Over the last decade Matt Grocoff has turned his Old West Side home into a net zero energy residence, hoping to certify it as the second such home in the United States. And while that bar might be set a bit high for the average Ann Arborite, he offers some important thoughts about what we can do in our own community to live more sustainably.
It's probably fair to say at this point that the maker movement is no longer a trend but an established facet of modern creative culture. To wit, Robb Todd (aka Robotodd) has not only fashioned a career out of his handmade skills, but also developed some important opinions about the state of our local maker scene.
With bands like Tally Hall, Mayer Hawthorne and Michelle Chamuel grabbing the national spotlight, Ann Arbor has been quietly producing first-rate music for a while now. If it was up to Matthew Altruda we'd be a lot louder about it. As the city's unofficial rock impresario and biggest booster, Altruda is the big brains behind Sonic Lunch, The Puck Drops Here, and Tree Town Sounds.
What do salamanders, blood cells, Keith Moon and zombies have in common? They are all creative fuel for local artist Bruce Worden. A U-M grad who's decided to raise his family here, Worden is inventive and civic-minded - exactly the kind of young professional Ann Arbor says it wants to keep around. He's also got strong opinions about where Ann Arbor is heading.
In the spectrum of possible career choices, chocolate buyer sounds almost too good to be true. Yet, there's actually a position like that here in Ann Arbor. Meet Reina Leber, manager and food (including chocolate) buyer for Zingerman's.
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