Category Archives: Ann Arbor

Ypsilanti Immigration Interview: Gillian Ream

By Mark | February 19, 2012

Apparently, people keep moving to Ypsilanti… Today’s interview is with a young woman named Gilliam Ream. MARK: When did you move to Ypsilanti, and what brought you here? GILLIAN: We (my partner Adam and I) moved here in July 2011. Honestly, coming to Ypsi was just a happy accident. We were planning to stay in [...]

Also posted in Ypsilanti | Tagged Bike Ypsi, board games, Bul Go Gi, Bul Taco, Chick Inn, Chinese restaurants, Corner brewery, Depot Town, Gillian Ream, Hammy Sammy, Hidden Dragon, Linette Lao, Ma Po Tofu, Paul Bunyon burger, restaurant management software, Richard Murphy, tacos, the dividing line between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Triple Down, Ypsi immigration interview | 6 Comments

Ypsi immigration interview: Valerie Bieberich

By Mark | February 16, 2012

I’m thinking that, from now on, I should draw new Ypsi residents, in addition to interviewing them. I think it would be particularly interesting in those cases when I’ve never met the individual face-to-face. (I think it would make my email interviews a lot more interesting, if, in addition to asking questions about why folks [...]

Also posted in History, Ypsilanti | Tagged architecture, Battle Creek, Dreamland Theater, Ferndale, public school challenges, Sojourner Truth, Valerie Bieberich, walkability, Woodruff's, Ypsi immigration interview, Ypsi Public School District | 9 Comments

Ann Arbor’s Camp Take Notice getting the attention in Europe than it deserves the U.S.

By Mark | February 13, 2012

I just received a note from a U.S. expatriate living in France, asking me to confirm whether or not what he’d heard today on the BBC about a homeless encampment on the outskirts of Ann Arbor was indeed true… Sadly, I had to tell him that Camp Take Notice was in fact real. Here’s a [...]

Also posted in Michigan | Tagged Alana Gehringer, BBC, black mould, Brian Calley, Brian Durance, Bush tax cuts, Camp Take Notice, homeless encampments, homelessness, hunger in America, rats, Reagan M. Sova, tent cities | 11 Comments

Is “Oh, shit, I’m about to crash” a suitable headline for an article about a young woman’s violent death?

By Mark | February 12, 2012

I think it’s commendable that AnnArbor.com is marshaling their considerable resources in order to draw attention to the risks posed by distracted driving, but I found their headline today to be unnecessarily sensationalistic, to the point of being offensive. “Oh, shit, I’m about to crash,” while it may have well been what the young woman [...]

Also posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 99 Designs, AnnArbor.com, Bonnie Raffaele, car accidents, cell phones, design spec work, distracted driving, epitaph, epithet, future of journalism, graphic design, Kelsey Raffaele, Sault Ste. Marie, spec work, the sad state of journalism, young drivers | 11 Comments

A2Awesome awards its first $1,000 grant. Congratulations to Nathan Ayers!

By Mark | January 29, 2012

As I mentioned a while back, I’m one of a group of people to who decided, not too long ago, to start a local chapter of Boston’s Awesome Foundation. Well, this morning, our group – christened A2Awesome – handed over its first $1,000 grant. The funds were given, in a brown paper bag, to Nathan [...]

Also posted in A2Awesome, Agriculture, Alternative Energy, Awesome Foundation, Detroit, Education, Special Projects | Tagged Alice Liberson, Ann Arbor Public Schools, bike power, bikes, Chiwara Permaculture, Dick Soble, drums, energy storage, Hans Masing, Heather MacKenzie, Hip Hop Congress, home energy storage, Jeff Meyers, Larry Gant, LED light bulbs, Linh Song, Lisa Dengiz, Monique Deschaine, Omari Rush, Paul Saginaw, permaculture, re-skilling, Sustainability, Tanya Luz, Transition Ann Arbor, Transition Town, vegetables, Washtenaw Community College | 8 Comments

My young friend Josh still believes in Obama, do you?

By Mark | January 29, 2012

A young friend of mine named Josh Chamberlain, just had the opportunity to shake hands with Obama a few days ago, when the President was in Ann Arbor, speaking about college affordability, student debt, and the economy. Josh, who is presently finishing up high school at Washtenaw Community College, was there, covering the event for [...]

Also posted in Education | Tagged Al Glick Fieldhouse, campaign speeches, college affordability, Denard Robinson, Detroit, handshakes, Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Josh Chamberlain, Obama, student debt, tax the rich, The Washtenaw Voice, tuition, University of Michigan, Washtenaw Community College | 28 Comments

Greg Baise on WCBN tomorrow, and on shiny, white, super-skinny American Apparel mannequins everywhere

By Mark | January 26, 2012

I have a friend named Greg Baise. If you’ve ever been to see a band in the metro Detroit area, chances are you’ve probably seen him. He’s probably the best connected guy I know when it comes to music, having promoted shows for over a decade, and done tons of other stuff in the industry. [...]

Also posted in Art and Culture, Uncategorized | Tagged American Apparel, awesome t-shirt ideas, Blind Pig, Corktown, critical mass, Dan Selzer, Dov Charney, Faust, Fuck Your Blog, Gold Dollar, halter leotards, Jeff Kaeppeler, Jezebel, Jodie Foster, karaoke, Keiji Haino, Kelly Jean Caldwell, Kevin O'Neill, Kim Sorise, La Vie C'est Chouette, Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America, music venues, new ideas in retail, Obama, performance venues, product tie-in, Sonic Youth, stretch velvet leggings, Ted Shumaker, The Palace at 4 A.M., Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Times New Viking, Tony Conrad, Viva Radio, WCBN, Woodruff's | 12 Comments

Ypsi’s Lightening Love spills the beans on local Ypsi-Arbor hot spots to CMJ

By Mark | January 18, 2012

A few times a month, the music industry magazine CMJ asks a band to write a “scene report” for their website, kind of giving a little glimpse into what’s going on culture-wise in their hometown. Well, today’s CMJ scene report is from none other than Leah Diehl, of Ypsi’s own Lightening Love. For the most [...]