Downtown Ferndale is about to get a smokin’ new addition, literally. A beloved local restaurateur is doubling down on her hometown’s culinary scene by opening a barbecue joint in the heart of the city. Dana Taucher, longtime Ferndale resident and owner of the popular Syndicate cocktail lounge, is bringing Smokehaus Ferndale to life in a familiar spot on Vester Street. This new barbecue restaurant will take over 177 Vester St., a venue locals might remember as the former M-Brew hangout (and more recently the short-lived Scout Vester bar). With Smokehaus set to fire up its smokers soon, Ferndale diners can look forward to a missing flavor finally being represented downtown: authentic barbecue.

Syndicate Ferndale, Facebook

A Hometown Entrepreneur…

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Whether you’re currently living in Metro Detroit or planning on moving to Metro Detroit, selecting the right elementary school is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your family. This comprehensive ranking of the top elementary schools in Metro Detroit draws on Niche.com’s data, key academic metrics, and real‑world parent feedback to spotlight the region’s best public and private campuses, from Cranbrook Schools and Detroit Country Day to Village Oaks and Deerfield Elementary. You’ll find insights on student‑teacher ratios, proficiency rates in reading and math, standout programs, and community culture so you can confidently weigh each school’s strengths. Use this guide to discover which Detroit‑area elementary schools offer the perfect…

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Summer in Metro Detroit hits different. The sun lingers well past dinner, festivals fill every weekend, and the air smells like charcoal grills and freshly cut grass. And when the temps start climbing? You beat the heat with a cone, a custard, or an over-the-top milkshake piled higher than your kid’s birthday wish list.

Whether you’re a parent looking for a weekend treat, a foodie on the hunt for something Instagram-worthy, or a nostalgic soul craving a scoop from the same stand you visited as a kid, this list delivers. We’re talking cult favorites, old-school legends, and wild creations you’ll only find here in Southeast Michigan.

Let’s dig in.

Ray's Ice Cream, Facebook

Iconic Ice Cream Stands That Built the Scene

Ray’s Ice Cream

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Imagine preparing for a new school year, only to find out key education funding has suddenly vanished. Late last month, Metro Detroit schools got a jarring shock: the Trump administration abruptly froze nearly $6.8 billion in federal education grants that were about to reach classrooms. This unprecedented funding freeze, affecting programs from after-school care to teacher training, has thrown school plans into chaos just weeks before students return. Parents across Metro Detroit are understandably asking: What happened, and what does it mean for our kids? In true neighborly fashion, we’ve dug into the details to break down what Metro Detroit families need to know about this situation, with a friendly but frank look at how it hits home.

What…

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Detroit Pistons fans are about to have a new reason to cheer, even on non-game days. In a city where loyalty runs as deep as the Detroit River, the Pistons are rolling out an innovative rewards program that turns everyday purchases into “Pistons Points” and exclusive fan experiences. This upcoming season’s Pistons Rewards program is all about giving back to the fans, rewarding those family grocery runs and coffee shop stops with perks that bring you closer to the action. It’s a move that blends hometown pride with cutting-edge tech, and locals are already buzzing about the possibilities.

Detroit Pistons, Facebook

A New Way to Reward Detroit’s Loyal Fans

The Detroit Pistons have officially teamed up with Seattle-based tech startup Uptop to launch…

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Detroiters love a good brunch, and now, downtown has a delicious new option with a unique twist. Haus of Brunch has arrived on the ground floor of the historic Westin Book Cadillac Hotel, bringing all-day brunch fare that’s completely halal and entirely alcohol-free. Eager to make a splash, this locally owned eatery opened its doors just in time for a packed Memorial Day weekend, when over 150,000 visitors flooded downtown Detroit for concerts, festivals, and ballgames. Haus of Brunch was ready to serve them, offering something refreshingly different: a brunch experience that’s both inclusive and indulgent, rooted in Metro Detroit’s diverse food culture.

hausofbrunch, instagram

A New Chapter at the Book Cadillac: Halal Brunch in the Heart of…

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Detroit’s latest craft distillery expansion owes its spark to an unlikely duo: a Polish pastry and a bachelor party for a wedding that never happened. It sounds like the setup to a local tall tale, but it’s the true story behind Detroit City Distillery’s newest chapter. In a city known for grit and revival, a group of high school friends turned a campfire idea and a love of pączki into one of Metro Detroit’s most buzzworthy spirits success stories. Now, as Detroit City Distillery (DCD) opens 100 Proof, a major expansion of their Whiskey Factory facility, locals and visitors alike have something new to raise a glass to.

Detroit City Distillery, Facebook

From Campfire Dream to Eastern Market Distillery

Detroit City Distillery’s journey started with…

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Imagine a Michigan summer where June feels like winter and July brings frost instead of fireworks. It sounds like folklore, but in 1816 this bizarre scenario was all too real. That year has gone down in history as the “Year Without a Summer,” a time when even Detroit, then a small frontier town, reportedly saw ice in every single month. More than two decades before Michigan became a state, its early settlers endured a summer so cold and strange that “Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death” became folks’ grim nickname for the year. This article explores how that missing summer unfolded, why it happened, and how it shaped Michigan’s story, all told in the voice of a seasoned Michigander who knows and loves the local lore.

A Michigan Summer Lost to the…

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Picture two Metro Detroit houses listed at $150,000 each. Now imagine one will cost you over $4,000 more per year in taxes than the other, all because of the community it’s in. It’s a real scenario in Michigan. Many first-time buyers focus on sale price and interest rates, only to be caught off guard by how property taxes drive up their monthly mortgage payments. In fact, Michigan consistently ranks high in property tax rates (average effective rate ~1.35%, well above the U.S. average). Understanding how Michigan’s property taxes work isn’t just dull number-crunching, it’s essential knowledge that can save you from nasty surprises and help you budget smartly for your dream home. Let’s break down the basics of property taxes in Michigan, with a friendly…

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Michigan may be the land of the Motor City, but the world’s top biking spot isn’t Amsterdam or Copenhagen, it’s right here in the Great Lakes State. In a global ranking of nearly 3,000 cities, tiny Mackinac Island, Michigan earned the highest score of all, becoming the #1 place on Earth to ride a bike. In fact, Mackinac Island made history by scoring a perfect 100 in the PeopleForBikes 2025 “Best Places to Bike” ratings, the first time any city has ever achieved a perfect score. This car-free island’s victory isn’t just a win for Mackinac; it’s a point of pride for all Michiganders, surprising many who might assume the best biking would be found in Europe or big U.S. cities.

So what makes Mackinac Island such a cyclist’s paradise? Imagine an idyllic…

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