Something big is happening in Detroit. People are talking to each other. Pretty soon, they might even be speaking the same language. That is the dream of Detroit Design 139, an advisory committee of architects, academics, city planners and concerned citizens who came together this past September to develop a design vernacular for Detroit — all 139 square miles of it — with the belief that architecture is for everyone, everywhere, and at its best, can help address long-standing civic issues within the city. “It all started with a conversation about how to change the popular narrative that ther ..read more

In the midst of a creative movement in Detroit, clothing is becoming a prominent facet of the city. Many of the younger citizens are taking risks in the realm of personal style. What is offered on the shelves and racks of traditional retailers can seem stale, bland or monotonous at times. Craving something counter to the norm, many Detroiters are choosing to forgo the convention of glitzy brands and passing trends. Instead, they are opting to curate a creative wardrobe built on utilizing intriguing pieces with a past. Vintage and repurposed clothing allows for more interesting and individualis ..read more

For four to eight weeks out of the year, Erin Gavle, her boyfriend, Chris Miele, and their dog, Mr. B, set off from their home in Corktown to explore the West and find unique artifacts for their Detroit-based general store, Eldorado. The couple likes to follow old trade routes in their white, hand-built “vansion,” a 2005 Dodge Sprinter named Rusty Rita. During these explorations, they try to tap into the cultural and topographical uniqueness of the region, exploring the unlikeliest of places and getting lost on purpose. “When you see the cloud of dust behind you, you’re doing well,” Gavle says ..read more

American playwright Arthur Miller once said, “There are no such things as stories, only characters.” In other words, people are important. They are faceted and complicated creatures full of fears, flaws, quirks and contradictions. That’s what makes them wonderful and it’s certainly what has always made things interesting — particularly in Detroit.    “Very few human beings besides my grandma are perfect,” Bailey Sisoy Isgro, founder of Detroit History Tours, says. “But that doesn’t diminish their significance or contribution.” Bailey was born and raised in Detroit, just like her pa ..read more

Pulling up to the corner of West 8 Mile Road and Livernois, you can see the sign from the street ‒ “Baker’s” ‒ in an elegant white font. The rectangular building with the black-and-white striped roof has the look of a zoot suit from the 1940’s. A matching striped awning reading “Jazz Club” welcomes guests in through the front door to revel in one of America’s oldest and purest art forms. Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, billed as the “World’s Oldest Jazz Club,” has been a haven for jazz in Detroit since first opening its doors in 1934. Over 82 years later, the small Livernois club hosts live jazz and ..read more

On a Sunday evening in Abir Ali and Andre Sandifer’s Boston Edison home, a delicious aroma of chili permeated throughout the dining room as their youngest son, Rami, played nearby with trains and toy football helmets. Family dinner was in an hour and the couple had just enough time to talk shop. The couple are the masterminds behind Ali Sandifer, a design studio and workshop with a specialization in mid-century modern furniture. Every piece is made to order and crafted — from beginning to end — in their studio. With many clients on the east and west coasts, they realized early on that no matte ..read more

A world-class city has world-class architecture, and Detroit is no exception. Masters worked here: Kahn, Saarinen, Yamasaki, van der Rohe. And so did Frank Lloyd Wright, the man who created a lifestyle brand long before anyone had heard of Oprah or Martha Stewart. Yet there is only one example of Wright’s brilliant architecture in Detroit. The Turkel house, like many of the city’s best buildings, underwent a revival that matches its grace and elegance. At a massive 4,300 square feet, the two-story home and its lush landscape is an example of Detroit’s great mansions and a tribute to the a ..read more

“Look into the crystal ball and see your future.” Under dim lighting, the bearded man in front of me cleverly says this as he begins to work his magic. His hands dance around the globe, spinning and twirling. He is a master at his craft, obvious from observing him only once. He is not a fortune teller, however, but it is a “Teller of Fortunes” he is creating. Around an ice sphere “crystal ball,” bartender Jake Miller swirls tequila, mezcal, and spiced hibiscus in a rocks glass, then garnishes the drink with a fortune cookie. He is just one of the master mixers at Sugar House in Corktown, where ..read more

Nestled snugly on the second floor of a brick building at the corner of Times Square in downtown Detroit, SavannahBlue is described as a contemporary northern soul food restaurant that offers an intimate gathering space with a big-city vibe. The signage directing patrons to SavannahBlue is subtle and easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention. Yet, that may have been part of the owners’ plan when envisioning this upscale restaurant that has attracted the city’s most prominent players — from Mayor Mike Duggan, to the business elite for networking meetings, to everyday residents from across the ..read more

On brisk winter mornings, the people on my corner of Hamtramck wake up to the sounds of the sunrise call to prayer. The loudspeaker sends the sounds of the adhan — the Muslim summons to worship — drifting through the air from the mosque just across Holbrook Street. It’s the deep-throated song of the muezzin, and it’s soon joined by the clamor of the bells at St. Florian Catholic Church. Our day begins and ends with these mingled sounds of worship, and both the adhan and the church bells punctuate the day for Hamtramck’s 21,000 residents. Nestled entirely within the city limits of Detroit but w ..read more