Pure Fantasy In Ypsilanti
By: Leia Menlove, 3/10/2010
More than just a place to buy Halloween costumes, Fantasy Attic offers an epic selection of dress-up options year round. It's also an indelible part of Ann Arbor's past, and now Ypsilanti's future. Learn what the coolest shop in Depot Town does the other eleven months of the year.
Bridging The Generational Divide Over Downtown
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 3/10/2010
New developments or older housing stock? Young professionals or older residents? Density or sprawl? Last Thursday, Concentrate's Speaker Series Event asked: Can't we all just get along? Here's a short summary for those who missed an intelligent and informative conversation about the future of Ann Arbor's downtown neighborhoods.
Ann Arbor's Beagle Brain Gain
By: Constance Crump, 3/3/2010
Ben Falk did what many U-M grads do after graduation - moved somewhere else. But a year and half ago he returned from NYC to open his computer repair business in Ann Arbor's downtown. It's hard not to see Beagle Brain's presence in Nickels Arcade as the perfect metaphor for how the city honors its past while embracing its future.
Hole In The Wall Nightlife
By: Richard Retyi, 2/24/2010
Joints. Dives. Holes in the wall. They're the kinds of bars that trade in cheap beer, cranky rules, at least one customer without a full set of teeth, and a jukebox filled with music you'd better not tell the bartender you don't get. Concentrate steers you toward the best places and nights for an authentic, no frills night of unpretentious bliss.
Pizza 2.0
By: Terry Parris Jr., 2/17/2010
It was only a matter of time before pizza went high-tech. From web tracking to on demand orders from your TiVo, Ann Arbor-based Domino's has created a brave new world of snarfing.
Cultivating Cooperation: The Michigan Political Leadership Program
By: Constance Crump, 2/17/2010
Can't we all just get along? True leaders understand the value of compromise. Unfortunately, term limits tend to encourage partisan opposition. Every year, the Michigan Political Leadership Program brings together 24 fellows of varying political stripes in order to foster a new generation of solutions-based leadership.
Turning One Into Deuce In Ann Arbor
By: Leia Menlove, 2/10/2010
Baby, it's cold outside. Need someone to share that blanket with?
Finding soulmates (or even just good company) can be challenging for A2's young professionals. In honor of Valentine's Day Concentrate points you toward the best places to discover your significant other.
MASTERMIND: John Rosevear
By: Constance Crump, 2/10/2010
Inventor, author, former Marine and Ann Arbor original, John Rosevear has the kind of biography that makes misfits proud. And now, after 45 years of development, his greatest invention --the Skyclock-- may finally earn him his due.
NIGHT & DAY: Who's Got the "Chops"
By: Jeff Meyers, 2/10/2010
This week's FilterD brings you cultural events to make out to or break up over. There's stuff to do for both singles and doubles, the lovesick and the lovelorn. Plus editor Jeff Meyers chats with U-M alum and documentary filmmaker Bruce Broder about his love letter to the process of making jazz, Chops. Click on the link and get some!
Zingerman's U
By: Nicole Rupersburg, 2/3/2010
A bakehouse, a creamery, a coffee roaster, a candy manufactory... As the Zingerman's food empire expands, they want to make you a more informed citizen. From mozzarella cheese-making to four-day baking intensives, the little deli that became a culinary kingdom offers its customers a long list of mouthwatering classes. It's Yum 101.
MASTERMIND: Todd and Janice Ortbring
By: Amy Whitesall, 2/3/2010
There are citizens and then there are members of your community that are like a force of nature. Meet the Ortbrings, Chelsea's über neighbors. Not only do they run a successful local advertising and marketing firm, they also bring new meaning to the phrase civic engagement.
Big Ideas For Georgetown's Mall
By: Constance Crump, 1/27/2010
All over Michigan it's the same story: Suburban-style shopping malls going under and boarding up. Could the failure of strip centers like Ann Arbor's Georgetown Mall be an opportunity for innovative ideas about mixed-use development and walkablilty? Concentrate talks to neighbors and developers about what could be.
NIGHT & DAY: Park City Comes To Ann Arbor
By: Jeff Meyers, 1/27/2010
We may not have the mountains, but we've definitely got the snow. For two days this week the Michigan Theater becomes a venue for the Sundance Film Festival. It's just one of the half dozen events we spotlight in FilterD.
Know Y: PSA For The D
By: Kate Rose, 1/20/2010
Some say Ann Arbor has it all. Kate Rose, Concentrate's generational correspondent, says it's time locals swam across the cultural moat and learned to take pride in what's great about Detroit.
MASTERMIND: Neel Hajra
By: Constance Crump, 1/20/2010
It took a bit of bouncing around but Ann Arbor native Neel Hajra finally found a home at NEW Center, where he's the CEO of the nonprofit that lends a hand to other nonprofits. Combining entrepreneurship, organizational guidance, and technological support, NEW has proven to be an invaluable asset for local boards and organizations.
Building A Startup City
By: Terry Parris Jr., 1/13/2010
Adversity is the mother of invention. Or so they say. And Michigan is proving them true. While the rest of the country has seen a decline in business formation, cities like Ann Arbor are experiencing a startup spike.
NIGHT & DAY: A Good Start
By: Jeff Meyers, 1/13/2010
Along with a recap of this week's six FilterD selections, editor Jeff Meyers opens the new year with some good news about local arts and culture organizations.
The Best Stories of 2009
By: Concentrate Staff, 12/16/2009
As we stand on the threshold of a new decade, it's useful to glance back at the local stories that defined 2009. New innovators, unsung visionaries, evolving technologies, the generational divide over downtown development and a new respect for food were all part of the year that was. Concentrate takes you on a whirlwind tour of this year's stand out stories.
NIGHT & DAY: Theatrical Inspiration
By: Jeff Meyers, 12/16/2009
Amidst the half dozen cultural events spotlighted in this week's FilterD, editor Jeff Meyers finds inspiration from a film about Orson Welles and connection to Ann Arbor's ongoing discussion of public art.
Happy Holidays from Concentrate
By: Concentrate Staff, 12/16/2009
As we ring out the New Year, Concentrate wishes you, our faithful readers, the warmest of holiday wishes ...before crawling under
the covers for a three-week rest. But fear not, we'll be back January 13th with more tales of creative innovation and new economy developments.
Going Green
By: Concentrate Staff, 12/9/2009
With all the talk of going green and clean, just how sustainable is the Ann Arbor area getting? Since Concentrate launched in April of 2008 we've run across a growing number of businesses, leaders, and initiatives that are trying to nudge Michigan's economy and lifestyle toward the greener end of the spectrum. This week we round up evidence that our region is doing its part.
NIGHT & DAY: Goodnight Keith Moon
By: Jeff Meyers, 12/9/2009
This week FilterD goes locavore with a trio of must-see indigenous acts (amidst its half dozen picks). Then editor Jeff Meyers gets the inside scoop from a local writer-artist team whose spoof of a childhood classic has hit the Internet buzz mill.
Powered By Michigan
By: Dennis Archambault, 12/2/2009
Ann Arbor is all about customer satisfaction. But not the way you think. It's the scientific method behind evaluating customer satisfaction that was developed here at the U-M. and spun off into successful companies. They are reminders of how university, state, and local efforts are working together to transform our region into a breeding ground for innovation and entrepreneurship.
MASTERMIND: Tony Lupo
By: Leia Menlove, 12/2/2009
In just a few short years, Tony Lupo, Director of Sales and Marketing for Salon Vox, has become the poster child for youth involvement in Ann Arbor's downtown business and social scenes. And he's gearing up to help the city better understand the needs and desires of young professional talent when planning for its future.
NIGHT & DAY: A Shadow Art Culture
By: Jeff Meyers, 12/2/2009
This week's FilterD is filled with secrets and shadows and... gasp!... puppets. Editor Jeff Meyers points you toward six cultural events worth checking out and chats with Shadow Art Fair co-founder Mark Maynard about Ypsilanti's fringe arts scene.
From Scratch: Mandy & Pandy
By: Michelle Martinez, 11/18/2009
A trip to the bookstore becomes a business which may turn into a cross cultural TV phenomenon. Chris Lin, author of Mandy And Pandy, has developed a series of Chinese language books for kids that might just give Dora a run for her dinero.
MASTERMIND: Chrisstina Hamilton
By: Constance Crump, 11/18/2009
The Penny W. Stamps lecture series brings 24 thought-provoking artists to the Michigan Theater each year to talk to Ann Arborites (and U-M students) about their work, ideas, and inspiration. And Chrisstina Hamilton is the program's director, tasked with choosing who will attend and how to keep it chugging along.
Happy Thanksgiving
By: Concentrate, 11/18/2009
"Gratitude is the sign of noble souls." Or so says Aesop's Fables. Concentrate will be taking next week off for Thanksgiving. We hope our readers enjoy this time with their families, friends, football, and good food. Not necessarily in that order. We'll be back December 2nd.
Double Lives: Josh Weston
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 11/11/2009
See that speck on the Lake Michigan horizon? Rolling across choppy waves, skateboard on one foot, surfboard on the other, Josh Weston does double time as a web designer for Ann Arbor's MS&L and as the founder of Einfach Skate. Concentrate chats with the man who's struck a balance between pavement and PC.
NIGHT & DAY: More Information Than You Require
By: Jeff Meyers, 11/11/2009
Another week, another FilterD: All the week's events distilled into six attention-worthy offerings. Editor Jeff Meyers reviews the cultural happenings worth happening upon, while following up on last week's musings about the state of creative real estate.
Here, There, Then Back Again
By: Leia Menlove, 11/4/2009
Born and schooled in Michigan, Greg Schwartz did what most ambitious U-M graduates do: He moved to New York City to find success. But then the digital biz director for Warner Music Group did something few Big Apple bigwigs would ever consider: He moved back to Michigan to run a start-up.
Know Y: Pure Washtenaw
By: Kate Rose, 11/4/2009
It all comes down to turn ons and turn offs. What makes the A2 region attractive to 20-somethings? Where do we fall short? Kate Rose grills her peers on which of our "Third Places" make the grade.
NIGHT AND DAY: Ann Arbor Ignites (but lacks space to innovative)
By: Jeff Meyers, 11/4/2009
This week is chock-a-block with cool and interesting events. Editor Jeff Meyers points you to the creme de la creme as well as the also-rans. Top o' the list? IGNITE... which leads to thoughts of Ann Arbor's lack of accessible creative space (and possible solutions).
Grafaktri: A2's Unseen Hand of Creativity
By: Jon Zemke, 10/28/2009
In WAP John we trust. From Zingerman's menus to U-M building names, the Grafaktri is Ann Arbor's best kept secret, a one-of-a-kind creative studio bursting at the seams with innovation.
MASTERMIND: Jake Suski
By: Constance Crump, 10/28/2009
Though it's always a challenge to get a political operative 'off message', Concentrate sits down with the 26-year-old communications director for Rick Snyder's gubernatorial campaign. A California transplant (he served as deputy CD for Arnold Schwarzenegger), Jake Suski offers his thoughts on living and working in Ann Arbor's downtown.
NIGHT AND DAY: A Virtual Halloween and Dracula Before He Was Cool
By: Jeff Meyers, 10/28/2009
It's that time of year again, where drunken adults play dress up and neighborhood kids beg for candy. Editor Jeff Meyers points you toward some groovy Halloween apps, Nosferatu - the original movie vampire, lesser known horror flicks and the mad love some A2 streets show for All Hallow's Eve.
Healing Arts
By: Constance Crump, 10/21/2009
With nearly 10K people a day encountering its paintings and sculptures U-M's hospitals might just be the biggest arts audience in the state. From patients to visitors to staff, its Gifts Of Art program provides music and culture to an amazingly diverse audience on a minuscule budget.
MASTERMIND: Sava Lelcaj
By: Constance Crump, 10/21/2009
After living in four different countries, 26-year-old Sava Lelcaj has decided to make Ann Arbor her home, taking over the former Zanzibar space and turning it into a mealtime destination for downtowners. Not only does this young 'restaurantpreneur' have energy to spare, she's smartly plugged into the university marketplace.
NIGHT AND DAY: Fringe Theater, Fringe Thoughts and Evil Dead
By: Jeff Meyers, 10/21/2009
What is the value of fringe arts? Editor Jeff Meyers discusses how seeding the ground for a new generation of arts and culture means providing more accessible creative third places. He also weighs in on this week's eclectic entertainment opportunities.
Love Ypsi? Let The World Know
By: Concentrate, 10/14/2009
The clock is counting down on the I Love Ypsi Video Contest. Local film auteurs who can translate their community crush into a two minute YouTube masterpiece stand to earn cash and prizes. Details inside!
The String's the Thing
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 10/14/2009
Ann Arbor has an international and rarefied reputation for violin making. Concentrate visits the studios of two local masters --David Burgess and Joseph Curtin-- for a look at the skills, technology and artistry that produces some of the most beautiful sounds in the world.
NIGHT AND DAY: Our Cultural Plan, Mike Doughty
By: Jeff Meyers, 10/14/2009
Yeah, the Wilco show is sold out, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to do in A2. Editor Jeff Meyers weighs in on efforts to bring the local arts community together, as well as his six picks for your entertainment consumption. Top of the heap: ex-Soul Coughing lead Mike Doughty, whose stop-start guitar and layered lyrics are a special kind of singer-songwriter poetry.
Know Y: A Place For Us?
By: Kate Rose, 10/7/2009
Kate Rose is part of a coveted demographic. An employee at Google and in her late 20s, she represents exactly what Ann Arbor needs more of. But is our community doing what it needs to keep her, and young talent like her, here? Concentrate went straight to the source for the answer. Each month Kate will chime in on what her generation is looking for when it comes to housing, cultural amenities, and work opportunities.
EVENT OF THE WEEK: David Cross
By: Jeff Meyers, 10/7/2009
It's one of those weeks... too many damn choices. Editor Jeff Meyers winnows the long list of boffo local events into six must-not-miss nights out. Who says you can't eat your cake and have it too? Click on the magic "more" button to read about the also-rans, as well as a brief reflection on Grand Rapid's ArtPrize.
A Strange Brew Of Beer And Community
By: Julianne Mattera, 9/30/2009
Michigan has the fifth highest number of microbreweries in the nation, and the Ann Arbor area is doing more than its fair share to keep those numbers up. From Ypsi to Dexter to Milan, locally brewed ales, lagers and stouts are not only becoming the beverage of choice, but also bringing community together in unexpected ways.
EVENT OF THE WEEK: MC Chris
By: Jeff Meyers, 9/30/2009
Tis the season for great concerts and performances. Along with the recent rain has come a steady down pour of A-list acts hitting the Ann Arbor area. Editor Jeff Meyers points you to six events worth scoping out while lamenting the shows that sold out too quickly. Et tu Carolina Chocolate Drops?
The Best Of B3 In A2
By: Constance Crump, 9/23/2009
It's restaurant week in Detroit, but that's no reason to ignore cuisine in The Deuce. Instead of putting the spotlight on the usual fine dining subjects, Concentrate has decided to visit Ann Arbor's strangely popular bi bim bop scene; sampling, snarfing, and scoring the very best.
MASTERMIND: Lou Glazer
By: Leia Menlove, 9/23/2009
Lou Glazer's think tank, Michigan Future Inc., has been sounding the bell for Michigan's economic transformation for more than a decade and a half. And a vital component of that transformation means keeping and attracting young professionals. Glazer sees some promising trends but has a candid view of what Ann Arbor needs to do to maximize success.
EVENT OF THE WEEK: Grizzly Bear
By: Jeff Meyers, 9/23/2009
Grrrrr, it's a bear market for entertainment at the Michigan Theater this week. The jewel in Ann Arbor's downtown crown hosts a bevy of bitchin' shows, including psychedelic neo-pop folksters Grizzly Bear. Heck, even Jay-Z likes 'em. Editor Jeff Meyers ponders the growing hipness of UMS, points you toward the YP Underground and gives you the good word on what's worth checking out.
How To Be An Ann Arborvore
By: Nicole Rupersburg, 9/16/2009
Want to go native but don't know how? Concentrate offers you an inside guide to eating and drinking local. It shrinks your carbon footprint, supports the local economy and tastes a heckuva lot better than produce from half way around the world. Come on, all the cool kids are going locavore.
EVENT OF THE WEEK: An Evening With Kevin Smith
By: Jeff Meyers, 9/16/2009
Jeff Meyers thinks Kevin Smith is one of those rare Hollywood types who's managed to dodge the self-important douche bullet. More importantly, he's a damn funny guy. It's why his Saturday night show at the Michigan Theater is one of the six events spotlighted in this week's FilterD, your guide to what's worth checking out.
Ann Arbor's Got Apps
By: Jon Zemke, 9/9/2009
Over a billion downloads served. iPhone apps are the new gold rush of software development, turning backroom start-ups into overnight successes. From companies to college courses, Ann Arbor is cashing in on the smart phone trend while preparing for its future.
EVENT OF THE WEEK: Hoots & Hellmouth
By: Jeff Meyers, 9/9/2009
It's a roots revival at the Ark this week as Phillie-based Hoots & Hellmouth bring their acoustic-gospel-psychedelic-rockin' songsmithin' to the stage. Brimming with passion, soul and energy, these guys put on a helluva fun show. And they're only one of six blink-and-you'll-miss-it events spotlighted in this week's filterD.
Density Talks: Ann Arbor Should Listen
By: Michelle Martinez, 9/2/2009
As the debate over density rages in Ann Arbor, perhaps the city should consider looking to other similar university communities that have navigated the political twists and turns of urban renewal and found success on the other side.
EVENT OF THE WEEK: Are You Manly Enough For Maddox?
By: Jeff Meyers, 9/2/2009
There are people with X and Y chromosomes, and then there are MEN. Maddox knows the difference. Want to know how you (or the man you love) measures up? Come see the master of masculinity read from his hilarious The Alphabet Of Manliness. Chuck Norris haters need not attend.
A Tale Of Two Cities
By: Terry Parris Jr., 8/26/2009
As Brooklyn is to Manhattan. Or Oakland is to San Francisco. Or just plain Ypsitucky. Over the years Ypsilanti has been endlessly compared to Ann Arbor. But now, with the elbow grease of its growing creative class, the former factory town is creating an identity all its own. Terry Parris looks at the community's emerging DIY arts identity and how it squares with Ann Arbor's more established institutions.
filterD Event Of The Week: Great Lakes Swimmers
By: Jeff Meyers, 8/26/2009
Toronto's Great Lakes Swimmers run the emotional spectrum from heartache to heartbreak. Drenched in reverb and boasting luminous melodies that evoke such artists as Nick Drake, Emmy Lou Harris, and Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), this new-to-you band is only one of six scintillating events we spotlight in this week's filterD, your local guide to what's worth checking out.
A Passage From India
By: Constance Crump, 8/19/2009
With a population of nearly 1.2 billion, India occupies a rather large corner of the world. And with its growing technological industries it was bound to discover Ann Arbor's deep well of innovation. But is our region making the kinds of international connections that are necessary to thrive in today's global economy?
MASTERMIND: Linda Meloche
By: Amy Whitesall, 8/19/2009
As corporate mass media severs its ties to local communities homegrown media steps in to fill the gap. Meet Linda Meloche, Chelsea's very own version of Barbara Walters. Four times a week she captures the more-interesting-than-you-might-think stories of town residents. And people are watching.
filterD Event Of The Week: Brendan Benson
By: Jeff Meyers, 8/19/2009
We only pick 6 events each week (after all, even the big guy in the sky took a day off) and Michigan-born, Raconteurs bandmate Brendan Benson is the tasty foam at the top of this week's cultural cappuccino. A master of sublime powerpop, he's celebrating the release of his first solo disc in 4 years with a free show at A2's Borders then a gig at The Blind Pig.
Downtown Ypsi: Old school, New Scene
By: Julianne Mattera, 8/12/2009
Why should Ann Arbor's downtown get all the attention? Cool things are afoot in neighboring Ypsilanti as artists, millennials, and young families move in. Could this be the beginnings of a downtown renaissance?
Cheap Ways To Revitalize Our Downtowns
By: Jon Zemke, 8/12/2009
From households to businesses to city government, everyone is in belt-tightening mode. But if there's one thing Concentrate believes, it's that necessity is the mother of invention. A few local communities have come up with innovative and inexpensive ways to revitalize their downtowns. Time to take notes!
A2D2: Evolution Or Status Quo?
By: Jon Zemke, 8/5/2009
Faced with a stagnant and aging population, some Ann Arborites are looking for ways to attract more residents to downtown. Historically, developers and urbanists have had to battle with fractious city interests and, now, a proposed cap on building heights. Concentrate looks at whether A2D2 (Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown), the latest initiative to reform downtown's zoning and architectural guidelines, will increase density and create a 24/7 downtown or keep A2 the same as it ever was.
FROM SCRATCH: ThinkStretch
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 8/5/2009
Summer break is a plus for students' bodies but a minus for their minds, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. Enter Donna Lasinski, an Ann Arbor entrepreneur and the brains behind ThinkStretch, a summer learning program for public and private elementary school students.
The Original "Third Place" - Diners
By: Leia Menlove, 7/29/2009
New urbanists like to wax poetic about the importance of coffee houses and cafes as society's "third place," a urban destination for social interaction. Once upon a time these places were called diners. Concentrate takes you on a whirlwind tour of A2's and Ypsi's homiest.
RADIO CONCENTRATE: The Energy Gospel According To T. Boone Pickens
By: Chris McCarus, 7/29/2009
July 8 was Energy Independence Day….according to Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens. That's when he began his campaign to wean Americans from foreign oil. He came to Ann Arbor to promote it in October and returned to Michigan again recently. More from Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus
Reinventing The Farm Stand
By: Julianne Mattera, 7/22/2009
From street side fruit seller to upscale food market, The Produce Station has become a local favorite for Ann Arbor foodies and gardeners. With a focus on Michigan grown produce and products, owners Craig Schmidt and Rick Peshkin have turned the concept of the neighborhood farm stand on its head.
Young Guns On Board
By: Constance Crump, 7/22/2009
Traditionally, non-profit boards were the domain of the... um... more mature. But organizations are discovering the advantages of attracting young professionals into leadership positions. Not only do they bring new ideas and energy, they also ensure the next generation of investment and support.
Startups That Stay
By: Terry Parris Jr., 7/15/2009
In Ann Arbor a buyout doesn't always mean a sellout. Though innovative startups like Fry, Healthmedia, and T/J Technologies have been snapped up by larger out-of-state companies, they have decided to stay in the city that birthed them.
A Place Geeks Can Call Home
By: Constance Crump, 7/1/2009
Sometimes you need more than just a SPARK. If Ann Arbor wants to compete on the national tech stage it needs to do a better job of developing its geek culture. Enter Tech Brewery and the Workantile Exchange, a pair of private, entrepreneurial hothouses. These two co-working spaces are at the center of a growing geek movement that believes that united, techies stand, divided, they fall.
MASTERMIND: Aubrey Martinson
By: Amy Whitesall, 7/1/2009
When political leaders talk about getting Millennials to invest in Michigan's future, they're talking about people like Aubrey Martinson. The 30-year-old executive director of the Chelsea Center for the Arts not only brings fresh ideas and perspective to her job, she's proof positive that keeping our young creative talent is not only good for the community, it's good for the bottom line.
Concentrate Takes A Holiday
By: Jeff Meyers, 7/1/2009
In celebration of the Fourth, the Concentrate staff will be indulging in some hard-earned R and R. But fear not, we'll be back July 15th with more tales of growth, innovation, sustainability & entrepreneurship from the front lines of Ann Arbor's new economy.
Local Brain Gain
By: Jon Zemke, 6/24/2009
They're two 30-something creatives who moved from North Carolina's storied Research Triangle and set up shop in... Ypsilanti. Thought we were going to say Ann Arbor, didn't you? Not only do these young professionals (and parents) love their new home, they've embraced Metro Detroit in a way few in Washtenaw County ever bother to try.
MASTERMIND: Peter Sickman-Garner
By: Kimberly Chou, 6/17/2009
"Connecting the dots" for Zingerman's community of businesses by day, depicting the earthly adventures of Satan and Jesus by night, marketing manager and comic book artist Pete Sickman-Garner could be the new Wallace Stevens — only funnier.
It's Not Summer Until Top Of The Park Says So
By: Dave Lewinski & Jeff Meyers, 6/17/2009
From the top of a parking garage to the oh-so comfy confines of Ingall's Mall, for 26 years Top Of The Park has been the official signal that summer has finally come to Ann Arbor. Concentrate's Dave Lewinski captures the run up and opening night of this unique and beloved townie institution.
Virtual Health, Real Success
By: Leia Menlove, 6/10/2009
Michigan could take a lesson from Healthmedia. From it's early struggles to find local investment to its recent purchase by Johnson & Johnson, the innovative software-as-service company has stayed committed to remaining in Ann Arbor.
MASTERMIND: Brian Spence
By: Jennifer Eberbach, 6/10/2009
Inventing a successful game isn't, well, all fun and games. It takes creativity, persistence and luck. Former Ann Arbor school teacher Brian Spence has those attributes in spades,allowing him to take his passion for invention into the product lines of toy companies like Hasbro and Mattel.
A River Wild Or Tamed?
By: Jon Zemke, 6/3/2009
The Huron River is Ann Arbor's defining natural feature. From kayakers to fishermen to rowers, its waters have become a vital blue park. And like most parks, the balance between recreational use and environmental health has become a tricky one. This is the debate facing Argo Pond and the decaying dam that created it.
Learning From Ann Arbor's Big Sister
By: Kimberly Chou, 5/27/2009
Authentic German pretzels—and some ideas on high-density land use and sustainability to boot. Forget the symbolic cultural exchanges, there's much more Ann Arbor can learn from her sister city, Tübingen.
MASTERMIND: Bill Harmer
By: Amy Whitesall, 5/20/2009
Bill Harmer sees Chelsea's Library as something more than just a warehouse for books. He sees it as a rock venue and comedy club and career center. More importantly, he sees it as an opportunity to connect with his community in new and innovative ways. No wonder Chelsea was named home to the Best Small Library in America.
Dude, Where's Our Skate Park?
By: Julianne Mattera, 5/20/2009
Innovative cities across the country are rethinking their public spaces, adding off-leash dog runs and skate parks to the traditional mix of softball diamonds and tennis courts. An enthusiastic and eclectic group of local skate park supporters are pushing Ann Arbor to join the trend.
MASTERMIND: Myra Klarman
By: Leia Menlove, 5/13/2009
If Ann Arbor has a community photographer it's Myra Klarman. Not because she takes wonderfully vibrant snaps of kids and families (she does). Or because she's the official photographer for A2's Summer Festival. It's because she seems hellbent on capturing the spunk and soul of the city in projects like her blog, Relish.
The De-Evolution Of Local Development
By: Jon Zemke, 5/12/2009
Ann Arbor touts itself as sustainable, progressive and anti-sprawl. And yet almost every proposed development meets heated opposition. The end result: Buildings that aren't as dense or green as they could be. Are uncooperative developers to blame? Or stuck in amber NIMBY neighborhoods? Can these warring factions make peace?
Art Funding Takes It On The Chin: What's The Impact?
By: Constance Crump, 5/6/2009
The arts are getting pretty roughed up in the current economy. How do local arts and culture groups survive in a state that cuts all its funding? And, more importantly, what are the implications for our region as it struggles to attract and retain new economy workers?
Concentrate On Culture, Place And Jobs
By: Jeff Meyers, 4/29/2009
Jobs Landed. filterD. Insider guides. What's with all the new features in Concentrate? And, come to think of it, what the heck is Concentrate trying to accomplish? Wonder why we do what we do? Write what we write? To paraphrase our favorite poet and playwright, "Read on, MacDuff."
The World Comes To Packard And Platt
By: Julianne Mattera, 4/29/2009
Slow down and smell the curry. Or falafel. Nestled at the corner of Packard and Platt, a well-worn strip mall is home to a surprising mix of ethnic bakeries, grocers and restaurants.
MASTERMIND: Al McWilliams
By: Daniel Johnson, 4/22/2009
Forget Nike, Al McWilliams is really the 'Just Do It' guy. From pro cyclist to all media mini emporer, the founder of Quack! Media has gotten his fingers into every nook and cranny of media content. Music, magazines, movies and marketing are his company's domains and he has no shortage of ideas and opinions about how to make them grow.
Photo Essay: New Biz In A Bad Economy
By: Dave Lewinski and Jeff Meyers, 4/22/2009
In case you hadn't noticed, it's bad out there. And yet, there are always those bold souls who pull on their waders and get down into it. Concentrate's resident View Master, Dave Lewinski, takes snaps of six businesses who've opened in the last six months and found success.
RADIO CONCENTRATE: U-M Graduates Michigan's Next Generation Of Green Leadership
By: Chris McCarus, 4/22/2009
A few days from now, U-M student Leslie Garrison will buck at least two trends: She’ll remain in Michigan after graduation (though she's not a native). And she’ll take part in a growing local industry. Garrison thinks the state has what it takes to lead the nation in sustainable innovation. Right down to the first composting toilet.
Cool Spaces: Loft Living in Downtown Ann Arbor
By: Leia Menlove, 4/15/2009
How to attract and keep young talent? That is the question. Concentrate asked three young professionals who live in the city's hottest living commodity -- the symbol of all that is youthful, urbane and hip-- the downtown loft -- what they think of their digs, their town, and how Ann Arbor can attract and retain more young people just like them.
Tuning in to Greenovation.TV
By: Kelli B Kavanaugh, 4/15/2009
Need practical advice on how to green your home? An Ann Arbor couple has launched an Internet TV channel dedicated to helping you to GIY -- green it yourself.
MASTERMIND: Todd Osborn
By: Jennifer Eberbach, 4/8/2009
Who would trade New York or London for Ypsilanti? DJ and music producer Todd Osborn would. From owning a local record store once upon a time to filling the virtual vinyl bins of Ghostly International's ever-growing music scene, Osborn has carved out a successful career from his native soil. Oh, and he once built a hovercraft.
What's Next for The Ann Arbor News Building?
By: Jon Zemke, 4/8/2009
For nearly 75 years the A2 News Building has been an iconic cornerstone on the downtown's northern edge. But it's a section of the city that has struggled to achieve vibrancy. Could the demise of the publication and sale of the building mean the kind of redevelopment that promotes business and walkability?
MASTERMIND: Eve Aronoff
By: Amy Whitesall, 4/1/2009
When it comes to Ann Arbor restaurants there's eve and then there's everyone else. Since opening in 2003, Eve Aronoff's initmate bistro has emerged as an ambassador to the city's hipster/ foodie scene. From her curried mussels to Thursday night's popular cocktail scene to the sublime ginger-lime martinis, Eve has help redefine the local culinary landscape.
Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These
By: Megan Pennefather, 4/1/2009
Noise rock. Experimental theater. Puppets. Dreamland Theater is the very defintion of fringe, cementing Ypsilanti's growing reputation as the city where starving artists don't have to go hungry in order to make their art.
Home But Not Alone
By: Amy Kuras, 3/25/2009
Cohousing - It's not just for hippies anymore. Sure, suburban condo complexes are the last place you'd expect a cooperative living community, but Scio Township (of all places) actually boasts three. And they focus on the virtues we've been taught since kindergarten: participation and sharing.
Ann Arbor's Tweet
By: Terry Parris Jr., 3/18/2009
Are you a follower or do you have a following? Who's tweeting who? Social Media is this year's buzz word and Twitter is its newest doo-dad. Our story would end here (if we stuck to the 140 character limit) but Twitter has only just begun in the Ann Arbor area.
MASTERMIND: Eli Cooper
By: Leia Menlove, 3/11/2009
Google "Eli Cooper" and you're bound to get lots of transportation references. Then there's the inevitable and unofficial moniker: "Czar". As Tree Town's Transportation Program Manager, however, Cooper's title and catchy sobriquet do little to explain his passionate mission to help Ann Arbor rethink the meaning of transportation.
Downtown and Underground
By: Jon Zemke, 3/11/2009
Parking in SE Michigan usually means surface lots, driveways and the occasional garage. Ann Arbor's leaders are turning local conventional wisdom on its head, choosing to store cars underground and out of sight as a way to grow development, commerce and urban vibrancy.
Toyland 2.0
By: Julianne Mattera, 3/4/2009
Hans and Tricia Masing take their toys seriously. But that wasn't always the case. Once upon a time they made their living in engineering and IT. Then their son took an interest in Thomas the Tank Engine and everything changed. Combining tech savvy with a love for toys, the couple has built a small Internet empire that still understands the value of community connection.
MASTERMIND: Bee Mayhew
By: Amy Whitesall, 3/4/2009
Bee Mayhew is out for world domination. But she's happy to start with some really great soup. In less than six months the 31 year-old owner of Beezy's Cafe in Ypsilanti has become an indelible downtown fixture, attracting fans at a breakneck pace and establishing the benchmark for how to build a locally-owned business.
WCC Is Cookin'
By: Leia Menlove, 2/25/2009
Food, glorious, food. What more could we ask for? Washtenaw Community College is cashing in on the culinary craze, attracting more and more students to its Culinary And Hospitality Management Program. While their grads might not be destined for Iron Chef, there's a good chance they are destined for a job. Plus they get to eat their homework. How cool is that?
Ann Arbor's Yoga Pose
By: Amy Whitesall, 2/18/2009
No posers, please. Ann Arbor holds tight to its illustrious yoga history, but it's no longer a one-guru town. Vinyasa. Iyengar. Russa Yog. With nearly 16 million Americans now practicing some form of yoga, The Deuce is riding high on the wave, offering over 40 studios to choose from.
MASTERMIND: Carrie Hensel
By: Kimberly Chou, 2/18/2009
From chemist to web developer to co-founder of a growing business organization, Carrie Hensel clearly prefers the road less traveled. And the Women's Exchange Of Washtenaw reflects her unconventional approach, creating a unique series of events that encourages professional women to collaborate with and empower one another.
Ann Arbor's Retail Incubator
By: Jon Zemke, 2/11/2009
From small things, big things one day come. That's the philosophy of tech incubators like SPARK. But with all the attention Ann Arbor gives to start-ups, one has to ask: Where's the love for small downtown retailers? Some entrepreneurs are finding it at East Liberty Plaza.
Middle Managers Learn To Shift Gears
By: Constance Crump, 2/11/2009
Sometimes size does matter. Working for a large company like Visteon can be very different than taking a position at a start-up. As Ann Arbor's new economy seeds the ground with small tech firms, transitioning employees must adapt to changing job expectations.
Border2Border
By: Terry Parris Jr., 2/4/2009
Imagine commuting by bike between Ypsi and Ann Arbor, along an idyllic trail, no motor vehicles in sight. How about Dexter? Or beyond? The Border To Border Trail is nearly that route. Almost 60% complete, this ambitious multi-use thoroughfare could offer more than just a nice ride along the river, it could become an alternative mode of transportation.
MASTERMIND: Britten Stringwell
By: Jeff Meyers, 2/4/2009
Britten Stringwell sees a real hunger for artistic connection in Ann Arbor. The 25 year-old fashion designer and artist has immersed herself in the creative cultures of some of America's most progressive cities, and brought back ideas about how to build a creative community here. The result? The Yellow Barn. Never heard of it? Read on...
Radio Concentrate: Mass Transit Now
By: Chris McCarus, 1/28/2009
Interest in transit for Southeast Michigan is gaining ground but no ground has been broken. Even with plans for easy on and off trains from Ann Arbor to Detroit and Detroit to Pontiac no one seems to be able to close the deal. Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus compares Michigan's lack of action with Boston's investment in rail and its $16 billion big dig.
DIY Hollywood
By: Kimberly Chou, 1/21/2009
"My Dad has a barn" has become "My brother has an HD video camera." Do-it-yourself filmmakers and producers are offering Ann Arbor area locavores something other than regional produce to consume. How about homegrown home entertainment?
MASTERMIND: George Hammond
By: Amy Whitesall, 1/21/2009
Ann Arbor is known for its natural spaces, but few locals realize just how important the critters that live in those spaces are. Enter George Hammond - biolgist, educator and uber-volunteer. George not only keeps tabs on Tree Town's fabulous fauna, he's out to spread the word that you don't have to go to the Galapagos to experience the wonders of the natural world.
Real Kidz In Ypsilanti
By: Amy Whitesall, 1/14/2009
Kids come in all shapes and sizes. Kids clothes? Not so much. Ypsilanti's Merrill Guerra started RealKidz Clothing Company to put cool clothes on every body. And, no pun intended, her company has really taken off.
Tech Transfer: Reinventing Ann Arbor's Economy
By: Jon Zemke, 1/14/2009
Tech Transfer is the university buzzword these days. Concentrate sits down with Stephen Forrest, Vice President for Research at U-M, to candidly discuss how the commercial exploitation of academic discoveries can transform Michigan's economy and create an environment for innovation and investment.
MASTERMIND: T.R. Durham
By: Constance Crump, 1/14/2009
Who says you can't get great seafood in the Midwest? T.R. Durham's Tracklements and Smokery has earned an international reputation for its delectable smoked fish. How much of a reputation? In 2007 his shop sold seven tons of cold-smoked salmon.
MASTERMINDS: Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell
By: Amy Whitesall, 1/7/2009
The Blue Tractor. Café Habana. Grizzly Peak. Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell have become defacto planners of Ann Arbor's downtown. Friends since childhood, the two are building a local food and drink empire by turning historic spaces into must-visit destinations.
Ann Arbor, Music Town
By: Amy Whitesall, 1/7/2009
The Information Age mantra has been that you can work from anywhere. Talent agency Fleming Artists is proof positive that even Ann Arbor can compete with the likes of L.A. and New York to attract A-list clients. Representing everyone from Ani DiFranco and folkie Tom Paxton to Jeff Daniels and pop dance rockers My Dear Disco, Fleming has been looking after world-class musicians for almost 30 years.
Konichiwa, Ann Arbor
By: Kimberly Chou, 12/17/2008
Ann Arbor as an international center? You betcha. With it's growing global appeal, and proximity to the country's automotive hub, The Deuce has to keep up with its foreign-born citizens and visitors. Case in point: The growing Japanese community and the rising influence of Japanese-owned businesses.
Concentrate Takes A Holiday!
By: Concentrate Staff, 12/17/2008
As we ring out the New Year, Concentrate offers a few audio stocking stuffers to you, our faithful readers ...before crawling under the covers for a two week rest. But fear not, we'll be back January 7th with more tales of creative innovation and new economy developments.
MASTERMIND: Richard Murphy
By: Amy Whitesall, 12/15/2008
For Richard Murphy, the virtual lead to the actual, as his passion for planning turned blog posts into a local government post. A member of Ypsilanti's planning department, this 28 year-old U-M grad thinks his new hometown has the potential to become the ideal urban community.
The New News
By: Amy Whitesall, 12/10/2008
The first shot has been fired, across the paper-and-ink bow of local daily newspapers! The web-based Ypsilanti Citizen and Ann Arbor Chronicle offer on-the-spot local news that's as fresh as ten minutes ago. Are they just spunky online upstarts or the shape of things to come?
MASTERMIND: Ken Fischer
By: Constance Crump, 12/3/2008
From self-proclaimed dilettante to transformational director, over the last 20 years Ken Fischer has cemented the University Musical Society's reputation as a world class arts organization. Collaborating with everyone from Martha Graham to the Royal Shakespeare Company, UMS has introduced Ann Arbor to performing artists from every corner of the globe.
Entrepreneur's Boot Camp
By: Jon Zemke, 12/3/2008
You've got a world-changing idea. And gobs of passion. Great! So, how do you attract investment? From concept to company Ann Arbor SPARK's boot camp is school for start-ups. Concentrate's Jon Zemke follows a pair of entrepreneurs as they learn to hone their pitch, strategize their growth and listen to those who have been there and done that.
Winter Shadow Art Fair
By: Metromode Staff, 12/3/2008
'Tis the season to support local artists and designers! Once again the Shadow Art Fair makes a 12-hour appearance at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti then fades into the wintery night air. Drink beer, listen to music and buy locally made tchotchkes.
Where The Deals Are Done
By: Constance Crump, 11/19/2008
Gone are the days of smoke-filled backroom deals over jumbo-sized brandy snifters. Ann Arbor's investors and entrepreneurs tend to do business over a downtown omelette and espresso or microbrew and appetizer.
Happy Thanksgiving!
By: Concentrate Staff, 11/19/2008
"Gratitude is the sign of noble souls." Or so says Aesop's Fables. Concentrate will be taking next week off for Thanksgiving. We hope our readers enjoy this time with their families, friends, football, and good food. Not necessarily in that order.
Photo Essay: Nickels Arcade
By: David Lewinski, 11/12/2008
It's a small slice of European urbanity in downtown Ann Arbor. Historic Nickels Arcade is the one-of-a-kind home to more than a dozen local businesses, some of which have been around for nearly a century. Concentrate introduces you to the people who work beneath its glass-top ceiling every day.
MASTERMIND: Jeanine DeLay
By: Kimberly Chou, 11/5/2008
In this heated political season, discussions of personal ethics have been used to both praise and damn candidates. For Jeanine DeLay ethics are an every day conversation. Founder of A2ethics.org and a long time teacher and advocate, DeLay is hoping to inspire greater ethical consideration in Ann Arbor's young professionals.
Downtown Gets Fit
By: Leia Menlove, 11/5/2008
Smaller spaces, fewer people, more personalized attention and a soft-core urban setting. Downtown Ann Arbor is nurturing a growing number of small, specialized wellness studios that help define the city's developing core.
Chicks With Sticks
By: Amy Whitesall, 10/29/2008
At hockey rinks around Ann Arbor, "You shoot like my mom," is not necessarily an insult. Scores of local women are tossing their figure skates aside, shredding ice and aiming to put their own 'bisquit in the basket.' Alaska's got nothing on Washtenaw County when it comes to hockey moms.
MASTERMIND: Amanda Edmonds
By: Amy Whitesall, 10/22/2008
Dr. Seuss wrote: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." Amanda Edmonds cares. An environmentalist of a different stripe she turned her idea for community farms into Growing Hope, an organization with 500 volunteers and, now, a permanent home in Ypsilanti.
The Life Sciences Orchestra
By: Kim North Shine, 10/22/2008
"Paging Dr. Clarinet... " For the last eight years U-M's life sciences orchestra has been bringing together eighty or so of the university's most talented doctors, dentists, researchers, technicians
and students to make beautiful music. And it doesn't matter how many letters they've got after their name. They have to audition like everyone else.
Bite-Sized Luxury
By: Constance Crump, 10/15/2008
Okay, so maybe you have to put off plans to buy a new car or upgrade your futon to a leather couch. Luxury can still be had... in bite-sized morsels. Sweet Gem Confections is yet another example of Ann Arbor's ever-expanding foodie culture, offering artisan chocolates that won't stop the banks from failing but just might make the moment they do a little bit sweeter.
MASTERMIND: Jeff Kass
By: Shannon McCarthy, 10/8/2008
In this world of text messaging, cell phones and email, the population of wordsmiths grows ever smaller. Thank goodness for Jeff Kass. A Pioneer High School teacher, poet and writer, Kass has been using performance poetry to attract Ann Arbor teens to the power of self expression through writing.
Design Sense, Local Logic
By: Kim North Shine , 10/8/2008
Build it and they will come. Proving that the Internet makes all things global, 32-year old entrepreneur Shana Victor has turned her passion for the funky and frivolous into a million dollar local business with a decidedly personal touch.
Radio Concentrate: Ann Arbor Transit
By: Chris McCarus, 10/8/2008
The City of Ann Arbor is trying to lead the state into mass transit. Officials held an open house recently to tell the public where they plan to go and by when. Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus has the story in Concentrate's latest podcast.
MASTERMIND: Dr. Peter Ubel
By: Jeff Meyers, 10/1/2008
Through his research, author and U-M physician Peter Ubel has discovered that people have the uncanny ability to mispredict what will make them happy. So, what does that mean when we make decisions about healthcare or the economy? As director of the Center for Behavioral and Decision Sciences in Medicine, Ubel wrestles with questions like these every day.
Radio Concentrate: Making Electricity Underwater
By: Chris McCarus, 10/1/2008
In the race to produce cheaper renewable energy, one U-M professor is looking to harness electricity from the Detroit River using experimental cylinders. Chris McCarus has the story on Radio Concentrate's new podcast.
PORT's Street Soccer: The Ultimate Assist
By: Constance Crump, 10/1/2008
Using a part of the body the game typically shuns, PORT's Street Soccer team lends a hand to those who need it most, providing the homeless with a chance to engage as players, teammates and equals.
CTN: You're What's On
By: Leia Menlove, 9/24/2008
Break out the
coral, it's CTN's 35th anniversary! One of the first five public cable access stations in the U.S., CTN is far more than a haven for conspiracy theorists and amateur videomakers. It is a revolutionary example of civic engagement, offering unprecedented access to local government , along with educational and community programming.
Sugary Serials And Other Acts Of Derring-Do
By: Ryan Allen, 9/17/2008
Holy Guacamole! Could Ann Arbor become a small town Metropolis for comic book artists and writers? Jerzy Drozd and Mark Rudolph think so. With three publishing imprints between them, this dynamic duo is carving out their own universe of characters and adventures while educating the next generation of local Stan Lee's.
MASTERMIND: James Steward
By: Amy Whitesall, 9/10/2008
Art may be timeless but getting young professionals to slow down and appreciate its virtues is harder than you might think. Enter James Steward. Not only has the University of Michigan Museum of Art's savvier than savvy director brought in a new generation of patrons, he's reimagined the role of the museum in terms of Ann Arbor's civic, cultural and intellectual identity.
Photo Essay: Pedal Powered Commuters
By: Dave Lewinski, 9/10/2008
As gas hovers around four bucks a gallon, more and more fuel pump refugees are hitting the bike lanes for their daily commute. From recent converts to four season diehards, Concentrate's photo editor, Dave Lewinski, captures some of these local road warriors in all their two wheeled glory.
Tech Transfer: Banking On SE Michigan's Universities
By: Scott P. Dunham, 9/10/2008
Look at the numerous start ups in Ann Arbor and chances are a good number came out of U-M's Department Of Technology Transfer. But not every one understands what tech transfer is and what it could mean to Michigan's new economy. Concentrate gives you a snapshot of how three SE Michigan schools intend to leverage their innovations into marketplace successes.
Smart Food, Local Food
By: Terry Parris Jr., 9/3/2008
Summer break used to mean children returning to the fields to help their families with planting and harvesting. It's ironic, then, as the new school year begins, that almost none of our locally produced food will end up on local lunch trays. Except in Chelsea, that is, where the Farm To Schools Program is building a healthier student body ...and local economy.
MASTERMIND: Russ Collins
By: Constance Crump, 8/27/2008
Is there any building in downtown Ann Arbor as iconic as the historic Michigan Theater? The landmark venue has cultivated a national reputation, enthusiastic support from locals, and a dedicated community of cineastes. But it wasn't always so. In fact, 30 years ago it was on the brink of demolition. CEO Russ Collins was part of its rebirth. Concentrate introduces you to the man behind the curtain.
The Next Generation Of Development
By: Constance Crump, 8/27/2008
There's no two ways around it: real estate developers shape the physical character of our community. Always have, always will. So, with three of the Ann Arbor area's preeminent developers getting ready to pass the torch to their sons, Concentrate tries to get a sense of what this next generation has in mind for our community.
A New Way To Work
By: Ryan Allen, 8/20/2008
Tearing down the cubicle walls, four Ann Arbor tech companies are trading the generic, mundane work environment for something different and, hopefully, more inspiring.
MASTERMIND: Todd Sullivan
By: Amy Whitesall, 8/13/2008
If there's a gene for entrepreneurship, Todd Sullivan has it. He sold his first company before reaching grad school, holds multiple patents and is currently the president and CEO of two successful start ups, Spirit Shop and MyGarb. And this Ann Arborite hasn't even hit 40 yet.
The Map To Everything
By: Leia Menlove, 8/13/2008
Who we are. Where we've been. Where we're going. Ann Arbor-based ISciences has created software that can visualize global data in staggering sci-fi ways. And they give it away for free.
World Conquest In Scio Township
By: Terry Parris, Jr, 8/6/2008
Toss a rock into the air in Washtenaw County and it's not hard to hit someone involved with computer software development. But how many of them have plotted the overthrow of Prussia, Austria, and Turkey? Eric Babe and his team of game developers are the brains and brawn behind West-Civ, a strategy-based computer war game company. Once more into the breach!
Greenovation
By: Amy Whitesall, 7/30/2008
Whether it's cash or conscience, more and more people are going green when it comes to their homes. Meet the Grocoffs and the Chockleys, two local families that reconsidered the inconvenient truth of personal energy consumption and did something about it. Something really big.
MASTERMIND: Josie Parker
By: Amy Whitesall, 7/23/2008
We're told as children that books have the ability to transport you to worlds beyond your imagination. Josie Parker has taken that lesson to heart and transformed Ann Arbor's library system into a experience that challenges musty notions of brooding book stacks and "shushing" librarians.
Banking On The Future
By: Leia Menlove, 7/23/2008
New economy start-ups need banks that offer new economy know-how. Enter Bank of Ann Arbor's Technology Industry Group, the only program of its kind in Michigan. Modeled after the ground-breaking Silicon Valley Bank, it supports local emerging technologies and entrepreneurs in ways corporate banking giants can't.
Ann Arbor's On The List
By: Constance Crump, 7/23/2008
We're one of the brainiest, greenest and most walkable cities in the country. Not to mention a great place for sandwiches, bicycling and getting pregnant. Too bad we're one of the worst places to find a job. Best of, Worst of, what does it all mean? Concentrate wades through the lists and tries to figure out what we're all about.
MASTERMIND: Matt Morgan & Tommy York
By: Amy Whitesall, 7/16/2008
Food glorious food! And wine. And, oh, man, the cheeses. Okay, everything at Morgan & York is worth singing about. Even their candy crammed alcove. Tommy and Matt are the masterminds behind transforming the Big Ten Party Store (some food, lotsa beer and wine) to an epicurean wonderland for local foodies.
The Golden Touch
By: Terry Parris Jr., 7/16/2008
The story goes: If you work hard, offer a topnotch service and keep your wits about you, you'll be a success. Well, it took Sean Duval almost a decade but the strategy paid off. The self-made entreprenuer and his wife went from McDonald's to CEO of the fastest growing limousine company in the state.
The Shadow Art Fair
By: Tom Hendrickson, 7/16/2008
They're back! In answer to the flash and splash of Ann Arbor's Art Fair, the crafty crafters of Ypsilanti's Shadow Art Fair once again move into Depot Town's Corner Brewery to offer the ultimate in handmade brews, music and, of course, local art. Be there or be oh-so square!
Michigan's Blue Bubble
By: Andy Guy, 7/9/2008
Clean fresh water and, more specifically, the Great Lakes, is Michigan's most important and strategic natural resource. Will we ever start acting like it?
MASTERMIND: Curtis Sullivan
By: Jeff Meyers, 7/9/2008
From superheroes to world conquest, Curtis Sullivan has learned from his favorite pastimes to boldly blaze his own path. The Vault Of Midnight owner is the quintessential example of self-made success, building both a trendsetting business and vibrant sub-culture in Ann Arbor's evolving downtown.
The Economic Upside Of Historic Preservation
By: Jon Zemke, 7/9/2008
Everything old is new again. And profitable. Historic preservation is more than just a longing for the old ways. It can be an economic driver for communities that know how to leverage what they've got with where they're going.
Happy Fourth Of July
By: Concentrate, 6/26/2008
The editorial staff of Concentrate would like to wish you a happy and safe fourth of July. We'll be spending the week barbecuing, catching up on the gossip magazines and sampling Michigan's finest microbrews. Some time in a hammock may also be involved. We'll see you again on July 9th with a brand spanking new issue!
MASTERMINDS: Andy & Tim Patalan
By: Chris Handyside, 6/25/2008
After 20 years and two million record sales, it's safe to say that Saline's Loft Studios is an unqualified success. Meet Tim and Andy Patalan, gold record engineers who turned their family's 150 year old barn into the recording home for some of Metro Detroit's best-selling rock bands.
Mountain Biking Washtenaw
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 6/25/2008
Mountains? We don't need no stinkin' mountains! Catch the local mountain biker beat as we tread tire and shoot the chutes of Washtenaw County's bluffs and buttes.
Tall Vs. Wide
By: Jon Zemke, 6/18/2008
To build up or spread out? That is the question. With plans for a 26-story high rise near U-M's campus, some locals are protesting that Ann Arbor is no place for big buildings. Supporters, however, point out that it's a text book case of smart growth: increase the density of the core while restoring the student ghettos to family friendly neighborhoods. Concentrate looks at both sides of the argument.
MASTERMIND: Rob Reinhart
By: Shannon McCarthy, 6/11/2008
For a man who's sunk his roots as deeply into Ann Arbor as Rob Reinhart has it makes sense that he's built a career spotlighting roots music. For 13 years (that's 700 shows, folks), Reinhart has locally broadcast his nationally syndicated radio show, Acoustic Cafe, bringing a veritable pantheon of unplugged musical acts to the Deuce.
When Did Ann Arbor's Library Get So Cool?
By: Leia Menlove, 6/11/2008
It ain't your grandpappy's library anymore. The Ann Arbor District Library does more than sling books. It's evolved into a vibrant , tech-savvy resource renown for its innovative approach to community outreach and involvement. Whether it's tweenage gamers, literary elites, film buffs, music fans or hobbyists, AADL's ever-expanding repertoire of services, events and resources attracts fans from every generation.
The Next Evolution In Power: Adaptive Materials
By: Lucy Ament, 6/4/2008
As America's "Arsenal For Democracy" goes high-tech could Ann Arbor become its main innovator? The husband-wife team behind Adaptive Materials thinks so. Developers of long-lasting portable battery cells, this local alternative energy company not only supplies power to soldiers in the field but is also looking to expand their inherently 'green' technology into medical, transportation and consumer markets.
MASTERMIND: Bhushan Kulkarni
By: Amy Whitesall, 5/28/2008
It's been a twenty year summer for Bhushan Kulkarni, who washed up in Ann Arbor in 1988 for a short stay and never left. President and CEO of GDI Infotech, he is a textbook example of the entrepreneurial dream, building successful businesses from the ground up while remaining an enthusiastic booster of his adopted hometown.
New Product Works
By: Amy Whitesall, 5/28/2008
Shampoo with "A Touch of Yogurt"? Arbor Strategy Group's unique collection of 110, 000 consumer products allows their clients to view past successes (and notable flops) in their quest to get innovative.
Ready, Set, Print
By: Shannon McCarthy, 5/21/2008
Jokingly referred to as the 'Michigan Mafia', book printers like Edward Brothers, McNaughton And Gunn, and a veritable bookshelf of other binding, printing and publishing companies bring millions of dollars and well over a thousand jobs to Washtenaw County. Whether it's Harry Potter, college text books, or U-M's partnership with Google's book digitization project, it's clear that the last chapter in our publishing history has yet to be written.
Internet Deuce
By: Terry Parris Jr., 5/14/2008
The future is here! Or, at least, it's being developed here in Ann Arbor. Internet2 will revolutionize the information age, allowing the seamless delivery of information across the globe. Its implications are vast and wide, transforming everything from astronomy to media to medicine. Think the world's small now? It's about to get a whole lot smaller.
Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
By: Jeff Meyers, 5/14/2008
Once upon a time, our auto industry was founded on the visions of its leaders and the risks investors took supporting them. Venture capital is the fuel that drives the engine of innovation. So, where do promising new local companies go to raise funds? For 27 years the
Michigan Growth Capital Symposium has helped provide an answer. The annual two-day event starts today in Ypsilanti. Could it provide the missing link in Michigan's economic evolution?
Down On The Farm With Zingerman's
By: Terry Parris Jr., 5/7/2008
First it was bread. Then butter and cheese. Now it's veggies. Zingerman's lives up to the saying: "If you want to do something right, do it yourself." Case in point: The six acres (expected to grow to 100) at Cornman Farms, where 'authentic' produce is grown to fill the dinner plates at Zingerman's Roadhouse. Come and get it!
MASTERMIND: Wendy Batiste-Johnson
By: Amy Whitesall, 5/7/2008
It's one thing to improve the look of your customers. It's quite another to improve the look of your neighborhood. And yet, that's just what Wendy Batiste-Johnson has done with her downtown Ann Arbor boutique. While street after street fills up with chain-store restaurants and retail, Possh proves that locally owned businesses can not only compete but become community tastemakers.
A3C: Greener Than Thou
By: Jon Zemke, 4/30/2008
Green construction may be all the rage but the truth is very few buildings actually achieve a smaller carbon footprint. And then there's the Ann Arbor Architects Collaborative (A3C). Retrofitting an 80+ year old storefront in downtown, the 25 year-old firm has spared no detail in its quest to create a model for urban sustainability.
MASTERMIND: Linda Girard
By: Amy Whitesall, 4/23/2008
Whether it's web optimization or life optimization, Linda Girard has the kind of vision, energy and confidence others look up on Google. Co-founder of the successful Internet marketing company, Pure Visibility, she's translated a Life 2.0 philosophy into Web 2.0 business savvy.
Information Evolution
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 4/23/2008
Computer science + design + social science = Innovation. Concentrate checks out the student projects at the University of Michigan's School of Information and witnesses the next evolutionary stage in information technology.
Art Counts In Washtenaw County
By: Leia Menlove, 4/16/2008
Not only can arts and culture mean big bucks for the local economy, it's an important part of the formula for attracting and keeping young professional talent. But how do you meaningfully track the health of Washtenaw County's arts community? The Ann Arbor Arts Alliance hopes to find the answer with its "Arts Count," artists' census.
Coworking: Solo But Not Alone
By: Amy Whitesall, 4/9/2008
One is the loneliest number no more. As micro start-ups and independent freelancers proliferate, new economy Ann Arborites are discovering the joys of coworking. From cafes to rent-a-desks to drop-in workspaces, they're recreating all the benefits of office life ...without the boss.
MASTERMIND: James Marks
By: Terry Parris, Jr., 4/9/2008
As much of the economy goes global, James Marks of Ypsilanti's VGKids finds that there's plenty of success to be found locally. Paradoxically, this success has given him both a national reputation and the opportunity to expand his business to the west coast.
Ghostly International
By: Amy Whitesall, 4/2/2008
From Halo to Hummer, Ann Arbor-based Ghostly International may be musical tastemakers to the world but founder Sam Valenti IV is really just preserving his legacy as the cool neighborhood record-store guy.
MASTERMIND: Christen McArdle
By: Amy Whitesall, 3/19/2008
Quality or quantity? Freedom or funding? Spend ten minutes with Christen McArdle, the Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, and it's clear which she'll choose. It takes leadership, creativity and stamina to run the oldest avant garde film fest in North America ...especially when it's underfunded and under fire. It takes a mastermind to make it thrive.
Investing In Vintage Ypsi
By: Jon Zemke, 3/18/2008
There are two sides to every economic story. While the region reels from falling house prices, the Maurer family sees the downturn as an opportunity to step in and rehabilitate many of Ypsilanti's glorious Victorian homes. Far from opportunists, their mission is to rejuvenate what might otherwise remain neglected.
Ypsi's Wireless Co-op
By: Jon Zemke, 2/21/2008
As various for-profit wireless initiatives push back access dates and struggle to work out their business model, locals in Ypsilanti are taking matters into their own hands to create an ambitious community-based Wi-Fi network that is expanding
The Metro Toddler
By: Amy Kuras, 2/14/2008
As Generations X and Y reach their childrearing years, they find few family-time options that reflect their desire to swim against the mainstream. From urban to urbane, there's a growing national trend for play spaces and social groups that cater to hip kids.
Two Wheel Revolution
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 2/7/2008
Long intimidated by automotive roadhogs, cyclists are reclaiming their rightful place along the nation's highways and byways. From hilly Seattle to dense beyond dense New York City, bike lanes are becoming the urban standard.
Metromode's Tanya Muzumdar looks at how Metro Detroit stacks up.
MODErn Living
By: Jon Zemke, 2/7/2008
Basho said, "Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home." Some Metro Detroiters are taking those words to heart and making their house the adventure.
Hipsilanti
By: Amy Kuras, 1/24/2008
"The Brooklyn to Ann Arbor's Manhattan." No longer content to live in The Deuce's shadow, Ypsilanti is emerging as an affordable alternative for both creative and professional types. Viva La Differance!
A Hand Out
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 1/10/2008
Looking for a New Year's resolution? Whether it's teaching kids to write or maintaining park trails, volunteerism is changing Metro Detroit for the better. As anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has."
Made In Michigan: Indie Film
By: Brian G. Walsh, 12/13/2007
Technology and the Internet have created incredible opportunities for budding moviemakers and Michigan