As communities across the nation begin to recognize the value of non-motorized infrastructure plans are being made for bike share programs. But many such programs struggle to balance the health and environmental advantages against their financial sustainability. Ann Arbor's ArborBike thinks it has the solution.
With successful restaurants in Las Vegas, New York, and Chicago, former Iron Chef Takashi Yagihashi could have settled anywhere. But what he wanted most was to bring his family back to Michigan. Which is why Ann Arbor is now home to his latest eatery, the Slurping Turtle. Concentrate's Nicole Rupersberg learns why.
Though the local food cart movement still remains confined to Mark's Carts in Ann Arbor, that enterprise has seeded the city with two successful brick and mortar businesses: The Lunch Room and eat. Concentrate gets the skinny on how these food entrepreneurs made the leap from cart to café.
What's next for Southeast Michigan's eateries? Where can you find the best local dining scene? If you can't ask the guy who was just voted Michigan's "Chef Of The Year", who can you ask?
Good things can sometimes be hard to find. But that makes them all the sweeter, doesn't it?. Take Ron's Roadside BBQ. Fans complain about its obscure location, poor signage, and threadbare surroundings. But once they sink their teeth into the "low and slow," the criticisms melt away. Little do many know that Ron's (aka Romanoff's Catering) has 40 storied years of history. And nearly 200,000 toy soldiers!
It's hardly a surprise that the University of Michigan is considered a world-class institution with deep political connections. But with the urgent concerns of today's economic policies, the Obama Administration, in particular, has reached out to Ann Arbor for guidance, expertise, and advice.
Where can you get pastries, coffee, fashion, and furniture under one roof? Oh, and a little opera and theater too? The Mix Marketplace is the latest cool idea to pop up in Ypsilanti's increasingly DIY downtown. It's where retail, community, and culture meet to create a one-of-a-kind destination. Concentrate gets the skinny.
It was an economic development scheme that paid dividends and then some. Back in 1901, Ypsilanti deeded land to the Michigan Ladder Company in exchange for a hand full of jobs. One hundred ten years later, the company is still manufacturing their trademark wood ladders. And 95% of their business comes from outside the state.
What do food carts tell us about a city? A lot, actually. From local business development to street engagement, a community's ability to encourage and nurture these DIY businesses can be a barometer of its commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation.
If you've a musical or bust-a-gut act you're ready to air, open mic nights are the perfect opp to take to the stage at the likes of The Ark, Oz's Music, or the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. These venues give artists the chance to mix with other entertainment folkies and pick up a fan audience. And some, like The Ark, even have a winnowing system where the best musical and student songwriter talent are graced with a full evening showcase.
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