What's New at the Exhibit Museum of Natural History
By: Keith Jefferies, 8/20/2008
Science in your face -- get up close and personal with U-M research at the Exhibit Museum of Natural History. From pub talks to a new, high-tech planetarium, the museum offers a personal way to engage with science and the university.
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
By: Keith Jefferies, 8/13/2008
From its gorgeous painted labels to its crafted oak barrel flavors, Dexter's tiny but mighty Jolly Pumpkin Ales is all about bringing an artist's touch to brewing. It's an approach that's winning them fans (and awards) all across the nation.
Chelsea Toy Museum & Teddy Bear Company
By: Tom Hendrickson, 8/6/2008
No lions or tigers... but lots of bears. Oh, my. Michigan is where the teddy bear was invented and Chelsea's Teddy Bear Company and Toy Museum pays homage to the ultimate bedtime companion.
Reading The Leaves: Ann Arbor's Tea Culture
By: Keith Jefferies, 7/30/2008
There is a Japanese proverb that says, "If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty." If that's the case, Ann Arborites now have access to the path to enlightment via the city's burgeoning tea scene.
Materials Unlimited
By: Keith Jefferies, 7/22/2008
Buy antiques and save the planet! Ypsilanti's Materials Unlimited supplies authentic and restored antiques as well as vintage salvage and construction materials to customers all over the world. From doors to lighting fixtures to molding and balusters, their art deco warehouse is stuffed with enough historic and sustainable materials to make a restorationist drool.
Mighty Good Coffee Roasters
By: Keith Jefferies, 7/16/2008
The days of doctor house calls may be over but Ann Arbor's got the next best thing: coffee bean house calls. Mighty Good Coffee not only supplies discerning local businesses with the freshest beans in the biz, they'll bring a heap o' roasted java goodness straight to your door.
Hello Again: Recellular
By: Keith Jefferies, 7/9/2008
It's not often that Dexter can claim it's home to the world's largest... well, anything. And yet, homegrown ReCellular is just that: the largest electronics sustainability company on the planet, recycling and refurbishing 500, 000 cell phones a month!
HandyLab, Inc.
By: Keith Jefferies, 6/25/2008
If you're looking for the perfect example of a company that leverages Michigan's new innovations and old strengths, look no further than HandyLab. From biomedical research to the engineering and manufacturing of its cutting edge technologies, this growing Ann Arbor company represents the next and best evolution for Michigan's economy.
Michigan Research Institute
By: Keith Jefferies, 6/18/2008
What do Humvees, egg pasteurization and toe nail fungus have in common? They are the focus of companies working alongside one another at the Michigan Research Institute, an Ann Arbor not-for-profit incubator space dedicated to nurturing promising new technology firms.
Puffer Reds
By: Tom hendrickson, 6/11/2008
More than just another downtown hip hop store, for 29 years Ypsilanti's Puffer Reds has been a nationally recognized tastemaker. Customers come from as far away as Ohio to shop there, Nike provides them with a custom designed shoe display and Adidas celebrated the Forum's 25th-Anniversary by creating a sneaker designed by the owner's eighteen year old son. The store has got street cred to spare.
The Sound Of Innovation: Joseph Curtin Studios
By: Keith Jefferies, 6/4/2008
Joseph Curtin designs and builds violins and violas for a distiguished and international clientele. Combining cutting edge acoustic technology and master craftsmanship, he is helping evolve both the art and science behind some of the world's most beautifiul music.
Coherix
By: Keith Jefferies, 5/28/2008
"Microns matter," is the slogan for Ann Arbor's Coherix, which creates holographic optical mechanical measuring systems for automotive and semiconductor manufacturers. Hey, now there's a mouthful. Still, it's the kind of cutting-edge technological innovation that Ann Arbor has become synonomous for.
Quantum Signal
By: Keith Jefferies, 5/14/2008
Pound for pound, Ann Arbor-based Quantum Signal is tops for cool-geek technology. From video gaming to controls for unmanned aerial drones to camouflage detection and recognition, the company sees a world of possibilities for its core technologies. They've got their virtual mitts in military applications, industrial robotics and computer gaming, blurring the line between armchair warriors and real world applications
CEOs For Cities: "Ann Arbor meet Detroit."
By: Tom Hendrickson, 5/7/2008
What makes a city successful? Concentrate's sister publication, Model D, takes over the Detroit Yacht Club from time to time to host its thought leader speaker series. Guest Carol Coletta of CEOs For Cities talks about investing in an Ann Arbor - Detroit partnership as an integral part of transforming southeast Michigan's economy and culture.
A3C Goes Green
By: Keith Jefferies, 4/30/2008
Retrofitting an 80 year-old downtown building with cutting edge green technologies is no easy task. But when your architecture firm is renown for its sustainable designs it makes sense to walk the talk. Metromode takes a tour of A3C's (Ann Arbor Architects Collaborative) ambitious eco-sensitive renovation.