to add about drawing and painting in Detroit, please share them with me by email (mark@dhivedetroit.org) or on our twitter page!

EVENTS:

·      Open Model Drawing – 555 Gallery

·      Gerard Thierde: Opening – Heidelberg Project Studio Gallery

·      An Evening with Martino Gamper – Cranbrook Academy of Art    

MEDIA:

·      Tyree Guyton’s Next Vision for Detroit 

·      Drawing Detroit, Ben Bunk

·      List of Metro Detroit Artists 

·      Art in Detroit Public Schools

·      Street Art in Detroit    

·      MADE-UP in DETROIT: Paint by Numbers   

VENUES and VOLUNTEER:

·      555 gallery 

·      Trumbullplex 

·      Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

EXHIBITING:

·     Boll Family YMCA - (email Seth)

·      Rodin Detroit Call For Art - Deadline March 6th

CLASSES / WORKSHOPS

·      Y-Arts: adult and children’s arts program at the Boll Family YMCA

PROJECTS

In the spirit of Drawing Detroit, there is an internet collective called Urban Sketchers, which is “a network of artists around the world who draw the cities where they live and travel.” Is anyone interested in being the regional correspondent for Detroit and hosting the Urban Sketchers correspondent blog where our own urban sketchers would publish?

About the Author: Mark Shortt is D:hive’s Engage resident, finding ways to encourage open dialogue about Detroit through volunteerism and getting involved in the many cultural, social and educational opportunities Detroit has to offer. A Canadian at heart, he has called both Montreal and Seattle home before Detroit. He is an avid bicyclist and enjoys taking the time to explore Detroit as a newcomer to the city.