Hello everybody! Sorry for all the recent technical difficulties. Sometimes blogging is harder than it looks. And sometimes you lose a lot of work. Anyways, it’s good to be back. There’s been a lot going on in Detroit and not all of it has been great. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is as popular as ever. It seems not a moment goes by when he’s not all over the news regarding his personal life. I guess he and former President Clinton have a lot in common. As usual I think the people to our most outraged are Metro Detroiters who really does want to get down on Detroit even though they don’t pay Detroit taxes or are otherwise affected by the city government.
Here’s a few recent stories that you may have missed:
Duo wants businesses to prosper in Detroit
DETROIT — Two Midtown business owners are lending a hand to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to set up shop in the city.
Open City Detroit was formed last fall by Liz Blondy, owner of dog daycare Canine to Five, and Claire Nelson, owner of the home goods store Bureau of Urban Living. The organization offers informal support and information on the ins and outs of doing business in the city at its monthly meetings at Cliff Bell’s, which have been drawing dozens.
[via DetNews.com]
Foundation OKs $7 million in grants for Detroit
The Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has approved nearly $7 million in grants to help fund neighborhood revitalization in Detroit, while continuing to support arts and cultural organizations.
- $3 million to Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corp. to support its work in Detroit neighborhoods.
[via Crain’s Detroit Business]
10-week Detroit class covers basics of filmmaking
There are a million stories in the Motor City, and the Detroit Film Center wants to help you bring one to the screen. The documentary class beginning Tuesday will teach writing, interview techniques, shooting, lighting, editing and distribution. The Oscar acceptance speech is entirely up to you. The 10-session class meets 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays at the DFC’s new Eastern Market digs at 1347 E. Fisher Fwy. (facing the service drive) on the third floor. 313-961-9936 or www.detroitfilm.org. Price is $250 for members, $310 nonmembers.
‘City Lights’ shines at DFT: When Charlie Chaplin released “City Lights” (****) in 1931, he was perhaps the only major Hollywood player powerful enough to thumb his nose at sound film. Often called his masterpiece, the movie delivers slapstick in the boxing ring and pathos as his Little Tramp falls for a beautiful, blind flower girl. This new 35mm print, with Chaplin’s own synchronized score, was struck for screenings marking the anniversary of his death on Christmas Day 1977. 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Detroit Film Theatre, 5200 Woodward, Detroit. 313-833-3237 or www.dia.org/dft. $7.50; $6.50 students, seniors.
[via Detroit Free Press]
Federal government invests in Detroit’s Creative Corridor
Detroit Renaissance has ambitious plans for Detroit’s nascent Creative Corridor - and now the organization is $282,000 in federal funds closer to making the project a reality.
Excerpt: The money will be used to attract creative businesses and is part of the larger Road to Renaissance initiative, officials with the nonprofit Detroit Renaissance said in a press release. The initiative still is in the planning stages.
[via Metromode Media]
