There was an interesting article in yesterday’s Free Press about the increasing trend amongst Detroit’s second and third-ring suburbs (i.e., Novi, Royal Oak, etc.) to build downtown areas of their own. The article mentioned the fact that West Bloomfield passed a vote earlier this week which will amend its township’s master plan to allow for commercial developments in certain areas within the city.

Like the author of the article, I am also interested in finding out what effect this new suburban trend will have on Detroit.

In addition, I am also wondering why the suburbs, which have continuously marketed themselves around their serene environments and maze-like subdivisions (which are specifically designed to keep everyone but their homeowners out), now want to be part of the busy and high-strung environment that characterizes a city?

Are Metro Detroiters finally beginning to see what Detroiters love so much about living in the city?

Okay, I’m quickly becoming the boring poster. I just can’t escape my data and research background.

You should visit Detroit Kids Data, an informational resource of children, family and community for Metro Detroit. Developed by Wayne State University (and the brilliant Kurt Metzger, director of the Michigan Metropolitan Information Center), DKD provides data for social demographics, community health, education, child welfare, etc.

The site is great for health and social service professionals, educators, grantwriters, community advocates and, hey, maybe even government officials could take a look.

More about MMIC: They have some great thematic maps and a GIS mapping-database system for income, voting, crime and building permits.

So have a look around, you know you want to. I can’t be the only geek.

I never understood the value of professional sports teams until I met a Red Sox fan. He loves the game, has pride in the team members, and most of all he displays a ferocious loyalty where there is no distinction between the team and his native New England. His childhood is filled with memories of sharing a passion for a team that had not been in the World-Series since the beginning of the century. He was blessed to see them win after 86 years. It is amazing to see three generations of men at a table talking about the Red Sox with an equal passion like no other. This same spirit lives in Detroit. Despite its poor performance, Lions games are almost always sold out. Hopefully we will not have to wait decades for a win; but, win or lose future Lions, you will be in a city that loves you regardless.

Now, in Big City America, an Ice Cream store doesn’t seem like much; it certainly doesn’t resemble big progress.

You’re in the D now, baby, where a Ben & Jerry’s is big freakin’ news.

It’s certainly a welcomed sight for residents, and a real sign that businesses are willing to come and stay — and all the while, offering frozen goodness.

We thank you, B&J. And also to Cold Stone Creamery, coming soon to a Greektown near you.

Model D is a weekly e-magazine about Detroit neighborhoods and more. A few weeks ago it appeared in my email unexpectedly. So I used the information to narrow down my apartment search to a few neighborhoods. I now just read it as a great source of positive information on Detroit.

Ironically it wasn

Detroit may be a city but it really has a small town feel. It is one of those places where you repeatedly run into friends and acquaintances in the strangest places. And then you’ll meet a new person who is guaranteed to know some of your friends, making you realize it was only a matter of time before you met this person anyway.

It took me a while to make friends due to living in the

My long time trusty friend, my camera, has finally bit the dust. After 3 years and 15,000+ photographs it has ceased functioning properly. It’s not too bad as long as you don’t care if a photo is in focus or not, becasue it’s hit or miss, it may be or it may not be…

It started off not focusing pulled into the Wide angle or at max zoom, either manually or automatically, now it only focuses when it wants too, only you can’t tell on the little LCD if it did or not. It’s very frustrating.
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When I heard tonight that the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) had filed a complaint against a Century 21 franchise alleging that some of its agents had participated in racial discrimination, I was sick to my stomach.

Did we not learn anything from the events that occurred in Detroit during July, 1967

I do realize my last 2 posts have been about sports, but as they say – you write about what you know.

You’re in luck: I won’t be posting about too many topics. ;-)

So, here we are in Detroit – home of the 10-time Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings and the 3-time World Champion “Detroit” Pistons (quotation marks for proper effect, as the team plays way up north – near the thumb, I believe – and are as much ‘Detroit’ as the West Bloomfield High School girl with her ‘313′ bling… more on that later). Two solid, successful playoff teams. You can pretty much count on an extended season every June with these guys.

And then, there’s the Lions and Tigers.

Oh my.

The Lions haven’t seen the post-season in a decade, and the Tigers… well, the Tigers are usually out of contention sooner than the Red Wings. It’s been a bit dismal living in the Stadium district the past 5 years. Adams Street, which runs directly south of Comerica Park and right into Ford Field, has been dubbed “Losers Lane” by cynics. Our poor kitties.

Yet, lately, our two last-place teams have some serious cause for optimism. As Blood, Sweat & Tears once sang, “Something’s comin’ on, don’t know what it is but it’s gettin’ stronger…”

Our beloved Tigers are at .500! Are you kidding me? Did someone lose the calendar? It’s way too late in the season for these kind of shenanigans. Only 4 games out of the Wild Card? As Keanu Reaves said in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, “Something strange is afoot at the Circle-K.”

And the Lions? Why, they’re being picked to win the division by some pundits. “These cannot be men of honor,” you say with a grin. “They must be hanging out with Bob Novak.”

Yes, there is some Kool-Aid going around, to be sure. It’s amazing, though, to see the difference in this part of town that I call home. It’s noticeably busier; rationally, I suppose, due to increased traffic when a team is winning. But it’s more than that.

See, this city hangs it’s hopes and dreams on their sports teams. Some say its pathetic, and I find it hard to disagree on a logical level. Emotionally, though, it makes sense. See, the people of this metro area don’t have a lot in common. This is one thing that bonds us together. Non-sports fans fly car flags at playoff time. Grown men – strangers on any other day – hug each other, regardless of race (or even odor!) It’s what binds us. It makes us whole, and gives us a broader purpose unfulfilled in the boardrooms and meeting halls and freeways. We basically trust these few selected men – men who hail from all over the globe, and rarely Detroit – to represent all of us equally. A black man who has never seen or watched hockey can feel pride when the Wings win. A mousey librarian can stand a little taller when the Lions win. A young girl from the suburbs with no interest in basketball whatsoever wears a Pistons championship hat.

And you know what that says to the world? We are ONE.

Even if only for 60 minutes.

Or whenever the cheese dip runs out.

I found this site a couple weeks ago, so excuse me if it’s old news.

On Find Your Spot, you can take an online quiz to see what city is the best fit for you. Just answer some questions about your preferences regarding transportation, climate, cultural amenities, housing, etc. and the site will list the best places for you to live.

I limited my regions to the midwest and northeast and my top three locations were:

1) Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
2) Detroit, MI
3) Cleveland, OH

Try it. It’s fun.