Daily Detroit

Happy Election Day, Detroit!

On today's show, we run down some news about long lines and voting machine hiccups across the region. Reports of long lines are widespread.

Elsewhere, Amazon HQ2 is said to be headed to the New York City and Washington D.C. areas as a split second headquarters. That's given critics plenty of fodder, as we discuss. Remember when Detroit and Windsor joined forces to bid on HQ2? We had a great Happy Hour episode breaking down our fair city's failure to crack the top 20. It's so worth a listen.

Officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation are hedging on an end date to the never-ending I-696 construction project.

An upcoming fundraiser dinner at the DIA celebrates the food and art of Italy.

And our own Shianne Nocerini gives us the lowdown on a delicious private dinner created by chef James Rigato at Mabel Gray.

Find Daily Detroit wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Welcome to Monday, friends. Here's your Daily Detroit for Nov. 5:

• The workers strike at the Westin Book Cadillac hotel is over, as the Unite Here union announces a settlement and a new contract.
• GM has rolled out e-bikes as part of its focus on mobility and cracking urban mobility markets. But it wants help from the public in coming up with a brand name.

• Beaumont Health and Universal Health Services will open a $40 million, 150-bed inpatient mental health hospital in Dearborn.
• An oil spill fouls the Red Run in Macomb County. Once a small network of rivers, the Red Run is now mostly used for sanitary and storm sewer runoff into the Clinton River.
• The Detroit Institute of Arts has opened an expanded gallery of Asian art, courtesy of the founders of Buddy's Pizza.
• Detroit gets a new bike signal on the edge of Palmer Park.
• And speaking of pizza, Melody Baetens at The Detroit News has the details about the new Detroit-style pizza being cooked up by the new owners of Como's in Ferndale. The place doesn't open until spring, but it inspired Jer and I to discuss pizza and the finer (and less fine) points of Detroit-style pie.
• Tomorrow is Election Day, so GET OUT THERE AND CAST YOUR VOTE! We offer you three ways to arrange transport, if you need it, to your local ballot box.
• Lastly, Brian McCollum at the Freep reports that a long-delayed Aretha Franklin performance documentary called "Amazing Grace" is finally set to see the light of day after more than four decades.

Don't forget two things:

1. Vote tomorrow.
2. Subscribe to Daily Detroit wherever you download podcasts.

Peace.

On today's edition of your Daily Detroit podcast, the team goes deep on the major statewide races and ballot issues that will appear on next week's Nov. 6 ballot. We're not making newspaper-style "endorsements," just breaking down each race and, yes, divulging who we're voting for.

And agree or disagree all you want — just so long as you get out and cast your vote. It's the best way to preserve our fragile democracy.

Also on today's show:

• The John and James L. Knight Foundation drops another $20 million in grant funding on Detroit to support art institutions and programs. Art matters, y'all!
• The as-yet unnamed regional group that aims to ramp up business attraction to southeast Michigan has named its new CEO. This is the same group L. Brooks Patterson accused of trying to persuade businesses to leave Oakland County for the city. Yay, regionalism.
• Nike has released the new "City Edition" version of alternate uniform for the Detroit Pistons. We have some thoughts on the alt-uni craze that is sweeping sports.
• Madonna announces a $100,000 matching grant challenge for a progressive Detroit charter school.
• Project Green Light expands to Michigan Avenue in Corktown.
• And save your hunger for Sunday, when organizers will try to break the Guinness World Record for largest food truck rally on Belle Isle, starting at noon.

This episode was recorded on November 1, 2018.

This is your Daily Detroit for October 31, 2018. Happy Halloween!

A few of the stories on today's show.

GM is offering buyouts to 18,000 workers. An update to the ongoing Michigan marijuana saga.

Devil's night is no longer a thing in Detroit.

Detroit's going to get significantly warmer by 2050.

Bill Schuette's campaign might be out of (or low on) cash.

The Ballmer Foundation makes their first investment here.

HTI Cybernetics expands in Sterling Heights.

And Shianne has a tasty preview of a new restaurant in Birmingham that's the talk of the town.

Like to show? Don't forget to leave a review in Apple Podcasts.

This is your Daily Detroit recorded on October 30, 2018.

On today's show, more than 200 medical marijuana businesses face closure in Michigan. Golden Tate is no longer a Detroit Lion. Brenda Jones wants to be a congressperson for more than a few weeks.

Chef Godwin Ihentuge stops by to talk about his upcoming brick and mortar African and Caribbean eatery in Detroit's New Center. Here's a link to his Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/yumvillage/yumvillage-launches-brick-and-mortar-in-new-center

And media and Public Relations expert Matt Friedman chats with Sven Gustafson about the possibility of a new regional sports network owned by the Ilitch family. http://tannerfriedman.com/

Like the show? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts or even better, tell a friend about the podcast.

Thanks to our episode sponsor, Milo Digital.

From the CityLab Detroit conference, this is your Daily Detroit podcast for October 29, 2018.

We have four major components of our show today:

First, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. He teased a new universal Pre-K program here at CityLab Detroit. Although we couldn't get him to talk more about that, we did talk to him about the skills gap in Detroit (he says there are only 50-60 licensed plumbers in the city of Detroit) and what he's doing to address it.

Sven Gustafson also got into bike lanes with Mayor, who said that "he's designing a city for residents," and not Grosse Pointers who want to speed down Jefferson through it.

Second, Richard Florida. He's a leading voice about urbanism and cities with his daily blog. Florida and Jer talk about what's surprised him about Detroit's progress and what challenges lie ahead. Spoiler? Metro Detroit has to deal with transit and get over the suburban/city divide.

Third, Sven talks about what Mary Barra said around autonomous vehicles. One thing? Barra has an eye to the future, mentioning in her panel today that there are 3 parking spots for every car and that the car is going to fit into cities very differently in the future than it does now.

And finally, Sven and Jer talk about the renderings of the new skyscraper being built on the Hudson's site.

We'll be back at CityLab tomorrow. Like the Daily Detroit podcast? Subscribe free in Apple Podcasts or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.

Your Detroit stories:

The Ilitch organization is talking about launching its own regional sports network (and we discuss other sportsy news, including soccer in Detroit). First reported here: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/10/25/ilitches-weigh-starting-own-sports-tv-network/1756233002/ and then everyone else in Detroit media got more info.

Detroit's historic Pewabic pottery studio unveiled its new Maxine and Stuart Frankel Pewabic Tile Studio today.

Two Detroit brands that taste great together. That's what the companies behind beloved hometown brands Kar's Nuts and Sanders chocolate are hoping after a deal that sees the two snack makers merge.

Columbia Street in downtown Detroit is getting yet another new restaurant. Sahara Restaurant is opening up a 4,500 square foot spot where they will serve Iraqi and Chaldean cuisine.

The site of the old village hall on Jos. Campau at Grayling Street is now the location of Hamtramck's first-ever full archeological dig.

Saturday Night Live cast member Colin Jost (who co-hosts the very funny "Weekend Update" skit) Colin Jost is going to be in Pontiac on Saturday night. Tix: http://flagstarstrandtheatrepontiac.com/iwe-event/the-infamous-stringdusters-2-3-3

Two Royal Oak bars are backing a proposal that would allow downtown establishments that don't have kitchens to host food trucks without a special-event permit. (Extra info here)

This episode was recorded on October 25, 2018 at the Podcast Detroit studios in the Detroit Shipping Company. If you like the show, be sure to leave us a review in Apple Podcasts

This is your Daily Detroit for October 24, 2018 from the Podcast Detroit studios at the Detroit Shipping Company.

If you're anything like us, then you're a huge fan of PBS, and you also love food. And if you check both of those boxes, then you're probably familiar with our guest on today's podcast.

Pati Jinich https://patijinich.com/ is the host of the James Beard Award-winning, Emmy-nominated PBS television series "Pati's Mexican Table," which combines travel to explore the cuisine of her native Mexico and how-to guides of her cooking up delicious recipes. She's also the author of two cookbooks — "Pati's Mexican Table" from 2013 and "Mexican Today," which came out in 2016.

Jinich tells Sven she is in Detroit all week as part of a series tracing the evolution of Mexican food in the United States. So far during her trip here, she's sampled Detroit-style pizza at Buddy's, pastries at Mexicantown Bakery, and she goes deep on Detroit Coneys, with a pretty nuanced take on comparing the competing offerings from Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island. She also says Mexican cuisine has never been as big — nor attracted as much interest — as it does now.

Your stories:

- A pair of Monday raids by the Detroit Police Department resulted in the seizure of nearly 80 pounds of drugs… with a street value estimated at nearly $17 million.

- A plot to steal Fiat Chrysler vehicles off of a factory storage lot (again) has failed.

- The City of Detroit continues to go crazy for scooters … this time in the neighborhoods. Hundreds more Lime and Bird scooters are coming.

- The city of Detroit has a new website. It has a cleaner look and officials say information is easier find with an enhanced search feature. We dive in.

- Two Michigan dive bars, including one in Detroit, made a list of the best dive bars in America.

- UFO Factory and Laika Dog are opening back up in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood this weekend after a long hiatus. We have the details.

- We tried the new -320 Coffee and Creamery

- And, today is the 20th anniversary of the implosion of the 32-story Hudson's department store on Woodward in downtown Detroit.

Your Daily Detroit podcast sharing what to know and where to go in Detroit recorded on October 23, 2018:

• The ongoing strike by workers at the Westin Book Cadillac has prompted organizers of the CityLab 2018 conference to relocate to the Marriott at the RenCen. That's a place that striking Book Cadillac employees says pays their workers a living wage.
• A private company that arranges substitute teachers for more than 100 districts across Michigan has abruptly closed up shop, without warning to school districts. Jer and I say it's another example of the sorry state of public education in Michigan.
• Personal-injury legal titan Mike Morse is in hot water, accused by State Farm of bribing police officers to give him unofficial accident reports that he can then use to gain clients and run up medical and rehab treatment bills. The Detroit News reports he's also the subject of an investigation by the FBI and a grand jury.
• Owners of the new Detroit City Fieldhouse cut the ribbon on Monday on the 75,000 square-foot facility, which features an indoor open field and indoor boarded field. A Detroit City FC-themed restaurant is expected to open in the coming weeks, pending approvals from inspections and a liquor license. The grand opening is Saturday.
• The State of Michigan is awarding a $1.5 million grant to support a $3.6 million project by Coyote Logistics in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. The UPS subsidiary will add 300 jobs.
• The Shinola Hotel on Tuesday named a pair of people to lead the highly anticipated property in downtown Detroit. One is local, a veteran of the Detroit Institute of Arts, and one is an import from New York City.
• Beirut Palace has been sold after 21 years in business in downtown Royal Oak. It's the latest example of a business shutting down over a perceived shortage of parking. And it's more illustration of the tension that has arisen as Royal Oak sees a wave of urbanization.
• Local runners, take note: The Run of the Dead is back. It's a 5k/10k through southwest Detroit that takes in two historic cemeteries and a neat old compact neighborhood. Register here.

Thanks as always for listening, and don't forget to tell a friend about our little podcast. It's the best way to help us grow and keep the lights on. Here's a link to subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts.

Here's your Daily Detroit podcast recorded in the Paris of the Midwest on Monday Oct. 22:

Two Detroit funeral homes are under investigation after police found the remains of fetuses and a dead infant. One of the businesses — Perry Funeral Home — was closed by the state, with its mortuary license revoked.

Sven reports to us about his trip from Las Vegas, where Ford briefed dealers on its plans to make 75 percent of its product lineup all-new by 2020 and unleashed the new "Built Ford Proud" ad campaign starring Bryan Cranston, perhaps best known as Walter White from "Breaking Bad." Ford was trying to calm the nerves of a dealer base rattled by criticisms from Wall Street and auto analysts over a lack of clarity on new products and how exactly it intends to turn around its money-losing operations in foreign markets.

Across town, General Motors was named No. 1 for gender equity in a new ranking of publicly traded companies by Equileap, which monitors and gathers data on gender equality in companies. GM is led by a female CEO, Mary Barra, and recently promoted a woman to be chief financial officer.

The Tower Center, an often-overlooked shopping mall at Grand River and Greenfield on Detroit's west side, is getting a new anchor tenant. Forman Mills will celebrate its grand opening next month. It takes over the space last occupied by Montgomery Ward, which closed in 1986. The mall has seen a number of small, black-owned businesses open for business, thanks to low rents.

Corktown is in line to get another new coffee shop. Lucky Detroit will open on the second floor above Detroit Barbers.

Local favorite Bucharest Grill is reopening downtown. The popular purveyor of shawarma will open at 436 W. Columbia Street with 130 seats and 24 beer taps.

You can now pay those painfully expensive parking tickets on the city's free Park Detroit mobile app.

And in giant pizza organization that owns two of our four professional sports teams news, Little Caesars has unveiled its new thin crust pizza nationwide. They'll go for $6 between 4 and 8 p.m. As we did with the 5-Meat Pizza back in the summer, plan on a live-on-the-pod taste test from your crack Daily Detroit team.

Don't forget to subscribe to Daily Detroit for free wherever fine podcasts are found. http://www.dailydetroit.com/podcast